From: Kate <trust.no.one@thepentagon.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1998 20:58:16 -0700
Subject: Obscure Alias (1/1) by Fallen Angel


Title: Obscure Alias
Author: Fallen Angel
E-mail: taxpa30@yahoo.com
Archive: Gossamer archive, anywhere else just let me know first
Summary: Scully gets a bit confused about the nature of a relationship
with an e-mail buddy.
Spoilers: a few tiny ones, nothing remotely serious.	
Disclaimer: Ok, if I owned Mulder and Scully I sure wouldn't be writing 
fanfic, ok? We all know who owns them; that crazy ol surfer who we know 
and love. I've taken care of them so, Chris, why don't do the same?  
Please don't sue me.  It's not nice.
Dedication: This one's for you, Kate, my favourite e-mail buddy who
I'm *fairly* certain is real. Thanks for all you're help, Kate, you're
one hellova friend.



Obscure Alias
by Fallen Angel

"You have e-mail," the PC informed Scully. She looked up from the
notes she was typing and smiled.  Silently, she clicked on the pager
button and opened her e-mail account.

Date: 3rd Jan, 1999
From: Crumpet <tmcrumpet@yahoo.com>
To:  Marty's girl <Martys_girl@yahoo.com>
Subject: Thanks for replying.

Dear Marty's girl, 
Thank you for replying to my post, because of you I was able to solve
my problem...

Scully read the e-mail quickly, all the while thinking how strange it
was that she and 'Crumpet' had only exchanged a few letters but had
quickly become friends. She didn't know a lot about Crumpet, just that
she was a woman who was experiencing internal conflict about her
relationship with a friend in her life. Scully had offered what little
advice she could, with seemingly successful results. 

They hadn't discussed their real names or where they worked and Scully
was more than fine with that. She had discovered the negative effect
of revealing her career choice to others, and wasn't keen to repeat
the experience. Maybe Max was right, maybe she was enigmatic.

The two friends talked about places they wanted to travel to, books
they had read, jokes they had heard, funny things that had happened to
them... They talked about anything, really. Except themselves.

Over the short time they had known each other a pattern had emerged.
Crumpet would write in the evening and Scully would reply the next
morning before work. There was something reassuring about this
routine, it brought a sense of security to both women. 

"So, Crumpet," Scully replied, "how was that blind date last night?
Was he as hideous as you thought he would be?" Scully smiled as she
recalled her friends graphic description of what she imagined her date
would look like. It had been a long time since Scully had been on a
date and she couldn't help feeling a tinge of envy. "Today I finished
that book you recommended. I can understand why it's your favorite.
Stephen King isn't usually my style but I actually liked that one, it
was almost scary! I guess I've seen to many things to be scared by
moving hedges and deceased hotel guests..."

Ten minutes later, Scully sent the E-mail and picked up her jacket to
go to work. 

<its funny, I haven't mentioned Crumpet to Mulder and Crumpet doesn't
know about Mulder. Its like I'm living two lives. A parallel existence>

XxXxX

From: Crumpet <tmcrumpet@yahoo.com>
To: Marty's girl <martys_girl@yahoo.com>
Subject: Hands down, undeniably the worst date in history!

Dear Marty's girl, 

It was one of the worst nights of my life!!! My father's funeral was
more entertaining!! He looked remarkably like Hannibal Lector and had
the mentality of Paulie Shaw. The next time I see the person who set
me up.... Well, lets just say she better have medical insurance.

What sort of stuff have you seen that makes Stephen King look tame?
You must have an interesting life...

Oh, gotta go. There is an Agatha Christie movie on that I wanted to
watch.

Later,
Crumpet


An interesting life, Scully thought, that's one way to describe it.
She clicked the 'reply' button and started tapping away.

Hi Crumpet,

Sorry to hear about your date.  Live and learn.

What have I seen? A bit of everything, I guess you could say. A
colleague of mine seems to aim at making my life as weird as possible.
He has a good heart, though.


What Agatha Christie movie was on? I used to read her books. Endless
night was my favorite. Have you read that one? 

Damn, I'm late for work.

