She couldn't stand it any longer. The doctor at the podium was droning on about new uses for Faraday cages and sensory deprivation in psychic research. "Hey Claire?" Maggie called softly across the table.

The doctor looked up. "Hmm?"

"I've got a little headache. I'm going back up to my room." She put a hand up to her forehead.

"Okay. Get some rest." Claire looked her over with her appraising doctors eye. "Take an ibuprofen when you get up there."

"I will." Nodding to Mulder and Scully, Maggie gathered her bag and left the conference room. Once back up in her room, she stripped out of her suit and put on shorts and a t-shirt. Feeling freer in just a change of clothes, she took the stairs down to the lobby and ducked outside without seeing Claire.

Outside the air was warm, and Maggie wandered over to the Mall. Taking in all the sights, she decided to head to the Smithsonian Air and Space museum. The planes hanging from the high ceiling greeted her as she entered the cool dim space. She wandered through the exhibits taking in the evolution of flight up to the space program. Her favorite was the model of the aircraft carrier. Maggie couldn't imagine how big they must be. She leaned against the railing of the upper deck, looking out over the vintage planes trying to picture living on something so huge.

"What do you think it's like?"

Maggie kept looking at the planes below her, not bothering to turn and face the speaker. "What what's like?"

"To live on a carrier."

She looked up at him and her breath caught in her throat. Dangerous. Her mind screamed at her but she ignored it, taking in his dark looks and dangerous dark green eyes. Lashes much too long for a guy helped to make his face seem more innocent, much more like a little boy. He was slender but well built. His dark hair was cut short and it matched his clothes, dark jeans and a plain black silk shirt under a well-worn black leather jacket. She opened her mouth to say something and then he smiled.

His smile promised wonderfully wicked things. "So?"

"What?" Maggie couldn�t concentrate.

He laughed. "Carrier, living there?" His voice was soft and dangerous.

"I think it would be very strange. It's like a whole city on the ocean." She pushed her way out of the exhibit and back into the main hall. He followed her. "What about you?"

"Traveling on a ship was bad enough. I imagine space is at quite a premium on something with a crew that big."

"Are you in the navy?" Maggie sat on a bench and gazed up at the planes above her.

"No. I was traveling back to the states. You?" He touched the chain of her dog tags.

"Army, sort of. It's complicated. Do you work for the government?"

"Post grad student." He bent his head closer to her. "What�s your name little girl?"

She giggled. "Magdalena."

"I�m Alex. Would you like to get something to drink?"

"That'd be nice. Thank you."

They found their way outside, to one of the many refreshment stands lining the Mall. He handed her a cup of lemonade and they found a bench under a shady tree.

"So Maddie, how does being sort of in the Army work? Are you in the reserves?" Alex tried to project innocence in his voice.

"It's not really the reserves. I can't really explain it." She smiled in apology. "What are you studying in school?"

He took a drink. "Literature."

"Really? Wow. I don't know if I would have the determination for that."

"So I'm going to take a wild guess and say you're not from around here."

Maggie feigned shock. "How did you know?"

"Good guess. Where are you from?"

"San Diego. I'm here with some colleagues for a conference. I escaped today. It's so boring."

"I can sympathize." His emerald eyes gazed out over the Mall. "Have you been to the top of the Washington Memorial yet?" He asked suddenly.

She shook her head and looked at the towering obelisk. "You can go to the top?"

"Sure. There's a great view from up there." She looked uncertain. "You don't have a fear of heights or anything like that do you?"

"No."

He tugged at her hand. "Then come on. You'll like it, I promise." She let him pull her to her feet. They walked over, her hand still in his and got in line for the elevator.

An hour later, Alex and Maggie stood at the top of the obelisk. He pointed out the other monuments and museums. She watched, her eyes wide.

"This is so different from San Diego. It's so old." The word was said with a reverence. "Nothing in California is this old."

"I told you you'd like it." He grinned at her enthusiasm. "Ready to go back down?"

Taking one last look around, Maggie nodded. "Yeah." They took the elevator back down and Alex walked Maggie back to the hotel.

"I had a nice time today Alex." Maggie felt shy suddenly.

"I did too. Maybe we can do something again before you leave."

"Sure, maybe. Bye Alex."

"Bye Maddie."

Maggie watched him walk back down the street before sneaking back into the hotel and up to her room without being seen. Throwing herself down on the bed, she picked up the remote and flipped absently through the channels waiting for everyone else to come back.

