Diana nodded. 'He took all of our research with him.'
'It's like starting from scratch.'
The new voice belonged to a man who had just walked in. He stood at the front of the room, in front of a map of the world.
Mulder sat through the next hour, stunned and speechless.
To finally understand everything that was going on. To finally understand what the aliens were after and what was being done to prevent it. The history behind Spender was hideous. Trying to create alien-human hybrids only to destroy them when they were found out their DNA was unusable. He understood now what was being done with Scully. Why her ova was taken, why she got cancer and why she was put into remission. He finally felt whole to be included.
To finally be on the right side.
***
Mulder stood up as the others were filing out of the room and looked over at Diana.
'So what do you think?' She asked him.
'Beats the hell out of sitting in the basement of the FBI, running around in circles.' He said, sitting on the edge of the table.
'You love the X-Files.' She said, stuffing papers in her briefcase.
'I do.' He said. 'But I was always working to expose the conspiracy, to find my sister...� He shook his head. 'I can do a lot more here.'
'We'd love to have you.' She said. 'We need someone now that Spender and his irritating son have gone their own way.'
Mulder stopped and looked at her. 'Jeffrey?'
Diana looked at him, frowning, causing her wrinkles to be even more apparent. 'There's a lot you don't know, Fox.'
'Well, we'll have to fix that then, wont we.' He said. 'I have to go see Scully, let her know what's been going on.' He smiled, imagining her reaction to everything he'd found. 'She'll be thrilled about all this.'
Diana laid a hand on his arm, stopping him. She looked at him, well-practiced sympathy on her face. 'That's something else I need to talk to you about.'
***
Scully looked at Byers. 'How did you get this?'
'It took us awhile but we finally managed to trace the number he called you from when he left that message.'
'It took you three weeks!'
Langly shrugged in embarrassment. 'That was my fault, you see-'
Scully didn�t give him a chance to continue. 'Did you guys find out anything about what this is?'
'It's a private residence.' Byers said. 'Owned by a Samuel Adams.'
'Samuel Adams?' Krycek asked from his spot on the couch, his hand on his face. 'That's definitely got to be a front. Might as well of named the kid Bud Weiser.'
Frohike snorted laughter in spite of himself.
'We did have an associate of ours from that area go scope it out.' Byers said, handing her some pictures. 'She took this, so we know Mulder's still alive.'
The picture showed Mulder, Diana and Marita walking out the door, into the street.
She wordlessly handed the picture to Skinner. He stared at it for a moment then held it out to Krycek. He just smiled at Skinner and shook his head. 'Don't need it.'
'It's obvious that Mulder's life isn't in danger.' Scully said after a lengthy silence.
'Not that we know of, anyway.' Skinner said. 'Why don't we get someone from the New York office to set up surveillance there?'
'Good idea.' Byers said. 'That way we can get a better idea of what's going on without blowing anything.'
'Remember that case he was on?' Skinner asked Scully. 'When he went undercover for the CIA and couldn't say anything? He may be involved in something like that again.'
'Or he's just protecting you.' Krycek said, his eyes closed.
'Okay.' Scully said. 'Let's give it some time.' She looked up at the Lone Gunmen. 'But find out everything you can.'
'Alright.' Byers said. 'I'll call my contact as soon as we get back to the dungeon.'
'Tell her I said hi.' Scully smiled.
Byers blushed and smiled back. 'I will.'
'We'll check in tomorrow.' Frohike pointed at Krycek. 'I don't want to have to break out my Kung Fu on your ass.'
Krycek pointed back. 'I fear the day.'
'I ain�t messing around.' Frohike retorted.
Krycek smiled. 'I believe you.'
'Goodnight, Frohike.' Scully said.
The three hurried out the door. Skinner began to clear off the table 'Well, I destroyed my veggie burger, but you still have half of your mushroom thing left.'
'Can't eat them after they get cold.' She said. 'Tastes like rubber.'
Krycek raised his eyebrows at Skinner. 'Veggie burger?'
'Don't start with me, Alex.' Came the stern reply.
Krycek let his head fall on the back of the couch and closed his eyes. 'Whatever.'
Skinner and Scully smiled at each other in silence.
'You don't have to do that.' She said as he put their glasses in the sink. 'I'm going to get it in the morning.'
Skinner glanced over at Krycek and spoke softly. 'You going to be okay?'
She leaned closer to him and smiled. 'I went across the country with the man, I think I can handle it.'
