Title: Mulder's Creek: 30 Life's a Stage
Author: Neoxphile 
Author Email: neoxphile@aol.com 
Rating: PG-13 
Category: X-File , Friendship 
Keywords: Pre-XF, Alternate universe, Crossover 
Pairings: Mulder/Scully Romance, Doggett/Reyes romance 
Crossover Info: Dawson's Creek 
Spoilers: X-Files seasons 1-8, Dawson's creek seasons 1-4 
Summary: Everyone, except Mulder, thinks that the school 
play Scully and Krycek are co-staring in is plagued by a ghost.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 
Opening scene

They are each holding a game controller on the pretense of playing
but theyre really talking about what a screw-up Mulder is.

"Seriously, what did you say to make Fowley think that it was ok to
kiss you?" Doggett asks again. Mulder thinks its for the fifth time,
but third is probably closer to the truth.

"Nothing! Ive gone over everything Ive said to her since she came
back this summer and theres really nothing."

"But Scully doesnt believe you." Skinner says, sounding sad.

 "You saw her at school today she barely said a word to me, even at
lunch."

"It was cold the way she wouldnt come to the party." Doggett sighs.
"Not even as a friend. Shes supposed to be your friend, isnt she?"

"I understand it, though. It would have been wicked awkward for her.
Thats not what I wanted."

"Youve got to fix things before its too late." Skinner scolds. "I
waited too long to make a move, and look where that got me." He says,
and they know that he means Reed seeing someone else.

"How?" Mulder demands to know. "Im open to suggestion." 

They shrug helplessly.

**
Theme song - "Stranded" By Plumb
**

Friday morning, Capeside High

Smiling broadly, Krycek wanders over to Mulder's locker. Smiling is
never a good sign when it comes to him and Krycek, so Mulder is
immediately on his guard. "What do you want?"

"Oh... I was just wondering if the rumors are true." Krycek sneers.

"What rumors?" 

"The one that goes you try to make up with Scully and she blows you
off."

"What do you do, hire a PI to follow me around so you can find things
out to irritate me?" Mulder snaps at him.

"Oh no," Krycek says gleefully. "No hiring necessary. Really Mulder,
if you want things kept private, you shouldn't make a phone call when
you have party guests."

Mulder wonders who his parents might have invited who would have
spilled the beans. He supposed it didn't really matter. "Even if it
is true, what's it to you?"

"It's definitely true then." Krycek laughs nastily. "What's it to me
is that I figure if Scully's not attached..."

"Leave her alone." Mulder demands. 

"Funny, Leary. The way I see it, you're just about the last person
who has any say in what anyone does to or with her." Krycek says,
wandering off happily.

Mulder stares after him, angry that Krycek is planning to bother
Scully, and angrier that the other boy is probably right.

**

Lunch time

On her way to meet Reyes and Skinner in the caf, Scully notices a
flyer on the junior cork-board, so she stops to look at it. The blue
paper is an enthusiastic call for kids to join the cast of the
schools winter play. The try-outs are scheduled for the following
day.

As she reads it, Bessies words from the day before come back to her,
"If youre not going to work things out with Mulder now, you need to
find a way to get your mind off of him." Since she still isnt ready
to try to make up, the idea isnt bad advice. She has, she reflects,
spent entirely too much time brooding.

A hand touches shoulder, and she nearly jumps. "What are you
reading?" Reyes asks, obviously wondering what has so thoroughly
captured her friends attention.

"This sign." Scully points at it. "Its about try outs for a play." 

"Are you going to try out for it?" 

"I think I will." Scully suddenly decides.

"Thats great!" Reyes tells her in a bright tone, but shes already
thinking something out. "I didnt know you acted." She adds as an
after thought.

"Neither did I." Scully tells her with a grin. "I probably wont get
a part, but it could be fun to try out."

"And it would look good on your college transcripts if you do." Reyes
says, making her groan. Reyes is the only one who is totally consumed
already by the idea of college. Everyone else is more concerned with
just getting through the last eighteen months of high school.

