From: pbfloyd@ix.netcom.com(Thomas Ethridge )
Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative
Subject: NEW: Chance Encounter 1/1
Date: 9 Dec 1995 23:46:42 GMT


I was on the Skinner/Scully? thing and I had to write this.
Unfortunately, it didn't end as I planned.. oh well;-)

Disclaimer: All characters herein belong to Chris Carter, 10/13
Productions and FBC. I know I'm not supposed to use them but since I'm
poor anyway..nothing bad was intended.

Chance Encounter
by Jennifer Ethridge


Dana Scully looked out the window. It was raining, again. Sighing she
pulled herself out of bed. Well, at least it was Friday. She pushed
herself through the morning ritual of getting ready, then got in her
car to start the drive to work.

About the time she passed Columbia, the rain picked up to nearly a
downpour. It seemed her windshield wipers just couldn't keep up with
the buckets of water pouring down from the sky.

Finally, she reached the J. Edgar Hoover building. Parking her car in
the garage, Scully walked in. Various people walked by, some calling
out greetings, others too busy too notice. At the elevator, she pressed
the 'down' button, and waited.

The doors opened , revealing Skinner. *Oh God* she thought. *Mulder
didn't do anything...* 

Skinner nodded to her. "Good Morning Agent Scully." 

She stepped on. "Good morning sir."

On the way down, Scully mentally went through all the things Mulder
could have done and what she would say to cover for him. Just before
the elevator reached the basement level, Skinner reached over and
pressed the 'halt' button. Scully gulped.

"Agent Scully..."

"Yes sir..." *Mulder, whatever you did, you are going to *die*.

"Agent Scully, I was coming down to talk to Agent Mulder."

"Yes?"

Skinner frowned. "However, it seems that it may be better if I talk to
you."

"Of course sir, but, may I ask why not in your office?"

He shifted from one foot to another. "There are certain, ah, people, I
would rather not encounter."

Scully's blue eyes widened a bit. "I understand, I think." *Oh great,
what *did* you do Mulder?*

Skinner looked down at Scully. "Agent Scully, what do you know about
the man you have seen in my office from time to time?"

*That he's a son of a bitch.* "Not much, why?"

Skinner didn't answer, apparently satisfied with her reply. "You both
will be sent on a case next week. It's not something I would normally
send down to you but..."

She realized what he was saying. "It wasn't your decision."

Nodding he stayed silent. The quietness filled the space between them.

Then Scully spoke. 

"Thank you sir."

Skinner looked up. "I know you don't think I'm on your side Dana, but..."

She nodded as he pressed the 'resume' button. "We all follow orders
sir."

He smiled slightly. "That we do, Agent Scully. Oh, and one more thing."

"What's that?"

He smiled. "Don't tell Mulder, it would tarnish my image."

Scully grinned. "Of course sir."

The doors opened and she walked out.

Skinner watched the doors close again, and the image of Dana Scully
disappear. He smiled. It was a Godsend that he ran into Scully first.
He probably wouldn't have been able to tell Mulder.

A lot of good that would have done them.
			*

"You didn't answer my question Scully."

She smiled. "Mulder, don't worry about it. It doesn't concern you."

He raised his eyebrows. "Oh, so this was a *personal* conversation you
two had in the elevator?"

Scully looked at him straight in the eye. "Jealous?"

Mulder could hardly speak. "That elevator was stopped between floors
for six minutes!"

Scully sat down in her chair. It wasn't usual for Mulder to get so
worked up over something. She was enjoying it fully. "Oh really? It
didn't seem that long at all."

Mulder just stared at her for a second, then shook his head. He didn't
want to know. *Skinner and Scully?* It wasn't possible, was it? *It
couldn't be, they're totally wrong for each other.*

He frowned deeply as he stared into space. *And why does that bother
you so much?* He was jealous, and he knew it.

Well, if Skinner did indeed think that he could win over Scully that
easily, he had another thing coming. Skinner would not have her that
easily, no way.

Because he would win her first.

END


*** Perhaps it makes sense now to say why it didn't turn out the way I
wanted. It wants to become a series (or at least father a sequel)
Goodness, what happens when you leave stories alone...whatdya think?
Tell me at pbfloyd@ix.netcom.com  __jennnifer