Chapter 5
Scully sits by the side of the bed, her eyes going over every inch of his body again and again. It's Mulder. It's really him. She can hardly believe it, but the blood tests proved it. Unfortunately, that's not all the blood tests picked up.
"Tell me again his chances, Doctor," she says in a whisper, trying to hold her tears at bay. But it's not working. She one hand to dry her soaked cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. He was already so far gone by the time he was brought into the hospital. It's only a matter of time. Based on the condition he's in, we don't think he'll even wake up again before succumbing to this disease."
"But what exactly is killing him?" Krycek asks.
"Yes, I don't understand," she sobs. "Why don't you know how to cure this, whatever this is?"
"The disease is so rare. There just isn't a set cure at this time," the doctor explains. "A bone marrow transfer may help buy him some time and give a course of anti-virals a chance to work, but chances of us finding a match in the next day or so are infinitesimal at best."
"Have you been trying to find a match?" she asks. "The only living relative I know of is . . . " She looks down at her stomach and caresses it gently, biting her lip in apprehension.
"Don't even think it, Agent Scully. The baby more than likely wouldn't be a match anyway. Even a sibling wouldn't guarantee being a match."
"How about a twin?"
"What?" Scully gasps, turning to look at Krycek, who's steadily avoiding her gaze.
"If there's one readily available, I'll give it a try," the doctor says, not noticing Scully's apparent shock. She can only stare at Krycek, barely comprehending the words coming out of his mouth.
"Just tell me where to go." Krycek sees her eyes go even wider, but ignores her for now. This isn't how he wanted anyone to find out, but it's out now. He'll have some explaining to do.
"Here is fine," the doctor says to Krycek, excited about the opportunity to finally treat Mulder. "I'll get a nurse to draw some blood for some initial tests. If all goes well, we can begin the transfer in the morning."
The doctor gives them both a hopeful smile before leaving them alone. Krycek knows that it's only a matter of seconds before he has to finally explain what he's been holding back all this time.
"What's going on?" she says finally, having tried several times to speak. "Why did you let that doctor think you may be a bone marrow donor for Mulder?"
"You heard what he said, Dana. A twin would have a good chance of . . ."
"You know what I mean," she snaps at him. "Twins? How?"
He just gives her a look, trying to break the tension, but it doesn't work. She just gets angrier.
"Don't try to be cute with me, Alex. I know the basics about the birds and the bees. I just want to know how this is possible? How could you have done the things you've done over the years? How . . . I don't understand," she says, her tears catching up to her again.
"I just found out," Alex admits. "Spender had files on the two of us. On his two . . . sons." He shivers involuntarily, still not able to come to terms with the idea of being that man's son.
"How did this happen?"
"The Cigarette Smoking Man and Teena Mulder were having an affair. She got pregnant. I was taken at birth and given away to a Russian family," he explains.
"The foster family you told me about."
He just nods before continuing.
"No one knew where I came from, except for Spender. Teena didn't even know she was pregnant with twins. She never even realized I was born. She wasn't conscious for the births."
"The man is a liar, Alex. Why after all this time would you believe anything he says?"
"I didn't. Trust me, I thought it was all a joke. But medical tests don't lie, Dana. DNA doesn't lie. Fox Mulder is my brother. My twin."
"Wow," is all she can say after a few minutes. "Well, that explains the guilt. And the dreams," she suddenly realizes. "It explains the connection you seemed to have to Mulder. And the similarities I've noticed between the two of you. And it would explain why you're still here."
"Excuse me?"
"Let's face it, Alex. Your part in this whole thing was just to help me find him. He's found now. Your torture dreams should be over. So why are you still here, offering to give him your bone marrow to help save his life?"
"I . . . I . . . don't know," he admits, at a loss for words. "It just seemed like the thing to do. I never had a brother, Dana. I don't think I'm quite ready to give up the one I just found."
She smiles at him, then turns to Mulder and smiles at him.
"You hear that, Mulder? There's a room full of people waiting on you to get better. So you hold on. Get stronger for us. Please," she whispers to him, pressing a kiss on his lips. She rests her head on his chest, whispering one last 'I love you' before drifting off to sleep.
Chapter 6
Krycek gets settled in his bed, a slight case of nerves taking over at the thought of his impending surgery. The doctors assure him it's a very simple procedure, but he's still a bit nervous.