'Alright.' He said, walking to the door. 'I'll call you in the morning.'
'Oh hell. I almost forgot.' Krycek stood up and walked to Skinner. He reached in the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out the Nano controller that had plagued Skinner. He held it out to him. 'I believe this belongs to you.'
Skinner's throat immediately locked up and he gingerly took the controller. He tried to think of something to say and found nothing.
Krycek gave a slight shake of his head. 'You don't have to say anything. It's me that should be apologizing. And I'm sorry.'
Skinner nodded, looking back at him, then turned and walked out.
Krycek stood at the door after Skinner had closed it behind him. 'Nice to know that nothing has changed.'
'What do you mean?' Scully asked.
'None of those people trust me.' He said. 'Skinner's in the middle, but those other three, they can't stand me. Especially the little guy, he's quite protective of you.'
'Do you blame them?' She asked, sitting down with a glass of water.
�No.� He was still staring at the door Skinner had vacated. 'Do you want to ask me? Or would you rather I just answer.'
'I think you just did.' She said softly.
Krycek stood there in silence, he didn't know what to say. He opened the door. 'We can talk more tomorrow. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.'
'What is it like?' Scully asked.
Krycek slowly closed the door. He paused, his hand on the doorknob. 'I don't know because it's always been there.'
'Do you hear people's voices or is it more like feelings?'
'It's always different.' He said. 'Sometimes I can hear it in my head just like someone said it out loud. Other times like when I was asleep earlier, all I feel is the emotion. Sometimes I don't feel anything at all.'
'Do you know why it would be different?' She invited him to sit down by pulling out a chair at the table.
�No.� He said. 'It could depend on the person. Or it could be me.' Krycek crossed the room to sit down. 'I hated my abilities for a long time so I refused to use them. Maybe I just haven't developed them yet.'
'Were you trying to let me know when you were coming here?'
'Yes.' He said. 'I didn't want to scare you.'
Scully laughed. 'So you tried to send me telepathic thoughts?'
'I don't know.' Krycek smiled in return. 'It seemed reasonable at the time.'
'It must be amazing.' She said.
He looked at her for a moment. 'You wanna see?'
Scully's lips parted in surprise. 'What?'
'I can show you.'
'How would you do that?' Scully whispered.
'I don't know.' Krycek replied. 'I just know I can.'
Scully stared back at him, scared but too fascinated to turn him down. 'Show me.'
Krycek leaned closer to her, never breaking eye contact. 'You sure?'
She nodded. 'I'm sure.'
He looked her in the eyes, reaching over, and put his hands on top of hers.
Scully's mind was immediately flooded with feelings. It seemed she was re-living Krycek's life. From the time he was a child, such horrible times, how could anyone endure this and remain sane? Such utter despair, such loneliness. How lost can one person be-
The images stopped.
Scully gathered herself, looking at Krycek in silence. He had taken his hands off of hers and was staring at her. He seemed concerned.
'I had no idea it would affect you like that.' He said. 'I'm sorry.'
She managed to find her voice. 'Affect me like what?'
'You were crying.' Was all he said.
***
Mulder looked at Fowley. 'What about Scully?'
She sat back down. 'Maybe you should sit down, Fox.'
'Just tell me!' He snapped.
'I'm not quite sure how.' She said, playing the concerned role well. 'I guess I'll just come out and say it.'
Mulder leaned towards her. 'Then say it.'
'It appears that Agent Scully has been working with Spender and Krycek all along.'
Mulder stared back at her for a moment, then laughed in her face. 'That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.'
'I'm afraid it's the truth.'
'What the hell would even make you think that?' He said, his voice trailing off as she placed a picture on the table in front of him.
It was Krycek and Scully, walking down the street together, both of them on cell phones.
He pointed at the picture. 'She probably went to him for help.'
'And this one?' She set another one on top of the first.
Krycek and Scully were sitting on a bench in front of restaurant.
'And this one?'
Krycek and Scully sitting at a table with Cancer Man and...
His sister?
Mulder slowly sat down in his chair.
Diana put her hand on Mulder's arm. 'I know this must be hard for you.'
He didn't say anything back and she gave his arm a squeeze.
'I know you really cared about her.'
'I still care.' Mulder said, looking at her. 'There is a rational explanation for this. There has to be.'
'There's more.' Diana said quietly.
'Go on.' He said softly.
'She's pregnant.'
Mulder stared back her. 'That's impossible.'
