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Title: Life from the Ashes: Book 1 - A New Beginning Summary: This takes place soon after an alien virus has killed off most of the world's females and caused mutations in forty-five percent of the remaining males This is pure science fiction and fantasy. Warning! This story contains explicit Sex/Romance between two men Turn back now if the subject matter offends you. Warning! Sexual Assault and Rape! I would like to thank my beta-readers Laurie, Kiyoko, BRS all their help, advice, and encouragement they've given me on this story. Constructive feedback is always welcome!
Chapter 1 - Unwelcome Changes
A white mist rose above the surface of the reflecting pool on a chilly day in late autumn There was a soft rustling noise as a gust of wind twirled dried leaves around on the sidewalk in front of a park bench where a lone man sat. He huddled deeper within his long, black, woolen coat; his hands kept warm within its deep pockets. He glanced up, suddenly disturbed from his train of thoughts by a large convoy of humvees that rattled noisily by His eyes met the lust filled eyes of a soldier, leering wolfishly at him from the back of one of the humvees causing a shiver of fear to race down his spine. He realized it was no longer safe to be out here alone, but it was still daylight and several hours before the nightly curfew began. He had often come to this place in the past to meditate, and he decided to chance his safety for the tranquillity this place afforded him. He pulled his hands out of his pockets to study them The scar he had received as a child was no longer there; the calluses on his index finger from many hours spent at target practice weren't there - his hands were perfectly smooth; no scars, no calluses, no sign of age They were like the rest of his body unblemished by age, injury, or disease. He sadly shook his head as tears glistened in his vivid hazel eyes at the cost of this unwanted immortality. It still seemed hard for him to believe that it had been only ten months since the first deaths had rocked the world Shortly there after, the mutations had begun. He should have been glad that the mutations the virus caused in him were not like the hideous physical abominations it created in so many of the other male victims . He paused from his musing as the putrid smell of smoke caused him to gag The wind must have shifted The smoke was from the fires, to the North of DC, used to cremate the dead The fires had burned on and off for the past eight months They stopped burying the bodies after the first week once the numbers climbed past fifty thousand Now the soldiers and the civilian volunteers spent their days going door-to-door searching for bodies of the female victims who died outright from the virus and for the bodies of male survivors who took their own lives unable to live without their wives, mothers, or daughters. A shadow fell over him blocking the glare of the afternoon sun, causing him to tense and look up into the displeased face of Assistant Director Walter Skinner Skinner wore a long, black, woolen coat identical to his own. "Agent Mulder, where are Agents Pipino and Boutotte?" Skinner hissed his warm breath clearly visible in the chilly air. Mulder nervously gazed into Skinner's angry brown eyes. He plunged his hands back into his pockets and huddled deeper in his coat "I uh needed some time to myself, sir, so I . ditched them," Mulder stammered, realizing he was going to royally piss off Skinner with that response. Skinner glared down at him, wondering how he could impress upon Mulder just how dangerous it was for him to wander around here by himself "Damn it, Mulder, what do I have to do to keep you safe? Should I handcuff you to Agents Pipino and Boutotte? Is that what it would take? Tell me, please, I really would like to know!" Skinner admonished Exasperated, he sat on the bench next to him, his long coat brushing against Mulder's. Looking at Mulder, Skinner felt the anger drain out of him The alien virus that had killed off most of the world's female population, and caused mutations in forty-five percent of the world's males, had also physically altered Mulder The virus had enhanced Mulder's physical features giving him a surreal beauty Mulder's hair was thicker and a richer shade of brown His skin smooth and unblemished, he healed faster and without a scarring His eye color was more vivid, changing from an emerald green to steely gray to sable brown under longer, lush eyelashes However, the scent Mulder gave off that caused Skinner the most concerned, it was extremely sexually arousing. Mulder had always been a beautiful and sensual man; now he was simply irresistible Skinner had to make Mulder see how dangerous it was for him to be alone and unprotected, looking and smelling the way he did Mulder was at risk in today's society where the men now out numbered women sixty-five thousand to one The only females that had survived the virus were the abductees Those of whom had been unwilling participants in consortium sponsored experiments. "Why, Fox? Why can't you realize how important your safety is to us, to me," Skinner toned softly, letting his fingers brush Mulder's face gently caressing his cold, smooth cheek. Mulder felt the heat rise to his face, he never realized Skinner felt that way about him "Sorry, sir, I didn't think, I mean I guess . I'm not used to having my safety matter to anyone," he offered. Mulder was suddenly uncomfortable by the attention being directed at him, he had started to view Skinner as a friend again over the past few weeks after Skinner had treated him poorly in August Mulder had given up expecting anything more Now it looked like his boss wanted something more, but he was worried about being hurt again. "It's okay, Mulder, let's head back to the Hoover." Skinner reluctantly pulled his hand away and got up off the bench. Just as Mulder was rising to follow Skinner, a humvee pulled to a stop in front of them Three armed soldiers jumped out pointing their weapons at Mulder and Skinner "You, get into the truck," ordered one of the soldiers and motioned at Mulder with his weapon. Mulder recognized him as the soldier who had leered at him earlier //This is not good,// Mulder thought, feeling the same prickle of fear flutter in his stomach. He glanced at the other two soldiers whose eyes left no doubt what they wanted //Definitely, not good, not good at all.// "What is the meaning of this?" Skinner growled. "This man is wanted for questioning," the soldier glibly replied, glaring at Skinner for having the nerve to question him. "Get into the truck now!" The soldier snapped at Mulder while moving menacingly toward him. Skinner immediately placed himself between the soldier and Mulder, barking, "I'm A.D. Walter Skinner of the FBI This man is one of my agents and he is not getting into the back of your *fucking* truck! Who is your CO, Sergeant?" Skinner seethed with anger at the real motive behind their attempt to arrest Mulder. He hadn't missed the lustful looks they directed at his agent. A car screeched to a sudden stop Agents Pipino, Boutotte, and Sullivan quickly emerged with their weapons drawn "Drop your weapons," Agent Boutotte ordered, leveling his weapon at one of the three soldiers. Taken by surprise, the soldiers reluctantly complied and slowly lowered their guns to the ground A second humvee pulled up, and out climbed what Skinner thought looked like a throw-back from the Stone Age, but it was wearing a U.S. Army Colonel's uniform. //A Neanderthal.// Skinner determined, staring contemptuously at the colonel. He had noticed that two of the other soldiers had similar mutations, but to a lesser extent than the colonel. There were five documented types of mutations brought on by the alien virus Type One, the Neanderthal's syndrome, was the most prevalent and the colonel and his men obviously suffered from it. The Neanderthal's syndrome had affected twenty-five percent of the male population The main symptoms were: an enlarged frontal lobe, a sudden spurt of growth that resulted in massive size and enlarged bone structure, unnatural amounts of body hair, heightened physical strength, an elevated sense of smell, and an increased sex drive The Neanderthal's increased sex drive caused Skinner the most concern over Mulder's safety His agent had already been attacked twice before by n'thrals. "You better have a very good reason for holding my men at gun point," the colonel snarled at the FBI men, his nostrils flaring in anger. "I'm Assistant Director Walter S. Skinner of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and these are my agents Your soldiers attempted to detain one of my agents without a valid reason for doing so," Skinner growled, looking up at the massive colonel's deformed face "AND NO ONE FUCKING MESSES WITH ONE OF MY MEN!" Skinner snapped. Skinner quickly took an involuntary step backwards after catching a whiff of the colonel //He smells like a wet dog in heat.// Skinner thought, noticing the long hair shooting out from the cuffs of the colonel's shirt. The colonel's eyes hardened and he clenched his teeth, no one spoke to him that way. He took a few moments to rein in his temper. He knew that he had to tread lightly with the FBI Since the failed alien invasion, which had resulted in the deaths of over half the world's population, the FBI had established jurisdiction over all the U.S. they now oversaw both civilian and military personnel. He still didn't understand how a civilian agency gained so much power over the largest military in the world. "I'm sure my men had a rational reason to detain one of your men Sergeant Babcock, that's right isn't it?" As the Colonel talked, his enhanced sense of smell had picked up a distinctly pleasant and very arousing scent that caused him to become instantly erect. He sniffed the air as his eyes traveled over the agents by the car until they came to rest on Fox Mulder ... damn he was looking lovelier than the last time the colonel saw him. "Well if it isn't Special Agent *Fox* Mulder, it's certainly a pleasure to see you again, Fox Sergeant, was it the lovely Agent Mulder that you and your men attempted to detain?" The colonel questioned, while wolfishly ogling Mulder. "Yes, sir," the sergeant replied, feeling relieved that the colonel had redirected his attention toward Agent Mulder. Mulder glared angrily back at the colonel, because of his deformities; Mulder didn't recognize him at first It finally hit Mulder who he was "Colonel Henderson, I see you've taken being a macho man to a whole new level," Mulder mocked, feeling only repugnance for Henderson. The colonel favored Mulder with very lecherous look "Fox, I would personally love to show you just how macho I am," he leered, grasping his own heavy erection through his pants and stroking himself. The other agents took in the lecherous behavior by Colonel Henderson and formed a protective circle around Agent Mulder. "Into the car, agents, we're leaving," Skinner ordered "Henderson, I don't want to see you or your men within a hundred feet of Agent Mulder!" Skinner barked, backing angrily toward the car. Henderson totally ignored Skinner; he never took his lust filled eyes off Mulder not even for a second "See you around, Fox," Henderson promised, puckering his lips he made a kissing sound. Mulder felt naked under the colonel's stare and shakily climbed into the back seat of the car between Agents Boutotte and Pipino Agent Sullivan got behind the wheel and waited for AD Skinner to get in the passenger side Agent Pipino felt a nervous quiver emanating from Mulder. He realized despite all of Mulder's bravado that the confrontation had physically shaken the man. After the FBI agents departure, Henderson turned to the sergeant and growled, "Sergeant Babcock, I want the address of where Fox Mulder lives You have exactly four hours to provide me with that information or you will be taking his place in my bed tonight." "Yes, sir," the sergeant gulped. He did not intend to become the colonel's fuck-toy for this evening, or any evening, if he could help it Babcock didn't mind fucking other men, whether it was voluntary or by raping them, but he was never the one being fucked and he wanted to keep it that way. He definitely didn't want the colonel's oversized prick anywhere near him. "Mulder, where and when did you meet Colonel Henderson?" Skinner asked, turning around in his seat so he could look directly at Mulder. "I had a run in with him at a site of a crashed UFO in Wisconsin about six years ago." Mulder shrugged. He didn't want to talk about his dealings with Henderson and he hoped Skinner wouldn't push it. He felt unnerved by the recent incident and his own stupidity for getting himself and his fellow agents into a possibly deadly situation Skinner was right; it was no longer safe for him to go anywhere alone. He was grateful that Skinner showed up when he did. "Was he one of those military assholes that was covering up the existence of extraterrestrials?" Boutotte questioned angrily There was no longer any doubt in the remaining population as to the existence of EBEs An ongoing investigation into the cover-up that had spanned over fifty years was currently underway. "Yes, he was one of them," Mulder answered tiredly. There was a new deep-seated anger within the FBI over the lies and the conspiracy; Mulder had gone from being the FBI's most mocked agent, to the most respected agent There was a long list of agents requesting reassignment to the X-Files section, and the section had expanded to over twenty-five agents. "Agent Mulder, give Agent Pipino the keys to your apartment," Skinner ordered Mulder looked puzzled as he handed over his keys to Pipino. "Agent Pipino, I want you, Sullivan, and Boutotte to go to Mulder's apartment and pack up all of his clothing and personal items You can leave the furnishings, we'll arrange for its disposal later When you finish, bring his possessions to my condominium at Viva Tower Agent Mulder will be moving into my guest room until further notice." Skinner watched Mulder throughout his instructions, waiting for him to object, but Mulder just sat there and gazed sadly down at his hands, defeated. There was no way in hell Skinner would allow Mulder to live alone any longer with Colonel Henderson and others like him out there Skinner cared too deeply for Mulder to let him continue to risk his own safety. "Agent Sullivan, drop Agent Mulder and myself off at the Hoover Building, then you, Pipino, and Boutotte can use one of the Bureau's vans to move Agent Mulder's possessions I want him moved before nightfall, I don't trust Colonel Henderson, and I don't want to give him the opportunity to track Agent Mulder's whereabouts. The Pentagon Sergeant Babcock entered Colonel Henderson's office, the bleeding had finally stopped, but he still was finding it painful to sit The sergeant glared angrily at the colonel Colonel Henderson glanced up and met Babcock's hate filled eyes and grinned smugly "Sit down, Sergeant," the colonel smirked, knowing how painful it would be for him. Colonel Henderson had gone ballistic when he arrived at Fox Mulder's apartment and found that the agent no longer lived there Henderson had kept the promise he made to his sergeant, but he found the sex not very satisfying Henderson wanted Fox Mulder, he needed the beautiful man beneath him, to feel his engorged organ pounding into him again, and again, only Mulder's exquisite body could provide the type of sexual release he desired. "Any luck locating Mulder's new residence?" Henderson questioned, leaning back in his plush leather chair, he set down the rag he was using to clean his gun. "Yes, sir He's been moved into A.D. Skinner's condominium," the sergeant answered. He sat stiffly in the hard wooden chair in front of the colonel's mahogany desk. The colonel felt a rage building within him "Skinner! Is he having sex with Mulder?" he snarled. He would carve Skinner into small pieces if he found out that man had touched Mulder The agent was going to be his and no one would be allowed to touch Mulder, but him! "No, sir Mulder has been put up in Skinner's guest room," the sergeant hastened, not wanting the colonel to lose his temper again "There is a problem, sir," the sergeant reluctantly ventured. "What is it?" A much calmer colonel asked. "The building that Skinner's condo is in has the tightest security in all of Virginia Many FBI agents and security personnel have taken up residence there and Skinner has hand picked a special security team to protect Mulder." The sergeant finished and waited nervously for the colonel's response. "Sergeant, I want you to recon that apartment building I want to know of any flaws in their security and their daily routine that I could use to achieve my goal Do I make myself clear, Sergeant?" "Yes, sir!" "Dismissed!" The colonel lowered his head and went back to cleaning his weapon as the Sergeant got up painfully and left the office. Walter Skinner's Condo Mulder groggily stumbled toward the bathroom located across the hallway from the guest bedroom. The guest bedroom was on the bottom level of the condominium off a small hallway past the living room The master bedroom was on the second level, along with a small study and a large elegant master bath Mulder carried his shaving kit with him. He hadn't slept well last night; the events of the previous day weighed heavily on his mind It didn't do his male ego any good knowing his mere presence caused men to go into a sexual frenzy. He also didn't feel comfortable staying here; he missed the privacy of his apartment. Mulder wanted nothing more at the moment than to relax in a hot shower, but he bumped into Skinner before achieving his destination For so early in the morning Skinner was already well groomed; he was wearing a dark suit, and was uncharacteristically cheerful. "Good morning, Agent Mulder, there is a fresh pot of coffee in the kitchen Would you like me to bring you up a cup?" Skinner asked happily, on his way toward the kitchen. "No, thank you, sir, I think I'll grab a shower first," Mulder answered wearily. Skinner noticed that he looked deliciously rumpled, dressed only in sweat pants that hung low on his hips showing off his slim waist, flat stomach, and the graceful curve of his back Mulder quickly entered the bathroom closing the door. The agent leaned up against the closed door and chewed thoughtfully on his lower lip Sighing, he walked over, turned on the shower and stripped off his sweats stepping into the steaming water. He took immediate pleasure from the hot water massaging his body as his thoughts returned to Walter Skinner Mulder didn't miss the desire in the larger man's dark brown eyes directed at him, although Skinner tried to conceal it from him. Mulder had no sexual experience with men and wondered what it would be like. He wondered if Skinner had any experience with men. He allowed himself to fantasize what it would be like having Skinner touch him sexually - having Skinner for a lover. Walter Skinner smiled to himself, making Mulder move in here was possibly the best idea he had had in a long time. He planned to take advantage of the situation There was no way he was going to be able to keep his hands off Mulder, even he didn't possess that kind of willpower First, he planned to allow the young man a chance to become comfortable here. He didn't want to panic Mulder A slow, subtle seduction would best permit him to get under Mulder's defenses. Skinner kept a watch on the bathroom door from his position in the kitchen. He secretly hoped Mulder would leave his sweats off when he came out Skinner frowned; realizing suddenly how sordid his behavior was becoming Mulder had enough problems right now without him invading his privacy Skinner wanted Mulder for a lover and more However, Mulder deserved better from him; he was ashamed of his present behavior Sighing, Skinner turned away from his vigil of the bathroom door and set about preparing them breakfast. Mulder came into the kitchen twenty minutes later dressed in a stylish gray Armani suit His hair was still damp from only being toweled dried Mulder looked a little uncomfortable as he walked over to pour himself a cup of coffee. He wouldn't meet Skinner's eyes as he sat at the small breakfast table to drink his coffee. Skinner placed a plate of food in front of Mulder containing scrambled eggs, bacon, and English muffins At Mulder's startled expression, Skinner remarked, "I cooked it so you get to do the dishes Mulder, you can also start thinking about what you're going to be cooking for dinner tonight." "I don't usually eat breakfast If it's a requirement of living here to share the cooking duties then I think I'll cook Chinese takeout," Mulder muttered, picking up his fork he reluctantly started eating. "Good luck, but just in case, the refrigerator and freezer are stock with meats and vegetables," Skinner chuckled to himself. He and Mulder both knew the chances of getting takeout were virtually nil Sixty percent of all the restaurants had closed, unable to remain open due to lack of workers The few that were open were in high demand. "Oh, lucky me Does that mean I don't have to stop at the grocery store on my way home, dear?" Mulder quipped. "No, honey, but you can swing by the dry cleaners," Skinner quipped back Becoming serious Skinner asked, "What time is your appointment at the hospital?" "1:00 this afternoon," Mulder murmured. He knew the tests were necessary but he still didn't like being prick, probed, and sliced Mulder only wished they would find a cure for the alien virus. He wanted to lose his very own set of armed chaperones As if on cue, the doorbell rang and Skinner went to answer it, letting in Agents Pipino and Boutotte. "Good morning, sir, is Agent Mulder ready?" Pipino asked. "I'll be there in a minute!" Mulder called from the kitchen, putting the plates and cooking utensils into the sink to soak. He quickly dried his hands, rolled down his sleeves, and grabbed his suit jacket off the chair where he had draped it; he hurried out of the kitchen. Saint Petersburg, Russia A handsome, dark haired man sat in a plush velvet chair in front of a blazing fire, unconsciously sipping from a glass of vodka, while his other hand held a photograph. He studied the beautiful man in the photo His heart ached with an unfulfilled desire, wanting a love that had been forever out of his reach, until now. He raised the glass to his lips to take another sip *empty* he realized, looking disdainfully at the glass in his hand. He glanced across the room to where the half-empty bottle of vodka sat. He concentrated on the bottle and watched as it slowly lifted up off the table and floated to him Reaching out his hand he snatched it from the air and poured himself another couple of shots, letting go of the bottle, he mentally ordered it back to the table. He turned his attention back to the photograph, letting his finger trace across the man's features, down the high cheek bones, around the full lower lip, and back up to the beautiful hazel eyes. There was a loud knock on the outside door, disturbing him from his contemplation over the photo. He glared up with irritation, waving his hand at the bolts barring the door; they slid open, obeying his unspoken command The door swung open by itself A startled portly man stood there his hand held up about to knock again. "Alexei, I have the information you requested," the portly man informed the younger man seated by the fire The room was lit only by candlelight, causing shadows to dance around the walls In another situation, this room would appear romantic; now it reeked of loneliness and alcohol The portly man entered nervously with a large manila envelope in his hand, walking over; he handed the envelope to the Krycek. Krycek weighed the bulky envelope in his hand. He didn't wish to open it, not yet, he was expecting the worse; he wanted to keep his fantasies a little bit longer Sighing, Krycek decided he had to know one way or another, he couldn't put it off any longer "What ... have you learned?" he asked, hesitantly. "Special Agent Fox Mulder wasn't spared the effects of the alien virus," the portly man paused, taking in the unconcealed anguish expression on Krycek's face "The mutation the virus caused in Agent Mulder is the rarest ... only twenty-five other males have its symptoms." Krycek was aware of only four specific mutations the virus caused: the Neanderthals, the Clairvoyants, the Ghouls, and the Sorcerers. He himself had picked up the Sorcerer strain of the mutation six months ago and was becoming quite competent in using his newfound abilities Until now, he thought the Sorcerer syndrome was the rarest form of mutation, effecting only one percent of earth's male population. "What is the symptoms' effect . . effecting . . ," Krycek's voice caught. He took a quick gulp of vodka from his glass, trying to steady his nerves Krycek glanced down at the photo in his lap and steeled himself for the worse "Tell me, Boris." "Alexei, it isn't that bad Agent Mulder may not appreciate the effects the virus had on him, but I know you will," Boris assured "Agent Mulder has become a sensuous immortal, his body is unmarked by age, scars, or disease There is a surveillance video in the envelope of him taken one month ago They guard him too closely and we couldn't get closer than two hundred feet when we shot the video of him. Krycek slumped back into his chair his sense of relief overwhelmed him Mulder was alive and healthy there was still hope and he didn't want to waste another minute "Boris, I need to get back into the U.S immediately," Krycek pleaded. "We have a plane taking off for Havana later tonight The Americans still aren't allowing any aircraft within their airspace Alexei, after you arrive in Cuba you can hire a boat from there to take you over to Miami." Boris was worried for his friend, "Alexei, be careful." "Don't worry, Boris, would you hire a crew to fix up my family home? This apartment is too small and I won't be coming back alone." Krycek smiled, knowing he wouldn't be alone for much longer, Fox would have no say in the matter. DC General Hospital Inside a small examination, room at DC General, Doctor George Conner was becoming mildly irritated with Fox Mulder "Agent Mulder, please remove the rest of your clothing." "Doctor, my appointment was to have a blood and tissue sample taken today, there was nothing in the appointment about having a rectal exam Ask Doctor Harris, he'll tell you! I had a complete and thorough physical only two months ago," Mulder shot back. "Agent Mulder, you are aware of the government's new regulations pertaining to the medical care of males suffering from mutations," the doctor stated smugly "If you continue to refuse to follow my orders I will call in an orderly to have you physically restrained." Mulder glared at the doctor The government regulations had given the doctor permission to perform any tests he deemed necessary, giving Mulder no say in the matter Very reluctantly, Mulder started removing his remaining clothing; he didn't see any other way out It was only a rectal exam; he'd had them before. He would just have to grin and bear it. The doctor watched with growing interest and wanton desire Agent Mulder was Doctor Harris' patient, but Harris had been called away at the last moment leaving Doctor Conner to handle the rest of his caseload for the afternoon Upon meeting Agent Mulder, Conner wanted him and he changed Mulder's appointment to include a rectal exam Smiling smugly at his own ingenuity Doctor Conner snapped on a latex glove over his right hand. Agent Mulder had finished undressing and Doctor Conner looked him over, walking slowly around Mulder studying his perfect body Mulder felt humiliated and degraded under the doctor's intense scrutiny, an embarrassed flush heating up his face. "Get up on the exam table, Agent Mulder, and lie down on your side," the doctor directed, waiting as Mulder complied "Now bend this leg up," the doctor tapped on Mulder's leg and he pulled it up toward his chest, giving the doctor better access to his bottom. "This may feel uncomfortable at first," Doctor Conner warned as he gently parted Mulder's smooth, firm butt cheeks with one hand and with his other hand, he inserted his lubricated finger into Mulder's tight anus While pushing his finger into the agent's opening, Conner rubbed his own covered erection, against the side of the exam table. "You've never had anal intercourse before have you? Fox, you're so wonderfully tight," the doctor murmured Mulder stiffened at his question "Fox, let me show you how pleasurable anal sex can be.". He raked his finger over Mulder's prostate then slowly caressed it, causing waves of pleasure to course through Mulder's body while his mind screamed in outrage Doctor Conner felt Mulder's sphincter muscle tighten around his finger. "Please stop! Don't do this to me!" Mulder begged, moaning as another wave a pleasure washed through him Sweat glistened on his body, pooling beneath him to dampen the white cloth covering the examination table. Doctor Conner reached over and grabbed Mulder's stiffening erection as he roughly forced a second finger into Mulder's anus "I want to make you feel so good, Fox, you are so beautiful," the doctor moaned and humped against the exam table, rubbing himself up and down on the soft leather cover. Mulder attempted to pull away but the doctor tightened his grip on the agent's testicles keeping him still, "Don't! . . Stop! ... Let me go!" Mulder pleaded as tears of pain and shame ran down his cheeks. "Fox, I want you for a lover, I can provide for all of your needs." The doctor breathed deeply getting even more excited as Mulder's aroused body, released pheromones into the air The doctor started to hump harder against the table, while pumping and twisting his fingers in and out of Mulder's anus and stroking his erection They both came at the same time The doctor, without shame, shot his come into his pants causing a damp stain to appear, while Murder spurted onto the white cloth covering the exam table After Mulder's sphincter muscle relax its grip, the doctor gently pulled his fingers out and peeled the latex glove off his hand. After several minutes Mulder eased himself off the table Tears of shame dampened his cheeks at being so grossly violated against his will and at his body's unwelcome response. The doctor seeing Mulder's apparent distress tried to place a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't touch me!" Mulder hissed angrily, swatting away the doctor's hand. Mulder grabbed his clothes and started dressing, keeping a watchful eye on the doctor. "Don't pretend you didn't enjoy it, Fox! We both know you did My offer is still on I want you for my lover." Doctor Conner was a handsome man in his early forties, he had often used his looks and position to get what he wanted. He vainly assumed Mulder would accept his offer regardless of how shaken the agent appeared. "No! No fucking way in *hell* would I ever consider becoming your lover!" Mulder spat at him, pulling on the last of his clothing It was all that he could do to keep from hitting the smug doctor, but he knew how much trouble he would be in legally if he were to attack him. "I'll give you a few days to think it over, I'm sure you'll see things my way eventually," the doctor stated with smug confidence. "Fuck off!" Mulder snarled on his way out the door, heading down the hallway to the waiting room where Agents Vince Pipino and Phil Boutotte were waiting. Agent Boutotte took in Mulder's distressed appearance, "Mulder, what's wrong?" "Nothing, I'm fine Can we please leave now?" Mulder quickly replied, not waiting for them he headed for the exit Pipino and Boutotte exchanged concern looks with each other before hurrying after Mulder. "We need to swing by the dry cleaners, I promised Skinner that I would pick up his suits," Mulder said, trying to get them to drop the subject about his appearance. Agent Boutotte glanced worriedly at him, noting Mulder's puffy eyes, slightly red nose, and pale completion Something had happened in that examination room. He knew Mulder wasn't about to talk to him or Vinny so he decided to bring it to Skinner's attention "Okay, Mulder, to the dry cleaners then back home." Walter Skinner's Condo Skinner hurried home after work. He was troubled by a telephone call from Agent Boutotte about an unknown incident at the hospital that caused Mulder some emotional distress. Letting himself quietly into the condominium, Skinner paused and listened, trying to ascertain Mulder's location Hearing noises coming from the kitchen, he headed that way. He stood in the kitchen doorway watching Mulder who stood with his back to him, stirring something in a large skillet on the stove Whatever it was, it sure smelled delicious. Skinner cleared his throat trying not to startle Mulder whom jumped anyway spinning around at the sound. "Sorry," Skinner apologized "What are you cooking?" he asked, nodding his head at the skillet while studying Mulder's appearance. He was dressed casually in jeans, a T-shirt, and running shoes There was no outward sign of any trauma If Agent Boutotte hadn't called him, he wouldn't have known that there was a problem. "Beef Burgundy," Mulder answered, pouring a cup of liquid into the skillet and stirring it in, turning the heat on low, he covered the skillet "It has to simmer for thirty minutes," he said Opening the oven to check on its contents, he then went over to a cabinet and removed a box of rice then grabbed a pot from the overhead rack. "Now what were those house rules again? Oh yes, whoever cooks doesn't have to do the dishes," Mulder smirked, filling the pan with water and placing it on the stove to heat. He took out a cookie sheet and started spooning large tablespoons of batter from a bowl onto it "Baking Powder Biscuits," he replied, answering Skinner's questioning look. Mulder slid the cookie sheet into the oven then turned to look at a very bewildered Walter Skinner "If you need something to do you can set the table," he said, pouring the rice in the boiling water. He grabbed a breadbasket down from a cabinet, reaching into another cabinet he removed two serving bowls. Skinner shook himself free from his wonderment over watching Mulder's synchronized movements. He retrieved the place settings and went into the dining room As an afterthought, he added two candles to the table and lit them Instead of going back into the kitchen Skinner headed upstairs to change. He quickly hung up his suit and pulled on a soft, gray Hensley shirt, a pair of jeans, and a pair of comfortable sneakers. He went back downstairs to the kitchen to see if Mulder needed any more help. Mulder had finished draining the rice, scooping it into one of the serving bowls. He had taken the biscuits out of the oven along with a small casserole dish of cinnamon baked apples. He poured the contents of the skillet into the other serving bowl and handed both steaming bowls to Skinner to take to the table. Mulder carried the hot casserole dish to the table, setting it down on a trivet. He went back for the biscuits and retrieved the bottle of burgundy wine he used in the recipe. They each served themselves Skinner paused after taking a bite, amazed "Mulder, this is delicious! Where did you learn to cook?" "I've been cooking since I was ten years old My mom was always a terrible cook I never realized how bad until I went over to a friend's house for dinner and found out what a real meal tasted like I taught myself how to cook from reading cookbooks then started cooking for Sam, mom, and myself whenever dad was out of town Dad didn't approve, he always considered cooking women's work." Mulder looked uncomfortably down at his plate. They finished eating in a companionable silence When done, they carried the empty plates back to the kitchen Mulder poured himself a second glass of wine, sitting down at the small kitchen table to watch in amusement as Skinner did the dishes. "How did your appointment at the hospital go today?" Skinner asked, putting the last of the plates into the dishwasher. He glanced over at Mulder after receiving no response to his question Mulder was staring sadly at the contents of his wineglass and wouldn't look up at Skinner. Skinner closed the dishwasher, turning it on. He went and poured himself a glass of wine Bringing the bottle back with him, Skinner topped off the near-empty wineglass in Mulder's hand. He sat next to him at the table, and asked softly, "What happened at the hospital today, Mulder?" "Nothing happened Could we just drop it?" Mulder hastened, taking a gulp of wine. "Something happened, I want to know what? Mulder, either you're going to tell me or I'm stopping by the hospital tomorrow and finding out for myself What's it going to be?" Mulder visibly grimaced, paling "Doctor Harris wasn't there I had to see a Doctor Conner instead, he ... " he swallowed," ... changed my appointment to include a rectal exam." Looking down uncomfortably, he went on "I tried to refuse, but he sited the new government regulations, and threatened to have me physically restrained I decided to just get it over with ... it never occurred to me that he'd..." Mulder stopped, too embarrassed to go on. "What did he do?" Skinner asked gently Leaning over toward Mulder, he tried to place comforting hand on the younger man's shoulder, but the agent pulled away from his touch Mulder was noticeably shaken; Skinner took in his pale complexion, and even his eyes were a washed-out gray color. "He sexually assaulted me," Mulder admitted shamefully, a blush of embarrassment evident on his face. "He raped you!" Skinner was livid, his face turning a lovely shade of red. "No! It wasn't rape Not exactly, he only used his fingers, and when I tried to get away he grabbed my balls." Mulder blushed he wanted to assure Skinner it wasn't that bad. Skinner was still livid with rage That doctor was going to pay dearly, he would see to it personally Seeing Mulder's look of embarrassment and distress he tried to comfort him "You have nothing feel ashamed about, Mulder, this wasn't your fault." "I ... he made me come I couldn't stop myself, that made me feel even dirtier ... like I enjoyed it." Mulder shivered, grabbing the wine bottle he poured himself another glass. "You've never had sex with a man before have you?" Skinner asked. He had asked Mulder this indirectly before, but he still wasn't certain of his past answer. "No," Mulder replied weakly. "Anal intercourse is very sexually stimulating, it isn't hard to force an unwanted reaction if the person knows what they're doing, but that doesn't mean you enjoyed it In any sexual relationship you'd need the right partner to experience any real pleasure or enjoyment," Skinner spoke very softly, he wanted to assure Mulder that there was nothing wrong with two men having a sexual relationship. He didn't want Mulder's traumatic experience with Doctor Conner to color his views against all male relationships. "Sir, do you have experience in this area?" Mulder asked, feeling nervous about asking such a personal question of Skinner. "We're not in the office, Mulder, it's okay to call me Walter I've had a few male lovers in my life, two when I was in the Marines and one other before I met Sharon I hope you realize that there is nothing wrong with men having a sexual relationship together as long as they're both willing participants," Skinner said sincerely, watching as Mulder weighed his words carefully. "Walter, I did go through the FBI's male relationship sessions I've never thought homosexuality was wrong In fact I often ... aah . . can we talk about something else, please, I can't deal with this just yet," Mulder pleaded, blushing bright red at what he almost revealed about himself, but was too frightened to admit. He knew deep down that there was no reason to be afraid of Skinner, but he just couldn't get the doctor's unwelcome touch off his mind, and he found himself shying away from Skinner. "There's a football game on television Do you want to watch it with me?" Mulder hastened, successfully changing the subject. "Sure, Mulder, at least some things never change, and Monday night football is one of them," Skinner replied as he followed Mulder into the living room. "Not true, sixty percent of the NFL players are Neanderthals There is something awesome about watching a six hundred pound linebacker sack a three hundred pound quarterback Have you seen the modification they've made to their helmets? It feels like watching a totally different species play ... "Mulder rambled giddily, feeling the effects of the wine he drank; Skinner listened with amusement Some men were sports junkies and Mulder was definitely one of them. Chapter 2 - A Fresh Start DC General Hospital Walter Skinner stormed down the hall of DC General Hospital on his way to the Administration Office His shoes made a loud tapping sound on the polished, tile floor, his long coat bellowed out behind him Arriving at the office he flung open the door, and it crashed loudly against the wall The noise startled a pimply, overweight, young man in his late teens who sat making entries into a computer on his desk. With a trembling finger, the young man pushed his glasses back up from where they had slid down his nose. He stared up in fear at the intimidating older man standing angrily before his desk "Can I help you, sir?" he asked with a noticeable quiver to his voice. "I want to see Doctor Sam Harris NOW!" Walter Skinner growled The young man almost wet his pants from the rage being directed at him. "Just ... a ... sseecond ... I'll ppage him." Turning on the hospital's public address system, he quickly paged the doctor to the Administration Office. The hospital administrator heard the commotion from inside his adjacent office and rushed out "What's going on out here?" He was mousy looking man in his early forties, and he quickly stepped back as a very angry A.D. focused his attention toward him. "I'm Assistant Director Walter Skinner of the FBI I'm here to see Doctor Sam Harris about one of his patients." Skinner was gritting his teeth to keep his temper in check. The office door opened and in rushed a doctor in his early sixties, who upon seeing an angry Walter Skinner became concerned "Walter, what's wrong? Has something happened?" "Can we go somewhere to talk in private, Sam?" "Sure, Walter, we can go to my office, it's just down the hall." Harris led an angry A.D. back to his office Doctor Harris was seventeen years older than Walter Skinner; he was the doctor who had treated Skinner when he almost died in Vietnam some twenty-nine years ago. Once in his office, Harris directed Skinner to take a seat in front of his desk The doctor took the other chair next to him Harris could not remember seeing Skinner ever this mad before "Okay, Walter, tell me what's wrong?" "Fox Mulder had an appointment with you yesterday, but you assigned a Doctor Conner to handle his case," Walter stated with a hard edge to his voice. "There was an emergency I had to attend to so I assigned Doctor Conner to handle my remaining caseloads for the afternoon. He might be an arrogant bastard, but he is still quite competent Besides, Fox Mulder was only in to have blood and tissue samples taken An intern could have handled it." Harris had no idea why Skinner was so angry. "Sam, Conner changed Mulder's appointment to include a rectal exam." Walter took a deep breath, trying desperately to calm himself, but every time that he imagined Conner's hands on Mulder he lost his temper. "Walter, I don't understand ... Why would Conner need to perform a rectal...?" A look of shock appeared on Harris's face "My god, Walter, you don't mean that he...?" Harris couldn't voice his fears. "Yes, Sam, I mean exactly that Conner sexually assaulted Mulder during his examination. He used those damn government regulations against Mulder leaving him no way out Mulder had to submit to his orders, and he threatened to have him physically restrained if he resisted," Walter growled "I want to talk to Conner, Sam I want to hear what the S.O.B. has to say for himself!" Harris saw the deadly look in Skinner's eyes; he knew it wouldn't be a good idea for him to see Conner "Walter, try to calm down . . killing Conner won't resolve this situation." "But it will sure make me feel better! Sam, I want to see him! I promise that I won't kill him, but I won't promise that I won't do some physical damage," Skinner snarled. He jumped out of his chair and started pacing angrily around the small office "Damn it! Sam, you don't understand what Fox means to me! The thought of that bastard touching him ... it makes me want to shove my hand up Conner's ass and pull out his fucking heart!" "Walter, please calm down I'll personally see that Conner's dealt with accordingly You'll only get yourself into deep legal trouble if you physically attack him." Harris needed to get Skinner's mind away from revenging Mulder's honor. "Walter, regardless of the circumstance, I'm glad you came to see me It saves me the trouble of having to call Mulder back to the hospital." Going over to a small refrigerator in the corner of his office, Harris removed a large bottle of liquid "They produced this drug specifically for Agent Mulder; it's suppose to neutralize the sexual pheromones his body is producing. He will need to give himself a shot twice a day." He passed the bottle to Skinner then went to a cabinet, and removed a supply of syringes and antiseptic swabs. He handed those to the AD who frowned at him. "Mulder hates shots Could we get this in a pill?" Walter asked, holding up one of the syringes with a look of disgust on his face; temporarily distracted from the main reason he was there. "No, it has to be injected directly into his blood stream I'm assuming that with all the time Mulder spends in the hospital he will be able to handle giving himself a shot If not, just have him call me and I'll stop out at the Hoover Building this afternoon." "You don't have to bother, Sam I can show him myself, if necessary How long does he have to take it for?" "Walt, this isn't a miracle cure He's going to need to take it for the of his life, and being immortal that is a very long time I want to have him in for tests on Monday at 10:00 a.m. to determine if the drug has been successful at neutralizing the pheromones If it is, I will have a supply of it produced for him and the other two U.S. immortals." "Damn, Mulder's not going to be happy about that," Skinner sighed. Skinner walked over to the office door, opening it he turned back to Harris "Sam, don't think I've forgotten Conner; I'll let you deal with him for now, but keep me apprised of the situation." FBI Hoover building Special Agent Fox Mulder sat behind his cluttered desk, his sleeves were rolled up, and his suit coat draped over the back of the leather desk chair The bureau brass had moved him into a large office on the top floor of the Hoover Building; the agents assigned to him had cubicles outside his office in the large open room. Mulder had left the door to his office ajar to lessen the stifling heat within; the building's heating system was malfunctioning again Sweat dampened his white shirt, molding the fabric to his perfectly toned chest, allowing his dark pink nipples to show through the now transparent fabric. He had, at some point, loosened his tie and undid the first two buttons of his shirt Running a hand through his damp hair, he dreamed of being back in his isolated basement office where the temperature never rose above seventy degrees. He swiveled around in his chair so he faced the windows behind his desk and watched wistfully as the first snowflakes of the season floated past. He sighed, then went back to reviewing the case files stacked on his messy desk. He occasionally stopped to brush his damp bangs off his forehead, while chewing thoughtfully on his full lower lip The young man didn't notice when his boss arrived at his office. Skinner stood silently in the doorway watching Mulder work. He smiled when he thought that the only effect the virus had on Mulder that he didn't appreciate was now Mulder had perfect eyesight and no longer needed to wear his reading glasses. "Agent Mulder, I would like a moment of your time," Skinner spoke softly, watching as Mulder raised his head to look at him There was none of the shakiness from the other day when Skinner had inadvertently startled him. "Of course, sir, what do you need?" Mulder asked, leaning back in his chair and performing a cat-like stretch to loosen his stiff muscles. Skinner mouth went dry as he watched Mulder, noting how the younger man's sweat-dampened shirt clung to his body showing his dusty-pink nipples beneath //God, help me!// Skinner silently prayed for some self-control as he turned around to close the office door. "I went to see Doctor Harris today. He gave me a new drug for you to try, it's to control the pheromones your body is producing." Skinner pulled the bottle and syringes from the pocket of his suit coat. "Finally," Mulder sighed, relieved. "Mulder, the drug's dosage is typed on the bottle Doctor Harris would like to see you on Monday at 10:00 a.m." Skinner handed Mulder the bottle and syringes. He noticed that Mulder had turned very pale and was holding the syringes out in front of him as if they would bite. "Sir, I ... don't think I could ... no, I know, I can't give myself a shot Could I possibly get this in a patch?" He held out the syringes and the drug for Skinner to take back. "Here give me those, I'll do it for you," Skinner replied, taking the bottle and syringes and placing them on the desk. He walked around to Mulder's side and sat on the edge of the desk Skinner took one of the plastic envelopes containing a syringe and tore it open. He removed the syringe from the wrapper; pushing the needle through the rubber stopper on the bottle, he pulled back on the syringe handle filling it with the proper dosage. He held the syringe in front of his face; tapping it with one finger to force any air bubbles to the top, then pressed the handle to remove the bubbles through the needle. "Sir, I take it you've done this before?" Mulder gulped, looking at the needle in Skinner's hand. "My step-mom was a diabetic in her later years; my sister and I took turns caring for her We both learned to give her shots." Grabbing Mulder's arm and placing it in his lap, he tied a rubber strip tightly above his elbow "Okay, Mulder, make a fist," Skinner directed, holding his arm palm side up as Mulder flexed his muscles causing a vein to stand out on his smooth, pale skin Skinner opened an antiseptic swab and rubbed it over Mulder's arm, then pushed the syringe needle into the vein and plunged down on the handle. Mulder was very pale throughout the process and Skinner could feel how cold and clammy his skin had become from his obvious fear of needles For a man who had absolutely no fear of jumping on moving trains, going up against the U.S. military, and fighting both alien and human scum, Mulder was definitely a baby when it came to needles Skinner looked at him with obvious affection, finding Mulder's behavior totally endearing. "Are you okay, Mulder?" Skinner asked, while removing the rubber strip from around Mulder's arm. Mulder's pale face looked up and met his eyes "Yeah, I'm fine, I just don't like getting shots," Mulder answered with a slight tremble in his voice, his arm still laying across Skinner's lap. He turned his arm slightly so his hand rested on the older man's knee "Thanks, sir." Not removing his hand from where it rested, Mulder gazed up at Skinner "I don't mean to pry, but did your sister ... was she a...," Skinner answered, stopping him from stumble over his words any longer. "Yes, my sister and my three nieces all died because of the virus." Skinner's voice caught as he tried to re-bury his emotions behind the tall barriers he had erected around them. "I'm sorry, sir, you have my condolences." Mulder looked up at him with obvious concern and sympathy. "Thanks, Mulder," Skinner sighed, standing up he walking over to the window "Well, it certainly looks like we are going to have a white Thanksgiving this year," he commented, looking out at the snowstorm that was now raging. Mulder studied Skinner's strong, muscular body against the backdrop of snow floating past the window. He felt a lump in his throat; here was a man that had always been there for him, supporting him for over six years and he didn't even know Skinner had a sister or nieces, let alone the pain he must be feeling from their deaths. He felt embarrassed by the fear he had of Skinner yesterday evening, he realized that Walter Skinner would never intentionally harm him Mulder rose and went over to stand beside Skinner at the window and placed a comforting hand on the older man's arm. Skinner stared down at Mulder's hand then back up at the concern in his eyes "Mulder, it's okay, I'm fine," Skinner whispered softly Staring into Mulder's beautiful hazel eyes, he felt a shiver of lust race up his spine. Mulder also felt a sudden lustful urge come over him; tilting his head toward Skinner, he kissed him softly on the lips There was a knock at the office door before Skinner could respond, forcing them to step away from each other. "Come in," Mulder called. "Agent Mulder, this package was delivered at the front desk for you," the elderly security guard said, entering the office he placed a small box on Mulder's desk "The weather service just issued a winter storm warning, and its advising businesses to close early today," the guard informed them, nodding his head toward the outside window where the snow was coming down so hard that the DC skyline was no longer visible. "Thanks for bringing this up, Joe," Mulder replied, picking up the package and weighing it in his hand. "No problem, Agent Mulder, you have a nice day, and you too, sir," Joe said as he left the office shutting the door behind him. "Joe's right I'm going to close the office and send the men home before it gets any worse outside." The package contained a small velvet jewelry box and a card Mulder opened the small box inside was a small gold stud earring with a medical insignia Frowning, he ripped open the card ... as he feared it was from Doctor Conner 'My Dearest Fox: I've been thinking about your lovely body and knew this would look beautiful on you Please, have dinner with me tomorrow night Love, George' Mulder angrily tossed the card in the trash along with Conner's gift Skinner walked over and retrieved the card Reading it, he felt his temper rising again, and considered heading back over to the hospital. "Sir, it doesn't mean anything, the man is obviously certifiable Now, you mentioned closing up early so why don't you go ahead and take care of dismissing your employees, that will give me time to sort through these case files I'll be ready to leave by the time you get back," Mulder spoke calmly, pacifying Skinner who had looked close to exploding. "Okay, Mulder, I'll be back to get you in twenty minutes I'll let Agents Pipino and Boutotte know that you'll be riding back home with me." Skinner sighed, then smiled as he remembered the kiss Tomorrow was Saturday, and it looked like they might get snowed in - his life was definitely looking up. Viva Towers, Crystal City It was a slow drive home The visibility was poor and getting worse; by the time they arrived at Viva Tower they couldn't barely see more than twenty feet in front of them Skinner steered his car into his assigned parking space in the underground garage. Mulder grabbed his briefcase from the back seat and joined Skinner who was holding the elevator door open for him As he stepped in, Mulder hit the button for their floor Skinner glanced over at him, Mulder had been unusually quiet on the drive home, and was still trying to avoid looking at him Skinner hit the emergency stop button on the elevator "Okay, Mulder, what's bothering you?" "I ... I'm sorry, Walter, it was inappropriate of me ... " he paused, looking down at the floor he took a deep breath then looked back up meeting Skinner's warm brown eyes " ... to have kissed you, I was totally out of line I'm sorry." Skinner stepped up close to him, the fronts of their long, black, woolen coats brushed against each other Mulder felt Skinner's warm breath against his cheek. "I'm not sorry, Fox." Skinner leaned in kissing him passionately "Let's get up to the condo We can continue ... this discussion there," he murmured as he broke the kiss, smiling he caressed Mulder's cheek with his thumb. "Mmm, I like that idea, I'm always open to ... discussions." Mulder sighed, locking his hands around Skinner's neck as he pulled him into another kiss Skinner used his free hand to undo the emergency stop, and by feel alone he selected their floor The ding the elevator made as it reached their floor ended their kiss. Mulder scooped up his briefcase from where it had dropped and followed Skinner off the elevator The hallway was empty, so Skinner comfortably looped his arm around Mulder's waist as they walked side-by-side Although in the past few months it had become increasingly common to see men in open displays of affection with each other, there was still a sense of taboo about it. They made it into the condominium and fell hungrily into each other's arms, kissing as if they'd been starving for each other for far too long Skinner broke the kiss, gazing into Mulder's bright, emerald-green eyes "I think we should slowdown, Fox I was serious about us discussing this before we went any further I don't want you to have any regrets later ... I couldn't handle that I know I won't have the strength to let you go if you did. "Okay, Walter, but I know I won't have any regrets," Mulder told him as he shrugged out of his coat Hanging it in the hall closet, he held out his hand for Skinner's coat and hung it beside his own "I'm going to take a quick shower and change into some sweats, then we can have that discussion," Mulder said, gently kissing him he hurried off to his bedroom. Skinner briefly considered saying the hell with the discussion and joining Mulder in the shower Shaking his head, he headed upstairs to change out of his suit and take his own cold shower No, he wanted Mulder to understand what starting a relationship with him was going to mean. He did not intend to ever let him go once they became lovers, and he wanted to make sure Mulder understood that. Pentagon Friday, November 20 1:30 p.m. Sergeant Babcock sat apprehensively before Colonel Henderson's desk. He was still physically sore from his brief sexual encounter with the colonel two days earlier and he shifted uncomfortably on the hard wooden chair. The colonel was glancing through a computer file of digital surveillance photos that the sergeant had taken All the photos showed Agent Fox Mulder at some point during his daily routine Babcock had a cousin working at the FBI who was able to supply him with the internal photos of Mulder His cousin, Bob Madsen, was one of the building's maintenance men Bob had easy access to the suite of offices on the top floor of the Hoover building In fact, Agent Mulder had even called Bob in personally to fix the heating in his office; little did Mulder know, Bob that caused the problem in the first place. Babcock had outfitted Bob with a small camera that was easily concealed on his tool belt. He had picked up the digital photo diskette from Bob on his way over here The sergeant noticed that Henderson was practically drooling over a photo of Agent Mulder from this morning It showed Mulder sensually leaning back in his chair, his hand was rubbing the back of his neck, his eyes were closed, and his sweat dampened shirt clung tightly to his skin showing his dark nipples through the transparent fabric. Babcock watch nervously from the other side of the desk as the colonel reached his hand down an unzipped himself Pulling out his massive cock, he started jacking off while lustfully staring at the photo of Mulder After what seemed like forever to the sergeant, Henderson finally came spurting copious amounts of semen across his desk The colonel then pushed his spent penis back into his pants, looking back up he met Babcock's fearful eyes "Don't worry, sergeant, your ass is safe You were such a pathetically disappointing fuck I wouldn't want to soil my tool on you again Now, what's this in your report about a Doctor Conner?" Fuck, he should have left that bit out, he knew Henderson would be extremely pissed hearing about Conner "I hired a kid from the hospital administration office to keep me informed of Mulder's appointments. He called me at noon; A.D. Skinner was down at the hospital this morning meeting with a Doctor Sam Harris who is Mulder's personal physician Skinner has filed a sexual assault charge with Harris against a Doctor George Conner whom he claims had sexually assaulted Mulder during his appointment yesterday. "Do you have the home address for this Doctor Conner? I'm going to personally pay the good doctor a visit and teach him how much fun sexual assault can be." There was no humor in the colonel's hate filled eyes. "His address is at the bottom of the report." The sergeant pointed out glad he wasn't Conner. "Sir, I haven't been able to find any flaws or weaknesses in their security, yet," Babcock informed him "I'm getting someone moved into Viva Tower on Saturday Having a man on the inside should allow us to have direct access to Agent Mulder." "It's been one day since you started your surveillance, I didn't expect you to find anything this soon Good work, sergeant, that will be all." The colonel went back to browsing through the images of Fox Mulder on his computer. Walter Skinner's Condo Friday, November 20 2:10 p.m. Skinner was in the kitchen preparing them a late lunch of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches Mulder walked in freshly showered, barefooted, and wearing a pair of comfortable gray sweats and a white T-shirt. He put his arms around Skinner's waist as he stood at the stove stirring the soup and kissed the side of his neck. "Can I help you with anything?" Mulder purred, nuzzling the side of the older man's throat. "Mmmm, ... what was the question?" Skinner moaned, leaning back into his warm embrace, feeling the moist breath against his neck. "Do you need any help?" Mulder asked, licking the side of Skinner's throat "Oh, by the way, Walter, I think the sandwiches are burning," he said, reaching past Skinner, he removed the pan from the stove "Sir, I think I rescued them just in time and they still appear to be edible." Mulder chuckled at the sour look on Skinner's handsome face. "Not everyone is a gourmet cook, Agent Mulder Besides, you distracted me," Skinner said as he wrapped an arm around Mulder pulling him against his body Skinner passionately kissed him Mulder held the pan of slightly burnt sandwiches out to the side, away from their bodies, only a sudden hissing sound from a pot boiling over broke them apart. "Soup's ready." Skinner grinned sheepishly, turning off the stove. "I think you better practice your dish washing skills, Walter, because I'll be doing the majority of the cooking around here," Mulder stated, raising an eyebrow daring Skinner to contradict him. "I think you're right, Fox, I'll admit defeat, and will gladly do the dishes, but I still get to make breakfast Toast and eggs I can handle Deal?" Walter asked holding out his hand Mulder grabbed his hand and pulled Skinner against him, kissing him "Yeah, deal, and sealed with a kiss." "I like the way you seal deals, Agent Mulder, it's much nicer than spitting in our hands and shaking C'mon, we better eat this mess before it gets cold, and we also have a lot of things to discuss afterwards." They walked over to the small dinette table that the older man had set with plates and silverware Skinner poured the soup into their bowls, while Mulder scraped a grilled cheese sandwich onto each of their plates "Do you want a beer?" Skinner asked, putting the pan into the sink to soak. "No, thank you, do you have any ice tea or juice?" Skinner grabbed a bottle of Lipton Ice Tea and a Bass Ale from the refrigerator Placing them on the table, he sat in the chair next to Mulder They ate quietly while Skinner tried to find the best words for what he wanted to say. He decided it would be best to be totally honest and tell him what he felt deep down in his heart Skinner waited until Mulder had finished eating. "Fox." He paused, waiting until Mulder looked him in the eye before he continued "When I first met you six years ago I found you extremely attractive, but I've kept my feelings to myself Over the years, I also came to deeply respect and care about you Fox, you made me a believer, reading your reports made me see things through your eyes I've protected you, fought for your beliefs within the bureau out of respect for you, and the feelings I have for you." Skinner reached over taking Mulder's hand in his. Skinner stopped and took a deep breath, worried that what he was about to say would cause Mulder to bolt "Fox, I'm in love with you, I've been in love with you from almost the first day you walked into my office If we carry this relationship any further, you have to know that I ... will ... never ... let ... you ... go!" he stressed, wanting Mulder to know how serious he was. The fieriness of Skinner's declaration momentarily stunned Mulder "Walter, I don't know what I feel for you, but I'd like to find out I can't promise you that I will ever love you ... I have no idea what love is," Mulder sighed sadly, gripping Skinner's hand tighter "Please, Walter, I really would like to learn if it's possible Please, teach me." "Yes, Fox, I'll teach you, but I think you already know what love is, you are too passionate a man not to know." Skinner reached over and kissed him gently Standing up he held out his hand to Mulder "C'mon, let's go upstairs and begin your first lesson." Mulder took Skinner's hand and stood up Skinner hugged him briefly, his hand slipping down to caress Mulder's firm ass. Mulder tensed feeling apprehension as memories of Conner invaded his thoughts With sheer willpower he forced those memories from his mind; he would not allow that man to ruin this moment for him He'd been fantasizing about this moment for too long. He relaxed into the larger man's embrace. Eventually, they made it upstairs to Skinner's large bedroom Mulder glanced around with interest; he had never been upstairs before Skinner noticed his interest "Tomorrow we'll move your clothing and toiletries up here No use messing up two bathrooms, you're going to be sleeping up here from now on." Skinner walked over and sat on the bed looking up at Mulder "Remove your clothes for me, Fox, I want to see you." Mulder nervously reached back and pulled his T-shirt off, he then removed his sweats along with his boxers. He stood nude in front of a fully clothed Walter Skinner. He felt slightly embarrassed, which changed to apprehension at the intense lustful look Skinner directed at him Mulder felt himself becoming erect as the larger man stood and walked over to him. Skinner reached out and ran a hand down Mulder's chest feeling the smooth warmth of his flawless skin. He slowly walked around the younger man, studying his perfect body - there was not a scar or blemish anywhere on him Skinner ran a hand down the graceful curve of his back, stopping to squeeze each of his firm round buttocks. He couldn't wait to sink his cock between them His jeans were getting uncomfortably tight and he felt a throbbing ache within his groin. He moved back around to stand in front of Mulder Pulling him against his fully clothed chest, Skinner kissed him, thrusting his tongue deep into the smaller man's moist mouth. He moaned reveling in the unbelievable taste of the man he loved Skinner tightened his hold, pulling Mulder's body closer while his other hand went behind the younger man's head, tilting it back, to allow him to more thoroughly kiss him. It felt extremely erotic to Mulder being so thoroughly possessed, and held tightly in Skinner's strong arms Being crushed against the other man's fully clothed body, he felt the rough fabric of the Skinner's jeans rubbing against his bare erection and legs. He felt the large bulge of larger man's hard, swollen erection pressing against his as Skinner's tongue thrust in and out of his mouth, tasting and claiming him. Skinner broke the kiss and nuzzled up against the side of Mulder's throat "You're mine!" he whispered, nipping gently on Mulder's earlobe Then he sucked the side of the younger man's throat, leaving a red hickey, one of many marks he planned to leave on this perfect man standing before him Skinner licked, nipped, and sucked his way down to Mulder's nipples. He scraped his thumbnails over them until they became hard little pebbles Then he put his mouth over one at a time sucking and gently biting them Mulder was moaning and holding Skinner's head against his chest, he had never before experienced being this aroused - his erection felt fragile. Skinner stopped his teasing Mulder's nipples, he needed to feel his skin against the other man's warm flesh, and he couldn't wait any longer. He reached up pulling his shirt off he unzipped his pants freeing his large cock from its tight confines. He bent down and quickly removed his shoes and socks, then slid his pants and briefs the rest of the way down his legs, stepping out of them. Totally aroused, Mulder watched Skinner undress His eyes missing nothing, not the larger man's broad, muscular shoulders and chest, not his narrow waist and firm, flat stomach, and definitely not the largest erection he'd ever seen before. Skinner pulled Mulder against his now naked body, feeling a bolt of pure lust course through him at the skin-to-skin contact. He became harder than he could ever remember being before in his life, his balls were heavy and full and he wanted to shoot his load deep within his beautiful lover's body, marking him forever as his. He wanted Mulder to feel his hot semen as he poured out his passion within him, knowing that he now belonged to Walter S. Skinner and no one else. Skinner kissed those full, lush lips again, they were swollen from previous kisses Mulder was returning his kisses passionately Skinner took Mulder's erection into his hand and started stroking and caressing it as he cupped his sacks testing how heavy they felt. He was getting close Skinner sank to his knees and nuzzled his face against the younger man's groin rubbing his nose against his pubic hair breathing in his lover's scent Mulder smelled of soap from his recent shower and slightly of musk Skinner turned his attention to Mulder's cock that was now leaking steadily. He held it in his hand as his tongue licked the head tasting him "Mmmm," Skinner purred, pushing the tip of his tongue against the small slit. Mulder gasped and grab Skinner's head as he felt his knees going weak. Skinner glanced up at his flushed face as he took his lover's cock into his mouth. He raked his teeth along Mulder's entire length pulling it out of his mouth then taking him in deeper until he was deep- throating him Mulder tightened his grip on the larger man's head, losing total control; he started to thrust in and out of his warm mouth Skinner let the muscles in his throat relax, he effortlessly handled Mulder's deep thrusts. He had one hand on Mulder's hip for balance with the other he grabbed and squeezed the younger man's balls feeling them tighten as Mulder moaned, shooting his come into Skinner's mouth Skinner swallowed quickly, relishing his lover's flavor on his tongue Only after Mulder was totally spent did he allow his lover's softening penis to slip from his mouth. Skinner stood and kissed Mulder, letting him taste himself The younger man greedily sucked on Skinner's tongue, giving himself up totally to the pleasure his body was experiencing //Maybe it could be possible for me to love this man,// Mulder thought. Mulder felt Skinner's erection pressing into his hip, reaching down he ran his fingertips over its hard, thick length. He had never held or touched another man's cock before and found the sensation very exciting "I want you in me, Walter, I want to experience all of you," he whispered, too overcome with desire and passion to make his voice any louder. He could feel himself becoming hard again, finding that hard to believe after having such an earth shattering orgasm. Skinner looked in Mulder's eyes, seeing the lust deep within their beautiful hazels depths, he knew Mulder was ready for him. He backed Mulder up to the side of the bed; reaching around the younger man's body, he pulled the blankets and sheets down "Climb in and lay on your back," Skinner instructed, opening the bedside table he pulled out a bottle of lubricant. Mulder scooted to the center of the king-size bed and waited with giddy apprehension for his - lover. He smiled at the word *lover* he liked the way it sounded in his head Maybe he wouldn't get hurt this time; Skinner would never hurt him ... unlike most of the other people in his life. Skinner climbed onto the bed and crawled over to Mulder. He parted the young man's legs and settled between them Looking down into his warm, trusting eyes, he leaned forward and gently kissed his lips "Don't worry, Fox, I won't hurt you I'd never hurt you," he vowed. Mulder wondered briefly if he had just read his thoughts, maybe Skinner had picked up the clairvoyant strain of the mutation No . . he decided the older man just wanted to reassure him before making love to him. Skinner grabbed a couple of pillows, "Raise your hips, Fox," he directed, sliding two pillows under him to elevate his hips. He then used one hand to part his lover's round buttocks, exposing his small puckered hole. He squeezed lubricant out onto the younger man's crease and rubbed his finger through it, coating his finger and his lover's ass at the same time. He pushed his greased finger against Mulder's opening, easing it into him, he found him unbelievably tight The sphincter muscle tightened around his finger at the intrusion. He waited patiently for it to relax before he pushed his finger in as far as it would go Skinner twisted his hand, turning his finger inside Mulder so he could stroke his prostate Mulder arched his up off the bed, groaning loudly he pushed back against the older man's finger Skinner spent a few minutes stroking Mulder with his finger, before applying lube to another finger, pushing both fingers into his body. He continued finger-fucking Mulder trying to loosen him //Damn! Fox was so tight he didn't know if he would be able to keep his promise of not hurting him.