TITLE: Surfacing
AUTHOR: Chad Moore
FANDOM: XF
DATE: October 9th, 2001
SERIES: Dangerous Undercurrents and Conundrum.
E-MAIL: Mulderholic@webtv.net
FEEDBACK: Please! Always welcome!
RATING: PG (Chapter 1)
CATEGORY: M/O
ARCHIVE: Yes, please
KEYWORDS: Slash, Romance, Angst
SUMMARY: Having saved Jamie from the Cult of Azathoth,
Mulder is determined to win back his first love.
WARNINGS: WIP
SPOILERS: This story takes place after "Existence,"
with references to past seasons.
DISCLAIMER: All familiar characters belong to CC, 1013
and Fox TV; any others were conceived in my warped
imagination.
SPECIAL THANKS: To Bertina and Michele. I honestly
don't know what I'd do without you.
DEDICATION: For Neige and Vyper

"Just one step at a time and closer to destiny..."

=====

Chapter One: Against The Tide

"Come on, Jamie, jump! It's a piece of cake."

Peril stood in her way-too-tight pink top, and
way-too-tight matching miniskirt (but hey, the Pat
Benatar look was in and that's what guys seemed to
like) staring up at the roof.

Jamie peered uncertainly out of the high bedroom
window as the warm summer night air blasted his face.
Soon his shadowy figure clambered onto the roof tiles,
making his way down. Suddenly Jamie gave a little
"whoop" and Peril could hear his shoes scraping.

"Jamie, for pete's sake, be careful!" she hissed.

Hopefully the noise had not woken Grams. Especially if
they ever hoped to make it to the club in one piece.
Jamie was three years younger and needed to be brought
out of his shell. He was all go for adventure but it
had taken quite a bit of persuading on Peril's part to
get him to go with her.

She had strategically planned this weekend with her
cousin. Their last bit of fun before he went off to
college, or university as he kept correcting her.

As Grams often told her, she more than lived up to her
name, especially with her rather large rebellious
streak. Thankfully, this had rubbed off on Jamie.
Combined with his own natural feisty demeanour, he
would be a match to be reckoned with.

Sliding down the tiles, Jamie landed in an undignified
heap beside her. Peril laughed. She couldn't help it.
He looked so cute sprawled on the ground.

Helping him up, she smiled. "Ready for some fun?"

He smiled back. "I'm ready for anything."

That happy time seemed like a million years ago.

Peril jogged down the clinical white corridors, a
concerned, worried frown creasing her beautiful
features. The telephone conversation with Aunt Janine
had left her shocked and perplexed. Grams had been
right, insisting all these years that Jamie was still
alive.

An hour ago Peril's phone rang. Janine was taking the
first flight out. Peril was the closest. A man named
Fox Mulder (why did that name sound so familiar?) had
found Jamie and they had been taken to San Francisco
Memorial. Jamie, her favorite cousin -- so young and
handsome and bright -- assumed dead, now miraculously
resurrected after eighteen years. Within minutes of
the call, Peril left her Bodega Bay apartment en route
to the hospital emergency room.

Bursting through a set of metallic blue doors and into
the emergency room, Peril pushed past a gurney, and
flock of nurses, running to the front desk.

"Hi!" she said breathlessly, leaning over the counter.

The desk attendant seemed more absorbed in the text on
her computer screen than Peril Bellamy's insistent
voice.

"Uh, nursey!" Peril slammed her palm down, finally
gaining her attention. "Hi! Can you tell me where I
can find my cousin?"

"What's your cousin's name?" asked the desk attendant,
as if she were exhausted by the effort of speaking.

"James, Jamie Grayson."

The nurse glanced down at a clipboard. "Dr. Scully
will see you in a few moments. Please have a seat in
the waiting room."

"Why can't I see Jamie now?"

"I'm sure the doctor will be able to answer all of
your questions." Her tone was dismissive. "If you'll
have a seat I'll page her."

"Ok, thanks."

The attendant swiveled in her chair. Peril made a face
at her back then began her search for the waiting
room.

*****

Walter Skinner sat in a small, air conditioned room
surrounded by plastic plants, prehistoric back issues,
and colorful Matisse paintings intended to soothe.

He wondered how much longer the wait would be. He had
to be getting back to D.C. soon. Luckily he'd been
able to take over the police inquiries and help
explain why Avatar exploded in the blink of an eye.

Thinking of the explosion, he sat forward and examined
the bandage on his right forearm. It had been burnt
badly during his flight with Krycek. Skinner had
managed to haul him out of the building just as it
went up like a Roman candle.

Alex Krycek. He shook his head, marvelling at the
irony of it all. Several months ago he'd shot the
psychopathic double-agent dead in a parking garage.
That turned out to be a clone. Just a few days ago
he'd grabbed Krycek by the scruff of the neck and
saved his life. Mulder would classify that action as
an X-File in itself. Yeah, Walter thought, especially
if he knew...

He was startled from his thoughts when a very
attractive young woman walked inside the waiting room.
She sat down with a heavy sigh. She looked so upset
that Walter moved closer to her.

"Miss? Are you sick?"

Peril gave him a half-smile. "No, I'm not sick."

Something was wrong, because she looked so sad. "Is it
a family member?"

She nodded. "My cousin's here and they don't know
what's wrong with him."

"I'm waiting to hear about a friend of mine, too."

"What is your name?"

"Walter."

"Well, hello, Walter. I'm Peril."

Walter smiled. "That's an unusual name."

"Yeah, I'm told I live up to it."

They turned their heads as a doctor, followed by a
trio of medical students, walked inside the waiting
room. Dr. Walker stopped before Peril.

"Peril Bellamy?"

Peril stood up. "Yes?"

"I'm Dr. Michael Walker. I'm consulting on your
cousin's case."

"Hi." As she made to follow the doctor, she turned
back to Walter. "Bye, it was nice to meet you. I hope
everything works out with your friend."

Walter watched the woman hurry after the group. Then
he gazed down at his watch. Maybe 'his friend' would
be ready now.

Out in the bustling hall, Peril caught up with Dr.
Walker. "Um, where's Dr. Scully?" she questioned.

"She's with your cousin now."

Peril stared back at the young students following like
goslings. "Who are they?"

"They're studying under the same specialist field."

"Specialist?" Peril froze. The details of Jamie's
condition were sketchy. She didn't realize it was this
bad. "Wait!"

*****

With a soft chime, the elevator doors opened. Dana
Scully emerged and headed deeper into the catacomb
corridors of the intensive care unit.

She wiped a little tear from the corner of her eye.
She'd just finished a telephone conversation with her
mother -the tenth one in the last few hours- just to
hear William's gurgling voice.

She hated being separated from him for this long, but
she'd made a promise to herself and Mulder to remain
long enough to see to Jamie's care.

Although the destruction of Avatar had only been a
couple of days ago, it seemed like a lifetime now.

Mulder had managed to pull her out of the exploding
research facility in the nick of time. She'd sustained
a few minor cuts and bruises. To be honest, she
remembered very little except for the dust and debris
falling all around.

Despite the danger, they had succeeded in their
mission. Jamie, Mulder's first love, who had been
possessed by an evil no one could truly comprehend,
was rescued and freed -thanks to Mulder's great
courage. However, Jamie remained in critical condition
and Scully was feeling more and more worried.

Jamie had not stirred once. His tests all came back
inconclusive.

Suddenly she turned a corner leading to a small
treatment room. Dana gently pushed open the door and
was not shocked or surprised to find Mulder's ever
present figure sitting beside Jamie's hospital bed.
His eyes remained fixed on his comatose form lying
flat on a wide bed, IV tubes snaking up from Jamie's
arms, an oxygen mask covering his nose and mouth.

The cool air was filled with the sound of humming
machinery, and the steady bleeping of a heart monitor.

This had become his home ever since they arrived.
Keeping vigil for countless hours, regailing the
unconscious Jamie with stories. At the moment he was
recounting one of their early X-Files.

"Then I told Scully it would be a nice trip to the
woods," he was saying.

"Morning," she said, approaching the bed. "Don't tell
me you haven't been to sleep yet."

Mulder, tousled and unshaven, barely looked up to
register her presence.

"All right, I won't tell you," he replied, in an
attempt at his usual dry humor. "I don't wanna leave
him, in case he wakes up."

"Mulder, you have to take care of yourself, too. It
won't do him any good if you have to be admitted as
well."

Squeezing Jamie's hand, Mulder looked up at her. His
eyes looked haunted. "It's like he's sleeping. I just
can't wake him up."

Dana moved to his side, running a comforting hand
across his tense shoulders. "I promise you we're doing
everything we can."

The sound of Jamie's slow, pained breathing filled the
silence as Mulder gazed at him.

"You know he always said that we were meant to be
together."

"Fate, Mulder?"

In all the time she'd known him, Dana's best friend
was obsessively passionate. This romantic side was
something new.

"Fate?" He pursed his lips and pondered the word.
"Never heard of it."

She smiled warmly, knowing better.

Approaching voices caught their attention. Scully
glanced up as Dr. Walker and his students walked in,
with a concerned woman about her own age.

Peril gasped at the sight before her. Jamie!
Unconscious, his breathing labored, but alive. She was
too stunned to even talk when a shortish, red-headed
woman in a doctor's coat walked toward her.

"Are you the doctor?" she asked, anxious to get a
closer look.

Dana shook her hand. "Yes, I'm Dana Scully and-" She
turned to find Dr. Walker and his students moving in
to examine Jamie. Mulder reluctantly stood up and came
toward them. "This is Fox Mulder."

Peril peered at the approaching, disshevelled man.
"You're the guy who found my cousin?"

Mulder simply nodded.

"He's going to be okay, right?" she asked Scully.
"This isn't life threatening..."

Dana saw the hope in her eyes. The same hope reflected
in Mulder's. "Jamie's body is recovering from a
massive shock," she explained. "We're treating him as
best we can. We'll know more after we've run more
tests, which I really need to see about." She turned.
"Mulder, why don't you rest in the waiting room
with..."

"Peril."

"Peril and relax, okay?"

With a longing look at the still figure hovered over
by white coats, Mulder walked out into the hall with
Peril.

As soon as they left the room, Peril exploded. "How
did this happen?" she asked, gripping Mulder's arm.
"Jamie's been missing all these years without a single
word..."

"It's not his fault," Mulder was quick to defend.

"Tell me the truth," Peril said. "He's going to be all
right, isn't he?"

Mulder shook his weary head. "They really don't know
anything," he admitted.

They passed into the little waiting area. Peril
noticed that the surly man with the wire-rims had
departed. She sat back down and started flipping
through a well-thumbed Cosmo.

Mulder made his way to a nearby vending machine,
buying himself a bag of nachos and a coke. Scully
would have his hide if he didn't eat something.

Gripping her trembling hands, Peril watched him as he
sat down next to her. She still couldn't believe it.
Jamie, alive. There was something in Mulder's deep,
hazel eyes that tugged at her heart. Something that
told her he obviously cared a great deal for her
cousin.

"He's going to be fine," she said, comforting both
herself and him.

"It's just that after everything I've seen -and
believe me, I've seen some scary stuff- it takes a lot
to scare me," Mulder sighed, sadly. "This time, I'm
really scared."

She blinked as a light of recognition went on in her
head. "So you and my cousin were..."

"Lovers, yes," Mulder finished.

Now Peril knew why she recognized his name! This was
Jamie's roomate when he went to Oxford. He talked
about Mulder in his letters just before his
disappearance. She had a trillion questions! But one
thought stood out more: Aunt Janine's reaction to all
this.

Well, she'd cross that bridge when her aunt arrived.

She peered closely at the man beside her. Yes, she
could definitely imagine Jamie falling for him. He was
extremely good-looking, not exactly her type. He was
probably a little too smart for his own good, but the
nose suggested that his brain wasn't the only endowed
body part. As soon as Jamie woke up, they'd have to
have a little talk... And he would wake up.

Mulder took a sip of his coke, licking away the
fizzing residue from his bottom lip. "It's bad enough
that things are always biting me in the ass," he
muttered angrily, half to himself. "This should've
never happened to him."

Not for the first time, Peril wondered exactly what
HAD happened. "He's not going to give up," she stated,
confidently. "Jamie was always a fighter."

"I know," Mulder replied, quietly.

*****

Walter had traded one waiting area for another. He sat
outside a little hospital room listening as a doctor
prescribed some pain killers for Krycek.

The Russian had come out of it the worse of the four.
With a concussion and a set of broken ribs. He'd
risked his life to help save Jamie and stop Avatar's
plans. Walter had gotten in some visiting time with
Krycek while helping with the investigation.

Walter could tell he really liked him. More than he
would have thought possible. The "real" Alex Krycek
-the person, not the rat bastard- was a surprise.
There was just something about him...

At that moment, Krycek stepped out of the room and
could not hide the surprise on his face.

"You okay?" Walter asked, standing up.

Alex shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, I'll live. The
doctor gave me a clean bill of health."

"Good," Walter replied, gruffly. "How are you
dealing?"

"Like I said-"

"That's not what I meant."

It may have been the morphine, but one evening Krycek
confided his doubts. He was having a hard time dealing
being seduced and initiated into a demonic cult, and
used by a supernatural spirit.

Alex understood his meaning and shied away. "I don't
know," he admitted.

"You've gotta give it some time."

They started to walk. Alex kept an arm wrapped around
his bandaged ribs, and Walter noticed his usual jaunty
stride was missing. Krycek kept his eyes straight
ahead, but he was very glad of Skinner's company.

He sighed. "Jamie was completely taken over by evil
and he fought it every step of the way."

"What you did was a big thing."

Alex looked up and smiled. A compliment from the AD!
If he didn't know better he was still knocked out from
the medication.

They paused outside of a waiting room. Walter caught a
glimpse of Mulder talking with Peril, the woman he'd
met earlier.

Mulder was becoming restless. "How long do tests take,
anyway?"

"Well, the doctor didn't seem too worried," Peril
lied.

"Yeah, I know." Mulder blew out his breath,
frustrated. "I just want to stay with him."

Walter cleared his throat and stepped inside the room.
"Any news?" he asked.

Mulder stood up and shook his head. "None. Scully's
running tests with the specialist she brought in." His
voice trailed away when Krycek appeared. "What the
hell is he still doing here?"

"I'm not going anywhere until I know Jamie's all
right," Alex snapped.

Peril felt her heart flip in her chest at the
impossibly beautiful man.

Before Mulder could lash out further, he felt a very
insistent elbow nudging into him. Peril stared at
Krycek flirtatiously.

"Oh, this is Jamie's cousin, Peril," he said, ignoring
Krycek and addressing Walter.

"Hi!" She waved and winked. He looks like a cover
model for a romance novel, she thought.

"You're Jamie's cousin?" Walter echoed. "Small world."

"We met earlier," she told an incredulous Mulder.

"Peril, would you give us a few moments alone?"
Skinner asked.

"Um, sure."

He watched her slide past Alex with a cocky little
grin. Poor girl. She was awestruck by him. As soon as
the door closed, he turned to Mulder and Krycek.

"Okay, you two," he growled.

Alex folded his arms and stared hard at Mulder.
"Thanks, Alex," he spat out, his voice heavy with
sarcasm. "Thanks for taking care of Jamie and stopping
the world from ending."

Mulder's mouth fell open. Trust Krycek to expect
gratitude when Jamie was so ill.
"Thank you?" he shouted, then dropped his voice. "I
don't believe you! None of this would have happened if
you'd just told us the truth!"

"Any more of your lip and you'll get a fat one!"

Walter sighed and rolled his eyes heavenwards. "Looks
like everything's back to normal."

Suddenly the door opened to reveal Peril's distressed
face. "You'd better come quick!" she told them.

Mulder rushed down the hallway, his heart thumping,
his face tingling. Fear gripped him at the sight of
the doctors and nurses running into Jamie's room.
These are the last seconds, he thought, of being able
to pretend everything is all right.

Standing at the door, he frantically called to Scully.
"What's happening? What's wrong?"

"We're not moving from this spot until we find out,"
Walter's firm voice said behind him.

Dana moved forward. Swallowing, she said sadly,
"Mulder, I'm sorry. His condition has worsened."

"What can I -what do you do now?"

"There's nothing more we can do."

"What is that supposed to mean?" asked a desperate
Peril.

"Either Jamie pulls out of the coma on his own... or
I'm afraid he's not going to make it."

Peril started crying.

Through glittering eyes, Mulder stared across the room
at Jamie, clinging to life by a thread.

[Next Episode: Is Your Love Strong Enough?] 



Chapter Two: Lost Treasure

Gracefully, a jet glided down to San Francisco
International Airport, its slipstream ruffling the
grass along the runway.

Within the hectic concourse Peril watched passengers
reuniting with loved ones through numb eyes. She had
not stopped crying until she reached the airport.
Jamie was back in her life, but now he was slowly
slipping away. Her heart also bled for Fox Mulder, who
looked as if he'd been kicked in the stomach.

She glanced up at an information monitor, cursing the
same message:

Flight originating from Atlanta, GA delayed

What was she going to tell Aunt Janine when she
finally arrived?

*****

An exhausted Scully leaned against the frame of the
treatment room door. She felt completely and utterly
helpless, having done everything medically possible to
speed Jamie's recovery. Neither she nor Dr. Walker
understood why his condition had deteriorated. The
shocking turn of events had left her reeling. Right
now Mulder was doing the best thing for him. Across
the room she could hear his words of comfort.

"You're going to be fine. You're going to pull through
this."

Mulder clasping his still hand, and begging him to
hang on, broke Dana's heart. It was all so unfair. For
Mulder to have risked so much... With a heavy sigh,
she moved away and down the hall.

She swept past the waiting room and glanced inside.
Skinner sat talking with Krycek, who paced like a
caged tiger. The two former enemies had struck up a
friendship. Dana often wondered exactly what had
happened to change the animosity between them. She
hurried along to consult with her colleague.

In a burst of anger Alex kicked a wastepaper basket,
and immediately regretted it. Wincing, he clutched at
his aching ribs.

Instantly, Walter was by his side. "Hey, you're going
to have to take it easy," he admonished.

"He's been through a lot and for this to happen,"
Krycek began, then let his voice trail away.

Walter understood the frustration he felt. The pair
had spent a great deal of time together, and the
former double-agent had grown to care about him.

"There's a limit to how much a person can take,
believe me." He thought back with disgust at striking
the Faustian deal with Avatar. "A lot has happened to
me in the past year and a half. It's changed me. It's
made me wanna make changes."

"So what are you gonna do?"

"I don't know. Just take some time. Figure it out.
Look, I had a little wake up call and I realize that
life is too short to be wasting my time doing
something I really don't wanna be doing."

"Krycek," Walter said, indicating the empty chairs.
"Alex, come here. There's something I want to talk to
you about."

*****

Mulder held Jamie's cold hand close against his chest,
willing him to feel just one heartbeat. Was he asking
too much? He reached out and soothingly brushed back
stray locks of hair from Jamie's face.
He could no longer fight the tears, the emotions burst
forth from the cracked dam.

"I love you, Jamie," he said, his voice breaking. "You
are the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Leaning forward, he pressed his trembling lips gently
against Jamie's forehead.

"Please don't leave me," Mulder desperately pleaded.
"So much has happened to us, so much time lost. You
will always be a part of me, forever."

He drew his warm breath close to Jamie. "Can you hear
me? I love you, Jamie. Please hear me."

Mulder sat back, weeping freely, his body shaking with
sobs. A tear trailed down his cheek, falling on
Jamie's hand.

Slowly, Jamie's index finger twitched into life.
Mulder looked up, his eyes glistening with hope.

"Jamie?"

Suddenly, Jamie gasped aloud and coughed against the
oxygen mask covering his nose and mouth.

"Oh, Jamie!" Mulder exclaimed through an ocean of
joyous tears. "Thank God!"

Jamie pulled the mask away and gazed up at him.
"Mulder?" he said, hoarsely.

"Are you okay?" Mulder caressed his cheek, then leaned
forward to warmly embrace him.

