Hey Alex: Part One by S.A. Spooky

Title: Hey Alex
Author: S.A. Spooky
E-Mail: saspooky@hotmail.com
Summary: The sequel to Hey Scully - Joined by Steven Koskie and Dale Cooper, Mulder chases 'little grey men' and becomes a key player in the conspiracy. To save the world, Mulder and Scully are forced to push their trust in each other to the limit. Special Agent Steven Koskie used with permission from O&M

Mulder was torn. He sadly took one last look at Krycek, then turned and walked away, holding Scully tightly in his arms. Scully didn't say anything, didn't look back, she didn't even have her eyes open anymore. She was just letting Mulder guide her out.

Krycek watched as they walked away. He was trembling, tearing up, feeling his life drain away. He wasn't physically draining away; it was his emotional life that was slipping out of his grasp. The life where he had friends, a brother, a son and a family. It was gone.

Mulder and Scully passed through the door and it closed heavily behind them. A resounding slam announced to Krycek that yes, his life was over. Like the banging of a gavel, sentencing him to life in this horrible place. A life without his friends and family. Without his son.

Oh my God, what have I done, he thought. Please forgive me, Cade. Please forgive me.

Krycek could feel Scully reaching back to him, begging with him to not let this happen. I can't leave you here, she kept saying.

Krycek couldn't answer back. He felt in his heart that he would never leave this place again.

He knew they were outside now. They had reached the Ford Expedition. As Mulder turned the key and the car started up, 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamond's' blared from the speakers. Krycek remembered that he had been torturing Mulder with his infinite wisdom of the Fab Four.

'How brilliant do you have to be when you're tripping on LSD?' Mulder had responded. 'Tangerine tree's and marmalade skies? John and Paul were dropping too many tabs.'

Had that just been an hour ago? Krycek wondered. It seemed like a lifetime away.

'…Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain…Where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies…'

For the rest of their lives, all three of them would never be able to endure the song again.

Alex. Scully reached back to him again. I can't do this. I can't leave you here.

Krycek never answered back. The second he knew they were safely on the road and driving away, he shut his mind down.

'I think you made the right decision, Alex.' Cancer Man stood next to him, blowing smoke in his face. 'If Agent Scully had stayed here much longer, I'm afraid she would have died.'

Krycek didn't respond. How many wonderful moments did Dana miss out on the beginning of Cade's life because she was trapped here? And now he had traded places with her and given away the rest. He thought of all the tests they were going to perform, all the tortures he was going to be subjected to. All the while, he'd be trying not to think of his son. How was Cade going to feel, being without a father?

Well, that's not entirely true. Krycek thought. Fox will most definitely be around.

The years dragged out in front of him as he thought of all the birthday's he would miss, all the scraped knees and running noses. All the things he'd wanted to show Cade. Teaching him to ride a bike, to surf, to play the piano. Krycek closed his eyes and hung his head.

The first thing Mulder did when they got out onto the highway was eject the St. Pepper's CD and throw it into the back seat. He didn't think he'd ever be able to listen to that damn song again.

Mulder kept glancing at Scully as she slept in the passenger seat on the way back to Maggie's house, half expecting her to vanish in front of his eyes any second now. After driving away from the base, she had pretty much cried herself to sleep. He knew she had to be tired, both physically and emotionally. Leaving Krycek behind was hard enough on him; he couldn't imagine how it must have felt to her.

'Yes.' Mulder said softly. 'He wants to go by Cade. He told Krycek there were already too many kids named Chris.'

Scully put a shaking hand over her face and settled back into the chair, nestling against the door and resting her head against the window. Eventually she had fallen asleep, choosing not to talk about anything just yet.

Mulder put his hand on her leg, trying to offer some support. He was glad she was sleeping. He needed time to process. He had seen some really ugly days in his life, but he was sure that this was, without a doubt, the most hideous morning he had ever lived through.

Mulder learned that he had been working with the enemy all along, as Krycek had warned, part of some hideousness that had been responsible for Scully's 'death' all these years. Not five minutes later, his brother had murdered his ex-wife right in front of his eyes. He had slit her throat without hesitation, without regret, so angered at all that Scully had been subjected to.

Not only did he feel failure at having to leave Krycek behind with Cancer Man; Mulder was ashamed at his own uselessness during the whole fiasco. He usually wasn't one to stand idly by and watch the scene unfold, but that's pretty much how he had been for the past few hours. It was a good thing that Krycek had decided to make everyone's decisions for them because with all the confusion that spun through Mulder's head, they'd probably still be standing in there.

He was beginning to believe that Krycek had known exactly what was going to happen and had taken Mulder just to make sure that someone would get Scully out. Krycek had known that they would trade her for him. He had also known that Scully wouldn't have left him there to rot away.

He shook his head and moved onto another touchy subject. Two years and a month after her funeral, he's bringing Scully back from the dead. How should they handle this one? What should they say? What should they do? Skinner, the Lone Gunmen, all of Scully's friends and family, not to mention Scully's son, all believed she was dead. Could he really just pull into Maggie's driveway, pop out of the car and walk inside?

