Krycek sensed Scully's pain and softly touched her arm, trying to lend any little support he could.
'Maybe you should leave, Mulder.' Scully said softly, throwing up the wall. 'It's obvious you can't talk to me right now.'
Mulder took a deep breath, calming himself from any further verbal assaults.
'You can come back when you're ready to talk about this.' She said.
Mulder sneered. 'Just let me know when Daddy won�t be around.'
'Oh Mulder.' Skinner said, disapproval clear on his face. 'You have no idea what's been going on here.'
'With all due respect, Sir.' Mulder looked Skinner in the eye. 'I don't give a shit about anything you have to say.'
'Just go, Mulder.' Scully said. 'You obviously cannot talk about this right now.�
He began to walk out, then stopped in front of Krycek, leaning over so that his face was inches away. 'You're going down.'
Krycek stared back sadly. 'Don't worry, Agent Mulder. This will all be over soon.'
'Damn right.' Mulder growled. 'With you six feet under.'
Before anyone could realize what was about to happen, Krycek suddenly ducked as Mulder's arm swung heavily in his direction.
'Mulder!' Scully shouted.
Krycek moved too fast, out of the way, and turned towards Mulder. Skinner moved towards Mulder but Krycek threw up an arm, stopping him. 'Wait.' He whispered.
The TV turned on, the lights turned on, the radio turned on. 'Otherside' by the Red Hot Chile Peppers blared out of the speakers. Krycek locked eyes with Mulder.
'�How long�How long�Will I slide...Separate my side�'
Mulder looked back at Krycek, seeming unable to move. 'What are you doing?' He whispered.
Krycek stared intently at him as the music droned on.
'�I heard your voice through a photograph�I thought it up and brought up the past�Once you know, you can never go back�I gotta take it on the otherside�'
Scully's eyes were wide, her mouth trying to form words. She could feel the electricity emanating from Krycek.
'Alex.' She whispered.
��Centuries are what it meant to me�A cemetery where I marry the sea�Stranger things could never change my mind�I gotta take it on the otherside��
Mulder made a small sound, almost a cry. Tears were on his cheeks.
Skinner's face was confused, full of fear. 'Scully?'
'Oh my god.' Mulder said softly.
Krycek suddenly stepped back and Mulder let out a deep breath, falling to the ground.
��How long�How long�Will I slide�Separate my side��
Scully stood still for a moment, not understanding what had happened, then went to Mulder's side. He shook his head at her and spoke, his voice scratchy. 'Give me a minute.'
��I don�t�I don�t believe its bad�Slit my throat�It�s all I ever��
Scully looked up at Krycek. 'What did you do?' She asked softly.
'I showed him the truth.'
Krycek leaned against the couch, casually crossing his arms. Skinner lowered himself slowly into a chair.
'Someone want to tell me what the hell all that was about?' Skinner asked.
No one answered at first. Scully began to help Mulder up but he resisted. 'Just leave me here.'
She stood up and slowly walked over to Krycek. They stared at each other in silence. He broke it first.
'He'll be okay now.'
She nodded, not breaking eye contact and he sighed. 'I think I should go.'
Before she could say anything, he nodded, brushing hair behind her ear. 'I'm sure.'
'Alex-'
'It's okay, Dana.' He said, holding her arms. 'We�ll talk tomorrow.'
Scully stared back at him, then nodded. He turned to Skinner. 'Let�s grab a beer.'
Skinner slowly nodded. 'I think I need more than that right now.'
'Tell you the truth, so do I.� Krycek answered.
They walked to the door, Skinner not knowing what to say. Krycek offered a hand and after a second of hesitation, Mulder took it. Krycek pulled him up and stared at him for a moment. He gave Scully a small smile before closing the door behind him.
Scully looked up at Mulder to see him staring after Krycek.
She didn't know what to say. They seemed very uncomfortable with each other. She knew Alex had told him something.
'What did he tell you when he left?' She asked softly.
Mulder didn't look at her when he answered. 'He told me that I don't deserve you.'
Scully looked away. �Where�ve you been, Mulder?�
'It's a long story.' He replied, walking into the kitchen.
'I've got time.' Scully sat down at the kitchen table.
'What the hell are you doing hanging around with Krycek?' Mulder asked, pointing towards the door.
'It's a long story.' She said, completely serious.
'I've got time.' He answered, sitting down across from her and meeting her gaze.
'Want to tell me about my ova?' She asked.
Mulder was caught off guard. He didn't answer.
'Oh.' Scully said. 'I see. You don�t want to talk about that.'
'I was never sure how to tell you.' He said.
'How can you not tell me about something like that, Mulder?'
