From: <72620.3447@compuserve.com> Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: NEW STORY: TAKING CHANCES BY ALEX JONES NC17 SLASH Date: 18 Mar 1996 20:34:36 GMT RATING-- NC-17 SLASH M/M THIRD SEASON SPOILERS Hello. I'm posting this for a friend who is off line so if you want to write you'll have to do so through me. I'll pass the messages along. 72620.3447@compuserve.com This all started a couple of months ago after I complained to Alex that all the stuff involving two men was about power, and dominance and not love and caring. Don't get me wrong we liked most of it but felt that the other side should be represented as well. So Alex said sounds interesting if I write it will you help and then post it. I said yes so here it is. Okay major league warning. This is NC-17.... no ifs ands or buts about it. And it is about a romance between two male X-file characters. So if that sort of thing grosses you out stop now or hold your peace. Feedback is appreciated but please remember that this is Alex's first post so don't be nasty or I'll tell Santa on you. Thanks to JL, JO and BA for reading, commenting and encouragement. Usual disclaimer. These characters are not mine. They belong to Chris Carter and 1013 Productions and he would probably have a cow if he knew what we did with them. Definitely a large bull calf. No money is being made off of their use. This story may be circulated but please leave the author's name and address attached. TAKING CHANCES BY ALEX JONES Part 1 "I'm sorry, Sir, but because of the floods we are asking everyone to double up. If you and Mr. Mulder would share a room?" The last thing Walter Skinner wanted to do was share a room with Fox Mulder. One night would be bad enough, but the way this was shaping up it was going to be two or three days before they would be able to get out. Thanks to a sudden downpour of eight to ten inches of rain within as many hours, the roads were flooded, the airport was closed down indefinitely, and they were trapped in River Grove. "Do you have a room available with two queen or king sized beds?" Skinner asked. If he was going to have to share he at least wanted to be comfortable. He heard Mulder snort behind him. 'I don't need the grief. I don't need the grief,' he thought to himself. Mulder hadn't wanted to come to this meeting, but Skinner had insisted. As a consequence his agent had been a major shit the last few days. He reminded Skinner of his thirteen year old godson being forced to go on the family vacation. Now, after all the fuss that Mulder had put up, they were going to have to give up one of their rooms and share. 'Great. Just what I need - being cooped up with Mulder for the next couple of days.' "Since both of your rooms have king sized beds we were hoping that you might give up one of your rooms and share the other." At Skinner's hostile look the desk clerk continued, "I'll check to see if we have anything available." 'Why couldn't it have at least been Embassy Suites so one of us could have taken the couch.' Walter Skinner looked disgusted. At his boss' obvious irritation Mulder felt like rubbing salt into the wound. He leaned over his boss' shoulder and said quietly, "Don't worry, sir, I promise not to ravish you in the middle of the night." Skinner turned slightly and shot him a cold look. He'd had more than enough of Mulder's smart mouth, but chewing him out again wasn't going to work. The AD decided on a different course. He turned quickly catching Mulder off guard. Before he could draw away Skinner leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "What makes you think that I find that idea worrisome, Agent Mulder?" Mulder pulled away so fast and startled that Skinner fought down a laugh. 'Nothing like shaking him up.' Skinner invaded his personal space again and said in a low voice so that only Mulder could hear. "Something the matter? Am I scaring you or turning you on?" The smug look on the AD's face irritated Fox Mulder. 'Two can play at that game,' he thought. "Turn on, Sir. Definitely turned on." Now it was Skinner's turn to look uncomfortable. He found himself putting his hands in his pants pockets and shifting his feet, hoping that Mulder wouldn't notice his nervousness. He thought to himself, 'You play with fire, Walter, you're going to get burned. If he calls your bluff just how far are you willing to go?' That was what really bothered him. He would have liked to take him up on it. Getting involved with a subordinate, especially one of the same sex would cause no end of trouble. The fact that it was Fox Mulder he wanted only added to the problems. His own bisexuality had never really been an issue for him, mostly because he was too private and dedicated an individual to get involved with very many people. The list of his sexual partners was very short. One man, who he'd had a long term relationship with and four, no five women. Two of them had been fairly long term. The man had been his partner at work for several years, but after he had been killed Walter made sure that his other sexual relationships were with non-Bureau personnel. His last six year relationship with a woman, Carol, had ended two years ago when she had been transferred to the Japanese office of her company. Neither one had been ready to commit to more than a night together every couple of weeks. He'd never really regretted the decision not to pursue the relationship, realizing that although he liked and respected her he had never really loved her. Their relationship had been based on respect, friendship and physical need. And by the time of her transfer he had been falling for somebody else... a feeling that he had never acted on, had barely acknowledged... until tonight, that is. 'Fuck, I'm not ready for this. I'm definitely not ready for this.' Mulder wondered what was up with his boss. Anybody else and he would have figured that he was being flirted with, but Skinner.... naw... couldn't be... could it? It wouldn't be the first time that another man had made a pass. It would, however, be the first time since grad school that he would consider taking a man up on the offer. 'No I started it, he's just fed up... still?' Fox shifted his stance; this situation was making him nervous. The desk clerk returned. "I've gone over all the queen and king doubles, we don't have many, and they are all occupied by families fleeing the flooding. We do however have a few rooms with two double beds. There is still another evacuation bus yet to arrive." Mulder interrupted, "If it's all the same to you, sir, I'd really rather sleep in the king. If I'm going to sleep in a bed I don't want my feet hanging out the end or my head banging the headboard." Skinner looked at Mulder and nodded. Being tall, he couldn't stand full sized beds either; he always had to sleep at an angle and was never comfortable, every roll and his feet would end up hanging off one side and his hand and arm off the other. Turning to the clerk he replied, "My room's on the top floor and is in a quiet area. We'll keep it and check out of Agent Mulder's room." Mulder, with his normal luck, had gotten a room with the elevator across the hall and the ice machine on the other side. "I don't suppose that you have a bellhop available?" At the desk clerks apologetic nod of no, Walter turned and shrugged at Mulder. "Come on let's go back to your room and get your things." Turning back to the desk clerk he finished, "We'll be out within the hour and leave the key locked in the room." "Sir, if you don't mind one of us should run to the grocery store across the street and get some food to keep in the room in case the restaurants close or run out of food." "One of us is going to be you. I have no desire to get soaked again and I out rank you." "Sure. Fine. Whatever." 'Nothing like pulling rank,' Fox thought sarcastically to himself. At Skinner's nod of agreement Mulder decided to bait his boss one last time. As he handed him the key to his room he leaned in and said, "So should I buy a box of Trojans while I'm at it?" Skinner looked put out, but was determined not to be out done. "By all means, and don't forget the KY." Mulder nodded. He shot Skinner a questioning look, but said nothing. Skinner wasn't backing down and he didn't know if he was more worried that the man was serious or that he wasn't. As Mulder shopped in the grocery store, that was fast becoming a mad house, he wondered what was going on with AD Skinner. The AD wasn't gay, of that he was certain. It was well know that he had been in a long term relationship with a female executive up until she had been transferred a few years back, but could he be bi? Possible. In Skinner's position he probably wouldn't act on it very often. The question was, what was going on now? Could he be serious? Fox Mulder knew that he'd been an SOB to Skinner the whole week and his boss hadn't really deserved it, but Mulder hated these meetings, reviewing the same case files and facts over and over and no one really wanting to listen to him. He knew that he'd spotted several tie ins and leads that no one else had, but his comments had been ignored by everyone, but his boss. That was really why he didn't want to come to this meeting with Skinner. He didn't want to be humiliated in front of his boss. Mulder hadn't wanted Skinner to find out how poorly he was regarded. People didn't like working with Spooky Mulder and this group in particular didn't want to admit that he might be able to help. It wouldn't be the first time that all his suggestions would appear to be ignored, and then a month or so later word would come back that so and so had solved the case based on new insight. Insight that Mulder recognized as his own, but for which the agent didn't want to give him credit. Hell, he didn't care about the credit, he just wished they wouldn't treat him as