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"About what?" Dana Scully shifted the phone to her other ear and picked up the remote control.

"How about the green one? My mom always said brown was a neutral. You can wear a green tie with a neutral suit, can't you?"

"You don't own a brown suit. Or a green tie."

"It's new." Mulder's voice trailed off for a second. "It has red spots. You don't think that's a problem, do you?"

"You bought a brown suit with red spots?" Scully tried to picture the effect, then regretted the effort.

"The tie. It has these . . ." Mulder's voice trailed off and she could hear the phone clatter against a desktop. Dana winced at the noise and shifted the receiver farther from her ear.

"Mulder?"

"Never mind," he said regretfully. "They're little Christmas trees. I forgot , this is the one you gave me last year."

She remembered the gift. It had been meant as a joke. "No."

"No, what?"

"No, you can't wear a green tie covered with red Christmas trees with a brown suit."

"I didn't think so. Oh well, I'll wear the gray one."

"Mulder."

"Yeah?"

"Why are you calling me for fashion advice?"

"I'm not."

"My mistake," Dana said politely. "I could have sworn you were about to ask me if your socks should match your shoes or your pants."

"Hey . . ."

"As much as I'm touched by your confidence in me," she said firmly, "I'm not really an expert in men's fashions. Is this why you called?"

"Not entirely. Although I appreciate the help, of course."

"Why did you dial the phone? Can you remember?" On the screen, the credits of the movie she'd watched the first two hours and twenty minutes of rolled by. She wondered how it had ended.

"Of course. Do you want to go to Mars?"

"No, I have to pick up my dry cleaning. You go. Have a nice trip."

"I get the feeling you aren't taking me seriously."

"I always take you seriously, Mulder."

"It's in Arizona."

"I didn't know they'd moved it."

"It's the Military Affiliate Radio System. It's an acronym."

"I see." She thought for a minute. "Mulder?"

"Yeah?"

"What's in MARS that you want to see?"

"They've been having a problem and they're requesting Bureau assistance. I thought we might volunteer for the case."

"What kind of problem?" Dana asked suspiciously. She'd had experience of the detonation that usually followed any contact between Agent Mulder and the military. "And why do you care?"

"That's not the spirit of interagency cooperation I was hoping for," her partner reproved.

"Mulder," she said patiently. "That's a military operation. Any problems the military has, they solve themselves. They do not ask the Bureau for assistance."

"They are this time," Mulder said smugly. "At least, local law enforcement is. The problem is that the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force all have a presence in Fort Hauchuca. When the problems started, they formed a joint force to deal with it."

"And?" So far, Dana approved. It sounded unusually sensible for the military.

"Someone got their feelings hurt," Mulder said callously. "The next thing you know, the task force members are all so busy chasing each other around, collecting evidence about each other's incompetence that no one has time to solve the problem. After a while, the sheriff got fed up and called us."

Dana closed her eyes tiredly. "You realized, Mulder, that any team the Bureau sends out is going to be about as popular as ants at a picnic? That's primarily an Army post, if I remember correctly."

"Sure," her partner said gleefully. "But, we've been invited. And they don't have the power to un-invite us. And, while they're all filing official complaints about our interference, we'll have time to snoop around."

"We don't have to snoop around," she pointed out patiently. Now she remembered reading about the class=SpellE>intstallation. "MARS is a joint military-civilian operation. The site is open to visitors, it's not classified."

"Yeah, well.... "

She knew that sheepish tone. "What did you do?"

"Nothing," he assured her. But...the guy that's heading up the operation...our paths crossed a few years ago, when he was assigned to a different post. I requested permission to tour this place a couple of years ago and it was refused. And he passed the word outside of channels that as long as he was in charge, I could forget about interfering in his command."

"You don't really care about this case, do you Mulder?"

"What makes you think that?"

"Don't give me that. You just want to get back at this guy. What did he do to you?"

"Nothing."

She could tell she wasn't going to get any more out of his. Not over the phone, anyhow. "Do you seriously intend to ask Skinner to give us this case?"

"Sure. Why not?"

She sighed. "Mulder. The Army doesn't like you. And Skinner knows that."

"He won't care," the agent said confidently. "Besides...who else is he going to give it to?"

"What's the case?"

"Poltergeists."

"Again?"

"I'd imagine it's a different bunch this time. My understanding is that they don't travel much."

