Title: Heavy Bag

Author: Amazon X

E-mail: yankeestarbuck@yahoo.com

Website: http://yankeestarbuck.tripod.com

Feedback: always welcome, flames will be used to light my candles

Category: Skinner/Other - Romance, rape, pain, death, angst

Rating: NC-17

Spoilers: Avatar, SR 819 (vaguely), Existence

Summary: Skinner finds a little chippy that he can neither handle, nor protect and what's he going to do about it.

Archive: Tell me where my babies live and keep my 'nym.

Disclaimer: He's his own AD, no matter what Moon Doggie (that's CC) says. But he likes to play at my house sometimes.

Notes: I know I'm being really mean here, but I just can't stand all these damn happy endings I keep coming up with. So, screw it. This is a sad one. Deal with it. It's got some heavy issues, the aftermath of rape, so if you're squicked, BYE!

Author's Notes: Again, I have to love up Everly Dawn, who is SO bogged down with school yet had time to give this a look-see beta, thank you dear!. And I have to give major love to Cynth, my woman of beta and self-esteem, who actually gave me the ending. You are the woman. Also, if you don't like Skinner with ladies other than Scully or Kim (yes, I said Kim!), then...why? There's enough Walter to go around!

HEAVY BAG

by Amazon X
************

SOUTH STREET GYM
SATURDAY, EARLY AFTERNOON

Walter Skinner danced around the young boy, the sweat glistening on his golden brown skin. They swung at each other, connecting occasionally, but more in spirit than in earnest hope to hurt each other. Walter stood up and stepped back, not into the match at all. He could hear a feminine grunt and yelp occasionally and it was breaking his concentration. The trainer walked over to him and removed his boxing gloves.

"Hey, Slugger, what's the problem? You're better than this. Jamal has been looking forward to his ass-kicking all week."

Skinner smiled and raised his water bottle in toast to the young man who was looking over at them, having his own gloves removed. Jamal wiped his dark skin with a stark white towel.

"It's not working for me right now. And with that in mind, I'm sure Jamal would wipe the ring with me. Thanks, anyway."

Jamal nodded his assent to the admission of defeat and left the ring. Skinner blotted his face with a towel as he turned to the spot of the gym he did not recognize. It had been hastily decorated with Japanese privacy screens, yet they were attached to the walls, not covering the area where the action would take place, leaving it open for everyone to view the action. There were mats put down, thin ones, and a sensei worked with a young woman on some form of martial arts, both of them moving very slowly. He watched in rapt fascination as the trainer, Mike, put his hand out for Skinner's removed headgear.

"You like the master over there?" Mike asked.

"When did that happen?" Skinner inquired, stepping down from the ring apron with Mike.

"Oh, about a day or so ago. The master, that's what everyone is calling him, he put all that up on his own. And he brought that girl here with him. I never seen her before this. She's kinda cute, huh?"

Skinner took a good look at the young woman as she moved. He assessed she was in her 20s, physically fit, blonde hair, blue eyes, tanned skin, tight body. She could have been considered skinny, with small, flat breasts, slim hips, tiny wrists and ankles. She was not the stuff of a sturdy woman, nothing Skinner was used to in a lover.a lover? What the hell was that errant thought that skittered through his mind?

The master stopped his lead of the young woman and turned to her. As Skinner came closer, he could hear the man yelling about how she wasn't concentrating, not focusing her strength and energy and she would never understand the true concept of kata unless she could focus her attention long enough to focus her strength. She stood with her head down, allowing him to scream, high pitched and fast paced at her. She put her hands together to bow graciously to him, but he turned and stalked away, rudely not returning her bow.

Skinner was uncomfortable staring at this woman as she put her hand over her eyes, as if in embarrassment or anguish. He could see her chest convulsing in heavy sobs and began walking towards her. Chivalry might be dead with her generation, but not his. But she turned her back to him, not seeing his advance, and stalked towards the boxing equipment.

Skinner stopped and watched as the young woman began swinging at the heavy bag. It swung under her strong shots and began to move out of control. Skinner walked around to it and grabbed it. She saw his arms come around it and stopped. The tears glistened on her cheeks.

"Someone is supposed to hold it for you, to spot you. Do you need some help?" he asked, quietly, gently, in great contrast to the one-sided shouting match with her sensei.

"Sure. Thanks."

He held the bag tightly for her and marveled as she landed her first focused shot. He was surprised by her strength for such a little girl. She hit it again, and again, and again. She was focused all right, he thought, if only her sensei could see this. Skinner began encouraging her, saying, "good one" and "nice shot, do it again". She pulled her fists up, and began bobbing and weaving like she'd seen the men do in the ring. Skinner was impressed.

Finally, covered in sweat, she stepped back and looked up at her new trainer. Skinner stepped out from behind the bag and the surprise on her face was apparent. She didn't expect the tall man, with his broad chest and honey-golden tan to stand in front of her. He looked away a moment and reached up to nervously adjust his glasses. But the smile played on her pink, juicy lips, and she softened minutely.

"Thanks for the help, mister...um..." she stammered, looking nervous.

"Walter Skinner," he supplied holding his hand out to shake hers. Her small red hand, hot from contact with the canvas bag disappeared in his. She smiled up at him.

"DJ," was all she said. She walked to where her bag sat and picked up the watch inside to look directly at it. "Oh, fuck-a-duck!" she announced loudly.

Skinner looked at her quizzically as she threw the watch into the bag and stamped her little foot.

"Is there a problem, DJ?" he asked, his deep voice resonating throughout the area where they stood.

"Yeah, um, I missed my bus."

"Your bus?" he asked, wondering about her concern.

"I don't drive, Mr. Skinner. I have to take the bus back to my apartment in Alexandria. I can barely fucking afford that. So, I have like an hour to wait around until the next one shows up."

He nodded, appraising her.

"I can drop you off if you like."

She looked up at him, a full foot taller than she was. She smiled again. What the hell, she thought. "Sure, where's your car?"

She gathered up her bag and followed him to the door of the locker room. This was a men's gym from back in the day and there was no ladies' locker room. Just a ladies' "toilet". And that was it, a toilet and a sink, in one small room. She usually just went home and showered there. Skinner decided to do the same and just grabbed his clothes from his locker and made his way out to where DJ stood, ignoring a harassing man who was saying things that made her roll her eyes heavenward for strength.

Immediately, Skinner walked over and put a protective hand on her shoulder. She looked up at the glasses that reflected the light from the fluorescents overhead. She couldn't see his expression, but obviously the annoying guy did.

"Whassup, old man?" the kid asked, inner city Hispanic accent all too present in his voice.

"Take off," Skinner warned.

"I was just talking to the chica here."

"Now you aren't. Goodbye."

Skinner turned, pushing DJ in front of him and marched her out of the gym. He grabbed her elbow and steered her toward his Blazer. He clicked the locks from the key chain controls and opened the door for her. She sat in the front seat and locked in her seatbelt as Skinner got in the other side. He secured his own and took off for the Beltway.

"You said you lived in Alexandria?" he asked, glancing at her.

"Yeah, I'll direct you. I live in the.um."

"I can probably find it. One of my friends used to live in Alexandria. I know it pretty well."

He drove on in silence. DJ looked over his radio and began playing with the stations. He glanced at her and smiled. Just like a kid, he thought. She settled on a top 40 station, a song pumping through his stock speakers he definitely did not know. She rocked back and forth, turning the volume up. She smiled at him and shouted, "Hey, you don't like Pink?"

"Who?" he asked, laughing as she bopped in her seat to the song, singing along with the female singer. She sang song after song all the way back to her apartment building, causing him to laugh at her, making her want to goof off more. He pulled the Blazer to a stop in front of the building and said, "I believe this is the address you gave me."

"Yeah, I know. Wanna come upstairs? I mean, you got your clothes, you can shower here. I should be gracious since you saved my ass from the jerk at the gym."

"Well, it seems some men have forgotten chivalry."

"So? You want a coffee? I make great lattes."

"I should."

"Come upstairs!" she interrupted and jumped out of the Blazer after grabbing his keys. She ran around the truck and into the door of the building before he could stop her. He locked the truck and followed her as she ran up the stairs of her walk-up building. He followed in and up the stairs, where she waited on the top floor, the fourth. He was a little winded, but not much. Hers was the only door on the floor and she left it open for him. She was in the kitchen, he guessed and he closed her front door.

Her apartment looked rather large for the apparently small building it was in. He walked past the small front hall into her living room. She had a huge Papasan chair in one corner, made from black aluminum, with a red cushion, a black leather-like couch, glass and black metal coffee table and a huge entertainment system covering most of one wall. He saw a bedroom off to the back on the right, with the bathroom off that same hall before the bedroom.