But Scully is in a much happier frame of mind by the time they get to
lunch, even though Mulders sitting next to Doggett.

**

Friday Morning, Leary house

Mulder is in the middle of brushing his teeth when the phone rings.
No one ever calls him before school, so he ignores it, letting
someone else get it.

So it comes as a surprise to him when his mothers voice calls up
"Mulder! Phone!"

He spits and rinses quickly, then rushes down the stairs two at a
time. He has a half formed hope that its Scully, but that
expectation isnt strong enough to disappoint him when its not.

"Mulder!" Reyes voice floats up to him from the receiver before hes
even got it to his ear.

He grins, thinking that he should have guessed. The early morning
weekend visit just prior to Doggetts last birthday should have told
him that shes not too conscious of how early is too early. "Whats
up? Doggetts birthday isnt for about a month." He points out.

"I know." Reyes replies dismissively. "Im calling about Scully,
actually."

"About Scully how?" He asks cautiously, wondering if Scully had said
something about him. Half hoping she had, but half fearing it too.

"Shes trying out for a play at school today." Reyes says brightly.

"Thats nice"

"No, dont you see? You have to be there!" Reyes insists.

"Why?" Mulder asks, wondering if the answer would be more obvious if
they were having the conversation later in the day.

"To try out, Silly." 

"I dont act." He protests.

"Then you can volunteer for stage crew." 

"This isnt a good idea, Reyes." He cuts her off before she gets any
more wound up.

"Why not?" She demands to know, and he can hear the pout in her
voice. Doggett insists its endearing, but he cant fathom that.

"Scully asked for space, and this would be the opposite of that." 

"But-" Reyes protests, obviously not read to give up the good fight.

"I know youre just trying to help, but Ive known her a lot longer
than you have. This would just make her madder at me."

"Ok." Reyes says, but her disappointment is clear. "I wouldnt want
her to be more mad."

"Me neither." Mulder reverently agrees. "Ill see you at school." He
says good-bye, and finishes getting ready for school. He knows she
just wants to be helpful, but he wishes people would stop trying to
help.

**

2pm, Capeside High Stage

Skinner is going to be part of the stage crew, but he only needs to
sign up, so Scully is alone at try-outs, and she only half minds
that. Shes had a sneaking suspicion that she and Mulder are Reyes
new project, so she half expects for the other girl to drag Mulder
there to watch. Its to her vast relief that neither of them are
there. However, her relief is short-lived.

"Fancy seeing you here." A snide voice from behind her says.

She doesnt bother to turn around. "What are you doing her, Krycek?
Going to do the special effects?"

"The effect I plan to have is pretty special, but Im here to try out
for the best role in the play."

Scully rolls her eyes. "Im surprised youve even read the play." 

"Had to, it was assigned in my English class last year." Krycek tells
her. "Which is why I know Im perfect for Don John."

"You would play the villain. Youre so suited for it." 

"I guess youre not trying out for Margaret, youre too cold for that
role. Shes hot blooded." He retorts with a condescending sneer.

"You are so-!" Scully doesnt get to finish her reply, because the
director calls out that the tryouts are about to begin.

**

  Scully only looks a little nervous as the bright stage lights shine
down on her. "Hi, my name is Scully Potter, and Im reading for the
part of Hero."

When the director nodded, she began to read.
   "O god of love! I know he doth deserve
	As much as may be yielded to a man:
	But Nature never framed a woman's heart
	Of prouder stuff than that of Beatrice;
	Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes,
	Misprising what they look on, and her wit
	Values itself so highly that to her
	All matter else seems weak: she cannot love,
	Nor take no shape nor project of affection,
	She is so self-endeared." 

"Thank you." The director says, his voice completely neutral. It
makes her nervous as she walks off the stage, since she has no idea
if he liked her reading or not.

Krycek brushes against her shoulder as he passes. "Aww, dont leave,
Im about to read."

