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colebaltblueTitle: Variations on a Theme
Author: colebaltblue
Artist: TLynnfic
Word Count: 21,000 (this chapter 3,800)
Rating: PG
Warnings: no specific ones
Summary: Alternate universe. Dr. Dana Scully is a medical examiner for the city and county of San Francisco when she is assigned the Jane Doe #19292. In Washington, D.C. behavioral sciences unit FBI agent Fox Mulder becomes interested in Jane Doe #19292 and heads out to San Francisco to investigate. The rest, they say, is history.
Author's Notes: Written for the X-Files Big Bang 2010. Many, many, many thanks to Tracy and Cass for their comments, critiques, and corrections.
10:12 am
July 19, 1993
San Francisco City Medical Examiner's Office
San Francisco, CA
Scully set her now cold coffee down on her desk along with her notes from the autopsy she just finished. She had left George to clean up while she went back to her office to type up the notes and submit her report. Her mind had been on the Jane Does and Emily all morning despite her best efforts to concentrate.
She had arrived home last night to find Ethan sitting in her living room, watching her TV. She'd given him a tired smile, but hadn't really wanted to deal with him. Instead of taking the hint and leaving, he'd pressed her on where she'd been and what she had been doing. So, she told him about the Jane Does and Emily Sims. Well, as much as she felt she could tell him, but she left Mulder's name out of it. Ethan hadn't said anything much beyond a comment on the strangeness of her getting wrapped up in something that wasn't really her problem. That had bothered her and she had gone straight into her bedroom and shut her door, leaving Ethan to let himself out.
Sighing, she sat down, wondering what to do about Mulder, the cases, and now Ethan. She pulled her chair up to her desk and looked at her desk, furrowing her brow. It looked like her folders were askew. She looked more closely, but couldn't tell if anything was missing. She grabbed the keys to her locked file drawer and opened it, but couldn't tell if anything had been looked through. She had her head bent over and was reaching for the file when a voice startled her.
"Doctor Dana Scully?"
She looked up, eyes wide in surprise and shoved the drawer closed a little too quickly. A man stood in her doorway, attractive, but not her type with chiseled features that were just a little too perfect. His eyes were pale and his hair neat and trim.
"Yes?"
"Hello," he said, striding forward and offering his hand. "I'm Special Agent Alex Krycek."
She shook it, warily. Another FBI agent?
"How can I help you Special Agent Krycek?"
"Oh, call me Alex, please," he replied with what Scully figured he must think was a disarming smile. She found it slightly smarmy. He sat down in the chair in front of her desk without being asked. Scully sat back and regarded him. "I'm here to talk to you about Jane Doe 19292."
Scully raised her eyebrow at him. "There seems to be a bit of interest in Jane Doe," she replied carefully.
Krycek smiled again, "Oh, well, if you're referring to Agent Mulder." He paused and leaned forward, "let's just say his interest is extracurricular while mine is official. What have you told him?"
Scully opened her mouth to reply when the question hit her. It wasn't about the case, or her files, or even Jane Doe, but about Mulder. She closed it again and looked at Krycek. He smiled back.
"What do you want to know about Jane Doe that isn't available through the medical examiner's office, Agent?"
Krycek stiffened slightly and sat up from his relaxed position. "Fine, what are your impressions of the Jane Doe case, doctor?"
"I don't speculate. I told Agent Mulder that as well," she replied, shortly. "If that is all?"
Krycek considered her from across her desk, but didn't respond. Scully took that as a yes.
"Excellent. Well, if you need anything else, Special Agent, I'm sure you can speak to our head medical examiner. I'm not really in a position to offer you any further information."
She looked at Krycek as he considered her. Just like she'd hoped, he stood up to go.
"Thank you for your assistance, Doctor," he said. He looked down at her desk and she followed his gaze down to her file drawer. She swallowed and looked up at him. He had a knowing half-smile on her face. He nodded once and turned to go, but paused in the doorway.
"Oh, Doctor Scully, if you should hear from Agent Mulder, please have him call his section chief. His absence from Washington is unauthorized, as is his investigation."
Scully sighed as Krycek disappeared around the corner. Well, that was unnerving, she thought to herself and definitely more than strange. She picked up her phone to call Mulder, but then set it back down. She wasn't sure if she should call him or not. Krycek had insinuated that his presence in California was unauthorized, as was his interest in Jane Doe, but aside from his first visit he hadn't told her he was investigation on official FBI business. She also doubted Emily Sims' file had been obtained via official channels at the FBI either.
What had she gotten herself into?
10:34 am
July 19, 1993
Sleep-Inn Motel
San Francisco, CA
Mulder sat on the edge of the hard hotel bed, his laptop open on the table in front of him with cords stretching into the phone jack and the electrical outlet in the wall. When the motel said free local calls, he wasn't sure if they meant for Internet connectivity, but he was taking advantage. He hit the reconnect button on his email again and watched as it slowly refreshed. A new email appeared from his friend Langly.