'Impossible why?' Diana looked at him meaningfully.
'She told me that she was...� Mulder drifted off, realizing what she was implying. That Scully had lied about being barren. He shook his head. 'I will not believe that.'
'It's true.' Diana said. 'Alex Krycek is the father.'
Mulder laughed. 'Krycek?!?!'
'They've been in it together from the beginning.' Diana said.
'I don't believe it.' Mulder said, smiling. 'You've been greatly misinformed.'
'I don't think so.' Diana said. 'All the proof you need is right there in front of you. Where do you think she was when she took off with Spender?'
Mulder stared back at her, doubt gnawing at the back of his mind.
'They were planning your abduction.'
Mulder shook his head. 'Scully is not involved with those people, she's not pregnant and she is certainly not sleeping with Alex Krycek.'
'Why don't you go and ask her if she's pregnant.' Diana asked.
'Oh, I intend to.' Mulder said.
***
'Are you okay?' Krycek asked her.
Scully nodded, a little confused. 'I'm fine.'
He smiled at her. 'You wouldn't lie to me now, would you?'
She stared back at him for a moment, then understood what he was talking about. 'Oh hell. That's not fair.'
Krycek laughed, running his hands through his hair. Scully looked at his left arm again.
'Unbelievable.' She said.
'It's pretty remarkable.' He looked at his hand and flexed his fingers a couple of times.
'How?'
'They grafted my DNA and grew me a new one.' Krycek smiled again at the astonishment she had in her mind while her face remained perfectly calm. 'They can do it with anything.'
Scully shook her head, smiling in disbelief. 'If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it.'
'Just think of everything we could do.' He said. 'Blind people could see, deaf people could hear, paralyzed people could walk.'
'Is this what you guys do?' Scully asked. 'This is your project?'
Krycek shook his head. 'Just a bonus of what we're trying to do with the vaccine. Since we have the DNA and the world's most brilliant minds, we might as well experiment on everything.'
My God, Scully thought. How wonderful would it be to have that kind of medical technology in mainstream medicine? How I would love to go there and see it for myself. To see the science and understand the procedures...
Krycek smiled at her, his voice entering her thoughts while his lips never moved. I can take you there.
'You really need to quit eavesdropping.' Scully said.
'I can't help it.' Krycek said, shrugging. 'You feel things very strongly and it kind of slams right against my head.'
'How horrible.' Scully said, mock concern on her face.
He laughed. 'It is if you're trying to ignore it!'
'I can't imagine having that ability and choosing to ignore it.'
'Oh come on, Dana.' He said. 'There's thoughts that all of us have that we'd never want anyone to hear. I'm just respecting people's privacy.'
'Oh yeah, I'm sure that's what you're doing.' She giggled at him.
'You know, everyone has these abilities. They're just usually turned off in people.'
Scully nodded. 'I remember thinking something like that before, with Gibson Praise.'
'If you could turn yours on, would you?'
'I don't know.' She thought for a minute. 'It would seem against evolution to me. Against the natural course of things.'
'Who's to say what is the natural course of things?'
Scully shrugged and smiled, shaking her head. 'I don't know.'
Silence passed for a few minutes, each thinking their thoughts.
Krycek finally looked up at her. 'I should be going. I'm very, very tired.' He stretched. 'Too much excitement for my first night back.'
'Home?'
He shook his head. 'No, I can�t go home. I'll probably find a hotel to hide in.'
'Why don't you stay here, on the couch.' Scully offered. 'I'd feel better if you weren't running around at this hour.'
Krycek shrugged. 'If you don't mind.'
�No.� Scully smiled sheepishly. 'I'd feel safer with someone else around anyway.'
***
The phone woke Scully out of the best sleep she'd had in a long time.
'Scully.'
'Good morning, Agent.' Skinner's voice cheerfully greeted her. 'Or should I say good afternoon?'
'Hello, Sir.' She was a little less enthusiastic.
'You up for some breakfast?' He asked. 'We can get you an eggbeater omelet.'
'That is a real egg product, Sir.' She said, sitting up in bed. 'I�m trying to be vegan. But I'm sure we can find something to eat, if you don't mind Alex going.'
'He's already there?'
Scully hesitated. 'Well, Sir, he never really left.'
After hanging up the phone on her aggravated superior who was on his way over, Scully walked out of her bedroom.
