Welcome To The Harem
Final Truths by Lexy Torell and Psi Fi Part 1 of 4
Summary: Deslea's rec: "This Krycek/Other love story is a little sweeter than my usual tastes, but it meshes with a strong mytharc-based intrigue. Well-developed almost-original character and a nice balance of schmoop and angst. Mulder is a strong supporting presence."
TITLE: Final Truths (1/4) AUTHOR: 'Lexy Torell & Psi Fi' EMAIL ADDRESS: lexytorell@qwest.net ARCHIVE: Please! Just let me know where! :-) RATING: PG CATEGORY: TR DISCLAIMER: Unfortunately, these characters don't belong to me. Although, it would be nice if they did, cause then we would be very rich women, instead of having to write all these stories for free! They belong to Chris Carter and 1013 Production. KEYWORDS (CONTENT WARNING): Krycek/Other SPOILER WARNING: Entire Mytharc and Samantha Storyline up through Millenium SUMMARY: A mysterious woman appears in Fox Mulder's life and he investigates to find out who she is. FEEDBACK: lexytorell@qwest.net and strytlr1572@aol.com PLEASE!! This is our VERY first joint attempt at fan fiction. So please be gentle! Any constructive criticism or any other pointers you can give would be GREATLY appreciated! I really hope you like it!) ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** Andrea Spender sat in a chair in front of her Father's desk, waiting to hear the assignment. The old man was cool as always, taking long, steady drags off the cigarette hanging from his lips. "Alex, Andrea...I have a new assignment for you concerning Agent Mulder." Alex Krycek's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly and only the very observant or someone who knew him would notice the tension that was suddenly vibrating through him. "Mulder? What about him?" "Do we finally get to take care of him?" The young woman offered with cool enthusiasm. "He's been causing enough problems lately." The smoking man, called Cancerman by many of his more sarcastic enemies, took another long drag off the implement of his many nicknames. Krycek shook his head warningly. "I'm through committing murders for you..." "Not murder. I told you before we can't risk that. We've decided that Mulder should be put away somewhere quiet...for his own good, of course." Andrea Spender spared Krycek a brief glance, wondering why she was being paired with him if he couldn't work for the greater good of the cause. She had heard rumors and warnings about this particular agent and she had strong doubts about his loyalty, especially given the lack of respect he showed her father...a great man who had dedicated his life to their important work. She resolved to study Krycek, so she could report any treachery. "Mulder is quite obsessive," the smoking man puffed. "With the right prodding his behavior should deteriorate. If that were to happen, I'm sure even Skinner and Agent Scully would admit the need for Agent Mulder to receive some...professional help." Andrea grinned slightly, catching on, but Krycek smiled wryly. "You tried that already...he only drinks bottled water now." Andrea shot him a hard glance, but answered as if he hadn't commented. "I see. I'm sure that wouldn't be too difficult. A nice padded cell with a white jacket...that would suit him nicely." "Your objection is noted, Alex. I'm sure you and Andrea will find something more...creative this time." "It shouldn't be too difficult, I'm sure," Andrea repeated, glancing over at Krycek, who reluctantly nodded. "Good. I look forward to hearing of your progress." the smoker exhaled smugly, stamping out his cigarette. Krycek nodded once, a barely respectful curving of his neck, then left. Andrea stood and glanced at her father. "We won't let you down. I can promise you that." "I'm sure you won't. And I'm sure you will exercise due caution in your dealings with Mulder AND Krycek." Andrea smiled confidently. "You needn't worry about that. I will take care of both as needed." Cancerman nodded and waved a dismissal. Andrea hurried out and moved to catch up with Krycek. He turned to see who was behind him, suspecting it was her, but ready all the same. "Well, well...when can you be ready to go to DC, Ms. Spender?" "My bags were already sent ahead, Mr. Krycek. So, I suppose I am ready when you are." "Good. I have tickets waiting...do you have a cell phone?" Andrea raised an eyebrow, as if to suggest the question was a stupid one. "Of course. As well as a satellite link. I suppose we should exchange numbers?" she offered. "We really should. No point letting Mulder and Scully have any unnecessary advantages over us." He handed her a business card. Pressing her lips in disdain, she handed him one of hers as well. **Did even hired thugs have cards these days?** Andrea thought to herself. "Are you ready?" "Yeah." Andrea moved out the door to the waiting car. Krycek followed and sat next to her in the back. "I should warn you, Ms. Spender, not to underestimate Mulder. He's very clever...intuitive and unpredictable. Have you any ideas on how you want to complete this assignment?" Andrea smiled. "I'm planning on using his own psychoses against him." Krycek smiled back, amused. "Yeah? Which ones? There's a lot to choose from." "Oh, perhaps a few well-planted problems from his past. I'm still working on the specifics. Do you have any particular ideas? You seem to be buddies with him." Krycek blinked; sure he had misheard. "Excuse me?" Andrea raised her eyebrow, appraising the man's reaction. "You heard me, Mr. Krycek. You think I don't keep track of those I have to work with?" Krycek laughed in a low, husky chuckle. "Mulder and I are enemies, Miss Spender. I respect him as an adversary, but there is no love lost between us. As for ideas...well, he's used to the demons of his past. We might need to create some new