Replicant Nightmare
                    by Dark Cherry

           

          Title: Replcant Nightmare
          Author: Elaine
          Feedback: uh, yeah ok; be nice, this is my first attempt. drkcherry@earthlink.net
          Disclaimer: The characters from the show aren't mine, they belong to others. No copyright
          infringement intended.
          Fandom: X-Files
          Rating: PG (for violence)
          Pairings: Sk/K
          Spoilers: Existence 8x21
          Summary: Snippet; explanation of the episode that should never have happened.
          Archive: Are you insane?
          Beta: Thanks to Bertie for suffering through it...lol
          Mo `stuff': My attempt at a birthday snippet for Ursula.  Sorry if it's painful.
          Notes: Transcript came from 'InsideTheX' - http://www.insidethex.co.uk
           

          Warmth...comfort...love...safe...fear...hate...death.

          I wake up screaming, but no sound comes out. It's only in my mind. My death. I can still see the look on Walter's face as he shoots me. It's blank. No expression, just an empty void.

          I feel strong arms wrap around me.

          "Alex, its ok.  It was just a nightmare. We're together. No one can find us here," Walter says soothingly.

          "Walter, you killed me," Alex murmurs, his face deep in Walter's neck, his body shaking.

          "Alex we've talked about this. It was the only way. You know that." Walter explains for the hundredth time; but more than willing to say it a hundred more.
           

          ~FLASHBACK~

          (MULDER looks over at KRYCEK's car. It is empty. Suddenly, the car window shatters beside him. KRYCEK grabs MULDER's phone.)

          DOGGETT: (on phone) Mulder!

          (KRYCEK crushes MULDER's phone under his foot. There goes another one. KRYCEK cocks the gun and holds it on MULDER. At least he won't have to fill out a report on this one.)

          KRYCEK: Get out of the car.

          (MULDER resignedly climbs out the driver's side to avoid the shattered glass.)

          KRYCEK: Doesn't seem fair now. Doesn't seem right. Coming down to this.

          MULDER: What do you know about fair or right, Krycek? You're a coward.

          (MULDER slowly walks around the car to face KRYCEK.)

          KRYCEK: I could've killed you so many times, Mulder. You've got to know that. I'm the one that kept you alive. (His voice cracks a little) Praying you'd win somehow.

          MULDER: Then there really is no God.

          KRYCEK: You think I'm bad. That I'm a killer. We wanted the same thing, brother. That's what you don't understand.

          MULDER: I wanted to stop them. All you wanted was to save your own ass.

          KRYCEK: No. I tried to stop them. Tried to kill ... Scully's baby to stop them. It's too late. The tragedy's that you-- you wouldn't let it go. That's why I have to do this. 'Cause you know how deep it goes. Right into the FBI.

          MULDER: You want to kill me, Alex, kill me. Like you killed my father. Just don't insult me trying to make me understand.

          (KRYCEK's finger slowly and reluctantly tightens on the trigger. His face is contorted with indecision. MULDER is calm. He and MULDER stare at each other. A gun is fired. KRYCEK gasps in pain and falls, dropping his gun. There is a bullet wound in his right arm. He looks up and sees SKINNER a few yards away, gun in hand. KRYCEK reaches down to pick up his gun and screams in pain and falls to the ground again as SKINNER shoots him in the right arm again. His arm is now useless. Weakly, KRYCEK uses his prosthetic left arm to push his most definitely unregistered gun toward SKINNER.)

          KRYCEK: It's going to take more bullets than you can... ever fire to win this game. But one bullet... and I can give you a thousand lives.

          (He looks up at MULDER.)

          KRYCEK: Shoot Mulder.

          (SKINNER looks at MULDER. MULDER looks at SKINNER. SKINNER raises his gun and fires. KRYCEK, the Ratboy, falls to the ground, a bullet hole between his eyes. Goodbye, Krycek. Without any regret, MULDER glances at SKINNER, then walks to the driver's side of the car.)

          MULDER: I'm going to go to the airport. I need that location from Agent Doggett.

          MULDER: Skinner, are you with me?

          SKINNER: You just go. I'll get him.

          (As MULDER starts the car and drives away, SKINNER glances down at KRYCEK's dead body, then slowly turns and walks away.)
           

          ~PRESENT~

          "Alex, you weren't there. The rebels explained it to you, remember? They used your blood to make the replicant. Because you shared DNA, you received his memories. Mulder had to believe you were dead. If we had stayed, you would have died. I love you too much to risk that!" Walter exclaims.

          The moon cuts a swath across Walter's face. Alex looks deep into Walter's eyes and sees the truth of his words. It was all just a nightmare, it never happened. Alex soon drifts back to sleep.

          Warmth...comfort...love...safe.

          The end.
           
           

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