Title: Nothing Important 11: The Truth I Author: Vickie Moseley Summary: First part of the series conclusion. Category: Mytharc, MSR Rating: E-13 for language Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. Archive: yes Author's notes: Lisa, again, I couldn't do this without you. Xfilesx, I live for your emails. To everyone who has encouraged me to continue this story, THANK YOU! I started it as an experiment to see how it would go and I'm very happy to say it went swimmingly, for me, at least. If you can't please yourself, who can you please? Other instalments will be in place on my website vickiemoseley.freeservers.com Nothing Important 11: The Truth I 49th Street New York, New York The unofficial leader of the group, an older man with a face lined by time and tanned by the heat of the strong Tunisian sun, rapped his cane on the floor to get the attention of those gathered. "Please, please, let us begin. We have much to discuss and I don't wish to stay in this miserably humid city one minute more than necessary," Strughold said in his oddly stilted Germanic accent. As the men settled into overstuffed leather armchairs with cigars and brandy, he nodded in approval. "Thank you. I know that some of you came a long way and we intend to give you all the information you've been seeking. Alex, if you please." From the shadows Alex Krycek stepped forward. With a flick of a remote, the blinds on the windows darkened and the panels in the wall slid open to reveal a 50-inch panel television. The screen blinked to life, showing an operating theatre with a body on a gurney. The camera closed in on the body. There are leads around the hairline and a respirator tube in the patient's mouth. The monitor to the left of the gurney showed a straight green line. "This, gentleman, is patient K, the man formerly known as Knowle Rohrer. For the benefit of those of you without a medical degree, Mr. Rohrer's brain waves are completely flat." "This is our savior? This is the 'hope of the human race'?" one of the gentlemen asked in derision. "This is our last attempt at creating a supersoldier, yes," Strughold responded, his voice terse but even. "Mr. Rohrer wasn't a complete failure," Krycek interrupted the disgruntled murmuring. "He was well enough to operate for over a six month period. During that time, he was successful in recruiting John Doggett to our cause." "But this man Rohrer was supposed to save us from the colonists. Obviously, like the elimination of Fox Mulder, or Cassandra Spender before him, this is another failure!" There was loudly muttered agreement with this statement. Krycek flicked the remote again and another picture filled the screen. It was a picture of William Mulder, taken through a telephoto lens. William was lying in his bassinet in Scully's Georgetown apartment. "This, gentlemen, is the true saviour of the planet." "A baby?" "A baby born with a natural immunity to the alien virus. An immunity he received from both of his parents," Krycek said firmly, showing standard FBI photos of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. "You mean -- Fox Mulder -- " "Is immune to the alien virus," Krycek said, lecturing to his audience. "Gentlemen, this is not rocket science. When Fox Mulder was exposed to the virus, not once, but twice, it affected his very DNA. That immunity has only increased due to his recent exposure to the virus while in the company of the alien colonists. When we used Dana Scully in experiments of our own choosing, she too became immune to the virus. When the two immune individuals mated, for lack of a better word, and conceived a life, that child was born with a natural immunity that we can hope will only become stronger as he grows." "We have to have that child!" one voice shouted from the corner of the room. "For what purpose? He's only two months old," came another voice in the opposite direction. "He could be the salvation. His blood could be the serum we've been searching for to perfect the vaccine!" came yet another voice. "Gentleman, gentleman, please," Strughold said, fighting for control of the assembly. "There are already plans in the works. Even as we speak we have an operative staging a 'retrieval mission'. We just have to be patient." As Strughold got and held their attention, Krycek moved toward the door. His actions caught the old man's eye. "Alex? Going somewhere?" he asked. "Just to check on the food you requested. It should have arrived by now. I'll see what's holding it up," Krycek replied with a wane smile. He was waved away. Outside the room, he turned to the wait staff standing in the hall. "They're ready," he said. As he walked past the line of waiters, they turned to look