See Headings and Disclaimer in part 1
ALEX? 2/6
Marita stumbled back, until she was against the wall.
"This isn't possible."
"I know, but it's me, Marita. Really." He started walking towards her.
"Stay back."
"Marita, it's me. Is it so hard to believe after everything else? After the messages I left you, and the bank, and what happened at Skinner's apartment? I was with you for almost all of it. How else would I know how to find you?"
"You could have followed me."
"I was in the hospital. Look, I know that the safety deposit box number was 119. I told you where it was right there in that bathroom. How would I know that if I was Skinner?"
He came closer to her. Her eyes grew wider, but she didn't protest.
She slowly reached her hand out to him, and touched his chest. She gasped. He felt so real. She had gone mad. Her unwillingness to let go of Alex had driven her insane, and the guilt in her subconscious had given him the body of Skinner.
She closed her eyes. "This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't-"
"Marita, stop it, you're not hallucinating."
She opened her eyes. He was still there.
"Alex? Is it really you?"
"It's me." He smiled.
He put his arms around her, and held her close. She didn't respond, but didn't resist.
He whispered in her ear. "You saved me Marita, in more ways than you'll ever know."
All of a sudden, it didn't matter how, or why, or even what he looked like. She had her Alex back. Whether it was because she'd gone crazy, or because all of this was real, it didn't matter. She had him back, and that's what she'd been wanting. She wrapped her arms around him, and started to cry.
"I thought I'd lost you. I thought you were gone forever."
They stayed that way until her eyes ran dry. Eventually, he let go, and went to the window. It was a habit for him to glance outside, to make sure no one was watching, but this time he stayed there for several minutes, staring at nothing.
"Alex?"
"Hmm?"
"What was it like being dead?"
He didn't turn away from the window.
"Alex?"
"It was -" He looked down. "I don't want to talk about it, not now"
"Something happened to you, didn't it?"
"I was shot in the head and died! Isn't that something enough?" He looked at her, staring at him, and softened his voice. "If I can, I'll tell you one day, but not now. We have a lot of work to do. Where's my body?"
"What do you mean where's your body? Alex you've been dead for 6 weeks. You were shot in the head. Because you had no identity, they did an autopsy to find clues about who you were. Your body isn't going to do you any good."
"I'm not going to try get back into it. If I thought that would solve everything, I would have done it in the first place. Now where's my body?"
"Why do you want your-"
"Shit! You didn't cremate it, did you?"
"Didn't you hear me? The FBI had your body. I couldn't just waltz in there and claim it!"
"I know, I just thought you'd find some way of getting it."
A smile crept to her lips. "I did. I stole it."
"You have my body?"
"Yeah Alex, it's in the closet back at my place."
"Marita, "he pleaded, "Where's my body."
"I had it buried in a cemetery in Rochester, under the name Thomas Smith."
"Good. Do know what happened to the surveillance tape?"
"No. I did try to get it. I was going to use it, but someone else had taken it."
"We have to find out who has it. The last thing I need is to get arrested for murdering myself. I need you to do something tomorrow."
"What?"
"You're going to meet someone. I'll tell you exactly what to do and say. Okay?"
"What are you doing tomorrow?"
"Going grave digging."
He found a nurse in the hallway.
"Excuse me? Do you know what happened to the patient that was in that room?"
"Oh, you mean, Rock Hudson?"
"What?"
"Never seen a guy so obsessed with his appearance. He spent hours staring at himself in the mirror."
"Really?" Mulder choked down a laugh.
"Yeah. He checked himself out yesterday."
"Thanks."
He took out his phone and dialed Skinner's number.
No answer.
He looked at the nurse walking away, and frowned. Something wasn't right.
Alex stood with his hands in Skinner's trench coat, watching them dig up the body. His body. He'd seen countless bodies in his life, some peaceful, many gruesome. He thought he was ready for this.
Once the coffin was brought out, he walked up to it. He ran a hand along the top. A voice in his head warned him:
Don't look in there.
He had to be sure this body was his. The plan was a long shot. Nothing could be assumed.
He lifted the lid.
He only took a quick glance, and shut the lid as soon as the stench hit him, but it was enough to make him ill.
His body had been dead for over 6 weeks. Decay had settled in. His skin was a mix of purples and greens. If not for the hole in his head, he would have barely recognized himself. His body was severely bloated and the nails on his hand had begun to fall off. He'd seen worse, but on other peoples bodies, not his own.
As soon as he shut the lid, he took a few steps backwards, and started to vomit. He stayed bent over, throwing up for almost a minute, until one of the other men came up to him.
"Sir, are you all right? I thought that someone with your position would be use to sights like that, but I guess it's sort of a good thing if you never get use to it"
He stayed hunched over for a few seconds, and looked up at the man. "Yeah, I'm fine. Have the body taken to the morgue. A doctor will by later today to do some tests."
He headed back to the car.
Marita waited on the dock, watching a man gather his fish, and get out of his boat.
"Dr. Cornwall?"
The man looked up. He dropped his catch. "How'd you find me? Look, I just wanted some peace. I have no intention of talking. I haven't said a word in over 3 years. Please-"
"Alex Krycek sent me. He told me you'd be here. He told me to tell you that it's time to repay your debt."
"Krycek? Why didn't he come himself?"
"The situation is, um, unusual. You'll understand shortly. There's a body up in Rochester. The address of the morgue is here." She handed him a piece of paper. "You are to go there and take the necessary samples. When you're done you are to go to Seattle. The address is also on the paper. I will meet you there tomorrow. No matter what you find with the body, do as you are told. Everything will be explained soon. Are we clear?"
"What if I say no."
"Alex instructed me to remind you that you're on borrowed time. Of course you can say no, but then you'll have to give up what Alex gave to you 3 years ago."
"You don't strike me as the sort of person who could carry out that task."
"And you don't strike me as the sort of man who would destroy the lives of innocent children. Everyone's full of surprises, doctor."
Cornwall turned his back to Marita and looked out on the lake.
"All right," he said, "but then my debt's paid after this. You tell him this favor clears the slate."
"See you in tomorrow."