A/N: I posted this chapter 39 hours after Chapter 21, so make sure you've read that one first.

I don't know what the hell is wrong with me. And yes, I am aware that it's all my fault that we argued yesterday evening. But the very moment I turned that corner and saw Alex's beautiful face staring at me with concern, I couldn't tell him, nor could I spend another moment in his presence. I had to get as far away as possible from him, as quickly as possible. I was so sure that he could see right through me. And I just couldn't do it. I couldn't stand there and deliver such big news like that to him, right then and there. Not when I was feeling so ill, and still feeling so confused about it all myself. But I've had about 24 full hours to think about it now, and I've decided that I will tell Alex next week, when he returns from his trip with Mulder. I figured that it's for the best, because the last thing I want to do his drop a bomb shell like that on him, and then send him off for a whole week to worry about everything. This is for the best. It's all going to be okay. That is, if I could find Alex and apologize before he leaves. He leaves in an hour, and I haven't seen him since yesterday evening when we fought. He didn't come back to our room last night. My best guess is that he bunked with Daryl or Frank or one of his other buddies last night. And no one seems to have seen him all night or morning. I had a short chat with Mulder about an hour ago, but he claimed that he hadn't seen Alex yet. I didn't go into detail about what happened, but Mulder pretty much knew that something had happened with Alex and I last night. He didn't pry much, and I didn't vent much. And now I'm worried that I'm not going to get to at least see Alex before he leaves for 7 days. God, what have I done? If this is how my whole first trimester is going to be, then I'm a bit worried about that also. I don't like being this moody. It isn't like me to pick immature fights like that. And I know that I must have really pissed Alex off, for him to punch a hole through the wall, and then not come back to our room last night. The fact that he's avoiding me tells me that maybe I might have ruined any chances of him wanting a future or baby with me. I need to find him.

I find Skinner in the cafeteria and slip into the seat across from him. "Have you seen Alex this morning?" I just get straight to the point. I don't have any time to waste.

"Uhhh, yes, I briefly talked to him about 30 minutes ago, why?" He replies with a mouthful of food.

"Do you know where he is now?" I ask with desperation.

Skinner swallows his food and then sets his fork down on his tray. "He—he left about 15 minutes ago with Mulder." He eyes me with concern and curiosity, as my heart sinks into my stomach.

"Shit." I place my face in my hands and sigh.

"Is something the matter, Dana?" He reaches out for me and lightly touches my wrist.

I run my tongue along my bottom lip and sigh again. "I—I was hoping to talk to him before he left." I hang my head for a moment.

"What do you mean? Didn't you see him this morning, or last night?" Skinner's voice is full of worry now.

"Uhh, not exactly." I quietly reply, and Skinner stiffens in his seat. I can tell that alarm bells are going off in his head now, and he seems a little pissed off now. "You see, we—we kind of had a little argument last night." I try to explain.

Skinner pulls back and uses that same hand to rub at his face. "What did the little prick do now?" He grunts into his hand.

"Oh, no, sir, it was my fault. All me."

Skinner eyes me with skepticism. "Right…"

"I was upset about something yesterday, and I kind of took it out on him, that's all. And well, I was hoping to apologize to him before he left." I explain.

Skinner eyes me for a long moment, and then nods. "I'm sorry, Dana. If I would have known that, I would have stopped him from leaving." He sighs, picking his fork back up.

"It's okay. I'm sure things will cool off and be back to normal when he and Mulder come back." I lie.

Goddammit. This is not happening right now. Alex is going to be many miles away, pissed off at me. And I'm going to have to deal with the guilt of it for a whole week. Knowing that it was my fault and knowing that I still haven't told him about the pregnancy. God, could things possibly get any worse?

"He-uh-this doesn't have anything to do with-he didn't ask you anything yesterday, did he?" I can tell that Skinner is fishing for information now, and it's really confusing me. Just what is he implying?

"Uhh, no, sir?" I reply with furrowed brows. I open my mouth again to ask him what he means, but he quickly waves me off.

"Never mind then." He anxiously shifts in his seat, as if he's already said too much.

"Was Alex supposed to "ask me something" yesterday?" I carefully ask. What could Alex have possibly wanted to ask me yesterday? Oh God, maybe he found out about my pregnancy. Oh, no.