at him. Each man had his eyes, nose and mouth sewn together. As Krycek cleared the stairs at the ground level, he could still hear the last of the screams echoing off the concrete firewalls and the faint scent of burning flesh was just starting to waft down the steps. TransAmerica Flight 1013 10:45 am John Doggett nodded his thanks to the flight attendant as he was handed his Diet Pepsi and miniscule bag of pretzels. He sipped his drink and leaned back in the seat. It had been close, but he managed to get on this flight. If he'd been ten minutes later, he wouldn't have been able to leave Dulles until after lunch and that would have included a three-hour layover in Dallas. He couldn't believe his luck when he got the message on his cell phone. Oregon Cave Junction, Oregon, almost as far as you could get from Washington DC and still be in the continental United States. Scully was on her way, but equally important, so was her son. The baby was already two months old. Hard to imagine, but it happened. Babies grew to be men. And what a man William Doggett would grow to be. John smiled at that thought. After he and Dana were married, he would adopt William. Hell, with a little imagination, he could make himself believe that William was their child. Mulder who? If it all went as planned, Mulder would be dead -- and this time he'd stay buried. God, how John dearly wished he'd never taken the assignment to find the bastard in the first place, but if he hadn't he wouldn't have met Dana. He chuckled when he thought about the first time they'd met. He'd heard all the rumors. The X files was jokingly referred to as the 'sex files' by most of Quantico. But he'd also heard that Mulder had a roaming eye. More than one support staff was willing to give in depth, three-dimensional descriptions of the missing agent. Still, the reaction Dana had given when John had suggested that Mulder might have been stepping out -- whoa, boy! She was a spitfire, that one! Just made him love her all the more. He hadn't fallen off the turnip truck, he knew from the minute he got the assignment that he wasn't supposed to 'find' Fox Mulder. It was all a ruse, just a way to keep Dana out of the way. John didn't know and he didn't much care what had happened to the Bureau's pet 'nutcase', but he couldn't let on to Dana. He had to appear sympathetic, seem to be working hard to find Mulder. When his buddy Knowle approached him with information on the real reason Mulder was out of the picture, it all seemed too good to be true. Mulder was a liability. Not just a political embarrassment to the Bureau, Mulder'd actually infiltrated national security installations with the intent to expose state secrets. Fox Mulder was a traitor and had to be put down. John Doggett had never wavered when he thought his country needed him. He signed on the dotted line. When Mulder turned up dead, it was everything John could do to keep an even expression, to keep from dancing a jig right then and there. But one look at Dana, at the devastation she felt was enough to sober him up. Besides, it was the perfect opportunity. He was right there, a handy shoulder for her to cry on. He was careful, giving her as much space as she seemed to need after the funeral. He was just about ready to make his move when Skinner called him that dark and fateful night. Walter Sergei Skinner, that royal screw up. Who would have thought that a guy getting fished out of the water and being alive would cause Skinner to connect the dots that resulted in digging Mulder out of the ground? John figured Skinner for a military type and those people usually don't go in for that kind of 'creative speculation'. So when he found himself standing on the edge of newly opened grave, it was like the whole world was going topsy- turvy. Fast forward to the master plan that Alvin Kersh devised. Mulder was going to be 'let in' on a threat to his life. He was a coward, everyone said so. He was only after his quest. The scenario called for him to take a powder, run out on Dana. That would leave the door open for John to step in, take care of the little mother and the baby whose father had abandoned him on a whim. No one expected Dana to run off with the bastard. John closed his eyes and sighed. Mulder brainwashed her. It was that simple. She was in an abusive relationship with him and he had her believing him hook, line and sinker. John had seen it before, but it was never easy. She had so much going for her without that loser. John would make her understand what it was like to be loved and cared for by a real man, a man who wouldn't put her in dangerous situations. Like the time she ran off to Utah and John had to dig that -- slug