Title: Night Stalker
Author: Spendergirl
Feedback: Yes please!
Email: mfiles1013@yahoo.com
Archive: Sure.  Just tell me where if other than COX or XFC.
Rating: PG-13  (for the occasional bad word)
Spoilers: Not really anything big that I could attribute to any
episode.
Summary: Scully has a stalker.
Disclaimer: I do not own Moose (Mulder) and Squirrel (Scully).  I also
do not own Boris (Krycek) and Natasha (Skinner).  I don't own any of
their playmates either.  Chris does.
Dedication: This one is for my buds at the Church of X.  You guys know
why.  ;O)


Note: When I began this story, I didn't really think about ratings or
spoilers.  Please be aware that the rating and spoilers were designated
after this story was finished.  Also, I just couldn't resist putting
Natasha and Skinner together.  Please forgive me.  Enjoy!




Night Stalker



August 4, 1999

	The pictures covered the walls, floor, and ceiling.  Mulder stood
looking at them for the longest time.  There were pictures of the
Hoover Building, her apartment, his apartment, even the Reflecting
Pool.  And of course, she was in all of them.  Her red hair was like a
halo around her head.  A cloud of sunshine.
	For Mulder, these pictures were sickening.  They symbolized the
monster that now held his partner.  She had disappeared five days ago
after a rather bad day at the office.  Skinner had railed at the both
of them for Mulder's screw-ups.  Neither one of them had even seen that
Scully was spaced out.
	Mulder felt rather than heard someone approach him.  He looked over
his shoulder and prepared himself for what he felt was inevitable. 
While waiting for his "stalker" to blow up, Mulder pulled a picture off
the wall.  Scully was in front of the Reflecting Pool staring at
someone.  It had probably been him.  Mulder smiled.
	"So? what is this?"
	"Sir, THIS is why Scully has been so distant lately.  We think that
the stalker is a white male about thirty-five years old.  He is a loner
who has fixated for some reason on Scully."
	"Mulder? what is this?  The actual answer you want to give me."
	"Hell."
	Mulder turned around to look Skinner in the face.  The older man had a
look of disgust on his face as he looked at the picture-covered room. 
Mulder took one last look at the picture in his hand before giving it
to Skinner and walking out of the room.  Skinner looked at the picture
before placing it in his breast pocket.  He turned slowly and followed
Mulder out of the room.


July 4, 1999

	Scully walked out to her mother's mailbox.  It figured that her mom
had been too busy getting ready for today's party to get yesterday's
mail.  Scully opened the rectangular box and pulled out four envelopes.
 Two of the envelopes were bills from credit companies.  Another was
from Bill.  The fourth however was blank.  It had no postmark or return
address.  Scully placed all four envelopes under her arm and returned
to the house.
	Maggie walked out of the kitchen with Charlie at her heels just as
Scully closed the front door.  Charlie placed an iced tea on the dinner
table and sat down to write a few postcards.  Scully quickly stuffed
the blank envelope in the back of her jeans.  She thought about having
the Gunmen take a look at it before she even told her mother about it.
	Maggie took the remaining three envelopes from her daughter and
carried them into the kitchen.  Charlie looked up from his postcards
long enough to notice Scully climb the stairs and slam a door.  Charlie
just shrugged and continued writing.
	Scully closed her bedroom door and sat on the bed.  She had the blank
envelope in her hands.  She picked up the phone and dialed a familiar
number.  She waited through the answering machine's message before
punching in her three-digit code.  After two rings someone picked up
the phone.
	"First, turn off the recorder."
	"Ah!  The luscious Agent Scully!"
	"Frohike, get Langley on the phone.  I need to ask him a question."
	"Sure.  Just a minute."
	Scully placed the envelope in her lap and waited for Langley to come
to the phone.  She began to poke the envelope.  She noticed then that
the contents were smaller that the envelope itself.  She considered
hanging up and driving up to the Gunmen's office with the envelope. 
Langley's voice pulled her out of her thoughts instantly.
	"What do you need?"
	"Langley, what would you do with an unmarked envelope that arrived at
your mother's house the day before a holiday?"
	"Well, I would definitely not open it."
	"I already thought of that."
	"What does it look like Scully?"
	"It's a security envelope."
	"Can I bring Byers in on this?"
	"Sure."
	Scully heard a click on the line followed by Byers voice.  She then
heard Langley hang up.
	"So, tell me what the contents feel like Dana."
	"Whatever is in it is smaller than the envelope.  It is relatively
thick.  I would guess pictures of some kind."
	"What's the outside like?"
	"Wait.  Where did Langley go?"
	"He's coming up.  Answer the question Dana."
	"It is totally blank Byers!  There is no stamp.  There are no
addresses.  There's no postmark.  It would seem as if the envelope was
put in the mailbox."
	"Okay.  Langley is coming up for the envelope.  If you want to come
back with him, feel free to.  Do you have any idea who the letter is
for?"
	"No.  Should I open it Byers?"
	"I wouldn't.  But that's never stopped you or Mulder before."
	"I would say it hasn't.  I'll come back with Langley but the envelope
will be open."