He walked toward the left to the eat-in kitchen. She was standing at the counter, pouring water into the coffee maker. She turned to him and said, "Sorry, I didn't see a way I could get you up here without doing that. So, you're staying for coffee, right?"

He laughed and said, "I guess that's the only way to get my car keys back."

"Put your stuff in the living room. Look around if you like. I have an office in the back, my computer and such. Or, you can watch me make coffee."

Skinner dropped his bag on the floor by the doorway and it made a loud thud on the hardwood surface. He liked the throw rugs she had about the place. He looked around the kitchen and chuckled at the sprinkling of chickens around the room. She turned to him and smiled over her shoulder as she waited for the espresso to brew. He appraised her again, with the sunshine from her window shining to her right, by the small round wooden table with two matching chairs. The sun glinted in her hair. She stopped pouring the small demitasse cups full of rich brown liquid and put the small pot down.

"Just do it, already," she stated, plainly.

"Do what?" he asked, genuinely confused.

"This," she answered and walked to him. She reached up to throw her arms around his neck to jump up and kiss him. He caught her tiny lithe body, pulling her close, accepting her mouth on his. She grabbed his face in her little hands and held it while she kissed him.

"There, now it's over with and we can move on from here."

"Where are we moving to?" he asked, breathless.

"The bedroom, now, please."

He didn't need to be told twice. Walter walked with the girl's legs still wrapped around his body to her bedroom, continuing to kiss her deeply. He deposited her on her rumpled, unmade bed and watched her move on it. A waterbed. She reached up for him, but he stepped back.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

His conscience was screaming at him, Walk away, Walter. You do not belong on this waterbed with this little girl. She knelt up on the bed, comfortable with the small waves under her, and grabbed his hands. She pulled him a bit, but he pulled away.

"I should really go home and shower. I shouldn't be here," he stated, more shaky than he wanted to admit.

"You can't smell any worse than I do. How bad do I smell?"

She stood on the bed and wound her arms around his neck. Her mouth found his again and she sucked on his lips. He held her out from him and looked into her eyes.

"How old are you?" he asked, trying to find the reason that he shouldn't be there.

"I'm above the age of consent. You have no excuse."

Searching her eyes for any sign that he should turn and go, he was satisfied to find none and kissed her again. They toppled onto the bed, making waves in the water. She gasped a little when his weight came down on her, but it dispersed quickly under the liquid-filled mattress. Clothing began to fly from their bodies as mouths were savage in their search for each other, throats, cheeks, and back to mouths. His cock was free and he pressed it against her thigh. She sat up.

"What's wrong?" he asked, breathless, looking confused.

"I have to get a condom."

He nodded, sitting up, remembering that she was part of the safety generation and not the Free Love generation like he was. She pushed him onto his back and expertly slipped the latex onto his hard member. She threw her leg over his body and settled onto him. Her eyes flew open wide and she steadied her body with her hands on his chest. He couldn't hide his smile.

"Fuck, you're huge," she gasped.

But that didn't stop her from beginning to move on him, slowly at first. After a few strokes, to accustom her body to his, she moved faster, riding the waves in the bed. She raked her hands into her long wavy hair, pulling it from her shoulders onto her head, to show her neck and shoulders. Skinner watched her face, as she half closed her eyes, squeezed him with her inner muscles and moved quickly. Her swollen lips parted as she panted. Then she gasped, squealed and clutched at her breasts, pinching her little pink nipples. Confused, but close to the edge, Skinner couldn't hold on any longer when she wiggled her hips and grandly threw her arms out wildly. He groaned out his orgasm and held onto her hips tightly. Then she really surprised him.

As he lay back, recovering his breathing, she swung her leg back over him and scrambled off the bed. He watched as she grabbed the little wicker waste basket where she'd thrown the condom wrapper and a box of tissues to put next to him on her bed. She walked out of the bedroom into the bathroom. He hadn't moved when she came back, and she looked at him, drinking water from a glass.

"Take the condom off and clean yourself up," she said, as if she didn't think he knew what to do. He did as she asked, slowly, and still lay in the bed, looking curiously at her. She grabbed the waste basket and put it back in its place on the floor and stared at him. "So, now what?" she asked.

He smiled and let out a full belly laugh. He held out his hand and said, "Come here." She stood back a moment, not sure of what to do, then put the glass on the night table and crawled onto the bed. He reached out and caught her in his arms, bringing her down onto his chest in a tight embrace. She struggled minutely, but relaxed after a moment.

"What was all that?" Skinner asked, looking directly in her eyes.

"All what?" she confusedly asked back.

"All the theatrics. What were you doing?"

"Um, don't *you* know?" she exaggerated, as if trying to embarrass him.

"Well, I know what it wasn't. I know what you think you wanted me to think it was. Why
did you do that?"

"I don't know *what* you're talking about." She pulled away from his embrace and he let her go. This is one strange little girl, Skinner thought. She was turned slightly away from him. He thought that he should get up, get dressed and leave her. He should have gone home, but after the strange encounter, he wanted to know what he'd done, or didn't do, that caused her to do what she did.

Skinner sat up and slid his hands up her back to cover her tiny shoulders. He felt her tense up.

"DJ, why did you fake your orgasm?"

"*Excuse* me?" She was completely acting at this point. Skinner had to crack this nut before he left, to see if he still had it, could still sweet-talk the women.

"I know that wasn't real." He slid his hands down her arms and deposited a gentle kiss on a naked shoulder. "If you would have given me some time, I could have made it real." He kissed the other shoulder, barely touching the skin. "I know the difference. I can *feel* the difference, even through a condom." His hands slid around to cover her perky little breasts that were rounder than he originally thought. "Let me help you understand."

He felt her shudder under his touch. His palms made little gentle circles on her nipples, whispering across their surface, hardening them immediately. He slid his hands around the base of both breasts, letting his thumbs gently flick across the little nubs. His mouth traveled over the back of her neck, one side to the other and back again, leaving kisses, flicking his tongue and nibbling gentle bites on her skin. Her head lolled to the side, as if too heavy to hold up. Skinner turned her to lay back in his arms, one curled around her back, cradling her little body.

"What's your full name?" he asked softly, dipping his mouth to her throat. The first kiss felt like fire, branding her with his lips. She moaned softly. "Dina Jacqueline Dryer."

"Dina, I like that name. Little Dina, sweet little Dina."

His voice spun in her head, flowing like liquid chocolate, coating her in sweetness. She looked into his eyes, the same liquid chocolate brown, and saw the real look of molten passion. His mouth traveled gently, slowly, lovingly, from one eyelid to the other. Her cheeks flushed at the soft kisses laid upon them. His tongue snuck out to trace her lips, to define the outline before putting the slightest bit of pressure to open them, to taste her mouth, to play with her tongue, to make love to her mouth.

Dina's brain reeled. She was letting him affect her, letting him take charge. This was new. Why not? It feels so good...so much better than when I'm alone. Why am I so convinced I can't come with a guy? she questioned herself. This guy, big gentle hands, his soft, sexy mouth, his sexy voice, why was he making her into one big nerve ending? When his mouth made its way down her slim throat, taking a moment to nip at her neck then lick the bitten spot, to soothe it, down past her collarbones, luxuriously licking each one in long strokes of his tongue, to kiss her nipple, she completely went to jelly.

Skinner was emboldened at the feeling of her going limp in his arms. He laid her back on the bed and busied himself with her breasts, intent on thoroughly loving them. A light flick on his tongue over one little bright pink nipple made her shiver, move her legs and softly moan in the back of her throat. Another lick, a kiss, a gentle scrape of teeth over the hard tip made her purr. His free hand came up to stroke the other breast, tease the nipple to match its mate into erectness. When he was sure he'd tortured her enough at one breast, he went to the other, tasting that bud, rolling it between his lips and making her move against him.

"Oh, God, this is so fucking good," she moaned, reaching up to stroke his head. His bare scalp under her fingers was warm and smooth, like the head of his cock, and it excited her more. She moved under him, undulating her lithe body, teasing herself more. His kisses traveled down to her stomach, pausing to lick into her navel and onto her hips, teasing each. She giggled and pulled away as he gnawed on the protruding bones, eliciting giggles from him. He stroked her body, looking into her eyes, slipped his hands up and down her thighs, slowly parting them to stroke the sensitive inner flesh.

"Oh, shit.are you gonna eat me?" she asked, breathlessly. His evil grin answered her question as his tongue traveled the lengths of skin his hands had just warmed. Oh, he knew exactly what he was doing and did it well. He kissed the swollen red lips, kissing as if they were a mouth, gentle at first, but soon, the kisses were demanding as he dipped his tongue in to taste her moist hot center. The yelp of sheer pleasure that erupted from Dina's throat spurred Skinner on to work more ardently.