thing -- out of her back. It was everything in him not to haul off and teach her exactly what a dumb thing that was! But John had held back, knew not to go too far. Even so, he felt totally justified in treating her like a child when they'd returned to the office. Dana needed a firm hand, that much was obvious. A firm loving hand would help her see the error of her ways. As he drifted off to sleep, lulled by the planes engines, John dreamed of the day Dana Scully would come to him and say 'I was so wrong about you'. It was just a matter of time. Oregon Cave Junction, OR 9 pm The sun had set but it was still faintly light outside as Mulder pulled the car into the narrow gravel drive leading to the cabin peeking out between the trees. Scully had relinquished the wheel after letting him sleep for about 6 hours. Now, both were too hyper to sleep. Scully kept watching out the back window, as if expecting something or someone to come up behind them. "Relax," he told her, although he was feeling anything but relaxed. "We're almost there." Scully chewed on her lip. "I know. I'm . . . I'm just afraid we'll get there and find they're gone. Or that this is the wrong place, or something happened and they couldn't make it -- " He reached over to grasp her hand, which was fidgeting on her lap. "Scully. I know. And I promise, we'll have him back with us before this night is over." "How can you promise that, Mulder?" she asked fearfully, finally meeting his eyes. "I just know," he said simply. That was what she needed to hear, apparently, because she forced a smile and squeezed his hand. They turned a corner and there it was, a functional one-story cabin tucked into a stand of tall pines. "It's pretty," Scully offered. Just as they pulled to a stop the cabin door opened and Maggie Scully walked out on the porch, holding William on her shoulder. Mulder didn't even bother to take the keys from the ignition. Both of them were out of the car and running to their son before they realized it. Maggie laughed and handed the baby over to her daughter. Scully took William and snuggled him to the crook of her neck. "Oh Baby Boy, I'm so glad to see you!" she exclaimed, tears of joy running down her face. She turned to Mulder and let him take the baby, who seemed oblivious to all the emotional upheaval. He smiled at his father and looked over to his mother, gracing her with another such smile. "He smiled," Mulder commented, looking at Scully with amazement. "You can't tell me that was gas, Scully. He smiled at us." Scully took a moment to wipe the tears from her cheeks. "You're right, Mulder. That was really a smile. You smiled for Mommy and Daddy, didn't you, Pretty Boy?" "Hey, can another mom get a hug here?" Maggie asked with a raised eyebrow, but a twinkle in her eyes. "OH, Mom!" Scully laughed and hugged her mother to her. Mulder shifted the baby so he could get a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Mom, I'm so sorry. We left in such a hurry and I didn't feel safe calling you -- " "Sweetheart, you did what you had to do," Maggie said firmly. "And I've made so many new friends," she added with a hint of sarcasm. "The gunmen," Mulder said with a sigh. "Do I need to kill anyone when I see them again?" Maggie chuckled. "No, Fox. They were perfect gentlemen in all our dealings. And they've been such a help to me. I think you need to thank them, not harm them." "I will be happy to do that. And I want to thank the person who got you out of San Diego and brought you here. Where is he?" "Yeah, Mom. I want to thank him, too," Scully added. "He's just inside. He wanted to give us a minute to get reacquainted. He's a lovely young man, Dana. And very handsome," Maggie said with a smirk. "Mom," Scully said, rolling her eyes. "Well, I can look, can't I? I'm old, Dana. Not dead." "Mother, please, not in front of -- me," Scully pleaded. "Oh, I'm just teasing. Come in. You can see for yourself." She led them into the cabin and found no one in the living room. "Alex? Are you in the kitchen?" Mulder was so interested in William's every expression that he hadn't really been paying attention. So when he looked up and saw who was coming in through the kitchen doorway, he startled and handed the baby to Maggie, shoving them behind him. "Scully," he said, his voice full of warning. "Mulder, Scully. Good to see you both again," Alex said casually and proceeded to sit down in an arm chair facing the sofa. "Please, make yourselves at home. Maggie, I put one of the frozen pizzas in the oven for everyone. I'm sure they're hungry after the long drive." "Krycek, you rat bastard! What the hell are you doing here?" Mulder demanded. He pulled his weapon, as did Scully and