Title: Second Chance 2: Chances And Risks

Lady Midath's Fan Fiction

Disclaimer: Nope, none of 'em are mine, gee I wish though :-)

Fandom; X Files

Pairing: Mulder/Krycek

Rating: R for language, and angst no sex yet, but be patient, we are getting there ;-)

Spoilers: None that I am aware of

Archive: Certainly, just let me know where it's going

Summary: It's New Years eve and Alex make a decision

Status: Part One

Please note that Alex Krycek still has both arms

Thanks once again to Shawn for checking all my p's and q's

Part one of the second installment of the Second Chance series

Second Chances 2: Chances and Risks
by Lady Midath

Alex stood at the window, watching the sleet ticking off the fogged up glass pane. He sighed, then turned to Natty who was sitting on a sofa cushion, paws delicately curled up underneath her plump black body.

The small television babbled away in the background, televising the new year celebrations from Times Square.

Alex left his place by the window and walked over to where Natasha was sitting, blinking up at him with her inscrutable feline stare.

"Happy new year, Nat." He said as he reached out to stroke the velvet soft fur.

Natty meowed gently, bringing a smile to Alex's face.

"Well thank you, Nat, how kind of you to attend my little new year's eve soiree." He said as he picked the large black cat up to give her a cuddle.

Natasha meowed again and bumped her head against his chin, her rough pink tongue lapping at his cheek, making him chuckle.

"How about you and I have some champagne to celebrate, huh?" Alex said.

Natty purred her approval as she followed Alex into the tiny kitchen. He opened the fridge and took out a small bottle of champagne, he held it up, showing her the label.

"French champagne, not too shabby, hey, Nat."

Natasha opened her mouth in a delicate yawn, then stalked back to the living room and her place on the couch, curling up on the cushion once more.

Alex watched her go, then shrugged and turned the bottle around to inspect the label. "Well I don't think it's too bad." He said, then he grabbed a couple of glasses and a cork screw and carried it over to where she was still perched.

Alex opened the bottle of champagne, laughing as the cork popped. Natty sat straight up, eyes wide, a soft growl emanating from her. Alex grinned at the look of pure outrage on her face. He knew she hated any kind of loud noise at all.

"Sorry about that, Natty." He told her with a grin. Natty regarded him with large golden eyes, then slowly and with great care, settled herself back down once more.

Alex poured two glasses, setting on in front of Natty, and lifting his own in a toast.

"Happy new year, Nat." He said cheerfully. "Here's to us, old girl."

He watched as the cat cautiously sniffed around the edges of the glass, then lapped at the bubbly sour liquid. With a shake of her head, she backed away from the glass, giving her human a cold glare, she had no idea what this fizzy stuff was, but it definitely was not milk.

Her human began to make that strange sound, the sound that made his shoulders shake and his eyes tear up. It was not coughing exactly, but the short sharp sounds were loud in the small apartment. She waited patiently until it was over and her human had recovered himself once more.

Alex wiped the tears of laughter from his eyes and reached over to pick up the glass of champagne, he carried it back to the kitchen and returned with a bowl of milk which he set down in front of her.

"That's better, isn't it, girl." He said softly as he watched her lap the milk with her tiny pink tongue. A loud purr confirmed her approval of this particular beverage, a vast improvement indeed.

Suddenly noise erupted and Alex glanced at the television. It was midnight and the crowds had all began to sing Auld Lang Syne, a song he had never particularly liked, it always ended up making him feel depressed.

Alex sighed and settled back against the couch to watch the happy crowds join hands and sing, their voices raised with hope and anticipation for the new year.

Natty, sensing her human's mood, climbed onto his lap and settled herself down, purring softly as she felt the warmth of his hand as he petted her.

"Well, Nat, I guess it's time to make some resolutions for 2003 I guess."

Natty yawned once more, bored but very content, lazily listening to her human's voice as he spoke.

"What resolution should I make, hmmm?" Alex asked the beautiful black feline. "Maybe I should turn over a new leaf, get away, get out from under. What do you think, girl?"

Natty rolled over onto her back, grabbing at Alex's hand, catching it between her paws and licking at his fingers, her tongue tickling his skin.

"Yeah, you're right, Natty, we need to get out." Alex told her, his voice soft and thoughtful. "And I think I know a way to do it, but it means that I'll have to go away for a few days, set things up. But what will I do with you?"

Alex frowned, he had money put aside, funds that he had hidden away from the little schemes that he had been running on the side, before the Consortium had discovered what he had been up too.

He could recover the money and disappear, he owned an old farm th