His enemy.
His nemesis.
His brother?
'I don't believe you.' Mulder spat out.
'I can show you.' Krycek said. 'If you really want.'
Mulder didn't say anything back. Krycek smiled sadly.
'It's just an offer. I wouldn't want to relive it. Even though I do, every time I think about it.'
'You're saying I have alien in me?' Mulder asked softly.
'Yes.' Krycek's lips spread in a lopsided grin. 'Spooky Mulder. Where do you think you got the sixth sense from?'
'Sixth sense?' Mulder whispered.
'They way you just kinda know, where to go?' Krycek said. 'The reason everyone calls you Spooky? You go in the strangest directions, no one else would think of, and it's right. Spooky. Not so spooky, just alien.'
Mulder couldn't take much more of this just now. 'When did you learn this? If it�s true?'
'Just after you disappeared.' Krycek said. 'At the risk of setting off the maudlin alarm, once I found out you were my brother, I had to find you. Things weren't supposed to be like this.'
'And how are things supposed to be?' Mulder was angry again, not liking having to hear the truth from someone he's always hated.
'It was supposed to end.' Krycek said. 'Spender was supposed to make a deal, in exchange for me staging his death for Marita and Diana. They are so corrupted, so wrong. They will bring the death of the human race.'
'Funny.' Mulder smiled without humor. 'I was told the same thing of you and Cancer Man.'
'No, Agent Mulder.' Krycek said. 'You're on the wrong side if you believe those two hags. Think about it, would Dana really be on the wrong side?'
'I think you could easily mislead Scully with your weird, alien powers.'
'Come on, Fox.' Krycek said. 'I don't want to do this anymore. We've been at odds for long enough. Why do you think I haven't been able to kill you with all these chances I've had. Why haven't you killed me yet? You've had just as many opportunities. We've always known somewhere inside. We're brothers.'
'Just because we share the same genealogy does not mean you are my brother.' Mulder glared at him. 'You will never be my brother.'
Krycek stared at him sadly, then shook his head. 'I wish you would see things the way I do.'
'Well you could grab me and force images into my head again.'
�No.� Krycek said. 'I will not force you to be my family.'
Mulder stood up and walked back in the direction of Scully's apartment. Krycek followed along slowly. He didn't want to get close enough to where Fox's thoughts were invading his mind. He didn't have control of his abilities yet. He really needed to work on that.
Mulder barged into Scully's apartment to find Skinner having a beer at the kitchen table. Scully looked up at him, surprised.
'He can kiss my ass.' Mulder said, pointing out the door as he sat down and took a swig of Skinner's beer.
'Hey!' Skinner objected. 'Getcher own!'
Scully grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and set it in front of Mulder. 'What happened?'
'He told me lies, Scully.' Mulder popped the top off. 'I will never believe I'm related to such filth.'
'I saw it, Mulder.' Scully said.
'Of course you did.' Mulder said loudly. 'It's what he wanted you to see.'
'No, Mulder.'
'How do you know that, Scully?'
She shook her head. 'I just know.'
Mulder frowned and pulled a swallow off the beer and she looked imploringly at him.
'Why can't you believe me?'
'How can you believe him?' Mulder corrected her.
Krycek came in through the door and looked at Scully apologetically. 'I figured I should take Skinner home.�
�Back to the bar.� Skinner toasted Krycek with his beer. 'That's what I'm talking about.'
Scully covered her face with her hands, hiding a smile and her frustration.
'Oh great.' Mulder said. 'Krycek even has Skinner wrapped around his finger.'
'Get over yourself, Mulder.' Krycek said. 'As much as you want everyone's life to revolve around you, it doesn't.'
Mulder looked up at Krycek. 'Excuse me?'
'I've tried talking to you and it doesn't work. I've shown you my feelings, and you don't believe me. I have nothing else to do Mulder. You obviously have some issue that you refuse to let go of.'
Mulder stood up and got in Krycek's face. 'You are the only issue I have.'
