The Young Agent

Fox Mulder was transcribing the wiretap as Skinner had ordered. He just wanted to investigate the case he had taken to Skinner that morning. It was an X-File, he was sure.

"Agent Mulder?"

//Who the hell was this stupid ass disturbing him now// He looked up. It was the young, good-looking agent he had often seen in the cafeteria in the FBI building. Every time he had seen that young man, Mulder tried to sit close to him, to hear his voice when he spoke with his colleagues; to hear his laughter; to look into his eyes. Mulder didn't even know the color of those eyes, because he had never had the courage to look at him for more than a second. What if he noticed his interests? He was afraid the entire time that anyone - even Scully - would discover his bisexuality.

"Yeah."

He knew that the agent's name was Alex. His colleagues called him that. Ever since Mulder first heard his name, it was the only name he could think of. It rang in his dreams day and night. He liked to whisper it, to scream it, to sing it.

"It's your 302. Assistant Director Skinner just approved it."

Alex handed him a file, the file for the case of Grissom's death. Mulder looked in it. There was another agent on the case. He looked up. //Was it a joke? Had someone found out his secret and decided to kick him several times in the ass? Send the man on whom he had a crush; no, with whom he had fallen in love, and take away the case he wanted at the same time. And the agent's name - Krycek.... What a silly name.//

"There's a mistake here. There's been another agent assigned to the case."

The young agent bent his head a little. He was beautiful. Mulder lowered his eyes fast.

"That would be me. Krycek, Alex Krycek." He stretched out his hand.

//Krycek, what had he thought about that name? It was wonderful. The name had a sound that made his heart pound.// Mulder was blinded by the man, the name, everything.

//I can't give him my hand now, it's sweaty. He would be disgusted by it.//

"Skinner didn't say anything about taking on a new partner." //But I would die for it...if it's you//

"It wasn't Skinner."

//Did he want to investigate it, because he knew I would be working with him?//

"Actually, I opened the file two hours before your request so, technically, it's my case."

Mulder leaned back. It was so incredible. He would be working with this man. He had never expected to be so happy. He had to hide his grin behind his fingers.

"And you already talked to the police?"

"Yeah, just hung up on the officer in charge a few minutes ago. A detective named Horton." How wonderful he pursed his lips on the name. "Turns out Grissom called 911 to report a fire."

"I heard the tape."

"Did you hear that forensics found a spent fire extinguisher on the floor. Grissom's prints were all over it. The walls and floor in his living room were covered with ammonium phosphate."

"But no trace of a fire."

"Not even a burnt match."

"That all you know?"

"So far. What do you think it means?"

"Listen, I appreciate the show and tell, and I don't want you to take this personally, but I work alone. I'll straighten things out with Skinner." Mulder stood up and started to walk away, he passed very close to Krycek. //What incredible after-shave. Please, hold me back. Say anything to stop me//

"It's my case, Agent Mulder."

//Thank you!!!//

"Look, I may be---green, but I had the case first and I'm not going to give it away so quickly."

"All right, I'll tell you what, I got a little work to finish up around here. Why don't you go down to the motor pool and requisition us a car and I'll meet you down there." //I hope he'll say yes - that would be the greatest thing on earth//

"That's all. I mean, you don't have a problem with us working together."

"It's your party." //No, I have no problem with us working together - and if you want, it could be a lot more...//

"Well, um, I'll get the car."

He walked away with the sweetest smile Mulder had ever seen. //I'm sorry, my little boy, but I have to do some investigations on my own//

//I hoped he would be here - but he's nowhere to seen. Ah, there he is. He looks a little bit angry//

"Agent Mulder! I paid off your cab. Hey, I don't appreciate being ditched like someone's bad date."

//I don't think you would be a bad date at all. No, it's impossible for you to be one//

"I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."

"Where do you get off copping this attitude. You don't even know the first thing about me."

"Exactly." //But I'd like to know everything//

"You know, back at the academy, some of the guys used to make fun of you."

"Oh stop it, or you'll hurt my feelings." //Do you think I don't know that//

"But there were some of us who followed your work. Believed what you were doing because we knew that there was more out there than they were telling us."

//He knew me before? He followed my work? He believes? I can't believe that... This damn cellphone...// "Yeah."

"Grissom didn't die from cardiac arrest."

//Scully, it's typical// "What is it?"

"I think you should come down and take a look for yourself. I haven't even started on the chest and abdomen yet and I'll have a lot more to tell you then."

"I can make it in two hours." // Or we can, I hope//

Mulder reached for the door. Krycek held up the keys.

"Where are we going?"

// Okay, there is something out there. I knew it and it helps me. This will be an interesting drive//.

"So, what did you find out?"

"Sorry, what did you say?" // Shit, I didn't hear what he asked, I was so distracted by the thought of sitting next to him for two hours//

"You've been in this clinic without me. So, I just want to know what they told you because this is our case. We investigate this together, don't we?"

"Yeah. Okay, ehm... So, Dr. Grissom treated all sleep disorders with an unusual success rate. He had a bout of insomnia himself, but had never been delusional. All in all, that's it" //Okay, some things you do not have to know...not yet. But maybe it would help, I don't know//

"So, what do you think caused his death?"

"I don't know, but maybe we will know it after we have the autopsy report." Mulder turned around and looked straight out the front windshield.

"Fine. So, what should we do the rest of this drive? Just remain obstinately silent?"

Mulder didn't move or speak. "We could sing folk songs, if you want..." Mulder had to grin.

"Okay, if that's the only alternative, I prefer to be quiet." Now even Krycek had to grin. "Oh, we do have a radio. Could you turn it on and find a good station?"

Mulder searched for one. Suddenly he found a station where the song "When I'm dead and gone" by Fury In The Slaughterhouse was playing. He stopped.

"Hey, I love that song." Krycek became silent.

Mulder tried to hide his smile. He was so cute. //Yeah, I knew it, this is going to be a very nice drive//

"What's so funny?"

Mulder couldn't interpret his intonation.

"Ehm.. it's just because... ehm.. We... Scully... my former partner and I ... seldom listened to the radio ... when we ... were driving."

"So, what else did you do?"

// Is he really interested or does he just want to polite?//

"We talked about whatever case we were working on; about our theories. She always had a different theory than mine."

// Did I just imagine that he blinked several times when I said "she"?//

"Why don't you work together anymore?" Alex seemed really interested.

"That's a long story."

"Ehm..if...if you don't want to talk about that." Krycek turned to Mulder and looked him directly the eyes. "You don't have to."

"Yeah. It's a little bit ... complicated." //Why are your eyes so wonderful?// "Uh.. did you know that there are 38 different disom..." //Fuck, what do I tell him? It won't interest him. I'm so stupid...// "Ah, just forget it."

"Okay. Do you want anything to eat or drink? I want to stop and buy something. I'm dying for a cool drink."

"Can you read my mind? That's exactly what I thought a few seconds ago."

Krycek drove to the next truck stop and parked near the entrance and started to go in.

"So, what do you want?"

"Wait. I...I'll go in with you. I... don't know yet."

They walked into the shop together. Mulder noticed that Krycek kept very close to him. Inside Mulder stopped in front of the cooler and inspected all the bottles. Krycek took a bottle of mineral water. Mulder wanted to take the same, but he took a coke instead. He went to the counter where Krycek was already standing and put his coke on it. He started to take out his wallet to pay for it, but Krycek took the bottle and said: "This one too." Mulder looked at him with surprise. He blinked back.

"Next time you're buying."

"Ok."

They left the store together and stood in front of the car. Mulder just got in the car and had opened his coke and took a sip.

"Hmm, funny taste. Like they put someone's old shoes in it."

"What?"

"The coke."

"Let me try." Krycek who was still standing at the passenger's side grabbed the coke and took a good swig. Then he pulled a face and gave Mulder the bottle back. "Yeah. Right. It's terrible. I think that's the reason I just drink mineral water. Do you want anything else? I mean, I.. I'm still standing. It's ... it's no problem. So, if you want..."

"Yeah. That would be nice. Could you bring me a mineral water?"

"I'm on my way."

Krycek turned around and went back to the store. Mulder had to smile. Alex didn't wipe the bottle. That meant that their lips had met. No, not yet. Mulder took another fast sip from the coke. Now their lips had met. He enjoyed imagining that their lips could really meet. Pressed against each other, they would find what so many other people searched for their whole lives. He closed his eyes to have a better image of them together.

"Hey, don't fall asleep. It's a long way. And I'm a not very good at entertaining myself."

"Yeah, I'm here. I'm awake. We can go."

