Selling Your Soul III: The Way It Should Be by Kate Dyer

TITLE: Selling Your Soul III: The Way It Should Be
AUTHOR: Kate Dyer
E-MAIL: Athena1600@aol.com
CATEGORY: S; A,R
RATING: PG-13 (Implied sexual relations)

SUMMARY: Scully has returned to Mulder and the X-Files. But when the X-Files are shut down again, she must make a choice as to which path she should follow. This is the third part in the Selling Your Soul series. I recommend you read the prior two parts (Selling Your Soul, and Selling Your Soul II: Giving Your Word) before reading this.

TIMESPAN: US Season 5 ( I'm pretending that the movie never happened )
SPOILER WARNING: The End, (tiny references to Synchrony, Small Potatoes, Little Green Men, Never Again, Dod Kalm, Blessing Way)
KEYWORDS: Scully / Krycek, ScullyAngst
DISCLAIMER: They're mine! All mine! And I have the action figures to prove it! (they're CC and FOX's, no infringement intended)
ARCHIVE: Anywhere.
FEEDBACK: I would appreciate it.
WRITTEN: July 4, 1998

"Mulder, this is amazing!" Scully said, looking up from the body which stood in front of her. "It's…It's almost as if he was instantly paralyzed by something." She poked at the short man's arm, which was cool and hard. "It looks like he was frozen, like that case we had a year ago. But, his core temperature is actually a little warmer than usually." She frowned in puzzlement.

"Yeah, almost as if…" She paused and flashed a classic look toward her partner. "What are you thinking, Mulder?"

"Have you ever read the written accounts of Medusa." He asked, looking back at the victim.

"Mulder…those are myths. Written by the Romans and Greeks thousands of years ago." She signed in frustration. "Mulder, she had snakes for hair."

Mulder shrugged and pulled off his latex gloves, throwing them into a near by trash can. "But they must have seen something that caused them to start those stories." He paused and looked back at Scully. "If you keep looking at me like that I might turn to stone."

Scully smiled and shook her head. She walked past him toward the local law enforcement, who were huddled in a group sipping coffee. "Medusa, Mulder?" She asked, looking back at him. He nodded eagerly.

Just as she approached the town Sheriff, another officer ran up. "Sir, we found two more." They all looked at the officer.

"One like that. The other's alive." The Sheriff moved to follow the officer, and soon found Mulder and Scully on either side.

"Well," Scully began immediately, leaving Mulder no time to answer. "I believe that a toxin or virus was introduced into this man's blood stream that somehow affected his body's nerves, resulting in complete paralysis." The Sheriff nodded.

"Here they are sir." Said the officer, pointing at two figures on the floor. The three of them stepped forward and stared in amazement.

"Well, it looks like the killer caught himself." The Sheriff said, looking down at the wiry man, squirming to get out from under a paralyzed, almost stone-like body.

Tuesday, January 4th, 1999
6: 16 PM
Prince William County Sheriff's Department
Woodbridge, Virginia

"Well, I'm sorry that you two had to come down here for nothing." The Sheriff said to Mulder and Scully.

"No problem. We're glad you caught the killer. Did you ever figure out what that device was?" Mulder asked, referring to a small electronically operated device that they had found in the hands of the killer.

"Yeah, it emitted a bright light and heat that burned the nerve endings in the body, causing the paralysis. We still don't understand exactly how it works." Another officer motioned that they needed the sheriff and they said their good byes.

Wednesday, January 5th, 1999
9:07 AM
J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building
Washington, DC

"Agents, have a seat." AD Skinner said, motioning to the two seats in front of his desks. Mulder and Scully looked at each other and sat down. Skinner looked up from a report he was reading and took off his wire rim glasses. "I'm afraid I have some bad news." The two partners shared a nervous glance. "The budget cuts just came out, and they want the FBI to start down-sizing."

"Agent Mulder, I'm not doing anything. I have orders as do you. I was just told to tell you. I did manage to pull a few strings, and have you two moved to different areas. Agent Scully, back to Quantico, and Agent Mulder, you'll be working with the Violent Crimes Section once again."

"Agent Mulder. I'm doing you a favor. At least you aren't being fired completely."

"Just as well." Mulder muttered. "Come on, Scully." He said to his partner, and walked out the door.

Wednesday, January 5th, 1999
12:11 PM
Outside Scully's Apartment
Annapolis, Maryland

"Miss Scully, you wished to see me?" A voice greeted Scully from the shadows. The Well Manicured Man stepped out and walked toward her.

