Double Indemnity
Round Three

Whimpering, Anson struggled to escape the nightmares. He thought they would all end when he found his brother again. Alex had always protected him. His earliest memories were of lying in their bed, sucking each other's thumbs. But Alex didn't seem to remember him. Anson knew it was the evil man, the man who had taken Alex away.

Waking, Anson was sure that he knew the answer. The bastard hadn't stayed dead. Perhaps it was just another of Anson's dreams that he had killed him. When he was little, he had dreamed over and over that Papa wasn't really dead. When the man that Mother had married had Anson trapped in the bathroom, Papa would smash through the door with his fireman's ax. When Papa struck the man, he broke into little pieces and then Papa would push Mother away and she would break up too. Of course, Alex was waiting outside with his hand reaching for Anson. Then everything was all right. That was the good dream.

The bad dream was that Anson couldn't find the gun and his mother didn't come into the bathroom. Gigantic the man reached for him and Anson grew smaller and smaller. Just as the huge hand grasped Anson, he always woke, but the terror sent him screaming.

Lying in bed, Anson heard the sounds coming from the next room. He felt as if he should go and rescue his brother, but he was too afraid. He lay awake in terror, fearing that when Agent Mulder was done with Alex that he would come into the bedroom where Anson slept.

Finally, sobs erupted from Anson's chest. He wanted Alex in this bed with him, wanted it so badly.

~~

Alex moaned softly. He felt the chaos of emotions; fear, loneliness and grief pull him deeper and deeper into a chasm. Despite the warmth of Mulder beside him, he couldn't recapture the happiness.

Alex found Mulder's hand possessively lying over his naked stomach. He gently slipped from beneath the claiming hand and stood. He could hear Anson crying. As hard as Alex tried to ignore the sobs, they pricked at his nerves. He managed to get out of bed without waking Mulder. His new lover groaned and reached out for him, but, encountering Alex's still warm pillow, he frowned and captured that. Just great, that was probably a hint as to how easy it would be for Mulder to move on from his promises.

Glancing warily at Mulder, not wanting to wake him both for sentimental reasons and the ghost of fear. He couldn't believe that Mulder wouldn't turn on him.

Yes, Mulder had been tender, passionate, and loving, but now he was satisfied. He had what he wanted and there was no longer any reason for him to be kind. That was just the way life was. Alex had learned that you pay for all the good things sooner or later.

Padding barefoot, Alex collected his arm from the basket and dug through until he found clean clothing. He didn't want to face his twin naked. He listened as he walked toward the bedroom. The sobs had quieted and Alex wondered if Anson had gone to sleep. It troubled him to feel so responsible for this unstable clone of himself. It was almost as if Anson was right and they were twins as he said they were.

It was so confusing. Alex couldn't penetrate the fog that separated him from his life before Spender took him. His earliest memory was proudly showing the man his schoolwork and hearing Spender say, "Mulder was two grades ahead of you at the same age as you are now."

In reality, Alex should have hated Mulder. Spender always threw the man in his face. Fox could do this and Fox could do that.

Alex thought that betraying Mulder was going to be the easiest assignment in his life. Instead, the moment he saw Mulder, he wanted him more than anything he had ever wanted in his life. Standing there in that miserable ill-fitting suit, Alex would have knelt in the middle of the bullpen and taken Mulder's cock any way the agent would have wanted him to do it.

Now, Alex had what he had always longed for. It was wonderful and, although he knew that something was bound to happen to ruin it, he would never forget Mulder's kisses or Mulder's lovemaking. Not even if the Consortium caught him and flayed away his skin an inch at the time.

By the time that Alex had reached the small guest bedroom, Anson had managed to disable the alarm and was vanishing out the window. Without thinking, Alex silently went after his twin, climbing down the rusted fire escape as his twin scuttled toward the street.

OooOooO

When he heard the sound of someone behind him, Anson ran faster. As he reached the ground, he glanced about like a frightened rabbit. He was still fast and had quickly recovered from the slack muscle tone from his long period of cationic sleep. Mulder had thrown the keys on the counter. Anson figured he was in such a big hurry to get into bed with Alex that he didn't think twice about being so careless. However, Anson quickly saw that the car wasn't on the street. He spotted the garage entrance and vaulted the swinging rail to get inside.

Anson had started the car and was driving toward the gate when the door was wrenched open. He was relieved to see it was his brother.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" Alex snarled at him.

"Away. I didn't want to have Mulder get in my bed," Anson explained.

"In your bed? Why the hell would he do that?" Alex said. "He had me."

"Mama's husband had her and he still tried to...tried to," Anson said, shivering as he tried to both retrieve and push the memory away at the same instant.

"Mulder isn't like that," Alex said. "He wouldn't want you. He said he loved me."

Anson could hear the doubt creeping into his brother's voice. It made him feel sad for his brother, but Alex should really know the truth. Anson remembered how much he loved his wife. She said that she would be his forever. That was even what their wedding rings said inside. Anson almost laughed as he remembered her flinging her ring at him when she kicked him out. Right. True love...

"Stop the car," Alex said. "Come on, Anson, we can't be seen."

Cool. The doors could be controlled from the driver's side so that only his button could unlock the passenger doors. Anson clicked Alex's shut and pulled into the road.

"Fuck, what are you doing?" Alex asked.

"Making sure you're safe," Anson said. "Me and you, that's the way it's supposed to be. I remember my teacher telling me that if I had a real twin that it would mean that we started out as one cell. We were one being and we belong together."

"I said stop the car," Alex said, reaching over to try to get the keys. Anson jerked the steering wheel got the car on the road. Alex's hand hit the horn as he lost his balance.

Behind them, Anson could see that Mulder was awake and had come looking for them. Anson laughed and sped up, glancing in the rearview mirror at Agent Mulder pursuing them on foot.

'Yeah, right, that will work, Mulder,' Anson thought.

"Let's just go for a drive and talk," Anson said. "We need to talk away from Mulder. Then if you want to go back, fine. We go back to that jerk."

