'I wish you could understand, Scully.'
'Me too.' She stepped close. 'You going to kiss me goodbye, Mulder? Or just stand there, looking stupid?'
Mulder smiled back, wrapping his arms around her. He leaned down and gave her a small kiss. 'I'll be in touch, Scully. I'll be out soon.'
'I hope so.' She whispered before kissing him deeply. She pulled back and looked at him sadly, tears in her eyes. 'I hope you find whatever it is you think you need.' Scully turned and walked out of her bedroom, he followed her.
Krycek was in his usual posture, leaning against the front door, arms crossed. Mulder grinned at his casual manner in spite of himself and approached him, albeit a little cautiously.
'Scully's trusting you to take care of her, so I will too.'
Krycek seemed surprised. 'I appreciate that.'
Mulder was thinking of something to say to him, anything, but he could only ramble on in his head for the perfect phrase. Please don't let anything happen to her. Please take care of her. Please keep her safe.
I will. Krycek's voice was like he had spoken aloud. Mulder looked into his eyes and saw nothing but honesty. I'll take care of her, Fox. I promise.
Mulder nodded and held out his hand towards Krycek. After a slight hesitation, he took it.
Krycek shook Mulder's hand, hoping that Fox would someday accept him. He wanted friends, he wanted family. He was tired of running through life alone. He picked up two bags that Scully had brought by the door.
Mulder picked up two more and looked at him. 'You'd think she was going on a cruise around the world.' He joked, trying to make light of the fact that Scully was about to temporarily walk out of his life. 'What the hell does she have in here?'
Scully appeared, dragging two more with her. 'Some clothes, some pictures, some momentos. Things I don't really want to leave.'
She took a look around the apartment, then shut the door. This had been her home for eight years and she wasn't sure when she'd be back, if ever. Krycek caught her mood and smiled down at her.
'It will all be fine.'
Scully nodded, not trusting herself to speak. It felt like a part of her life was ending.
They loaded the bags into her car. They were going to dump it off at the Lone Gunmen's and take a car that they had 'acquired' for her.
Krycek shut the trunk and looked at Mulder. 'Hope you can make it out soon.'
Mulder nodded, wanting to say so much. I can't stand you, take care of Scully, how the hell did you end up the father of her child, and a dozen other things ran through his mind. He saw the look in Krycek's eyes and knew that he'd heard every one of them.
'I look forward to coming out.' Was all he said.
Krycek nodded and got in the car to allow them to say goodbye.
Scully approached Mulder and he took her in his arms. They didn't say anything. They stayed in the embrace and gave each other a kiss before breaking away.
'I'll miss you.' Mulder said softly.
Scully shut her eyes tight against some tears that were trying to find their way out. 'I'll miss you too.'
'Take care of yourself, Scully.' Mulder said, looking down at her and touching her face. 'Watch out for that freak.'
She smiled and ran her hands through his hair. Was she really going to just walk away from him? 'I can handle that freak. He's pretty harmless. It's your freaks I'm worried about.'
Mulder shrugged. 'They're pretty harmless too.'
They stood in each other's arms in silence for a moment before Scully kissed him on the forehead and moved out of his embrace.
'I'll get in touch with you in a couple of days.' She said, walking to the car, not looking back at him.
'I'll be out soon.' He promised.
Scully shut her door and they drove away. Mulder stood where he was on the sidewalk for a long time.
***
Mulder unlocked his apartment door and trudged inside. Scully was gone, off on an adventure with her new best friend. Mulder sighed and dropped his keys on the table. His whole life was backwards. It made no sense. Marita, Diana and I on one side while Spender, Krycek and Scully are on the other.
Mulder grabbed a beer out of the refrigerator and collapsed on the couch, propping his feet up on the coffee table. He knew he was going to have to process this whole Krycek thing. He just didn't want to do it anytime soon.
Krycek just reached over and healed Koskie. Like it was nothing. He could read minds, feel feelings, project thoughts. Mulder shook his head and drank some beer. There was no way he could compete with that.
