TITLE: Lightning AUTHOR: Ladyhawk EMAIL ADDRESS: funger1@hofstra.edu DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT: Anywhere, just tell me SPOILER WARNING: vague season 6, I change One Son, but the result is the same RATING: NC-17 Keywords: Mulder/Skinner Slash CLASSIFICATION: V, A, T, X? SUMMARY: Skinner must deal with the consequences of a new ability and what it means to him, and Mulder. DISCLAIMER: You think I own them? Yeah right, I can't even afford one of Mulder's ties. CC owns them all. Feedback welcome at funger1@hofstra.edu. Lightning by Ladyhawk (funger1@hofstra.edu) Chapter 1:Eyes Opened Goddamn it! What did those two get themselves into this time? I grab my gun and race out of Hoover to the parking garage at breakneck speed. I approved Mulder's 302 to investigate people dying by strange electrical energy in South Carolina three days ago. Today, I got a phone call from Scully that he's being held hostage by a suspect and she is having trouble with the local law enforcement. After all the energy the three of us spent to get them back down in the basement, I'm not going to let one crazed man blow Mulder's quest to bits. Spender and Fowley were forced to resign rather than reveal the secrets of the alien invasion to the whole world. The cover was blown sky high by some great moves by my prized agents and some lousy ones by the weasel and Mulder's ex- wife. I was able to pull a few strings relatively quickly to get Mulder and Scully back on the X-files and under my watchful eye. I'll be in debt to some political big-wigs for the rest of my life. But I don't regret a thing. They are back chasing the remainder of the aliens that are still trying to take over Earth, as well as the Loch Ness monsters, werewolves, and vampires that somehow come out of the woodwork when Mulder is around. They are happy, so I am happy. I'm even happy to yell at Mulder for his stupid stunts and his exorbitant costs to the Bureau. But now the situation might come crumbling down at my feet. Anxiety adds lead to the foot on the gaspedal as I speed toward the airport. It also makes me fumble with the cellphone as I use it to call Scully. "Any change?" "No, Sir. The kidnapper is still demanding passage out of the country and ten million dollars in exchange for Agent Mulder." "Has he allowed you to speak to Mulder?" "Briefly. He said he was shot in the leg during the struggle. He's weak, but holding on." "Ok. I'm getting on a flight now. I should be there in a couple hours. Call me if anything changes." "Yes, Sir." God, get him back to us safely! --------------------------------------------------- Scully meets me at the airport and reports that FBI agents from Charlotte are on their way to help. "They think they found the identity of the kidnapper, from my description of the case. A Cornilius Bates. A scientist who was working with the local electrical company to find alternate sources of power. He left them six months ago after they objected to some of his ideas." "What ideas?" "This part of the state seems especially prone to being hit by lightning during rainstorms. He wanted to redirect the bolts and harness the energy." "Wouldn't that be more work than its worth?" "According to the electrical company, his plan was not only expensive, but potentially dangerous. Computer tests of his apparatus show that the energy could zap anyone standing next to the device. The company's engineers suggested more stable containment, but he wouldn't let anyone change it. So they let him go." We hurry to Scully's rental car with my bags. As we speed to the location of Mulder's kidnapping, my mind takes a leap. Mulder must be getting to me. "Is it possible that that was what the device was for? Sending energy through the human body?" "What makes you say that?" Bates' file is open on my lap. "It says here that Bates is a neuropsychologist. Not usually the type to work with a utility company." "Hmm." Scully's mind is kicking into gear. I stay quiet to let us both think. ------------------------------------------------------------- When we reach our destination, a man runs out to meet us. "Mr. Skinner, Sir. Bates has just given us the dropoff point for his demands." "How much time do we have?" "One hour, sir. Then he will kill Agent Mulder." "Can we talk to him?" "Yes, Sir. But we can't approach the building. He can see us from most angles." The agent points to the office building across the street. It was made of thousands of semi-transparent panels. "Damn. What have your negotiators come up with?" We walk into our base, a electronics store's warehouse. "Not much, Sir. We think there are other people in the front office with Bates, but we can't confirm it." "Hostages or accomplices?" "We don't know." I start pacing, restlessly. If they were hostages, Bates would be using them to get us to move. They must be accomplices. I continue my pacing and almost bump into Scully. Scully is on the phone with Danny, our DC technology expert. It sounds like she's asking about possible purposes of Bates' device. "But wouldn't that kill the person? Yeah. Hold it, aren't you talking about LSD? Ok, look into it. Thanks, Danny." Scully runs her hands through her hair, then looks up at me. "Danny thinks Bates is trying to use electrical energy to expand mental abilities." "And he used the electrical company as a way to test it?" "Yes, that explains the deaths. He probably was perfecting the electricity placement and levels." "Does Danny have any theories on what Bates is shooting for?" "No. Anything is possible. The scientific papers Bates published in his youth are on a variety of subjects, academic intelligence, music proficiency, even athletic training. It's almost impossible to guess." One thought is beginning to scare the bejesus out of me. "He could use that thing on Mulder." "I know. That's why I want to deliver to the dropoff point. In case Mulder needs medical attention." "Where is the location?" "About a mile west of here. He says he is sending someone he will be in constant contact with. He wants one person, unarmed, to meet the contact with the money and tickets." Suddenly, thunders