both were pointed directly at the other man's forehead. Alex held up his hands to show he was unarmed. "Would you two please just cut the dramatics? Sit down, have some pizza. I can explain everything." "Mom, get William in the car. We'll be right out," Scully ordered. "Dana! Fox! What are you doing? Alex is a friend of your friends," Maggie objected. "Mom, this man killed Melissa," Scully ground out, her expression hardened and never leaving Krycek. "No, I didn't," Krycek corrected, shaking his head. "There are things you don't know -- " "Maggie, do as Dana says, OK?" Mulder intervened. "We'll deal with this. It's not safe to be here right now. Please, just go to the car." Maggie looked over at Alex, confusion plain on her face. "Go ahead, Maggie. Let me talk to them alone. I'll listen for the timer on the oven." Maggie clutched William close to her and left the cabin. "OK, Krycek, you have just as long as that oven timer to explain what the hell you're trying to pull or we start target practice," Mulder sneered. Krycek rolled his eyes. "Fine. First of all, you should know something about me," he said, and suddenly his face morphed and changed into that of Jeremiah Smith. "What the hell," Mulder whispered. "Alex Krycek, at least as you know him, died in a silo in North Dakota. You might remember -- you left him there." "We didn't leave him. We were arrested," Scully said, breathless with disbelief. "Well, whatever, by the time we got there, he'd been infected with the virus and there was nothing we could do." "But I thought you could -- " Mulder waved his free hand in the air. "You know -- heal people." "We can. But there are some things even we can't fix. However, finding him there gave us an opportunity. We realized that Alex Krycek was deeply involved with the men working with our enemies." "So you took his appearance," Scully said, filling in the blank. "Exactly." "So you've been working on the inside -- " "For several years now," Alex/Jeremiah replied. "Are you the same group who killed all those people on Ruskin Dam and at El Rico Air Base?" Scully asked. The alien nodded mournfully. "Although I am not one of that legion, I am of that race. Yes, we had to eliminate some collaborators." Scully glared at him. "The people on that dam weren't collaborators. You have no right -- " "Agent Scully, you understand war, don't you? Your father was a warrior, was he not? This is a war for your planet. Yes, innocent people died. But it would have been far more costly in human lives if they had lived. They would have been used by the collaborators." "Why was I spared?" she asked, licking her lips. He cocked his head and smiled. "Because we need you. Both of you," he said, looking over at Mulder. "And William. You are essential to defeating the enemies of your planet." "We aren't pawns," Mulder growled. "Absolutely not! You are the leaders of the resistance. You have been for years. You just didn't know that," the alien said, morphing back into Alex Krycek effortlessly. "I do apologize for the subterfuge. It was necessary to the larger plan." "What about Spender and the complex in Utah?" Mulder asked, still dubious. "Also part of the larger plan. The work there is vital to the continued success of the operation." "What operation?" Scully demanded. "Why, protecting your planet from the invaders," Alex said with a smile. Just then, the oven timer went off. "I should get that. And it gets pretty chilly up here at night. You should probably let Maggie bring the baby back inside." "We aren't finished with this discussion . . . Krycek," Mulder said angrily. "No, I realize that. But it would be best not to talk about it in front of Maggie," Alex said, getting up to go to the kitchen. Scully looked over at her partner and frowned. He forced a smile and nodded toward the door. "I'll go get them," he said quietly. "You keep an eye -- " She nodded emphatically and matched his smile with one of her own. Outside he found Maggie sitting on the swing that was on the far end of the porch. "Hey, how're we doing out here?" he asked casually, carefully sitting down next to her so he didn't disturb the swinging motion she had in place. "He fell asleep just a minute ago. He was fussy when we came out. I think he missed you," she said with a raised eyebrow. "Technically, he's too little to miss more than a meal every four hours," Mulder replied, lifting the baby off Maggie's shoulder and placing him on his own. "But then, who knows for sure." "Fox, I know you won't tell me everything, but -- " "It was a case of mistaken identity," Mulder rushed and then leaned back putting the swing back in motion. "We, uh, we thought he was someone we used to know." "The