And Spender, his father? That was a whole other issue he was trying to ignore. His parents, not his parents? Krycek and Jeffrey related to him and Samantha? The very thought made him shudder. And where was Samantha? He'd seen in her that picture of them in Seattle. She can show up to talk to Scully, but not to him?
A knocking at the door interrupted his thoughts. Sighing, he took another drink of beer.
'Sorry,' he called out; 'the amazing Krycek is currently performing his wondrous illusions on the road.'
'Mulder, you idiot!'
He grinned in spite of his horrible feelings. It was Frohike.
The second the door opened, Frohike began to babble, staring up at him angrily.
'Are you out of your fucking mind?' Frohike demanded. 'How could you let her go alone with that punk ass? How could you trust that little rat-looking freak?'
'Whoa, whoa, whoa.' Mulder held up his hands and allowed Frohike to pass through. 'Scully is a big girl, she can take care of herself.'
'The woman you love, your best friend, is traveling across the country with the evil weasel and you do nothing?' Frohike turned away, throwing his hands up in the air. 'Not only is he a two-sided, cancer man-son, but he has his eye on Scully. I can tell.'
'Good.' Mulder said softly. 'Then he won�t let anything happen to her.'
Frohike stared at him in disbelief for a moment, then reached up and slapped Mulder across the face. 'Wake up, Mulder! What the hell's the matter with you?'
Mulder stared down at Frohike in disbelief. He couldn't believe this. Did that really just happen? Did he just get slapped? By Frohike?
'Scully needs you!' Frohike said. 'Didn't you know she's having your baby?'
'Oh.' It all made sense. Mulder looked at him. 'You don't know.'
'Know what?'
Mulder got another beer and handed it to Frohike. He leaned down and spoke softly. 'It's not mine.'
Frohike was speechless. He stared back at Mulder in disbelief. 'What are you talking about?'
Mulder took a seat on the coffee table and motioned Frohike to have a seat. 'Just that, it's not mine.'
Frohike looked at him oddly. 'Then whose is it?'
Mulder simply stared back at him and took a drink of beer.
Realization dawned on Frohike's face. He slowly shook his head. Mulder grinned lopsidedly at how big and round Frohike's eyes were and nodded back at him.
Frohike sat down on the couch and drank half his beer. He shook his head again. 'Punk ass.'
Mulder laughed. 'I hate to say it, but Krycek's an amazing guy.'
Frohike looked at Mulder, narrowing his eyes. 'Huh?'
'You can't tell anyone.' Mulder swiveled around on the coffee table to face him.
'I won�t.'
'I'm serious, Frohike.' Mulder pointed at him. 'I'll bust your ass.'
'Okay, whatever. Just tell me.'
'Well.' Mulder took a breath. 'Apparently he's half alien.'
Frohike nodded. 'That doesn't surprise me.'
'It doesn't?' Mulder was surprised. �Why not?�
'He looks like he's half alien.'
Mulder looked at his friend and laughed. 'There's a little bit more than that.'
'Worse than half alien?'
'Worse to me.' Mulder said. 'He's my brother.'
Frohike stared at him in disbelief again and Mulder nodded back at him.
Frohike drank the rest of his beer.
***
It was halfway through the Krycek bashing and several beers later. I can't believe it.' Frohike said. 'How long has this been going on?'
Mulder shook his head. 'I have two theories. One, they're telling me the truth and the child was conceived and planted in Scully just like they said. Or two, that they've been together and plotting against me all along.'
Frohike shook his head. 'Nah, I don't buy that from Scully. The punk ass yes, Scully no.'
Mulder and Frohike suddenly locked eyes. 'Oh my god.' Frohike said. 'What if he's been using her all along? To get what he wants. To create this child.'
Someone else knocked at the door.
'Come in!' Mulder yelled, irritated that his apartment was suddenly so popular.
Skinner strode in and glared down at the two of them and all the empty beer bottles. 'You want to tell me what the hell is going on, Agent Mulder?'