"How about a kiss for luck," he teases Scully, trying to cover up his fear. But it doesn't work. One look at him and she can see how afraid he is.
"There really is nothing to worry about, Alex," she assures him. "It's a routine procedure that shouldn't take very long."
"What makes you think I'm worried?" he counters.
"Because I know that face. It's your panic face," she smiles gently at him with sudden realization of something. "It's just like Mulder's."
She just stares at him, unable to resist running her fingers over his eyebrows, gently lulling him into a state of serenity.
"Now you just go to sleep," she says soothingly as he's getting his anesthesia. "It'll be over before you know it."
Within moments, he's fallen asleep and taken up to surgery. That gives her the time to turn her attention back to Mulder as the nurse begins to prepare him for his own surgery.
"I wish you'd get better and wake up," she says to his sleeping form. "I missed you so much. And you've missed so much. There are so many things I need to tell you. Especially about the two new members of your family."
She takes his hand in her own and places it on her belly.
"This is our child, Mulder," she smiles. Bittersweet tears start to flow down her face. This is not the way she thought she'd be introducing him to his child. But he may not have much time after this if the bone marrow transfer and anti-virals don't work.
"And it seems you're not as alone as you thought. You have a brother. A twin, if you can believe that. I don't think I believed it until I saw the blood tests for myself. But Mulder, it's true. Krycek is your brother.
"I know you hate him. And I thought I did, too. But . . . I don't know. There's something different about him now. I think you should give him a chance. He may just surprise you."
"Miss, we have to take him up now," a nurse says to her, interrupting her private conversation with Mulder.
She takes the hand that's on her stomach and presses a kiss on it. Then she stands and gives him three more kisses - one on the forehead, one on the nose, and finally, one on the lips.
"I'll be right here waiting for you, Mulder. Promise you'll come back to me."
She gives him one last kiss before allowing him to be rolled away. All of her strength gone, she sinks wearily into her chair to wait. Wait and pray, because that's all she can do now.
The anesthesia leaves a heavy feeling on Krycek. It takes him awhile to fight his way through the sleepy fog. He manages to turn his head and groans, finding words too difficult to form.
"Welcome back, Alex," a cheery voice greets him. He forces his eyes open to find Scully staring at him. "You had us worried for awhile."
She places a straw to his lips and he greedily sips the proffered water, coughing a little when he drinks too quickly.
"Slow down. Your throat might be pretty raw."
"What happened?" he whispers.
"Bad reaction to the anesthesia," Scully explains. "I wasn't thinking. I warned them not to use it on Mulder because he's allergic to it. It didn't occur to me that you might be allergic to it, too. You stopped breathing on the table and they had to intubate you."
He opens his eyes wide to express his shock, but can't do anything more than that. He's just too tired still. Before he can stop it, his eyes drift shut again, allowing the sleep to take over.
The next time he wakes up, he feels much better. The effects of the anesthesia have worn off and all he feels is some pain at the surgery site. He pushes his feet over the side of the bed and tests his legs to hold his weight. Seeing that everything is back in proper working order, he shuffles to the bathroom, taking care not to wake the sleeping Scully. It's the first he's seen her rest in awhile. He has to make sure she takes care of herself and that baby now that he's better. She's going to need her strength until Mulder heals.
When he's done in the bathroom, he takes a seat next to Mulder, instead of getting back into his own bed. He finds that all he can do is stare. He's seen the man plenty over the years he's known him. But he's never looked at him as a brother. He wonders to himself what their lives would have been like if they were raised together.
"We would have still hated each other," Krycek whispers to avoid disturbing Scully. "But I think that's what brother's do. We also would have taken care of each other. And together, we would have taken care of Samantha."
Krycek goes back to just staring, unable to come up with anything else to say. He's had months to get used to the idea, but it's still a shock to him. He can only imagine the reaction Mulder's going to have. That thought alone is enough to make him smile.
But the smile doesn't last long. In the corner of his mind, somewhere, Alex gets the feeling that something isn't right. Trouble is coming for them. They need to get away as soon as possible.
"Dana," he calls quietly, trying to gently wake her. She rouses slightly, but doesn't awaken, so he tries again, this time louder. "Dana."
That does it. She opens her eyes and gives him an annoyed glare.
"We have to get out of here," he says. "Someone is coming for us."