At the same time, Dr. Walker came rushing inside.
"When did this happen?" he asked, moving close to
examine his patient. "Mr. Grayson, are you feeling all
right?"

Dana and two other nurses hurried into the room.
"Mulder, is he-" She froze in her tracks, seeing Jamie
awake. "Oh my God, he's okay?!"

"Yes, he's okay," Mulder said with a surge of relief.

"Mulder," whispered Jamie, disoriented.

Mulder kissed and hugged him. Dana moved up and,
taking Mulder by the arm, pulled him gently away so
that the nurses could do their work. She hugged Mulder
tightly, and he squeezed back.

"This is incredible!" she cried.

"B.P. 105 over 60. Pulse is strong," a nurse reported.

Dr. Walker was in awe. "All of his vitals are normal.
I've never seen anything like it." He quickly turned
to the nurse. "Draw some blood. I want to run some
comparatives."

"Yes, doctor."

Breaking away, Dana rushed out of the room to share
the good news. Both  Walter and Krycek stood up the
instant she entered the waiting area. She was too
excited to notice that the two men had been in the
middle of a deep conversation.

"He's awake!" she proclaimed.

"What? That's great," Walter smiled.

"Yeah, we're going to run some tests to confirm a few
suspicions."

"Whoa, wait, back up," Alex said. "Jamie's really
okay?"

Dana nodded. "Yes. I don't know how Mulder did it, but
he brought him back. He's achieved what would've taken
specialists weeks. It's a miracle, it really is."

*****

Peril craned her neck, trying to get a first glimpse
of her aunt. The flight had finally arrived and the
passengers were disembarking at a snail's pace. She
was anxious to get back up to the hospital.

She heaved a huge sigh of relief as Janine, elegantly
attired in an expensive suede pantsuit, appeared
behind the stragglers. Peril squeezed by a couple
searching for the luggage claim and rushed toward her.

"Peril," Janine said, giving her niece a hug. "Have
you seen him?"

Peril felt a sting of sadness at the news she would
have to give her.

"It's true. He's alive, it's just..."

Janine swept her sunglasses up into her blonde tresses
and noted the worried statement on her face. "Peril,
what is it? Is he all right?"

"Look," she said, awkwardly. "Let's get up to the
hospital, fast. I'll tell you about it on the way."

*****

"He's waking up."

Mulder's voice seemed to echo down a long tunnel.
Slowly, Jamie's eyes flickered open. Blurred images
coalesced into the handsome, smiling features of Fox
Mulder. Dazed and weak, Jamie could only gaze up at
him.

"Hey, angel," Mulder beamed.

At the foot of his bed Scully folded her arms and
smiled back. "How are you feeling?"

Getting his bearings, Jamie inhaled deeply. "A little
tired," he replied, weakly. "Which is a good thing."
He turned to Mulder and reached for his hand, memories
flooding back. "Thank you for-"

"For what? Stabbing you?"

"Yeah." Jamie gave him a faint little grin. "Couldn't
think of a better plan, huh?"

Mulder shook his head. "Nope." He leaned forward and
kissed Jamie tenderly on the forehead. "I couldn't let
you die."

Fighting tears, Jamie swallowed. "I'm very glad you
couldn't."

Dana found herself wiping at her eye. A light tap at
the door drew their attention away. A sheepish Walter
Skinner peeked his head inside.

"Hey, you're awake," he said, walking inside bearing a
large white teddy bear with a bouquet of multi-colored
balloons attached to its collar.

"Are those for me?" asked Jamie, trying to sit up.

Mulder quickly took an extra pillow to support him as
Walter placed the gift on the bedside table. He
couldn't get over the change in Jamie. The paleness of
his skin had disappeared to be replaced by a rosey hue
in his cheeks.

"Jamie, do you remember meeting my best friend?"
Mulder asked.

Jamie flashed his green eyes and said with mock-hurt,
"I thought I was your 
best friend."

Dana nodded. "Um-hum, he tells me the same thing."

Mulder flushed with embarrassment. "I've gotta stop
telling people they're my best friend."

Walter laughed heartily, and Dana hid her own smile
with a slender hand. Meantime, Jamie marveled at the
lover he thought he'd never see again.

"I'm not dreaming, am I?" he asked Mulder.

"No, you're not. This is all real," he replied,
comfortingly.

Jamie peered around and suddenly asked, "Where's Alex?
I wanted to thank him." He saw the looks being
exchanged. "He is okay, isn't he?"

Mulder suppressed a twinge of irritation. He reminded
himself -as mad as it seemed- that Krycek did help
Jamie.

"Yeah," Walter nodded. "He'll be in to see you later."

Jamie scratched his chin absently and looked up at
Dana. "Can I leave now? Um, 'cause no offense or
anything, but I hate hospitals."

Mulder softly laughed, climbed onto the bed and
wrapped Jamie in his arms. He felt Jamie tremble like
a leaf from his touch.

"We want to get you up and walking around soon,"
Scully told him, back in doctor mode. "If you keep
progressing so well, maybe in a day or two."

Jamie gave a start of surprise as a shrill ringing
filled the room. Immediately he 
thought something was terribly wrong with the heart
monitor. His eyes widened when Walter extracted a
small, compact phone from his jacket. Seeing the
curious glances around him, Jamie felt what would be
the first in a long series of impulses of doubt.

"I'm sorry. I don't know why I did that." He shrugged
his shoulders. "Guess I've got a lot to catch up on."

Mulder realized that there were no cell phones back in
1983 -which was the last time Jamie had clear memories
before being possessed. He had to adjust to being away
from society for so long, and to all the changes. He
lost so many years. Mulder knew that he and Jamie had
a long road ahead, getting to know one another all
over again. And he to a Jamie that essentially had not
grown since he was last with him.

With no warning, Peril's astonished voice cried out
from the doorway. "Oh my God! I don't believe it!"

The assembled group turned to find a stunned Peril and
an older woman staring across at Jamie. They looked
like they had just seen a ghost. Mulder got to his
feet as the astonished pair hurried toward the bed.

"Oh, honey, are you okay?" Peril, crying, threw her
arms around her cousin.

"Jamie," breathed Janine, embracing her son. She felt
inept. She was eighteen years out of practice at
parenting Jamie. What, really, could she say? Until
she'd received that phone call, she had completely
given up hope of ever seeing him again.

"Mom," he said, simply.

She sat on the bed and smoothed back his hair. "Just
rest now. Everything will be all right."

Walter cleared his throat, embarrassed to be privy to
this family moment.

"We'll give you some time alone," offered Mulder.

"Thank you," Janine told him, cooly.

Mulder felt a distinct chill from her insincere smile
and Arctic blue eyes. Taking him by the arm, Dana
gently pulled him away.

As they left, Mulder's gaze lingered on Jamie, who
looked completely lost. And Peril, watching him, saw
the look in Mulder's eyes, and it nearly took her
breath away.

Out in the hall, Dr. Walker watched the trio
departing. Before the door could close, he pushed it
open a tad. "Excuse me," he interrupted. "Mrs. Hunter,
if you can keep this visit short."

"Of course, doctor," she nodded, then turned back to
Jamie. To look at her son hurt Janine. He had suffered
and survived, and she had done nothing to help find
him. Well, she would not lose him again.

"Mrs. Hunter?" stammered Jamie. He looked down at his
mother's hand. There was a wedding ring.

Janine cast a nervous glance at Peril, then took a
deep breath. "Yes, ah- Baby, do you remember Marc
Hunter?"

"Vaguely." Jamie frowned. A lawyer, wasn't he?

"He was a wonderful help to me when you..." She chose
her words carefully, "...went away."

The implication sank in.

"What else is different?" Jamie asked, quietly.

"You have a little sister, Erin. She's fifteen and
very anxious to meet her big brother."

A sister. After all this time. "What about Grams?"
continued Jamie. "Where is she?"

Peril chimed in, happily. "Same old Grams. She's on a
cruise."

"A cruise? I'm back and she's on a cruise?"

"Darling, she didn't know," Janine interjected.

Peril nodded. "She's on her way back now. The moment
she heard, I'm sure she had the captain turn the ship
around."

This was all too much for Jamie. "You know, I'm really
tired," he said, exhaling and sinking against the
pillows.

"Of course, sweetheart," his mother replied, clamly.
"We'll let you get some sleep."

"We'll see you later, ok?" Peril added.

As soon as the lights were out and the door shut,
Jamie slumped dejectedly into the bed. Deep inside,
all the changes bothered him profoundly. In reality,
Jamie was more sad and confused than he wanted to be
or knew how to deal with.

After the door closed behind them, Janine turned to
Peril. "He's going to be fine, now that we're both
here to look after him."

Peril sighed and put a gentle hand on her aunt's arm.
"You have to take it easy. I've met Fox Mulder and he
really loves him."

"That's what worries me." Janine crossed her arms over
her chest. "I want to have a talk with that doctor and
get Jamie out of here as soon as possible."

[Next Episode: Out From The Deep]

Chapter Three: Undertow

The setting sun cast vivid splashes of golden orange
across the sky. Light sparkled in Mulder's bright,
hazel eyes. He checked his watch again. It was 7:32 --
two minutes later than the last time he'd checked. He
had not been able to visit with Jamie at all since his
cousin and rather icy mother arrived. Plus, the fact
that Scully and Dr. Walker ran endless tests.

Out of all the miraculous and terrifying things he'd
seen in his life, one thing still gave him the creeps:
hospitals. However, because of Jamie, he couldn't wait
to get back to San Francisco Memorial.

Scully had insisted that he have a good meal and
brought him to this restuarant, while Jamie had his
first walk. She'd wanted Skinner to come along, but he
was busy making arrangements to return to D.C.

Sighing, Mulder picked up his fork and absently played
with a lettuce leaf dripping with some unidentifiable
subtance. He decided it was either alien ectoplasm or
some new style of ranch dressing.

Across the table, Scully cocked an eyebrow and
swallowed her bite of salad. "It's nice just sitting
here talking," she observed.

"Hmm?"

"Mulder, I said: isn't it amazing that the man behind
you just morphed into an alien?"

"Yeah, great."

"Mulder, you've not heard a single word I've said!"

"Huh? What? Oh, Scully, I'm sorry. My mind's on..."

"Jamie?"

Mulder nodded and took a gulp of his ice water. "Are
you absolutely sure he's going to be all right?"

"Physically, yes. Emotionally, well, I think he's got
a long way to go. I definitely think you can help him
through the trauma. After all, you two have a lot in
common."

"How do you mean?"

"Coming back from the dead, ring any bells, Mulder?"

"Several," he smiled. A sudden thought struck him.
"Did you just make a joke?"

Scully just shook her head with a light laugh. Mulder
noticed that she'd nearly finished her dinner. And he
saw something else, as well. A glint in her eye that
always suggested something was on her mind.

"Something's worrying you, Scully," he said,
pointedly. "What is it?"

She sat down her fork and pushed her plate away. "I
have to tell you that Jamie's mother is pushing for
both Dr. Walker and I to release him into her care."
She paused as a young waitress, who'd been shamelessly
flirting with Mulder -- winking, smiling, catching
glimpses of his crotch -- returned to take away her
dishes. Dana smiled politely, thinking 'you're really
barking up the wrong tree, sister.' Propping her
elbows up on the table, she resumed once the waitress
left. "It's difficult to explain to his mother why
Jamie needs time when-"

Mulder broke in. "I know. I don't think anyone would
believe us if we tried."

That was an understatement. Dana had a hard enough
time with Dr. Walker's questions. To be honest, she
didn't particularly care for Janine Hunter's attitude
toward Mulder, who was willing to sacrifice everything
for Jamie.

Hoisting the strap of her purse over a shoulder, Dana
asked, "Do you want a lift back to the hotel?"

Mulder wiped dressing from his lips. "No," he
adamantly replied, "I want to check on Jamie one more
time."

Dana was not surprised. She didn't think Mulder had
spent one moment in the hotel room she'd booked for
him. Mulder read her expression.

"Scully, don't give me that look. I promise to get
some rest after I see him."

"All right. But I'm gonna hold you to it."

*****

Sleep for Jamie remained elusive. His first walk had
not gone so well. The second he stood on his feet, the
world began to spin. He'd barely made it back to his
bed unaided, which only added injured pride to the
many issues whirling through his confused, and now
aching mind.

Jamie slumped down into the starched sheets, wanting
to bury his face in the pillow. He'd been pricked and
prodded every thirty minutes or so, and his walk up
and down the hospital corridor had left him equally
drained.

Rolling onto his side, Jamie grimaced from a slight
burning sensation, and righted himself once more. Ah,
Mulder, he thought, nothing says I love you like a
knife in the gut. Jamie had survived a prophecy, and
Mulder had brought him back.

He concentrated on the air conditioner hum, and tried
to sleep.

"Hey!" a voice whispered.

Jamie blinked open his eyes and turned. A shadowy
figure stood in the doorway. Before his blurry eyes it
seemed cowled and imposing. Jamie bit down a gasp.

"It's me," Alex Krycek told him, fully entering the
room.

Jamie heaved an enormous sigh of relief.

"I saw a nurse leave a little while ago," Alex
explained, walking toward the bed.

Turning on one of the flourescent lights behind him,
Jamie offered some illumination. He smiled wryly at
his friend and stretched out an arm. "Yeah, she took
like a quart of blood. I'm starting to wonder if
vampires are in charge of this place."

Alex smirked and pulled up a chair. "With our luck,
you never know."

"True." Jamie looked up at him with warmth in his
eyes. Alex, thank you for everything--"

Certainly not used to gratitude, Krycek swiftly
changed the subject. "Are you okay?"

"If I only had a dollar for each time someone's asked
me that."

"I know what you mean." Alex touched the side of
Jamie's forehead. "Just a lot going on in here, huh?"

"I'm trying to be as normal as possible," he confided,
sadly, "but it's like everyone's staring at me. The
ghost boy who fell from outer space."

Alex snorted. Understanding all too well what Jamie
was going through. "Yeah, they'll never understand
what happened. So what are you gonna do?"

"Honestly, I don't know. I'm so confused, I don't know
what to do."

"You mean about your family and Mulder?"

"It's not so much them, but what I need to do for me.
I just feel so..." Jamie struggled to find the words.
Part of him wanted to cry, another wanted to laugh,
and the next just plain wanted to scream. He wanted to
understand why this had all happened to him. And he
certainly did not want to put the people he loved
through any more pain -- especially Mulder.

"I'm just so ashamed," he admitted. "Alex, what if I
can't forget?"

"You didn't do anything wrong." Alex sighed, deeply.
"The important thing is that we can all get on with
our lives."

Easy for you to say, thought Jamie.

"I just wanted to see you before I leave."

"You're leaving?"

Alex could feel his emotions building and he hated
that. He felt very protective of Jamie, like a
surrogate brother. He stood up and ruffled his hair.
"You take care of yourself, you hear me? And If anyone
gives you any problems, I'll personally kick their ass
for you." He winked. "'Cause you know I will."

A light laugh fell from Jamie's lips, and it felt
good. Alex wore a huge grin. "Knew I could make 'ya
smile."

Jamie peered closely at him. "What about you? You need
someone to take care of you."

Displaying the bandages wrapped snuggly round his
chest, Krycek said, "Hey, I'm indestructible."
Catching the concerned glint in Jamie's eye, Alex
smiled mysteriously and looked at him as if he'd
thought of a private joke. "Don't worry, all right?
I'm not alone anymore."

With a little wave, a pensive Jamie sank back into the
bed. What does he mean, he's not alone?

*****

A while later, Mulder silently opened a hospital room
door, and found that Jamie had drifted off to sleep.
All he wanted to do was take Jamie into his arms and
make everything go away.

"What are you doing?" a harsh voice hissed near his
ear.

He turned to find Jamie's mother staring daggers at
him. "Just checking that he's resting okay," he
replied.

Janine reached forward and closed the door. "Mr.
Mulder, I'd like a word with you."

Mulder sensed the animosity radiating from her. Now
was as good a time as any to talk. "I know Jamie must
seem distant right now. He's been through an ordeal.
He's going to need time to get his life back."

"It seems to me that whenever he's around you his life
is turned upside down," she replied, hotly. "I have my
son back and that's all that matters."

Mulder exhaled. She was aiming her anger at him. The
same way he had at Krycek. She was feeling the same
fear -- afraid of losing Jamie again.

"I know exactly what you're feeling," he offered,
gently. "When someone you love's been taken away you
feel like it's the end of the world. Something
terrible happened. Something you might never
understand."

It was all very well to tell her to let Jamie have
time. But her ideas and his were totally at odds.

Janine ignored his advice. "No, what I understand is
that Jamie will be fine once I take him back home."

With that she whirled on her heel and stalked away.
Mulder's frown deepened. How could he make her
understand? The worst thing in the world to do was
push Jamie.

Walter came striding up the corridor, glancing at the
irate Janine's retreating back. "Mulder, I heard. I'm
so sorry," he said.

"She's just hurt and confused," Mulder replied, trying
his damndest not to let it get to him. "What are you
doing here this time of night?"

Walter held up is bandaged arm. "Just one last check
before I head back."

Mulder gave him a boyish grin. "Another war wound.
Walter, look, I've never been any good at expressing
my feelings--"

"What? You are kidding, right? You brought Jamie back,
didn't you?"

Mulder blushed. "What I'm trying to say is thank you.
I could have never saved him without you."

Skinner was completely taken by surprise when Mulder
gave him a quick hug. Not for the first time he
thought just how lucky Jamie was.

*****

Restlessly, Jamie stirred in his sleep. Shadows
swirled and rippled. A deep rumble of mocking laughter
shook the walls. A dark mist crept up, beneath covers,
invading every fibre of his being. He opened his mouth
to cry out, but felt himself choking. Suddenly Mulder
appeared. As if in slow motion, he waded through the
darkness.

"Jamie," he called, shaking his shoulders. "Jamie,
wake up!"

Jamie's eyes shot open and he fell, sweating and
panting, into Mulder's arms. "Azathoth's trying to
come back!"

Mulder held his face in his hands. "Jamie, it was just
a bad dream," he explained, gently.

"No, it wasn't. It was real." Jamie shook his head and
Mulder wiped away the tears from his cheeks. "I don't
understand. Why is this happening to me?"

Taking him back into his arms, Mulder massaged his
back comfortingly. "Jamie, everything's all right
now," he whispered softly in his ear. "I promise you,
it's over."

Jamie sat back, his entire body shaking. "It's over,"
he echoed. "Or is it?" He looked thoughtful. "Mulder,
do you ever get the feeling that nothing's really
over? It keeps coming back. Do you know what I mean?"

Mulder chewed on his bottom lip, suddenly remembering
that endless Monday morning a few years back.

"If it'll make you feel better, I'll stay right here
with you," offered Mulder, sliding up next to him.
"The nurses'll have to drag me out of here, okay?"

Jamie didn't want to argue. Mulder's suggestion was
the best thing he'd heard all day.

Tenderly, Mulder pulled Jamie close, and eased his
head down. "Now close your eyes," he instructed. He
looked down and found those grey-green pools wide
open. "Close them," he repeated, in a whispered voice.
 
Jamie did, and felt a light touch as Mulder slowly
stroked his hair. Mulder smiled to himself as Jamie's
muscles relaxed and their fingers entwined. Soon,
Jamie's chest began a gentle rise and fall. For the
first time, he truly felt safe.

*****

The bright, early morning sun pierced through a window
as Jamie gazed out of a window at the soft blue sky,
dotted with puffy white clouds. He'd woken at half
past nine, feeling refreshed. Mulder had left a note,
sitting on Mr. Skinner's Teddy bear, which stated that
he'd left to shower and change but would be back
later.

He secretly hoped later would be sooner. Jamie managed
to sleep a little better with Mulder in the same room.
His reasurring presence helped quell the doubts in
Jamie's mind. At the memory of Mulder's warm body
beside him, Jamie felt a tingle run all over his skin.