booms above us. Rain begins splattering the warehouse. I think I know what Bates has planned. "I'll go, Scully. I can carry him if we need to get out of there quickly." Scully looks at me suspiciously for a second. Then she gives in without a fight. "Ok, sir. I'll be ready when both of you get back. Let's get you wired." We walk over to where the Charlotte agents have laid out survaillance equipment. The agent in charge of the equipment introduces himself as Steven Michaels. "We put a surge blocker on the microphone so it won't blow up on you if he uses his lightning device. It'll be useless after that, but hopefully we can get enough information to rescue you if need be." Michaels begins taping the equipment to my chest. As he does so, I watch my hand shake slightly. ---------------------------------------------------------------- I arrive at the dropoff point without incident. I grab the briefcase with the marked bills and plane tickets and prepare to meet my fate. A man in a black slicker appears out of nowhere, pulling a handcuffed Fox Mulder. Mulder is limping severely. His hair is plastered against his head from the rain. The other man appears to be talking to himself, but I can't make out what he's saying. I slowly get out of the car and show the briefcase. As I do, thunder keeps me from hearing what the contact yells at me. Mulder falls to the ground as the man lets him go. A flash of lightning illuminates the area as I try to reach Mulder to help him up. Mulder waves me away with a horrified look on his face. I turn to follow his gaze. . . -------------------------------------------------------------- I wake up to sounds of what must be hospital monitors. My body aches from head to toe. I don't open my eyes yet. I need to get some equilibrium. I can hear Mulder's voice. Thank God he's ok. //How is he, Scully?// I don't hear her reply, so I reply for her. "I'm fine, Agent Mulder. Just very sore right now." //Sir? What's going on here?// "What do you mean?" I finally open my eyes. I'm alone in the hospital room. "Mulder?" ************************************************************************************************ Chapter 2: Flashes of Insight Where is Skinner? He shouldn't be out of bed after the shock he took. I look at Scully, puzzled. "What's wrong, Mulder?" "Where's Skinner's room?" I could've sworn I heard his voice in my head, not with my ears, but maybe I just heard it echo in the hallway. "At the end of the hall, near the stairs." I can see the nurses' station from my open door. That puts me near the middle of the hallway. There goes that theory. I want to wait until Scully leaves until I test the other one. But I guess Skinner has other plans. //Mulder, where are you?// Scully looks at me curiously as my shock gives way to realization. He's in my mind! But I can't tell this to Scully, not yet. I'll probably scare them both if I do. I pull up the biggest yawn I can. "Sorry, Scully. I'm not good company right now. The painkillers they gave me for my leg act just like sleeping pills." Scully smiles and pats my arm. "That's ok. We both know you need the rest. I'll come and fetch you and Skinner tomorrow. We should be able to catch Dr. Bates by then. We can go home and you two can finish recuperating." I hope so. That man is dangerous. He actually thinks he is helping humanity with that device. It almost killed Skinner with its 'enlightening' charge. My mind suddenly puts pieces together. Oh, shit! Don't tell me that thing actually works! My dismay must have transmitted to Skinner through whatever link we have suddenly developed. //Mulder, what's wrong? What's going on?// I quickly close my eyes to hide from Scully as she gets up and walks out of my room. A sigh wracks my body. My attention now turns to my unseen companion. //Sir, I don't know how to tell you this, but you are reading my thoughts.// //What?// //I think that device that Bates used did it to you. It stimulated the psychic part of your brain.// //So why can I hear you in my head, but not anybody else?// I pause. Why can he only hear me? My mind goes back to my experience in the boxcar in Arizona and my following recovery. Scully told me later that she heard me in her dreams. I remember calling her with the same words she used as I struggled with my own mind. It makes sense now. //Because I have had the ability for awhile now.// //How long?// Good question. Was it always with me? I seem to recall Samantha's abductors speak directly in my mind. But those memories are so distorted that I can't be sure if they are true or not. //I'm not sure. At least a couple years.// This new problem must be tiring my boss. His next message to me feels static-y. Like his brain is beginning to tune out. //I don't want to believe this. That you have access to all my thoughts.// //I don't think I have access to everything. You probably can tune me out. I think Scully does.// //Scully has it too?// //I only feel her in my head every once in awhile. When we are really stressed, or one of us is dying. But, yeah, I know she can hear my thought sometimes.// I feel something, almost like a small spark along my arm. I have this great urge to yawn, even though I'm not at all tired. It must be Skinner. //Get some sleep, sir. We can discuss this later.// //I'm exhausted. Ok. Maybe this will go away when I wake up.// I don't know if I was supposed to hear that last part. But I spoke the truth when I said I don't have access to all his thoughts. He sounds almost desperate to get rid of this connection, but I can't tell why. As I feel him drift away from me, I stare at the TV above me, trying to figure out how to handle this situation. -------------------------------------------------------- I jerk awake to what sounds like a scream. Hold it, I don't think I *heard* anything. //Sir?// //What? Mulder?// //Nightmare?// I close my eyes and see flashes of images. Me, being dragged by Bates, the lightening device, what could be the charred remains of flesh, looking vaguely like my figure. //Yeah. Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. I'm not sure how to control it.