July 5, 1999

	Scully had waited this long to open the letter.  According to Byers,
she could wait a little longer.  Byers wanted Langley to be with her,
but she wanted to endanger only one person.  She had taken the letter
to the park near her mother's house so she wouldn't be bothered by
anyone.
	She slowly peeled open the envelope and peeked inside.  She had been
right.  There were pictures inside.  A thin piece of paper was also
inside.  Scully looked in the direction of a child's scream hoping the
child was okay.  After waiting a few moments, she pulled the paper out
of the envelope.  It smelled faintly like peaches and was light pink in
color.  Scully unfolded the paper and read it's simple statement.  It
said hello.
	Scully cautiously pulled the pictures from the envelope.  She slowly
went through them shocked at what they depicted.  All fourteen pictures
were of her.  The settings were all different unlike her companions,
but she was in all of them.  They looked like they had been taken from
a distance away.  It was almost as if someone was following her.
	She quickly stuffed the pictures in the envelope and picked up her
cell phone.  She dialed Langley's number hoping to catch him.  She did.
	"Langley, it's me."
	"Scully, what is it?  Did another one come?"
	"No.  I brought it to my mother.  She gets these from the church all
of the time.  We opened it.  It was a schedule for garage sales
sponsored by church members.  It was nothing after all."
	"All right Scully.  Don't hesitate to call again."
	"No problem."
	Scully hung up and stood up.  She began the walk back to her mother's
house.  It was probably just some prank.  No need to get concerned.  No
need to get Mulder involved at all.


August 5, 1999

	Skinner pounded on the door of the apartment.  He was getting very
angry with his employee.  Mulder had locked himself away in his office
with a file of pictures taken from the crime scene.  No one had seen
him take it, but Skinner knew who had taken the file.  He thought he
heard a sound behind the door.  A soft click was followed by the
opening of the door.
	Skinner didn't wait for Mulder to let him in.  He just shoved past
Mulder into the apartment.  Mulder's living room was dark.  The floor
was littered with the pictures of Scully.  Skinner knelt down and
picked one up.  It was the same one on his desk at home.  It was a copy
of the one Mulder had given him.
	"There was another copy of this one?"
	"There were multiple copies of all of them.  I took the file."
	"I know.  Why?"
	"I'm a profiler.  If I can become him, I can find him.  And her."
	"What can you tell me?"
	"It's someone who's been following her for a long time.  Possibly
years.  The white male thing still applies of course.  I would also say
that our stalker has met her.  He has talked with her.  He knows her. 
I feel he's obsessed with her but not to the point of endangering her
or us."
	"Who?"
	"Me and you."
	"What do you mean by that?"
	"Take a look at all of the pictures.  He feels he knows her personal
life.  He just might.  The only other people in these photos are the
two of us."
	"Is that something important?"
	"I would say yes.  It looks as if he chose certain times to capture
her image.  Times when she was with us.  He probably has sent copies to
her.  The fact that we are also in the pictures shows her that we can't
stop him.  We are just as helpless as she is.  It may also signify how
he met her."
	"What does that mean?"
	"One of us introduced them."
	"Shit."
	"My sentiments exactly sir."


