Dominion Over My Soul - 5
As the drug continued to drive him deeper, in his mind Alex snuggled into the warmth that was Walter's arms; ignoring the prick of needles, wanting only to be left to fall asleep cradled against the massive chest that had fuelled his fantasies for so long. Ever since that fateful day when he had been called to the AD's office to pick up a 302 which Skinner had signed for Fox Mulder.
#####
Secured standing back to back with Dancer, Scully had seethed as she had been forced to watch Krycek being taken away. No sooner had Dancer spoken than Scully growled over her shoulder at her 'bond-mate'.
"Later! Let's get over to the window. Maybe we can see what kind of transport they're using. We must make getting Alex back our first priority." Even as she finished the sentence, she started to move and Dancer, hearing the anger in the other woman's voice, kept quiet and did her best not to impede their progress.
Seeing the women already on the move, Skinner spoke over his shoulder to Byers. "We have to get free, and quickly. Move with me towards the kitchen counter so we can get hold of a knife."
By the time Scully and Carla Dancer had crab-walked to the window, they were only just in time to see the last of the thugs getting into a dark blue panel truck, with a light-blue flash along the side. Dancer read off the licence plate as the vehicle pulled out into the traffic. They waited until it had gone out of sight, then turned to watch the antics of Skinner and Byers as they attempted to get a knife.
Skinner was exhorting Byers to try to coordinate their movements as he bent sideways towards the knife block and tried to grasp the handle of a large knife in his teeth. After some muttered curses, and more than one cry of "ouch", Skinner straightened up with a wicked looking knife held firmly in his mouth.
The two couples worked their way towards an open area, then very carefully, Skinner leaned towards the two women and delicately applied the knife to the taut rope that held their upper bodies together. As the rope started to give way, the two women leaned away from one another to put more strain on it, and they had trouble retaining their balance when it suddenly gave.
Delicately, Scully took the knife from Skinner's mouth and made short work of setting everyone free. Detective Dancer made for the telephone, scribbling the description and licence place number on the pad beside it, before dialling in to her station house.
Byers and Langly quickly set up Scully's laptop. They logged into a chat room haunted by conspiracy theorists and started putting the word out about the van's description.
-o0o-
A few miles east of Scully's apartment, David Foad sat by his window keeping half an eye on the conversation taking place in his favourite chatroom, while watching some workmen digging a hole in the street below, causing hiccups in the traffic flow as the board man gave first one, then the other direction permission to 'go'.
He snickered when a van driver beat his steering wheel in frustration at being halted to let a slow moving, wide vehicle use the open lane.
His attention was drawn back to the chat room when <LGM-RL> entered. Usually things got interesting when RL was around.
There were quite a few 'Hi RL' messages incoming as he started to type in his own welcome...
<LGM-RL> URGENT, PLEASE READ FOLLOWING MESSAGE
All conversations halted as they waited to see what RL was going to say.
<LGM-RL> Look out for dark blue panel truck with light blue flash on the side, Virginia plates, licence...
Foad's eyes immediately switched to the view outside where the frustrated driver of the dark blue van was just pulling away. Grabbing his binoculars, he quickly focussed on the licence plate and compared it to the one on the screen. A match! Excitedly he double clicked on RL's usernic to open a private window and typed in his name and address, adding that the van had just passed his apartment building, heading east.
Dancer, reading the screen over Langly's shoulder, relayed the location to her colleague, and asked him to make sure that the crews knew that they were only to follow the van, not intercept it.
Meanwhile, Skinner told Byers and Langly that they shouldn't stay behind in case Frohike came back and found them on their own. He/it might not listen to any explanations. He then delegated Byers to go with Scully, and Langly was to go with him as they left Scully's apartment to catch up with the van.
Led by Detective Dancer, with her police light flashing, they were guided into position by the police cars which now had the vehicle in sight. As they got closer, the detective stopped to switch off her light and stow it back inside her car, out of sight.
As soon as both Scully and Skinner reported that they could see the van, Dancer contacted the despatcher and asked him to tell the patrol cars to back off as they now had the suspect vehicle in sight and were able to take over the surveillance. Using the peel off and double back method, Skinner, Scully and Dancer took turns at being the lead car so that the driver wouldn't see the same car behind him all the time.
When they got further out of the city, and the traffic thinned out, they let Dancer take the lead while the other two cars dropped back a little for with so few exits it didn't look so odd for the same car to be following. The van kept up a steady speed until, approaching an exit, it started to slow down. Dancer decided to take a chance and started indicating to turn off. Moments later the van's indicators started flicking and a wolfish smile appeared on the detective's face when she found she had guessed right.
Once off the highway, the van stayed on the main road until it reached a large building set in spacious gardens, where it turned into the drive passing a large sign proclaiming it to be the "Happy Days Retirement Village and Nursing Home". The van went past the visitors car park and drew up at an entry way signposted "Nursing Home Admissions" at the side of the main building
Dancer pulled into the "Visitor's car park". She watched intently as a gurney was brought out from the building and a limp form was taken from the van and strapped on to it. It was then wheeled back inside accompanied by the doctor, Spender and the Bounty Hunter's cousin.
While this was happening, Byers came to sit beside her in the car.
For a few minutes they sat in silence, watching the van. But when it didn't move, Byers said, "AD Skinner would like you to go back to talk to him. He sent me to take your place in case it looked as if they were about to move Alex anywhere."
Dancer nodded her head, then got out of the car, perfectly willing to go along with the FBI agents so long as she got an explanation in the end, and hopefully, some closure on the case she was investigating. With this firmly in mind she walked briskly down the road and joined the others in the AD's car.
Skinner raised an interrogatory eyebrow when she turned to face him. Wasting no time, she described how Alex had been transported into the building, mentioning that the two thugs had stayed with the van while the other three had gone inside with Krycek.
Scully voiced their thoughts by saying, "So what do we do now? We can't leave him in their hands too long, heaven only knows what they'll do to him."
Skinner's gut clenched at the thought of anyone hurting Alex and he had to look away while he got the sudden bout of nausea under control.
When he turned back to the others he had his stern AD face firmly in place. "It goes without saying that we must rescue Krycek as quickly as possible. One of us will have to get inside and see if we can spot the most likely place for him to be held. We need to find way inside as well."
Before Skinner could continue, Dancer interrupted. "I believe it would be best if I were to the one to go inside. They've only seen me once and I don't suppose they took much notice of me. I can clip my hair back and put on a pair of glasses, which I always carry around with me just for times like these."
Scully looked at Skinner and they both nodded, the detective's suggestion made the most sense.
"All right Detective, we'll wait to hear from you. Tell Byers to stay there on watch when you leave. Meanwhile, Agent Scully and I will move our cars to the Mall down the road, we won't be so conspicuous there if the van leaves the nursing home before you get back."
"Okay." Dancer dug down her purse. She took out a make up bag and handed a mirror to Scully. "Would you mind holding this for me please?" She quickly restyled her hair using a claw clamp to hold the sides back, applied a brighter shade of lipstick and blusher. Looking at Scully she slipped on a pair of spectacles, then asked, "How do I look?"
Scully gave a nod of approval. "You'll do. I doubt very much if they will recognize you... but don't take any unnecessary chances," she added as the detective got out of the car.
Dancer acknowledged the advice with a wave of her hand and walked back towards her car. There was silence in the car she'd just left as the occupants watched the policewoman walk away.
"I wish there was some way I could have gone in," Skinner said just as Dancer disappeared from view.
"So do I," Scully admitted with a sigh.
Langly looked glumly from one to the other, seeing the worry etched on their faces. "She must be pretty good," he offered, "She's obviously not a novice at undercover work, and she's still alive."
Scully and Skinner looked at him as it he's grown another head for a few moments, then they both grinned wryly, and the air of gloom and doom lifted slightly.
