TITLE: Flashes Before Your Eyes AUTHOR: Meghan O'Connor EMAIL: gyrfalcon@yahoo.com FEEDBACK: Please! But this is my first published LGM fanfic, so be gentle! RATING: PG-13 DISCLAIMER: Mulder, Doggett, Scully, Skinner, Byers, Langly, and Frohike are 1013's. However, Rachel Ann MacGregor is all mine. SPOILERS: The X-Files, all up to the last season finale, and the LGM series. CATEGORY: Drama S SYNOPSIS: The Gunmen made a friend, but it's a small world, isn't it?. AUTHOR'S NOTE: Alternate ending to the Season Finale I read a lot of Krycek fic lately, and always wondered what kind of person could care for him. I also think some things are more than coincidence, they're fate. It may be kinda Mary-Sue-ish, but Rachel's character is under major development in other as of yet unpublished bits. FLASH His eyes opened slowly to see her hair falling around him like a copper fountain. She moved back as he sat up and brushed the grass off his shirt. "You kinda have to attend the Christmas parties, Annie. It's that bureaucratic stuff that gets you promoted." She crossed her arms as she sat in front of him in the sunshine. "But what if MY party is the same night? That kind of schmoozing happens at engineering firms as well. And as a woman, I can't afford to ignore the company culture." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, mussing the gelled do. "Of course you can't. But when you can, I need you by me side at the Agency's parties. I'll come to yours and support you, how about that?" He leaned over and kissed her softly. "You better run, you have five minutes till class." She smiled slyly as she glanced at Tompkins Hall. "Ok, but this conversation isn't over. See you later tonight. Chinese food?" He swatted her on the butt as she rose, earning an exasperated glare. "Anything for you, Annie." She bent down and kissed him soundly on the mouth. "Love ya, Lexy." FLASH Breathing was painful as she gazed at the empty apartment. It seemed so lifeless with only one person's belongings scattered about. The note in her hand fell to the ground as she slid down the wall, tears leaking from under her closed eyelids. The sun illuminated the stark black letters on the creamy thick paper. "Rachel Ann- I'm sorry you had to come home to this, but I had to make it quick. Some people in a different organization feel my skills could be better used overseas, so I'm leaving tomorrow morning. I don't when or if I'll be back. Please remember I love you, but we can't be together anymore. God, this hurts, losing you is like losing a limb or something, Annie, but it has to be this way. Find someone else, get married, have a great career, whatever. Crap, I'm no good at good-byes. Yours, Alex" FLASH She never noticed the short man at the next table with the fingerless gloves, although he was often in the coffeeshop on the same evenings she was. He couldn't help but overhear her side of the conversation on her cellphone, apparently to a friend of hers. "I know how long he's been gone, Terry." "I suppose I should, but I can't get up the motivation to go anywhere." "Doesn't really matter what the truth is, now does it?" "No, I just need to analyze the system functions." Her next words piqued his interest, especially since she lowered her voice just then. "BS, Terry, there is too a conspiracy! Why do you think I got out? You should too, before it's too late. Of course, no one believes me, the antisocial fruit bat. Maybe I should write to that funky paper I read last week, the Shooter, or something." "Oh bite me, Terry!" She hung up angrily, then glared at the coffee that was set in front of her. A strange man with thick glasses and fingerless gloves plopped in the chair across from her. "Can I help you?" Her tone was a little snippy. "Actually, I think you can, and I may be able to help you as well. I help publish that paper you just mentioned." He held out his hand. "Frohike, of the Lone Gunmen." She shook it warily. "Rachel MacGregor, formerly of Wilson & Imati Engineering." FLASH The buzzer sounded, and Langly looked at the monitor. "Hey guys! Rae's here!" He undid the locks and opened the door just in time to catch the slipping bag of groceries. She took off her baseball cap and placed it on her bag of groceries. Shutting and locking the door behind her, she yelled at the guys around the TV. "Hey, what's the score? Damn clerk at the store couldn't figure out how to refund a credit card to the old bat in front of me." Frohike called back to her without removing his eyes from the screen. "Still 0 – 0, Maple Leafs over the Capitals." She plopped down in the easy chair, passing out the subs and cokes. "Damn Canadians.. It's a conspiracy, I tell ya." She smiled and watched the game with her buds. FLASH The Lone Gunmen were in various states of intoxication. Just a few beers made Byers pleasantly dopey. Frohike had his glass of J&B, Mulder his Tequila, and Rachel and Langly were splitting the vodka. Langly had a very goofy grin and was slowly sliding down the chair, while Rachel had wisely chosen to start on the floor. Now it was Mulder's turn. "Umm…. Rachel." She started a little and gazed up at Mulder. "Whaaatt?" Byers started giggling, but she couldn't keep up the glare. "Truth or Dare, Rae." "I know better. Truth." Frohike grunted from the couch. He'd obviously been hoping for a juicy dare to blackmail her with later. "OK… Who was the last guy you dated and how long ago?" Mulder frowned a little and the guys seemed more alert at the look on her face. Her eyes became guarded and distant, and her face grew cold. She set her shot glass down on the table upside down and got unsteadily to her feet. She looked at Mulder and the guys before heading upstairs to the guest room. She paused on her way up as they looked concernedly at her. "I called him Lexy. We met in college and I lived with him for three years. I thought it would be forever, but… Trust no one, right, Mulder? Let's just say I didn't need you guys to teach me that." They glanced at each other as she left the room. Langly spoke first. "Well, guess that's an off-limits topic." FLASH Rachel stared in shock at the battered and bleeding figure on her doorstep. Her voice seemed rusty and painful. "L… Lexy?" He leaned on the door jamb with his good arm. "I need your help, Annie. Please can I come in?" FLASH They'd been arguing for hours. Her eyes were red from crying, and he was ready to pound the wall in frustration. He finally grabbed his jacket with his good hand and slung it over his shoulders. Just as he opened the door, she asked one more question. "How much, Lexy?" He paused. "How much what?" "How much did you get for your soul, Lexy? What was the price for your soul?" He stared at the wall for a tense few seconds. Not looking at her, he responded. "You, Annie. You were my price." He turned and strode out, shutting the door softly behind him. FLASH She hung on for dear life as they careened around corners in the van, Langly typing furiously in back. Suddenly, he yelled. "Eureka! Got her location! Mulder's on his way, now let's go pick up Skinnerman and Doggett and blow this town!" Frohike gave the steering wheel a hard jerk to the left. "On my way to the garage as we speak, chickadee." FLASH Rachel had the van door open before they even stopped and was barreling across the parking spots. "No! Don't!" The gun in Skinner's hand went off just as she plowed into him, knocking them both against the pillar. Mulder's car screeched away as she heard footsteps running towards her. A voice sounded as if in the distance, making her raise her eyes. "God, no, Annie!" Her leafy green eyes met his dark jade ones as Skinner eased her to the ground. She put a hand on Frohike's arm to keep him from charging Krycek. "Lexy… Make it worth the price." FLASH