From: dmcintoshtx@yahoo.com   
      
   CHAPTER 4    
      
   When Krycek got up the next morning he fixed two cups of coffee and   
   headed over to Mulder's room.  He found him at the end of the hall at   
   the railing watching the goings on below.   
      
   "Good morning.  Did you get any sleep?"  He handed Mulder a cup.   
      
   "Yes, I did; thanks."  He took the coffee and sipped it as they walked   
   down ramp to Medical.   
      
   "How's he doing?"  Alex asked Jeremiah as they entered.   
      
   "He seems much better this morning though he's not awake yet.  I do   
   think he will be waking soon.  All his vitals are looking good."   
      
   "Oh that's good news; thanks."  Alex said as he and Mulder went into   
   Skinner's room.     
      
    They were standing on either side of Skinner's bed when he woke up.   
      
   "What the … Mulder?  What's going on?  Where am I?"   
      
   Krycek reached out and grabbed his arm, "Walter!"   
      
   "Krycek!" Skinner said and jerked his arm back.  "Mulder, what's going   
   on here and why is Krycek here?"   
      
   Mulder and Krycek exchanged glances as Jeremiah joined them.  "Good   
   morning, Walter.  How are you feeling?"   
      
   "I know you … you're that healer." Skinner said and turned back to   
   Mulder again.  "Mulder … explain!"  He ordered.   
      
   "A…Sir; you've been … not well and Jeremiah Smith here has been   
   looking after you."   
      
   "But why?  I thought he only treated abductees?"   
      
   "You don't remember anything?"  Krycek asked.   
      
   "What I remember and don't remember is none of your business, Krycek.   
    Why are you here and what do you want?"  Skinner tried to sit up and   
   Mulder pressed the lever on the side of the bed raising him to a   
   sitting position.   
      
   Krycek backed away a few steps and Mulder could see the pain in his   
   eyes.  Skinner didn't remember him; at least not the Krycek he'd been   
   sharing a life with this past year.   
      
   Realization hit the three standing at about the same time.  Smith   
   tried to smooth things over.  "Alex is the one who found you and   
   brought you in.  He saved your life."   
      
   Skinner stared at Smith, trying to make sense of words that made no   
   sense to him.  He glanced at Mulder for confirmation.   
      
   "It's true, Sir."   
      
   "Found me where?  If he found me somewhere it was because he was   
   probably responsible for whatever happened to me.  What do you want,   
   Krycek?"   
      
   "I … I just wanted to make sure you were OK."  Krycek said.   
      
   Skinner gave him his best AD glare.   
      
   "Sir?  You don't remember anything?"  Mulder asked.   
      
   "Anything about what?  Are you going to tell me what happened; why I'm   
   here in this hospital bed?"  He glanced back and forth between Mulder   
   and Smith.   
      
   "You were in need of medical assistance so you were brought here.  You   
   are well now physically but apparently you are suffering some memory   
   loss."   
      
   "Memory loss?"  Skinner questioned.   
      
   "What's the last thing you remember before waking up here?"  Mulder asked.   
      
   "I was at my desk; in my office.  At least … I think I was.  It's all   
   kind of foggy."   
      
   "Well, don't let it worry you," Smith advised, "A little bit of   
   disorientation is not uncommon.  Just try and relax and get plenty of   
   rest.  I'm sure things will start coming back to you."   
      
   "How long have I been here under your care?" Skinner asked Smith.   
      
   "Just over night."   
      
   "Oh, good; not all that long.  I need to get out of here.  Mulder, do   
   you have your car?  Can you give me a ride home?"  He started to get   
   out of bed and Smith stopped him.   
      
   "Whoa there.  I think you need to stay put for a while.  After all;   
   it's Saturday.  You don't have any appointments on a Saturday do you?"   
      
   "It's Saturday?"  Skinner rubbed his forehead.  "No; no appointments   
   today."   
      
   "It really would be best if you stayed put until a little of that   
   confusion clears up." Smith said.   
      
   "Are you going to tell me what happened to me?"   
      
   "I can assure you that you are going to be just fine.  It might take a   
   little while to clear up the confusion in your mind but I'm sure it   
   will all come back to you.  It would be much better if you remembered   
   on your own."   
      
   "Did he really save my life?"  Skinner asked Mulder as he nodded   
   towards Krycek who was now at the foot of the bed and ready to walk out.   
      
   "Yes, he did."  Mulder answered and started to walk out as well.   
      
   "Mulder, wait; don't go.  Can you stay … just a while; until things   
   clear up a little?"   
      
   Mulder looked over to Smith who nodded OK; then he looked at Krycek   
   who just stared at Skinner then turned and walked out the door.   
      
   "Sure.  I can stay a while.  But I don't think I'm supposed to answer   
   any questions."   
      
   "Let him try and put the pieces together by himself, Mulder.   The   
   sooner he remembers, the sooner he'll be back on his feet."  Smith   
   advised as he made his exit after Krycek.   
      
   "What's this all about, Mulder?  Can you tell me anything?"  Skinner   
   asked.   
      
   "Not much.  Can I get you anything; how about some coffee or breakfast?"   
      
   "Actually, I am hungry; starving in fact."  Skinner answered relaxing   
   a little once he was alone with Mulder.   
      
   "I'll talk to Smith and see about getting something brought in.  I'll   
   be right back."   
      
   He went out into the outer room to find Smith consoling Krycek with a   
   hand on his shoulder and some quiet assurance.   
      
   "Excuse me; he says he's hungry.  Can we get something for him to   
   eat?"  Mulder asked; his eyes not missing the slight movement of   
   Krycek wiping a tear away with the shrug of his shoulder.   
      
   "Certainly.  What about you?  Have you eaten?"  Smith asked.   
      
   "No.  That would be nice.  Whatever you have will be fine."  Mulder   
   said and after giving Krycek another look, rejoined Skinner in his   
   room.  He felt a little sick to his stomach and hoped that Smith was   
   right and Skinner's memory would return soon.   
      
   He got back into Skinner's room just in time to see him trying to get   
   out of bed.   
      
   "Hold on there; where you going?"  Mulder asked as he steadied Skinner.   
      
   "Bathroom.  I need a bathroom … now!"  Skinner said, looking around   
   the small room.   
      
   "That looks like one; hold on and let me check."  Mulder went over and   
   checked behind a closed door.  It was indeed a bathroom and he helped   
   Skinner cross the room and waited outside for him.   
      
   Skinner had barely made it inside, got the door closed and his gown   
   pushed aside before he ejaculated.  He was shocked.  That hadn't   
   happened to him in years.  He finished his business then made it back   
   to his bed with Mulder hovering at his side and lending an arm for   
   support.   
      
   "I need to get out of here, Mulder."  He said as he sat back down in   
   his bed but even as he said it, he knew he was too weak to go very far.   
      
   "When you're stronger," Mulder sympathized, "I'm sure they'll release   
   you."   
      
   "What the hell happened to me?  Can't you just give me a clue here,   
   Mulder?  I need some help."   
      
   "I would if I could but let's just play it the doctor's way for now   
   and see what happens.  Give yourself a little time to relax and maybe   
   it'll all start coming back."  Mulder said as he pulled the covers   
   back up.   
      
   "God, I want to get out of here!  I just want to get back to my   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)