Black Demon Christina Ortega Disclaimer: Unfortunately, Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Alex Krycek, Marita Covarrubies, Walter Skinner, Well-Manicured Man, Jeff Spender, and Cancerman don't belong to me. I just mess around with them. They belong to David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Nicholas Lea, Laurie Holden, Mitch Pileggi, John Neville, Chris Owens, William Davis, Chris Carter, 1013 Productions, and FOX. Please, I don't want to get sued, and I know you don't want to sue me, so lets just leave it at that. Um, Mr. Andrews, Dr. Golden, the young FBI agent, and the nurses are mine, just to let you know. Rating and Archiving: PG-13, and do archive Content Warning: Mild Language, small scenes of Muldertorture, muted sex scene Category: Muldertorture, Angst, Krycek/Marita Dedication: This has got to go towards the whole SOT gang. It was my first X- Files group that I joined on the Internet. Author's Note~ Another one! Yes, I have been trying to write more, since I've been called a lazy bum more times than I'd like to remember. This is my third attempt at actual MulderTorture. My first MulderTorture story was I Believed the Lie, which actually got on MTA, so I'm grateful for that! My second MulderTorture was New Year's Kiss which was put on the MTA Holiday Page. I got this idea from an actual interview done with Chris Carter. While being questioned about the Black Cancer, CC said, "I do plan to bring up the cancer in upcoming episodes." Time Frame: This story leads to Patient "X"/The Red and the Black Spoilers: If you haven't seen Tunguska/Terma, I suggest you disregard this story. Oh, and you probably should be familiar with Redux 2 and have a good idea about Krycek history (especially Piper Maru/Apocrypha and Tunguska/Terma) Oh, and I really blow Patient "X"/The Red and the Black for those who haven't seen it because, well, I have the beginning of the episode in here. Summary: Mulder is taken from his apartment by Alex Krycek, but after he has Mulder, he gets an unpleasant surprise. Now, it seems like everyone is trying to help Mulder, but why? *This is a short story that leads to Patient "X"/The Red and the Black* Black Demon Christina Ortega "... though there have been many eye witness accounts of the phenomenon in the skies of New Jersey, this case remains unexplained. X-File #1340057 is still open." Fox Mulder saved the report to his disk, shut off the computer, and yawned. Stretching his arms, Mulder stood up from his computer. He had been working for nearly 2 hours, and he was exhausted. Sighing, Mulder climbed onto his leather couch. Flipping on the TV, he turned to the Sci-Fi channel. "Not 'Mars Attacks' again!" Mulder muttered, flipping the TV to the local news. Turning so he was lying on his back, Mulder closed his eyes, and was soon fast asleep. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xx It was a black starless night. The air was cool in the city of Alexandria as a light breeze flowed through the trees. Street lights illuminated the roads with a yellow dimness, and a few people walked along the sidewalk, entering liquor stores, video rentals, and supermarkets for late night pleasures. Alex Krycek shut off the black Sudan that he had been driving and looked up at the apartment building before him. Smiling, he realized that he could find Fox Mulder's apartment blindfolded. While he had been working with Mulder, Krycek had been to his apartment a million times. "I should get out of here," Krycek thought aloud, spying the keys still in the ignition of the car. Looking up at the building again, Krycek groaned. , Krycek said to himself, Glancing down at his wooden left arm, Krycek scowled before getting out of the car. His black leather jacket seemed to shine in the low light of the street lamps, and his hair, dark and short, gleamed under the brilliance of the moon. Slowly, he made his way up the steps into Mulder's apartment, dreaming of how wonderful revenge would feel. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx Krycek looked at the door to apartment #42, not exactly sure of what he would find. Was Mulder awake? Was he asleep? Krycek pulled a small device from his pocket and inserted it into the lock on the door knob. He smiled as he heard a small crack that motioned for him to turn the knob. Not surprisingly, the lock on the door had not been fastened, so Krycek pushed it open all the way and crept into the dark apartment. Smirking as he saw clothes and other things laying on the floor of the overall messy apartment, he stopped abruptly when he heard talking from the next room, but sighed in relief as he realized that it was just the drone of a TV. Tip-toeing into the next room, Krycek grinned evilly. There, lying on the couch, fast asleep, was his former partner and sworn enemy wearing nothing but blue jeans. Glancing once again at his fake left arm, Krycek smirked. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx Mulder awoke with a pounding headache in a place that he had never seen. He seemed to be in some type of room where there was no furniture except for a small lamp that was mounted atop a table. He was lying on the floor, which was wooden. Mulder shivered, and it was at that point that he realized that he was practically naked except for his gray boxers. Groaning, Mulder tried to bring his hand up to his temple, but found that he was restrained by handcuffs. His feet were also bound. As he became more aware of his surroundings, Mulder also noticed that his head felt damp, and soon recognized this feeling as that of blood when he had an open wound. A wave of nausea rushed over him, and his teeth clenched together as he attempted to remain calm. Suddenly, the door to the room swung open, and Mulder watched as person entered the room. Straining to see the person's face, Mulder recognized it as the face of Alex Krycek. Taking a better look at him, Mulder saw that he was wearing his standard all black attire except for a white T-shirt, which was underneath his familiar leather jacket. "What the hell do you want?" Mulder asked, spitefully. He was answered by a sharp kick to his stomach. Mulder moaned and took in a large gulp of air, starting a coughing fit. "You're one pathetic sonofabitch, Mulder," Krycek said, calmly circling his former partner as a lion circles it's prey. Smiling, he said, "How's it feel to be the one beaten for a change?" Mulder was about to reply, when he felt another series of blows hit his chest. He moved his legs up higher, trying to protect his already burning ribs. "I guess you feel more like a man now, Krycek," Mulder whispered, trying desperately to maintain his breathing. Instead of answering, Krycek took his wooden arm, and slapped Mulder in the back. Crying out, Mulder felt the darkness start to overtake his body. "Oh no you don't!" Krycek said, chuckling slightly before slapping Mulder in the face, "I'm not finished talking to you yet." Mulder looked up, slowly, only to find Krycek's stone-like eyes examining his bleeding body. "You see this piece of shit?" Krycek asked, thrusting his wooden arm into Mulder's view. Mulder nodded, feeling unable to speak. "I said, do you see it?" Krycek asked persistently, kicking his prisoner in the legs. "Yes," Mulder yelped as his thighs began to throb. "I have you to thank. You're the reason that I have to wear this fucking thing! Aw hell, you don't know what it's like to lose an arm, but I'm going to make sure that you have the pleasure," Krycek said. Suddenly tired of Mulder, Krycek took that opportunity to kick him in the jaw. Mulder whimpered, already worn out, before letting the darkness consume him. