The atrium was impressive, but nothing compared to the glass elevator ride
to the top from where one could see the city skyline, Alcatraz, the bay, the
Golden Gate Bridge, and the San Francisco Bay Bridge to Angel Island. On the
way to the top, Fox couldn't shake a feeling of dread. The cause came to him in
a flash and he laughed at himself. These were the same elevators used in the
movie "The Towering Inferno."
Dinner wasn't the greatest, but Mulder realized he was really paying for the
view. So he ordered a couple more drinks so that he could make the circle a few
more times. By the time he got back on the elevator for the trip down, he was
feeling pretty good. The doorman hailed him a cab and opened the door for him.
Mulder wasn't sure how much to tip for 10 seconds of kindness, so he just handed
the man a couple of bucks. He turned to the cabby and said, "Take me somewhere
that's popular on a Friday night," and let the man do his job.
The cab cut up Market Street as fast as it could go with stoplights every
hundred feet. Just when Mulder was starting to get annoyed at the stop-and-go
travel, they made a sharp left into the South of Market Area. The area made
Mulder wonder if his doors were locked and his life insurance premium was paid.
There had been lots of homeless people on Market, but this area looked even more
abandoned and dangerous. Just when he was sure that he was being taken
somewhere to be robbed and left for dead, the cab pulled over. Mulder had been
expecting a nightclub, but all he could see was a long line of people, a
spotlight, and a couple of bouncers.
The bouncers would have been a fine addition to the FBI. Muscle like that
was always in great demand. Mulder paid the driver and gave him a tip as well.
The tip must have made the driver happy, because he honked the horn and gave a
'thumbs up' to the younger of the two bouncers. "Tell him that Tony said you
were cool, you won't have to wait in the line with the rest of the cattle..."
Mulder stepped on the sidewalk, and suddenly felt very uncomfortable as a
hundred eyes looked him over to see if he was anybody. He caught the
indifferent and jaded eye of the bouncer and repeated Tony's message. The
message got him past jaded, and the bouncer just mumbled, "You're not really
dressed for tonight there cowboy..." The other bouncer, attracted by the chance
to show some muscle, came over. That suit's Armani, Bryce. He's okay."
"Great, another fucking lawyer," Bryce mumbled under his breath. "They think
they own the whole fucking city."
"They do, Bryce," said his partner. To Mulder, he asked, "ID Sir?"
Mulder flashed his badge, happy to clear up the fact that he wasn't a lawyer.
Nothing normally surprised these two security men, and Mulder got a slight rise
when he saw their reaction to his badge. Giving the ID back to him, the older
and smarter bouncer asked, "You aren't packing tonight are you?"
Mulder lied and shook his head 'no', and turned to go inside only to be
stopped again. Bryce gave him his best patient smile and said, "That will be
$40 dollars, sir." Mulder was sure that the distance his mouth had dropped open
marked him permanently as an out-of-towner.
He paid and went inside. It took a couple of moments for his eyes to adjust
to the lighting, or lack thereof, inside. He had assumed that it was a single
club he was going into, what he found were several bars around a huge dance
floor. The entire space had been a warehouse which had been totally refitted to
suit its new purpose. He scanned the place trying not to look too much like a
tourist. He finally selected one of the theme bars to order a drink from. Tony
had lived up to his word, this place was packed! It was an eclectic group of
the famous, the beautiful, the weird, and the eccentric. It was one of those
places where anything goes. Drug use was just barely hidden, and Mulder wished
that he was not in his suit and tie.
He wasn't on duty tonight. It had been months since he had just gone out to
have a good time, ever since Alex had left with not so much as a word of
explanation. Just when everything was going so well between the two. Fucking
Alex! This was long overdue. He pushed the thought far from his mind. He
wasn't going to go there tonight. He loosened his tie, pulled up to the bar and
ordered a Long Island Iced Tea. Drink in hand, he wondered towards the crowded
dance floor. If he had felt out-of-place at the bar, he felt out-of-date
looking out at the dance floor. The floor split into several levels. The music
was so loud that it hurt his chest. The spotlights, lasers, and fog machine
made the place look like the set of a science fiction movie. Mulder half
expected little gray aliens to appear from the thick mist. Dancers writhed all
over each other in various stages of undress. Sweat-covered gym-addicted men
danced with men, women with women, and once in a while, there was a man dancing
with a woman.
The music was strangely familiar, and it took Mulder a few moments to
realize that it was a remix of an old song. He smiled at the memory.
"One night in a disco on the outskirts of 'Frisco, I was cruising with my
favorite gang. The place was so boring filled with out-of-towners touring, I
knew that it wasn't my thing. I really wasn't caring, but I felt my eyes
staring at a guy who stuck out in the crowd. He had the kind of body that would
shame Adonis and a face that would make any man cry...Oh, he's the greatest
dancer...Halston, Gucci, Del Arrucci, he looks like a still, that man is dressed
to kill. Arrogance, not conceit, as a man he's complete, my creme de la creme,
please take me home...."
Mulder braced his back against a column and watched the show. A couple of
drinks later, the show was even more entertaining. He hadn't ventured out on
the dance floor yet. A couple of the bars' more adventuresome patrons had
cruised him lewdly and lasciviously; a couple more had come over to stand by his
column, only to leave in frustration when he hadn't paid them any attention.
Something had already captured his complete attraction.
Mulder's eyes were glued to the dance floor, actually, to someone on the
dance floor. Every few minutes the spotlights would highlight one of the
couples on one of the risers. Mulder was transfixed. His heart was leaping in
his chest and he kept rubbing his eyes. His eyes couldn't be telling him the
truth, but the truth was out there!
The young couple was undeniably beautiful. Their movements seemed
choreographed to the driving music. The woman was svelte, dark and exotic; but
it was the young man that had captured Mulder's attention. He knew those
movements, he knew that body. Intimately. The dancer was dressed in a pair of
skintight kid leather pants and an expensive looking shirt that looked like a
cross between silk and suede. The shirt was a perfect match for his beautiful
sea-green eyes. The haircut was new and obviously expensive. Every few
minutes, the dancer would toss the hair from his eyes or push it away with a
free hand. If this wasn't Alex Krycek, it was his clone. All the feelings that
he had been suppressing for the past months, exploded to the surface. Mulder
didn't care. He had to find out who this young man was. He had a lot of things
that had been left unsaid to the fucking traitor.
The woman had just pulled his leather jacket off and was using it like a
rope to pull him closer. She moved like a cloud of smoke, ever shifting and
changing—the very essence of unpredictability. Mulder was across the floor
in just a few steps leaping up on the riser. He grabbed the young man by his
shirt and reared his fist back to deliver the blow that had been building in him
for months. The grab had caught the young man off balance and he began to fall
backwards as the two locked eyes. Mulder wished he had a camera to capture the
look on that face as he prepared to knock him out.
"What the fuck? Oh my god! I....don't ...," was all the young man said as
he fell back. The spotlight blinked out of existence, and with it went all of
Mulder's certainty. No longer able to see clearly, he paused.
Mulder wasn't sure what happened next. He was prepared to punch the man in
the face; he wanted to punch him, needed to punch him. Instead, he pulled his
body close, wrapped his arm tightly around his head and planted a kiss on those
beautiful lips that he had missed for so long. The young man struggled at
first, then started to respond, just as Mulder pulled away.
Mulder released the shirt, shocked by what had just happened. He hadn't
drunk that much, had he? The younger man slid to the floor. Mulder realized
that they were now the center of attention in the huge structure. He could also
see a couple of security people start to worm their way towards the strange
scene. Mulder turned to leave. He could hear the frantic voice of the exotic
woman as he walked away.
"Nicky, Nicky, are you all right? Nicky, damn it, talk to me," she pleaded
thorough an accent thick as San Francisco fog.
Mulder had almost made it to the front door, when he felt a hand on his arm.
"We have to talk, but not here." Nicky pulled him outside. "Bryce, could you
get my car please?"
Mulder was impressed, he didn't know that Bryce could move that fast. Bryce
didn't have far to go, the convertible was right in front of the club. The
sports car was a study in black; low and fast, with a black leather interior to
match. "The alarm system is off and the top is down, just like you like it,
Nick," Bryce said as he held the door open for the younger man. Bryce didn't
hold Mulder's door open, but then again, Mulder didn't give him a fifty dollar
tip either. "Thanks Nick, have a great night stud." 'Fifty dollars also bought
manners and enthusiasm,' Mulder thought snidely. Mulder took a mental picture of
Bryce's unhappy expression as the door closed. He had enough alcohol in his
system that it all seemed very funny to him. He started to wonder just how he
was going to explain his actions.
He wasn't prepared for the acceleration as the car blasted out of the valet
space. At first Mulder thought that the man was pissed at him, but that thought
left his mind when Nick looked over and smiled and squeezed Mulder's leg. "I
know I'm speeding, but this area of town makes me nervous. There's a gun in the
glove compartment and another under the seat, Mulder, if anyone gets too close
to the car."
"It really is you, Alex, isn't it?" Mulder asked.
"Yes, of course it's me!" Alex replied imatiently. "I don't know how you
found me, but I'm really glad you have. I've missed you everyday, every minute.
I know that you have a million questions, and I'll try to answer them all, I
promise." The car turned from the Embarcadero into the Marina District and Alex
visibly relaxed in the up-scale area. As the convertible cut though the
Presidio, Mulder started to enjoy the ride. The streets were lined with trees
and the breeze that was blowing off the ocean was intoxicating in its own right.
After a few miles, the trees broke and Mulder gasped in surprise. The towers of
the Golden Gate Bridge soared high above him; they looked close enough to touch.
He thought they were going to cross the bridge, but at the last moment the car
veered away from the bridge and followed the shoreline in the opposite
direction.
The stillness in the car was suddenly broken by an incessant buzzing. Alex
gave and apologetic look and excused himself as he reached for the cell phone.
"I really should get this, I'm sorry..." Casting a quick look at the
caller's ID and the current time shown on the gold Movado on his wrist, he
answered. Mulder listened in on the one-sided conversation trying to learn as
much as he could about Alex's new life.
"Natasha, my darling! Some bodyguard, it took you almost twenty minutes to
call! No, sorry, Hun, I'm actually on the Presidio right now. I'm sorry. I
said I'm sorry. Yes, I know. I owe you big time. (Pause) I'm okay. Really!
No, actually, he's right here with me. (Pulling the phone away from his ear)
Ouch, quit yelling, 'Tash! Hey, I don't know that word, you'll have to teach
that one to me later...Hold on, I'll ask him for you..."
Turning to Mulder, and loud enough to be heard through the phone, Alex asked
in his most innocent voice, "Excuse me sir, but are you a crazed
psycho-pervert?" Mulder's mouth fell open for the second time that night.
"'Tash, he doesn't quite know how to answer that. No, I don't think I've lost
my fucking mind. Hey, that's a good one! (to Mulder) She says I should look
for it while my head's up my ass! Hopefully, I may have something more fun up
there real soon. Am NOT! Takes one to know one, babe! Yeah, yeah, if I wake
up dead in the morning, you told me so. Okay. Okay, okay, I love you back.
Tomorrow."
Alex gave a slightly nervous laugh as he caught Mulder's eyes as he cut the
line. Mulder realized at the very moment why it had been so hard to tell if
this was really Alex at the club. He had never seen Alex like this. He was
happy and relaxed and the effect made him even more attractive. The lack of
stress had erased the years, making him look even younger than he really was.
The car entered a new neighborhood. Huge stone pillars announced the area
as Seacliff. This area made the Marina look like a low rent neighborhood. Here
the houses were huge and surrounded by walls. Some places, you couldn't even
see the houses, just an elaborate gate that protected the occupants from the
world outside. It was up to one of those gates that Alex pulled up, after
pressing a button on the dashboard, a gate slid quietly out of the way, allowing
the car in.