man who killed Melissa? How can you make that accusation and then expect me to just ignore it?" Maggie asked, her tone hurt and angry. "Mrs. Scully, I'm sorry. Believe me, when we first saw him . . . the resemblance is uncanny," Mulder said defensively. "But we talked, he explained himself, it's all good now." "So I'm supposed to just forget it happened?" she asked, crossing her arms. "I'd consider it a personal favor," Mulder said with a crooked grin. "Of course, I'm probably about out of chits," he added, letting his eyes rest on his son's tiny back as the baby breathed in and out in deep sleep. Maggie sighed and then touched Mulder's arm. "I don't like it, but I don't think I have a choice. Fox, why didn't you call me when Dana left?" Mulder looked out on the forest just yards from the swing. "I couldn't put you in that kind of danger," he said quietly. "If they found out that we were in contact . . . " "I must say, I was shocked when Tara called. I never would have thought you'd turn to her . . . or Bill." "I didn't have much choice in the matter. I needed someone fast. At the time I had no idea that Bill -- " He stopped suddenly, afraid of how much she might know about her son's part in her daughter's imprisonment. "He regrets what happened, Fox. He was absolutely beside himself when he figured it out. Of course, that was after the damage was done. I just hope that someday Dana -- " "All he has to do is talk to her. I think Dana can understand how easy it is to be fooled by a good line from a smooth talker," Mulder replied. Maggie gave him a full smile. "Yes, I know she can," she offered and Mulder ducked his head at the direct shot. "That pizza should be about ready. I was so nervous waiting for you two to show up, I didn't really eat much at dinner." "Well, we didn't bother to eat at all, so what are we waiting for?" Scully was cutting the pizza while Krycek got glasses and ice and served the drinks. When Scully saw William, all thoughts of pizza flew out the window. She reached for her son and took him into the living room where she sat down and cradled him in her arms. "He's grown so much in a week," she said, not bothering to hide her tears. Mulder got them both plates and went over to sit next to her on the sofa. "He won't remember any of this, Scully. It will be a fairy tale we can tell him when he's older." She looked up at her partner and shook her head. "No. I hope we never have to tell him about any of this." "But what if it has a happy ending?" Mulder whispered, leaning over to kiss her on the forehead. "Promise me it will," she replied, kissing him back. After dinner Maggie volunteered to clean up the kitchen and Krycek showed Mulder and Scully to the bedroom he had been using. He even brought in the bassinet from Maggie's room so that William would be close by. "Where will you be?" Scully asked as Krycek while Mulder headed for a quick shower. "That sofa is pretty comfortable," he replied. "And I don't think I'll be sleeping much tonight. Just in case." "You really aren't him," Scully asked, still unsure. "The man who killed your sister, who killed Mulder's father is dead. But finding his body actually turned the tide on something that would have been inevitable. If you're not comfortable with this image, I could change -- but I suspect we'd have to do a lot of explaining to your mother about things you really don't want her to know." Scully shook her head. "No, that's not a good idea. You're right, there is a lot of this I would just as soon she doesn't know. I'll just have to get used to it, I guess." "Just try to get some sleep. I'll keep watch." Rogue Valley International Airport Medford, OR 11:25 pm Monica Reyes pulled her cell phone out of her pocket as soon as she walked off the jetway. "Where is he?" she asked the moment the line was picked up. "He left Portland about two hours ago," came the quick reply. "He rented an SUV. We're tracking gas purchases, but he had a full tank, so it's possible he won't need to get gas before he arrives at the destination." She closed her eyes. "Frohike, are you sure you have him?" "Agent Reyes, I promise. This is the right guy. I know we messed up at first, but now we have him." She sighed deeply and started walking over to the rental car booth. "I hope you're right." "Did you get the directions we sent to your cell phone?" "Yeah," she said as she walked up to the Lariat counter. "I just wish there were some way to warn them." "I've sent emails to our contact, but so far he hasn't picked them up. If you leave now, you should beat Agent Doggett by about an hour, hour and a half. You're much closer in Medford than he was when he landed in Portland." "Well, I better get