// He's lying. The images stopped rather abruptly as his 'voice' came into my mind. He can control what he lets through the connection when he's awake. But his subconscious gave me a brief glimpse of what's really on his mind, before he woke up completely. //It's ok. Are you ok now?// He's such a private person. I'm not surprised that he learned to cut his thoughts off from me that quickly. //Yeah, thanks.// I feel his attention shift away from me. Scully's back. Skinner lets most of his conversation drift to me. We're to be released this morning. Bates is in custody. The police just want my statement, then we are free to leave. I sigh in relief and feel a ghostly pat on my arm in empathy. That's strange. I never felt anything like that with Scully. //How'd you do that?// //Do what, Mulder?// //I felt you pat my arm.// //I don't know. I just thought about it.// Hmm... Scully enters my room with a pair of crutches. I 'hear' Skinner talking with his physician. It must be time to leave. I'll have to explore this new discovery later. ---------------------------------------------------- After a painful flight for both of us, Scully drops us at our respective apartments. We both are to take a week off before even thinking about going back to work. Scully and Skinner's secretary have teamed up to make sure we follow orders. I need a week off after that plane ride. Every twitch in my leg seemed to make Skinner squirm next to me. His pounding head made my headphones useless in helping me relax. Not a word passed between us, but his thoughts cursed Bates constantly. My silent entreaties for him to shut up did nothing to stop his incessant complaining. Now that he finally is dropping off to sleep again, I can sympathize with his plight. He's confused and in pain. Fear of me also leaked through the connection at odd points. As if he had a secret that I could use against him. Not that I would, I owe him too much. God, am I tense. Between my injury, Skinner's condition, and trying to hide it all from Scully, my body and mind feel like I've been through a fifteen round boxing match. I grab a couple of aspirin from the bathroom and swallow them dry. Their bitter taste fits perfectly with my mood right now. Sleep feels a long way off, so I take another option to relax. Pulling out one of the tapes I keep hidden so Scully doesn't complain, I pop it into the VCR and lay down carefully on the sofa. Before the first moans from the TV reach my ears, I have my pants undone and my cock pulled out of my boxers. My eyes vaguely focus on the figures on the screen in front of me. My imagination copies what I see and I imagine a faceless, sleek body bending to engulf my member in a warm unseen mouth. I moan as my erection grows in front of my eyes and under my expert hand. As the pleasure I'm giving myself shoots through me, my imagination shifts. The figure bending before me slowly grows features. Strong muscles bulge on the arms and legs. Hair on the faceless head receeds and moves to other parts of the body. The face takes on warm brown eyes and strong, masculine lines. The face gazes up at me as my body arches in response to my hand speeding up. Walter Skinner. For some reason, imagining his face intensifies the warmth suffusing my body. I ignore the pain in my leg as I climax quickly, strongly. I fall back to the couch, pleasantly tired. As I grab the towel I left on the coffee table earlier, my mind awakens to a //Shit!//. Startled, I send back a response. //Skinner?// //Uh, it's nothing Mulder.// Nothing, my foot. His agitation swamps our connection. Wait a minute. I was.. and he... //Oh my God!// //I'm sorry, Mulder. I didn't mean to end up in your.. uh, private activities.// Up until now, I've never been with another man sexually. But as I look back on what just happened, my cock responds to my thoughts. I'm tempted to tell him to do it again. ************************************************************************************************ Chapter 3: Sparks God, what did I just do? Sorting it out is difficult. I'm not Fox Mulder, the paranormal doesn't come naturally to me. I was asleep, then I started to awake to 'feel' Mulder nearby and aroused. I think my instincts kicked into gear right then. The next thing I knew, I was imagining his hot erection in my mouth. Damn, it's a good thing he didn't realize exactly what was going on. He thought I just stumbled onto his activities, and *his* imagination did the rest. Yeah, right. I've wanted him for so long that I ache every time he walks into my office. I didn't really catch if he liked the image or not once he came out of his haze of pleasure. It's just as well, I don't need anything more to fuel my imagination. I am his superior. I have to be in control, especially because so little of his life and work is. I want to keep that look of respect in his eyes. And the two of them are the only ones that won't fall whimpering at my feet when I yell. There's something to be said for that. If I lose control and give into my desire for Fox Mulder in any way, all that could be lost. I'm startled out of my thoughts by the phone's ringing. "Skinner." "Sir, I uh, have some bad news to report." I can imagine this green agent shaking violently as he speaks. "What is it?" Impatience makes my voice gruff. "Agent Spender was found dead in his..uh, Agent Mulder's office. He was shot in the head." I can feel Mulder catch onto my thoughts. His conclusion echoes mine. The bastard killed his own son. "Thank you, Agent. I assume Director Kersch is taking care of this in my absence?" An affirmative. "Then can you please have Agent Scully contact me?" A startled sound, then a promise to do just that, and the agent hangs up. Two minutes later the phone rings again. "You wanted to speak to me, Sir?" "Could you figure out what happened?" Mulder has a thousand questions flying through my brain, but I try to narrow them down to just that one. "It probably was Spender's father, Sir. There was a pack of cigarettes lying on Mulder's desk." Scully hesitates. "And I just got a report from our contacts. Agent Fowley has disappeared." She and I both know that Fowley has been involved in that mess since the first time she met Mulder. But Mulder..well love can make you do strange things. Finally though, my thoughts and the evidence stack high enough for him to see. For a second, I imagine laying a comforting hand on his shoulder. Then I turn my attention back to Scully. "I'll tell Agent Mulder. I know you two have had problems with that subject lately." "Thank you, Sir. I hope he believes you. . ." "He will. Trust me." With that, we hang up. I have no trouble noticing that Mulder's thoughts are in turmoil. //I'm sorry, Mulder. For your sake, I wish it was different. . .