Washington, DC
Apartment of Walter Skinner
November 3, 1:00AM

Soft darkness, only a wedge of light coming from the study, where the computer screen saver is on. Skinner gazes up at the ceiling of his bedroom and tells himself he should will himself to sleep, but the field reports on his desk in the study call to him like Christmas morning to a child, and he can no more lie in bed like this than a ten year old with a new bike downstairs under the tree.

He slips out of bed, pads barefoot down the carpeted hall. His e-mail light is blinking; he clicks the receive button, but his attention is drawn to the reports on his desk. He has rarely had such a satisfying experience connected with work, and he wants to savor it for as long as he can.

He sits in his comfortable swivel chair, his chin on one big fist, looking down with a sleepy smile as he re-reads his favorite parts.

******

From the Field Report of Special Agent Jeffrey Spender:

...at that point in time, Sergeant Raul Alzono moved across the bridge to Agent Scully and knocked her over the railing, so that she was not a witness to the following events. A large, manlike lizard, approximately nine feet in height, with some sort of ridged spine and what appeared to be backward jointed legs approached Sgt. Alzono. The creature was wearing a blonde wig and spoke in a language that I was unable to comprehend. Sgt. Alzono drew his sidearm and fired at least one time. At that point both he and the creature appeared to spontaneously combust, and several minutes later there was nothing left of either of them but residual ash. My partner, Special Agent Diana Fowley, fainted at some point during this incident, and it is possible that as she says she did not actually see this creature. The officers engaged in the search for the perpetrator of the Paul Landers murder were not on the bridge at this time and did not witness this event.

******

Although Skinner has signed the transfer papers earlier, he glances over them again. Spender will be happier in mail fraud, more suited to the work. Diana Fowley can either take the offer as research assistant to Scully, and thus remain with the X-Files, or she can take the assignment in Criminal Investigations. Though she hasn't signed the papers, it is a fair bet where she will be headed.

He thumbs the sheets apart, and looks at the next report, from Special Agent Dana Scully.

********

From the Field Report of Special Agent Dana Scully:

...because I was not on the bridge at that time, I was not a witness to these events. However I did see the residual ash Agent Spender reported and I did hear the sound of an explosion, as Agent Spender and the investigating police officers reported. On Oct 29, in conjunction with the CDC, I witnessed the cremation by fire of all skeletal remains in these cases as a precaution against viral contagion. (see attached lab reports)

**********

Skinner clicks the mouse to open his email, and sees that there is a message from Scully. He opens it immediately.

What Skinner does not see, in his absorption, is the shadow stirring behind him in the dark. He is no longer alone in the room.

********

A.D. Skinner,

I will be staying in Annapolis until the 10th, at which time my leave will be up and I will be reporting back to work. Thank you for allowing me this extra time to recover.

Dana Scully

********

The next message, predictably enough, from the same address assigned to Scully's laptop, is from Mulder.

*******

A.D.Skinner,

I have accepted with gratitude the offer of reinstatement to the FBI and in particular to the X-Files. I will be reporting to your office on the 10th of November to begin the necessary paperwork for recertifications.

FW Mulder

*******

Skinner rarely talks to himself, but now he says with quiet pleasure, "Who says there are never any happy endings?"

At this point long fingers slide across the back of his neck. He stiffens, then relaxes and turns his head to brush his lips against them.

"Not me," Meg says, and tugs at his hand gently. "Come back to bed and I'll explain why."

Skinner gives a last affectionate look at the computer screen and gets to his feet, switching off the banker's lamp on his desk. At times like these, he reflects, the future seems well worth fighting for.

******

end

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thanks for reading,
jordan