Fic: Alex? Parts 1-3
NOTE: These are my old stories. I lost them for a while and now I'm giving them a new home.
Title: Alex?
Rating: R for Disturbing scenes and sex.
Spoilers: Existence. Lazarus, vague one for Emily, and all Krycek episodes.
Keywords: Character death. K/Ma, M/S (Mildly)
Disclaimer: Not mine, no profit. They belong to Fox, Chris Carter and 1013.
Summary: Skinner has some unwelcome visits; Marita and Alex try to cheat death.
Authors note: Revised March 2 2002
Word count: Both parts total 11278
ALEX?
Part One
The gun fires. The bullet hits its target. Krycek falls. He walks up to the body to confirm he's dead, and kneels down over the corpse.
Its eyes open.
"Murderer."
The hand reaches up and grabs his throat. He can't breathe.>
***
Gasping for air, he sat up in his bed. Sweat dripped down his forehead. He closed his eyes, and took several breaths. When he opened them, he saw Krycek sitting on the end of his bed, smiling. Blood was dripping from the hole in his forehead.
"Payback's a bitch."
Skinner scrambled to turn on the lamp. With the click of the light, Krycek vanished.
He slept with the light on the rest of the night.
***
Marita moaned in her sleep. Lately, she'd been spending a lot of time in bed. At least when she was sleeping, he wasn't gone.
His lips were on her neck. His hands were all over her. He had both in her dreams. The left was about to pleasure her further, when it disappeared. She looked at him. He'd changed. He was covered in blood, and there was a bullet wound in head.
"Help me Marita."
Her screams woke her up.
Her hands shook, as she picked up the clock by her bed. It was already afternoon. No point in going back to bed now that her pleasure in it had been taken. She thought about Skinner.
Murderer.
She was still trembling when she entered the shower. Hot water poured over her while she stood, staring into space. The water started to turn cold, snapping her back to reality. She washed quickly, and got out.
She opened the medicine cabinet, and took out her lotion. Why she bothered, she didn't know. This day would be like all the others. She'd sit, staring into nowhere, for hours, crying for several of them. She thought about ending it. Now that Alex was dead, they'd be coming for her. It would be better if she weren't alive when they came. Or maybe they just forgot about her. It wouldn't be the first time.
She shut the cabinet door. The bottle of lotion crashed on the floor.
There was a message in the fogged mirror.
Gleason Motel
Room 119
She backed up to the tub, and sat on the edge. Her eyes darted about the room.
"A-Alex?"
***
The next night, as Skinner got ready for bed, he paused before turning off the light.
This is ridiculous, he thought, but so were a lot of things he had seen, since taking a more active role with the X-files. He shook his head, and turned off the lamp. Several hours later, the nightmares began again.
"Murderer."
The hand reached up, and grabbed his throat. He woke up gasping.
Again, Krycek sat on the edge of his bed, looking like he did the moment he died.
"Murderer."
Krycek's hand reached out, and grabbed his neck. He couldn't breathe. His hand reached for the lamp. His fingers barely touched the switch. He struggled to get closer. His fingers managed to tip the lamp in his direction. He caught it, and was able to turn it on.
He was alone. No one else was in the room. He sat there rubbing his neck, trying to figure out what just happened.
***
Marita rang the bell, and waited for the attendant to come. She knew this was crazy, but what else did she have to do? Finally, a small wiry man with glasses came to the desk.
"Would you like a room?"
"Yes. Actually, I would like a specific room, number 119."
"I have that one reserved."
"Would it be possible to move them to another room? The room has fond memories for me, with someone who is no longer around."
"Divorced?"
"No, murdered." She lowered her head. "I'm hoping to get some closure." She glanced up at the man, and smiled.
"Well I suppose it won't do any harm."
"Thank you so much." She purred, as he handed her the key.
Once inside the room, she began searching. It wasn't a pleasant experience. It was a one star motel, at best. She looked under the bed, in all the drawers, under the dresser. As she ran her hand under the desk, she found a key taped underneath.
It was for a safety deposit box, but she had no idea what bank.
"Great Alex, now what?"
No one answered.
She went to the bathroom, and shut the door. Had she finally gone crazy? Months of torture and captivity with the tests, and still she survived, yet kill her Alex, and she goes nuts?
"Okay Marita." She told herself. "You came this far, it won't hurt to try."
She turned on the hot water, and waited for steam to fill up the room.
"Alex, I need to know what the key is for."
Nothing.
She turned off the water. The tap burned her hand. She thought she heard laughter.
"Fine, Alex. I came here to help! If you want to play games, go find someone else."
Words began to appear on the mirror.
Great Eastern Bank, #59. Dodd
"Oh my god Alex? Is it really you?"
Two more words appeared.
Help me.
***
Mulder answered the door, holding the baby. It was Skinner. He looked terrible. Huge bags hung under his eyes.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"I- I need to talk to you. Can I come in?"
Will started to cry.
"Yeah sure come in."
As soon as Mulder shut the door, Will started to scream. He cradled the child, and rocked him. It didn't work.
Skinner looked at the baby. "Maybe this isn't a good time, I'll come back."
"What, because of the crying?" Mulder laughed. "There is no off time for that. In fact you look as tired as I feel."
Suddenly, the child stopped.
"There, all better, probably gas. What's up?"
Skinner looked down. "I need to talk to you about that night in the garage."
Mulder frowned. "Look, if it's playing on your conscience, don't let it. Krycek was going to kill me. As far as I'm concerned, you did the right thing. It was self defense."
"You and I both know it wasn't self defense. He was unarmed when I shot him. I keep telling myself that in the bigger picture it was the right thing to do, but-"
"You did what you felt you had to. You're a good man, Walter. You've demonstrated that to me enough times for me to know that you did what you felt was right."
"That's not it. I've been experiencing-" he stood there with his mouth open for a moment. "What do you know about ghosts?"
