AFTERMATH

CHAPTER SEVEN

Despite his apprehension, Skinner ended up liking the doctor. He didn't expect to, but the guy was funny, always cracking a joke and there was no doubt about the fact that he knew his business. He joked off Skinner's initial brusqueness by telling him a story about a butterfly and a bear. Skinner sneered but he got the point. Just because the bear was a thousand times larger than the butterfly, there was no need to eat it to prove anything. There was nothing to prove; the entire universe could see that the bear was bigger and stronger than the butterfly. In the end the bear accepts the butterfly's help and he was shown a safe path through the woods, away from the hunters. He would accept Dr. Kim's help but he wouldn't like him. By the end of the week they were fast friends, Skinner was up on his feet with the walking cast that had been placed on his injured leg, and he was peeking out the windows watching the goings on in the village. His cough was nearly gone; he was eating several small meals a day and could feel his strength returning.

He had been given crutches, which he detested but it did enable him to get around. Once on his feet again, he felt better – a bit of control in the midst of this uncontrollable situation. He still had questions but had no idea where to get the answers. He liked Dr. Kim, even though he hadn't wanted to, but he had few answers to the many questions that plagued Skinner.

Alex visited with him every day and they would sit and talk for hours. Skinner asked if there was anyone else in camp that they knew and was told no. They talked about Mulder and Scully and wondered and hoped that they were hidden out somewhere. They wondered if there were other settlements like theirs where free people were struggling to survive. They discussed their situation and wondered if it was world-wide or just the U.S. and what the eventual outcome would be. Alex always gave his standard answer to that. They couldn't worry about the future right now. All they could do was survive and help as many others as possible to survive as well. Skinner reluctantly agreed.

One afternoon as they talked Skinner asked, "So why me, Krycek? Why did you go all that way just to get me out? I thought you hated me."

Krycek sat on the stool beside Skinner's bed and shrugged. "It was something to do."

Skinner glared at him, not accepting the glib answer. "You told me you've been going to the different camps and taking out people who were needed. I have nothing to offer to the planning and setting up of a new community.

"I also said we were taking out family and friends."

"I'm neither of those to you or anyone else here."

"Maybe I just wanted someone here that I knew, someone that I knew I could rely on."

Skinner stared at him until Krycek was uncomfortable enough to leave. None of it made any sense. He wondered if his mind was still muddled from his illness. There was something behind Krycek's traveling half way across the country to rescue him. He just couldn't figure out what it was. He was too weak to give it much thought and relaxed and dozed off again.

He paced the floor of the small two bed dispensary and used his bad leg as much as he could with the crutches. It was awkward and uncomfortable but at least he could make it to the bathroom by himself and no longer had to suffer the indignity of using the bed pan. He spent a lot of time looking out the window and watching the small community go about its business.

After ten days of mostly bed rest, Skinner talked Dr. Kim into releasing him. He was given quarters in the one of the men's barracks. He enjoyed walking around, greeting the people who were all friendly and welcomed him warmly. He was about to check out the cafeteria when he heard a yell and everyone headed towards the front of the camp site at the rivers edge and watched three motorcycles crossing the bridge and heading their way. It wasn't until they were closer that you could see each was carrying a passenger.

Two young men in high school letter jackets burst from the group and ran to them calling out, "Dad! Dad!" It was a touching reunion, with hugs and tears and handshakes. The three new comers were welcomed then escorted to the dispensary for Dr. Kim to check out. One of them had an arm around each son and wept openly.

Skinner watched until they disappeared into the dispensary and continued his wandering.
There were six buildings in their little community and he could see two more were in the process of being erected. All were the same style; large rectangular one story buildings, a door on the front and the back, and small rectangular windows along the top on both sides. They resembled the old military barracks that Skinner remembered. He found out that there were three men's dormitories, one for the women, one was the combination cafeteria/kitchen/hospital and one was for storage. The dormitories had twelve bunk beds along each long wall with a shelf unit in between for each person's meager possessions. Each building could accommodate forty eight people.

Everyone seemed to be busy doing things. Those working on the buildings were being assisted by smiling chatting others who were handing them whatever they needed or bringing them drinks. Some were unloading lumber from a truck and stacking it, some were busy sanding long boards, while others were painting the latest building that was completed. There was a constant hum of sawing and hammering going on.

