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Spoilers: Paper Hearts, Pilot

S PG 

Archive: I'll send to Gossamer.  All others please inform me of its

               where abouts 

Summary: In the wake of the Paper Hearts X-File, Scully 

demands to clarify her position in the X-Files Department.

 

IN OTHER CONTEXT: Another Fine Mess

Episode Dialogues by Vince Gilligan and Cris Carter 

ISMS ARRANGED by Mary Greten.

ORIGINAL MATERIAL by Mary Greten.



Having splattered John Lee Roche's brains over a dirty a window of a rotting

school bus in New England, FBI Agent Mulder sat staring at the cloth

heart cut out from the dress of Roche's final but yet unfound victim.  Agent

Dana Scully, having experienced Mulder's mental tautness the past few days,

knocked softly on the office door before she intruded on his volatile

ruminations.



They stared briefly at each other silently sponging each

others' presence until Scully remembered to lay the stack of papers in

her hands on Mulder's desk.



"I got back some lab results.  The dye analysis determined that the

fabric of the last heart was manufactured between 1969 and 1974...  but

beyond that, there's nothing more they can tell us.  Mulder, it's not 

your sister, Samantha...  and whoever that little girl really is, we'll 

find her."



"How?", Mulder insisted.



"I don't know..." Her voice metamorphosed huskily.  "But I do know

you." 



He glanced up at her, then drew his eyes down again.



"Why don't you go on home and get some sleep?".  Scully re-iterated

her constantly ignored prescription for him.  The lack of Sleep was the 

deprivation which had consummated in what could be the total

dissolution of the X-files.  Mulder's sardonic laughter momentarily infected

Scully with it's gusto.  Smiling, he pressed his head against her chest. 

She stroked his hair twice then left to iron out other more "press"ing

matters.   



Out of Mulder's hearing, Scully tactfully shunted a phone call from a

reporter in Norristown, Pennsylvania.  The reporter inquired about

the tenacious agents who never stopped searching to find the young

girls missing at the hands of John Lee Roche.  Frank Sparks, the father

of Addy Sparks missing since 1975, told the reporter of the agents' 

kindnesses and genuine sorrow when Agents Scully and Mulder informed him

of finding his daughters remains.  Mr. Sparks wanted people to know.



"That is not necessary; we were doing our jobs.  We wish we could

have done better for Addy but we did all we could when we could."



The reporter refused to be dissuaded.   After verifying already known

facts, Scully transferred the reporter to Media Relations.  



When Scully returned to the X-files office, She found Mulder still

hunched over his desk.  She didn't like his pallor, pulse or blood

pressure.  She called for a silent medi-van to take Mulder to an

emergency room to administer immediate electrolyte replacement for

dehydration and malnourishment.  Her swift diagnosis saved Mulder

from an overnight hospital stay, but the prescribed sedatives would put 

him down for at least twelve hours.  Scully arranged for Mulder's 

transportation home and a male registered night nurse to stay with him.



"This is my cell phone number", Dr. Scully instructed, "inform me at 

his first stirring or anything untoward.  It is most important that you

do not answer the phone or door unless you hear me say your name on

the answering machine.  OK?".  It wasn't difficult; no male nurse and

damn few females could deny Doctor Dana Scully when she pretty pleased.



Special Agent Dana Scully, on the other hand, had more tribulations to

avert.  A "shitstorm" was coalescing over Mulder's unilateral and

miscalculated actions in this case resulting in the near death of another

little girl.  Scully needed Mulder to be absolutely lucid for tomorrow's

Office of Professional Review's investigation into the handling of the 

Roche case.  If he should be incapable of appearing, then to save the 

X-Files, Scully would have to somehow put herself in storm's way.  She 

certainly could not explain Mulder's leaps of logic nor could she offer 

more scientific rationalizations than were already rejected by their own 

Assistant Director, Walter Skinner.  



Speaking of whom, she was still stinging over Skinner's "Mulder's your

baby.  Do something with him" crap he's been throwing at her lately. 

Who the hell let Peter Pan out of the peanut butter jar and when did

she become a Wendy?  From their first meeting, Scully's trust of skinner

tended to skirt the hem of vigilant distrust.

	

In the solitude that can only be afforded driving home alone on a

jammed highway at five miles an hour, Scully contemplated this

newest official unpleasantness Mulder had gotten them into and

Skinner's latest proctological insect infestation.



Her cell phone beeped.  



She fished the deep recesses of her coat whose pockets reminded her

of a nun's floor length habit which could hide the altar monstrance should

Blessed Sacrament ever need to make a quick getaway.  From her

seated position with one hand guiding the steering wheel, she reached far

enough down for her fingers to prod the phone upwards and press the

on button at the same time.



"Scully", she announced before the phone hit her ear.



A brusque voice ordered, "Agent Scully, I expect to see you in my

office the first thing in the morning." 



No more.  No more. No more.  Not from Mulder, not from Skinner, not

from the Director, not from the Attorney General.  Scully was out of

estrogen, packing a gun and ready to give a new connotation to

"double barrel action".  