Suddenly feeling she couldn't sit still any longer, Scully said, "Let's get the cars moved." She left Skinner's car, walked back to her own and followed Skinner as he drove back in the direction from which they they had come, until he reached the shopping mall they had spotted.
As Scully rejoined him in his car, Skinner couldn't help noticing that they were both very overdressed for loitering, and indeed for any rescue mission they might have to carry out. Accordingly, he suggested that they should go into the mall and find something a little less formal to wear.
Leaving Langly with the vehicles, they went into the mall, agreeing to meet back at the cars as soon as possible.
-o0o-
Once inside the main building, the detective had a good look around. To her left, the side of the building where the van had stopped, was the nursing home, the rooms to her right looked more communal. Deciding that the Nursing Home was much more likely to house facilities for the Asian doctor, she went to the reception desk and told a woman wearing the name tag 'Jenny' that she wished to talk to someone about having her grandmother live here.
Jenny picked up the phone, and spoke into it. When she put it down again, she said, "Please take a seat, Ms French will be out to see you as soon as she can."
Thanking her, Dancer went towards a waiting area. On the wall was an artist's impression of the main building and a large map of the layout to help visitors find their way around. On the table beneath the map there were some brochures about the facilities which also included a copy of the visitor's map. Taking one, she sat in one of the easy chairs and studied the layout.
A few minutes later, a kindly looking woman came into reception and having spoken to Jenny, she approached the Detective. "Ms Dancer? I'm Monica French, one of the administration staff. How may I help you?"
Dancer got to her feet and shook the offered hand. "I'm pleased to meet you Ms French. I'm looking for a nice home in which to place my grandmother and I was wondering if you would be kind enough to show me the facilities here so I could describe them to her. Then, if she thinks she might like it, I'll make an appointment to bring her along."
Monica French recognized 'new money' and smiled. They could do with having some of the more expensive rooms occupied and this might be a good opportunity... on the other hand...
Sensing a possible rejection, Dancer went on, "I realize that you must be busy, but I didn't know there was a home here until I was driving past. A friend has just moved out this way and I was on my way to see her, we're going to meet our husband's for dinner later."
The administrator's attitude sotfened again. "Was it the retirement village or the nursing home you were interested in?"
"The nursing home. She's not bedridden, but she is finding it very difficult to get around and needs more care than my mother can give on her own."
Ms French nodded her understanding. "I'm sure she would be comfortable here. We are a fairly new home, and we also have a private hospital here for the residents, which is shared by the local community. It gives so many of the residents peace of mind to know that there is always a doctor on the premises." She paused obviously expecting her visitor to comment.
Dancer obligingly murmured, "I'm sure it does, I shall certainly mention it to my grandmother."
Ms French smiled approvingly. They walked across the reception area together, and the administrator continued extolling the virtues of the well planned common areas and spacious rooms which looked more like bed sitting rooms, than anything you would normally find in a hospital, a sentiment with which Dancer had to agree. As they walked down the corridor, they passed the open door where the van still waited outside, there were some smaller cubicles and examining rooms, then they passed through some swing doors into the hospital proper.
About half way along this part of the corridor was a large nurses station, where they stopped and Ms French explained that beyond there was the ICU and the operating theatres.
At this point one of the nurses, came up to the administrator with a query. Ms French asked Dancer to excuse her for a few minutes, and the Detective was left to her own devices. She studied the map she had picked up and orientated herself on it.
Along the corridor behind the nurses station, a door opened, drawing Dancer's wandering attention. A man came out, pausing to light a cigarette followed by the very large man who had taken Alex away from the house.
Turning her back slightly towards them, she bent her head to stare at the brochure, pretending to be reading about the retirement complex. The two men went past her without taking any notice, and went out of the door by which they had entered the building.
She looked down the corridor again, counting the number of doors to make sure that she would remember which one they had come out of. Then a voice she had heard before dragged her attention back to her immediate surroundings, and found it was that of the Asian looking doctor who had been so keen to run experiments on Alex Krycek. She couldn't actually make out what he said, but he picked up a chart and walked past her down the corridor and went into the same room Spender had left a few moments before.
Attracting Ms French's attention, the Detective looked at her watch and said apologetically that she really had to be going now as she was expected by her friend. She thanked the administrator for taking time out of her busy schedule to show her the facilities, and assured her that she could find her own way out. They shook hands and Carla Dancer made her way back outside to her car.
-o0o-
When Scully and Skinner arrived back at their cars, Langly reported that the van had just left the area, going back the way they had come. Byers had reported that the Smoker and the Bounty Hunter's cousin had also been in the vehicle.
A short time later, Dancer's car drew up beside them. She admired the two agents' choice of new clothes. Skinner was dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, Scully in leggings under a T-shirt, a dark haired wig on her lap. They both looked very different from the well-groomed government agents they'd been less than an hour before.
As soon as she was settled in the car, the Detective gave the brochure to Skinner, and started her report. "Here's the layout of the nursing home. Looking from the front, it takes up most of the left side of the main building. Towards the rear of the wing is a hospital. I saw the Smoking man, accompanied by that hulking guy who carried Krycek out of Agent Scully's apartment, come out of this room here." She pointed to a room on the floor plan. "A short time later I saw the doctor go into the same room."
"Well done, Detective," Skinner praised her. He thought for a moment then said, "From the openness of Ms French, and the number of people wandering in and out, I would say that most of the operation here is legitimate. Probably, only a few of the hospital staff know any different.
"Therefore, if we're careful, I think we should be able to get in and out without ruffling too many feathers. Here's what I suggest.
"As she has only recently been inside, I would prefer it if Detective Dancer stayed here and kept a look out for the van, in case it comes back for any reason. The three of us will take my car and park near the gardens. Byers will remain with it and be your contact detective, if you see anything you think we ought to know about. Agent Scully, with that wig and a lab coat, will go inside and see if she can get in to see Alex, Langly and I will go in as visitors. Any questions, or suggestions?"
Three heads shook, 'no'.
"Okay, let's get this show on the road." He pulled a baseball cap onto his head, as did Langly.
Dancer helped Scully put the wig on making sure no stray strands of red could be seen.
When they were ready, Skinner drove them back to the 'Happy Days' building. After picking up Byers, he followed the signs inside the entrance to the 'staff parking' area, which was at the rear of the building. Dropping Scully off near the staff entrance, he drove back to the visitor's area and parked on the far side of the lot, close to the trees dividing it from the gardens.
-o0o-
Scully, a stethoscope clipped around her neck, walked in the staff entrance unchallenged, and made her way to the hospital area Dancer had pointed out. She marched down the main hospital corridor, nodding at the nurses as she passed their station, and went to the ladies toilet which had been marked on the map, making sure she looked in the room they thought held Alex as she passed by.
The blinds were open, but the curtain had been drawn around the bed. She did, however, recognize the Asian doctor who had been with the Smoker, writing some notes on a chart, and she could clearly see that there was a well built male nurse in the room as well.
After exiting the ladies, she went into one of the empty rooms, angled the blinds so that she couldn't be seen from the corridor, and pulled out her cell phone to report back to Skinner.
-o0o-
After parking the car, Skinner and Langly went into the gardens and strolled towards the rear of the main building as if going to visit a relative.
When his phone rang Skinner had a fight to get it out of his jeans' pocket before he could answer it, glaring at Langly who, unable to hide his amusement, had started laughing.
He listened while she told him that she hadn't had any trouble getting inside, and that she was now in an empty room just across the corridor from the one in which they believed Krycek was being held.
Remembering the description of the rooms that Dancer had given them, Skinner asked, "Does that room have a door into the garden, and more importantly, can you open it?"
"Yes to the first part, and if you'll hold on a moment, I'll see if I can get it open." She put the phone down on the night table and went over to examine the door.