Dina was amazed at how much this man's touch excited her, how much pleasure he brought her with just his hands, his lips and tongue, not to mention how sexy a bite could be. The storm started in her loins, just a small rumble but soon, faster than she could have imagined, the winds picked up, blowing around a hurricane into a tsunami. Grabbing the sheets, bucking against his mouth, the waves crashed over Dina's head as she thrashed about the bed, creating more waves and she came, and came, and came.

Dina felt a smile against her body and another kiss. She shuddered. He moved away, crawling up her body. She opened her eyes to look into deep brown. He had a sweet little grin shining down at her. Dina snaked her arms around Skinner's neck and pulled him down, cuddling his warm body to hers. Skinner buried his face is her soft hair, pausing only to kiss her velvet cheek.

They laid together, quietly listening to each other breathe, until Dina moved to lay a kiss on Skinner's cheek. "Thank you, Walter."

"Was that your first?" he asked, leaning up on one elbow to look down into her eyes.

"No, well, sorta." She turned her face and blushed.

"What do you mean, sorta?" The amused twinkle in his eye made her giggle.

"Well, I can do it by myself, but a guy hasn't...until you."

She didn't look him in the eye. That was a difficult admission, he thought. She must
trust me. Skinner rolled to his side and pulled her into his arms, tucking her head into
the crook of his shoulder. She fit her body against his, slipping one small leg between
his tree-trunk thighs and slid her arm across his chest. Soon, he heard her even breathing and smiled. She was asleep. He settled his head into the pillows and soon was asleep with her.

Dina awoke a few hours later, as the sun hung low in the sky. The red, orange gold rays spread across the bed, shining in her eyes. She stirred against Skinner's chest, waking him. They sighed in unison. She looked up at him, seeing him gazing down at her and their lips met. He stroked her cheek.

"Hi," she said, the little girl voice making its way back out.

"Hi, yourself," he said.

She snuggled under his arm. "I never want to get up."

"Little girl, we will have to get up. Our coffee is cold, anyway."

"Well, I don't want coffee anyway. What about food?"

Skinner looked up at the ceiling, weighing over the idea of eating. "I need a shower."

"I have a bathroom. Don't you have extra clothes or something?"

Skinner looked down at her. Her eyes were wide with expectation. She wanted to stay with him, wanted to spend time with him. How could he say no? And he truly didn't want to. He held her body close to his, her hair tickled hischest, and her sweet warm breath caressed his skin. It all felt like heaven on earth to him.

She rose from the bed, pulling him with her and led him to the bathroom. She turned the knobs to adjust the shower, let the hot water make it up to her bathroom from the boiler in the basement. Standing in the small room, with Skinner stroking her bare ass, pressing his body against her, she raised her arms to wrap around his neck from behind.

Part 2

After a long and luxurious shower, using all of the hot water in the building, Skinner sat on the edge of her bed as he watched her dress. She slipped into a little black dress, essential in every woman's wardrobe, with spaghetti straps crisscrossing in the back. She thought about wearing pantyhose, but decided that the warm June evening was going to make her uncomfortable wearing them. She slipped her little feet into a pair of black strappy sandals and turned to Skinner.

"Let me just get a purse together and we're off," she said, smiling softly. She grabbed a black sequined clutch purse, threw some essentials into it and they were off for his apartment for Skinner to change. She was impressed by his condo. Crystal City was a very exclusive community and nowhere close to what she could afford. He left her in his living room, which she decided to walk around to see what she could gather about him. Pleasant pictures on his walls, curtains, which she thought was interesting for a man to have hung, leather couch, nice stuff. His television was a decent size for the distance from the couch.

She didn't hear him slip down his stairs as she looked over the items on his desk.

"Interesting?" he asked, startling her. She looked up quickly and covered her mouth. Skinner crossed the space quickly to her to put his hands on her shoulders. He tipped her chin up to look in her eyes. He saw the card in her hand, his business card.

"You're a fed?" she asked, her jaw quivering.

"Yes, I am. Is that a problem for you? I mean..."

"No, but...like, wow, you're job is pretty important, huh?"

Skinner smiled at her true innocence. He smiled gently and said, "Why don't we talk at dinner, yes?"

She nodded, dropping his card in her purse. They went out to his Blazer and took off for the restaurant. She looked him over, impressed by his taste in clothes. Beige linen button-down shirt, chocolate brown Dockers with a matching sport coat and brown loafers. He did know how to impress a girl. They drove out of Arlington, down 495 and Dina laughed.

"Where are you taking me?" she inquired.

"The Inner Harbor for crabs, is that acceptable?" he asked with a smile. She thought he looked younger with a grin on his face.

"Yeah, take me to Phillip's."

"You read my mind!" he exclaimed. She watched the roadway's go by, 495 to 295 to 695 and on to the Inner Harbor of Baltimore. They parked by Camden Yards and crossed the footbridge into the mall. She pulled him by his big hand down the stairs and into Phillip's glass doors. They were led to a table for two and Dina sat in the chair that faced the harbor.

The waiter walked over, announced that his name was Clarence, and asked if they wanted drinks. Skinner ordered a beer and Dina asked for white wine.

"I'm sorry, I'll have to see your ID, miss," he said, sheepishly. She sighed openly and fished in her purse for her wallet. As she looked, Clarence looked at Skinner and said, "It's nice that you let your daughter drink when you're out together."

Skinner looked up at the man with the hard, cold AD glare and Clarence smiled guiltily. Dina handed him her driver's license and winked at Skinner. After putting it away, she leaned across the table to plant a loud kiss on his mouth, that he accepted greedily. With drinks on their table and appetizers on their way, Dina sat back and looked carefully at Skinner.

"So, what does an assistant director for the FBI actually do?"

He smiled and blushed. She thought he looked adorable.

"It's rather boring, actually. Lots of administrative work, nothing exciting. My agents do all of that. When I was a field agent, I did a lot of running around, but mostly, I work on the budgets and the conduct and actions of my agents. And I have two that are going to kill me." He was gazing off into space.

"Oh, really? Why would they want to do that?" A frown creased her forehead as she took his words literally.

"No, they don't, really, but their crazy actions are going to give me a heart attack one day. They go on the wildest cases and sometimes, it's all I can do to explain why I authorize their behavior."

Skinner was more lost in thought than he wanted to be, staring at the little line of bubbles coming up from the bottom of the gold liquid in his glass. Dina looked him over, seeing the lines in his face deepen. She decided he needed a night off from his worries and slipped her sandal off to slide her bare foot up the leg of his trousers, stroking his shin. Skinner's eyes flew open as he felt her soft toes stroke his leg. Then the sexy smile grew and he laughed quietly.

"Are you trying to seduce me again, little girl?" he asked, cocking one eyebrow up,
reminding him of one of his agents.

"Little girl? Like, how old do you think I am, dude?" she asked, shocked by what he considered a term of affection.

"Dina, I wouldn't even hazard a guess and be wrong. How about you tell me how old you are and what it is that you do for a living."

"I'm 25, just turned in April. And I'm a software developer."

"Shouldn't you work in Silicon Valley or Seattle?" he asked.

"Nah, I contract out to offices here. I like this area. I may have to move out west, but that Seattle weather, can't hack it. I did it for like, 4 months, not my sport. And California? They're, like, so way fake, and stuff. Nah, I like the real people out here. And all the government people, they're like way boring, but that's cool, cuz, I get to kinda stand out without having to really be freaky, you know?"

Listening to her youthful banter made Walter feel younger with every sentence. She went on about having gone to Maryland State, her parents who were still married and living in Rockville, her brother who was still in high school there, her dog that she missed but knew her father would never let her take with her. Through appetizers, through the buckets of crab shells that were carted off their table, through six glasses of wine for her, she rattled on about everything. Skinner was relieved, not being much of a talker himself. After dessert, he led her back to the car, as she wobbled on the little heels of her sandals and sat her in the front seat.

He didn't want the night to end so soon, so he drove her back to his apartment, leading her up to his bedroom. She looked at his huge bed and a smile crept across her face. In a flash, she'd kicked off her shoes and jumped on his bed like a child, sprawling out on her stomach. The hem of her dress rode up a bit, exposing part of her sweet bottom, shocking Skinner a bit.

"Dina! I thought you were wearing underpants!" he exclaimed.

She raised herself onto all fours and slid the hem of her dress over her behind, revealing the purple satin thong she wore. Skinner's blood pressure shot up several levels as she looked back at him over her shoulder.