"Oh, uh, nothing. It was just about the supply run today." He says while shoving a huge forkful of pancakes into his mouth. I can tell that he is lying. Walter Skinner has never been a very good liar.

I find myself reaching across the table and pulling the tray of food away from Skinner. He looks down at me in shock and swallows his food.

"Walter, if there is something that you know about why Alex was frantically looking for me yesterday, you would tell me, right?"

Skinner immediately begins to fidget with his fork, and I intensely eye him. "Even if there was, Dana, it is none of my business." He narrows his eyes on me and pulls his tray back towards him.

"Sir, please, I need to know if he 'heard' anything yesterday."

Skinner plops his fork down onto his tray with intense curiosity and clasps his hands together in front of him. "It seems that we both have some secrets, now doesn't it?" He cocks his head to the side.

I quickly look away and nervously shift in my seat. "It's—uh, it's nothing. I was just wondering if Alex told you anything that he may have found out about me."

"Like what?" He softly demands, now more curious than ever.

I swallow, heavily sigh, and look back up at Skinner. "Just about the procedures that I have been having."

"Oh, well then, no. He has not said anything about that to me."

I notice that he sighs in relief. And I think he is right. We are both keeping something from each other. And I'm quickly trying to figure out if it's worth spilling the beans over. I desperately rack my brain for a solution to this problem. Would I really be willing to trick Skinner into telling me what he knows? Is it really that important that I know?

"Alright, I can't keep pretending that I don't know what you're talking about. The truth is, I do know. Alex talked to me about it yesterday, and a fight ensued because of it." I hold my breath, hoping that Skinner doesn't see through my bullshit.

Skinners eyes immediately widen in surprise. "So, he did ask you?"

I desperately try to hold eye contact and squelch the new guilt that has overcome me. I can't believe I'm really doing this right now. What have I become?

"Uhh, yes. He did." My eyes nervously shift to the left and then the right. God, what am I doing?

"So, I'm guessing you told him no." Skinner visibly grimaces.

I nod and then immediately shake my head. "Not exactly?" I really wish I knew what the hell he was even talking about.

"What do you mean, not exactly? Either you're going to marry him, or you're not. You know, I don't even understand why he wanted to propose in the first place. I've never pegged Krycek as the marrying type. Especially with how the world is now."

I feel the color quickly drain from my face, as my mouth drops open in shock. "Pro-pro—propose?" I stutter.

Skinner furrows his brows at me in confusion, intensely eyes my shocked face, and then slowly begins to realize what I have done to him. Then a look of shame comes over his face, followed by a look of betrayal.

"Dana Scully, I cannot believe that you just did that to me." He scolds me. But I can tell that he is somewhat impressed with the fact that I was even able to do it to him.

I'm still too shocked to even be ashamed about it right now, honestly. Alex was going to propose yesterday? That was what he was going to talk to me about? Oh my God. What have I done? This makes things a hundred times worse.

"I—I'm sorry, sir." I half ass an apology, still trying to desperately wrap my head around everything. God, I feel like shit. Alex was going to propose? The shame and the joy of this revelation both duel for first place.

"And now I think that's it's only fair that you tell me whatever it is that you're hiding." He quietly demands.

I nod in agreement and heavily sigh. He's right. It's only fair. Here goes nothing.

"I'm pregnant." It comes out easier than I thought it would. I guess that telling 3 people have made it somewhat easier to say out loud now.

It's now Skinner's turn to lose the color in his face, as he begins choking on his food. I can only nod and sigh at him. And I have to be honest…I never thought that I could ever shock Walter Skinner into reacting the same way that Mulder had yesterday. I expected him to be a lot more reserved about the news.

"Holy shit." Is what comes out of his mouth next.

All I can do is continue to nod in agreement. 'Holy shit' is right.

XXX

12 HOURS LATER

I am still so mad about yesterday, that I can't think about anything else. Mulder and I took turns driving every hour, and found a few supplies along the way, but not much yet. Everything was pretty much empty for about 500 miles from our facility. Two other guys went the opposite way of us, and I'm wondering if they are having better luck than we are right now. I don't know how the normal supply guys handle this job at the beginning of every month. It's exhausting, and boring. And it gives me too much quiet time to think about yesterday evening.

