TITLE: Chameleon (01/13)
AUTHOR: Tevan
DATE: Dec 1998
E-MAIL ADRESS: jtp@artos.prestel.co.uk
ARCHIVE: Gossamer, Archive/X.  Elsewhere please ask
SPOILERS: Anything up to Apocrypha
RATING: NC-17 for M/M interaction
CLASSIFICATION: M/K S
SUMMARY: An attempt on Mulder's life leads to an unforeseen 
alliance.
COMMENTS: Thanks to Aqualegia for all the encouragement, 
advice and beta reading.  Any remaining mistakes are my own. 
Any and all comments gratefully received - as long as its 
constructive. Flames will be used for making toast.
DISCLAIMER: Fox Mulder, Alex Krycek and all other X-Files 
regulars belong to Chris Carter, 1013 Productions, and FOX 
Television. No copyright infringement intended.  Any characters 
you haven't heard of before, are copyrighted to me.


CHAMELEON

By Tevan


Krycek knew that if he remained in his hidden position then he 
was likely to end up dead. He could hear at least two men 
coming towards him and from their actions he knew that they 
were making a thorough search of the premises. So, unless he 
managed to move out of their way, they would surely find him.

Frantically he looked about. He needed to get out. Needed to... 
he silently crept away, then stopped, as a voice, coming from 
the direction in which he was moving, attracted his attention. 
He knew that voice. It was deep and had a slight drawl to it. 
He felt a smile creep across his features as he recognised FBI 
Agent Fox Mulder's honeyed tones. This was followed by a 
snapped answer from his ever-present partner, Dana Scully.

"Mulder, whoever told you about this place must have been 
lying... there is nothing here."  Her tone was slightly 
annoyed, and Krycek smiled, 'another Friday evening ruined 
Scully'. As if on cue she continued, "I had a date tonight you 
know."

Krycek barely managed to suppress the urge to laugh out loud. 
While Mulder was no longer under the influence of the drug that 
had been slipped into his water, and Krycek no longer feared 
for his life, he still had a healthy respect for Mulder's 
ability to slap him about. Indeed, several of their meetings 
had been less than amicable. On one occasion the FBI Agent had 
even tried to shoot him, in the belief that Krycek had murdered 
his father.

"My source is very reliable Scully, he's never lied to me 
before," Mulder shot back, "And I've just got a strange feeling 
about this..." Then he shouted. "Scully... down."  There was a 
loud crashing noise, the sound of bullets impacting against a 
wall and ricocheting off the metal containers that were 
scattered about the large warehouse.

Without stopping to think, Krycek moved in the direction from 
whence the bullets had come. He didn't even bother to consider 
what the cost of his actions might be. Nor did he want to look 
too closely at the raging emotions that were flaring at the 
realisation that someone was shooting at Mulder.

He too had been given a tip-off about the location, and had 
come to see what was afoot. He was momentary distracted from 
his thoughts by the sound of Mulder's voice as he called out 
some instructions to his partner.

She replied shortly and more bullets erupted in the direction 
of their voices. It was all that Krycek needed to pin point the 
would-be assassins. With a snarl upon his lips he drew out his 
own weapon and stealthily advanced towards them.

As he peeked out from behind a container he saw two men, each 
holding a high-powered rifle, hiding in the shallow shadows 
cutting off all available escape routes, for both himself and 
the two FBI Agents who were under fire. Glancing at his watch 
he realised that they could also be in for a long night, no-one 
knew where he was, and he doubted if Mulder or Scully had told 
anyone where they were going either. Whoever had ordered the 
hit was determined that it would be successful, they did not 
plan to leave anyone in the warehouse alive.

He heard another noise from Mulder's direction and, after 
taking a quick look, realised that the Agent had decided to 
throw caution to the winds and storm the assassins' position. 
Swallowing hard, Alex knew that he would have to act now or 
risk the chance of losing Mulder for good. At times the man was 
almost limitless in his stupidly, where his own safety was 
concerned. 

Seeing the gunmen prepare to fire, Krycek did the only thing he 
could. He jumped out from his hiding place, firing at the first 
gunman who slammed back against the wall behind him before 
sliding to the ground. He nearly got away with it as well, but 
as he brought his gun to bear on the second man, a searing, 
burning pain in his upper chest prevented him from completing 
the action. His knees buckled under him and he slipped to the 
ground, the gun falling from his suddenly nerveless fingers.

Krycek lay on the ground gasping, eyes wide as he saw the man 
swing his rifle to bear on him again, intent on finishing the 
job. Even as the assassin's finger tightened on the trigger, 
his expression changed to one of surprise and shock. Coughing 
and spitting blood, he slowly tumbled to the ground and lay 
still.

Alex smiled. The smile faded when Mulder walked cautiously into 
view. Krycek drew in a tortured breath, he could feel blood 
welling within his own mouth, and wondered, almost idly, if the 
bullet had caught a lung, it didn't feel like it had, but the 
blood in is mouth was worrying.

"Scully... over here." Mulder was kneeling down beside him, and 
Alex wondered about the lost few seconds that had occurred, 
during which Fox had reached him. Slowly he was turned over 
fully onto his back. "Krycek." The Agent said, and the tone 
held the tinge of a curse, as Mulder recognised the man who lay 
before him.

"In the... flesh..." Alex tried to say, but it didn't come out 
right, in fact, it was ruined by the cough that spattered blood 
over Mulder's coat. But the ex-Agent thought, it was worth it 
just to see the look of total distress that swept across 
Mulder's face as the seriousness of Krycek's injury became 
apparent.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Mulder asked, his tone 
expressing his utter shock and fear, as he frantically tried to 
see how seriously the other man was injured.

"Was told... be here... tonight... learn something 
interesting... guess... they've decided... that... we're 
both... expendable." Krycek gasped.  It was Alex's last 
coherent thought, and his last feeling was of Mulder gently 
reaching out a hand to brush his almost non-existent hair away 
from his brow. For Krycek that one act alone was worth the 
trauma and pain of being shot.

=-=-=-=-=

Scully ran around a container and pulled up short, before her 
was a tableau of death. Two men were obviously dead, their body 
angles and the amount of blood gave credence to that. It was 
the third downed man who caught and held her attention. Or more 
to the point, it was seeing Mulder gently wiping the face of 
the downed man that caught her attention. It took a few seconds 
to realise that it was Alex Krycek who was lying within 
Mulder's arms as her partner attempted to apply pressure to the 
wound.

She was frozen to the spot at the sight, emotions surging 
though her, ranging from pure anger against Krycek, to 
compassion for her partner and his obvious distress. As if on 
cue he turned pleading eyes upon her as he gasped. "Scully?"

She moved forward automatically in response to his plea and 
found herself kneeling beside the injured man. "Mulder..." she 
began, reaching for the prone body even before it registered 
that she was about to help a man that she hated. With 
professional ease she began to treat him, saying as she did so. 
"The mobile phone should work if you get out into the open 
Mulder." She was making reference to the fact that the phone 
had not worked earlier when they had been under attack. "We 
need to get him to a hospital."

"We can't." Mulder answered his tone distracted, frowning at 
the phone that he pulled from his coat. Then seeing the look 
this earned him, he leant forward and insisted, "How long do 
you think he will live if we take him to a hospital?"

Scully turned wide, shocked eyes upon her partner and hissed 
back in disbelief. "And how long do you think he's going to 
live with a bullet in his chest?"

"Scully." Mulder was using the pleading eyes again. 

"Mulder..." she shot back equally exasperated. Then she lent 
back and bit her lip. What her partner said was true. If they 
sent Krycek to hospital it was doubtful that he would live 
through the night, too many people wanted him dead. She took a 
deep steadying breath, then ordered. "Keep the pressure on 
there, and give me the phone." She took the offered item and 
watched to make sure that Mulder did as she requested. Then she 
stood, her coat swirling about her. "I'll be back shortly."  
Bending down she rearranged Mulder's hand so that the pressure 
was better. "Don't move," she ordered just before disappearing 
from sight.

Mulder concentrated on holding the makeshift padding the way 
that Scully had instructed. Suddenly he became aware that 
Krycek was awake and silently watching him. He forced a smile 
to his face, it was forced because he was fighting the fear 
that this man might be dying. He was also struggling to 
understand why the thought of Krycek dying was upsetting him so 
much. 

"Bad?" Krycek mumbled, gasping as he spoke. Mulder was unable 
to say if it was a question or a statement, but he decided to 
answer as if it was a question.

"You're not going to die." He spoke firmly as if the words 
alone could keep Alex alive.

"Mulder... says... so," Krycek whispered. He tried to smile, 
but with blood colouring his teeth, it was more like a grimace 
of death.

"Don't try to talk," Mulder insisted, turning his attention 
back to the blood soaked cloth under his hands.

Lids closed over green eyes, exhaustion written across the 
face. "And don't you dare die on me," Mulder finished, again 
unable, quite, to hide the fear.

A sound behind them made Mulder glance over his shoulder. 
Krycek groaned at the pain that his action caused. "Sorry," he 
muttered, glancing back at the injured man.

Scully came back into view. "I've made arrangements with a 
friend of mine... she has a clinic, just outside of town... if 
we can get Krycek there, he might stand a chance."

"What about?" Mulder nodded towards the other two corpses. 

Scully paused before she said,  "I contacted Skinner... he's on 
his way."  Seeing the look this earned her from her partner she 
continued, "I didn't mention our, er, unexpected companion... 
yet."

"He saved my life Scully," Mulder informed her, his tone deadly 
serious. Then meeting her shocked expression he rushed on, "He 
purposely stood up and drew their attention away from me, and 
he killed the blond guy on the left even as the man shot at me. 
I saw it." He finished, never taking his eyes from those of his 
partner as he spoke.

Whatever Scully wanted to say to this was held back as she 
attended to their present problem. Kneeling back down beside 
the injured man and seeing him awake she spoke. Her tone was 
slow and loud, as if talking to a child who would not listen. 
"We've got to move you Krycek, so I want to dress your wound... 
but," she paused, "This going to hurt."

Krycek just lay there looking at her. The expression in his 
eyes plainly showed that he didn't know whether to trust her or 
not. His glance flickered towards Mulder and the expression 
changed, as Fox slowly, nodded his head. The injured man closed 
his eyes, it was a sign of acquiescence. 

Scully began to remove Krycek's jacket and shirt, as best she 
could trying not to jar the injured man too much. She gave 
orders to Mulder who did exactly as she asked, and both of them 
studiously ignored the whimpers of pain their actions caused, 
knowing that it had to be done if they were going to move the 
man without killing him. 

Part way through the operation Krycek moaned louder than before 
and his eyes slid closed as his body relaxed. Merciful darkness 
had claimed him. After that it was easier to treat his wound, 
and soon Alex was being carried out of the warehouse and 
carefully placed into the back of their car. Mulder climbed in 
beside the unconscious man to keep him steady during the 
journey, and to continued to apply pressure in an attempt to 
prevent further blood loss.

As they drove out of the warehouse district they heard the 
sound of approaching cars, the sirens echoing around the tall 
buildings.

=-=-=-=-=

Scully's friend was waiting for them when they pulled outside 
the new, modern looking clinic. Light flooded the car-park and 
she appeared with a wheelchair. Krycek remained totally 
oblivious to his transferral from the car to the treatment 
room. Nor did he awaken as he was prepped and prepared for the 
operation to remove the bullet.

Five hours later he was resting in a clean, crisp bed that was 
situated in the recovery section of the clinic. Mulder, Scully 
and Jenny Seymore were seated in the kitchen sipping a rich 
brew of coffee. Dana's friend kept casting cautious glances at 
the handsome man who sat at her table, but refrained from 
making any comments. She would wait until she got Scully alone 
to get some straight answers out of her. While she trusted her 
friend implicitly, it still did not rest easy with her to 
remove the bullet from the injured man and agree not to inform 
anyone. But Dana had been insistent on that, and she had 
finally allowed herself to be persuaded, after Scully had 
promised to reveal all to her later. Quite a bit later too, if 
she was any judge. Scully had helped her remove the bullet, and 
she could tell that both the man and woman seated before her 
were near to exhaustion.

"I think we could all do with a good night's sleep," Jenny 
commented glancing up at the kitchen clock. Noting that it was 
almost four in the morning she grimaced and knew that she would 
only have a few hours before she would have to get up.  For 
once she was glad that her husband was out of town on business, 
it would save a lot of explaining.

"I think one of us ought to remain with Krycek." Mulder said, 
before standing and lifting his half-full coffee cup, he headed 
towards the back room where Alex was settled.

"He should sleep the night through." Jenny offered, her 
expression plainly said that Mulder should also consider doing 
the same thing, or at least sleeping for what was left of the 
night.

Mulder stopped, gave her a backwards glance and with a cold 
smile stated, "I'll feel a lot safer keeping an eye on him, and 
sleep isn't really an option with him so close anyway."  With 
that cryptic remark he left the room.

Before Jenny could comment further, Scully reached out and 
rested a gentle hand upon her arm, and stopped her. As Jenny 
looked towards her as Dana said.

"It will be easier just to let him do what he wants."

Jenny lent tiredly back in her chair, and commented dryly, 
"That sounds like the voice of experience."  This earned her a 
small smile before Scully asked.

"Do you mind if I use your phone, I'd better report in and let 
them know what's going on."

Jenny nodded towards the kitchen extension, Once she hard that 
Dana was connected to someone called Skinner, she stood up, 
waved that she was just going along the corridor and left the 
room, so as to give Dana some privacy for her conversation.

She realised as she wandered down the corridor that she was 
following after Mulder. She paused at the door that led into 
the room where Krycek lay sleeping, and witnessed the Agent 
looking at the unconsciousness man with an expression of such 
wistful longing covering his features that she felt as if she 
were an intruder in her own clinic...

Mulder gently reached out and brushed back the short hair, it 
was not a necessary action, but it was one that he needed to do 
anyway.

Mulder turned slightly to pull a chair closer to the bed, then 
settled down to watch the sleeping man. If he knew that Jenny 
was there he gave no indication. After a few more seconds she 
pushed her hands deep into her pockets and wandered back along 
the hall towards the kitchen. As she moved she made up her mind 
that she was going to get the full history of the man from whom 
she had just removed the bullet, and the Agent who had such 
obvious feelings for him.

=-=-=-=-=

End (01/13)




Chameleon (02/13) M/K NC-17


TITLE: Chameleon (02/13)
AUTHOR: Tevan
DATE: Dec 1998
E-MAIL ADRESS: jtp@artos.prestel.co.uk

Disclaimer etc. in part 1

=-=-=-=-=

The remainder of the night passed peacefully for the injured 
man. Although he did contract a slight fever, it was not 
serious and Jenny felt that the antibiotic that she had him on 
was enough to counteract the infection.

Mulder did not move from the man's side. Although Scully had 
left the clinic shortly after her phone conversation with her 
boss, AD Skinner, who had asked for a report in person. At 
first she had not really been willing to leave her partner 
behind. But having very quickly realised that Mulder was not 
going to desert Krycek, she agreed that she would have to be 
the one doing the report. Also, she acknowledged, if the truth 
was known, she stood more chance of surviving the interview 
than Mulder, who would so often butt heads with their boss on 
smaller issues than this.

As the light broke across the horizon, Mulder became more 
animated, and on one of Jenny's visit to the sick room he 
asked, "How long before can we move him?"

"Move him?" she repeated in some surprise, she had managed an 
hours sleep, but still felt as if she was walking under water, 
"well..." she paused and considered her answer. "He lost a fair 
amount of blood and the wound, while not serious in itself, is 
in a rather awkward position, and very messy, so moving him 
could start the bleeding again, and..." 

Mulder interrupted her, his tone slightly impatient. "Listen 
Dr. Seymore, I don't mean to be brash, and I am very grateful 
for all that you have done, but we have to get Krycek to a safe 
house as soon as possible... Now that Scully has made her 
report, I believe that his life may be in immediate danger, and 
I'm willing to bet that pretty soon this place will be crawling 
with people. Frankly, I'd rather not be here when they arrive."

"You think his life might be in danger here?" she asked in some 
surprise. She had thought that his injury was a result of a 
shoot out, or some FBI operation gone slightly wrong, and not 
some ongoing vendetta. She shivered as she remembered that her 
own patients would be arriving very shortly. Would it be fair 
to get them involved in this situation?  Seeing the look on the 
Agent's face she knew the answer before he even opened his 
mouth. Holding up her hand she forestalled him by offering a 
compromise, "If you can keep movement and jarring down to the 
minimum, I can make sure that he doesn't wake up until you've 
got him settled in a new place. But, you will need to keep a 
very careful eye on the wound, and make sure that it stays 
clean." She paused again as she considered the implications of 
moving the injured man. "And you will need to change the 
intravenous bags... he needs to be kept hydrated and on these 
antibiotics for at least another three to four days."

"I can do that." Mulder insisted, eager now to be on his way. 
"I have some medical training."

From the way he spoke Jenny could not tell if that was the 
truth or not, but she decided not to argue the point.

"Do you have a er... safe place to take him?" she asked, 
infected by his urgency and starting to gather the items that 
he would need.

"Yes, I believe that I have just the place." Mulder didn't 
enlarge upon his words and she felt that it was safer for her 
not to know. 

Within an hour, Mulder had been given a crash course on how to 
treat and clean Krycek's wound, how to insert an intravenous 
needle, and change the bags when it became necessary. Then 
everything he would need was loaded into her husband's large 4 
X 4 truck, which she had insisted that Mulder borrow while her 
husband was away and as he was not expected back for at least 
another two weeks, the car would not be missed. 

Mulder also knew that he could never thank Jenny enough for the 
short shopping trip she had run, while he had showered and 
shaved, before moving Krycek to the truck, it had effectively 
stocked them up with food, drink and essential items for 
several days.

The truck that Mulder drove could not have been better suited 
if he had chosen it for the job himself. It was roomy in the 
back and allowed for Krycek to lay out flat. They had managed 
to secure him to one side so that he was not jostled too much 
by the actual driving, and the IV had been suspended from an 
improvised hanger, softly hitting the window as the car swayed 
from side to side. He had also been swaddled in several large 
blankets and quilts that Jenny had insisted they use, not only 
to cushion Krycek even further against any bumps Mulder might 
hit during the drive, but also to keep him warm. At every stop 
the Agent turned to check the other man, but he was pleased to 
note that Alex slept, oblivious to his journey. The last 
injection that Jenny had given him would work until evening at 
least, according to the young, pretty, doctor.

Soon after he had started the journey his cell phone began to 
ring, and on answering it he discovered a very annoyed Scully 
on the other end. She had arrived back at the Clinic to find 
both Krycek and her partner missing, and Jenny had no idea 
where they were heading. 

"Where are you Mulder?" she asked, it suddenly seemed to the 
man driving the car that she always appeared to be asking him 
that question.

"I'm just heading out of the city..." he purposefully kept his 
answer vague, "To a place I know... it's safe Scully and when 
Krycek's fit enough I'll bring him in for questioning."

"Mulder, you know he should be in a proper hospital. He needs 
proper medical attention... Skinner has agreed to protect him, 
if he will give evidence against his bosses..." Even as she 
said the words she knew that they would have no sway over her 
partner so she changed tactics, "All right Mulder... but wait 
for me... I'll meet up with you and together we can protect him 
better."

"No... they might have followed you from the office... and you 
know that we've tried that route with others, they always 
die... No... this way at least I get to talk to Krycek before 
those bastards get to him."

"Skinner is not going to like this." Scully stated firmly, her 
annoyed tone making Mulder wince as she sounded as if she was 
sitting in the car next to him, he could almost picture her 
pouting expression.

"I'll call Skinner when I get to the safe house... now I've got 
to go the traffic is getting busy and I need both hands." He 
lied, not wanting to continue the conversation with his 
redheaded partner.

"Mulder... Muld..." he turned off the cell phone before tossing 
it onto the seat beside him, glancing back he checked to make 
sure that Krycek was still deeply asleep, satisfied, he 
concentrated on the driving.

Several hours later, Mulder pulled off the main road, into a 
dirt track and was soon hidden by the dense cover of trees that 
came right up to the edge of the pavement at either side of the 
highway. He slowed his speed down to a slow crawl very 
conscious that any jarring could start the bleeding again. 
Luckily, while the road was not very often used the dry weather 
of late had created a firm surface for the large car to pass 
along.

After thirty-five minutes of slow driving, Mulder spied the 
timber cabin in the distance. It sat on the edge of a large 
lake and at any other time would have been idyllic for a 'get-
away-from-life' holiday. Glancing back at the injured man his 
pleasant thoughts faded. Why was he doing this, why was he 
risking his job and his life to help this person, the man who 
he was convinced had murdered his father, helped in his 
partner's abduction and committed numerous atrocities against 
both himself and his friends. Yet, even as he pulled the car to 
a stop and placed it in park, he knew that he just had to save 
this man, why would become apparent as time went on, at least 
he hoped it would.

He left Krycek sleeping while he unpacked the rest of the 
truck. Then he lit a fire in the grate of the large cabin, 
opening the bedroom door to allow the heat to pass into it 
while he made up the one, large, bed.

When he had finished, he went back out to the truck and looked 
at the unconscious man. He now had to move him from the truck 
to the bed. While Mulder had appeared confident to Dr Seymore 
about being able to remove and replace the intravenous needle, 
he was not so sure now that the time had come. 

With a slight shake of his head he clambered into the back of 
car and began to remove the equipment, blankets and quilts, 
then, as gently as possible, he moved the other man from the 
truck to the bed, which he had laid open ready for the patient. 
It was not an easy manoeuvre and he silently cursed Krycek for 
any weight that he had put on, as he finally managed to swing 
the man up into his arms, with Krycek's head resting limply 
against his shoulder, his uninjured arm looped casually about 
Mulder's neck. It was like carrying a rag doll. Staggering a 
little under the weight Mulder made his way into the cabin.

Several minutes later, Mulder stood back and looked at his 
handy work. Krycek was now resting in the middle of the bed, 
the IV firmly replaced, with a new bag which was slowly 
dripping fluids and antibiotics into Krycek's system. Mulder 
looked at the sleeping face and drew in a sharp breath as he 
realised just how handsome his sworn enemy was. Without 
conscious thought he reached out and brushed a stray lock of 
hair back from the fevered forehead. While the double agent 
still had fairly short hair, it had just grown to that length 
where it flopped over his forehead giving him the appearance of 
a wayward waif.

Without thinking, the stroking hand slipped down to carefully 
cup the handsome face, with a shaking finger, he caressed the 
chin then ran his thumb over the full lips wondering idly what 
it would be like to kiss them. He moistened his own lips at the 
thought, and swallowed hard as his trousers suddenly became too 
constricted for comfort. With a gasp he realised that this was 
why he had fought to save Krycek's life the previous night in 
the warehouse.

With a snarl of rage directed at himself, he moved quickly away 
from the bed. He didn't want to have these feelings for this 
man. He hated him! He wanted Krycek to rot in hell, to suffer 
the way he had.

Moving into the main room of the cabin he began to prepare a 
late lunch for himself, as he fought to suppress his emotions. 
He couldn't help feeling that if the double agent ever 
discovered how Mulder felt about him, then Alex would use the 
knowledge against him. Mulder was not in any doubt that Krycek 
was capable of taking his heart and ripping it to shreds, if he 
thought that it might gain him one moment of power. With that 
thought in mind he ruthlessly pushed his feelings aside, and 
moulded his features to reflect only the hatred that he had 
spent the last few years cultivating for his ex-partner.

=-=-=-=-=

Krycek was thirsty, he desperately wanted a drink, and yet knew 
that if he opened his eyes to ask for one, he would be refused 
and then they would know that he was awake. He hated it when 
they knew that he was awake, because then they hurt him. So it 
was better to pretend that he was still unconscious, he could 
live with the thirst, but he knew from experience that he could 
not live with the pain.

"Come on Krycek... I know that you're awake."  The voice was 
familiar, but not the voice that he had expected, this alone 
made him break his own promise as he opened his eyes, just a 
slit, to see who they had brought in to hurt him.

"Mulder..." he rasped, then coughed, it was a harsh sound. Pain 
flared thorough his body and he whimpered as it centred about 
his upper chest, and he gasped for breath as tears filled his 
eyes, but he fought to keep them from falling, and felt some 
satisfaction when they didn't.

"Do you want some water? Juice?" Mulder asked, leaning over and 
holding a cup within reach.

Krycek licked at desperately dry lips, and watched the other 
man, waiting for him to hold the cup closer before he snatched 
it away. The injured man didn't make any attempt to drink.

Mulder leant back, a frown marring his handsome features, as he 
asked, "What not thirsty Krycek?"

"Where am I?" Krycek ignored the other's question as he eyes 
flickered about the room, it was now his turn to frown. He 
appeared to be in a wooden cabin of some sort. He continued, 
"What happened?"  He could now tell from the bandaged feeling 
that his upper body was tightly bound, and his body had the 
feel of having been injured by a bullet.

"You were shot." Mulder confirmed, "Late last night..." seeing 
no sign of recognition he went on, "at the warehouse... you 
saved my life." He added, his tone quieter, almost accusing.

The last brought Krycek's glance up to capture Mulder's, it 
held for several seconds before the injured man retorted, "Two 
mistakes in one day... how unlucky can a man get?" It was not 
really a question, but it had the desired effect of causing 
Mulder to draw back and glare at him as the words stuck home.

"Just drink the damn Juice Krycek... you need the fluid."  
Mulder lent forward again and this time the drink was 
gratefully accepted as Krycek fought to keep his body still 
while the other man positioned the straw within easy reach of 
his lips.

After he had drunk his fill Krycek sunk back further into the 
pillow, he was exhausted, the slight effort of drawing on the 
straw had used up his energy reserves and he slipped into an 
uneasy sleep.

Mulder stood by the bed for several minutes after his ex-
partner had fallen asleep and once more wondered at his 
reasoning behind protecting this man. Earlier, when he'd called 
Skinner, he had disobeyed a direct order as his boss insisted 
that he return Krycek to him for proper medical treatment and 
protection. Mulder had tried to put his point across, but 
Skinner had been so angry that he'd shouted down Mulder's 
words, in the end the Agent had hung up on him. Twenty minutes 
later when he called back, Skinner, while still extremely 
angry, was at least prepared to listen to him.

The talk had not gone well, but at least he had gained himself 
a few days. Skinner had given him five days to keep Krycek safe 
and ask him whatever questions he felt needed to be asked. Then 
he would have to reveal their location and await pick-up. 
Mulder was not sure if he could do that after five days, but 
that was in the future and he was prepared to wait until that 
time before he made his decision.

Now looking at the sleeping man and remembering the 
conversation he wondered if he had made the right decision. 
Turning he slowly made his way out of the room. He needed to 
refuel the fire and bring in some more wood, check the 
generator for their lighting. It was going to be a long night, 
and he had not got a lot of rest the night before.

=-=-=-=-=

The next time Krycek awoke he felt better. This time it was 
like awaking from a deep, heavy sleep and it took him several 
minutes to realise that he did not have the energy to move, 
also he saw that there was an IV attached to his arm. He 
watched it drip for several seconds before he lost interest in 
it.

He tilted his head and felt a ripple of shock flow thorough his 
system, when he saw Mulder sleeping soundly in a comfortable 
chair by the bed. It had been pulled up close enough, so that 
one of the Agent's slender hands was able to rest on the edge 
of the bed in his slumber.

He fought to remember the events that had led up to this 
strange occurrence, and slowly, like the parting of a thin 
veil, the events of the warehouse returned. He now remembered 
that he had been shot, and could vaguely remember Mulder's 
concerned face as he had leant over him, desperately trying to 
stop the flow of blood from his wound. Krycek frowned, he could 
also recall another place, clean, white.... a woman... a 
hospital? And yet it wasn't... and now... now he seemed to be 
in a wooden cabin... where?

He shifted on the bed, and barely managed to stifle his gasp at 
the raw pain that raced along his nerve endings. He was not 
going to be able to escape from this situation for a while, 
that was clear to him. So, he had to manage, and to do that he 
had to become what Mulder wanted, until he was able to escape 
the man. He had a lot of practice at that, and felt a tiny 
smile cross his lips as he recalled how easily it was to fool 
this man into believing him... this was followed by a deeper 
frown as he realised that he was the one fooling himself. He 
forcibly pushed that thought away and concentrated on the 
matter at hand, he was a human chameleon.  His father had 
taught him that, if nothing else he thought bitterly, and would 
act according to his instincts.