if he was some kind of nut case. He hadn't wanted to be embarrassed in front of his boss so he had fought coming and given Skinner a ration of shit for making him. Surprisingly, Skinner had not reacted as he expected. Instead of joining in the jokes or ignoring their treatment of him, his boss had taken stock of how things stood very fast and set them on their ears regarding Mulder's hunches. He hadn't let them ignore and denigrate Mulder as they normally did. Most of the hunches had paid off, too. Skinner's respect and support had come to mean a lot to Fox Mulder over the last several months, so much so that it scared him. Normally he treated those in authority with disdain or even contempt, but since Skinner had stood beside him against Cancerman, Fox Mulder had come to respect and rely on him. He also found that he very much wanted his boss' trust and respect as well. His own response to their recent verbal fencing had left him disturbed, however. He was shocked to realize just how much he wanted his boss to be serious about what he'd said. It had been a long time since he'd been with anyone and Walter's comments had aroused him and shaken him to the core. What was it about Walter Skinner that made him want this particular closeness with him? He'd wanted other men to respect him before but he'd never been attracted to them as he was to the AD. There was just something about him....? As he walked down the drug aisle he threw in a box of condoms and some lubricant. You never knew and even if Skinner wasn't serious it would probably be good for some more harassment. Having packed up the few items that Mulder had left out that morning and moved his suitcase to the room they now shared, Walter Skinner sat down and waited for Mulder to return from the store. He couldn't stop his mind from wandering to what might happen upon Fox's return. 'What did he want to happen?' That didn't take much thought, since he knew what his body wanted, so now his mind was faced with the challenge of trying to convince it to behave. Figuring that the store was crowded with people storing up supplies, he decided that Mulder probably wouldn't be back for at least forty-five minutes. Definitely time for a quick *cold* shower. The cold muddy water he'd spent most of the day wading through had left him smelling musty and feeling uncomfortable. Realizing unhappily that his shoes were ruined as well, he stripped down and headed into the bathroom. Mulder was faster than expected and Skinner slower. The older man exited the bathroom wearing only a towel around his waist to find his subordinate back, having stripped down to his boxers because his clothes had been completely soaked. Mulder was unpacking the perishable groceries into the small in room refrigerator. The store had been crowed and unorganized and as a result Mulder was in a bad mood. Time for more Skinner baiting. "Hey couldn't you have waited? I hurried." Skinner was tired, fed-up, nervous and, worst of all, horny. "Cut the crap, Mulder. Either put up or shut up." "So what makes you think that I won't put up?" Mulder snapped back standing up from the refrigerator. Skinner had gotten them into this mess and the agent was tired of being cold and wet. Skinner began to move in closer as Mulder stood there facing him. "You don't have the balls." They were now nose to nose, each waiting for the other to blink and each determined not to be the one to back off. Their eyes met and dueled, bodies moving closer until they were only inches apart, until the shivers running down each other's respective spines, and the hardness between their legs could no longer be ignored. They both decided at the same time that things were getting out of hand. They began to back off, both stepping to the same side simultaneously, running into each other and grabbing each other's upper arms to prevent falling. The contact was explosive. At the touch, the feel of the other, both men realized that this was no longer simply a verbal game of one-up- manship. Each kept telling himself to pull away, to stop what had begun but felt helpless to do so. Something deeper and stronger was driving them. Finally lossing control they leaned into the embrace. Suddenly they were kissing. Long and hard, pressing their bodies tighter and tighter together. The friction as their bodies entwined caused Walter's towel to fall, and they pulled slightly apart. Each looked deep into the other man's eyes questioningly. Neither had the nerve to speak, afraid that words would bring them to their senses and stop the progression. Neither wanted it to stop. Mulder stepped slightly to the side and reached into one of the grocery bags, pulling out a box of condoms and a tube of lubricant, a slight questioning smile on his face. Skinner nodded and moved to the bed. Fox Mulder followed. For the next half hour barely a sound was heard in the room. Mulder let his boss take the lead. They had resumed kissing when they laid down on the bed and began touching. Skinner quickly stripped off Mulder's briefs. The feel of each other was so very arousing that each fought to control the passion building within. It had been a long time for them both, but the enjoyment was so sweet that they didn't want it to end quickly. Walter was on top using his hands and lips to explore the supine form beneath him. He glanced up at one point to see Mulder biting his lip to control his moans. Walter slid slowly up his body from where he had been kissing him. Leaning down he whispered softly in his companion's ear, "Relax." Then pulled back and looked into his eyes. The passion, longing and acceptance he saw there made him catch his breath. Never before had he seen this agent so vulnerable, so open, the wall that normally surrounded him totally gone. 'So young. So very young.' Skinner fought hard to keep from blurting out everything he felt. 'Not yet, it was too soon.' He didn't want to stop and take the time to think. He lowered his lips to Fox's and they kissed again, hungrily. Walter began to work his way down Mulder's torso kissing, biting, stroking. The unusually submissive agent beneath him gave up the fight to remain quiet and began to moan. Each new special erogenous zone was duly noted and given undivided attention. Each nipple received Walter's ministrations, followed by Mulder's stomach. Walter was deliberately avoiding the groin area. He wanted the man beneath him to be wild with desire and he didn't want him coming early. Yet, finally, in response to the moans coming from his partner, the AD lost what little control he had. Rising up, he lay down on top of his agent. Their bodies began to rub together, chest to chest, their erections teasing each other, lips and tongues sucking, teasing, biting, hands exploring every area within reach. Afterwards neither could have told who lost it first; they both cried out and came almost simultaneously. Skinner rolled off the man beneath him. He suddenly wanted to get up, to run away, to deny that this had ever happened. The reality of what he'd just done filled him with horror. It was one thing to have idle fantasies about someone, but to actually act on them... this was sheer stupidity. But one look into the face of the man beside him and he was lost. Fox Mulder looked so scared, unsure, confused and under all of that happy that Walter knew that he couldn't leave him, couldn't deny what he felt for this agent any longer. He reached out and drew him into an embrace, kissing him deeply, stroking his face and back gently. Not a word was said as they drifted off to sleep in each other's arms. As he surrendered to sleep, Walter thought to himself that falling in love with Fox Mulder was not the brightest thing he'd ever done and acting on it was probably the stupidest. At nearly the same moment, Fox Mulder was thinking that this was probably the biggest mistake he'd ever made in his life. However, it felt so damn good that he couldn't quite bring himself to give a shit - at least not at this particular moment. He was also wishing to himself that this had just been about sex, but he knew that his feelings for the man beside him went far deeper than mere surface attraction. He realized abruptly that his life had just gotten very complicated. 'First Scully and now Skinner, why couldn't he fall for someone reachable?' He smiled at that thought and moved in closer to his companion. Skinner had suddenly become very reachable and that was quite a shock. They would have to be very careful if they continued this, but right now they were isolated, safe and it felt good. He soon followed his boss into sleep. Walter woke up quickly in the mornings, instantly and fully alert, a left over from his time in Vietnam. However, this time the position he found himself in was so alien that it took him a while to get his bearings. When he realized that the body he was curled around was Fox Mulder's he groaned. 'Fuck. What do we do now?' Fox heard the groan and came awake slowly. The first thing he noticed was that the arm curled around his mid section was muscular and had hair. 