Talk to you later,
Marty's Girl

With a sigh, Scully stood up and quickly put on her shoes, the
uncomfortable ones that gave her blisters but matched her suit so
well, grabbed her jacket and purse and locked the door behind her, not
quite ready to face Mulder for yet another day.

That night Scully was trying to relax on her couch after an especially
tedious day. She closed her eyes against the cool face washer on her
forehead and took a deep breath. Moments later she was asleep.

*BEEP*

<sigh> 

Slowly, Scully got to her feet and stumbled over to the computer. A
sign flashed on the screen informing her that she had e-mail. She
wondered whether to read it now or in the morning when she had a clear
head. What the hell, she thought, clicking on the icon, if I'm late
again tomorrow Mulder won't let me hear the end of it.

Hey, Marty's Girl!

Today the blind date guy called. I told him I had to leave on a
business trip the next day so I wouldn't be able to see him in a
while. Lets just say I'll be screening my calls from now on.

I guess you would see a lot of strange stuff with a partner like Mulder.

Yeah, I'm read Endless Nights. Not one of her...

<WHAT?!>

Scully shook her head in attempt to clear it and read the letter again. 

<What the hell? I didn't mention Mulder's name. I'm sure of it.
How...?!>

Scully went to her 'sent' folder and opened each of her letters to
Crumpet. No mention of Mulder could be found.

<Shit, what the hell's going on?!>

Dana's instinctively rational mind tried to think of a logical
explanation.

<Maybe I mentioned it in a letter that I forgot to save... Maybe she
works at the bureau... but how would she know "Marty's Girl" was me?...>

More than a little puzzled, Dana tried to decide what to do next. 

<Should I ask her about it? Just ignore it? Well, how about I don't
indicate that I picked up on it and inquire if it happens again? I've
gotta stop this internal dialogue thing, its too much like a daytime
soap.>

In her reply to Crumpet, Scully rattled on about nothing in
particular, hoping to casually draw out more information from her. 
She asked how she should go about redecorating her apartment, if she
had gotten any more calls from her date, stuff like that.

The next day, Scully eagerly checked her mail.

Hi Marty's Girl!

That horrible guy told me yesterday that he wasn't really interested
in pursuing this relationship. I tried to tell him that there never
was a relationship between us but he ignored me. He said he had a
thing for redheads but don't worry, I won't try to set you up with him. 

<She can SEE me? Who the hell is this person?> 

All day long Scully tried to make heads or tails of the situation.
Thoughts of psychopaths who had found someone on the internet, tracked
them down and stalked them in real life raced through her head. Once
they knew her partner was called Mulder they could find her and look
up her details, her physical appearance, where she worked, where she
lived... But how would she know her partner  was Mulder? Maybe she
didn't know Scully's hair was red, maybe it was just a generalisation...

By the time Scully got home from work she was physically and
emotionally exhausted. She curled up on the couch with a soft blanket
around her and surrendered to sleep. When she next opened her eyes it
was 8pm. Scully blinked several times and rubbed her eyes, slowly
coming out of her deep sleep.  While walking over to the kitchen to
make herself some dinner, Scully noticed her computer was turned on.
She approached warily, certain that she had turned it off when she had
finished typing up her field report.  

'Welcome, Crumpet', The window read, 'You have no new messages'.
Scully shook her head. 

<This is a yahoo account introduction page. HER e-mail account. How...
> 

She stared at the screen, nonplused, trying to comprehend what was
happening.

<what the hell is going on?! Was this person in my house?>

Scully stood up and checked her door and windows. Locked. There was no
way anyone could have gotten inside.  

 <Maybe she had a key... Oh, god what if she has a key? Think, Dana.
How could she get a key, huh? The only people with a copy are Mom and
Mulder. Ok, so how else did her account get onto my screen? Sometimes
when someone forgets to log out of their account another person may
log on to find someone else's account opened in front of them. Ok, but
hundreds of people have accounts at yahoo, what are the odds of me
logging on and finding HER account? Also, how did the computer get
turned on? Well, people have been known to do weird things when they
sleep, Dana. Remember when Missy ate a whole tub of cake icing before
someone found her? She was terrified for weeks that she would do it
again....> 

Scully sat down, put her head in her hands and tried to plan her next
move.  She decided to play along and try to find out as much as
possible about this person.  She replied to Crumpets latest e-mail, in
which she suggested they exchange photos, "to put a face to the
letters." Maybe if she knew what this woman looked like she could do
some digging around. 