Over by the kitchen two men and one woman were sitting outside peeling huge pots of potatoes and talking and laughing. They waved at him and called out their welcomes to him. He wandered around, enjoying the freedom, the fresh air, and the thought that he no longer had to hide out in deserted buildings and scavenge for food for survival.

He found Alex, sitting at a small card table under some trees with several others; obviously making plans of some sort.

"I see Dr. Kim finally let you go." Alex greeted him with a smile. Someone brought a chair for him and Alex introduced him around. They were planning their next retrieval for after lunch and making lists of what was needed.

"You want to go along for the ride?" Alex asked him. "It's a small town, about an hours drive. We know the schedule the aliens have for inspecting the small towns around here and they haven't deviated from that schedule in two years. They were through this town two days ago. So they are no where in the area and there's no chance of them hearing our trucks. I can't promise you it's totally safe, once in a while we do run across other scavengers but they usually take off like rabbits when they see us. We haven't seen anyone there in the last few months."

"Oh yeah, I'd like to go. What are we going for?" Walter answered then asked, excited at the prospect of actually doing something for a change even though it was just a ride into town.

"This is just a supply run. We really lucked out with this little town. It has a Wal-Mart, a Sears and a Home Depot and we have been unloading the warehouses. We're taking three trucks this time. This is mainly a maternity run."

"A what?"

"A maternity run. One of our women is about ready to give birth in a few weeks. The other women asked if we could pick up a few things for her. I'm ashamed to say that none of us even thought about that."

"Well men never had to think about such things before. The women just naturally gathered that stuff up for themselves and men never had to deal with it." One of the men at the table offered.

"The women don't go on these trips with you?" Skinner asked.

"Not lately. At first they did when our only transportation was bicycles and then wagons."

"Bicycles? Wagons?" Skinner asked. "You went out scouting for supplies on bikes or are we talking motorcycles? What kind of wagons? Station wagons?"

"No, it was actual bicycles – twenty five of them. That's how we got here originally. And that's how we went on those first scavenging trips. We didn't know how often they patrolled the small towns and we were afraid to use anything with a motor."

"So you biked thirty miles? How much could you carry back on a bike?"

"Yeah, we did. There is another little town about fifteen miles out. That's where we biked back and forth the most. We came up with some rather ingenious ideas for hauling stuff. And with ten or fifteen of us going in at a time we were able to bring back what we needed to get started. And the wagons were horse drawn farm wagons we came across. They were a great help."

"And I take it this closest town has been emptied by now?"

"Of just about everything useful. It's still being patrolled every Tuesday morning at ten A.M. a truck rolls through there and they glance around. They don't even get out of the trucks. We try and keep every thing on the streets exactly as it was. We have siphoned all the gasoline out of the vehicles though, and emptied the town of all the food.

"They could change up their routine and come on a different day."

"They could, but they haven't in two years. We are very careful when we go in. There are enough of us and we post guards on either end of town. We never stay in town longer than necessary to get what we need and get right back out. There's no sense in taking any chances."

"That's where you got the motorcycles?"

"That's where I got mine; the one with the sidecar." Alex grinned as they looked over at the stand of about a dozen cycles standing nearby.

"The others were picked up here and there on different missions."

"I'd like to hear about some of these missions."

"Our bank president has the records of every mission." The geologist, Parks said and motioned to the man across the table from him.

"I'm not a bank president any more, Parks. I'm just a record keeper now."

"Records are important," Skinner said and they all nodded in agreement.

Just then they were approached by four young men. "We're ready whenever you are, Alex." One of them said.

"Sounds good to me. I want to drive one of the trucks this time. I've got a passenger who'll be accompanying me."

"Hey, glad to see you're out of the hospital." The one guy said. "Did you get Kim's OK to take him along? He'll have your head if you take him without permission."

"This is just a milk run and Kim released him. What does he expect Walter to do, just sit around and do nothing? We're just taking him for a ride, that's all."

Walter stood with the help of his crutches and they headed towards the three trucks that were now waiting on the one small dirt road that meandered through the area. Alex opened the passenger door of the lead truck and told the driver to grab a motorcycle as he would be driving this morning. He helped Walter into the truck and went around and climbed in.

