From: lor Date: Sun, 02 May 1999 07:08:06 GMT Subject: NEW: Sahara: Night 6 [1/2] Author's Notes: I know this is way overdue, but I honestly have a good excuse. I am really blessed to be the author of a story that seems to be pretty popular. I honestly am grateful for all the feedback I get, but keep it coming. If anything it keeps me in a space where it's in my mind, and which finals and such that's hard to do. IMPORTANT: I have created a list for this story. Parts will come out to this list first. To subscribe, email me or go to http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/Sahara_Nights Disclaimer: 10-13 and Fox own The X-files and the characters portrayed on the show. I write this for my own happiness, as well as the happiness of others since we all know that this is something that CC would never do in a million, billion, trillion years. Therefore it is up to me to exercise my freedom of speech and write the thing. I receive nothing but feedback and my own internal gratification as payment for writing this, therefore no copyright infringement is intended. All for Love is probably owned by Disney as it was used in a Disney film. However It could be owned by the magnificent Sting, Bryan Adams, or Rod Stewart. I humbly apologize for using pieces of the song in my story, but it said things that I couldn't communicate. WARNING: SMUT ALERT WARNING: Skinner/Scully Romance Codes: Adventure, Romance Rated: NC-17 Archive: Gossamer and Skinnererotica, all others ask first. Special thanks to Ruby and Becky Sahara: Night 6 By Lorre DuFae Scully rolled over in the bed, an arm tightening around her. The musky scent of an attractive man washed over her. Hazily, she pulled herself out of her slumber just enough to register the owner of the strong warm body next to her. In the weakness of her sleep, Scully burrowed deeper into the warmth. She felt a hand trail up and the fingers lace themselves through her hair. It was almost as if it she existed in some surreal existence. Her eyes closed and she drifted back asleep. When next she woke, the space beside her was empty, and the suite was silent. ******** Later that day. . . Scully sat on the bench next to a fountain. The soft sound of trickling water falling over the edge filtered out any other sounds that she might have heard. Thoughts of the prior night rampaged through Scully's mind. Her insides ached with an empty hollowness that she had never experienced before. That wasn't to say that the emptiness hadn't existed before, only the pain associated with it. She needed something. She needed someone. She needed to feel like she belonged. Scully leaned down and trailed the tips of her fingers over her distorted reflection. She barely touched the surface around her eyes, seeing the pain in them. A ring of waves expanded from the point where her finger touched, continuing to distort her face, making her painful expression disappear. If only life was so easy. If only she could use her fingertips to wipe away the painful emptiness inside of her. God, she wanted, she ached for something her heart wouldn't even allow her to acknowledge it. With each passing day, the feeling only grew stronger. She only wanted more, and more. She fought it as valiantly as she ever did. She couldn't break, she couldn't want him. Scully trailed her cold wet fingertips across the sensitive flesh of her lower lip. The lingering moisture evaporated in the arid climate, the sensation sending a shot of desire down the back of her spine. Her lips hungered for a caress. She sighed, she really was becoming pathetically obsessive. Mulder would have a field day. Then again, Mulder wouldn't recognize her behavior. A hand touched her shoulder, and Scully jumped in response. "I am sorry if I frightened you Dana. You just seem so deeply drawn into your thoughts. I wanted to make sure you were okay." Tariq said, his shadow falling across her. Scully squinted, her eyes attempting to accustom themselves to the transition from light to shade. "No, you just startled me." She told him, inclining her head as to indicated that it was all right for him to join her. "I have been wanted to talk with you about my cousin, and about yourself. I hope you do not think me forward in seeking you out Dana." Tariq smiled warmly. Scully smiled slightly in return. "No, I have been wanting to discuss my husband with you as well. Even though we have known each other for a couple of years, there are still things about him I don't quite understand." Tariq grinned widely. "Yes, I knew you were special the moment I received news that he was bringing his new bride home." He paused as if trying to find the appropriate words, then he spoke, "You know, Skinner never brought his other wife here. I never understood why until now." Puzzled, Scully asked, "What do you mean he never brought Sharon here?" Scully realized that she was violating Skinner's privacy, but rationalized it as an attempt to maintain their cover as a couple. It was only natural that she would be curious about her husband. "Sharon, while seemingly open to a multi-cultural experience, would have never accepted this," Tariq waved his arms about him, indicating their surroundings. "She would have never