Patient X

“Where is he?” Skinner snarled as soon as the elevator doors opened and he spied Mulder in the hall.

“This way, sir,” Mulder automatically replied, with eyebrows that arose to meet his hairline in reaction to what Skinner was wearing. It was illogical of Mulder to assume Skinner who had long since been retired from the FBI, would be wearing a pristine starched white shirt and a crisp, grey, pinstriped suit. However, Mulder was still slightly taken aback to see his former boss dressed in worn jeans that hugged Walter’s fit frame, a soft flannel shirt that did nothing to camouflage the muscles rippling underneath and work boots. It was also second nature to Mulder to address his former supervisor with the title of, sir.

When Walter received the call that Krycek had been in an accident and was hospitalized, he wasted no time to change into something more befitting a former Assistant Director of the FBI. Walter grabbed his travel kit, shoved a change of clothes in a duffle bag, made a call to the airlines, the local Oregon FBI field office, and to Emma who ran the general store. He simply told Emma that he had a family emergency and could she arrange to have someone keep an eye on the ranch and feed the animals. She replied with, “Of course,” as Walter jumped into his truck and drove to the nearest airport. Someone from the Oregon field office met the former AD’s plane and gave him an escort to the hospital.

“How bad?” Walter barked as Scully, completely garbed in a mask, gown and other protective clothing came out of the negative pressure isolation room.

“Not as bad as it looks, sir,” Scully answered.

“Then why is he in isolation and why are you dressed as if he’s contagious? I want to know what’s going on and I want to know now!” Skinner growled.

“Sir, please,” Scully said softly. “This is a hospital,” she said trying to calm her aggravated and worried former boss. “Let’s go where we can talk privately,” Scully said as she tried to usher Skinner away from the observation window.

“Can I see him?” Skinner asked contritely, reining in his anger. He peered into the room in between the slats of the blinds, his hand on the glass. Alex lay motionless on the bed, swaddled in bandages, hooked up to monitors and IV lines with a ventilator to help him breathe. Skinner knew enough, had been inside of enough hospital rooms to know that the blood tinged urine in the bedside drainage bag was not a good sign. He took a shuddering breath then followed Scully and Mulder. Two agents stood guard at the door.

“What the hell happened here?” Skinner demanded as soon as they were in a private lounge and out of earshot. “You said it was just show and tell,” Skinner growled as he turned to face Mulder. “You promised me all he was going to do was demonstrate some moves to William’s self defense class. How did he wind up in a hospital?!” Skinner’s pitch and volume were on the rise again.

“He saved them, sir,” Scully said.

“What?”

“He saved them all, sir,” Scully repeated, deliberately keeping her tone level and quiet.

“Don’t you use those techniques on me, Agent Scully. Now report!” Skinner demanded in full AD mode. Out of habit, Mulder and Scully couldn’t help but snap to attention to give a full report.

“The Rat flew in...” Mulder began. Skinner’s face began to burn.

“Mulder.” Scully reached out to touch her husband’s hand and defuse the situation. “Sir, Alex arrived on Thursday afternoon. He wanted to spend a couple of days with William before the day of the demonstration. This afternoon as planned, we drove William and a few of his friends to the gym. The competition was scheduled to begin shortly after a show of different self defense techniques. As you know, Alex is more than qualified in many forms of martial arts.”

“Why didn’t he go with you?” Walter wanted to know.

“He thought it would make it more interesting if he made a stealthy entrance,” Scully continued to explain.

“The big show off,” Mulder grumbled like a kid. Skinner glared at him.

“William has a tendency to glorify his ‘Uncle Alex’ to his friends. Alex didn’t want to disappoint him.”

Skinner raised his hand to stop Scully before she could go on with her story. “Mulder, if memory serves, you are a retired FBI agent,” Walter snarked. “Why couldn’t you perform the demonstration yourself?” Walter narrowed his gaze at Mulder who was nervously eating his stash of sunflower seeds from his pocket.

“Sir, William knows his father was FBI. He’s well aware that we’ve both been retired for years; however, he...” Scully tried to explain further.