"You think Krycek's spirit is-" Mulder looked down at Will. "If that is the case then you shouldn't be here. I'll get all the information I have and come by your place after Scully gets back. Okay?"
Skinner nodded. "It's probably nothing, but whatever help you can give me, I'd appreciate it."
"I'll see you tonight."
***
"Yes Miss, can I help you?"
"Mrs. actually." Marita replied. "I would like to access my safety deposit box please."
"Certainly Mrs., uh-"
"Dodd."
"Mrs. Dodd, right this way."
She signed in, and went to the vault.
Let me know when you are finished, Mrs. Dodd."
"Thank you."
Marita opened the box. There were several stacks of thousand dollar bills.
She looked up. "You'd haunt me forever if I just took this and ran, wouldn't you?"
Ever since the motel, she was talking more and more to him. She didn't know if he was with her or not, but she found it comforting.
She took the bills, and placed them in her briefcase. Underneath them was the device.
"You want me to kill him? Should I do it now?"
The box slammed shut.
"Okay, not now. I'd prefer to be there when it happens anyway."
Marita opened the box again, and placed the device in her suitcase. She left the bank smiling. It was the first genuine one she had in weeks.
***
Skinner opened his door, and let Mulder in.
Mulder took a seat on the couch.
"Did you find out anything?" Skinner asked.
"Can you first tell me why you think Krycek's spirit is haunting you?"
Skinner sat down in the chair next to the sofa. He rested his head in his hands.
Mulder continued. "I know it's hard for you to accept these things, but if you want my help I need to know what's going on."
Skinner told him about the nightmares and the visions.
"The last one, he attacked me when I was awake. I could feel his hands around my neck. I haven't been able
to sleep since. It doesn't make any sense."
"Unfortunately it does. The literature I've read says some, especially those who lead darker lives, don't move on after they die, either because they don't want to, or because they can't. Another factor is if they die violently. The spirit stays until they get some kind of closure or justice. Krycek would match both descriptions."
"How do I get rid of him?"
"Well, that's the good news. There are people who specialize in this type of thing. A lot of them are scam artists, but I know of one who is well respected. I already phoned him, and he can make it up here tomorrow night. Can you wait that long?"
Skinner nodded.
"Do you want me to stay here with you tonight?"
"No, I should be okay." He gave a dry laugh." As long as I sleep with the light on."
"Are you sure?"
Skinner nodded, again. He walked Mulder to the door.
"If anything happens, call me, okay?"
"Yeah I will. Oh, and Mulder?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"Hey, no problem. I needed a hobby now that I'm jobless."
"No offense, but I'm hoping this hobby is short lived." Skinner said as he shut the door.
***
Marita watched Mulder leave the building.
She went up to Skinner's apartment, device in hand, and picked the lock.
"Remember when you taught me this?" She whispered.
She picked up the device, and turned it up one third. She heard the scream of pain, and entered the door.
Skinner was clutching his chest. Trying to make it to the phone. As he pushed the on button, Marita turned
it to the halfway mark. The phone dropped.
"Murderer!" She hissed.
Skinner was on the floor, his back propped up by the couch. She could see his veins pulsing.
"You think you're better? You think you had the right to kill him? I know your type. You're no better than the other men I've worked for." She turned it up another notch. He screamed. She lowered it a little.
"Everything's so black and white with your type isn't it. A man is either good or bad, useful or not.
Better alive or better dead. It's all the same bullshit, no shades of gray."
"Pl-please, don't do this." He gasped.
"Did you think no one would care? Are you that closed minded to think there was no one who would miss him,
no one who would grieve?" She was yelling now. Tears were streaming down her face. She didn't hear the
sound of the phone being dialed or the operator at the end on the line.
"Alex took orders. It was either obey them or die. You should know how that feels. You had no right to
kill him!" She turned it up as high as it would go and watched him convulse.
Finally, he was still. She heard the sirens. They were very close. She wiped the tears off her face, and
left the building before anyone got there.
***
The Paramedics raced into the apartment
"He's not breathing, no pulse."
Within seconds, they had the defibrillator ready.
"One, two, three."
"Nothing!"
"Again, one, two, three."
"Still nothing!"
"Come on buddy, one, two, three."
"I got a pulse!"
***
Marita sat on the bed in room 119, waiting for Alex to give her another sign. When he didn't come to her at her place, she thought here would work, but there was nothing. She filled the bathroom with steam until the tank ran out of hot water, but no message.
She could go anywhere now. She had all the money she found in the safety deposit box, but she waited. One more day, she told herself. That was three days ago. She should have been happy for Alex. If he wasn't here, then perhaps he found peace, but the finality of it made her weep.
The door opened. Marita gasped. It was Skinner.
"What are you doing here? You're dead!"
He smiled at her. "I know I'm a lot uglier now, but I would think you missed me enough to give me a better welcome."
"Alex?"
***
Part Two
Marita stumbled back, until she was against the wall.
"This isn't possible."
"I know, but it's me, Marita. Really." He started walking towards her.
"Stay back."
"Marita, it's me. Is it so hard to believe after everything else? After the messages I left you, and the bank, and what happened at Skinner's apartment? I was with you for almost all of it. How else would I know how to find you?"
"You could have followed me."
"I was in the hospital. Look, I know that the safety deposit box number was 119. I told you where it was
right there in that bathroom. How would I know that if I was Skinner?"
He came closer to her. Her eyes grew wider, but she didn't protest.
She slowly reached her hand out to him, and touched his chest. She gasped. He felt so real. She had gone mad. Her unwillingness to let go of Alex had driven her insane, and the guilt in her subconscious had given him the body of Skinner.
She closed her eyes. "This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't-"
"Marita, stop it, you're not hallucinating."
She opened her eyes. He was still there.
"Alex? Is it really you?"
"It's me." He smiled.
He put his arms around her, and held her close. She didn't respond, but didn't resist.