Mulder has been talking my ear off for the past hour, and I have decided that it's time to pull over for the night. We are in a big van, so there's quite a bit of room to sleep in it. But I don't think I'm going to be doing much sleeping tonight, again. I ended up not coming back to my room last night and bunked in an empty room on the third floor. I just couldn't face Dana, after I punched my hand through a wall. I couldn't even bring myself to say goodbye to her this morning before I left. I was afraid that we would fight again and make things even worse. So, I lied to Mulder and told him that I had said goodbye her, and he didn't question me. And so, we left a little early, and I don't feel an ounce of guilt about it. Dana was being a bitch last night, and I have no idea why. And now she's going to have to sit there for a whole week and think about it, and that gives me a bit of satisfaction. But at the same time, it's beginning to eat away at me. Why am I sort of feeling guilty about not finding Dana before I left? I'm not the one who started it, for once. And to think that I was going to propose. If that's not fate telling me that I shouldn't do it, then I don't know what is. But we are both obviously not on that level like I thought we were. And my pride may be a little bruised, but at least I dodged the humiliation of us fighting 'after' a proposal. God, that would have sucked. I really don't think my pride could have handled that. Yeah, I'll admit it. I'm a prideful man sometimes. That's not news to anyone who knows me.

I turn off the van and heavily sigh. Mulder stops talking and turns to face me.

"You know, Krycek, as much as it inconveniences me to ask this…are you okay today?"

"What?" I snap out of my deep reverie and turn to face him.

"Yoo-hoo, Earth to Krycek." Mulder whistles and waves his hand in front of my face.

I slap his hand away and sigh again. "I'm fine." Now I sound like Dana yesterday. Mulder clears his throat and anxiously shifts in his seat. I immediately notice his change in demeanor and have quickly figured out that he knows something that I don't. "Why do you ask?" I ask with suspicion.

Mulder begins tapping his fingers on the window and looks away for a moment. "Did you-uh, did you and Scully have a disagreement about something yesterday?" I can tell that he is fishing for information. What is going on here?

"Why…do you ask?" I ask again.

I know the little shit is hiding something from me. And he's going to tell me what it is. Right now.

Mulder shakes his head and shrugs, now fidgeting with a loose string on his shirt. "No reason. You're just-you're just acting like something has happened." He says to me while looking at me out of the corner of his eye.

For heavens sakes. I am not about to play these little stupid ass mind games with Mulder. "Cut the crap, Mulder. I'll tell you what happened, and you tell me why the hell you want to know so badly." I firmly demand.

"What makes you think I know anything?"

"Because I fucking know you. Now spill."

"I told you, I don't know anything. You're just acting really-really weird…is…all. Just curious." He is so lying. It's so fucking obvious it's pathetic.

"If you really must know, Dana and I got into a really nasty fight last night. And I-and I avoided her all night and didn't say goodbye to her before I left this morning."

Mulder immediately straightens in his seat. "What, why? What did you-uh—what exactly happened?"

I intensely observe Mulder's weird ass behavior for a long moment, and then finally decide to just go ahead and tell him everything.

"If your nosy ass really must know, I was going to propose yesterday. But when I—when I finally found Dana, after searching for her all frickin day, she immediately blew up at me before I could even say anything. I honestly don't even know where the hell it came from. And next thing I knew, I was punching my fist through a wall, and Dana was storming off in tears." I explain with a grimace.

I look over at Mulder and notice that he is practically crawling in his skin. He doesn't even seem surprised about the fact that I had planned to propose to Dana. "Oh, shit. And that's all that happened?"

"What do you mean 'all'?" I ask with furrowed brows, and Mulder tries to hide the noticeable wince on his guilty ass face. "Mulder, what are you not telling me?" I demand to know, but he just keeps shifting in his seat. "Do you know why Dana was acting so weird yesterday?"

Mulder immediately shakes his head and chews on his bottom lip as if he was about to bite a huge hole right through the damn thing. "I told you, I was just curious." He swallows.

