Name Your Price
by Shang (shang@morley-web.com)

Website: http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/slashingx/ (under construction)

Rating:  NC-17 (This story contains m/m sex. You must be 18 years or older to read the story posted here.)

Category: VRHA

Keywords: Sk/K, Sk/M Slash

Spoilers: After "The Truth", it's the way things going!!

Summary: The truth IS the aliens really exist, they kept abducting us, they will INVADE us. The date of the final invading is December 22, 2012.

DISCLAIMER: Walter Skinner, Fox Mulder, Alex Krycek, Dana Scully, and all the other X-Files characters belong to Chris Carter, 1013 Productions and FOX Broadcasting. The others belong to me.

First Posting: 9/30/02

Archive: Have posted to alt.tv.x-files.creative, Crossover and DitB for the first time on Sep. 30, spookyawards2002 on Oct. 1 (Japan time).

Author's note: It's my first story, hope you like it. And please forgive me if you find wrong spellings and bad grammar for the sake of English not being my mother language. And it's kind to send me feedback.

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Name Your Price
PART ONE: After 'The Truth'

Hilton McLean,VA
Room 707
10:00AM, June 6, 2002

"So......Agnet Doggett and Agent Reyes were missing, and Fox Mulder and Dana Scully were dead--" said by a man standing in front of the window in a hotel room.

"No, I don't believe they're dead. No body were found there. And there are two kinds of tire-prints..."

"So what ? Your mission is over, I'll arrange your promotion in FBI."

"No! I quit, no more FBI. I'm tired." Skinner glared at him angrily and his face was full of disgust.

"Stop emotional! Don't forget what you stand for and we still need you..." The man lowered his tone," You're CIA's top man..."

"Don't bullshit with me, or I'll quit CIA, too." Skinner knew if he left CIA, they wouldn't let him live. But he felt guilty about his agents' death and he considered it's pointless to go on his life since everything's going to hell. Maybe death was a better choice.

"Your promotion to be the Deputy Director can't be resisted, we still need our men access in FBI."

"Then find somebody, I'm expecting my retirement." He sat on the couch with his face buried in his hands, looked like out of power.

The room extremely quiet for a while.

"Name your price." The man said coldly.

"What?" Skinner couldn't believe what he just heard.

"Don't say NO again, You know what I mean. On your position, it's an order. In the meantime, we'll offer what you want."

CIA sent their men spying on FBI for a long time, nobody could reach such a high place like Skinner did, and this made him more valuable.

"What I want......?" His thoughts wandered, "Find them! I want Fox Mulder and Dana Scully back alive, don't tell me you can't." Standing immediately, Skinner turned around to face the man challengingly.

"Done. I'll find them." The man wore his sunglasses, was ready to leave but stopped, "What about Agent Doggett and Agent Reyes?"

"They're still FBI's agents, the bureau will find them." Skinner doesn't really worry about them, Agent Doggett kept in contact with him once a week secretly.

"Fine. Have a good vacation, you need it." The man stopped beside the door of the room hesitantly, "Ah......"

"Anything else?" Skinner said annoyingly.

"We'll stop treating him, he'll be transfored to a sanitarium next week. Poor guy, he WAS our top man, too." With a sigh, he shook his head and left.

McLean, VA 22101
Commonwealth Psychological Associates
3:00PM ,June 6

Dr. Miller led Skinner to room 622. There're noises, he heard screaming and fighting at first, then one man escaped from the room, his head was bleeding.

"Are you all right? Arny. What happened this time?"

"I don't know, since he's awake, we thought maybe we should give him a haircut. But he's angry as soon as he saw the scissors." The man said rapidly with his hand covering his bleeding wound and frustrated, " He's no problem with shaving yesterday!"

"Ahhhhh......" A loud sream startled them.

"Krycek!" Skinner murmured guiltily.

From the doorway, he saw Krycek bumping his head on the wall, screaming painfully. There were two other men in the room, they stood aside breathing heavily and then were going to tie him.

"No!" Skinner entered the room and pulled the men away from Krycek. He grabbed his upperarms to spin him on the ground.

"Krycek! Can you hear me?" Skinner said more calmly this time, "You hear me? AGENT. ALEX. KRYCEK."

He could see the scar on Krycek's forehead clearly and immediately felt sorry. Krycek stoped screaming and stared at Skinner.

"......sss...ss..stupid....hh..haircut......" He said difficultly, hair was soaked with sweat.

"Stupid haircut? What do you mean? Don't want to cut your hair?" Skinner sensed something wrong with Krycek, he didn't seem to recognize him. "Okay, we won't. Now, would you calm down and sit on the bed with me?"

He led Krycek to sit on the bed who embraced himself like a ball leaning on the wall carelessly.

"Where's his clothing?" Skinner turned to ask Dr. Miller.

"He won't wear anything." Dr. Miller still stood a little far from them, he's afraid of this one-armed man. "Would you come to my office, so I can show you his file ?" He unlocked the door letting the other men leave first and waited for Skinner.

"I'll see you soon. Krycek ?" Seeing Krycek didn't move, not even reacted, Skinner left with Dr. Miller.

Dr. Miller's Office
3:30PM, June 6

"Tell me his condition." Skinner sat on the couch reading the file but couldn't understand the report without Dr. Miller's explanation.

"You know it's a miracle that the bullet only wedged in his skull and didn't damage his brain. We took the fracture from his mid-sagittal section very perfect, did CT, MRI, every kind of tests, but still we can't find the reason why he had a coma for such a long year......Anyway, he's awake on May 30. According to his special background you FBI applied, and tracing to the observations of him between these days, we infered from these few limited symptoms so far, only can suggest you that he may have the disorders of PTSD showing from now on or later. I believe his conditions are more complicated, he'll probably show more symptoms besides the lists on the file. Since he refused to take the pill, we had to sedate him every time we treated him." Dr. Miller leaned back in his armchair.

"Oh, I received your notification this morning and I'll deliver the copy of his file to the sanitarium wherever you choose. I'll give you my suggestion of his medication if you need......Does he has any family or close friend?  With the PTSD, it's more important to have someone really care about him than the help of medication." He passed it to Skinner.

Skinner didn't speak for a while, he angered that CIA had given up their agent so easily, mercilessly and counterfeited the notification with his title AD Walter S. Skinner signed on it.

"Excuse me." Skinner took out his cell phone from his pocket and walked to a corner of the office. "It's me, Skinner." His tone was depressive, "......Yeah, I need a team to guard a safe house......No! He's my responsibility......you said you'll offer what I......Yes, I'll take him there myself, tell them to meet me there as soon as possible." He disconnected the line.

"Dr. Miller, I need your medication advice and have your men prepare Alex Krycek to leave."

McLean
A safe House
7:00PM, June 6

Skinner pulled Krycek out from the backseat of his car who still was sleeping by the sedative. He sloped the man wrapping around a white sheet on his shoulder then followed one of the house's guards entering the house.

"Where's the bedroom? Agent?" Skinner asked a short man in the room.

"You can call me Bob, sir. Bedroom is here." He opened the door for Skinner.

Skinner put Krycek on the bed, rolled him out of the sheet, then covered him with a blanket this time.

"Still refused to wear clothes ?" The man entered the bedroom and looked down on Krycek.

Skinner didn't expect his appearance, and he didn't like one of the four agents showed his interest in Krycek's body.

"Any clothing seems stinging to him." Muttered, Skinner turned his head to signal everybody out of the bedroom.

He ordered the four agents taking sift to guard the house and keeping an eye on Krycek.

The man sat on a sofa in the living room, watched them coldly while finished reading Krycek's medical file. Seeing Krycek not in any good condition to threaten CIA's secrets for now, the man called Skinner with a sneer.

"Keep in touch, Skinner." He left with a glance toward Skinner meaningfully.

Disgusting, "I'll be back within an hour." Skinner left the house, too.

He drove to a resturant, finished his dinner, took a takeout then shopped whatever Krycek probably would need. By eight o'clock, he stopped his car outside the house and already heard fighting inside. He immediately ran into the house.

Bob embraced his broken arm leaning on the wall, the other agents wrestled with Krycek on the floor.

"Stop!" He pulled them apart, barked, "What's going on, agents?"

"This guy is a nut case! He tried to kill us, sir." One Agent said angrily, still gasped.

"Take Bob to a hospital and have your dinner. Back by eleven thirty. Now get out, all of you." Skinner said quietly, he couldn't tell them who Krycek once was or still could be a dangerous man.

After they left, Skinner turned to stare at Krycek who held a broken leg of a chair glaring at him defensively.

"Sit down, Krycek. I'm not going to hurt you." Skinner put the containers on the table , "Come here and eat." He stood beside the table with his hands on his hips.

Krycek looked pale with his silky hair which now was long over his neck, and a little muscular though lacking of exercise for one year. He's the same guy with his talent of killing people but looked vulnerable at the same time. Finally, he dropped that chair-leg and moved carefully to the table opposite from where Skinner sat.

"I'm sorry they all soft food, Dr. Miller said you can have solid food next week."

Krycek didn't answer him, he swallowed everything quickly while keeping an eye on Skinner. After finished eating, he wiped his mouth with the back of his only hand.

"......who...arrr..are.....you ?" He frowned.

Skinner couldn't look into his eyes directly and kept silence for a while......" Call me Walter. You are safe here, my agents will take care of you as long as you live here."

Skinner began to clear the table and the mess from Krycek's fighting with his agents.

"......wh...why?"

Skinner stiffed, he turned his back toward Krycek breathing deeply and turned around to face him again.

"You don't remember me?"

Krycek shook his head slowly, confused and suddendly screamed painfully, hand stroke his hair. He curled on the floor. Skinner didn't know how to do with the situation, just kept his hands on Krycek's shoulder.

"Okay, okay, you don't have to think. Calm down." He pulled Krycek on his feet then led him to sit on the sofa.

"I tell you." When Krycek cought his breath, Skinner continued, "You were my agent before, and you're injured badly. You lost part of your memory, and your speech disorder might be triggered by extremely stress, so I took you here a safe house for your treatment. I hope you won't hurt anyone of my agents who guard here. Maybe you'll remember everything when you get well if you take the medication regularly. When you recover completely, you can leave here any time you like." He still grabbed Krycek's shoulders keeping him to concentrate on his talking.

Krycek nodded his head and smiled for the first time since he awoke from his coma. He's charming and looked innocent.

"Ah...Now could you clean yourself in the bathroom and come out to take your pills before my agents come back here?" He let go of Krycek.

When three of his agents back, Krycek was already sound asleep on the bed by eleven twenty.

What a long day! He's not the kind of man made a decision without thinking, having Krycek under his protection might endanger himself, but he couldn't convince himself to abandon a man who need help, especially he himself was the transgressor who pulled the trigger.

Skinner drove home tiredly, without taking off his clothes he dropped asleep right away.

McLean
The Safe House
11:00AM, June 7

Two agents guarded outside of the house. In front of the porch, Skinner told them to go for a lunch. He entered the house, only saw an agent watching TV.

"Agent, where's Krycek ?" He put down the food. "Did he take pills this morning ?"

"No, sir. He's still sleeping." The agent moved to open the bedroom door for Skinner.

"Krycek ?" Skinner shook him, " Wake up, you should have a meal and take your pills."

"No use, he can't hear you, we tried this morning." The agent shrugged.

"He took pills himself last night ?"

"No, he not even moved a little till now......like zonked."

"Sleeping disorder......" Skinner murmured. He read about PTSD this morning.

"What ?" said the agent.

"Nothing. Go, have your lunch. You got two hours."

"Thank you, sir."

After dismissed all the agents, Skinner entered the kitchen of the house for the first time, he prepared the food. Ten minutes later, when he ate his sandwich, Krycek appeared, he leaned on the doorframe lazily.

"Come, your food is ready." Skinner smiled warmly. 'Be kind, make friend with him, he's your responsibility, you own him.' He told himself.

Krycek ate his food slowly, fifteen minutes later, he fell asleep on the table.

"Dame!" Skinner caught him before he was going to slip on the floor.

He carried him to bed, went to bathroom and came back with a washclothes, cleaned him. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Skinner brushed Krycek's scar the bullet hole with the back of his forefinger.

"I'm sorry."