Alex pushed the door to Maggie's room open. Silently, he slid across the floor to her bed, ready with a syringe. It was empty and he turned, his eyes searching the darkness for her shape. The connecting door was open and he carefully stepped inside.

Streetlights illuminated the room, casting shadows over the couple on the bed. Maggie was tucked against Fawkes' chest, his arms around her tightly. Cursing under his breath, he watched them a minute more before retreating out of Maggie's room.

He punched the wall in the elevator on the way down out of frustration. The sooner he got the girl, the sooner he could be out of the city and out of Mulder's range. Her friends were overly protective and he wondered if the short paranoid one would follow them on their date tomorrow. He'd been watching when they had met at the museum and she had no idea he was there. As he climbed into his car, Alex's thoughts drifted back to how Maggie looked, lying naked in bed next to Fawkes. She was a beautiful woman, if a little young. He could definitely understand what Fawkes saw in her.

Darien heard something coming from Maggie's room and shook her. "Mag, I think your phone is ringing."

She yawned and crawled out of bed and into her room. The phone was ringing shrilly and she reached for it. "Yeah?"

"Maddie? It's Alex."

"Hi. How'd you-" She didn't finish her question but Alex knew what she was asking.

"I called the desk and they forwarded the call. Hope you don't mind."

"No. It's fine. Whaddya want?"

"Are you busy tonight?"

"No." She wished he would get to the point so she could go back to sleep.

"Would you like to have dinner with me?"

"Sure."

"I'll meet you at 7 in the lobby."

"Okay. See you later."

"Sorry for waking you."

"'S okay."

"Bye."

Maggie hung up the phone and went back into Darien's room. She crawled under the cover and curled up next to him. He was already back asleep and she soon followed.

Hobbes knocked on the door sometime later. Darien glared at his partner as he let him in.

"Morning kids. Time to go out." He grabbed Maggie's ankle and pulled. She shrieked and kicked at him.

"All right, all right. I'm up Bobby." She wrapped the sheet around herself and went into her room to escape him.

"You're awfully chipper this morning." Darien told him as he gathered up some clothes.

"What can I say, Fawkes? It's a beautiful day and there are things to do." He called as Darien disappeared into the bathroom.

Both agents appeared from the showers fifteen minutes later in considerably better moods. The trio left the hotel in search of breakfast and tourist stuff.

Hobbes dragged them back and forth across the Mall, exploring museums and monuments. They toured the National Archives, the Treasury and the FBI building. It was almost 5:30 by the time Maggie and Darien dragged Hobbes back to the hotel.

Claire found them relaxing in Darien's room. "What did you all do today?" Claire sank into the desk chair near the TV.

"Walked." Darien said. He and Maggie had collapsed on the bed.

Maggie nodded wearily. "Bobby dragged us all over."

Hobbes raised an eyebrow at her. "You thought the FBI tour was cool."

"It was. But we could have taken a cab or the metro. My feet are killing me."

"Well, I'd like to go to dinner. So get up all of you."

Maggie shook her head. "I'm going to stay here. I think I got too much sun today."

"Okay. Go for a swim or something." Claire suggested.

Maggie nodded. "Have a nice dinner." She leaned over and kissed Darien.

"You want me to check on you when I get back?" He cupped her face in his hand.

"That's okay. I'm gonna turn in early." She climbed off the bed and went into her own room, closing the door behind her. Maggie climbed into the shower to get ready for her date.

Maggie was seated near the fireplace in the lobby when he arrived. She saw him and rose, sauntering over to him. Black leather pants hung low on her hips and she wore a blue silk halter top held up by two thin straps, one around her back and one around her neck. Her hair was loose and wild.

"Hi Maddie." He held out an arm to her, noticing she was taller than he remembered.

"Hi Alex." She smiled at his confused look and held up one foot to show him the black chunky four-inch platform sandals she was wearing. "You do what you have to when you're short." She told him.

He helped her into his car and drove them to the restaurant. The maitre d' recognized him and led them to an intimate table near the window. Alex escorted Maggie through the busy restaurant, a hand on the small of her back. The golden lighting of the candles around the restaurant made her skin and hair glow. The maitre d' held her chair out for her and she slid into it. They accepted the menus and he left.

"You look beautiful tonight." Alex's voice was husky and Maggie found herself blushing.

"Thank you. You look nice too." He was dressed in a black Armani suit. She ducked her head into her menu. The waiter arrived and Alex ordered for them both.

"This is one of my favorite restaurants in DC." He told her when the waiter left.

"It's nice." She looked around. "Are you from here originally?"