Turning, he supported himself along the wall, moving
back toward the bed where his breakfast lay stone
cold. Sitting back, he exhaled and closed his eyes.
Another round of tests and walking up and down the
hall had left him drained. He hoped he could get out
of this place soon. Then again, he had a number of
important decisions awaiting him.

A knock at the door made his hopeful eyes look up.
Instead of Mulder it was Peril. With an infectious
smile, she came in, jumped on the bed and smothered
Jamie's cheek with kisses.

"How's the patient this morning?"

"Fine," he lied.

Peril stared down at the neglected toast and jelly.
"Doesn't look too appetizing," she observed. "I think
these places do it on purpose so folks will leave
sooner. Ya think?"

No answer. Jamie was staring into space. Peril waved a
hand in front of her younger's cousin's face. "Earth
to Planet Jamie?"

Jamie gave a start of surprise. "Huh?"

She smiled. "You're quiet this morning."

Jamie looked down at the tray, then back up again.
"You're different. You're different, too, he stated
sadly. "The way you look at me."

"I am not different!" she adamantly told him. Seeing
the hurt in his eyes, she continued more tactfully.
"Sweetie, I'm sorry. I know this must be very
difficult for you."

"It is," he quietly replied.

"But I don't think anyone wants to make you
uncomfortable."

"Is this the way it's going to be from now on? Second
guessing everyone?"

Peril didn't know how to answer him. She wished her
cousin would confide exactly what had happened to him.
Maybe she could help him. At that moment the door
opened and Janine walked in with a handful of shopping
bags. Peril was grateful for the change in topic.

"Been shopping, have you?"

Janine dumped the bags on the bed and started handing
Jamie shirts and jeans.

"Mom, I don't think I need this many," Jamie said,
eyeing the unfamiliar brand names. Styles sure have
changed, he thought.

"Honey, you will when you leave." Janine sat on the
bed's edge and nervously brushed Jamie's hair back.
"Baby, I should have never left you go to that
school."

With a heavy sigh, Jamie discarded the Tommy Hilfiger
shirt and looked his mom straight in the eye. "Mom,
you don't understand--"

"What I understand is that you'll be much better off
once you're back home."

"Home?" Jamie's eyes widened with shock. "Woah!
Please, this is going way too fast for me." He glanced
at his mom and winced at the gathering frown he saw.

Janine's eyes glinted with determination. He was
coming back home and that was final. "You've been away
for so long. I just want this time with you."

Peril rolled her eyes. Guilt-trip, anyone?

Jamie slumped back in defeat. A heavy weight settled
on his spirit. How on earth was he going to tell
Mulder?

Triumphant, Janine nodded at her niece. "Peril, why
don't you take Jamie for a walk while I talk with his
doctors?"

After Janine left on her one-woman crusade, Peril
shrugged her shoulders helplessly. "You know, you
don't have to go if you don't want to."

"If I don't, mom will never forgive me."

Helping him off the bed, Peril led him out into the
hallway. She decided to engage him in some small talk.
"Have you seen Alex Krycek?" she wondered.

Jamie nodded. "He came to see me just before he left
last night. Why?"

"Oh, nothing. He's very..." She stuck her tongue out,
thinking about the gorgeous man she'd briefly met.
"...interesting. Of course, anyone that cute can't
possibly be straight." Her attmept at levity went
unnoticed. She decided it was time to boost Jamie's
morale.  "Sweetie, maybe going home won't be so bad.
You'll get to recuperate in peace and quiet. Plus, I'm
sure Mulder will visit." If Aunt Janine will let him
past the door, she thought, grimly. "And by the time
you get there, Grams should be back."

"Grams," he repeated, quietly.

"Hey, you're getting stronger," Peril observed, then
decided to keep chatting. "Oh Jamie, you would've been
so proud of her. She never feel apart once when you
were lost. She even stood up in the middle of your
memorial service and told them to call it off..."

As if he'd been slapped, Jamie made a quick gasp of
surprise. "My what?!"

"Oh, crap! You didn't know."

Jamie's legs felt weak as water. "I think I need to
sit down," he said, slipping out of Peril's grip and
heading back to his room.

Peril smacked herself in the forehead. "Good job,
Peril," she said, aloud. "Way to go."

Shutting himself in the bathroom, Jamie's eyes
sparkled, the mirror reflecting the hurt. How could
they do that? Then the rational part of his mind took
over. He could imagine his family receiving the tragic
news.

Suddenly nauseated, he leaned over the sink and
splashed cold water over his face. 
They thought I was dead. They believed I was dead. I'm
supposed to be dead. It had been eighteen years --
what else could they think?

Jamie remembered nothing else until he woke up back in
his bed. Peril heard his anguished cry, and at the
sound of his collapse, had rushed to find an orderly.

Peril felt awful. Telling Jamie his own family had
given up and buried him -- oh how she wished she could
take it all back. It would not be easy for Jamie to
get over that fact. And she was right.

Janine was mortified when she heard Peril had spilt
the beans. Despite her quick declarations of love,
Jamie could not bear to talk and remained quiet for
the rest of the afternoon while decisions were made
around him. Both Dr. Scully and Dr. Walker advised
against moving him too quickly. As far as Janine was
concerned, there was no debating the subject -- Jamie
was returning home.

***** 

Freshly showered, shaved, and wearing a midnight blue
dress shirt, and dark brown slacks, Mulder exited the
elevator thinking things were as cool as cool could
be. Last night had been like a dream, just holding
Jamie while he slept, as if there was no one in the
world but the two of them.

All the way up to the hospital, Mulder sang along to a
Queen song playing on his rental car's radio. Jamie
was being released tonight and that meant Scully knew
he was going to be all right. He knew that Jamie would
be nervous and Mulder was determined to be there for
support, and ensure things went smoothly for him.

He found Jamie's hospital room door opened, and the
patient himself fully dressed in brand new clothes
standing beside the bed packing his few belongings.

"Jamie?" he said, venturing inside.

"Mulder." Jamie turned, with a nervous little grin.
"This day has been weird."

Mulder paused to close the door and chuckled. "Jamie,
call me Fox."

Now it was Jamie's turn to laugh. "I don't think I'll
ever get used to that," he said, shaking his head. He
turned back to the little case supplied by the
hospital. "They're springing me from this joint
today."

Mulder nodded. "Scully told me." He tried
unsuccessfully to keep his eyes off Jamie. Does he
still feel it? he wondered. Does he still want to
touch me as much as I want to touch him?

"I've almost forgotten what the outside world looks
like," Jamie continued. "It's been a beautiful day."

Mulder's bright, hazel eyes wandered up the fine cut
of Jamie's jeans. His senses began to overload faster
than a nuclear reactor.

"Mulder?" Jamie called.

"Hmm? Beautiful," he said, dreamily. Mulder could not
hold back any longer. He wanted to hold Jamie so badly
that he thought his bones might crack. With one hand,
he turned Jamie round to face him. "Jamie, I'm going
crazy here. I've been waiting for this, for us, for so
long that I don't want to wait any longer."

Jamie felt a thrill of excitement run through him.
"Are you kidding? I want that more than anything. I
don't want to lose you again."

With one deep breath, Mulder reached out to him. The
contact was electric. His hands felt as if they were
on fire. Jamie gasped, his pulse hammering. He raised
his glittering eyes to his. Cupping Jamie's face in
both hands, Mulder bent forward and began to kiss him.

Jamie felt as if he were drowning. His heartbeat
roared in his ears. Every inch of his skin tingled, so
much that he shivered. Mulder's arms came around his
waist and pressed him into the warmth of his body. His
hands roamed up and down, caressing his back.

Lust and love mingled intimately, then took over as
Jamie searched and fumbled with the buttons on
Mulder's shirt. Opening and discarding it with primal
desire.

Mulder explored the hot recesses of Jamie's willing
mouth with his probing tongue. He savoured him,
wanting to devour him. The kiss went on and on.

Suddenly, the door flew open and Peril barged in.
"WHOAAA!" she cried, immediately turning her back.

Mulder and Jamie, surprised, finally broke away. Their
breathing ragged, their lips red and swollen.

"I should've knocked," Peril apologized. "I'm so
sorry." She backed out and closed the door.

Mulder stared at Jamie, dazed and breathless. In turn,
Jamie's cheeks were hot, and his lips throbbed where
they had been pressed against Mulder's.

"I-I guess I'd better go see what she wants," Jamie
stammered, gesturing toward the door.

Mulder's heart cried out, no! don't go! Then he
realized he was pushing Jamie and he needed time. He
nodded, trying to pick up his shirt with trembling
fingers.

"Yeah, all right." Mulder's voice was slightly hoarse.

"Right," Jamie breathed, reaching for the door.

Out in the hall, he leaned back and groaned. "This is
so frustrating!"

Peril approached him timidly. "I didn't see anything!"
she exclaimed.

Jamie's eyes softened. "Not that." He sighed. How
could he possibly explain it? She would never
understand. "Suddenly things are moving so fast."

"And that's a bad thing?" Peril leaned in with a
wicked grin. "I gotta tell you, Mulder looks so fine."

Jamie arched an eyebrow. "I thought you didn't see
anything?"

"Well, nothing good." She rubbed his arm. "So,
sweetie, have you told him yet?"

"No. And that's the problem. I'm so scared of hurting
him." He looked at Peril with sad eyes. "Why do things
have to be so complicated?"

With a heavy heart, Jamie walked back inside the room.
"Mulder," he spoke lightly, feeling a sharp
disappointment to find that Mulder had put his shirt
back on.

Mulder smiled warmly and took him back into his arms.
Jamie hesitated and placed a finger on his plump,
bottom lip which sent a shiver through him.

"Wait," he managed to say.

"But you just said," Mulder protested. He was right.
Jamie was pulling away from him.

"I know," Jamie said with great difficulty. "Mulder,
my mother wants me to go back with them."

"She told me."

Jamie blinked, and gaped at him. "She what? She did
what? She had no right to do that."

Mulder have a sudden, boyish grin. A little of the old
fire in Jamie was returning. But he knew in his heart
that Jamie needed this time to heal and reconnect with
his family.

"Jamie, she only wants what's best for you," he said,
putting on a brave front. "You've got to give it some
time."

"I don't want to go but... there's just some things I
have to work out for myself." His eyes read Mulder's
downcast face. "Mulder, are you mad at me?"

"Of course not." He pushed a hand through Jamie's
blonde hair. "I just wish I could help you with
everything you're facing. Reclaiming your identity,
dealing with your family."

"Hey, you're talking to a guy who's survived being
possessed and stalked by a cult." Jamie tried to
smile. "You don't think I can handle this?"

"I know you can handle anything." Mulder's gaze was
impossibly tender. He pulled Jamie close. "I don't
know if I can handle saying good-bye again."

"Me, too. It's really wonderful to be with someone who
really knows me. Who understands what we've both been
through."

"Listen to us reminiscing about the good old days."
Mulder rolled his eyes. "We must be nuts."

Jamie shook his head. "No, we're perfectly sane. It's
the rest of the world that's nuts."

*****

Jamie was in tears when he emerged from the room.
Peril took his little suitcase and instinctively
wrapped an arm round his shoulders.

Janine, who had just arrived after signing his release
papers, asked, "Are you ready?" Her eyes glinted
dissapproval.

Jamie raised his head to look at her, eye to eye.
"Mother, why did you tell him I was leaving?" he
snapped. "I am an adult and I'm perfectly capable of
making my own decisions."

"I know you are, darling," she cooed. "Now let's hurry
or we'll be late for our flight."

[Next Episode: If I Fall]

Chapter Four: A Family Affair

"I can't stay. No, I appreciate the offer, but really,
I can't."

Scully was overwhelmed by the admiration of her
colleagues. Caring for Jamie over the past several
days reminded her of how much she wanted to be in the
medical profession. However, something far more
important awaited her at home. A precious baby boy she
was dying to get back to, and a mother who would kill
her if she didn't return home soon.

Hefting the cellophane-wrapped gift basket -- complete
with gaudy pink bow -- in one hand, while carrying an
already overloaded shoulderbag, Dana smiled politely
and thanked the nurses and Dr. Walker. She gazed past
them when Mulder, looking as if he just lost his last
friend in the world, appeared up the other corridor.

"Mulder," she called, anxious to have a word with him.

He eyed the larger-than-life basket nestled in her
arms. "Let me guess, you won first prize at the car
wash?"

"That's not funny." Her blue eyes pratically
glittered. "Mulder, after all you've done to get Jamie
back in your life. I can't believe you let him go."

He visibly bristled, his mouth turned down. "Scully, I
encouraged him to go."

"What? Why, for heaven's sake?"

Mulder found it hard to explain. He could still feel
his lost love in his arms, the scorching kiss they'd
shared moments earlier... And the pain, the
uncertainty in Jamie's eyes. He took a deep breath.

"If we're going to have any future together, he needs
this time to heal and re-establish a relationship with
his family. He needs to know he still has roots,
something to cling to."

Dana took him by the arm, finding it difficult with
her gift, and walked him away from prying ears.
"Mulder, don't give me that psychology crap. What
Jamie needs is you." She exhaled and rolled her eyes.
"His mother couldn't get him out of here and on a
plane fast enough."

Mulder gaped at her. "What? She's taking him back home
tonight?"

"I don't think he had much of a choice." Indeed,
Scully had been quite taken aback at the sight of
Janine Hunter with a firm grip on Jamie's arm,
striding toward the elevators. Jamie had caught Dana's
eye and given her a sad little wave. She couldn't
believe that Mulder was just letting him go.

She was startled from her thoughts when Mulder gripped
her wrist and hauled her toward the first lift, in a
bizarre parody of what she'd seen earlier with Jamie.

"Mulder!" she protested.

*****

The San Francisco International Airport was lit up
like an overgrown Christmas tree. From her position in
the waiting area, Peril glanced over at Jamie. He'd
been pretty quiet ever since they'd left the hospital.
She couldn't blame him. Decisions were being made for
him, without asking what he needed, what he wanted.
Beside him, Aunt Janine sat stoically, waiting. She
was eaten up with guilt for giving up on her son, and
she was definitely taking things above and beyond the
call of duty. Even though her cousin was nearing his
late-thirties, her aunt was still treating him like a
teenager.

The terminal building buzzed with people waiting for
flights. Peril had tried to make Jamie laugh by
pointing out all the weird-as-hell people you only see
in airports, but to no avail. She wished that she
could tag along back to Georgia, but work commitments
would keep her in California for the next two days.

Janine stood up to peer at one of the information
monitors. She turned jubilantly. "It's almost time to
leave."

Peril wore a troubled frown. This was not going to go
well for Jamie. She noticed him visibly shiver and he
turned slightly to look behind them. Peril remembered
well how her cousin used to get certain "feelings"
about things. She also turned and her eyes widened.

Fox Mulder was running across the concourse toward
them, dragging Dr. Scully behind him.

Janine looked as if she'd swallowed a wasp. Peril
mentally counted DOWN the fireworks... 5,4,3...

A breathless Mulder caught up with Jamie, and gripped
his arms. "I couldn't let you leave without saying
good-bye," he said between breaths. "I had no idea you
were leaving this soon."

Jamie nodded. "Neither did I."

...2,1 -- Kaboom!

"What are you doing here?" Janine asked, her eyes
narrowing. "Is something wrong?" she continued, this
time addressing her question to Scully. Dana bit her
lip, quickly trying to think of an excuse. She'd
barely survived Mulder's drag race from the hospital,
and subterfuge on the spot was more Mulder's forte
than her own.

"Just give us a minute, please," Jamie requested,
pleadingly, not taking his eyes off of Mulder for one
second.

"Well, hurry. We don't have time to waste."

"Mother!" Jamie exclaimed, this time looking at her.
As soon as she, Peril and Scully moved away, a chorus
of embarrassed chuckles burst from Jamie. "I'm sorry.
I am so sorry," he groaned.

Mulder smiled softly, and played along. "What for?"

"Every time we're together, I always seem to land you
in trouble."

"I'm not complaining," he replied, tenderly. He rested
his hands on Jamie's shoulders and gazed into his
eyes. "Jamie, I know that you're scared--"

But Mulder couldn't finish because Jamie embraced him,
and the honey-cinnamon scent of his hair was a
distraction. Lifting his chin, Mulder told him, "In
the back of my mind, I always knew that somehow,
someway we would get another chance." From the corner
of his eye, he could see Janine approaching. The gold
flecks in Mulder's eyes flashed defiantly. "I also
know that I'm going to fight for you."

"Excuse us," Janine interrupted, dryly. She looped an
arm round Jamie's arm. "I think we're ready to go."

Peril, who had been watching the scene unfold, hugged
her cousin warmly, wished him luck and promised to see
him soon. But Jamie was torn with conflicting emotions
and could barely speak. The look in his eyes nearly
broke her heart in two. Peril had never seen him look
so defeated. Somehow, she had to help fix this.

In that moment, Mulder wrenchingly missed Jamie even
though he was still standing right in front of him. He
had been through so much, and deserved a purple heart
for courage. Mulder was seriously worried about him.
Jamie's mom was hovering all over him -- as if that
helped and made up for anything. Mulder knew that he
could handle that woman -- the frost queen. You've got
to know how to deal with people like that, and he was
certain Jamie did not.

In his heart, Mulder knew that Jamie returning home
wouldn't totally heal the pain of what he'd lost, but
it might put everything into perspective. The only way
they could have a future together was if Jamie healed,
physically and mentally. I'd like nothing better than
to be there with him, Mulder thought.

Dana moved closer and placed a comforting hand on
Mulder's shoulder.

Behind the tinted concave glass parition, Jamie paused
at the boarding entrance. He turned and silently
mouthed "I love you" to Mulder before being swept
away.

*****

The world danced by in shades of red, green and deep
browns. Leaving the window down, Jamie breathed in the
intoxicating Georgia autumn air. Funny how a smell can
bring on a flood of memories.

He peered out at his hometown, the gentle breeze
whipping through his hair. The old familiar buildings
stood out like a long-forgotten dream, while the
sparkling new shopping centers brought on a feeling of
displacement.

As comforting as the idyllic scenery was, without
Mulder's reasurring smile, the truth was Jamie
remained disoriented. On the airplane, Jamie had
swallowed every stinging tear, resolving himself to
believe that what he was doing was for the best.

He was horribly aware of all the things that had taken
place during his possession. He felt separated from
the rest of the world, an outcast, searching for
answers, and the piece of himself that got away. He
really wasn't certain about anything any more. He
needed this time to think and work out all the reasons
why. The only thing he held safely in his heart was
the knowledge that Fox Mulder was the love of his
life.

But Jamie was scared to death of the niggling doubts,
the demons which plagued his dreams, and the thought
that there must be something inherently evil about
him.

Janine glanced over at him. "So, how does it feel to
be back?"

He just stared back at her, uncertainly.

She didn't notice the flicker of doubt, so wrapped up
in her own issues with Jamie's return. "I have so many
good things planned for you."

The car made a sharp turn onto an unfamiliar street.
Jamie took in the rows of large, two-story Victorian
homes with their manicured lawns and porch swings,
wondering where they were going.

In many ways it mirrored the path his emotions were
on, reflecting a road that he didn't recognize,
couldn't follow and hadn't any idea where it was
leading.

"This isn't the way home," he piped up.

"Yes, it is, darling," his mother answered, smiling.
"We sold the old place a long time ago. We have a
wonderful new house that you're going to love."

Jamie gazed back out of the window. With every
blinding curve that appeared, all of the changes were
soon to drive him right around the bend.

The journey ended outside of what appeared to be a
manor. It was beautiful, with its dark red wood, and
stained-glass windows, and would look perfectly fine
in a classy New England suburb, but in Georgia... the
style stuck out like a sore thumb.

"Here we are," Janine told him, shutting off the
engine. "What do you think?"

"It's nice." Jamie grabbed his little suitcase and
stepped out into the sunshine. Together they started
up a set of wide steps, framed by rosebushes, and
toward the polished French doors.