// "Fox, I don't think we'll be able to go all the way today You're just too tight, and I don't want to cause you any pain," Skinner said reluctantly. "Please! Walter, do it! Don't worry, I can take it! Please, fuck me!" Mulder pleaded, totally aroused by Skinner's manipulations of his body. Skinner's throat went dry at Mulder's passionate pleas. He continued to stretch him in earnest inserting a third finger Both their bodies were glistening with sweat; Skinner felt a drop running down his back. When he felt Mulder was as loose as he going to get, Skinner slicked up his cock and placed it up against Mulder's opening Holding his breath, he attempted to gain access to that incredibly beautiful body. He strained against the tight opening, but was too hesitant to force his way in Mulder decided he had enough of Skinner's caution and concern for his welfare and thrust his hips back forcing the head of his lover's penis into him There was a soft popping sound as the head passed through the tight ring of muscle Mulder grasped at the immediate pain he felt, and bit down on his lower lip to keep from crying out, not wanting to cause Skinner alarm or concern over his wellbeing. Skinner groaned and closed his eyes as he felt the tight ring of muscles close around the head of his cock. He opened them and looked at Mulder who was obviously in pain. "Please! Walter, do it," Mulder begged. Skinner waited until the muscles in Mulder's ass unclenched enough so he could ease his way in deeper. He stopped every a couple of inches allowing Mulder to adjust to his size, he continued this way until all of his thick, nine inches were buried in his lover. Mulder sighed, when he felt Skinner's heavy balls flush against his ass and knowing his lover was in to the root and could go no further. He couldn't remember feeling so much pain before in his life, it felt like Skinner's large cock would split him in two. Skinner waited, enjoying the feel of Mulder's tight, hot, silky interior clenching his hard cock. He knew Mulder was in intense pain as his cock pushed into his body, but Mulder willingly gave himself to him and refused to tell him to stop. Mulder felt the pain begin to ebb as his body adjusted to the invasion, a tingling sensation of pleasure started building within him It was a totally weird feeling, being completely filled by another man's cock. He looked up at his lover who hovered over him with concern and smiled up at him Wrapping his long lean legs around Skinner's waist, he urged him to continue. Skinner smiled down at Mulder, withdrawing a couple of inches then slowly pushing back in Mulder couldn't believe it possible to go from intense pain one moment to intense pleasure the next Pleasure coursed through his whole body, he had never experienced such an incredible feeling in his life. Skinner watched, transfixed, as a look of pure joy lit up Mulder's face. He felt relieved and gratified that he was now providing his lover with the same intense pleasure that he was enjoying from his beautiful body. He pulled halfway out then pushed back in faster; he angled his thrust brushing against Mulder's prostate Mulder gasped, his legs tightened around Skinner's waist, he reached up and pulled his lover's head, desperately kissing him Skinner moaned into his mouth, feeling Mulder's erection pressed between their two bodies Breaking the kiss, he reached down, grabbing Mulder's erection within his sweaty hand, he started stroking him in time with his thrusts. Skinner started to increase the length, depth, and speed of his thrusts; Mulder fell into an easy rhythm with him Sweat glistened on both their bodies from exertion and the hot passion they shared Skinner felt Mulder stiffen as another orgasm over came him and he spurted his come onto his chest and belly Skinner continued stroking him until he had finished coming Skinner's own orgasm followed as the muscles in Mulder's ass pumped and milked him. He emptied his seed deep within his lover's gorgeous body. Spent, Skinner collapsed exhausted on top of Mulder, momentarily blacking out, when he came back to himself, he was still deeply buried inside of his lover. He rose onto his elbows staring down into Mulder's beautiful, sated face, and kissed him tenderly on the lips Skinner withdrew reluctantly, watching closely as he pulled his large organ inch by inch from Mulder's body, making sure there wasn't any blood or tearing After he carefully examined the younger man, finding nothing to cause concern, he lay down beside him. Contented, Skinner reached his hand out and ran it through the semen on Mulder's stomach and chest, smearing it around his lover's upper body. "If you draw a smiley face I'm leaving you," Mulder murmured, still too sated to move. "You can't leave me, Fox, I won't let you," Skinner reminded him smiling "Do you want to go grab a shower?" "Yes, when I can move again Walter, you are planning on joining me?" he asked, turning his head on the pillow he faced Skinner. "Fox, you'll never take another shower by yourself when I'm home C'mon, let's get up, it's not even 4:00 p.m. and we have a full evening ahead of us By the way, what are you planning on cooking us for dinner?" Skinner rambled happily as he climbed out of bed and reached his hand out to help pull Mulder up, the younger man groaned, he was too exhausted to move very fast and feeling pleasantly sore. Walter Skinner's Condo Saturday, November 21 11:00 a.m. The ringing of the telephone woke Skinner from a deep peaceful sleep. He felt a warm body snuggled up against his and he smiled softly down at his lover. He hadn't felt this contented or happy in years. He quietly untangled himself from Mulder's warm embrace His lover in spite of the telephone ringing two feet from his head was still soundly asleep Skinner reached his hand over and grabbed the telephone from the hook. Glancing at the bedside clock, he noted the time was 11:00 a.m. He grinned down at the reason he slept so late when he was always up before 6:00 a.m "Skinner!" he answered annoyed at being disturbed. "Walter, this is Sam Harris." "Sam, why are you calling?" "Walt, I found George Conner's body this morning, he murdered, I thought you might want to check into it." "Do you have any more details?" Skinner asked as he sat up suddenly, jarring Mulder awake by his abrupt movement Mulder looked up at him slightly annoyed; Skinner guiltily glanced down at him and silently apologized. "Conner and I live in the same apartment building, I was going to see if I could catch a lift to the hospital with him. He has a four-wheel drive bronco, my Mercedes wouldn't have made it through the snowdrifts." Harris gulped taking a deep breath, "Walter, when I went to knock on his door ... I noticed blood seeping out onto the carpet beneath the door." Sam stopped speaking. "Sam, are you still there?" Skinner asked. Mulder sat up in bed next to him and was trying to figure out whom his lover was talking to. "I'm still here, Walter, it's just that I've never seen anything so gruesome before The Baltimore PD will be here as soon as the streets are passable, but I thought you would want to check into it also, on the off chance it has anything to do with Agent Mulder." "You're right, Sam, I want to look into it I'll be right over." Hanging up the telephone, he avoided looking at Mulder as he climbed out of bed. "Walter, what's wrong?" "Nothing is wrong, Fox There was a murder over in Baltimore and I'm going to look into it for a friend Go back to bed, I didn't mean to wake you," Walter replied as he headed for the bathroom. Mulder got out of bed following him "I'll go with you," he said, leaning against the bathroom door, his nude skin warm and flushed from sleep. Skinner looked over at him, "No, that won't be necessary Fox, its Saturday and there's a football game on at noon...'Vikings vs. Red Skins' ... stay home and enjoy it I won't be gone long." Skinner did not want Mulder involved in the investigation. Mulder sensed that Skinner was keeping something from him that involved him. He was still a top profiler in the FBI and knew when someone was intentionally attempting to hide something from him. "Walter!" Mulder's tone stopped Skinner in his tracks, looking at him Skinner saw a deep hurt and anger in his hazel eyes "I thought we were building a relationship on trust! I can see that I was wrong! I'm going back down to the guest room." Mulder turned to leave and Skinner bolted across the bathroom grabbing him, he spun Mulder around and slammed his back up against the door Skinner covered Mulder's lanky body with his preventing him from moving or wiggling free. "dammit! You're not going anywhere!" Skinner shouted angrily into his face A stunned look crossed the larger man's handsome face and he backed off suddenly "Fuck it ... Fox, I'm sorry ... I just don't want you to be hurt anymore That was Doctor Harris on the phone George Conner was murdered and I'm going over there to check into it I would like you to stay here, please, Fox," Skinner begged, ashamed at his loss of control. Mulder pushed his lover away from him "Okay, Walter, just this once, but when you get back we are going to have a discussion about trust, honesty, and over protectiveness C'mon, I'll wash your back, and you can tell me how you plan on getting out to the crime scene with snowdrifts covering roads," Mulder soothed, after seeing how distraught Skinner had become at his threatening to leave him. Baltimore - Crime Scene Saturday, November 21 1:00 p.m. Several police cars were already outside Rosewood Condominiums on the freshly plowed streets of Baltimore When A.D. Skinner and Special Agent Jack Sullivan arrived, Sullivan pulled his Range Rover behind the last police cruiser They climbed out of the truck and into the cold November air, making their way through the snowdrifts still covering the sidewalks and into the warmth of the upscale apartment building They entered the elevator and rode it up to George Conner's opulent penthouse condominium. They flashed their badges at the officer securing the door and walked in, stepping over the large red bloodstain on the carpet in front of the door Skinner took in the scene; a naked headless corpse was one foot away from the entryway door and appeared to have an object protruding from its anus Skinner had glanced around trying to determine the location of the victim's head when a bald headed detective confronted him "Detective Pembleton, Baltimore PD, can I help you?" "I'm Assistant Director Walter Skinner of the FBI What have you got so far, Detective Pembleton?" Skinner asked sternly, meeting the detective's stare daring him to protest. "What is the FBI's interest in this case?" Pembleton demanded. "The victim was being investigated for assaulting one of my agents two days ago I received a call that he was murdered and I'm here to conduct a personal investigation to determine if the two incidences are connected," Skinner growled. "F...B . . I ... well you're the law of the land, aren't you? So it wouldn't do me any good to *protest* now would it?" The detective sneered "Bayliss, take their statements," Pembleton called over to a younger detective. Walter Skinner was undeterred by the hostility being directed at him "I want details of what happened here, Detective Pembleton, and I want them now! This may involve the life of one of my agents I'll be damned if I'll let your territorial tendencies endanger him," Skinner barked. "You want to know what happened? Try this - the victim had his fucking head twisted off his body! Not cut off, twisted off, the head is currently in the toilet The object sticking out of the victim's ass, as best as we can determine is a bottle of wine." Pembleton walked over to the corpse and pointed to the dried white splotches running down the legs and covering the protruding bottle." As you can see, the victim was sexually assaulted prior to having his head twisted off and a fucking bottle shoved up his ass Now you know as much as we do about this case." He sneered "Now why don't you tell us about the connection between your agent and our headless Doctor Conner here?" Walter Skinner considered telling the arrogant detective to shove it, but opted for the more diplomatic option, honesty "My agent was sexually assaulted by Conner two days ago I filed assault charges against him yesterday," Walter answered dryly. "I want the agent's name and whereabouts between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. this morning," Pembleton demanded. "He was with me last night, he is staying at my condo in Crystal City." Pembleton looked over at Bayliss "Is he telling the truth, Tim?" "Yeah, he's telling the truth, but he omitted that he's sleeping with his agent, other than that he is being totally honest," Bayliss answered, slightly amused at the blush that appeared on A.D. Skinner's face. "Fuck! You're a clairvoyant?" Skinner said annoyed, glancing down at Bayliss' right hand he noted the tattoo that was there The government had mandated all men with the clairvoyant strain of the mutation be tattooed, since they showed no physical deformities on their bodies. "Yeah, irritating isn't it?" Bayliss chuckled "Well, it doesn't matter anyway Doctor Conner was killed be a Neanderthal and your agent isn't one." Tim finished his evaluation. "I thought as much, only a Neanderthal would have the physical strength to twist someone's head off their body," Skinner observed. "I still want to interview your agent, A.D. Skinner If you would have him come down to the station later today," Pembleton requested no longer hostile. "I'll bring him down there, but Detective, I want to be informed of any progress you make on this case," Skinner stated, turning to leave with Agent Sullivan following him out. Walter Skinner's Condo Saturday, November 21 2:00 p.m. When Skinner arrived back at the Condominium Mulder was waiting patiently for him. He had a pot of chili on the stove, knowing Skinner would need something warm to eat after trudging through the snow Skinner was surprised at how caring and thoughtful his lover was; he never would have pegged his obsessive agent for being the unselfish and giving type. Skinner sat at the kitchen table with a large bowl of chili and Mulder joined him, setting a box of crackers in front of the older man Mulder had already eaten and he thought it was a good time to set some rules and boundaries for their relationship. "Walter, I think it's about time we define our relationship I know you are used to being in charge, but this isn't the office and I expect to be treated as your equal partner Now, I know I'm inexperienced in male relationships or any relationships for that matter, but I want to make this work and be an equal participant in all areas." Skinner took several minutes before replying "Fox, I promise that I will try to treat you as an equal, but you will have to cut me some slack I'm not used to giving up control and you just might have to hit me over the head a few times before I catch on But, I love you, and I'm willing to do whatever is necessary to make you happy." Mulder smiled at him, leaning over he kissed him, tasting the chili on his lips "That's all I'm asking, thanks, Walter." Baltimore Police Department Saturday, November 21 5:00 p.m. Assistant Director Walter Skinner and Special Agent Fox Mulder arrived at the Baltimore PD, making their way through the noisy hallways on their way to the homicide squad room They passed through a gauntlet of catcalls and wolf whistles "Hey, gorgeous, dump baldy, I'll show you a good time!" Skinner glared at the man who made that suggestion and the man shrunk back away from the deadly look the large bald shot him. Mulder totally ignored their come-ons, having experienced an endless amount of propositions and suggestions over the last few months Even before suffering from the alien virus, he had more than his share of offers from both sexes Now that there was mainly only one gender left, the propositions had increased from men wanting the gratification of having sex with someone as beautiful as Mulder. All heads in the homicide squad room turned to look at Mulder as he entered the room The silence was deafening as Skinner cleared his throat, "We're here to see Detective Pembleton or Detective Bayliss, are either of them around?" Detective Bayliss came out of a side office, "A.D. Skinner, thank you for coming down." Looking over at Fox Mulder, he said, "You must be Agent Mulder, it's a pleasure to meet you." Reaching out his hand to shake Mulder's he let his grasp linger a little too long for Skinner's liking "Please have a seat over here." Bayliss pointed to his desk "Detective Pembleton is out right now so I will be taking your statement.". He sat behind his desk. "Now, Agent Mulder, would you please go over in detail your relationship with Doctor George Conner?" Tim Bayliss asked, smiling brightly and looking for all the world like a Cheshire cat. "You're a clairvoyant ... just type down what you're reading from my mind I'm not about to give you a play-by-play of the sexually assault," Mulder informed him, smiling back "Now, what else do you need to know?" "Do you happen to know any Neanderthals that would have wanted to revenge your honor by killing Doctor Conner?" Bayliss asked, somewhat disappointed that he wouldn't be hearing an accounting of Mulder's run-in with Conner. "I try to avoid all contact with Neanderthals I don't tend to find their company at all pleasant or in the best interest to my health." Mulder stated matter-of-factly, then suddenly he remembered the incident three days ago "I did have a run-in with a Neanderthal Colonel three days ago," Mulder said, looking up fearfully and meeting Skinner's eyes "I ... met the Colonel before, about six years ago, it maybe nothing, but I didn't like the way he was looking at me But, then again, I don't like the way most men have been looking at me nowadays," Mulder said, shrugging his shoulders. "Can you give me the Colonel's full name for the record?" Bayliss asked softly, feeling ashamed of his own wanton behavior after Mulder's statement. "Colonel Calvin Henderson, he was in the US Air Force when I first ran into him, but he was wearing an Army uniform last time I saw him." "Yeah, the US Air Force doesn't allow mutants in its ranks," Bayliss replied, writing the name down "I'm going to run a check on him for any past incidents, I'll keep you informed Thanks for your time, Agent Mulder," Tim said, extending his hand to Mulder. Mulder shook it and rose to leave. Mulder leaned up close to Skinner as the headed for the door "I just want to go home and take a long, hot bath This place has made me feel filthy," he whispered to his lover as they headed out the door, to even more wolf whistles. "I'll join you," Walter whispered back, putting his hand on the small of Mulder's back and guiding him out the door. Miami, Florida Sunday, November 22 1:00 a.m. It was a warm, pitch-black night when Alex Krycek arrived back in the United States. He had spent the last three days in Havana waiting for the boat that was going to smuggle him over to Miami The captain of the small boat was waiting for a moon-less night, so he could sneak pass the American blockade. The U.S. was one of a handful of countries that had been prepared in advance against the alien threat When the invasion finally came about the Americans implemented a full-scale lock down of their borders tightening security both externally and internally, against any threat to their nation's security or government Their measures paid off, their government and country's infrastructure survived intact. Now, a flood of refugees was trying to sneak into the U.S. for the security and protection it offered The refugees were running from the chaos and anarchy that their own countries had sunken into, but the American government was very selective of whom they allowed to immigrate to their country Forbidden were males with any form of mutation, also, the elderly, criminals, and the uneducated The authorities only approved healthy males that could fill vital jobs left vacant by the deaths of the women. Krycek stumbled through the moon-less night toward the lights of the Miami skyline Ducking for cover each time a vehicle went past because only the army and police were allowed on the streets between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m The nation had been under a strict curfew since the failed invasion. Krycek was concentrating so hard at keeping himself hidden from the passing military vehicles that he didn't notice that he was being followed The subsequent attack caught him completely by surprise The attacker hit him from behind knocking him down onto the damp ground; reflex and instinct saved his life as he thrust back with his elbow connecting with his attacker's soft belly The being that attacked him was a ghoul Krycek determined that by it's rotten smell, the pale bleach-white skin, and the thin skeletal body. A ghoul's primary motive was sustenance; they'd do whatever was necessary to eat Their main choice of food was humans; they needed the nutrients that were found only in a human's body to survive. Krycek rolled to the side and threw his mind out at the attacking creature, causing it to burst into flames. He quickly glanced around, knowing that ghouls hunted in packs much like wolves. He spotted several more lurking in the shadows that were lit up by the blazing body of the other ghoul Krycek was able to pinpoint their location and dealt them in a similar fashion as their fallen comrade. He hurried away from the flaming bodies that now lit up the night, knowing that an army patrol would soon come to investigate. He quickly made his way down the hill and into the back alleys of Miami. He found the address the captain of the boat had given him and tapped out the secret code on the door. He was immediately ushered in and shown a place to sleep. He would stay here tonight and in the morning he would head for Washington; back into the life of the man he loved Smiling, he put his handsome head down on the pillow and fell into a contented sleep, knowing that in a few days he would be with Fox Mulder, again. Viva Tower - Crystal City Sunday, November 22 4:30 a.m. The shimmering glow of water reflected off the pale turquoise walls and ceiling in the warm, indoor pool area A lone swimmer swam laps in the refreshing waters of the Viva Tower's swimming pool in the pre-dawn hours on a Sunday morning The water felt like silk caressing his skin as he effortlessly glided back and forth across the pool When Fox Mulder moved in with Skinner, he had quickly acquainted himself with the building's facilities and was overjoyed to find out the building had an indoor pool. Now that he was no longer able to go jogging outside, he made daily use of the treadmills in the exercise room located next door to the pool area Down the hallway was a large recreation room with a pool table, ping-pong table, dart boards, a large screen TV, and a wet bar Many of the FBI agents who had taken up residence here hung out there after work The only other rooms he knew on the ground floor were the business office and caretaker's apartment. Mulder was lost in thought, enjoying the peace and tranquillity of the swimming pool that he didn't notice the lone man watching him swim laps until he swam up to the side of the pool to rest, and was startled by the man staring down at him "Agent Mulder, I'm surprised to see you here, I didn't know you lived in the building." The man smiled down at him. Mulder recognized him instantly as the man from the Maintenance Department at the Hoover Building "Bob, that makes two of us, I wasn't aware you lived here either." Bob was in his early forties, his blonde hair was thinning, and he had developed a slight gut, but he still relatively good looking. He reminded Mulder of a middle-aged jock who was still attempting to re-live those old glory days of high school. "I just moved in yesterday afternoon, I've taken over the caretaker's position here." He knelt down at the edge of the pool next to Mulder testing the water with his hand "It's decent pay and I get the apartment for free, not bad for a part-time job." Bob smiled. Mulder relaxed not sensing any threat from Bob "I only moved in here last week myself, my old apartment building didn't have any of the amenities of this place." Mulder smiled back. "Agent Mulder!" Mulder and Bob both jumped at the loud voice that echoed across the pool area Standing in the doorway was a very angry Walter Skinner, what remained of his hair was uncombed, and he looked as if he had hurriedly dressed. "Sir?" "Agent Mulder, I would appreciate it if you'd tell me where you're going before taking one of your early morning jaunts!" Skinner walked over to the edge of the pool and glared down jealously at Bob who still had his hand in the water and was kneeling far too close to Mulder. Bob quickly pulled his hand out the water and stood up "A.D Skinner, sir, I'm Bob Madsen, I've taken over as caretaker here." He dried his hand on his shirt, and held it out to Skinner. Skinner recognized Bob from the Hoover Building; he declined to shake his hand Skinner was far too angry at finding this jerk talking so casually with his nearly naked lover who was only wearing those ridiculously skimpy red speedos "I didn't know Fred Davis had left the caretaker position," Skinner said, glaring menacingly at Bob. Bob pulled his hand back "He went back to Texas to be with his sons and grandsons." The anger and hostility in the A.D. Skinner's eyes unnerved him Maybe doing this favor for his cousin was not such a great idea after all, if it meant getting on the wrong side of the A.D. Agent Mulder climbed out of the pool distracting both men from their growing confrontation They both stared lustfully after him as he walked over, grabbed his towel, and started drying himself Mulder quickly pulled on his sweatpants and shirt then slipped into his shoes Skinner walked over to Mulder and pulled him into a brief kiss in front of Bob, letting him know just whom this man belonged to "C'mon, Fox, let's go back up to the condo," he murmured and put a possessive arm around Mulder's waist. Bob had forgotten about the camera on his tool belt as Mulder climbed out of the pool, but remembered in time to secretly get some good shots of him toweling off and getting dressed The pictures of the A.D. kissing and groping him were icing on the cake ... his cousin was going to love those. Mulder allowed himself to be guided out of the pool area, shocked by Skinner's open display of affection in front of Bob Damn, Walter was jealous of Bob, he realized, becoming a little miffed at his lover's lack of trust. When they stepped on the elevator Skinner immediately lit into him "What the hell did you think you were doing going down to the pool area by yourself? From now on ... you fucking wake me up if you have the urge to go for an early morning swim and I'll join you! Do you have any idea what I went through ... waking up and finding you gone?" He admonished Mulder all the way back to the apartment. Mulder held his tongue until they were back inside the privacy of the apartment "Walter, unless you haven't noticed ... I do happen to be 38 years old and a fully trained FBI agent! I'm quite capable of taking an elevator down to the indoor pool and back up again Especially considering that most of the building's residents are FBI agents! Have you forgotten our discussion yesterday about trust and over protectiveness?" "Fox, I'm sorry, but I still need to know where you are I don't think it's particularly safe for you to be swimming by yourself, even in this building's pool, and especially wearing that skimpy piece of fabric you call a bathing suit! I didn't like the way that jerk was looking at you!" He didn't want to lose this argument. "Oh ... yeah ... right, I can't believe you're jealous of Bob! Let me see ... do I want to date a paunchy, boring ex-jock that I hardly know or a handsome, intelligent, and well-built ex-marine that I trust implicitly? Goddamn ... it's such a fucking hard choice make!" Mulder exclaimed, throwing up his arms in exasperation. He walked over, wrapped his arms around Skinner's waist, leaned in, and kissed him hard "I'm sorry I really didn't mean to cause you to worry, Walter I promise next time I'll let you know where I'm going, but sometimes I really need to be by myself, I hope you can understand that." Skinner sighed, returning the kiss and resting his forehead up against his lover's "Fox, I'm sorry for overreacting Unfortunately, I gave Bob something to gossip about at work on Monday My behavior at the pool will probably be all over the Hoover Building before noon." He grinned timidly. "It's your own fault for marking your territory, but I guess I should be happy you kissed me instead of peeing on me." Mulder enjoyed Skinner's discomfort; he rubbed up against him letting his erection rub against Skinner's hard organ. "Yeah, I have a much better way of marking my territory, Fox, let's go back to bed and I'll show you," Skinner growled Grabbing the younger man's hand, he dragged him toward the stairs while he started to remove their clothing, leaving an easy to follow trail from the living room up to their bedroom. Skinner threw Mulder down onto their messy, unmade bed, and proceeded to devour him. He passionately claimed him, starting with those delicious full lips, he forced his tongue deep into the sweet, wet, warmth and explored every inch of that delectable mouth. Mulder moaned as the older man continued his unrelenting exploration His body was possessively draped over Mulder's as he ground their hard erections together, moving in a circular motion with his hips His young lover clung to him his arms locked around Skinner's broad back, while he arched up to press their bodies even tighter together. Skinner looked into his lover's eyes and saw the warmth and desire in them; he thought if he looked hard enough he might actually be able to see love there, too. He dropped his mouth down to Mulder's neck and sucked the side of his throat feeling his lover's rapid pulse with his lips. He sniffed, breathing in deep lungs-full of pheromones coming off his lover's aroused body. The pheromones caused him to lose control, grabbing the tube of KY he hurriedly spread Mulder's legs. He squeezed some lube into his hand Coating a finger, he quickly thrust it into his lover's welcoming body Mulder arched up from the coldness and quickness that the lubed finger pushed it into him. He glanced up at Skinner's face, he was hot, sweaty, and appeared lost in the throes of passion His mind seemed to be elsewhere as he thrust his finger in and out of the tight body beneath him trying to quickly stretch him. He greased up two more fingers and forced all three into his lover. He was so lost in the heat of passion that he totally ignored Mulder's gasp of pain as he plunged his fingers deep into his body, twisting and scissoring them in an attempt to loosen him quicker His own desperate need to get himself off had taken precedence over the welfare of his lover He'd never been so thoroughly aroused and in desperate need of release If his mind had been clear enough to allow him to think, he would have realized it was because to the pheromones. "Walter, please, you're hurting me!" Only Mulder's cry of pain brought him back to himself; he stared down in shock at his lover who had both his hands pressed against his chest trying to push him away The pain and discomfort were obvious. "Damn Fox, I'm sorry," Walter whispered Pulling away, he eased his fingers from the tense body. "It's okay ... Walter, it's not your fault I think we should give me another shot of Doctor Harris' magic potion before we continue." Mulder climbed shakily out of bed and walked into the bathroom. Skinner took a moment to stop trembling; he had almost seriously hurt his lover Damn! He got out of bed on wobbly legs and joined his lover in the bathroom. Mulder had removed the drug from the medicine cabinet and had filled a syringe; he handed it, the antiseptic swab, and the rubber tie over to Skinner. He held out his arm and the older man took in one long shaky breath before taking a hold of Mulder's arm, he proceeded to give him the shot "C'mon, let's go back to bed and try again," Fox soothed. Grabbing Skinner's hand, he led him back to the bed. Mulder lay back down in the middle of the large bed. "Now . . where were we?" He reached over and pulled his lover on top of him gently kissing him then let his hand wander down to stroke Skinner's cock until he was fully erect again. He reached over and handed the older man the tube of KY "Okay, Walter, let's try it again, but this time slower and gentler." The older man moved over slightly, which enabled Mulder to bend his knees, lift, and spread his legs to make it easier for his lover to touch him. Skinner smiled, leaned over and kissed Mulder again then started to gently prepare him When he felt his young lover was ready, he put a hand on the back of Mulder's knee and helped him roll his hips up Reaching with the other hand, he placed his cock against the opening and eased his way in There was none of the resistance from the first time Although he was still unbelievably tight, his muscles relaxed allowing him to enter. When he was buried to the hilt, he gazed down at Fox looking into his gorgeous hazel eyes "God, Fox, I love you so much it hurts, I'd never have forgiven myself if I had harmed you." He poured out his heart knowing by Mulder's unselfish act of giving himself; he didn't hold him responsible for losing control. Mulder met his eyes and let all the warmth he felt for Skinner show in them "Please, Walter, now," he begged, dropping his legs down to wrap them around the older man's waist. Skinner began to move in and out of his lover, gently at first, slow short strokes. He let Fox set the pace "Please ... faster," he moaned. Mulder relished the feel of Skinner's large cock filling him, stroking his insides, and igniting a burning pleasure within his very core with each deep thrust. He shivered and moaned at every thrust that brushed his sensitive prostate ... shooting wave after wave of pleasure throughout his body and straight into his groin. His erection was squeezed between their two bodies and the friction caused by the back and forth motion made him come Walter felt his lover's semen spurt between them. He shoved in as far as he could go before the throbbing of Mulder's internal muscles as they clenched and squeezed his cock, triggering his release into his lover's body. Mulder felt the hot liquid from Skinner's release being emptied deep within him, cherishing the sensation. Skinner collapsed exhausted onto Mulder, taking a few moments to recover his breath. He rose and looked tenderly down at him as he slowly eased himself out, then rolled onto his side, and pulled his lover's sated body into a tight embrace, never wanting to let him go It could not be possible to love anyone more than he loved Mulder. Miami Sunday, November 22 9:00 a.m. A motorcycle raced up the warm, sunny interstate heading north, away from the city of Miami, north up 95 toward Washington DC It was going to take him at least two days to reach DC because of the nightly curfew he couldn't drive straight through. Alex Krycek was dressed totally in black; he wore a black helmet with a dark front. He had on tight, black jeans that hugged his muscular legs; a leather vest over a black turtleneck sweater; a heavy, long, black, leather coat Despite the many layers, he didn't feel hot; he kept himself cool by thought alone. He knew if he wanted, he could make it snow, but that would require expending too much energy. Krycek needed to save his strength and conserve his powers; he would need all of them once he arrived in DC His body needed to recharge after any major use; he was still recovering from last nights run in with the ghouls It would be a few more hours before his powers were back in full force. He knew that with each passing week he was getting stronger, recovering quicker, and discovering new abilities. He drove non-stop until he reached Georgia then pulled into a diner that was packed with cars. He got off his bike, but left his helmet on as he entered the diner Surveying the crowd, he saw there were roughly fifty diners, and ten of them were Neanderthals or n'thrals as popular slang now called them Krycek walked up to the counter, deciding to order carryout and eat at some secluded spot along the way. He didn't want to remove his helmet in front of the n'thrals. He knew he was good looking, and he didn't want to fight off any of their unwelcome advances The n'thrals were primarily driven by their testosterone and tended to leave their brains behind if a good-looking piece of ass caught their interest. He glanced around at the other diners most were ugly as sin or far too old to arouse any of the n'thrals There weren't any young, good looking men present ... most stayed away or traveled with bodyguards. "Aren't you a little hot in that get-up?" the man behind the counter asked, looking Krycek over. "No, I'm perfectly comfortable I want a roast beef sandwich on wheat with Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion Also, an order of French fries, and a slice of apple pie, to go." As he placed his order, Krycek was aware of the other diners looking him over. "Your order will be ready in about ten minutes." The largest n'thral stood up, and walked over to him, Krycek noticed with some disdain that it was wearing a sheriff's uniform on it's muscular, seven foot body "Why don't you take your helmet off and make yourself comfortable, boy?" the sheriff asked. "Oh, I'm more than comfortable, sheriff, thanks for your concern," he answered and turned his back on the man. "I don't believe you are ... here boy, let me help you remove it." The sheriff reached his hand toward Krycek's helmet. An invisible force grabbed the sheriff's hand and twisted it behind his back, forcing him up onto his tiptoes The sheriff cried out in pain, looking in disbelief at Krycek who still had his back to him "Let me go, you little shit, or I'll tear you in two!" he bellowed. The grip on the arm tightened and he was yanked up A popping sound was heard throughout the diner, as the arm was dislocated from its shoulder The sheriff howled in pain. Krycek slowly turned around to faced him "Sheriff, what was that about tearing me in two? I really don't believe you're in any position to be making any threats Now, I just came in here for a quick meal When I get it, I'll be gone, and if anyone tries to stop me, I'll burn this jerkwater town down to the ground Do I make myself clear, sheriff?" "Y ... yes!" the sheriff gasped in pain, being raised even higher off his feet. "Good." The waiter quickly brought over his order and he paid, then left the diner. He climbed back on his bike deciding to put as much distance between himself and the diner as he could before he stopped to eat Although that little feat didn't take much out of him, he preferred to stay out of trouble. He had things that were more important on his mind than playing with the locals. Krycek rode until he reached the South Carolina border It was two hours until curfew so he decided to start looking for a motel to stay at for the night. He pulled into a Motel 6 in Bedham Getting a room at the office, he parked his bike around back and removed his pack, and the food from the diner. He stopped at the Pepsi machine two doors down; he would have preferred a beer, but he hadn't mastered the art of changing Pepsi into Ale. He threw his pack on the bed, bolting the door then went into the bathroom to cleanup Back in the room, he turned on the TV and sat on the bed to eat his dinner There were the usual sitcoms, all reruns; Krycek wondered briefly what the new episodes would be like minus the women or if they would even make new episodes Most of the shows just wouldn't be the same Sighing, he flipped on the news, it showed President Clinton still touring the cities that had suffered damage during the attack. Krycek was still in awe that the Reagan Star Wars Defense Program had actually been a viable weapons system - it actually worked! It had offensive weapons capabilities besides the defensive ones It must have surprised the hell out of the invaders when their ships were blown clear out of the sky by earth's innocent looking communications satellites. There was a report from the United Nations on the large number of kids in orphanages It was a plea for men to adopt the boys and provide them with a nurturing family The report included information about the restriction against n'thrals from adopting There was a winter weather advisory out from Maryland and up into Canada, Krycek realized that he'd have to dump the motorcycle when he got to North Carolina The news ended with the hearings into the alien cover up and the government's experimentation on it citizens Krycek was hoping for some mention of Fox Mulder in the report knowing Mulder was involved heavily in the investigation, but there was nothing. After throwing the food wrappers away he decided to take a shower then hit the sack. He would be in DC by late tomorrow, and he planned on swinging by Mulder's apartment in Alexandria. He knew Mulder wouldn't be happy to see him But, given enough time, he was certain that he could convince him to trust him again. He would do whatever it took to win back Mulder's trust and friendship. Viva Tower - Crystal City Sunday, November 22 11:30 a.m. Skinner came out of the kitchen carrying a beer; he walked over to the sofa where Mulder was sprawled. He had a case folder opened on his lap and was making notes on the documents inside The older man sat on the sofa, moving Mulder's bare feet from where they rested, and placing them on his lap Using one hand to drink his beer, he used the other to massage his lover's feet, alternating between them Mulder sighed contentedly, lowering the folder he closed his eyes enjoying the unsolicited attention. The doorbell rang Skinner paused and considered ignoring it, but he was too set in his ways Groaning, he got up and opened the door. Agent Vince Pipino stood outside. "Good morning, sir We're setting up a poker game down in the rec room and we're wondering if you and Mulder would care to join us?" Skinner had tried to keep a professional distance between himself and his subordinates, feeling it was inappropriate for him to socialize with them, but that was all in the past Now, most of his agents were desperately trying to rebuild their shattered lives and needed his strong support and leadership. "Sure, Vinny What about you, Fox, are you interested?" Skinner asked glancing over at him. "You go ahead, Walter I'll be down later, I just want to finish going through this case file." Mulder directed his attention back to the file in his lap. Skinner accompanied Pipino down to the rec room, which was alive with activity There were over two hundred apartments in Viva Tower, and FBI employees lived in one hundred thirty-eight of them with their sons Skinner heard at last count there were eighty-nine boys between the ages of one and eighteen now living here Several of the fourteen and fifteen-year-olds were nosily playing pool There were several smaller children playing with an assortment of toys in front of the large screen TV where their fathers sat enjoying the ball game and keeping a close eye on them. The poker table was set up in a quiet alcove at the far end of the large room Agents George Jackson, Patrick Jameson, and Ronald Underwood sat drinking beer and arguing politics. "Good morning, sir," they greeted as he sat at the table Agent Pipino returned with two beers handing one to Skinner. "Is Mulder going to join us?" Jackson asked. "He'll be down later." Skinner took a long swig of beer. They played for two hours before Mulder finally showed up. He tried to make his way through the herd of children that wanted his attention, stopping to talk with several of the older boys. He picked up a toddler that was trying to climb up his leg The little boy hugged him around the neck, resting his small head on Mulder's shoulder Mulder had always had a special way with children; they seemed to claim him as one of their own. He kissed the little boy on the top of his head before putting him down and making his way over to the table. "So, who's winning?" Mulder asked, taking a seat at the table. He tried to keep a straight face when he noticed that Skinner only had a couple of chips left, compared to the piles in front of the other men. "Underwood has most of the A.D.'s money," Vinny answered with a hint of humor in his voice. Mulder smirked at his disgruntled lover "Do you want to call it a game? The boys would like to go over to the park and have a snowball fight It would be good for them to get outside for some fresh air and exercise What do you think?" Mulder tried to be nonchalant, but the plea in his voice was obvious - the boys weren't the only ones who wanted to go outside and play in the snow. "Sounds like a good idea to me, you can count me in, Mulder," Jameson said, not giving Skinner a chance to object Everyone was aware that the A.D. was a little too overprotective of Agent Mulder lately. "Yeah, my boys would love a good old fashioned snowball fight Let's go round up the kids and meet down in the lobby in twenty minutes," Pipino agreed, warming to the idea. When they assembled in the lobby, there were thirty-two boys from age seven to fifteen, and sixteen men Once at the park, they broke into four teams; each team was allowed an hour to build their snow fort and prepare their ammunition. When the battle finally ended after two hours, everyone was soaked to the bone and completely exhausted Skinner couldn't remember ever having so much fun or laughing so freely, his team had won which made up for losing most of his money in the poker game. He hadn't felt such a sense of community in years; some of the children had taken to calling him Uncle Walt. He liked that. They all dragged themselves back to the high-rise After making their farewells and promising a rematch after the next new snowfall, they returned to their separate condos. "I don't think I've ever been this cold before," Mulder complained shivering. "I'll make us a couple of hot butter rums then we can defrost in a hot whirlpool bath." Skinner hugged Mulder and felt him shivering through layers of clothing, including their coats. "C'mon, let's get out of these wet clothes before we catch pneumonia." Skinner pulled Mulder over to the small laundry room where they stripped and hung the wet clothing over the sink to dry. They headed upstairs and Skinner retrieved his robe "Fox, why don't you start the bath, and I'll go downstairs to make us those drinks." "Okay, Walter." Skinner returned ten minutes later carrying a tray that he set down on the wide-ledge around large tub When he bought the condo he had thought the bathroom was a bit too opulent for a single man. He had liked the large shower that was separate from the bathtub, but he didn't think he'd get much use out of the dual sinks or the two-person whirlpool bath Now that Mulder was living here, all that had changed. He reached his hand in and tested the swirling water - it was almost too hot. He climbed in next to his lover who was leaning back with his eyes closed and a contented look on his beautiful face Mulder opened one eye and smiled at his handsome lover "I had fun today I can't remember the last time I've had so much fun, other than when we're making love.". He took the steaming mug his partner handed him "Thanks." He smiled, taking a sip. "Yeah, it was fun It allowed me to become acquainted with some of the kids, they even started calling me Uncle Walt," he grinned "I never had any nephews, only nieces," Skinner sighed, he was becoming misty-eyed at the thought of his nieces. Mulder let him grieve silently, he knew Skinner didn't like losing control over his emotions. He laid his head on Skinner's shoulder and waited for him to recover. When Skinner had his emotions back under tight lock and key he ran his hand over Mulder's graceful back. "Thanks, Fox." He appreciated his lover knowing him well enough to let him grieve in peace. Mulder ran his fingers through the hairs on Skinner's chest; he reached over and retrieved his mug "Mm, this is good." "Walter, I was thinking ... Vinny's sons were telling me what a lousy cook their dad is, and Boutotte's kid said he's no better ... I thought we could invite them over for Thanksgiving dinner We could stop at the grocery store tomorrow, after work, and pick up all the fixings I'll make a list of what we'll need ... you do have dual-ovens and a extra-large range top..." Mulder rambled on excitedly, he had never had much of a family life, so he was delighted with the idea of being around people that actually cared about him. "Yeah, it would be good for the kids to be around other people during the holiday," Skinner agreed. Alexandria Sunday, November 22 8:30 p.m. Alex Krycek quietly picked the locks on apartment 42. He had made it here with a half-hour to spare before the nightly curfew began. He was surprised by the lack of sound coming from inside the apartment; there was not the usual sound of the television set. He had assumed Mulder would be home by now. Once inside the apartment, Krycek looked around; he was disconcerted to find only furniture, and none of Mulder's personal items His clothing was completely gone, the fish tank in the corner was off, there were no books or pictures on the shelves, and his computer was gone Krycek sat heavily on the leather couch wondering where Mulder had gone. He was worried that something might have happened to him. Krycek picked up the telephone that was still on the desk, but it was dead, he'd have to spend the night here In the morning, he would check with his contacts and try to find out what happened to Fox. Warehouse Tuesday, November 24, 4:00 p.m. Colonel Henderson glanced around his domain; he had found this dwelling while hunting ghouls late one night. He had tracked several of them to this building, dispatching each of them with a shot to the head, and then he discovered the remains of the previous owners the ghouls had killed sometime before. Henderson had the deed to this place transferred over to him under a false name This was his personal hideaway and no one knew about it The living quarters were located on the top floor of the warehouse; it had fifteen-foot ceilings and a wide-open floor plan It suited his large girth, he didn't feel as closed in here The place was sparsely furnished; there was a heavy, oak, king-sized bed, a large sofa, dining room table, and a couple of floor lamps On the wall in front of the sofa, he had pasted photos of Fox Mulder, which he had Sergeant Babcock make from the digital photo CD. He spent long hours drinking and staring at his collection of photos Babcock had dropped off several more photos at his office this morning, ones his cousin had taken inside of Viva Tower His favorites were the one showing Mulder pulling his sweats up his long shapely legs after swimming, wearing only a small swimsuit that showed off his tight butt, and the one showing Mulder smiling at a little boy he was helping to tie his shoes Henderson ran a large, hairy, finger over the photo of Mulder smiling. "We'll be together soon, Fox," he murmured Tomorrow morning at 5:20 a.m., he would pick up Fox at Viva Tower. Babcock's report indicated that Mulder used the treadmill in the exercise room from 5:00 to 6:00 a.m Luckily, the exercise room had an emergency exit that opened into an alleyway Babcock's cousin was going to let him in when the coast was clear Smiling contentedly Henderson walked over and tested the leg-cuff and the chain he had bolted to the floor by the bed. He double-checked that the chain reached the bathroom, but didn't come anywhere near the windows. He had lined the cuff with foam rubber then wrapped velvet over that; he didn't want Fox injuring himself. Henderson let his finger stroke the velvet lining of the cuff, when Fox had accepted that his only purpose in life was to service him sexually, then he wouldn't need to keep him chained up Henderson walked back over to the wall of photos gazed at the one that showed Mulder in that skimpy bathing suit. He slowly removed his clothing, uncovering his massive, hairy body. Fourteen more hours and Fox would be here then he wouldn't need to jack off with only photographs to look at anymore. Outside the Hoover Building Tuesday, November 24 5:00 p.m. Krycek found out from his contacts that Mulder was staying with A.D. Skinner. He hated the A.D. and didn't like the idea of Mulder living with him He'd noticed when he was an agent, the wanton looks Skinner directed at Mulder Krycek didn't want him being in that close a proximity to Mulder. Krycek had spent several hours trying to locate Mulder's brainwave patterns while filtering out all the other people. He knew he'd find his telepathic abilities useful as he finally picked up on Mulder's thoughts Now that he had isolated Mulder's unique brainwaves, he would have no trouble zeroing in on him anywhere within a ten-mile radius. He leaned back on the park bench and let Mulder's thoughts wash over him If he wanted, he could form a two-way communication with him In time, he would, but for now he enjoyed just being inside that extremely intelligent brain. He frowned as Mulder's thoughts turned to A.D. Skinner; he was replaying them making love this morning. Fuck, he had to get Mulder out of the country as soon as possible. He pulled his mind out of Mulder's not wanting to see the images of them having sex. Viva Tower - Crystal City Wednesday, November 25 5:10 a.m. Bob watched Agent Mulder jogging on the treadmill; loving the way his sleeveless T-shirt hung on his tall, lanky form; the way his shorts showed off those long, toned legs, the man was definitely a work of art. Bob liked Mulder, he was happy when his cousin Bruce had asked him to help get Mulder back together with his boyfriend Bruce informed him that the A.D. wasn't allowing Mulder any contact with non-bureau personnel Bob didn't much care for the A.D. and didn't like the idea of him putting restrictions on the people that the agent was allowed to see Bruce mentioned that his boyfriend had been trying to contact him for weeks, but he couldn't get passed Skinner. His cousin had arranged with his help, to sneak the boyfriend in without the A.D. knowing. He was supposed to let him in through the emergency exit this morning before anyone else came down to workout Bruce said the boyfriend wanted to surprise Mulder and not to tell him he was coming. Bob was pretending to repair one of the other treadmills when he stopped and reached into his pocket for his packet of smokes "I'm stepping outside for a cigarette break," he informed Mulder as he headed over to the exit situated behind the agent's back. Mulder felt the cold draft hit his back when the door opened The temperature had dropped into the teens during the night. He was glad he didn't smoke any longer, it would be a bitch standing out in this cold just for a nicotine fix. Bob noticed the humvee parked in the alley, Bruce didn't mention that Mulder's boyfriend was in the military. He had turned to see if he could locate the boyfriend when he bounced off Henderson's chest Bob looked up slowly at the incredibly large figure looming over him Fuck, what had Bruce gotten him into, there was no way Mulder would ever be dating a Neanderthal. "Did Agent Mulder come down this morning?" Henderson saw the look of fear and disgust on the face of the man in front of him. "No ... MMMulder didn't come down this morning." Bob tried to lie his way out; he was going to kill Bruce when he got his hands on him. "Well, I think I'll just check for myself." "Wait! AGENT Mulder RU ... " Bob's warning was cut off when Henderson grabbed him by the throat and slammed his head against the brick wall, crushing his skull like an eggshell and killing him instantly. Mulder never heard Bob's warning cry through the closed door. He felt the cold draft on his back and assumed Bob was returning from his cigarette break When a large shape appeared out of the corner of his eye, he tried to turn around, but was instantly grabbed from behind and a soft cloth pressed over his mouth and nose. He struggled against his attacker, but he had no chance against the powerful person holding him. The last thing Mulder remembered before the sweet, sickly smell of chloroform drifted him into unconsciousness was Henderson's large deformed face staring down into his as he was scooped up into those massive arms His mind screamed out for help before his world faded into darkness... Henderson gently cradled Mulder's limp body against his chest as he hurried out through the emergency exit. He was careful not to bump Mulder's head as he laid him into the backseat of the humvee and wrapped him snugly in the blankets he had brought with him It was snowing heavily and the body by the door already had a light coating of snow covering it. He was going to have to kill Babcock ... it was a shame ... he'd been such a good little toady The colonel got behind the wheel and sped away from the building. Walter Skinner dropped the bowl of batter he was stirring when he heard Mulder's cry for help, and felt his terror. He quickly raced out of the apartment heading for the exercise room many floors below. At precisely the same time, but across town in Alexandria on Hagel Place, Alex Krycek bolted upright; he was startled awake by Mulder's silent plea for help. He listened carefully but could no longer hear him in his mind Krycek quickly dressed and headed out the door for Viva Tower. Chapter 3 - Thanksgiving Viva Tower Wednesday, November 25, 5:30 a.m. Walter Skinner made it down to the exercise room in record time. He quickly glanced around the empty room for any sign of his lover, and noticed a small white cloth lying beside a still revolving treadmill. He removed a handkerchief from his pocket, hit the stop button with it, then stooped down and picked up the small white cloth As he lifted near his face, he could smell the sickly-sweet smell of chloroform wafting off it. Agent Boutotte rushed into the room seconds later His condo was right next door to Walter Skinner's When he heard the door to Skinner's condo slam up against the wall and the heavy pounding feet run past his door, he instantly raced out of his condo and followed him. He made it to the staircase just before the door closed, and raced after the speeding A.D. down the many flights of stairs as fast as he could. When he rushed into the exercise room, he found the A.D. standing in front of a treadmill staring down at a piece of white fabric. He walked over to him breathless, "Sir, what's wrong?" Skinner appeared to be in shock. "Sir?" Skinner quickly pulled himself together "Mulder came down to use the treadmill ... " The AD looked around and noticed the emergency exit and headed over to it Boutotte followed closely behind. Using the handkerchief, Skinner turned the doorknob being careful not to disturb any fingerprints They saw the body crumpled against the side of the building and the pool of blood that had seeped into the freshly fallen snow. "Bob ... the caretaker," Skinner informed Boutotte. He noticed the tire tracks leading out of the alley, knowing instantly they were from a humvee; it had a very unique set of tracks Snow was beginning to cover the tracks, in another half-hour they would no longer be visible. "I'll call the police and get the FBI crime lab down here, sir." Boutotte quickly headed back into the building. He didn't like leaving the A.D. alone in his current state, but he knew time was critical. Warehouse Wednesday, November 25, 6:00 a.m. Henderson carried Mulder's limp body up the steep, concrete staircase leading to his loft apartment in the abandoned warehouse. He walked across the hardwood floors over to the large four-poster oak bed and delicately laid Mulder down, staring lovingly at the sleeping figure Then with the uttermost care, he removed Mulder's clothing, peeling off the T-shirt, shorts, boxers, and running shoes. He carried the discarded clothing over to the closet and placed it on the top shelf. He walked back to the bed and studied his soon-to-be-lover's naked body Henderson ran a hand down the long, lean body, savoring the softness and warmth, stopping at his groin he briefly fondling him Sitting down at the end of the bed, he placed the agent's leg in his lap and gently caressed it, before fastening the leg-cuff around the ankle. The colonel quickly removed his own clothing and laid down next to Mulder, pulling the warm body into his arms. He buried his nose in Mulder's hair and breathed in his clean scent; he thought he heard the agent stir and looked closely at his face. He was still deeply asleep The chloroform would have worn off by now if he hadn't stopped along the way to give the agent a general anesthetic. He didn't want Fox regaining consciousness until he had returned from killing Babcock. Fox Mulder drifted in and out of his drug-induced slumber A sharp raunchy smell assaulted his senses when he surfaced briefly; he felt something large and hairy rubbing against him. He tried desperately to open his eyes, but was pulled back under as he felt the soft surface he was lying on spinning around and spiraling him back into blissful darkness. Henderson reluctantly pulled away, standing he started dressing. He bent over and kissed Mulder tenderly on the lips before heading out the door "I'll be back soon, babe, then we'll have all the time in the world to be together." Viva Tower Wednesday, November 25, 6:00 a.m. Alex Krycek parked in front of Viva Towers just as the first police cars arrived His gut twisted as if someone had stuck a hot knife into him. He wasn't able to make mental contact with Mulder and feared the worst as he followed the officers around to the back of the building. He noticed the body covered by snow A few men were milling around it, blocking it from his view. He shoved his way through, needing to get a closer look and felt his stomach unknot when he saw it wasn't Mulder. "KRYCEK!" Krycek turned around to face the man who had barked his name. "Skinner." Krycek noticed the visible signs of anxiety on the A.D.'s usually unflappable exterior. "Why are you here, Krycek?" "For the same reason you are ... Mulder Where is he?" He walked up to Skinner staring him straight in the eye "Something happened to him, I felt his terror ... then nothing." Skinner grabbed Krycek's right hand and studied it "We tattoo clairvoyants in this country," he said, letting go of the hand It never occurred to Skinner to question how he, too, was able to hear Mulder's cry for help. "Yes, they're doing that in Russia, too However, I'm not a clairvoyant." "Then what was that *bullshit* about feeling Mulder's terror?" Skinner snarled He didn't have time to play twenty questions with Alex (rat bastard) Krycek - he had to find Fox. "That's irrelevant, the important thing is finding Mulder I want to know what happened here." Skinner glared angrily at the handsome ex-agent "Krycek, you may have been given a full pardon by the President, but to me you're still a traitor and a murderer So, I'm not telling you a fucking thing! Now, get your rat's ass out of here, you're impeding the investigation!" "Okay! Fine! Whatever! I'll find him on my own, without any help from you, and don't talk to me about being a traitor ... we both know the role you played." Krycek stormed off toward his car; he had picked up enough information from several of the other agents' minds to know what happened For some reason, he couldn't read Skinner's thoughts, which worried him, he'd never run into anyone he couldn't read before. Whoever had taken Mulder had also chloroformed him, which would explain why he couldn't read him He'd have to drive around waiting for Mulder to regain consciousness and hope that he was close enough to pick up his brainwaves He knew once he was awake it would be easy to follow them straight back to Mulder. Skinner watched apprehensively as Krycek stormed off Fuck! Why did he have to come back ... if Mulder ever found out what the ex- agent knew, he'd lose him He thought he'd covered all of his tracks to prevent Fox from ever finding out, but with Krycek in town . . Maybe he should sit down and have a long talk with his lover, explain his part in the conspiracy and beg his forgiveness, but he had to find him first. Warehouse Wednesday, November 25 10:00 a.m. Mulder slowly opened his eyes, squinting against the glaring bright light coming in from the large window on the other side of the room He wished the bed he found himself on would stop spinning, his stomach was churning and he felt bile rising in his throat He slowly turned his head, noticed the bathroom a few feet from the bed, and very cautiously tried to make it there before losing the contents of his stomach. He was aware of the chain scraping against the hardwood floor and the feel of the heavy cuff around his ankle as he made his way slowly into the bathroom Staggering over to the toilet, he vomited, emptying his stomach of its contents After sliding down onto his knees, he rested his throbbing head against the cool porcelain of the bowl and tried to regain control over his heaving stomach. Colonel Henderson let himself back into his loft hideaway through the heavy sliding iron door He had removed the easy gliding wheels so it would require sheer strength to open it He had just killed Sergeant Babcock, which he found pleasantly enjoyable The look of sheer terror on the sergeant's face just before he snapped his neck was priceless, almost as good as sex *almost* if one didn't have a Fox chained to one's bed. Henderson glanced over at the bed upon entering his dwelling, Fox wasn't there; he saw the chain trailing into the bathroom He walked into the bathroom, finding the agent on his knees draped over the toilet and moaning into the bowl He took a long moment to admire the view of Mulder's long, lean, naked body, before he walked over and flushed the toilet, startling Mulder who looked up through sweat dampened bangs into the colonel's grinning face. //Fuck, what an ugly sight to see on a queasy stomach,// Mulder thought. The colonel knelt down next to him and brushed the damp bangs away from his eyes "I think I'll give you a bath It should make you feel better." "Letting me go would make me feel a hell of a lot better," Mulder muttered, jerking away from Henderson's caressing hand. The colonel stared him in the eye "I don't think so You'd better accept your new position in life, Fox You're my property now and I'm not letting you go, ever!" He ran a rough, possessive hand down the graceful curve of Mulder's back to his butt, squeezing and pinching each cheek then he slid a finger between them and circled the small puckered opening. "Stop! Don't! Get your fucking hands off me!" Mulder struggled to pull away, but he was wedged between the toilet and the sink He gasped in pain as Henderson forced a thick, dry, callused finger into him. The n'thral used his other hand to pull Mulder's naked body up against his Grabbing his thick brown hair and forcing his head back, he locked their mouths together Henderson forced his tongue into the agent's mouth and down his throat, while he forced his large finger in deeper. Mulder felt nauseated If he hadn't already lost all the contents of his stomach, he would have puked into that invading mouth He'd never experienced anything so vile or putrid tasting as the colonel's thick, wet, rancid tongue He groaned in pain as the n'thral's bumpy callused finger plunged deeper into his body, twisting and bending, it felt like sandpaper scrapping his insides raw Mulder started to feel dizzy and light headed from the lack air reaching his lungs; he sagged against Henderson's body. Henderson pulled back and roughly yanked his finger out "Okay, babe, let's get you into the tub." He undid the leg-cuff from the slumping agent's ankle and lifted him effortlessly off the floor, setting him gently into the empty bathtub He then closed the drain and turned on the water He tested the temperature and reached for the perfumed bath oils he had purchased just for Fox, pouring it under the running water He watched happily as the foamy bubbles started filling the small bathtub. He was enjoying the look of fear on the agent's beautiful face He loved the way Mulder would cringe as his large hand swirled the soapy water around next to him. The colonel stood up and took off his shirt; he retrieved a washcloth from the linen cabinet then knelt in front of the tub and proceeded to thoroughly wash the lithe body before him Mulder wanted to back away, but it was impossible in the small confines of the bathtub He dreaded what was going to come next Henderson just hummed happily as he gently scrubbed the body he now considered his. Mulder bit his tongue; he didn't want to say anything that would set the deranged colonel off He was searching for a way he could outwit or disable the bastard. The colonel finished bathing the agent, pulling the plug to drain the water from the tub He grabbed a large bath towel and jerked Mulder up to his feet and out of the tub He proceeded to dry Mulder's silky smooth skin that now smelled pleasantly of lavender, he lowered his nose to sniff him Mulder was beginning to worry, Skinner had given him a shot of the anti-pheromone drug early this morning, and it only lasted sixteen hours When it wore off, he would have one very horny n'thral on his hands that wouldn't be content to dry and sniff him. When Henderson bent down to dry his legs, Mulder saw his chance, he quickly grabbed the heavy lid off the tank behind the toilet and slammed it down hard over the colonel's large head The lid broke in two upon impacting Henderson's skull; the giant slumped down on the floor The agent dashed around him and out of the bathroom, heading for the large iron door He strained against it, but was only able to budge it a couple of inches He looked around for something he could use to pry it open, spotting a two-by-four, grabbing it and put it into the small gap. He had managed to pry the door open enough for him to slip through when a large hand yanked him back in He was spun around and slammed hard against the cold, iron door, knocking the air out of him Mulder looked up in dread at a very angry n'thral who had blood dripping into his eyes from the head wound The colonel slapped him across the face making his ears ring and blood flow from the side of his mouth Henderson reached behind him and effortlessly pulled the heavy iron door closed with one hand. "That wasn't very nice, Foxy, and here I was going to be extra gentle with you knowing you're still a virgin and all Now, I'll just take my pleasure from your lovely body and teach you what I like and how I like it the hard way." Henderson jerked Mulder up throwing him over his hairy shoulder he carried the struggling agent over to the bed and dumped him on it He reattached the leg-cuff, and made sure Fox was watching as he stripped off the rest of his clothing. Mulder watched in horror as the rest of the enormous hairy body was revealed He shuddered when he saw the massive erect penis jutting out from beneath thick pubic hair Henderson climbed onto the bed and reached out his hand, forcefully flipping the agent onto his stomach "I'm tempted to do you dry, but you're going to be in enough pain when I ram my thirteen inches into you." "Please ... stop ... don't do this," Mulder whimpered, uselessly struggling to rise or to roll off the bed, but Henderson's large hand was pressed in the center of his back holding him in place. "But I want to do this Now, you just lay there quietly while I grease up that sweet little ass of yours." The colonel slapped Mulder's butt hard, leaving a red handprint on his smooth ivory skin He pulled out a tube of lubricant, squirting it out onto his fingers and applied the lube between Mulder's butt cheeks He then probed the tight opening and inserted his thick finger, pushing the lube deep into the agent's body He bent over to nip and suck the side of Mulder's neck as he finger-fucked him Mulder jerked as the heavy body bent over his back as the n'thral started marking his body with his mouth. Mulder tried to close his mind to the degradation he was going through as the colonel inserted another large finger into him Twisting and scissoring them in and out of him, the pain was unbearable, he felt pulled and stretched beyond his endurance when yet another finger made its way into his body. "You are so fucking tight, babe, your ass is really going to feel good around my large cock, you're going to clench it nice and tight I can't wait to drive it all the way into you until my balls are up against your tight little ass." Henderson pulled his fingers out forcing Mulder up onto his knees in front of him He roughly grabbed the agent's slim hips and forced his legs as far apart as possible, placing his massive organ against the incredibly small hole He was about to ram into him ... when there was a loud crash behind him He glanced over his shoulder to see a very angry young man dressed in black, then an invisible force jerked him off the bed throwing him through the air and out a plate glass window on the other side of the room. Mulder felt the cool air on his back as he collapsed onto the bed He curled himself into a tight ball and lay shaking The bed sank as another weight settled on it and a soft, tender hand rubbed his back in a soothing circular motion "Don't worry, Fox, I have you I won't let anyone harm you." Mulder stared up with pain-filled eyes into the beautiful, caring face of Alex Krycek He reached out and wrapped his arms around Krycek's waist, burying his face in his lap He released all the pent- up anxiety he had been holding in for the last two hours Krycek held and rocked Mulder's trembling body, rubbing his back trying to soothe him "Ssh ... I'm here now, everything is going to be all right." "I-I'm okay ... now T-Thanks, Alex." Mulder pulled himself away and rose to his knees still shaking. Krycek gently caressed his tear stained cheeks and ran a gentle thumb over the large purple bruise forming on the side of his face He reached down and touched a finger to the leg-cuff making the latch spring open "I'll find your clothes," he murmured, getting up to look around He didn't want to leave Mulder's side, but he knew it would be best if he allowed him a moment of privacy to pull himself back together. Krycek opened the closet door and noticed the clothes and shoes on the top shelf He brought them back to Mulder who quickly dressed "Here put this on." Krycek pulled off his long, leather coat, handing it to Mulder who was only dressed in shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt. Mulder accepted it gratefully, shivering from the cold air pouring in through the shattered window "Thanks, Alex How did you find me?" His curiosity was starting to kick in as he wondered why Krycek was there He no longer hated Alex Krycek, after he had reviewed all of the official and secret government files on the triple agent, he knew Krycek wasn't the traitor or murderer he had thought him to be. "I zeroed in on your brainwave patterns Fox, I came back to this country to see you again because there are some things I need to tell you But, not here ... later Right now, I'm going to take you back home Skinner was going out of his mind with worry." Krycek hugged and kissed Mulder on the cheek, pulling him toward the iron door that lay broken on the hardwood floor They climbed over it and made their way down the steep staircase. "Brainwave patterns? You're right, Alex, you do have a lot to tell me Including, how you knocked down that heavy iron door." Shivering, Mulder pulled the coat tighter around his body as the cold wind whipped snow against his bare legs He cautiously slid into the front seat He was still painfully sore from the colonel's rough treatment, but the car was pleasantly warm and helped him to relax. As the car pulled away, a large figure stirred from the waste receptacle it had fallen into. Viva Tower Wednesday, November 25, 1:00 p.m. "Alex, please pull around to the parking garage, I don't want to go in through the front lobby I want to avoid people right now," Mulder directed, as he stooped down low in the car seat not wanting to face anyone yet. "Sure, Fox Do you want me to come up with you?" "Yes, would you? I really don't want to be alone Besides, I still have your coat." Mulder grinned at him sheepishly, running his hand over the expensive leather coat. They made it up to the condominium without running into any of the other building residents Mulder shrugged out of the coat. "I'm going to call Walter There are beverages in the refrigerator, help yourself, Alex." Mulder hung up the coat in the hall closet and walked over to the telephone. Hoover Building Wednesday, November 25, 1:00 p.m. The large office was alive with activity as A.D. Walter S. Skinner coordinated the search effort for Special Agent Fox Mulder He had assigned agents to different portions of the city to start canvassing neighborhoods The D.C. police had issued a four-point bulletin for the apprehension of Colonel Henderson who was the only suspect in the case. The ringing phone annoyed Walter Skinner; he was just in the middle of widening the search parameters He pulled out his cell phone, "Skinner!" he barked, while studying the map that lay open on the table. "Walter, that's not a very civil way to answer the phone." "Fox! Where are you? Are you okay? Do you need a doctor?" As Skinner shouted into the phone, all activity in the room came to a complete stop. "I'm fine, thanks to Alex Krycek." Mulder smiled over at Krycek who was drinking a beer and leaning up against the kitchen door listening to their conversation "I'm back at the condo." "I'll be right there." Skinner hung up and quickly headed toward the door "Mulder's okay, he's back at Viva Tower," he informed the other men in the room assembled for the search effort. "Skinner's on his way home Alex, would you mind staying to explain to him what happened? I'm not up to talking about it just yet." "Sure, if you want me to But Skinner hates my guts." The feeling was mutual, but he didn't voice those thoughts. "He hasn't accepted the truth about you, yet I'm going up to take a shower, make yourself at home, I won't be long." Mulder headed for the stairs Krycek watched as his lanky form moved with cat like gracefulness up the steps. Krycek really wanted to join him, but knew he had to play this carefully in order to sway his ex-partner over to him He was happy that Mulder no longer hated him That alone caused him to change his previous plans of abducting Mulder The problem was that not hating him was still a long way from loving him and he hadn't known Skinner would be in the picture Krycek knew things would be different if Mulder knew just how deep Skinner once was in the whole damn conspiracy before the younger agent had changed the older man's heart. Twenty minutes later, the front door crashed open and Walter Skinner rushed in He noticed Krycek standing by the patio door looking out "Where is he?" he asked breathlessly, glancing around for any sign of his lover. "He's upstairs taking a shower." "Thanks." Skinner turned and dashed up the stairs taking them two at a time. Mulder thought he would never get the smell or feel of the colonel's touch off his body as he scrubbed himself raw The water was starting to turn cold, and he knew he should be getting out when the shower door swung open and a fully clothed Walter Skinner stepped in Skinner pulled him into his arms hugging and kissing him He rained kisses over Mulder's face, kissing his eyelids, nose, and cheeks before claiming his mouth for a long, deep kiss "God, Fox, I was so afraid I'd never see you again," he sobbed, holding him in a tight embrace. "Ssh ... I'm fine C'mon, Walter, let's get out of here before you ruin your clothes." Mulder led the trembling and exhausted man back into the bedroom Grabbing a towel, he quickly dried himself, then helped Skinner out of his thoroughly wet clothing. Skinner gently touched the large, purple bruise on the side of his lover's face, then trailed a hand down to the red hickey and bite marks on his shoulder, taking in the hand-sized bruises covering his lover's body "We figured out it was Henderson who took you, but he wasn't at his previous address We started canvassing the neighborhoods hoping someone had seen the ugly bastard I'm sorry, Fox I should have prevented this ... he didn't ... " Skinner choked back a sob. Mulder had never seen Skinner with so little control over his emotions He felt a tightening in his throat and chest over the pain his lover was feeling "Walter, I'm fine ... really ... and no, he didn't .. thanks to Krycek If he hadn't shown up when he did, I would have been in major trouble." "I ... I told him to fuck-off when he came by wanting to help find you Damn, I owe him more than an apology There is no way I can possibly repay him." Skinner reached out and hugged Mulder against his bare chest. "Let's get some clothes on, I'm sure Alex is wondering where we are." Mulder pulled out an old soft pair of sweats from the dresser He smiled recalling only a few days ago how Walter had emptied several of the dresser drawers for his exclusive use. "Tomorrow's Thanksgiving, I want to start preparing some of the recipes ahead." "Fox, are you sure you're up to it? Everyone will understand if we called it off." "Walter, I'm fine Damn, I'm starting to sound like Scully," Mulder quipped, wrapping his arms around Skinner's neck and kissing him gently "I need this ... really ... it will help me take my mind off things." They went back downstairs together; Krycek was sitting patiently on the sofa waiting for them. "Alex, where have you been staying since you arrived in town?" Mulder questioned as Skinner sat in the chair across from the sofa. "I stopped by your old place to see you, and have been decking out on your old leather sofa I've been trying to get up the nerve to talk to you, Fox Like I told you, there is a lot I need to say to you." Krycek looked dejectedly down at his hands "Fox, you asked me to stay and talk to the A.D. about that n'thral bastard, I'll do that and leave you alone for now, but I want to set up a time when I can talk to you, alone." Mulder felt himself melting at the look of misery in Krycek's deep-green eyes He felt his heart skip a beat at the lust he was feeling for his gorgeous ex-partner He quickly clamped down on his feelings, not wanting Walter to notice. "You're welcome to stay in our guest room, Alex, besides tomorrow's Thanksgiving, please stay and celebrate it with us," Mulder pleaded, not liking the thought of Krycek being alone tomorrow, although, that was how he'd spent many a Thanksgiving himself. Skinner didn't like the idea of Alex Krycek under his roof, but he had saved Mulder's life, so he owed him one "Krycek, you're welcome to use the guest room tonight and both of us would like you to stay for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow." "Okay, since both of you asked me I do miss sleeping in a real bed I'll be right back I'm going to get my stuff from the car." "I really hope I don't regret this," Skinner muttered, watching Krycek head out the door. Mulder wandered into the kitchen. When Krycek returned Skinner showed him to the guest bedroom where he issued a warning "If you breathe a word to Mulder about my initial involvement with the consortium it will be the last breath you ever take!" He hissed in a low voice. "Don't worry, Skinner, I have no intention of saying anything to Mulder I wouldn't want to cause him anymore pain I suggest that we call a temporary truce for his sake Mulder wanted me to explain to you what went down with that n'thral bastard." "Okay, Krycek, for Mulder's sake Let's go back into the living room, because I want Henderson apprehended more than I want to throw your butt off the balcony at the moment." Mulder pulled out the ingredients for the two different types of stuffing that he had planned on making After talking to the sons of some of the agents coming over tomorrow, he found the boys had completely different tastes in stuffing He decided to compromise by making two different types, a cornbread stuffing and spiced ground beef stuffing. He couldn't believe that Skinner would buy a place with such an elaborate kitchen, considering he was single and not much of a cook Mulder walked over to the far side of the kitchen and opened the door to a walk-in pantry It was wall to wall with shelves and pull-out bins for potatoes, onions, and apples The small room even had a built-in climate control. They both had a field day at the grocery store on Monday evening, buying enough to stock the pantry for over a month Although he really enjoyed cooking, when he lived alone there hadn't been much of a point Most of the enjoyment came from cooking for other people, but occasionally he would have a craving for something and go to the store for the ingredients. He looked around the well-stocked pantry, sighing he was going to have to make pies for tomorrow They tried to buy ready-made pies, but all the stores they went to were sold out So, they picked up the ingredients for two pumpkin pies and two pecan pies He already made the pie crust dough and had it chilling in the refrigerator He then set about rolling it out and placing it into greased and floured pie plates. Three hours later he had four perfect pies setting on the counter to cool, and two different stuffing were in large casserole dishes Additional stuffing sat in one bowl in the refrigerator, they were cooking one twenty-three pound turkey tomorrow and he planned on stuffing it with the rest of the spiced ground beef stuffing. While he worked his mind didn't dwell on his ordeal from this morning, but when he came out of the kitchen Skinner and Krycek looked at him with concern "What's wrong?" "Colonel Henderson's body was no longer at the warehouse when the police arrived He must have survived the fall from the window I'm sorry, Mulder, I should have checked to make sure that he was dead." Krycek noticed that Mulder had turned a light shade of green before he rushed out of the room. Mulder leaned over the toilet in the downstairs bathroom and threw up everything he had eaten over the last two hours The anxiety he had been trying to keep in check all afternoon came back with a vengeance at the thought of Henderson still being alive. He felt a hand on his shoulder "Are you all right, Fox?" How could he tell Walter about his fears without making him feel guilty or having him become even more protective of him? "I'm fine, Walter ... really ... it was just the shock of finding out he was still alive." Mulder went over to the sink and rinsed out his mouth, then splashed cold water on his face "C'mon, we have twenty-two people coming over for dinner tomorrow and we still haven't figured out where we're going to seat everyone." He tried desperately to get his mind off the colonel. They reentered the living room together Krycek was pacing back- and-forth in front of the patio door when he saw Mulder; he immediately went over to him "Fox, are you right?" "I'm fine, Alex." Skinner didn't like Krycek using Mulder's first name He thought it was a privilege only he had been allowed He really wanted to set Krycek straight, but Fox didn't correct him and he appeared comforted by his presence Mulder's wellbeing was Skinner's main concern and if having Krycek here helped him, then he was willing to hold his tongue. They spent the next several hours discussing Russia and the new alliances being formed between the countries that had come through attack in the best shape Skinner glanced at the clock and noted it was after 10:00 p.m. and they needed to get up early tomorrow "I think it's time we called it a night, Fox." "Okay, Walter Good night, Alex, we'll finish our discussion tomorrow." Mulder rose and headed for the stairs as Skinner followed him; he noted the jealous look Krycek threw at him. Once in the bedroom, they stripped out of their clothing Skinner was about to remove his briefs, but stopped when he noticed Mulder had left on his boxers "Would you please just hold me tonight, Walter?" "Sure, Fox, whatever you need." Skinner climbed onto his side of the bed and scooted over to the center he pulled Mulder into his arms Mulder snuggled into the older man's embrace and rested his head on Skinner's shoulder; he breathed in his lover's soothing scent He felt completely safe and knew he wouldn't have any nightmares while he was shielded within Skinner's protective arms He fell immediately asleep. Viva Tower Thanksgiving Day 11:00 a.m. The mouth-watering smell of turkey roasting in the oven permeated the large condominium Some of the guests arrived early to help set up the folding tables and chairs With the leaves put in Skinner's large oak dining room table there was enough room to seat all twelve adults The folding tables were pushed together and covered with a large tablecloth for the ten children. Krycek stayed in the kitchen helping Mulder he was enjoying the intimacy of being near him He noticed the