The locks were sturdy, yet easy to operate even for an elderly person in a wheelchair, and she soon had the door open. Picking up the phone again, she told her ex-lover that the door was unlocked.
A few minutes later the two men had joined her in the hospital room.
Skinner locked the outer door, then turned to Scully and asked, "What's the layout?"
Motioning the others to follow her, Scully moved over to the windows facing the corridor. "I believe Alex is in the room almost opposite, at least, as you can see, the doctor that was with Spender is there and there's a male nurse in there too. The curtains are drawn around the bed so I can't confirm that Alex is there without going inside.
"The nurses station is along the corridor to our left. We'll have to be careful not to be seen. There were two nurses there when I walked past and I seem to remember Dancer saying there were two at the station while she was here, so maybe that's the norm."
Skinner grimaced, "It's a pity we can't find some way to distract the nurses, because whatever we do is bound to make some noise."
"I've got an idea," Langly interrupted. "See those wheelchairs along there. Why don't we take one, wrap Agent Scully up in some blankets, and just walk in there. While we're apologising for having gone in the wrong room, we overpower them. We can then use the blankets to disguise Krycek, and wheel him outta here."
Scully and Skinner gaped at him until he felt uncomfortable and asked, "What?"
"I think we're both wondering why we didn't think of that," Scully replied. "Can you see any reason we shouldn't adopt Langly's suggestion?"
"Frankly no, I think it's got a good chance of success. Langly, you go get the wheelchair, while Agent Scully and I remove the blankets from this bed."
Langly nodded and left. While he was gone Skinner and Scully quickly stripped the bed, then remade it without two of the honeycomb blankets, so it looked as if it hadn't been touched. When Langly returned they carefully wrapped Scully in the blankets in such a way that she could easily throw them off.
With Langly pushing the chair, they made their way over to the other room. Pausing outside they took in the positons of their targets, the small doctor on the right would be Langly's target, the male nurse, to the left would be Skinner's. Scully, the gun in her lap hidden by the blankets, would assist whichever of the men needed help.
When Skinner murmured 'go' he opened the door and moved inside, Langly following close behind, so that they were both well into the room before its occupants were able to react. Skinner made straight for the nurse, slamming him into the wall and using his gun butt to knock him out. Langly threw a punch at the doctor, which staggered him back towards the window, Scully extricated herself from the chair and pointed her gun at him, he froze for an instant and Langly was able to finish the job he had started.
While Skinner dragged the doctor into the bathroom, Scully checked Alex's chart that the doctor had dropped, to see what had been done to him so far.
"He's been given a strong anaesthtic. Fortunately he hasn't yet been hooked up to any monitoring equipment which would show up on the nurses station," she told the AD on his return. "There's some more of the drug in the vials here, so I propose we use it on the doctor and nurse to give ourselves a head start. Help me get Alex into the chair and we'll put the nurse in his bed."
Skinner tenderly lifted Alex's limp body hating to see the sable head flop around lifelessly as they moved him to the wheelchair. This time when he and Langly wrapped the blankets, they tied the ends around the arms to make sure that he wouldn't fall out. Then, as soon as Scully had finished administering the injections, Langly looked out of the door and when both the nurses were looking in the other direction, they moved back across the corridor each of them praying that the nurses wouldn't turn back too soon.
Scully let them out into the garden, locking the door behind them, then walked out of the building the way she had come in, meeting the two men with their unconscious passenger just before they reached the car.
Leaving Alex still wrapped in the blankets, they manoeuvred him into the back seat of Skinner's car, and Langly folded up the wheelchair and placed it in the trunk, since they might need it again when they reached their destination.
As soon as they were on their way back towards the mall, Scully gratefully dragged of the wig and asked, "What are we going to now? We can't very well take him back to my appartment, Spender will come looking for him there."
"I've thought about that," Skinner replied, "I have the keys to a beach house which I have been looking after for a friend who is stationed in Europe at the moment. He's not due to return to the States until next year. As he and his family will be seeing the sights of Europe during their vacations this year, we can use it without fear of being interrupted. It's about an hour's drive from here."
Langly drew up beside the Detective's car, and Dancer smiled as she realized they had been successful in liberating Krycek from the kidnappers. She came over to the car and leaned in the open rear window.
"You got him then. What are you going to do now?" she asked.
"I was just explaining that I have the keys to a cottage not far southeast of here. Byers, in the glove compartment there should be a pad and pen, if you'll hand them over I'll write the directions down and draw a map of how to reach it. There's a copy shop just inside the mall where we can make extra copies. We'll make Alex more comfortable in the back, and I'll drive Agent Scully and I straight there. Langly, you and Byers go to Agent Scully's apartment and get her some clothes and the equipment we were going to use for dealing with the Oilien. Detective Dancer, I assume you still want your answers, so if you go back to your apartment and get some clothes, and tell whomever that you are following up some leads, we'll meet you there too. We don't know when the doctor will be found, so try not to spend too much time getting the things you need."
Langly handed him the pad and he quickly drew the map, then handed it back to the long-haired Gunman who left the car and walked quickly into the mall. As soon as they had made Alex more comfortable across the back seat of the car, Skinner drove away, reminding them again that they needed to move fast.
-o0o-
Alex was flying, he could feel the air rushing past him, the clouds tickling at his skin, the sun was beating down on him and he was too hot. He tried to land without success and moaned. The motion was making him feel sick.
-o0o-
Scully, leaning over the back of her seat keeping an eye on her patient, said, "We'd better stop Walter, he's not looking too good. He's probably feeling the after effects of the anaesthetic."
"There's a town a couple of miles ahead, hopefully he can last out till then as I'd rather not draw attention to ourselves by just pulling over."
A couple of minutes later, Krycek moaned again, louder this time and tossed his head. Skinner pulled into the first parking lot he came to and quickly opened the rear door. Throwing the blankets aside, he got Alex into a sitting position, with his legs outside the car, and held him still while the young man recovered from the drug he had been given.
Scully, noticing they were by the side of a diner and gas station, went into the station's shop and purchased a large bottle of spring water, some mens' handkerchiefs and some dry crackers. By the time she returned to the car Krycek was looking a little less green and had his eyes partly open. Wetting one of the handkerchiefs, she wiped the sweat off his face and neck. Wetting it again, she wrung it out and handed it to Skinner, then she wetted another and tried to coax Alex into sucking some of the water from it. After a few moments he seemed to get the idea and managed to swallow some of it, and whimpered when the wet cloth was withdrawn. He tried to follow her hands with his, to stop the water being withdrawn, but he couldn't make his eyes focus enough to do so.
Skinner gave Scully a despairing look. She grimaced in return, then said, "It's probably just the drugs making his hand and eye coordination worse.
She poured some more water on the handkerchief and offered it up to Alex's mouth. Again he sucked at the moisture greedily, placing his hands over hers, but he let go when she ruffled his hair and said, "That's enough for now Alex, you can have some more later."
He smiled at her as she looked closely at his eyes, and she smiled back while feeling his temperature with the back of her hand.
"You look just like my mommy," he told her seriously. "She had blue eyes and red hair too. Well, it wasn't really red. She told me once it was bottle red, then laughed and told me not to tell anyone."
His eyes started closing again and he sagged against the AD whose firm grip was the only thing which stopped him toppling to the ground. Again, the AD and the Agent exchanged worried glances.
Scully cast around for something to take their minds off Alex's condition. Spotting a supermarket, she said, "Do we need to buy any groceries or anything?"
"Bread, milk, juice, that sort of thing," Skinner replied, glad of the change of subject. "The place is pretty well stocked with canned and frozen stuff. The couple of times I've stayed there I've replaced what I've used just before I've left.
"Okay, why don't I go get the groceries while you settle Krycek in the back. Maybe it would be best if you stayed in the back with him for a while."