going. I'll call when I can." "Be careful, Agent Reyes. We're counting on you." Monica smiled faintly as she pocketed the phone. To have the trust of some of the most paranoid people on the face of the earth was a high honor and one she surely never expected. It was time to put that faith into action. She had a family to protect. Oregon Cave Junction, OR 2 am Scully was out of the bed before William finished his first whimper. Mulder rolled over and watched her in the moonlight, cradling their son her to chest, even though all chances of breastfeeding him were nil. "Want me to get the bottle ready?" he asked in a whisper. She started slightly at his voice, but relaxed immediately. "If you don't mind. Do you know -- " She caught herself. It was easy to forget that Mulder would have had to learn how to feed their child when she had run off, effectively ditching them both. "Sorry. Of course you know how to fix a bottle." He snagged his boxers off the ground by the side of the bed and pulled them on. He made a point of going over and squeezing her shoulder. "The only one who needs to forgive you is you, Scully. Wills and I have already forgiven you." "Wills," she murmured with a faint smile that he could just detect in the silvery moonlight. "Yeah. We talk, us guys. He's OK with Wills but he drew the line on Billy," Mulder deadpanned. At that moment the young man in question screwed up his face and let out a lusty cry for food. "See what I mean?" Mulder added quickly over the squeals. "Go get your son his bottle," she commanded, but her eyes twinkled merrily. It was good to tease. It was good to laugh. God in heaven, she thought, it was good to feel normal if just for a little while. She hugged her son tenderly and tried to sooth his cries. As he passed into the kitchen, he could see Krycek sitting by the window to the cabin. Moonlight shimmered off the end of a Glock rest in his lap. "2 am feeding?" the alien asked quietly. "Yeah. I'm just gonna -- " Both men stilled at the sound of tires on gravel. Mulder closed the refrigerator door and quickly turned off the kitchen light, plunging the rooms in darkness again. "Great thought, too late," Krycek noted wryly. "They would have seen it already." "You got a better idea, Dipstick?" Mulder muttered. "Ah, you still remember your pet name for me," Krycek replied with a steely grin. "I didn't realize your type had a sense of humor," Mulder whispered. He moved over to the closet and got his own spare weapon, then moved flat against the door. "Survival instincts. Especially on this planet," Krycek explained as he stealthily moved the window curtain aside to get a better look at the driveway. "It's a woman. Wait -- Get ready, she's headed straight for the door!" Mulder nodded his understanding. Krycek positioned himself to fire at the door and anyone trying to enter. Both men jumped a foot when there was a loud knock and a muffled "Dana? Agent Mulder? Are you in there?" "So much for her surprise attack," Krycek said with a shrug as he lowered his weapon. "Shouldn't you let her in?" "She's an old friend of Doggett's. It could be a trap," Mulder replied, biting his bottom lip. "Dana, I'm alone. Please, I have some very important information," came the voice beyond the door. "It's your call," Krycek said. Mulder nodded and then waved Krycek to stand in the hall to the bedrooms, out of sight. He kept his own weapon in his hand but lowered it to rest against his leg. He sorely wished he'd put on more than just his boxers. Before he could reach for the lock, Scully entered the room, carrying a crying William. "Did I just hear someone at the door? It sounded like Monica," she said, brushing past Mulder to unlock and open the door. Krycek gave Mulder a sympathetic look and stayed tucked in the doorway. "Monica?" Scully asked as the woman rushed in a hugged her for dear life. "Oh, thank God I made in time and you're both all right. Well, all of you, I mean." William was having none of the 'happy reunion'. He wanted his bottle and made that fact known. "I'll get his bottle," Krycek offered. "You can find out the important information." "I'll go get dressed," Mulder agreed. Scully nodded over to the sofa and Monica sat down beside her. Monica couldn't take her eyes off the baby and Scully smiled in encouragement. The agent looked unsure and then slowly reached over and caressed the baby's head. "Oh, my, Dana. He's gotten so big." "He has, hasn't it? Hard to believe it's just been two months," Scully murmured. William was interested by the new face, but it was obvious he wasn't going to have his dinner held off for much longer. He squirmed and screwed up his face just as Krycek came to the rescue. "Hey, big