On the off chance that this woman had been in her house and had access
to her computer, or if Scully herself was involved in 'nocturnal
activities' she was unaware of, she rummaged and recovered a video
camera, a Christmas present from several years back. She secured it
over the computer and before she went to sleep that night, pressed
record.

XxXxX

Mulder weighed Scully with suspicion. He noticed her fidget and
fluster all morning and it was driving him crazy. It wasn't that she
annoyed him, he was just so damn curious to find out what was going on.

"All right. That's it. Cough it up."

Scully looked up in surprise. She hadn't noticed Mulder staring at her
all morning, and was a little shocked, and a little flattered, that he
had noticed her unintentionally strange behaviour.  

"What are you talking about, Mulder?" Scully asked innocently.

"You know what I'm talking about. I'm talking about tapping your nails
against the desk, I'm talking about chewing your bottom lip
incessantly, I'm talking about twisting your hair around your finger
until you look like Shirley Temple. Now, are you going to tell me what
is going on or not?"

Scully took a deep breath and held it, biding her time. 

<I can't tell him this, I'll sound as crazy as he does. Wait till I
get something more solid, more valid to go on.>

"Mulder... Just give me a little bit of time and I'll explain, ok?
Just trust me on this one..."

Scully saw Mulder torn between wanting to prove his trust for his
partner and that irritating curiosity. "Ok, Scully. But if you don't
tell me soon I'm going to have to shoot you." Scully suddenly seemed
very tired.  To Mulder's relief, a thin smile appeared briefly on
Scully's pretty features.

XxXxX

Scully sat down at the computer the next morning a little apprehensive
and wary of what she might find. While she checked her e-mail she
subconsciously chewed her lip in anticipation.  Sure enough, there was
a letter from Crumpet. With an attachment. Holding her breath, Scully
quickly read the e-mail. "Hiya Marty's Girl... blah blah blah... I saw
that cute guy at work again today...yadda yadda yadda... I've sent you
a picture of me that a friend took." Scully scrolled down impatiently.
Before her an image appeared.

<Oh, my God... its me....>

Scully saw her own fiery red hair and unmistakable features mirroring
her on the computer. In the computer screen Scully could see her
reflection next to the photo, an exact match. 

<How the hell?!> 

Scully recognised the photo. It was one taken by Mulder with the
Bureau's digital camera. Scully had a copy, Mulder had a copy but now
Crumpet appeared to have one too. How?

Thoughts flashed through Scully's head. 

<Identical strangers? No of course not, I remember when the photo was
taken. Could Crumpet have somehow gotten the photo from Mulder? If she
knew I was Mulder's partner maybe she knew Mulder.>

Scully lunged for the phone and was dialing Murder's number before she
realised it.

<Dana, don't be stupid, he'd be on his way to work by now... Work.
Shit, I'm late again....)

XxXxX

Scully rushed into the door, praying Mulder wasn't there yet. No such
luck.

"Late again, Agent Scully? Quite a little habit you're forming
there... "

"Mulder? Can I ask you something?" Mulder's face went from amused to
serious in the blink of an eye as he let Scully talk. "You remember
that photo you took of me at the office party last year? With the
digital camera?" She paused long enough to see Mulder nod, and then
continued quickly, "Well, did you by any chance give a copy to
anyone?" She saw a fleeting look of guilt pass over his eyes and
didn't know whether to be relieved or throttle him first. "Who?!" She
ordered with a glare that could melt ice.

"Frohike. He begged me for it. I didn't think you'd be so upset about
it... I...I'm sorry, Scully..."

Scully visibly sagged.