With that thought in mind, he purposely twisted his body again 
and let out a loud groan of agony. It awoke the man sitting 
beside him and Mulder leant forward, gently rested a hand upon 
Krycek brow as he spoke, "Don't try to move..."

"Can't." Krycek interrupted with a moan, his eyes wide with 
real pain, "Hurts... too much." He finished, gritting his teeth 
for effect and closing his eyes tightly for a few seconds, as 
he rode out the agony that he had encouraged, he needed Mulder 
to believe that he was sicker then he appeared, hoping that it 
would give him the edge at a later date.

Mulder witnessed Krycek's pain, and needing to do something he 
checked that the IV was still in place with a trembling hand. 
Then twisting to the bedside cabinet, he opened the bottle of 
pills that Dr Seymore had given him for just such an occasion 
and shook two out onto his hand. "Here take these..." he 
advised, holding them out, "They will dull the pain."  Krycek 
did as he was told gratefully, and allowed Mulder to gently 
hold his head up while he drunk from the offered cup. Then he 
turned his best smile, weak though it was, upon the other man, 
before he sunk back exhausted upon the pillow.

"Thanks," Krycek whispered gratefully, fighting against the 
need to sleep. He wanted to ask some questions, but seemed 
unable to form the words. Instead he just lay there, sensing 
the other man as he quietly moved about the room, then 
returning to the bed, he fumbled with the sheets and made sure 
the blanket were covering Alex, keeping him warm. It made 
Krycek feel safe and secure and he realised with a start of 
shock that he had not felt that in a long, long time. His 
reaction must have telegraphed itself to Mulder because the 
Agent spoke softly to him.

"It's all right... you're safe here...you can relax, I'm not 
going to let anything happen to you."

What really gave Krycek pause for thought was the knowledge he 
absolutely believed Mulder. He actually felt that the other man 
would do all in his power to protect him, and it gave him a 
warm feeling in the pit of this stomach, and with a flare of 
heat, he realised that he wanted this feeling of security more 
then anything else.. It also, he acknowledged frightened him 
more then anything else.

Mulder sat for several minutes after Krycek had fallen back 
into a pain exhausted sleep, and just watched the double agent. 
In his mind he was trying to come to terms with the fact that 
this man, who looked so much like a angelic child while he 
slept, could be such a cold-hearted killer when he was awake.

Roughly he shook himself and purposely moved from the bedroom 
to the kitchen. Dawn was just breaking across the sky as he 
finished making the coffee. He poured some of the strong brew 
into a mug and moved out of the cabin, heading towards the 
lake. He watched the dawn activities on the large body of water 
as the water birds rose to welcome the coming day. The water 
rippled gently at his feet and he took a deep, fresh breath of 
air, letting it feed his body and calm his soul.

As he sipped at the coffee he considered his next actions. 
First he would need to disable to truck. He was under no 
illusions about Krycek's character, the man would attempt to 
escape at the first opportunity, even if he ended up passing 
out half a mile down the road, he would make the attempt.

Then when Krycek next awoke, Mulder would try to get him to eat 
something. Dr Seymore had been very firm on the subject, 
telling him that the sooner the injured man ate the better he 
would feel. Mulder wanted Krycek up and on his feet, or at 
least able to hold an intelligent conversation. The Agent was 
very conscious that he only had five days and he wanted to use 
the time wisely, for he had so many questions that he wanted to 
ask the other man.

Suddenly the night of his Father's death sprang to mind and he 
let it sweep over him as he recalled the drug-induced anger at 
his ex-partner. He had wanted to kill him when he'd seen him 
outside his apartment the following night, had wanted to take 
the man's life and would have enjoyed doing it, if Scully had 
not stopped him.

Without thinking he raised his arm and rubbed at the memory of 
his own shoulder wound. Had it been so long ago. Slowly his 
eyes closed and he took another deep breath, pushing his 
jumbled emotions away as he just accepted the bright new day 
and the weak sun that beat down upon him.

Lifting the cup he took another deep swallow and tasted the 
strong brew as it slipped down his throat. He accepted the 
knowledge that Krycek might not be able, or even willing, to 
give him the answers he was after, but for some reason, just 
having the man here, within his grasp made him feel better. It 
was almost as if they had a connection that had been growing 
since their first meeting, and Mulder was convinced deep in his 
heart that Krycek did have some knowledge that would be useful 
to him.

It was almost like he, Mulder, was the deposit box and Krycek 
was the key holder. With a sudden snarl the Agent threw the 
rest of his coffee into the placid waters of the lake as dark 
thoughts rushed in upon him. Krycek was no hero. He would not 
become a knight in shining armour. He was a killing rat bastard 
who had shot Mulder's own father, and almost certainly, if 
Cardinal was to be believed, had a hand in the death of 
Scully's sister and the sooner he accepted that and treated him 
as such, the better it would be for all concerned.

The gentle mood of earlier was now gone, Mulder set about 
making sure that the truck would not be going anywhere without 
his knowledge. If Krycek wanted to leave this place then he 
would be doing it on foot.

=-=-=-=-=

End (02/13)





Chameleon (03/13) M/K NC-17


TITLE: Chameleon (03/13)
AUTHOR: Tevan
DATE: Dec 1998
E-MAIL ADRESS: jtp@artos.prestel.co.uk

Disclaimer etc. in part 1

=-=-=-=-=

Krycek lay awake for several minutes before he allowed his eyes 
to open. He now felt well rested, the pain of that morning was 
now only a dull throb that remained tame, as long as he didn't 
try to move too much. The IV was still attached and he wisely 
decided to leave it where it was for the moment.

The door to the bedroom was open and Mulder's shadow fell 
across the threshold as he approached, "You're awake," he said, 
stating the obvious.

Krycek didn't answer, just watched the man as he neared the 
bed. "Are you hungry?" Mulder continued, seemingly not bothered 
by the lack of an answer.

"Where am I?" Krycek asked, tilting his head away to look at 
the one window in the room, his bed was too low for him to see 
out of it, but he could see the blue sky and the tall trees 
that surrounded the cabin.

"Somewhere safe."

"And what is the populace of this place called 'somewhere 
safe'?" Krycek asked sarcastically.

"Two..." Mulder answered with a slight smile, then reached out 
and gently rested the back of his hand against Krycek's 
forehead. The other man twisted his head away, only to gasp in 
pain this action caused, but he didn't speak so Mulder 
continued, "You're still a bit hot, but the doctor said that's 
to be expected for a few days."

"Why have you brought me here?"  Krycek asked, turning his dark 
eyes upon the other man.

Mulder considered the question for a few seconds before he 
answered, "To keep you safe."

Krycek smiled at that and slowly shook his head, as if Mulder 
had just said something impossible and the other man was 
finding it hard to believe. "You don't have enough men in the 
whole of the FBI to do that," he answered with conviction, his 
tone bitter.

"Hence 'somewhere safe' with the populace of two." Mulder 
quipped back. "Now, are you hungry? I have some soup on the 
stove, the doctor said you should try to eat... to gain your 
strength back." He offered the latter as an incentive.

Krycek thought for a moment before he slowly agreed, "OK."  He 
made to move up in the bed, but Mulder was there to stop him, 
then gently, with more caring then the double agent believed 
possible Mulder helped him to sit up in the bed, stuffing extra 
pillows behind him to support him. The action still hurt Krycek 
and he hissed in pain as his body protested the movement.

Mulder stood a few seconds, checking the other man as the pain 
flared, then seeing that Krycek had control of it, he left the 
room to return a short time later with a tray of food.

The meal was consumed in total silence. Krycek absolutely 
refused to allow Mulder to help him eat, so the Agent just 
resumed his seat from earlier and sipped from his own cup of 
coffee, watching while the other man slowly fed himself. It was 
a painfully slow process, but Krycek was determined to manage 
by himself.

When the meal was finished, Krycek slumped back onto the 
pillows and waited while Mulder removed the tray to the kitchen 
and returned with another glass of water.

 "What now?" he asked, not even bothering to open his eyes. He 
felt weak and drained, but not tired enough to sleep.

"Do you feel up to answering some questions?" Mulder asked, 
returning to his chair.

Krycek shot him a look from the slightly open slit of his eyes 
as he replied, "If I say no will you leave me alone?"

Mulder smiled at the tone, and answered honestly, "For the 
moment... yes."

Krycek considered the other man's words and knew that it would 
only be a temporary reprieve, and he did want to lure this man 
into a false sense of security so he slowly, carefully took a 
breath and asked, "What do you want to know?"

"Do you believe in aliens?"

"What!!!" Krycek demanded as his eyes snapped open and he 
glared at the other man, this was not a question that he 
expected to be asked.

Mulder kept his eyes steady and his tone firm as he asked 
again, "Do you, Alex Krycek, believe in aliens, you know little 
green men and all that?"

Krycek considered laughing in the other man's face, but then 
pushed that particular emotion aside, that would not gain him 
any ground. So instead he thought about the question seriously 
and answered honestly, allowing his head to slip back to the 
pillow tiredly as he nodded before saying. "Yes."

"Why?"

The injured man thought about his response to that one. He 
considered telling Mulder that he had been sitting next to one 
the entire flight back from Hong Kong, but he paused, did he 
really want to throw that into the crucible yet?  Once Mulder 
had that information there would be no end to the questions, so 
instead he answered, "Because you told me they were out there."

He was rewarded by a sharp intake of breath, followed by a 
fierce glare form the man sitting beside the bed, as 
unbeknownst to Krycek, Mulder was already aware that he had 
been possessed by the oil alien. Instead Mulder lifted an 
eyebrow and decided to tackle that particular matter later, 
when Krycek was feeling more communicative. Instead he diverted 
to another burning question that was rending his soul, and he 
asked it before he could stop himself. "Did you kill my 
father?" Mulder gritted out, a snarl now twisting his handsome 
face.

Krycek smiled bitterly, realising that his reprieve from 
Mulder's violence was even shorter than usual, now this was 
common ground. "No." he answered firmly.

"I don't believe you." Mulder shot back, raising from the chair 
to lean threateningly over the injured man.

"Well that's going to make this a very profitable Q and A 
session isn't it... If you're not going to believe my answers 
simply because they don't fit in with what you want...," Krycek 
shot back, his own anger raising, but he didn't have the energy 
to raise up like Mulder had done, so he contented himself with 
glaring back at the other man.

Without thought Mulder raised his hand, but froze suspended in 
his action of striking the man. The fact that he was about to 
hit a badly wounded man rolled over him, and he slowly dropped 
his hand saying, his voice barely above a whisper, "You were a 
lying bastard the day I met you, Alex and you're still a lying 
bastard."  With that he span about and stormed out of the room.

Krycek lay on the bed, unable to move, his muscles frozen from 
the sudden threat of attack. Slowly reaction set in and he felt 
his body begin to shake. This caused his injury to flare 
painfully, but he bit his lip and refused to make a sound. If 
he did then Mulder would return, and that was something Krycek 
didn't want to happen until he had control of his body once 
more.

Several moments passed before his tortured body started to 
relax. The tremors faded, until he lay exhausted on the bed. He 
closed his eyes and tried to push the fear back. Ever since he 
had been trapped in the silo these attacks had dogged him. They 
always seemed to strike when he least expected them, and always 
they left him feeling lost and alone, as if, when the alien had 
departed, it had removed something from Krycek's body that he 
was only just now starting to miss. Taking a shaky breath he 
bit his lip, drawing blood, as he realised that it had taken 
his only defence, it had stripped him of his ability to play 
the chameleon.

Every harsh lesson his father had taught him would do him no 
good now. Nor would the endless hours spent trapped in the 
small airless cupboard in the darkened cellar, a punishment 
that his sire had set because he had been unable to perform 
some survivalist task that had been set. Those bitter, brutal, 
days had shaped and formed the young boy, turning him into the 
man who now lay on the bed. The boy who had taken every lesson 
his father had beaten and abused into him, had wrapped it about 
himself like an impenetrable shield that could not be broken. 
He had become a chameleon, doing and saying whatever he needed 
to survive. That had been the lesson his father had tried to 
teach him, in remembrance of his own life before he had managed 
to flee to America. 

Now the shield was gone. No longer could Krycek look with 
confidence into Mulder's eyes and feel the lies slip so easily 
to his lips. Nor could he take the life of another and not 
realise that once gone it could never be replaced. It almost 
made him laugh to realise that the alien, in using his body, 
had made him more human then he'd ever been before it had 
possessed him. He would have laughed, if only it wasn't 
painful. 

Without conscious thought he pulled back the covers of the bed, 
and struggling to sit up he roughly removed the IV needle. Then 
standing on shaky legs, he searched the room for some clothes, 
pushing aside the dizziness that assailed him. He had to get 
out, get away before Mulder returned to ask him more questions. 

Like the wounded animal he now was, he needed to get some 
space, so that he could examine exactly what he had been stolen 
from him. At the moment he felt like a child touching an open 
wound, and wincing when he caused himself pain. He did not 
fully understand it and it terrified him. He needed distance 
and seclusion to heal, to rebuild those defences that now lay 
shattered.

=-=-=-=-=

Mulder had stormed out of the cabin and headed for the 
lakeshore. He could feel his muscles trembling in anger. He had 
wanted to hit Krycek, it had been almost a palatable emotion 
and it worried him. He was not, by nature, a violent man, he 
preferred reason above anger, and yet when Krycek had lied to 
him so openly, he had wanted to beat the man into speaking the 
truth.

Yet, maybe being possessed was not something the man wanted to 
remember. Maybe Krycek had tried to push the memories from his 
mind... He tried to imagine what it must have been like. Would 
he want to remember if the roles had been reversed?

He raised a hand and swept his hair back. He took a few deep, 
steadying, breaths and slowly began to walk along the shore. He 
did not plan on going far, but he needed to put some space 
between himself and the other man.

As he walked he began to wonder again if he had done the right 
thing. Maybe he should just go back to the cabin, call Skinner 
and have the man pick Krycek up and place him in protective 
custody. Even if it meant the rat bastard's death, why should 
that bother him, after all the man was responsible for his 
father's death. 

Mulder stopped and leant against a large tree as he looked back 
out over the lake. Damn it all to hell, then why had he 
believed Krycek when he had said that he didn't kill his 
father. Why had the words held the ring of truth, and why was 
Mulder so upset to realise that Krycek might not have murdered 
the one man the Agent thought he loved above all others.

Slowly, he slipped down to the ground and rested his head in 
his hands, leaning his elbows on his knees. He didn't want to 
do this anymore. He didn't want to be the one who kept looking 
for the truth. Didn't want to keep searching for the Holy Grail 
that was forever out of his reach.

He took a breath and realised that it was more of a sob. Great, 
was he now going to add tears to his long list of self-
indulgent acts?  Grimly he set his face and shook his head, 
trying to shake off his emotions, vowing he would not submit to 
them. He was stronger than that. So Krycek had lied to him 
about being possessed by the alien, so what. Krycek always 
lied, that was the one consistency that he could accept from 
the man, and surely it was easier to just deflect his words to 
get to the truth.

For some reason that thought lightened Mulder's mood and made 
him feel better, and, while he did not really understand what 
was going on between Krycek and himself, he suddenly felt 
better able to handle it. He was willing to admit that he had 
lost his temper, and that he should not have shouted at the 
injured man, and he certainly should not have turned to 
violence. 

With that thought in mind he rose, and was surprised to note 
that more time had passed than he realised. The sun was now 
starting to dip towards the horizon and the chill of the 
evening was closing in. Glancing at his watch he saw that he 
had left the cabin over an hour before.

Turning he swiftly made his way back to the cabin. He would 
prepare another meal and ensure that Krycek ate it, then he 
would give him a couple of the painkillers that Dr Seymore had 
given him, the drug was powerful and should send Krycek to 
sleep, then Mulder could change the IV bag and get some rest 
himself. Tomorrow... tomorrow he would question Alex again, and 
this time he would not lose his temper. This time he would 
treat it as some kind of word-game, that he had to play to trap 
Krycek into revealing what he knew.

As he neared the cabin, he knew with a certainty that something 
was wrong. Breaking into a run he burst into the bedroom, only 
to stand frozen in shock as he realised that Krycek was no 
longer in the bed. The covers were tossed back, the IV needle 
hanging useless by its side.

Spinning about Mulder rushed back out the door. The injured man 
could not have gone far. He paused briefly by the truck and 
noted that it had indeed been broken into to, the door was 
slightly open. Mulder realised that he must have noted it 
unconsciously as he return to the cabin, and it was that fact 
which had alerted him that all was not well.

He stood still and listened. He could hear a noise in the 
distance, he glanced briefly at the roadway that led away from 
the cabin, but dismissed it almost immediately,  Krycek was not 
a fool, and would not take the easier path. Standing by the 
truck door he glanced down and felt a shiver to fear course 
thought him when he saw the blood, it was only a drop, but it 
stood out clearly on the pale dirt. Looking about he spied 
another drop.

Before he could register what he was doing he was off, chasing 
after the escaped man. As he moved he felt rage again take 
control. How had Krycek found the energy to move from the bed, 
let alone escape. He reasoned that the injured man was not as 
hurt as he had led him to believe. He had been lying to him 
again.

=-=-=-=-=

Krycek slipped and hit the ground hard. He stayed where he had 
fallen, the world spinning dizzily about him. He felt sick, and 
wanted to do nothing more than die where he had dropped. His 
energy was spent, he could not continue.

It had taken him ages to clamber into the clothes that he had 
found, and he had wasted far too much time trying to get the 
truck started. He had no idea where he was, how far away from 
civilisation they were, or what he was going to do if he should 
reach it.

He gasped in much needed air and cried out as his wound 
protested such rough treatment, he knew that he was bleeding 
again, had felt the hot, sticky substance slide down the inside 
of the sweatshirt he had found. He felt the tears of pain slip 
from under his tightly closed eyelids, and wanted to scream out 
his frustration. He had finally became what he'd always feared, 
a man who could no longer control his own fate, his temper, or 
his emotions, he was no different from his own father.

As he lay there waiting for the world to stop spinning, he 
began to catalogue his feelings, trying to drag the shattered 
remains of the torn shield about him. He knew that his main 
problem was his feelings for Mulder. The man was supposed to be 
his enemy, but from the very start he had not been able to 
fulfil his job properly. Every moment he had spent in the other 
man's company had dragged him deeper and deeper into his 
clutches, he had hung upon his every word, had delighted in 
watching him speak as the lips moved. Krycek had imaged what 
those lips could do over his body. Ever since their first 
meeting he had awoken with Mulder's name on his lips, his bed 
soaked with the results his erotic dreams.

If nothing else, the alien possession had shown him that he 
could no longer run from his love for the other man, maybe it 
was the knowledge that he was about to die, or that he was left 
in the silo after spewing up the alien. He could not actually 
place his finger on the moment when he'd realised that he loved 
Mulder. There was no blinding flash of light, no heavenly choir 
to sing in the event. Just the feeling over the months since 
their first meeting that he didn't want Mulder hurt, that his 
safety had became paramount to him. So much so, that Alex had 
taken to standing in sheltered doorways, in the pouring rain 
just to capture a glimpse of him. Culminating into Krycek 
taking a bullet for Mulder. The realisation that he loved 
Mulder came crashing down upon him and he suddenly knew that he 
wanted to die, really, really, wanted to die. For the first 
time since he had lost control of his life, he no longer wanted 
to live. It was not the alien who had stolen his ability to be 
a chameleon, it had been Mulder's first smile, his first pout, 
his first... glance. Krycek's father had never been able to 
train him against it, because Krycek's father had never *felt*. 


=-=-=-=-=
End (03/13)





Chameleon (04/13) M/K NC-17


TITLE: Chameleon (04/13)
AUTHOR: Tevan
DATE: Dec 1998
E-MAIL ADRESS: jtp@artos.prestel.co.uk

Disclaimer etc. in part 1

=-=-=-=-=

Suddenly Mulder was upon him, breaking into his line of vision 
and bearing down on him. The Agent stumbled to a stop and 
swooped down to grab Krycek by the jacket he was wearing and 
dragged him roughly to his feet. He gave him a hard shake, 
which caused another whimper of pain to leak out from the pale 
clenched lips.

"I ought to shoot you where you stand," Mulder snarled as he 
pressed the gun he had not been aware he had drawn to the soft 
flesh under Krycek's jaw. It had pushed in hard and would leave 
a nasty bruise.

"Do it." Krycek spat, his eyes wide with his own terror, but 
also gleaming with a bitter hope that Mulder would kill him and 
end his suffering. To love Mulder and know that the man hated 
him in return, was too much pain for one man to bear and 
survive. "Don't fucking talk about it... do it... pull the 
trigger," he gasped, it was an acrid tone that twisted into 
sneering as he continued harshly, "I did it to your father."

Mulder lost all reason at those words and slammed Krycek back 
hard against the tree, the injured man immediately tumbled into 
unconsciousness, his sudden weight dragging him from Mulder's 
one handed grasp.

Mulder made to follow him down, to continue the attack, then 
reason clicked back into place and he ended up leaning over the 
unconsciousness man, his arms outstretched, one hand splayed as 
he rested against the trunk of the tree gasping in air, 
fighting to regain control of his emotions.

Several minutes passed before he slowly put his gun away and 
knelt down to inspect Krycek. Mulder was still breathing 
heavily and wiped at the sweat that was slowly dripping down 
his face. He could not believe the range of emotions the man 
under his hands caused him to feel. They swept from a deep 
boiling anger, to a desperate need to just wrap the other man 
in his arms and never let him go, to always keep him safe.

He staggered back and landed on his butt as the realisation 
stuck him. He felt his heartbeat pick up to an alarming rate 
and wondered if he was going to have a heart attack. He loved 
Alex Krycek. When had it happened? Why?  He remembered someone 
once telling him that the line between love and hate was very 
thin, but this... this was insane. This man had lied, cheated, 
and murdered, and yet, even now looking at him, bloodied, 
dirty, lying on the ground bedraggled, lost and defenceless, 
Mulder could feel the curling snake of desire as it wrapped 
itself about his stomach, and edged lower.

Krycek groaned and slowly blinked, the trees above him were 
deflecting the light and giving the impression of timelessness. 
He was lying awkwardly on the ground with Mulder sitting a 
short distance away, hands resting spread out behind him as he 
sat, with an expression of total stupefaction on his face. 
After several moments of just looking at each other, Mulder 
finally spoke, saying in an almost accusatory tone,  "You 
didn't kill my father." Raising to his knees he slowly crawled 
nearer to the injured man.

"I hate... you... Mulder," Krycek gasped out, his lips 
trembling as he spoke. His eyes were bright, and he looked 
desperately as if he wanted his words to be true, but his voice 
did not carry conviction.

Mulder lips formed into a predatory smile. Slowly he shook his 
head in denial of Alex's words, as he crawled nearer, and 
nearer, until he was finally kneeing before Krycek.  Then, with 
gentle hands he manoeuvred him about until Alex was held 
tightly in his arms. The injured man hissed in pain as he was 
moved, only attempting to struggle once, but it instantly 
became clear that his ex-partner was not going to be prevented 
from doing what he wanted, so Alex became passive, allowing 
Mulder to move him. Once settled in Mulder's embrace he sank 
into it as if he had been designed to fit there. Resting his 
head comfortably upon the other's shoulder Krycek finally 
asked. "Why didn't... why didn't you kill me?"  There was 
genuine curiosity in the tone.

"I can't," Mulder simply said.  Holding the other man carefully 
as he one-handedly tried to look at the bleeding wound. He was 
relieved to find that while it had bled, leaving a minute trail 
for him to follow, it had not been as serious as he thought. 
"We have to get you back to the cabin... I need to clean that 
up."

"I hate... you," Krycek repeated, but it sounded weak even to 
his own ears.

Mulder just paused, and looking down at Alex, he smiled 
tenderly, it lighted his eyes as he replied, "I know... I... 
hate... you... too." As he spoke he manoeuvred his lips closer, 
and closer, to those of the man he held, until the final words 
were spoken directly into the other's mouth.

The kiss was gentle, sweet and oh so loving. Mulder's lips 
seeking, asking permission for entry, the request was answered 
as Krycek's mouth opened under his, and his tongue was allowed 
to probe into the sweet, dark recesses.

Both men were gasping when they parted. The fire in Mulder's 
eyes sent a bolt of desire through Krycek's body, and he licked 
at his kiss swollen lips, raising his mouth again, asking for 
and offering more. Mulder was swift to oblige and another 
tender kissed ensued.

This one was longer, and it only ended because Krycek was 
unable to suppress the slight whimper of pain that the crushing 
embrace tore from his occupied lips. Mulder immediately drew 
back, raising a gentle hand to erase the pain from the other's 
brow as he whispered, "I love... the way you... hate me... 
Alex." Seeing the slight smile that this sally drew from 
Krycek, he would have continued, but suddenly noted with a 
frown the paleness of his companion, and the shaking in the 
other's body that was not entirely due to passion. He made up 
his mind and said instead, "Let's... continue this... back 
at... the cabin."

Without further words, Krycek allowed Mulder to help him up, 
and to take most of his weight as they staggered back to the 
building. The light was fading fast now and by the time they 
reached the porch night was upon them.

After getting Krycek settled back in the bed, Mulder gave him a 
couple of pain killers, then spent the next few minutes 
preparing the items he would need to tend to the other man's 
wounds. By the time he was ready, Krycek was almost unconscious 
from the combination of tablets, and the exhaustion that had 
claimed his body, so cleaning and re-bandaging the wound was 
not as difficult as Mulder had anticipated. He finished by 
reattaching the IV needle and replacing the old bag with the 
last one that the doctor had given him. Once that was done he 
stood back to check his handiwork.

Krycek was still too pale for his liking, and he could see that 
Alex was now sporting a light fever, no doubt due to his 
exertions, but there was little that Mulder could do about it, 
rest was the best medicine. Moving about Mulder locked up the 
cabin for the night, banking the fire and dousing the lights in 
the bedroom, keeping the one in the main room alight, so that 
it threw a shadow of light into the bedroom, should Alex awake. 
Although Mulder was pretty certain that Krycek would not be 
awaking before dawn, the exhaustion and drugs would see to 
that.

Mulder's emotions were still in turmoil from the kisses, and 
while he felt extremely tired, he also knew that he was not 
going to be able to sleep for a while. So he brewed some fresh 
coffee, and when it was ready, took a cup outside to stand by 
the lapping water of the lake, hoping that the clam of the 
night would help settle him. He spent a quiet hour just looking 
at the lake and wondering if he was really doing the right 
thing, if he could trust his emotions. His mind raced about, 
spinning from one memory to another, all of them centred on the 
man who lay sleeping in the cabin. They ranged from their first 
meeting, when he had glanced up and saw the smiling features 
and eager hand of Special Agent Krycek as he explained what he 
was doing standing by Mulder's desk, to their last.

  He swallowed hard as he recalled their penultimate meeting, 
standing outside his own apartment block, holding a gun on 
Krycek. He'd had every intention of shooting the man, and would 
have if Scully had not intervened, and shot him instead. When 
Mulder had regained his senses he had been grateful to her for 
her actions, but it had taken him a while to realise exactly 
why he was so grateful. Finally admitting that his thoughts 
were not getting him anywhere, he poured the dregs of his cold 
coffee onto the ground and made his way slowly back to the 
cabin. 

Returning to the bedroom he noticed that the IV bag was now 
empty. Very carefully, so as not to wake the deeply sleeping 
man, he removed the needle and the equipment. Krycek never 
stirred, and when Mulder returned to the bedroom, he considered 
where he was going to rest. As he looked about the room, his 
eyes kept coming to rest upon his companion. 

Finally with a shrug, he removed his clothes down to his 
underwear and climbed in beside the deeply sleeping man, 
carefully moving about he manoeuvred Krycek, until the other 
man was resting warmly within his embrace.

Mulder soon fell asleep, almost as exhausted as the man 
sleeping beside him. Neither of them awoke during the night, 
and it was the sounds of the birds outside that pulled them 
both from their slumber. 

