DISCLAIMER: I don't own The X-Files.

Chapter 2

Saturday morning

She woke up before 7 am the next morning, starting the day with a shower. After dressing up, Scully went down to the restaurant adjacent to the inn, where she had her fill of cheese omelet, toast and coffee. She looked at her surroundings as she ate; aside from her, there was an elderly couple. It seemed as if they were the only people staying at the inn. Being alone didn't bother her though. She could meditate effectively on the things she needed to think about, with no familiar face to distract her.

Finished with her breakfast, Scully decided to have a morning stroll by the sea. On her way out of the inn, she happened to pass by a corridor where a painting of the sea hung solitarily. She stopped in front of it to have a good look. The painting was mostly done in varying shades of blue, grey and green, with the mountains as background, the sea as middle ground, and the sandy seashore as foreground. She looked more closely, and noticed a striking detail. There were two children sitting by the seashore, a boy in a blue shirt and a girl with wavy red hair in a white dress. Their backs were faced the viewer.

The girl in the painting reminded her of her 10-year old self. She had been here in Nantucket as a child. Her family spent a one-month vacation here, and in the course of it, she met a boy who became her friend. Scully never had the chance to ask for his name. She remembered that the boy did sketches of the sea while she sat beside him, watching him earnestly.

Then it hit her: could that be me? She stared at the painting again, and she felt it too good to be true. Even with her back turned, Scully knew it was her as a child. But what about him? A ray of hope shone within her heart. Maybe he still lives here. Based on what she recalled, he told her that he had relatives here on this island.

But her skeptic mind got the best of her. If ever they meet again, he wouldn't recognize her anymore. Besides, it was a long time ago. Add to that, she didn't know his name, so to look for him here would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

Scully removed her transfixed gaze from the painting and continued her way to the seashore. She tried to accept the fact that in reality, some memories slip away and it was useless to hold on to them.

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After he had breakfast with his uncle, Alex Krycek went to the seashore. He always did this ritual everyday; if not in the morning, then at night. He would walk barefoot, the waves tickling his feet, feeling the sand between his toes. Once in a while, he would bend down to pick up a shell or a pebble, which he threw back to the ocean. Living near the sea made him appreciate the grandiose beauty of nature. It changed him from within, and made him feel remorseful for all the wicked deeds he did in the past. But to hold on to his former life was useless now. For him, the present mattered the most.

Krycek strolled all the way to his favorite spot. Upon reaching it, he sat on the upturned boat, enjoying himself. He thought of the things he needed to do for the day: finish his recent painting, meet up at the bar with some friends for a drink. They were also artists in that place, and his history as an FBI agent was unknown to them.

From afar, he saw the same woman at the inn balcony last night. He was not alone today, he thought. She strolled by the shore, holding her flip-flops in one hand. Her eyes looked far away, as if she was in deep thought. Now at daylight, Krycek could clearly see her features. Her hair was a bit reddish, which went a bit past her shoulders. She wore a white short-sleeved twinset and khaki Bermuda shorts. As she drew closer, he could see that she was very pretty. And also familiar. Maybe later, he could ask for her name. It had been ages since he was in a relationship, or even a date.

Without warning, the lady clumsily fell down on the sand, clutching at her foot. "Ow!" she cried out in pain. It was obvious that she stepped on a piece of glass. It got Krycek running to her side in no time. "Hey miss, are you alright?" he asked concerned.

"Ugh…" she muttered. "Don't worry, I can handle this," she said, pulling out the shard of glass stuck on her left foot. "Ouch…"

"Here," he handed her a handkerchief from his pocket. "This should stop the bleeding." The woman hastily took it and wrapped it tightly near her ankle, forcing to stop the persistent bleeding.

"Can you walk back to the inn? I think your wound needs to be treated," Krycek suggested.

"No," she declined. "It's okay, really. I'm a doctor, and I can take care of myself." She tried to stand up, but to no avail.

"I can lift you up and take you to your room if you like to."

"No need. It might be a bother for you and…"

She stopped in midsentence as she turned her face to look at him. His heart skipped a beat. They looked at each other, shocked. The woman in front of him was none other than…

"Dana Scully?"

(TBC)

A/N: In case you're wondering, this is set in the present-day. That's why Scully has long hair. RR please! Thank you!