She smirks, but decides that his reading will probably be
entertaining, so she decides to stay, and sits in the last row near
the door, where she knows she cant be seen from the stage.

Krycek swaggers up to the stage, and shes entertained already.
Exuding more self confidence than any high-schooler should ever know,
he introduces himself and begins to read for the part of Don John.

 	"The word is too good to paint out her wickedness; I
	could say she were worse: think you of a worse
	title, and I will fit her to it. Wonder not till
	further warrant: go but with me to-night, you shall
	see her chamber-window entered, even the night
	before her wedding-day: if you love her then,
	to-morrow wed her; but it would better fit your honour
	to change your mind." 

His delivery is full of feeling and hints of planned treachery.
Scully is not the only one who enjoys his performance, and he gets a
smile from the director. This causes Scully to feel envious. As
entertained as she was, she leaves before Krycek gets off the stage,
not wanting him to know she was jealous or even stayed.

**

Saturday 11pm
Lindley home

Fowley looks up and down the hall as she goes up to her room. Shes
sure that Grams is in bed, but she doesnt want to be caught with her
visitor, even though the visit isnt going to lead to anything
risqu.

When he follows her into the room, she closes the door softly behind
them, then goes to perch on her bed, with her knees drawn up to her
chin, her arms wrapped around them. It isnt going to be a friendly
visit, it never is.

"I dont understand." He hisses. "I thought you agreed with me." 

"I do." She protests, giving him a fearful glance. "I do agree." 

"Then why havent you gotten his mind off of her?" 

"I broke them up." She points out defensively. 

"That was over a month ago." His voice is dark, she shivers. "Have
you done anything since then? No. You havent even spoken to him!
Damn little rabbit"

"Im not a rabbit!" the absurdity of the insult shocks her, and shes
reminded suddenly of her favorite Tori Amos song.

"Hiding, twitching seems rabbit-like to me." 

"Im not hiding." 

"You are. If you werent, youd have done as I told you by now, and
made Mulder like you again. He did once, so theres no reason for him
not to now that he hasnt gotten a girlfriend anymore."

"But Spender, things are different now!" She wails, almost loud
enough to wake her grandmother.

Spender gives her a look she cant read. "Not as different as theyre
going to be."

He fades into the shadows again a couple of minutes later, leaving
her still cowering on her bed. For the millionth time she wonders
what he really wants of her, and why he came back again, once theyd
thought him gone for good. The difference is this time shes the only
one who sees him.

**

Tuesday morning

"I dont want to look." Scully says as Skinner attempts to steer her
towards the bulletin boards.

"You have to." He insists.

Sighing, she goes up to the board and finds the boldfaced word
"Hero." Then she looks back at him with a frown. "I didnt get a
part."

Skinner, meanwhile, has been looking at the rest of the cast list.
"Yeah you did."

"No, Katie Greenwood got Hero." Scully corrects him, grumpily.

"I didnt say you got Hero, I said you got a part." 

"Which one?" She asks, still feeling gloomy.

"Beatrice." Skinner happily tells her. "Ive always thought she was
the coolest female role in the play."

"Really? Im Beatrice? Ive always liked her character, too. Who got
Benedick?"

"You dont want to know." Skinner says quickly. When she tries to
look, he covers the name with his hand.

"Let me see!" She demands, batting his hand away. He reluctantly
drops his hand, she wishes he hadnt.

Benedick: Krycek Valentine

"This is not happening!" Scully moans.

Skinner pats her on the back. "At least the animosity between your
characters wont be feigned." He says brightly, not daring to mention
how the play ends. "And Ill be there in case hes a jerk.

"This is going to be the worse production of Much Ado About Nothing
ever." She says dramatically, making him wonder if its a prediction
or a vow.

** 

Thursday 4pm
Capeside High Stage

Three girls sitting in the front row while they wait for their minor
parts in a party scene make eyes at Krycek, but he doesnt notice
because hes looking at Scully. Shes not thrilled by that, but since
its a scene they have together in act one she cant make any
reasonable objections. The quips are kind of fun, she thinks.