~~

Turning to look behind him at Mulder's stunned and increasing furious face, Alex could have strangled his twin on the spot. He couldn't understand what stopped him from shooting the madman in the head and putting him out of his and Alex's misery. Yet something did. Alex could almost believe that Anson was right. They did have twin empathy. There was no other explanation.

"All right," said Alex. "We can go some place and talk for a while."

Anson looked pleased. He said, "Cool. You have to listen to me, Alex. You may think I'm not right in the head, but I know things you need to know."

"Sure," agreed Alex.

Washington DC was one of the dirtiest cities that Anson ever saw. The hookers of all ages and genders all looked dangerous as hell. He shivered for some reason, without really knowing why.

A boy, who looked very young, stuck his head in the door when Anson parked. "Hey, guys, you wanna party with my sister?"

"Go to hell," Anson said, pulling out again.

Finally, Anson found an all night Wal-Mart and parked in the brightly lit lot. Leaning on the steering wheel, Anson said, "Alex, you have to remember. There's no way you would have forgotten me."

"I don't know," Alex said. "Tell me more about what you remember. Maybe it will trigger something."

OooOooO

Uncomfortable because Anson had parked under a light, Alex watched people come and go, wondering what was so important that they had to shop in the middle of the night. They all looked stressed and worried. He sighed. He bet no one had problems half as serious as Alex did.

Anson said, "The guy I stabbed. Spender. He's our grandfather."

"Bullshit," Alex said. "No way in hell am I related to that old man. You keep saying it, but that doesn't make it true."

"You think I like it?" Anson said. "I wished it wasn't true, but our mother is his daughter. She told me so."

"Makes me want to gag," Alex said. "I don't know if I believe anything you say. I have no reason to trust you."

"You should listen to your heart," Anson replied.

"About you, but not about Mulder?" Alex asked.

"You let him fuck you?" Anson replied with a shudder. "I just can't see it. What do you get out of it? A cock shoved up your ass can't do it for you."

"I like it," Alex said. "From what I saw in your pockets, you've seen some action."

"I don't know what you mean," Anson replied.

His twin seemed to have a bunch of loose connections. Didn't he even know that he had been making his living by hooking? It had been obvious to Alex from the number of supplies in the man's pockets. Nobody needs that many condoms just in the hopes of getting lucky and the packets of lube were the type that only a male streetwalker would need.

Alex snapped, "Anyway, leave my sex life alone, brother. Leave Mulder alone. Now, tell me something that will make me believe you aren't as full of shit as you seem."

Brow furrowing, Anson said, "I've told you everything. Man, they must have turned the current up too high when they gave you shock treatment."

All Alex could think about was Mulder. He finally got through to the man and what happens? Some crazy asshole kidnaps him. Mulder must be thinking that Alex wanted to leave.

"I'm going to call Mulder," Alex said. He grunted with surprise as he realized that he didn't have his mobile phone. Getting out of the car, Alex walked toward the pay phone, reluctant to step into the light, but needing to reassure Mulder that he would be back.

Alex punched in the number and heard Mulder's voice answer, "Who is this?'

"Alex," Alex said. "Listen, Anson was taking off and I decided to go along to calm him down. I think I can persuade him to go back now."

Glancing back at the car, Alex saw Anson standing by the car. Alex said, "I just wanted to call. To tell you..."

Distant sirens made Alex hesitate. He nervously leaned deeper into the slight shelter of the telephone stand. As he did so, he heard a loud commotion. A man and woman erupted from the store, bags of stuff clutched. Store personnel chased behind them.

"Mulder, there's something going on here," Alex said. His instinct was to flee back toward Anson, but he knew that if he ran, that the cops would chase him too when they came. "I'll call you later."

Two police cars screeched into the lot. A man and woman officer jumped out of one. Two very large and very black officers stormed from the other. Trapped between the two teams, the shoplifters tried to jump over cars. With everyone looking at this scene, Alex felt that he could get away. A third team of uniformed officers pulled up in front of the store just as Alex stepped into the row which would lead him to his brother.

Muttering, "Why me? I don't have time for this shit?" Alex calmly strolled toward Anson and the car. He almost reached the vehicle when a voice said, "Hey, you, stop."

Alex kept walking as if this could not possibly be about him.

"You in the leather jacket! Stop!" the officer yelled.

Fuck!

Alex hesitated for a moment. Should he brazen it out?

An excited voice that sounded almost too young to be a cop yelled, "That's the suspect in a homicide! I just read the ABP!"

Damn it, Alex wouldn't have any luck at all, were it not for bad. Deliberately turning away from Anson, Alex darted between rows of cars, running low to avoid being shot. He almost reached the edge of the lot where dense undergrowth might have allowed him to escape when he felt something burn into his left shoulder. The force of the bullet spun him around and he fell to the ground in a twisted heap.

Barely conscious, Alex didn't even feel the force of the foot that turned him over. Suddenly hands roughly searched him.

"The guy's armed," the young officer said.

Alex stared up into the man's face. Fucker looked like a choirboy.

"Mulder," Alex whimpered. "Oh, Mulder, I really screwed up now."

Alex felt dizzy and for one moment, he looked out of his brother's eyes at his own body, sprawled half on the pavement and half on the glass littered ground. He felt Anson's fear and grief. It shocked him at how intense his brother's need of him was. And in that moment, Alex could see it. He could see himself dragged off by Spender, fighting, screaming for his brother and for his dead father. Even as little as he was, he knew it was no use calling for his Mama.

~~

Mulder was now more worried than pissed. His first reaction was that he was wrong about Alex. The man had used him and was now off laughing with that lunatic of a twin.

The call that had ended so abruptly had restored his faith easily, too easily. He hated being this vulnerable to anyone, much less Krycek who he knew was intelligent and wily. Still, Alex's voice had sounded tentative, open, and yearning. Mulder really believed that Alex would come back.

The phone rang again and Mulder grabbed it. He said, "Mulder."

Walter Skinner's voice sounded gleeful. "We have him, Mulder. We have him in custody."

"Who?" Mulder asked.

"Who else? Alex Krycek. A uniformed policeman spotted him in a Wal-Mart parking lot and tried to arrest him. Krycek ran and he shot him," Skinner told Mulder gleefully.

