Different Endings
by Frankie
Disclaimer: Property of CC and FOX. Used without permission, but not abused. Much.
Rated: T
Author's Notes: Just dipping my toe back into the waters of Lake Slashville. Thanks to Sue for the beta and encouragement. No spoilers, just messing around with the idea of the end of Krycek.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~oo(O)oo~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Krycek's gaze was steady, his gun trained on Mulder, ready to shoot with deadly precision. "Drop the gun," he growled.
Mulder smirked, his own gun pointed at Krycek. "You first."
"Drop the gun," Krycek repeated, deliberately.
"I could shoot you right now, before you could get a shot off."
"I could say the same thing." Krycek narrowed his eyes. "And I'd be a hell of a lot more accurate."
Mulder raised an eyebrow, looking decidedly amused at the whole situation. "You think insulting my marksmanship is going to make me give in?"
"No," Krycek shrugged slightly, "I'm just giving you fair warning. Put the gun down and I'll put mine down."
"Nice try, but I really hope you don't think I'm stupid enough to fall for that."
"Then I guess we're at an impass."
"I should have known it would come down to this one day," Mulder said softly, "We're going to kill each other, aren't we?"
Krycek swallowed hard. "Mulder's already dead."
"Why are you going to kill me after all this time?" Mulder asked, ignoring the statement.
"Stop trying to pretend that you're Mulder. I know that Mulder died after he was abducted." Krycek's hand started shaking, and he cursed himself. He had promised himself he wouldn't get emotional about this. How many people had he eliminated without feeling one ounce of remorse? He had to do it. This thing posing as Mulder wasn't dangerous yet, but it would just be a matter of time before it started its rampage.
"It's me, Alex," Mulder said firmly. "What happened to me was a miracle. I didn't survive it only to have you kill me now. Drop the gun."
"You're not Mulder," Krycek whispered. "I'm not killing Mulder."
Mulder nodded slowly. "Yes, I am, and, yes, you are. If you pull that trigger, you're going to see real blood come out of me, and then it'll be too late."
"You all bleed real blood. That doesn't mean anything. Of course you're going to say that," Krycek added hesitantly.
"You're not so sure now, are you?" Mulder smiled. "What can I do to prove it's really me?" Krycek looked at him uncertainly as he felt himself losing control of the situation. "I'm not going to believe anything you say."
"The night you came to tell me about the alien invasion," Mulder murmured, "when you walked out and left me sitting there on the floor. I got up and ran after you, Alex. I made you come back. You fought me at first then finally relented. Remember that?"
Krcek didn't say anything but lowered the gun a little as he waited for Mulder to continue.
"It had all been coming to a head before that night, hadn't it?" Mulder said, stepping a little closer. "All of the anger and resentment had been building up to the inevitable and we finally gave in. I know you remember that."
"We were up all night," Krycek said hoarsely. "We fucked each other stupid. Of course I remember that." He shook his head and raised the gun again. "But that doesn't prove anything. You could have been told to say that."
"Alex, listen to me. I'm not an alien anything. It's me, and I don't want you to kill me." He paused. "And I really don't want to have to kill you in order to defend myself."
"This is the only chance I'll have to get rid of you," Krycek murmured. "I'm doing this for everyone's good."
"Alex, you have to listen to me. The next morning, you left while I was still asleep. You wrote me a note telling me that you didn't know where you'd be in a year and wanted me to know you loved me."
Krycek's eyes widened. "I never said that."
"I know," Mulder grinned. "You said that you'd tell me something important the next time we met. I just figured that would be it."
"Mulder..." Krycek looked at him through narrowed eyes. "Anyone could have seen that note."
"Not after I tore it up so it wouldn't be found."
"This could still be a trick," Krycek said unconvincingly.
"Fine," Mulder said, digging into his pocket and pulling out a small object. "Recognize this? I kept it after you left it in my bed."
Krycek stared at the small gold earring. "I thought I'd lost that."
"Then you have to know It's really me," Mulder whispered.
"Mulder?" Krycek looked at him, confused. "It's not supposed to be you. I thought--"
A shot rang out and Krycek slumped to the ground, a shocked look on his face. Screaming his name, Mulder dropped to his knees and shook him, already knowing it was too late, knowing that the hole in the middle of Krycek's forehead could be nothing but fatal. As a pool of blood formed around Krycek's head, Mulder looked up to see Skinner pointing his gun at the two of them.
"Mulder, are you okay?" Skinner walked over to them then stooped down to take Krycek's gun out of his hand.
"You killed him," Mulder whispered in disbelief as he stared down into Krycek's unseeing eyes. "You killed him..."
Skinner stepped back. "Mulder, get up." His voice was firm. "Get up," he repeated more sternly when Mulder didn't move right away.
Shaking his head, Mulder moved so he could cradle Krycek's head in his lap, blood, sticky and warm, smearing his pants and soaking into them. "Why?" he barely managed, his throat tight with emotion.
"He was going to shoot you, Mulder. He had a gun on you."
Mulder's face crumpled, and he started sobbing as he held up his own gun. The gun Skinner hadn't seen him holding. Now he'd never have the chance to tell Krycek how he felt. There was never going to be another chance for him to own up to his real feelings and put an end to all the animosity.
"Mulder," Skinner sighed, "I didn't see the gun, but I don't understand why you're acting this way. You wanted Krycek dead the same way we all did."
Skinner's words didn't register. Mulder was too busy staring at the gun in his hand as he raised it and pointed it at Skinner. Unblinking, Mulder pulled the trigger.
"Alex!" Mulder shouted as he bolted upright in bed. Sweat was pouring off him, and he felt a chill as the cool air in his bedroom came into contact with his hot, slick skin.
There was a confused, concerned grunt, and a warm hand grasped Mulder's arm. "What is it? What happened?" Krycek fumbled for the lamp on the nightstand and turned it on, squeezing his eyes shut at the assault of bright light.
"It's nothing," Mulder said breathlessly, willing his heart rate to return to normal. He gripped Krycek's hand tightly and pulled it to his lips. "It's okay," he whispered, softly kissing the knuckles.
Krycek's face softened, and he put his arm around Mulder's shoulders. "You had that dream again, didn't you?"
Mulder raised his eyes to him and nodded, his eyes already brimming with tears. "You died this time. I didn't wake up before you died."
There was a slight pause as Krycek sighed then pulled Mulder toward him, cradling the back of his head and kissing his forehead. "It's okay, Fox. Nothing happened to me. You saved my life when you pushed me out of the way. Do you remember that?"
Nodding again, Mulder closed his eyes and held Krycek tighter. "Yeah, I remember," he said in a small voice. "If his first shot hadn't missed though..." He shuddered. "Defending you cost me my friendship with Skinner, but I can't say I'm sorry." Mulder gave a small sniff and nuzzled Krycek's neck. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Krycek smiled, stroking Mulder's hair,
Minutes passed as they held each other in silence, the memory of Mulder's nightmare already fading as he savored the safety and warmth of Krycek's embrace. With a heavy sigh, Mulder let go. "I guess we should get some sleep. I'm sorry I woke you."
Krycek grinned and pushed Mulder back down on the bed, stretching out on top of him. "I'm not."
End
~~~~~~~oo(O)oo~~~~~~~
| Alex Annex | Characters | Stories/Alpha | Stories/Author | Home |