Date: Fri, 24 May 1996 09:34:24 -0700 From: eowyn7@ix.netcom.com (Gail Moore) Subject: The Naked Moment By Macspooky and Eowyn The Naked Moment Chapter Seven "Madness" By Macspooky and Eowyn Friday Morning Boston Field Office Walter Skinner checked his watch, eleven am. Not bad at all. He'd managed to drop off the samples and interview Dr. Paulsen in half the time he thought it would take. Catching Paulsen coming out of his new apartment had been fortuitous, and he had succeeded in getting the doctor to admit his rather peculiar interests. Honesty had in the end been the best policy and Paulsen had admitted that he liked to read erotic literature on the internet, especially if it contained B and D material. He'd even explained a couple of references in his comments that Walter hadn't understood. He walked into the main office and asked at the desk if he had any messages. The receptionist had replied. "Yes, Sir, Agent Mulder called requesting your presence back at the institute. Actually he called for some backup for himself and another agent about an hour ago." "When did the back up leave?" Skinner asked. Cross, who had been waiting for Agent Walter to show up, came swiftly out of his office and answered the question. "It didn't. We don't have the manpower to send out on one of Mulder's 'spooky' wild goose chases." Walter Skinner was furious. "You mean to tell me that an agent requested backup and you turned down the request." "That's right. We don't have the man power to waste." Suddenly Cross found Agent Walter in his face, his anger almost palatable. "I'm going out there now but this isn't over." He backed Cross up against the wall, Skinner's hands grasping the lapels of his suit coat. "You better pray that nothing happens to Agents Mulder and Bothrington because if anything does they'll need a microscope to find what's left of you." Skinner backed off and slammed Cross none to gently against the wall. As he turned and started to stalk out an agent caught him by the arm. "Why don't I go with you, Agent Walter? You might need the help." Cross who was collecting himself and planning just how much trouble he was going to get Agent Walter in for what he had just done interrupted. "Agent Jameson, you have other duties to attend to." "I'll finish up the Parnellie file on my own time if need be." He turned and motioned for Agent Walter to take the lead. They were in the car and headed out to the institute when Skinner asked, "Aren't you afraid of getting in trouble?" "Screw them. I'm turning in my notice in a couple of weeks to go work for a private security firm. Sick of the cost cutting." Skinner studied the man next to him. He was about five eleven, sandy blond hair and blue eyes. Looked to be in his late thirties or early forties, just a little older than Fox. "I won't say that budgets aren't important everywhere now but it really isn't as bad in other offices as it is here. Despite what you may have heard." Skinner replied. "I hope you're right, Agent Walter, but right now I don't have much faith." "You can call me Walter." "Okay, Walter. I'm Murphy. I was trying to get out to backup Both and Spooky when I heard that Cross had refused Mulder's request, but I had to finish up what I was working on." "Going out on your own? Isn't that kind of risky?" "No more than leaving an agent to twist in the wind. The case load of this office has increased by twenty percent over the last three years yet no new agents have been added. And the quality of the agents we've got has declined. Don't get me wrong, most of them are good agents but we've got a lot of kids here now that don't know any better. They don't realize that this isn't the way an office is supposed to be run. If Cross or Thomas tells them that it's different in the field than they've been taught and that they should be working killer hours year round and running without backup well who's to tell them any different." "You sound like you know a lot about the workings of an office?" "I was the Assistant ASAC for the first six months of Thomas' tenure when he took over from my old boss. We didn't see eye to eye about the running of an office so I requested to be relieved of that duty and returned to case work. I now supervise a half dozen agents and try to keep Thomas and Cross from burning them out or getting them killed and then if I have any free time I try to cover anyone else that needs help." "Sounds to me like you still care. You sure you want to leave?" Murphy Jameson sat quietly for several minutes before replying. He wasn't sure why he trusted Agent Walter... maybe it was just that he needed someone to talk to but he decided to tell him the truth. "The stress is getting to me and my family. As things get worse at the office it just gets harder to hold it together. You know what I mean?" Walter sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh yeah... I know exactly what you mean, Murphy. I've got a new baby boy, my first, and it's quite a tug between home and work." Murphy nodded thinking that this man really would understand. "Well my kid had a birthday party scheduled Friday night three weeks ago. I was determined to go. At the last minute one of the other teams got a break in a case and began to run a stakeout. Well, you know how expensive those are. I knew that they should have two teams but I'd promised my kid so I went to the party but left early because I was worried. The suspect had spotted them and they were in a shoot out, fortunately with the addition of myself and my partner it shifted the odds and the suspect surrendered but that did if for me. I knew I couldn't keep covering for Thomas' cost cutting. Someone was going to get killed or my family would have to do without me. That's just not a choice I could live with so I started negotiating with a security firm to work for them. "I love the Bureau and my job but I can't live with it anymore." "Don't do anything for at least a week, okay? I have a feeling that things are about to change." Murphy looked over at Agent Walter and nodded. "I hope your right." Privately he was thinking that Walter would have enough trouble explaining his manhandling of Cross to be able to stir up any flack that DC would take seriously. Mulder and Bothrington were in a tense situation. Director Wilson had become infected but whether it was his innate paranoia or the result of what had been happening over the last couple of months he had managed to send everyone home but the two FBI agents. He'd used some excuse about the equipment breaking down. The support staff hadn't objected to being let off early on Friday and the scientists had been told that a replacement part wouldn't be available til Monday, so there wasn't anything they could do. Considering the pressure they had been under a three day weekend was a gift horse that no one looked in the mouth. Somewhere in his muddled mind Dr. Wilson had decided that the FBI agents were behind the problems at the institute and was determined to eliminate them. His plan initially had been to scare them but as his brain became more muddled by the effects he had turned homicidal. Mulder and Bothrington had surfaced from their temporary office to find the building deserted. Not knowing what was going on Mulder had called for backup, only to be refused by Cross. He'd left a urgent message for Agent Walter at the office and then tried to get him on his cell phone. "Damn, damn, damn!" "Did you reach Agent Walter?" Both asked. "No. He doesn't have a roving cellular." "Why in hell not?" "Because he's generally in the DC area so the Bureau doesn't spring for the extra cost. It's a good bit extra a month." Bothrington looked disgusted. "Great, more budget cutting." Mulder felt compelled to defend his boss. "Hey, it isn't a reasonable expense for him to have a roving number since he stays in the Washington area." "Don't be so damn touchy, Mulder. Do you have any idea what's going on?" "No. Let's scout around. You head that way, I'll take this." They split up and began a methodical search of the building. Mulder found all the doors and exits locked and he was unable to get out. He was heading back downstairs to meet Both when he heard a shot. Running in the direction of the sound he came quickly upon a struggle. Director Wilson and Agent Bothrington were struggling over a gun just inside the door to the room where the project's major equipment was held. Wilson saw him coming and kneed Both, grabbing his gun and shoving him towards Mulder. The lights went out in Project Bay B and Wilson disappeared into a warehouse sized room full of the equipment used for the gravitational experiments. Mulder heard the door slam shut behind him. He turned to try to get it opened and found that it was locked tight and there was no exit without a key. Turning back to the other agent he asked. "You okay, Both?" "Hurts like hell but I don't think I suffered any serious damage. What the hell got into him?" "It would be my guess that it's the same thing that has effected everyone else. Did you see how much he was sweating and he'd removed his jacket and shirt. He was only wearing an undershirt. If