"Uh-huh." I lean back to get a better look at Mulder. Motherfucker is still lying to me. "Okay, then. Fine. If that's all you really know, then fine. But I guess I should probably go ahead and tell you that I know exactly what you know, but I just wanted to see if you'd say it before I did."

Mulder eyes widen in surprise and then quickly narrow in suspicion. "Nice try, Krycek." Dammit. I surely thought that would work on Mulder. It always used to in the past. I'm not even ashamed to admit that I'm guilty of tricking people into telling me stuff all of the time. Something that Dana always hated and has probably never done herself. God I sometimes wish I was as pure as her.

"Goddammit Mulder. You—you-you know what? FINE. Don't tell me. See if I care. I'm going to bed now. Goodnight." I huff and sigh and crawl to the back seats to pull them down into a bed.

It takes a good 20 minutes for Mulder to follow and crawl into the back to lay down next to me. God, why did I agree to go on this trip with him? This is the closest we have ever been to each other for longer than a few minutes at a time, alone. I turn away from him on my side and heavily sigh. I can basically hear Mulder thinking, and am pretty sure that he is going to break any moment now. He won't stop tossing and turning next to me, and it's beginning to annoy me a little bit. A few more minutes pass in silence, and for a moment I think that maybe Mulder has actually fallen asleep instead. But just as I close my eyes, I feel him sit up and hear him heavily sigh and groan.

"Guhhh, I can't do this. I told her I wouldn't say anything. But I can't-I don't know how she expected me to not say anything, when I'm alone with you for a whole week. Especially after what you just told me. It's too much, IT'S TOO MUCH-" He begins to babble, as he runs his fingers through his hair several times.

I sit up and firmly grab at his arm. "Say what, Mulder, SAY WHAT?" I desperately demand.

"That Scully is pregnant! That—that you two are going to have a baby!" He hollers at me as he runs his hands over his face in shame and relief.

I immediately begin laughing. I don't even know why I'm laughing, because I know that Mulder isn't joking. I can tell. But I'm laughing anyways.

"Yeah, okay." I laugh some more, but Mulder isn't laughing with me. In fact, he's staring at me with sympathy, and I hate it. I hate people feeling sorry for me. And I hate that Dana told Mulder that she was pregnant before she told me. I wonder who else knows. And…oh my God. Dana is pregnant? "HOLY SHIT." I'm pretty sure Mulder probably said the same thing when he found it too. Which brings me back to the fact that everyone probably fucking knew before me. And that I left Dana alone and pregnant and upset. What have I done? "Oh fuck." I swallow, as the van begins to suffocate me. "Oh my God." I open the door and jump out of the van, slamming the door shut with blunt force. Then I am kicking at a tire and slamming my hand on the van and practically hyperventilating as I begin to pace. "Oh my GOD." I say again, as Mulder opens the door back up and exits the van also. I bend over at the waist and breathe in deeply a few times. I'm freaking out. For so many different reasons right now. And I have so many questions. "Holy shit." I straighten back up and groan into my hands. "How—how long has she known?" I quietly ask over my shoulder as I close my eyes.

Mulder heavily sighs and leans up against the van with his arms crossed. "She just found out yesterday morning."

"Why? Why didn't she want to tell me?"

"It—it's complicated."

"Damn right it's complicated! How did this happen…so fast?"

"Sharon doesn't exactly know." Great, Sharon knew before me too.

I walk up to Mulder and grab at his shirt. "Why didn't she want to tell me, Mulder?" I demand to know.

Mulder shakes his head and shrugs. "She was afraid of how you would react…"

"What, did she think I wouldn't want it or something?" Mulder's shifty eyes answer my question for me. "Is that what she thought? That I wouldn't want to be a part of its life? That I would just abandon my own child? And—and her?" Mulder looks down at his feet at my questions. Ouch. That one really does hurt. How could Dana even think that? Of course, I'm a little stunned. And totally unprepared for that responsibility. But I would never leave my child, or Dana. I would suck it up and learn to adjust, just like I fucking told myself I would yesterday. But God it all makes so much sense now. Why Dana was so upset. I need to go back and talk to her. "I need to go back."

Mulder furrows his brows at me. "What?"

"I—I need to go back. Right now."

