See Part 1 for Notes and Disclaimer . . . 
************************************************

Watergate Apartments
2:44 AM
22 May 1999

Walking through the dimly lit corridor of Agent Fowley's apartment building, 
Scully couldn't help but feel a great deal of trepidation. She didn't know 
quite what to say; this felt much more personal than an interrogation. She 
was confronting a suspect, but a fellow officer and someone who her partner 
had had alliance with in the past. It started to get a little tricky when you 
only had your instincts and someone's telepathic impressions to go on, she 
thought with a wry smirk.

Looking at the card in her hand, she verified the apartment number and raised 
her hand to knock, pausing for a short moment before giving three short raps 
with knuckles. Almost instantly she heard the chain being unlatched and the 
door opened inward, placing her face to face with the taller woman.

Fowley just stared for a few moments, as if expecting Scully to pull her 
weapon. Almost looking mildly surprised when she simply stared back, she 
motioned with an arm into her foyer. "May I help you with something?"

Bypassing formalities, Scully decided the most effective way to go about it 
was with the calm, rational approach. 

For now. She knew better than to make promises.

"Yes. I don't know quite how to say this, but I need to know exactly what 
went on in Mulder's apartment the other night. You were with him. Was 
something said or done that may have exacerbated his condition? Any 
indication as to why he is now hospitalized in a catatonic state?"

Fowley seemed to consider the question for a moment. "Nothing that I'm aware 
of. I picked him up from the university and drove him home. He was in a great 
deal of pain, but that seemed to subside. He needed company. We talked 
and...caught up on old times."

Scully raised her eyebrows in a mix of skepticism and curiosity. She nodded, 
silently asking her to continue. 

"He seemed to be in fairly respectable spirits as the evening went on. We 
discussed the implications of the artifact on his work, and he seemed 
grateful to hear a like minded take on the subject." Fowley said, nodding as 
though that would help her believe it, too.

Scully couldn't help but roll her eyes, but she refrained from interrupting.

"Later as I was getting out of bed he shouted as though he was in pain and 
grabbed my wrist. He started speaking incoherently and thrashing about. He 
seemed to be inconsolable. He called for you several times, actually."

Even though her first concern was documenting the progression of Mulder's 
condition, Scully couldn't help but notice the beautiful irony of his calling 
for her after being 'in bed" with Diana Fowley. That thought was interrupted 
by another more pressing one. "How did you get him to the psych facility?"

"By car."

Choosing to overlook the sheer stupidity of that answer, Scully decided to be 
more clear. She briefly wondered if she should speak more slowly.

"If he was so out of control, how were you able to transport him?"

Fowley drew her eyes from Scully and shifted them around the room, not 
resting them very long in any particular place.

"Lets just say I had to use a little external force."

"What kind of external force?"

Diana released an exasperated sigh, and attempted to shut the apartment door. 
 Scully quickly placed her foot in the entrance, preventing any escape.  
"What. kind. of. external. force. did. you. use?"  It seemed as though 
speaking slowly did have a positive effect on Diana's comprehension skills.

"Why is how I got him to the hospital so significant?  He's there.  He's 
safe."

"Is he?  You just told me that you had to physically restrain him. That could 
have impacted how he --"

"That's not what I said."

"Stop with the games, Fowley.  I don't know who exactly you think you're 
dealing with, but I sure as hell don't believe one word out of your hideous 
mouth.  And if in the past Mulder has, it's only because you've manipulated 
him with every fathomable power available to you."  

"Fox came to me."

Scully responded with a bitter laugh and rolled her eyes. "I'm disappointed 
in you.  After so many years in the FBI, you should be able to lie more 
convincingly." Fowley was busy attempting to extract the small foot from the 
doorjamb.  She continued, ignoring the distraction.  "I find it highly 
implausible that Mulder would contact you about the artifact in the first 
place, but it's not out of the question.  Mulder is relentless and stubborn 
when he's on a quest -- no matter how big or small.  However, what I do find 
impossible, is that in the midst of his research he finds time to 'catch up 
on old times', and relax.  I know him, Fowley.  I know that when he-"  

"You have a lot of gall to be jealous at a time like this.  You should be 
helping find a solution for his predicament, but all you can think about is 
the fact he chose me over you."