Scully got in between them. 'Hold on, guys.' She said, in a warning voice.
Krycek smiled at him, practically sneering. 'You don't want to start with me, Mulder. I have no quarrel with you anymore.'
'What are you going to do?' Mulder asked. 'Beam me up?'
'How easy it must be for you to mock me.' Krycek said. 'You've been hiding in your 'real life' for a long, long time. You haven't lived with what I've lived with.'
'Boo hoo.' Mulder said.
'That's enough.' Scully snapped. 'Both of you stop.'
Krycek immediately looked away and went to sit down across from Skinner. 'You sure you really need that?' Krycek asked, pulling the beer towards him. 'You look like you're about done.'
Skinner grabbed the beer back. 'Hey, I don't get tore up that often.'
'Tore up?' Krycek laughed at him. 'Where'd you get that?'
'My secretary.' He answered.
Scully had come up to stand behind Krycek. She rested her hands on his shoulders. 'You okay, Sir?' She asked. 'You want to lie down for awhile?'
Skinner waved the offer away. 'Nah.' He said. 'I'm enjoying their company.' He motioned towards Krycek and Mulder.
'Oh Jesus.' Krycek said. 'He's doing that thing again.'
'I know.' Scully fought a giggle.
Mulder stared at the two of them, feeling left out again. 'What's he doing?'
Scully looked sideways at Mulder. 'His eyes are kinda crossed. Come over here and look. He was doing that the first night Alex showed up when I came home from the hospital.'
Mulder stood next to Krycek and Scully. He had to admit the Assistant Director's eyes were looking kinda weird. He stifled a giggle.
'Walter.' Krycek said, trying not to laugh. 'I really think you need to lie down.'
'Nonsense!' Skinner said, banging his beer on the table.
Mulder pressed his lips tightly together. The last time he'd seen Skinner like this was when they'd been at that Japanese bar. And he'd been pretty screwed up himself. 'Come on, Sir.' Mulder said, trying not to laugh. 'Maybe you should lie down.'
'Lie down?' Skinner asked, trying to drain his beer. He missed his mouth and it spilt down his shirt. 'It's only four in the afternoon!'
Krycek suddenly threw his head back and burst out laughing.
'Sir.' Scully said, trying not to catch Krycek's laughter. 'You're body isn't used to Tequila at this hour of the day. You need to sleep it off.' She looked at Krycek. 'How many shots did he have?'
'I don't know.' He said between laughs. 'Five or six.'
Scully stared at him, open-mouthed. 'You were only gone for about half an hour.'
Krycek shrugged. 'He was out of control.'
Mulder had to laugh at that one. 'Out of control?'
'He was rather upset at how I had controlled you to stand there.' Krycek said. 'He really needed to get drunk.'
Mulder tried not to laugh but couldn't help it. 'Well shit, it didn't even happen to him. Imagine how drunk I want to get.'
Krycek smiled. 'I have a bottle of Two Fingers in my car.'
Mulder smiled back in spite of himself. 'Please tell me that's a brand of tequila and that you don't actually have two fingers stuffed in a bottle of Cuervo.'
'Yes, Mulder.' Krycek said sternly. 'It is a brand of Tequila.'
'Tequila?' Skinner said loudly. 'Let's have another shot!'
'No, Sir.' Scully said. 'I believe you're cut off.'
'Oh damn.' Skinner said, looking at his bottle of beer.
Krycek stood up from the table and went over to the Assistant Director. 'Come on, Walter.' He said, putting a hand on his arm. 'Let's get you some rest.' Krycek looked up at Scully, his eyebrows raised.
'Yes.' She said. 'He'll be more comfortable in there.'
Krycek moved Skinner towards Scully's bedroom. He mumbled incoherently.
Scully smiled and looked at the two of them, disappearing through her bedroom door, before smiling at Mulder.
'I've been dealing with this ever since you took off.' She said.
'What was that?' Mulder asked. 'Did he just ask you if Skinner could lie down in your bed?'