The gate had offered no clue of what was inside, and what Mulder saw left
him speechless. The house was low and abstract. Though new, it was obviously
built by someone who had been heavily influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright. The
primary materials were glass and black marble. Whereas the outside of the house
was black and faded into the night, the inside was a blinding white. Whatever
button Alex had pressed, had not only opened the gate, but turned on lights and
opened the garage as well.
"Welcome to my world," Alex said as they entered the living room. Like most
of the houses in the Bay Area, it made the most of the available space. Built
on several levels, it surrounded a central atrium. Natural stone, mirrors,
glass, and plants mixed perfectly, giving the impression that the house had just
evolved from the surrounding area. The few solid walls were a glaring gloss
white. The bright illumination hurt his eyes at first. Vintage movie posters
broke up the starkness, interjecting a vibrant splash of color. The furniture
was leather, black, and looked sinfully comfortable.
Mulder was at a loss for words, so Alex began.
"I didn't shoot Scully's sister. I was there. But, I thought I maybe could
stop..." he stammered.
Mulder cut him off mid-sentence. Explanations could come later; right now
he had more important business on his mind. He pushed Alex back on the couch,
covering him with his own body. This time, Alex allowed himself to participate
in the kiss. His arms pulled closer, as Mulder carefully opened his shirt.
"You can rip it if you want to, Mulder, I have four more, the same color," Alex
begged. Mulder was tempted, but stopped short of rending the fabric. "Not
tonight. Tonight, I'm going to be gentle with you," he whispered in his lover's
ear. Pulling back, he gauged the reaction to what he had said in the green eyes
he knew so well. What he saw almost tore his soul. Love. 'So this is what
love looks like,' he thought, as he plunged down to devour his lover's lips.
A line of discarded clothing marked a trail, as the two wrestled towards a
bedroom. On the landing where they had stopped in a naked tangle, Alex grabbed
Mulder's face, locking their eyes together. "Fuck me, here, now! I need it! I
need you so bad, Mulder. Please don't make me wait any longer."
The simple plea inflamed Mulder. Pushing Alex down on the plush-carpeted
stairs, he kissed a trail down Alex's back. When he got to the ass that he knew
so well, he had to stop and admire it. Though things were familiar, they were
suddenly different. Alex had obviously been spending his free time in a gym,
and by the looks of it, a tanning salon as well. The slightest of tan lines
left from a g-string was a huge turn-on. Like an arrow pointing him in the
right direction, the white skin glowed in the dim lighting. He pushed his face
between Alex's cheeks. Alex moaned hard and long. His hips ground into the
stairway, taking on a will and purpose of their own. Mulder listened as Alex's
plea became a mantra. "Please Mulder, do it. I need you so bad. Please, I
want you to fuck my ass. Fuck me."
Pulling away, Mulder surprised himself by saying 'no.' The word surprised
Alex as well, and he turned his head to see what was wrong. "Have I done
something, said something to make you mad, Mulder? If I did, I'm sorry...."
Alex offered.
Mulder gently placed his hand over Alex mouth, and smiled. "I want you to
make love to me first. I want you inside me right now."
Alex was shocked speechless. He was almost always first on the bottom. It
was a routine that they had fallen into, and like most routines, had never
changed. Mulder continued, "Nothing's wrong, just right now, I need this. I
need to feel like I'm still a part of you. Do this for me, please."
Alex didn't need to be begged. Standing slowly up, he pulled Mulder into
the master bedroom. Taking over where Mulder had left off, his tongue mapped
every inch of Mulder's body. Then, grabbing some lubrication from a drawer in
the bedside nightstand, he prepared himself to enter his lover. Mulder tried to
concentrate on the sound of the splashing water in the fountain that covered the
corner of the room. The distraction only worked until he felt the head of
Alex's cock enter him. It had been a long time. Absence might make the heart
grow fonder, but it doesn't make things easier on your ass. He pushed his face
into the pillow and took it like a man. Alex could sense his discomfort, and
stopped. "Just tell me when you're ready babe," he purred in Mulder's ear.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to be able to last long. It's been way too long
for me and this feels way too good."
After a while Mulder began to rock his hips, and Alex quickly caught the
cadence. It was a perfect match, as they both worked to bring the other
pleasure. Mulder reveled in the feeling as Alex pistoned in and out of his
body. He needed to recapture the feeling of being a part of Alex's life and the
physical connection was helping. 'Alex was true to his word,' Mulder thought as
he felt the younger man getting close. He could feel the sweat from Alex face
drip onto his back as Alex shot deep inside him, and something else, something
he had never felt before. Tears. He could feel Alex crying as he came deep
inside him, as he said "I love you so fucking much" in his ear.
Mulder realized at that moment just what a hell hole Alex's life must have
become when he ran. He had been forced to leave everything and flee with just
his wits and the clothes on his back. He had to have been terrified and alone.
His heart went out to him. He didn't care anymore about what Alex had to do to
survive. He was just glad that he was here. The thought that someone had tried
to kill this young man sent a shiver down his spine. It caused his protective
instincts to kick in.
Alex held him, almost too tightly, until Mulder felt the wet cock slide from
inside him. Turning, he gently kissed Alex along one of the trails left by the
fresh tears. Embarrassed, Alex tried to turn his face away, only to have it
gently turned back and kissed again. The two met eyes as silent communications
passed between them. Pushing Mulder onto his back, Alex reached for the
nightstand again. Straddling the body below him, Alex lowered himself slowing
onto Mulder's large throbbing cock. It had been awhile, and Alex had to take it
slow. He didn't want to take it slow though, it felt too good. He was
physically connected again to the man he loved, and that was worth all the pain
and discomfort.
Starting slowly, but building in speed and intensity, Alex arched his
slender body taking the stiff rod deep inside himself again and again. Mulder
leaned against the pillows and watched as Alex rode him. Damn, he was
beautiful. The muscles played hide-and-seek just under his skin as the two made
love. Something new caught Mulder's attention. Gazing past Alex, he caught
their reflection in the floor to ceiling bedroom windows. The dim lighting in
the room was just enough to turn the glass to mirror their reflections. It was
the first time he had seen himself make love. He could see the two of them
having sex and it was like an out of body experience. The sight took his breath
away. He greedily monopolized the view for himself for a while until he let
Alex in on it. "Want to see something beautiful?" Mulder asked as he turned
Alex's face towards the window. Alex paused, the sweat running down his face,
as he looked in the direction that Mulder was indicating. "It's like starring
in our own porn movie..." Mulder went on.
"You would know all about that, now wouldn't you, Mulder?" Alex playfully
joked back as he resumed his motions. Once in a while, he would steal a glance
at the window and adjust his movements slightly. Just like when he was on the
dance floor, he would brush his hair from his eyes or toss his head slightly.
Mulder loved the boyish quality the new haircut gave him.
Though it killed him to do so, Mulder stopped Alex. He had a sudden
inspiration. If Alice could go through the looking glass, then so could they.
He pulled Alex to the window and slid the door open. Bracing Alex against the
glass and metal railing, he entered him fiercely from behind. Alex had just a
fleeting thought of the neighbors and how much, if anything, they were able to
see. He was hoping that the neighbors were long asleep. Those were his last
conscious thoughts as he gave himself up to the sensations pounding through his
body. Their rhythm matched the soothing sounds of the crashing surf.
Pulling out, Mulder turned Alex around. He missed being able to look into
his eyes. Suddenly lifting Alex onto the railing, he was surprised when the look
in those eyes was terror for just a second. Alex had dug his nails into his back
and his legs had instinctively wrapped themselves tightly around his back.
"Alex, don't worry, I won't let you go, trust me," Mulder coaxed.
Risking a look behind him, Alex smiled a nervous smile, and said, "You're
the one who taught me to trust no one. But, I do trust you. You might even say
that my life, my fate, is in your hands, Mulder."
As Mulder entered him again in the new position, Alex reluctantly released
his arms, bending low and far across the railing. His ankles though kept a
death grip behind Mulder's back.
Alex's words had seemed very melodramatic and his current actions seemed
reckless and risky. "Alex get back up here, you're going to get wet," Mulder
said a little annoyed. This had been his idea, so he couldn't get too
perturbed. He was met with the sound of laughter from below. "Everything will
be clear in the morning; maybe you'll know just how much I love you." Mulder
didn't know why Alex had picked this time to start talking in riddles. He was
at the point of not caring anymore. Wrapping his arms around Alex's back,
Mulder gave a huge pull. Gently lowering himself to his knees, Alex's body
followed him over to the safe side of the rail. The momentum of the move
impaled him on Mulder's cock, driving it to depths never felt before. Alex cried
out. Pinning him between the glass rail and himself, Mulder lifted his partner's
legs onto his shoulders. He lost himself in the hot, tight, smooth wetness that
was Alex. Pushing their lips together, he savagely kissed the younger man. He
wasn't living up to his promise of being gentle, but then again, Alex didn't
seem to mind. Alex moaned in pain and pleasure as he let Mulder take pleasure
in his body. Mulder could feel Alex's cock, trapped between their two bodies,
start to throb. He knew Alex was close. A few strokes later, he felt the hot
sticky fluid shoot between them, and followed suit. With an animal-like moan
his emptied himself deep into Alex. The orgasm was incredible. He felt like he
was coming for hours. It always amazed him at how much better his orgasms were
with Alex, than by himself, or with anyone else for that matter. The two fell
backwards into a sitting position on the balcony.
"Come to bed," Alex said as he pulled Mulder up. Falling on the bed, the
two wrapped themselves in each other until sleep approached.
Mulder wasn't sure how much time he had left with Alex, but assumed that it
wasn't very much. He didn't want to leave, but felt that, under the present
conditions, it would be more prudent. "I'll call a cab. Don't get up."
Alex grabbed his arm, and held him. Through the curtain of sleep that was
closing on him rapidly, Alex said, "No, Mulder, stay. I can't lose you again."
Mulder stroked his lover's hair until he was sure that Alex was asleep. The sex
had been incredible, but it always had been with Alex. Mulder wasn't sure why
he couldn't sleep. Alex wasn't having any problems. Finally he did sleep, but,
it was restless and filled with dreams that he could not remember.
Finally, he got up and wondered restlessly throughout the house. He opened
drawers and closets, hoping to find out more about his lover. In the closet, he
smelled the sweaters and the leather jacket, the scent was overpowering and
intoxicating. It was Alex.
The first rays of sunrise were starting to light up the living room, as
Mulder crossed to the other balcony. Trying to be quiet, he slowly slid the
floor-to-ceiling glass door to one side. The door slid quietly though, with no
indication that it had to weigh hundreds of pounds. Mulder stepped out onto the
balcony and braced himself against the railing. The view was incredible.
A famous writer once wrote that the fog in San Francisco creeps in on cat's
feet. What he forgot to add though, was though it may creep in on cat's feet,
it then pounces and coughs up a huge hairy hairball of thick soup over the
entire area. That part must not have sounded so poetic. The solid curtain of
fog had just started to advance on the city by the bay. If the fog hadn't been
there, Mulder would have been able to look out to sea—all the way to the
Farrallon Islands off the coast. The cliff-side road they had taken the night
before was in view as were the tops of the twin art-deco towers of the Golden
Gate Bridge. The glass door had soundproofed the house, but now Mulder could
hear the pounding of the surf far below. He could smell the eucalyptus trees
that surrounded the house. He looked down and fought the urge to jump back into
the house. The balcony, with no obvious means of support, shot out over
nothing. Though the ocean had sounded close, it was actually several hundred
feet straight down. The effect was totally unnerving. He realized why Alex had
looked so nervous and scared, and just how much trust he had put into Mulder the
night before. 'As soon as Alex wakes up,' he thought, 'I'm going to kick his
ass for taking such chances.'
'Alex, you've done well, no wonder you left me,' was the last thought that
crossed his mind as he started to cry. He wasn't sure how much later, but he
was relieved to feel Alex wrap his arms around him. "Mulder, you're freezing,
come back to bed."
"I can't, Alex, I'm sorry," Mulder said weakly.
"What's wrong?" Alex asked tipping Mulder's face up to meet his.
