From: msbrooklyn@aol.com (MsBrooklyn) Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW STORY: The Short Goodbye Date: 2 Oct 1995 19:32:47 -0400 You knew it had to happen. You did, you just didn't tell me that I was going to sit down and crank out a story about my buddy, Alex Krycek and how he's dealing with his new status as a fugitive-dirtbag. Well, you were right and here it is. Mulder/Scully/Krycek/Skinner/Cancerman = ppty of CC/1013/Fox Feldman/Winky/Carmine = ppty of Ms.Brooklyn --any questions? Didn't think so. Warning: If you're going to eat or drink when you read this, I am not responsible for whatever damage results. And stop e-mailing me about sending screen wipes. I've sent out far too many already. The Short Goodbye by Ms. Brooklyn Tuesday night was the best night to shop for groceries. The supermarket was practically deserted and the shelves were always completely restocked after being emptied over the weekend by workers who didn't know the advantages of shopping at nine o'clock on a Tuesday. Besides, Ellen Feldman liked to check out the guy who worked behind the deli counter. It was an innocent little thing. Nothing for her boyfriend, Fox Mulder to get upset about. Not that she wanted him to find out about it either. Three weeks ago, she ordered some deli and the cute guy handed her a pickle. Free of charge. Since then, they had flirted continuously. Not that she would date a guy who worked a deli counter, but she liked knowing she still had it. Whatever it was. And Mulder always polished off the extra cold cuts in her fridge. Sixty-three dollars and seventeen cents later, Ellen wheeled her cart into the parking lot. Her car keys were in her hand, attached to her Mace keychain. She made it to her car unmolested and unlocked the door, rapidly putting the groceries in the back of her 1988 cherry-red Mustang 5.0. Mission accomplished. Ellen locked the car door and wheeled the squeaking cart back to the corral across the parking lot. Why did they only have one corral in a parking lot the size of Shea Stadium? Morons. And naturally, not all of the lights were on, so the parking lot was eerier than usual. All she needed was the theme to the Halloween movies playing in the background. Mulder would laugh at her and call her paranoid. Like he wasn't. And like she didn't buy chocolate pudding just for him. The Oreos were her own dirty little secret. Nothing in the world like licking the cream from an Oreo. With a yawn, she got into her car and put the key in the ignition. The barrel of a gun pressed into the back of her neck. "Start the car and drive." That voice. It couldn't be! Ellen glanced in the rear-view mirror to confirm her suspicions. A weary-looking Alex Krycek stared back and poked her with the gun again. "Drive!" Ellen started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. "Where are we going, Alex?" "Someplace safe where we can talk, Feldman." He rubbed the gun against her neck, watching her shiver as the cold metal caressed her nape. The safety was still in place, but she couldn't tell that. As usual, he was in control. "Get on the highway." "Can I turn on my radar detector?" Fifty-five was for old people. She liked to push her car to its limits. "No. We don't want to attract attention." His voice was right by her ear. "So don't do anything stupid, or I'll shoot you." "Like you shot Melissa Scully?" "Who?" "Dana Scully's sister. You killed her, didn't you?" Krycek cursed under his breath. "That was an accident." "Yeah, you were supposed to kill Dana. Are you going to kill me now?" "It depends on whether you feel like cooperating. I don't have time for our usual games, Feldman." She looked over her shoulder. His hair needed to be cut and he needed a shave. There were dark circles under his eyes and he seemed thinner. No matter how much of a bastard he was, she found herself feeling sorry for him anyway. "Oh my God! Alex! You look like you haven't slept or eaten in days!" "I haven't." "You've got four bags of groceries to choose from," she said. "Help yourself." "And take the gun away? I'm not that stupid, Feldman." His stomach rumbled at the idea of food anyway. "We'll eat when we get there." "Where?" He had no idea. The trick was to keep running. Coming back to DC was stupid, but he wanted to see Feldman again. And she looked so beautiful. Mulder loved Tuesday nights. Ellen went grocery shopping and she always picked up something special for him. Last week was fudge. The week before was tapioca. He checked his watch and noted that she should be home any second, still blushing from her encounter with the deli man. If she thought she could hide something like that from him... Not that she would ever do anything with the deli guy, but still! Tonight, he was going to Mulderize her properly and teach her the error of her ways. "Alex, I'm getting tired and we're going to get into an accident. Can I pull off at the next exit?" "Okay. There's the Liberty Motel, three miles up the road to your left. We'll check in there." He was exhausted and the idea of getting some sleep was appealing. "We're here. Now what?" Ellen parked the car and waited for her next instructions. "Let's check in. Use your credit cards." He motioned for her to get out and was behind her in a second, the gun pressing into her spine. "Act naturally or I'm going to kill the clerk right in front of you." "Sure." She went in and rang the bell for service. Alex was not his usual, charming self tonight. He never threatened to kill other people before if she disobeyed him. Something was