"Uhm.. don't you want to throw the coke away? I mean it's your choice, but..."

"Yeah, all right. There's a garbage can. Wait a minute."

Mulder got out of the car and threw the bottle into the garbage with a last lustful view. As he turned around he saw that Krycek had observed him. Had his reaction been too obvious? He sat down in the passenger seat again.

"Mulder, there is something I have to tell you..." Krycek started as they left the truck stop.

"What is it?" Mulder asked, with studied composure.

"It's ...very... personal..."

"Those are the best kind, the personal ones." //Yeah, I knew it. It's going to be a fine drive//

Instead of continuing Krycek went silent.

"So, what is it?" Mulder asked. //Tell it, come on//

"I ... um. followed your work for a personal reason."

Why? //Please, say it. Let me know your little secret//

"When I was a child ...um... I had an ..I think I was abducted. But you know parents never believe their kids. Mine told me not to speak about it, because others would think that I was mad."

//You poor boy. No one believed you. It's similar to my experience....//

Because Mulder remained silent and started to smile, Krycek took a deep breath and went on.

"But I know that it was real. I knew it then and I know it now. If you tell me that you don't believe my words...then why else would I follow your work? And why are you doing your work with such..."

Mulder cut him off. "No, I believe it. It's just; I haven't worked with anyone who believed for a long time. It's so incredible."

Alex looked at him. "Really?"

"Yeah."

"Anyway, it was a little surprise when I heard at the academy that there was somebody who was interested in this stuff. Someone else who also believed that there is something out there."

While he spoke, he had tried to catch Mulder's eyes with his own. It was very easy because Mulder watched him directly. Alex looked him deep in the eyes and then suddenly he turned around to observe the traffic. He had to because their car tended to pull to the left side of the street. Krycek corrected the direction

"I think we should talk about all these emotional topics when I'm not driving."

//All these emotional topics? What else are you planning to talk about//?

"Hmmm" Mulder took a sip of his water.

"Okay, could you turn on the radio again?" Alex smiled over at him.

//I hope I can find another station with music he likes...//

The drive to the academy in Quantico passed quickly. On their way they joked and talked about some professors they shared. They were in a good mood when they entered the morgue. Mulder entered first, Krycek on his heels. Scully was just placing a large organ on the scale.

"Spleen or pancreas?"

Scully turned around with a smile.

"Stomach. I was just about to start on it." Then she saw Alex and looked in askance at Mulder. Mulder tried to behave normally.

"This is Alex Krycek. We're, uh, working the case together."

"Good to meet you." She smiled at him politely.

"You too."

He held out his hand, but she walked right by it. He looked a little bit disturbed. Mulder noticed it and, spontaneously, he wanted to smile at him to apologize. But he decided otherwise. Instead, he turned to Scully and listened to her.

"Notice the pugilistic attitude of the corpse."

Krycek saw the body and turned around very fast and coughed into his fist, loudly.

//Cute. I thought he'd seen a few bodies during his education. //

Mulder looked at Scully with a half-amused expression.

"This condition generally occurs several hours after death. It's caused by a coagulation of muscle proteins when the body is exposed to extremely high temperatures."

"Like fire?"

"This degree of limb flexion is observed exclusively in burn-related victims."

"But there was no fire." Krycek interrupted the discussion.

Scully noticed it, but went on. "And no epidermal burns to indicate as much but when I opened up the skull, I found external hemorrhages, which can only be caused by intense heat. Some how, this man suffered all of the secondary, but none of the primary physiological signs of being in a fire."

"Any theories?"

"I couldn't even begin to explain what could have caused this. It's almost as if. . ."

"What?"

"It's almost as if his body believed that it was burning."

Mulder looked at Scully with surprise; then fixed Krycek with his eyes.

"I think we have a really nice case."

Then he started to walk away, turned around and said: "If you have the whole report, could you fax it."

Krycek nodded at Scully and turned around to follow Mulder.

Scully stood there for several minutes without moving. It hurt to see Mulder with another, a new partner. And she felt that there was something wrong with Mulder. His behavior was strange; not that it had ever been "normal", but it seemed that he now had some new aspects to his behavior. She shook her head to chase away her thoughts and turned to continue the autopsy.

Krycek had to move some steps faster to reach Mulder.

"Hey, what was that in there?"

"What?"

"You were so... I can't really describe. You were so strange."

"Really? Um, do you know if that café near the academy is still open? They had the best cheesecake I've ever eaten." //Is that too obvious? //

"Sure. It's still there and it's still the best cheesecake..."

"Okay, do you want to go there?" //Please! //

"Yeah! It's been a long time since I was there. But not long enough to forget that delicious cheesecake." //He had eaten the cheesecake, just like me. It's incredible, really! //

"Then let's go."

They sat together at one of the tables outside. It was so warm that the owners of the café had put up some tables, but the few people there had decided to sit inside. A couple of teenagers were sitting outside giggling and laughing. The waitress came to take their order.

"A cappuccino and a cheesecake, please." ordered Krycek.

"Same for me." Mulder had to grin. This was exactly the thing he had always ordered when he was here at the academy. As the waitress left, he laughed, as he told Krycek that it had been his standard order.

"Wow, we are very similar, aren't we?" he teased. Then turning serious, "Mulder, what do you think really killed this man?"

"I don't know, I hope we have a clearer image when we have the whole autopsy report."

The waitress came and brought their cappuccinos and cheesecakes.

"I think we better stop that theme and concentrate us on the cheesecake." suggested Mulder.

"That's fine with me."

Alex started with his cake and observed the teenagers with an intense gaze. Then he focussed Mulder with the same regard. Mulder felt a little bit uncomfortable, but he enjoyed the attention Krycek gave him.

"Um.. What did you want to be . I mean, when you were a child?" //Mulder, you are so stupid. I should have asked him something about the case or anything else. He will think that I'm dumb//

But Alex was not surprised, it seemed, he just reacted normally
.
"I wanted to be an actor. Could you imagine that? But at school in the drama club, um... it was such a disgrace. I've forgotten my lines and so on... Wait, I can't believe I am telling you this."

Mulder smiled.

"Why not? I mean, we need to know everything about one another if we want to work together in a good way, don't we?"

"So? Then I think it's your turn now." Krycek leaned back in a provocative way.

//Should I? //

"Okay, um... I have a little secret of my own. It involves someone I like very much. Um... it's hard to talk about it." Mulder looked up and saw Alex' bright green eyes that were constantly focussed on him. It seemed that he hung on Mulder's every word. Mulder couldn't resist his feelings any longer.

"Krycek, I...."

At that moment Krycek's cell phone rang.

"Excuse me, Mulder. Krycek." He listened to the caller. "Yeah. What? Okay, around 8:00 p.m.? Fine. Okay, see you."

He made an apologizing gesture towards Mulder. "Just.. just a friend of mine. So, what did you want to say?"

"I... it's not important. It was just... don't know. Really, it wasn't important." // With whom does he have a date? That's all I want to know. //

Alex looked at him questioningly, as if he were try to read his mind, but didn't say anything. He nodded to the waitress who just came out. She walked over to them.

"Do you want anything else?"

"No, we want to pay." Krycek started take out his wallet to pay for it, but Mulder said, "I'll pay for them together."

Krycek looked at him with surprise, then smiled.

They stood up and walked towards their car.

"Do you want to drive?" asked Krycek.

"No, no! If you want to drive, you can." // And I can watch you//

"Okay."

They smiled at each other and climbed into the car.

// Please, tell me who called you. Is there a reason to be jealous? //

But on their drive was Krycek very silent as if he had a lot on him mind. Mulder felt as if Krycek wanted him to disturb him but he didn't like to interrupt his thoughts. Perhaps what he was thinking about was something important to him. Mulder wasn't sure of himself and his behavior. He wanted to talk to Alex, just to hear his voice. But he also liked to listen to his breathing.

// This is a stupid situation. I'm here with my new love interest and I'm too shy to speak with him. I laughed about others in that position, but now...Okay, I'll try it. Just one time and if he doesn't react I'll stop this stupid behavior. Okay, okay maybe then I try it once again. //

"Any plans for tonight?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you have any plans for tonight?"

"No, not really. Just hanging around with some friends. Why?"

"J...just thought that we could maybe have a pizza and wait for the autopsy report..." // Hmm, and maybe do something else...//

"Yeah. I'm really looking forward to that. Eating a pizza and waiting for an autopsy report. Thanks, I think I won't be hungry for three or four days."

Mulder searched for something to say. But before he had found the right words, Krycek looked at him with a smile.