"Who do you belong to, Alex? Look at this place! Fuck! Who's my
competition, and how can I ever even hope to compete?" Alex started to laugh,
until he saw tears had started down Mulder's face again. He stopped short and
held Mulder's gaze for a long time before speaking. "He's very handsome and
intelligent. Making love to him is the greatest joy you could imagine. He has
strong ideals and convictions. He makes me feel safe and loved, though he can
be moody and single-minded at times..." Alex began. The words cut Mulder like a
knife, each one plunging deeper and twisting slightly.
"Aren't you forgetting 'rich?'" Mulder asked sarcastically. "Who's picking
up the tab here?"
Now Alex did laugh, his voice cutting into the early morning air.
"Everything here has been bought and paid for, Mulder..."
"Including you?" Mulder accused with more venom then he should have.
"Mulder, I was describing you," Alex said patiently. "This is all mine,
well actually, it belongs to my alter ego, Nick. It also yours, if you want it.
If you want to stay with me."
It was now Alex's turn to wish that he could preserve this Kodak moment as
he finally had the last word with Mulder. Mulder just looked at his ex-partner,
his mouth doing a great impression of a fish out of water.
"When I ran, I had certain things that I could sell," Alex explained.
"Information is one of the most important commodities out there. Bidders kill
for it. I also happened to know a couple of numbers to secret bank accounts.
Funny thing about numbered accounts, if you know the access codes you can
transfer funds with no way to trace where they ever went...
"I was out of country for a while," Alex continued, "but came back here.
Everyone always runs to San Francisco to hide. You were around in the '60's
Mulder, you should know that. I met Natasha here. She and her Russian
grandmother have been like a new family to me. 'Tash is a dancer with the San
Francisco Ballet and her Grandmother makes the best perogies that you have ever
tasted. No one here knows about my past life, except for the stuff I've told
Natasha about you when she would worry about me being alone.
"Mulder, if I had stayed with you—and I did want to stay with you,
please never think otherwise," Alex emphasized, "my life expectancy would have
been shorter than a gallon of milk in a car on a hot summer day. Not a day has
gone by that I haven't wanted to pick up the phone and call you, tell you where
I am. But, I knew that if I did, I'd put you in danger and blow all this. I
haven't been with anyone else since you. I still love you."
"Didn't you say something about coming back to bed...," Mulder asked.
Mulder awoke a couple of hours later, to the strange feeling that he was
being watched.
Natasha gave him her best "cat ate the canary" smile. "What have you done
to my Nicky, he looks so, ah, what is the word to use, whipped?"
From the far side of the bed came a muffled giggle and drowsy, "'Tash, leave
him alone. This is the one. The one I told you about...."
The look in Natasha eyes changed as if someone had flicked a switch. "So
you're the one that Nicky always talks about, this, what is it you call
wild-dog-who-eats-chickens-in-the-night?"
"Tasha, behave!" came loudly from across the bed.
"Damn it Nicolae, you never let me have any fun," she complained sulkily.
"Hello Fox, I feel like I already know you. Don't get up, or I will get to know
you better than I already do!" She giggled at her own joke. "Nicky, at least I
don't chase your boyfriends out of the house with a loaded gun...."
Now Alex really laughed. "And, when have you ever had a chance to chase a
boyfriend out of here? You really should explain that story to Mulder before
you ruin my rep."
Natasha turned to Mulder, "Nicky has saved me from many a bad date. If I'm
having a horrible time, I leave my door unlocked. If I'm having a good time the
door is locked. Nicky has the 'jealous husband' routine down perfectly, you
should see him in action!"
Alex was howling by now. "Remember the last one! He made it all the way to
his car before he realized he was naked! That was a good one!"
"So you better feel pretty special, you wouldn't believe how many people
have tried to break Saint Nicholas here out of his vow of celibacy," Natasha
quipped. "I have to say, I feel a slight pang of jealousy. No, wait, that's
hunger, my mistake! Come on, I'll take you two lovebirds to breakfast."
Part II
"I was thinking Sausalito for breakfast, but there's also Tiburon for brunch
if you prefer," Natasha explained.
"It's all new to me. What are your recommendations?" Mulder asked.
"Well, I know this fabulous place for Eggs Benedict, but Tiburon has these
fish tacos that are to die for!" Natasha threw out. She caught the look of
brief panic cross Mulder's face. She smiled, "Sausalito it is then! I'll just
let the two of you get ready. I'm going to hike down to the beach. Toodles!"
That was one thing that had been bothering Mulder. In his explorations the
night before, he hadn't been able to find the bathroom. "Okay, I give up, where
is the bathroom?"
Alex pointed in the direction of the Atrium. Mulder was still confused.
"What am I supposed to do, find a plant to hide behind?"
Alex laughed." Just make a turn at the fountain, smartass." Now, Mulder
was intrigued. Turning the corner at the natural stone fountain, he was
impressed by what he found. The Atrium connected to the bathroom. A huge
mirrored wall separated it, creating privacy. The other side of the fountain
poured down into a huge pond-shaped hot tub. The natural stone walls and lush
plants gave the room the appearance of a tropical jungle. Putting the crowning
touch on the room was a huge Tiki God which obviously hadn't come cheap. Mulder
had seen smaller versions in museums, but this one was easily three feet taller
than himself and at least ten-times as old. He felt Alex come up behind him and
hug him close. "What do you think?" Alex asked, kissing the back of his neck.
"I don't know, seems a little understated, don't you think?" Mulder joked.
Alex touched a lever, bringing the lights down in the room. After starting the
water, he poured scented oil onto small recessed pools built into the walls of
the fountain. He lit the ponds with a lighter hidden on one of the ledges.
Fire leapt up the side of the fountain, giving it the feeling of an erupting
volcano. Turning one more dial, he pulled Mulder down into the stone pond.
Mulder couldn't believe the sensations as water hit him from three different
directions, as well as above. The side nozzles where turned down to a fine
mist, and it wasn't too long till the bathroom had a feeling of a San Francisco
morning.
Mulder laughed, turning slowly around in a circle to get the full effect.
It was easily the best time he had ever had in a shower. "This is fantastic,"
he told Alex a little too loudly. The words echoed in the small room. "It gets
better," Alex said with a smirk on his face. "What's next, hula dancers?"
Mulder asked. He watched as Alex crossed the distance towards him. God, he was
beautiful. The water slicked the now long hair to his head and his body shined
in the flickering firelight. Mulder took the younger man in his arms and kissed
him. The kiss was long and powerful, leaving them both out of breath. Alex was
the first to pull away. He still had the smirk on his face. Gently he pushed
Mulder against the stone wall. Keeping their eyes locked, he dropped to his
knees. Taking Mulder's cock into his mouth, he worked it to full attention.
Mulder couldn't decide what was better, the warm feeling spreading through his
entire body or being able to watch the look in Alex's eyes as he worked to bring
him off. Subjugation was such a turn-on!
Mulder wasn't going to be able to hold out much longer. Stretching out his
arms to grip the wall, he tilted back his head and closed his eyes. His hips
began to thrust back and forth, and Alex had to restrain his partner slightly to
keep himself from choking. The hand gripping Mulder's balls warned him of the
impending orgasm. He knew he had done well when Mulder came. Mulder was
usually silent when he came. This time, though, the groan reverberated through
the artificial grotto. Pulling Alex up by his shoulders, his kissed him long
and deep. He could taste himself in Alex's mouth. The sweet, salty taste just
whet his appetite for more of the same. Sliding slowly down Alex's body, he
took his hard cock into his mouth, making love to it with his tongue. He had
just started when Alex pulled him back up. Kissing him again, he explained, "We
don't have time, Natasha will be back soon." Mulder was disappointed, but
realized that Alex was probably right.
Alex handed him a towel and turned the regular and heat lights up to full.
He blew out the small fires, and Mulder was sorry to see it all go. As he
toweled off, he remarked, "I never had you figured for a Tiki God kind of guy."
"He brings good luck and wards away evil spirits," Alex explained. "I
should probably have ten more. I could use all the protection I can get."
"You have me," Mulder said. It sounded lame as it left his mouth, but it
got him a hug and kiss from Alex, so he was glad that he had said it.
"Help yourself to anything in the closet," Alex offered. But, Mulder still
waited to see how Alex was going to dress before making his choices. "Wear a
swimsuit under everything, In case we stop at the beach. Also, you may want to
get a sweater or jacket for later. It gets pretty cold here when the fog comes
back in." Mulder realized why everyone in San Francisco had multiple
personalities, it was the weather.
Speaking of multiple personalities, Natasha chose that moment to come back.
Entering from the balcony, Mulder realized that somewhere there had to be a
stairway or trail leading down to the beach below.
"Damn, Nicky, you should have seen the guy down there this morning!
Family-sized kielbasa! Holy cow! I'm not a size queen, but I love to be
impressed." When she saw that Mulder was looking at her like she had just said
the whole thing in Russian, she explained. "Didn't Nicky tell you? This house
is two hundred feet above a notorious gay nude beach. Well not all of it, just
the north and south ends of Baker Beach; the middle is for families and
tourists."
Things just kept getting stranger and stranger, Mulder mused to himself.
When all three were ready, they walked to the convertible. Mulder offered the
front seat to Natasha, but she refused, preferring to be chauffeured. As she
buckled herself in securely, she tied a bandanna around her hair and put her
sunglasses on. Alex caught this all in the mirror and said, "This isn't the old
country, 'Tash, you're much too young and pretty for babushkas! You're starting
to act just like your grandmother."
"Oh no, Nicolae," she said with a shake of her brightly covered head. "I
know how you drive. I will not be seen in Sausalito with convertible hair!"
Grabbing Mulder around the neck from the back seat, she-stage whispered into his
ear, "The first time me and Nicky went clubbing, I made the mistake of getting
into the car with wet mousse in my hair. By the time we got to the bar, I
looked like the bride of Frankenstein! I looked like a weather vane all night.
It was simply awful!"
The car pulled out of Seacliff and onto Lincoln Avenue through the Presidio.
This time the car did make the turn onto the Golden Gate Bridge heading north
into Marin County. Mulder had been looking forward to this moment. This was
one of the things on his to-do list while he was in the city. Nothing could
have prepared him for the real thing. He could see the bridge getting closer,
but he hadn't ever realized the scale of it. Pictures didn't do it justice.
This was something that had to be seen in person to appreciate. Even before they
were on the bridge, it was mammoth! Once the car got onto the bridge, the
feeling of leaving solid land was slightly disconcerting. The views from the
bridge were incredible. The San Francisco skyline stretched out behind them.
As the first of the two towers approached, Mulder tilted his head back. It went
up forever, challenging the clouds and defying the sky with its bright orange
paint.
Natasha leaned forward, and said, "It never gets routine, every time you see
it, it takes your breath away. I think that's because its more than a bridge,
it's a huge monument to what we can do if we put our minds to it. It's like
imagination taking form. This is how the ancients must have felt when they would
see one of the original wonders of the world for the first time."
Every time she opened her mouth, Mulder liked her more and more. He could
see how she had become Alex's best friend and confidant in so short a time.
Sausolito was just across the bay from San Francisco, but it was a world
away in style. Where San Francisco was skyscrapers and busy roadways, Sausolito
had retained its small fishing village charm. Mulder doubted any fishermen
still lived in the expensive area, but it was nice to step back in time. The
waiter recognized Nicky and Natasha and gave them a window seat with a
commanding view of the bridge and the city. Before the waiter could leave,
Natasha placed an order for three Mimosas. Mulder felt totally indulgent and a
little guilty about drinking the Champagne and orange juice drink this early in
the morning, but it seemed to fit in this place.
"So what do you prefer to be called Natasha? 'Tasha, or 'Tash," he asked
during a lull in the conversation.
"Oh my, Nicky! Where are our manners! We haven't been properly
introduced!" Natasha exclaimed in mock horror. Nick did the honors.
"Fox Mulder, the soon-to-be-famous-totally-infamous Natasha Rambova.
Natasha, the love of my life, Special Agent Fox Mulder..."
