TITLE: Closing the Distance - Part 2
NAME: frogdoggie
E-MAIL: frogdoggie@hotmail.com
CATEGORY: SRA
RATING: NC-17. M/SK. This story contains very explicit slash 
i.e. m/m sex. Also, some discussion of m/m rape. So, if you 
don't like that type of thing - STOP NOW! Forewarned is 
forearmed. Proceed with caution.
SUMMARY: Mulder and Skinner deal with the aftermath of 
Mulder reading Skinner's mind in Biogenesis and Sixth 
Extinction. Missing a part of this story or just want to read more 
of my fic? Then surf here: http://www.squidge.org/3wstop or 
here, on my mirror site at: http://adult.dencity.com/frogdoggie
FEEDBACK - YES PLEASE, AND THANK YOU SIR, CAN I 
HAVE ANOTHER? Comments, suggestions and healthy 
debate are always welcome. Flames? They only serve to warm 
my body and mind.
ARCHIVE: Sure. Anywhere - as long as my name and e-mail 
addy stay on it.
TIMESPAN/SPOILER WARNING: Biogenesis, Sixth Extinction 
and Amor Fati as well as any and all episodes up to Amor Fati. 
Pretty much the whole series.
KEYWORDS: story slash Skinner Mulder NC-17
DISCLAIMER: Please see Part 1
"You have a point. It's not fair for me to speak for Scully. So, I 
can only assure you that I'll do the best I can to see that your 
family is told the right thing, sir. I don't think you should have to 
let them suffer thinking you have some incurable natural illness 
when that really isn't the case," Mulder replied sincerely, looking 
back up at Skinner.
They locked eyes and Mulder watched the AD consider his 
proposition. After a few moments he nodded but didn't relax 
very much.
"Mulder...I...I don't know what to say," he murmured. "It seems 
I'm in your debt and I have...there's no reason why you 
should..." he let his voice trail off as Mulder looked at him.
"How long?" Mulder asked him in a soft voice. Skinner blinked 
but he got Mulder's meaning.
"Since almost the first day I saw you in the halls at the Hoover. 
It wasn't...wasn't love at first at all though. No...it was...pure 
lust," Skinner replied hoarsely. "But later...later I grew to 
uh...admire you and...uh..." he shook his head in self-
deprecation. "This is really hard for me to say, Mulder," he 
added exasperated at himself.
"Well uh...I am...I'm flattered...really," Mulder replied, grinning a 
little.
Skinner's ears reddened. He looked down because his face 
was flushing slightly and he was obviously fighting for control.
"Look...this has to be terribly awkward. I'm sorry to lay all this on 
you. I never intended to have it intrude on our working 
relationship and I sure as hell never intended for it to turn into 
any kind of personal connection because I knew you and Scully 
were uh...romantically involved and..." Skinner continued in a 
rush.
"We're not," Mulder blurted out, interrupting him.
"What?" Skinner replied, looking up, his brow furrowing in 
confusion.
"Scully and I aren't involved in a romantic relationship, sir," 
Mulder clarified quietly.
"Not...not involved?" Skinner replied, staring at Mulder, his face 
showing just how stunned he was from this turn of events.
"No...uh...we've got an interesting dynamic going on there...we 
respect each other as friends and we're a true partnership on 
the job in every sense of the word. I know I'd back her up in any 
situation, die for her really...and vice a versa. But anything 
uh...of a sexual nature...no. I guess if you were going to quantify 
our personal relationship it'd be kind of familial. You know...a 
brother and sister thing. She's...she's very special to me that 
way. But Scully is still looking for 'Mr. Right' and he ain't Fox 
Mulder," he finished getting through his halting explanation while 
the AD was too gob-stopped to utter another remark or reply.
The AD finally found his voice after a few seconds of 
uncomfortable silence and gave his response.
"This...this isn't some kind of...Mulder, you're not worried about 
regulations are you because really...male and female agents 
aren't strictly prohibited from..."
"No, sir...it's true. Honestly. Scully and I aren't having a sexual 
relationship. We're just very good friends and one hell of a 
smooth working partnership, that's all," Mulder answered 
seriously. 
Skinner sat back and ran a large, strong hand over his mouth. 
He shook his head.
Mulder watched the wheels turning reflected in his face after he 
lowered his hand.
"All right. I'm clearly batting zero here I guess," he replied finally. 
"You have my apologies. I'm sorry I made the assumption," he 
added sincerely.
"No apologies necessary, sir. And to be honest...I have to 
apologize myself. I saw that assumption in your mind in the 
hospital. After I got back from my unscheduled surgery 
I...well...I should have asked to meet with you right away to 
discuss this whole matter. I was remiss in doing so. It had to 
be...unpleasant for you to contemplate what I'd seen and what I 
was thinking about it. I..."
"Mulder...it's all right. I can more than understand why you 
wouldn't have come to see me. Most heterosexual men, no 
matter how liberal they think they are have some trepidation 
concerning being the object of a gay man's...uh...desires. I don't 
blame you for taking time to come to terms with it before you 
said anything. Besides you were recuperating and I was...I was 
running like a coward to Maine so I could drink myself into 
forgetting anyway," he replied, the last bit said with a bitterness 
that set Mulder's teeth on edge. 
Ok, Mulder thought. Here we go. The big Mulder revelation. I'm 
going to lay my cards out on the table and hope for a winning 
hand here somewhere...or at least a draw for one of us. This is 
not going to be easy the agent thought as Skinner sat back 
waiting for his reply. He tried to form the words but he could 
hardly do it. Finally he chucked any sort of caution and just 
decided on plain English spelled out clearly.
"I don't consider myself heterosexual, sir. I guess I'm bisexual," 
he replied quietly. "I've been with men before...uh...first at 
Oxford and later I had a long-term relationship with my first 
partner..." Mulder let his voice trail off as he observed Skinner's 
reaction. The AD's face went white. Completely ashen so fast 
Mulder didn't even have time to blink. "Sir?" he asked in 
concern.
"You're...this is...you're not serious?" Skinner managed to grate 
out.
"Yes, I'm serious," Mulder replied, nodding.
Color rose up in Skinner's face then, flushing him practically 
scarlet. He pushed back from the table and stood up quickly. 
He nearly knocked the chair over in his haste to move away.
"Sir!?" Mulder exclaimed in alarm.
"I...oh...Christ," he mumbled and then he turned and left the 
kitchen at a dead run.
"Shit," Mulder cursed, getting up to run after him.
Skinner was way ahead of him and running down the hallway 
towards the bathroom before Mulder was through the living 
room. Mulder heard him bull his way through the open 
bathroom door and then he heard a thud as Skinner's jeans clad 
knees hit the wooden floor. The next sounds Mulder heard were 
the sounds of porcelain smacking against porcelain and then 
the sound of vomiting.
Mulder winced. "Oh fuck," he mumbled, hurrying forward. 
When he reached the bathroom door, he saw Skinner on his 
knees with his head practically in the toilet heaving up 
breakfast. Skinner's stomach muscles under his dark blue crew 
neck shirt rose and fell as he started to gag again. Mulder held 
down his own gorge as Skinner gave up more of his stomach 
contents and walked quickly over to the nearly prostrate AD. He 
hated this feeling of helplessness as he stared at the stricken 
man. Damn it. Get a grip, Mulder, he thought giving himself a 
swift mental kick in the ass. Galvanized to action he strode 
forward and grabbed a washcloth. Moving to the sink he soaked 
it in water, wrung it out, and went back to Skinner's side.
"It'll be ok," he murmured, folding the cloth into a rectangle and 
pressing it to Skinner's forehead. The AD's glasses were askew 
and Mulder gently removed them and put them on the vanity as 
Skinner began to gag again
"Ffff," he stuttered.
"Don't try to talk, Ironman," Mulder whispered. "Just let it out," 
he added, holding the cloth to support the older man's head. 
Skinner tried to nod and then he puked noisily again into the 
toilet bowl. 
Finally even the dry heaves subsided and Mulder was able to 
help Skinner pull back from the can. Skinner sat down heavily 
against the bathtub, propping his back against the cool 
porcelain. He drew his knees up. Mulder rose and rinsed and 
wrung the washcloth out again and brought it back over to 
Skinner. The AD took it gratefully and Mulder closed the toilet 
seats and flushed the toilet. Skinner wiped his face with the 
washcloth and then draped it over the side of the tub.
"Why don't you rinse your mouth out?" Mulder suggested.
Skinner nodded and got up, going to the sink to comply with 
Mulder's suggestion. When he was done rinsing and spitting he 
sat down on the toilet seat and put his head in his hands.
"It was just...the shock I think...the surprise. I'm...man...I am 
sincerely sorry," he mumbled completely embarrassed to be in 
the state he was in. "I...God damn it...I don't usually lose it like 
this, Mulder. Get sick because I can't handle my...emotions. It's 
not...not my way," he whispered, scrubbing at his face with his 
hand. Mulder fought the urge to make a lame joke brought on 
by nervousness about people losing their meal because he 
sometimes had that effect on them.
"Sir...you've been through a traumatic experience with Krycek. I 
wouldn't expect you to be...uh..."
"My usual hard-case self?" Skinner asked, looking up, his eyes 
showing his misery.
"Made of iron for real, sir" Mulder replied quietly. "No one should 
be able to go through what you just went through and just carry 
on like it's business as usual. They shouldn't have to do that. 
You should lie down for a while. Rest. Try to sleep again. I'll 
wake you later," Mulder advised, looking down into Skinner's 
face.
"I don't want to sleep, Mulder. I...I want to...Mulder, I have to 
ask..."
"Did I ever suspect you?" Mulder asked carefully.
"Yeah," Skinner asked, his face a study in angst.
"No."
"Well, that makes me feel marginally better," Skinner replied 
acerbically. He sighed then and gestured with his hand, waving 
off the comment. "Sorry...I didn't mean that to sound as 
sarcastic as it did," he amended.
Mulder shrugged and Skinner continued.
"I guess we did a pretty good job of staying in the closet. Either 
that or we're piss poor investigators and I am confident that's 
not the case with either one of us," Skinner replied, coming 
round a little. He was regaining his normal coloring and didn't 
look as near collapse as he did earlier. Mulder let out his breath 
a little in relief and nodded.
"There wasn't really anything that set off our 'gaydar', sir...that's 
all," he chuckled a little.
Skinner gave him the look but then he nodded too and his lips 
twitched a small weary smile.
"But uh...look...are we being honest here?" Mulder asked 
carefully. "Off the record, sir?"
Skinner gave him a raised eyebrow.
"Sorry...stupid question," Mulder replied with chagrin. "All of this 
is...is a bit overwhelming," he added, giving his shoulder a half 
shrug.
"Oh...no shit," Skinner rumbled, his voice caught between a 
laugh and a choking sound. "And it's definitely off the record, 
Mulder. It's way off the record," Skinner replied wryly at the 
same time he meant to reassure him.
Mulder nodded and told him the truth then and waited for the 
chips to fall where they may.
"I didn't suspect you at all, sir. But...I did look. I mean, you're 
not...unattractive. So for what it's worth...I did notice 
your...assets," Mulder replied quietly.
Skinner stared at him, his mouth open slightly, then he shut it 
and shook his head, irony and anguish warring on his face.
"Almost seven years," he mumbled. "To think if I had given 
even one clue...one sign..." he added, his voice fading. He 
looked down at his hands.
Mulder felt something click in his head. His body filled with a 
very pleasant warmth as he gazed down at Skinner. A tightness 
formed in his chest and he felt his breathing pick up a little. He 
took a tentative step towards the AD and then another, moving 
to stand directly in front of him. He stretched out his hand to 
gently touch Skinner's cheek. Mulder spoke and he 
paraphrased his earlier words from their discussion about 
Krycek's motives because he couldn't think of anything else to 
say that was more apt.
"You're just a man, sir. We're both just men. Men are fallible. 
We make mistakes. I don't think you should blame yourself," 
Mulder replied, letting his hand rest against Skinner's shaved 
jaw. Skinner's skin felt warm and inviting under his touch.
Skinner looked up, studying Mulder's face for a moment. Then, 
his only reply was to bend forward slightly and rest his head 
against Mulder's leg. Mulder moved his hand up and stroked the 
fringe of hair above Skinner's ear.
Mulder stood like that for several moments, holding Skinner's 
upper body where he sat, and then Skinner pulled back. Mulder 
stepped back slightly as well, his hands loose at his sides. 
Skinner looked up at him again.
"That...that was presumptuous of me," he mumbled, pinning 
Mulder's eyes.
Mulder shrugged.
"I've been presumptuous half my life. I'm not going to fault it in 
someone else," he whispered huskily.