// //That bitch! She was lying to me the whole time!// I wrap imaginary arms around his shoulders as he rants. After awhile I feel something against my shoulder. //Mulder?// //Uh, sorry. This whole thing has exhausted me.// Well, it's 10 o'clock at night, we're injured, you just found out your ex-wife was never trustworthy. . .but what's that got to do with my shoulder? Finally, it hits me. He responded to my touch by leaning against me. I strike down the arousal that comes with that thought. It's good enough that he trusts me to help him through this. //Get some sleep, Mulder.// //Yeah, ok. Thanks.// I settle down in my bed, determined to not let Fox Mulder drive me crazy. --------------------------------------------------------------- I wake up on a gasp. A quick look at my clock shows me that I've only slept four hours. So why am I awake? An image of me in the hospital floats in my mind as Mulder's presence makes itself known. //Mulder, it's ok. It was a nightmare.// His thoughts, confused, wail into my mind. //Shh.// My 'mental' limbs wrap around him as if he were a child. I feel his weight again on me. This time more than my shoulder is affected. Then I feel the most amazing thing. Weight is pressed to a small part of my cheek. A kiss? My surprise must translate to him, because I feel him back away a second later. He doesn't acknowledge the action in any way. But his thoughts are shaky when I check on him. //Better?// //Uh, yeah. Thanks. Again.// //No problem. Why don't you go back to sleep?// Luckily for me, he does. I spend the rest of the night trying to figure out what's going on here. ------------------------------------------------------------- A week later, we are both back at work. By this time, we've settled in with my new ability. We have learned to tune out each other at will, and to gently get each other's attention before bursting into the other's mind. I feel in control once again, and able to be Mulder's superior. That's not to say the ability hasn't changed my relationship with Mulder. It most certainly has. We talked much more in this week than I think we have in all six prior years together. I enjoyed his quick wit and slightly quirky observations about the world around us. He seemed surprised to find out that not only did I support his cause, I actually believed him about cases more than he realized. I also showed him my more relaxed side, in which I can laugh at his jokes instead of just staring at him until he gets to the point. I actually think we are becoming friends. But this budding friendship was on shaky ground when as we left for work, Mulder informed me that he was telling Scully about my ability. I railed at him pretty badly. I didn't want my secrets exposed, not even to my second most-trusted agent. My fear was rather illogical, I know that now. How was Scully going to find out that I lusted after her partner just by finding out I'm now psychic? Mulder must have understood something about my fears, because he backed away from my presence until I calmed down. When he came back, his crack about me turning into a Reticulan put us both at ease as we planned the meeting we both knew must happen. So here I sit, waiting for them to come into my office. Mulder smiles at me slightly as they walk in and sit down. I don't waste any time getting to the point. "Agent Scully, I need to tell you something about my. . .encounter with Cornilius Bates." At her "Yes, Sir?", Mulder decides to help me out. "Skinner's contact with Bates' machine left him--psychic." Up goes Scully's eyebrow. Mulder's thoughts try to reassure me. "It's true, Scully. I've been in contact with him all week--through my thoughts." "So why doesn't he show me? Contact me through my thoughts, Sir." I've never seen such a skeptical face directed at me before. This will be hard, I know. Mulder says her weak abilities are harder to get through to. The friendship and love between the two of them has done much to support their weak psychic connection. So much so that Mulder believes she has no idea that the connection is psychic. I don't have that advantage. But I have to try. . . I close my eyes and concentrate on her face. My immediate thought is how she looked as she stood above me in the hospital during my brush with death. I feel her presence slowly drift to me as I send out a calming message to her. "Oh my God!" Our weak connection breaks abruptly at the outburst. I open my eyes to her shocked look. Mulder has an arm wrapped around her. I turn away for a second so I don't transmit my jealousy to Mulder. When I turn back, Scully is looking toward Mulder with a curious look. "Did you tell him about the other night, Mulder?" "Uh, no." He looks flustered, and I can't pick up a thing from him. Scully chuckles at his discomfort. "You better. I don't think he'd be disagreeable to the idea, considering what he just showed me." We both just look at her, puzzled. ************************************************************************************************ Chapter 4: Burst Into Flames What the hell? I gaze at Scully's face, shocked. Two days ago I told her a revelation. I was falling in love with our boss, Walter Skinner. I told her that we had gotten a chance to talk while we recovered from our respective injuries. In our talking, I learned that little fact about myself. But I hadn't told him. I wouldn't know where to start. What I didn't tell her was that all that talk was through psychic communication. But that was the least of my worries