Three days passed, Krycek almost sleeped through these days. Besides did his business, hardly heard what Skinner said, just ate his meal and soon passed out.

Hoover Building
Deputy Director Office
7:50AM, June 10

Skinner's vacation was over yesterday, Kimberly packed his things and moved them to Deputy Director Office. No body knew where's Kersh.

He had to assume his office before noon, and there's a party waiting for him tonight. So he called the agents, told them he won't go there untill tomorrow night. They told Skinner no need to worry and they would give Krycek a shower tonight.

McLean
The Safe House
11:50PM, June 10

Skinner had a bad feeling about not going to the safe house tonight. He left the party earlier and sped up his car to the safe house.

When he arrived, he saw the two agents guarding outside the house exchanging a strange expression with each other.

"Shit!" He rushed into the living room and saw no other agent there, Skinner broke into the bedroom and stunned in astonishment.

The agent already lowered his pants and ready to rape Krycek who's totally unconscious.

Skinner aimed at the agent with his gun coolly, "Zip it or I'll explore your dick."

"Come on, sir. He's pretty, don't you think ?" Apparently, the agent was drunk.

At the time, Krycek moaned in his dream and this excited the agent even more, he ignored Skinner's gun and jumped on Krycek. Skinner moved in the same time striking him with the gunstock. He dragged him away from Krycek, hauled him to living room. The other agents came into the house standing aside speechlessly.

Skinner tossed the drunk agent on the floor, said quietly, " Get out of here, all of you." Seeing they didn't move, he barked, "I said get the fuck out of here, now !"

They carried the drunk agent out, and Skinner was pissed by hearing one of them said "What a waste."

He returned to the bedroom, took off his tuxedo to cover Krycek, then slowly he sank down to the floor, back sagged to the bed, face buried in his big hands. "Damn!"

Since MUlder and Scully gone, everything went to hell.

Several minutes passed and he finally stood up. "Come on, pretty man, you're going to come home with Walter." He muttered and scooped up Krycek into his strong arms who's sleeping like a child.

Crystal City - Viva Tower
Skinner's condo
2:30AM, June 11

Krycek screamed in the upstairs guestroom. He awoke in the dark where he never familiar with and was terrified by an uncontrollable nervous. He pulled his hair forcefully, and cried hysterically.

Ten days ago, he awoke in a room with IV and catherter plugging in his body. Next, he found a scar of a bullet hole on his forehead he couldn't remember why and not so much as what happened to his leftarm. Then a man called Dr. Miller examined him, treated him and kept asking questions that almost drove him crazy.

The last time he lost his consciousness in the hospital, he's taken to a safe house and those CIA men treated him badly, he could always feel one of them trying to take advantage on him. Except the boss, the Walter guy who said he would be safe in that house and recover...... recover from what? Yeah, he had suspected himself might really is a psycho that CIA'S agent actually called him a nut case.

Thought about CIA, where's the agents ? Where's Walter ? Did he abandon him forever 'cause he didn't need him anymore ? Or all these just a dream ? Then why couldn't he awake ? Why did he in the dark alone ? Why couldn't he stop crying like a child ? After a while, He heard footsteps coming, it's terrible, he's too frightened to breathe.

Suddenly, someone rushed into the dark room and captured him. He knew the scent!

"Krycek! Calm down, calm down...breathe, can you hear me?" Skinner spun him on the bed with his entire length pressing on top of him.

"Yeah, that's it, breathe...slow...breathe...Are you okay ?" Skinner gasped. He opened the lamp on the nightstand, his big bands brushed Krycek's hair aside which soaked with sweat and tears.

"Wa...Wal..lter..sir.." Krycek blubbered.

"Walter is fine." He said embarrassedly. He was going to bed while he heard Krycek screamed, so he's half naked now. On their position, bare chest on bare chest, he could feel Krycek's bodyheat, even smelled his scent. So he pulled himself up away from Krycek.

"...wh..where..." Krycek glanced around the room, it's not the same room last time he stayed.

"My apartment." He sat on the bed with his arms crossing in front of his chest, bowed his head but didn't face Krycek. "I'm sorry to move you here without telling you first. The agents...ah...they were not good for you, so they're dismissed. I have to work everyday, so it's more convenient and safe to have you staying here to take a medication. You're going to live here with me...I hope it'll be okay with you." He turned his head to look into that pair of tearful eyes.

To his surprise, Krycek pulled Skinner's arms apart and embraced him in desperation whimpering 'please'.


Ten days later
Hoover Building
Deputy Director Office
11:50AM, June 21

Skinner picked up his phone, ready to dial but stopped. Then he fished out his business card from his wallet to find his own phone number of home. Of course he couldn't remember what number it was since there never had anyone waiting for him to call over there so-called a home. But now the situation was different, Krycek lived there with him, cleaned the house, did the laundry and even cooked which the first time he entered  his cando after work surprising to find the supper done already.

When he went to work, Krycek spent hours working out to regain his strength or read part of books on Skinner's bookshelf. They began a routine sharing fine wine after dinner and listening classic music which he found would help soothing Krycek's mood for his bedtime.

Unfortunately, Krycek's PTSD symptoms were getting worse recently, no matter how he worked out in day and seemed tired to death in night he couldn't even take a snap for an hour.

He wondered what he was doing now, Skinner cared him as a friend as he thought he was. Still struggling whether or not to tell him the truth that he was the man shot him, he would when the time coming. Anyway, he was glad there's someone waiting for him to going home everyday and something like helping Krycek he could focus on besides his now pointless life.

Ringing. He forgot Krycek couldn't talk, the phone was picked up and a nasal sound let him know that must be him, Skinner chuckled, "Okay, I know it's you. Look...ah...it's Friday and I don't want taking my paperwork up to Saturday, so I'll delay home tonight, don't wait for me." It's half a lie actually, he planed something after work.

"...Ooo...k..." Krycek sounded a little disappointed.

Crystal City - Viva Tower
Skinner's condo
11:15PM, June 21

A key ring was rang in whisper, that must be Walter. But he couldn't get up, he was drunk in the lonely  night, lay on the floor in front of that balcony, still unable to fall asleep.

Keys being dropped along with his suit on sofa, Skinner loosed his tie, stayed where he was watching Krycek. He seemed vulnerable, sensitive, clever and accommodating in these days they lived together, was that really him ? A real Alex Krycek without the memories of his killing mission, his spying on any side of adversaries, his betraying on Mulder?

Yes. But he was a best assassin, for once, in his hell lifetime.

"Krycek. Hey..." Skinner said softly, helped him to his feet.

"...hmmm...you..."

A wild troubled animal! Just when could he convince Krycek to cut his hair, without clothing that made him looked like Tarzan ...... and pretty.

"Can't sleep?" He put a gift box in front of Krycek. "Go ahead, open it."

Krycek gave him an uncertain glance and opened the box, then knitted his eyebrows slightly. Walter was grinning at him, so he took those out.

"I...ah...tomorrow is your birthday, thought you need pajamas. It's silk, won't hurt you...I think." Skinner blushed a little, it's not normal to give a man pajamas as a birthday present, but Krycek really should wear something. "Like the color? You always wear black, so I picked them."

Krycek stroked the smooth clothes sheepishly, "th..than..."

"No thanks. Go, take a shower and put it on, maybe you can get to sleep tonight." Skinner said friendly.

He cleaned the empty bottle of wine and took a shower after Krycek finished. Lying on his cool gray silk sheets, he fell asleep peacefully.

Four fifteen in the morning. A bump on his bedroom door startled him wide-awake, he drew out his gun which was always hidding beneath his pillow, carefully walked to the door, "Krycek ?" Hearing the same nasal sound, he lowered his gun while opening the door.

Krycek's eyes were red from crying he could tell, "What's up ?...you...you look great in black." Skinner was glad he wore the pajamas. "See, it won't hurt."

But Krycek looked into his eyes helplessly, slowly shook his head.

He sighed, "I know, can't sleep." Skinner bowed his head thoughtfully, "Maybe we should see Dr. Miller again..." During his talking, he saw pajamas being dropped on the floor.

Before he could react, Krycek grasped Skinner's left arm firmly, "...fff...ff..fuck...meee.." his eyes begging with tears. It's the last thing he could consider, 'wore me out, fucked me to death, whatever. It's painful dying to sleep but couldn't get to.' "...pleeease..." He leaned on Skinner, sobbing.

"I...I...look, this is not a good idea..." He was going to pull him apart, but couldn't decide where to TOUCH him.

Surprised, Krycek tore out a growl in desperation, bursting out his last energy to shove Skinner straight back onto bed. "...fuckme..." He cried hoarsely, snaked up kissing Skinner in desperation, silky hair brushed on his cheeks.

"Wait...yo..you're...drunk." Skinner struggled between the kisses, finally he held Krycek's face with both his hands. Krycek hammered at Skinner's chest with his fist frantically, spitting FUCK, again and again.

With that, Skinner barked a sound, rolled over Krycek, pressed him onto his cool gray silky sheets. Looking into that pair of deep green helpless eyes, guilty, pity, memories gushed out with heartbeats which he never experienced in his poor sex life. He captured that quivering lips for an instant, tasted a flavor of wine in his moist hot tender tongue. He's aroused by Krycek's soft moans in an instant, taking off his own sweat pants and briefs in a few seconds still staring into those now twinkling eyes covered by half closed long eyelashes, he then prepared himself with his saliva.

Shoving into him in one forceful motion caused Krycek to burst out a cry in pain, they both panting, staring at each other. There's no way back, Skinner bumped into him repeatedly everytime made Krycek
groan in pleasure and pain.

They both climaxed almost in the same time. Skinner collapsed on top of him, said tenderly "Happy birthday...Alex!"

Oh, God! This is incredible, he thought when withdrew from Alex, feeling the stick. He kissed his scar fondly. But Krycek alredy fell asleep as soon as he orgasmed. Skinner slid out of bed to pick up his gun which was dropped on the floor, then pajamas which were discarded near the doorframe, he smiled he didn't know why, he's happy which he thought he didn't deserve.

Only one fuck let him finally figured out what the tension was between Mulder and himself in that military facility, now that Mulder was gone with Scully, he found suddenly he had the ability of loving somebody in his empty heart. Fucking Krycek relieved both of them, body and soul.

He cleaned Krycek gentlely then took a shower, a little worried about he tore Alex to bleed. Skinner lay down beside him, watching him till falling asleep he didn't aware when.

Crystal City - Viva Tower
Skinner's condo
11:50AM, June 23

Skinner came home with groceries full of his hands. He went to the drugstore to buy a lube, condoms and ointment, when he took them there his hand shook a little unsurely. He went to upstairs to check Krycek, no, Alex. He's slept over thirty hours barely moved a bit, must be exhausted. So he closed the bedroom door, then went down to kitchen.

Done the cooking, he went to upstairs again. Sitting beside Alex carefully, Walter touched his cheek with his cheese-smell palm, very tender "Hey..."

Alex struggled to open his eyes, he saw Skinner's face then glanced around the bedroom. Surprised, he sat up abruptly, the pain in his anus made him hiss remembering their fuck all of a sudden.

"Are you all right?" Skinner brushed his hair lightly, but his hand was soon clapped away. He frowned.

Alex was ashamed, he grabbed his pajamas Skinner put them beside him last night, then ran out of the bedroom without looking at Skinner and hid himself in the guest bathroom.

"Krycek ?" No respond, Skinner knocked on the door, "Kry...Alex...come out, you haven't eat for thirty hours. Would you have a lunch with me, I'm starving." Still no answer, Skinner bowed his head and sighed, "I'm sorry IT hurt...I should have known we both will regreat... " he muttered.

Just when Skinner began to leave the door opened, came out Alex already wore his pajamas. He stared at Skinner eyes full of tears, couldn't help himself such emotional. "...so...sorry..."

Skinner pulled him into his arms, embraced him affectionately, "...fool..." released a sigh.

They never had sex again after that. Alex still struggled with his sleep disorders but he would went to Skinner's bed for comfort, being held would decrease his nightmares what he was locked in nowhere, was beaten for truth by somebody or swang in dangerous, killed or be killed.