Skinner stood up in a sudden fluid motion that caught Mulder off 
guard but which he found himself readily accepting without 
much surprise at all as Skinner took him in his arms. The AD 
enfolded him gently, cautiously and for a fraction of a second 
Skinner looked in Mulder's eyes seeking permission and seeing 
it pressed his lips tentatively to Mulder's lips.
Oh shit, Mulder thought instantly in panic. We...we're in trouble 
now he thought immediately afterwards. But, despite his panic, 
he found himself going with the moment and accepting 
Skinner's first hesitant kiss. It didn't even register with him that 
Skinner had been worshipping the porcelain God only moments 
earlier. It was a closed mouth kiss anyway and the sweetness 
of it began to fill his senses and then suddenly...it was over 
almost before he realized Skinner had pulled away. Skinner's 
eyes played over Mulder's face and he held Mulder's arms, his 
touch soft on Mulder's biceps.
"This...this is just about sex isn't it?" Skinner suggested quietly, 
studying Mulder's face keenly.
Mulder swallowed hard and felt his eyes slide from Skinner's 
almost without their own volition. He heard Skinner's small sigh 
and then he spoke again.
"Mulder...you must know that's not all I want," he added, a trace 
of sadness in his voice.
"Sir...uh..." Mulder began. Sir? Jesus when was he going to stop 
calling him that...he just kissed the man for God's sake, Mulder 
thought. "I don't have much luck with relationships...I..."
Skinner let go of Mulder's arms slowly, letting his leave taking 
turn into a caress as he stepped back. Mulder refocused on the 
AD as Skinner turned and took his glasses off the top of the 
small vanity where Mulder had placed them earlier. He put 
them on and with donning them he assumed the Skinner that 
Mulder was much more familiar with at the Hoover. The formal, 
business-like Walter Skinner - and Mulder's heart fell to his toes.
"It's all right, Mulder. I understand. I think...I think I'll take your 
earlier suggestion and lie down for a while," he replied matter-
of-factly as he slid past Mulder and headed out of the bathroom. 
Mulder followed, walking quickly after Skinner's retreating back.
Mulder felt shame well up in him hot and slick in his guts. He 
tried to respond and all that came out of his mouth was a rush 
of platitudes, advice and nonsense that sounded totally inane to 
his ears.
"Sure...that sounds like a good idea. Go in the bedroom and lie 
down. If you can't sleep I have some Tylenol PM in my shaving 
kit. I'll get it for you. You've been through a lot both physically 
and mentally. I'd like to see you give yourself some time and 
sleep to build up your resources again. In my opinion you're too 
strung out right now. I realize we need to discuss the situation. 
We can talk some more after you get some rest, all right?" 
Mulder babbled. He felt like a clown and he was dying inside as 
he trailed behind Skinner like some yapping terrier.
Skinner didn't answer him until he reached the bedroom door. 
He opened it and then turned in the doorway to face Mulder.
"Would you wake me in time for dinner, please?" he asked, his 
voice flat. His face was mask-like and his eyes were dull.
"No problem," Mulder replied in a soft voice.
"Thank you, Mulder," Skinner replied, and a little gratefulness 
did creep into his final words before he shut the bedroom door 
in Mulder's face. Mulder slumped against the hallway wall and 
bounced his head once, hard off the plaster.
xXx
The hours dragged on and Mulder spent most of them sitting on 
the living room couch, which he had folded back up, the TV on 
with the volume down low staring at the screen without really 
seeing it. A beer from the fridge sat on the end table within easy 
reach. He sipped from it off and on in a desultory fashion. Went 
to the can and took a piss. But mostly he was sitting there trying 
to salvage a situation he had sent right down the crapper with 
his usual knack for fucking up any serious interpersonal 
relationship. He felt bereft and deeply disgusted with himself 
because he knew he'd hurt Skinner and that was the last thing 
he had wanted to do. On the contrary.
Mulder had really taken pleasure in giving Skinner support and 
comfort. In fact...it felt damn good. The agent was beginning to 
realize that he had some heavy self-examination to do here. His 
sexual attraction for Skinner was teetering into an area where 
he knew it was liable to get them both into big trouble. The "L" 
word area. Teetering? OK, amend that description....it had 
tottered...yeah, tipped right over the edge.
Mulder had to admit it. He was falling in love with Skinner like a 
fucking ton of bricks. And as Mulder had told himself before, he 
didn't do love well and he did relationships even worse. He didn't 
want to face this right now. He wanted his life to go back to 
what it had been before this weekend...endless days of 
investigating one bizarre X-Files case or Cancerman invasion 
machination after another punctuated by moments of gut-
wrenching horror alternating with stultifying Bureau routine. 
Facing another liver eating mutant or chest bursting gray would 
be better than confronting Skinner when he came out of that 
bedroom.
"Shit," the agent sighed aloud.
Mulder had even called Sully while the AD was sawing wood, 
peacefully this time thank God, to see if just talking to her would 
help him to get things lined up in his mind. It hadn't done any 
good. He'd had to give her an edited version of what was going 
on anyway because over the phone was not the place to fill her 
in about Krycek or Skinner being raped and then losing it, or his 
growing awareness that he was losing his heart to his boss. Uh 
uh. That was a face to face Scully discussion.
So, Mulder reiterated that Skinner was suffering from 
exhaustion plus the flu which was making him sick to his 
stomach. Mulder informed her he was going to stay on for a 
few days to give him a hand so he could get some quality and 
quantity sack time.
Scully had been a bit suspicious that there was more wrong. 
She'd asked a lot of questions about his condition and made 
Mulder promise to call her if he seemed to become more ill. 
During the course of the conversation Mulder thought he'd 
convinced her he wasn't omitting anything. She'd warned him 
however that if he had she'd take a dim view of it. Mulder had 
mentally prepared himself for the eventuality that later she'd 
chew him out.
But, they'd ended the conversation on a light note at least. 
Scully was going to visit her mother and Mulder had told her to 
give her his regards. Scully had hung up after making him 
promise to call her again if he needed help. She'd actually 
sounded more sympathetic towards Skinner and Mulder felt 
optimistic about that idea. But he was no further along in 
deciding what to do about his burgeoning feelings for the AD.
What in the hell could he do next? His mind kept coming back 
to the same idea. It all came back to the same point. Skinner 
wanted a relationship and Mulder was...scared shitless of 
commitment. Honest to God, he thought...that's the whole crux 
of the matter here. Mulder was petrified to go any further into 
exploring his love for Skinner because the whole damn thing 
could never work out. He'd fuck it up just like he'd done in the 
past...or if he didn't they'd end up ripping each other's throats 
out anyway because of some basic incompatibility on both 
sides. Hell...he and Skinner mixed like oil and water on the 
damn job. How the hell could he expect to get along with him 
outside of it in some kind of relationship?
Mulder knew that was his track record, the symptom of his 
disease...the inability to bond due to fear of loss of the person 
he loved and he tended to make sure he didn't bond in one way 
or another - except with Scully and look where it had gotten 
her? No kidding...if he'd been sleeping with her she'd probably 
be dead for sure by now he thought miserably. And 
Jesus...Skinner would fit the 'I could lose him tomorrow idea' 
wouldn't he, Mulder mused with a grim tightening of his jaw. 
Yeah, they'd be doomed before they ever got started.
But Good Lord...he wanted Skinner now. Physically for sure 
and it seemed emotionally as well and he didn't want to hurt him 
again...and ah...fuck it, Mulder cursed inwardly. All right...time 
to stop procrastinating. He glanced at his watch and saw it was 
five o'clock already. He might as well face the music. But 
before he sought to gird the lion in his den he'd take another trip 
to the can. So, Mulder rousted himself from the couch and 
stood up, the TV remote in hand. He turned the TV off and 
placed the remote on the coffee table. Finally he headed off 
towards the bathroom.
As Mulder was finishing his piss he heard a crash coming from 
next door in Skinner's bedroom. He jumped, dropping the last 
drips of urine on the rim of the toilet instead of shaking it out 
over the water as another thud followed on the crash's heels. 
Mulder shoved his dick back in his pants and pulled desperately 
on his fly, trying to zip it up as he ran from the bathroom.
He reached the bedroom door and grabbed for the door handle, 
yanking the door open hard. Afternoon sunlight from the room's 
single window streamed in where Skinner had left the blinds 
open. Skinner was lying on top of the comforter on the bed, 
dressed except for his shoes and socks and struggling to hold 
onto the night stand lamp to prevent it from following his gun 
and the clock radio onto the floor. Mulder lunged forward and 
caught it as it tipped over, keeping it steady.
"I was...disorientated when I woke up," Skinner rumbled, helping 
Mulder to shove the lamp back onto the night stand.
"Did you have another nightmare?" Mulder asked quietly as he 
huffed a little from the surprise and effort to catch the lamp in 
time.
"I don't know...but I did one of those things where you sit bolt 
upright when you wake up. The lamp suffered the 
consequences, I'm afraid," the AD answered shaking his head a 
little in self-deprecation.
Mulder wondered in the back of his mind if the AD had been 
going for his gun due to some nightmare about Krycek again. It 
was on the floor. The agent bent to retrieve it and handed the 
Smith and Wesson to Skinner. The AD took the proffered 
weapon and held it close, checking the safety and the clip. 
Everything seemed to be in order so he put it back on the night 
stand and reached for his glasses.
"Lucky those didn't end up on the floor," Mulder observed with a 
small smile. The glasses had been out of the line of the lamp.
"Yeah, I guess so," Skinner replied awkwardly.
He seated his glasses on his face and then looked back up at 
Mulder. The agent stood, tense and watched his face. There 
was such an infinite sadness in the depths of Skinner's eyes, a 
disappointment mixed with resignation and the realization that 
he was going to have to just forget about his desires and move 
on that Mulder was almost undone. The younger man's hands 
started to shake a little and he looked down at his feet.
"I...I'm very sorry..." he began.
Skinner cleared his throat and Mulder looked up to see him 
swing his legs off the other side of the bed. He went to stand 
and look out the window, his back to Mulder, his hands on his 
hips, feet splayed slightly, back straight and proud.
"Mulder...I can be adult about this situation. I've been...in this 
situation before. I'll survive, all right. Let's leave it at that," he 
replied, his voice hoarse with emotion.
Mulder found his legs moving before he realized they were and 
he walked slowly across the room to stand in back of Skinner. 
He gently placed his hand on the AD's shoulder and tugged, 
pulling Skinner to face him.
"Sir...I...I don't want to leave it at that," he murmured. "I'm 
sorry...I'm sorry you thought I meant...this was just about sex," 
he added, at last letting what he was truly feeling for Skinner 
show through his eyes.
Skinner's lips parted slightly as he stared into Mulder's face, 
looking desperately and diligently for what he hoped to see at 
last there. Mulder's head nodded almost imperceptibly and then 
Skinner began to smile. Mulder pressed forward and captured 
that smile with his mouth, taking Skinner's face in his hands and 
kissing him with all the love that was welling up in his heart and 
soul.
Skinner's mouth melded to his, and he was breathing hard as he 
opened his lips and took Mulder's tongue in to dance with his. 
The AD's hands found their way onto Mulder's back and he held 
Mulder convulsively as their mouths continued to slant over 
each other.
Finally Skinner broke the kiss and both of them pulled back 
slightly, flushed and out of breath. Skinner touched Mulder's 
face and ran his thumb along the beard stubble on his jawline. 
Mulder felt a wonderful shiver flow up his spine.
"Mulder...I...this is..." Skinner began to speak but his voice failed 
him.
Mulder nodded and placed his fingers on Skinner's saliva 
moistened lips.
"I was serious about the relationship stuff earlier. I...I have a piss 
poor track record when it comes to....romance, 
love...commitment...the whole ball of wax. You need to know 
that....Ironman," Mulder replied quietly, pinning Skinner's eyes." 
"If you can accept my past, my mistakes...my...what I am and 
what I've done...good and bad...then...I'll deal with it...Mulder. 
We'll deal with it...we'll deal with all of it," Skinner whispered, 
running his hand through Mulder's hair.
Mulder nodded and Skinner's mouth descended on his and then 
nothing mattered to Mulder anymore except the heat building in 
his groin and the certainty that this was all very right piercing his 
heart, mind and soul.
He drew Skinner backwards, by holding onto his biceps as they 
kissed, their gait akin to the same drunken stagger they 
experienced the day before when Mulder brought Skinner in 
from the dock. Skinner followed, pressing Mulder backward 
eagerly, and then their legs became entangled almost pitching 
them down before they reached their objective. They hung onto 
each other and then their lips slipped apart. Skinner gave a 
snort of laughter.
"We need to decide who leads here I think," he chuckled.
Mulder was amazed at how fantastic Skinner looked smiling. 
His whole face was different. Carefree...and he looked twice as 
hot.
"I'm a good dancer...Ironman," Mulder replied huskily, nuzzling 
at Skinner's neck.
"Then lead on," Skinner replied, his voice rough.
