Disclaimers in Part One.
Mulder stared at the screen in silence, the Lone Gunmen fanned out behind him. He wasn't sure what to make of the scene that had just played out in front of him. His mind swirled with refusal. He didn't just see that happen. He must be mistaken. He must have misunderstood. Scully didn't really just shoot Krycek, blowing his kneecap to bits. There must be some other explanation. Mulder stood there, with his arms crossed in front of him, the picture definition of disbelief on his face.
The only thing he knew for sure was that Scully was much stronger than he could ever be.
'What happened?'
Skinner's voice announced the entrance of his friend and superior.
No one answered him; they all stood there. Mulder turned around to get a look at the Lone Gunmen. They looked just as bewildered and horrified as he felt. The four of them exchanged looks in silence.
'What?' Skinner asked, stalking over to stand beside Mulder to look at the monitor. He squinted at the image. 'Is that Alex?'
'I'm afraid it is.' Langly said softly.
'And Cancer Man?' Skinner turned and looked over his shoulder at the people congregated behind him.
Byers and Langly nodded back at him. Mulder stood with his back to the monitor, his brow furrowed. He couldn't watch it anymore. He was safe in here, watching, while Scully and his brother suffered through all kinds of hell. He needed to do more. He couldn't watch them do this any longer. He didn't care what Scully said. He didn't care how much sense it made to bide their time. They couldn't do this anymore.
'What the hell happened?' Skinner asked, looking at the monitor. Scully was gesturing towards Krycek with her gun. 'Why is he laying on the floor?'
Frohike stared straight ahead, at the monitor. 'Scully shot him.'
Skinner's head whipped around. 'What?'
'In the knee.' Langly said softly.
Skinner stared back at the monitor for a moment. 'Why?'
'We don't know.' Langly shrugged.
'She was protecting him.' Mulder said softly, his eyes far away.
Skinner took that in for a moment, staring at the screen. 'She shot him in the knee?'
'What does Krycek love to do more than anything?' Mulder asked rhetorically.
'He surfs.' Langly said.
Frohike looked up at him. 'Not anytime soon.'
'I can't believe she did that.' Byers said softly.
'I think that's the point.' Skinner said.
'Think about it.' Mulder said, rubbing his hands over his face. 'How surprised were we? Someone who knows her less would probably think she fits right in with that crew.'
'I have no doubt that Spender took Alex in there to see how Scully would react.' Skinner said. 'The man's not stupid.'
Mulder's eyes drifted towards the screen. 'Neither is Scully.'
They were taking Krycek out of the room while Scully engaged in a beet-faced argument with a man in a lab coat. He must have got the last word because after a moment, she followed Krycek out the door.
Mulder was wounded when he saw the expression on her face. Even though the image was small, he could read her suffering as clearly as if someone had stamped 'AGONY' across her forehead. He felt stupid all of a sudden. Useless like when they had gone to rescue Scully from the Syndicate. Back when he had his head up his ass.
Scully looked behind her, at Cooper, as the door shut behind her. He was her only friend in there. Well, besides his brother, but Krycek wasn't going to be much help. Mulder's mind slowly wound down, took it easy for a moment. Sure he'd said the words. Sure he'd casually tossed the idea against his brain. But he didn't think he'd every actually realized it before. He never had let the thought hit home before. Krycek was his brother.
He had a brother.
Oh yes, who was the idiot now.
'Jesus.' Mulder said in disgust. 'What the hell am I doing?' He stormed towards the door and pushed it open angrily. He left without saying another word.
***'Cooper, get this shit out of my laboratory.'
He looked back at her, trying to recover from the shock he had felt at watching her mercilessly shoot the father of her child. 'What do you want me to do with him?'
'I don't care what you do with him!' She shouted. 'Just get him out!'
'He needs medical attention.' Dr. Jenkins said, looking at all the matter on the ground. 'We cannot risk the threat of an infection. Regardless of how quickly his body can heal itself, there are always risks.'
'Then fix it.' Scully snapped at him, the limits of her sanity stretching further and further apart.
Dr. Jenkins crossed the room to look down at Krycek. His complexion was ghostly white, his breathing was labored. His eyes landed on Dr. Jenkins for a moment, the hate and contempt shone through his pain.
'Oh no, my dear.' Jenkins fixed his gaze on Scully. 'You are more than qualified to clean up this mess.'
'I'm not-'
'Yes, you are.' Jenkins said in a tone that indicated the matter was not open for debate. 'You did this, you fix it.'
Scully stared back at him, her eyes on fire.
'You!' Spender pointed with his cigarette at the two men that were picking Krycek up. 'You both stay with her while she examines him. Don't let either one of them out of your sight.'
She began to follow the men carrying Krycek out, then turned to look back at Cooper. He gave her a quick, lopsided grin. She knocked her shoulder against Spender as she walked out.
Once inside a small examining room, and away from the Cigarette Smoking Bastard, Scully felt like she could breath again.
The two men threw Krycek down on a hospital bed, then hovered outside the door.
Scully pulled on latex gloves; tears immediately spilled out of her eyes.
Where's Cade? Krycek asked her silently.
With my Mom. He's fine, she thought back at him. I'm so sorry, Alex.
It will heal.
I'm sorry. I panicked. I didn't know what to do. Scully chewed on the inside of her lip while examining his knee. Her whole body was shaking violently. Tears fell off of her cheeks and onto his leg. She could feel his pain and it was killing her. I'm so sorry, Alex. I didn't know what to do.
Krycek was drenched with sweat from the pain. It will heal. How is Cade?
He's beautiful, Alex. Scully blinked the tears from her eyes. He's so beautiful.
Krycek finally looked up at her. You look tired.
Tears fell slid down her face as she tried not to look at him and concentrate on his knee. I am tired. I am so tired of this. I'm so sorry.
It's almost over. Krycek looked away from her. The vaccine nearly works.
I know. Scully began to wrap his knee. I don't know what to do.
You know, I've been living to see you. Krycek quoted Jesus Chris Superstar to her, a movie they used to love to vege out in front of. He continued, trying to make her feel better. Dying to see you, but it shouldn't be like this.
Scully said the lyrics back. This was unexpected. What do I do now? Could we start again please?
I'm so glad you're here.
Scully was suddenly useless. She stood there, staring at his knee, letting his thoughts wash over her.
But you need to leave, Krycek thought, still looking away from her. I don't want you doing this.
Alex, I need to get you out of here. Scully's knees were weak, her legs felt like rubber.