They made their way slowly towards the small bridge, then it was through the fields and along the valley edge until they came to the tunnel. Walter watched it all in fascination, his first view of the area from this vantage point.

The tunnel door had been opened for them and they drove slowly through the opening. Lanterns secured to the walls lit their way.

"This place is amazing." Walter said as they exited into the bright sunlight into what appeared to be a pile of rocks. They weaved their way around the boulders and out into flat countryside. He could see men behind them swirling tree branches in the dirt to wipe out the tire marks. Soon they were in a rocky area where no tracks were made.

The drive across the fields in the four-wheel drive trucks was un-eventful. Walter enjoyed being out and around but he was a bit un-easy about being in an un-secured area. The last thing he wanted was to get stuck back in another detention camp. A shiver ran through him at that thought.

"You all right?" Alex asked.

"Yeah, just a little nervous about getting caught out here."

"We are way out in the middle of nowhere, Walter. The main roads are patrolled daily, the side roads are patrolled weekly along with the small towns. They were through here two days ago and aren't expected back this way for another five days. They have never been seen out in the open areas and they haven't varied their patterns since we first started monitoring them." Alex assured him.

"These trucks make a lot of noise. What if they're heard? Won't someone come and investigate?"

"The closest main road is about thirty miles from the valley in the opposite direction that we're traveling. Our motorcyclists are out in front and will signal if there is any danger."

"I guess I just won't be comfortable until we're back in the valley again." Walter sighed.

"You'll be all right. We usually spend about an hour in town, sometimes two, and then we'll head back. Or I can turn this truck around and take you back now and the others can go on without us if you're that uncomfortable."

"No, don't do that. I'm fine; just a little nervous."

Their first stop was Sears where they loaded up on baby items. They decided to get two of everything as keep one set in storage for the next baby to be born. Alex helped with the loading but Walter mostly hobbled around and watched. On push carts from the warehouse area, a couple of guys brought out large empty cartons that once held large appliances and they went up and down the baby aisles and filled the boxes with; formula, diapers, wipes, blankets, clothes, baby food etc. Walter watched in awe as the boxes filled up and were hauled out and loaded in the truck along with the cribs, high chairs, play pens, swings, bassinets, strollers etc.

The first truck was completely loaded with the baby items, the second truck had hit the linen department and brought out boxes and filled them with towels, sheets, blankets, and pillows. The third truck was loading up over at Home Depot, bringing in more lumber.

Walter was leaning against the side of the truck waiting for the others to finish loading when something caught his eye – movement in the building across the street. It was a fast food place with nothing of any possible value. He counted heads and realized that none of their group was over there.

He turned back to Alex and said quietly, "We're being watched."

"Down on the corner? It's one of our guys."

"Building across the street. I saw the blinds open with two fingers then close again. Someone's in there."

Alex took a deep breath. "Ok. We pretty much know it's not aliens or we'd be ashes in the street by now. It must be a straggler. You stay here and watch the front. I'll circle around back."

Walter nodded in agreement and tried to act casual as he stood there, his heart pounding like it was in a five mile foot race. He watched Alex speak to one of the guys and they went back into Sears and out of sight. The other men kept on loading.

He heard the scuffle and then three of them walked out of the front door of the fast food place, Krycek, his buddy and in between them was a scruffy, bedraggled old man, protesting every step of the way. "Leave me alone! I don't have to do what you say. There ain't no law no more!"

They walked him across the street and stopped next to the trucks. "I didn't take all that much!" he was protesting. "Not like you boys. You been taking stuff by truck loads!"

"You've seen us before?" Alex asked him.

"Sure I have; every time you come into town."

"Why didn't you ever contact us? You could have gone back with us, where it's safe."

"It's safe enough right here. They come through here the same day every week. Me and Millie just get ourselves down in the cellar and sit it out until we're sure they're gone. You folks, I never know what day you're going to show up."

"Is Millie your wife?" Walter asked.