He shook his head. "No, I attend Georgetown. Do you go to school?"

"No. I work full time. Eventually, I think I'm going to. I'll probably go to UC San Diego."

"For what?"

"Something medical. Biology maybe."

"And you said I was ambitious." He laughed.

After the dinner plates were cleared from the table, Maggie pushed her chair back and rose. "Excuse me Alex."

He nodded and watched her make her way to the ladies' room. Making sure no one was watching him, he picked up Maggie's glass and dug a small packet out of his jacket pocket. Crushing the small tablet between his fingers, he mixed the powder into her wine, making sure it dissolved before setting the glass back in its spot.

Maggie smiled as she came back to the table. "Did you order dessert?"

He shook his head, watching as she took a drink of her wine. "The waiter hasn�t been here yet."

"I'd love some chocolate cake."

"As you wish angelchra." He signaled the waiter.

"Yes, sir?"

"Two slices of the chocolate mousse cake."

"Very good sir."

Alex watched Maggie drink her wine and waited for the drug to take effect. "What do you do when you�re not attending boring conferences?"

She laughed. "I work for the department of Fish and Game."

"Fish and Game?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah." Maggie raised a hand to her forehead. She suddenly felt tired.

"Are you alright?" Alex made sure his voice had just the right amount of concern.

She shook her head to clear it. "I think so." A sudden dizzy spell hit her and she swayed in her chair. "Maybe we should skip dessert."

He signaled the waiter again, who came right over.

"Sir?"

"She's not feeling well. May we just have the check?" Alex indicated Maggie. Her face was flushed and her eyes were closed.

"Of course sir." He rushed over to the service station. He returned a few minutes later and handed him the check.

"Thank you." Alex slipped some bills into the folder and handed it back to him. "Keep it."

"Thank you sir." The waiter looked at Maggie for a moment. "Do you need any other assistance?"

"No. I've got it, thanks." Alex helped Maggie to her feet. "Come on, lyubemitsa. Let's get you out of here."

She looked up at him as he practically carried her out of the restaurant. "Wha'd you say?"

"Lyubemitsa. It means darling." He handed his voucher to the valet.

Maggie leaned heavily against Alex. "What's wrong with me Alex? I didn't have that much to drink."

The car pulled up in front of them. "Maybe you're catching something. I'll take you home." He opened the door and helped her inside.

She leaned back in her seat, eyes closed. Maggie heard him get into the car and start it up. The car moved forward and she slipped into darkness.

Maggie woke up, her head pounding. She couldn't remember what had happened. Rolling on her side, she groaned at the pain the movement caused.

"I would give you some aspirin but it really wouldn't help." The smooth voice broke through the darkness. She turned her head away from the pillow but was unable to see the speaker. "Don't move." A glass pressed to her lips and she drank the cool water greedily. "Not so much. You'll make yourself sick." The glass moved away and strong hands helped her turn onto her back slowly. "Are you really psychic?"

She closed her eyes, fighting the nausea. "Wha'?"

A cool hand brushed her forehead. "Can you do what they say you can?"

"Yeah. Where 'm I?" Sleep pulled at her and she longed to give in to it.

"Can't tell you. Don't worry you're safe, for now." The blankets were straightened and tucked in more securely. "Are you warm enough?"

Maggie shook her head, her body heavy. She realized he couldn't see her and answered out loud. "No. Cold."

He spread another quilt over her. "Better?"

"Yeah."

"Good. Sleep more. You'll feel better when you wake up." The hand brushed her face once more and he left.

When she woke up sometime later, a dim light was on. A man was bent over something on a small table. She must have made a noise because he turned to look at her. Concerned green eyes turned on her.

"Alex?"

He approached the bed, carrying a tray. "How are you feeling?"

She struggled to sit up. He set down the tray and helped her, propping pillows up behind her. Maggie gazed up at him fuzzily. "You drugged me?"

He nodded. His face was a mask, blank and unreadable. "It was necessary. My employers were very clear about keeping you safe and unharmed. Drugs were the easiest way." He held a mug of tea to her lips. She tried to take it from him but her hands were shaking. "Careful, it's still hot." She blew on it for a moment and sipped. "There's some toast for you too." She ate some of it but stopped when the nausea came back.

"I think I'm going to be sick." She told him. He swiftly carried her into the bathroom and held her hair back from her face as she threw up the meager breakfast she had just eaten.

He placed a cool washcloth on the back of her neck when she was done. She tried feebly to push him away but he held her still. "You're having a bad reaction to the Rohypnol. Let me help you."