'Oh shit! You just had to push it, Mulder, couldn't leave well enough alone. Fuck... flirted with the boss... stupid, stupid, stupid.' He rolled over so that he could look into Skinner's face. They both were stunned at what they had done, but found themselves reluctant to separate. He reached up to stroke Skinner's face gently, enjoying the rough feel of beard on his palm. "Well we've sure fucked up." Skinner laughed, "Yeah, you can say that again. I can't remember ever behaving so stupidly in my life, how about you?" "A few times, but not many." They smiled at each other. Walter's hand began to stroke Mulder's waist and hip. "So we both know that this is wrong, can't work, would be career suicide, not to mention probably get us called before the OPC." Walter nodded. Fox continued, "So why am I going to suggest we pick up where we left off last night?" Walter chuckled, "I don't know. Just like I don't know why I'm going to take you up on the offer, but I am." They paused and kissed, their tongues touching and stroking. Fox's comment of, "This time I get to be on top," was one of a very few made by either of them over the course of the next hour. Fox was afraid to say the words so he decided to let his actions speak for him. He concentrated on giving Walter as much pleasure as he could. He wanted to hear him cry out beneath him, but not long into his attempt to please his boss he forgot about everything, but their two bodies together. Skinner's muscles rippled beneath his exploring hands. His arms, chest and stomach were firm and muscular and he was very responsive. 'God he feels good.' Fox looked up to see the man beneath him fighting to remain quiet and in control. He snaked up Walter's torso letting their bodies rub sensuously together. Finally Walter moaned. Fox leaned down and whispered into his ear, "Relax." Walter smiled back, a bit embarrassed by how overwhelming he was finding this. He was used to being in control of both his emotions and the situations he found himself in but this time everything was out of control and it scared him. Still he didn't want to stop. 'It's been so long.' Was one of his few coherent thoughts. Mulder leaned up to his ear and asked two questions in one. "Do you want me on my stomach or do you want to roll over?" At first Walter was confused, but then he remembered the condoms and KY Fox had purchased. He'd never had anybody do him. The only man he had had as a partner had always wanted to be on the receiving end. He wondered what Fox would prefer. "What would you prefer, Mulder?" He watched as his partner blushed and looked away. "What's wrong?" Finally meeting his gaze Mulder answered, "I've never done either. In my only other relationship with... well between a... we only went down on each other. It was new to both of us and didn't last long enough to progress on to that stage." Walter sighed. Fox was even more fragile and vulnerable than he had realized. He reached up and gently stroked the side of his face. "We don't have to do anything that you aren't comfortable with." Fox's answer surprised him yet again. "I'm not comfortable with any of this, but I sure as hell don't want to stop." 'Confession time, Walter.' He thought to himself. "I've only had one other male partner myself and he always wanted to be on the receiving end." "How do I get into these messes, Sir?" Walter chuckled. "It's long past time for 'Sir', Mulder. And you end up in these situations because you open yourself up to extreme possibilities." He paused and thought about what his boss had said. "I'll let you lead, Si... What should I call you?" "Walter is fine by me. And since we're both fairly limited in our experiences in this area let's stick to what we know for now." Mulder nodded his agreement and then acquired a wolfish grin. At Walter's raised brow his grin got bigger as he moved slowly down his boss' torso. 'This I know,' he thought to himself as he went down on Walter. The feel... the sight... hell just the idea of Fox kissing and touching him there drove him wild, not to mention that his agent was an expert. He would bring Walter right to the edge and then back off teasing and tantalizing him until he couldn't stand it anymore. The next time Mulder brought him to the edge and began to back off Walter grabbed Fox's head between his large strong hands and held him in place until he finally exploded, the groan he released reverberating throughout the room. After a few moments he raised his head to apologize to Mulder for losing control only to find his companion grinning smugly at him. "Enjoying yourself, Walter?" Skinner found himself embarrassed to have lost control like that and Fox's obvious enjoyment of the situation added to his discomfort. "Well you seemed pleased with yourself." "I am. Aren't you?" Walter relaxed a little and smiled. "Very, but I do believe it's your turn." "You don't have to... I mean it isn't necessary." "I don't feel obligated if that's what you mean, but it is something that I want to do. So for once lay back, relax, enjoy and follow orders for a change." Skinner pushed his companion down on the bed and returned the favor. He watched as Fox grabbed the head board and bit his lip trying to control the volume of his moans. They both knew that they couldn't afford to be too loud and disturb the residents of adjoining rooms. The sight of Mulder writhing beneath him brought to mind some rather interesting bondage videos he'd seen during one of his cases. 'Stop it, Walter,' he admonished himself, 'this can't go on after we return to DC so just enjoy it now.' End Part One =========================================================================== From: <72620.3447@compuserve.com> Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: TAKING CHANCES 2 BY ALEX JONES NC17 SLASH Date: 18 Mar 1996 20:38:55 GMT RATING-- NC-17 SLASH M/M THIRD SEASON SPOILERS Hello. I'm posting this for a friend who is off line so if you want to write you'll have to do so through me. I'll pass the messages along. 72620.3447@compuserve.com Okay major league warning. This is NC-17.... no ifs ands or buts about it. And it is about a romance between two male X-file characters. So if that sort of thing grosses you out stop now or hold your peace. Feedback is appreciated but please remember that this is Alex's first post so don't be nasty or I'll tell Santa on you. Usual disclaimer. These characters are not mine. They belong to Chris Carter and 1013 Productions and he would probably have a cow if he knew what we did with them. Definitely a large bull calf. No money is being made off of their use. This story may be circulated but please leave the author's name and address attached. TAKING CHANCES BY ALEX JONES Part Two They had been stranded for five days. Normally both men would have been climbing the walls from the inactivity, but the new relationship they were discovering kept them distracted. Being able to reach the local field office allowed them to work several hours a day. The computers and phones worked so they managed to keep busy and stay productive. Most sporting events had been canceled, but movies were still running at the local theaters, so they saw several of those, but mostly they talked. About sports, careers, childhood's, a little, and dozens of other things, except of course what was important. They avoided talking about how they felt and what they were going to do when they returned to DC. In fact they both studiously ignored what went on at night between them. No touch occurred, nor comment was made about their love making. During the day it was as if it didn't exist. "Thank you, sergeant. Yes, that's fine. No problem." Fox Mulder hung up the phone. He took a deep breath and turned to Walter. "That was the state police. The interstate is open again so we should be able to drive out of here tomorrow and get to the Center City airport . Or if those flights are full Burmanton's airport is only another hour's drive." Walter Skinner nodded not saying anything. 'Well you knew it had to end sometime.' "Call my assistant and have her see what she can get us out on." He wouldn't meet Mulder's gaze, instead he stood up and looked out of the window. "Had to return to the real world sometime." "That almost sounds like regret?" Walter sighed. He could hear the wistfulness and question in Fox's voice. Hell he felt the same way, but things couldn't go on like this. No matter how much he wanted them to. What would be easiest? Telling Fox the truth, that he wanted to it to continue or simply treating this as an interesting diversion. The AD wanted to tell Mulder the truth, but when he turned to look at him he found that for once he didn't have the courage. Sighing again he turned back to the window. "It can't continue when we get back, Mulder. It's way too risky for both our sakes." Mulder wanted to shout, to shake his boss, to hit him, anything to break through that cold exterior that he surrounded himself with. He wanted the truth. Did it matter to Walter... this last week... or was it just a passing fling? His boss had stayed cool and distant all week, his reserve breaking down only when they were alone in the room together. Fox found it difficult to reconcile the wildly passionate man with whom he shared a bed at night with the cool aloof figure before him. Yet, even he, acknowledged the wisdom of Walter's words. They were both under close scrutiny. Sleeping together, staying together, would be very risky, but sometimes he wondered if the joy he'd felt this last week wouldn't be worth it. It hadn't only been about sex. Although that part had been phenomenal. It was about companionship. About sitting and working in the same room to look up and suddenly and see his boss staring at him. Sometimes they'd exchange a smile and go back to work, but at others he would see the fire blazing in Walter's eyes and they would take a work break. He smiled to himself. Sometimes those work breaks had gone on all night. Having someone, being with someone, especially Walter Skinner, someone he had come to trust and respect, it had been wonderful and he didn't want to give it up. He knew that they had to though. For his own sake he might chance it, but he cared about Walter too much to risk his career as well. Sighing again, he stood up from the bed, walked up behind his lover and put his arms around his waist hugging him from behind. He didn't argue. "We still have tonight." Fox kissed Walter's neck. "Let's make the most of it." Walter placed his arms over Mulder's and nodded, leaning back into Fox's embrace. 