Passing the Peace, by Maria Covington-Brooks

Passing the Peace

by Maria Covington-Brooks

Author's Notes: This was written for the 2003 Secret Santa game. Thanks to kaNd for permitting it's posting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~oo(O)oo~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A light snow was falling on the Capitol. Christmas lights twinkled like stars sprinkled across the city, and music filled the air as shoppers carrying bags and boxes scurried to and fro in the cold, hurrying to get home. The eyes of children and adults alike sparkled at the extravagant Christmas nativity scene in one particular window.

Jeremiah Smith and Walter Skinner sat in the small park, watching quietly, marveling at the scene. Skinner had graciously explained the significance of the holiday to Smith, Krycek's Rebel contact. It had been a month since Krycek's death. Subsequent events proved that the green-eyed, triple agent was, in fact, working with the rebels against Spender, and the Consortium. Jeremiah Smith had aided both Skinner and Kersh, when both men were taken by the supersoldier who had been working in Kersh's office.

Smith explained that the nanocytes with which Dr. Orgel had infected Skinner to kill him had actually provided him with a form of cellular immunity. Although Krycek did 'kill' Skinner with the palm-pilot controlled nanocytes, his 'death' had actually helped prevent his transformation into one of the supersoldier creatures.

Krycek wasn't always privy to what the Consortium was doing, but he was aware that the nanocytes, once acclimatized to a body, would help repair any damage to its cell structure. The supersoldier plans for Skinner, at least, had been thwarted. Smith said he and the Rebel leaders had been alerted by Krycek to the plans for Kersh and Skinner; they had decided that Krycek would have to play his part, and he explained how and why Krycek had suddenly appeared to help Scully and Mulder escape Billy Miles. Krycek was also afraid that Mulder had been taken over by the virus, and that had given rise to the final, fatal confrontation between him and Skinner.

Skinner was first astonished, then deeply ashamed of having murdered Krycek. While the Rat had deserved some form of punishment, murder wasn't what Skinner had planned. Now, hearing just what part Krycek had played in helping to defeat the Colonization scheme, he was even more distressed.

Scully seemed to be at peace with herself and her son. Learning the whys of Krycek's actions, she had even lit a candle at Mass for him and paid for a novena to be offered for his soul. Mulder, however, remained unmoved. Even after finding out just how deeply involved his own father was in the Consortium, and how terribly young Krycek had been when recruited, Mulder continued to blame Krycek for everything wrong in his life. It never occurred to Mulder that the world did not revolve around him, and neither Skinner nor Scully were inclined to cater to him, this season. The spirit of hope and reconciliation had not caught up with Mulder just yet.

There was a small Nativity scene nearby playing the "Little Drummer Boy." It was beautifully painted and clothed, and Smith was fascinated. Skinner explained the scene and its significance, and as he studied the tiny figures, he noticed the green eyes of the Drummer, and how they sparkled. Brooding about what Smith had told him regarding Alex Krycek's assistance to the Rebels, Skinner suddenly sensed he was being watched. He looked around but could not place the direction from where the feeling came. Smith, however, did. As Skinner looked in the windowpane, he could seek the smiling face of Alex Krycek behind him. Green eyes sparkled with mischief, and the ever-present smirk dared a comment. The Assistant Director turned around, but Krycek wasn't there. A smile came to Skinner's lips, and a sense of peace settled over him. He realized Alex Krycek was finally at peace, too. No more Consortium for Alex! Skinner realized that, as he had forgiven Krycek for what he had done, Alex had forgiven him too. Smith slyly hinted that it might not be the last time Krycek would come to Skinner. Walter Skinner smiled

The End

~~~~~~~oo(O)oo~~~~~~~

Feedback to Maria