Changes 2
By MaryAnn (MAPBISAC) (2/?

HOOVER BUILDING
Monday, August 31, 8:05 a.m.

Assistant Director Walter Skinner approached the turn in the hallway and instinctively slowed down, his eyes focusing down at the memorandum he was carrying. When he glanced up again, he was face to face with Special Agent Jeffrey Spender.

"Good morning, sir," Agent Spender said in a voice that sounded more cheerful than he would have preferred. "I was just heading to your office. There's a matter that I'd like to discuss with you today."

After many years of serving in a supervisory capacity at the FBI, Walter Skinner was very skilled in assessing his employees' intentions by merely observing an agent's tone of voice and body language. Spender's request didn't carry the weight of urgency that would require Skinner to rearrange his morning schedule.

"You'll have to make an appointment with my secretary," Skinner responded curtly. "I'm preparing to finalize my human resources plan." Skinner lowered his eyes unconsciously to the paper in his hand.

"I have some information that may have some bearing on your final decision, sir," Spender said persistently.

Skinner stared at Spender. Spender's eyes remained fixed, his jaw clenched firmly in a way that both annoyed Skinner and made him curious. Agent Spender was not a man who made an uncalculated move.

"I can see you after lunch Agent Spender," Skinner replied, exasperation creeping into his voice. He watched Spender's lips curl into a slight smile before he nodded and continued down the hall.

*****************************

Scully broke the embrace first. It was an act of sheer will. Her body wanted to rebel against the sudden lack of contact, as if separation was a form of self-inflicted pain. Unconsciously and without effort, her mind made a mental recording of this brief moment of closeness to her partner, something she'd been doing routinely since she started working with him. Later, when she was alone, she would recall the imprint of his strong hands on her back, remember the warmth of his skin, the low timbre of his voice, the teasingly intoxicating musk of his recently shaven face....

"Mulder!" Scully said suddenly, surprising herself as much as she surprised her partner.

Mulder instinctively stepped back, as if he had unwittingly stepped on her toe. He looked at her curiously and asked, "What? What's wrong?"

"When did you start wearing Aqua Velva?" she asked.

Mulder laughed gently, and his body relaxed. "Actually, I stopped wearing it when I was fifteen. Why?"

Scully looked at him closely. There was just something about an Aqua Velva man, and Mulder wasn't one of them. Her brother Bill, maybe, but not Mulder. She inhaled deeply. "There it is again. Don't you smell it?"

Mulder narrowed his eyes for a moment, wondering if Scully was just trying to lighten an awkward moment. Then he sniffed the air. "Hey, you're right! I DO smell Aqua Velva." He circled the room, sniffing. "It's strongest here by the door."

Scully walked to the door, the odor of Aqua Velva becoming more over-powering. She walked right into the ample chest of Assistant Director Skinner.

She blushed and retreated back a step. Mulder stepped behind Skinner's back and continued to sniff around his collar discreetly, so that only Scully could see him. Scully involuntarily smirked and stifled a laugh. Mulder shook his head and shrugged, indicating privately to Scully that Skinner also was definitely not an Aqua Velva man.

"Welcome back to work, Agent Scully," Skinner responded. He turned to look at Mulder, who had quietly moved alongside his partner.

"Thank you, sir. It's good to be back." Scully brushed a wisp of hair away from her eye. She exuded professionalism again.

Skinner glanced down at the piece of paper in his hands, then he folded it and placed it in his shirt pocket. He inhaled deeply and frowned. The memory of meeting Agent Spender in the hallway still lingered in his nostrils. Aqua Velva gave him headaches.

"I've received orders to make several personnel changes. Changes that affect your assignment."

Mulder and Scully exchanged quick, intense glances, before Mulder spoke. "What changes?"

"There will be an official announcement at a briefing scheduled for this afternoon. The X Files Division is to be reopened. Unfortunately, it has been recommended by the Attorney General that Special Agent Jeffrey Spender becomes the Special Agent in Charge of this division."

Mulder grimaced slightly and shook his head. Scully spoke. "Why Agent Spender? Agent Mulder and I have devoted five years to the X Files. The fire last spring destroyed evidence and paperwork on cases that only we've had first hand experience with. It doesn't make any sense..."

Skinner interrupted her. "It doesn't have to make any sense if the order's been handed down from the Attorney General. The Justice Department has been working closely with the State Department since the Gibson Praise disappearance. The decision has been made that Special Agent Spender, working in collaboration with Diana Fowley, who's had considerable international diplomatic experience, would make the most appropriate team."

At the mention of Diana Fowley, Scully looked for Mulder's reaction. He swallowed deeply, but his expression remained dazed and shocked. Instinctively, she reached for his hand, but retracted it before Skinner noticed.

Skinner met Mulder's gaze. "All I can say is I'm very sorry, Agent Mulder."

Mulder nodded, pain and resignation etching lines on his face. He had been mentally preparing for this possibility, but the realization that it was actually happening hurt more than a physical blow. His voice trembled very slightly as he asked, "What division are Agent Scully and I assigned to now?"

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