These characters and their environs on the X-Files belong to 1013 Productions and Chris Carter. No infringement is intended. I just want to play with the boys for a while before I let them go back to the lives they don't have on the show. This is just for fun, no money is being made from this. This story will eventually involve sex between two men, aka: slash. If that is *not* your cup of tea, sweet as it is, then don't read it! (simple, ain't it??) Feedback is *very* much appreciated, and always answered. Flames will be passed around to friends and chuckled over. :) Twelfth in the Tapestry Series. You might want to read the others first, just so we're all on the same page, here. For Sickleweed, who wanted a story with a happy ending for the boys. This will be about as close as I can get. And for Desiree, who wanted a story where Krycek doesn't die. And for Toddie, for every other reason. More to come... Weft - Rolling by Amirin #138 *********************** I just sat there for a moment, then started the car and started around the block. What the hell was Alex doing? Getting me out of the way? Why? Just to talk with Chae? Ten minutes wasn't much time to catch up. And why tell me to go back? Chae would've told him where I was staying; he could've come to see me. Hell, he could've followed me back to the hotel. Unless he was in trouble. Shit. My hands tightened around the steering wheel and I had to force my foot off the gas to keep from flooring it back to Chae's. Something was wrong, I just knew it. Why go see Chae? He wanted to see me, just not right away. He wanted to see the good doctor. The good doctor. Fuck. "He's hurt." As soon as I said it out loud, I knew it was the truth. My foot found the gas with a vengeance and I was back at Chae's place in less than a minute. Out of the car and lucky enough to get the front door for one of the other residents as she was leaving, so Chae and Alex didn't even have to know I was on my way up. My heart cramped when I found his door standing open and I had my gun drawn without even thinking about it as I made my way back through the place, into the living room, down the hall, and finally heard voices coming from one of the bedrooms. Just the two of them. Chae sounding pissed and Alex, defensive. I walked silently into the bedroom, guest room...Alex's room? Jesus, blood on the floor, blood-soaked pair of jeans tossed onto the tile in the adjoining bathroom, the doctor on the bed, working on Alex's leg, and blocking my view of him. "Alex?" Chae whipped around at my voice and I moved to where Alex could see me. He was leaning back against pillows almost as white as his face was, wearing a black turtleneck and matching briefs. "You're early," he said, resignation in his voice. Almost like he expected I would be. "You're hurt." "Yeah," he said, wincing as Chae wrapped something around his thigh. "What happened?" "Got shot," he mumbled absently, then looked up at my curse and immediately backtracked. "I'm okay, it just grazed me." "You got lucky," Chae muttered, then leaned back to survey his work. "Stay off of it..." "...Rest, keep it elevated, take the meds, call you if it starts feeling hot or swollen, blah, blah, blah." "We've been down this road before," Chae sighed. "More than a few times," Alex nodded. "Are you going to take care of yourself, this time?" Chae growled at him. "Yes," I answered for him as I put my gun away. "He is." Alex looked up at me, wary and frowning. "You are, Alex. If I have to cuff you to the bed, you are." Well, that remark was a mistake as soon as I said it, if the grin on Alex's face was any indication. "Mulder, Mulder, Mulder," he drawled. "You surprise me. Pleasantly, I might add." "Fuck you," I muttered. Chae snorted and looked away, then back at me. "Does he need anything? He mentioned meds." "I've got it all, here," the doctor answered with a long- suffering sigh. I glared at Alex but he just grinned and leaned back against the pillows. "Been down this road, before," he repeated, shrugging. "Apparently," I said wryly, eyes roaming over the rest of him, looking for further damage. He caught me. "I'm fine," he said quietly. "You need to get into another line of work," Chae remarked with a grin on his face, but genuine concern in his eyes. "You're starting to attract bullets like a magnet." He deliberately ignored Alex's heated look and stood, heading to the bedroom door. "I'll get what he needs, Fox." "Thanks." Alex was