Call us, was all it read.
He picked up his cell phone and dialed their number.
"It's me," he said when it picked up on the other end. No one replied. "Come on guys, it's me, turn off the recorders."
"Mulder, how many times have we said not to call us on the cell phone, man?" Langly's voice asked him. "It's not secure."
"And the hotel line would've been better?"
"Do we have to go over phone protocol again?" he heard Frohike shout from the background. Mulder rolled his eyes even though they couldn't see it.
"I'm not going down to the pay phone right now. What do you have?"
"Hang on, we're not quite secure yet," Langly responded. Mulder heard a click and then a crackle. "There."
"Mulder, we've found something you might be interested in," Byers's soft voice came over the line. "It's a little girl, Jennifer Marlowe, she was just checked into the pediatrics ward of San Francisco General from their emergency department."
"She's sick, Mulder," Langly called out.
"Her intake sheet shows she's not doing well, but they don't know what's going on. She appears to be quite ill. We called you because she's similar to that Sims case and the two Jane Does."
"But she's still alive?" Mulder asked, jumping up from the bed and looking for his shoes.
"So far, but it doesn't look good."
Mulder hopped as he shoved his shoes on and balanced the phone against his ear as he attempted to button up his shirt.
"Where?"
"Fifth floor, room 122, bed B," Frohike said, obviously having taken the phone from Byers. "Mulder, be careful."
Mulder hurried down the hallway towards the pediatric unit. He didn't have a plan to get into the locked ward, but hoped his badge would be enough to let him through. The duty nurse was young and attractive and he moved forward with a smile that he knew from experience would usually work.
"Hi," he began, before she had a chance to ask who he was. He pulled out his FBI identification, "I'm Special Agent Fox Mulder from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I'm here about the girl in 122 B." He put a slightly questioning note in his voice and hoped the nurse would answer him, thinking she was being helpful.
She glanced at her computer screen.
"Jennifer Marlowe?" Mulder helpfully supplied.
The nurse nodded and looked back at the screen, unsure if she should let him back there. He heard the door to the ward open and close behind him, but didn't look, concentrating on the nurse.
"Agent Krycek didn't mention another agent. Does he know you're coming?"
Mulder was startled. The boys hadn't said anything about the FBI already being involved and he didn't know why they would in Jennifer's case.
"Krycek?" he asked, stalling for time.
"Yes, he's back there now," she replied.
"Well, I'll just go back there and see him," Mulder said, turning decisively and heading off down the hall. "Thank you," he called back over his shoulder, ignoring the incredulous look on the nurse's face.
A young man in a suit walked out of room 122 B and shut the door behind him. Mulder got a good look at him before he looked up and spotted Mulder striding down the hall. He smiled.
"Agent Mulder," he said as Mulder approached.
"Krycek. What are you doing here?"
Krycek smiled in response.
"I think the more important question is, what are you doing here, Agent Mulder." Krycek nodded at Mulder's surprised response. "What are you doing here Mulder?"
"Checking on Jennifer Marlowe and possible connections to the Jane Doe 19292 case," he answered, hoping Krycek wasn't aware of the specifics of Jane Doe 19292.
No such luck. 'The case that months ago you were specifically told to drop. The case that you managed to involve a San Francisco medical examiner in? Tell me, Mulder, does Doctor Scully know that you are so far outside of the scope of your job duties you're in danger of losing your job?"
Mulder narrowed his eyes at Krycek. The man knew too much. Far too much.
"I think it's interesting, Agent Mulder, the connections you've drawn between the Jane Does and Emily Sims. Are you here at Jennifer Marlowe's bedside because you hope to make another connection that doesn't exist?"
"What do you know about any of this, Krycek?"
"Doctor Scully was very helpful, Mulder, very helpful."
Mulder felt the sharp pain of betrayal from Scully. He thought she was on the same side he was, but if she shared information with Krycek, he wasn't so sure. Maybe she was even working with the other side.
"Oh, you didn't think she actually wanted to help you, did you, Mulder? You're far too trusting," Krycek chided with a triumphant look on his face.
Mulder shot Krycek a dark look and attempted to step around him to Jennifer Marlowe's room.
Krycek stopped him with a hand on his chest. Mulder looked down at it and looked back at Krycek. "Oh, I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Mulder. In fact, it would be best if you left now. Without a fuss. If you do I'll let you tell Patterson yourself when you'll be home."
Mulder could see he was getting nowhere with Krycek and as long as he was in the hospital he wouldn't get into Jennifer Marlowe's room. He turned, cutting his losses and stalked out of the pediatric ward. The nurse watched him go.
11:46 am
July 19, 1993
San Francisco, CA
Mulder's breathing was labored as he climbed the hill while maintaining his running pace. He had left the hospital and ended up back at his hotel still angry from his exchange with Krycek. He had called the guys and asked them to dig up what they could about Krycek and to look a little more closely at Scully for him. Then, he decided to go for a run to clear his head.