ones." She chuckled slightly. "Such as? There isn't much he hasn't seen." Krycek nodded. "He's had everything taken from him at some point...his work, his parents, Scully, Skinner. Don't think this will be easy. For all his demons, Mulder is pretty fearless." "I was thinking of playing on his emotions a little, Mr. Krycek. Perhaps cause him to fall for someone and then just as quickly take them away from him," she suggested, looking over at him. "Someone, Miss Spender?" "I was thinking of myself. It'll be easier to know what is going on that way." Krycek carefully hid his look of disgusted concern and laughed, slightly. "I don't know, Miss Spender. I don't think that's a good idea. It'd take too much time for you to win his trust. Plus, he's in love with Scully. I mean, the guy doesn't exactly date, y'know?" "So, now suddenly, you're the all-knowing expert on him? I personally don't believe you have a say in this matter." Krycek's green eyes went very cool. "I know him better than anyone else in the Consortium. I worked with him and I've watched him for years. I have a very large say in things, Ms. Spender. If appropriate, you will take orders from me." Andrea Spender's eyes went hard. "Excuse me?" she questioned frostily. Krycek smiled softly. "This is an equal partnership, Miss Spender," he husked in a low voice. The almost whisper lent a mild malice to his tone. "Sort of like marriage?" she replied sarcastically. "I fear you overestimate you position in the chain of command, Mr. Krycek." Andrea eyed him slowly, noting the unpolished boots, faded jeans, and battered leather jacket, letting her eyes scrape over him in judgment. She knew her own attire was impeccable. Her suit was a fine blue silk, from one of the best tailors in Paris. She smoothed her skirt, trying to draw attention to the unwrinkled, rich material. She settled back smugly, certain she had made her point. Krycek's face went blank, hiding his anger. "No, Miss Spender. I'm VERY aware of my position. I worked quite hard for it; believe me. And if you're going to underestimate people this badly, Mulder and Scully will fillet you for lunch. Mulder has a knack for getting at people's true feelings and motives." She glared, offended and furious that he had not only dared to talk back to her, but that he was questioning her abilities! "Excuse me?" Krycek smiled coolly, leaning back with at least the appearance of calm. He raised both eyebrows, a questioning and assessing look in his cool, jade eyes. "How do you see me, Miss Spender? Why do you think I'm here? You'd better be a sharp judge of people, if you want to get to Mulder. I think you're allowing appearances to deceive you." Andrea glanced out the window, wonder what her father had gotten her into and contemplating what Krycek was saying. "I think you need to back off," she warned, still glaring. Krycek studied her, noting how close she was to completely losing her temper. He decided she needed time to cool off before she could be counted on to listen. He nodded slowly. "For now..." Her lips tightened. "I don't appreciate your "games", Mr. Krycek. You might as well stop right now. Whatever you choose to believe, you don't have the upper hand here and you're not getting it by posturing." The car stopped and the discussion halted as they waited for the driver to open the door. "Games, Miss Spender? We don't have time for games with each other," he responded, climbing out of the car. He offered his hand with a charming smile, full of gleaming white teeth. "We'll save that for Agent Mulder..." Faking a sincere smile, she accepted his help out of the car. "As long as we understand each other on that issue." Krycek gave her a slow look through hooded eyes. "Oh, I think we do..." ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** Mulder lay back on his couch, watching "Them!" He stretched tiredly. A shadow detached itself from near his window and Mulder reached for his gun. The shadow moved back toward the window, waiting for Mulder to get the idea and come outside. Mulder wasn't biting. He aimed his gun at the shadow's center. "Come out! Who's there?" Krycek held his hands out away from his body and stepped a small way into the light. "YOU!" Mulder spat, and then swallowed his rage with a sarcastic grin. "What do you want, Ratboy?" Krycek glared, slightly, then snorted. "Very funny, Mulder," he acknowledged, moving a little closer. "I came to warn you. If you're smart, you'll listen." "Listen? Krycek, you do nothing but tell lies with just enough truth in them to keep me hooked. But, by all means, go ahead. I keep the place relatively free of bugs, so you can go ahead and spout whatever it is the Consortium wants me to believe this week!" Krycek pursed his lips, partly exasperated and partly amused by Mulder's fatalistic paranoia. He tried to keep his voice reasonable and relatively unantagonistic. "Look, Mulder. I came here to *help* you. They're sending someone to you...to try to get involved with you...and a few other nasty surprises." Mulder smirked. "So what else is new? Nasty surprises are your bosses' specialty. What do you mean involved? Another partner? Sheesh. That's not very original, Krycek." "No, not a partner. A romantic interest. Not that you would exactly go for that sort of thing." Mulder laughed, a bit brokenly. "I don't exactly have time for that what with trying to bring down your bosses and search for my sister...I'm surprised you haven't offered me information about her, Krycek. The perfect carrot, right?" Krycek glanced away; afraid Mulder would read something in his eyes. He shook his head slightly. "Look, all I'm saying is watch out. And, maybe you might want to play along with her game for a while. It might help you figure out what they are shooting