<Frohike couldn't be behind this, it's not his style. He would rather
waltz over to my apartment with another bottle of wine or champaign or
whatever the hell it was.>

Scully became aware of Mulder staring at her again. She leaned against
the desk next to him, her shoulder touching his..  "Ok. Here I go. A
couple of weeks ago I started e-mailing this woman on the internet. We
became good friends. I didn't tell her about who I was or my job or
where I live. I didn't even use my real name. Then a few days ago she
sent this." Scully pulled a folded piece of paper from her purse and
gave it to Mulder. It was a copy of the e-mail containing Mulder's
name. "Mulder, I didn't tell her about you. I never mentioned that I
had a partner, and I especially never told her your name. One
afternoon I woke to find 'Crumpets' yahoo account open on my computer.
I checked my apartment, there was no way she could have gotten in.
Anyway, she sent me a photo to help put a face to the letters. This is
what I received." Scully pulled another folded piece of paper out of
her purse and passed it to Mulder. 

Mulder, noticing her hands shaking, took the paper from his partner
and looked at her with concern. She gestured nervously towards the
paper and watched him open it. Mulder looked at the printed photo,
skimmed the letter above it, and looked back at his partner. Scully's
face was grave, her eyes imploring. 

"I don't know who would do this, Scully. Frohike wouldn't, he's too
much of a puppy dog. Besides, he likes you and... well, he's kinda
protective of you... I don't know what to say, I didn't give that
photo to anyone else. Unless someone had access to one of our
computers..."

Mulder faltered, realising for the first time how tired Scully looked.
She had dark circles under her eyes and seemed barely able to keep her
eyes open. Her shoulder leant against his for support and Mulder was
afraid she would fall if he moved.

"Scully, when did you last get a good nights sleep?"

"Huh?" 

At her reply, Mulder sighed and put his arm around her, helping her to
her feet. "C'mon, I'll take you home. You can't work like this."
Scully feebly protested but Mulder was insistent. He helped her into
her coat and picked up her briefcase. 

"Mulder, I can carry my own briefcase...."

"Its all part of the service, Scully. Lets go home."

XxXxX

Scully stumbled in the door and shrugged off her coat. 

"If you show me her letters I might think of a way to flush her out."
Scully lead Mulder over to the computer and opened her yahoo account.
When he noticed her rub her eyes he pushed her gently towards her
bedroom door. "Go to bed, Scully. You need sleep."

<Ok, Ms. Crumpet.  You screw with Scully, you screw with me>

Mulder pulled up a chair and studied the screen. He noted Scully's
handle with amusement.

<'Marty's Girl'? Scully, you never cease to amaze me...>

XxXxX

Two hours later, Scully stumbled out of her bedroom in an old shirt to
find two men at her computer. She paused to focus her eyes and heard
the words "hello good-looking."



Scully lunged for the phone and was dialing Murder's number before she
realised it.

<Dana, don't be stupid, he'd be on his way to work by now... Work.
Shit, I'm late again....)

XxXxX

Scully rushed into the door, praying Mulder wasn't there yet. No such
luck.

"Late again, Agent Scully? Quite a little habit you're forming
there... "

"Mulder? Can I ask you something?" Mulder's face went from amused to
serious in the blink of an eye as he let Scully talk. "You remember
that photo you took of me at the office party last year? With the
digital camera?" She paused long enough to see Mulder nod, and then
continued quickly, "Well, did you by any chance give a copy to
anyone?" She saw a fleeting look of guilt pass over his eyes and
didn't know whether to be relieved or throttle him first. "Who?!" She
ordered with a glare that could melt ice.

"Frohike. He begged me for it. I didn't think you'd be so upset about
it... I...I'm sorry, Scully..."

Scully visibly sagged.

<Frohike couldn't be behind this, it's not his style. He would rather
waltz over to my apartment with another bottle of wine or champaign or
whatever the hell it was.>

Scully became aware of Mulder staring at her again. She leaned against
the desk next to him, her shoulder touching his..  "Ok. Here I go. A
couple of weeks ago I started e-mailing this woman on the internet. We
became good friends. I didn't tell her about who I was or my job or
where I live. I didn't even use my real name. Then a few days ago she
sent this." Scully pulled a folded piece of paper from her purse and
gave it to Mulder. It was a copy of the e-mail containing Mulder's
name. "Mulder, I didn't tell her about you. I never mentioned that I
had a partner, and I especially never told her your name. One
afternoon I woke to find 'Crumpets' yahoo account open on my computer.
I checked my apartment, there was no way she could have gotten in.
Anyway, she sent me a photo to help put a face to the letters. This is
what I received." Scully pulled another folded piece of paper out of
her purse and passed it to Mulder. 