"Satisfied? But, I did go braless," she admitted with a drunken giggle. She sat back on her heels and slid the straps of her dress from her shoulders, revealing her bare back. Skinner slipped out of his shoes and crawled across his navy blue comforter to her. He kept it crisp in the room, a nippy 55 degrees, and saw the goose bumps rise on Dina's skin. He wrapped his burly arms around her, attempting to warm her, raising his own temperature in the process.

This time, making love to her was slower, he was in charge, but again, she did not let him forget the condom, one of a half dozen she'd brought in her purse. They lay together, afterward, breathing heavily, tingling and snuggling. Dina thought she liked it much better with an older man. He knew what he was doing, no fumbling around, no posturing above her, like someone was in the room watching, and he knew where her G-spot was. She pressed her face into his chest, purring in pleasure.

"Did you like that, little girl?" he asked, not giving up his favorite name for her.

"Yeah, it was...wow," was all she could manage. He pulled her closer to his heartbeat.

"How many times was that, sweetheart?" he wondered, stroking her hair.

"I think three? Your hand, your mouth and um...that thing you did..."

Skinner let out a deep laugh. "I learned about that many years ago, but have not had much practice with it in recent years."

Dina sat up and looked into his eyes in the dim light of the bedside lamp. "How long?"

"Oh, about five years. I've been a bit busy, I guess."

"So, like, you're clean, then?" Her question was blunt and to the point.

"In what terms?" He sat up a bit, looking down into her eyes.

"I like blow jobs, and I hate the taste of latex. So, like I can suck you off and it's cool, right?"

Her honesty and bravery almost shocked him. A woman who enjoyed performing oral sex was an anomaly, he'd always thought. But here she was, admitting freely that she liked it. This was something he felt he would rather enjoy. And he was truly excited at how brave his little girl was.

*/*/*/*/*

Throughout the summer, they spent most of their time at his house, since he had air conditioning. Then spent a lot of time in his bedroom, exploring each other's bodies. Skinner loved the fact that Dina was double-jointed. She could bend her legs into impossible positions, and her back arched so far, he thought she'd snap in half.

His surprise hit an all time high one night, as they were making love and he slipped out of her. As he was positioning to slide back into her, she put a hand on his chest to stop him.

"What's wrong, baby?" he asked, holding himself up and looking down at her with concern.

"Nothing. You wanna get creative?" There was an evil gleam in her eyes as she moved against him. He took his cock in hand and rubbed it into her wetness again, teasing her. But he pushed her legs back with his free hand, bending her body further. He rubbed the head against her again, a little further south. He wasn't sure she was ready, able to handle him. Skinner knew he was larger than the average man, and he'd performed anal sex with his late wife regularly. But Sharon worked up to it. Dina wanted it immediately.

He dipped his finger inside her, wiggling it around, causing her to giggle and move against him. He pulled out and strayed it down to her anus, circling the little tight ring of muscle. He heard her purr and moved against his hand.

"Shall I?" he asked, licking her lips, wanting to tease her.

"Yeah, baby, I know you want my ass," she cooed in his ear.

He slipped his finger into her, gently inching in as he kissed her. She moaned into his mouth. Skinner slid his thick middle finger in and out of her body, reaching his thumb to stroke her clit. She could feel her body reacting to the stimulus, relaxing her. Skinner felt her inner muscles give a bit and slipped a second finger into her. Her arms tightened around his neck and she growled in his ear. She relaxed more, signaling to him that she could take him.

"Are you ready, sweet?" he asked, pulling his hand away.

"Yeah, Wal, fuck me already," she commanded.

Moving into position, Skinner slid the head of his cock into her tight opening, shocking her. It wasn't painful, but it was surprising. The smile returned to her mouth as she relaxed around him. He pushed in a little further, taking his time, as much for himself as for her.

"Your first time?" he asked, breathless and panting.

"Yes, can you tell?" she asked, concerned.

"You're wonderful, little girl," he soothed and moved into her completely. Limbs wrapped themselves around bodies, and they moved together in a new, slower rhythm. Skinner admitted to himself that he loved a virgin ass and relished this one. He brought her off first, stroking her generously with his fingers, taking his time, teasing her gently. But when he finally came, he could feel her squeezing him, caressing him with her body from the inside and could see that she had his pleasure as much in mind as her own.

They lay together afterward, not talking, not moving. She took her chance, with the quiet and the dark to admit her inner feelings, knowing he would not.

"That was really great, teddy bear. Thank you."

"That was really your first time?" he asked again, a little more question in his voice than usual.

"Do you think I was lying?" Hurt was seeping into her tone.

"No, baby, I don't. You were really good at it. I guess I expected you to be a little more nervous and apprehensive."

She stroked his cheek and kissed his lips firmly. "I trust you. I knew you wouldn't hurt me. I knew that you would make it good for me, not just making it good for you. Why should I be apprehensive?"

Her words rang in his head. She trusted him. He trusted her as well, mostly. Sometimes, he wondered about the things she told him. He was worried about where her money went, but she was open about her finances, showing him she had major student loans, having chosen only to work part time while she had attended school and it was weighing heavily on her.

"Did you think I was like, doing major drugs or something?" she asked when he finally admitted his concerns. She ran a lazy hand through his chest hair, scratching him with her nails. She knew it tickled him.

"Little girl, I don't make judgments any more. I'm almost always wrong."

"Well, I don't do drugs, I rarely drink, as you know, and I always have safe sex. So, you know that I'm like, not into the youthful bullshit. But I do like to do this."

Not even giving it a second thought that they were sitting on his terrace, where people might look up and see, she settled on her knees, in the setting sunlight of the sultry August evening, and pulled down the waistband of his running shorts. He was semi-erect, as he always was around her, but as her lips caressed the soft skin of his shaft, he groaned and settled back, putting his beer bottle on the concrete floor. His hands came up to stroke her hair, entwine in it and pull it away from her face so he could watch her mouth work him. She worked him with both hands, cupping his balls, took each into her little pink mouth to suck on them and drive him absolutely crazy. It wasn't long before he came in her mouth, as she swallowed him down.

Skinner pulled her up into his lap, cuddling her to his chest. He didn't care how hot it was, that she was sticky against him. He was rapidly falling in love with this girl. She was independent, she was honest, she didn't need constant reassurance of her beauty or worth, she didn't cling to him emotionally, she was too good to be true. Skinner laughed to himself, remembering Mulder's ramblings once about Star Trek fans who wrote their own stories based on the show and one fan wrote a character like that, too pure and good to be true and upset all of the other fans with it. Why this thought tickled him now, he didn't know.

*/*/*/*/*/*

As autumn slowly made its way to the East Coast, Skinner made some serious decisions about his life. He finally put a new will together, since Sharon had passed, but put it on hold until he could speak to Dina. He wanted to take her to dinner. He needed to find out what she wanted to do. He wanted to make a permanent decision. But how the hell did he bring the subject up?

"Kim," Skinner barked into his phone, "would you please ask Agent Scully to come to my office?"

"Of course, sir."

In minutes, Special Agent Dana Scully was shown into Skinner's office. She sat at one of the chairs before his wide wooden desk, knowing the feel of the worn leather well under her rear end. Usually, she was under fire, squirming in that seat. But she and Mulder had spent the last few days catching up on administrative paperwork in their dreary basement office. There couldn't be anything wrong.

"Sir, is there something wrong?" she asked, seeing the deep creases of worry in his forehead. He looked up from the file he had been trying to read and smiled weakly at her.

"Agent Scully, can I speak with you off the record on a personal matter?" he asked, trying to get it out quickly, but evenly, before he completely lost his nerve.

"Of course, sir, is something wrong?"

"No, Agent Scully. Um, I need to ask your advice on something."

"About women," she surmised and laid it out.

"Yes, about a specific woman." Skinner related the story of how he met Dina, how old she was, the time they spent together and how he felt about her. He was surprised at how easily it came out once he started. All the words were on the tip of his tongue. Scully sat back and listened carefully, waiting for her boss to finish. When he did, he stood up and turned his back to look out of his windows.

"Sir, have you told her how much in love with her you are?" she asked, knowing that word wasn't mentioned.

"Agent Scully, I didn't say..."

"Sir, you didn't have to. I can see it in your eyes, it's pparent in your tone of voice. And you should tell her. She may feel the same way. When is the next time you'll see her?"

"Well, we usually go out on the weekends, with work and all. I suppose I could surprise her with dinner tonight."

"I think you should make it a private affair, though. If you're going to tell her how much you love her, do it while you're cooking, or something where it's not going to be a big ceremony. She doesn't seem like the kind of woman that will stand on ceremony."