it's the same thing that has gotten to the other team members then we know what it is." "What do you mean?" "The only thing Dr. Wilson consumed this morning was a regular soda from the vending machines." "So other team members drank pop and weren't affected." "They drank diet pop. But everyone who was affected drank regular pop." "Not Paulsen. He didn't drink any pop, according to what Agent Walter found out when questioning him." "No but he ate two jelly filled donuts." "You've lost me there, Mulder. What do jelly filled donuts and regular pop have in common?" "Sugar. They are all high in sugar. Don't you remember the insulin levels on all the subjects were elevated... maybe the tests they're running do something to sugar molecules. A few probably wouldn't effect the person but eating or drinking anything with a high concentration of sugar could somehow work as a weird drug. That's why the insulin levels are elevated, the body is trying to cleanse the system." "Okay even if I buy this, why doesn't it show up in the tests?" "I don't know... maybe because they don't know what they're looking for. I'm going to call Dr. Spenser at MIT and have him pay special attention to the samples containing sugar." Mulder pulled out his cell phone and fiddled with it. "Blast." At Both's questioning look he elaborated. "The shielding in here must block the signal. Looks like we're on our own in here with a man with your loaded gun who thinks all his troubles are our fault. How'd he get your gun?" "I was searching the building and thought I heard something in here. When I came in to check he jumped me from behind screaming that it was my fault, that we were part of a government conspiracy to take the project away from him and give the research credit to someone else. "Man, Mulder, he was really strong. I think that drug or whatever it is gives them extra strength." "Well adrenaline levels are elevated, as well, so that would probably account for the super strength you observed. Let's see if we can find the light switch and spot Dr. Wilson." Mulder led the way. "Still no answer, Walter." Murphy said putting Skinner's cellular phone back into his pocket. He'd taken over calling Mulder every ten minutes so that Agent Walter could concentrate on driving. Murphy felt safer that way. His companion's driving had been getting progressively faster and more aggressive each time they failed to get an answer from Mulder. He'd even tried to call the Binford Institute direct only to reach numerous voice mail boxes. No one was answering the phones. Murphy Jameson found himself hoping that they didn't run into any cops on the way because the way Agent Walter was driving he doubted that he'd stop for a squad car. He really didn't feel like being the subject of a hot pursuit all the way to the institute. They were fortunate, all the traffic police seemed to be elsewhere. He looked at his watch as they got out of the car. They headed for the front doors. "Damn it, they're locked." Walter looked like he was ready to break in. "Take it easy, Agent Walter, we don't even know if they are in there or if they are in any trouble." "They're in there all right." "Now how can you know that?" "I just know. Shit, now I'm beginning to sound like Mulder. But trust me on this, Agent Jameson, they are in there." "Okay. Short of B and E what do you want to do?" Walter Skinner clenched his jaw and ground his teeth. He knew Jameson was right, they didn't have grounds to break in but something was telling him that Fox was in trouble, and that little voice was one he'd learned not to ignore. "Look, institute security is three buildings down you go get them. I'll wait here." Murphy didn't look happy about the suggestion. "You won't break in while I'm gone?" "I'll check around the building first and try to find another way in. By that time you should be back..." "And if I'm not you're going to find a door open one way or another." At Walter's shrug he added. "I sure hope Spooky's worth it." Skinner gritted his teeth. "Agent Mulder is one of the brightest and most insightful agents in the Bureau and I'd appreciate if you not call him Spooky." "Sorry. I'll go get security." Ten minutes later Walter had completed his circuit of the building and was about to break in when Murphy came up with the head of security. "Dr. Wilson sent everyone home. There was an equipment breakdown and he felt that the staff could use a break. I'm not supposed to let anyone in." "That car over there belongs to my partner and Agent Bothrington. Obviously they haven't left. Perhaps they got locked in by accident." "They could always call to get out. No one's called. Have you tried reaching them." "Yes and there was no answer on either the cellular phone or the number of the temporary office we've been assigned. We need to get into this building, now. Could you please open the front door?" The guard was about to argue but one look into the face of AD Skinner and he knew that this man would chew him up and spit him out if he refused. He really didn't want to explain why he hadn't cooperated with the FBI, especially since they'd already had one agent injured and a man dead in whatever madness had been going on at the institute. He got the keys out and unlocked the door. Skinner questioned him as they proceeded into the building. "My partner has a cellular phone, is there any place in the building that might interfere with it's operation so that he couldn't call out or receive any incoming calls?" "Project Bay B in the basement is heavily shielded. That would be my guess." Walter picked up his pace till it was just short of a run. "Okay let's check there first." As they approached the door they heard the sounds of muffled gun fire. Walter turned to the guard. "Give me the keys and go back and call the police. Tell them that the FBI needs assistance. Shots fired." At the guard's dumbstruck look Skinner grabbed the keys and shoved the man. "Get moving man. Now!" He barked out the order and the guard began to move. Another shot rang out. He and Murphy pulled their guns and carefully entered Bay B. Walter used the door stop to prop the door open. Only about half the lights were on but the situation was clear. Mulder was trying to talk Dr. Wilson into giving up the gun. Bothrington was on the floor not far from Mulder clutching his left arm with his right hand. It appeared that one of the shots had grazed him. Wilson was trying to get a clear shot at Both and Mulder. Fox was trying to keep the project's equipment between him and Wilson, while still shielding Both. Walter watched Wilson taking aim again and getting ready to shoot Fox. Knowing that the man probably wasn't responsible for his actions, he didn't want to shoot him. Skinner didn't think twice, he charged the project's director as the gun again discharged. They struggled, grappling together, the director again trying to aim the gun and fire, he was amazingly strong. The AD saw Mulder's body laying on the floor and felt his own Adrenalin surge. With his left arm he brought the gun down against his knee making Wilson drop it. His right hand formed a fist and he allowed all his fear and anger over what this man might have done to Fox to take control. The fist connected to Wilson's jaw with a sickening crunch. Wilson dropped to the floor unconscious. Skinner dropped him like a hot potato and turned briefly to Jameson nodding at the director on the floor and saying, "Take care of him." He turned and headed swiftly over to where Fox lay on the floor. Dropping to his knees beside the still form he gently turned him over checking for injuries, he brushed the hair off his forehead. "Fox... Fox, are you alright? Where did he hit you?" Fox heard the concern in Walter's voice and although he was disoriented he knew he had to answer. "Take it easy, Dad. I'm fine. Thanks to you, he missed. Banged my head going down, though, and hit the ground pretty hard. Just knocked the wind out of me." He took a couple of deep breaths. "Help me sit up." "Just lay still, Fox." "I'm fine. How's Wilson?" By this time Jameson had joined them and answered, "He's coming to but I think he has a broken jaw. You sure do pack a punch, Walter. I'm going to go call for an ambulance. I take it Dr. Wilson is the person behind what's been happening at the institute." Mulder answered as Walter helped him sit up. "No he's just another victim but if my theory's right he should be the last one." "You've figured it out?" Murphy asked surprised. "We need to have some tests run, but yeah, I think we've got a lead. If I'm right we should be able to avoid any more such instances." As he left Murphy thought, Walter turned to Agent Bothrington. "How are you doing?" Both was looking a little off balance as he answered. "I'm fine, Sir, a ricochet only grazed me." Skinner looked quickly to Fox, a question in his eyes asking if he had told Both who he was. Mulder gave a slight shake of his head no. The AD turned back to look at the other agent his eyebrow raised in a silent question. Both answered. "There aren't too many men that Mulder would call Dad, Sir." Fox and Walter exchanged chagrinned