Scully felt herself climbing out of a foggy haze. Confusion dug its claws into her mind and held on. How long had she been unconscious? Where was she? Why was this pain winding through her skull? She raised her head up and winced as a horrible jolt sliced through her brain. She gave it a couple of minutes, then tried again. She was lying on a cot in a tiny room made entirely of metal. Steel, maybe. There were no windows. There was only a door, but no handle on the inside. It was like being in a can.

Scully tried to sit up, pausing halfway to fight off a wave a nausea. Where was she? She tried to calm down and began to sift through fragments of memories that were coming back to her…Bellefleur, Oregon…Mulder was gone…She had been in the hospital…A vegetarian café and Alex Krycek…Her hands flew down to her flat belly as she looked down. The baby.

She was flinging pumpkin innards all over the kitchen…Mulder giggling like a kid at the dinner table… Langly whipping up a batch of margarita's…Krycek dancing around like a fool while the Red Hot Chile Pepper's played on the radio…What the hell was going on?

Her Mom was staring at her with concern while she sat on the couch, feeling the baby move…Mulder hugging her on the beach under a full moon while she cried in confusion…Krycek staring sadly down at her in the morning sunrise, his surfboard tucked under his arm… The two of the arguing over her best interests as she stood in the doorway…What the hell?

The pain, cutting into her stomach…The fear of the tiny mind within her blasting into her head. Scully jerked. Oh my god, where was her baby?

She remembered Krycek leaping over the bed as she doubled over in pain. She remembered Mulder running out to call 911. She remembered being carried up the stairs and laid down on the couch. She remembered Mulder slapping Krycek hard across the face while her Mom and the Lone Gunmen stood behind the two of them…

She set her feet down on the cold, metal floor and waited for the dizzy feeling to pass.

Krycek had ridden with her to the hospital. He had been just about useless. He kept trying to reassure her, kept trying to soothe her and the baby. But all he managed to do was convey his own terror and helplessness. After a few minutes, he pulled his mind away and just held her hand like a normal person would.

She had been reaching out to Alex in the hospital, hoping that he would hear her. Something was wrong. She had sensed the deceit, sensed the evil in the operating room, even though she was only half-conscious.

'We don't know how strong it will be.' She recognized that voice and it made her shudder. 'If we tell Krycek that they are both dead and he senses the child later, everything will go to hell. She has the anti-agent we need. That is enough for now.'

Alex, please help. She was reaching out to him, hoping he'd sense her fear. She could feel him trying to reach back, letting her know that he could hear her, that he was on his way. Scully tried to stay awake through the pain, but she was fading fast. She sensed people moving her way and opened her eyes to see Spender and Fowley looking down at her.

'Just do what you need to in order to make sure that Krycek thinks she's dead.' Spender blew out smoke and backed away. 'And take care of the baby.'

Scully gathered what strength she had left and screamed Alex's name with every ounce of her being.

'Bad memory.' She replied while rubbing her face and gazing out the window. 'We going to my Mom's?'

Scully looked out at Maggie's house as they pulled to a stop in front of it. She whispered something intelligible.

She turned to look at Mulder, as she opened the door, her eyes wide, her face alive. 'I can feel him.'

Mulder got out of the car and walked around as the front door opened and Cade ran out, Maggie not too far behind, trying to stop him.

Scully took a couple of steps then fell to her knees, unable to walk anymore at the sight of this beautiful, two year old boy that was running towards her, and Cade flew into her arms.

'He just kept telling me that you were coming.' Maggie said, her eyes red and swollen from the tear's she'd shed. 'He said that Alex was going to bring you home.'

They'd been sitting around the table for hours. Cade wouldn't budge from her lap and she just hugged him, resting her head on top of his. Scully couldn't respond to any question about where she'd been or what had happened. She was afraid that if she opened her mouth to speak, she'd find herself incapable of coherent speech. She was afraid she'd burst into tears all over again. Her Mom never directly asked about Alex, she just mentioned his name every now and then, hoping that one of them would elaborate. Neither of them did and that seemed bad news in itself.

'Daddy had to go with the bad man.' Cade said, looking at Maggie with his big, blue eyes. 'Daddy had to go so Mommy could come home.'

'The smoking man.' Cade said, then turned to look up at Scully. 'He's a bad man, Mommy.'

'Yes.' Scully said softly against Cade's head, her tears falling into his hair. 'A very bad man.'

Scully woke the next morning and was confused to find herself in the guestroom of her mom's house and not surrounded by steel. Not to mention her surprise at the little boy curled up next to her.

She smiled as she stared at him. At his face, his lips, his nose. He looked so much like Alex, but she could see herself too. She couldn't believe he was hers. She couldn't believe she was a mother. She couldn't believe she had missed out on so much. His first words, his first step, his first birthday. Not to mention how much Cade had missed out on having a Mother. Now he was missing his father.

They stared at each other, Scully basking in the glow of her child's love. Cade seemed sad, which she guessed wasn't unusual for a boy who'd just lost his father. She backed her train of thought up. 'Lost' seemed like such a permanent word.

Scully hesitated and swallowed before answering. She hated the thought of what Krycek was going through right now and didn't want to cry in front of Cade. 'I don't know, sweetheart.' She said softly.

'You can cry, Mommy.' Cade said, putting one of his small hands on her arm. 'I miss him too.'

Tears hovered in her eyes and threatened to fall. She cleared her throat and attempted to push Krycek out of her mind for now. Any thought of him was destined for depression.