'I'm going to miss this.' He thought as he turned and took Mulder into his arms. The kiss they shared was filled with a passionate desperation. Neither willing to admit in word to the other what he felt, yet each trying desperately to communicate via actions. The love they made that night was silent, filled with a certain quiet desperation. Each trying to give to the other the love they could not find the words to express. Fox would never forget that night laying on his stomach with Walter on top, their hands intertwined, the older man deep inside bringing him to an ecstasy he'd never felt before. Part pain, all pleasure, all consuming... The fulfillment in his partner's voice as he came... He would never forget... never wanted to... despite the emotional pain and loneliness that the memory would later bring. They packed the next morning in silence, shared a final passionate embrace, picked up their bags and headed silently out the door. Both resolved to never again mention what had gone on between them during the last week. "Damn it where the hell is she?" Mulder checked his watch for the fifth time in as many minutes. Their meeting with Skinner was supposed to start in less than fifteen minutes. He gave up waiting and dialed her cellular. "Scully." "Where are you? We should be heading up to Skinner's office right now." "Stuck in traffic." "Damn it, Scully, you promised." She sighed and wondered for the hundredth time what was up with Mulder and their boss. For the last two months the two men had barely talked and a meeting with Skinner set Mulder on edge for hours, both before and after it. And he'd absolutely insisted that she attend every blessed one. She could tell that he was in as near as he ever got to panic at the thought of going alone. Dana Scully thought that she'd give half a year's pay to find out what they fought about on that out of town consult. 'Oh well, maybe they just got on each other's nerves sharing a room.' "I'm sorry, Mulder, but a semi turned over on the freeway. I'm just not going to be able to make it back from Quantico in time. The way it's looking it'll probably be at the very least another forty-five minutes." She heard him mutter, "Damn," under his breath before he continued. "I'll call and see if I can reschedule it for this afternoon." "You don't really need me there for this. You're more familiar with the facts of the case than I am." "That's all right, I'll reschedule for later today if I can. Drive safe." The line went dead, leaving Scully very puzzled as to what was up with her partner. His behavior was stranger than normal and considering that this was Fox 'Spooky' Mulder that was saying something. Mulder dialed Skinner's office immediately. When his assistant answered Mulder got right to the point. "This is Agent Mulder, Kimberly. Agent Scully is tied up in traffic so we won't be able to make our scheduled meeting. Would you inform the AD and ask if we can reschedule it for this afternoon. Thanks." He was off the phone not leaving her time to put him through to the AD. Fox Mulder took a deep breath. 'Great now I've got another three or four hours to twist in the wind.' He checked his watch again. Damn, it was late to cancel that meeting, but he couldn't face Walter Skinner alone. He hadn't seen the man alone since they had parted after their flight home from River Grove. It should have been easy to forget what happen, to put it out of his mind, just ignore it. Instead he couldn't stop thinking about it. It hurt... sometimes so much he thought he couldn't breath around the pain. Maybe if Skinner had just once looked at him with longing, like he missed the connection they had shared as well, but instead he'd been coldly professional every time he'd seen him. Mulder had finally come to the conclusion that he was merely a passing diversion for his bored boss. He took several deep breaths trying to calm himself down. Nothing seemed to help and his dreams at night were filled with images of the week spent sharing a room with Walter. He'd begun to think of him as two separate men. There was Skinner, a cold heartless bastard and then there was Walter, kind, passionate, caring. He didn't dare have a meeting alone with Skinner for fear that he would give himself away, that he would try to break down the walls that surrounded the man and see if Walter really existed or was simply a creation of his needy, dependent side. He was beginning to think it was the latter. He sighed and pulled out some research material on a current case and tried to forget the coming meeting. 'At least Scully will be there.' "Come in," Skinner called in answer to the knock at his office door. He looked up expecting to see Mulder and Scully enter only to be surprised when his assistant entered. "Agent Mulder just called, Sir, and said that they need to reschedule. Agent Scully is tied up in traffic." Skinner opened his mouth to protest that Scully wasn't necessary to the meeting, but closed it before saying anything. He realized that she wasn't the one he needed to talk to. He took a long breath before saying, "Thank you, Kimberly. That'll be all." After she left he pushed aside what he had been working on and sat back to think. What was he going to do about Fox Mulder? He had thought that Mulder was okay with how they left things, but now he was beginning to have his doubts. Since their return from River Grove eight weeks ago, not by a word, an action or even a look, had Fox betrayed that he was anything, but satisfied with how they left things. It was only in the last couple of weeks that Walter had begun to suspect that Mulder was avoiding him. Maybe he was beginning to notice because he desperately wanted to be alone with his agent. He had told himself that he was satisfied with the way things had been left, that it was the logical thing to do, way too risky to have a relationship with Fox. And he'd even managed to convince himself that he was content with that decision, except for nights, then weekends, and now even during working hours, he was having trouble living with the choice. So for the last couple of weeks he had been trying to nonchalantly arrange a private meeting to gauge how Fox was doing. To see if maybe he too was coming to the conclusion that a relationship was worth the risks involved. Yet he'd been frustrated at every turn. Just bad timing he'd thought at first but now he knew that that wasn't the case. Scully wasn't necessary to this meeting. In fact, considering that it involved a review of one of Mulder's old unsolved cases that predated Scully, she really didn't belong, but Mulder had insisted, claiming that maybe her fresh eyes could bring new insight. It was a lame excuse, but Walter hadn't pushed. After worrying the subject around in circles for several more minutes he decided that he was going to have to talk to Fox Mulder and that the only way he was going to manage that was for the mountain to come to Mohammed. He got up and headed for the basement office of the X-files. "Yeah," Mulder said in answer to the knock at his door. He felt his breath rush out as if he'd been kicked in the stomach as Walter Skinner walked in. 'Shit. I can't handle this now.' AD Skinner had planned a mature rational conversation with Fox Mulder, but when his agent looked up in those glasses, 'damn they made him look sexy,' a startled deer in the headlights look on his face, every thought and plan went out the window. Walter felt himself react so violently that he couldn't catch his breath. His body hardened so fast that he felt like an erection was beamed in fully formed. 'Oh god this was a mistake.' He slammed his emotions down hard and as a result his face became cold and mask-like, and his voice held anger. He was furious at himself for not being able to control his emotions and his body's response to Fox's proximity. To Mulder, who looked up into the anger of his boss' face it appeared that the AD was furious with him. He felt his own anger rise in return. 'Damn it, I can't help it that I'm not the cold-blooded, son-of-a-bitch he is. I can't forget what happened so easily.' Walter took his anger out on Fox. "Agent Mulder, we had a meeting scheduled. I do not expect to be blown off because your partner can't attend. Is that understood?" Mulder swallowed the bile down. "Yes, Sir. Perfectly clear, Sir. Will that be all, Sir." Skinner wanted to do about half a dozen things to Special Agent Fox Mulder. Most of them if portrayed in a movie would earn it an immediate NC-17 rating. He settled on the most reasonable. "What has gotten into you, Mulder?" Walter was trying to make an overture, but Fox couldn't see beyond his pain. He stood up, almost at attention, facing his boss across the room and answered. "You did, Sir. Or don't you remember?" Skinner drew in a quick breath at the memories the last comment invoked. Mulder was referring to their last night together, and the one and only time the box of condoms and tube of KY had been used. As he fought for his own control, Fox continued. "I realize that you'd prefer to forget what happened, so I thought it would please you if you never had to see me again." "Is that what you think?" Skinner, fighting hard to control the pain he felt, kept his voice cold and unemotional. "One night stands aren't my thing so you'll excuse me if I don't know proper etiquette." Walter was trying to collect his thoughts when Scully knocked on the door and entered. The tension in the room was obvious. Skinner thought a fast retreat was in order. "My afternoon is booked, Agent Mulder. Read the update and write up a summary. If I have any questions I'll contact you." He nodded at Dana and said, "Agent Scully." And walked swiftly out the door. Mulder saw the shocked look on his partner's face, he was too tired to pretend that nothing was going on, she wouldn't believe him anyway. "Don't ask, Scully. It's a long and complicated story that I'm just not up to." He put his head down on his desk for a few minutes before returning to the research he had been reading. 