bruise on the side of Mulder's face from yesterday was completely gone, he wondered about the bites and bruises over the rest of his lanky body Krycek was amazed at how relaxed Mulder was he didn't show any anxiety from yesterday's assault. Krycek marveled at the physical changes the mutation caused on Mulder, the smooth flawless skin, his hair was thicker and several shades of brown hair, and his hazel eyes were more vivid He had been physically attracted to Fox Mulder since the first day they met, but now he had to mentally restrain himself from throwing Mulder down on the kitchen floor and ravishing him Damn, he had to stop those thoughts He wanted to have Mulder come with him willingly .. . if that didn't work he would take him back to Russia by force, but he had time and was willing to wait, for now. "Fox! Fox! Look what I made for you." Nicky rushed into the kitchen handing Mulder a piece of paper with a stick figure drawing of a four-legged animal on it Nicky was Agent Pipino's four-year- old son. "Thank you, Nicky, this is very good - you're quite the artist It's the first time I've ever seen a blue fox, let's hang it up on the refrigerator." Mulder patted Nicky's head The small boy beamed up at him, happy that he had liked his drawing, and was hanging it up. Krycek watched their interplay He had never seen Mulder around children before Mulder's face glowed as he talked to Nicky and he completely lost the haunted look that was always in his eyes He found himself getting lost in a daydream of Mulder and him starting a family With the advancements the consortium had made in combining DNA and cloning, they could have kids with both of their genetic makeup... "Alex ... Alex." Mulder waved a hand in front of Krycek's smiling face, snapping him out of his daydream. "Sorry, Mulder, I was thinking about something and zoned out." "A penny for your thoughts?" Krycek blushed for the first time in years at the thought of telling Fox that he was daydreaming about them having kids together Now, that probably wouldn't go over really well, but it just might be worth seeing the expression on his face "It was nothing really important I've finished peeling the potatoes What else do you want me to do?" Mulder hadn't missed the embarrassed blush that covered Krycek's handsome face as he gazed into Krycek's beautiful, green eyes that were covered by long, thick eyelashes He could get lost in those eyes ... he shifted uncomfortably and was glad he was wearing an apron, it covered his growing arousal He'd always found Alex sexually appealing, but he wanted to remain faithful to Walter and didn't want to do anything that would damage their relationship He shook himself realizing Alex had asked him a question and he was just standing there practically drooling over him. "We need to put together a relish tray, there are olives, cranberry sauce, and spiced apple rings in the pantry Also, there's celery and cheese spread in the refrigerator." Mulder had consciously stepped away from him while matching Krycek's blush. Krycek smiled and headed over to the pantry, he didn't need to read Mulder's mind he saw desire in his beautiful, hazel eyes He grabbed the cans and jars from the shelves and as he was carrying them out, he heard a man's voice greeting Mulder then saw a little troll hugging him. "Mulder, it's good to see you again, thanks for inviting me," Frohike blurted out happily and embraced his long-time friend, while holding a large bag in one hand "Where can I put this?" He held up the paper bag. Mulder smiled at his friend, then cautiously looked at the bag in his hand "What is it?" he asked worried, knowing Frohike's strange tastes in food. "Don't worry, Mulder, I didn't bring anything weird, it's not pickled octopus You said there were going to be kids here, so I made a Jell- O mold with little marshmallows and fruit cocktail." Nicky, who had taken a seat at the kitchen table, and was in the process of making another crayon masterpiece, looked up at the mention of Jell-O and marshmallows "Yippee, can I have some?" He shouted excitedly, looking pleadingly at Mulder with puppy dog eyes. "Thanks, Frohike, I completely forgot that kids love Jell-O Nicky, you can have as much as you want, but you have to eat the other foods, too." "Who's your little friend?" Frohike asked, taking the Jell-O mold out of the bag and putting it in the full refrigerator, shuffling a few items around to get it to fit. "Nicky, this is Melvin Frohike." Frohike took a seat at the small breakfast table across from Nicky. "Melvin is a funny name," Nicky informed him seriously and went back to coloring. "Blunt, isn't he?" Frohike muttered dejectedly He wasn't really upset just wanted to put on a show for sympathy for Mulder. "All kids are honest at his age ... and he's right, Melvin is a funny name." Mulder chuckled at the sour look on his friend's face. "And Fox isn't?" he replied, grinning back. "Fox is a cool name," Nicky told him. "Yeah, Fox is a real cool name," Krycek purred, as he came back into the room after standing in the pantry doorway absorbing their conversation He put the cans and jars down on the counter and walked over to join the group at the small table. "What's your name?" Nicky asked. "Alex." Krycek smiled down at him. "Alex is an okay name." Nicky smiled back at him. "You're Alex Krycek?" Frohike looked him over closely after hearing all about him through the years "You're hot," he said finally giving him a lecherous look thinking, not as hot as Fox, but still quite tasty. "He used the same line on Scully when he first met her, Alex." "Speaking of the lovely Agent Scully, have you heard how she's doing?" Frohike asked seriously. "I've been trying to get permission to visit her in Colorado, but they're only allowing her brothers in They won't let any non-family members in to see any of the women I have spoken with her on the phone three days ago, and she didn't sound very happy." A miserable look appeared on his face, but at least he had finally been able to talk to her. Krycek decided to change the subject He didn't want Fox to fall into a blue funk "Where do you keep the relish trays, Fox?" They worked in peaceful silence with Frohike occasionally giving Nicky advice on his drawing. In the living room, the kids that arrived early with their dads were sitting watching the college bowl game The men were sitting at the table drinking beer and discussing the changes going on throughout the world. The other guests started to arrive around one, and several little boys joined Nicky coloring at the kitchen table Frohike relinquished his seat to them Mulder poured each of them some apple juice, he felt thirsty himself but not for juice. "Hey, do you guys want to share a bottle of wine?" Mulder asked, grabbing a bottle from the refrigerator and putting another one in its place from the wine rack Skinner was chilling three bottles of white wine to go with the meal Mulder estimated his replacement bottle should be chilled enough by the time the meal was ready. Half an hour later Byers and Langly showed up, and Skinner answered the door "Hello, we're Mulder's friends I'm John Byers and this is Ringo Langly." John held out his hand to Walter Skinner who looked them over very carefully before shaking each of their hands. "Mulder mentioned you were coming, it's a nice to meet you Please come in, Mulder and Melvin are in the kitchen." Skinner showed them to the kitchen, he wanted to find out more about Mulder's strange friends He always assumed Mulder was a loner without any friends outside of the few he had in the bureau. When they entered the kitchen Mulder, Krycek, and Frohike had a bottle of wine open and were standing at the center-island drinking and laughing uproariously Krycek was leaning up against Mulder far too intimately for Skinner's liking, but what made him envious was hearing Fox laugh He couldn't remember ever hearing him laugh before, at least not the deep belly laugh he was doing "Fox, your other friends are here." Mulder looked up and beamed "Byers! Langly!" Going over, he hugged each of them "I'm so glad you both could make it It's been too long since we last saw each other." "It good to see you too, Mulder Thanks for the invite If you hadn't invited us, we would be suffering through Frohike's version of a Thanksgiving meal." Langly cringed, he had on a plain black T-shirt and black jeans it was his idea of formal wear Byers dressed as usual in a stylish suit and tie. Mulder glanced over at Skinner who was standing out of the way of their reunion "Walter, the turkey should be done any minute I thought we could start setting the other dishes on the buffet table." "Sure, Fox, what do you want me to do?" Skinner was glad Mulder was including him, he was starting to feel like a third wheel. "You can take out and open the wine, we'll start bringing out the food." An hour later the turkey was done and carved All the kids had been served, and the adults sat after filling their plates to the brim at the buffet table Everyone was eating and chatting amicably Skinner sat at the head of the table and Mulder sat at the other end with his friends and Krycek Mulder didn't notice Skinner's look of displeasure at him for not sitting next to him. Twenty minutes later, Skinner finally had his mind off Mulder and was having a deep discussion with Underwood and Boutotte about some of the new legislation going through congress. Mulder was on his fifth glass of wine and felt a bit tipsy He seldom drank, and when he did the alcohol had a strong effect on him Krycek noticed that Mulder had slurred a few words, but at least he was a happy drunk. After everyone was done eating, the Lone Gunmen offered to do the dishes, and a couple of the agents stood up to help them clear the table The smaller kids were starting to get cranky from overeating and being tired Skinner suggested putting all four of them down for a nap in the upstairs bedroom on his king-sized bed He just hoped none of the little rug rats were bed-wetters. He didn't notice that Mulder and Krycek were gone, he was too busy entertaining and assumed they were in the kitchen helping out. Krycek noticed how unsteady Mulder was on his feet and thought it would be a good idea for him to lay down for a while He saw Skinner helping take the smaller children upstairs for a nap, leaving him no other choice but to put Mulder in the guest bedroom. Mulder felt warm and happy, he really didn't want to take a nap The alcohol had fogged his thinking and all the rational reasons behind why he shouldn't get sexually involved with Krycek flew from his mind When Krycek tried to have him lay down Mulder wrapped his arms around Krycek's neck and pulled him down on top of him, kissing him passionately He had always wanted to kiss his ex- partner Krycek broke the kiss panting; looking down at Mulder's beautifully aroused face. "You taste really good, Alex," Mulder murmured, trying to pull him back down. "Fox, I want more than anything to make love to you, but not like this. I want you totally sober so there won't be any doubts in either of our minds that this *is* what you want I hope you can understand Please, say you understand?" Krycek thought it would be so easy to give in to Mulder and make love to him, but he knew Mulder would feel guilty once he sobered up, and he didn't want Mulder to regret being with him. Mulder stared lustfully up at him "I ...I've always wanted you . . Alex, it h ... hurt so much when I thought you'd betrayed me I know now that you never did th ... that you'd been set up, and used for a scapegoat I haven't found out the name of the inside man who really was behind Scully's abduction and my father's murder I've gone through all of that smoking bastard's papers, and his name wasn't in them If you know, please, tell me." Mulder looked into Krycek's eyes and saw him flinch. He couldn't tell Fox the name without seriously hurting him How could he tell him the name he was looking for was Walter Skinner? He could let Fox find it out on his own, though Then, he would make sure he was there to whisk Fox away and to prevent Skinner from convincing him not to leave Krycek leaned down and kissed him tenderly before getting off the bed "Get some sleep, we'll talk later." Chapter 4 - Shattered Dreams Walter Skinner's Condo Thanksgiving 10:20 p.m. A gentle hand caressed his cheek waking him from his nap He slowly opened his eyes and stared into Skinner's concerned face. "C'mon, Fox, let's go upstairs to our bedroom and let Krycek have the guest room back." "What ... what time is it?" he murmured drowsily. Skinner smiled at him affectionately "After 10:00 p.m., all of our guests have gone home and the condo is back in one piece." "Sorry, I didn't mean to sleep this long ... I shouldn't have drank so much." Mulder grabbed Skinner's hand to help pull himself to his feet He was still slightly wobbly from just waking up and the older man put an arm around his waist to steady him. "I got you, Fox, c'mon let's get upstairs to bed." Mulder glanced up and noticed Krycek standing in the doorway watching them His expression was unreadable "Thanks, Alex." Mulder smiled softly looking deeply into his thick-lashed emerald eyes - the desire they felt for each other passed silently between them Mulder felt his stomach knot with guilt knowing how close he had come to cheating on his lover ... damn! Krycek saw desire and then anxiety flash in Mulder's eyes Reading his mind, he found Mulder was relieved that he hadn't cheated on Skinner Krycek sighed, he knew it wasn't going to be easy to win Fox ... not with the bond he shared with Walter Skinner It was going to take time It was a good thing that he reached the building's owner about taking over the caretaker's position It would be easy to use his powers to do any of the needed repairs That would leave him plenty of time to be around Mulder, he knew it would piss Skinner off, which was an added bonus. Skinner noticed the lustful look Krycek gave his lover and saw Mulder return it He would make sure that the rat-bastard was out of here by tomorrow, and that he stayed away from his lover As for his lover, it was a good thing he had taken a long nap because he planned on making sure Fox never wanted another man, ever! Skinner possessively tightened his grip around the younger man's waist as they walked through the living room. Mulder looked around at the newly cleaned living room and dining room "Well, at least I got out of cleaning up the mess." "Yeah, we'll just have to make another mess for you to clean up I wouldn't want you to feel left out." Skinner grinned lecherously at him as he pinched his butt on the way up the stairs. "Ouch." Mulder glared at him rubbing his butt. "Fox, you're overdue for your shot After I give it to you, let's share a shower," Skinner whispered in his ear His tongue licked around the outside rim as his hands stroked down his lover's chest to tease his nipples through the thin fabric. "Okay, just no more pinching." To emphasize his point, Mulder reached back and pinched Skinner hard. "Damn it, Fox!" They hurriedly shed their clothes in the bedroom before going together into the large bathroom Mulder waited patiently, he was already use to their routine of giving him the anti-pheromone shot He held up his arm and made a fist while Walter fastened the rubber tie around it, but his mind started to drift back to Alex Krycek "Fuck!" "Fox, I would really appreciate it if you didn't think about that rat- bastard in my presence!" "How?" Mulder took a step backwards, rubbing his sore arm where Skinner had stabbed him a little too hard with the needle. "I ... I didn't want to admit it, but when Henderson abducted you, I heard you cry out for help I've been picking up bits of your thoughts ever since I ... this morning, I dropped a coffee mug in the kitchen and stopped it before it hit the ground ... it just sat there frozen in mid-air until I reached out and grabbed it Fox, I don't know what's happening to me!" Skinner sat on the tiled ledge of the bathtub putting his head in his hands. "Walter, I'm sorry The last thing I'd ever want to do is to hurt you Yes, I'm physically attracted to Krycek and I do fantasize about him, but it's you I'm involved with and I have no intention of leaving you for him." Mulder sat on the ledge next to Skinner and wrapped his arms around the older man "Walter, from your description I think you're experiencing latent sorcerer symptoms." Mulder tenderly kissed his shoulder as he soothingly stroked his back. "Fox, I know I'm not as sexually appealing to you as Krycek I'm afraid of losing you, and now I'm turning into a freak." Skinner didn't like how needy his voice sounded, but he couldn't help the plea that came into it. "Walter, don't sell yourself short ... you're not a freak," Mulder murmured He ran a loving hand over the older man's broad, muscular chest His fingers combed through the thick chest hair and continued down until he reached his groin He grasped Skinner's hard cock and looked into his warm brown eyes then slowly sank to his knees in front of him and parted Skinner's thighs so he could kneel between them He took the head of Skinner's leaking cock into his mouth and slowly licked the pre-ejaculate from it as he swirled his tongue around the weeping tip savoring his lover's flavor "Did I ever tell you how much I love your body ... your broad shoulders, muscular biceps, flat abs, and slim waist ... mmm," Mulder purred, then tried to accommodate as much of his lover's large cock into his mouth holding it at the base This was the first time he'd given a blowjob and knew his technique needed work, but he gave it his best shot He reached over with his other hand and cradled and caressed his lover's heavy balls. Skinner felt himself melting as Mulder's lush, hot mouth worked on his engorged organ, twining his fingers though Mulder's thick hair he held him tight "Oh, damn, that feels so good," he moaned, thrusting slowly in and out. Mulder took that as encouragement and relaxed his throat muscles to take more of him in, he wanted to demonstrate to the older man just how important he was to him. Skinner looked down at his gorgeous lover kneeling before him as his cock slid in and out of his beautiful mouth The sight pushed him over the edge As he felt himself about to climax, he quickly pushed Mulder away "I want ... no ... I need to be inside you when I come, bend over the tub," he panted Getting up quickly, he grabbed a tube of lubricant out of the medicine cabinet He looked over at his lover, who was leaning over the wide ledge around the bathtub with his firm ass raised in the air and both legs spread apart, his testicles and soft penis hung exposed, he presented a sensual picture Skinner knelt between his legs pushing them further apart then ran a loving hand down the curve of his spine. Mulder felt the cold, hard tiles under his bare chest and found himself becoming uncomfortable kneeling on the hard tile floor He quickly forgot all about his discomfort when Skinner's warm body knelt behind him and the hot hand gently stroked his back He shivered with anticipation as Skinner's hand traveled down to his butt and spread his cheeks He felt the older man's lubed finger nudge at his asshole, then push inside him. Skinner looked at the perfect body of his lover admiring the smooth unblemished skin as he inserted a second finger into him He bent down, ran his tongue over one of the smooth buttocks, and bit it, causing Mulder to jump and push back impaling himself further on the larger man's thick fingers Skinner licked the bite, soothing it; he leaned back to admire the impression his teeth made on the ivory cheek He twisted his fingers in Mulder's ass until he raked over his prostate making the younger man twist and moan. "Oh, God ... Walter!" Mulder felt the pressure building in his groin, his cock stood fully erect and leaking against his stomach "I'm going to come!" "No, not yet." Skinner reached around his lover and squeezed his cock to stop him from coming He pulled his fingers out and quickly replaced them with his thick cock, forcing his way in against the tight constricting muscles in the younger man's ass "God, you're so fucking tight!" Mulder felt the burning pain as Skinner entered him, the larger man's thick cock filling him The pain slowly ebbed, turning into pleasure as his muscles relaxed allowing his lover in deeper He felt an electric bolt of pure pleasure course through his body as his lover's cock pushed against his prostate He was desperate to come, his balls were drawn up tightly - the only thing preventing him was Skinner's hand. When Skinner was finally all the way in, he leaned back and admired the sight of his large cock stretching Fox open, his perfect cheeks spread apart and the taut muscles of his anus gripping him He ran a finger with his free hand around his cock and the stretched muscles clenching it, as he released the tight grip he had on Mulder's cock to allow his lover to come Mulder cried out and shot hard against the side of the tiled tub and his belly Skinner felt Mulder's sphincter muscles contracting around his cock, but he kept a firm hold on his control, not wanting to be pulled over the edge, yet He felt the erotic pleasure of being sheathed deep inside his lover's hot body as his rectal muscles squeezed and clenched his throbbing cock He was becoming harder and thicker as he rode out his lover's orgasm. He waited until Mulder's ass muscles loosened their grip before he started to pull out a couple of inches and thrust back in He had to keep a firm hold on his lover's hips as he increased the length and depth of his thrusts He corkscrewed his hips as he thrust back in, causing his lover to cry out in ecstasy He continued relentlessly driving his thick organ into his lover's tight body. "Fox, do you feel my cock filling you up ... you belong to me," Skinner murmured huskily "You should see how lovely your ass is clenching me ... you feel so silky and hot inside." "Oh, please." Mulder had never felt this hot or aroused before in his life and he was quickly becoming painfully erect again Skinner's words, along with his cock ramming into him hitting his prostate over, and over again were speeding him toward a second orgasm He realized he had never had two orgasms so close together before, as he felt himself coming a second time against the side of the bathtub He put his head down on the cool tile, his body felt totally spent - if it weren't for Skinner holding him up, he would have slid down to the floor. Skinner felt his lover's second orgasm and allowed it to pull him over the edge as he thrust in one last time, grinding his hips forward trying to get in as deep as he could He came long and hard before collapsing over the younger man's smooth back, still deeply impaled in him He didn't want to lose the intimate contact as he ran a caressing hand over Mulder's sweaty body and wrapped his arms around his waist Holding him closely, he licked the sweat from the side of his neck. He finally pulled out of Mulder Standing unsteadily, he reached a hand down and helped his young lover up "C'mon, let's take that shower, we both need it." Walter Skinner's Condo Friday, November 27 7:20 a.m. Mulder snuggled closer to Skinner's warm body, sighing softly as the older man's strong arms wrapped firmly around him and a muscular leg went over the top of his His head rested on the older man's upper arm and his face nuzzled against Skinner's shoulder letting him breathe in his lover's soothing musky scent He didn't plan on getting out of bed anytime soon; Skinner had kept him up most of the night making love. He now had proof that bald men really do have higher levels of testosterone He was pleasantly sore from being well-fucked three times in one night - even his penis hurt Mulder turned slightly and brushed against Skinner's organ, he groaned when he felt the older man was erect ... not again! Skinner had his face buried in Mulder's soft hair and was enjoying his fresh scent He loved the feel of his lover's sleep-warmed body cuddling in his arms For once in his life, he felt totally contented and never wanted to lose this feeling, but he knew the only way he would keep it was by holding onto to Mulder There was no way he would ever be able to go on living without him. Walter Skinner's Condo Friday, November 27 11:20 a.m. Sometime during the morning, Alex Krycek had left the condo with his possessions There was a note on the refrigerator letting Mulder know that he had taken the caretaker's position that had been left vacant after Bob's murder and he was moving into Bob's former apartment on the ground floor Skinner was not pleased as he read the note over Mulder's shoulder, and he intended to talk with the building's owner There was no way he wanted Krycek living in the same building as them, especially knowing how Mulder felt about him. "We have to start conducting tests to determine the extent of your abilities, Walter," Mulder said, slipping Krycek's note into the pocket of his jeans. "What tests are you proposing we do?" "We can start with the three basics: telepathy, telekinesis, and mind control Then we'll test for other abilities that were only found in a small percent of the men with the Sorcerer syndrome; such as, the ability to transform matter and pyrogenics..." Mulder sounded excited as he explained to his boss and lover the many aspects of the mutation "This is so cool, Walter, can you image if you had all of the sorcerer's abilities." "Okay, Fox, I'll do whatever you want What do you want me to do first?" He sighed; knowing there was no way out. "You can cook me breakfast." "Fox, it's lunch time and if you've forgotten ... I only cook breakfast and that's between 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m." "Okay, fine, whatever, but you are going to help me It's your fault I'm walking funny today and can't sit down." Mulder glared playfully at him, he wasn't really angry "How about we compromise, I really want breakfast and you want lunch, so I'll make us eggs benedict." "With hollandaise sauce?" Skinner licked his lips. "It wouldn't be eggs benedict without the hollandaise sauce It's a good thing Scully's in Colorado she would not approve of today's high cholesterol diet Okay, Walt, would you please get me the carton of eggs." Mulder leaned with his back against the counter, staring down at the older man who was sitting at the table. "You're standing, why don't you get them?" "Because I want you to get it using only your mind." "Oh, how do you suggest I do that?" "Concentrate on opening the refrigerator door first Walter, you've already used the ability once, so it shouldn't be that hard to do it again." The older man stared at the door trying to will it to open Nothing happened "Fox, it's not working." "It should be simple ... try concentrating harder." Skinner glared at him feeling ridiculous, then looked back at the door "Goddamnit, open up already!" he snarled and the door flew open slamming hard against the counter, spilling items from inside onto the floor Skinner was shocked it had actually worked. "Maybe it requires you to use your voice Hmm ... let's see if you can levitate the eggs out of the refrigerator Walter, why don't you try using your mind first, if that doesn't work then use your voice, but softly this time." Nothing happened again, he was concentrating as hard as possible "Okay, eggs come to me." He felt like an idiot talking to a carton of eggs, but it worked, the carton floated out of the refrigerator and glided over to him. "Wow!" He grinned up at Mulder who was beaming back at him like a kid that had just gotten everything he asked Santa for "Walter, this is way cool!" "Way cool? Fox, I think you've been around Boutotte's and Pipino's kids too much lately Okay, what's next?" "Telepathy Read my mind and get me the items I'm thinking of." Skinner concentrated on Mulder and found reading his mind easy than telekinetics "English muffins ... ham ... butter ... lemon juice - go to the counter." All the items floated out of the open refrigerator setting down lightly on the counter by Mulder who was grinning delightedly. "I really feel foolish ordering inanimate objects around," Skinner groused. Mulder walked over to where he sat; leaning down he kissed the bigger man passionately before turning around and sitting on his lap to continue the deep kiss "I don't think you sound foolish at all." "Fox, I thought you were too sore to sit down." Skinner wrapped his arms around the younger man's waist, sliding one hand down to rub his butt. "I'm not sitting on my ass, only my thighs, and I'm not as sore as I was a few minutes ago You know that I heal very fast." Mulder felt Skinner's erection against his thigh ... again! How could he be erect again? They had had sex four times in twelve hours, the last time only a half-hour ago Reaching down, his stroked the older man through his pants "We'll take care of this after we eat." He kissed him quickly and hopped off his lap. Skinner thought it would be a good time to test the third item on Mulder's list "Stop, come back here." Mulder stopped dead in his tracks; turning around he had a dazed look in his eyes as he jerkily moved back to Skinner "Kiss me." Mulder leaned back down and touched his lips to Skinner's "Mmm, this sorcerer mutation might come in handy after all," he murmured after their lips parted. Mulder frowned "I don't want to wreck your fun, but please don't do that again It ... it felt too much like Modell." He shuddered at the thought, backing away from Skinner. "Fox, I'm sorry I didn't even consider Modell I promise I won't do it again." Skinner went over to Mulder and hugged him. They spent the rest of the weekend running tests and making love Mulder was almost positive that Skinner's sexual stamina had to do with the sorcerer's mutation He was ten years younger, healed remarkably fast, and he couldn't keep up with his older lover He was starting to look forward to going back to work, at least it would allow him to get some much needed rest. The FBI Hoover Building Friday, December 11 11:20 a.m. A.D. Walter Skinner was miffed! He had just finished a very uncomfortable meeting with the Director who had informed him that Mulder was being placed under A.D. Robert Murphy. It had become common knowledge that he and Mulder were lovers. That went against FBI protocol prohibiting management from being sexually involved with their subordinates Skinner had been expecting Mulder to be transferred under another A.D., but that wasn't the reason he was fuming It was the Director's snide off- handed comments He realized halfway through the meeting that his boss had had his eyes on Agent Mulder for more than just a boss and employee relationship He had made it more than clear that he wasn't very happy that Skinner had beaten him to the agent first. Since Mulder had come to live with him, Skinner realized just how many suitors his lover had by all the flowers and cards that arrived for him at the condominium He was surprised when a limo driver showed up at their door from Senator Matheson, wanting Mulder to accompany him to the Senator's mansion Mulder very firmly refused and wrote a note for the limo driver to take back to the Senator Skinner wished his powers were stronger, so he could have read what Mulder wrote. Sighing, he reached down and opened his bottom desk drawer and pulled out a small, blue, velvet box He opened it, taking out the gold wedding band inside He had two identical bands made - one for Fox and the other for himself Congress had finally passed the same- sex marriage bill and he planned to propose to Mulder on New Years Eve He knew he was probably rushing it, but he wanted Fox to be wearing his ring He needed a visible sign of their commitment to each other and he only hoped that his lover would understand his need and agree to legalize their partnership. Their sex life just kept getting better Mulder had even accused him of using his powers to increase his sexual stamina He grinned at the thought, but he had to admit it was possible He had never been this virile ... even in his wild youth Mulder had agreed to keep his new abilities a secret because men discovered with the sorcerer mutation were immediately forced to work for a covert agency within the government Skinner closed the velvet box and put it back in his desk drawer. There was a knock on his door and Mulder strolled in not waiting for permission "Sir, I've been re-certified as an active field agent!" Mulder exclaimed excitedly, placing the official document in front of Skinner. Skinner glanced at it unhappily "Agent Mulder, I thought we had agreed that you're more valuable to the FBI as a supervisor rather than as a field agent." "That was before Doctor Harris' anti-pheromone shots Now there is absolutely no reason why I couldn't go back into the field Sir, I hate being stuck behind a desk all day ... I need this." Mulder looked pleadingly at Skinner. "When you're in the field, who's going to give you your shots?" Skinner glared at him No way did he want Mulder flying off all over the country "And, the pheromone shots didn't change the way you look ... " Mulder interrupted, "I already talked to A.D. Murphy and he is assigning Special Agent Donald Anderson to be my partner Anderson's a trained pathologist and he has already agreed to give me my shots when we're in the field together." "So you already know about A.D. Murphy, when did you find out? I was only told of your reassignment an hour ago," Skinner stated dejectedly, staring at his hands. "Murphy called me into his office when I first arrived this morning, we've been going over the details of my transfer all morning I'm sorry, sir, I assumed you'd been given advanced notice." "No, I didn't know anything about it until the Director informed me Mulder, working for Murphy will put you back into VCS are you sure that's what you want?" "Sir, I would rather be back doing profiles than sitting behind a desk all day supervising other agents." "Okay, Mulder, we'll talk about this when we get home I'm not very happy about you wanting to go back into the field, but I am willing to listen." Skinner attempted to pacify him However, tonight he would make Mulder see his point of view. "Sir, there isn't anything to discuss I'm going back into the field, period!" Mulder turned angrily and stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind him. Skinner stared at the closed door feeling a headache coming on, he got up and went into his private washroom for some aspirin - it was going to be a long day. He spent the rest of the day preparing expense reports and financial statistics for next year's budget It took hours to weed through the paperwork that Kimberly use to handle for him Now he had to share an administrative assistant with four Section Chiefs The new male assistant totally lacked the multitasking skills of the previous female assistants Skinner had used He ended up spending many late hours in the office just trying to keep ahead of the weekly paperwork. Viva Towers Friday, December 11 9:15 p.m. By the time Skinner arrived home well after 9:00 p.m He was glad it was Friday, although, he was plan to work at home this weekend, but he did plan on sleeping in late tomorrow. Mulder was sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the fireplace with an open folder forgotten in his lap as he gazed thoughtfully into the flames Only when Skinner walked over and stood in front of him did he tear his eyes away from the fire Looking up, he met Skinner's eyes "Hi, you're late I saved you some dinner, would you like me to heat it up for you?" Mulder felt a little embarrassed about losing his temper in Skinner's office this morning. "No, I can get it myself ... stay there." He knelt down in front of Mulder and using his fingers to tilt his chin up, he kissed him softly on the lips "I'm going upstairs to take a shower first." He stood taking in his lover's appearance Fox was barefoot and wore soft sweat pants and a T-shirt, and the fire cast a sexy warm glow on his pale skin. Skinner took a very quick shower, when he came out of the steaming bathroom he decided to forgo his briefs and just slipped on a pair of sweatpants He walked barefooted back downstairs Mulder had left his position in front of the fireplace and had gone in the kitchen to reheat dinner for him: meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, and green beans He noticed the kitchen was spotless His lover usually left the dishes for him, but he sensed Mulder was trying to make peace after this morning. They still hadn't worked through all the differences that living together had brought out While he was meticulously neat, Mulder had the tendency to accumulate clutter wherever he went They finally came to an agreement about his sunflower seed habit and had placed empty bowls in the living room and bedroom for him to throw the shells into Since Mulder was doing a majority of the cooking, he started doing most of the daily housework and they shared the laundry which they both hated doing. Mulder brought over a couple of beers for them and sat to keep him company while he ate "I'm sorry about springing going back into active field work on you, but I wasn't sure I'd re-qualify, and when I did, I was just too happy to think that you might not approve." "It's been less than three weeks since Henderson abducted you and we still haven't found him I don't like the idea of you being unprotected in some motel room halfway across the country from me." Skinner poured some catsup over the thick slice of meatloaf on his plate and took a bite. "Walter, I won't be unprotected, there is Agent Anderson and A.D Murphy is also is assigning two other agents from the VICAP He understands my special circumstances, and he feels my skills as an agent merit the expense of assigning me three partners." "Fox, I don't trust anyone except myself to protect you, but if this is really that important to you I won't stand in your way I do want the names of the other two agents Murphy is assigning to you." He looked up with resignation at his lover, knowing he wasn't going to win this argument and decided to give in. Mulder smiled at him relieved, he thought his lover would have put up more of a fight "Thanks I'm going to check on the fire, why don't you join me when you finish eating." Mulder leaned in and kissed him, licking the catsup off the side of his mouth. "I'd love to join you," Skinner said, squeezing Mulder's buttock to let him know what he planned on doing when he joined him. Mulder grinned wickedly at him before leaving the kitchen Instead of going to the living room, he went to the linen closet and removed a large quilt which he brought back and spread out before the fireplace He put two more logs on the fire before he slipped out of his clothing and laid down on the quilt in front of the blazing fire He let the warm heat from the fire wash over his naked body enjoying the popping and crackling noise and the smell of the wood burning. He no longer had an unreasonable fear of fires, especially self- contained fires Now, if the room was to catch on fire, that would be another story. Skinner finished eating then rinsed his plate before putting it into the dishwasher He headed into the living room and stopped in his tracks at the sight of his lover's beautiful naked body stretched out in front of the blazing fire Mulder lay on his side with his back to Skinner He had an arm tucked under his head and one leg bent up toward his chest, the other leg was straight, and his pose said 'fuck me' The warm glow of the fire emphasized the elegant curves of his body: the long graceful curve of his back, his firm runner's ass, and long lean legs that ended in perfect shaped feet. Skinner walked over and stared down at his lover feeling the heat from the fireplace against the front of his body He reached down and peeled the pants down his muscular legs releasing his hard cock Mulder glanced up at him licking his lips in anticipation and ran a hand over his body caressing himself from his nipples down to his groin Skinner sank down onto his knees removing Mulder's hand and replacing it with his own, he placed a knee between his lover's parted legs feeling the warm skin against his thigh His hard erection brushed Mulder's hip as he bent over him to claim his mouth in a long exploring kiss. They moaned into each other's mouths, their shared passion burned as hot as the fire before them Breaking the kiss, Skinner laid down, spooning his length against his lover's back, putting his leg on top of Mulder's and pressing his cock into the crack of the younger man's ass as he bent over Mulder claiming his mouth again He broke the kiss and lay cheek-to-cheek with Mulder staring into the flames as his hand stroked over his lover's chest He brushed his fingernails against Mulder's nipples, scraping and rubbing them, never taking his eyes off the fire or lifting his cheek as he heard his lover moan with arousal and arched back against him. Skinner moved his hand down rubbing his lover's flat abs he caressed over Mulder's bellybutton feeling his soft pubic hair that trailed down to his fully erect cock He took considerable pleasure in holding and stroking him Feeling the hard length of him in his hand, Mulder was slightly larger than he was, and he wanted to feel Mulder's cock possessing his body, but he hadn't been able to give that part of himself to his lover, yet Soon ... he kept promising himself. "Walter, please..." Mulder moaned, pushing back against him. "Lube," Skinner commanded, knowing only one word would suffice Upstairs in the bedroom, the bedside table drawer opened on its own and a small bottle of lubricant floated out and headed down the stairs, and it dropped into Skinner's waiting hand. Mulder started to chuckle "Lube God, Walter, why don't you put your powers to some real productive use like getting me some Chinese takeout I haven't had moo shu pork in over ten months," he quipped. "If you're really good, I'll consider it," Skinner murmured, letting his hand stroke and caress Mulder's ass His nose nuzzled behind his lover's ear breathing in his pleasant scent as he sucked on his lobe, nipping it gently. Mulder sighed happily when Skinner's lubed finger finally slipped into him He arched his neck back, allowing his lover to suck on his long graceful throat He reached a hand up to hold Skinner's mouth in place, wanting him to leave his mark on him, but knowing it wouldn't last longer than a few hours "Oh, please," he begged. Skinner slipped another finger into him and proceeded to stretch him, driving him insane with desire as he purposely brushed against his prostate The older man's other hand reached over his hip and stroked his hard, weeping cock, spreading pre-ejaculate over its velvet length Mulder turned his head and captured the older man's mouth in a deep passionate kiss. Skinner removed his fingers from the younger man's ass and replaced them with his cock and pushed in Mulder was too distracted by his lover's hand caressing and stroking him that he didn't notice until the bulbous head popped inside him He gasped into Skinner's mouth at the initial pain then pushed back to welcome more of his lover's penis into his body. Skinner eased his cock slowly in until it was fully imbedded in his lover's beautiful body, he felt his heavy balls come to rest against those of his lover "Fox, I love you more than I've ever loved anyone before in my life." He hugged Mulder close against his chest not wanting to break contact by moving, yet He enjoyed the hot silky feeling of being sheathed in his lover's warm body as he buried his nose in the younger man's thick hair breathing in his sweet musky scent. Mulder placed his hands over Skinner's enjoying the warmth of his lover's naked length covering his whole body He loved feeling Skinner's heart beating against his back and his hot breath against his neck as the older man's cock throbbed deep within him He had never been this close to, or trusting of, anyone before in his life. "Walter, I love you," Mulder confessed for the very first time. Skinner paused as he licked behind his lover's ear, not sure if he heard him correctly "Fox, would you please repeat that." Mulder turned his head as Skinner shifted and leaned to rest a hand on the floor to support his weight, so that they could look into each other's eyes "I love you," Mulder whispered softly. Skinner smiled happily and sealed his lips over Mulder's, kissing him passionately He was overcome with joy; those three words made him the happiest man alive He had never expected to hear those words from Fox Mulder's lips. "Mm, Walter, I don't want to interrupt our Kodak moment, but can we move a little." Mulder pushed his ass back indicating to his lover that he was ready. "Anything for you, Lover," he murmured and pulled his cock out part way then slowly pushed it back in He slowly increased the length and speed of his thrusts Mulder pushed back matching the rhythm he had set as sweat glistened and dripped off their bodies The light from the fire danced over their entwined bodies as they moved in sync with each other The crackling and popping sounds coming from the fireplace offset the sound of their flesh slapping together each time Skinner drove his thrust home Skinner reached a hand over Mulder's hip and proceeded to stroke him in time with his thrusts. The pressure from his lover's thick cock opening and filling him became too much for Mulder and he came hard into Skinner's stroking hand spurting onto his own chest and belly His rectal muscles contracted around the older man's cock slowing his thrusting down briefly Skinner increased the speed and force of his thrusts after his lover's orgasm died down, desperately wanting to join him. Mulder lay quietly sated enjoying the feel of Skinner thrusting into his placid body The long strokes went deep into his rectum opening and stretching him, and he felt his anal muscles clenching around the hard cock with each in and out thrust Each time his lover's cock bumped against his prostate it sent renewed shivers through him. Skinner finally felt his balls tightening and creeping up as he thrust in one last time and poured out his passion into his lover's body Mulder moaned when he felt Skinner's hot release shooting into him and he tightened his anal muscles making his older lover cry out with pleasure. Skinner collapsed and took a few moments to recapture his breath before gently pulling out of his lover's body He turned Mulder over so he lay on his back underneath him and proceeded to devour his mouth starting with that irresistible pouty lower lip His young lover wrapped his arms around his broad shoulders and returned the kiss They spent the next hour petting, kissing, and touching every part of each other until exhausted, they fell asleep curled together in a warm embrace in front the fireplace. Viva Towers Saturday, December 12 6:20 p.m. It had been two weeks since he had started the caretaker's job and Krycek was bored out of his mind The only highlight to his day was when Mulder came down to visit or to workout with him They had started swimming laps together, pacing each other Being so close to him, and seeing that beautiful body without being allowed to touch him was driving Krycek crazy He wanted more than just Mulder's friendship He planned to talk with Fox when he saw him tonight and lay out his feeling for him. There was a sharp knock at his door, and Mulder walked in Krycek smiled at him "Fox, you're early." "Walter brought home his yearly budget to do over the weekend, I thought it was a good time to escape before he drafted me into helping." Mulder walked into the kitchen and placed the large bag he was carrying on the counter "Have you eaten yet?" "No What did you bring?" Krycek questioned, looking over his shoulder "Please, tell me that's what I think it is!" "Yep, authentic Chinese takeout, we have kung po shrimp, spring rolls, sesame chicken, beef with broccoli, dim sum, and fried rice." Mulder listed off as he pulled each of the white takeout containers from the bag. Krycek grinned happily, it had been a long time since he had Chinese takeout, and he knew how hard it was to get "Let's eat in the living room, we can put on the movie I picked up." They carried the containers into the living room and put them down on the coffee table Krycek pulled apart one of the pairs of wooden chopsticks as he turned on the TV and slid the video in the VCR They sat on the sofa not bothering to get plates, they just passed the cartons back and forth, while laughing and joking their way through 'MST3000 the Movie.' Mulder enjoyed Krycek's company, they were close to the same age and both had been through hell and back over the last six years They had seen and experienced things that would have broken lesser men. When the movie was over they leaned back on the sofa still joking over different parts of the movie Krycek decided there was no time like the present, to tell Mulder how he felt about him "Fox, I need to tell you something." He turned to face him leaning over he pulled Mulder's hand into his lap "I've been in love with you for a long time and I would like you to come back to Russia with me." Mulder looked sadly into his eyes. "I can't, Alex I'm in love with Walter I'm sorry." "There's no reason to be sorry, but for the life of me I can't see what you see in Walter Skinner Fox, I'm not about to give up, I've wanted you for far too long to let you go easily, and I know you want me, too I'm willing to wait ... forever if need be, because like you, I'm also an immortal and time means nothing." Krycek had no intention of waiting that long, but it sounded good Now he just had to trick Skinner into exposing his part in the conspiracy in front of Mulder. "You don't understand, Alex I need Walter he has always been there for me * protected me - supported me - believed in me* and *loved me* when no one else did Not even Scully You'll be wasting your time waiting for me I will never leave Walter!" There was so much loyalty and conviction in Mulder's eyes it almost made Krycek change his mind about exposing Skinner's past to him It was bound to seriously hurt him, but it would drive Mulder into his arms and that was what mattered most. "I'm sorry, Fox, I know he means a lot to you I won't come between you and Skinner I'll be leaving soon, but I want you to know if you ever change your mind, I'll always be waiting for you." Krycek leaned in and softly kissed Mulder on the lips. Mulder was sad, he had never had many friends and he had started to consider Krycek one Now he was leaving and he'd probably never see him again "I wish you didn't have to leave, Alex I'm going to miss you." "It's for the best, Fox, it's too hard for me to be around you and not be able to touch you the way I want." Krycek walked over and turned off the TV keeping his back to Mulder. "Alex, I better leave now." Mulder went dejectedly out the door and headed toward the elevator He rode up to his floor with an empty feeling inside, every time he got close to someone they left or betrayed him Except Walter, he knew he could always rely on Walter to be there for him He wondered what Krycek had meant by saying he was also an immortal, was it possible that men with the sorcerer mutation had immortality, too? Krycek looked at the closed door to his apartment and licked his lips remembering Mulder's taste He had to act fast After reading Mulder's thoughts during the last two weeks, he discovered Skinner had picked up the sorcerer strain of the mutation, and that Mulder was helping Skinner practice using his new abilities It was only a matter of time before Skinner became as good as he was He had to get Mulder away from him before that happened. Viva Towers Saturday, December 19 10:30 a.m. Mulder had gotten a late start on the morning; he didn't arrive until late last night from his first out of town assignment He needed a refreshing swim When he walked into the pool area, he was surprised to see the pool full of screaming kids So much for a quiet morning swim Skinner was lifting weights in the exercise room, so he decided to join him instead. Alex Krycek walked purposefully into the exercise room, his bags were packed and in the car, it had a full tank of gas, and he had checked the car tires Now all that remained was to collect Mulder. The only person in the room was Walter Skinner dressed in shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt His muscular biceps bulged and strained as he effortlessly lifted the hundred and fifty pound weights on the bench press Sweat stuck his shirt to his body showing off his well toned chest and flat, hard stomach. "Skinner." Skinner glared over at Krycek as he set the weights down. "What is it, Krycek." "I just wanted you to know that I was leaving, and to congratulate you on the excellent snow job you've preformed on Mulder He seriously thinks you really care about him." Krycek watched as Skinner's face reddened with rage. "What are you getting at, Krycek? You know I love Fox, you're up to something and I want to know what it is." "No I'm not up to anything I'm genuinely amazed that you have been able to fool him for all these years What do you think he would say if he knew it was you, who recommended Scully's abduction or that it was you, who shot his father through the bathroom window." Mulder stood unseen and frozen in the doorway, he had only heard Krycek's last sentence He felt the floor dropping out from under his feet and held onto the door to keep from falling as he waited with trepidation for Skinner's response to Krycek's accusations. "Killing that SOB was necessary and I have absolutely no regrets about it! Now, I suggest you get your butt out of here, Krycek!" No, he wasn't sorry about putting a bullet through Bill Mulder's head He had read all the reports on how the man had abused his son over the years The broken leg, dislocated shoulder, fractured ribs, concussion, and all the bumps and bruises, not to mention the mental anguish He did regret his involvement in Scully's abduction and had tried to make amends by reselling himself to them for the cure to her cancer. He heard a soft gasp from the doorway and turned to see Mulder standing there with look of pure misery on his beautiful face "How could you do this to me? Was it all lies?" Mulder was shaking as he stepped into the room waiting for Skinner to answer him. Skinner tried to rise off the bench, but he found himself unable to move an inch He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. "So, you don't deny it!" Mulder glared at him with red-rimmed eyes filled with hate and pain. "Fox, I'm leaving in a few minutes, if you want, you can come with me Why don't you go upstairs and pack your bags and bring them down to my car and I'll meet you there." Krycek only had to push Mulder a little to get him to move and do what he wanted. Mulder fled the room in a rage, avoiding the elevator he ran up the seventeen flights to the condominium Once inside, he went about gathering his things He tried to keep his mind blank not wanting to breakdown, he could do that later when he was away from here His hands were shaking as he threw his clothes into his suitcases His heart was breaking as his whole world shattered around him and a solitary tear made its way silently down his cheek. Skinner looked at Krycek with pure hatred He was still unable to move or speak. Krycek stood in front of him and smiled "Don't worry about Fox, I'll take good care of him I'll even see that he gets over you, which shouldn't be too hard, now that he despises you Too bad you didn't have more practice, you might have been able to break the hold I have on you." Krycek patted his cheek, he waited until he felt Mulder at his car, before he turned around and left the room He retained the control he had over Skinner, it wouldn't do for him to break free too soon and follow them. Mulder was sitting quietly on the passenger side when he climbed into the car He hurriedly started it and drove out of the garage He had until nightfall to put as much distance between Mulder and Skinner as possible It wouldn't be good if Skinner had a chance to mind-link with Mulder. He would drive back to Miami and take the boat back to Cuba then they would get on the first flight to Russia. "Alex, I need to talk to Scully ... would you please head for Boulder, Colorado?" Mulder murmured softly, he had taken the time to put on a pair of black jeans and was wearing his black leather jacket He huddled against the car door, hugging himself around his ribs, looking extremely pale in the bright sunlight. "Fox, I think it would be better if we left the country for a while, you need to get away from here Skinner has become obsessed with you and he will try to force you to return to him." Mulder looked at him with anguished eyes "If you won't take me there, then I'll find my own way Let me out at the corner." "No I'll take you, but I thought you weren't allowed to see her Weren't they only letting family members in?" Damn, he wanted to get the hell out of this country. "I'll get in ... just get me there, please." When Skinner regained control over his body, he immediately raced down to the underground garage ... there was no sign of his lover He felt the room spinning and found himself sliding down onto the cold cement floor, his stomach was doing flips, and he leaned over and vomited He tried desperately to reach out with his mind to contact Mulder, but he couldn't reach him, he was already out of range "Damn you, Krycek!" he moaned, wiping tears from his face with the bottom of his T-shirt. Chapter 5 – Broken Hearts Blue Village Inn Huntington, West Virginia Saturday, December 19 5:30 p.m. Alex Krycek closed and bolted the sturdy metal door to their motel room He then went over and glanced out the barred window into the setting sun before shutting the drapes He was happy he had found a motel that had added security measures to the rooms, including motion detectors and floodlights He did not want to be distracted tonight of all nights, by having to stand guard against a possible ghoul attack. He looked over at Fox Mulder with concern The agent had not said one word since asking to be driven to Colorado They were still a fair distance from their destination, and they would have to travel cautiously, as there was a manhunt on for them He had expected Skinner to get the police involved, so he was not too surprised when a state trooper pulled them over Luckily, it did not require too much power to convince the cop that he had never seen them. They dumped the car just outside of D.C. and acquired a white van that blended nicely with the winter landscape Before pulling back on the freeway, Krycek stopped at a hunting and camping store for supplies, picking up a large cooler, an insulated sleeping bag, pillows, and ammunition for both his and Mulder's guns. When they arrived at the Blue Village Inn, Mulder waited in the van while he got them a room with one king-sized bed He was not going to take no for an answer tonight, he'd waited too many years, and besides, having sex would get Mulder's mind off Skinner. "You've known about Skinner all along haven't you? Why didn't you tell me, Alex?" Mulder looked up at him, his hazel eyes holding no clue to his thoughts When Krycek tried to read the agent's mind he found it blocked. "I didn't want to hurt you, Fox." "If that were the case ... why did you set up that scene in the exercise room this morning?" At Krycek's shocked expression, he continued, "Alex, did you think I wouldn't have figured it out? I'm a fucking FBI agent for god's sake!" Tears started to make their way down his cheeks. "Fox, I'm sorry ... I couldn't come right out and tell you Would you have believed me? You needed to hear it from Skinner's lips yourself." Krycek walked over to him and wrapped his arms around Mulder's slim waist "I really didn't want to hurt you." Mulder grabbed Krycek's head between both his hands and brought his mouth over Krycek's in a brutally bruising kiss "Is this what you want *sex* do you want to fuck me?" Mulder hissed into his mouth, "that's the really reason, isn't it?" "Fox, goddamnit! I was truthful with you before! I'm in love with you, and yes, I did it on purpose! Fuck it! I did it because I realized the only way you would leave Skinner was by knowing the truth about him And, you'd always have your doubts unless you heard it from Skinner's own lips!" Mulder gazed into those dark, soulful, green eyes, searching for any sign of deceit "I can never love you, Alex," he murmured sadly Walter Skinner still had his heart and he could never give it to another man without first getting it back from him. "I'd settle for your friendship." Krycek caressed Mulder's tear- dampened cheek with his fingers then gently kissed him, sucking on Mulder's sexy bottom lip. Mulder wanted to fill the emptiness inside him, and Krycek was offering him a way of doing that He responded by kissing Krycek back softly this time, concentrating on the feel, smell, and taste of the other man He was not as large as Skinner ... about his own size, but stockier, and he smelled wonderful, almost intoxicating That made Mulder realize that he still needed his anti-pheromone shot Then he decided *fuck* the shot He wanted Krycek to lose control tonight; he wanted to be fucked hard, hoping that it would help him forget. "You never answered me, Alex Do you want to fuck me?" Mulder purred, locking his arms around the younger man's neck and gazing seductively into his eyes. "No ... I want you to fuck me ... later ... I'll make love to you," Krycek breathed Running his fingers through the FBI man's thick, silky, brown hair, he tilted his head for another long, wet, exploring kiss Mulder tasted remarkable - fresh - pure - exotic, it must be from his mutation, Krycek decided Maybe no bad bacteria could survive in his body Even the musky scent Mulder gave off was sweet and erotic Damn, sniffing him was very arousing. He lowered his hands to pull Mulder's T-shirt free from his jeans, rubbing his growing erection back and forth against the hardening bulge in the agent's pants He pulled the T-shirt over his head and dropped it on the floor, running his hands over the smooth skin on Mulder's back He leaned in and ran his tongue along the side of the agent's graceful neck Through his tongue on the older man's throat, he felt his pulse rate quicken and renewed his efforts. Krycek's short black hair tickled Mulder under his chin and against his shoulder, the agent ran his hands over Krycek's close-cropped head of hair "Stupid ass haircut." Krycek nipped him "We can't all have you silky locks," he purred, then soothed the bite with his tongue He raked his nails over the agent's nipples, eliciting a gasp from Mulder "Sensitive?" He brought his mouth over a nipple sucking, nipping, and licking it before moving on to its twin. "Very, don't stop," Mulder moaned, holding the younger man's head against his chest. "Mm, good." Krycek continued to torment the agent's nipples while his hands wandered down to unfasten Mulder's pants He first removed the hip holster clipped to the pants dropping it on top of the agent's crumpled T-shirt He then pulled the zipper down and pushed the tight black jeans down Mulder's long legs, never taking his mouth off the FBI man's body. "Ambrosia." "What?" "The way you taste and smell," Krycek murmured, licking down to Mulder's bellybutton Inserting the tip of his tongue into it, he pushed in hard The older man gasped at the sudden discomfort, backing away until the younger man's grabbed his hips, holding him still. Krycek had sunk to his knees Reaching down, he pulled Mulder's shoes and socks off and removed the ankle holster Then he peeled the jeans the rest of the way down his long beautiful legs, and the agent stepped out of them, kicking them out of the way. Mulder now had on only a pair of gray silk boxers, and Krycek ran his hand over the soft fabric, caressing the large bulge inside He slowly ran his fingers through the waistband and pulled them down over the slim hips and large erection, letting them fall to the ground Krycek leaned back and took in Mulder's totally aroused body - perfection. Krycek put his hand around the agent's fully erect cock He was looking forward to having this large cock inside of him; he'd never been with anyone as big as Mulder before Pre-ejaculate glistened on the tip as he stroked him The agent thrust into his hand, and Krycek lowered his lips over the velvet head licking the pre-cum from it "Mm, delicious," he purred, before taking as much of Mulder's thick length into his mouth as he could He raked his teeth over him as he pulled out then plunged back down deep-throating him He kept up the delicious torment, nudging the urethra opening with the tip of his tongue as he was pulling out. Mulder let out a cry as his sacs tightened up, and he felt himself about to come Krycek immediately stopped - he didn't want it to be over before he could get the agent's cock inside of him Afterwards, he planned to spend the rest of the night slowly fucking Fox It was a good thing they had a sleeping bag in the van, because Mulder would need his sleep tomorrow Since he caught the sorcerer mutation, Krycek found he didn't require as much sleep, his body seemed to pull in energy from the world around him - replenishing him. Krycek stood up and kissed Mulder passionately, letting the other man taste himself He rubbed his fully clothed body against the agent's warm naked one. "Please," Mulder begged, the mere contact was going to make him come He quickly grabbed Krycek's shirt and pulled it from his body, tearing it The younger man caught on and quickly struggled out of the rest of his clothing. Krycek pulled Mulder to him and they shared another deep kiss, he looked over the agent's shoulder at his bag, watching as it opened and a tube of KY floated to him "C'mon, I want you to fuck me," he murmured. Guiding Mulder over to the bed, he pulled down the covers. Mulder licked his lips eagerly, he had never fucked a man before and the last time he had sex with a woman was four years ago He had brought it up to Skinner a couple of times, but the older man kept putting him off, now he knew why It was because Skinner was only using him for sex and had never really loved him, that it was all a lie. Krycek laid on his back in the center of the king-size bed, giving Mulder a sultry look as he seductively spread his legs apart The agent quickly climbed onto the bed and over to the younger man, kneeling between his legs Krycek handed him the tube of lubricant, which Mulder placed down next to the younger man's hip Not yet, it was his turn to explore Krycek's body. Mulder let his hands roam all over the younger man's hard body, marveling at Krycek's sturdy build Where he had the long lean muscles of a runner and a swimmer, the younger man had the hard build of a boxer or weightlifter His skin had a different feel to it than Skinner's, Krycek didn't have as much body hair as the A.D., and his old lover even had soft hair covering his back Mulder shook his head to clear his thoughts as depression started to creep into his mood, he had loved the way Walter had felt, smelled, and tasted. His mood was replaced by anger over being betrayed and what an unsuspecting fool he had been He wondered if Skinner had a good laugh over what a trusting sap he was each time he allowed the bastard to fuck him. "Fox, stop!" Mulder startled, he looked where his nails were digging into the other man's waist drawing blood He quickly removed his hands and sat back. "Shit, Alex ... I'm sorry." Mulder delicately placed his hands over the injury to sooth it, as he did, a golden glow came from his palms and a warm tingly sensation went throughout his body, when he removed his hands the damaged skin on Krycek's waist had been healed. "How long have you been able to do that, Fox?" Krycek looked at him surprised. "This has never happened before ... I don't know what to make of it Are you sure it wasn't coming from you, Alex?" He had a worried look on his beautiful face as he studied the healed skin, then studied his hands. "No ... it was coming from you I don't have the ability to heal and I haven't heard of anyone with the sorcerer mutation that does Maybe it's part of your mutation and you never had the opportunity to use it until now We'll have to see what else you can do later, but right now I want to continue where we left off." He pulled Mulder back into his arms, kissing him he rubbed their groins together, the friction made both men hard again. Mulder broke the kiss, and he trailed his lips down to Krycek's shoulder and moved down his arm where he licked a large ragged scar on his upper arm Krycek had almost lost his arm in the Tunguska woods when a group of men tried to cut it off Luckily, Russian soldiers rescued him in time, but not before some major damage had been done, he had spent three months in a hospital in St Petersburg recovering and going through rigorous therapy sessions to regain the use of his arm. Mulder's mouth roamed every inch of Krycek's body, making a mental note of all the younger man's erogenous zones He sat back watching Krycek pant heavily then he slowly picked up the tube of KY squirting a small amount in his hand to warm He placed one of Krycek's long legs over his shoulder spreading his buttocks he easily inserted a finger into his puckered opening He wondered how many lovers the younger man had had in his life. He inserted another finger pushing the lube in deep; Krycek started rocking forward fucking himself on the agent's fingers "That's enough ... I want you in me ... now!" Mulder's scent was making him lose control and he knew that if Mulder weren't fucking him soon, he would throw the FBI man down and fuck the daylights out of him. Mulder read the inflamed look in Krycek's eyes and with in one graceful movement he replaced his fingers with his cock and smoothly entered him Krycek thrust up with his hips forcing all of Mulder's thick length into him, the agent gasped at how hot and silky the younger man was inside. Krycek had placed his other leg on his lover's shoulder and started working himself up and down on Mulder's cock Mulder reached over and squeezed Krycek's balls forcing him to stop and raised one eyebrow at Krycek's moan of discomfort "I really would like to participate too, Alex If you don't mind!" He waited for Krycek to settle down before he started to slowly thrust in and out of his hot body. After he had built up a rhythm he removed his hand from Krycek's balls and started stroking the younger man's cock in time with his thrusts, Krycek started to match the agent thrust for thrust Soon, both their bodies were glistening with sweat; Mulder felt the muscles in Krycek's ass constricting around him He had never felt anything so stimulating and he came harder than he had ever come before in his life His brain went blank for a moment and he vaguely remembered hearing Krycek screaming his name as he also came. When he regained consciousness, he was lying cradled in Krycek's arms; the younger man was gazing lovingly down at him "I thought I lost you there for a moment, my love." He leaned down and thoroughly kissed Mulder, feeling himself growing hard, again "Let's grab a shower, then I'm going to make love to you." Walter Skinner's Condo Saturday, December 19 10:30 p.m. Walter Skinner felt his whole world falling apart, the need to find his lover was all that kept him going He had finally convinced the FBI and Police that Alex (rat-bastard) Krycek had the sorcerer mutation and had manipulated Fox Mulder's mind so he would leave with him An all points bulletin had gone out nationwide to be on the lookout for either of the men. He wanted to assist in the search, but knew it would be better for him to wait for word That didn't mean he couldn't search for leads on his own, besides, he needed to talk to someone, a friend of Mulder's and bare his soul to that man He would call Mulder's friend Frohike Mulder had the man over for Thanksgiving, and they seemed to be very close He found out later from his lover that all three men he had invited worked for an underground publication called 'The Magic Bullet' He did his own secret investigation on the group of conspiracy theorists, and found them relatively harmless, although many government agencies viewed them with a combination of disdain and dread. He went over to his desk and dug out his thick address book, where he had written down their phone number, which hadn't been easy to obtain They turned out to be even more paranoid then his lover had been, even on his worse days He sat at the desk and picked up the telephone dialing the number. "Lone Gunmen." The man at other end answered. "This is Walter Skinner, I would like to speak with Mr. Frohike." "Speaking What can I do for you, A.D. Skinner?" "Agent Mulder has been tricked into leaving with his ex-partner As Mulder's friend, I would like to get your opinions on some of the circumstances surrounding his leaving." Skinner kept it matter of fact, not wanting to tell the man that he wanted to use him as a confessor of his past sins. "We've been following the police reports, has there been any word on Mulder?" "No." "I can meet with you tomorrow morning I'll be at your condo at nine o'clock if that fits in your schedule." "Nine o'clock would be fine, thank you I'll see you then." Skinner hung up the phone and gave a heavy sigh. He tiredly shrugged out of the suit he had put on, after his workout, to meet with the FBI and police He unclipped the gun from his belt placing it on the dresser then he hung his suit in the closet tossing his underwear in the hamper next to the dresser. He walked into the bathroom looking sadly over at Mulder's side of the dual sinks - he had taken his shaving gear Skinner remembered all the mornings they shaved together in companionable silence He enjoyed watching the younger man shave, revealing his smooth soft skin from underneath the rough stubble. He turned on the shower, waiting briefly for the temperature to get to a comfortable level before stepping in He hardly took showers alone anymore and found himself drowning in memories He couldn't believe how happy he was this morning, waking up finding Mulder cuddled in his arms His lover had returned sometime during the night from his first out of town case since they had started living together They had spent three long days and nights apart. He woke Mulder up by making slow love to him, burying himself deep within his lover's sleep warmed body They spent twenty minutes, not moving, joined together wrapped in each other's warmth. Skinner finished his shower After drying himself, he pulled on a pair of old sweats and climbed into his large empty bed Shivering as his skin made contact with the cold sheets, he reached over and pulled Mulder's pillow into his arms Burying his nose into it, he breathed in his lover's scent and then broke into tears, sobbing loudly into the pillow. Blue Village Inn Huntington, West Virginia Sunday, December 20 6:50 a.m. Mulder had just drifted off to sleep, when he felt Krycek shaking him awake "C'mon, love, I want to get back on the road We only have twelve hours before the next curfew." Krycek handed him a cup of steaming coffee that he had picked up from the coffee shop on the corner He had already taken their stuff out to the van and had pulled out a clean set of clothes for Mulder to wear. Mulder moaned exhaustedly, sipping the fragrant coffee as he untangled himself from the sheets, careful not to spill the hot beverage He sat up gingerly and placed his feet on the floor He inspected his body, at least what he could see of it, the cum that had trailed down his legs was gone He'd vaguely recalled Krycek gently cleaning him early this morning "Where's my bag?" he yawned. "Out in the van I pulled out some clothes for you to wear." "There's something I need you to do for me, Alex." He started to pull on his clothing "I require a shot twice a day, my medication is in my bag I have enough to last me two weeks then I will have to get more from Doctor Harris The thing is, I need you to give it to me, I'm not able to give myself a shot." "Medication ... what's it for? I thought you were in perfect health," Krycek asked worriedly. "I am in perfect health It's an anti-pheromone drug My body produces an excess amount of sexual pheromones Didn't you think it was strange that you had a hard on all night, and you couldn't stop fucking me?" "For your information, lover, I would have fucked you all night long even if you had taken your medication." Krycek kissed him hard, tasting the coffee on his breath "I'll give you your shot in the van, we wouldn't want you to start a riot when we stop for gas." "Thanks, Alex," Mulder sighed, remembering all the mornings Walter gave him his shot, and how gentle the older man had been He felt himself quickly losing control over his emotions and rushed into the bathroom slamming the door He didn't want to cry in front of Krycek, he didn't understand why he felt guilty about having sex with him He was the one betrayed and lied to, but he was still in love with Walter Skinner, and he needed to get over him. He turned on the sink and washed the hot tears from his face He would concentrate on his own pleasures, and not allow his feelings to be held hostage by the man who betrayed his trust and admitted to killing his father. Viva Tower Sunday, December 20 9:00 a.m. Frohike arrived at Viva Tower at precisely nine o'clock in the morning and he buzzed the A.D.'s condominium "Come up!" the voice boomed over the intercom and the lock on heavily barred doors clicked open. He wasn't overly curious, he knew exactly why the A.D. wanted to see him Although, he never saw himself as the type of person to whom someone would want to confess past sins He rode the elevator up to the Skinner's floor, bored, the instant he stepped off the elevator he was hit in the foot by a fast moving object "Ouch!" he cried out in pain, hopping up and down holding his injured foot. "Sorry, mister," a little boy said sheepishly. There were three boys around the age of seven, who had turned the long hallway into an obstacle course for racing radio control cars. "S'kay," Frohike wheezed out as he limped down to the A.D.'s door at the end of the long hallway and rang the bell. The door was answered immediately "Please, come in, Mr. Frohike, thank you for coming." Frohike stared in shock at the appearance of the man before him The A.D.'s eyes were red and puffy, he had obviously been crying, and he had dark bags under them from an obvious lack of sleep. "No problem Mulder is my best friend and I want to do whatever I can to help." Skinner escorted him into the living room "Please have a seat Would you care for a cup of coffee?" "Yes, if it isn't too much trouble." He glanced around the condo, it was immaculate, the opposite of the man before him. Skinner walked into the kitchen and poured them each a mug of coffee, turning around he was surprised to find the small man had followed him, and had taken a seat at the kitchen table. "I hope you don't mind, I'd rather talk in the kitchen," Frohike said, feeling more comfortable in this domestic setting than the sterile environment of the living room. "No, I don't mind Fox preferred having discussions in the kitchen He said it was the last room in his families house where his father was likely to be, and he always felt a sense of safety there because of it." Skinner placed a mug of coffee in front of smaller man "Cream or sugar?" "Both." Skinner placed a spoon along with a carton of half-an-half in front of the little man and pushed the sugar bowl over to him He sat across from him, taking a sip from his own mug "I don't know where to begin, so maybe I should start at the beginning." He sighed, watching the conspiracy expert spoon sugar into his cup Maybe this was a mistake; the little troll couldn't possibly understand what he had gone through. "Are you talking about when the Consortium first approached you to work for them or before that?" Frohike asked, taking in Skinner's shocked look. "You ... know about that?" he stammered. "I know all about your history, A.D. Skinner, I only wish you had shared some of it with Mulder So what happened, did Mulder find out on his own or did Krycek tell him?" "Both, but it's a lot more involved than you think You see, I killed Mulder's father." Skinner waited for the condemnation, but was shocked when Frohike stood up pulled out his wallet and tossed him a fifty. "I told Langly when I found the man responsible for ridding the world of that fucking child-abuser, I would cough up fifty How Mulder turned out to be so compassionate and sensitive after being raised by that bastard is a mystery to me." Skinner relaxed, thinking that maybe this was a good idea after all The little man seemed to be well informed "After I returned home from Vietnam, I spent several months in the veteran's hospital They did all they could for me, but they wouldn't cover the cost of cosmetic surgery to remove the scars from my body and face caused by the shrapnel While I was in the hospital, a middle-aged man approached me offering to pay the cost of the plastic surgery and to send me to college, and all I had to do was some minor work for his organization at a future date I was only twenty years old and very naïve at the time." Skinner took a long sip from his coffee mug. "I agreed and was sent to College where I majored in law I graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Laws degree, and went immediately into the FBI Training Academy at Quantico After I graduated, I spent five years as a field agent before being promoted to the ASAC position in 1984 at the Chicago field office I quickly climbed the ladder and in 1990 at the age of 40 became the youngest Assistant Director in the FBI." He got up and grabbed the coffeepot and refilled both their mugs. "It was in the spring of 1994 that the consortium called in their