"You did this to me. Why do you want to help?" Her head lolled back against his shoulder.

"I need you alive and healthy." He let her rest against the cool tile floor while he ran a bath. She dozed off as he gathered some clean clothes and towels for her. When he returned to the bathroom, she was asleep on the floor. He set down the items and picked her up, undressing her quickly. Once she was naked, he maneuvered her carefully into the bathtub.

Maggie woke up as she slipped into the warm water. She fought against him but he was much stronger.

"Relax. You'll feel better once you're clean." He told her and poured some water over her hair. Maggie felt like a small child, being bathed by an older brother. She couldn't keep her eyes open, even as he forced her to sit up so he could wash her hair. When he was finished, Krycek helped her stand so he could wrap a towel around her.

"Come on, angelchra. Help me out here."

Her legs didn't want to work, so she wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging for dear life. He carried her back into the bedroom and proceeded to dry her off. He dressed her in a soft t-shirt and sweat pants.

"Maddie? Talk to me." Alex ran a brush through her damp hair, holding her against him.

"Why do you call me that?"

"What?"

"Maddie. Everyone calls me Maggie." He could hear sleep creeping into her voice.

He shrugged. "I guess cause everyone calls you Maggie. Feel better now?" He set the brush down and lowered her gently to the bed.

"Still cold. And tired." She opened her eyes only enough to glare at him before turning over on her side.

"G'way. Wanna sleep." She mumbled quietly.

He pulled the blanket over her, tucking it in securely. "I know." He moved into the other room, shutting the door quietly behind him.

"How is she?"

"Tired." Alex turned to face the Well-Manicured Man.

"Once the drug gets out of her system, she'll be better."

"You should rest as well, Alex. You've been up all night with her." His face held concern for the young man in front of him.

"I didn't know how her body would react to the drug. Cancer Man would kill me if she's unable to be useful."

"You will be of no help to her if you are exhausted, my boy. You're going to have to protect her."

Alex nodded. "I know. He's going to want to test her."

"You'll be there when he does. Now, go on, sleep. I'll keep watch over her."

Alex looked back at the bedroom where Maggie was. "Okay. Thank you, sir."

"You're welcome Alex."

The first thing Maggie noticed when she woke up was that her headache was gone. She twisted her head from side to side without pain. Stretching, she sat up in bed and froze.

"How are you feeling Magdalena?" A well-dressed gentleman was seated at the small table near the door. He spoke with a British accent.

"Maggie." She muttered. "Better."

He nodded. "Maggie. Alex is resting. I offered to watch you."

"Who are you?" She pulled the blankets around her, resting her head on her knees.

"You may call me William." He offered politely. "I'm afraid that is all I can offer for now."

"You're one of the men Alex works for?"

He nodded. "I am sorry about all of this but the majority agreed it was the best way."

"What do you want from me?" Maggie tried to curl further into herself.

"Alex will explain everything. I'll get him." Standing, he looked at her once more before going out the door.

A few minutes later, Alex appeared in the doorway, looking rumpled. Without words, he caught her right wrist and snapped a handcuff around it.

"What's going on?" She asked him, unfolding from herself.

He ignored her and attached the other end to the thick bedpost. "I'm tired. Go back to sleep." He told her and shut the door behind him. Maggie glared at him for a minute before jingling the handcuffs. A moment of concentration that left her with a slight headache was all it took to open the cuff around her wrist. Rubbing her wrist unconsciously, she slid further under the covers and drifted to sleep.

"Claire!" Darien raced across the lobby with Hobbes close behind him.

Claire, Scully and Mulder turned and watched them skid to a stop on the marble tile floor. They were waiting for the boys to get Maggie so they could go to dinner.

"Was Maggie at the convention this morning?" Darien asked, breathless.

"No, Darien. I thought she went out with you to sightsee. She wasn't in her room?" Claire was concerned.

"This was on the desk in her room. Her bed hasn't been slept in and all her stuff's still there." Hobbes handed her the hastily scribbled note.

"Went to dinner with Alex at La Florentina. Be home later. It's dated yesterday, 7 PM." Claire looked at Darien. "Who's Alex?"

"Beats me." Darien shrugged.

Hobbes spoke up. "I think he's the guy she met at the Air and Space Museum a few days ago."

"Met?" The look on Claire's face went from concerned to angry in a matter of seconds. "You took Maggie with you and she met a man? Do you know how dangerous that was for her?"

