Aftermath by D. Street Spoiler warning: Some references to the third season. Rating: NC-17 (one adult scene) Classifications: S (Story), R (Romance) Skinner/Scully Summary: The following is a romance story between Skinner and Scully, wherein Skinner has been injured. I would appreciate any comments or criticism. Thank you. Please e-mail to: 71022.1045@compuserve.com The characters and situations of the television program "The X-Files" are the creations and property of Chris Carter, Fox Broadcasting and Ten-Thirteen Productions, and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit will be made. Aftermath D. Street Slowly, carefully, Walter Skinner, Assistant Director of the FBI, moved down the steps of the Hoover building. He'd come back to talk to Scully, but Mulder had been alone in the tiny office; his partner was at the cemetery, putting flowers on her sister's grave. He'd given Mulder the business part of his message and left; he'd save the more personal part for later, when he saw the red-haired agent. Now he was trying to decide if he should go across to the cafe for lunch... somehow, that didn't appeal, given the fact he'd been shot there two weeks before. Or, he reflected, he could go to his car and relive the excruciating experience of driving home. Finally he decided to go back up to his office and do some paperwork. God only knew how much had accumulated during his absence. "That shouldn't take too much effort." he decided, turning around. Skinner contemplated the mountain of steps and almost gave up. Then he heard a familiar voice behind him. "Excuse me, sir... would you like a lift home?" He turned slowly to see Dana Scully leaning out of her car window, smiling uncertainly at him. They hadn't talked, really talked, since he'd gotten out of the hospital. She hadn't been to his house to see him and wasn't returning his calls, which was what had prompted his surprise visit to the X-Files office. The AD felt a very important, if new, part of his existence slipping through his fingers and he seemed powerless to do anything about it. Hesitantly, he took a step toward the car. "I..." he licked suddenly dry lips. "I don't want to take your time, Agent Scully." That wasn't what he wanted to say, "I mean, you undoubtedly have--" "Get in, Walter." She smiled slightly, opening her door and sliding to the pavement. "I'm all right," the AD objected as she helped him around to the passenger side, settling him in the seat. "Sure you are," she murmured, clicking his seatbelt in place. As she leaned across his chest to fasten the belt, Scully breathed in the familiar scent of his cologne and her stomach tightened. Then she steeled herself; they had to deal with this. She went around to her side and climbed behind the wheel. "Home?" she questioned, quirking an eyebrow at her lover. Skinner nodded, eyes straight ahead. "Right," Scully murmured, putting the car in gear. The ride across town was made in comparative silence. Walter took off his glasses, gently massaging the bridge of his nose. "Dana," he began, fitting the wirerims back over his ears. "I'm sorry about Melissa." He felt her tense beside him. "I- I just saw Mulder and he told me you were at the cemetery..." he stopped, uncertain why he had ventured into such sensitive waters and now, how did he get out of them? "I, um, was playing catch-up in my office, and went down to the basement..." She studied his profile out of the corner of her eye. "Is that why you came in? Paperwork? Or did you come to talk to me about what happened?" She spared him a look. "Mulder gave me your message." "Scully... Dana," he began, but stopped as they pulled up in front of his house. "We're here, sir." She opened her door and stepped out, into the driveway. *"Shit,"* Skinner muttered under his breath. *"You may as well kiss this relationship off, Walter,"* he told himself, resigned. *"You can't win this one."* He realized Scully had his door open and was waiting. He took her proffered hand and carefully edged his way out of the car. He put as much weight on the cane as he could, but Scully had to pull as her boss maneuvered himself up and out of the car. "You should be in bed," she scolded. Walter snorted, biting back the reply on his lips. "Alone," she stressed. "Yeah, well, that goes without saying, doesn't it?" Skinner immediately regretted the words, but dammit! why did he always have to be the one in control. He knew the answer before the question had been completely processed; because that was the only way he knew to survive... anything. "Come on." Dana was pulling gently at his arm and he allowed her to lead him to his door. Using her key, the FBI agent swung open the door and ushered her companion into the living room. "Sit