He whispered in her ear. "You saved me Marita, in more ways than you'll ever know."
All of a sudden, it didn't matter how, or why, or even what he looked like. She had her Alex back. Whether it was because she'd gone crazy, or because all of this was real, it didn't matter. She had him back, and that's what she'd been wanting. She wrapped her arms around him, and started to cry.
"I thought I'd lost you. I thought you were gone forever."
They stayed that way until her eyes ran dry. Eventually, he let go, and went to the window. It was a habit for him to glance outside, to make sure no one was watching, but this time he stayed there for several minutes, staring at nothing.
"Alex?"
"Hmm?"
"What was it like being dead?"
He didn't turn away from the window.
"Alex?"
"It was -" He looked down. "I don't want to talk about it, not now"
"Something happened to you, didn't it?"
"I was shot in the head and died! Isn't that something enough?" He looked at her, staring at him, and softened his voice. "If I can, I'll tell you one day, but not now. We have a lot of work to do. Where's my body?"
"What do you mean where's your body? Alex you've been dead for 6 weeks. You were shot in the head. Because you had no identity, they did an autopsy to find clues about who you were. Your body isn't going to do you any good."
"I'm not going to try get back into it. If I thought that would solve everything, I would have done it in the first place. Now where's my body?"
"Why do you want your-"
"Shit! You didn't cremate it, did you?"
"Didn't you hear me? The FBI had your body. I couldn't just waltz in there and claim it!"
"I know, I just thought you'd find some way of getting it."
A smile crept to her lips. "I did. I stole it."
"You have my body?"
"Yeah Alex, it's in the closet back at my place."
"Marita, "he pleaded, "Where's my body."
"I had it buried in a cemetery in Rochester, under the name Thomas Smith."
"Good. Do know what happened to the surveillance tape?"
"No. I did try to get it. I was going to use it, but someone else had taken it."
"We have to find out who has it. The last thing I need is to get arrested for murdering myself. I need you to do something tomorrow."
"What?"
"You're going to meet someone. I'll tell you exactly what to do and say. Okay?"
"What are you doing tomorrow?"
"Going grave digging."
***
Mulder walked down the hospital hallway to Skinner's room. He'd come by the other day to drop off a change of clothes, but Skinner was sleeping. He entered the room this time, only to find an empty bed. He found a nurse in the hallway.
"Excuse me? Do you know what happened to the patient that was in that room?"
"Oh, you mean, Rock Hudson?"
"What?"
"Never seen a guy so obsessed with his appearance. He spent hours staring at himself in the mirror."
"Really?" Mulder choked down a laugh.
"Yeah. He checked himself out yesterday."
"Thanks."
He took out his phone and dialed Skinner's number.
No answer.
He looked at the nurse walking away, and frowned. Something wasn't right.
***
Alex stood with his hands in Skinner's trench coat, watching them dig up the body. His body. He'd seen countless bodies in his life, some peaceful, many gruesome. He thought he was ready for this.
Once the coffin was brought out, he walked up to it. He ran a hand along the top. A voice in his head warned him:
Don't look in there.
He had to be sure this body was his. The plan was a long shot. Nothing could be assumed.
He lifted the lid.
He only took a quick glance, and shut the lid as soon as the stench hit him, but it was enough to make him ill.
His body had been dead for over 6 weeks. Decay had settled in. His skin was a mix of purples and greens. If not for the hole in his head, he would have barely recognized himself. His body was severely bloated and the nails on his hand had begun to fall off. He'd seen worse, but on other peoples bodies, not his own.
As soon as he shut the lid, he took a few steps backwards, and started to vomit. He stayed bent over, throwing up for almost a minute, until one of the other men came up to him.
"Sir, are you all right? I thought that someone with your position would be use to sights like that, but I guess it's sort of a good thing if you never get use to it"
He stayed hunched over for a few seconds, and looked up at the man. "Yeah, I'm fine. Have the body taken to the morgue. A doctor will by later today to do some tests."
He headed back to the car.
***
Marita waited on the dock, watching a man gather his fish, and get out of his boat.
"Dr. Cornwall?"
The man looked up. He dropped his catch. "How'd you find me? Look, I just wanted some peace. I have no intention of talking. I haven't said a word in over 3 years. Please-"
"Alex Krycek sent me. He told me you'd be here. He told me to tell you that it's time to repay your debt."
"Krycek? Why didn't he come himself?"
"The situation is, um, unusual. You'll understand shortly. There's a body up in Rochester. The address of the morgue is here." She handed him a piece of paper. "You are to go there and take the necessary samples. When you're done you are to go to Seattle. The address is also on the paper. I will meet you there tomorrow. No matter what you find with the body, do as you are told. Everything will be explained soon. Are we clear?"
"What if I say no."
"Alex instructed me to remind you that you're on borrowed time. Of course you can say no, but then you'll have to give up what Alex gave to you 3 years ago."
"You don't strike me as the sort of person who could carry out that task."
"And you don't strike me as the sort of man who would destroy the lives of innocent children. Everyone's full of surprises, doctor."
Cornwall turned his back to Marita and looked out on the lake.
"All right," he said, "but then my debt's paid after this. You tell him this favor clears the slate."
"See you in tomorrow, doctor."
***
Part Three
"There you go." The super said, as he opened the door to Skinner's apartment. In the rush to the hospital, the keys were left inside.
Alex didn't move. "Thanks." He said, still staring inside. He went straight to see Marita after he left the hospital, and hadn't been back here since.
"Hey, I know it can be hard coming back home afterwards." The man smiled at him. "Had my first heart attack 5 years ago. I couldn't wait to get home, but when I did come back, it was unnerving. Funny how things like that can haunt you."
"Yeah, funny." He tried to smile at the man, but all that came out as a worried glance. He thanked the man again, and entered the apartment.