Most of time when Skinner was home, Alex seemed obedient, submissive and more relied on him mentally. When he was out of town to attend some conferences, Alex phoned him just in order to hear a good night. Alex blushed like a teenager eyery time Skinner brushed his hand not on purpose in their daily life, but he resisted showing his feelings. He's not sure what he saw Walter as a brother, a friend or a lover?

Days, months went by, Alex's headache troubled him more frequently, he seemed to have some pieces of memories which he couldn't make any sense whether they're delusions or realities.

Crystal City - Viva Tower
Skinner's condo
A summer night, Augst

Parked his car, Skinner took the stairway instead of elevator. He want a little time to calm himself.

He was annoyed by his paperwork and Agent Doggett hadn't kept in touch with him for over a month. 'What on earth where Mulder is !?' And he went to see Dr. Miller after work, he told Skinner it's just a beginning of a classical PTSD what Alex suffering now.

The light was on  that he could tell from under the door before he opened it.

Seeing the mess in the living room, he drew out his gun in an second. His heart throbbed with worry, "Alex..." he called cautiously and moved to the kitchen first where he heard something. There's a mess, too. In a glance, he saw a ring being smashed on the dining table, picking it up he recognized it's the wedding ring he drew from Sharon's lifeless finger and the jade on it was gone.

Alex curled on the floor without clothing, trembling. Skinner rolled him to sit, but burst out his anger as soon as he saw that jade being stuck into his scar which still bleeding. Alex got drunk again, but still could sense Walter's anger, "...no !"

"Leopard can't change his spots, you thief!" He growled and dragged Alex out of the kitchen then shoved him onto the balcony, ignoring his begging he handcuffed Alex on the railing right in the same place the last time he did to him. "It's hot and you don't have to think warm thoughts this time!" He then locked the sliding door blocking Alex's screaming of fear and returned to kitchen, emptied all the bottles of wine into the sink.

Unaware of how much time passed, Skinner felt his neck numb from sitting on the kitchen floor with his head nipped between his knees. And he remembered Alex.

"Oh, God, what had I done ?!"

He rushed to the balcony and saw Alex paled in shock in the moonlight, shivering.

"Hold on, Alex. I'm sorry...I'm sorry." Skinner unlocked the cuff then swung him up into his strong arms, carried him go upstairs to his bedroom. Put him on the bed, Skinner was busy to wipe him clean with a warm wet towel. The blood stains on his forehead reminded him that shot.

"...cold...ff..fff...freeze to...death..." he said in unconsciousness.

Skinner slid behind him onto the bed, wrapped the sheets around both of them. "Forgive me, Alex. Forgive me." he murmured, kissing his silky hair.

The shallow and rapid breath from Alex fell calm finally, he kept quiet for a few minutes then stirred. Suddenedly turning around, hissed with his deep green eyes wide-awake full of hatred, glaring on Skinner.

"SKINNER! You son of a bitch, fucking bastard !" Krycek jerked Skinner's collar fighting him, they both fell onto the floor.

They wrestled with each other. Skinner kicked him apart to bump on the closet, he saw the scar on Krycek's forehead bleeding again.

"What the hell?...You...you can talk?...remember..." Skinner caught his breath, narrowing his eyes.

"Ya, now I remember, you beat me in this house, handcuffed me on that fucking railing of the balcony to think warm thoughts, fuck you Skinner, you left me out there fucking freeze to death..." He wiped the blood now streaming down to his lips, "...and it's YOU shot me. Sure I remember, WE. ARE. ENEMIES. " he clenched his teeth.

"Yeah? How about you threatened me with your lovely toy ?" Skinner said bitterly, thought about the nanotechnology atoms, thought about CIA, FBI and the fate between Mulder, Alex and him. He sighed, "I knew you just did your job, I was suppose to be your backup all these years. Thanks for the God damn CIA !"

"Then how dare you shot me ?" Alex shouted.

"I couldn't let you kill him, couldn't kill him myself. I had no choice." His voice was hoarse.

"Kill who ?" Alex confused.

"I thought you remember everything?..Apparently not...look, Alex, we're not enemies. Not now, not before..." Skinner walked toward him defenselessly, reached over his arms, "...not in the future." With that, he hugged Alex tightly.

"We...we're...lovers." He said softly, heart cracking. Alex struggled in his arms like an animal at first, then cried soundlessly crushing in his arms.

"Sorry about the ring. My head hurt to death, just wanted to stop it...must out of my mind." Alex whispered on Walter's chest.

"It's all right. It's yours now, have my ring. Guess we'll stick together..." Held up Alex's cheeks in his big hands, Skinner grinned tenderly, "...forever."

They stared into each other, heart to heart.

"Fuck me! Walt." Alex gushed out tears.

"No...I'll make love to you...slowly, this time."

PART TWO: Survive

Commonwealth Psychological Associates
September 3

Walter sedated Alex after they had a wonderful sex and Alex finally exhausted to fell asleep. He took him to CPA immediately, let Dr. Miller check the scar which seemed inflammatory with the tissue swelled around the jade. Of course, he had to explain the reason why the jade stuck there.

"No, the jade didn't damage anything but skin if that's what you worried. Do you want me to take it out or keep it there?" Dr. Miller asked Skinner.

"Keep it. He didn't know I took him here." Skinner said uncomfortablely, his concern toward Alex showed in nature and the doctor gave him an understanding smile.

Dr. Miller walked to a sink and began to clean his hands.

"He'll know anyway, I'm gonna clean the pus, maybe cut a little tissue that will make the scar more smooth after it recoverd." He winked to Skinner while putting on his gloves. "It's a simple surgery. Would you mind wait outside the room ? Oh, if you prefer a cosmetic surgery, I can arrange..."

"No. No, just do it. I'll wait outside." He left the operation room and sat on the couch down the hall.

It's finished after thirty minutes. Walter took Alex home before his sedative lost efficacy.

Crystal City - Viva Tower
Skinner's condo

He put Alex on the bed, hand caressed his face. Alex reached his forty on June 22, age showed on his sideburns, they're beautiful gray Walter didn't know a man could ever be such sexy with them.

He remembered their first. It's over two months since they became lovers.

"Hey, wake up, Alex. Time to eat." Walter kissed his sideburns.

"Mmm...hey, Walt." Alex reached out his hand to pull Walter onto bed, he sealed their lips for a passionate kiss then released him reluctantly but smiled, "That was wonderful, thank you."

Soon he tried to scratch the itch on his scar and found the pledget, flying out of bed he rushed to bathroom to check HIS jade. Tearing the pledget off, he saw it still buried there safely, he exhaled in reassurance.

Walter leaned against the doorframe, his face showed his concern. "Please don't mad at me. I just want to make sure if you..."

"No. I'm not. Thought you must have had it dug out, but you didn't." Alex said sheepishly and turned to him.

"I gave it to you, that's my love and I won't take it back. Alex, my love." Walter hugged him tenderly. He couldn't understand Alex anymore that he wasn't angry, didn't broke anything or shout. He was so different from the man Alex Krycek he knew for years.

Since Alex remembered everything between the two of them, he began to have endless nightmares when he could get to a short sleep then stayed awake till next drowsiness attacked him. He thought a lot, he didn't want to lose the only love he could have in his sorry life. He didn't want to be the same man he once was.

How happy he was now in Walter's arms, he didn't want to cry, but he did.

"Shhh...What's wrong? Alex ?" Walter kissed his hair.

"Don't hate me, don't leave me. Please. I'll be good, really." He nearly pled.

"I won't. Don't be silly."

"No. There's another man I can feel, I can't remember who, but you love him. You've always loved him. You hate me before, you will hate me again." He sobbed.

Walter didn't answer him for a while, then he said quietly, "No, he's dead...I thought."

They had their dinner in peace. Alex still prefered not to wear any clothing, but on Walter's insistence he wore his silky pajama pants. Now that his hair was shoulder-length, Walter tied him a ponytail whenever they had meals. The soft light from kitchen ceiling shone his hair and eyelashes into dirty golden, and made his bare neck more submissive when he smiled sipping champagne.

Walter melted into the beauty in front of him.

"Lexei..." He reached over to bring Alex's hand to his lips and kissed it gently.

"You never called me that..." He whispered with a little heartbeat.

"I'm in love with you, Lexei. You don't have to remember anything anymore, I don't want you to, no more past, no more pain, just you and me." Walter then kissed his palm. He closed his eyes and prayed soundlessly, hoped God to let him keep the last person he loved with his dear life.

He was afraid someday Alex would remember everything and leave him, he didn't want Alex endanger himself like Mulder did. He already lost Mulder from the beginning he was assigned to keep him on line and lost him forever in the end. They all did their best to try to save the world from aliens. Too much sacrifice and no selfish. Enough! He wouldn't let Alex run the same fate after Mulder. A little selfish wouldn't change the future, the fucking future aliens invade this planet after all.

Coming home everyday, had someone waiting for him in his small cando, that's his only happiness, his only reason to live in the mess of the world with no future.

Hoover Building
Deputy Director Office
7:30AM, September 3

As usual, Skinner entered his office earlier than Kimberly, he went to her desk to look for his documents and letters. Of course he couldn't get any, the deliverers didn't begin their daily work yet. Strange was a post card lying on his desk with no address on it, only the most familiar handwriting 'You big, bald, beautiful man'.

His heart racing up, Skinner sat on his chair, hands trembling a little. He would never forgot what Mulder said in that cell at that moment after he kissed Scully passionately then turned to him, Mulder's eyes shone the same emotion to him when he said these words to him. Skinner regreated everyday for not receiving Mulder's love motion in the first place. But God, there still had hope. HE'S NOT DEAD! Thank God!

"Sir ? Are you all right ?" Kimberly brought his documents and letters to him.

"Oh...Ah, nothing. Bring me coffee, please." He must lost in his thoughts for a long time Skinner thought as Kimberly closing his office door. It's eight five.

Five minutes later Kimberly carried a tray with warm coffee and cookies on it to him.

"Ah...Kim, Did you ever see...no, forget it, never mind." Skinner pretended to bury into his paperworks. He couldn't risk a chance to let anyone know the news.

He burned the post card in his washroom.

Crystal City - Viva Tower
Skinner's condo
Midnight, September 4

"You're late, Walt." Alex said, unhappy.

Walter startled at first as he turning on the light, like a husband coming home late from seeing someone behind his wife's back. Yes, he stayed in his office till ten o'clock then wandered to the basement hoping to get any further contact from Mulder, but nothing happened. He forgot to call Alex that he would be late.

"I'm sorry, Lexei." Walter put down his briefcase and began to take off his coat.

Alex rushed him up by surprise, he kissed Walter thoroughly. When they ended the kiss, they both aroused.

"Lexei ?"

"Nothing, just missed you." The naked Alex walked into kitchen, "Did you have a dinner ? I'm starving."

"Great. I'm hungry, too." Walter followed him into kitchen. He saw the food prepared already on the table and looked like went cold for hours, "I'm sorrry to have you waiting for me."

"Never mind, I'll reheat the food." He turned to do the stuff.

Walter watched him, his thoughts wandered between Alex and Mulder. Alex didn't remember Mulder yet and Mulder didn't know Alex still alive. What if they saw each other in this house, would Alex regain all of his memories or they would try to kill each other.

Should he confess Alex about Mulder, should he tell Mulder about Alex before bring him here if Mulder really came to him?

Alex's hand landed on his upper arm tenderly. "Walt ?"

"Huh?"

"You're not here!" Alex signed slightly.

"Sorry. I just thought...I...I think we should go out for dinner sometime, I want to see you in those silk shirt and pants I bought you last week." Walter decided to drop his worry for now. He ate his meal Alex put in front of him.

"I'll wear them if you like, but I have no desire going out." Alex said emotiomlessly.

"You're right. It's not a wise thing, they can get you by any chance."

"Sorry, Walt...I..I have no idea why I'm so afraid of leaving this place, I can't feel safe without you around. You must think I'm weak..." Alex ducked his head, tears formed in his eyes.

"No, no, come here, Lexei." Walter pulled him to sit on his lap, his left arm held around Alex's waist. "You're not weak, you have a great body full of energy I've ever seen and you're my bravest lover who deals with his nightmares everyday..." Walter untied his ponytail, "and my best cook," he kissed his cheek, "...my beautiful housekeeper, ah, no, heart-keeper! Lexei..." He then captured Alex lips passionately as his hands everywhere on his body.