"Why is this happening?" Scully asked. "Why are they shutting down the X-Files?"

"Well, you Americans don't know how to control money flow, which results in a national debt…." The Well Manicured Man replied.

"You gave your word. You said that if I helped find a cure for the black cancer, you would protect the X-Files." Scully interrupted angrily.

"You are too naive, Ms. Scully. Not everyone keeps their word. In this case we did, though. I said that if you helped us, WE wouldn't be involved with any decisions concerning the X-Files. We have nothing to do with the national cut backs." Scully scowled at him. "The offer of coming to join our group still stands." He called to Scully's back as she walked away. She paused, as if thinking it over, then kept walking. She didn't stop until she reached her apartment door.

Scully looked through the peep hole to see Mulder at her door. She slowly swung the door open. "Hi. What are you doing here?" She asked.

"We need to talk." He said in a serious tone, walking into her apartment. He held up a bottle of wine. "This is for us." Scully eyed him warily, as bad memories of Eddie Van Blundht came flooding back. "Actually, it's mostly for me, I was just being nice." She would have smiled but the tone of his voice told her what he wanted to talk about: the reassignment.

He had sit down on the couch, and stood up as she approached. He sat down with her, then stood up again and began to pace. "Scully, I came to talk about…I just…Don't do anything stupid." She looked up, surprised. "Don't run off like you did last time. I'm fine with this. I mean, it's been a great five years. I would have liked five more, but life goes on. I'll be happy at the VCS. It'll be much better than wiretapping. It'll be like when I first joined the bureau. I'll be happy." He looked at her, hoping she'd understand that he would live through this.

"I won't be happy. Mulder, the X-Files have spoiled me. You have spoiled me. Nothing will compare to what we've been doing, what has happened in these five years. I can't go back and teach at the Academy now. It will be so boring compared to chasing aliens." She smiled. "Not that I can't handle boring, but it's time for me to move on. To do something else."

"What are you saying, Scully?" Mulder asked, already knowing, but needing to hear it from her.

"I'm leaving the FBI. I'm going away for a while. I don't know how long. I'll keep the apartment, but I won't be back for a while." Mulder looked at her sadly. "For a couple years maybe. I'm leaving tomorrow night."

"I came to say good bye. And to see if you needed any help packing." Mulder greeted Scully as she opened the door. He looked around, noticing that hardly anything was packed, and looked at her in query.

"I'm not going to need that much where I'm going. Um…feel free to use my apartment when you need it. Since I won't be. Don't trash it though. And DON'T let Frohike in." She teased.

He smiled. "So, you're just picking up and deserting me?" He said suddenly. "Just, leaving town with no explanation, no address?"

"I told you that I'm going to be working, and I'll write you." She tried to defend herself.

"How can you? When I told you not to do anything stupid, I meant not to make any deals, but this is just as stupid."

She smiled sadly. "You'll do fine on your own, Mulder. You did fine before I met you."

"Just as you said that I had spoiled you, you've spoiled me. I don't think I'll be satisfied with anyone else as a partner."

"I'm sure that there are many young agents of the female persuasion that would love to have you as a partner. And I'm sure you wouldn't mind." She teased, leading him to the door. "I'm going to miss you, Mulder." She said, hugging him. "Go find your soul mate."

"I already have." He said, looking at her intensely. "But I never got the chance to love her."

"You had five years, Mulder." She whispered. "And we did love each other those five years. And we'll continue loving each other for the next five, and the five after that, and the next, on and on."

"Too much, Mulder. We've been through too much together. Our partnership, our relationship, our trust in each other is so much more than love can ever be." She kissed him softly on the cheek.

"Promise me you'll write." Mulder said. Scully nodded, biting back tears. "Trust no one." He muttered, walking down the hall. When he reached the street outside her apartment complex, he looked up to her window, seeing a dark silhouette standing there. He raised his hand in a final farewell and walked off, into the night.

Friday, January 7th, 1999

Dear Ahab,

I left him today. Well, since he came over here, he left. It went over much better than I expected. It's been less than an hour, but I miss him already. I wish you had gotten to know him better. He is so dedicated. So devoted. The obsession that has caused others to dislike and fear him, is one of the things that makes me love him. And I do love him. But not like a woman loves her husband. Our love is a bond of partnership that will keep us connected always. I don't believe in soul mates. If we all had soul mates, life would be so much easier. The last five months of my life would have been easier. But I believe that Mulder is as close to a soul mate as it gets. I'm sure he will spend a lot of his time in my abandoned apartment. I hope it helps him in some kind of strange way. For a psychologist, he sure is a confused and unsure man.