Dana, they're not planning on letting us go.
Scully swallowed as more tears fell down her face. Tell me what to do.
Take Cade and get as far away from here as you can.
No.
Cade will be able to warn you if anyone is close. You will be able to hide. No matter what that Cooper guy is telling you. Cade will know if anyone is coming.
No.
But-
I'm not leaving you behind again, Alex. Scully took a moment away from her wrapping to look up at him. She waited until he returned her gaze.
When he looked at her, his eyes were full of despair. They were wide and round. They looked as if he were an animal caught in a trap. And in some ways, he was.
Dana, they're not going to let me go. I'm not getting out. You need to leave.
Scully returned his gaze for a second before pulling off the latex gloves, covered in his blood. It was the only time they'd had any piece of quiet in the last three years. The last time they'd seen each other, after over two years, everything had happened in the space of five minutes. Then the next time they meet, she socks him in the head then shoots him in the leg. Nice.
I won't leave you behind again, Alex. She held his gaze a moment longer before finishing the wrap on his leg. Cade needs you. Mulder needs you. I need you. I won't let you play the martyr anymore.
Who said anything about being a martyr? I just don't want you to shoot me again.
Scully let some breath escape her in laughter. She couldn't help it. She gathered all the courage she had to examine his face. She wanted to make sure she hadn't busted his teeth. She felt along his jaw line and his eyes followed her face. She couldn't bear the defeat in his expression. He'd never given up before.
Just tell me what to do, Alex.
I keep telling you what to do. Krycek's eyes filled with tears. Take Cade and go.
Quit being a hero and help me. Tell me what to do. You might as well help me because I'm not going to leave you here. Mulder is trying, Skinner is trying, the Lone Gunmen are trying. Scully let her hands linger on his face a moment longer than she needed to and looked him in the eyes. I'll find away to talk to you again. Just think of something. I promise, we'll get you out.
Dana?
What? She sniffed as her hands left his face.
He looked away from her again. The tears on his face could have been due to his pain.
Make sure you wipe your eyes before you leave.
***Scully sat in the car in the parking garage of the hotel where her Mom and Cade were.
It should have made her feel better, when in fact talking to Krycek had made her feel so much worse. She felt paralyzed by his despair. She had expected him to have a plan. She hadn't expected defeat. She was also mortified at what she had resorted to. She had panicked. She had been desperate. She had been taken over by someone completely different. She had been viewing herself from far away.
She knew that Krycek didn't blame her. He didn't hold anything against her for it. He had already forgiven her. He had never been angry by it in the first place. That's just the way he was.
Her hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles were white. An old Peter Gabriel song was on the radio.
'…River…Show me how to float…I feel like I'm sinking down…'
How many times could she say to herself, this has been the worst day of my life?
'…Thought that I could get along…But here in this water…My feet won't touch the ground…'
How many times could she think to herself, I've never been this lost before?
'…I need something…To turn myself around…'
How many times could she ask herself, what the hell am I going to do?
'…Going away…Away towards the sea…River deep, can you lift up and carry me…'
How many times could she tell herself, one more thing and I'll just break.
'Hey, Scully?'
Thank God.
It was Mulder.
She didn't respond. She didn't need to. She knew he would take care of her now.
Mulder opened the car door and knelt down next to her. 'You okay?'
She slowly nodded mechanically.
'You sure?'
She shook her head.
His eyes wandered to her hands. 'Scully, are you going to let go of the steering wheel?'
She didn't respond.
'Okay, Scully.' Mulder reached over and took her hands off of the steering wheel. 'Come on.'
She let him put his arms around her and leaned her head on her shoulder. 'All I wanted to do was see my son. I needed to see him after today. That's all I wanted.'
'I'll take you up there.' He said softly.
'I can't.' She said in a shaky voice.
'Yes, you can.'
'No, I can't.' Tears threatened and this only made her feel worse. She was normally so strong.
'Yes, you can. We'll walk to the elevator, hit the button, and go to their rooms.'
Her voice was almost too low to hear. 'Mulder, I've done something so horrible.'
'I saw what you did.' Mulder said soothingly. 'You did what you had to. I know that he understands.'
'I don't know what to do.'
'Let's go see Cade.' He said softly. 'You'll feel better being with him and your Mom.'
'You really expect me to go up there?' Scully asked, trembling. 'So Cade can see visions of me shooting his father?'
Mulder was silent. He hadn't thought about that.
'Mulder?'
'Yeah?'
Scully's voice dropped to a shaky whisper. 'I'm so scared.'
Mulder closed his eyes. He couldn't remember her ever saying that to him before. He felt like all this was his fault. He felt responsible. He felt guilty for inflicting everyone he cared about with such drama.
'…River…Oh river…River running deep…Bring me something that will let me get to sleep…'
'It's okay, Scully.' Mulder said softly. 'Everything will be fine. Everything will be wonderful.'
Mulder didn't know who he was trying to convince more, Scully or himself.
'…In the washing of the water…Will you take it all away…Bring me something to take this pain away…'
***Mulder knocked on Skinner's door, Scully by his side. He was afraid of the desolate look in her eyes. Her far away eyes. Mulder frowned, remembering the Rolling Stones on a jukebox in a seedy bar. 'Far Away Eyes' had been playing and he'd been losing his mind.
Skinner opened the door and looked between the two of them. He didn't say anything, but immediately took Scully in a hug upon seeing the expression on her face.
'Sir.' Mulder stepped inside the house, a serious look on his face. 'Is everyone here?'
'Just like every Sunday night, Mulder.'
Mulder passed Skinner as he stepped into the house. Marie emerged from the kitchen and he gave her a small smile.
The grin she returned immediately disappeared when Skinner led Scully into the house by the hand.
Scully felt Marie's small sliver of animosity. Damn, Marie thought. I wish he would have called ahead to warn me.
'Get used to it.' Scully said, smiling bitterly at Marie. 'Mulder loves to keep people in the dark. In fact, I'm fairly certain that he invented the concept.'
Everyone looked over at Scully as she blurted that statement out into silence. Her body posture and tone of voice indicated that she was angry and tired and not taking anyone's crap. The glazed look in her eyes did nothing to promote an image of stability.
Marie looked like she'd been slapped in the face.
'Besides,' Scully continued, 'this isn't exactly my location pick of the night. We can be unhappy together.'
The Lone Gunmen exchanged confused glances as Skinner sighed.
Scully returned all the gazes that were directed her way and realized her mistake.