August 5, 1999

	Scully began pacing the room.  She had run away from her apartment and
her job only to be caught by what she was running away from.  He had
grabbed her in an alley near Mulder's apartment.  Mulder.  He would
think my luck was shitty if he only knew who my stalker was.  If he
only knew I had one.
	Scully had been shocked but not truly scared when her stalker revealed
himself.  He was acting as if he had never meant to grab her off the
street.  He kept muttering incoherently about some book.  Maybe it was
Kidnapping for Dummies.  Scully chuckled as she continued pacing the
room.
	He kept asking her if she liked the dcor of her room.  No.  She
didn't.  She had to stare at all of his pictures of her.  She had
figured out early on that Skinner and Mulder were involved somehow. 
Otherwise, why have them with her in the pictures.  She only wondered
why her stalker was focused on the three of them.
	"D? a? n? a"
	"What?"
	He walked up to her after closing the door.  He had more pictures for
her to look at.  He dropped them on the floor and backed away from her.
 The hate in her eyes could've killed the Cancerman if Mulder was right
about her eyes being weapons.  She sat down on the floor and began
sorting through the pictures.  They were of the last room she'd been
in.  The pictures were still on the walls but there were people in the
foreground.  She gasped when she recognized them.  They were Mulder and
Skinner.
	"Glad to see them Dana?"
	"Whatever."
	Scully tossed the photos across the room and waited for her captor to
leave.  He eventually did after waiting for her to thank him for the
photos.  The second he closed the door, Scully was tearing through the
pictures he had brought her.  She found one she hadn't hoped to find. 
It showed both Mulder and Skinner's faces looking lost and disgusted. 
She smiled.  They were probably looking at her.


July 7, 1999

	Scully picked up the office mail from the mail room.  The mail guys
had stopped delivering mail to the basement weeks ago.  She hoped it
was because Mulder was too scary and not because they had found dead
rats in the area.  She walked the short trip to the elevator and got on
just as Skinner was getting off.  They banged heads as difficult as
that was.  Skinner picked up the mail she had dropped and mumbled
something.
	Scully waited for the doors to close and punched the key marked with a
green "S."  It was Colton's idea of a joke.  Hit "S" for Spooky's
basement horror show.  She and Mulder enjoyed the joke because it was
so stupidly obvious who had perpetrated the prank.  She was relieved
however when the elevator came to a stop on her floor.  She got off and
walked to the office.
	Mulder was already there going through his weekend email.  Scully made
a mental note to go through hers too.  Mulder grunted something and
pointed at the in spot on his desk.  Scully dropped the mail on his
desk and waited for him to go through it.  Mulder slowly sifted through
it before saying anything.
	"This for you Scully?"
	Mulder held a blank envelope in his hand.  He waved it loosely in the
air before tossing it toward her area.  Scully let the envelope hit the
floor before she touched it.  Mulder watched her pick it up and place
it in her inbox.
	"So what is it Scully?"
	"Something for my mother.  She couldn't pick it up so she had it sent
here."
	"But Scully, there's no address.  How did it get here?"
	"Church messengers."
	"Oh."
	"Mulder, I've got a brunch date with my brother.  Can you cover for
me?"
	"Sure.  Have fun."
	Mulder stared at Scully for a few more seconds before shifting his
attention back to his email.  Scully picked up the blank letter and
grabbed her bag from the only other chair in the office.  She dropped
her cell phone on the desk and left the office.  Mulder never looked
up.


Later that day?