He shrugged. 'I never found the right time or place.'
'How about the night you were in my bed?' She was not happy with him and he knew it.
He looked away and she leaned towards him.
'Where have you been, Mulder?'
He sighed and leaned in towards her as well. 'You wouldn't believe what I've learned.'
'Tell me.'
'You first.' He nodded at her.
'Where you with Marita and Diana?' Scully asked.
Mulder nodded. 'How did you know?'
'The Lone Gunmen have pictures of you.' Scully said. 'They brought them over last night.'
'Diana told me that you and Krycek have been against me from the beginning.' Mulder said softly. 'They told me you were pregnant. I show up to find Krycek here and you tell me it's true. What am I supposed to think?'
'You were with Diana Fowley, Mulder. They told me you found my ova, a small detail you had never mentioned to me. What am I supposed to think?'
'You going to tell me what's going on with Krycek?'
Scully leaned back in her seat, a little too casual for the seriousness of the conversation. 'What do you want to know?'
'What the hell is up with him?' Mulder asked. 'How did he put those images in my mind?'
'Didn't he show you?'
'I only saw how you guys were with Cancer Man and my sister during dinner in Seattle.' Mulder said, folding his hands and looking down at them. 'He showed me when you found out about your pregnancy.'
Scully was silent for a moment. 'And nothing else?'
�No.� Mulder shook his head. 'Why?'
Scully sighed and closed her eyes. 'Damn you, Alex.'
'What's going on, Scully?'
'There's so much, I don't know where to start.' She thought for a moment. 'Let me just say that there were experiments on children. They were trying to make an alien-human hybrid to withstand the virus. Alex was one of those children.'
Mulder sat for a minute, thinking. 'I always thought he didn't look quite human.'
'Mulder.' Scully gave him a look. He almost grinned back and she continued. 'Needless to say, he has all these abilities. He can read minds and project thoughts and...' Her voice trailed off and she shook her head before continuing on. �I don't know what all he can do. He showed me some of his childhood one time, and it was just like I was there. And I don't know if you noticed his left arm.'
Mulder's eyes grew wide. 'I knew there was something odd about him. How did that happen?'
She shook her head. 'I'm not sure. He's offered to show me everything.'
Mulder looked at her sadly, not speaking. She caught his look.
'What?'
'I guess you guys are pretty close.' He leaned back in his chair. 'A lot closer than I believed you were.'
'He's my friend.' Scully said softly.
'Your friend.' Mulder repeated.
'Yes.' She said, not backing down from his intensive stare. 'There are things you should know about him. Things that I have no right to tell you. Things you need to hear.'
'What things?'
'Not my place.' Scully said.
'I don't know if I can handle you and Krycek being bosom buddies.' Mulder said, shaking his head. 'And he's the father of the child you're carrying. How am I supposed to deal with that.'
'It's not like I asked for it, Mulder.' Scully said irritably. 'How do you think I feel?'
'I don�t know, why don�t you tell me?'
She looked away from him. 'It's been very hard. But I won�t lie; it's been very wonderful at the same time. I never thought I'd be able to have children, and here I am pregnant.'
'But it's Krycek's.' Mulder raised his voice and she raised hers as well.
'I�m pregnant!' She said. 'Pregnant, Mulder. Do you have any idea what that means to me? Yes, it is his. But what can I do? He isn�t the antichrist like we�ve always thought he was. He has been nothing but helpful. He saved my life. He pushed me out of the way of a gun shot and took the hit himself in our hotel in Seattle...'
Her voice trailed off as she realized she was getting emotional and rather defensive.
'You were shot at?' Mulder asked softly.
'Yes. In Seattle. After we met with your...with Cancer Man.'
'My what?'
'Nothing, Mulder.' Scully almost kicked herself. 'We were talking in my room. There was a knock at the door and Alex pushed me out of the way. He got shot. He was taken. He disappeared and he showed up again last night.'
'How convenient.' Mulder said.
'It was you he originally wanted to find, Mulder.' She said softly. 'He has lots of things to tell you.'
'Why don't you just tell me, okay Scully?' He said in disgust. 'I don't think I'll be calling on Krycek anytime soon.'
'Mulder, I think you'll have to get over the whole Krycek thing.' Scully said softly. 'He is the father of my child and he'll probably be a part of our life.'
'I don't know if I can handle that, Scully.'
She looked at him in disbelief. 'Are you asking me to choose?'
'No, that's not what I'm saying.' He said, then looked at her. 'Why? What would you choose?'
'He would never ask me to make that choice.' She said.
Mulder stood up quickly. 'How do you know that?' He asked, his voice loud. 'How are you the expert on Alex Krycek? I've only been gone for a few weeks!'