Skinner nodded, glad that Scully had been the one to suggest it, as he really didn't want to let go of Alex at the moment. It seemed that Alex didn't want to let go of him either and clung to him with dogged determination. By the time he had got Alex and himself settled on the back seat, with the young man's head cradled on his chest, he was *really* glad that he was no longer wearing his suit. He had put the water and and handkerchiefs in the door pocket before he started and used one of the cloths to wipe the sweat from both their faces.
When Scully returned to the car she wisely made no comment. She placed the groceries in the trunk, and made herself comfortable before driving off, following the occasional instructions from the back seat.
-o0o-
Springfield, New York
Laurel Street.The Bounty Hunter smiled grimly as he watched Mulder return to his car and sift through the file of papers he'd been given on Dr. Hartford's patients, comparing addresses on them to a map, obviously planning his next visit.
Just a few hints here and there, and Mulder was where he shouldn't be, digging his own grave. A few more days and Mulder would be in so deep that he'd be booted out of the FBI before the week was out.
Mulder's car started forward and the Bounty Hunter followed, soon no-one would care what Mulder did or said, and the last irritating obstacle would be removed from their path.
-o0o-
For Skinner the drive had taken on a kind of sureal quality. His ex-lover, Dana Scully, was driving, sitting only a few feet away from him and he had the object of his wet dreams in his arms, a half-awake Krycek whose sable head was tucked into the side of his neck and occasionally he would feel a tongue swipe at the bristles there. Not only that, but the younger man's fingers were playing with the hairs on his chest, making him hot and hard and wanting to fuck Alex stupid. He just hoped that when they got to their destination, he would be able to walk out of the car - if in fact they managed to get there before he came in his pants.
Scully, though Walter didn't realize, was enjoying the show. When she had adjusted the interior mirror, she had angled it so she could keep an eye on her patient. She'd grinned when she saw the long, sensitive fingers start playing with the hair on Walter's chest, and nearly snickered aloud when she caught sight of her ex-lover's reaction to the tongue licking his neck.
She had enjoyed her time with Walter, but they both knew it was lust, not love. Just as they both knew, deep in their hearts, that the other was a substitute for the ones they really loved, and when they arrived at the 'safe house' she and Walter were going to have to talk about it, or see their friendship shatter.
When they reached the beach house, it wasn't what she had envisaged at all. Though thinking more about it, and having seen what Mulder's family called a beach house, she should not have been quite so surprised.
It was a large, single story building, approached by a fairly long private drive. When they reached the house, Skinner told her to drive round to the garage, and that she would find the remote control in the glove compartment.
Once inside the garage, and the doors closed behind them, they got Alex out of the car, into the wheelchair and into the house, leaving him sitting in the living room while they emptied the car.
Scully made them some tea and sandwiches, as it was a long time since any of them had eaten. Alex managed to eat two of the sandwiches and drink his tea, but he was quite obviously falling asleep at the table, so they helped him into the bathroom, gave him a wash then put him to bed.
With Alex taken care of for the moment, Skinner remembered a job he should have done as soon as he had arrived. He went to the phone and told the caretakers that he would be in residence for a few days and wouldn't need their services, confirming that he would, as usual, let them know when he was about to leave. He then took a walk around the house and garden, to make sure everything was okay, before settling down at the front to watch out for the other members of their party.
He hadn't been waiting very long, before the remaining Lone Gunmen and Detective Dancer followed one another up the drive. He directed them around to the garage and helped them unload their cars, alloting the guest bedrooms somewhat arbitarily, though none of them seemed to mind.
Langly set up the computer in the study, and commenced a search of the networks to see if any mention of their activities had made the news.
Skinner reminded them that he would have to leave again soon. They needed the vaccine for Alex, so he had to be at the warehouse on time for the meeting with the Rebel Aliens. He detailed Byers to look after Alex, and Dancer volunteered to make dinner for them, while Skinner spoke to Scully about the security systems.
While they were out of earshot of the others at the other end of the pool, Scully decided to tackle the thorny subject of their on-off relationship before things got out of hand. She took a deep breath, and said, "Walter, we need to talk; about us, and about Alex." She held up a hand when he started to protest. "Please, hear me out.
"We both know that it was never really love between us. I've carried a torch for Mulder for years, and it's about time you acknowledged your love for Alex. It's obvious, to anyone who knows you well, that you've loved him all along. You're always mentioning him, and to see the two of you together these last few days - it's a wonder that no-one else has noticed... " she grinned at his sudden discomfiture, "And, I don't think it's one sided either, Ive seen the way he looks at you, too."
Skinner grinned. "I hope it isn't," he admitted. "And I hope that you get what you want too, Dana."
"Thanks Walter. As soon as my job is done here, I'm going up to New York and bring Mulder back by the ear."
Walter laughed at the image of the petite red-haired woman leading Fox Mulder around by an ear. He looked at his watch and sobered slightly. "I think I'd better be going. It's a longish drive and I don't want to be late."
Scully watched the car turn out of the drive, then went into the kitchen, saying, "Detective Dancer, I believe you wanted an explanation....."
-o0o-
CGB Spender's Office
During the drive to his office, Spender had played the conversation about sons over in his mind and decided to follow up on the remarks that had been made. Accordingly, as soon as he had settled himself at his desk, and lit another cigarette, he picked up the phone and ordered a researcher to compare the DNA of Fox Mulder, Jeffrey Spender, and Alex Krycek against his own.
He didn't move far from the phone, for he knew that the information he required would be easily accessible to Quinn, his researcher.
Three cigarettes later, the phone rang and he answered it with his customary abruptness.
Quinn was never quite sure how to deal with his employer and resorted to abruptness himself. "Sir, the three young men all have one parent in common... You, Sir."
"Thank you Mr Quinn," he Smoker replied camly, "I trust you will keep this information to yourself..." He let the threat hang in the air.
"Yes Sir, I have wiped all traces of the query from the database."
"Good. Thank you, Mr Quinn." He replaced the receiver and sat in the chair, contemplating the plume of blue smoke issuing from the end of his cigarette. So, he'd sired three sons, One too naïve to live, the second hated him, the third.... the boy he hadn't even known was his, had escaped death at his hands twice... Should he intervene? Should he phone Dr Akhanho and claim this one before it was too late...?
There came a perfunctory knock on the door which then opened immediately, and Smits, one of the two muscle men who'd been with him earlier, rushed in. "Sir, Tillis has just had a phone call from Dr Ahkanho, the patient has gone. Three people burst into the room... knocked him and Morgan out. What should I tell Tillis to do?"
Spender disposed of the burnt out stub in his hand and lit another cigarette. "Nothing. He is not to be pursued." When Smits still stood there, he reiterated his orders, "Tell Tillis, do not pursue."
Smits nodded and left the room. As the door closed Spender smiled through the smoke, the decision had been taken out of his hands, so he'd let the cards play out and see what became of his third son.
-o0o-
Deserted Warehouse
The sun was just starting to set when Skinner arrived at the rendezvous. As usual there was no sign of the people he had come here to meet. To calm himself, he went over the plan again in his mind to make sure that when the time came to set it out for the Rebel aliens, he wouldn't forget any important details.
Then a bright light suffused the area, and they were there, all around him.
"You have a plan?"
Skinner nodded, and when the alien remained silent, he explained it in detail to them, explaining why they had made certain choices regarding the use of the clean blood, as he went.
When he at last fell silent, the Leader said one word, "Wait."
The Aliens moved closer to him, then stood in silence again. He could almost see them communing with one another and feel the weight of their thoughts in his mind.
Some time passed, yet Skinner was not completely aware of it. Eventually the Leader broke the heavy silence. "We are agreed. We approve of your plan." Another alien appeared out of the darkness and handed a vial of amber liquid to the AD who accepted it gratefully, wrapping it securely in a handkerchief before placing it in his pocket.