They opened before them to reveal a middle-aged man,
with thining brown hair, wearing an Izod sweater and
khaki pants.

"Hi," Marc Hunter smiled, and shook his hand. "How are
you?"

Mom's new husband, Jamie thought. He recognized the
man instantly as the lawyer who'd handled his father's
estate so many years ago. Jamie's hazy memory recalled
him being quite nice at the time, but the notion that
the very same man had married his mother just plain
gave him the creeps.

"Alive and kicking," Jamie replied, trying to take in
his mother's elegant new home. Stepping into the
foyer, he was greeted by a pretty young girl twirling
her long, sandy-blonde hair on one finger. She sported
indigo stirrup pants, and a tee shirt depicting five
guys called N'Sync, whoever they were.

While Jamie introduced himself to his little sister,
Erin, Marc took his wife aside and whispered, "So, how
is he?"

Janine frowned. "He's just, I don't know... distant.
Not anything I can really put my finger on, it's just
right now, there's no connection."

"Has he said where he's been all this time?"

The question which had been preying on Marc's mind
went unanswered for Janine rushed forward and led her
son across the foyer and into the living room.

"Now, while we were gone your sister and stepfather
cleared out a room for you," she began, as if
entertaining a guest.

"Which used to be my dance room," Erin mumbled under
her breath.

Janine shot her a look. "And we're going to have all
of your favorites for dinner tonight. How does that
sound?"

"Great," Jamie replied, although his tone didn't
inspire much enthusiasm.

*****

Evening, and the family, along with their newest
member, sat at the dining room table. Marc had
attempted to engage Jamie in a series of questions,
each one neatly deflected by Janine. Jamie just stared
at the pot roast cooling on his plate.

"Jamie!" Erin said. No response. "Jamie!" This time,
she nudged him.

Back on earth, Jamie blinked at her. "Fine! I'm fine."

"Good!" Erin looked at him like he was the world's
biggest space cadet. "Would you like some more
potatoes?"

Jamie took the bowl and started dishing mashed
potatoes out onto his plate. Though his stomach
rumbled and complained, he had no desire to eat.
Instead, he sat propping up his chin and doodling with
his fork. Beneath the soft-lit chandelier, the name
"Mulder" appeared in the white mass.

"What were you thinking about, dear?" Janine asked.

"Nothing."

"Oh, come on," Marc prodded. "You can tell us your
deep, dark secrets. We're your family."

Jamie shifted uncomfortably. "I wasn't thinking about
anything, really."

"What'd you do on the plane?" Erin wondered, spearing
a piece of broccoli dripping with melted cheese.

"Just slept. I had weird dreams."

"Dreams are meaningful," Marc said, giving him a
knowing glance.

"Shh!" Janine chided her husband, then turned back to
Jamie. "Tell us about it. Just so long as it wasn't
about Mr. Mulder. I really don't want him involved."

"I'll bet," Jamie muttered under his breath. What on
earth did she have against Mulder? He didn't have long
to contemplate as Marc slammed a hand down on the
table.

"Jamie!" he said, angrily.

Jamie stood up. "What is it?"

"You're going to have to deal with this, sooner or
later."

"Well, I'll deal with it." Jamie was suddenly very
confused. "This is my problem, not yours."

Marc got to his feet and walked toward him. "Oh, I
don't know. I mean," he began to chuckle, "I've
possessed you once, it shouldn't be too difficult to
do it again."

"What?" Jamie gasped in shock.

Marc took a hard backhand swing at his face, knocking
Jamie down onto the table. He jumped on top of him and
started to choke the life out of Jamie. At opposite
ends, Janine and Erin just sat and chewed away at
their food. Erin nodded and smiled at her mother.

Jamie reached up to Marc's face and desperately tried
to push him off. Crying out, Jamie clawed at him, and
suddenly his stepfather's face dissolved, revealing a
thick, black mist underneath. Jamie stared up at him
in wide-eyed terror.

He woke from his nightmare with a start. Taking a deep
breath, he looked around the freshly-painted sky blue
bedroom in a daze. Sitting up, he reached for a glass
of water on the nightstand. Taking a long drink, he
put the glass down and rubbed his face.

Suddenly, the telephone started to ring, shrilling
along his nerves.

"Hello?"

"Mind a late night call from your favorite cousin?"
Peril's friendly voice answered back.

"You woke me from a really good dream," Jamie lied.

"I'm sorry. How are things?"

"Tense." Jamie wasn't sure if that was a strong enough
word to describe the atmosphere of the past few days.

Resentment toward the prodigal son was setting in.
Janine was refocusing her energy formerly directed
toward Marc and Erin to Jamie. His mother was
compensating for lost time -- by shopping. More
clothes than he could shake a stick at, a new stereo
system, and a computer that he didn't even know how to
turn on. Jamie would take his mother's love any way he
could get it, however, rebuilding a relationship with
her was difficult. She glossed over everything, and
stealthily avoided talking. Added to this was her
hostile attitude at the mere mention of Mulder's name,
and it was infuriating Jamie to no end. He'd never
felt more alone in his life.

Jamie was trying to pick up where he'd left off at age
nineteen, when he'd first left home. So many things
had changed that the least little event came as a
constant shock. He didn't know how much longer he
could bear the sympathetic looks from his family.

Peril's voice shook him out of his reverie. "Well, I
have some good news. I'm on a plane right now headed
your way."

"That's great," he replied, diving down into the
pillows.

"So why do you sound so depressed?"

"It's nothing, really." His voice became tinged with
sadness. "I just feel a little out of place right
now."

Peril thought back to high school when her cousin had
bravely stood up to a bully who consistently picked on
him.

"Correct me if I'm wrong," she said, "but the Jamie I
know doesn't run away from anything."

"Smarty."

*****

"Jamie, telephone!" Erin's voice called.

It was mid-afternoon and Jamie had already been for a
long walk around the neighborhood, something which had
become a regular habit. It seemed to be helping, a
little.

Coming out of his room, Erin handed him the portable.
"Don't be long," she warned. "I'm waiting for my
boyfriend to call."

Jamie raised his eyebrows at her. Having a teenaged
sister was strange, to say the least.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Hey."

The second Jamie heard Mulder's silky monotone, he
felt a surge of relief wash over him.

"I miss you," Mulder continued.

Jamie sighed, and leaned against a wall. "I miss you,
too."

"So have they driven you crazy yet?" Mulder asked,
trying to get him to smile.

"I've had good moments, and some not so good ones,"
Jamie confessed. "I'm still having bad dreams."

Bad dreams were Mulder's field of expertise. "It's
just your mind's way of dealing with the trauma. Have
you tried keeping a journal? It might help."

"I'll try that. I just don't want to be confused any
more." Jamie closed his eyes and tried to imagine
Mulder standing directly in front of him, those
beautiful hazel eyes soft and warm.

"Jamie!" Erin's insistent voice called.

"What's that?" wondered Mulder.

He peered down the hallway. "My little sister who
keeps reminding me that she's waiting for her
boyfriend to call." Sliding down the wall, Jamie made
himself comfortable. "I'm going to take another walk
into town this evening," he continued, "Just clear my
head."

"I promise it will get better." Mulder took a deep
breath. "You can't keep what your feeling bottled up
inside forever, or you'll explode, believe me. And I
don't want squashed Jamie all over the walls." He
could actually hear Jamie smiling on the other end.

Jamie found himself suddenly saying things he swore he
never would. He didn't want Mulder worried. "Mulder,
I've been away from them for so long. I don't feel
like I fit in any more, with them or any where."

Mulder's voice came back, husky and comforting.
"Jamie, I know exactly how you're feeling right now. A
year ago, I went through a life-altering experience
and I thought I'd never fit in again. Try talking to
your family. Having Scully and Skinner there for me,
helped a lot. I'm still searching for answers, but I
believe that we can find them together." Mulder
decided to test the water further. "I'm the same guy
you fell in love with. The same guy who fell in love
with you. Just remember that and know that, even
though we're apart right now, I'm not giving up."

Jamie's whole body suddenly felt hot and flushed. He
wanted to tell Mulder everything he was feeling, his
fears, his hopes, his dreams. But he drew back. If he
ever hoped to find his feet again, he had to do it
himself.

***** 

Mulder sighed a long sigh and shook his head as he
hung up the phone. He wished that Jamie would lean on
him instead of trying to do everything himself.

'Jamie's convinced himself he'll be the only one to
pick himself up', he thought, 'or so he thinks...'

Discarding his jeans and sweater, Mulder snapped the
elastic on his midnight-blue boxer briefs. He
stretched the length of his exhausted body across the
bed and snuggled up with a pillow.

*****

With a dreamy look in his eyes, Jamie placed the
telephone into Erin's outstretched hand. She nodded
curtly and trotted back into her own room. Moving down
the hall, Jamie felt a bit of his confidence
returning. Mulder's advice had struck a chord. Maybe
he could find it in himself to confront the chaos and
confusion swirling inside, and try confiding in his
mom again.

Chin high and at attention, Janine turned the corner
and came face to face with her son. "Who was on the
phone?" she asked, curiously.

"Mulder," he replied. "He called to check on me."

Janine eyed her son with an angry disapproval. Well,
having a civilized conversation with his mother was
obviously out of the question.

"What?" Jamie gave her a double-take. "Do you have a
problem with that?"

"That guy hurt you!"

"You blame Mulder?" Jamie shook his head. He couldn't
believe this. "Mother, mom -- he saved my life!"

"He's made our life a misery."

"What are you talking about?"

Taking him by the arm, Janine lead him toward the
stairs. "When you disappeared, he didn't say a word to
the police. If he'd came forward with just one little
bit of information, you'd have been home sooner."

"There are a lot of things you don't know," Jamie
replied, quietly. "It's not his fault. He lost his
memory."

"Darling, why are you getting angry at me? I just want
you to be safe. You're acting like a stranger--"
Janine's voice faded. She immediately regretted her
choice of words.

Jamie felt a sweet flame of anger roar in his heart.
"That's right, it's just me. I'm the one who's
different. I'm the one who's changed!"

"Stop putting words in my mouth."

"Then stop pretending like everything is fine when
it's not."

Janine rubbed her tired eyes. "Jamie, it's very
trying..."

"It's trying for you? What about me and everything
I've been through? Have you stopped to ask once what
really happened?"

"Have you thought for one second what I went through?
I thought I'd lost you forever."

Irritated, Jamie narrowed his eyes. "Are you trying to
make me feel guilty?"

"No, I want you to forgive me."

Jamie stalked downstairs, his emotions and adrenalin
creating an explosive combination. "I would have never
buried your memory. I would have never given up hope!"

Catching up with her son, Janine stepped in front of
him. "Do you think it was that easy?" Her brow
furrowed. "This must be that Mulder's influence,
because my Jamie would never talk to me this way.
We've never had any problems before..."

Jamie glared at her, the flame burning brighter. "When
you say things like that, we definitely have a
problem." Moving past her, he descended the stairs,
turned and headed toward the foyer.

"Where are you going?" Janine insisted.

"To the cemetery." He'd put it off long enough. "I
have to see it."

Janine froze. She knew exactly what Jamie was talking
about. He was going to see his memorial. She hurried
forward and grabbed her coat. "Well, I'm coming with
you."

"No! I need to do this by myself."

Shrugging into a beige jacket, he opened the front
door and left.

Janine could only watch, too angry and confused to
stop him, as Jamie slammed the door behind him.

*****

Some time later, Peril, newly arrived from the
airport, sat listening to her aunt tearfully related
Jamie's outburst.

"Peril, I just don't know what to do," Janine
finished, her eyes stained red.

"When I talked to Jamie last night, he said that
things had been tense."
  
"Tense?" Janine was wounded. "I've done everything to
make him feel welcome."

Peril felt sure her aunt had suffocated him to death.
"Where did he go?"

***** 

Jamie stood amongst the chalk-grey stones, freezing,
numb, cheeks wet with tears. Cemeteries were either
the coldest or warmest places on earth, depending on
the season. Right now, he could feel the Siberian
silence straight down to his toes. 

JAMES McKENZIE GRAYSON
1964 - 1983
Beloved Son and Grandson

The surreal headstone sat next to his late father's,
Frank Grayson. Jamie flashed back to 1983 and the
secret Oxford cemetery he and Mulder had discovered. A
grave had been prepared for him even then.

All he'd done since he'd been back was close his eyes,
bite his lip and swallow every tear. He was trying so
hard to stand his ground, be strong -- and act just
plain normal. He still had so far to go, and he was
the only one to help himself. 'If only Mulder were
here...'

"I heard you were out here," Peril said, her shoes
crunching the fallen leaves underfoot.

Jamie turned. "I'm glad you're here," he replied, his
voice quiet. "I'm really glad you're here."

"I took an extra week's vacation." She gazed at her
cousin carefully. "Jamie, what made you come out here?
It's just going to upset you."

"No, I've moved past upset to pissed off!" he shouted.
"I'm a good person and I could've had a damn great
life."

"Jamie, why don't you tell me what happened?"

"I don't care any more. I just want a normal life,
like I had before," he told her, then winced at the
hurt on her face. "Peril, I'm sorry. I don't know how
I can believe in anything any more. I just want..."
his sad little voice trailed away.

"Mulder back?" she finished for him.

Jamie's head whipped up, and he stared past Peril to a
clump of oak trees. "What's that? I thought someone
was there."

Peril rolled her eyes. "Nice try. The distraction
technique only worked when you were seven."

Jamie rocked back on his heels, a faraway look in his
eyes. "I love Mulder so much," he said, "but I'm
scared."

"Of what?"

"Peril, it's been eighteen years! What if..."

Peril brushed her hair out of her eyes. She wasn't
about to let Jamie continue with his doubts. "Sugar, I
saw the kiss he gave you! I have never seen anyone
look at you the way he does, and that's beautiful."

Jamie nodded, then pointed to his memorial marker.
"Yes, and he can say he's in love with a guy who died
in 1983."

"Well, sure, but then he can smile proudly and say,
Yes! I am a necrophiliac!" she told him, cheekily.

"Peril!" Jamie burst out laughing, and it felt
wonderful. She joined in and he grimaced. "Excuse me,
but I have issues."

His older cousin wrapped a warm arm round his
shoulders, and lead him away from the cemetery. "I
know you do. I just want you loved, sweet boy." She
pressed a kiss to his cheek, then winked. "Come on, we
really need to get you laid!"

*****

After walking around the block, the two cousins
returned to the Hunter home. Jamie's spirits had
lifted since Peril's arrival, plus an odd little
feeling he had that...

His thoughts were broken by the sound of raised voices
in the living room. Jamie didn't even bother to take
off his jacket. He walked to the threshold and saw his
mother sitting, patiently listening as her husband
paced up and down before her.

"Janine, it makes no sense!" Marc was saying. "He
turns up with no explanation. He's a spoiled brat if
he could disappear for eighteen years without leaving
one message. Are you trying to tell me he was whisked
away by an U.F.O.?!"

Peril cleared her throat, and Marc came to a
standstill; the conversation ended abruptly. "That was
harsh," she said.

"You don't know what you're talking about," Jamie told
Marc, angrily.

Wringing her hands, Janine swiftly moved forward.
"Jamie, we were just..."

"I know. I heard." Jamie's piercing eyes flashed
electric green at his stepfather. "I was not abducted
by aliens, trust me!" He looked thoughtful. "But I
could probably introduce you to someone who was."

Marc folded his arms and eyed his stepson up and down.
"Well, listen to the mouth on you!"

"I would have done anything to come home!" Jamie
exclaimed. "I almost died."

"Are you for real?"

Jamie exhaled and looked heavenwards. "I can't believe
I'm having this conversation." He turned and marched
back out into the foyer.

Shooting daggers at Marc, Janine hurried after her
son. "No, Jamie, wait! You just can't come into the
middle of something and assume you know what's going
on."

"Isn't that just what I've done?"

Janine started to protest. "Jamie, you know--"

He whirled around, and the pain in his eyes hit Janine
like a cold slap. "No, you know what? I need some
space!"

His mother continued after him, but Peril held her
arm. "No, leave him be. He needs to be alone."

Reluctantly, Janine acquiesced.

Frustrated and hurt beyond words, Jamie traveled down
the foyer, across an oriental rug, past a handcarved
hat-stand, and opened the front door, not caring where
he was going.

He gasped. An elderly woman in her early seventies,
dressed to the nines, stood on the front step in
mid-knock.

"Honey," she began, her voice overcome with emotion.

"Grams," Jamie said, the tears he'd held in breaking
free. He immediately embraced his grandmother. "It's
so good to see you."

Grams hugged him back fiercely. After several moments,
she pulled back and held his face in her hands. She
couldn't believe it. Her lost grandson, standing
before her, alive!

"Let me look at you," she exhaled. "Are you all right?
You're not hurt, are you?"

Jamie shook his head. "No." He hugged her close again.
"I've missed you so much."

"Oh, darling!" Grams led him into the foyer and sat
him down on a little forest green bench. She gently
dashed away the tears flowing from his eyes. "What's
going on?"

Jamie sighed. It would be a relief to confide in his
Grams -- they had always been exceptionally close, and
were so much alike in several important ways.

"I'm just trying to do what people except," he
explained, breaking down. "I'm trying to be myself.
Why isn't that enough?"

Grams laid his head on her shoulder and rocked him
back and forth, like she used to when he was small.
"Oh my heart, it's enough. It's wonderful. I would not
accept that I might have to live out the rest of my
life without you."

Sitting up, Jamie wiped a hand across his flushed
face. "I'm sorry."

"My heavens, you don't have to apologize for anything.
You've come home and found so many changes."

Jamie groaned, and started pacing the hall. "You don't
know the half of it." In one breath he explained how
stressful things had been since his return.

"I can't even begin to understand what happened to
you," she confessed. "We've all had an awful lot to
digest. You've got to make so many adjustments." She
reached out and pulled her grandson down to sit beside
her once again.

"Grams, you always said that things happen for a
reason, right?" Jamie searched her face for an answer.
"What did I do wrong? I keep trying to figure it out."

She stroked his hair soothingly. "Listen to me,
darling. Everything's going to be okay. We will fix
this." Jamie looked up, and saw the deep concern in
her emerald eyes. "I'm so worried about you."

Look what I'm doing, upsetting her, too, Jamie
thought. Quickly he pulled himself together, and
wrapped his arms around her. "You don't have to worry
about me any more," he said, trying to put some
strength back in his voice. "I'm home now."

"To my eternal relief and joy." She sat back and
caressed his cheek. "Now, where's that young man who
found you?"

Jamie issued another deep sigh. "He wanted to give me
time to reconnect with you all. I want to do the right
thing, but I also want to be with him." His eyes
suddenly lit up. "Grams, he's such a great guy. He's
the most incredible man I've ever known."

Grams nodded, and patted his hand. "Logic and reason
fly right out the window when love gets involved. When
the time is right for you to be together, you'll
know."

With a lopsided grin, Jamie said, "Thank you."

Taking him by the arm, Grams led him toward the front
door. "Come on, let's move it!"

"Wait, where are we going?" Jamie asked, confused.

"You're certainly not getting any rest around here.
You're coming back to my place, and I'm not taking no
for an answer!"

[Next Episode: Angel of Mine]

Chapter Five: Someone To Watch Over Me

A chilled wind rustled the fading leaves of the large
pecan trees ringing Josephine Bailey's home. The
bright taxi pulled up into the lane and deposited its
passengers on the rocky driveway. Grams owed a hefty
fine from the airport drive, coupled with the stop at
her daughter's.

Jamie breathed in the night air, and gazed at the
familiar yellow paintwork. The one thing that had not
changed. It was a comforting sight after the rather
strenuous day. Taking the suitcases for his
grandmother, Jamie followed her up the front steps. A
security light detected their presence and switched
itself on, temporarily blinding them. Fishing out her
house keys, Grams led the way inside.

"Now, where is that lamp?" she wondered aloud, feeling
around in the darkness. When it flickered on, she
found Jamie staring around the room, a haunted look in
his eyes.