"Amen to that," Skinner slipped out. He grimaced at his exclamation, but Scully knew what he meant. The man was happy his lady love was low maintenance, and could take care of herself, while enjoying his company. Scully could tell that finally, after mourning the loss of his wife and reconciling the fact that she and Mulder were having a relationship, he was moving forward with his own love life. And she knew that at least he was having sex regularly, since he'd unclenched his jaw. She'd thought he definitely would begin to suffer from TMJ before long, if he wasn't already, since his jaw had been clenched since he was assigned to supervise the X Files.

"Thank you, Agent Scully. Your candor, and your confidentiality in this...matter is greatly appreciated."

"Sir, it's my pleasure." Scully walked out of his office, as plain-faced as when she walked in.

That afternoon, Skinner sat in his office and dialed Dina's cell phone. He loved the way she answered when she recognized his phone number.

"Talk to me, teddy bear!" Skinner could hear giggles in the background of her coworkers. She was a bit more open than he was about their relationship, having taken pictures of the two of them and framing them for her desk, and her apartment. There was one photo she had of him asleep in her bed. He was bare-chested, wrapped in her sheets. She thought he looked adorable. He had to admit, he did look about 30 years old, since he was completely relaxed at that point. She just thought he looked amazing.

"Dina, I would like to have dinner with you tonight. Is that all right with you?" He swore at himself for sounding like a beat puppy. But he was excited when she agreed.

"Of course, we'll cook. You have food at your place?"

"Yes, I do. We can make something together. I just wanted to see you."

"Cool, I could definitely use an eyeful of your sexy self."

She was never afraid to compliment him, no matter how embarrassed it made him. But he'd learned that it was how she was, how she expressed herself.

"Good, I'll see you at my place at 6:30 tonight."

"Great, love ya!" And she disconnected the line. Love ya? She'd never said that before, he thought to himself. Was that her way of telling him? Was that how she wanted to let him know she wanted to commit? Skinner shook his head. There was so much he needed to ask this girl that night. There were so many unanswered questions that were swirling through his head.

He finished as much work for the day as he could before grabbing his jacket to make his way to his car. He nodded to a few agents who were astonished to see the AD leaving at a normal hour. One agent looked at her partner and said, "Larry, how much do you want to bet that since we saw Mulder and Scully high tail it out of here together, he's going to meet them for a hot threesome?"

"Sally, you're twisted. AD Skinner? He doesn't have sex. I'll bet he's going home to care for his elderly mother." Sally shook her head at Larry's assessment as they each got in their cars and left.

Skinner drove through the rush hour traffic with all the patience of an expectant father, drumming his blunt fingers heavily on the steering wheel. He turned the radio on to get through the drive easier and was surprised when one of Dina's homemade CDs cued up and blared her favorite pop music. She had a penchant for top 40 songs and it almost drove him crazy. Pink, Jay-Z and N'Sync were not what he cared to tolerate. But he was happy that she would leave Pink Floyd on when she would scan stations, and certain other classic rock bands that he grew up with and enjoyed listening to. He left the CD on anyway and was surprised that he knew quite a few of the lyrics.

At his apartment, he hurried around to change out of his suit and have a quick shower. It felt good to wash the day's worries from him. He dressed in a t-shirt and shorts, knowing that he would be sweating once Dina got there and closed the windows. She had a thing about the temperature in his apartment and hated the fact that he liked it cold. So he dressed appropriately to handle the heat she craved.

After 6:30 came and went, with Skinner drinking a glass of red wine, he dialed her cell phone. He listened to her voice mail message and clicked off. She was probably on her way and not able to get a signal in the Metro. When 7:30 came and went, and the bottle of wine was drained, Skinner left a message on her voice mail that he was waiting for her and would like a call with an ETA. When 8:30 came and went, he sat in his office, at his laptop, a glass of scotch on his desk, as he combed the Internet for news of a reason for the Metro to be late.

When Frohike answered the phone, at 11:30 PM, he was surprised to hear Skinner on the other end asking to check certain records for him.

"Mr. Skinner, what you're asking me to do is illegal," Frohike stated firmly, for whoever was listening to their conversation.

"I know, I shouldn't have asked. I'm sorry to have bothered you." Skinner hung up the phone and called for a cab. He was well into a bottle of Glenmorangie and driving was out of the question. He knew that Frohike was already well into the search and by the time he reached their offices, would have whatever information he wanted when he arrived.

But when all three faces were blank, he began to fear the worst. No accidents listed, no hospitals registered her, and no police precincts listed her. She was missing. He knew he had to wait a full 48 hours to list her as a missing person. That would be torture. Jimmy, on Frohike's suggestion, led Skinner to the whorehouse-red velvet couch to sleep off the scotch. Skinner protested a bit, but soon was out like a light.

Frohike sat at his computer hitting specific keys as the phone rang, receiver wedged between his shoulder and head. He became agitated after the fifth ring and gave up a silent prayer in hopes not to have to scream through the answering machine he was sure would pick up instead of the intended party.

"Hello?" The sleep was heavy in Mulder's voice. Scully stirred beside him, sighing loudly at being woken by the phone ringing.

"Sorry to bust up a great night for you, buddy," Frohike began, the sound of the sigh ringing in his ears. His mouth watered at the thought of a naked Agent Dana Scully lying beside Mulder.

"Spit it out, Melvin," Mulder ordered.

"Your boss is here. He's drunk and worried about his girlfriend who's about five hours late for his dinner date."

"What girlfriend?" Mulder sat up and turned his bedside light on, blinding Scully.

"Get over here, Mulder. And make sure your partner shows up, too." The line went dead with no warning or farewell. Mulder could tell that Frohike was talking for listeners, as well. Something was up if Frohike wasn't even mentioning that the phone had other ears, but assuming so. Mulder looked down at his frowning lover. "C'mon, Scully, we gotta go find Skinner's girlfriend."

"Oh, no," Scully moaned. "Not tonight. Any night but tonight."

"What's so special about tonight?" Mulder was dressing, tossing Scully's clothes to her.

"He was going to tell her that he loved her. I think he might have gone as far as wanting to ask her to marry him. I saw a folder on his desk with his last will and testament. I thought that he would put her into it. I think that she was kidnapped by the people who have his office bugged."

"Scully, as always, you've read my mind."

They got into Scully's car together and sped to the Lone Gunmen's warehouse headquarters. Byers admitted them and they sat together to discuss what they all knew, and how to proceed. Scully had the most information, but nothing concrete, like her address or what she looked like. But Langly, hacker-supreme, by just knowing her name and where she lived, had pulled up a plethora of information about her, including photos that were posted at her college alumni website, and all were recent, a few weeks before she met Skinner.

Armed with their information, Mulder and Scully set off to start investigating the disappearance of Dina Dryer. Skinner slept through most of the night, tossing and turning on the couch, until he found himself shouting, lying on the floor, surrounded by the four Gunmen. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and the headache overtook him. He grabbed his head and moaned.

"Jimmy, get Mr. Skinner some Alka Seltzer and a glass of water," Byers instructed the tall, young boy. He left the room. Langly and Byers helped Skinner back up onto the couch. The big man sat back, head resting against the couch. His eyes remained closed, as he rolled the night's events over in his mind. The three elder Lone Gunmen went over the things they had found, which were pitifully few, and informed him that Mulder and Scully had begun their search. They were considering it an X File.

"Are you kidding? They're getting the bureau involved? Shit, I have to get home and dress for work!" Skinner wobbled as he stood. Jimmy handed the man his tablets and water. They had barely begun to fizz before he downed the glass and started toward the door. "Jimmy, take Mr. Skinner back to his apartment, please," Byers requested. The young man pulled out his keys and accompanied Skinner out to his Trans Am. The ride to Crystal City was silent. Jimmy had learned when to speak and when it was appropriate to let silence float about. This was one of those times. Jimmy pulled to a stop before the building. Skinner turned to the boy.

"Thank you for the ride. Please tell Frohike that I will stay in touch today. But he has my cell if anything important comes up."

Jimmy nodded as Skinner exited the car. He hurried to his apartment, drawing his weapon as he did. After a thorough search of the premises, he assessed that no one had gained entrance while he was gone. He called his office to tell Kim he'd woken with a stomach virus but was on his way within the hour. He showered, dressed in a black suit, white shirt, conservative print tie and his black wingtips. Grabbing his briefcase and slipping into his raincoat and he was out the door in 20 minutes. The drive was uneventful and he rushed into his office.

Kim sighed before going to the coffeepot opposite her desk to pour him a cup. Her boss asked relatively little of her, outside of fielding the 9 million calls a day, making sure he had all the paperwork in order, shuffling meetings, juggling appointments, and making sure Kersh never found him in his office. She took the mail with her and entered his office. He looked up at her blankly for a moment, then smiled.

"Good morning, Kim, how are you today?" he asked, letting the air out of his chest.