excepted the middle eastern side of my cousin that he hides so effectively." Surprised by Tariq's comments, Scully indicated that he should continue. "My cousin's childhood wasn't a good one. In fact I would say that is was horrible. His father forced him to move quiet frequently, ripping him away from everything that he loved. His father even ripped him away from his mother, when they divorced." Curious, Scully probed further, "So Walter never had a chance to love something?" Tariq paused a moment before replying, "Not exactly my cousin. You see, every time he saw his son getting to close to someone or something he would take it away from Walter. He would `allow' his son to spend summers here, but when he felt that Walter was too happy he would rip it away. I don't envy my cousin's childhood." Scully looked away into the falling water. "I don't think I envy his childhood either." She said absently. "I don't think you get it though Dana." Scully turned her head back to look Tariq in the eyes. He continued, "Walter sees this culture as something stable, as something that can't be ripped away from him because anywhere he was forced to go it was still in his blood. He saw the devotion that my mother had for my father, and realized just how permanent it was." Scully's eyebrows knit together ever-so-slightly in confusion. "What do you mean?" Tariq placed his hand over Scully's on the cement edge of the fountain. Then he lifted it. "This culture represents stability in his mind, but he knows the downfall of existing here. While we have very little in the way of divorce, the women here in general are treated like second class human beings. They are pampered, and taken care of, but are still second class." He paused, rubbing his temples. "Yes, I am not so dense that I don't see the faults of the culture I live in, but rarely do outsiders see the good things that come from this culture. What I am trying to say so ineffectively is that for some reason he trusts you enough to bring you here to his the only place he ever called home, knowing that he ran the risk of losing you once you realized how much this specific `culture' was a part of him." Tariq waited allowing the words to sink in. Scully sat there processing what Tariq told her. Even though Tariq didn't know the extent of their mission, the words that he said made sense. It explained Skinner's behavior the prior night. Walter was at war with himself, and something inside of her ached to reach out to him. She ached to give him refuge, and that part of her hated herself for it. Seeing her distress, Tariq again reached out to touch her hand. He offered what he hoped were words of comfort. "He loves you with all of his being. You know I can see it in the way he looks at you, and I hear it in his words when he talks about you. He is crazy about you. You have won his heart, I just hope you realize just what a prize that is. It's all I want you to realize." Still in turmoil, Scully answered the best that she could. "I realize what a wonderful man he is. I wouldn't have married him if he wasn't." Tariq stood and turned away from her. "Seeing a man as wonderful is completely different that loving him with your entire being." He left, knowing that Scully needed some time to think about what he had said. Things weren't exactly right between the couple, but before they left he was confident that they would be. ************************** Scully reached out her hand to open the door of the suite that she shared with Skinner. Music softly filtered from under the door. She opened it slowly expecting Naja or one of the many other women to be working in the room. Instead, she was mildly surprised to see Skinner sitting in the chair staring off into space. In his hand he held a stack of papers, as if he had been looking at something important, but had drifted off on some train of thought unrelated to the matter at hand. Then the soft words of the music filtered into her consciousness. I'll be the wall that protects you from the wind and the rain, from the hurt and pain. . . Scully stood there, silently, not wanting to disturb him. Even though the words were from a pop song five or six years ago the shook her to the core. The ache that had been growing inside of her reached a crescendo of fiery need. A small part of her acknowledged the lust behind the wanting, but the majority of it was something else she kept refusing to give into. When the angst of the music seemed almost too much to bear, Skinner looked up and caught her eyes with his. When it's love you make (I'll be the fire in your night.) then it's love you take. . . Scully's breath caught in the back of her throat as Skinner's eyes raked over her form. The walls that he normally kept up around them were no longer in place, and they communicated the overwhelming strength of his hunger for something that only she could provide. (I will defend, I will fight.) I'll be there when you need me. . . Scully ached to reach out and run her fingertips across the bare skin of his brow. His father had tortured Skinner as a child, and she hurt for him-for the child who had never been allowed to love. All she desired in that moment was to pull him into her arms and never