Disclaimer:  Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, the X-Files, and associated
characters are property of David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Chris Carter,
Ten-Thirteen Productions and Fox Broadcasting Corporation.  They are used
without permission but no copyright infringement is meant.  I just wanted 
to borrow the characters for a while.

Any elements not recognized as being taken from the television 
show copyright Christina Shuy.  Usually not much... if anything.

Comments and other things are much apprieciated and can be sent to 
cshuy@netcom.com.  I like email, so please reply! I'll do what I can 
about responding to any replies.

Rating: PG
Category:  Skinner Angst
Summary:  Victoria Jensen makes a visit to Skinner in the aftermath of 
"Zero Sum" to present a warning.
Spoilers: Anasazi, Blessing Way, Avatar, Memento Mori, Zero Sum
Note:  References are made to my stories:  Missing Persons I and II.  
This is a separate story, but in the same timeline.


Aftermath and Consequences
by Christina Shuy
cshuy@netcom.com


April 30, 1997
J. Edgar Hoover Building
Washington, D. C.
4:30pm EDT

     Victoria Jensen walked into the FBI Headquarters building and headed
upstairs to Assistant Director Skinner's office.  SHe had arrived in
Washington from London only half an hour prior, having taken the first
available flight she could arrange to take.  FOrtunately, she was between
cases at the Yard and the timing seemed perfect.  Too perfect. 
     "Victoria Jensen here to see the Assistant Director."  she said, 
crisply, to Skinner's assistant.
     "ONe moment.  I'll see if he's available." the woman behind the desk 
said, picking up the phone.
     At the same time, Victoria felt a coldly familiar presense in the 
immediate area.  It had been present in great quantities when she had gone 
looking for Mulder in New Mexico three years prior.  At the time, she had 
only found Scully there and Mulder had been missing.  This time things 
seemed somewhat different... for the worse.
     "Ms. Jensen?  Mr. Skinner will see you now." his assistant said.
     "Thank you." she nodded, walking towards the door and opening it.  
Already there were alarms going off in her mind.  There was eminent 
danger and it was very close.
     "Hello, Victoria.  I wasn't expecting to see you, but it is nice to
see you anyway." Walter Skinner got up from behind his desk and walked
towards her.  He extended a hand in greeting.  "Please, have a seat." 
     Victoria stopped in her tracks, studying Skinner closely, as well as
taking an appraisal of his office.  Cautiously murmuring a shielding spell
as well as a cleansing ritual, she took a seat before she spoke. 
     "You're in trouble, Walter." her tone was matter-of-fact.
     Involuntarily, Victoria observed, the Assistant Director flinched. 
Skinner looked at her with a curious yet dubious expression on his face. 
"I'm not certain I know what you mean."
     She raised an eyebrow at him.  "Walter, do you remember what I told you 
the first time I met you here?" 
     "You mentioned something about not everyone being as understanding as
your employers... I believe." 
     "You then told me I should be careful... and I answered that it was
you that should be careful.  Apparently, you have not taken my advice." 
     Skinner flinched again.  "And just how do you know this?"
     "It doesn't matter *how* I know.  I know you are collaborating 
with the man who smokes and I know the reason why it took you a while to 
agree to see me.  It was because he was in here."
     "I am not sure I can answer that, Ms. Jensen."
     She glanced towards the ashtray where the still-smoldering cigarette 
sat.  There was more here than was being spoken of, and Skinner seemed 
tense and somewhat fearful.
     "I am aware you are between a rock and a hard place, especially 
since they tried to kill your wife, Scully's cancer was discovered, and 
your having told Mulder *not* to make a deal... which you went ahead and 
did anyway.  How close am I to the truth?"  The words were pointed, but 
her tone was calm, neutral, non-threatening.
     Skinner pursed his lips.  Victoria took an appraisal of the 
situation as best she could.  From his reactions, no matter how subtle, 
she realised she was right on target.  There was more, though.  SOmething 
about a connection between a familiar blond woman and the man who 
smoked... something of a betrayal.
     "I'll level with you, Victoria... you have quite a handle on 
things... but there isn't much I can tell you.  Not without putting your 
life in jeopardy, along with Agents Mulder and Scully."
     Victoria took a deep breath.  This she had already been expecting.
     "I'm going to go for now.  You know how to be in touch with me if 
you need to speak with me.  I have to go see Mulder.  It's been a while 
since I spoke to him last."
     Skinner nodded.  "Be careful.  I can't say I don't regret what has 
happened... but I'm in over my head now."
     "Walter," Victoria stood.  "Watch your neck.  These people do not 
play games.  You're aware of that."
     Skinner nodded and Victoria headed for the door.  As the door 
clicked shut, he turned to the keyboard and began typing...

*****

     Victoria found her way down to the basement office where she knocked 
on the door labelled "Fox Mulder - Special Agent".
     "No one here but the FBI's Most Unwanted." A man's voice answered.
     "Perhaps..."  Victoria opened the door and saw Mulder and Scully in 
the middle of a file.  "Hello, Mulder... Dana."
     "Victoria!  What are you doing here?"  Scully asked.
     "Well... I needed to talk to both of you."
     As she walked in the office, the door closed behind her.

-The End.-


"The Truth is Out There.  Trust No One."- from "The X-Files"
Pursuing a BS degree(Electrical Engineering) - Electronics is my forte!
"In the moment that you think you can't, you'll discover that you can." - 
Celine Dion - "Power of the Dream" "Let's get Dangerous!" - Darkwing Duck.
Looking for work and a place to live... somewhere in the SanFran Bay Area.