Mulder, noticing her hands shaking, took the paper from his partner
and looked at her with concern. She gestured nervously towards the
paper and watched him open it. Mulder looked at the printed photo,
skimmed the letter above it, and looked back at his partner. Scully's
face was grave, her eyes imploring. 

"I don't know who would do this, Scully. Frohike wouldn't, he's too
much of a puppy dog. Besides, he likes you and... well, he's kinda
protective of you... I don't know what to say, I didn't give that
photo to anyone else. Unless someone had access to one of our
computers..."

Mulder faltered, realising for the first time how tired Scully looked.
She had dark circles under her eyes and seemed barely able to keep her
eyes open. Her shoulder leant against his for support and Mulder was
afraid she would fall if he moved.

"Scully, when did you last get a good nights sleep?"

"Huh?" 

At her reply, Mulder sighed and put his arm around her, helping her to
her feet. "C'mon, I'll take you home. You can't work like this."
Scully feebly protested but Mulder was insistent. He helped her into
her coat and picked up her briefcase. 

"Mulder, I can carry my own briefcase...."

"Its all part of the service, Scully. Lets go home."

XxXxX

Scully stumbled in the door and shrugged off her coat. 

"If you show me her letters I might think of a way to flush her out."
Scully lead Mulder over to the computer and opened her yahoo account.
When he noticed her rub her eyes he pushed her gently towards her
bedroom door. "Go to bed, Scully. You need sleep."

<Ok, Ms. Crumpet.  You screw with Scully, you screw with me>

Mulder pulled up a chair and studied the screen. He noted Scully's
handle with amusement.

<'Marty's Girl'? Scully, you never cease to amaze me...>

XxXxX

Two hours later, Scully stumbled out of her bedroom in an old shirt to
find two men at her computer. She paused to focus her eyes and heard
the words "hello good-looking."

Scully shot an accusing glare at Mulder for bringing Frohike into her
house while she slept and was met with an apologetic shrug. Mulder
tossed Scully her coat to cover herself with and gestured to Frohike.
"Our friend here might be able to help us out with our mystery. Now,
tell me if I'm wrong, Scully but my guess is that you have only
received these letters at night when you were asleep?" 

Scully's brow creased as she thought back, "Yeah. How did you know
that?"

Mulder exchanged a look with Frohike and continued talking. "We have a
theory..."

<great, here we go...>

"...that this person may not be out there on the internet but in here.
No doubt you have heard of somnambulism? Well, only the people in this
room had access to that photo and we each swear we didn't send it to
you or anyone else, right? Not consciously, anyway. But maybe
subconsciously."

Frohike, seeing Scully's mind race, sought to give her clarity,
something solid to grasp. "Ms Scully, I know someone on the inside who
owes me a favor. He can track this person by finding out the ID number
of the computer which has been accessing her mail account. He will
discount singular occurrences and should get back to us this afternoon
with a name."

"Ok, good. Thanks." Scully noticed Frohike's eyes wander, "I'm.. going
to get dressed now..." She saw Frohike's disappointment and Mulder's
amusement and turned back to her bedroom. 

Later that evening Scully, Mulder and Frohike were waiting for the
phone to ring.  "So, Mulder, why *did* you give her the key ring?"

"Well..."

*brrr brrr*

All three lunged for the phone, Frohike reaching it first. He pressed
'speaker' and greeted the caller. "Frohike? That you? Man, you owe me
big for this one, and I'm not just talking a free subscription to your
newsletter... I have the name you wanted."

"Good, good. So who is this person?"

"Ahh, her name is Scully. Dana Scully."

In the apartment three jaws dropped. Two pairs of eyes turned to stare
at the stunned redhead. 

<WHAT?!>

Scully blinked slowly , trying to comprehend, to grasp this new
knowledge. Her jaw worked as she tried to talk, her lips moving
silently, frantically.

"Frohike? You there?"

"...Yeah. Thanks... I'll buy you something nice."

Mulder took his partners hand, "Scully..."

Scully shook her head, pulling her hand away, "I have to think...
Please...I need to be alone..."