'Stupid, stupid...' The whole purpose to avoiding the AD had just been blown out the window. He'd wanted to keep from humiliating himself in front of Walter, but less than five minutes alone in the same room and he'd managed to make a jackass out of himself. 'Damn. Well he's got little doubt now as to how I feel,' Fox thought to himself. Dana pulled a chair up to her desk and started writing up her autopsy findings, realizing that whatever it was between Mulder and Skinner he wasn't about to talk about it now. Walter Skinner decided to take the stairs back up to his office. He needed the time to think about what had just happened. Not only about what was going on with Mulder, but with himself as well. His reaction to being alone with Fox for the first time in eight weeks had knocked him on his ass. Never had anyone's mere presence so turned him on and disturbed him. Never had he hurt so much to see someone else in pain. And he was almost sure that that was what Fox was suffering. 'Did I cause that? Do I mean something to him?' He couldn't quite believe it. It had only been a week together, surely such a strong bond couldn't have formed that fast... Could it? But he knew the answer. Every night as he reached for Fox in his sleep he had his answer... During their week together, Fox had been light hearted and teasing. Walter had taken it to mean that he regarded the week as a pleasant sexual interlude and nothing more. He thought he had been merely a diversion during a week of forced inactivity. And he'd told himself that he was happy with that. Now he wasn't so sure. Caring for Fox meant that he couldn't be an objective observer. Could Mulder care for him? Did he want him to? When he had first met Fox Mulder he was startled by his burning intelligence and compassion. He was a man driven. That drive was what had originally caught his attention. Unlike most of the agents around him Mulder wasn't motivated by ambition, but by a desire to do some good, to make a difference. He really cared about the people he was trying to help and the pain he felt for the victims was obvious in both word and deed. And he had a terrifying ability to get into the mind of a serial killer. Skinner had never stooped to the spooky jokes, but he understood the other agents' fears. Mulder often scared him, but he also intrigued him as well. And even way back then Walter had noticed how attractive a man Fox Mulder was. He could still remember watching him get out of the gym pool wearing a pair of red speedos. That was the first time since high school that Walter could remember getting a hard on just looking at another man. He'd watched Mulder's career at the Bureau, glad when he had found the X-files. Profiling serial killers had taken too much of a toll on Fox and the X-files had saved his sanity, if not his life. Having watched the agent for a number of years he had come to the conclusion that he wasn't capable of love. Fox could love humanity as a whole, or feel compassion for a victim, but when it came down to caring for someone in a relationship Mulder was ruled too much by his intellect to ever succumb to mere human feelings. At least that was what Skinner thought, until Dana Scully that is. They'd worked together over a year and Walter still hadn't changed that opinion. Mulder had survived the shut down of the X-files. He hadn't taken it with good grace, but if he had that wouldn't have been Mulder. It wasn't until Scully's disappearance that he realized that Mulder felt more for his partner than simple friendship. His devastation at her loss spoke volumes more than words that someone had broken through that cold, self absorbed exterior. And then she had been returned, dying, it seemed, and Walter Skinner had come face to face with his own realization that what he felt for these two agents was way beyond professional. He was concerned for them both. Their brilliant minds, that refused to shy away from the truth no matter how bizarre, their compassion and concern for others, their sense of humor, an overriding commitment to justice, all came together to touch him somewhere deep inside. He felt a kinship to them that he had seldom felt with anyone else. He told himself that he felt paternal towards them and he'd even believed it until the day Fox Mulder leaned into his ear and promised not to ravish him in the night. Fox hadn't kept that promise and now it looked like his agent's feelings ran deeper for him than he realized. He'd made it to his floor and stood there thinking. Skinner didn't want to face anyone just then so he turned around and headed back down the stairs, deciding to take an early lunch. As he walked he decided that no matter what his or Fox's feelings it was better for both of them not to get involved. He would respect Mulder's wishes and keep him at a distance. The cold, remote look on his face as he walked out of the Hoover building kept everyone at a distance. Three Weeks Later Northeast Georgetown Medical Center Fox Mulder came slowly awake, aware of a dull throbbing behind his eyes. He'd done it again he knew from the hospital surroundings. Slowly he turned his head to find his friend and partner sitting beside the bed. She smiled at him. 'God how I love it when she smiles like that.' He watched the twinge of sadness and pain cross her face as he observed that "he guessed he wasn't dead." 'It was nice to know that at least *she* cared.' Then came the news that pounded him in the gut. Skinner had been shot and evidence pointed to it being the man that had shot Melissa. 'Damn, those bastards wouldn't leave anyone alone.' He had fretted most of the day. He had a concussion and had been unconscious for several hours, so that they were insisting on twenty-four hours observation before releasing him. The drugs they gave him for the pain left him groggy and he drifted in and out of sleep, but he couldn't seem to rest. Poor Scully had a lot to handle with both him and Skinner in the hospital at the same time and the man responsible for her sister's death on the loose and in the area. By early evening he had started refusing the pain killers, wanting his mind to clear. He was determined to see Walter. Scully had assured him that Skinner was all right and would recover, but by ten that night he knew that he had to see for himself. He waited for the nurses to be occupied preparing for the shift change and dressed, making sure that he had his FBI ID. The guards had better not let him in without it or he'd have their heads. Having gotten out of Dana earlier in the day where Skinner's room was, he headed that way. Fox Mulder's head had started to pound by the time he got to the AD's floor, but he was determined. He flashed his badge at the guard who let him pass without question. He didn't like that it was so easy to get in, but on the other hand he couldn't knock it without bringing his own jail break to the doctor's attention. Shutting the door tight behind him, he entered Walter Skinner's room. Walter Skinner looked very pale in the dim glow generated by the small wall night-light. Fox sucked in his breath, his headache forgotten, replaced by a deep aching pain in his chest. Walking slowly over to his boss' side he took his hand in both of his, holding on to it tightly. Memories of the last few years playing over in his mind. Skinner had always been straight with him. Mulder hadn't realized it at first, he had thought that he was like all the other paper-pushers that cared more about advancing their careers and enlarging their power base than the public they were sworn to protect. It was only over time that Fox had come to realize that although the man was a by-the-book type that underneath it all he really did care about people and his agents. Skinner had supported him when no one else would and had given him back the X-files at considerable risk to his position because he'd wanted to see justice done. And now here he lay because he had refused to let them bury Melissa's case along with her. Fox Mulder raised one hand to gently caress the side of Walter's face, admiring his boss' courage and resolve. He felt his own tears start to fall. Not many, but a few managed to escape the control he was tenuously holding on to. Walter Skinner came slowly awake to feel a slight dampness on his hand, a hand that he suddenly realized was being held in an iron grip. He felt another hand gently stroking the side of his face and wondered who cared about him enough to be there. He fought to open his eyes. Slowly they opened. He blinked several times trying to get them to focus on the person beside him. He smiled up into Fox Mulder's concerned, tear-stained face, unsure of what to say. Mulder spoke first. "Hey. How are you feeling?" Skinner considered cracking a joke, but decided that they both had been hiding behind words for too long. He was tired of it so he answered truthfully. "Weak, tired and in a lot of pain." He nodded at Fox's head. "How 'bout you?" "A little weak, a little tired and a little pain. At least compared to you." They sat staring at each other neither sure what to say, neither sure what the other wanted. Walter realized that one of them would have to open up if they were ever going to get over this, so finally he spoke. He lifted Fox's hand to his mouth and gently kissed the palm before looking up and whispering the words. Fox leaned in to hear his companion's soft voice. "It was more than just a fling for me, Fox. I care..." His voice broke, he swallowed hard trying to find the courage to say the words. "I love you." The voice was hardly a whisper, but Fox Mulder heard and understood. He nodded. Love shown out of his eyes and the hand that