'Whaddaya say we go see what's going on out there?' She asked, smiling at her son. 'I can smell the coffee so I'm betting that Grandma's up.'

They walked into the kitchen together to find Maggie and Mulder sitting at the kitchen table, having a cup of coffee. They both smiled brightly at her and Cade ran over to hop up Maggie's lap.

'Morning, Sunshine.' Mulder leaned his head back to look at Scully as she affectionately ruffled his hair on her way by.

She gave her mom a quick kiss on the cheek before settling in a chair across from Mulder and smiling at him. 'Got a cup of that for me, Mister?'

Mulder sighed and plodded towards the coffee maker, giving her a look over his shoulder. She smiled back at him before picking up a stack of pictures sitting in the middle of the table. They were of Christmas.

Maggie and Mulder exchanged a look as he set a cup of coffee in front of Scully.

Bill had that stupid Santa hat on like he did every year and Cade was sitting on his lap. Matthew and Cade, opening up presents together. Her Mom and Mulder, sitting side by side on the couch, laughing at something unseen. Krycek and Mulder, sitting on the fireplace, looking at each other, both leaning forward with their elbows on their knees. Mulder was saying something and Krycek was smiling back.

Scully stared at the picture for a long time, feeling ill. There was a whole life here that she'd been excluded from. A lot of times spent laughing and observing her little baby becoming a little boy. Times spent with a family she'd never really know because Alex was gone now. She didn't know if she'd ever see the way that Cade and his father were together.

Scully cleared her throat and spoke softly as Mulder put a hand over hers. 'I want to see everything.'

Scully stayed with her Mom for another week before deciding she wanted to back to Newport Beach.

She knew her Mom was going to be upset about it. She could sometimes feel her Mom's thoughts as clear as she could feel her own. Maggie loved having them there. Her house had been silent and filled with loneliness the past few years before Cade's birth had brightened it up. Having Alex and Cade around had somewhat filled the void's left by the death of her husband and two daughters. Now, she loved to watch her daughter and grandson interact with each other. She loved that Mulder was hanging around, spending time with the two of them, especially after his long absence over the past few years.

Scully could feel how concerned her Mom was for Alex. She assumed that her Mom had tried to fill the void left by her 'death' with Krycek and Cade. Alex had probably done the same by spending all the time he could with Maggie and the rest of her family. Judging by the pictures that she had poured over and the tapes she had seen, they had all shared a lot of over the past couple of years.

The tape of Cade's first birthday party had really upset her. Her family was there, Charlie and the Lone Gunmen, and Skinner had managed to show up, plus a handful of people she had never seen before. She hadn't seen Mulder anywhere. Seeing that house, in a different time, when she was supposed to be dead and her son was celebrating his first birthday, cut her deeply. She had spent some of the happiest times of her life there, pregnant and waiting the arrival of her child and realizing how important it was to have friends and family.

She had learned of this 'insane notion' Alex had in his head that life was too short to worry about what everyone else thought, that you should do what made you happy. After awhile, he had started to rub off on her, and she began to see a different Dana Scully. A Dana Scully that wasn't concerned with proving herself to her family or friends or the FBI, a Scully that didn't care if she lost control and let out an emotion every now and then. One that didn't care that she really didn't know how to dance but danced anyway.

One scene in particular had caused her distress and she didn't know why. Whoever had the camera was out on the bottom deck of the beach house. Krycek and Skinner were grilling something on the barbecue and her Mom was standing next to them, holding Cade. 'Me and Bobby McGee' by Janis Joplin was playing and all three of them were singing.

'…Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waiting for a train…And I was feeling near as faded as my jeans… Bobby thumbed a diesel down, just before it rained…And wrote a song on the way to New Orleans…'

Scully stared at the television in silence. The surf crashed on the shore below, the sun was shining, even in late November, and surfers carved the waves in the distance. That had been her home for six months. It was horrible seeing it like this while she had been gone.

Her Mom was swaying back and forth to the music, smiling at Cade. Skinner was fighting with some vegetables on the grill, the smoke in his face causing his glasses to steam up. Krycek was leaning over to put his face close to Cade's, causing the little boy to laugh and clap. And they were all singing.

'…Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose…And nothing, it ain't nothin' honey if it ain't free…Yeah, feelin' good was easy enough when he sang the blues…You know feelin' good was good enough for me…Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee…'

Scully had run to the bathroom and thrown up her breakfast. She lowered the lid down and sat there on the floor with her face pressed against the cold plastic while thoughts spun through her mind.

She knew that she and Alex had wanted to raise Cade at the beach. They had wanted Cade to be raised differently then they had. A simple life, growing up with the carefree attitude that comes from living next to the ocean. They had wanted Cade to travel, to speak Italian, to see the Pyramid's, to play an instrument. They wanted him to do whatever he wanted. Not to be part of the complicated lives that the two of them had led, living their lives for everyone else and not for themselves.

Later that night, after everyone had gone to bed, she had told Mulder that she was going back home.

Scully shook her head, bracing herself for the unavoidable argument. 'Newport Beach.'

Scully eyed the house warily as they drove up the street. From the back seat of the car, Cade seemed somber. When Mulder pulled into the driveway, the three of them sat in silence. Sensing Scully's discomfort, he took her hand and glanced over at her.