He quickly turned on the lights, and looked around. Everything looked the same as it did that night, but that didn't mean Skinner wasn't present. He wouldn't have come at all if he didn't need to check Skinners' messages. In a few days he'd be gone, but until then he couldn't raise suspicions, not when he was already so close.
Turned out he only had one message anyway. Mulder.
"Hey, hope everything's okay. Went to see you at the hospital but you were already gone. Scully wants to know if we should reschedule the baptism. Give me a call, and let me know if you still need that friend we were talking about earlier."
Baptism?
He looked around Skinners desk, and found his day planner. He flipped to that week. There it was, that coming Sunday.
10:00-Godson's Baptism, St. John's Church
Godson?
He chuckled, picked up the phone, hit star 69, and wrote down the number.
He could hear Mulder on the other end."Hello?"
"Yeah it's me, I got your message."
"Hey. How are you doing? I went to see you at the hospital a couple of times, but you were sleeping, and the second time you had checked out."
"Yeah, thanks for the clothes."
"How are you? Did what happen have anything to do with what we talked about earlier?"
"No, it was just a heart attack. I think the whole thing was just been in my head. I'm taking sometime off. I'll be out of town for a couple days, but I'll be there for Sunday. No need to reschedule. After that I'm going on vacation."
"I've never known you to take a vacation."
"Yeah? Well, doctors orders."
"Are you sure your okay? We can postpone the baptism."
"Nah, I'll be fine." He smiled, "Besides, it wouldn't be nice to keep my Godson waiting."
Alex heard crackling. The bulb on one of the living room lamps exploded.
"You still there?" Mulder asked. "What was that?"
"Nothing, just the TV. I gotta go. See you Sunday."
As he hung up, the second lamp in the living room exploded, followed by the one on the desk. Like a chain reaction, every bulb burst, until the entire apartment was black.
His eyes raced around the room. He couldn't see anything. He began to feel his way to the door.
Skinner appeared.
Alex gasped, and took several steps backwards, tripping over the coffee table.
Death had not been kind to Skinner. Bloated blood vessels covered his body. He started to approach Alex.
"What do you think you're going to do?" Alex asked, still on the floor. "Kill me? It won't be that easy this time. Whatever you do to me, you do to yourself."
Skinner stopped.
Alex got up, and casually brushed himself off. He walked around Skinner. When he reached the door, he turned around and grinned.
"I thought having to go through limbo with a hole in my head was bad, but man you look like shit. Hope you enjoy that hell as much as I did." As he left the apartment, Skinner disappeared.
***
Mulder sat on the couch, staring at the phone. He was glad Skinner was okay, but something didn't feel right. Perhaps he was looking too hard. It was horrible, but he actually felt a tinge of disappointment.
As much as he was enjoying this new life with Scully and the baby, the idea of having a paranormal case to investigate, FBI or not, sparked some excitement in him.
"Mulder?"
He looked up, and saw Scully puzzling at him. Bags were under her eyes, and she had Will's spit up on her nightgown, but she still managed to look beautiful, to him at least.
"Is the little guy all done supper?"
She yawned, and sat down next to him. "Yep, we've got a few hours reprieve until his midnight snack. I asked you who was on the phone, but you didn't answer. You were staring out at nothing. Is everything Okay?"
"Uhm, actually everything's fine. It was Skinner. He said he' was doing fine, and that there was no need to postpone the baptism."
She stretch out and placed her head on his lap. "That's good. I was worried about him. I hope he takes some time off now."
"He is. He said he was going on a vacation after the ceremony. Kind of unlike him, don't you think?"
She yawned again. "Well he has been through a lot."
He ran his hands through her hair, "Several hours of reprieve you say?"
"Mmhmm, "she murmured
"Well, there's an Ed Wood marathon on TV tonight." He teased,
No answer
"Scully?"
She was sleeping. He looked down at her resting on his lap, smiled, and grabbed the remote.
"Looks like it's just you and me Ed."
***
Alex sped into the parking lot of the Gleason Motel. He didn't think Skinner would be able to leave his apartment yet. It took him a few weeks to learn how to get around, but if he were wrong, Marita would definitely be a target.
He rushed into the room, and looked around. Marita was sleeping in the bed. He shut the door, flicked on the light, and leaned up against the wall to catch his breath. Marita stirred.
"Alex?"
"Yeah, it's me. Go back to sleep."
He went to the bathroom, and showered. By the time he came out, Marita was asleep again. He crawled under the covers, and spooned against her. It felt so good to be able to feel her warmth again.
It was so cold when he was away.
He just intended to lie there with her, not wanting to push her. He knew how strange all of this was to her. Not just him having another body, but the body of the man she'd murdered. If all went well, soon things would be closer to normal. They'd have time for all the other things after that, but as he put an arm around her, she and arched closer to him and moaned his name.
Was she still asleep?
He whispered back. "Marita?"
Still with her back against him, she took the hand, and ran it over her breast.
"Alex" she moaned again.
He bit his lip. He didn't know if she was dreaming or conscious, but he was scared to say anything. It felt so good, and although he knew it was wrong if she was sleeping, he didn't want her to wake up. She starting rubbing against him. A groan started to escape from his mouth, but he held it back, afraid that any noise could cause her to open her eyes.
She took his hand, and guided it lower.
Again she called his name.
He couldn't stop. He didn't want to stop. If she opened her eyes and started screaming, he'd stop, but until that happened he wanted to enjoy this.
He lowered his head into hear neck, and started kissing it, as she reached behind and guided him inside her.
He gasped. She began rocking her hips thrusting back and forth, moaning encouragements, all the while keeping her eyes shut tight. He moved with her, careful to only allow quick breaths to come out until the end when, as she screamed, he finally let out one of his own. He raised his head, and looked down at her face. Worried she'd now open her eyes, and realize what had happened.
Her eyes were still shut. She had a smile on her face. She brought his hand up, and kissed it.
"Thank you" she said.
"Marita?" he whispered.