guy, look what I have," he crooned as he handed the bottle to Scully. William's eyes lit up, his little mouth opened and when the nipple was finally in his mouth, he quickly got down to business. "So, Agent Reyes, you have something you needed to tell us? But I have a question -- how the hell did you find us?" Mulder asked brusquely, standing by the door. "The Gunmen. I've been . . . well, working with them, I guess you could say. They put me onto some clues and I followed them. They asked me to come here to tell you what I found." "OK, I'm buying that, for now." Mulder held her in his gaze, not budging an inch. "John Doggett is on his way here," Monica said in a rush. "And I think he has intentions of harming you, Agent Mulder." She looked over at the woman next to her. "And he has definite intentions where you're concerned, Dana. But I think most of all, he wants William." She concluded by touching the baby's tiny fist as it rested against the side of the bottle. Scully's mouth moved but no words came out. She looked frantically to Mulder. "When?" she asked breathlessly. "He landed in Portland about 2 and a half hours ago. It takes 4 hours to get here. I would expect him in about an hour." Scully's face showed her panic. "Mulder," she said, swallowing and then licking her lips. "What do we do?" "Make a stand," Krycek said from the doorway to the kitchen. "Krycek, stay out of this. You're not in danger, we are." "You're right, you're absolutely right," Krycek agreed. "And unless you eliminate this threat, you will remain in danger." He walked into the center of the room, addressing all of them. "Is that how you intend to raise this baby? On the run, always looking over your shoulder? That's not a life. He should never have been born rather than live like that." "Shut the fuck up," Mulder growled. "You know nothing." "I know everything," Krycek countered. "You eliminate Doggett, your worries are over." "He's getting his orders from someone. If not him, they'll send someone else," Scully shot back. "Not necessarily," he said with a cryptic grin. Mulder was across the room in a second and slammed Krycek up against the far wall. "What do you know?" "About what?" "How did Doggett find us, for one. You're the only one besides the Gunmen who knows our location," Mulder said, his eyes narrowing. "Mulder, it only makes sense -- " "There is a baby in this cabin, you son of a bitch! My son!" Mulder yelled. "Oh dear," Maggie said entering in a robe and bare feet. "Fox, Alex, please!" "Mom, we're in danger here. We have to leave," Scully said quickly, standing up and heading toward the bedrooms. "Danger? Oh, hello?" Maggie said, noticing Monica for the first time. "Agent Reyes? When did you get here?" "Hello, Mrs. Scully. I got here just a few moments ago." She stood nervously. "I'm afraid I bring bad news. Dana's right, there is a danger in staying here." "Fox?" Mulder gave Krycek another shove, bouncing his head against the wall and then released him. "Mrs. Scully, put on some clothes, there isn't much time." "You're making a mistake," Krycek said, shaking his head. "This is the only way to end it." "Then you stay here. You fight him. I'm through. I'm taking my family and getting the hell out of here, now." Mulder spun on his heel and stalked from the room. Krycek looked over at Monica. "What about you?" he asked. She drew in a deep breath. "What do you have in mind?" Krycek chuckled, but it had an edge to it. "Ever seen the last scene of 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid'?" "Going out in a blaze of glory?" she asked, raising one eyebrow. "Something like that. But we take the bastard to hell with us," he said with a truly evil grin. Monica swallowed, her throat was suddenly very dry. "Yeah, I think I can get behind that plan," she said with a confidence she didn't really feel. "Good. I'll tell the others." 2:20 am John parked the SUV between two tall pines where the road met the gravel path. He closed the door silently, even though he was certain he was far enough away that the sound wouldn't reach the occupants of the cabin. With his night vision goggles in place around his forehead, he made his way down the makeshift driveway. What the hell? The lights were on and he could hear the shouting from 100 yards away! Damn, this wasn't good. He had hoped to catch them while they were sleeping, make good on the plan he had in North Carolina. He breathed in deeply. This was not an obstacle, it was a challenge. He smiled. He always did love a challenge. "Soon, Dana. Soon we'll be a family," he promised under his breath. Checking his weapons and the multiple clips of ammunition, he crept toward the cabin. to be continued