From: mgreten <mgreten@xtalwind.net>
Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2000 11:04:41 -0800
Subject: IN OTHER CONTEXT: Another Fine Mess by Mary Greten
Source: direct

Disclaimer: NO infringement on anyone's copyrights is intended.
loc's appreciated and answered: mgreten@xtalwind.net
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.  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".

```