marker." He hesitated "They wanted me to rein in Special Agent Fox Mulder, control the types of cases he worked on and cover up any damaging evidence he stumbled upon Section Chief Blevins was no longer able to effectively handle Mulder." Skinner rubbed his eyes taking a deep breath before continuing. "I never personally met Fox Mulder before, I only heard about his spooky legend I was half expecting an out-of-shape, disheveled, spaced out lunatic, but I was taken aback when a highly intelligent, impeccably groomed, handsome, young man wearing an obviously expensive designer suit showed up for our first meeting." Skinner smiled to himself at the memory and how hard it was for him to hide his attraction. "I can honestly say by the end of that first meeting I was infatuated with Fox Mulder, but I was also envious of the relationship he had with Dana Scully Unjustly, I started to view her as an obstacle and wanted to separate them I had my opportunity after a high-level state department official was murdered, but that didn't stop Mulder and Scully from continuing to work together." "I wanted to have her transferred to a remote field office, but was told the consortium had other plans for Agent Scully I really should have put my foot down and ended my involvement with them, but I wanted her out of the picture Mulder listened to her and I wanted to be the one he listened to." "At that point, I was told that Mulder needed a new partner to keep an eye on him and I was ordered to assign Special Agent Alex Krycek to him I despised the young man the moment I laid my eyes on him It occurred to me immediately that they were trying to use Krycek to seduce Mulder, and I didn't want any part of that I came right out and told that smoking bastard that I wanted no part to their schemes any longer and to find themselves another patsy." "So you didn't order Scully's abduction?" Frohike asked, looking at the disheveled man. "No I didn't want to see her harmed that way I suggested that she be removed from the picture by transferring her to some remote field office As I said, they already had other plans for her that I knew nothing about." Skinner sighed realizing how lame that sounded He should have done something to prevent Scully's abduction and he had been regretting it ever since. "After she was taken, I did everything in my power to get her returned It wasn't until I met with my original benefactor that we compromised, my silence for Agent Scully's return." Skinner got up and started pacing "I didn't expect her to be returned in a coma and on the brink of death Agent Mulder was barely holding it together, he blamed himself for Scully's condition, and I was afraid that if she died he would kill himself." "He gave me his resignation, but I convinced him to stay I should have taken it and ended his entanglement in their agenda." "It's a good thing you didn't I doubt if we we'd be alive now, having this conversation, if you had allowed Mulder to resign from the FBI." Skinner gave him a weak smile "Fox did finally break the conspiracy, in time to prevent the invasion Too bad we couldn't have prevented the aliens from releasing the virus." He glanced at the clock "Excuse me for a moment, I need to make a phone call." Skinner rose and left the room. Frohike got up and went to the refrigerator, rummaging around He pulled out some leftovers and set about making them an early lunch Skinner looked as if he hadn't eaten anything in a while. Skinner came back into the room twenty-minutes later as Frohike was just spooning the reheated stew into two bowls He had already placed a plate of bread and butter on the table Skinner glared at him "Make yourself at home." "Thanks, but I already have Mulder and I used to get together once a month to cook, he was the only one that really appreciated my exotic cooking." The little man put the bowl of steaming stew in front of the A.D "You aren't doing Mulder any good starving yourself Catsup?" he asked, pulling the bottle out of the refrigerator. "Sure," Skinner murmured, realizing there was still a lot he didn't know about his lover "What did you and Fox use to cook?" "We took turns selecting dishes: Greek, French, Japanese, Russian, you name it, we tried it My personal favorite was when Mulder made a. Sherrie lobster bisque followed by a herring and apple salad, for a main course shrimp Creole, and for dessert he made a charlotte russe The gunmen are still raving about it, I haven't been able to cook anything as good since." Frohike grinned, taking a bite of the stew. "That sounds really good." "When we get Mulder back, you'll have to ask him to cook those recipes for you." "If Fox comes back to me, I'll invite you and the rest of the Lone Gunmen over to celebrate with me." Skinner grinned at Frohike, starting to relax So far, the little man didn't hold him responsible for any of his past sins. "Why don't you explain to me what led up to your killing Bill Mulder." "I had received word about the DAT tape from Cancerman and questioned Mulder about it, he attacked me in the hallway of the Hoover Building I didn't know at the time that they were spiking his water with LSD." He frowned at the memory. "A day later I was given a choice Either I killed Bill Mulder or the Consortium takes Fox Mulder for a lab rat For some reason, Fox was too valuable for them to kill, but the idea of them locking him away to experiment on ... made my decision easy I had no love for Bill Mulder, in fact, I totally despised the man for what he had done to his son." He took a small mouthful of stew, chewing it thoughtfully. "When I arrived at the house, Mulder's car was already in the driveway I crept up to the window and looked in, I saw Fox was seated on the sofa the old man was across from him When Bill Mulder got up, I waited patiently, and when the light went on in the bathroom I crept over to that window Looking in, I spotted Alex Krycek hiding in the shower The old man had pulled out a bottle of pills from the medicine cabinet I took aim and the moment he faced the window, I shot him, and took off immediately I knew Krycek had spotted me, but I wasn't concerned I knew he would run, instead of chancing Mulder finding him with his dad's body." "It was the next day that Scully had dropped off evidence that someone had been lacing the water supply in Mulder's apartment building with LSD Then both she and Mulder disappeared, and the next I heard was that he had been killed in New Mexico The smoking bastard came by my office three days later wanting to make a deal, if I would kill Agent Scully he would return Fox Mulder to me alive." "I didn't believe him, but I knew someone would try to kill Dana Scully so I went to warn her We had a nice little get together in Mulder's apartment our guns were trained on each other when all of a sudden Fox burst through the door He was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen, it was then, and there I broke all ties with the consortium Fox was alive and healthy No longer was I willing to do anything ever again that would betray his trust." Skinner sat back He felt drained, he had never told anyone about this part of his life before. "What are you doing to find Mulder?" "We figured that Krycek will try to return to Russia with him, so we've tightened the borders." "No, that's not where they're going." "What do you mean ... of course they're going to Russia Krycek wouldn't chance remaining in this country." "You're talking about Krycek, what you haven't considered was Mulder, he does have a mind of his own if you haven't noticed? He is not about to leave this country, no matter how betrayed he must feel." "Where would Fox go? He has no family left and you and the other gunmen are his only close friends ... shit! Scully! He'd try to see Dana Scully." Skinner grinned; he was starting to have faith that he would able to catch up to his lover. "Bingo." Frohike grinned back. Skinner walked over to the telephone and dialed the airport "When is the next flight for Denver leaving?" He wrote down the information and headed out of the room to pack. "What time is our flight?" Frohike called, stopping Skinner dead in his tracks. "You're coming with me?" "Don't you think it would be in your best interest? Mulder isn't about to sit still and listen to you, and you need someone that could talk some sense into him Of course, you are going to have to pay for my flight, meals, and hotel room." The little man grinned at the discomfort showing on the A.D.'s face. "Of course, what was I thinking, the flight takes off at one o'clock this afternoon I'll meet you at the airport at United Airlines, Gate 22," Skinner muttered. Frohike headed back home to pack his bags, he knew that Skinner had told him the whole truth, since he had been reading his mind as Skinner was telling his story He had never told anyone, not even Byers or Langly that he had picked up the clairvoyant mutation He was happy that it had finally come in handy. Mulder was extremely lucky having someone who loved him as much as Walter Skinner, now they only had to convince the evasive agent of that fact. Outskirts of DC Sunday, December 20 1:00 p.m. The inside of the Hogs Breath bar was dark, dreary, and run-down, smelling of body odor and disease, which matched the clientele to a tee At the bar sat a very large n'thral, the other bar patrons steered well clear of him. He was downing his sixth whiskey and looking downright mean as he paid attention to the television set "Bar Keep!" he bellowed. The bartender came over cautiously, bringing the bottle of whiskey with him "Another?" At the affirmative nod from the mutant, he quickly filled his glass. "Leave the bottle." On the television flashed a special news bulletin and the n'thral glanced up in time to see Special Agent Fox Mulder's beautiful face, followed by the hated face of the dark hair man that had stolen Fox from him. "So Foxy ... you've gotten yourself snatched ... don't worry I'll rescue you," Henderson slurred at the TV, picking up the whiskey bottle he threw it at the set shattering the picture tube He staggered out of the bar, stumbling back to the small studio apartment he had been hiding out in. He started throwing his possessions into a large duffel bag, including the photos of Mulder He had gone back into his loft apartment after being thrown out the window to retrieve his clothes, and had taken the time to pull photos off the wall. He had a police scanner in the humvee and would use it to keep track of any sightings of the two men He had special plans for that dark haired bastard when he caught him. He took his possessions and threw them into the back of the humvee Climbing in, he started the engine and drove off heading out of D.C going northwest on interstate 270. Interstate 64 Sunday, December 20 2:00 p.m. Mulder had just woken up He'd been sleeping in the back of the van for the past five hours He had always found it easy to sleep in moving vehicles It didn't matter whether he was on an airplane or in a car He stretched and stood up, crouching down so his head wouldn't hit the roof of the van He walked over to the passenger seat and plopped down Krycek looked over at him and smiled "Are you hungry?" "Yes, very I really could go for a Quarter Pounder, larger fries, and a chocolate shake Do you think you could find a McD's that still has a drive through?" "No wonder I love you, Fox, we think alike There's a large town coming up and I have already scanned it for a McD's, and they do have one." Krycek smiled at him fondly. The windows on the van were tinted, not allowing people outside to easily see in, but Krycek still asked Mulder to wait in the back until they were safely back on the interstate He had noticed that most of the small towns he had driven through had turned into ghost towns as the citizens moved to larger, more secure cities There they had the protection of the National Guard, army, and police force against the constant attacks from roving bands of ghouls. Krycek pulled up to the very busy drive-through and placed their order Damn, nine dollars for a Big Mac and five dollars for a large fries A person could make a killing by opening a fast food restaurant! The only problem would be finding employees. He drove out of the parking lot and headed back onto the interstate Mulder sat back down in the passenger seat taking the bag from him He pulled out a big Mac and handed it to Krycek Krycek held the messy hamburger by the clean paper wrapper and took a large bite, while steering the van with his other hand "Mmmm, damn that's good." Mulder unwrapped his Quarter Pounder, eating it hungrily He dug the fries from the bag, hand-feeding Krycek who didn't have a free hand to spare "Milkshake?" "Yes, please." Mulder held the straw to Krycek's mouth and he took a long sip then went back to eating his Big Mac. "How far do you think we'll get today?" "I'm hoping to get us to St. Louis, it will be easier to find a secure place to spend the night At the rate we're traveling, we should get there by 5:00 p.m. then we'll have plenty of time to find a hotel." "Hotel Wouldn't we be less conspicuous staying in a motel?" Mulder asked, reaching over with a napkin he wiped the sauce dripping down Krycek's chin. "Thanks Yes, we would, but it's far more dangerous to stay in a motel in St. Louis There are a large number of ghouls and n'thrals living there Fox, I'll be careful to conceal our identities, anyone glancing at us will see two elderly men checking in We'll fool them as long as no one looks too closely at us Hopefully there won't be a clairvoyant or another sorcerer around, they would give us away instantly." "Alex, wouldn't it be easier for you to secure a motel room with your powers, than trying to fool so many people checking into a hotel?" Mulder thoughtfully sipped the milkshake, not understanding why a hotel would be better in Krycek's mind than a motel. "Yes, I could easily secure our motel room, but it would require most of my concentration So, making love to you tonight would be out of the picture I prefer the risk of checking into a hotel to giving that up." Krycek had finished his hamburger and was wiping his hands on the napkin "Any of that milkshake left?" "Yeah I see your point." A small smile lifted the corners of Mulder's lips as he handed the younger man the rest of the milkshake "Alex, as long as we're going to risk checking into a hotel, do you suppose we could find one with room service and a two-person whirlpool bath?" Krycek gulped, "I think that's a very good suggestion We could get a suite at The Royal it would also have a full-service bar in the room." He finished off the milkshake, handing the empty container back to the agent to put in the trash bag. "I'm still hungry," Mulder moaned, looking at Krycek. "There's some food in the cooler." "That's not what I'm hungry for." Mulder climbed out of his seat and knelt down beside the younger man His hand fondled Krycek's crotch making him erect At his moan, the agent looked up at him alluringly "Do you think you can drive without getting us into an accident while I finish dining?" Krycek quickly nodded his head yes, not trusting himself to speak trying to keep his attention focused on the road He felt his zipper being lowered and his swollen cock pulled out into the warm van When Mulder went down on him, it was all he could do to keep control of the van "Shit! Damn! That's feels so fucking good!" He wondered where Fox had learned too deep-throat like a pro; he only had one male lover before him Snickering, he thought, //I'll have to send Skinner a thank you card.// Krycek felt Mulder's hand caressing his testicles as the agent teeth scrapped over the entire length of his cock then he plunged back down taking him deep in his throat. Krycek was barely able to ease the van off the freeway as Mulder throat muscles tightened his cock "Damn," he panted. Mulder pulled back as Krycek came hard, spurting into the back of his mouth Mulder swallowed fast then licked Krycek's cock clean. Mulder gave him a Cheshire cat grin "Do you think I could drive now?" "Sure, be my guest." He changed seats with his lover, not taking the time to zip himself up He sat recovering for a few minutes as Mulder eased them back onto the interstate before finally reaching down and tucking himself in. //Mine, he's all mine,// went racing through Krycek's head as he sat quietly recovering his breath He glanced over at Mulder taking in his smug look "You did that so I would let you drive, didn't you?" "Yes, guilty as charged." "Bastard ... do you think you can get us to the St. Louis Royal Hotel without getting us pulled over by the police?" "Ohh, pleeease, ... I think I can manage driving the next one hundred and fifty miles without getting a ticket." "Okay, fine, whatever." Krycek sulked He didn't like giving up control, not even to Mulder. Denver International Airport Sunday, December 20 5:00 p.m. Walter Skinner and Melvin Frohike retrieved their bags from the baggage claim area They would be spending one night in Denver before driving to Boulder in the morning. They caught a shuttle over to the Renaissance Hotel Skinner looked out the window of the bus with interest as they passed several businesses and apartment buildings They all had ugly iron bars covering the windows and doors and large floodlights with motion detectors The bars and lights had become a necessary precaution against the ghouls that roam the city at night The armed nighttime patrols had not had any recent success in eliminating the ghouls The ghouls had learned to avoid the armed men, seeking out easier prey. "Not much different from D.C., is it?" Frohike commented noticing Skinner's interest in the buildings. "No it isn't," he replied sadly. "There's a Doctor Morgan in London that has isolated the gene causing the ghoul mutation He thinks they will be able to use it as a test to determine which boys will be afflicted with the mutation when they enter puberty We had the article in our last issue of The Lone Gunmen and the Magic Bullet." "To what end? Is he suggesting killing the boys before they turn into ghouls or does he offer a possible cure?" Skinner didn't care for the possible invasion of privacy, and the devastation it would cause the families. "Isn't it better to know before hand, than to wake up one morning to find your son chewing on your hand or worse that he had already killed his younger brothers?" "I just can't help thinking about the poor father being told his ten-year-old son only had a few more years to live, before he was scheduled for extermination That's if they don't put the boy down on the spot like some rabid animal." The mood on the shuttle was grim by the time it finally arrived at the hotel Skinner and Frohike grabbed their bags and went to the front desk to check in They were able to secure rooms on the tenth floor and rode quietly up in the elevator together. Frohike stopped by his door, before opening it he turned to Skinner who had the room right next to his "How about we go down to the bar for drinks in about five minutes?" "Yeah, I could really use a bourbon and something to eat." The two men had been sitting in the crowded bar for two hours, they had ordered steak sandwiches and fries Skinner was on his third bourbon and Frohike was keeping up with him downing his third scotch. "What are our plans for tomorrow?" Frohike asked. "I want to contact Dana Scully and the officials of the Northridge Research compound she is staying at." "Don't you mean being held at? I understand she isn't very happy being there." "No, Scully wouldn't be at all happy, she valued her independence more than anyone I had ever met." Skinner raised his empty glass at the bartender who came over and refilled it. "Do you think they'll let us in to see her?" "I doubt they would allow you in, but I'm planning on using my position in the FBI to gain access." "Darn ... couldn't you ... like ... swear me in as a temporary FBI agent or something?" "Don't push it Frohike, I don't want to piss Scully off by bringing you to see her Fox told me all about the way you used to hit on her." "That snitch, remind me to cancel his heritage membership with the Lone Gunmen." They spent two more hours in the bar, before calling it a night and heading up to their rooms. The St. Louis Royal Hotel Sunday, December 20 5:30 p.m. Check-in hadn't been a problem Krycek had successfully convinced anyone glancing at them that they were seeing two elderly men To Mulder's surprise, when he looked into a mirror in the hotel's lobby he also saw them as elderly men Krycek registered them as brothers and got them a large suite. "Nice trick," he whispered to Krycek as they rode up in the elevator. "It does come in handy." Krycek placed his arm around Mulder's waist as they exited the elevator on their floor They walked over to their assigned suite and entered it, bolting the door behind them The suite was opulent it had a separate room for entertaining with a television and full wet-bar complete with a refrigerator Two bedrooms and one big bathroom complete with a large whirlpool bath. "Wow! Do I want to know how much this is costing us?" Mulder exclaimed as he removed his shoes and socked, running his bare feet through the thick pile carpeting. "No, probably not How about we share a bath, then order some room service?" Krycek started undressing Mulder, not waiting for his permission. "Have you ever had sex in a bathtub, Fox?" Krycek asked, licking behind his ear. "Yes." "Damn ... I wanted it to be your first time Is there anyplace you haven't had sex?" He nipped the agent's ear lobe, probing with his tongue inside the ear. "Lots of places I've only had sex with Skinner in his condo ... we didn't get around to doing it anywhere else Although, I had been looking forward to going on vacation with him to some hot exotic tropical paradise." Mulder mentally started chanting to himself 'don'tcryoverWalterdon'tcryoverWalter,' as he removed the younger man clothes He was determined not to have the emotional pain he felt over Skinner control his life. "Well, I'll take you to some hot tropical paradise myself, after we accomplish your current mission." Krycek grabbed his hand and pulled him into the bathroom turning on the water to fill the large bathtub. Mulder went over to the sink checking out the complimentary bath items the hotel provided "Massage oil." He held out the bottle for Krycek's inspection. "Oh, we are going to have a good time here, too bad we have to leave in the morning." He grabbed a bottle of moisturizing bath salts and poured it under the faucet watching the bubbles fill the tub and the water change to aqua-blue. They both stepped into the steaming bathtub and Mulder grabbed a washcloth and started to gently wash Krycek The younger man purred happily and let the agent thoroughly clean him Both their bodies were slippery from the bath oil making it easier for what Krycek had in mind He positioned Mulder over his hard erection and impaled the agent from behind by having him sit in his lap. "Oh, fuck ... I've never been with anyone as tight as you are, my love." Krycek started washing Mulder's chest as the agent laid his head back onto the younger man's shoulder, leaning into his soft embrace. Mulder laughed, "Alex, that is never going to change If I don't have sex in twenty-four hours, I physically become a virgin again." He rocked back and forth forcing Krycek's cock in deeper and making the younger man cry out. "Fuck ... don't ... stop doing that," Krycek hissed "It never occurred to me that you would be able to heal there as well," he moaned, feeling Mulder's muscles clamping down on him He picked up the washcloth from where he had dropped it and started washing and stroking the agent's swollen erection He quickened the stroking motion with his hand, jacking the agent off hard. Mulder came squirting a hot stream of milky come across the bathtub He sagged back against the younger man's chest, who still had his cock buried deep inside him When he recovered enough, he started rocking back and forth in the ex-agent's lap, enjoying the delicious feeling of the hard penis stroking in and out of his body It didn't take long to bring Krycek over the edge as he felt the younger man's hot come spurting into his body. Mulder pulled himself up and let the softening penis slip from his body He turned around so he was straddling Krycek's legs, kissing him deeply pushing his tongue into the younger man's mouth tasting and claiming him. "Do you want to get out and order room service? I'm starving We can always take another bath later," Mulder purred As he waited for Krycek to recover enough to answer him, he continued kissing and licking him. "Sounds ... good Help me up," he panted. Mulder pulled the drain, standing up and reaching down he helped Krycek to his feet "Poor baby," he quipped. Krycek grabbed him around the waist pulling Mulder against his body, trailing his hands to the agent's ass "We'll see who the poor baby is tomorrow morning, lover." He squeezed Mulder's buttocks as he rested his head on the agent's shoulder. "Promise?" Mulder asked, grabbing a towel, he started to dry Krycek and himself. "Cross my heart C'mon, let's see what's on the hotel's menu." They finished drying off and left the bathroom. Krycek wandered over to the bar and opened a bottle of wine, while Mulder perused the hotel's menu. "What sounds good?" Krycek asked, handing Mulder a glass of white wine. "The grilled lobster tail or the lamb tikka, you decide." "Lobster it is." Krycek called in their order, also adding a couple of appetizers. Mulder sat on the sofa clicking on the television he quickly flipped through the channels until he stumbled upon the news bulletin featuring Krycek and him "Shit! Why doesn't he leave me alone, hasn't he hurt me enough already?" Mulder angrily clicked off the television. Krycek walked over to the sofa looking down at his naked lover Mulder was so adorable when he pouted The ex-agent sat next to him, wrapped his arms around him, and pulled his lover's head down onto his shoulder, gently running his finger through Mulder's silky hair "That's why I wanted to take you back to Russia, so he wouldn't be able to hurt you ever again." "I love this country, Alex, I can't just up and leave it I've already lost everything else in my life that really mattered to me Please ... try to understand." He couldn't stop himself from crying as hot tears streamed down his face, and he broke down sobbing against Krycek's chest //Damn you, Walter Skinner.// Why had he allowed the man to steal his heart? He had a physical ache in his chest at the thought of what Walter had meant to him. "For you, Fox, I'll try ... but, only for you." Krycek kissed the top of his head hugging him tight, rocking back and forth trying to soothe the distraught man He had to find a way to convince Mulder to go back to Russia with him As long as they remained in this country, there was always a chance that Skinner would be able to win Mulder back. Chapter 6 – Partners The St. Louis Royal Hotel Monday, December 21 4:00 a.m. Krycek was spooned comfortably behind Mulder's body They both were lying on their sides; his chest was pressed against the agent's warm back. Krycek hugged Mulder closer, wrapping his arm protectively around his lover's waist His penis was warmly nestled between Mulder's smooth buttocks; his head rested on a pillow behind the agent's head Krycek had been awake for the past two hours just relishing the closeness. Krycek rose slightly keeping his chest pressed against Mulder's back, he leveraged himself up with his arm on the other side of the agent's body so he could stare down at his lover There was a full moon out, which provided him with enough light to study Mulder's features He still couldn't believe that after all these years of yearning, Fox Mulder was finally his His sexual fantasies about the man had paled in comparison to the real thing, he never would have thought that Mulder would be a totally generous and enthusiastic lover. Mulder had concentrated solely on providing him pleasure He learned all of his erogenous zones and would spend long minutes slowly driving him crazy Afterwards, even when Mulder was totally spent and sated, he allowed Krycek to continue taking pleasure from his beautiful body Krycek had lost track of how many times he had plunged his cock into that beautiful body, he couldn't seem to get enough of him. Krycek was well aware of Mulder's emotional state Mulder would be fine during sex, but afterwards he would softly weep in his sleep He knew his lover felt guilty about sleeping with him and was still pining for Walter Skinner, he only hoped Fox would get over the man soon Krycek didn't like to see his lover suffering and cursed Skinner for stealing Mulder's heart when it should have belonged to him. Krycek stared down at Mulder's pale face ... his long, thick eyelashes lay gently against his high cheekbones His mouth was slightly open showing his pearly white teeth, his sexy lower lip was still swollen from all the attention he had shown it earlier He looked like some surreal creature - an angel The agent's taste still lingered on his mouth and lips Krycek felt himself growing hard again as his cock swelled nestled between the agent's buttocks He bent down and kissed Mulder on the small mole next to his mouth stirring him from his slumber. Mulder felt Krycek's hard erection nestled between his butt cheeks He smiled softly as he stared bleary-eyed at Krycek who was smiling lovingly down at him "Trying to break your old record?" he murmured as he clenched his buttocks together causing the younger man to moan. "I'll always be trying to set new records where you are concerned, my love." Krycek reached down, eased his cock free, parted the firm ivory cheeks, and stroked a finger over the agent's puckered opening He eased one digit into Mulder, who was still lubricated and damp with semen from being taken several times already tonight He was still loose enough, so he removed his finger and eased his thick cock in, popping the head pass the tight ring of muscles. Mulder pulled up one leg and turned slightly onto his stomach to accommodate his lover Krycek pushed in until he was to his root then rested his chest against Mulder's warm back Bringing his arm around the agent's waist, he hugged him, tightly sighing contentedly He didn't want to ruin the intimacy and comfort he was presently feeling, so he lay still ... and drifted off to sleep. "Alex?" Interstate 70 Monday, December 21 11:00 a.m. "Fox, how many times do you want me to say I'm sorry?" "I can't believe you fell asleep," Mulder pouted, glaring at Krycek. "You felt so damn good underneath me, I didn't want to lose that closeness and I drifted off I'm sorry!" "Walter never fell asleep on me." "Fox, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't bring that old bastard into our conversation Besides how many times in one night could the old geezer get it up? I bet it wasn't more than twice." "For your information Walter was quite capable of getting it up more than twice a night, and he is not an old geezer!" "Why are you defending the man who murdered your father in cold blood?" "I am not defending him I'm just stating a fact ... he was a very good lover who was considerate enough *not* to fall asleep on me." "I'm sorry! Tell me what can I do to make it up to you?" "Let me drive." "That's it? You'll forgive me if I let you drive?" "It's a start." "Damn, you're not going to let it go anytime soon, are you?" "Nope." "Bastard." Mulder glanced over at Krycek, who was pouting and looking quite adorable "Oh Fuck it! Okay, Alex, you're forgiven Just don't let it happen again Now pull over ... it's my turn to drive." Krycek eased the van off the side of the road and they switched seats Before pulling back onto the interstate, as means of an apology, they shared a kiss. "Fox, you know this is our first lover's spat, we'll have to make up more thoroughly tonight." "It's a date, but this time I'm on top," Mulder murmured into Krycek's mouth, deepening the kiss. "We'd better get back on the road." Northridge Research Compound Boulder, Colorado Monday, December 21 1:00 p.m. Walter Skinner waited in his car outside the third and final security gate at the Northridge Research compound The first gate he passed through had been a twelve-foot high-voltage electric fence with barbed wire along the top There were two heavily armed marines manning the guard post at that gate. Skinner was shocked when he passed through a squatters camp that was set up five hundred feet outside the first gate There were at least two hundred tents and makeshift shacks, smoke from campfires rose above the camp permeating the air He wondered how the squatters avoided attacks from ghouls or kept from freezing to death in the sub- zero weather There was two feet of snow on the ground and more was predicted for tonight. The second gate he passed through had thick concrete walls with sharp spikes imbedded in the concrete around the top and sides He noticed the guard dogs that roamed the half-mile territory between the first two gates There were two more heavily armed marines at the second gate. Now, here he sat at the third and final gate which had an aesthetically pleasing brick wall attached to it Skinner reasoned it was probably there to give the residents inside the compound a sense of security without making them feel like they were in a prison. The guard at the gate handed him back his ID and waved him through He drove by several barracks on the compound before reaching the main building It wasn't much to look at; it was only one and a half stories high and completely windowless He knew most of the facility was below ground and extended far beyond the small building There were three heavy metal doors on each side of the square concrete structure He studied the surveillance cameras on the top of the building, he had noticed several similar cameras mounted on posts along the way through the different checkpoints. He parked the car, grabbed his briefcase from the back, and walked up to the visitor entrance where another marine stood guard The marine checked his ID and opened the metal door allowing him to enter the building The interior of the building was in sharp contrast to the exterior - the floors and walls were covered in white marble The first floor was completely open and had large marble columns supporting the twenty-foot ceiling. In the center of the room was a large circular reception desk where yet another marine sat in full dress blues In each corner of the large room were three clear glass door elevators, each bank of elevators led down to different levels in the building. Walter Skinner presented his ID to the final marine at the reception desk "I'm here to see General William Pierce." "Yes, Sir, the General is expecting you Go to the south bank of elevators and take one to sub-level two, General Pierce is in office 216." The marine pointed over toward the appropriate elevators. Skinner walked over and waited for the elevator When it arrived, he rode it down to sub-level two, he noted that this elevator only had access to the first five sub-levels Looking at the control panel, he also noted that there were a total of thirty-nine sub-levels. He exited the elevator and followed the room signs to General Pierce's office He walked into the General's outer office where the assistant notified the General that he had arrived and directed him to go in. The General was seated behind his desk; he was an elderly man in his late sixties, extremely thin and completely bald The General had cold gray eyes - looking in them Skinner saw absolutely no warmth. The A.D. was able to read him for the type of man he was without using his powers He cringed at the thought of this extremely stern man being responsible for all the remaining women on the North American continent. "General Pierce, I'm Assistant Director Walter Skinner Thank you for seeing me on such short notice." Skinner held out his hand and Pierce shook it. "I didn't have much choice, sir, did I?" "No, you didn't Let's get right to the reason I'm here Special Agent Fox Mulder is going to try to contact his ex-partner Dana Scully and I want him taken into custody immediately He is to be treated with the utmost care ... I do not want him harmed in any way." Skinner pulled out a photo of Alex Krycek from his briefcase and handed it to General Pierce "Agent Mulder is traveling with this man, Alex Krycek Krycek has the sorcerer mutation and is to be considered extremely dangerous, lethal force may be required for his apprehension." "Very well, A.D. Skinner I'll have my assistant distribute his photo to our security force Do you have one of Agent Mulder?" Skinner reluctantly handed over the most recent photo he had of Mulder to the General Mulder was extremely beautiful and sensual in the photograph; he didn't like the thought of it being distributed to the security force soldiers. "Very nice ... I can see why you're so anxious to get him back." The General smirked. "That really is none of your business," Skinner snarled. "Is there anything else you need?" The General made a mental note to meet this Special Agent when they apprehended him He would make Fox Mulder his business. "Yes, I would like to see Dana Scully." "Of course, I'll have her brought up to the visitor's area on sub-level four You can take the elevator down and see the guard at the reception desk." "Thank you, General Pierce." Skinner shook his hand and headed back to the elevator, which he took down to sub-level four He was then escorted to a small, but comfortable, private lounge with a sofa, table, and chairs He waited nervously for Dana Scully; he hadn't seen her in over eight months. It had been only nine months since they started rounding up all the surviving females and sending them to this facility Three thousand, five hundred, and twenty-two women from North America that had survived Other continents had set up their own facilities for their female survivors He didn't know the exact number of women that were left alive worldwide; it had become a tightly guarded secret. After about a half-hour the door opened and Dana Scully was escorted in. She had taken the time to dress in a suit and looked extremely pale and stressed. She smiled when she saw Skinner "Sir, please tell me you've come to get me out of here?" "Umm ... sorry, Agent Scully, I don't have the authority How have you been? Are you being treated okay?" He realized they were both standing uncomfortably "Scully ... Dana, please have a seat." "Thank you," she said, sitting on the sofa "I'm fine They treat us like pampered lab rats and I want out - I feel like a prisoner Isn't there anything you could do to get me out of here? Sir, please . . help me." "I'm really sorry, Dana, but there is nothing I can do." Skinner stared sadly at her; they had had this same conversation before she was sent here. "Sir, then why are you here?" she glared at him angrily; he still was not even going to attempt to help her. "It's about Mulder Alex Krycek ... has taken him and we expect them to try to contact you." "Krycek? Is Mulder okay, sir? What the hell is going on?" Scully had been deeply concerned for her partner's welfare, she hadn't seen him in months, not since before he had contracted the virus. She had only heard of its effects on him. "Fox is fine, Dana It's a long story, but I need to talk some sense into him Krycek has convinced him that I was deeply involved with the consortium - which is slightly true, but I haven't had anything to do with them since they abducted you I need to explain my side to Fox and convince him to return to me." "Return to you ... what do you mean?" Scully went pale, she felt as if someone had sucked all the oxygen from the room Skinner confession that he was involved with the consortium didn't surprise her, she'd always suspected that he was partially involved with them when he first became their boss. "Didn't Fox tell you ... about us?" Skinner looked nervous, he felt himself starting to sweat and his calm exterior showed signs of cracking. "No, he *didn't* tell me, why don't you." She ground out through clenched teeth. "Ah, Fox and I are lovers He has been living with me for over a month." "You didn't waste any time ... did you, sir?" she snarled "No wonder you won't do anything to help me get out of here You're afraid I'll come between you and Mulder Aren't you!" "Scully, I love Fox more than anything else in my life, and he loves me, too I will admit that I had been jealous of your relationship with Fox, but that was in the past - not now I respect and admire you, Dana, and if there was anything I could do to get you out of here, I would You have to believe that." "I don't know what to believe anymore, sir Do you really think Mulder will be able to get pass the security to see me?" Scully couldn't help the little bit of hope that crept into her voice. "If he were alone, no, but he's with Krycek and that rat-bastard has contracted the sorcerer strain of the virus and has become quite competent with his new powers If it weren't for that sneaky rat- bastard, Fox never would have left me." "Are Mulder and Krycek lovers?" Scully raised a delicate eyebrow daring him to answer. "I ... I don't know." Skinner felt his eyes watering, damn her, she knows just the right buttons to push. "Interesting picture ... the two of them entwined in each other's embrace." Scully was enjoying baiting Skinner, knowing she was only doing it out of envy Skinner had his freedom and a life with her partner, while she was locked away - like a common criminal. "Scully, please, if you see Fox ... just tell him to contact me I need to talk to him ... tell him that I'm sorry and I love him." Skinner stared sadly as he got up to leave, he did not know if she would do as he asked. He looked back at her from the doorway and gave her a weak smile and quickly headed for the elevator. Holiday Inn Hays, Kansas Monday, December 21 8:00 p.m. "Mm, we should fight more often, making up is so nice," Krycek murmured He lay comfortably in Mulder's embrace, resting his head on the agent's shoulder as his hand slowly caressed Mulder's flat stomach. "Oh, you think so What if I hadn't been so willing to forgive you?" Mulder kissed the top of Krycek's head hugging him closer. "You did, so it's not an issue." "Yeah, you're right Alex, we'll make it to Boulder tomorrow afternoon, we should start planning how to get me in to see Scully." "I have an idea, Fox, but please, just hear me out first Skinner might have already figured out that you would try to contact Scully, so it won't be safe for you to go any where near Boulder." Krycek was worried about Skinner and he didn't want Mulder within mental range of the A.D He knew Skinner would instantly sense Mulder's presence and attempt to communicate with him. "So what are you suggesting, Alex?" "I think I should go to Boulder alone and bring Scully back to you We'll find a secure hotel with room service for you to hold up in while I retrieve her Then you can have your chat and I'll return her to the research center." Krycek looked expectantly up at him, knowing Mulder was likely to protest being left behind. "I like that idea, Alex It would be easier for you to sneak in using your powers But how will you convince Scully to leave with you or bring her back here without attracting attention?" "She'll leave with me and no one but us will know she's a woman I won't even have to use my power to hide the fact I'll stop at a costume store in Denver and pick up a fake mustache I'll also get her some loose fitting clothes along with some musk cologne, she'll look and smell like a man." "Damn, Alex, you're devious Did they teach you that in spy school?" "Along with a few other things." He rose and kissed Mulder on the lips "There's an Italian restaurant in this hotel, how about we call room service and order a large pizza with everything on it?" "That's sounds really good, order it with extra cheese, and don't forget the beer." Krycek walked over to the telephone, picking it up he called room service and placed their order He was happy that Fox went along with his idea Now his only concern was leaving his lover alone while he went to retrieve Scully. The Mountain View Inn Boulder, Colorado Monday, December 21 8:30 p.m. Skinner and Frohike sat in the lounge sipping cocktails and reviewing the events of the day Skinner was growing to like the little man; although he was a bit weird, he was a good listener. "You were right, Frohike, Scully was very bitter about being locked up at the Research Institute Fox never told her that we were lovers. She ... seemed to resent my relationship with Fox." "They were partners for over six years, but they never shared much of their personal lives with each other So, it doesn't surprise me that Mulder wouldn't have mentioned his relationship with you when talking to her." "I didn't know that I always assumed they were best friends By the way, how do you know all of this?" "Mulder tended to talk a lot after a few beers He and Scully are still best friends and would lay down their lives for each other Still, neither one felt comfortable allowing anyone to get too close, not even, each other It surprises me that you were able to get as close to Mulder as you did." "It surprised me, too He told me that he was incapable of loving anyone, that he had been hurt and betrayed too many times." Skinner took a sip from his glass, remembering the sadness in Mulder's face when he shared that part of himself Now Fox thought that he also had betrayed him Damn, he needed to find his lover and convince him that he really did love him. "Don't worry, we'll find Mulder and convince him that you never betrayed him." "Did you just read my mind?" "Oops, sorry." Frohike sunk down in his seat His secret was out and he looked nervously at the other man. "Don't worry, Frohike, I'm not going to tell anyone Now I know why I haven't been able to read your thoughts." "Yeah, us clairvoyants are much better at mind reading than you sorcerers You know you really should continue to practice, you will never be able to get Mulder away from Krycek unless you can defeat him." "Fox had been helping me practice and I was starting to become pretty good." "I can help you if you want me to." "Thanks, Frohike, I could use the help." Interstate 70 Tuesday, December 22 1:00 p.m. Mulder waited nervously in the van for Krycek who was in the store buying items of clothing for Scully's disguise The streets of Denver were busy with traffic and pedestrians kept walking by the van glancing in He stayed out of sight in the back, but was worried that his presence might be felt or sniffed out by the large number of mutants living in Denver. He sighed with relief when Krycek finally returned with his purchases Krycek tossed the bags back to Mulder and got behind the wheel, pulling out of the parking space. "We'll find a hotel in Denver and get you settled in Then I'll head out to Boulder and start scouting out the area." "Alex, what about curfew? This van is going to stick out like a sore thumb," Mulder asked from the back of the van, he was waiting for Krycek to get back on the road. "Don't worry about it, I'm not taking the van I plan to drive a humvee, and stealing one won't be at all difficult ... there's a small military armory between Denver and Boulder By tomorrow evening I should be back with Scully." "Okay, Fox, it's safe - you can come up front now." "Thanks." Mulder kissed him on the cheek as he sat down next to him. Krycek spotted the sign for the hotel he was looking for He wanted to keep Fox at least thirty miles from Boulder Krycek knew that with his powers he could pick up Mulder's presence in a ten-mile radius and mind-link with him He had heard of one man with the sorcerer mutation that could use the mind-link up to a twenty-mile radius Krycek didn't want to chance having Fox too close to Boulder, just in case Skinner had the ability to mind-link closer to the twenty mile radius He felt safe leaving Fox thirty miles away, in the middle of Denver Skinner wouldn't be able to find him here. He pulled into a near empty parking lot and scanned the security features at the hotel He sighed with relief; he felt it would be safe enough to leave his lover alone here for a day or two He didn't like having to leave Mulder at all He never wanted to have his beautiful lover out of his sight for even a moment. "C'mon, let's check into this place I want to make love to you before I leave for Boulder I won't get another chance for at least a couple of days," Krycek murmured sadly. Mulder smiled at him and kissed him tenderly on the lips "Okay, but I want you to make me feel it for at least a couple of days." "Oh, I will happily oblige, my love Hey, I just realized when I get back you're going to be totally healed back there." "What's your point, Alex?" "I never made it with a virgin before." He leered at Mulder reaching out and patting him on the butt. "Stop it, Alex God, you're making me hot, let's hurry and check in." Krycek concealed their identities again and they hurried up to another luxury suite Krycek had intentionally found the most expensive hotel in Denver; he wanted Mulder to be comfortable as well as safe. Mulder looked around the suite "This is better than the suite we stayed at in St. Louis it's too bad you have to leave." "We have a few hours and I plan on making them count." He walked up behind Mulder and wrapped his arms around the agent's slim waist, resting his chin on his shoulder he licked Mulder's ear He pushed his still covered erection against the agent's ass, rubbing it up and down as his hands pulled the black T-shirt free from Mulder's pants Krycek then ran his hands under the T-shirt caressing his lover's chest and pinching his nipples. Mulder leaned back into Krycek's embrace and allowed the younger man to pleasure him He had learned over the past few days that Krycek was very skilled with his hands and mouth. Mulder pushed his ass back against Krycek's erection making the younger man moan and hug him tighter Krycek reached for the zipper on the agent's tight black jeans and pulled it down "Have I ever mentioned how sexy you look dressed all in black?" "No, but since we're having this discussion the feeling is mutual I especially loved your old black leather jacket Do you still have it?" "Yeah, but its back in Russia Come home with me, Fox." Krycek pulled the agent's T-shirt over his head, dropping it on a chair, and followed that with the hip-holster Mulder had toed off his shoes and started wiggling out of his tight jeans. "Okay ... Alex ... I'll go back to Russia with you, but only for a little while I'll have to get a leave-of-absence from work and pick up a supply of my medication from Dr. Harris Oh shit! Don't stop!" Krycek had managed to get Mulder out of his clothes and was tormenting his nipples. Krycek stopped when it finally sunk in that Mulder had agreed to go back to Russia with him He stood up straight and took his lover's naked body into his arms, hugging him tightly and kissing him passionately. "Fox, you'll love St. Petersburg! Just wait until you see our new home I know you are going to be happy there ... I'll see to it," he gushed excitedly. "Alex, remember, I'm only agreeing to go with you for a month I really can't afford to take any more time than that off work I'm probably already in deep shit with my superiors for taking off and not calling in." Mulder started undressing Krycek who was so excited about him agreeing to go to Russia that he wouldn't stop hugging and kissing him, and he seemed to have forgotten their current purpose for being here. "I doubt that, Skinner's convinced them that I've abducted you Okay, I'll settle for a month then we'll find a home for us in D.C., but I want you to arrange to spend your Summers in St. Petersburg." "Slow down, Alex Let's take it one step at a time Step one, getting you to use that talented mouth of yours for something other than talking." Mulder kissed him passionately, exploring Krycek's mouth with his tongue and savoring the sweet taste of honey on his lover's lips. "Mm, c'mon, lover, let's move this to the bedroom." Mulder started to back them toward the large bedroom in the suite. "Fox, have I mentioned lately how much I love you?" "Yes, several times But, I don't believe you, so you better keep on trying to convince me." Krycek smacked Mulder on the butt. "Brat I would never lie to you, so you better start believing me I love you more than anyone on this planet." The younger man caressed the agent's ass and kissed him. Mulder laughed softly into Krycek's mouth "Do you mean to tell me that there's someone on another planet you have greater feelings for?" Krycek shoved Mulder down onto the bed, climbing on top of him he held him down. "You really are a brat What can I do to convince you that you are the only love of my life?" "Keep doing what you're doing ... it's a nice start." The agent grinned up at him mischievously "God, you are so easy." "Ha, look who's talking," Mulder exclaimed, pulling Krycek down on top of him and reclaiming his mouth. Krycek moaned when Mulder's hands moved down his waist and squeezed his buttocks "Are you calling me a slut, Fox?" "I don't know, it depends, just how many lovers have you had?" Mulder eased his hand between Krycek's ass cheeks and stroked his opening. "Lovers ... just one, my love." Krycek kissed him "Now, if you'd asked how many sexual partners I've had - I have absolutely no idea." Mulder flipped Krycek over so that he was now lying underneath him "Can you get me the lube, Alex?" "Sure, what do you have in mind?" Krycek concentrated and the tube floated in from the other room. "You'll see." Mulder bent down and bit Krycek's nipple as he grabbed the tube out of the air where it floated. Mulder opened the tube and squirted some of the lubricant into his hand and coated Krycek's hard cock with it He turned around so his back was facing the younger man and grabbed Krycek's cock positioning it against his anus Mulder eased his body down on it until the head popped in pass the tight ring of muscles He held still against the brief burning pain, until his muscles relaxed then started allowing more of his lover's cock to slide into his body. Krycek hissed at the intense pleasure he felt as the sensitive head of his cock slid into the beautiful body of his lover He closed his eyes briefly then re-opened them to stare with wonder at the sight of his cock sliding into Mulder's body He raised his hands and grabbed Mulder's hips to steady him and enjoyed the intimate contact. Krycek watched as Mulder eased back up and his organ slid partially out of the agent's ass Then Mulder slid back down impaling himself again; he started to set a steady rhythm up and down. Mulder watched himself in the dresser mirror as he rode up and down on Krycek's cock He could see his lover's sweat soaked and totally aroused face behind him through the mirror and knew he was driving the younger man wild He grasped his own swollen cock with his hand and started jacking himself off - he was so close. Each time he impaled himself all the way on his lover's cock he could feel the tightening of his lover's balls against his ass Twisting and wiggling his hips he forced a shriek of sheer pleasure from Krycek and almost pushed himself over the edge as he felt the younger man's cock brush his prostate. Mulder quickly increased the speed and length of his rocking up and down on the younger man's hard cock He felt himself coming, squirting milky come through his stroking hand, his anal muscles tightened and clamped around Krycek's cock forcing him over the edge as well After what seemed like forever, both men were totally spent, Mulder lifted up and allowed the softening penis to slip wetly from his body. The agent lay down next to Krycek and wrapped his body around the younger man's They both lay happy and sated in each other's arms not wanting the delicious contact to end Finally after two hours of just gently hugging, petting, and caressing, Krycek knew it was time for him to go and reluctantly pulled away. "Fox, promise me that you'll be extremely careful while I'm gone I don't like the thought of leaving you all by yourself." "Don't worry about me, Alex, I'll be careful What could possibly happen in a luxury hotel? You're the one who needs to be careful, sneaking into the most heavily guarded installation in the country is not going to be easy." "My love, you always seem to attract trouble and I intend to continue worrying about you until you are safely back in my arms." Mulder smiled softly up at him It was starting to amaze him just how much Krycek loved him, he was only sorry that he was unable to love him back Maybe, over time, his heart would heal enough so that he would be able to love again. Northridge Research Compound Boulder, Colorado Wednesday, December 23 1:00 a.m. Krycek had been sitting outside the high-voltage electric fence that surrounded the research center for hours and had finally made mental contact with Dana Scully He was sitting inside of the humvee he had stolen from a local armory. He planned to drive onto the institute grounds first thing in the morning to collect Scully so he could head back to his lover. *Krycek? What have you done with Mulder?*/p> *Mulder's fine, Scully, he's why I'm here He needs you Would you be willing to leave with me in the morning? I promise that I will bring you safely back here later in the day.*/p> *Krycek, I'll leave with you, but *only* if you don't bring me back here, I want to go with you and Mulder.*/p> *Scully, what about the way you feel about me ... we haven't particularly gotten along over the years Will you be able to control your hatred of me?*/p> *Krycek, I don't hate you Mulder explained everything he found out about you I know you were really working for a secret organization in the United Nations that had been trying to uncover the conspiracy I don't hold you responsible for my sister's death, you didn't know Louis Cardinal was going to shoot until it was too late You even called the police immediately after the shooting.*/p> *Fox told you all about that?*/p> *Yes, he told me everything he found out and that you didn't kill his father He never did find out who actually did.*/p> *He knows now, Scully.*/p> *What do you mean?*/p> *Walter Skinner murdered Bill Mulder Skinner admitted it in front of Mulder.*/p> *Skinner ... that bastard! Fuck! I knew he couldn't be trusted I tried to warn Mulder on more than one occasion But for some reason Mulder was too blinded by him to see that there could be anything dirty about Assistant Director Walter Skinner.*/p> *Skinner was very good at wrapping Fox around his little finger You can't blame Fox for trusting him, he wanted someone to trust so badly and Skinner took advantage of that fact.*/p> Krycek eased himself into a comfortable position in the humvee, he knew that it was going to be a long night He smiled, Dana Scully had become open to extreme possibilities and Krycek was going to enjoy wrapping her around his little finger He knew by the time he got her out of the institute later this morning, she would totally despise Skinner Scully would be more than willing to help him keep Mulder away from the older man - for Mulder's own good. The Mountain View Inn Boulder, Colorado Wednesday, December 23 1:30 a.m. Walter Skinner had finished taking a long, hot shower and reluctantly climbed into the large, empty bed for another anguished filled night He was finding it impossible to sleep without the soft, warm, beautiful body of Fox lying next him He dreaded closing his eyes because each time he did he saw Mulder's hurt filled eyes staring back into his He could not face the pain he had caused his lover Why hadn't he had the courage to confess his past to Fox and beg his forgiveness? If he could only do it all over again, he would confess everything to his lover. Thirty miles away, Fox Mulder had also finished taking a long, hot shower With Krycek gone, he was having a hard time keeping his mind off Walter Skinner He realized he had been using Krycek as a crutch and sex as a means to block out the pain and emptiness he was feeling Now, he was all alone without any distractions, he looked over at the king-sized bed with disdain. Mulder walked over to the bed and grabbed a pillow and the large comforter off it, taking them out to the living room of the large suite he flipped on the television, and threw the pillow and comforter on the large sofa and laid down It wasn't long before the sound of the television lulled him to sleep. Several hours later, Walter Skinner turned fitfully in his sleep He was having a very erotic dream about Fox He felt Mulder's warm smooth skin against his and desire and passion burned within him as he reached out for his lover He turned Mulder onto his back and claimed his sexy lips in a passion filled kiss, thrusting his tongue in Mulder's wet, delicious mouth Skinner ran his hands through the younger man's thick, silky hair as he pressed his naked body over Mulder's warm length, deepening the kiss He wanted to project through the kiss just how important Mulder was to him and how much he loved him. Thirty miles away, Fox Mulder felt himself having one of the most realistic dreams in his life He lay on his back underneath Skinner who was naked and passionately kissing him His ex-lover was running his fingers through his hair tilting his head back to deepen the kiss He couldn't remember ever being kissed with such passion and love, through that kiss he felt Skinner's love for him Mulder felt himself getting hard with arousal and all thoughts slipped from his mind as desire took precedence over past betrayals. Walter Skinner shifted his weight, he thought it was strange that they were lying on a large sofa in his dream He felt Mulder's arousal pressing into his hip so he reached down and slid a hand under the silk boxers his lover had on and grasped Mulder's cock and started stroking him Mulder moaned into his mouth as Skinner quickly peeled the silk boxers from his lover's body, sliding down, he took Mulder's cock into his mouth. Mulder felt Skinner's weight pressing him down while the older man's hand grasped and stroked his erection, he moaned loudly in his sleep He shifted his legs apart to allow his lover better access Mulder felt his boxers being removed and Skinner settling between his legs taking his erection into his mouth. Skinner licked the velvet head of Mulder's penis, savoring his sweet, salty taste ... he could never get enough of his lover's flavor He plunged down and took as much of Mulder's thick, long cock into his mouth as he could Then he pulled back raking his teeth along the younger man's hard length He caressed Mulder's scrotum, squeezing it gently as he blew and sucked on his cock Mulder was bucking and moaning loudly underneath him and thrusting into his mouth which Skinner welcomed He wanted Mulder's pleasure more than anything else in his life. Mulder felt the hot mouth on his erection and lost control of his body as he started to thrust into its warmth He came hard as semen erupted out of him and into Skinner's mouth He could feel the older man swallowing and continuing to suck until he was completely spent His body sank deeper into sleep - sated. Skinner moaned in his bed as he rolled over in his sleep In his dream, he had just pleasured Fox and he felt his own hard erection needing some release as he knelt between Mulder's legs Reaching down he ran his hand beneath his lover ass and stroked his puckered opening He brought his hand up to his mouth and spit into it, using the spit as lubricant he inserted a finger into the younger man and proceeded to prepare him. Mulder felt the pressure of Skinner's finger entering him Damn, this dream was too fucking realistic, he thought as he pushed back against the finger. Skinner inserted another finger scissoring in and out until he felt that Mulder was suitably prepared He spit again into his hand and coated his thick cock then he placed both of Mulder's long legs over his shoulder, putting his cock against his tight opening he pushed in Mulder arched up pushing back taking more of Skinner's cock into his body, welcoming the feel of the older man deeply inside of him. Sweat glistened off the bodies of the two deeply sleeping men as their breathing increased Back in Skinner's dream, he was pumping in and out of Mulder's hot, silky body Feeling his lover's rectal muscles clamping down on him, Skinner knew he wasn't going to last long It had been too many long days since he had last made love to the young man lying beneath him, the man who meant everything in the world to him. Mulder felt the hot spurts of Skinner's orgasm shooting into him, it felt like he came, and came, endlessly When Skinner finally withdrew and allowed his long legs to settle back down on the sofa, he felt the semen running out of him and down his legs. Fox Mulder startled awake, glancing around he was completely alone, but something didn't feel right to him He gingerly untangled himself from the comforter and winced slightly By the light from the television, he glanced down at his legs staring in shock at the white semen that covered his thighs He realized that he was no longer wearing the silk boxers he had put on before going to sleep on the sofa. He quickly rose off the sofa and rushed into the bathroom, turning on the light he squinted against the harsh glare Turning around so he could see his ass in the mirror, he confirmed that he had just had anal sex Mulder grabbed a washcloth and with shaking hands started to clean the semen off his ivory skin. When done, he collapsed onto the floor Curling up into a tight ball, he started to cry and shake uncontrollably. Skinner was totally sated and had drifted into a deep restful sleep, not aware of what had truly transpired until he heard the anguished sobs of his lover in his mind He jerked instantly awake and sat upright in bed; the sounds of crying were still in his head. *Fox!* He called out mentally to his lover. Mulder snapped out of his misery when he heard Walter Skinner's voice in his head *How dare you! You *fucking* bastard! Haven't you taken enough from me already?* Mulder shot madly back at his former lover and betrayer. Skinner read his lover's thoughts, and learned what had really transpired *Damn, Fox, I'm sorry ... I thought it was only a dream If I had known ... I would never have touched you without your permission.*/p> *Well now you know! Please, just leave me alone.*/p> *No, Fox I need to talk to you and explain my side of the story You need to hear the truth.*/p> *You had your chance ... I don't want to hear the lies you have made up since then.*/p> *Fox, please I promise that I won't lie to you If you won't listen to me, would you listen to your friend Frohike?*/p> Mulder had gotten up off the floor and had wandered into the other room to dress There was no way he was going to sleep again tonight, besides it was already 6:00 a.m *Frohike? Is he there with you?*/p> *Yes, he wanted to come along Frohike and the other gunmen are worried about you.*/p> *Okay, I'll listen to Frohike, but I want him to come alone.* Mulder's hands were shaking as he tried several times to lace up his hiking boots before succeeding. *Fox, please.* Skinner was surprised, he was starting to physically see through Mulder's eyes He watched with sadness as his lover's shaking hands tried lacing his boots He had been the cause of Mulder's anxiety. *No, alone.*/p> At a loud crash behind him, Mulder glanced back just as Colonel Henderson broke down the door "Shit!" he scrambled quickly toward where his gun lay, but he wasn't fast enough as he felt the muscular arm wrap around his slim waist and pull him up against the n'thral's massive chest. "Miss me, babe?" "No ... not particularly." Mulder gagged at the rancid breath and winced as the n'thral ran a gentle caressing hand down his body. Skinner stood frozen in terror in his hotel room He quickly forced himself to move Mulder needed him, and he had to get to him fast because he wasn't sure how long or far he'd be able to keep the connection between them. *Fox, tell me where are you!*/p> *Denver Walter, please ... hurry!*/p> Henderson leaned down and purred into Mulder's ear "Don't worry, babe, I'm here to save you from that evil sorcerer Where is he? I want to rip his arms and legs off his body." He hugged Mulder against his body and kissed the top of the agent's head. "He ... left me." Mulder's voice quivered. "No, I don't believe that ... no one would ever leave you Doesn't matter, he'll show up eventually, and when he does I'll be ready for him." Henderson let go of Mulder and walked over grabbing the agent's black leather jacket he tossed it to him. "Babe, put that on - we're leaving." Mulder tried to judge the distance between the doorway and the giant If he could make it outside, he just might be able to elude him until Skinner arrived When the colonel turned his back on him to grab Mulder's suitcases, he took his chance and dashed through the broken doorway ... only to trip over a body in the hotel's hallway Looking up briefly, he noticed another dead body before the n'thral lifted him back onto his feet. "I know you're in a hurry to leave with me, but you have to be more careful I wouldn't want you injuring yourself." He put his arm around the agent's shoulders and walked him out to the humvee. Mulder felt his stomach knot at the massacre in the hotel's lobby The n'thral bastard had killed everyone in sight. Colonel Henderson threw Mulder's suitcases into the backseat and forced the agent to get in the front seat with him He wrapped one large protective arm around the agent holding him pressed against his body as he started the humvee and drove away. Chapter 7 – Friends and Enemies The Mountain View Inn Boulder, Colorado Wednesday, December 23 6:20 a.m. Frohike dashed into Skinner's room already dressed and ready to go just as the A.D. was pulling on the last of his clothes Skinner was still in mental contact with Mulder and he glanced up at Frohike "You know what's going on?" "Yeah, I couldn't help overhearing your conversation." "Well, then, let's get a move on, it's been ten minutes since that bastard laid his hands on Fox I don't want to lose them!" Skinner shouted to Frohike as he rushed out the door dashing down the hotel's hallway. For a little man, Frohike could sure move, he beat Skinner to the car and quickly climbed in the passenger seat "Don't worry, we won't lose them I haven't felt a stronger connection than the one you share with Mulder." Skinner peeled out of the hotel's parking lot, heading toward Denver *Fox, don't worry we're coming I won't let anything happen to you .. . I promise I love you.*/p> *We can discuss that later ... just please ... help me.* Mulder wiggled uncomfortably trying in vain to move farther away from the giant who held him pressed firmly against his body. Henderson drove with one hand, keeping his other arm wrapped around the agent's slim waist his large hand resting in Mulder's lap Every so often, he squeezed and caressed the agent's groin through his tight jeans. "Where are you taking me? " Mulder cringed, glancing around the vehicle for a means of escape. "It's a surprise, babe, just relax and enjoy the scenery I know I am." He leered at the agent, giving Mulder's penis a loving squeeze. Skinner snarled and stepped on the gas, he was going to rip that n'thral apart with his bare hands. "I really don't like surprises," Mulder gasped, trying to pry the n'thral's hand away from his groin. "All right if you insist, babe, reach your hand into my shirt pocket." Mulder did not want to touch Henderson in anyway "Couldn't you just tell me?" "Nope, go ahead ... I'm won't bite." "Ha, you've bitten me before." Mulder looked accusingly at him then cautiously turned and reached his hand into the colonel's pocket, leaning up against the N'thral's body, he pulled out a small velvet box Shit . . not another fucking piece of jewelry, first Dr. Conner . . now. "Go ahead ... open it." The n'thral grinned happily at him showing his badly stained yellow teeth as his large slimy tongue lick eagerly across his lips. Mulder open the box, and much to his chagrin, it contained a gaudy wedding ring A thick gold band covered in diamonds and emeralds. "Surprise! I realized it was wrong to expect sex from you last time without being married first I apologize, Fox, for treating you like a common whore and I'm going to make it up to you I have a brother who is a minister and he's willing to marry us." "Don't you have to ask me first?" The whole idea of getting married was revolting, but the delay would allow Skinner time to catch up to them. "Don't worry your pretty little head about such insignificant details, babe, let us men worry about those My brother can have us legally married and you won't even have to strain those delicate hands to sign the marriage license." Henderson reached over and grasped Mulder's hand, he brought it to his lips, kissing and licking Mulder's palm. "I'd prefer a long engagement," Mulder muttered The *us men* comment didn't slip by him unnoticed Were people starting to view him as a female substitute? Well, at least he wasn't trying to have sex with him, which was a surprise considering the anti-pheromone shot should have worn off by now. *Fox, try and find out where his brother is living, and no I don't think of you as a female substitute.*/p> "Calvin, please tell me where and when ... our wedding's going to take place?" Mulder purred seductively while trying not to gag He tugged uselessly at his hand, trying to free it from Henderson's who had it cradled in his lap The smell of the other man was starting to make him sick, he wanted to desperately to roll down the window He didn't care that it was only in the teens outside, freezing to death would be preferable. "Las Vegas, babe My brother has a small wedding chapel off the main strip We should make it there late this evening Then we'll get married ... find ourselves a room at a luxury hotel ... and spend the next few days getting intimately acquainted." The deranged giant rambled on about how happy they were going to be Mulder glanced at the door, if he could break away he could jump out of the humvee He couldn't die, so the worse that could happen was a few broken bones and maybe a concussion. *Fox! Hang on ... don't do anything rash.*/p> *Ha, that's easy for you to say You should get a whiff of this guy, not to mention that he's sweating like a pig, I think my hand is starting to pucker from being in his grip.*/p> *Just hang on, Fox, I promise I'll get to you in time.*/p> *Walter, I really don't trust you or your promises.*/p> *Guys, can we save the bickering for later.*/p> *Frohike?*/p> *Hi, Mulder.*/p> *I didn't know you were telepathic.*/p> *No one besides Skinner knows, but it does provide me with some cheap thrills.*/p> Henderson let go of his hand, reaching his arm around Mulder's waist and proceeded to fondle him. *Fuck ... I hope you don't consider this one of your cheap thrills, Frohike.*/p> *No! Of course not, but that show you and Skinner put on this morning was very entertaining.*/p> *Pervert!