"Krycek-"

"We're going back. I have to see her. I-"

"Krycek, we're 12 hours away right now, and it's night time. I think you should just let things cool down for a few days first. Give yourselves time to figure out what to do and say."

"Get in the van Mulder." I demand, as I open the door for him.

Mulder pushes the door shut and shakes his head at me. "No, Krycek. You need to calm down and give yourself some time."

"Then I'm leaving without you. I swear to God, Mulder, I will leave your ass here." I shove my finger into his chest and then walk around the van to enter the driver's seat.

Mulder opens the passenger's door and peeks in. "And what exactly do you expect to say or do, huh?"

"I don't know."

"Give it a few days to calm down, Krycek. Trust me. I'm doing you a favor right now."

I heavily sigh and groan, because I know Mulder's right. I don't want him to be right. But he's right. I have no idea what I should say or do yet. I haven't even let it fully sink in yet. But the last thing I want is to be 12 hours away from Dana right now. Knowing what I know now. After I did what I did. Goddammit.

"48 hours Mulder. Two days, and we're going back, you hear me?" Mulder nods at me and sighs. "I mean it. I don't care if Skinner gets pissed off or it throws the supply guys behind schedule. I'm not going to wait a whole fucking week."

Mulder nods at me again and sits down in his seat. There is a long moment of tense silence, as we both try to sort our thoughts out.

"Scully is so going to kill me for telling you." Mulder groans into the darkness. The moonlight is illuminating half of his face, so I can tell that he is also grimacing at the realization.

"I'll make sure to tell her I beat it out of you, okay?" I shove at his arm.

"Uhm, yeah, no." Mulder glares at me. "I'd rather face Scully's wrath, then have people thinking you beat me up…again." He awkwardly clears his throat, and I can't help but wickedly chuckle at that.

"Mulder…"

"Yeah?"

"I'm having a baby." I swallow and blink, my voice slightly cracking.

"Yeah." Mulder nods into the darkness. There is another long moment of silence, as we both just sit there looking out the windshield into the darkness. "Krycek…"

"Yeah?"

"Scully would have said yes. I mean, she still will. You just have to give her some time is all." I bet that was hard for him to say. To admit that his old "Scully" is having a baby with his former enemy, and everything else.

"Thank you for saying that. Even if it's not true." I sigh, placing my head up against my window.

"I just can't believe that you want to-that you were planning to-"

"Propose?"

"It was just unexpected from you."

I turn to look at Mulder, who is now looking down at his hands.

"Do you not want me to?" I quietly ask.

"Well, honestly, Krycek, at one time I would have said no. I would have been absolutely furious at the idea."

"And now?"

"Now…" Mulder heavily sighs, looking up at me. "Now I can't find any reason not to say yes." Are we having a bonding moment right now?

"Well, good. Because I was going to do it whether you wanted me to or not." I half joke. But we both know I'm actually serious.

We both chuckle as Mulder shakes his head at me.

"You're such a bastard." He says to me through another chuckle.

"Says the shithead over here." I roll my eyes while also still laughing.

"You better not hurt her, or I'll fucking kill you." Mulder warns me with a smile.

"I wouldn't expect any less from you." I smile back.

And I actually do give it 48 hours to simmer down. And I have to admit that we were both pretty surprised that I was actually able to wait that long, but it isn't a shock to Mulder nor does he protest when I tell him that we are heading back home as that 48-hour mark hits.

XXX

THREE DAYS LATER

The first 36 hours or so, I felt like I was literally crawling out of my skin. I barely slept or ate because of morning sickness and worry. And with Mulder and Alex both being gone, I only really had Sharon and Skinner to talk to about it. And no offense to either of them, but it just wasn't enough. I still had 4 more fucking days to pace around my working area and sleep in a bed with an empty spot next to me. And I have to say, I got really used to sharing a bed with Alex, and now I can't sleep without him. And I can't stop thinking about him proposing. And me upsetting him. And our baby. It's so much all at once. I still don't think I've processed it all yet.

I am pulled out of my deep thoughts by a voice next to me. I turn my head, and see Allison standing next to me.

"Is this seat taken?" She asks with a tray of food in her hands.

"No, go ahead." I motion for her to sit down across from me.