"No, no. That was Alice. She was a real good woman too. She took sick first winter after those heathens came. There weren't no electricity no more. I tried to keep her warm but she just got sicker and sicker. I think she was scared sick. She just didn't want to get up outta that bed no more. Everyone was gone. We'd a been gone too if we hadn't a been down in the basement stacking up the peaches Alice had just canned. We heard the commotion and peeked out the basement window and saw what was happening. It was awful; just awful." He choked up and couldn't go on for a minute. "When we seen what was happening, them invaders or whoever they are, burning people in the street, we hid in the closet under the cellar stairs. They come in the house and even come down in the cellar but they didn't find us. We was too smart for them!" He pulled a filthy rag out of his back pocket and wiped at his nose. "We searched the town but wasn't no body left. We kept figuring somebody would come, maybe the Army or something, but no body never did. My Alice and me, we was married for forty three years, never spent a night apart and then she was gone. Just like that. I put her in the ground myself, out back by the rose bushes. She always loved those rose bushes."

"So who is Millie, someone else that outsmarted them?" Alex asked.

"Come on over to my house and you can meet her. It's just two blocks over that way."

"You men finish up here and I'll meet you over at Home Depot." Krycek said and he loaded the old man in the truck along with Skinner and they headed out, the old man pointing out the way.

They stopped in front of a dilapidated old house, with a four-foot chain link around it and they all got out.

"You think maybe you should stay in the truck?" Krycek asked Skinner quietly.

"Nah. I can't see that there'd be any trouble here."

"Come on in. It's kinda messy but I wasn't exactly expecting company." The old man produced a ring of keys out of his pockets and unlocked the gate first and then the front door. They walked in and were greeted by a very fat, very pregnant little black and white dog that got up from her place on the couch and went into spastic wiggles as they all entered.

"Folks, meet Millie. She's my buddy, aren't you old girl." He lifted the dog carefully into his arms and nuzzled her.

"Millie's a dog." Krycek said to Skinner with an indulgent grin.

"So I see."

"I figured you got some place some where around here. I seen you come in for supplies. I seen you back when you come in on those bikes; before you got yourselves them trucks."

"Why didn't you ever come out and talk to us?" Krycek asked.

"I was doing all right, right here." They glanced around and saw stacks and stacks of food filling almost every square inch of floor and leaving just a pathway to get through from one room to another.

"Why not come back with us? We've got a nice settlement going over in a valley not far from here. We've got it fixed up real nice. We've got a couple of doctors and a lot of real nice people."

"I figured you been doing some building. You near cleaned out the lumber yard."

"There's plenty of room. We've got a whole little community going."

"Welllll," he dragged the word out. "I didn't figure you'd want no old drunk over there. You got women and all. I ain't much good company any more. Not since Alice left.
'Sides, I'd hate to leave Millie. She needs me."

"You could bring Millie along. We don't have a single dog in our community. We've got horses and chickens but no dogs." Krycek said.

"I could bring Millie?" His face brightened, showing gaps where he was missing teeth.

"Sure! We've got some kids and they would love it when the puppies come. They don’t have a whole lot to do and having some puppies in the community would really brighten things up for them."

"How long has it been since you had a drink?" Skinner asked him. He was curious as he smelled no alcohol on the man.

"About a year. I drunk up everything I could find after Alice passed. Them was hard times, here all alone. I figured I'd just drink until I died and I drank and drank and drank until I passed out but I always woke up afterwards. I got really sick of the stuff. Got tired of throwing up, so I quit. I ain't touched a drop in about a year."

"Well I don't see any reason why you should stay here alone when we've got this great little community." Krycek said.

"So what would I have to do? I mean, I'm too old to do any building and never did learn how to ride a bike. Or would I be a prisoner or something?"

"No, no; of course not. You could do whatever you were comfortable with doing. There are so many things that need doing." Krycek faltered as he searched for ideas.

"You like to fish?" Skinner asked after seeing a photo of the old man on the mantle in fishing gear and holding up a big trout.

"I love it but I ain't done any in years."

"We have a river running through our valley and it's just filled with tasty trout!" Krycek added.

"No kidding? I used to have a place where I went and always caught me some big brownies. I'd bring 'em home and Alice would fry them up for dinner."

"Well, that settles it then. You're coming back with us. You can bring Millie here, and you can fish till your hearts content. I don't suppose you play cards?" Krycek asked.