had stilled on Walter's cheek began again it's gentle stroking. He leaned in and kissed his lover on the lips. After the kiss he moved his lips to Walter's ear and whispered, "I'm glad." Sitting up he withdrew so that anyone coming in would not see anything unusual. They were simply two friends, except for his hand that rested lightly on Walter's arm. They smiled at each other, both so engrossed in what had occurred and the promise that it offered that neither noticed Dana Scully slipping quietly out of the room. Scully left the hospital quickly and headed home trying to keep from thinking about what she had seen. She had wanted to check on her partner and boss one last time before going home to bed. Going first to Mulder's room and finding it empty she had decided to check on Skinner and then go back to her partner's room. It wasn't unlike him to get antsy as he felt better and go for a long walk, so she would give him time to return before setting off the alarm. He'd left his jacket and a few other items in his room so that she figured he would be coming back. Arriving at Skinner's room she had flashed her badge at the guard and entered quietly not wanting to disturb him if he was sleeping. The curtain blocked the bed from the door so that she was a couple of steps into the room before she realized that someone was with him. She had just started to reach for her gun when she realized that it was Mulder. As she started to speak she became aware that something wasn't quite right. Her partner was holding their boss' hand with one hand and stroking his face with the other. She couldn't tell if Skinner was awake until he brought Mulder's hand to his face and kissed the palm. Stunned, Dana had leaned back against the wall and said nothing. She realized that they were talking, but she couldn't hear what they were saying. The final blow to her equilibrium had come when Fox Mulder had leaned over and passionately kissed Walter Skinner on the lips. And it was obvious that the AD was returning the kiss. Backing to the door she slipped out before being noticed. She had known for the last few months that something was going on between the two of them, but had no idea what. From the way her partner had been acting she had assumed that they had had a fight on the trip to River Grove and that he was angry at the AD for something. Now she wondered what had gone on while they were stranded. 'How involved are they?' she wondered to herself. 'Had they been... the last few months?' No she didn't think so. But at some point in time something had happened because their relationship was obviously of a different nature than anyone realized. Deciding to watch and wait she went home to bed and to dream. END PART TWO =========================================================================== From: <72620.3447@compuserve.com> Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative Subject: TAKING CHANCES 3 BY ALEX JONES NC17 SLASH Date: 18 Mar 1996 20:42:41 GMT RATING-- NC-17 SLASH M/M THIRD SEASON SPOILERS Hello. I'm posting this for a friend who is off line so if you want to write you'll have to do so through me. I'll pass the messages along. 72620.3447@compuserve.com Okay major league warning. This is NC-17.... no ifs ands or buts about it. And it is about a romance between two male X-file characters. So if that sort of thing grosses you out stop now or hold your peace. Feedback is appreciated but please remember that this is Alex's first post so don't be nasty or I'll tell Santa on you. Usual disclaimer. These characters are not mine. They belong to Chris Carter and 1013 Productions and he would probably have a cow if he knew what we did with them. Definitely a large bull calf. No money is being made off of their use. This story may be circulated but please leave the author's name and address attached. TAKING CHANCES BY ALEX JONES Part Three A Couple of Weeks Later Walter Skinner stretched and grimaced in pain as he pulled Mulder's latest report out to read. 'This should qualify as fantasy fiction.' He was just dying to see how Mulder and Scully explained why a mousy little research assistant had beaten up an Assistant Director of the FBI. Damn. Every time he thought about it he felt humiliated. Course being blind-sided with mace to the face and having just been shot a few weeks earlier, but still... It didn't bear thinking about. Checking his watch he saw that it was after nine and sighed. Another late night. There had been a lot more of those since his return from River Grove. He now admitted to himself that the reason for this was that his house had seemed suddenly empty and lonely. He wondered for the hundredth time how one week could change his perspective so much. Maybe soon... He fought that thought down. Today had definitely been a set back. Late, on the night after he'd been shot, Fox had come to his room and they had talked. Not much really, but enough so that both men realized that they wanted to resume the relationship. Mulder no longer avoided him, and even on occasion would drop his protective wall a little, but he was waiting for Walter to make the first move. The ball now firmly in his court, Walter wanted to wait until he was healed. It was a matter of pride and probably stupidity on his part, but he wanted to go to Fox as an equal and physically he still had a way to go. Getting kicked in the gut had not helped. 'Damn.' Not to forget Dr. Dana Scully's physical after that. They'd cleaned out his eyes and then she had insisted on him stripping off his shirt so that she could make sure no damage had been done. He'd refused, but then Fox had come in and started riding him about getting checked out. "Agent Scully, I don't think an exam is necessary." "Sir, you had surgery less than three weeks ago, being kicked in the abdominal area could have opened up your injuries. It is only prudent to be checked out." Skinner had been about to refuse when Mulder had piped in. "It's all right, Sir, I promise to be your chaperon. Make sure Scully doesn't get fresh." Walter had almost popped back 'who's going to make sure you don't get fresh,' but with a quick glance at Scully he'd decided to hold his tongue. He could tell from the grin on Fox's face and the way he raised his eyebrows that he had a pretty good idea of what his boss had almost said. The look he and Scully had shot Mulder was not pleasant, but if he'd learned anything in that week with Fox it was that the more he resisted, the more outrageous his agent became. He acquiesced. Dana Scully hadn't been as startled by his abrupt capitulation as he had thought she would. Neither man knew that she had picked up on the affection in the comment and was thinking, 'it must be nice to have the AD wrapped around your little finger.' 'I shouldn't be surprised.' Skinner mused. 'She's worked with Mulder for three years now and knows how outrageous he can be.' So he had taken off his shirt, undone his pants, laid down on the couch in his office, and tried to ignore Scully's hands as they poked around his abdomen and the effect they were having on him. 'Damn.' He was trying to decide if his ceiling needed a paint job and was wishing he was gay and not bi so that she wouldn't affect him so. He'd looked up over Scully's shoulder into Fox Mulder's amused and sympathetic eyes. The man was learning to read him way too well for his own comfort. Mulder knew that his boss was fighting getting turned on by Scully's touch and from the look on Fox's face he was thinking 'been there, done that.' They shared an empathetic glance, both men realizing that the red-headed woman in between them stirred up more than professional feelings. That had been this morning and Scully and Mulder had been prompt at getting their reports written up. As he read over the events at the hospital he blanched. 'No wonder Fox let Scully drop off the report. He must be devastated.' Walter Skinner had known for over a year that Mulder was in love with his partner and realized that what Modell had tried to do would probably have shaken him to the core. He sighed and debated calling Fox at his apartment or going over to see him there. But no, if Mulder wanted to see him he would have called or dropped the report by in person. Their relationship was too tentative for him to feel comfortable trying to get Fox to open up to him. He slammed his fist down on his desk in frustration, desperately wishing that his agent would let him in. 'That's enough for tonight,' he thought to himself. He signed off on their report and packed up to head home. As he walked through the parking garage to his car he noticed Mulder's car in the lot. He stopped and looked at it carefully. Yes it was definitely Fox's. Scully said that he had gone home. He didn't think that she had been deliberately lying for him, but that didn't mean that Mulder hadn't come back after she left. 'Damn it, Fox, you've got to get some rest.' Skinner threw his briefcase onto the back seat of his car, headed back into the building and down to Mulder's office. Knocking softly on the door he received no answer. 