	Scully arrived at her apartment and locked the door to prevent Mulder
from coming in.  He was still at the office but who knew when he would
notice she didn't have her cell phone.  Scully took her phone off the
hook and put the blank envelope on the table.  She sat down and stared
at it without thinking of opening it.  This was the third envelope in
as many days.
	She decided to stop prolonging the torment and opened the envelope. 
The same peach smelling paper was inside.  There were also more
pictures.  The first envelope had been meant for her know this person
was watching.  The second envelope was put together to allow her to see
that Mulder couldn't stop this person.  This envelope had pictures from
various times of Skinner and her.
	The time span was quite large.  Some pictures were clearly two or
three years old.  Others looked like they had been taken recently. 
Scully recognized only one.  It had been taken two months ago.  It was
a picture of Scully facing Skinner down in the psych ward.  That had
been shortly before Mulder had been released.
	The pink paper said, "He can't stop me.  He doesn't want to."


August 6, 1999

	The ceiling was covered with her face.  Her frozen face.  Skinner was
lying on the floor looking up at her.  He knew who was doing this.  He
also knew that he would have to die to stop it.  Mulder thought that it
was some freak from Quantico.  Yeah right.  Mulder has no idea how
close he is.  Mulder also didn't know that Skinner had received a blank
envelope this morning.
	The pictures inside were new ones.  She was surrounded by miniatures
of her face.  He could even make out small pictures of both him and
Mulder.  She looked almost resigned to her fate.  To her circumstance. 
Mulder was positive that he was the only one who could find out who was
haunting her.  He was wrong.  Skinner could too.  But could he risk his
life to stop it?  Skinner hadn't decided yet.
	He heard his apartment door open.  He continued staring at her face
while Mulder took a seat on his couch.  He heard Mulder sigh.  Skinner
turned to look at him before sitting up.
	"These are new?"
	"Yeah Mulder, they are."
	"Where did you find them?"
	"My front porch this morning."
	"He sent them to you?"
	"He's taunting me."
	"Why?"
	Mulder stared Skinner down hoping to make sense of this new
development.  Skinner flinched after following Mulder's gaze to the
ceiling.  Skinner was mad.  Really mad.  No one had any right to make
him choose.  His life or Scully's.
	"Why would he taunt you sir?"
	"Because I know who did this."
	"What!  Who?"
	"You're worse nightmare."
	"You have no idea what monsters I see in my dreams.  Who is it?"
	"Just let me handle it Mulder.  I am the only one who can stop this. 
I am the only one who can make the choice."
	"Is this about you?"
	"No.  I'm just a bonus.  He's still focused on her.  He needs her."
	"Fine.  Just don't expect me to walk away.  I will not abandon
Scully."
	"I'm not asking you to."


July 8, 1999

	"Scully!  Guess where we're going?"
	"I'll take door number three Mulder for the new washing machine."
	"Wrong.  We are being sent to Dallas for a case!"
	"Yahoo, Dallas again."
	"Oh come on Scully.  It wasn't that bad."
	"Mulder, need I remind you that we were blamed for a terrorist
bombing, found an alien virus, and ended up halfway around the world
the last time we were in Dallas?"
	"No.  But I thought we could try again."
	"For what Mulder?  You want another chance at Antarctica?"
	"Of course.  I didn't get to see much the last time I was there.  I
forgot the travel guide near that southern glacier."
	Scully rolled her eyes and signed off her computer.  Mulder gave her a
questioning look  and sat on the corner of his desk.  Mulder then
pulled out a file and plane tickets.
	"We are leaving in exactly twelve hours.  Skinner wants us to debunk
this one.  I agree with him.  Even I wouldn't believe this."
	"Believe what?"
	"It's like the Great Mutato meets Reticulans with a little Tooms
thrown in for good measure.  Abductions, weird babies, and
disemboweling.  Great family fun."
	"If you don't believe it, why are we going?"
	"Beats me.  Skinner threw this at me for no good reason.  He's
probably sick of spying on us in the office and needs to justify his
large spy-guy budget."
	Mulder waggled his eyebrows and crossed his eyes.  Scully was trying
her best not to laugh at his flagrant display of immaturity.  Mulder
dropped the file in Scully's lap and packed up his desk.  Scully slowly
perused the file while sipping at what was left of her morning coffee. 
A piece of colorful language from Mulder's direction caused her to look
up.
	"Scully, here's another one of those church things."
	Scully's face was impassive as she held the envelope in her hands. 
Mulder watched her quietly from his desk area.  He could tell she
wasn't happy to see that envelope.  For one second he wished that he
had never given her that letter.  He wished he had opened it.  Scully
looked almost scared.