let him go. Just as she realized the strength of that desire, her consciousness fought against it. It violated everything that she had become, but she could not break eye contact. When honor's at stake, this vow I will make. . . Skinner's voice, tinged with sadness, cut through the lyrics. "You know whoever wrote this song was either one lucky son-of-a-bitch or belonged in a mental institution." When Scully didn't respond, Skinner continued on realizing that the comment was too revealing. "I am sorry, I was just looking over some intel reports. This was the only radio station I could pick up. I just couldn't stand the silence." He leaned over towards the radio to turn it off. Scully drawn out of her silence, placed her hand on top of his, halting his action. "No, please don't. I think the person was just lucky, not insane." Slowly her words sunk into Skinner. He looked up at her from where he sat. "I wish I had your hope in life, Dana." He said softly, trying to hide the pain washing behind his eyes like a dam just beginning to break. "I wish I had my hope as well Walter, then it would be enough for both of us," she chuckled, "the crazy fools that we are." Scully grinned, attempting to make light of the situation. Skinner remained serious. "I want to apologize to you Dana, for my unprofessional behavior of late. I don't know how I can make it up to you." He spoke with honest clarity. "Stop." Scully replied in her soft commanding voice. "There is nothing for you to apologize about." Skinner looked up at her, an unanswered question in his eyes. "Yes there is. I've behaved in what any would call a most `unprofessional' manner." Frustration building, Scully reached and placed her hand over his mouth in an effort to quiet him. "Sir," She said softly not wanting anyone to hear her use his formal title, "I told you that there is nothing to worry about. We both are under extreme stress in this situation, and I wouldn't want anyone else here with me." She paused as she allowed the words that she was saying to sink in. "Ever since I was placed under your supervision, I have respected your ability as a supervisor. Since then I have come to trust you as a friend." Skinner knew from past experience that Scully didn't use the word `friend' lightly. "Thank you Dana for having such faith and understanding in me." "It isn't faith, nor is it understanding Walter. It's friendship, and it isn't going anywhere." She paused, attempting to catch her breath that had strangely disappeared. "Do you ever wonder why I ~let~ Mulder get away with murder? It's because he is my friend, and that friendship is based on understanding where the individual is at any given time." Scully reached out and grasped his hand gently in her own. "Friends are there for each other. I know I sound rather cliche, but I can't explain it in any other manner." She emphasized the next words praying that the pain he hid in the depths of his heart heard her. "I am not going anywhere." Again silence filled the room for several moments. Then Skinner spoke in a soft husky tone that had never graced Scully's ears. "Thank you." He squeezed her hand in response. "Now give me a moment to change and then I can go over these reports with you." She turned and walked towards the bathroom, knowing deep inside of her that she had just told a bold face lie to him. They weren't just friends, but she forced the guilt back down inside of her. It was something that she wouldn't allow herself to face. The music continued to play on. *************************** Skinner leaned over Scully slightly as he showed her the map of the surrounding mountains. His voice continued on with the soft briefing, thinly veiled as a possible outing for them both on horseback. He heard himself saying, "After the party tonight we should know more about how much you will be able to tolerate of this climate." His mind couldn't stop playing the image of himself leaning down and placing a soft kiss on the ivory curve of her neck. Scully's fingertips ran over the contours defining the change in terrain, and Skinner couldn't shake the thought of them running softly, inquisitively over his aching flesh. God help him, he wanted her. He wanted her with more than just a basal passion. He wanted her more than with just an animalistic lust. Scully turned her head to say something, and he quickly veiled the desire he knew was apparent in his eyes. He wouldn't allow himself to infringe on the generosity of her friendship. Her friendship was something far rarer than diamonds, and he considered himself lucky just to have that. It didn't stop him from wanting her. "I understand, but I can't help being a bit impatient. We have been here for a couple of days, and I have yet to see anything of this amazing land." She told him, squeezing his arm as she saw Naja walk in. Skinner inclined his head slightly, and caught Naja's reflection in a highly polished brass vase. "There was something else I wanted to talk to you about Dana." He told her, knowing that Naja would over here what he was saying. "It's about Hadin. I want you to stay away from him. I don't like the way that he looks at you." Scully raised a curious eyebrow at Skinner. "Oh is that so?" She thought