"I'm good, sir. May I ask how you're feeling? With all due respect, I hope better than you look." The apprehension was apparent in her voice.

"Is it that bad?" he asked, concerned with his outward appearance to his agents.

"Sir, you never take sick days. You should consider it. And if you're coming down with the flu, you shouldn't exacerbate it. Maybe you should think about a few days of rest."

"No, Kim, thank you, I'll be fine. I have a lot to catch up on, and I think I need to be here, to feel better."

She nodded ruefully and left, closing the door behind her. Skinner began opening mail, reading through files, signing reports and worked his way through lunch, conscious of the cellular phone that sat on his desk and didn't ring. He tried to ignore it, but looking over at it every few minutes was agony. He stared at it, silently letting the tears slip from his eyes. All he wanted was information on her. Who the hell was behind this?

Part 3

The ringing cell phone brought him back to the present and he answered it, wiping his eyes.

"Skinner."

"Sir, it's Mulder."

"Have you found her?" he cried, louder than he'd wanted.

"Um, no sir, we haven't. We've searched her apartment, spoken to her coworkers, and canvassed her apartment building. She has not been seen since yesterday. She left the office and was seen getting on the Metro. She was not seen getting off at her home station. We're searching deeper, sir."

Skinner ground his teeth and flexed his jaw muscles. "Find her, Mulder. Do what you have to do, but find her. I'll sign off on your reports."

Mulder clicked off. Skinner placed his phone gently in the desk charger. He returned to his report reading, trying not to think of the lack of evidence. Looking at his watch, he noted it was only 2:30 in the afternoon. He stood, put his fountain pen in his pocket, grabbed his briefcase and left his office. He looked down at his assistant and said, "I think I'll go home early. I'm not feeling particularly well and I'd like to rest. You can leave any time you like. If I decide not to come in tomorrow, I'll call you at home and you can take the day off, OK?"

"Sir, I'm sorry about your girlfriend. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"How did you know?" he asked, astonished at her intuition.

"I'm sorry, but I can hear through your door. And I knew you were dating. And Mulder put in a 302 that I've been holding for your signature, but I didn't think you wanted to sign a form for the investigation of your own significant other."

"Kim, what would I do without you?" His face softened as she looked up at him with a sympathetic smile. He quickly scribbled his signature on the 302 form. "Goodnight, Kim."

"Goodnight, sir." She watched him walk out and down the hall, his broad shoulders sagging and his head bowed. He walked quickly to his Blazer and drove back to his apartment where he changed into casual clothes and went right back to his truck. Plugging the cell into the car charger, he drove out toward Alexandria to Dina's apartment. He reconciled he would help with the investigation, no matter what Mulder and Scully said. He could not sit in his office any longer.

Arriving at Dina's apartment, he used his key to get in. She'd given him a key long ago, when she first met him. It was painful walking into the apartment. The scent of her was heavy in the air. Tears slid down his cheeks silently, almost unknown to him. He walked into her bedroom and lay on her bed, pulling the sheets up around his body. He surrounded himself with her scent. The memories of making love in that bed with Dina, kissing her face, touching her skin, holding her in his arms. He could feel her little kisses on his cheeks, hear her whispering his name, giggling, saying her favorite expression "DUH!" over and over at his ignorance of current pop
culture. There were so many things to remember from just a few months together.

The sound of her phone ringing brought him from his dream-state. He reached over and grabbed her cordless beside the bed.

"Hello?" he asked, not wanting to identify himself.

"Is this Walter?" a woman asked. She sounded like Dina, but a little older.

"Yes, this is Walter Skinner. Who am I speaking with?"

"This is Dina's mother, Eva. Is she there?" There was a note of concern in her voice.

"No, ma'am, she's not here." Walter felt the panic rise in his chest. He was going to have to tell his lover's mother that she was missing. He did not want to be having this conversation.

"Well, I tried her at the office and they said she wasn't in. They said that two FBI agents were asking questions about her leaving yesterday. Dear, she told me that you belong with the FBI. Is this related to your work?"

"Ma'am, I'm not sure."

"And she hasn't been seen since last night, is that correct?" The fear was growing in her questions.

"Yes, ma'am, that's correct."

"Are you helping them look?"

"Yes, ma'am, I am. I'm very sorry about your daughter."

There was a bit of a laugh from the other end. "Walter, Dina has told me all about you two. I know that she loves you very much." The words washed over Skinner like a cold rain.

"Thank you. I'm doing the best I can for her."

"I know you are. I will be driving down to her apartment to see if there is anything I can do. I would like to meet with you, if that's alright with you."

Skinner gave the woman his cell, home and office numbers, informing her to call him for any reason should she need to. He advised her he would keep her informed every step of the investigation. She sounded scared when she spoke, but tried to be calm for him. She was very kind to him. He could see where Dina had gotten her kind, open and loving disposition from.

More and more he realized that if he found Dina, he would tell her to leave him. Her family was as open and wonderful as she was, and they didn't deserve to live with the fear that this may happen again.

He looked through drawers, closets, everything he could get his hands on to see if anything gave away where she may have been taken. He knew this was pointless. The persons who took her would not be so careless to leave him clues. If he was going to get her back, they would let *him* know. Mulder and Scully were searching in vain, as a courtesy to their boss, and the sooner they realized that, the better.

Skinner fell to his knees and wept. When was it that he had lost his hope? When was it he had realized all his work in the bureau was ruined? When was it he had realized resistance was futile? When was it that he had become useless to the bureau, to the American people, and to the people he loved?

Two days later, sitting in his office, looking more like a corpse than himself, Skinner reread the fourth paragraph of a report another pair of agents had meticulously worked on, only to sign off without finishing it, for lack of interest. He read quickly through many reports before standing up from his desk to go to his private bathroom. He put his glasses on the sink ledge and ran the cold water. He looked around his beautiful red marble bathroom in his beautiful mahogany office. He'd give all of it back to have Dina home and safe. The thought turned his stomach at what might be in store for him when they eventually found Dina. He almost didn't get his face into the toilet fast enough as his coffee and muffin reappeared.

Washing the tears from his eyes and the sweat from his face, he took his time drying the water droplets from his skin. Skinner settled his glasses back on his face and walked back into his office. He barely heard the cell phone ringing before it was in his hands and against his head.

"Skinner!" he almost shouted.

"Sir, it's me..." she began, only to be cut off.

"Where is she, Scully?" he screamed.

"Being taken to Georgetown University Medical Center, sir. I'll meet you there."

"How is she?"

"I can't tell from here. She needs a full exam, but she was awake when we found her."

"She's coherent?" Skinner let all the questions start to flow as he slipped into his suit jacket and walked out of his office. He turned back to Kim and said, "I'll keep you posted."

"I hope she's OK!" Kim shouted after him as he walked down the hall. He nodded back at her and turned his attention back to Scully on the phone.

"Sir, she is asking for you. She's begging that you not worry about her. She's not as coherent as she thinks she is. We'll meet you there, sir."

Skinner hit the disconnect button, then dialed Dina's mother. She was as excited as he to hear that her daughter was found. She was as distressed as he was not to know about her condition, but they would find out at the hospital together, he said.

"Walter, you drive right over. I'll call a cab and meet you there," she said, politely.

He disconnected and sped off toward Georgetown. He'd never wished for lights and sirens more in his life. He pulled up to the hospital and parked as close as he could get, running through the parking lot. He ran in the doors and began shouting for Scully. The petite redhead ran up to him and said, "Sir, they're working on her. We can go somewhere quiet to talk about her condition."

Scully took Skinner's arm and led him past an area where police were milling around a room. Doctors and nurses were running in and out, the door swinging furiously. Skinner peeked in and saw Dina laying there, her face a bit bruised and scratched, but not looking too bad. He started toward the room, but Scully stopped him.

"Sir, please. I need to speak with you first."

They proceeded into a room marked "sutures" and she closed the door behind them. She pointed to a chair but Skinner waved her off. She held her hands up in defeat. Screwing up her strength, she began.

"Sir, when Agent Mulder and I found Ms. Dryer, she was in a factory that had some type of machine shop in it. She was lying on a heavy wooden table, handcuffed to a hook that was fastened into the wood. She was nude and barely conscious. The paramedics rushed her here, as I was calling you, and I rode in the ambulance with her. She was lucid enough to answer a few of my questions. Sir, they..."

"Raped her, didn't they? She was raped." His tone was quiet and business-like, as if he were talking about an unknown victim on a case.