Mulder looked into her eyes, concern clearly registering in his own,
"Are you sure?"

"Yeah... Please, Mulder."

"Alright.  Call me if you need anything. Ok? Anything."

When, and only when, Scully promised, Mulder and Frohike left. Alone
in the silence that followed, Scully sat on her couch and dropped her
head to her hands. Fear overwhelmed her, shaking her pale frame. 

<Who is this person? Was it somnambulism like Mulder says? I just
created this person, this 'Crumpet' while I slept? A suppressed
personality or just a figment of my imagination, a result of a
stressful lifestyle? Did I *believe* I was this person during these
'attacks'? Or was it something else entirely that managed to penetrate
my thoughts during deep sleep?>

Scully sighed. One of the most valuable qualities in her life had
vanished; belief in who she was, in herself. She was lost without that
belief.  

<this Crumpet was so different from me, how could she BE me? Was I
living vicariously? Creating a persona who could be all I couldn't?> 

Scully remembered the video she had impulsively recorded a few nights
ago. She pushed the cassette into the VCR and nervously fast forwarded
through frames of the empty chair and dark screen. 

Movement.

Pause.

Rewind.


The desk chair had been pulled out. A figure sat down. Scully. She sat
there staring blankly at the computer screen, where Crumpets e-mail
account appeared moments later. Scully had seen enough. Her heart fell
as she fast-forwarded through hour after hour of footage of herself
sitting, bleak-eyed, at the computer. 

<Its true. Its all true>

Scully turned off the TV and closed her eyes.  Her hand hesitated over
the phone, pausing briefly before punching in a familiar number.

"Mulder."

"Mulder, could... could you come over here? Please?"

"I'll be right there..."

Mulder was at Scully's before she realised time had passed. He let
himself in and on seeing his solemn partner, darted over to her. 

"Look," she muttered, her voice emotionless. She pressed play on the
VCR, showing Mulder what she herself had only just discovered.

Mulder's jaw dropped and when his gaze returned to Scully he could see
tears in her eyes. He knew his partner well enough to know that she
hated feeling this powerless. She hated not having control over
herself. This was like an invasion to her, an invasion of her home and
body by someone she neither knew or could control. 

A cool tear slid down Scully's cheek as she turned the TV off. Mulder
saw a look of desperation in her eyes and without saying a word,
pulled her into his embrace. She welcomed the warmth of his arms
readily, finding comfort in his closeness. 

"Maybe I can help," Mulder whispered into Scully's soft hair.

Scully hesitantly pulled away and looked him in the eye, "How?"

"Well, I could stay here, on the couch of course, and if you
experience somnambulism I'll either wake you or take you back to bed,
ok?"

"Thank you, Mulder."

"Anything for Marty's girl." To Mulder's amusement, Scully ducked her
head in embarrassment and averted her eyes. She made him a make-shift
bed on the couch and said good night to her partner. 

"Good night, Scully. Sweet dreams."

XxXxX

Mulder stirred restlessly and was jolted into consciousness by a
sound. He looked around Scully's immaculate apartment and felt his
heart jump when he saw a figure standing in the doorway to Scully's
bedroom.  Mulder tried to remember where he left his gun as his eyes
tried to focus on the figure. Through the darkness he could make out
fiery hair, misshaped by sleep, and he stumbled to his feet. He walked
cautiously over to the figure and called Scully's name. No response.
Scully's lifeless eyes fell onto the computer and remained there.
Mulder, having had some experience with sleepwalkers himself,
positioned himself between Scully and the computer and held Scully
gently by the shoulders. He turned her around and led her back into
the bedroom. He whispered to her softly as she lay back down and he
pulled the blankets up over her, keeping her warm. Mulder stayed at
Scully's side as she slipped back into deep sleep, finally attaining
peace. 

The ritual was broken, the circle discontinued. 

XxXxX

"Good morning, Mulder," chirped an exuberant Scully the next morning. 

"I see you had a good sleep. What do you have for breakfast?"

"Just a sec, I want to check something first." Scully went to her
computer, turned it on and checked her mail.

'You Have No New Messages'

Scully smiled, turned to Mulder and asked, "coffee?"

THE END