From: Rainbow920@aol.com Date: Tue, 13 Jul 1999 20:41:55 EDT Subject: xfc NEW: Assignment of Fear Source: xfc Title: Assignment of Fear Author: MC French Email: Rainbow920@aol.com Rated: PG Keywords: MSR/ UST, Character Study. Spoilers: Through The Beginning Summary: Assistant Director James Kersh muses on his two newest subordinates, who have a very special, and to him, frightening, relationship. Assignment of Fear James Kersh was not a happy man. He'd worked hard to get where he was today. Minorities had difficulty suceeding in the FBI, with some of the older, racist types still around. His record was exemplary, and he was respected,if not liked. That was all about to change. All because some well placed bastard gave him this assignment. The X-Files Division. Not really of course, Skinner was still in charge of that. But his two newest agents were the heart and soul of The X-Files, even if they were no longer working the cases. Because of the reputation of its agents, The X-Files was a name to strike fear in the hearts of men. It apparently had not shaken Dana Scully, which was the main reason he was here in the first place. For once, Scully hadn't been a good little girl and done what she was told. Like any Agent at Headquarters, he heard the gossip that ran around, and what he heard about Scully and Mulder wasn't your average stuff. That even though she was a skeptic, she substantiated those freaky cases,even explaining them so they made a modicum of sense. And she had somehow managed to bond with Mulder, which in his opinion, was worthy of an X-file. From what he'd heard, a more unsociable, paranoid man didn't walk the earth. Tom Colton had started it, said that Mulder was off his rocker, spouting theories about Reticulans and mutants. But the scary thing, he said, was that when Mulder reached a conclusion quickly Scully was right there with him. The two of them on levels that the other agents couldn't reach. In Colton's opinion, they were two of a kind, and the frozen basement was just the place for the wierdos. The lab agents had said years afterward, that Scully had changed to, Not only was she spooky, but paranoid to boot. Both she and Mulder had sleepless, haunted looks. They had lost much personally in that crazy crusade, and probably the reason they kept to themselves was because they were the only ones that could understand each other. What kind of agents were these, who read each others thoughts and voiced them aloud? That knew what the other wanted just by looking in the eyes? He'd seen them talking once, and the rumors were indeed true... He had been behind them in a hallway. What he'd heard had frightened him, more than he wanted to admit. "I'll go get," Mulder had said. "Coffee, and the file?' Scully finished for him. "Yeah, okay, and Scully. get some sleep, you look lost." This last after a look into her eyes. "Since when do you say that to me? I say that to YOU" Scully retorted. "We're two of a kind Agent Scully, more alike than different." Mulder had looked at her again. Scully had nodded, and gone off in the direction of the coffee with him. That had been two years previously. He had shivered and thanked the Powers that Be that he was in Violent Crimes and not Walter Skinner. Now, the roles were reversed. He knew what had happened to Skinner for failing to control these two. Would he meet that fate? His thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of his two new subordinates. "Assistant Director Kersh?" Dana Scully spoke crisply, and he noted the dark lines under her blue eyes. She was striking looking, with auburn hair and a piercing gaze. "Sit Down Agents." And as they did, his jaw dropped. They were walking in sync, without any apparent effort. Mulder's long strides matching Scully's shorter ones, his hand on the small of her back. Fox Mulder certainly did not appear sociable, the dark circles under his hazel eyes matched the ones under his partner's. His hair was unkempt and tousled, this pair had the look of people that got little sleep. Who knew what thoughts troubled their nights? Spooky wasn't the word for them. Mulder had fallen to pieces when she had been taken. After that time,they had risked their careers for each other without thought. Scully LIED to an FBI panel just to save him! The two had come back from the brink of death more times than he cared to count, always saved by each other. Scully had even been cured of terminal cancer by some clandestine desperation mission of Mulder's. Their personnel files looked like a science fiction novel. They were under his supervision now, and it was time to hide his fear of them and do his best to appear professional. " Agents Mulder and Scully? I trust you know that you are now assigned to domestic terrorism? You will remain partnered, unless you wish another agent to assist you?" "No, Sir, that won't be necessary' Mulder spoke rapidly, and he watched a subtle nod from his partner. Kersh wondered what it was about partners that sparked that response from Scully. He ought to check their file, he vaguely remembered an incident involving a past attempt at a partner. "There will be no detours into paranormal investigations unless ordered, which I assure you will not happen." This directed in his most professional voice. It did not even faze Mulder and Scully. "Sir? I am a seeker of the truth." Mulder spoke firmly, the tone of a man simply stating what was. "We are seekers of the truth" Scully interjected calmly. Almost a reproof, and Mulder apparently got the message, because he nodded in support. "To the best of my knowledge Sir, the truth is not a force that reponds to orders. It moves at will." Scully spoke as if she were declaring that the sky was blue. Mulder met her eyes, and something he read there prompted him to ask, "Is that all sir?" Kersh nodded wearily, and the two left. If that wasn't a declaration of insubordination, Kersh didn't know what was.If someone had asked him how he planned to control them, he would've given some conventional answer, but a force like that could not be controlled. Scully was right more than she knew. Their burdens were indeed heavy, and with reason. It was difficult to almost be the living embodiment of truth, in a world full of lies. Put a smile on my face, send me feedback. Pretty please with a cherry on top!