"I used to. But Alice always got on to me about it. She didn't like my friends coming over and filling the house up with noise. She liked the quiet."

"Well, we've got a couple of Gin Rummy players always looking for a game."

The old man grinned his gap-toothed grin. "Can I take my stuff?"

"What stuff would that be?" Krycek asked.

"Just a few clothes, my photo album here, and my beer stein my uncle brought me back from Germany during the big war and my banjo."

"You play a banjo? That's great! You'll be the first musician in our group! Get your stuff together and we'll throw them in the back of the truck."

"And you're sure it's all right to take a dog? Cause I won't go without Millie."

"Positive!" Krycek said and the dog was shoved into his arms while the old man hurried around and got his things together.

He stuffed everything into an old suitcase and tied it shut with a piece of rope. He took Millie back into his arms and told Krycek, "We'd better grab some of this dog food too. I got the special expensive kind for Millie cause she needs it right now and I stocked up on canned milk and puppy chow for the pups."

One of their other trucks pulled up behind theirs and called out that they came to see what was taking so long. They had room in their truck and hauled out bag after bag of dog food, and puppy chow.

The old man sat with Millie on his lap, in between Krycek and Skinner as they pulled up to the Home Depot where their third truck was being loaded.

"You know there's someone else in town too." He said matter-of-factly.

"There is? Who? We haven't seen anyone but you."

"Oh I haven't seen her either but I know there's a woman here. She's got a baby too."

"How do you know that if you haven't seen her?" Skinner asked.

"I've seen her leavings." He said as if that explained everything.

"Leavings?" Krycek asked.

"Uh huh. She's been over there to Sears & Roebuck too. She left some bloody kotex and some dirty smelling diapers there. She's got a baby all right. I seen some open baby food jars."

"Jesus!" Krycek swore. "A woman out there alone with a baby. You think she was just passing through or have you seen other signs?"

"She's still here I think. I seen them dirty diapers around now for at least three, four months."

"Shit!" Krycek cursed again. "And we just loaded up all the baby food we could find."

They climbed out of the truck and explained their dilemma to the others. They debated whether to try and search for the woman and decided against it. It was getting late and they needed to return to the valley before dark. They decided they would come back the next day first thing in the morning and start a search.

They started out and just got back up on the main street when a little girl darted out in front of them, waving her hands back and forth. She looked to be about five or six years old, her hair twisted up in about a dozen little pony tails, her black face shiny with tears.

"Mister, mister. My Mommy needs help, she's bleeding! Please help, Mister."

"No! No! Keisha come back here!" The scream came from an alley and they turned to see the haggard looking woman holding a baby and leaning against a fence post, her wiry black hair sticking out in all directions and eyes red-rimmed from crying. She was obviously in pain.

Krycek slammed on the brakes and they all got out.

"Please don't take my little girl, she don't know what she's talkin' 'bout. Keisha, you git over here this minute! Oh Jesus, help me," she wailed.

"She's bleeding bad, Mister. Can you help her?" She ran to Krycek. The little girl was clearly terrified but determined to find help for her sick mommy.

"Come here, sweetheart." He bent down and she went to him and took his hand.

"Mommy's real bad sick. She says Jesus will help us but we waited and waited and Jesus didn’t come. Are you Jesus?"

"No, Sweetheart. My name is Alex. Is yours Keisha?"

The little girl shook her head vigorously.

"Please, please don't take her. Jesus, help me. Don't let them take my little girl." The mother wailed.

Krycek held the little girl's hand and walked the few steps over to her mother.
"I have no intention of taking your daughter away from you. I'm here to help. She says you're bleeding?"

"I'm all right. I be just fine. You go along now and help somebody else. We don't need no help."

Skinner walked over to them, made eye contact with Krycek and looked to the ground where the woman was standing. Krycek looked down and saw the drops of blood darkening the dirt where she stood.

"You're bleeding. Pretty badly it looks like." Krycek said.

"Oh it's just a woman thing. You go on now. My girls and me, we be just fine."

"I can't leave you like this. You need help. We're here to help. We have a place, a safe place with plenty of food and water and doctors and nurses. They can help you."

"Ain't nobody can help me." She wiped her running nose on her shoulder and pulled her little girl around behind her.