Mulder's knees buckled. He had to grab the edge of the table for support. "Is he dead?"

Maybe it was Anson. It had to be Anson. Alex was too quick and smart for an ordinary cop to catch.

"Sir, how many arms did Alex have?" Mulder asked.

"Eight," Skinner snapped. "What do you think? Krycek has one arm. He still has one arm."

"I'm down at Georgetown. They're about to bring Krycek out of the operating room," Skinner said.

"Then he's alive?" Mulder asked.

"Yes, he's alive and without Spender, I can keep him alive to face trial, for killing that bastard...although he deserves a medal for that, and for every other crime I can lay at his door," Skinner said.

Mulder couldn't blame Walter for feeling the way he did. Krycek had hurt the man and humiliated him. Skinner probably didn't know who he hated worst, Spender or Krycek.

"Walter, listen to what you are saying," Mulder reproved. "You know you are better than that. I don't think Alex did it. I think I can prove that."

"Alex? Since when did he become Alex?" Skinner snapped. "Mulder, you get your ass down here to Georgetown and talk to me."

"Yeah, I will. I just have to get a taxi to pick up a car," Mulder said.

"What happened to your car?" Skinner asked.

"I uh loaned it to a friend," Mulder said.

"That was foolish," Skinner said. "Get over here. Chances are there will still be hit teams after Krycek. You, Scully, and myself are the only ones I trust."

"Thank you, Sir," Mulder said.

"Be careful, Mulder," Skinner said, letting some warmth slip into his voice.

"I will be," Mulder said.

Taking a deep ragged breath before calling a cab, Mulder thought. 'Alex Krycek you may hate me for it, but if I have to deliver your brother to the police tied up on a platter with an apple in his mouth, I will."

~~

Meanwhile, Anson huddled in the car. He didn't know what to do. He froze when he saw his brother shot. Following the ambulance, Anson had watched them carry Alex into the hospital. He couldn't bring himself to enter the place. He hated hospitals more than ever since that fuck-up that ended up with him being caught.

Spotting the bald man who had been with his grandfather, Anson frowned. Maybe if he took that man captive, he could trade him for Alex. Or...

A small woman with red hair ran after the big bald man and he turned to listen to her, face full of respect and affection.

Anson grinned to himself. That was it. He would get the woman with red hair and trade her for his brother.

Settling down to wait, Anson felt almost content. He knew after he saved his brother that Alex would remember him, be grateful, and come with him.

There must be some place in the world where they could be safe, just the two of them, as snug as they were in the womb or in the cradle. Alex could even bring his Mulder if he must, just as long as he slept in Anson's bed just like when they were kids.

If Alex would come with him, Anson was sure that his mind would be right. He wouldn't have the gray outs and the black outs from which he woke, sore, weary, and filthy.

The woman with red hair was very pretty. Anson wished he didn't have to kidnap her. Perhaps if he explained, it would be all right.

A long time passed.

Eventually Mulder came running out of a cab. He was in the door before Anson could decide whether to talk to him. All right, Anson would just keep watching. Eventually, the woman with red hair would come out.

~~

...never a heavy sleeper, Mulder came awake as Alex moved around the room gathering his clothes. At first he started to get angry that Alex should be sneaking off in the middle of the night, then he heard the sobs coming from the guest bedroom and just 'knew' that Alex was putting on some armour before he confronted his doppleganger, because it was something he would have done himself. Yet he felt a frisson of unease, so as soon as Alex was out of sight, Mulder quickly donned the minimal amount of clothes and drifted along in his lover's wake.

Peering round the door of the guest bedroom, he was just in time to see Alex climb out of the window; of Anson there was no sign. Dashing back to the sleeping area, he hurriedly put on his shoes, then followed Alex down the fire escape, but by the time he reached ground level his car was already leaving the garage. With a shout of rage he chased after it, and could see the anguished face of Alex staring back at him. Lack of breath, and the growing gap, finally forced him into giving up the unequal contest. Slowly he returned to the apartment the way he had left, closing the window behind him, considering his options. Would it be better if he were to leave now, or should he wait to see Alex when... if he returned.

He sighed, whatever he did his first priority was to get dressed properly, facing the future rumpled and smelling of sex was definitely not the way the go. Stripping off again, he went into the bathroom, but any pleasure he might have felt using Alex's soap and shaver was quashed by worrying about what might be happening with that crazy man, Anson, stealing his car and driving off with a half-dressed Alex beside him.

Drying himself off he went back to the bedroom. When he was dressed again, he stood in the middle of the living area, wondering what to do next... not quite sure whether he should stay or go... would Alex and Anson be coming back, he hated not knowing what was going on...

Eventually, he decided to wait a while and, for want of something... anything to do, he made himself some coffee and toast for breakfast.

By the time Alex phoned, Mulder had drunk one cup of coffee, but the toast still lay untouched on the plate. After hearing what his lover had to say, Mulder at least *tried* to eat one of the slices, but he was still uneasy about the fact that Alex had had to cut their conversation short because of trouble nearby... he hoped that whatever it was, would not involve Alex.

Just as he had convinced himself that everything was all right after all, his phone rang again and found that his worst nightmare had come true...

-oo0oo-

His first thought after talking to Skinner was to get to Alex as soon as possible; he even went as far as to call the cab company... then changed his mind as he fought down the panic that had risen inside him. The major part of him still wanted to rush to Alex's bedside, but he knew that he had some things to do before he could start proving Alex's innocence... the most important of which was get the blood samples analyzed by someone he could trust.

With Scully tied up at the hospital, there was no way that she was going to be able to do the bloodwork for him, that only left asking the Lone Gunmen for help. With that in mind, he hit the speed dial which would connect him to their offices.

After telling Frohike to turn off the tape, he quickly explained that because they had felt so tired, none of them had fancied the five hour drive to the safe house, so they had stayed in DC instead; that he urgently needed some tests done on two samples of blood, and asked if they knew anyone who would be able to help him. There was a pause, and a mumbled conversation, then Frohike came back on the line.