Walter lifted Alex up with his strong arms hooping around his waist.

"No! Put me down! I'm heavy, might hurt your back..." He squeaked.

"Shut up!" Walter throated out his need, brown eyes darkened with lust.

He carried Alex upstairs to his room. Putting him on the bed, Walter threw out every piece of his own clothing revealing all the muscle he proud of. He could see the excitement in Alex's shining eyes.

Without a word, he jumped on Alex like he wanted to eat him alive. He fucked him hard with all his passion and his love. They both climaxed in the same time, Walter's semen buried deep inside his body like water cleaned his soul, Alex smiled his thanks to Walter and fell to a peaceful sleep for the first time he did not have a nightmare.

Going on their sweet, happy sex life without nightmares, two weeks passed like a honeymoon to Alex. On the other hand, Walter worried about Mulder for not having his further contact. Did he happy with Scully together ? Did they still stayed in America ? Or would he come to me someday ?

Hoover Building
Deputy Director Office
8:10AM, September 20

Kimberly took a cup of coffee into Skinner's office, it's a routine for years her boss like the coffee hot on the desk no matter how the weather was. Before she could put it on his desk, she over heard Skinner talking to someone on the phone, and it's not on business. She perked up and stopped at the doorframe.

"Yeah, I know that's all 'cause of his PTSD...No, he refused to take any medication anymore since his nightmares stopped two weeks ago..." Skinner covered his phone and made a sound, "Kim ?"

"Sorry, sir ?"

"You can put it down." Skinner stared at the coffee cup holding in Kimberly's hands.

"Oh, yes, of course."

After she left the office, Skinner finished his conversation with Dr. Miller as soon as possible.

"Damn!" He said soundlessly, he blamed himself for lacking of alertness after his agents' missing. Things wouldn't over even everybody dead. This office could be bugged. Always ears out there. Skinner took his glasses off and stroked his face with his hands tiredly.

"Morning! DD Skinner." The CIA man entered without any footsteps.

"You !" Skinner stood in anger, "Here's not the place you come to."

"Don't worry, I'm Dr. Miller now." He tossed his pass ID onto Skinner's desk.

"You...killed him ?" Skinner depressed his voice and clenched his fists. He just said goodbye to Dr. Miller minutes ago, and CIA murdered him!

"That's not the point. How's HE doing ?" He smiled cruelly.

"I thought you already knew."

"I want the information everything he remembered."

"He can't remember anything but pain for God's sake, and he's not the same man you expected if you want to know." Skinner punched on his desk.

"Really ? We'll see." He took the pass ID card back from the desk. "It's a matter of time. WALT."

Shit! He knew! After the CIA man left, Skinner told Kimberly he wouldn't see anyone before lunch and locked his office, he turned there upside down in order to find the bug. He felt sorry for Dr. Miller, another life just gone for nothing but knew too much.

If CIA knew Alex's recent conditions then the others would know too, sooner or later. They would chase Alex like the others did to Mulder, he must be hurry.

Skinner left his office for lunch as usual without carrying his briefcase. Once outside the Hoover Building, he took a cab at the next block instead of driving his own car stopped in the parking deck, it might be bugged, too.

Crystal City - Viva Tower
Skinner's condo

"Walt? What's wrong? You're pale." Alex came out of the laundry room.

"Lexei! Hurry!" Walter cought his arm and pulled him upstairs. "Get yourself ready as soon as possible, we're leaving."

Walter took his camp set and packed some clothing. Seeing the rush, Alex alarmed in an instant.

"They knew?" Alex stunned there. "How ?"

"Dr. Miller. They killed him this morning. I was bugged." Walter tossed the bug he found in his office onto bed. He lowered his voice, "This place could be bugged, too."

"That's right, bugs everywhere." Alex smirked like he used to Walter hadn't seen it for a long while. He went to Walter's closet and took several bugs out from a little box then tossed them onto bed, too.

"How...?" Walter couldn't find his word.

"Some of them the cuties I bugged you years ago, the others aren't CIA, look at them, so urgly. But none of them worked since I came here." Alex sat onto the bed and thumbed them, a slight triumph lit up his face. "Sorry, I didn't trust you at that time."

"Think so. Since when you picked them out ?"

"You're right about me...leopard can't change his spots..."

"I was angry, didn't mean to..." Walter tried to apologize.

"It's Okay. I don't blame you. By the way, I think I didn't lose my pro even if I lost my memories. The next day after I woke up in your guestroom, couldn't stop myself to act on instinct. I cleaned them up! What did you think how I spent my time when you're out to work ?"

"Oh, you are my boy." Walter hugged his shoulder and sat next to Alex on the bed, he whispered, "So, they didn't hear our lovemaking."

"I don't think that's why we're leaving, Walt." His head leaned on Walter's shoulder, said quietly.

"HE want your information. If CIA want you back alive, the others will bury you alive. You're a dead man, Alex. I can't let anyone lay a hand on you." Walter stood to pack Alex's clothing. "We should buy you more clothes on the road, or you'll run out of stuff soon."

"No need. My place first, I'll pack my stuff there and wait for you till tonight. We both know you can't leave now, if you won't go back to your office after lunch time, they'll suspect you." Alex quickly pulled out the silk shirt and pants Walter bought him weeks ago. Without his artificial arm, Alex couldn't wear them by himself, so he let Walter dressed him.

They left in a hurry.

Survival
A Gay Bar

A cab drove into an ally and stopped there for ten minutes. Nobody came here in this time. They checked the ally, made sure not being followed then paid the cab.

"Why here? It's only a block away from Mulder's apartment." Walter knew in an instant Alex was not just happened to be Mulder's neighbor.

"Who's Mulder?" Alex frowned.

"No, no, don't THINK now." It's not the time for headache.

"I didn't." Alex walked to a bar named Survival, and punched the buzzer on the wall.

"We don't run bunisess, come back till midnight, will ya ?" The owner's voice sounded lazily on the buzzer.

"It's me, Papa."

"Alec? Alec, really you? A second." He pressed the release for the steel door downstairs.

Alex led Walter to the second floor, "Welcome to Survival !"

Walter sat on a stool in front of the bar. He went behind the bar to fry some potatos. Walter helped himself a beer on the bar.

Minutes later, a black man about late forty came down from third floor, wearing white tights and several silver rings on his right ear.

"Hi, Alec! Where've you been?" He hugged Alex happily, "Look at you, you're beautiful, what happened to the jade?"

"Er..." Alex turned to Walter, blushed. "Walter gave it to me."

"Huh, your taste changed, Alec." He walked around Walter and admired him, "Nice body !"

"Nice to meet you, Mr. ?" Walter was embarrassed, but stayed calm.

"No mister, call me Papa. I own half the bar, Alec has the half. So, make yourself at home." Papa turned on the light, so they can see the whole bar.

It's a vary nice place. A small stage in the center of the room for dance, booths around the wall where're lots of nude art hanging on.

"You had a life. Lexei." Walter laughted, he couldn't image Alex acting pansy like Papa. But he did notice Alex's left ear pierced.

"Eat, baby." Alex played joke on Walter like a sexy woman, put the fry potatos on the bar.

"Guess you're a Marine." Papa sat on the stool next to Walter. He posed his body try to flirt with Walter.

Alex smiled, didn't say anything to his friend.

"You sure ?" Walter relaxed, he found Alex seemed very trust this friend.

"I can smell you." Papa said in a sexy voice.

Alex chuckled, "Papa was a Marine, too."

"Hey, you have no fun. I'm trying to vamp your man."

Walter laughed, "Thanks, BUDDY."

"Not funny. I'm not your buddy." Papa wiggled his ass, went behind the bar, "Alec, I kept your new arm in your room, it's delivered here a week late after you gone." He held his arms around Alex and they went upstairs, left Walter to finish his lunch.

They gone a while, Walter helped himself a cup of tea to erase the flavor of beer in his mouth.

"Walt." Alex gestured him to come upstairs.

Walter took their stuff upstairs. Alex let him in and closed the door.

There's a small studio, and Papa was waiting for him.

"What you up for ?" Walter put down their stuff on a couch. He looked around the room, a space for photographing, a desk full of piles of visa, driver's license and something he couldn't tell.

"Papa will make us some fake IDs, so we need some photos of yours." Alex took their stuff and turned to leave the room.

After Papa took his photograph, Walter went to Alex's room.

"Nice." The room was so different from his, the color of the wallpaper was warm, lots of books and CDs piled on the bookshelf. The bed was covered with soft green cotton sheets and it was BOUBLE which made Walter smiled.

"What?" Alex blushed a little, he was shy to let Walter know him, to see his lifestyle.

"I want to make love to you on your small bed, it's a pity we don't have time." Walter pushed him onto the mattress and kissed him lovingly.

Alex embraced him, his eyes closed and tears moistened his long eyelashes. He whispered, "Go, and come back before midnight, my king." He could feel nothing more than Walter was the center of his world in this moment.

Hoover Building
Deputy Director Office
1:25PM

A little late but not enough to let anyone wonder where he had been, Skinner even bought Kimberly a cup of coffee at the coner of the block where they usually had takeout.

He did his paperworks and ran two meetings with his agents. Everything just went on as usual, Skinner said his goodbye to Kimberly and drove his own car to leave Hoover Building. He took his car to the dealer for a regular checkup and told him he would take it on Monday. The dealer let him pick a SUV in the garage.

Skinner didn't go back to his cando, he went to Survival directly.

Survival
7:30PM, September 20

Music could be heard from downstairs faintly, Survival began it's night. Dozens people crowded in the dim bar, nobody would pay attention to Skinner when he entered in the shadow and stole to third floor.

"Lexei ?" He knocked the door.

Someone opened the door, Walter looked around the room. "Oh, am I got the wrong place? Where's Alex, lady ?"

"Would you mind close the door, baby ?" The blonde sat on Alex's bed seductively.

"You !" Walter exhaled loudly, he locked the door and walked to Alex, "Amazing...but, I don't like it red, men will follow you like bees." He thumbed off his red lipstick then kissed him hot.

Alex had dyed his hair blond and put on a little makeup, dressed in a simple one-piece with a scarf wearing on his neck, of course a pair of fake breasts. He looked like a normal housewife except too pretty and tall.

"Shall we go ?" Alex put on some lipclose since Walter didn't like him to look too pretty.

Papa already prepared cash for Alex, that's a large amount of money, a half of net profit from last year belonged to Alex. Paying cash on the road, neither FBI nor CIA could trace them.

Walter took his fake ID from Alex, he glanced his name, "Mitch Pileggi ? Sounds like a Hollywood star."

"Don't you think you look a little like him ?" Alex laughed.

"Then yours must be Nicholas Lea."

"No. I'm a women now, remember ? Just call me Lisa !" Alex shrugged.

Lisa? Walter's heartbeat seemed to speed up in a second, Alex once called this name in his sleep, and he knew that was 'Fox'.

"Your ID." Walter checked it, he sighed after founding the last name wasn't 'Mulder'.

"Hey, I'm your WIFE, that make me a Pileggi, too." Alex grinned.

"Yeah, yeah. Let's move, dear."

They took turns to drive, eat and sleep. Thirteen hours later, they arrived at Quebec. Took shower in a hotel room and had a good breakfast, Alex took a nape when Walter went to shop everything they needed.

Laurentian Mountains
An abandoned Cabin

"Wake up, Walt." It's cold on the mountain at night, Alex shivered a little since he only wore the thin dress, he should have changed his clothing but Walter insisted that he should keep his disguise just in case.

"Where ?" He strightened up.

"Laurentian Mountain. Welcome to the rathole of CGB Spender's cabin." Alex smirked.

"Spender ? How did you find here ?" Walter got out of car carefully, gun in hand.

"I was sent to bring him back..." He turned off the headlight and switched on his flashlight.

"By who ?"

"...can't remember." Alex shrugged.

The last time he came here was on a mission, he and his comrade jumped here when snow covered everything. So he wasted a lot of time on driving to find his way here. A little cabin Spender's bolthole far from popular places of resorts around this area, and it's in a dangerous bear country which closed to public. Besides, Walter's SUV was kind of hard to drive on the mountain.