"What?"
"I don't know who, but I get the feeling that we need to get out of here. Did you ever call Skinner?"
"Yes," she nods. "When the two of you were in surgery. He was able to get a flight and should be here any minute."
"Good. I'm still a little loopy from the surgery and Mulder's still completely out of it. There's no way the two of us will be able to get him out of here alone. We're going to need Skinner's help."
"My help doing what?"
Both Scully and Krycek turn at the sound of the voice at the door. Skinner stands there, his gun in hand and pointing directly at Krycek.
"Why would I help you do anything, Krycek?" Skinner asks, walking into the room and shutting the door to avoid anyone out in the hall seeing the gun. "What are you doing here?"
"Sir, it's okay," Scully jumps in. She walks over to him and puts her hand on the gun, pushing it down to Skinner's side.
"Listen, we can explain everything later, but right now, we need to get out of here," Krycek says. "Now are you going to help us or what?"
"Agent Scully?" Skinner looks at her, trying to read her on this. There's no way he'd trust Krycek on his own. But she seems to for some odd reason.
"We should listen to him, Sir. If he says we need to leave, then we should leave. We just need help getting Mulder out of here."
"What do you need me to do," Skinner relents, letting out a resigned sigh.
"You two get him out of here. I'll will meet you at your car once I raid the medicine cabinet to get the drugs for Dana to continue treating Mulder."
"I should come with you, Alex," Dana suggests. "You won't know what to get."
"No, Dana, you should go. That way if anything happens, Skinner will be able to get you and Mulder away from here."
"And leave you here alone? I don't think so," she says, standing firm on her decision. "Sir, you take Mulder. Alex and I will meet you downstairs by the side entrance. Drive around there and wait for us."
Skinner watches the ease between them and finds himself become more and more curious about them. But that's a question for another time. Right now, he needs to be concerned with getting Mulder out. Scully has given her orders and he'd be a fool to cross her now. But he still wonders what's going on here. Whatever it is, he doesn't like it. And he has a feeling that Mulder wouldn't like it much either.
Chapter 7
"Here we are. Home sweet home." Skinner shuts the door to the tiny cabin behind them. It's a hunting lodge owned by Skinner's ex-wife's family, in her name. That should lessen the chances of anyone tracking them there.
"I think we'll be okay here for awhile," Krycek says, looking out all the windows for the so far invisible threat. "At least until Mulder wakes up and is more mobile. What kind of supplies do we have?"
"There isn't much, right now. Maybe a few cans of soup, but not much more than that," Skinner says apologetically. "We should have gotten more stuff at the store when I filled up."
"It's probably a good thing we didn't. Buying a lot of supplies at one time would have drawn suspicion to us. But we are going to make sure we have enough food. I don't think Dana's eaten in awhile."
"I'm fine," she says, her full attention on Mulder. "Mulder's alive. That's all I need."
Skinner and Krycek give each other a look, both realizing that they're probably going to have to keep on reminding her to eat.
"I'll go back out," Skinner offers. "I can make sure we have enough food for the next few days. Any requests?"
"She's been on this strawberry pop tart kick lately," Krycek whispers to him. "Maybe you can get a box or two?"
Skinner just smiles, finding Scully's cravings funny. And he finds it even stranger that Krycek would know so much about them. He's definitely going to have to get the whole story from the two of them before he bursts from curiosity.
It's takes him about an hour to return, taking the time to make sure he's not followed. He's not sure he believes Krycek's story, but he's not going to risk the safety of two of his most prized agents. He'll just have to keep a close eye on any possible threat, and an even closer eye on Krycek.
When he gets back to the cabin, he's greeted with a sight that makes him all the more determined to find out just what Alex Krycek is up to. Both Krycek and Scully appear to be asleep, sitting on the couch with Scully tucked under Krycek's protective arm. But that's not the biggest surprise. The biggest shock of all is the other pair of eyes watching the slumbering couple. Mulder.
"Mulder! You're awake," Skinner says, not caring about waking Scully and Krycek.
Scully jumps awake at the mention of Mulder's name, her eyes opening to meet his. A teary, incredulous smile comes to her face. She's dreamed of this moment for months and now that it's coming true, she can hardly believe it. But she forces her shock to the side as she switches to doctor mode. Mulder is still her patient.