He wasn't used to running hills, especially not the kind that San Francisco was famous for, but he found the effort it took both exhilarating as well as taxing. His calves burned on each step. It didn't answer his questions, though, about whom Krycek was and what his connection to Scully was. He didn't think she'd just give her files to him, especially when she was so guarded about them with him. As for Krycek, he wanted to know who he was and whom he worked for, but more importantly what he was doing in San Francisco at Jennifer Marlowe's bedside.
He made it back to his hotel and laid flat on his back, catching his breath before he showered and called the guys back to see what they had dug up. His mind had drifted to Scully again. Something in his gut, told him to trust her. His gut had also told him to trust Diana and he didn't like where that got him. It comes down to whether or not I trust my gut, he thought with irony. He heaved himself up off the bed and stumbled on his tired legs into the shower. He'd heard what the guys had to say first.
After dealing with the usual security features of calling in he got Byers on the line. "Mulder, this Alex Krycek that you asked us about, he's a bit of a mystery to us," Byers began.
"He's shady, Mulder," Langly called from the back.
"No, good, no good," Frohike added.
"What can you tell me about him, guys?"
"Well, he joined the Bureau a few years ago, a young upstart by all appearances, and has risen quickly through the ranks."
"A little too quickly!" Frohike shouted.
"What division is he in?" Mulder asked.
"Well see, that's the thing, Mulder my man," Langly said into the phone, having pulled it away from Byers, "he isn't."
"Isn't what?"
"In a division," Langly replied.
"He doesn't appear to report to anyone, or at least any one whose name we can find, Mulder," Byers said, having taken it back from Langly.
"Where was he before?"
"Nowhere, we can't find any record of him before he started in the academy and since graduating from there he was regularly and quickly promoted, but records on what cases he works, where he came from, everything just simply don't exist."
"Are you sure it's just not classified, Byers?"
"What do you take us to be, Mulder? Half-rate hackers?" Frohike yelled form the back.
Mulder pinched the bridge of his nose and hid a smile.
"Not you, Frohike, never you," he replied. "What about Scully?"
"Nothing new since the last time you had us look, Mulder," Byers answered.
"Frohike downloaded a picture of her, though, and is in love, “ Langly said. “He wants to know if her boyfriend looks like he could take him."
Mulder's eyes snapped open. "Boyfriend?"
"Yeah, didn't you know? Some reporter for the local news station."
"Anything on him?" Mulder asked.
"Not yet, but we can look for you," Langly answered.
Mulder thanked them and hung up the phone. He then typed an email to his friend in Senator Matheson's office letting him know he was on to something in California and his work would be easier if Patterson left him alone. That should get Patterson off his back, he thought.
Next, he thought about what to do about Scully. He didn't really need her help and could rely on the guys to hack the information he needed, but he liked working with her. He sighed, still unsure. Just because the boys didn't turn anything up didn't mean there wasn't anything there. She seemed straightforward enough, but he had no way of checking that she was who she said she was. Deciding to take a chance he sent her a short email, 'meet me at the place where they found her body at 7,' and didn't sign it. If she showed he'd ask her about Krycek. He'd know at that point whether or not to trust her, he told himself.
6:58 pm
July 19, 1993
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA
As Scully approached the spot where they found Jane Doe's body she could see Mulder's lanky form pacing the site, head down, chewing on a cuticle. He looked up at her as he approached and offered her a half-hearted smile.
"Hey," he said by way of greeting.
"Mulder? What is the meaning of this?" She asked sharply, annoyed at the summons that had arrived in her inbox earlier that day.
He appeared taken aback.
"This," she said, waiving her hand around the spot. "This covert secret agent meet me in the parking garage of the Watergate building crap. Are you going to pass me a message written in invisible ink that I'll need to use my decoder ring on?"
"Scully," Mulder began, but then stopped and sighed. It wasn't worth beating around the bush, he decided. "Why did you give the files to Alex Krycek?"
Scully looked shocked. "What?"
"Alex Krycek, why did you give him the files?"
"Mulder?" she asked, questioningly, not sure where the accusations were coming from.
"Did Alex Krycek come to see you?" Mulder tried again.
"Yes, this morning. He asked about Jane Doe and warned me about you, but I didn't give him any files." She could feel a knot forming in her belly. Her askew files, the mysterious visitor in the locker rooms, Mulder’s accusations were all starting to add up.
"He had information from them, and knew about Jennifer Marlowe before I did,” he said, implications clear.
"Jennifer Marlowe?"
She could tell Mulder was a bit surprised and frustrated and wondered if the reason he seemed worked alone was because he didn’t trust anyone. Accusing people of slipping your adversaries information was no way to earn any sort of trust in return either.