Krycek had not moved much in his sleep, even though the IV had 
been removed the night before, but Mulder had snuggled about 
and now lay sprawled partly across the other man. His head was 
resting comfortably on the uninjured shoulder and his arm was 
wrapped tightly about his companion's waist. It was comfortable 
and it felt right.

Alex could feel Mulder's body as it lay curved against him, the 
head no weight at all against his heated flesh. For some reason 
it felt right to have his ex-partner there laying beside him. 
As he contemplated this thought he remembered that Mulder 
believed that he had killed his father. Alex felt a sad smile 
slip across his face as he remembered the death of that man. 
Another memory stole up upon him, it was of the last time he 
had seen his own father. He swallowed hard and wished that the 
pain was not so intense, but at least he was honest enough to 
admit that not all the pain he felt was caused by the wound. 
His ragged breathing must have alerted the body resting on him, 
as he slowly felt Mulder begin to awake. Knowing what Mulder 
wanted, Krycek decided to give him the details he craved. But 
he also determined that he would give them to him on his own 
terms, and do to that he would have to start at the beginning, 
and telling him about his father seemed as good a place as any 
to begin.

Mulder awoke with a start, blinking owlishly he noted his 
position, and when he would have moved, thinking his weight too 
heavy for Krycek the other man prevented him by gently 
squeezing the arm, that he had somehow sneaked about Mulder's 
body during the night. As he did so he spoke, his words keeping 
the other man firmly in place.

Krycek's voice was husky, tinged with a raw pain that caught at 
Mulder and held him silent, as Krycek began, "My father was a 
bastard Fox.... You know the type... a class A bastard who 
thought that to bring up a good son, you've got to beat it into 
him... I know that he honestly thought that he was doing what 
was best for me... but," Alex paused, feeling that he was not 
explaining himself very well, He took another steadying breath 
and began again, not aware that he was attempting to justify 
his father's actions towards him. Mulder realised from Krycek's 
tone that while Alex's father might have been a bastard, he was 
all that his son had, and, in his own way, Krycek had still 
loved him. "He came from the old country... Russia... he'd been 
persecuted most of his life, saw his parents killed during the 
war... Always hated the damn cold, couldn't wait to get 
out...," he paused, remembering the nightmarish tales his 
father used to recount at the dinner table before he added, 
sounding almost disappointed as he confessed, "I don't know 
what really made him tick, maybe it was because of his own 
wretched childhood, that he felt he needed to make mine a 
living hell to be a good father... maybe it was the only way he 
knew how to act... whatever his reasons, I grew to hate him 
before I was six." A frown crossing his handsome face as he 
recalled one incident in particular, "I can remember when I was 
about eight or nine, he suddenly decided one morning, during 
breakfast.... that I was old enough to be considered a man, and 
that meant that I was man enough to learn how to fight, and you 
know... he expected me to fight like a man... to fight him... 
and if not win, to at least put up some resistance." He let out 
a bitter laugh as the picture cleared, and he recalled the pain 
from the attack. The intense beating that had been the result 
of losing that fight. "If I failed to block a blow, or to 
dismantle a weapon in the dark, he would shut me away for hours 
in a small cupboard that he had made in the basement, it was so 
tight... so small... it.... it allowed no light."  His voice 
caught as he continued to try to justify his father's cruel 
actions. "I don't know, maybe he honestly thought that he was 
preparing me for life, making me strong, so that if I ever had 
to face what he faced then I would be ready... but it didn't 
work out quite like that..." he gave a sad little laugh. "It 
might have helped make me strong, but it mainly only made me 
angry, and bitter. So much so, that I only wanted to get away 
from him. God I hated him... hated him so much... back then..." 
he swallowed convulsively as he finished. 

"Why... why if I hated him so much do I wake up wishing that I 
could have said goodbye?" He whispered after several seconds of 
silence. The pain was raw, the emotions intense.

Krycek closed his eyes, allowing the bitter pain to flow over 
him, a single tear of regret threatened to fall as he recalled 
the rage that he had unleashed on his father as he had left his 
childhood home for the last time. His next and final meeting 
with his father had been when he had stood, looking down upon 
the frozen remains of his waxed glacial face, as the man lay 
upon a mortuary slab in the small local police station. Alex, 
as his only living relative, had been called upon to identify 
the body. Not an easy task when the back and side of the head 
was missing. But Krycek's only thought at that time had been to 
critically wonder which of his guns his father had stuck in his 
mouth.  He had finally decided on the old navy colt, it was 
large enough to cause the amount of damage he saw, but small 
enough to slip easily into his father's mouth. Now in Mulder's 
arms he finally felt strong enough to face the demon that had 
hunted him since his childhood, the single tear turned into an 
unexpected flood of regret, for the man he had never truly 
understood, but whom he had called father.

Mulder said nothing, he just lay there, letting the light, 
sweeping movements of his hand over the slightly shivering body 
reassure the other man that he was still there, still prepared 
to listen to whatever else Krycek felt he needed to say. After 
several minutes, the tortured ex-agent managed to get his 
emotions under enough control to continue, his tone still 
wavered, but he was determined to finish.

"One thing he did insist on, and that was my education." Wiping 
at his tear-streaked face with the edge of the sheet, Krycek 
let out a small, embarrassed, laugh, as he continued, "Man was 
he insistent about that. One time... he beat me so bad that I 
had to stay off school... so no-one would know... that was the 
last time he did that... from then on he just... just shut me 
in that damn hole in the cellar."  Krycek stopped, suddenly 
unable to go on, overwhelmed by the memory as the impact of his 
childhood caught up with him.

"Krycek" Mulder finally said, moving backwards to lean up and 
look in the other man's face. "You don't have to..." 

But Krycek interrupted roughly him saying, "Yes... yes I do. 
You wanted to know the truth about me, well I'm telling you.. 
but to understand what happened later, you need to know about 
this..."

"Are you sure?"  There was only compassion and sorrow in 
Mulder's voice, and Alex could tell that he was sincere. The 
other man didn't want to cause him any more pain, and for that 
Krycek felt his feelings for Mulder swell again, he felt it 
light up his tear stained eyes and needing to draw back, he 
took a steadying breath and continued with his monologue.

 "You know... when I got accepted for the FBI... I was..." his 
voice held the wonder he had felt at that moment and Mulder 
knew from his own experiences that no words could describe the 
emotions that one felt at such a time, but Krycek tried. "I was 
so high... I could have flown to Quantico without the aid of a 
plane... I could not believe it when they accepted me... I was 
just... blown away. This was what I wanted. Had wanted all my 
life." He paused again as the darker side of his life came to 
the fore, and he continued bitterly. "I should have realised 
then... that it was too good to be true... 'cause I'd only been 
there a few months before I met...or should I say that it was 
arranged for me to met the person you refer to as Cancerman..." 
He felt Mulder stiffen at the name, and tightened his one armed 
grip on the other man, to let him know that he understood, "At 
first he just showed up and looked us over... checking out the 
new recruits... Word went round that he was starting a new task 
force, that he was looking for keen young people to be in it... 
man," he let out a embittered bark of laughter, "I fell for 
that hook, line and sinker." He paused again as he remembered 
the way he had hung on every word of advice the cigarette-
smoking bastard had issued. How he had felt privileged when it 
became apparent that he was being singled out from the others. 
"It was near the end of my training and I was eager to see what 
assignment I would get, you know what that's like...  Anyway, 
he was there one day... waiting for me when I came back from a 
run... He said that I had what he was looking for..." He let 
out another bark of laughter but this one was edged with 
hysteria, as emotions that he had kept long buried rushed to 
the surface, too quickly for him to fully control them. He 
began to pant slightly, fighting the tentacles of a headache 
that was starting to grow to monstrous portions, and his strong 
reaction to what he now saw as the darkest period of his life, 
even worse then seeing his father's shattered skull on that 
mortuary slab. "He was good Fox... he was really good... he 
wove his lies and played me like a simpleton, he used my own 
patriotism against me."  He stopped, gasping out a groan in raw 
pain as the headache flared and ripped across his skull.  He 
felt a tide of nausea sweep over him and swallowed hard, 
several times, trying to prevent himself from throwing up. 

"Alex?" Mulder asked, suddenly concerned by the leaching of 
colour from the other's face. "What is it?" Before Krycek could 
voice an answer, Mulder felt himself thrown backwards as Alex 
thrust himself forward and was violently sick over the edge of 
the bed. His body heaved and shook for several minutes until he 
lay slumped, exhausted, over the bed, uncaring of his position 
or the smell that was rising from the dirty wooden floor.

"I... hate... this..." Krycek gulped out as he fought to get 
his breathing back under control, tears again just beneath the 
surface, as his voice quivered. "I hate... what my father did 
to me, what Cancerman made me do... the lies he told, but more 
than that... I hate the fact that I believed him...." Agony of 
both the body and soul tore through him and he wanted nothing 
more than to slip into unconsciousness, he didn't want to hurt 
anymore, didn't want to know that this was his life and there 
was no way, other than death, to escape from it.

After recovering from the shock of being tossed aside, Mulder 
had scrambled across the bed, and now lay pressed up close 
beside Alex, careful not to jar his injured side further, his 
hand gently rubbing across the still shivering back, offering 
what reassurance his mumbled words and touch could. As the 
injured man slowly got his breathing under control, Mulder 
solicitously coaxed him backwards until he was lying back upon 
the pillows once more. Seeing the way Krycek was shivering, and 
suspecting that he was slipping into emotional shock, Mulder 
pulled the blankets up tighter about him, then moving swiftly 
he got up and fetched a wet cloth and some water. After wiping 
the sweating face and allowing Krycek to take some sips of the 
cool water, along with a couple of the powerful pain killers, 
he waited until Alex had slipped into an uneasy sleep, before 
he set about cleaning up the mess. Luckily the injured man had 
thrown up on the large mat that was beside the bed, so the 
Agent carefully lifted it up and carried it out of the cabin. 
After taking it a short distance he tossed it upon the ground 
and turned the hose on it. Once the mess and smell was gone, he 
hung it over a branch and left it to dry, then he turned and 
hurried back into the cabin. 

=-=-=-=-=

End (04/13)






Chameleon (05/13) M/K NC-17


TITLE: Chameleon (05/13)
AUTHOR: Tevan
DATE: Dec 1998
E-MAIL ADRESS: jtp@artos.prestel.co.uk

Disclaimer etc. in part 1

=-=-=-=-=

Once back in the bedroom he checked on Krycek. His patient was 
still sleeping, a troubled frown playing about his handsome 
features. Gently resting his hand upon the other's brow Mulder 
frowned at the heat he found there. He knew that Krycek's 
actions the night before had assisted in a resurgence of his 
fever, but had hoped that a night's sleep would help bring it 
down again. However, the exertions of the morning had resulted 
in raising it another few notches. Mulder opened the one window 
in the bedroom and the cabin door to allow for a cross breeze, 
to clear the smell from the room, it was still early morning 
and the heat of the sun was slowly warming the wood of the 
building. After checking the sleeping man once more, and 
ensuring that he was warm enough, Mulder left the bedroom, 
leaving the door slightly ajar he pulled out his mobile phone 
and placed his daily call to Scully.

She sounded both happy and annoyed to hear from him. "What's 
going on Mulder?" she demanded. "Skinner said that you've got a 
few days grace... what was he talking about and what's 
happening with Krycek?"

Mulder threw another glance towards the bedroom before he moved 
away and spoke. "Krycek is still recovering from his injury, 
but he's doing" he paused while he considered his words and 
finally finished, "better... he's still a little bit 
feverish..."

"Mulder that wasn't what I was asking." Scully snapped, her 
temper frayed by her worry. "Has he told you anything yet?"


Mulder paused again, that was the million-dollar question, and 
the only reason why Skinner had given him the five days was to 
pump Krycek for any information that he had. Licking at dry 
lips and suddenly feeling very uncomfortable with what he was 
about to say he offered, "We have been, er... talking... He 
er... explained why he was at the warehouse," he hurried on 
feeling the animosity coming from the other end of the phone. 
"Krycek was told that I would be there and that my... our lives 
might be in danger... from one of his informants..." he paused 
again, before adding, his tone trying to ease his partners 
concern, "He was there to warn me, but it looks like we were 
both set up." His words were met with a long silence from the 
other end of the phone, before Scully asked, this time while 
her words were precise and clear, they were not so harsh or 
damning as before.

"Has he given you any information that you can use against 
Cancerman and the Consortium?"

"Not exactly, he's still weak..." Mulder confessed, reaching up 
and running a hand through his hair as he heard her exhale, 
"But we have been talking about his childhood, mainly his 
father, and how Cancerman first contacted him."

"His childhood..." Scully commented dryly. "Not exactly grand 
jury material Mulder." 

"Look." Mulder snapped, his own temper fraying as he felt the 
deep bite of betrayal in his stomach, he pushed the feeling 
away and drawing a deep breath he continued in a more 
reasonable tone. "He's injured and in pain, this isn't easy for 
him... he's been through a hell of a lot and... and... at least 
he's talking to me." He stopped not sure how to continue. How 
much of what Krycek had told him, could he pass on to Scully, 
then realising that she would probably not understand, he 
reverted to go old fashion anger and finished harshly, "I'm 
trying to gain his trust, and having you breathing down my neck 
isn't going to help... Please, see if you can get Skinner to 
allow me some more time."

"More time?" Scully repeated her own anger flaring, but Mulder 
could hear her regaining control of it as she continued, 
trying, as always to be the voice of reason, "Mulder... Skinner 
is already sharpening up the knife to skin you alive.. and he's 
not too happy with the five day agreement... getting more time 
out of him is going to take a miracle."

"Well the sooner you get working on it, the sooner the red sea 
of FBI bureaucracy might part.... Look ...I've got to go... 
I'll contact you later this afternoon, I'll try to give you a 
better report then... once I've had time to think, time to 
assimilate what I've been told so far."  With that he snapped 
the phone closed and switched it off, pretending not to hear 
Scully as she demand that he listen. He chewed on his lip and 
closed his eyes, he felt as if the world was suddenly closing 
in on him. He desperately wanted to shield Krycek, unwilling to 
explain the emotions that he was feeling for the other man, 
idly he wondered how long he would be able to fool his partner 
and Skinner before they became aware that he was lying to them.

Unbeknownst to Mulder, Krycek had awoken as he had left the 
bedroom, and had lain listening through the partially open door 
as Mulder had placed the call. He was surprised at how hurt he 
felt that Mulder was telling Scully about their conversation. 
That Mulder would pass on any information that he gained was 
not a surprise. But he had thought that what passed between 
them would be discussed before Mulder passed it on, and had 
hoped for some foolish reason, that his darkest memories of his 
childhood would be kept between the two of them.

Mulder opened the bedroom door and froze upon the threshold as 
he realised that Krycek was awake and, from the hurt expression 
on his features, that he had heard some of the telephone 
conversation. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean..." He began, but 
Krycek interrupted him, saying, his tone struggling to remain 
neutral.

"Hey... it's what... you have to do." He glanced away from the 
man still standing in the doorway as he continued, "After all I 
am a suspect to a number of crimes and you are the Agent."

Mulder felt a flash of exasperation and strolled angrily across 
the room. On reaching Krycek, he grabbed the other man's face 
and with surprising gentleness he pulled it up, so that the 
other's eyes met his. "You are not just a suspect, you are a 
witness... and we are in this together...." His anger departed 
as suddenly as it had arrived, and he slumped down upon the 
edge of the bed. "I know what you told me this morning was 
personal... and I should have checked with you first... before 
I called Scully, but... you were asleep, and I didn't want her 
to worry."  It was a lame excuse, but it was the truth, and 
Krycek was able to recognise it for what it was.

Alex reached out with his good hand, and gently ran his fingers 
down Mulder's cheek, causing the other man to look up at him, 
he smiled and offered weakly, but warmly, "In this together 
huh... bet that's really going to freak Scully and Skinner."

Mulder tilted his head slightly and kissed the tips of the 
fingers lightly before admitting, "Not half as much as they are 
going to be freaked when I tell them about us."

"Is there an US, Mulder?" Krycek asked, his tone intense and 
uncertain at the same time. After all, they had only exchanged 
a few kisses, admittedly they had been soul searing, and left 
them both panting and wanting more, but Alex didn't really 
understand Mulder's feelings for him. He knew what his were, 
could feel it by the kick in the gut reaction he now got every 
time he saw Fox, but Alex had identified and learned to live 
with his love for Mulder over several years, for Fox the 
epiphany had only appeared to happen yesterday.

Mulder looked away again, closing his eyes as he did so. 
"Everything that I know about you, what you've done, tells me 
to hate you, not trust you... to put you away in the darkest 
cell I can find and toss the key into the deepest river... and 
yet..." he stopped, his face twisting as he confessed his 
feelings.

"And yet?" Krycek questioned, knowing that he deserved whatever 
Mulder felt about him, deserved it and more, and yet, yet he 
still hoped that what he felt for the Agent was returned.

Mulder looked back at Krycek noting the pale face, the tortured 
eyes and the twisted lip that was being bitten by the perfect 
teeth. Mulder was unable to prevent a smile slip across his 
features as he lent forward.  Planting a gentle, chaste, kiss 
upon the worrying lips, he finished, "And yet just looking at 
you takes my breath away and robs me of my sanity."

Krycek looked down, an embarrassed and relieved smile now 
playing about his own lips as he repeated, "Robs you of your 
sanity huh? That would account for the fact that I can look 
like shit, smell even worse, desperately need a shave and a 
wash... Hey maybe that's why I take your breath away."

"Did I mention that I also consider you a very perverted son of 
a bitch Krycek." Mulder mock snarled, pulling carefully away 
from the other man, knowing that Krycek was only trying to put 
the conversation back on to a steady base, and after the 
emotional turmoil that he had suffered that morning, Mulder 
could not really blame him. 

Krycek reached out and grabbed Mulder's arm when he would have 
risen, "I'm also very sick and unable to bath myself... now who 
could I get to help me with that little chore?"  His voice had 
taken on a sultry tone, and it resonated right through Mulder's 
body as, in response, a sudden fire licked along his backbone 
right down to his manhood, which leapt at the thought of having 
Krycek's body under his hands.

Mulder swallowed hard, his throat suddenly very dry. "There is 
only a shower... but you're still... I mean... I'm not sure 
it's a good idea after all that's happened..." Mulder suddenly 
realised that he was babbling so he finished weakly, "You still 
have a slight fever Alex... I'm not sure it's a good idea."

Krycek looked concerned as he continued with the game, the fire 
of desire lighting his own eyes in anticipation, "Well, I know 
that I'm still too weak to stand by myself so I guess you'd 
better accompany me, and a wash would definitely help bring my 
fever down."  It was not quite a question, but there was a hint 
of it in the air. "Or not." He finished with a quick swipe of 
his tongue over his lips.

Mulder didn't answer right away and Krycek began to get worried 
again, until Mulder cautioned, "Krycek I'm serious here... 
you've still got a slight fever and I don't want you to 
overexert yourself."

"Mulder, I feel fine, exhausted, but fine and anyway, I was 
planning on you doing all the hard work, I was just going to 
stand there and enjoy it."

"What about your wound..." Mulder began, but Krycek reached out 
and rested two fingers over his lips replying.

"You can give me a sponge bath so the bandage won't get wet."

Finally Mulder asked the question that he really wanted to ask, 
"Are you sure?"

Krycek gave Mulder a long steadying look before he spoke, his 
words quiet but firm, his decision to tell the truth made at 
the expression of hope that flared in Mulder's own eyes, "I 
need this Fox... why I don't fully understand... I need to tell 
you that I think that I love you... and these few days might be 
the only days we get together... so please, let's not waste 
them..."

Mulder accepted the honestly of the words for what they were, 
and when he replied, his own voice was just as determined as he 
latched onto the words that caused him the most fear, "I'm not 
going to let anything happen to you Alex... I've lost too many 
people that I... love... but no more, I will never let anything 
happen to you... together, if we start this, there is no end... 
not until we finish it together."

Krycek closed his eyes at the sudden pain Mulder's words 
caused. He felt like moaning at the agony that flared across 
his body. Instead he opened his eyes again, and forcing a smile 
to his lips, he said very quietly, "Mulder... don't make a 
promise you can't keep...." He used his fingers to hush the 
other man again, when he would have spoken. "I know what I 
am... what I've done... I'm not proud of it, but neither of us 
are fools, nor do we live in a dream world... Skinner is going 
to want his pound of flesh, Scully will want to know the reason 
why her sister had to die, and Cancerman will do his damnedest 
to make sure that I don't live long enough to testify against 
anyone. So please... just give me these few days... it will be 
enough... and it's more than I expected, give them to me, and I 
will accept whatever else happens." 

"Alex." Mulder began, his voice torn with fear, but Krycek drew 
back, anger now reflected in his features.

"For God's sake Mulder, grow up, this is the real world... a 
week ago you hated my guts... Hell, yesterday you couldn't 
stand the sight of me, even now you still believe that I killed 
your father, and yet here you sit, professing your love for me 
and wanting to screw me into next week and the rest of our 
lives."  Krycek stopped, shocked at his own words, he threw 
Mulder a concerned look as the other man moved.

Mulder leapt up, unable to take the words Krycek was throwing 
at him, mainly because he knew they had a ring of truth to 
them. It was only after he had seen Krycek wounded, and almost 
dying, in the warehouse, then lying defenceless on the ground 
yesterday, under the shade of those trees, that he had suddenly 
realised how much the other man had come to mean to him. Only 
after the implications of how Krycek had risked his own life to 
save Mulder's, had the Agent allowed himself to believe that 
Krycek might harbour the same feelings for him. But to hear 
Krycek put his thoughts into words was too much for him. 
"You're right," he began, more angry with himself than with the 
man laying on the bed before him. "I don't know if you killed 
my father or not... and I know that both Skinner and Scully are 
going to freak out in a major way once they find out how I 
feel, but damn it Krycek, Alex... I CAN'T HELP HOW I FEEL." He 
shouted the last words. "Do you think that this," He motioned 
between them, "Is easy for me? Do you think I want to feel 
this... this attraction... That I can just sweep what happened 
between us under some magic carpet and it will be roses 
forever.... I know exactly how Skinner and Scully are going to 
react... Hell you're right. A week ago, I would have felt the 
same... But," he frantically searched for words, he desperately 
needed to make the other man understand, "But not now... Now I 
know exactly how I feel, and for whom, and I don't care..." He 
moved forward, touching two gentle fingers to Alex's cheek. 
"I'm willing to try... to fight to give us a future... I do 
live in the real world Krycek, and I fully understand what 
loving you entails, but at least I'm prepared to try. It's not 
going to be easy, and yes, you might die Alex... Hell, for that 
matter I could walk into a bullet at any time... look at what 
happened at the warehouse... But I'm willing to try... To give 
us... a chance," he motioned between them again, "It's got to 
be worth it Alex, otherwise there's no point to any of this... 
we might just as well give up now, pack our bags... you'll be 
well enough to leave in a few days... Skinner has give us that 
long... if that's what you want, if that all that you really 
want, then fine... I won't stop you... Hell I'll even drive you 
to the nearest bus depot or airport myself... but don't you 
dare sit there and tell me that you're not prepared to try 
because you don't think I can handle it... don't you dare 
insult me that way."

Krycek had sat with a stunned expression stealing across his 
handsome face as Mulder's words pounded into him. After Mulder 
had finished and remained standing over him, his chest raising 
and falling with anger, Krycek let out a small bark of 
laughter. With an expression of wonder on his face, he finally 
found his voice and said,  "You really do love me."

Had that not been what he'd just said?  Mulder closed his eyes 
feeling totally drained, and let his shoulders slump, as he 
agreed. "Yes Alex Krycek, double agent and all around rat 
bastard... I really do love you."

Krycek slowly rose up from the bed. He cautiously moved towards 
Mulder on wobbly legs, until he was standing directly in front 
of him. Gently he lifted a hand and pushed a stray lock of hair 
from the Agent's sweaty brow, then leaning forward raising 
slightly on tiptoe he kissed the brow, the nose and finally the 
lips. Then standing back slightly he replied warmly, his green 
eyes reflecting the truth of his words, "I love you too Fox 
Mulder, very special Agent and all round smart arse."

Mulder eyes snapped open at those words and he looked hard at 
the man standing in front of him, searching his eyes to see if 
he was speaking the truth. Seeing the love that was shining 
back at him he groaned out loud and carefully reeled Alex in 
for another kiss, he pushed himself up against the trembling 
body, and was met and matched by a fire of Krycek's own needs. 
Without a thought they tumbled backwards until they hit the bed 
and ended up sprawled on it. Mulder twisting part way to ensure 
that Krycek ended up on top.

A few feverish minutes passed where hot kisses were exchanged 
and clothes hastily removed, until flesh was pulsing against 
flesh, only the bandage separated them, and slight hiss of skin 
over skin. They discarded pants and underwear and were soon 
bucking against each other, as if to stop would end their 
world. Groans were emitted as their tongues met, and fought for 
right of passage. Mouths were explored, and hot lips were 
slowly trailed down each man's body. Seeking, and finding, 
places that pleasured, until finally they reached their 
ultimate aim and engulfed each other's cocks. Then they both 
concentrated on bringing the other pleasure as fighting tongues 
became gentle caresses, lips sucking, teeth delicately nipping, 
until with almost inaudible moans of exhilaration they each 
swallowed a flood of liquid from the other. This was what they 
had needed, what they had both tried to fight against, but had 
never really had any defence against.

A few moments passed in which only the sound of their heavy 
breathing could be heard, each drawing in much needed air as 
they lay lax and complacent against each other. Slowly, and 
with great effort, Mulder turned until he was pressed up 
against Krycek again, chest against chest, gently he licked the 
sweat from the other's neck, trailing upwards until he stole 
another kiss that was willing given. "Can I take that to mean 
that you don't want a lift to the bus depot?" he panted out the 
question, leaning up and, while resting his elbow on the bed, 
he gently wiped a stay lock of hair from Krycek's brow.

Alex took a deep, satisfied, breath and smiled, it was pure 
devilment as he answered, "I think I'm going to need reminding 
at least once a day... that you love me." He gently stretched 
himself sensually against the other man, causing Mulder to draw 
a sudden breath as passion flared again.

"I think that we'd better get you into the bathroom before both 
of us are too exhausted to move."

"You know Mulder, there are times where you're just a spoil 
sport."  Krycek said around a huge yawn, his exertions catching 
up with his battle worn body. 

Mulder smiled and planted another nibbling kiss on the side of 
Krycek's lips, grimacing as his shaven cheek scratched against 
Krycek's growing beard. "You do know that I'm going to have a 
whisker burn on my face." He stated slowly sitting up, noting 
the lines of pain that were etched about Alex's features. While 
both had enjoyed the lovemaking immensely, Krycek was still 
recovering from his injury and his exhaustion was starting to 
show.

Climbing up from the bed, Mulder held out his hand and then 
caught Alex as he finally struggled to his feet and then stood 
swaying dangerously. With careful hands he manoeuvred Krycek to 
the bathroom, sat him on the toilet seat and gave him a quick 
sponge bath, with Mulder concentrating only on cleaning up the 
almost sleeping man. He adjusted the bandage once Alex was 
dried again.

Alex was very appreciative of the care and sat meekly on the 
toilet seat and allowed Mulder to shave him. If he was honest 
it was a very pleasant experience, and he was determined that 
the next bath, or shower, he had with Mulder, he was going to 
be more awake and prepared to take advantage of the sensual 
hands that wiped soap over his body. To be more able to enjoy 
the sensations caused by the long fingers that washed his hair 
so lovingly.

When Mulder assisted him to the couch in the living room Alex 
slumped down and was asleep before he fully registered that he 
was sitting up. Mulder spent the next few minutes drying the 
other man's short silken hair, it was starting to grow out now, 
and Fox decided that he liked it longer and would talk to Alex 
about letting it grow. When it was dry enough Mulder stood and 
smiled down at his lover. His heart leapt at the word and he 
tested it again, liking the warm feeling that flooded him as he 
looked down at Alex. Then shaking himself he returned to the 
bedroom and after stripping the bed of it's old linen, he 
remade it. Returning to the living room, he gently shook Alex 
and assisted him back to bed. The other man didn't even wake up 
fully, just mumbled Mulder's name under his breath, and allowed 
himself to be manoeuvred as Mulder directed. Soon he was tucked 
up once more in a clean, freshly made bed.