"Shhh, get some sleep. We have an early flight to catch tomorrow."
***
Parts 4-6
Title: Alex?
Rating: R for Disturbing scenes and sex.
Spoilers: Existence. Lazarus, vague one for Emily, and all Krycek episodes.
Keywords: Character death. K/Ma, M/S (Mildly)
Disclaimer: Not mine, no profit. They belong to Fox, Chris Carter and 1013.
Summary: Skinner has some unwelcome visits; Marita and Alex try to cheat death.
Authors note: Revised March 2 2002
Word count: Both parts total 11278
ALEX?
Part One
The gun fires. The bullet hits its target. Krycek falls. He walks up to the body to confirm he's dead, and kneels down over the corpse.
Its eyes open.
"Murderer."
The hand reaches up and grabs his throat. He can't breathe.>
***
Gasping for air, he sat up in his bed. Sweat dripped down his forehead. He closed his eyes, and took several breaths. When he opened them, he saw Krycek sitting on the end of his bed, smiling. Blood was dripping from the hole in his forehead.
"Payback's a bitch."
Skinner scrambled to turn on the lamp. With the click of the light, Krycek vanished.
He slept with the light on the rest of the night.
***
Marita moaned in her sleep. Lately, she'd been spending a lot of time in bed. At least when she was sleeping, he wasn't gone.
His lips were on her neck. His hands were all over her. He had both in her dreams. The left was about to pleasure her further, when it disappeared. She looked at him. He'd changed. He was covered in blood, and there was a bullet wound in head.
"Help me Marita."
Her screams woke her up.
Her hands shook, as she picked up the clock by her bed. It was already afternoon. No point in going back to bed now that her pleasure in it had been taken. She thought about Skinner.
Murderer.
She was still trembling when she entered the shower. Hot water poured over her while she stood, staring into space. The water started to turn cold, snapping her back to reality. She washed quickly, and got out.
She opened the medicine cabinet, and took out her lotion. Why she bothered, she didn't know. This day would be like all the others. She'd sit, staring into nowhere, for hours, crying for several of them. She thought about ending it. Now that Alex was dead, they'd be coming for her. It would be better if she weren't alive when they came. Or maybe they just forgot about her. It wouldn't be the first time.
She shut the cabinet door. The bottle of lotion crashed on the floor.
There was a message in the fogged mirror.
Gleason Motel
Room 119
She backed up to the tub, and sat on the edge. Her eyes darted about the room.
"A-Alex?"
***
The next night, as Skinner got ready for bed, he paused before turning off the light.
This is ridiculous, he thought, but so were a lot of things he had seen, since taking a more active role with the X-files. He shook his head, and turned off the lamp. Several hours later, the nightmares began again.
"Murderer."
The hand reached up, and grabbed his throat. He woke up gasping.
Again, Krycek sat on the edge of his bed, looking like he did the moment he died.
"Murderer."
Krycek's hand reached out, and grabbed his neck. He couldn't breathe. His hand reached for the lamp. His fingers barely touched the switch. He struggled to get closer. His fingers managed to tip the lamp in his direction. He caught it, and was able to turn it on.
He was alone. No one else was in the room. He sat there rubbing his neck, trying to figure out what just happened.
***
Marita rang the bell, and waited for the attendant to come. She knew this was crazy, but what else did she have to do? Finally, a small wiry man with glasses came to the desk.
"Would you like a room?"
"Yes. Actually, I would like a specific room, number 119."
"I have that one reserved."
"Would it be possible to move them to another room? The room has fond memories for me, with someone who is no longer around."
"Divorced?"
"No, murdered." She lowered her head. "I'm hoping to get some closure." She glanced up at the man, and smiled.
"Well I suppose it won't do any harm."
"Thank you so much." She purred, as he handed her the key.
Once inside the room, she began searching. It wasn't a pleasant experience. It was a one star motel, at best. She looked under the bed, in all the drawers, under the dresser. As she ran her hand under the desk, she found a key taped underneath.
It was for a safety deposit box, but she had no idea what bank.
"Great Alex, now what?"
No one answered.
She went to the bathroom, and shut the door. Had she finally gone crazy? Months of torture and captivity with the tests, and still she survived, yet kill her Alex, and she goes nuts?
"Okay Marita." She told herself. "You came this far, it won't hurt to try."
She turned on the hot water, and waited for steam to fill up the room.
"Alex, I need to know what the key is for."
Nothing.
She turned off the water. The tap burned her hand. She thought she heard laughter.
"Fine, Alex. I came here to help! If you want to play games, go find someone else."
Words began to appear on the mirror.
Great Eastern Bank, #59. Dodd
"Oh my god Alex? Is it really you?"
Two more words appeared.
Help me.
***
Mulder answered the door, holding the baby. It was Skinner. He looked terrible. Huge bags hung under his eyes.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"I- I need to talk to you. Can I come in?"
Will started to cry.
"Yeah sure come in."
As soon as Mulder shut the door, Will started to scream. He cradled the child, and rocked him. It didn't work.
Skinner looked at the baby. "Maybe this isn't a good time, I'll come back."
"What, because of the crying?" Mulder laughed. "There is no off time for that. In fact you look as tired as I feel."
Suddenly, the child stopped.
"There, all better, probably gas. What's up?"
Skinner looked down. "I need to talk to you about that night in the garage."
Mulder frowned. "Look, if it's playing on your conscience, don't let it. Krycek was going to kill me. As far as I'm concerned, you did the right thing. It was self defense."
"You and I both know it wasn't self defense. He was unarmed when I shot him. I keep telling myself that in the bigger picture it was the right thing to do, but-"
"You did what you felt you had to. You're a good man, Walter. You've demonstrated that to me enough times for me to know that you did what you felt was right."
"That's not it. I've been experiencing-" he stood there with his mouth open for a moment. "What do you know about ghosts?"