"But if you promise that the report will arrive after we have finished our pizza, then I could change my plans."

// Jeez, I can't believe. We will eat pizza tonight together. //

"Uh... I can't promise that, but I can promise that if the report arrives before we finish, we won't read it."

"Okay. I just have to call my friend to cancel this date. Then I think I could say, 'Dinner is served.'"

"Not yet. We have to order it first, don't we?"

"Oh, damn, you're right."

Krycek took his cell phone, dialed a number and told someone named Sam that he had no time tonight.

Mulder grinned. // Sam, I'm sorry, but we have other plans. I hope...//

When they arrived at Mulder's house, Krycek stopped. Mulder wondered a little bit. He hadn't told Krycek where he lived. They got out of the car and Krycek went straight to the door.

Mulder stopped. "Hey. How do you know where I live?"

Krycek turned around, he blushed a little bit.

"Um.. I ... I have good sources." He pointed towards the sky. Mulder grinned. // He was really interested in me and I think he still is//

He searched for his keys. When they got in the elevator, Alex leaned back.

"Did your sources tell you even which floor I live?"

"There you have me, I pass. Did you know that I hate elevators? You're so helpless if the technology breaks down."

"You're right. But it would be nice to be stuck in a elevator with the object of all your sexual fantasies, wouldn't it?" Mulder smiled at him.

"Damn straight it would." Krycek grinned back at him.

"Here we are" said Mulder as they left the elevator and went to his door.

As they entered Krycek inspected the room.

"Looks... nice."

// Shit. I should have cleaned up a little bit before I invited him. //

"Umm.... What kind of pizza do you want?" Mulder picked up one of the flyers that were lying around.

Krycek walked over to Mulder, leaning very close to him. He pointed at the four-cheese pizza. "That sounds fine to me."

"Okay." // I'm dying... He smells so good. // "Take a seat. It will take some time."

"I know. I'm always ordering pizza and other take out stuff."

Mulder called the service and ordered the pizza for Krycek and for himself a Pizza Hawaii. He was very close to ordering a Four-cheese pizza for himself too, but he decided against it.

Mulder sat down next to Alex on his couch. Alex had loosened his tie and taken off his suit jacket. Mulder stood up and did the same. When he sat down again, this time he sat a little bit closer.

"Alex, um.. were you really serious when you told me about your abduction?"

Alex looked hurt at Mulder question.

"I mean...um...I believe you because I had a similar experience. My sister was abducted and she was never returned..."

"It's good to meet someone who believes. I had the feeling you might when I heard about you, but I wasn't sure."

Mulder turned around to face Krycek. "I believe you."

"Mulder, I..." The doorbell rang.

Had to be the pizza guy. "Sorry..."

"It's okay."

Mulder paid the pizza guy and returned to his living room.

"Here they are. Things for an unhealthy life."

"Yeah. But it is often the stuff that is bad for you that makes life worth living."

"Words to live by." Mulder chuckled.

They sat next to each other, eating their pizzas. Mulder had turned on his TV; there was nothing really interesting on. However, thought anything was better than the silence. When they were finished, Krycek leaned back and turned his head towards Mulder.

"You have some cheese at your chin." Krycek smiled.

"Where?" Mulder tried to wipe it away.

"Wait, here." He took the piece from Mulder's chin.

Mulder leaned closer, just like Krycek. But before their lips met Mulder's computer beeped. The autopsy report had arrived.

// Damn, Scully! Just five minutes later. Five minutes. That's all I want! //

"Ah! The autopsy report. I wondered where it was."

Krycek lowered his eyes as Mulder walked over to his computer and printed out the report. He stood at his desk and looked over at Alex, who looked a little bit guilty. Mulder wanted to speak to him to tell him that everything was okay. But he couldn't do it. Instead he gave him the first pages of the report and tried to behave normally.

// But it wasn't just me - he wanted it too. That means that he is really interested. It's wonderful. //

When the report was printed out, they read it and talked about the case. Neither Mulder nor Krycek said anything about what had nearly happened. They read the report several times, but didn't find anything more unusual than the things Scully had already told them.

"I think I should go. I need some sleep." Krycek looked at his watch.

"Yeah. It's been a long day." Mulder stood up.

Krycek took his jacket and went to the door. "Good night."

"Yeah. Good night." After Krycek had left, Mulder leaned against the closed door. It was incredible. He was in love and they were working together and Alex was interested in him too. Really. They had nearly kissed. He cursed Scully for her timing. Just one or two minutes later...

// Tomorrow is a new day, let's see what it brings. //

All night long Mulder couldn't sleep. He lay on his couch, emotionally overwrought, touching the place where Krycek sat.

// He was here, right here and we had a pizza together. I had the feeling we were more than the colleagues that Scully and I have been.//

He stood up and went to the window. It wasn't his first sleepless night. Every time he had watched the sun rise, but today it seemed to be more powerful, more beautiful, than ever before. Mulder enjoyed the light, and his peaceful mood, but then he became sad. He wished that he wasn't alone, he wished that Alex was with him. Just standing side by side and watching the wonderful sunrise. Leaning against each other, smelling and feeling each other. Mulder closed his eyes, no; he had to stop this before he started to cry. But all he could see was Alex, with tousled hair, with his cute turned up nose, in his suit, in jeans. His indescribably green eyes, inviting Mulder to do everything with him. Mulder sighed and turned away from the window. He looked at his clock hanging above the door.

// I'll have to hurry if I want to have a shower before going to the bureau.//

With a long loving view at Alex's place on the couch, he went to his bathroom and took a shower. Before he started with his shave, he looked into his mirror with a searching glance.

// Yesterday, if he had really wanted me, he could have had me. Had my signals been too weak? But, we nearly kissed. Damn Scully, just one minute later and I'm sure it would have happened. Then I would know if he were really interested in me.//

He tried to concentrate on his shave and with a lot of effort he managed it. He planned to think just about the case, at least during the last few meters to the bureau. But as he saw Alex talking with another man, he became jealous. The other man handed Alex an envelope and Krycek smiled at him gratefully. The man started to walk outside. He had to pass Mulder who stared at him in disapprobation. He walked over to Krycek who was pinning photos onto a bulletin board. The photos showed an obviously dead man, lying in an apartment. Mulder cleared his throat. Alex turned around; when he saw Mulder he started to smile.

"Good morning."

Mulder answered the smile and saw that Krycek lowered his eyes. "Good morning."

"I um.. I got a call this morning from a friend who is working for New York homicide. I just received these pictures. He said it might be interesting for us."

// What kind of friend? //

"Yeah, okay, let's take a look at it. But I need a coffee first. Do you want one, too?"

"That would be fine. Thanks. I take it black. I'll be ready with these pictures by the time you get back."

Mulder came back with two coffees and realized that Alex had taken off his suit jacket. And was it just coincidence that exactly at the moment Mulder was close to the desk a photo fell down and Krycek had to bend down to pick it up? Mulder suppressed his urge to walk over to Alex, to touch him and caress his ass. Krycek stood up and pinned the last photo, the one that had fallen down, onto the board. Mulder handed one of the coffees to Krycek, hoping that their fingers would meet. It happened, just for one second, but Mulder had the feeling that Krycek rested his fingers longer than he had to.

As Alex took a sip, he raised his eyebrow. "Oh, it's hot."

"Yeah. Fresh for the fresh agent."

Alex looked up and started to grin. "Okay. Got it."

"Then let's start with this." Mulder smiled and pointed at the pictures. He sat down at the edge of the desk. Alex sat down next to him. They looked at the photos of the murdered man posted on the bulletin board. Mulder observed Krycek with short side-glances. Alex licked his lips before he started to speak.

// Lord, why me? It has been my greatest dream to sit next to him, but I don't know what I should do now. Especially after last night? //

"The victim's name was Henry Willig. Unemployed and lived on disability. Police found no indication of forced entry or struggle, no abrasions or contusions on the body and cause of death is being listed as a..." He licked his lips again "...burst aneurysm."

Mulder tried to ignore it. To suppress his wish to kiss those lips. "So, why did your friend from homicide call us."

// I know he called you, but who cares. We're working together, aren't we?//

"Because the medical examiner called him." He stood up and pointed at one picture. "The autopsy revealed forty-three small internal hemorrhages and skeletal fragments, which doesn't just happen spontaneously. Not without some corresponding external trauma."

"So what does the ME have to say about it?"

"He said if he didn't know otherwise, he would swear they were gunshot wounds."

Mulder looked at him.