"A little girl. She was admitted to San Francisco General sick with what I believe Emily Sims had."
"Mulder," Scully said, "even I don't know what Emily Sims had – if anything. She's missing and the family has released no information on illnesses. All I have are probably illegally obtained medical records of drugs given and treatments prescribed by doctors and medical facilities that don't exist."
"Scully, Emily Sims was sick."
Scully rolled her eyes, annoyed with their conversation.
"Is this why you called me out here? To accuse me of giving files to someone and to tell me that Emily Sims was sick?"
"No," Mulder said, softly. "Did you?"
"Did I what?"
"Give Krycek the files?"
Scully gave Mulder a hard look before answering. "No," she said coldly. Mulder heard the unsaid condemnation for even thinking it. Scully wondered if that was guilt that flashed in his eyes.
Scully sighed and then seemed to relax, deciding it was. "Tell me about Jennifer Marlowe."
"She was admitted to SF general today. Her admitting sheet said she was nauseated, lethargic, and pale with slow motor responses. Her temperature was up and her blood pressure and heart beat elevated. There were also marks on her, similar to those on the Jane Does."
"Did you go to see her?"
"Yes, but I couldn't get in, Krycek was there."
Scully nodded at Mulder, looking thoughtful.
"When I asked my friends to acquire her records for me later this afternoon they told me they were gone."
"Gone?"
"Yes, like she never existed."
Scully's brow furrowed. “That's impossible."
Mulder shrugged. "I try to believe three impossible things before breakfast," he responded with a wry smile. Scully smiled back.
"Do you think Alex Krycek had something to do with this?"
"Yes," Mulder answered simply. "You said he came to see you?"
"Yes," she responded. "He tried to be charming and asked me about Jane Doe," she said, gesturing to the ground they were standing on.
"Did you tell him anything?"
"He asked me to speculate."
Mulder chuckled at her reminder of their first conversation.
"I don't think he was too pleased with how the conversation went. Mulder, I thought you told me your interest in this case was extracurricular?"
Mulder nodded.
"Then why is he so interested in it?"
"I don't know, Scully. I don't even know who he works for in the Bureau or how he even found out about it."
Scully looked thoughtful for a minute.
"If I could get ahold of Jennifer Marlowe's admitting records, can you look over them for me?"
"Mulder…"
"Please?"
Scully nodded, looking like she already regretted the decision. He smiled at her. "All right, Mulder, it's been fun, but I have to go." She turned to leave, but stopped. "Oh, the local TV news station is running a feature story on Emily Sims tomorrow, by the way," she said before adding a good night. With that she left the park, Mulder’s eyes on her back the whole time.
6:12 am
July 20, 1993
Sleep-Inn Motel
San Francisco, CA
Mulder had set the TV on the local channel and had caught the teaser for the Emily Sims story. He had checked with the guys last night after meeting Scully. He was now certain she had no connection to Krycek, at least not an official one, and hadn't given him the files. The boys had been busy with Krycek and had managed to find a reference to him being assigned to the X files. Mulder had asked them to dig up some more on the X files, never having heard of it before.
He had received an email from Scully this morning stating she had asked a friend who worked on the pediatric floor at San Francisco General who remembered a young girl named Jennifer Marlowe, but that she had been moved during the night to a private facility and now no one could find any records of her in the computer. Mulder wondered how many other little girls appeared and disappeared from hospitals on a regular basis and how many went missing like Emily Sims but were never reported missing.
The guys had promised to keep looking for him along with investigating the mysterious FBI division. His computer beeped, indicating an incoming email. He glanced over at it, but sat up straighter when he realized it was from the guys, pulling the computer towards him he opened it to read it.
The X files seemed to be a division that handled otherwise unsolvable or unexplained crimes. They had found a few cases about UFO sightings, spontaneous combustion, and other weird occurrences listed with an X designation. They weren't sure who was assigned to it, other than it looked like Krycek had been assigned a caseload that included many X files.
Mulder caught the TV announcer mentioned Emily's name and looked up, seeing the story start. It flashed to a picture of Emily and her mom and dad, describing their life in Sacramento. It used the typical TV pathos to describe her disappearance and mother's subsequent suicide from grief, the female reporter said as the camera focused on a picture of Mrs. Sim's face. It made no mention of her possible illness, but as B-roll showed on the screen behind a phone number you could call to report any possible information to the Sacramento police, Mulder caught sight of a familiar face.
Startled he leaned forward. "Well, shit," he said to himself as he looked at the video of Krycek standing on the front porch of the family's home in Sacramento.
Chapter 6
Author: colebaltblue
Artist: TLynnfic
Word Count: 21,000 (this chapter 3,800)
Rating: PG
Warnings: no specific ones
Summary: Alternate universe. Dr. Dana Scully is a medical examiner for the city and county of San Francisco when she is assigned the Jane Doe #19292. In Washington, D.C. behavioral sciences unit FBI agent Fox Mulder becomes interested in Jane Doe #19292 and heads out to San Francisco to investigate. The rest, they say, is history.