"You think Krycek's spirit is-" Mulder looked down at Will. "If that is the case then you shouldn't be here. I'll get all the information I have and come by your place after Scully gets back. Okay?"
Skinner nodded. "It's probably nothing, but whatever help you can give me, I'd appreciate it."
"I'll see you tonight."
***
"Yes Miss, can I help you?"
"Mrs. actually." Marita replied. "I would like to access my safety deposit box please."
"Certainly Mrs., uh-"
"Dodd."
"Mrs. Dodd, right this way."
She signed in, and went to the vault.
Let me know when you are finished, Mrs. Dodd."
"Thank you."
Marita opened the box. There were several stacks of thousand dollar bills.
She looked up. "You'd haunt me forever if I just took this and ran, wouldn't you?"
Ever since the motel, she was talking more and more to him. She didn't know if he was with her or not, but she found it comforting.
She took the bills, and placed them in her briefcase. Underneath them was the device.
"You want me to kill him? Should I do it now?"
The box slammed shut.
"Okay, not now. I'd prefer to be there when it happens anyway."
Marita opened the box again, and placed the device in her suitcase. She left the bank smiling. It was the first genuine one she had in weeks.
***
Skinner opened his door, and let Mulder in.
Mulder took a seat on the couch.
"Did you find out anything?" Skinner asked.
"Can you first tell me why you think Krycek's spirit is haunting you?"
Skinner sat down in the chair next to the sofa. He rested his head in his hands.
Mulder continued. "I know it's hard for you to accept these things, but if you want my help I need to know what's going on."
Skinner told him about the nightmares and the visions.
"The last one, he attacked me when I was awake. I could feel his hands around my neck. I haven't been able
to sleep since. It doesn't make any sense."
"Unfortunately it does. The literature I've read says some, especially those who lead darker lives, don't move on after they die, either because they don't want to, or because they can't. Another factor is if they die violently. The spirit stays until they get some kind of closure or justice. Krycek would match both descriptions."
"How do I get rid of him?"
"Well, that's the good news. There are people who specialize in this type of thing. A lot of them are scam artists, but I know of one who is well respected. I already phoned him, and he can make it up here tomorrow night. Can you wait that long?"
Skinner nodded.
"Do you want me to stay here with you tonight?"
"No, I should be okay." He gave a dry laugh." As long as I sleep with the light on."
"Are you sure?"
Skinner nodded, again. He walked Mulder to the door.
"If anything happens, call me, okay?"
"Yeah I will. Oh, and Mulder?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"Hey, no problem. I needed a hobby now that I'm jobless."
"No offense, but I'm hoping this hobby is short lived." Skinner said as he shut the door.
***
Marita watched Mulder leave the building.
She went up to Skinner's apartment, device in hand, and picked the lock.
"Remember when you taught me this?" She whispered.
She picked up the device, and turned it up one third. She heard the scream of pain, and entered the door.
Skinner was clutching his chest. Trying to make it to the phone. As he pushed the on button, Marita turned
it to the halfway mark. The phone dropped.
"Murderer!" She hissed.
Skinner was on the floor, his back propped up by the couch. She could see his veins pulsing.
"You think you're better? You think you had the right to kill him? I know your type. You're no better than the other men I've worked for." She turned it up another notch. He screamed. She lowered it a little.
"Everything's so black and white with your type isn't it. A man is either good or bad, useful or not.
Better alive or better dead. It's all the same bullshit, no shades of gray."
"Pl-please, don't do this." He gasped.
"Did you think no one would care? Are you that closed minded to think there was no one who would miss him,
no one who would grieve?" She was yelling now. Tears were streaming down her face. She didn't hear the
sound of the phone being dialed or the operator at the end on the line.
"Alex took orders. It was either obey them or die. You should know how that feels. You had no right to
kill him!" She turned it up as high as it would go and watched him convulse.
Finally, he was still. She heard the sirens. They were very close. She wiped the tears off her face, and
left the building before anyone got there.
***
The Paramedics raced into the apartment
"He's not breathing, no pulse."
Within seconds, they had the defibrillator ready.
"One, two, three."
"Nothing!"
"Again, one, two, three."
"Still nothing!"
"Come on buddy, one, two, three."
"I got a pulse!"
***
Marita sat on the bed in room 119, waiting for Alex to give her another sign. When he didn't come to her at her place, she thought here would work, but there was nothing. She filled the bathroom with steam until the tank ran out of hot water, but no message.
She could go anywhere now. She had all the money she found in the safety deposit box, but she waited. One more day, she told herself. That was three days ago. She should have been happy for Alex. If he wasn't here, then perhaps he found peace, but the finality of it made her weep.
The door opened. Marita gasped. It was Skinner.
"What are you doing here? You're dead!"
He smiled at her. "I know I'm a lot uglier now, but I would think you missed me enough to give me a better welcome."
"Alex?"
***
Part Two
Marita stumbled back, until she was against the wall.
"This isn't possible."
"I know, but it's me, Marita. Really." He started walking towards her.
"Stay back."
"Marita, it's me. Is it so hard to believe after everything else? After the messages I left you, and the bank, and what happened at Skinner's apartment? I was with you for almost all of it. How else would I know how to find you?"
"You could have followed me."
"I was in the hospital. Look, I know that the safety deposit box number was 119. I told you where it was
right there in that bathroom. How would I know that if I was Skinner?"
He came closer to her. Her eyes grew wider, but she didn't protest.
She slowly reached her hand out to him, and touched his chest. She gasped. He felt so real. She had gone mad. Her unwillingness to let go of Alex had driven her insane, and the guilt in her subconscious had given him the body of Skinner.
She closed her eyes. "This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't-"
"Marita, stop it, you're not hallucinating."
She opened her eyes. He was still there.
"Alex? Is it really you?"
"It's me." He smiled.
He put his arms around her, and held her close. She didn't respond, but didn't resist.
He whispered in her ear. "You saved me Marita, in more ways than you'll ever know."