Mulder looked up at him through a blurred haze. 'Why Sir, whatever do you mean?'
'Agent Koskie is at home. Scully is not at her apartment. You're sitting here getting drunk. That is what I mean.'
'Oh damn.' Mulder said, looking at Frohike. 'Did I forget to call the boss?'
Frohike waved a hand at him and reached over for his beer.
'Where is Agent Scully?' Skinner asked, his tone implying that he wasn't in the mood.
'She left with Krycek.' Mulder said. 'Koskie had been shot by the alien, but Krycek healed him so I sent Koskie home and Krycek and Scully decided to go to the beach.'
Skinner stared at Mulder, his tongue lodged in the side of his cheek, then he nodded. 'Does the number 86 mean anything to you?' He reached over and took Mulder's beer from him.
Mulder looked forlornly at his empty hands. 'Why are people always saying that to me?'
Skinner pointed at Frohike. 'You staying or going?'
'I don't know.' Frohike looked over at Mulder. 'Should I stay or should I go now?'
Mulder burst into laughter. 'Ladies and Gentlemen, The Clash!'
'Come on, you've got to let me know.' Frohike was far too drunk for his own good and his singing wasn�t much better. 'Should I stay or should I go?'
Skinner closed his eyes and took the empty beer bottles into the kitchen, trying really hard to ignore the inebriated people in the other room.
***
It was getting light outside and Mulder and Frohike continued to pound down the beer. Skinner gave up and just sat with them, nursing one of his own. He shook his head as they went into another rousing game of 'Who Can Remember The Most Horrible 70's Song'.
'We had joy, we had fun, we had season's in the sun...� Frohike crooned.
Mulder made a face and pointed at him. 'Winner!'
Skinner laughed at the display of idiocy in front of him.
There was another knock at the door.
Mulder and Frohike both sang out. 'You keep on knocking but you can't come in!'
'Wrong decade guys.' Skinner opened the door to Diana Fowley's smiling face.
'Assistant Director. How nice to see you again.'
'You look well for being dead.' He said back.
She crossed into the room and smiled at Frohike. 'Melvin.'
'Diana.' He replied sourly.
'Fox, are you drunk?' She stood in front of him.
Mulder held his fingers an inch apart. 'Just a little bit.'
Diana shook her head and glared at him. 'Did you forget, we have a meeting in an hour?'
Frohike drunkenly looked up at her. 'What kind of meeting?'
'The very important kind.' She said. 'I need him at his best. How long has he been drinking?'
Skinner and Frohike burst into laughter and she gave them a dirty look.
'Come on, Melvin.' Skinner said, smiling. 'I'll take you home.'
'Don't call me that.'
'Okay, Melvin.'
'Don't you start chrome-dome.' Frohike said, closing the door. �I�ll wax your head.�
The door shut behind them, leaving an angry Diana frowning down at Mulder.
'Fox, I'm very disappointed in you.' Diana said, hands on her hips.
Mulder didn't say anything back. She looked like an angry mother hen, clucking at him. He bit back laughter.
'You knew how important this was and here you are, drunk out of your mind!' She took notice of his red face. 'And just what are you laughing at?'
Mulder burst into giggles.
'I don't see what's funny.' She went on. 'After all who knows where'd you be now if we hadn't found you when we did-'
'Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little, Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little.' Mulder began to sing. 'Cheep, cheep, cheep, talk a lot, pick a little more.'
Diana looked at him like he was out of his mind. 'I don't like being ridiculed, Fox. You owe me-'
'I owe you nothing.' Mulder said. 'You're lucky I'm here at all.'
Diana leaned forward, into his face. 'No, you're lucky to be here at all.' She hissed, her breath smelling of Scope. 'If I hadn't told them to pick you up when they did, you'd be locked up somewhere with half your mind gone.'
'You've never been clear on how I was found.' Mulder said, leaning closer to her. 'Why don't you enlighten me on that little factoid?'