down while I try and rustle up something for dinner." Skinner took off his trenchcoat, tossing it carelessly over the back of the sofa. "There's not much in there, Dana." He looked vaguely around the room, then carefully lowered himself into his favorite chair. "Don't bother." She stood, contemplating her lover. She could almost see the blanket of depression that had wrapped itself around the assistant director. Taking a breath, Scully knelt in front of him, a hand on his. "Walter... we need to talk." He regarded her in silence, watching. Waiting. "The reason I didn't return your calls--" "You don't have to give me an explanation, Scully." Walter told her. "I... I can guess why you haven't wanted to have anything to do with me, and I understand. Because of my job, I'm the bad guy. I'm the one who tells you what you can and can't do. I was ready to close your sister's murder case. You told me what you thought of that... and me... that last night we were together." Dana cringed at the memory of their fight. It had made Hiroshima look like a skirmish. "That's not it," she insisted, clasping a large hand in her own, bringing it to her lips. "I needed time... Mulder kept me informed of your progress... I knew you were recovering." The sad smile that crossed his features; touched the dark eyes... wrenched her heart. "I had to have some time alone to sort things out and to grieve." Tears pooled in her eyes and she blinked them back. "Things were happening so fast with us... I needed time to get the rest of my emotions in order before I could deal with something as important as, as..." She bit her lip. "As what, Dana?" He reached out to cup her cheek, sending a shiver through her. "Before I could deal with the fact that I... I might be falling in love." His jaw slackened and Skinner swallowed hard. "But I'm okay now and I know you did everything you could," she went on, quickly. Skinner opened his mouth to object, but a slender finger hushed him. "You did. You put your life in danger because you wouldn't let it go." She held up a hand as he started to speak. "And don't tell me it's your job." Blue eyes searched his, piercing through to his soul and Skinner wanted to take her in his arms and make all the pain 'They' had caused her vanish. "You've put yourself on the line for us a lot and I appreciate it." She leaned forward, hands pressing gently on his legs as she kissed him. The first kiss was feather-like, barely felt; even so, it sent a jolt through Skinner that made his hands tighten on the arms of the chair. It took all his self-control to push her back. "Don't, Dana." She pulled back, puzzled. "Not out of gratitude. That's not what I want from you." A smile pulled at the corner of her mouth. "What do you want?" she whispered, a tapered finger running the length of his jaw. "You." His voice was hoarse and he cleared his throat. "But because we care about each other, not because you feel you owe me something. It's bad enough that I'm above you--" "Not always," she grinned. Totally non-plussed, Walter stared at her. "What?" Scully laughed, moving forward to cover his lips with her own, leaning into him, careful not to put weight on his stomach. Suddenly forgetting his train of thought, Walter opened his mouth to her, allowing her tongue to caress his, losing himself for the moment in the sensuous dance. When Scully pulled back, she studied his face, lower lip caught between her teeth. "You were saying?" He cleared his throat. "I was saying that I don't want you to feel you owe me..." He gestured lamely, "If you come to me I want it to be because you... feel... something--" "Say it." She demanded, eyes darkening. "What?" "Say the word, Walter." He drew in a shaky breath. Why the Hell did this scare him so much? He'd had relationships before. Why was Dana different? Maybe because none of them had been as important as this one. "Walter?" "I want you to love me, Dana." He spit the words out before he could think about them. "As much as I love you." There, he'd said it. He could tell by the way her blue eyes widened that she was as startled by the confession as he was. "That's all I wanted to hear." She smiled, fingernail trailing across his throat and dipping under the collar of his dress shirt. "Something has to be real in my life, Walter." She told him seriously. "I have to have someone I can trust. Someone solid I can hold on to when things get too weird. I trust Mulder and I trust myself." Skinner smoothed her hair. "You can trust me, Dana. You should know that. Even if I have to do it covertly, to hide it from prying eyes, I always try and do what's right for you and Mulder." She nodded. "I know that." She shrugged, "Mostly we both do. But you and I need to figure out