"Yeah, Mulder," he said, "We do know someone who could help. If you bring the samples straight here, we'll do the rest."

"Er.. just a slight problem, I don't have my car at the moment, so I'll have to get a cab from where we stayed last night."

"Where are you?"

Without a pause Mulder gave the address of the nearby motel he'd noticed the evening before.

"We'll pick you up from there in the van. What room number are you in?"

"I'll wait for you outside."

"Okay, It will take us about thirty to forty minutes to get there, depending on the traffic."

"Thanks." Mulder put the phone back in his pocket and prepared to leave. Taking the vials from the fridge, he put each of the samples into a plastic bag and secured the top, then put them both into a third bag with some ice cubes to keep them cool before overwrapping them with a brown grocery bag which would hide what he was carrying from curious eyes.

If he wanted to reset the alarms before he left, he would need to find the keys. He'd been careless with his car keys, leaving them on the counter, and Anson had taken them with him. What had Alex done with the keys that had gained them entrance to his secret home. He closed his eyes and brought the memory to mind, the keys Alex had used, their hiding places, and the codes he'd punched in to disable the alarms, allowing them to pass. He went to the bank of Computers and monitors and checked each one, going over what Alex had told him as he did so.

When he was sure he knew what to do to reset everything, he went to the bedroom to collect his wallet from the bedside table, and stopped short at the sight of the dishevelled bed. A wave of misery swept over him, as he remembered the way Alex had looked impaled on his cock - illuminated by the flickering candles - driving them both towards completion.... His throat tightened and tears threatened to spill down his cheeks...

Would he be able to prove Alex's innocence?

Would Alex even want him again after this was all over?

Was this the only time they would be together?

His sense of misery was so deep that he was unable to keep the tears at bay any longer, his face crumpled, water streaming from his eyes.... fear and self-doubt overwhelming him as he thought about their history together, the betrayal, the beatings and the taunts... almost everything about their past seeming to be more fuel to the fire of certainty that their relationship was doomed.

Just as he felt ready to give up completely, he recalled what Alex had said to him about meeting in the bar, "Our date reassures me that you are still alive and kicking."

Any doubt that Alex loved him fled from his thoughts, and he dashed a hand across his eyes to wipe the moisture away. Now was not the time to fall apart, he needed to be strong for Alex's sake... and for Anson's as well - that poor, damaged man needed some serious help.

With renewed determination, he stripped the soiled sheets from the bed, and stuffed them in the washing machine so that they would be clean be the time Alex returned to his loft. He remade the bed, and tidied the one that Anson had slept in before looking round to make sure he hadn't left anything behind. Then setting the alarm he left the apartment for the short walk to the pick-up point.

He looked at his watch when he reached the entrance to the motel, even after all he had done it was still less than 30 minutes since he had spoken to Frohike. He sat on the wall which divided the car park from the sidewalk, and waited.

Perhaps fortunately for his peace of mind, he didn't have long to wait, for less than ten minutes later he was in the van with the gunmen.

As soon as Langly had driven away from the curb, Mulder said, "Thanks for picking me up, guys, I appreciate it. These are the samples I need testing." He handed the paper sack to Byers. "Also, can you drop me off somewhere I can get a cab, please."

Frohike was surprised. "You're not going to come with us to see the samples compared?"

Mulder shook his head. "No, Skinner wants to see me as soon as possible. However, if you wouldn't mind, there is one more thing you can do for me. I want you to see if you can find a pair of twins. Their first names are Anson and Alex, or maybe Alexander, born in the mid-60s."

"What's their surname?"

Mulder tossed up in his mind whether to say any more about them, then decided that in the current situation he needed all the information he could find to get Skinner off Alex's back. So, taking a deep breath he said, "Their current names are Anson Greene and Alex Krycek." He held up a hand to silence any protests. "This is ultra-secret guys. The Consortium interfered in their lives at a very early age... before they were five. I want to find out who they really are. To give you a further clue, Anson is said to have shot his mother and step-father, Elizabeth and Morgan Greene, when he was eight. To complicate things, while Anson remembers Alex and his childhood quite well, Alex doesn't remember anything about it at all. Which is why the blood samples... though I have to admit they look so much alike that it would be hard to believe that they are not related."

"How soon do you want to know?"

"Yesterday would have been good... then I might have been prepared for an Alex pout in stereo." Mulder tried hard to make light of the situation, not wanting the Gunmen to realize that he had deep feelings for Alex. "Seriously guys, as soon as you find anything on them give me a ring. At the moment, none of us are quite sure what to make of the other... if you see what I mean."

"Yeah, man," Langly told him, looking over his shoulder. "I mean, I'd be seriously freaked if I suddenly found I had a twin." A blaring horn made him face front again.

Frohike frowned. "This changes things slightly," he stated. Then, looking directly at Byres, he went on. "Should we split up do you think?"

Byers nodded. "Yes. When we stop to let Mulder off I'll switch places with Langly, and drop you both back home before taking the samples to be analyzed."

The van suddenly swerved and came to a halt. "The taxi rank is just along the block. It would be better if no-one saw us with you, Mulder." Langly said as he switched places with Byers.

Mulder nodded, their paranoia almost matched his own. "See you later guys. If I learn anything more which might help, I'll let you know." He got out of the van and strode along the sidewalk without a backward glance. Once ensconced in the back of a taxi, he pulled out his phone and hit the speed dial for Scully. The phone rang and rang, then just as he was starting to get worried about what might have happened to his partner, Scully's voice answered it.

"Scully, it's me."

"Mulder, where are you. Skinner is getting pissed."

"I'm in a taxi on my way to the hospital. Why has your voice got an echo, Scully?"

"I've got my phone on vibrate, and when I saw your caller ID I excused myself and came into the ladies bathroom for some privacy."

"Good thinking. Is Skinner still asserting that it's Krycek he saw attack Cancerman?"

"Yes, although I think Detective Smith is having doubts now that he knows that Krycek only has one arm, since he has witnesses who have described the attacker using both hands to hit out at the men who had chased after him."

"Hmm. Has he said anything about why he lied to us about identifying Krycek to the cops?"