looking at the wall, the door, the floor, everywhere but at me. "What happened?" "I'll tell you, later." "Do you want to stay here?" I asked him. He shook his head at me. "I never do. Not when I'm wounded." "Then you're staying with me. I'm at the Manor Inn." "Mulder..." "Do the words 'cuff you to the bed' ring any bells?" I reminded him and he sighed. "Fine." Chae came back in with a bag of medical supplies. "Everything should be in here. If you need help, call." "I've been shot a time or two, I think I remember what Scully used to do for me." "*Now* I'm in trouble," Alex muttered under his breath, but not far enough. "Shut up." "I'll get you something to wear," Chae offered, looking at the jeans, more red than blue, on the bathroom floor. "Thanks," Alex called after him as he left the room, again. "No problem," Chae called back. I didn't say anything to Alex, just sat next to him and took inventory of all the bruises, old scars, new ones. And those were on just the parts of him I *could* see. I didn't meet his eyes and I knew he was looking at me. Finally, he got tired of it. "See anything you like?" I sighed. It was going to be a long night; I could tell, already. "That 'Z' shaped scar is attractive," I shot back, eyeing the one just above his knee. "Where you get that?" "Mexico," he murmured, running his fingers over it absently. "You do get around. What were you doing in Mexico?" "Just...things." "Uh, huh. How'd you get it?" "Guy in black gave it to me. With a blade." I counted to ten. "Wears a mask?" "Oh, you know him." "Alex," I growled, just as Chae came back into the room. He looked at me curiously. "I can go back out," he offered. Alex laughed. "No, it's okay. I think we're leaving." I nodded. "Yeah, we're leaving." "We still on for lunch, tomorrow?" Chae grinned at me. "Hell, yes," I answered immediately. "I still want dirt." We exchanged a smile at Alex's narrowed eyes. "If he hasn't given you the slip, bring him along." "He won't be going anywhere," I promised with an evil grin. "Mulder," Alex protested instantly. "'Cuff you to the bed'," I reached over and tickled the bottom of the foot on the uninjured leg and he jerked it away and grumbled at me in Russian. "That didn't sound particularly complimentary," Chae offered helpfully. "No, it didn't, did it?" I replied with a thoughtful frown. "Will you two just *shut up*!? Chae snorted at Alex's outburst and looked at me. We shared an exaggerated sigh and Alex growled again as he tugged on the sweatpants Chae had brought him. "Do you need help getting him to the car?" he asked seriously. "Nah, I got him. Thanks." "Okay, you should be set. Call me if there are any problems." "Thank you," I said quietly and he smiled in understanding. "Always welcome." I stood and gave Alex a hand up, which he almost didn't take. He finally sighed, put his arm around me and I grabbed the bag of supplies off the bed. Chae walked us to the door and watched our departure until we made it to the stairs, which gave me pause for a moment until Alex let go of me and sat down on the polished-wood bannister and leaned back against the iron railing behind it. He looked up at me with a smug grin as he started sliding to the bottom. I walked a step behind, keeping pace with him until he gracefully, carefully, hopped off at the end. We maneuvered through the door and made our way to the Auburn, which he looked at with a warm grin. "Hey, old lady," he murmured fondly, as I got him into the seat and buckled him in, unable to keep myself from inhaling the scent and heat of him. He sighed and let me, with a quick brush of his fingers through my hair. It was all I could do to shut the door. "You two know each other?" I asked, coming around the front and getting in. "She was my grandfather's," he said, softly, leaning back with a grin. "I learned how to drive in this car." "She's gorgeous," I told him sincerely and he rolled his head over at me with a genuine smile on his face. It totally transformed him. "Yeah, she is." He just looked at me, didn't say anything else. I leaned over and kissed him. He tasted just as good as I remembered. Better, even. I eased back slowly and started the car after refilling my lungs. "So. Talk to me. What the hell happened?" He sighed. "It's a long story." "We've got all night," I reminded him and glanced his way before pulling out into traffic. "Yeah," he murmured, smile still curving the corners of his mouth. "We certainly do." ~~~end