I'll be leaving soon. I'm just waiting for my ride. I've agreed to take up the Consortium's offer, to join them. As I told Mulder, it's time for a change. Maybe, in some way, I can help the world by joining the Consortium. I will have the power to pull threads and work to my advantage. In the end, I hope to accomplish things that the FBI has prevented me from doing. Mother doesn't know that I'm doing this. No one does. I told her that I was working as an undercover agent and would be moving around a lot. I told her that the FBI would deny that I worked for them and that I wouldn't be able to be contacted. Bill is as mad as ever, trying to find someone to blame. I'm hoping that this will somehow save my life. I need it to.

Yours Always,
Starbuck

"I would like to introduce the newest addition to our group, who will be a science and medical consultant, Doctor Dana Scully, who you all know by now." The Well Manicured Man said, leading Scully into the room. She smiled and murmured a greeting. The English native motioned for her to have a seat between the woman she now knew as Samantha Mulder and former - agent Spender. Taking his own seat, the Well Manicured Man began the meeting. "Our first order of business…"

As the others picked up their belongings and packed up their briefcases after the meeting, Alex Krycek approached Scully. "I didn't think you would come back." He said softly.

"Isn't it a bit early?" Krycek shrugged. "How about lunch instead? I'll pay." Krycek began to say that he would pay, but he saw the look in her eyes, and knew he would have no chance.

"So, Dana, what have you been doing since I saw you last?" Krycek asked sipping his glass of champagne.

"You know." She said, motioning with her hand. "Just more bizarre cases of the paranormal. Our latest case involved a killer that paralyzed his victims. Mulder thought there was some Medusa - like monster running around." Scully's voice softened, and she looked at her uneaten meal sadly. "How about you?"

"Well, same thing I was doing. Going around with the bounty hunter." Scully nodded. "So, you've met Samantha?"

"Yes. Briefly. It came as a shock. I mean, Mulder has been searching for her since she disappeared, and all of a sudden, there she is. Without any warning."

Tuesday, January 11th, 1999

Dear Ahab,

I'm back at the compound. They've seemed to welcome me into the Consortium. At first it surprised me, but they are very nice. I may even consider some of them friends. I came here expecting to hate everyone, to find them all sleazy, back stabbing, heartless people. I shouldn't have stuck them with such a stereotype. I was one of them. And now I've returned.

Spender is as annoying as ever. Since he is the Smoking Man's son (or so he says), he thinks he controls the place. Samantha is actually becoming a good friend. She's around my age and has become an ally. She likes to have me tell her stories about Mulder and our cases together and what he's like. I think she really misses him. Alex is as sweet as ever and we have been reestablishing our relationship.

My living quarters are very different from what they used to be. I now live in a very large, well lit, well furnished apartment in a secluded building with the others. I guess that having more power and prestige has its rewards. But we have been told that we'll be traveling a lot, and spending little time in our rooms. I have been sending letters to mother often. They have ways to change the postmark on letters to whatever place in the world you wish, to prevent detection of the facilities. I think I'll be in New Hampshire this week. I hate to lie to her, but sometimes we must lie to protect those we love.

We'll be commencing on a mission to Russia in a few weeks. We are meeting with some high up officials to talk about colonization and try to earn their trust, although we will probably return to dealing behind their backs once the talks are over. That isn't really my section though. Each of us is a consultant on different issues. I am the science and medical consultant, Spender and Marita work on foreign nation correspondence, Samantha on international correspondence and assistant medical aide, and Alex on 'emergency situations' as they call it. I don't even ask what he really does. I don't want to know. I have given my cross to him. He needs it more than I do, though we are both truly lost.

Yours Always,
Starbuck

Saturday, January 22nd, 1999

Dear Ahab,

Well, we've set sail for Russia. I feel closer to you around the sea. I stand on the deck for hours, just staring at the waves and the horizon. Sometimes, when the wind blows, I swear I hear you calling. Everyone knows to leave me alone when I go up on deck, and I thank them for it. I find the solitude calming. We should dock in St. Petersburg, Russia in a few days. From there we will attend a few conferences with Russian officials, and work our magic. These meetings are important to the future of all humans. We will need the Russian's help to fight the colonists, if we decide to. The former Consortium had been planning to rebel against them, without them knowing. It's up to us to decide whether to go through with their plans. I hear the sea calling, Ahab. I'll see you on deck.