* Mulder shot back at him, trying in vain to get away from Henderson's exploring hand. Skinner glared at the little man. Frohike glanced at him and shrugged his shoulders. Skinner was confident that they would catch up to Mulder in Las Vegas Now that he was no longer worried about losing his lover, he could spend his time convincing Fox that he didn't betray him. Northridge Research Compound Boulder, Colorado Wednesday, December 23 7:00 a.m. Alex Krycek waited for the elevator to drop him at sub-level 11 it was one of many levels designated exclusively as the living-quarters for the women survivors Only family members were allowed on these levels From the images he had received from Dana Scully's mind, he projected his appearance to match that of her brother Charlie Scully's two brothers and three nephews were allowed visitation rights twice a month. Krycek used mind control to convince security that his ID matched his new appearance, and that he had his sixteen-year-old son with him It wasn't until he was already inside the building that Dana Scully informed him through their telepathic connection that her brother Bill and one-year-old nephew were with her, and would be accompanying them out of here. Krycek wasn't happy by this turn of events, but he could do nothing at this late stage Although, having the little one-year-old boy along might distract the guards from looking too closely at Dana when they left. Krycek found himself unduly anxious for the past hour and wanted to get this over with and hurry back to Fox His gut instinct was telling him that something was wrong, but he was too far away to use telepathy with his lover to find out Krycek hoped he was feeling this way from loneliness caused by being separated from his lover and prayed that nothing was wrong. Krycek exited the elevator and headed for Dana Scully's quarters, room 1121 The door to Scully's unit stood open and Krycek could hear the happy sounds a little boy playing Krycek walked in and was greeted by Scully, who hesitated for a moment at seeing her brother Charlie standing there. "Krycek?" "The one and only." He relaxed his disguise to allow Scully and her brother to see his true form. Scully's living quarters was no larger than a studio apartment: one room that served as both a bedroom and a living room with a pull down bed, sofa, chair, and a television It also contained a small kitchenette and a tiny bathroom. "Alex Krycek, this is my brother Bill." Krycek handed Scully the bag he was carrying and she hurried into the bathroom to change. "Dana tells me that you have a plan to get her out of this hell-hole?" Bill reached out and shook Krycek's hand. "Yeah, I do Excuse me for asking, Bill But, don't you want your sister under the protection of the U.S. government? Aren't you concerned about her safety outside of this facility?" "I want what's best for my baby sister. Just take a look at her arms, they don't even ask permission before taking blood samples. She's put through countless tests against her wishes ... it's fucking unconstitutional I'm surprised they even allow us visitation rights." "The government's only trying to find a cure against the virus, and prevent any future females from dying I'm sure even you can see the necessity of that." "Fucking government, they're the ones responsible for her condition in the first place. Agent Mulder was right about them all along. At least I'll be able to apologize to him. I didn't believe most the bullshit. Dana told me about their work I figured Mulder for a flake who was putting Dana's life in danger for his insane quest for aliens." Scully had come out of the bathroom dressed in low-riding, baggy jeans, an oversize T-shirt, and had her hair shoved up under a baseball cap. She did not apply the mustache Krycek brought, but she did bare a striking resemblance to a teenage boy. "Bill, we can argue about all of this later, let's get moving." Krycek didn't want to waste time debating He needed to get back to Fox; there was something wrong. "Krycek, did you have to get bindings this tight? I can hardly breathe," Dana Scully complained, pulling at her breasts under the shirt. "Sorry, Dana, but I don't want your breasts showing at all You're going to have to keep them tightly bound when we're in public." "Damn, Dana, I think you look just like one of Charlie's boys." Bill reached down and picked up Matthew, giving her a reassuring smile. "Okay, let's go." Scully was amazed at how easy it was for Krycek to get them outside of the research complex. She stared in awe at the hundreds of tents and men milling around outside of the complex The government prohibited news and film footage of the area So, she had no idea of what was happening just beyond the walls and her brothers never mentioned it during any of their visits. "What are they all doing out here?" "Waiting and hoping for their women to be returned to them," Krycek replied Putting the humvee into gear in under thirty minutes he should be close enough to communicate with Mulder As he got closer, he felt his gut sinking, as a deep sense of foreboding took over because something was definitely wrong. "Krycek, what's wrong?" Scully noticed the panicked look on Krycek's handsome face. "I should be able to make mental contact with Fox, but I can't reach him Fuck ... I never should have left him alone." He pounded his fist on the steering wheel and drove even faster toward the hotel. His heart was pounding hard and almost stopped when he saw the police cars and ambulances in front of the hotel Krycek was shaking so badly by the time he parked the truck he couldn't maintain his disguise Mulder was either dead, unconscious, or out of his mental range. "Stay here, Krycek, I'll find out what happened," Bill offered, getting out and walking up to the police officer guarding the entrance. "My ex-brother-in-law was staying at this hotel, can you tell me what is going on? I've been trying to reach him for the past hour." "Some n'thral went berserk and killed five people, then abducted one of the hotel's guests We don't have names on all of the dead yet, but if you give me a description of your brother-in-law, I'll run a quick check against the victims for you." "Thanks He is around six foot tall, thin, brown hair ... uh ... brown eyes ... or maybe they're hazel, I'm not sure, and in his late thirties." The officer glanced over his notes of the victims "Nope, none of the dead were even close to that description." "What about the man abducted?" "We really don't have a good description of him Our eyewitness was hiding under his desk and only saw the man's legs and back as the n'thral forced him out the lobby door He did describe him as tall and slim, wearing black jeans, and a black leather jacket." "Thanks." Bill walked back to the humvee and climbed in. "What did you find out?" Krycek asked nervously. "Mulder wasn't among the dead One of those n'thral mutants broke into the hotel and killed five people and kidnapped one of the guests The police didn't have much of a description on the kidnap victim, just that he was tall, slim, wearing black jeans, and a black leather jacket." "Damn, that's Fox ... we need to find him before it's too late The n'thral must have been Henderson." "Alex, who is Henderson?" Dana asked. A sex crazed Army Colonel who is infatuated with Fox He had abducted Fox a month ago, but I was able to rescue him in time It's my fault he has Fox now I failed to kill him when I had the chance." "Then we have to find out more about Henderson What's his full name? Hand me the cell-phone, Krycek." "Colonel Calvin Henderson What are you going to do, Scully?" "Call for some assistance." She dialed the number quickly. "Lone Gunmen." "Turn off the tape, Langly." "Scully?" "Yeah, it's me I need your help." "Sure, what can we do for you?" "It appears that Mulder has been abducted and I need you to access files on the man who has him." "Scully, we're already helping to find Mulder In fact, Frohike is working directly with A.D. Skinner to track down Mulder and Krycek Haven't you seen Skinner? He was suppose stop by Northridge to meet with you." "Oh, I've met with Skinner, but it wasn't Krycek who's abducted Mulder A Colonel Calvin Henderson kidnapped him from his hotel room this morning Can you get me the information, Langly?" "Yeah ... sure Poor Mulder, first Krycek abducts him and now Henderson Do you want me to send the information on to Skinner and Frohike?" "No, I'm not working with them and I would appreciate it if you keep our conversation confidential Langly, what does Frohike know about Skinner's past?" "Frohike hasn't filled us in yet He only told us he was flying out to Colorado with Skinner to help him locate Mulder We assume that Frohike trusts Walter Skinner or he wouldn't be helping him Scully, what's going on? Where are you?" "Walter Skinner is not to be trusted, he murdered Mulder's father and was behind my abduction Langly, where I am isn't relevant, but I will call you back with a number to send the fax to Thanks." Scully disconnected before he could ask anymore questions. "We need to find a fax machine." Scully pushed some of her hair back under the baseball cap that had fallen out "And I could use a haircut." Scully glance over at Krycek and was surprised to see him close to tears. She realized Krycek must really be in love with Mulder he was visibly shaking. "Alex, let Bill drive I'll sit in the back with Matthew." Krycek nodded and slid over to the passenger side while Dana and Bill switched seats "Don't worry, Alex, we'll find him," Bill reassured him, steering the humvee out into the street. Bill found himself making a lot of attitude adjustments in the months since his wife died The biggest was accepting that with no women, men were going to have to turn to each other for companionship He knew for his little boy's sake he would have to make that adjustment, too. Bill parked in front of the city's library; they were going to use the computer and fax here Krycek was trying to hold himself together and was grateful for both the Scullys' help He hadn't realized just how much Fox had come to mean to him over the last few days He felt himself paralyzed by fear at the thought of losing him. It had started to snow and the windshield was already becoming covered as they sat in the humvee. "C'mon, Alex, pull yourself together we need you ... Mulder needs you." Dana touched his arm he looked at her and nodded his head. "I'll try, I'm sorry." Dana unbuckled Matthew and handed him to Bill, she went back to playing the role of a teenage boy They walked into the library together and found the computer stations and a fax machine Scully called Langly and gave him the fax number A few minutes later, they were sorting through several pages of faxes when the cell phone rang. Scully glanced over at Krycek at his nod she answered his phone "Hello." "Scully, it's Langly I just heard from Frohike, they're following Henderson Skinner is in telepathic contact with Mulder." "Do you know where they're headed?" "Las Vegas According to Frohike, Henderson is going to force Mulder to marry him It seems his brother is a minister there and runs a small wedding chapel The n'thral is definitely out of his mind." "Do you know where the chapel is?" "No, but it should be in the family information I faxed you." "Thanks, Langly." "Ah, Scully ... I didn't tell Frohike about your phone call Byers did some checking and found out that Skinner had been involved with consortium We're still digging, but most of the documents have been destroyed. We'll let you know what we uncover." Scully handed the phone back to Krycek who put it into his pocket. "Henderson's taking Mulder to Las Vegas," Scully told him. "Las Vegas Why?" "His brother runs a wedding chapel there, and it appears Henderson wants Mulder to marry him." "Fuck! We're losing time, the bastard already has a four hour head start." Scully reached out and grabbed Krycek's arm "Alex ... Skinner is chasing the n'thral, he's in telepathic contact with Mulder You didn't mention that Skinner contracted a mutation." "Skinner! Damn, he'll deceive Fox into returning to him Deep down, Fox wants to believe Skinner Scully ... Dana, Skinner has the sorcerer mutation, like me, and is quite capable of using mind- control on Fox." "Don't worry, Alex, we'll get there ahead of him - we'll fly down." "But, what if it's too late ... what if he's already tricked Fox?" "We're not going to let that bastard have Mulder, and don't forget, we still have to save him from Henderson C'mon, let's get to the airport." "Sorry, Dana, you're right We'll deal with Henderson first, then if necessary, Skinner." Bill had watched their conversation silently, holding his young son He quickly followed them out of the library, buckling Matthew into the back seat he climbed in beside him Krycek had regained enough control to drive them to the airport. Krycek spent a couple of minutes brushing the snow off the windshields before climbing in The snow was coming down heavily and visibility was close to zero. "Dana, when we get to Las Vegas I think it would be best for me and Matthew to wait while you and Alex rescue Mulder I don't want to put Matthew in any danger." "You're right, Bill I wouldn't even consider taking Matthew along, we'll drop you off at a hotel then pick you up on our way out of Las Vegas." When they arrived at the airport they found all flights grounded do to the weather conditions Krycek went to check on the status of their flight every half-hour It was already 1:00 p.m. and he had started to get increasingly antsy He estimated the time Henderson would arrive in Las Vegas at between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., earlier if they didn't stop to eat and drove straight through. He plopped himself down next to Scully to wait, staring at the little boy who played oblivious to the grown-ups' anxiety. Interstate 70 Wednesday, December 23 1:30 p.m. Henderson pulled the humvee up in front of a busy diner "C'mon, babe, let's get a bite to eat." He grabbed Mulder's hand and pulled him out of the truck and draped a large arm around the agent's shoulder as he walked with him into the diner. All activity in the diner stopped at the sight of the two men, one extremely grotesque, and the other a sensual beauty Henderson growled and glared angrily at them, pulling Mulder possessively closer to him He found them a table in the corner and had Mulder sit down next to the wall, pulling his chair up close to Mulder so he could place his arm protectively around the back of the agent's chair. A waiter approached them "What can I get you?" "Bring us two burgers with everything on them, a large order of onion rings, and a couple of beers." Mulder squirmed uncomfortably in his chair he knew every eye in the place was focused on him He did not want to chance making eye contact with anyone here knowing how jealous Henderson was he knew it would only set him off. A group of Neanderthals in the diner had been openly admiring Mulder They had their heads together in a deep conversation and kept glancing at the agent as if trying to come to some decision. Their food arrived and Mulder stared at the greasy burger in disgust Normally he would have enjoyed eating it, but his current situation had taken his appetite away At Henderson's prodding, he took a small bite, just trying to keep the large man happy. Mulder nibbled on some of the greasy onion rings, and downed his beer so fast that Henderson ordered him another He decided getting drunk might help him get through this humiliating situation. *Fox, slow down, you know you can't handle your alcohol.*/p> *Walter, I don't think this is any of your concern!*/p> *Yes, it is! You need to keep your wits about you You can't afford to get drunk!*/p> *Okay, just stop nagging me.* Mulder set the beer reluctantly back on the table. Skinner had spent the last few hours trying to convince Mulder that he was really sorry about his role in the consortium, and that he really did love him He felt he was starting to make some progress, his lover no longer tried to shut him out. Henderson noticed that Mulder wasn't going to finish the rest of his burger, so he finished it for him "That's all right, babe I know you must be having some pre-wedding day jitters." At that moment the three n'thrals at the other table walked over "We've decided to take your beautiful friend off your hands Now, you can leave quietly or we get the pleasure of killing you," the largest n'thral threatened. Colonel Henderson leaned back not taking his arm from around the back of Mulder's chair He sneered up at the other Neanderthals He was a highly trained soldier and was certified as a lethal weapon, and he knew over a hundred ways to kill a man with his bare hands The mutants standing in front of him had none of his training, while their presence may have intimidated other men ... to him they were insects waiting to be squashed. "C'mon, gorgeous, me and the boys will show you a really good time." He reached for Mulder who leaned away from him. Henderson shot out a hand and grabbed the large n'thral by his throat, crushing it The n'thral fell to the floor gasping for air and dying after a few agonizing minutes The other mutants backed away then took off out the front door. Henderson threw some money on the table, gently grasping Mulder's upper arm he pulled him out of his chair "Time to leave, honey." They stepped over the body of the dead n'thral and left through the same door the others had fled through Getting back into the humvee, Henderson pulled out of the parking lot and headed back onto the interstate He got his vehicle back up to a comfortable eight-five miles an hour The speed limits on the interstates were no longer being enforced. *Fox, we're only forty minutes behind you now Hang in there, we'll catch up to you soon.*/p> *Then what? What do you want from me, Walter?*/p> *Fox, I love you I want you to come back to me.*/p> *I don't love you! Why did you murder my father?* he asked, closing his eyes against the pain Henderson sat with his large arm wrapped possessively around the young man unaware of the heated conversation going on between the two lovers. This was the only issue they hadn't broached, yet Skinner had been dreading it, but was prepared to tell Fox the truth. *Fox, I was given a choice ... it was either your life or your father's I knew what type of man your father was - did you? They killed your sister to keep him in line and he knew it, he didn't even tell you He let you go on thinking that she was still alive, that she was missing because of you! How many times did he beat you? How many broken bones had he given you? And how many innocent Americans or should I call them merchandise did he order experimented on? Your father was a monster - as bad as any alien or mutant you hunted It wasn't until you were given that DAT tape that he was willing to bare his soul to you, knowing that if he did ... they would take you for their experiments, but better a dead son than one who despised him.*/p> *But ... he was my father.* A silent tear fell from Mulder's eye It hurt more because he knew Walter was right - his dad was a monster. *Fox, don't shut me out Please ... I love you and I'm sorry for hurting you.*/p> *I ... I need some time to think.*/p> He was well aware that his sister had been killed shortly after her abduction, he had found the documents, and eventually he had found Samantha's grave It had helped to bring down the consortium, but he couldn't get over the fact that his father knew Until now, he had tried to deny it to himself How could his father knowingly allow him to take the blame for her disappearance? It had ruined his life. Mulder spent the rest of the trip to Las Vegas thinking he was so deep in thought he didn't realize that Henderson had parked the truck behind a small chapel It was already dark outside Henderson shook him and he raised his head off the Colonel's broad shoulder - embarrassed. "Rise and shine, babe." "What time is it?" Mulder murmured, looking cautiously around. "It's 6:10 p.m." The n'thral guided him into the chapel. They were met by an even larger n'thral "Calvin! How are you? This must be your Fox You're right, he is exquisite I don't believe I've ever seen anyone more beautiful." His eyes roam appreciatively over Mulder, taking in every detail. "Henry, it's good to see you again And, yes, this it the love of my life Fox, say hello to my brother Henry He's going to marry us." *Walter ... I hope to hell that you are in Las Vegas?*/p> *Fox, we're still about twenty-five miles outside of Vegas We'll be there soon.*/p> *I DON'T WANT TO MARRY THIS BASTARD!*/p> Henry grabbed Mulder's hand "Let's get you ready." He brought Mulder into a small windowless room, closing the door behind them The door had a black tuxedo hanging from the hook There was a table and stool in the middle of the room with a wash basin and a razor. "Sit." Henry directed him toward the stool. At the nervous look Mulder threw him, Henry reassured him "Don't worry, despite my appearance I am still a man of God, I have no intention of molesting you I'm only going to shave you This is your wedding, after all, and you must look your best." "I really don't want to marry your brother." "Nonsense, Calvin will protect and provide for you You should consider yourself very lucky." He took Mulder's jacket and T-shirt off then draped a towel around his shoulders Henry lathered the agent's face and proceeded to shave him. Okay, so both brothers are deranged, Mulder thought. It took all of fifteen minutes for Henry to shave and dress him in the elegant tux The fit was perfect ... it accentuated his tall, lanky body. Henry smiled approvingly "You look beautiful Calvin will be so happy Come along, Fox, let's get you married." "Great," he muttered under his breath. They entered the chapel Henderson was pacing anxiously in front of the altar He stopped in his tracks when he saw them enter and a big smile lit up his grotesque face. "Babe, you're so fucking beautiful." Henry positioned Mulder next to his brother in front of the altar Henderson reached over and took the agent's hand "Just a few more minutes and we'll be legally married, then it's on to the bridal suite." *Walter, where the fuck are you?*/p> *Hold on, we're just a few miles away.*/p> Henry proceeded to read ... and Mulder tuned him out while glancing nervously at the clock When Henry got to the part if there is anyone here who objects... Skinner and Frohike burst through the door. "I FUCKING OBJECT!" Skinner bellowed his face was a mask of pure rage Mulder couldn't remember ever seeing him so angry. "Get your goddamn, filthy, fucking hands off him!" Skinner snarled, approaching the two immense giants menacingly. Mulder all of a sudden got concerned for Skinner's safety Why wasn't he pulling his gun? He's going to get himself killed Mulder had witnessed first hand how lethal Henderson was and couldn't bare it if Walter died trying to save his pathetic excuse for a life. At that moment, Mulder realized that he was still deeply in love with Walter Skinner and that he had forgiven him for his past mistakes - even for murdering his father. "Walter, your gun! Don't do this ... protect yourself." Skinner glanced at him, their eyes locked for a brief second, and a cold chill ran down Mulder's spine He knew from that brief glance that Walter was going to sacrifice his life Skinner was not willing to go on living without him. "Don't." Mulder looked pleadingly at him. Skinner was determined, he would kill the n'thral with his bare hands, but he could no longer live without Mulder's love He was willing to die, and set his lover free at the same time. "Walter, please, I *forgive* you - I *love* you." Tears were streaming down Mulder's face. "NO! You can't love him! Slut! I'll teach you to betray my love." Henderson backhanded Mulder across the face sending him flying into the folding chairs Mulder's forehead hit the hardwood floor with a sickening crack and his body went limp. Skinner stared in shock at his lover's unmoving body and he snapped He pointed his finger at the two n'thrals and uttered one word. "Die." A bright red light shot from his hand, striking both the n'thrals who howled out in pain as all the flesh on their bodies started to melt off They caught on fire as an intense blaze engulfed their bodies, after only a minute nothing was left but a pile of ashes. Exhausted, Skinner staggered over to Mulder's crumpled body He pushed aside the fallen metal chairs and knelt down beside him, lifting Mulder's head gently onto his lap Blood was pouring down the agent's face from a deep wound on his forehead it started dripping onto Skinner's pants Skinner brushed the blood-dampened bangs out of Mulder's eyes stroking a thumb over his high cheekbones where a large purple bruise was forming He leaned down and gently touched his lips to Mulder's. Frohike had crept forward staring at the two men on the floor "We should get Mulder to a hospital, Walter He doesn't look too good and neither do you." "I just need a moment to catch my breath," Skinner murmured. "Don't move! Mulder is coming with us." Both men were shocked upon hearing Dana Scully's voice, looking up they saw only a small street punk, standing there pointing a gun at them. "Scully?" Krycek strolled in right behind her "She said don't move." Both men felt their muscles freeze, and realized they were unable to move a finger. Krycek walked over and stared at the piles of ashes "You are getting very good, Skinner Too bad you used too much energy, it take a while for your body to recover By then we'll be long gone." Krycek bent down beside the two men and stared lovingly at Mulder, regardless of the blood and the large bruise covering the right side of the agent's face ... he was still the most beautiful sight Krycek had ever seen He caressed Mulder's face, then delicately scooped him up off the floor, and into his arms, using his levitation powers to help him handle the agent's weight. "Alex, how is he?" Scully looked with concern at her partner He was too pale and there was so much blood covering his face and hair it obscured his features from her scrutiny. "Hurt, but he heals fast He'll be fine." Skinner glared at both of them "Why are you helping him, Scully?" At least Krycek left him with his voice this time. "You have the nerve to ask me that, sir, after what you've done." She glared angrily at him, turning she stormed out the door just behind Krycek. "Scully, wait ... come back ... don't do this!" Skinner's plea landed on deaf ears. They had rented a large RV using one of Krycek's many aliases and seemingly endless bank account It had a small dinette and galley kitchen and two small bedrooms, one with a queen-size bed and the other with two bunk beds. Krycek gently laid Mulder on the queen-sized bed in the back as Scully grabbed the medical kit "Alex, you drive, I'll take care of Mulder." Krycek reluctantly let her Las Vegas was one of the few cities that didn't have a curfew It was strange to see so many people moving around the city at night Krycek swung the RV in front of the Luxor, waiting as Bill, carrying Matthew rushed out and climbed into the RV. Bill glanced at the bedroom seeing his sister and the unmoving body of her partner "How is he?" he asked Buckling Matthew into the passenger seat, he quickly changed places with Krycek. "Banged up and unconscious, but alive." Krycek rushed back to be with Mulder as Bill pulled the RV onto the road, heading southeast. Earlier, after their flight had finally taken off, they spent the time on board discussing where to head once they rescued Mulder They agreed to head south through Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, the curfew laws in those states were less restrictive When they reached Louisiana, they would stay along the coast until they arrived in Miami. They had agreed to drive in shifts with Krycek taking the more dangerous night shift. Scully sat back and studied Mulder's face after she finished cleaning away the blood God ... what happened to him, he was too beautiful for words No wonder Skinner wanted him. Scully unfastened the buttons to Mulder's shirt and pulled it open, she examined his smooth chest, running a delicate hand over his ribs checking for injury. She had watched enough news while at Northridge to know that a man who looked like her partner would be at great risk in today's society from predators like Skinner and Henderson. The A.D. might have had enough time to deceive Mulder before they rescued him Knowing her stubborn partner, he would not believe anything they told him to the contrary Mulder had always been gullible when it came to Walter Skinner and she wanted to protect him from that man Mulder would want to return to Skinner, and as his partner, it was her responsibility to look out for him. She would see that Skinner did not get his corrupt and dirty hands on her partner ever again. Scully looked lovingly down at her partner and best friend she would not let anything happen to him Mulder had always needed her to look out for him, now he needed her more than ever. She gently caressed his cheek and brushed her lips against his forehead "Don't worry, Mulder, I'm here now," she murmured softly. Krycek came in the room and sat on the bed next to Scully; she had cleaned the blood from Mulder's face and had bandaged his head wound. She sat staring transfixed at her partner's surreal features in awe - he was so beautiful. "You should see him when he isn't bruised and battered, Scully." "Alex, Skinner will try to get him back." "We won't have to worry about Skinner for a while, I'll be able to maintain my hold on him until we get safely out of Las Vegas and with Fox unconscious he won't be able to track us." Mulder moaned softly, stirring and Krycek brushed a tender hand over his face "Sleep, love." Mulder stopped moving and sunk back into a deep, dreamless sleep. "Why don't you go up front and keep Bill company I'm going to undress Fox and put him to bed," Krycek told her, as he started to remove the soiled tuxedo Mulder was wearing. Las Vegas Thursday, December 24 7:30 a.m. "Langly, what's wrong with you guys? For the last time ... I'm not working with the enemy ... Skinner is a decent and honorable man." Frohike was starting to get exasperated; he had never had his loyalty questioned by the gunmen before. Skinner glanced over at him, anxiety and exhaustion was showing on both of their faces They had spent the entire evening in Las Vegas trying to figure out where Krycek and Scully were likely to head with Mulder. Skinner felt relieved that Mulder had forgiven him and still loved him He now had hope and a reason to go on knowing that Fox would come home with him once they found him It offset the anger he felt at having his lover snatched out of his hands by that rat-bastard and Dana Scully. What had Krycek told Scully to get her to so willingly help him abduct her own partner? "Okay, Langly Just tell Byers to get his ass in gear, we don't have all day." Frohike hissed into the telephone. "What?" "Byers is flying down They know where Krycek and Scully are heading But, they don't ... trust me They want answers before they're willing to part with the information." "That is just fucking great!" Skinner snapped and started pacing They were losing too much time. New Mexico Thursday, December 24 8:00 a.m. There was a loud pounding in Mulder's head as he drifted back toward consciousness He heard the soft hum of a car motor and he felt himself lying on a soft surface with a warm shape wrapped around him Breathing in, he let out a relieved sigh, Krycek, he would recognize his lover's scent anywhere. The previous night's events all came crashing back "Walter!" he gasped, sitting up ignoring the pain in his head The covers fell off him exposing his bare upper body. Scully came rushing back. She was preparing breakfast in the galley when she heard Mulder cry out. Krycek had startled awake at Mulder's cry He had just joined his lover in bed after driving the RV for the past nine hours. Mulder looked up at Scully who was wearing her disguise; she had taken the time to cut her hair short "Scully?" "Hi, partner." She smiled at him, walked over, sat down on the bed, and hugged him. "Scully, where are we? What happened? Where's Walter?" Krycek met her eyes over Mulder's shoulder. "We're on the road heading for Miami Mulder, I don't know how to tell you this but ... Skinner is dead ... Henderson killed him We arrived right after and rescued you, killing both those n'thral bastards Mulder, I'm so sorry," Scully said. She wrapped her arms tighter around his body as she felt him break down crying against her shoulder. Krycek stared at her in shock He couldn't believe she had blatantly lied to her partner, what was she trying to do? She met his stare and raised a delicate eyebrow *Do you love him or not, Alex?* she asked telepathically. *I can't lie to him, Dana.*/p> *You don't have to, I just did it for you.*/p> *Why?* Krycek gently caressed Mulder's back, trying to soothe him. *If Mulder thinks Skinner is still alive, he would try to return to him This way, he will come with us willingly He won't find out the truth and once we're in St. Petersburg he will never know.*/p> *Skinner isn't going to stop looking for him, and Fox will discover that we lied to him at some point.*/p> *Alex, we need time Time to gather evidence against Skinner to prove to Mulder how corrupt the A.D. is We have to prove that he doesn't have Mulder's best interest at heart, he only wants him for his body and nothing else We're doing it for his own good, Alex.*/p> *Okay, Dana, but I don't like it.*/p> Krycek pulled Mulder into his arms and away from Scully "C'mon, my love, everything will be okay." "Alex, Walter really did love me and I hurt him so badly I will never forgive myself ... it's my fault he's dead," he sobbed. "Ssh, Fox, it wasn't your fault Please don't blame yourself." Krycek hugged his grief stricken lover, stroking his back. Krycek gave Scully an angry glare. She sighed getting off the bed and pulled the sliding door closed on her way out, giving them some privacy. Scully had seen Mulder grief stricken before, but he had never accepted any comforting from anyone, not even from her. She suddenly felt jealous of Alex Krycek. Chapter 8 – Deception San Antonio, Texas Thursday, December 24 3:00 p.m. Krycek hung up the telephone at the Central Park shopping mall He had just made a long distance telephone call overseas to his friend Boris in St. Petersburg Boris informed him about a Russian freighter docked in Corpus Christi that was heading to Havana Now they wouldn't have to drive all the way to Miami, after all Boris was going to arrange passage for all of them to Cuba, and then onto the first flight leaving for Russia. The freighter was scheduled to weigh anchor on December 26 at 7:00 a.m. it should reach Havana the next morning They would take the first flight out, which Boris had indicated would be at noon on the 27th He smiled; soon he would have Fox at home with him in St Petersburg Then they would build a life together, that is, once Fox got over Walter Skinner Krycek was hoping the new surroundings would help take his lover's mind off his former life. Krycek shifted the heavy shopping bags in his hands They had lost all their clothing in his rush to get out of Las Vegas, he had forgotten to retrieve their suitcases from that dead n'thral bastard Fox was wearing some of Bill's clothing, which were too large for his lanky frame Krycek had bought some new clothing for both of them, and he had purchased a new winter coat for his lover. Krycek stopped in front of a toy store and couldn't resist buying Bill's little boy some Christmas presents, he hoped next Christmas they would have more to celebrate He had the store wrap the gifts and struggled to carry all of his purchases back to the RV Mulder was watching Matthew while Bill and Dana ran to the grocery store. He unlocked the RV and climbed in Mulder sat cross-legged on the floor playing with the baby Matthew had just started walking and was pulling all the pots and pans out of the bottom cabinet, he would grab one and waddle over to Mulder and hand it to him, smiling. "That kid needs some real toys." Krycek grinned, looking down at his lover. Mulder sadly met his eyes "Yeah, his dad didn't have time to bring any." The agent reached out and scooped Matthew up into his arms The little boy squirmed and giggled at being caught. "Well, maybe Santa will bring him some tonight." Krycek brought the bags back to their cramped bedroom. He came back out and knelt by Mulder, reaching to muss the little boy's hair "How are you doing, Fox?" Krycek asked after a few minutes. "Not too well ... I can't get over that he's dead." Mulder hugged the little boy tighter, seeking comfort from his small body. "Fox, it will take time ... but eventually, you will get over him ... I'll help you." He kissed Mulder softly on the lips, taking Matthew from him "C'mon, its way past your nap time." Krycek took the boy into the bedroom and put him down for a nap on the bottom bunk He came back into the small galley kitchen and dinette area Mulder was putting away the pots and pans. "Alex, what did you find out from your friend?" "We don't have to go to Miami which makes me happy I was dreading having to smuggle us over to Cuba, it would have been extremely dangerous with a small child along We're going to catch a freighter docked in Corpus Christi that's going to Havana and then take the first flight to Russia." "That's good ... I don't want to stay in this country any longer." Mulder felt responsible for Skinner's death and there was just too many memories here reminding him of that fact The idea of going back to the FBI no longer appealed to him - how could it? Krycek gazed into Mulder's haunted hazel eyes; there was so much misery in them It was going to take him a long time to overcome his lost Scully was right about one thing, if Fox knew Skinner was still alive he would have left him to return to the older man. He had his chance to kill Skinner, why hadn't he taken it? How would Fox react when he found out the A.D. was still very much alive and they had lied to him? Krycek knew how the agent would react and dreaded the confrontation It had been a long time since Fox had been angry and hated him and he didn't want to go back to those days He had three options: kill Walter Skinner, tell Fox that Skinner was still alive, or wait for the inevitable when Fox found out on his own. For now, option three sounded like the best, in time, he would tell Fox the truth He had connections within the Russian Government and Military, he would see that Walter Skinner was never allowed in Russia It might give him enough time to win Mulder's love, so the agent wouldn't leave him when he finally told him the truth. Krycek wasn't aware that during his musings he had taken Mulder into his arms and was hugging him tightly - holding on for dear life "Alex, loosen your grip ... I can hardly breathe." He did as requested, but did not release his hold on Mulder Instead, he kissed him long and hard "Fox, I need you Promise me you'll never leave me." Before Mulder could reply, Bill and Dana returned with the groceries They both stared at the two men embracing intimately Dana felt another spurt of jealousy Bill felt curious about what it would be like to make love to another man Although he was in the Navy, he'd never had contact with any gay sailors He had an idea what men did together, but didn't have the slightest clue what it would be like. "I put Matthew down for a nap," Krycek told them not breaking away from Mulder, instead he slipped his arm around the agent's waist bring their bodies closer together. "Thanks, Alex, I think I'll go check on him." Bill put the bags he was carrying down on the dinette table and hurried out of the room He was embarrassed by the fact he was starting to get aroused watching the two men. "So what did you get, Scully?" Mulder broke away from Krycek and started helping Scully unpack the bags. She smiled affectionately at him; Mulder could be the perfect gentleman. "We bought some seafood for our Christmas Eve dinner and a ham with all the fixings for Christmas." Scully pulled out a bag of sunflower seeds, handing it to him. "Thanks, Scully." Mulder grinned appreciatively. Bill came back into the room "We should get going if we're going make it to Miami," he said It was too dangerous for Dana and him to remain in this country The government would be searching for his baby sister; she had become a hot commodity They would send discreet word to Charlie and let him know their whereabouts Some day they would be a whole family again. "We don't have to go to Miami, Bill, head for Corpus Christi." Krycek took a few minutes to explain the change of plans to both the Scullys. Bill started the RV and headed south, it wouldn't take them that long to reach the gulf town If everything went okay, they would get there between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m., then they could all relax for Christmas Bill had been to Corpus Christi before and knew the city well "We can park the RV at the docks when we get there It should be well lit and heavily patrolled We shouldn't have any problem with ghouls." Mulder, Krycek and Scully sat at the dinette table Scully wanted to be filled in on what was happening in the U.S. and around the world They spent the next several hours talking as Bill drove. Las Vegas Thursday, December 24 5:00 p.m. An anxious Walter Skinner and Melvin Frohike met John Byers at the Las Vegas airport The man walked off the plane dressed impeccably in a suit and tie, and he was carrying a laptop and a briefcase He wouldn't answer any of their questions until he picked up his suitcase at the baggage claim area. "We might as well go back to the hotel because we aren't going anywhere tonight Don't worry, if I believe you and that's a *big* if, we have plenty of time to catch up to them," Byers informed them with an arrogance he normally didn't project. Skinner clenched his jaw in a stern scowl; he wanted to pound the small dapper dressed man "Okay, we'll go back to the hotel, but you better be right about catching up to them," he snarled. "C'mon, Byers, I can't believe after all our years of working together you would doubt my loyalty," Frohike whined. "Frohike, I'd rather be safe than sorry." They arrived back at the hotel and waited as Byers got himself a room for the night Byers wanted to meet on neutral territory, so they met in the bar securing themselves a quiet corner table. Byers opened his briefcase and pulled out a stack of documents "This is all the data Langly and I were able to dig up on you, Mr Skinner, I'd say it's pretty damn incriminating," Byers informed them. "John, I know all about the A.D.'s past involvement with the consortium That's what you and Langly dug up, isn't it?" Frohike asked, irritated. "Ah, well yes What exactly do you know? And why are you helping him if you know about his involvement with the conspiracy?" "I know that he regrets his initial involvement, and has been making amends to rectify his past mistakes He supported Mulder, Scully, and the X-Files for over the past four years It was only the first year that he worked for the consortium, he got out after Mulder returned alive from New Mexico and has been protecting him ever since." Skinner gritted his teeth; he was becoming annoyed at being talked about as if he weren't even sitting here "I can speak for myself, Melvin." "Hey sorry," Frohike shrugged. Skinner sighed, "Mr. Byers, I would never do anything to hurt Agent Mulder It's true that I was initially assigned to control him and his work, but that was before I knew their true agenda Do you have anything on me working for them after 1994?" "No But, Agent Scully believes you're still working for them, and that you don't have Mulder's best interests in mind." "Agent Scully has become bitter over our governments treatment of her In her mind, I'm part of that government and she's holding me personally responsible I also think it bothers her that Agent Mulder and myself are living together Scully has always been very protective of Mulder, I'm sure she really believes that she's doing what's best for him." "Okay, I'll believe you, for now We were able to track Krycek's cell phone and picked up a call he made to Miami He was trying to hire a boat to take them over to Cuba They need to get to Cuba in order to catch a plane to Russia Krycek used one of his aliases to purchase a RV in Las Vegas, and we believe they are driving down to Miami They should arrive there on the 26th or 27th." "Good, then we can get there ahead of them." Skinner breathed a sigh of relief; he would have Fox back soon. Corpus Christi, Texas Thursday, December 24 8:30 p.m. They were parked dockside and the parking lot was brightly lit, Bill had checked them in with the dock security In exchange for being allowed to park here and protection, Krycek agreed to give the head of Security the RV when they left. Money had never been an issue with Krycek - he had plenty Their safety was his first concern, and two nights safely protected by dock security was well worth the price. Krycek was helping Scully prepare their Christmas Eve meal Mulder could have put both of them to shame, but he wasn't in the mood to cook He wandered up to the front of the RV it was parked so the windows faced out over the Gulf of Mexico He sat down in the passenger seat and stared out at the tranquil moonlit waters. Bill walked up and sat down in the driver's seat "We haven't had a chance to talk, I wanted to apologize to you for what I said last time we met." "It's not necessary, you were right after all I am one sorry SOB." Mulder refused to meet Bill's eyes and continued to stare outside. "No ... you're not, Mulder, I was out of line when I said that It was the conviction of your beliefs that stopped those bastards in the end The rest of us were too blind to see beyond our secure little lives - we were all sheep waiting to be slaughter." Mulder looked over and met Bill's eyes, nodding and accepting his apology then he stared back outside. "Can I ask you something personal, Mulder?" "You can ask, but I won't promise to answer it." "Okay, I can accept that What's it like being with another man?" "I don't have all that much experience, Bill Walter Skinner was my first male lover and that was only a little over a month ago." God, had it only been that short of time, he thought A wave of sadness washed over him, he would never feel Skinner's strong, protective arms around him again. "I always assumed you had more experience You and Dana never became romantically involved, so I thought ... " "That I was gay." Mulder grinned "She was my partner, Bill It's not as if I didn't find her attractive, but we were partners, to go beyond that would have ruined our partnership." "I can buy that So what made you become involved with Walter Skinner?" Mulder sighed, "I've always been attracted to both men and women, until now becoming involved with a man would have been too dangerous to my career I was constantly under surveillance of one form or another I couldn't risk it But after the alien virus was released and our whole social structure changed, it didn't matter anymore I had always been attracted to Walter Skinner so, it seemed like the perfect opportunity." Mulder turned his face back toward the window as silent tears rolled down his cheeks. "I'm sorry, Mulder Dana told me about Walter Skinner," Bill murmured softly Dana had told him that Skinner was dead, killed trying to save Mulder's life. Krycek came up behind them and handed Mulder a beer over the agent's shoulder; he brushed his lips against the top of his head "Dinner's ready." The lights in the front of the RV were off, but Krycek could see Mulder's red-rimmed eyes through his reflection in the windshield. "Good, I'm starved." Bill rose, leaving the distraught agent to Krycek's care. Mulder was peeling the label off the beer bottle as Krycek knelt down beside him "C'mon, Fox, let's get something to eat." "You go ahead, Alex, I'm not hungry." "You haven't eaten anything all day Don't do this to yourself, it's not healthy." Mulder laughed, "I'm a fucking immortal, Alex, unfortunately not eating isn't going to kill me." Krycek closed his eyes against the pain in his lover's voice He reached out and took Mulder's hand in his, squeezing it "Fox, please, punishing yourself isn't going to bring him back I'm sure Skinner wouldn't want to see you starving yourself, regardless of the fact that you can't die." "I'm sorry, Alex I really can't stomach food right now, I doubt that I'd be able to keep anything down, anyway You go ahead, I just need some time alone." Mulder's soft hazel eyes pleaded with him to understand. Krycek kissed him on the cheek "Okay, I'll be here if you need me Please don't shut me out." Krycek headed back to join the Scullys, leaving Mulder to weather his grief alone. Mulder took a sip of his beer reminiscing about how happy he had been with Walter Skinner He should have realized it wouldn't last, fate always seemed to reach up and knock him down whenever he became happy He never should have become involved in a relationship knowing his dismal luck - it was destined to end in disaster. Mulder shifted uncomfortably on the hard vinyl car seat He should break it off with Krycek before their relationship also ended in disaster He was becoming too needy of the younger man He needed the comfort and security Alex provided him and cringed at the thought of being alone and unprotected He was far too vulnerable, there were too many Henderson's in this world, but did his own selfish needs give him the right to put Alex's life at risk? No, he couldn't do that to Alex He would talk to him and let the younger man know that once he was back on his feet, he would be leaving him It would be for the best Once they were overseas he could easily go to England; he still had a couple of close friends living there that he could stay with until he found employment. He took another sip of beer and found it warm, glancing at his watch he realized he had been sitting here for several hours It was already after midnight He very reluctantly got up and headed to the back of the RV Three pairs of eyes looked up at him with concern when he walked up to the table - he would have laughed if he could Never in a million years would he have expected Bill Scully to show concern for his wellbeing. "I'm going to bed," Mulder informed them, heading back to use the bathroom He used the toilet then washed his hands, splashing some cold water on his face There was a knock outside the door and it slid open revealing Krycek, who handed him a toothbrush, toothpaste, a razor and shaving cream "I picked these up at the mall today." "Thanks, Alex." He pulled the door shut giving Fox his privacy, besides there wasn't enough room in that small space for him. Mulder brushed his teeth He hadn't shaved for over two days and was grateful to get the coarse stubble off his face When he came out, Krycek took his place "I'll join you in a few minutes, my love." Krycek patted his butt as he went by him. Mulder stepped in the bedroom, he tried to maneuver in the small room, there wasn't much floor space, the queen-sized bed took up most of the room, and it was piled with packages. He easily shrugged out of the oversized clothes that he had borrowed from Bill Scully Careful to fold them, he would return them to the larger man in the morning He looked around for a place to set them and found a small closet and placed them on the top shelf. He left his boxers on and looked helplessly at all the packages on the bed Sighing, he started to unpack them He hung the new clothing in the closet Mulder came across an expensive, long, black, cashmere coat and ran his hand over the soft, thick fabric. "Do you like it?" Krycek asked from the doorway. "Yeah, it's beautiful." "Good, I bought it for you Merry Christmas, Fox." Krycek eased over along the side of the bed next to him and wrapped his arms Mulder's waist kissing him. "Thanks, Alex." He hung the coat up in the closet on the last hanger "I think you over did it We have no more room to put the rest of your purchases," he said, looking at the large remaining bag. Krycek took the large bag, glancing in it "I'll put these in the other room, they're Christmas presents for Matthew." Mulder smiled warmly at him, sometimes Krycek surprised him, he never knew the younger man had a soft spot for children He found that attribute in the triple agent endearing. With the bed now cleared, Mulder pulled down the covers and climbed in Krycek came back and pulled the sliding door closed, he removed his clothing tossing it on the floor He climbed in next to Mulder and immediately started making love to him Mulder wanted to tell the younger man he wasn't in the mood, but the look of desire and love in Krycek's eyes stopped him cold It seemed like such a small thing, allowing the ex-agent to take pleasure from his body that Mulder gave in How could he deny Krycek anything, after all he'd done for him? Krycek buried his nose in the curve between Mulder's shoulder and throat breathing in his scent They had lost the agent's medication and he had come to realize that when Mulder was depressed his body didn't produce excess pheromones Krycek wanted to do some more research into how the agent's moods affected his production of pheromones He loved the rush his body got when breathing in Mulder's scent and wanted to eliminate his medication when they were alone together. He had Boris contact Dr. Harris for the formula to Mulder's anti- pheromone drug By the time they arrived in St. Petersburg, Boris should have the medication ready. Krycek had to make tonight and tomorrow night count, because he wouldn't be able to touch Fox once they were on the ship He didn't want the agent being aroused while at sea on a ship full of horny sailors. He ran his hands down Mulder's lean length, feeling the warm, smooth skin and ribs He eased himself down on top of him rubbing his hard erection against the agent's still soft groin He rotated his hips gently as he softly kissed Mulder, seeking to titillate him Krycek wanted his lover to enjoy their coupling as much as he would. His weight pressed Mulder down into the mattress as he covered the warm length of him with his body His hands were combing through Mulder's thick, silky hair, and he held the agent's head immobile to further explore his lush, damp mouth Mulder lay still underneath him, not responding to his advances, Krycek raised his head and lifted himself off the agent's body He stared into Mulder anguished hazel eyes "Fox, you're not going to be able to bring him back You need to start living again - let him go We'll make new memories together and build a new life - just you and me." "Alex, take what you need from me ... I won't deny you anything But, please, don't ask me to forget Walter Skinner that's something I will never do ... not even for you." "Fox, I can't make love to you like this." "I can't offer you any more right now, just the use of my body." Mulder reached up and laid a hand on the side of Krycek's beautiful, sad face "Alex, I'm sorry, but I'm dead inside ... I don't know if I'll ever feel anything ever again." "Fox, I'll see that you do I'm not letting you go, I love you too much." Krycek lowered himself back down onto his lover's body and proceeded to devour his mouth. He would make Fox feel again He wasn't willing to give up so easily and someday Fox would return his love. Miami, Florida Friday, December 25 4:00 p.m. Skinner removed his glasses and massaged his temples He was getting a headache listening to the unrelenting back and forth banter between the two lone gunmen At least they were all on friendly terms now after Byers had reluctantly accepted Skinner's innocence. Skinner kept his senses alert; he wanted to contact Fox the moment he came within his telepathic range He wasn't sure of his total range, but he estimated that it had to be at least fifty miles His only hoped he could defeat Krycek and get his lover away from him Skinner was positive that Fox would try to return to him the first chance that he got, which worried him - he didn't want his lover unprotected At least Krycek was able to look out for Fox. The waiter finally brought their orders; they had waited over two hours for a table in this crowded restaurant They were almost turned away because of the lateness of the hour Curfew started in a little over an hour and they would have to hurry back to the safety of their hotel Miami was becoming infamous for having the largest number of ghouls in the nation. Skinner glanced around at the other diners; a large number of them wore military uniforms They were stationed in Miami to stop the influx of refugees sneaking in from Cuba and South America The refugees were also responsible for the large population of ghouls in the area The ghouls found the refugees whom snuck in after dark easy prey. "So, Mr. Skinner, what is your assessment of the new procreation bill before congress?" Byers asked. "I find it disturbing and very restrictive." Skinner never thought he would be stuck in Miami on Christmas discussing reproduction with Mulder's weird friends. "What about it do you find disturbing, if I may ask?" "I find the whole idea of creating a whole new government agency that's primary duty is to control and regulate who is allowed to reproduce disturbing The very idea of some government bureaucrat with that kind of authority is un-American," Skinner scoffed. "I'm surprised you would feel that way." Byers looked at the stern larger man, wondering what Mulder saw in him. "Why is that?" Skinner returned the other man assessment; he didn't particularly care for the dapper man Frohike might be strange, but he felt comfortable talking to him, he couldn't say the same about Byers. "You're part of that government and in a high-level position within the FBI I would think you would want the government to have that kind of control." "The government already has enough control They have control over the stockpile of ovum stolen from the thousands of women abducted over the last several decades They have control over the surviving women They have control over the testing of mutants - including Fox, and he has no say whatsoever in participating in the testing." Skinner ticked off his complaints on his fingers. "The government has to have control over procreation," Frohike exclaimed, giving both men an exasperated look "C'mon, guys, we've had half the population wiped out in the last ten months We need to get back on our feet and we can't do that without the Federal Government." Both men stared at Frohike as if he had grown a second head. "Frohike, are you saying you trust the Federal Government?" Byers had started to think that there was seriously something wrong with the smaller man. "No, that's not what I'm saying We need leadership more than anything right now and the government is our best bet." "I see your point, Melvin," Skinner agreed "We had better head back to our hotel I don't want to be outside once the sun goes down," Skinner stressed after they had all finished eating. They walked the short distance to their hotel The temperature was pleasant and the sunset was a bright orange-red, it would have been the perfect evening to be outside They reached the hotel just as the automatic floodlights went on. Skinner said goodnight to the two men and headed for his room He had sent most of his clothes to the hotel's laundry They were fortunate to find a hotel with all the amenities There were few hotels, except the very expensive, that still offered laundry and maid service Most hotels provided clean sheets to the guests at check-in There were laundry bags on each floor for the guests to throw their used towels and sheets into - any new towels had to be pickup at the front desk. Skinner sat down at the end of his bed and pulled off his shoes and socks, he draped his pants and shirt over a chair, putting his gun on the nightstand by the bed within easy reach. He went in the bathroom and took a quick shower It was still early so he called room services and ordered a bottle of wine, then turned on the television set CBS was rerunning 'It's a Wonderful Life' he quickly flipped past that until he came to 'scrooged' starring Bill Murray. Skinner needed something that would keep up his spirits Nights without Fox being with him were the worse He had looked forward to spending Christmas with his lover and had a whole closet full of presents for him at home Christmas had always been one of his favorite holidays and he wanted to share his family traditions with the younger man He knew Mulder's family stopped celebrating the holiday after Samantha was abducted. Skinner sighed and went over to his suitcase and pulled out an old Knicks sweatshirt He had found it in the dirty laundry hamper at home while packing for his flight to Denver It had Mulder's scent on it and he brought it up to his nose, sniffing in his lover's arousing aroma He would have been embarrassed if anyone found out, especially Fox, that he slept with it It had become a security blanket and a link to his missing lover. Skinner took it back to the bed with him, propped up a pillow, and sat back to watch the movie He reached for the glass of wine on the nightstand. He thought back to the discussion over dinner about procreation The government had started releasing documents about the consortium's work in reproduction It seemed they knew ahead of time that the alien threat would eliminate the females from the human race So, they had started several research projects on different ways of propagating the human species without them. They pioneered research into cloning, test tube babies, and combining sperm between two males to produce a unique offspring using the female's egg, and they were still working on research to eliminate the need for the female's part in the process The consortium even tried combining alien and human DNA in hopes that the mixed life form would be free from the effects of the virus. Skinner thought he was still young enough, he wouldn't turn fifty for a few years, and he had always wanted to be a father Maybe when the dust settled, he would discuss the possibility with Fox He knew the younger man might have a problem with the idea, the agent was too much of a free spirit, and would probably not want the responsibility for child's life. The movie had ended and Skinner shut off the television and the bedside lamp He then curled up on his side and brought the sweatshirt up under his chin, falling to sleep immediately. Corpus Christi, Texas Saturday, December 26 7:00 a.m. They made it onboard the Russian freighter with no trouble and were treated like dignitaries Boris had informed the Captain of the importance of his passengers They were shown to special quarters aboard the freighter for their short trip to Havana. Krycek made Mulder wear a hooded robe he had purchased in San Antonio; he wanted his lover's features hidden from the crew of the freighter Mulder absolutely hated the robe, although he knew it was necessary, it was hot and itchy, and he felt like a damn monk. When Krycek closed the door to their cabin, Mulder started to remove the offensive robe "Leave it on," Krycek growled, grabbing Mulder's wrists and pressing his body up against the agent's. "C'mon, Alex, this thing is hotter than hell. Did you have to get a woolen robe? Couldn't you have found something made out of silk?" Mulder whined. "Quit complaining, it's for both of our welfare that you leave the robe on," Krycek smirked. "Oh and how's that?" "One, this ship has more peepholes in it than a sieve Two, as long as your wear it I won't get the urge to jump you Three, I won't have to kill most of the crew defending your honor." "Oh, great." Mulder sat down on the bottom bunk "Why couldn't you make them see an elderly man like you did in the hotel?" Sighing, Krycek sat down next to him resisting the impulse to take Mulder into his arms " I don't want to expend too much energy, this way was easier You won't have to wear it that long, just until we're safely off this ship." "Okay, Alex Who knows, I might get the urge to join a monastery." "Ha, you couldn't keep quiet that long and the other monks would throw your sorry ass out." "Not all monks are sworn to vows of silence." There was a knock on their cabin door and the three Scullys came in "I see you've gotten the luxury suite," Dana teased. Matthew waddled over and climbed between Krycek and Mulder on the bottom bunk He looked sideways at Mulder trying to see his face from under the hood He carried his new set of blocks that he handed to Krycek and commanded, "Play." "Go ahead, Alex, play with him." Mulder laughed at the expression on the younger man's face. Krycek looked at Mulder then smiled; he would show his lover playing with the little one-year-old wasn't beneath him Krycek slid off the bed and sat cross-legged on the floor, opening the box of blocks, he dumped them out Matthew sat down next to him and immediately started throwing the block across the room Krycek scrambled to retrieve them, each time he put them down in front of the child, he would throw them again, and the triple agent was becoming exasperated. Dana laughed and sat next to Mulder, her brother leaned up against the wall watching the inexperienced man playing with his son. "Alex, those are blocks, he's suppose to stack them, not throw them." Mulder laughed at his frustrated lover. "That's easy for you to say Let's see you try to get him to stack them." "I think you've been challenged, Mulder." Scully pushed him off the bunk to help Krycek. Mulder sat down and confiscated all blocks and started stacking them Every time Matthew picked up one to throw it Mulder grabbed it out of his chubby little hand and added it to the growing tower After awhile Matthew caught on and started adding blocks himself Mulder praised him and the little boy beamed with delight. "Okay, Fox, you proven your point." Krycek was relieved to see Mulder smile from underneath that hood He didn't say more than three words all day yesterday and had sunk deeper into depression Mulder wouldn't even allow him to touch him last night. They spent the rest of the day cooped up in the cabin Bill and Krycek had agreed that it would be wise not to allow either agent above deck or out of their sights. Krycek left to get them something from the galley to eat He came back carrying a kettle of soup, bowls, and bread. They ate quietly with Scully asking Mulder an occasional question about the FBI How various agents were dealing with the changes at work and in their personal lives? Mulder tried to answer her questions, although he was depressed enough without talking about other agents and their personal problems Besides, he had never participated in office gossip; he was usually the main topic of discussion. Krycek glanced over at Fox with concern; he hadn't touched his soup That made two days that his lover had not eaten When he got Fox back to St. Petersburg, he would force him to eat even if he had to use mind-control on him. The Scullys had finished eating and excused themselves, they were going to turn in for the night Dana looked sadly at her partner on their way out, Mulder still hadn't come out of his depression over Skinner's supposed death and he seemed to be getting worse Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to lie to him, Mulder was closer to the A.D than she had realized. After they had left, Krycek piled the bowls into the empty kettle and looked over to Fox. "Top or bottom? "What?" Mulder looked up, startled at Krycek's question. "The bunk bed? What did you think I meant?" Krycek smirked. "I wasn't really sure, you caught me by surprise." Mulder blushed, he was glad that the hood hid most of his face "Bottom," he finally answered. Krycek wanted to share the bunk with Mulder, but he knew that would be a stupid thing to do So, disgruntled, he climbed up onto the top bunk. "Fox, can you shut off the light? Oh, and bolt the door." The agent did as asked, then climbed into the bottom bunk, lying on his side facing the wall He huddled deeper within the robe; he had felt as if there were eyes on him all day in the cabin With the lights out, he was even more distressed There was something physically wrong within him. He shivered as a dull ache coursed through his body, closing his eyes against the minor pain he drifted off to an uncomfortable sleep. Havana, Cuba Sunday, December 27 10:00 a.m. Krycek had allowed Mulder to shed the uncomfortable robe once they were safely off the ship After about the twentieth lustful glance his lover received, Krycek projected an image of an ugly mutant onto Mulder He didn't like other men having sexually explicit fantasies about his lover, and the images he received from those men made him red with rage. They waited at airport for their flight to board it was scheduled to depart at 11:00 a.m The Scullys sat a few rows up in the waiting area, allowing Mulder and Krycek some time alone Matthew sat on Dana's lap, she leaned over and whispered something to Bill, who got up and walked over to them "I'm going to get us something to eat, do you guys want anything?" Bill asked. "Bring us a couple of hamburgers, Bill." Krycek was going to see that Fox ate, he was looking too pale. After Bill left, Krycek noticed Fox wince slightly and the younger man put his hand on the agent's arm "Are you okay, Fox?" When he shook his head no ... Krycek became concerned "What's wrong?" "I ... I think I've discovered another side-effect of my mutation." Mulder cringed against the pain lancing through his body. "What?" Krycek asked, seeing Mulder wince in pain. "Don't laugh ... but I think not having sex the last two nights ... has caused my body to start going through withdrawal I think if I was still on the anti-pheromone medication, it wouldn't be so bad." "How do you know that's what it is? You haven't eaten anything in the last couple of days and you've been emotionally upset." "Alex, I just know it's from not having sex ... my body knows what it needs The last time I went without sex for over forty-eight hours I was out of town on a case and I started experiencing similar symptoms, but they weren't this intense I think my medication helps slightly I believe having sex the first time caused a chemical reaction within my body making me addicted It ... it's like getting a drug high each time I'm fucked." Krycek looked at him thoughtfully and stood up He reached down, grabbing Mulder's hand he pulled him to his feet "C'mon." "Where? What are you going to do?" He looked cautiously at the younger man. "I'm going to fuck you in the restroom Then we'll know for sure if it's from sex." Krycek dragged him toward the restrooms. "Alex, wait, it's too dangerous What about the other men in there? If we have sex you know I'm going to be throwing off pheromones." "We'll use the lady's room, no one will disturb us in there." Krycek pushed Mulder through the door to the women's restroom He had to flick on the light switch, looking around they noticed a thin layer of dust covering everything It looked as if no one had come in here for months Even so, Krycek guided his lover into one of the stalls, closed the door and started to unbutton his jeans. Mulder doubled over in pain and Krycek held him close against his body until the pain passed "Fox, I have you, you're going to be all right." Krycek pushed his lover's pants and boxers down, bending him over against the wall behind the toilet, he pulled his own cock free from his pants He spit into his hand and rubbed it into the crack in Mulder's ass and eased a finger inside. "Damn, you were right about becoming a virgin again after twenty- four hours Fox, I sorry, but this is going to hurt ... we don't have any lube with us to properly prepare you." "Alex, I can't possibly hurt anymore than I already do Fuck me, please," he said breathlessly trying to hold back the excruciating pain coursing through him. Krycek spit again and rubbed it on his cock, positioning it against the tight opening to his lover's body He strained against it, until it opened allowing the head of his cock to pop inside The younger man sighed; it felt like heaven as Mulder's anal muscles gripped his sensitive cock head A surge of pure pleasure coursed through Krycek's body, knowing that he could have Mulder anytime he wanted him only added to his feeling of bliss. Mulder groaned at the initial pain of being opened by Krycek's thick cock he had forgotten how painful his first time had been His muscles tightened as the younger man forced his cock in deeper Mulder felt completely filled and stretched beyond his limits as his lover drove the rest of his length in until his balls rested snuggly against his ass. Mulder sighed with relief after his lover couldn't go any deeper He would have to make sure he didn't go longer than twenty-four hours without having sex again - it was too painful. Krycek thought how absolutely good it felt to have his cock buried in such a tight, snug hole; he'd have to make sure they held off until after twenty-four hours more often. Krycek lay draped over the agent's back, enjoying the muscles clenching around the full length of his cock Mulder's smell was becoming intoxicating Maybe he was right, sex with him was like a drug He wondered if he would have eventually felt the same withdrawal symptoms. He pulled out partway and gave a quick thrust back in, angling his thrust to brush against his lover's prostate Mulder yelped as pleasure erupted throughout his body and the initial pain of entry quickly became a distant memory as Krycek started thrusting in and out of him. Mulder shifted his legs further apart bending down and positioning his ass to open himself up further to his lover He relished the sensation of the wrist-thick cock pile driving into his body, splitting him open. Krycek drove deep into the agent's body with such force his heavy balls hurt each time they slammed into his lover's ass Mulder was going to have a difficult time sitting on the flight to Russia, but he couldn't control the frenzied passion he was feeling The need to make his lover feel him as he pounded deeply into him was all that mattered He wanted Fox to come screaming and feel the sweet pain of being well fucked for the rest of the day as a reminder of whom he now belonged to. Mulder needed both hands to support both their weights as Krycek drove relentlessly into him He couldn't even attempt to touch his own cock, but it didn't matter, his balls crept up and his cock stood straight out away from his body, pointing conveniently into the toilet bowl His body fell over the abyss as he shot his hot, milky semen into the toilet, and his ass clamped down on the thick flesh buried deep within it. Krycek cried out in ecstasy as Mulder pulled him over the edge and he explored into his lover's tight ass No, he was never going to give this up, Fox belonged to him now and he'd kill anyone who tried to take him away. Krycek rested his cheek against the back of Mulder's neck, wrapping his arms around the agent's trembling body - they were both close to toppling over The triple agent pulled out and turned his lover around to face him, roughly pushing Mulder up against the door of the stall, he sealed his lips over that exquisite mouth, kissing him passionately. "You're mine, Fox No one will ever be allowed to touch you again," he informed him forcefully. Mulder shuddered at the possessiveness of Krycek's statement He knew how dangerous his lover was, although in the past he was the one who lashed out violently at Krycek. Krycek backed off "How do you feel?" Mulder looked at him as cognizance returned "Besides having a throbbing pain in my ass, I feel fine Alex, it worked!" He smiled He didn't have the fiery pain burning throughout his body. "Okay, so we'll just have to let Dr. Krycek inject your medication into you every night." Krycek pulled Mulder tightly against his body dropping his hands down behind the agent's back he cupped his buttocks and brought their hips and groins together He tilted his head and recaptured Mulder's mouth with an exploring kiss as he licked and nipped his full lower lip. "My love, we better get back ... we wouldn't want to miss our plane," Krycek said breathing heavily as he tucked his cock back in his pants He grabbed some toilet paper and gently cleaned the semen off his lover's body then pulled back up his boxers and pants They departed the ladies room and received a reproachful glare from a man exiting the men's room. The flight was already boarding when they returned to the waiting area, and Bill handed Krycek the bag with the hamburgers inside Bill looked at both disheveled men smelling the scent of sex wafting off their bodies He became instantly aroused and glanced around nervously, he noted other men sniffing the air "Guys, I think it would be a good idea to get on board the plane." Bill hurried them along, blocking the view of Mulder with his body. At Bill's disapproving glare Krycek murmured, "I'm sorry, Bill, but it was a medical emergency." "We're just lucky that we're the only ones on this flight, otherwise we'd be in deep shit," Bill exclaimed. They had first class to themselves Krycek made Mulder take the window seat He sat down next to him and pulled one of the hamburgers out of the bag handing it to Fox "Eat," he ordered. Mulder unwrapped it taking a small bite then proceeded to wolf the burger down He was famished and suitably distracted from his grief by their recent bout of sex. The plane was delayed on the runway for a late passenger who had called the airport at the last minute After an hour a very handsome businessman entered and strolled down the aisle He stopped before Krycek and Mulder's seats, glancing briefly at Krycek then stared at Mulder He addressed Krycek while never taking his eyes off Mulder. "Comrade Krycek, it's good to see you returning to our homeland Special Agent Fox Mulder, it is certainly a pleasure to finally meet you, I've heard and read so much about you I am Nikolai Slava." Mulder felt his blood turn cold at the look the man was giving him He had seen that look before in the eyes of serial killers and sexual predators, this was a man to be feared Mulder found it difficult to meet the man's eyes, he was extremely good-looking, but his malevolence repulsed the agent. Slava reached his hand out to Mulder for him to shake, but Krycek grabbed his wrist quickly shoving it away "Ne trogai! Nikolai, he is mine and no one touches him but me." The threat behind the triple agent's words was as clear as glass. "Don't threaten me, Alexei, we both know that I'm far more dangerous than you can ever hope to be Until later, Agent Mulder, I look forward to becoming better acquainted," he murmured huskily. Mulder shivered visibly as Slava's words washed over him and he received a visual image of him and Slava naked together wrapped in a lover's embrace He glanced up in shock as he realized the handsome Cossack was projecting that image into his mind Mulder turned and watched Slava walk down the aisle and sit several rows back. The FBI man turned back and glanced at Krycek, his face was a mask of pure rage and hatred "Who was that?" he asked cautiously. "Nikolai Slava, he is the head of all organize crime in Russia and he's extremely dangerous Fox, he also has the sorcerer mutation and has used his powers to wipe out all the competition No one has the nerve or the power to challenge him, he usually get what he wants at any cost." Krycek was digging his nails into the arms of the airline seat, he was so angry Slava posed a real threat to Mulder, more so than Henderson ever had. Ten minutes later, the plane was in the air headed for St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg Mulder had fallen asleep an hour into the flight, resting his head on Krycek's shoulder He looked so young and innocent while he slept and it ripped at Krycek's heart - would he be able to protect him? Shortly before the plane landed the agent woke up He stared sleepily up at Krycek, smiling meekly "How much longer?" "We'll be landing in twenty minutes." Krycek caressed his hand over Mulder's face and brushed his hair out of his eyes. When the plane landed, they pulled out their winter coats from the overhead compartment The Scullys were sitting across from them and Dana dressed Matthew for the Russian winter, his outfit was complete down to insulated snow-pants. Krycek kept a protective shield around Dana Scully, but so far, she didn't attract the interest of Nikolai Slava Slava was focused only on Mulder and she looked too much like an adolescent boy If Slava did scan her, Krycek's shield should maintain her disguise by broadcasting back the thoughts of an adolescent boy. Krycek held back before exiting the plane, he wanted Slava in front of him It bothered him having the man behind him the whole flight to Russia Mulder was his lover and the thought the mobster wanting him made Krycek seethe. Mulder pulled on the long, black, cashmere coat over his jeans and Hensley shirt He sat back down next to Krycek and wondered why they were waiting They had been given the okay to depart the plane. The tall, dark, and handsome Cossack strolled down the aisle, stopping once more at their seats Krycek glared angrily at him as he stared appreciatively at Mulder again "Do you really know who your friends are, Agent Mulder?" he asked smoothly. "What do you mean?" "Is he really dead?" Slava smiled smugly and left, leaving the agent to ponder his words. Chapter 9 – St. Petersburg St. Petersburg Krycek felt a stab of anger at Slava's question to Mulder He didn't want his lover to start questioning whether Skinner was still alive it was too soon Mulder was looking at him uncertainly What should he say? What could he say? "Fox, I'll explain later, once we're settled into our home." Krycek couldn't meet his eyes. "Is he?" Mulder put his hand on the younger man's arm, trying to get him to look at him. "Later ... I promise C'mon, let's get going." Krycek got up, and led them down the aisle Bill had overheard the exchange between the two men and looked at his sister for answers. She refused to meet his eyes, embarrassed. So, Walter Skinner was still alive and his sister and Krycek had lied to Mulder There was going to be hell to pay once they arrived at Krycek's residence, and strangely he found himself taking Mulder's side over his sisters ... whatever had come over her to lie to him? They strolled through the nearly empty airport terminal toward the exit Boris had promised to have a car waiting for them, and as promised, just outside the door to the airport terminal there was a black limousine As they stepped through the door, a cold burst of night air hit them and Matthew buried his small face into his father's woolen coat Bill carried his bundled son snugly in one large arm and his suitcase in the other. Leaning up against the limo was a young man in a Russian military uniform, smoking a cigarette He detached himself, standing straight as they approached "Alexei!" he exclaimed hugging Krycek. "Pyetr, it's good to see you again," Krycek said, returning the embrace. "I would like you to meet my friends This is Fox Mulder, Bill Scully, and Bill's sons Daniel and Matthew Major Pyetr Yermolov." They exchanged handshakes Mulder had a faraway look in his eyes, not really paying attention to the introductions. "Come let's get out of the cold, leave your suitcases on the sidewalk, Vlad will take care of them," Pyetr suggested The limo driver quickly opened the door for them and they climbed into the warm backseat He collected their suitcases off the sidewalk and put them into the large trunk. Krycek sat next to Mulder and noted his distant look; he took the agent's hand in his holding it on his lap trying to comfort him Pyetr smiled, speaking in Russian, "So, Alexei, he is even more beautiful than you've led on, but he seems distracted Is there a problem?" Krycek clenched Mulder's hand tighter "Yes, I misled him and he knows it ... he wants me to tell him the truth ... he's going to hate me when I do," Krycek answered back in Russian as the limo drove them closer to that confrontation with his lover. The limousine pulled up in front of an upper class, high rise apartment building They were in an old historic section of St Petersburg on Plekhanov Street the apartment building was near the Moika and Griboedov Canals. The driver retrieved their luggage from the trunk and carried it inside to the elevator as Pyetr and Krycek bid their farewells Before his friend departed, Krycek agreed to meet him for lunch on Friday. Krycek strolled to the elevator where the others waited for him, they all rode silently up to his opulent penthouse apartment that took up the top two floors of the high rise The elevator opened into a small anteroom with a large arched double-doorway, there was a security camera mounted above the doors Krycek unlocked the doors, opening them they entered a large foyer. The Scullys stared in awe: the foyer was open to the second level and a huge crystal chandelier hung from the twenty-eight foot, curved ceiling There was a beautiful dark green marble floor, even the curving staircase was covered in green marble Expensive furnishings and antiques adorned the room. "Alex, your home is so beautiful!" Dana exclaimed, staring up at the murals that covered the curved ceiling in the foyer. "Come ... I'll show you to your rooms, then I'll give you the grand tour." Krycek beamed with pride, the workmen had done an excellent job of cleaning up his family's home His father had let it become run down after his mother's death When his father had passed away two years ago, he left the apartment to his only child. Krycek led them up the stairs and down a wide hallway, they passed several closed doors and another set of stairs leading up "Those stairs lead to the roof, there is a patio and small garden My mother used to love her flowers and the view is breathtaking in the spring and Summer, you can see the Neva River, Vailieskii Island and Petropavlovskii citadel." They came to the last doorway and Krycek pushed it open Scully gasped in surprise at the large sitting room with a fireplace that was blazing. The room had twelve-foot ceilings with carved molding edging it The hardwood floor had a Persian carpet and there were three tall windows with navy blue drapes and three more doors in the room. "These were my grandparents' rooms." Krycek walked over and opened up the other doors, which led to two large bedrooms and one small sewing room Each bedroom had its own private bathroom. "Matthew could stay in the sewing room I'll make arrangements for a bed to brought up and have it redecorated." Mulder had followed reluctantly He was impressed by the beautiful apartment and Krycek's apparent wealth, but didn't outwardly show it. Dana and Bill put their bags into their respective bedrooms and shrugged out of their heavy coats Krycek removed Matthew's coat and snow-pants The little boy waddled around the room exploring everything he could get his grubby little hands on. "C'mon, I'll show you mine and Mulder's room, then give you the grand tour of the rest of the apartment." Krycek led them back down the hallway, pass the curved staircase, to the end of the hall where there was a large curved archway with double doors He flung both doors open and they stepped into the largest and most beautiful bedroom that Dana had ever seen. There was a four-poster, king-sized, mahogany bed covered in rich fabrics The top mattress was four feet above the floor and a small set of stairs was beside the tall bed Rich tapestries hung on the walls, and in front of the walk-in fireplace there was a loveseat and two chairs Two sets of French-doors that led out to a large covered veranda The bathroom was huge and done all in white marble with skylights, a large sunken bathtub and gold fixtures. Krycek removed his coat and set his bags on the small breakfast table He took Mulder's coat from him, seeing the reluctance to depart with it in his lover's eyes Fear gripped his stomach as he slowly walked over to an armoire and hung both coats up He knew Mulder would try to flee once he explained their deception to him The agent would never understand why they had lied to him. Of course, he would never let Mulder go; eventually his lover would have to except the situation Krycek hoped over time that Fox would forgive him and return his love. "Okay, I'll show you the rest of the apartment," Krycek stated, then turning to Mulder, he took his hand "Afterwards, we'll sit down and I'll explain everything to you." "Okay, Alex," Mulder sighed sadly He was staring out the French- doors into the nighttime darkness. They followed Krycek back downstairs where he showed them the various rooms The large parlor, library, den, and a dining room with a table that could seat twenty guests Detailed carved molding edged the ceilings in each room and several of the rooms had murals on the ceiling and walls The baseboards were made out of mahogany and so was most of the expensive furniture All the rooms had exquisite antique furniture, artwork, and area rugs covered hardwood floors. They finally ended up in a huge kitchen Behind the kitchen were the servant quarters, which sat empty Labor had become a valuable commodity in all the developed countries that had survived the alien invasion. Krycek had taken his time explaining the history behind some of the antiques and paintings that adorned the apartment He was dreading the inevitable confrontation and wanted to put it off for as long as possible When they arrived in the kitchen he knew it couldn't be put off any longer He walked over and grabbed four glasses out of the cupboard and pulled out a bottle of vodka. He set the glasses down on the kitchen table, glancing over at Matthew "Maybe you should put Matthew to bed, Bill You can put him in one of the servants rooms, we'll be able to keep an eye on him from here." Bill did as requested and they waited for him to return before broaching the Walter Skinner subject Krycek had poured each of them a glass of vodka, and he downed his nervously while waiting for Bill to return, and he poured himself a second glass. Bill came back and sat down at the table, taking a sip from his glass Mulder hadn't touched his drink he stared at Krycek and Dana, waiting for an explanation He prayed that they had lied to him about Walter being dead, but why would they want to hurt him that badly? "dammit! Tell me, is Walter still alive?" he finally asked. "Yes." Krycek couldn't look at him when he answered, his face flushed with embarrassment. "Why did you lie? You said you loved me ... " Mulder's voice rose in pitch as his anger grew, he was about to rip into to Krycek as he felt himself losing control. Scully quickly interrupted, "Mulder, it wasn't Krycek's idea ... he didn't want to lie to you I convinced him it was for the best, I'm sorry I wanted to protect you and still do I don't trust Walter Skinner! I know he doesn't have your best interests in mind." "Damn it, Scully! That's for me to decide *not* you!" Mulder hissed angrily, pushing back his chair he stormed out of the room. "Sis, he's right, you had absolutely no right to lie to him." "I'm going to see if he's okay," Krycek murmured sadly and quickly hurried after Mulder. Mulder had gone back upstairs to their bedroom Krycek came in as he was putting his coat back on He looked up and met Krycek's eyes "I'm leaving ... can you get me a cab to the airport?" Krycek closed and locked the door behind him "No ... you're not For one thing, you would never make it to the airport before someone kidnaps you ... and the second, I won't let you go Fox, take your coat off and put the suitcase down." There was a dangerous edge to Krycek's voice, but Mulder ignored him and headed for the door Krycek stopped him using mind-control, making the agent freeze in his tracks. Mulder felt himself lose control over his body as he dropped the suitcase and shrugged out of his coat, complying with Krycek's orders. "Hang it back up and while you're at it you can unpack our bags," Krycek ordered smoothly He had to show the agent who was in charge He didn't want to have to do it, but he was going to have to teach Mulder obedience. Mulder found himself obeying Krycek's orders He had no control over his own thoughts and found that he wanted to please the triple agent It was different than when he was under Modell's control; at least with Modell, he was able to resist if only a little Now every time he tried, his thoughts just disintegrated like sand sifting through his fingers and the need to be obedient became overwhelming. He folded and put their clothing away in the dresser and hung the shirts up in the armoire The toiletries he took into the bathroom Krycek followed him and trapped him up against the sink with his body, wrapping his arms around the agent's slim waist. "I don't like controlling you this way, Fox If you give me your word that you will never leave me ... I'll give you back your freewill." "Alex, I'll give you my word that the first chance I get ... I'm leaving you You can't control me forever ... you'll have to sleep sometime." "Hush, my love," Krycek murmured, putting a finger up to the agent's full lips Mulder found himself unable to talk or move. "I can maintain control over you even in my sleep, and as long as you're within ten miles of me our link will never be broken Fox, you are mine - mind, body, and soul." Krycek ran possessive hands over the FBI man's passive body, bringing them up, he laced his fingers through Mulder's thick, silky hair and took possession of his mouth Mulder's lips parted allowing his tongue to invade, Krycek thrust it in deeply tasting and claiming him. Krycek broke the kiss, licking his way back out he stared into Mulder's sad hazel eyes "I'm sorry it has to be this way, my love, but until you come to your senses you will not even be allowed to take a piss without my okay." "Now remove your clothes and get into bed, I'm going downstairs and saying goodnight to Dana and Bill I'll be right back." Krycek kissed him and left the bathroom Mulder was powerless to do anything but follow the younger man's orders as he slowly started removing his clothes. How could he have been so stupid to get himself into this unbearable situation? He hated not having control over his actions Skinner had tried it on him once, but he let the older man know in no uncertain terms not to ever try it again He was grateful to realize that he was allowed his own thoughts At least Krycek hadn't taken that away from him, too. *I wouldn't ever dream of taking your ability to think away from you, my love Your brain is one of the features I love best about you.