“Walter, William shares certain traits with Alex and whether I like it or not, my son loves his uncle. When he asked if it was okay to have Alex participate in the show, how could we say no,” Mulder said with a shrug. Walter could see that admission was painful for Mulder. Walter didn’t push the issue.

“What happened at the gym?” Walter asked carefully.

“After the introductions and a brief description of the agenda, the program began. Alex was scheduled to be the victim. A police officer who was playing the role of the bad guy was momentarily confused when Alex appeared out of nowhere, acting casually. It looked like Alex whispered something to the ‘attacker’ and then the fight was on,” Scully said as she described the exhibition.

“He was always so overly dramatic,” Mulder groused. Walter and Scully ignored him.

“Go on, Scully,” Walter urged.

“Alex had just deflected a blow to the stomach when the smoke alarms went off. No one smelled smoke; however, we weren’t taking any chances. This was an all-city event; there were several gyms and martial arts schools represented. The gym was quite full.” Mulder had taken over the story from there.

“Scully had William begin to lead out the kids. He has Scully’s common sense and instinctively knows not to panic. Kids follow his lead,” Mulder said as any proud father would. Skinner nodded. “Scully helped to get the parents out while I hung back to look for stragglers. We still couldn’t smell any smoke but the alarms kept going. I thought we had everyone out but then someone started taking a head count. The schools had divided up into their own groups to make it easier to tell if we had everyone.”

“Makes sense,” Walter commented.

“That’s when they figured we were missing about a dozen kids and five coaches. They must have been in the locker rooms when the alarms went off. The lockers are toward the back of the building. I began to run around the building to get to the outer door of the locker rooms instead of going through the whole building when there was an explosion.”

“Explosion!?” Skinner repeated, his face wide eyed with horror.

“Gas leak,” Scully added. “The alarms were triggered by the gas instead of smoke. The fire department was already on its way. Several parents wanted to run back in but the police who arrived first on the scene were keeping everyone back.”

“I couldn’t get close enough,” Mulder said sadly. “That’s when we noticed Alex was missing. Sir, I know he came out with us. He was keeping everyone calm and helping to evacuate the building. I lost sight of him around the time of the explosion. I’m sorry, sir.”

Walter sighed. “There was nothing you could have done, Mulder. If Alex wanted to get back inside, nothing short of a nuclear missile could have kept him away.” Mulder nodded. “Continue,” Walter gently ordered.

“The rest is a bit sketchy but we’ve been able to piece it together from what the survivors have told us,” Scully picked up the story. “Alex had made it to the locker room before the explosion and began to evacuate whoever was left. There was one young lady who got turned around in all the confusion. Instead of walking out she wound up behind the bleachers. Alex reached her just as the explosion occurred.”

Walter cringed.

“Alex shielded her with his body as pieces of the bleachers fell on them. I don’t know how he did it but he got her out and then ran back in to make sure everyone else was out.”

“The girl?” Skinner inquired straight-faced, not revealing what was in his heart.

“Smoke inhalation, a couple of bruises but she’ll be fine.”

“And Alex?” Walter steeled himself for the worst.

“Smoke inhalation, second degree burns, a couple of broken ribs and a broken collar bone.”

“Scully, he’s peeing red,” Skinner growled.

“Trauma to a kidney when a part of a bleacher fell on him but it’s resolving. It really looks worse than it is.”

“Then why the isolation? He’s been beaten up worse. Hell, he’s been dead once or twice as far as I know. Why is he being treated like he has the plague?”

Scully and Mulder’s silence and hesitation were beginning to make Skinner angry all over again.

“Now, Agent Scully!”

“Sir, Krycek’s blood...” Scully began.

“What about it?”

“This is the only way I could control the situation. Knowing his status, we contacted the local field office, I temporarily un-resigned so that I could be put in charge of his case. I used the excuse that my security clearance was high enough just in case Alex said anything while incapacitated. If anyone else got hold of his blood samples or his x-rays, there could be questions. His blood is brimming with the vaccine and remnants of the black oil. His DNA...he was cloned before, sir. We couldn’t take the chance.”

Walter mulled over Scully’s explanation and it appeared sound.