looks before Walter spoke. "I'd appreciate it if you forgot that Agent Bothrington and for now it's still Agent Walter." He nodded as he stood up. "I'm going to go keep an eye on Dr. Wilson. Jameson has him handcuffed to a pipe but he may hurt himself struggling. Especially if his jaw is broken." As he walked away he listened to Mulder bantering with AD Skinner. "Guess I should be thankful that the time you took a swing at me you hadn't eaten in a couple of days. Losing your cool, Walt?" The AD decided not to rise to the bait. "Come on, Mulder, let's run you by the hospital and get you checked out." "I don't need to go to a hospital." Walter shot him a look, making Fox feel about thirteen years old. "Well I don't." "Save it, Fox. You're going to go and get that thick skull of yours x-rayed and maybe your chest as well to make sure you didn't crack any ribs or get a concussion." At Mulder's stubborn look AD Skinner replied. "That wasn't a request, Agent Mulder." "Sure, fine, whatever." Skinner leaned his head back and laughed, he was feeling relieved that Fox was okay. "Didn't anyone ever tell you that pouting after the age of ten is considered immature." "Bet you Mom used that line on you." Walter decided digression was the better part of maintaining a hard assed reputation. Meg wasn't around and Fox was libel to get outrageous if he wasn't careful. He could tell his son was on a high from having most likely solved the case. He decided to again change the subject. "So tell me about this theory of yours." Dwayne Bothrington pulled up a chair by the semi-conscious form of Director Wilson. He listened to the bantering between Fox Mulder and the individual he now realized was AD Skinner. Well that explained why Agent Walter hadn't been resentful of Mulder leading the investigation. And no wonder they had been so amused by Cross' threats to go to the AD. The AD was right here and judging by his reaction to what had been going on things at the field office were likely to be changing soon. He really wanted to see Cross' face when he found out who Special Agent Walter was. That brought him back to why the Assistant Director of the FBI had gone into the field on a case. Gossip said that Skinner was protective of Spooky Mulder. Gossip, for once, had understated the case if the scene he had just witnessed was anything to go by. The AD may have wanted to check out the situation in the Boston office but Both would bet his last dollar that keeping Mulder safe had been the major reason he had come. Rumors had it that a couple of recent partners for Mulder had turned out to be incompetent or involved in shady activities. The man sure was a lighting rod for trouble but Both had to admit that working with him was fascinating and challenging. It was certainly a stretch. Besides truth to be told he just liked working with both of them. He hoped that none of his comments had gotten him in dutch with the AD. he thought, Bothrington vowed to himself that he was going to be there for that meeting. It would do a lot to make up for the last couple of years of cost cutting. An hour later the agents were at the hospital getting checked out. Both's injuries were very minor and it looked like Mulder was fine too, but the doctor wanted to do x-rays to be sure. While they were waiting for the tests to be finished Walter decided to have a talk with Smithson. He and Mulder had come up with a possible solution but Jameson would have to okay it first. "Jameson, I'd like to ask you a couple of questions and I need you to do me a favor." The agent nodded. "Sure, Walter, what do you want?" Bothrington rolled his eyes at hearing the AD called by what he now knew was his first name. Skinner shot him a disgusted look and thought, "Agent Bothrington is done, could you two go by the motel and check all of us out and pick up the luggage. We'll find a place downtown for tonight. With the institute closed for the weekend we can check out Mulder's theory and decide on our course of action by Monday morning. Wilson should be back to normal by then." "I'd be glad to, Walter, but neither Thomas or Cross will approve the expense of a downtown location, at least not one that you'd want to stay at. They prefer that we find motels that are under the standard government rate." Murphy replied. Skinner watched Both making another face, this one he decided was somewhere between amusement and disgust, before Bothrington piped in, "Don't worry about it, Murphy, I'm sure they can afford the difference. I know just the place, we'll check you into the St. Gregory." Walter shot him a quit pushing it look before replying, "Don't over do it, Agent Bothrington. The Hilton or the Four Seasons will be just fine." He smiled to himself. From the preliminary report both agents had made it was apparent that they worked well together covering each other while under attack by Director Wilson. Murphy shrugged, Walter continued speaking to Murphy, as Bothrington went to sign his release papers. "You're aware that agent Smithson won't be able to return to field work?" At his nod of yes Walter went on. "There are probably going to be some changes in the Boston office in the next few weeks, what do you think about putting Smithson in charge of retraining agents in proper procedures? You've got a young office and they have obviously been trained to cut corners. It's going to be difficult to get them back in line, at least in some cases." He watched Agent Jameson contemplate the proposal. "Well provided you can get it approved in DC it might be a solution." Word had spread fast about why Smithson needed a job until the buy out, Murphy wanted to see his grandkid to get help, even if he didn't like the man personally. "But I think you should know that Cross is already pressing to force him into retirement. Wants to get it pushed thought before anyone can raise a stink." "I wouldn't worry too much about that, I don't think he's going to have much to say in the matter soon." "I think you over estimate what Washington will do." "We'll see," was Skinner's only comment. "The point is do you think you can work with Smithson in this position?" Special Agent Murphy Jameson looked at the man facing him and wondered if he'd truly lost it, but he considered the questions carefully none the less. "If he can control his mouth and attitudes, yeah it seems a reasonable solution, but I don't think that it concerns me much. I'm planning on resigning in a couple of weeks, remember. I doubt things are likely to change enough for me to consider staying." "You never know, Murphy. You and Bothrington get us checked in at the hotel and then we'll meet you back at the office. Mulder and I have an appointment with Thomas and Cross at four. Baring any unforeseen events here we should be back in time, no problem. Gentlemen." AD Skinner nodded dismissing them. Leaving Murphy thinking that Agent Walter was getting a bit high handed and Both just glad to get away for awhile. Skinner could be a bit intimidating when he went into AD mode. End Chapter Seven E-mail us at Eowyn7@ix.netcom.com CC: macspooky@erols.com. We both love mail. The Naked Moment Chapter Eight "Revelations" By Macspooky and Eowyn "Agent Smithson. How are you feeling?" Walter Skinner asked as he walked into the room. "Fine. They want to do a bit more work on my feet but hopefully I'll be able to check out on Monday. Damn doctors. Nobody works weekends." Skinner fought down a chuckle, considering that people got sick twenty four hour a day seven days a week it was amazing how short staffed hospitals were on the weekends. "I thought you'd like to know that Mulder thinks he's got the link between victims." At Smithson's questioning look he went on to explain Mulder's theory and the day's events concluding, "He's talked with Dr. Spenser at MIT and he's going to run some scans and tests on the foods containing sugar. He hopes to be able to confirm or refute Mulder's theory by tomorrow afternoon, at least the part about exposure to phase two causing a change in the molecular structure of sugar." "Spooky's some piece of work." Smithson watched Walter's jaw tightened but laughed anyway. "I'm not doubting him in the least. He's probably right on the money but his mind sure has to work different than most to come up with that kind of shit." Walter opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself. Smithson was right Mulder didn't think like anyone else, that's what made him so good at what he did, and such a pain in the ass at the same time. Smithson must have read his expression because he laughed again. "So, you going to try and tell me that you've never thought of Mulder as a pain in the butt?" Walter looked at the man before him. He was changed from the person he interviewed a couple of days ago. The news about his grandson must have been good because Smithson was relaxed and content. He laughed and replied to the older agent's question. "Mulder has a certain skill in that area." It was time to change the subject, Mulder should be done shortly and Skinner wanted some time at the office to write up his report while the details were still fresh. He