"No, he hasn't... and I still can't figure out his attitude, he's not normally this... this... intransigent...."

"I know, Scully... it's not at all like him. However, I'll be arriving at the hospital soon, and as soon as we are alone we'll have to talk about this... I also have some very interesting information I think you would like to hear... but I'm loath to share it with Skinner until I can work out just what is going on with him."

"Okay. I won't tell him that you phoned... it's better that we get our thoughts straightened out before we say anything... because I have some interesting things to share with you, too. See you later."

"See you in a few minutes then," Mulder replied, just before Scully cut the connection. Stuffing the phone back in his pocket, he glanced at the meter and pulled some bills out his wallet to cover the charge and provide a tip. As soon as the cab came to a halt he handed over the money and barrelled towards the entrance, eager to check on Alex's condition for himself, and to have a quiet talk with Scully.

However, when he reached Alex's room it was Skinner that he saw first, and the AD was wearing a very sour expression.

"What took you so long, Mulder?"

"Good morning to you too, Sir." Mulder deadpanned. Then, deciding that attack was the best defence, he went on, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get a cab at this time in the morning?"

"No, I can't say that I do."

"Then don't ask me why I'm late."

Skinner's expression didn't change, but he did drop the subject. "Now that you *are* here, I want you and Agent Scully to keep guard over Krycek. The hospital has provided us with a list of their employees who are authorized to be on this floor. There is also still quite a large police department presence, as you will probably have noticed when you came in. This is because Spender's death is still being investigated. As Agent Scully may have told you, he was actually murdered here and not, as I thought, at the time of the attack. That being so, they have taken charge of the floor security, so you will only have to deal with those who actually come into this room." He looked at his watch. "I'd better get going. The Director wants to see me this morning, though heaven alone knows why. I should be back before lunch, but I'll call you and let you know when to expect me.... We need to talk about what we are going to do with Krycek now that we have him." He glared at Mulder as if daring him to raise an objection.

"Yes, sir." Mulder replied, eager to see the back of his boss so that he could talk to Scully.

"See you later, sir," Scully chimed in as Skinner turned and hurried away.

Mulder looked around the room studying its layout. The private bathroom was immediately to his right, then the room opened out behind that to the bed area, beyond which was a table with two arm chairs set in front of the window.

Standing at the foot of the bed, staring at the bandage-wrapped, unconscious man, he asked, "What's his condition?"

"Not good," Scully replied with a grimace, as Mulder turned towards her. "He's been shot in the left shoulder and fell hard... the fact that he was wearing a prosthesis didn't help matters as if caused further injuries in the fall. He was bleeding heavily when the paramedics got there and they had problems stabilizing him." She looked down at the still unconscious man in the bed. "They had still more problems while they were operating on him... maybe it would have been better to just... well... let him go."

"NO!" Mulder exclaimed loudly, then shot a glance at the bed to make sure that he hadn't disturbed Alex.

Scully turned to face him. "Are you, like Skinner, so set on getting revenge that you'd put him through hell."

"No... you don't understand." Mulder spoke softer now, almost pleading with her. "I... we... need you to understand. Krycek... Alex has been feeding us information for months now, he's the one who passed me the tip about Weikamp all those months ago... and gave me back my faith in myself. We need him to survive, Scully."

"Krycek! Are you mad! Why didn't you tell me!"

"Your reaction is precisely why I haven't said anything before. When I first started meeting with him, I was sure you would have me locked up. Then, when all the leads he was giving me panned out, there never seemed a right time to say anything."

"Wait, you said you were meeting with your informant when Spender was first attacked... Then Krycek couldn't have done it. Yet Skinner was so sure."

"Which is why I said that I knew Alex hadn't done it when I saw you at the office, proving it to Skinner's satisfaction, however, is going to be more difficult... and talking of Skinner I still want to know why he was meeting with Spender at the time of the incident. I'm not sure that I buy his explanation about Spender wanting to talk to him about me. Why meet such a long way away from their usual haunts?"

Scully sighed. "I don't know. I went to have a look at the crime scene and I have to admit I couldn't see why they would be meeting there either. It's a totally featureless street, and with nothing that could be used as a point of reference, I had trouble locating the exact spot where the attack occurred.... Talking of attacks, the police have more or less established that the second attack took place while you were en route to the office, that being so, Krycek couldn't have been involved in that either as there wouldn't have been enough time from when you left him. In any case the description that the police have of the primary suspect is of a large man in a janitor's uniform whom none of the administration staff have been able to identify.

Since I spoke to you on the phone, I straightened out things with Detective Smith, explaining the interest we have in the case, and now that I have assured him that we have a watching brief and have no intention of taking the case out of his hands, he has been kind enough to let me borrow some of the crime scene photographs for you to study... He's getting another set done, so that we each have our own copies. After I had filled him in on our interest, I provided his people with the sample of blood and a copy of the reports we had done the last time that Spender was reported to have been shot and killed in his apartment." She paused and gave Mulder a wry smile. "We will also have to find some way to tell Smith that, although the description is close, there is no way that Krycek could have been the original attacker either... that it's a case of mistaken identity."

Mulder lips twisted into a very sour expression. "A case of mistaken identity which could potentially leave us with a rather large problem."

"Problem?"

"Yes a problem. If it really is Spender who died there are bound to be some changes, and now that Alex is out of commission, we have no way of knowing which way the Consortium are going to jump."

"You would trust him to tell you what was going on?"

"Yes, I would. It's taken me a long time to realize it, but we really are on the same side."

"In that case you'd better come take a look at these photographs and see if we can help Detective. Smith find the real killer."

Mulder followed her across to the table set under the window, and seated himself in one of the two chairs. Scully took the other seat and pushed a folder across the table towards him.

He glanced the street photos, but since he already knew what had really taken place there he pushed them aside to take a look at the ones taken inside the hospital. There were a few from the crime scene and a couple of prints of the unidentified intruder taken from the hospital's security video.

"I did think, from the description, that it might be our old friend the Alien Bounty Hunter, but if it is he's taken on a completely new disguise."