'Maybe Scully drove him home.' He opened the door to be sure and saw Mulder asleep with his head on his desk. Skinner shut and locked the door behind him and went over to Fox. He knelt carefully down beside the sleeping agent. Skinner studied his face. It had been over three months since he'd watched him sleep. The months had taken their toll. There were dark rings under his eyes and he looked gaunt. He'd lost weight that he didn't need to lose. Hell, with the last couple of cases it was no wonder. Walter reached out and gently stroked Fox's hair. He then bent in closer and kissed him softly on the cheek before pulling back and saying, "Come on, Mulder, wake up. It's after eleven on a Friday night and all good little boys and girls should be home in bed." Mulder began to wake up at the feel of a hand on his head and a kiss on his cheek. It was a nice sensation. At Skinner's voice so close to his ear he smiled before opening his eyes and replying. "Guess I'm not a good little boy then." He lifted his head up, sat back in his chair and stretched. At Walter's grimace as he started to get up, Mulder moved quickly to help. "You okay, Sir? Should I call Scully to check you out again?" "Why? So you can laugh at me some more as I fight to keep from getting a hard on and embarrassing myself in front of her." "You just have to keep repeating my mantra. I will not lust after my partner... I will not lust after my partner... Course in your case you could switch it to I will not lust after a subordinate... Well maybe not? I'd hate to have you use that in relation to me. I like being lusted after." He winked and cast a sexy grin at his boss. Walter gave him a sidelong glance back before asking, "And this mantra helps?" "Not really. Fortunately when she checks me out I'm normally so sick that I don't feel much like sex anyway." "Scully told me you went home?" "I did, but I couldn't calm down... Kept replaying the last few days' events over in my head. I finally decided that coming back in to do paperwork couldn't be any worse." Walter looked at his lost agent and made a decision. 'Pride be damned.' "Come on, Mulder, let's get you back to your place and you can pack." "For where? Another new case?" Walter took a deep breath hoping that this would go well. "No. For the weekend at my house." Mulder looked startled and a little afraid. "You sure about this?" "Yeah, I'm sure. Come on." Mulder got irritated. "I don't need pity." "You're not getting any. My pride wanted to wait until I had recovered from the gunshot wound, but after the last couple of days... fuck it." Mulder grinned at Skinner as he stood up. "Don't you mean me?" "Hopefully, Fox. If I'm up to it. If not, I could still use the company?" Mulder nodded shocked at his boss' sudden honesty. He leaned over pulling Skinner gently into a kiss before leaving the basement office. Fox Mulder had insisted on driving himself home and over to Skinner's. So Walter gave him directions to his place and went home. Actually he went by the grocery store first to stock up. He hadn't been spending much time there of late and he wanted to have plenty of food in so that they wouldn't have to go out. The AD found himself feeling very nervous and excited. The step they were taking was a major risk. No, they really couldn't officially do anything if they found out that he and Fox were sleeping together, but he would sure as hell bet that that would be the end of any career advancement on his part and Mulder would be transferred. It would also become difficult. The FBI was a macho, old boys club, despite all the rumors about Hoover, and it would be hard to get the respect and obedience he needed from agents working under him if they found that he was attracted to men as well as women. But if the last three months had served any purpose, they had served to emphasize to him just how alone he was and how much he'd come to hate it. A week with Fox had allowed him to see just how lonely his life was, but he'd also found that not just anybody could assuage that loneliness. Only Fox Mulder seemed able to fill that void. He finished shopping and headed home. It was well after midnight by the time he made it home and had the groceries unpacked. He paced around the house for the next hour, wondering towards the end if Mulder had changed his mind. That thought hurt, but he knew that Fox was particularly fragile right now and might not be up for any sort of relationship. When he heard a car pull into the garage he finally breathed a sigh of relief and went to greet his weekend guest. Shy and nervous didn't begin to describe how scared Fox felt as he pulled into Skinner's garage. He hadn't been in a relationship of any length and commitment since Pheobe and he had the feeling that if he allowed himself to let loose, his commitment to Walter would be just as strong, if not stronger. He knew instinctively that Walter wouldn't betray him as Pheobe had. The only person who could compete with those feelings was Dana Scully and he doubted that she would be interested. The fact that Walter seemed aware of his feelings for Dana, and wasn't threatened by them, gave him a measure of comfort. In fact, from watching the AD over the last few weeks, Mulder was coming to the conclusion that Walter shared his feelings for Scully. Well that was an unachievable dream to meditate on... a threesome. He sighed as he saw Walter open the door between the garage and the house and smile at him. 'Better concentrate on a twosome first.' He heard the automatic door coming down behind him. Getting out of the car, he reached into the back seat and got his bag. He hadn't bothered to pack much, just a couple of changes of clothes, undies, sweats to sleep in, and some reading materials. "Come on in. Are you hungry?" "No thanks...." A yawn interrupted his reply. 'Damn.' Suddenly he could barely keep his eyes open. "I ate on my way back to work earlier tonight." "This way then. I'll save the house tour for in the morning. Let's get to bed. It's almost two." Walter gently guided him through the downstairs, up the stairs and into the master bedroom. Fox smiled at the bed. It was king size. "The bathroom's over here, towels and toiletries in the closet. I'm going to go lock up and set the alarm. You go ahead and get ready." Ten minutes later he returned to find Fox ready for bed, but sitting in a chair. He spoke first. "I was afraid I'd fall asleep if I got in bed and I didn't want to do that alone." Walter merely smiled and headed into the bathroom to get ready for bed. It didn't take long and when he came out he pulled Fox into his arms and kissed him, savoring the touch, taste and feel of him. Guiding him over to the bed he turned off the lights and they lay down together. "Do you want to..." Fox's voice faded off before finishing. "Not tonight. Tonight I just want to be together, if that's all right with you." Mulder's voice faded off into sleep as he snuggled up next to Walter. "Sounds good to me. See you in the morning." Walter smiled, pulled him closer into his embrace and settled down for the best night's sleep he'd had in three months, a contented smile on his face. Waking curled up next to someone was a wonderful feeling, one with which neither man had much experience. Fox woke to the feel of an arm across his back. He sighed contentedly and smiled to himself because even though he barely remembered the room he woke to find himself in, he did remember whose arm it was. "Hungry?" Walter's voice brought a smile to his lips. "Very." He rolled over to face his friend. "How about pancakes and sausages." "Low fat." "No. Is that a problem?" "Are you kidding? Low fat sausages are like no-salt popcorn... What's the point?" Skinner laughed. There was a good bit of thirteen year old in Fox Mulder's makeup. "So, you been awake long?" Mulder asked. "Awhile." There was a hesitation in his voice. "You could have gotten up." "I could. If I'd wanted to... I didn't." Fox smiled at the meaning behind the words. Walter had been enjoying watching him sleep. It was something that Fox had gotten used to during their week together. Because he was such an irregular sleeper and mostly a night owl, Mulder didn't get up very early unless he had to. Since they didn't have much to keep them busy at the regional office they didn't go in till late. The AD still woke up early, but instead of getting up and dressing, he'd often just sit and watch Fox and think. Mulder had been disconcerted at first, but after the second day or so he'd gotten used to the idea that his boss took pleasure in his presence. They got up and dressed and headed downstairs. Fox noticed that Walter was still moving slowly from his injury and that several bruises had appeared on both his face and abdomen. He got the coffee ready and Walter started the pancakes. As he was stirring the batter, Fox came up behind him, put his arms gently around his waist and pulled him back into an embrace. "So, how are you feeling?" He felt Walter tense slightly and spoke before he could. "Truth." Letting out a quick breath the AD finally answered. "It still hurts pretty bad at times and yesterday was definitely no help." Fox heard something underlying the comments and smiled at his boss' discomfort. "You should stop beating yourself up over it. Mace would incapacitate anyone. And even without having been shot a few weeks ago, getting kicked in the gut is no fun." "Damn it. She's all of what, five-one or five-two?" "Scully's only five-two, but I can assure you that she can handle men twice her weight." Walter laughed at that. Mulder was right. You didn't mess with Scully. One agent who'd gotten drunk at an office Christmas party had found that out. He chuckled at the memory. "What?" "Just remembering Murphy at the Christmas party this year." Mulder chuckled too. "One breast grab and he was flat on his back with her heel dug into his balls. He still runs in the other direction when he sees her coming." "He'd better. I was ready to file an official reprimand, but Scully said she had taken care of it." "I wanted to clean his clock, too." "I'm surprised you didn't?" "Scully informed me that she could take care of herself and if I so much as looked wrong at him I'd find myself in the same position as he'd been. I believed her." Mulder gently hugged Walter tighter and kissed him on the back of the neck before moving off to pour himself a glass of orange juice and lean against the counter. "So, I wouldn't worry too much about your manly reputation. Actually, talk around the Bureau is that they are amazed that you were able to resist Modell. How'd