Allison and I have never really spoken to each other without someone else around before, so I'm not really sure how to act around her. I mean, she's kind of Mulder's girlfriend. So, I'm sure she's really great, if he likes her.

"Thanks." She says to me as she sits down.

"I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Dana…Scully." I flash her a warm smile and extend my hand across the table.

Allison shakes my hand and smiles back. "I'm Allison. And Mulder has told me a lot about you."

"Same here." I reply with a nod.

"Uhm, I guess you're probably wondering why I'm over here right now." Allison shyly says.

I shrug and smile at her again. "I'm guessing Mulder has told you about our past."

Allison nods at me and sighs. "I guess I'm just making sure that I'm not treading on territory that I shouldn't be treading on." She quietly admits. There's a lot of 'guessing' going on here right now. Hmm.

I shake my head and chuckle. "I can promise you that everyone knows about you and Mulder, and everyone is happy about it, including me." I reply.

Allison sighs in relief and nods at me. "Okay, good. That's good." I nod and take a small bite of my now cold food. Allison eyes me for a long moment and then speaks again. "And I also just wanted to say, that whatever is bothering you lately…It will all eventually work itself out. It always does." She reassuringly smiles at me again.

I sigh and smile back with another nod. I hope she is right. And I have decided that I really like Allison a lot.

XXX

It was Mulder's idea to stop at this creepy old building on the way back home. We are literally only about two hours away now, and we've gathered up quite a few supplies. Well, quite a few for only doing half of the trip. But I cannot lie, I have been on edge the whole time. I just want to get back to Dana and sort everything out. I need her to know that I've decided that I'm ready for all of this. The anger has greatly dissipated, and the fog has cleared, because I have had a lot of time to think about everything. And Mulder has actually given me a lot of pretty good advice, since he seems to know Dana better than anyone else, except for me of course. But I know that there is still a lot that Dana and I can learn from each other, and it's been eating away at me, knowing that she thinks I don't want to have a baby with her. I mean, I originally didn't want a mini me running around. But the idea has begun to grow on me, and I think I'm ready to start this new chapter in my life. Am I scared? Hell yes, I'm terrified. I don't know the first thing about taking care of a baby. Just two years ago, I was almost always living on the streets and hiding in the shadows, and constantly running from Cancer Man's minions. I was lying and stealing and betraying everyone that I came into contact with. I was on the wrong side, and I was no better than the rats in the sewers. But I was also always scared for my life. That was all I ever knew. That's what I was taught, from a young age. And I was also always being lied to and stolen from and betrayed, so I never thought that I could use my powers for good instead of Evil. I didn't realize that I now had a choice to make a positive difference, until I ran into Dana. I didn't know that I was capable of good until her. So, I guess that I have the alien colonization attempt to thank for my redemption. And as awful as that all was, that also plays a big part in that lightbulb finally clicking on in my head. I just hate that like 70% of the world had to suffer at my expense. Not that I could have stopped any of that from happening, nor did it really have anything to do with me for a change. But I can do something about things now. I can keep the people that are still thriving on this Earth alive. I can help make a new government. A better one. And I can make sure my child has a better life than I did. I do believe that I'm still alive for a reason. That I was spared because there is a larger purpose for me. And God, I don't know why I'm feeling so sentimental right now, and emotional. It's like something new has changed in me again. And things just keep changing. And I'm going to be a father. Holy fuck. There's going to be a mini Krycek or Scully running around in like 9 months. Jesus Christ. I can't decide if I'm petrified or elated. It just constantly keeps going back and forth. Maybe I'm experiencing an overwhelming mixture of both. But I'm feeling something. You'd think I was the pregnant one right now. One moment there is a lump in my throat and a smile on my face, and the next moment I'm breaking out in sweats and hyperventilating. I'm sure I'm beginning to get on Mulder's nerves now. Which is probably why he begged me to stop and check out this building, because he was sick of hearing me talk about it. The several deteriorating pieces of crashed ships that we have passed on this trip hasn't even phased me. Not like it used to. Not when I have so many other things on my mind right now.