Natasha grabbed Mulder's proffered hand and kissed it. "Charmed darling!
And in answer to your question, my close friends call me 'Tasha."
"Just don't call her Kirstin!" Alex laughed into his drink. Natasha
blushed at the mention of her real name. Giving Mulder an embarrassed smile,
she admitted her secret, "No one will hire a dancer named Kirstin."
"I know that name, isn't it the name of a notoriously beautiful, bi-sexual
silent movie star, the second wife of Rudolph Valentino, an heiress who ended up
minor royalty somewhere?" Mulder asked.
Natasha was impressed, "Not too many people have seen through my nom de
plume and my disguise. I'm very impressed," she complimented. "As for you, you
little traitor, behave or I will tell him where we found your name, Nicholas."
Now, it was Alex's turn to blush red.
"Do tell, Tasha," Mulder begged.
"Meet Nicholas Icon, a shortened version of Iacona," she let the cat out of
the bag.
Mulder wasn't familiar with this name, and said so. Across the table Alex
was starting to squirm. "You probably know his screen name better, Joey
Stefano."
Mulder laughed, loud and long, causing Alex to turn an even deeper shade of
red.
Mulder was very familiar with the name. "Arguably the most beautiful porn
star ever created. The first gay superstar, and the first superstar 'bottom' in
the business," Mulder elaborated before turning his gaze on Alex. He didn't
think that Alex could turn any redder, but he had. "Is there something you'd
like to tell me, Nicky?"
"I'm just green with jealousy over you Fox," Natasha suddenly exclaimed.
"You know Nicolaes' real secrets; I just know the new ones. You also know
something that I never will...." A look of profound sadness crossed her eyes
for the briefest of seconds. Alex had caught it, though, and reached across
the table. "You do know I love you, don't you? You should not have any doubts
about that."
"I know, Nicky," she said. "I know. Me too."
Their intimate moment was interrupted by the sounds of an elderly couple
from Kansas arguing at the table behind them. "I'm going to give that travel
agent a piece of my mind when we get home. He booked us to Sodom and Gamorrah!
Fire and brimstone! San Francisco is going to hell in a hand basket, I tell
you." His wife tried to calm him down.
A secret smile passed through the neighboring table, as they raised their
drinks in a toast, "To San Francisco, the new Sodom."
"Actually, and more precise," Natasha corrected, "It's the new Atlantis."
She saw the incredulous eyes turn to her, so she continued making her point.
"Atlantis was bordered on all sides by water, plagued by terrible earthquakes
and illnesses, and featured a huge pyramid at its center to beacon people from
afar. If that doesn't describe San Francisco, then I don't know what does.
And, sadly, one day all this will disappear as well, the earthquakes and the
seas will reclaim us, and only the beautiful legend will remain."
Mulder was about to argue the point of the pyramid, but as he looked out
over the skyline, he saw it. Gleaming blindingly white in the noonday sun, the
multifaceted TransAmerica Tower could not be missed. From every angle it
beckoned him to the city and all its wonders.
Alex didn't want the conversation to end on such a low note, so he added,
"Don't you watch Star Trek, Natasha? Four hundred years from now, this spot
will be the headquarters of the United Federation of Planets. The bridge will
still be here and property values will probably still be just as outrageous."
"Excuse me, Fox, Nicky...I have to powder my nose," Natasha excused herself.
Mulder looked helplessly at Alex. "She's never going to call me Mulder is
she?"
"I really don't think so, babe," Alex said with a smile.
"I was thinking of introducing Mulder to the Castro tonight," Alex said when
Natasha returned. "Wanna come with?"
Nicky, I can't believe you forgot," Natasha exclaimed. "The benefit
tonight. You've just got to be there. Grandmother will be terribly
disappointed if you don't make it, and I need you there for moral support."
"I did forget, I'm sorry," Alex said slapping his forehead. "Have no fear,
we will be there. Mulder, you are in for a treat, you're going to see a real
triple-threat in action!"
Natasha blushed at the compliment. Alex explained to Mulder that in the
theatre, a triple threat is someone who can dance, sing and act.
"Are you a part of the benefit as well?" Mulder asked Alex, but it was
Natasha who answered for him. "No, Nicky's just the philanthropist. He gets
invited to all the best parties, that why I keep him around. Plus, he always
seems to need a date. I really must be going, but you two stay and have fun."
Kissing them both on the cheek. "I'll see you tonight. I'll just take the
ferry back to the city. Ciao!"
As she walked down to the pier, Natasha let out a laugh. An evil thought
had just crossed her mind; she had just traded one fairy for two. She felt
cheated. She would have to tell that one to Nicky later. She was still smiling
at her own joke as she climbed aboard on the ferry.
Alex paid the tab and Mulder left the tip and the two climbed back into the
car. It was suddenly very quiet without 'Tasha. The car headed back towards
the bridge. Instead of taking the turn off for the bridge or the observation
area, Alex aimed the car into the Marin Headlands. The powerful engine in the
sports car got a workout as the car climbed to the top of the hills on the north
side of the bridge. Zigzagging back and forth through a series of setbacks and
cutaways, the car finally reached its goal. The view was spectacular! From the
apex, you could look down on the Golden Gate Bride and San Francisco. In the
opposite direction, the Pacific Ocean glittered blue and gold in the midday sun.
Alex found a place to park the car which wasn't too illegal and popped open the
trunk. Grabbing a blanket out, the two started hiking farther up the hill.
They chose a relatively flat area protected from view by some bushes, and spread
out the blanket. Neither one had said much of anything, words just seemed
unnecessary for some reason. Mulder lay down first, and Alex used him as a
pillow. Mulder played with Alex's hair, tousling it even more than the wind
already was. All Mulder could think was that this was life at its most perfect.
He wished it would last. But a little voice mocked him, telling him that
nothing perfect ever does.
After a while, Alex stirred, turning over and looking up into his eyes.
Running his hand over his chest, he asked, "Penny for your thoughts?"
"I wasn't thinking," Mulder said dreamily. "I was just hoping that this
didn't have to end."
"It only gets better," Alex echoed his words from earlier. He took Mulder's
zipper in his teeth and pulled. Mulder flipped him over, though, stopping him
before he could go any further.
"It's my turn, remember?" Mulder reminded. "So lay back and enjoy it. Or
am I going to have to handcuff you?"
"Hmmm," was the only thing that Alex said as he felt Mulder swallow his
cock. He couldn't believe that the normally reserved agent was taking such a
big chance. This made twice now that Mulder had made love to him outdoors,
counting the night before. Alex wondered if he had a secret fetish, something
they had never indulged in before. He locked the information up for later, and
enjoyed the sensations as he climaxed. Mulder stretched up to plant a kiss on
his partner. Touching their tongues together, he teased the younger man.
"Do you like the taste of yourself on me, Nicky?" Mulder asked, catching
him by surprise. Alex looked hard into Mulder's eyes trying to decide what he
was up to. "What do I win if I say yes?" he tentatively answered.
"I hope you know just how great this is for me." Mulder played with him.
"I'm having an affair with two different people, and not being unfaithful to the
one that I love. How much more perfect could that be? Twice the sex, twice the
possibilities. It boggles the mind."
"I think the heat has boggled your mind. Get dressed and we'll go cool
down," Alex chastised. "I think that you're enjoying this just a little too
much."
After packing up the blanket, the car took the less scenic drive down the
far side of the hills to Stinson Beach. There on the dark sand, the two
frolicked in the waves until the sun started to get low in the sky and the fog
started to roll in again.
As they got back into the car, Alex stopped Mulder. He just stared at him
for a minute until Mulder got self-conscious and told him to stop. "Penny for
your thoughts, Alex," Mulder said sarcastically. He wasn't prepared for the
honest answer. "I've always loved you in a red Speedo. I was secretly hoping
you would wear that today," Alex admitted. "I think I first knew I wanted you,
really wanted you, the first time I saw you get out of that pool wearing one my
first day as your partner. I would fantasize about you and the way you looked
that day."
Mulder pulled him close and whispered in his ear before kissing him, "You
were the reason I was bulging so badly in that suit. I was hoping that you
hadn't noticed."
The car headed back into the city.
After cleaning up and donning tuxedoes for the benefit that night, the two
admired themselves in the mirror. "We look like a couple of deranged penguins,
or like we should be on a wedding cake," Mulder moaned.
"If that's a proposal, you should be on your knees," Alex joked.
"If I get on my knees, you're not getting out of this house in time for your
benefit," Mulder threw back.
"We really do make a good couple," Alex said.
"Are we really going to the Castro after the benefit dressed like this?"
Mulder questioned, knowing the attention that it would attract.
"What's really bothering you?" Alex asked, seeing through him.
"I don't know. It just seems so gay," Mulder said.
Alex just laughed at his misery. "Tell me something, Mulder, when you were
fucking me silly last night and your cock was inside me, wasn't that gay?"
"I've never thought of us like that," Mulder said, digging his hole deeper.
Alex was really amused by now. "I see, we're just two straight guys who
happen to love each other and fuck each other's brains out whenever we're
together."
"Well, yeah," Mulder said sticking to his position.
"I'm so glad that you straightened that out for me." Alex was still laughing
as they left the house. Mulder wondered just where and when he had lost the
argument.
The San Francisco Symphony Hall was packed. Nothing turned out the crowds
like a good cause. All money raised that night would go to victims of hate
crimes, and the community had turned in droves to lend their full support. Alex
gave the keys to the valet and took the claim check. The stairs leading up to
the entrance were lined with people holding a candlelight vigil, and it gave the
event a spiritual touch. Mulder followed Alex's lead. It was slow going. Every
few steps, Alex would get stopped. Mulder wondered just how much handshakes,
kisses and schmoozing one person could stand. At each stop, Alex would
introduce him. He heard Alex say his name after saying, "I'd like to introduce
someone very special to me," and it made him feel incredible every time.
Finally, they reached the safety and blissful isolation of the opera box. Now
there was just one more person to contend with.
Natasha's grandmother was a dynamo. Small and feisty, just like her
granddaughter, her presence and personality filled the room. "Nicky, I was
worried you wouldn't get here in time. It's so good to see you my boy. You're
still too skinny though. Well, now that you're in love, maybe you'll gain some
weight." She turned her attention to Mulder. "You must be Fox. Kirstin told
me all about you. I hope you know what a special boy you have there. You treat
him good or you will have to deal with me."
"Yes ma'am, I know that ma'am," was all that Mulder could say.
"You're too skinny also," Grandma complained. "Gracious, doesn't anyone eat
anymore? In my day, eating was a good thing, something to be enjoyed, not
avoided and feared. Youngsters today look like refugees. I walk down the
street wanting to give them a pork chop. I want to tie you both up and force
you to eat a hot homecooked meal."
"You don't know just how good that sounds," Mulder said. "It has been so
long since I've had anything but my own cooking and takeout. I would really
love that."
It had been the perfect thing to say, Mulder had won her over in a sentence.
The lights dimmed and the orchestra began to tune. The three took their
seats.
A single spotlight lit the darkness as Natasha made her way on stage.
Mulder was struck by just how much of a chameleon she really was. Her hair was
swept up and almost severe. She wore a simple long black dress that on someone
else would be considered plain. On her the effect was stunning, she looked
older and elegant.
Judging by the applause in the hall, Mulder realized that this was someone
pretty well known and loved in the community. Then her personality shined
through. With a small wave, she welcomed the audience, thanking them for coming
out and supporting a cause so close to her heart. She talked of recent
examples of violence in the Bay Area and nationwide. She then caught Mulder by
surprise. "I'd like to dedicate this night to them, and also to those in the
audience tonight in love. I have two friends out there tonight celebrating a
reunion, finding each other against all odds. This song is for them, and for
all those still searching..." Mulder felt himself turn crimson as Grandma
pulled him and Alex together from the seat behind theirs.
Natasha's voice started low but grew in power until it filled the
auditorium. Mulder was surprised that a voice so sure and strong, so powerful,
could come from someone so small. She had a uncanny ability to connect to a
audience. He felt as she was singing each word directly to him. He let the
music carry him away.