Scully looked along the cobblestone walkway, remembering the first time she'd walked up it. This moment didn't feel all that different from that time, over two years ago. She closed her eyes and released a breath before smiling over at him.

'Of course you are.' Mulder smiled back before opening his door and climbing out of the car.

Scully turned to look at Cade in the back seat. 'You ready to do this, sweetheart?'

She smiled back at him for a moment, then unbuckled her seat belt and opened her door. 'I don't know if I am.' She said softly to herself. 'I guess we'll find out.'

They walked slowly up the driveway, Mulder was waiting for them and she silently thanked him again for bringing them out here. He had taken a day to run back to Washington DC and run some errands for her. He also took some time to ask Skinner for another week of vacation time. He didn't say why. They had all decided to keep her return a secret for now while they poked and prodded and tried to figure out what was going on and what to do about it.

One of the errands she had asked Mulder to do was pay a visit to her attorney. He had returned from there with a certified letter that had been sent to her attorney from the offices of Edward, Davis and Thompson, one of the most reputable law offices in the country. She had read it sitting out on the back deck of her Mom's house and remained silent for minutes. Mulder had asked her if she was okay, reached out and touched her shoulder, but she didn't respond. He finally took the letter from her and read it himself. Apparently, a man by the name of Caleb Connor had signed his estate over to Dana Scully.

Caleb Connor was an author who wrote under a pseudonym, which remain disclosed, of course. He had made a substantial amount of money, was really quite wealthy. Had properties all over the world. A flat in London, a condo in Miami, a house in Seattle, a house on the beach in Balboa…

Mulder had let his hand fall beside him, had dropped the letter and it fluttered to the ground. He looked across the lawn at Scully. He hadn't even heard her get up and walk away. Krycek had definitely known he wasn't coming back. He had known he'd be trading himself for Scully and he'd signed everything he had over to her before he did.

His hate for Krycek wasn't spawned by his normal anger at the man. He hated Krycek for a number of reasons. One reason being because Mulder actually found himself liking him, when he was always so desperate to hate him. Scully, Skinner, even the Lone Gunmen had talked about how Krycek had changed. Krycek wasn't evil; Krycek wasn't a cold-blooded murderer. He had an uncanny sixth sense, he possessed unbelievable powers, he could speak every language, play every instrument, he could surf, he was Taoist, he danced, he didn't care what everyone thought of him, he had a wonderful sense of humor, blah, blah, blah.

Mulder had never figured they'd actually be right and he'd be wrong. That was another reason he hated him.

Two years after Scully's 'death', Mulder had sought him out, believing he was finally ready to set eyes on the man that had torn down the foundation of his beliefs. Mulder never figured he'd end up liking Krycek as much as he did. Then Krycek had found Scully, traded himself for her, and saved the day.

Another reason Mulder hated him. Not only had he saved the day like Mulder couldn't, but he'd abandoned Mulder like everyone else in his life did. Just when he'd decided to let Krycek in, he left. What was the point in caring in the first place?

Mulder remembered back to the first time he'd made a valiant attempt to hang on to his hatred of Krycek. They had been out on the lower balcony at the beach house, just getting over a fit of laughter. They'd been suggesting various ways to get the Scully family to hate Krycek and really irritate Bill in the process. They had laughed together and had almost felt like friends.

'You know Mulder,' Krycek looked out over the ocean and took a drink of his beer. 'You should have fun more often. You spend so much time working, running around chasing the bad guys, which may or may not be the bad guys, and you miss out on what's most important.'

Mulder shrugged. 'Depends on what you think is important. I think exposing heinous crimes against an innocent, American society is pretty important.'

'But you're alienating everyone while you do it. You're missing your life. You're missing yourself.'

Mulder shook his head. 'I believe that what I'm looking for will explain what I've been missing.'

Krycek looked at him closely. 'I believe that what you're missing is in that house, upstairs. You're life is right in front of your eyes and you ignore it. You're going to suddenly find yourself old and all alone and still chasing conspiracies.'

Mulder remained silent and Krycek turned to face him. 'You know who you remind me of? Running around, never having time for anyone or anything else. Mindlessly dedicated on working for a cause that really has no meaning to anyone. You know who you'll turn into if you're not careful?'

Mulder stared back at Krycek, trying not to appear too concerned with what he was saying. 'Who's that?'

Making people laugh was easy for Krycek, making friends was easy for Krycek; acting like a fool was easy for Krycek. How he got away with making idiocy a personable trait, Mulder would never know. All he knew was that everything was easy for Krycek.

One look at her face told Mulder she knew exactly what he'd been doing. That he'd been thinking about Krycek and how much he'd disliked him then. Back then? Maybe he still did. He gave a small shake of his head. 'Nothing, I'm sorry.'

Scully looked at him strangely before turning her attention to Cade. He was looking back at Mulder oddly. She suddenly realized with horror that he could probably sense everything that Mulder was feeling.

The kid's lower lip was pouted out just like Scully's was when she was unhappy with him. Mulder felt like an ass. Cade probably knew everything that went on in Mulder's mind. He was special, after all. The son of Scully and Krycek, the new hope for the future…

A thought suddenly flew into Mulder's head. A thought he'd never had before, something he'd never even realized. Cade was related to him.

