'You didn't give me the chance!' Scully said loudly. 'You automatically assumed that Alex and I-'
Mulder suddenly grabbed her in a hug. 'Oh my god, Scully, do you know what you just did?'
Scully shook her head against his shoulder. 'What are you doing, Mulder?'
He pulled back to look at her. 'You just read my mind.' He smiled. 'Twice!'
Scully looked into Mulder's eyes, confused. 'I what?'
'You read my mind!'
'I didn't.'
'Yes, you did!' Mulder laughed. 'What happened to you while I was gone?'
'I don't know.' She whispered. 'I don't know.'
Mulder stared at her. Can you hear me, Scully? Come on, can you hear me?
Tears filled Scully's eyes. 'I can hear you.' She said softly.
'Oh my god.' Mulder said. 'What happened to you?'
Scully shook her head. 'I don't know. Alex must have done something.'
Mulder laughed again, hugging her, spinning her around in his arms. 'This is amazing, Scully.'
Scully hugged him back, frightened with what was happening to her. She was ready to cry, ready to scream, she was suddenly terrified. The only answer she had was to find Alex. He could explain everything to her. He had all the answers.
Mulder put her down and looked into her eyes. 'What's wrong, Scully?'
She kept her hands on his shoulders, but didn't look at him. 'I don't know what I'm supposed to think of this.'
Can you still hear me, Scully?
'Stop it, Mulder.'
They held hands as they walked back to her apartment.
Scully felt different and new. She tried not to hear the thoughts of passerby's on the street, but they invaded her mind.
�Damn, I never get home before six�
�Maybe we should have Chinese for dinner�
�My wife is going to be pissed�
She closed her eyes and pressed her face into Mulder's side. This was going to drive her insane. How the hell did Alex deal with it?
Mulder wrapped both arms around her as they walked, looking down at her face. Scully's eyes were tightly shut, her face almost a grimace.
'You okay, Scully?'
She nodded in response and lied. 'I'm fine.'
Damn, Mulder thought. How long did she think he was going to buy into that line?
'Until I tell you different, Mulder.'
His eyes widened in surprise. This was really going to suck.
'I can't feel it on everyone.' She said. 'I can't even feel it on you all the time.' She winced at the dozen voices in her head. 'I don't know how to deal with this.'
�Shhh.� He said soothingly. 'It'll be okay.'
How was he promising that? He wondered. Damned if he was going to call Krycek about this, that lying sack of-
'La, la, la, la, la.' Scully said. 'I can't hear you.'
Mulder burst into laughter as they reached her apartment.
She opened the door to find the Lone Gunmen and Skinner sitting around her kitchen table, drinking beer.
'This is becoming a familiar picture.' She mumbled.
Skinner's thought was the first to reach her. Damn, Scully looks like hell.
Her head whipped around at him as Frohike's voice chimed in her head. Guess she never found the little punk ass.
What time was I supposed to meet up with the Magik crew? Langly mused.
'Oh I cannot deal with this.' Scully said, turning towards Mulder. 'Please take me to your place.'
'Why don't you guys take off for now?' Mulder said. 'I think she needs to lie down.'
She looks like she doesn't feel well. Skinner thought. Wonder what happened?
Scully began to laugh. She couldn't control it.
Okay then, Byers thought, I always expected Mulder to be the one having the mental breakdown, but I guess Scully beat him to it.
This only caused her to laugh harder.
'She gonna be okay?' Langly asked, stopping in front of Mulder.
'I think she needs to get some sleep.' Mulder said, unsure of how to answer.
And I thought I had too much to drink. Skinner passed by on his way out. Maybe her and Krycek hit that bottle of tequila he has in his car.
Scully was doubled over from laughing, tears streaming down her face.
Mulder shut the door. 'What are you laughing at?'
'Oh.' Scully held her stomach. 'Oh, that hurts.'
'Sit down.' Mulder guided her to the couch. My beautiful little partner has finally gone over the deep end. Who ever saw it coming?
'I can't stand this, Mulder.' Scully said. 'Hearing everyone's thoughts like this, it's too much.'
'What do you want to do about it?'
She shrugged. 'I don't know.'
Mulder sat down next to her, staring at her. He was too serious. She tried to read his mind. The only time she wanted to, she couldn't. What a bunch of shit.
'What is it, Mulder?'
He gave a slow shake of his head, not believing the words were going to come out of his mouth. 'Do you want me to get Krycek?'
Scully shook her head. 'Just give me a minute. She closed her eyes and let her head fall back on the couch. Her eyes fluttered beneath her lids, her face changing expressions every now and then.
Mulder watched her in silence. Scully, wandering around reading people's thoughts with alien DNA. The very thought went against everything he felt in his heart. That Scully should be given this miracle after he was the one who'd sought after it for so long.