"It's a little more complicated than that. She told me that her kidnapper left her after a few hours with three men who were not very kind to her for the next two days. They were simply supposed to watch her. When her kidnapper returned, he was so disgusted by what had happened that he called Mulder. Mulder had thought it was Krycek and Dina confirmed. She said her kidnapper had a prosthetic left arm and, as she put it, glittery green eyes. He apparently shot and killed the three attackers, had the bodies removed and left her there. She actually giggled when she said he'd left a kiss on her forehead before he left her there, telling her help was on the way."

"I'll fucking kill Krycek anyway! I want to see her now!" Skinner's yelling would have scared Scully under other circumstances. But she could sympathize with his fear and anger.

"Sir, she is very scared right now. And she is convinced you will not want to date her any longer. I think you should give her time to get more comfortable with what's happened to her."

Skinner clasped a hand over his mouth and squeezed his eyes closed, trying to get a hold of himself. He knew he could let his emotions go once in a while in front of Scully, but he dared not let anything go when he left the room he was in. She put her hand on his shoulder, meant for strength, but he pulled away. She recoiled a bit. Skinner walked out of the room and immediately went into assistant director mode. He questioned the police officers who had secured the site, inquired about the warehouse, the condition of the surroundings so that forensic evidence was preserved.

Why the hell did all the evil things always take place in a fucking warehouse or factory? he questioned himself. He would have to visit the site, see the space, and see where she was found; the mental notes ran wild in his head, all categorized by importance. He would get this investigation rolling quickly and close the case by arresting and executing Krycek in a "transport accident". He planned out his actions in that regard very carefully.

As Skinner walked from the suture room, he was halted in his tracks by the doctors and nurses rushing Dina from the trauma room. She was on a respirator, there were tubes everywhere coming from her and there was more blood than he'd ever cared to see near her smeared on the smocks of the doctors and nurses. He watched as they loaded her into an elevator and the doors closed in his face. Scully appeared beside him.

"Sir, Mulder has assembled an investigative team to begin the forensics work at the machine shop. He's indicated he can handle this and suggests we stay here while Dina is in surgery. Shall I escort you upstairs?"

Scully held her hand out to her boss, another offering of strength, but also of love and friendship. He took it and they walked toward the passenger elevators up to the surgical unit. She led him to the waiting area and they sat together to wait. And they waited. And they waited. Skinner greeted Dina's mother when she arrived and they sat together, not talking, not moving. Scully watched Mrs. Dryer pull her rosary beads out to begin to pray.

Scully was thankful they were in Georgetown since she made frequent trips to a Starbucks close by and local restaurants that had better food than the hospital cafeteria. It was the least she could do for her boss and Dina's mother. He refused food and coffee until Eva forced him, with her gentle touch. Scully knew he was being strong and stoic for appearance sake, but she'd seen the photos in Dina's house. And Dina had many, probably taken over the spring and summer they had spent together.

It had surprised Scully to see her boss with this young woman on the beach, camping, fishing, at the DC tourist attractions, all laughing and hugging each other. There were pictures of kisses on cheeks, on lips, on his stomach, which made Scully giggle, however inappropriate it was while still searching for her. She'd stood a long time, staring at Dina's bed. That was the bed in the picture where Skinner was sleeping. He'd almost certainly made love to Dina there many times and that made Scully uncomfortable, thinking of her boss in an intimate situation with a woman since the last encounter he'd had.

Scully watched as Skinner stared into space. He didn't move, didn't doze, just sat and was silent. Scully returned the silence. He had been quite cordial to Mrs. Dryer, even hugging her when she arrived and reached out for him, but soon, he was the rock he'd always been. But after the fifth hour, Scully stood and announced, "I'm going to see if I can get any information about her condition. I'll be right back."

She looked back and he hadn't moved, as if he hadn't heard her, but she knew he had. When she returned, he jumped up to look at her, to see what the news was. Eva came to stand beside him.

"She is in recovery. They found massive tissue damage in her colon and they needed to perform a temporary transverse colostomy. They believe that as well as being raped, she was brutalized with implements, some wooden, some metallic, based on the shards left behind."

Tears began to fall from Skinner's eyes. Mulder walked into the waiting area, just in time to see Skinner's knees buckle and catch the big man before he hit the floor. A haze formed in Skinner's mind as he heard Scully call for an orderly and supplies to check his heart rate and breathing. But he was fine, just fine.

And she wasn't. They raped her, humiliated her and in the process, destroyed her little body. He loved that little body. He had always touched her so gently, knowing that she could take a licking and keep on ticking, but he couldn't fathom even leaving a red mark on her skin. He wouldn't even lay on top of her, knowing he was too heavy for her. He found himself on a gurney, IV in his arm and having been given a shot of Valium. He rested, against his better judgment, but knew that Dina needed to be ensconced in a room before he was allowed to see her.

When he was allowed to stand on his own, Scully and Mulder guided him with firm grips on his arms to her area of the ICU. She was nowhere near out of the woods, but she was begging to see him. He walked slowly, quietly, into the ICU and to her bed. Her face was pale and her lips were dry and chapped. He found the lip balm Scully had handed him earlier and understood what it was for. He looked at her a while, just looked at her face. He pulled out the little pot of scented, flavored petroleum and dipped his pinky in it to smear across her dried, cracked lips. He swathed it on her mouth, waking her. She looked up at him and the tears began to flow.

"Hi, Dina, baby, how are you feeling?" he asked, his usually gravely-grumbly timbre going up an octave to soften for her, as if he were talking to baby.

"Oh, God...I'm so sorry...I tried to fight them..." she sputtered. Skinner immediately took her hand and kissed it, just beside where the IV was covered by the plastic patch. Tears slipped down her cheeks. He kissed them away.

"Baby girl, stop crying, I'm not mad at you. I'm gonna get the men responsible for this, I promise you," he soothed, stroking her matted hair.

"He killed them, though, the guy with one arm," she wept. Skinner pulled a chair close to her bed and soothed her until she had stopped crying. She looked at him and the luster and sparkle was gone from her blue eyes. He wanted to cry himself. But he couldn't. She needed his strength. How the hell was he going to pull that off?

Skinner spoke softly to Dina, trying not to scare her, but he knew if she wasn't sure of anything, he had to reassure her that he was going to protect her from then on.

"Baby girl, you have to understand, no one will ever hurt you again. I'm assigning a detail to your room 24 hours a day. And when you're released, I'm going to take time off to take care of you. Your mother is here and the two of you will stay at my apartment. Is that OK with you?"

"How can you want me to come to your house? Do you know what they did to me?"

Skinner held her hand tighter as she tried to pull it away.

"Dina, what do you mean?"

"They did this thing to my stomach..."

Skinner nodded quietly.

"I know about the colostomy. All I care about is making sure you're going to get better. I don't care how long it takes or how much money I have to spend. I'm going to make sure you heal completely."

The look in his eyes was difficult to read with the lights shining on his glasses. Dina reached out and pulled his glasses from his face. She looked into liquid chocolate depths. He was serious. She knew when he was serious, when he was honest. She could tell when he was acting for FBI appearances and when he meant it.

"OK, Walter. I'll go home with you. Are you sure this is OK with you?"

She pulled back the sheet, but there was too much bandaging on her abdomen to reveal the affects of the operation.

"Dina, Agent Scully is a medical doctor. She spoke with your doctors. The colostomy is temporary while." he cleared his throat "while your rectum heals. I'm sorry for what they did to you. And as I said, I will make sure the men responsible for this are taken care of."

"But I said..."

"Dina, we've discussed this. Remember how my wife died? The same men who killed her did this to you. I'm positive. The man who kidnapped you, with the green eyes and prosthetic arm, his name is Alex Krycek. He used to work for me in the FBI. He's killed many people. And I'm sure he was supposed to kill you."

"But he didn't. He killed them. And kissed me and said he was sorry and that he would get help. I mean, Walter, he didn't want to hurt me. He really was sorry, I could tell!"

Skinner watched the machines made noise and flashed their lights. He looked around for a nurse. One made her way over to check on Dina, who looked up at him, crying and scared. Her hand came up reaching for him.

"I'm going to sit with your mother, baby. You rest," he said softly as he left her. Another nurse joined the first and they began working on Dina. Skinner quickly exited the room and walked back to where Scully, Mulder and Eva sat. They looked up at him, Eva standing to take his hand.

"Did she act brave for you, too, Walter?" the little woman asked. Skinner could see the resemblance to her daughter. They shared the blonde hair, although Eva's had more gray than blonde, and the huge blue eyes. Both were little and had even white teeth, so ready to smile with. Skinner marveled at how calm and kind she was in the face of her daughter's tragedy.

Skinner nodded down at Eva and said, "I'll stay here tonight with her if you'd like to get some rest. You can sleep at my apartment if you like, take my truck..."

"I won't hear of it!" Eva interrupted. "Walter, as much as you love my daughter, you need to go home and get some rest. After all, there are some people who are responsible for this. And I'm sure that you want to get on this case."