Mulder pulled and Skinner came with him. When they reached 
the bed Mulder maneuvered him around and pushed him 
backwards onto the mattress. He splayed out over him and was 
rewarded with a sharp intake of breath and grimace from 
Skinner.
"Oh shit...your back," Mulder was instantly contrite. The agent 
rolled to the side and sat up. Skinner levered himself up and 
craned his neck around to look at his back.
"Yeah...still stings," he growled. Mulder edged close to him.
"Let me look. That cut may have opened up again," Mulder 
advised, his face serious.
Skinner turned his back towards Mulder, nodding, and Mulder 
waited as Skinner removed his glasses and placed them on the 
night stand. Then the AD tugged at his clothing, pulling up his 
shirt, taking it all the way up and off over his head. He tossed 
the garment over onto the straight back chair. The T-shirt came 
off next and followed the shirt.
Mulder touched Skinner's muscular lat muscle and felt gently 
along the scab over the first cut with the pad of his finger. He 
drew it away and examined his fingertip. No blood. Skinner sat 
quietly and patiently as Mulder repeated the process with each 
cut.
"No problem here," he finally told the AD. He moved back a 
little and Skinner shifted to face him.
Mulder tried to resist staring at the bite marks around Skinner's 
nipples but he couldn't and his jaw muscles grew tight. Skinner 
noticed where he was looking and cleared his throat. Mulder's 
eyes traveled to his face. Skinner gave an ironic twist of his 
mouth and his face grew suddenly strained, his eyes sad.
"This may be a case where the spirit's willing but the flesh is 
weak, Mulder," he suggested with disappointment.
Mulder looked back at him with compassion and understanding 
in his face. He was beginning to think that Skinner's earlier 
eagerness had been a heat of the moment thing and he wasn't 
quite ready for where they were going.
"I'm surprised you're uh...willing at all to be quite honest. After 
what Krycek did...if you didn't want to go through with this I'd 
more than understand."
Skinner bowed his head a little and stared at his clasped hands. 
Mulder ran a hand up and down his bicep. Skinner spoke 
quietly.
"Mulder...after nearly seven years of fantasizing something I 
wanted so much I think I'm running on a combination of 
bullheadedness and adrenaline right now. I'm too ornery to give 
up a wish come true and the head rush is making it hard for me 
to slow down or stop. I want this...a lot. But I guess if I was going 
to be brutally honest I'd tell you not to expect much," he replied 
almost in a whisper. His ears reddened and Mulder realized that 
Skinner's ears really were a barometer for his embarrassment. 
Right now they were practically scarlet.
Mulder felt like kicking himself in the ass again. Here he was 
putting the moves on the AD and he had evidence all over his 
body of another man's brutal assault. What could he have been 
thinking? He looked down on Skinner's hands and noticed they 
were shaking slightly. His guts flipped over and he stretched out 
a hand and laid it over Skinner's hands where they were 
clasped together. Skinner looked up into his eyes.
"I moved too fast. There's no reason to rush into anything. We 
have time. When you're ready..."
Skinner shook his head before he spoke.
"That's just it, Mulder...and please forgive me for saying this 
but...I don't think I have much time. I don't...I don't want to wait 
and right now...I'm willing to take what I can get and...God help 
me..." he looked away from Mulder. "You want to know the 
irony of this situation, Mulder? The only man who touched me 
for over a year was me...I mean I was without a partner...not 
even one I paid for until...until Krycek broke in here a week ago. 
The first man who touched me in over a year, the way he 
touched me notwithstanding...Christ, Mulder, I wanted it to be 
you..." Skinner finished taking a deep breath and letting it out in 
a heavy sigh. 
Mulder felt a shudder of infinite sadness followed by anger pass 
through his body. When he saw Alex Krycek again there would 
be hell to pay. He'd try to render that payback by the book, 
legally, but if Krycek put up a fight all bets were off. If possible 
he'd bring him in, if not...he was going to bring him down and 
have done with it. He lifted his hand and ran the back of it over 
Skinner's cheek. The AD leaned into Mulder's hand and shut his 
eyes.
"Let me show you what it feels like to have someone touch you 
the way you should be touched, Ironman," Mulder whispered. 
"Let me...let me show you how much I want you," he added, 
taking Skinner's chin and turning his head towards his. He 
pressed his lips to Skinner's mouth again and felt the AD's lips 
melt against his in a passionate soul searing kiss.
Skinner's hands came up and embraced Mulder, cradling his 
back as Mulder wound his hands low around Skinner's waist to 
avoid touching his back. They devoured each other hungrily for 
a few moments and then Skinner pulled away a little.
"Undress," he requested, hoarsely.
Mulder smiled and released him. Apparently the flesh was more 
willing than Skinner thought. He could only hope so. The AD 
was calling the shots and Mulder wanted more than anything 
right now to bring this man before him some semblance of 
pleasure.
The agent stood up to do as Skinner desired, drawing his black 
turtleneck over his head. He walked over to the straight backed 
chair and Skinner angled around to watch him as Mulder 
draped the sweater over the chair back. Skinner watched him, 
devouring Mulder with his eyes as his mouth had done earlier, 
and Mulder gave him another grin as he reached for his T-shirt.
In short order he stood before Skinner naked, his partially erect 
cock swinging a little as he placed his sneakers under the 
chair's seat. When he stood upright and looked at Skinner again 
he was pleased that he'd kept himself in shape. Skinner's whole 
face was transformed as he took in Mulder's body with obvious 
appreciation. There was a pleased smile on his lips and his eyes 
were almost black with his arousal.
"Oh yeah...I should never have waited this long," he 
commented, chuckling a little.
Mulder inclined his head in acknowledgment of the compliment 
and then raised his eyebrows, indicating Skinner with his chin.
"So, how about giving me the opportunity to see what I've been 
missing," he replied, grinning. "Although from what I've seen so 
far I know I'm going to like the rest," he added with a grin.
The AD had a wonderful upper body. Mulder had of course felt 
the power of that broad, muscular chest, and muscular, hard 
biceps. Skinner's chest was particularly attractive to Mulder, 
being covered with a nice amount of dark hair, flecked with 
gray.
Skinner gave him a short nod, his face also showing his 
pleasure at the compliment. He stood, stretching up to his full 
height as he moved to unbutton his jeans. Mulder noticed that 
his hands were still shaking a little as the button came free and 
he proceeded to unzip his fly. The agent felt a sudden 
tenderness towards the other man and he moved towards him, 
rounding the bed and approaching him quietly. Mulder touched 
Skinner's hands where they struggled with the recalcitrant 
zipper. Skinner looked up into his face.
"Let me help," Mulder mumbled and Skinner gave him a small 
smile and nod again. He moved his hands and Mulder worked 
at the zipper, biting his lower lip, his head bowed to the task. He 
chuckled a little.
"Damn thing's caught in the material," he commented. Skinner 
snorted a laugh as well. "Oh...here we go," Mulder added as the 
metal came free. He drew the zipper down slowly, looking up 
into Skinner's eyes then as he did so.
"I want to say something amusing at this juncture but all the 
blood's left my head and pooled in my dick," Skinner replied 
completely deadpan. Mulder guffawed and finished pulling the 
zipper all the way down.
"I'm just glad I didn't get the zipper caught on your cock," he 
replied, shaking his head and smiling.
"No shit...been there done that, don't want to go there again," 
Skinner replied, grinning.
"Yeah...but I do know someplace I wanna go," Mulder purred 
huskily. He captured Skinner's eyes as he snaked his right hand 
down the front of Skinner's jeans and briefs.
"Oh Jesus," the AD mumbled, and then he chuckled again as 
Mulder cupped his balls and then felt his cock over for the first 
time.
"Oh man..." Mulder replied, making a little sound of pleasure in 
his throat. He removed his hand and stepped back. Skinner 
tugged on his jeans and briefs, pulling them both off at once. His 
socks were in his sneakers where they sat next to the straight 
backed chair, so now he stood before Mulder naked as well.
"I have to amend my earlier statement," Mulder commented, 
wryly. "I was missing...a lot," he added surveying Skinner's 
cock.
Skinner laughed and ran a hand down his stomach. Mulder 
noticed the scars of course. The one from Luis Cardinale was 
the freshest. He assumed the others were from Vietnam. They 
were of no consequence. Skinner was beautiful. At 47 he was 
in better shape than some men ten years younger. His legs 
were long and leaner than Mulder would have imagined. He 
didn't have those bulging calf muscles that some weightlifters 
developed. Mulder knew the AD worked out in the FBI gym. 
He'd seen him a few times in the weight room. He wished at this 
point he'd seen him in the shower because his cock was 
something else again.
Skinner was a little longer and thicker than Mulder and he 
wasn't even erect yet. The agent figured he was going to be 
pretty damn impressive when he was hard. His lover at Oxford 
had been hung like a horse and Skinner wasn't quite as large 
but he would come under the heading of well-endowed in any 
book. His balls were gorgeous too, they hung a little more 
loosely than Mulder's but the agent liked the way they moved 
when Skinner shifted his weight.
Skinner shook his head but smiled widely.
"My ego thanks you," he replied, bending to pick up his clothing. 
He straightened and tossed the garments into the corner of the 
room not even bothering to drape them over the chair.
Mulder stepped close again and ran a hand over the older 
man's chest.
"God...you're fucking incredible," he murmured in appreciation. 
Skinner placed his hand over Mulder's stilling it over his heart. 
Mulder felt the excited steady beat of Skinner's pulse under his 
palm.
"This is yours, Mulder. For as long as you want it," he 
whispered, pinning Mulder's eyes.
"And this is yours," Mulder murmured in return, lifting Skinner's 
hand and placing it over his heart.
Skinner ran his hand over Mulder's chest in a caress and 
Mulder shuddered and swallowed hard. Then he captured 
Skinner's hand and gently pushed him back toward the bed.
"Sit," he commanded, smiling. Skinner glanced back to make 
sure he was on target and then he sat down on the end of the 
bed. His knees parted slightly and his free hand supported the 
rest of his weight on the mattress. Mulder kissed the palm of his 
hand and then placed Skinner's hand on his shoulder as he 
sunk to his knees between the AD's legs. Mulder stroked the 
insides of Skinner's thighs from his cock and balls to his knees 
with tantalizing movements of his hands. He massaged the area 
on either side of Skinner's nuts with an extra tenderness and 
watched as Skinner's stomach muscles flexed with his shallow 
breathing. Finally Mulder moved his hands up to Skinner's 
knees and spread the other man's legs apart a little further.
"Oh God," Skinner rasped out and his hand tightened on 
Mulder's shoulder as the agent bent his head to Skinner's 
genitals.
"Relax...and enjoy," Mulder crooned, and then he licked 
Skinner's cock from tip to base and back again with a long 
languid lap of his tongue. Skinner gasped and a small moan 
escaped his lips. Mulder pulled back slightly and looked up at 
the AD's face.
"I used to be pretty good at this...but I'm admittedly out of 
practice. So...feedback will be greatly appreciated," Mulder 
quipped, a trifle embarrassed.
It had been a long time since he'd given a blow-job. He was just 
hoping it was like riding a bike and that it would come back to 
him. Skinner looked down at him, his face flushed, his lips 
parted a little with his excitement. He kneaded Mulder's 
shoulder with his hand.
"Mulder...I haven't had a blow-job in a year and a half...I 
wouldn't worry...you'll get feedback," Skinner replied, chuckling. 
Mulder smirked and bent his head to his task again. Skinner 
brought his other hand up and steadied himself on both of 
Mulder's shoulders as the agent took the AD's cock at the base 
and worked his mouth down over it. Skinner's hips bucked up 
as Mulder slowly swallowed him all the way to where his hand 
met Skinner's swelling flesh.
"Oh yeah, oh yeah," Skinner mumbled as Mulder began to suck 
his cock. Then he didn't speak. The only sound in the room was 
Skinner's harsh breathing and the sound of Mulder's mouth 
sliding wetly over Skinner's skin.
Mulder smiled to himself as Skinner began to thrust his hips into 
his face gently at first but then a little more firmly. The AD's 
hands massaged the younger man's shoulders off and on as 
they established a pumping rhythm that worked for them both. 
Skinner was slow to arouse but he was enjoying the experience 
and finally after a time his cock began swelling and rising up out 
of his pubic hair. 
Mulder stopped for a moment and rocked back to admire his 
handiwork.
"Fantastic," he murmured, looking up at Skinner with a smile. 
The AD removed his hands from Mulder's shoulders and placed 
them back flat behind him to support his weight as his chest 
pumped up and down.
Skinner was panting and he gave Mulder a dazed smile but 
Mulder could see from the expression in Skinner's eyes that he 
was chagrined at how long it was taking for him to get it 
completely up. Mulder still debated whether this was a good 
idea. Setting the man up for failure, no matter how much he 
wanted to be with Mulder right now wasn't really advisable. 