'Oh, I'm sorry.' Scully said to Marie, trying hard not to be snotty, but knowing that's what was coming across anyway. 'I thought you'd said that out loud.'
Mulder couldn't help the small grin that surfaced on his face.
'Come on.' Skinner tugged a little on Scully's arm. 'Let me get you some scotch. I have Glen Livit.'
Mulder moved to Frohike's side and spoke softly to him. 'Did Cooper call?'
'Yes.' Frohike whispered back. 'He's on his way over. Mulder?'
'What?'
'Why are we whispering?' Frohike asked.
'It's a matter of principle.' Mulder replied.
'Principle of what?' Frohike whispered back.
'Fox, what the hell is going on?'
It was Marie. She stood glaring at him.
Koskie was by her side. 'What happened, Mulder. Scully looks like hell.'
'We're going back to your place, Koskie.'
'My place?' Koskie tilted his head at Mulder.
'Yes.' Mulder looked between him and Marie. 'I need to tell you a story.'
Koskie's face was unusually serious. 'Is it bedtime?'
Mulder sighed and looked towards the kitchen where Scully and Skinner were. 'It's bedtime.'
'Bedtime?' Koskie's face was one of perpetual surprise. 'You're serious?'
'Totally serious.'
'Totally and completely serious?'
'So completely serious.'
'Completely and radically serious?'
'Don't push your luck, Koskie.'
***Mulder told them everything.
From Bellefleur, Oregon to Bellefleur, Oregon. From his sister to his brother. From Scully to Scully.
He told them everything.
He let them sit in silence and mull over what they'd learned while he made a phone call.
When he came back into the room, they were still silent. He sat down on the coffee table across from them and he waited. After awhile, as if an unspoken signal had crossed between them, Koskie and Marie both looked back at him.
'Does this all make sense?' Mulder asked. 'Because I'd be confused. Do you have any questions.'
'I have one.' Koskie said softly. 'How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?'
The doorbell rang.
Mulder opened the door and was immediately rewarded with a puff of smoke in his face.
He grinned sarcastically at Cancer Man. 'Hiya, Pop.'
***Scully sat in a conference room with a dozen other people. They were all gathered around a large, circular table, exchanging data and hypothesizing. She doodled on her notepad, hardly hearing anything going on around her. She had consumed too much scotch at Skinner's the night before.
Mulder had taken off with Marie and Koskie and she'd waited a long a time before giving up and taking a shower when Cooper showed up. She had stood in the water as hot as she could stand it, trying to sear the days events off of her skin. She had showered in candlelight, wanting to keep it as dark as possible in the bathroom. She didn't want to see herself in the mirror. She didn't think she could stand it. She had crashed in Skinner's spare room while Cooper and the Lone Gunmen joined Skinner for dinner. 'Hemorrhage' by Fuel was on the bedside radio clock and the lyrics had kept her awake.
'Sorry to keep you waiting.'
Scully looked up from her daydreaming to see Cancer Man enter the room. She wasn't prepared to see Krycek and Gibson follow in him, a guard behind them.
'I'm sure you are all familiar with these two young men.'
Scully fought to keep a calm facade as she looked over at Krycek. He had limped in horribly, supported by Gibson, but it was amazing how quickly his body was healing. She could sense the thick confusion from the two of them and guessed that they had been heavily sedated.
Krycek scanned everyone in the room. Dana, what the hell is going on?
I have no idea.
Spender is up to something. Gibson's voice penetrated her skull. I think he's going to take us.
Cooper stood up from his seat next to Scully and walked around the table. 'What is this about?'
'I've come across information.' Spender said, pulling out a cigarette. 'I believe that they will both cooperate with us from now on.'
'What information?' Kaslo, the insider from the CIA, leaned forward.
'Why don't you tell them, Dr. Scully?' Spender lit his cigarette and inhaled deeply.
Krycek and Gibson's head swiveled in sync towards her. She looked around the table as a wave of heat surged through her.
'I don't know what you're talking about.' She said to Spender.
'I've been told by my own source that she is here to sabotage the operation, and to free Alex Krycek.' Spender smiled. 'As some of you may or may not already know, he is the father of her child.'
The room was silent.
Jesus Christ. Krycek's thoughts slammed into her head and she felt his ripple of shock. Dana, what the hell is going on? This is bad. This is so very bad.
Scully took one last stab at the story she'd been told would save her. She didn't dare look at Krycek.
'I work for the NSA.' She said in a clear, strong voice. 'My background in hard science led Mr. Cooper to seek me out, to help debunk the X-Files and now to create the vaccine. I can only assure you, gentlemen that like you, I am only here to get the job done.'
All heads turned towards Cooper for explanation. He was standing at the head of the table, his fingertips lightly resting on the oak surface. If possible, his pallor complexion paled even more.
Dana, this is all wrong. Krycek's voice sounded in her head. There's something wrong.
'She's telling the truth.' Cooper affirmed. 'I asked her myself.'
'Where did you get this information?' Kaslo asked, everyone turning back to Spender.
'My source with the Verein, my contact with the FBI.' Spender flicked ashes onto the floor. 'I'm sure you've heard of him. Fox Mulder, my son.'
The room seemed to spin around Scully. She didn't believe for an instant that Mulder was working with Cancer Man, but why was he saying this?
She couldn't help it; she looked at Krycek. He was staring right back at her, equally astonished.
Dana, he's always been selective about who he tells Fox about. It's been his way of protecting him.
Scully watched as Spender came around the table to stand behind her. She felt his intention a split second before both Krycek and Gibson warned her, a split second before he pressed a gun to the back of her head.
'I think you know what I need, Alex.' Spender said in his soft voice.
Krycek didn't say anything; he merely met his fathers gaze.
'Come on, Alex.' Spender said, putting a hand around Scully's arm. 'Doesn't it just make you sick that I'm touching her, that I can shoot her and kill her and she would be dead before the signature even reached your ears?'
Krycek remained silent, forcing himself not to look at Scully.
'All I need is a sample.' Cancer Man said. 'Just one vial of his blood. Tell me, Alex. Where is your son?'
'I don't know where she's hidden him.' Krycek reluctantly replied.
Spender smiled. 'You really expect me to believe you can't read it from her mind?'
'Not with all these goddamn tranquilizer's you've got shooting through my system.'
'I don't believe you, Alex.'
'I don't know where she's hidden him.' Krycek repeated, trying to keep from trembling.