Walter went to the door first, he touched a hole on the door, "Hey, it's unlocked and this shot hole...did he shoot you?"

"No, he killed another man who was sent with me." Alex came and opened the door, he tried to switch on the light but failed. The next second they jumped as a little startling animal rushed through the door then vanished into the pitch black forest. "Looks like Spender never came back here again after I found him."

Alex entered this cabin once, after he cuffed Spender on the kitchen table waiting to catch their helicopter, he checked here quickly. So he knew Spender set sensors around this cabin for security, and he remembered there's a generator in the laundry room, a jeep parked outside the door of the laundry room.

They used the generator to electrify the cabin, so they could see the whole place clearly. This place was sucked for lack of use about four years, and they could smell wet and funk. Walter checked everywhere when Alex went to get their stuff.

"Small...but nice if we clean it up."

"Yeah." Alex went to master room tiredly.

Walter began to clean the fridge, should keep food frozen first, he took them out from their small cooler. When he done there, he checked doors and windows then went to master room, too. Alex had changed the sheets, put on those Walter bought them this afternoon, the old one was discarded on the floor along with the pillow Spender used, and Alex's dress was cast off outside the bathroom. Walter picked it up, smiled and he folded it to put on a chair.

They were too tired to do anything. Walter hugged the naked Alex in his arms under a wool blanket, they both fell asleep immediately.

Small cabin
5:30AM, September 22

"Lexei." Walter kissed Alex's sideburns, murmured his name softly. "Morning, about time. I have to go."

Alex stirred a little then sat up abruptly. "Already ?"

"Have to make it before Monday morning, you'll be all right ?" He brushed Alex's hair lovingly.

Alex buried his cheek in Walter's palm, his eyes closed, tears flowed from his eyes silently. He knew he must to be strong, he would live here on his own like he always used to.

"Shhh, I love you, Lexei. I'll be back, I'll think of other way..."

"Walter, make love to me, please."

"My pleasure." He caressed Alex in a tender motion, "Let me remember your body...your scent...your beauty, so I can think of you while you're not around. Lexei."

Alex sobbed. He kissed Walter with his life.

They mdae love hard 'cause they couldn't be sure whether they would be together again. Afterwards, they made sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. Alex drove Walter to Dorval so he could take a flight to Washington DC. Spender's jeep needed to be fixed, Walter left his SUV to Alex, and Alex gave him cash to pay the dealer, this way they wouldn't be traced for a while during the paperwork.

Crystal City - Viva Tower
Skinner's condo
8:05PM, September 22

Walter was really tired. Worried about Alex's safety, three days on the run and had sex with his younger lover, he was exhausted when he got home. He craved a hot shower and a good sleep, he might have to deal with the CIA man if they found Alex was gone.

He didn't notice someone standing in front of his balcony.

"Where've you been? Walter. You look like hell."

The soft tone was so familiar that startled Skinner. For an instant, his heart seemed to stop, Skinner stunned at the frontdoor with his back leaning against it. He narrowed his eyes, confused to see the shadow walking toward him. "Mulder!"

"Yeah, it's me." Mulder hugged the stunned man, buried his face in the joint of Skinner's neck smelling his scent. "You big, bald, beautiful man. This time, would you let me kiss you ?"

Skinner didn't dare to move a finger, he had Alex already and Mulder had Scully, but his heart drummed and he flushed to neck. He said weakly, "Let go of me, Mulder."

Mulder sighed. He turned on the light, so Skinner saw the mess around his living room.

"Not me." Mulder held up his hands in the air.

"I know." He slouched in his sofa.

"Two men broke into here three hours ago, they seemed to search someone and put this." Mulder tossed the bug on the coffee table.

"A cutie." He sneered remembering Alex's word about the bug and identified it was belonged to CIA.

"You knew these men? Did they have any connection with this hair..." Mulder sat next to Skinner and put a long deep brown hair in his palm. "...and the silk boxers." He fished it out from his pocket of his leather jacket and tossed it on Skinner's lap.

"Looks like you had fun in my house, too." Skinner smiled, he folded the boxers and put it on the coffee table.

Mulder watched how Skinner acted to the hair and boxers. Hair might belong to a womam, but the boxers belonged to man absolutly and it's not Skinner's size evidently. So he almost could put a finger on it, "I came here Friday night, midnight, acturally. You seemed left in a hurry, I mean the laundry...I finished it for you. Guess I shouldn't do it 'cause I found the boxers when I took it from the dryer." He brushed through his hair then watched his own hand with several hairs in it. "And it's not difficult to find hairs eyerywhere, in the guest room, the shower and...on your bed."

"It's not the time to discuss my privacy." Skinner didn't look at Mulder, he stood and began walking to upstairs.

"That's why you didn't let me kiss you in the cell." Mulder spoke a little loud.

"You had Scully for God's sake, Mulder. And I even had no idea that I could touch a man. What the hell you expected for your male boss ? " He snapped.

"...Love...I guess. I felt I love you in that moment. I still do, but now you have someone apparently, I'll understand...if you ask me to leave." He turned to leave.

Skinner was shocked to hear Mulder's bare confession. He knew immediately he loved him, too. Alex was right, he had always loved Mulder but he didn't figured out the tension between them before.

"No!" Skinner grabbed his arm in a second then crashed him onto the front boor firmly, his another hand hold the back of Mulder's neck, kissed him deep and hard till he tasted blood. He thumbed off the blood bleeding on the corner of Mulder's lower lip then exhaled "Stay."

Skinner released him and turned to go upstairs, stopped in the middle of the stairs, "It's all I can do...for now, I'm exhausted." He said quietly and went to his bedroom, closed the door.

"You forgot this, Walter." Mulder murmured to himself, he picked up the boxers, pitch black, silk, it made him think of Alex Krycek. "That's impossible, you're a dead man."

Hoover Building
Deputy Director Office
7:45AM, September 23

What a lucky man Skinner quiped himself. This morning, Mulder did the laundry and made breakfast for him just like Alex did everyday. Why a man like his age deserved the love from two pretty men, he knew he had to pay the price by his life. Thought about life, he had to deal with Spender for Mulder's life when he was an AD, now that bastard was gone, Mulder was staying safely in his house, he never thought he had to deal with his real boss the CIA for Alex's life when he was arranged to be DD. This was his life. He had no time to enjoy his luck, since Mulder picked up the bug, CIA man might show up in his office to quest about Alex 'cause they couldn't HEAR him.

Just as he thought, the CIA man alredy sat in his chair when Skinner entered his office.

"Morning, Skinner. I'm wondering you maybe late to work or ask a leave today."

"If you don't mind, that's my place." He felt an urge to break this man's neck.

"Well, if you said so." He left and walked to stand in front of Skinner, face to face.

"What you want ?" In this position, he could easily break the short man's neck by only one hand, crush him to die he wished to.

"Did he still live in your condo?"

"Is that important? You didn't seem to take a damn about a disordered agent before." Skinner clentched his teeth.

"Disordered ? He serviced you very well, didn't he ?" He smiled evilly.

"You son of a bitch." Skinner grabbed the man's shirt collar. "You promised whatever I want, only because you asked me to sit in this damn chair, to be your dog. Now listen carefully, I want his safety, leave him alone."

"I thought you want the others." He glanced at Skinner's hands.

"What you mean ?" Skinner released him.

"Agent Reyes was dead, our men traced her body, she will be sent to you by tomorrow."

Skinner was shocked, he worried about Scully and Doggett, last night he had no time to ask Mulder about them.

PART THREE: Happy Together

Crystal City - Viva Tower
Skinner's condo
6:46PM, September 23

Skinner turned on the light of the living room.

"Tell me what happened, Mulder."

"You're early, I don't remember you leave office before nine." Mulder curled on the sofa, before Skinner came home he just sat there and did nothing but thinking.

"Yeah, without you making trouble, my work was easy a lot." He walked to his studing area and put down his briefcase on the woody desk.

"I guess so." Mulder didn't move a little. "Sorry, I haven't prepare dinner."

"Well, I'll call pizza." Skinner called and then he went to upstairs to take a quick shower and put on his sleep tee and sweat pants. The white T-shirt fitted him perfectly on his well built body.

Mulder still curled there, that worried him.

"You Okay ?" Skinner carefully sat next to Mulder.

Without a word, Mulder turned his body and embraced Skinner, he nuzzeled his head on Skinner's chest and sighed contently.

On the other hand, Skinner was surprised by his sudden action. Gently, he pulled Mulder away from him.

"Mulder, I'm sorry...but it's not like you...what happened ? You know, Agent Reyes was dead, her body will be sent to Bureau by tomorrow morning."

Mulder seemed didn't want to let go of Skinner, not looking at him, he just embraced Skinner again more insistently this time like a child buring himself into Skinner's arms. And then he began to sob, his body shaked.

Oh, great! He's the man should cry, not Mulder. Skinned rubbed his back impatiently, "You should say something...talk to me, will you ?"

Maybe he's used to mad at Mulder, so he lacked of patient to Mulder's tears, he couldn't tolerate Mulder's weakness.

Skinner sighed, "I wish Scully's here..." At least she must knew how to comfort an emotiomal Mulder.

"No, no...don't talk about her, please, Walter." Mulder let go of him, still didn't look at Skinner. He rubbed away his tears.

"Fine." Skinner said quietly, left him there, he went to upstairs, closed his bedroom door.

The cabin
10:00PM, September 23

Alex was cleaning a rifle, several kind of gun lay on the dining table waiting his attention.

He found them hiding under the master room's bed, along with lots of money--travel tickets, Canadian dollars, American dollars, and a little diamond, some gold bars.

Besides the money, Spender's hangovers included winter clothes, shoes, books...they all got moldy. Alex packed them and threw out of the kitchen door, he intended to use them as firewood in case he couldn't get enough firewood for the upcomimg cold season.

Yesterday morning after he sent Walter to airport, Alex bought more clothing, shoes, sheets, food, tools...everything for the cabin life and winter if he would stay that long. Today, he fixed the jeep, cleaned the cabin, kept himself busy. Everything was fine. So now, when he put down the rifle, he couldn't help but thinking of his Walt, he felt so lonely all of a sudden in the cool air of the isolated cabin. Outside, sounds could be heard in the wildwood.

Crystal City - Viva Tower
Skinner's condo
10:00PM, September 23

After showered, Skinner lay on his bed for two hours, couldn't force himself to sleep. Heavy rain hit the windows, his thoughts wandered to his Lexei, what was he doing in this time if there was raining like here, did his lover think about him?

There's a knock on his door, he knew it's Mulder, but he did not want to talk to him, not now, not in such time he just left Alex only thirty hours, not before he could prepare himself to accept Mulder's love even he already had loved Mulder for a long time.

But the knock was insistent in spite of Skinner's silence.

Annoyed, he put on his robe to cover his naked body then went to open his door. "What ?" Skinner didn't look at Mulder, he kept his eyes on the floor but he could smell the clean scent from Mulder.

"Pizza is ready, I know it's late, but you should eat...for your own good..." Mulder said softly.

"Look, I'm sorry I was rude to you hours ago...you don't have to do these things..." Skinner tried to keep himself reasonable. It's difficult to deal with Mulder since he's not his subordinate any more. He wanted to find a balance in this relationship.

"Come on, just eat." Mulder went down the stairs without waiting his apologize.

He sighed, actually, he did hungry.

Mulder poured vodka for both of them. "I didn't think you drink vodka before." He set the bottle aside on the dining table.

Skinner just nodded his thanks, didn't answer.

Dinner was simple, they finished it and went on drinking. None of them said a word to the other. The distant sound of rain spattering on the balcony sent chills running through Skinner's whole body not that the vodka didn't work, he found himself running a fever.

"I...I'd better turn in...have to go to the morgue early...Agent Reyes's body, I think you know." Skinner took their dishes to the sink and soaked them in water.

"'Night." Skinner swagged a little but refused Mulder's helping hands.

Hearing Skinner's door closed quietly, Mulder put down his vodka, disappointed with himself that he couldn't get drunk tonight. Why Skinner always got mad at him?

Mulder went to the guest room. He looked at the bed whick still covered with forest green silk sheets then sighed, muttered "...looks HE's expensive."

