## This story is rated NC-17. It contains frank descriptions about
sexual acts between consenting adults. If you are too young, or if
such writing offends you, please be aware.

** All X-Files characters belong to Chris Carter and no infringement
is intended. Raelene Craine and other original characters belong to
me and may not be duplicated without my permission.

This story and all events in it are my own creation, and are offered
as entertainment and has no relationship to any other party. If you
have any comments I'd like to hear them. Please drop me a note at :
juded@execpc.com

SEASONS PART I: FIREWORKS

Chapter 1

     It was beginning to be a sultry day in Washington DC and Walter
Skinner's tie was beginning to chafe. The Fourth of July
festivities were really starting to gear up but he wasn't in a
party mood. As an FBI Assistant Director he had been
requested/required to attend the Independence Day celebration on
the capitol grounds. His superiors had made it quite clear that
attendance was expected - and a career man daren't disagree on such
matters. But personally he wished he could have stayed home.

     'Only six weeks since the divorce was final,' he thought
morosely. Although he'd dated actively since signing the divorce
papers a couple months ago he was less and less satisfied with the
ladies that he went out with. He knew that he was playing the part
of a randy divorced man to cover how lonely and hurt he was, and it
was getting old. The women he choose were always wrong; a faceless
parade of Bambis, Kathys, Dianes and Megans. Not that they weren't
attractive or sexy, they were just all the same. Pretty girls who
were more interested in their careers than in him. 'As it should
be,' his thought continued.

     Walter was an attractive man, tall and well muscled, with broad
shoulders tapering to a slender waist and tight hips and he exuded
confidence and raw sexuality, with just a touch of sensitive
vunerability. This was a maddening combination for a man to have and
made him keenly attractive to women of all ages. He had deeply
intense brown eyes and a sensuous mouth even though it was usually
pulled into a scowl. But when his rare smile lit his face his whole
aspect changed and the dark angel turned into a creature of pure
light. Now however, the face was dark and though still handsome,
brooding.

     He was standing at the back of  a large dance area. The band
was playing rock music and people were dancing, enjoying
themselves. The party took up the whole area with several stages for
performers and a small carnival. There was music, food and drink,
rides and games and a special children's area with puppeteers,
games and music.

     As he stood watching the dancers a  blond woman caught his eye.
She was wearing shorts and a red t-shirt. 'Very snug shorts,'
Walter thought appreciatively. He continued to watch as she grabbed
the man she was dancing with and spun him around, laughing. She had
a sparkling laugh and a wide happy smile. Walter felt the corners
of his mouth turn up just watching her.

     "Don't look now, but there's a guy over there watching you,"
Jim said in her ear.

     Rae looked up and directly into the eyes of Walter Skinner. A
slow grin crossed her face. She had no conscious thought but a
blush began to stain her cheeks, and she felt as if she had no
clothes on. She turned back to Jim, her dance partner, "He's
gorgeous !" she whispered to him.

     Walter watched the smile and the blush spread but just as he
was about to walk over to her a voice shouted and she spun around.

     "Rae ! Rae Craine !"

     "Bobby !" she cried as she flung herself into the arms of a
tall redheaded man.

     Incredulously, Walter recognized him. Bob Gaines was an
old friend of his, and a married man !  'What was he doing here
without his wife, and hugging that very attractive woman? '

     Walter's shoulders slumped a little and the scowl returned. 'Oh
well,' he thought. 'I'm not here for fun, anyway.' He was just about
to walk away but he turned back for a last look and saw Bob waving
at him and calling.

     "Walter - I didn't know you'd be here"

     Walter forced a smile onto his face and walked over to the
couple extending his hand." I didn't know that you'd be here
either, Bob. Is Kathryn with you? " He asked it pointedly, looking
directly at the pretty woman that clung to his arm.

     Bob noticed and laughed out loud."No she's in Wisconsin
visiting her family.We didn't know Rae was going to be here, or
else she would have left later." Seeing Walter's puzzled frown Bob
laughed again."Walter Skinner, meet Rae Craine, as close to a baby
sister as I've got."

     Rae punched him playfully in the side, blushing, "I'm not a
baby. Haven't been for a long time."

     "I have to agree," he grinned down at her." But I bet you were
a pretty one." He took her hand and bowed over it making her blush
even deeper."Pleased to meet you Ms Craine."