No matter what they tell us
No matter what they call us
I can't deny what I believe
If only tears were laughter
No matter what they tell you
And I will keep you safe and strong
No matter who they follow
No matter if the sun don't shine
I can't deny what I believe
That's all that matter to me,
At every level, each of the words struck a chord with Mulder and he looked
over to Alex to see if the song had the same effect on him. Obviously it had.
Tears clouded Alex's eyes as he smiled back.
Several acts followed, including comedians, musicians and other singers, but
it was very clear who the hometown favorite was for the audience.
Natasha had the honor of opening and closing the event. Her second choice
for the night was much more dramatic. She had chosen two selections from "Les
Miserables," tying them together into one piece. The piece was perfectly
suited to her talents. She walked slowly out on stage cloaked in somber grays
and blacks. Looking like someone who had been beaten down by life, a far cry
from the beautiful image earlier. At first, Mulder didn't even recognize her,
until she opened her mouth to sing. As she began to sing and move, Mulder
couldn't help but be reminded of the landmark work done by Martha Graham.
There was a time when men were kind,
I dreamed a dream in time gone by,
Then I was young and unafraid,
But the tigers come at night
He slept a summer by my side
And still I dream he'll come to me
I had a dream my life would be
The music suddenly built in volume and tempo, taking on a more upbeat
feeling. As the music rose in spirit, Natasha danced. Mulder remembered the
first night he had seen her at the club with Alex. He had thought she moved
like smoke in the wind. The effect was intensified now that she had no
restraints on space. She shed the layers of drab clothing as she covered the
stage with spins and stances that defied gravity. When the music had resumed,
she stood wearing just a short tight dress made of a holographic materiel. As
the bright colorful spotlights hit her, the dress transformed into a rainbow of
color. The effect was blinding and beautiful. It was as if a disco ball had
suddenly come to life and descended on to the dance floor to join the dancers.
Her voice began again, and Mulder wondered how she still had any breath left to
sing.
Own my own, pretending he's beside me,
In the rain, the pavement shines like silver
And I know that it's only in my mind
I love him, but when the night is over
I love him, but everyday I'm learning
Mulder looked over at Alex again, he could see that this song had really
touched him as he led the standing ovation along with Natasha's Grandmother.
Mulder had a sneaking suspicion that even though there were thousands of people
in the audience that night, the music had been selected with just one person in
mind. The applause went on long enough for Alex to throw down the two dozen
roses he'd had delivered to the box, one at a time. Between claps, Alex leaned
closer to Mulder and yelled, "I told you she was something, didn't I?"
Mulder waved back to the kiss that Natasha threw towards their balcony, and
resumed his applause. The feeling of family was almost overwhelming, and Mulder
understood why Alex had fallen in love with this city and its people.
When the auditorium started to empty, Mulder and Alex assisted Grandma
backstage where Natasha was waiting. She hugged her Grandmother tightly and was
covered with kisses in the process. The two spoke rapidly in Russian, before
letting each other go again. Next, she took Alex and Mulder into an embrace,
kissing them both on the cheek. From this distance, Mulder could see the toll
the seemingly effortless performance had taken. Her hair was still wet and
disheveled, her make-up was running, and she was still slightly out of breath,
but she still looked radiant. Alex tried one more time to get her to join them
in the Castro, but the answer was still no. She still had to clean up, and
Grandma had promised a special dinner. She whisked them all out the door.
Mulder and Alex made sure that the elderly woman was safely in a cab before
reclaiming their car.
The Castro
As promised, the next stop on Mulder's tour of San Francisco was the
Castro-the Gay Mecca. After a short drive up Market Street, Alex made a sharp
left onto Castro Street. The first thing that Mulder was struck by was the
size. He had imagined the Castro District as being much bigger after all the
stories that he had heard but, in truth, you could clearly see from one end to
another. Not even a mile in length, the famous street was covered with trendy
galleries, restaurants, shops, bookstores, bars, nightclubs, and the famous
theater that reflected the name of the area. Parking as usual was a bitch, and
it took several drives up and down the area until a space opened. Of course it
was on the other side of the street, so Alex broke several traffic laws with an
illegal u-turn to nab the space.
"You ready for this?" Alex asked with a smile. Mulder was starting to feel
stranger hiding in the car, than he thought he would feel out of it. It was
like being in a wild animal preserve. He quickly jumped out of the car and
joined Alex on the sidewalk. He had been nervous they would attract undo
attention walking around in tuxes, however the attention that they were getting
was no more that any other couple of gorgeous men would have gotten into the
Castro.
Mulder was starting to see some of the things that set this area apart from
the rest of the city. If you were just passing from one area of town to another,
you could easily mistake this for just another one of San Francisco's quaint
little neighborhoods. But on closer inspection, you would see that it was a
world apart. The first thing that hit him was the proliferation of rainbow
flags of all shapes and sizes hanging from lamp posts, balconies and shop
fronts. The next thing he noticed was the target of advertising. Whereas
mainstream America is bombarded with ads with sexy female models hocking
everything from toothpaste to power tools, here the tables were turned: Male
models reached out to a male audience and female models to a female audience.
Same sex couples would pass them hand-in-hand or arm-in-arm. They passed two
young men kissing in front of one of the bars, oblivious to all around them.
Mulder felt a sexual rush race through him as his mind contemplated what the two
would be doing later that night. The thought made him smile and move closer to
Alex. Alex noticed the change in proximity and bumped their shoulders together.
Sexuality was out in the open and everywhere he looked. Sexually explicit cards
and artwork hung in windows, right along side sex toys and clothing of every
size and shape. Mulder didn't feel that he was a prude, but he could feel his
mind doing back flips at every new stop.
Finally, grabbing Alex by the jacket, he pulled him into the next bar he
saw. "I think I need a drink!" he exclaimed. Alex started to laugh before
commenting. " You might want to work your way up slowly to this bar, Mulder...."
He slowly turned Mulder around. As his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness,
Mulder noticed the patrons who were wearing clothing, were leaning towards
leather. Everywhere he looked men were in chest harnesses, leather pants and
chaps. It took him several moments to realize that he was staring, and even
longer to realize that the look was being returned. He suddenly felt like a
duck on the first day of hunting season. He turned to leave, only to have his
way blocked by one of the bar's beefier patrons.
"Where you going in such a rush there, pretty boy? Why don't you two stay a
while and let us buy you a drink? You're so cute."
Mulder knew that he didn't like being called 'cute' or 'pretty.' Film clips
from Deliverance were starting to roll in an endless loop in his mind. He
looked to Alex for help, only to find that he was having too much fun with the
situation to be of any assistance. He surrendered and headed towards the bar
with their new friend.
After one screwdriver, Mulder was feeling better, after two he was starting
to relax, and after three, he was having fun.
"So what shall we call you?" Mulder asked, trying to be polite.
"The man looked Mulder in the eyes and said, "Master, will do just fine."
It took a couple of seconds for the name to sink through the alcohol-induced
cloud in Mulder's brain, but when it did, he erupted with laughter. Mulder
tried to make amends by giving the man a compliment. "I like your 'bracelet'
thing." Grabbing the chrome ring on his open vest. The man looked at Mulder
with a grin, before asking, "We don't know each other well enough for you to be
playing with my cockring, do we?" Mulder pulled away his fingers as if the
object had just produced an electric current.
"Sorry, my bad," Mulder stammered. Behind him, he could hear Alex giggling
hysterically. Mulder thought that it was about time to turn the tables. So he
asked in his most innocent voice, "Where could I get me one, only bigger?"
He now had the man's undivided attention. He had also stopped Alex in
mid-chortle.
"Bigger? This is as big as they come, boy," the man said entering Mulder's
game.
"I don't know, that looks kind of tight," Mulder repeated. Now it was the man's
turn to laugh.
"Tell you what boy, if you can fill this out, you can have it!" He took
note of Mulder's hesitation and added. "Don't worry that one's brand new, I
just bought it today." He unclipped a leather loop and handed the ring to
Mulder. Mulder turned to look at Alex and was happy to see that his eyes were
popping out of his head.
"Come along, slave boy, you can give me a hand," Mulder said as he pulled
Alex into the bathroom by his now open tie.
"I don't know how to put this on. Do you?" Mulder asked once they were
alone. Alex didn't need to be asked twice. Maneuvering Mulder into one of the
stalls, he unzipped his pants and lowered them. Mulder was already starting to
bulge in his underwear, and Alex quickly chastised him. "If you get hard,
you're not going to be able to get this on."
"I can't help myself, you feel so good," Mulder groaned.
Alex realized that he wasn't going to be able to stop the inevitable, and
just decided to race it. Slipping the ring over Mulder's cock he reached behind
to pull one testicle then the other through the wide, heavy chrome loop. It had
happened so fast that Mulder had barely noticed the discomfort. It felt really
good on him and he looked proudly down at it. "Now what does it do?"
"Well the story goes that it's supposed to prolong you and make you bigger
by restricting the return blood flow, " Alex explained, running his hand slowly
up and down Mulder's shaft. "I can feel part of that is true already. I can't
wait to find out about the rest."
Alex leaned over to give the throbbing head a kiss, and then placed a kiss
on Mulder's lips. Mulder was packing himself back into his pants.
As they returned to the bar, the man asked "Are you ready to pay up?" To
which Mulder replied, "Sorry man, you're looking at the new owner." Mulder
thrust his groin forward to allow the man to check him. As the stranger's hand
slid slowly down the front of his pants, Mulder felt his pulse race at the
erotic new thrill. Having a stranger touch him so intimately in such a public
place provided a whole new kind of sexual excitement. He noticed a brief look
cross Alex's face and realized that it was jealousy. He gave him his most
reassuring smile. That fact that Alex was jealous made him feel surprisingly
good.
"All right, buddy, you win!" the man acquiesced. "That's some piece of
equipment you have there. Would you two be interested in a threeway? I'd love
to be a part of this action."
Mulder moved closer to Alex, placing his arm around him. "Thanks, but we're
exclusive. Hate to win and run, but we have to go. I'm going to take this ring
on a test drive."
Mulder felt Alex blush in the dark bar as they turned for the door. He kept
his arm around the younger man as they walked down the street. Mulder didn't
know if it was the alcohol, but he now noticed the men watching them. Noting
him, and his newly enhanced package.
Alex wasn't oblivious to all the attention either, and finally said,
"You're having way too much fun with that damn cockring. I'm not sure that the
world is ready for this. I feel like Doctor Frankenstien after he realized he
had created a monster...."
Mulder dropped back behind Alex, pressing himself against the younger man.
He whispered in his ear, "It's alive. It's alive!"
Alex turned to face Mulder. Before he could say, "I'm going to take you
home," Mulder pushed him against the first wall they came to and kissed him.
There under the bubbles produced by a bubble machine, they kissed forever.
After being allowed to breathe again, Alex asked, "Are you hungry, Mulder?"
"Ummm, ravenous," Mulder answered biting Alex's lip lightly.
"I meant for food." Alex had to fight to make the words understandable with
his lip still held prisoner.
Mulder reluctantly released the lip, and Alex grabbed his hand and pulled
him across the street. "Trust me?" Alex asked as they entered the small pizza
parlor.
"When in Rome...." Mulder answered.
Alex came back from the counter with two of the largest pizza slices Mulder
had ever seen. The topping didn't look familiar though. It was green and
slimy, and oil dripped freely from the slices.
"What kind of alien secretion is that?" Mulder asked incredulously. He
couldn't believe that Alex was actually going to ask him to put it in his mouth.
"Come on, it's pesto. It's wonderful! You have to try it," Alex pleaded.
"After you," Mulder said.
Alex folded his piece in half, keeping the oil from running everywhere. He
took a huge mouthful. His eyes rolled in happiness.
Mulder followed the ritual. He tentatively took a sniff before popping it
in his mouth. He hated to admit it, but it smelled really good. As he bit down,
the flavor exploded in his mouth. Alex waited expectantly. "Well, Mulder, what
do you think?" Mulder could only say one word at a time. "More...now...God!