July 9, 1999

	The plane had taken off smoothly.  Scully watched Mulder fall asleep
within seconds of the takeoff.  She was nervous.  This time though it
wasn't about the flight.  It was about her stalker.  This time the
envelope had pictures of her in her apartment.  The paper said, "I've
heard Dallas is a nice city."  He knew where she was at all times. 
Scully was terrified.
	She had actually considered telling Mulder.  But she quickly realized
that he would only jump the gun and get himself hurt.  What Scully
needed was an open mind.  She had finally decided to tell Langley what
was going on.  She had also decided to make him swear to keep it to
himself.  Scully was planning on calling Ringo as soon as she landed in
Dallas.
	Mulder was sleeping quietly when a stewardess approached Scully.  The
stewardess simply stated that a fellow passenger had asked her to relay
this letter to one Agent Scully.  Was she Agent Scully?  Scully showed
her some ID and took the letter from the stewardess' hand.
	The envelope was blank.  Her squeal was loud enough to wake Mulder up
from his untroubled slumber.
	"Damn Scully.  What the hell?"
	"What?"
	"Scully, you made an unusual sound.  Why?"
	"No reason."
	Mulder stared at Scully hoping to cause her to break down, but the
redhead held her ground.  He finally gave up and turned away from her. 
He knew he had to find out what was bothering her and soon.  Before she
lost it.  Before he lost her.  His head still occasionally picked up
stuff on the ESP bandwidth.  He knew that Scully's problems has
something to do with those damn letters.  For her mother his ass.


August 8, 1999

	Skinner was sitting in his office when Mulder barged in.  Skinner
looked up at Mulder and sighed.  He waited for Mulder to begin his
tirade against whomever had ticked him off.  To say Mulder looked angry
was amazingly subtle.  He was red in the face and looked like he was
drunk.
	"Sir."
	"What is it Agent Mulder?"
	"Scully told Langley."
	"She told who what?"
	"Langley knows she had a stalker.  I just came from his place."
	"What did you do to him?"
	"He hasn't seen anything yet."
	"What did he have to say?"
	"Scully got the first letter on July 4.  She was at her mother's. 
Letters have been arriving everyday since then.  There are always notes
with the letters as well as pictures."
	"How does he know this?"
	"She called Byers and Langley on the fourth.  Langley was going to
come get her and bring the letter to Byers.  She told him a damn lie. 
The same lie she told me and her family."
	"A church message right?"
	"Yes.  How did you know?"
	"I got a phone call last night.  It was Dana."


Evening of August 7, 1999

	"Sir?"
	"Scully!"
	"Sir."
	"Where the hell are you?"
	"I don't know."
	"How did you get to a phone?"
	"He gave it to me."
	"Who is it Dana?  Tell me."
	"I can't.  Trust me though.  You guys know him."
	"Has he tried to? well??"
	"No sir.  He has been giving me more pictures though.  He's following
the two of you.  No!"
	"Dana?  Dana!"
The dial-tone on the phone blared in Skinner's ear.  Skinner knew that
her captor got ticked that she told him to watch out.  He knew he was
right about who Scully's stalker was.  Now all that was left was to
find him.  If he was following Mulder, he had to be in the DC area. 
That also meant Scully was in the area.
	Skinner laid the phone on its cradle and grabbed his cell phone.  It
was time he went to see Byers and Langley.  It was also time to tell
Mulder the truth.  Before it was too late for Scully.