was looking forward to barbecuing Thomas and Cross after that. "I think I can arrange a position for you in the Boston office. I have a few connections in DC." He wondered about Smithson's ironic smile but didn't pursue the matter. "There are going to be some changes at the office in the near future and it's been noticed that the younger agents have not been trained or encouraged to follow standard procedures. It was felt that you might be a good person to reeducate them in the correct protocols." Smithson smiled. That was a good job, not a charity case to just fill in his time till he could get out, but one that really needed doing and one that he had the talents and experience to do. There had to be a catch. "So what's the problem?" "You catch on quick. You keep your bigotry and chauvinism to yourself. If it starts coming out, if you start spreading it to the younger agents, you're out. You can answer phones until the buy out comes through but no more real FBI work. So you think you can keep your mouth shut?" "That's a tough call but I think I can do it. For my daughter and her kid I'm sure as hell going to try. Oh, I wanted to thankyou for starting the fund for the kid. They've already had enough donations that they've scheduled the surgery for a week from this Tuesday. I'm going to need some time off for it. Hope that won't be a problem. Seems I'm a close match." "That shouldn't be a problem. It'll be a few weeks before things will have stabilized enough for you to start anyway." "So who's going to be acting ASAC? And will they put up with me?" "Murphy Jameson, if he accepts the position, he hasn't been asked yet. And yes I mentioned the possibility to him of you doing the job. He had no objections." "So have you offered him the job as ASAC?" Skinner looked at Smithson and raised an eyebrow. "Now what makes you think I could do that?" "I thought Wednesday night that you looked familiar but couldn't place the name. Then when things for my grandson took off so well... it got me thinking. We worked a case together early on. Bet you don't remember." Neither man noticed Mulder come up and stand in the door. "They called you in. Special hot shot, not long out of Quantico, in your first year at the Bureau. You had a lot more hair back then but I finally put the right name to the face. Course you had a nickname... now what was it? The Psychic... no... Fortuneteller... no... I've got it The Clairvoyant. That's what they called you. Had quite a reputation for figuring out what the criminals were going to do next. Must be why you like ole Spooky so well." Walter looked disgusted. Skinner glanced up to see Mulder grinning in the door way. Walter turned back to Smithson. "I'll let you know about the position we spoke of in a week or so. Agent Mulder and I have a four o'clock with ASAC Thomas and Cross so we need to leave." "Congratulations, Mulder. I hear you think you've solved the case." "Thankyou, Agent Smithson, should know by tomorrow afternoon. I hope your grandson is doing well." "Much better now that the operation has been scheduled. The people at the Bureau have really come through for him." Smithson held out his hand to Skinner and said, "Thankyou for your help, Assistant Director. I'll do my best not to let you down." Skinner and Mulder nodded leaving the room. "So, Walt, I didn't think you were going to tell him?" "I didn't. Apparently we worked on a case together early on in my career. I didn't remember him but he remembered me after he thought about it for awhile." "The Clairvoyant, hmm? So how'd you get that?" "Mulder." Fox could here the irritation creeping into his boss' voice. "Look, Dad, I'll keep it between us, and maybe mom and Dana, but if you think I'm going to forget it you don't know me very well." "Shit. There's probably less than a dozen agents still in the Bureau that remember that and we have to run into one of them." "Hey, my luck isn't all bad." "You're luck's damn good, Fox, and you're alive right now to prove it." "Point taken. So how did you get the nickname?" Walter sighed knowing Fox wouldn't let it drop and that if he didn't tell him he'd start snooping till he found someone who would. The AD really didn't want to refresh any memories as to what he'd once been nicknamed. "I had good instincts about what criminals were likely to do, how they'd react in certain situations. You can get into the minds of serial killers, I can get into the minds of career criminals. I helped to break a couple of big cases right out of Quantico. Got myself a reputation that, unlike you, I worked hard to bury." "You think I should?" "Fox, you do what meets your needs. If you want to be an AD someday, then yeah you might want to emphasize other of your skills. People don't resent you as much for hard work, they figure that they have the same chance you do, but instinct, it's something that you're born with and they see it as an unfair advantage." "I doubt I'd ever get the chance at AD. Not in my abilities." "You'd make a damn good AD. You can read people better than about anyone I've run across, you've got an eye and mind for detail way beyond the norm and insight into people and cases that would make you hard to beat. Your only problems are ones you create for yourself. You like to bait people, you're brutally honest and won't ignore any truth for political expediency. If you chose to compromise a little you could easily make AD but that's up to you and what you want." "Well when you make Director you can make me AD." "I'll take you up on that, Mulder, if I ever get in that position." Walter opened the ER door and they headed out to the car. Boston Field Office Three-fortyfive Friday Afternoon. "That was Dr. Spenser, preliminary results indicate some sort of molecular reorientation. He's real excited, planning on spending the night studying the results. He also called in an acquaintance of his who is a research MD. Specializes in neurotransmitter and brain chemistry." Mulder summarized the call he had just finished to the other two men around the table. Agent Bothrington and Agent Walter nodded their understanding. "So it looks like you got it on the nose, Mulder." Bothrington stated. "Let's say the results of the initial tests look promising. If things go as they suspect, Doctors Spenser and Hawks that is, this will have opened up a whole new area in brain biology, and I'll have probably made friends for life. Spense was practically drooling at the implications of a totally undiscovered and unresearched sugar compound and Hawks, the brain chemistry expert, refuses to come up for air. He's already started putting out official requests to the affected people at the institute to examine their records and do more blood work. Anyway bottom line, they want to meet with us early tomorrow afternoon to go over the results and with Director Wilson Sunday afternoon and arrange to come out to the institute for further study. As to whether or not my theory is correct... Spense says that in five or six years they might be able to prove or disprove it. I heard Hawks telling him not to be so optimistic that it would probably be at least ten years." Mulder shook his head smiling. Both interjected, "But I thought you said that test results...." "The results so far show that there has been some sort of alteration of water molecules in the food and drinks with a high sugar concentration but determining the nature of that alteration much less how it affects the body is going to take extensive research. Needless to say, that if this is the cause steps will be taken to make sure there are no more human subjects. Spense thinks that increased shielding of the reactor and a rule of no food or drink on the premises should prevent further occurrences. But he wants to study the process more to make sure that whatever caused this isn't damaging human tissue." "So we should be able to wrap up the case by tomorrow night?" Walter questioned. "Don't see any problem with it. Are your plans going to allow you to go home or do you have to stay for the reorganization?" Both Skinner and Mulder glanced briefly at Bothrington. Although it was fairly obvious he had figured out what was going on they had not discussed the subject with him. "There are several auditors flying up today and they are going to spend the weekend and probably into next week reviewing the office books. After that the course of action will be determined. In the mean time my presence here is unnecessary. I'll fly back up at the end of next week." Before he could continue Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Cross' voice could be heard inquiring for agents Mulder and Walter. He wanted to bawl them out before Thomas had the opportunity and his boss was due there any minute. "There you two are. Your behavior has been inexcusable. Totally ignoring budget, requesting unnecessary specialized tests, ignoring my warnings, calling for unnecessary backup..." Mulder interrupted. He didn't like the expression on Walt's face. "If you will bother to read the reports you will notice that the those tests are so far confirming our theories as to the cause of the behaviors