'Yes.' She answered. 'Why?'
Mulder shrugged, turning around and walking towards the window in her living room. 'I just cannot believe that he can communicate with you, telepathically.'
'It's not just me, Mulder.' She said, walking over to stand next to him. 'He can do that with anyone. He's quite amazing. You should give him a chance.'
'It seems like a trick at the carnival.' Mulder said softly.
'Maybe that's just the way you have to think about it, Mulder.' Scully said softly. 'I couldn't believe it when it happened to me either. It was very frightening. Then I learned to accept it as one of his gifts.'
'Gifts.' Mulder sneered. 'I cannot even think of him as human.'
'I don't really know that I am human.' Krycek said.
Scully turned towards him. 'I don't think that's how he meant it, Alex.'
'That's exactly how he meant it.' Krycek said. 'Don't forget, I can feel the thoughts of others. Sometimes whether I like it or not.'
'Alex.' Scully started as Mulder looked on.
'No, no.� Krycek held up a hand. 'I completely understand. I�ll talk to you tomorrow, Dana.' He looked at Mulder. 'I hope you give this some thought, Mulder. I don't want to be on the wrong side anymore and I really hope you don't either.'
'Alex.' Scully said again.
'You know me, Dana.' Krycek said, touching her hand. 'I'll be fine.'
With that he was out the door. Scully stared after Krycek and Mulder stared at Scully.
'I can�t believe you, Scully.' Mulder said.
'I can't believe you, Mulder.' She said back.
Mulder looked at her, not understanding. 'What?'
'He is your brother.' Scully stressed. 'He has come to you and you have knocked him down.
'You blame me for that?' Mulder asked in disbelief.
'Yes, I do.' She shot back. 'I forgave him. Why can�t you?'
Mulder put his hands over his face. 'Oh my God, Scully. What did he do to you?'
'Oh come on, Mulder.' She said. 'You're fighting a battle that should have been over years ago. This is the new news. This is what's happening now.'
'I cannot believe what's happening now.' Mulder said, staring at her. 'You sticking up for Krycek, it's beyond comprehension.'
'It's you I don't understand, Mulder.' She said. 'Mr. Open-minded. Mr. Take-The-Road-Less-Traveled. Alex bared himself to you and got pushed away.'
'He is a murderer!' Mulder exclaimed.
'He was made to be a murderer.�
�Doesn�t matter how he got there, Scully.� He replied softly. �He�s there and that�s all that counts. He is a lying, manipulative murderer.�
�He is your brother.' She said.
'He will never be my brother.' Mulder said again. 'Or my friend, or my ally.'
'Well he is mine.' Scully said. 'So where does that leave us.'
Mulder turned away from her. He couldn't believe this. After weeks of being gone, he comes back to find her allied with his enemy. He still didn't understand, he still didn't know what to do about it.
'I don't know.' He said softly.
Scully yawned. 'How can I possibly be tired.' She said. 'I slept so late today.'
'You've had a lot going on, I imagine.' Mulder said. 'I should really get to my own apartment, check up on everything.'
'You want me to go with you?' Scully asked after a short silence.
Mulder shrugged. 'That's up to you.'
'No. It's up to you.' Scully smiled.
There was a knock at the door.
'Good god.' Scully said in exasperation. 'What is it now?'
The Lone Gunmen stood there. Frohike's eyes were wide behind his glasses. 'Mulder's been spotted in town...'
His voice trailed off as Scully opened the door wider to reveal Mulder.
'Mulder!' All three shouted and rushed in, gathering around him with a thousand questions.
'We ran into the punk ass out front.' Frohike said.
'I assume you're speaking of Alex?' Scully said, looking over her shoulder as she sat on the couch.
'Yeah.' Langly said. 'He seemed real upset about something.'
Scully sighed and gave Mulder 'the look'.
He shrugged back. 'I cannot take anything he says at face value.'
Frohike put a hand on his shoulder. 'I'm with ya brother.'
