ALL RIGHT NOW 2
By Sergeeva
 
Author's note: Okay, this looks like it's going to be a little series 
here... I love to spin out the delight as long as possible. Don't 
worry, they'll get to the NC-17 stuff eventually!
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 
Sometime in the early hours, the nightmare woke him. 
Horribly vivid, the dream replayed over and over not his rescue 
of the terrified child, but her death - in a dozen grotesque ways. 
He still felt the chill of that warehouse as he lurched awake, 
tremors shuddering through his body. He still heard the little 
girl's whimpers echoing in his head.
Hardly knowing where he was, he tore at the twisted sheets and 
tried to struggle from the bed, until calming hands stilled him. 
His shaky legs gave way then and he sank back onto the edge 
of the mattress. The haunting horror of the dream still with him, 
he felt the room spin as gentle touches guided him back under 
the covers.
"He's in shock, Mulder. Go get that fleece blanket from the 
couch in the den and then I think some hot tea might be good."
Scully eased herself up in the wide bed, wrapping her arms as 
best she could around Skinner's broad shoulders, rubbing some 
warmth back into him. Mulder hovered, one hand resting on 
Skinner's foot under the comforter.
"Will he be okay? I've never seen him like this... I know how 
these cases can..." He trailed off, looking anxiously at Scully.
"I think it's all just catching up with him now", she said, brushing 
a gentle hand over Skinner's damp brow. "Being a hero is very 
tiring. He had to hold that madman at bay for seven hours and if 
his reactions hadn't been lightning fast the girl and he would 
both be dead now. Get that fleece, Mulder, he's cold as ice."
Skinner heard the words but they were just sounds. If only he 
could stop shaking he could maybe sleep, but no, sleep brought 
dreams... He shuddered violently and felt something soft settling 
around him, a steaming mug held to his lips. His teeth were 
chattering too hard for him to drink, but the delicate herbal scent 
relaxed him.
Scully set down the camomile tea and tugged the soft blanket 
closer. Shifting so that Skinner's head was pillowed on her 
chest, she began softly massaging his temples, murmuring 
soothing words against his smooth scalp.
Mulder climbed in to spoon against Skinner's back and added 
his warming caresses up and down the length of the shivering 
body. Slowly the tremors subsided and Mulder took one of 
Skinner's hands in his as they all finally slept again.
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 
Bright sunshine splashed in from the open window when 
Skinner woke again. He was momentarily disoriented by the 
unfamiliar surroundings, but them embarrassment took over, as 
he remembered the night before - all of it. Had he really been so 
out of it that he'd needed to be put to bed and watched over like 
a sick child? Had he really spent the night sandwiched between 
Mulder and Scully like some unwilling chaperone? He had to 
leave and right away. Not only was he intruding on the two of 
them when he must be the last person they'd want to let into 
their private life, but he had to admit he wasn't up to the strain. It 
had been altogether too pleasurable to be held and kissed and 
included. It would be very dangerous to let himself enjoy this 
when he didn't belong here.
He swung his long legs over the side of the bed and was looking 
around for his clothes when Mulder appeared in the doorway.
"Good, you're awake. Breakfast is on its way, although it's more 
like brunch now. Scully says you'll probably need to sleep a lot 
more yet, but you need to eat and then I can help you get a 
shower if you like."
Mulder sounded as sane as he ever did, which admittedly 
wasn't saying a lot, but Skinner felt as if he'd missed a huge 
chunk of the plot somewhere. He tried to gather some shreds of 
his dignity.
"I'm very... well, I'm grateful for you taking me in last night, but I 
do have a home to go to, and a report to write and if you could 
just tell me where my clothes are...?"
"It's not going to happen, sir. Scully's already called the Director 
and got you some leave time and he says your report can wait 
until after the weekend. Even Freeh is no match for Dana when 
she's that determined. So all you have to worry about is bacon 
and eggs and letting us take care of you, for a change."
"That's exactly what I am worrying about, Mulder. I can't be 
here. Freeh will have me up before the OPR in the blink of an 
eye. And I don't need 'taking care of'..." Skinner could see this 
whole situation slipping away from him.
"Let me be the judge of that, sir." Scully had her best no-
nonsense manner in place and a breakfast tray in her hands. 
She carried it to the bed and simply stood over him until he 
sheepishly scooted back under the blankets and let her set the 
tray across his lap. Crisp bacon, scrambled eggs, orange juice 
and a toasted bagel made his mouth water and when he looked 
up to see Dana, warrior princess, standing with arms folded and 
a mock-severe expression on her face, he gave in with a good 
grace and began to eat.
"The Director has no idea you're here," she reassured him. "I 
told him you were exhausted and we'd made sure you were 
getting plenty of rest. I imagine he thinks you're in Crystal City. 
He said he'd keep the press and the paper-pushers at the 
Bureau off your back until next week, so you have the whole 
weekend to get used to this."
The food was delicious: warming, tasty, comforting, but he 
couldn't just let this go on indefinitely.
"Get used to what?" He sounded churlish, even to his own ears, 
but he had to know.
"To us, sir, um... Walter. To you and us together. Finish your 
breakfast and have a shower and then we can talk some more."
She leaned over and kissed him softly on the cheek, then 
retreated to stand with Mulder. Arms looped around each 
other's waists, they beamed at Skinner as he lay back on the 
pillows, feeling as if he must have fallen down a rabbit hole. 
He made them leave him alone to take his shower, shy enough 
about peeling off the borrowed robe and standing naked in their 
bathroom. In the steamy heat of the shower, with the soporific 
hiss of the water, he felt less like questioning this fantasy into 
which he'd apparently strayed. Tiredness swept over him again 
and he sank down to his haunches, leaning back against the 
smooth tiles, his eyes closing.
Mulder found him there a short while later, barely awake. He 
peeled his own T-shirt off and reached in to shut off the cooling 
spray, then took a big towel and swathed it around the drowsy 
man.
"C'mon, Walter. Let's get you back to bed." 
Skinner stood obediently and let himself be led back into the 
bedroom. Scully was waiting and she began to dry his feet and 
legs while Mulder rubbed at his shoulders and back. It felt so 
good not to have to do anything, or even to think. He swayed 
against Mulder's chest, fighting a losing battle against sleep, and 
Mulder just held him closer, blotting at the damp trickles on his 
neck and stomach. He could feel Dana's soft hands running the 
towel over his thighs and buttocks, fluffing up his pubic hair. 
Distantly, he registered arousal uncoiling itself deep within him, 
and felt a blush make his cheeks and ears glow. Someone 
kissed his hipbone and someone else brushed a finger over his 
nipple, ruffling the damp curls of his chest hair. Eyes closed, he 
moved where they urged him, settling back onto fresh, cool 
sheets, no fight left in him.
"Sleep, Walter, we'll be here when you wake up."