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx "Rise and shine," Krycek called out, entering the room where he had tied Mulder, "We're going to have a fun day aren't we, Mulder?" Rays of sunlight shined through the windows which had been covered by boards. Mulder was sprawled out on the floor, moaning quietly. Krycek looked at his captive, puzzled by his odd pain-filled groans. Stepping closer to Mulder, Krycek looked down on him. Peering at his face, Krycek gasped, "Shit..." Picking up Mulder's cellphone which was lying on the small wooden table by him, Krycek dialed a number which was all too familiar. "Yes?" A raspy voice said over the phone. "You know who this is," Krycek said, breathing heavily. The voice over the phone sighed, "What do you want?" Krycek looked down at Mulder, cringing as he saw his skin ripple, "We have a very big problem." xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx The room was tidy and small with white walls and wooden floors. A few war pictures were in wooden picture frames hanging from the wall. A TV was propped against one of the walls, and playing on it now was some old western film. Cancerman took a sip of beer which was in a sparkling glass and looked up as his large employee entered the room, "Sir, Mr. Krycek has arrived." "Send him in," Cancerman ordered, sounding bored. Putting down his ale the CSM watched, amused, as a pathetic looking Alex Krycek strolled into his apartment. His employee aimed a gun at Krycek and clicked off the safety. Cancerman grinned, "If this is a trick Mr. Andrews here will be sure to see that you don't get away with it, Alex. I know that you know he can do it." "I'm not lying about this," Krycek said, confidently. Cancerman frowned, "Where's Mulder?" "Car," Krycek said, tersely. The CSM grinned. "Locked?" "Yep," Krycek said. The CSM shook his head, "Keys?" "Here," Krycek replied, reaching into the pocket of his black jeans and throwing him the keys. He handed the keys to Andrews and pointed at the door, "Go." Andrews nodded and left the room. Cancerman smirked, "That was a fun little one word game, Alex, but I know that you know the seriousness of this matter, and, for now, we need to be on the same team." Krycek sighed, "I hate those damn Russians. Not that I care that Mulder has cancer. Well, yeah, I care a little, but that's not the point. They agreed not to do the tests on government officials." "You were there?" The CSM questioned, almost surprised. Krycek merely nodded. Cancerman frowned, "And why was it you didn't inform us of your trip?" "Why would I have?" Krycek sneered, "At the time you were still trying to kill me. You thought I killed Bill Mulder and Melissa Scully." "You're saying you didn't?" Cancerman asked, toying with his former employee. "It was all Cardinal," Krycek spat, "The bastard shot anything that moved." Cancerman sighed, "So, Alex, how did you know I was still alive?" Krycek shrugged, a blank expression on his face, "It was too good to be true." The older man merely nodded. Just then, Andrews returned with Mulder under one arm. "Put him on the floor," The CSM commanded. He walked over to Mulder and looked at his face. Sure enough, four little ripples could easily be spotted moving and up and down his head. The CSM gagged, "That's not a very lovely sight, is it, Mr. Andrews?" "No, Sir," Andrews replied, "What do you want me to do with him?" "For now, just dress his wounds," Cancerman ordered. He looked at Krycek, hatefully, "I see you sought your revenge before bothering to notice the cancer." Krycek sighed, "I told you already, the cancer showed up after I had beat him. It was just a run of the mill kidnapping. I was going to drop him in front of his door or something the next day. Then, Scully would fix him up good as new, and everyone would be happy, especially me." "What do you know about kidnapping? You're just a punk kid compared to me." Krycek smirked, "Punk kid, eh? I'll have to remind you that I was able to elude you for a few months, and the only reason I showed up was that Mulder caught me giving selling information in Hong Kong. The consortium had been selling information anyway! In fact, you got credit for my job, and what did I get? I got locked in a silo after being invaded with that alien shit!" "Sorry about that," The CSM grinned, "but I needed that tape, and I would have done anything to get it. Oh, yes, and I already know that the stupid alien finally let you out of the silo because you were so annoying." "Me annoying!? He was the one that kept making those stupid gurgling sounds! I was about to really be sick by the time he reentered my body and let me out!" Krycek shuddered while remembering the incident. Andrews entered the room again with a now bandaged Mulder. Seeing all the bandages, the CSM turned to Krycek, "Damn it, what did you do to the poor guy? I see more bandage than I do skin!" He looked at Andrews, "Are there any fatal injures?" "No," Andrews replied, "They're all minor." "See?" Krycek said, "They're not that bad." "Andrews, sit," Cancerman commanded. The man sat down, quietly. "Alex, it's been fun going down memory lane, but I believe that we have a more pressing dilemma. Shall we put our past differences behind us for tonight and work on the problem at hand?" "Fine," Krycek said, "This is going to be a long night." xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxx *The next morning* "Hello." "You know who this is." Marita Covarrubies instantly cleared her head, "What do you want, Alex?" "I believe you recall a conversation we had a few months ago, Marita." "Tunguska?" Marita asked. "That's the one," Krycek replied. From his side of the line, he smiled, recalling the conversation, "Sorry, again, I was a little shaken up at the time you called." "Mulder had punched you in the head before he came into my apartment" Krycek chuckled, "Yes. Luckily he was asleep when you called." "Why are you calling me?" "We have a problem," Krycek said. Marita tensed up, "What problem? Does he know of our arrangement?" Krycek was puzzled for a moment, but then he figured it out and laughed, "No, no, nothing like that, Marita. He still has no clue that we're working together. What I meant is, there's a problem with Mulder." "What's wrong with Mulder? And what does Mulder have to do with Tunguska? I know you and he went there, and...oh my, he doesn't-" "Fraid so," Krycek sighed, "He's in an Alexandria hospital right now. I'm going to go pay a visit to him later, seeing as how we're best buddies and all." Marita smirked, "Yeah, you'll only be friends with Mulder when cows fly out of your ass. Now, why is he in a hospital? They can't do anything for him there. Most doctors in the US are too ignorant to know what Black Cancer even is!" "Even so, it's better to have Mulder where he can be monitored. That way I won't have people following me every minute of every day. Sure, the Consortium figure it out, but not yet. Right now, I'm going to go have a talk with an informant of mine. Keep your ears open, Marita, and if the Consortium says anything to you, tell them I did not talk to you, and tell me all that they say." "You've got it," Marita said, and with that, she hung up. Picking up her purse which was laying on the ground near her burgundy chair she opened in and fished around inside finally finding a piece of paper that she had been looking for. Slinging her blond hair over her shoulder, she picked up the phone and punched in a number. A British voice came on the other line, "Yes?" "Krycek's going to be paying you a visit," Marita murmured, straightening out her blue business suit. The voice on the other end sighed, "Why?" Marita frowned, "There's a problem with Agent Fox Mulder." "Fox Mulder!?" The voice exclaimed, "What is it!?" Before he could ask anything more Marita hung up the phone, putting the piece of paper back in her purse. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx "He what?" "Agent Mulder was checked into an Alexandria hospital at 5:00am this morning. He had bruises and cuts all over his body, he was unconscious, and the doctors spoke of strange movements in his face," Special Agent Dana Scully told her boss; Assistant Director Walter S. Skinner. In her forest green business attire she was absolutely radiant. Skinner's eyes narrowed, "Movements in his face?" "Yes, Sir, and I know what they are talking about. Before I was diagnosed with cancer Mulder went with Alex Krycek to Russia to learn about the black toxin that we had been investigating. He later told me that it had been injected into his body, and that it had felt like little worms were crawling around his face." Skinner rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed, "Krycek again. If I ever get my hands on that bastard, I'm going to beat him until he stops moving. I want to go see this 'movement in the face' myself. Are they allowing visitors to see him?" "Yes, Sir. I haven't been yet myself. Would you mind if I join you?" Scully asked. Skinner shrugged, "I would never mind, Scully. Let's go." xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx "What do you mean you've never seen anything like this?" Skinner demanded. The doctor, Dr. Ryan Golden, trembled slightly, "Um, this thing is new to us. It's pretty obvious that it's cancer, but these cells aren't like any cancer cells that I've ever seen, and the tumor on Mr. Mulder which is in his shoulder, is not really a tumor, it's more like a nest for these black cancerous worms, and instead of flowing through the bloodstream in the form of cells, this cancer just weaves it's way around the brain and through the bloodstream in the form of these worms, and that's the best I can say at this point because, right now we just don't know what to make of his condition. I'm sorry." "Keep working, Dr. Golden," Scully said, sighing, "Would you mind if I take a look at him?" "I