// Those eyelashes, I could dream of them//

He stood up and pointed at another photo, trying to move as close as possible to Krycek without directly touching him.

"What's this scar right here?"

"According to his medical history, the only surgery he ever had was an appendectomy."

"Well, unless they got to his appendix through his neck." Mulder smiled.

Alex did the same, but then he looked back into the file to find the real reason.

// So you like humor at work. That's good.//

"Maybe it happened in Vietnam. Willig did a tour with the Marines in 1970"

// He looked so cute as he said this. What did he say? Marine? //

"and I'm sure they didn't keep the best of records."

"Willig was a Marine? So where do all Marines receive basic training on the East coast?"

"Parris Island."

"Where Grissom was stationed from 1968 to 1971."

"Which means that he and Willig were there at the same time, 24 years ago."

// I think we're on the right track, but if we finish this too soon, will we still get to work together on other cases, or is this our only case? Please not! But I think if they see we're a good team, maybe we'll get to stay together as partners. As partners and I hope even a little bit more.//

"We could check the records in the library in New York City. So we can see who else was there at that time."

// That means we have to drive to New York. And that means we'll be together in a car for some time. //

"I hope they're complete. I've had my share of experiences with military records."

// Had he been a Marine or anything else? I'm sure he looked beautiful in a uniform. //

"Then let's go."

They went to the garage where the car, they had been using for the Cole investigation, was parked. On their way Krycek asked Mulder if he wanted to drive, but he refused. They laid their jackets down on the backseat because it was becoming a warm day. Driving in the heat while wearing a jacket, even with the air conditioning system, seemed foolish.

During the drive neither Mulder nor Krycek said anything about the day, and certainly not about what almost happened the night before. The only thing they did talk about was the case and not in much detail. Mulder found a station playing nice music, nice at least when Alex started to sing along with the songs. Each time he started he looked quickly at Mulder, who was smiling at him, then he stopped, sometimes blushing.

// He's blushing. Oh, he's so cute...//

They arrived at the library and walked in. The shelves filled with books and the tables were old, some of them seemed to have been used from the beginning of the century and others seemed even older. They looked around and saw a few desks with computers, which had a strange appearance surrounded by all the old stuff. Mulder chose one of them in a quiet corner. Alex took a chair from another table and sat down next to him while he switched on the computer. Mulder had seated himself in such a way that Krycek had to lean very close to watch the screen. And so he did, just as Mulder had wished.

// He's wearing that great after-shave again. I love it.//

"Here we go. Willig was assigned to Special Forces on Re-con squad J-7. Of thirteen original members, he's one of two survivors."

"Until yesterday." Alex raised his eyebrows.

"This leaves us with one person who can tell us what happened on Parris Island."

Mulder pointed at the screen to the name of the only survivor of the original squad. Augustus D. Cole.

Krycek looked at him directly.

"So, were do we find the man?"

"Let's see... Augustus D. Cole... he was sent to a veteran clinic in North Orange, New Jersey twelve years ago...because of a sleep disorder."

"Sleep disorder? I think that on Parris Island something happened that gave them sleepless nights."

Alex smiled towards Mulder who answered his smile.

"Maybe you're right. Let's have a talk with him."

They left the library and went to their car.

When they arrived at the clinic they got out of the car and put on their jackets.

In the clinic they told the nurse at reception that they wanted to speak to Cole's doctor and waited for him. They each got an identification tag to wear. The doctor arrived and led them to the lowest level where the isolation section was located. Mulder noted that Krycek was walking close to him. Not touching him but not letting him get too distant. He noticed that Krycek, from the moment the doctor arrived, became silent.

// Maybe he doesn't like medical men.//

The doctor told them about Cole and his behaviour.

"I've been supervising Mr. Cole's treatment since I admitted him twelve years ago. 'Fraid you won't find him very cooperative, though."

"We just want to ask him a few questions about his military service."

"He doesn't respond very well to authority figures."

"Is that why you put him in isolation?"

"Oh, we've had to house Mr. Cole in this section of the ward because he kept interfering with our treatment of the other patients."

"How was he interfering?"

"He was disrupting their sleep patterns." Mulder and Krycek exchanged a look.

"Psychiatric patients, especially, it's critical that the Circadian cycles be strictly maintained. . ."

"Excuse me, but exactly how would Cole disrupt their sleep?"

Krycek eyed Mulder with a short side glance.

"Here we are. Mr. Cole, there are some gentlemen here to. . ."

Cole was not in his cell when the door was opened.

They went back to reception and the doctor asked the nurse about Cole.

The nurse at reception was surprised that they were asking about him.

"You discharged him just a few days ago."

"I most certainly did not. Don't you think I would remember if I did."

Krycek shot an inquiring look at Mulder who observed the scene, his face expressionless.

"Well, I was on shift, Doctor. You signed the order yourself. That's your signature, isn't it?"

As the nurse showed the doctor the order, Krycek took it and looked at the picture which was attached to the order. Mulder had to lean closer to him to see it. Mulder asked himself if this was another coincidence.

At that moment, Mulder's cell phone rang.

"Let's get Cole's face onto the wire." Mulder ordered.

Krycek nodded.

"Mulder."

"Mr. Mulder. I have obtained some information that may shed some light on your current work. You must exercise discretion when we meet. If anyone follows you, I won't be there."

Mulder realized that the caller might be a new informant, he moved some steps away from the reception desk to hear everything. He didn't miss the look he got from Alex.

// Was there really little bit of jealousy in that look or am I just imagining things out of wishful thinking? //

As the call ended he turned around. "Alex, I need the car. It's important."

Alex gave him the key and, before he could ask anything, Mulder was on his way alone.

// Sorry, Alex, but I have to do this alone. If it is a new informant, I can't screw up the beginning...//

Mulder wanted to leave the clinic, but he heard steps behind him.

"Hey! Mulder, wait!"

Krycek was running behind him.

"We should check into the motel. It seems that Cole is still here in town."

"You're right!"

They went to the car and Mulder, who had the key, opened the doors and they got in. Alex smiled at him.

"You were going to leave me there? Alone?"

Mulder started the car and drove to the motel he had looked for before they started their trip.

"Yeah! I think you're a big boy and can look out for yourself..."

Krycek blinked several times and then he started to grin and stuck out his tongue like little children do.

Mulder laughed.

They arrived at the motel as it was getting dark outside. They went inside and Mulder asked for two rooms. The clerk checked her records and said with regret. "Sorry. We have only one room left. There's a fair in town, so everyone is booked solid. Do you want to take this one?"

Mulder looked at Krycek.

"Should we?"

"Yeah. It's no problem if we share a room, is it?"

Mulder smiled at him and turned back to the clerk.

"Okay, then we'll take the room."

After they got the keys for the room, the two agents went back to their car to get their luggage. They walked over to their room and Mulder was the first one at the door. He wanted to open it, but he had some problems holding the key and opening the door.

"That door.... must be ... warped. Ah, here we go!"

// I know it wasn't just the door. I can't believe I'll be sleeping in the same room with HIM! //

When they went inside and the two men laid their bags down and Mulder said to Alex: "Okay, I'll be back very soon."

As he left the room, he heard Alex calling. He was asking him where he was going, but Mulder didn't answer. He had to do this alone.

As Mulder left the stadium, where he had just met with his new informant, he waited some minutes in the car, thinking about what he had just heard. He remembered that Krycek was waiting for him - only to continue the investigation, but he was waiting. He started the car and turned the lights on because it was still dark.

While he drove he thought about what Krycek said. "On Parris Island something happened that gave them sleepless nights." He was right, more right than he knew.

Mulder wanted to tell him about this, but in all the years he worked for the FBI he had learned to be careful. Before he arrived at the motel where he had left Krycek he hid the envelope under his seat. He saw that Krycek was waiting impatiently in front of the motel.

As Mulder slowed the car down Alex had a hand on the door handle before Mulder was able to unlock the door from inside. He was angry as he started to speak.

"Where were ya? Someone matching Cole's description just robbed a drugstore in Queens and the place is located under a motel just around the corner."

"Is he alive?"

"He was when the night man just saw him. So where were ya?"

"Where is that motel?"

"Five blocks, then turn left and it's at the end of that street. I know I'm repeating myself, but where were ya? I was waiting for two hours, you didn't tell me where you were going and your cell phone was off."

// Lord, he really wants to know where I've been. It's unbelievable. He's interested and I'm sure he's jealous, otherwise he wouldn't ask twice, would he?//

"I followed a lead on my own. But it was not as hot as I thought. I think I left you because I worked my last case alone. I... I didn't want anybody seeing my unsuccessful attempts to solve this case."