'Why don't we talk about Dana Scully?' She whispered. 'You think I don't know that her and Krycek have taken off together? Who do you think is telling the truth now?�
Mulder suddenly stood up and Diana jumped back, scared. 'Don't start with that, Diana.' He said in a low, menacing voice. 'You don't even want to think about Scully. I have people on my side.'
'And I have people on mine.' Diana's eyes narrowed like a reptile's. 'Don't screw with me, Fox.'
Mulder walked to the door and opened it. 'I think you can go now.'
She passed through the door, then turned to face him, smiling again. 'Can I expect you there in an hour?'
'Oh, don't worry, I'll be there.'
She leaned towards him. 'Kiss goodbye?'
Mulder slammed the door in her face.
***
'Where are we?' Scully opened her eyes and looked out the window at the ocean.
'Still on the PCH. Malibu.' Krycek answered. 'And my eyes are nearly crossed from staring at the road.'
'Let's stop, then.' Scully stretched in her seat and took another glance out the window. 'I forgot how beautiful the California coast is.'
Krycek smiled. 'Roll down your window and take a deep breath.'
Scully did and smiled. 'Oh my god, I've missed the beach.'
'I'm starving.' Krycek said. 'I was planning on stopping at Gladstone's. You mind?'
'Is there food?' She smiled at him.
'Agent Scully.' Krycek looked astonished. 'Don't tell me a chic surfer chick like you has never heard of Gladstone's.'
'Hold on now.' Scully thought for a moment. 'It's in Malibu?'
'It's right on the PCH where Sunset Blvd stops at the Pacific.'
'Would you believe I've never really seen Los Angeles?' Scully asked.
'Never even been down the Strip?'
She shook her head. 'Can't say that I have.'
'You've got some sights to see, Agent Scully.'
She smiled and looked back out the window. 'I'm sure we have the time.'
Krycek looked over at her, feeling a change in her mood, but didn't say anything.
Scully thought about Mulder for the millionth time that trip. Why didn't he come with them? How could he just let her go? Didn't he care? Mulder had known her for years and had let her drive across the country all alone with some man who'd until recently, been their greatest enemy. What the hell was the matter with him?
She looked over at Krycek, feeling the concern ooze out of him. She put a hand over his, which was resting on the shifter. 'I'm sorry.'
'For what? Having feelings?' He looked straight ahead. 'Don't worry about it. Enjoy the ocean. It's a far cry from Virginia.'
'It�s beautiful.' Scully inhaled the ocean air again. It reminded her of when she was younger; it reminded her of being free. 'So, what do you want to see, where do you want to go?'
'You tell me, Agent Scully.' Krycek said, looking over at her. 'You're the tourist.'
'Let's check out Malibu.' She said, smiling.
***
Scully had never been to Newport Beach before so Krycek took her down the main drag. Santa Cruz was one thing, but Newport was a whole other story. Every other car had a surfboard sticking out of the trunk, out of the window or strapped to the roof. Every other car was a Ferrari, a Jag, a Lamborghini, a Porsche. Every kind of music imaginable was blasting from all the cars, the shops, the cafes and the various condos and beach houses lining the street. Scully smiled at a group of beachheads that had turned to whistle at her.
'You're a hit.' Krycek smiled.
'I do not condone such exploitation of women.' She said, trying to look annoyed. 'This is not the Fifties.'
'Oh you loved it.'
'I did not!'
'You lie!'
'I don't!'
'All those years in those professional suits you wore...� Krycek looked over at her. 'You can't wait to get in a bikini and have all the guys ogling over you.'
'Oh that will look lovely when I'm nine months along.'
They were both silent for a moment.
'Yikes.' Scully began to laugh. 'Did you just get the same visual I did?'
He threw his head back and laughed in response.
'How rude!' She said, laughing with him.
'There's nothing wrong with a pregnant woman's body.' Krycek said. 'It's actually quite beautiful if you think about it.'