Mulder chided himself yet again for not using common sense 
and training in this situation. But...it was so hard to not want to 
go through with making love with Skinner. The AD wanted it so 
desperately regardless of what he'd been through and Mulder 
wanted to erase that former experience by showing Skinner just 
how much he could enjoy a truly sensual, loving touch.
"It's all right," Skinner whispered, sitting forward again. "I know 
you're thinking I'm not going to...uh...it doesn't matter. I love 
what you're doing for me," he added, moving a hand up to 
stroke Mulder's spiky hair. Mulder felt tears threaten to clog the 
back of his throat. He took Skinner's hand and held it, rising to 
stand between his legs.
"Come to bed," he replied softly. "Let's...let's just lie together for 
a while and see what happens. I don't want anything we do to 
make you uncomfortable or...well...this isn't standard operating 
procedure, not 'SOP' at all for someone in your situation to be 
honest. A sexual experience may not be what..." he began to 
explain. Skinner squeezed his hand, interrupting him.
"Let's lie down," the AD interjected, echoing his suggestion. "I...I 
know what I'm getting into. This is my decision, Mulder. If 
something bothers me...I'll tell you. Don't worry," he added 
gently. 
Mulder nodded, clearing his throat a little and stepped back as 
Skinner levered himself up onto the end of the bed. The AD 
swung his legs up and then scooted towards the headboard. 
Mulder followed him onto the bed and they ended up lying side 
by side and face to face on top of the comforter.
They kissed again and Mulder caressed Skinner's face as their 
lips played over each other. When they parted Skinner ran his 
fingers over Mulder's moist lower lip.
"You have a fantastic mouth, Mulder. I'd watch this mouth when 
you'd be in my office sometimes. This lower lip would make me 
forget what I was saying or hearing on occasion," he rumbled, 
giving Mulder a wry grin.
"Never stopped you from reaming me out though," Mulder 
teased, kissing his fingertips.
"No...I did have a hard-assed rep to maintain after all," Skinner 
teased back, moving his hand down to stroke along Mulder's 
jaw.
Mulder moved his hand up over Skinner's hip and stroked his 
butt cheek, smiling at the other man.
"I don't think you have anything to worry about in the hard-ass 
area, Ironman," he husked, stroking Skinner's well-muscled 
glute. 
Skinner flinched slightly and Mulder furrowed his brow, pulling 
his hand back instantly. Skinner looked away from his eyes.
"It's not you..." he mumbled.
"I know. We won't go there," Mulder replied softly, kissing 
Skinner's forehead. The AD sighed.
"Believe me...playing the blushing bride isn't one of my 
usual...bed games," he commented without some humor.
Mulder chuckled, running his hand down over Skinner's cock.
"I don't think there's any danger in that being the case either," he 
replied.
"I guess not," Skinner replied, moving close and taking Mulder's 
hip in his hand. Mulder moved his hand out of the way so their 
cocks could meet and arched his hips up in pleasure as Skinner 
threw a muscular leg over his.
They moved together then, sliding their cocks over each other, 
up and down and back and forth in a slow sensual tango. 
Mulder could feel Skinner's erection grow firm then and soon, 
both of them were completely erect. Mulder gripped Skinner's 
hip and encouraged him to roll over as Mulder dropped over 
onto his back. Skinner followed, splaying out over the younger 
man and coming to rest between his legs. Mulder put his arms 
up and opened his body to Skinner willingly and with love, giving 
himself completely over to whatever the older man wanted to 
do next.
Skinner looked down into Mulder's eyes and than raked his 
eyes over Mulder's body. His hands explored him for a 
moment, almost in awe. When he looked back up, he smiled as 
Mulder lay quietly below him, his arms stretched over his head 
to allow Skinner complete control over and access to 
everything he wanted to offer him.
"You're so beautiful," Skinner whispered.
"Fuck me," Mulder murmured. "Take it all. I...I love you," he 
added before he realized he'd been going to say it.
Skinner let out a long sound that was something between a sob 
and a moan. His hands came up to grip Mulder's outstretched 
hands where they lay over his head. The agent took Skinner's 
hands convulsively in his, bearing down hard on the AD's 
fingers. Skinner's hips surged forward and Mulder arched up 
under him as their groins crashed together desperately, grinding 
and sliding over each other with frantic, passionate thrusts.
"Ggggod!" Skinner cried out and Mulder groaned loudly as they 
slammed together.
They were both breathing hard, grunting and gasping within a 
matter of moments. Mulder drew his legs up and wrapped them 
around Skinner's hips, locking his ankles in the small of the 
AD's back. They slid against each other for a few more 
seconds and then Mulder felt Skinner's whole body tense and 
his balls pull up and twitch. Skinner's hands gripped his like a 
vice as he arched his body back and cried out, his orgasm 
taking him hard.
"OHHHHHHH!" he roared, thrusting spastically against Mulder's 
cock.
"Oh God, that's so good...oh yeah," Mulder moaned in 
encouragement.
Skinner's face grimaced in a rictus of orgasmic pleasure and 
his head, neck and upper chest muscles strained tight as 
Mulder reveled in the sight. Cum shot out of Skinner's cock 
between them in several milky spurts and he continued to make 
guttural noises in his throat as he came.
Finally Mulder felt his own climax licking hot up out of his groin 
and he rubbed against Skinner's spurting cock furiously until he 
felt the fantastic spasm that sent him over the edge as well. He 
grunted loudly and then arched up off the bed, his back bowing 
as his own muscles grew taut. He shot semen all over Skinner's 
hard stomach muscles as they rocked together in ecstasy.
Finally Skinner released Mulder's hands and collapsed on top of 
the younger man, burying his head in his neck. Skinner was 
wracked with gasping breaths and Mulder brought a hand up to 
gently stroke the back of his neck. He didn't mind Skinner's 
weight at all. If he could have pulled him closer he would have 
in that moment. He knew now beyond a shadow of a doubt that 
what he had said was true. He did love him and from this point 
on, no matter what happened he would try to make it work 
between them as best he could.
Mulder uncrossed his ankles and dropped his legs flat onto the 
bed as Skinner levered up onto his elbows.
"Crushing you," he huffed out, shifting to move off Mulder.
"It's ok...it...it felt good to have you so close," Mulder replied to 
reassure him.
"God...that 'was' good," Skinner replied, rolling off and onto his 
side. Mulder rolled on his side as well and they faced each 
other, letting their lungs get back to normal again. Skinner 
caressed Mulder's neck and then when their breathing was 
more normal, moved close and kissed him again on the lips. 
When he pulled back there were tears making his eyes moist 
and Mulder gathered him close and held him.
"I meant what I said...it wasn't just...some kind of heat of the 
moment thing. I do love you and...I know this isn't going to be 
easy but I'll try to make it work," Mulder vowed.
"Yeah, well I'm no picnic either," Skinner mumbled, his words 
an attempt to lighten the heavy emotions that were surging 
through both their bodies.
Mulder chuckled and pushed the AD back to look in his face. 
Skinner was grinning.
"If we end up ripping each other's throats out I don't want to 
hear any complaints about the mess it makes," Mulder retorted, 
laughing.
"It's a deal," Skinner rumbled a return chuckle.
Mulder hugged him again and then looked down between them. 
Skinner gave a rueful twitch of his lips.
"I guess we should shower and maybe wash the comforter," 
Skinner observed.
"Wash the comforter?" Mulder started to laugh.
Skinner gave him a look and he laughed harder.
"Hey, what can I say? I don't like to roll in the wet spot," the AD 
griped but with a grin playing about his mouth.
"Yeah. Ok...good idea. I didn't see another comforter in the linen 
closet and I could certainly use a rinse. And...really...it was 
great. Don't think it wasn't," Mulder replied, with sincerity.
Skinner nodded and suppressed his grin.
"A girl couldn't ask for a better wedding night," he deadpanned. 
Mulder brayed a snorting laugh then and swatted Skinner on the 
thigh.
"God damn it...it's going to take me a long time to get that image 
out of my mind...you asshole," Mulder laughed.
"What image?" Skinner asked, milking the moment, his eyes 
crinkling up in pleasure.
"The one of you in a white gown and veil...being carried over 
the threshold by the groom...me...and I'll have a fucking hernia 
most likely," Mulder answered, almost helpless laughter making 
it hard for him to get the words out.
"Well I guess I'll just have to carry you then...providing I don't 
trip over my train," Skinner replied, shaking with suppressed 
laughter himself.
Mulder rolled his eyes and slapped Skinner on the shoulder.
"Come on 'Betty Bride', let's hit the showers and wash off the 
evidence of our passion...as Barbara Cartland might say," 
Mulder replied.
"Hey...you read her too?" Skinner joked, following Mulder as he 
slid off the bed.
"Oh shit...I don't want to know it if 'you' do," the agent replied as 
Skinner followed him out of the bedroom.
xXx
Later as Mulder dressed he listened to the sounds of Skinner 
rattling around in the kitchen. The AD had been a little quicker 
with pulling his clothes on again and he'd insisted on taking the 
sweat and cum stained comforter out to the utility room to wash 
it. Mulder had stayed behind and finished dressing while the AD 
did so. Even now as he dressed he heard the washer start.
He sat down on the bed and pulled his sneakers on. As he tied 
them he contemplated all the obstacles that were going to keep 
him and Skinner from forming a successful relationship. When 
he reached objection number 25 he quit in disgust and told 
himself, fuck it. He wasn't going to think about failure in this 
thing. He was going to follow through in the best way he knew 
how and hope for the best. Because really...neither of them 
could ever be sure what the future would hold. Either one of 
them could be dead tomorrow...or worse and if they could find 
some solace with each other even for a short time it was more 
than worth it, Mulder thought. He finished tying the laces on his 
left sneaker and exited the bedroom to go out and reassure 
Skinner that he was willing to make a go of it.
When he reached the kitchen door he froze...staring into the 
kitchen in shocked disbelief.
"Come on in, Mulder...take a seat," the man standing there in 
the black leather jacket and jeans ordered, his voice intense.
Alex Krycek stood holding a 9 mm Glock on Skinner. Mulder 
didn't even ask how he got in. His eyes were drawn 
immediately away from Krycek to Skinner to see if he was 
suffering any of the effects from the nanocytes.
"Don't worry, Mulder...he's fine. He didn't let me in. I picked the 
lock. He couldn't hear me over the washer running," Krycek 
commented as if reading Mulder's mind.
Mulder's lover sat at the kitchen table, his anger barely 
contained, his hands placed firmly on the tabletop. Skinner's 
face was stone, but his eyes blazed at Krycek in defiance and 
hatred as the other man seemed to ignore him. Krycek 
concentrated his attention on Mulder, giving him a speculative 
and very wary look.
Mulder swallowed and crushed down his own fear and anger in 
a desperate bid not to fly off the handle and do something stupid 
that would get them killed immediately. He let his face fall into 
as nonchalant an expression as he could muster and replied, a 
sneer just underlying his words.
"Trip to Russia canceled, Krycek? What's the matter, ruble take 
another dip in value?"
"Let's just say...I found out I had unfinished business here," 
Krycek replied, motioning with the gun for Mulder to join 
Skinner at the table. He stepped back against the kitchen 
counter, out of Mulder's line of movement as the agent 
complied and crossed to sit down, facing Skinner. "Hands on 
the tabletop," Krycek ordered and Mulder obeyed immediately.
"What do you want, Krycek?" Skinner hissed, looking up at the 
other man. Krycek shifted his shoulder a little, readjusting his 
prosthetic arm before he answered.
"Oh come on, Skinner...shouldn't that be obvious? A little bird 
told me that Mulder was hotfooting it up here to check up on his 
boss in his secluded vacation retreat. So...I came back to make 
sure I didn't miss him," Krycek answered patiently as if 
explaining to a child. "Mulder has something...I need," he added, 
his eyes flicking to Mulder's head.
Skinner glanced from Krycek to Mulder. Mulder raised an 
eyebrow and Skinner looked back at Krycek. The Czech 
frowned at Skinner. Skinner looked back at Mulder and there 
was a hint of triumph in his eyes.
"He doesn't know. I didn't tell him," Skinner commented, 
between clenched teeth.
Krycek's face clouded over with anger and he turned on 
Mulder. Mulder spoke and he spat out the words, not bothering 
to hide his disdain.
"You're an idiot Alex. If it was still there I would have sensed you 
in the kitchen and when I came around that corner just now I 
would have put a bullet in your stinking, rotten guts," Mulder 
hissed venomously.
To Mulder's amazement, the anger drained out of Krycek's face 
and body as quickly as it appeared there. The other man leaned 
back against the kitchen counter and laughed like hell. The gun 
never stopped pointing at Mulder and Skinner but Krycek shook 
his head and let laughter shake his whole body for a minute. 