     All Rae could do was croak out something to the effect of "Me
too." The intensity of his eyes was startling. She had never seen
eyes so liquid and brown staring at her with such depth.

     Walter chuckled as she ducked her head but not before he got a
glimpse of deep blue eyes looking at him with astonishment. He was
reluctant to give up her hand, which was smallish but firm in his.
He wanted more time to examine her and to pin down his confused
feelings. His reactions to her were far too extreme to be rational
and Walter was nothing if not a rational man. But he noticed Bob's
amused grin and let go, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze.

     "I've got a great idea," Bob said."Why don't we all walk
around together, then get a bite of lunch? Its nearly 11:00 now and
I saw a great cafe set up a way back." He patted Rae's arm."And I
know how my baby sis here likes her cappuccino."

     "Oh Bob, I can't eat just now. I have to go on at 12 at the
kids area and you know that I can't eat before a performance."

     Walter looked down at her now directly into her eyes and was
struck by their sparkle."What do you do anyway?" he asked.

     "I'm a singer with a band. We were booked to perform at a
couple stages throughout the day in a couple different styles. At
noon we sing kids folk and story songs, then at six we do an hour of
jazz, then at nine we do some dance stuff before the fireworks
start. The band is called Route 66 and we're on a summer whistlestop
tour, mostly fairs and clubs. This is the biggest thing we've ever
been booked into."

     "How did you get in here?" Walter was enchanted by her candor.
In his shadowy FBI world honesty was at a premium, especially at a
first meeting. So her forthrightness was a refreshing change.

     "I guess some White House staffer saw us at a state fair in
his home town,liked what he heard and remembered us when he got on
the planning committee for this shindig. Besides we're cheap. They
can pay us a fraction for three stages what they're paying Hootie
and the Blowfish for one." At which Walter laughed aloud.

     "Well since you have to perform shortly and since it seems
like you haven't seen Bob in a long time, I'll leave you two to get
caught up. I have some things I have to see to. I'll catch you
later." With that Walter waved and walked away thrusting his hands
deep into his pockets, a small smile softening his stern coutenance.

     Rae watched him go and some of the radiant happiness went out
of her face."Did I say something wrong?" she looked up at Bob. She
watched until he was out of sight.

     "No, that's just Walter. He may be the strong silent type, but
he can be sensitive too. I'll bet this isn't the last you're going
to see of him." Bob leaned over in a mock whisper, "But don't ever
let him know I told you that he's sensitive: he's a Marine."

     Rae turned slowly to look at him. blue eyes wide with mock
disbelief, " A Marine and a sailor on friendly terms? How long did
you say you two knew each other?"

     "Since Vietnam. The Enterprise brought his team out and we got
to know each other over poker. He was badly wounded and was on evac
when we picked them up so that's about all he could do. But he's a
decent guy; level, straight, and single at the moment I believe."
Bob scratched casually behind his ear, trying not to look at her.
Then he grinned, " No, I'm not trying to set you up  - just making
conversation. Anyway, you did meet him once, you probably just don't
remember."

     "When?"

     "At my wedding. He and Terry stood up for me. I think the two
of you danced too, but that could have been Chuck - since you only
liked sailors back then. Anyway enough about Walter, how is that
brother of yours. Terry doesn't call as often as he used to. And
Greg? I was sorry to hear about your mother..."

     The conversation turned to matters of home and family but
Rae's mind was still on the tall handsome stranger who had such
compelling eyes.

............................................

     Walter watched them walking from a discreet  distance not
wanting to intrude on their reminisces. To tell the truth he had
felt a little like a third wheel and wanted to let them alone to
catch up. He needed time to figure out weather fortune was smiling
at him, or if these feelings were just because she was so attractive
and he was so lonely. He longed for some warm presence to ease his
nights and brighten his dismal days. Even though he and Sharon had
lived together for seventeen years, they had really stopped being
man and wife long before the separation and divorce. In fact, Walter
couldn't even remember the last time they had really talked. But
this pretty thing, Rae...... now she stirred something in him,
something he'd thought long dead.

     After seeing her up close he couldn't decide if it was her
eyes, wide and blue, or her honey-colored hair, or her easy blush
that attracted him. She wasn't the type of woman he had been dating
of late. Recently his tastes went toward tall, statuesque women, in
fact any woman who was the opposite of his ex-wife. Rae was shorter
and slimmer than his current tastes ran. But there was something
about her that he couldn't describe and he was determined to find
out what it was before the day was out. At first glance she was just
a pretty woman and all he'd wanted was a night with her. But
something told him that a single night wouldn't be enough. Besides,
you didn't just go around having one nighters with your friend's
sister, it just wasn't done.