Several seconds passed before Mulder admitted that he could not 
help himself, and after taking a quick shower, he rubbed 
himself dry and then slipped into bed beside his lover. 
Cuddling up, he allowed sleep to overtake him, for once content 
with the hand that life had dealt him.

=-=-=-=-=


The rest of the day passed in a haze of cuddling and sleeping. 
When Mulder finally opened his eyes and looked bleary about he 
noted with shock that the sun was setting and the cabin was 
starting to grow cold and dark.

The urge to use the bathroom drove him from the bed. He quietly 
slipped out very aware of the handsome young man who was still 
sleeping deeply beside him. He knew that Krycek needed the 
sleep and that the last few days had exhausted him. Now he was 
fully awake, Mulder realised that he was cold and hungry, so he 
restarted the fire and got it blazing, allowing the heat to 
permeate the cabin before he detoured to the kitchen and began 
to toss together the makings of a meal. Checking the cupboards 
he pulled out a large tin of soup, and decided that sandwiches 
and soup was the order of the day.

As he worked he let his mind drift back over the very pleasant 
day that he had spent snuggling with his lover, Krycek had 
indeed turned out to be a very surprising bundle of fun and 
energy. Once Mulder had awoken to find the other man descending 
upon his ridged staff, his lips curling about the member with 
an ease that drove Mulder off the edge. Then they had spent a 
pleasant few minutes kissing, until Krycek had admitted defeat 
and slipped back into sleep. Mulder stopped, letting the word 
flow over him again. Alex Krycek was his lover.

He smiled to himself, then shaking off the momentary stasis he 
continued with preparing the meal. As he worked he thought 
about what they were going to do. He was not under any 
illusions, neither Skinner, nor his partner Scully, were going 
to be very forgiving, and he could just see their expressions 
when he informed them that he was in love with their number one 
suspect.

He took a steadying breath and, pushing those thoughts from his 
mind, he concentrated on making the sandwiches. There was 
little he could do about the matter until he had spoken more 
fully with Krycek, so there was not much use in worrying about 
the it. Alex's words had been true in one respect, they had 
these few days, and Mulder was not going to squander them by 
worrying about their future just yet.

Suddenly there came a cry of such terror from the bedroom, that 
Mulder was through the door with his gun drawn before he even 
registered the fact that he had left the kitchen area of the 
cabin. 

As he flicked the light on Mulder knew a few seconds of intense 
of fear when he saw that the bed was empty. A whimpering sound 
attracted his attention, and he spied his lover crouching over 
in the far corner, trying to make himself as small as possible 
and it looked like he was attempting to burrow into the wall of 
the cabin itself.

Seeing that the danger had come to his lover in the form of a 
nightmare, Mulder carefully placed the gun down, and headed 
towards Krycek, who was still shivering and whimpering, holding 
his arm out as if to ward off an attacker.

"Krycek," Mulder began, "Alex... baby..." he repeated when he 
didn't get a reply. The other man just cried out and tried to 
dig himself deeper into the cabin floor. Mulder, unable to 
stand the sounds of suffering that his lover was issuing, made 
a grab for him, and held him while he weakly fought against the 
embrace. All the while Mulder murmured that he was there, that 
nothing was ever going to hurt Alex again and that he loved 
him. Some of his words must have penetrated the fear that 
surrounded Alex because he slowly began to calm down, his 
breathing no longer coming in ragged breaths as he fought some 
unseen force.

Finally he lay quiet, panting shallowly as he fought to get his 
breathing under control. He wrapped his arms about Mulder and 
held on as if his very life depended upon their contact, 
unheeding the pain to his injury this action caused, he needed 
to be in contact with his lover more, as he begged,  "Don't 
leave me... please don't leave me." He began to chant as he 
tried to move closer to the Agent.

Mulder raised his hand and pressed Krycek's sweat covered 
forehead to his lips and kissed him saying, "Never... never... 
they won't ever get the chance to hurt you again, I swear they 
won't." Mulder was surprised to feel tears in his own eyes as 
he made the promise, and he finally admitted to himself that if 
they ever did get their hands on the man in his arms, it would 
only be because he, Fox Mulder, was no longer alive to prevent 
it.

After several more minutes, Krycek began to struggle out of the 
too tight embrace, saying, "He shut me in that damn silo with 
it Fox... he left me there to die." Mulder could hear the 
unshed tears that trembled in his lover's voice and it made him 
weep inside to hear such pain.

"Who?" Mulder asked, "Who shut you in the silo Alex?" While he 
had a fairly good idea whom Krycek was talking about, he knew 
that it would be better for Alex to get his fears out into the 
open.

"Cancerman... once he had the data tape from that damn alien... 
he just... he just left me there to die."

Mulder closed his eyes and held the other man tighter against 
his chest, as he asked, "How did you escape?"

The body in his arms froze, all movement stopped including the 
breathing, until finally Mulder had to open his own eyes and 
look down at the man he held so tightly.

"You knew." Krycek accused his eyes flashing with anger and a 
ripple of betrayal. "You knew!!"

Mulder closed his eyes as he hurried on to explain, "Only that 
you were taken over by the alien in Hong Kong... but that was 
not until later... much later... I thought that you were dead," 
he confessed, surprised to hear his own pain at his confession.

"Why didn't you say something?" Krycek demanded, pushing the 
other man away slightly, his anger giving him the energy to 
force his fear aside. Waking up in the darkened bedroom had 
reminded him too much of his days spent in the silo and he had 
reacted to the nightmare before he could stop himself. But now, 
now that he had something more immediate to concentrate on he 
was able to drag some semblance of sanity back into his life in 
the form of anger towards his lover, at what he perceived as a 
betrayal.

"Why didn't you?" Mulder shot back, in the age-old argument of 
lovers. "Why didn't you?" he repeated again, this time slower, 
showing that he really, wanted to understand why Krycek had 
kept that piece of information from him.

Krycek saw the truth behind the other's words and he bit his 
bottom lip, unable to meet Mulder's intense look as he finally 
confessed, "I... I didn't think that you would believe me... I 
mean... me." He let out a small shattered bark of laughter, "Me 
being possessed by aliens...."  He ended with a sob and 
reaching up, rubbed at the tears that had fallen during his 
flashback to the silo. "God I hate this... this feeling that 
crawls over me, when I... when I..." he stopped looking up at 
Mulder, as if only his ex-partner could say the words that 
would take his pain away. To Mulder he looked like a six-year-
old going on thirty, with his grubby, tear stained face, and 
pleading expression.

It was an image that Mulder was unable to resist, no-one should 
have eyelashes that long and reaching out he gently wiped at 
the wet trail saying, "Tell me about it Alex... tell me about 
it now.. it will help... I promise you." It wasn't a demand, 
but an offer to help, an offer that Krycek was unable to 
resist.

He began to speak, slowly at first as he tried to remember 
exactly what had happened, "I don't really remember much after 
I walked into the men's bathroom at Hong Kong airport, just 
that suddenly there was a woman standing beside me, and before 
I could react she'd.... she'd" he searched for the right words 
and ended up saying weakly, "zapped me... and the next real 
memory I have was of kneeling over this... this thing and... 
and vomiting up my soul, man it was... it was everywhere... 
this stuff... it was like oil and was in my eyes, nose... 
mouth... skin... pores... I couldn't breathe.. I honestly 
thought that I was going to die there... I don't know... I 
don't know how much time passed..." he stopped, and allowed the 
other man to comfort him, accepting the gentle embrace for what 
it was. "I wanted to die then, when I realised where I was... 
when I knew that I was going to be left there... I wanted to 
die... it was... just like what my father use to do to me... 
Cancerman just left me there... just like my father... but he 
left me there to die..."

"But you didn't." Mulder spoke softly, but firmly, wanting the 
other man to know that he had lived through that nightmare and 
survived, had in fact become stronger from his terrible ordeal.

"Yes, "I lived..." Krycek conceded. He turned to look into 
Mulder's eyes, wanting the other man to see that he was not 
lying when he spoke the next words. "But I don't have the 
slightest idea why."

"What...?" Mulder began in surprise, not sure what Alex was 
trying to say, but Krycek hurried on saying.

"I don't remember how I survived... I mean... I knew that I was 
there... trapped in that hell hole with that... that thing, for 
how long I can't remember... I must have finally passed out or 
something... 'cause the next thing I remember... I was out of 
there... just laying on the ground, out in the open... there 
was water nearby, and I managed to stagger to a farmhouse that 
was not too far away... they were good people and took me 
in...." He stopped and rubbed at his tired face. "I don't know 
why they didn't call the police or just turn me in... I mean I 
really, really looked a mess... that oil... it was like a thin 
coating over my whole body... it took three straight baths just 
to get it damn stuff of me...."

"Can you remember their names?" Mulder asked, then seeing the 
confused look this earned him he continued, "The people who 
lived in the farmhouse... can you remember their names."

"No." Alex slowly shook his head, as if this was the first time 
he had thought about that particular question. "I never asked 
them and they never said...  To be honest, I didn't want to 
know.  What I didn't know I couldn't tell if the Smoker got 
hold of me again, he wouldn't want to leave any live witnesses.  
I just stayed with them for about a week... I was out of it for 
pretty much most of it, then he drove me to the local town and 
paid for a bus ticket for me..."

Mulder, feeling the body under his hands begin to shake again, 
gently shushed the other man, and pulled him back into a firm 
embrace. "Look, judging from the smell coming from the kitchen, 
I think the soup I put on has got to be completely burnt, but I 
can always put some more on... why don't you come and sit on 
the couch while I get us something to eat."

Krycek slowly nodded, understanding that Mulder was trying to 
put some space between his nightmare and his confession. It was 
still too raw a wound to be properly explored just yet. When he 
was feeling stronger, they could discuss it again.

As Mulder helped Alex to stand, Krycek reached out and grabbed 
the other's arm preventing him from moving as he said, "I never 
meant to lie to you Fox... it's just that... well, 
remembering..."

Mulder stopped, and taking the hand he offered, "That's in the 
past... all I ask is that you don't ever lie to me in the 
future... that's the only promise I want from you now Alex... 
don't lie to me again...ever."

Krycek swallowed hard at the determination that he saw in 
Mulder's eyes and knew that to lie to this man would be to lose 
him, and he swore to himself that that was something he didn't 
ever want to happen. "I won't," he agreed as he allowed Mulder 
to help him up. He swayed for a few moments until a reassuring, 
steady arm was placed about his waist and he was helped out, 
then carefully deposited on the couch, with a blanket draped 
over him.

As he has suspected, Mulder could see clouds of steam rising 
from the saucepan on the stove and thought he would probably 
have to buy another set of pans for the cabin. After he was 
sure that Krycek was settled he rushed to the pan and grabbing 
up a cloth he threw the whole steaming lot into the sink, then 
he proceeded to open the front door and a window to allow for 
the smell to escape the cabin.

"I get the overwhelming feeling that I'm going to be the cook 
in this relationship." Krycek said with a smile from the couch, 
as he watched Mulder delve into the cupboard and pull out 
another large can, before snatching up the tin opener.

"You can cook?" Mulder asked, pausing in his surprise, and 
unable to hide the hopeful look that had entered his eyes, as 
this unexpected bonus from his lover.

"Yes... it's a hobby of mine."

Mulder looked at the can, then back at his lover. Then 
plastering a smile across his face he replied warmly, "This 
relationship thing just keeps getting better and better."

"Arrr man." Krycek grumbled good-naturedly, as the nightmare 
began to fade in the light of their banter, "And I thought it 
was my body that you were after."

Mulder bit back another smile, as he retorted evilly, "That's 
what I'm planing on having for desert most evenings."

Krycek laughed.  "In that case we'd better order the whipped 
cream by the case load"

Mulder opened his mouth to answer, then snapped it shut. He 
knew that if they continued this particular conversation then 
neither of them would get round to eating food and another 
saucepan would be ruined, so he wisely keep his own counsel.

Krycek seeing the look that entered his lover's eyes just leant 
his head back on the couch and smiled. While he was still 
feeling shaky from his nightmare, and weak from the effects of 
his injury, he knew that once dinner had been eaten they would 
not be talking about aliens. They would be making some inroads 
in some explorations of their own, and the only X file involved 
in it would be the X at the end of seX. He let another smile 
slip onto his face as he considered passing that little titbit 
onto his lover.

=-=-=-=-= 

End (06/13)








Chameleon (07/13) M/K NC-17


TITLE: Chameleon (07/13)
AUTHOR: Tevan
DATE: Dec 1998
E-MAIL ADRESS: jtp@artos.prestel.co.uk

Disclaimer etc. in part 1

=-=-=-=-=

It was the sound of the birds, crying out once again to welcome 
the new day that awoke Mulder the next morning. Glancing at the 
clock on the bedside stand, he let his head fall back on the 
pillow when he saw that it was only 17 after 6.

He shifted slightly, turning on his side to look at his lover. 
Krycek was still deeply asleep, one of his arms had sneaked 
across Mulder's body during the night, and the Agent now 
reached down to hold it more secure across his stomach. It felt 
natural to wake up with this man sleeping beside him.

He closed his eyes and drifted, and when he next awoke it was 
just after nine. With a sigh of resignation he made to pull 
back the covers, but a tightening of the arm across him 
prevented him from doing so. Glancing down he looked right into 
Krycek smiling features.

"Good Morning." Alex murmured, his voice low and sexy.

Mulder swallowed hard as he felt himself rise to the occasion. 
"Good Morning to you," he replied, slipping over to plant a 
kiss upon the welcoming lips. It was only meant to be a 
touching of lips, but Krycek had other plans and the next 
twenty minutes were taken over by another intense love session, 
leaving both men sated and breathing heavily. 

They both drifted again, this time each lightly petting the 
other's upper body. Finally Mulder spoke, hating to break the 
companionably silence,  "Alex, we're going to have to talk 
about where we go from here."

Mulder felt Alex tense up, but continued to gently draw small 
circles up and down the other man's back.

Finally, in an attempt to lighten the mood Krycek answered, 
"Well, gauging from our er... state I would have thought the 
shower was the next logical progression."

"And after?" Mulder asked, with a lazy smile.

"Then the kitchen... food... I definitely need sustenance... 
you're wearing me out Mulder... do you know that?"

"It's my pleasure," Mulder replied tenderly before asking 
again, "And then?"

Krycek let out a sigh of his own and continued, "And then, 
after we've been washed, dressed and fed, I guess it'll be time 
to contact Skinner and see what kind of a deal he can offer."

"I want to stay with you Alex... whatever the deal is, we will 
be together."

Krycek squeezed the body slightly under him and offered, "You 
know you can't do that.... Not if you want to catch these 
bastards...." Mulder opened his mouth as if to protest, but 
Krycek reached out a gentle hand and laid it carefully across 
the full lips, preventing him from answering and speaking 
instead, "They will place me in the deepest possible hole and 
only bring me out to testify.... We both know how it works 
and," he stopped again, the words not easy for him. "And we 
both know that it's for the best... If they knew that they 
could get to me though you..." The hand slipped from Mulder's 
lips to his cheek, it was a tender, loving caress, "You would 
never be safe, and I would willingly give up my life to ensure 
your safety... you know that?" 

Mulder raised his hand and gently placed it over the other's. 
Looking deep into the green eyes he answered honestly, "As 
would I. But..." he added, and this time his look prevented 
Krycek from butting in, "I am not willing to lose you either... 
I have... I have...." He stopped, angry at himself at not being 
able to put into words the emotions that he was feeling, taking 
a deep breath, removing and clasping the hand that rested upon 
his face within his two he spoke slowly, determined to make his 
lover understand. "I have lost everyone... everyone I ever 
loved, lost them to those bastards... but I will not lose 
you... I couldn't survive that... please understand that.... If 
you learn nothing else about me, know that now that I've found 
you I am never, ever, going to let you go. Not unless..." He 
paused his own fears coming to the fore, "Not unless you don't 
want me..." he trailed off letting his words hang, desperately 
waiting for an answer, but too terrified to ask.

Krycek saw the hidden pain, insecurity and rushed to reassure 
his lover, hating to see that pain within the other's handsome 
face. "From the first time I saw you, I knew that I was 
attracted to you... and all that bull I told you... when we 
first met... it wasn't a lie you know. You were... are a legend 
at Quantico, and I was so proud to be working with you...  Once 
I got to know you... saw your dedication... I just knew...." 
Alex suddenly looked away. "I don't know why this is so hard 
for me to say, but I really want you to understand why I did 
what I did, and why I'm not lying now...." He looked back at 
Mulder and there was a pleading look to be believed in his eyes 
as he continued, "You see.... Why is this so difficult to put 
into words?  My original job was just to watch you... to keep 
track of you, point you in the odd wrong direction and, above 
all, to keep you safe... I started off telling myself that I 
was only doing my job and ended up knowing that I was doing it 
because I loved you...."

Mulder felt the moment grow, and knew that mere words were not 
going to be able to fully express their feelings for each 
other.  Their fears, hopes... only a lifetime of living 
together would be able to do that, and that was the reason why 
Mulder was prepared to give up so much of his other beliefs to 
be with this man. Seeing the question in Krycek's eyes he 
smiled warmly, and leaning forward he kissed the lips that 
melted under his before saying, "I will never regret loving 
you, nor will I regret remaining by your side... you are the 
other half of my soul..." he smiled wryly at the words. He knew 
that he sounded like a cheap dime store novel, but, for once in 
his life the words felt right and they needed to be said. So he 
kissed the lips again before continuing, "Get used to seeing me 
standing behind you in the bathroom every morning when you 
shave, and I'll be the last thing you see before you fall 
asleep at night."

Krycek smiled, then planting his own kiss in return, said, 
"Behind my while a shave... why Mulder, I didn't know you have 
a kinky steak..."

"You'd better believe it baby." Before Mulder could continue 
with his attack on his lover's lips, Krycek's stomach rumbled 
loudly. Knowing when he was beaten, Mulder gave him one last 
kiss and climbed from the bed. Krycek groaned, and moving 
slowly, followed him.

They talked of little things while breakfast was prepared, 
stealing and planting kisses, pats and caresses, it was as if 
they had been lovers for years instead of days. They fitted 
together so perfectly, that words seemed superfluous, as they 
reached and passed items without the need to ask for them.

The meal passed in companionable silence.  Once they had both 
finished eating they headed towards the small bathroom. While 
Mulder showered, Krycek did an awkward face shave wondering if 
he could use his injury to get Fox to shave him again, then he 
showered while Mulder scrapped the razor over his face. Once 
they were finished, Mulder inspected Krycek's wound, pleased to 
see that it was healing well. They had just decided that a walk 
about the lake was in order to wash away the cobwebs from their 
minds, when Mulder sat up straighter and reached for his gun, 
"Car" he said in a voice barely above a whisper.

Krycek jumped up and looked about, his expression slightly 
wild, he had spent so long running that it was now second 
nature to seek cover. Mulder seeing the expression stepped 
forward and rested a hand gently, but firmly on his shoulder, 
saying strongly, "Together... whatever happens we are in this 
together."

Krycek felt his body relaxing and after nodding his head once, 
he swallowed hard and pushed his fear back as he saw the 
determination in his lovers eyes, could he do any less then 
Mulder. "What do we do?"  He asked, watching as Mulder headed 
towards the window and peered out. A car was just pulling up 
next to the one outside. He frowned as he thought he recognised 
it, the frown slowly turned into real anger as his partner and 
AD Skinner climbed out of the car. Both of them looked about 
the site with keen interest.

Without a thought, Mulder yanked open the door, stormed out of 
the cabin and was standing in front of his boss, his face 
contorted with rage. "What the hell are you doing here?" he 
demanded, pushing up right into Skinner's personal space.

To give Skinner his due he did not react badly to his 
subordinate's action, in fact he had expected it. Instead he 
just looked at Mulder, giving him a hard, measuring look, then 
stepped around him, heading towards the cabin saying instead, 
"I think this is a conversation that would be better off taking 
place inside, don't you think?"  He didn't wait for an answer, 
but made his way into the cabin with Scully following him, and 
Mulder bringing up the rear, anger still radiating from him.

All three paused as they spied Krycek who had moved to stand 
within the small kitchen area, holding up a pot of freshly 
brewed coffee. He smiled somewhat shakily, then asked, in a 
forced over-friendly tone, "Anyone for coffee?"

Skinner hesitated a moment in shock, then seemingly pushing 
whatever emotions he felt to one side, he continued into the 
room removing his coat as he said, "I'll have mine black, no 
sugar."

Krycek poured the coffee, before moving over to hand it 
carefully to the man he had brutally beaten up only a few 
months previously, then heading back he asked, "Scully?"

"The same," she replied, while throwing Mulder a confused look, 
"Please.. black... no sugar." 

"My you two have gotten so... so healthy since we last met." It 
was meant to lighten the atmosphere, but it fell disastrously 
short and an awkward silence filled the room, while he fidgeted 
about getting Scully, Mulder and himself a coffee.

Once all four were seated, Skinner and Scully on one side 
living room and Mulder, Krycek on the other, Mulder demanded, 
"You said I had five days... it's only been..."

"The five day agreement was on the understanding that you kept 
in touch with Scully... you didn't do that... so here we are." 
Skinner's tone didn't hold a hint of apology, and Mulder knew 
from experience that it would do not good to argue with the 
man, so instead he turned to his partner.

"How did you find us?"

Scully shot Skinner a quick look, and he nodded slightly, 
indicating that she should explain to them, "We were able to 
trace your cell phone... it took some time, but you left it on 
yesterday... and well, we got the general area before the 
battery failed..."

"So you both just thought you'd drop in and say hi... and 
allowed god knows who to follow you..." throwing Krycek a quick 
concerned looked, Mulder made to stand ordering, "Get your 
stuff Alex... we're out of here."

"Not so fast Agent Mulder." Skinner snapped angrily at his 
subordinate, "We were not followed.... I made sure of that... 
and you are not going anywhere, least ways not with Alex 
Krycek, who, if you can remember, is a wanted man."

"Wanted..."Mulder asked, his tone one of surprise, "Wanted by 
whom and for what?" he questioned innocently.

"Mulder." Scully asked, her tone one of shocked surprised, and 
unable to keep quiet any longer, "You know that Krycek is 
wanted by both the FBI and the local police for questioning." 
She shot the man in question a hard look before she finished, 
"For a number of criminal offences."

Mulder stood up again and frowned down at his partner. He was 
not happy to see either of them here, but he was not going to 
let them win easily, so he spoke in a measured tone, "I've been 
doing some thinking about that. I mean, to my knowledge Alex 
has not actually been accused of committing any illegal 
offences."

"He stole the Data tape," Skinner snarled, anger flaring across 
his face as he remembered the beating he had received at the 
hands of the man who was now sitting so innocently sipping his 
coffee. While he appeared relaxed, Skinner could see the 
tension that radiated from the man, he might appear totally at 
ease, but the AD was convinced that he could leap into violent 
action at the drop of a hat.

"And I'm sure the American people would love to hear my 
testimony on that little subject." Krycek slipped into the 
conversation, his tone was calm and his eyes were chips of ice.

"You attacked me," Skinner insisted, his face reflecting his 
anger.

"And of course... you reported that as soon as you were able?"  
Both Alex and Skinner knew that he had not done so as Krycek 
continued, "Because it's really going to look strange if you 
try to report it now...." All three could tell that Alex was 
getting a certain amount of satisfaction from the conversation, 
and Mulder threw him a warning look. Krycek caught the glance 
and controlled his own anger.

Mulder stood silent for a few moments, allowing tempers to 
cool, before he continued, "Look, no-one here is saying that 
Krycek doesn't have some problems, but he also has some very 
valuable information. Information that we can use... and 
placing him behind bars won't help us... it will only make him 
an easier target for those who want to put him out of 
commission permanently."

"Mulder." Scully interrupted, "you know he cannot be 
trusted..."

Mulder threw Krycek another warning glance, when he saw the 
other man open his mouth to protest his innocence, saying 
before he could speak, "I trust him."  He said it with total 
conviction and winced as Scully gasped and spluttered.

"You trust him.... Mulder...you accused him of killing your 
father and now you're saying that you trust him?"

"I didn't kill Mulder's father...." Krycek spat out, jumping 
up, hardly noticing the flash of pain that ripped across his 
upper chest, not that it was reflected in his features. He 
glared at the woman and continued, "I was there...." He saw the 
look of total shock swiftly followed by hurt betrayal that 
cross Mulder's features and groaned at the pain it caused him. 
He reached out and grabbed the other man's arm before he could 
move out of reach. "I didn't kill him... I was there to warn 
him... I'd heard..." he stopped trying to gather his thoughts, 
how could he tell in a few seconds what he had taken weeks to 
gather. "I'd heard... that they... they were going to do 
something to Mulder... I didn't know what it was... but then 
your father name's was mentioned, the source was reliable, and 
I was told that he was considered to be slightly... unstable... 
they didn't know which way he was going to go, and that he 
wanted to talk to his son."  He let out a small bark of 
laughter, as he wiped his hand across his mouth and stated as 
firmly as his quivering voice allowed, "and that was not to be 
allowed... I... I panicked..." He swallowed hard, his Adam's 
apple moving as he felt a wave a nauseous sweep over him, but 
he forcibly pushed it aside to finish his story. "By the time I 
arrived, Mulder was already there... so I... I climbed in 
through the bathroom window... I swear I was just trying to see 
if I could hear what was being discussed.  What your father's 
intentions really were...." He didn't bother to mention that if 
he older Mulder had shown any signs of hurting his son, then 
Krycek would have been the one to put the bullet in him. "Your 
father came into the bathroom... God I thought he was going to 
see me, and panic.  So I hid in the bath, behind the shower 
curtain, until I was certain that he wouldn't." He stopped, 
knowing that what he was to say now would either allow him to 
keep Mulder's love or to lose it forever. "I'd just made myself 
known to him, and had stepped out of the shower, when the shot 
came from behind me... through the bathroom window... it caught 
your father just as he was turning... I am so sorry Fox..." he 
felt tears swell as he mumbled, forcing the words out, "I... I 
don't know if the shot was meant for me or your father..." Alex 
shot the other two a look and wished the Mulder and himself 
could have had this conversation at some other time, and not 
before these two particular witnesses.

"You were there?" Mulder asked, his voice indicating that he 
was having a hard time analysing what Alex had just told him. 
He moved out of Krycek's grasping reach, his face twisting as 
he realised that what he had feared had become reality. "When 
my father was shot... you were there... I thought..." he 
stopped unable to go on, his throat tight.

Krycek seeing the expression that now rested upon his lover's 
face, backed away, his own heart breaking, "I'm sorry..." he 
spluttered, then the intensity of the moment caught up with him 
and he rushed into the bathroom. As the door slammed behind him 
all three people could hear him throwing up.

Silence filled the cabin for several minutes after the sounds 
had ceased, until finally Scully stood and offered, "I'd better 
got check on him."

"The window's too small... he can't get out," Mulder replied, 
cold, calculating, an Agent once more watching his prisoner, 
his mind still occupied by the story that Krycek had told.

Scully looked confused for a few moments then her face cleared 
as she said, "I wasn't concerned about that Mulder... but he 
looked pretty rough before he rushed in there."

Mulder watched Scully as she moved to the door, knocked quietly 
before opening it and entering. As the door closed behind her, 
Mulder turned back to Skinner and stated, "I still trust him." 
Scully's actions had allowed him to gather himself, and he knew 
that he had reacted badly. The shock had prevented him from 
thinking as rationally as he would have wished. Now he had hurt 
his lover again, after all their brave words of that morning, 
he had again thought evil of the man he professed to love.

"You trust him?" Skinner enquired, not sure that he liked the 
niggling suspicion he was starting to form about his younger 
agent, "But do you believe him?"

Mulder needed to do something, needed to give himself some time 
and space before he answered that particular question. He 
headed towards the kitchen and prepared another pot of coffee.

Skinner watched him work for a few moments before he stood and 
moved closer, "You know he can't be trusted... no matter what 
he tells you, you'll never believe him... he's told so many 
lies... and can you ever forget that he worked for Cancerman 
once.... What's to stop him from turning traitor again?"

Mulder slammed down his coffee cup and snarled, "That's where 
you're wrong. You can't trust him or believe him because you've 
walked the same pathway as he has... You've sold part of your 
soul to Cancerman, just as he did."