"Is this a serious investigation, or are you just looking for a free trip at the government's expense?"

"Would I do that?"

Sudden suspicion overwhelmed her. "That's it, isn't it Mulder?"

"What?"

"You don't want to investigate this case at all," she accused. "You just want to go to Skinner's office and ask him to approve a trip to MARS."

He snickered. "You have to admit, his face is going to be worth it."

"That's ridiculous."

"Hey! It's a real case."

"I hope he kicks you out of his office," she said coldly.

"You mean 'us', don't you?"

"Not a chance," she denied. Then she thought about Arizona. Outside her window, she could see snow flurries. "If you get him to approve the trip," she compromised, "I'll go with you. But that's all. Explaining it to him is your problem."

"Come on, Scully," he coaxed. "You're spoiling everything. Imagine how much more impact the request will have coming from you."

She hesitated, feeling herself weaken. "Mulder...."

"Arizona, Scully...." he tempted. "It's seventy degrees there."

At that psychological moment, she heard the winter storm wailing around the corner of her apartment building. "I'll see you tomorrow, Mulder." She hung up the phone before she could be talked into anything rash.

* * *

"We have a nine o'clock appointment." That's how Mulder greeted her at the office the next day.

"You have an appointment," she reminded him. "We have a deal."

"I didn't agree to that." Mulder shook his head. "We're partners. We face danger together, remember?"

"You're bringing this one on yourself, Mulder. I don't intend to risk my career so you can play practical jokes on our boss."

"You're not risking your career," he dismissed. He looked at her suspiciously. "You're afraid of him, aren't you?"

"I...have a great deal of respect for Assistant Director Skinner," she said carefully. "He's a busy man and I don't think he's going to appreciate us wasting his time in this fashion."

"It will probably be the high point of his day," Mulder argued. "Besides, no matter what happens, he won't blame you."

"If I could be sure of that...."

"Trust me."

She gave him a look. "Famous last words?"

"Let's hope not." He looked hopeful. "He does have a sense of humor, you know."

"I'll have to take your word for it." Dana refused to be drawn into the discussion any further. In light of their past experiences with surveillance, it wasn't too smart for Mulder to be discussing his personal relationships in the office. No matter how obliquely. "Tell me about this case."

Mulder shrugged. "I told you. Poltergeists. So far it's nothing serious, just a series of practical jokes. No one would have put two and two together if one occurrence in the town hadn't been witnessed by a couple of soldiers, driving down main street about midnight. One of them looks to the right and sees a parked car levitating about two feet off of the ground. He tells his buddy, by the time the second guy looks over there, the car drops back to the pavement. They stop to investigate. No sign of human intervention." He shrugged. "They were MP's on patrol. They added it to their report. Their sergeant was kidding the sheriff about it, seems the two are drinking buddies. The sheriff mentions a few other odd incidents that have been reported over the past month or so. The sergeant checks with his security people, they have some reports to add to the mix. By the time it's over with, they have a full-scale witch hunt," he paused and grinned, "I mean, ghost hunt, underway."

"What other events?" Scully asked suspiciously.

"Minor stuff. Writing appearing on a wall fifteen feet off of the ground. Furniture in one home being completely rearranged while the woman was at the grocery store. A deserted house where the lights go on and off at unexplained intervals. Paint thrown around a construction site. Some unexplained noises. The usual stuff. Those are some of the civilian occurrences."

"And the military ones?"

Mulder looked sheepish. "I couldn't get them to talk to me. Not without official sanction of our investigation, anyhow." He grinned. "We may need a direct order from the Joint Chiefs of Staff to get any cooperation on this one."

"All the more reason for someone else to take this case. It sounds like a bunch of kids playing tricks, anyhow."

"Kids couldn't get on the base," he pointed out. "Come on, Scully," he coaxed. "You have some military connections, don't you?"

"Mulder," she said furiously. "I am not going to abuse my father's old friends by asking them to get you permission to investigate a ghost with a taste for interior decorating!"

"You're sure about that?" He looked at her hopefully.

Scully remained firm. "I am. Isn't it about time for your nine o'clock appointment?"

Mulder didn't move. He fiddled with the pen on his desk, then looked at her through his eyelashes. After a moment, Scully surrendered. Standing up, she smoothed the fabric of her suit. Mulder jumped out of his chair with a smile and led the way out of the cramped office and toward the elevator.