// I hope he believes me.//

"But we are partners aren't we? I have to trust you and you have to trust me. I've made and still make mistakes on my own. Why hide them? It's normal. For some cases even the best cops, agents, detectives and what the hell else would need time. It's trial and error you know that." He looked at Mulder, hoping his words made sense and got through to Mulder, if that was necessary.

Mulder understood his words and their meaning was very clear. He knew that he had to start to trust him - if he wanted them to be good colleagues and especially if, as he hoped, he wanted them to be something more.

"Okay. I'll try to trust you." He said, as he stopped in front of the motel where Cole had been seen, and looked deep into Krycek's eyes.

Alex started to smile. "Thank you."

// Why do I have the feeling that every time this man smiles the whole world seems to shine brighter?//

He smiled back and then started to get out of the car. Krycek was faster and ran towards the entrance to the motel where a couple of cops were seen waiting. As Krycek ran upstairs Mulder stayed a couple steps behind him getting at good look at his partner's backside.

"Detective Horton? " Alex showed his badge. "I'm Agent Krycek, this is Agent Mulder."

"I've been waiting for you guys. I tried holding the SWAT guys back but they're getting a little antsy. For what it's worth, Cole didn't steal dime-one from that drug store, just a bunch of pills." Three gunshots rang out and someone screamed. Mulder and Krycek raced up the stairs.

"Inside, NOW! Officer down!"

"We got two officers down, request emergency vehicles, immediately." One of the cops spoke into a radio.

Mulder looked out of the window checking the alley behind the motel for any sight of Cole but saw nothing. Krycek moved towards him. He was a little bit out of breath from his run upstairs and the excitement of the events.

"What's going on here Mulder? These two officers, they shot each other."

// He sounds so young.//

Mulder looked at him and thought that he saw tears in his eyes. Tears of disappointment that they were too late. He wanted to comfort him, hug him and say that it was not his fault. But instead he just laid his hand on Krycek's shoulder and led him to the door, where Detective Horton was waiting.

While Mulder was talking with the Detective, who gave him the exact description of the pills Cole had stolen, Krycek spoke with the night man. During that time the emergency vehicles arrived and took the wounded cops to the hospital.

As Mulder started to go downstairs where he knew Krycek was speaking with the night man, his partner was heading up, so that they met on the stairs.

"Up or down?" asked Krycek smiling.

"Down. I want to go to the hospital. In hope we can talk to one of the cops."

Krycek's smile faded into a serious expression.

"Okay. If you really want to go there."

He turned around and walked to their car. Because he was the first at the car, he turned towards Mulder and asked for the keys. Mulder threw them to him and he caught them with his left hand, opened the door and started the engine as Mulder got in..

"What did the night man say?"

"Not much. It's that kind of motel where they don't ask for information. People just check in for a few days, maybe for a few hours, some people even live there month to month. If you've seen one of them, you've seen them all."

"You have experiences with that kind of establishment?" Mulder pretended to be shocked.

Krycek grinned. "Yes...no. I mean... During my first case we had to investigate some of these motels. There are some very sick guys living in them. Then again some are as normal as you and I. Some of what we found almost made me sick, if you understand what I mean."

Meanwhile they had arrived at the hospital and Krycek found a parking space next to the entrance. As they entered the hospital Mulder noticed again that Krycek became uncomfortable. After Mulder had spoken with the nurse he asked Krycek about that.

"You don't like doctors and hospitals very much, do you?"

Krycek looked down but then he raised his eyes again to look directly into his eyes.

"No, I don't."

"Why?"

"I don't know." Now he seemed very uncomfortable. "I just hate them. It... it started after my first abdu... no, just forget it!"

// Why didn't you say it? Your abduction, is it that what you wanted to say?//

At that moment a doctor arrived. "Are you the FBI-Agents?"

"Yes." Mulder answered for them both.

"You might be in for a long wait. The wounds are very dangerous, we hope that we can say something about them very soon."

"Okay."

"If you plan to stay you can wait in the room over there. It's the doctor's lounge, but we are just redecorating it. There is only a table and some chairs, so it's not very comfortable, but if you want, feel free."

"No, thanks. Our motel is just around the corner. We will be there. If something happens, here is my cell phone number." Krycek said, giving him his visiting card.

"Okay. You will be notified."

"Thank you."

Krycek turned around and on his way to leave the hospital before Mulder was able to react. He just nodded quickly towards the doctor and then he followed Krycek.

"You really don't like hospitals. But, really, is our motel around the corner?"

"You didn't notice it?"

Mulder was really surprised as he saw the sign of their motel down the side street. But they decided to drive away the car from the parking space. After they arrived their motel room, they sat down at the table and Mulder flipped through his notepad. When he saw the name of the pills - serotonin - he wanted to ask a doctor about their effect. He told Alex and said that he'd bring two coffees back with him on his way back from the hospital. Krycek smiled.

"Good idea. And I wouldn't mind something to eat."

"I'll see if I can find something."

Mulder was there in some minutes, walked upstairs to find the doctor they had talked with. But he didn't find him. So he spoke to a nurse and got his information.

Mulder returned with two coffees and something to eat - he didn't want to know what exactly was in the sandwiches. He opened the door to the motel room - this time without big problems - to find Krycek lying on the bed. He had taken off his jacket and lay relaxed with closed eyes. Mulder placed the coffee and the sandwiches on the table where Krycek's notepad was lying. On the one hand trying to be quiet and not wake him up, if he was really sleeping; on the other hand noisy enough to be heard by him if he was not sleeping.

When he didn't move after Mulder had worked some minutes with his sandwich - cheese he thought - he asked himself how noisy the package of a sandwich could be. He took a bite of it. While chewing he stood up and observed his partner. Then he turned around and took a sip of the coffee. He put the coffee and sandwich down and turned back to the sleeping man.

He froze, then took another step and another, so that he was standing right beside the bed. He was just standing there for several moments before he bent his head down. Mulder just wanted to wake him up, to shake him a little and then tease him with sleeping on duty. But without conscious thought his lips found Krycek's. He was surprised at the enthusiasm with which he kissed those lips. But he was even more surprised when he felt Alex's lips open a bit to allow him entry to his mouth and answered the kiss. Mulder was enjoying it and as Krycek sat up and reached for his shoulders to pull him closer Mulder felt like the gates of heaven had opened. Krycek's hands wandered up and down his back, one stayed there, the other one went to his front to open the buttons of his shirt. Mulder did the same with Krycek's. Feverishly and without thought why they were here Mulder found that he had unbuttoned Krycek's shirt much faster than Alex had Mulder's. Suddenly, Mulder he stopped the stripping and the kiss and looked at Krycek who was grinning at him.

"The coffee tastes good."

"Enjoy your cat-nap?"

"Yes. Except the waking up." He smiled.

"What about it?" Mulder asked a bit irritated.

"It could have been longer. Much longer."

As he said that he took Mulder's right hand and placed it on the bulge that was growing in his pants. Mulder rested his right hand there while he placed his other hand over Alex' eyes.

"Okay. Go back to sleep."

Alex lay down again and closed his eyes. As Mulder unzipped his pants an impressive erection sprang out of it. He bend down to make his dream come true, to suck Alex' cock. But before he reached it a stream of semen spread over his T-shirt. He looked at Krycek who looked back guiltily.

"S...sorry. I...was...just..."

"It's okay, Alex. I don't mind. We've been intelligent enough to strip me to my T-shirt. "

Krycek grinned at him again.

"I lied to you. Hospitals turn me on, at least if I were there with the object of all my sexual fantasies."

Mulder buttoned his shirt after he had wiped the semen from his T-shirt as well as he could.

"Really? I had no idea. If I had, we'd have come to a hospital earlier."

At that moment Krycek's cell phone rang. Krycek looked irritated around to see it. As he had found it he answered it quickly in hope that the caller was still there. It was the nurse from the hospital. She sounded a bit surprised that finally she was getting an answer. She cleared her throat and started to give them the information they had been waiting for.

"One of the policemen has just died, his wounds were too severe. The other one is still in the operating room and the doctors say that he has a good chance." She stopped and noticed the silence on the other side, so she continued. "If you need further information, just call. I can be found at the reception desk. If you want I give you the number."

"Yeah. Please, maybe we need it."

He wrote the number in his notepad that was lying on the table.

"Okay, thank you!"

Krycek turned around with a devilish smile and looked at Mulder.

"So, where did we stop?"

He said as he slowly walked towards Mulder.