She starts to rise, only to have Krycek's grip on her tighten, protecting her even in his sleep.
"It's okay," she whispers to him. "Mulder's awake, Alex."
Krycek opens his eyes and blinks them a few times, trying to push aside his fatigue. He looks at the man lying on the bed and gives him a smirk.
"It's about time you joined the party," he snidely remarks, drawing a scornful glare from Scully.
"Alex, be nice," she warns, softening the look with a little smile that's more for Mulder than Krycek. She looks back at the love of her life, finally standing to make her way over to him. She forgets momentarily about the very telling bulge around her waist. But the look in Mulder's eyes tells her that he didn't miss it . . . and that he's completely misunderstood what it means.
"Scully?" He back and forth between her and Krycek, an accusatory glare in his eyes and she knows exactly what he's thinking. On the one hand, she can see how he would be confused at her obvious condition and the friendly banter between her and Krycek. But on the other hand, she's more than a little offended that he would jump to such a conclusion about her faithfulness to him.
"Relax, Mulder. It's not what you think." She reaches out to take his hand. He tries to snatch it away, but finds he lacks the strength. She's able to grab his hand and hold it tightly with her own.
"What I think is that you're pregnant, Scully," he says, his eyes starting to fill with tears. "What I see is you all cozy with my worst enemy."
"Mulder," she says calmly, putting both of her hands on the sides of his face and drawing his gaze into her own. "Look into my eyes and tell me what you really see."
He looks even more confused, if not a bit hopeful. But he plays the petulant child and refuses to say anything. She takes it upon herself to fill him in.
"Mulder, I know you see what I'm talking about. I know you can see that I love you, and only you. But if you look closer, you'll see how I've agonized these past five months. I've spent my time searching for you and grieving because you weren't by my side. That was time we should have spent together celebrating the new life we created."
At that declaration, Skinner clears his throat. He assumed Mulder was the father of the baby, but didn't have confirmation until just now. He then realizes that this isn't a conversation they should have an audience for. He motions for Krycek to follow him outside to give them some privacy.
"Is it true? Are you really pregnant?" Mulder asks, not noticing the now empty room. His complete focus is on Scully.
"Yeah," she nods with a smile growing on her face. This is the moment she's waited months for. She can't believe it's finally here.
"I did that to you?" he asks, an amazed grin growing on his face.
"Well, I'd like to think I had a hand in it too, Mulder," she laughs. "But, essentially yes. You did this to me."
"Can I . . . can I touch it? Please?"
"Of course. You don't ever have to ask. This is as much yours as it is mine."
"When did it all . . . happen?"
"When did I conceive?" She pauses, taking a moment to think. "I'm not entirely sure. But I have a strong suspicion that there was beer and a movie involved."
"Ah, Caddyshack night," Mulder grins. "I knew that movie would come in handy one day. And they say you were barren. All I needed to do was get you liquored up and let my virile, uh . . . essence handle the rest."
"You are too much," she laughs, a deep hearty chuckle like she hasn't done in months. When she thinks about how long it's been since she's been happy enough to laugh like this, her mood plummets and deep sobs replace the laughter.
"Hey, what's wrong? Why are you crying, Scully?"
"I missed you so much, Mulder," she sobs, laying her head on his chest and wrapping her arms as much around him as she can. "I missed talking to you and laughing with you. Holding you. Kissing you."
She takes a few minutes to make up for some lost kisses, stopping only when he seems short of breath.
"Sorry about that," she blushes, sitting up. "Some doctor I am, about to suffocate you after what you've been through. How are you feeling?"
"Fine. But I'd feel better if you came to lie down next to me," he smiles, giving her his infamous leer.
"You really are too much," she says, shaking her head. But she climbs into the bed with him, taking care not to squish him.
"I missed this too," she sighs contently. "I missed talking to you. I missed being held by you. I missed telling you about the baby. And showing you my first sonogram picture. Letting you feel the first kick. Making you go out to buy me pop tarts in the middle of the night. So much time is gone, Mulder. Time we can't get back."
"I'm sorry I went and got myself abducted."
"It wasn't your fault," she tells him, deciding to remain quiet about anything else. He'll need to be much stronger to deal with the rest of the story and how Krycek is involved.
"Why don't we get some rest," she suggests, knowing that they'll need it. Something tells her there will be some tough times ahead.