"No, Sir.  The first place you will be tomorrow morning is at the

Division of Personnel Redress to show cause why I should not proceed

with a sexual harassment complaint concerning your attitude toward me

on this case.  I believe my complaint will take precedent over the OPR

since no one will want our testimony tainted by concern over what

could easily become a nasty lawsuit." 



"Agent Scully, wait...  I only wanted to...", Skinner stammered.



"Sir," Scully interrupted, "I have informed you of my intent.  You are

aware of the ensuing regulations regarding any further contact with me

until our hearing tomorrow and I surely need not remind you who might

be delighted to arbitrate this matter as well.  Scully pushed the off

button on her phone and was already mentally composing the post she

would be e-mailing to Personnel from her laptop at the next red light.





Skinner was livid.  He slammed the handset onto it's cradle.  Sure, he

leaned hard on Scully; he had done it before.  She seemed always to

care not a twit for herself.  All right, maybe never with the threat of a

reprimand for not telling him of Mulder's abuse of a federal prisoner. 

But no partner would have.  But, he blustered and blundered and she

called his bluff.  Now, he had two maverick agents to account for

tomorrow.   Skinner pulled his jacket off the back of his chair.  He had

to postpone the scheduled Roche case OPR investigation.  With luck, he 

might be able to catch the officiating A.D.s before they left. 

 

A personal request from him would be more difficult to refuse.



So he thought.  



It was worse than that; the word was "they" wanted the X-Files shut

down again.  He tried to catch Mulder at his home, his usual haunts,

even at his mother's, to warn Scully off but he failed.  Scully was

playing right into "their" hands.



The only good fact the X-files had going for it was that the newest

victim's parents and the nursery school pleaded with the media to

withhold the story.  There was no need for it.  With Roche dead the

public threat had been eliminated and the FBI was working with the

victims and relations providing physical and psychological assistance. 

The media agreed.



For his failure to follow protocol by not taking Scully along with him

once he got a judge's permission to release Roche from prison,

Agent Mulder's salary would be garnisheed to re-imburse the FBI for

expenses incurred.   But Skinner knew that wouldn't be enough.  Even

his own offer to resign did not relieve the unrelentuing pressure to rid

the Bureau of the two basement bats whose closure rate soared above

average precisely because they see with more than their eyes, hear

with more than their ears and feel with more than their touch than

normal investigators... So, it seemed, it would always be.





The sun always rose too quickly to suit A.D. Jana Cassidy.   As OPR

trouble shooter for the Director, her daily schedules permitted her little

patience for procrastinations and tardiness.  Unwarranted delayers

usually met with the loss of equal time to present their case.  Thus, she

was not amused when presented with Agent Scully's complaint however 

deserved of consideration it might be.  It seemed too ... timely.  



Scully arrived at the basement office to find A.D. Cassidy seated at

Mulder's desk.  



"I thought Agent Mulder is the early bird in this nest." Cassidy greeted.



Scully placed her laptop on Mulder's desk and sat in her customary

chair in front of it.  



"Usually.  But not today, it seems."



Surprised on two fronts, Cassidy attacked the obvious first.  



"Where is your desk, Agent Scully? I find it odd you don't have one." 

 

"My other duties as a forensic pathologist and general scientific field

and laboratory work preclude the need of a desk here." 



"Of course.  I understand.  I'm rarely at my own desk, myself.  Agent

Mulder is coming today.  Is he not?



"I have not heard to the contrary.", evaded Scully.



"What I don't comprehend is why he isn't here now.  Isn't he your

only witness to your allegations against A.D. Skinner.?"



"I place the same trust in A.D. Skinner to tell the truth as he does me."



Cassidy, taken off guard again, tilted her head as she handed Scully a

prefiled form for her to sign.  "Please verify that this is an accurate

statement from your e-mail yesterday evening.  A.D. Skinner has

already received his copy and should be here shortly."



True to Cassidy's word, Skinner arrived as Scully put the last flourish on

her signature.  Uncharacteristically informal, as was this hearing,  he

was jacketless, sleeves rolled and not at all pleased to be out of his

environment.  But the venue was Cassidy's choice.  He surmised she

wanted to see for herself the most infamous office in the building and

factor her impressions into her already formed finding.  He took the

remaining chair, but did not agnize Scully's presence.  



Cassidy, elbows on Mulder's desk, steepled her hands.  



"Agent Scully, I applaud your judgment to keep this to the minimal level

of formality and between the three of us.  If we can settle this matter

successfully, the only notation on the complaint will be 'withdrawn by

arbitrator' with no comments recorded in either of your files."



She glanced at Skinner. 



"My gut tells me that there is an underlying misunderstanding  

here of Agent Scully's responsibilities in the X-File department..." 



Rolling her eyes around the room, Cassidy continued.  



"..Such as it is.  The records show that you, Walter, were not assigned

the X-Files until after Agent Scully was transferred to it?"



