From wolfcatxf@earthlink.net Mon Dec 30 01:11:28 1996 Disclaimer - Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Alex Krycek, and Cancerman, and any other XF regulars mentioned in passing belong to TenThirteen Productions. No copyright infringement intended to any of TenThirteen Production's property. Jess Leahs, Lindy Leahs, Michael Leahs, Annie Leahs, Alpha Wolf and the various generic MIB's are mine however, but I am willing to share if asked nicely. Disclaimer - Quotes are used without permission. No copyright infringement or disrespect intended. Why are you wasting time reading these disclaimers? You know already what they're going to say. No plot twists at all. Get on to the story. Feedback is always appreciated and encouraged. I need the ego stroking. Or someone to point out where I messed up. Synopsis - This picks up right after Loup Garou - The Kindred left off. Read it first and then this. Krycek faces his past and tries to make amends. Mulder has to deal with the fact that Jess had disregarded his wishes. And Jess has to find a balance between the man she once loved and the man she now loves. Season 4 spoilers. Relationship alert, and I ain't talking about only Mulder and Scully. NC17 for human/werewolf sex, but nothing kinky. Consider yourself warned. Loup Garou - the Kindred was written well in advance of Season 4's Tunguska/Terma. I have chosen to adapt around those events, so any inaccuracies with the first story are probably intentional. Loup Garou IV - Life Mates - A Sequel to The Kindred part 5 By Shael (wolfcatxf@earthlink.net) * * * * * * * The Cigarette Smoking Man watched events unfold from a discrete distance. He was only marginally involved in this part of the Project. His involvement was due to his former underling. Once he had left Krycek to die. Now, because of the DNA he carried, Krycek was too valuable to kill out of hand. He could be useful in the future. He lit the Morley and inhaled. His eyes were fixed on the bench where Mulder's former lover and her little girl sat. She had sat there almost unmoving for the last two hours. The only time she had shifted was when she looked away from the lake for a few moments. She had stared in his direction, although it would be impossible for her to see him. Her expression reminded him of another time he had seen the same quiet desperation. He had been younger then. He hadn't meant any harm. He hadn't meant for it to happen. It just did. And he was still dealing with the consequences to this day. Perhaps that was why he felt the urge to watch over her. He watched as the two lovers/partners walk to the bench. They would see that she was taken care of. And so would he, discreetly, of course. She was valuable as an experimental subject to see if her kind could function in a human world. A thought crossed his mind. His associates would find it amusing at the least, and informative at the most. The hard part would be keeping Mulder or Scully from killing Krycek outright. Now he had just to wait. He wouldn't waste resources looking for Krycek. A werewolf wouldn't be killed by a shoulder wound from a regular bullet, which he made sure his men were armed with. It would be a matter of time before Krycek sought him out because of desperation, needing protection. * * * * * * * Jess laid curled on her side on her bed, silently weeping. After Mulder and Scully brought Lindy and her home, she had went to her room. She had thrown herself on her bed, trying to process all that had happened without feeling. It wasn't working. The door opened. "Jess?" She didn't look at Mulder. "Just say what you have to say and then leave." She still spoke in the toneless voice she had used earlier. "I just want to say that I'm sorry about everything." "Everything?" Jess rolled over and lifted her head to stare at him, eyes puffy from crying. "Everything." Mulder sighed. "Listen, you love him. He loves you. I know he could have used you and Lindy as a 'human'" Jess snorted at the word, "shield, but he didn't. He could have taken advantage of the situation. He didn't. And I know how hard a love like that is hard to find." She sat up. "Apology accepted. But what do I do now if... ." "Whatever you want to, Jess." Mulder sounded resigned. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. It's your choice. Scully and I have discussed this. As long as he keeps his nose clean and cooperates with us, it's none of my business who you're sleeping with." Jess got up and hugged Mulder tightly. "Thank you," she whispered. A quiet 'ahem' made them split apart. Scully stood in the door. "Your brother's here. He wants to see you." Jess nodded and walked to the door. She stopped only to hug Scully and also whisper "thanks" to her. Scully crossed over to Mulder. She wrapped her arms around him. "That was generous of you, Mulder." "I don't have to like it," he replied. "But we need him alive for now. I just wonder if he made it to safety." She shrugged her shoulders. "C'mon." Scully led him out by the hand. Michael and Annie were in the living room. He saw Jess's brother holding an empty leash. Jess and Lindy were on their knees, cooing and crying over a black and white male husky. The dog whimpered and cowered back slightly at the sight of the FBI agents. "Jess, we've got to go back to D.C.," Mulder said. He shot a sharp look at her. "Remember what I said about him behaving." Jess grinned up at him. "I know, no bad dogs." She stood up. "Thanks for everything, both of you." "Just be careful. All of you," Scully said. As they walked out the door, she took one last look back. Jess was standing now, one hand resting on the dog's head. Lindy was also standing, her hand over Jess's. They both stood silently by the dog as Mulder and Scully left. * * * * * * * When Krycek woke up, he had a hard time remembering exactly where he was. He was laying in a twin bed, covered in an juvenile print quilt. Across from him was a desk with an older TV perched on it's top. A few posters of kittens and puppies graced the walls, along with the plush animals on the bookcase next to the closet. He rolled onto his belly and pushed up to look at the clock on the bookshelf/headboard. And his eyes rested on the radio alarm before shifting to the picture of an average height brunette hugging a seven year old blonde beside it. And everything that happened yesterday came flooding back. Alpha Wolf kidnapping Jess. The fight to the death between the two of them. Mulder and Scully finding and almost killing him again. The Cigarette Smoking Man forcing him to dive into Vasona Lake in order to escape. After that things became more blurred. He could vaguely remember swimming to the far shore of the lake and somehow managing to summon enough concentration to self-heal and Change for the first time without the influence of the moon. And somehow, relying on the instructions Jess had given and the map of the area he memorized, he had managed to find Jess's brother's house and be recognized. Michael had brought him to Jess's right away, while still in wolf form. He rolled out of the bed, uncertain why he was in Lindy's room and not Jess's, where she had put him the last time he showed up unexpectedly. A faded pair of men's jeans were sitting on the chair beside the door. And on top of those jeans were a set of red silk boxers. he mused. He pulled the clothing on. The jeans, being Michael's, were a little loose on him, but a belt fixed that problem. He left Lindy's room to cross over to Jess's. Her door was closed. Krycek knocked on the door. "Jess?" "Come in," came the quiet reply. Krycek stepped through the door. He looked around her bedroom. Jess was sitting on the bed, back to him. "Where's Lindy?" "She went with Annie and Michael for the weekend. Her choice." Krycek took a deep breath. "So we're alone." "Yeah," Jess looked down at her hands folded in her lap. "Alex, why didn't you come back sooner before? You came back right away this time." "I couldn't. It would have been too dangerous." Krycek sat down on the bed beside her. Jess edged away from him. "Yeah, right." There was a tremor in her voice. "Jess," he said softly. He put his hands on her shoulders. "You don't think that I don't love you, that I'm using you. Do you?" Despite herself, Jess leant away from him slightly. "I searched for you for so long. I kept defending you to Mulder, Scully, and myself. But as more time passed, it got harder to do." She looked at Krycek. "I didn't know what to believe." "Oh God, Jess. I had no idea I hurt you so badly." Pulling her against him, Krycek leaned his forehead against hers. "I stayed away because I knew I was being followed. Hell, I probably still am. But I couldn't stay away any longer. Please, forgive me, I beg you." A tear slid down his cheek. Jess wiped it away tenderly. "I didn't know what to believe about you staying away. Mulder insisted that it was because you were involved with the man he calls Cancerman. I wasn't so sure. But I *never* believed you stopped loving me, or stopped loving you." She pressed her lips to his. She wrapped her arms around him. Krycek whimpered as he returned the kiss. It started gently, but quickly became more passionate. Jess went down backwards, laying on the bed and pulling Krycek with her. Her hands started exploring his back. Krycek took her heads in his hands. His tongue probed even more deeply into her mouth. One hand slid from where it was stroking her cheek to cup her breast. "I want you so badly," he whispered. Since her mouth was otherwise engaged nibbling his ear, Jess mindspoke without thinking. ~I want you too, Alex.~ Krycek jumped back at the unexpected connection. "Jeez, Jess, that scared me." He looked at her curiously. "You can do that too?" "I'm sorry. I didn't mean scare you," Jess apologized. ~What do you mean 'too'?~ He took a deep breath. ~I can mindspeak, also. Not many of us at the labs could.~ He switched to talking. "I'm not quite as good at it." "Alex, that's wonderful." Jess sounded excited. "I found out by accident that Lindy and I could communicate psychicly." Her head tilted to one side. ~What else can you do?~ "I can read minds a bit, and also send images." He decided to demonstrate by showing her an image he had thought of often - the two of them spending their first night together. "You would choose an X rated image," Jess purred. She replied in kind. Krycek gasped. She had chosen one of her fantasies, him naked, her kneeling in front of him, pleasuring him in ways he had dreamed about those nights away from her. He pressed himself harder against her body. "Jessica," he whispered throatily. He kissed her frantically, aching to make love to her. Jess smiled at the reaction he had to her. And she was going through the same thing. Her body was responding to his caresses, throbbing with the need to be taken. ~Do you want to make that fantasy a reality?~ He moved one of her hands to the hardness between his legs. ~Do you have to ask?