“Walter, we may be a small town in Oregon but we do have newspapers and photographers. The gas leak and explosion are big news. Krycek saving all those people is news too.” Mulder had no need to elaborate any further. Walter fully understood the situation. If Krycek’s face got into the news anyone still left alive with a grudge could try to come after him. Alex was a sitting duck at present.

“Sir...”

“Dana, under the circumstances, please call me Walter.”

“Yes, sir, Walter. I’ve made it clear to the hospital staff that I’ll be running Krycek’s blood tests myself and that I’m his attending. No one goes in there without my permission. I’ve let it leak that I’m familiar with his medical record and that he was once treated for cancer in the past. It makes him more susceptible to infection and that’s why we need the isolation. And with me running his lab tests, I’ll know how to filter out any alien anomalies.”

“Are there that many?”

“Yes, Mulder has many of same ones as well as William.”

“William has them too?” Walter asked in shock. He knew that Mulder had been experimented on but he didn’t realize that it had affected William. “When can I take Alex home?” Walter asked after a while.

“I’m worried about the damage to his lungs. His bones should heal normally maybe even faster than normal,” Scully replied.

“What makes you say that?”

“Whatever the healers used to make Krycek’s arm grow back are still in his system. His bones are knitting back together at a remarkable rate. But he may have been oxygen deprived. Walter, Alex is not just asleep. He’s in a coma.”

Walter sat down in the nearest chair with a plop. “Scully, may I please go to him?” Walter pleaded after a few moments.

“Let’s get you gowned up,” Scully said with resolve.

*****
 

For three days Walter Skinner barely left Alex’s bedside. Instead of a nurse or nursing assistant bathing Alex, a basin of warm water, a wash cloth and towels were placed on the over-bed table. Walter bathed his lover daily and whenever necessary. Several times a day, Walter would gently massage Alex to keep his limbs flexible. As instructed, Walter turned and positioned Alex every two hours to prevent bed sores. And Walter talked to his lover.

Walter spoke of the weather. He discussed the local news and how grateful the families of the rescued were to Alex. After five days Scully was stumped, Walter was exhausted and Mulder, nervous. On day six, Dana convinced Walter to lie down in a regular bed in an adjoining room instead of the gurney that was brought into the isolation room for Walter to use. It took much cajoling and the promise that Walter would be called if there were any changes in Alex’s condition. While Walter slept, Mulder paid a visit to Alex.

“Don’t you think it’s time to wake up?” Mulder deadpanned in that monotone way of his.

“You have Scully stymied. She doesn’t know why you’re not awake yet. Walter hasn’t left your side in six days and he’s pulling out his hair. Whatever hair that's left, I mean. William is calling you his ‘Uncle Hero’ now. I gotta admit, Krycek, I’m jealous. I got the girl, have me a great son and a wonderful career as a sci-fi writer. I’m even packing them in on the lecture tours but I’m fucking jealous of you!

“So I’m thinking, what do you have that I don’t? For one thing you have Walter. Now don’t get your boxers in a twist; I’m not making goo-goo eyes at the man. But damn, Alex, I never realized how hot he is. If there’s any incentive to wake up, it’s having him to go home with and sleep with every night. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very happy with Scully, ecstatic with our life but I’d be lying if I said that I never looked at Skinner. Hell, I even looked at you. And it got worse after that kiss, but you already know that.

“Alex, all I’m saying is that it’s time. It’s time to get your ass awake and out of this hospital. Rumors of your resurrection are running rampant. I have the Gunmen scouring the internet just in case anyone’s paying too close attention to them. We need you to wake up and get the hell back to that backwater town of yours.”

Mulder stopped talking for a while so he could study the young pretty face in an unnatural sleep. Even with tubes and pumps weaving in and out of Alex at various orifices, Mulder had to admit that Alex was one pretty man.

“Hell, I can see what he sees in you too. It’s a good thing that I’m a licensed psychologist because I’m going to have to have some serious talks with myself after this is all over,” Mulder grumbled.

Mulder moved the gurney closer to the bed, locked the wheels then hopped up onto it. He made himself as comfortable as possible then closed his eyes. Mulder had a lifetime habit of not sleeping, but he was able to relax enough for his breathing to become in synch with Alex. He reached out to touch Alex’s forearm, one of the few places that a tube wasn’t attached. With the connection made, Mulder was finally able to sleep, and for several hours.