Mulder rolled his eyes at Scully.
She smiled back at him. 'Whose side are you on now, Mulder?'
'We did manage to confiscate this out of the Naval Intelligence database.' Byers held out a CD to Scully.
'What is this?' She asked, moving over to her computer.
'See for yourself.' Langly said. 'It's pretty crazy.'
Scully inserted the CD into her computer, thoughts of Krycek dancing in the chair to that hideous music only a few hours ago drifting through her brain.
'Something funny, Scully?' Mulder asked.
She didn't look back at him. 'Nothing you'd find amusing.'
An image popped up on the screen. It was the Earth. Red spots were highlighting various seaside cities.
'Qu�est-ce que c'est?' Scully asked, French suddenly spewing from her mouth. She clapped a hand over it.
'What the fuck?' Frohike asked.
'I didn't know you spoke French, Scully.' Mulder said.
'I don't.' She whispered.
Byers looked strangely at Scully. 'If you don't speak French, then what just came out of your mouth?'
'French.' Langly and Frohike said together.
Scully looked dumbfounded. 'I...I went to say it in English, and that just came out.'
'Weird.' Frohike said.
Langly nodded. 'Maximum weird.'
Mulder grinned. 'Spooky.'
Scully's eyes lit up. 'Alex.' She got up and ran towards the door.
'Krycek?' The Lone Gunmen asked in unison.
Mulder shook his head, closing his eyes. 'I hate that son of a bitch.'
'He�ll know why I did that.' Scully said, opening the front door.
'Scully, it could be anything.' Mulder said, turning towards her. 'Something you've heard on TV and forgot, something you heard growing up, something stuck back in your subconscious mind. Something probably happened and triggered it, causing you to say it.'
'Or,' Scully said, pointing at Mulder, 'maybe Alex has accidentally turned something on in my head, some alien part of my DNA strand. Maybe him using his telepathy so much has triggered a strand to activate.'
'Oh come on, Scully.' Mulder said, irritated. 'Think Occam�s Razor. There has to be a simple explanation. Not this alien genetics mumbo jumbo.'
The Lone Gunmen stared at the two of them, mouths hanging open. Frohike held up his hands and sat down on the couch. 'Okay, I can die now.'
'What?' Byers asked.
Frohike shook his head and picked up the half beer Mulder had left on the coffee table. 'Because now I've seen everything.'
The door slammed behind Scully as she ran down the hall.
'Alien genetics mumbo jumbo?' Byers repeated.
'Don't make any sudden movements.' Langly said softly.
Mulder looked at him. 'What?'
'He may be the shape-shifter.' Langly whispered before he was smacked upside the head by a pillow that Frohike heaved at him.
'This is not Star Trek you hippie-looking freak!'
'You never know.' Langly put out his hands. 'All this weird crap always follows them around. He could be that big alien everyone keeps talking about.'
'Lord Ken-Boat?' Byers asked.
Mulder looked at Byers in astonishment for a moment.
Frohike threw another pillow at Langly. 'What-EVER Miss Clairol.'
Mulder had had enough of the three of them and ran out the door after Scully. He ran down the street, not wanting her to catch up with Krycek. He had seen enough of Krycek in one day to last a billion lifetimes and didn't want to hear anymore sob stories.
***
Scully jogged up the street until she saw Krycek walking back towards her. He beamed a huge smile her way.
'You rang?'
'I spoke French.' She said in between breaths.
'You spoke French?' Krycek smiled at her. 'And you needed to tell me about it?'
'I don't know French.' She said, slapping his arm. 'I thought you read minds.'
'I can't always know what is going on, I've told you, Dana. Sometimes I just get feelings. Like the one I got just now. The feeling that you needed to talk to me.'
'I meant to say something. I said it in English, and it came out in French.'
Krycek looked at her oddly. 'That's weird.'
'Maximum weird.' Scully smiled.
He grinned back. 'California lingo.'
'The three stooges are at my place.'
'Oh.' Krycek nodded. �That's right. Skinner still asleep?'