But the moment we pull up to this building, something just feels strange about the atmosphere. I immediately want to get back in the van and keep driving, and that's unlike me to feel unnerved like this. I can tell that Mulder is feeling the same thing, because he keeps looking over at me. But we decide to enter the building anyways. And even though this nagging feeling in my gut keeps telling me to leave, something else keeps pulling me in further and further into the dark building.

From the looks of it, the building used to be a factory of some sort. There are bags and boxes of food still sitting on conveyer belts, which is good for us. But something still feels off about this place. Almost like someone or something is watching us. I really hope it's not another gang of thugs wanting to start trouble. I've had my fair share of encounters, and frankly, I think I've had just about enough of that bullshit. But as we keep walking around, the air gets stuffier, and the building gets spookier. Something is not right here. Something is living here. Something not human. I can feel it. And just as I turn to say something to Mulder, I realize that he is no longer standing next to me.

"Mulder?" I quietly call out for him, but I get no answer. "Mulder, where the hell are you?" I call a bit louder, and still don't get an answer. What the hell?

I continue walking into rooms, but there is still no sign of Mulder. And as I make my way to the back of the building, I hear something scurry behind me. It was probably just an animal, but I'm not willing to stick around and find out. I turn around and begin to exit the building. That's when I hear Mulder shouting for me. I can't figure out where he is, so I just begin running around the factory. I knew this was a bad idea.

"Krycek!"

"Mulder, where are you? MULDER!"

"In here!" His voice gets closer.

I finally find Mulder, just standing in a doorway with his flashlight pointed in front of him.

"What the hell, Mulder?" I furrow my brows, because he is obviously not in any danger.

Mulder points at something in front of him, and I turn my head to get a better look. And what I see is something from a horror movie. There are human bones laying on the ground everywhere, along with piles of ash and some weird looking pod thing in the middle of the room. I had heard stories from other people that had survived the very beginning of the alien colonization, who had witnessed a lot more than I ever did, mainly because I was safely underground for many months. But now seeing it with my own eyes puts things into perspective for me. It makes me realize how disastrous everything really was two years ago. And I'm also beginning to realize that whatever alien creature was in this building might still be here, or at least some type of alien-human hybrid, and that maybe some of those bastards had actually survived and have been in hiding this whole time. At least, that's what it looks like to me. To me, it looks like these things were trying to colonize the human race, and that they succeeded in some places of the world. At least for a little while. I don't even know how the hell we hadn't run into anything like this before. Then again, we've all tried to stay away from certain areas. There are some places in the world that Sharon, Daryl, and Frank call the RedZone areas. Meaning they are off limits, because the damage was so disastrous. And I think that Mulder and I have unknowingly stumbled upon one of those areas. Honestly, I didn't even bother to look at the map that the supply guys had made for us. We were supposed to follow a certain route, but I was too preoccupied with other shit to even follow the rules and guidelines.

"We need to get the hell out of here. NOW." Mulder whispers to me, and I nod in agreement.

We both begin to back out of the room, but it's too late. Something screeches behind us, and next thing we know, there is some type of small half alien half humanoid looking thing charging at Mulder. It knocks him over, and he begins kicking and punching at the thing. I immediately spring into action and pull out my gun, but the damn thing is moving so much that I can't get a good shot without accidentally shooting Mulder also.

"Krycek!"

"I'm trying! I'm trying!" I hiss, as I fire a few rounds into the darkness.

But of course, I miss, and it seems to piss the thing off even more. I decide to just keep shooting and lunge at the thing, because if I came back home without Mulder, Dana and Skinner would both kill me. Plus, I kind of like having him around. Not that I would willingly say that out loud to anyone.

"Son of a bitch!" I growl, as I knock the thing over and off of Mulder.

Mulder quickly pulls himself to his feet and begins shooting his gun at the thing as well. And the ugly ass looking creature begins charging towards the both of us again. But we both are able to move out of the way, and just as it passes us, I am able to fire a round into it. I hear the bullet make contact, but I immediately realize that the loud clinking sound the bullet makes is not normal. I don't hear it enter any flesh, as if this thing has some sort of shield on its body. Instead, the bullet bounces off this things chest and spirals back towards me. I try to duck, but I'm not quick enough. It takes me several seconds to realize that the bullet has grazed my head and that I am gushing blood down my face. That's when the pain hits me, and Mulder's face becomes fuzzy looking. He shouts my name, but his voice seems a million miles away. I can feel myself slowly falling to the ground, and I am pretty sure that I'm about to lose consciousness.

