TITLE: Journey into the Beyond
AUTHOR: Mel X Lady
RATING: R
CATEGORY: Post-Requiem
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT: Feel free to post this anywhere as
long as my name stays with the fanfic.
FEEDBACK: DJPDude@Juno.com
SPOILERS: Beyond the Sea, Pilot, S.R. 819, Requiem, Tunguska/Terma, Sleepless, Avatar
The 9 minute lapse that abductees experience is mentioned several times.
SUMMARY: Scully searches for Mulder with the aid of an old aquantience. Post-Requiem.
DISCLAIMER: Well, everyone should have a goal, although!
I DON'T OWN: Scully, Mulder, Krycek, Skinner, The LGM, CSM, and Marita.
I DO OWN: A backpack, X-Files Action figures, A few tapes, A bed and my computer.
NOTES: This came to me over the summer of 2000. My family moved from Oklahoma City, OK to Columbia, SC. So I needed a friend, and my fanfics seem to work just fine.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Krycek opened his eyes again as he looked around the empty plane. His eyes quickly moved toward his left shoulder as he smiled at the returned limb. In his dreams, he always had his whole body. It couldn't be taken away from him then. He stood up and stretched both his arms over his head as he relished in the memory of his long forgotten limb being moved freely. The prosthetic was nothing compared to the real thing, although it did add to the intimidation he offered when on the job. He smiled as he walked along the isle and touched things with his hands, freely. He stopped when he felt a presence behind him.
"Hey," Krycek said to the familiar face. He only had friends in his dreams, meaning he was fairly lonely at times, although he had made up people in his mind to comfort him. Comfort him when he was alone or in desperate need to have someone to hug or just to be near.
"Hey," the man replied as Krycek saw the face form. The red hair was familiar as he reached out and hugged him. Krycek hugged back as he sighed at the memory of Scully hugging him. It had been quick and a desperate action, but it was possibly the most relaxed he had been in years.
"Alexi, I'm here, but I think there's someone else in your head right now," the red haired man said as Krycek stared in question for a moment as he quickly turned and faced the only familiar face he'd seen in the last 4 days.
"Scully," he whispered as she walked toward him and hugged him.
"Dana," she whispered into him as he felt her body press against his. His heart sped as she pulled his head down to hers and hessitantly brushed her lips over his. He closed his eyes as Scully took his lips in a savage kiss. His heart quickly swelled as he felt his pulse race and his mind soar. He quickly stopped his mind as he put his hands to use and began to explore her body. He rested his right hand on her hip and tangled his left hand in her hair. She abruptly stopped as she held his hands with her own and pulled away, gasping for air as Krycek did the same. He panted as his world suddenly turned dark and quickly light again as he heard Dana whispering to him.
"Krycek. Krycek. Wake up," she whispered into his ear as he startled into life and looked around. He looked at the watch he carried on his right wrist and read it was 7:30 in the morning.
"Scully," he panted as she looked at him.
"Bad dream?" she asked as he hid a laugh. Anything but that, hell, nothing had ever been further from the truth, Krycek thought to himself as he nodded and leaned his head against the seat. What was that about? Why was he dreaming about Scully? She was Mulder's. She loved him, he loved her. She was pregnant for God's sake. Krycek had no control over that, he only had control over himself and he refused to do anything to Scully.
"Where are we?" he asked quietly as he noticed a few other people where still asleep.
"About half an hour away from Oregon, and then Bellefleur is just a short ways away," she whispered to him as he nodded and hid a yawn.
"Those pills are amazing. I hardly woke up at all," she started as he looked toward her.
"I know. I've been taking them for about five years now. Knocks me out so deep I stay under for a few hours,"
"You don't...over dose, do you?" she asked, quietly.
"Never, why?"
"Just asking. I - uh - take you for a man who knows when to stop, but the way you've described your life and - um - the way I've seen it played out-"
"Scully, trust me, I would never do that. I know death isn't a solution to a problem."
"I can't. I can't trust you, Krycek," she whispered as Krycek stopped and realized what he had said. He slowly nodded after a few moments as Scully nodded and turned away.
"Would you?"
"Would I what?" she asked, still turned away but she listened to his words.
"Would you ever trust me?"
"I'm not sure. Noting our history and-"
"Forget about that. Say if, if we had just met at the FBI. Two agents, on the elevator one day or something like that, then. Would you trust me?" he asked as he gently took his hand and cupped her cheek as he slowly turned her head to face him. "Would you?" he repeated as she felt his fingers slowly start to twist the strands of hair they touched.
"I-I don't know. Krycek, you can't just go and ask people these sorts of questions," she whispered as she took his hand away from her cheek and put it back to his chest.