"Mrs. Dryer..." Skinner began, but again she cut him off, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Walter! Please, I'm Eva and go home." She was firm, but she was softly spoken. Skinner nodded and turned to leave. Scully and Mulder followed after him, not speaking to him. But he stopped in the parking lot at his truck. He stood before the passenger door and stared at it.

Skinner pictured Dina sitting next to him, on their trip to Virginia Beach, where they spent a week lying in the sun, swimming in the ocean and making love often. He could see her trying to drive him around in it, giving up saying he just bought the thing because he knew he would date her and she couldn't drive it, as absurd as it sounded, he laughed anyway. He could see her readjusting his radio stations on his car stereo, since she hated music that "didn't move," so she said.

He didn't even realize he was crying until he felt Scully's hand on his arm. He turned to her to see her crying as well. Mulder's arm came around his shoulders. A three-person hug was more maudlin than Skinner could handle and broke away. Quickly swiping at his face, he said, "Thank you for your excellent investigative work, Mulder, Scully. Reports are due tomorrow and I will be in quite early. I look forward to signing off on this case and putting it to rest."

He walked around to his car door and got in, driving away quickly. Mulder and Scully went to their respective homes to try and make sense of it all in their reports. Scully sat at her laptop and thought about her boss. She knew he would forgo a meal, grab a glass of his fine single-malt scotch on the rocks, take a shower and go right to bed. He wouldn't call anyone, watch television or read. He would brood and berate himself. She knew this wasn't going to show on his face anywhere but in new lines in his forehead and darker circles under his eyes. Lying in her own bed, Scully wondered what the next day would bring, worried about the morning meeting until she fell asleep.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Skinner stood by the graveside long after everyone had gone. He knew there was a luncheon being hosted by Eva and Gerald, but he couldn't bring himself to leave her yet. Complications from an internal infection were the final cause of death. A 25-year-old woman died for loving him, it should have read. He felt the pale beige roses he laid on her coffin weren't enough. He wanted to get red, but thinking of how much blood was shed in his life, red would make him sadder. He watched the cemetery workers lower the box into the ground and cover her with dirt.

Scully watched from the top of the hill as her boss stood in the September sun, watching his lover disappear forever. She wanted to go to him, but Mulder's hand slipped into hers. Her lover was safe, and she should be thankful for that, as Skinner would tell her.

Hours later, at the Rockville home of the Dryers, Eva said the last good-byes to the mourners. She closed the door and went to help the maid clean the dining room. She was walking to the kitchen when the doorbell rang. The maid took the dishes from Eva's hands to allow her to answer the door. She was surprised to see Skinner standing there.

"Walter! My goodness, please come in. Where have you been?" Eva took his hand and led him into the house. She stood with him in the foyer and looked up into his red eyes.

"I didn't think it was appropriate for me to come here, with everything that's happened."

"Oh, Walter, how can you say that!" Tears filled Eva's eyes "You were her lover. She loved you more than any man in her life. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with you. And she did. Please, don't think that anyone wouldn't have welcomed you here."

Gerald Dryer walked out of his den and looked at the large man talking with his wife. Dina's father had particularly ignored Skinner during the two days of wake and the funeral. He was silent most of those three days, and Skinner was surprised to find the man softly spoken when he thanked all friends and family for attending the services. The two men looked each other over. Gerald was a smaller man, delicate-looking like his daughter, as well. Dina's brother was the spit and image of this man, down to half smirk given to the large man at the funeral.

"Mr. Dryer, I'm so sorry about..." Skinner began but Gerald held his hand up to stop him.

"Walter, please. I've been through this with my wife for a week. And all summer before that. I thought that being with someone who worked for the FBI, she would have her heart broken. But I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined this would happen. But I noticed during the wake, the funeral and afterward, you were quiet and distant. I thought that you were being selfish, that you felt you were the only one who had a right to grieve and didn't want any part of her family since we'd never met you. Then I saw how you stood by her grave when it was all over. Everyone left.but you stayed. You stood there alone, when everyone had gone. Then, after all the mourners saw you stay, you didn't come here until everyone had gone. Your agents were
here, polite and brief. But you come here alone. This impresses upon me how much you truly loved her. You're a private man, and you will grieve privately. But this at moment, I believe you
are as upset as we are. Would you like to come in for a drink? I would like to talk to
you more."

Without hesitation, Skinner followed Gerald into the den he just exited. Gerald poured Skinner a drink, and the big man was impressed that Dina's father knew what he liked, single-malt over ice. Dina had probably told him. But the man poured another of the same. He walked over, handed a glass to Skinner and offered the man a seat in one of the large leather chairs. They sat facing each other.

Eva walked to the doorway and saw the men speaking. She smiled and closed the double doors, letting the men have their privacy. She went to assist the maid in cleaning the rest of the dishes.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Skinner sat in the OPR meeting. Both Mulder and Scully in the hot seat again. He was quiet, listened to the board make their decisions about how the two agents should not have made the assistant director's love life their personal crusade for 3 days, but to have found her alive, even though she could not be saved in the end, was to their credit. They were left with no write-ups in their files, as per Skinner's recommendation, and they were allowed to return to their work.

Skinner wearily walked back to his office and smiled tightly at Kim when she handed him the messages that were waiting for him. He turned to her, his eyes still a bit dull and glassy, as said, "I really would rather not be disturbed today, if you please."

"Yes, sir. Can I get you anything?"

"No, Kim, thank you. Just run interference. Just the uppers."

She nodded, knowing there was nothing he could do if Kersh or the Director wanted to speak with him. He sat at his desk and looked at the sole photo frame he'd just that morning put on his desk. It was a two-sided frame that held his wedding photo on one side and a shot of Dina and himself at the beach in Virginia on the other. He'd hoisted her into his arms and she'd pressed her cheek against his. They were both golden brown from the sun and she was a bit ruddy in the cheeks. Their white smiles gleamed in the sun. The two happiest times in Walter's life and he was fortunate to be able to look at them in photographic evidence. That was more than most could say, wasn't it?

*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Epilogue

*/*/*/*/*/*/*

*BANG*

That first shot felt good, and the shock on Krycek's face as Skinner's first bullet knocked the gun from his hand was a true pleasure. The second shot was even better, to hear him scream in pain. Skinner imagined that Dina might have screamed like that. This was going to be sweet. But that last request, "Kill Mulder," how could Krycek even dare imagine that the big man would consider letting the little rat crawl away from his fate?

The last bullet left his gun in slow motion, it seemed. *What was it that he said before he fell?* "Shot." *Yes, you bastard, I shot you! You can't hurt me any more.*

Skinner looked over at Mulder. Mulder let his held breath go.

*All I can do is stare at that body. My sweet little girl is gone, and his death doesn't even help me one bit. Mulder is saying something.*

"Skinner, are you with me?"

"You just go. I'll get him."

Skinner looked back at the body one last time before turning to walk away. Mulder got into the car and sped off. He hurried as much as he could to get back to Doggett. They
had a baby to save.

*/*/*/*/*/*

*It's a boy. They had a boy. William.*

Skinner sipped his drink. The condo was quiet. He stared at the wall of pictures that was lit by track lighting. The decorator had done an excellent job. Dina only looked more beautiful when she was alive. With his own personal "Wall," Skinner could remember her, mourn and finally make sense of his life.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Skinner danced around the ring, throwing well-placed punches at Jamal's face and body. The young man was impressed by his older partner's returned ferocity, but soon knew that the sparring match was over. He could no longer keep up with Skinner. He stepped back and held his gloves up, in submission. Skinner stepped back and nodded. They pounded their gloves together in a show of friendship and Jamal left the ring. Mike, Skinner's faithful friend and trainer, removed his headgear.

"Nice to see your form return, Slugger. It's good to see you, again."

Skinner nodded. He looked over at the empty corner of the gym that had once been an area for martial arts. Mike followed Skinner's wistful gaze.

"The master has been gone a while. He felt very sad about Dina. How you holding up?"

"I'm here, aren't I?"

Mike nodded. Skinner stepped of the ring apron and walked to the other side of the gym. He still had too much energy. Mike followed the big man. He knew where they were going. Since his return to the gym, Skinner had ended his matches or workouts in the same place, with the same activity: the heavy bag. Skinner stood before it and looked at it. Mike stood on the other side and held the bag. He waited for Skinner to start. It always took a few minutes, but usually the big man would start slowly and build up to a frenzy.

But before he did, he had said the same thing each time. The words he'd never gotten to say to her while she was alive.

"I love you, Dina."
*-*-*-*-*

So...what did you think? Did everybody get everything? Let me know!
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