at this time." "Gee, Krycek, do I get a description? Who has the Consortium chosen as my dream date?" "You'll figure it out, I'm sure. But...she might be calling herself Andrea." "Andrea, huh? That's it? No warnings about alien oil spills or anything? You just wanted to give me tips on my love life?" Krycek swallowed a sigh, trying not to lose patience with Mulder's sometimes grating sense of humor. "Look, just play along with it for now. You'll understand more when the time is right, but don't fall for her tricks." "Yeah, sure...why not?" Mulder agreed, grinning sardonically. "Well, thanks for the tip, Alex. It's interesting to see one of my worst enemies play the mother hen..." Krycek shook his head in warning, not sure if Mulder was taking his suggestion seriously or not. "I'm not playing games here, Mulder." "Krycek, you don't know how not to play games...besides, I haven't dated in ages. My personal life sucks." "And you think they don't know that?" Mulder shrugged, giving a sheepish grin. "I don't care. Your masters probably know my favorite brand of toothpaste...for all the good it does them..." "Well, don't say I didn't warn ya, Mulder." "Me? Blame innocent Ratboy? Never!" Krycek grimaced. "Yeah, whatever. Just watch your back." He moved back into the shadows, before slipping silently out the window. Mulder watched him go, exasperated. "I wish I had evidence to arrest him! Good riddance." ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** Andrea sat in the dining room, enjoying her coffee, before ordering breakfast. She was waiting for Krycek, so they could discuss the next step in their mission. She glanced up briefly and saw him a short distance away. He walked casually towards her, more at ease in the elegant surroundings than she would previously have given him credit for. He sat down across from her. "Well, how did your meeting with Mulder go?" She rolled her eyes; exasperated by his uncivilized lack of greeting and not wanting to admit how badly things had gone. "It was...enlightening." Krycek arched his eyebrow, looking unnervingly complacent. "How so?" "It's like he purposefully goes out of his way to find a reason to distrust someone. I have never seen anything like it..." She drifted off, staring morosely into her coffee. Krycek smiled softly. "It's called paranoia, Ms. Spender. Men like Mulder thrive on it, even more than we do...He knows that people are out to get him." Andrea managed a lady like snort. "And I suppose we are just proving him right?" she retorted, then paused, a little uncomfortable. "He's very unassuming for a man who has caused so much trouble for the cause." Krycek chuckled, amused both by Mulder and her response to him. "Mulder thinks of himself as a good guy...he's a boy scout who believes the stories told around the campfire." "I haven't believed those stories since I was ten. How a man of his age can be so deluded..." She shook her head, puzzled. Krycek sighed, shifting a little. "I saw some weird stuff as his partner, Ms. Spender. You should read some of the cases he and Scully have solved. It's eerie..." "How do you know I haven't?" They paused and grew quiet as the waitress came and took their orders. Krycek shrugged as she left. "If you had, you'd show Mulder more respect...and if you want to get anywhere with him, you'd better show him some. He's not going to follow you around like a puppy." Andrea's next words were quiet, almost a snarl. "I didn't think he would. Look, why don't you quit telling me what *won't* work and try helping me figure out what will?" Krycek smiled, his green eyes alight with mischief. "I'm trying, Ms. Spender. I really am. As I said, show Mulder some respect and lose the scorn for his work. He can pick up on things like that. I'm not saying you have to make out you believe. Goodness knows, Scully doesn't. But at least make out that you respect HIS belief." Andrea sat back suddenly, staring into Krycek's eyes. "We're going to be working together for awhile, so why don't you just call me Andrea to make it easier for everyone?" she suggested, almost absently, as she mulled over what he had said, almost losing herself in his deep, green eyes. Krycek smiled, slightly. "I'd like that, Andrea. And please, call me Alex..." She paused, almost wondering if she wanted to get *that* familiar with him. "All right...Alex." Krycek nodded happily, pleased that they were on an easier footing. "Well, when are you meeting Mulder next?" Andrea ran her hands over her face. "I figured I would give it a day or so. I don't want to be too obvious." "You're probably right. Maybe you should arrange to bump into him at the grocery store or video store. Don't try anything, just say hi, make light conversation. Let him get used to seeing you occasionally..." Andrea nodded. "Probably a good idea. Perhaps even move into an apartment near his. Make it at least viable that I am there." Krycek nodded thoughtfully. "That would work. There are some good apartments a couple of blocks down from him...his buildings full." She raised her eyebrows in amusement. "Oh?" Krycek laughed. "Yeah, amazingly, he hasn't scared his neighbors away yet!" ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** Andrea lay in her apartment, staring at the ceiling. She had been trying to sleep now for a couple of hours but it seemed as if everytime she tried to fall asleep, the dreams would start anew. Turning to her side, she glanced at the clock: 3:14. With a sigh, she stood up and walked out into her living room. It was almost useless now to get any sleep. She entered her living room and sat heavily on the couch, clicking the TV on with the remote that lay on the coffee table in front of her. She flipped through channels and lay her head on the arm of the couch. At this time of the morning the only thing to watch was either news networks or infomercials and she wasn't really into either one. Her mind began to wander over the past month and the developing relationship between her and Agent Mulder. She had managed to conveniently bump into him a few times in the park, at a local grocery, and one of the local coffee shops. Once she had become a familiar face, she had arranged to speak with him. After that, they had gotten along quite well and had even managed to get together a couple of times. She made sure they always had fun together and was sure that things were progressing rather well. Even though her mission stayed foremost in her mind, she was having a hard time reconciling the man she was becoming close to with the man her father had always warned her about. He just didn't seem to be what she had expected. There had seemed to be an instant connection with him that she wasn't sure she could explain. It hadn't been difficult to draw him in..and she felt herself being drawn to him at the same time. Her eyes finally drifted closed around 4:30, as she continued to click through the channels. She barely managed to turn the TV off as sleep finally overtook her exhausted body. Her last thought was a hope that she would be so tired that the dreams would not return. ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** Krycek stood over Andrea, watching her toss and moan on the couch of her apartment. He shook her shoulder, gently. "Hey, wake up!" Andrea snapped awake and came up swinging, but managed to catch herself, when she realized who it was. "Don't *ever* do that to me again!" Krycek rolled his eyes, figuring it was a "Mulder" thing. "Sorry. Are you all right?" he asked. She sighed and slowly sat up, stretching, wearing nothing, but a t-shirt and underwear. "I'm fine..." Her mind drifted back to the dreams of the night before and the reason she had fallen asleep on the couch. Krycek watched her expression close off. He smiled appreciatively, with a skeptical expression in his eyes. "If you were really okay, I don't think you'd let me see you like this." Krycek's eyes raked warmly over her bare legs. She blinked and glanced down at herself. Annoyed, she reached over and pushed Krycek back, until his butt landed with a satisfying *thunk* on the coffee table, as she stood and moved into her bedroom to change. "Obviously you're fine or you wouldn't be taking advantage of the situation," she groused. She pushed her door shut and began to get decent clothes on. Krycek laughed. "Oh, yeah, I'm real good." Andrea came back out into the living room wearing jeans and a polo shirt. She walked to her window and opened the curtains and blinds. "So, what brings you over so early? I thought we weren't supposed to meet up until about 9:30?" Krycek shrugged amiably. "So I'm a little early. Were you having bad dreams?" Andrea glanced up at him strangely. "Dreams? Why do you ask that?" Krycek grinned. "Well, for one, few people sleep on their couches. Plus, you're out of it. It's about 9:45." Andrea glanced up at the clock, astonished. "I didn't realize it was so late." "Do you want to talk about it?" She sighed and slumped down on the couch. "I'm not even sure myself what they were about." Krycek leaned forward, keeping his voice soft. "Are you sure? You can't remember anything?" Andrea ran a hand over her face and glanced up at him. "Why is it so important to you, Alex? They were my dreams." Krycek leaned back, trying to be casual. "We're working together. We might as well act human towards each other. You look tired." She smiled slightly at him, not buying it. "Uh huh, sure," she humored him. "It was weird...almost like memories of a different family." She shook her head, wishing she could clear her mind of the images and the feelings they provoked. "I can't explain it." "But you're okay, right? Just a bad night?" She smiled into his eyes. "I'm fine. I would tell you if I weren't, okay?" Krycek grimaced. "I hope you're better at fooling Mulder, than you are at fooling me!" "Why do you say that? I'm sure I can tell him I had a bad night and he will understand. Lord knows, he has had a few of them." "I don't think he ever has any other kind, truthfully, but you're probably right, you should do fine. Ready for breakfast?" She nodded. "Yeah...let's go." **** **** **** Krycek held a chair out for Andrea. They had selected a small coffee shop downtown; reasonably sure they would not be spotted. Alex helped Andrea to sit and she glanced around the restaurant out of habit. Krycek smiled, a little amused. "I think we're safe." Andrea glanced up at him with an abashed smile as he sat down. "It's habit." Krycek nodded. "Yeah, I know," he agreed, then grinned widely. "I did it at the door." Andrea chuckled, softly. "I've been living this life too long, I think..." "So, are you going to give me the details of your dream?" She grew serious at that, her mind drifting back to her dream. She didn't know why, but she was almost afraid to tell him. Krycek leaned forward, touching her hand briefly, then pulled his back. She gave another brief glance to his face, before taking a calming sip of her water. "I'm okay, really," she claimed, biting at her lower lip. Krycek nodded. "Take your time." "I'm having almost memories of having been abducted, but I know that could never have happened. Of a family...but not mine. It all kinda blurs together and makes no sense. A...a mother. Father. And...another child. A boy," she whispered, then firmly shook her head. "That makes no sense. I was raised by my father and had no other family. It's nothing more than a dream. The Consortium would *never* have done anything to me. My father made sure of that." Krycek frowned. "I wouldn't be too