"But Momma, you said Jesus would help us. He said his name is Alex but I think he's Jesus." The little girl stuck her head out from behind her momma and pointed at Alex.

"Ma'am, I understand that you're frightened. Everybody's frightened after what happened. But, just like you, and that man over there," He pointed to the old man. "Some of us didn't get caught. We found a safe place and we're building a nice community. We'd like you and your children to come join us."

"You got any colored people there?" She sniffed.

"No, but if you come we'll have three. And there are new people joining us all the time. Sooner or later, I'm sure we'll have more."

"So what I'd be doin'? Washin' your clothes and warmin' your bed?"

"No. Everyone is free in our community. You'd be welcome to do anything you wanted. There's always lots of work to be done. But first you would be seen by our doctor. He can help whatever's wrong with you."

"Nobody won't be tryin' to do me?" She asked as she crossed her legs and held them together tightly.

"Honey, nobody is going to do anything to you that you don't want them to. You have my word. Come on. Let's get you in the truck. You can lie down in the back. That second truck there is full of blankets and pillows. It's about an hours drive from here. We need to get started so we get there before dark."

"Is this for real? I ain't gonna hafta be nobody's maid or nothin'?"

"Yes, it's for real and no, you won't have to take care of anyone else but yourself and your two beautiful daughters. There are other women in the group. They will be tickled to death to have another women join them. You can stay in their barracks. It's just for the women. No men allowed. You and your girls will be given bunks there. You'll be warm and dry and there's heat when cold weather comes."

"Please, Momma! Please! Let's go! You said Jesus would come for us and he did!"

"Ok, Ok. Can you wait just a minute while I get my stuff?"

"Sure, but we need to leave as soon as possible. It's a long drive and it's all cross country. We stay off the roads."

"My stuff's just in the back. I was lookin' for another place to stay. I'll be right back."

"Can I help you carry it?" Krycek offered and followed her back behind the building. They came out a few seconds later, Krycek pulling a large red suitcase on wheels.

They loaded the woman and her two girls and their suitcase in the back of the truck and she immediately lay down on the plastic covered blankets and pillows. "If you're cold, you can open some of these up." Krycek opened one of the blankets and tossed it to her.

The little girl pulled the blanket up over herself and her momma and flashed Krycek a big smile. "Thank you, Jesus." she said sweetly.

"Alex! I told you my name is Alex." Krycek said. The little girl just giggled.

They got underway and Skinner looked over at Krycek and snickered, "Jesus – Huh!"

They both laughed. "I've been called a lot of things before but that was definitely a first."

"Oh fuck!" The old man sitting between them said.

"What's the matter?" They both asked him.

"Am I dead?" He looked from Krycek to Skinner and back to Krycek again. "If I am, it's Ok. I mean, you're takin' me to this place where there's plenty of food and water, where I can fish and play cards and keep my dog and play my banjo. If that ain't heaven; what is?"

They roared with laughter.

Skinner was enjoying the first real laugh he had had in two years and he said to the old man, "Does he look like Jesus to you?"

"I don't know. What does Jesus supposed to look like?" The old man asked eyeing Krycek.

"Oh please, not you too!" Krycek could hardly drive he was laughing so hard.

"Before Alice left she was talkin' a lot about Jesus. She said he would come for her soon and one day he would come for me and take me to her. Is my Alice in this community of yours? Are you takin' me to her?"

"Look," Skinner got control of himself. "This is Alex Krycek. I have known him for many years and I can assure you, he is not Jesus."

"So the two of you are long time friends then?"

Krycek and Skinner looked at each other and Krycek said, "Not exactly friends."

"Oh. Well, hell. That's Ok with me. I've always been broad minded about such things."

When Krycek and Skinner realized what the old man meant, they burst into laughter again. The rest of the trip was un-eventful and they arrived at the mine entrance right at dusk.

They drove through the mine and out into the valley and the doorways were closed and secured behind them. The man and woman and two children were taken directly to the dispensary where they were taken care of immediately while the women hovered around oohing and aahing over the children and welcoming the new comers.

Krycek drove Skinner over and stopped in front of his barracks. "It's been a long day. I hope we didn't tire you out too much."

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Thank you for taking me along. I'm ready to go on another trip any time."