Jamie felt as if he'd stepped back in time. Just about
everything in the den looked exactly as he remembered:
the green plaid sofa, the antique dresser complete
with television sitting on top, the orange rocking
chair, the homemade shelves packed with the children's
books he and Peril used to read.

Moving closer, Grams insistently took one of the
cases. She simply could not stop looking at Jamie. In
her heart, she'd always known he was alive somewhere.
She just wasn't prepared for his appearance. Looking
like the mirror image of the day he left home in 1983.
It was quite a shock. She had been expecting a
slightly older Jamie, maybe with darker hair and a few
lines beginning around the eyes. He didn't look a day
over nineteen!

Well, frankly, she didn't care. Just having him alive
and standing in her parlor, made up for the shock.

"Jamie, do you want to get settled into the guest
room?" she asked.

Lost in thought, he blinked at her. "Sure." He
followed her through the little kitchen and up a
narrow flight of stairs. "I bet mom's gonna have a fit
that I came home with you," he opined grimly.

A soft humming sound came back, which always meant
that Grams was seriously thinking about or heavily
disapproving of something.

Opening the first door on the left, she turned on an
overhead light. Jamie held his breath. The guest room
still had its blue shag carpet, and the huge
four-poster bed. Grams walked over to a window seat,
to crack open the window. Jamie's favorite star-shaped
wind chimes tinkled in the light breeze.

"Some fresh air," Grams told him.

Jamie smiled. "Grams, I know you must be done in from
your trip."

"Nonsense." She shook her head. "But if you want to
rest for a little bit, that's fine."

Jamie nodded silently, and moved toward the window
seat, somehow drawn to it. This was the place where
he'd daydream as a child. Through the darkness, he
could just make out the lake some distance in the
backyard, and he immediately thought, 'Gosh, how many
summers did I spend leaping off that dock?'

"You know, I think I'd like to take a walk outside,"
he said, turning and heading for the door.

"Do you want me to go with you?" suggested Grams, not
really wanting to let Jamie out of her sight.

Cocking his head, Jamie paused and gave her a soft
kiss on the cheeks. "I'll be just fine, Grams."

"All right, darling." She watched him as he stopped
again on the threshold. He turned with a crooked
smile. "Thanks for everything," he said, and then he
was gone.

*****

Crickets chirped as Jamie walked down to the dock. He
sat on the edge and gazed up at the silver moon framed
by bright stars in the cloudless sky. Shivering a bit,
he watched his breath float away.

All at once the wind ceased, and the nighttime
seranade stopped. A light chill ran up and down
Jamie's spine. He had the feeling that he wasn't
alone, like someone was watching him. It was the same
sense he'd had at the cemetery with Peril. He wasn't
scared because the feeling was comforting.

Just as quickly, a breeze ran over him, and the
crickets were joined by a trio of bullfrogs. Jamie
felt at peace here. He stared out onto the flat
surface of the water then up at the sky. Maybe someone
up there was watching over him. He hoped so.

Mulder's voice floated to him on the wind. He wanted
so much to help, but Jamie had resolved to deal with
everything himself. He stopped looking out into the
cool, dreamy waters. The answers were not there. Not
in the water, but within the depths of himself.

*****

In the next week, Peril moved in across the hall from
Jamie. Although the rift within him was slowly
healing, he still felt disconnected from his family.

Peril was starting to believe Marc's comment that her
cousin had been taken by aliens, and only recently
returned to Earth. Cultural references went right over
his head. One evening, while eating grilled cheese
sandwiches with Grams and watching MTV, he peered at
the screen and wondered aloud, "What's with all these
boy bands?"

Thinking it would do him some good, Peril enrolled
them both in a Tae-Bo class at the local gym. At one
point she had to reassure Jamie that Tae-Bo was just a
fancy-schmancy name for kickboxing. After an initial
bout of nerves, Jamie entered into it with enthusiasm,
taking out his frustrations on punching bags. He was
getting good, too good in fact, as Peril had to pay
for damages after he knocked the sawdust out of a bag
one morning!

She was curious when he just shook off the incident,
and repeated, "I'm ready. I'm ready for anything they
throw at me."

His relationship with his mother remained strained, to
say the least. Their conversations were short and
terse. Peril finally decided to stick her nose in and
help one morning after Tae-Bo.

Peril, dressed in a black and white tank top with
purple sweats, walked into the kitchen with the
morning newspaper in her right hand. Behind her, Jamie
in a grey tee shirt and shorts, breathed heavily.

"I mean how do I make her understand? She's got it in
her mind that Mulder was the cause of my disappearance
-- which is so totally wrong!" He walked toward a
cabinet and reached to get a glass.

Peril opened the refrigerator to get a bottle of
orange juice.

"And Mulder, who is still wonderful, great and drop
dead gorgeous," he continued, moving to the breakfast
table where Peril was pouring a glass of orange juice,
"just wants to give me time."

Peril looked up. "Do you realize that you've been
fussing ever since we left the gym?"

"Really? Well, I haven't been *fussing* -- I've just
been talking."

"Non-stop." Peril replaced the bottle of orange juice
in the refrigerator.

"Well, so, you're my cousin. I have a problem. This is
the part where you are supposed to be understanding."

"Jamie, I am understanding. You're in love with a
great guy, your mom is being unreasonable, and you're
dealing with some trauma that you don't want to talk
about."

Jamie rolled his eyes.

"I get it. Totally! But what I don't get, is why you
won't let me help you."

"Help me?"

Peril drank some juice. "I could always take Mulder
off your hands." She smiled wickedly.

Jamie smirked and sighed. "Hey! That's not an option!"

"Look, you're stuck. You've got too much on your mind.
You need help...assistance... a mediator."

"Like I don't already have 'in desperate need of
therapy' tattooed across my forehead."

Peril wrinkled her nose. "No! What I mean is, why not
let me deal with Aunt Janine. That way, you can
concentrate on feeling better. Besides, I won't charge
you a hundred bucks an hour."

Jamie sighed. "No, Peril! I can't let you do that."

He walked away. Peril turned her head. "Why not?!"

"Because... it will only make things worse. And I
can't expect someone else to solve my personal
problems."

"But that's the beauty, you don't have to, I'll do it
for you," she said eagerly, then noted his determined
look. "I just want you to feel better sooner, Jamie.
How can you do that when your mom's breathing down
your neck? When everything's fixed, that means you and
Mulder can get back together and all's right with the
world!" How could he argue when everything was so
clear?

"I said I'll handle it, Peril!"

And that was that. Mr. Stubborn insisted on worrying
with everything himself. Even though he seemed to have
perked up, a part of him remained closed off. The only
time the old, familiar Jamie appeared was whenever
Mulder called and they would talk for hours. But Peril
knew that Jamie was not discussing what ever had
happened to him, what was really bothering him. That
was a closed subject.

*****

Mulder couldn't sleep. He got up off the bed and went
to stare out the window at the moon, half-obscured by
steamy clouds. Jamie dominated his thoughts. Mulder
missed him painfully. His heart ached with longing.
Chewing on his bottom lip, he leaned on the sill and
closed his eyes. His body resonated with the agony of
being apart from him.

He'd called Jamie earlier, and they'd joked and
laughed, and Jamie seemed to be getting his
equilibrium back, but Mulder sensed that there was
still something troubling him.

Jamie alone could put an end to this with a simple
decision. 'He'd better make up his mind soon,' Mulder
thought, reaching under his shirt and rubbing his
chest, 'before I implode!'

Mulder turned and eyed the telephone sitting solemnly
beside the bed. He couldn't stand it! He had to hear
Jamie's voice again. Climbing onto the bed, he reached
over and began to dial the now familiar number.

After a couple of rings, an exhausted voice answered.
"Hello?"

"Hey, did I wake you?" asked Mulder, feeling guilty.

"No, I was up," Jamie reassured him.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, just an attack of insomnia," he sighed. "What
about you?"

Mulder licked his lips. "I'm missing you."

Jamie's breathing went up a notch, which Mulder had
worked out meant that he was smiling. Thinking about
the grin spreading across his face sent electric
shocks through Mulder's system. Instinctively, he
reached down to his boxer briefs, already beginning to
bulge outward.

"I was thinking about you, too."

"Oh, yeah?" Mulder's voice became thick and husky. His
hand disappeared into the tight confines of his
underwear, wrapping it around the warm hardness of his
shaft. "I wish you were here right now."

Again, came the sound of Jamie smiling. "What else do
you wish?"

'Mmm, did he have to make his voice so teasing?'
Mulder thought as he slowly stroked up and down. "I
wish I was holding you in my arms," he continued.

"So do I," Jamie replied.

His statement sparked a glimmer of hope in Mulder's
heart. He knew that Jamie was still ajusting to his
new life and wasn't quite ready for more changes.
Maybe things would be different soon?

"I can't believe I'm still awake," continued Jamie,
his voice shaking Mulder out of his reverie. He could
hear Jamie leaning forward. "I spent most of the
morning and the best part of the afternoon at the gym.
You'd think I could get a little sleep."

Mulder nodded, a deep groan escaping his lips at the
thought of a hot and sweaty  after-workout Jamie. The
grip on his cock intensified while he imagined kissing
Jamie all over, running his mouth down his neck,
washing all of his troubles away.

Pressing his head back against the pillows, Mulder
cradled the receiver on his shoulder, and caressed his
rock hard penis. Jamie continued talking and Mulder
mumbled short words of agreement. His body tingled and
felt as if it were on fire. The sound of Jamie's
seductive Southern voice alone would send him over the
edge at any moment.

He could picture those delicious lips taking his
throbbing cock all the way inside, Jamie's tongue
boldly licking every inch. Mulder started to pant.

Jamie paused in the middle of telling him about how
he'd started to jog to and from town. "Mulder, are you
all right?" he asked, suspiciously.

"Oh, yes..." he exhaled. "Please... keep talking..."
Thrusting wildly into his clenched fist, Mulder
pictured Jamie's beautiful blonde head sliding up and
down, making love to him...

With a low moan of pleasure, Mulder arched his back
and he came with tremendous force. The telephone
slipped from his shoulder, and he lay on the bed for
several moments just catching his breath, the vision
of Jamie atop him burned into his mind's eye.

Jamie!

Mulder reached down and retrieved the phone in a
trembling hand. "Jamie," he panted, "I love you."
Wishing him a good night and sweet dreams, Mulder said
good-bye.

Exhaling, he stared up at the ceiling. He was
brimming, nearly overflowing with sexual desire. And
not just physical need, there was also an emotional
need there, an urge of the heart, to touch Jamie, to
love him, to make him Fox Mulder's forever.

*****

By week's end, Jamie seemed be doing a lot better. He
went for regular walks, spent lots of time writing in
a blank book Grams bought him, and was quickly
becoming the star of the gym.

Peril constantly dropped hints for Jamie to catch
about reuniting with Mulder. She knew she was getting
closer to her goal the night she waltzed into the
living room, with a glass of tea in her hand, to find
Jamie sitting on the floor, his legs splayed out
beneath the coffee table. Fanned out before him were
several white forms.

"Hi, Sweetie. What's all this?" She picked a paper at
random and scanned it. "College applications? Jamie,
this is huge."

He nodded. "Biggest thing I've done since I've been
back."

Sitting on the couch, Peril selected the one which
seemed to hold her cousin's interest the most. It was
for Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., which
was where Fox Mulder lived. As she opened her mouth to
comment, Jamie turned and continued. "I never finished
and now I have the chance to."

Peril narrowed her eyes at his suddenly flushed face.
"Jamie, are you okay?" She reached out and felt his
forehead. "Honey, you're burning up."

"I know, tell me about it." Jamie had always been a
little hot natured, but the fever had started a few
days ago, the night of Mulder's husky-voiced call to
be precise.

Peril hurried into the kitchen and came back with a a
wet towel. "Sweetie, um, I think you need to call a
doctor."

He grimaced at the thought of going to the doctor.
"No, I don't feel sick. I feel hot... aroused." His
cheeks went warm. Peril's eyes widened as she handed
the towel to Jamie. "It's just... these dreams."

"Still having nightmares?" He'd actually confided in
her one afternoon about them.

"Uh... Yes, but the one last night... it was a sex
dream."

Jamie had her attention.

"It's not like I haven't dreamt about sex before," he
quickly explained, "because I have, you know. But
this... this was incredibly hot. It felt real. Soft
music, candles, satin sheets..."

Peril took the towel from him and started wiping it
across her own forehead. "Alrighty. I get the point."

"But then the nightmares started up again. Each and
every night, Peril. What's wrong with me?"

"There's nothing wrong with you. Your dreams are a
metaphor for extreme sexual frustration. Trust me, I
should know." She winked. "Now can I guess who starred
in it with you?"

"Oh, look, here's Grams!"

Grams walked inside, ever on the go. The woman could
not sit still to save her soul. If she wasn't outside
doing yard work, she was hopping in the car to run
errands.

"What are you two up to?" she asked, eyeing both her
grandchildren curiously. When Jamie and Peril wore
those same expressions when they were younger, you
never could tell.

"Nothing," Jamie smiled, getting to his feet. "Gotta
go!" He blushed straight through, thinking that his
Grams had overheard his sex talk. As quickly as he
could, he hustled up the stairs.

Peril just laughed and motioned for her grandmother to
join her. "Wait till I tell you..."

*****

From his vantage point on the window seat, Jamie
meditatively stared out at the lake. The moon created
little silver crescents across its placid surface.
Jamie exhaled. It was his heart's deepest wish to be
with Mulder again. He would give anything to have his
gentle teasing, his advice again...

Jamie's skin burned hotter as he imagined how much
nicer that advice would be coming directly from
Mulder's pouty mouth, rather than a phone. To be able
to gaze deeply into those soft, warm eyes.

The feeling of arousal slammed into him, mixed with a
powerful, intimate love that Jamie had been holding
back because of his fears. A hint of sweet incense
rose up out of nowhere. The wind chimes sang, although
there was no breeze, and Jamie felt a comforting,
almost mystical feeling flowing over him.

Somehow he knew that everything was going to be okay.

He wanted -- no, he needed -- to put the horror of his
possession behind him once and for all. It had already
taken away too much time, and he'd spent enough of it
brooding and being away from the person he loved the
most. He was going to get back what he once had, and
as the Wicked Witch said, "Woe to those who try to
stop me!"

He resolved himself. Tomorrow morning, he would call
Mulder. He would either ask him to come here, or Jamie
would offer to fly to him. One way or another, they
were going to be together again.

*****

Dreamily, Jamie came downstairs the next morning
having worked out everything he wanted to say in the
shower. His heart throbbed excitedly. A rich smell of
coffee wafted up to meet him, which meant that Grams
and Peril had been up for some time. Pushing up the
sleeves of his blue sweatshirt, Jamie headed toward
the kitchen.

He didn't actually have Mulder's phone number, because
Mulder had always been the one to call him. 'Somehow
he seems to know when I need him the most,' Jamie
thought. He needed to dial information first.

Then the telephone rang.

"Hello?" Jamie braced for a possible long, scolding
conversation with his mother. Who else would call this
early?

"Hey, you!"

It was Mulder! "Y-you must be psychic!"

He laughed. "Why do you say that?"

"Because I was just getting ready to call you."

"Well then, I saved you a long-distance charge,"
Mulder replied. "You sound good."

Jamie nodded. "I'm feeling a lot better. Actually,
much better than I have in a while." He took a deep
breath. "Mulder, there's something I have to tell
you--"

The doorbell rang.

Aargh! Jamie mentally cursed. "Hold on, someone's at
the door."

Another insistent chime echoed back. Holding the phone
on his shoulder, Jamie peeked inside the kitchen but
there was no sign of anyone. He walked around to the
stairs and called, "Peril? Grams?"

"Why don't you go answer it," Mulder suggested. "I can
wait."

But Jamie couldn't. He was bursting at the seams to
tell Mulder everything he was feeling. When neither
his cousin or grandmother responded, Jamie stalked
toward the front door. 'Where could they be?'

"Looks like I'm gonna have to. Now where was I?" He
reached for the brass handle, turned it and opened the
door.

"You were about to tell me something important."

Floored, Jamie looked at the portable phone in his
hand, then in surprised shock at the person standing
on the doorstep. "Mulder?!"

He smiled back. "Jamie, it's Fox, remember?"
The moment was priceless. Mulder's heart sped up
seeing Jamie standing there in disbelief, breathing
deeply, eyes wide and colored tropical green.

"How did you--"

With a lopsided grin, Mulder waved his cell phone.

The phone in Jamie's hand slipped through his fingers.
A smile stretched from ear to ear. "Oh, I don't care
how. I'm just so happy to see you!" He jumped into
Mulder's arms, hugging him tightly. Mulder placed a
gentle kiss on his parted lips.

A voice cleared its throat. Then repeated the sound
again. Reluctantly breaking contact, Jamie turned to
find both Peril and Grams grinning at them from the
stairs.

"Glad you could make it!" Peril waved at Mulder.

Jamie looked from her to Mulder and back again. "Wait
a minute... you knew about this?"

Peril displayed mock-innocence. "Who me? Never! What
about you Grams?"

"Don't look at me," she chuckled.

Jamie squinted his eyes at them.

"Well, don't just let that handsome young man freeze
out there, Jamie!" Grams called. "Bring him in."

Mulder gave Jamie a knowing look. Holding Jamie in his
arms, Mulder could've been in the middle of Antarctica
and he'd have been sweating.

Sitting in the parlor, Grams immediately engaged
Mulder in conversation. She insisted that he have a
snack and something to drink. At one point, she even
got out old photo albums and Jamie wanted to hide
under a rock when she showed Mulder the baby picture
of him running around without a diaper!

Jamie sat back in his chair and stretched. Mulder
tried unsuccessfully to keep his eyes off Jamie's
chest. 'He's obviously been working out,' Mulder
thought, his mouth watering.

"Will you walk by the lake with me?" asked Jamie,
anxious to be alone.

"Sure, I'd love to."

Excusing themselves, they left the high-ceiligned
parlor, walked through the kitchen, and out onto the
back porch.

Jamie stood for a moment, just gazing at Mulder,
illuminated in the sunlight. Mulder titled his head,
and pursed his lips. "Are you going into trance?"

Being next to Mulder, that was easy to do. "No," he
said, quietly, and a little sound came up from Jamie's
throat. "I'm just..." he murmured. "I can't believe
you're actually here." His hair fell forward, making
him look even more like a little boy.

Mulder held out his arms into which Jamie moved and
then they were face to face. "I'm glad to be here
holding my angel," he whispered.

Their lips met, and Mulder could feel Jamie's nervous
heart pounding rapidly against his own. Then he felt
the long loneliness that tortured them both melt away.

[Next Episode: Saturate Me]

Chapter Six: Stella Maris

Mulder and Jamie strolled along the footpath, hand in
hand.

"You know, I can picture you growing up here," said
Mulder, breathing in the warm autumn air. "I've always
wanted to settle down in a place like this."

Tall reeds growing beside the lake swished past their
legs. Jamie led him onto the dock. "Peril and I used
to spend every summer here." He pointed out into the
water. "Grams used to say we were gonna sprout fins
from swimming so much."

Sitting down, Mulder immediately removed his shoes and
socks, and rolled up his jeans. Jamie smiled and did
the same. Soon, they were both dangling their legs
over the edge, playing in the surprisingly warm water.

Mulder turned and just gazed at his face, lit up by
the sun. "Now I wanna hear what you haven't been
telling me."

"Basically, I still feel a little screwed."

"Screwed?"

Jamie gave a short laugh. "Oh, I've been hanging
around Peril way too much." He sighed, not really
wanting to get into this. He knew if he started, it
would all end in tears. "It's just my family. They all
feel bad that I don't feel better." He searched for a
way to express his feelings. "My mother wants me to be
the same person who left home eighteen years ago, and
I just can't."

"Expectations can get too high, you know?" Mulder put
an arm round his shoulders. "Plus, you're being way
too hard on yourself."

Jamie nodded and looked up into his eyes. "You're the
one thing in my crazy world that makes any sense."