at the Binford Institute and that the bazaar behaviors should stop. As for the backup being unnecessary I've got a mild concussion and Agent Bothrington has a gun shot wound." Cross continued his attack. "If you and Agent Bothrington are incompetent enough to let a civilian get one of your guns..." Before he could get another word out Agent Walter was out of his chair and had slammed Cross against the far wall pinning him there by holding onto his coat lapels. Murphy Jameson, seeing trouble brewing, headed over to pull Agent Walter off of Cross. He didn't blame Walter a bit but didn't want to see him get in trouble. Fox Mulder stopped him at the door. He turned to Mulder. "We better get him off Cross and see if we can cool Cross down before Thomas shows up. He's due any minute." Fox shook his head at Murphy. "I wouldn't if I were you. Agent Walter regards agent's lives as being valuable and he's in a bit of a bad mood at the Acting ASAC's attitude." "Bad mood or not if he hits Cross he's going to be in trouble." "He's not going to hit Cross." Mulder stated. Then taking a closer look at his boss thought that maybe Murphy had a point. "Hey, Walter, you aren't going to hit him are you?" The amused tone of Mulder's voice did much to diffuse Skinner's anger. "No. I'm not going to hit him. I'm just thinking about it." He started to back off when another voice spoke. "What the hell is going on here. I don't know who the hell you are but you're going to pay for manhandling Agent Cross." ASAC Thomas had finally arrived in time to see his assistant being pinned to the wall by a man with a broad back. He should have looked closer but, on the other hand, in the long run it wouldn't have mattered. Mulder stepped back to enjoy the fun, pulling Murphy with him. Agent Jameson was a bit disappointed by Mulder's obvious reluctance to support his partner, especially in light of the fact that his partner strongly supported him. AD Walter Skinner stood up straightened his jacket and collected himself before turning around to face ASAC Thomas. "Funny that's just the question I had for you." His voice was ice cold and deadly. Thomas' mouth feel open and he managed to say, "Walter." Before Skinner interrupted him. "In your office." Was the AD's only comment. "But I wasn't informed..." "I said, your office. Now!" Skinner walked forward one arm grasping Cross' upper arm to pull him along, the other hand shoving Thomas towards his office across the field office's bullpen. The entire company of the room watched as the three men entered the ASAC's office and Agent Walter slammed the door. Murphy looked at Mulder and Bothrington a question in his eyes. Mulder's only response was to shrug and mumble something about what he wouldn't give to be a fly. Both and Mulder sat down to finish their reports. For the next half hour the bullpen was quiet. Everyone was trying to hear what was going on in the ASAC's office. Mostly there was silence but every now and then a loud voice would be heard in obvious displeasure. Fox would grin, recognizing the tone, and try to concentrate on his reports. Skinner would tolerate many things, but risking agents lives unnecessarily in order to save a little money was not one of them. And a little voice inside of him added that the fact that his was one of the lives that they had risked had not helped their cause in the least. Between four thirty and five four men and a woman showed up at the reception desk and informed the receptionist that they were from the DC office and needed to see the ASAC. No one was willing to interrupt what was going on in his office, the secretary asked around for volunteers but before she could tell them to have a seat Mulder interrupted. "I'll tell them that you're here." With that he walked over to the door marked Neil Thomas and knocked. He heard Walter's voice before he even opened the door saying, "What the hell do you want?" The door was yanked open and he was face to face with a very angry AD. Mulder stepped back and grinned at him. "Well since you lit a fire and insisted that the people from accounting come up here ASAP, on a Friday night none the less, I figured you should be informed that they had arrived. Might as well put them to work." Skinner took several deep calming breaths. "Very well, Agent Mulder, please show them in and I'll inform them where I want them to start. Oh and would you ask Agent Jameson to join me in here in about fifteen minutes, as soon as ASAC Thomas and Agent Cross leave." Fox smiled at his boss before answering, "Yes, Sir." Going over to Jameson's cubicle he knocked and then stuck his head in. "Your presence is requested in the ASAC's office as soon as Thomas and Cross leave." "Do you know what the hell is going on here, Mulder?" Mulder grinned. "Well it's my guess that a few things are about to happen. This office is about to get an internal audit, and if the results are as expected, the office will probably be getting a new ASAC and Assistant ASAC." "Who the hell is Agent Walter? I've never heard of him. And where does he get his authority?" "Agent Walter is Assistant Director Walter Skinner, my boss. Thomas was up for promotion and Skinner wasn't sanguine about some of the rumors coming out of this office so he used this case as an excuse to do a little unofficial investigating. I don't think he liked what he found." "Why the hell does he want to talk to me?" Mulder turned and looked back across the bullpen watching Thomas and Cross gathering their things and leaving the office. Turning back to Jameson he said, "There they go. Why don't you ask him for yourself?" Murphy Jameson grabbed his suit coat from the back of his chair and shrugged it on. He looked worried. Mulder briefly squeezed his shoulder. He appreciated how this man had been willing to back Walter up this morning even knowing that it would get him in trouble with his boss. "Don't worry about it, Jameson. I've worked with Skinner for several years and he's never once been known to bite." Heading towards the ASAC's office Murphy marveled at the relaxed and close relationship between Mulder and his boss. He'd never met AD Skinner before, but the man had the reputation of being cold, distant and unapproachable, that didn't jive with what he saw between Skinner and Mulder. Knocking on the office door he entered when Skinner called come in. "Agent Mulder said you wanted to see me, Sir." Walter Skinner nodded to the auditors from DC and said, "You've got your orders. I want you to find out first just how many funds have been inappropriately redirected and then you can start on an estimate of the cost of bringing this office up to standard. From the looks of the car pool, it alone is going to take a quarter of a million." They left quickly to begin their work. "Agent Jameson, please have a seat." After the agent had taken a seat Skinner continued. "Thomas and Cross have been suspended, with pay, pending the outcome of this investigation. Until then I would like you to take over as ASAC." "Sir?" Walter smiled at Murphy's confusion. "I thought I told you to call me Walter, Murphy." Murphy shook his head feeling suddenly like Alice. Skinner chuckled and said, "Not as crazy as you thought I was?" "Sir, I never..." Looking up into the AD's amused glance he relaxed. "No, Sir. I guess you did know what you were talking about." And then his innate honesty overcame his reserve, "Walter, do you have any idea the mess this office is in and how much it's going to cost to try to bring it up to speed?" Clenching his jaw tightly Skinner answered, "Unfortunately yes. And I'm going to have a major fight getting the money to do it but we'll do the best we can. This isn't going to go over well in DC. But if you do good at this, then I'll put you up for permanent ASAC." "Like I stand much chance with the mess this place is in." "You'll have to trust me to judge you fairly on this, Murphy. You think you can do that?" They exchanged a long look and Murphy Jameson realized that he did trust Skinner to play it straight. "Very well, Si... Walter, I'll take the job." They leaned across the desk and shook hands. It was six-thirty Friday night and despite the enormous curiosity of everyone in the office everyone had finally cleared out for home. Both had cut out around five fortyfive saying he'd see Mulder around nine in the morning. Before he left he'd asked, "What do you think my chances are of getting a transfer to DC?" "I'm not sure, Both. This office has an awful lot of young agents so that Jameson might want to keep someone with your experience but I'll put in a good word for you with AD Skinner and see if he can swing it." "Thanks, I could use a change." "No problem, I owe you a couple." After that the office got quiet. The agents from Washington were setting up their office and making a list of the equipment that they would need. They left a little after six to go buy some equipment and get some food. Their supervisor now had a key to the field office and the financial files so that they could come back later that night and work. After that Mulder was the only one left except for Skinner and Jameson. He