The aliens turned and walked away and the glow dimmed and disappeared. Feeling rather lightheaded, Skinner made his way back to his car, and sat there a while before starting it up and making his way back to Glebe Heights.
-o0o-
Beach House
Near Glebe Heights, MD.When Skinner opened the door from the garage on his return, he found himself the focus of two pairs of eyes. Shutting the door, he turned to them, a huge smile splitting his face in half. "I've got it!" he cried able to share his joy with someone else at last.
Taking the precious burden out of his pocket, he passed it on to Scully, then asked, "How's Alex?"
"A bit better than he was this afternoon, about the same as he was before Spender and his goons abducted him. Byers is keeping him occupied as I can't get him to settle down."
"And the detective?"
"She didn't take the explanations about Oilien possession very well, and is lying down with a headache."
"I can relate to that," Skinner said with feeling. "Mulder's explanations of his cases and alien abductions always used to give me a headache.... They gave me a bigger headache still when I came to realize his stories were true."
Scully gave him a sympathetic look. Then shaking herself out of the reminiscent mood, she said, "Let's get Alex vaccinated, before anything else happens to him."
Scully and Skinner went into the master bedroom, with Langly trailing along behind them. As soon as Alex realized that Walter was there, he smiled. Skinner smiled back at him, watching Langly out of the corner of his eye as he shephered Byers out of the room, closing the door behind them.
"We've come to give you something that will help you get better Alex," he said soothingly. "Dana is going to give you an injection, then I'm going to stay with you while you get some sleep."
While Skinner had been speaking, Scully prepared the syringe. Then, after swabbing Krycek's arm, she inserted the needle under the skin and pressed the plunger home.
Krycek whimpered as the needle pricked his skin, then frowned as the vaccine started invading his system. He looked up at Skinner, his face crumpling like a child wondering why his parent was hurting him. "It burns," he said, scrubbing at his arm, a tear escaping from the corner of one eye.
Skinner looked at Scully and jerked his head towards the door. Taking the hint, Scully ruffled Krycek's hair and said goodnight. As soon as she was gone, Skinner took off his jacket and shoes, and climbed onto the bed. Gathering Alex in his arms, he held him close while the vaccine rid his system of the last traces of the Oilien possession.
After the younger man had stopped shaking, he went to the bathroom and got a warm cloth to clean Alex up. Then, dimming the lights and ridding himself of all but his T-shirt and shorts, he climbed under the covers and held Alex while the younger man went to sleep.
As he looked upon the man sleeping so peacefully in his arms, he found himself hoping that no further harm would come to him, and that when this was over he would have many more nights of watching Alex fall asleep.
-o0o-
06:00
Scully's Apartment
George Town, Washington DCFrohike shuddered internally; still shocked by all the things he had seen and seen done over the past few days. In spite of his own predicament, his heart went out to Alexei Krycek as he wondered how the other man had survived so long under such terrible conditions. The creature controlling his body rarely talked to him and Frohike had learnt very quickly that it was far better to be forgotten by that malevolent presence than attempt to initiate a conversation. Instead, he had learnt to be silent; to view the world through its eyes; to hope that eventually it would slip up and he would be able to free himself from its grip.
Frohike was nothing if not a clever man, far more intelligent than many gave him credit. Most people saw the short, balding, none-too-handsome man with thick-rimmed glasses; called him derogatory names like 'stumpy', and discarded his theories of extraterrestrial life as the ravings of a lunatic. He wondered how those same people would cope with all that had happened since the Oilien invaded his body.
He knew that when... not if... this ordeal ended then it would take a long, long time before he would ever feel comfortable with his own body. His thoughts travelled back to Alex Krycek; to the terrible thing his body had done to the good looking kid who had once been Mulder's partner. Over the years, Mulder had confided in him; had vented much of the anger and frustration that he felt over Krycek's acts of murder and betrayal. Frohike gave the equivalent of a mental sigh. Although the creature rarely connected with him, it did not seem to have any concerns over allowing Frohike to sift through its memories of Alex. In fact, it positively encouraged it; pleased with the way it had reduced the stubborn boy into a snivelling wreck. Now Frohike knew far more than he wanted to know; knew of events and places, of abominations perpetrated by the Oilien... and perpetrated by Mulder. He had so much to tell his friend once he became free.
His thoughts came to a halt as he recognised the streets through which they travelled. He had only ever been here a few times, but it was a place that had always sent his stomach flipping as if a thousand butterflies had launched within him. He watched as the Oilien directed him to *her* apartment door, saw his hand reach out and knock once... twice.
No answer.
With a strength he would never have believed his body possessed, he slammed forward into the door, ripping it from its hinges.
********************
The Oilien tore from room to room in a fury, tearing the covers on the bed, smashing ornaments and flinging furniture about. By the time it stopped the room looked like a tornado had passed through it. A loud thumping on the front door caught its attention. Frohike's face contorted into a bestial snarl and he took several steps towards the door before he heard the little human screaming away inside him.
// Cops! They would have already called the Cops. //
It hesitated, momentarily, then turned away towards the window beside the fire escape. Within minutes, the Oilien was back inside its rented car, racing away from the scene. It pulled over into an alley and killed the engine, concentrating inwards on the small flicker of alienness alive within this body.
"Where would they have taken my Alexei, little man?"
// I-I don't know. //
Frohike cried out as a white heat lanced through his memories, ripping them apart as the Oilien sought the whereabouts of the body he craved to occupy and own. The pain stopped, suddenly, the relief almost as unbearable as the agony when Frohike realised exactly what the Oilien had found; Maggie Scully, Dana Scully's mother.
// No! Please. Leave her out of this... //
In the rear view mirror, Frohike watched his own mouth turn up in a cruel smile before the Oilien gunned the engine.
********************
06:35
Beach House Near
Glebe Heights, MD.The trill of her cell phone brought Scully out of a deep sleep. She grabbed hold of the bedside clock and stared at the digits displayed, trying to make sense of them before bringing the phone towards her. Depressing the answer button, she pushed back a strand of sleep-tousled auburn hair before placing the phone against her ear.
"Umm... Hi Mom."
// Where is he? //
"Frohike?" Scully sat up straight in the bed as her mind came to instant awareness. She stared back down at the caller display, a sense of unease settling into her stomach.
// Where is he? //
"Why should I tell you?"
There was a pause but, in the background, Scully could hear a small scuffle followed by a tiny whimper of fear.
// If not me then perhaps you'll tell someone else.... //
// Dana?//
Scully gasped, her eyes widening in shock as her worst fear was realised.
"Mom?"
The sound of the door opening pulled her attention towards Walter Skinner, his serious expression told her he had guessed what was happening. He mouthed orders that Scully understood immediately. 'Trade. You for her.'
// Dana, I'm... //
Frohike's voice came back, cutting off her mother.
// Where's Alex? //
"If you hurt her I'll..."
// Tell me where Alex is and I'll let her go... //
"I don't trust you not to kill her as soon as you have that information. We do a trade. Once I can see my mother is safe then I'll give you the information."
There was a pause while the Oilien mulled over her offer.
// When and where? //
Scully took the piece of paper that Skinner had jammed into her hand and read it out.
"09:00 hours at the Annapolis Mall...."
Once the details had been fed across, Frohike disconnected the call leaving Scully staring down at the small handheld phone as if it were some alien creature. She felt Skinner take it from her, suddenly, nerveless fingers, replacing it upon the bedside cabinet.
"I'll admit I didn't want to see anyone else get involved, but we can work this to our advantage. Before, we had no idea when it would show up to reclaim Alex. Now we do." Skinner reached out and tilted her chin up until her blue, fear-filled eyes met his own. "We can make this work, Dana..."
"What if it decides to take me over? If it finds out our plan then..."
"It won't.."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I can't, but I get the impression that transferring from body to body takes up energy. It has nothing to gain from infecting you... unless you refuse to take it to Alex."