All of a sudden, it didn't matter how, or why, or even what he looked like. She had her Alex back. Whether it was because she'd gone crazy, or because all of this was real, it didn't matter. She had him back, and that's what she'd been wanting. She wrapped her arms around him, and started to cry.
"I thought I'd lost you. I thought you were gone forever."
They stayed that way until her eyes ran dry. Eventually, he let go, and went to the window. It was a habit for him to glance outside, to make sure no one was watching, but this time he stayed there for several minutes, staring at nothing.
"Alex?"
"Hmm?"
"What was it like being dead?"
He didn't turn away from the window.
"Alex?"
"It was -" He looked down. "I don't want to talk about it, not now"
"Something happened to you, didn't it?"
"I was shot in the head and died! Isn't that something enough?" He looked at her, staring at him, and softened his voice. "If I can, I'll tell you one day, but not now. We have a lot of work to do. Where's my body?"
"What do you mean where's your body? Alex you've been dead for 6 weeks. You were shot in the head. Because you had no identity, they did an autopsy to find clues about who you were. Your body isn't going to do you any good."
"I'm not going to try get back into it. If I thought that would solve everything, I would have done it in the first place. Now where's my body?"
"Why do you want your-"
"Shit! You didn't cremate it, did you?"
"Didn't you hear me? The FBI had your body. I couldn't just waltz in there and claim it!"
"I know, I just thought you'd find some way of getting it."
A smile crept to her lips. "I did. I stole it."
"You have my body?"
"Yeah Alex, it's in the closet back at my place."
"Marita, "he pleaded, "Where's my body."
"I had it buried in a cemetery in Rochester, under the name Thomas Smith."
"Good. Do know what happened to the surveillance tape?"
"No. I did try to get it. I was going to use it, but someone else had taken it."
"We have to find out who has it. The last thing I need is to get arrested for murdering myself. I need you to do something tomorrow."
"What?"
"You're going to meet someone. I'll tell you exactly what to do and say. Okay?"
"What are you doing tomorrow?"
"Going grave digging."
***
Mulder walked down the hospital hallway to Skinner's room. He'd come by the other day to drop off a change of clothes, but Skinner was sleeping. He entered the room this time, only to find an empty bed. He found a nurse in the hallway.
"Excuse me? Do you know what happened to the patient that was in that room?"
"Oh, you mean, Rock Hudson?"
"What?"
"Never seen a guy so obsessed with his appearance. He spent hours staring at himself in the mirror."
"Really?" Mulder choked down a laugh.
"Yeah. He checked himself out yesterday."
"Thanks."
He took out his phone and dialed Skinner's number.
No answer.
He looked at the nurse walking away, and frowned. Something wasn't right.
***
Alex stood with his hands in Skinner's trench coat, watching them dig up the body. His body. He'd seen countless bodies in his life, some peaceful, many gruesome. He thought he was ready for this.
Once the coffin was brought out, he walked up to it. He ran a hand along the top. A voice in his head warned him:
Don't look in there.
He had to be sure this body was his. The plan was a long shot. Nothing could be assumed.
He lifted the lid.
He only took a quick glance, and shut the lid as soon as the stench hit him, but it was enough to make him ill.
His body had been dead for over 6 weeks. Decay had settled in. His skin was a mix of purples and greens. If not for the hole in his head, he would have barely recognized himself. His body was severely bloated and the nails on his hand had begun to fall off. He'd seen worse, but on other peoples bodies, not his own.
As soon as he shut the lid, he took a few steps backwards, and started to vomit. He stayed bent over, throwing up for almost a minute, until one of the other men came up to him.
"Sir, are you all right? I thought that someone with your position would be use to sights like that, but I guess it's sort of a good thing if you never get use to it"
He stayed hunched over for a few seconds, and looked up at the man. "Yeah, I'm fine. Have the body taken to the morgue. A doctor will by later today to do some tests."
He headed back to the car.
***
Marita waited on the dock, watching a man gather his fish, and get out of his boat.
"Dr. Cornwall?"
The man looked up. He dropped his catch. "How'd you find me? Look, I just wanted some peace. I have no intention of talking. I haven't said a word in over 3 years. Please-"
"Alex Krycek sent me. He told me you'd be here. He told me to tell you that it's time to repay your debt."
"Krycek? Why didn't he come himself?"
"The situation is, um, unusual. You'll understand shortly. There's a body up in Rochester. The address of the morgue is here." She handed him a piece of paper. "You are to go there and take the necessary samples. When you're done you are to go to Seattle. The address is also on the paper. I will meet you there tomorrow. No matter what you find with the body, do as you are told. Everything will be explained soon. Are we clear?"
"What if I say no."
"Alex instructed me to remind you that you're on borrowed time. Of course you can say no, but then you'll have to give up what Alex gave to you 3 years ago."
"You don't strike me as the sort of person who could carry out that task."
"And you don't strike me as the sort of man who would destroy the lives of innocent children. Everyone's full of surprises, doctor."
Cornwall turned his back to Marita and looked out on the lake.
"All right," he said, "but then my debt's paid after this. You tell him this favor clears the slate."
"See you in tomorrow, doctor."
***
Part Three
"There you go." The super said, as he opened the door to Skinner's apartment. In the rush to the hospital, the keys were left inside.
Alex didn't move. "Thanks." He said, still staring inside. He went straight to see Marita after he left the hospital, and hadn't been back here since.
"Hey, I know it can be hard coming back home afterwards." The man smiled at him. "Had my first heart attack 5 years ago. I couldn't wait to get home, but when I did come back, it was unnerving. Funny how things like that can haunt you."
"Yeah, funny." He tried to smile at the man, but all that came out as a worried glance. He thanked the man again, and entered the apartment.
He quickly turned on the lights, and looked around. Everything looked the same as it did that night, but that didn't mean Skinner wasn't present. He wouldn't have come at all if he didn't need to check Skinners' messages. In a few days he'd be gone, but until then he couldn't raise suspicions, not when he was already so close.