heard Murphy's office phone ring and went to answer it. "Jameson's office." "Could I speak to Agent Jameson please?" "He's in a meeting right now. Can I take a message?" "This is his wife, I was calling to find out when to expect him." "Hang on a minute, Ms. Jameson, I'll get him." "I don't want to disturb him in a meeting." "It's okay they've been going at it for an hour and a half, we all could use a break." He got up and went and knocked on the ASAC's door and then stuck his head in. "Agent Jameson's wife is calling. And I'm hungry." "Is that a hint that you want to call it a night, Mulder?" Skinner asked. "I finished all the paper work for this case an hour ago and it's been a long day." "So what have you been doing? Snooping through files?" The AD joked. "Nah... I figured all the good stuff would be in here. I called Dana to say hi, tell her that I'd be home tomorrow night and to see if the medication Mom was taking was helping." As Mulder saw Walter's eyebrows go through the roof he thought, The look on Walter's face told him that he would have some explaining to do. "On second thought if you all need to go longer why don't I just cut out and I'll see you at the hotel later." Mulder back peddled trying to make a break for it. "Hold it right there, Mulder. I think we've accomplished enough tonight. Don't you, Murphy?" The new Acting ASAC nodded in agreement. Things sure had changed in twelve hours and he felt he needed to take some time to absorb everything that was happening. Besides he wanted to talk to his wife about this new job. He stood up, excused himself and went to take his wife's call. The two men watched Murphy leave, then Walter turned to Mulder and asked. "What medicine?" Fox knew that evasion wasn't going to work so he figured he'd get right to the point. "Seems Aunt Sophia went over on Wednesday to see Mom and knew right away that something was wrong. They went to see Amy and mom has a low grade bladder infection. Probably has had it for a couple of weeks. The infection caused mom's milk to start drying up, which explains why the little Squirt was so fussy all the time. And I bet you thought it was the curse of being named Fox." At the stricken look on his father-in-laws face he came into the room and shut the door. "She's going to be fine, Walt. Don't worry." "She's been sick for a couple of weeks, Fox, and I was just too wrapped up in work to notice... that's not true... I noticed... I just took her for granted. Haven't been around much, left everything for her... Self centered SOB..." He started mumbling to himself. "Come on, let's go get some dinner. There's a couple of good places to eat over at Quincy Market, or we could head over to the Back Bay area, it's still early enough that we shouldn't have a problem getting in." Walter Skinner nodded, stood up, and began putting on his suit coat. As they headed out the door Fox clapped him on the back and finished, "You can spend the next couple of hours telling me what's been going on the last couple of weeks." At that Walter laughed. "You win. I'll give you the whole sordid story. But if I'm going to do it over dinner you have to promise not to lose your cool and make a scene." Mulder's face acquired a grim look. "I'll try, but I'm making no promises." "Maybe we should go back to the hotel to go over this." "No way, I'm hungry and I want something beside the standard hotel faire. I promise to behave. If I have to I'll save my shouting for later, okay?" Walter nodded and they left running into Jameson heading out the door as well. "Sorry to get you in tomorrow, Murphy, but there is no need for me to hang around once we finish the temporary plans. I'll come back once the preliminary audit is done and we know what we're looking at." "No problem. My wife's used to long hours and she's really excited for me that I might have a chance to actually straighten this mess out. See you around nine." End Chapter Eight E-mail us at Eowyn7@ix.netcom.com CC: macspooky@erols.com. We both love mail. The Naked Moment Chapter Nine "Connections" By Macspooky and Eowyn Sophia held Patrick above her head and laughed as he opened his mouth and drooled on her. "How like your daddy you look, Wally Wolf!" She brought him down and held him against her shoulder. He began to "bite" on her neck. "Going to turn into a little vampire?" She held him up away from her and he stared at her intently. The older woman could barely remember being happy like she was now surrounded suddenly by all this family. Most of her life had been spent alone in pursuit of the truth, and these babies were the apples of her eye. She knew that looking after them was going to wear her out as they became increasingly mobile, but she didn't care. They were making her golden years truly golden in so many ways. "Now into the carriage with you, Mulder," she said popping him in the double stroller next to his sister. She tickled Brenda under the chin. she wondered. "That's my girl. We are going to visit Grandma Meg now and you'd best behave." As if in response, Patrick started to cry, but she ignored him. As soon as the wheels started turning, he would settle down and watch the scenery with eyes uncannily like his dad's. Slowly but surely Margaret was turning her house into a home, their home, hers and Walter's. She still felt a pang of guilt about throwing Bill up into his face. Walter wasn't Bill. He was his own wonderful if sometimes exasperating person. If Annie had lived and had children, he would have been every bit as good a father as Bill had been. She was studying the lovely flowers that he had sent her when the doorbell rang. "Hi, Meg... I talked Dana into going out and dining with some friends and Wally Wolf here insisted on a ride, I wanted to see how you were feeling." "Come on in, Sophie. I have some coffee on. I thought it would be safe to have a cup since I'm feeling much better and my recheck is Monday." "Starbuck's French vanilla I'd say from the smell. JF asleep?" "Oh, yes... he's a completely different baby since he went on formula and a little cereal and fruit. He's gotten so sweet natured in just these past few days." Meg slipped the little sweater off of Brenda while Sophie removed the little basketball jacket that her nephew had bought Patrick... New York Knicks of course. "I know his daddy bought him that jacket," chuckled Margaret, "as though he needed more clothes." "Well, Fox always was something of a basketball nut and a clothes horse. You know, now that I think of it, a good basketball was the only thing he ever really asked me for when he was living with me," called Sophia as Meg went to fetch the coffee. The babies were drifting off to sleep so Sophia settled herself on the couch. "I didn't entirely understand it... I mean this need to mindlessly throw a ball through a hoop, but I guess that's part of being a boy." "Not necessarily just a boy," replied Meg returning with the coffee on a small tray. "Dana used to torture her dad about playing ice hockey, but of course, even if they had let girls play back then, we moved so much it would have been impossible. Thank god. I can just imagine the bills for dental work we would have had. She was always so determined to show that just because she was short and a girl didn't mean that she couldn't keep up with the best of them. She ended up with more scrapes than two of her brothers combined. Only Kevin rivaled her in that area." The two women sipped their coffee in silence. "Lovely flowers," observed Sophia looking at the mantle which was also covered with photos just like Dana's. "Walter sent them..." "No, I thought it was some secret lover..." "Right..." sighed Margaret. "Okay, Meg, what's wrong?" asked Sophie, "Spill it girlfriend... inquiring minds want to know." "And your mind is very inquiring." Margaret managed a smile. She had really come to appreciate this eccentric woman's friendship. She never gossiped idly and was full of common sense in her own bazaar way. "I'm just depressed I guess. Walter just called and is coming home tomorrow, and I flirted with him outrageously before he told me when he was going to be home and now he's expecting... well, you know, we could... you know... do what married people do, but Amy said to wait until the recheck and that's Saturday and Sunday night that we can't... and... Well it's not just Walter... I don't want to wait either!" Sophia looked at her friend good humoredly. "Come on, Margaret... there is more than one way to spend a romantic evening with your husband... you were a Navy wife for heaven's sake..." "Well, yes, but....." she blushed deeply... "well, Bill never would have gone for any of that other sort of stuff even if I'd been able to bring myself to try... and...well, Bill was very Catholic... and they were very strict...." "Well, Margaret, dear friend," said Sophia laughing, "somehow if I were you, I wouldn't equate Walter with Bill. It would be making a big mistake. Besides, nothing ventured nothing gained right? The worst he's going to do is shoo you away. At best, you'll make him a very happy man. He's not Catholic and you are flexible I'm sure. I have this great