"I never..." Skinner began, his own anger flaring, but Mulder 
interrupted, not allowing rational thought to enter into the 
conversation as he battled his own internal devils. 

"Krycek was used, sir. They got to him when he was in the 
academy, playing upon his patriotism as a first generation 
American. He didn't stand a chance. Do I believe him when he 
tells me that he had come to warn my father when he was shot, 
and that he didn't pull the trigger?" He stopped, unable to 
prevent the shaking that threatened to overtake him, and took a 
deep, steadying, breath. Looking up he met Skinner's eyes so 
that the AD could see that Mulder was not lying., "Yes... I 
do... I believe that he didn't kill my father..." Mulder's eyes 
slipped closed as he finished, "And I also believe him when he 
says that the bullet might have been meant for him..."

"Mulder.." Scully's voice cut across the tension that 
controlled the room and the two angry men in it, "I really 
think Krycek needs to lay down... he... he's going into 
shock..."

Mulder was across the room and in the bathroom before she had 
finished, and he could tell at once that she was right. Krycek 
lay half leaning up against the toilet and half against the 
wall, he was almost wedged into the small gap between the wall 
and the toilet bowl. He had lent his head back, exposing his 
throat and he looked deathly pale, sweat beading his face and 
he was still swallowing convulsively. A heavy smell of vomit 
hung about the room.

"Krycek," Mulder began, then seeing that he wasn't getting any 
response he leant nearer and snapped, "Alex.." This got the 
other man to open his eyes, but what he saw there almost caused 
him to gasp out in pain. Krycek was tormented, he knew what he 
had lost, and it was tearing his soul apart and Mulder could 
see it all reflected in his eyes.

The pain was too much and Mulder had to answer it. He reached 
down and gently, carefully, tilted the head towards him, 
reaching forward he laid a small line of kisses across the brow 
and down the cheek to rest for a moment over the lips. "I 
believe you... I believe you, and I love you." It was only ten 
words, and yet to Krycek it stopped his world from melting 
about him. His eyes snapped opened, a new fire of hope burning 
in them, as he searched his lover's face, looking for any sign 
of subterfuge, and finding none.

"We will talk about it later... and you can explain it all to 
me. Everything..." Mulder continued, glad to see the look of 
sanity return to Alex's eyes. How much this man had lost, and 
how much he feared losing what remained, had just become very 
clear to Mulder. If he turned from Alex now he was convinced 
that the man would not survive the night, "But not now, now I 
need you to get up from there and come and lay down... Please."

Krycek didn't want to move, he felt as if he could stay there, 
next to the toilet, for the rest of his life. His shoulder and 
arm hurt, his back was sore, and his throat raw. He had cried 
as he threw up, too distressed to care, and knew that he looked 
a mess, and yet Mulder still loved him. Had said that he 
believed him, and loved him, and for that alone he would walk 
into fire if this man asked him.

So he struggled to stand, accepting the eager assistance that 
Mulder offered, and when he would have tilted back towards 
earth upon standing, it was Mulder's strong arm that sneaked 
about his waist to hold him upright, and solicitously helped 
him walk into the bedroom. Scully hurried ahead and pulled the 
sheets back and then left her partner to firmly tuck them about 
the sick man after he'd been settled down upon the bed. Mulder 
fetched some water and watched while Krycek swallowed a couple 
of painkillers, before he said, "You just lay here and rest... 
I'm going to talk to the others, and Alex... I need you to 
trust me this time.. can you do that, with what I have to tell 
them?"

Krycek tiredly nodded his head, he could feel sleep creeping 
over him and knew that he no longer had the energy to fight it. 
This morning he had felt like he could take on the world, but 
after telling Mulder about his father, he now felt as if 
keeping his eyes open would be the hardest thing he'd ever had 
to do.

=-=-=-=-=

End (07/13)






Chameleon (08/13) M/K NC-17


TITLE: Chameleon (08/13)
AUTHOR: Tevan
DATE: Dec 1998
E-MAIL ADRESS: jtp@artos.prestel.co.uk

Disclaimer etc. in part 1

=-=-=-=-=

Mulder waited until he was certain that Krycek was deeply 
asleep before he left the room, he pulled the door to, but did 
not close it fully as he intended to listen in case Alex called 
for him.

He stopped when he saw the two people standing before him. 
Scully had finished making the coffee and held out a cup for 
him as he moved towards them, he accepted it gratefully and 
took a slip before sitting down. For some reason he now felt in 
a better frame of mind, and he also knew that he was now 
fighting for both Alex's and his future, and that gave him an 
energy that he had not felt for such a long while.

Scully started, "Skinner say's that you believe Krycek's 
version of your father's death?" it was a question and was 
accompanied by a prettily raised eyebrow.

Mulder closed his eyes and considered his options, and realised 
that they were very few, so he opted for the truth. He glanced 
first at his partner, who he loved as a sister and then at his 
boss who he had come to respect and trust over time. "Yes I do, 
and before we go any further I think that I should explain... I 
love him." There he had said it.

Skinner looked confused for several moments, as his suspicions 
were realised, and without it a sinking feeling hit at his 
stomach before he clarified weakly, "Your father..." 

"No..." Mulder said, taking another sip of coffee and noting 
how calm he sounded, especially as his own hands were shaking 
slightly. "Krycek... I'm in love with Alex Krycek."

"Krycek... isn't this all rather sudden Mulder." Scully said, 
her tone that of a shocked adult rebuking a child. Mulder hated 
her when she used that tone.

"Is it?" he questioned back, realising that he had in fact 
loved the other man for quite a while, he'd just never had the 
guts to admit it to himself until a few days ago.

"Krycek," Skinner said, his face pale and his tone one of 
shock, although now that he thought about it, it did make a lot 
of sense, but he still didn't have to agree with it, "You love 
Krycek.... I mean this isn't some kind of sick joke or an 
attempt to win his trust in some way?"

Mulder closed his eyes as Skinner's words and firmly shook his 
head, "No joke, I really love him, and I would never play that 
kind of game to get information... besides Alex is far too 
cleaver to fall for that."

"I could order you to go and see the departmental shrink, you 
know that Mulder." Skinner snapped, still hoping that his best 
agent was throwing a bad joke at him, "You risk losing your 
job, your standing... Christ... you could be throwing 
everything away... everything you've worked for... he's a lying 
double crossing son of a bitch, who will tell you exactly what 
you want to hear...in or out of bed." He finished nastily. 

Mulder let Skinner's words wash over him, the man wasn't saying 
anything that he hadn't told himself over the last week or so. 
After Skinner had spluttered to a stop, Scully moved forward 
and asked sternly.

"Are you sure?"

He looked her deep in the eyes, his own face drawn and tired, 
as he slowly nodded and replied with conviction, "Yes."

"I don't know Mulder... what Skinner says makes a lot of sense, 
you could lose everything... then Cancerman and his cronies 
would have won."

"Don't you think I don't know that Scully." Mulder suddenly 
leapt up from the seat, his own face twisted with anger as he 
ranted, "Don't you think that hasn't been my one thought since 
I realised that I loved him.. but I can't forget this, or brush 
it under a carpet... it's happened, it's a fact and I've got to 
live with it.  I've realised now that I fell for him the first 
day I met him, and when I thought that he had betrayed me...."  
He laughed shakily, "To paraphrase an old saying, 'Hell hath no 
fury like a man scorned'.  I blamed him for every bad thing 
that happened to me."

Again a tense silence filled the room as all three people 
contemplated the future. Until finally Skinner, sighed deeply, 
resigned to what Mulder had told him, he asked, "What damage 
control can we do."

"No." Mulder began heatedly, "no damage control.. I won't give 
Alex up, I've lost too many people I love to this... this 
thing, I'm not going to lose him as well..." 

"No one's asking you to give Krycek up Mulder." Scully began, 
throwing Skinner an annoyed look. She could see that her 
partner was deadly serious, and while she might not fully 
understand it, she did realise that what he said about losing 
people was true. So, if he did truly love Alex, then as much as 
it would hurt her, she would still stand by him, and more 
importantly, be there if the other man betrayed him and left 
him to suffer. 

Skinner shrugged his shoulders and commented dryly, "It's a 
consideration, but..." He hurried on before Mulder could 
answer, "There has to be an alternative... a way for everyone 
to be happy... and by that I mean, we get the information that 
Krycek has, and you get Krycek." He spoke the words as if 
Mulder was asking for permission to keep a pet snake that he 
had found.

Mulder had again to bite his tongue. He so wanted to argue with 
the other man, but he knew that getting even this far was 
further then he had hoped, they were at least prepared to 
consider them staying together and for now that was enough.

"Alex has already stated that he is prepared to do anything 
necessary to assist us, he hates that bastard as much as we 
do... if not more." Mulder paused before he added, "We could 
try and go for a grand jury... He's willing to testify... But, 
once he does that, we will have to join the witness protection 
programme. Unfortunately, I think we could only take down 
Cancerman, which, while it would be personally satisfying, 
would not actually achieve much beyond that."

"Krycek will need to be protected... once they know that he's 
been in contact with us, they will come after him," Scully 
stated, her quick mind already working on the problem. "And the 
attack at the warehouse... it was aimed at both of you 
Mulder... those men were dug in for the night... they had us 
pinned down and we were low on ammo.  If Krycek hadn't taken 
one of them out, we very probably wouldn't be alive right now." 
She stopped, letting the implications sink in.  She could tell 
from the expressions on the men's faces that neither like the 
implications.

"We need to keep them both safe then," Skinner confirmed, 
moving to take up a seat of his own, his tall frame bending to 
fit into the small chair. His hopes of dragging Krycek off to 
some prison cell and leaving him to rot were swiftly 
disappearing, under the determination of his wayward agent.  He 
swallowed the flash of jealousy that he felt and wondered at 
its sudden appearance.

"Maybe we could get Krycek to make notes of all that he knows, 
and then leave it about the country, in places where they are 
to be opened and sent to the press if anything happens to 
either you or him. Use it as a deterrent," Scully said, chewing 
her bottom lip as she contemplated the problem.

Skinner shook his head saying, "Knowing the way they work 
Scully, I would have to say that Krycek's information doesn't 
go that high... the only man he is really a danger to is 
Cancerman, the other's above him appear to be untouchable."

"Cancerman is the only one we have to really worry about, and 
you're right, a grand jury won't bring down the top dogs, but 
it would frighten an awful lot of people, so don't dismiss it 
totally... Frightened men make mistakes." Krycek spoke from the 
doorway of the bedroom, he still looked drained, and swayed 
dangerously as he stood there. Mulder leapt up to steady him.

"Alex," he admonished, "you should be resting."

Krycek looked at Mulder, saw the concern and weakly smiled 
before answering, "This is our future we're discussing, and I 
need to be a part of it." 

Mulder could not argue with him, so he assisted him over to the 
couch, and while helping him sit down, asked, "Do you want a 
drink."

"Please, some water would be nice." Krycek spoke, his tone low, 
as he refused to met the other's look. Mulder frowned, then 
hurried to fetch the drink. When he returned he sat down beside 
his lover, throwing both Skinner and Scully a defiant look.

"You were saying Krycek?" Skinner asked, once the other man was 
settled, and had sipped from the glass. 

Krycek lent his head back on the seat and looked at his former 
boss from half closed eyes as he began to speak, "Cancerman is 
the only one we have to convince, he will do the rest..."

"You're giving him an awful lot of power aren't you?" Scully 
asked, her tone enquiring.

Krycek nodded, "Yes, he has a lot of pull, and his fingers are 
in an awful lot of pies.  Also, he only tells the men above him 
what he wants them to know. I have some... information he would 
not want anyone to know about... I feel that we could use that 
against him."

"What information?" Skinner demanded, sitting straighter in his 
chair.

Krycek eyed the other man, not sure that he fully trusted him, 
but a quick glance at Mulder got him a slight nod of his head 
so he continued, "He now has the data tape."

"We know that," Scully said, moving from behind the counter.

"Yes." Krycek agreed, "You do... but they don't. He told those 
above him that it had been destroyed. That's why the pressure 
has been off me for the last few months. He expected me to die 
in that Silo.  No-one knew I was there, I don't even know if he 
knows that I'm still alive or not... but the data tape 
retrieval was his operation... we can use that information 
against them, and use the fact that we know he has it against 
him... he won't push too hard... I'm just small fry to him, and 
for some reason he's been instrumental in making sure no harm 
comes to Mulder."

"Why..." Skinner butted in, "Why has he been protecting 
Mulder?"

Krycek paused, it was a question that he'd often asked himself, 
as he lay in his bed in the dark of the night, slowly he shook 
his head stating honestly, "I don't know. But, it is important 
to him. He had first Scully, then myself, placed next to Mulder 
to watch him and report back to him, and I was specifically 
told that Mulder's continual health was directly linked to my 
own. That was made very clear to me." He reached out, made 
suddenly nervous by the intense attention he was getting from 
all the occupants of the room, and was pleased when Mulder 
captured the seeking hand and clasped it tightly in his own, it 
gave him strength for what he was about to say. "There is only 
one way that we can be free of him, and the threat of the 
others. That...." He felt his resolve waver, but turned his 
look upon the man he had grown to love over the past year to 
give him the strength, as he continued, "And that is to 
confront him, and to do that I will have to met with him..."

"NO." Mulder cried, turning to glare at his lover. "He will 
kill you where you stand, he has no reason not too, he's 
already tried... in the silo."

"That wasn't the first time either.  The morning after I, er, 
got the tape from Mr Skinner, I was supposed to die in a car 
bomb.  But I noticed that the other two guys were acting 
strangely when they went into a store.  I saw the clock on the 
dash flashing, and ran.... I was about 50 yards away when it 
exploded.  A few more seconds and...."

Noting the horrified expressions on his listener's faces, he 
smiled slightly.

Skinner recovered his wits first.  "What makes you think he'll 
listen, that he won't try again and succeed this time?"

"I have Mulder on my side," Krycek replied confidently, as the 
plan grew in his mind. He was nothing if not a survivor, the 
last year had proved that, and now that he really had something 
to fight for, he was putting his hard learned lessons to good 
use. "He will listen to what I have to say, and, if we don't 
make it convincing enough, then he will kill me, but he will 
listen Mulder... that I can guarantee."

"I will not allow you to take that risk," Mulder snapped 
storming up from the seat and walked rapidly across the room to 
the window, as if putting distance between them could help him 
cope with the threat to his lover. Unable to hide the hurt he 
felt that Krycek would risk himself so willingly, in a venture 
that he was sure would not work.

Krycek looked away from the keen look of betrayal that he saw 
flash across his lover's face. It hurt. It hurt a lot more then 
he thought it would.

"I have to agree with Mulder on this," Scully said, surprising 
both her partner and their boss. Seeing the look her words 
earned her, she hurried on. "Krycek is still a threat to his 
position, and the fact that he is still alive must be an 
accurate embarrassment to the Cancerman... who must have lost 
face by his continual survival, and why hasn't he admitted to 
getting the data tape back?"

"Power and protection Scully, they give him power and 
protection over those above him, and Scully I didn't know you 
cared." Krycek slipped in, but retreated back a bit as she 
frowned at him and told him firmly. 

"I don't... about you... but I do care about Mulder."

"Touche." Krycek mumbled under his breath as the tension in the 
cabin eased slightly.

"Scully is right... he has no real reason to keep you alive 
Alex." Mulder offered, turning back to look at his lover, 
trying to tell him with his eyes that he was to important to 
lose. "It would be insane."

Krycek saw and accepted the look gratefully as he smiled a warm 
smile of his own and offered a defence of his decision, "You 
know... you're all forgetting that there is a logical reason 
why he wants me dead, and that's because I am a threat to 
him... I know things that no-one else knows... and I can prove 
what I know... if it were to become public knowledge then 
nothing... nothing could prevent certain members of his own 
group from seeking retribution."

Skinner suddenly learnt forward, his expression becoming sharp 
as he asked, "And this is what you would testify too?"

Krycek felt a ripple of shock course through him at the other's 
words, but he realised that, if he wanted the two people before 
him to help him, then he had to give them what they wanted. 
"Even if the knowledge endangers your life?" he asked, annoyed 
with himself as he heard the slight shake of his tone.

"I thought you wanted protection in return for your testimony?" 
Skinner snarled, feeling that Krycek was once more playing with 
them.

"If you... want me to... I will testify, but only concerning 
that which directly affected me and what I saw... while working 
in his employ...." He shook his head, they would never truly 
understand what he knew, and what he could tell. There was some 
stuff that he'd read on the data tape that he would never tell 
anyone, because to breathe one word of it would mean certain 
death to both himself, and whomever he told. But that was 
information that he was keeping in reserve, he would only use 
it save the life of a person who meant more to him than his own 
life, because that is what it would cost him to use it. He 
looked across at Mulder, and his glance was met and held, 
before the Agent made his way back to the chair and sat back 
down, Krycek leant back and allowed the feeling of his lover's 
nearness to sweep over him, it gave him strength.

"I will need names, dates and hard facts if I'm going to sell 
this to my superiors." Skinner said, calming somewhat when he 
saw that Krycek seemed willing to agree to testifying.

Krycek nodded, "I can give you that."

"My sister..." Scully began, then stopped as she swallowed 
hard, Krycek seeing the pain reflected upon her face hastened 
to answer.

"You caught the man who shot her, Dana... he paid for his 
crime, and.." he paused not sure if he what he wanted to say 
would help or not, in the end he decided to speak and let her 
make up her own mind. "It was an accident... Cardinal 
reacted..." he stopped seeing the raw pain in her face.

Scully felt the agony of her sister's death raise up to swallow 
her, and she clutched at her pain and nursed it close to her 
heart, as she had for so long. Slowly Krycek words sank in and 
she felt rage flood her as she realised what he had said, 
standing she pounced, "You knew... you were there...you 
bastard, you were there and you didn't stop it... you..." she 
leapt forward, and was upon the seated man before anyone could 
react.

Krycek curled instinctively trying to protect himself as she 
attacked, but she managed to get in a few hard punches before 
Mulder hauled her off. Unfortunately she had caught him a 
particularly nasty blow to his injured shoulder and the world 
tuned out while he tried to fight against the agony this 
caused.

When he was finally capable of opening his eyes he saw Mulder's 
concerned face peering down at him, asking him frantically if 
he was all right. He swallowed against the bile that threatened 
to rise again, and pushed himself up, at this rate he was never 
going to be able to keep a meal down, Mulder hurried to assist 
him. Krycek could see Scully, she was not being held firmly in 
Skinner's grip, but it was no longer necessary to hold her back 
from attacking him again. She was now curled into the taller 
man's hold as she cried, the embrace was firm, and the look 
that Skinner was giving him was one of pure hatred.

"Alex." Mulder tried again, this time resting a hand under his 
lover's chin and tilting the face back towards him, capturing 
his full attention as he asked, "Are you all right?"

Krycek pulled his head out of the grip and forcibly pushed the 
other man away as he struggled to his feet, he stood swaying 
for a few seconds before he moved past Mulder. He stopped a few 
feet away from the embracing couple and said, his own voice 
shaking with bitter emotions as he offered his testimony, "I 
tried to warn you... I called you... if you had been there when 
we arrived... Cardinal had orders to kill you... I didn't know 
your sister was going to arrive... I would have stopped him if 
I could... but it happened so fast... there was nothing... 
NOTHING... that I could have done, but I would have... if I 
could." He tossed Mulder a look, seeing that his words had no 
affect on Scully, or her grief, he bit his lip and offered to 
his lover. "They are right Mulder... you'd be better off 
without me... I'm damned in hell, and anyone who touches me 
gets damned as well."

Then he was gone, the bedroom door closed firmly behind him, 
leaving the scene behind him as Alex tried to block out the 
hurt that was welling up inside. He had only wanted to comfort 
Scully, and yet she had attacked him. He had not thought his 
actions through, had thought that if he told her the truth, she 
would accept how sorry he felt for her sister death. But, once 
again, he had badly misjudged the situation, just like he had 
when he had first met Cancerman, had allowed the man to lure 
him into his first bite of the apple that was to ultimately 
lead to his disgrace.

He flung himself down on the bed, snarling at the pain from his 
injury, and feeling almost like punching it himself, just to 
see if physical pain could over ride his mental anguish.   For 
a moment he wished that he could just walk out of the cabin, 
stroll along the pathway that skirted the edge of the lake. He 
desperately needed that freedom, and yet he knew that they 
would never allow him to leave. He sighed and reaching up he 
gently rubbed at his injury. Scully had landed a good punch, 
and it still throbbed bitterly.

=-=-=-=-=

End (08/13)







Chameleon (09/13) M/K NC-17


TITLE: Chameleon (09/13)
AUTHOR: Tevan
DATE: Dec 1998
E-MAIL ADRESS: jtp@artos.prestel.co.uk

Disclaimer etc. in part 1

=-=-=-=-=

As he lay there he began to realise that the last few days had 
been nothing more then a dream, an idyllic heavenly dream, 
which would eventually turn into the nightmare his life always 
became. Except this time he would drag Mulder down with him. It 
might even lead to the other man's death, and that was 
something he was not prepared to allow, better that he end it 
now, before he saw the sweet expression of love turn to the 
same cast of hate that he had seen reflected in Skinner's and 
Scully's eyes.

"Krycek?" Mulder quietly questioned, opening the door and 
peering in. He noted the stony expression, and the way that 
Alex would not look at him as he spoke, his voice cold, dead.

"Tell Skinner I will testify to whatever he wants... then I 
want to go into the witness protection programme."

"No..." Mulder began moving further into the room. "We 
can't..."

"No... Mulder." Krycek spat out, still refusing to meet his 
lover's look. "We can't... but I can, I don't want this 
Mulder... I don't want to be on the run for the rest of my 
life, looking over my shoulder... I want to... to be free of 
this, and..." he paused, trying desperately to think of the 
words that would drive the man he loved away from his side. "As 
long as you're by my side, I will never be free..."

Mulder looked at the man lying on the bed, his face so 
determined and yet his eyes were those of a child who was 
giving away a beloved toy. Mulder could see that Krycek was 
fighting his own desire, and he wanted to shake the man, until 
he shook some sense into him. He glanced back over his shoulder 
and was glad that Skinner had taken Scully for a walk by the 
lake, to give her some time to come to terms with what she had 
learnt. Mulder knew that it would be hard for her, but she was 
a fair person, and whatever else Krycek might have done, he 
hadn't needed to tell her the truth about her sister's death. 
Yet, it had been the one burning fact that she had desperately 
been seeking, now she had the facts Mulder knew that she would 
someday sit down with Krycek and ask for more details, she 
would be calm, and prepared to listen to the full story. 

"Scully will forgive you for being there," Mulder said calmly, 
moving further into the room. "After you came in here, she 
admitted to Skinner and me that she had received a phone call, 
no-one spoke, but it was enough to get her out of the 
apartment... was it you?" he asked.

Krycek slowly nodded, as he confessed, "I knew that she'd catch 
on, I hoped that she would, as I knew that I couldn't allow 
Cardinal to kill her... I saw what her abduction did to you... 
and I couldn't let you suffer that... I couldn't..."

Mulder very carefully slipped onto the edge of the bed, just 
placing his weight upon it. Knowing that if he pushed, he would 
be rejected. "I know... and I also know that it took a lot of 
courage for you to tell her... and one day, she will be 
grateful that you did."

"Grateful!" Krycek barked out his tone bitter, "Grateful, I 
broke into her apartment, and then just stood by while her 
sister was killed, and you think she'll be grateful... you know 
Mulder you really have been out there too long, if you think 
that." He raised himself, and made to move of the bed, unable 
to stay close to the man who he felt should hate him.

Mulder was not about to let him leave. He knew that once he 
did, he would never get Alex back, so he reached out and pulled 
his lover back roughly, wincing when he saw the look of pain 
that flashed across Krycek's handsome features. He steeled 
himself and retorted, "Did you go there with the intention of 
killing Scully or her sister?"  Not getting a reply from the 
stubborn man, he demanded again, "Did you?"

"You know I didn't." Krycek finally said, his body still 
coiled, as if ready for flight.

"Then why did you go?" Mulder wanted desperately to take his 
lover in his arms and just hold him until all the pain he could 
feel emanating from him just faded away. The agony of his 
suffering was a palpable, "Why did you go there Alex?"

Krycek closed his eyes, as if he could hide from the pain that 
was coming from inside. "I'm not worth it Mulder... why can't 
you just accept what everyone is trying to tell you?" He opened 
his eyes and looked pleadingly towards the man he loved, 
"Skinner is right... you can't trust me Mulder... at the first 
sign of trouble I'll betray you... you, and your friends, are 
you willing to take that risk?"

"Yes." Mulder answered, there was no doubt in his tone and it 
angered Krycek more then he could express so he reacted 
instead, as he pulled himself roughly out of the loosened grasp 
and pushed the other man roughly away from him.

"You're as obsessed and crazy as they say you are... I'm no 
damn good Mulder... what is it going to take before you believe 
what's being written directly under your nose... I was there 
when you father was killed, I was there when Scully's sister 
was murdered... I beat the shit out of Skinner... and I enjoyed 
it." he added with a snarl, "And yet you can sit there and say 
that I'm worth loving... you're fucking crazy man... fucking 
crazy."

Mulder barely prevented himself from falling off the bed from 
the shove that Krycek had given him, and he used the few 
seconds silence after Alex's rant to gather his own emotions 
that threatened to burst their tightly held banks. If he lost 
his temper now, then he would lose Krycek as well. So he took a 
steadying breath and reined in his feelings as he fought to 
answer calmly. "If you don't love me... then tell me that... 
don't try to cover this over with what other people say and 
feel, I'm not interested in them Alex... it's you I love... I 
don't know why I feel the way I do... but I do love you... and 
if you want to call it an obsession, then fine, go ahead. 
Because I won't lie and say that what I feel for you is 
anything less then love... If you want to walk away from us, 
then do so, but do it as a man. For god's sake at least be 
honest about this, if not to me, then at least to yourself." He 
stopped, he could feel his own heart break as he said, "I 
can't, won't, hold you Krycek... you're not some dumb animal 
that I can keep by lies. If you want to stay... to build on 
what we have, then I will stand by your side, no matter 
what.... But if you don't love me, then say so... just look me 
in the eye and tell me that you don't love me..." he looked up 
and dared the other man to meet his eyes.

Krycek stood frozen, as if incapable of movement as Mulder's 
words spilled over him. All he had to do was look the other man 
in the eyes, and lie to him. It would be the biggest lie he'd 
ever told, and it would kill him to utter the words, but it 
would keep Mulder safe, keep him alive and surely that was 
worth any price he, Krycek, had to pay. He swallowed hard and 
lifted his eyes, they locked with Mulder's hazel orbs. He 
opened his mouth, but no words came, his throat refused to obey 
him, he swallowed again and fought to get the words past his 
lips. Finally he gasped, as if it took the last of his air to 
do so. "I... I... don't want you to die." He felt a single tear 
betray him as it slipped down his cheek and hated himself for 
this sign of weakness.

It was all that Mulder needed, he swiftly moved around the bed, 
and, pulling Krycek into his embrace, he said, "I can't live 
without you... not now... it's not an option... if you leave 
me, you might as well pull the trigger before you turn the 
light out.... Can't you understand? I love you!"

Krycek sneaked an arm about his lover's waist and, pulling the 
man closer to him, he whispered, "I love you too... God help us 
both."

Mulder tilted his head to look down at Krycek, then rested his 
lips against the other's forehead he murmured, "He already 
has..." They stood like that for several minutes, as their 
emotions slowly calmed down, and the comfort they both 
desperately needed was given and shared.

 Krycek moved uneasily in Mulder's embrace, he pulled away a 
little and asked, "Skinner... Scully?"

"Skinner took Scully for a walk around the lake..." he stopped 
feeling Krycek tense under his hands. "She will understand... 
it was just the shock..." he added weakly.

"What happens now?" Krycek asked, not wanting to tread that 
pathway again.

"Now." Mulder began, appreciating the fact that Alex was still 
fighting his own demons where his father and Scully's sisters 
death were concerned, he also knew that that particular battle 
was not yet over, but no matter what happened he was determined 
to win that war. "Now we both go to a safe house, while Skinner 
arranges for your testimony to be taken, and then we'll go from 
there."