Krycek was already awake. He was sitting at her corner desk, working on her laptop. She smiled at him. He had headphones on, plugged into the laptop, and he was sitting in the chair, grooving away. She wondered what the hell he was listening to. No sooner had the thought entered her mind than her head was suddenly filled with music. Krycek turned and smiled at her.
'Good morning.'
'What on earth is that horrible racket you're listening to?'
He laughed. 'Static X.'
'Static X?'
��I�m With Stupid�.� Krycek grinned. 'Gotta love Napster. You can find all kinds of music.'
'Skinner's on his way over to pick us up for breakfast.' Scully walked over to stand next to him. 'You hungry?'
He smiled up at her. 'You must have read my mind.'
Scully playfully slapped the back of his head.
***
Mulder let himself into Scully's apartment. He wondered where she was. He stood in the living room and inhaled. Her apartment smelled like her. He didn't realize how much he missed her until then.
Mulder had been thinking about everything Diana had said. While it made a small amount of sense, he still didn't believe it. He'd stayed with the group for a week or so, until all the meetings were over. Then he decided it was time to meet with Scully.
He heard voices in the hall. Skinner was laughing. Good, Mulder thought, he could surprise them both at the same time.
The door opened and Scully walked in, laughing. She looked radiant and she was so beautiful. She looked happy.
He gave her a large smile; he couldn't believe how good it was to see her. She hadn't noticed him yet because she was looking at someone behind her.
Mulder's smile faltered as Krycek followed her in.
Scully saw Mulder and froze. Her eyes flew open wide.
Mulder looked from Scully, to Krycek, to Skinner. The three of them, together, laughing. What the hell was going on?
All he could think was that Diana was right.
Diana was right.
Oh yes, he thought to himself, who is the idiot now?
The room spun around him and he leaned against the top of the couch.
Scully took a step towards Mulder and he held up a hand.
'Stop.' He said, trying to clear his mind of the dizziness.
'Mulder-'
'Don't.' He said. 'Don't even try.'
Skinner stepped up next to Scully. 'Agent Mulder, are you okay?'
'Oh yeah.' Mulder said, straightening up. 'I'm fine. After all, how often do I find the two people closest to me having high tea with my nemesis?'
'Its not how it looks, Mulder.' Scully said. 'Alex can explain-'
'ALEX?' Mulder asked, stressing the name. 'ALEX is going to explain what to me? What insane notion is in your head, making you believe I care the tiniest bit and anything that ALEX says to me?'
'Mulder, just let us talk for a minute.' Skinner said.
'I don't believe this.' Mulder said softly, staring down at Scully.
Krycek was leaning against the kitchen table, his face a mask of emotions. 'Let me explain, Fox.'
Mulder whipped his head towards Krycek, his face stunned. 'What did you call me?'
'I'm sorry.' Krycek said softly. 'Mulder. Let me-'
'Can I ask you a question?' Mulder turned to Scully, as if Krycek wasn't even there. 'I haven't bought this one yet so maybe you can clarify for me?'
'Anything.' She said.
'Are you pregnant?'
Scully didn't answer, she couldn't. She didn't know what to say, a thousand words ran through her mind and they all sounded bad.
'I don't believe this.' Mulder said again.
She held up her hands. 'Let me explain.'
'I don't believe this!' Mulder said louder.
Krycek stood next to Scully. 'It's just science, Mulder. It's not what you think.'
Mulder stared at him, hate visible in his face. 'How the hell would you have any idea of what I think?'
'You've been told I'm the father.' Krycek said, pity on his face. 'You think Dana and I are lovers and have been against you from the beginning.'
'Let me explain.' Scully put a hand on Mulder's arm. He jerked it away, looking down at her.
'Is he the father?'
'It's not that simple.'
'It is that simple.' Mulder raised his voice. 'Either he is the father or he isn't, now which is it?'
'He is.' Scully said, lips trembling. 'But it's not what you think.'
Mulder's face was a stone, his voice thick and shaky. 'I've been gone for weeks and come back to find you pregnant by the enemy. This man has killed my father, your sister and has been behind all the unspeakable things that have happened to us. And he's the father of your baby? If it's not what I'm thinking, then what is it?'
A thousand thoughts ran through Scully's mind. She wanted him to calm down. She wanted to tell him everything, and find out what part he was playing. She couldn't rattle off the whole conspiracy.
'He's my friend.' She sputtered stupidly.
Mulder's eyes narrowed at her, his face livid.
'You just sleep with all your friends, don't you.'