He tossed and tumbled in bed. The thin sheets seemed useless in the cool raining day. Though his body was warmed by the half bottle of vodka, the chill ran through his heart and encouraged him doing the worse. He went to Skinner's door and happy to find that it was unlocked. "Lucky me."

"Walter..." Shit, he forgot Skinner's bed was put on silk too, the cotton one was folded on the nightstand. Skinner was sound asleep, so Mulder lifted the cover and slid into it, he snuggled to Skinner, hand slowly running through the soft white robe and finally thieving under the robe, as soon as he touched Walter, all his excitement froze over, "God, you're running a fever." He tried to get up wanting to find some medicine for Walter but was grabbed by the wrist.

"Don't go, my love." Skinner murmured in his sleep.

What? Walter's word sped up his heartbeat again.

"Walter ? Are you talking to me ?" Mulder lowered himself to Walter's ear, couldn't resist his clean scent which mixed up with the alcohol, he was hesitant whether or not to kiss Walter on those parted lips.

Skinner let go of his wrist and then pulled Mulder into his arms, he sighed contently and his mouth searched his lover blindly. His eyes still closed.

Mulder frowned, "Walter, you're drunk...", even so he kissed him, "...you don't know what you're doing, and you might regret when you wake up..."

Skinner didn't hear him, just kissed him back and moaned, his hands kept discovering Mulder's body. His dreamy actions seemed so weakly that let Mulder to struggle with his lust. He could took Walter now, this might be his only chance, "God! What should I do to you ? Walter." He began to remove Walter's robe.

Naked. Both of them.

Mulder signed, "Guess we just share our warmth." He then took the cotton sheet from the nightstand to wrap around them. Under the cover, he embraced the hot torso firmly,

Montreal, QC
7:55AM, September 24

The cabin didn't has any communication equipment, so Alex had to leave the cabin to make a call. This time he drove that jeep, found it not too bad.

Though he craved to hear Walter's voice, he didn't dare to call him, CIA would trace the line. So he called another man.

"Shit...this early..." The man lazily sat up from his king sized water bed, let the phone rang a while and finally decided to answer it, "Yeah ?"

"Papa ?"

"Hi, Alec! Are you all right ? You still with him ? You..." Papa concerned.

"Okay, I'm Okay. Don't worry, Papa. I...He went back to DC, I want to know if he's all right, would you...would you go to his place ? I wrote a letter and mailed to your place, please..."

"I'll check him for you, as soon as I get the letter. Did you write his address ?"

"Yes. Papa..." Alex blubbered.

"Ooooh, what's wrong ? Don't worry, everything will be all right, sweet." This was not his Alec, that strong, confident Alec. Papa could feel his friend in pain. "I hope I can hold you now, my Alec. Be strong, boy."

"Thank you, Papa. Just...be careful, don't let anyone see you when you go to his condo."

"Hey, that's what you talk to an ex-Marine ?" Papa snorted, "Nobody can smell me when I'm on a mission! "

"Yeah, you were a pro, I believe you."

"I still am."

"Yeah."

"...Hey, Alec."

"Hum ?"

"Take care of yourself." Papa disconnected the phone.

Alex wandered on the empty street, still too early in the morning for shopping, so he entered a cafe.

Crystal City - Viva Tower
Skinner's condo
4:06AM, September 24

A chill ran through Mulder's naked body, he woke up finding himself was dampened with sweat, his whole body almost covering Skinner's. He quickly rose from there and went to bathroom to get a dry towel.

Turned the light on, so he could see Skinner's body and to wipe perspiration off of him. Skinner's body temperature was back to nomal. Mulder pulled the sheet to cover his body when he finished, then he went to bathroom for a shower.

The sound from the shower awoke Skinner from his sleep. He lay there for a moment thinking who the hell taking a shower in his bathroom then startled to find himself naked, he sat up in a second, his body felt sore after the fever reduced.

"I'll bring you water, need anything else ?" Mulder stood by the bathroom door, a towel wrapped around his middle.

"What are you doing here ? I don't think I was that drunk." Skinner frowned, his head ached and his throat hurt, too.

"You didn't...I'll bring you water." With a smile, Mulder left the room.

A few minutes later, Mulder came back with a cup of water. Skinner took it and drank up.

"You haven't explain why you took a shower in my bathroom." He didn't want to know the answer why he was naked when he woke up.

"Well...I...I was cold, couldn't sleep, and...with the vodka...I...I thought about you..." Mulder could feel that Skinner was going to lose  his temper now. "Don't, don't worry, we didn't do anything...yet, though you kissed me..."

"I kissed you ?" Skinner put down the glass on to the nightstand, and thought hard when that happened.

"Yeah." Mulder said softly, he went to sit on the edge of the bed facing Skinner and ran his hand on Skinner's cheek, "I like the way you touched me, but you're with somebody in your dream." He sounded a little bitter.

"What did I say ?" Skinner alerted, his voice was a little tight.

"No, nothing, but I could feel." His eyes wandered Skinner's. "Would you touch me if you knew that was me ?" He leaned forward trying to kiss Skinner, but Skinner turned his face.

"God, Mulder, don't do anything..." Skinner couldn't dare to look at him, his heart pounding and his statement sounded weak.

Mulder could feel him.

"Okay. I know you're tired. Sleep. Just please let me stay with you." He began to lift the cover.

"Like this ?" Skinner couldn't help dropping his eyes on the towel which Mulder still wrapped around his middle.

Mulder laughed, "Won't do anything to you, just share our body warmth, the night is cold." He took one of the pillows to put in front of his crotch and then took off the towel under the cover.

Skinner immediately turned his body and lay on his side.

Mulder spooned him from behind. "You should take a shower when you woke up." His eyes closed and happily inhaled.

"You don't sound complaim." Skinner lay still awaring the other's heat.

When they finally calmed to fell asleep, the rain stopped and faint traffic noises started on the street.

Hoover Building
Deputy Director Office
11:10AM, September 24

"Does your DD not here yet ?" 'Dr. Miller' rose from the armchair, and asked Kimberly for the third time this morning.

"You're here, too, Dr. Miller. I can ask you the same question." Kim didn't like this man at all, she noticed that eyery time he left her boss's office, Skinner would be upset for a long while.

"Call him." He ordered with threat.

His attitude reminded her that man always smoked and also made her boss pissed. She wondered why he never showed again for a long while, years?

Didn't know where come the brave, Kim slowly leaned forward to stare up at Dr. Miller and said coldly, "Just what kind of doctor you are ? Does our DD has any kind of health problem ? If anything emergency, I'll call."

The man was livid with rage, he snarled, "Fine!" and stormed out of the room.

Kim picked up the phone and dialed Skinner's cell phone. Not being answered, she tried his condo.

"Skinner."

"It's Kim. Are you all right, sir ?"

"Yeah ? Oh, I'm...I'm not feel well this morning, think I won't be there today." Skinner got out of bed and put on his sweat pants. Mulder already went downstairs to get his cell phone when it rang a minute ago.

"Dr. Miller was here all this morning, he just left, very angry..."

"Why ?"

"He insisted to see you, and I refused taking orders from him to call you...Oh, and Agent Reyes was ..."

Skinner interruped her, "Tell the morgue don't let anyone touch the body."

"Sir, I'm sorry about that."

"Me, too. Kim, thanks for your call." He disconnected the line and hurried to go downstairs. If the CIA man wanted to check him here, then he would show in a short time since his condo was not far away from Hoover Building. He'd better to find a way to hide Mulder.

He found Mulder in kitchen who started to prepare lunch.

"Here, your cell phone." Mulder handed it to Skinner and turned to open the refrigerater. "Lunch will be ready in a few mimutes, why don't you go to take a shower..."

The sound of Skinner putting the cell phone on the dining table was too soft and Mulder could sense Skinner standing right behind him silently that thrilled him in an instant.

Skinner reached out his hand across Mulder's bare waist with his elbow slightly touching him to shove, slamming the door shut. His voice was lower, "I'd prefer you to take a shower first, and I'll join you there in no time."

Mulder glanced over his shoulder then nodded, he went upstairs quietly. He was almost there when the door bell rang. Skinner rushed to the door hiding his footsteps on purpose and looked through the peep. It's that man!

He walked to the stairs, spoke in a soft voice that he was sure only Mulder could hear him, and looked at him meaningfully, "I don't want anybody to find you here."

Mulder nodded again, closed the bedroom door behind him.

Skinner didn't let the man in, just opened the door and kept the door chain locked. "What do you want ?"

The man stepped backward, said in disgust, "You're smelly."

"I got sick, a problem with you ?" he raised a sardonic eyebrow.

"Didn't he treat you well ?" The man sneered.

"None your business." Skinner began to shove the door.

But the man pushed the door hard and growled, "You dare! I want to see him RIGHT NOW !"

Speaking in a neutral voice, "He's gone." Skinner pretended hiding his hurt to show he's not care for Alex.

"He's what ? How dare you let him go ? " The man shouted.

"You think anyone could stop him any time he want to leave, do you ?" Skinner hissed.

The man exhaled slowly, "So you two broke up." His hands left the door, "Good." then he straightened his clothes and turned to leave.

Skinner shoved the door and sighed from relief, for now. Not wanting to deal with Mulder, he went to use the guest bathroom. When he got out of there, fresh showered, taking his clothing to the laundry, then put on clean sweat pants. Pacing across the living room into kitchen, he found the lunch already on the table and Mulder sat there wearing one of his shirt.

"Hope you don't mind I borrowing your shirt." He grinned.

"Large. I'll buy you new clothing this weekend on my way home. Give me a list if you need anything else." Skinner sat on the other side of the table but not facing Mulder.

They had meal in silent, Mulder glanced at Skinner several times through the lunch, wanted to say something but gave up at last. When lunch was over, Skinner soaked the dishes in the sink, awaring Mulder was there to wait any of his action. He dried his hands.

Sighed, turning a little to glance over his shoulder, "Upstairs."

Mulder obeyed, Skinner went behind him. He shut the door, walked to Mulder and reached out beginning to unbutton his shirt. Mulder stopped him by grabbing his wrists.

"Stop fighting me." Skinner said quietly, went on unbottoning.

"You don't need to do this. It's just a manoeuvre after Kim told you something and you knew someone's coming, right ? Why you keep every secret..."

"Shut up." Still the calm voice and this provoked Mulder.

"I hate be maneuvered." Mulder shouted and slapped away his hands."Who is HE ? And who is that man ?"

Growling, Skinner shoved Mulder down onto the mattress and sat on him with his left palm pressing on Mulder's chest firmly, his right hand went to tear Mulder's shirt. "I'm not the only one having secrets here."

The strength from Skinner was so powerful, Mulder had to fight the invading hand with his hands.

"Dare you go rough on me, I'll call it a rape !" Mulder hissed. His hair messed in struggl, his face reddened even.

Skinner stopped, "People keep threatening me these days, you think I still have anything else to lose, do you ?" His voice shuddered in anger.

"Yes! You have me, you won't lose me 'cause I'll never let you go, Skinner." His voice shuddered, too, he's exhausted, no longer had any strength to struggle against Skinner.

Reading the surrender deep in Mulder's emotional eyes, Skinner shook him violently, "Say it."

Mulder laughed, and this froze Skinner, he looked deep into Walter's soul, exhaled every word sincerely, "I love you. I love you, Walter Sergei Skinner."

Buttons hitting onto the floor sounded like a beautiful song, the shirt was discarded along with Mulder's pants on the floor. Now Skinner was taking off his pants, his eyes never stopped staring that face, an attractive face which haunted him years...something strange flashed into his mind.

"Walter, take me." Mulder's passion drowned out Walter's mind.

He blanketed themselves under the sheets, Brushing his hands through the soft hair, then grabbed them handful, Walter could breathe a scent very fascinated from Mulder's body, losing in the rapt, he took Mulder out of control. The precome of Mulder's tasted sweet and seemed nonhuman. Walter deep throated him, swallowed the bursting force down his stomach.

Mulder was moaning his satisfaction. Walter lubed himself in no time and drove deep into Mulder fiercely, making Mulder cry the pain and pleasure. Panting, thrusting, he brought Mulder reaching a second climax, Walter growled his own in the same time, his muscle stretched powerfully, sweat shinning beautifully by the daylight.