how much we want this relationship, because it's a risk we can't take casually." His fingers tightened in her silky hair. "It's never been casual for me," he whispered. Skinner leaned forward to kiss her and stopped, the physical reality of his injury burning in his gut. "Don't." She pushed him back. "It's too soon." "No," he protested, but her face settled into the uncompromising mask he knew only too well. With a sigh he nodded. "Why don't you move to the sofa?" she suggested. "Are you hungry?" He shook his head. "Not really. Just tired." "Want me to rub your shoulders?" she offered, helping him lever himself out of the overstuffed chair. "Aren't you working today?" he asked, a smile lighting the dark eyes. "Nope. Mulder's covering for me." She grinned at him. "And I have a very understanding boss." "Do tell." Skinner undid his tie and loosened the top buttons on his shirt. "We still have to talk about this," he told her. "Soon." Dana knelt by the sofa, reaching up to unbutton the rest of his shirt. "I know. When you're feeling more yourself." She carefully pulled his shirt out of his trousers, noting the grimace of pain he tried to suppress. "Sit sideways," she instructed, and slipped behind him on the couch, supporting some of his weight. "You weren't supposed to be back at work for another two weeks." "I had to see you. You didn't return my calls... I was frantic. I thought I'd lost you." "No." She kissed his shoulder. "This won't work. Lay down." "Dana--" She rose and pulled his shirt off, then gently pushed him onto his back. "Relax." Skinner closed his eyes as she smoothed her palms across his chest, fingers playing casually in the silky hair. In ever-widening circles, Dana massaged him, softly kneading tight muscles, fingertips occasionally dipping under his waistband, then smoothly moving up, away from the erogenous area. Walter closed his eyes, drifting on the waves of relaxation her touch brought. He tensed when she ventured too low, then stilled as she returned to safer territory. Scully watched him, seeing the tension lines smooth away as he relaxed, making him seem, somehow younger, and more vulnerable. Carefully she removed his glasses and Skinner brought a hand up to rub tired eyes. "You need to rest," she repeated. "It's been a long few months." "It's been a long few years," he corrected, dully. Her eyes saddened at the loneliness in his voice. "You could have asked anyone at the Bureau out," She said softly, cupping a nipple and caressing. "Why didn't you?" "I didn't want to," he said simply. Dark eyes opened to meet hers. "I think I've loved you almost from the time you joined the X-Files. It was only a matter of working up the nerve to breech Bureau policy." He smiled at her, reaching up to tuck a strand of red hair behind her ear. "And prepare myself for the rejection I felt sure I'd get." Dana smiled, amused. "Why?" "Because you're beautiful. And smart and could date anybody you wanted." He stroked a cheek. "And I half thought you were with Mulder." Scully chuckled. "Wrong." She bent to cover a nipple with her mouth, lips pulling, teasing, teeth gently nipping. At his sharp intake of breath, she grinned. "I assume that, except for your abdomen, you're uninjured?" He caught the devilment in her voice, even though he couldn't see her face. "Completely." "Good." While one hand fondled his left nipple, Scully's lips worked their magic on his right. Skinner lost himself in the sensations that washed over him. It had been nearly a month since they'd last been together and he felt familiar stirrings in his groin. Stirrings that brought with them pain. "Dana." "Humm?" Her tongue moved down the center of his flat stomach to tease at the beltline. "Let's not start something I'm not going to be able to finish." "Oh, don't worry about that." She said sweetly, unbuckling the leather belt. "I'll finish it for you." "Dana--" She sat back on her heels, meeting his eyes. "For once just relax and enjoy, Walter. This is from me to you. To kind of make up for the Hell I've put you through the last few weeks." When he didn't speak, her features softened. "Besides, I don't want to you forget what I feel like." "No danger there." "We do need to talk about it and we have to be careful, but right now, just let me love you." Skinner frowned, Scully thought, to hide the wetness that suddenly filled his eyes. "Shh." She smoothed them shut and returned to her ministrations. Pulling the belt from its loops, she unzipped his trousers and slipped a hand under the elastic of his shorts. Skinner's chest filled with breath, excitement filling him at her touch. Who was he kidding? He wasn't going to be able to lay here and docily let her play with him any more than he could stand