'We've spent a lot of time together.' She said. 'We drove out to Seattle together. I've felt his feelings. He's showed me his mind. Besides, I'm not saying I do know him that well. I just know him. I don't know what I'm talking about.' She put her hands in her head. 'I have to say Mulder. This isn't the reunion I was expecting.'
'Me neither, Scully.' He said quietly.
'Everything seems different.' She said.
Mulder gave her a small smile and sat back down. 'I think everything is.'
Scully stood up and walked over to him. She sat down on his lap and put her head on his shoulder. 'I've missed you, Mulder.'
He hugged her back. 'I've missed you too, Scully.'
She planted a kiss on his head. 'What are we supposed to do now?'
He closed his eyes. 'I don't know.'
'Mulder.'
'Hmm?' Mulder asked.
'I think you should talk to Alex.'
Mulder sighed. 'Scully...'
She put her hands in his hair. 'Really, Mulder. There's a lot you need to hear and I think it will explain everything for you. It's important to me. I don't want to lose you because of some quibble you've had with Alex for all these years.'
�Scully.� He looked at her, a half grin on his face. 'You've had the same quibble with Krycek.'
'We've talked.' She said, almost pouting, blinking big blue eyes.
Mulder smiled at her. 'Are you trying to look cute?'
�No.� She said seriously. 'Why, do I?'
He laughed and looked away, nodding. 'Yes, you do.'
They hugged tighter and she leaned her head against his. 'So what happened with Diana?'
'It was amazing, Scully.' He said softly. 'They showed me how they were trying to create a vaccine against the virus. They showed how there's a race of rebels they're working with against the aliens.'
Scully pulled back to look at him. 'Mulder, those rebels are killing innocent humans whose DNA has been experimented on. When their DNA isn't good enough to withstand the virus, the rebels burn them.'
'Who told you that?'
Scully looked at him. 'Alex.'
'Krycek is full of shit, Scully.' Mulder said. 'He really took you in, didn't he.'
She sighed and stood up. 'Spender told us that Marita was working with the rebels to create alien-human hybrids to withstand the virus. That he was with the group who is trying to create the vaccine. That's how Alex got his arm back. Because they've been experimenting with DNA for fifty years.�
'And you believed him?' Mulder asked, smiling at her like she had been foolish.
'I believed Alex.' Scully corrected. 'I never know what to think of Spender. But I knew that Alex was telling the truth.'
Mulder looked at her closely. 'How do you know?'
'I just do.'
'How could you just believe him so easily?'
Scully shrugged. 'I don't know. I guess you had to be there.'
Mulder smiled. 'Well if what you're saying is true, I was there.'
'It was really weird, Mulder.' She said. 'Alex reacted to everything Spender said about ten seconds before it came out of his mouth. And he knew when the gunshot was coming. Last night he was sound asleep on my couch and scared me and Skinner to death because he jumped up and ran to the door when the Lone Gunmen were coming up the hall.'
Mulder stared at her, silent.
'What?' She asked.
'You been partying since I've been gone?'
'No!' She exclaimed.
'Damn, Krycek crashed on the couch...Skinner and you at the table...The three freaks coming over.' Mulder nodded. 'You've been having some ragers.'
'Oh whatever, Mulder. I'm trying to be serious.'
'If I decided to talk to Krycek, I wouldn't even know how to get in touch with him.'
Scully suddenly smiled at him. 'I do.'
'You have his number?'
'I don't need his number.' She said.
Mulder seemed confused. 'I don't quite follow.'
'He can hear me.' Scully said.
'He can hear you by what? Just...Thinking about him?'
'Yes.'
'How do you do that?' Mulder whispered.
'I don't know.' She thought for a moment, a slow, gradual smile spreading on her face. 'I just know that I can.'
The phone immediately rang and she turned to Mulder. He was amazed by her brilliant smile.
'There he is.'
Mulder looked at her, doubt in his eyes. He picked up the phone, but didn't speak. He just listened. His eyes darted towards Scully.
'Yes, she's fine. I hear you want to talk.'
He hung up the phone.
Scully raised her eyebrows at him. 'He's on his way?'
Mulder nodded. 'You psychic now?'
�No.� She shook her head. 'But I knew he would come.'
'And how did you know that, Miss Scully?'
'Because I told him that he needed to come over.'
Mulder's smile faded. He really didn't like the closeness that Krycek and Scully seemed to share. 'Does he always come running when you call?'
'I don't know, Mulder. I've never called on him before.' Scully smiled playfully. 'You jealous?'