definitely up and she'd be damned if she was going to risk innocent lives. A woman came to the desk. "Help ya?" "We'd like a room for the night." "Cash or charge?" "Charge." Ellen dug out her American Express and handed it over, signing the register. If Mulder needed to trace her, he could. Krycek had to know that and yet he didn't protest. How she hated not knowing all the angles! "Room 109." The clerk put the keys and Ellen's credit card on the counter. "Have a good night." Room 109 was a dump and Ellen cringed at the thought of spending the night here. Or dying here. She put the bag of groceries she was carrying on the small dresser and sat on the bed. "Alright, Alex. Are you going to steal my food or kill me?" Tough choice. He was practically salivating at the idea of a decent meal. "You're going to make me dinner." Ellen started to protest, but rememberd he was armed, tired and more than a little crazy. "Sweetie, there's no kitchen." "Food! What the hell did you buy?" He rummaged through the shopping bag. "Pasta salad? Cheese? Cold cuts? Are you having an affair with the deli guy?" "There's nothing wrong with innocent flirting," she protested, a little too quickly. Krycek put the bag aside. "You were flirting with the deli guy?" Uh-oh. "He flirts with me." "But you don't discourage it." "I don't discourage you, either." "I saw you first." Whoa. Don't argue with him. Play the game and maybe you'll live to see tomorrow. "I was a bad girl, Alex. I'm sorry." "Shut up and make me a sandwich." He was not in the mood for her games. On the other hand, he was in the mood for a sandwich. Ellen worked quickly and piled the turkey high. She found a bottle of Snapple and handed it to him. And there were her Oreos. Defiantly, she tore open the bag and twisted apart the chocolate outside, licking the creamy filling. Heaven. Dammit. He wasn't in the mood for her crap. When she was finished with her Oreo, he grabbed her from behind and threw her face-first onto the bed, ignoring her cry of protest. Using the roll of black electrical tape he swiped from her car, he taped her wrists and ankles and then rolled her onto her back. She continued to writhe and struggle while he taped her mouth. "There we go. Now I can eat in peace and you have no choice except to lie there and listen to me." "Mmmmmffmmm!" Ellen managed to roll off the bed and landed on the floor with a crash. Ouch. Idiot move. What did she hope to accomplish, other than annoying Alex? He continued to wolf down the sandwich, not bothering to pick her up again. "Mmmffffhhhnnn!" "No. You can stay there." "Mmm?? Mmm??" "Oh, all right." He finished the sandwich and kneeled beside her. Could her jeans be any tighter? No. There wasn't time to think about that. Lifting her was easy and he laid her down, gently. "I don't want to hurt you, Ellen, but I will. You're going to have to try to be good." "Mmm?" "Good girl." Krycek peeled back the sheets and tucked her in. "Now, Ellen, I have a lot of things I want to tell you, starting with where I've been." He traced her jawline with his finger. "I know how much you've missed me, even if you can't admit it. You do care about me, you know. If things were different, I think.... maybe we would have had a chance. Now there's no time for that, for wondering what we could have been to each other." What was he babbling about? Was he going to kill her because he couldn't have her? Had the stress finally gotten to him? "They tried to kill me, Feldman. I did my job and that was how they wanted to repay me. And now I'm hiding like a frightened animal." That was it. He finally reached her. She had the most sympathetic look in her big, brown eyes, which were magnified slightly by her glasses. He peeled the tape from her mouth. "I came to say goodbye." "Maybe I can help you." She couldn't believe these words were coming from her. "I have connections. We can hide you and---" "No. I can't trust anybody. Even you." He cupped her face in his hand. "You wouldn't betray me on purpose, Ellen, but it could happen." "So, now I'm at your mercy, Alex. What are you going to do with me?" "I was going to have you, whether you wanted me or not, but I don't want to leave you hating me." He pulled her close. "I feel like talking. Do you feel like listening?" "Only if you feel like taking the tape off." He laughed derisively. "No. The tape stays on. You'll understand later." Ellen sincerely hoped there would be a later. For both of them. Mulder hated himself for doing this, but Ellen should have been home hours ago. He pulled in front of the SuperFresh and strode purposefully over to the deli counter. There he was. The deli guy. "Hi. Can I help you?" "Special Agent Mulder, FBI." Mulder flashed his badge, knowing this would end any fun for Ellen in the future. "Can you tell me if you've seen this woman tonight?" Todd, the deli man, took Ellen's picture from Mulder's outstretched hand, a blush creeping across his face. "Yeah. She comes in here every Tuesday night. What did she do?" "She's missing." Todd's eyes narrowed as he handed the picture back. "Technically, she has to be gone for twenty-four hours, Agent Mulder." "I'm conducting this investigation, Todd. Not you," Mulder retorted, reading the man's name from the tag on his shirt. "It's not really your jurisdiction, either," Todd continued. "Well, I don't think the security guard up front is up to the challenge." "Yeah, but this part of DC is MY jurisdiction, Agent Mulder." Todd reached under his apron and pulled out a gold shield. "Detective Todd Bowers, I work Homicide