Disclaimer:

The characters that have been invited to play in this construct belong to TPTB.  In case you are reading this story and have never heard of the following television shows; X-Files, Forever Knight, Highlander; I hereby inform you that there is life beyond Baywatch Nights, WWF and VIP.

Also, I did not create any of these characters, and I do not own them.

Superfluous Also, I am in no way profiting from the writing of this story, at least not in any tangible, taxable way.  (So far our government has not yet figured out how to place an enforceable tariff on joy, personal fulfillment, and satisfaction- though grants have been made and studies are in progress.)

This romp through my subconscious includes the usual detritus found in such places; superlative sex, vivid violence, and additional alliterations.  So, young children and those who like to pretend that sex offends them should be sure to change the channel now.  Go on now, git!  Go read something clean and wholesome, something that won’t offend.  I suggest picking up your bible and reading Song of Solomon.

Oh yeah, for those who like abbreviations, this is an N&N Packer, T&V Packer, MSR story- all NoRomo, non-shippers should run.  There is Angst, UST, RST (Lots and lots of RST), BDSM and assorted fluff.  Plot! Yeah, there’s also plot.

You Have Been Warned!

========== X-FILES ========== FOREVER KNIGHT ========== HIGHLANDER ==========


Prologue

Washington DC

2:55 p.m. Friday December 8th

The cell phone in his pocket started ringing.

“Mulder”

“Mulder, it’s me.  Where are you?”

“On my way back to the office now, why?”

“Skinner wants to talk to us.”

“10 minutes, Scully.”  He reviewed everything he had been doing in the last two weeks, trying to figure out what they were in trouble for now.  “Did he sound pissed-off?”

He heard a sigh, then “Not really.  Why, what have you done now?”

“Me?  Nothing Scully.”  He swore he could actually hear her eyes rolling.  “Seriously, Scully- Nothing.  Look, I’ll be right there, ok?”

“Ok.”

She didn’t sound convinced.  “It’s not *always* my fault…” he muttered to himself, as he pulled into the parking garage and looked for a spot.  “No, really…  Damn- I don’t sound very convinced either,” he thought.

Mulder went directly to Skinner’s office, knowing that she wouldn’t wait in their office. When he got there Kimberly, Skinner’s assistant gave him a look of slight annoyance- pursing her lips and narrowing her eyes- and then told him that they were waiting for him.

No need to ask who “they” were.

He entered Skinner’s office to find Scully sitting across from him with a slightly ambivalent look on her face.

“Nice of you to join us Agent Mulder,” Skinner said with his customarily lemony look.

Mulder glanced at his partner and got the “Don’t-piss-him-off” look.  Suppressing a sigh, he turned to AD Skinner and said, “Thank you Sir.”  He sat down next to his partner and put on his best mask of impassivity.  He waited for the other shoe to drop.

Skinner just stared at Mulder for half a beat, then settled back in his chair and addressed his best, and most frustrating, pair of agents.  “There is a conference in Toronto next week.”  He paused waiting to see if there was any response.  When there was none he continued, “I am assigning both of you to attend.”  His tone was flat.  He stopped speaking at that point, and leaned back in his chair, his gaze flicking back and forth between the two.  After a moment the agents seemed to realize that Skinner was done speaking.

Skinner waited with anticipation; he knew what was about to happen.

Mulder and Scully swiveled their heads towards each other about 15 degrees and made brief eye contact.  They then leaned forward to identical positions of uprightness and paused before speaking.  Another brief head swivel and eye contact, again, perfectly timed, and Mulder pursed his lips while Scully spoke.  “Sir, if I may ask, what is this conference about?”

Skinner wondered if they were even aware that they did that- Always.  Every time.  It was as though they rigorously rehearsed the choreography of their movements ahead of time.  The movements were different each time, and they seemed to trade off which one of them would speak, but always, their movements mirrored each other precisely.

Sometimes they really were spooky.

He wiped the almost grin off of his face and answered the question, “You may, Agent Scully.”

Again, the choreographed silent communication.  Identical eyebrows rose.  Skinner broke in before Scully could ask the next question, “The conference is being hosted by the Toronto Metro Homicide department and Coroner’s office.  Kimberly has your itinerary.  A representative from each department will meet you at the airport.  That will be all agents.”

They waited perhaps 2 seconds and then arose as one.  After another pregnant pause, in which Skinner opened and began to peruse a file on his desk, Mulder and Scully walked out of the office and got their itineraries from Skinners secretary.

They walked in silence to the elevators and Mulder pushed the down button.  They got on the next car and rode down locked in silent communication, each trying to determine from the eyes of the other if they knew anything beyond what they already had.  Scully thought she saw something in Mulder’s eyes- a glimmer of interest beyond trying to figure out what was up with Skinner.

They entered their office and she turned on him, asking, “What is it Mulder?  What’s in Toronto that’s got you so excited?”

“Jesus, Scully,” he looked at her, astonished for a moment, “if I didn’t know better I would say you were a mind reader.  I think I had better open up an X-File on you.” He tried to divert her line of questioning, “What do you think about Skinner’s behavior?”

“Very funny Mulder,” she said- allowing him to divert the discussion for now.  She knew he would tell her soon enough.  “I think it’s obvious.”

“Yeah, you’re right.  He wanted us to know that this assignment came from somewhere else, somewhere other than his office,” he said.

“Someone else you mean,” she said quietly.

“Yeah,” he sighed, “Probably.”

========== X-FILES ========== FOREVER KNIGHT ========== HIGHLANDER ==========

Toronto Homicide, 96th Precinct

11 p.m.   Friday December 8th

Nick was lost again.  Tracy was sitting at her desk and watching him stare off into space.  Again.  “Nick, pay attention!  I need you to help me finish this report!” Tracy growled at him.

Nick came to, and said, “Sorry Trace, I…”

Tracy saw Nick’s face light up, and he smiled at someone behind her.  “I wonder what Natalie’s doing here,” she muttered, smiling when she was rewarded with Nick’s sudden sharp glance and his look of confusion.

“How did you…” Nick began, but Tracy ignored him and turned around to greet Nat.

“Hey Nat, what are you doing here so early?” Tracy asked.

“Hi Tracy , Captain Reese called for me,” she said with a smile.  “Hello Nick,”

“Hi Nat,” Nick replied, with a silly grin on his face.

Just then they all heard a bellow come from the Captain’s office, “Lambert, Knight!  Get in here!”

========== X-FILES ========== FOREVER KNIGHT ========== HIGHLANDER ==========

Chapter 1

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