~ * * * * * * * Scully mused to herself. She closed her eyes and sighed. She shook her head. She was a long way from forgiving Krycek for what he had done, but she did feel the stirrings of a little pity for what was done to him. She opened her eyes to glance at Mulder. He was sitting beside her, head tilted forward, eyes closed. Mulder may have said he wouldn't harm Krycek for Jess's sake, but he wouldn't easily forgive. Or forget. * * * * * * * Krycek and Jess lay in a tangled heap of sheets, their bodies still entwined. He was tenderly kissing her neck. A ghost of that smile still played on her lips. "It's funny, Alex. Just when you think it can't get any better... ." She delicately left the thought unfinished. He laid his head on her chest, listening to the steady thump of her heartbeat. ~I know what you mean, beloved.~ "'Beloved?' I don't think I like the sound of that," Jess murmured. "Sounds like something you put in an obituary." She exhaled in pure contentment. "So you still gonna marry me?" "After the last half hour, do you think there's any question?" A teasing tone crept into his voice. "Do you think it might be a problem that our relationship is based on sex?" Jess arched an eyebrow. "That's a *problem?* God! I wish all our problems were that simple." Krycek chuckled. "True." He stretched against her. "We do have a problem though." ~Mulder and Scully.~ Jess thought. "So what do we do?" "Not what, when. Let them know I'm here. And pray that they can find some touch of pity for me." "Alex, we don't have to..." Krycek laid a finger on her lips. ~We tried to keep it secret, and you almost got killed. Maybe things will be different if we lay all our cards on the table.~ Jess sighed. "So how do we do this?" "I think I have an idea." * * * * * * * Mulder stepped into his apartment since the first time he had been in San Jose. Surprisingly, there was a message on his answering machine. He didn't often get calls when his friends knew he was out of town investigating a case. He punched the 'play messages' button. "Hey, Mulder. I wanted you to know that I found that thing I've been looking for, just after you left. And I ran into a mutual friend, and I plan to be staying in touch with him. Oh, and Lindy says 'hi'. Give me a call when you can. See ya around." he thought. * * * * * * * Jess lay in the bedroom of the apartment, trying to get to sleep. She knew it. How she knew it, she wasn't sure, but she *knew* it. And it had been a while since she had this vibe. she thought. Lindy had adjusted surprisingly well to Krycek's presence in Jess's life. She had made major steps towards conquering her fear. But when she did spook, Jess had to do her utmost to calm her back down. She rolled over to watch Krycek as he slept. He was curled beside her, his left arm curled under his body protectively. Jess noticed that he always did seem to favor that arm, although he was right handed like her. she thought with a smile. She sighed as she though about how fast her life had changed. She slid out of bed, trying not to disturb Krycek. She padded out of the bedroom and across the living area to the kitchenette, weaving to avoid furniture. An adult and a child fit into the space easily. But two adults, a child and a cat was pushing it. She started the water boiling. Just after she added the powder to her cup, she heard movement behind her. ~Whatcha doing?~ Lindy mindspoke. ~Girl, what are you doing out of bed?~ Jess turned around. ~It's after midnight.~ ~Heard you moving around. And you always told me to check out strange things.~ ~Okay. As long as you're up, sit down and have some chocolate too.~ "Okay." She sat down. ~Why isn't Alex with us?~ ~He's asleep. Didn't want to disturb him or you.~ Jess looked the little girl in the eye. ~How are you doing? Any nightmares? Scary feelings?~ ~Nope.~ Lindy blew into the mug. ~He hasn't tried anything. Always been nice. Why should I be scared?~ She started to drink her chocolate. ~Good. I've just been unsettled tonight. Thought I might've been picking up something from you.~ Jess lifted her mug. The drank in silence, just enjoying being together. Lindy's eyelids started to droop and her head began to nod. ~Why don't you go back to bed?~ Jess said. ~Okay.~ Lindy was tired. Once up, usually she would resist the idea of going back to sleep. She got up from the table. "Night, Jess." she whispered as she went back to her room. Jess cleaned up the kitchen and turned out the light. As she walked back to the bedroom, she heard a low moan of fear. That was when she realized that she hadn't been picking up vibes from Lindy. She had been picking them up from Krycek. She ran the last few paces into the bedroom. Krycek, still asleep, was thrashing about on their bed. "No! Don't! Nyet! For God's sake, no!" he screamed, bolting upright. His eyes snapped open. "Alex, it's okay. I'm here." She sat on the bed and pulled his sweat covered body to her. He locked his arms around her tightly, burying his head into her shoulder. ~It's all right.~ She rocked him back and forth. ~Jess, what's happening?~ Lindy mindyelled. She had heard his yell and was running towards their bedroom. ~It's okay, Lindy. Go back to sleep. I'll deal with it.~ Her attention shifted back to the frightened man she was cradling. "Alex, you're safe," she repeatedly whispered. Eventually, his death grip loosened on her. His hands wandered up to her head and pulled it to his. While kissing her, he pressed her back onto the bed. ~I need you, Jessica.~ Jess returned the kiss as he pulled her sleep shirt off her. He had been so frightened of what he had dreamed, he was trying to reassure himself of reality by making love to her. ~I'm here. You're safe,~ she repeatedly 'spoke as she was swept away by the sensation of his lips on hers. Her underwear soon followed the sleep shirt. And his also. Jess lightly stroked his back as Krycek moved to her breast, gripping her shoulders convulsively. She nuzzled the top of his head, planting kisses in his soft hair. A soft growl, almost a purr, vibrated from her throat as she reached his ass. Krycek whimpered and tongued the skin between her breasts. ~So beautiful.~ He traveled back up to her face, stroking her cheeks. ~Do you want me, miserable rat bastard that I am?" ~I don't want a miserable rat bastard. I want you.~ She nipped lightly at his ears and throat. She wrapped her thighs around his. Krycek moaned wordlessly and penetrated her. Each thrust sank him deeper into her depths. Jess whimpered quietly with each movement, feeling him fill her. She could feel her pleasure rising, her muscles squeezing him. ~Alex!~ Krycek looked down at his lover, in the throes of her orgasm. She had arched up against him, heels and head dug into the matress. Her neck was bare to him in submission and ecstacy. The sight of her drove him over the edge. ~Jessica!~ He flowed into her as a warm darkness flowed into him. * * * * * * * Krycek woke up. He could feel Jess's arms holding him tightly. She was curled around him protectively, her cheek resting on his neck, making it impossible for someone to get at him without going through her first. In his dream, he was back in the labs, just before he underwent the first in a series of experiments. He shivered as he remembered the cruelty inflicted on him in the name of science. He smiled as he remembered making love to Jess. It had been more incredible than usual, maybe because he had been so relieved that it had only been a dream, that he wasn't still locked in that damn silo or in those labs or in the woods outside of Tunguska having his arm hacked off. Or maybe it was because... . Krycek groaned. Jess stirred when she heard the groan. "Morning handsome," she said, snuggling a little closer. "Morning Jess." His hand started to stroke her short brown hair. "I'm sorry about last night." Jess idly traced circles on his chest. "Don't worry. I'm used to handling nightmares. Between me and Lindy, I've had a lot of practice. Want to talk about it?" "Not really." He didn't want to discuss those horrible memories at all. "I wasn't talking about my dream." His other hand eased across the small of her back. "I'm talking about making love to you without a condom. Jeez, I can't believe I forgot." "Alex, it's okay." Jess pushed up to look him in the eyes. "Our tests came back negative and we're only sleeping with each other. So that rules out AIDS and other VDs. And if I'm pregnant," Jess shrugged, "I can't think of anyone else I want to be the father." She lay back down on beside him. A glint appeared in her dark brown eyes. "Besides, I could have stopped you if I had really wanted to." Krycek sighed in relief that she wasn't mad at him. And then decided to return her teasing tone. "I'd like to see you try," he growled as he dove lecherously for her neck. Jess laughed and playfully shoved at him. Their wrestling match continued for a few minutes until it was interrupted by a quiet knock. ~Can I come in?"~ came Lindy's mindvoice. "Give us a sec," Krycek called. He slid out of bed to get their clothes from the floor where he had tossed them last night. Ignoring Jess's wolf whistle as he bent over, he tossed her the sleep shirt. As she pulled it on, he stepped into his sweatpants. "Come on in," he said as he sat back down on the bed. Lindy, dressed in pajamas, opened the door. "Morning," she said. She scampered into bed beside Jess. "Scooch over, Alex. Lindy's hanging off the edge." Jess resettled, putting an arm around each of them. "So what are we doing this Saturday morning?" "Watch cartoons and eat Chocopuffs?" Lindy said eagerly. "Sounds like we're in for a sugar rush, Jess," Alex laughed. "Okay, Lindy, go turn the TV. I'll get the cereal. None for me, though. But it's not my fault when the two of you are bouncing off the walls." Krycek winked at her above Lindy's head. ~Hopefully, I'll be bouncing off of you later.