Alex moved towards Mulder and looked at him with that devilish smile still on his lips.

Mulder closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes again. He still saw Alex so young and beautiful with shining eyes. Alex slowly took off his T-shirt, as he took another step towards Mulder.

Mulder cleared his throat and then he realized that Alex wanted him to help him strip.

"I think we stopped here." He said as he pulled down Alex's pants. He knew that he could be taking this a bit too fast, but he had been waiting for this from the moment he met Alex Krycek.

"And now it's your turn!" Alex said, as he stood in his boxers in front of Mulder, who noticed the growing bulge. He couldn't believe that what he had waited so long for was finally his.

Mulder unbuttoned his shirt again very slowly. He wanted to enjoy every second of this. He asked himself why he had buttoned it just five minutes ago. But as he felt Alex helping hands, he knew why he did it. He loved the way Alex stripped him.

Mulder put down his T-shirt with a big grin. Then he opened the button of his pants, leading Alex's hand to the zipper. Alex opened it slowly and pulled the pants down in such a way that he had to kneel down. He looked up at Mulder. Mulder reached down to Alex's hands to help him stand up. But Alex grabbed Mulder's wrists with his hands and smiled at him.

Then he took the edge of Mulder's boxers between his teeth and pulled it down. Very slowly, first a bit on the one side, then a bit on the other side, then he returned to the first side and pulled it down a bit more. Finally the boxers slid to the floor and Mulder was standing totally naked with a hard-on in front of Krycek, who was still holding Mulder's wrists.

Slowly he stood up and kissed Mulder. While they were kissing passionately Alex shoved him down on the bed, kneeling in front of him. Mulder closed his eyes, just enjoying this situation as he felt Krycek between his legs. Two lips wandered around his navel in slowly widening circles, finally getting to Mulder's erect cock.

Krycek's lips closed around its top and he began slowly to suck.

Mulder had waited for this moment for so long that he could not hold it. He moaned as he came in Krycek's hot and wet mouth.

"A...Alex..." Mulder had the feeling that he was sucked dry.

Krycek grinned at him and moved towards his lips kissing and licking his way up Mulder's body. Mulder just enjoyed it as he felt his naked skin against Alex's warm skin. His hands wandered all over Alex's body, finally arriving at his cock and starting to stroke it. Mulder saw that Krycek's eyes slid almost closed with just a gleam of green showing under long eyelashes. Mulder couldn't resist and settled a kiss on each eyelid. Then he kissed his way down to the cock he was still stroking and sucked it until Alex cried out and came. Placing a kiss on the softening cock, he crawled up Alex's body to lie down next to him and pulled him into a close hug. So they fell asleep wrapped around each other.

Mulder woke up in the morning and saw the person next to him. Alex was lying there, sleeping just like a baby. The sun shone on his body and Mulder noticed that Alex was slightly snoring.

// He's so cute.//

Mulder bent down and kissed Krycek's lips. With a heavy sigh he stood up and went over to the bathroom to shave. After he had covered his face with shaving cream, he dipped the razor into the water-filled sink. He looked up and saw Alex standing stark naked in the doorway, observing him. Mulder smiled at him.

Krycek walked towards him and spooned him from behind, while he bit him on the earlobe.

"Have you seen a towel anywhere?" He asked Mulder, still hugging him.

"Why?"

"I need a shower. And I guess, you would like to have one too."

Mulder grinned and turned around to see Alex's slowly rising erection and Alex smiling and pointing towards the shower. Mulder slowly pushed Alex to it.

"Okay, then let's start."

Alex climbed backwards over the bathtub edge. He grabbed for Mulder's arms and pulled him into the tub while he kissed him, trying not to get too much of the shaving cream all over his face. Mulder reached for the shower while Alex wiped away the rest of the cream.

Mulder turned on the shower and over the two bodies slid warm water. Alex laid his hands on Mulder's wet skin, wandering over his collarbones and shoulders. Mulder's hands were on their way down Alex's back, pulling him closer towards his own body. He felt Alex's stiff penis against his own swollen one. Mulder's one hand stayed at Alex's ass, kneading it and the other one went to Alex's cock. He stroked it, slowly at first and then faster. Alex did the same to Mulder and they finished their mutual orgasm with a passionate kiss.

"Mulder... I think we need a cold shower, otherwise we will never leave this bathroom again - although that wouldn't be that bad."

Alex smiled at him and the older man answered the smile.

"Okay, I know we have a job to do."

With these words he climbed out of the bathtub, turned towards Alex, who was still standing under the water stream. Mulder bend down, acting as if he had lost something and then with a fast move he changed the temperature of the shower to cold and Alex screamed at the shock of cold water and jumped out of the tub.

"Mulder!"

"Sorry! I couldn't resist..."

"I don't think that was funny, but you do. I can see it in your eyes. Don't hide your laughter. I... I think that was totally unfair!" He acted wounded, pretending to pout, but after some seconds he joined Mulder's laughter.

Back in the motel room, they searched for their clothes. Mulder thought about the advantages of suit jackets that do not need pressing if you forget to hang them up.

"Okay, let's go." Mulder said when he finished dressing. Krycek who was just buttoning his shirt at that moment looked at him in surprise.

"How the hell do you dress so fast?"

"It's not a question of the tempo, it's a question of the rightness." He said as he unbuttoned Alex' shirt again to button it right, because Alex had used the wrong buttons.

They walked over to the hospital, trying to act serious when they arrived. Alex went straight to the elevator and pressed the button. When it arrived it was empty and as the door closed Mulder rested his head on Alex's shoulder. They left the elevator and went to the nurse at the reception desk. It was the nurse from the night before who was about to go off duty.

She recognized them and immediately called for the doctor, who arrived just a few minutes later. He told them about the second cop, who was lying in coma.

As the doctor was finished with his report, Mulder excused himself and Krycek for a moment.

"There is another member of the group who is still living. I've got his name and an address where we can find him."

"From whom?"

"Maybe I have a good source, too." He pointed upwards, just like Krycek did some days ago.

Krycek smiled, remembering that evening, and then they were interrupted by the doctor who wanted to ask them a few questions about their view of the things that had happened.

Alex sighed and started telling him in a few words their version - that they had arrived at the motel, and as they went to go upstairs the two cops had been shot. Mulder observed him and saw the lust in his eyes. Abruptly he turned around to call Scully, to tell her about the new aspects in this investigation - at least the aspects she would be interested in.

"All right, I'll sharpen my pencils and I'll see you later."

Krycek beckoned towards Mulder and knocked impatiently, raising the eyebrows.

"I'll be right there, Krycek."

"Where are you going?"

"We're gonna check out another member of the squad and see if he can tell us anything about Cole."

"Sounds like your new partner's working out."

// Better than you would believe. //

"He's all right. He could use a little more seasoning and some wardrobe advice. But he's a lot more open to extreme possibilities than...."

"Than I was?"

"...than I assumed he would be."

"Must be nice not having someone question your every move, poking holes in all your theories."

"Oh yeah, it's---it's great. I'm surprised I put up with you so long."

"You'd better go. I'll read over this report again and see what else I can come up with."

"Okay."

He hung up phone and went to Krycek who was waiting for him impatiently in front of the elevator. As Mulder arrived, he headed towards the stairway; Mulder looked a bit surprised but followed him. After Krycek had closed the door behind them, he kissed Mulder on the neck.

"I just needed this!"

"I can think of a few other things we need." Mulder said while he pressed Alex against the wall. In that moment they heard another door open and decided to walk downstairs.

Once outside the hospital, Mulder said: "I think we should find somewhere to have a decent breakfast."

They walked back to the motel parking lot and got into the car, Mulder commandeering the driver's seat as usual but he leaned over and gave Alex a long kiss before starting the engine.

They soon arrived at the diner. Mulder parked the car on a side street. They looked at each other when they were standing next to the car. Mulder held up his hand to touch Alex, but as there were people passing he just smiled at him as they walked toward the diner.

They entered the small eatery and paused at the door. Mulder turned his head towards his partner, whispering in his direction that the man at the counter had to be Salvatore Matola. Alex laid his hand lightly on Mulder's buttocks, signaling him in this way that they should walk over. Mulder leaned back into the touch, wishing that they were alone again. He felt his cock twitch. Then the pressure of Alex's hand became stronger and nearly shoved him forward. Mulder noticed a few customers becoming more and more interested in the two men standing at the entrance.

Finally Mulder walked over to the man behind the counter searching the inside pocket of his jacket for his badge.

"Salvatore Matola?" he asked.