*/p> *I suppose it would be too much to ask that you stay out of my head?*/p> *Yes, it would be Would you like me to give your regards to Dana and Bill?*/p> *Fuck off.*/p> *Don't worry I will, later.*/p> Mulder shivered, but not from Krycek' promise, the room was freezing against his naked skin He walked over to the bed and the fireplace blazed to life, sending a comforting heat throughout the room. *Better?*/p> *Yes, thanks.*/p> *You're welcome.*/p> Mulder climbed into the tall bed, even for him it was almost too high to get into, but pride prevented him from using the small set of stairs beside the bed He crawled under the many layers of bedcovers and waited anxiously for Krycek to return. Krycek strolled into the kitchen, the Scullys were hotly arguing and looked up when he entered. "How's Mulder?" Dana asked. "He was going to leave for the airport, but I convinced him to stay Fox is not very happy with us right now, Dana." "Can you really blame him? Why don't you let him return to Skinner?" Bill asked "It's what he wants after all." "No!" Dana and Krycek shouted simultaneously. "Bill, Walter Skinner was behind my abduction He is up to his neck with those consortium bastards and the conspiracy." "If that were so, why would Mulder want to return to him? Don't you trust your partner's instincts? After all, it was Mulder who cracked the conspiracy wide open." "Bill, that's not the issue, Mulder has always been blind when it came to Walter Skinner Skinner provided a false hope to him during a time in his life when Mulder was vulnerable and needed someone to believe him - in him Skinner deceived him into trusting him, when he was really only there to keep an eye Mulder and control him for those bastards." "Dana, do you have any hard evidence? If you do, we could send it to Charlie and he could take it to the Justice Department Mulder couldn't return to Skinner if he was in jail for treason and that is a death sentence offense." "Yes, Bill, the Lone Gunmen have dug up a small paper trail, but I'm not sure if it is enough evidence to convict him," Dana sighed. "It doesn't have to be concrete ... as long as it shows him working for them, it would be enough for a life sentence conviction." Bill was starting to warm to the idea, finally a way to get back at those bastards that caused his wife's death If what Dana said was true, he would see that Skinner fried for his part in the worldwide cover up. Krycek listen enthralled at their discussion, why hadn't he thought of it A threat against Skinner would give him power to extract that promise from Mulder to never leave him. "I'll call Langly, we could at least put the evidence we have together to show Mulder Maybe we'll be able to convince him." "You do that, Dana, I'm going to turn in for the night ... morning." Krycek amended after glancing at the clock it was 5:00 a.m. Mulder was waiting for him; he could feel the agent's nervous anxiety. Mulder lay in the large, soft bed contemplating his options He had one trick that Krycek wasn't aware of ... the ability to hide a small part of his thoughts behind a wall that even the triple agent couldn't penetrate He had learned that trick while helping Skinner with his sorcerer powers. If he wanted to get out of this humiliating and degrading situation, he would have to start using his brains, and not let his temper get in the way Krycek had said over, and over again how he was in love with him, he didn't like doing it, but he would have to use that against the younger man If he could convince Krycek that he had forgiven him and cared deeply for him it might be enough to get the triple agent to stop using mind-control on him. Mulder chewed thoughtfully on his bottom lip, trying to formulate how he could trick Krycek into believing that scenario It wouldn't be easy to fool a man with his powers Mulder smiled as he thought up the perfect way to get the triple agent to believe him. St. Petersburg Monday, December 28 5:20 a.m. Krycek stood nude in front of the full-length mirror in the bathroom, admiring his hard muscular body Like Mulder, he was never going to age, very few people knew that sorcerers were also immortals He ran a finger over the scar on his upper arm and then traced the one on his chest Unlike Fox, he showed the scars from the years of fighting against the consortium and the alien invaders Fox ... he smiled, thinking of his lover's perfect flawless body, his cock swelled at the thought. He left the bathroom, turning off the light and stared eagerly at the figure huddled under the covers This would be the first time they made love in their new home and he wanted to make his lover remember it fondly Fox may be angry with him, but he knew the agent could not control his sexual responses. Mulder sat halfway up leaning on his elbows and looked over at Krycek, who was standing in front of the large fireplace on the other end of the room The fire cast a warm orange glow on his smooth skin and shadows defined the hard muscles Mulder's eyes wandered down his sleek body stopping at his firm perfectly shaped ass - Krycek was a work of art He unconsciously licked his lips, chewing thoughtfully on his full bottom lip When he looked back up he met Krycek's eyes; the younger man was staring back at him over his shoulder Mulder found it impossible to control his body's response to the other man. When he sat up, the blanket had fallen down revealing his firm chest and dusty pink nipples Krycek walked over to the bed, running a hand over the agent's chest, feeling the warmth underneath his fingertips He never took his eyes from Mulder's as he climbed onto the tall bed and straddled the agent's lap. Mulder moaned as he felt the pressure from the younger man's weight on his straining erection Krycek grinned; he could feel Mulder's hardness under several layers of blankets He leaned down and ran his tongue across the agent's chest, sucking on his left nipple and twirling his tongue around the pebbled nib Mulder threw his head back, moaning louder and thrusting his hips up, pushing his covered erection against Krycek's hard length. Krycek grinned seductively Encouraged by the agent's response, he lavished similar attention onto the second nipple He let his hand roam down and he reached for the blankets that covered his lover He lifted his body and pulled the blankets down, using his feet to push them the rest of the way down the bed Krycek then lowered himself onto Mulder's body, rubbing their hard erections together. Mulder hooked his long legs around Krycek's, encouraging closer contact He couldn't help himself; his body's need for sex pushed all thoughts from his mind It didn't matter that he was having sex with the man who had lied to him and was holding him captive against his will All that mattered was his body's need for intimate contact Mulder reached up and pulled the younger man's head down, bringing their lips together Their tongues wrestled back and forth as they explored each other in a deep, open-mouth kiss that took their breaths away. Mulder broke the kiss, staring up into Krycek's face he felt his heart melt at the undeniable love showing on the younger man's features Krycek had told him everyday that he loved him, but he never really believed him until now He brought his hand up and caressed the younger man's face, causing him to smile with joy. "Alex ... can we talk?" This was the perfect time to implement his plan, while sex had Krycek's mind clouded. "Now?" "Yes, now." Mulder ran his hands down Krycek's smooth back, resting them on his hips "I owe you an apology ... I haven't taken your feelings into consideration ... I'm sorry." Krycek stared into Mulder's eyes, trying to determine if he was telling the truth or trying to fool him into relaxing his guard When he couldn't tell for sure, he used telepathy to get his answers and was surprise at what he discovered. "Why, Fox? How can you forgive me?" "You did it out of love ... how can I hold that against you?" Mulder reached up and gently brushed his lips to Krycek's "But, I can't promise you that I'll stay with you." "And I won't let you go ... where does that leave us?" "I don't know, Alex But what I do know is that I hate it when you use mind-control on me, and I want to return to Walter But, I do care for you ... I think I'm falling in love with you." Mulder chuckled lightly, "Damn, I'm becoming so pathetic." "Why, because you admit you have feelings for me?" Krycek laid his head down on the agent's shoulder; he was still stretched out on top of his lover who had both his arms and legs wrapped possessively around him. "No, because I'm becoming an emotional cripple ... I've never experienced the kind of feelings I have for you or Walter." Mulder sighed, then brushed his hand over Krycek's short, cropped hair and grinned "But, you still have a stupid-ass haircut," he chuckled kissing the top of the younger man's head. "Jerk," Krycek muttered, biting him lightly on the shoulder, then he kissed the side of the agent's throat. The heat of their two bodies being pressed together was causing both men to sweat lightly. Krycek lifted himself up and slithered down Mulder's body, running his tongue over Mulder's sweat dampened skin, tasting his lover's salty flavor He kept licking and tasting the agent as he moved down his chest to his groin The agent squirmed nicely under him, making delicious little noises that sent a jolt to Krycek's cock. Krycek brushed his nose along the side of Mulder's cock - it stood hard against the agent's stomach, he avoided touching it further, instead he pushed the agent's legs further apart Then he took his lover's balls into his mouth, sucking and rolling them around with his tongue He brought his hand under the agent's ass and gently caressed one finger over the puckered opening just teasing back and forth, circling around, not attempting to enter Mulder pushed back against the finger trying to get it into him, making whimpering noises, squirming even more at the erotic torture the younger man was putting him through. Krycek removed his mouth from his lover's balls, sitting back he patted Mulder's thigh "Roll over," he ordered and Mulder complied, turning onto his stomach Krycek grabbed a pillow and placed it under the agent's stomach elevating his hips, stroking his hands down on each side of the agent's hips, then up over the curve of his buttocks The younger man spread his lover's cheeks with his thumbs and lower his head, licking down the crack to the tight opening breathing in and tasting his lover's musky flavor He pushed tentatively with his tongue over Mulder's anus, teasing him gently, then he pushed his tongue in and the muscle tightened down on it. Mulder gasped at the feel of Krycek hot breath on his ass, the younger man's nose and mouth pressed between his buttocks, and the incredible sensation of the moist tongue as it pushed into his body "God!" He had never experienced anything so totally erotic before in his life He pushed back with his butt, spreading his legs further apart to make himself more accessible His cock was painfully hard, brushing against the sheets and leaking non-stop He knew Krycek was going to bring him off just by rimming his ass As the younger man pushed his hot tongue in and out of his lover, Mulder felt a tremor of pleasure shoot down and his spine and he came hard pumping his milky white come into the sheets. Krycek removed his mouth as he felt Mulder's orgasm and reached his hand under the agent's body gathering the last of his lover's semen that pumped out into his hand He used it to lubricate his cock and spread the remainder into the agent's crease. He quickly pushed his cock into the relaxed hole He licked his lips, still tasting his lover's pleasant earthy flavor Krycek sunk all the way into Mulder's body, finding no resistance - his lover purred his consent Mulder was totally relaxed and sated. Krycek reached his hands around Mulder's waist and eased him onto his knees, then started to thrust into him Angling up, he aimed for his lover's prostate, finding it, he managed to push against it each time he drove back in The agent's muscles spasm around his cock and Mulder cried out in pleasure, Krycek reached under the agent and found him hard again The younger man started to stroke the agent's cock as he thrust in and out of his body He pulled out slowly, relishing the feel of the hot, smooth muscles clenching his cock, holding him, he thrust back in He increased the speed and the depth of his cock pounding into his lover's body, grunting each time his balls made contact with the agent's ass Soon he cried out as his orgasm washed over him and he emptied his heat into his lover's body, he felt Mulder's come pour over his hand. When Krycek recovered his breath, he gently eased out of Mulder Helping him roll over onto his side, the younger man laid down facing him Mulder was still panting and the look of pure bliss was painted clearly on his beautiful face Krycek moved closer to him until their chests were pressed together and reached down, pulling the blankets over their cooling bodies He kissed Mulder and wrapped his arm possessively around the agent's slender waist. "Alex?" Mulder murmured as his eyes were drifting shut, shifting uncomfortably. "Mm?" "I'm laying in a wet spot, could you...?" "Sure." Krycek concentrated briefly and the wet spot vanished. "Thanks," Mulder sighed, falling asleep. Krycek didn't fall right to sleep he stayed awake to watch Mulder as he slept This was his favorite pastime besides having sex with the agent He was still overcome by their earlier conversation - after all he had done to him Mulder had forgiven him It made him feel small and unworthy Mulder wouldn't admit it, but he knew that the agent was in love with him, he read it deep down in the agent's thoughts and love overcomes all. Krycek rolled onto his back, bringing Mulder's body against his as he shifted the agent's head to rest on his shoulder Mulder murmured incoherently in his sleep, shifted, throwing an arm across the younger man's chest and a leg over one of Krycek's legs Krycek kissed his sleeping lover's head - he felt total contentment, Mulder would always remember their first night together in his family's home. The question was what to do about Walter Skinner He could no longer threaten Mulder with the man's arrest as a conspirator as a means to get the agent to stay with him Not after the agent had unselfishly forgiven him, but should he permit the Scullys to pursue it alone? Staying out of it wouldn't be advisable; Mulder was very protective of Walter Skinner To threaten to the A.D. would antagonize Mulder, and that he didn't need He would have to convince the Scullys not to pursue the charges. He happily snuggled closer to his lover and let sleep over take him. Miami, Florida Monday, December 28 9:00 a.m. Walter Skinner was pacing angrily back and forth; he should have made telepathic contact with his lover yesterday Something was wrong, and he was going to have long talk with that smug, dapper dweeb For their sakes, they had better get him Mulder's whereabouts or there will be hell to pay He briefly wondered if he could turn Byers into a toad. He left his room and marched purposely down to Byers' room Frohike dashed out of his room and intercepted him "Walter, wait! You're going to need our help if you want Mulder back safely, it won't do you any good to antagonize Byers." Skinner glared angrily at the little man before relaxing and accepting his advice "Okay, Melvin, I trust your judgment However, it's clear that they're not coming to Miami What do you suggest?" "I'll talk to Byers and we'll have Langly check all flight information leaving Havana for Russia It's possible they found another way over to Cuba." "How soon can you have that information?" "It shouldn't take Langly more than a few hours." "Good, I'm going to take a walk I'll be back in a few hours." Skinner headed downstairs and out the front entrance to the hotel It was an ocean side resort, so he headed toward the beach He wanted to clear his thoughts He had been running on auto-pilot from the moment that Fox had fled, he needed to start using his brain. Skinner removed his shoes and rolled up his pants, strolling barefoot through the sand along the waters edge An occasional cold wave washed over his feet and he finally started to relax. If the rat-bastard had taken Fox to Russia, he could use his contacts in the FSB to help him He also had family still over there Although he hadn't seen his relatives since he was a boy, he had kept in contact with them through letters and recently, email. As soon as Frohike found out for sure where Fox was he would start arranging to get him back He would have to return to Washington D.C. and put in for an extended leave from the FBI and pickup his address book. He was comforted by the fact that Fox would return willingly with him and they could continue where they had left off He was still going to ask his lover to marry him, but he doubted it would be on News Years Eve as he had planned. Skinner turned around and headed back toward the hotel in much better spirits than when he had started his walk. Walter Skinner met with Frohike and Byers over lunch "What have you found out?" "There was a flight that left Havana yesterday for St. Petersburg, there were only four adults and two children on the plane The passenger list had their names listed as William O'Brien and his sons Matthew and Daniel, Sasha Mikhailovich, George Hale, and a Nikolai Slava." Frohike read the names off a fax he received from Langly. "How will we be able to find out if it was them?" "Oh, it's them William Scully was visiting Dana when she disappeared from Northridge and he had his son Matthew with him It's too much of a coincidence that William O'Brien has a son named Matthew and we believe Daniel is Dana traveling in disguise How else can a woman move around without attracting immediate attention? George Hale is one of Mulder's aliases, he has several you know." Skinner didn't, but Frohike went on anyway "We speculate that Sasha Mikhailovich is Alex Krycek, because Nikolai Slava is a well-known Russian Gangster." "Good work, men, I've already booked us on the next flight out to D.C I need to tie up some loose ends and make arrangements for a military transport to Europe." There still wasn't any U.S. commercial airplanes allowed outside the U.S. airspace, only military airplanes Something was bothering him about Krycek's alias, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. They finished their lunch and walked back to the hotel, retrieving their luggage, they took a taxi to the airport They would arrive back in D.C. just ahead of curfew. St. Petersburg Matthew played quietly with his blocks in front of the fireplace in the sitting room Dana sat with Bill on a large comfortable sofa reading the London Times, Boris had arranged for the newspaper to be delivered to the apartment for Krycek's American friends. There was a tea service sitting on the breakfast table, with empty plates from lunch Dana had gone down to the kitchen earlier to make tea and sandwiches for her family That was where she met Boris Gudenko, he introduced himself to her and helped with the preparation of the tea. Dana was positive that he didn't see through her disguise Boris had inquired about Krycek and whether he would be up soon. She told him she didn't know, they had not gotten to bed until early this morning and neither Krycek nor Mulder had stirred from their room yet Boris handed her the English newspaper as she headed back to her rooms, informing her that he would wait for Krycek to come down. That was an hour ago and Dana wasn't sure if either man had risen yet. She looked over at Bill; they needed to discuss their family's future; they couldn't stay indefinitely with Krycek. "Bill, when are you going to call Charlie and let him know we're all right?" "I figure that I'll contact one of my navy buddies and have him pass on a message to Charlie The government probably has Charlie and the boys under surveillance by now." Bill set the newspaper down and reached for Matthew, he placed the boy on his lap and hugged him "We have to be careful, Dana, when the heat dies down we can all go live together in Canada, but until then you, me, and Matthew are safer here with Krycek." "Bill, it won't die down anytime soon if we pursue charges of treason against Walter Skinner Skinner has a lot of high level friends and allies And Langly didn't sound too willing to send me the documents, he told me he'd get back to me - there's something going on that he wasn't telling me." Dana had gotten up and was pacing around the small suite. "Relax, sis, everything will work out." "Mulder is never going to forgive me for lying to him Bill, what am I going to do? I love Mulder ... he's been my best friend for the past six years Why can't he see what type of man Walter Skinner is?" Dana was exasperated - how could her partner be so blind? "Dana, that's why we need to go forward with these charges against Skinner When he's on trial and all the evidence is presented, Mulder will see what type of man Skinner is He'll come around ... how could he not?" "Bill, I hope you're right, but Mulder has changed so much since the last time I saw him Damn, I ... hardly know him anymore." Dana rose and collected the dishes, putting them back on the tray "I'm going to take these back to the kitchen, do you want me to bring you back anything?" "No, I'm fine If Krycek is up can you ask him about getting a television set in here ... with cable? Oh, Dana, while you're downstairs see if there's any beer in the fridge." "Bill, this isn't the U.S., I don't know if they even have cable TV here." At his dejected look she replied, "Okay, I'll ask." Krycek had shaved and showered, allowing Mulder to sleep in It was the least he could do after giving his lover quite the workout late this morning He decided to go down to the kitchen and make them both a late brunch His lover hadn't had much food in the last few days and he was determined to get him to eat Krycek walked over to the bed to check on him, making sure Mulder was still peacefully sound asleep. He strolled to the door and smiled happily to himself, it felt good to be back home and with Fox For once his life was looking up, no more undercover work, no more lies, and no more longing for love - finally. Krycek ran into Dana at the staircase and he took the heavy tray from her "Good morning, Dana." "Thanks, Krycek You seem to be in a good mood." She looked at him raising a dainty eyebrow, wondering what he had to be happy about After all, they were both on Mulder's shit list ... or were they? "I'm home and with the man I love What more is there to life than love and happiness?" "Alex, you sound as if Mulder's forgiven you." "Fox ... loves me." Krycek grinned happily. "Mulder told you that?" she asked as they entered the large kitchen Boris was seated at the table reading a magazine he smiled at Krycek when he walked in. "Boris!" Krycek set the tray down as the large, older Russian rose and they embraced warmly. "Alexei, it's good to see you again, my friend." Boris stood back and admired his friend "The work men did a good job in restoring the apartment, didn't they?" "They did an excellent job I was worried you wouldn't be able to find a crew to handle the work." "No problem Alexei, where is Agent Mulder ... I've been looking forward to meeting him?" Boris glanced around meeting Scully's eyes. The two men had been conversing in Russian and she had no idea what they were talking about other than hearing Mulder's name mentioned But there was a disappointed look on Boris's face as he glanced around the kitchen and saw only her. "He is still sleeping Were you able to get his medication reproduced?" "No problem," Boris stated Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out a wooden box, opening it to reveal a glass syringe with replacement needles and several vials of liquid "I have made arrangements for monthly deliveries of the agent's medication to you." "Thank you, Boris." Krycek had become aware of Dana's presence behind him He had completely forgotten that she was there, he turned to face her and said, "Boris, I would like to introduce one of my American friends . .. this is Dana Scully Dana I'd like you to meet an old friend of my family's Boris Gudenko, Boris used to work for my father." Dana stared at him in shock, she couldn't believe that he would give away her identity "We already met early," Dana replied glaring at Krycek. "Yes, the young man was making tea and sandwiches for his father and brother." Boris didn't immediately tie in the differences in the names he was given Until it finally occurred to him "I thought you said your name was Dan O'Brien Just one moment, isn't Dana Scully Agent Mulder's female partner?" "Dana, it's okay, you can trust Boris, he won't betray your identity Boris, this is Agent Mulder's partner Her disappearance from the Northridge compound probably won't make the news I'm sure the Americans want to keep it very quiet." "It's an honor to meet you, Dr. Scully Yours and Agent Mulder's exploits are becoming legendary throughout Russia," Boris replied sincerely. "Thank you, I wasn't aware of that." She looked questioningly at Krycek. "It's true, Scully, the government declassified all the X-Files and writers have been transcribing both yours and Mulder's case notes and reports and publishing them as stories Just a second," Krycek said, going over to the kitchen table and retrieving the Russian magazine Boris was reading He opened it and showed her an illustration of her and Mulder battling what appeared to be Eugene Tooms The artist had exaggerated their bodies, no way were her breasts near that large and Mulder did not have bulging biceps The type was all in Russian so she was unable to make out what it said. Krycek laughed at the shocked expression on her pretty face "They've only published three of your case files so far, The Jersey Devil case, The Tooms case, and the Cecil L'ively case The writer has embellished the stories quite a bit." Scully groaned, "I suppose he left out all of my scientific data and detailed autopsy reports?" "Nope, they actually published all the scientific evidence at the end of the story for anyone who is interested Oh, by the way, this is an English writer and the stories are published in several different foreign magazines." Krycek was really enjoying the look of disgust on Scully's pretty face. "Alex, do you suppose you can get me the English magazines with the stories?" she asked, flipping through the magazine studying the illustrations. "Sure," Krycek answered as he set about taking food out of the refrigerator, he decided to make Mulder and him omelets. "Let me give you a hand, Alexei," Boris said as he brought out a cutting board and knife and started washing and dicing the vegetables and ham. Dana sat down at the table, perusing the magazine "Alex, Bill was wondering if we could get a television in the room and if you had cable access?" "Yeah, there is a satellite dish on the roof, we can get American television broadcasts with it I'll see about having a TV set brought up along with the bed for Matthew." "Thanks." Scully put the magazine down and went over to the refrigerator and removed a couple of bottles of ale "I'm going back up to my room Alex, let me know when Mulder's up I really would like to talk to him." "Dana, I think you should allow him to cool down for a while first before you talk to him It's not very likely that he is going to listen to anything you have to say to him, yet." "Okay, Alex, you're probably right." Boris watched her as she left the room and turned back to Krycek "She doesn't look much like the illustrations in the magazine, she much smaller." "Yeah, but she's a lot tougher than she looks." "It sounded like there is a problem between her and Agent Mulder - can I ask what it is?" Krycek explained the past week to Boris as they cooked He took out a serving tray and placed two plates of food on it and poured some orange juice into two glasses then decided to add a splash of vodka to each glass. "Agent Mulder seems to have more excitement in a week then most men have in a lifetime, but I'm surprised that he has forgiven you." "Me too, Boris, me too," Krycek sighed knowing how really lucky he was "I better get back up to Fox ... he should be up by now." Krycek picked up the food-laden tray and carried it back up to their bedroom. When he arrived, Mulder was no longer in bed Krycek heard the shower running in the bathroom Setting the tray of food down on the table, he walked into the bathroom The shower was white marble with an eight inch ridge around the bottom to hold the water in, it was in the corner of the large bathroom and completely open to the room. Mulder had his back to him when he entered; he was washing his hair It gave Krycek a nice view of the marks on his lover's body from their rough love making a couple of hours ago There was a large bite mark on the agent's left buttock, bruises on his hips made by the younger man's hands, and a scratch mark down his graceful back In a few hours, the marks would be completely gone Mulder must have sensed him because he glanced over his shoulder and smiled seductively. Krycek quickly shrugged out of his clothing and joined his lover under the showers hot spray As the water cascaded off their hard bodies, Mulder picked up a bar of soap and gently started to wash and caress the flesh on Krycek's chest He moved in circular patterns across the younger man's nipples, he pinched them between his thumb and forefinger then lowered his mouth suck each of them in turn Krycek moaned and grabbed the agent's head and held it against his chest as his fingers twined through Mulder's thick, wet hair Mulder bit his left nipple, causing it to rise into a hard pebble Krycek gasped and pulled his lover back upright Licking the agent's lips with his tongue, he brought his mouth beside Mulder's ear hugging him tight "My turn," he whispered. Krycek was going to make his lover scream from pleasure as his mouth started to explore The younger man started at Mulder's ear and swirled his tongue in and then raked his teeth over the lobe Krycek held Mulder's head steady within his firm hands as he licked and bit the side of his throat leaving another mark of ownership on the agent. The triple agent moved his mouth down to Mulder's collarbone, tasting every soapy inch of him When he reached the agent's nipples, he mimicked the attention Mulder had shown him moments earlier, causing his lover to dig his fingers into his shoulders and whimper Krycek knelt on the hard marble surface of the shower, moving his attention to the FBI man's bellybutton Mulder groaned he was fully erect and his swollen cock stood straight up, brushing against his belly and Krycek's lips as the younger man continued to torment the agent's oversensitive bellybutton Krycek stopped and leaned back to admire him, Mulder was already leaking copious amounts of pre-cum, and Krycek grasped his heavy sacks and rolled them in his hand as he licked and tasted the agent's cock He tasted like heaven - both salty and sweet The younger man ran his tongue over the length of him, then took the first few inches into his mouth Krycek raked his teeth along Mulder's length sucking lightly before relaxing his throat to take almost his whole length in. Mulder groaned and grasped Krycek's head in his hands and started to thrust into that hot, wet, warmth The triple agent brought his hand around his lover's hips and between his buttocks, inserting two soapy fingers into the tight opening His other hand cradled and rolled the agent's balls, he felt them creeping up as he finger fucked him stroking unerringly over his prostate He kept up his torment until Mulder came, shooting his milky white come down his younger lover's throat. Krycek greedily swallowed, he easily kept up with the flow He allowed the agent's softening penis to slip from his mouth, still keeping his fingers in his lover's ass, he slowly rose Pulling Mulder's body tightly against his, he twisted and wiggled his fingers, enlisting another gasp and pushed his hard erection into the agent's side. Krycek slicked up his cock with soap and turned Mulder around to face the shower wall The agent braced his arms against the white marble surface, spreading his legs and bending over to give his lover the best position to penetrate him Krycek wrapped one arm around Mulder's slim waist and used the other to guide his cock into position, holding him steady he pushed his thick organ into to the agent's tight hole in one fluid motion. Krycek leaned against Mulder's back and held him closely to his chest just savoring the feeling of being within that silky, hot body He latched his mouth onto the agent's shoulder and reached his hand down to Mulder's cock finding him partially erect He started to stroke him until he was hard again then started thrusting in and out of his lover's body Krycek felt Mulder's orgasm as he came in the stroking hand The anal muscles in his lover's ass tightened around the triple agent's thick length, causing his orgasm and he shot his hot release deep into his lover's bowels. They held each other tightly as they sunk to the floor of the shower still attached Krycek's thighs were under Mulder's ass supporting him and the agent leaned back against his chest turning his head slightly to capture the younger man's lips They moaned into each other's mouths "Food's getting cold," Krycek murmured softly into Mulder's mouth. "There is no such thing as cold food when you're living with a sorcerer Just wiggle your nose like Samantha on Bewitched used to do and reheat it." Mulder laughed, running his tongue over Krycek's nose "You know, your nose is sort of shaped like Samantha Steven's nose." "Oh, thanks a lot," he muttered, pushing the agent off his lap as his softening penis slipped out of his body As he stood up, shutting off the water, which had gone cold, he reached back down to help his laughing lover up Krycek grabbed a towel from the rack and dried them both off They each pulled on soft sweatpants and T-shirts. Mulder walked over to the table and removed the metal lids covering the plates of food that were still steaming underneath He looked up at Krycek and grinned, the triple agent started to pay extra attention to the ceiling because he wasn't about to admit to Mulder that he had used his powers to keep the food hot. Mulder picked up the glass of orange juice and took a big sip and started coughing "Damn, what is it with you Russians and vodka?" he wheezed out. Krycek smiled happily, sitting down at the small table next to Mulder He removed the plates from the tray and handed the agent a fork "Shut up and eat." Mulder took a small taste and grinned satisfied and started to eat the remainder hungrily "Mm, this is delicious I didn't know you could cook." he murmured between mouthfuls. "I had one of my family servants teach me how I wanted to surprise my mother for her birthday by making breakfast." Krycek smiled at the memory of how touched his mother was "My mother wasn't in the best of health, she hardly got out of bed after I was born It used to make me feel good to be able to cook for her - she was so delicate." Mulder put a comforting hand on Krycek's arm "I'm sorry," he murmured seeing a whole new side to his lover. Krycek put his hand over Mulder's Wrapping his fingers around the agent's hand, he brought it to his lips kissing each of his lover's long elegant fingers Fox had beautiful, long, graceful hands. "There's a portrait of her in the parlor above the fireplace If you're interested, I'll show you my family's photo album someday?" "Yes, I would love to see it What was your mother's name?" "Aleksandra." They finished the remainder of the meal in companionable silence. Krycek brought the tray of dirty dishes down to the kitchen. Mulder curled up in front of the fireplace and closed his eyes picturing Walter Skinner's face He smiled, soon Walter, he told the image. We'll be back together again - soon. Viva Towers Washington D.C. Thursday, December 31 7:10 p.m. Walter Skinner had finished packing for his long journey, he had arranged for an Air Force plane to fly him and Frohike to Germany From there, they would drive to Moscow where his contacts and remaining family members were, he had three uncles and a large number of cousins still living there. Walter walked over to the dresser and gazed at the collection of family photos he had on display He picked up a very old black and white photo of his mother - Aleksandra It was taken forty years ago in 1958 just before she died After her death, his father had defected with him and his sister to the United States His mother was very lovely, she had dark black hair and he could still remember her emerald green eyes covered by thick lashes. She looked like a pixy He hadn't studied her photo in years and was surprised as a sense of déjà vu that washed over him as he stared at her features Something tugged at the back of his mind, but he shook his head unable to pinpoint it. He placed the picture back on the dresser, what he wanted was a photo of his lover He grabbed the photo of Fox he had taken a couple of weeks ago and put it into his suitcase He'd been carrying an old photo from the agent's personnel file, which he'd had hidden in his wallet for years He grinned, that was one secret that he had never told Fox. The buzzer rang from the lobby door and he flicked the intercom switch on "I'll be right down, Melvin." He didn't know what he would have done without the little man Frohike had become a source of strength and comfort to him during his search for Fox It felt good to have someone who understood and was willing to help with no thought to himself He felt embarrassed about the first opinion he had of Mulder's weird friends, how wrong he had been. Skinner slung his carry-on over his shoulder along with his laptop case and pushed his large suitcase and garment case in front of him He looked back once at the condominium He would either return with his lover or not at all. Chapter 10 – Nikolai Slava Moscow The expansive office space was dimly lit and richly furnished, in front of the huge set of double doors was a raised platform two steps up from the floor, upon it sat a large glass desk Behind the desk sat Nikolai Slava, he had just returned from St. Petersburg, dealing swift punishment to an employee who had embezzled from him Only fools tried to steal from him and death was their reward, but with this fool he was generous and only had his hands removed. If it weren't for this man embezzling money from him, he would never have flown to St. Petersburg Then he wouldn't have met Special Agent Fox Mulder on the flight over Fox Mulder had just become his special project; there was no way he could leave the beautiful FBI man alone He was a collector of priceless artifacts: paintings by the great masters, sculptures, priceless gems, and antiques ... the agent was such an artifact to be owned and admired. Slava looked down at the young man seated on a pillow by his feet Dmitry was a pretty man in his late twenties, with coal black hair and eyes He had owned Dmitry for over six years and the young man had served him faithfully, providing for his sexual needs But Dmitry had none of Mulder's classic beauty, grace, or intelligence. He would reward the young man for his services by giving him back his freedom He would no longer need Dmitry once he had possession of the FBI man His slave stared lovingly up at him licking his lips Slava spread his legs apart, there was no need for words ... vocal or telepathic ... he had trained him well Dmitry crawled between his legs and unfastened the zipper to his expensive trousers and pulled his cock out The young man then took him in his mouth, licking and sucking the bulbous head of Slava's large twelve- inch cock Slava imagined it was Fox Mulder that knelt before him and that it was his full lips blowing him That thought deeply aroused him and his cock swelled. Guarding the doors to his office were four large Neanderthals, two on the inside and two on the outside Slava employed an army of them to police his properties and mete out punishment The two that stood guard on the inside shifted uncomfortably as bulges tented their pants. Slava smiled sadistically, the n'thrals had strong sex drives and he loved to torment them by having in sex in front of them They were not allowed to move or touch themselves They knew the punishment for that would be extremely painful He had fine-tuned his skills for physical torture using his powers as a sorcerer With just one look he could have them howling in pain as all their nerve endings caught fire. Slava looked down at the head in his lap His slave was starting to age he had a bald spot, and faint wrinkles forming around his eyes It was a good time for him to get rid of the young man He could not tolerate imperfection He grabbed Dmitry's ears and used them as handles as he thrust his thick cock into his slave's mouth Dmitry attempted not to gag as the large organ pushed deeply into his throat, after years of practice he was able to handle the thickness, but the incredible length still gave him a problem Slava had set a bruising pace of thrusting in and out of his slave's mouth, paying no attention to the comfort of the younger man. He thrust in deeply one last time and came hard, he did not pull out until he had pumped his load down his slave's throat Dmitry learned to swallow fast and thoroughly lick his master clean with his tongue There would be a beating if any of the semen stained his owner's trousers. "Very good, Dmitry," Slava praised him as the young man tucked him back in and zipped him up. "I will be giving you your freedom soon." Instead of a look of appreciation, there was a look of anguish on the young man's pretty face Despite his circumstance, Dmitry had fallen in love with Nikolai Slava Slava had pampered him and dressed him in expensive clothing and jewelry. "Master, have I done something to displease you?" "No, that is why I'm giving you your freedom." "Please, Master, don't make me leave you." He was close to tears. "I will offer you a choice, Dmitry Your freedom or the auction block Choose?" Slava was getting tired of the young man's whining. "Mmy ... my ... freedom," he stuttered. "Good, you may leave after you've trained your replacement Until then I expect the same service from you." "Yes, Master." Dmitry sat back on the pillow He would take care of his replacement; no one serviced his master except him. Slava turned his attention back to the laptop on his desk He had many enterprises throughout Russia and Eastern Europe and he had been expanding globally The largest and fastest growing business was the slave trade It had been the smallest part of his enterprise before the attempted alien invasion, but now it had surpassed drug trafficking, extortion, loan-sharking, gambling, and the black market. The New World needed laborers and prostitutes, and he provided both for a price The basements below several buildings and warehouses in Moscow, Kasan, Omsk, and St. Petersburg were full of young men and boys abducted from around the world They were being trained and conditioned for their future roles in life. There was a high demand for attractive young men He had received requests from the warlords and dictators, who had taken over most of the world's countries A majority of the new rulers were Neanderthals who had taken control by sheer force and intimidation The n'thral's sexual appetites were uncontrollable and they were back repeatedly to purchase new slaves. The underground auction houses were packed the first Saturday night of every month with their massive, sweaty bodies, along with more dignified buyers The prices for the most beautiful men went through the roof Nikolai had agents in countries around the world looking for the most exquisite men He'd had them kidnapped, then conditioned and trained on how to provide for their master's needs The handsome Cossack found he could demand more money for a well-trained sex slave and virgins garnered the highest bids. Slava was planning a trip back to St. Petersburg tomorrow He was going to handle kidnapping Fox Mulder himself Alexei Krycek was far too dangerous for any of his other operatives to deal with Besides, it would give him great pleasure to take the FBI man right out from under Krycek's nose They had been bitter enemies for years now. St. Petersburg Thursday, December 31 4:00 p.m. Mulder hadn't ventured out of his and Krycek's room since they arrived He knew it was to avoid Scully, but he couldn't face her right now He no longer thought of her as his partner; partners didn't lie to one another or betray their trust But ... whom was he fooling? Walter and Alex had also lied to him and didn't confide in him. It was New Years Eve and tomorrow would be 1999, the last year of this century Mulder reminisced about watching the New Years celebrations on television all alone last year He liked hearing the psychic predictions for the New Year, unfortunately they were all way off, last year He needed to get out of this room Maybe, if he was careful, he wouldn't run into Scully. Mulder listened at the door before opening it and stepping out into the expansive hallway He walked to the top of the curved staircase, listening carefully before heading down The agent headed across the foyer toward the parlor after he heard voices coming from the direction of the kitchen He knew Alex was in the kitchen and assumed his lover was talking to Scully. Mulder entered the parlor and turned on the light switch Looking around room, his gaze drifted to the painting over the fireplace He had been too distracted when Alex gave them the tour of his home . . he hadn't noticed the painting A light of recognition went off in his head immediately upon seeing it He walked up to get a closer look The woman in the painting was beautiful and her resemblance to Krycek was uncanny As much as a woman and man could look alike, she looked like Alex He imagined when Alex was teenager they must have looked like twins. However, it wasn't the resemblance that surprised the agent; it was the fact that Walter Skinner had a photo of the same woman It was on the dresser in their bedroom in D.C., Walter had told him it was a photo of his mother At the time, Mulder had seen the resemblance to Alex in the photo, but didn't want to antagonize Walter by mentioning it. Mulder thought back to the story Walter had told him of his mother's death and his father's defection from the Soviet Union, shortly after That was in 1958 and Walter was six years old at the time Mulder quickly did the math in his head, so, Alex wouldn't have been born until five years later They were half-brothers ... this was too good He smiled as he thought of their reactions to finding that out Still, he wondered what the whole story was behind this beautiful woman in the portrait and her faked death. He was so lost in thought staring at the painting that he didn't hear Scully as she walked up behind him "She's very lovely, isn't she?" Mulder's shoulders tensed at the sound of her voice, he closed his eyes briefly trying to relax "Yes, she is." "Mulder ... I really am sorry for lying to you I hope that you will be able to forgive me ... someday." "Scully ... people have been lying to me all of my life ... I never expected it from you, too You hurt me more than I can say . . please don't expect my forgiveness anytime soon It's not going to happen!" Mulder turned around and quickly left the room. Scully sat down sadly on the sofa, knowing that she really blew it big time with her partner. Mulder rushed back up to his and Krycek's bedroom, it was a mistake to have left it Scully had hurt him deep inside, her presence brought back all the memories of their partnership They had worked so well together and knew each other inside and out ... but now they were strangers. *Agent Mulder.* Mulder glanced around quickly upon hearing the voice in his head. *What? Who are you?* he asked silently back. *We met on the airplane ... I'm Nikolai Slava.*/p> *What do you want?* A cold shiver ran down the agent's spine. *I want to help you, Agent Mulder.*/p> *Why?*/p> *I'm a businessman, Agent Mulder, and for a price I will help you return to D.C. and back to your lover.*/p> *How do I know you're telling me the truth?*/p> *I know about the large inheritance that you received after your father's death For say, five hundred thousand dollars, I will help you escape and personally see that you are returned safely to D.C.*/p> Mulder considered briefly, it was a lot of money, but it would be worth it to return to Walter There was no way he could leave without Alex finding out and stopping him. *Don't worry about Alexei, Agent Mulder, he will never know.*/p> *Alex is constantly scanning my thoughts. There is no way he could not know ... I couldn't leave this apartment without him finding out.*/p> *With my help you can Are we in agreement on the price?*/p> *Yes What do I have to do?*/p> Down in the street in the back of a long, black limousine Slava smiled, the agent had taken the bait. *Pack up what you need and when I tell you, walk down the stairs and out the front door Take the elevator down and go outside I will pick you up in front of the building, then take you to the airport From there, we'll fly to Havana and hire a boat to take us to your United States.*/p> *Okay.* Mulder had a bad feeling about this, but decided it was worth the risk to be back with Walter. Mulder retrieved his carry-on from the armoire, and started putting his few meager possessions into it, placing the wooden box containing his medication on top of his clothing He felt a tightness in his chest He had grown so attached to Alex that he was finding it difficult to leave him He couldn't leave without letting Alex know how he felt, so he took out some notepaper and started writing his lover a letter. In the back of the limousine Nikolai Slava concentrated on the other people in the apartment, it would be so easy just to kill them all and take Mulder by force However, he wanted Alexei to know how powerful he was and that Fox Mulder now belonged to him In addition, tricking the intelligent FBI man had added to his pleasure. The four people in the kitchen found themselves growing sleepy Before long the three adults had their heads down on the table and the little boy lay curled up on the floor - they were all deeply asleep. Mulder reread what he wrote, then put the letter on top of Krycek's pillow on the bed. *It's time, Agent Mulder.*/p> Mulder pulled his coat on and picked up his bag he quickly left the room, hurrying down the stairs and out the front door He didn't have to wait for the elevator it stood open waiting for him There was something ominous about the gaping elevator, he reluctantly stepped in and it started down before he could push the button He exited the elevator in the lobby and cautiously headed for the front door. Just outside was a black limousine and a huge n'thral stood holding the back door open for him He steeled himself as climbed into the large back seat Wrapping his coat more tightly around him, he sat across from Nikolai Slava, putting his bag on the floor by his feet. "Agent Mulder, it is so good to see you again," Slava said as the n'thral shut the car door and climbed into the driver's seat he started the car and pulled away from the curb. "Mr. Slava, how soon does our plane leave?" Mulder wanted to keep the conversation all business; he didn't like the way that Slava was looking at him. "There's been a slight change of plans." Slava smiled charmingly. "What do you mean?" Mulder felt his gut sinking, he knew instantly that he was in deep shit. "Now that I have you ... do you honestly think that I will ever let you go?" "We had a deal! If you want more money ... I can give you everything I inherited from my father ... there's over two million dollars," Mulder replied nervously. "My dear, Fox, money isn't the issue If I wanted money ... I would put you on the auction block and easily get a hundred times that amount You have absolutely no idea of your worth ... do you?" "What do you want?" "Sex ... obedience ... loyalty." "I will never give you any of those, bastard!" the agent hissed, trying the door handle in vain. Slava moved to sit beside the outraged younger man Mulder scooted away from him only to have his wrist grabbed and an arm wrapped around his slim waist, pulling him back close against the larger man's muscular body Slava smelled nice like expensive cologne not rancid like Henderson or any of the past men that had tried unsuccessfully to molest him Mulder tried to elbow the Cossack in the ribs, but he was held too firmly and couldn't move his arms at all. "I'm not asking you to give me anything, moi krasivy Fox, I prefer to take what I want." Slava pushed him down onto the seat and covered Mulder's lanky body with his much larger, muscular one He easily outweighed the agent by at least sixty pounds and was five inches taller than him. Mulder struggled underneath the larger man, one hand broke free his other arm was trapped between his body and the back seat Slava grabbed the agent's free wrist in a steel grip and held it down at his side, with his other hand he explored the agent's body He pulled the shirt free from Mulder's pants and reached his hand under, feeling the smooth, warm skin. "Get you filthy fucking hands off me, you goddamn mother-fucker!" Mulder bellowed, bucking, trying desperately to get away. "Now, now, we'll have none of that language If you can't talk nice then you'll have to hold your tongue," Slava murmured, pleasantly. Mulder started to tell Slava where he could shove that advice, but found himself unable to speak. Slava enjoyed the shocked expression on the agent's face ... he was so fucking beautiful "Enough!" He sat up becoming impatient he wanted Mulder naked, now. "Remove your clothes, Fox." The agent didn't move; he just glared angrily at him. "NOW!" Mulder jumped at the loud command and watched helplessly as he lost control over his actions and started doing as ordered He shrugged out of the thick cashmere coat Alex had given him for Christmas Slava took the coat from him and hung it on a hanger by the car door "We wouldn't want to ruin such a lovely coat." The agent continued undressing, he glanced up as he was removing his boxer shorts and caught the eye of the n'thral driver who was staring lustfully back at him through the rear view mirror Maybe he'd get lucky and die in a car crash before anything else happened. Hearing Mulder's thoughts Slava turned angrily to his driver "Keep your eyes on the road," he snarled in Russian. Slava turned back to the agent who had finished removing the last of his clothes He drank in the sight of him Fox had a beautiful body long, lean, and well-toned muscles - not an ounce of fat on him He had very little hair on his chest and legs, and thick pubic hair running down from below his bellybutton to his groin Slava would have him shaved when he got the agent home; he didn't abide body hair on his lovers. "Lay down on your back, knees up, and spread your legs." Mulder did as ordered and Slava continued his inspection The Cossack smiled, unlike so many men, the agent did not have any hair covering his cleft or puckered opening - this should make his first time with the agent more enjoyable. Slava ran his hand down the agent's long leg and stopped at his ankle, he lifted the foot onto his lap Admiring the its perfect shape, he lowered his head and sucked on each of Mulder's toes as his hands massaged it. The handsome Cossack lowered the foot, then went back to studying the reclining body before him Everything he saw was perfection: hands, arms, legs, and cock. "Turn over and put yours knees under you." Mulder found it difficult maneuvering his body on the narrow car seat, there wasn't much space for turning, but he managed to do as ordered. Slava admired the cat like grace with which the agent moved When Mulder was kneeling with his legs tucked under him and his ass elevated, Nikolai knelt behind him and caressed the agent's back He ran his fingers over the FBI man's spine, stopping at his ass. "Spread your legs wider apart, moi krasivy Fox." Mulder shifted his legs apart exposing more of himself to the Cossack's touch. Nikolai brushed a finger over the tight puckered opening The Russian was painfully hard and his cock was straining against the front of his pants Playing with the agent's tight opening only made him harder as he imagined his large cock possessing this body. Slava opened his pants and pulled his large organ free "Moi krasivy Fox, you will soon forget your other lovers after you've had my thick, twelve inches of hard meat in you, you'll soon be begging me for it." Mulder gasped when he glanced over his shoulder at the Cossack's massive organ That was going to hurt, how did he get himself into these situations? Mulder put his head back down on his arms, trying to block out what was about to happen. "No you don't ... pay attention, beautiful." Slava slapped Mulder's ass hard He pushed in two dry fingers; he wanted the agent's undivided attention, so he roughly and painfully stretched him Slava reached into a small compartment in the door and pulled out a tube of lubricant He eased his fingers out and inserted the nozzle of the bottle up the agent's tight anus and squeezed a generous amount of lubricant into him He pulled the nozzle free and squirted some into his hand, coating his cock Then he eased three greased fingers into the agent and pushed the lube in deeper He wanted to drive all the way to his root in that firm little ass. The Cossack removed his fingers and replaced them with the tip of his fat, bulbous cock Mulder felt large, hard object spread his cheeks apart, and the thick head push against his small opening, damn he was too thick, the agent tried to relax, but his muscles tensed up as Slava forced his cock in Mulder screamed in pain when the thick head popped into his anus, stretching his sphincter muscle unbearably taut The Russian's hands dug into the agent's hips as pushed his cock in further He pulled back on the agent's hips, going in deeper and deeper against the resisting muscles Mulder felt like he was being ripped in two, he had never been filled this tightly or entered as deeply and the bastard was still pushing his cock in deeper. "Mm, moi krasivy Fox, you are so fucking exquisite," Slava exclaimed when he was fully seated within the agent's hot body. Slava leaned back and admired their joined bodies Mulder was visibly quivering trying to adjust to the unwelcome invasion up his rectum The Russian caressed the smaller man's body, feeling the trembling muscles under his fingertips he tried to soothe him "In time, moi Fox, you will come to appreciate my length and girth." Mulder thought that would be impossible; the pain was too great, but he didn't plan on staying that long to find out; he would escape first chance he got. "There is no escape," the Cossack murmured Reaching underneath Mulder's hips and found his limp penis Slava wanted Mulder to be hard with arousal as he was thrusting into him so he started stroking and manipulating the FBI man's penis, until against its owner will, it started to harden and swell The muscles in Mulder's ass had started to relax allowing the large Cossack pulled out part way, feeling the silky, hot passage grip his cock He angled his cock so the mushroom shape head would rub against the agent's prostate. Slava started slowly thrusting into the agent's body and stroking his hard, swollen cock Mulder started moaning as his body betrayed him, he became awash with sensations of pleasure that over shadowed the pain and brutality of being raped and opened His cock was straining against his belly as the Cossack's fingers gripped and stroked it His mind was screaming his outrage ... but his body continued to shut him out. The Cossack pulled all the way out and roughly flipped Mulder over onto his back He leveraged the agent's legs onto his shoulders and reentered him in one fluid stroke They were both sweating and Mulder felt his sweat dampened back sliding on the leather car seat each time the Russian thrust into him Two more hard thrusts and he came shooting milky white semen spurted over his chest and stomach. The large Cossack continued to thrust and pound into the agent's body for what seemed like hours to Mulder Finally, he felt the cock impaling him, thicken and hot fluid was pumped into his bowels. Slava allowed the agent to lower his legs, but he did not pull out of him He sat back with Mulder's bare ass resting on his cloth covered thighs and the agent's feet were on the leather car seat on each side of the large Cossack's body Both men were breathing heavily. Slava finally pulled his softening penis out slowly out inch by inch, still relishing the feel of the FBI man's hot body He hadn't come so hard in years and had never enjoyed fucking anyone as much as this beautiful young man He was going to have many decades of sheer bliss with Fox as his lover After all, the agent was an immortal - he would remain young and beautiful - forever. Nikolai Slava lay over Mulder's body and captured his mouth in a deeply possessive kiss Not caring that the agent semen was staining his elegant suit He wanted ... no he needed to taste him, the agent was intoxicating, never had he experienced anyone so sensual He was becoming hard again Oh, they had a long drive to Moscow and he planned on enjoying the trip all the way there. Up in the driver's seat, a very sweaty and aroused n'thral sat stiffly The front of his pants was drenched in cum The smell of the young man in the back seat was making him hard again and he weighed the odds of killing the crime Tsar and taking Mulder for himself. St. Petersburg Friday, January 1 2:00 a.m. Alex Krycek jerked instantly awake and glanced around him in a panic Bill and Dana were still sleeping with their heads on the table Matthew was standing next to his chair hitting his leg and crying It was Matthew, who had woken him Krycek pushed his mind out looking for Fox When he couldn't locate him in the house, he expanded his search to as far as his powers could reach. Mulder was out of his range Could Skinner have gotten past his defenses and snatched him? It hardly seemed likely, although, Skinner was remarkably stronger the last time he saw him It was only a matter of time before the A.D. surpassed him Krycek had unconsciously picked up the crying boy and was soothing him as he shook Bill awake No it couldn't be Skinner, he knew the older man's essence from past encounters and he would easily be able to sense him. Bill woke startled, "What ... where?" He took Matthew from Krycek. Krycek rose and started pacing If Skinner didn't have Fox, who else could have gotten through? Slava! That *fucking* Cossack He should have killed that man years ago when their paths first crossed. "Damn!" Krycek slammed his foot into the wall breaking the plaster. Matthew started to cry again - afraid. "Alex, what's wrong?" Dana asked, waking up to all the noise. "Fox, has been kidnapped, again Goddamnit! Can't we have one fucking moment of happiness together? I'll rip that fucking Cossack's heart out when I get my hands on him!" Krycek put two more holes in the plaster wall. "Alex ... calm down, who has Mulder?" "Nikolai Slava that man who was on airplane with us on the flight here The bastard's a sorcerer, and he's also the most powerful crime Tsar in all of Eastern Europe." "Where would he take Mulder? Damn it, Alex, we have to find him!" Dana was fighting mad, Mulder may not have forgiven her, but that didn't matter, no-one hurts her partner. "I ... don't know Slava has businesses and residences throughout Russia and Eastern Europe ... he could have taken Fox anywhere." "Can you get a list of locations? We'll drive to each one and if Mulder is within ten miles you should be able to make mental contact with him." "Dana, you don't understand ... Slava is a stronger sorcerer than I am and he knows my brain patterns He will be able to detect me within a twenty-mile radius He'll never allow me to get close enough to discover Mulder's location or make telepathic contact with him." "Alex, we have to try ... what else can we do?" "I don't know, Scully, just let me think." Tears were streaming down Krycek's face, please don't let him hurt Fox He should have let his lover return to Skinner It was safer for Fox in the United States there were more people to guard and protect him. Fuck, why did he have to be so selfish? Krycek had wandered into the parlor and stared up at the only person other than Fox that he had loved with all his heart "Mother, what am I going to do?" Krycek sat down in a chair by the fireplace, putting his head down he sobbed into his hands Through his grief and fear, he didn't notice the room getting colder or the white mist forming in front of him Krycek felt a soft touch of lips on the top of his head and the sweet smell of Lily of the Valley filled his senses He looked up into the angelic face of his mother. She was semi-transparent and a warm golden glow surrounded her form. "Mother!" "Alyosha Call your brother." "I don't have a brother." Krycek looked at her in awe and confusion she had used her pet name for him. "Call Vladimir," she murmured before fading away. "Wait, mother, who's Vladimir?" Krycek leapt from the chair and searched the room for her. On a small desk the receiver from on the telephone lifted up suspended in air Krycek walked over and snatched it - when he did the buttons on the telephone started to press down on their own Krycek lifted the receiver to his ear. "Skinner," the brisk voice on the other end answered. Airborne Friday, January 1 2:30 a.m. Walter Skinner spent most of the flight to Germany doing reports on his laptop He had fallen way behind on his paperwork and was making a valiant attempt to catch up The Director had approved his leave of absence with full pay, he was anxious to have Agent Mulder back, too. The agent had garnered a good name for the bureau with the public It was important to maintain the public's trust and confidence It didn't look good to have the countries most celebrated hero staying in Russia The FBI decided to keep the latest development quiet, until the A.D. could bring the agent back home. "How long has it been since you've seen your relatives, Walter?" Frohike asked, trying to relieve his boredom. "Forty years," the A.D. answered still typing on his laptop. "What made your father defect?" Skinner sighed and saved his report and shut down the laptop He wasn't going to get anymore work done, now that Frohike was in one of his talkative moods. "I was only six years old when we moved to the States My father never really told me the reason he left Russia, but I always assumed it was to get away from painful memories of my mother Since we left immediately after her death." "How did she die?" "She was hit by a car My father broke the news to my sister and I, after she didn't come home from work Both my parents worked for the Soviet government back then." "At least going to Russia will give you a chance to visit your mother's grave, again." "Yeah, hopefully one of my father's brothers will know where it is My sister and I didn't attend her funeral The only thing I have to remind me of her is an old photograph." Skinner's cell-phone rang and he picked it up. "Skinner," he said into the telephone And waited for the person on the other end to response "Hello, who's this?" he asked, growing impatient. "You wouldn't happen to know a Vladimir?" Krycek asked weakly, recovering from his brief surprise. "Krycek, what the fuck do you want? If you've hurt Fox ... I'll ... " "Just shut up and listen! This concerns Fox His life may depend on your answer ... do you know anyone named Vladimir?" Krycek asked anxiously. "Besides myself ... no What is this about? What's happened to Fox?" "What do you mean, besides yourself? Your name isn't Vladimir." "It was before my father had it changed to Walter Why are we having this conversation?" he growled. "What's ... what's your mother's name?" Krycek asked in a small nervous voice, staring up at the portrait of his mother. "Aleksandra Mikhailovna," Skinner answered harshly. "Fuck." Being the only word Krycek could get out, as he sank down into the desk chair, holding the telephone loosely in his hand. "Krycek?" "I think you better ... meet me in St. Petersburg as soon as possible I'll have a car waiting to pick you up at the airport How soon can you get here?" "I'm on an U.S. Air Force plane now heading for Germany If you could obtain clearance for it to land at the St. Petersburg airport, I could be there in two hours Now what is this about?" "I'll get you the clearance, see you in two hours - moi brat." Skinner listened angrily to the dial tone for several moments, before putting the cell phone back in his pocket What was that all about? Moreover, what had Krycek meant by calling him - his brother? Moscow Friday, January 1 3:00 a.m. The limousine pulled into the private, underground, parking garage The massive n'thral eased his frame out from behind the steering wheel He walked stiffly around to open his master's door as several n'thral guards rushed over to assist. As Slava stepped out, he reached a hand back to gently helped Mulder to his feet He had helped the agent back into his clothing shortly before they arrived Mulder swayed wobbly on his feet, only the Cossack's arm wrapped around his waist was keeping him standing He had never felt so exhausted and sore - every muscle in his body ached His hair was tousled and his lips felt swollen, he stumbled slightly, and Slava braced him even tighter in his arms. Three n'thral guards stared in awed admiration at the beautiful agent So, this man was taking Dmitry's place in their master's bed No wonder their master wanted to get rid of his other slave, Dmitry didn't even close to this man's beauty The smell of sex hung strong around their master and his new slave and the three guards shifted stiffly from arousal. "Come, moi Fox, I'll show you your new home." The captain of the guard stared in shock at the gentleness with which their master treated his new slave His master was never gentle with anyone and here he was falling all over himself for this beautiful young man. "Captain!" Slava called. "Yes, my Tsar." "I want my tailors here by noon and have a guard remove Dmitry's belongings from my rooms Have them taken to the servant quarters!" Slava barked his orders at the guard "Come along, moi love," he murmured lovingly to Mulder Guiding him into the elevator, he made sure that none of his guards were close enough to even touch him The agent leaned back into the comfort of his arms too exhausted to even think clearly, he needed sleep desperately. "Don't worry, moi Fox, you'll get to sleep soon I'll tuck you in and even tell you a bedtime story," Nikolai teased affectionately, hugging the agent close. The elevator opened into Slava's private living quarters where two more n'thrals stood guard in front of the elevator There were always guards posted there, whether he was home or not. Dmitry had come into the room, hearing his master was home, he was anxious for his company He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the man held lovingly in his master's arms. "Dmitry, Captain Mikhin will show you to your new quarters." "I ... I thought you wanted me to train my replacement," Dmitry stammered. "My dear, Dmitry Fox isn't your replacement, he is far too noble to be a mere slave," Slava replied, kissing the agent's cheek Mulder only was able to understand a few words of what was being said, he knew very little Russian. Jealousy raged in the young Russian's heart, walking toward the elevator, he pretended to do as his master ordered Dmitry pulled a long knife from the folds of his clothing, and before anyone could stop him, he plunged the blade into the agent's chest piercing his heart. Slava had been distracted by Mulder and hadn't picked up Dmitry's intention from his mind. "No!" Slava cried, cradling the agent as his lifeless body collapsed in his muscular arms Blood soaked his clothing as he quickly scooped Mulder's body up in his strong arms, holding him cradled against his chest he carried him into the bedroom and laid him gently on the bed. Mulder's dark eyelashes lay tranquilly against his pale bloodless cheeks; his lips had taken on a blue tint His heart was no longer beating, and he wasn't breathing - dead Slava stared down at him in shock Mulder was an immortal he couldn't be dead - could he? Slava tore away the bloody shirt exposing the agent's damaged chest Getting up, he went into the bathroom and grabbed clean towels, filling a pitcher with warm soapy water, he brought it back to the agent. Slava set to work cleaning away the blood from the quiescent body before him as long minutes passed His hands were shaking as he touched the wound *don't be dead* he repeated over, and over in his mind, but Mulder's skin felt so cold Suddenly as if responding to his silent plea, the agent's body jerked as his heart started beating again and air surged into lungs The alien virus had repaired the damage to Mulder's heart and set about repairing the damage done to his brain from going without oxygen for so long. The handsome Cossack sighed He had never felt such relief in his life and he honestly was beginning to believe that he had lost Fox forever Mulder was still unconscious, but color was returning to his skin and he was breathing normally Slava finished cleaning away the blood and took the pitcher back to the bathroom, pouring the bloody water down the sink. He slowly and menacingly walked into the other room where Captain Mikhin held Dmitry in a painful grip after disarming him He walked up to the young man and backhanded him hard across the face. "Captain, give this piece of meat to your men to play with, then, if he is still alive, have him cleaned up for the auction block." "No! Master, please don't ... I'm sorry." Slava ignored him and walked back into his bedroom. The n'thral captain dragged Dmitry into the elevator, looking forward to the fun he and his men were going to have. Back in the bedroom, Slava stared down with relief at his new lover then he started to remove Mulder's remaining clothing Tomorrow his tailors would take the agent's measurements He wanted him dressed in only the finest clothing Once he had the agent undressed, he pulled the blankets over him to keep him warm. Slava placed his hand against the agent's forehead, feeling the now warm skin He pulled the blankets down, far enough to see the healed over wound, it looked several days old Relieved that Mulder wasn't going to die and was healing fast, the Cossack walked back into the other room and picked up the agent's bag He opened it and removed each item, American jeans were acceptable, but the T-shirts and cotton boxers were not He threw those into the fireplace Fox would only wear the purest silk boxers or nothing at all Slava open the wooden box and surveyed the contents, he knew what the drug was from the agent's thoughts. He took each small vial out and threw it into the fireplace, smashing glass on the stone wall He was looking forward to experiencing the agent without the drug in his body Slava wanted to walk into his auction house on Saturday night with Fox at his side He wanted to be the envy of every other man in that room, to know they would never be his equal or have what he had. He smiled smugly and walked back to the bed, he shrugged out of his clothes and lay down next to his lover's healing body, hoping Mulder would be well enough to attend the auction with him tomorrow night. Chapter 11 – Bratiya St. Petersburg Walter Skinner walked through the quiet St. Petersburg's airport with Melvin Frohike at his side Alex Krycek had promised to have a car waiting for them when they arrived Skinner's stomach was knotting as he dwelled on the conversation that he had had with Krycek, going over it again, and again. One thing he knew for sure was that something had happened to Fox, but the rest of the conversation had him completely baffled The fear and agitation was obvious in Krycek's voice, but what was that business about his mother's name? He would get his answers ... and maybe a few licks in as well, when he sees that rat-bastard again. Frohike was racing to keep up with Skinner's long strides The A.D didn't have to tell him about what was said in the telephone conversation, he had listened in, but was unable to penetrate Krycek's thoughts He had no problem reading Skinner's thoughts, but Krycek was a different story ... he kept tight control over his thoughts. "Assistant Director Skinner!" A portly older Russian shouted from across the room. Skinner stopped dead in his tracks and turned toward the speaker The man was quickly making his way to them across the concourse When he got to them, he held out his hand "I'm Boris Gudenko . . Alexei sent me to pick you up," he gasped out breathlessly. Skinner shook his hand, pointing to Frohike. "This is Melvin Frohike." Frohike shook the Russian's hand, frowning, he could read this man's thoughts loud and clear, but the man was thinking in Russian. "Come along, gentlemen, Alexei was very insistent that I take you to him right away." "Do you know what this is about?" Skinner asked. "No, I'm sorry I don't," Boris answered as he led them to his car. "Alex, would you please sit down? You're making me exhausted by just watching you," Dana said tiredly. Krycek stopped his pacing and turned to the Scullys. "Dana, Bill, I'm expecting a visitor shortly I think it would be better if I met with him alone." He hadn't been able to get them to leave him alone since they tracked him down to the parlor Krycek had put up for over an hour of Dana's concern, but enough was enough He did not want them here when he met with his brother *Walter Skinner* the mere thought was hard for him to swallow Fox had become his whole life ... and to find out his lover's other lover was his older brother was just too much. His only consolation was that his big brother had no idea of their relationship It would make breaking the news to him somewhat enjoyable. "Does your visitor concern Mulder? If he does then I insist on being here, after all, Mulder is my partner." "Dana, yes it concerns Fox I'm expecting Walter Skinner in a few minutes and I would like to meet with him alone He may be our only hope in getting Fox away from Slava." "Alex, you can't be serious! Walter Skinner can't be trusted!" "This isn't about *trust* it's about Mulder's life!" Krycek stomped angrily back over to the fireplace, staring sadly up at his mother's portrait He could still smell her perfume in the room. The door to the parlor opened and in stepped Boris followed by Skinner and Frohike The Scullys both stood Krycek was still standing in front of his mother's portrait When he heard the gasp, he turned around slowly. Walter Skinner stood slack jawed staring at the painting When Krycek turn around to face him, the A.D. immediately saw the resemblance between Krycek and the woman in the portrait - his mother The resemblance was so striking he didn't know why he had never noticed it before His world came crashing down on him. Now he realized what had bothered him about the alias Krycek used on the plane to St. Petersburg - Mikhailovich was the male version of his mother's maiden name Mikhailovna Alex Krycek was his brother. "How?" he asked in a small strained voice. Krycek turned to the other people in the room "Please, leave us ... I need to discuss some personal matters with Skinner in private." "Alex, we're all in on this ... I would prefer staying!" Scully snapped at him. "Leave now!" Krycek ordered, pushing them to go with his mind. They all left the room in a hurry, unable to prevent themselves Boris pulled the doors closed after them, turning to them "Well ... that was interesting Why don't we all go wait in the kitchen and share a cup of tea," Boris stated cheerfully, trying to relieve some of the tension. Dana glared at the closed door //Damn you, Krycek, what are you playing at? If you harm Mulder, I will see that you pay.