"The person in these photos certainly seems to be taller and bulkier. It can't be Krycek because, he's the wrong build and as we've already established he was with you only a short time previously, it's not Skinner because he was with me - it could be the ABH using a different disguise, or some new player who's just shown his hand. In short we are no further forward.

"The forensics team has taken fibre samples from both the scenes, and of course from Krycek. The initial result should be available soon... but as we know a full analysis takes time... and as Krycek and the description of the attacker are so similar there could be quite a few similarities in the genetic markers...."

Mulder grimaced, wondering how close the markers would be in identical twins. "What about clones, Scully? We know they exist as we've seen them."

Scully scrunched up her nose in distaste, and shook her head. "I've no idea, Mulder. The more I think about the "what if's" that abound in this case, the more my head aches... and if you try to run that one past Detective Smith *HE* will have you committed."

Mulder lifted one shoulder in a dismissive shrug, not promising to drop the subject, just indicating that he wasn't going to argue about it with her. "Just so long as we keep it in mind, Scully."

She looked at him quizzically for a moment, then nodded. "I guess you're right."

Mulder leafed through the folder of information provided by Smith. He read the eyewitness accounts, and took note of the differences between Skinner's account and those of the other witnesses. Skinner's description was more like Alex, while the other descriptions were much more like Anson. Even so, while most had commented on the dark hair, green eyes and stocky build, none of them had actually described Anson's clothes properly. He then turned his attention to the crime scene photographs, trying to see if he could visualize what he had read, and what he had been told about the attack and fit it to what he could see in the pictures, but the fact that he already knew the identity of the first attacker didn't help his concentration, and the only thing that kept swirling around in his mind was the fact that Alex was lying just a few feet away, seriously injured.

He shut the file and slumped back in the chair. To Keep his mind occupied, he said, "As far as I can see there were two odd things that happened last night: One, as we've said is the meeting between Skinner and Spender; the other is how did the second attacker know Spender was here so quickly. Did he actually see the first attack occur? Did any of the witnesses see him... or was he even one of the witnesses?"

Scully gave him an odd look. "I'll ask Smith." She took out her cell phone and a business card and dialled the number on it. Once it was answered, she relayed Mulder's speculations and the questions he had asked.

After she'd put the phone away again, Scully said, "Judging by Smith's silence when I'd finished asking your questions, no one else had thought to ask them... I'll admit that it was something that I hadn't thought of either... Anyway, Smith is going to get back to us. In the meantime he will be sending Sergeant Swenson up here with the preliminary results of the blood tests. She is going to take me to see Dr Margoles who will be conducting the autopsy. Shall I bring you a cup of coffee on my way back?"

"Mmmm. Please... and could you bring me a bagel as well, I haven't had any breakfast yet."

"In that case I'll get something sent up as there's no telling what time I will be back."

"Thanks, Scully." Mulder replied with a tired grin, thankful for a little bit of normality.

Scully returned the grin, then went to answer a knock on the door. She let a policewoman into the room and introduced her as Sergeant Swenson. Mulder stood and shook hands with the newcomer, making the usual polite comments about the weather, then they both fell silent while Scully read the reports that Smith had sent her.

When she had red the last page, she looked up at Mulder. "The blood sample we provided and that taken from the dead man are from the same person. The initial forensics results about the attacker are less straightforward. The samples are almost, but not quite, identical. They're going to rerun the tests. In the mean time, I have an invitation to attend the autopsy." She collected her coat and purse. "See you later."

Mulder nodded, deep in thought. If the samples were almost identical, then it looked as if Anson's story could be true. He stared at the man in the bed, trying to imagine the young Alex standing up to the smoker...

A short time later, Sergeant Swenson came back bearing a large cup of coffee and a couple of bagels. "Agent Scully asked if I would drop these off for you as you hadn't had time to get any breakfast."

Mulder smiled. "Thanks, I appreciate it," he said, opening the bag eagerly.

"You're welcome," she said over her shoulder as she left him alone again.

He had almost finished his meal, when Frohike rang him.

"Mulder, I think we've found your twins. Alexander Michael and Anson Charles; and get this... their surname really is Krycek... except that it's spelt K-R-A-J-I-C-E-K. Father Peter, was born in Prague and came to the US when he was ten. He worked as a fireman, and was killed in the line of duty when the twins were almost five years old. Their mother, according to the birth certificate, was Elizabeth Geraldine Batholomew. We haven't been able to find a birth record for her yet.

"She married Robert Greene within months of her first husband's death, and by the time Anson goes to school, "Alex, the elder twin, seems to have disappeared, but, as far as we can see, there doesn't seems to have been any type of investigation into his disappearance. "

Mulder's expression had turned grim. "Thanks for the information."

"Do you want us to see if we can find out any more?"

"Yes, please."

"'K. Catch you later."

He went to sit in the chair by the bed and carefully took hold of Alex's hand. "It seems as if you do have a twin after all, Alex." he murmured quietly, stroking his thumb across the backs of the fingers which had curled round his. "I wish there was something positive I could do to make you better, make you whole again." He smiled at his own whimsy. "Where is an alien healer when you want one?"

Mulder pressed his lips and kissed Alex's cold, scuffed knuckles gently. The door handle clicked behind his head, and as quick as a finger snap, Mulder dropped his lover's hand to the bed and stood up to face the door. It wouldn't do to get caught holding Alex Krycek's hand.  The squeaky door slowly opened, cool air from the hall rushed in and stirred the soft hairs on Mulder's forehead as he stood waiting.

In walked Jeremiah Smith, answering the FBI agent's silent plea a few short seconds ago.

"Mr. Mulder, we have to hurry, they're on the way." Jeremiah check over his should before closing the door behind himself.

~[###]~

1971:

"Anson... Daddy... please, let me go!" Alex's cries fell on deaf ears. Alex yelled, beating his tiny fists against the large man who was carrying him away from his house. As Alex struggled to escape, he looked up and saw his mother in the window upstairs, she was watching as the bad man stole him away from his brother. Alex could see a shadow behind his unemotional mother; he wondered who it was. It was at that moment that he understood that his mother didn't want him anymore, only Anson. But for the life of Alex, he couldn't figure out why that would be. Alex un-balled his fists and switched from pummelling the iron chest to scratching and gouging at his kidnappers eyes and face.