"A safe house," Krycek mused, pulling gently out of Mulder's 
warm embrace and moving to look out the one window. He sighed 
and questioned, "And just how safe do you really expect that 
safe house to be?"

Mulder tilted his head back and looked up at the ceiling. He 
knew that they could kick that subject about for a long time, 
and still never reach a satisfactory conclusion. So, instead he 
answered, "We will be together, that was a stipulation of the 
agreement for your testimony, then after you've testified we 
can either both go into the Witness Protection programme." He 
held up his hand, as Krycek swung towards him, his mouth open 
to protest. "It's an option that we might have to consider... 
and we should not just dismiss it... the alternative is that 
you are granted immunity against prosecution, which will be a 
stipulation anyway, but it will allow you to remain with me 
after the trial if you so wish... I could always be 
reassigned..."

"Reassigned... where to?  Alaska would still be too near..." 
Krycek offered, a slight frown crossing his handsome face as he 
considered this options.

"But they do have six month nights up there, so don't knock 
it."

"In bed with you for six months..." Krycek smiled, it was the 
first simile he'd given in hours, "They won't have to send a 
killer after me, you'd do that within the first two months."

"Hey..." Mulder objected, moving over and taking Krycek in 
another embrace which allowed him to tenderly deposit a kiss 
upon the willing lips, "I'd let you up for sustenance."

"And here I thought I'd been surviving on some other sort of 
sustenance!" Krycek replied, a warm smile slipping across the 
supple lips as another kiss was requested and freely given.

"Believe me Alex, keeping you healthy is in my own interest." 
Mulder run his hands up under the other man's jumper, enjoying 
the feeling of warm flesh that lay under his seeking hands. He 
sighed, and gently pulled away as he heard the cabin door 
opened and close. "Now, I think we'd better go out there and 
make plans for our future."  As he moved away, he reached back 
and took Krycek hand in his own firm grasp.

Krycek allowed Mulder to move away, and take his hand, but he 
lagged back, still unsure of the reception he would receive 
from the other two people who awaited them in the next room. 
Skinner he knew hated him, he'd seen the look even if Mulder 
hadn't and now Scully had even more reason not to trust him, 
and if anything, now considered him to be an accomplice to her 
sister's murder. 

Mulder, sensing what Krycek was thinking, looked back and 
tilted his head saying, "Together." He lifted their clasped 
hands and added, "No matter what... together."

"Together." Krycek agreed, smiling weakly as he allowed his 
lover to lead him into the other room.

=-=-=-=-=

Skinner and Scully were waiting for them as they entered living 
room. Skinner looked up from his conversation on his mobile 
phone, nodded once in greeting, then returned to his quiet 
discussion.

Scully was standing over by the sink, a fresh cup of coffee in 
her hand, she noted their arrival and held up the coffee-pot. 
It looked as if it had recently been filled. Mulder shot Krycek 
a look and could tell that the man desperately needed that 
drink, but he could also see that Alex was not going to start 
any conversations with Scully, or even get near her for fear of 
upsetting her again.

"We'll both have a cup." Mulder said, refusing to let go of 
Krycek's hand as he made his way over to his partner. 

Without a word she retrieved two cups and poured their coffee, 
then she handed then over. Krycek's hand shook slightly at he 
hesitatingly accepted his.

Scully saw this and pressed her lips together. She felt bad 
about the way she had attacked the man. It was very 
unprofessional, and no matter what else Krycek might have done, 
he had saved Mulder's life and as much as she didn't want to 
admit it, she also believed that he would have saved her 
sister's life, if it had been possible. "Krycek.." she began, 
then paused and said instead, "Alex... I'm sorry about my 
behaviour earlier... it was just the shock... finding out that 
you were there when..." she paused again, unable to say the 
words. 

Krycek seeing how hard the apology was for Scully hurried to 
put her fears at rest as he interrupted saying, "No... the 
fault was mine, I... I just never thought... only I wanted you 
to know what really happened... you deserve to know..." he 
finished lamely, still afraid of saying something wrong.

The silence was tense until Scully forced a little smile to her 
lips and offered, "I would like to know.. what exactly 
happened... but not now... maybe later.. once things have 
settled down a bit."

Krycek swallowed, looked away then back at her as he nodded and 
agreed, "Any time."

Skinner slid his mobile phone closed and approached the three 
people by the kitchen bench. "I've made arrangements for you to 
be placed in a safe house Krycek."

"I will be with him." Mulder stated firmly.

"You will be the lead FBI agent on site." Skinner confirmed, 
just as firmly stressing the lead agent part. He was informing 
Mulder that there was to be no intimacy during the period at 
the safe house. It was to be kept professional. Mulder nodded, 
accepting the fact. Seeing the agreement in the agent's eyes 
Skinner continued, "I will assign four other agents, including 
Scully. But it is not an FBI safe house....I thought it might 
be better not to use one of ours, so I've er... managed to 
borrow from a friend... Krycek." He shot the young man in 
question a hard look, preventing Mulder from asking the 
question he could see resting on his lips, "Will give a taped 
deposition, which I will put before a judge, either this 
afternoon or tomorrow. If we get the all clear then it will be 
taken further."

Krycek bit at his bottom lip then asked, "So what exactly do 
you want me to tell you?"

Skinner considered his words, knowing that any information he 
got from Krycek would be selective, the man was nothing if not 
cautious, and he would only give what he had to. "Why not start 
with your first involvement with the man we now call Cancerman, 
how he recruited you, what he told you your objectives were and 
we can work from there."

Silence ruled for a few seconds why each person considered the 
proposal. Finally Krycek nodded slowly and agreed, "Alright... 
do you want me to do it here or at the safe house?"

"I've arranged for you to go to the safe house directly from 
here," he glanced at his watch, "We will, of course, accompany 
you. The proper equipment will be waiting for use there to take 
your statement formally, so it would be best if we started from 
the beginning there, rather than here."

"So, you want us to leave now?" Mulder asked, not sure if he 
liked the feeling of being rushed that he was getting. "And who 
exactly have you borrowed this safe house from?

"The sooner the statement is taken, the quicker we can get it 
processed and passed down the line. Also, once his statement is 
has been signed and lodged with the proper authorities, at 
least Krycek will have some semblance of protection. "

"So in other words, if Cancerman takes me out, at least you'll 
have got something for your efforts," Krycek put in 
sarcastically.

Skinner tilted his head and glared at Krycek before retorting, 
"This is your choice Krycek, no one on this side is putting a 
gun to your head, and you know that this is your best chance of 
surviving."

Alex took a deep breath to steady the flare of anger, then let 
it out slowly, accepting the truth of Skinner's words. He was 
not being forced into giving his statement, but if he wanted 
any resemblance of a normal life, or any chance of spending it 
with Mulder, then giving his statement, and seeing if he 
survived, was the price he was going to have to pay. "Alright." 
He said, his tone indicating that he did not like his options. 
"I suggest that we get going then." As he spoke he made his way 
back to the bedroom, intending to pack the few belongings that 
Mulder had brought for him.

"Alex," Mulder said, reaching out to lay a hand on the other's 
arm, preventing him from leaving. "I want to know exactly where 
this safe house is first.. and just how safe it really is." He 
left the part statement, part question hanging as he looked 
towards his superior.

The AD bristled under the look and snapped, "It's a safe house 
Mulder, sanctioned and kept by the CIA."

"CIA?" Scully exclaimed, her face reflecting her surprise.

"Yes," Skinner looked sheepish, "I don't entirely trust our 
ability to maintain a safe house for Krycek, so I've called in 
a few favours from some friends. Also, the other agents on site 
have been hand picked by myself, because I know that I can 
trust them, and yes, they will be CIA operatives. I consider 
that keeping the FBI out of this would be wiser, at least until 
after we have Krycek's testimony down on tape and laid before a 
judge."

Mulder looked down, suddenly unable to meet his superior's look 
as he realised that he had dared to question his trust. Then he 
looked up, his glance defiant.  Where Krycek's safety was 
concerned, he would push the matter all the way. Skinner, 
inwardly acknowledging the cause of Mulder's unease, relented 
slightly and offered, "While Alex and I may have some 
unresolved issues going Mulder, I would never do anything to 
intentionally endanger his life, and more importantly, nor 
would I endanger any agent under my supervision."

"I know sir." Mulder offered, with a slight smile of apology, 
"And I'm sorry for doubting you."

The tension that had grown up between them for a few moments 
began to ebb as Scully moved towards the chair where her 
discarded jacket lay. She picked it up and asked, "So, shall we 
get this little venture on the road or what?"

=-=-=-=-=


The actual trip to the safe house was uneventful. The cabin was 
packed up and deserted in a relatively short period of time.  
After replacing the missing part to Mulder's borrowed truck, 
they left the cabin behind them. Skinner took the lead in his 
car, with Scully sitting beside him. Mulder drove the larger 
4X4 and Alex sat beside him. Neither man spoke much on the 
journey, each engrossed by their own thoughts.

Scully looked over towards her boss and bit her bottom lip, she 
wanted to talk to him about what had happened at the cabin, 
between her partner and Krycek, but she was unsure about 
raising the subject.  Skinner had been silent ever since they 
had closed up the cabin, obviously deep in thought.  His only 
comment had been to commend Mulder on his ability to disable 
the other vehicle, Mulder had just smiled and mumbled something 
about the interesting things you learn in the course of FBI 
training.

Scully herself was not sure how to handle the matter, while one 
part of her wanted to slap Krycek again, and berate him for the 
pain she believed that he had caused her, another part 
desperately wanted him to be the one that Mulder could truly 
love.  She knew that her partner was a very lonely man, who did 
not make friends easily, and while she knew that she had some 
unresolved issues with the man he had apparently chosen as his 
life mate, she could only be pleased that he was, for now, 
happy.  Even as this thought entered her head, she made herself 
another solemn promise that if Krycek ever upset, left, or 
destroyed her partner, there would never be a rock small enough 
for him to hide under and no amount of past experience would 
enable him in hiding from her wrath.  Only time would tell is 
the words he had spoken in the cabin were true, if he really 
did love Mulder as much as he claimed, then she would be there 
to witness it.  She was prepared to give him that time only 
because of her own regard for her partner and friend.

Skinner meanwhile kept his eyes firmly on the road in front of 
them.  The track was tricky and the trees looming high above 
them.  Once they hit the main road he felt a lot better and sat 
back, seeking a more comfortable driving position.  He had made 
all the arrangements necessary for keeping Krycek safe.  While 
it galled him to do anything for the younger man, he had to 
admit that he trusted Mulder more then he did any other of his 
agents, and the man seems sincere in his affection for the 
double agent.  Although Skinner still had his own doubts, 
Krycek had agreed to testify against his previous masters and 
supply Mulder and the FBI with some very important information.  
He was a complete professional.  So he would do his duty, and 
do his best to kept the son of a bitch in the car behind alive 
for as long as necessary.  He would also ensure that the man 
didn't lose Skinner his best agent if he did decided to turn 
coats once more.  If Krycek stepped out of line just once, then 
AD Skinner would be there to slap him back down under the rock 
that he had crawled from, and this time the granite would be 
his tombstone.

Several hours passed before they pulled up at the gates of a 
rather large house that sat in it's own grounds, the high walls 
looked impressive and noting the camera that sat nestled on the 
turret style pillar next to the gate, Mulder felt himself 
relaxing slightly. The gates swung open noiselessly and they 
pulled into the long drive that led up to the house.

Krycek was unable to prevent the small sound that escaped his 
lips, and Mulder, glancing over at him, saw a shadowed, haunted 
look on his face.  Reaching out he lightly clasped the clenched 
hands, saying as he did so, "Together."

Krycek returned his look gratefully and held on to the hand for 
a few seconds before replying, "Together."

As they pulled up just outside the main door to the large, 
impressive house, Skinner moved forward to greet the man who 
had opened the door and was waiting for him. Neither Krycek nor 
Mulder could hear what they said, but both were slightly 
concerned by the looks that were being cast in their direction 
by each man. 

Mulder felt his anger stir and giving Krycek a reassuring 
glance, he turned and marched up to his superior. Skinner threw 
him a frown as he approached and then continued, a change in 
topic obvious to both men, "This is Agent Mulder, he will be 
the lead FBI agent on this case, and will be in charge of 
things from our side." Then turning to Mulder he offered, "This 
is Mark Beasent, he is in charge of the security for this 
property, and Mulder, he knows what his talking about, so I 
would take his advice very seriously."

Mulder considered Skinner's words, then nodded slowly, "I will 
take any advice that is given on behalf of Krycek's safety very 
seriously, sir." His tone indicating that his primarily 
interest was his lover's safety.

Skinner looked as if he wanted to say more, but then glancing 
at his watch he said instead, "I've got an appointment with 
Judge Pringle... and I don't want to be late... Mark will 
answer any questions that you might have, and while I'm gone, 
you can get started on Krycek's statement." As he finished 
speaking he headed back towards his own car.

Scully had stepped out of the vehicle when she saw Mulder 
approach Skinner, but she had made no move to join the other 
three men, instead she had used the time to study Krycek who 
had remained in the other car. If the ex-Agent felt her 
appraisal he gave no indication as he continued the watch the 
scene that was being played out in front of him.

"Alex." Mulder called, as Skinner pulled away along the drive 
moving slowly away from the house. Krycek climbed out of the 
large truck and headed over towards Mulder. Scully didn't need 
to be called, and he introduced her as she came to a halt 
beside her partner. "This is Agent Mark Beasent, he is in 
charge of the security of this place." As he finished speaking 
he turned towards the man in question and raised an eyebrow, as 
if asking 'what now'.

Mark, seeing this as his cue, smiled broadly and offered his 
hand to each of them in turn, saying as he did so, "Walter was 
a bit secretive about what you guys were up to. But, we owe him 
a favour of two, so this place is yours.... At least for the 
next few days," He added as he moved back towards the door that 
led into the house.

Nobody asked him who the 'we' were, who owed Skinner the 
favours, nor what event was happening in few days that would 
require the house. "This is the main hallway." Mark continued 
as he led the other three from the bright sunlight in the cool 
shaded area of the hallway. "I understand that Mr Krycek is the 
witness, so he will be placed in the basement..."

"The basement?" Scully asked before she could stop herself, 
turning to look at Krycek who had paled at the announcement.

"The basement is the safest part of the house, it's reinforced 
and has an escape hatch, with a tunnel to another part of the 
estate... it's also easily defensible and," Mark offered with a 
wide smile, "No-one expects the witness to be placed 
underground, it is completely self-contained. The bedroom has 
an en-suite bathroom, there's also kitchen, sitting room etc.. 
the works," he sounded quite proud of the building, and Mulder 
wondered at that, as Beasent finished, "Even all the recording 
equipment is down there..."

"I'm not going underground," Krycek stated rather loudly, his 
eyes wide with remembered fear, and looking at Mulder he shook 
his head firmly.

"Listen... Skinner said that you were in a pretty desperate 
situation," Mark had centred his full attention directly on 
Krycek, "He also said that you were on your own if you didn't 
like the arrangements..." the threat was left unspoken, but all 
could hear it clearly.

"Fine," Krycek snarled starting to turn away, but his arm was 
caught and held by Mulder before he could complete the move.

"Krycek," he began, paused for a moment, then continued, "Alex, 
I will be with you... I promise you that you will not be left 
alone."

Krycek turned beseeching eyes upon his lover as he stated, 
"Mulder... I can't.... you know I can't... please... don't make 
me..."

Mulder felt a flash of annoyance at Krycek's words, and the 
guilt he was feeling at making his lover face his fears in this 
manner, and retorted with more anger then he intended, "Alex, 
what the hell do you want from us?  This is as safe as we can 
get you, and you're throwing a hissy fit 'cause you've got to 
go sleep in the basement?"

Krycek felt the words hit home, and he straightened at the 
harsh words.  Swallowing hard he pushed back the feeling of 
hurt and fell easily into the relaxed stance that had assisted 
him so much in the past. "I have my reasons for not wanting to 
die in a basement, and I don't have any reason to particularly 
trust any of you," he added, emphasising the word trust in his 
speech. Seeing the barb hit home, he felt a cold smile of 
satisfaction sweep across his face as he continued, "So I will 
want to check out exactly what is available to me, as far as an 
escape route is concerned." Seeing the negative look that 
entered Beasant's features he added, "This is not open to 
debate, if I'm not happy with your arrangements concerning my 
safety... then I am out of here." He held his head high and 
glared at the other three people who were looking at him with 
varying degrees of shock and anger. He chose to ignore two of 
them as he raised an eyebrow at Mulder.

The FBI Agent could see the truth behind Krycek's words. 
Sighing in defeat, knowing that his harsh words had hurt his 
lover, and that he more then likely deserved the anger he could 
feel radiating from him, he turned back to Beasent.  "Mr Krycek 
does have a point. I would also be interested in seeing exactly 
what kind of security you have to offer him."

Mark Beasent sensed that there was more going on between the 
two men than either were letting on. He shot a look towards the 
other member of their party, but she was more interested in 
glaring at the man they were assigned to protect, so he sighed 
and holding out a hand he indicated the door that lead to the 
basement.

The steps were narrow with a rail down either side. As Mulder 
descended he had to agree with Beasent, the step could be 
easily defended if the need arose. On reaching the bottom he 
turned slightly to assist Krycek down the last few steps, as he 
was now wearing a sling to support his injured arm and movement 
was awkward. They were now faced with a large, bullet proof, 
door. Beyond that the hallway widened out, about half-way 
along, sitting behind a large desk was a man, who looked up, 
nodded towards Beasent before turning his attention back to the 
four small TV screens in front of him. After passing the desk 
the hallway narrowed again. As they stood behind his colleague, 
Mark explained, "These four TV screens cover the surrounding 
area outside the house, you can see the main gate there." He 
pointed to the screen in question before continuing, "If an 
attempt is made, then the doors down here are locked and it's 
up to us upstairs to prevent any penetration down here." 

Mulder threw Krycek a quick glance when he heard a slight 
snicker, and could tell from his expression just what he was 
thinking at the terminology of penetration. Krycek seeing the 
look just raised an eyebrow and smiled innocently. While Mulder 
would have been annoyed if this had happened a week ago, this 
time he found himself returning the smile and also felt himself 
growing hot at the thought of Krycek's body under his own. He 
swallowed hard and pulled his concentration back to what 
Beasent was saying as they passed through another large iron 
door, that looked as if it would be impossible breach once it 
was locked.

"This is the main bedroom." Beasent said, reaching pass Mulder 
and opening the door, it lead into a large room with a bed at 
one end, it was a double, and off to once side Mulder could see 
another door and just beyond that the indications of a 
bathroom. "Mr Krycek, this will be your room, you will be 
expected to remain down here during the remainder of your 
stay."

"I don't like enclosed spaces," Krycek began, his tone once 
more belligerent but Mulder held up a hand saying.

"I know Alex, but it will only be for a few days, and I 
promise... I will be with you."

Krycek looked as if he wanted to argue the point, but seeing 
the harsh looks he was getting from the others, he looked away, 
not happy with the situation, but knowing that he was not going 
to win an argument with Mulder if he decided to push it.

"You will be very comfortable here Mr Krycek," Beasent 
continued, closing the door and indicating another one, "This 
is the kitchen, but most of your food will be prepared upstairs 
and then shipped down, and this," he opened another door, "Is 
the main interrogation... er I mean... interview room." He 
moved into it, and revealed another comfortable looking room, 
with three chairs and a large table, on which stood some very 
expensive audio equipment. Seeing the shuttered look that 
crossed Krycek's face at his words, Beasent backed down and 
offered instead, "So, how about we all have something to drink, 
maybe eat and then we can discuss the security arrangements in 
more detail and the working roster."

Mulder spoke up, "I will be with Alex for the entire length of 
his stay here." It was not a suggestion, but a statement of 
fact, and Beasent could tell from the look in the other agent's 
eyes that he was not going to be pushed on this point.

"All right, but there is only one bedroom down here Agent 
Mulder... You might end up sleeping on the floor," he 
cautioned. Then, seeing the look Krycek threw Mulder, he 
coughed to cover his surprise, then continued, "I will let the 
others know, but we do tend to be a pretty close knit bunch, so 
the same operatives will be working the main house, and the 
surrounding area, for the duration as well. This is a 24/7 
secure facility... you should feel honoured Mr Krycek." 

"I'll let you know how honoured I feel, if I make it out of 
here alive." Snapped Krycek still not happy with the 
arrangements, or the lack of support he'd got from his lover 
over the issue. "Now you said something about an escape 
hatch... where?" As he spoke Krycek looked further down the 
hall, as if expecting to see it.

Beasent again looked uncomfortable, "That's usually privileged 
information Mr Krycek."

"Fine, I'm out of here..." Krycek span about and was further 
down the hall, by the time Mulder spoke.

"Alex..." his tone stopped the other man, but he didn't turn 
back, merely paused, waiting. "Just tell him where the damn 
escape hatch is Beasent... or do you want explain to Skinner 
exactly why our only witness did a runner.."

"It's in the bedroom, here I'll show you, but the corridor is 
covered by our video equipment and some nasty little traps, so 
I would advise that you don't enter it unless specifically 
instructed to do so."

Krycek had spun about and glared at the man who had spoken 
before snarling, "I wasn't planning on making out in the damn 
tunnel, I just want to know where it is.... So show me."

Beasent did as instructed. Entering the bedroom, he moved 
towards the dressing table and, after twisting one of its 
finely carved legs, he easily pulled it away from the wall. 
There, sitting behind it, was the dark entrance to a tunnel. 
"It leads out to a gazebo, near to north wall, there are also 
some garages out that way." As he spoke he closed the door and 
twisted the leg back. "Satisfied?" he asked, his tone slightly 
sarcastic.

Krycek ignored him.  "This is my bedroom?" he asked wanting it 
clarified. When Beasent nodded he moved towards the door, 
opening for them to leave, he stated firmly, "I'm going to get 
cleaned up... alone."  The last word was directed at Mulder who 
had made no attempt to follow the others from the room. The 
Agent raised an eyebrow, then wandered towards the door, on 
reaching it he threw, Scully and Beasent a look which firmly 
stated 'don't ask', then he closed the door on them.

Beasent watched the by-play and didn't say a word, Scully just 
watched him until he finally gave in and said weakly, "The er.. 
kitchen has a sitting room attached, shall we go and make 
ourselves comfortable."

"Let's," Scully agreed, moving past the taller man. She could 
tell that Beasent was dying to ask questions, but she also knew 
that he was too much of a professional to do so.

=-=-=-=-=

Krycek span around when he realised that Mulder was closing the 
door, but leaving himself still in the room, and snapped, "Do 
you have trouble with the word alone, Mulder?"

Mulder didn't answer, just firmly closed the door behind him, 
then without a word he moved towards his lover and pulled him 
into a firm embrace. Krycek fought the arms that came about him 
for a few seconds, then melted into the warmth that they 
offered.

"You know I hate being underground Mulder." He hissed, his 
anger still tangible.

"I know, but I hate the thought of you being dead even 
more...." Mulder mumbled back, his hands gently rubbing up and 
down the tensed back under his fingers. "It's just for a few 
days Alex... until we can get this matter sorted, and we've 
decided what we are going to do."

"I thought that it had already been decided," Krycek retorted, 
still miffed, but mellowing under the smoothing hands of his 
lover.

Mulder didn't answer right away and Alex began to move with 
unease, until Mulder confessed. "A lot depends on what's in 
your statement, and how the judge accepts it. Then Skinner has 
to sell it on, and see what we can get out of it."

"You know that I won't live long enough to testify don't you?" 
It was a simple statement of fact that tore into Mulder's gut. 
"But, it's worth it just to have these few days together," 
Krycek went on, moving his own hands so that they made contact 
with Mulder's flesh, sweeping up to gently delve under the 
jacket and shirt. "I'd willingly die, if it could be in your 
arms." He whispered, lifting his lips and laying gentle, nip 
kisses along the neck of his lover, just under the jaw line. 

Mulder wanted to push Krycek away and state firmly that he was 
not going to die, that they were going to have a life together 
and that he was talking nonsense, but he was wise enough to 
know that he was not in a position to guarantee that. However, 
he did feel that he could promise Krycek something, "Together 
Alex, if we go, it's together."  He tilted his head to allow 
his lover better access, and Alex eagerly took advantage of the 
extra flesh that had been allowed him.

"Let's fuck," he murmured, his words dirty and causing the 
blood to rush through both men, but Mulder groaned and pushed 
himself back saying.

"Can't... not now...." He held Alex at arms length, saw the 
light in the other's eyes and the way that he licked his full 
lips and groaned again saying, "I need a shower." He meant a 
cold one, but Krycek picked up on the words and immediately 
began to undress Mulder saying.

"That is a great idea." As he did so he pulled his lover over 
towards the bathroom, and soon, both men were standing naked 
under the shower, engaged in a possessive, explosive game of 
sex. Mulder's promise to Skinner forgotten under the heated 
lips of his talented lover.

=-=-=-=-=

End (10/13)





Chameleon (11/13) M/K NC-17


TITLE: Chameleon (11/13)
AUTHOR: Tevan
DATE: Dec 1998
E-MAIL ADRESS: jtp@artos.prestel.co.uk

Disclaimer etc. in part 1

=-=-=-=-=

Krycek sat in the interview room and looked about, boredom 
clearly etched on his handsome features.  They had been in 
there for over twenty minutes and Beasent was still searching 
for a clean tape to use. The CIA agent looked acutely 
embarrassed as he shrugged and moved out of the room, still 
intent on his search. 

"Don't say a word," Mulder snarled, his eyes belying his harsh 
tone and words. They had been in the safe house for a little 
over six hours, and two of those had been spent in the shower.  
While he had enjoyed the shower immensely, he had known that it 
was only a matter of time before Beasent informed Skinner of 
the break in protocol.

"How about if we just do this the old fashioned way... I speak 
and you write it all down, do you think those CIA guys can 
write?" Alex offered, a wicked smile playing about his 
features.

"Krycek," Mulder snarled, kicking the man under the table and 
watching with some satisfaction as he yelped and leant down to 
rub his injured leg, before Mulder offered out loud, trying to 
build bridges by deflecting the other's words, "Yeah, Alex...  
I can just see the defence lawyer taking that one apart... No 
let's wait for the tape... Beasent is sure to have a box full 
of them somewhere." He motioned with his eyes to the one way 
mirror positioned at one end of the room, it was obvious what 
he was trying to say. They could be being watched.

Krycek rolled his eyes and stood up, moving further away from 
Mulder and his long legs, "We could give them something to 
watch," he suggested, then seeing the look this earned him he 
sighed again and asked, "When is Skinner due back?" Seeing his 
lover's apologetic look, Krycek shrugged quite willing to 
forgive his lover and moved back across the room to stand near 
to Mulder.

"I'm not sure, he had a few people to see, but he did call 
Scully back to the office, so hopefully it will be later on 
tonight."

"Tonight?" Krycek questioned glancing at his watch, it was 
nearly midnight now. "This is a stupid time to take a 
statement," he grumbled for the tenth time.

"Skinner wants it on tape as soon as possible," Mulder stated 
again. He remembered the telephone conversation that had taken 
place between himself and his boss earlier. 

"Yeah, I bet he does... then if anything happens to me... well 
at least he's got it on tape."

"Alex," Mulder began but his ex-partner held up his hand and 
waved the rest of the words aside. 

"I know.. I know... but I don't think he's ever going to 
volunteer to be best man at our wedding."

Mulder felt a sudden jolt of surprise and gasped at the other's 
words before he grinned widely and said, "My this is so sudden, 
you've not even asked me yet." 

Krycek seeing the look in his lovers eyes just rolled his own 
and replied, "It was a figure of speech...Mulder."

Mulder battered his eyelashes and complained, "And here I 
thought you were going to make an honest man of me."

Krycek let out a bark of laughter and retorted, "And here I 
thought I was the one who needed to be made honest."

Mulder opened his mouth to commented again, but snapped it shut 
when the door burst open and Beasent strolled into the room 
hold a couple of tapes high in the air. "Found them," he said 
by way of greeting.

The next few hours passed with Krycek giving his statement. He 
tried to keep it as honest as possible, and it was the naked 
truth. He told about how he'd first been approached by the man, 
now known as Cancerman, how he had begun working as Mulder's 
partner and the events that had followed, giving only details 
of missions that he himself had been involved in.