"What did it say?"

"What?" He punched the button for the elevator and looked at her curiously.

"The so-called ghost's writing."

"Oh." He frowned. "Actually, that's kind of strange. Apparently it appeared several places in the same night. Some of it was phrases from the bible. The rest of it was pornographic."

"Pornographic, how?"

Mulder shrugged. "The deputy I was talking to wouldn't tell me," he admitted. "She just said it was pornographic and that if we came out to investigate the case, we could see pictures."

Scully wondered what would be so pornographic that an experienced deputy in a town full of soldiers would be unwilling to say it out loud.

She also wondered what was happening between Mulder and their boss. While she had figured out what was going on several months ago, she doubted that anyone else in the world had. No matter how closely she watched , there was little or no sign of their personal relationship in any of their interaction in the office.

Sometimes, when he thought she wasn't paying attention, there was a certain look in Skinner's eyes when he looked at Mulder. With her partner, it was in the voice. The barest trace of warmth when he mentioned the other man's name, the complete absence of the suspicion with which he habitually regarded almost everyone else in the world.

Obviously, AD Skinner had joined the inner circle of those few people Fox Mulder trusted. She'd never ask, but Dana was dying to know what had sparked the change. When and where it had happened. Mulder would probably tell her, but she was reluctant to pry. To tell the truth, she thought she was probably happier not knowing. While she acknowledged her partner's considerable personal attractions, the relationship between them was more brother and sister than anything else.

At the same time, she wondered if Mulder would like to talk about it. There were few people in the world he confided in, but his partner was one of them. Dana knew that Mulder didn't have many close friends and she doubted that he would trust even them with the secret of his very-much-against-the-rules love affair. All other considerations aside, the Bureau had very strict regulations concerning the extent and limits of allowable fraternization between executive level management and field personnel.

By now, they were standing in front of Kim's desk and Scully cleared her mind of her speculations, donning what she privately called her 'no comment' look. Skinner's secretary called to let him know the two agents were waiting, then waved them into his office.

She followed Mulder into the spacious room and the two of them took their accustomed chairs, waiting in silence while Skinner finished reading the document in front of him. He initialed it carefully and dropped it into his out-box, then looked at them expectantly.

The silence stretched awkwardly. "Is there a problem?" Skinner leaned back in his chair and looked from her to Mulder.

"No, sir," she answered, when it became clear that her partner wasn't going to speak. Not this time, Mulder she thought. "Sir, Agent Mulder has a case he would like to investigate."

"What kind of case?"

"Agent Mulder knows the details, sir. I'll let him tell you about it."

She ignored her partner's reproachful glance, staring at the gray sky outside the window. class=SpellE>Bloomingdales's was having a shoe sale. She wished she were there right now. Mulder remained stubbornly quiet.

"Agent Mulder?" Skinner invited.

Mulder shifted uncomfortably and stared down at his hands. Dana felt a quick spurt of remorse. "Sir," she interrupted.

"Yes, Agent Scully?" The dark gaze shifted back to her impatiently and her courage almost failed her.

She gathered her confidence and forced herself to deliver the request casually. "Sir, Agent Mulder and I would like permission . . ."

"Permission for what, Agent Scully?"

"Sir," she tried again. Mulder was right. She was afraid of Skinner. "Agent Mulder and I would like permission to go to MARS."

"To Mars." He looked at her blankly.

"To investigate a case," she agreed helplessly. Next time she'd sit there until she was old enough to retire before she let her instinct to protect her partner get her into such a mess."

"I see." Skinner dropped his pen onto the desk and stared at her. "I suppose you've contacted NASA for the necessary clearances?"

"Military Affiliate Radio System," Scully told him. "It's an acronym."

Skinner's face clouded over dangerously and Dana's hard-won poise deserted her. When those blazing eyes landed on her face and stayed there, she caved in, breaking all the rules about professional behavior. "He made me," she said weakly, pointing at her partner.

Skinner's eyes narrowed. "By now, Agent Scully, I should imagine you are very well-acquainted with Agent Mulder's tactics."

"Yes, sir."

"After such an extended partnership as the two of you have enjoyed," he said bitterly, "I would assume you would understand the dangers of following Agent Mulder's lead blindly." Skinner ignored the man sitting silently next to her.