'Alex…' Spender sang teasingly. 'Do you really think I can't see the fear in your eyes? Do you really think I can't see that you're shaking? Do you really think I don't know what she means to you?'
Krycek raised his voice to a shout. 'She fucking shot me, you moron.'
Spender suddenly yanked Scully to her feet and pressed the gun harder into the back of her neck. 'You want to play poker with me, son?'
Krycek swallowed and tried to clear the turmoil from his mind. The incessant emergency panic alarm was going off in his head, distracting him.
'Where is he, Alex?' Spender asked softly.
'I don't know.' Krycek replied.
Spender grasped Scully by the back of her neck and pushed her in front of him as he walked, pushing her towards Krycek. He stopped when she was at his arms length, a mere four feet from Krycek.
'Her blood will get on you, Alex.' Spender said. 'I know blood itself doesn't bother you, but maybe hers will. Her brilliant mind reduced to grey matter all over your face. How would that be?'
Krycek finally met her gaze. She was trying to be strong, silently telling him that it was okay. That she would do anything to keep Cade out of their hands. That she was willing to die to keep him safe.
Tears sprang to Krycek's eyes at the thought and he spoke softly. 'She's not going to tell me.'
'You can get it from her.' Spender said.
Krycek shook his head. 'I can't.'
'Then say goodbye.'
Krycek suddenly glared at his father. 'I will kill you for this.'
'That may be true.' Cancer Man cocked back the hammer.
Krycek immediately held up his hands. 'Okay.'
'Okay?' Spender asked, raising an eyebrow.
'Just take the gun away from her head.'
Spender hesitated before suddenly shoving Scully at him. Krycek caught her, kept her from falling. He left his hands on her waist as she looked up at him. Her eyes were terrified when she rested her hands on his shoulders.
What do you want me to do? He silently asked her. I can't watch you die.
You may have to. She replied, meeting his eyes. We can't let them have Cade.
I don't think I can do that, Dana. I can't watch you die.
Scully gave him a tiny grin, her bottom lip shaking. It will only suck for a minute, Alex.
I can't.
'What's it going to be?' Spender asked.
Scully leaned against Krycek's side and he put his arms around her waist. She linked her hands over his shoulder.
Alex, we can't let them have Cade.
I know, he thought back at her, his face solemn. Dana, this really sucks.
Spender took a few steps towards them and their eyes swiveled in his direction as he spoke. 'Shall I just shoot you both?'
Krycek tightened his grip on Scully and smiled humorlessly. 'I think you're going to have to, Dad.'
Gibson's eyes lit up as his voice penetrated their thoughts. Your partner's coming. The Smoking Man and Cooper are waiting for him.
Scully slowly looked over at Cooper just in time to see him casually glance down at his watch.
As if on cue, Mulder and Koskie burst through the doors behind him, their guns drawn. In response, Kaslo, the two men from Naval Intelligence and a guard immediately stood up and drew back on them.
'It's the Knight's of the Round Table!' Koskie exclaimed.
The room was deadly silent as everyone tried to get a handle on the situation. Scully tried to get some kind of indication from Mulder on what he was planning on doing, but she couldn't sense much with all that was going on around her.
Mulder's eyes sought his brother out and he grinned. 'Alex.'
'Fox.' Krycek said in response.
'Agent Mulder, what a surprise.' Spender said. 'I can only assume you're not exactly here to wish us luck in our genetic endeavors.'
'I seem to remember the two of you dropping in on us before.' Kaslo said. 'Literally, dropping in on us.'
'Gentlemen,' Cooper said, 'Please allow me to introduce one of the key members of the Verein.'
'I'd really love to meet everyone's acquaintance.' Mulder said. 'But I'm afraid I may wear out my welcome. We're leaving, Scully, you want to help Gibson with Alex and get over here?'
'Nobody's going anywhere.' Kaslo said. 'I suggest you put the guns down.'
Koskie piped up in a perfect imitation of Beavis. 'Are you threatening me?'
Kaslo looked at Cooper. 'Who the hell is this?'
'I am the great Cornholeo.' Koskie went on. 'I need TP-'
'It's done.' Skinner walked in behind them, gun held up by his ear. 'Let's go.'
'Assistant Director Skinner.' Cancer Man stepped on his cigarette. 'You've made a very poor choice. I don't expect you'll be able to return to the Bureau after this.'
'Scully, you planning on hanging your hat here, or what?' Koskie asked. 'Come on, get a move on.'
She looked up at Spender, half expecting him to suddenly sprout horns and a pointy tail and consume the three of them with putrid flames from his mouth. Something weird was definitely going on. She could tell by the ambivalence that the damn smoker was feeling that something was cooking.
She tightened her grip around Krycek's waist as he leaned on her and Gibson. She couldn't tear her eyes from Cancer Man. Barely trusting her legs to work, she began to move towards Mulder and Koskie, feeling like she was walking through water.
Spender smiled before lighting another cigarette. 'Maybe you should have shot him in the arm instead.'
'Funny.' Krycek said. 'I was just thinking the same thing.'
'Come on.' Mulder said. 'Let's go.'
'Keep on rollin', rollin', rollin'.' Koskie sang as Scully, Krycek and Gibson made their way over to them.
'Fox, you're making a huge mistake.' Cooper said.
'If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that…' Mulder said. 'We're leaving, Chip. Pick a side.'
There was the sound of a door slamming shut. Everyone jerked their heads over to see that Spender had disappeared. Kaslo took advantage of the distraction and dove under the table while discharging a round from his firearm. Scully immediately threw herself on the ground, pulling Krycek and Gibson with her. Skinner and Koskie both dropped to their knees. They both fired back at Kaslo and the men from Naval Intelligence.
She caught a thought from Mulder, as clear as if he'd said it out loud, as he fell to the ground clutching his chest.
That wasn't supposed to happen.
'Fox!' Krycek exclaimed, crawling across the floor to him.
Cooper pulled Scully back behind a column and Gibson followed her. Koskie had taken refuge behind the entryway wall across from them. She saw Mulder lying on the ground and bleeding.
Krycek had reached his side. She assumed he was going to try to heal Mulder. The heroic idiot, she thought wildly, what was he planning to do? He can't drag Mulder away with his leg like that. They were both wide out in the open. Did he think he wasn't going to get shot while healing his brother? Doesn't he ever give a moment's thought to anything before dashing out into danger? The answer was no. She knew Krycek better than that. He never thought about himself. He was always just selflessly doing stupid things that endangered his own fragile existence.