     He followed them to the children's area and when she left Bob
to go backstage Walter joined his friend at a table in the back.

     "Welcome back, my friend." Bob smiled at him as he pulled up a
chair."Rae wondered if she said something to offend you. She was a
bit put out when you left so abruptly."

     Walter was about reply when he saw the devilish twinkle in
Bob's eyes." That Irish humor of yours is going to get you in hot
water one of these days, bud. You know I meant what I said."

     "And I also know that you were probably watching from a
distance. But that's okay, Walter, that's just you. Anyway I'm glad
you came over to hear her sing, she really is good." At that the
crowd became quiet as soft guitar music began.

     Rae, along with two men and another woman began to play and
sing a series of children's folk tunes, interspersed with stories
and jokes. Most of the children were between the ages of three and
seven, with a few older ones on the outside fringes (not wanting to
look like babies, but wanting to hear the music all the same). Along
the back row where Bob and Walter were sitting were adults, mostly
parents with babies, seated at tables with food or drinks. It made
Walter realize that Rae hadn't eaten, and he wondered if she would
let him buy her lunch after the show.

     Even though Walter wasn't overly fond of folk music he found
the show engaging, especially when Rae looked directly at him and
smiled. He found himself thinking, without knowing why, what it
would be like to kiss those smiling lips, and the thought startled
him. He wasn't reticent when it came to kissing pretty women, but he
usually performed that act, not mooned over how it would feel, like
a raw school boy. Walter shook his head; what was happening to him?
Three minutes of conversation, and he was acting like an addled
recruit. Maybe he should just get up and leave. But then she smiled
at him again, a look so happy and guileless that he decided to stay,
and listen to her sing.

     Walter closed his eyes for a moment and just listened to her
voice, and the way the four of them blended when they sang as a
group. He let the sound wash over him and wondered how such
sweetness would sound singing jazz or dance music. He just couldn't
hear it in her. It would be like Ethel Merman trying to sing like
Rae was now, soft and light and gentle. But it was a good voice,
that he knew, even though he wasn't especially musical.

     Bob saw the look on his friend's face and wondered if he was
doing the right thing. He knew that Walter had been very lonely
since his divorce, and so had Rae since hers. But Rae was the kind
of woman who needed patience in large amounts, and Bob just wasn't
sure if Walter could muster that kind of tolerance. He saw the look
in Walter's eyes as he watched Rae sing, however. It was the kind of
wondering, slightly addled look of a person who meets a stranger on
the street, only to find that it's not a stranger at all, but the
missing part of himself. And it was a look that Bob Gaines had never
seen on the face of Walter Skinner. Walter had spent the last few
years shutting himself away from life, closing himself in.  Maybe
Rae, with her infinite capacity to love, her trust and devotion
could save Walter from the dungeon he had forced himself into.
Maybe she could bring him back into sunshine and life.

     Bob studied Walter's face, 'Maybe she'll give him something to
care about again. If anyone can do it Rae can.' But then he shrugged
mentally. 'Or maybe they'll both wind up detesting each other, and
I'll be off the hook.'  He leaned over to Walter, "I've got to catch
up with the guys I came with. Tell Rae that I'll tell Kath I saw her
okay?"

     Walter just nodded, unwilling to take his eyes off the stage.
Bob slipped away, grinning again.

     During the last number Walter slipped out of his seat and made
his way backstage. He grabbed a bottle of Evian(R) from a passing
vendor, it was over ninety degrees after all, she was bound to be
thirsty.

     When they came bounding offstage Rae saw him at once, and
waved. She turned to the others and excused herself. She was flushed
and sweating, but her eyes were gleaming, and her smile was bright.

     Walter proffered the bottle of water, and with a whispered
"Bless you" she tore open the cap and guzzled. Before it was quite
empty she dumped the rest over face and shirt. Walter watched,
amused. It was what he would have done, what he wished he could do,
but for the blasted tie.

     "Where's Bob?" she asked him, looking around.

     "He wanted to catch up with his group. He said he'd tell Kath
you two met."