'Fox' was his last word before he lost consciousness.

Mulder took a washclothes from bathroom, he cleaned every inch of Skinner's body, then dressed him.

Survival
2:10PM, September 27

Papa took the letter from his mailbox, from the stamp he could tell immediately it was from Alex. Tearing it open, there was a letter for 'Walter', and another piece of paper had Walter's address and cell phone number on it. Papa dialed the number.

"Hello."

Papa was almost sure the sound was not belonged to the man he met a week ago, "Mr. Skinner ?"

"No. Who's calling ?"

Why there's another man in Skinner's place ? "Papa. May I speak to Mr. Skinner ?"

"Well...He can't answer the phone...right now."

The voice on the line was very soft, very attractive, that left Papa a lot imagination.

"What you mean he can't answer ? Who are you ?" The voice sounded too sissy to show Papa's anger.

Mulder chuckled lightly. "You want to leave a message to Walter ?"

Papa disconnected abruptly.

"Oh, my God. What should I tell Alec ?" There's no way he could tell Alec that his boyfriend was with another man.

As he worried, the ring jumped him out of bed where he was sitting. "No, no, nononono, I'm not ready. Think, think." The ring continued insisting on his attention.

"Yeah." Papa finally picked it up.

"Papa ?"

He sighed. "Yes ?"

"Did you got the mail ?"

He could hear the expectation on the other end. "Yeah."

"You went there ?"

This time was more hopeful in his voice.

"No...but I...I just called him..."

"What'd he say ? He's all right ?"

"Yes. Yes. Don't worry, Alec. We talked, and I'll go to his place on Sunday morning, I'll give him your 'love letter'. See, every thing is all right."

He heard a laughter of reassurance from Alex. Papa exhaled a release quietly not daring to let Alex hear him.

"Then I'll call you."

"Okay. Careful !"

Crystal City - Viva Tower
Skinner's condo
9:16AM, September 28

Since last time the CIA man visited Skinner, being told that Alex was gone, he almost had CIA turned the country upside down for searching their missing, so-called disordered agent Aelx Krycek, but found nobody of course. And he was informed that Agent Reyes's body was missing last night, didn't Skinner has someone to do the autopsy yet ? He went to Skinner's office this morning, being treated very badly by that arrogant secretary who finally told him her boss never showed from Tuesday.

So he led four his underlings to Skinner's condo, ready to arrest a suspicious insurgent Walter Skinner, his longest and best successful undercover agent.

Instead buzzing the bell, he struck upon the door with his gun making loud noise.

"Open the door, Skinner. I know you're there."

Mulder was still sleeping beside Skinner untill the noise downstairs awoke him. When he heard the running fire, Mulder slid out of bed right away, grabbing his clothing and hiding into Walter's closet, he could hear several people rushed upstairs and entered the room.

"Sir, he's dead. Bed still warm." One of the CIA's agents checked Skinner's pulse.

"Damn !" The man snarled, "You win, Skinner."

He turned to leave.

"What we do with the body, sir ?" One agent stopped his boss and the question scared Mulder to sweat.

The man glared, said coldly, "We have nothing to do with a dead man." They left.

Mulder slouch on to the bottom of the closet, rubbing away the sweat on his face.

Minutes later, a security guard of this building came to exam the damage and explained to Mulder that he had being showed the badge of the CIA so he let those men pass. He recognized Mulder as Skinner's subordinate, he told Mulder very politely that he would has someone to fix the door on Monday morning.

After the guard left, Mulder went to kitchen, made himself a sandwich. He paced across the living room to stand in front of the battle-scarred door, drawing a deep sigh on seeing the wrecked doorknob he slowly lifted one hand to put the door chain on as his other hand busy with the sandwich.

Going upstairs to Walter, Mulder had him cleaned and changed, he did this once or twice per day. Then he sat on the side of bed, reaching out a hand to stroke Walter's face when he murmured his love to him.

Before sunset, he packed Walter's whole clothing and a few things they might need on the run, then decided to take a rest. He wandered down to living room and began channel surffing on TV.

Crystal City - Viva Tower
Skinner's condo
10:00AM, September 29

The door bell was ringing when Mulder cleaned dining table. He drew Walter's gun out of his pocket in hand and went to the door cautiously.

"Who is it ?"

"Papa." Papa remembered Mulder's voice, he thought why the fuck the man still stayed here, Walter's new lover? "Hey, open the door, or I'll do it myself...looks like somebody had done it before."

Mulder remembered that sissy voice, too. He unlocked the door chain, and was surprised to see a tall, well-built black man standing in front of him with his fists on his hips.

"You !" Papa was surprised to see him, too. Alex showed him this man's photo many times when he was young and worked for FBI, once told him that he would die for this man if he could have his love.

Mulder cocked his head, grinning. "You know me ? Oh, of course, we 'talked'."

"You're not young." Papa folded his arms in front of his chest, eyes scanning Mulder from head to toes.

Mulder chuckled, "So are you." And this provoked Papa.

"Where's Skinner ?" Bumping the smaller man aside, he entered the living room, shouted, "Come on, man, I know you're home."

Mulder frowned, he had done his best to be civilized in case Papa was Walter's friend, but apparently this man was not buy it.

Put one hand into the jacket he wore, Papa was going to draw the letter when he felt Mulder's gun jabbing on his back and heard the crack of the trigger being pulled open.

"Give it to me, slow, I don't want to shoot you." Mulder whispered.

"Easy, man. You make me nervous." Papa slightly glanced over his shoulder to make sure there's no intention to kill in the man's eyes.

"I said give it to me."

The gun insisted on the lower of his back. "You don't want to see it if you are Walter's lover." Papa pulled out the letter hesitantly and gave it to Mulder.

"What's this ? A love letter ?" Curiously, Mulder turned it around but could see nothing more than a normal envelop buying from a post office, a Canadian P.O. ?

"Yeah, you can say it. Give it to Skinner, would you do it ?"

Mulder nodded, "Sorry." he saved the gun into the samll of his back.

Papa gave him a last look and turned to leave, suddenly stopped in the doorway, "Are you Walter's lover ?"

"Ask Walter youself, next time you see him." Mulder grinned then closed the door.

Survival
2:00PM, September 29

Before Papa ran a day's business, Alex called.

"I knew it must be you." Papa said.

No energy in Papa's voice, that alerted Alex that something was wrong. His heart throbbed in sudden panic.

"Did you meet Walter ?"

"Yes." Liar, Papa cursed himself.

"Did he read my letter ?"

"Hmmm...might be." Okay, a neutral answer, much better.

"What you mean 'might be' ? You didn't see he read it or you even didn't see him ?" The voice was such desperately.

Papa sighed loudly, "Yes and no. I went there this morning, the frontdoor was well-battled, looked like some people really pissed off..."

"He injured ? He's all right ?"

"I don't know. A man was there, I think he took good care of your Walter." Oops, he finally said the point.

"A man ? His friend ?"

"I don't know, God, Alec, he will be fine. Actualy, you should take care of yourself, honey."

"Shit! You always call me honey when things is bad. Tell me the truth, damn it !"

Another long sigh, and a long silence.

"Papa !"

"Alec, go on your life like nothing had happened." He couldn't be more creul to Alex by telling the truth that his Walter was with another man who he also once loved.

This time was a long silence on the other end of the line.

"Alec ? Honey ?"

Only a click answered him.

"Shit! Don't do stupit to yourself, Alec." Papa slowly shaked his head.

The cabin
11:50PM, September 29

Suddenly it's too heavy to hold the receiver after heard from Papa, 'go on your life' ? Alex did really understand what that means. The rest what Papa talked like noise far away from him, dropped the phone, too tired to feel anything but anger and sad. Couldn't believe that Walter betrayed him so soon, one week ? He couldn't wait any longer than one week to fuck another man ? What happened about 'I love you' shit ? Liar! Liar!

He wandered around the Montreal Downtown, wanting to find a place to get drunk, damn the city full of street cafe, they're too romatic.

So he started from beer which he easily got it and gulped them as he kept searching the street for bar. No luck, it's only early afternoon, Alex returned to his jeep when his mind still clear, then he cried soundlessly in his car and finally exhausted to fall asleep.

A guard tapping on the windshield awoke him, told him they were ready to close the parking lot at ten o'clock and asked Alex if he would prefer to keep his jeep here since apprently he smelled alcohol. Alex stroked his face, shaked head to clear his mind, then started the engine, left the parking lot.

Driving along the night street, the air became more familiar to him, dark, hopeless, lonely, reminding him to get drunk. Soon he parked his jeep outside of a dirty building then went down to a basement, a small pub. Before he could got drunk enough to lost consciousness, the bartender threw him out and he had no energy to fight the man who called him bad names.

Not knowing when and how he managed to drive himself back to the small cabin, it's midnight and he was throwing his gut in bathroom. He cried loudly like a baby, then hysterically laughed, his life was a joke.

"Why ? Walter, why ?" Alex murmured in his dream, his clothing was dirtied with his vomit. He spent the night and whole day lying on the cold floor unconsciously.

The chill of the mountain in autumn was colder than DC, it shaked Alex back to real, but the dream lingered long enough to make him think. He was back to the old time, he was young, a green agent in CIA. He was assigned to spy on FBI, so he was arranged to Academy first, one day CIA told him to meet the Assistant Director Walter S. Skinner who was also 'made in CIA' supposed to be his backup in FBI.

Walter did back him up on every mission in a way that not ungrudging, he always had his morals to struggle with.

And then, his partner, Alex seemed to remember something, but the face was faint in the dream.

"Must be him !" He abruptly sat up from the position he had kept lying on the bathroom floor since last night. "The man Walter always have loved. Walter thought he was dead...what's his name ?"

"Good, you are happy together now, Walter. Without me." He looked into the mirrow and saw the silk clothing Walter bought him, said that he liked him in black, now dried with his vomit on it.

"I don't need it any more." He tore them off of him, and went under the shower, using the cold water to torture himself.

Untill he couldn't endure the chill, he puddled to bedroom drawing the wool blanket and wrapped himself, wanting to shed himself into blankness.

Alex sat on the love seat in front of the fireplace which had no fire on because he had no intend for warming himself. The last daylight of this Monday afternoon was getting darker, he just sat there woodenly. Water drops from his shoulder-length hair kept soaking through his blanket in the finally darkened living room.

Crystal City - Viva Tower
Skinner's condo
4:53AM, September 30

The first sight in front of his eyes was the ceiling of his own bedroom, he stared at it for a long while, trying to clear his mind. The last thing he remembered was Mulder's face, he could feel someone was holding him in his sleep, must be Mulder, Skinner stirred as something important striking into his mind suddenly.

He struggled to get up, his body was stiff like he never moved for a long time.

Immediately, Mulder's figure came into sight, "Slow down, Walter." He massaged his shoulders and then his thighs.

Walter seized Mulder by the collar then tore the shirt apart.

"Hey, easy, Walt. You have to get out of the habit of tearing my shirt every time you want sex." Mulder reached out to touch Walter but being flipped off.

"What's wrong ?"

Skinner examed Mulder's chest with his fingers brushing through the thin body hair where he was sure a scar the aliens cut him, it didn't exist there anymore! That scared him. He soon grabbed his gun Mulder put on the nightstand that now was within his reach and aimed at Mulder.

"Explain." Skinner hissed.

"I will, after you calm down." Mulder took off the shirt and threw it onto the floor. "Here goes the last one. Think I have to unpack and get one of yours again."

"Unpack ?"

With that, Skinner glanced around his bedroom, then went to the hallway to look down his apartment, it's apparently that Mulder had packed everything. And then he saw the holes on his frontdoor when he walked downstairs.

"I'll explain eyerything on the road." Mulder softly spoke behind Walter.

"What you mean 'on the road' ?"

"You are a dead man now, officially, like me." Mulder raised an eyebrow.

Skinner didn't say anything , he aimed the gun at Mulder again.

"That man came back, with another four agents. They checked your pulse and were sure you died." Mulder smiled.

"I can't be here if I already died."

"Yes, you can." Mulder laughed.

The hair on the back of his neck stood, Skinner growled, "What did you do to me ?" hands holding the gun were shaking a little.