He'd always thought of Cade as Scully's son, as Krycek's son. He'd never even entertained the thought that Cade was the son of his brother. Of course, in order for that to be true, he'd have to accept Krycek as his brother, which he hadn't, and probably wouldn't.

Cade held onto Scully's hand as they walked into the foyer. She took a moment to survey the living room, the dining room…She was okay so far and decided to venture a bit deeper.

Mulder stayed a good distance behind, wanting to give them some space. Wanting to give himself space after his realization.

Scully frowned. Something was missing. A small question popped into her head. 'Cade, honey?'

A memory suddenly popped into Scully's head. She had gone out front with Krycek to greet the Lone Gunmen. He had been surfing, and was in his wet suit, soaked in salt water. The girl next door had walked by with her fragile-looking miniature greyhound, not bothering to hide her eyes as they wandered over Krycek. Even Scully had to admit that Alex did look good in a wet suit.

Krycek shrugged with a modest look on his face as he glanced down at Scully. 'Well, you know, all the girlie's say I'm pretty fly.'

Scully burst out laughing into the silence. She realized that both Cade and Mulder were staring at her. Regaining her composure, she looked over at Mulder. 'You want to go next door and get Stout?'

'Come on, big guy.' Mulder held out a hand as Cade walked up to him and took it.

Scully watched the two of them walk out of the house before slowly venturing down to the bottom level of the house. She cast an eye over the silent rec room. How many parties had been held down here? How many good times had they had? How many good times that she wasn't a part of?

Scully ignored that thought and instead walked over to the stereo. Music had always been wafting through the rooms and the silence made the place appear sadder than it already was. It just didn't seem like home unless some sort of music was occupying the house with them. She turned it on and watched as the CD's spun around in their random mode before stopping.

'…They made up their mind, and they started packing…They left before the sun came up that day… An exit to eternal summer slacking…But where were they going without ever knowing the way…'

'The Way' by Fastball cranked out and Scully smiled. She and Krycek had joked about that song. They had listened to it on their cross-country trip to California, swearing it had been written about the very drive they were taking. Eternal summer slacking, yes indeed.

'…They just drove off and left it all behind them, but where were they going without ever knowing the way…'

Scully threw open the French doors and walked onto the deck. The same view from so many times before greeted her and she welcomed it. The blues skies, the salty air, the ocean breeze, the crashing surf…

'…You can see their shadows wandering off somewhere…They wont make it home, but they really don't care…They wander the highway, they're happier there today…Today…'

She stayed out on the deck until the song ended. She knew she had to wander the rest of the house, but she was putting it off. The CD player rotated again and 'Comfortably Numb' began to play.

'…Hello…Is there anybody in there…Just nod if you can hear me…Is there anyone home…'

Pink Floyd was Krycek's favorite band. The Wall was his favorite album. She had heard every song on it about a thousand times.

'…Relax…I need some information first…Just the basic facts…Can you show me where it hurts…'

Krycek had told her that when he listened to Pink Floyd, it seemed like they were talking to him.

'…There is no pain, you are receding…A distant ship, smoke on the horizon…You are only coming through in waves…Your lips move, but I can't hear what you're saying…'

Scully sighed and walked up to the second floor, stopping in front of her bedroom. She slowly opened the door and stared inside. It was exactly as she'd left it. She stepped inside, feeling really weird knowing it had been over two years since she'd been here. It felt like she'd never left.

This song in particular reminded her of Alex. He said it was how he had felt growing up as a teenager.

'…I can't explain…You would not understand…This is not how I am…I have become comfortably numb…'

Scully finally left the doorway and walked over to her closet. The hinges squeaked as she opened the door. Everything was still in there, just as she'd left it. She sighed again and made her way over to her dresser. All her family pictures were still there. The picture of her and Mulder at the FBI Christmas party years ago was still there. The picture of Krycek and Langly was still there. Scully smiled to herself, remembering when she had taken that picture. It was taken from behind, while she'd been standing on the deck. Krycek and Langly were sitting on the sand in wet suits, a surfboard on either side of them, staring out at the waves. Langly was pointing at something and Stout was stretched out behind them, basking in the sun.

'…Okay…Just a little pin prick…There we go boy…But you may feel a little sick…Can you stand up…I do believe it's working good…'

She opened all of the windows and the doors leading out to her deck to let the room air out.

Cade's room was completely different than the last time she'd seen it. Back when she and Alex were decorating it, the theme had been Winnie the Pooh. Now it was all redone in Star Wars. Scully noticed that the picture of when they were first remodeling it was still hanging on the wall.

When everyone had come over for a BBQ during Labor Day weekend, they had a decorating party. Her Mom was there, and the Lone Gunmen were there. Bill had shown up. A couple of neighbors that they'd become friendly with had offered to pitch in. They had wanted Cade to see them preparing his room for his arrival. They had taken lots of pictures, but this one was by far the funniest one in the bunch.

Everyone had painted and assembled furniture and basically just made a big huge mess of each other after getting in a paint fight like a bunch of kids. The picture had been taken while everyone was smashed against the far wall as Krycek ran back to beat the timer on the automatic picture-taker. He had practically fallen into the group and knocked everyone down. She had paint all over her face and had pressed her left cheek against Krycek's face as he had grabbed her arm to keep from falling. They were all laughing hysterically. That's the reason they chose that picture to commemorate Cade's first room. They were all so happy. Mulder hadn't been there that time, again. But by then, she'd almost been used to it.