at that point. I was afraid of her reaction to my realization that I was bisexual. I didn't have a thing to worry about. When I broached that topic, she laughed. "I'm just glad you didn't have this realization when you met Tom Colton." She went on to say that my sexuality didn't matter to her. I was her partner and her friend. That was that. But now she's smiling at me with a knowing smile on her face. "Take a chance, Mulder. You won't be disappointed." She's not trying to tell me that he. . .Impossible! I look toward Skinner. He has a scared look on his face. "Sir?" "We can talk about this later, Agent Mulder." He sighs and turns away. I look back at Scully, who is getting up to leave. "You can either follow me now, Mulder and talk to him later, or talk to him now. I'll cover for you both if you want." "It probably will take the rest of the day, Agent Scully." Skinner makes a decision. I'm too shocked still to do so. The grin on her face is wicked. "I don't mind, Sir." Skinner's face relaxes considerably. "We'll see you tomorrow, Scully. And thanks." "Just take care of him, Sir." And with that, she was out the door. I look up at my boss. "Skinner?" "Go get your car and drive to my apartment. I assume you still know where it is?" I nod. "Good. When we get there, I'll explain." //Trust me. It'll be ok.// What else can I do? ---------------------------------------------------- Skinner's mind is silent as I drive to Crystal City. This agitates me even more than Scully's comments. When I get to Skinner's building, he is waiting on the steps for me. "Come on. We'll talk inside." We walk together in silence. I stand in his livingroom nervously as he switches on a light and sheds his coat and suit jacket. "Sit down, Mulder." I sit on the couch as he lowers himself to the armchair nearby. I nervously stand up again to take off my coat. Skinner watches this with guarded eyes. When I am finally settled, Skinner speaks up. "Mulder, what do you think of me?" "Uh, I think you're a nice guy, a good boss. . ." Skinner's lips twitch at this. "The reason I ask is because I think Scully got a good look at my opinion of you during our little experiment in my office." "You think I'm an alien?" I can't help it. I could cut the tension in here with a knife. He graces me with a small smile. "I knew that a long time ago." He pauses and sits forward, his arms on his thighs. "I like you, Mulder. But it's more than that. . ." Pieces are starting to fit together here. The dreams, his intrusion into my fantasy, his fear. "You are attracted to me?" "Yes." I laugh in relief. My turn to confess. "Umm, about what I told Scully a few days ago.." I think he can see the mischievous glint that I know suddenly appeared in my eyes. "Ye-es?" I close my eyes and release all the thoughts I hid from him the last few days. His mind shows me shock and a growing glee. Glee, from my straight-laced boss? Yup, and it's infectious. I open my eyes to a smile on Skinner's face. //Walter.// He insists. //Ok, but no Fox.// //How about 'lover?'// My smile is so wide I think my face will crack. --------------------------------------------------- We decide to give Scully a call at the office to tell her we've gotten our act together. I don't want her to worry. She worries about me just as much as I do her, she just isn't as vocal. But she gets vocal when I tell her the good news. "Congratulations! I'll have to tell Colton his virtue is safe." Skinner looks horrified until I quickly relate my conversation with Scully a few days ago. After a few pleasantries, an admonishment from Scully to not come into work tomorrow until our 2pm flight to Seattle and her promise to tell Kim that Walter's sick, we hang up. Walter looks at me curiously. "How long do you think the case in Seattle will take?" "I don't know. A couple days, a week. You know how VCS can get when I'm around." Scully and I are still trying to sort through the mess Spender and Diana left the X-files in. Because we have no cases yet, Walter was forced to loan us to Violent Crimes when they asked. Unfortunately for the three of us, VCS has a bad habit of obstructing our part of the investigation. My mind fills with empathetic feelings from Walter. He hasn't had the best experiences with that group, either. "Then I better make this last." I am grabbed from behind as images of us intimately locked together flood my brain. My arousal is almost instantaneous. I twist around so I can lock my lips to his. The temperature of the room raises 10 degrees in that second. As our kiss intensifies and our breathing quickens, we find another advantage of our psychic link. Our feelings of arousal play off each other. There is no doubt here that either of us is faking responses. That knowledge alone makes me moan. I feel an echoing shudder in Walter. And we can tell each other what feels good. Everything feels good in the aroused cloud my mind has become, but some of Walter's touches are better than others. I let him knows this and feel him glory in the groans that result. He is reluctant to reciprocate with information, so I move my hands across his body until his mind registers the responses I want. By this time we are almost ready to come. And we haven't even taken our clothes off yet! We laugh a bit as my realization is sent to him. We back away from each other and strip quickly. Stains are so hard to get out of wool suits. I push him to sit the couch and kneel in front of it. After a deep kiss and mental reassurance to Walter that yes, I want to do this, I bring my face level with his straining erection. Now, I've seen men's penises before. Let's face it, our gender is the less modest of the two. But I fell in love with Walter's mind first. My admiration of his body was an afterthought. But, oh what an afterthought! //Are you just going to stare at it?// He must have picked up my nervousness. I smile at him. //I'm admiring a work of art.// //This is a 'Please Touch' exhibit, Mulder.