sure, Andrea. Our employers are pretty ruthless. Did you know they once tried to blow me up?" She nodded. "I know. Alex, I know quite a bit more than my position as a simple Operative would warrant. And trust me, I know they wouldn't have done anything. Anyone who would have attempted it would have been killed. Instantly," she stopped, realizing who she was talking to and that she had basically told him who her father was. Krycek smiled. "I know a lot more than you might think, too, Andrea. And believe me, no one is out of reach if the wrong person gets mad. Not even your Father." Andrea glanced down at the table, hearing the truth in his words and wishing she didn't. "Except that doesn't explain the family I saw...It all makes no sense. Like I was in someone else's head," she sighed. "Anyway, it doesn't matter." Krycek smiled softly. "You're probably right. It's probably just a dream. I just don't want you to have any illusions about who we are." "Are you saying not to get too secure in my position, Alex?" Andrea tried to sound amused, but knew she was stating her own fears out loud, not wanting to admit she felt that way. She felt the fears were disloyal to her father, who had always protected her. Krycek nodded, seriously. "Mulder's feeling pretty comfortable right now, Andrea." Her worry made it's way into her blue-hazel eyes and she nodded slowly, not realizing how comfortable she was with Alex and that her feelings were showing so much. "You're right." Krycek nodded; satisfied that she would be careful. "Then you should be okay...Now about the dream. It doesn't sound too bad, so far. Why was it bothering you? I mean, you mentioned abduction, but why? Because you were with a family you didn't recognize?" Andrea looked up into his eyes, worried, but again not voicing it. "I don't know...perhaps because it felt so real...and I'm not exactly used to feeling like a victim. That's the point. I didn't feel in the dream as if I didn't recognize them. It was like...god, I need to just forget about it!" "Okay. Hey. Maybe it was just a subconscious yearning for family fixed up with some of the bugaboos from our work! Right?" "It was the boy who seemed the most real though." She sighed in frustration, but grabbed onto Alex's explanation and nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure that was it," she responded, searching his eyes. Alex kept his eyes firmly on her. "Sure." Andrea reached over and touched his hand slightly. "Thank you." Krycek's smile softened again. "You're welcome. So what are we doing today?" "I'm supposed to meet Mulder for lunch," she informed him, smiling. "You get to retrieve those files we need." Alex nodded at another customer as she passed, grinning. "Okay. Good luck! If you're going to have lunch, there's a good chance you'll get to meet his partner, Scully!" Andrea blinked, not sure how to respond. "Oh? Well, that should be interesting then. I need to get going. I'll talk to you more tonight," she stated, standing. Krycek stood, respectfully. "Okay, I'll see you later." She turned and left quickly. Krycek turned his attention to the customer he had nodded at. She was watching him from her table, scowling. Krycek walked over to her. "May I sit down?" Scully cocked her head to the side, appraising him. "Do I have a choice?" Krycek shrugged, claiming, "Sure. My mama raised a gentleman." Scully waved graciously to the seat across from her. "Sit. It'll be interesting to find out what you are up to now." Krycek smiled charmingly and sat down. "Thank you," he acknowledged, then tilted his head a fraction to the side. "Are you eating lunch with Mulder today?" Scully furrowed her brow, puzzled by the mundane inquiry. "Possibly. Why do you ask?" Krycek grinned, knowingly. "Mulder has a new girlfriend, he should be introducing to you soon...the girl I was just with in fact." Scully's mouth tightened. "Excuse me? I somehow doubt Mulder would..." she drifted off, watching him closely. "Oh, I warned him about her, but I also told him he should play along. I figured I should tell you the same thing." Scully glared. "Just what are you getting at? Why would you help us? Him?" "Why wouldn't I? I like both of you. I tried to tell you before, Scully. We're on the same side..." Scully shook her head. "The only thing you like, Krycek, is the attention. And I seriously doubt you will convince Mulder or me that we have *ever* been on the same team," she informed him, coolly. Krycek frowned, slightly. "Attention, Scully? I risk my life every time I help you and usually get beaten up by Mulder...or Skinner. I could kill you at any time. Now...isn't that proof I'm not your enemy?" Scully gave a delicate snort. "It proves you haven't had the opportunity or the orders from up above, Krycek." Krycek laughed, uncontrollably. "Scully, I've had enough opportunities to kill you for a hundred assassins. And I'm not just some flunky anymore. If I wanted you dead, you would be," he corrected her, then his voice softened. "I've suffered as much as you have you know..." "Suffered?" she inquired, a bit incredulously. Krycek frowned. "Do you know what it's like to have your arm cut off in a forest with a heated blade, while being pinned down? Or to wake up trapped in an abandoned silo with no food or water, covered in a grimy oil that has just leaked out from your eyes, nose, and ears? To be violated by an alien consciousness? Oh, I forgot. Skeptical Scully doesn't believe in aliens, right?" Scully stood. "No, Krycek, I don't believe in aliens. And I don't have time to listen to your delusions...or your lies." Krycek glared, furious and a bit hurt that she would so easily dismiss the worst moments of his life. **And they call me callous?