Scully sat on the ground, her arms held by Cooper, staring over at Krycek and Mulder. After a decade of wondering what the hell was really going on, she was sitting by as bullets flew back and forth. After wondering why she kept finding herself involved in all this idiocy, she was sitting here stunned and scared and not knowing what to do. After wondering what part she was really playing in the 'universal game of chess', she's finding herself huddled in a corner with Gibson Praise and some guy from the NSA.
If all things were leading to this moment, she'd be damned if she was going to sit idly by while all hell broke loose around her.
'Let me go.' She hissed at Cooper.
She saw Krycek take a bullet in the arm and completely ignore it. She glared at Koskie, trying with everything she possessed to get a thought to him.
Koskie, I need cover. Koskie, do you hear me?
His head snapped towards her, his face confused, shocked.
Do you hear me, Koskie? I need some goddamn cover.
He nodded back at her.
'Cooper,' she said, 'I'm going.'
'If anything happens to you, Mulder will kill me.'
'Mulder is going to get killed if we don't do something.' She said. 'Now let me go!'
Her eyes met Koskie's again. He nodded at her and stepped out behind the wall, firing across the room as he sidestepped over to Skinner. Scully took that moment and ran over to Krycek and Mulder. She slipped in the puddle of blood, arms flailing, and went down hard. Her elbow jarred in pain and she knew when she tried to pick up Mulder's gun that her right arm was broken.
Cooper was at her side, pulling Mulder up while Krycek picked up the gun she'd been desperately fumbling with. Gibson managed to get Krycek to his feet and in turn, Krycek pulled Scully up by her left arm. He pushed her behind him while firing back across the huge table. Skinner took a few steps towards them as they stumbled back towards the exit that he and Koskie were protecting. He took careful aim and fired and Kaslo went down.
'Mulder!' Scully said, taking a hold of his arm as they exited the room. 'You okay?'
He nodded in response. 'I think so. I guess so.'
Krycek dropped the clip out of the gun and looked at Mulder. 'You okay?'
'I think so.' Mulder looked down at his chest. There was blood on his shirt, but he felt fine. Scully yanked his shirt open. The skin was unbroken. Mulder looked back at his brother. 'Gimme the gun. You need to work on walking without looking like you're on a sailboat.'
Scully looked up at Krycek as he handed the gun to Mulder. 'You okay?'
'Your arm's broken.' He said.
'Thank you, Dr. Logan.' She managed a small grin. 'I think I've already reached the same diagnosis.'
'Go, go, go.' Skinner said as he and Koskie flew around the corner.
'Prisa para arriba!' Koskie was spewing nonsense again. 'Arriba, arriba!'
'Where the hell did my father go?' Krycek asked as he tried to hobble after them down the corridor. He looked over his shoulder to make sure Gibson was close behind.
'I don't know.' Mulder answered, slamming another clip into his gun. 'How's the leg?'
'It's coming along.' Krycek answered, grinning lopsidedly as Scully got her good arm around him.
'Fine pair we make.' She mumbled as Gibson took his post on Krycek's other side. 'Bum knee and bad arm.'
'We'll manage.'
They turned another corner and went down a back stairwell, Krycek painfully fumbling down the stairs.
'Ba-Kak!' Koskie clucked softly.
'You're dead-on.' Cooper said. 'This is the chicken coop.'
'I can tell by the smell.' Koskie wrinkled his nose.
Skinner frowned. 'What the hell are you-'
'Yeah.' Mulder interrupted. 'Look at all the rubber skin.'
'There's got to be a chicken around here somewhere.' Koskie said. 'Oh my, how I've missed these days. Are you sticking your hands in weird places again?'
Mulder was examining a slimy substance that covered his hand.
'If I was a chicken,' Koskie continued, 'and I saw this motley looking crew walking around, I wouldn't mess with us.'
'Keep the delusions of grandeur alive, my friend.' Krycek said. 'We'll hope that keeps them away.'
'This is the cage.' Cooper said. 'Since Skinner turned off the power, they were able to tear their way out.'
The seven of them stood in silence and looked at the steel that was bent beyond recognition, almost abstract art at this point.
'I'm suddenly reminded of Jurassic Park.' Koskie said. 'You know the part where the Velociraptor's get out, and the bars are all twisted.'
'Thanks, Steven.' Skinner said. 'I really needed to make that connection.'
'Can we go?' Scully asked. 'I don't want to hang around and meet one of these things.'
'They're all gone.' Gibson said softly.
'Scully, I thought you wanted to believe.' Mulder joked as they began their journey again.
'I'm not sure what I believe in anymore.' She replied. 'But I don't think I want to believe in an eight foot rubber chicken with claws.'
Cooper entered a code on a numeric keypad and the door clicked. He pushed it open. 'My car is right there, what are we planning on doing?'
Mulder looked at Skinner and Koskie. 'You guys take Gibson and go get Cade and Maggie, bring them back to Marie's place. We'll meet you there.'
Krycek turned and looked back the way they'd came. 'How come half of the building isn't on our ass?'
'Who cares?' Scully asked, shoving him into the back seat ahead of her with her good arm. 'Just get in the car so we can get out of here.'
'No way.' Mulder said as Cooper opened the driver side door. 'I'm driving.'
'He can get a little protective about that.' Scully climbed into the backseat.
Krycek shifted in his seat to face Scully as Mulder quickly jumped in and started the car. He reached over and gently took her arm. She grimaced as Mulder hit a speed bump.
'Ow!'
'Sorry.' He looked at her in the rearview mirror and pulled out onto the street.
'Fox?' Krycek asked, looking at the pain on Scully's face.
'What?'
'Please tell me you weren't listening to this on purpose.'
'…Get on the bus…Pay your fare…Then tell the driver that you're going to a double-dutch affair…'
Scully burst out into laughter
Mulder grinned. 'What's wrong with Frankie Smith?'
'You can't be serious.' Krycek responded, wrapping both of his hands around Scully's arm.
She laughed. 'It reminds me of Saturday night's at Skateway when I was a kid.' She said before singing along.
'…I missed my bus, I know I'm late…I gotta do something I know I hate…I gotta walk to work, fifteen blocks…'
'And I share a kid with you?' Krycek asked, releasing her arm and meeting her gaze. 'Better?'
Scully experimentally flexed her fingers and bent her elbow. She beamed a smile at him. 'Like new.'
Mulder and Cooper sang along with the song from the front seat. 'I say ssssssssugar…'
'That's it.' Krycek said. 'Let me off this double-dutch bus.'