// I laugh at that. Where does he hide his sense of humor? It was one of my most surprising revelations about him. But I get back to the task at hand. . .literally. I wrap my hand around his shaft. This time I don't have to hunt to figure out what he wants. He becomes very 'vocal,' guiding me in how to pleasure him best with his thoughts. His pleasure becomes mine, almost physically. My hand works in the rhythm he requested when something dawns on me. I want to know the way he tastes. So I bring my mouth down on his erection until it meets my hand. With the gasp of pleasure from him comes his confession that he wanted this but was afraid to ask. //Oh, come on. I'm open to extreme possibilities.// I didn't know it was possible to laugh and groan at the same time until now. As I set myself to the task, I find my body responding to the pleasure flowing over me from his mind. The more pleasure I give him, the more I receive. As my tongue explores the tastes and textures of his cock, I can feel an echo on my own erection. Soon enough, my ministrations are too much for us both. I feel him jerk against me and shoot into my waiting mouth. Seconds later, his pleasure floods my brain. I jerk my head away to keep from biting him and clutch at his hips as I come without so much as a finger laid on my cock. //Interesting side effect.// Walter is smiling at me gently. //Yeah, I'll say.// I lay my head on his thigh, suddenly exhausted. //Come on. Let's get cleaned up.// We get up, wipe off the furniture and ourselves and climb into Walter's bed. After a short nap, we get up to eat. After our simple meal of pasta and chicken, we find out that my experience earlier wasn't a fluke. Walter comes right after his mouth finishes sending me to heaven. We spend the rest of the day in bed, touching both with mind and body. We fall asleep wrapped around each other. When Scully comes to get me the next day, her grin echoes mine. "Did you two have a good time?" "It was a mindblowing experience." ************************************************************************************************ Chapter 5: Who Needs Phones? This case is going to kill me. Or maybe the VCS, I'm not sure. Scully and I came up to Seattle yesterday to help with a Violent Crimes case because we have no cases for the X-files yet. We're still cleaning up the mess Spender and my bitch of an ex-wife left us. But we couldn't get out of this, so here we are. But the VCS is up to their tricks again. We came here to investigate what looked like serial murders of young teenage girls. Scully and I quickly discerned that the bodies were marked with symbols of a cult known to have a base in Mexico. But those ignorant fools wouldn't listen to our theories that they were cult murders. They thought it was the work of one man. They arrested the man they suspected. This morning, a whole ten hours later, a fresh corpse shows up near the Space Needle. Goddamn fools. So they scrambled to us, trying to figure out where they went wrong. Thank God for Scully. Without her, Walter probably would have to reprimand me for assaulting another agent. She relayed our theory to them and they took off running. So we came back to the hotel to rest. They didn't want us with them. We weren't going to argue. We don't like them much either. Scully left me at my door muttering something about a shower. I can't say I blame her. We were in a pretty muddy area when we found the body. And we had to dig it out of said mud. I strip and move toward the bathroom. I glance at my travel clock in passing. It's early, 2 PM. With the time difference, Walter should be getting home within an hour or 2. A voice inside my head tells me I'm wrong. //I just got home. They are doing a of security check of my office. The director told me to go home early because I probably wouldn't get any work done with them around.// //Ok. How was your day?// I wanted to complain to him, but not if he had as bad a day, or worse. //Not bad, although I had trouble looking Agent Colton in the eye.// I snicker at this. Scully's almost as good with off-hand comments as I am. I don't think the three of us with look at that jerk the same way ever again. I feel a twinge of impatience coming from our connection. //Tell me what the VCS is doing to my prized agents this time.// I have to get better at blocking my thoughts from him. When I am really upset, he receives more than I intend. I tell him about the last day and a half, trying to keep it as professional as possible. Hey, he is still my boss. And I don't want too much differential treatment from him at the office. Scully and I get enough from him on virtue of the X-files. But even my most professional description gets the same reaction that I had earlier. //Fools.// As I get into the shower and wash the grime off me, we discuss the minutae of the case. Scully and I will stay here to make sure the VCS doesn't screw up again. This could take another few days to a week. I sigh as I towel my hair. //This case is playing havoc with my social life.// Walter laughs through the connection. //The X-files have done that for years.// //Yeah, but my social life just became an X-file. I wasn't finished investigating it when I left DC.// Empathy flows to me. //We will have time soon.// Then, all of a sudden, Walter gets really cheerful. //I have an idea.// //What?// //Get on the bed.// I'm a bit confused, but I obey. //Relax, Mulder.// As I take a deep breath, I feel a soothing touch in my hair. //Walter?// My body tenses. I didn't expect this. //Shh. Trust me, ok?// So I relax again as invisible fingers massage my scalp. But I tense once again as a knock vibrates on the connecting door. "Mulder?" "Yeah, Scully?" The door opens and Scully's head appears in my sight. "I'm going out for something to eat, do you want anything?" I don't answer right away. Walter is soothing some very tight muscles in my neck. "Mulder, are you all right?" "Uh, yeah Scully. I'm just talking to Walter." Scully smiles. "Oh, sorry." "Thanks for the offer of food, but I'll get some later after a nap." I smile back at her. Scully closes the connecting door gently as I close my eyes. //Have you eaten anything today?// I know better than to lie. //No, but I'll be ok for now. The body we found today turned my stomach, and I don't think I've recovered yet.