Scully walked out of Cade's room to see Krycek's door open across from it. She stared at the doorway, remembering the last time she had stood there, listening to Krycek and Mulder argue over what was best for her.

'Mulder, you live all the way across the country.' She heard Krycek say. 'You haven't called, you haven't been out to visit until now. It's been six months. Six months, Mulder. You don't think she hasn't questioned your relationship?'

Scully had moved closer to the door and looked inside to see Krycek throwing things into a suitcase as Mulder watched. 'I thought Scully was the only person you've ever really cared about? I thought you wouldn't lose her because of me.'

'Things have changed since last night?' Mulder asked. 'What happened out there?'

'I am.' She interrupted and they both turned to see her standing in the doorway.

Scully remembered how angry she had been that they'd been deciding how she felt, deciding her future. She'd been confused at the feeling's she'd had of Krycek leaving, even if he meant well for her relationship with Mulder. She remembered asking him to stay out of it, that she could handle her own life just fine. She remembered telling him that she didn't want him to go.

She remembered the pain that cut through her body. Remembered that Krycek had been at her side in half a second. Barely remembered going to the hospital.

She suddenly realized that everything had ended on the beach, not when she had gone to the hospital and been taken. The instant that Krycek's mind had wandered and she had stumbled across his jumbled thoughts, everything changed. Because of this, he made up his mind to leave. He didn't want to interfere with her and Mulder's relationship. That's when everything had gone to hell. That's when everything became muddy. After the argument they'd had, nothing would be the same again.

The song was still playing and she slowly roused herself back to the present. There'd been enough of reflecting on what could have been done differently. It was all she had done for two years.

'…When I was a child, I caught a fleeting glimpse out of the corner of my eye…I turned to look but it was gone…I cannot put my finger on it now…The child is grown…The dream is gone…I have become comfortably numb…'

The front door slammed upstairs and Scully sensed Stout running down the stairs. She turned and knelt as the dog bombarded her, knocking her back onto her butt. She laughed and hugged Stout as he lavished her with doggie kisses, all her earlier disenchantment fading away.

After putting Cade to bed, Mulder and Scully went out to sit on the deck and have a glass of Merlot. They didn't know at the time that they were starting a tradition that they would continue to observe for years to come. They stared out at the ocean and breathed in the salty air as 'The End' by The Doors began to play.

The tone of her voice was far too serious, even for Scully. He didn't look at her. 'Sure, Scully.'

She sighed and curled her feet up under her as she turned towards him. 'It's been bothering me for a long time and I feel really bad.'

Mulder took a sip of wine to take a moment to steady his nerves. 'Bad about what?'

'When you came back after you'd been 'missing'. When you disappeared and went to work with Diana.' She quit talking and the silence stretched out.

'…This is the end…Beautiful friend…This is the end…My only friend…The end…'

'What are you talking about, Scully?' Mulder asked when he could push the words out.

'I was so wrong for the way I acted.' Her eyes were imploring, silently begging for understanding. 'I didn't stop to think how it all must have seemed to you. I doubted you. I questioned your loyalty to me and to the X-Files. I was so selfish.'

'No, Mulder.' She shook her head. 'You came home to find me pregnant with Alex's child. And all I did was defend myself. All I did was berate you for not trusting me. I complained that you wouldn't give Alex a chance.'

'We both screwed up.' He said. 'You thought I had been working against you and I didn't give you much of a chance to explain anything. I had been told that you and Krycek had been working together from the beginning. They were playing us against each other and we almost fell for it.'

'It was a long time ago.' He brushed hair behind her shoulder. 'Let's just leave it in the past and move on. We should discuss what we want to do about Krycek. He is out there somewhere.'

'I'd rather not talk about this just yet.' Scully mumbled almost too softly for him to make out the words. 'There's nothing we can do right now because we'd be risking Cade.'

Scully was silent, remembering. Her eyes seemed distant, far away. 'I wonder how different things would be if I hadn't let Alex into my house that night.'

'The night after you disappeared. Skinner took me home from the hospital and we'd ordered some Thai food. We talked about that night at the Japanese Bar.' Scully smiled. 'And Alex showed up out of nowhere. I remember how scared I was that he was there. How evil and horrible and cold he had seemed. It took awhile for me to trust him. I really tried to keep hating him.'

She returned his smile. 'I know. That's why I was so confused. I didn't understand how you still saw him in such a horrible way. I was selfish and insensitive. I'm sorry. I didn't stop to think that the same Krycek you knew didn't exist for me anymore. I don't think I'm making any sense.'

Mulder laughed, nodding. 'I did. But I mostly blamed it on Krycek. I thought he was manipulating you. Playing games with your mind.' He paused, then looked down at their hands. 'But that's not quite all I thought.'

Scully sensed that he wanted to ask her a question, but was uncomfortable. 'Go on, Mulder.'

She laughed at the look on his face and turned back to the ocean. She had just dropped a nuclear bomb on him and she was enjoying it. What was it about this place that made her so carefree?

Mulder looked out at the waves as well. He was still struggling to reiterate with something…To elaborate…To explain…Why was his life always so complicated?