"I figured you'd enjoy the ride. I didn't figure on so much excitement though."

"I'm fine. See you at dinner then – Jesus." Skinner said as he hopped down out of the truck. They both dissolved in laughter again.

He hardly recognized the newcomers when he saw them in the cafeteria an hour later. They had been all cleaned up; the old man had his hair cut and trimmed his beard. And one of the high chairs had been set up for the new seven month old baby.

At dinner, after all the debris had been cleared away, Krycek introduced all the newcomers to the group. Another farmer, a baker and the father of two of the boys who turned out to be a plumber, had come in the morning and the old man Bernie, the woman Lauren and her two children they had just brought in. All were given a warm welcome.

After the meeting as everyone went their separate ways, Krycek caught up with Skinner as he was walking back to his barracks. "Skinner, wait up." He trotted up beside him.
"Is your bunk Ok? They didn't put you next to Harry, did they?"

"The bunk is fine. No, Harry is down at the other end."

"Good. I'm so glad Dr. Kim released you."

"I think he was glad to get rid of me."

"Nah. He loves having someone to fuss over. It's really good to see you up and around and on your feet again.

"It feels good to be out and around." Then after a few steps he added, "Everyone here says you're a hero."

"I'm not a hero, Walter. You should know that better than anyone else."

"In these people's eyes you are. Some think you're a hero, some think you're Jesus. It's amazing how far off some people's judgment can be."

"Walter, the past is dead and gone. Could we please just put it behind us and move on?"

"If everything here is as it seems to be, then yes we can. But I'm keeping my eye on things."

Krycek gave a disappointed little nod of his head and left.

Skinner saw the look and instantly regretted his words. He went inside to his bunk and lay awake for a long while thinking. To these people, Krycek was a hero. He got them off that plane, brought them here to safety and has been seeing to their needs for two years now.

As much as he had hated Krycek in the past, he had to admit that this was a different Krycek than he had known. This one cared about people, worried about them, risked his life to rescue them. This one held a little girls hand and laughed out loud at a crazy old man. This Krycek had rescued him, saved his life. This Krycek … this Krycek he liked.
He made a mental note to apologize to him in the morning.

The next morning he awoke to the sounds of people stirring. He got up and headed for the cafeteria for some coffee. It was hot and steaming, just the way he liked it. He took his cup and wandered outside. He was looking for Krycek. He wanted to apologize.

He saw him sitting with the Englishman talking and drinking their coffee and headed over towards them. He caught the last bit of the conversation as he neared.

"You should tell him how you feel about him," the Englishman was saying. "I can't see that he'd be anything but flattered."

Krycek caught sight of him and looked visibly shaken for a second then called out to him, "Good morning, Walter. Did you sleep well?"

"I did, thank you." He took an empty chair and sat down.

The Englishman greeted him then said he had something to do and left the two of them alone.

Skinner cleared his throat and spoke, "I wanted to thank you for taking me along yesterday."

"Well I never would have if I had known all the excitement we were going to run into. Sometimes we go weeks and no one shows up and then like yesterday, we get a bunch in one day."

"It was exciting and I'm glad I went." They were silent for a few moments. "Actually, I wanted to apologize for the comments I made last night. They were out of line. You saved all these people, you saved my life, you've been nothing but kind to me. You even saved Harry. If that's not being a hero, I don't know what is." He grinned.

Krycek chuckled. "You have no idea how close I came to just taking off and leaving them all in the woods that day. I don't know why I didn't. My first instinct was to run. But there was just something … I don't know what, but something wouldn't let me leave them. They needed me. Maybe that was it. No one has ever really needed me before."

"Well these people do and their loyalty is well placed. You've brought them all through this nightmare and you've created this wonderful little community for them and they are not just getting by, they are thriving."

"Now wait a minute here. I didn't do all this by myself. They did most of the work."

"Yes, but you planned it; you set everything in motion and you kept after them until they got it all going. I've been talking to a lot of people and they all say the same thing. If it wasn't for you, they'd all be dead or in internment camps."

"It all just happened, Walter." Krycek said and they sat in silence for a while until he was called to help out with the planning of the next building.

Skinner spent the rest of the day watching the activities of the little community.