"Krycek!" Mulder shouts, as I hit the ground.

I'm now just laying there, watching the creature run around the room, and Mulder is trying to shoot at a spot that isn't covered in that weird armor material. It seems that he succeeds, because from the ground, I see some black liquid splatter from the creature's head, and it flies back into the wall. I hear Mulder shoot once more, and then I see his feet running towards me.

"Krycek! Krycek, stay with me." Mulder says to me, as he falls to his knees and begins applying pressure to my head.

"I—I think I'm dying, Mulder." I manage to mumble, as everything begins to get darker and darker.

"The hell you are. You're going to be okay. Just don't close your eyes, you hear me?" Mulder huffs.

But I can't help it. I do close my eyes. And the blackness pulls me in, further and further. And then…

XXX

I knew something was off the moment I entered my work building. There were people whispering to each other as I walked by, and I could hear a lot of commotion in the medical facility. And I have to admit, the first thing I thought was that everyone had found out about my pregnancy. Silly, I know. But from the way that people were staring at me, it was giving me the impression that they were eyeing me with sympathy or something.

"Dana! There you are." Sharon calls out for me as I enter our work area.

She is looking at me with concern, and I immediately realize that it's something more serious than what I had originally thought.

"What's the matter, Sharon?" I furrow my brows at her.

"Okay, don't freak out just yet, okay?" She says to me as she grabs at my hands.

"Excuse me?"

Sharon heavily sighs and pulls back, running a hand over her forehead. "There's been an accident."

"What? What kind of accident?" I shake my head at her.

"Mulder and Krycek are back."

"What? So soon? Where are they?" I ask with curiosity and concern.

"Mulder-Fox is in the waiting room. He's fine. But-uh-Alex is-he's-"

"He's what, Sharon. Spit it out." I demand, as my heart begins to race.

"Now I don't know exactly what happened yet, but-"

"WHERE IS ALEX, SHARON?" I grab at her arms with desperation and give her a good shake.

"You can't see him yet. They've just rushed him into emergency surgery."

"WHAT?" I begin to hyperventilate. "WHY?"

"Alex was—uh-Alex was shot…in the head."

"Oh my god." I stumble backwards but Sharon steadies me. "Is he-is he okay?"

"Well, we don't know yet. He's in a coma."

"Oh my god." I begin to pace. "Where's Mulder? I need to speak to Mulder." I plead, as I run out of the room and head towards the waiting room.

I find Mulder sitting in a chair with blood stained hands, just staring down at them.

"Mulder?" I croak, as I sit down next to him.

"I'm sorry, Scully. I didn't know this would happen. I swear. I'm sorry." He shakes his head at me.

"Mulder, what happened?" I reach out for him and grab at his hand.

"He told me it was a bad idea to go into that building. But I did it anyway."

"What are you talking about?" I furrow my brows at him, as my eyes begin to water.

"One of those things was in there. And Krycek-he saved me. He saved my life, Scully. But I couldn't do the same for him. It was too late."

"What do you mean?" My lip begins to quiver.

"That thing had some sort of protective shield on it, or something. But we both didn't know that when we began shooting at it. And-and then Krycek hit it with a bullet. But the bullet-it bounced off and hit him in the head. But I killed that motherfucker, Scully. I found a way. But it was too late. And Krycek might die because of me." Mulder babbles, as I pull him into an embrace.

"Oh, Mulder, it wasn't your fault. You didn't know." I whisper into his ear as we rock back and forth.

"And I told him, Scully. I told him about the baby. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry." He chokes.

I'm not even mad. How can I be? I knew it was wrong of me to tell Mulder and expect him to keep it a secret from the very person that he would be alone with for a whole week.

"It—it's okay, Mulder. I'm not-I'm not mad." I stutter, as the tears begin to fall.

I said that things couldn't get any worse than they already were. But I was wrong. Things just got so much worse.

XXX

TO BE CONTINUED…

A/N: I'm now at 145k and about 300 pages at 11pt font, almost 18 months later, and STILL going. WOW. :D