Author's Notes: Written for the X-Files Big Bang 2010. Many, many, many thanks to Tracy and Cass for their comments, critiques, and corrections.
10:12 am
July 19, 1993
San Francisco City Medical Examiner's Office
San Francisco, CA
Scully set her now cold coffee down on her desk along with her notes from the autopsy she just finished. She had left George to clean up while she went back to her office to type up the notes and submit her report. Her mind had been on the Jane Does and Emily all morning despite her best efforts to concentrate.
She had arrived home last night to find Ethan sitting in her living room, watching her TV. She'd given him a tired smile, but hadn't really wanted to deal with him. Instead of taking the hint and leaving, he'd pressed her on where she'd been and what she had been doing. So, she told him about the Jane Does and Emily Sims. Well, as much as she felt she could tell him, but she left Mulder's name out of it. Ethan hadn't said anything much beyond a comment on the strangeness of her getting wrapped up in something that wasn't really her problem. That had bothered her and she had gone straight into her bedroom and shut her door, leaving Ethan to let himself out.
Sighing, she sat down, wondering what to do about Mulder, the cases, and now Ethan. She pulled her chair up to her desk and looked at her desk, furrowing her brow. It looked like her folders were askew. She looked more closely, but couldn't tell if anything was missing. She grabbed the keys to her locked file drawer and opened it, but couldn't tell if anything had been looked through. She had her head bent over and was reaching for the file when a voice startled her.
"Doctor Dana Scully?"
She looked up, eyes wide in surprise and shoved the drawer closed a little too quickly. A man stood in her doorway, attractive, but not her type with chiseled features that were just a little too perfect. His eyes were pale and his hair neat and trim.
"Yes?"
"Hello," he said, striding forward and offering his hand. "I'm Special Agent Alex Krycek."
She shook it, warily. Another FBI agent?
"How can I help you Special Agent Krycek?"
"Oh, call me Alex, please," he replied with what Scully figured he must think was a disarming smile. She found it slightly smarmy. He sat down in the chair in front of her desk without being asked. Scully sat back and regarded him. "I'm here to talk to you about Jane Doe 19292."
Scully raised her eyebrow at him. "There seems to be a bit of interest in Jane Doe," she replied carefully.
Krycek smiled again, "Oh, well, if you're referring to Agent Mulder." He paused and leaned forward, "let's just say his interest is extracurricular while mine is official. What have you told him?"
Scully opened her mouth to reply when the question hit her. It wasn't about the case, or her files, or even Jane Doe, but about Mulder. She closed it again and looked at Krycek. He smiled back.
"What do you want to know about Jane Doe that isn't available through the medical examiner's office, Agent?"
Krycek stiffened slightly and sat up from his relaxed position. "Fine, what are your impressions of the Jane Doe case, doctor?"
"I don't speculate. I told Agent Mulder that as well," she replied, shortly. "If that is all?"
Krycek considered her from across her desk, but didn't respond. Scully took that as a yes.
"Excellent. Well, if you need anything else, Special Agent, I'm sure you can speak to our head medical examiner. I'm not really in a position to offer you any further information."
She looked at Krycek as he considered her. Just like she'd hoped, he stood up to go.
"Thank you for your assistance, Doctor," he said. He looked down at her desk and she followed his gaze down to her file drawer. She swallowed and looked up at him. He had a knowing half-smile on her face. He nodded once and turned to go, but paused in the doorway.
"Oh, Doctor Scully, if you should hear from Agent Mulder, please have him call his section chief. His absence from Washington is unauthorized, as is his investigation."
Scully sighed as Krycek disappeared around the corner. Well, that was unnerving, she thought to herself and definitely more than strange. She picked up her phone to call Mulder, but then set it back down. She wasn't sure if she should call him or not. Krycek had insinuated that his presence in California was unauthorized, as was his interest in Jane Doe, but aside from his first visit he hadn't told her he was investigation on official FBI business. She also doubted Emily Sims' file had been obtained via official channels at the FBI either.
What had she gotten herself into?
10:34 am
July 19, 1993
Sleep-Inn Motel
San Francisco, CA
Mulder sat on the edge of the hard hotel bed, his laptop open on the table in front of him with cords stretching into the phone jack and the electrical outlet in the wall. When the motel said free local calls, he wasn't sure if they meant for Internet connectivity, but he was taking advantage. He hit the reconnect button on his email again and watched as it slowly refreshed. A new email appeared from his friend Langly.
Call us, was all it read.
He picked up his cell phone and dialed their number.
"It's me," he said when it picked up on the other end. No one replied. "Come on guys, it's me, turn off the recorders."
"Mulder, how many times have we said not to call us on the cell phone, man?" Langly's voice asked him. "It's not secure."
"And the hotel line would've been better?"