// //Hmph.// I can feel the gruff affection behind his worry for my wellbeing. //You better take care of yourself. Or I may have to come up there.// //You think that's going to motivate me? That will make me worse.// Laughter is exchanged through our bond. My laugh turns into a moan as I feel a hand digging into one sore shoulder. //You're getting good at this.// I relax into his ghostly massage. He stops abruptly after a few minutes. //Mulder, what are you wearing?// I snicker at this. //What is this, phone sex?// //You'll see. Answer the question.// //A pair of jeans and boxers.// //Take them off.// //Ok. Why?// //You don't want to have to change them later, do you?// Bemused, I do as he asks. The second I tell him I'm done, my body goes into shock. I watch as my cock grows before my eyes. I feel a warmth and pressure surrounding it, even though it is bobbing in the air in front of me. I fall back down on the bed, amazed. //Why so shocked?// Laughter fills our connection. //I can make you feel my 'touch' on the rest of your body.// //I--I never considered it this way.// My breathing grows rapid as Walter attends to a sensitive spot on the shaft. I feel his arousal grow with mine. Unlike the previous times together, this time both of us are completely driven by mental arousal. And I no longer know where I begin and he ends. Images flash through our minds. Walter kissing me, rubbing against my naked body, my own face contorted in pleasure, my body arching. Warmth suffuses our bodies. Our minds have turned our bodies into gigantic erogenous zones. I can feel pleasure from the touch of cool sheets on my bed and from the soft upholstery at Walter's back. We both reach to 'grasp' the other's erection. We derive the utmost pleasure from both 'touches.' Our minds connect, building pleasure exponentially from little else than the thoughts contained within. Finally, our bodies have had enough of the building pleasure. Our climax is earthshattering. Our minds explode as our bodies arch, shooting semen into the air. We separate slightly as I feel my back hit the pillow under me. //I love you.// My emotion is absorbed by Walter joyously. I stare at the ceiling, not willing to come back to the here and now. Walter's practical mind helped me drift back slowly. //I guess we shouldn't do that in public. Ever.// I laugh. //We might wind up in the hospital because someone mistaked our lovemaking for a seizure.// //Yeah. And we'd have a hell of a time explaining it to your partner. So, was that better than phone sex?// //Hell, Walter, who needs phones?// ************************************************************************************************ Chapter 6: Running to Ground I stride through my secretary's office. "Any word on Mulder and Scully, Kim?" "No, Sir. Agent Mulder is supposed to report in at two." My two favorite agents have been gone for almost a week investigating some mysterious deaths in Florida. Bodies were found in the Everglades. But this time it doesn't look like an alligator is the cause. All victims were taken from their homes, without sign of entry. A strange light surrounded each house after the victim was taken. After ruling out that remaining consortium members were causing the deaths, my lover and his partner ran for Florida with what sounded like a million theories. Most of them reverberated through my brain as they traveled south. After about 3 hours of this, I had to tune him out. My head was pounding from all the wild thoughts. Mulder and I blocked our mental connection while he was investigating. He says he can think better that way. God forbid I should impair the Bureau's best agent. So we checked in with each other every night. This case has been tough on both of them. Mulder is concerned about Scully. He says she hasn't been sleeping well, probably because they haven't been able to work quickly enough to stop the deaths yet. I'm concerned about him. We have barely spoken 10 words to each other at night because he is exhausted. I don't dare initiate mental sex, as I often do when he's away from me. The only touches I send him are comforting. And I know his insomnia is back. So I send him my sympathy and what comfort I can. It's not nearly enough, I know. But I can't justify going down there just yet. Instead I bury myself in another section's expense account. It isn't nearly as exasperating as the one for the X-files. How boring. I'm so glad to have Mulder and Scully under my care that I found myself enjoying figuring out their expense account. I may qualify as an X-file a second time if I keep this up. ------------------------------------------------ I go out to lunch at the deli down the street. As I walk there, I find myself glaring at a couple kissing on a bench. Why do you have your lover by your side and I don't? I sigh and avert my gaze before the couple notices. I walk on. I'm tempted to reach out toward Mulder to seek relief from this sudden envy, or at least a bit of shared misery. But I can't. I promised. I sit down at one of the deli's tables with a ham sandwich and a cup of coffee. I grab my sandwich to take a bite, when suddenly a force throws me backward. //WALTER!// That's all I get. The next second, the connection is cut, broken. COMPLETELY. There is no longer a second presence in my mind, as it has been all morning, muted. The wire has been cut. //Mulder???