"I know, and I'm sorry," he whispered as Scully nodded and turned toward the window again. She had made it a habit to retreat to her window. The little window that showed her the world that she would soon know again. She would find Mulder and they could return to life. They would.
XXXXXX
Skinner looked at the file as he felt his hand slip to the top drawer of his desk as he quickly pulled it away and stuck it back on top of the desk. Those pictures had haunted him through his dreams last night and his meetings that morning. Luckily, no one had noticed how distant he was or how stressed he looked. First he killed a man and now he had evidence of one of his best agents consorting with a wanted man. What next? he wondered to himself as right on cue, an envelope slipped under his door. He stood up and walked to it as he quickly lifted the simple, white envelope up and slipped it open. A piece of paper fell out as he bent over to pick it up and looked at the familiar word that was written on the paper.
Morley.
Skinner slowly stood back up as he looked up and realized he had been watched. He had always been watched, and chances were, he was being watched right now.
XXXXXX
Langly sat in front of the glowing screen of his monitor as he closed his eyes for a second and sighed. He had been sitting there for three hours straight and was exhausted. He'd been checking out the flight plans for Bellefleur, Oregon, trying to figure out if something had gone irregular or if there had been any off flight planes. Apparently someone had spotted something in the sky a week ago and it had been reported to the Lone Gunmen.
"Langly, you still up?" a scratchy voice asked as Langly took his eyes off the screen for a second and caught the gaze of Frohike.
"Yep. Still trying to get into the flight records. They upped the security apparently, because I'm not getting in. Damn," he murmured as he looked back to the computer and continued typing in numbers.
"What time is it anyway?" Langly asked a Frohike glanced at the clock on the wall.
"2:00. Meaning Scully is over at 11:00. I think she'd be off the plane by now."
"No, I mean, 2 am or 2 PM?"
"PM, why?"
"Because, Mulder left his watch here and it says it's 1:51 PM,"
"When did Mulder leave his watch?"
"After he came back from Oregon the first time, It's been running nine minutes slow since he left it."
"Missing time?" Byers asked from a doorway as Frohike turned to him, somewhat surprised to see him up. Byers had done the hacking the night before and was up for 24 hours straight.
"It would make sense. The nine minute lapse, Mulder told us about it a while ago."
"A long while ago. Almost 8 years, but I remember it. It was back when we first met Scully," Frohike said with a smirk on his face.
"I don't want to hear any eulogies yet, I'm in," Langly said as he quickly picked up his pace and typed in key words.
"Anything?"
"Bingo. Something was spotted in the area a week ago, and the airlines don't have records of flights in that path, so-"
"So what is it?"
"Not sure, looking for photographs or anythin-" Langly cut himself off as he watched the computer die and all the power in the building die.
"Son of a bitch! Damn it! No! Damn bastards!" Langly groaned out as the power stayed off and trapped the three men in a dark room except for a bit of light that filtered through an old window.
"It's out," Frohike murmured.
"It's gone," Langly confirmed as he sighed and slipped out of his chair.
"Did we get anything?" Byers asked as Langly shrugged.
"Only what we saw. The records are there, and there are satellite photos, and there are eye witness accounts. I think we can safely assume Mulder's out there," he murmured as Byers nodded and picked up the phone.
"Cell," Frohike said in one quick warning as Byers nodded while he hung up the phone and moved to the cellular phone.
"Who are you calling?"
"Scully, I'm letting her know there's still a chance Mulder's out there."
XXXXXX
Scully shuffled through the people as she looked at the familiar walls of a town that was always like Halloween. Her cell phone let out a shrill ring as Scully picked it up and flipped it open.
"Scully."
"Scully, it's Byers. Where are you?"
"Bellefleur. Just arrived. What's up?"
"Mulder. Well, the UFO he's in at least."
"What?"
"Do you remember where he was abducted?"
"Yeah, I can find it."
"Okay, get there. Tonight. We might be off, but chances are the UFO will return tonight."
"And if it does?"
"Be there."
"Okay, thank you. Bye," she said as she hung up and faced Krycek.
"Skinner?" he asked as she shook her head.
"No, Byers. We have to get to the woods, tonight. Mulder might return."
"You think?"
"Well, I don't know, but UFOs do have a tendency to return, meaning that Mulder's might return," she answered as they walked toward the door.
"Is that considered a solid lead?" Krycek asked casually. He knew that was part of their deal. He'd leave as soon as she found a solid lead, however, for some reason he'd never understand, he didn't want to go.
"It might, in some cases, but right now, all I need is to get there and see if Mulder returns."
"Listen, Scully, I know you said that as soon as you found a solid lead, you wanted me to buzz off, but I can't. Not now. We're-you're too close to this. You're too close to finding something, I can't leave," he said as she stopped and looked at him.