Turned out he only had one message anyway. Mulder.
"Hey, hope everything's okay. Went to see you at the hospital but you were already gone. Scully wants to know if we should reschedule the baptism. Give me a call, and let me know if you still need that friend we were talking about earlier."
Baptism?
He looked around Skinners desk, and found his day planner. He flipped to that week. There it was, that coming Sunday.
10:00-Godson's Baptism, St. John's Church
Godson?
He chuckled, picked up the phone, hit star 69, and wrote down the number.
He could hear Mulder on the other end."Hello?"
"Yeah it's me, I got your message."
"Hey. How are you doing? I went to see you at the hospital a couple of times, but you were sleeping, and the second time you had checked out."
"Yeah, thanks for the clothes."
"How are you? Did what happen have anything to do with what we talked about earlier?"
"No, it was just a heart attack. I think the whole thing was just been in my head. I'm taking sometime off. I'll be out of town for a couple days, but I'll be there for Sunday. No need to reschedule. After that I'm going on vacation."
"I've never known you to take a vacation."
"Yeah? Well, doctors orders."
"Are you sure your okay? We can postpone the baptism."
"Nah, I'll be fine." He smiled, "Besides, it wouldn't be nice to keep my Godson waiting."
Alex heard crackling. The bulb on one of the living room lamps exploded.
"You still there?" Mulder asked. "What was that?"
"Nothing, just the TV. I gotta go. See you Sunday."
As he hung up, the second lamp in the living room exploded, followed by the one on the desk. Like a chain reaction, every bulb burst, until the entire apartment was black.
His eyes raced around the room. He couldn't see anything. He began to feel his way to the door.
Skinner appeared.
Alex gasped, and took several steps backwards, tripping over the coffee table.
Death had not been kind to Skinner. Bloated blood vessels covered his body. He started to approach Alex.
"What do you think you're going to do?" Alex asked, still on the floor. "Kill me? It won't be that easy this time. Whatever you do to me, you do to yourself."
Skinner stopped.
Alex got up, and casually brushed himself off. He walked around Skinner. When he reached the door, he turned around and grinned.
"I thought having to go through limbo with a hole in my head was bad, but man you look like shit. Hope you enjoy that hell as much as I did." As he left the apartment, Skinner disappeared.
***
Mulder sat on the couch, staring at the phone. He was glad Skinner was okay, but something didn't feel right. Perhaps he was looking too hard. It was horrible, but he actually felt a tinge of disappointment.
As much as he was enjoying this new life with Scully and the baby, the idea of having a paranormal case to investigate, FBI or not, sparked some excitement in him.
"Mulder?"
He looked up, and saw Scully puzzling at him. Bags were under her eyes, and she had Will's spit up on her nightgown, but she still managed to look beautiful, to him at least.
"Is the little guy all done supper?"
She yawned, and sat down next to him. "Yep, we've got a few hours reprieve until his midnight snack. I asked you who was on the phone, but you didn't answer. You were staring out at nothing. Is everything Okay?"
"Uhm, actually everything's fine. It was Skinner. He said he' was doing fine, and that there was no need to postpone the baptism."
She stretch out and placed her head on his lap. "That's good. I was worried about him. I hope he takes some time off now."
"He is. He said he was going on a vacation after the ceremony. Kind of unlike him, don't you think?"
She yawned again. "Well he has been through a lot."
He ran his hands through her hair, "Several hours of reprieve you say?"
"Mmhmm, "she murmured
"Well, there's an Ed Wood marathon on TV tonight." He teased,
No answer
"Scully?"
She was sleeping. He looked down at her resting on his lap, smiled, and grabbed the remote.
"Looks like it's just you and me Ed."
***
Alex sped into the parking lot of the Gleason Motel. He didn't think Skinner would be able to leave his apartment yet. It took him a few weeks to learn how to get around, but if he were wrong, Marita would definitely be a target.
He rushed into the room, and looked around. Marita was sleeping in the bed. He shut the door, flicked on the light, and leaned up against the wall to catch his breath. Marita stirred.
"Alex?"
"Yeah, it's me. Go back to sleep."
He went to the bathroom, and showered. By the time he came out, Marita was asleep again. He crawled under the covers, and spooned against her. It felt so good to be able to feel her warmth again.
It was so cold when he was away.
He just intended to lie there with her, not wanting to push her. He knew how strange all of this was to her. Not just him having another body, but the body of the man she'd murdered. If all went well, soon things would be closer to normal. They'd have time for all the other things after that, but as he put an arm around her, she and arched closer to him and moaned his name.
Was she still asleep?
He whispered back. "Marita?"
Still with her back against him, she took the hand, and ran it over her breast.
"Alex" she moaned again.
He bit his lip. He didn't know if she was dreaming or conscious, but he was scared to say anything. It felt so good, and although he knew it was wrong if she was sleeping, he didn't want her to wake up. She starting rubbing against him. A groan started to escape from his mouth, but he held it back, afraid that any noise could cause her to open her eyes.
She took his hand, and guided it lower.
Again she called his name.
He couldn't stop. He didn't want to stop. If she opened her eyes and started screaming, he'd stop, but until that happened he wanted to enjoy this.
He lowered his head into hear neck, and started kissing it, as she reached behind and guided him inside her.
He gasped. She began rocking her hips thrusting back and forth, moaning encouragements, all the while keeping her eyes shut tight. He moved with her, careful to only allow quick breaths to come out until the end when, as she screamed, he finally let out one of his own. He raised his head, and looked down at her face. Worried she'd now open her eyes, and realize what had happened.
Her eyes were still shut. She had a smile on her face. She brought his hand up, and kissed it.
"Thank you" she said.
"Marita?" he whispered.
"Shhh, get some sleep. We have an early flight to catch tomorrow."
***
Parts 4-6