“Mulder, go get Walter. I think Alex may be waking up,” Scully said softly, gently shaking her husband awake. His hand had never lost its connection with Alex. Mulder rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, jumped off the gurney and left the isolation room to get his former boss.

 

*****
 

“Alex, can you hear me?” Walter asked hesitantly as he gently swiped away a lock of unruly hair from Alex’s forehead. Alex’s eyes fluttered for a moment then closed. Walter was rapidly losing hope.

“Give him time, Walter,” Dana counseled. “His vitals are strong, I think he’s coming around but he was always stubborn,” Dana teased.

“Yes, he is,” Walter rumbled. The timbre of Walter’s deep voice vibrated through Alex, and his eye lids fluttered again.

“Talk to him. He may be using your voice as a lifeline.”

“What do I say? I’ve talk to him for six days straight without any response. I’ve told him how much he means to me. I’ve become the weatherman and even discussed our chickens. If that didn’t do it, what will?”

Dana almost cried at the sight of the desperation in Walter’s chocolate brown eyes. “Sir, when Mulder or I were hurt, what did you say to us?”

“I don’t know! Probably tried to remain professional; I was your superior,” Walter exclaimed in frustration.

“And if that didn’t work?”

“Probably chewed your ass off for being so damned foolish then ordered you to get better.”

“I think, he’s waiting for you to order him awake, sir,” Dana said with a smirk.

Walter stared at her for a moment then straightened the ramrod steel in his spine.

“Agent Scully, would you give me some privacy with this greenhorn?” Walter growled, back in full AD mode again and fully in charge.

“My pleasure, sir,” she replied and then addressed her patient before she left. “Krycek, if I were you, I’d wake up really quick.” Scully then left them alone as she went back out into the hall to be with Mulder.

“What’s he intend to do in there?” Mulder asked when Dana came out.

“What Skinner always does when he’s pissed off at one of his agents,” Dana replied casually. They both noticed the winces and worried expressions on the faces of the FBI guards. Skinner’s reputation was known far and wide across the country.

“Better him then me,” Mulder deadpanned smugly then bit into another sunflower seed shell to get to the seed. “Come on, Scully, let me buy you a cup of coffee; this may take a while,” Mulder said as he took his wife’s hand to lead her to the cafeteria. Scully left word at the nurses’ station then left with her husband. Her patient couldn’t be in better hands.

 

*****
 

“Uncle Alex!” William shouted as Alex was being wheeled out of the hospital by Walter. The FBI had provided Mulder and Scully a van big enough to transport all of them back to the Mulder-Scully house to allow Alex to recuperate a little longer before he and Walter flew back to Montana.

“Your hair got long, Uncle Alex,” William exclaimed when he examined his uncle a bit closer. “I never saw you with a beard before,” William said with an amused smile.

“William, ease up on the interrogation, will ya. Uncle Alex had a tube down his throat; it hurts to talk. Alex will talk when he wants to,” Mulder said from experience then winked at his old nemesis.

“Okay, Dad,” William said as he reached out to touch his uncle’s hand when they were all settled into the van. With the connection made, the understanding was imparted. William smiled then settled back into his seat as his father drove them all home.

 

*****
 

“What would you like to do first?” Walter asked his lover as they stepped across the threshold of their ranch house.

“Sit by the fire,” Alex said in a raspy voice.

“Sure,” Walter replied as he guided Alex to the sofa then lit a fire. When he was convinced that Alex was comfortable, Walter went about tidying their home and preparing a simple dinner.

“I could have helped,” Alex grumbled as Walter handed him a mug of soup.

“No need, I have it under control.”

“I can see that. Walter, I’m fine, really. There’s no need to baby me,” Alex protested.

“Maybe I like babying you,” Walter snapped back. “I thought I lost you back there. My life would be so empty without you.”

“It’d take a lot more than a few broken bones and a bump to my kidney to take me out of the game, Walter. You should know that by now.”

“You aren’t invincible.”

“No, but damn near close to it.”