Matola raised his arms looking frightened, but in the same expression the agents could see hope. "You gonna shoot me? You gonna kill me?"

Mulder looked at him in surprise. "No. We're with the FBI. We just want to ask you some questions. Why'd you think we were gonna kill you?"

"I dunno."

"You know about Willig and Grissom?"

"I read about it in the paper. I figured they were finally killin' us all off."

"Who? Hey, Sal, can you spare a few minutes?"

"Yeah, I guess so. I got a break comin' up." Matola turned around to take the dishes he had collected into the kitchen. He spoke, more to himself than to the agents, but Mulder heard what he said. "Spare a few minutes. I guess." Before he entered the kitchen, he turned around and asked the agents if they wanted anything.

"Yes, a coffee, please." Krycek said and Mulder looked at him a bit angrily. Alex looked back and shrugged his shoulders.

They sat down at the counter, near the rear of the diner. Matola lit up a cigarette and started with his story.

"They said it'd be like living two lifetimes. At---at first, that's what it was like." "Not having to sleep at all made us feel like nothin' could touch us, you know?" As Matola said "touch", Krycek laid his left hand on Mulder's leg. "We'd do 24 hour patrols, night ambushes," Mulder slightly turned his head towards Alex, to smile at him, but he immediately returned his concentration to Matola. "...you know that type of thing."

"And you never got tired?"

"No. Not so that we had to sleep. And then, nothing that the pills couldn't fix."

"Serotonin?"

"Yeah."

Mulder turned towards Alex, who wrote this down in his notepad.

"How long did this go on?"

"Quite awhile, I'd say. Quite awhile until we stopped taking orders from company commander in Saigon."

"You mean the entire squad went AWOL?" Alex interjected in surprise. Matola stared at him before he answered.

"Yeah, somethin' like that." Krycek wrote this down again, Mulder glanced at the pad and noted the clear, neat penmanship.

"Well, then who did you take orders from?"

"We just made up missions as we went along, until it didn't matter anymore who we were killing. Farmers, women. Outside of Phu Bai, there was this school, they were just kids."

"No one ever tried to stop you?"

"No, sir."

Krycek ran his hands through his hair. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Mulder caught this movement out of the corner of his eye, but kept his eyes on Matola. He wanted to see his reaction to the next question.

"We suspect that Augustus Cole may be behind the murders of Willig and Grissom."

"You mean Preacher? That's what we used to call him on account that he was always reading from his bible, saying this and that about judgment day. Sayin' that we'd have to pay for what we were doin' That's what he said back then, that's what he was sayin'."

"But why Grissom? He was never in country. He wasn't even part of the squadron."

"Sure he was. He made us what we are. Him and Dr. Gerardi."

"Who's Gerardi?"

"The other doc on the project. The one who did the surgeries on us. It's because of him, I haven't slept a night in 24 years."

"Could you remember his first name? It might help us search for him." Krycek asked Matola.

"Yeah. Sure. The doctor's names, the faces of the victims, their screams. Things I will never forget. His name is Francis Gerardi."

"Thank you. You helped us very much. I hope we find him in time." Mulder stood up and shook Matola's hand, Krycek did the same.

As they left the diner, Mulder asked Krycek what he thought of what they'd just heard.

"I think I would believe him. I mean - he really looked bad. As if he hadn't slept for a long time. I can't imagine how they managed it - I'm not a medical expert. But I know how you feel and look after a sleepless night and to me he looked worse than that."

When they arrived back at their car, Krycek stopped at the passenger's side. Mulder who was walking right beside him stopped there too, kissed him on his cheek and headed to the driver's side. Krycek grinned at him.

"What was that for?" he asked when they were sitting.

"I just felt like it." Mulder answered.

"Then I'm looking forward to your reaction if we really make some progress on this case."

"You'll see..." Mulder promised in a sweet voice and started the car with a devilish smile on his face. Then he reached into his jacket to find his cell phone. He wanted to call Scully to ask her about Francis Gerardi. She had access to a computer right now. Sometimes he wished that he had a laptop. She answered the phone and he gave her the information they had.

"Okay, call me if you have something. Thanks." He ended the call. "Would you please stop that?" he told Krycek who had been stroking Mulder's leg the whole time he was on the phone..

"I thought you might enjoy it. And obviously you did." He pointed at the bulge in Mulder's pants.

"Maybe we should take a little break." Mulder suggested.

"I'd like that, yeah." Krycek agreed, keeping his fingers on Mulder's knee, but slowly letting them wander upwards. Mulder looked for the next truck stop with a large parking lot. The entire time Krycek stroked his hand higher and higher. Mulder never thought that he would enjoy this teasing so much. It seemed to him that Alex knew exactly what to do although he seemed so young and innocent.

By the time they arrived at a parking lot, Krycek's hand was between Mulder's legs. He had opened the button and the zipper of Mulder's pants with just two fingers while he stroked and squeezed Mulder's cock with the others. Then Alex bent down and sucked it. Mulder threw his head back and enjoyed it with all his senses. After he came he suddenly realized that there could be others in this area of the parking lot and he looked around. The only other car at this hidden part of the lot was one with a family who had two big dogs. And they were just preparing to leave. He smiled evilly at Krycek.

"Get out!"

"What?"

"Get into the backseat." Mulder jerked his head in that direction.

Now Alex understood and did what Mulder wanted. The older agent climbed between the front seats into the back, but first he checked to make sure the family had really driven away. Then Alex opened the back door and smiled impishly at the waiting Mulder.

"You don't..." Alex started to ask, but Mulder held up a packet with condoms and a tube with lube.

"You don't want to..." But instead of an answer Mulder just nodded and pulled Alex into the car to join him on the backseat.

"You know that you're crazy, don't you?"

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Mulder asked while he stripped Alex.

"Ummm... I won't say anything without my lawyer." Alex smiled and laid the jackets on the front seat.

"Fair enough." Mulder said as he pulled off his boxers and got up to kneel on the seat with his back to Alex.

"Mulder, you can't be serious!"

Mulder looked back at Alex, directly into his eyes. "I'm totally serious."

Alex started to grin, opened one of the condom packages and rolled it over his stiff penis. Lubing his fingers he pressed them slowly into Mulder to loosen his sphincter muscle.

Mulder gasped. His head was pressed against the window. He turned a bit to find a more comfortable position. He felt the cold window on his cheek and pressed his hands against the window while Alex positioned himself behind him. As Alex entered him, Mulder very nearly screamed. Alex covered Mulder's hands with his own and Mulder felt Alex' s lips behind his ear. The warm breath sent shivers of lust down his spine. It didn't take long and as Alex came he moaned loudly in Mulder's ear which brought Mulder off at the same time.

"I knew it. You're totally crazy!"

"And you like it, don't you?" Mulder turned his head around and grinned at him.

"If someone..."

"Did anyone see us? No!"

"Mulder?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you." Alex rested his head on Mulder's back. He could feel Mulder's body trembling as Mulder answered.

"Alex. You're welcome. And this you can interpret any way you want." Then Mulder turned around and kissed Krycek. "I think we had better go now or we will be caught in the normal Long Island Expressway rush hour traffic jam."

Alex checked his watch while he dressed himself again. "I'm not sure we can manage that."

They climbed out of the back seat of the car. Another car had arrived in the area of the parking lot and two boys were playing soccer. The ball rolled over to the agents' car and Krycek kicked it back. The boys thanked him loudly. The woman, obviously their mother, eyed the two men with an irritated look, but quickly concentrated again on the road map she was studying. Krycek opened the passenger door and laid the jackets on the backseat, then he climbed in.

"I love those little breaks." He said as Mulder started the engine.

They drove only a couple of miles, then they arrived at the Long Island Expressway and were stuck in the traffic jam.

"Oh no!" Mulder said, because he hated traffic jams.

"Maybe we could use the time sinfully." Krycek suggested and waited for Mulder's reaction, which was a surprised look, before he added "Just teasing, no, I meant usefully."

Mulder smiled at him and nodded "But the other idea wouldn't be that bad..."

"With all these cars around us?" Krycek grabbed for his notepad. "Okay, now we're looking for Francis Gerardi."

"We're going after Gerardi. Cole sees himself as a kind of avenging angel. In his mind, everyone responsible for the atrocities, whether directly or indirectly, must be punished."

"Yeah, but why now. Why after all these years."

"Phu Bai was one of the bloodiest massacres of the war. Over 300 children slaughtered. But, unlike My Lai, no US troops were ever charged. The 24th anniversary of the massacre was two days ago."