The other two men just stared at him in bewilderment. Finally 
his laughter quieted and Krycek steadied the gun on them.
"Well...fuck me I guess. It figures. But you know...I suspected 
as much when you weren't carrying your piece. So..." he 
commented, glancing at the back of Mulder's head. "Who did 
the deed...that son of a bitch, cigarette sucking Spender?" he 
asked, his lips forming a smirk.
Mulder didn't answer as Krycek peered closer at what was left 
of the shaved patch on the back of the agent's skull.
"Were you awake? Damn...that must have hurt," he mused idly 
as Mulder felt his shorthairs stand on end.
"Unless there's something else you want, Krycek...why don't 
you leave? Mulder doesn't have what you need and..." Skinner 
began, his voice tense.
Krycek moved back and refocused on Skinner, licking his lips a 
little. Skinner's mouth shut immediately and his lips formed a 
grim line as Krycek's eyes ran over his body. The AD stared 
straight ahead, his eyes focusing on Mulder's face. Mulder 
captured his eyes and saw the plea there. 'Don't say anything', 
Skinner's eyes said. 'Don't do anything no matter what he says 
or does'. Mulder felt his guts twist and he took his eyes off 
Skinner for a moment as Krycek spoke, addressing him.
"Mulder, did...Walter tell you about my earlier visit and how 
much fun we had together? Did he tell you how he was a 
good...host," Krycek queried, his voice a low seductive purr.
"You're a prick, Krycek...you know that?" Mulder grated out, 
turning his attention away from Krycek and back at Skinner.
Krycek chuckled, nodding his head in acknowledgment that 
Skinner had obviously said something to the agent.
"A big prick...right, Skinner?" he replied, smirking as he looked 
back over at the AD.
Skinner remained mute, his eyes seething with anger at Krycek 
and his jaw tense as he continued to look at Mulder. Mulder 
swallowed and a glimpse of the love he felt for Skinner showed 
in his eyes for a moment before he could stop it. Skinner's eyes 
flashed a warning and Mulder tamped it down. Krycek glanced 
from one to the other, a look of speculation on his face for a 
moment. Then his eyes traveled back to Skinner
"Did you find out how big a prick Mulder is too...Walter?" he 
whispered, his voice low and full of erotic suggestion.
Mulder started to surge out of his chair, a snarl of anger boiling 
up out of his throat. Skinner's hand shot out and grabbed his 
wrist in a grip of iron.
"No!" he hissed, pushing Mulder back down into the chair hard. 
Mulder's ass hit wood with a thwack and he sat there breathing 
heavily, his nostrils flaring. Skinner let go of the agent's wrist 
and Mulder planted his hands on the table again.
"Well...that's very interesting," Krycek commented, pulling his 
gun up a little and watching the other two men as Skinner rested 
his hands on the tabletop again as well. "I'm sure the subject will 
come up again...but in the meantime, rest assured, your little 
secret is safe with me," he added with mock solicitousness.
Mulder was just that close to begging Krycek to give them a 
break. To leave and just let them be alone for as long as they 
could have together. He was willing to get down on his knees 
and plead with the bastard if he thought it would do any good. 
But he knew it wouldn't help at all. Krycek was going to do what 
he wanted to do now and neither Mulder or Skinner could do 
anything about it. Maybe it would be better if he killed them 
both. In his case it would be a smart move because if he let 
Mulder live, the agent was going to hunt him down and make 
him pay - of that 'he' could rest assured.
He was about to tell the Czech to go to hell when Krycek spoke 
up again, his voice cheerful.
"I'll tell you guys what I'll do. I'm going to cut you both some 
slack. Now, don't say I never did anything for love...ok?" 
Krycek advised them, his green eyes dancing with humor.
Skinner's head swiveled slowly towards Krycek.
"What could a parasite like you possibly know about love?" 
Skinner grated out and Mulder felt the color drain from his face. 
Evidently Skinner had reached the end of his rope at last and 
couldn't restrain his ire any longer. Mulder held his breath and 
waited for Krycek to administer his retribution for Skinner's 
comment. Krycek surprised them again. He chuckled and 
waved his gun at them.
"Quite a lot actually. It warms my 'rat bastard' heart gentlemen. 
So, I'm going to give you a thank you gift. After all...it's the 
holiday season...Hanukkah, right, Mulder? And Christmas is in a 
few weeks. So...I'll grant you guys one wish. Go on...what'll it 
be? Ask me...and I'll tell you whether it's in my power to grant 
it," Krycek answered magnanimously.
Mulder barked a laugh, unable to help himself.
"Put the gun to your head and pull the trigger, jerkwad," he 
replied his eyes watering a little.
Krycek laughed in return.
"I guess I left myself open for that one," he replied, chuckling. 
"No...no can do. Try again. How about you, Skinner...I bet I 
know what you'd like from Santa, don't I?" he added fixing his 
eyes on the AD.
Skinner just stared at him, beyond words his anger was burning 
so brightly.
"Krycek," Mulder's voice came very softly. "If you have one 
ounce of compassion in your body...leave the fucking palm pilot 
and get the hell out of here," Mulder interjected shutting his 
eyes, his face flushing at the pleading tone in his voice.
Skinner glanced from Mulder to Krycek, his jaw muscles 
jumping. Krycek studied them both silently for a moment and 
when he didn't answer right away, Mulder opened his eyes and 
captured Krycek's. The other man's lips twitched in a smile.
"Sure," he replied, curtly. He reached into his pocket with the 
prosthetic hand and both Skinner and Mulder watched in 
surprised disbelief as he fumbled the palm pilot out and tossed it 
onto the kitchen counter. "Here you go, Mulder," he replied, a 
ghost of a smile on his face. "And now, gentlemen...I'll take my 
leave. I want you to both remain seated for a half hour. Don't 
even think about following me. I may not have my electronic 
Grim Reaper here any longer but I can still give you both 
pierced ears with this 9 mm. So, be smart. Stay put and stay 
healthy," Krycek finished, edging towards the back door.
In a moment he had the door open, and with one final tip of his 
head in farewell, he exited the house and shut the door quietly 
behind him.
Mulder rose immediately, pushing his chair back.
"I'm getting my gun," he blurted out angrily, hurrying towards the 
kitchen door.
"No...stay here, Mulder," Skinner, turned round in his seat, 
admonished him quickly. "You must realize he meant what he 
said." 
Mulder stopped and looked back at Skinner. The AD turned 
back around and placed his hands up under his glasses, 
pressing into his eyes hard. Mulder walked over and laid a hand 
gently on his shoulder, standing behind him. Skinner's shoulder 
was shaking slightly as the adrenaline surged through his body.
"Yeah...I look like crap in earrings anyway, Ironman. I'll give it a 
pass I guess," Mulder replied softly, giving Skinner's shoulder a 
light squeeze.
Skinner barked a laugh despite himself and then stopped and 
silently laid his cheek on Mulder's hand, shutting his eyes for a 
moment.
"I'm getting too old for this shit," he whispered letting out a sigh.
"I hear you," Mulder replied, reaching his free hand over and 
ruffling the fringe of hair on the other side of Skinner's head. 
Mulder stood like that for a few moments and then Skinner 
lifted his head.
"I want to examine that palm pilot," he commented, clearing his 
throat.
"Yes. So do I," Mulder replied, nodding. He moved back and 
Skinner rose from his chair. Both men walked over to the 
kitchen counter where the palm pilot sat, cover closed...squat, 
black and deadly. 
Skinner reached it first and without hesitation picked it up.
"I'd be very careful," Mulder advised, raising an eyebrow.
Skinner grunted his response and flipped the cover up on the 
device. The screen glowed eerily green even under the 
overhead kitchen light. Krycek had activated the machine. The 
icons on its tiny Desktop stood out in stark relief against the lit 
green background.
"Fuck," Skinner whispered.
"Put...put it down," Mulder hissed and Skinner set the palm pilot 
carefully back down on the counter.
"I don't think it can do anything unless you actually select..." 
Skinner began, peering at the Desktop display.
"SR819," Mulder breathed, his voice a mixture of wariness and 
disgust as he read the folder name under one of the icons.
"I would lay odds on it, yes," Skinner replied, looking at Mulder. 
"And why...why the fuck did he leave it?" Skinner added 
musing. "I don't buy that the guy had an ounce of compassion 
for me. Mulder...I don't like this much at all," he finished, looking 
again at the palm pilot screen.
"Krycek always has an ulterior motive. I hate to say this but I'm 
waiting for the other shoe to drop too," Mulder replied wearily, 
running his hand through his hair. "I suppose it's too much to ask 
for an early Christmas present," he added sardonically, staring 
at the screen with a frown.
"Unless it's coal in our stocking," Skinner retorted with a sigh. 
The side of Mulder's mouth twitched up in a half smile and then 
he straightened up and squared his shoulders. When he spoke 
he tried to sound a little more positive.
"Listen...we...we should leave this thing alone for now. I know 
someone who can take a look at it after we get back to DC," 
Mulder replied, looking at Skinner.
"Those three computer hacker friends of yours? The guys from 
the hospital?" Skinner asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Frohike, Byers and Langly. They'd kill to get their hands 
on this thing...and...they just might be able to hack the program 
and find out what game Krycek's playing. If we got really 
lucky...they might give you a cure for your uh...little blood 
buddies," Mulder replied, hope in his voice.
Skinner raised an eyebrow but after a moment, nodded.
"All right. I'd be willing to entertain any possibility at getting rid of 
my...hardware. So...I agree. It goes back to DC with you and 
your friends can give it their tender touch," he rumbled, picking 
up the palm pilot again. He hesitated a second and then he 
deactivated it, shutting the lid again and handing the device to 
Mulder.
Mulder accepted the palm pilot carefully, telling himself he only 
hoped that Krycek hadn't planned something a lot worse for 
them both and they'd make it back to DC to give the Lone 
Gunmen a chance to use their computer Kung Fu. Ah fuck it, 
he told himself. What else could they do but try and not sweat it 
now? There wasn't any recourse anyway.
"You want to go back tonight then?" Mulder asked, glancing up 
at the kitchen wall clock. It was almost eight o'clock. Gee...time 
flies when you're having fun he thought bitterly.
"God, Mulder...no. Let's wait until the morning. I'm dead on my 
feet," Skinner grated out honestly. "I think we can count on 
Krycek leaving us alone. When he left me last week the trip to 
Russia sounded pressing, I imagine he's in a hurry to get back 
to business over there," the AD added, his voice weary.
Mulder thought Skinner's posture matched his voice. He did 
look exhausted for sure and Mulder knew he wasn't feeling 
much better. He sagged into himself a little, nodded, and 
brandished the palm pilot. 
"Yeah, I'm beat myself. I'll go put this in my garment bag and 
we can turn in," he replied. "Unless you're hungry and..."
"No...I...I'm not hungry. I'll just lock up and go to bed," Skinner 
replied.
Mulder gave him a soft smile.
"Ok, good night then," he replied, moving away towards the 
living room.
"Mulder?" Skinner asked.
Mulder turned back around.
"Yeah?"
"You don't need to use the couch," he replied quietly, giving 
Mulder a small smile.
Mulder grinned back.
"I was hoping that might be the case," he grinned. "But I didn't 
want to be... presumptuous," he added, smirking a little.
"Smart-ass," Skinner retorted giving him a mock scowl.
"Only one of my charms," Mulder answered as he turned to 
leave. He exited the kitchen to Skinner's rumbling laughter.
xXx
Sunday, December 8, 1999. 6 AM. A beach house near 
Crossroads, Maine
Mulder woke to warm sunlight touching his face. He sighed with 
contentment, feeling the solid, comforting bulk of Skinner at his 
back, the AD's arm draped protectively around his middle. This 
he could definitely get used to he thought. Oh yeah, no problem. 
He had to go to the can but he wanted to lie there for just a few 
minutes and savor the feeling of lying enfolded in the arms of 
his lover. 
The events of the last two days had turned Mulder's world 
upside down but...in the grand scheme of things that wasn't an 
infrequent occurrence. No...Mulder was frequently left with the 
idea that his life was like one of those '8 Ball' toys he and Sam 
had owned as kids. The black orb made to look like a billard 
ball, that you would turn over, shake up, turn back over and 
then view your fortune floating up out of some kind of black 
murky liquid in a little window on the flat side of the toy.
So, Mulder's life had been like that ball...or like James Bond's 
classic martini...yeah...shaken, not stirred. Mulder had learned 
one adage if he hadn't learned anything at all over time as a 
result. He'd learned to 'go with the flow' and that's exactly what 
he planned on doing now. He'd carry on and he knew Skinner 
would do the same...and apparently, they'd be doing it together.
Mulder gently placed his hand on Skinner's arm and attempted 
to move it. Skinner made a small sound of pleasure and pulled 
him closer. Mulder smiled and shook Skinner's arm a little.