     "Oh well. Will you excuse me while I change? I can't stand to
be in these clothes any longer." She pointed to a women's dressing
room."Before the guys want to grab my bag and stow it on the bus."

     He looked down at her drenched shirt, which clung to her
breasts enticingly."Go ahead, I'll wait." When she looked puzzled
he simply said," I'd like to buy you lunch."

     "Oh boy, I hope you came with money. I'm always ravenous after
a show like this." She waved her fingers and disappeared.

     After kicking his heels for about twenty minutes Walter felt a
light tapping on his shoulder and a lilting "Hello."

     He turned to find her dry and dressed in another pair of shorts
and a light blouse. She looked refreshed, her hair tied up in a
tail, eyes sparkling. She made Walter smile his rare and disarming
smile and the sight of it nearly knocked her off her feet. She felt
herself blushing again. This simply made him grin wider, and soon
she lowered her head, embarrassed by her thoughts and by the way he
made her feel. She was giddy and suddenly felt something she'd never
felt before with an attractive man: she felt pretty. He held out his
hand to her and she took it, liking the strength of his grasp.

     They walked along the vacinity, talking about Bob, and how she
had known him practically since birth. Walter said little, his FBI
secretiveness still in place but he listened well. As for Rae, she
was delighted to walk around the 4th of July party with a handsome
man, who looked at her with eyes that made her feel special.
Besides, he seemed to really listen as she chattered away about her
family and her home.

     They settled in a small cafe near the carnival, and ordered
their lunch. When Walter's roast beef sandwich came however, Rae
didn't think her salad looked all that appealing. Ever conscious of
her weight, she rarely let herself indulge in 'forbidden foods',
but that beef just looked so good.

     Walter saw her eyes as she watched him cut his food, and
offered her his plate."You've got to be more than salad hungry," he
said smiling broadly."After all, you told me yourself that you were
ravenous. I can order another."

     "But then you wasted your money on the salad."

     Walter simply divided the salad in half and called the waiter
over to order another sandwich. Once the second meal came they
chatted as they ate, and Walter opened up a little by telling her
about his position with the FBI.  When she heard what he did for a
living Rae chortled, and nearly choked on her food.

     "What's so funny?" he asked, not sure what had set off her
laughter.

     "You're in the FBI, an Assistant Director, and here you are
having lunch with a federal criminal." Walter's look of  bafflement
increased." I was a war protester, arrested  right here in DC and
interrogated by the FBI. It was part of the way I spent my misspent
youth." She giggled again, and Walter smiled.

     "But I hope that you have reformed, and paid your debt to
society."

     "Oh I have." But she suddenly turned serious," I got out of it
shortly after that. They began saying bad things about the soldiers
and others who were over there. I had family and friends who were
fighting in that war; I couldn't believe those things. I wanted the
war to end because I felt that *it* was wrong, not the men who
fought it."  She looked deep into his eyes, and something stirred
inside her. She realized that she was showing more emotion that she
should, and she suddenly looked away.

     During the moment that their eyes locked, Walter sensed the
turmoil of her feelings. Her compassion touched him, made him begin
to thaw. It was as if emotions long held in check were beginning to
surface once again. He took her hand and squeezed it wanting to make
contact before the moment slipped away.

     Suddenly he grinned at her, "How long has it been since you've
been to  a carnival? " He pulled her to her feet and held her hand
as they made their way into the midway.

     Walter had more fun that afternoon than he could remember
having in a long time. They both shot at the range. He was the
better shot, but Rae turned in a very respectable showing. His
prowess, however won her an ugly pink elephant. They rode the ferris
wheel and Rae clung to his arm, terrified of the height. Then came
the carousel, spinning and laughing in the lights and the tinny
music. They ate cotton candy and caramel apples, pitched baseballs,
played skee-bowl. But most of all they laughed. It was almost as if
he needed someone to remind him how good it felt to laugh. Rae made
him relax his ever present guard and feel free to show that he was
having fun. It was something he hadn't been able to do with
Sharon, and in a small corner of his mind he wondered what was
different.

     For Rae's part just the act of walking with such a beautiful
man made her knees feel like jelly. Since she had grown up a fat,
ugly duckling, she wasn't accustomed to the attentions of
attractive men. Even her first husband was no prize. But
Walter...now he was gorgeous. Besides his physical beauty, there
was a gentleness about him that made her feel at ease. Attractive
people usually made her uncomfortable, since she wasn't used to
their company, but Walter made her feel beautiful.