Mulder's grin just about split his face. Jamie leaned
into him and closed his eyes. He felt comforted, safe.
It was the same feeling he had during his walks when
he knew someone was watching over him. God, it felt so
good.

"I don't wanna talk about my mom and her hang-ups, and
I don't wanna talk about the past," Jamie stated,
leaning into Mulder. "I want this time to be about you
and me."

"Mmm, sounds good." Mulder wrapped his arms around
him. "I want to start right now."

Jamie turned to look at him. "Do you have any
suggestions?" he laughed, delightedly. "My calendar is
wide open."

"When's the last time you went skating?" Mulder
suddenly asked.

"What? Huh?"

Getting to his feet, Mulder pulled Jamie up. Their wet
feet splashed onto the dry dock. "C'mon!" he
exclaimed. "After that, then we'll head on over--"

Jamie held a finger to his lips. "Shh, don't jinx it."

Mulder's smile broadened. Jamie was as superstitious
as ever. Mulder held him close, their noses touching.
"There's nothing but good times ahead for both of us,"
he promised.

*****

"Are you sure this is safe?" Jamie wondered, eyeing
the jet black rollerblade in his hand, and the one
already on his foot, skeptically. It didn't look a
thing like the skates he remembered, in fact it
resembled more of an iceskate.

Mulder finished lacing up his own, and grinned. "Of
course." He took the one from Jamie and examined it.
"Didn't you know these were aerodynamically designed
with alien technology for maximum speed and
efficency?"

He said it so straight-faced that Jamie thought he was
serious. Then he burst out laughing. "Give me that!"

Sliding it on, he reached out and Mulder graciously
took his hand and helped him up. Almost instantly,
Jamie's feet flew out from under him and he fell back
into Mulder's waiting arms.

"I've got you!" Mulder's husky voice told him. Jamie
felt a shiver run through him. Picking Jamie up, he
turned him around to face him."I've always got you,"
he whispered, reassuringly.

Keeping a firm grip on Mulder's arm, Jamie followed
him past a group of kids playing indoor basketball --
which Mulder eyed enviously -- and out onto the
slippery skating rink floor. At that moment, the DJ up
in his glass booth decided to play a Genesis song. As
Phil Collins' mellow tone echoed out around them,
Jamie seriously wanted to forget skating and fall into
Mulder's strong arms again.

*****

The mid-afternoon sun warmed Grams' front porch, and
Mulder and Jamie stood there gazing into one another
eyes. On the drive back, Mulder had wanted to crawl
into Jamie's lap so badly, like he'd been hit with a
raging fever. At one point he thought he was going to
have to literally sit on his hands!

"That was the best time I've had in like... forever!"
exclaimed Jamie.

"Same here," Mulder grinned back. Being with Jamie
made him feel like a teenager all over again, with the
added libido. "And it's not over yet."

Jamie arched an eyebrow. "No?"

"I want you to put on your something stylin'," he
pursed his lips in thought, making a delicious sucking
sound in the process, "something dark and sexy,
because I'm taking you out tonight." Mulder reached
out and began to kiss him. "Tonight then?" he asked.

"Tonight," Jamie agreed, slightly dazed. He watched
Mulder move down the steps and away toward his rental
car. Jamie sank against the front door. A dreamy smile
played across his tingling lips.

From within the Lumina, Mulder smiled as Jamie went
back inside. He leaned his head back and took a couple
of short, deep breaths. 'We're so damn compatible,
it's mind-blowing,' he thought. 'We fit perfectly
together, and I'm more sure about that than I ever
was. We've got everything two people need to make it
together.'

Starting the engine, Mulder pulled out of the
driveway, determined to make this a night neither one
of them would ever forget.

*****

From her place on the sofa, Peril rushed into the hall
as soon as Jamie appeared. There was a glazed look in
his eye and he seemed to be a little out of it.

"Jamie, so how did it go?"

"Hmm?"

"That good, huh?"

He nodded, off in orbit. "Um-hum. We have a date
tonight."

Peril folded her arms. "Sounds like you two are
becoming an item again." She gave herself a mental pat
on the back.

"We're working on it," he grinned, his enthusiasm
boiling over. "We're getting stronger, Peril. Stronger
than ever. I mean we're like--" He caught his breath,
trying to still the butterflies in his stomach. "I'm
afraid... I don't wanna say it!"

Shaking her head, Peril chuckled. "You're something
else, Jamie."

"Okay! I might not be home for breakfast in the
morning." He leaned in and whispered, "Is that too
soon?"

Could he get any cuter? Peril wondered. "Honey, that's
wonderful!" She gripped his arm. "I'm amazed you've
been able to restrain yourself this long!" Leading him
toward the stairs, Peril pointed. "Now go get ready."

*****

Walking down the hallway, Peril checked her watch. It
was half past seven and nearly time for Mulder to pick
up Jamie. She went to knock on his bedroom door when
her cousin's voice echoed back from inside.

"Every time I see you, I love you even more. I can't
imagine my life without you."

Peril lightly knocked and peeked her head inside. She
found him standing before a dresser mirror, seemingly
talking to himself.

"Jamie?" He turned with a start. "Were you just
telling yourself how much you love love you?"

"What? Um, no." His cheeks turned pink and he broke
out into a nervous grin. "It's not like that at all."

Peril nodded knowingly. She'd heard Jamie practising
what he wanted to tell Mulder earlier that morning.
She eyed him. "Hey, you'd better get ready!" He was
still wearing his bulky sweatshirt and jeans.

"I can't decide what to wear!" he groaned, motioning
toward the closet.

"Oh, sweetie! A gay man and he can't find anything to
wear? Must be the Southerner in you!" Peril hurried
over and flicked through the clothing assortment.
Within minutes she'd picked out a perfect outfit.

"You're going to look so hot in this!" She held up a
silk, light blue shirt, dark tie with matching blazer
and pants to him. She frowned at his expression.
"What's up?"

Jamie took the offered clothes. "It's been a really
long time since I've been out on a date with a really
great guy..." That was an understatement! "What do
people do nowadays?" He was seriously nervous. After
all, he was eighteen years out of practice.

Turning around while he began to dress, Peril pressed
a finger to her chin, deep in thought. "Well, there's
something called going out to dinner for one..."

"Wow! Really?" He exclaimed in mock-surprise while
slipping into the shirt.

"And I've even heard that some people even go out to
the movies."

Jamie pulled up and fastened his slacks. "Man, I
didn't know you could have so much fun."

"It's a dying art."

"Okay, you can look now." He finished tying his tie
and spread his arms wide. "It's the 21st century
Jamie."

Peril turned, and the sight of her handsome cousin
took her breath away. "Jamie, Mulder's going to melt
when he sees you!"

"You think?" He walked over to gaze at his image in
the mirror. He wasn't too sure of his new haircut,
which Peril had insisted on. He ran a hand through it.

"I'm positive," she said, straightening his tie.
Handing him some cologne, Peril stepped back as he
dabbed a little on his neck. She still couldn't get
over how young he looked, and she wished she knew his
secret. As she was about to ask, the doorbell rang.

"That's him!" Jamie said, full of excitement.

Grabbing the blazer, he put it on and hurried
downstairs, hotly pursued by Peril. They stopped
mid-way to find Mulder standing in the hall talking to
Grams. Jamie completely forgot to breathe. Mulder
looked too gorgeous for words in his elegant black,
fitted suit.

Mulder looked up and his eyes glittered the moment he
saw Jamie. "Wow, you look like an angel," he said,
meeting Jamie at the bottom of the stairs.

Jamie blushed. "You keep it up with this angel stuff,
and I'm gonna sprout wings," he whispered.

They stood like that for several moments, frozen in
time.

Grams' voice broke through. "Just let me get a picture
of you two!"

"Grams!"

"Come on, get close to him!" Grams motioned with her
hand, and Mulder, ever the sport, pulled Jamie close
and smiled.

Mulder leaned in and told him, "I have something sweet
up my sleeve for dessert."

This had the intended effect as Jame grinned. "I bet."
Blinded by the flash, Jamie blinked. "Let's go," he
said, taking Mulder's arm. He crinkled his nose at
Peril and Grams who were wearing wide smiles.

"You two have fun!" Grams called.

"We won't wait up!" Peril added.

After the door closed behind them, Peril turned to
Grams. "We did it. It's really happening!"

*****

It hadn't taken very long for Mulder and Jamie to be
seated at the Stella Maris. Sitting across from each
other, Mulder smiled at Jamie in the candlelight. He
was in awe of the beautiful restaurant which also
doubled as a hotel upstairs, which just happened to be
where the former FBI agent was staying.

Painted along the dining room walls were celestial
landscapes of ships sailing wide blue seas, a
multitude of stars dotting the deep indigo of
twilight, and a lighthouse to guide the way.

Mulder gazed lovingly across at Jamie, who so reminded
him of a precious creature from the heavens. "I'd love
to know what you're thinking," Mulder said.

"Hmm..." Jamie considered. "I'll tell you mine, if you
tell me yours."

Mulder sat back with a smile. "Okay, go ahead!"

"Oh, no," Jamie chuckled, shaking his head. "You go
first."

"Me?" Mulder grinned, and leaned forward. "That's
easy. I was thinking that of all the places in the
world to be, I'm exactly where I want to be tonight."

"With me?" Jamie whispered, hopefully.

"Yeah," mouthed Mulder.

"Is that unusual for you to be where you wanna be?"

Mulder pretended to consider. "Well, the last time I
felt like this was back in Oxford."

Jamie practically glowed. "Well, I was going to say
that I really like being someone's angel."

A waiter glided forward to take their drink order.
When Jamie chose something off the wine list, the
waiter insisted on seeing his I.D. Of course, he
didn't have one, which resulted in Mulder trying to
hide his smile at Jamie's dilemma.

"I'll just have a bottled water," grumbled Jamie.

The waiter turned to Mulder. "And your usual, sir?"

"Ah, um..." Mulder stammered.

Jamie leaned across the table and stared accusingly at
him. "Your usual?"

Mulder handed back the wine list and waved the young
waiter away. "Yeah, thanks."

"Mulder?" Jamie drummed his fingers.

"Oh, okay, I'm busted." He held his hands up in
surrender. "Jamie, don't be mad at me. I couldn't just
let you walk out of my life. I had to come here and
make sure that you were all right."

Jamie looked taken aback. Paging Charlie Chan! He
realized in that instant... the feeling that someone
was watching over him was true! Mulder had been here
the whole time. That's how this deviously gorgeous man
had known exactly when to call!

Propping his elbows up on the table, Jamie cupped his
chin in his hands and peered intently at Mulder. "So
that was you at the cemetery, and that first night
down by the dock," he began, with a twinkle in his
eyes.

"Guilty as charged," he replied, nervously playing
with his napkin. "Saying good-bye to you in San
Francisco was one of the hardest things I've ever had
to do. Peril suggested that I come here with her. And
I'm so glad that I did." Mulder turned on his puppy
dog eyes, willing them to work their magic.

Jamie simply melted. How could he be mad? Mulder had
given him the space he'd needed, and stepped in when
the time was right.

"You've been watching over me this whole time," Jamie
said, "and I still don't know what you've been up to
for the past eighteen years."

"Well, if there's anything you want to know..." Mulder
quickly added, but Jamie broke in.

"It's not so much knowing... as experiencing," he
explained. Mulder peered quizzically. Jamie took a
deep breath and added, "I mean it's not as if I were a
psychic disembodied head or a fluke man or..."

Mulder stared in open-mouthed astonishment. "Jamie,
you..."

"Heard every word you said to me in the hospital," he
finished, nodding enthusiastically. "I especially
liked the one about Big Blue. I saw him when I went to
the lake one summer with the school."

Mulder burst out laughing. "Jamie, you never cease to
amaze me."

"You should really write it all down. It would make
one heck of a book."

He looked up at the ceiling, considering. He could
just see it now: *The Paranoid Profiler*. "Maybe when
I'm old and grey," he conceded.

Jamie shook his head. "You'll never be old."

Mulder slowly reached out to squeeze his hand when a
high-pitched voice interrupted. "Jamie Grayson!"

He turned in his chair, and it took him several
moments to recognize the woman rushing forward. "Oh my
gosh!" he gasped.

She was on the short side, with frosted hair and was
wearing a pink fuzzy sweater and dark slacks. Mulder
politely stood as the stranger hugged Jamie.

"I heard you were back," she gushed. "I still can't
believe it."

Jamie smiled and detached himself. "Mulder, this is
Bettie Connor."

"Simpson, now," she corrected.

Jamie looked curious. "You married..." He struggled to
remember. "Bryant?"

The waiter returned with the drinks, and Mulder
decided to sit back down while the two old friends
chatted.

"That's right," Bettie smiled.

'Oh boy!' Jamie thought. 'Those two couldn't stand in
each other in high school, and they've gotten
married?!'

She eyed him from top to bottom. "Jamie, you haven't
changed one bit."

He gave Mulder a sideways glance. "Believe me, I've
changed."

"No, I mean you look exactly the same."

Here we go again! "Well, being possessed for the past
eighteen years does wonders for the complexion."
 
Mulder almost choked on his wine.

Bettie didn't know whether Jamie was joking or not.
"Oh, well, um..." She started to back away. "It was
nice to see you again."

"You, too." Jamie sat back down, wearing a smirk. "See
what affect you have on me," he told Mulder.

Dabbing at his mouth with a napkin, Mulder decided to
have some fun. "Old girlfriend?" he asked, waggling
his eyebrows suggestively.

"Of course not! We used to ride the bus to school
together." Jamie peered at him carefully. "But now
that you mentioned it, what about you? Any serious
relationships?"

Mulder took another sip of wine.

"Subtle, huh?" Jamie asked. This was the one thing he
wanted to get out of the way. "A handsome guy like you
had to have any one with a pulse knocking down his
door."

"You'd think that," Mulder grinned, then proceeded
carefully, "Well, just a few."

Jamie felt a little crestfallen. He knew that Mulder
couldn't have been pining away all those years. But he
was here now, and that's all that mattered. He
suddenly covered his ears. "I don't wanna know!" Jamie
cried.

"Hey, you asked."

"I take it back!" Jamie moved his hands down when he
noticed he was getting looks. His face flushed with
embarrassment. "Yay! So now what do we do since I've
made a complete fool out of myself?"

Mulder reached into a pocket. "I was saving this for
later but--" He took out a little mauve gift box and
placed it in Jamie's hand. His eyes went wide with
surprise.

"Mulder," he whispered. "What did you do?"

He winked and shrugged his left shoulder. "Go ahead,
open it."

Taking a breath, Jamie slowly lifted the lid. Within
sat a gold pair of wings. Jamie held them up to the
candlelight. Across the table, Mulder was wearing a
magnificent smile.

"It's what they give first-time fliers for making it
through the journey," he explained.

Jamie's eyes glittered. "I love it!"

Leaning forward, Mulder pinned the wings to Jamie's
blazer collar. As if on cue, the band started to play
a soft, romantic ballad.

At the table behind them, an older man leaned forward
to his date. "Will you grace me with a dance?" he
asked her.

Mulder noticed the look of longing in Jamie's eyes. He
sat down his glass. "Oh, what the hell!" Taking off
his jacket in a flourish, he stood and held out his
hand to Jamie. "Can I have this dance?"

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Why
certainly."

They moved out onto the dance floor, neither caring
what any one thought. As the song played, Mulder
couldn't see Jamie's face as they were dancing.
Playfully, they held each other tighter and closer.
Jamie draped his head onto Mulder's shoulder,
entranced by the melody. They kissed, completely lost
in the moment, in the middle of the floor.

When the music stopped, Mulder laughed softly. "That
was fun!"

Jamie winked. "You've got the moves."

The color suddenly drained out of Jamie's face. Mulder
turned and held a hand to his forehead. 'Oh no!' he
thought.

Jamie's mother left her husband standing, waiting to
be seated, as she stalked toward them. "I can't
believe you're here with this guy." Her blue eyes
blazed.

"Mother, I love you dearly, but I don't recall asking
for your permission," Jamie replied, impatiently.

"I do not know you," Janine shot back.

Mulder cringed. That was the worst thing in the world
she could've said to Jamie. "That's enough," he
snapped, cutting her off.

Janine gave him a withering look and continued her
barage at her son. "The boy I raised wouldn't give him
the time of day after--."

"That little boy has grown up," Jamie's voice rose.
"It's time you realized that."

"Okay," she said curtly. "That's just fine."

The Stella Maris patrons were starting to turn and
look at them.

Jamie reached for his mother's arm. "Look, I'm sorry
about that. I truly am," he went on in a quieter
voice. "But this is about me and Mulder. I love him
with all my heart. Now you may not support it and you
may not agree with it, but it's not going to stop me
from loving him. Nothing will."

Mulder looked at him in surprise. This was the Jamie
he knew and loved: the fiery, confident soul, not
haunted by the ghosts of the past. Wrapping an arm
around him, Mulder led him away from the speechless
Janine and out into the lobby. Once there, he swiftly
paid the check then turned to find a few tears
trailing down Jamie's cheeks.

"If you wanna take a rain check, I'll understand,"
Jamie sniffled.

Mulder gently caressed his face. "Why? It stopped
raining."

"My family is just plain crazy. You have to take
everything she says with a grain of salt, please."
Jamie clamped his lips together, frustrated, then
glanced back up at Mulder. "Maybe we sould just call
it a night. I'll call you in the morning, okay?"

"No way!" protested Mulder, taking his arm. "You're
not going anywhere."

"I just wanted tonight to be perfect." Jamie sighed,
sadly.
 
"It was," he whispered. "I was with you."

Holding his hand firmly, Mulder turned and walked him
up the wide staircase and into his hotel room. The
suite was lovely, with white sheer curtains and
wallpaper dotted with seashells. Jamie hugged himself
before the big double bed.

Closing the door, Mulder moved up behind him. "I'm so
proud of you, Jamie. More so than usual." Jamie leaned
back and Mulder rested his chin on his shoulder. He
could feel the tension radiating from him, and Mulder
knew that Jamie was holding something back. "Jamie, I
didn't ask you to dinner to talk about the entree.
Come on, let me in."

Mulder's encouragement mixed with the confrontation
downstairs, goaded Jamie. "I don't know how to act
anymore. Things have been..." his voice trailed away.
He didn't want to talk about it.

"You can tell me," whispered Mulder.

"Am I just a blank slate?" Jamie wondered. "My own
mother doesn't know me. This is exactly what I was
afraid of." He shook his head as his eyes welled up
again.

Mulder understood perfectly. He'd felt the same way
after his own resurrection. A stranger in a sea of
familiar faces.

Tenderly, Mulder turned him around, and held his face
in his hands. "I know exactly who you are, Jamie.
You're strong, brave, intelligent, caring." His heart
poured out, Mulder's voice breaking with emotion. "If
your mother forgets what's important, what's real, you
just remember that I've spent every day and night
longing to touch you again. I could never forget what
it's like to feel you."

His arms tightened around Jamie, and moved his face in
closer, lightly brushing Jamie's lips with his own.
Jamie moaned softly through his parted lips, fiercely
clinging to Mulder who kissed Jamie with such passion
that his lips burned and his body began to respond
urgently.

Mulder finally broke off the kiss, opening his eyes to
stare into Jamie's. "I-I don't want to let go," he
said, breathlessly.

Jamie looped his arms around Mulder's neck, and drew
his head near. "Then don't," he whispered.

Mulder's body was pressed so close that Jamie could
feel the heat from him. His breathing slowed as he
gazed deep into Mulder's eyes. And then he leaned in
further until their lips touched. Tentatively at first
and then, much more assertively, as Jamie tasted the
wine on his lips and on his breath. Mulder opened his
plump, wet lips, parting Jamie's with his tongue, and
then exploring the recesses of his mouth as they
embraced in a long, passionate kiss.