"Walter...as much as I like this...I have to go to the can," he 
advised, drawing Skinner's hand up and kissing his palm. 
Skinner's first name still felt a trifle awkward on his tongue...but 
he was getting used to it.
They'd gotten past the first name basis situation before bed last 
night. Ironman was still fine of course, but Skinner wanted 
Mulder to call him Walter as well to make an additional clear 
distinction between their public and private relationship. Mulder 
didn't mind. He sure as hell didn't plan on calling him 'sir' in bed 
and Walter had laughed like hell at that idea too. Skinner kept 
calling Mulder, Mulder however. He didn't even ask if that was 
the agent's preference. He just instinctively knew and Mulder 
appreciated not having to explain why he didn't want to hear 
Fox coming out of the AD's mouth if at all possible.
The rest of the whole subordinate versus employee thing was 
going to have to be considered a wait and see situation. Mulder 
knew it was probably going to be a bumpy ride but he was 
prepared to fasten his seat belt and try to take it a day at a time 
at the Hoover. In private...well in private they were both 
determined now to make things work. Even with their doubts as 
to Krycek's motives and agenda they actually had hope that 
with the palm pilot in hand...Skinner might just be getting the 
kind of break he hadn't had in a very long time. Secretly, 
despite everything he'd been through, Mulder was still an 
optimist. He had to be or he couldn't keep going. He had a 
feeling that down deep, Skinner was an optimist too.
Mulder continued to nuzzle his lover's fingers until he felt the AD 
kissing the back of his neck and smiling against his skin.
"Morning," Skinner mumbled sleepily, blowing warm air along 
Mulder's cervical spine. "What time is it?" he asked and then 
chuckled a little. The clock radio was on his side of the bed. 
Mulder felt him shift to look at the clock. When Skinner rolled 
back he gave Mulder a swift swat on his naked ass. Mulder 
jumped and rubbed up along Skinner's cock in the process.
"It's 6 AM, Mulder...I'm at least trying to convince myself this is 
a vacation now," Skinner joked, turning the slap into a caress. 
"We're going back to DC today," Mulder whispered as Skinner 
softly rubbed his ass.
"Yeah...but not at the crack of dawn. Mulder...let this old man 
sleep in, will you?" Skinner grouched not without a heavy dose 
of humor. He snuggled down further under the covers.
"Hey...I have to go...blame Mother Nature," Mulder chuckled, 
shifting to move away from Skinner's warm muscular body. It 
was lucky the guy was like a human blast furnace. Since they'd 
never taken the comforter out of the washer last night the 
additional heat had been most welcome.
"Oh. All right...yeah...she's a bitch," Skinner retorted with a 
chuckle. He lifted his arm up and allowed Mulder to pull away.
Mulder slid off the bed and turned to look down at Skinner 
fondly. The AD slid up and stretched a little, giving Mulder a 
genuine smile. 
"I'll be back in a few minutes," Mulder advised him. Skinner 
scrubbed a large hand over his face and nodded.
Mulder entered the bathroom, approached the toilet, tipped up 
the lid and sat down. While he took care of business he found 
himself thinking about everything that had transpired over the 
last 24 hours. Mulder had been a little worried that the AD 
wasn't going to handle any of this well once they woke up this 
morning. He should have known better. It had taken Walter 
Skinner years of stress to get to where he fled DC and took 
refuge here to drink himself into forgetfulness. He was a strong 
man. He was going to come back from what was done to him 
and Mulder liked to think that part of the reason he was coping 
was because he was there, had declared his love and they 
would help each other now to get through the dark times. 
Mulder considered himself very lucky to have two fighters and 
tough individuals like Scully and Skinner on his side. In that one 
way at least, Fox Mulder was a very lucky man.
Finishing up with the toilet paper, Mulder got up and flushed the 
commode, then he wandered over to the small vanity and sink 
to wash his hands. As he turned on the faucet, Skinner made an 
appearance in the bathroom door. He sauntered over to the 
toilet, tipped the seat up and placing one hand on the wall and 
the other on his dick, leaned over the bowl. Mulder bent to wash 
his hands and the sound of running water was met with the 
sound of piss hitting water as Skinner urinated.
Mulder glanced at the AD and saw Skinner sighing a little, his 
eyes shut as he emptied his bladder. Mulder smiled to himself 
and rinsed the rest of the soap off his hands. Skinner flushed 
the toilet and walked over to wash his hands alongside Mulder. 
Mulder splashed his face a little and then rinsed his mouth out, 
spitting into the sink. Skinner did the same and then both of 
them wiped their hands in turn on the nearby hand towel. 
Skinner hung the towel back up and Mulder examined his beard 
stubble in the mirror, pulling a face. Skinner moved over in back 
of him and chuckled at Mulder's expression.
"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to do that, that your face 
would get stuck that way?" Skinner asked, running his hands up 
and down Mulder's biceps.
"Many times...it's why I have the nose I have today," he 
quipped. Skinner turned him and Mulder came around willingly 
in his arms to face him.
"It's a beak," Skinner teased, running his finger up and down the 
feature under discussion. Mulder smiled as Skinner bent 
forward and ran his tongue up and then down Mulder's nose as 
well. Mulder laughed but Skinner's mouth over his lips stopped 
the sound quite effectively. Mulder felt hot, electric arousal flood 
his groin immediately as Skinner thrust his tongue into the 
equally warm as well as wet confines of his mouth. His cock 
throbbed and started to come to attention. He moaned and 
Skinner took Mulder's head in his hands to deepen the kiss.
When they parted, both of them began to explore each other's 
bodies with their hands. Mulder leaned back against the vanity 
while Skinner kneaded, stroked, caressed and touched his 
upper body. Mulder let his hands roam over every part of 
Skinner they could reach. He was still careful of Skinner's 
injuries of course but the AD never flinched at all.
Mulder groaned as Skinner switched to using his mouth and 
began licking wet trails over Mulder's chest. When he reached 
Mulder's right nipple and started sucking, Mulder's hands came 
up and gripped his head, holding him close as the AD sent jolts 
of ecstasy from his tit straight down to his cock and balls. 
Mulder tilted his head back and whined in his throat, caressing 
Skinner's bald head as the AD laved both his nipples in turn.
When Skinner's mouth left his nipples and started to travel 
lower, Mulder let go of the older man's head and watched the 
incredible sight of Assistant Director Walter S. Skinner of the 
FBI, getting down on his knees between his legs and taking 
Mulder's cock in his mouth.
"Oh fuck...good morning, Walter" Mulder laughed in pleasure as 
Skinner took him all the way in and sucked like hell. "Oh shit. 
That's....that's so fucking good," he added, grabbing at Skinner's 
shoulders spastically as the AD really went to town on his 
rapidly swelling erection. Mulder watched as Skinner took his 
own cock in hand and pumped it to get himself completely up 
as well.
The agent thrust his hips forward and back, forward and back, 
shutting his eyes to rock into his lover's face. Before long he 
was panting hard and very close to coming. Skinner pulled back 
suddenly however, releasing his lover's hard-on with a wet 
sliding sound. Mulder gasped as the AD stood up and took his 
arms. Mulder's mouth was parted, his breath coming in short 
huffs as Skinner nuzzled his neck and then whispered in his ear.
"Have you ever been done up the ass?" he husked, starting to 
suck on Mulder's pulse point.
Mulder nodded a little. "Yeah...and...I...uh...I like something up 
there when I jerk off too so...uh...if uh...you...you wanna...."
"I wanna fuck you," Skinner breathed against his neck.
Mulder nodded breathlessly, "Yeah...come on...put it in," he 
murmured. Skinner slid his mouth across to Mulder's lips and 
kissed him again. Mulder moaned around Skinner's mouth. 
When the AD let him go this time he stretched a hand out and 
fished his shaving kit over from where it rested on the top of the 
vanity. Mulder looked over as Skinner rooted around inside it, 
his brow furrowing a little. Then his brow smoothed and he 
came out with a small packet.
Mulder smiled as Skinner stuck the condom up in front of his 
face and grinned, his eyes dark with his arousal. Mulder still 
couldn't get over how open and beautiful the AD's eyes were 
without the masking effect of his spectacles.
"Can you see the expiration date on this thing?" he asked, 
chuckling in self-deprecation.
Mulder chuckled, swallowing hard as his cock twitched in 
anticipation of what they were about to do.
"July of 2000," Mulder answered. Mulder knew there were 
things besides STDs you could end up getting from rectal 
penetration. Like a roaring bladder or urethral bacterial infection. 
So, a condom was a good idea during anal sex regardless of 
your health status. The condom was lubricated as well and 
Mulder took comfort in that fact too. He regularly used a dildo 
during masturbation and he knew that if he relaxed and they 
went slow he'd be able to take Skinner with only the lubed 
condom. "And...that lube should be enough," he added, his 
chest moving rapidly up and down.
Skinner grunted his thanks and then tore the packet open. He 
stepped back and bent over his erection a little. Mulder 
watched, licking his lips as Skinner worked the rubber over the 
engorged red head of his cock. God that thing really was 
fantastic he thought. Close to eight inches of circumcised 
pleasure. Skinner pinched the reservoir tip at the end of the 
condom to express the air as his hands moved the latex down 
over his length. Finally he seated the rubber ring comfortably 
and then looked up at Mulder with a grin. 
Mulder took that as his signal to turn around and lean over the 
vanity, presenting his ass to Skinner. Skinner moved in close 
and reached down between Mulder's legs to caress the agent's 
cock and balls.
"Not too much," Mulder hissed. "I'm close. I...I'd like to come 
with you in me."
"I'd like that too," Skinner replied huskily taking his hand away 
from Mulder's erection. Then he leaned over and kissed the 
small of Mulder's back. "Take deep breaths and if it hurts tell 
me...I'll stop," he advised, his voice a deep rumbling purr.
"Right," Mulder replied, relaxing himself and leaning on his 
forearms.
Skinner didn't move for a moment and Mulder glanced around. 
The AD was running two fingers in and out of his mouth, getting 
them moist and then he brought them down between Mulder's 
ass cheeks. So he wasn't just going to ram into him, Mulder 
thought. He smiled to himself as he contemplated Skinner's 
consideration for his comfort. Mulder felt a slick finger probing 
his anus and then it slid easily inside. Skinner thrust it in and out 
a few times and then stuck the second finger in, pumping both 
fingers slowly in and out as well. Mulder made small thrusts with 
his hips and a moan escaped his lips. 
"That's good then?" Skinner asked quietly as Mulder moved 
under his hand.
"Oh yeah...great," Mulder replied, breathing in and out deeply. 
He wasn't having any problem at all and the postillioning felt 
wonderful. Skinner avoided stroking his prostate since Mulder 
was so close to coming but the pressure and fullness of the 
AD's thick fingers inside him felt fantastic.
"You're going to do just fine...lover," Skinner replied a little shyly 
at referring to Mulder that way.
"Hmmm, yeah. I can hardly wait to feel your cock, Ironman," 
Mulder crooned seductively, urging him on. Mulder tilted his ass 
up a little more in invitation.
"All right, man...here it comes then," Skinner hissed, taking his 
fingers out of Mulder's rectum. Mulder felt Skinner put one hand 
on his hip and then the head of the AD's latex clad cock came 
into contact with Mulder's anus. Skinner parted the opening with 
his fingers and then thrust forward a little inserting just the tip of 
his cock inside Mulder's body. Skinner held the agent's hip still, 
moved his hand up to Mulder's other hip, gripped tight and thrust 
his hips forward. Mulder took a deep breath as Skinner's cock 
breached his anus.
"Uh," he grunted and Skinner stopped.
"Ok?" he asked, panting.
"Yeah...go," Mulder replied, tucking his chin down into his chest. 
He opened his mouth and took in air. It did hurt but he knew if 
he kept relaxed the pain would only be temporary. He shut his 
eyes and continued to breathe deeply as Skinner thrust slowly 
forward.
"Fuck...oh...that's good," Skinner grunted as he felt Mulder's 
tight rectum enfolding his cock.
"UhGod. You feel...huge," Mulder laughed with pleasure and 
then he grunted hard as he felt a dull burning pressure inside his 
ass. Skinner stopped again and allowed Mulder a few seconds 
to breathe rapidly and grow accustomed to the feel of Skinner's 
length invading his body.
"Tell me when," he prompted, his voice a little tight.
"Do it," Mulder huffed, glancing back to see Skinner's intense 
face, lost in concentration, his teeth clenched as he moved his 
hips forward again. Mulder moved his head back around and 
spread his legs apart a little further. At last he felt the familiar 
pop inside that told him Skinner had passed his sphincter and he 
groaned at the sudden spasm of pleasure that rippled through 
his body. "Oh fuck yeah...there you go," he moaned as Skinner 
settled against his balls. 