computer program... Come on... let's go download it..." "But I don't know how to use the computer and Walter has it set up with a password so that no one can get into it and I don't know what it is..." "No problem..." grinned Sophia, "It's time you learned and there is no such thing as a computer that Aunt Sophia can't get into. Time we shook the man up a little... in more ways than one... let's go." A few minutes later, Meg was perusing a program that told you how to do just about everything you had heard you could do and didn't believe. She thought about her strict religious upbringing. "You know what, Sophie," she said finally with a wicked grin. "I've given my Church seven kids... I think it's time I got to have a little fun." "Right... like I said, flexible, and how much of a sin could it be if you are married... in the Church..." Sophie got to her feet laughing, "Only I suspect you had lots of fun making those seven kids. Walt gives you any grief about that computer, send him to me. He needs a better set up. Have fun...." "I think I just might, but not as much as Walter..." Margaret turned her attention back to the screen and didn't even hear Sophia leave. She was fascinated. When JF woke up, she propped him in her arm and fed him his bottle and read some more... Hmm...? She was going to go take a class in this computer business... maybe learn to surf the net... It was time she got a faster modem. Walter and Fox had ended up in Chinatown at one of Mulder's favorite places. His family had always eaten here whenever they came into town. It was a considered a treat. The fact that it was still open had been a surprise to him. Thirty years for a restaurant to survive was a long time. He took a bite from the dish Walter had ordered only to grab for the water. "Damn it, Walt, your insides must be lined with asbestos." Walter had laughed at his son's obvious discomfort. "It's Szechwan, what did you expect?" "Something that didn't require a whole fire extinguisher. And I thought that mustard you liked was hot." The AD was feeling better. He'd taken the time, at Mulder's suggestion, to call Meg and talk to her. Spending most of the call groveling at her feet that he hadn't noticed how sick she was and the rest of it making promises as to how nice he was going to be to her when he got home tomorrow night and how he would explain everything then. She was feeling better as well, he could tell because she had flirted with him outrageously. She'd actually managed to make him blush. He'd looked up to see Fox grinning from ear to ear but his son-in-law had restrained himself only saying that he guessed Mom was recovering. Well, he was married to Dana so he was bound to have an idea. Wanting to put off telling Mulder about the test for a little while longer hoping to enjoy his dinner in peace he decided to tell Fox about his first experience with really spicy foods. "I got to like hot foods in New Orleans. Sortta introduced to them via a trial by fire." He saw that he'd gotten Fox's attention so he continued. "It was during my early years in the Bureau I was on temporary assignment. We were working with ATF to try to bust a drug ring. Well one of the local agents that had grown up in the area threw a big barbecue. You wouldn't believe the spread... it was huge. There were probably forty or fifty guests. Well they had really really great seafood and the shrimp was fantastic. They had three kinds of sauces. I'd tried the first two no problem one was pretty hot... someone had said to be careful that one of the sauces was very hot... Well like a fool I thought I'd found it and I wasn't that impressed." "Judging by your tastes now you can handle pretty spicy foods." "Oh I was a real hot shot back then, didn't think anything could phase me. Thought I'd seen it all... no one knew much about cajun back then. Well anyway I thought I'd try the third sauce. I was busy talking and not paying much attention. The agent who threw the barbecue was there and a couple of his family and they were eating it. What I didn't notice was that they were dipping a toothpick into the sauce and putting a couple of dabs on each piece of shrimp before eating them. So here I am debating the merits of the case and I take another shrimp and dip it in the sauce and take a bite... "The next thing I know I'm out on the floor, can't breath, and my mouth is on fire. They are stuffing bread at me telling me that that's better than water for abating the effects..." Fox was laughing so hard that he could hardly breath himself, he certainly couldn't collect himself enough to speak. Walter continued... "Couldn't taste anything for a week and I don't think my taste buds ever fully recovered. So, whenever anybody asks if I think something is spicy, I figure that if I'm not passed out on the floor it's not too bad. I learned to watch how the people around me ate after that. It was years before my partner let me live that down." They ate and they talked, finally when they were done they got up and decided to walk back in the direction of the hotel. It was a few miles but they both felt in need of the exercise. "So, Walt, it's a quiet street, not too many people around and I promise to behave, you going to tell me now?" So his boss started to talk and he told him about the meetings and the test and he thanked him for trusting him. At first he could tell that Mulder was angry but then he noticed his silence and his withdrawal. He finished up his story, "So they caved in. The X-files stay under my direct control and they keep their noses out of them. I couldn't have done it if you hadn't followed orders, Fox. Cancerman was counting on you to go off on your own. You proved him wrong." Mulder nodded but didn't say anything. They reached the Charlestown Bridge and crossed over continuing to walk along the river in silence. "Fox? What's wrong, son?" Walter suspected he knew what was coming but wasn't quite sure how to deal with it. Finally the younger man spoke. "I can't help but think that if it wasn't for me, you and your family wouldn't have had to go through all of this. You wouldn't be watching your back all the time, you would have noticed that mom was sick, little Fox wouldn't have had to do without his daddy for the last three weeks. It just seems that your life would be better without me and the X-files in it." He kicked viciously at a loose stone in the path. Well Walter had thought long and hard about this one, especially during their fight over Christmas, about what his life would have been like without Fox Mulder. "Professionally if you and Scully hadn't been around there would be a lot more people dead and all this crap that Cancerman's involved with would be continuing with impunity. I'd be blithely going along not having the vaguest notion that all this was being done and that I was even helping it. On a personal level I'd be alone. There wouldn't be Meg, there definitely wouldn't be little Fox. Hell, if you hadn't been there for Meg and me last summer our marriage would have probably ended up on the rocks. We were so far apart and full of misunderstanding, hurt, pain, and I was burying myself in my work and denying how I felt and what I was afraid of..." "Yeah, and you wouldn't have been shot or set up or have to put your job on the line every couple of months, or have a bunch of strangers interfering with your private life..." "I could have accepted your resignation a few years ago when you handed it in. It was my choice not to, to keep you in the game. You think that when you disappeared in that burning box car that I didn't kick myself and wish that I had let you go. I wanted you to stay because the work you do is important. "I've never hated myself or my job so much as that time when you stood before that meeting and defended the X-files and I had to tell you that they weren't important and that the work you had done didn't matter. I never felt so disgusted with myself in my life as I did at that moment, but I was trying to sit the fence, to kiss up to my bosses to get ahead. I had decided that it wasn't worth going out on a limb for you. "That night when I got home and couldn't stand to look at myself in the mirror I realized that getting ahead in the Bureau wasn't worth selling my soul for. I'd given you that case because I'd recognized it as an X-file and then bailed out on you when you needed my support. I knew I couldn't live with myself like that so from then on I said screw them and gave you every X-file that came along whether they were called that or not." "Yeah and your reward is to live in fear, constantly have to watch your back and worry all the time about your family." "Damn it, Mulder, I got in the FBI to make a difference not to take the easy road." Walter stopped walking and grabbed Fox by the shoulders shaking him slightly, "I've told you this before and I'll keep telling you this until you get it through your thick skull. I don't regret my choices. You are my family, an essential part of it, and if that means a few extra hassles every now and then... well as far as I'm concerned that's a small price to pay. I like being a player, not