'Yeah, swollen ankle's, stretch marks, a huge stomach-'
They drove by a group of women, one incredibly pregnant in her two-piece bathing suit.
'See?' Krycek asked.
'Whatever.'
The ride on the ferry across to Balboa Island was very short, but fun. They passed people in two-seater pedal boats and kayaks, yachts and sailboats. Everyone waved to each other.
'Gonna have to score a convertible.' Krycek said. 'We look like tourists.'
They drove along The 1 for awhile before pulling up in front of a small cottage.
'Is this it?' Scully asked, getting out and shutting the door.
'Home Sweet Home.' He answered.
'It's beautiful.' She said, walking along the cobble-stoned path to the front door. 'How do you know about it?'
Krycek looked at her strangely. 'It's mine.'
The inside was even more impressive. What didn't show from the front was that the house continued down a cliff two more stories. The top floor was the living area, with the kitchen, dining room and living room, the second floor down consisted of three bedrooms and the bottom floor was entirely dedicated to entertaining.
'No one knows where I have my houses.' Krycek said, leaning against the pool table and watching her inspect the rec room. 'They're the few secrets I have kept.'
Scully opened some French doors and stepped out onto a massive deck overlooking the ocean. This was insane, this was too much. She smiled to herself.
This was perfect.
***
Scully had been on the phone with Mulder for an hour. It was the first time they'd actually spoken since she�d left, over a month ago. They'd been communicating through the Lone Gunmen; she wouldn't call his apartment for the fear that his phone was being tapped. So she called her three freaky friends, giving and receiving messages and trying to work out a time to talk. It was nice to speak to him, be he seemed preoccupied and was very vague on when he'd come out to visit. He promised he'd be out by the beginning of fall and they agreed to speak in a week, at the same time.
She wandered out to the deck to find Krycek leaning against the deck railing, basking in the glow of the small, adobe fireplace.
'Whatcha doin�?' She asked, handing him some tea.
'That dog is out there again.' He said, looking down at the beach.
'Ashley, the girl next door, was talking about it.' She wrapped her hands around the mug of tea to absorb its warmth. 'I guess it's a stray.'
'He's sad.' Krycek said. 'He wasn't always a stray.'
'I never thought about the fact that you could probably sense animals feeling�s too.'
'Why do you think I'm vegan?' He smiled at her. 'Give it a try.'
Scully reached out with her senses, but got nothing. She had long ago reached the conclusion that she could never have as much control over her abilities as Krycek did.
'Now you're just giving up.' He said softly.
'Eavesdropping again?'
'How many times do I have to tell you?' He said.
'I know, I feel things very strongly.'
'And you say you�re not psychic.' He set his mug down on the railing. 'I'm going to check out the dog.'
'This I have to see.' Scully said, following him.
They walked down the staircase to the beach, following the surf. They got within twenty feet of the dog and it started to growl.
'It doesn't sound very friendly.' Scully said, nervous by the menacing sounds coming from it's throat. She stopped, but Krycek continued forward. 'Alex.' She warned. 'Be careful.'
He closed the distance by half and squatted down, staring at the dog. It was a Rottweiler, very large and very vocal about its feelings.
The dog began to whimper, then suddenly ran to Krycek. For a moment, Scully was afraid that it was charging him to tear his throat out, but the dog was wagging it's tail.
Krycek was scratching the dog�s neck, speaking softly.
'Ciao, il mio amico.' He said. 'Non siete piu soli.'
Although Scully didn't know what language he was speaking, the words translated in her head. 'Hello, my friend. You're no longer alone.'
Amazing, she thought to herself.
'Rottweiller's are traced back to the Roman's.' Krycek said, petting the dog. 'So I have to speak to him in Italian.'
***
The Lone Gunmen were passing through on the way down to San Diego. Scully was surprised at how happy she was to be meeting them. She and Krycek were sitting at the window in Del Taco in the Balboa fun zone, munching on bean burritos and drinking iced tea. A radio somewhere was blasting out Marilyn Manson.