Yours Always,
Starbuck

Friday, January 28th, 1999

Dear Ahab,

The talks went as well as could be expected, though we all walked away with huge headaches. I didn't catch much of what was said, not being able to speak or understand Russian. Alex and Marita translated for the rest of us, but during the heated discussions, I'm sure some comments were 'lost in the translation'. They have promised to think about our proposals, and contact us shortly. Alex said that he had some things to take care of and left us, promising to be back soon. We headed back to the ship. It's been five hours and he still hasn't returned. I'm worried that something has happened to him.

Yours Always,
Starbuck

"Scully, the boat takes off in less than two hours." Spender said impatiently. The four Consortium members - Scully, Spender, Samantha, and Marita - stood in a tight circle on the old wooden dock between two warehouses. They were shrouded in mist as the tide came in and the sun set.

Scully shivered and wrapped her coat more tightly around her. "We can't leave him. He said he'd be back. We can't desert him."

"He's probably been shot or killed by now. He's a common criminal, Scully. The Russians probably got their hands on him." Spender sneered.

"We don't. We are leaving with that ship. If you want to stay in Russia, it's fine by me." Spender snarled, glaring right back. Scully looked toward Samantha and Marita for help, but they knew not to get involved. They stared at each other in a show down for a few seconds before Samantha interrupted their power contest.

"Well, looks like we'll all be boarding that ship: here comes Krycek now." She said, pointing to illustrate her point. A figure stumbled out of the tree line a few thousand miles away. After it, another emerged. With their faces obscured by the darkness and the fog, no one could really know if it was Krycek. Suddenly, the first figure fell and was concealed in the swirling fog.

"Scully, get back here!" Spender commanded. "We don't know that's him. It could be a trap. I order you to get back here!" He shouted against the wind.

Beside him, Marita chuckled and shook her head from side to side. "Do you really think you have any control over her? She's spent too much time with Mulder; she's as wild as it gets, so don't try to tame her." Spender now turned his glare to her.

"Yes. He doesn't listen to anyone. Anyone but her, that is." She replied, nodding toward Scully's silhouette. "Come on, we'd better see what's going on."

As Scully approached the two, she heard distinct Russian, spoken from a young woman leaning over a fallen body. The woman looked up, hearing Scully's advance, and started pleading in Russian. Scully looked confused and turned to see if Marita was coming. Seeing her nearby, she kneeled down and took Krycek in her arms. She quickly checked him over and found a bullet wound in his upper arm. She assessed the damage while Marita spoke rapid Russian to the woman.

"He has a bullet wound in his arm. Entry and exit wounds. He lost a lot a blood and he needs sutures." Scully stood up and looked around. "Let's get him into that warehouse where I can work on him. Spender, get my med kit from the ship." Spender scurried away to do as she said as the four women lifted Krycek's body and carried him to the warehouse. As they lay him onto the cement floor, he gained consciousness and looked up at Scully. "Damnt, Alex, what did the Russians do to you this time?" Krycek shook his head and winced. The young woman began to speak again, and Scully looked at her exasperated, then toward Marita.

"She says that it wasn't the Russians who shot Krycek, it was her father." Scully looked up, shocked.

"Well who is she?" She asked. Marita translated and listened to the answer as Scully began to remove Krycek's jacket and shirt and clean the wound as best as she could.

"Technically, yes; but in every other aspect, no. His father had disowned him and he returned to the house. Upon returning, her father threatened him and ended up shooting him." Marita explained.

"Here's the kit, Scully." Spender said, running up. Tatiana immediately responded with a comment directed toward Krycek which made his cheeks turn a deep shad of red. Scully did recognize her name though, and Marita sniffled a laugh.

"What did she say?" Scully demanded. Marita shook her head. Scully grabbed a needle and began to sew the stitches.

[Author's note: the following conversation takes place in Russian, but for convenience (and since I don't know Russian) it's written out in English.]

"I've got to go now, Aleksey." Tatiana said, leaning down to kiss her brother on the cheek after the surgery.

"I've lasted seventeen years, Aleksey. Much of which you haven't been there to protect me, so don't try to know. I can't leave the family."