// Frohike interrupted Scully's thoughts. "This doesn't involve Mulder, Scully." "Frohike, what do you mean?" "Let's do as Boris requested and go into the kitchen I'll explain what I know in there Oh, by the way, what the hell have you done to your hair?" he asked. "Shut up, Frohike," Scully snapped, stomping off in the direction of the kitchen. Walter Skinner walked across the room and stood next to Krycek, staring up at the portrait "Tell me?" he asked in a weak voice. "I'll tell you everything I know, but first you tell me what you know about our mother?" Krycek asked nervously It was early in the morning, but he needed a drink He walked over to the liquor cabinet and removed a bottle of vodka and two glasses He set it down on the coffee table and poured each of them a drink Skinner accepted his gratefully as he sat down tiredly on the sofa Krycek took the chair across from him. "Mother died when I was six ... father said she had been killed by a hit and run driver He defected to America with my sister and me two weeks later My father legally changed our names, wanting them to sound more American That's all I know ... I never doubted my father for a moment Why did he lie ... about this? Damn him!" Skinner was anger - his mother had still been alive If he had only known ... he would have gone to her. "Tell me ... did she have a good life? Tell me what you know, Krycek?" "Mother was always sad and she never left the apartment. She married my father in 1958 ... I don't think she ever loved him In fact, the only times she seemed happy was when he was away on business. She never mentioned having any other children - until today." "What? She's still alive?" "No, she died in 1981 ... shortly after I left for the U.S. to attend college I never should have gone ... I was her only source of happiness." Krycek sighed sadly; he had always felt responsible for his mother's death. "You said she told you today - how?" Skinner was becoming agitated He didn't like the riddles Krycek had been throwing at him. "I came in here in distress Fox ... has been kidnapped I asked mother's portrait what I should do ... she appeared before me and told to call my brother ... Vladimir Then she vanished and the phone lifted from its cradle and dialed itself and you answered I know it sounds crazy, but that is what happened." "I believe you." Seeing Krycek's shocked expression, Skinner replied, "I oversaw Fox and his X-Files for over five years ... nothing surprises me Now tell me what happened to Fox? Who has him?" "It isn't good ... Nikolai Slava took him." "The man that was on the plane with you to Russia? The Lone Gunmen said he is a well known Russia Mafia figure" Krycek slammed back the rest of his vodka "Slava *is* the Russian Mafia, he's killed off all of his competition. He's absolutely ruthless Human life means nothing to him, it's just another commodity Damn it, Walter, he deals in slavery He has men abducted from around the world and has them trained as sex slaves, some of his biggest customers and I mean that literally - are n'thrals Not just any n'thral, but some of the most vial and ruthless rulers this world has ever seen." Krycek was physically shaking and he placed his head into his hands He tried desperately to regain control; he did not want to break down before this man, even if he was his brother. "Damn it! Krycek, why didn't you stop him? How could you have let that bastard get his hands on Fox?" Skinner stood up and was standing over him menacingly. "Nikolai Slava is a sorcerer and he's considerably more powerful than I am That is why I need your help, he doesn't know you You could get close enough to him and find out where he is holding Fox You'll be able to talk to Fox and find out if he's okay Skinner, please, I couldn't get within ten miles of them." "Okay, Krycek, I'll help for Fox's sake, but he's returning to D.C. with me when we get him back." "I'll agree to anything as long as we get Fox back safely Skinner, I love him too and I'm willing to let him go if it means that he will be safe." Krycek couldn't control the few tears that leaked from his eyes, and he bit his bottom lip to keep from sobbing. "Where do you suggest we start looking?" Walter Skinner asked, feeling sorry for younger man before him - his brother He knew what it felt like to be so desperately in love that nothing else mattered except his lover's happiness and welfare How could he hate this man that looked so much like his long dead mother? "I suggest we contact the FSB and get a list of all of Slava's properties He has to be holding Fox at one of them We'll pick the most likely places and you can get within telepathic range and see if he's at any of them What is your range?" "Around fifty miles, it could be slightly farther." "That's how you found him in Denver? I didn't know you had that kind of range ... damn, that's incredible We may have a much better edge than I had thought Slava's range is only twenty miles, he will never be able to detect you even if he knew your brain waves." Krycek smiled faintly, feeling slightly comforted by their advantage. In the kitchen, Frohike was giving them a play-by-play of the discussion happening in the living room. Boris looked at him in disgust "Don't you have any respect for other people's privacy? Have you no shame, man?" "Nope ... none whatsoever Why do you ask?" The little man smirked at him Frohike had really started to enjoy his powers He could live vicariously through other people He really had enjoyed voyeuristically watching the sex between Skinner and Mulder . . both men were so hot He would give anything to be close enough to see Mulder and Krycek go at it, but it looked like that wasn't going to happen again. "There must be some anti-clairvoyant drug the government could give people like you," Boris muttered. Bill interrupted, "Okay, let's see if I have this right You're saying that Skinner is Krycek's half-brother They have the same mother, but neither one knew this until their long dead mother told Krycek?" Bill snorted in absolute disbelief "Please, Frohike, if you're going to lie, try making up something believable." "I am not lying!" Bill got up and headed for the servant's room when he heard Matthew crying His little boy had been crying on and off since Mulder had disappeared Nothing seemed to pacify Matthew for long, he kept asking for the agent. Bill came back out cradling his little boy in his strong arms Matthew wiggled to be let down Bill placed him on the floor and the little boy made the rounds meeting the two new people in the room He waddled back up to his father. "Fox?" he asked him. "Matthew, Fox isn't here." Bill sighed. The door to the kitchen opened, and Skinner and Krycek walked in. Scully glared at Skinner with undisguised contempt The A.D immediately picked up on her thoughts and didn't miss her conflicting emotions of satisfaction and sorrow she felt over lying to Mulder by telling the agent that he was dead. "We're heading for Moscow." Krycek informed them. "I'll get my bag," Scully said, standing. "No ... it would be safer for Skinner and me to go alone." "Fuck that! Mulder is my partner and I don't want that man near him," she snapped at Krycek while glaring menacingly at Skinner. "Fox, wouldn't be in this current predicament if you hadn't lied to him, Scully He'd be safely back in the U.S. with me ... not being held by some perverted peddler of human flesh!" "You're a fine one to speak about lies, Assistant Director Walter Skinner! That was the only reason you were put in charge of the X- Files ... to monitor our work and destroy the evidence Not to mention winning Agent Mulder's trust ... you did an excellent job in that area." She sneered at him with undisguised contempt in her voice. "If we're going to dig up past transgressions, you'd better look closer to home ... you were sent in to debunk his work Did you tell Section Chief Blevins where to shove it when he asked you to spy on your fellow agent? Don't try your Saint Scully routine on me ... it won't work." "Fuck you, sir! You were behind my abduction ... you bastard!" Skinner sighed "I most certainly was not! I requested that you be transferred I didn't know about their plans to abduct you until after the fact Afterwards, I was the one who got you returned ... I have supported the X-Files ever since." Skinner felt a headache coming on as he clenched his teeth together to keep a few nasty comments from escaping. "What about Mulder's father? That happened after my return We have you dead to rights there ... smoking gun and all." "Why would I want to deny that I killed Bill Mulder The consortium gave me a choice between killing Bill Mulder or letting Fox be sacrificed to their experiments," Skinner stated tiredly. Krycek saw the strain on his older brother's face he didn't want anymore stress on him because he needed Skinner's help to rescue Fox He interrupted, "Enough! You are not going with us, Scully I'm sorry, but I need Skinner's help I can't do it without him and you won't work with him Right now, Fox is all that matters to me!" "Give me a minute to pack my bag," Krycek told Skinner. Scully stood fuming. She knew Krycek was right and some of Skinner's arguments had started to make sense Then again, there was this new development Maybe finding out that Skinner was his brother had clouded Krycek's mind. She stood silently holding her tongue as the men grabbed their bags and headed out the door Her brother stood by her side He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Frohike strolled up to them "So, nice pad ... which room's mine?" he asked lightly, trying to relieve the tension. Boris looked down at him, shrugged his shoulders "Americans! Come along little man, I'll show you." Moscow Friday, January 1 11:00 a.m. Mulder came slowly awake, he felt disoriented ... there was a warm body pressed against his left side and a hand rested intimately on his stomach He turned his head slowly and squinted with sleep encrusted eyes at the person lying beside him Slava ... it all came crashing back to him, the repeated rapes, being stabbed, dying . . fuck He brought his hand up to his face and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes Looking around the room, he noticed the door to the bathroom He slowly eased himself away from Slava, trying not to wake him he got out of bed. Mulder walked into the bathroom and turned on the lights He used the toilet, flushed, and washed his hands Splashing cold water on his face, he tried to clear away the gritty sand from his eyes He stood back and stared at his nude body in the mirror, reaching up, he traced the small scar that remained. Slava startled awake, Fox was no longer beside him, causing him to briefly panic ... until he saw the light coming from the bathroom doorway He let out a slow shaky breath he didn't realize he was holding, rose, and went into the bathroom. Mulder stood nude in front of the sink, his eyes met Slava's in the mirror The Cossack walked up behind him, wrapping his muscular arms around the agent's lithe, sleep-warmed body Mulder consciously pulled away, but Slava held him tighter their bodies firmly pressed together The agent placed his hands over the Russian's arms where the larger man had them locked around his body Slava leaned down, kissing and sucking the side of Mulder's throat until there was a small red mark "You gave me quite a scare this morning, moi krasivy Fox," he murmured into Mulder's ear as his early morning erection pressed into the small of the agent's back. Slava turned the agent around to face him Trailing an index finger along Mulder's face, he traced a path from the agent's cheekbone to his lips Then he traced down under Mulder's chin, using his finger to tilt the FBI man's head up Slava brought his lips down over Mulder's mouth. The Cossack thrust his tongue in tasting and exploring the heated depths and pushed in further He licked the ridged top of the agent's mouth and stroked his tongue against the younger man's Mulder felt his body going slack from the lack of oxygen making its way to his lungs Slava tightened his hold around the agent's body as he broke the kiss He smiled down at Mulder, touching the rapidly fading scar on the agent's chest he marveled at the near perfect skin that only a few short hours ago was bruised and torn. "I have a full day planned for us, moi Fox Yori will be here shortly to shave and groom you Then my tailors are coming to take your measurements, and I want to give you a tour of my business I'm sure you will find it all extremely interesting." Slava smiled excitedly, anxious to impress his Fox with his wealth and power. Slava turned when he heard a voice being cleared behind him "Excuse me, Tsar." "Yori, come in, this is moi Fox I want you to give him your full treatment: manicure, pedicure, massage, and shave." The Cossack held Mulder against his chest as he explained what he wanted done to Yori He ran his hand over Mulder's chest and down to his pubic hair as he told Yori what he wanted shaved. Yori went into the bedroom and came back with a white, velour robe, which had been Dmitry's He handed it to the agent who took it gratefully and put it on "Come, we will go to the salon." "You'll be in good hands with Yori, Fox I have some business to conduct, but I will be back when my tailors arrive." Mulder followed Yori out of the bedroom, down a hallway, and into the foyer The two n'thrals who stood guard in front of the elevator came instantly to attention, staring lustfully after the agent as he walked past following Yori. Yori couldn't help but notice the way his boss treated his new slave or the look of tenderness in Slava's eyes as he held Mulder in his arms Yori was a clairvoyant, a fact he had kept to himself He found it useful to read Slava's needs and expectations, making himself invaluable to his employer Slava wasn't even aware how easily Yori could get inside his head Clairvoyants were much better at telepathy than sorcerers But what had Yori's curiosity piqued was what Slava was thinking as he held the gorgeous younger man. The handsome Cossack wanted to please the younger man and make him happy These weren't Slava's usually selfish thoughts, he wasn't even thinking of the agent as his property Slava thought of him as an equal, as a lover and a partner Yori smiled, this was very useful information to have. Yori took the agent into a large room with a barber chair and sink There was a massage table, and an open shower with a retractable, hand-held sprayer At the other end of the room was a built-in sauna. Yori led Mulder over to the shower and took the robe from him The Russian was shaped like a large bear he was as tall as the agent was, but broader and stronger. Yori walked over to the counter and returned with a pink bottle Mulder stared at it with contempt; it was a bottle of hair removal lotion for sensitive skin "Don't I get a say in this?" he muttered backing away from the Russian. "No, Nikolai Slava has the only say in anything around here, and he wants your body hairless Don't worry, this is totally painless - definitely not as painful as waxing, and the hair will grow back finer, not course like from shaving." When Mulder attempted to avoid him, Yori issued an ultimatum "If you do not stand still, Fox, I will have to get one of the Neanderthal guards to hold you." "Goddamnit! Okay, I'll stand still ... I don't want one of those things touching me! And don't call me Fox! It's Mulder," he growled, realizing there was no way to avoid this new humiliation. Yori opened the bottle and applied the lotion over the agent's pubic hair Then he coated the Mulder's legs with the lotion "Lift up your arms," Yori requested and he applied the lotion under the agent's armpits, and then to his chest. "There, now we have to wait five minutes." Yori walked over and set the timer on the counter He was happy the young man had fallen for his ruse to bring in a n'thral Mulder was unaware that Slava would not allow anyone, other than himself to touch him, and in particular he would never allow a Neanderthal anywhere near Mulder. After five minutes had passed the timer went off Yori walked back over to the shower and pulled down the retractable shower sprayer and turned on the water When it got to comfortable temperature, he sprayed the agent's body washing the lotion and hair down the drain. Yori looked him over carefully, making sure he didn't miss any hair Satisfied, he grabbed a bar of soap and wash cloth, handing it to the FBI man He placed the shower sprayer back onto the wall, positioned it, and turned on the water "You can wash yourself, Mulder Afterwards, I'll shave your face and wash and trim your hair." Mulder did as he was told His skin felt weird, running his hands over his legs now totally hairless He only hoped it would grow back, but with the way his luck was running, he'd probably never have body hair again He glared angrily at the back of Yori's head the man was completely covered in thick body hair, including a full beard. When he finished washing, Yori handed him a towel to dry himself off with and had him put back on the robe He sat in the barber's chair and Yori washed and trimmed his hair, then shaved the stubble from his face. "I'm surprised you didn't use your fucking lotion on my face, too?" Mulder snarled sarcastically at the large hairy man. "I didn't want to chance getting any on your thick head of hair The Tsar would have been very angry if you came back with a bald spot," he answered seriously. After he finished shaving Mulder, the Russian decided he didn't need a pedicure or a manicure, the young man's hands and feet were already perfectly manicured Yori had him hop up on the massage table and gave him a long soothing massage, admiring the agent's well toned, perfect body Too bad the agent couldn't sexually arouse him; Slava had taken care of that when he first came to work for him The Cossack did not want another man around any of his beautiful slaves, so he had him castrated against his will He wished he had known what he was getting into, before accepting this job At the time, Slava had male and female slaves. Yori finished with the massage and handed Mulder the robe to put back on He then walked the agent back to Slava's bedroom Slava was waiting for them with two other men There was a small stool in the middle of the floor. "Fox, come let me take a look at you." Slava removed the agent's robe and Mulder turned a bright shade of red, embarrassed to be standing naked in front of four fully clothed men All looked him over with admiration in their eyes The Cossack ran a hand over Mulder's body, enjoying the feel of the agent's hairless chest, running it down to his groin "Good work, Yori." "Fox, these are my tailors ... step up on the stool, they are going to take your measurements They will have a tuxedo ready for you by tomorrow I have a special surprise in store for you tomorrow evening." Mulder looked over at the bed, there were several garment bags, boxes, and bolts of fabric stacked The older of the two men took his tape measure out and proceeded to take the agent's measurements, while the younger man wrote them down The young tailor seemed nervous and kept shifting uncomfortably Mulder glanced down at the bulge in the younger man's pants, then looked over at Slava who was watching the older man take his measurements It was good thing Slava hadn't noticed the younger man's arousal, he knew that would be unhealthy for the young tailor. When the older tailor finished, he turned and spoke to the younger one in Russian The young man walked over to the bed and selected a garment bag and several boxes, handing them to Slava They exchanged a few words and packed their supplies, grabbed the remaining bags and fabrics, and quickly left. "This suit should fit you until your tailored tuxedo arrives tomorrow They will deliver the rest of your wardrobe by the end of the week." Nikolai handed Mulder the boxes and garment bags Get dressed, moi Fox, then I will show you my operation here," he ordered softly. Mulder stepped down from the stool and walked over to the bed, anxious to get some clothes on He opened the boxes and found several pairs of silk boxers, ties, dress shoes, and a linen dress shirt The garment bag contained an elegant black suit Mulder quickly got dressed The suit fit surprisingly well, emphasizing his tall lanky frame. Slava smiled with delight His Fox would garner much admiration from his employees and associates He looked forward to showing off his lover He walked up to Mulder, placing his hands on either side of the agent's hips he pulled him tightly against his body Slava was five inches taller than the lanky agent, and his hard manhood pressed into the American's stomach Mulder tried to step back, but the handsome Cossack held him in place and brought his mouth over Mulder's for a deep passionate kiss. "Come, moi love," he murmured as he stepped back taking the agent's hand, he led him out of the bedroom and back into the foyer. The large Neanderthal Captain was waiting for them as they stepped out "My Tsar, everything is prepared as per your orders." "Very good, Captain Mikhin." Slava led Mulder into the elevator and the captain stepped in after them Pushing the down button, they rode it two floors below, getting off "This is where my offices are located, you will be accompanying me here daily, moi Fox." They entered a large office space with a glass desk sitting on a raised platform Mulder looked around, the blinds were closed and lights were on low There was a laptop computer on the glass desk, a chair, and large pillow sitting on the floor Across the room was a large sofa, a wet bar, and two other doors Mulder assumed one of them led to a washroom The opposite side of the room was a large built-in 200 gallon fish tank, filled with brightly colored tropical fish. "Captain Mikhin, have Dmitry's pillow removed, and have a desk and chair brought in for Fox Set it up over by the aquarium." The captain stared at him in surprise; his Tsar always took a great deal of pleasure in humiliating his slaves and teaching them their proper place He was treating this one as ... his equal. "Is there something wrong, Captain?" Slava asked. "No, my Tsar." "Then get moving ... I expect you back within a half-hour." "Yes, my Tsar." The captain quickly rushed from the room passing the four N'thral guards who protected the office. "Good help is so hard to find." Slava sighed, watching Mulder as he walked over to the fish tank "Ever own a fish aquarium?" he asked walking up behind the agent. "Yes, but nothing close to this ... this is incredible." "Where I grew up we weren't near the ocean, only dry grasslands I always dreamt of becoming a sailor or a deep sea diver." Slava stared dreamily at his colorful fish. "What made you choose to become involved in organized crime?" "I grew up ... besides it was my family's business I come from a long line of smugglers and extortionists." He placed his hand on the small of Mulder's back "You will learn to love it here, moi Fox ... I will get you whatever your heart desires." Mulder knew better than to tell the ruthless gangster what his heart's desire was He would need to win Slava's trust in order to escape "I could use my medication, what have you done with it?" "I threw it away There is no need for you to take that with me protecting you No one would dare lay a hand on you, moi love I'm not like your other lovers ... they were weak, and unable to give you the love and protection that I can." Captain Mikhin returned carrying a chair he was followed by another n'thral carrying a glass desk that was identical to Slava's only smaller. "Okay, moi Fox, let me show you the rest of our operation." Our? Mulder looked at Slava, he'd been acting stranger and stranger, and his people were staring at him as if he'd lost his mind He needed to figure out what was going on, he knew it was something significant. On the Road Friday, January 1 5:00 p.m. Skinner had insisted on driving and Krycek sat disgruntled next to his bossy older brother He glanced over at Skinner several times trying to see if there was a family resemblance He was trying to image the A.D. with hair when an unsettling thought occurred to him "How old were you when you lost your hair?" "My mid-thirties ... why, are you concerned?" Skinner smirked. "Well ... yeah, after all it's the genes on the mother's side of the family that determines baldness I wonder if our grandfather was bald? If he was then there's not much hope for me," Krycek sighed, trying to picture himself without hair. "He was as bald as a cucumber," Skinner mocked, enjoying the younger man's discomfort. "Damn, I wonder if Fox could cure baldness?" Krycek murmured. Skinner looked over at him thinking Krycek was a few bricks short "Why would you even think that Fox could cure baldness?" This conversation was becoming reminiscent of the ones he used to have with Mulder while discussing his X-Files case reports. "He has the ability to heal ... but then you wouldn't know that We only just discovered it ourselves," Krycek stated matter-of-fact. "How the hell would I know it! You kidnapped Fox away from me! What else don't I know about *my* lover that you do?" Skinner snapped irritated. Krycek glanced at him smugly "Only that he likes to be on top . . occasionally Comes really hard from being rimmed And he likes long, slow, wet kisses ... " Skinner in a very typical older brother's move cuffed Krycek on the back of his head. "Hey!" Krycek yelped He thought about slugging Skinner back, but he decided if the A.D. was really pissed-off, he wouldn't have gotten off with just a slap on the back of his head Besides, he was satisfied at the rise he'd gotten out of the older man. Several minutes passed and it had started snowing heavily, so Skinner flipped on the windshield wiper-blades and turned on the car headlights. "There is something you should know about Fox ... that has me concerned." Krycek replied hesitantly. "What?" Skinner didn't like the way the young man sounded. "We found out if Fox goes longer than 48 hours without having sex . .. he starts experiencing painful withdrawal symptoms Fox figured the first time he had sex with you, it triggered a chemical reaction in his body The pheromone drug seems to help extend the time period, but even the drug doesn't prevent the painful withdrawal symptoms for long." "Goddamnit! Krycek, that bastard will use that against Fox to make him submit to him." Skinner slammed his hand against the steering wheel. "We need to get Fox away from him before that happens." Krycek sat silently for several minutes chewing on his bottom lip and fidgeting in his seat. "Okay, what?" Skinner sighed. "Have you noticed that ah ... your sex drive increased since having sex with Fox?" "No, I've always had a healthy libido ... why, didn't you?" "No, coming four to six times a night has always been quite normal for me," Krycek answered quickly. "Then why'd you ask?" "Just trying to make conversation, bro." Krycek leaned back and propped his feet up on the dashboard and listened to the tires sloshing against the wet pavement. Moscow Friday, January 1 7:00 p.m. With Captain Mikhin and three other guards close by, Slava showed Mulder his slave pens, and training areas below his building The agent was becoming nauseous from the foul smell, and the human misery around him He was grateful that he only saw men there, and no boys, or young teenagers. "Where do you keep the children?" Mulder hissed losing what little grip he had left on his temper. "I don't deal in slaves younger than twenty years old I have no interest in profiting off the defenseless I'm not a total monster, moi Fox." It was very important for Slava to have Mulder's acceptance. Monster enough, Mulder thought in the small hidden area of his mind "Don't you make enough money from your other enterprises? Why deal in slaves?" "If not me, then it would be someone else Besides, it gives me pleasure Look at them, moi Fox They are not our equals ... they have been put on this earth to serve us." The cages were all small: five by seven feet and five feet high with no room to stand The cages contained only a mat and the men inside were naked wrapped only in thin blankets It was cold down here; the concrete floors provided no warmth. "They're human beings, Nikolai Not merchandise!" "But they are not like us ... we have evolved above them." "Are you telling me you don't deal in mutants?" "I don't deal in sorcerers or clairvoyants ... we are the new masters of this world." All eyes were on Mulder as he walked through Slava guided him to where the highest valued slaves were kept, the cells were larger, and actually had working toilets with running water. Mulder knew it was pointless to go on arguing with this man He was as bad as any psychopath he'd come across during his years as a profiler for the FBI Mulder shuddered knowing that he would never be able to remove these images from his mind - they would haunt him forever. Just outside of Moscow Friday, January 1 8:00 p.m. Kostya Danko hugged the nephew he hadn't seen in forty years "Vladimir, it is so good to see you! You look exactly like your father, except for being bald Your father had lots of hair like all of us Danko men do But your mother's father, poor man, looked like a cue ball." Skinner looked back at Krycek and smirked "Uncle Kostya, call me Walter not Vladimir." Kostya was a skinny man in his early seventies He had a deeply lined face He looked over at Krycek who stood just inside the doorway A shadow crossed over the older man's features. "Who is your friend, Walter?" "Uncle Kostya, this is my half-brother Alexei Krycek." "I thought as much ... you look like your mother, young man Aleksandra broke my brother's heart when she ran off with your father." "Uncle, can you tell us what happened? We just found out about our relationship," Skinner asked. "There isn't much to tell ... Aleksandra met Ivan Krycek at work, she was his secretary. She ran off with him deserting her family It was Ivan Krycek, who helped Sergei leave the country with you and your sister He didn't want to share Aleksandra's love with anyone, not even her children." Kostya had led them into his home as he was telling his story, he motioned for them to take a seat on the sofa. "That explains a lot, Uncle But why did my father lie to me about her being dead?" "Walter, to him she was dead." "Now, tell me why have you come back to Russia?" "I came to find my lover, Uncle Kostya Fox ran off with Alex and I came to take Fox back home with me." Kostya glared over at Krycek "Just like your father, aren't you, young man? Now, Walter, if your lover willingly left with him why would he come back to you? And, why would you still want him?" "He was tricked into leaving me and we've already reconciled But, Alex wouldn't allow him to return to me." Skinner glared over at Krycek. "Okay, so where is your lover?" "Nikolai Slava has him." "Slava! You might as well forget about your lover, Walter No one gets away from Slava once he gets his hands on them ... he is too dangerous for you to go up against Go back to America." "I'm not leaving without Fox, Uncle It is Nikolai Slava, that is going to regret ever crossing my path! He signed his death warrant the moment he touched Fox," Skinner snarled His uncle backed off; he had never seen such hatred or anger before. "Calm down, Walter If Slava has your lover, he most likely has sent him to one of his slave pens He holds an underground slave auction once a month Your cousin Anton could find out the location for you If your lover is in Slava's possession, he will most likely be up for sale at the auction." "Why is this allowed to go on?" Skinner asked disgustedly. "Too many corrupt politicians and military personnel, Slava has quite a few of them on his payroll His power and wealth has increased to a point that now there is no one strong enough to challenge him Even the FSB is afraid of him." "Well, we're not! That bastard is going down!" Krycek snapped. Kostya stared between the two angry young men ... and shook his head They were both going to their deaths - no one took on Slava and lived He saw it was pointless to continue to argue with them, maybe Anton could talk some sense into them. "You both must be exhausted, you can share the sofa, it pulls out into a bed ... I'll get you some blankets Tomorrow, I'll take you to see your cousin." Kostya left the room and came back with a large blanket. Neither man liked the idea of sleeping together, but they were both exhausted "Just stay on your side," Skinner advised as they finished making up the sofa bed They stripped down to their underwear and Skinner got in on his side of the bed Krycek sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled out the letter Fox had left for him He wanted to reread it before going to sleep. "Put out the lights, Krycek." "In a sec." Skinner looked over at him, lifted himself up so he could see what the younger man was reading "Hey, that's Mulder's handwriting . . hand it over." "No, it's personal." "Nothing is *personal* where Fox is concerned Show it to me." Krycek glared at him and handed him the letter, sighing. Skinner had a shattered expression on his face when he got through reading it "He's in love with you." "Yes, but he's choosing to go back to you." Skinner lay down on his back, contemplating Mulder's letter The sadness in the words he had written made Skinner's heart break He didn't want to see his lover miserable "We're going to have to discuss this with Fox when we get him back." Krycek turned the lights out and got in under the covers "Yeah, but he'd still be safer in the U.S. with you." "I want him to be happy, not pining after you We'll have to work this out," Skinner sighed. "When we get him back Skinner, are you going to see if you can make telepathic contact with him? We're near enough to Moscow - if he's there." "I'm going to wait until later ... I don't want to chance being detected I don't think it would be wise to let Fox know that we're here We're going to need the element of surprise, if what you've said about Slava's true, he'd be able to read Mulder's mind I'll sneak in, check on Fox, then sneak out." "Bro, do you think you'll be able to control your temper if you discover Fox is being mistreated? Strong emotions will instantly alert Slava to your presence." "No, but I'll pull out instantly ... so I won't alert the bastard." "Good, wake me when you're ready to sneak in," Krycek said He turned on his side facing away from the older man. Skinner stared at the younger man's back, they'd got through a whole conversation and he wasn't tempted to smack him even once. Moscow Saturday, January 2 2:00 a.m. Mulder stirred awake He was uncomfortable He was hot and sticky and most of Slava's body was lying on top of him He opened his eyes and tried to wiggle out from under the large Cossack, but it was futile He didn't want to chance waking Slava again, so he laid still and hoped the larger man would roll off him on his own. Mulder felt a faint brush against his mind; he'd had enough people contact him using telepathy to know what it was *Who's there?* he asked telepathically, but received no answer. Slava stirred Mulder stopped as he felt the presence leave The Cossack came instantly awake "Who were you talking to?" he shouted and grabbed the agent's face between his two large hands, looking menacingly into his eyes "WHO?" His body pressed Mulder's into the mattress. "No one, I thought someone was trying telepathy ... but I was wrong .. . . there was no one there," Mulder panted finding it difficult to breathe, he knew it would have been useless to lie directly to the sorcerer. Slava smoothed his hands over the sides of the agent's head looking deeper into his eyes Satisfied that Fox was telling him the truth, he kissed his perfect lips "Sorry, moi Fox I've been concerned that Alexei might try something, but I would be able to feel his presence." "Now as long as we're both up." Slava lowered his hand and placed it between the agent's legs, caressing up his thighs Mulder sighed knowing it was totally futile to resist. "DAMN! FUCKING BASTARD!" Skinner was out of bed, storming angrily around the room Krycek had been sitting up watching him as he made contact with Fox. "Ssh, Skinner, you'll wake the whole fucking apartment building." Krycek came up to him and put a hand on his arm After the A.D regained control over his temper, Krycek asked, "What has he done with Fox?" He knew it must be bad for the stoic older man to lose control. "Slava's forcing Fox to share his bed ... he's ... raped him several times already The bastard's been using mind-control on him to force him to submit Fox really hates mind-control, he considers it a form of rape ... on his mind." Krycek flushed bright red, how could he have been so stupid and selfish? He never should have used mind-control on Fox; deep down he knew that his lover despised it "Did you get a location?" he asked anxiously. "Yeah, they're in an office building in downtown Moscow The son- of-a-bitch has his living quarters on the top floors and that's where he's holding Fox." "We'll have to devise a plan for getting Fox away from him We'll need to know what the security is for the building before we even attempt to break in Were you able to get anymore information out of Mulder's mind?" Krycek had started pacing excitedly. "Quite a bit." Skinner sighed sadly at the images in his lover mind Fox had gone through so many traumas in life - more than one man should go through Now he had a whole new set of emotional wounds to add to his list. "What is it?" Krycek asked, seeing the sadness on the older man's face. "Slava gave Fox a tour of his building In the basement he's keeping the men he plans to sell at tonight's auction He has them caged like animals and guarded by an army of n'thrals Slava is taking him to the auction tonight, but I couldn't find out the location from Mulder's mind." "The auction will probably be our best chance of getting to Fox There will be too many minds for Slava to easily pick out ours Hopefully your cousin will know the location when we talk to him this morning." "C'mon, Krycek, we better sit down and plan out how we are going to combine our powers to defeat Slava." Moscow Saturday, January 2 9:00 a.m. Yori was again tending to Mulder, there wasn't really a lot for him to do The agent was perfect, besides giving him a shave and massage there was nothing else he needed. "Mulder, can I ask you a question?" Mulder was lying on his stomach as Yori massaged his shoulders "Hmm, what?" he murmured, feeling the tension leaving his body. "How did you do it?" "Do what, Yori?" "Wrap the Tsar around your little finger." "I don't understand what you mean I hardly have that bastard wrapped around my finger I wouldn't be here if I did - I'd be back in the U.S." "He treats you with reverence The Tsar treats you as his equal, not as his slave You seem to have an unusual affect on him, but you really aren't aware of it are you?" "No I wouldn't know how he would normally treat his other . . captives?" Mulder started to mull over what Yori had told him He remembered that Henderson, on their second encounter, had treated him much the same way as Slava was now He realized it might be another aspect of the mutation A sudden thought hit him, making him ill, what if it was because of his mutation that Walter fell in love with him? With Alex, he was sure that it was love, because the younger man came to D.C. to ask him to go back to Russia with him He was sure Walter liked him, but did he really love him? How could he find out? "Yori ... would you like to leave Slava?" "No one leaves Slava ... except in a box." "I'm willing to pay you and take you to America Two million dollars would give you a whole new lease on life." "That is a tempting offer, Mulder, but Slava will know what you are planning by reading your thoughts Then I would end up very dead." "He doesn't have to find out I can hide some of my thoughts from him But, what about you ... he would read it in your thoughts Damn, I thought it would work." "How are you able to hide your thoughts?" "My lover is a sorcerer I discovered how while training him to use his powers I can't hide all of them, but I can lock away a few." "Can I test you?" "Okay, but why?" "I'll explain in a moment Lock up all the thoughts about your family." Mulder looked at him for a second, then concentrated "Okay." "What was your mother's name?" "You tell me?" Yori smiled and tried to read the agent's thoughts - all thoughts of his mother were gone from his mind "Very good, Mulder, I think we can do business." "You're a clairvoyant?" "Yes." That was even better than he'd hoped; now he had an ally If he could get out of this building, he just might be able to get out of the country .. . . with Yori's help. "Slava's taking me with him to the auction tonight Do you know where it is going to be? It would be the best chance I'll get at escaping, with all the people that will be there." "I'm helping to clean up some of the men that are to be auctioned off tonight I'd have preferred to wait until the Tsar goes away on business, but he'd probably take you with him Okay, we'll try tonight." Moscow Saturday, January 2 11:20 a.m. Anton Danko stood in front of a street map of Moscow He was the same age as his American cousin, who was standing next to him Anton had thick wavy black hair, brown eyes, and a droopy mustache He was dressed in an off the rack suit that fit him poorly and wore a shoulder holstered gun. Skinner hadn't been aware that Anton worked for the FSB (formally the KGB) He was going to contact the acquaintances he had made working for the FBI, but it was better being able to deal with a family member. They had been going over the map for possible ways in and out of the building where Slava held his auctions It was a tightly guarded structure and only those clients that had been pre-approved were allowed admittance. "Anton, if you know about this despicable act that is going to take place tonight, why don't you raid the place and arrest all the participants?" "Slava has too many high-level friends in our government and military Some of them will probably be at the auction tonight It is suicide to go up against him ... the last people who tried are dead There weren't even enough left to bury I'm only helping you, Walter, because we are family But, I ask you again to reconsider, let this man go, find yourself another lover." "Anton, I will die first There is no way in hell that I would leave my lover in that monster's hands Fox Mulder means more to me than my own life." "Fox Mulder? You mean FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder?" Anton asked surprised. "Yes, does it make a difference?" Skinner was getting agitated at the lack of help he was receiving He wanted to raid that place, but he couldn't do it with just three men. "Of course it makes a difference ... Agent Fox Mulder is famous I could get many men to help just for the chance of meeting him." "You're telling me that men would risk their lives just to meet Agent Mulder?" Skinner asked flabbergasted. "Skinner, Fox is becoming a living legend in many parts of the world, since the government declassified the X-Files," Krycek informed him After taking in Skinner's puzzled expression he added, "You weren't aware of any of this, were you? When we get Fox back, I have some magazines to show you." "Yes, Alexei is right Agent Mulder is legendary, there are men that work here that would lay down their lives for him." Things were starting to look up Skinner glanced at the map, if they could come up with another twelve men they would have all the exits covered Then it would be up to Krycek and him to go in and retrieve Fox "How many men can you get, Anton?" "We still have to keep this hush-hush, but I'm positive of at least fifteen that we can trust." "Okay, Anton, gather as many men as you can trust Is there a secure place we could meet before this evening?" "There's a old vacant warehouse near where the auction is going to take place It's not close enough to arouse suspicion I'll arrange for all the men to meet there at 4:00 p.m., here I'll write down the address." Anton grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled down the address handing it to Skinner. Skinner shook his cousin's hand "Thank you, Anton, we'll meet you at 4:00 this afternoon Come along, Krycek," Skinner growled as he left. Moscow Saturday, January 2 7:40 p.m. "Please hold still, Mr. Fox," the tailor begged as he finished the last minute alterations. Slava stood in quiet admiration, watching the elder tailor work his art on his lover Fox looked magnificent in the black tuxedo with a forest green cummerbund, emerald buttons, and cuff links. The green from the buttons and cummerbund enhanced the agent's hazel eyes that were now a brilliant shade of green, glowing with an inner light. When the tailor finished, Slava came up to them. "Nice job, Ivan," he complemented, handing the older man a tip, which he pocketed as he left the room. "You look breathtaking, moi krasivy Fox." He kissed him tenderly and pulled a long box out of his pocket, which he handed to the agent. Mulder sighed looking at it, hoping against hope that it wouldn't be a damned ring, but the box was larger than a ring box He opened it and pulled out an expensive Rolex watch. "I wanted to mark the first time we went out in public together, moi Fox Do you like it?" "Yes, it's very nice." It was nice, he'd always admired this watch, and no doubt Slava retrieved that piece of information from his thoughts Mulder would never have spent the money on it for himself; it was far too extravagant. "Here, let me put it on you." Slava took the watch and strapped it around the agent's wrist "Mm, it's perfect Come along, moi love, you will learn to love these auctions as much as I do." He guided Mulder out of the bedroom toward the elevators. "Captain Mikhin, we are ready to leave Are all the guards in position?" "Yes, my Tsar." They got onto the waiting elevator and headed down to the underground parking garage with the n'thral Captain Mulder had been a bit out of it the first time he was down here and looked around the empty parking garage curiously There were only two large limousines, one had the same n'thral driver from their drive down from St. Petersburg He stood at attention with the car door held open as he waited for them to climb in. Slava had Mulder get in before him, a courtesy he'd never given anyone before After Slava climbed in, the driver shut the door and the captain got in the passenger seat As the driver steered the car out of the garage, three large sedans pulled out, two behind the limo and one in front Mulder looked out the mirrored windows at them, noting the large occupants in each car. "Our security detail, Fox. You don't need to worry about your safety; I won't let anything happen to you I can personally handle any situation that might arise at the auction The six n'thrals are mainly for show, they let people know how powerful I am." The limousine drove to a rundown area past several burnt out buildings. It finally pulled up in front of a fenced-in building, there were two n'thrals guarding the gate "Nikolai, do you ever hire anyone besides n'thrals for your security force?" Mulder asked, he wanted to find out everything he could about Slava's security. "No, n'thrals make the best guards They never question orders, their mere presence is intimidating, and they are extremely bloodthirsty." The driver pulled the limousine in front of the main doors to the building and the Three large sedans pulled up behind it Two n'thrals climbed out of each and took positions on either side of the limo There was already quite a crowd present, the parking lot was packed with cars Several of the customers stood around outside talking, waiting for the show to begin They all glanced up at the limo as the n'thral open the door letting his employer out Slava reached his hand back for Mulder, anxious to start showing him off. Mulder climbed out reluctantly, he was nervous knowing that the Cossack had planned to make him the center of attention He didn't welcome the looks he was going to be receiving tonight At least Slava had a jealous streak and wouldn't allow anyone to touch him, not even to shake his hand He had noticed that during the tour he had of Slava's business yesterday. Slava wrapped an arm possessively around his waist as they walked inside the building Mulder realized that it had once been an old theater as they walked into the lobby He felt like he'd stepped into another world, clean and elegant, it was completely different inside from the rundown exterior Most of the men milling around the lobby stopped and stared as they entered They were all wearing expensive clothing and jewelry; even the n'thrals were flaunting their wealth to the others present. Slava tightened his hold on the agent, pulling him closer "Look at the envy on their faces, moi Fox," he whispered into the agent's ear. Waiters walked through the crowd serving champagne, one came over to them Slava removed one glass, after taking a sip he handed it to Mulder Which caused a murmur to go throughout the crowd, it was the slave who would test the drink for his master, not vise versa. Mulder took a tentative sip; he wanted to keep a clear head tonight He couldn't afford to get even a little bit tipsy, but he couldn't afford to offend Slava either The man was clearly in his glory showing him off like some prized trophy An older gentleman approached them Mulder recognized him immediately, he'd never knew his name, had always thought of him as the well-manicured man He knew some of the consortium had gotten away and were still operating in secret, but he had never expected to run into one, anytime soon. "Mr. Slava, it is a pleasure to be doing business with you again, sir." He shook Slava's hand smiling pleasantly, before turning his attention to Mulder "Mr. Mulder, you're looking well, life must be agreeing with you." Mulder couldn't help but notice the glint of amusement in the older man's eyes. "Mr. Jones, you and Fox know each other?" "We're old acquaintances Isn't that right, Mr. Mulder?" "Yes, why are you here?" "We need some new test subjects and Mr. Slava's merchandise has proven to be of excellent quality." "That's ... sick ... they're human beings ... " Mulder bit back the rest of his response as Slava's fingers dug into his waist. *Control yourself, Fox.* Slava told him telepathically. *Sorry.* Mulder answered weakly back. *You must overcome this sense of compassion you feel, moi Fox.*/p> *That would not be possible.*/p> *In time, you will Eventually you will come to enjoy the power you have over these humans.*/p> Jones watched their silent conversation with envy He would pay for the ability to read minds, but he had remained a normal human after the virus was released "Mr. Slava, I look forward to doing business with you in the future It was a pleasure seeing you again, Mr Mulder." He reached out a hand to shake the agent's, but found his wrist grabbed by a much larger hand He looked over his shoulder at the massive n'thral who held him. "Mr. Jones, no one touches Fox except me In the future, please keep that in mind," Slava warned and nodded at Captain Mikhin who released the well-manicured man's arm. "I apologize it will not happen again," he said rubbing his sore wrist as he walked quickly away Agent Mulder was still of interest to the consortium They wanted desperately to get their hands on him, both for revenge for his interference in their agenda and to discover more about his mutation They had four of the twenty-five men known to have the immortal strain of the mutation in their labs Two had died during testing to see just how much their bodies could withstand, they found out total incineration would kill them. The consortium had been unable to break through the FBI security surrounding the agent After Mulder had left with Krycek, they had hoped to track the agent down and claim him for their experiments With him now in that damned Cossack's hand, it would be virtually impossible to get to Mulder. Slava guided the agent with a protective arm around his waist up the stairs toward their private box He noted the hungry looks and the erections tenting the pants of everyone who was present, particularly the n'thrals Because Mulder was off the pheromone medication he was causing instant arousal in all those around them. The handsome Cossack had Mulder sit on his right side in the balcony box It looked out over the stage and ramp that had been built out into the audience The place was packed There must have been over five hundred people in the theater Theirs was the only balcony box and it allowed the audience an unobstructed view of the two elegantly dressed men All eyes glanced up at them as Slava leaned over and claimed the agent's mouth in a deeply passionate kiss He's mine - eat your hearts out, he thought with pride. Two men in the back of the mass of people glared up with hate filled eyes Both were trying to gain control over the desire to destroy the man touching their lover The older of the two had a better grip on his temper; he touched the arm of his younger companion, speaking silently *Calm down, Krycek I won't be able to maintain my shield around you if you don't ... then Slava will sense your presence.*/p> *Sorry, brat But, I call first dibs on killing that bastard!*/p> *Don't call me that.*/p> *Hey, it seems fitting Besides, I've always wanted to have an older brother,* Krycek quipped. *Don't call me brat ... it may be the Russian word for brother, but if Fox hears it we'll never hear the end of it.*/p> *Oh yeah, you're right, he'd have a field day with it.*/p> *Oh and, Alex, as your older brother it is my right to kill that bastard first ... you can have what's left.*/p> Yori had been standing in the back of the crowd and overheard the silent conversation pass between the two disguised men So that was Alexei Krycek, he remembered Slava ranting and raving about the young man years ago Alexei had told the Cossack to go to hell when he had made a pass at him That was about five years ago and it still angered Slava that his advances had been rebuffed. He wondered who the other man was, his thoughts were harder to read, and he couldn't make out his features under the thick fur hat and overcoat with its collar turned up This was a blessing in disguise, literally He now had allies to help him get Mulder away from the Tsar He slowly eased his way over to the two men, keeping an eye on Slava's security force. He stood behind them as the first slave was brought out on stage The slave was a white male in his twenties, sandy brown hair and extremely skinny He was naked and had a collar around his neck He was led down the ramp to be viewed by all parties ... he was shaking visibly with fear Slava always saved his best slaves for last and the crowd knew this, so bidding usually started low for the first hour Most of the buyers were waiting until the better merchandise was brought out later in the evening. While the crowd was occupied, Yori used telepathy to speak to the two men in front of him *Mulder hired me to help him escape You are here for the same purpose, maybe we can work together?*/p> *Who are you?* Krycek asked angry that their cover was already blown. *Don't worry ... no one else is aware of your mission, Comrade Krycek I am Yori, I work for the Tsar.*/p> *How do we know we can trust you?* Skinner growled. *Do you have a choice?*/p> *Okay, but keep out of our way.*/p> The auction moved along slowly, eighty slaves had been purchased by 1:00 a.m. and there were over fifty remaining Mulder glanced dispassionately down at the mulling crowd Slava hadn't left his side all evening, touching him all throughout the night Mulder knew he was causing the entire crowd to become aroused, which was driving up the prices of Slava's slaves. "Nikolai, I need to use the restroom." If he could get Slava away from his bodyguards he just might be able to knock him out and get away Yori was suppose to have a car waiting and had promised to be watching for him. Slava stood up and stretched "Come along, Fox, I'll take you I could use a break." Slava pulled the agent to his feet, but wouldn't release his hand; instead he used it to pull the agent against his body. "I want you so fucking bad right now, moi love." He moaned and pressed his hardness into the agent's stomach, bringing his hands behind Mulder's back, he groped his buttocks "Let's grab a quickie while we're in the men's room?" Mulder wrapped his hands around Slava's neck and pulled him down into a long, deep kiss that left the Cossack breathless "You're right, Nikolai, I'm beginning to enjoy watching your auction All those hot naked bodies are making me hungry for yours," Mulder purred into the Cossack's ear and licked his earlobe then catching it between his teeth he gently nipped it. Slava moaned lust shot straight to his groin as Mulder's teeth excited him further, then his lover's words sank in, Fox wanted him! He hugged the agent tighter smiling into his silk hair Mulder looked at his hand that was wrapped around Slava's neck, he glanced at his little pinky - yes he definitely had him wrapped around it. *What the hell is Fox doing?* Skinner muttered, watching the two men wrapped in a deep passionate kiss up in the balcony. *Fuck ... how the hell should I know?* Krycek growled equally upset. *Mulder is leading the Tsar on, he's trying to distract him so he can make a break for it Why? What did you think he was doing?* Yori asked amused by the men's irrational jealousy. *Ah, nothing ... I was thinking that ah ... he was trying to . . distract him.* Krycek blushed. *I suggest we get ready ... Mulder will need our help shortly,* Yori advised. They watched as the two men left the balcony, followed by their n'thral bodyguards The auction had been halted the moment the Cossack stood The crowd took it as an impromptu break and started milling around The few that had already made their purchases went to pay the bill and pick up their merchandise. The three men passed a large crowd gathered around the corner of the theater Several of the n'thrals couldn't wait to get their purchases home, and were fucking the slaves to the jeers and catcalls of the men around them Skinner felt rage at the atrocities he was witnessing, but held his anger in check, and no one paid attention to the three men as they left the room, going the same direction that Slava and his lover had taken They spied the Cossack's bodyguards entering a restroom, they watched as two men were roughly thrown out Mulder and Slava then entered while the six menacing n'thrals remained outside. Once inside Slava fell on the agent hungrily, pulling on the buttons to his pants Mulder took in the whole room in a heartbeat ... he only had one chance, so he had to make it count He steered their bodies over to the small window above the covered trashcan The trashcan had a heavy steel lid on it, not like the light aluminum most American cans had. Slava succeeded in unfastening the agent's pants; he was so deep in the throes of lust that he didn't anticipate his lover's move until it was too late Mulder kneed him hard in the groin, when he doubled over in pain the agent had the heavy lid off the trashcan and smashed it over his head Blood covered the back of the lid as Mulder dropped it and pushed open the small window, crawling out just as the n'thral guards stormed in. Krycek raced out the side door as he felt Mulder leaving through the window Skinner and Yori followed close behind Captain Mikhin ordered two of the n'thrals to remain and protect Slava as he and the other four dashed out of the room after the agent. Mulder sprinted toward the parking lot If Yori weren't around he'd have to steal a car on his own; so far he was making it But his luck didn't hold, turning down the first aisle he ran straight into several men in black who were with their consortium boss Mr. Jones. "Well, Agent Mulder, I didn't expect to see you again so soon Grab him!" he ordered The MIB aimed their guns at Mulder, and as he backed away, they branched out to cut off his escape Behind him more footsteps came running. "Fox, wait!" "Alex? No! Look out!" He shouted as he saw the men raise their weapons toward Krycek's direction As the young man came tearing around the corner - they opened fire Hitting the younger man countless times Krycek had been so intent on catching up to Mulder that he hadn't been using his powers and was taken by complete surprise Blood poured from the countless bullet holes as Krycek slumped to the ground, going completely still, his life slowly drained from his body into the hard frozen ground below Mulder watched in shock as his lover's chest stopped moving, and his heart stopped beating. Chapter 12 – Reunited Moscow Sunday, January 3 1:40 a.m. Walter Skinner was still linked to Krycek as he felt the bullets rip into the younger man's body He pulled out his gun and used his powers to form a protective shield around his body As he came blazing around the same corner a few seconds later, he was prepared, shooting the man closest to Mulder The bullets fired at him bounced off his glowing protective shield that appeared as an eerie blue light around his body. From another direction, four large N'thrals came running, drawing the fire from the MIB who wanted Fox Mulder for themselves While the two parties were occupied, Skinner crept over to Mulder's side just as the agent knelt down by Krycek's body Skinner reached down and grabbed his lover's arm trying to pull him away. "Fox, he's dead ... there is nothing you can do C'mon, we have to get out of here Now!" "NO! I'm *not* leaving him!" Yori quickly stepped forward, grabbing Krycek's prone body he hefted it over his shoulder "We'll bring him with us, hurry, we must leave here at once This way." They moved quickly down another row of cars Skinner kept a telepathic eye behind him, monitoring the gunfight between the MIB and the n'thrals Yori stopped in front of a small car and opened the back door, easing Krycek's body inside Mulder quickly crawled in beside him, and cradled the younger man protectively in his arms. He remembered Alex telling him that he was also an immortal, but dismissed the younger man's claim, since he had seen no evidence of it He started gathering in the energy that was around him it would require a lot of power if he were to heal his lover. Skinner climbed into the cramped passenger side and glanced back at the two men in the backseat Mulder was leaning over Krycek, he whispered soothingly into the younger man's ear caressing the younger man's cold, ashen face with his long graceful fingers Mulder leaned over and softly placed a kiss on Krycek's cold lips. Skinner sadly returned his attention to their escape as Yori threw the car in gear and headed for the gate They sped past several men racing out of the building Skinner glanced at the closed gates and the large n'thral guard standing in front of them with his gun aimed at their oncoming car He used his telekinetic powers, throwing the n'thral backward through the closed gates, causing the lock to break and the gates to fling open Yori raced the car through the now opened and unguarded gates. Mr. Jones ducked into his car and ordered his driver to retreat The remaining MIB were still exchanging gunfire with the pinned down n'thrals When they saw their employer fleeing, they leaped into the van that contained the consortium purchases and followed their employer toward the front gates After the car and van roared by, and out of the broken gates, Captain Mikhin ordered his guards to give chase as he headed back inside to protect his beloved Tsar. Yori guided his small car down the icy street, slamming on the brakes he slid to a stop at a roadblock Anton Danko stepped out from behind one of the cars that were blocking the road When he recognized his American cousin in the passenger seat, he signaled the other car blocking the road to move and waved them through the small gap Yori paused as the FSB agent stepped up to the car. "Walter, were you successful?" He stopped his inquiry upon seeing Agent Mulder in the backseat, holding Skinner's brother's body in his arms "I'm sorry ... accept my condolences over your loss, Walter." "Thank you, Anton We must get moving they'll be following us shortly." "Don't worry, we have all roads blocked, we should be able to detain them long enough for you to get away We'll regroup at my father's home." Skinner nodded at Yori who started his car and headed outside of Moscow. Mulder had been speaking softly to Krycek since they got into the car "Okay, Alex, I hope that I'm able to do what we've practiced Please ... don't let me down ... I don't want to lose you." Mulder felt the energy had grown sufficiently within him as he focused on the younger man's body He saw all the damage with his mind and set about repairing it as he held his hands over the wounds. Skinner was distracted by the bright glow coming from the back seat. Glancing back, he was startled to see Mulder bathed in a bright golden light that surrounded his lover and Krycek's bodies The A.D watched as the gaping wounds on his younger brother's body closed and healed right before his eyes. When all the damage from the bullet wounds had been mended Mulder concentrated on repairing the damage done to the younger man's brain and started his heart and lungs working again. Skinner watched in awed silence as Krycek's body spasm and he breathed in his first breath of air Yori looked through the rear view mirror as he tried to keep the car on the slick roads Bringing back the dead wasn't something one saw everyday, he couldn't help but wonder what else the agent was able to do. Krycek groaned and slowly opened his eyes He smiled when he saw Mulder's face staring down at him "Fox ... damn, you look good." Krycek started shaking and his teeth clattered together. "I'm fr . freeeezing What ... what happened ... why am I all wet?" Mulder smiled tiredly down at him, leaning over, he kissed him "You were shot." Mulder yawned, feeling drained, he had expended too much energy healing Krycek, he barely had enough left to keep his eyes open for more than a few seconds. "You healed me?" Krycek asked, sitting up and looking down at his body He had no memory of getting shot, but the evidence was before his eyes - the bullet holes in his clothing and the blood. Krycek turned around in the seat in time to grab Mulder as he passed out It was his turn to cradle the agent's sleeping body in his arms. "Fox! Alex, what happened? What's wrong with him?" Skinner shouted. The surprise over Krycek's miraculous healing was quickly forgotten over concern for his lover. Krycek shifted and rearranged Mulder's long limbs into a more comfortable position, placing the agent's head on his lap He brushed the hair out of Mulder's eyes and monitored his steady breathing before answering his half-brother "He sleeping One of the side effects to his healing ability is total exhaustion We did several tests while we were traveling together." Krycek smiled, remembering how angry Mulder had been when he'd cut himself with a knife and asked the agent to heal him "The most severe wounds required the most energy to heal, and it zapped Mulder's strength, he needed to sleep afterwards to regain his energy However, we never tested anything as bad as this." "So he's going to be all right?" "Yeah, he'll be fine after he's rested." "Alex ... welcome back." Krycek smiled, "Brat ... you missed me?" "I ... wouldn't go that far, but I was starting to tolerate you." "Damn, that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me," Krycek quipped, playing with Mulder's soft, silky hair. Skinner ignored him "How long is he going to be asleep?" "I don't know The longest he's slept before was two hours." "We're here, gentlemen." Yori informed them as he pulled in front of Kostya Danko's apartment building. Skinner eased his large body out of the cramped front seat and hurried to open the back door He reached for Mulder's sleeping body "Give him to me, Krycek." "That's okay, Skinner, I have him Why don't you run along and let your uncle know we're here." Krycek advised him as he slid out of the car pulling Mulder with him He scooped the agent's limp body up into his hands, using his telekinetic power to help handle the agent's weight. Skinner glared at him, but decided not to push such a small issue, choosing instead to catch the door as they headed up to his uncle's apartment He pounded on the door and a sleepy Kostya answered Seeing the men, one who appeared injured, he hurried them into the apartment "Quick, lay him on the sofa ... what's wrong with him? Was he shot?" Kostya asked, seeing the blood on the agent's white dress shirt, face, and hands. "No, he'll be fine ... he's only sleeping." "Sleeping? Are you sure, Walter? It doesn't look like he's only sleeping to me." "It's a little more involved than that ... but he'll be fine once he wakes up." Skinner assured his uncle. His uncle looked Mulder over "He's a pretty thing, I can see why you were so insistent on getting him back." "Uncle, it's not just his looks ... he's intelligent, interesting, caring, and passionate," Skinner sighed there'd been far too many people lately that couldn't see past Mulder's beauty. "If you say so, Walter." "Uncle, Anton ... and his men will be coming here after they've detain Slava's men and customers I would like to clean Fox up and make him more comfortable before they get here. Can you get me a pitcher of warm soapy water and a wash cloth? Oh, Alex could use a shower and a fresh change of clothing, too" "Walter, your bags are in the hall closet Alexei, what happened to you?" the old man asked, seeing the state of his clothes and the dried blood on them. "Oh, nothing much, shot, killed, brought back to life," Krycek stated matter-of-factly as he retrieved his bag and removed clean clothes for himself and Mulder He handed Skinner the change of clothes for their lover and headed into the bathroom to shower. Skinner accepted the washcloth, towel, and bowl of water from his uncle and started to remove his lover's soiled clothing He unfastened the expensive Rolex and put it into his pocket Yori stood watching the procedure as Skinner peeled away the agent's cummerbund and shirt "Yori, do you mind ... I would like Fox to have some privacy." "Why? It's not as if I haven't seen Mulder naked before." Skinner removed Mulder's shoes and socks "What do you mean?" "I was Slava's beautician I groomed and massaged Mulder daily for him." Skinner unfastened and removed the agent's pants leaving on his silk boxers He started to wash away the blood that had seeped through the clothing onto Mulder's skin ... his perfectly smooth and hairless skin "What ... what happened to Mulder's hair?" Skinner sputtered angrily as he lifted the waistband of the agent's boxers and peered under them. "Slava doesn't approve of body hair ... he instructed that Mulder be completely shaved Don't worry, it should grow back eventually," Yori answered looking a bit nervous, he didn't want to get on this powerful man's wrong side. "It had better," Skinner growled as he finished cleaning the blood off his lover's body and started toweling him dry Krycek emerged from the bathroom dressed in clean jeans and a T-shirt with his hair still damp from his shower He watched as Skinner pulled a soft, gray sweatshirt over Mulder's head The A.D. put on a matching pair of sweatpants and adjusted Mulder's body on the sofa into a comfortable position Satisfied, he stood and walked over to Krycek "We can't stay here long ... as soon as Anton arrives we have to leave for St Petersburg." "You're right, but we'll need a better car than Yori's," Krycek advised. "We'll talk to Anton about it when he gets here." Skinner walked back over to the sofa and lifted Mulder's upper body, sitting he eased the agent's head onto his lap Mulder stirred briefly, but fell back to sleep. A half-hour later Anton arrived with a few of his men He startled when Krycek answered the door "I thought you were dead." "I was ... but Agent Mulder was able to bring me back Ssh, he's sleeping ... raising the dead takes a lot out of him," Krycek quipped, enjoying the shocked expressions from all the men. Skinner had eased himself out from under Mulder when they arrived, wrapping a protective blanket around the agent's sleeping form He watched in amusement as each of the men crept up to stare in awe at the agent - legend, a legend that grew even larger after Krycek's blatant remarks. "Anton, we need to get back to St. Petersburg could you loan us a car?" "I'll do better than that, cousin, I'll drive you myself Will Agent Mulder be able to travel soon?" "He could travel right now ... he's only asleep and he can do that in the car." "Good, shall we leave then?" "Krycek, you grab our bags ... I'll get Fox." Skinner didn't wait for him to reply as he bundled Mulder in the large blanket and lifted him into his strong arms "Uncle, we'll send the blanket back with Anton." "No problem, Walter, keep it as long as you need it." Yori caught the door and followed the four men out He got in on the passenger side of the large government sedan Krycek threw their bags in the trunk, then opened the backdoor and climbed in He helped his brother ease Mulder's sleeping form in, trying not to wake him Skinner sat behind Yori and rested Mulder's head on his lap as Anton climbed in behind the wheel Krycek had the agent's feet in his lap and he gently massaged them under the blanket. Anton started the car, turning on the headlights; it was an hour before dawn - as he headed for St. Petersburg He didn't expect to arrive until late afternoon He glanced through the rear view mirror at Skinner He could clearly see the love and relief on the bald man's face as he cradled the younger man in his lap. St. Petersburg Sunday, January 3 2:40 p.m. Anton was just driving into St. Petersburg when Mulder finally stirred awake He felt the motion of car as it sped and bounced along the icy, bumpy road His head was resting on a lap ... he breathed in and smiled ... Walter. Mulder slowly opened his eyes, staring at the back of the passenger seat he looked down toward his feet that were resting on Krycek's lap The younger man was soundly asleep with his head resting against the window At the sound of soft snoring coming from above him, he knew Walter was also asleep He was surprised to find the two men together; he had expected them to kill each other the next time they saw one another. Mulder slowly eased his feet off Krycek's lap trying not to wake him; he then eased himself up from Skinner's lap, sitting between the two sleeping men. "Agent Mulder, good afternoon How are you feeling?" Anton asked. Mulder stared at the car's driver; there was something familiar about him "I'm fine Who are you?" "Anton Danko, Walter's cousin." "He helped in the rescue last night, Mulder," Yori informed him. "Oh, the man from the roadblock," Mulder replied, relieved to be able to place him. The sound of voices woke the two men in the backseat Skinner opened an eye, watching his lover draped over the front seat talking to the two Russians He placed his hand on the small of Mulder's back "Hey, welcome back," he murmured, pulling Mulder back he kissed him softly. "Mm, Walter, have I told you how much I missed you?" "No, but when we get to the apartment, maybe you should show me." Krycek cleared his throat He knew he'd promised that he would allow Mulder to leave, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to be jealous. Mulder turned away from Skinner and pulled Krycek to him, hugging him tightly "Don't you ever fucking die on me again, Alex Promise me that you'll be more careful from now on?" "Why, Fox? You'll be returning to D.C. with Skinner I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you here ... I wish it could have been different." "Alex ... please, maybe we could work something out." "What, Fox? He's not coming with us!" Skinner stated firmly. "Let's talk about this later ... Walter," Mulder said as the car parked in front of Krycek's apartment building They were about to get out when Mulder looked at his bare feet "Guys, you wouldn't happen to know where my shoes are?" "I have a pair of sneakers in my bag, Fox, I'll get them for you." Krycek got out and went to the trunk, pulling out a pair of socks and the sneakers He handed them to Mulder, who quickly put them on and climbed out of the car The five men rode the elevator up in blissful silence each lost in their own thoughts. Yori was dreaming about life in America with two million dollars in his pocket Not that the money was important to him, but it would allow him to start his own business if he wanted to. Anton was worried, now that they had rescued Agent Mulder their lives would be in jeopardy He wondered if they should try to flee the country? Mulder felt his emotions being torn in two separate directions He loved Walter and Alex equally, he was realizing that he couldn't live without either of them. Krycek felt sadness in his heart, he was about to lose the only man he'd ever loved He knew he could not go on living without Fox Maybe it would have been better if Fox had left him dead, but Fox had mentioned working something out He glanced over at Skinner, he knew the larger man would never allow him anywhere near Fox once they were back in United States. Skinner was totally elated he had Fox back, and soon they'd be heading home for D.C He would never permit Krycek to touch his lover again He didn't know what Fox had meant by working something out, but that didn't matter Fox was his lover and his alone. Frohike knew they were coming when their car got within twenty miles of St. Petersburg He put on a kettle of beef barley soup and started making sandwiches, knowing the men would all be hungry. Boris came into the kitchen, watching the little man preparing enough food to feed twenty people "Frohike, don't you think you've made a little too much food?" Boris asked exasperated at how wasteful the American was. Before Frohike could answer him, they heard the voices of the five men as they came into the apartment "Nope, there are nine adults here and five of them are starving," Frohike grinned smugly at the Russian. The men came tiredly into the kitchen Yori grinned when he smelled the soup and saw the large plate of sandwiches Frohike had taken the time to set the large kitchen table with plates and silverware, which was big enough for six adults He had placed the large platter of sandwiches in the center of the table. "Help yourselves," the little man told them Ladling soup into separate bowls, he placed them in front of the starving men who all dug in hungrily. Mulder had held back smiling at his oldest friend "Frohike, it's good to see you again." "Mulder, you gave us all quite a scare ... don't do that again ... ever I'm too old to go chasing around the world." Frohike hugged him "If you do ... I'm taking your video collection." "I promise, I won't And, Frohike, you can have my video collection." Mulder grinned Sitting down at the table between Krycek and Skinner, he grabbed himself a roast beef sandwich. Between mouthfuls, Krycek introduced Yori and Anton to Boris and Frohike Yori got up and helped himself to a second bowl of soup just as the Scullys walked into the large kitchen. "Dana, Bill, I made enough food for everyone - help yourselves." "Mulder, are you all right?" Dana asked with genuine concern. "I'm fine, Scully Here, why don't you take my seat, I'm finished eating." Mulder rose and before Scully sat down she hugged him He hesitated only briefly before returning the hug He'd gone through too much to hold a grudge against his partner so he decided to forgive her. Matthew smiled when he saw his third favorite adult and waddled over to him "Fox." He held up his chubby little arms, wanting to be picked up Mulder bent down and scooped the little boy up in his arms He loved kids and had grown attached to Bill's little boy, who seemed to worship him. Frohike had been standing eating at the counter and Boris rose to join him, giving Bill his seat at the table Introductions were made again. There seemed to be a silent truce called between Skinner and the Scullys They didn't broach any sore subjects, discussing the weather and the latest breakthroughs in science. Frohike shared the latest news involving the fight against the ghouls "There's an airborne virus just invented that kills only ghouls ... and has proven perfectly safe for the rest of the population The airforce is going to test it in Miami tomorrow If it is successful the virus will eventually be released to other countries to use." "How many tests have they run to determine that this virus will not have any harmful affects on humans or other mutants? There may be long term affects they haven't discovered yet," Scully stressed, she didn't like the thought of another contagion being released so soon after the alien virus had wiped out half the population. "It's a risk we have to take, Sis You don't know what it's been like living in fear of those things or how many people have been slaughtered by them." "I have to agree with Dana, Bill They should wait until more tests have been done We all know how sloppy the government can be when under pressure from the public," Skinner stated, wondering if the government even tried testing Mulder's strain of the mutation It would be his lover's luck to end up dead over some incompetent government mistake. Krycek read his mind "Maybe we should call and find out if Mulder's strain of the mutation has been tested?" "I'll call the Bureau and have them check into it." "When will Mulder and you be heading back to America, cousin?" "As soon as I can get a military transport plane to pick us up here." "Walter, Yori is coming with us It's part of an agreement I made with him for his help." "Yeah, he told us Two million dollars and U.S. citizenship, quite the bargain." Skinner looked at him sternly. "It seemed like a bargain at the time Besides, I still have the money my grandfather left me, and the two million from dad has been sitting in a growth fund for the past five years It's bound to be worth more by now." Mulder looked bored, he never had been interested in money and had his financial planner handle all of his finances, including his taxes He would go in once a year and sign the papers. "Fox, you're telling us you have no idea how much money you actually have?" Skinner asked, shocked at Mulder's total ignorance about his finances. "I really never paid that much attention, Walter I pay someone to handle it for me, you know I hate paperwork." "How much money did your grandfather leave you?" "One million, but that was over twenty-five years ago, it was put in a trust-fund for me I have never needed it, so I often forget it's there The last time I checked was when I turned the account over to Bob, my financial planner, it was worth a little under four million Bob, has been investing it for me over the last fifteen years." "Your grandfather left you one million dollars twenty-five years ago, you haven't touched it ... it was worth four million fifteen years ago . .. . and you have no idea how much it's worth now? In addition, your father left you two million, which you haven't touched in five years? I want to meet this Bob person and, Fox, we're going to have a long serious discussion about money management," Skinner stressed. "Oh, come on, Walter, if it interests you that much you can handle my finances Just don't ask me to *please* that's why I hired Bob," Mulder whined. Skinner shook his head as Krycek snickered at their lover's distress over his finances Krycek enjoyed investing money and playing the stock market, he could see that his half-brother had a similar interest. "Fox, we'll discuss this when we get home," Skinner sighed, how could anyone be this careless with their money? The A.D. knew he was going to be handling his lover's finances from now on He only hoped Bob hadn't swindled Fox out of too much money. "Hey, Mulder, you should have asked me ... my brother Marvin is a investment broker He would be happy to handle your finances for a nominal fee," Frohike suggested. Mulder looked over at him "Frohike, didn't your brother spend five years in jail for fraud?" "No, that was Calvin Marvin was only charged with tax evasion, he never went to jail." "Thanks, Frohike, but I think I'll let Walter handle it," Mulder pushed himself away from the counter and walked toward the door "If you'll excuse me I'm going to take a long, hot shower ... alone." He added when he saw the looks on his two lover's faces. Moscow Sunday, January 3 4:00 p.m. Captain Mikhin stood beside the bed as the doctor examined his Tsar The blow to Slava's head had fractured his skull and he had not regained consciousness The doctor turned to the n'thral captain "Mr. Slava has slipped into a coma, I'm sorry, but there is nothing more I can do I'll be back twice a day to check on him and change his bandages I'll be assigning an orderly full time." "How long do you think he'll be in the coma?" "Hopefully only a few days, but it could be weeks Moreover, there is no guarantee that there wouldn't be any brain damage," the doctor told the captain as he put his instruments away. Captain Mikhin watched as the doctor left, then stared down at the handsome face of his Tsar They had been together since they were teenagers and he was fiercely loyal to the man. His men had lost the Tsar's lover when the police had ambushed them at a roadblock, killing two of his men, and severely wounding another. He had the rest of his men out searching for the agent He last saw him leaving with a stern man who used sorcerer powers when fighting against those MIB bastards Yori was with this strange sorcerer and helped carry the body of the Tsar's enemy, Krycek Yori would be dealt with when they found him as well as this strange sorcerer, but the Tsar's lover would be left for the Tsar to deal with when he woke up. If he could find out who this sorcerer was he'd be able to track down the Tsar's lover and bring him back. St. Petersburg Mulder was feeling deeply depressed and conflicted He could not bring himself to leave Alex, and he wanted to return to D.C. with Walter He didn't know how it happened that he had fallen deeply in love with both of them He felt like he was cheating on one when he was with the other He needed some time by himself, to think, and resolve this problem on his own He knew Walter wasn't going to be happy with him, but he needed his space Well, at least for the next thirty-two hours, he wouldn't be able to stand the withdrawal pains any longer than that It'd been almost twenty-four hours since he had sex last with Slava Mulder trembled at the memory of the man touching him As a child he had learned how to bury unpleasant memories and he would try to do that with Slava, if he banished him from his conscious memory it would be like if nothing had ever happened. He grabbed some of Krycek's clothing and a spare razor, and went to stay in one of the many guest rooms He would take a shower in that room It was better that they stayed in separate rooms until they could work this out among them. Mulder also wanted to find out if Skinner really loved him or if it was because of his mutation He wasn't sure how he would be able to find this out Maybe he could get Frohike to use his empathic powers on the A.D. and read his true emotions That sounded like his best bet, but he wasn't comfortable using Frohike for love advice There was always Yori he would be impartial. Mulder looked in several of the guest rooms before choosing the one opposite the stairs to the roof It was smaller than all of the other rooms, having only a shower in the tiny bathroom However, he wanted small ... he had enough of large and opulent The agent turned on the shower and stripped off his clothes, stepping under the hot luxurious spray It felt good to be alone finally ... to have a moment of blessed peace ... after spending the last two days with that homicidal sex-maniac //Don't think about him!