"I told you I'll explain it on the road. They found you dead, we can't live here anymore. Why the CIA interested in you ? I'm sure you have a lot to explain, too."

"I won't leave with you unless I see you bleeding red." Walter was going to pull the trigger.

Mulder sighed. "Okay, since we both are dead men, think we have a liesure time to sit and talk."

"Then talk." Walter used his gun signaling Mulder to move. They both sat on the white sheets covered sofa on each side.

Mulder didn't care the gun still on him. "Remember that report Scully went with Spender in order to get a disc ? That Spender told her it's the cure for all human disease ?"

"Go on."

"That was the only time he didn't lie."

Skinner raised an eyebrow.

"When I was abducted by the aliens, they did a lot tests on me, not only me, all the abductees they took from this planet."

"What tests?"

"Their race ARE going to perish, they traveled the universe and once found a planet to live. But they failed, their disease killed the original race on that planet, the race you know as we called the Rebel, they left and traveled again."

"Are you trying to tell me the Earth is the next place they want to LIVE ?

"Exactly."

"Shit !"

"They just want to survive. Between the travels, they find the cure to their disease, but back then they already lost their ability to creat their generation. By tests, they found our female can save their race, so they created a vaccine whick was a cure to both their and our disease, implanted all the abductees vaccine to immunize them, and that means these people can immunize others, too."

"How ? And don't they have female ?"

Mulder chuckled, "No, they are neutral. But they found our female's egg can breed their species." Mulder stood up to open one box he packed the bottles.

"Hey, it's only morning !" Skinner lowered his gun, already forgot what he was going to do with it.

"You will need a drink to hear the rest, the TRUTH I searched for years." He took a small bottle of scotch from the box and gave it to Skinner.

"Did you absorb all I told you ?"

Skinner nodded.

"After you rescued me, Scully and I went to Spender, I want to make sure what I knew was the final truth, it was. The truth IS the aliens that they really exist, they kept abducting us, they will INVADE us. The date of final invading is December 22, 2012."

Skinner laughed driedly, shaking his head. "Are you drunk, Mulder ?"

"It's you drinking, Walter."

"But I'm not drunk."

"Then you must hear me clearly."

Skinner didn't speak, his hand holding the small bottle was shaking a little. Not that he afraid of death, it's cruel to see the end of the world, to see the dead of your own family.

Mulder moved himself to Skinner's side, taking the gun away then he held Skinner's head on his chest. "Everything will be fine, I said I will never let you go, remember ?"

"Are you sure you still bleed red ?" His lips brushed on Mulder's bare chest.

"Yes. And so does Scully."

"You never wanted to talk about her since you arrived here." Skinner pulled himself apart from Mulder, and stared at him, examing. "What happened ?"

"She and I had different ideas about Willian. She expected me to play house with her...until I told her my idea was to come back to you that she understood it's time to end our life together. Doggett and Reyes had found us and stayed with us for a while, we told them the TRUTH, so before I left Scully, Doggett asked me to immunize Monica..."

"That means..."

"That means I had sex with her, in this way by ejaculating into her, she will SLEEP about one week to let the vaccine run in her system to become a immune. She won't get sick, and in the same time her cells mutant and won't get old anymore, that means unless she wants to kill herself or someone, something kills her, she won't die, won't get old...just like you, Walter. You will be fifty forever."

All he could see was shock in Skinner's eyes.

"But...I...you...you didn't ejaculate in me...how ?"

"The point is the precome. Over the endless tests, the aliens finally found only the prostate and the ovary can hold their vaccine to mutant and to keep creating it, for some undiscovered reasons the vaccine only exist in precome. But women didn't have the problem, it exists in their humor safely after they lose the ability of ovulating."

"So all the abductees became immortals ? And their lovers, too ?"

"No, only the abductee, the body can produce the vaccine, that means he or she is a GIVER. They can heal themselves by the continuing mutant cells. And a RECEIVER does not has the ability to produce the vaccine. The vaccine must be implanted by the aliens."

"I see, after 2012 the aliens and the abductees will be the most rich people in this planet." Walter quipped.

"True. The aliens creat vaccine, the abductees produce it, and the others take it, you can see the chain who's the ruler. When the ivading begin, human who didn't be immunized before Dec. 22, 2012 will all die, our race will face the fate of extinction, too. That's why the Rebel searched and burned those victims, by the destroying they prevent us going on the same fate as them and also to take revenge on the aliens for the extinction." Mulder signed, the first problem was how to survive before the invade, they might be killed by the enemies first not the aliens. But he could wake from dead, not Walter.

"So where's Scully and Doggett ?"

"Scully insisted to take her son back, Doggett went with her."

"Didn't he love Agent Reyes ?"

"No! They have long stories like Scully and I. Just friends. Doggett loves Scully. Don't be surprise when you see a happy couple after the invade."

Skinner was silent for a long while.

"Guess I should write my WILL to let my family take care of my retiring allowance." He dropped the bottle that was warmed within his holding into trash can.

"You won't go to them ?"

"No, not now, I have someone to go first, and I hope you go with me. He is the explanation of mine. Promise me you won't hurt him, he's weak and memory disordered." Skinner looked around the living room, "Where you packed my..."

"This ?" Mulder drew out his fake ID from one of the boxes. "Oh! I forgot to tell you a man called and came to see you during your SLEEP."

"Who ?"

"A black man, Papa."

"Shit! Did he say something ?" Did Papa see what he shouldn't know ?

"No, just asked me to give you this, LOVE LETTER !" He drew out it along with Skinner's fake ID from the same box and gave them to Skinner.

Skinner read over the letter, "God, why didn't you give it to me first when I woke up ? When did Papa visit here ?"

"Yesterday morning."

"Fuck! Let's move, now !" If Papa had told Alex what he saw here, what would he think ? Don't do stupid to yourself, Lexei.

"Now ? What about all these things ?" Mulder gestured around the apartment.

"I'll let my family take care of it, too. Now, move."

They took all the boxes of clothing and some necessities with them to the lobby, told the guard to keep the key after the door get fixed before them called a cab to airport.

The cabin
6:30PM, September 30

Skinner rent a SUV on the way out the airport to put all their packages. He barely said a word to Mulder, kept praying that he would found Alex alive.

When they arrived at the small cabin, the mountain was really cold in the dark.

"It's too early to turn in." Skinner frowned, six thirty was not a bedtime, not to mention the fact that there's no light in the cabin.

Fortunately, he still could hear the sound of generator running.

"Stay here, and remember your promise." Skinner stopped Mulder at the porch, whispered. He then opened the door which he surprised finding it didn't lock, letting the door ajar to keep Mulder out of sight and switched on the light of the porch and the living room.

"Oh, my God !" He gasped, Alex was sitting on their love seat, expressionlessly. Walter rushed over there. "Lexei ? Lexei, it's me, Walt. I'm back." He pulled him into his arms, hold him firmly.

"You're stiff, you cold ?" Walter kept stroking him, "You showered ? Why didn't dry yourself ?" He pulled off the wet wool blanket and used his embrace to warm Alex.

"Talk to me, Lexei." He shaked him and began to kiss him anywhere he could touch on the naked Alex. "Don't scare me, my love." It seemed to pulled Alex back to reality.

"Walt ?" Alex began to focus his eyes on Walter, and burst out tears, "You're back to me. Papa lied, he said you...you...God, I don't want to think about it. I love you so much it hurts."

"Don't worry, I'm here now." Walter tenderly pulled Alex apart and brushed his hair backward. He noticed that Alex must washed the color off, his hair color was as usual. "You look tired, let me put you to bed, lover." He affectionately scooped Alex up into his arms.

"So he's the owner of the silk pants." Mulder stood in the doorway. "Sorry, it's so cold outside...I can't wait..."

"Would you shut the door ?" Walter sighed and put down Alex, now holding him against his body to hide Alex's front.

Mulder narrowed his eyes to take a good look at Alex, eventually he underatood who he was looking at. "Can't be, Alex Krycek !"

He ran to pull him away from Walter and hold Alex's face with both his hands. "You was dead, I saw you dying.

"Who are you ?" Alex slapped away Mulder's hands, hissed and soon hid behind Walter.

"Don't act like you don't know me, Alex. Why did you help me at that military facility ? Why..."

"It's impossible, Alex was in coma at a hospital then." Walter interrupted.

Mulder was dead in his words. He saw Krycek and Gunmen, but they all died ?

"Be nice, Mulder. Remember what I told you." Walter warned him.

'Yes, weak and momery disorder.' Mulder didn't answer Walter only glared at him.

Walter led Alex to sit on the love seat, he soon went to their bedroom to get a new blanket, coming back he wrapped the blanket around Alex, "You are shaking, cold ?"

He put some firewoods into the fireplace, quickly lit the fire, soon the living room warmed up.

All the time, Mulder watched Walter softly talking , attending to Alex, he could feel the love between them, "When did you two start together ?"

Turning, Walter smiled, "It's a long story, we should eat first." He left Alex's side who now was snoring softly in his nap.

"Can you move the packages here when I prepare our dinner ?"

"Sure." Mulder shrugged and turned to go outside, but Walter grabbed his arm before he opened the door, silently he gave Mulder a kiss on his cheek and a 'thank you' in his smile.

When Alex woke up, he saw Mulder setting the table, Walter was busy with the dinner. So he went to bathroom. His tearing clothing was gone, he stunned there.

"I'll buy you new, Lexei." Walter's hands snaked up his chest from behind and his chin on Alex's shoulder. "Dinner's ready."

They enjoyed the food, Walter was good in cook.

"What ?" Alex glared Mulder who glanced over him for the second time.

"Why don't you put on some clothes ?" His eyes still keep admiring Alex's ponytail Walter tied it before dinner. The jade in the gunhole of his forehead seemed familiar.

"I don't want to, is that a problem with you ?"

"Uh...Alex feel they stinging after he awoke from coma, his doctor said..." Walter was going to explain.

"I know, PTSD. Psychology is my pro, remember ?" Mulder gave him a knowing smile, "You said Alex is the explanation, so which one of you are going to tell me the story ?"

"What story ?" Alex put down his wine, looked at Walter.

"Ours." Then Walter repeated the TRUTH Mulder told him, Alex didn't show any fear or shock like him.

"You knew, did you ?" Mulder cocked his head, Alex always knew more than him.

"Most of it, I knew, long time ago." He said tiredly, eyes focused on the glass playing in his hand.

"How long ? Why didn't you tell me when you kissed me..."

"Kiss you ?" Both men asked in the same time.

Mulder grinned, "Years ago. You broke into my place and told me something I thought it was stupid, so you kissed me to make me believe."

"Don't remember." Alex was sheepished.

"Once I thought you were lovers when you two work together." Walter laughed.

"Walter, I would remember him if he was my lover." His face reddened more than the wine worked.

"I think you loved him, Alex. Survival was only a block away from Mulder's apartment." He then turned to Mulder who sneered his disagreement. "Hey, everyone doubted you since you didn't fool around with Scully, Fox Mulder."

"Wait! Fox Mulder and Dana Scully..." Alex shut his eyes firmly,

"You remember ? Take it slow, Lexei." Walter rushed to kneel in front of Alex, softly talked.

"See, he remembers that Scully is Dana, but totally forgets me."

Walter didn't mind him, he took Alex to bed, kissed him good night then shut the roor.

"Don't push him, he'll remember since you'll be around here." He came back to his seat, sipped his wine.

"Is it Sharon's ring ? The jade."

"Yeah. He stuck it by himself one time his headache was killing him, he was drunk."

Walter began from the start, how a green agent in CIA made his way to FBI, met his backup who had long spied on FBI and finally become a DD. How the poor agent ended up in his bed.

"He had enough, he's not that strong as usual, and I want to protect him." Walter hesitated, "I want you around, too. I know you had some feelings toward him before you thought he betrayed you."

Multer chuckled his delight, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking ?"

And Walter blushed, "Can you do it to him ?"

"Well, maybe." Mulder joked, "Since he's prettier than me, maybe I should wait till he get older..."

"Mulder." Walter warned, then saw the other man raising an eyebrow to challenge him. "Okay, okay, name your price."

Mulder leaned forward to rest his chin on his folded hands, eyes staring into Walter's, his beautiful eyes was shining liquid.

"Happy together, three of us."

THE END