downtown." "And you work deli at night?" "I owe money to my ex-wife, not that it's any of your business." Todd leaned forward and gave his best cop-stare. "What's your interest in the woman?" "Same as yours, Bowers. With a slight difference. She's my girlfriend." "She never mentioned a boyfriend." "What did she mention?" "I don't think I have to answer that." "Maybe I should go back there and find out what kind of meat you've been serving to your female customers, Bowers. Do you always try to give hard salami to the more attractive ones?" "Only to the ones who look like they haven't gotten any lately." Mulder found himself more furious with Ellen than the deli guy-cop she'd been flirting with. "Damn her. I knew I shouldn't let her out by herself at night. You think she has a thing with the guy who pumps her gas, too?" Krycek was finally asleep and he was holding her close, his face buried in her hair. At least he had the decency not to hurt her. Even the electrical tape wasn't too bad. Ellen watched him sleep and wondered if he was going to kill her in the morning, despite his promises. Well, that was a dead end. Mulder let himself into Ellen's apartment, wondering how the deli guy, the guy at the gas station and the guy who worked at the Carvel all seemed to have a thing for his girlfriend. He was going to have to keep her on a shorter leash in the future. "Mew?" Mulder picked up Winky and held the warm, furry creature. "Hi, kiddo. Your mom hasn't come home yet, has she?" Winky mewed plaintively. "If I ever find out how those tracking devices they put in Duane Barry work, I promise I'm going to stick one in your mother." Bad joke, but not altogether a joke, either. Only one name came to mind now. Krycek. Usually when Ellen turned up missing, Krycek was the one responsible and he was starting to tire of the game. There was a stack of unpaid bills on her desk and he flipped through them. Visa. American Express. Hmmm. He reached for her phone and pretended he was an investigator. Scully stared open-mouthed at Mulder. "A motel? In Baltimore?" "And she's been flirting with the deli guy," he said, peevishly. "You think she's fooling around on me?" "I hate to say it, Mulder, but I think it's probably Krycek. Again." And this time, he was going to pay for what he did to Melissa. "Let's roll. We'll fill Skinner in when we get there." Krycek watched the sun rise and marveled at the way the sunlight brought out the highlights in Ellen's dark hair. God, he was going to miss her, but there was no way he could hide and take her with him. Not without drugging her on a daily basis. "Ellen, wake up." "Ohh, Mulder, it's too early for sex." Mulder. Always Mulder. "It's not Mulder." She blinked up at him. "Alex. I'm sorry." "No, you're not. You love him, don't you?" "I---" "I know. But you can't deny we have something, too." He pinned her and kissed her, a lingering kiss that he hoped she would remember. "If there's any way, I promise I'll come back to you. And I hope you forgive me." "For kidnapping me? Sure, I ---" "For what I'm about to do." He hit her in the face, knocking her out. With a sigh, he kissed her again. Finally, he left her lying there and rummaged in her purse, taking her car keys and her cash. "I'll come back to you. I promise." The powder blue Ford Taurus screeched to a halt in front of room 109 and Mulder propelled himself against, the door, breaking it down. "Freeze, Federal Agents!" Ellen was laying face-down on the bed, her hands and ankles taped tightly. Mulder rolled her over and felt his stomach lurch when he saw that she had a huge bruise and was unconscious. He peeled the tape from her lips and shook her gently. "Ellen." "Alex...." "You're safe, it's me, Mulder." He motioned to Scully to come in and she was at his side in seconds. "Was it Krycek?" How should she answer? The truth. Well, part of the truth, anyway. "Oh, M-mulder, it was awful, I was in the parking lot at the SuperFresh and he k-kidnapped me and made me come here. And I had to pay for it, too." "That's how I found you." Mulder steeled himself to give her the next bit of bad news. "Your car is gone, but it left that charming oil stain." "That sonofabitch," Ellen exploded. "My Mustang! I love that car!" "You had better calm down," Scully warned. "From the looks of you, I'd say you might have a nasty concussion." Mulder tore off the rest of the electrical tape. "He didn't... do anything else, did he?" "No." Ellen sat up and rubbed her wrists. "Oh, shit! He took my Oreos, too." With a sigh, Mulder reached into the bag of groceries and pulled out a Hebrew National hard salami. Had to be a good fourteen inches. "I think we need to have a little talk about all of the deli you've been buying lately." Cancerman read the report with interest. How sweet. Young Alex wanted to say a fond farewell to his beloved Feldman and it looked like she put up quite a fight. When would that fool realize that she only cared about Mulder? Still, he left the woman alive (barely) and perhaps he should pay closer attention to her in the future. Perhaps it would lead him to Mr. Krycek and the tape. The sound of the surf pounding against the shore of Montauk, Long Island sounded like life itself. Ellen would appreciate the irony of him hiding in New York. Someday, Alex Krycek promised himself. Someday, he would tell her all about it. He would come back to her. Finis Now, if you are thoroughly confused about who the hell Ellen Feldman and her cat, Winky are, don't despair. E-mail me for a story list and directions to an FTP near you.