July 12, 1999

	The case was closed after Mulder found proof of a hoax the size of
Texas itself.  The families involved were charged with criminal
endangerment and fraud.  Even the deaths were fraudulent.  Scully has
slowly crawled inside of herself and had avoided being in public for
the last day and a half.  Mulder was starting to get really worried. 
Normally Scully was the first one to crawl out of danger and pronounce
him wrong.  Now, she was nowhere to be found.
	Mulder had called Maggie hoping to find out if Bill had been in town
when Scully had been home.  No dice.  Whatever was bugging her had
nothing to do with her family.  Mulder had noticed that Scully had
avoided picking up any messages left for her at the hotel.  So he
decided to get them for her.
	At the admit desk, the manager handed him six envelopes.  All six were
blank and felt rather thick.  Mulder considered taking one of them and
opening it but decided that the wrath he would suffer for that wasn't
worth it.  He chose to bring all six to Scully's room instead.
	Mulder lightly tapped on Scully's door and waited for her to open the
door.  When she didn't, he pulled out his extra door passcard and
opened it.  The room was dark and no one was in it so Mulder left the
letters on the desk.  He took one last look around the room and left.
	After the door closed, Scully came out of the bathroom.  She surveyed
the room looking for anything odd.  She saw the desk and threw a table
lamp at the letters.  She ran to the bathroom cabinet and pulled on
some plastic gloves.  She dropped the envelopes in her purse and
grabbed her passcard.  She left the room and headed downtown for the
local Bureau office.
	It was time to get some fingerprints from this shit.  She arrived
twenty minutes later and immediately headed for the head honcho's
office.  She spent five minutes demanding access to their lab in town
and left after getting what she wanted.  She hailed a cab and set off
for the local lab.
	Upon her arrival, she grabbed a technician to perform the tests.  They
dusted the letters and took six prints.  They printed them and ran them
through Washington.  Scully spent four hours waiting for results.  The
technician who had helped her brought out the results.  Scully dropped
to the ground after reading the results.
	"Dear God.  It's Mulder."


August 10, 1999

	Skinner followed Mulder to the office and back during the day.  Mulder
had no idea anyone was tailing him.  Damn he was stupid.  Skinner kept
close contact with his tail.  Byers was watching closely and caught
sight of a photographer six times during the day.  Based on his
description, Skinner knew it was time to give up the info.  Mulder had
to know.
	Skinner caught up with Mulder at his apartment and invited himself in.
 Mulder offered him a drink, but he didn't need one.  It would be
Mulder who would be drunk by evening's end.  Skinner sat down on the
couch and began his tale.
	"Mulder, I know I've kept you in the dark regarding my suspicions
about the stalker.  I had my reasons.  I needed to be sure before I
made my choice.  You see, the cost that I have to pay for Dana's life
is high.  The cost for my own life is high."
	"So.  What do you know?"
	"I know who did this.  Byers helped me get an ID on him today.  This
man is controlling my life.  I risk my life by telling you this, but
for Dana's sake, I am taking that risk.  The man who infected me has
taken her.  Infected me with that damn disease I died from earlier this
year.  It was later held over my head when you were ill.  I had no
choice but to spy on you and prevent Scully from seeing you in the
hospital."
	"Who did this to the two of you?"
	"It was Alex."
	"Alex Krycek?"
	"Yes.  Alex has Dana.  I am the only one who can stop him.  If you
try, he'll kill you and then kill me.  By taking him on, I'm saving
your life.  I know he's in the DC area.  I know he has Dana with him."
	"Where?"
	"I have feelers out.  I haven't heard back yet but I know I will have
an address by tomorrow morning."
	"Let me help you.  I can cover you.  Maybe I can stop him from making
you sick again."
	"You're not faster than the push of a button Mulder.  Stay away.  Keep
Dana safe.  Beg her forgiveness for our ignorance.  Just keep her
safe."
	"Sir, I can't let you do this."
	"I thought you would say that."
	Skinner reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys.  He stood up
grabbed his gun and hit Mulder over the head.  He opened Mulder's door
and left.  Mulder just didn't understand.  He had to do this alone.  Or
Scully would never trust him again.