that what he was saying was just for the part. "Yes," He replied, and watched her eyes widen in response when she realized that he was deadly serious. "Why wait until now to tell me?" Scully asked. "Because, if I'm not mistaken, Naja is here to help you bathe and dress for this evening." Skinner leaned in closer, allowing his breath to caress the sensitive skin of her ear. " I have seen the dress, and I know just how beautiful you will look in it." The thought of her wearing the white gown caused him to tighten with desire. "For your jealous sake, I will watch it." Scully joked, trying to hide her irritation with his `command'. Skinner watched as Naja walked over to Scully with her dressing gown. "It better be, for your sake as well." He whispered under his breath. Thankfully Scully didn't hear him. ******************* ************************************************************* From lor@either.or.com Thu Jul 1 09:41:34 1999 Date: Sun, 02 May 1999 07:09:02 GMT From: lor Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW: Sahara: Night 6 [2/2] Part two Skinner's breath caught in the back of his throat as he watched Scully enter the room. He had been sipping a glass of iced tea waiting for this moment, the anticipation churning in the pit of his stomach. The ivory white dress was coupled with long gloves that ran up her arms so that no flesh was reveled. Her fiery red hair was hidden behind the scarf. Skinner drunk her presence in like a man who had spent too much time in the middle of the Sahara desert. She walked over to him, and placed her hand on his arm. She smiled, and nodded. It was time to mingle. *********************** The women had left the main group to a dining room of their own. They all slipped off their coverings, and if it wasn't for the multiple languages being spoken, Scully would have thought that she was at a party in DC. Tatiana, Omar's wife turned to her and asked her what she did. Scully replied about her medical experience, and many of the women at the table's eyes brighten with her response. Tatiana leaned towards Scully, "A woman doctor in this country is a gold mine. There are so few of them, many of the women here have only seen nurses." This time it was Scully's eyes that widened. "I knew that medical conditions in the middle east were difficult, but I honestly had no idea." "Things are changing, but it takes time. I am sure that many of the women here will probably be asking you questions about their health before the night is through." Tatiana responded. "What about yourself?" Scully asked. "Mostly I just take care of Omar's home, and his children." Tatiana commented, and continued on. Scully continued to ask appropriate questions when necessary as each dish was placed before her. In her interest, she tasted very little of the meal. **************** Later. . . Scully exited the room filled with women. She really hadn't obtained any more information from Omar's wife, Tatiana, than she already knew. On the whole she liked the woman, and the way she was acting led Scully to believe that a dinner invitation might be offered very soon. As per Scully's stereotype, she knew that Tatiana would have to `ask her husband' to issue the invitation. Scully walked back through the silent halls towards her suite of rooms. She knew that the men's side of the party would continue on later into the evening. The few precious moments of alone time would be like manna from heaven. She needed the time to deal with the tumultuous emotions threatening to break through the wall around her heart. Scully opened the door to her room. The darkness enveloped her like a lover's caress. The heat surrounded her, someone had forgotten to shut the garden door. Over the sounds of the trickling water slipping through the open door, she could hear the soft hum of the air conditioner. Scully bent over to flip on the light, which illuminated the room with a soft warm candecence. She padded over towards the bathroom, but stopped to glance outside the garden door. Millions of stars twinkled, beckoning her. She stepped outside, the fragrance of star jasmine mixed with the dying heat of the day. It was too perfect. She pulled off her gloves and threw them on a small table beside her. Next she slipped off her shoes, lifting up her skirt in the process to pull off her stockings. She reached around behind her to unzip the back of her dress to feel hands descend and begin to do the task for her. They were strong male hands, hands that could only belong to one person. They traveled slowly down her back with a lover's caress. She shivered, but not in the way she anticipated. Fear sliced through her. She tried to stifle it, but the niggling fear wouldn't go away. Slowly the zipper followed the path down her spine. A tongue trailed over the skin, wet, sloppy. Scully whipped around, holding the front of her dress to meet the gleaming evil eyes of Hadin. "What, my technique doesn't please you?" He sneered at her. Scully pulled away from him, stepping backwards. "Keep your hands off me." "You didn't answer my question Dana." Hadin stepped forward, as Scully stepped back. He stalked her. "Anyone with any intelligence would realize that your `technique' doesn't