....................................................

     For both of them the afternoon passed too quickly. All too soon
it was five o'clock and Rae had to get to her stage to dress. She
didn't know if she should ask him to stay. She was torn by
conflicting emotions; she wanted to see more of him, but since they
were leaving tonight for the next leg of their tour she couldn't.
Asking him to hang around just to please her would be unfair, since
there wasn't any hope of  anything more.

     But Walter had no intention of leaving now. He didn't know how
long she was staying or if she wanted him to be there, but he wasn't
leaving. He felt too good, too sure that something could happen
between them and he wanted to be with her too much to let go just
yet. There was something unspoken between them, some sweet mystery
that was just beginning to bubble and brew; he had to find out what
it was.

     He had walked with her all the way to the door of her dressing
room, and now he stood leaning against the jamb, looking down into
her face." May I stay and watch the show?" he asked softly.

     Rae swallowed hard past the lump that suddenly rose in her
throat. His effect on her was devastating."Of course. Just don't
sit too close to the front."

     "Why not?"

     "You're too distracting." She saw the twinkle that came into
his eyes and a slow grin lit his face."That's exactly what I mean.
Sit in the back."

     He squeezed her hand, which he hadn't yet relinquished.
"Whatever the lady wants."

................................................................

     The show went well. Walter was surprised by Rae's ability to
sing in this very different style. 'She's good,' he thought. He
found himself wondering again what it would be like to kiss her.
'I'm just going to have to find out, and soon.' He rose and went
backstage. He didn't want her to think that he had left. But he was
certain that she saw him, because she appeared to look right into
his eyes when she sang soft and romantically ('Or am I
imagining?').

     But he couldn't find her. He knocked on the dressing room door
but Rae wasn't there. Nor was she by the make- up tables. The only
place left were the wings and he didn't see her there either.
But he did hear her voice. He followed the sound around a curtain
to find her in deep discussion with the guy she had been dancing
with earlier.

     "Jim - just back off. If I want to spend my last couple hours
in DC with Satan I will." She looked up into her friend's face,
"but he's not Satan, Jim. His name is Walter Skinner and he's with
the FBI for gosh sakes. How much safer can I be?"

     "I don't like the way he looks at you. I'm telling you Rae -
that guy's trouble. He wants more than just a date for the prom.
He's..."

     "Stop ! I'm not a child, Jim. You're not my father, my husband
or my brother and they would resent you horning in on their
territory. I'll be on the bus, don't worry, and until then butt
out!" She spun around the curtain and stumbled right into Walter's
arms.

     She turned deep red right up to her ears and looked at her
feet. But Walter didn't let her go. His face full of concern, he
asked if everything was going to be all right.

     Still not looking at him Rae tried to assure him that it would
be."Jim thinks he owns me sometimes. He forgets that we
aren't in fourth grade anymore, and that really did grow up."

     But Walter raised her face with his hand, and looked into her
eyes." If he's important to you maybe you should go after him. I
mean, if the two of you are, ah..."

     " We aren't. Come on, I need something to drink, I'm parched.
If you really want to know I'll tell you after I get some water."
Rae took his hand and pulled him after her, out the stage door and
into the crowd.

     Before they had gone very far, however Walter changed tacks and
headed them toward the reflecting pool, where the crowds were
thinner, and it was quieter. On the way he grabbed two more bottles
of Evian, and a couple bowls of fruit salad. 'She looks like she
could use a snack as well as a drink,' he thought.

     After they had found a bench away from the crowd, and after she
had gulped half the bottle he looked at her expectantly."Tell me."

     "We only have an hour, how much do you want to know?"

     "Well-l-l-l you could start with 'I was born...' " Walter
grinned."How about your friend. Why is he so protective? Not that
I mind, I'm glad that someone's going to be around to keep an eye
on you, but I feel as though there's something else going on."

     "Jim and I met as kids, and we've been through a lot together,
good and bad. He protected me from the bullies who used to call me
names, and I tried to set him up with my brother's cast offs. Our
families always expected us to get married, but it would never work.
We tried to get tegoether a couple times, but it just wasn't there
for us, not like that." Rae looked at her hands. She wasn't sure if
she was saying too much, but he was listening so quietly she felt
all right about taking him into her confidence."Anyway, he goes a
little overboard with the big brother thing sometimes. I understand
why, but it chafes sometimes, you know?"