July 31, 1999

	"So let me get this straight.  Somehow on a case later deemed to be a
hoax, you lost a total of three cell phones, a pair of Gucci pumps, a
pair of glasses, and six Bic pens."
	"Yes sir.  We did," Mulder tried his best not to smile as Skinner
railed on him and Scully about their expense report.  He turned to
sneak a look at Scully.  She was staring at the wall above Skinner's
head.  She looked interested but wasn't listening.  He could tell.
	"Agent Mulder!  You may be finished, but I am not!  I will not
tolerate being ignored!"
	"I'm sorry sir."
	"Good!  Now Agent Scully, do you have anything to say about this
expense report?"
	"What?  Oh.  No sir.  I have no arguments with Agent Mulder's write up
of the case."
	Skinner sat silently for a moment while Mulder flinched openly. 
Skinner looked confused and Mulder felt very scared.  Skinner chose to
ignore Scully's apparent lack of attention and refocused his attention
on Mulder.
	"Agent Mulder, this expense report is unacceptable.  I order you to
rethink your report and have a revised copy on my desk tomorrow
morning."
	"Yes sir.  Tomorrow morning sir."
	"I didn't ask for sarcasm Mulder."
	"Sorry. Honestly."


Later that night?

	Scully unplugged the phone jack and turned off all the lights.  She
pulled the shades and picked up her suitcase.  She opened the door and
set the case in the hall.  She turned off her cell phone and threw it
on her couch.  At first she had wanted to leave without telling Mulder.
 Now she knew he would blow things out of proportion if she didn't.
	So, she jumped in a cab and took off for Mulder's apartment.  When the
cab finally pulled up in front of the building, Scully asked the driver
to wait and got out.  The cab driver had missed the building by about
six feet, and she was forced to walk past an alleyway.  Halfway across
the alley, Scully noticed the cab appeared further away.  She turned
around to walk back when she felt an arm around her waist.  She tried
to scream but felt something hit her skull.  She blacked out instantly
and fell into the waiting arm of her stalker.
	He waved to the cab, and the driver took off.  The man then half
dragged, half carried Scully to his car hidden in the alley.  Cars
doors slammed and headlights came on halfway down the alley.  The car
peeled out of the little street and headed out of the area.  Just like
that, Scully was gone.
	The car eventually pulled up to a motel near the highway.  The room
had already been decorated with hundreds of pictures of Scully.  There
were ones with her at home, at Mulder's , and even one at Skinner's. 
They all showed Scully facing the camera looking at someone off camera.
 The stalker dragged Scully into the room and laid her on the bed.  He
sat down and waited for morning.


August 11, 1999

	Mulder waited impatiently for Skinner to leave his home.  Mulder had
woken up around four this morning with a headache the size of? well?
the size of something huge.  It still hurt too much to think so Mulder
decided to leave that metaphor uncompleted.
	His cell phone rang.  Mulder hit the receive button and waited.  It
was Byers.  Mulder had ordered him to call him with info this morning
just like he had ordered Langley to give him info on Scully.  Byers was
probably still a little sore.
	"Mulder."
	"It's me.  I just called him.  He should be leaving any minute now. 
In case you lose him he's going to the Sleep EZ near the highway.  A
man matching Krycek's description was seen there with a redhead.  Be
careful Mulder.  I think neither Skinner nor Krycek will tolerate your
meddling."
	"Whatever Byers.  Oh, by the way, I wanted to recommend a good
aspirin."
	"Shut up Mulder."
	Byers hung up freeing Mulder to watch the building's front door. 
Skinner left the building about five minutes later and hailed a cab. 
Mulder turned on his car and followed the cab.  Within ten minutes,
Mulder had lost track of the cab so he took off for the motel on his
own.  He hoped he would get there before Skinner did.


Meanwhile?