Life never quite turns out the way you think it will.
Scully opened her eyes and looked around.
Mulder let a few moments pass before he spoke. 'Feel better?'
She nodded. 'A little.'
He waited for her to elaborate. When she didn't, he continued. 'Did you, did you...Talk, to Krycek?'
Scully smiled. 'Not really. I tried to, but it wouldn't work. He just made me feel better.'
'How?' He asked, feeling helpless at the thought that Krycek could help her when he couldn't.
'I can't explain it.' She said. 'He sent a peaceful feeling.'
'I don't get it.'
'Just that, Mulder.' She looked at him. 'He soothed my mind.'
'Well.' Mulder began to get up. 'I can't compete with that.'
'Stay with me?' She asked.
Mulder looked down at her, mock concern on his face. 'What about my fish?'
'I fed them earlier.' Scully gave him a severe look. 'When we all went out for lunch, I stopped by and checked on everything. Alex rifled through your underwear drawer, Skinner perused your special video tape collection.'
'At least you didn't find my secret closet with all of my gimp gear.'
'Oh, that.' Scully met his serious gaze with a perfected dry sense of humor. 'I brought that home for me.'
***
Scully had tried to sleep. She found no comfort. They had fallen asleep on the couch, talking through an evening of mindless television. Even when she had persuaded Mulder to follow her to bed and he had thrown an arm around her; she couldn't quiet her mind.
Too much had happened. Too much had changed. Even though she loved Mulder, she didn't feel quite at peace with their relationship like she had before he left. And even then she had had her doubts. She smiled to herself, thinking of the good old days. Even though they weren't completely ideal, she and Mulder had lived some good times.
'And how important is that?' Scully said, leaning into the hand he wrapped in her hair.
'Almost like breakfast.' Mulder said, leaning closer to her. 'The most important meal of the day.'
She smiled at him. 'So you're trying to woo me, are you? Because calling me breakfast, I know that's a big step for you.'
Mulder laughed, hovering above her face. 'Scully, you're my breakfast, sunny-side up.'
'That's just fine. As long as I'm not scrambled.'
She got tired of the distance between them and closed it.
'Why Miss Scully.' Mulder mouthed against her lips. 'If I didn't know any better, I'd say you just kissed me.'
'Whatever.' She said back, wrapping her arms around his neck.
He practically sat on the table to get closer to her. 'Ah, the give up.'
'Mulder, shut up and kiss me.'
Knocking at the door nudged Scully from the memory carrying on in her head. She sighed and went to answer the door.
'Who is it?' She asked softly.
'Your cigarette smoking friend, Agent Scully.'
She reached out with her mind, hoping to find a trace of something. She couldn't, but she smelled the Morley.
'What are you doing here?' She asked as he came through the door.
'Your life and that of your unborn child is in danger. Oh...� He said, looking at his cigarette before stubbing it out in her sink. 'Excuse me.'
'How am I in danger?'
'Mulder's alliance with Fowley and Marita has led them to you. My source revealed this to Samantha. You need to leave, go into hiding, like I suggested at the beginning.'
Alarm was raging through Scully's mind. She suddenly felt Alex reach out to her, probably concerned. She didn't know how to respond, but tried to convey that she was fine.
'I need to call Skinner.' She said, reaching for the phone and dialing his cell number. She asked him when he could be over.
'How about right now?' Was his reply.
Mulder appeared in the doorway as she put the phone down. He was yawning and scratching his head.
'What's going on, Scully?'
'Fox.' Spender greeted. 'Nice to see you again.'
Mulder stared back at him as if he were seeing things.
Cancer Man smiled before glancing at Scully. 'I'm afraid he's not as happy to see me as you were.'
'Skinner is on his way over. Spender thinks my life is in danger. That they want my child. He thinks I should go into hiding.' Scully walked up to stand by Mulder as she turned back to speak to Spender. 'I'm not sure what to do.'
There was a knocking at the door and Spender moved so Scully could answer it. 'We'll figure something out, Agent Scully.'
Alex was at the door. 'You okay?'
Scully nodded, laughing at him. 'You got here awfully fast.'
'I was right around the corner.' He grinned. �Portabello mushroom burger.�
'Where's mine.' She asked. She was closing the door when someone banged it open. It was Skinner. He held out a container to her.
'It's right here.'
Mulder had enough of the touching reunion and fell into a chair.
Skinner crossed his arms as he eyed Spender. 'Now what's this all about?'
Cancer Man patted his pockets, felt his cigarettes, then left them alone. 'Agent Scully needs to be protected.'
'Whatever she needs.' Skinner nodded. 'I have an agent right now that needs reassignment.'