Scully's voice had turned to a harsh whisper, and her eyes blazed with fury 
she didn't attempt to hide.  "You are wrong in so many ways.  I'm going to 
get to the bottom of this, and bring you down with your lies."

"Believe what you'd like to believe.  Evidently it's working for you so far." 
 

"I see right through you.  You know that.  And it scares you."

"Nothing scares me."

"Don't be so sure of yourself."

"Are you threatening me, Agent Scully?"

"I don't make threats." 

"Fine.  If you would like to continue this discussion, I suggest moving your 
foot out of my doorway so we can have a rational conversation."

"You're not worth my time.  If I wanted a half-witted, fabricated story I 
could talk to a lot of other people, who are a lot more pleasant to look at.  
Now if you'll excuse me."

Scully hastily retreated down the dark hallway of the building, gathering her 
thoughts.  The fact that she was livid wouldn't weaken her effectual thought 
process.  Overall, the fact that Diana Fowley is a liar was substantiated. . 
and apparently "external force" has multiple meanings.  Nonetheless, the trip 
wasn't a complete waste of time.  She successfully utilized an opportunity to 
tell Fowley she was lacking beauty.  Sometimes pettiness is a virtue.


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

Fowley retreated into her living room, pacing nervously back and forth before 
reaching for the portable phone resting on the coffee table. Scully's visit 
had unnerved her. Although she had left with no more information than with 
which she had arrived, Diana knew that she must have some serious suspicions 
to have confronted her the way she had. From what she had ascertained of the 
younger agent's history, she knew that Scully was not one to act first and 
ask questions later. Her motivations and alliances were unquestionably in 
doubt now, and it left her feeling incredibly compromised. Pressing a memory 
pad on the phone, she waited for several rings until she heard an answer.

"Turn off the recorder." Diana said, tense.

"It's off."

She heard a soft click. Without waiting for any inquiry as to the reason for 
her call, she continued. "I was just paid a visit by Agent Scully. She was 
extremely agitated and demanded to know what I knew about her partner's 
condition. She's been doing her research, obviously. She was questioning my 
reasons for being with him the other night, and I think she's close to 
uncovering..."

"Scully knows nothing. I've spoken to our contact at the hospital. Mulder is 
unresponsive; the charts have been sanitized." The voice was without concern 
or any discernable emotion. "The only thing she knows is what we want her to 
know, and that nothing. The rest can only be a product of conjecture. If she 
were aware of our complicity in this, who would she tell? She is alone, and 
alone she is ineffective."

Diana was not convinced. "All I know is that she came back from Africa 
reinvested. We have no way of knowing what she discovered there. Not only 
that, but Skinner screwed us over by letting the information from the office 
surveillance slip. That was a major setback. She knows he cannot be trusted 
now, and she has never trusted me."

"AD Skinner is quickly becoming dispensable. His heart just doesn't seem to 
be in it." A mirthless laugh reverberated in the receiver. "We have ways of 
eradicating any traces of a connection he has with us."

"And Scully?"

"I think you overestimate her importance in this matter. She and Mulder make 
an effective team. Without an ally she has no way of pursuing any more of an 
investigation into this matter. She has reached the end of the line."

"Why not just get her out of the picture?" Fowley inserted, seeking a quick 
and absolute solution.

"That could only be destructive to our cause. It would arouse more interest 
in Mulder's case, and that's attention we would rather not risk. But more 
importantly, we can use her to our own benefit."

"To what gain?" Fowley said weakly, an ache developing through her temples.

There was an intake of breath as the speaker took a long drag on his 
cigarette.

"Scully is the only one who can go near him. We'll need an interpreter."

"She'll never agree to that. She has no motivation to help us." Fowley 
retorted.

"Just as you overestimate her knowledge about this situation, you apparently 
underestimate their bond. Given a choice between her partner's health and 
providing a little information to the "doctors" she will readily choose the 
latter. You were going to be our link, but obviously his tastes 
have...evolved."

With that the line went dead. The conversation had ended. Fowley pressed the 
off button and slammed the phone back onto its base. Trust was never one of 
her strongest virtues, and it hadn't been helped with this discussion.

It was time to take matters into her own hands.

*****Continued in part 4*****