"That's enough," Mulder suddenly stated, reaching over and 
turning the tape machine off. "It's three-twenty five am, end 
of first statement interview."

"But..." Beasent began, then fell silence under the glare this 
earned him.

"Alex is tired. No, he is exhausted, and he's still recovering 
from being shot... I think that's enough for tonight, we can 
continue this tomorrow once he's rested."  As he spoke he 
looked over at his lover's tired and drawn features. "Come on 
Alex," he continued, reaching out and helping the other man to 
stand.

Krycek swayed and blinked owlishly several times before he 
realised that he had in fact risen. Mulder reached an arm about 
his waist and supported him for a few seconds until Krycek 
nodded that he was all right.

"Is he all right?" Beasent asked, seeing the pale, drawn 
features for the first time. He had been so intent on the 
statement that he had not noticed the condition of the man 
giving it.

"Yeah... but it's been a long week, so just cut us some slack 
here," Mulder said, still staying close to Krycek as the other 
man edged around the table and headed out of the room. "Give us 
a wake up call at about ten-ish." He asked, not looking back 
and not really caring if Beasent disagreed with the fact that 
Mulder was going to sleep in Krycek's bedroom.

"Sure... no problem," Beasent said, sounding slightly 
distracted.

"Here let me help," Mulder said, moving to Krycek's assistance. 
As soon as the bedroom door had shut behind them, Alex had 
began to strip off his clothes, leaving a trail, as he headed 
towards the bathroom.  Once finished in there, he moved naked 
towards the bed and crawled under the covers. 

"Man this is hard," he mumbled as Mulder climbed on top of the 
covers still fully dressed.  He pulled Krycek into a warm 
embrace that had the other man lying slightly on top of him.

"I know babe," Mulder replied, looking down at the dark haired 
head that rested on his chest. Reaching out he gently played 
with the hair until the other man slipped into a deep slumber. 
As the night wore on, Mulder considered their options. He was 
not happy with Scully being called away, nor the delay in 
Skinner returning. He knew that he could trust both his partner 
and his boss, and yet, with Krycek's very life in the balance 
and the sure knowledge that the Cancerman would waste no time 
in killing his lover, he felt unease.

"You worry to much," Krycek suddenly spoke up and Mulder 
glanced down at the head still resting on his chest.

"I thought you were asleep," he said, still toying with the 
silken stands of hair.

"I dozed, but I can hear your brain working from here.... 
What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Mulder laughed. "You mean beside the fact that 
someone tried to kill me, shot you and now you are preparing to 
testify against Cancerman?"

Krycek sighed and moved his head on the broad chest of his 
lover. "Mulder... we both knew this wasn't going to be easy.... 
Hell, being in this room, underground, is giving me the chills. 
But, like you said, it's something we've got to do to get to 
the end, and the end is, if we are lucky, that we will be 
together... it's what I want and," he paused while he 
considered his words carefully. "It's worth the risk of dying 
for."

"I love you." Mulder said the words quietly, but it 
reverberated like the loudest sound in the room.

"I know," Krycek replied after a long pause, "I love you too." 

"Why?"

"Excuse me?" Krycek asked in some surprise, leaning slightly 
back to look up at Mulder, who wore a frown across his handsome 
face.

"Why do you love me.. and when did you first realise that you 
loved me?"

Krycek relaxed back onto the comfortable chest and allowed the 
deep breathing of the other man to wash over him. "Why do I 
love you..." he began, this was an area where he felt 
comfortable, he had loved Mulder for so long, it was as much a 
part of him as breathing. "Honestly... I can't say... I don't 
know.. I just know that I do..." He stopped again, unsure how 
to put such a feeling of certainly into words.

"When... when did you know that you loved me?"

Krycek had to laugh at the words, Mulder was forever curious 
and it would appear to also be the case here. Alex closed his 
eyes and thought back, when he had realised that he loved the 
other man. Slowly the eyes opened and he said, "During our 
first case..."

"Our first case?" The surprise was evident in Mulder eyes, as 
well as the pleasure.

"I told you then, I'd admired you for quite a while, and I did 
believe in what you were doing." As he finished he pulled a 
sour face and continued, "That's what that bastard used against 
me... but that's beside the point, you wanted to know when I 
first realised that I loved you.... Well, I don't think it was 
a bolt of lighting or anything like that, it just kinda sneaked 
up on me."

Mulder shifted slightly and said, sounding slightly smug. 
"Yeah, I have a habit of doing that to people."

"Yeah, well from now on pal the only person you're going to 
sneak up on in bed is me," Krycek said firmly, his tone not 
quite as joking as it could have been.

"Oh?" Mulder said tightening his arms about his lover. "I 
didn't know you were so possessive."

"Yes you do, and believe me, Mulder I don't hesitate to fight 
to keep what's mine."

"Me too... Krycek me too... now come on answer up, when did you 
realise that I was the one for you."

"Oh please pass me a bucket... you sound like a cheap dime 
store novel..."  Krycek waited a few seconds to see if Mulder 
was going to answer, but when he didn't he turned his thoughts 
back to the conversation at hand. "If I had to put it down to 
one moment in time... it would be when we had just caught up 
with Cole, in the freight warehouse... when he made me believe 
that he had a gun on you, and I... I shot him... I knew then 
that I could not let him kill you... I guess I realised just 
how... how important you had suddenly become to me.. but it 
wasn't... it wasn't until later... at Skyland Mountain, when 
you tried to climb off that cable car that I realised just how 
much you had come to mean to me."  Silence slipped over the 
room, each man caught in their own memory.

"It was in the warehouse." Mulder said, then seeing the 
confused look that Krycek tossed his way he explained, "Where 
you got shot... it was then that I realised that I loved you... 
it was quite a nasty surprise, me sitting there holding you in 
my arms, you bleeding all over me, my worse enemy.... I thought 
that I hated you, but then I realised that there really is only 
a thin line between love and hate, and that the reason why I 
kept touching, and hitting you was because I could not keep my 
hands off you...." He let out a small bark of laughter as he 
run his hands up and down the quiescent body under his hands.

Krycek did not look impressed as he commented, "Gee and I 
thought it was my mind you were after."

"Your mind!" Mulder exclaimed, "I love your mind." He leant 
down and kissed the head, then tilted the face up towards him, 
"Your nose," he touched his lips to the object, "your eyes," a 
brief brush of lips, "and your mouth... especially your mouth."  
The kiss was long and lingering, and when they parted Krycek 
whispered, his voice husky.

"I thought Skinner made you lead agent so that you wouldn't 
jump into bed with me."

Mulder pulled a face at his lovers words, and moved back 
slightly as he defended himself, "That's why I'm this side of 
the blankets and you're under them, that's why I'm still 
dressed and you're..." he swallowed hard, "and you're buck 
naked under that sheet."

Seeing the gleam that entered Mulder's eyes and the shortening 
of breath, Krycek smiled warmly and offered, "I won't tell 
Skinner if you don't."  Whatever else he might have said was 
cut short by the harsh mouth that descended upon his own. Words 
suddenly became unimportant as the hands that had gently played 
with his hair, suddenly began to explore other more important 
areas.

The next few hours passed in intense loving, neither man 
willing to voice, but each very much aware that they might not 
have much time. This gave their lovemaking an intensity that 
left them breathing hard and their bodies slick with sweat..

=-=-=-=

A light knock on the door had a naked Mulder out of the bed and 
reaching for the handle before it could open. He tossed a look 
back at the still sleeping Krycek and opening the door a crack 
he demanded, "What?"

Beasent swallowed hard and looked at the body of Mulder that he 
could see, mainly the upper shoulder and arm, with the curve of 
the neck. He was obviously naked, and obviously very handsome 
in that state. "Er... Skinner just called, he's on his way 
over... I er.." he paused then shrugged as he offered, "I 
thought that you might like to know... before he gets here."

Mulder smiled his thanks brightly and asked, "Any breakfast 
left?"

"Yeah, sure... I'll put a new pot of coffee on."

By the time Skinner arrived, both Mulder and Krycek were up, 
dressed, and eating breakfast. The AD looked at the two men, 
then threw Beasent a hard look, the man under his gaze just 
smiled and shrugged, offering his own cup up, asking if Skinner 
wanted one.

"I saw Judge Pringle yesterday, she is not prepared to make a 
move unless she speaks to you directly Krycek."

"What about the taped statement?" Mulder asked, not taking his 
eyes of his boss.

"No... she is insisting on talking to Krycek direct... and," 
Skinner said about a frown, "I can't say that I blame her, 
considering she was the only one who was even remotely 
interested in hearing what I had to say in the first place."  
He paused and let his words hang.

"What exactly does that mean?" Krycek asked, "Will she come 
here, or am I to go to her."

Skinner looked decidedly uncomfortable as he informed the other 
men, "We've got an appointment in her chambers this afternoon, 
after court."

"In court!" Mulder exclaimed, his tone clearly indicating that 
he was not happy. "So we just waltz right in, what will Krycek 
wear? A brown paper bag over his head?"

"That was very helpful Agent Mulder." Skinner snapped, before 
he carried on, satisfied with the shamefaced look that his 
agent threw him, "I don't like it any more then you do, but 
that is the bottom line.  If we want her help, then we are 
going to have to play by her rules."

"I think that Mr Skinner is right," Krycek suddenly put in, "I 
mean, we are going after some pretty heavy people, and to be 
honest I don't blame this judge for wanting to check me out 
before she signs any forms."

"I'm not happy with this either Mulder," Skinner confided, "And 
I was in her chambers until after one this morning trying to 
change her mind, but she was adamant... no Krycek... no help."

Krycek could see the tension that now existed between Skinner 
and his lover. He was acutely aware that he was the reason for 
it, and it saddened him. He knew that Mulder had always had a 
fairly good relationship with boss, and he realised that if 
anything happened to him, then it would be to Scully and 
Skinner that Mulder would turn, and he wanted them to remain 
friends. "Hey, no problem... we'll just pop into the court 
house and see her, I'll tell her what she wants to know.  We 
will get our signed bits of paper, and then we can go forward 
and talk about the witness protection programme."

Silence reigned for several minuets while each man digested 
what Krycek had just said, until finally Skinner nodded and 
offered, "If that's what you want."

"What I want is to have never got myself into this position in 
the first place." Krycek suddenly looked unsure, as if he'd 
give too much away.

"It's alright Alex," Mulder said reaching over the gently 
touching the slightly shaking hand.

"I think it might be best if we continue taking your statement 
Alex." Beasent said speaking for the first time, "That way, 
once you see the Judge we can move you on to somewhere 
different."

"Somewhere different?" Mulder suddenly questioned, turning to 
look at the other man.

"Look," Beasent began, "Walter and I go way back." He looked 
towards the man in question, who smiled slightly and nodded in 
agreement. It was a good, deep friendship that had stood the 
trials of time, it had been forged in war and continued in 
peacetime. "And well, when he called and said that he needed a 
favour, I was more the willing to help. But, even I can see 
that whatever this is, it's goes pretty deep. Deeper than 
perhaps I need to know, but one thing I am sure about, and that 
is that you," he pointed towards Krycek, "Need all the help you 
can get and you," he pointed towards Mulder, "Are in this just 
as deep as he is. Now, I'm just thinking that the best 
protection that you both can have, is the knowledge you carry 
in your head Krycek.  So, the sooner we can get it down on 
tape, and signed as a statement, then the sooner we can 
duplicate it, get it distributed, and hidden away, so that you 
can use it as a weapon."

"As a weapon?" Mulder queried, slightly surprised to be getting 
support from this unexpected quarter.

"A weapon." Beasent agreed, "Now I know some people in the 
computer industry who might be able to help us, but Walter here 
told me that you have a little group of your own that you like 
to use?"

"Yes," Mulder said, still slightly confused, "They call 
themselves the Lone Gunmen,"

"And are they good?" Mark Beasent threw Skinner a look, and saw 
the other man nod in agreement before he said.

"They are the best."

"So, get the statement down, along with anything else that you 
can think of using as a weapon, and Krycek... you have to think 
of it as a weapon, it's the only was to get the attention of 
the people who are after you, and then get these, er... Lone 
Gunmen to duplicate it, and then post it via the net to every 
single paper in the world, with the proviso that if you don't 
enter a password each and every day, week, month... whatever, 
then the information will be released to the press world wide."

"Just who the hell are you?" Mulder suddenly asked, standing up 
and slightly in front of Krycek as if to shield him from the 
other man.

Beasent, seeing the action, looked down, then up again, saying 
with determination, "Agent Mulder, I am not your enemy, but I 
know enough about the shadows to see that you've been touched 
by them, and so has he. If you let them they will suck the life 
out of you as effectively as any dime store vampire... but they 
can be beaten... I've seen it done, but it's not easy. However, 
if you believe in what you're fighting for, then it's worth the 
risk."

Skinner had been silent for a while, now he spoke up, "Mark 
does know what he's talking about." Seeing the look that Mulder 
tossed him, he held up his hands and offered, "It really is 
need to know Mulder, but the advice he's giving you is sound, 
so why don't you let Mark and Krycek continue with the 
statement taking. Meanwhile you contact your Lone Gunmen and 
see if they can help us?"

"Sounds like a plan," Krycek said, standing up and moving 
towards the door, "I'll see you in a little while Mulder?" It 
was as much a question as anything else, and he waited hand 
resting on the door until Mulder looked up, smiled and nodded 
in agreement saying.

"Are you sure, you're all right about this Alex? Mulder asked, 
indicating that he would be leaving his lover in the 
underground basement alone, after he had promised not to.

Krycek looked at him and smiled, it was warm and full of 
understanding, as he offered, "This is for us... so I'll be 
fine."

"All right, but I'll only be upstairs making some arrangements, 
as soon as you're finished let me know, and Krycek." He paused, 
making sure that he had Alex's full attention. "I'm going with 
you to see Judge Pringle."

Krycek looked slightly relieved and offered, "I wouldn't have 
it any other way."

=-=-=-=-=

Krycek looked up from the table where he sat half-heartedly 
eating a sandwich that Mark had prepared. He had no appetite 
and had told Agent Beasent this when asked if he wanted a 
sandwich, but the other man had insisted that he eat something 
before his meeting with Judge Pringle.

Alex had not seen Mulder since their meeting that morning, but 
he knew that the other would be doing his best to secure their 
future. He slumped down further in the seat, 'their future', 
the words seem so ordinary for such an imported event. Did they 
really have a future, or were they just fooling themselves?

"You know, you have to at least put it to your mouth before it 
disappears, staring at it won't do it."  Mark Beasent said, 
leaning back against the kitchen counter, watching the man in 
front of him.

"I'm not really hungry." Krycek replied, tossing the uneaten 
food back onto the plate. "I hate this waiting about," he 
continued, pushing the cool cup of coffee away from him as 
well.

"I know, it's the worst part of the job," Mark commented, 
moving to sit in front of the other man.

Krycek looked up at him and after a few seconds asked, "So, who 
exactly DO you work for?"  Alex had spent the reminder of the 
morning with this man, dictating his statement. The questions 
that Mark had asked had been leading and well thought out, 
allowing Krycek to concentrate on his statement, and not on the 
excessive information that would just cloud the issues that he 
wanted to get down on tape.

Mark looked up, then back down at his coffee cup, contemplating 
the question, finally he asked, "Who exactly do YOU work for 
Alex Krycek."

Alex let out a snort of laugher, but it didn't reach his eyes 
as he said softly, "I just spent the last two days telling 
you."

Mark smiled, his did reach his eyes, but the cold blue didn't 
warm for long, "No... you just spent the last two days telling 
us what you wanted us to know."

"Word games." Krycek retorted leaning back in his chair, this 
was a game he understood. "That's what you like to play."

"No." Mark said, his tone showing his sudden annoyance, "It's 
what you like to play, and Alex... you don't mind if I call you 
Alex?" He waited until he got a nod of accent. "You are one of 
the best."

Krycek sighed, he didn't really want to get into this just now, 
but the temptation was too great as he offered, "When I am with 
Mulder I am exactly what I seem."

Mark let out a bark of laughter at that and nodding he agreed. 
"Oh that I can tell, but you like the shadows Krycek, that's 
why you're so good at it, but Mulder, he is not a shadow kinda 
of guy, and his light doesn't allow you to hide does it." It 
wasn't a question, so Krycek didn't bother to treat it as one, 
as he looked down at the clean table top, giving the appearance 
of only a token interest in the conversation, when in fact his 
whole body was tuned to the words. "You really do love him." 
Again it was a statement, but this time the tone was slightly 
tainted with the awe of disbelief.

=-=-=-=-=

End (11/13)







Chameleon (12/13) M/K NC-17


TITLE: Chameleon (12/13)
AUTHOR: Tevan
DATE: Dec 1998
E-MAIL ADRESS: jtp@artos.prestel.co.uk

Disclaimer etc. in part 1

=-=-=-=-=

Krycek wished that he'd kept the cup within grasping reach, as 
he really wanted to hold something between his hands, as he 
answered his voice firm with his conviction. "Mulder is the 
best thing that's ever happened to me... ever." He glanced up, 
met and held Beasent's look, "I don't want to hide in the 
shadows when he's with me, nor do I want to drag him into the 
cesspit of my life."

Mark broke the look, unsettled by the fear he suddenly saw in 
the depths of the other man's eyes. Swallowing hard he offered, 
"Mulder doesn't look like he's being dragged er... kicking and 
screaming into your life Alex... don't push him away just 
because you can't accept the responsibility of his love for 
you."

"Oh god, you do philosophy as well as supplying FBI AD's with 
safe houses, and waste two days taking statements... you are a 
man of many parts."  The sarcasm almost dripped from the mouth 
of the handsome young man, as his dark eyes scanned the man 
before him.

Mark smiled and took the last swallow of his coffee before he 
answered, "Gee man you caught me, what was it, the way I spoke, 
moved... did you see my philosophy books when I bent over?" 
Beasent's smile was frozen on his lips and he was not sure why 
he was angry.

This time Krycek let out a burst of real laughter as he 
answered, pushing away and up from the table. "You have my 
word, yours is a butt that I have not been looking at."

Mark followed suit and rose as well. The statement that Krycek 
had given should have been transcribed by now. "I'll get the 
typing and meet you back in the interrogation room." He glanced 
at his watch before he continued, "You should have time to give 
it the once over before you go to see Judge Pringle. How long 
did Mulder say he was going to be gone?" Mark finished as they 
headed out the door. The handsome FBI agent had entered the 
interrogation room earlier that day and taking a second copy of 
the tapes, saying that he needed them to give to the Lone 
Gunman, and that a plan had been formulated. He had also bent 
down and gently brushed his lips against Krycek's before rising 
and daring Beasent to say anything. The other man had just 
shrugged, paused the tape, rewound slightly and then pushed 
stop button before saying, "I'll get some coffee."

Krycek smiled as he remembered the kiss, "He said he'd be back 
before I had to go see Judge Pringle."  He paused and bit his 
bottom lip before asking, "Do you know if he took someone with 
him."

"I saw Scully upstairs earlier, and Walter was sticking pretty 
close, I don't think he'd let anything happen to either of 
those two, if he cold help it."

Krycek didn't bother to answer, he turned and headed towards 
the room where Beasent had told him to wait. He could not let 
the other man know how much his words had disturbed him, as he 
had often wondered at Skinner's true attraction to Mulder. He 
knew that the man was first and foremost a professional and 
would never abuse his position by putting the moves one of his 
subordinates, but still Skinner had been there when he had not.

The door opened and he glanced up expecting to see Beasent, but 
his face broke into a wide welcoming smile when he saw Mulder 
slip into the room. The man looked good, really handsome, his 
face glowing, eyes sparkling. He moved towards his lover and 
pulled him into a tight embrace, it only lasted a few seconds, 
but it was enough to make everything right in Krycek's world 
once more. As they parted he asked, "How did it go."

"No problem." Mulder said, pulling away to remove his long 
coat. "The guys were just great. Frohike almost tripped over 
his tongue when he saw that I had Scully with me, but as soon 
as he saw the tape, and heard what was on it, he stopped asking 
her for her phone number and actually paid attention to me.... 
Which is a first when she's in the room."

Krycek smiled, Mulder's mood was catching. "So how did it go?"  
he still had a greater worry that lurked at the back of his 
mind, as he asked the question again.  When there was still no 
answer, he rephrased it slightly, "Fox, were they able to help 
us?" aiming a slight punch at his lover who was still grinning 
at him.

Mulder saw the flash of anxiety in Krycek's eyes and hastened 
to reassure him, "No problem, when I left they were making 
digital copies of the tapes and Langley was writing a really 
hot net... web... something programme that would distribute the 
information world wide if anything happens to us."

Krycek frowned, not sure he truly believed that the lone gunmen 
could really ensure both his and Mulder's continued survival. 
"How exactly are they going to work it?" he asked, moving away 
from Mulder. He began to bite his bottom lip again, the fear 
that he was dragging Mulder down with him curled at his stomach 
again.

Mulder seemed to sense what Krycek was thinking and he moved 
swiftly to pull the other man back into his embrace. "We've 
made it a two fold system, once a week we both have to log in 
to an internet chat room and give a password. We will each have 
a different word, which we will pick up from an international 
paper, you know New York Times, Arts page, second paragraph, 
forth word etc, although we will be using a different paper for 
each of us.  If that password isn't given in time, then the 
information is released to the world press. Also, if any 
newspaper reports our death, either via an article or an 
obituary it will release the information."

"Can they do that... I mean a computer doesn't read a 
newspaper, so how will it know what is on the er... Arts page?" 
Krycek asked, still not relaxing, even while resting in 
Mulder's arms.

Mulder pulled a face and stepped back slightly saying, "Some of 
the chat rooms on the internet are visited by thousands of 
people from all over the world... Some of them will be charged 
with seeing our message and passing it along... anyway... it's 
slightly technical, but the Lone Gunman are sure that it's 
fail-safe, and I'm prepared to trust them, I mean what they 
don't know about computers has not been written yet."  He 
smiled, trying to push his good humour upon the other man.  He 
didn't want to let Krycek know that he also had had his own 
doubts at first, but each of his three friends had reassured 
him, and the more involved he got into their reasoning and 
their planning the better he could see the plan working. "Of 
course." he added, "It will mean that we will never to able to 
take that two week holiday on that deserted island that we've 
always wanted."

Krycek smiled and leant into Mulder's arms. Seeking the comfort 
again. "Well, if you think it will work, then I guess it's got 
to be pretty good."

Mulder nodded agreeing, "There are fail-safes built into it, 
and at least forty people are involved, most of them are not 
even known to us." He paused and let out a gusty sigh as he 
recalled the way his three friends had gotten behind his vague 
idea and turned it swiftly into a reality. "So if anything 
should happen to us... well er... not happen to us, but we just 
can't get to a phone for some reason," He stopped, before he 
added, "Look it is complicated, and once it's all set up, I 
will take you along to meet them and they can explain it to you 
more fully, and answer any questions that you have."

Krycek nodded, he knew that he wanted all the answers now, 
wanted to know that Mulder was safe, that no harm would befall 
him because of his association with him. Slowly he disengaged 
himself and smiled warmly. Leaning forward he planted a light 
kiss on the lips before him, Mulder moved forward into the 
kiss, when Krycek stepped back, unwilling to lose the contact, 
but Alex held up a hand, pushing slightly against the other 
man's chest as he said, "If Skinner was to catch you... I mean 
you are lead agent..." He glanced at the door, then back at 
Mulder.

Mulder, seeing the concern in Krycek's eyes, sighed and stepped 
back, he knew that Alex was only thinking of him, but he was 
not sure he agreed with it. He was just about to open his mouth 
and protest when the door burst open and Skinner stormed into 
the room, he looked harassed and frowned hard when he saw how 
close the other two men were standing, but he pushed his 
annoyance aside as he snapped.

"Judge Pringle has moved up the appointment, she wants to see 
you in her office in," he glanced at his watch, "In twenty 
minutes."

"Twenty minutes..." Mulder began, but his words were cut off by 
an angry look from his boss.

"Mulder there isn't time for this," Skinner insisted, as he 
moved forward and rested a hand upon Krycek's arm, the smaller 
man winced and moved slightly away. Skinner let his hand full, 
but indicated the hallway, "Now please gentlemen."

After exchanging a quick look, the other two men moved from the 
room. As they left the downstairs apartment, Mark stopped them 
saying, "The statement will be waiting for you at the new safe 
house Alex."

"New safe house?" Krycek questions shooting the taller man a 
hard look.

"It'll be safer for you, and Mulder." Skinner added, knowing 
that those words would quieten any complaint from the other 
man. "Once you leave this place you'll be an open target."

Krycek felt his breath catch at the AD's words, then he nodded 
his agreement. "Alright, but I'm only going to do this once... 
so the damn Judge had better have her questions written down."

=-=-=-=-=

The trip to the courthouse passed without incident, although 
both Mulder and Krycek felt as if they had gun sights pointed 
at them for most of the journey. Trying to distract himself 
from his own concerns, Krycek asked, "Where's Scully."

Mulder looked back from his scenery watching and after throwing 
Skinner a quick glance, the AD was sitting in the front of the 
car. "She's going to met us at the court house."  Skinner said, 
not bothering to turn around.

"This er... Judge Pringle... do you trust her?" Krycek 
continued, unable to stop biting his bottom lip. He could not 
push away the feeling of uneasiness that was pressing down upon 
him.

"She has always been an ally in our fight." Skinner said, his 
tone as cryptic as his words.

Krycek swallowed. Now he definitely felt like a sheep being 
lead to a slaughterhouse. Mulder, as if sensing his uneasiness, 
reached across and gently touched a hand. "Don't worry, I'll be 
with you the whole time."

Alex felt his throat suddenly block, and swallowing even harder 
he forced the words out, "Maybe..." he cleared his throat. "I 
mean, it might be better if you're not with me Fox." He spoke 
the words in a rush, looking out the windows, so as not to look 
his lovers as he said the words, knowing that he would see only 
betrayal in the other's expression. He was well aware that 
Judge Pringle would be asking him questions, pointed questions 
that he would have to answer, and Mulder might not like those 
answers, and their relationship was too new, to unsteady to 
withstand another blow.

Silence ruled for several long tense moments until Mulder 
asked, his own voice barely above a whisper. "Why?"

Krycek closed his own eyes, wondering suddenly why his shoulder 
wound hurt so much, over the last few days he'd almost managed 
to forget about it, but now, now he could feel it throbbing 
under his shirt and jacket. He spent a few moments collecting 
his thoughts before he spoke, "I just think that it might be 
better for you not to be with me... that's all, I mean... it 
could be er.. painful."

Mulder understood why Krycek didn't want him to accompany him 
to see the Judge, but Alex had to understand that nothing that 
he said could ever make him not love him. He had also come to 
realise that there was more to his father's involvement with 
the Consortium than Krycek had lead him to believe. He pushed 
his sudden anger away and replied firmly. "Together Alex, just 
like we said... if we break it now, then what's to stop them 
from breaking it in the future."

"Mulder it's not that simple and you know it," snapped Alex, 
not pleased to see that he was correct about the expression of 
betrayal. "Damn it Mulder, someone tried to kill you, and you 
can be sure that I am the number one target on several people's 
hit list... it's just too dangerous, and," he paused before he 
said firmly, "It's not necessary."

Now Mulder was angry, it showed in the face that he turned 
towards his lover, and Krycek could feel it radiating from 
across the car. The distance between them had never felt to be 
so great. "We are both going to see Judge Pringle... it is not 
open for debate."

The words were harsh and cold, and Krycek felt like he wanted 
to sink further into the seat. Instead he settled for just 
looking out the window at the passing scenery. When he dredged 
up enough courage to glance over at his angry lover, he saw 
that Mulder was steadfastly refusing to acknowledge his look. 
Closing his eyes against the sudden pain he felt, he realised 
that this relationship was failing, just like every other he'd 
ever attempted. He was only trying to protect Mulder from both 
physical danger and from the knowledge that Krycek had in his 
head concerning his lover's father, but to the other man, it 
was as if Alex was trying to push him away. Krycek spent the 
next part of the journey, chewing his fingernail until it bled 
and wondering why he was such a fool to even consider that it 
would work between Mulder and himself. 