     "Well as long as he isn't a boyfriend who's going to come after
me with a shotgun or something." He smiled as Rae snapped her eyes
to his face. But as her smile matched his, he was moved by the
impulse to put his arms around her. So he did.

     Rae was startled by the gesture, but it felt so good that she
didn't pull away. His arms were very strong and  she could feel his
muscles as he pulled her against him. It  made her feel safe, and
excited at the same time. She looked up to say something, but was
stopped by the look on his face.

     His eyes were dark, and his entire aspect intense. He tightened
his grip on her, one hand on her hair, and lowered his lips to
hers. He kissed her tenderly, not wanting to startle or frighten
her. He wanted to savor this moment, to commit it to memory.

     Completely swept away, Rae slipped her arms around his waist
and sank against him. Under his gentle kisses she began to tremble,
and she felt focused on only him. These were feelings that she'd
never had before. She slid her hands up his back to his muscular
shoulders and caressed them reveling in their strength. Suddenly as
if from deep inside her, desire came alive. A desire that she didn't
recognize. A desire that was a little frightening in its sudden
ferocity.

     Walter rested her head on his chest holding her tightly. He was
suddenly mindful that they were in a public place. He couldn't lose
control here, and he was very close to losing control."Rae," he
whispered in her ear," what hotel are you staying at? I live too far
out to go to my place, and I don't want to leave you..."

     "We aren't staying," she said softly against his chest. She
could feel his voice reverberating in his deep chest when he spoke,
and it made her tingle." We're leaving right after the last show.
Don wants to beat the firework traffic, and we have to be in Iowa
for a parade in the morning. We're going to sleep on the bus." Her
words fell heavily into the humid air and sadness radiated from her.

     " What's the rest of your schedule?" Walter tried to sound
hopeful."Maybe I could meet you somewhere for a weekend..."

     But Rae sat up and folded her hands in her lap, shaking her
head."No. We aren't stopping anywhere long enough to take a bath,
much less a weekend. The only place we'll be longer than a day is at
the end of the line in Berkeley. We're playing a jazz festival there
on campus, then at a club for the weekend. And anyway..." her voice
trailed off wistfully.

     "What weekend?" Walter was focused on her mention of Berkeley
and the weight in the middle of his stomach began to lift.

     "The first weekend in August. Then the guys leave with the bus
and all the props and costumes and I'm staying on for a weeks'
vacation. I've wanted to get back to San Francisco for a while now,
its my favorite city to visit and I've saved all winter for the
chance."

     Walter brightened."I'm going to be in San Francisco at the
same time. I'm attending a law enforcement conference, then I was
going to spend the week also. Rae, the same week that you're going
to be there." He tilted her chin up with his finger." I'd like to
see you there."

     But she still looked sad."I'm not sure that would be a good
idea. I'm going back to Wisconsin and you're coming back here."
She looked away from him."I don't want to get into anything that
I'll live to regret."

     He turned her back to face him," You won't regret it, I
promise" and he kissed her again, tenderly."Where are you staying
in Berkeley, Rae?" She looked at him mesmerized by his eyes, but
didn't reply. He kissed her again, "Where?"

     Coming to her senses she pulled gently away and began to rise.
"I have to get to my stage. I've got to get into my costume." She
made a motion to go, but then turned back."Walter, this is the
most fun I've had in a long, long time. I want to thank you. I..."

     He was on his feet in an instant, pulling her against him and
kissing her again. He held her close and stroked her honey-gold
hair."Don't say good-bye yet. After you're show is over..."

     "There won't be any time. I have to walk off stage and onto a
bus. I don't even have time to change so I want to say it now." She
looked up directly into his eyes and smiled softly, "Thank you for
the best day I've had in years."

     "What hotel are you staying at in Berkeley?" But she just shook
her head."Why won't you tell me? Don't you trust me?" He grinned,
remembering what she had said to Jim about being safe with him.
"I'm in the FBI, you know. We have ways of finding these things
out."

     "But you won't. You want me to tell you." Suddenly she
chuckled." But I won't. A girl needs to have some secrets."

     He stroked her cheek with one finger."Okay, have it your way."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card." I'm
staying at the Sheraton - Fisherman's Wharf. Call me. We can go to
dinner, maybe see the sights. Write it on the card when you get to
the dressing room, don't forget." He searched her eyes, and liked
what he saw there.  "Call me." He loosened his hold on her, but
kept an arm around her waist." I'll take you to the stage, but try
and wait for me after I'll get back as soon as I can."