please me." She spat out the last word as if it left a foul taste in her mouth. "Au contraire, mon amour," Hadin growled softly as he continued to approach as she retreated. "You do not scream. You do not cry out. I think you want me." "I don't know what the custom is where you come from Hadin, but where I come from men just don't go around seducing other men's wives." Scully hitched up her dress, preparing to defend herself. While her heartbeat had increased, she knew facing fluke men or Pfaster was a bit more intimidating than this. Hadin moved like lightning, pinning her arms up against the wall. Scully began to struggle against him, realizing two different things at the same time. First that she had seriously misjudged the strength and speed of the slimy bruit. Secondly, that her struggles were only increasing his arousal. The hard member jutted from his pelvis straight into her belly, causing her stomach to churn. "With the raising of my voice, I could have every servant here." Scully said with the same force as she used to freeze suspects. "Go ahead, there are only woman in shouting distance." Scully could see the glee in Hadin's eyes as he said that. "They know better than to cross me." He arched his pelvis into her to emphasize the last phrase. He leaned down and bit her lower lip causing it to bleed. "You know what a fiery beauty you are-red hot and wanting every man between your thighs." Scully's heartbeat increased, and the lust for blood coursed through her. She wanted him dead, at the knowledge that he had done this to other women in the house. "Get your fucking hands off of me, or risk..." Her voice contained the threat that her blood craved. "Or you will do what?" Hadin chuckled evilly. "I don't think you have the strength, no woman has ever had the strength to fight me. Besides, someone needs to teach you proper manners." He pushed her harder into the walk, the stench of garlic on his breath shoved the air away from her mouth. She turned her head to the side, and began to struggle in earnest. ************************* Skinner opened into the suite. Conversing with a man who was willing to profit from other people's deaths weighed heavily on his soul. While he had been undercover before, something about this assignment bothered him in ways that he couldn't describe. Like Scully, the first thing that he felt was the heat in the room. It enveloped his heart sore body. Next he heard voice coming from the garden. Unsure as to where Scully was, and taking into account the events of the prior night, Skinner crept up to the door with all the stealth of a cat. The sight that greeted him caused body to turn cold. Anger, and something else welled up inside of him. Unable to move for a second, the overwhelming anger paralyzing him, he caught the words transpiring between Scully and Hadin. "It doesn't take strength to get away from men like you. It just takes more than the small intelligence that you have." Scully spat at Hadin, as she attempted to knee him. "Such fire. Fucking you will be the highlight of my life, Dana. To hear your scream will give me pleasure unheard off." Hadin said with all the melodramatics of a bad movie. Skinner clenched his fist, curling them up into tight balls. The only other time that he felt this level of anger, this over whelming, all consuming desire to kill someone was when Mr. X had refused to give Scully the location of Agent Mulder. He stormed out of the door, his anger increasing even more as he was better able to see Hadin's thigh pushed between Scully's. "Get your fucking hands off my wife." Skinner yelled with a voice that would have had every agent under his supervision quivering in fear. Hadin refused to let go, but meerly replied, "You Americans, you would think that your ability to use the English language would allow you to think of words that were less primitive." Skinner grabbed him and the tight iron ball of his fist flew into Hadin's jaw "Are you deaf? I said, get your hands off my wife." Hadin flew backwards at the force of the punch. Getting up, he cupped his jaw with his hand. "Oh I heard you, and there is something you should know. Your wife wanted it. She did not scream. You can see it in her eyes." Hadin spat, attempting to pull his arm out of Skinner's enraged grasp. Skinner's steel grip didn't loosen. "Unlike your primitive mind, we don't need to scream to indicate that we don't want someone's attention. Besides, you laid a hand on my wife. In fact, I would guess that you did more than just lay a hand on her." Skinner's hand shot out and grasped Hadin around his neck, pushing him hard up against the wall. "How dare you touch me in such a manner," Hadin choked. "Tariq will definitely hear about this." "Yes he will, and I am sure he has seen the way you have stared at my wife." With Skinner's comments, Hadin choked. Skinner continued, "If I ever see you near my wife again, I will kill you without hesitation." He paused, his face incredibly close to Hadin's. "If I ever see you or hear of you touching any other woman other than your wife, I will trace you down and teach you a lesson that you will never forget." Scully adjusted her dress as she watched the interaction between the men. Something