Title: Seeing and Believing Author: ML Email: msnsc21@aol.com Distribution: OK to archive. Just please let me know, and keep headers attached. Thanks! Spoilers: Requiem, Sein und Zeit, Closure, One Breath Rating: PG (a bit of language is all) Classification: V Keywords: Skinner POV Summary: Skinner's take on the events in Oregon and their aftermath. Disclaimer: Skinner's not mine; if he were, I'd give him more to do on the show! All characters named herein are the property of Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen, FOX, et cetera. I mean no infringement. Author's notes: This is a companion piece to both "You Come and Go Again" and to "The Will to Fight." Reading them is not required to understand this piece, but I'd love it if you did anyway! Both are at Ephemeral (and BTW, I reposted "You Come and Go Again" so it should be easier to read now! ). I think there will be one more in this little grouping, from another character's POV. This story also lays some groundwork for another story I'm working on, which takes place somewhat earlier in the year. And feedback warms the cookies of my heart... Seeing and Believing by ML What had he seen? He told Agent Scully he could not deny what he saw. And he wouldn't. But now, back in his office, the whole episode in the Oregon forest seemed unreal. Skinner has seen and experienced enough in his life and during his association with Agent Mulder to acknowledge that there are plenty of things in the world--and out of it--that are beyond his comprehension. He's said as much to Mulder, more than once. The first time was during Agent Scully's disappearance, while trying to persuade Mulder not to resign. Skinner had admitted then that he feared exploring the phenomena Mulder pursued, and while he still retains a good deal more skepticism than Mulder, he acknowledges that some events are beyond rational explanation. Mulder's disappearance ranks right up there with the most unbelievable of x-files. Skinner had spent the rest of that night in the forest, searching for any clue to Mulder's whereabouts. He'd contacted the Gunmen and they could find nothing, no evidence of any aircraft, unidentified or not, in the vicinity. Whatever it was had disappeared as thoroughly as Mulder. He hadn't wanted to face Scully. The Gunmen told him what had happened to her, where she was. Once he'd reported Mulder's disappearance to them, he hoped they'd be the ones to tell her. He suspects, however, that she already knew without being told. The connection between his two most challenging agents is unlike anything he's ever seen. He knows that he's only recently gained Scully's complete trust. And rightfully so; despite his intentions to the contrary, he's been used against both her and Mulder too many times. It meant a lot to him that Scully asked him to accompany Mulder back to Oregon. And now, once again, he's failed her. Scully's revelation in the hospital makes his failure even more complete. He's long known that his agents have deeper feelings for each other than partners generally do, but until recently he's been equally certain they'd never acted on those feelings. Then earlier this year, after an especially grueling case in California, something changed between them. The case had been particularly hard on Mulder. Complicated by his conviction that Samantha Mulder had some connection to the case, and devastated by a new personal loss during the investigation, Mulder had withdrawn further into himself. Scully seemed his only link to reality. She hovered over him in much the same way Mulder has always hovered over her, watchful of his comfort, his needs. In the end, Mulder found a hard-won peace. Skinner granted him an indefinite leave at the close of the case, and he stayed in California. Scully came back to Washington, submitted their field reports and all the other required reams of paperwork, and then requested a leave of her own. He hadn't questioned her at all; hadn't wanted to know where she was going. Both agents returned within a day of each other and everything seemed to be business as usual. Mulder still hovered at Scully's shoulder, still touched her at every opportunity, invaded her personal space as a matter of course. Scully still ignored his innuendoes and took all his other quirks in stride, as always. But there was an ease between them which hadn't existed before. It was nothing the casual observer would take notice of, but Skinner could tell. Mulder no longer seemed to be devouring Scully's every word and gesture; the expression of inchoate longing was gone from his eyes, along with the wounded look Skinner associated with Mulder's quest for his sister. Scully seemed much as usual, but Skinner has always found it harder to read her. While Mulder often wears his heart on his sleeve, Scully keeps hers well hidden most of the time. Her emotions in the hospital when she told him her