// No answer comes forth. I fumble in my coat pocket for my cell phone. Quickly, I must know what happened. I have to pause before I dial. Mulder has been hurt, at the very least. I dial Scully's number. "Sir?" There is no question that something is desperately wrong. Scully was expecting my call. "What happened? I, I . . .lost him." "He's been shot by the suspect. Through the chest." Her voice becomes shaky as she says this. Oh my God. I can barely ask the next question. "Is he. . ." "No sir. But he's critical. His prognosis isn't good." Suddenly, I can hear the paramedics in the background, speaking in sharp, quick voices. What I hear doesn't reassure me. I don't know where I get the strength to act like the AD I am. Maybe it's instinct. "Where is the suspect?" "In custody, sir." Well, at least I don't have to help direct an investigation. I know I'd never make it. "I'm coming down to check on Agent Mulder and help you wrap up the investigation." "Of course, sir. I'll inform the local Bureau chief." "I'll see you soon, Scully. Take care of him." I hang up my cell phone and rush out of the restaurant. It's a good thing that I'm allowed to chase after seriously injured agents. They'd have to kill me to stop me now. ------------------------------------------------------ The flight to Florida is agonizing. I keep reaching out to Mulder, trying to connect with him. Nothing. Dead air. The thought makes me shiver. And I focus on one thought: I never told Mulder I love him. It took me a while to realize this revelation, even with the rapid-pace changes in our relationship. I only began realizing something was different when each case I sent them out on made me extremely nervous. I ended up asking myself last week how I would cope if Mulder got killed on a case. The answer scared me: I'm not sure I could cope. I was never so wrapped up in one person, not even with Sharon. And boy, am I wrapped up in Fox Mulder. We spend practically every night he's home together, loving each other, talking, or just sitting on somebody's couch together, catching up on work. Scully praises me profusely because I pressure Mulder into completing his half of their reports. When we talk, it's like seeing the world through his eyes. Our connection lets us give each other sights, smells, and sounds that we remember. It's an overwhelming experience that I embraced wholeheartedly once I got over my fear of being too close to him. Now I'm too close to ever let go. I got to this point gradually. I thought I knew exactly what I was doing, but when I realized I love Fox Mulder, it came as a shock to me. Last week, we were sleeping in his mysteriously produced waterbed after falling into each other's arms, exhausted and sated from sex. I woke before dawn, and just watched him sleep. My mind worried about this case, and I realized I no longer could live without Fox Mulder. I would only survive if he was gone. I didn't tell him before he left. I was worried about how he would react. Love hasn't been kind to him. He has suffered for the ones he loves, even for me. My suffering now is a small price to pay if he lives. Then I can tell him how I feel. Then maybe I can give him some peace. If he dies. . .I shudder. But we all pay a price for love. Scully meets me at the airport. "He's in surgery, sir. They are trying to keep his lungs from collapsing." "Has he gained consciousness at all?" "No, sir." We rush to the hospital in silence. I think both of us are afraid to say anything, in fear of making a bad situation worse. ----------------------------------------------------- He looks so weak, so frail. Like there isn't any life left in him at all, contrary to the beeping of the monitors surrounding him. I sigh as I look upon him. I'm terrified that he will die and leave me alone. But I can't show it. I'm the AD. Damn my job anyway. It helped me lose my wife. I pray it doesn't destroy me now. And Fox Mulder as well. Scully pulls me out of the room, gently. "Sir, you need to look over the reports." I look into her empathetic eyes. I wonder if mine are shining with unshed tears, like hers. I let her guide me to the local agents waiting in the hallway. I discuss the case with them automatically. Because I know I'm not really paying attention, I whisper to Scully to make note of anything I may need to know later. She does so without comment. All I really retain from this discussion is that the suspect has been apprehended and that we have a good case against him. He will be tried on the murders and for shooting a Federal agent. I grit my teeth. I'd like to kill this man. . . Once everything is squared away with the locals, Scully and I head to the hospital cafeteria for some food and shared misery. I play with the meal she puts in front of me instead of eating it. ---------------------------------------------------- A couple of hours later, I refuse to leave the waiting area, even though my eyes are drooping. "Sir, Mulder won't like it if you torture yourself like this." I glance up and meet her knowing eyes. "I've had a lot of practice detecting this kind of behavior, sir." We both know that Mulder agonizes over us in the same way that I am now, over him. "Then what can I do?" "Send him your love." "But I can't feel him! He's not there!" "Just because you can't hear him, doesn't necessarily mean he can't hear you. Both of you said you still aren't entirely sure how the connection works." I look at her, skeptical. But I comply. //Mulder, I love you. I'm sorry I haven't told you. Come back to us.// Amazingly, I get a weak reply. //I know you love me, you idiot. Where are you?// I can't stop the cheerful gasp that emerges from my mouth. Scully stares at me. "He answered!" We rush into Mulder's room. He turns his head toward us and smiles. "Walter, you've been hanging around me too long. Scully's right. I don't like you torturing yourself over me." I sit down careful on the bed by his side. I barely see Scully leaving the room to give us some privacy. "I was scared. . .I didn't know what to do." That's a hell of a confession for someone in charge, like myself. He didn't say anything. But my mind filled with images of us together, here, at home, at work. Our minds joined and filled with emotions, joy, love, trust. We spent the rest of the night like this, soothing and loving each other. When Scully woke us the next morning, I was lying on Mulder's bed, curved carefully around him, protecting him. --------------------------------------------------- Ok, that's a good place to end. Hi Sergeeva! Here ends Lightning. The sequel is tentatively titled Thunder. Look for it soon. Help this starving writer. I've gotten only a little feedback lately. Tell me what you think of this! I love to hear from people! Feedback welcome at funger1@hofstra.edu www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Chateau/9659