guess it's all right if you see him, because it's not contagious. You said that you'd seen this before?" "Yes," Scully said, "But I still know just a little more than you about it. I think this cancer is a mystery to us all." "Can I come in too, Scully?" Skinner asked. Sure, he felt strange asking his employee if he could do something, but the hospital was her domain, not his, and if she said no about something, than he would respect her decision. Much to his relief, she nodded, "That's all right with me, Sir." xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx Skinner watched, amazed, as the little ripples continued to roam Mulder's face. It was sickening to see, and yet it was quite remarkable. "Do you think Mulder contracted this disease when he was in Tunguska?" "It makes perfect sense, Sir," Scully replied. Glancing at Mulder, she winced in sympathy as she saw the bandages covering his body, "Whoever applied these bandages was, in my opinion, a doctor. They were put on very well." Just then, the door to the hospital room opened, and an orderly walked inside, "Agent Scully, there's a man outside that wants to visit the patient." Scully's eyebrows raised, puzzled, "I wasn't expecting anyone to come today. Who is it?" The orderly looked down at a pad of paper and looked up at Scully again, "Um, George Hale. Should I let him in?" Skinner and Scully looked at each other, knowing full well that George Hale was Mulder's favorite pseudonym. "Let him in," Skinner answered for her, "I want to meet this 'George Hale'." The orderly nodded and left the room. Scully thought about who the unexpected visitor might be. "Who would know about George Hale?" She thought aloud. "I don't know," Skinner replied, even though he knew the question wasn't directed at him, "Who else has Mulder told?" "Only people that he's worked with," Scully said, "He didn't even let me know at first. It just kinda popped up." Suddenly a thought crossed her mind, "Oh no." Skinner, as if reading her mind, rubbed the bridge of his nose, "It can't be him. I mean, it's broad daylight. Even he wouldn't be stupid enough to come out." Suddenly, the door swung open, and a familiar person entered the room, a huge smile on his face. He had no sooner than closed the door when Skinner grabbed him, punched him in the face. and held him tightly to stop him from escaping, "I know you're responsible for this, you asshole, so you better fess up." Krycek chuckled besides the fact that he knew Walter Skinner could crush him in one second, "I get blamed for everything." "Yeah, and for good reason," Scully spat, "Now, did you do this to Mulder?" "I'm shocked, Agent Scully. I would never have expected you to come at me with such venom," Krycek exclaimed, feigning hurt. By now a small trickle of blood had begun to flow from Krycek's nose, but he didn't seem to notice. "I'll come at you with more than that if you don't start talking," Skinner growled. Krycek smirked, "Was that a threat, or was I supposed to be aroused?" He was rewarded with a sharp knee to the back. Disgusted, Skinner threw him to the floor. Krycek winced, sighed, and sat up, looking at the two, "Do you really think I would have come here if I wasn't trying to help my former partner?" Scully glanced at Skinner before turning her glare to Krycek, "Talk." Krycek stood up, took in a deep breath, and sat down in a chair by Mulder's bed. He took a minute to look at the unconscious agent. Mulder's hair was damp with sweat, and he was dressed in a green hospital gown. Krycek had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. Mulder had always hated hospital gowns. Even in the short time he had been working with Mulder, he had still found a way to get hurt or to contract some weird disease. Looking back at Skinner, Krycek noticed that his cold blue eyes were directed on him. He cleared his throat, "Don't be surprised if I'm not the only visitor Mulder gets. He's actually quite popular in the higher ups. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole consortium stops by just to make sure he's all right." "What are you talking about, Krycek?" Skinner growled. Krycek rubbed underneath his nose, hoping to stop the flow of blood. It didn't help. He closed his eyes for a moment, "At this moment huge arguments are going on between higher ups from our government and representatives from Russia. You have no idea how much of a problem Mulder has caused." "As I recall it was your fault this happened," Scully said, spying Krycek darkly, "You were out having fun with the Russian guards while Mulder was getting injected with this toxin." Krycek looked at her, dumbfounded, and lifted up his fake arm, "Does this look like fun? Everyone gets pissed at me for having Mulder injected with the cancer, but no one cares that Mulder let this happen to me. Am I not as much a human as him?" "No. At least Mulder has a soul," Scully spat. She stepped closer to Krycek, letting curiosity overtake her, "What is our government upset about?" Krycek tilted his head, confused by the fact that she didn't know. Surprised that the two were seriously in the dark, he laughed, "Wow, I'd forgotten how ignorant you FBI agents are. The black cancer tests began in Russia during World War II, and was used as chemical welfare. Since some of their people were also infected, the Russian government decided that they needed to find a cure to the disease, so they started testing anyone they could get their hands on. They tested on the Japanese, Americans, and even their own people. Soon, all countries were in an uproar over the deaths of their citizens. "The Russians refused to stop the tests, but they agreed to no longer do the tests on government employees. That's how I got out of the tests. I was able to tell the Russian guard that I was part of the American government, and that he couldn't do the tests on me, and I guessed that after seeing Mulder's FBI badge, that they wouldn't do the tests on him either. I guess I was wrong about that, but I didn't want the tests to be done on Mulder. "Now, the consortium is in a rage. I sense a small war coming on, although no one will ever know about it. Do you know how many small wars have taken place between American and Russian soldiers? The space race made everyone greedy, and a lot of wars broke out." "You don't work for the American government," Skinner said. "How did you get out of the tests just by saying you were in the American government? At least Mulder had a badge." "As you know, I sell a few things to Russia in my spare time." "Traitor," Scully muttered. Krycek shook his head, "Not really. I just do whatever it takes to stay alive, Agent Scully. If that means letting the Russians in on some secrets or doing something as pointless as saving your partner's ass, then I'll do it." "Why are you here, Krycek?" Scully asked, "Really? Even you aren't stupid enough to come out of hiding in broad daylight." "Thank you for the compliment, Agent Scully. Seriously, I needed to see Mulder," Krycek admitted. "A part of me can't shake that feeling that he was my partner, and I owe it to him to save him. Besides, I'm here on assignment." Skinner folded his arms over his chest, "Why are you telling us all this now? You have no reason to help us." "On the contrary," Krycek grinned, "It's important to my survival as well as Mulder's. Now, I must go, FBI. I will be in contact with you shortly." "You can't do this, you sonofabitch! You can't just walk in here, give us the smallest amount of information, and just disappear back into the conspiracy!" Skinner yelled. "Oh, but I can," Krycek said. He sighed, "As I said, I will be in contact with you shortly. Now, I would think it wise not to do anything stupid in here, FBI, because I know you wouldn't want to cause a scene." Skinner sneered, "Get out of here, Krycek, but if you don't appear soon, I'll hunt you down like a dog." "I'll be a good boy," Krycek said, sarcastically. He glanced back at Mulder once more before leaving the room. Scully watched him leave, and then turned to Skinner, "Do you really think Krycek is going to help us?" "I have my doubts," Skinner replied, "But I saw something that resembled honesty in his eyes. Maybe we can trust him for once." "One thing that Mulder's taught me is to never take Alex Krycek seriously," Scully said. Turning to Mulder, she sat down in there chair where Krycek had been, and she took Mulder's hand in hers. Seeing that it was a good time to leave, Skinner left the room. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx *A few hours later* The Well-Manicured Man sat on a bench in one of the many woodland areas of Washington DC. He watched as a few kids walked past and admired the blooming cherry blossoms all around them. Sighing, he ran a hand through his thin gray hair, trying to remember times when he was that innocent. While thinking, he was unaware of the man who sat down next to him on the bench. The new arrival pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a long drag, carelessly breathing it out in a smooth whoosh of smoke, "It is beautiful in Washington this time of year." Ignoring his colleague, the Well-Manicured Man rubbed the bridge of his nose, "What happened to Fox Mulder?" Cancerman took another puff of his cigarette and faced his associate, "I never thought it would come to this. Russia has become so desperate that they are testing government employees, neglecting our deals." "Mulder has the Black Cancer?" Cancerman nodded, "The cancer has evolved to a level which we cannot ignore. It can no longer be taken out. We need the vaccine." The Well-Manicured Man glared at the CSM, "You assured me that everything was going as planned, and now I hear of this!" "At the time I thought everything had been taken care of!" Cancerman argued, "This is Alex Krycek's fault for letting Mulder return here without the vaccine." The Well-Manicured Man scoffed, "Even though you have tried to have Alex Krycek killed, you still think of him as your employee!? I can assure you, Sir, that he does not feel that way. You dare trust a murderer?" "Everyone I associate with is a murderer," the CSM retorted. "You are one of the worst." "The worst murderer that you will ever know is yourself." Cancerman frowned, angrily, "You take Alex Krycek's side over mine!?" The Well-Manicured Man laughed wryly, "I have no reason to trust you. If you wanted respect, Sir, then you shouldn't have faked your own death and left all of us in the dark. We both know that I am covering for you by not telling the rest of the group that you are really alive." "One of the shape-shifters healed me after your superior tried to have me killed." "You've sided with the colonists, I see. How foolish of you," The Well- Manicured Man commented. Obviously thrown off by this, the CSM's eyes narrowed, "I haven't sided with them, but they have helped me in the past." The Well-Manicured Man smirked, "You only wish to live. If the colonists invade, you would reduce yourself to being a servant instead of being killed along with the resistance." Cancerman's blue eyes twinkled with amusement, "At least I would live. You, on the other hand, would be killed along with the rest of the fools who would dare fight the colonists. Even if we had a vaccine there would be no way to win. You, Sir, are the fool." With that, the CSM stood, put his cigarette out by the Well- Manicured Man's feet, and walked away, leaving the older man to silently curse his name. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx *a few hours later* The Well-Manicured Man glanced down at his watch. "Forty-five minutes late," he murmured to no one. Looking up at the front of the Lincoln Memorial he sighed. If he would have known Alex Krycek would have been this late he would have taken the time to go inside and look at the impressive statue. Turning to his left he frowned as he saw the younger man approach him, his eyes blank. Not moving, the Well-Manicured Man waited until Krycek was next to him before he started to walk to an open clearing. Krycek followed him. When the two reached a relatively empty area they sat down on a bench overlooking the memorial. The Well-Manicured Man shook his head, "You're late, as usual." "Were you expecting me to be on time?" Krycek questioned, a hint of amusement in his voice. Before the younger man could say something more the Well-Manicured Man cut him off, "Don't bother telling me the problem with Fox Mulder. I know that he has the cancer in him. My associate talked to me today." Krycek frowned, "What did he say to you?" "He still sees you as his employee," The Well-Manicured Man told him, "I said he was a fool to believe it." "I had to talk to him first," Krycek said, his eyes on the pavement in front of them. The Well-Manicured Man smirked, "Ah, so there was truth in his statement. You are working for him again." "No," Krycek told him, "I'm not working for him. All we've done is called a truce. Believe me, I'll never lower myself to being his errand boy again." "I can see that," The Well-Manicured Man said, "Especially since you've gone from being an errand boy to a person with more bounty hunters following you than anyone I've ever met." Krycek shrugged, "Power comes with a price." The Well-Manicured Man laughed heartily at this, "Power!? What power do you have!?" Krycek scowled, "I'll be getting my fame soon. Right now I'm ironing out the rough edges." "Russia sees you as all powerful only because they are the most ignorant people in the world. If you take pride in being a power there you are taking pride in the fact that you are one of the stupidest people on Earth." Krycek smiled wily, "And yet you still agree to see me because you want to hear what I have to say." "You have nothing I want." "Oh, but I do," Krycek told him, "All you have to do is ask for it." The Well-Manicured Man glared at him, "What could you possibly have that I would want? You haven't done anything useful to me for the past few years." Krycek chuckled at this, "You'd be surprised what a young Russian can do." The Well-Manicured Man scoffed, "You're no Russian. Alex Krycek, you are as American as any of us. You just try to kid yourself." "Fine, then you'd be surprised what a young American can do," Krycek revised. "If you think you are so powerful tell me what you have." Krycek shook his head, "And make it that easy for you? I don't think so. You'll just have to ask for it." The Well-Manicured Man sighed, "Do you have the plans for the colony's arrival in fifteen years?" Krycek grinned slyly, "Perhaps..." "Cut the crap!" The Well-Manicured Man yelled, "Do you have the plans!?" "I know what's on them, but I'm not in custody of them." "What do you know?" The Well-Manicured Man asked, his voice low. Krycek stood up and smiled, "You're the big shot Consortium member. I'm sure you'll figure it out sooner or later." With that, he began to walk away. The Well-Manicured Man stood up in protest, "You would sacrifice the lives of millions just to keep your little secrets?" Krycek turned at this and faced him, his hazel eyes unusually dark, "Before you can learn anything about the plans you must understand that I will resist, and, knowing how full of pride you are, you will resist as well. Understand that we are now on the same side of the battlefield, _Sir_. With the rest of the Consortium going against you we're going to be seeing a whole lot more of each other." He turned from the older man and walked away, leaving the Well-Manicured Man to stare after him. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx Marita Covarrubies walked into Arlington County Hospital, a tight-lipped frown on her face. She knew what she had to do. Mulder's life depended on her, and she depended on Mulder's life. If he were to die she and Krycek's connection would be exposed, and that was something that couldn't happen. Walking into the room that she had been told was Mulder's she was surprised to find a red head sitting in the chair across from Mulder's bed. Looking down at her Marita cleared her throat, "Am I interrupting something?" Scully looked up at her, startled, "Who are you?" "I'm Marita Covarrubies," She said, putting out her hand, "Mr. Mulder and I have been in contact for a few months." Scully took her hand, a puzzled expression on her face, "Contact?" Marita nodded, "Yes, he's contacted me about a number of cases. After hearing about his ailment I wanted to see if he was all right." "What has he asked your help on?" Scully questioned, not able to hide her curiosity. Marita smirked almost mockingly, "I can't give away his personal information. If he hasn't told you before I'd rather not interfere." Scully sighed, "Well, then, who told you he was here?" "I have my connections," Marita said, "A man told me and I wanted to see that it was true." Walking over to Mulder she pulled his right eye open, shuddering as she saw the black oil swimming over his eye. "You know what it is," Scully speculated aloud. Marita turned to her, "Don't involve yourself, Agent Scully. This matter doesn't concern you or your partner." Scully laughed darkly at this, "How can this not involve Mulder? He's the one in the hospital bed!" "Mulder did something he shouldn't have done," Marita told her, "It was very foolish of him." "If you want to blame anyone you should blame Alex Krycek," Scully sneered, "He's the one who dragged him there." Marita chuckled, but there was no humor in the action, "Mulder was the one who dragged Krycek to Tunguska. You can't blame Alex Krycek because all he did was go