"There you are! I've been looking all over for you! They're getting ready for the three-legged race."

Scully was holding out two pieces of rope, sizing him up, eyeing his leg like a cattle baron appraising the beef. He turned to Skinner in alarm, his best 'Save me, sir!' face firmly in place.

"Agent Scully--"

Scully's eyes widened. "Sir!"

Skinner jumped back, and Mulder thought he would die from holding his laughter in. "Um..." cough "Scully--"

"Where have you been, Mulder?"

Mulder didn't like the way she shrank away from the AD and pounced back on him. "Scully, AD Skinner's--"

"Where were you?" she pressed, and Mulder could tell that she wasn't hearing him, that she was following her own mindset and wouldn't be dissuaded until she had pumped him dry.

"He was in the bathroom, throwing up."

Both Mulder and Scully turned to stare at the AD, Mulder accusingly and Scully with a look of wide-eyed shock.

Skinner shrugged and gave Mulder a look of apology. "She wasn't listening to you." He turned to Scully. "Agent Mulder's not feeling well, Agent Scully, and I've volunteered to take his place in any remaining events. Will that be all right with you?"

Scully nodded dully, a 'pinch me' look on her face until she focused in on Mulder again. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked softly, touching the back of her hand to his forehead, then removing it and frowning. "Why did you let me put you through all that?"

She was breaking Mulder's heart. He reached a hand up and rested his palm on her cheek. "Hey. It wasn't so bad. I didn't get done in until that last race."

"Still, you--"

A sudden wave of dizziness washed over him; he could actually feel the blood draining from his face. "Sorry, Scully. I gotta sit." And he dropped straight down onto the grass. Scully's face loomed before him, and he wondered if she was still standing and if he was finally eye-level with her. When Skinner appeared next to her Mulder was thoroughly confused. He knew that he was the same height as Skinner but now Skinner was the same height as Scully, so what did that make him? He closed his eyes and decided that he didn't want to know.

"Mulder, I think we ought to skip the rest of the picnic and get you home."

He opened his eyes and forced a smile. "Not necessary, Scully. As long as I'm sitting..." He directed an accusatory glare her way. "...and you don't make me eat..." Judging from her look of annoyed guilt--only Scully was capable of such an expression--he knew that that was number one on her hit parade. "...I'll be fine." A knee dug into his back, and all of a sudden, he was surrounded by three-legged people. "Perhaps a different locale, however..."

"How unobtrusive about this do you want to be, Agent Mulder?" Skinner whispered in his ear.

"That depends, sir," Mulder whispered back. "What are we talking about?"

The AD chuckled, and Mulder knew then that he had done good. Yup, those two needed each other.

"I'm going to get you off this field before you become a casualty. Can you walk under your own power?"

Mulder wasn't sure if he even had legs. "I dunno," he said, and that was the only thing he was absolutely positive about.

"I don't want to embarrass you--"

"What? In front of the other kiddies? You can pick me up and carry me, for all I care," he said bitterly. Then he looked up and saw the sincerity on his boss's face; he swallowed. "I'm sorry. It's so much easier to be an asshole, you know?"

"And it's something you excel at, Mulder."

The agent had to laugh. "Lots of practice, sir."

"Yeah... I know," Skinner said softly. "Come on, Mulder. Let's get you out of here," he said, gripping Mulder by his elbows and raising him to his feet.

"Whoa, boy," Mulder said, as the ground tilted wildly. He feared that Skinner would have to carry him after all.

"I have you, Mulder. It's okay." He smiled in the direction of Scully's voice even though he wanted more than anything to close his eyes and pass out.

They guided him off the field and into a shaded area, away from the main contingent of agents, to a relatively-secluded copse of trees. He managed the last few feet on his own, and waved them back to the playing field. "Go on. Get moving, or you won't make it."

Scully shook her head. "We'll sit this one out, I think." She gazed up at her boss. "Okay, sir?"

Skinner nodded his agreement. "Mulder, you really do look awful. Maybe you ought to let Scully take you home."

Mulder sighed; well, he couldn't damn them for their loyalty. "I can be just as sick here as I can at home." Oh, hell, that didn't come out the right way. "Er... I can be just as sick at home as I can here. Seriously, though, I'm feeling better." He looked at Scully. "Just not up to hopping, jumping, and running."

"Or eating." She stabbed him with The Look, and he felt six years old.

"Or eating," he repeated in a small voice. "But I'm fine." He looked from one doubting face to the other. "Really." He plastered a huge grin onto his face. "And I'm going to see what Ms. Brown from Accounting is up to. You kids have fun now, y'hear?" He started in the direction of what he hoped was Ms. Brown from Accounting, but was stopped short by a hand holding onto the crook of his elbow.

"Nice try, Romeo, but that's Gordon from Finance. George Gordon."