Krycek moved over to stand next to Scully as she spoke up. 'Which Agent is that?'
'Agent Koskie.'
Krycek frowned. 'Steven Koskie?'
'Yeah.' Skinner answered. 'You know him?'
'We were in the academy together.' Krycek glanced down at Scully before returning his gaze to Skinner. 'Koskie is an ass. I don't want him anywhere near Dana.'
�You don�t want him anywhere near Dana.� Mulder shook his head. �I can�t believe I just heard that.�
'An ass?' Skinner frowned. 'How so.'
'Not just an ass. A sarcastic, show-off cowboy.' Krycek said. 'He cannot stay serious for more than ten seconds. Besides, I get weird feelings from him. I don't want him near her.'
'Well, it's not really your call now, is it Krycek?' Mulder finally piped up. 'I think it's up to Skinner and Scully. So if they think Koskie's the guy, then Koskie it is.'
'Wait a minute.' Scully said, looking at Alex. 'What kind of feelings do you get from him?'
Mulder let his forehead fall on the table with a loud thump.
Krycek looked down at Scully. 'You know how you can't really get any clear thoughts but you just feel, I don't know. Odd.'
Scully nodded and put her hand to her head. 'Yeah. Like your hair stands on end. Just like something�s not right.'
Mulder shook his head, still on the table.
'That's the sense I've always gotten from him.' Krycek said. 'Nothing really bad, just strange.' He looked up at Skinner. 'Maybe he's not bad, but he's still an ass.'
Skinner shrugged. 'It's up to you, Scully.'
'I don't know.' She looked at her partner. 'What do you think Mulder?'
'Oh, I'm sorry, do my ears deceive me?' Mulder's voice was muffled from being face down on the table. 'Did someone just ask for MY opinion?'
'The defeated warrior.' Krycek smiled. 'The prodigal son.'
Mulder raised his head to give Krycek a dirty look. 'You want some?'
'Please, Agent Mulder.' Krycek gave a small laugh. 'We're not in high school anymore and we are talking about Dana's safety here. I'd think you would want what is best for her.'
All heads swiveled in Mulder's direction. He felt under attack.
'I have stood by this woman's side from the beginning.' Mulder stood up. 'I don't feel like I have to prove anything to anyone here. Especially to the two ugly men who have been against us from the beginning.'
'Oh blah, blah, blah.' Krycek made a face. 'I'm so tired of your-'
'Alex?' Scully interrupted neatly. 'Let's not start this. Let's just think of what is best. It's your child too.' She looked at Mulder. 'And I do want your opinion. I just don't want the arguing. It's not helping anything.'
'Well if you think I'm going to agree that you take off under the care of him,' Mulder nodded his head towards Spender; 'I don't know what to tell you.'
'So you think I should stay here under Agent Koskie's protection?'
Mulder nodded. 'I think it makes the most sense.'
'Okay.' Scully said after a moment. 'Then that's what we'll do.' She quickly turned and looked at Krycek. 'For now.'
Krycek stared back at her. Mulder sensed a conversation between them and sighed heavily. He fell back down in the chair and looking up at the ceiling.
'Okay.' Krycek nodded. 'If that's what you want. But I'm not letting you out of my sight.'
Just beautiful. Mulder thought, shaking his head.
***
Skinner and Krycek had gone to collect Agent Koskie while Spender stayed behind. He sat down at the table across from Mulder.
'Well, Fox.' He said, pulling a cigarette out but not lighting it. 'I do believe we're due some conversation.'
'I have nothing to say to you.' Mulder glared at Spender.
'Maybe I have something to say to you.' He raised an eyebrow at him.
Mulder didn't back down. 'Maybe I don't care.'
Scully made her way towards the bedroom. 'I'm going to grab a quick shower before they get back with Koskie.'
Spender and Mulder were left to stare at each other over the table.
'I'm afraid you've been misled, Fox.'
'And how did you reach this mind-altering conclusion?'
'You know, I've done some things I'm not proud of.' Spender said, lighting his cigarette. 'Now that Miss Scully is gone, I feel it is permissible to indulge.'
Mulder rolled his eyes. 'What do you want to say, old man?'
'As Alex may or may not have told you-'
Mulder was irritated and didn't let him finish. 'Krycek told me that we are experiments in alien genetics.'
'Yes, that you are an alien-human hybrid, that is correct.'
'I believe Krycek has told me the whole story.' Mulder leaned back in the chair.
'So then you know why Alex and Agent Scully were chosen to be the parents of this child?'
Mulder hesitated. 'No, they didn't tell me that. I know that Krycek is supposedly the perfect alien-human hybrid.'
