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is under major development in other as of yet unpublished bits.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