Hands roamed and searched each other's bodies
sensually, betraying the urgent desire they felt for
one another. Mulder had to have all of him, there and
then. His mouth trailed down to Jamie's neck, finding
a pulse where he began to gently suck. Mulder's legs
started to weaken from the delicious taste of Jamie's
skin. Jamie trembled, Mulder's kisses were like
refreshing rain after being lost in the desert for
years.

"Oh, Fox," Jamie purred.

Mulder broke away from his neck, and smirked at him,
pleasantly surprised. "Fox, huh? So you can remember
when you want to?"

Jamie nodded cheerfully. "Seems so, Mulder."

Rolling his eyes mischievously, Mulder started kissing
Jamie more passionately than ever. He stood back just
slightly, never leaving Jamie's lips, and unbuttoned
his shirt with tantalyzing patience. He pushed off the
blazer and slid the shirt off Jamie's shoulders.

His chest was a mass of well-toned muscle, and
beautifully peeked nipples. Mulder licked his lips and
knelt down to suck on one, then the other. Jamie
moaned softly while Mulder lightly bit on his nipple
and started to unbuckle his belt, then unfastened the
buttons of his slacks. Jamie slipped out of his
polished shoes, while his restless fingers roamed
through Mulder's silky hair. Mulder pushed his pants
down and then Jamie's briefs, which he slid off from
his ankles.

They stood in the suite, glaring hungrily at one
another's naked bodies. In an instant they were in
each other's arms, and fell onto the bed right behind
Jamie.

Their bodies ground together, saturating each other
deeply in kisses. Mulder edged down to lick Jamie's
trembling form, first stopping on his neck, and then
trailing down to his chest, his nipples, and finally
down to his navel.

Jamie arched his back as Mulder's warm hand closed
around his fully erect cock, already wet from a
prodigous amount of precome. Mulder buried his face in
Jamie's crotch, while Jamie eased his legs open wider.

Mulder swallowed, he'd waited so long for this moment,
and he wanted to make it last as long as possible. He
took Jamie's balls inside his mouth and sucked, first
one, and then both at the same time. Jamie writhed
below him, and encouraged Mulder on with deep moans of
ecstasy. Mulder's eyes lit up with a feral intensity
as he eased his way up to Jamie's thick cock.

Licking along the pulsing shaft, Fox looked up to see
Jamie watching him, with a mixture of love and lust in
his dark green eyes. Mulder wrapped his tongue around
the head of his penis, and Jamie shuddered, drowning
in a tidal wave of sensuality.

He took the crown into his mouth, and played with it,
until Jamie groaned and begged for Mulder to take it
deeper. Slowly Mulder's lips stretched down the entire
length until the head touched the back of his throat.
Jamie elicited one pleasurable sound after another. He
was in heaven.

Mulder started to suck, letting his long tongue caress
the underside of Jamie's dick on the way up and
swirling around the head every time he reached the
top.

Jamie knew that he was near the edge. He turned his
body around and so that his face was between Mulder's
legs. His eyes widened at the sight of the cock
awaiting him; it was even larger than he remembered.

Mulder gasped as Jamie swallowed him into that sweet,
wet mouth. One thing his lover had not lost was his
amazing ability for oral sex. A hot shiver ran up
Mulder's spine when he felt Jamie's throat muscles
massage the head of his cock.

They sucked each other in perfect unison, moaning
loudly. All too soon Jamie felt his body tense up and
his balls drew up. He cried out around Mulder's cock
as his body shook and he erupted inside Fox's mouth.

Mulder continued to suck and held Jamie close while
his body convulsed and his moans grew louder. The fact
that Jamie was his again, mixed with the sweet musk of
his body, pushed Mulder to the limit. He could no
longer hold back and cried out his pleasure as he
experienced the best orgasm of his life.

Their bodies became entangled in an explosive kiss of
passion, tongues searching to taste one another. Jamie
felt Mulder's nimble fingers slide down along his
sweaty spine, tracing a path to his buttocks. With a
devilish grin, Mulder delighted in the rounded
firmness as he caressed Jamie's ass. Taking Jamie in
his arms, he hugged him tighter and rolled Jamie on
top of him.

Jamie lapped his neck, swirling his tongue over every
curve and searing his kisses into Mulder's flesh.
Nuzzling his ear, Jamie whispered hoarsely, "I need
you inside of me, please."

Mulder's heart nearly burst out of his chest, and the
blood rushed to his cock, where it twitched, eager to
fill his lover.

Lifting himself slightly, Jamie laid down on his
stomach. Fox lowered himself on top, his hard dick
resting between the cleavage of Jamie's ass. His
swollen lips trailed down Jamie's back, planting
kisses on his shivering skin. He kneaded the younger
man's ass cheeks, and parted them slightly. Mulder's
tongue snaked along finding the exposed rosebud.
Wetting a finger, he gently massaged the tight anus,
then inserted a second, causing Jamie to moan and
raise his ass higher.

The delicious sight was driving Mulder wild. With his
fingers still deep inside, he ran the length of his
tongue around them, lubing Jamie's ass well.

Jamie felt his body being turned around. Mulder
grabbed his legs and placed them over his shoulders,
then lowered himself down and kissed Jamie
passionately. Mulder had been craving this moment for
a long time and the urgency in his eyes mirrored
Jamie's.

He eased the tip of his leaking cock against Jamie's
loosened opening. Jamie groaned and clung onto him as
Mulder's shaft slid inside. Mulder growled, hissing
between his teeth. The tight ring of muscle engulfed
his cock, and it was tighter than anything he'd felt
in a long time. Jamie was like a virgin all over
again. He didn't move, letting his angel adjust to the
fullness.

Then, his eyes never leaving Jamie, Mulder started to
slowly pump in and out. The look in his eyes was the
most amazing thing in the world. He increased the
rhythm, and intense shocks of pleasure coursed through
him. Sweat streaked in rivulets down the sides of his
face.

Writhing beneath him, Jamie reached up and pressed a
finger into Mulder's open mouth. He licked and sucked
it, coating the digit like his cock earlier. Jamie
popped the wet finger into his own mouth and Mulder's
moans and grunts grew louder. He fucked Jamie harder
and harder, his balls drawing up on Jamie's ass.
Reaching down between them, he grasped Jamie's rock
hard dick and started to pump. In turned, Jamie
grasped Mulder's plump ass and pulled him in deeper.
The muscles clenched around his thrusting dick, and
Mulder suddenly started to shudder while a guttural
roar issued forth, his eyes wide open and rolling
back.

"OhMyGodJaaammmiiieee!" he gasped, coming deep inside
his lover.

He convulsed over and over. Once he stopped, Fox
collapsed on top of him; their bodies covered with
sweat. Breathing deeply, he raised up to lick Jamie's
lips, his cock still buried in Jamie's ass. He
withdrew before he could go soft, then laid down next
to Jamie and crushed him to his heaving chest.

"Whoo!" Mulder exclaimed. "You... are... amazing."

"Theres a lot more where that came from," Jamie
replied, wickedly. "Stick around."

"I intend to." Mulder kissed him while stretching
Jamie out on his back. His cock flexed, anxious for
more. Turning around, Mulder laid himself atop,
offering his ass to Jamie. Eyes shining, Jamie's
tongue dived inside while Mulder proceeded to cover
his hard prick with his mouth.

Mulder eased back, allowing Jamie better access to his
own tight hole. A moan escaped his lips as Jamie
tongue fucked him with an animal intensity. Soon,
Mulder slipped the throbbing cock from his mouth and
raised his body. He turned and placed each of his
knees to either side of Jamie, then lowered himself on
his dick, taking inch after inch. "Oh, yeah," he
moaned, thickly, "that feels so good."

Jamie was deep within him and Mulder's ass felt like a
tight, gloved fist. His dream became a reality at the
incredible sight of Mulder sliding up and down, with
his eyes to the ceiling, and his mouth open. Jamie
could feel each and every groan reverberate deep
within, and soon lost control of all his senses. It
was more than either he or his sensitive cock could
endure and pumped his mind-shattering orgasm inside
his lover.

Overheated, Mulder came once again, this time all over
Jamie's chest and navel, creating little pools. He
laid down on top of Jamie, kissing and embracing their
hot, wet ectasy. Completely out of breath, Mulder
rolled onto his side and sat up on one arm to admire
Jamie's naked body.

Gazing lovingly into his sparkling green eyes, Mulder
reached out to stroke Jamie's flushed cheek. "I love
you, Jamie," he said, tenderly.

Jamie wrapped an arm around Mulder's waist, and pulled
him closer. "All this time, I've tried to work out a
reason why everything happened to me," he started.

Mulder hushed him. "Jamie, you don't have to say a
word."

"Then, I realized the truth." Jamie's lips came close
to his ear. "Fox, I was born to love you."

His eyes glittering, Mulder leaned down and softly
kissed Jamie's lips; a peace, like he'd never known
before, washed over him. 

*****

All that stood of the once thriving Avatar research
facility was a large gaping hole in the ground. After
the initial excavation and removal of debris, no had
had approached the grounds in weeks, until tonight.

A large flatbed truck stood parked just on the
outskirts, where yellow police tape still flapped in
the breeze. Beyond, a group of figures in anonymous
workmen's coveralls deliberately sifted through the
ash, while others pointed high beam flashlights.

Pickaxes swooped through the air repeatedly. One of
the men shouted triumphantly. The others feverishly
dug. Their leader gave instructions and clustered
around the site. Carefully, the men began to haul
huge, white bones toward the truck...

[Next Episode: Temptation Waits]

Chapter Seven: Creature Comfort

The next morning, bright rays of sunlight cascaded
through the sheer curtains. Mulder and Jamie lay in
bed, Jamie still asleep and wrapped up in Mulder's
arms. Mulder gazed lovingly at him, then touched
Jamie's hair and he slowly woke up.

"Morning," smiled Mulder.

"Good morning," Jamie replied. He grinned as his eyes
focused on Fox, looking so cute with his tousled hair
sticking up.

"How are you feeling about last night?"

Jamie sighed contendly and started playing with the
hair on Mulder's chest. For the first time since he'd
been back, his sleep had been
nightmare-free. "Last night was magical. You?"

"What do you think?"

Reaching under the cover, he tickled Jamie and they
both laughed. Mulder settled back and rubbed Jamie's
bare arm.

Jamie looked up at him, feeling safe, secure, and
loved. The peace of his grandmother's coupled with the
exercise he'd thrown himself into had done wonders for
his mind and body. Now with Fox back in his life,
Jamie was feeling better than ever.

"Right here, right now, this place, it's perfect," he
said. "I wish the whole world were just right in this
room."

Mulder smacked his lips and tasted mint, having snuck
into the bathroom to brush his teeth. "Well, I was
thinking that we could stay in bed all morning," he
suggested. "Then maybe we could go out for lunch."

"That sounds fantastic!"

Leaning down, Mulder brushed his lips lightly over
Jamie's. At that precise moment, someone knocked on
the suite's door, and a voice
announced, "Room service!"

"Hmm... What's that?" Jamie wondered.

"While you were sleeping I ordered some breakfast,"
Fox explained. He continued talking as he pulled on a
white terrycloth robe and went to answer the door. "We
need to replenish our energy!"

After a moment or two, he returned bearing a silver
tray, atop which sat two glasses of juice, and a bowl
of glistening strawberries draped in
fluffy whipped cream.

He positioned the tray precariously on his hips and
waited while Jamie took a long sip of juice. "These
strawberries are amazing," Mulder said.
"Try one." He dipped one of the plump berries in the
cream, then held it out to Jamie.

With it poised between Mulder's fingers, he gave it a
taste. "Wow," he said. It was tangy, sweet and
delicious. He inhaled the rest, Mulder's fingers
slipping into Jamie's mouth, where he licked away the
whipped cream.

Mulder felt a tingle run over his skin. Jamie selected
a fat little berry and swirled it through the cream.
Then, he offered it to Mulder,
who popped it into his mouth.

Jamie watched him savor the fruit between his
beautiful curved lips, and a wicked look danced across
his face. "You've got a little cream there," he said.
Leaning forward, Jamie was careful not to tip over the
tray as he kissed Mulder's lips, then slowly licked
away the whipped cream on his stubbled cheek.

Breathless, Mulder felt a savage warmth spread through
his body. So Jamie wanted to tease? Well two can play
that game!

Sticking his finger into the cream, Mulder brought it
out and smeared a little on Jamie's neck. "Oops! Look
what I did," he exclaimed,
playfully. He dove down and gently sucked the cream
away from the warm silk of his flesh. 'Gotcha!' he
thought as Jamie began to tremble.

Mulder sat back with a smug grin. Jamie quietly
sighed, picked up the tray and placed it on the
bedside table. Then, taking the bowl of whipped cream,
he dipped three fingers in and salved the sticky mess
all over Mulder's chest.

"Oh no!" he said, coyly. "Let me get that for you." He
slid down and lapped the white trail up.

"Mmm," Mulder moaned, from the mixture of cold whipped
cream and Jamie's warm tongue. Jamie made a trail up
and over Fox's throat to his open mouth, letting him
taste the sweetness.

"You want some more?" Jamie sat back, exposing his own
chest, where he dribbled some of the cream. "Oh, look
at my poor chest." He ran a finger across it and
lifted it to his mouth, where he licked it temptingly.
"All bare... and... covered in whipped cream."

Mulder, by this time, was licking his lips like a
hungry cat. He pressed his face between Jamie's pecs,
his tongue wriggling through the cream. He moved
toward the right, seeking out a nipple where he began
to lick greedily then he stopped to suck the right
nipple. The tender skin stiffened, hard as a pebble
against his tongue. Jamie's head rolled against the
feather pillows, and his toes curled.

Rolling onto his side, Mulder's robe flew open to
reveal his long hard cock, which rose up to meet
Jamie's palm. He slowly began to stroke,
causing Mulder to gasp, the sensation assaulting all
of his sensitive nerve endings.

Yanking off the robe, Mulder rolled on top of his
lover. Their movements were slow and sensuous. Jamie
kissed him deeply on the lips, his tongue tasting of
breakfast strawberries. His fingers moved along Fox's
shaft, making his lover shudder and moan
uncontrollably.

Hazel eyes burning, forehead and upper lip breaking
out into a light sheen of sweat, Mulder wrapped his
long legs around Jamie. He spread himself full-length
on top; the sensation of Jamie's skin against his was
like a powerful aphrodisiac. He kissed him fully,
Jamie's eyes never leaving his face.

"Jamie, you are so beautiful," Mulder breathed,
reaching down between them to find the insatiable
blonde's own flexing penis.

"Look who's talking," Jamie replied, huskily.

Letting both of their cocks slide into his fist,
Mulder stroked them together. The result was
electrifying. Just like the first time, Jamie
helplessly panted and writhed beneath him. 
The heat generated from the desire between the two
lovers could set the bed on fire. Mulder fisted
Jamie's long cock next to his own, and they both
groaned, locked in the throes of passion.

They melted together and became one. The enchanting
warmth shining in Jamie's eyes, and the intense lust
building within, made Fox
Mulder ecstatic to be alive.

Jamie ran his hands down the smooth velvet of Mulder's
back, sliding gently over his well-formed butt. He
luxuriated in the incredible heat from his body.

Bathed in sweat, a drop ran off the tip of Mulder's
nose and fell onto Jamie's face. He fastened his lips
against the moist neck, kissing and softly biting. In
his ear Mulder could hear Jamie moan, low and deep.

Suddenly, Jamie gasped for air as if he were drowning
when he gave up control to his body. Crashing waves of
pure pleasure jolted through him. Mulder's own
overwhelming orgasm was muffled as he passionately
kissed Jamie.

Mulder embraced him, pressing Jamie's body tightly
against his, as he shuddered and came again.

*****

"Mom? Hello, is anyone here?"

Janine walked around downstairs searching for any
signs of life.

"In here," a faint voice called.

Ascending the staircase, Janine moved through the
second floor hallway and found the attic door open.
"Mother?"

"Yes?" Grams replied back.

Janine climbed the little stairs to find both her
mother and Peril wearing old clothes and sorting
through boxes. Grams was firmly seated on a stack of
worn out encylopedias.

"Why don't you pull up a box and help us?" she
offered. "I've actually managed to persuade Peril to
help clean everything out."

Across from her, Peril smiled mischieviously. "Yeah,
and it only cost her twenty dollars."

"I've been trying to reach you," Janine said.

Grams sat down a faded photo album. "Well, I should
hope so. I may be losing my hearing, but your voice
came through loud and clear so, what's the matter?"

Walking over to them, Janine looked around the attic.
"Where's Jamie?"

"Jamie's fine," Peril said. "He's in good hands."

"I know. I ran into him last night."

Grams exchanged a nervous look with her granddaughter,
then she turned to Janine. "What about you, dear? Do
you want to tell me about that nagging concern you
have in your gut?"

Janine exhaled loudly. "I'm just worried about the
path Jamie has chosen."

"Talk to me, Janine," Grams opined gently. "You don't
really believe Fox Mulder hurt him now, do you?"

"All right." Janine eased into an antique rocking
chair. "I want the Jamie that I knew back. I would
love to look at him and support him, but
what if something terrible happens again? I mean, look
what happened before..." She sighed. "I know ya'll
think I'm being selfish."

"You're afraid Jamie's going to get hurt."

"Yes. I just want to protect him. Everything in my
heart is telling me that he's still my little boy."

Grams stood up, brushing dust off her red slacks. "Oh,
my dear sweet child. That little boy is nearly forty."

"Yes, I know that but..."

"Just think, all those years ago we had a memorial
service for Jamie," Peril butted in. "We thought we'd
never see him again, but he's back, alive and well
because of Mulder."

Grams nodded. "And hiding Jamie away from the rest of
the world is not going to keep him warm at night."

Janine blushed. "Mom, I can't believe you're saying
this."

"I'm saying what I know. Maybe Jamie has found true
love. That doesn't mean he's going to leave us
forever."

"Jamie and Mulder have the kind of love I dream
about," Peril added. "After all the years they've been
apart, I think the least they deserve is a little
romance. Don't you?"

Sitting back, Janine bit her lip and considered her
options.

From downstairs, Jamie's voice floated up to them.
"Grams? Peril?"

"That's Jamie," Janine said, relieved. On the way out
she turned to Grams and Peril. "Thanks."

Peril watched her go. "I hope we got through to her."

Grams patted her arm. "My darling, so do I."

*****

With his arms wrapped snuggly round Jamie's waist,
Mulder rocked him back and forth. After a long, hot
shower, Mulder had shimmied into a
snug pair of jeans, along with a rich blue Duckhead
sweatshirt. Jamie, who didn't want to wear a penguin
suit all day, asked to come back to Grams for a more
comfortable change of clothing. Both of them
practically glowed, and they stood at the bottom of
the staircase, waiting for someone to answer.

Neither one of them expected Janine to greet them.
From the look on her face, Jamie involuntarily
groaned. 'I really hope she's not going to start
another pointless dig on Mulder,' he thought. 'Because
I am so not in the mood to argue.'

He heaved a sigh a relief when Peril appeared closely
behind her. Janine noticed that Jamie was wearing the
same clothes he had on last
night. "Were you out all night?" she asked with open
directness.

"Yes, ma'am," he replied, eyeing her warily. This was
not going to be a fun conversation.

Maternal instincts kicked in and Janine wanted to
question him further, but held her tongue.
Antagonizing Jamie wouldn't help anything.

Peril eased by her aunt, having seen the well-fucked
grins on both Jamie and Mulder's faces. Good for them!

"Did you...?" Peril prompted.

"Uh-huh." Jamie nodded.

"Was he...?"

"Uh-uh!" Jamie exclaimed, a dreamy smile played across
his lips.

Janine held up her hands. "Okay, I'd like to have a
word with my son, please."

Giving Jamie a smile of encouragement, Peril joined
Mulder out in the parlor. Jamie watched them go then,
with a deep sigh, leaned against a counter and folded
his arms.

"Mom, I don't want to fight anymore," he began
sternly. "Fox is wonderful and he has a heart of gold,
and he doesn't deserve to be insulted. Now I know
you're a big girl so I want you to apologize."