'And Scully has the perfect genetic make-up to resist the virus. Thanks to the vaccine you injected her with. The two of them are very important to the human race. They are very important in every way. I have no doubts that Alex can care for himself.' Spender smiled. 'And I don't know if you have noticed, but Alex has become very protective of Agent Scully. Which is perfect, she needs all the protection she can get, considering what is at stake. With their DNA, the child is the next step in human evolution.'
Mulder sat for a long moment; Spender kept quiet and let him mull over everything that had been said. He looked up and nodded at Spender's cigarette. 'You want to give me one of those?'
***
Scully stepped into the living room, drying her hair with a towel, and abruptly stopped. Mulder and Spender were sitting at her kitchen table, smoking together.
'Mulder, what are you doing?'
'Oh come on, Scully.' Mulder tilted his head at her. 'Don't look at me like that. I haven't had one in months and before that it was years.'
She walked by and threw the towel at his head while heading into the kitchen. 'Just don't think you'll be kissing me anytime soon.'
'What?' Mulder asked defensively. 'You can give up meat, but I can't have a cigarette? Who really wants to kiss lips that have been munching on tofu and veggie round?'
For the first time in their seven-year history, Scully flashed a not-too-flattering-finger in his direction.
'Scully!' Mulder admonished, a huge smile spreading across his face.
'I guess I'll be heading out.' Spender said, taking a heavy drag off his cigarette. 'I don't want to contaminate my grandchild.' He smiled in Scully's direction. 'I'll be in touch.'
Scully didn't know how to answer that one so she said nothing as Spender left.
'Don't tell me you've been smoking since we were assigned to that Morley case, Mulder.'
'No, no.� He corrected. 'I used to smoke years and years ago. I still get the craving every now and then.'
'I never knew you smoked, Mulder.' She looked at him over her shoulder. 'When was this?'
'When I was married.' He said before he realized what was coming out of his mouth.
Scully dropped the glass of water she'd been drinking.
There was a long silence in Scully's kitchen.
'What do you mean, married?' She asked softly.
Mulder couldn't say anything back. He couldn't believe that just spilled out of his mouth.
Oh yes, who is the idiot now?
'Well, it did, Mulder.' Scully said. 'So why don't you start explaining right now?'
'It was a long time ago.' Mulder said. 'I was young and-'
'Stupid?' Scully said loudly. 'That�s what you�re thinking? Young and STUPID?'
'Well, I was.' Mulder said softly.
She turned to face him. Her eyes were livid. 'Who was it, Mulder?'
'Scully-'
'WHO WAS IT?'
'Scully, it doesn't matter anymore.'
'Oh my god.' She said softly. 'Diana?'
Mulder was fumbling; there wasn't much he could say. 'Ancient history.'
'Why didn't you tell me?' Scully asked.
'I didn't see a reason at the time-'
'Why didn't you tell me?' She yelled.
He was defeated. He couldn't find a way out. He didn't know what to say.
'How could you not tell me that, Mulder?' Tears stood in her eyes. 'We've known each other for years.'
'Scully-'
'Years, Mulder!'
'I didn't want to lose you.'
'Well you just did.' She marched to her front door and opened it for him. 'Now get out.'
Mulder didn't move, he couldn't. His whole life was crashing down around him.
�GET OUT!'
Gathering the small molecule of pride he had left, Mulder walked out the door. The slam behind him echoed in his ears for a long time.
***
'Agent Koskie, meet Dana Scully.'
Scully stuck her hand out to shake Koskie's. 'Nice to meet you.'
Koskie smiled. 'Pleasure's all mine. I've heard so much about you.'
Smooth. Scully thought. She caught Krycek's frown from across the room. 'I hope it wasn't all bad.' She managed to joke.
'Oh, nothing of the sort.' Koskie said back, a huge Ken-Doll smile covering his face. 'Only good.'
'Well then.' Skinner said, rubbing his hands together. 'You know the drill, Agent Koskie?'
'Yessir!' Koskie replied. 'Surveillance from outside and report any mysterious actions directly and immediately to you.'
Whatever. Kiss Ass. The thought invaded both Scully and Krycek's mind and they smiled at each other.
Skinner gave Scully a nod and walked out her front door. Koskie stood around for a moment, uncertain on what to do.
'Can I get you something to drink? To eat?' Scully offered. 'For your long night out front?'
'Uh, I'm not sure.' He said. 'Maybe a sandwich for later on?'
'I don�t eat meat.' Scully said. 'But if you'd like me to bring you some soup...'
'No, that's okay.' Koskie said, walking out the door. 'I'm sure I'll be fine.'
Scully shut the door behind him and turned towards Krycek. 'Why do I always get that reaction about food?'
'Get used to it, Dana.' Krycek smiled and walked into her kitchen. 'We are in the minority.'
Scully sat down in the same chair Mulder had occupied an hour earlier.