news had almost made *him* bawl, and scared him at the same time. His first impulse then had been to offer sympathy and comfort. But he knows Scully well enough to know she needs something to put her back up against. She needs conflict, obstacles to overcome. She needs her edge. She will not thank him if he tries to ease her path. He left word for her to come see him as soon as she got in, her first day back. Now she sits in front of him, calmly waiting for him to speak first. He clears his throat. Why does she make him so nervous? Mulder doesn't make him nervous. Infuriates him, yes, but never nervous. Scully holds herself ramrod straight which has the effect of making her seem taller than she is. He only really notices how tiny she is when she stands next to Mulder. Or when she's in a hospital bed. He is brisk and businesslike with her, every inch the AD. He sees a fleeting doubt in her eyes: she seems to think he is denying what happened in Oregon. He is not, he will not, deny what he saw, just as he promised before. But she has to see that things are more complicated. His concern is how to move forward. He presents a couple of scenarios he's mulled over. Close the X-files until Mulder's return and send Scully back to Quantico is one. Or, transfer her to a field office position. He dangles the possibility of an ASAC assignment in front of her. The only bait she takes is when he mistakenly refers to Mulder's return as a possibility rather than a certainty. She's all over that, and though he's a little taken aback by her vehemence, he's secretly glad she believes so strongly in his return. His faith is not as strong as hers; but as long as she believes he will find a way to believe as well. Of course he will support her in any way he can, and his own preference is that she stay in DC and on the X-files where he can be close at hand. But he wants to be sure that this is what she wants, too. If she prefers to go to ground, keep a low profile, he'll support that, too. He now has an uneasy alliance with the Gunmen. The pact, unspoken but no less deeply understood, is that they keep Scully safe. She can't know this, of course. She might not kick *his* ass, but she will definitely kick the Gunmen's if she suspects. Mulder didn't even have to ask this of him. Skinner would do it anyway, no question, even if he hadn't made the promise to Mulder on the flight to Oregon. More than likely Mulder had extracted a similar promise from the Gunmen before leaving, also without necessity. The only necessity here is performing this task without Scully's knowledge. Scully's reaction to his alternative work suggestions is swift and sure. She will fight every inch of the way. He's glad of that, and he feels pleased that he has sparked this reaction from her. He was right to think that smoothing her way is not the best course of action. Skinner has always suspected that the main reason Scully and Mulder have avoided intimacy all these years has mainly to do with Scully and her reluctance to let her guard down. Anyone else would have either taken Mulder up on his innuendoes or slapped him with a harassment suit long ago. But from the first she tolerated Mulder's many quirks while never giving one inch to him. Mulder fought for her respect and trust just as much as she fought for his. They've weathered so many cataclysmic events over the years. Certainly rifts occurred on occasion, but they've always had each other's back. He's saw what happened to Mulder when Scully disappeared; hell be damned if he'll stand by and watch Scully go through the same torment alone. After Scully leaves his office, Skinner once again tackles his report. He can hear Chesty now, picking apart any possible justification Skinner can muster. *The world is being run by bean counters with no vision*, he thinks sourly. *To hell with them*. He finishes his report, recounting events exactly as they happened, without equivocation. *Damn the OPR, damn the whole lot of them. They can do what they want with me, with my report, with the horse I rode in on*, he thinks grimly. But I won't deny the truth anymore. It isn't just one man's crusade. Report in hand, he heads to the Director's office. end. thanks for reading! feedback is gratefully accepted and responded to at msnsc21@aol.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Find long lost high school friends: http://click.egroups.com/1/5535/4/_/599222/_/962976209/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------- The X-Files Creative Mailing List Archived at http://www.xemplary.com To subscribe, go to http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/xfc-atxc To unsubscribe, write xfc-atxc-unsubscribe@onelist.com Check out the XFC Feedback list http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/xfc-fdbk ---------------------------------- Imported to ATXC courtesy of NewsGuy news service http://newsguy.com