Scully gave the first tremor of a smile. "But we want it to come to Alex."
Skinner smiled back, nodding his head slowly, a malicious gleam darkening his eyes from brown to black. Gently, he stroked her hair, pushing the tousled strands back into some semblance of order, and then he leant down and gave her a soft, reassuring kiss; full of caring rather than lust, the kiss of friends, of comrades-in-arms.
********************
08:55 Annapolis Mall
The doors had opened barely 25 minutes earlier and, already, the mall was teeming with shoppers of every shape, age and size. Dana Scully waited in the designated spot, trying to be inconspicuous as she eyed the mass of humanity that passed by; the women with small children squalling in their pushchairs; the elderly with their baskets on wheels; young guys trying to catch the eye of even younger girls who darted from store to store looking for the latest fad designer wear. She tried to push away all her fears of the upcoming meeting, going back over all the details they had hurriedly cobbled together since Frohike's phone call. The temptation to look over and see if Detective Dancer was in the correct position was almost overbearing but Scully knew she must not draw attention to the other woman for fear of discovery.
Scully gave a small smile, recognising the good fortune that had brought the detective to their doorstep. Already her help had been invaluable in freeing Alex from the Smoker's clutches. Now, they had one more important task for her to perform if they were to save not only Alex, but all of them. When asked, Dancer had made no objection to being the one to perform this task explaining that she had a need to return to Washington DC at the earliest opportunity anyhow, to reclaim the file she had left on her fellow officer's desk.
Scully pulled an image of the lithe and beautiful detective into her mind's eye, feeling again the warmth of her body pressed close to her own as they manoeuvred their way to the window after the Smoker's thugs had left them tied together. She had never given any serious thoughts to other women before, but the thought of Carla Dancer sent a pleasurable tingle up her spine. Scully shook herself, mentally and, as she glanced around one more time, her thoughts returned to the task at hand. Scully could only hope that the throng of people milling about this very public place would ensure that the trade went smoothly.
The familiar figure of Maggie Scully came into view followed closely by a shorter, equally familiar, barrel-shaped figure of Melvin Frohike. His hand was clamped tightly around the frightened woman's arm but Maggie Scully's face softened into relief when she saw Dana step out from behind a conveniently placed pillar.
"Release my mother and I'll take you to Alex."
Frohike stepped forward and grabbed Dana by the arm, holding both mother and child for a moment before releasing his grip on Maggie Scully. Her mother froze, unwilling or unable to move as she looked from her baby to the monster that had threatened her life, terrified of leaving her daughter with this madman, afraid to lose another child.
"Mom? Go!"
There was such strength of conviction in her daughter's eyes, such confidence surrounding her, like one of the auras Melissa used to talk about, that Maggie found herself backing off from the odd looking couple.
Without giving her a second glance, Frohike turned back towards the exit, pulling Dana Scully with him.
All Maggie Scully could do was stand there and watch them go but as they turned the corner, the fear that kept her frozen in place melted and she started to move after them, gradually picking up speed. Just before she reached the corner a hand snapped out and snagged her wrist. Maggie pulled up short, turning towards her assailant with a sharp gasp of terror.
"Mrs Scully, I'm Detective Carla Dancer. Your daughter asked me to ensure you were taken to a safe place."
Maggie Scully stared at the pretty, dark-skinned woman and the badge of office she held up for inspection.
"Dana said you have a son, Charles, who is stationed close-by. I'll take you there."
********************
09:25
Beach House Near
Glebe Heights, MD.Skinner ducked back from the window as Scully's car came into view. Inside he could see two shapes and, if all had gone to plan, he knew this would be Scully and Frohike. He called out a warning to the other two men. Byers rushed over, all the blood-drawing paraphernalia in hand and passed it onto Skinner. Quickly drawing the required amount of fresh blood from Byers, Skinner passed the sample to Langly and watched as he attached the vial to the fine tubing that was hidden beneath a thin layer of very realistic looking pseudo-skin.
When he turned to order Byers to get out of sight, he discovered the man had already made himself scarce as per the plan. Langly looked up, his pale blue eyes full of fear, but he nodded and raced away to join Byers.
Skinner looked down at the semiconscious man lying on the bed. He reached out to brush a lock of sweat-matted hair from the tall forehead, his fingers lingering to caress the slightly stubbled cheek. They had decided it would be better to sedate Alex, not being able to rely on him to remain calm when the Oilien arrived. If he thrashed around and dislodged the fake vein then everything they were working towards would be lost.
Skinner looked up as a key sounded in the lock and, moments later, Scully stepped into the attic bedroom. She was pushed aside none too gently by the familiar shape of the missing lone gunman.
Frohike sneered as he took in the scene.
"How domestic. The big, fearless AD Skinner comforting the frail, abused boy... except we all know comfort is not what 'Walter' wants to give. He wants to shove his dick up that pretty ass, wants to fuck Alex into the middle of next week. Well, perhaps you'll be pleased to know Alex would be very accommodating... for you, but didn't seem so eager to feel the width of this body."
Skinner's face had turned a deep red, partly in embarrassment at having his own desires thrown in his face but mostly in anger as he remembered how the Oilien had used Frohike's body to rape the defenceless man. If looks alone could kill then the Oilien would have been incinerated on the spot.
"He's still weak. He needs more time..."
"Time's up. As much as I have enjoyed this... vacation, I want that body back."
The Oilien looked down meaningfully at Frohike's body and then back to the bed where Alex lay sleeping in childlike innocence. As Skinner glanced from one form to the other he could understand why it would prefer Alex's body. Not wanting to belittle the exceptionally clever gunman, physically speaking he had a lot less to offer. Krycek was perfect, from his tall, lithe, well-toned body to his beautiful, angelic face, to the sweetly honeyed voice that could rise to a soft tenor or lower to a husky baritone. Alex exuded sex and power... and could use both to full advantage.
"You have removed the contaminant?"
Scully nodded, knowing that it was referring to the small amount of vaccine that had caused the Oilien to vacate Alex's body so abruptly.
The Oilien moved over to the bed and grasped Krycek's chin, tilting the unresisting head back and then he leant over, his mouth falling towards the partly opened lips.
Scully and Skinner held their breath as the Oilien toyed on the brink of a kiss then swallowed hard as Frohike moved away.
"I don't trust you. Prove it."
Scully calmed her shaking nerves and ventured forward.
"How? How do we prove it?"
"Remove some of his blood into a bowl."
Scully picked up a hypodermic and, with infinite care, she turned over the limp arm to expose the soft underside, slipping the needle into the false vein and drawing a syringe full of Byers blood. She covered her unwarranted gentleness with a caress, trying to look as if it were consideration for her patient rather than a desire not to disturb the fake vein. If the make-up that toned the pseudo-skin to Krycek's colouring should smudge, or if the tube should come loose then the game was up.
Frohike watched carefully as the blood was released into a small kidney shaped bowl and then he picked it up and placed it close to his face.
Scully stepped back in shock as a worm of black oil dribbled from Frohike's nose, slithering down his cheek and into the bowl of blood. When there was no reaction, no frenzied attempt for the worm to escape, Frohike looked back up, malevolently. He threw the bowl aside, the blood splattering up the far wall. He reached down and grabbed Alex's chin, forcing the lips apart, his open mouth descending in the parody of a kiss as he poured his essence back into the vessel he had chosen above all other humans.
Both FBI agents were hard-pressed to keep the triumphant looks from their faces. So far it was all going to plan and all they had to do now was get as far away from the Oilien as possible until the vaccine had time to attack.
The eyelids snapped open, a film of black oil floating across the beautiful green eyes until they were as dark as black holes. The lips curved into a menacing smile of pure evil as Alex sat upright, watching Skinner and Scully as they back-pedalled towards the door with Frohike held up between them. The body of Krycek rose gracefully to its feet, stalking forward like a sleek, black panther, laughing as they raced out into the hallway. It followed slowly, knowing they could not go anyway, that it would catch them and tear them apart with its bare hands.