Cooper changed the station and Black Sabbath began to play as a police squad car cruised by on the opposite side of the street.
'…Finished with my woman cause she couldn't help me with my mind…People think I'm insane because I am frowning all the time…'
'Don't turn around.' Mulder said, looking at the cop car in the rearview mirror. 'Don't turn around.'
The lights on top of the car lit up red, white and blue and the cruiser flipped a U-turn.
'Shit!' Mulder swore violently and stomped on the accelerator as Ozzy's voice droned on.
'…All day long I think of things, but nothing seems to satisfy…Think I'll lose my mind if I don't find something to pacify…'
The rear windshield suddenly cracked as a bullet lodged itself in the middle, causing Krycek and Scully to duck down.
'…Can you help me…Occupy my brain…'
'Fox, give me your gun.' Krycek reached up to take the offered nine-millimeter. He shot at the back window twice, causing a spider web pattern to cover it; then he swiveled around and kicked it out with his good leg.
'Cooper,' Scully asked, 'don't you have another gun in here? What kind of government agent are you?'
'The non-violent kind.' He replied, rolling down his window.
'It'd be easier if you gave me your gun instead of hanging out the side like a renegade cowboy.'
Krycek was still upside down in the backseat singing along with the radio.
'…I need someone to show me the things in life that I can't find…I can't see the things that make true happiness, I must be blind…'
'Alex, are you singing back there?' Mulder asked while sliding the car around a corner.
'He seems right at home.' Scully grinned, reaching up towards Cooper. 'Kicking out widows, singing in a speeding car while hanging upside down in the backseat with a gun in his hand. It's his forte. Mr. Big, Bad, Hit Man, Tough-Guy.'
'It helps me relax. Forces your mind to calm down.' He replied, twisting his body around to sit hunched over in the backseat. Scully had Cooper's gun and they looked at each other.
Ready?
They both sat up and leaned across the back dash to take careful aim. Scully took out one front tire and Krycek got the other. The car weaved back and forth across the road before landing in a ditch on the side of the street.
He grinned at her. 'Spasiba.'
'Pazhalsta.' She responded.
'That was easy.' Cooper said, using the side mirror to look behind them.
'A little too easy if you ask me.' Krycek said, slumping in the corner of the backseat. He was tired from the pain in his leg and the sedatives in his system.
'You okay?' Scully asked, gently putting a hand on his damaged knee.
He gave her a grin, his eyes cloudy. 'You know me.'
'…Make a joke and I will sigh and you will laugh and I will cry…Happiness I cannot feel and love to me is so unreal…'
'You know the name of this song, Mulder?' Scully smiled at the back of his head. 'Paranoid. You must have written it.'
He met her eyes in the rearview mirror. 'You picking on me?'
'You should know by now that I'm only playing.'
Krycek suddenly sat up fast and pressed the barrel of the gun against the back of Mulder's neck.
'…And so as you hear these words telling you now of my state…I tell you to enjoy life, I wish I could but it's too late…'
'Alex!' Scully exclaimed. 'What the hell are you doing?'
'He's setting us up.' Krycek replied, an odd look on his face. 'Stop the car, Fox. Let us out.'
'Have you lost your mind?' She asked loudly.
'Put the gun down, Alex.' Cooper said. 'You're confused.'
'I'm not confused.' He replied. 'He's setting us up. He's going to take Cade.'
'Alex, listen to me.' Scully said. 'You've been heavily sedated, you're exhausted, you're hurt.'
'You and Gibson have been getting injections of Thioridazine.' Cooper said. 'To mellow you out, calm you down, impair your ability to focus, hampering your cognitive abilities.'
'Some of the side effects of Thioridazine are confusion, paranoia and psychotic reactions.' Scully said quickly. 'Think of the logic, Alex. Isn't it a possibility that you're experiencing one of these symptoms?'
When he didn't answer, she continued, tried a different approach. One that she knew he'd listen to.
'Alex,' she said softly, 'you know I'd never lie to you. You know I'd never do anything that might hurt you. You know you can trust me. And I trust Mulder.'
'Alex.' Mulder finally spoke up from the front seat. 'I am only trying to help you.'
'Give me the gun.' Scully said, holding out her hand.
He looked from Mulder to meet her eyes. Confusion and uncertainty filled them, reaffirming her belief that he was suffering from the powerful sedative.
'We're done, Alex. It's over.' She said, giving him a small grin. 'Everything is wonderful now.'
'I just don't understand how you can smile with all those tears in your eyes and tell me everything is wonderful now.' Krycek said, his expression unreadable. 'I forgot about that song. We used to think about Cade whenever we heard it.'
'We always said we'd never let him end up like that.'
He suddenly laughed. 'I'd say everything's been pretty screwed up for him so far.'
'I've seen the tapes.' She said. 'It doesn't look like he was lacking in anything.'
He met her eyes again. 'Except his mother.'
She felt the lump that was always lurking around, waiting to hop up into her throat. 'And then his father.' She said softly. 'But here you are and we're going to get our son.'
Tears filled Krycek's eyes. 'He's probably so big now.'
'Give me the gun, Alex.'
He hesitated, looking at Mulder again.
She leaned towards him. 'It's over, Alex. Trust Mulder. Trust me.'
'I guess I'm going to have to.' He said, laughing through his tears. 'You guys are all I have now.'
'…Sometimes I feel…Like I am drunk behind the wheel…The wheel of possibility…however it may roll…'
He slowly put the gun in her hand as Fastball played. 'I used to love this song.'
'I remember.' She said, handing the gun up to Cooper.
Krycek put his hands over his face. 'I'm sorry, Fox.'
'It's okay.' Mulder looked straight ahead. 'We're all on the edge.'
'…Give it spin…See if you can somehow factor in…You know there's always more than one way to say exactly what you mean to say…'
Scully took his hands away from his face. 'You're fine. I'm fine. We're all fine. It's over.'
Krycek stared back at her. 'Then why do I feel so strange?'
'Because it's over.' She laughed. 'I feel strange too. What am I going to do now?'
'That's not the strange I feel.' He said softly. 'I feel like it's over, but not in a good way.'
She took his hands and held them. 'We're going to get Cade and we're going to get out of here and we're going to decide what to do. It's over. We made it.'
'…Was I outta my head, was I outta my mind…How could I have ever been so blind…I was waiting for an indication…It was hard to find…'
Krycek finally returned her smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. He didn't believe it.