"Krycek, you're a dead man-"
"And you're not,"
"What? No, Krycek, you're going to have to leave soon. They will find us, no matter what."
"Tomorrow. I'll leave tomorrow, just. Please. Please let me help you tonight,"
"Why?"
"Well, Skinner wasn't a big help with Mulder and I'm not sure what happened to him. I'm not letting you go. You told me Skinner's story and I'm not letting that happen to you. Please, let me help you tonight, if the UFO returns," he quickly dropped his voice and pulled Scully off to the side of the room, "if the UFO returns, I'll leave forever. Hand the switch off to you, send you and Mulder back to DC and I'll get the hell away, forever," he bargained as Scully stood and stared at him for a moment. He'd lied before, but he had only told the truth on this trip, which should earn him merit.
"What if the UFO doesn't come back, tonight. Then what?"
"I leave anyway, leave you alone, but I still watch you in that area at night. I know you, Scully. Mulder's rubbed off on you, and you are a hell of a fighter. You won't stop, so I say call Skinner out here. I watch from a distance and you two find Mulder and bring him home."
Scully looked at him for a moment before reluctantly nodding. As much as she hated it and the fact that she needed to admit it, she needed Krycek right then. She needed him to keep her from falling or going off the edge. Keep her from taking hostages or screaming to the heavens for Mulder.
"Good," he answered as they walked out and picked up the car Mulder had rented a week ago.
XXXXXX
Skinner sat at his desk as his watch beeped seven o'clock. He stopped as he reached for it and turned it off but heard a shuffling sound from the front of the room.
"Hello?" he called out as the lights in the room went out.
"Who's there! Tell me!" he yelled out as he heard the same voice that he'd heard last night.
"It's me. Relax. I needed to come early tonight, but I'd get out to Oregon if I were you."
"Why?" he called out to the general direction of the voice in the darkness.
"You're wanted. You're needed. I don't know why, I only follow out orders. Call Scully as soon as I leave. Do it and I'll bring you more information. Tell her one thing for me, please. Tonight," she said plainly as Skinner heard a door open and shut quickly and his lights flip back on.
Walter sighed for a moment as he picked up his phone and dialed Scully's cell phone number.
XXXXXX
Scully's phone let out a shrill ring as she picked it up out of her pocket and answered it while she and Krycek stopped at a red light.
"Scully."
"Scully, it's Skinner. I have information for you."
"I'm listening, Sir." she said as she directed her eyes toward Krycek so he'd know it was Skinner.
"Tonight. I'm not sure what that means or what kind of information it merits, but I was told to pass it along."
"Sir, that means everything to me. Thank you!" Scully called into the phone as she prepared to hang up but heard his voice again.
"Sir?"
"Scully, I asked if you needed my help out there. Since you're on the case alone."
"Well, sir. I think I can manage it. I plan to be in the woods tonight, waiting. Sir... I think we need to disconnect. Now," Scully said as she quickly closed the phone and handed it to Krycek.
"Search it. Please. Is there something in it?"
"What? Why?"
"Someone's watching us. Or listening to us."
"Why? What'd Skinner say?" Krycek asked as he broke the phone open and looked through the familiar wirings.
"Hello," he murmured as he picked up a piece of metal and held it between his fingers as Scully looked at it for a moment and nodded.
"Who?"
"I don't know. There are so many people who could have pulled this off. Are you aware of anyone being near your cell phone?"
"I don't think- wait," she paused as memories of Marita breaking into her apartment while she was out passed through her mind. Marita had enough time to break into Scully's phone and put it back together, and she'd been around Krycek long enough to know how to. "Marita. I think Marita Covarrubias did. She broke into my apartment the night you came to me. I denied knowledge of you. Skinner asked me if I was traveling alone, so I think he knows something."
"And passed the information on to Skinner?"
"Yes. I'm sure she has. He wanted to come out here."
"Well, I'm going to be gone in the morning, get him out here to help you."
"Well, if Mulder comes back tonight, Skinner would be too late-"
"How well do you know the man? He'll come out, especially if I'm out here. He'll come out here to kill me, then find Mulder. Priorities first, Scully."
"Krycek. I'm going on out to the forest, are you coming with me?"
"Yes," he answered quickly. Almost too quickly as she looked at him again and back to the road.
"Good," she murmured as they drove toward the woods that would soon trap them in the darkness.
XXXXXX
Skinner looked at his watch again and sighed. It had been 7 o'clock for three time zones now. He'd soon be in Oregon and would be out in the woods to help Scully find Mulder, and hopefully, Krycek wouldn't be anywhere near her. From the pictures he'd seen and the reports he'd received, Krycek was with her, and wasn't playing nice. He shook his head as he damned himself for not flying out sooner to help. He could have gone with her when she left and he wouldn't be in this situation.