Alex motioned to the girl at the counter for two more for the road. As the
two got into the car, Mulder was trying to open the to-go box. "Hold on,
there's more," Alex said, pulling the food out of Mulder's reach. Turning down
the palm tree-lined Market Street, they arrived soon at the next destination.
The small restaurant sat right on the street and Alex miraculously found parking
right in front. This one had chairs and tables, which Mulder grabbed while Alex
placed an order at the counter before a waiter could help them. Alex joined
Mulder, hauling two soft drinks.
"What did you order?" Mulder quizzed. "It's not green again, is it?"
"Nope. Red, my favorite color..." Alex answered. Within minutes, a huge
dish was in front of them. Mulder hadn't expected French fries. "French fries,
there not just for breakfast anymore...What is it with you Russians and
potatoes?" Mulder joked. He sniffed the food again, to see why they were red.
He could smell a mix of spices on them. The predominate spice was red chili
powder, garlic and paprika. He dipped the potato wedge in the Ranch dressing
provided, and tentatively took a bite. "Hey, these are really good!"
"They're Natasha's favorite," Alex said. "She got me addicted to them.
It's one of the few things I can cook for myself, for days when this place is
closed." In no time the mountain of fries was devoured.
"Green down, Red down, what other colors do you have to show me tonight?"
Mulder asked as they got back into the car. The car flipped a huge U-turn and
headed back up Market. With the top down Mulder was able to enjoy the full view
and cool night air. The car passed the entrance to the Castro again, and headed
into Twin Peaks. Alex shifted the car into low, as it made its way up the
winding streets to the top of the highest hill in San Francisco. High density
housing dominated the streets until they approached the crest. Suddenly the
hillsides were bare except for some huge communication towers. The area was
virtually empty and Alex selected the best area before pulling the car to a
stop.
The two got out of the car. Mulder could not believe the view. The entire
peninsula stretched below them. The lights glittered in every conceivable
color. Roadways stretched in all directions, cutting the city into a gridwork of
moving lights. Boats moved silently out on the bay, the only lights in the inky
darkness of the water. The three major bridges in the area were alive with
traffic, even at this late hour. Mulder looked to the west to see if he could
see Alex's house from here, to find the fog starting to advance on the city. It
was a incredible feeling being above the fog as it slowly curled it's way
through the streets of the sleeping city below. Alex joined Mulder as he sat on
the railing, dangling his feet over the dangerous drop below. He put his arm
around him to keep him warm in the cool night air. Words didn't seem necessary.
Alex felt Mulder start to shiver and said, "Let's get back into the car."
"I don't want to leave yet," Mulder pleaded.
"We don't have to leave," Alex replied.
Alex closed the convertible top and the windows. Before switching on the
car's heating system, he thought of a better way to heat things up. Mulder was
still taking in the lights when he felt Alex's head in his lap. Before he could
say a word, he felt the velvet wetness engulf him. As the windows in the car
started to fog, the fog outside began to surround the car. Slowly the lights
through the windows took on a watercolor-like effect before turning into a
multi-color blur. Beads of moisture ran down the window and down Mulder's face
as he approached the point of no return.
He warned his partner, "Alex I'm getting close...." He hadn't expected Alex
to stop. Alex pulled away, reaching for the back seat of the car. Pulling down
the back seat, he reached into the car's trunk. He pulled out one of the towels
and bottles of suntan lotion from earlier that day. Spreading the towel under
Mulder, he reclined the passenger seat to it's limit. Alex was a blur as he
quickly removed his shoes, pants and opened his shirt. Squirting a liberal
amount of the coconut scented oil on his hand he slowly and rhythmically stroked
Mulder's cock. Carefully he straddled him in the tight confines of the small
sportscar.
His hand stroked the rigid pole. "It feels totally different with that damn
cockring on it," Alex said as he locked their lips together. Mulder felt Alex's
weight press down as their bodies moved into position. He thrust his hips up
slightly to make the entry easier. But nothing about this was going to be easy
on Alex. As the head of his cock entered Alex's body, Mulder felt him bite
down on his lip and whimper slightly.
"Take it slowly, there's no rush," Mulder said through his imprisoned lip.
"Fuck, it's too big now. I can't do this," Alex panted. But he could feel
his body relaxing to the invasion, starting to welcome it. It seemed like it
took hours for him to slide down the length of the shaft. But by the time he
had reached bottom, he was ready. Their interlocked bodies began to move in
unison.
Mulder wasn't sure if it was the unexpected blowjob, the tight confines of
the car and Alex, but he felt his orgasm approaching. "I'm not going to be able
to last very long, babe, I'm sorry," Mulder apologized.
Above him, Alex was slowly jacking his own cock. His shirt would fall open
and closed with each movement. Sweat plastered his hair to his forehead, and
his breathing was restricted to heavy panting. His eyes were closed, and Mulder
wondered what secret thoughts were running through his brain. Alex nodded to
Mulder, he had heard his message, and sped up his own stroking to try to match
their orgasms.
Mulder felt his own eyes start to close as his orgasm began. He wanted to
keep them open to watch Alex, he had never seen anything so beautiful, but it
was impossible. He felt wave after wave pass through his body, as he ejaculated
deeply into Alex's body. Above him, Alex's timing had been perfect. Mulder
could feel the hot sprays as they hit his body. Alex's body dropped down onto
Mulder's, his breathing was still labored. Mulder grabbed his face in his hand
and kissed him. The salt of the sweat on them tasted good as they kissed. He
wasn't sure which of them said, 'I love you' first. It really didn't matter.
Sadly and slowly, the two got dressed. With one last kiss and one last look
at the incredible sight below. the car headed for home.
As they entered the bedroom, Alex's attention was drawn to the blinking
indicator light on the answering machine. He tapped it in passing. But as soon
as the frantic message started, it froze him in his step.
Mulder couldn't understand the panicked flood of Russian as it pored from
the machine. But he could tell that the message was bad the way all the color
had drained from Alex's face. He slowly crossed the room and took the younger
man in his arms.
"Babe, what is it?" Mulder asked. The answer made his blood run cold.
"It's Natasha's grandmother. Natasha never got home tonight. Mulder, she's
been kidnapped," Alex translated.
Mulder pulled Alex even closer as the shaking began. He could hear Alex
saying something softly in Russian. Though he couldn't translate, he knew by
the cadence of the words that he was praying. The sobs quickly followed.
Part III
The brief glimpse of emotion did not last long, as Alex snapped out of his
personal hell and went straight to anger.
"Fuck me, fuck me, fuck me! God damn it!" He yelled at nothing in
particular.
Mulder realized that, as appealing as the offer was, it wasn't Alex's
intention to be taken literally. "Alex, take it easy, we can get though all of
this. All we just need to figure out what the best course of action is...." he
said as soothingly as possible.
Alex whirled on him and, for a split second, Mulder didn't recognize him.
Then his features relaxed as he vocalized the thoughts swirling in his mind.
"You don't see, do you? Everything—everything that I love, everything that
I care about, is always taken away from me! I will never be happy. Not with
you, not with Natasha. Nobody. Nowhere! It's a fucking curse, is what it is!
I'm fucking cursed! I wish that someone would just put me out of my misery
because I can't keep living like this! I just can't take it anymore."
A chill ran down Mulder's spine as he heard the words. He thought fast.
"Whoa there! I hate to break up this pity party. But here are the facts! We
don't know what, if anything, has happened yet. Moreover, it's very
presumptuous of you to think that you are the cause of what has happened."
"I'm involved," Alex muttered. "I don't know how I know, but I do." His
eyes locked on to Mulder's.
The shrill buzzing of the phone made both of them jump. Mulder offered to
answer the phone, figuring that Alex had more than his share of bad news for the
night. Alex thanked him for his consideration, but crossed quickly to the
handset. Mulder studied his lover's face as he spoke on the phone, silently
bracing himself for whatever was coming next.
Alex's face was a mask of stone. He was starting to recede from the
carefree person that Mulder had come to know over the past few days to a darker
earlier version of himself. Mulder's heart ripped in two as he watched the
transformation taking place. He crossed over to the younger man and wrapped his
arms around him in a futile attempt to delay the change from happening. Aside
from answering the phone, Alex hadn't said another word. The call had been
brief, less than a minute. The next sound was the receiver slamming back down.
Mulder let him take his time. He knew that Alex would answer every question
that was screaming in his mind at that moment. Finally he spoke.
"I fucking hate being right all the time...I knew that this was going to
involve me," he said with a tortured half-laugh. Mulder turned him so that he
could see him face-to-face. He looked into Alex's tear streaked eyes, wanting
him to continue. The green eyes that he knew so well were a hundred miles away,
though. "What did they say...exactly?" he finally prodded.
"Surrender Krycek. Be at the Banker's Heart tomorrow at noon if you ever
want to see her alive again." He repeated the message verbatim. "The voice was
electronically manipulated and I couldn't detect any background noises that
would be of any help either. Sorry."
Mulder felt a twinge of pride run through him as he saw Alex hadn't forsaken
everything that he had learned at the bureau.
"All right, we now know your cover is broken and Natasha is in trouble,"
Mulder tried to analyze the situation. "What's this reference to the Banker's
Heart?"
"It's a God awful modern art statue in the financial district. I'm not sure
what the real name is. It's a huge black stone oval. Only natives call it the
Banker's Heart. It's located right in the center of 'the canyons'-what the
locals call the skyscraper-lined streets downtown. Anyone making an exchange in
that area would be totally exposed and vulnerable. There are a hundred places
to hide a sniper in those buildings," Alex explained as he crossed the room.
Mulder than watched as he stepped into the Atrium, and wondered if Alex was
losing it. Alex walked up to one of the huge mirrored plates of glass, he
paused for a second to catch Mulder's worried look in the mirror and gave him a
reassuring smile.
"Special Agent William T. "Fox" Mulder," Alex said to his own reflection.
Mulder thought for a second that Kycek was calling him, and then noticed that
the huge pane of glass was moving. The unmistakable sounds of an electronic
door opening followed. The wall hid a small room into which Alex walked into.
Mulder was more than a little curious about what lay hidden behind the cleverly
hidden door. The room took full advantage of the stone cliff the house was
perched on, burrowing deep within the face. The room was cold and smelled of
stale air. The lighting had been activated with the opening of the door.
Mulder's mind refused to believe the messages being sent to it by his eyes.
Almost lovingly arraigned along the walls of the stone cave, was a huge array of
almost every conceivable gun, rifle, machine gun and knife. Boxes of various
ammunition and bundles of several different countries' currency were also
stored.
"Holy shit, Alex! Are you planning on starting a war? I feel like I
accidentally walked into Charlton Heston's rec-room," Mulder exclaimed. "The
only thing missing is an anti-tank weapon! Babe, remind me never to piss you
off."
Alex kicked an olive-drab box on the floor, causing Mulder to look down.
Stenciled across the wood, in unmistakable military writing was, "Surface to
air, Light anti-tank Missile." "A LAW, I stand corrected, terrified and
corrected. Do you have any idea just how many local, state, and federal laws
are being broken here, no pun intended?"
"If they want me to walk into a trap, then at least I'm going to give them a
fight that they'll remember," Alex said as he selected a few of the weapons off
the wall. "First of all, you're not going tomorrow, I not going to let you,"
Mulder told him. His words felt weak as he realized that he was the only person
in the room who wasn't currently armed. "I'm going in your place. Once Natasha
is released, I will give them the location where you can be found. And it won't
be some shooting gallery trap of their choosing."
"Mulder, I really appreciate the thought. But this is something that I have
to do. Besides, I'm not going to let you put yourself in danger for me. I've
lost 'Tasha, I'll be damned if I'm going to lose you too." His hand gently
touched Mulder's face and for a second the kinder, gentler Krycek was back.
"Follow me here," Mulder tried again. "Someone obviously knows who you
really are. This whole scenario has 'trap' written all over it. They can't
capture or kill you if you're not there."