~ ~Horny hell hound,~ Jess shot back. "Let's move into the living room." (conitnues) The strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack. - R. Kipling How can we meet the gods face to face until we have faces? - C. S. Lewis Official Government Explanation for a UFO Crash - What we have here is a weather balloon that encountered some swamp gas that was struck by lightening and fell near a frizbee contest. - Pinky and the Brain From wolfcatxf@earthlink.net Mon Dec 30 01:11:28 1996 Disclaimer - Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Alex Krycek, and Cancerman, and any other XF regulars mentioned in passing belong to TenThirteen Productions. No copyright infringement intended to any of TenThirteen Production's property. Jess Leahs, Lindy Leahs, Michael Leahs, Annie Leahs, Alpha Wolf and the various generic MIB's are mine however, but I am willing to share if asked nicely. Disclaimer - Quotes are used without permission. No copyright infringement or disrespect intended. Why are you wasting time reading these disclaimers? You know already what they're going to say. No plot twists at all. Get on to the story. Feedback is always appreciated and encouraged. I need the ego stroking. Or someone to point out where I messed up. Synopsis - This picks up right after Loup Garou - The Kindred left off. Read it first and then this. Krycek faces his past and tries to make amends. Mulder has to deal with the fact that Jess had disregarded his wishes. And Jess has to find a balance between the man she once loved and the man she now loves. Season 4 spoilers. Relationship alert, and I ain't talking about only Mulder and Scully. NC17 for human/werewolf sex, but nothing kinky. Consider yourself warned. Loup Garou - the Kindred was written well in advance of Season 4's Tunguska/Terma. I have chosen to adapt around those events, so any inaccuracies with the first story are probably intentional. Loup Garou IV - Life Mates - A Sequel to The Kindred part 6 By Shael (wolfcatxf@earthlink.net) * * * * * * * Later in the afternoon, Jess, Lindy, and Krycek were still watching the TV. Jess had idly thought earlier. Between working with her brother Michael at his veterinarian clinic as a secretary, taking care of Lindy and Krycek, and trying to discretely do research into the paperwork she swiped from the pharmaceutical lab, she felt as if she were physically stretched almost to the breaking point. She hadn't been this content ever in her life. And apparently Lindy felt the same. To her surprise, Lindy had snuggled on the couch between her and Krycek instead of the opposite side of Jess from him. True, she was practically on Jess's lap, but it was a big step for her to be there between them at all. ~Aren't we a picture of domestic bliss?~ Krycek 'spoke to her sardonically. He stretched and yawned, displacing the cat that had curled on his lap. ~Me, domesticated? Never,~ Jess snorted. "Sorry, Lindy, but my leg's gone to sleep. Move, please." She stood up, shaking her leg to get the blood flowing again. Lindy also got up. "I'm gonna go play video games," she announced and ran up the stairs. "Abandoned for a hedgehog and a plumber," Jess muttered. She flopped back down beside Krycek. "So are you ready to talk about the dream you had last night?" Krycek grabbed her legs and swung them over his lap. "No, I'd rather talk about how much I want you." His hands started to slide up them. Jess stopped him mid movement. She pulled her legs off him to curl them under her. "Oh no. You're not using sex, however great it is, to avoid this. I want to help you. What's wrong?" Krycek sighed. "I've been dreaming about Hong Kong, the silo,the labs, and the woods outside the gulag. And they terrify me." "Are you remembering things?" "No, I still have blank spots." "Well something is trying to break through," She leaned an elbow against the couch. "Maybe we oughta get you a hypnotherapist." "Why? So I can relive my greatest shame? Have my nose rubbed in everything I did?" Bitterness tinged his voice. "All I want to do is forget," he sighed. "Alex, that's not what I meant." Jess put her left hand over his left one and squeezed. "Some part of you is trying to remember, wants to remember. Those repressed memories are festering and rotting inside you. If you allow yourself to remember, you can start to heal." Krycek put his free hand over hers. "I'm scared, Jess. I am scared shitless of what we'll find out." Jess leaned her forehead against his. "We'll work through it together. What ever happens, I will be here for you." She lifted his hand to her lips, kissing the palm lightly. ~I swear it.~ * * * * * * * Two days later, Krycek and Jess waited nervously in the hotel room. Mulder had requested to see them, alone, in Martha's Vineyard. Since it coincided with a school break, they had brought Lindy along. "At least we'll get a mini vacation out of it," Krycek had said. Lindy, oblivious to the tension, sat reading in the corner. She also had a stack of hotel stationary and a pile of crayons in easy reach. Her head snapped up. ~Someone's at the door,~ she mindspoke to the room in general. Jess nodded and went to the door. She looked out the peephole. "Mulder," she said softly. Krycek took a deep breath and nodded. Jess opened the door. "Hello, Mulder." "Lindy, Krycek, Jess," he said by way of greeting. In an attempt to diffuse the tension between him and Jess, he tried to make a joke. "So how are your San Jose Guppies doing?" Jess flopped down onto the edge of the bed. "You didn't call us out here to make fun of my home town hockey team, Mulder. Cut the chit chat. Why are we here?" "There is a way Krycek can prove he's reformed." The skepticism in Mulder's words were clear. "I'm listening," Krycek said. "It involves the digital tape." "Digital tape?" Jess arched her eyebrows. "What digital tape?" Krycek understood immediately. He closed his eyes. "You're not going to ask us to do what I think you are." ~What? What is he going to ask for?~ Jess mindspoke to Krycek. ~Me to sell my soul to the devil again,~ came the grim reply. Mulder leaned forward. "Not 'us' Krycek. You. I have a lead on the digital tape. I want you to retrieve it." His choice of words rankled Jess. "Retrieve?" She stood up. "Is that what you think of us? Of me? Something less than human that can be ordered around like some trained dog?" ~Jess, calm down,~ Krycek stood up and put his arms around her. ~No, Alex. I won't calm down. He's treating us like we owe him.~ ~I do.~ ~So do I. But he's taking advantage of it.~ Mulder looked uncomfortable. "I wish you two wouldn't do that." "Do what?" Jess asked sullenly. She sat back onto the bed. Mulder tapped the side of his head. "Telepathy." "Get used to it," Jess snarled. ~Jess, calm down. Let's hear the man out before we refuse him.~ "Start talking." "The digital tape," he said for Jess's benefit, "has information on it from Roswell up to the present. It was first brought to my attention by a hacker." Jess nodded. "Who got it illegally, of course." "Of course. I, um, handed the tape over to Skinner for safe keeping." Jess finished the story. "And then Krycek took it forcibly from him. And the rest, shall we say, is history. And I think we have enough info to make adecision." Mulder stood up to leave. "Consider what I've said. And Krycek, consider this." His eyes narrowed. "If I even think that you aren't playing this straight, you're a dead man. And if you hurt Jess... ." "Mulder, that's enough." Jess's voice was ice cold. With a final glare at Krycek, Mulder left. About two seconds after he left, Krycek spoke. "Let's do it." "Alex, you don't have to prove anything to me. And it's too risky." "No, we need to keep Mulder and Scully our allies. And I have to atone somehow. This might be a start." * * * * * * * Jess requested a second meeting with Mulder, alone. She was waiting in a Dennys, not far from where she was staying. She wanted a few words with Mulder, not wanting to have to act as a buffer between him and Krycek. Mulder came and joined her in the booth. "Krycek chickened out this time?" "Shut up, Mulder. *I* requested this meeting, not Alex," Jess growled. "I have some questions I want answered before we say yes or no." "Fine, go ahead. Ask." "Okay. One, how reliable is your source?" Mulder shifted uneasily. "As reliable as any of my sources are." Jess thought. But she knew that would be the only answer she would get. "Two. Does Scully know about this?" "No." Jess looked at him sharply. "You haven't told her? Is that wise?" "Is that any of your business, blood thirsty hell beast?" Jess smiled at the use of her nickname. "You're right. It's none of my business." She leant forward, resting her chin on her hands. "You know the only reason I'm considering this is because Alex feels so damn guilty." "Like I said earlier, this is a chance to prove he's reformed." Mulder shifted again uneasily. Jess thought. She didn't want to probe his mind and find out. That would be a violation of their friendship. And Jess felt that she and Krycek could handle any situation together. "Okay, we'll do it. Where do we go and what do we do?" "The tape is being kept in a house on the outskirts of D.C. The full moon will be happening in five days. He'll probably have the best chance then." "No, Mulder. If someone knows that you've contacted us, they'll be expecting him then. Alex can will the Change almost as well as I can now. And I'm not letting him do this alone. He and I do it tomorrow night." * * * * * * * Krycek and Jess debated the information they had gotten from Mulder, formulated a plan. Jess and Krycek would make the raid on the house. A little careful observation on Mulder's part had revealed that there was a standard burglar alarm on the house, but nothing else. Once it was disabled, it would be a simple matter to get in and out. They had left Lindy at the hotel. Krycek had been adamant "I don't want her involved. It's too dangerous for a kid like her." Now they were trotting in wolf form to their target. ~Alex, does any of this smell rotten to you?~ Jess 'spoke. She had been uneasy with the whole idea. She was almost invisible because of her solid black fur. Krycek was a little easier to see because of the white patches on his dark fur, the more traditional markings of a husky. ~I've had an uneasy feeling too, but I can't quite put a finger on it.~ ~Don't you mean paw?~ She ducked his mock snap at her neck. ~Okay, I'll be serious.~ ~You, serious?~ he snorted. ~Don't make me laugh.~ A fence barred their way. Taking a few steps backwards,they both took a running jump it to land in a backyard. ~This is it.~ Jess looked back at Krycek. ~You've had more experience breaking into places. What next?~ ~We find a way in.~ Krycek circled the house, scanning the place. ~There. Window to the kitchen is cracked open. And if there is an open window... .~ ~... the alarm system is off.~ Jess trotted over to the window and nosed it wider open. She slid through the opening. Krycek followed. They found themselves standing in a kitchen with all the modern convinces. Their claws clicked against the tile floor as they made their way to the hall. ~Mulder said the tape will be hidden in the upstairs den, Alex. Let's go.~ They paused in front of the stairway. ~Wait a second. This place smells familiar.~ Krycek had wrinkled his nose, inhaling deeply. Jess sniffed. ~Something does smell familiar, but I'm not sure from where.~ She shivered, fur bristling in waves. ~This is giving me the creeps. Let's just get the damn tape.~ ~Agreed.~ They slowly climbed the stairs. The door to the den was wide open. Jess and Krycek entered it hesitantly, heads and bellies low to the ground. They started pulling drawers open and rifling through them, no mean feat using canine jaws and paws. ~Jess, found it!~ Krycek pulled his head out of one drawer, holding the tape gingerly in his mouth. They started back down to the kitchen. ~Alex, this is all wrong.