Mulder squinted at the figure in the distance. The very shapely figure in the distance. "Really?"

"Really. And I think his wife would take exception to your putting the moves on her husband."

Mulder stuck out his lower lip and pouted. "You never let me have any fun."

"Come on, Mulder. Sit down and let me check you out." Scully practically pushed him into the ground, yet he imagined that she thought she was being gentle.

"I told you--I'm all right. You don't have to check me out."

Again, The Look.

He sighed. "Fine. Go ahead."

His frustrated eyes met Skinner's amused ones. As Skinner shook his head, Mulder blew out a breath, symbolizing the universal suffering of men everywhere at the hands of women.

"Well, you don't have a fever," Scully said, standing up and brushing the grass from her bare knees.

"Great!" Mulder looked up at her hopefully. "So you'll go off and play and leave me alone?" So he could die in peace?

"I don't know..."

God, was he going to have to go out and rent a bulldozer to get these two together? "Look, Scully, I'm a grown man." He knew he was pushing it now. "Believe it or not, I actually survived before you came along."

"Yeah, but not very well."

Oh, for cripes sakes. She thought they were playing the old game. He didn't want her angry at him, but-- "Stop babying me, for chrissakes! I said I'm fine, now leave me alone!" He held his breath and waited.

She stared at him a moment, and then her lower lip quivered--just barely, but the equivalent of full-blown tears on the Scully scale. Oh, shit. No matter how much he wanted her to go off with Skinner, he couldn't leave her like this. He scrambled to his feet, angrily pushing the dizziness aside. "I'm sorry, Scully. I didn't mean it. I was only trying to get you to go off and have some fun. I was trying to push you away." He touched a finger under her chin and brought her eyes up to meet his. "I guess I was a little too good at it, hey?"

"I guess you were," she said, breaking away and turning her back on him. She grabbed Skinner by the arm and began pulling him to the field. "Come on, sir. I think we can still get in the race."

When Skinner looked back at him in shock, Mulder smiled and nodded. Scully was still angry with him, but he knew eventually she'd forgive him. She always did.

Scully seethed as she headed them toward the starting line. How dare he! Bawling her out like she was some newbie agent. And in front of Skinner, to boot! God damn him, she didn't think she'd ever forgive him for this. And what about him? Skinner. She must have made quite the impression on him. What must he think about a woman who can't control her own partner, who backs down when he yells at her, who... was dragging the Assistant Director of the FBI across a field by his elbow.

She stopped short, and when the dust from the ensuing collision cleared, the Assistant Director of the FBI was lying on top of her.

Right then and there Scully decided that this was a position she wanted to be in more often. Wearing less clothes. And somewhere a little more private than a field full of three-legged FBI agents falling over themselves--literally--to help the Assistant Director to his feet.

She counted twenty-seven, 'Are you all right, sir's?' before Skinner roared his, "Yes!" and sent them all hopping on their way. Scully still lay where she fell, and Skinner knelt down next to her. "Are you OK, Scully?" He looked baffled as to why twenty-seven agents helped him and none came to her aid.

"You get used to it," she said, taking his offered hand and rising.

"But I thought..." The AD glanced in Mulder's direction.

Scully followed his gaze. Her partner was sitting, leaning against a tree, his 'thumbs up' belying the sorrow in his eyes. She waved half-heartedly and looked at him sadly. "You thought that it was only Mulder," she said, looking back at Skinner. She sighed. "I'm his partner. Goes with the territory." She brushed off the back of her shorts. "Besides, right now I'm invisible."

Skinner squinted at her in confusion. "What?" he asked, his brows wrinkling in worry.

Scully laughed. "Oh, no," she reassured him. "I haven't gone off the deep end into Mulderland. I meant that you're the highest-ranking official here. They only have eyes for you. Ergo: I'm invisible."

The AD gave a resigned smile and nodded. "Sometimes I'd like to be invisible."

"Well, you're sure not today." She motioned toward the starting line. "They're holding the race for you."

He looked up in alarm. "Oh, for..." Tired brown eyes met Scully's blue ones. "Scully, I'll do this if you want to, but--"

"It has sort of lost its appeal, hasn't it?"

"To say the least," Skinner muttered, signalling the race organizers to go ahead without them; he headed them towards the food tables. "Now I know why I like Mulder, in spite of all the headaches he gives me."

Scully raised her eyebrows in surprise and gazed at him questioningly.

"Mulder doesn't suck up."

Scully smiled. "I think that's probably the only thing he doesn't do."

Skinner laughed as they reached the canopy-covered area. "Have you eaten yet?"

Scully shook her head. "No." Her senses started separating the co-mingled smells, and she realized just how hungry she was. "Look at that line," she groaned.

The AD shrugged. "I could pull rank if--"

"No," she said quickly. "I get enough grief already. If--" Suddenly realizing what she had said and to whom she had said it, Scully broke off. She bowed her head, avoiding eye contact. "Let's just wait at the end," she said, grabbing a plate and falling in behind the last agent in line.