To be continued . . .
Scully sits by the side of the bed, her eyes going over every inch of his body again and again. It's Mulder. It's really him. She can hardly believe it, but the blood tests proved it. Unfortunately, that's not all the blood tests picked up.
"Tell me again his chances, Doctor," she says in a whisper, trying to hold her tears at bay. But it's not working. She one hand to dry her soaked cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. He was already so far gone by the time he was brought into the hospital. It's only a matter of time. Based on the condition he's in, we don't think he'll even wake up again before succumbing to this disease."
"But what exactly is killing him?" Krycek asks.
"Yes, I don't understand," she sobs. "Why don't you know how to cure this, whatever this is?"
"The disease is so rare. There just isn't a set cure at this time," the doctor explains. "A bone marrow transfer may help buy him some time and give a course of anti-virals a chance to work, but chances of us finding a match in the next day or so are infinitesimal at best."
"Have you been trying to find a match?" she asks. "The only living relative I know of is . . . " She looks down at her stomach and caresses it gently, biting her lip in apprehension.
"Don't even think it, Agent Scully. The baby more than likely wouldn't be a match anyway. Even a sibling wouldn't guarantee being a match."
"How about a twin?"
"What?" Scully gasps, turning to look at Krycek, who's steadily avoiding her gaze.
"If there's one readily available, I'll give it a try," the doctor says, not noticing Scully's apparent shock. She can only stare at Krycek, barely comprehending the words coming out of his mouth.
"Just tell me where to go." Krycek sees her eyes go even wider, but ignores her for now. This isn't how he wanted anyone to find out, but it's out now. He'll have some explaining to do.
"Here is fine," the doctor says to Krycek, excited about the opportunity to finally treat Mulder. "I'll get a nurse to draw some blood for some initial tests. If all goes well, we can begin the transfer in the morning."
The doctor gives them both a hopeful smile before leaving them alone. Krycek knows that it's only a matter of seconds before he has to finally explain what he's been holding back all this time.
"What's going on?" she says finally, having tried several times to speak. "Why did you let that doctor think you may be a bone marrow donor for Mulder?"
"You heard what he said, Dana. A twin would have a good chance of . . ."
"You know what I mean," she snaps at him. "Twins? How?"
He just gives her a look, trying to break the tension, but it doesn't work. She just gets angrier.
"Don't try to be cute with me, Alex. I know the basics about the birds and the bees. I just want to know how this is possible? How could you have done the things you've done over the years? How . . . I don't understand," she says, her tears catching up to her again.
"I just found out," Alex admits. "Spender had files on the two of us. On his two . . . sons." He shivers involuntarily, still not able to come to terms with the idea of being that man's son.
"How did this happen?"
"The Cigarette Smoking Man and Teena Mulder were having an affair. She got pregnant. I was taken at birth and given away to a Russian family," he explains.
"The foster family you told me about."
He just nods before continuing.
"No one knew where I came from, except for Spender. Teena didn't even know she was pregnant with twins. She never even realized I was born. She wasn't conscious for the births."
"The man is a liar, Alex. Why after all this time would you believe anything he says?"
"I didn't. Trust me, I thought it was all a joke. But medical tests don't lie, Dana. DNA doesn't lie. Fox Mulder is my brother. My twin."
"Wow," is all she can say after a few minutes. "Well, that explains the guilt. And the dreams," she suddenly realizes. "It explains the connection you seemed to have to Mulder. And the similarities I've noticed between the two of you. And it would explain why you're still here."
"Excuse me?"
"Let's face it, Alex. Your part in this whole thing was just to help me find him. He's found now. Your torture dreams should be over. So why are you still here, offering to give him your bone marrow to help save his life?"
"I . . . I . . . don't know," he admits, at a loss for words. "It just seemed like the thing to do. I never had a brother, Dana. I don't think I'm quite ready to give up the one I just found."
She smiles at him, then turns to Mulder and smiles at him.
"You hear that, Mulder? There's a room full of people waiting on you to get better. So you hold on. Get stronger for us. Please," she whispers to him, pressing a kiss on his lips. She rests her head on his chest, whispering one last 'I love you' before drifting off to sleep.
Chapter 6
Krycek gets settled in his bed, a slight case of nerves taking over at the thought of his impending surgery. The doctors assure him it's a very simple procedure, but he's still a bit nervous.
