Pick Pocket - Standard, Partial, Move Equivalent or Free Action?

[reveal]

Let's say a rogue is standing right behind a fighter during combat. The rogue, who is in the fighter's party, decides to pick pocket the fighter and then do something else. Is pick pocketing, in this instance, considered a Standard, Partial, Move Equivalent or Free Action?

Also, I know the fighter would make a Spot check to see if he notices the rogue trying to pick pocket him, but does the fighter take any negatives because he is engaged in combat? For this example we'll say the fighter is not actually engaged in melee, yet, and the rogue goes before him in initiative.

 

[Pbartender]

From the SRD:

Use a skill that takes 1 action [Standard][Varies]

Description: Self explanatory.

Pick Pocket (DEX; TRAINED ONLY; ARMOR CHECK PENALTY)

Check: A check against DC 10 lets the character palm a coin-sized, unattended object. Minor feats of legerdemain, such as making a coin disappear, are also DC 10 unless an observer is determined to note where the item went.

When performing this skill under close observation, the character's skill check is opposed by the observer's Spot check. The observer's check doesn't prevent the character from performing the action, just from doing it unnoticed.

If the character tries to take something from another creature, the character must make a skill check against DC 20. The opponent makes a Spot check to detect the attempt. The opponent detects the attempt if her check result beats the character's check result, regardless of whether the character got the item.

DC Task
-- ----
10 Palm a coin-sized object, make a coin disappear
20 Lift a small object from a person

Retry: A second Pick Pocket attempt against the same target, or when being watched by the same observer, has a DC +10 higher than the first skill check if the first check failed or if the attempt was noticed.

Special: If the character has 5 or more ranks in Bluff, the character gets a +2 synergy bonus on Pick Pocket checks.

Well, using a skill in combat is a standard action, and there is nothing in the skill's listing to contradict that. Should the Fighter Spot the Rogue, I'd give the Fighter an Attack of Oppurtunity against the Rogue.