Mulder watched as options were being weighed in Krycek's mind. "Only on one
condition, I will be with you somewhere in the area, in case anything goes
wrong. Non-negotiable."
Mulder nodded.
"I like your password to get in here. I think that I could possibly remember
that," Mulder joked. He watched as Alex turned a pale pink. "It's more than a
password. It's VR voice recognition also..." He crossed over to a small
console set into the wall and pressed a sequence of buttons. "Learn new
user..." He then motioned at Mulder to say something.
Mulder had been caught by surprise. He didn't know what to say, so he
blurted the first thing that came to mind. "I love you, Alex." Alex smiled as
the console chimed, "your new password has been stored and accepted, thank you."
That night the two made love with an intensity they had never reached
before. It was like both of them knew it might be their last chance to be
together. After the exhausting exchange, sleep came easily and quickly for
Mulder.
Mulder awoke abruptly. He hadn't meant to fall asleep. He noticed that
Alex was wide awake next to him, fully dressed, loaded and inspecting a high
powered rifle.
"Why did you let me sleep? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to crash on you."
Mulder said groggily.
"I didn't have the heart to wake you; we still have a couple of hours until
noon. I didn't know when the next chance you might have would come..." Alex
explained as he smoothed Mulder's hair down. "Besides, you looked so cute."
Mulder was glad to see that some of Alex's sense of humor remained, but was
worried about him nonetheless. "You haven't slept at all, have you?"
"Can't, never have been able to before a big day," Alex explained. "You
should see me before Christmas."
"I'd like to. I really would like to be able to spend Christmas and other
things with you. Are we ever going to get that chance?" Mulder asked, looking
deep into Alex's far-away green eyes.
"Someday, I hope," Alex answered. "Go get ready; we have some scouting to
do."
Mulder got ready in record time. He donned the suit that he hadn't worn
since the night he had found Alex. It felt weird on him for some reason. He
checked his reflection in the mirror. He looked the same as always. But, it
still felt like the skin he was in was not his own. He wondered in passing if
San Francisco could have had that quick an effect on him. Mulder would not take
any of the weapons in the home's arsenal, opting only for his regulation Glock.
He explained that if things didn't go well, the fact that he had an unregistered
and untraceable weapon in his possession, would only complicate matters. It
didn't complicate matters for Krycek, though, who deftly picked out another
weapon to make up for Mulder's lack of one.
The drive downtown was a quiet one. Both of the men were deep in their own
thoughts. When they arrived at the destination, the car pulled to a stop.
Mulder took a look around, to get his bearings. This didn't look like the
financial district, it looked like Chinatown.
Alex pointed down California Street. "The Banker's Heart is just down the
street. It's a short walk or you can take one of the trolleys. I'll be nearby.
Be careful."
"Where will you be?" Mulder asked. "How will I find you after?"
"It's better that you don't know," Alex answered. "And, I'll find you,
hopefully both of you, when this is all over."
"Take care of yourself, Alex, I mean that. Promise me you won't take any
unnecessary chances," Mulder pleaded, hating the worried sound of his voice.
"It's what I do best. You should know that by now." With a smile and a rev
of the engine, the car was gone into the thick lunchtime traffic.
Mulder started to walk down the steep incline of California Street. It
wasn't too long until he heard the clanging of the trolley's bell and felt the
vibrations through the soles of his shoes. He waited until the trolley car was
even with him and jumped aboard. He could tell the operator was not happy with
his unorthodox and dangerous move, until he flashed his badge. The operator
went back to minding his route.
Mulder kept his eyes open. He wasn't exactly sure what he was looking for,
but assumed he would know it when he saw it. Then he spotted it. On a small
plaza, at the top of a rise of steps, a huge black stone oval that sucked the
life and color out of everything around it—the Banker's Heart. He jumped
from the trolley not realizing how much speed it had picked up on its noisy
journey down California Street. He had to take a few running steps to lose the
momentum he had jumped with. The first order of business was to check the time.
Next he scouted the entire plaza looking for anything out of the ordinary.
There were a lot of suit and ties, and a few dresses, eating sandwiches under
the shade of some sickly looking trees. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He
looked around briefly at the towers that surrounded him. He wondered which one
Alex was on top of, or inside of. Judging from the location of the plaza and
the time of day, he would be readily able to pick it out, but didn't want to
attract any attention in that direction. He made himself disappear into the sea
of suits. At a few minutes until noon, he moved close to the sculpture. At
noon, a parade of unmistakable government sedans pulled up to the plaza. Out of
which came an unmistakable pack of government agents. They quickly set up a
perimeter, and advanced menacingly up to Mulder. The rest of the crowd was more
easily intimidated and cleared the plaza in moments.
The lead agent had pulled his gun and was holding it pointing skyward as he
drew closer. "Alex Krycek, I have a Federal warrant for your arrest. Please
come peacefully and you won't be harmed..."
Mulder stood up, and was very intimidated to see that the man still towered
above him. For the briefest of seconds, Mulder saw the pure red light of a
laser sight mark the taller man's heart. Then it was gone just like a firefly
on a dark summer night. If Alex was sending him a message, it was getting
through loud and clear.
"Buzz! Wrong answer, but thanks for playing," he replied in his most smart
ass way possible. "Care to tell me who the hell you are and why you are
interfering with a kidnapping investigation, Slick?"
Mulder's attitude had hit the right cord and taken the man completely by
surprise. He composed himself enough to ask, "We're working on a tip from a
reliable source that a wanted criminal would be here. Can I please see some
identification, sir?"
"I'll show you mine, if you show me yours," Mulder answered with a huge
smile at his own double entendre. The other agent was not so amused. Mulder
realized that might, in some cases, does make right, and realized he had pushed
his luck as far as he was going to be able to. He reached slowly into his
breast pocket and pulled out his identification.
Two of the local agents inspected it. "So what brings Washington all the
way out to our coast, Special Agent Mulder?"
"Can't tell you, sorry. Any questions or inquiries can be directed through
the office of the assistant director," Mulder stalled, knowing that no matter
what coast, paper work sucked and everyone hated it. It worked. The gang of
agents reconned the plaza just as Mulder had done earlier. It gave Mulder a
chance to check their cars for any sign of Natasha. His heart fell, when he
didn't find any. The agents got back into their somber government vehicles,
leaving one agent behind to wait for Krycek or watch Mulder. He wasn't sure
which. Mulder walked up to the young man wearing designer sunglasses. He
reminded Mulder of Alex when he first joined the bureau. "Hey, kid, can you
tell me how to get to Chinatown?"
The boy pointed up the street with a patient smile. Mulder waited for the
next trolley, and left the area. He let the car take him on its entire circle.
Jumping a cab, he asked the driver to take him to Pier 42. It would be one of
the best places to get lost in a crowd. He wasn't lost long, though, as he felt
Alex's welcome presence sneak up behind him.
"Good job losing your tail," Alex complimented. Mulder was shocked. He
wasn't even aware that he had been tailed. He wasn't going to let Alex know
that though.
"Alex, I'm sorry. She wasn't there. It was a trap. They wanted you, they
had a Federal warrant," Mulder explained.
"It was probably fake, even they wouldn't know it until long after they had
turned me over," Alex explained. "We're still no better off than we were last
night."
"Wrong! We know that the kidnappers are local, they wanted to set you up to
be captured, and they are playing us against the FBI," Mulder thought out loud.
"What do they have to gain?"
That was an easy one for Krycek to answer. "Reward. It has to be for a
reward or bounty on me," Alex stated. "You wouldn't believe how much my ass is
worth to other men out there, Mulder."
The joke fell flat with Mulder. He hated seeing Alex take such a serious
matter so flippantly.
His next thought was interrupted by the shrill beep of Alex's cell phone.
An uneasy look passed between them before Alex put the phone on intercom so that
they both could hear.
"Alex Krycek?" the mechanical voice asked. "You've been a bad boy, Alex
Krycek. You have cost us lots of money."
"Look you fucking bastard, if you think I'm dumb enough to walk into an
obvious trap, you've got a lot to learn. I've used guys tougher than you for
target practice. You are fucking with the wrong man, got it!" Alex yelled into
the phone as he pulled the car over to the curb and killed the engine. "Your
bargaining days are over, starting now. These are the new rules! This is what
I want, my demands....You WILL deliver Natasha to me unharmed in one hour at the
gun emplacement above and behind Fort Point at the Golden Gate Bridge. You will
not be late. Whatever money you have been promised, I will match and double in
cash. Deal's off if just one hair on her head is out of place. And mark my
words, if anything has happened to her, I will hunt you down and kill you in the
most excruciating way I can think of. We can all walk away from this alive, the
choice is yours. Do you want to live or die? Now let me talk to Natasha...."
The conversation had made Mulder's blood run cold. He knew what Krycek was
capable of, and prayed silently that whoever was on the opposite end of the
phone had the sense to realize it as well. He also silently mourned the passing
of the Alex he had come to know over the past couple of days.
There was a long silence on the phone, with what sounded like the start of
several thoughts which were never fully vocalized. Finally, after a heavy sigh,
the sounds of a scuffle could be heard. A new voice came over the phone line,
and Mulder's heart took a huge jump for the first time that day.
"Leave me alone, you fucking Neanderthal. If I wasn't tied up, I'd kick your
balls through the top of your head... " Natasha hurled at her abductor.
"Speak," the voice ordered.
"Nicky? Is that you?" she asked, hope and stress filling her voice.
"It's me," Alex answered. "We'll have you free real soon. Don't worry.
Are you...okay?"
"I'm all right, Nicky, tell my Grandmother that I love her and not to
worry....Fuck off! I'm not through yet, you fucking jerk! Fuck off!"
The remainder of the conversation disintegrated into an endless stream of
cursing, some in English and most in Russian. The sound of a struggle could
clearly be heard before the phone line suddenly died.
Mulder looked over at Alex, and was surprised to see a huge smile lighting
up his face. "Natasha, I love you! You beautiful, brilliant bitch! Yes!" Alex
yelled, hitting the steering wheel of the car. His comment surprised Mulder.
"You have to let me in on this, my Russian is a little rusty," Mulder
queried. "It sounded like she got some good insults in there, what did she call
him, anyway?"
"Nothing too out of the ordinary," Alex said, the smile still lighting his
face. "She just called him a nightclub car boy."
It took Mulder just a few seconds to realize the importance of the message
that Natasha had secretly sent them. His mind went immediately back to the
night they had all met at the South of Market nightclub and the valet he had
encountered there. It took him a few more moments to remember the name that
went with the face in his mind. "Bryce!" Mulder said. "I knew there was
something about that weasel."
Alex had been proudly watching as the pieces came together in Mulder's head.
He now smiled approvingly. "We always did make a good team, partner." he said,
giving Mulder's leg a quick squeeze. He started the car and headed towards the
Presidio.
Mulder was surprised when Alex pulled up to the agreed upon location.
"Aren't you forgetting something? Don't you need to find an ATM or go back to
the house first?" he asked.
"I keep enough in the car to buy off a small time punk like Bryce," Alex
explained. "Besides, I need to be ready, if I needed to disappear or leave town
really fast."
He grabbed the cover on the cars console and pulled hard. The sound of
Velcro and glue ripping filled the car. In the hidden space, was a small
fortune in cut diamonds.
"Hidden contraband, weapons, remind me not to take your car on any trips
into Mexico," Mulder joked.
Alex pocketed two on the small bags, before replacing the console cover.
"Small, light, easy to carry, conceal, and sell, and almost totally
untraceable," Alex said proudly. "Plus, they don't make the machines go off at
international airports. They're more than a girl's best friend."
"I haven't been shopping for diamonds lately. How much are they worth?"
Mulder asked.
"Black-market, $10,000, retail about $25,000 per bag, give or take a few
thousand dollars," Alex explained. The stash remaining in the console could
still buy a car dealership. "Grab your gun; I want to be real familiar with
this area before they get here."