Scully had been happy for the past few hours and the conversation they were about to have would be heavy and she wanted to wait. Besides, she could sense that Mulder was struggling with a reply. No need to ruin the evening, regardless of how amusing she found his discomfort. 'Tell me what you've been doing for the past two years, Mulder. Where'd you go in the FBI?'

'I stayed on the X-Files.' He sputtered out, silently thanking her for saving him just now.

'Yes.' Mulder tried to breathe, tried to relax. 'I didn't like him too much at first. But at least he isn't a hard ass like my last partner.'

'Whatever.' Scully pushed him in his chair and he rewarded her with a small laugh, looking at her.

Steven Koskie made his way through the halls of FBI Headquarters, wondering why he was being summoned to AD Skinner's office. For the last six months, he'd been serving warrants on jump-out squads. He must have really pissed people off to get that dead-end assignment.

Koskie opened the door to Skinner's small reception area, smiling at Kimberly, the AD's receptionist.

Koskie stood up, pacing the room. Kimberly watched him, an annoyed look lingering on her face.

Koskie glanced at his watch every few seconds; playing with his hands, and letting his eyes roam the room.

Kimberly huffed. 'Agent Koskie, I believe it is six-thirty-seven, the same time it was when you checked your watch about five seconds ago.'

Kimberly checked her appointment book, her finger running down the page. 'Seven.'

'Yes, I had an appointment at seven; to get a manicure and pedicure, my skin is just so dry and unruly and I am such the morning person. Then I figured I would get into work unusually early to make sure all those little warrants were ready to go.'

'Do you always get up at this hour?' Koskie asked, resting on the edge of her desk. 'I mean, you were here before me, so you must get up at…'

Koskie sat for a good two minutes, staring at nothing, thinking of nothing, when he heard himself singing out loud.

'Cause I've got friends in low places, where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away, and I'll be okay…'

'Agent Koskie…' Kimberly stared at him, as if she were looking straight through him.

Koskie knew that she had work to do, but being the charmer that he was, he knew she would soon have him in Skinner's office. He grinned. 'Don't like Garth, huh? Yeah, he might be a little twangy at times, but…'

Kimberly clicked the intercom, while Koskie serenaded her. 'Sir, are you ready for Agent Koskie? Sir, yes, sir. No, sir, that is Agent Koskie you hear singing.'

Kimberly clicked the intercom button and didn't look at him. 'He is ready for you.'

Koskie stood, a smile playing on his face and walked past Kimberly's desk, and opened the door to Skinner's office.

'Sir, if I may ask, what did I do wrong? Did I not dot my I's or cross my T's, or is it the unusual boredom I have been displaying during work hours?'

The voice came from behind and Koskie turned to see a tall, slender man extending a hand towards him. Dale Cooper was pale, with big round eyes and slick, jet-black hair.

'Yes, I know.' Koskie said, shaking his head. 'You worked that famous case back in Washington state all those years ago. What city was that again?'

'Agent Koskie, you were shot in Agent Scully's apartment, by an unknown subject, correct?' Skinner asked Koskie.

'Shot.' Cooper repeated, making himself visible out of the corner of Koskie's eye.

'I don't recall being shot, but a lot of things happened that night. Who said I was shot?'

'Agent Koskie,' Skinner sighed, 'this is how I operate: I ask a question, and you answer as simply and directly as you possibly can.'

'I've heard all my due respect, Agent Koskie.' Skinner interrupted him before he could dig himself another hole. 'What I'm interested in now is what happened the night you were assigned to protect Special Agent Dana Scully.'

'It's okay, Agent Koskie.' Cooper said soothingly. 'Just tell us what you do remember.'

'I was in my car.' Koskie thought back to a night he had buried in his memory. 'And someone that looked like Agent Mulder forced me into the apartment building. He wanted me to get Agent Scully to let me in.'

Koskie shook his head. 'No, Sir. Someone who looked like him. I had been hit over the head when Agent Scully opened the door. I didn't know what had happened until I came to.'

'And when you woke up…?' Skinner urged him to continue while Cooper looked on.

'Agents Mulder and Scully were there. As well as Alex Krycek.' Koskie was lost in the memory, he hadn't thought of that night in a long time. 'Krycek told me that all the blood on my shirt was from him. He'd been shot and was trying to help me and gotten his blood all over me.' Koskie shuddered, reliving that awful moment that he'd woken up, unsure of where he'd been. 'Agent Mulder had relieved me, told me to go home. He'd told me that he was going to call you and let you know what had happened.'

'Agent Koskie,' Skinner began, 'do you have any idea what happened to this man who was imitating Agent Mulder?'

'No.' He shook his head. 'I woke up, I was startled to see Agent Mulder. But Krycek had told me that it wasn't the same guy. I don't know what it was, what exactly happened, but Agent Mulder told me to go home. He is a senior agent, so I did. Sir, may I ask what this is all about? Why is Agent Cooper here?'

Koskie gave another small shake of his head. 'I'm afraid I don't understand, Sir.'

'Agent Koskie, haven't we been over this?' Skinner's eyes were irritated and amused at the same time. 'I ask the questions and you provide the answers.'

Skinner paused, staring down at Agent Koskie with his arms crossed for a few moments.