After several long minute of silence, a hand sneaked across the 
back seat, and touched Krycek's leg. When he glanced over at 
his lover, he saw a silent apology in his eyes, then looking 
down once more at the hand, it motioned for his. Suppressing a 
smile, he carefully reached his own hand down, felt it grasped 
and held tightly. Glancing back up at Mulder he saw a smile 
resting upon the other man's face as he turned his attention 
back to the passing scenery, but the thumb of the hand holding 
his slowly stroked in small circles. Krycek felt a smile break 
across his own features, and he suddenly felt he'd been foolish 
to believe that their love would fail. Just one look at the 
clasped hands told him that. He settled back himself, feeling 
very warm and loved. He no longer needed, nor had the desire, 
to bite his fingernail.

All to soon the journey ended. The car pulled up in front of 
the courthouse and they got out. Skinner and Mulder moved to 
flank Krycek, with the driver moving in behind them. Krycek 
paused on the steps when he noted a large crowd of people near 
the top, they were rushing up to greet whoever had just left 
the building. The press people were pushing and shoving as they 
scrambled to get closer to the tall man who was waving his 
hands in the air and declaring that justice had been done.

"Let's go this way," Skinner advised, seeing the crowd of news 
reporters and their cameras, moving his group off to the side 
of the building. 

They felt the heat of the day fade suddenly as they entered the 
courthouse, via a side door. The noise of the city faded as the 
door quietly shut behind them, reminding Krycek of a large 
church he had once visited, the high ceilings and towering 
pillars with the enormous staircase, just added to this 
appearance.

"Judge Pringle should be waiting in her chambers," Skinner said 
quietly, as if unwilling to disturb the quietness of the place. 
Moving forward he showed his ID to the security officers on 
duty and waved the other pass, guiding them towards the 
staircase.

As they began to ascend Krycek glanced up and stopped dead, his 
heart nearly jumping from his chest as he spotted the Cancerman 
standing near the top. He began to move to place himself in 
front of Mulder, his actions startling the others, and Skinner 
thinking that that Krycek was starting to bolt reached out and 
grabbed him. Mulder, glancing up in surprise, spotted the man 
that Krycek had seen and felt the blood drain from his 
features.

The Cancerman, slowly withdrew the smoking cigarette, and let 
the smoke drift about him. Seeing that he had achieved the 
effect he wanted he dropped the smoking stick and crushed it 
under his foot, before he slowly began to descend, heading 
directly towards the stunned men.

Skinner felt his own stomach twist when he saw the reason for 
Krycek's sudden movement, he glanced about to see if they were 
under any form of attack, but the rest of the court house seem 
to be continuing with it's daily routine.

"Alex, my dear boy...." The hated man purred as he neared his 
prey. "It's good to see you looking so... healthy."

Krycek knew that his face was as pale as a vampire's who'd been 
without blood for several days, but he was not going to let the 
bastard standing in front of him gain any more advantages. "You 
know," he spoke his voice a lot firmer then his stomach, "This 
is a no smoking area, it would be a scream if those security 
men tossed you out on your ear."  He threw a look at the men in 
question, but they did not appear to have noticed anything 
strange on the stairway, but Krycek was satisfied, he'd drawn 
the smoking man's attention to them.

The forced smile plastered across the man's face faltered 
slightly before he retorted, "So hostile Alex?  But why, we had 
such a good relationship going.... before." The words were 
husky and they conveyed an edge of loss.

"Yeah, that's why you tried to have me blown up, and left me to 
die in that silo," Krycek snarled, his temper flaring and 
lighting the flame of danger in his eyes.

The Cancerman must have heeded their warning, because he backed 
off slightly from his territorial stance, and waved the other's 
words aside.  "I knew that you would survive... because that's 
what you do Alex, you survive... against the odds... it's what 
makes you so," he threw a glance at the other man, gauging just 
how far he could push the subject. Lips twisting he finished, 
"Desirable to me."  He then turned his attention to Mulder who 
was standing slightly behind Alex, his expression one of shock 
as well, at the encounter. "Agent Mulder, I heard about your 
little problem at the warehouse... please be assured that it 
has been dealt with, and you have nothing further to fear from 
that quarter."

Before Mulder could answer Skinner butted in demanding, "What 
the hell are you doing here?" As he spoke moved forward, trying 
to take control of the situation. He could see that Scully was 
poised at the top of the steps, she had just come into view no 
doubt looking for them. Walter could tell that she has judged 
the situation and was waiting for his lead. She was a good 
woman.

"Why... Assistant Director Skinner... I'm here to see that 
justice is done." Shot back the other man, only giving the AD 
the briefest of glances as he returned his attention to the 
handsome man in front of him, and the other who stood slightly 
shielded by him. "And if Mr Krycek continues up these stairs, 
then I can guarantee that his victory will be very short lived, 
for both himself..." He paused and looked steadily at Mulder 
before continued, "And those he professes... to er.. love... as 
my influence will only stretch so far."

"You're standing in our way." Mulder said firmly, meeting the 
look head on, feeling his own blood begin to boil, he could 
feel his lovers body trembling slightly as Alex stood firmly in 
front of him. He also had to admit to feeling the curling snake 
of jealousy at the look that the older man, his nemesis, was 
giving his young lover.

"And it would be so easy for me to move aside." Cancerman 
continued, not missing a beat. "Then if Mr Krycek makes the 
right decision he would not need to live in fear of his life, 
and those he is close to... why he might even gain his old life 
back... is that not what you want...Agent Krycek?"

"And you being such an upstanding citizen, is obviously someone 
I should trust." Snarled Krycek unable to stand the tension any 
longer. This man was offering him the thing that he wanted most 
above all else. The chance to resume his life as an FBI agent, 
to be able to work at Mulder's side without fear of being 
murdered, or chased, hunted for the rest of his natural life. 
It was another form of torment.

"Trust is a two way street Alex," Cancerman snapped, his own 
temper finally beginning to show. "What you are about to do, 
will destroy what ever chance you have of a normal life, and 
for what?" he demanded, "Do you honestly believe that whatever 
you say to Judge Pringle will ever reach the public forum? 
You're not a fool Alex, you know that this piece of dirty 
laundry will never be cleaned before an audience."

"No?" Alex snarled, turning slightly he motioned to the crowd 
of reporters and cameramen, still gathered outside the main 
doors. "Why don't we go out there and see." As he spoke he made 
as if to do just that.

"You would die before you reached the bottom of these steps," 
hissed the Smoker, glancing about, as if checking on his 
people.

"Some things are worth dying for... don't you think?" Krycek 
shot back, he would have moved further, but Mulder's hand upon 
his arm stilled him. He looked into his lover's eyes, and saw 
only pride reflected in them, pride and love. The intensity of 
the moment caught up with him, and he felt the world tilt, but 
Mulder as if sensing this tightened his grip on his arm, 
preventing him from falling.

"If you knew that we were coming here today, then you must also 
know that we already have Alex's statements... and they are 
being stored in such a away that if either of us, or our 
friends, come to any harm, they would be released to the world-
wide press.  I honestly don't believe that you have enough pull 
to prevent them being aired in a public forum." Mulder moved 
slightly, so that he was standing very close to his lover's 
side. If a bullet took out Krycek, it would only have to be a 
good angle to allow the force of it to take his life as well, 
that was how close they stood, each man's stance defying the 
man who stood in front of them.

The enemy in front of them paused momentarily, a slight flicker 
of confusion and shock passing across his face as he witnessed 
the closeness between the two men. He knew that to kill one 
would mean to murder the other. He withdrew slightly, as he 
suddenly perceived their closeness. "I can see that we have 
underestimated the situation...." He paused slightly, 
considering his options before he nodded congenially, as if 
parting from friends, "Mr Krycek, your FBI credentials will be 
waiting for you when you return to the Washington office. You 
will be expected to resume your position within that 
organisation, but on the understanding that you will not use 
any of the information that you have gained during your period 
of undercover work for us. To do so would be to break national 
security... and you will then be punished to the full extent of 
the law." He stopped, slightly amused by the expression of 
total shock that covered the faces of the three men in front of 
him. "Do you understand what I am saying Agent Krycek?"

=-=-=-=-=

End (12/13)







Chameleon (13/13) M/K NC-17


TITLE: Chameleon (13/13)
AUTHOR: Tevan
DATE: Dec 1998
E-MAIL ADRESS: jtp@artos.prestel.co.uk

Disclaimer etc. in part 1

=-=-=-=-=

Krycek looked like he was about to pass out. Whatever colour he 
had gained back during his verbal battle, had drained away 
again with the other's words and it was only the continued 
support of his lover's nearby body that prevent him from 
swooning upon the steps. Licking at suddenly too dry lips he 
gasped, "I... I... don't... unde..." He slowly shook his head, 
swallowing convulsively, looking at the man in front of him, as 
if he were a snake about to strike.

The Smoker frowned and demanded, "Do you understand what I am 
saying Agent Krycek?"

Mulder, his face tight with emotion and feeling the trembling 
in his lover grow to an obvious shaking, reached an arm about 
him, worried that the other man was about to collapse.  It 
seemed as if the strain of the past few months was catching up 
with him all at once, even as his lover realised that he was 
being offered what he desired most.  It would be a cruel trick 
to play if it were then snatched away.  When the pause became 
noticeable Mulder jumped into the breach, "How do we know that 
you will honour your words." 

The old man felt his shoulders slump slightly in defeat as he 
offered dryly, "You already have his statements, and I know 
that you will keep you word about publishing them across the 
globe, I don't think that at the present time we can afford for 
that to happen."

"So that's it... after all that you've done, attempted to do, 
we should just turn our backs and walk away..." Mulder 
questioned angrily, his voice barely above a whisper as his 
hatred of the man before him temporarily ruled his emotions. 
"Let you walk away..."

Their antagonist suddenly looked annoyed as he shot back, "I do 
wish that you would get your priorities sorted Agent Mulder, 
one moment you are bargaining for Krycek's life, the next you 
are demanding justice... to get one you must forfeit the 
other... so what is it to be?"  Even before he had finished, 
the smoking man could see the answer in the other's eyes and he 
wondered at the depth of love that Mulder must feel for the man 
who now appeared to be slumped within his embrace. He felt a 
flash of envy for them, because he knew that he could never 
love another person as deeply as Mulder loved Krycek. With a 
gentleness that surprised him as much as the men listening he 
offered, "Take what you have Mulder and guard it very 
closely... it's worth so much more then any truth you can ever 
hope to discover... and it's a damn sight warmer."  With those 
words he spun to one side and continued down the steps. To 
anyone watching, the entire event would have looked like an 
interesting, but intense discussion, where one of the men 
appeared to suddenly fall ill.

Several tense seconds passed, before one of the courthouse 
staff cautiously approached and asked "Is he all right?" She 
motioned to Krycek who was still leaning heavily into Mulder's 
arms for support. Skinner as if coming out of his own trance, 
moved swiftly to the other side of Krycek and offered his own 
support saying.

"He's just had a bit of a shock... is there somewhere quiet 
where we could rest up for a few minutes?" He asked, giving the 
woman one of his best smiles.

This caused the woman to become a bit flustered, but eventually 
she directed them to a side room saying, "We do have a first 
aid personnel on site if you require assistance."

"That won't be necessary.... He will be fine in a few moments," 
Skinner insisted as he helped Mulder half carry Krycek to the 
room that had been pointed out to them. Scully joined them as 
they reached the top of the stairs, her face plainly showing 
that there were many questions she would like to ask. Once 
inside the quiet room they sat Krycek down on a large 
comfortable chair, and Mulder crouched in front of him, calling 
his name urgently.

Skinner moved to a small sink in the corner and fetched a cup 
of cold water that he held out to Mulder saying, "I'll leave 
Paterson, on the door...." Quickly glancing at his watch he 
went on, "I'd better get up to Judge Pringle's chambers and 
explain the delay."

Mulder's attention was fully fixed upon his lover, until he 
heard the Judge's name mentioned, then he glanced up and asked, 
"Can we trust her?" He was referring to the fact that Cancerman 
had been waiting for them on the steps.

"I don't know," Skinner answered honestly, "But, for the 
moment, I think we need to retreat, regroup and consider what 
we've just learnt before we go any further... don't you?"

"I think I'm going to be sick," Krycek suddenly stated, rousing 
himself enough to push Mulder roughly aside and stumble over to 
the sink, where he slumped over and began to heave.

Skinner, seeing this grimaced and glancing away, suggested, 
"You'd better see to him, once I'm finished I'll come back, 
then we can decide what to do."

Mulder barely acknowledged the other man as Skinner left with 
Scully in tow, his entire attention was fixed on his lover.

After Krycek had finished, he stood swaying over the sink for a 
few moments, before he turned on the tap and splashed cold 
water onto his face, then he took a deep mouthful, swishing it 
about his mouth before he spat it out into the sink. "God, I am 
such a wimp," he said, his voice still shaking. "Some great 
double agent I make, nearly passing out on the steps, and now 
throwing up like a frightened school kid."  The bitterness 
could clearly be heard in his tone, and it tore at Mulder as he 
moved toward Alex and pulled him into a tender embrace.  Krycek 
resisted for a few, tense, seconds before he slumped into the 
welcoming arms and allowed his head to rest on Mulder's 
shoulder.

Gently Mulder rubbed his hand up and down the shaking back. "I 
think you have every reason to react the way you did Alex," 
Mulder confided, his voice as gentle as his caress. "In the 
last few months, you been nearly blown up; shot at; possessed 
by an alien; left to die in a silo; and then shot trying to 
defend me.... Finally, just when you think it's about to end, 
that smoking bastard appears once more and pulls the rug from 
under our feet.... So I think you've got good reason to lose it 
for a while." He planted a kiss on the curve of the neck that 
was resting just under his chin, before finishing, "Hell, I'd 
have been a jelly on those steps long before you were, if it 
had happened to me."

Krycek pulled back slightly, looking into Mulder's face he 
smiled somewhat shakily and offered, "Well seeing as how you 
put it like that...."

"Let's sit back down again," Mulder suggested, steering the man 
over to the sofa that was situated along the other wall.

"Do you think he meant it?" Krycek suddenly asked, once he was 
settled, reaching out to grasp Mulder's hand as the other man 
sat beside him.

"What?" Mulder began then saw the other's expression he 
concluded, "About your reinstatement?" He paused, then added, 
"Why not... least that way he and his little band can keep an 
eye on you, and he knows that we will each act as hostage for 
the other."

"Hostage?" Alex asked, giving Mulder a long sidelong look.

Mulder sat back and let his head fall to rest on the back of 
the sofa, closing his eyes he let his own reaction wash over 
him, he felt drained and exhausted, so he could only imagine 
just how back Krycek felt. "He knows that whatever else I might 
be prepared to do, I won't endanger your life...." He glanced 
over and gave Alex a warm smile, it was genuine and reached his 
eyes, lingering for a short time as he continued, "Oh, he knows 
that I won't stop searching for the truth, but he also knows 
that he's got an ace up his sleeve if ever the time comes that 
I actually understand what the truth is that I'm searching 
for."

"I won't allow..." Krycek began, not liking the idea that he 
was going to be used as a method of blackmail against his 
lover. But Mulder shushed him before he could finish, saying.

"You don't have a choice Alex... I'm not letting you go, I've 
lost too many people that I care about, and I am not going to 
lose you as well... I can't.." he stopped suddenly overwhelmed 
by the reality of what he was feeling. "I can't survive that... 
so it's not an option."

Krycek opened his mouth, wanting to deny the other's words, 
wanting to find an argument against what Mulder was saying, but 
he closed it slowly when he realised that the words Mulder had 
spoken were the truth, and that he also felt the same. So, 
instead of arguing, he said, "I feel as if this is some weird 
dream and I'm going to wake up in that warehouse bleeding all 
over you."

The hand holding his squeezed it very tightly, then Mulder 
reached over with the other hand and pinched the back of 
Krycek's hand, making the other man yelp.

Mulder grinned, "This isn't a dream Alex." Leaning over he 
gently rested his lips against the warm mouth of his lover, 
slowly, hesitatingly, Krycek's lips opened under his, and he 
slipped his tongue deep inside, it started out as a necessary 
form of reassurance, but soon their desire overtook them and 
Mulder groaned as Krycek twisted slightly so that he was half 
resting over his body.

Finally parting for air, Mulder shot a look over his lover's 
shoulder at the open doorway and said, his tone hushed from 
lack of breath, "We are in a courthouse, with god knows how 
many people out there Alex." He inhaled sharply as Krycek 
wiggled slightly, nudging Mulder's growing erection as he did 
so, "I really think we should shelve this for later," he 
finally gasped out, fearing Skinner's return at any moment.

Krycek, seeing the sense behind Mulder's words, slid back on 
the sofa, disappointment clearly showing on his handsome 
features. Mulder noted with deep satisfaction that much of the 
colour had returned to Alex's face.

Suddenly Alex's face crumbled and he sagged against the sofa as 
a devastating thought struck him. Mulder feeling the body 
language demanded to know what was the matter. Krycek seemed 
unable to met his concerned look as he mumbled, "If I've been 
reinstated to the FBI, then I guess beating my boss up in that 
hospital stairwell wasn't such a good idea."

At first Mulder could just look at Krycek in shock, until he 
saw the slight curve of the lips and knew that his lover was 
teasing him. Raising an eyebrow he plastered a concerned look 
across his own face as he agreed, "I never thought of that, do 
you think he'll take it out on your lover?" To emphasise his 
words he withdrew slightly from the body that nestled closely 
beside him. A few moments of totally stunned, shock silence 
followed from the man sitting next to him before Mulder forgave 
him and settling back next to his lover he finished, "But if I 
know Skinner, then he'll have you on transcribing surveillance 
tapes for the next six months."  He shivered dramatically as he 
remembered his stint at that particular job.

The look this earned him would have fried him on the spot if 
he'd been made of weaker stuff, instead it just cause a rush of 
blood from his mind to his lower body, and he licked at 
suddenly dry lips, "I hope Skinner hurries up." He added, 
seeing the flame of desire flicker from his own body to his 
lover's eyes.

As if on cue the man in question appeared at the door, "Are you 
ready?" he asked, eyeing Krycek, who clambered weakly to his 
feet, and moved towards the door to met the other man.

"What happened with Judge Pringle?" Mulder asked, allowing 
Skinner to precede them out of the room.

Skinner snorted in disgust, "Judge Pringle got called in to 
cover another trial on short notice when another Judge took 
sick.... She still in session, but she left a message for me to 
contact her later tonight."

"So what do we do now?" Krycek asked. They were now descending 
the stairs where a short time earlier he had faced his deadly 
nemesis. He was still slightly shaky, but with Mulder close, 
offering his support at his side, he felt able to ask about the 
future.

Skinner paused, considering the question, before he answered, 
"I guess I return to the office and see if Cancerman was 
telling the truth when he spoke about your credential being 
reinstated."

"What if they were?" Alex asked, his voice barely above a 
whisper as he contemplated his reinstatement to the FBI. If he 
had been then it would truly be like a dream come true, he had 
not lied to Mulder when he said that he had always wanted to be 
an FBI Agent.

Skinner pulled a face, he did not look as enthused as Krycek 
was about having the man working under him again. "Then I will 
expect to see you at the office on Monday morning... after," he 
added firmly, "You've been checked out by a departmental doctor 
and passed fit for duty."

Whatever else Krycek might have been about to say was lost as 
they passed out of the main entrance of the court house and 
into the sun light and noise of the large city.

=-=-=-=-=

Epilogue

Mulder rested his sweating forehead on his lover's upper 
stomach. They had just finished having world shattering sex, 
and he felt like he could just slip of into sleep.

"Mulder." Krycek said, as the weight of his lover became 
steadily heavier. He nudged at his lover's side. "Mulder... 
move... can't breathe..." His position was difficult as his 
legs had been draped over Mulder's shoulders and he was now 
effectively being bent in half. Not a very comfortable position 
to fall asleep in, even if he could. Not getting a reply, an 
evil gleam came to his eyes and he reached down to grab at the 
fleshy side of his sleeping lover.

Mulder awoke with a yelp of shock and twisted off the body he 
was laying on. After a few seconds he gathered himself enough 
to demand. "Why'd you do that for?"  He was not angry, just 
confused. He felt too relaxed after the lovemaking to be angry 
with Alex.

"You are not a light man Mulder." Krycek said, nodding at his 
wounded side as he straightened his limbs and stretched his 
back to ease the last of the kinks out.

Mulder realising what he had done, blushed deeply and snuggling 
closer to Alex. He kissed the injured shoulder, which was 
healing well, then trailed little pecks up the neck saying, 
"I'm sorry, but making love to you just sends me spiralling 
into exhaustion... you're that good." he finished, gently 
raising himself to kiss the side of Alex's lips, which had 
turned up in a slight smile at his words.

"I am good aren't I." Krycek said smugly, as he wriggled a bit, 
to turn Mulder over on his back, and allowing him to wedge 
himself under the other man's arm to sprawl across his chest. 
This was fast becoming his favourite position, using Mulder as 
a human pillow.

Mulder was content to let him do so. They were in Mulder's 
apartment, Krycek not having anywhere to live, and if Mulder 
had anything to do with it, it would be a while, if ever, 
before he got around to looking for his own place.

After their unusual encounter with Cancerman, Skinner had 
returned to his office to find that what they had been told was 
indeed true. Krycek had indeed been reinstated as an FBI Agent, 
his past indiscretions being explained away via a fictitious 
undercover assignment. To add credence to the assignment it was 
even suggested that he be awarded a citation for his dedication 
to duty.

They had spent the last few days sorting out their new life. 
Krycek was now reinstated into the FBI and was once more 
reporting to AD Walter Skinner, who had immediately put him on 
transcribing surveillance tape, an assignment that Mulder had 
been doing when Krycek had first met him.

"I can't believe that Skinner would assign me to transcribing 
those damn tapes." Krycek suddenly said, his body tensing with 
indignation.

Mulder opened his eyes and look up at the darkened ceiling. Why 
was it that whenever they made love, he was nearly catatonic 
afterwards and Krycek was up to discussing the weather or any 
other titbit that flashing into his sex soaked mind. 
Suppressing a yawn, Mulder answered, "You're still not fit for 
active duty... you heard the doctor... desk duty for the next 
month," he planted a kiss on the dark hair resting just under 
his chin.

"I know that, but transcribing surveillance tapes," groused 
Alex, "That's like being sent to Siberia for the duration..." 
then he added remembering their conversation at the Court 
house, "I thought you were just joking about him doing that."

"Well, if you get to have mind blowing sex like we just had in 
Siberia, then I want to go there for our next vacation," Mulder 
said, his tone more of a mumble as he once again began to slip 
into sleep.

"Do you think he'll keep his word?" Krycek asked, allowing his 
hand to slowly trace circles on the body under his. 

Mulder's eyes snapped open once more, he knew exactly who Alex 
was talking about. "I think so." he said slowly, showing Krycek 
that he was weighing his words and not just saying what he 
thought Alex wanted to hear. "And with the system that the Lone 
Gunman have set up, he has a lot more to lose than we do if he 
doesn't."  The system that he was referring to concerned the 
taped statements that Krycek had made and their method of 
checking in once a fortnight to ensure that the tapes were not 
released to the press world wide.

"Do you think, our reporting into that web-based chat room will 
work?"  Krycek asked, moving about so that he was resting up on 
one elbow, which allowed him to look down into his lovers face.

Again Mulder seriously considered the question before he 
answered, "I think so, the chat room they have chosen has over 
two hundred visitors at any one time, and no-one will now who 
or how many of those people are charged with confirming that we 
were actually on site to validate our continued health." 
Reaching out to gently push aside a stray lock of his lover's 
hair that had fallen across his handsome face, he added. "Once 
a month we have to check in verbally to the Lone Gunman's 
computer network for voice verification, if the caller does not 
match out voice patterns then alarms go off all over the place, 
according to Frohike."

"Modern technology at your fingertips." Alex said about a smile 
as he settled down. Mulder knew that Krycek was not totally 
happy with the arrangements, and that his lover was still not 
convinced that it was going to work, but as Mulder had already 
explained, only time would tell if it was really successful, 
and the Lone Gunman did know what they were talking about. 
Mulder also realised that some of Alex's fear came from fact 
that he had spent so long on the run that he still woke up 
night screaming from his dreams. Mulder was disturbed when 
Krycek explained the one where he would be forcibly held down 
while his arm was sawn off. A part of Mulder put this down to 
the fact that Alex still felt as if he had lost apart of 
himself when the oil alien had left his body. Mulder wondered 
idly what he chances were of getting his lover to seek help for 
these dreams, his thoughts were interrupted again as Krycek 
spoke.

"I don't think Scully was too happy to see me sitting at your 
desk earlier today." He had popped down to visit Mulder during 
his lunch hour, and had been innocently sitting at Fox's desk, 
while Mulder made some coffee when Scully had walked in, she 
had frozen in the doorway for a few seconds before she had 
entered, "Do we need to get another desk in here Mulder?" She 
had asked her tone tight as she moved to her own seat.

Mulder had looked up, then back down at the coffee cups before 
saying, "Not for a while... I think Skinner has found the 
perfect revenge." Seeing the raised eyebrow this earned him 
from his working partner he went on, "He's put Alex on 
transcribing surveillance tapes, in the general office." All 
three knew that doing that particular job in the hubbub and 
noise of the general office only made it that much harder... it 
would take twice as long to transcribe the tapes.  He then held 
up the coffee-pot, silently asking her if she wanted one, she 
shook her head and smiled.

"And who said revenge isn't sweet." She smiled sweetly at Alex, 
who pulled a face before saying.

"I'm not here to take your place Scully." The words were not 
spoken loudly, but the way he said them must have satisfied 
Dana because she nodded once, then said.

"Damn I forgot to pick up the file on the Jamerson case while I 
was in records." With that she smiled at Mulder, nodded once 
more to Krycek and headed out of the room again.

"It's going to take some time..." Mulder said, jarring Alex 
back to the present and the bed they were both resting in.

"I know... it's just..." he paused, not sure if he could put 
his concerns into words.

"Just what?" Mulder asked gently, tightening his arm about his 
lover, showing that he was trying to understand.

Alex sighed, "I don't know, maybe this has all happened so 
fast, fallen into place so swiftly, it's like... I don't really 
believe it true... I keep thinking that this is the dream and 
that I'm going to wake up in the morning and find myself laying 
on the cold forest floor with my arm lopped off."  The fear in 
the voice was palpable, and it moved Mulder.

He shifted slightly so that he was able to look his lover 
directly in the eyes, leaning forward he instigated a warm, 
loving kiss, it lasted for several moments before he pulled 
away, saying, "This is not a dream, what you do to me here...." 
He took Krycek's hand and gently rested it over his own growing 
erection, "Is not a dream, it's real and so are we. Nothing and 
no one can take that away from us... Now I'm not going to lie 
here and promise that we are not going to have problems, nor 
that I am going to be able to stop searching for the truth, I 
can't... it's in my blood." He smiled a bit at his own words, 
but then became serious as he continued, "But I will promise 
you, that I will do everything in my power to ensure that we 
will be together for as long as possible, and that I would do 
my utmost to protect you, 'cause you mean more to me than 
anything else."

Krycek looked as if he wanted to say something, but the words 
seemed to have eluded him, that was the most impassioned speech 
that he had heard Mulder make, and it filled him with an even 
deeper love for the man before him. "I love you." he finally 
gasped out, moving so that he was once more nestled in the arms 
of the man he loved, head resting on the chest he adored, as 
exhaustion overtook him.

Several silent minutes passed before Mulder whispered, 
"Alex..." no reply, just the deep even breathing of his lover. 
Mulder licked at his dry lips, his erection resting snugly 
against the tempting form of the man lying beside him. "Are you 
asleep?" he asked, desperately hoping that Alex was just 
pretending, as he was now wide awake and wanting his lover 
again. "Alex!!!" Mulder gasped in exasperation before he 
hissed, his tone while warm edged with frustration, "You know 
you really are a rat bastard Alex Krycek."

A warm hand moved to gentle curl about his erection, causing 
Mulder to gasp, as Krycek answered, his own lips curved in a 
smile that rested upon his lover's broad chest as he began to 
gently pump the shaft in his grasp building the tension as he 
spoke, "Yeah, but I'm your rat bastard Fox Mulder."

=-=-=-=-=

End (13/13)