"How about a kiss for luck," he teases Scully, trying to cover up his fear. But it doesn't work. One look at him and she can see how afraid he is.
"There really is nothing to worry about, Alex," she assures him. "It's a routine procedure that shouldn't take very long."
"What makes you think I'm worried?" he counters.
"Because I know that face. It's your panic face," she smiles gently at him with sudden realization of something. "It's just like Mulder's."
She just stares at him, unable to resist running her fingers over his eyebrows, gently lulling him into a state of serenity.
"Now you just go to sleep," she says soothingly as he's getting his anesthesia. "It'll be over before you know it."
Within moments, he's fallen asleep and taken up to surgery. That gives her the time to turn her attention back to Mulder as the nurse begins to prepare him for his own surgery.
"I wish you'd get better and wake up," she says to his sleeping form. "I missed you so much. And you've missed so much. There are so many things I need to tell you. Especially about the two new members of your family."
She takes his hand in her own and places it on her belly.
"This is our child, Mulder," she smiles. Bittersweet tears start to flow down her face. This is not the way she thought she'd be introducing him to his child. But he may not have much time after this if the bone marrow transfer and anti-virals don't work.
"And it seems you're not as alone as you thought. You have a brother. A twin, if you can believe that. I don't think I believed it until I saw the blood tests for myself. But Mulder, it's true. Krycek is your brother.
"I know you hate him. And I thought I did, too. But . . . I don't know. There's something different about him now. I think you should give him a chance. He may just surprise you."
"Miss, we have to take him up now," a nurse says to her, interrupting her private conversation with Mulder.
She takes the hand that's on her stomach and presses a kiss on it. Then she stands and gives him three more kisses - one on the forehead, one on the nose, and finally, one on the lips.
"I'll be right here waiting for you, Mulder. Promise you'll come back to me."
She gives him one last kiss before allowing him to be rolled away. All of her strength gone, she sinks wearily into her chair to wait. Wait and pray, because that's all she can do now.
The anesthesia leaves a heavy feeling on Krycek. It takes him awhile to fight his way through the sleepy fog. He manages to turn his head and groans, finding words too difficult to form.
"Welcome back, Alex," a cheery voice greets him. He forces his eyes open to find Scully staring at him. "You had us worried for awhile."
She places a straw to his lips and he greedily sips the proffered water, coughing a little when he drinks too quickly.
"Slow down. Your throat might be pretty raw."
"What happened?" he whispers.
"Bad reaction to the anesthesia," Scully explains. "I wasn't thinking. I warned them not to use it on Mulder because he's allergic to it. It didn't occur to me that you might be allergic to it, too. You stopped breathing on the table and they had to intubate you."
He opens his eyes wide to express his shock, but can't do anything more than that. He's just too tired still. Before he can stop it, his eyes drift shut again, allowing the sleep to take over.
The next time he wakes up, he feels much better. The effects of the anesthesia have worn off and all he feels is some pain at the surgery site. He pushes his feet over the side of the bed and tests his legs to hold his weight. Seeing that everything is back in proper working order, he shuffles to the bathroom, taking care not to wake the sleeping Scully. It's the first he's seen her rest in awhile. He has to make sure she takes care of herself and that baby now that he's better. She's going to need her strength until Mulder heals.
When he's done in the bathroom, he takes a seat next to Mulder, instead of getting back into his own bed. He finds that all he can do is stare. He's seen the man plenty over the years he's known him. But he's never looked at him as a brother. He wonders to himself what their lives would have been like if they were raised together.
"We would have still hated each other," Krycek whispers to avoid disturbing Scully. "But I think that's what brother's do. We also would have taken care of each other. And together, we would have taken care of Samantha."
Krycek goes back to just staring, unable to come up with anything else to say. He's had months to get used to the idea, but it's still a shock to him. He can only imagine the reaction Mulder's going to have. That thought alone is enough to make him smile.
But the smile doesn't last long. In the corner of his mind, somewhere, Alex gets the feeling that something isn't right. Trouble is coming for them. They need to get away as soon as possible.
"Dana," he calls quietly, trying to gently wake her. She rouses slightly, but doesn't awaken, so he tries again, this time louder. "Dana."
That does it. She opens her eyes and gives him an annoyed glare.
"We have to get out of here," he says. "Someone is coming for us."