'I've been summoned to the Assistant Director's office.' Koskie said, putting up his hands. 'Dale Cooper is here in an 'unofficial capacity' and we're talking about what happened at the apartment of Dana Scully's, who is otherwise known as 'Mrs. Spooky', apartment. The partner of Agent Mulder, the leader of the 'Little Green Men Patrol'. This happened months ago. Why should anyone care about it now? What am I supposed to think, Sir?'

Skinner hesitated, thinking, and then continued. 'Agent Koskie, between you, me and the fence post-'

'Excuse me, Assistant Director Skinner.' Cooper interrupted. 'I find that highly derogatory. I do not like being referred to as a 'fence post'. The size of my waistline should not be an issue here-'

'Ease down, Chip.' Skinner waved a hand at Cooper, smiling. 'Agent Koskie, we need to take your official statement on what happened that night. I also notice that you are due for a reassignment.'

'Oh joy, Sir.' Koskie smiled. He had noticed that Skinner and Cooper appeared to have a past history and filed that away in his mind for future reference. 'Am I being forced to show off my marksmanship skills for the tourists visiting FBI Headquarters?'

'Since you've had your head up your ass for the past six months, Agent Koskie,' Skinner said harshly, 'Maybe you haven't noticed that Agent Scully hasn't been around.'

'I know she had taken a leave of absence, Sir. But surely she'd want to come back if she knew the X-Files were up and running again.' Koskie said, trying to reason his way out of the assignment.

'Agent Scully's dead, Koskie.' Skinner replied bluntly, walking around his desk and sitting down in his chair. 'I doubt she'll be returning to work on any case.'

Koskie stared back at the Assistant Director, shock clear on his face. He cleared his throat. 'I'm sorry, Sir. I had no idea.'

There was silence for a moment and Skinner sighed and leaned forward in his chair. 'Agent Mulder is insistent on staying on with the X-Files, so a partner needs to be assigned.'

'Sir.' Koskie tried to speak reasonably. 'I must strenuously state that I have no interest in being involved in anyway with the X-Files.'

'Well, Agent Koskie.' Skinner smiled with no hint of humor. 'I have no interest in being bald, but sometimes you just have to smile and take the shit you're being served.'

Agent Koskie made his way down to the halls of the building, now standing in a full elevator. He took notice of the people in the elevator, all secluded and living in their own little space. Everyone had their eyes straight ahead; arms down and clasped in front of them. He watched as each one got off at their respective floors, leaving him the last one in the elevator, along with the janitor. Koskie looked at his nametag, tracing the grooves with his eyes. Kevin.

'The basement?' Kevin asked, astonished at the fact anyone else was going down there.

Koskie smirked as the janitor began mumbling things about Scully, and quickly walked off of the elevator in front of Kevin. He listened to the clicking of his heels on the cold, hard floor as he neared Mulder's office. Koskie yawned, sure of the fact that Mulder would not be in his office this early.

Koskie placed his hand on the cool, metallic, silver knob and opened the door of Mulder's office.

'Can I help you?' Mulder spun around in his chair, breaking his staring contest with the poster on the wall. 'Agent Koskie. Good to see you again. How can I help you?'

'What?' Mulder asked, hearing him perfectly well but not wanting to believe his ears.

'I don't think you understand, Mulder.' Koskie said. 'I did not request to be put here. Let me say, it is better than double-checking my crossed T's. Maybe I should be thanking them for getting me out of that ass wipe job, but if you don't want me along side you, chasing little green men, you are going to have to take that up with AD Skinner.'

'Nothing.' Mulder picked up his phone, dialing Skinner's office. 'I need to speak with Skinner.'

Koskie walked around the room, inspecting various objects from different X-Files.

'Listen,' Koskie said, turning to face him, 'I want to make this as easy as possible for both of us. I know the situation and I was quite fond of Agent Scully. She seemed to be a very respectable agent. If you want, I can go purchase a red wig and wear cute little outfits, otherwise you are going to have to deal with me. Just like I have to deal with you.'

'Don't you ever mention her name again you son of a bitch.' Mulder spat, infuriated with the man. 'Why don't you go plant yourself on a chair and enjoy the soft upholstery against your ass, because you wont ever feel it, or anything else for that matter, if you bring her up again.'

'Excuse me, Agent Mulder?' Mulder heard Skinner on the other end of the phone. 'Smartass?'

'Yes, Sir.' Mulder said, hanging up the phone. 'I am going up to Skinner's. Don't touch anything.'

'Aye, Aye Captain.' Koskie said, saluting him. 'Hey Mulder, by the way, I didn't mean to…"

He stormed up to Skinner's office and burst through his door, not listening to Kimberly's objections.

'Agent Mulder, There is nothing to discuss. Field agents require a partner. There is no way of getting around it.'

'Agent Mulder, I am sorry, but there is nothing I can do about it. If you want to stay on the X-Files, I suggest you learn to like him. Koskie will grow on you, he is just as nervous about this as you are.'

'I wouldn't call this nervous, Sir.' Mulder said, glaring at his superior. 'I am pissed."

Skinner held out the file and began to explain the nature of the case, when Mulder snatched the file out of his hand.

'I think I will do just fine reading it on my own, thanks.' Mulder said, as he headed for door.

'I would recommend you watch how you speak to authority, or you are asking for your walking papers.'