'…Don't matter what I say…Only what I do…I never mean to do bad things to you…So quiet, but I finally woke up…'
Mulder stared at them in the rearview mirror as they pulled up in front of Marie's house.
It's almost over, he thought. It's almost over. Just a little longer. Then everything will be done. Everything will be fine.
'Everything will be wonderful.' He said out loud.
Mulder didn't know who he was trying to convince more, Krycek or himself.
He watched as Cooper opened the front door and walked inside. Scully was helping Krycek up the front walk. He was trying to keep a little distance between them but they both turned to look at him.
'What's wrong, Fox?' Krycek asked his brother.
'Nothing.' Mulder responded. 'It's just weird to see you, that's all.'
Cooper entered the house and Scully and Krycek followed. The instant Mulder closed the door behind them, they knew something was wrong.
Before they had a chance to do anything, Spender appeared before them, Marie at his side.
Scully and Krycek both reached for a gun before realizing they didn't have one. A very old Cheap Trick song was slowly and eerily winding its way through the house.
'…Time runs out…Time ran out…Make it turn around…'
'What the hell?' Scully yelled in frustration.
Marie already had her own gun on them. 'Let's all relax for a minute. Nothing bad is going to happen here.'
'Kinda hard for you to say that nothing bad is going to happen when you're pointing a gun at us.' Krycek said. He turned to look at Mulder standing behind him. 'I'm assuming this is Marie? Great taste you have in women, bro.'
'…Would you like to go to heaven tonight…Would you like to go to heaven tonight…'
Mulder sighed, his face completely wrecked.
'Cooper, you were in on this all along, weren't you?' Scully asked, her face red. 'And here I was believing that you were Mulder's friend.'
'I am.' He replied, standing next to Marie. 'That's why I agreed to do this.'
That threw Scully for a loop. 'Do what?' She asked.
Krycek looked down at the ground, shaking his head and closing his eyes. 'I knew it wasn't the drugs.'
'My, my, Fox.' Spender took a heavy drag off of his cancer stick. 'You certainly do deliver as promised.'
Scully's jaw unhinged as Mulder walked over to stand in between Marie and Spender. The sun may as well have set in the east, because her world had just turned upside down.
'…Down…A line…Couldn't get much…Couldn't get much…Higher if you tried…And tried…And tried…'
'Mulder…' She began to say, but trailed off.
He held up his hands. 'Let me explain for a minute. I've made a deal.'
'What?' Scully asked. Her mind was doing somersaults. 'What do you mean, 'a deal'? Our escape was staged?'
'For the benefit of everyone else.' Spender said. 'So they would believe the Verein is responsible.'
'Spender's agreed to let both of you go.' Mulder said, his eyes pleading for understanding. 'This is the only way. It's fine. It will work.'
'Let us go in exchange for what?' Scully asked in a whisper.
'Cade.' Krycek replied, putting has hands over his face. 'They need Cade.'
Mulder held up his hands again. 'Listen to me-'
'Mulder, have you gone insane?' Scully's voice was high and thin.
'He won't be harmed.' Mulder replied. 'I will take care of him myself.'
'There's no way in hell I'm letting you take my son.' Krycek glared at him. 'I don't care what you're trying to do.'
Mulder closed his eyes. 'Wait-'
'No.' Krycek said.
'Hold on-' Mulder tried again.
'No.'
'Alex-'
'No.'
'Mulder, you're crazy.' Scully said. 'You know what this man is capable of.'
'It's not him.' Mulder said, pointing his hands towards himself. 'It's me. I'll be taking care of it'
'Say's who?' Krycek asked, nodding his head towards Spender. 'Our father?'
Mulder was silent.
'I've lived with this man's lies my whole life.' Krycek shook his head. 'You should know by now that he deals in deception. He has to look up the word 'truth' in the dictionary. What the hell are you thinking?'
'I'm thinking of you.' Mulder replied. 'This is the only way.'
'The only way for what?' Scully asked, tears in her eyes. Krycek may be used to being betrayed, but she wasn't and didn't know how to process what was happening. 'We were in the car, you didn't have to bring us here, we could have got Cade and left. Mulder, what are you thinking?'
'We just need a blood sample, Scully.' Mulder said softly, pleading. 'That's all we need, then all this will be over. The vaccine will work. Without the vaccine, we have nothing.'
'We?' Scully stared back at Mulder, covered in disbelief. 'What do you mean, we? Who's we?'
'This is the only way.' Mulder said again.
'There's nothing you can say.' Krycek said. 'You're not taking my son. Not with my permission.'
'You're always so brave, Alex.' Spender said, flicking ashes. 'Are you prepared to die for that statement?'
Krycek didn't hesitate. 'You know I am.'
'I was afraid of this.' Mulder said, turning towards Spender. 'Didn't I tell you? This will end badly.'
Scully put a hand over her mouth. Her mind rolled in disbelief. She could only think one thought:
I should have listened to Alex.
'I'm telling the truth.' Spender said. 'You'll be released, you can stay with Cade, all we need is his blood to create the vaccine. It's the only way to stop colonization.'
Krycek and Scully looked at each other. She was trembling violently. 'No Alex, not Cade.'
He swallowed and bit his lip; his eyes teared up. He took a step closer to her, not knowing what to do. He was helpless. He couldn't save the day. He couldn't do anything. They were almost certainly going to die. They wouldn't give Cade up and they would be killed because of it.
He silently apologized to her.
I'm sorry, Dana. I'm so sorry.
Scully took his hand and met his eyes, letting him know that she was the one who should be apologizing. She should have listened to him in the car. She should have listened. She should have believed. He tightened his fingers around hers in response and she looked over at the four people standing across from them.
'You're not taking our son.'
'It's the only way to save the world. To save us all.' Mulder's face was crushed as he watched them accept the fact that they were going to die for Cade. How odd, he thought, Scully and Alex Krycek, making a last stand together, them on one side, and me on the other.
Life never quite works out the way you think it will…
Mulder tried one more time. 'Scully, think about this for a minute-'
'I'm not going to subject him to tests and laboratories.' She said in a shaky voice. 'I don't trust that he or any of us will be released. I don't believe that they only want him for awhile. Even if the vaccine is created, it's only a temporary solution…'
Her voice hitched in her throat and Krycek slipped an arm around her waist, squeezing her against his side.
'I'm sorry, Scully.' Mulder said. 'It's the only thing I could do.'