	Krycek dropped more pictures on the floor.  Scully had already guessed
that she was being held somewhere near DC based upon the developing
times.  Figure one hour Photo Drop and about two hours to take the
pictures.  She had to be within six hours of the city.  She watched
Krycek sit down in the corner and pull out a palm computer.
	"Dana.  Do you know what this is?"
	"It's a computer dumbass."
	"Now, now Dana.  Let's not be cruel."
	"What do you want from me?"
	"Well, this is personal.  I want you.  I also get a bonus from this
situation.  An operative of mine has become less than useful.  It's
time to cut him loose.  This helps me do that without calling too much
attention to his death."
	"Who is it?"
	"Seeing as things have progressed so far between us, I think I will
tell you.  Have you noticed anyone other than me watching you?"
	"Yes.  Mulder thinks Skinner is spying on us."
	"He's right.  Skinner works for me.  But don't worry Dana.  He's not
doing it willingly.  I have his life in my hands.  Literally."
	Scully watched Krycek put the computer on the floor.  He looked
dangerous.  It was almost like a predator ready to pounce on its prey. 
She had the sickening feeling that she was the prey.  Surely enough,
Krycek came closer to her.
	"You know Dana, I really can protect you.  Why do you think I brought
you back?"
	"Brought me back?"
	Krycek pulled even closer.  He reached out his hand and touched her
cheek.  She cringed and pulled back from him.  She hit the wall knowing
she could go no further.
	"From Skyland Mountain.  I gave Duane the address.  And I brought you
to the hospital weeks later."
	"You son of a bitch!"
	Scully leapt at him and shoved him to the ground.  She tried to wrench
his prosthetic from his shoulder so she could use it as a weapon.  She
failed miserably.  Krycek somehow flipped her so she lay on her back
looking up at him.  Although she could easily turn the tide, she
didn't.  It was better to lower his guard first.
	He let go of her wrist and kneeled above her.  His hand reached
forward to her hair and lazily twirled it around his fingers.  She
tried not to be sick as he touched her face and neck.  But she couldn't
hold back when he leaned in to kiss her.
	Scully threw all of her strength into her arm.  She hit him across the
face and rolled to her right.  Krycek fell easily, and Scully raced for
the door.  She found it locked from the outside.  Someone was helping
Krycek keep her here.  She turned to see if she could reach that
computer.  It was heavy enough to hurt him if not knock him
unconscious.
	Without warning, Krycek grabbed her.  She tried to push him away, but
he held on tight to her waist.  She felt his tongue dart across the
back of her neck.  She screamed and shoved her head backwards.  A loud
crack sounded through the room.  It didn't come from Scully's head like
Krycek thought.  It was coming from the door.
	The door splintered, and Skinner stepped through it.  He saw Krycek
holding Scully and pulled his gun.  Krycek wrapped his hand around
Scully's throat and squeezed.  Scully whimpered and tried to pull his
hand from her throat.  Skinner raised his gun higher.
	A window shattered and Mulder fell through it.  He knelt on the floor
and pulled his gun.  Krycek spun around and caused Scully to lose her
footing.  Scully let out a groan and tried to stand up.  She couldn't
before Skinner fired his weapon.  She landed in a heap with Krycek. 
Within seconds she was covered in blood.  
	Both Mulder and Skinner thought Skinner had missed.  But Scully pulled
herself up from Krycek's body.  She slowly backed away into Skinner's
arms.  She took one look at Krycek and passed out.  Mulder searched for
a pulse but couldn't find one.  Krycek was dead.  Skinner dropped his
weapon and pulled Scully against him.  He lifted her up and started out
the door.
	Mulder looked around the room at the pictures on the wall.  He saw a
dark object in the corner and approached it.  It was a palm computer. 
It was running a program called skvirus.  Mulder pulled the file menu
open and exited the program.  He then deleted it.  It was finally over.


The End

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hope you enjoyed my latest story.  Have a nice day!

Megan
Spendergirl


===
Good Spenders never die.  They just fade away!
"The thrill is gone."
"Shut up Mulder."
"It's a fat-free rice dreamsicle."
"I like Hike."
"I can't decide who lights my fire."