As it reached the top of the stairs it faltered, the smile falling from its face. Its expression turned to horror, and it gasped, clawing at the body it inhabited. Screaming obscenities, the Oilien raced towards the three humans. It needed a body and it needed it fast. Its mental processes had already determined that the only body it could inhabit would be the one it had just vacated. Dana Scully had previously been vaccinated, Skinner's blood was full of nanocytes; both were potentially harmful to it.
It tried to follow them down the stairs but tripped part way, falling the final few steps and landing in a boneless heap at the bottom. Black oil began to ooze from every orifice, the thick viscous fluid flowing down Krycek's face and legs gradually separating into small worm-like threads that slowed and finally dropped off as if the oil had suddenly lost cohesion with his skin.
The Oilien was dead.
********************
Frohike groaned as a soapy cloth was drawn across his face, gently removing the last traces of the diesel carrier used by the Oilien. He opened heavy eyelids and focused on the worried faces of his two best friends.
"What happened?"
Langly's blue eyes widened, not sure whether he hoped Frohike would remember his possession or not as he recalled the brutalised condition Alex had been in after the Oilien had taken over their friend.
"You were the unwilling carrier of an EBE. How do you feel?"
Byers leaned closer and peered into his fellow lone Gunmen's red-rimmed eyes.
"I don't..."
Frohike paused, his thoughts turning inwards as images of unimaginable horror assailed him. He saw his hands holding Alex Krycek beneath him as he rammed himself into the pleading, defenceless man. Saw the tears running down the pale, pain-filled face as Krycek weakly fought to free himself from the agony as his body was plundered mercilessly.
"No. No...no...no..."
Langly's panic-stricken eyes sought out Byers as Frohike began to shake his head, the shock of knowing those images were part of a nightmare reality crashing down upon him.
"Hey man, you're safe now. Melvin! You're safe now, it's gone. It's dead..."
Melvin Frohike turned wide, horror-filled eyes upon his friends as Byers took up from Langly.
"... it wasn't your fault. Whatever it did while it controlled you, it wasn't your fault."
"Where's Alex Krycek?"
"Safe... and free."
"Where?"
Langly and Byers glanced at one another, suddenly afraid that the Oilien had not relinquished their friend after all.
"I need to know. I need to know I didn't hurt him... too badly." The last two words were whispered in near desperation.
"He's in the master bedroom, just along the hall."
"Take me to him. Please. I have to see he's all right... and Mrs Scully, is she okay? Did I hurt her?"
"Dana's Mom is fine. She's safe..."
"I begged it not to hurt her... I begged it not to hurt anyone. It did listen, sometimes, but it grabbed her arm so tightly, shook her like a rag doll..."
"Honest, Melvin. Mrs Scully is fine. We're all fine... now."
"But you don't know what I... what *it* did to *him*."
Byers's voice was full of compassion as he forced Frohike to look at him.
"Yes, we do know... and we also know *you* had no choice, no control over it. You're not to blame."
Frohike looked from one to the other, seeing the truth in their words and yet, still, he found it hard to forget and forgive himself. He should have been able to do something to stop it; he should have fought harder... Byers came back into the room and Frohike blinked. He had not even notice Byers leave in the first place. He had lost track of time before, when it was inside him. Was it still in him after all, hiding just out of sight, waiting to rear up and kill all those he cared about?
"Cummon. Skinner says it'll be okay, but Alex is still unconscious."
Frohike allowed the other two men to stabilise him as he rose up on shaky legs, and did not shrug off the support they gave as he made his way down the hallway to the master bedroom.
"He wasn't here before."
"No. We had him in the attic bedroom. Skinner believed it kept Langly and I a little safer, further out of harm's way with enough room to make an escape if anything went wrong with the plan."
Frohike wanted to ask 'what plan?' but they had stopped in front of one of the doors leading off from the hallway. He held his breath as the door was pushed open, forcing the supporting hands aside and stumbling into the room until he could see the younger man lying motionless on the bed.
Scully looked up at him from where she was removing the last traces of oil from the peaceful face, her bright blue eyes full of compassion. She smiled, but for once, the smile did not set the butterflies tripping through his stomach. Instead he recognised something far more wonderful; acceptance and friendship.
"He's going to be all right, Melvin."
He blinked as he realised she had called him by his first name, his eyes tearing over as he read the truth of her statement in her pretty, expressive face. Frohike nodded, relief washing over him as he realised that no-one was holding him to blame for what had been done; not his friends, not Skinner... not Dana. He swallowed hard, feeling suddenly, very tired. Only one person would be able to absolve him from the remainder of the guilt he carried like a heavy mantle on his shoulders, but that person lay sleeping on the bed before him and he was loath to put his own needs before that man. Something told him that he would see Alex Krycek again, in the future, and the chance to beg for forgiveness would come then.
"I'd like to go home now."
He glanced up in time to see Skinner nod his agreement to the other Gunmen, and the three of them turned away as one.
********************
It was a strange silence that descended upon the beach house after the three Gunmen had left, an air of anticlimax following all the stress and fear leading up to this moment. Skinner and Scully stared at each other across the supine form of a man they had both come to love, albeit in different ways, as they waited for some sign that he had come through this ordeal unscathed.
The softest of moans filled the air and their gaze fell to the boyish face. They watched as the long lashes flickered, waited as beautiful sea-green eyes tried to focus on the world around him. Eventually, those eyes alighted upon Walter Skinner and a hazy smile lifted the corners of the sensuous mouth.
Skinner found an answering smile and spoke, warmly, to the still only semi-aware figure.
"Hi there."
"Where am I?"
"Safe, Alex. You're safe."
"Safe? The Oilien?"
"Dead."
Skinner sat back in shock when tears filled the large eyes but then he realised these were tears of relief, of joy and he gathered up the younger man in a strong embrace.
"You're free, Alex."
********************
The words went on around his head, round and round as if he could barely believe them to be true. After all these years of terror, being physically and mentally raped by a creature that held no compassion, no remorse, he was finally free. His thoughts drifted back to the day he had pinned all his hopes on Walter Skinner. At the time, even death had been an acceptable option but now... now he was free, free to live again.
He rubbed his lightly stubbled cheek against the other man as Skinner pulled him into a fierce bear hug, revelling in the feel of those strong arms holding him so tight - and so secure. This was the moment he had been waiting for, the moment he had kept fighting for and he never wanted to let go.
Eventually, he felt Skinner pulling back and, unwillingly, let him go but he could not wipe the silly grin off his face, nor stop the tears that still streamed down his cheeks. He saw Skinner's smile redirect itself over his shoulder and turned his face to find the equally tear-streaked, grinning face of Dana Scully. Krycek reached out and grabbed her hand.
"Thank you."
His voice was deep and husky from the elation that ran riot through him and, emotionally drained he sank back onto the bed, too tired to keep his eyes open any longer.
"Yes. Sleep now."
********************
Skinner and Scully waited until they were sure Alex was fast asleep and then they crept out of the room. As they slumped into separate seats in the living room, their eyes met and held; dark brown on cerulean blue.
Skinner sighed, deeply. Despite what Dana had said the last time they really talked, he had loved this woman in his own way - still did - but the events of the past few days had proved that 'loving' was not enough. They had needs too; needs that the other could not fulfil no matter how much they both wished it were the case. As he looked upon his ex-lover, he knew he would never again hold her in passion, would never again feel those cherry-ripe lips feeding upon his flesh... would never again sink himself deep inside that beautiful body, holding her tight as she screamed and writhed beneath him in orgasmic delight. He could see similar thoughts reflected in her eyes, the air heavy with a sense of loss but, strangely, there was something else hovering around them; an air of expectancy. It was as if they had reached the end of a road and knew each had to choose a different direction to take, but rather than seeing unknown terrain ahead of them, they could clearly make out the path. Whether or not that path took them where they wanted to go was one of life's greatest mysteries. All Skinner knew for certain was that *his* path led to Alex.