by and let anyone at the Bureau hurt her. He reached down and pulled her on top of him, carefully settling her along his body. "Walter, I don't think--" "Shut up, Agent Scully," he said in his best AD voice. "Yes sir," she murmured, lowering her head as a large hand guided her mouth to his. He pressed her lips to his, tongue urging them apart, entering the moist haven. Their tongues dueled and caressed while his hands slid along her back, stroking her through the cotton of her blouse, redefining the curves he knew so well. Dana was careful of his body, not wanting to hurt him, but she reveled in his warmth and snuggled against him. Parting for breath, Walter gazed up, into her face. "We can't do this now," he told her. "I'm already feeling it." Immediately she became Dana Scully, doctor. "Pain?" "A little. Nothing serious." She sighed and lay her head on his chest. "I guess we're just going to have to talk first and fool around later." Skinner laughed. His first real laugh in weeks. It pulled at his gut, but Dana's warmth against him soothed it. "I guess so." He stroked her hair, feeling its silkiness. "I know you don't like me feeling protective, Dana--" "I don't mind that." She corrected him, raising her head to meet his eyes. "I just don't want you to keep me from doing my job. Mulder and I take risks, that's what we do. I don't mind you worrying about me, just don't try and wrap me in cotton wool and keep me safe." "I am trying not to." Skinner told her. "But sometimes, when I'm safely in my office and you're out there, chasing God only knows what--" Scully's laugh was sharp with irony. "Safe in your office?" Carefully she maneuvered herself off Skinner to sit on the floor beside him. The AD kept hold of her hand and she leaned her head against his hip, looking up at him. "Do you know how much I've worried about you since we started this?" "About me?" His brow furrowed. "Why?" "Why?" She fairly yelled shouted at him. "Because I'm falling in love with you, you idiot!" Skinner stared at her as she laughed. "Let me recap." The model of an Academy lecturer, Scully held up her hand folding down a finger with each point. "Let's see, in the last four months you been; shot," she nodded to his stomach, "Threatened twice." "That's just talk," Skinner objected. "Shut up, I'm not done. And those are just the times I know about." She nailed him with a hard gaze. "You've gotten the Hell beaten out of you on two occasions, once for Mulder and once for me." "Oh, but you should have seen Mr. X," Walter told her with a smile. "You're awful." She shook her head, then resumed. "And I don't even want to know how many times you've had a showdown with Cancerman." She gave him a mock glare. "Now, shall we talk about who's safe and who's not? At least I have Mulder with me." Skinner made a disgusted sound. "Sometimes I think that's a liability, the way he goes rushing off without thinking." "I'm just saying that I'm not the only one who worries; it's a two-way street." "All right. Enough talk for now." Skinner reached out to touch her face. Suddenly he felt bone tired. "I think I need to sleep." Instantly concern shadowed the woman's eyes and she helped him to stand and guided him to the stairs. "I can make it, Dana." He picked up the cane he'd bought and mounted the first step. Scully slipped under his arm, taking his weight on her shoulders. "Come on, you'll still be trying to get upstairs by morning." "It's not that bad," Skinner protested, but didn't object any further. Truthfully, he'd missed her and didn't want her to leave. "I should have taken you to dinner." "Are you hungry?" She asked, as they defeated another step. "No. Just very tired." When they reached the landing, Scully waited while he undressed and took a shower. When he came back into the bedroom, clad in pajama bottoms, he stopped. The bed was turned down and Special Agent Scully lay under the covers, clad in one of his USMC t-shirts. "Dana," he warned. "I just thought you might want some company." She met his eyes and Skinner was moved by the neediness he saw there. "I really don't want to sleep alone tonight, either," she said softly, patting his side of the bed. "We don't have to do anything. Just hold me." Scully's display's of vulnerability were so rare that it disturbed him a little, but only for a moment. Skinner had to admit that he hadn't been looking forward to another night alone, either. He climbed into bed and switched out the light. Rolling onto his back, he drew Scully to him. "Ummm, this is nice," she murmured, settling against him, her cheek on his shoulder, body molding to his. "G'nite, Walter." "Goodnight, my love." Skinner kissed her forehead and closed his eyes. Before long they were both asleep.