"Hey, I didn't take Rourke anywhere. She was the one who snuck out. I tailed her to make sure she was okay. She doesn't have the best track record with lunatics, y'know. I was going to follow her last night." He added.

"But?" Claire prodded.

"But, we went out to dinner." He exclaimed.

"Why didn't you tell me she snuck out? I am her Keeper!" Claire was on the verge of shouting.

Mulder held a hand up between them. "Did you get a look at this guy?" He asked Hobbes. Scully had the same look on her face. He had a feeling he knew exactly who they were talking about.

"Sure. He was maybe as tall as Fawkes, tanned, short dark hair, dark eyes. Wearing all black." He watched as Mulder and Scully shared a look. "What? You know this guy?"

"We might. It sounds like Alex Krycek. He's a dangerous man." Scully explained. "Do you have any idea what he might want with Maggie?"

Claire opened her mouth to explain, but Mulder answered before her. "She's psychic." Everyone looked at him in shock.

"How do you know that?" Claire asked him.

"She showed me the first night in the bar. I think she was a little drunk."

"Wait, Mulder, what do you mean she's psychic?" Scully asked.

Claire spoke up. "Maggie was the subject of a military experiment when she was very young. The result of which was that she developed telekinesis and empathy."

"She told me she has prophetic dreams sometimes." Mulder looked at Scully, waiting for her reaction.

"Mulder, can I speak to you for a moment?" Scully pulled him aside, her voice lowered. "You can't honestly expect me to believe that girl could move things with her mind. It's just not possible."

"Scully, I saw it. She untied my tie and floated it across the table without using her hands." He gestured to Claire. "And what about Dr. Morgan?"

"What about her? There's no reason to believe this isn't a hoax at your expense and she isn't in on it."

"Maggie's disappearance?"

"We're talking about Krycek. He could have killed her and dumped her body in the river for all we know."

Mulder held up his hands. "Believe whatever you want, Scully. I'm going to help these people." He walked back to the small group standing a little bit away.

Scully pressed the bridge of her nose and silently counted to ten before following her partner.

"I know where La Florentina is." Mulder told them. "Let me go back to the office and see if I can find a picture of Krycek. We can take it and see if anyone recognizes him."

"I'll check with the local hospitals." Claire suggested.

Sighing, Scully turned to Hobbes and Darien. "Why don't we check with the DC police, see if they have heard anything?"

The door to her room opened and Alex stepped inside. The clock on the nightstand read 5:30. Maggie rolled over and ran a hand through her hair. He raised an eyebrow at the handcuffs dangling from the bedpost. Unlocking them, he motioned for her put her hands out. She sat up and held her arms in front of her so he could put the cuffs on her. "Come on."

Maggie slid off the bed, stumbling a little before righting herself. She followed Alex into the living room, where he pointed to the couch.

"Sit." She took a seat on the end of the couch farthest from him. There was a fire in the fireplace and she found herself unconsciously leaning into the warmth.

"You wanted to know why you're here." He began. "There is an invasion coming. And if my employers have anything to say about it, angelchra, you're going to play a large roll in it."

"Invasion? What do you mean?"

"An alien species is planning to colonize Earth and my employers have been cooperating with them. You are the communication link, your telepathy."

Maggie bit her lip and absently wondered if Alex knew Mulder. "I don't know where your 'employers' got their information but I'm not telepathic. I'm an empath." The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. She'd just admitted she was useless to him. Kidnappers didn't usually keep useless hostages alive.

He stepped very close to her and caught her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "Don't play games with me little girl. I'm sure we can find some other use for you." The look in his eyes made her pull back from him.

She pushed at him mentally causing him to take a step back. The fire rose, as she got mad.

His eyes grew a little wider at the fire. "Easy princess. Don't do anything you'll regret."

The flames shot up once more. "Don't call me princess." She growled, getting up.

"Fine." He pushed her back down. "Understand this. You will survive colonization if you work with us. The syndicate will protect you, if you work for them. With me."

"You don't seem to understand, Alex. I cannot do what you want me to do."

He sat down next to her. "Tell me what you can do."

She let her fingers skim over his face, barely touching him. "You're tired, and frustrated. Something else." Alex turned his head, bringing her hand into full contact with his skin. She gasped and jumped back. "Scared. Underneath everything else, you're terrified. Of the aliens, these men, even yourself." The last part came out a whisper.

He grabbed her wrist, pulling her close. "Anyone who scares me, angelchra, should terrify you."