inside of her cracked. Part of herself found it rather pathetic that she needed a man to come rescue her from this. She felt helpless, and it wasn't a feeling that she experienced very often. Then there was something deep inside of her, something she hadn't felt in a long time. For a minute she felt like she had mattered to somebody beyond what she could do as a trained agent. She knew that this was a byproduct of the situation, but to hear the words that Skinner had uttered had broken something loose deep inside of her. It hurt, God it hurt to know that if she stripped away the agent facade no one would want her. Dazed she watched as Skinner drug Hadin out of the garden into the suite. She heard a door slam, and the shout of voices in the distance. Scully slipped down, to sit on the ground, her dress hanging open slightly. One solitary tear, the only evidence of her deep sorrow, slipped over her cheek to spatter on the ground. ************************** Skinner stormed into the library. He walked over towards his cousin, the majority of the guests had already left for the evening. Tariq sat in his customary high back chair. "Could you do me a favor, and send a guard to the door of my suite?" Tariq's eyes communicated his surprise in Skinner's request. "May I ask as to why you feel like you need a guard in my home?" Skinner could tell that Tariq was mildly insulted, but also knew that his cousin knew him better than any other man on the planet. "Someone just attempted to attack my wife in our suite." Skinner stated with simple harshness that caused all the lingering men in the room to take notice. Tariq indicated that Skinner should come closer, and lowered his voice. "I am not surprised, a red headed woman with the beauty that your wife has is a very valuable prize for many of the men I know." The next words he phrased rather delicately, "May I ask whom?" "I am sure you will grant me this request in keeping that between the individual and me. Let's just say I have enough justification to kill him." Skinner's hands clenched at his sides, his forehead wrinkled in anger, Tariq knew the signs of a man feeling frustration of not being there for the one individual he cared about the most. "No questions asked," The words slipped from Tariq's mouth. "You are a member of my family, and my friend as well. Someone else in this house has dishonored me. I will eventually find him, and make him pay. Such is the way of fate." "I thank you." Skinner replied. Tariq shouted an order, then turned back to Skinner. "Now get back to that lovely wife of yours, I am sure she needs some convincing that we all aren't as barbarian as we seem." ******************** "Scully," Skinner said softly in the darkened garden. A shadow stood by the pool, lost in thought. Skinner stood there silently, waiting for her to respond. Scully didn't respond with her usual `I'm fine'. "You know ten years ago I thought that by now someone would want me for me, you know." She turned to glance at him. In the darkness he couldn't see her eyes. "It's pretty pathetic you know, the only man who really wants me is some sadistic barbarian." She turned away from him, rubbing her temples. The dress still hung limply from her frame. "We all aren't like that you know. Many of my relatives wouldn't dare to touch you like that." Skinner commented not realizing the way that he had referred to himself. "Yes, but how many of them would lust after me. I'm not just talking about your relatives here Walter, I am talking about men in general. They look at my body, and want it, but in the end they really don't want me. They don't want the person's insides that cry to be free. The very same soul that is forced to hide for fear of being labeled weak for needing to be wanted." Scully rambled, the frustration from years of hiding parts of her entity finally breaking free. Skinner walked forward, and placed his hand on her shoulder. She still refused to look at him. The next words were difficult, "Scully I need you. You're like a piece of sunshine every time you come into my office. I can always count on you to make my life easier as a supervisor." Scully rubbed her temples with her hand. "Yes, but do you really know me? If I showed you what was going on inside of me, would you turn around and run? Could I ever be an effective agent in your eyes once I showed you who I really am? Hell, I don't know how much of this is the product of the situation, or something that has been growing inside of me the moment I stepped through the door's into Mulder's basement office." Skinner's voice was soft and husky. "Scully, you aren't the only person who fears another person knowing who you really are." Scully turned around to face him. "I know that, but because I'm female it means something totally different." She let the words hang in the air between them. "Scully," Skinner paused as he struggled with the next words, "Dana, no matter what I see of the real you on this trip, it won't change my opinion on how valuable of an agent you are. It won't change the trust I have in you to watch my back. I don't know how many times I have to say this to you to make you understand." So many times over the past few days Skinner had