"Yes, sir."

"Agent Mulder," he continued relentlessly, "sometimes overestimates his value to this organization, assuming that his limited successes entitle him to privileges which other members of the Bureau do not enjoy."

"Yes, sir."

"I would regret it deeply, Agent Scully, if you made the same mistake."

"Yes. Sir."

"Doesn't anyone want to talk to me?" Mulder asked plaintively.

"NO!" Two voices in unison battered him back into silence.

"I'm sorry, sir," Scully apologized. "In the future, I'll try to keep a closer eye on Agent Mulder. I know he's inclined to get himself into trouble if he's not carefully watched."

"Hey!" Mulder objected.

She ignored him, addressing her remarks to the man across the desk. "I know you understand the difficulties, sir. You've had your own problems with Agent Mulder, I'm certain."

"I have." Skinner nodded gravely.

Dana shook her head regretfully. "He's spoiled," she explained. "He has a certain reputation. When people think you're crazy, they let you get away with things they wouldn't put up with from anyone else."

Mulder made a strangled noise, but the other two ignored him.

"I've noticed that. You must have been having a very difficult time, being partnered with someone so erratic." Skinner's voice was warmly sympathetic now.

"It has been difficult, sir," she admitted. She chose her words carefully. "It does help to know that you're aware of it."

"I'm very well aware of the problems Agent Mulder can cause, Agent Scully."

"Yes, sir." She nodded. "It's been a big relief to me to know that, sir. And to know that you're keeping an eye on him. Helping keep him out of trouble," she explained.

"That's what I'm here for, Agent Scully.

"Yes, sir. I'm very pleased you are, sir."

Skinner smiled at her and the brilliance hit with the force of a freight train. Wow. She no longer had to wonder what Mulder saw in their dour boss. The sleek amusement twinkling in the dark eyes changed his entire expression until he looked ten years younger and dangerously attractive.

"Thank you, Agent Scully," he said gently.

She smiled back at him, unaware of how the smile transformed her own features, adding a life and charm that she normally kept hidden. "Thank you, sir."

"Can I talk now?" Mulder broke up their silent communion sulkily.

"Did you have something relevant to add, Agent Mulder?" Skinner's eyes narrowed as he looked at the man at Scully's side."

" class=SpellE>Ummm....no. I guess not," Mulder said meekly. He stood up and Dana joined him quickly.

"Oh, Agent Mulder," Skinner added casually.

"Yes? Sir."

"Permission denied," Skinner said with relish. "The request for a team of investigators came across my desk this morning with a note attached saying that, owing to motives of policy and inter-departmental cooperation, it would be best if the case were not assigned as an X-File. Based upon the available evidence, I had to agree."

"How can you say that?" Mulder started furiously.

Skinner gave him a look. "Having reviewed the civilian police reports and the reports of the military police, I'm inclined to agree with the base commander that most of the pranks can be blamed upon members of the local high-school population. The rest, he assures me, were probably instigated by personnel on the base with too much time on their hands. A problem which he will correct as soon as he identifies the perpetrators. I'm forwarding the request to the Arizona office and asking them to cooperate with the local military police."

"Yes, sir." Mulder seemed to be depressed, either by being denied the chance to investigate the case or by the unexpected turn his practical joke had taken.

On the other hand, Dana was pleased with the meeting. While they wouldn't be going to sunny Arizona, it was also true that she wouldn't be spending the next week or ten days standing between her partner and a probably enraged detail of military police. And if Mulder was disappointed by Skinner's reaction to his joke, she was more than pleased with the opportunity it had given her of arriving at a new understanding with their boss. Mulder was right, he did have a sense of humor.

"If the two of you are done wasting my time, I have more than enough work to keep me occupied." Skinner's irritated voice scattered her thoughts.

Mulder sighed. "If anything else comes up on the case, you will keep us informed, won't you?"

"Agent Mulder," Skinner said firmly. "Get the hell out of my office." Obviously the truce was over.

Mulder jumped at the tone and herded Scully toward the door quickly. "Yes, sir."

Agent Scully." Skinner's voice stopped them.

"Yes, sir?"

"Call me if you need my assistance," he said, the gleam of humor back in his eyes.

Scully looked at her partner's uneasy face, then smiled at her boss. "I'll do that, sir. Thank you."

****

The end.