"I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior Benedick: nobody
marks you." She says as Beatrice.

"What, my dear Lady Disdain! Are you yet living?" Krycek looks
mockingly surprised, which earns him a titter from the girls in the
front row.

"Is it possible disdain should die while she hath such meet food to
feed it as Signior Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain,
if you come in her presence."

The girls glare at Scully, who has to hide her grin; at least shes
getting a reaction from someone if not the director. Predictably
Krycek is his pet.

Krycek opens his mouth to say his next line, but instead dives
forward and knocks Scully off her feet. Her eyes wide with furious
shock, she thinks to scream at him from her landing place on the
floor. But then she hears a tremendous crash. One of the stage lights
is now shattered where shed been standing moments before.

"Are you ok?" Krycek asks, holding out his hand to help her to her
feet.

Still shaken, she lets him help her up instead of snapping at him or
batting his hand away. Meanwhile the director is shouting for someone
to find the janitor.

After a few minutes of the director and janitor scrambling to clean
things up, while the shell-shocked cast sits and watches, the show
rehearsal goes on.

"Take it from the last line, please." The director instructs.

"Is it possible disdain should die while she hath such meet food to
feed it as Signior Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain,
if you come in her presence." Scully repeats nervously, barely
resisting the urge to look up at the remaining lights.

"Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved of all
ladies, only you excepted: and I would I could find in my heart that
I had not a hard heart; for, truly, I love none."

"A dear happiness to women: they would else have been troubled with a
pernicious suitor. I thank God and my cold blood, I am of your humour
for that: I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he
loves me." Scully retorts.

"God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or
other shall 'scape a predestinate scratched face." Krycek crows.

"I knew I picked the right people for Beatrice and Benedick. I could
tell by the way they were fighting before the auditions." The
director mumbles, but not as softly as hed intended to.

"Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere such a face as yours
were."

"Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher." 

"A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours." 

"I would my horse had the speed of your tongue, and so good a
continuer. But keep your way, i' God's name; I have done." Krycek
quips to laughter.

The laugher stops abruptly when a sinister cackling fills the room.
Everyone on stage and off looks around for the source, while the
director squawks about the sound cues.

Skinner and another boy come onto the stage and protest that they
havent touched the sound board yet, so dont blame them for the
noise. Not believing them the director tromps up on stage and goes to
look at the sound board for himself.

Its not turned on. But the cackling has stopped too.

Skinner gives Scully a nervous look when the director storms back
declaring the rehearsal to be over, and that he didnt ask for this,
he wishes no one ever made him department head if he was going to
have to deal with plays like this one.

"Scully I think you should tell Mulder about this." Skinner says as
they file out.

"Yeah you should." Krycek adds. Scully glares at him. 

"Hey, isnt your boyfriend the one who figured out who was making the
animals act crazy last year?" The girl playing Margaret asks
suddenly.

"I remember that." Another boy says. "Tim from my bio class was the
kid who got bit by the squirrels. You should ask your boyfriend about
this."

"Hes not my boyfriend." Scully declares. "We broke up." 

"You should still talk to him about this." 

"Yeah, this is weird. I bet hed have ideas." 

Feeling overwhelmed, Scully wants to tell them to leave her alone,
but shes shaken by the botched rehearsal too, so she knows where
theyre coming from. It doesnt make it any easier, though.

**

Friday 7pm, Leary home

Grimacing slightly because of the smell of dirty diapers emanating
from the bag, Mulder carries it out to the curb as quickly as he can.
He didnt mind the chore half as much before his brother was born; as
much as he loves Price, the kid can make quite a stink.

Just as he sets the bag down, his flashlight goes out. Its so
perfectly dark that he cant even see his house, so he shakes and
taps it, hoping that itll spring back to life. It does, just in time
for him to be attacked by a monster.

"Ah!" he cries as hes thrown completely off balance. Swaying
perilously, he comes very close to landing on the bag of garbage, but
he twists away at the last second, and lands on his butt in the snow
instead.