seen glimmers of a woman trying to break through the shell that she had erected around her. Frustrated with the course of the conversation, and wanting more than anything to be alone with her thoughts, Scully began to walk away from him. "I am sorry, I guess I am really not in the mood for talking right now." Before she could get out of his reach, Skinner grabbed her shoulders from behind. Her dress still hung open in the back. Skinner trailed his hands down Scully's sides, to firmly hold her hip. He bent down to his knees, pulling apart the dress slightly. He could hear the catch in her voice as she said, "What are you doing?" Skinner didn't answer her, but leaned his head forward. His lips came into contact with the ivory skin right above her tail bone. The kiss was soft, sweet, and caused a storm of emotion to rise from deep inside of her. Scully sobbed softly, as he slowly pulled his lips away from the spot. "Do you trust me Scully. . . Dana?" For the life of her, Scully couldn't respond. Skinner pulled the dress even farther apart, the sleeve sliding off her shoulder. Once he exposed her tattoo, he bent and placed a kiss over the marred skin. "Dana," He whispered quietly. "You're so strong, and no matter what happens I won't forget that. Sometimes, under certain circumstances people need other people to be stronger for them. Even if it's only for a small amount of time." He reached around her pelvis and pulled her closer to him, turning his head to the side to rest is against her lower back. "Walter, you don't need to feel obligated to help me through this. I am a big girl, and a trained agent. I can go on like I always do." Scully responded, but her body screamed for his gentle contact. "I know you would Scully, but something inside of me tells me that you need more." Slowly he pulled her down to the ground, and onto his lap. He ran his fingertips over hands, "Such strong hands, for such a small individual. I don't think you realize exactly how much power these small hands wield." He quietly murmured into her ear. He placed a small kiss on the curve of her ear, and huskily pleaded to her, "Trust me with everything you are Dana. I promise I won't hurt you. Let me see you." Scully arched her neck, her head resting back on his shoulder. She had known desire in its purest form with this man, and she felt it rising now. However, the heartache that continued to grow was like nothing that she had ever felt before. She panicked, "Shouldn't we be discussing the party tonight instead of doing this. It would be the professional thing to do." Skinner froze slightly, then realized exactly what Scully was trying to do. He made a quick decision knowing that his own heart would pay in the future. He couldn't let her go on like this. "Right now the most important thing to deal with is you." He could feel the pain inside of her so acutely, that he could barely breathe. "Walter," Scully pleaded. Skinner turned Scully in his arms to face him. "I just want YOU to know who I am." He leaned forward and brushed his lips across hers. He framed her face as the kiss deepened, and the desire grew. Scully gave herself into the kiss, giving herself up to being needed for who she was for the first time in her life. She cupped his face, then slid her hands around to clutch at the base of his neck. "I know who you are." "Right now I am not your boss, nor your partner. I don't even think friendship defines who I am right now." Skinner told her as he rained soft kisses down upon her eyelids. "I am just a man." He didn't continue the trail of thoughts running through his head. He was just a man overwhelmed by the growing love inside of him. He pushed her back onto the stonework next to the garden pool. Scully felt the strength of Skinner's body, as he lay half on top of her. She tried to pull him closer, to pull him inside of her to ease the emptiness that she had felt so long. "Please show me ," She looked up at him, staring into his eyes. Skinner growled, brushing his lips across hers. "This isn't just sex Scully." He brushed the hair out of her eyes tenderly. "This is something so much more." Scully placed her fingertips on his lips. "Let me show you who I am," she told me carefully. Skinner claimed her lips fiercely at her statement. Her hands went to his dress shirt and began to unbutton it. He continued to kiss her, trailing his lips down her neck and over her chest. Scully quickly slid the shirt of his shoulders. Her body overwhelmed with emotion, and desire. She clung to him, unwilling to let him go. Her voice pleaded with him, cried from his touch. Carefully, as if Scully was as fragile as a china doll, Skinner picked her up into his arms. Scully refused to lose lip contact as he navigated towards their bed. She shivered as the thought shot through her head. It was their bed, not hers, and not his. Gently he laid her down on top of it, his hands pulling the half-unzipped dress off over her body. "You know the first time I saw you, I couldn't get past how tiny you were for such a strong person." Skinner told her as he placed a kiss on the curve of her belly. "You are the strongest person I know." He said as he continued kissing down her body. He placed one firm kiss