~ Jess stopped, ears pinned back flat against her head. ~Nobody's here. It was too easy to get in and find it. If this tape's so valuable, why keep it here, with no one guarding it?~ Krycek looked back at her, forefeet on the window sill. ~And I just remembered what smelled so familiar. There were Morley butts in the ashtray upstairs. And I only know of one person connected with Mulder who smokes Morleys.~ He shot her a mental picture of Cancerman. Jess eyes widened. ~Oh God! This is a set up! Let's get the hell out now!~ Krycek and Jess squeezed through the window. They couldn't sense anyone around them, but they ran off quickly and silently, taking no chances. ~We'd better split up. I'll go get Lindy. You go on to Mulder's.~ Jess veered off in another direction, blending into the night. ~I'm gonna run a random pattern, just in case. Be there in two hours. Be careful.~ Krycek also ran into the darkness. * * * * * * * Jess had returned to where she left her clothes earlier that evening. She Changed back into a human and went into the hotel. She almost ran to their room. Jess stepped through the door. ~Lindy, I'm back.~ No response, mindvoice or physical voice. ~Lindy?~ Jess opened the bathroom door. Nothing. ~Lindy!~ Jess opened the floor length drapes. Again nothing. There were no other hiding places in the room. ~*Lindy!!!!*~ * * * * * * * He had heard Jess's mindscreams. She 'spoke to him frantically after not finding Lindy. After calming her somewhat, he also tried to 'speak to Lindy, with no luck. But deep inside, he knew that wasn't the reason. He stopped in front of an apartment. He knocked on the door. Mulder opened it. He looked at him cooly. "Well," he said, arching an eyebrow. Krycek strode in, hatred burning in his eyes. "I hope Lindy's life was worth this." He tossed the tape at Mulder. "Where is she? Jess dragged herself here an hour ago." "I don't know." Each word came out with a hard edge. Jess staggered out of the bedroom. Eyes wide, she clutched at the door frame for support. She looked at Krycek, and then behind him. ~I still can't 'hear her. Can you?~ Krycek shook his head. "I still can't 'hear her either." ~I hoped it was because I'm not as strong as you are.~ He walked over to her and put his arms around her. Jess leaned into the embrace, shivering. "What do you mean 'can't hear her'?" Mulder demanded. "We can all mindspeak to each other. Doesn't have to do with the fact that Alex and I are a mated pair." Jess explained. "Seems to be an extension of our mindreading abilities." "And Lindy is keeping quiet? Shutting you two out?" Mulder asked. "No, it doesn't work that way. We can usually get a sense of where the other is." "So what happened?" Jess couldn't answer. Krycek explained, deadly serious. "Only two things I know of can stop mindspeach - when we're too far apart, or death." * * * * * * * Scully walked the hallway to Mulder's apartment. She knew he was up to something. He had been even more paranoid and secretive at work and at home than usual. That meant that he had gotten a lead on a piece of information that someone didn't want him to have. When she stepped into the apartment, she understood why. Jess crouched on the couch, arms wrapped around her knees tightly, staring into space. She walked over to Jess and shook her shoulder slightly. "Jess, where's Krycek?" "Bathroom" came the toneless reply. "And Mulder? Where is he?" "In the bedroom," said an all too familiar voice. Scully spun to see Krycek standing in the doorway to the bedroom. "What the *hell* are you doing here?" "Mulder asked us to do a favor." The bitterness in his voice was palatable. "And it doing it may have been the worst mistake I've ever made." He pushed past her to kneel in front of Jess. He stared intently at her face, and then cupped it in his hands. "C'mon, Jess. We can't reach her from here. Exhausting yourself isn't going to help," he said gently. " 'Exhausting yourself?' " Scully asked. Jess still stared into space, almost catatonic. "She's trying to find Lindy by mindscanning, but I've never seen her go so deep," Krycek said. "Jess, I got us into this. It's my fault. Blame me." Jess closed her eyes and started to shake. Her breath, instead of being slow and measured, came in staccato bursts. "Not your fault,... told her would *always* protect her,... should have known... ." "Jess, look at me." She opened her eyes. He continued to speak. "There is know way that you could have known. And we'll find her." "Lindy's missing?" "Yeah, Scully. Go ask Mulder about it. I'm going to try to snap Jess out of this." Scully stepped into the bedroom where Mulder was holding a digital tape. "Is that why Jess and Krycek are here?" "I was told where the tape was being kept. And I thought that they were the perfect choice to get at it." "Only it was a set up, and you were suspicious but asked them to do it anyway." Scully started piecing everything together. "And you thought that if anyone got hurt, it would be Krycek and not Jess or Lindy." She paused tilting her head. "Is that even *the* tape?" "I don't know. All I know is I may have just destroyed her life." "No, Mulder, you just complicated it that much more." Jess, shadowed by Krycek, stood in the doorway. "You didn't abduct Lindy." Her jaw tightened. "All you're responsible for is what you asked me and Alex to do." "Jess, I'm sorry that you and Lindy got involved." Mulder did sound repentant for that. "But don't ask me to apologize to him." Jess bit her lower lip. "Alex, Dana, I want a minute alone with Mulder." Krycek and Scully left the room without a word. Jess fixed Mulder with a steely glare. "Now let's get something straight between us. I once loved you. I do still, as a friend. And I'm extremely hurt and angry right now." Mulder's gaze also narrowed. "And?" he said dangerously. "I made a vow that I would fight tooth and nail to keep my family safe. And consider Alex family as much as I consider Lindy, Michael, Annie, Dana, and you. But if I'm forced to make a choice between you and Alex, you're not going to like it." Mulder stood up. "Jess, for the sake of our friendship, I'll try to not force you to make that choice. But don't expect me to accept Krycek with open arms." Jess steped forward a pace. "I'm not asking you to. But I would like you to stop acting like he's demon spawn. Sometimes I wonder who you're actually angry with, Alex or your dad." "Jess," he growled warningly. "Shut up, Fox and let me finish." Jess's eyes narrowed. "I can understand why you'd be angry at Alex. He did shoot him in cold blood. But you make it sound like he killed your best friend, not your father. And don't tell me that your father was your best friend. I know better than that. I know that he didn't want you to talk about Samantha, or act like she existed. And I have a good guess that he knew a lot more about her disappearance than he let on." Mulder paled. He was sure that no one other than Scully and his mother had any idea about that. "How did you know?" "Logical reasoning, and the fact that I'm a bit further removed from the events means I can be a more dispassionate observer." Jess shook her head. "Mulder, I understand about how you feel about your dad. My dad wouldn't let us talk about Rachel when she died. But I still loved him and it took me a long time to admit that I was angry at him. But you have to admit the anger is there and then let it go, or else it's going to destroy you. But I won't let you take it out on Alex." (continues) The strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack. - R. Kipling How can we meet the gods face to face until we have faces? - C. S. Lewis Official Government Explanation for a UFO Crash - What we have here is a weather balloon that encountered some swamp gas that was struck by lightening and fell near a frizbee contest. - Pinky and the Brain From wolfcatxf@earthlink.net Mon Dec 30 01:11:28 1996 Disclaimer - Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Alex Krycek, and Cancerman, and any other XF regulars mentioned in passing belong to TenThirteen Productions. No copyright infringement intended to any of TenThirteen Production's property. Jess Leahs, Lindy Leahs, Michael Leahs, Annie Leahs, Alpha Wolf and the various generic MIB's are mine however, but I am willing to share if asked nicely. Disclaimer - Quotes are used without permission. No copyright infringement or disrespect intended. Why are you wasting time reading these disclaimers? You know already what they're going to say. No plot twists at all. Get on to the story. Feedback is always appreciated and encouraged. I need the ego stroking. Or someone to point out where I messed up. Synopsis - This picks up right after Loup Garou - The Kindred left off. Read it first and then this. Krycek faces his past and tries to make amends. Mulder has to deal with the fact that Jess had disregarded his wishes. And Jess has to find a balance between the man she once loved and the man she now loves. Season 4 spoilers. Relationship alert, and I ain't talking about only Mulder and Scully. NC17 for human/werewolf sex, but nothing kinky. Consider yourself warned. Loup Garou - the Kindred was written well in advance of Season 4's Tunguska/Terma. I have chosen to adapt around those events, so any inaccuracies with the first story are probably intentional. Loup Garou IV - Life Mates - A Sequel to The Kindred part 7 By Shael (wolfcatxf@earthlink.net) * * * * * * * Krycek was going through his own special personalized hell. He hadn't wanted Jess or Lindy to come to any harm. They were back as Scully's apartment. Jess refused to stay at Mulder's. "Too many memories," she had said. And since the hotel room had been compromised, there was only one place they could hide momentarily. He sat by the bed, watching Jess. He had managed to finally get her to go to sleep. She had stayed up seventy two hours straight, trying to reach Lindy with her mindvoice. Nothing had been found, no sign of her physically or mentally. He wanted more than anything to collapse beside her, to forget, if only while asleep, the waking nightmare they were living. But there was something he wanted, needed, to do. He left the room, only to search out Mulder's partner. "Scully, I wanted to say I'm sorry." "Sorry, Krycek?" Scully growled. She was sitting at her home computer, typing a report. "About what?" Krycek swallowed. "About everything I was involved in, your disappearance and your sister's death." There, he said it. "I know it doesn't make up for what I've done. I know you will probably hate me for the rest of your life. And I don't blame you for it," he added softly. Having said what he needed to say, he turned and started to walk away. "Krycek," she said sharply. "I want to know, did Cardinale pull the trigger, or did you?" He half turned back to her. "You probably won't believe this is the truth. Cardinale shot her. I was there, but I didn't kill your sister. And I want to take down the men who ordered it just as badly as you." The phone rang. Scully