“I’d preferred you’d not experiment to find just how invincible you really are. And then there are Mulder and William to consider as well. I don’t want either one of them running around the countryside trying to prove how invincible they are. It’s bad enough William takes after Mulder and Scully, but I’ve learned that he carries the same anomalies in his blood that you do.”

“Not the same, but close enough. He’s a bit like Gibson Praise,” Alex said casually.

“Do I really want to know this?” Walter moaned as he sat next to his lover on the sofa.

“Probably not. I think it may be better if we all left you in blissful ignorance for a while longer. It’s bad enough you have an ex-spy for a lover, who can heal himself faster than he should.”

“And grow hair faster than anyone else on the planet,” Walter commented looking at Alex’s now shoulder length hair and full beard and mustache.

“You want to cut it off for me?”

“No, not yet, I kinda like having a wild man for a lover.” Alex squeaked out a laugh. “But I am curious. Your bones knitted back quickly and your kidney healed, why not your throat?”

“A delicate part of the anatomy perhaps or maybe because the tube was a foreign object that I couldn’t heal around until it was removed. I don’t know. Why? Does the change in my voice bother you?”

“I like your tenor voice when you sing,” Walter revealed with a flush to his cheeks.

Alex chuckled. “You sentimental fool you.” Alex smiled brightly then kissed his embarrassed lover.

“Drink your soup before it gets cold,” Walter said when he sufficiently recovered from his lover’s kiss.

“Yes, sir,” Alex replied and did as he was ordered.

Later that night as they settled in their great bed, their conversation continued.

“Alexi?”

“Yes, moya lyubov.”

“The ones who have been touched and changed by them, are you all immortal now?”

“There is no immortality. I can be killed, and eventually all things die, Walter. We just take a little longer than most.”

“And Scully?”

“She’s been altered to some degree. Besides, if I know Mulder they exchange body fluids frequently. That will afford Scully a lifetime of protection against aging,” Alex said as he barked out a laugh.

“You mean it’s transferrable?” Walter asked, stunned at the implication.

“Haven’t you ever questioned why those of us who survived have chosen to live in remote parts of the country or in seclusion?”

“I never gave it much thought until now. I thought it was in reaction to the violence we all survived. We all sought out areas of quiet and calm.”

“That’s partly true. But there’s also less of a chance to pass on whatever we have to the unsuspecting.”

“It sounds like an STD.”

“Something like that but it’s not fatal, quite the opposite.”

“Somehow I’m not that comforted.” Alex patted Walter on the arm. “Oh my God!” Walter said when the realization finally dawned on him.

“I’ve been careful, Walter, and you usually top,” Alex said in anticipation of Walter’s next question. “I thought I’d give you a choice. You’d stay the way you are now, maybe grow back some hair, on your head,” Alex qualified his last statement. “You have enough everywhere else, my hairy bear.”

Walter snorted. “I’d still bleed red?”

“You saw it for yourself, didn’t you?” Walter nodded. “Think of it as a flu shot, Walter. A little dose now and then keeps the doctor away or in our case, the mortician.”

“Couldn’t you use a better analogy than that?”

“Breast milk?” Alex snickered.

“That’s quite enough, Agent Krycek,” Walter said automatically.

“Old habits sure die hard, don’t they, sir?”

“So do you, apparently,” Walter said as he gratefully held his lover’s hand tight. “Alexi, please don’t ever do that again to me, my heart can’t take it.”

“I’ll keep that in mind the next time a building filled with kids decides to explode.”

“Ratbastard.”

“I love you too, Walter.”

“Speaking of love, I want to make love with you, if you’re up to it.”

“I’m up, Walter, I’m up,” Alex chuckled as he took Walter’s hand and placed it on his burgeoning cock.

“I can see that, or rather, I can feel that. Are you sure I won’t hurt you?”

“You can never truly hurt me, Walter. It’s not in your nature. But would it make you feel better if I was on top tonight?”

“Maybe, just be careful, Alexi. You're still weak, I don't want you to hurt yourself,” Walter whispered.

“I’m always careful, love, unless you don’t want me to be.”

“What are you offering?”

“A lifetime of love, Walter,” Alex whispered in the dark.

“Then I accept,” Walter whispered back as he opened his arms, his heart and his body for his lover.

-end-

 

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