"Yes.", Skinner answered sustinctly.



"What is your belief that her position is?"



"Partner."



"Is this true, Agent Scully"



"Not officially."



"Please elucidate, Agent Scully", Cassidy coaxed.



"To what detail?" Scully asked.



"All elements pertaining to job description."



"Agent Blevins wanted me to assist Mulder on the X-Files, to write

field reports on my activities, along with my observations on the validity

of the work.  When I candidly asked if he wanted me to debunk the X-

Files project, Agent Blevins said that he trusted I would make the

proper scientific analysis." 



"And when you contacted, Agent Mulder.  What was his reaction?" 



"He wanted to know who I ticked off to get stuck with this 'detail'.

I said I was looking forward to working with him.  He was under the

impression I was sent to spy on him"

 

"Assist, report, detail, spy.  No specific mention of being a

partner?"



"None."



"And since then?"



"It was gradually assumed under the term "assist", I suppose.  But

nowhere formally attested to other than by Agent Mulder and myself

that I am aware."



"Do you work for other departments?"



"Yes."



"Would you have any compunction not assisting Agent Mulder should

your expertise in other specialties be required elsewhere or you think

not necessary in a particular X-files case."



"Neither has happened yet."



"You haven't answered my question" Cassidy demanded.



"Required, meaning I am the only person with the exact expertise

expected, no compunction at all. The other, I can't conceive of 

happening at all."



"Do you think your job description in any way implies you are to be

held responsible for Agent Mulder's unilateral actions?"



"I was assigned only to assist and report.  I was never given any position

superior to Agent Mulder."



"So, when A.D. Skinner demanded that you 'see to it' that Agent Mulder

'tread lightly' what did you think he meant?"



"That I was to remind Agent Mulder of the limits of his authority if he

was exceeding them and to inform A.D. Skinner if he did." 



"And, did you inform A.D. Skinner?"



"Yes, when I discovered that Mulder had checked out Roche."



"How did A.D. Skinner react to this news?"



"He demanded to know where I was when this happened.  I had 

left Agent Mulder for the day.  I suggested that he get some sleep."



"Was A.D. Skinner satisfied with your reply?" 



"No, He said I had let him down."



Cassidy finally acknowledged that Skinner had not left the room.



"Do you deny any of Agent Scully's statement.  Walter?"



"No."



"Do you wish to add to it.?"



"No."



Cassidy sighed at Skinner's curtness. 



"Agent Scully, How is this a Sexual Harassment case?"



Scully inhaled deeply.  



"By insinuation.  Agent Mulder acted sometime during the night.  What

does it imply if my AD thinks I am with Agent Mulder at any time of the

night and how does he think if I had any control over Agent Mulder at

that time of night I would be using it? A.D. Skinner made a gross

assumption upon my relationship with Agent Mulder and expected me

to act upon it.  If I let him down, it was just short of violating Agent

Mulder's civil rights and my medical and personal ethics.  At the very least

he was applying the Peter Pan Syndrome to an appropriately reluctant Wendy."



Cassidy was finishing her notes when her cell phone chirped.  She listened

for a long time, spoke little and occasionally glared at Agent Scully.  

When she terminated the conversation, Cassidy accosted Scully.



"Again, Agent Scully, I must congratulate you.  There will be no action

against Agent Mulder or the X-files for his actions in the Roche case. 

The interview that you gave the Pennsylvania reporter yesterday was

picked up by the wire services and the electronic media.  It appears you

and Agent Mulder have become champions of law enforcement and the FBI 

is getting good press for a change.  



Scully protested. "I assure you, I only confirmed what was known and passed 

the reporter over to Media Relations."  



"Nevertheless, you did stonewall me with this convenient complaint"

	

Skinner literally stood up in defence of his subordinate.  



"Jana.  Everything Agent Scully alleged was true.  I did expect more of

her than I would have anyone else and improperly so.  She has my

word it will not happen again."



"I accept and withdraw my complaint" replied Scully.



"Very well, at least something was accomplished here.  Consider this

matter settled".  Cassidy conceded while closing her brief case.  



"When I see you next,  Agent Scully, it had better be only in passing. 

Good day".



Agent Scully sagged against Mulder's desk as she watched the OPR

chairperson leave.



But Skinner did not move.



"You used me, Scully." 



"Sir, I..." Scully began.



Skinner interupted, "I can still cite you for not telling me about 

Mulder hitting Roche."



"You should have." She retorted.



"But if I do it now, it can be construed as retaliation for your complaint."



"True."  Scully agreed.  

 

"So..."



As he usually did when wrestling with words, Skinner moved his lower

jaw laterally against the top.



"So?"  Scully urged.



"So, I don't need another fine mess." Skinner waived.  "Report, on my

desk, day's end tomorrow, Agent Scully."



"Yes, sir.  Understood, sir".  



Scully waited until Skinner shut the office door behind him.



She dialed Mulder's home phone.  



"Gary, I will be relieving you in an hour".



```