"God, Mulder, whats wrong with you?" A familiar voice asks.

Shining the now active light on the figure before him, Mulder sees
that it isnt a monster at all. Its Scully. "Yeah, you sneak up on
me in the dark and ask whats wrong with ME?" He snaps, before he
remembers he wants to get back on her good side again.

"It wasnt so dark before your flashlight went out." She points out.
"And I wasnt so much sneaking as walking from the opposite direction
where I parked my car. Are your parents having a party? Your driveway
is full."

"My Moms book club is meeting." Mulder tells her as he finishes
brushing the snow off his pants. "Why are you here?"

She cautiously answers his question with another. "Is it ok that Im
here?"

Mulder doesnt know. "I guess." He finally says. The flashlights
weak beam offers enough illumination to make the fact that shes
obviously cold, and something at the back of his mind tells him that
he ought to invite her in. He ignores it, however, because he already
knows that whatever her reason is for visiting, it has nothing to do
with making up, and hell get more nosy questions from his mother
than he can bear. "Whats up?"

"You know Im in a play, right?" Scully asks.

"Yeah, Reyes told me." He says, confirming Scullys suspicions that
Reyes is meddling.

"Well"She trails off hesitantly, leaving him to wonder why. "There
have been strange things happening during the rehearsals."

"What kind of strange?" He asks, wondering if Krycek has been
bothering her. The fact that the other boy plays opposite her in the
production has not escaped his notice.

"Your sort of strange." Scully says, her cheeks turning pinker than
the cold has already made them. He wonders if he should be flattered
or insulting that he has a kind of strange. "Lights flickering on
and off, one light actually fell on the stage, sound cues getting
messed up, props going missingand a really weird laugher echoing
though the stage." Scully inventories the events of the past two
days. The rehearsal earlier in the day hadnt gone much better than
the one before.

"Sounds like someone is amusing themselves by playing pranks." He
tells her, his mind still on Krycek.

"You dont think it sounds like a ghost or anything?" 

"You dont believe in ghosts." He points out, sounding puzzled.

"I dont, but"She shrugs. "Everyone else seems to, and you cant
reason with everyone."

"But youre here because" He prompts her.

She squirms as she explains. "Because they know you dig that sort of
thing, and I was drafted to ask for your help."

Mulder frowns in the darkness away from the flashlights beam. It
seems unfair to him that shes completely unwilling to give him a
second chance, yet still wants his help with things. Still, it is a
step forward "Whens your next practice?"

"After school Monday." Scully sounds less embarrassed.

"I still think its someone messing with you guys, but Ill come and
see what happens. Ok?"

"Great, everyone will be so pleased." 

Its only after shes gone that he lets himself wonder if shes
pleased too.

**

Saturday after the lunch rush
The Ice House

Looking up from the table shes clearing, Scully notices that Reed is
only taking half-hearted swipes at the counter hes cleaning. She
expects him to begin sighing deeply any second now.

"So you look depressed. What gives?" 

"You remember Chris, right?" 

She does have a fairly clear mental picture of the short skinny lead
singer for Money Grubbing Communists. "I think you might have brought
him by a time or two." She teases him. When his eyes cloud over, she
wishes she hadnt.

"He told me he met someone new." Reed says, finally sighing.

"Im sorry." 

"Yeah Looks like you and I have something in common now, though." 

"Whats that?" 

"You know, facing Valentines Day alone." 

She thinks of correcting him, but stops. Chagrined, she realizes that
she is going to be alone on Valentines Day, and its all her own
fault. And Mulders. "Oh well, well just have to wear black and
listen to the Smiths." She tells him, managing the faintest of
smiles.

**

Monday 5pm, Capeside High

"So? What do you think is going on?" Skinner asks Mulder. Skinners
eyes are wide because this practice was interrupted when a can of
blue paint came sailing from back stage and landed in the middle of a
scene with a splash.