Janine opened her mouth to break in, but Jamie swiftly
continued. "Unless you drop this bad attitude, you can
just pucker up and kiss me
goodbye, 'cause till then we have nothing more to say
to each other."

He turned and sauntered out of the room, peeling off
his blazer as he walked. Janine caught her breath.
She'd crossed the line with her son and he was angry
-- more angry than she'd ever seen him.

"Hey, wait!" she called, following after him, "I do
have something to say."

Mulder stood up from the couch. He'd been a party to
enough arguments with his father in the past to know a
nuclear explosion when he saw it brewing.

Jamie whipped around, a combination of radioactive
nitro-nine seething in his eyes. "I think you said
enough last night," he warned his mother.

"Not to you!" she replied back. "To Mr. Mulder." 
Mulder braced himself, but instead of a tirade,
Janine's voice grew soft. "Look, I'm sorry. I really
am. This has been a very stressful, difficult time and
I've been extremely rude." For the first time, she
gave Mulder a smile. "I apologize."

You could have knocked Jamie over with a feather. He
gaped at his mom in stunned surprise.

"It's okay," Mulder said, gently squeezing Jamie's
shoulder. "I understand, believe me I do. I've had
days where I'd like to chuck
someone over the side of a building."

Janine laughed -- she actually laughed! "That sounds
like a sight to see."

He took a breath. "Why don't I give you both a little
time to talk?"

Mulder gave Jamie a little wink, then walked across
the room and into the kitchen with Peril.

"That was a good start," Jamie said wryly. He still
couldn't get over his mom's change of heart.

"Well, now I know what you were up to last night,"
Janine said. "Eating spinach."

"Oh..." Jamie chuckled nervously. "I am what I am. I
just kinda forgot who that was for a while." Folding
his arms across his chest, Jamie
threw her a curious look. "So what brought on this new
attitude?"

"Seeing you stand up for yourself last night, and what
you told me really hit a nerve," she explained. "Plus,
I got some very good advice from your Grams." Hand on
hip, Janine gave her son a searching grin. "If I
hadn't softened my approach, would you really have
stopped talking to me?"

"Nah," he said, making a flicking gesture with his
hand. "I was just bluffing."

His mother chuckled softly, reluctantly admitting to
herself that Jamie was quite amazing.

"Mom, I'm not the same kid who left home," he added,
"but I'd like you to know the person I am now."

*****

An hour and half later, Mulder and Jamie headed out.
Jamie, cleaned and refreshed, had on a pair of jeans
and a forest green shirt -- which practically made his
eyes glow.

It was a gorgeous October day. The couple sat at an
outdoor table at Nikki's, a bar and grille in town,
over plates of chicken and tall iced teas.

Mulder smiled at Jamie, his eyes crinkling at the
corners. Forging an uneasy truce with his mom was
a major step to Jamie's recovery. He seemed relaxed
and comfortable with his new life, but one nagging
doubt tugged at Mulder's mind. He'd felt it himself
and witnessed it often in abductee survivors; a
certain fear in his eyes, like the feeling
of something unpleasant just behind you.

A breeze ruffled through Jamie's hair and he eased his
chair closer to Fox, until their arms were touching.
Mulder was determined to set Jamie's mind at ease, and
make him the happiest soul on the planet. 

He swallowed a mouthful of tea and scanned
the quaint little shops ranged on either side of the
street, in an attempt to give tourists a feel of
Southern charm. Mulder breathed in the sweet Autumn
air and let his view travel along the sidewalk. At
the far end was an old brick movie theatre. His eyes
lit up like a child's on  Christmas morning.

"Look what's playing!" he exclaimed, pointing to the
revival house's marquee. "What do you think?" he
asked, wearing a little pout, not only 
because it was his favorite horror classic, but also
he wanted to get his lover alone in the dark.

Jamie took a last bite of chicken and laid down his
fork. "Okay, let's do it!"  
 
*****
 
Entering the darkened movie theatre, Jamie gripped
Mulder's arm with one hand and held onto a jumbo tub
of buttered popcorn in the other as they searched for
a place to sit. Previews flickered across the big
screen,  affording a little light. Through the gloom
there only appeared to be a handful of people, and
they were all toward the front.

Mulder turned to Jamie with a mischievious glint in
his eye. "Since we missed dinner last night, you wanna
find a couple of seats in the back and make out?" he
suggested.

Jamie smiled, and nodded enthusiastically. 
 
Taking his hand, Mulder slid into the back row which,
thankfully, wasn't occupied. Settling back into the
dark red seats, Jamie cuddled up next to Mulder, who
wrapped an arm round his shoulders.

The popcorn was quickly forgotten, and the trailers
became lost to obscurity as Jamie teasingly ran his
fingertips up Mulder's leg and along his thigh. Mulder
shifted when his cock instantly twitched into life.
'Why the hell did I decide to wear these jeans?' he
wondered 
silently.

Nuzzling his chin, Mulder's lips found Jamie's earlobe
and he began to nibble. The loud sigh which escaped
his lover's mouth was drowned out by the Universal
fanfare. Mulder felt a thrill of excitement at the
prospect of getting intimate with Jamie in a public
place. Swirling his tongue over the ear's outer curve
had the desired effect as Jamie began to tremble.
Mulder softly nipped it, then drew his warm breath in
close.

"I like an element of danger," he whispered.

"So do I," Jamie replied, his right hand sliding
between Mulder's legs and cupping the straining bulge.

A white hot surge filled his crotch. Mulder dived down
to cover Jamie's lips with his own. He felt Jamie's
tongue and he opened wider -- wanting to pull all of
that hot mouth into his.

Jamie's hand pressed against his groin, caressing
Mulder through his tight Levi's. Fox spread his legs
apart, and wriggled down into a better position. Jamie
returned to his neck, 
running his tongue over Mulder's Adam's apple. He
moaned softly, running his fingers through Jamie's
gelled hair. Mulder ached deep inside for
those magnificent lips to be wrapped around his
protesting cock.

Jamie's hands explored in the darkness -- unfastening
Fox's jeans and lightly pulling down the zipper. He
reached inside and smiled as he felt the rock hard
flesh. When Jamie gave it a gentle tug, Mulder
gasped. Jamie looked up at him wickedly.

"I didn't realize movie-going could be this exciting,"
he whispered.

"Oh Jamie, you have no idea." Fox gently pushed his
vivacious lover's face into his lap, taking care that
no one noticed.

Jamie licked his lips, took a deep breath, and slid
his warm mouth over Mulder's eager dick. Overwhelmed
by the incredible sensation, Fox exhaled a drawn out
"Mmmm." His body went limp in the theatre chair.
Jamie's hands worked Mulder's jeans and briefs down
further, giving him full access. His tongue flickered
along the shaft.

Mulder felt precome pooling on the tip of his dick,
but the moment it got there, Jamie licked it off
carefully, slowly, deliberately. His mind felt light
as air, his whole body was about ready to combust. His
moans were more intense now. He was breathing hard,
and thrusting his hips rhythmically. When the whole of
his penis slid into his lover's throat, Mulder closed
his eyes. He seemed to be spinning out of control, his
body floating in rapturous ectasy.

In a frenzy he gripped an arm rest, while keeping a
gentle touch on Jamie's bobbing head. The younger
man's wet mouth continued to make love to him, with
Fox's dick sliding in and out, in and out... Suddenly
Mulder felt his body spasm. His cries of pleasure were
drowned out by the musical sting of an amphibious claw
reaching out of the murky black lagoon...

*****

Evening came and the two lovers had returned to
Jamie's Grams' house. Both Peril and Grams, exhausted
from cleaning the attic, sat devouring the last of a
chessecake. Meantime, Jamie was upstairs in his
socked feet showing Mulder around the old house. Both
women had giggled and shook their heads at the sound
of them chasing one another through the bedrooms.

In the hallway, Fox cornered Jamie beside a curio
cabinet. His handsome face brightened into that
familiar devilish smile of his. Every time Mulder saw
him, he just wanted Jamie to rip his clothes off.
Pressing him into the wall, Mulder kissed
him fiercely.

Drawing him closer, Jamie laid his head over Mulder's
shoulders. He opened his eyes, and gasped. Mulder felt
Jamie's heartbeat drop. He pulled away and stared into
his frightened eyes.

"Jamie, what is it? What's wrong?" he questioned,
urgently.

Moving past him, Jamie walked toward a darkened
window. "I-I thought I saw a... shape out there," he
explained in a trembling voice.

Mulder came up beside him. "Jamie, we're on the second
floor," he said gently.

"I know." Seeing the concern in Fox's eyes, Jamie
suddenly felt very foolish. Now his nightmares were
haunting him when he was awake. He
shivered uncontrollably, and hugged himself. "I'm
sorry. I still half expect shadows to jump out at me."

From downstairs the telephone started to ring.

"What did you see?" Mulder asked, carefully. As hard
as Jamie tried to put up a brave front, he was
obviously still traumatized.

"It was nothing. Just my imagination," he explained,
and hugged Mulder. "And you of all people know how
overreactive it is."

But Mulder wouldn't be put off. "Jamie, you--"

"Jamie! Telephone!" Peril shouted.

"I'll be right back," Jamie said. All too quickly he
disappeared down the stairs. Mulder chewed his lip and
took a look at the window. There  was nothing
reflecting off it, and it was so dark outside that you
could barely see the street.

Feeling the need for the restroom, Mulder decided that
when the time was right, he and Jamie were going to
have to have a long talk.

Bounding off the last step, Jamie found Peril waiting
and holding out the cordless. "Who is it?" he
wondered.

"That yummy Alex Krycek," she replied. "I won't tell
your boyfriend in case he gets jealous!"

Jamie smirked and took the phone while Peril strode
back into the parlor, laughing.

"Alex," he said. "How are you?" Jamie pulled the phone
away as a harsh crackling sound shot through his ear.
"Ouch! Sorry, I think we've got a bad connection. What
did you say?"

"I'm almost as good as new," Krycek repeated. "I've
been trying to track you down."

Walking into the kitchen, Jamie headed for the fridge
and poured himself a glass of chilled water. "I'm
feeling much better. Mulder's here and things are great."

In the background on Alex's end, Jamie could hear a
deep voice talking. A voice that sounded kinda
familiar. "Who's that with you?" he asked, curiously.

"Oh... um, that's just my nurse," he answered back.
"Today's the last day I have to wear these friggin'
bandages, and he's ready to help them off."

Jamie nodded and leaned back against the fridge door.
Him? Hmmm...

*****

Alex hung up the phone and turned to find an impatient
Walter Skinner towering over him. "How's Jamie?" he
enquired.

"Fine," Alex sighed. "Mulder's there so I'm sure he'll
have him chasing after aliens in no time."

Walter smirked. "Well, at least they're both okay.
With Mulder, you never know." He sat down on the
coffee table directly across from Krycek. "Come on, 
take your shirt off," he said.

Alex shifted on the plush sofa where he'd felt
comfortable sleeping for the past couple of weeks.
He'd been at first suspicious then taken aback by
Skinner's offer of recuperating at his place. Alex had
been wary of returning to Virginia, but Skinner
assured him his apartment would be the last place in
the world any one could think to look for the former
double agent.

Their living situation had been domestic at best, with
Krycek cooking and doing a little cleaning while
Skinner toiled away at the Bureau. Apparently his
superiors were not too happy with the excursion to San
Francisco, and many days Walter came home grumpy.

Alex had flatly refused to see any D.C. physicians, so
it was left to Walter's marine training to care for
him. Whenever Krycek needed his bandages changed or
tightened, it was getting increasingly difficult to
hide his arousal. Although he'd always been attracted
to a certain maverick fox, Alex found himself thinking
more and more of the surly A.D. Not only because he
felt indebted to the man for taking care of him and
not narcing him out, but also for the main reason that
Walter Sergei Skinner was just so damn hot. Many times 
Alex imagined how much more comfortable the sofa bed 
would be withthe older man under the covers, his strong, 
muscular arms wrapped around him.

His thoughts strayed as he slipped out of his shirt,
and Walter carefully removed the bandages, with the
skill of an archaeologist
unwrapping a mummy. He was pleased to find the
bruising around the pale flesh beneath to have
vanished. Walter started to explore the tender skin
with gentle fingers. Alex's
scent permeated his nostrils; a warm, exotic, spicy
musk that triggered a rush of heat to Skinner's
crotch. Simply put, Alex Krycek was a stunningly
beautiful man, and Walter had sincerely started to
care about him. The sensation of the younger man's
bare skin beneath his fingertips sent Walter's mind
whirling. So much so that he was unaware of slightly
massaging around the healed ribs.

Alex shivered from the touch. Walter looked up at him
with a little grin. "Don't tell me you're shy after
I've changed these bandages every day?"

"No, it's not that," he began. Fuck! Any second now
and Skinner would notice the outline of his prick
threatening to burst from his jeans. He shrugged. "Now
that I'm out of the woods, I guess you'll be wanting
me to leave soon."

Walter stopped and fixed him with a penetrating gaze.
"Who said anything about you leaving?" His voice was
deep and thick.

Alex felt his pulse quicken. What the hell was
happening? "But, I know that..."

Walter shut his mouth with an impulsive kiss. Alex's
body stiffened briefly, then he began kissing Walter
back, with the same unrestrained
passion. Slowly they sank to their knees. Alex's
tongue slithered inside Walter's mouth. He reached out
and touched the A.D.'s fine body: the bull-like
shoulders, nicely pumped biceps, tight waist. He felt
Skinner's huge hands kneading his firm chest.

Alex closed his feverish eyes and unbottoned Walter's
shirt, running his fingers back and forth across the
nipples. 'I can't wait to see him naked,' he thought,
hungrily. Alex tugged at his shirt, and Walter lifted
his arms, and pulled it up and over his head.

Flexing a pec invitingly, Walter took Krycek's dark
head and pulled it close. He growled as the Russian
ran his tongue over a nipple, coating it and making it
hard. Alex was surprised when Skinner tenderly drew
him
toward the carpet, having visualized the big guy as a
rough lover.

They rolled over and over the floor, mouths locked.
When they stopped, Walter was lying on top. Alex
enjoyed the warm weight against him. "Oh!" he gasped
as Walter slid his tongue down the ridges of Alex's
chest and across the
fabric of his pants. His prick swelled against the
dark jeans, making Skinner's mouth water. He kissed
the bulge, running his tongue against
the outline, and began to suck.

Alex groaned, writhing back against the carpet. He
reached forward and unfastened the A.D.'s slacks. His
green eyes flashed at the sight of
Skinner's penis, half erect against his thigh. It was
huge and Alex took in a sharp breath.

"Well?" Skinner growled.

"I think I've found a way to repay your kindness,"
Krycek told him, hungrily.

With his ribs healed, Alex manouvered down, grateful
for the renewed flexibility, and slipped Walter's dick
into his mouth. Moving his lips along the shaft, it
grew to full hardness in Alex's mouth. Walter knelt
with his hands on Krycek's head as he pumped his hips
and fucked his
face with deep, slow strokes. Alex opened his throat
wide and managed to take it all in each time Walter
shoved his hips forward.

Alex ran his hands into Skinner's waistband and pulled
both his pants and underwear down. He felt the hard
flesh of his buttocks, prying them
open. Walter groaned and reluctantly pulled away from
Krycek's delicious mouth. He lay beside him, kissing
Alex full on the lips, the eyes, all over his elfin
face. At the same time, Skinner pulled those black
jeans and boxers down.

"You have a beautiful body," he whispered, slowly
stroking the Russian's uncut cock. In a matter of
moments, he turned around and took the hard flesh into
his mouth.

Alex cried out when the older man started
deep-throating him. For just a second, he wondered
where the A.D. learned to do this so skillfully. He
opened his eyes and found Skinner's ass hovering above
his face. Lifting
his head, Alex licked between the cheeks.

The sensation drove Walter wild as Alex wrapped a hand
round his dick and began to pump it. They slipped into
a passionate rhythm. Walter gasped for air and turned
back to face the sexy rat.

"I really wanna fuck you, Krycek," he said. "Would you
like that?"

Alex's eyes blazed. "As far as I'm concerned, you can
fuck me blind."

Walter reached over to a nearby table, and Krycek was
surprised when he opened a drawer to extract a condom
and some lube. Soon, his legs were over those broad
shoulders, and Skinner was desperate to plunge inside
Alex's ass. Slowly and gently Walter entered the man.
Alex squeezed his eyes shut and bit his lip from the
size of him.

"I'll go easy," Walter reassurred him. He started to
fuck with slow thrusts. Alex opened his eyes as
shocking jolts of pleasure coursed through him. Never
in a million, trillion years would he have thought
this could happen. Walter Skinner, his former enemy,
the man who
gunned down his insane clone, fucking him senseless!
The sight excited Krycek to new hardness.

A lascivious grin played across Walter's face  and
increased his pace, grinding deep inside. Spitting
into his hand, he began to stroke Krycek's aching
shaft. Alex reached up and ran his fingers over
Skinner's sweaty abs. The older man grunted loudly,
his breathing becoming ragged. His lips pulled back
into a snarl as he
thrust hard one last time and then roared. He leaned
down and kissed Krycek's drenched face, and felt his
dick twitch inside the Russian. At the same time,
Alex's orgasm rose and he cried out.

Walter embraced him in a bear hug, pressing his body
tightly against Krcyek's. The two newfound friends and
lovers lay on the floor in silence, both men catching
their breath. The A.D. rolled onto his side and
trailed a thick finger up Alex's firm belly.

"You know you can stay here as long as you want," he
offered. After this, Walter didn't want to let Alex
leave.

"I'll think about it," Krycek replied, not wanting to
push things. Walter seemed satisfied with his answer.
He looped an arm around the younger
man, and Alex nestled his head against Skinner's
shoulder. He felt himself drifting off to sleep.

Then the sharp trilling of the telephone invaded the
serenity. With an irritated groan, Walter reached up
to grab the portable.

"Hello?"

"Do you know what's happened in San Francisco?" a very
insistent, cultured female voice asked.

"What? I beg your pardon?" Walter replied, completely
taken off guard.

"I'm trying to locate Fox William Mulder," she said,
urgently. "They've taken the bones. It won't be long
before it all starts up again!"

Alex saw the alarm in Walter's eyes and he sat up.

"Just a second! Who the hell is this?" Skinner
demanded, in a voice that nine times out of ten left
his subordinates quaking.
 
"Doctor Angela Kitzseiger," she told him. "Head of
Oxford University's Parasychology Department. I must
find Mr. Mulder before it's too late."

"Why? Exactly what are you talking about?"

"Surely you know what happened at the Avatar site?
They've taken Azathoth's remains! If you don't believe
me, call the San Francisco bureau!"

Walter, stunned, quickly tried to calm himself and
make some sense from what the woman was telling him.
He listened carefully as she repeated everything once
more, then he jotted down her number and promised to
call back.

He sat back and wondered whether to ring Mulder first
or call his friends out in San Francisco for
confirmation. Alex shook his shoulder.

"Walter, clue me in. What's going on? Who was that?"

Skinner turned his soft brown eyes toward him. "A
doctor from England. She claims that someone has taken
bones from the Avatar ruins." He swallowed hard. "What
would someone want with a pile of bones?"

"A grotesque trophy?" Alex snorted, then a horrible
thought entered his mind. "Whafuck?!" he exclaimed.
"Who's bones did they--" His voice faded from the look
on Walter's face.

Hanging his head, Walter murmured, "How am I supposed
to tell Mulder?"

"This is insane," Alex told him. He couldn't believe
this. It had to be a mistake! "We don't even know if
this is true or not." He took a breath and slammed his
palm to the floor. "Every member of that fuckin' cult
died in the explosion. Who else would want to
deliberately resurrect Azathoth?"

*****

Five cloaked figures gathered in a large, deathly cold
crypt. They circled a stone obelisk and raised their
hands in supplication. Before
them sat the gleaming bones of the Great Old One,
Azathoth...

[Next Episode: Glutton For Punishment]