"OUCH... OUCH! You little fucker!!"

Alex smiled when he heard the bad words. He knew that escape was impossible, but he would never quit trying to run away, never quit trying to find his brother.

Before he knew it, Alex was in the back of a huge car laying face down. He couldn't see anything at all as he was stuffed face down into the soft leather car seat. But he could smell cigarette smoke and he could hear voices yelling and screaming at him, the loud voices were trying to get him to stop fighting.

"Settle down..." Instructed an unfamiliar male voice forcefully.

"Give the kid the god-dammed shot already Doreen."

"Hold him still then." Said the woman impatiently.

Long fingers scratched as his back and bum as some one struggled to pull his pants down. Then Alex felt cold air on his skin and a sting on his right butt cheek. Instinctually the little boy covered the assaulted spot with his hand. Defeated, he ceased all struggles and turned his head to face the voices. He saw a young blond woman, with light blue eyes wearing a nurses cap. Next to the woman was a man, old enough to be his fathers father.

Alex scowled at the two, exhausted, his breath came out rapid and panting. Suddenly, the first niggling of the narcotic settled over him, his bum didn't hurt anymore and he was sleepy and Alex wondered what that woman had done to him. As he lay there, Alex realized that the two were talking. He concentrated on sorting out the blurring voices.

"He fights like a wild kitten." The old man had said affectionately, lighting up a nasty cigarette. The limo pulled away from the curb and eased its way onto the street.

"He looks like an angel, him and his brother both. How can you even think of destroying their lives. Separating them like that is just cruel." The blond woman said, looking at Alex with very sad eyes.

The man blew smoke at Alex, but he didn't have the energy to wave it away, like he always did when his mother smoked.

That was something she only did when Daddy went to work.

"By the time we are done programming this little kitten's mind, he won't even know who he is let alone remember a brother."

"Still, it seems rather extreme to start him so early...."

"Better him than your Marita though, eh? Or would you rather it was your daughter that we took? Because that can be arranged Doreen."

The blond lady shook her head 'no' and Alex figured out that what ever it was that was going to happen to him, was bad.

"We all have sacrifices to make. My contribution to the cause is my grandson."

Nasty man put his hand on the sad lady's leg and squeezed. Alex saw her make a face; the nasty man was disgusting. "Do your part Doreen and don't make a fuss. And nothing bad will happen to Marita."

Alex tried hard, but he could no longer blink his eyes clear. His eyes fluttered closed and then he could no longer open them up again. The man and woman's words ceased to make sense to Alex anymore and he fell into the clutches of the narcotics that had been injected into his bum.

~[###]~

"Who's coming?" Mulder asked alarmed. He pulled his gun and went for the door.

"The colonists or rather, their damned blood hound the one you and your partner refer to as the Bounty Hunter. The colonists found out that it was Krycek who was behind the conspirator's massacre. By killing the majority of the syndicate, Alex Krycek set back invasion by another twenty years. Don't get me wrong, the colonists will wait the extra time complete their mission, it just frustrates them to have to do so."

As he spoke, Jeremiah gave the comatose patient a hasty exam. Mulder cracked the door and peeked out the tiny space. Watching for the bad guys thinking that the bounty hunter was going to appear from around the corner at any moment. Every few seconds or so, he'd turn back to look at Smith, making sure he wasn't trying to harm Alex.

"By killing Spender the colonists removed any further interruptions in their plans. He was never more than a poisonous thorn in their side."

"And killing Alex?" Mulder retorted angrily.

"...Will break the pipeline of information leaking from the Rebel camp to the human rebellion of which, Mr. Krycek is their captain."

"Holy Shit." Whispered Mulder turning his surprised eyes back to the hall.

~[###]~

1980:

"Mr. Spender, we've found pupil number 4691824." Two guards held a slouching Alex between them.

"Release him." Instructed Spender. The two men let go of the young student simultaneously.

Alex tried, but couldn't break his fall as he dropped to the floor. He landed in a crumpled heap at the feet of the smoking man; who had been called in from the States as soon as Alex's disappearance was noted.

The young upstart stared up malevolently at the smoker, green eyes shining bright between two severely blackened eyes.

There was no one he hated more in the corrupt school, than the old man.

"They wouldn't beat you up if you'd learn to behave Alex. The smoking man was the only one in the school who used his given name.

Alex was supposed to be in a Belgian boarding school. But in reality, the 'school' was nothing more than a military academy full of young male pupils of all ages and all from America. The fifteen year old Alex was intelligent enough to know that the pupil number was merely a method to assimilate the student body. To strip them of everything that was individual and replace that humanity with a robotic mentality.

Most days, Alex bought what the school leaders said and he would do exactly as he was told.

But on other days, after having had a nightmare the night before, Alex would remember stuff. Important stuff like his brother and all he'd have to do is look in the mirror to recall Anson's image and when that happened, Alex had to run.

Had to try and find a way home, somehow.

This time he had been gone for seven full days before he was captured while boarding a train bound for France.

"I want my brother." Hissed Alex.

The smoker dropped his cigarette butt to the ground and put it out with the toe of his high-priced loafer.

It was time, he'd put things off for too long.

Spender squatted down, and made himself eye-level with his rebellious grandson. "Alex, after today, the only memories you own, will be the ones that I want you to have."

"I'll kill you one day. Grandpa." Alex spit and hit his rapidly rising grandfather squarely in the middle of his tie with a gigantic mucous gob.

The old man immediately swung and struck his still kneeling grandson across the face with the back of his hand. Alex raised his head, blood dripped from his left nostril a large split divided his plump lower lip in half. He stared up and said nothing, letting his defiant eyes do his talking.

"Wipe his memory, completely then reprogram him using protocol 1, sequence numbers beta four." Said Spender using an expensive handkerchief to wipe away the offensive moisture. He stopped wiping for a second and glaring right back at his flesh and blood, he added in a cruel tone, "Then cane him and send him to the Siberian academy. Let the Russians teach him what he needs to know. See how he likes 'that'." Spender dropped the linen hanky to the ground and turned his back on his own daughter's son.