They didn't speak again until they had settled in at a table furthest away from the contingent of trained observers. Skinner sighed, his eyes fixated on the tabletop. "I really hate this."

Scully watched him take a bite of his steak tips and close his eyes in appreciation. Well, it was a safe bet it wasn't the food he was talking about. She scanned the rest of the tables and rolled her eyes. Fish in a bowl was definitely not her style. "Come on." She stood up. "I think I'd like to eat under that big oak we passed on the way here."

Skinner smiled at her with his eyes. "Sounds good, Agent Scully." He picked up his plate and followed her outside. "So where's this oak tree?"

She turned a brilliant smile upon him. "I have no idea."

He laughed. "Agent Scully, you are one devious woman."

She grinned. "Being partnered with Mulder does have some advantages." The smile faded, and she looked off into the distance, toward the main field.

"Let's eat, and then we'll go see how he's doing," Skinner said softly, touching her on the elbow.

Scully bit her lip and nodded; she was worried about him, yet his last words to her still hurt. "Okay," she said, quietly.

They found a secluded spot and chatted while they ate, mostly about 'safe' subjects like music and sports. Scully wasn't surprised to find herself completely at ease in her boss's company. Concern for her partner, though, intruded upon her thoughts, and as soon as Skinner finished the last of his potato salad, she stood up.

"I'm sorry," she started to apologize, "but--"

"I'm worried about him, too, Agent Scully." He took her half-full plate and carried both hers and his to the nearest trash receptacle, then they headed back to where they had left Mulder. When they arrived at the area, there was no sign of him. "Where do you suppose he could have gone?" Skinner asked.

Scully took a quick look around the grounds, then pursed her lips in distaste. "Knowing Mulder... anywhere."

The AD shrugged. "Well, we may as well sit down and wait. He's bound to turn up eventually." He gazed at Scully. "Right?"

She drew a breath. "Anything's possible, I guess."

Skinner studied her. "Could he have gone home?"

Scully shook her head. "Not likely." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a set of keys.

The AD nodded. "I don't suppose he would have gone home with someone else."

She hesitated. "I suppose he could have," she said, slipping the keys back in her pocket, "but it's not like him to take off without telling me." Then she rolled her eyes skyward. "I can't believe I just said that."

Skinner laughed. "Neither can I."

A sharp cough from the mound of grass and pine needles to their right startled them. Clippings flew everywhere as Mulder rolled out from under the grass and onto his knees, wheezing and gagging.

Scully was at his side in an instant. "Oh, Mulder, what did they do to you?"

"I fell asleep," he gasped. "Guess I was too much of a temptation to pass up."

Skinner was fuming. "Who did this to you, Agent Mulder?"

A tittering of laughter drifted across the field; Skinner recognized the four agents pointing, doubled over with laughter. As he rose into their field of view, they immediately scattered to the four winds. He filed their names away, then knelt next to Scully, who had her arms around a still-coughing Mulder. "I think we'd better get him home, Agent Scully."

"I think you're right," Scully said, rubbing her hand across Mulder's back. She met Skinner's eyes. "You know who it was, don't you?'

He nodded.

"Who?"

"I'll take care of it, Scully."

"With all due respect sir: you won't kick ass."

He sighed. "That's true." He directed a respectful gaze at the diminutive agent. "Look, Scully, I know how you feel, but neither one of us can afford to kick ass." His eyes wandered back to the field. "No matter how much we might want to." Looking back at Scully, his eyes drifted down to the agent she was holding. "Scully. Here," he said, softly, handing her a handkerchief.

"Thanks," she said, accepting the piece of linen and using it to dry off Mulder's face. "It's so infuriating." Mulder had finally stopped coughing and now sat, trying to catch his breath. "Look at him, sir. Do they realize how much damage their little stunt caused?"

"I'm sure they don't, Scully. They couldn't know he was sick. It was a stupid, childish prank."

"That's just it, sir. They're always stupid, childish pranks. To them." She slid an arm around her partner and clutched him to her protectively. "They're not to us."

"I know." As he watched the two of them, he knew he should feel threatened by her closeness to Mulder, yet somehow he didn't. As a matter of fact, if Scully wasn't here he might be holding Mulder himself. The man just reeked of hurt puppy. He laid a hand on Mulder's shoulder. "How about we make a bathroom run, and then we'll head for the cars?"

"Uh..." The agent's eyes were clearing from the dullness that had settled in them. He looked at Skinner and nodded. "Yeah, I probably should clean up a bit." As Skinner helped him up, Mulder winced. "Ooh. And pee."

"That is what I was talking about, Mulder."

"Oh. I... er... just figured that I was... not looking too good... uh... cleanliness-wise."