"Its a ghost, isnt it?" Krycek asks. "I know you people were
talking about a ghost when we went on that hike last May."

"Hey! How did you know that?" Mulder demands to know with a glower.
"We talked about that before we decided we wouldnt kill you for
joining us. You were at least 50 feet away still."

"I cant help it if I have good hearing." Krycek protests.

"Nice avoidance tactic, Mulder. You still havent said what you think
is going on." Skinner complains.

Mulder gives them a level look. "I think someone is messing with
you."

"Someone like a ghost, right?" Krycek prompts. "Or maybe an evil
spirit."

"Someone like a human being. Like Skinner or I." He smirks when
Krycek picks up on the implication of what hes said.

"Youre not serious." Skinner says with a faint smile. "Now tell us
what you really think is going on."

"I think that someone is messing with you. I dont think this has
anything to do with the supernatural at all."

The look Skinner and Krycek give him is one of such great
disappointment that hes tempted to change his mind and tell them
maybe its Casper after all, but he really doesnt think its the
work of anything but a plain old flesh and blood person.

"Well, thanks for coming to the practice." Skinner says, sounding
awkward.

"Yeah, no problem. Im sure youll figure out who is behind it soon."


They nod, but the second he leaves they wonder aloud if hes losing
his touch.

**

That night
Leary home

"Mama, Dada, Sm, Der!" 

Mulder laughs as he watches his father play with Price. The baby is
on Mitchs lap, and hes helping him point at people to name while
they wait for dinner to be ready. Gale gives them a quick smile, but
shes got her hands full, so she doesnt really join the game.

"Boy, youre smart Price." Sam tells him, reach over to tickle him,
which sets him giggling. "You got every one right."

"Uh oh." Mitch stands suddenly. "Someone needs a diaper change, right
away."

Price just grins at them, and if Mulder didnt know better, hed
think the baby was pleased with himself. Hes still grinning as Mitch
whisks him away.

"Mulder, would you keep an eye on the potatoes? I need to get
something out of the freezer downstairs."

"Sure, Mom." He replies, and Sam mouths a hopeful "pie?" as their
mother leaves the room. Mulder shrugs.

"Have you ever heard of bloody Mary?" Sam asks as he peers down into
the pot on the stove.

"Oh no, not you too." 

"Not me too what? Whatd I do?" She pouts.

"Skinner and Krycek are convinced that theres a ghost haunting their
play."

"Well, is there?" 

"I dont think so. I keep trying to tell them that its probably
someone playing a joke on them, but no one believes me."

"It is kind of odd for you. I mean, everyone knows you believe in
ghosts, so why are you saying its not a ghost?"

"Just because I believe in ghosts doesnt mean I have to think
everything weird that happens is because of ghosts." Mulder points
out. "This just doesnt seem like ghosts."

"Funny, though, you being the one to doubt the unexplained, though."
Sam tells him. "and here I thought I was the only one with any
sense."

When their mother returns with the pie, Sam is running around the
table to escape Mulder, whos still trying to swat her in
retaliation. Since theyre both laughing, she ignores them, and
shoves a pie in the oven.

**

Two weeks later
Capeside High stage
5:45pm

People are frantically scurrying around, trying desperately to get
into their costumes. Several half-dressed people are nearly
hysterical because their hair or makeup seems "wrong! All wrong!"
suddenly.

Scully ignores them and calmly puts on her own costume. The
rehearsals have gone well, disruptions not withstanding, and shes
feeling pretty good about opening night. Shes also more than half
thankful that there are only going to be three showings, since it
taking up a month of her life so far is more than enough for her.

Everything, besides the panic of getting dressed, seems to be going
fine. At least until a chilling laugh swells up. Several people stop
talking in mid-complaint, and most people look at each other.

"Bwa-hahahaha!!!!" 

Skinner catches Krycek's eye, but very few people notice that theyve
left their former positions.

"Bwaha- Ack! Get off of me!" 