Scully's thoughts mirrored Skinner's for a time. She knew they had reached the end of their current relationship, but was pleased they had not reached the end of their friendship. She wondered where her life would lead her now. Ahead of her she could see many paths splitting off, many opportunities to be taken or ignored. Fox William Mulder stood at the junction of one of these and she knew that was where she needed to travel first.
"I need to bring Mulder back before he buries himself, but I'm worried about leaving Alex."
"I know."
"He *seems* fine. In fact, better than he did *before* the creature returned."
"Yeah. I'm glad we didn't need those Paramedics you had on standby."
"I can be back by this time tomorrow."
Skinner looked back over his shoulder, in the direction where he knew Alex was sleeping peacefully for the first time in years. He felt an irrational fear grow as he considered what could happen while Scully was out of reach. Silently he berated himself for being over anxious and over protective of the younger man; a man he had fallen in love with. He grimaced, pulled off his glasses with one hand and used the other to rub at weary eyes. Mulder was important to Dana, if not as a potential lover then most certainly as a long-standing friend and partner. He had no right to ask her to put Alex before her desire to 'save' Mulder from his own stupidity. He issued another large sigh. They would also need to reconcile Mulder to Krycek, if they were going to remain friends and colleagues....
"Bring him back here, Dana."
Dana Scully gave him a beatific smile and pulled herself to her feet.
"I'll make it quick, Walter... if Mulder argues, I'll threaten to shoot him."
Skinner smiled, knowing from experience that this was a threat Scully was more than capable of making good on.
Ten minutes later, Scully was gone.
Maybe an hour or more passed in quiet solitude as Skinner allowed his body to slowly unwind. The past few days had been a whirlwind of conflicting emotions and now that the immediate danger was passed, he felt his body gradually succumbing to bone-deep fatigue. All he wanted to do now was climb into bed, preferably beside Alex - and sleep.
// Hell, why not, Walter? //
With that thought to galvanise him into action, Skinner made his way to the master bedroom.
The late morning sunshine was doing its best to filter around the edges of the hastily drawn curtains so he could easily make out the sleep-softened face. He stood for a moment staring down at the figure lying in the bed. Locks of sweat-matted dark hair flopped across the tall forehead, the long dark lashes forming a semicircle upon the high cheekbones. Every once in a while, some image crossed behind those eyes and they flickered beneath the thin layer of skin, a furrow forming, momentarily, across the bridge of the pert nose with its sweet upturn. The lips, full and ripe, would part to reveal a glint of strong white teeth... and the sweetest, softest moan would fall from them. His thoughts returned once more to Raphael's angels, an image he had formed in his mind whenever he saw Alex but more so now, as the younger man slumbered.
With a tired sigh, Skinner removed his clothing, allowing the various items to tumble to the floor, abandoned. He drew back the light cover and climbed, gently, into the bed beside Alex. His eyes closed and he was asleep in moments.
********************
When Alex cracked open one eye some time later, it was in confusion. With both eyes now open he gazed around the room, noting the early evening shadows that were gradually encroaching. He felt a stripe of warmth along one side and turned, carefully, until he could see what created that heat. His eyes opened wider as he realised it was another man... but not just any man. It was Walter Skinner.
// If this is a dream then may I never wake up. //
Memories assailed him from earlier that day... the death of the Oilien, his release from the long years of terror and misery - and he had *this* man to thank for his freedom. The covers had been kicked aside while they slept revealing the full length of their naked bodies. He raised his hand, allowed it to hover, momentarily, above one muscular biceps, before pulling back.
Alex frowned. His heart had flipped when he saw who it was in bed beside him, but then the doubts began to form. Was this really love... or was this merely gratitude he felt? His thoughts began to spiral inwards, searching along the pathways of his memory for every association he had with this man; their first meeting... the handsome man hiding behind wire-rimmed glasses, with his gruff exterior trying to camouflage the obvious lust that had quickened his breath as Alex had introduced himself. The beating on the hospital stairwell; his orders had been to ensure Skinner was put out of action - permanently. Instead he had beat upon the other man, his fists enjoying the feel of flesh on flesh in the only way available to him. That night in Crystal City, watching the man moving around inside the apartment while he froze his butt off on the balcony. Oh, the sight and memory of that hard, muscular frame had kept his thoughts so very warm during that long night.
Alex smiled. If it wasn't love then it was, most definitely, lust. Then Alex remembered all the other things he had done; the orders he had disobeyed so Skinner might live. Maybe he was not solely driven by lust then. Maybe there could be more, in time.
// Is that what you want? Time to build a relationship with this man? //
Krycek raised his hand once more, but this time he allowed the fingers to drift across the heated flesh of his bed partner. Slowly, he traced the bulge of pectoral muscle, his finger stopping only to flick across one small nub, watching with a small, delighted smile as the flesh puckered. A deep moan floated from above, a slight movement... a rolling of hip as the sleeping man luxuriated in the gentle touch. Pleased by the response to his actions, Krycek became bolder, his fingers caressing, savouring the feel of muscle sliding over bone. He dropped his head and touched the puckered nipple with the pointed tip of his tongue, revelling in the slightly metallic taste as it explored each tiny bump.
His hand drifted down, toying with the salt and pepper hair that covered the well-toned chest, tracing a path down across the flat six-pack of abdomen and into the thicker forest of hair at the groin, his fingers deliberately avoiding any contact with the thick shaft that had slowly risen from its nest of curls. Short fingernails scratched along the sensitive inner thigh, the legs parting in eager, if unknowing, anticipation until the body lay open for his eyes and for his touch only.
Alex moved down the bed until he was level with the tumescent shaft. His tongue reached out to capture a dew drop of precome beading on the swollen head, the taste exploding in his mouth, exciting far more than just his taste buds. Becoming bolder still, he began to lick at the engorged flesh while his fingers played with the taut balls, gradually opening his mouth until he could suck upon the aching flesh.
Soft moans and groans accompanied the swirling of his tongue and the friction of his mouth, the hips gently bucking. Alex looked up into the desire-filled face, smiling around the mouthful of flesh as eyes began to flicker with growing awareness. He felt a tenseness in the body beneath him, an arch of the back and those dark eyes opened wide as Skinner poured his essence down the open, willing throat.
********************
Skinner looked down into eyes crinkled in mischievous delight, his own heart racing as the orgasm rippled along his nerve endings, turning his hard, well-muscled body to Jell-O. All thoughts of angels disappeared in that devilish grin and yet, Skinner felt himself fall even harder for this green-eyed, fallen angel. He reached down and pulled Alex back up the bed, his mouth crushing against the slightly smaller man as he devoured the luscious lips, tasting the bitter-sweetness of his own essence in the other's mouth.
The heavy physical toll of the last few days meant Alex was no match for the AD. He found himself flipped onto his back as a rough tongue traced a path of fire across his own body. Sharp teeth nipped at small, brown nipples, pulling on the nub as the tongue teased over the tip. The assault continued down his body as Skinner worshipped every inch of offered flesh until, finally, he sucked in the swollen head of Krycek's own erection, revelling in the gasp of pure, unadulterated pleasure that spilled form those perfect lips.
He set up a rhythm, strong and hard, dragging Krycek to the very edge of his existence, enjoying the way the body convulsed under him as Krycek reached the pinnacle and fell headlong into the abyss....
Skinner's hands grabbed hold of Krycek's shoulders, pressing him down, his eyes widening in horror, all pleasure disappearing as the body continued to convulse beneath him long after he had sucked the remaining drops of cum from
the beautiful body....
Over to you, Ursula <vbg>