along with him." Scully glared at her suspiciously, "Did Alex Krycek send you here?" "Alex Krycek has no authority over me," Marita told her simply. "It sure seems like you're working for him." Marita smiled, "Unfortunately you don't know much about the Consortium and how it works, Agent Scully. You may think you do, but you never have, and unless something goes wrong you never will." With that, she stole one more glance at Mulder, sighed, and left the room leaving Scully to rub the bridge of her nose in frustration. Marita had just walked out of the hospital when a strong hand grabbed hers. Already knowing who it was she let out a deep breath, "I don't want to talk to you." "Please, Marita," Krycek pleaded, his right hand on her arm, "All I want to do is redeem myself." "I am not your slave, Alex Krycek," Marita growled, "Stop treating me like I'm your associate." Krycek looked around before continuing, "Damn it, they can see us out her. Keep your voice down." Marita scowled, "I don't care if they hear me. We do not have an alliance anymore. What I said to you on the phone was a lie. Consider 'us' over." She began down the street again. After taking a few steps she turned around and faced Krycek again. He had averted his eyes from her, looking instead over the crowds of people filling the street. A huge part of her wanted to walk away; to leave this man who had caused her so much worry and grief, but she knew she couldn't. Not while remembering her worry while he was in Russia, and his sad expression when he showed her his fake arm. Retracing her steps, she returned by his side and put her hand on his, "Fine, go ahead and redeem yourself." Krycek glanced down at her, shocked, "Really? Um, is there anywhere we can talk away from all these people." Marita nodded, "I'm staying in a hotel near here. Believe me, it hasn't been bugged. Yet." xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx The drive to the hotel was uneventful for the two. Marita drove, every once in a while stealing a glance at Krycek. He had closed his eyes, though she was pretty sure he was not asleep. Still, his features had softened, making him look as young as a twenty-one year old. She thought to herself. Yes, Alex Krycek was a murderer, and she was a fool to trust him, but she knew he had his reasons for doing what he did. Seeing Krycek's physical innocence, Marita couldn't help but question her motives in connecting with the Consortium. Marita knew it was necessary to do so, but that didn't mean she didn't feel bad about double-crossing Krycek. Still, she knew she had to. Her life depended on it. Pulling up to the parking lot of the hotel she nudged Krycek softly, "We're here." Krycek nodded slowly and exited the car, never once looking at her. The two wordlessly walked into the hotel and slowly made their way to Marita's room. Finally reaching it Krycek slipped off his leather jacket, rolled up the right sleeve of his deep blue shirt, and sat down on Marita's bed, looking out the large window at the end of the room, "Its a nice place. I guess I haven't known luxury in a long time." "You said you wanted to redeem yourself." Krycek nodded and looked at her, "I'm sorry for leaving you in the dark about Tunguska and about Mulder. I know you were upset about that." "You're damn right I was upset!" Marita exclaimed, "Do you realize how worried I was about you?" Krycek snarled, "I know how worried you were about Mulder." "What are you talking about!?" "Don't think I don't realize how you feel about Fox Mulder. I know you have the hots for him." Marita laughed wryly, "Fox Mulder?!? Have you gone completely insane!? All I do is give Mulder help. Believe me, I never saw him in that way." "Why do you help him then?" Krycek shouted. Martia sneered, "For the same reason you do." Krycek became silent, his face softening. Lying back on the bed he closed his eyes and put his right arm over them, letting out a deep breath. Marita began to walk away from him when she heard him mutter, "Mulder is going to die, and there's nothing we can do to prevent it." "You could get the vaccine," Marita said quietly, "I could get it to Mulder and cure him." Krycek shook his head, still not looking at her, "I can't. Russia would kick me out." "You've been a traitor long enough," Marita whispered, "Its time for you to come home." Raising his arm off his eyes Krycek gazed at her, examining her face with his eyes, "I don't have a home to come back to." "You can stay here," Marita told him before she could stop herself, "It would be difficult, but we could do it, and then we would live on through the landing of the colonists fifteen years from now and we could join them. Then we could rule the world together...be dictators after the whole Consortium has died." Krycek shook his head morosely, "I can't stay here. Its too dangerous, and if the Consortium finds out we'll both be killed. Besides, I could never join the colonists with the vaccine in my system." "Then we'll resist," Marita persisted, "You have the vaccine, Alex Krycek. I know you do because I've seen it in your eyes. You may think you're a liar, Alex, but I can see right through you." "Then you're the only one," he said with a sigh, "I don't have it with me, though." Marita glared at him, "I told you stop lying to me!" "I'm not lying!" Krycek exclaimed, "The vaccine is in Russia, OK? I don't have it!" "Fine," Marita muttered, "If you can't tell me the truth you'll have to get out." "I just said I'm not lying!" Marita frowned, "You could be lying about not lying." Krycek growled, "Now you're just saying crap. You know I don't have it." "Get out." "No." "Get out." Krycek just stared at her for a moment before standing up and grabbing his leather jacket. Reaching the door, he was just about to pull it open when a thought occurred to him, making him spin around angrily, "You know, you really are something. After all I've done for you all you can say is 'get out'." "I don't owe you anything," Marita told him. Krycek smirked, "Yeah, my knowledge about the black oil, telling you about the colony, helping you see though that black lunged sonofabitch's plans...yep, you don't owe me a damn thing." "Fuck you," She spat, "I would have found out about the black oil sooner or later, Cancerman is dead, and I've learned that mostly everything you told me about the colony was a lie." "You don't think I've been lied to or tricked?" Krycek said with the same venom in his voice, "I thought everything I told you that time was true, but it ended up being false. That's not my fault." "That time," Marita echoed. "So, that's how you refer to our first time having sex? Its just 'that time' now? Don't I mean a damn thing to you?" Krycek just averted his eyes from hers, not wanting to respond. She sighed, "This is why I want you out of my hotel room before I call my associates and have you confined." Krycek ignored her, walking over to the window at the far side of the room. She watched him, seeing how the light of the sun outlined his masculine features, making him glow like a supernatural being. "I haven't been able to stand in front of a window like this in a long time because I knew that an assassin could be waiting there to kill me," Krycek said. Marita shook her head, "Get out of here." "The world is really a beautiful place," Krycek continued, "Its full of interesting creatures, people, well, any life on Earth is interesting." "Stop it." Krycek sighed, "I don't expect you to understand how I view the world. Everyday I have to thank God for letting me live through the night." "Stop." "Too bad you live in New York, Marita. You should see some of the nights we have in Russia. The stars shine out from the dark sky like diamonds, and the moon, round and full, can be seen from every point on the shore." Marita snarled at him, "Shut up." As before, Krycek ignored her, "Whenever I kill someone there's an eerie gnawing feeling in my gut. I guess you could say its guilt, but I see it as much more than that. Its like a weight. All the weight of that person was put on me. Right now I can barely move without stumbling and falling." "You're talking about nothing, Alex," Marita chided, "Absolutely nothing. Now, get out of my room." Krycek turned around and looked at her, his eyes sparkling, "How many people have you killed?" "What?" "How many? Four or five? Maybe ten?" Marita chuckled, "I haven't killed anyone." Krycek smiled weakly, "Now who's lying? Maybe not with a gun, but with words; with orders...how many?" Marita sighed before looking at the ceiling in concentration. After five minutes she glanced at him again, "Only two." Krycek nodded, "Don't you feel something inside you? Can't you hear them crying out for mercy as the trigger is pulled?" "I just told you, Alex, I didn't