"What?"
"I don't know who, but I get the feeling that we need to get out of here. Did you ever call Skinner?"
"Yes," she nods. "When the two of you were in surgery. He was able to get a flight and should be here any minute."
"Good. I'm still a little loopy from the surgery and Mulder's still completely out of it. There's no way the two of us will be able to get him out of here alone. We're going to need Skinner's help."
"My help doing what?"
Both Scully and Krycek turn at the sound of the voice at the door. Skinner stands there, his gun in hand and pointing directly at Krycek.
"Why would I help you do anything, Krycek?" Skinner asks, walking into the room and shutting the door to avoid anyone out in the hall seeing the gun. "What are you doing here?"
"Sir, it's okay," Scully jumps in. She walks over to him and puts her hand on the gun, pushing it down to Skinner's side.
"Listen, we can explain everything later, but right now, we need to get out of here," Krycek says. "Now are you going to help us or what?"
"Agent Scully?" Skinner looks at her, trying to read her on this. There's no way he'd trust Krycek on his own. But she seems to for some odd reason.
"We should listen to him, Sir. If he says we need to leave, then we should leave. We just need help getting Mulder out of here."
"What do you need me to do," Skinner relents, letting out a resigned sigh.
"You two get him out of here. I'll will meet you at your car once I raid the medicine cabinet to get the drugs for Dana to continue treating Mulder."
"I should come with you, Alex," Dana suggests. "You won't know what to get."
"No, Dana, you should go. That way if anything happens, Skinner will be able to get you and Mulder away from here."
"And leave you here alone? I don't think so," she says, standing firm on her decision. "Sir, you take Mulder. Alex and I will meet you downstairs by the side entrance. Drive around there and wait for us."
Skinner watches the ease between them and finds himself become more and more curious about them. But that's a question for another time. Right now, he needs to be concerned with getting Mulder out. Scully has given her orders and he'd be a fool to cross her now. But he still wonders what's going on here. Whatever it is, he doesn't like it. And he has a feeling that Mulder wouldn't like it much either.
Chapter 7
"Here we are. Home sweet home." Skinner shuts the door to the tiny cabin behind them. It's a hunting lodge owned by Skinner's ex-wife's family, in her name. That should lessen the chances of anyone tracking them there.
"I think we'll be okay here for awhile," Krycek says, looking out all the windows for the so far invisible threat. "At least until Mulder wakes up and is more mobile. What kind of supplies do we have?"
"There isn't much, right now. Maybe a few cans of soup, but not much more than that," Skinner says apologetically. "We should have gotten more stuff at the store when I filled up."
"It's probably a good thing we didn't. Buying a lot of supplies at one time would have drawn suspicion to us. But we are going to make sure we have enough food. I don't think Dana's eaten in awhile."
"I'm fine," she says, her full attention on Mulder. "Mulder's alive. That's all I need."
Skinner and Krycek give each other a look, both realizing that they're probably going to have to keep on reminding her to eat.
"I'll go back out," Skinner offers. "I can make sure we have enough food for the next few days. Any requests?"
"She's been on this strawberry pop tart kick lately," Krycek whispers to him. "Maybe you can get a box or two?"
Skinner just smiles, finding Scully's cravings funny. And he finds it even stranger that Krycek would know so much about them. He's definitely going to have to get the whole story from the two of them before he bursts from curiosity.
It's takes him about an hour to return, taking the time to make sure he's not followed. He's not sure he believes Krycek's story, but he's not going to risk the safety of two of his most prized agents. He'll just have to keep a close eye on any possible threat, and an even closer eye on Krycek.
When he gets back to the cabin, he's greeted with a sight that makes him all the more determined to find out just what Alex Krycek is up to. Both Krycek and Scully appear to be asleep, sitting on the couch with Scully tucked under Krycek's protective arm. But that's not the biggest surprise. The biggest shock of all is the other pair of eyes watching the slumbering couple. Mulder.
"Mulder! You're awake," Skinner says, not caring about waking Scully and Krycek.
Scully jumps awake at the mention of Mulder's name, her eyes opening to meet his. A teary, incredulous smile comes to her face. She's dreamed of this moment for months and now that it's coming true, she can hardly believe it. But she forces her shock to the side as she switches to doctor mode. Mulder is still her patient.