At that moment Mulder's cell phone rang. He reached to the backseat for it and answered it.

"Mulder."

Scully was on the other end. "I think I found the Francis Gerardi you're looking for. He's a Professor of Neurosurgery at Harvard."

"Do you have his number in Boston?"

Krycek held up his notepad to write down the number, but Mulder signaled him to wait as Scully said "Yes, except he's coming to New York for Grissom's funeral, tonight. He's arriving at Bronx station on the 7:30 train."

"Try to have a photograph waiting for us at the security desk so we know who we're looking for, okay?"

"Got it."

Mulder looked at his watch. "I just hope we will be there in time. If Cole is there and gets to him before us... I don't want to know what will happen." He said to Krycek as he gave him the information he just got from Scully.

"We'll see."

Mulder and Krycek entered the station. The train had arrived some minutes before. They acquired the photograph and ran to find him. When they arrived at the platform, they stopped. Mulder showed the photograph to Krycek, who looked at it and then at the crowd to find him.

"Stay here, I'll cover the other side." Mulder went over to the left. He looked back at Krycek, who shook his head indicating he had seen nothing yet. Suddenly Mulder thought that he saw the man they were looking for. He looked again at the photo and recognized the man as Gerardi. And then he saw Cole behind him with a gun. Cole wanted to kill Gerardi right here.

Krycek heard Mulder's voice from his left.

"Federal Agent! Drop your weapon."

Krycek's attention was drawn to Mulder when he heard him shouting. He saw him slowly fall down. From that moment everything seemed to move in slow motion. He wanted to be there, to be with Mulder, but he had to push through the crowd of people that were standing in his way. He ran towards Mulder, saw him lying down at the ground on his side. He was afraid that Mulder was shot. That someone had hurt his love. He stood there for a split second. Then knelt down beside Mulder, grabbed his shoulder and rolled him onto his back.

"Mulder. You all right?"

Mulder sat up abruptly, he thought he'd been shot, but now there was nothing. He had clearly seen Cole shooting down Gerardi and himself.

"Gerardi! Where is he?"

"Gerardi's not here."

"I saw him." He stood up slowly, helped by Alex who still had his hands on his shoulders.

"Mulder! You were shouting and waving your gun around, but Gerardi never showed." Alex still held Mulder's arm.

"No, Gerardi was here, and so was Cole. We just missed them." He shook Alex's hand off roughly. He was angry at himself and that they had missed them. Mulder walked over to the place where he had seen Cole some moments before. "Mulder, if they had been here, I would have seen it. I'm telling you Mulder, they weren't here."

"We should check the videos of the security office." Mulder said, walking back to Alex who looked hurt by the roughness that Mulder had used to shake off his hand. He laid his own hand slightly on Alex's back in an unspoken apology. Green eyes met Mulder's hazel ones.

"Okay." Alex said softly.

Mulder knew that he didn't just mean their next step.

They arrived at the office and showed their badges, explaining the situation tothe security officers. When they let them in, Mulder walked straight over to the monitors. He gave one of the officers a photograph of Cole and one of Gerardi. He pinned them next to the monitors.

"Okay, there's nothing here. Start with a small window of time, say 1935 to 1945. If you don't find anything in that time frame, then open it up one minute at a time. With all these cameras, we should be able to see something."

"Can we talk for a second?" Krycek slipped up behind Mulder, who turned to face him. They moved some steps aside.

"What's the problem?" Mulder asked.

"You still haven't answered my question. About what happened?"

"I told you, I thought I saw Gerardi."

"Come on, you just about killed somebody back there. We both know I'm covering for you by keeping it between us." He looked deeply into Mulder's eyes so that he knew Krycek wasn't only talking about his behavior at the station.

"All right, what do you want to know?"

"What's the truth? There are things you're not telling me that I need to know."

"It's just that my ideas usually aren't very popular."

Krycek closed his eyes in despair. "I told you, I want to believe. But I need a place to start."

Mulder moved closer to Krycek watching him carefully as he spoke.

"I think that Cole possesses the psychic ability to manipulate sounds and images to generate illusions that are so convincing they can kill. How's that for a theory?"

Alex nodded. "Puts a whole new spin on virtual reality but at least it begins to explain some things." Mulder still looking into Alex' eyes believed him. He wanted to kiss Alex believing him. That thought was interrupted by one of the security officers.

"Agent Mulder, see this car in the upper right corner?" It was good that they were interrupted, Mulder thought, it wouldn't look very good if he first shouted around the station and then began kissing another agent, in front of the security officers. He could imagine the consequences.

"Yeah." Krycek followed him.

"It wasn't there five minutes ago."

"Where is this?" Mulder pointed at the screen.

"Track 17. It's a restricted part of the yard."

Mulder and Krycek looked at each other and turned around simultaneously and ran to their car. It had gotten dark outside. Mulder got in the driver's side and drove over to the track. They got out and with their flashlights they checked out the parked car. Suddenly they heard a scream. They entered the warehouse to search for Gerardi.

// If we weren't looking for Gerardi, it could have been very nice to be alone with Alex in a dark warehouse.// Mulder thought. Then he held Alex back and directed his flashlight on the ground, where a pair of glasses was lying. Glasses like Gerardi wore. He took them and looked at the broken lens. Gerardi had to be here. Then they saw a stream of blood on the ground. Some inches away Gerardi sitting on the ground tied to a pole. Mulder knelt down to feel for his pulse.

"He's still alive. Put pressure on the wound on the back of his neck and radio for help. Now!" He ordered Krycek who was standing behind him. Alex knelt down and did what Mulder told him to, while the other agent went away to look for Cole.

"This is Agent Krycek requesting emergency assistance. My location is track 17 in the freight warehouse."

Krycek waited next to Gerardi until the ambulance men arrived. Then he followed Mulder. He walked into the room where Mulder and Cole were and extended his weapon.

"Krycek put down the gun and get out of here. Krycek, I said put down the gun and get out of here!" Mulder ordered him, Krycek wasn't sure. He didn't want to leave Mulder alone with this murderer. But if Mulder...

Cole made Alex's decision for him. He raised his hand and pointed a gun at Mulder. At least Krycek saw a gun. When Mulder turned around to see Cole's hand he saw that Cole was just holding his bible.

"No!"

But Krycek fired his gun twice and Cole fell down. The agents ran over to him, Mulder knelt down beside Cole and Krycek searched the area for the gun he saw.

"Good-night." Cole whispered before he died. Mulder looked down at him.

"He had a gun. He was gonna shoot you." Krycek explained breathlessly.

"You did the right thing." Mulder nodded. He knew that he would have done the same. He hugged him. "It's okay." Mulder calmed him down.

They walked out of the warehouse, and Krycek went over to the police officers that had arrived to report the recent events. Mulder went back to their car, he sat down and reached under his car seat for the file. But it was gone.

He waited for Krycek and then they drove back to the motel where they had been staying. Both were very quiet. They checked out of the motel and drove back to Washington. Mulder noticed that Krycek became more uncomfortable the closer they got to Washington. He wanted to comfort him.

"Alex. It's okay. You didn't make a mistake. I would have done the same."

Krycek nodded without looking at him. "Yeah."

As they arrived in Washington, Mulder wanted to drive to his apartment, to comfort Krycek in another way. But when Mulder suggested a "pizza" to him, Alex just said that he wanted to be alone. So Mulder drove him to his own apartment and offered to go in with him, but Alex refused again.

"See you tomorrow." He said just as he closed the door of the car.

Alex was hardly in his apartment a few seconds when his phone rang.

"Yes. I'll be there, sir." He said to the caller.

Alex unpacked his clothes and sighed as he laid the file on his table. From someone Mulder had gotten this file. He had to find out who had given it to him. Otherwise the smoking man would get the information in his own way. And Alex knew that blackmail was one of the smoker's favorite methods.

This was how he got Alex to work for him by threatening to expose his homosexuality to his colleagues and superiors at the FBI. He would have had to quit the FBI.

The next day, he went to the smoker to report on his work with Mulder. He gave him the file and the smoker looked through it.

"Do you know where he got this?"

"Not yet. But he got it. Which means he's either found another source, or another source has found him. Sir, if I can recommend something. You'll see that I have outlined several counter measures."

"What about Scully?"

"Reassigning them to other areas seems to have only strengthened their determination. Scully's a problem. A much larger problem than you described."

"Every problem has a solution."

The man put out his cigarette. Krycek lowered his eyes. He knew what that meant. He hoped that the smoking bastard wouldn't ever harm Mulder. Hewould fight for him, even against his "boss".