'Oh my god!� Scully laughed. �I don't know, I forgot about him.'
Krycek's face became serious. 'Here he comes. I should just go.'
'Mulder?' Scully asked.
'He hates me.' Krycek said, smiling. 'Really, really hates me.'
Scully looked behind her just as Mulder turned the corner. 'He'll get over it.'
'I don't think so.' Krycek shook his head. 'He doesn't like...He thinks we're very close.'
Scully looked confused. 'Close to what?'
'No, no.� Krycek smiled. 'He thinks we're close, you and I. Close.'
'Oh.' Scully looked away before meeting his gaze. 'We kinda are.'
'We are.' He said, looking down at her. 'But not as close as he thinks.'
'Oh.' She said again.
Mulder caught up to them. He stood next to Scully, not liking how they she could stand so close to Krycek. Immature, sure, but he still didn't like it.
'Agent Mulder.' Krycek greeted. 'Nice to see you again.'
'Don't start, Krycek.' Mulder said.
'You needed me, Dana?' Krycek said, picking the words just right. He was tired of this never-ending competition Mulder felt the need to participate in. He didn't need to claim her. She was his friend.
'I don't know why I would suddenly speak French.' She looked up at Mulder, unsure of whether she was irritated or happy that he decided to show up. 'How is it for you?'
'I have a photographic memory, so I know a lot of languages.' Krycek said. 'But I do remember a time in Africa when I was young. I had never been taught Swahili, but we came across a tribe, and when I tried to speak, it just flowed out. It was the craziest thing I've ever seen.'
Mulder suddenly had an image of Cancer Man, so proud of his son.
'Sorry.' Krycek looked at Mulder. 'I didn't mean for that to slide your way.'
Mulder felt the compassion and pride that had come from Spender with the memory. He didn't know what to say.
Scully had no idea of the emotion that passed between Krycek and Mulder. 'Is there anyway you could have activated anything in me with all the telepathy you've been using?'
'I don't know.' Krycek answered. 'I've never heard of that one before, but I wouldn't rule it out. I don't know everything.'
'Oh, you have a fault?' Mulder asked, taking Scully's hand, hoping that signal would ring clear for Krycek. 'And here I thought you were perfect.'
'I'm not trying to steal your girl, Agent Mulder.' Krycek said, totally fed up with the game. 'I'm just trying to help her. I've never really cared about anyone before, but I care about her. I've never had a real friend before, but I have her. And I'm not going to lose her, or back down to you because you think you have some claim to her. She's my friend, and that's all.'
Scully allowed her hand to stay in Mulder's grasp, but was surprised that he was acting like a jealous teenager. Maybe she hadn't made her relationship with Krycek clear enough to Mulder. But why should she have to, she suddenly thought. She shouldn't have to walk on eggshells for anyone, especially Mulder. He trusted her, he understood her. Didn't he?
'I don't know, Dana.' Krycek said. 'I think you really need to alleviate whatever issue is hanging around him before he throws anymore of his macho shit around.'
Krycek turned and walked away for the third time that day. Leaving Scully still confused, still empty, and still totally pissed at Mulder.
'Mulder!' Scully jerked her hand out of his and looked up at him. 'What is wrong with you?'
'Oh I don't know.' Mulder said sarcastically. 'Maybe the fact that ever since I got back you're running after Krycek.'
Scully narrowed her eyes at him. 'Don't you think that if there was anything going on between me and Alex that I would have the courtesy to tell you?'
Mulder wasn't sure what to say. He knew Scully was brilliant and was probably weaving a web to capture him in.
'No, Mulder.' She said, shaking her head. 'I'm not trying to deceive you. I just don't understand why you won�t trust me!'
'Scully.' Mulder whispered.
Scully was furious. 'Don't play coy with me, Mulder.'
'You just read my mind.' He said softly.
Scully was angered and didn't realize what he'd just said. 'I think I deserve a little more respect then what you've given me since you've been back.'