"Do we have to go over phone protocol again?" he heard Frohike shout from the background. Mulder rolled his eyes even though they couldn't see it.
"I'm not going down to the pay phone right now. What do you have?"
"Hang on, we're not quite secure yet," Langly responded. Mulder heard a click and then a crackle. "There."
"Mulder, we've found something you might be interested in," Byers's soft voice came over the line. "It's a little girl, Jennifer Marlowe, she was just checked into the pediatrics ward of San Francisco General from their emergency department."
"She's sick, Mulder," Langly called out.
"Her intake sheet shows she's not doing well, but they don't know what's going on. She appears to be quite ill. We called you because she's similar to that Sims case and the two Jane Does."
"But she's still alive?" Mulder asked, jumping up from the bed and looking for his shoes.
"So far, but it doesn't look good."
Mulder hopped as he shoved his shoes on and balanced the phone against his ear as he attempted to button up his shirt.
"Where?"
"Fifth floor, room 122, bed B," Frohike said, obviously having taken the phone from Byers. "Mulder, be careful."
Mulder hurried down the hallway towards the pediatric unit. He didn't have a plan to get into the locked ward, but hoped his badge would be enough to let him through. The duty nurse was young and attractive and he moved forward with a smile that he knew from experience would usually work.
"Hi," he began, before she had a chance to ask who he was. He pulled out his FBI identification, "I'm Special Agent Fox Mulder from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I'm here about the girl in 122 B." He put a slightly questioning note in his voice and hoped the nurse would answer him, thinking she was being helpful.
She glanced at her computer screen.
"Jennifer Marlowe?" Mulder helpfully supplied.
The nurse nodded and looked back at the screen, unsure if she should let him back there. He heard the door to the ward open and close behind him, but didn't look, concentrating on the nurse.
"Agent Krycek didn't mention another agent. Does he know you're coming?"
Mulder was startled. The boys hadn't said anything about the FBI already being involved and he didn't know why they would in Jennifer's case.
"Krycek?" he asked, stalling for time.
"Yes, he's back there now," she replied.
"Well, I'll just go back there and see him," Mulder said, turning decisively and heading off down the hall. "Thank you," he called back over his shoulder, ignoring the incredulous look on the nurse's face.
A young man in a suit walked out of room 122 B and shut the door behind him. Mulder got a good look at him before he looked up and spotted Mulder striding down the hall. He smiled.
"Agent Mulder," he said as Mulder approached.
"Krycek. What are you doing here?"
Krycek smiled in response.
"I think the more important question is, what are you doing here, Agent Mulder." Krycek nodded at Mulder's surprised response. "What are you doing here Mulder?"
"Checking on Jennifer Marlowe and possible connections to the Jane Doe 19292 case," he answered, hoping Krycek wasn't aware of the specifics of Jane Doe 19292.
No such luck. 'The case that months ago you were specifically told to drop. The case that you managed to involve a San Francisco medical examiner in? Tell me, Mulder, does Doctor Scully know that you are so far outside of the scope of your job duties you're in danger of losing your job?"
Mulder narrowed his eyes at Krycek. The man knew too much. Far too much.
"I think it's interesting, Agent Mulder, the connections you've drawn between the Jane Does and Emily Sims. Are you here at Jennifer Marlowe's bedside because you hope to make another connection that doesn't exist?"
"What do you know about any of this, Krycek?"
"Doctor Scully was very helpful, Mulder, very helpful."
Mulder felt the sharp pain of betrayal from Scully. He thought she was on the same side he was, but if she shared information with Krycek, he wasn't so sure. Maybe she was even working with the other side.
"Oh, you didn't think she actually wanted to help you, did you, Mulder? You're far too trusting," Krycek chided with a triumphant look on his face.
Mulder shot Krycek a dark look and attempted to step around him to Jennifer Marlowe's room.
Krycek stopped him with a hand on his chest. Mulder looked down at it and looked back at Krycek. "Oh, I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Mulder. In fact, it would be best if you left now. Without a fuss. If you do I'll let you tell Patterson yourself when you'll be home."
Mulder could see he was getting nowhere with Krycek and as long as he was in the hospital he wouldn't get into Jennifer Marlowe's room. He turned, cutting his losses and stalked out of the pediatric ward. The nurse watched him go.
11:46 am
July 19, 1993
San Francisco, CA
Mulder's breathing was labored as he climbed the hill while maintaining his running pace. He had left the hospital and ended up back at his hotel still angry from his exchange with Krycek. He had called the guys and asked them to dig up what they could about Krycek and to look a little more closely at Scully for him. Then, he decided to go for a run to clear his head.
He wasn't used to running hills, especially not the kind that San Francisco was famous for, but he found the effort it took both exhilarating as well as taxing. His calves burned on each step. It didn't answer his questions, though, about whom Krycek was and what his connection to Scully was. He didn't think she'd just give her files to him, especially when she was so guarded about them with him. As for Krycek, he wanted to know who he was and whom he worked for, but more importantly what he was doing in San Francisco at Jennifer Marlowe's bedside.