kill them. Someone else did. I don't know what they were feeling." "Doesn't that make you more of a murderer than me?" Krycek murmured. Marita shook her head, "No, and you're still talking about nonsense. If there's a point to this little enlightened speech you're giving me please come to it quickly." Turning back towards the window Krycek sighed, "In Tunguska I worried about you. I worried if they would find out I had contacted you and would kill you. That's why I can't love you, Marita. I can't love you because I can't let myself break down, because if I soften towards you I'll start softening towards everybody, and that would leave me dead." "You know I'll always keep your secrets," Marita lied. It was a boldfaced fib and she knew it. As expected, Krycek turned around and laughed faintly, "Yep, I'm sure that's true." "So, we'll both have secrets," Marita told him, "So what? I can say I love you and not know everything about you, and you can love me without knowing everything about me." "That's not love." Marita chuckled nervously, "No, but its all we have. I know you can't tell me everything, Alex. I'm not asking for everything, and, hopefully, you're not asking for everything from me, but we can still love each other. We can still be together until times become better and we can come forward with our relationship, but I know we can't now. All we can do is wait, but I'd rather wait than call everything off." Krycek nodded slowly and moved over to her, hesitantly putting a hand on his shoulder, caressing it lightly before looking into her deep blue eyes, his breath becoming more heated, "Then, well, I love you." "I love you, too." She let out a small giggled, "Believe me, when I dreamed of exchanging vows as a teenager I never knew it would be like this." Krycek sighed, "Neither did I. My life...all that's happened...I didn't want my life to be like this." Marita didn't answer him. Instead, she moved closer to him, wrapping both arms around his neck. Seeing that he wasn't pushing her away, Marita gazed at his mouth, wanting nothing more than to taste it like she had so many months earlier. Closing the distance, she kissed his lips tenderly, almost like she had on her first date. Pulling away she grinned shyly waiting for his response. Seeing that he was looking back at her bed longingly she pushed him, "You really are impatient." "I'm an aggressive guy," he argued softly. She smirked, "Not with a wooden arm, you're not." Leading him slowly to the bed Marita took his leather jacket from his arms and laid it down on the floor. She eyed his fake arm, "Can I take it off?" He stared at her, "What!?" Marita shrugged, "I think you look even more attractive without it." "I feel like more of a man with it on." Marita sighed at kissed his cheek gently, "Fine, I'll let you win this time." Sitting down on the bed she wasted no time before putting a hand down on his cock and caressing it. Krycek glanced down on her, feeling himself grow hard, "You really want to make me get stuck in these pants." Marita smiled, "Your ass is just as impatient as you." "I'll take that as a compliment." Climbing onto the bed next to her, Krycek laid back, allowing his fake arm to plop next to him dully. Marita leaned next to him, kissing all along his neck, making him groan in pleasure. Lifting up his shirt she kissed every part of him, from his shoulders to his chest to his abs. She sighed, "Why do you have to go to Russia? Just stay here." "It's too dangerous here," Krycek told her, closing his eyes and groaning again as he felt her kisses cover his body, "The Consortium might find me." "I'll protect you," she whispered. Krycek gazed at her, "Really?" Marita smiled, "Always." Krycek nodded and closed his eyes again. The two said no more to each other that night. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx Cancerman looked at Mulder's face again, seeing more little worms crawl under his skin. Walking over to the younger man he opened his right eye, sighing as he saw the black oil swimming over the blue globe. At first he had thought that there was the slightest possibility that Krycek was in possession of the vaccine, but, alas, he hadn't been...or so he had said. Shaking his head Cancerman unconsciously put a hand through Mulder's unruly brown hair, surprised that it was smooth despite its matted look. "I've done my best to protect you, Fox. Your father wanted me to, so I did, but I can't protect you from this. Believe me, I wish I could, but I can't." Closing his eyes, he pulled out a cigarette and exited the room, lighting it as he moved down the hallways. Before any of the nurses could catch him the CSM put the cigarette out as fast as he had lit up. Walking over to a woman on staff he pulled out a red envelope and handed it to her, "A man should be coming by here tomorrow. See that he gets this." The woman looked at the name on the card before shrugging, "Um, I'm sorry, Sir, but I don't know who this is." Nodding, Cancerman pulled out a picture from his trenchcoat pocket and handed it to her, "This is him." She nodded, "I'll try and have it delivered to him, Sir." "Thank you," Cancerman said. Walking towards the elevators he climbed in one that was full of people. Stepping out or the elevator and towards the exit of the hospital where the moon was shining through he almost smiled at the fact that none of these people knew they had just been in an elevator with one of the most powerful people on Earth. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx Krycek awoke the next morning at about 3am, glancing at Marita who was still sleeping. Smiling, he pushed himself out of bed and grabbed his pile of clothes, putting them on as quickly as his fake arm would allow him to. After completing this task he examined himself in the full sized mirror by the door, doing his best to put a few unruly strands of hair into place. That was when his eyes fell on a piece of paper laying on top of the glass nightstand sitting by the bed. At first he thought it was nothing until he read a few words on it. "Highly toxic substance being shipped to Russia..." Grabbing the paper as quickly as he could he looked at it, gasping at what he read. "It was all a lie," he whispered, "She...she tricked me." "Miss Covarrubies," the note read, "We will be in contact with you over this matter after we calculate the final equations of the bioweapon. This is a highly toxic substance being shipped to Russia, and we can't have anything get in the way of our plans to deposit it there. If they do have the vaccine they will surely hand it over to us after a few of their people die. Maybe one will die, or maybe one hundred, one thousand...I'd hope the number wouldn't be any higher than this, but Russians are a stubborn breed. If you hear from Alex Krycek you are to tell the group everything that he tells you. He cannot get in the way of our plans. W.M." Shaking his head in fury Krycek glared at Marita's sleeping form before stuffing the paper in the pocket of his jeans. He silently exited the room, fuming, and walked away from the hotel as quickly as he could. Krycek knew where he had to go. He had to see Mulder. For all he knew that Well-Manicured Bastard could have done something to him through the night. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx Marita awoke a few hours later and glanced around the room groggily. Sunlight was coming through the window, shining on the bed. Expecting to find Krycek lying next to her, she frowned as she realized that he wasn't. Sitting up, she frantically looked around. His clothes were gone, but nothing else seemed misplaced. Suddenly a horrible feeling overtook her and she looked at the nightstand, horrified to see that the note from the Well-Manicured Man to her was no longer there. Though her mind kept trying to make up a rational explanation for why it wasn't there her heart knew the truth: Krycek had taken the note and now her cover was blown. Mentally cursing herself Marita ran over to her cellphone that was sitting on top of a cabinet and pushed some of her blond hair away from her face before dialing a number. Raising the phone to her ear she held her breath as she heard a British voice say, "Yes?" "We have a problem," Marita whispered, trying to gain control. The Well-Manicured Man sighed, "What is it?" "Um, Krycek knows about the bioweapon being transported to Russia." What she heard next was expected but it still made her cringe, "What!? How the hell did he find out about this!?" "He just has the note," Marita assured him, "All he can do is warn the Russians, but he doesn't have the coordinates." She could practically feel the heat radiating from the Well-Manicured Man as she heard him holler, "The coordinates were on the back of the note!" Not knowing what else to say Marita hung up, running over to the bed and beginning to cry. Looking at the part of the bed where Krycek had been lying only hours earlier Marita pounced on it and began to pound it with her fists as if it were really him. "Damn you!" She sobbed, her face turning red from anger and disgrace, "It could have all worked out! This could have all been fine, but you had to come in here and ruin it! You bastard!" She stayed like this for awhile, until, too tired to scream anymore, Marita just curled up into a ball and continued to cry, not even noticing that she was as naked as she was the day she was born. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx *a few hours later* Krycek sat in front of his old partner and advesary, Fox Mulder, a weary expression on his face. Having not gotten his usual amount of sleep in addition to this new thing with Marita had worn him down. Looking down at the small plastic container in his hands he sighed, "Well, Mulder, there goes another alliance. I hope you appreciate this, asshole." Having gotten one of his operatives to give Mulder an injection of the vaccine a few hours ago he had been present when all the little worms had begun to come out of the older man's face. It hadn't been a very pleasant sight, and the operative had even had to excuse herself at one point because she was going to be sick. Krycek had just watched. No, it hadn't looked good, but when it came time to resist the colonists' weapon Krycek knew he was going to be seeing it a whole lot more of these little worms. Who knows, maybe they would try to crawl into him, like they had before, and he'd have to go through the sick feeling that the test subjects had when black oil tried to enter their body after being given the vaccine. Hell, Krycek couldn't even bring in a car to get an oil change because just the smell of the regular oil would make him ill. Now that he had given Mulder the vaccine Krycek knew that his deal with the Russians was over. He had promised never to use the vaccine to help an American, but he had used it on Mulder. Oh well, he would have broken his promises sooner or later. Still, he knew he had enough time to go back to Russia and take care of a few things. His thoughts were ended as a nurse walked into the room and stepped in front of him, "Alex Krycek?" "Yeah?" He tensed. Whenever people knew his real name that usually wasn't a good sign. Seeing his reaction she smiled reassuringly, "Visiting hours aren't over, Sir. Don't worry. I had been given this by a man." She handed him a red envelope. "I wanted to give it to you before I forgot." Krycek nodded, relieved that she hadn't said 'go outside so we can kill you' instead. Taking the letter he looked down at it, giving the nurse an opportunity to leave, which she did. Krycek slowly opened the envelope only to find that there was a typed piece of paper inside. He unfolded it and began to read. "Its been so long since you first came to me so many years ago. Yes, it was only four years ago, but it still seems like awhile. Times have changed, and I'd hope that we would be able to change along with them. All the confusion in our world has driven us apart, and I would like nothing more than to reconcile with you. During our latest meeting I knew that it was uncomfortable, but I was happy that we were working together again. It has been such a long time. It is funny, I kind of remind myself of a Navajo story, Alex. Twin gods come to their father seeking guidance and weapons, which he provides. I have tried to provide these things for you, and, well, you are still alive. Please, before you throw this away or burn it just consider the possibility of reuniting with me. Though times have changed my love for you has not, and there is a deep yearning in my soul to amend my mistakes from the past. There is no greater joy to a father than knowing that his son has achieved his goals, and to live in our profession is something very hard to accomplish, and you have. I'm a proud father. Please, allow me the chance to right my wrongs and, who knows, maybe we will all be a family again. Your father, D.W." Krycek reread the note a few times still not believing what he was reading. He wanted to reconcile after all these years? Could Krycek really forgive him for all that he had done? Standing shakily he walked to Mulder's side and looked down at the agent, seeing how he looked so at peace. "Good luck to you, My Friend," he murmured, "May you have more luck in life than I have." With that he bent down and gave the man a swift kiss on the forehead, smiling as he didn't wake up. Walking to the door and opening it, he let himself out before closing it behind him. Eyeing the nurse behind the receptionist desk that had given him the note he saw her grin weakly. Turning away from her, Krycek began to the elevators and pushed the button, waiting a few moments before doors opened and he could enter the small space. After a few minutes the elevator reached the first floor and Krycek exited, slowly making his way towards the exit of the hospital. Walking out into the afternoon breeze, Krycek took in a deep breath of it and sighed, walking over to the car that he had rented after walking to a dealership a few blocks from Marita's apartment. Unlocking the car door Krycek opened it and climbed inside, checking himself in the rearview mirror. He pulled the car out of the parking space and started down the street, deciding that he really didn't need to go anywhere. Stopping abruptly by the curb, Krycek pulled out the note again and examined it, grinning weakly as he realized how much could be put into one piece of paper. Slowly, the walls that he had taken years to build around himself to keep pain from getting in or coming out crumbled, and he did something that he hadn't done in a long time. Putting his head on the steering wheel Alex Krycek took in a shaky breath and allowed himself to cry. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx Dana Scully looked at her partner, amazed. Doctor Golden had called her at work and said that he hadn't seen any ripples in Mulder's face since early that morning, and he seemed closer to waking up than before. Now, watching as his eyelids fluttered, she couldn't help but be thankful to whoever had cured him. A few hours earlier they hadn't been sure if he was going to survive, but apparently he was going to be fine. Thank God. "Scully?" Mulder rasped, turning his head and looking at her. Scully smiled at him, "How are you feeling?" "I feel like a dump truck just rolled over me," he groaned in response, "What happened?" "You've been out for a few days with, well, I don't know what it was." Scully thought for a moment, wondering if this was the best time to tell him about the Black Cancer. Deciding that it was, she leaned towards him, "Well, Mulder, I do know." "What was it?" "Black Cancer," Scully told him, "Apparently it had been lying dormant in your system until now, and it just appeared out of nowhere." "You mean from those tests in Tunguska?" Mulder inquired. He had turned even paler then he had been before, the color draining from his cheeks. Scully nodded, "Yeah, from Tunguska, but its gone now. Something or someone cured it." "No one knows how it was cured?" Mulder asked Scully shook her head, "No. Doctor Golden walked in this afternoon to check up on you, and there wasn't any movement in your face, nor any other signs of the illness. You were completely cured. Checking your blood, he found a small trace of some kind of drug, but its nature could not be determined." Mulder frowned, "So, someone walked in here and gave me the cure to this disease, and no one knows what this vaccine is, who gave it to me, and why this person saved my life?" Scully nodded hesitantly, pushing a few strands of red hair out of her face, "I wish I could tell you more. All I can say was that Krycek was here earlier today. A nurse identified him. She even had his picture." Mulder's eyes widened, "Alex Krycek cured me?" "We don't know that for sure because he had been here before when both Skinner and I were present." Mulder's eyes narrowed, "And you just let him walk out?" "We didn't really have a choice," Scully told him, "He seemed like he was trying to help you." Mulder sighed, "You believed him?" Scully shrugged, "Well, you're healthy again. Why question the motives? I'm just glad you're all right." Mulder grinned and grabbed her hand, caressing it with his thumb, "Thank you." Scully nodded, leaning forward and embracing him lightly so that she wouldn't cause any pain, "This is just something else to prove that you shouldn't ditch me anymore, Mulder. Whenever you go off on your own you always find a way to end up here." Mulder chuckled, "I'll be