Nothing was to valuable to give over to the cause.

By the time the consortium doctors were done with young Alex Krycek, the boy had vague memories of parents, but nothing else of his past. All he knew was Russia and her cruel ways to create agents of the future. He thought he was Russian, no one ever told him different, he spoke the language fluently after all.

For Alex, it was like he woke up at the age of fifteen.

~[###]~

"Those memories are the real ones." Whispered Jeremiah when he felt the unconscious man begin to stir awake.

Alex heard those words inside his head, and suddenly, a storm cloud broke and he remembered everything. And what Anson had told him was true. They really were twins; Alex had been kidnapped for a sydicate project.

Programmed to fulfill the consortiums orders. Alex was nothing more than a soldier in an interstellar war he had no hope in winning.

"Mr. Krycek is awake. Help him to dress Agent Mulder and I will keep watch for us.

Mulder traded places with Smith without hesitation.

Lacking clothes for his lover, Mulder had snuck into the hall, and when he came back he had a surgeons set of scrubs for Krycek. Underwear and socks would have to wait until later. Alex slipped his cold feet into a pair of slippers and stood up on shaky legs. We wasn't healed, more like 'mended' just enough to get him up and moving. Mulder steadied his lover with a protective arm.

"Fox... I'm so sorry about..." Husked Alex, his throat dry, his voice was low. He wanted to apologize for taking off with Anson, and for putting him in the predicament they were in now.

"Shh... Alex..." Whispered Mulder to his lover. "I'm just so thankful that you're all right." He gave his vulnerable lover a gentle smile. "We can talk about it when you're better. For now, we have to get out of here. We're ready." Mulder said to the ever watchful Mr. Smith.

"Follow me." Smith said softly, pulling the door open.

-oo0oo-

Scully stepped out of the elevator into the dark underground parking lot. The place was deserted, but she took no notice, a mental list of stuff to do occupying all of her immediate thoughts. She found her car and pulled the keys out from her blazer pocket.

"Freeze lady, or I'll kill you." Menaced an unseen voice.

A strong arm snaked around Scully's neck and constricted tight. Somewhere, in the back of Dana's brain, she recognized the voice that had threatened her.

Well, sort of recognized.

She stilled for a second until the arm around her throat eased off, and then she slammed the heel of her expensive shoe into the top of the assailant's foot. The man, who was almost a foot taller than her was wearing only canvass runners, which offered no protection from her well made Italian leather foot wear.

"Shit!" The arm released its hold all together.

"Mother Fucker..." Bellowed Scully as she crammed her elbow into the man's stomach. "I'll teach you to pick on a woman!" Then she whirled around quickly, poked the hunched over mugger in both of his eyes, momentarily blinding him. The assailants reaction to that manoeuvre was too automatically shield his eyes with his hands. That was the move Scully had been waiting for; she grabbed the much larger man by his ears and pulled his head down while bringing up her knee, smashing him between his eyes, and bloodying his nose. The man yelped in pain and she very forcefully pushed him back from herself.

Landing in an un-coordinated heap, Anson struck his tailbone on the cold cement. He righted himself, cleared his vision and looked up into the startled blue eyes of the red headed lady he had intended on kidnapping. He had planned to use the tiny woman as a bargaining chip in order to get his brother back, but like most of his plans, it had gone wrong.

"What?" He scowled petulantly, trying to ignore automatic pointing at his chest.

"What the fuck?" Scully mumbled, not usually one to use such four letter words. "Who the hell are you?" She couldn't believe her eyes, she could have swore that Alex Krycek lay upstairs in a hospital bed, unconscious with her partner doting over his horizontal form. And yet, here she was holding her FBI issue Sig Sauer on the very same man. The theme to the Twilight Zone chorused through her head and she couldn't help but feel like she had entered the zone' herself. The man before her kept scowling but said nothing, "Or better yet, who is that laying in the bed upstairs?" She said, at a loss for words.

Anson scrubbed at his red, sore eyes. "I'm Anson." He said dourly, making a motion to rise.

Not wanting to lose her advantage, Scully motioned with her gun for the man to stay down as she hissed dramatically, "Give it up Krycek, I know it's you..."

"No, he's right Scully, his name really is Anson."

Scully whirled around and trained her gun on the voice that had come from behind.

It was Mulder who had spoken.

He was holding Alex up and tight to his side, as if to use his body to shield the still very hurt spy. The two continued at a slow hobble towards Scully and Anson.

A limo pulled up and the driver's side window slid down smoothly.

"Get in, there are enemies breaching the entrance to the hospital as we speak." Jeremiah was behind the wheel of the long car.

The four got in and the limo pulled away without so much as a tire squeal.

-oo0oo-

"Where are we going?" Asked Alex, exhausted and out of breath, he was still hurting.

"Back to your place I guess." Mulder said softly, ignoring the glares coming from Anson, who desperately wanted to cross the space between the seats and go to his brother.

"No... no." Alex protested. "No one but you can know about my place." His face was flushed and his skin was growing hot at an alarming rate. It was obvious that Smith had only patched Alex up just enough to get him mobile.

"I know where your place is." Said Anson softly; hurt in his voice.

"But Scully and Smith... they don't, it won't be my safe place anymore... I need to have a sanctuary, I can't always be on guard... I need a home to be my own. Promise me Fox..." Alex voice drifted in between determined and sleepy. But still, he wouldn't relent.

"Okay, I promise." Mulder promised, "Smith and Scully won't come with us." Mulder gently eased Alex over and settled him on the long car seat.

"What?" Scully demanded. "When in the hell are you going to tell me what's going on Mulder?"

Mulder shot his partner a stern look, "We can go to a hotel room, I'll tell you what I know so far, and Jeremiah can finish what he started in the hospital."

Anson sat back, he didn't like the look of his brother at all.

Smith pulled onto the freeway, and started to head toward the motel that was located near the freedom fighters loft. The alien knew all along where Krycek lived.

Ursula, you're next