Everyone looks puzzled, but theres more yelping and the sounds of a
scuffle. Finally a figure, wrapped about the middle with one of the
veils from the last act, is dragged out onto the stage by a
triumphant looking Skinner and Krycek.

"Sodid anyone want to say anything to our ghost?" Krycek asks with
a sneer.

Several people shout questions, most of which are difficult for the
culprit to answer, given theyre about his character.

Scully stares at the boy, whom she recalls was someone who tried out
for the part of Claudio, in mild wonder. Shed begun to half believe
that people were right, and the play was haunted. She isnt sure how
she feels about it just being a boy after alljust like Mulder
insisted.

"You know, though." Skinner tells Krycek as soon as the boy is no
longer their problem. "Mulder is going to be insufferable when he
finds out that he was right."

"Awweveryone gets to be right once." Krycek replies in a
condescending tone, but hes smiling.

**

Capeside High stage
8pm

After the "ghost" was removed by the vice-principal, the play went
off without a hitch.

Scully gets through the play by pretending that it's just her sister,
her nephew, and her friends that are sitting there in the audience
watching her. Skinner asked Mulder to come, and a tiny part of her is
glad hes there, if only because hed helped them solve the mystery.

The play lopes along like an excited puppy, and at last they get to
the last act, in which Claudio agrees to marry Heros "cousin" and is
shocked, but thrilled, to learn that the woman hes marrying is his
lost love.

Once the happy pair are married, its time for one of Scully and
Kryceks biggest scenes.

He looks at the still shrouded women. "Soft and fair, friar. Which is
Beatrice?" He asks.

Scully throws off the veil. "I answer to that name. What is your
will?"

"Do not you love me?" 

"Why, no; no more than reason." Scully reluctantly replies,
completely in character, fortunately.

"Why, then your uncle and the prince and Claudio have been deceived;
they swore you did." Krycek affects a surprised tone.

"Do not you love me?" 

"Troth, no; no more than reason." He replies, turning her words back
upon her.

"Why, then my cousin Margaret and Ursula are much deceived; for they
did swear you did."

"They swore that you were almost sick for me." Krycek retorts.

"They swore that you were well-nigh dead for me." Scully looks
mirthful.

"'Tis no such matter. Then you do not love me?" His hurt is obviously
pretend, but maybe under the surface its a real answer hes looking
for.

"No, truly, but in friendly recompense." Scully declares primly.

"Come, cousin, I am sure you love the gentleman." Leonato admonishes.

The boy playing Claudio brandishes a slip of paper" And I'll be sworn
upon't that he loves her; For here's a paper written in his hand, A
halting sonnet of his own pure brain, Fashion'd to Beatrice."

"And here's another Writ in my cousin's hand, stolen from her pocket,
Containing her affection unto Benedick." The plays Hero adds,
picking her cousins pocket for another paper.

"A miracle! here's our own hands against our hearts. Come, I will
have thee; but, by this light, I take thee for pity." Krycek
proclaims with a smile.

"I would not deny you; but, by this good day, I yield upon great
persuasion; and partly to save your life,	for I was told you were in
a consumption." Scully retorts.

"Peace! I will stop your mouth." Krycek exclaims, kissing Scully.

**

Sitting in the audience, Mulder grinds his fingernails into the palms
of his hands. He knows that the kiss is just a stage one, but it
doesnt look like it. And Scully doesnt look terribly unhappy about
having to kiss Krycek.

Maybe its right for her to kiss him, or some other boy. Maybe
theyre not really meant to get back together. The maybes keep him
from realizing that his hands hurt until theyre more than a dull
ache.

Glancing at his palms, he sees the weeping red crescents, and stuffs
his hands into his pockets. Hes gone before any of the actors leave
the stage.

**
Credits
Produced by CC, KW and Neoxphile
**

< Voice Over>
This episode of Mulders Creek featured music from:

 AFI ("Silver and Cold") 
 3 Days Grace ("I Hate Everything About You ")
And
Travis ("Re-Offender")

Stay tuned for scenes from the next Mulders Creek