.................................................

     Rae's last set was a collection of romantic dance music from
the thiries, forties and fifties. Her gown was a slim fitting
purple beaded sheath and she held a lavender rose during the set.
She dressed slowly, thoughtfully. She stared at herself in the
dressing room mirror, not believing what had just happened. She had
to be crazy, kissing a man she'd just met and acting like a dizzy
female. What was wrong with her?

     That question she answered in one word - Walter. She had never
known a man like him before. Of course she had never gotten close
enough to a beautiful man to be kissed by one before either. She
only hoped that she wasn't making a terrible mistake as she had
with Tom, her first husband.

     She shook the thought off. 'I don't want to dwell on unhappy
things right now,' she thought. She was still too full of happily
confusing feelings about Walter to dredge up the horrors of the
past. She shook her head trying to calm down. But taste of his
kisses lingered. ' Not right now,' she told herself firmly. ' Time
enough to deal with that when I see him in San Francisco; if I see
him in San Francisco.' So she kept repeating, trying to clear her
mind for the performance.

     Walter took a seat right up front. He didn't care if he was a
distraction, he wanted to see her clearly when she sang. 'It might
be the last time I see her for weeks, ' he thought. Unexpectedly
the thought pained him. How could he go over the edge so quickly?

     But the thought was forgotten as the stage lights came on and
the band was introduced. Once again Rae's voice had a slightly
differently quality. Now it was smooth as silk, caressing each note
for every drop of nuance. The harmony between the four voices was
tight and intimate. The sound washed over the audience like a gentle
wave.

     She looked like heaven in the shimmering purple dress that
clung to her curves. And she sounded like an angel when she sang
the romantic old songs that he remembered his parents dancing
to.

     In the middle of the set Rae startled him by dedicating a
number to the FBI. Walter looked up surprised, but then smiled
broadly when she began to sing "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered"
all the while looking right at him.

     He got up during the last number to get backstage, but the area
was already crowded with people looking for good seats for the
fireworks. He was stalled and couldn't move as he heard the
applause for the band leaving the stage. He began a more circuitous
route.

     Backstage Rae hung around the dressing room door while the guys
loaded the last of the stuff onto the bus. Jim was eyeing her
suspiciously as she kept looking at all the entrances, even the
stage. But no one came.

     Jim went over and took her arm."Rae, we have to go. If we
don't leave now we'll never beat the crowd."

     She looked at him appealingly, "Just a few minutes, Jim,
please? I know he'll come."

     " We can't. You see the crowd. By the time we maneuver the bus
out of here the fireworks will be over, and there'll be no getting
out for hours. We have security holding the gate for us, Rae. We
have to go now." He began to pull her toward the bus. She hung back
as much as possible, giving Walter every moment she could. Finally
though she had to climb the stairs of the bus and go to her seat.

     She opened the window to look out, when she saw him wave.
"Wait," he called." Rae wait."

     She leaned as far out the window as she dared. The bus had
stopped momentarily and he caught up. She bent down and handed him
the rose that she had held during the show. Then the bus began to
roll. Their hands parted and Walter helplessly watched the bus go.

     "Walter !" She was waving out the window and calling." The
Durant ! I'm staying at the Durant !"

CHAPTER 2

     For the next six weeks Skinner's secretary often caught him
grinning. She would come in with papers for him to sign or to ask a
question and would find him staring into space with a soft smile on
his face. She was suspicious when he came back to the office on July
5th carrying a purple rose and humming. That was another thing that
she thought odd : he never hummed, not even when he was happy (not
that Kimberly had seen him happy all that often).  He'd had three
lunch dates with Bob Gaines in as many weeks and had asked her twice
to confirm his reservations for the Sheraton in San Francisco. He
had also extended his stay for an extra week, and put in for the
vacation time. It simply wasn't like him: cheerful, smiling,
tolerant when he was usually edgy, scowling and impatient.

     'It has to be a woman,' Kimberly thought, musing. 'But who? '
She thought it must be someone from the Bureau that he was planning
to take to the law enforcement conference. She racked her brain to
figure it out: Leslie from DEA, 'No, too giggly.' Pam from Records,
'No, legs not long enough.' Marilyn from Data Management, 'Ah ha -
that's it, leggy, tall, big chest - just the boss's type.' Kimberly
made a mental note to do some digging and find out if Marilyn had
the same week off.