Skinner studied his agent critically, then shook his head. "No. Scully did a credible job of cleaning you up."

Mulder turned to Scully and gave her an embarrassed smile. "Thanks," he said very quietly.

The look she turned upon him was chock full of affection, and this time Skinner did feel jealous.

"You're welcome," she said, softly, rubbing a hand up and down Mulder's arm. "How are you doing?"

He took a deep breath. "Better. I think that little nap helped."

She nodded approvingly. "Good. Let's hit the bathrooms and then head home."

Skinner consciously slowed his normally brisk pace to accommodate the still-sluggish Mulder, taking hold of him only after Scully parted ways with them at the ladies room.

Mulder shook off the support. "I'm okay," he said.

"Uh, huh."

Mulder wheeled on him angrily, and Skinner was surprised enough to stumble back a step.

Regret quickly replaced animosity, and Mulder looked down at his sneakers, sighing shakily. "Sorry," he said softly.

Skinner waved a hand dismissively. "Forget it."

Mulder's eyes met his, and one corner of the agent's mouth quirked up into a tentative smile. "It'll take getting used to, I guess."

"What?" the AD asked.

"Thinking of you as something other than my hard-assed boss."

"Who says I'm not?" Skinner growled.

"Certainly not me," Mulder averred, holding a hand over his heart. "But you're also someone Scully has feelings for. And who has feelings for her." He looked up at Skinner, inviting the man to deny it.

It was Skinner's turn to examine his sneakers. "She's..." He smiled at just the thought of her.

"I know," the other man said softly.

Skinner stared hard at Mulder. "You love her."

The agent looked up, an expression of baffled amusement on his face. "Of course I do."

"And she loves you."

Mulder gave him a, 'What do you think?' look, then shrugged. "Don't know how, don't know why, but, yeah, I guess she loves me."

Skinner felt utterly miserable. "Then why--"

"You've had partners. You know the type of love I'm talking about."

Skinner frowned. "All my partners were male, Mulder."

Mulder didn't say a word, merely stood still, watching the AD.

"All right; all right," he conceded. He looked pointedly at Mulder. "But I get the feeling that it's much more between you and Scully."

Another shrug. "I suppose."

"Then...?"

"We've been through a lot together. And apart."

Mulder's voice cracked on the last word, and suddenly Skinner knew exactly what he meant; he nodded solemnly.

The agent smiled shyly. "Think of me as her brother." He paused and tried to look stern. "Her older brother."

The relevance was not lost on Skinner; his nervous laugh was a mixture of relief, apprehension, and wonder. "I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you."

"...Of all people, huh?"

"That's not what I--"

"It's okay." Mulder said it matter-of-factly, and if Skinner hadn't been looking directly into the man's eyes, that would have been the way he interpreted it.

The AD sighed. "Look, Mulder, I know we've had our differences in the past--and I'm damned sure we'll have more--but I've never had anything but respect for you as an agent. I'm not blind. I know you've been laughed at and ridiculed your entire career, but you've known me long enough to know that I'm not one of them."

Mulder's eyes brightened, then he swallowed and nodded almost imperceptibly.

Skinner touched a hand to the agent's forearm, prodding him forward. "Now come on. You still look like shit."

"Yessir," Mulder mumbled, following him.

Afterwards, when they met Scully at the car, Mulder had finally admitted defeat and let Skinner support him. "Can you handle him alone, Agent Scully?"

Scully opened the passenger door to let Skinner bundle her partner in. She took in her half-asleep partner. "He looks pretty out of it." Her gaze drifted up to Skinner. "Do you think you could follow me? I'll probably need help getting him up to his apartment."

The AD nodded his head. "Be glad to." He began walking toward the other end of the parking lot. "I"ll meet you there?"

She unlocked the door. "Okay."

Skinner nodded, and Scully climbed into the car. She looked at her partner slumped against the door. "How are you doing, Mulder?"

Mulder looked up, suddenly aware of where he was. "Where's Skinner?"

"In his car. He'll meet us at your apartment to give you a hand up. Okay?" She inserted the keys and started the car.

He nodded shakily. "Scully, I'm sorry about before... what I said. I really was only trying to get rid of you."

"Gee, thanks."

Mulder gave a weak laugh. "I just keep digging myself in deeper, don't I?"

"Do you think he cares about me, Mulder?"

Mulder looked at his partner and smiled tenderly. "I think he cares about you a lot, Scully." He reached out and intertwined his fingers with hers.

She looked at him fondly. "This won't change anything between us, you know."

He smiled sadly and released her hand. "Yeah... it will, Scully."

She shifted the gear to 'drive' and pulled out of the parking space. "I'll still love you."

"I know." He looked down at his hands. "And I'll still love you."

Neither of them said it, but they both felt it.

And so will he.

The End

Comments appreciated! jolassi555@cs.com