// Mulder scowled himself. Down in the kitchen between eating and talking, Skinner and Krycek kept their attention focused on the man upstairs Neither one considered it voyeuristic to spy on their lover as he was taking a shower They both wanted to go upstairs and join him, but neither dared without the other one following That was the last thing Mulder needed right now was the two of them going at each other throats. "It may not be safe for me or my men to stay in our country, Walter What would be the chance of getting them and their families approved for immigration into America?" Anton asked. "The U.S. is looking for intelligent, hard-working men ... I don't think there should be a problem I'll call immigration and my contacts in Congress I should know by Tuesday afternoon." Anton nodded, he wasn't happy about leaving, but with Slava still alive it was only a matter of time before he started taking vengeance against the men who helped Fox Mulder escape. "Excuse us, Alex and I need to talk to Mulder," Skinner told them, standing. Krycek quickly got up and followed the A.D. out of the room "Well at least we allowed him to finish his shower in peace, but I think he still wants some more time alone," he told the older man. "It's not good to allow Fox to sulk alone for too long, he forgets that there are other people here for him now He needs comforting after what that Cossack bastard did to him! Fox shouldn't be alone right now He'll start borrowing guilt and before we know it he will have convince himself we'd be better off without him," Skinner replied as they stood at the bottom of the stairs. "Yeah, you're right However, I still think we should allow him some more time alone," Krycek sighed Looking up the long flight of steps that led to their lover. "That's easy for you to say ... you've had him to yourself for over two weeks," Skinner snipped. "Well, this isn't the time to let your petty jealousies get in the way Do you want Fox to be happy?" Krycek asked scornfully. "Krycek ... fuckoff! You know ... damn well ... Mulder's happiness is important to me!" "Ha, then prove it." "How?" "Let's leave him alone tonight We'll talk to him in the morning." Skinner didn't like it, Fox was hurting and he wanted to comfort him But Krycek sounded too smug about having Mulder's welfare in mind and he didn't want to appear less concerned "Okay, for Fox We'll both allow him some privacy tonight." Krycek smirked, just because he was giving the agent up didn't mean he wanted Fox sleeping with Skinner under his roof. Taking in the older man's sad expression, Krycek decided to make an attempt at a peace offering "Do you want to see photographs of our mother?" "Yeah, I'd like that I've only had one photo to remember her by all of these years." Krycek led him away from the staircase and into the library He walked over to a built-in cabinet, opening the top door he pulled out several old albums The young man handed them to his older half- brother "If you see any photographs of her that you like ... please feel free to take them." "Thanks, Alex." Skinner took the albums over to a desk in the room and sat, turning on the desk lamp He noticed the albums were dated, so he started with the album 1958 through 1962 He carefully leafed through the photos, selecting one that only had his mother in it Most were of her and a man Skinner knew had to be Krycek's father, there wasn't the slightest resemblance between father and son The A.D immediately hated the face of the man who had broken up his family and stolen his mother He was glad that Krycek didn't look like his father, it made it easier to deal with him His mother didn't look happy in any of the photographs her smile appeared forced. When he got to the end of the first album, he noticed that his mother was pregnant - it was 1962 He picked up the next album labeled 1963 through 1973 Krycek was pictured predominantly throughout the album, but at least in photographs with Krycek, their mother appeared genuinely happy He peeled one of those photos out of the album ... Krycek looked to be about eight. The last album had more photographs of Krycek, but his mother was in fewer There was one photo showing her in her bedroom, sitting in front of a large fireplace, she looked pale and sickly. Krycek walked up behind him and noticed the photograph he was looking at "Mother was always frail and sad, she seemed to have given up on life long before I was born Father was very possessive of her He tolerated the time she'd spent with me, knowing it made her happy I think that was the only reason he wanted a child." "If he treated her that way, why did she stay with him?" "I always wondered that Maybe she felt that she already had lost two children and was afraid of losing me, too I'm sure father would have used that threat against her." Skinner was sad at how his mother's life had ended up Being married to a man she obviously didn't love and giving up her children Why did she marry him? There was more to this story than Krycek or he knew. "Did mother ever keep a journal?" "Yes, but I have no idea where it would be We could look for it if you want? Father had most of mother's things packed up after she died and stored in a room down in the basement of the building." "C'mon, show me where ... I want to find out what really happened Maybe she wrote about it in her journal." Before they could leave, Frohike came strolling into the room "Hey, Alex, do you have any videotaped movies?" The younger man opened the bottom doors of the same cabinet the albums came out of It contained over fifty tapes "Help yourself, Frohike This was my father collection of tapes." They left the little man to make his selection as they headed down into the cold, large basement. Mulder finished drying himself and slipped on the pair of cotton boxers he had borrowed from Krycek He walked over to the only window in the small room and looked out The sun was almost below the horizon and nighttime shadows started to spread across the room, it was only a little before 5:00 p.m He had always hated the short days of winter He didn't feel like company and didn't want to venture out of his temporary sanctuary There was a small television set with a built-in VCR Mulder hadn't seen televisions in any of the other rooms it was another reason he picked this one He was feeling hungry and thirsty again and wondered if Krycek had any videos laying around *HEY, FROHIKE!*/p> *Mulder? Don't shout ... I can hear you loud and clear What do you want?*/p> *Could you to sneak me something to eat and drink Oh, find out if Alex has any videos laying around ... preferably English-speaking movies.*/p> *On one condition.*/p> *What?*/p> *I get to watch them with you.*/p> *Okay, fine, whatever.* Mulder reluctantly agreed. Frohike showed up a half-hour later with a tray of food and several tapes "Alex showed me where his father had kept his video collection It was a good thing the man spoke English, he had a whole bunch of pirated American movies." Mulder took the tray from him and set it down on the bed "What did you get?" Frohike looked hungrily over at Mulder who had taken time to pull on a pair of jeans, but no shirt "Red Heat, the Predator, Terminator I and II Seems Mr. Krycek Senior had a thing for Arnold, he had every one of his movies." "I've seen both Terminator movies and the Predator, what's Red Heat about?" "Arnold plays a Russian detective sent to Chicago to track down a Russian drug smuggler He has to work with a Chicago cop ... it's one of those male buddy films." "Frohike ... the last thing I want to see right now is a movie about the Russian Mafia! Put Predator on and then Terminator movies," Mulder told him as he sat down cross-legged on bed in front the tray of food He picked up the sandwich and lifted up the bread, tuna fish, it was one of his favorites ... Frohike would remember that He took a big bite and picked up the Russian beer, taking a tentative sip . . not bad He watched as his friend started the film and came to sit on the edge of the bed. Frohike reached over and grabbed the bag of chips, took a handful, then passed it to Mulder They sat quietly eating and watching the movie When it was over, they put on the second movie, then the third Mulder had a hard time focusing on the third movie ... his mind kept drifting. "He really does, you know." "Who really does what, Frohike?" Frohike grinned back at his friend "Skinner, he's been in love with you for years I'm surprised he finally had the courage to tell you how he feels You really don't need to doubt his feelings for you, Mulder." "Frohike, I'm in love with Alex and Walter What should I do?" Mulder shook his head "I really don't believe that I'm asking you for advice on love ... no offense, Frohike, but it feels weird." "No offense taken, it is weird," Frohike replied with a smirked "It's your decision to make, but keep in mind that neither man can live without you It's been festering with both of them for too many years and now that they're romantically involved with you ... it will literally kill them to give you up Mulder, you should know that Krycek already told Skinner it would be better for you to return to D.C. with him He's giving you up because he knows he can't protect you ... Mulder, it's killing him If you leave him ... he will be dead within the year." One of the things Frohike hated about being a clairvoyant was the ability to see portions of the future. "dammit, Frohike I don't want to live without either of them, but you know they'd never agree to share! But how could I live if anything happened to Alex because of me Tell me what to do?" "Sorry, Mulder, but you have to decide that for yourself." "I was contemplating going to England so I wouldn't endanger either of their lives anymore However, I don't think that would work . . do you?" "Nope." "I've never had two people in love with me before How am I suppose to deal with this?" Mulder sighed lying back on the bed frustrated. "Mulder, for someone so smart you can be really dense sometimes There are more people than Skinner and Krycek in love with you." Frohike rolled his eyes at the agent. "Who?" "Me for one." "Frohike." Mulder groaned ... rolling over on his stomach, he buried his head under his arm ... it took Frohike a moment to realize shaking and noises coming from the agent's body was uncontrollable laughter. "Is it really so hard to believe?" Frohike asked with a touch of hurt in his voice. After Mulder stopped laughing, he looked up at his long time friend "Frohike, you're attracted to anything standing upright on two legs But thanks ... I really needed a laugh." "Glad I'm so entertaining If you'll excuse me ... I think I'll take the dishes to the kitchen ... then hit the sack." The little man got up and started to grab the tray, but Mulder's hand grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Frohike, don't go away angry I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." "Apology accepted I was sort of out of line." The little man smacked his lips together "Shall we kiss and make up," Frohike leered Mulder pulled away and Frohike laughed "Got ya!" "Ha, ha, very funny." Mulder glared at him. The little man left the room with the tray and Mulder heard him laughing all the way down the hallway. Sleep sounded really good to him right now, he was still tired from healing Krycek Mulder stripped off his jeans and turned the TV down low for background noise He slid under the heavy blankets and tossed and turned trying to get comfortable. After two long hours of tossing and turning, unable to sleep, Mulder couldn't take it anymore He was lying on his back staring up at the ceiling, watching the flickering light made by the TV He knew what the problem was and decided to do something about it He climbed out of bed and pulled back on his jeans and shirt Then slipped into the sneakers He turned off the TV and walked to the door, listening carefully before opening it It was well after 1:00 a.m. and he hoped that everyone was asleep The only problem was finding out which room Skinner was in As he quietly snuck down the hallway, he listened at each door, until he heard his lover's distinctive snoring coming from behind one. Mulder slowly opened the door and stepped in, trying not to wake the older man He walked up to the bed and studied Walter's face in the moonlight coming in through the window He looked haggard Mulder felt guilty ... if he hadn't been so quick tempered and had only taken the time to hear Skinner's side of the story none of this would have happened Sighing, the agent stripped off all of his clothing and crawled under the covers, easing over until they were lying back-to-back with their skin pressed together Mulder closed his eyes and fell into a contented sleep. Skinner didn't know what woke him, but he slowly became aware of the warm body pressed against his back He breathed in ... Fox . . he'd recognize his lover's unique scent anywhere He maneuvered his body around on the bed until he was facing the agent's back and he wrapped his arms around the lithe, sleep-warmed body - finally. Mulder was sleeping soundly and unconsciously moved deeper into the warm embrace, seeking the comfort and security he always found within those strong arms He rolled over and cuddled even closer lying face-to-face with his head on the older man's shoulder. Skinner just lay there watching him sleep, feeling truly happy for the first time in over two weeks He caressed a hand down the agent's side until it came to rest on the smooth curve of his hip He buried his nose in his lover's thick, silky hair and breathed in deeply, he smiled with contentment He wanted to wake Fox up and make love to him, but he realized the agent needed his sleep He would wait for his lover to wake up on his own However, he was not leaving this bed until he did, he only hoped Fox was recovering from his experience with Slava. He must have drifted back to sleep because when he woke up the room was brighter, there was soft light filtering through the window He had an unbelievably pleasant sensation coming from his cock, glancing down he watched as Fox took him into his warm mouth. Mulder felt the older man move and knew his efforts to wake him had paid off "Walter, it's about time you woke up." Mulder grinned seductively up at him while his tongue licked around the sensitive head The agent's hand gripped the thick base as he gave it one final lick and crawled back up to the older man. "Fox, are you feeling all right? I would understand if you still feel the need to be alone ... after what that bastard did to you." "Walter, I feel fine ... just a few more emotional scars to add to my collection I won't let Slava interfere in my life any longer I want you ... I need you ... just being in your arms keeps the darkness at bay." They shared a deep kiss and Skinner rolled Mulder onto his back, straddling him He loomed over the agent, staring down into his beautiful aroused face. "Fox, it's seems like forever since I've been allowed to touch and hold you ... promise me ... that you'll never leave me again." "I promise ... but we still need to talk Walter, I love you ... but there are other things I need in my life." Skinner expression saddened "Fox, I know you're in love with Krycek I read the letter you wrote him I promise that we will discuss this later ... I want your happiness above all else." He gently ran his hand through Mulder's hair, smiling weakly If it came to sharing him with another man ... would he be able to? Mulder put his hands on the sides of Skinner's head and pulled him down, kissing and nipping at his lips "God, Walter, I've missed you so much." Mulder closed his eyes enjoying the familiar feeling of the larger man's body covering him, pressing him down into the soft mattress as their hard erections pressed firmly together. Skinner gazed into the blissful face of his lover; Mulder had his eyes closed and was grinning happily "Tell me what you want, Fox?" he asked as he ground his erection against the agent's. Mulder moaned and dug his fingers into the older man's shoulders "You ... I want you to make love to me I want to feel you deep inside of me." Skinner kissed him hard, grinding their lips together in a bruising possessive kiss He broke the kiss and moved down to the agent's throat, tasting and nipping as he went He paused at his nipples and spent minutes scrapping them with his teeth, until they were hard little nubs and Mulder was moaning and wiggling nicely underneath him He moved down and licked at his bellybutton when he got to his lover's groin he discovered the sensation from his lover's lack of any pubic hair was totally arousing He was angry when he first saw what that Russian bastard had done, but he liked being able to lick the sensitive skin above his groin He wondered if he could talk his lover into keeping himself shaved. He took Mulder's cock into his mouth, deep-throating him all the way to the root Mulder gasped and grabbed his head holding him in place The older man pulled back scraping his teeth along his lover's length Now what was that that Krycek said about what Mulder liked? Oh yeah, rimming Skinner looked up at Mulder who was staring down at him lustfully through half-lidded eyes He stared at a pillow next to his lover's head and it came floating down to him He placed it under the agent's hips and shifted Mulder's legs apart so he could get at his opening. "Walter, you figured out how to use telekinesis without needing to use your voice!" Mulder exclaimed, looking at him surprised. "Yeah, Frohike taught me." Skinner grinned; it was the only experience in the last few weeks that had made him happy He'd hated vocalizing his commands - it sounded so childish. "I would never have guessed that you and Frohike would get along so .. . . Oh, Christ!" Mulder gasped. Skinner licked over his lover's opening and nudged against it with the tip of his tongue He pushed slowly in savoring Mulder's musky, earthy flavor. "Damn ... please ... don't stop!" Mulder moaned, pushing his hips back. Skinner enjoyed the cries of pleasure that issued from his lover, and the feel of Mulder's anus clenching his tongue He really should have done this sooner ... he would have to remember to thank his baby brother for the advice He reached his hand up and grasped the agent's erection as he slowly fucked him with his tongue Mulder was incredibly hard He trailed his hand up to the tip and found it dripping with pre-cum Skinner started jerking his lover off in time with his tongue thrusting in and out of his body He listened to the agent's moans and heavy panting, he felt the anal muscles tighten around him as Mulder's orgasm hit and he shot his milky come over his chest and belly. Skinner pulled out and followed the milky trail with his tongue, licking a path up his lover's body He reached Mulder's lips and kissed him sharing his taste with him Mulder greedily pulled the older man's tongue into his mouth sucking on it "Mm, thank you . . Walter ... that was so hot," he purred breathlessly. "We're not done yet, lover." Skinner ground his erection against the younger man's soft organ He moved back down and grabbed a tube of lubricant that came floating to him from his suitcase He positioned his lover's legs over his shoulders and brought his hand down to his puckered opening Mulder was already very loose and relaxed, and he had no trouble inserting two, then three fingers into him as he quickly stretched him. He pulled his fingers free and replaced them with his thick cock Skinner felt himself trembling with excitement as he thrust his cock in past the tight ring of muscles He hesitated long enough for Mulder to catch his breath and allow his muscles to relax before thrusting all the way home. Skinner sat back and relished the feeling of being back inside of the man that he loved with all his heart He stared contentedly at their joined bodies He would do whatever it took to make his lover happy as long as they were always together. Skinner was already starting to plan for their future together, he wanted to discuss his desire to start a family together He sighed happily at the look of love showing on Mulder's open face. Mulder shifted his legs down until they wrapped around the older man's waist He stared in awe at the open expression of joy on Skinner's face, feeling a warm sensation spread over his body just from knowing he was the cause of his lover's happiness The agent wanted to do whatever it took to keep that expression on Skinner's face. Skinner slowly pulled out until only the tip of his cock was inside, then slowly pushed back into that tight heat. He very gradually increased the speed of his thrusts; he wanted this sweet moment to last forever He watched as Mulder's cock got hard again, swelling against his belly He reached a hand out grabbed it and started stroking in time with his thrusts Mulder's hands were clenching and unclenching the sheets on the bed, he arched his back and pushed back against each hard thrust. Skinner watched as a bead of sweat fell from his forehead and onto to his lover's chest which was already glistening from the agent's own sweat They were both going to need a long shower after this workout. He couldn't hold back any longer It had been too long since he was with Fox this way, he felt his balls tightening up, thrust in deeply, and came hard The force of Skinner's release sent Mulder over the edge and he came too, which triggered a second smaller orgasm for the older man. Skinner looked at his lover in surprise; he had never experienced two orgasms within such a short space of time He gently pulled his soft organ out, feeling totally spent and laid next to Mulder's sated, sublimed body on the bed, pulling him into his arms. "That was unbelievable," Skinner murmured into the agent's hair as he nuzzled him with his face. "Yeah, it was ... it must be a family trait," Mulder chuckled "You and Alex share many of the same moves." "Fox, I really didn't need to hear that," Skinner sighed sadly "I didn't know you were aware that Krycek was my brother." "Sorry, Walter, that was a crass thing to say," Mulder apologized, realizing he'd unintentionally hurt his lover's feelings "I found out about yours and Krycek's family relationship just before Slava tricked me into leaving with him I noticed the portrait hanging downstairs and recognized the woman as being the same one as in the photo you keep on our dresser back home Walter, how do you feel about it? It must have been a shock to find out after all these years." "It was a shock ... I'm not sure what was more of a jolt, finding out that my mother never died in a car crash or finding out that Krycek is my half-brother." Skinner stroked his lover's back as he talked. "Fox, I've discovered that Alex isn't all that bad ... we are a lot alike in many ways We found our mother's journals in a storage room down in the basement last night It took us over four hours to go through all of her possessions Alex told me to take anything I wanted to remember her by You know my father remarried a year after we got to America ... I loved my stepmother as if she were my real mother, she was a kind and giving woman, but I still missed my real mother I never stopped missing her and it's been forty years ... how could she have left us for that man?" A silent tear made its way down the older man's face. "Are you hoping to find out by reading her journals?" "Yes, I have to know the truth, even if it's painful." "I'm sorry, Walter, but remember I'll be there for you if you need me." "Thanks, Fox C'mon, grab shower." Chapter 13 – Lover's Agreement St. Petersburg Skinner ran a washcloth over his lover's lithe, smooth body It had been far too long since they had shared a shower He remembered clearly the pain he had felt standing in the shower alone after Fox had left him Now his lover was leaning up against his strong chest as he slowly washed Mulder's lean body. He nipped and sucked at the side of Mulder's throat, leaving red hickeys and small teeth marks wherever his mouth traveled He lowered the washcloth to the agent's groin, bringing it under his balls and up around his hard cock Mulder purred constantly, sounding like a contented cat as he pushed forward into his lover's stroking hand. "Fox, I love the way your body feels ... shaved It's very erotic and sensual I'd like to keep you this way ... forever," Skinner murmured. "Ah, don't get your hopes up, Walter I feel like a fucking eunuch ... it's embarrassing I almost hesitated coming to you this morning because of it." "Why? You're beautiful There's nothing to be embarrassed about I love being able to lick and suck you here," he said as he caressed his hand just above the agent's groin, feeling the delicate soft skin. Mulder smiled shyly and turned around in Skinner's arms He kissed the side of his lover's face "You do? Maybe I'd like to lick you there as well How about it ... I'll grab a razor No, better yet ... I'll run down to Yori's room and see if he has any of his hair removal lotion with him." Skinner stared at him incredulously "You're not serious? Are you?" "Very If you want me to remain shaved ... then you have to also ... fair play and all, lover." Mulder nipped the A.D.'s shoulder while trailing his hands down his lover's back, only stopping when they cradled the older man's buttocks and pressed their groins together. This wasn't going as the A.D. had intended, and he didn't want to admit defeat He really was turned on by Mulder's shaved body, but he didn't want lose his own lush bush It would be humiliating taking a shower at the FBI's exercise facility "Fine." He could live with a little humiliation. "Fine! You're serious?" Mulder squeaked. "Yes ... when we get home we'll purchase some of that hair removal lotion Fox ... I agree fair play is fair play ... I want to be able to play with every inch of your body However, I'll only shave my groin area ... I'm not about to shave my legs or chest," Skinner smirked, knowing he had just outwitted his lover, something that was usually impossible to do. Mulder lowered his head resting it the older man's shoulder, sighing He had never expected Walter to agree to something that outrageous He felt the older man's arms tighten around his body and the gentle kisses on top of his head The shower was beginning to turn cold so the agent pushed himself away and turned off the spray "Okay, you win C'mon, Walter, I'm hungry Let's dress and you can make me breakfast." Mulder smiled at him as he stepped out of the bathtub. "So, does that mean you'll be cooking lunch and dinner for me today?" "Walter, anything you want But we do have a large number of people to feed I'll get Frohike to help me." *Shouldn't you ask me first?*/p> *FROHIKE! Keep out of our bedroom!* Skinner shouted telepathically to the little man as Mulder fell on the bed laughing hysterically. Skinner looked over at his beautiful naked lover, who had tears streaming down his face from laughing so hard. "God, it's good to be back Frohike, don't change ... you're the only person I can still predict," Mulder gasped out breathlessly. *Thanks, Mulder So, what are we going to be cooking?*/p> *I don't know, I'll have to see what Alex has in his kitchen.*/p> Skinner interrupted their telepathic conversation "C'mon, Fox, put some clothes on I'd prefer that little pervert doesn't see anymore of your body - it belongs to me and only me!" *Spoils Sport.*/p> *Fuckoff, Frohike!* Skinner hissed. *Ouch! Okay, Walter, sir, FUCK! Stop with the hot foot already I promise ... I won't spy.* Frohike had his fingers crossed as he hopped around on one foot, he just wouldn't let them know he was spying. Mulder started dressing in the clothes from last night, he looked up at Skinner's smug look "What did you do?" "I taught, Melvin, a lesson." "What?" "Remember those old Three Stooges movies where one of them puts a lit match on the other's foot?" "Oh, you gave Frohike a hot foot." Mulder shook his head at the juvenile antic his lover had just committed. "Yeah, it felt so good ... I have to admit, at first finding out I had this fucking alien mutation was horrifying, but now it feels great to be able to do things just by thinking them." "Speak for yourself ... I still hate it You don't know what it's like to lose your freedom I hate being dependent on other people for my day-to-day safety Sometimes I just want to find a place where I can be all alone ... and not have to worry about being attacked or raped!" Seeing Skinner's sad expression, Mulder sighed, "But, I couldn't live without you in my life I'm sorry, Walter, it's just that I feel like I've lost so much lately ... I sometimes forget what I've gained." "It's okay, Fox, I've forgotten how difficult this has been for you I should be more sensitive to your feelings." Skinner walked over and hugged him tightly "C'mon, I'll make you whatever you want for breakfast." They walked out of the room into the hallway and ran into Krycek at the top of the stairs He gave them a sad look, realizing what he had given up for his lover's welfare. Mulder broke away from Skinner's embrace and walked purposefully up to Krycek, wrapped his arms around the younger man's body and kissed him hard, long, and deep He poured in all of his love and commitment for the younger man into that kiss Mulder had decided before going to Skinner's bed last night that he was not going to give up either man ... they were just going to have to live with his decision He was no longer willing to hide the way he felt about one in front of the other. "C'mon, Alex, your big brother is going to make us breakfast." Mulder grinned knowing he would irritate Walter He held out his hand to the older man who very reluctantly took it Skinner gave him a stern expression, which Mulder ignored completely. Both brothers saw the look of determination in their lover's eyes and allowed him to lead them downstairs toward the kitchen "Walter, we'll have pancakes, sausage, and scrambled eggs," Mulder requested smiling at Skinner who looked at him with chagrin. "Don't worry about it, Alex can fix us lunch, then I'll make us dinner Seems perfectly fair to me." Mulder smiled sweetly. "You've already made up your mind ... haven't you? You had no intention of discussing this with either of us, did you, Fox?" Skinner hissed grabbing Mulder's arm and leading them into the parlor instead of the kitchen. When Mulder sat down in the first available chair, he answered, "Yes, I have made up my mind ... I'm sorry, Walter I'm not giving either of you up When we leave here Alex is coming with us." Krycek gasped, surprised at the force behind the words, Fox was serious and he made sure by the tone of his voice that he was taken that way. "So, what I want and need doesn't matter to you?" Skinner asked. "I ... this is difficult," Mulder said, looking up at Skinner who hovered over his chair He glanced over at Krycek meeting his dark green eyes, and seeing the pain deep inside, he steeled himself He didn't want to hurt Skinner's feelings, but it was his turn to make his own demands. Mulder stood up, brushed past Skinner, and walked over to the fireplace staring up at Aleksandra - he felt strengthened and determined He had his back to them as he started to speak. "In the past year I've lost my independence ... I can no longer go out by myself I can't go running, to the store, or even to drive myself to work I'm dependent others for my day-to-day survival." Mulder turned to face them and looked sadly at both men He had been hurting inside for so long and never wanted to burden either of them However, he had to make them understand that he needed both of them, just as he needed air to breathe and water to drink. "Do you have any idea what it's like to lose your freedom? To be dependent on someone else for your protection? To be so fucking needy? It sucks! I hate being this way! I didn't ask for it." Mulder blushed as he felt a tear make its way down his cheek, he didn't want to break down in front of these two men. "Fox." Skinner reached out for him; it was breaking his heart to see his lover's distress. "Don't, Walter," Mulder sighed and backed away, he closed his eyes to regain his composure, taking a deep breath Skinner reluctantly drew back, giving his lover his space. "I've accepted the fact that I'll never be able to go out safely in public alone, that I'm dependent on others for my basic everyday needs Fuck, even my body can't go longer than forty-eight hours without having sex." Mulder breathed in and looked at both men, saw sympathy and sadness in their eyes "I've lost too much in my life and I refuse to lose anymore Please, try to understand that I love you both deeply and I need you both." Mulder walked back over to his chair and sank into it exhausted. Skinner didn't know what to do ... he was lost in both his pain and his lover's. Krycek looked at his despondent lover and then at his half-brother They were all hurting and in pain The emotions were too close to the surface "Maybe we should eat breakfast and then finish this I think we all need a little space." As they walked into the kitchen, Skinner said, "I'll fix breakfast like I promised You two sit down." As they sat, Krycek took Mulder's hand in his It was finally sinking in ... Fox wanted him to come back to the U.S. with them For a moment, his jealousy was overpowering ... he hated the thought of Fox with Skinner, but if sharing was the only way to keep him, he'd overcome his jealousy. While he mixed the batter for the pancakes, Skinner's anger started to overcome his pain Glancing out of the corner of his eye, though, he saw Krycek holding Mulder's hand and the pain burst through again. Scully came up and started helping him; she didn't like the devastated expression on the A.D.'s face. She and Skinner had their differences, but Mulder was acting insensitive and selfish How could he sit there holding Krycek's hand knowing how Skinner felt about him? She took the pancake batter and scooped four perfect circles of batter into the greased frying pan. Not being able to keep quiet, Skinner asked, "How would you feel, Fox? How would you feel if you loved me the way that I love you and I decided to take another lover?" He slammed the frying pan down, turning to his anger to drown out his pain "Somehow I don't think you'd be so thrilled about it." "I hope I would try to understand Walter, you are the most important person in my life But, I also love Alex ... and I won't leave him behind We have to work this out! I knew you'd have a problem with this ... but I'll do anything to make you agree Tell me what you want ... I'll do anything for you." "Anything?" Skinner looked at him questioningly, he knew Fox would never agree to what he had in mind under any other circumstance. "Anything," Mulder answered confidently. "Okay, Fox, after breakfast ... I'll tell you what I want for agreeing to share you with my half-brother." Skinner looked sternly at him making Mulder nervous, there was something behind that look that made his stomach clench He wasn't hungry any longer. After breakfast, Skinner had headed to his room to think He was having second thoughts about holding Fox to his 'I'll do anything' agreement In fact, he was having second thoughts about everything He knew that he loved Fox with his entire body and soul, but he was having doubts about Mulder's love for him How could he totally disregard both his and Krycek's feelings like this? If Fox really loved him, he wouldn't need Krycek. He went to the closet and pulled his suitcase out and threw it on the bed He didn't know how he was going to live without Fox, but he knew he had to try He wouldn't force the younger man into a relationship he obviously didn't want He would go to his uncle's house and stay until the transportation to the U.S. was arranged. Krycek had gone to his room to take a shower after breakfast He was coming to terms with Mulder's decision to have relationships with both him and his brother The jealousy was still there, but it was tempered because of the memories he had of Mulder's grief when he thought Skinner was dead He truly wanted him to be happy and he was thrilled that Fox had decided that he was necessary to that happiness, too. As he finished dressing, he suddenly felt sadness and pain that was almost overwhelming At first, he thought it was Fox, but after closing his eyes and focusing, he realized it was coming from his brother Skinner's shields were lowered and Krycek was able to slip into his mind easily It only took a few seconds to see what Walter had decided to do He withdrew and quickly headed to his brother's room. Opening the door, he asked, "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Skinner whirled around "Krycek, get the hell out of here What I do is none of your business." "It sure the hell is! What do you think this is going to do to him? He loves you and you're walking away." "This should make you happy, Krycek You'll have him all to yourself It doesn't matter, anyway He obviously doesn't love me or need me He's made his choice I won't stick around and force him to stay with me out of obligation." "Is that what you think it is? God, you really are stupid! He loves BOTH of us Is that really so hard for you to believe?" Krycek shook his head He was starting to realize that emotionally his brother was weaker than he was. He stared into Skinner's eyes and projected the scenes of Mulder's grief that he had so recently remembered The scenes were brief, but poignant ... Mulder's pain and tears. Skinner turned away, tears in his eyes He whispered, "He really does love me." Krycek shook his head; that should have been evident to him already "Yes, he does, and he's waiting for us down in the parlor Let's go see him." Skinner wiped his eyes and nodded, following Krycek out of the room. Mulder had excused himself from breakfast early; he wasn't able to force down a couple of pancakes He came into the parlor to mediate This was the only room in the whole apartment that he felt completely at ease There was always a pleasant scent of Lily of the Valley in the air and he felt a soothing calm staring at the portrait of his lovers' mother His own mother had never given him the nurturing and love he needed, but looking up at this woman's serene face he felt an odd sense - love and acceptance. *I do love you, Fox.*/p> Mulder startled at the unexpected female voice in his head He looked around expecting to find an intruder But there was no one, he slowly turned and stared back at the portrait "Aleksandra?" he whispered. *Such a bright boy.*/p> "What do you want from me?" *Take care of my boys, Fox They both love you and need you Give Vladimir what he wants ... it will make him happy In time, he will come to accept and love Alexei.*/p> "Aleksandra, what does he want? I would do anything for him." *A child, Fox He wants a child ... yours and his Don't deny him this precious gift.*/p> "No, it's not a good idea to bring a child into this world now! It will only lead to heartache and sorrow Please, don't ask me to agree to this ... it's wrong!" *Oh, Fox, yours and Vladimir's child is destined to change the world There can be no heartache in such a gift.*/p> "Aleksandra, I love your son with all of my heart, I'd give him whatever he wants, but this ... " She dismissed his objections *Thank you, precious one I love you as if you were my own son I will try to protect your children from harm.*/p> Mulder felt overwhelmed and distressed, he didn't want the responsibility for a child's life ... he didn't even have control over his own life anymore Before he could ask her what she'd meant by children, Walter and Alex came strolling into the room, taking in his sad expression, they both approached with concern. "Fox, what's wrong?" "Nothing, Alex, just a bit melancholy." Mulder turned and stared back up at the portrait, taking a deep breath, he turned back to face his lovers. "Can we sit down? We may be here awhile," Mulder murmured, taking a seat in the chair leaving the sofa for Alex and Walter to share. "Walter, tell me what you want in exchange for allowing your brother and me to remain lovers," Mulder stated bluntly He didn't even attempt to soften his question, he already knew what the older man wanted and he was feeling backed into a corner. Walter Skinner closed his eyes looking for guidance ... what he wanted wasn't easy for him to voice It was too personal and painful, he and Sharon had tried throughout their marriage to have children, but they were never able to. "Fox, I would like to have a child with you ... I know it is still early in our relationship, but I love you and would like for us to start a family The new techniques are promising The baby will share both of our genetic traits ... hopefully the better parts." Skinner grinned weakly and looked at Fox waiting for the inevitable rebuff. "Okay, fine, whatever you want, Walter I'm not particularly happy about bringing a child into this world, but if this is what you need ... I will do it for you." Mulder glanced up at the portrait as he was speaking. *Happy?*/p> *Very, precious one.*/p> "Thanks, Fox," Skinner replied surprised "I'll handle the majority of our child's care ... I don't expect you to." Skinner had gotten up and was pacing excitedly. "Walter, I'm agreeing to have this child with you ... we will raise him together fifty-fifty." Krycek looked on with a broken heart Although, he would never admit it, he had always had a deep fantasy of starting a family with Fox He was happy the agent was fighting his brother to keep him as his lover That had been a shock and surprise to him He would be going back to the U.S. with Fox ... as his lover He didn't know how his beautiful lover was planning on handling living arrangements, but he was willing to wait and see. "Are you sure, Fox? I know this isn't what you want ... and for the life of me, I can't believe you aren't arguing with me Are you sure that you want to have a baby with me?" Skinner asked hesitantly. "I'd rather adopt a couple of kittens, but I don't think that would satisfy your parental needs," Mulder quipped. "No, it wouldn't." The older man walked up to his chair and bent down kissing him softly "Fox, thank you." Mulder looked up at Skinner with a slight smile on his face "You're welcome." He couldn't stop the tear from sliding down his cheek. Skinner was surprised He thought his lover would be happy now that the agreement had been made "Fox ... I've already agreed to share you with Alex." Skinner knelt down in front of his chair, taking Mulder's long, graceful hands into his much larger, meatier ones "Fox, I want to make you happy ... tell me what you need?" "Walter, I want you to accept my love for your brother with your heart I don't want to live with your jealousy when you see Alex and me together You have to accept that I need and love him as much as I need and love you." "What about Alex, Fox? Shouldn't you be asking the same of him?" Mulder looked over at Krycek "Alex, are you going to have a problem with this?" "No, Fox, as long as you're still in my life." Krycek eyes were filled with sorrow over the pain his lover still was in But, Fox needed him - loved him. "Well, if he can accept sharing you with me ... then I will accept it, too It will be hard for me to see you in the arms of another man, but if it's what you need ... I'll learn to live with it Just promise me one thing?" Skinner asked trying to make the younger man smile. "What?" Mulder face lit up with relief. "It will just be Alex and me ... you're not trying to build a harem," he grinned softly and pulled Mulder into his arms, kissing him. "I promise, no harem." Mulder returned the kiss passionately. Krycek watched them contentedly, earlier he would have been jealous of Mulder's affection for Skinner Now, it didn't bother him as much to share Fox with Skinner His older brother wasn't that bad once he'd gotten to know him He did still wonder what Fox had in mind for living arrangements He couldn't see them all sharing the same apartment. St. Petersburg Mulder couldn't remember ever being this happy as he sat on the floor of Dana's and Bill's rooms playing with Matthew The thought of having a child still terrified him, but if his son turned out as good- natured as Matthew, then it would be worth it. "Okay, Mulder, tell me ... how are you going to handle having both men as lovers? I can't see you sharing the same apartment Skinner and Krycek will be at each other's throats in no time." Scully smiled down at him from where she sat curled up on the sofa with her legs under her, sipping a cup of tea. "I haven't worked out all of the logistics, yet However, you're right, it wouldn't be a wise idea to all live together ... but they have promised to get along." Mulder grinned at her; it felt good to be on friendly terms again, he had missed having her there to talk to "Although, I do kind of like the idea of two bedrooms with a connecting door," he joked, making Scully groan. "Mulder," she sighed, shaking her head, raising one of her perfect eyebrows, and looking at him with amusement Scully was overjoyed to see him happy after everything that had happened to him in the past two weeks. She deeply regretted the role she had played in deceiving him, she still didn't fully trust Skinner, but she had to admit some of his arguments made sense. Matthew had crawled onto Mulder's lap and fallen fast asleep The agent cradled his small body in his arms against his chest. "Walter wants me to have a baby with him," he murmured softly. Scully who had just taken a sip of tea choked, spitting it out very unladylike, blushing. She grabbed a napkin and started cleaning up the spill then set the teacup down on the table. She scooted off the sofa and sat on the floor next to Mulder. "Isn't it a bit early in your relationship to even consider having a baby? Frankly, Mulder, I really don't think it's a good idea to bring a new life into this world yet ... how much thought have you given this? You do tend to be impulsive at times." Scully was shocked that she was even having this conversation with Mulder The idea of two men having a child together ... a year ago it would have been ludicrous. "I know it's weird ... I'm still shocked over it But, it's not too early in our relationship ... Scully, I really do love him However, I agree with you ... I don't want to bring a baby into this fucked up world." Mulder sighed and hugged Matthew closer, the little boy buried his face in the soft flannel shirt the agent was wearing. "Then tell him ... I'm sure he'd understand." "It's not as easy as that, Scully I'd have talked Walter out of the whole ridiculous idea if his mother hadn't interfered." "Mulder, his mother's dead ... are you saying that her ghost told you to have his baby or else?" She gave him her patented look of disbelief that she had used countless times over their years together. "Aleksandra, didn't issue an or else, but she did sway me When I was talking to her I felt a real sense of love and belonging. She said she'd try to protect my children When Walter asked me ... I was unable to tell him anything but yes." "What process was he suggesting you use?" "Scully, I'm not sure He mentioned the kid would have both of our traits, so I'd guess splicing our DNA together and producing a high- breed clone Or genetically altering one of our sperm with DNA from the other and in vitro fertilizing one of the stolen ovum that the government is using in their new procreation clinics." Mulder quickly clamped his mouth shut as he realized he had inadvertently put his foot in it. "I'm sorry, Scully, that was really insensitive of me." "Mulder, it's not your fault You didn't violate my body and steal my ova." She sighed, it was a whole new world and she was going to have to get used to it. "Mulder, do you think there's a chance that you may be able to use mine? I'd be honored if you did." Scully liked the idea, if someone should benefit from her lost it would be nice if it were Mulder. "I'd like that ... I'll talk to Walter and see what process he was considering." "You know, Mulder, it's weird, after fighting those bastards for all these years you're going to benefit from one of their illegal projects It seems like justice in a way." "It feels dirty to me ... just having anything to do with any of their projects dammit, Scully, just the thought makes me sick." "Get over it, Mulder! We won and to the victor goes the spoils, why shouldn't you benefit What about Alex ... are you planning on starting a family with him, too?" "Alex ... no ... he'd never want to have children, he's too independent - he'd feel tied down." Mulder was too busy looking at Matthew's sleeping face - he didn't notice the look of disbelief that crossed Scully's face. She had seen how Krycek was around Matthew and had a hard time believing that he wouldn't want children, especially if Skinner was having one with Mulder. "Mulder, Charlie has found us a place to live in Canada Canada has just reopened its airspace to foreign flights and Bill was able to make us reservations on a flight going to Toronto We'll be leaving on Wednesday," Scully told him sadly. "Scully, I don't think it's safe for you to travel alone with only your brother Alex was able to shield your identity from any clairvoyant or sorcerer that was in the area If it's okay with you, I'd feel better if Alex went with you to Canada until you get settled in He could check the area that Charlie found and make sure there's not a threat to your safety nearby." "Thanks, Mulder, I'd appreciate that ... if Alex wouldn't mind." "No, he likes you He'd be just as concerned about your safety as I am I better go check with Walter, he was talking to the military about our flight out of here." Mulder gently handed Matthew over to her He stood up, stretched, and headed out the door Scully watched him sadly; they'd had such a short time together. She hoped that one day they could be together as partners again. Mulder headed down the hall, he knew Skinner was in the library making telephone calls Before going down to talk to him, he decided to find Alex and ask him to accompany the Scullys on Wednesday The agent headed into the large master bedroom and found Krycek standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom. The younger man was turning his head in different directions and running his hand over his short-cropped hair. "Alex, what are you doing?" "Trying to imagine myself bald You know, it's inevitable," he sighed. "What do you mean?" "Skinner ... our mother's father was bald, Skinner said he started losing his hair in his thirties." "Alex, you're not going to lose your hair You can't." Mulder smiled, wondering when Alex was going to realize how stupid he was acting. "Fox, I don't understand, what do you mean, I can't." "You've told me yourself that you're immortal ... if that's true, then you have stopped aging So ... you are always going to be as you are now." Mulder reached out and ran his hand affectionately over Krycek's head "Besides, Walter was just yanking your chain ... he told me he started to losing his hair when he was in his early twenties By the way, you never told me how you know you're immortal." "Oh, that's right, I can't believe I've forgotten," Krycek grinned sheepishly "When I was working undercover for the consortium, I found out they had retrieved a sample of the alien virus from a crashed UFO in the early fifties They tested it on a small town of two hundred people in a remote area of Alaska All the women and girls died and most of the men had remained unaffected However, thirty of the men mutated Twenty into the n'thrals, six into ghouls, three into clairvoyants, and one sorcerer." Krycek took a breath and looked at Fox. "Alex, we found the consortium's documents about that town, but most of the papers had been destroyed There was no information on the man with the sorcerer mutation They used the surviving men and boys in countless experiments." Mulder shivered at the thought of what they had done to those men "The documents said that six of the boys turned into mutants once they reached puberty." "Yeah, four more n'thrals and two more ghouls The consortium was working on a way to determine what caused the alien virus to produce the different mutations and why some men were immune to it altogether." Krycek looked at Mulder with concern "Your strain of mutation never occurred in any of their test subjects." "You seem worried, Alex." "I am ... Fox, you saw yourself that the consortium is still active Even in hiding they are still experimenting on helpless victims Fox, you would be a prime target for their experiments I checked with some of my remaining contacts in the UN and four of the men known to have your type of the mutation are missing." "You think they were kidnapped by the consortium?" "Yes, like you, most of them had been under tight protection from their governments The immortal abducted in England had his guards murdered it was the same with the immortal from Japan and Australia The immortal from Egypt just disappeared from his apartment - no one heard or saw anything." "I should consider myself lucky that I have you and Walter to protect me Not to mention scores of FBI agents," Mulder replied. Krycek wrapped his arms around Mulder's slim waist pulling him into a quick hug and a kiss "If those bastards get within a mile of you, my love, I'll flame their asses." "Thanks, Alex You were going to tell me about how you know your immortal?" "That sorcerer from the town in Alaska, where they tested the virus in 1955, he never aged They finally killed him during one of their experiments in 1989 Fifty-six years old and he still looked like he was Twenty-two How do you think the government got access so quickly to a device that dampens a sorcerer's powers?" "I was wondering about that The government's been trying to make them wear the devices around their ankles and they've placed anyone with the sorcerer mutation into custody Frohike said that the ACLU has gotten them released in the past two weeks on grounds that it is unconstitutional Walter and I had been worried that he might have been forcefully detained Hey, that means that Skinner's an immortal, too." Mulder grinned, realizing his good fortune the two men that he loved were always going to be there with him. "Yeah, I guess you're stuck with both of us forever." "Alex, how was that sorcerer killed?" "The bastards shot him as he was trying to escape." "You mean that gunshot wounds can kill you? I thought by healing you I was only helping you to recover faster You mean you would have really died?" "Fox, unlike you, our immortality is mainly against aging, we can still be killed in the conventional sense If you hadn't been there to heal me and bring me back, I would have remained dead." "Then there is always the possibility that I can lose you forever," Mulder sighed sadly. "Fox, if I wasn't so careless I never would have gotten shot I promise for your sake that I'll be more alert from now on." Mulder smiled, relieved and ran his hands up under Krycek's shirt and rubbed his thumbs over of the younger man's nipples "I have a favor to ask you, Alex." "Mm, what?" Krycek leaned into his warm caress. "Can you escort the Scullys to Canada on Wednesday? The thought of them making the trip unprotected has me worried." Mulder pressed his lips over of Krycek's ear and traced the shape with his tongue. "Yeah, I agree, it's not wise for them to go alone Let me arrange with Boris to close up the apartment When are you leaving with Walter?" Krycek had his fingers laced through Mulder's hair as the agent licked the inside of his ear. Mulder broke away briefly and whispered his response into the triple agent's ear "Don't know ... I was heading downstairs to ask," he murmured breathlessly, rubbing his hard erection against Krycek's even harder one "Bed?" Both men started stripping each other's clothes off as they hurried out of the bathroom in the direction of the bed They fell on it naked, locked in each other arms Their aroused bodies grinding together as they explored licked, sucked, and kissed every inch of each other Mulder pulled back, reaching under the pillow he pulled out the tube of lubricant He quickly and thoroughly prepared his lover and plunged into his tight heat. Krycek shifted his legs over Mulder's shoulders pushing up to open himself wider to each welcome thrust from the agent's large cock "Harder!" he gasped. Mulder drilled in forcefully; he enjoyed being in control over the other man's pleasure He grunted each time he drove his cock home, he was still amazed at how tight and hot Krycek was it was so different than the sex he had had with countless women. All too soon both men's orgasms hit simultaneously Mulder grunted one last time and fell exhausted over Krycek's trembling, sweaty body "Fuck ... nothing like quick, hard sex in the afternoon," he murmured into the younger man's smooth chest. Krycek was smoothing his hand over Mulder's damp hair "Yeah . . shower?" "Sure ... give me a second." Downstairs, Skinner had just finished making all the arrangements They would leave here Wednesday afternoon with the families of the FSB men who had helped to rescue Fox The U.S. Air Force was sending a large passenger plane and a cargo plane to pickup the Russians and their possessions He had talked to Anton, and his men had already started packing, going about it as quietly as possible The permission for the U.S. Air Force planes to land was received through Krycek's contacts No one in the government knew that it was landing to assist some of its citizens in leaving. Skinner stood up and stretched, he had spent the last three hours on the telephone He wondered what Mulder was doing and reached out his mind trying to track him down He blushed when he stumbled across Fox having sex with Krycek He pulled his mind away quickly, but to his surprise he didn't feel jealous. After their discussion this morning and Mulder's promise to have a child with him, he felt a warm sense of contentment and was looking forward to the future The only thing that still bothered him was that Fox hadn't told him what he intended for living arrangements. Skinner wandered into the parlor and stood in front of the fireplace He enjoyed looking up at the portrait of his mother. She looked just as he had remembered her from his childhood He briefly thought about asking Krycek for it, but he knew from the way his younger brother looked at it, that it was one of his most valued possessions. He hadn't realized how long he stood there staring up at her portrait lost in thought until a pair of arms wrapped around his waist, a firm chest pressed against his back, and a soft kiss was placed on his cheek He felt the dampness of Mulder's hair against the side of his face it was still wet from the shower he shared with Krycek. "Have I mentioned lately how much I love you, Walter?" "Mm, not within the past few hours." Skinner leaned back in his embrace enjoying the warmth and the clean smell of the agent's freshly showered skin. "I love you, Walter Did you finish making arrangements? I'd like to get out of this country as soon as possible." Skinner felt the shiver of fear race through the agent's body Mulder would never admit it out loud, but he was deathly afraid of falling back into Nikolai Slava's hands "Don't worry, I won't let him get his hands on you again, Fox You're safe here with me." "Walter, not that I'm questioning your abilities ... I'd still feel better when I have an ocean between me and Slava." Mulder pulled away "I have to start helping Frohike prepare dinner." "I'll keep you company, Fox." He circled his arm around the younger man's waist and accompanied him into the large kitchen. Frohike and Mulder spent twenty minutes arguing over what to cook, before Skinner interrupted them, settling their disagreement He didn't want to hurt the little man's feelings, but he really didn't like pigs knuckles. Scully came downstairs to see if she could assist the two men, but thought better of it and instead joined Skinner at the large kitchen table to watch Krycek joined them, pouring them each a glass of wine and leaving the carafe on the table Boris and Yori showed up telling some off colored jokes in Russian that had Krycek and Skinner laughing and the Americans just staring at them without a clue. Boris pulled out a bottle of vodka that he shared with Yori. Mulder had been surprised at the selection of food Krycek had in his kitchen Boris had made sure it was well stocked before they had arrived He had pulled out sixteen lamb chops; he planned on grilling them on the large stove top gas grill and he started to prepare smoked garlic sage sauce Frohike was busying himself preparing vegetables for the grill: he had zucchini, peppers, eggplant, and large portabella mushrooms that he brushed with olive oil They kept up a telepathic conversation as they cooked and worked around each other Frohike confiscated half of the grill for his vegetables. *So then Byers tells us we'd might as well go back to the hotel, because he wasn't budging until we convince him of Skinner's innocence.* Frohike informs Mulder who laughs out loud at the picture of Byers saying that to Assistant Director Skinner. The people at the table stopped talking and looked over at them, wondering what was so funny Frohike and Mulder ignored them and continued with their silent conversation. The savory smells of lamb being grilled wafted through the kitchen Bill strolled in carrying a grumpy Matthew who had just woken up from his nap, the little boy calmed down as soon as he saw all the people laughing and talking Bill sat down in the last empty chair at the table with Matthew in his lap. Mulder transferred the crusty baked bread into a basket and brought it over to the table, placing it on the lazy Susan in the center of the large round table He then walked back and turned the six lamb chops he was grilling Frohike grabbed three plates and transferred a serving of the grilled vegetables into each, he passed the plates to Mulder who put two lamb chops a piece on them and spooned over some sauce He then put six more lamb chops on the grill to cook and took the full plates over to the table, placing one each in front of Yori, Boris, and Dana He smirked at the hungry looks that Walter and Alex shot him. He walked back to the grill and turned the lamb chops, then went to the refrigerator to remove the special treat he made for Matthew, knowing the one-year-old wouldn't appreciate lamb chops He had prepared him a banana yogurt crunch, the agent brought it and a spoon over to Matthew, placing it in front of him and handing Bill the spoon. *You should have seen how angry Walter was when we waited in Miami and it became clear that you weren't going to show up I convinced him not to turn Byers into a toad,* Frohike said Mulder chuckled at the image of a toad in a three-piece suit. They prepared three more plates of food, which Mulder brought over to the table setting them in front of his lovers and Bill The basket of bread was empty so he grabbed it and refilled it with the second loaf he left warming in the oven. They transferred the remaining lamb chops vegetable onto their own plates Frohike tucked a bottle of wine under his arm and the six people at the table watched at they walked out of the room, heading for the dining room Mulder paused and shouted back, "There's a Coffee-Brandy cake for dessert in the refrigerator, help yourselves." They set their plates down at the large dining room table and Frohike lit the candles The little man had taken the time to set the table that sat ten, Mulder sat across from him, and Frohike opened and poured them each a glass of wine. "Alone at last, honey," Frohike quipped. They raised their glasses of wine and clicked them together "You can say that again." They ate in peaceful silence, which was broken, when the fireplace lit by itself and soft music started playing on the stereo. Mulder looked around and grinned, smelling Lily of the Valley Perfume "Thanks, Aleksandra." Frohike stared at him questioningly, until he heard the soft lilting voice *You're welcome, precious Please, call me mom.*/p> "Cool, so you're in tight with your mother-in-law," Frohike smirked. "Hey, show some respect I'm living with her sons and she's going to become a grandmother shortly." "Do her sons know that you've been talking to her?" Frohike wasn't aware that Walter and Alex had walked into the dining room just as he was asking the question. "Thanks a lot, Frohike," Mulder moaned. Walter carried a tray of desserts and Krycek followed carrying their wineglasses and a new carafe of Merlot They sat down on either side of Mulder, staring questioningly at him Mulder concentrated on finishing his meal, feeling uncomfortable under his lovers' questioning looks They waited for him to finish, sipping their wine patiently. Frohike watched them, fascinated by their unspoken words Mulder finished his glass of wine, and before Alex or Walter could refill it, the wine bottle in front of Frohike lifted up and its contents poured into the agent's glass filling it to the brim. "Thanks, Mom," Mulder said, as he cautiously picked up the overly full glass of wine, sipping it trying not to spill any. *You're welcome, precious.* Aleksandra lilting voice surprised Walter and Alex. "Mom?" they both asked simultaneously. After they received no answer, they looked pleadingly at Mulder "She's gone ... it's hard for her to communicate for too long on this plane," he informed them. "How long have you been having these casual conversations with our mother, Fox?" Skinner asked him. "Only since this morning ... she wanted me know how important it was to agree to have a child with you." Mulder looked at his hands, he probably should have mentioned it earlier, but he was afraid Walter would not believe him. "And you waited until now to tell me?" "Walter, I'm sorry, I was afraid you wouldn't believe me," Mulder sighed, pushing himself away from the table in an attempt to leave Both men grabbed his arms and bringing him back into his chair. "Fox, Walter believed me when I told him about her communicating with me He would have believed you, please don't keep secrets from us," Krycek murmured soothingly. "Alex is right, Fox, but what I don't understand is even if you thought I wouldn't believed you ... it never prevented you from telling me things in the past." Mulder gaped at them They were double-teaming him - this wasn't what he had in mind when he thought of sharing When did he lose control? "I'm sorry, Walter, it won't happen again Alex, I wasn't aware that your mother spoke to you ... what did she say?" "It was after Slava kidnapped you, she told me to find my brother." "Oh, that's how you and Walter found out about each other." "Yeah, but she hasn't spoken to me since Why is she talking to you?" There was a hint of envy behind Krycek's voice. "I don't know, Alex. She said she wanted me to take care of you and Walter Maybe she was checking me out to make sure I was good enough for you." "What exactly did she say to you, Fox?" Skinner leaned forward so he could look into his lover's eyes. "That she wanted me to agree to have a child with you ... that our child was destined to change the world Your mother wants you to be happy, Walter We really didn't have that lengthy of a conversation." Mulder reached for his glass of wine. "What did she mean by that comment about our child?" Skinner asked. "Maybe your son will discover a vaccine against the alien virus." Krycek volunteered Downing his glass of wine, he reached for a piece of cake from the tray Skinner had set down. "Maybe he'll be the first president of the world." Skinner liked that idea - his son a leader of men. "I've always hated those vague prophecies - it could mean almost anything," Mulder complained. Frohike looked admiringly at the three men as the answer they were seeking sprang into his head He had hated these brief glimpses of the future he received, they usually never told him anything of importance Normally they only frighten him with their vagueness, until now He decided to keep this jewel of information to himself He didn't want to spoil the surprise, they would find out soon enough anyway. The little man helped himself to a piece of cake off the tray, humming happily to himself Byers and Langly were going to love hearing about this. Mulder looked over at his friend, he knew something was up, Frohike had a look of mischief on his face "Okay, Frohike, spill it!" "Spill what, Mulder?" "Frohike, I've known you for almost ten years and I can tell when you're hiding something." "I was only thinking what a cute threesome you guys make So, does this sharing include a ménage à trois?" Frohike leered, taking a forkful of cake. Krycek and Skinner glared at him while Mulder seriously considered that picture, smiling - they'd never go for it. They left Frohike alone after that ... not wanting to hear anymore thoughtful suggestions from the little pervert. St. Petersburg Krycek watched Mulder's plane vanish into the horizon He was standing next to Dana and Bill Dana put a comforting hand on his arm "Don't worry, Alex, Skinner will protect him Not to mention all of those FSB agents on the plane, he'll be fine." "We're talking about Fox Mulder, Dana, when has he ever been able to stay out of trouble?" "You have a point, but as long as Skinner's with him I wouldn't worry." Boris walked up to them "Everything is taken care of at your apartment, Alexei I've made arrangement's to ship those items we discussed to your temporary address in D.C." "Thank you, Boris Are you sure you're going to be okay here?" "Alexei, this is my home ... I was born here and I will die here." They embraced and said their farewells as the boarding for their flight was announced. Moscow Thursday, January 7 8:00 a.m. Captain Mikhin sat behind the small steel desk in his cluttered office Nikolai Slava hadn't woken up from his coma, yet The captain thought angrily, dreaming of the type of revenge he would like to take against that exotic creature that had injured his Tsar. There was a knock on his door "Enter." "Captain, I've been able to track down the Tsar's slave and that mysterious sorcerer." Fedor Tammo announced breathlessly after running up the six flights of stairs to get there. "Good work, comrade! Where is he?" "In Washington, D.C., the sorcerer who stole him from us is a very powerful man in the United States He is an Assistant Director of their FBI, his name is Walter Skinner." "It won't be easy to retrieve the Tsar's pet for him I'll go to America to personally oversee his capture." "There's more, Captain Alexei Krycek isn't dead He was spotted at the airport yesterday, accompanying a man and his sons to Toronto, Canada I had a clairvoyant in our Canadian syndicate meet the plane He followed them to a large farm forty miles from the city." "Perfect ... have the private jet readied, I want to leave within the hour for Toronto Have our Canadian operative meet my flight I have a special surprise planned for Alexei Krycek, he will make the perfect bait to lure the Tsar's pet out into the open." Fedor hurried out to arrange the flight He knew that if the plane wasn't ready when the massive n'thral captain arrived at the airport, he would be held responsible. Mikhin opened his desk drawer, pulling out a heavy steel cuff It was a stolen American device they used to control sorcerers He set it on the desk, then pulled out a large steel case, lifting the lid to check on its contents, counting a dozen syringes and twenty-four vials of heroin Yes, he was going to have a lot of fun with Alexei Krycek. Continued in "Life from the Ashes Book 2: Hope and Faith"
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