a pawn. And I'm happy with my life as it is. "This last test... I thought about letting them take the X-files and push you out. Hell with your grandfather's estate you don't need the FBI's resources, the rules and regulations we have to work within probably will slow you down. Maybe it would be safer for you working quietly on the outside but then I realized that the FBI needs you. I need you. God knows I wouldn't want all my agents to be like you but the Bureau needs a few with your brilliance and abilities. Someone who can make those incredible leaps in logic that speed up the resolution of cases, that sees the solutions that no one else can. So I paid the price, which was a few weeks of discomfort. I can live with that if it means keeping you in the Bureau. It's just part of the job." "So I'm just part of the job?" Mulder's tone was both amused and wistful. Walter released him and stepped back, a put upon look crossing his face. As he turned away he sighed, "You know better than that. You know how I feel about you. You know I think of you the same as if you were my own flesh and blood." Walter started walking away, afraid to face what he had just said. He loved Junior Fox very much. He hoped the child grew up to be as fine a man, with as much courage, as his namesake. Fox smiled as he caught up to his father-in-law, squeezing his shoulder briefly. "Yeah, I know, but it's nice to hear every now and then. I wish, that my real father... " He couldn't complete the thought. Instead changing the subject, "For the record, I feel the same way." Walter nodded, unable to meet his gaze, and they continued in silence back to the hotel. The Mulder Residence Saturday Night Fox walked in the door to find his wife dressed in a casual skirt and blouse. When she saw him, her face lit in a smile. "I've been studying the papers you faxed... It was the sugar..." she began but he swooped her up in his arms... and off her feet. "Sugar... where's the sugar?" he grinned. "I could use some sugar...." "The babies are asleep...." she said looking up at him. He picked her up and carried her to the couch. "You wearing anything under that skirt?" "Nope and I had a depo provera shot Thursday..." "A dopey what shot?" he asked. "A shot so that dopey guys like you can have all the sugar they want without having to worry about where they spill it...." He threw back his head and laughed as he laid her down. Aunt Sophia started to knock on the door, but when she heard Dana screaming, Oh, Fox... don't stop..." she decided it could wait till later. Somethings were best not interrupted. The Skinner Residence Saturday Night Margaret roamed around the kitchen restlessly wishing Walter had been a little clearer as to exactly what time he would be home. He had been unsure of the flight, and then of course there were always delays. Well, just about everything was ready for his home coming. She had a pot of his favorite stew cooked that would just need to be reheated, that was, in fact, better that way, and some crusty bread from his favorite bakery. That would take care of his stomach. She did wish she would have been able to have her recheck at the doctor's office though. She sighed. Well, that couldn't be helped. She looked at her baby playing contentedly in his infant seat. "Come on, Squirt. Daddy won't be home for awhile yet. Let's go into the den. Guess I'll play with the computer until he gets here. It's added a whole new dimension to my life." She chuckled and picking up the seat went to the other room. Walter set his suitcase down in the foyer to be rushed by two furry critters and no one else. Jeez... what stupid looking dogs... if you could call them dogs. They both had Thing's, leave it to Melissa to name the damn dog Thing, Pomeranian coat except for the tops of their heads which were what only could be described as an almost exact duplicate of Aunt Sophia's Afro, and of course, tails which were nearly bald except for some curls at the end. Real mutants. Maybe there really were EBE's. Leave it to Mulder to have a dog that produced offspring like these two. And what had Meg named them? Nothing normal... Wednesday and Morticia... jeez... He picked them up and looked around carefully making certain there was nothing to be stepped in and then went in search of his wife. He found her in the den, Squirt contentedly asleep in his seat. "What the hell are your doing?" he asked. She jumped, startled, and got out of the chair. Giving him a big smile, she went to him, hugged and kissed him, a gesture he might have returned if he hadn't had the mutants in his hands. Finally he put the dogs down. One promptly peed on the carpet. He winced silently... $38.00 a square yard... plus padding, installation and tax... "It's good to have you home, Walter." "Yeah..." he took her into his arms. Looking down at her, he realized that she looked much better. "I missed you. By the way, what are you doing on my computer?" "Oh," she laughed, "I'm reading fanfic." "What?" Something was a little off center here. "You know, that show you like so much, UFO Chasers? Well, if you get on the Internet people have written all their own stories. Some of them are really funny." She didn't add that she was finding the NC17 ones to be some of her absolute favorites, and VERY educational. Okay... he finally figured out what was bothering him. "Margaret, just how the hell did you access my computer?" "Oh, it wasn't too hard. Sophia just hit a couple of keys and played around with some words and we were in. She said she thought pure pussy was an interesting password, but kind of risque for the Assistant Director of the FBI..." "Sophia got on my computer? Jeez, Margaret, that thing is supposed to be secure. There is data on there that was not meant for Sophia or even you... goddamn it, how the hell did a flake like Sophia..." "Walter, calm down..." she said softly. The baby started to fuss. "I'm sorry, babe," he sighed. He put his arms around her. "I'll have to get a systems analyst from the Bureau to come and secure it." He kissed her some more. Nice long leisurely kisses. "Like my flowers?" "They were beautiful, Walter. I love you." Meg smiled up at him glad that the storm had passed, "And Sophia said she can fix you up with a secure system that will still enable me to play." "Oh she can, can she?" "Yup... now go give JF a hug while I warm up the stew... I've a lot to tell you." "And then we can go to bed?" he asked hopefully. "Yes... well... sort of..." Walter watched his wife head for the kitchen. He was starting to feel pretty desperate too. He picked up his little boy and cuddled him close. It was so good to feel the baby against him, his beautiful healthy son. Seeing Bothrington's grandbaby had really brought it home to him how lucky he was. The words on the computer screen caught his eye and he found himself chuckling inspite of his annoyance. Jeez, whoever had written this nonsense had a wicked sense of humor. He scrolled down the screen finishing the story before switching it off. Well, admittedly Meg's cooking sure had it over airline food, which he had passed on. He was full. "Meg, I'm sorry you've been sick. I knew something wasn't right... that you weren't yourself..." He reached across the table and took her hand with the hand that wasn't holding Squirt. "This test concerning Fox was really hard. But it was important." "I know, dear. I love him too and if it means that he's safer then it was worth three weeks of inconvenience." "I promise never again to let them put me in that position where I have to be caught between work and family and not be able to tell you about what's going on." "Okay, and promise you won't yell at Sophia about the computer. She's a wonderful friend and she didn't mean any harm." He nodded. "I will talk to her though. I wonder where she learned... come to think about it, I think Mulder did mention something about her telling fortunes with computers before they were popular... hmm..." Meg laughed to herself. Sometime men could be so dense. Just because Aunt Sophia looked so eccentric it hadn't occurred to him that she might be just as smart as Fox. "But I want to." He raised up and leaned on his forearms, smiling at her. "If it makes you uncomfortable we don't have to do this but I'd very much like to return the pleasure." Meg Skinner thought about it briefly and decided that she wasn't such an old dog that she couldn't learn new tricks. "Alright, dear, if it makes you happy." She winked at her husband. Finis That's all for now folks. More on the way. E us -- we like encouragement. It's inspirational. ;-) Eowyn7@ix.netcom.com Oh and one last little note... the idea for the case and what was causing the problem was a direct rip off from another show, shows actually. And there are a few hints in the story to give tribute-- including the title of the story. So anybody want to guess what it was taken from? As a reward you get a sneak preview of a story I've got in the works-- that isn't Generations. So you want an up and coming attractions preview -- write me and take a guess. If you're going to steal, steal well, and from the best. ;->. Eowyn