"Jesus you feel hot," Skinner husked, stroking Mulder's hips. 
"Nice and tight too, lover.
"You feel like the fucking Washington Monument, Walter. God 
damn you fill me up," Mulder groaned with pleasure.
Skinner groaned low in his throat and then took Mulder's hips in 
his hands. He pulled back and then thrust forward, pushing his 
cock slowly back into Mulder.
"Oh God that's gggood," Mulder moaned. "Lover," he mumbled 
as Skinner began to thrust against him.
"Uh...Uh...Uh," Skinner grunted in time with his thrusts for a few 
moments and then he lost his voice as he picked up the pace. 
They slapped together hard, Skinner snapping and rolling his 
hips a little and Mulder arching his back like a cat and meeting 
each thrust eagerly. Skinner finally reached forward and 
fumbling a little found Mulder's cock. It only took a couple of 
cranks over his hard-on and Mulder felt his balls pulling up. 
Right at the end Skinner got the angle right and stroked at 
Mulder's prostate with the head of his dick. Mulder felt his 
muscles contract and then he cried out hoarsely as his orgasm 
jolted him forward. Semen spurted out of his cock onto the 
vanity cabinet and over Skinner's fist.
Skinner continued to jerk Mulder's cock as he stabbed against 
the agent's ass with his hips. At the last, his hand slipped off 
Mulder's flagging erection as he had to grab Mulder's hips to 
thrust in fast and deep to bring himself off. The older man gave 
a hoarse guttural moan as his climax approached.
Mulder tried to clamp down harder with his rectal muscles to 
give Skinner as much friction as possible and was rewarded 
with an exclamation of "FUCK!" as the AD rammed into him. 
Skinner arched back, and then made three more rapid thrusts, 
grunting incoherently as he shot hard into the condom. They 
rocked together, each riding out the last of their orgasms and 
then their hips finally slowed and then stopped as they ran out of 
steam.
Skinner collapsed on Mulder's back, gasping.
"Thank you," he mumbled after a few seconds, kissing Mulder's 
sweating skin. He traced his lips along Mulder's spine and then 
rested his head where his lips last touched near Mulder's neck.
Mulder panted and rested his forehead against the vanity.
"You're more than welcome," he whispered, breathing hard.
They stood like that for a few moments and Skinner stroked 
Mulder's arm. Mulder didn't mind taking his weight again at all. 
He knew that with their joining this way that besides his love he 
had given Skinner something else this morning. He had given 
back his sense of self. He'd given him confidence in his abilities 
as a lover, given him back control, allowed him to feel human 
again...like a man again. Getting back his humanity was 
something Skinner needed very badly at this point. Mulder was 
glad he was able to help him regain a modicum of that and his 
manhood as well.
Finally, Skinner pushed up off Mulder's back and stood on 
somewhat rubbery legs behind the agent's ass. Mulder glanced 
back and chuckled as Skinner steadied his cock which was still 
inside Mulder.
"If you wanna sleep in a little longer now I won't call you on it," 
he teased, gesturing towards Skinner's shaking knees with his 
chin. Skinner barked a laugh.
"I told you I was an old man," Skinner replied giving Mulder a 
grin.
"Old? Get real, Walter. You never reamed me that well in the 
office. Don't ever think you can't do the deed, lover. I haven't 
been that well fucked in eons," Mulder replied with a returning 
grin. He turned his head away as he saw Skinner's face take on 
a look of pleasure at the comment. He felt Skinner's body 
straighten and knew he was puffing up in pride. Mulder felt a 
sudden rush of warm joy and love flow through his body.
"Well...fucked or well fucked...I'm done. I gotta pull out here. 
Hang on," Skinner murmured, holding the base of his cock.
"Ok," Mulder replied, nodding. He spread his legs apart a little 
again and then stood still.
Skinner held the condom tight to his flaccid dick, placed a hand 
on Mulder's ass and stepped back slowly. Mulder felt his rectal 
muscles squeeze to expel Skinner's cock and then the AD 
popped free of the agent's body.
Mulder pushed up off the vanity with his hands, stood up and 
turned around. Skinner was carefully removing the semen filled 
condom from his dick. His hands fumbled with it a little and he 
shook his head, chuckling. Mulder flexed his leg muscles and 
watched as the AD focused on his task.
Skinner looked up at him, noticed the movement and stilled his 
hands on his cock. He spoke, his voice showing concern.
"Are you all right? I...I didn't hurt you did I?" he asked quietly 
indicating Mulder's legs and then his ass with a tip of his chin. 
"No...I'm fine. My legs just cramped a little. I came really 
hard...it was incredible."
"No...uh...discomfort inside?" Skinner asked, clearing his throat 
a little. He looked away a trifle embarrassed and fiddled with the 
condom further.
"No problem at all. I do fuck myself with a dildo when I jerk off. 
It really did make it more easy to take you," Mulder replied 
lightly to reassure Skinner.
Skinner nodded and actually yawned a little. He shook his head 
again and finally got the condom completely off. Mulder 
observed the yawn and suppressed a grin. Skinner had come 
really hard too. Maybe they both should get some more rest 
before they tried driving back. What the hell, they could use it 
after everything that had happened between them as well as 
with Krycek.
"Seriously, Walter. If you want to get some more sleep I don't 
mind waiting to go back to DC. I think I could use a couple more 
hours myself, actually," Mulder suggested.
Skinner walked over to the toilet with the condom and tossed it 
in. He answered before he flushed it down.
"Yeah...after a rinse off I could really use some more sack time. 
Let's do it. I can set the alarm," he replied, smiling.
"Sounds like a plan to me," Mulder replied. Skinner nodded and 
then flushed the toilet.
Later, after a quick shower Mulder and Skinner lay in bed, 
Skinner at Mulder's back, his arm around him again. They 
snuggled together and it occurred to Mulder that never in a 
million years would he have expected the AD to be a 'cuddler'. 
But cuddle he did and Mulder was discovering that he liked it 
very much indeed. They'd been talking a little and touching, 
trying to stave off sleep in conversation. They wanted to talk in 
order to get to know each other further. After the heat of the 
moment both men were beginning to face up to the fact that 
they didn't know that much about each other at all. Any chance 
they would get to share was a gift they shouldn't and couldn't 
reject.
Mulder sighed in contentment. Skinner breathed steadily behind 
him and then he spoke again.
"Mulder, you know...I don't insist on...on topping all the time. If 
you enjoy uh...being in the driver's seat, speak up about it. I 
won't argue," he told him quietly.
Mulder shifted a little and stroked Skinner's arm. He sensed 
Skinner was trying to both thank him for letting him top him as 
well as admit there was no way this morning he could have let 
Mulder take him from behind. His flinching when Mulder had 
touched his ass the first time they made love had told him he 
was more than likely still sore or even unable mentally to go 
there yet after Krycek's version of lovemaking. Mulder didn't 
have a problem with it. He was as happy to play bottom for a 
while and when Skinner asked, he'd top him and do it with equal 
pleasure as well as vigor. But only when Skinner was ready.
"Yeah, I will. I don't mind driving myself once in a while. So, 
we'll see about that soon. You can let me know when the mood 
takes you, deal?" he replied softly, lifting Skinner's arm and 
kissing the AD's wrist.
"Deal," Skinner replied, a smile in his voice.
"Can I ask you something, Walter?" Mulder asked as he placed 
Skinner's hand over his stomach.
"Sure, what?" Skinner answered, stroking the agent's skin.
"Well...I asked you yesterday when you discovered you liked 
men. I was just still curious. When did you come out to 
yourself?" Mulder asked carefully.
Skinner kissed the back of Mulder's neck and then answered 
him. 
"I admitted the truth to myself seven years after I married 
Sharon. You know they talk about that seven year itch idea? 
Well I started itching all right. But...I'd been with men before and 
even then denied I was gay. But that was in Nam and it was 
easy to pass a lot of stuff off as life during war time you know? 
So, I'd shoot VC one day, go on leave the next, whore around a 
little to tell myself I was one of the guys and then hook up 
with...well I had a lover then. My first..." he let his voice trail off.
Mulder patted his arm.
"It's all right," he murmured, soothing Skinner over the painful 
memory.
Skinner gave Mulder a peck on the neck again in thanks and 
continued. Mulder listened as Skinner went into more detail than 
Mulder had expected him to do. But, Mulder realized that 
Skinner needed to get something off his chest so he listened 
quietly to the AD's explanation.
"At any rate, after Nam there were still men...but I thought I was 
being discreet about it. I was wrong. Just before I met Sharon I 
was assigned to the San Francisco Office. My partner and I had 
just come off a very difficult case. I...I went down to the Castro 
and cruised a few bars. Someone...well later I wondered why 
this guy had approached me to be honest. I should have 
smelled a rat. He was older, cultured....British..."
"Oh shit," Mulder breathed out.
"Yeah. It was the wrong someone," Skinner replied with a sigh. 
"He...he was with the resistance later, you know," Mulder 
whispered, pulling Skinner's arm tight around him.
"He wasn't back then," Skinner answered bitterly.
They were silent for a few minutes, lost in their respective 
memories and then Skinner spoke again, his voice sleepy but 
less downbeat.
"So...uh...you're bisexual then?" he asked with interest.
Mulder considered the question, pursing his lips for a moment. 
He'd had both men and women and to be honest...he'd failed 
with both genders relationship wise. But his reasons for failure 
with both genders right at this moment, lying here in Skinner's 
arms, was tremendously confusing. He needed to tell the AD 
what he really thought.
"Honestly, Walter...I don't know. I have been with both men and 
women. Yeah...and all my relationships have failed up until 
Scully. The only reason I think we're not splitsville is because 
we've kept our partnership on the job and haven't taken it into 
the bedroom." 
"Are you attracted to her sexually?" Skinner asked quietly.
"I...once in a while I think I'd like to see what it would be like with 
her...yeah. But..." Mulder sighed. "I know the difference 
between needing to just get my rocks off and forming that kind 
of emotional bond. I don't want to hurt Scully that way."
Mulder felt Skinner's large hand still on his stomach. The AD 
pulled him closer and hugged him to his chest.
"It's not easy to admit that you're gay, Mulder. Even after I told 
myself I was, I hid it, didn't act on it, tried...tried to make my 
marriage work because of the fear of that admission. What it 
would do to my life...what...what the Consortium used it to do to 
my life. But, now...finally...I'm not going to hide it from myself 
any longer. I can't. I love you and I want to be with you. I 
hope...I hope well...you know what I want. You read my mind 
after all," Skinner replied, his voice rough with emotion.
"I know...and Walter...maybe...maybe you can try to help me 
come to terms with things here and...God...I'm going to try to 
give you want you want too," Mulder whispered sincerely.
Skinner nodded against Mulder's neck and nuzzled his hair.
"We'll take it a day at a time, lover. Now...get some sleep. I'm 
fading fast here," Skinner rumbled, his low voice intense but 
tinged with fatigue again.
Mulder nodded and settled down. He had a lot to think about. 
His sexual preferences were only the tip of the iceberg. He still 
had a lot to tell Skinner about all that he knew about the quest, 
about the X-Files hell, not to mention about himself...not the 
least about himself...oh yeah, a big bombshell about Fox Mulder 
would be coming up...all about his parentage...about...Mulder 
stilled his thoughts. Whoa. Slow down here. Jesus. Better listen 
up and heed Skinner's advice. Yes...one day at a time. Those 
words certainly would and should prove to be words to live by. 
He heard Skinner's breathing evening out and he knew the AD 
was falling asleep. He closed his eyes and invited sleep to take 
him as well.
xXx
Mulder woke suddenly to the sound of a cell phone trilling. He 
reached for the night stand, fumbling as Skinner violently 
kicked him.
"Fuck...sorry," Skinner blurted out as he grabbed at Mulder's 
side to stop from booting him out of bed.
Mulder pulled his cell down onto the pillow and frowned at it. 
"It's yours," he informed Skinner as he turned on his side and 
brandished his silent phone at the AD.
Skinner lunged for the night stand on his side of the bed, found 
his cell phone and hit the send button as he sat up. He slammed 
the phone to his ear.
"Skinner!" he barked into it.
Mulder sat up and tossed his cell phone down into his lap. He 
watched as Skinner's face flushed red and his jaws clenched 
together hard.
"What do you want?" he hissed into the phone.
Mulder felt a chill travel up his spine. It was followed by a hot 
wash of anger as he watched Skinner listening intently.
"Rot in hell," Skinner spat into the phone and then he handed 
the cell wordlessly over to Mulder, a look of almost 
unfathomable disgust and confusion warring on his face.
Mulder took the cell phone and clamped it to his ear.
"Hey, stud...how's it hanging?" the snide voice he pretty much 
expected to hear came over the line.
"Gee I was hoping the plane went down over Siberia," Mulder 
snarled.