'You're getting awfully shifty-eyed, Alex.' Cancer Man said, squinting through the smoke of his cigarette. 'I didn't forget that you've had the best training the world can offer. ICT, Recon, Foreign Legion, BI…'
'Gymnastics, roller skating, tap-dancing, origami, basket-weaving…' Krycek said sarcastically before raising his voice. 'What's your point old man?'
Cooper's cell phone rang and he snatched it up. 'Yes.'
He listened for a few moments and then hung up. 'Koskie said they'll be here in ten minutes.'
'He has the boy?' Spender asked.
Cooper nodded. 'He has them all.'
Krycek took the only chance he had, which was the distraction of them talking to each other. He knocked Scully back and reached for Cooper's gun. He got the gun in his hand just before Marie fired a bullet off and it tore through his chest.
Scully gasped. 'Alex!'
'Damn.' Krycek said, meeting her eyes for a brief moment. 'I always get shot.'
The gun he was holding clattered to the floor. Scully clutched at him as he fell, trying to hold him as she snatched the gun up and pointed it towards the four people standing across from her. She knelt next to Krycek and put her hand over the blood on his chest. Her eyes were so wide they could have simply popped out of her skull.
'My dream, Alex.' Scully sputtered through her terror as the memory suddenly stole into her mind. 'Oh my God, my dream.'
'I can't go back to sleep.' She had said softly, standing in the doorway of Krycek's bedroom. 'I had a horrible dream.'
'You wanna tell me about it?' He sat up in his bed, leaning back against the headboard, and patted next to him, inviting her to sit down.
'Spender was there, and Mulder was there.' Scully replied, easing down on the bed. 'They were working together. They were trying to take the baby. Someone shot you.'
'We both know that Mulder would never try to hurt you or the baby.' Krycek said. 'And he completely despises Spender.'
'I know.' She had said, her voice a bit shaky. 'But it seemed so real.'
Lying on the floor, short of breath, Krycek grinned through his pain. 'And you say you're not psychic.'
Seeing the pain on his face and the blood seeping through his shirt, Scully struggled not to cry.
'Jesus Christ.' Mulder said, coming forward. Scully forcefully pointed the gun at him and he froze.
'I'm okay.' Krycek said softly, looking over at Scully. 'I'm okay.' He was silent for a moment.
'Don't you do that, Alex.' Scully struggled to say over the music as the melody grew louder. 'Don't you dare give me your good-bye's.'
'…Would you like to go to heaven tonight…Would you like to go to heaven tonight…'
'Alex.' She whispered. She couldn't call an ambulance. She couldn't put down her gun. She couldn't do anything but sit next to him and watch him bleed. Her tears fell onto his face. 'Alex?'
'I'm okay, Dana.' He said, staring up in her eyes. 'I'm okay.'
Heedless of the gun that wavered in his general direction, Mulder kneeled down next to Krycek. Scully scrambled back away from him, into a corner, the gun jumping erratically in her shaking hands.
Mulder looked Krycek over and rested his hands on his arm. Cheap Trick was still whining away.
'…You can never come down…You can never come down…You can never come down…'
'Total wipeout, bro.' Mulder said, struggling to make his mouth work, struggling to grin, struggling to lighten the horrible moment.
Krycek looked up at Mulder, his eyes became cloudy, his breathing eased up, became more regular. He slowly let his head fall to the side to look at Scully.
I'm okay, Dana. It's okay.
She felt his thoughts slip away as his eyes closed.
'…Down…Inside…You're getting nervous…You've never felt this high before…'
Alex?
There was nothing.
'Alex!' She yelled out loud.
There was nothing.
He was gone?
Scully desperately searched for a trace of his mind and found nothing.
He was gone.
For the first time in all her life, Scully's normal, rational grip on sanity completely slipped from her mind and she totally freaked out.
'What are you doing, Mulder?' She yelled. 'What the fuck are you doing?'
Mulder stood up. 'Wait a minute, Scully. Just wait. Everything's going to be fine.'
'What are you doing?' She was yelling incoherently, tears streaming down her face. 'Alex…You shot Alex. Your brother. You just stood there, while she shot him. What are you doing, Mulder? What the fuck are you doing?'
Scully, wait. Mulder thought at her with all of his might, but he had none of their abilities. He was only hoping that she somehow managed to pick up on what he was trying to say as he took a step towards her. Scully, it's okay. It's fine, Alex is fine. Everything's going to be fine.
'Liar!' Scully screamed at him, pressing herself even further into the wall.
Scully, it's fine. Everything is fine. I promise.
'Liar!' She began to sob, overwhelmed by confusion and fear. Alex couldn't be dead, she thought desperately. Not after all this. He couldn't be dead. He couldn't be. He couldn't.
Scully, Alex is fine. I promise.
Scully stared at Mulder. He returned her gaze for a moment before her eyes drifted down to look at Krycek. That was all the distraction that Mulder needed. He knocked the gun out of her hand and grabbed her arms. She screamed in hysteria at the thought that Cade was on his way over to be delivered into Spender's hands. She couldn't believe that it was all ending like this.
She felt the prick of a needle and her mind was immediately overcome with drowsiness. She felt herself being lowered to the ground. She struggled to keep her eyes open; she tried to focus on Alex, lying next to her. She gathered her remaining strength and used it to scoot closer to him. She rested her head on his shoulder as her eyes disobeyed and closed. When she put a hand on his chest, splaying her fingers across it, she could feel his heartbeat.
Relief flooded through her. He was alive.
Dana…
I'm here, Alex.
It's okay…Krycek's thought was faint as it hazily spilled into her head.
She couldn't open her eyes, could barely concentrate, she could only hear.
'Good Lord.' Cooper said in a trembling voice. 'What a fucking mess.'
'You promised.' Mulder said. 'You swore up and down. I have your word.'
'Yes, Fox.' Spender's voice assaulted her senses. 'Everything will go according to plan. You have my word on that.'
Time stretched out. She didn't know how long it had been. People came and went. She didn't think she had been moved. She struggled to climb out of the darkness. She struggled to sense Alex. She heard Mulder talking.
'Are you sure he's going to be okay?' Mulder's voice was strained.
'I got him in the shoulder.' Marie sounded like she was crying. 'Not a chest wound, a shoulder wound.'
This is perfect, she thought hazily, this is fitting. I'm lying here next to Alex Krycek while Mulder has betrayed us both. Who would have thought? The tricks that life plays on you…She could only sense one feeling coming from Mulder.
Relief.
Darkness overtook her.
End Part Seven
Continued in Part Eight.
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