** "I'm not Mulder. Don't talk to me that way. I'm as sane as you. I'm not blinded by a refusal to believe in anything I haven't dissected! Ask Mulder. He'll tell you about the peasants in Tunguska who took my arm. I was healed by an alien like Jeremiah Smith. Remember him? The guy who healed the gunshot wound in the restaurant?" Scully noticed other customers glancing their way. "And I'm not the double agent who has proved again and again he's not trustworthy and will stab us in the back every chance he gets! I don't have time for this, Krycek," she stated in a cool, even voice that showed anger more clearly than any amount of yelling. Krycek glanced around, the stares from the restaurant making him nervous. "Lower your voice and sit down," he urged, smiling. "You haven't finished your breakfast, yet, Scully." Scully ignored him and moved towards the door, leaving money enough to cover her check and tip at the front, hoping he wouldn't follow her. Her inherent compassion made it impossible for her to completely ignore his litany of sorrows. It wasn't in her nature to ignore anyone's pain. But she also wouldn't let him use his problems to justify the crimes he had committed. She heard the rapid footsteps behind her, knowing it was Krycek catching up. "Hey, Scully! Wait up!" She stopped and turned, glaring coolly up at him. "What?!" "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to cause a scene." She sighed. "Look," she commented, softening her tone to its usual, rational timbre. "It just seems like whenever you show up, trouble isn't far behind. We've had enough trouble for awhile." Krycek's eyes lost their icy veneer, becoming once again soft and oddly respectful. "Maybe that's because I only show up when I know you're going to need any help you can get...After all, It'd take a lot to get you to accept my help. And Scully? You're always in trouble. You just don't always know it." Scully crossed her arms, glancing around to gain perspective from the mundacity of her surroundings. "I would prefer not to think like that. What is it that you want, specifically? You had to have a reason for approaching me today." "If Mulder's taking my advice and leading the woman along, I didn't want you to blow the whistle on either of them," he answered, smiling sheepishly. "I didn't intend for you to see us, but it seemed impolite not to say hello." Scully decided to ignore that last. "Who is she, Krycek?" "An associate. You know who I work for...who I'm working to bring down." "And where do her loyalties lie?" Krycek frowned, sighing. "She would tell you she's a patriot of the human race...he has taught her well, since she was very young..." "He?" Scully inquired, raising an eyebrow. "You know. I believe you once called him Cancerman...the man responsible for the deaths of your sister and Mulder's father." "Ah, I should have known," she observed, then her voice grew cold. "All right, I'll try to go along with you for now. But if I see anything from her to indicate she is going to hurt Mulder..." Krycek nodded, agreeing, "Of course. I want you to protect Mulder. He's lousy at it..." Scully shook her head. "I have to go now. I'm not sure I trust you...but, for now I will do as you say." Krycek smiled. "Thank you," he husked, then his voice dropped to a whisper. "Wow, a meeting with one of the X-files team, where I didn't get a gun in my face!" Scully rolled her eyes. "I can accommodate you on that. We wouldn't want to ruin our stellar record, would we?" Krycek grinned. "Agent Scully, I wouldn't dream of it!" he said with a wink. She turned and moved down the sidewalk. "Perhaps next time, Mr. Krycek," she said over her shoulder as she began walking. "Have a nice day, Scully." ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** Another few weeks had passed and Andrea lay once again in her bed, tossing and turning with another dream. A pair of green eyes watched as she kicked out, entangling her legs in the sheets. Krycek leaned against the wall in the darkest corner of the room, unmoving, but not unmoved. Andrea found herself suddenly completely awake and aware. She felt a presence in the room and glanced right at Krycek. He felt her eyes and stepped calmly forward, his hands raised. "It's just me." She sat up suddenly, glaring at him. "What the hell are you doing in here?" Krycek made a soothing motion with his hand. "I was just checking on you. You've been having that dream again. I wanted to make sure you were okay." She shook her head. Despite her job and training, she was deeply disturbed that anyone dared to enter her bedroom. "You shouldn't be in here. You aren't even supposed to be in town!" Krycek shrugged, not understanding why she was upset. "I got back hours ago. Things went easily." Andrea stood and moved over to him. Alex backed away, seeing she was furious, but only moved away enough to maintain personal space. The instinct to not show fear was too deeply ingrained to allow anything else. "The point still stands. You shouldn't be in my room. That borders on obsession, Alex." She turned her back on him and moved to grab a pair of jeans, pulling them on. Krycek just shrugged. "You learn that, when you're on the run. Look...I just wanted to make sure you and the apartment were secure. Okay?" "You are in my *room*, Alex. My *private* space. The one place I expect to be able to go and not be followed!" She glared tightly into his eyes and he sighed. "All right. I'm sorry if I upset you. I just developed a need to check on things periodically. Our lifestyle trained me to it. I'm used to keeping a close eye on anything and anyone connected to me." Andrea shook her head, moving closer again to stare into his eyes. "No, Alex. This goes beyond just "checking" on me. I refuse to be anyone's obsession, is that understood? Especially when things are getting very close with Mulder...I won't let you ruin this!" Krycek blinked, shaking his head slightly, confused. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, keeping the worry he felt from his tone, not sure he liked how it sounded. "Nothing...could you please leave now? And make sure you lock the door on your way out." Andrea turned as if to get back into bed. "Andrea!" Alex demanded, sharply. "What did you mean about Mulder?! I won't come in here anymore. I give you my word on that. But I need to know any plans you have concerning our...target." Andrea exhaled sharply and looked back at him. "I'm taking our relationship to the next level. It's time. This has taken too long. I'm getting pressure from above." Krycek blinked, barely hiding a look of disgust. "You're going to sleep with him?" "That is nothing you need to worry about. Just be ready when the time is right. Everything has to play out perfectly," she cautioned, looking away again. Krycek tried to keep his voice steady and rational. "Andrea. You can't do that. He's still devoted to Scully. There, no, there's no way he's ready for that! And anything connected to our mission is my concern!" "Who the *hell* said you were the expert on what he is and isn't ready for? *You* aren't the one dealing with him on a daily basis, so stay of it. Just be ready when I say to be ready." Krycek exhaled slowly, trying not to lose his temper. "I told you I'm here because of my expertise on Mulder. You've known him a couple of months; I've known him for years. You seem to want to go back to giving the orders, Miss Spender. What? You think you can just bed and dump Mulder and that'll make him ready for a funny farm?!" "No, that isn't what I was planning at all...something would have to happen to me...to make him go after me. Perhaps he could even witness my death. It will work out. But I have to take this step first." "This will not work! He's already got Samantha as a holy grail, you're just upping the stakes for him! He will go after you. You'll just make him more determined, like when Scully was abducted." Andrea's mouth tightened. She was offended that he thought she hadn't planned this carefully. "And just what would happen if he continued to *see* me...even after my death, everywhere he turned...there I was. The decision is made. And this time you don't get a say, Krycek. The orders came from above." Krycek glared, his anger making his eyes glow a luminescent green, like a jungle cats. "I don't take orders from you and I haven't received any. If he sees you, he'll just be convinced that you're alive and try to rescue you. This man does not think like an ordinary person! He doesn't accept the pat explanations of polite society. He looks for the unusual and bizarre and accepts it as commonplace!" Andrea moved in, standing almost toe-to-toe with him. "The decision is made. I'm not going to argue about this any further. You can either continue to help the mission, or just leave and be reassigned, but I am not going to play these games any longer, Mr. Krycek," she insisted, her tone cool and calm, almost deathly so. Alex's eyes became hard and cold, like sharp green glass; they were the eyes of a killer. "You still think you're in charge, but you're not. You are jeopardizing this mission, Spender. I'm not going anywhere." She shook her head, frustrated and confused. "You knew this was where we were headed with this. Why are you so vehemently fighting it?" Krycek shook his head tightly. "I didn't know you were going to have sex with Mulder..." "You can't be that naive, Alex..." "Not since I was fourteen," he smirked. "Just where did you think this would go? And this is what I meant about your obsession getting in the way. You're letting personal feelings interfere in our mission. And I think you know it." Krycek barely kept himself from yelling, furious that she thought there were personal feelings or that he didn't have the restraint to control them if there were. "I am not obsessed with you. That's quite an ego you have there, Spender. There are no personal feelings." "Oh? I don't think so. I've seen the way you look at me, Krycek. *I* am not that naive." "You couldn't read me if you're life depended on it!" Krycek snarled, before making a visible effort to calm down. "I just think you are seriously underestimating Mulder." "Oh, really?" she murmured, letting her hand drift up to lightly caress his cheek. "I don't think so." Krycek caught her hand softly; worried he would lean into the gentle touch. "You don't think I'm unreadable or you don't think you're underestimating Mulder," he husked in a low, intimate tone. "Perhaps a bit of both, Alex, but mostly the first. I've learned to read you like a book, every little nuance and glance...things other people would overlook." "I must be slipping...I used to be able to hide myself," he complained ruefully, then grinned, the expression adding to, instead of detracting from, the primal energy that crackled from his eyes, a result of his own, unique charisma. "So much for my life expectancy." She sighed, still standing there with her hand in his. "You should know you don't have to worry about that with me by now, Alex," she whispered softly. "Maybe I do," he conceded. He reached down and kissed her softly. She responded tentatively, moving her hands to his strong shoulders. She pressed lightly against him. Alex brought one hand to her hair, while the other went around her waist, pulling her tightly against him. When she began gasping for air, he released her. She found herself pulled almost hypnotically to the green depths of his eyes, which held a primitive gleam of raw emotion. She found him looking at her questioningly and she nodded, running the palms of her hands over his chest. Taking his hand, she