'You hungry?' Mulder ignored her question. Mostly because it was true. 'I was thinking of getting a nice, greasy burger from Spike's on the corner. I've been dying for one for months and I'm sure we have a few minutes before Mr. Personality gets here. Want anything?'
'I've already had lunch.' She said. 'Besides, I don't eat meat.'
Mulder's head whipped around at her. 'Since when?'
'Since I found out I was pregnant.'
'Okay, then.' Mulder was really confused now. He called in the order on his cell phone and was about to take off when Scully stood up. 'He's here.' She walked to the door; Mulder staring after her, jealous again at the connection they seemed to share. Scully tilted her head to the side. 'They're both here. Him and Skinner.'
Scully opened the door and smiled at Skinner as he nearly stumbled in. 'What happened to you, Sir?' She asked, smiling.
'Too much Tequila.' Skinner answered, stumbling over to sit down on the couch.
Krycek followed him in, a smirk planted on his face.
'What did you do to him?' Scully playfully scolded.
Krycek smiled back at her. 'He really wanted to not be sober anymore.'
Mulder bristled at the familiarity in which they looked at each other with.
�I'm going to go pick up my food.' He said under his breath.
'I'll go with you.' Krycek offered.
'Good.' Mulder growled. At least then the bastard wouldn't be hanging behind with Scully.
Krycek smiled at the back of Mulder's head before glancing over at Scully. 'We�ll be back.'
She grinned back at him and held out a hand, trying to tell him to be nice to Mulder. 'Have fun.'
He brushed her hand on his way out with his own. 'I'm always nice.'
***
'So.' Krycek said, falling into step besides Mulder. 'You thought we should talk.'
'Scully thinks we should talk.' Mulder growled, looking straight ahead. 'I could really care less about anything you have to say.'
Krycek nodded. 'I know, and I don't blame you.'
Mulder stopped to face him. 'Don't play the good guy game with me, Krycek. I can see right through it.'
'Then obviously you don't see anything at all, Agent Mulder.' Krycek stared right back. 'I was misinformed, I was led astray. I did things, horrible things, because that's all I was taught to do.'
'Uh huh.' Mulder nodded, not breaking eye contact with his enemy. 'And you developed morals when?'
'As soon as I learned that you had been abducted and Dana was pregnant.' He said seriously. 'I thought the child was yours.'
Mulder finally looked away, thinking of Scully pregnant, and Krycek smiled.
'I never had any idea that it was mine.'
'Don't you read minds, Krycek?'
'Sometimes. I can't do it all the time. Not yet'
Mulder nodded his head at Krycek's arm. 'Nifty trick.'
'I thought so.'
Mulder smiled to himself. He'd insulted Krycek and it had blown right past him. He couldn't be this naive.
'Oh, but sometimes I am, Agent Mulder.' Krycek butted into his thoughts. 'I never really participated in the 'human race'. I was always part of another agenda. Society confuses me. I haven't quite figured out why sometimes people say things when they actually mean something else.'
'You've been pretty good at lying so far.'
'But I haven't.' Krycek said. 'I've always approached you with the truth. When I was assigned to the X-Files, I was just told that I'd be working with you to find out what was going on. I had no idea of the whole picture. I never knew what kind of person I was.'
Mulder hesitated, then began walking again. Did he really want to get into this? 'So what kind of person are you, Krycek?'
'I don't know.' Krycek said. 'What makes a person a person and me, what I am? I don't know the difference.'
'You wanna start from the beginning?' Mulder asked.
Krycek smiled. 'You might be sorry you asked that.'
'Go on.' Mulder nodded.
'Back in the day, when all this crap started, the Syndicate was contacted by aliens and told of their intention to colonize earth. So they began experimenting. Trying to make alien-human hybrids to withstand the virus that was going to be the means of infecting the planet. You with me?'
Mulder nodded.
'There were children, bred, for this reason, from one pool of genes. I believe you know four of them.'
Mulders eyes tracked back and forth. He was trying to think.
'You were the oldest, then Jeffrey, then Samantha, then me.'
Mulder couldn't look at Krycek. He didn't want to believe it, but something was knocking on the back of his brain.
'They were able to incorporate more of the alien DNA as time went on.' Krycek said. 'Which is why I have so many traits where you only have a few.'
Mulder needed to sit down. He didn't believe this. His parents couldn't be involved in this. They couldn't be Krycek's parents...
'They're not.' Krycek went on. 'The Spenders are our parents.'
Mulder practically fell onto a bench. This made no sense, but yet, it did.
'Bill and Tina took in the two of you to raise as their own. Bill always disagreed with what the Syndicate was doing. Cassandra took Jeffrey. The group was my family. They are the people who raised me. I �m supposed to end all this.'