"I was subject to a medical experiment by my father when I was four and spent the next twenty years having no control over my power. There's not a hell of a lot that does scare me." She leaned in, so her face was almost touching his. "I've been inside the minds of some of the worst criminals. Your threats, your loneliness doesn't scare me, Alexei."

She whispered his full name and he pushed her away. "How do you know my name?"

"I saw it. A woman, she was calling a little boy. You. It was your mother?"

"When we moved to the US, my mother insisted on calling me Alex. To be more American." He pushed to his feet. "Hungry? I'm getting something to eat."

"Okay." Maggie tucked her feet under her and curled up on her side.

A glowing cigarette warned Alex of the Smoking Man's presence. "I don't think she believes me." Alex told him.

"Of course she doesn't Alex. But will she work with you?"

"I'm not sure if I can win her over. She's very attached to her life and the people in it."

"She scares you." It was chilling how much he knew sometimes.

Alex shrugged. "She knows things."

"Perhaps I should speak with her. I might not be as frightened of a little girl. Or you could scare her in return. She's claustrophobic, you know."

"I'll handle it." Alex growled as he gathered sandwich fixings from the fridge.

"You'd better, Alex. We don't have much time."

His hand tightened on the knife he was holding. "I said I would handle it." The old man slipped out of the kitchen and Alex busied himself fixing their meal.

Cursing the Smoking Man in Russian, he reached into the fridge for some sodas before picking up the tray and heading into the living room.

He set the tray on the coffee table and regarded Maggie. She was already asleep, the drug still affecting her. Her cuffed hands tucked up near her head. Alex gently brushed her hair back from her face. She turned into his hand and softly sighed.

"Darien." His hand froze. She stirred and opened her green eyes. "Alex?" Her voice was thick with sleep.

He snatched his hand back. "Food."

"Thanks." She sat up and took the offered sandwich. "Do you think you could take these off? I couldn't go anywhere, even if I was able too."

"You could just do what you did before."

"I know. I was trying to be cooperative."

"Thanks." He reached out and took hold of her wrists, unlocking the cuffs. He tossed them on the table and rubbed her wrists to bring back some circulation. "Better?"

"Yeah. Thank you." She took a tentative bite of the sandwich.

Alex noticed and rolled his eyes. "I didn't do anything to it."

"You drugged me once. How do I know you won't do it again?"

Sighing dramatically, Alex reached over and ripped off a piece of her sandwich. He popped it into his mouth, chewed and swallowed it. "Satisfied your highness? Or would you like the royal taster to sample the rest of your food too?"

"Fuck you, Alex." She bit into her sandwich.

He leaned in. "We can arrange that angelchra." Tilting his head to the side, his eyes narrowed. "Or maybe you could spend some time in the closet." Maggie froze, her sandwich halfway to her mouth. He nodded. "So you are claustrophobic."

"Who told you that?" Her voice came out strangled. He noticed her breathing had sped up slightly and she had gone very pale suddenly.

"Little bird. Don't worry. I'm not real big into torturing women. Unless you really piss me off, you're fine."

She took a drink from her soda. "I feel so much better now."

"Wise ass." He picked up own sandwich, watching her out of the corner of his eye. Color was coming back into her face and her breathing slowed down. Her hair was sticking up in all directions from sleep and her running her hands through it. "Do you want to take a shower? Get cleaned up?"

Maggie looked down for a moment before nodding.

"Yeah. I feel kinda grungy."

"There's a bathroom attached to your room. I'll get you some clean clothes." Alex offered.

"Okay." She finished her sandwich and set her soda can on the table. She walked slowly back into the bedroom. Flipping on the lights in the bathroom, Maggie shut the door and looked for a lock. There wasn't one on the door and she cursed silently before turning on the shower.

Alex pushed the bedroom door open with his foot, looking around to make sure he wasn't barging in on her. The room was empty and he could hear the shower running in the bathroom. He set the jeans and t-shirt on the bed and backed out of the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

"Did you find anything?" Darien asked when Mulder arrived.

Mulder shook his head. "The maitre d' recognized him as a regular customer and said he was there last night with Maggie. They left when she wasn't feeling well." Claire sighed. "There was no one fitting her description seen at any of the hospitals last night."

"Same with the police. No sign of her." Hobbes told them.

"I called the Official. He's not happy. Said to contact the FBI and get a search going for her." Claire looked at Mulder and Scully. "So can you help us?"

"We'll do everything we can." Mulder looked at Scully. "Should we call Skinner?"

She shrugged. "We'll get more resources that way. Especially when he finds out that Krycek is involved." She reached into her suit jacket for her cell phone. "I'll talk to him."