picked it up. Krycek stood watching her, afraid of what she was hearing. Scully hung up the phone. "Wake Jess up," she said grimly. "They've found Lindy." * * * * * * * Lindy lay unconscious in the hospital bed, hooked up monitors. Jess sat beside the hospital bed, pressing Lindy's hand to her forehead. She knew what had happened to her from the moment she saw her lying in the bed, twelve hours ago. Scully entered the room, holding Lindy's chart. "Jess, can I talk to you outside?" The door opened a second time. Krycek stepped in wordlessly and walked to Jess without looking at Scully. He dropped a quick kiss in Jess's hair and took her place beside Lindy. Jess followed Scully out of the room. Outside Mulder was waiting. "We have the results of the blood work on Lindy." Jess nodded, saying nothing. "Her tests came back as normal. *Completely* normal," Scully emphasized. Jess made a statement, not asked a question. "They reversed the Change." "Jess, you're always telling me not to jump to conclusions," Mulder said. All we know for certain is that the unknown enzyme that she had in her blood is no longer present." "Mulder, last night was a full moon. I stayed up the whole night, in her room, fighting the urge to Change. Lindy didn't so much as grow an extra hair." She turned away. "I don't know whether I should be happy, sad, or jealous." "Jealous?" Mulder raised his eyebrows. "Lindy may have just become something Alex and I have longed for - fully, unquestionably human and not worry about someday losing control and letting the truth about what you really are slip out."She looked sidelong at the pair. "But you wouldn't understand that, would you?" "Jess, think about who you're talking to." Scully said ironically. "That's not what I meant. And you two being lovers is a little less earth shattering than being the myth come to life. But I don't want to talk about it." She looked at Mulder hard. "One question, was that the tape you were looking for?" "It was blank," he said softly. Jess looked down and away from him. "Figures," she muttered and walked back into Lindy's room. * * * * * * * Jess sat by Lindy's bed, watching her. According to the doctors, she was slowly coming out of the coma and would be conscious sometime today. Her eyes filled with tears as she remembered how they first met. She and the little girl had bonded so fast, mostly because of their shared lycanthropy and experiences. She looked around the room. Everywhere she cast her gaze, she saw I.V.'s, tubes, wires, monitors, and other medical devices that all connected back to the little girl laying in the bed. The door opened and Krycek stepped in. He had been either at Jess's side or at Lindy's when she was asleep. He gently brushed Lindy's bangs back from her eyes. "Jess what are we going to do?" Krycek sounded as mystified as she felt. She reached for his hand. "I don't know." Jess looked down. "Part of me wants the little werewolf I've been raising back. But part of me is saying 'let her be human and have a 'normal' childhood.'" She looked back up at him. "She doesn't remember much about being human. And what she does isn't that happy, mostly her abuse." She gestured weakly. "I don't know if she wants to be human. If I Change her and she didn't want me to, she may hate me." "Hate us, Jess. I'm going to back whatever decision you and Lindy make." He sighed deeply. "God, sometimes I wish I were human again." Jess wrapped her arms around him. "Eventually you get used to the cycle of the moon, and even enjoy it. But you never stop mourning and longing for your lost humanity. Believe me, I know." She paused. "And if she decides to stay human, will she want to stay with me? I don't think I could lose her." Her voice became that of a scared child. "Maybe we should wait until we can talk to Lindy. After all, if she decides to stay human, and then changes her mind, we can do something about it then." He held her tight. "You're right. It is her choice." Jess laid her head against his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heart. Tears slipped from between her closed eyelids. Krycek's grip on her shoulders tightened. "Jess," he whispered softly, "Look." Jess turned around wiping her eyes. She smiled as she saw Lindy's eyes flutter open. Lindy made a weak sound and reached for her. "Shhhh, it's okay," Jess cooed, taking Lindy's hand in her own. "We're here, sweetheart." "Can't 'hear you. Don't remember anything," Lindy said, frightened. "It's all right, Lindy." Krycek put his hand over Jess's and Lindy's. "You will remember eventually. You don't have to right now." "But why can't I 'hear you?" Lindy was growing edgier by the moment. Jess looked at Krycek. ~Do I tell her now?~ ~I don't see anyway we can avoid it.~ Jess looked back at the little girl tenderly. "Lindy, sweetheart, we think that someone, somehow was able to make you human again." Her eyes widened. "Not a werewolf? No more Changing?" "Yes, honey. But you need to get a little better before we talk any more about it. You may not be able to 'hear me or Alex, but one of us will be near by, watching." She bent over to whisper in Lindy's ear. "And I'll always love you, no matter what." A doctor stepped into the room. "I see she's awake. We need to run some tests. If the two of you would mind waiting outside." * * * * * * * Krycek sat in the waiting room besides Jess, near Scully and Mulder. After the doctor had examined her, the four of them hadseen Lindy, who still was a little groggy. They had left when she fell into a deep natural sleep. In her relief that Lindy was all right, she had finally allowed herself to fall asleep, her head resting on his shoulder. Krycek leaned his head against hers. he thought tiredly. His eyelids, however, refused to cooperate. He was lightly dosing before he knew it. A quiet "ahem" made him look up. Mulder stood in front of him frowning. "We need to talk, alone." Krycek lifted his head. "I have nothing to say to you. I did your dirty work. Now leave us alone." "Listen to him," Jess said quietly. She lifted her head from his shoulder. ~You're supposed to be asleep,~ Krycek chided. "I was," she said softly. "Go talk to him. Get it out of your system." She patted Krycek on his back, looking at Mulder. Neither of them were sure to whom she had spoken. Krycek gave her hand a squeeze. He stood up, looking Mulder squarely in the eye. Mulder returned the stare and then turned and walked away. Krycek followed. They both walked silently past Scully, returning from looking at the latest test results on Lindy's charts. She turned and watched them leave with puzzled eyes. She started to follow. "Don't, Dana," Jess said softly. She got up and walked over to her. "Where are they going?" she asked. Jess smiled ruefully. "Either to kill each other or to make peace." * * * * * * * Krycek followed Mulder down to the half empty parking lot. He had walked in silence behind Mulder the whole time. He understood the anger that the man had towards him, but that didn't give him any right to try to get revenge on him through Jess or Lindy. "That's far enough," Krycek said. He grabbed Mulder by the arm, swinging him around to face him. "What is this about?" Mulder pulled his arm free. "You, you son of a bitch." The hatred and contempt were clear in his voice and face. "It's supposed to be you in the hospital bed, not Lindy. It's your fault." "I wasn't the one who took her from the hotel," Krycek growled. "No, but if it wasn't for you, Jess and Lindy wouldn't be here." Mulder's eyes narrowed. "And you did help take Scully. And kill her sister. And kill my father." "Go ahead, vent all your hate on me. It's nothing I don't put myself though every day. But it won't change anything I've done." "You arrogant bastard!" Mulder lost hold of the tight rein he had on his temper. "You betray my trust, you almost get me killed multiple times, you leave me to die in a gulag, and *I'm* the bad guy?" He swung at Krycek, connecting with his jaw. Krycek staggered back, stunned. Strangely, he didn't retaliate, or even defend himself. Mulder again punched him, this time square in the face. Krycek's head snapped back, blood streaming from his nose. Again, he didn't retaliate. In fact he almost seemed to want Mulder to hit him. Again Mulder punched Krycek on the jaw. This time he wasn't able to keep his balance. Krycek staggered and went face down onto the pavement. Mulder was on top of him in an instant. Jamming a knee into Krycek's back, he grabbed Krycek's head and started slamming it against the pavement. "This is for Scully!" Slam. "This is for Melissa!" Slam. "This is for my father!" Slam. "And this is for me!" Slam. He paused. Somehow, beating up Krycek wasn't making him feel better like he thought it would. Krycek was right - it wouldn't change a thing he had done. It wouldn't bring back the dead or erase what had been done to the woman he loved or reunite him with his sister or his father. Krycek turned his head to one side. His head was covered in cuts and bruises. His nose was broken. He was spitting blood from where his jaw had cut into his tongue as Mulder punched him. But he still managed to gasp out, "I'm sorry, Mulder," with tears falling from his eyes. And for the first time, Mulder actually listened to him. Heard his pain. His shame. His sorrow. Krycek sounded just like Mulder whenever he talked about being unable to stop Samantha's abduction. Something in Mulder softened. He realized that Krycek was just a pawn. He had been a victim of the Smoking Man's schemes as much as he was. And also, Jess was right. It wasn't Krycek he was angry with. Well, no, it was Krycek he was angry with, but it was what his father he was really wanting to beat up. Krycek felt the pressure on his back ease. Mulder's hands went from his head to his shoulder. He was being helped into a sitting position. Mulder knelt down in front of him. "You really mean that, don't you?" Krycek put his hands on either side of his nose, forcing it back into normal position so he could self-heal. The cuts could be worried about later. "Believe it or not, yes. I was told that I was actually doing you a favor by spying on you. When I was told about what they planned for Scully, I was in too deep to get out. And that whole mess with your father, Scully's sister, the gulag..." his voice trailed off and he shook his head. "It's unforgivable." He took a deep breath. "All I want to do is forget my past and live with the woman I love." Mulder looked Krycek in the eye and pulled him to his feet. "For Jess's sake, I'll let you live. Go clean up." Mulder turned and walked away, leaving Krycek standing there. * * * * * * * Lindy sat patiently through another round of blood work being drawn. The constant gentle attention had removed her fear of the doctors and nurses. In fact, several of them had brought her stuffed animals, coloring books, and other toys, all the time saying "what a brave little girl" and "what a