He made it back to his hotel and laid flat on his back, catching his breath before he showered and called the guys back to see what they had dug up. His mind had drifted to Scully again. Something in his gut, told him to trust her. His gut had also told him to trust Diana and he didn't like where that got him. It comes down to whether or not I trust my gut, he thought with irony. He heaved himself up off the bed and stumbled on his tired legs into the shower. He'd heard what the guys had to say first.
After dealing with the usual security features of calling in he got Byers on the line. "Mulder, this Alex Krycek that you asked us about, he's a bit of a mystery to us," Byers began.
"He's shady, Mulder," Langly called from the back.
"No, good, no good," Frohike added.
"What can you tell me about him, guys?"
"Well, he joined the Bureau a few years ago, a young upstart by all appearances, and has risen quickly through the ranks."
"A little too quickly!" Frohike shouted.
"What division is he in?" Mulder asked.
"Well see, that's the thing, Mulder my man," Langly said into the phone, having pulled it away from Byers, "he isn't."
"Isn't what?"
"In a division," Langly replied.
"He doesn't appear to report to anyone, or at least any one whose name we can find, Mulder," Byers said, having taken it back from Langly.
"Where was he before?"
"Nowhere, we can't find any record of him before he started in the academy and since graduating from there he was regularly and quickly promoted, but records on what cases he works, where he came from, everything just simply don't exist."
"Are you sure it's just not classified, Byers?"
"What do you take us to be, Mulder? Half-rate hackers?" Frohike yelled form the back.
Mulder pinched the bridge of his nose and hid a smile.
"Not you, Frohike, never you," he replied. "What about Scully?"
"Nothing new since the last time you had us look, Mulder," Byers answered.
"Frohike downloaded a picture of her, though, and is in love, “ Langly said. “He wants to know if her boyfriend looks like he could take him."
Mulder's eyes snapped open. "Boyfriend?"
"Yeah, didn't you know? Some reporter for the local news station."
"Anything on him?" Mulder asked.
"Not yet, but we can look for you," Langly answered.
Mulder thanked them and hung up the phone. He then typed an email to his friend in Senator Matheson's office letting him know he was on to something in California and his work would be easier if Patterson left him alone. That should get Patterson off his back, he thought.
Next, he thought about what to do about Scully. He didn't really need her help and could rely on the guys to hack the information he needed, but he liked working with her. He sighed, still unsure. Just because the boys didn't turn anything up didn't mean there wasn't anything there. She seemed straightforward enough, but he had no way of checking that she was who she said she was. Deciding to take a chance he sent her a short email, 'meet me at the place where they found her body at 7,' and didn't sign it. If she showed he'd ask her about Krycek. He'd know at that point whether or not to trust her, he told himself.
6:58 pm
July 19, 1993
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA
As Scully approached the spot where they found Jane Doe's body she could see Mulder's lanky form pacing the site, head down, chewing on a cuticle. He looked up at her as he approached and offered her a half-hearted smile.
"Hey," he said by way of greeting.
"Mulder? What is the meaning of this?" She asked sharply, annoyed at the summons that had arrived in her inbox earlier that day.
He appeared taken aback.
"This," she said, waiving her hand around the spot. "This covert secret agent meet me in the parking garage of the Watergate building crap. Are you going to pass me a message written in invisible ink that I'll need to use my decoder ring on?"
"Scully," Mulder began, but then stopped and sighed. It wasn't worth beating around the bush, he decided. "Why did you give the files to Alex Krycek?"
Scully looked shocked. "What?"
"Alex Krycek, why did you give him the files?"
"Mulder?" she asked, questioningly, not sure where the accusations were coming from.
"Did Alex Krycek come to see you?" Mulder tried again.
"Yes, this morning. He asked about Jane Doe and warned me about you, but I didn't give him any files." She could feel a knot forming in her belly. Her askew files, the mysterious visitor in the locker rooms, Mulder’s accusations were all starting to add up.
"He had information from them, and knew about Jennifer Marlowe before I did,” he said, implications clear.
"Jennifer Marlowe?"
She could tell Mulder was a bit surprised and frustrated and wondered if the reason he seemed worked alone was because he didn’t trust anyone. Accusing people of slipping your adversaries information was no way to earn any sort of trust in return either.
"A little girl. She was admitted to San Francisco General sick with what I believe Emily Sims had."
"Mulder," Scully said, "even I don't know what Emily Sims had – if anything. She's missing and the family has released no information on illnesses. All I have are probably illegally obtained medical records of drugs given and treatments prescribed by doctors and medical facilities that don't exist."
"Scully, Emily Sims was sick."
Scully rolled her eyes, annoyed with their conversation.
