by Josan
Walter wondered why he wasn't all that surprised to see the man sitting there.
Why, when he came up to the log, the man merely glanced over his shoulder, as
though he had been waiting for Walter to arrive.
"Krycek."
"Skinner."
Walter said nothing more, just stood to the side of the man, letting himself
take a long look at the view.
It was as he had often seen it whenever he had come up here in times past.
Winter and the sky was the red that was only seen at sunsets this time of the
year. No snow. They were too far south for snow. Yet there was a crispness
in the air that felt and smelt winter.
There was smoke wafting out of a few chimneys and the scent of wood mingled
with the perfume of the season.
And the moon was already in the sky, up before the sun had fully made its way
down for the night.
Walter took a deep breath and let it out with a sigh.
"Krycek, what are you doing here?"
Alex just grinned, moved over so that Walter could sit next to him on the log.
With a slight shake of his head, a rueful smile, Walter joined him..
They sat peaceably, looking at the small town below, its people dealing with
end of the day activities.
"I've always liked this time of year," said Alex. "There's a magic in the
air. Makes you believe that all the dreams you've had can come true."
Walter nodded. "Up here, everything looks tranquil. Peaceful."
Alex turned to face him. "And is it all a dream? An illusion?"
Walter leaned forward, rested his elbows on his knees and propped his chin on
his joined hands.
"Sometimes. Life down there is like life everywhere. It has its ups and
downs. Its good and its bad."
"And was there a lot of bad in yours?" Asked almost curiously.
Walter thought a moment and smiled at memories only he could see. "No. No, in
my case, there was very little bad. Far more ups than downs."
"I'm glad," said Alex, going back to watching the view. "I did wonder if I was
doing the right thing by you. I knew it was the right thing for him, but I
wasn't sure it was the right thing for you."
Walter smiled. "I wasn't sure either at the beginning, but it turned out to be
the very best thing that ever happened to me." He looked at the man sitting
next to him. "Thank you."
Alex shrugged as though it was of no importance, but then he smiled and the sun
shone for a breath.
"Krycek, what are you doing here?" Walter asked for the second time.
"He turned out okay."
Walter allowed the evasion. "Yes. More than okay I like to think. But then,
I also admit to being a bit prejudiced."
"Was medicine your idea?"
Walter shook his head. "I decided, right from the beginning, that whatever he
wanted to do would be fine by me. That my job was to support him as much as I
could in his choice."
Alex nodded, giving his approval. "He never wanted to follow in your
footsteps?"
"My footsteps? Oh, you mean law enforcement." Walter thought a bit. "Well,
there was a time he wanted to be a policeman, but that only lasted until he
discovered that operation channel. After that..." Walter shrugged.
"Operation channel? Sheesh, Skinner!"
Walter laughed at the revulsion in Alex's voice. "Yeah, I know. I could
barely stand to watch with him there at the beginning. But he was absolutely
fascinated by the human body and what could be done to help it. When he was
old enough, he volunteered at the hospital and the rest, as they say, is
history."
Alex was silent for a few minutes. "Rather poetic irony, when you think about
it."
Walter grinned. "Yeah, I thought that once or twice myself."
"He's good at it?"
"Chief of Surgery."
Alex snorted. "Politics."
"More than that. He's humane as well as being one of the best in his field.
Doesn't have that god fixation so many surgeons have. Knows when enough is
enough. Knows when to stop."
Alex nodded. "That's good."
Walter straightened. "And he has a generous heart."
Alex said nothing, just patted the small lump that raised the left side of his
leather jacket, as if checking that the small bear was still safely tucked in
tight.
Walter caught the gesture. Unconsciously, he repeated it against the small
lump that raised the fine suit jacket, against the small, well-loved bear
wearing a leather jacket.
In the valley below, a tall man with dark sable hair was walking slowly out of
the cemetery.
On their shared log, both men watched the man as he approached a car where a
woman and two children stood, waiting for him.
"Did he ever mention me?" Alex asked, voice a dry monotone.
"His daughter's name is Alexis. When she was born, he asked me if I minded."
"Did you?" Alex stood up.
Walter smiled as he shook his head. "You have any idea what the feminine form
of Walter is? Besides," he let the pride slip out, "they named the boy after
me. Sergei, not Walter. No one is ever going to call my grandson Wally."
Alex laughed.
"Alex, what are you doing here?" Walter asked for the third time as he stood
up.
Alex cocked his head in a way that was so familiar to Walter. He'd seen that
gesture used so successfully for so many years, on both men and women, until
Jennie had cocked her head back in a similar way and then he had had the added
joy of Alexis and Sergei in his life.
He raised an eyebrow in response.
Alex added a grin to the cocked head and Walter found he couldn't stop the
smile on his face. "Alex," he said, in the same exasperated tone he had used
for so many years to counter the effect of the combined grin and gesture on
him.
"I just thought, Walter," Alex's voice was hesitant, wary, as though the grin
and the gesture were there only to camouflage his insecurity, "that maybe you'd
like some company along the way."
Walter looked at the man the child had become. "You know," he said, voice
soft, "I think I'd like that very much."
They both turned to take a last look at the view, at the family standing close,
offering silent support to each other before moving to get into their car.
The two men each took a deep breath, smelling the winter air, crisp and
redolent with the flavours of the season.
Then, side by side, shoulders touching, they walked off, disappearing into the
distance.
Author's note: This is as close as I ever intend to get to the IN DEATH, THERE
A Winter's Tale
It's winter-fall
The nights draw in
(dreaming)
(dreaming)
It's all so beautiful
e was sitting on the log that had long fallen, its bark worn smooth through
years of being used for looking over the valley—among other things.
IS LIFE universe again.
Words and music by Queen
Red skies are gleaming—oh—
Sea gulls are flyin' over
Swans are floatin' by
Smoking chimmney-tops
Am I dreaming...
Am I dreaming...?
There's a silky moon up in the sky—yeah—
Children are fantasizing
Grown-ups are standin' by
What a super feeling
Am I dreaming...
Am I dreaming...?
So quiet and peaceful
Tranquil and blissful
There's a kind of magic in the air
What a truly magnificent view
A breathtaking scene
With the dreams of the world
In the palm of your hand
A cozy fireside chat
A little this, a little that
Sound of merry laughter skippin' by
Gentle rain beatin' on my face
What an extraordinary place
And the dream of the child
Is in the hope of the man
Like a landscape painting in the sky—yeah
Mountains are zoomin' higher—mm—
Little girls scream and cry
My world is spinnin' and spinnin', and spinnin'
It's unbelievable
Sends me reeling
Am I dreaming...
Am I dreaming...?
Oooh, it's bliss.
The End