sweetheart" she was. The knowledge that either Jess or Krycek were hovering just outside the door was also a great comfort. She couldn't remember much about what happened after Krycek and Jess left the hotel room. She could remember hearing some noises and then feeling very sleepy. And a bright light. Mulder had repeatedly asked if there was a feeling of a presence in the room. "Yes," she answered, "but I never saw them, I think." Jess had then interrupted, insisting that Mulder wait until Lindy was out of the hospital. "And if she decides not to talk right away, it's her choice." The nurse removed the needle from her arm. "All done," she said. "Your mom will be here in a moment." Lindy grinned a little. Although she never called Jess "mother," that was exactly how she felt about her. And although she didn't know Krycek that well yet, she trusted him more than any man she had met. "Already am," came Jess's voice. She stepped through the door. Krycek was still off with Mulder, where ever that was. The nurse smiled at them and left. "How ya doing?" "Little scared." Lindy looked up at Jess. "So am I," she said gently, laying a hand over the child's. Lindy said hesitantly, "Would it make me a bad girl if I said I want to stay human? For a little while?" she added quickly. Jess smiled reassuringly. "You can stay human as long as you want to," Jess said. "And it doesn't make you a bad girl. And if you change your mind or decide that you never want to be a werewolf again, that's okay too." The door opened again. Mulder and Scully came into the room. "Hey there, Lindy," Mulder said. "You better start not looking so healthy, or else they'll kick you out for faking." Lindy giggled. "The sooner, the better, eh little one?" Jess said, ruffling Lindy's hair. "So where did you hide Alex's body, Mulder?" Mulder frowned. "He isn't back?" "No, I haven't seen him since he went to talk to you, over an hour ago. Dana?" Scully shook her head. "You don't think... ." Jess got a concentrating inward look. Lindy touched her arm. "Anything?" "No." The word was a quiet whisper. "Mulder, what did you do to him?" "I didn't kill him. I lost my temper and roughed him up, but that's all." "But he was conscious when you left him?" Jess growled. "Yes." "Oh shit," she whispered. "Here we go again." * * * * * * * Again they waited three days. Jess barely got any sleep. She had been helping Lindy adjust to being human again in addition to keeping herself open to receive Krycek's mindvoice. And when she did snatch some sleep, she was haunted by nightmares. She was in the middle of a horrifying one, a mixture of her life with Jake, Lindy's memories of her john, and fears about the future, when she felt someone shaking her shoulder. Jess blinked and looked up. "Dana, what is it? Have you found Alex?" "Not exactly." Scully paused. "We've been contacted. They want a trade." Jess swallowed hard. "What?" "They want the papers you took from that pharmaceutical lab in exchange for Krycek. Do you have them?" "Some of Mulder's paranoia rubbed off on me. I carry them where ever I go. I'll do the exchange. Where and when?" * * * * * * * Jess sat waiting on the park bench. She clutched a briefcase close to her chest. Mulder sat next to her. "It's gonna be okay, hell beast," he said, trying to reassure her. "Is it?" Jess's voice was toneless. "We're always gonna be running. It'll never be safe for us." "Isn't that the nature of life?" Cancerman stepped out of the darkness. Jess shrank back into a defensive position. "Never being certain of the future, yes. Being snatched out of the darkness, no." She glared like a fox that has been cornered by the hounds. "We have what you want," Mulder said. "Where's Krycek?" "That will be disclosed when I'm assured of the briefcases contents." Jess stood up. "So much for honor among thieves. Stay," she said to Mulder. She crossed the two yards separating her from the Cigarette Smoking Man and handed him the briefcase. As she did so, the wind shifted, leaving Cancerman upwind from her. she mused as she inhaled. And then a light went on in Jess's head. This man had more of a personal stake in the X-Files and Fox Mulder than anyone guessed. Jess smiled. Not a pretty smile. The form in front of her shifted slightly. Cancerman knew that she *knew.* "How can I be assured that this won't happen again, that I won't be taken?" she said quietly, so Mulder couldn't hear. "*Family* is very important to me." The Cigarette Smoking Man kept his poker face admirably. "You were to be next. But...," he paused, trying to regain the upper hand. "If certain information is kept quiet, attention will be focused elsewhere." Jess nodded, playing along. "Then we have an understanding. Where's Alex?" She said the last sentence in her regular voice. Mulder's cell phone rang. He answered it without taking his eyes off of them. "Mulder... where... we'll be there. Jess." She looked back at him. "They've found Krycek. He's at the hospital right now." Jess's head swung back around. The Cigarette Smoking Man had disappeared back into the darkness. "Let's go." (continues) The strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack. - R. Kipling How can we meet the gods face to face until we have faces? - C. S. Lewis Official Government Explanation for a UFO Crash - What we have here is a weather balloon that encountered some swamp gas that was struck by lightening and fell near a frizbee contest. - Pinky and the Brain From wolfcatxf@earthlink.net Mon Dec 30 01:11:28 1996 Disclaimer - Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Alex Krycek, and Cancerman, and any other XF regulars mentioned in passing belong to TenThirteen Productions. No copyright infringement intended to any of TenThirteen Production's property. Jess Leahs, Lindy Leahs, Michael Leahs, Annie Leahs, Alpha Wolf and the various generic MIB's are mine however, but I am willing to share if asked nicely. Disclaimer - Quotes are used without permission. No copyright infringement or disrespect intended. Why are you wasting time reading these disclaimers? You know already what they're going to say. No plot twists at all. Get on to the story. Feedback is always appreciated and encouraged. I need the ego stroking. Or someone to point out where I messed up. Synopsis - This picks up right after Loup Garou - The Kindred left off. Read it first and then this. Krycek faces his past and tries to make amends. Mulder has to deal with the fact that Jess had disregarded his wishes. And Jess has to find a balance between the man she once loved and the man she now loves. Season 4 spoilers. Relationship alert, and I ain't talking about only Mulder and Scully. NC17 for human/werewolf sex, but nothing kinky. Consider yourself warned. Loup Garou - the Kindred was written well in advance of Season 4's Tunguska/Terma. I have chosen to adapt around those events, so any inaccuracies with the first story are probably intentional. Loup Garou IV - Life Mates - A Sequel to The Kindred part 8 By Shael (wolfcatxf@earthlink.net) * * * * * * * Krycek could feel someone gently holding his hand. Everything hurt horribly, including his hair. One eye cracked open. He winced and snapped it shut as the light from the overhead lamp stabbed at it. "Alex?" came Jess's voice gently. He turned his head slightly towards the sound and tried opening both eyes again. He managed a partial victory this time. One eye refused to open. Jess smiled at him. "Go easy. You're going to need a lot of beauty rest." "How bad?" he croaked. "Massive contusions on your abdomen, groin, and chest, three broken ribs, dislocated right shoulder, left hip, and right knee, chipped tooth, half healed scratches on your face, bruised jaw, broken nose, and one beauty of a black eye." Jess paused. "They really worked you over. The doctor mentioned something about giving us a bulk discount." "I'd laugh, but it hurts too much." Krycek paused. "They reversed the Change in me also." Jess nodded. "Let's talk about that later. Lindy wants to see you as soon as possible. She's really latched onto you. Feel up to it?" "Okay, send the kid on in," Krycek said. Jess got up and opened the door and signaled. AsLindy trotted past her, she stepped out of the room to talk to Mulder and Scully. "How is he?" Mulder asked. "Physically sore. Mentally, I don't know yet," Jess sighed. "Same with Lindy. It's an emotional hell that they're going though. And I'm afraid that I'm gonna lose them." She turned and went back into Krycek's room. Mulder and Scully stayed silent. Neither one could come up with the words to allay Jess's fears. * * * * * * * Three days later, Jess had brought Krycek back from the hospital to the condo she had rented. After he and Lindy were released from the hospital, Mulder had politely asked them to stay in the area for a little while, so he could keep an eye on how he and Lindy were adapting. He and Jess agreed. They needed to be near someone who could offer support. She felt that they shouldn't go back to California yet, no matter how appealing it was to run away and stick her head in the sand. Lindy was coping wonderfully. Krycek, however, just wasn't ready. He was weak from having the Change in him reversed, not to mention having been beaten with a precision meant to cause pain but not permanent damage. Otherwise he was physically healthy. Mentally, however, was another story. He had avoided touching her. She wasn't sure exactly why. He had been plagued by the nightmares while kept in the hospital for observation, and he refused to talk to her about them. Lindy had gone to bed hours ago. Jess watched him over the edge of her book. Krycek was sitting in the chair on the opposite side of the room instead of being curled up on the couch beside her. He was halfheartedly watching the late news. "Ready to go to bed, Alex?" Krycek wouldn't look at her. "Um, I was thinking. Maybe I should sleep out here on the couch tonight." "Okay. Or you can have the bed. I'll sleep out here." She tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice. She didn't particularly want to have sex, but she did want to hold and be held by him, just to touch him. She had sleeping alone for almost a week, and was incredibly lonely. Jess hadn't realized how much she had come to depend on his presence But if he needed to be alone, she would abide by his wishes and not make him feel guilty. He shifted uneasily. "And I think that maybe I should move out." Jess paled, staring with wide eyes. "Why?" she whispered when she finally found her voice. "You told me after we started living together about how most humans didn't do anything for you." He finally looked at her. "I can't stay here, loving you, wanting you, if you can't return those feelings." "Oh, Alex," she breathed. "Is that why you've avoided touching me all night?" As he nodded, she crossed the room and knelt in front of him. "I may have been attracted to the werewolf, but I fell in love with the man. I love