"I will. Keep writing me letters." She paused then grinned slyly. "Say good bye to Dana Scully for me." She teased, rolling out the name.

Saturday, February 1st, 1999
7: 59 PM
Atlantic Ocean
Off the shore of Cape Hatteras

"Dana, we'll be docking soon." Samantha said, poking her head into Scully's room.

"Great. Alex looks good so far. I don't see any signs of infection." Scully replied, smiling.

"Dana, when we get get back to the compound, I'd like you to come over to my house for dinner. I live with my husband and children in one of the cottages across the compound." Samantha explained.

Scully laughed. "What about him?" Samantha shrugged. "Well, I'll tell you about this case we had. We were stranded on this boat in the middle of the Norwegian Sea…

Friday, February 7th, 1999

Dear Ahab,

I'm home again. I look back at what I just wrote and realize that I called this place home. Maybe in a way it is. There's that saying 'Home is where the heart is'. I think my heart is here, with Alex and my friends, especially Samantha. I can see why Mulder loved her so. But I miss my family more than anything. I write to mom and she writes to a PO box, where I send someone to pick up the mail. But it isn't the same. I miss her. And you. Sometimes, I wish that you had your way, and that I hadn't joined the FBI in the first place. But I guess life doesn't work like that. Missy, being an artist, once told me 'If you start a piece with a clear picture of how it's going to end up, you'll be disappointed. But if you begin to paint and let the brush come alive, the piece will have a life of it's own. Don't go through life with a clear picture of where you'll be. Just, go with the flow, and see what happens.' Most of all, I miss her.

Yours Always,
Starbuck

"Come back to bed." She slowly shut her journal and walked back to the bed. Laying down, facing away from Krycek, she felt his arm slip around her waist.

"I was just thinking…about the people I've lost in my life. My father. And Melissa." She whispered. Krycek stopped kissing her and removed his hand from her waist. "Oh, no, Alex. I wasn't blaming you or anything." She said, turning over. "I don't blame you. Or Luis Cardinall. I did at one time, but I've forgiven everyone." Krycek didn't look convinced. "Missy believed in fate. That everything happened for a reason. She would have believed that her death had an equally important reason behind it."

Monday, February 10th, 1999
2: 23 PM
Scully's Apartment
Top Secret Military Base

Scully walked into her apartment and stopped when she realized that something was different about the room. She opened the blinds and saw that her small bed had been replaced by a King sized one. She heard Krycek approach from behind. "I love the new edition to the room." She said, smiling at him.

"I guess we'd better test it out. To see if it's comfortable." She replied, smiling slyly and slipping off her shoes and suit coat.

"Okay, the Russians have agreed to help us, to join forces." Marita said, beginning the meeting. Suddenly an alarm went off, filling the building with a shrill ringing.

Scully swore. "Look, I'll go out there and see if I can convince him to leave." She said.

"That sounds like a good plan. If anyone can convince him, it's Scully." Marita said. Scully nodded and followed the guard out. The room woke with chatter and heated discussions. During the confusion, no one noticed Samantha slip out the door.

"Dana! Wait!" Samantha called. Scully turned to see her running down the hall toward her. "I need you to let me do something."

Mulder walked down the halls of the seemingly empty building. He had tracked down Scully from her PO box, and had ended up here. The tapping of his shoes on the linoleum flooring echoed down the corridors. He looked around, surprised that no guards had tried to confront him.

"Fox." A woman's voice called from behind him. He turned to see Samantha at the end of one end of the hall. They stood there, staring at each other for a second. Mulder looked around again surprised and confused. Was this really his sister? How could he be sure? Suddenly he caught movement from the corner of his eye. Turning, he saw Scully peeking around the corner. She swore, cursing herself for letting him see her. She had only wanted to watch their reunion. Mulder looked toward Samantha again. "Fox…let me be your sister again." Mulder looked toward Scully.

"Go with her, Mulder. She's the truth you've been searching for." She urged quietly. She could see the evident turmoil in his face. Knowing he would never turn his back and walk away, she did it for him. She disappeared around the corner and slowly made her way back to the conference room. She entered and silently shut the door behind her, then moved to stand behind her chair.

"She left with Mulder. She isn't coming back, well, at least anytime soon." Scully replied softly. The others looked at each other in shock. Scully stared at the wall opposite her, her mind lost in thought.

Letting a smile spread across her face she replied, "Yeah." She leaned down and kissed Krycek tenderly on the lips. "Everything is the way it should be."