good, Mom." xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx *a few days later* Mulder was back in work, feeling better than he had in a long time. Krycek or no Krycek, he was thankful for the cure, even if it had been given to him by his greatest enemy. Leaning back in his office chair, Mulder glanced around the cluttered room. Scully had decided to go visit her mother that weekend, leaving him on his own. At the moment he was looking at a few old X- Files, trying to get his bearings back so that he would be ready for the next X-File Skinner would give them. Suddenly, the door to the office burst open and a young petite woman entered, a shy grin gracing her features. Flipping her brown hair over her shoulder she handed him a piece of paper, "I was told to give this to you." Her voice was high-pitched, and hurt Mulder's ears. Looking at the paper he sighed as he read the words: UFO Convention. Mulder glanced up at the young agent, "Who sent you?" "Someone left this at the Information Desk," she explained, "He called himself Dr. Verber." Mulder thought "Thank you." The woman nodded and left the room. Mulder just sighed. A UFO Convention. This was just perfect. How was he going to explain his new beliefs about UFO's being part of a government scandal to everyone who had come to believe that he was the biggest UFO nut of all? Oh well, he knew one thing: he had to try. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx The Consortium sat in their small apartment room in New York in complete silence as they listened to the rough voice of a man over the speaker phone murmur, "This was not done by a U.S. military fighter. Since the event occurred in Russia we are not counting out the possibility that the Russian government is involved, but because of the uproar it caused last night I doubt they're behind this. The Well-Manicured Man switched off the speaker phone and picked up the receiver, "We thank you for the information. Keep us posted." With that, he hung up the phone. Looking at the rest of the group he sighed, "Well, what the hell is this?" "What he was describing sounded like an abduction scenario, but it's like nothing I've ever heard of," Marita commented. "Maybe the colony is attacking?" The Elder suggested. Another member shook his head, "So soon? We're fifteen years away!" "Calm down!" The Well-Manicured Man told everyone, "We must keep control over this situation. Now, we need some information on what happened over there in Russia." He turned to Marita, "Go there and see what happened, and bring us any information you can." Marita nodded and left the room to go book a seat on the next flight to Russia. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx In an unknown location Cancerman sat in a cabin away from civilization. It was small and cozy, with rays from the sun streaming into the room through the large window near the door. A fire was going in the fireplace at the far end of the living room, and an old TV sat near the fire. A cigarette was in the CSM's mouth as he reread the letter he had received that morning. It was only a few lines long, and it had arrived in a plain white envelope with no address, but he knew who it was from. "You ask me to reconcile, and yet you make no attempt to see me face to face before you decide to take your little soul search in the middle of nowhere. However, a part of me keeps saying that this is the right thing to do. You must understand that I can't just forgive you in one second. What you did scarred me for life, and I don't know if I'll ever truly forgive you, but I am willing to try if you are. As you said in you letter: times have changed. Though I can't decipher what my head is telling me, my heart knows that I've never stopped loving you. When you decide to come out of hiding find me. I'll be waiting for a chance to talk. A.K." He knew it wasn't much, but Krycek's words had touched him. Cancerman knew he hadn't been a good father to Alex or Jeff, and that they would both never forgive him, but this was a start, and if Alex was willing to try, maybe Jeff would, too. Looking at his typewriter Cancerman got up and walked over to it, taking a seat on the wooden seat in front of it and adjusting the paper so it was in a good position to begin typing. Glancing at Krycek's letter once again, he smiled contentedly before beginning to write, thinking that maybe, for once in his life, he would finally be happy. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx *The next day* Alex Krycek surveyed the area where the 'abduction' had taken place. What had once been a small national park surrounded by trees was now an open pile of steaming rubble. Many trees had completely burnt away after being touched by the heat of the amazing even that had occured the night prior. After receiving the information about the envent Krycek had been shocked. What his people were describing sounded like a group abduction, but that wasn't possible, was it? They were fifteen years away! A part of him wondered if it could have had something to do with the bioweapon that the Consortium had been planning to use in Russia, but somehow he knew this wasn't true. No bioweapon, however powerful, could have done all the damage that he saw before him. Krycek watched as his group of Russian soldiers rushed around the site, doing their best to look at every little detail of the area to make sure they didn't miss anything. He sighed, knowing this would probably be the last time he saw Russian soldiers under his rule. After what he'd done to Mulder he'd have to finish up some things and then get the hell out. Suddenly he was pulled from his thoughts as he saw a few trucks pull up to the site. Out of them came uniformed men who Krycek quickly realized were American soldiers, and along with them was...Marita Covarrubies. Krycek rubbed the back of his neck, "Figures." He just prayed that he would remember that he was MAD at Marita, not MAD ABOUT Marita. That was when the boy caught his eye. A person was crouched in the bushes watching the American soldiers. "I wonder if..." Krycek cut himself off. It was worth a shot. Motioning to a few of the Russian soldiers he began towards the boy as quickly and quietly as he could. He had just stopped by the bushes when Krycek saw the boy come towards him as his troops moved in his direction. Just then the boy bumped into him and spun around, frightened. "What is your name?" Krycek asked him in Russian. He barely stopped himself from smiling as he heard the boy faintly stutter, "Di-Dimitri." Well, he was afraid, and Krycek knew that if Dimitri answered yes to his next question that he would have a reason to be scared. He would have a damn good reason. Again in Russian, Krycek inquired, "Did you see what happened here?" The boy nodded quickly, "Da." Krycek let out a deep sigh and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder sympathetically, "Too bad for you." **FOR CONTINUATION GO WATCH PATIENT "X"/THE RED AND THE BLACK AGAIN!** xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx Yep, well, this wasn't meant to be extremely good :-) Really, I just wanted to write a little thing leading up to P"X"/TRATB. It didn't start as this, but I just kind of changed it while I was writing, because that was when these two episodes aired I found out that I was completely screwed up. Well, a writer has to be willing to change. Yes, I know that I wasn't good in that I went for the approach of looking at the secondary characters instead of Mulder and Scully. Well, these two episodes did this, so I wanted to stay with it. Also, I don't think M and K belong together (Marita and Krycek) but it was what they portrayed in the episodes, so, well, I was staying with the files. For the first time I decided to try and stay with the real story, though I know making Krycek Cancerman's son was a bit of a leap. Well, the Navajo story with the twin gods asking for guidance and weapons got me thinking. I'm sure Krycek did this, and well, I don't know, decide for yourself. I'm known for messing up the family tree of the X-Files, so bear with me :-) One question: Were you completely confused by this story? I was thinking about a sequel that would explain this story in a little more detail, from the whole CSM/Krycek/Spender thing to the colonists, because I just tried to be as vague as I could so that I wouldn't upset anyone with different views in this story. So, if you want me to write a sequel to this story please write me and tell me so. It doesn't have to be a long grueling E-m telling me how bad this was, because I know it wasn't one of my best. Just say 'I was a little confused and I think you should write a sequel' or something like that. Anyway, I love feedback, and I'm at Rkacat@aol.com Thanks again for reading!