The two had barely circled the area, when a new car joined them. It took an
eternity before the driver's side door opened and two people got out. A gun was
held on them while Natasha struggled stubbornly.
"Back up!" Bryce ordered. "Get into the trees. The less witnesses the
better."
Without taking their eyes off one another, the foursome walked into the
treeline until the steep terrain wouldn't let then go any further.
Krycek broke the silence. Keeping his voice calm and gentle, he slightly
lowered his gun. "Look, there's no need for anyone to get hurt here today, I
have what you want right here...."
He had said the absolute wrong thing, and his words set Bryce off.
"What I want?! What I want! What the hell would you know about what I
want? That's a fucking joke, Nick—Or whatever the hell your real name is!
If we all had what we wanted, then you would be with me, not him!" He spat out.
"Why him? What the hell does he have that I don't? I tried so hard to get your
attention, Nick, Alex, whatever the hell your real name is. Couldn't you see
that all I ever wanted was you..." The final words came out in a choked whisper.
Desperation and pain filled his eyes.
Krycek lowered his guard and his weapon and took a step closer to Natasha.
The look that passed between the two spoke volumes and Alex could see her relax
slightly. The strain of this ordeal was taking a heavy toll on her though.
"I'm sorry that I've hurt you," Krycek purred. Mulder did a double take.
That was probably the first time he had heard those words come from Alex's
mouth. The stakes must really be high, he thought to himself. "Mulder and I have
a history that's all," he continued, while easing forward another fraction of an
inch. Placing himself in a precarious position between a loaded gun and the
sheer cliff face. Unlike the parking area, there were no guardrails here, just a
steep two hundred foot drop to Fort Point and the breakers below. "Here take
these. They're diamonds, the best quality available anywhere. You can make a
brand new start anywhere you want. We can all forget about this. Nobody needs
to get hurt here. Just take these and go, we won't stop you." Krycek let the
diamonds slide around in his palm. The tiny gems sparkled like fire in the
afternoon sun.
Krycek wasn't prepared for the blow as Bryce's gun hit his hand from below.
The stones flew into his face, and he felt himself falling backwards. Then,
there was nothing but air. He abandoned his gun and the diamonds in an all out
attempt to grab anything that would keep him from going over the cliff.
"Hurt! You don't know anything about hurt! But you will by the time that
I'm through with you," the kidnapper screamed. He renewed his grip on Natasha
and started to back towards the parking lot. He locked eyes with Mulder and the
smile on his face was pure evil. "Looks like you have a choice to make, G-man.
Who are you going to chose, him or her? Who's going to live, and who's gonna
die? Can't have both. Tick-tock, time's running out."
Mulder's mind screamed. His gun was locked on Bryce. But, he couldn't take
the shot without risking Natasha. Krycek was at his feet, just barely holding
on. Mulder could hear him whisper, "Don't worry about me, get Natasha." But
there was something in his tone that Mulder knew was off. He could hear the
fear in Krycek's voice. As he dropped to grab Krycek, he heard a final taunt as
the gunman closed his car door. "I guess you really do love him." Natasha's
screams were drowned out by the sound of the car's engine roaring to life.
Laying flat on the dusty ground, Murder grasped Krycek's arm and pulled
hard. The two locked eyes and Mulder expected an outburst when Krycek reached
the safety of the ledge again. When he was standing on firm ground again,
Krycek just dusted himself off, picked up his gun and the diamonds that could
still be easily found. "Thanks!" was the only thing he said as he raced for the
car. Mulder had seen his eyes though. The coldness had returned. He hadn't
seen them this hard since their reunion, but now the coldness was back. Mulder
hated to see it back. A part of his heart broke, seeing that look come back into
his lover's eyes.
The car roared into life and took off like a wolf in pursuit through the
California hills.
Traffic laws were ignored, twisted, and butchered, as the black sports car
strained to close the gap. The sun was starting to set, and the fog was starting
to creep into the city for the night.
The lead car made a last minute desperate turn onto Divisidero, and floored
the gas up the series of steep hills. It was a bad move and allowed Krycek's
more powerful car to soon overtake them.
"Can you get a shot?" Krycek asked. "Go for the tires."
Mulder tried, but the uneven terrain was playing havoc with his aim. Half his
shots were hitting the pavement and the other half the car's fenders. Time and
roadway were quickly running out. The car crested the final hill on Divisidero,
where it drops suddenly down to Market and entered the Castro. Mulder's heart
stopped. He had forgotten that it was Halloween night. The barricades were
already up and the throng of thousands had already started to gather in the
streets. "Oh my fucking God. He's not going to stop! He's going to plow right
into the crowd," Mulder yelled.
"Grab the wheel!" Krycek yelled. Mulder jumped across the car, and tried to
keep the vehicle in some kind of control. Krycek jumped up on the driver's seat
and took aim. Mulder's mind was doing somersaults, "Jesus, Alex, are you trying
to get killed? Get your ass down here." He desperately tried to get his foot
across to the brake pedal. The car had to still be doing about 50 on the
narrow, crowded city streets. He used one hand to steer the car and the other to
try to keep a hold of Alex. At the last second, Bryce hit his brakes throwing
his car into a spin. The crowd split in several directions. The car now raced
back up the hill straight for Krycek and Mulder. Shots thundered out from both
vehicles, and the already frightened crowd panicked. Mulder was too busy trying
to bring Alex's car to a safe stop, that he never saw the windshield explode on
the oncoming car. But, he heard the screech of the tires and the sickening
crash as it turned sharply and smashed into a bank building set on the corner.
Krycek was already out of the car and running. There was only one person left
alive in the mangled wreckage. He pulled the limp body from the car, and
carried it back to his. "It's going to be okay, Natasha. It's going to be
okay. It's all over. Just hold on." He turned to Mulder. "Mulder, two blocks
back up this road, there's a hospital. Go, Go!
"When we get to the hospital, you're in charge of getting 'Tash admitted,"
Krycek ordered.
"Where are you going to be?" Mulder asked.
"I going to let Natasha's Grandmother know where she is and that she's going
to be okay," Krycek explained. "I'll meet you at the house later. Besides,
there's always too many questions at hospitals. Your badge should be able to do
away with most of them."
Postscript
It had taken forever at the hospital, but by the time Mulder had left,
Natasha was in stable and satisfactory condition. The hospital wanted to hold
her for a few days for observation, none the less. Mulder was still present
when Natasha's Grandmother arrived. She showered him with kisses, and was
surprised not to see Alex in attendance. Mulder lied, saying that Alex was
answering some of the questions the police had. Inside, his heart sank. There
would be lots of questions now, and Alex wasn't the answering kind. He wondered
what he would find when he got back to the house. Would Alex be there, or would
he already have pulled one of his disappearing acts? The strong sense of dread
stayed with him, until the taxi pulled up to the gate. Without any hesitation,
the gate swung open and Alex bounded down the stairs. He had a million
questions, and Mulder tried to answer them all as thoroughly as possible.
When Alex was done, though, Mulder had a question of his own. "What's
going to happen now, Alex? There's a dead body down on Market Street. The
police are probably already looking for the shooter...."
Alex paused for a moment before answering the question. "I didn't shoot
him, Mulder."
"Alex, I heard all the shots, I saw his body...What are you taking about?"
Mulder argued, wondering if Alex was in some sort of denial.
"Three shots—the tire, the windshield, and the mechanism in the
steering wheel for the driver's airbag. I guess you could technically say that I
killed him, but I never shot him. Besides, the special rounds that I used
fragmented on impact. It would be almost impossible to find a shard big enough
to be of any use."
Mulder's mind was trying to fathom the skill it would take to make the three
miracle shots Krycek had described. It was impossible, wasn't it? And to make
them from an unsupported standing position from a rapidly moving car. It
boggled his mind. He started to argue the point, but one look into Krycek's eyes
told him that he would lose that argument. He let Krycek push him gently into
the house and close the door.
Their lovemaking had a frantic feel to it tonight. Afterwards they collapsed
in a tangled heap on the bed, falling asleep in each other's arms. It was a
tortured sleep, though, and Mulder soon re-awoke. He found himself being
studied by Alex, who tousled his hair and gave him a huge smile. "Aloha, my
love."
Mulder was still groggy, and the strange words coming from Alex were not
helping. "Aloha? What do you mean? What are you taking about, Alex?"
"It's a great word—Aloha. Did you know that it means 'I love you,'
'hello' and 'goodbye'? All words should be so cool, don't you think?"
Mulder let the soothing words and calming touch relax him back to sleep. In
the morning he awoke again, this time to find Alex nowhere to be found. He had
expected it this time. But expecting it did not make it any easier. But this
time, he had Natasha and her Grandmother to share his pain. He felt sorry for
'Tasha, it would be really hard on her. But they would get through it together.
He was almost ecstatic when he found the short note attached to the Tiki God
as he was getting dressed.
"I'm not big on good-byes as you should know by now. Find me, Mulder. You
did it once; I know that you can do it again. I have faith in you. Just
remember the VERY LAST thing I told you last night. Tell Natasha and her
Grandmother take care of our house until we can all be together again. All my
love, Always, Alex."
Cryptic as usual! Mulder tried to make sense of it. Remember the last thing
I said to you last night. Then it all made sense. He laughed hard and pulled
the door shut behind him. He had never been to Hawaii. If he played his cards
right, maybe he could be out there by Christmas. Alex had promises to keep,
after all. As he waited for the cab to the airport, he hummed an old song he
hadn't thought of in years.
"Mele kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day, That's
the island greeting that we send your way from the land where palm trees
sway..."
Mulder smiled.
-The End-
Go to end art by AgentAlexKrycek
My Heart's in San Francisco
by AgentAlexKrycek
Special Agent Fox Mulder hadn't decided if he liked San Francisco yet. He
was only in town for a couple of days as a witness in a disposition and, in all
fairness, hadn't really seen very much of the bay city. 'It really is
beautiful,' he thought as he left the courthouse and told a cab driver to take
him to the Fog City Diner. Only after the driver was gone, did he realize there
was a long line to get in. His eyes went upwards in frustration, and he found
his answer blinking at him. Just across the street was the Hyatt Regency with
its revolving restaurant perched on top. 'Might as well trade one tourist trap
for another,' he thought, as he walked over to the pyramid shaped hotel.
No matter what they do
No matter what they teach us
What we believe is true
however they attack
No matter where they take us
We'll find our own way back
I can't be what I'm not
I know our love's forever
I know, no matter what
If only night was day
If only prayers were answered,
then we would hear God say
No matter what they do
No matter what they teach you
what you believe is true
and shelter you from the storm
no matter where it's barren
our dream is being born
No matter where they lead
No matter how they judge us
I'll be everyone you need
or if the sky's are blue
No matter what the ending
my life began with you
I can't be what I'm not
I know this love's forever
that's all that matters now
no matter what
no matter what.
when their voices were soft and their words inviting.
There was a time when love was blind,
and the world was a song and the song was exciting.
There was a time when it all went wrong.
when hope was high and life worth living,
I dreamed that love would never die,.
I dreamed that God would be forgiving.
and dreams were made and used and wasted,
there was no ransom to be paid.
No song unsung, no wine untasted,
with their voices soft as thunder
as they tear your hope apart
as they tear your dream to shame.
he filled my days with endless wonder
he took my childhood in his stride
but he was gone when autumn came
that we will live the years together.
but there are dreams that cannot be
and there are storms we cannot weather.
so different from this hell I'm living
so different now from what it seamed
now life has killed the dream I dreamed.
all alone, I walk with him till morning
without him, I feel his arms around me
and when I lose my way,
I close my eyes and he has found me.
all the lights are misty in the river
In the darkness, the trees are full of starlight
and all I see is him and me forever and forever
that I'm talking to myself and not to him
and although I know that he is blind
still I say there is a way for us
he is gone, the river's just a river,
without him the world around me changes
the trees are bare and everywhere
the streets are full of strangers
all my life, I've only been pretending,
without me his world will go on turning
a world that full of happiness that I have never known
I love him, I love him, I love him...
But only on my own.