led him to the bed. ***** ***** ***** Alex walked into the living room. He was dressed only in a pair of his trademark faded jeans and was toweling his hair dry. Andrea glanced up as he came in and smiled up at him. "Feel better?" Alex sighed, feeling mostly content. "Yeah, I do..." "Good," she murmured, leaning back into the couch, contemplating how to broach the subject they hadn't settled the night before. Alex noticed the look in her eyes and groaned. He walked over and knelt next to her, taking her hands in his. "What?" she asked softly, smiling gently. "Andrea, listen. I admit the idea of you with another guy makes me jealous. But I learned enough on the run to keep my emotions in check. That kind of thing marks you forever. I am not jealous of you and Mulder. But I am concerned about the consequences if you sleep with him." "If it isn't jealousy, then why are you so strongly opposed to this, Alex?" Alex groaned, softly, reaching a painful decision. "I don't think you're ready for this, but hold on. There's something I want to show you. Andrea's brow furrowed in confusion, but she waited for him. Alex went to a cabinet and retrieved a piece of paper. "What do you think of Mulder now that you know him a little?" Andrea sighed, shifting uncomfortably. "Can I not comment on that one?" "I need to know," Alex insisted quietly. "The apartment's free of bugs due to my midnight visits." Andrea smiled slightly. "He isn't exactly as horrible as he is rumored to be...I will give him that." Alex smiled, a little sadly. "This is a photograph. You should recognize the little boy, if not the little girl." Alex handed her the picture of Mulder and his sister. Andrea's brow furrowed. The photo showed the boy from her dream and a little girl. It was a close-up of the two on a tire swing, both grinning happily. The girl was on the boy's lap, leaning against him as they flew backwards. "But..." she muttered, stunned, looking up into his eyes. "The little boy is Fox Mulder, Andrea. You are Samantha, his holy grail..." Andrea shoved the picture back at him, shaking her head. "No, that isn't me." "And that walking cancer stick is not your father! It is you, Andrea. You know it is." She dropped the photo on the table and moved over to the window. "No...it can't be." Alex moved up behind her and gently embraced her. "I was hoping to break this to you slowly...and more gently. I'm sorry, Andrea. But the truth had to come out sooner or later. Are you really going to sleep with your own brother for the *cause*?" Andrea pushed against his arms, trying to escape him and his truths. "NO. I'm not believing this! Besides, all you have is a picture...that isn't proof that *I* am her." "You recognize the boy, I know you do, I saw it in your eyes. How do you explain that? I bet I could get into your 'father's' albums and get a picture of you identical to this little girl." "He is from my dreams...like you said, I probably am just remembering a picture I saw when I was a child. It's all just blurring together." "Why would you have seen a picture of Fox Mulder as a child?" "My father has always been fascinated with that family for some reason. That would be reason enough." Alex shook his head. "Andrea, Andrea. Think of it this way. You say you can read me. Do you think I would make this up? What would I gain?" Tears sprang into Andrea's eyes and Alex could feel shivers running down her slender frame. "My father wouldn't do this to me. He *wouldn't*!" "Why not? He's destroyed enough lives of other people. He lives on lies, Andrea. He probably doesn't even know how to stop. Is Mulder at all what you expected? I know my time with him was an eye opener." She shook her head, slowly, the pain of the truth making her reluctant to even consider it. "No. I can't do this, Alex...you are asking me to turn away from everything I have been told all my life. I can't do that!" "You can't run from the truth, Andrea. I wish this could be easier for you, but..." he paused and turned her to face him, gazing solemnly at her. "I trusted him once, Andrea. All it got me was thrown on to hot pavement when my car blew up." Andrea shook her head, not wanting to envisage Krycek, the man who owned her heart more thoroughly than she was ready to face, being in such peril and facing such hardships as she knew he had. "Don't...he said..." she drifted off, unable to continue. "What? That I deserved it?" he asked, gently stroking her cheek. "Do I deserve it, Andrea?" She shook her head again, a tear slowly rolling down her cheek. He rubbed it gently away with his thumb. "I can't just turn my back on him." Krycek shrugged. "Maybe not now. But can you sleep with and destroy your own brother?" Andrea jerked away, moving toward the door. "I'm not listening to this!" "Andrea!" Krycek called, before she could disappear out the door. "I know you need time. Just don't do anything in haste, okay? Give it a couple of days." She shook her head and opened the door. "I have to get out of here," she whispered, glancing down at the floor and then back up at him...looking lost. Alex gazed tenderly at her, not moving from the window. "That's okay. Go clear your head. We have time." She rushed out the door, tears rolling down her face. She moved headlong through the street, not sure where she was going. Alex watched her leave; saddened at the pain the old man's deception was causing her. ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** CONTINUED IN PART 2
"The X Files" is copyright and TM Ten Thirteen Productions, Twentieth Century Fox, and their related entities. This site, its operators and any content contained on this site relating to "The X-Files" are not authorised by Fox. This site is for personal entertainment purposes only and no infringement is intended.
|