"No such luck, Mulder," Krycek replied, chuckling. "But listen...I 
had something I needed to ask you..." he added, letting his 
voice trail off.
Mulder closed his eyes and tried to calm himself before he 
answered. He was really sick of playing this asshole's game.
"What?" he finally managed to spit out.
"Well I just wanted to know...did he get it up for you? I 
mean...he was pretty much a limp dick when we..."
Mulder felt fury pound up from his guts right into his brain and 
he lost it, spitting saliva as he grated his response into the 
phone. 
"Yeah, he got it up for me, you stinking pile of shit. He got it up 
and he put it to me good, like the man you'll never be, Krycek. 
He fucked me up the ass so good, I screamed his name and 
my teeth rattled I came so hard, you one armed dickless 
wonder. And while I got you on the line here, fucker...let me ask 
you a question. How does it feel to have to get used to pumping 
that Tic Tac you call a dick with your left hand, Krycek? Or do 
you like it better wrapped in plastic?" Mulder frothed on, just 
building up more steam.
The agent suddenly felt Skinner's hand tenderly caress his thigh 
and he looked up into the AD's face. Skinner's eyes had 
softened and his love for Mulder was plain to see in them. He 
shook his head and mouthed the word, 'no' and Mulder felt the 
anger drain out of him. His hand on the cell shook a bit as 
Krycek answered him.
"That's two questions," Krycek replied, anger bubbling under the 
forced chuckle
he gave out over the connection.
"Krycek...what do you want, really?" Mulder sighed, speaking 
more softly.
Krycek cleared his throat.
"There's no need to be rude to me, Mulder. I did call to tell you 
something important...you might say I had a crisis of conscious 
actually," Krycek answered cryptically.
"I'm listening," Mulder replied, trying to rein in his impatience. 
"Well...I guess I figured it was less than sporting to make you 
think I'd left you a solution to Skinner's uh...blood product 
predicament. Because I really didn't," Krycek purred into the 
phone. 
Mulder felt his own blood freeze at the answer.
"Then...then why did you leave the palm pilot?" Mulder asked 
slowly.
He glanced at Skinner and the AD raised his eyebrows. His 
face asking the obvious question and hoping against hope that 
the answer wouldn't be some new horror for them both to face.
"Well here's a rich one, Mulder. I'm sure you'll appreciate it too. I 
don't need the palm pilot anymore. The reason I don't need it is 
because..."
Mulder felt something fall into place in his mind. Something that 
had been back there the minute Krycek had tossed the palm 
pilot onto the kitchen counter. His lips twitched into a terse smile 
and he spoke into the cell phone.
"The Man in the White Suit," he replied.
"That's my boy," Krycek replied, chuckling. "Bingo...and for a 
week before I came to visit Walter. Make sure you tell him I 
said that won't you?" he added, the self satisfied leer heavy in 
his voice.
Mulder cleared his throat and was about to speak but Krycek 
beat him to the punch.
"No...please...don't try to find the words to thank me. I know 
they wouldn't be sincere," he chuckled again.
"You'd be right," Mulder hissed into the phone with venom.
"Well...before you heap invective on me again, 
Mulder...consider this. The software...the whole program is in 
that palm pilot, you ungrateful fuck. So, when you get it back to 
DC don't forget who gave you the technology. Remember that 
the next time you've got me in your sights, you shit. Don't say I 
never did anything for you. And don't forget what I told you 
before...resist or serve, Mulder. Just remember that you Christ 
figure wannabe," Krycek replied intensely. 
Mulder gritted his teeth and whispered into the phone.
"Yeah...and don't forget you know our 'little secret' here too 
right, you bastard?"
Krycek chuckled.
"Just to show you what a nice guy I really am, Mulder...I'm 
willing to forget you and Skinner are fuck buddies too. 
Seriously. Never knew about it. Now...how's that, lover boy?" 
Krycek replied magnanimously.
Mulder's teeth grated together.
"All right...Alex. I owe you. Once. One time. You got me. One 
chance to run if I catch up with you. But after that...all bets are 
off."
"That's all I ask," Krycek replied quietly.
Mulder had to hope he was telling the truth. He spoke again into 
the phone and pitched his voice low and deadly.
"That's all you'll get," he rasped in reply.
"I'll hold you to it, cocksucker," Krycek chuckled. "Say goodbye 
to Walter for me. I hope he lets you get a piece sometime soon. 
He's a great fuck. A real tight ass in more ways than one. Later, 
Mulder. Keep your 'Johnny hat' on," Krycek replied and then the 
line went dead.
Mulder closed his eyes and composed himself for a second as 
Skinner breathed harshly next to him. Skinner's voice finally 
brought him back to focus.
"Man in the White Suit?" he asked, clearing his throat.
Mulder handed Skinner his cell phone and the AD tossed it 
down into his lap. When he looked up again, Mulder touched his 
lover's stiff jaw muscles and then bent to claim his mouth for a 
few moments. Skinner kissed him back gently and Mulder felt 
the AD's jaw muscles relax. They separated again and Mulder 
spoke quietly.
"Sorry...I just needed that," Mulder commented with a small 
smile. 
"I'm not going to complain," Skinner replied, smiling a little back.
Mulder nodded and went into lecture mode. Skinner shifted 
back to listen. He pulled his knees up and rested his forearms 
over them. 
"The Man in the White Suit was a British film made in 1951 and 
starring Alec Guiness...uh before he was Sir Alec Guiness and 
before the role of the older Obi Wan Kenobi was even a gleam 
in George Lucas's eye," Mulder began.
Skinner, his breathing returning to normal, raised an eyebrow. 
"And?" he prompted.
"And the plot dealt with a humble textile mill laboratory assistant, 
played by Alec Guiness, inventing a white cloth that wouldn't 
stain, tear or wear out, and couldn't be dyed either..." Mulder 
continued.
"That must have gone over like a lead balloon with 
management," Skinner commented with a dry chuckle.
"Oh yeah. The panicked garment industry set out to destroy 
Guiness' character and the fabric as a matter-of-
fact...however...something happened that saved his neck," 
Mulder replied looking at Skinner with his own arched eyebrow.
Skinner stared at Mulder for a moment and Mulder watched the 
wheels turn in Skinner's mind. Then the AD's brow furrowed 
and he answered.
"The fabric was what...a failure after all? A bust so the 
corporate bigwigs didn't have to string the guy up by his balls 
and destroy his invention?"
"Exactly," Mulder replied with a smile. "The fabric had a very 
short shelf life. It disintegrated after its brief life-span and saved 
Alex Guiness from certain destruction."
"Then...then the nanocytes..." Skinner replied, his voice a low 
growl.
"The nanocytes are deactivated, Walter... permanently. They're 
dead for all intents and purposes and..." Mulder started to 
explain. 
"For how long?" Skinner replied roughly.
Mulder looked in his lover's eyes and knew he couldn't lie to 
him. 
"For about a week before Krycek showed up here the first 
time," he answered gently, touching Skinner's forearm where it 
rested on his knee.
Skinner shut his eyes and swallowed convulsively. Mulder held 
onto his forearm for a moment as a tremor passed through the 
AD's body. 
"You ok?" Mulder asked with concern. Skinner opened his eyes 
and looked at Mulder, his face unreadable.
"Yeah...I'll be all right," Skinner replied, his voice sounding stiff. 
He cleared his throat, "That...uh...that asshole must be a hell of 
a poker player. After he put away the gun and took out that 
thing...I would never have guessed...I mean I took it for granted 
that..." Skinner added, his voice trailing off. Then he shrugged 
and looked away from Mulder.
Mulder patted his arm and removed his hand.
"I know," he mumbled feeling both saddened and embarrassed 
that Krycek had been able to control Skinner and rape him 
because the AD still thought he held his life in his hands.
"I cuffed myself to the bed, for God's sake," Skinner finished in 
a hoarse whisper.
Mulder put an arm over the AD's shoulders and pulled him 
close. He took Skinner's head and pulled it to his chest as 
Skinner started to shake. Mulder realized from the dampness 
on his chest that Walter was crying silently as he held him close.
"Let it out...Ironman. There's no shame," he murmured, placing 
his chin against the top of Skinner's bald head.
Skinner continued to cry silently as Mulder rocked him gently in 
his arms.
xXx
EPILOGUE
Mulder stood with Skinner next to the AD's rental Jeep, kissing 
him until Skinner finally gently pushed him away. A cold wind 
had blown up but Mulder didn't feel it at all as he gazed into 
Skinner's brown eyes. Once more masked by his spectacles 
their brown depths still glowed with a soft inner light as the AD 
ruffled his hand through Mulder's windswept hair.
"If we keep this up, we'll never get out of here," he commented, 
grinning at Mulder.
After the AD had cried in Mulder's arms they had ended up 
making slow, passionate love again. Mulder had come 
screaming Skinner's name for real that time as he lay over 
Skinner, between the AD's legs, thrusting his cock against the 
older man's spurting member. For a short time afterward they'd 
lain together wanting once more to prolong the moment with 
touching and talking until they'd faced the fact that they had to 
return to the real world.
Finally they'd gotten out of bed, showered again, dressed and 
caught a quick meal. Mulder had called Scully to tell her all was 
well and they were both heading back to DC. He told her he had 
a lot to tell her as well and her interest was piqued enough that 
she suggested he call her and they meet when he got back into 
town. He'd agreed and decided he'd call her from the Gunmen's 
place and they'd all get down to business over the palm pilot. 
After he hung up with her he'd told Skinner that depending on 
what they found they might be meeting with him as well. He 
agreed and they went to gather their belongings.
After packing up, Mulder and Skinner had loaded up their 
respective vehicles and then gone back in and made a bit of an 
effort to clean the house up a little. They'd emptied the 
refrigerator and put what was left of the food in Skinner's Jeep. 
They'd put the comforter back on the bed and washed dishes 
and just did some general tidying up. They'd closed all the 
shutters and even retrieved the deck chair and empty liquor 
bottle from the dock. The chair went in the garage and the bottle 
into a bag of trash Skinner planned to leave at the first trash bin 
he found on his way out of town. Now they were prepared to 
leave at last.
"Yeah, you're right. So...uh...I guess I'll see you back at the 
Hoover...unless of course we dig something up on the palm 
pilot," Mulder replied quietly, stepping back and standing there a 
little more formerly. Skinner straightened his shoulders and 
assumed more of a mantle of authority then as well. But his 
face was still soft.
"I'll call you when I get in," he rumbled, looking off towards the 
ocean. Then he refocused on Mulder. "Things at work will have 
to stay the same. I'm sure you realize that, Mulder. But...outside 
of those four walls...it's not subordinate, superior any longer. I...I 
want you with me...as an equal...as my partner. You understand 
that, right?" he asked for final confirmation.
"I know that. I understand and I really do want to be with you 
too," Mulder replied gently. He felt a wave of tender regard flow 
through him as he contemplated just how unsure Skinner still 
was about whether Mulder wanted to be in a relationship with 
him. But Mulder was with him now...body and soul so there was 
no question in his mind at all. He spoke again to reinforce the 
idea. "And I intend to keep that private, off duty connection up 
close and personal, Ironman...sir" Mulder added, grinning.
Skinner chuckled.
"Very good...Agent Mulder...now...I'm out of here," Skinner 
replied, his genuine smile showing Mulder all his teeth.
"Yeah, me too," Mulder replied, laughing. "I have an early 
Christmas gift to bestow on the guys," he added, indicating the 
trunk of his rental where the palm pilot lay waiting for delivery. 
He stepped back further as Skinner turned to open the Jeep 
door.
Skinner nodded and opening the door, started to climb inside. 
Before he was completely in, he captured Mulder's eyes.
"I love you. Safe trip," he whispered.
"I love you too. I'll see you soon," Mulder replied softly.
Skinner nodded again, swung his legs in completely and shut 
the Jeep's door. In a few seconds the engine was running and 
Mulder moved back even further as Skinner angled the Jeep to 
pull out from in front of Mulder's rental. He did a U-turn, 
spraying sand in front of the agent and Mulder laughed at the 
display. Then as Mulder watched, Skinner was gone, the Jeep 
roaring off up the slight incline and then down the dirt road as it 
sped away from the house.
Mulder raised his hand and waved, a smile caught on his lips.
"Drive, Ironman. Drive it on home," he murmured as the Jeep's 
tail lights receded into the distance. Lowering his hand Mulder 
walked towards his own rental, his shoulders straighter and step 
lighter than both had been in a very long time.
*Author's notes: In case you're wondering, the term "Johnny 
hat" is slang for condom. If you've never seen the film "The 
Man in the White Suit", I'd recommend it highly. It really is a 
classic movie and one I hope Chris Carter and Company would 
consider in getting rid of the blasted nanocytes on the show, 
thank you very much!
-THE END-