you, Alex. That will never change." She interlaced her fingers with his. "Whatever happens, we'll deal with it together. Wolves mate for life." She grinned slightly. "Face it, you're stuck with me." He slid out of the chair. "Oh God, Jess. I've been so scared that you wouldn't feel like that," he whispered as he knelt in front of her. His hands found her head. "And being stuck with you ain't that bad." Jess found herself tasting both his tongue and his tears. "Shall we move to the bedroom?" she managed to gasp as he kissed the hollow of her throat. "Jess, I'm not sure I can," he murmured. "I'm *really* sore." "That's okay. Let's just get some sleep." She helped him up from the floor. Arms around each other's waist they padded off to the bedroom. * * * * * * * Krycek woke up with a slight moan. The swelling in his eye had finally gone down enough so he could open it. He looked over to see the back of a brunette head next to him and a blonde one beyond that. He and Jess had fallen asleep in each others arms. Krycek remembered waking up once in a cold sweat, haunted by his dreams. He also vaguely remembered Lindy coming into their room, frightened by a nightmare of her own. She had been so scared that she asked if she could sleep with them. He and Jess had shifted around until all three were in bed, Jess in the middle. Something about the three of them being together comforted him. It reminded him of the morning a little over a week ago. he thought. He gently stroked Jess's hair. She stirred slightly and opened her eyes. "Morning, Alex," she whispered. "How are you feeling?" "Sore, but not as bad as before. I think Lindy's still asleep." "Am not," came the little girl's voice. "Been awake for an hour." "Oh, playing possum. I see." Jess squirmed onto her back. "Wanna talk about your dream?" "Just about *him*, nothing else." "Just about the sicko who made you a werewolf? Not about anything else?" "Yeah." Lindy scooted out from under the covers. "Gonna go watch TV," and retreated from the bedroom. Jess rolled over so she was laying half on, half off Krycek. "And do you want to talk about anything?" "Just about how thankful I am that I woke up next to you." An arm went around her waist. "I'm afraid that one day I'll wake up, and you'll be gone." Jess tightened her arms around his body. "Alex, I wouldn't leave you." "No, that you would have been taken. Like Scully was from Mulder. Like Lindy was from us." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Like I was from you." Jess lifted up. "Alex, there is something I have to tell you. But it stays between us. Scully can't know. Mulder can't. Even Lindy can't, for now. But I think it will insure that we won't be split apart." "What?" His eyes squinted with concern. "Remember how I told you about my meeting with the Cigarette Smoking Man? I didn't tell you the whole story. You see... ." * * * * * * * Jess and Krycek decided to invite Scully and Mulder over for dinner. It was intended as an olive branch and Jess didn't expect them to accept. But much to her surprise, they did. Jess and Krycek were waiting in their living room tensely. Lindy was upstairs playing, waiting for dinner. The expected knock on the door made Jess and Krycek jump. Jess got up to open the door. "Hello Dana, Mulder. Come in." Mulder and Scully entered the condo. The four of them stood in an awkward silence, until Krycek spoke. "Listen, I know how much I've hurt you. And I know saying 'I'm sorry' doesn't change anything. But don't take it out on Jess and Lindy." "In other words, a truce is what you want," Scully said. "A truce is what we need. An alliance is what I want." Krycek swallowed hard. "A friendship is what I hope for." Mulder and Scully looked at each other long and hard, each debating internally. Jess kept her mouth shut, knowing that there was nothing she could say to influence them one way or another. It had to be Scully and Mulder's decision. Scully nodded at Mulder. He said what they had agreed on earlier. "What you've done is not forgotten. It's not forgiven. But because of what you know and for Jess's and Lindy's sake, we're willing to call a truce and an alliance." "Thank you, both of you," Jess said. "So what do you say to me calling Lindy down and we eat?" * * * * * * * After dinner, they all moved to the living room. They talked for hours, trading stories about each other and forging a tentative new alliance between them all. Mostly it became an oneupmanship contest between Jess and Mulder about personality quirks, odd habits, and embarrassing memories although Scully and Krycek, every now and then, did get in little digs about the two of them. None of them were truly comfortable, but it was a start. Lindy sat between Jess and Krycek, at first excited to be so late. She loved listening to Jess talk about her past. But eventually it was too much. Her head almost split at the ears from the force of her yawn. Jess was suddenly aware of the little girl sitting beside her. "Lindy, it's way past your bedtime. Scoot." "Alex, read me a story?" Lindy asked. "Okay." Krycek got up from beside Jess and followed Lindy upstairs. Jess smiled out of love as she watched them pass by, not to mention the fact that it put Krycek's tight butt right at her eye level. Mulder reached over and slapped her hand lightly. "Hey, get your mind out of the gutter. We gotta talk serious for a moment." Jess sighed and looked back at Mulder. "What?" she said, rolling her eyes. "I want to know how the three of you are doing." "We're all having nightmares. By the end of the night, one of us has woken up at least once to comfort the other. And usually Lindy ends up asking if she can sleep with us sometime in the night." "Nothing helps?" Scully asked. "No. Lindy and I have these dreams whenever we've just come out of an *extremely* stressful situation. What she and I are going though is familiar territory. I'm dreaming about Jake and Alpha Wolf. Lindy's dreaming about the creep who molested her. In about a week we'll be back to normal. Alex, though, has me worried. I can't even get him to begin to talk about what he's dreaming about." "You and Lindy talking it out should lessen the problems soon, especially if it's helped in the past." Mulder nodded. "Krycek, though, is an another story. Considered hypnotherapy for him?" Jess sighed. "Every time I mention the possibility, he gets defensive and changes the subject. And I'm at the end of my rope." "I can see why," Scully said. "If tonight's, and the past month's any indication of how he feels now, I wouldn't want to talk about it either." "It's not just a matter of not wanting. He can't. He has gaps in his memory. I've offered to try a mind probe, but he doesn't want that done either. He wants to forget, and something isn't letting him. But every time I bring up hypnosis, he tries to distract me." Jess looked down and blushed. "He usually succeeds too," she murmured. "Let me talk to him, Jess," Mulder said, ignoring the reference to her sex life. "Maybe I can arrange something." * * * * * * * Later that evening, after Mulder and Scully left, they prepared for bed. Krycek and Jess showered, seperately. Krycek was comfortable sharing a bed again with Jess, but he wasn't certain about sex yet. He wanted her, but not if she was going to sleep with him out of pity. Jess kept giving him side long glances. She knew something wasn't quite right, but didn't know how to approach the question. "How are you feeling?" "Much better now that we've talked to Mulder and Scully." "I meant physically." Krycek turned to look at her. Standing in front of a mirror, her back was to him. She had put on her sleep shirt, but hadn't buttoned it. He could see a reflection of a pink nipple. He gulped as he felt his body respond. "Um, okay, I guess. Still a little tender in some spots, stiff in others." She turned and smiled at him. "Stiff in the right place, I hope. Maybe I'd better examine you and find out." Krycek moaned from the idea, but he was still hesitant. "Jess, you're not doing this out of pity for me? Because you feel you have to?" "Alex, I don't do things because I feel I have to." A hint of fear appeared in her eyes. "You do want me? Right?" "More than anything. It's just... ." Krycek looked down. "Alex, stop punishing yourself." Jess stepped in front of him. She put her hands on either side of Krycek's face, making him look her in the eyes. "There are enough people out there who want to hurt you without you adding to it." "But Jess, when we met we were the same thing. But now I'm human and you're..." "Flesh and bone and blood, Alex. Just the same as you. I laugh, I cry, I fear, I hurt, I need. And I love. I love you. You love me. And that's all that matters." During the last words he had leant closer to her face. He could see the unshed tears glimmering like stars in her eyes, could feel her warm breath across his skin, could smell her intoxicating scent. "You're right Jess. I love you. You love me. And that is all that matters." He closed the mere centimeters that were seperating them. Their kiss was long and luxurious, both reassuring themselves that they were together. Tongues entwined. Hands explored. Skin rubbed. And Jess's shirt fell to the floor. Jess backed away from him, breaking the kiss. She pressed her lips to his ear. "Alex, let me make love to you." Krycek shivered as she nipped at his neck. "Jess, I want to. But I can't... ." "No, Alex. Let me be on top. Let me pleasure you. I'll be gentle." A gleam appeared in her eyes. "Unless you don't want me to be gentle," she added in a soft growl. Still, he resisted her, although his body begged him not to. "Jess, I'm afraid." "Afraid of what?" Jess pushed him down to sit on the bed. "Afraid that you won't be, um, sexually responsive to me." She looked into his wide eyes as she straddled his thighs. "Alex," she said as she guided one hand to her breast. "What do you think I'm doing right now?" She bent down to nuzzle his neck, giving it soothing swipes with her tongue. Krycek groaned and gave up on holding back. She was too sexy to resist. "Jess?" She pulled back to stare puzzledly at him. "Yes, Alex?" He smiled at her. "Make me howl." Jess smiled back. "Just remember, you asked for it." Krycek gulped as he was pushed back flat on the bed. Jess was kissing his face wildly, fastening onto whatever feature was closest to her lips. He nipped back, managing to catch her upper lip between his teeth. He sucked hard as both hands found her breasts and squeezed. Jess pulled back when he released her. "Hey! You're supposed to be the submissive one here." She grabbed a foil package and opened it, growling under her breath. "So make me." She unrolled the condom onto his generous erection. "Do you know how a dominant wolf enforces rank over the subordinate members of its pack?" She gently took his balls in her left hand and squeezed. "Nooooo." It was more of a moan than an answer. He smiled and brought her right