you do it?" Skinner knew that this was not a casual question on Mulder's part. Fox had almost shot Scully the day before and Walter knew that he had to be overwhelmed by that fact. "Best I can figure from the reports and my memories is that it was a combination of things. He'd expended a lot of energy getting past all the guards, plus getting Holly's cooperation. Then I'd surprised him and I've never been very easy to influence. Pig-headed and stubborn was my parents' description." He saw the look of pain cross Fox's face. "Fox, don't beat yourself up over it. You had to face him one on one and from what I read you managed to defeat him. That's pretty damn good, if you ask me, considering what happened to the other agents. When I faced him down he was tired and trying to maintain his influence over someone else." "I almost shot her, Walter. I can't get the memory out of my head. The gun pointed at her, my finger squeezing the trigger, the look of pain on her face... If she hadn't distracted him for just a second..." Fox slammed the glass down on the counter and turned around gripping it's edges. Walter put the mixing bowl down and came up behind Fox pulling him back into his arms. "Fox, the X-files are one close call after another. You either let the memories go or you resign from the X-files. It'll tear you apart otherwise. The love and trust you two share pulled you through again, be satisfied with that." "How can Scully ever forgive me?" "I saw her last night when she turned in the file. I wouldn't worry about it. She protected you in her report and when she talked to me. She doesn't blame you at all." Fox sighed. Walter was right, but letting go of the guilt and pain was hard. As Mulder relaxed Walter leaned in to ask softly in his ear. "So you want to do the pancakes or the sausages?" He turned around to face Walter with a wicked grin on his face and replied, "Sausages, definitely sausages." His boss grinned back knowing that Fox was no longer talking about cooking. "After breakfast," was his only reply. The dishes in the dish washer, kitchen cleaned up and food put away, Walter turned to Fox and suggested, "Shall we head upstairs." Mulder took a long look at his boss before asking, "Do you really feel up to it?" Walter started to open his mouth and say 'of course', but at Mulder's look stopped. He looked away not wanting to meet Fox's eyes and shook his head no. Fox reached up gently brushing his cheek. "We've got plenty of time. You don't need to push yourself..." "Damn it, I want to... it's just that..." "If not this weekend, then next. Your body's been through a lot, let's give it some time to heal. I can wait. There are lots of other things to do." They headed into the den to enjoy each other's company, hoping that what they had would survive the wait. Walter had been afraid that without sex they wouldn't have much to keep them occupied, but instead he found that not only did they share a lot of common interests they also were comfortable just being together in silence. That was rare. Carol and he hadn't really been comfortable in silence. Even after several years they still felt the need to talk about something. He was amazed that with Fox he found that he was happy simply being in the same room while they worked or read. The most surprising thing was the change in Fox, himself. At work, and even during the week they had spent together, he had been very hyper. Never at rest, even when he was sitting working, there had been a controlled tenseness about him. But by Saturday afternoon Walter came to realize that there was a certain peace about Mulder that was new. Calmness, contentment? He wasn't sure which, but Fox actually seemed to be at rest. It was a pleasant change and he secretly hoped that what they had together had made it possible. He hoped that he filled the emptiness in Fox in the same way that he found Fox filled an emptiness in him. 'Going to have to be careful when we get back to work,' he thought to himself. They had begun the weekend by respecting each other's personal space, but by Saturday night that had relaxed considerably. Walter couldn't decide whether it was the back massage that he had given Fox after he had been reading files hunched over for a few hours, or the way that Fox had fallen asleep and how his head had slipped into Walter's lap early in the evening. Whatever the reason, the rest of Saturday and all of Sunday was spent touching. It was early Sunday evening and they were sharing the couch reading. Walter was sitting up at one end finishing up the New York Times and Fox was sprawled out on the rest of it reading a new science fiction novel that Walter had in his library. Mulder had razzed him considerably about having a fairly large science-fiction collection. The AD had only smiled and pointed out that he had to try and get a handle on what Mulder's cases were all about somehow. Fox's bare feet were resting up against Walter's leg. Somewhere in the last hour or so they had started to gently massage his thigh. At first every now and then, but the frequency and duration of the movements had increased till it had become an almost constant gentle motion. Skinner couldn't decide if it was deliberate or not. Mulder *seemed* completely absorbed in what he was reading, but it was starting to drive the AD crazy. He was getting very aroused and he desperately wanted Fox, he just wasn't sure if he was up to it. The incision from the gun shot wound and the resulting surgery was still pretty sore and the kicking he had received a couple of days ago had made it worse. 'Still... maybe?' Any doubt about whether what Fox was doing was accidental or deliberate went out the window when the agent shifted slightly and the foot that had been rubbing his leg moved to massage a much more private part of his anatomy. Walter groaned and put down the paper that he had been only pretending to read for the last ten minutes or so. He turned to his agent to see a devilish grin on Fox's face and that the book had been put down on the end table. Mulder raised an eyebrow at him and said, "How are you feeling?" Sighing Walter replied. "I'm still pretty sore, but if I don't get some relief I'm going to have blue balls for the entire week." Mulder's grin got wider, "Can't have that. Can we? Shall we go upstairs?" He swung his feet off the couch and stood up. They headed to the master bedroom. At their previous encounters they had stripped separately and then gotten together into bed. This time Fox began to strip Walter. He was very gentle, but he also let his hands roam and their explorations aroused the other man even more. By the time Fox had him undressed and in bed he thought he might explode from another mere touch. The younger man withdrew from the bed and stood up slowly, beginning to undress himself. Each piece of clothing was removed and folded with careful deliberation. This slow striptease instead of cooling Walter's ardor was driving him crazy. By the time Mulder was slowly folding his jeans he'd had enough. "Damn it, Fox, quit fussing and come to bed or I'm going to get up, throw you over the back of that chair and fu..." Fox interrupted, "Promise? When you're feeling better I'll take you up on it." He grinned over at Walter and quickly stripped off his briefs throwing them carelessly on the floor and got into bed. It had been so long, but Fox was gentle and careful, not wanting to hurt his boss anymore. As Walter tried to participate more he was shoved down gently on to the bed and told to relax and enjoy himself. Mulder's mouth began to work it's way down from his lips. When Fox reached the new abdominal scar he kissed it gently and stopped. Walter felt a different kind of moisture on his stomach. A few tears had escaped Mulder's eyes. He reached down gently stroking Fox's face and hair. "It's all right... we're both alive and together. That's enough." At his words Fox smiled and proceeded lower. Soon all thought left Walter and he was filled with sensations. Release had rarely seemed so sweet when it came or so loud. Mulder rose up to lay by his side and whispered, "Nice not to have to worry about the neighbors. Isn't it?" Skinner was a bit embarrassed, but thought, 'What the hell.' Walter prepared to return the favor when he was stopped by Fox. "That's too hard on you. Give it another week." "But I don't want to leave you hanging." "You still have your hands don't you?" Fox grinned in reply. Walter smiled back and proceeded to demonstrate. It had been a long time for Fox as well and his release was not quiet either. Leaning over and kissing him, his boss teased. "We might have to worry about the neighbors." Mulder only smiled in reply. They fell asleep in each others arms. Coming awake to someone gently shaking him, Walter opened his eyes to see Fox Mulder dressed and sitting beside him. He leaned over and they shared a long kiss before Mulder spoke. "I've got to head out so that I can make work on time. My boss is a real hard ass about being late." "If he gives you any shit just tell him to fuck you." "Been there, done that. Planning a repeat performance soon." "Next weekend?" "Hopefully. If I can hold out that long." Walter smiled and nodded in agreement. 'It was going to be a long week.' "I didn't want you to wake up and find me gone without saying good-bye." "Thanks. There's an extra garage door remote in the drawer in the utility room, take that. You've got the alarm codes and the extra key already." Fox nodded. He seemed hesitant, like he wanted to say something but couldn't get up the nerve. Walter raised his hand to gently stroke the side of Fox's face. Fox took strength from that and leaning over kissed his boss again and then whispered in his ear. "Love you," touching his face gently before getting up and leaving. Fini For now. Any interest in a sequel?