on the curve of her thigh, pulling her satin panties down over the legs. Scully reached down, and pulled him back up against her with all the strength that she could muster. "God," She arched her neck as he kissed the curve of her shoulder. Scully felt the hardness of his thighs push into her. He cupped her face with his hands, imprisoning her, forcing her to meet his gaze. For a second they communicated silently. She felt as if she was drowning without any hope of rescue. Then in a husky growl he whispered, "I'm going to make slow, and incredibly sweet love to you Dana Katherine Skinner." Scully shivered with the words. Even though it was her legal name, he didn't seem to realize that he had interspersed her last name for his. He ripped off his jeans in impatience. His skin cried for the same depth of contact that hers cried for. She felt his hair roughened legs wrap around hers, as his lips hungrily clung to his. Tongues thrust, and hands sought out both hard and soft flesh. In their passion he continued to hold her as close to him as he could. His fingers slipped between wet folds, and ever so slowly caressed the flesh that he found. Scully moaned his name. "Walter, please," She whispered from somewhere deep in her being. At some basic level Skinner knew that it wasn't the sex that she needed, it was the deep emotional bond with another human being. Perhaps he was being a selfish bastard, but her gentle touch was more than heaven. Just the gentle cupping of his face, as she looked into his eyes, was enough to set him over the edge. Their lips met again, as she moaned her desire into them. He continued to cup one breast with one hand, his other heightening her desire. Feeling that Scully was approaching the edge, Skinner slowed, withdrawing his hand. "No," She pleading with him. Skinner hushed her cry with his lips, as he positioned himself between her legs. She felt his hard length brush over the sensitive flesh of her inner thighs. There would be time later for more elaborate technique. His body lay on top of her, pushing her body deeper into the soft bed. Even though he held himself off of her slightly, she still bore most of his weight. He knew that she was strong enough to hold him. As they lay there, touching each other's faces as Scully caught her breath, Scully realized exactly what was happening. "Know me." Her voice cracked as she forced the words out of her mouth that would be the hallmark of her vulnerability. Skinner didn't lose eye contact as he thrust himself deep inside of her. He paused for a moment, giving her the time to adjust to his large size. As they lay there, him buried deep, he promised her. "I'll never let another man harm you as long as I live." Scully realized the depth of what Skinner was promising. He wasn't promising to protect her physically from other men in his words, he was promising to protect her heart and spirit from any other men that might hurt her. What he didn't realize is in the act of promising her, he had stolen her heart completely. Choked up, unable to respond in words, Scully let her body talk for her. She arched up, maintaining the precious eye contact. Body to body, soul to soul, they thrust and counter thrust, each of them showed the other the vulnerability neither one of them wanted the world to ever see. As their pleasure rose, like a wave building to crash upon the shore, Skinner reached down between them and brushed the curls away to caress her. She cried out his name, and he answered by meeting her lips with his own. "Come with me." He pleaded, as if it was his last wish upon this world. "Walter," Scully cried out as they both rushed over the edge together. ************************ Scully lay in the shelter of Skinner's arms. While her body felt reborn in the aftermath of their lovemaking, her insides felt raw and vulnerable. She had shown her boss exactly who she was, no holds barred. She glanced up at his face from where her head lay on his shoulder. Skinner saw the fear in her eyes. "It's frightening, isn't it? To show someone else your true self?" The words hung in the air between them. Instead of answering, Scully gave into the temptation, and eased her raw heart by burying her face into the musky scent of his chest. Skinner accepted her silence, and pulled her closer. He placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. For the few hours they had until dawn, he would provide her a safe haven from the storm of emotion inside of her. (End of Night Six) ************************************************************* "The conquest of fear lies in the moment of its acceptance. And understanding what scares us most is that which is most familiar, most common place -- that boy next door... extraordinary only in his ordinariness, could grow up to be the devil in a button down shirt. It's been said that the fear of the unknown is an irrational response to the excesses of the imagination. But our fear of the everyday, of the lurking stranger, and the sound of foot falls on the stairs, the fear of violent death and the primitive impulse to survive are as frightening as any X-File, as real as the acceptance that it could happen to you." ...Chris Carter, "Irresistible", The X- Files.