Summary: "They have always been utilities." For the Harem Secret Santa. Krycek/Marita.

I'm a longtime admirer of cgb's work, so I couldn't
have asked for a nicer surprise than this! I hope you
all enjoy it as much as I did.

-eo

+-----

Merry Christmas (however late) and Happy New Year!!
Title: Song for the Forsaken
Author: cgb (luberluber@yahoo.com.au)
Rating: PG
Category: Krycek/Marita. V.
Archive: Yes.
Summary: "They have always been utilities."
For the Harem Secret Santa. Happy Christmas to
Eodrakken Quicksilver! Hope this is a weird enough
happy ending for you. And thank you (and Maiden
Jedi!) for making me write my favourite weird-arse
couple, one more time.
Acknowledgments: At the end.
*
She is suddenly there before him, an apparition from
nowhere, and yet he expected her since he woke this
morning. There was something in the way the sun broke
through the cell's tiny window - something foreboding.
Or maybe it was that bird that called from outside, an
unfamiliar cry from a strange bird, a song for the
forsaken.

He doesn't believe in omens, but everything happens
for a reason which is why his revenging angel is
standing outside the cell in crisp linen and Clinique
make-up. Funny how it isn't weird to see her here.
Funny how she doesn't look out of place when she so
obviously is.

Funny how these things work out. You kill me, I kill
you and they'll only be even when they're both dead.

They fly First Class back to the states. He thinks he
should be confused by this - this instant switch from
prison cell to champagne and heated towels - but he's
forgotten normal life now and, if asked, he'll argue
it never existed.

The blonde next to him looks significantly better when
she's not carrying an alien virus. Her mood hasn't
improved, though. She tells him to drink water and the
stewardess brings Evian. "You need to replenish your
fluids," she says and he does what he is told.

He thinks he should ask her where they're going but he
knows her well enough to know she's waiting for the
right moment - probably some time after the meal. She
insists on nutrition first, his well being. He still
doesn't know what it means.

She orders the fish and the fillet mignon for him. She
refuses wine and requests two glasses of Perrier.
"Electrolytes," she tells him. He would have liked
wine.

Eventually, after coffee, she turns to him. "Aren't
you wondering why I came to get you?"

He gives a short laugh. "Do you think I care?"

"No," she says. "I suppose not. Although I would think
you'd be concerned. You did leave me to die in that
place."

And she put him in a jail in Tunisia. It's his turn
but they don't play that kind of game. He shrugs,
feigns nonchalance. It probably annoys her.

He's not so arrogant to think she'd come all this way
for revenge - or for anything personal. She needs him.
Someone needs him. They have always been utilities.

If he affects her at all she doesn't show it.
"Everything's changing," she says and her eyes are on
the sky outside.

"Things are always changing."

"This is different - this is. "

He waits for her to finish but she doesn't, just
continues to stare out the window. For a while he
follows her look, expecting to see whatever she sees,
but he gives up shortly and goes back to his Perrier.

He thinks, he would really have liked wine.

*

They don't have luggage so they walk straight from
customs to their drive. He gives her an informal
salute by way of recognition and they follow him
outside, to a black Mercedes. She gets in before him.


He hesitates before getting in. He looks at the sky,
feeling the breeze against his eyelashes. It's so mild
here. You'd think nothing could happen in such calm
conditions.

She looks out at him, expectantly. "Get in," she says.


He doesn't. "I know why you came for me," he says.

"Why?"

"There was no one else - was there?"

She frowns. "We have other operatives."

"That's not what I meant." She doesn't need minions.
She doesn't needs allies. She needs him. Not someone
she trusts, but someone she knows.

She looks nervously at the driver and then back at
Alex. She lifts her shoulders a little. "What do you
want me to say, Alex?"

He thinks about this. Nothing, nothing at all. He just
wants it to be understood - you and me, baby,
everything we have.

He climbs into the back seat, next to her. "Just
remember," he says. "Remember that."

The car pulls away from the kerb and they drive off in
silence.
Fin

Acknowledgments: Thanks to Teanna once more who
provides thoughtful feedback on whatever I write, and
Liz who threw her two cents in.