"Is this why you called me out here? To accuse me of giving files to someone and to tell me that Emily Sims was sick?"
"No," Mulder said, softly. "Did you?"
"Did I what?"
"Give Krycek the files?"
Scully gave Mulder a hard look before answering. "No," she said coldly. Mulder heard the unsaid condemnation for even thinking it. Scully wondered if that was guilt that flashed in his eyes.
Scully sighed and then seemed to relax, deciding it was. "Tell me about Jennifer Marlowe."
"She was admitted to SF general today. Her admitting sheet said she was nauseated, lethargic, and pale with slow motor responses. Her temperature was up and her blood pressure and heart beat elevated. There were also marks on her, similar to those on the Jane Does."
"Did you go to see her?"
"Yes, but I couldn't get in, Krycek was there."
Scully nodded at Mulder, looking thoughtful.
"When I asked my friends to acquire her records for me later this afternoon they told me they were gone."
"Gone?"
"Yes, like she never existed."
Scully's brow furrowed. “That's impossible."
Mulder shrugged. "I try to believe three impossible things before breakfast," he responded with a wry smile. Scully smiled back.
"Do you think Alex Krycek had something to do with this?"
"Yes," Mulder answered simply. "You said he came to see you?"
"Yes," she responded. "He tried to be charming and asked me about Jane Doe," she said, gesturing to the ground they were standing on.
"Did you tell him anything?"
"He asked me to speculate."
Mulder chuckled at her reminder of their first conversation.
"I don't think he was too pleased with how the conversation went. Mulder, I thought you told me your interest in this case was extracurricular?"
Mulder nodded.
"Then why is he so interested in it?"
"I don't know, Scully. I don't even know who he works for in the Bureau or how he even found out about it."
Scully looked thoughtful for a minute.
"If I could get ahold of Jennifer Marlowe's admitting records, can you look over them for me?"
"Mulder…"
"Please?"
Scully nodded, looking like she already regretted the decision. He smiled at her. "All right, Mulder, it's been fun, but I have to go." She turned to leave, but stopped. "Oh, the local TV news station is running a feature story on Emily Sims tomorrow, by the way," she said before adding a good night. With that she left the park, Mulder’s eyes on her back the whole time.
6:12 am
July 20, 1993
Sleep-Inn Motel
San Francisco, CA
Mulder had set the TV on the local channel and had caught the teaser for the Emily Sims story. He had checked with the guys last night after meeting Scully. He was now certain she had no connection to Krycek, at least not an official one, and hadn't given him the files. The boys had been busy with Krycek and had managed to find a reference to him being assigned to the X files. Mulder had asked them to dig up some more on the X files, never having heard of it before.
He had received an email from Scully this morning stating she had asked a friend who worked on the pediatric floor at San Francisco General who remembered a young girl named Jennifer Marlowe, but that she had been moved during the night to a private facility and now no one could find any records of her in the computer. Mulder wondered how many other little girls appeared and disappeared from hospitals on a regular basis and how many went missing like Emily Sims but were never reported missing.
The guys had promised to keep looking for him along with investigating the mysterious FBI division. His computer beeped, indicating an incoming email. He glanced over at it, but sat up straighter when he realized it was from the guys, pulling the computer towards him he opened it to read it.
The X files seemed to be a division that handled otherwise unsolvable or unexplained crimes. They had found a few cases about UFO sightings, spontaneous combustion, and other weird occurrences listed with an X designation. They weren't sure who was assigned to it, other than it looked like Krycek had been assigned a caseload that included many X files.
Mulder caught the TV announcer mentioned Emily's name and looked up, seeing the story start. It flashed to a picture of Emily and her mom and dad, describing their life in Sacramento. It used the typical TV pathos to describe her disappearance and mother's subsequent suicide from grief, the female reporter said as the camera focused on a picture of Mrs. Sim's face. It made no mention of her possible illness, but as B-roll showed on the screen behind a phone number you could call to report any possible information to the Sacramento police, Mulder caught sight of a familiar face.
Startled he leaned forward. "Well, shit," he said to himself as he looked at the video of Krycek standing on the front porch of the family's home in Sacramento.
Chapter 6
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-10-16 04:18 pm (UTC)I like the X-files division being a tool of evil in this universe. I wonder if Diana is actually assigned there as well, and Mulder just hasn't figured it out because he's been giving her the brush-off. I'd like to have seen how Diana and Krycek would work as a team.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-16 04:53 pm (UTC)You know how you're writing and you just reach of a point where you ... yeah, that point? I was there with it, and now your comments are making me say, "ooh, I could put this in and it would be marvelous!"
I hope you're still enjoying the story at the end :)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-16 05:42 pm (UTC)I'd be happy to beta or give feedback on anything else you want to write in this world. :) And to continue in this vein, the original universe spelled the character's name "Emily Sim" (no s), but this one isn't exactly her anyway, so the s is not a problem, you know?