hand to his lips. A pink tongue darted out to caress her palm. Jess was positioning herself above his groin. "The alpha male, excuse the expression, treats a subordinate male wolf like a female by symbolically mating. Only in our case, I'm not a male and it ain't symbolic." Her hips lunged downward. "Rrrrroooowaaal!" Krycek found himself buried in her hot flesh. Jess giggled. "That sounded more like an angry, wet cat than a wolf howl." She raised back up. Jess's passage caressed Krycek's cock again. He threw his head back. "Aroooo!" Jess raised up. She shook her head again, laughing. "No, that's not quite right either. Sounds like an asmathic coyote." She sank down on him yet again. "So help me. What am I supposed to sound like?" "Like a man who can't hold himself back any longer." Jess started moving her hips faster. Krycek was lunging upwards to meet her thrusts. His hands went to her waist, holding himself more firmly to her. "Oh! Oh! Oh! Ohhhhhhhhwwwwwwoooooo!" "Now *that's* a wolf howl." Jess tossed her head back and joined his seranade as he shot into her. Her head lolled forward and she fell forward onto him. "And you... were... afraid I... wouldn't be... sexually responsive... to you... anymore," Jess panted. She rolled off of Krycek with a sigh of contentment and removed the used condom from him, sated for the moment. He was also panting, trying to catch his breath. "God, Jess, I may never be able to have sex again after what you just did." Jess gave a mock shiver. "Don't say that." She nestled down beside him, wrapped her arms around him, and pillowed her head on his chest. She was drifting off to sleep when she heard him speak. "Mulder talked to me while you and Scully were saying 'good night' to Lindy." He shifted uncomfortably beneath her. "He suggested that I get a therapist." "What do you think?" "That he should keep his sizable nose out of our business." She chuckled slightly. "Little late for that, don't you think?" Jess eased up on one elbow. "Face it, events have bound all our lives together, for better or for worse." Krycek sighed. "But I don't have to like it." "Alex, we can get through this together. But running from the past isn't going to help. Would it help if I said I'm willing to go with you?" He shrugged noncommittally. "Let me think about it." * * * * * * * The next morning, Krycek watched from the kitchenette of the condo. Lindy was beating Jess soundly at a video game. Lindy was recovering from her experience, slowly but surely. She wanted to start talking to someone about what she went through, mostly because she had been in therapy before and remembered how much better she felt afterwards. Mulder had offered to put them in contact with a therapist who would be more open minded to their situation than the run-of-the-mill psychologist. He went back upstairs, not ready to face them quite yet. He still walked gingerly, trying to not jar his battered body any more than necessary. He had finally come to a decision, but wasn't certain he could follow through. He had also thought that about standing up to Cancerman, about telling Mulder about Scully's abduction, and his role in it. He had, at the time, regretted the fact that their partnership was a sham. And then he had chickened out and set events in motion that were still haunting him today. Having people around that truly cared for him, despite everything, was something he wasn't used to yet. * * * * * * * Jess groaned as she lost another game. "Okay, Lindy, you beat me, big time." She passed the control back to her. "I give up." She got up from the floor and went to the kitchenette. She had just finished pouring herself a soda when a note pad thumped down on the counter beside her. "Who's Dr. K. Anderson?" "According to Mulder, the best damn regression hypnotherapist there is. And has an associate who would be open minded to Lindy's experiences. Feel like staying in the D.C. area for longer than we planned?" Jess smiled and hugged him. "Are you sure? It's gonna be dangerous in D.C. We can find someone in California, for both you and Lindy." Krycek returned the hug. "No, I need to face this head on, and out here it would be too easy to hide. Besides," he said, looking at Lindy, "it's gonna be dangerous wherever we are." "True. Shall we tell Lindy?" "Tell me what?" Jess and Krycek looked down to find Lindy standing beside them. Jess hefted her up and rested her against her hip. "We're thinking about moving out here for a while. How do you feel about it?" "Can we get Chloe?" "Yeah," Krycek said, "We can send for your cat." Lindy leant her head contentedly against Jess. "Okay," she whispered. Krycek pulled both of them in a little closer. He leant his cheek against Jess's hair and sighed. "This is going to be rough." Jess tightened her grip on them. "We've gotten through worse. We'll get through this." * * * * * * * "Jess," Lindy started hesitantly, "I wanna be a werewolf again." Jess looked up from the book she was reading. "Lindy, did you just say what I think you said?" "Yeah," the little girl said. "I miss being able to mindspeak to you." "Is that enough of a reason?" Jess said gently. "If I Change you and you change your mind, I can't promise that you'll be human again." "She's right Lindy," Krycek said from the doorway. He had been quietly listening to the conversation. "Alex, Jess, I wanna be a werewolf. I don't know about being human. I don't wanna know about being human." Jess and Krycek looked at each other. "You said it was her choice," Krycek said softly. Jess looked back at Lindy softly. "You know I've never done this. I don't know that it will work." Lindy got up and climbed into Jess's lap. "I don't care. I wanna try." "Okay," Jess whispered softly, putting her arms around the little girl. She signaled Krycek over with her head. "Alex, Lindy, do I just bite?" Both of them nodded. Lindy offered Jess her wrist. Jess took it and lifted it to her lips. She Changed slightly, allowing her wolf's muzzle to extend slightly and the teeth to grow sharper. She looked at Lindy for one last confirmation. The little girl nodded. Jess bared her teeth and sank them into Lindy's wrist. Lindy gave a small yelp, but didn't try to pull away. She leant her head against Jess's chest to listen to her heartbeat. For her part, Jess didn't chew or gnaw, just held on. She felt Krycek put a hand on her shoulder. "That should be long enough," he whispered. Jess released. She hadn't bitten deep, just hard enough to break the skin and allow her saliva to enter Lindy's blood stream. She could taste the salty blood. She shifted back to full human. "Could you get me some water?" As Krycek went to get it, Jess turned her attention to Lindy again. "Did it work, sweetheart?" "Dunno." Lindy was trying to gauge the sensations running through her body. Krycek returned carrying a glass of water, a large bowl, and a washcloth. He handed the water and cloth to Jess. He echoed Jess's question, "Did it work?" She rinsed, spit into the bowl, and scrubbed at her teeth to clean them. And shrugged her shoulders. "Can't tell." She sighed. "The full moon will be in about three weeks. We'll know then." * * * * * * * Mulder knocked on the door to Jess's and Krycek's condo. It had been three weeks since he and Scully had last heard from them, except the occasional message to let them know that everything was okay, and what Jess had tried with Lindy. He heard Krycek say, "It's open," muffled by the door. Mulder pushed through. No sooner than he the door was shut than a gold form knocked Mulder to the ground. Mulder found himself being the on the receiving end of an enthusiastic greeting from a puppy wolf-dog. "Get her off me," Mulder cried. "She slobbering all over my new suit." A set of black jaws grabbed the loose skin of the puppy's neck. The adult gently but firmly pulled the puppy back off Mulder. The black adult wolf looked hard at the gold puppy. It then got up and trotted off to another room. The gold one followed. "I see it worked for Lindy," Mulder said. "So why aren't you on all fours too?" Krycek sat on a recliner chair and motioned Mulder to take a seat. "Lindy wanted to be a werewolf again. I'm not so sure." "And I'm not pushing for a decision from him." Jess had reappeared wearing her customary jeans and t-shirt. "Lindy wants to say 'good night' to you, Alex. And she's sorry about tackling you, Mulder." Krycek got up with a grunt. "Still sore," he said by way of explanation. "Oh Jess, if Scully arrives, don't tell them. Wait for me." He left the room. "Tell us what?" Mulder said as the doorbell rang. "You heard, I'm sworn to secrecy until Dana gets here." Jess jumped easily to her feet. "Coming." She opened the door for Scully and ushered her to the couch where Mulder was sitting. Krycek had reentered the room and was sitting in the recliner again. Jess perched on one arm next to him. Mulder looked at Jess keenly. "Okay. What is it that you were going to tell us?" Jess and Krycek took each other's hands. "We're engaged," Krycek said simply. Mulder raised his eyebrows. "Engaged?" They both nodded. "I know asking your blessing would be pushing it," Jess said, "but we felt that you should know before we actually got married." Mulder shook his head. "You're right, you are pushing it. But it's your choice." "Are you sure that it's safe enough to do that?" Scully asked. Krycek shrugged his shoulders. "It won't ever be 'safe' for us. But we want this more than anything." "And we're not doing it right away," Jess added. "We're going to wait for things to settle a little." "As long as you know what you're getting into," Mulder muttered. "Listen, it's late. We should go." Jess nodded. She and Krycek got up to see them out. At the door, they all shook hands. Scully took a long hard look at Jess and Krycek. she thought. Same dark hair and intensely, although differently, colored eyes made them seem like they were halves of the whole. Mulder looked like he was trying to say something, but couldn't find the words. "Krycek, I won't forget, and I can't speak for Scully, but I won't hold your past against you." "Krycek," Scully said, "I won't hold your past against you either. Consider it a wedding present." "Wouldn't ask for any other," Krycek said softly. He put an arm around Jess. Mulder and Scully nodded and then turned to walk away. Scully took one look back at the pair standing in the doorway, watching them leave. There was something in Jess's and the Krycek's peaceful expressions that made her think of a pair of wolves who found each other after a long loneliness, life mates now and forever. Finis The strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack. - R. Kipling How can we meet the gods face to face until we have faces? - C. S. Lewis Official Government Explanation for a UFO Crash - What we have here is a weather balloon that encountered some swamp gas that was struck by lightening and fell near a frizbee contest. - Pinky and the Brain