The Smoking Man wouldn't be after him, his contact wouldn't be out to get him and he wouldn't be worrying himself to death. He sighed again as he closed his eyes and drifted into a fitful dream.
"Walter. Walter," a voice said softly as Skinner turned around and smiled at Sharon. In his dreams, nothing had ever happened. He was still a happily married man, married to the love of his life.
"Sharon," he smiled as he held her in his arms and eagerly took her lips into a kiss. She pulled away slowly and smiled.
"You have company," she whispered to him as he nodded and watched her step away and a familiar man step forward.
"Hey there," the red haired man said as Skinner smiled and said "Hi".
"You know, Scully is a big girl. She's not in trouble. Krycek hasn't hurt her," he started as Skinner looked at him with a concerned look in his eyes.
"Are you sure?"
"Are you?" he asked as Skinner quickly woke up and faced a stewardess.
"Miss?"
"Yes, Sir, we're landing in a few minuets so please return to the upright position. Thank you," she said happily as she turned and walked down the isle. Skinner quickly looked to his watch and realized he'd fallen asleep for an hour or so.
XXXXXX
Krycek quickly walked behind Scully as they walked through the woods and toward the center of a clearing with what remained of markers.
"What were they doing?" Krycek asked a silent Scully as she turned and shrugged.
"Looking for rushes," she answered as Krycek nodded and looked at his watch.
"8 o'clock. Any idea what time?"
"As soon as it gets dark. Dusk to dawn. We have a while to wait," she answered quietly as Krycek looked at her. The tough warrior that had been up for most of the trip had suddenly fallen and revealed a never before seen Scully. A weak, scared Scully who looked exhausted. Her eyes showed dark circles under them as she slowly stroked her stomach.
He was about to ask if she wanted to be alone as she turned and looked at him. His brilliant green eyes where blood shot with the result of not fully sleeping in days and from the fear of paranoia. He had since taken off his glasses and looked more like a mountain man then anything else in his flannel shirt and dark denim jeans. Scully covered her mouth as she crouched to the ground and let out something that sounded like a mix of tears and laughter.
"Scully?"
"I'm fine. I'm fine!" she cried out as he stepped toward her and helped her stand up. Krycek looked at her and shook his head as laughter built up in his throat and quickly escaped. They stood there, laughing harder then they had ever in their lives as Scully fell into his body. The stress had finally won them over as Scully hugged into him and felt tears fall from her eyes, although she wasn't crying. She pulled away after a moment and caught tears in the corner of his eyes too.
"Alex? When was the last time you cried?" she asked as he stopped for a moment. Had she really just said his name? Was she really in his chest? Was she really asking about his past? Was any of this real, or just another hallucitional dream that he'd had time to time?
"Too long ago," he answered as he felt a tear slip down his cheek.
Scully looked at him and slowly moved his head to her shoulder. He took a deep breath as he inhaled her. She smelled wonderful as he closed his eyes and realized she was the only woman he ever wanted. The Smoking Man may have destroyed his ability to love and his chances to ever be with her, but he still had his dreams. She had already moved in to his head and his heart and wasn't planing on moving anytime soon, which was fine with Krycek.
"Dana?" he murmured into her neck as she felt him pull away and look at her. She was trapped. She felt his hypnotic green eyes stare into her as she stared back. She was trapped in a sea of green as she felt Krycek hold her down and passionately kiss her. Holding her and telling her she'd be fine, that Mulder would be home soon.
Mulder.
How could Scully ever have thoughts of anyone besides Mulder? She had told him she loved him and he loved her. After years of love and lust, hiding feelings and denying it to themselves, everything was in place.
Everything was in place except for those green eyes that keep looking into her. They kept looking at her, not demanding anything, not begging, not wanting. Looking. Just looking.
"Alex?" she asked as she leaned forward and kissed his forehead. She rested her lips as she felt his heavy breathing on her neck. He closed his eyes tightly as he forced the tears to stop. They were painful, and the sound his heart made, was that shattering?, also hurt.
He took a deep breath as Scully pulled away and looked at him. He stared into her deep, blue eyes. They were gorgeous. Almost like the sky. He felt himself soaring in her eyes. He watched her blink and a tear fall from her eye as he leaned across and slowly kissed the tear before it slid down her cheek bone. He tasted her and the salt mixed together as he pulled back and felt her run her fingers though his hair. She stopped as she saw something in the distance.
"Dana?"
"I think it's here," she whispered as Krycek turned around and looked at what her eyes had fixed on.
XXXXXX