She starts to rise, only to have Krycek's grip on her tighten, protecting her even in his sleep.
"It's okay," she whispers to him. "Mulder's awake, Alex."
Krycek opens his eyes and blinks them a few times, trying to push aside his fatigue. He looks at the man lying on the bed and gives him a smirk.
"It's about time you joined the party," he snidely remarks, drawing a scornful glare from Scully.
"Alex, be nice," she warns, softening the look with a little smile that's more for Mulder than Krycek. She looks back at the love of her life, finally standing to make her way over to him. She forgets momentarily about the very telling bulge around her waist. But the look in Mulder's eyes tells her that he didn't miss it . . . and that he's completely misunderstood what it means.
"Scully?" He back and forth between her and Krycek, an accusatory glare in his eyes and she knows exactly what he's thinking. On the one hand, she can see how he would be confused at her obvious condition and the friendly banter between her and Krycek. But on the other hand, she's more than a little offended that he would jump to such a conclusion about her faithfulness to him.
"Relax, Mulder. It's not what you think." She reaches out to take his hand. He tries to snatch it away, but finds he lacks the strength. She's able to grab his hand and hold it tightly with her own.
"What I think is that you're pregnant, Scully," he says, his eyes starting to fill with tears. "What I see is you all cozy with my worst enemy."
"Mulder," she says calmly, putting both of her hands on the sides of his face and drawing his gaze into her own. "Look into my eyes and tell me what you really see."
He looks even more confused, if not a bit hopeful. But he plays the petulant child and refuses to say anything. She takes it upon herself to fill him in.
"Mulder, I know you see what I'm talking about. I know you can see that I love you, and only you. But if you look closer, you'll see how I've agonized these past five months. I've spent my time searching for you and grieving because you weren't by my side. That was time we should have spent together celebrating the new life we created."
At that declaration, Skinner clears his throat. He assumed Mulder was the father of the baby, but didn't have confirmation until just now. He then realizes that this isn't a conversation they should have an audience for. He motions for Krycek to follow him outside to give them some privacy.
"Is it true? Are you really pregnant?" Mulder asks, not noticing the now empty room. His complete focus is on Scully.
"Yeah," she nods with a smile growing on her face. This is the moment she's waited months for. She can't believe it's finally here.
"I did that to you?" he asks, an amazed grin growing on his face.
"Well, I'd like to think I had a hand in it too, Mulder," she laughs. "But, essentially yes. You did this to me."
"Can I . . . can I touch it? Please?"
"Of course. You don't ever have to ask. This is as much yours as it is mine."
"When did it all . . . happen?"
"When did I conceive?" She pauses, taking a moment to think. "I'm not entirely sure. But I have a strong suspicion that there was beer and a movie involved."
"Ah, Caddyshack night," Mulder grins. "I knew that movie would come in handy one day. And they say you were barren. All I needed to do was get you liquored up and let my virile, uh . . . essence handle the rest."
"You are too much," she laughs, a deep hearty chuckle like she hasn't done in months. When she thinks about how long it's been since she's been happy enough to laugh like this, her mood plummets and deep sobs replace the laughter.
"Hey, what's wrong? Why are you crying, Scully?"
"I missed you so much, Mulder," she sobs, laying her head on his chest and wrapping her arms as much around him as she can. "I missed talking to you and laughing with you. Holding you. Kissing you."
She takes a few minutes to make up for some lost kisses, stopping only when he seems short of breath.
"Sorry about that," she blushes, sitting up. "Some doctor I am, about to suffocate you after what you've been through. How are you feeling?"
"Fine. But I'd feel better if you came to lie down next to me," he smiles, giving her his infamous leer.
"You really are too much," she says, shaking her head. But she climbs into the bed with him, taking care not to squish him.
"I missed this too," she sighs contently. "I missed talking to you. I missed being held by you. I missed telling you about the baby. And showing you my first sonogram picture. Letting you feel the first kick. Making you go out to buy me pop tarts in the middle of the night. So much time is gone, Mulder. Time we can't get back."
"I'm sorry I went and got myself abducted."
"It wasn't your fault," she tells him, deciding to remain quiet about anything else. He'll need to be much stronger to deal with the rest of the story and how Krycek is involved.
"Why don't we get some rest," she suggests, knowing that they'll need it. Something tells her there will be some tough times ahead.
To be continued . . .