     In his office Skinner was spinning a pencil around in his long,
strong fingers and musing about the 4th of July party. He had
received four postcards from Rae from some of the hotspots of her
tour, and he had them spread out on his desk.

     He picked up the first, a picture of the fair at Ames, Iowa
where they had had to rush off to that night. Her note was brief,
funny and in it she thanked him again for the 'good time'.

     He smiled, 'I didn't have time to show her a *good* time.' He
stared at the round graceful handwriting, "Just wait until I get
you in San Francisco, lady and I'll show you a *good* time." He
chuckled out loud as he set the card back on his desk and picked up
the next one from a county fair in Minnesota. Again the message was
brief and funny; describing the travel on the bus, and her friend
Jim's reaction when she told him about their planned meeting in San
Francisco. The next card, from North Dakota was a continuation of
the story and the fourth card, from Wyoming concluded the tale.

     In all he had received a card every ten - twelve days. Each one
told a part of the same story and it was one that made Walter
faintly uneasy. She had made light of it, but her friend Jim didn't
want them to be together. He sounded to Skinner almost like a man
defending his territory. Skinner didn't want to elbow in on another
man's action - but by the same token, the lady considered herself
free and clear. Her discussion with the guy behind the curtain  and
her later statements about him confirmed that.

     'Maybe he is just being protective, like a brother. He's known
her a long time. A lot longer than I have. '  Skinner looked morose
momentarily, but then he smiled. ' But I plan to get to know her
alot better.' Jim was gone from his thoughts again, as he laid the
cards out in the order in which they arrived. Grinning even wider he
picked up the phone and asked Kimberly to place three calls for him.

     Just then Mulder put his head in and asked to speak to him.

     Skinner sighed and put the postcards in his desk drawer,
motioning Mulder in. In another week he'd be leaving and he
sincerely hoped that nothing would happen to delay his departure, or
ruin his mood.

.....................................................

     The entire summer passed in an excited whirl for Rae. Riding
the bus from town to town, living out of suitcases like gypsies,
the fairs, the people, the music. It wasn't the first time she
toured, but it was more exciting than it had been for the past two
years.

     One of the reasons that she was so transparently happy was that
every mile and every day brought them closer to San Francisco.
Despite her original misgivings she was looking forward to seeing
Walter again. Not even her ongoing 'discussion' with Jim over her
proposed meeting with the big, handsome FBI agent could dim her
expectation.

     Jim kept needling her about not being left alone with Walter.
He even proposed that he stay on for the week so that she would
have someone to turn to if things went wrong. But Rae steadfastly
insisted that he return home.

     "Terry will be there most of the week, and if something happens
I can always get an earlier flight, " she told him on the bus one
night." But *nothing* bad is going to happen."

     "How do you know? How can you be so sure of a man that you saw
at a party for a few hours? You were sure about Tom, and you knew
him for almost two years."

     The reference to her sad and violent ex-husband made Rae even
angrier. She had tried for years to get a handle on the reasons that
drove her to marry the wrong man, a man she didn't love and for all
the wrong reasons."Tom has nothing to do with this. I was a
different person then, and you know it. I didn't have any sense of
myself. You also know that I've regretted that particular mistake
almost since the day I married him." She shook her head ruefully,
trying to push the bad memories back as they threatened to flood her
again. She had succeeded in keeping them at bay for many years; this
was not the time to drag them out. She stared mutely out the window,
her anger suddenly dissipated. Why did he have to bring it up? Why
did he have to spoil her anticipation?

     Jim saw the sadness that suddenly washed over his dear friend's
face and realized he had hurt her."Rae, I'm so sorry," he said
softly."I can't help worrying about you. You always looked to me
for protection when we were kids, I guess I still feel responsible
for your safety." He slipped his arm around her shoulders."I
didn't mean to bring him up, I just don't want to see you hurt
again."

     Rae responded to her old friend's touch, and leaned
companionably against him. She pushed back the tears that threatened
to spill."I can't explain why I feel safe with Walter, Jim. You're
right I haven't known him long, but there's something about him that
reminds me of you, and Terry and Greg. You know that I think of you
as one of my brothers."

     "But you don't think of *him* that way." He felt slightly
miffed by her comment because he hadn't always felt like her
brother.

     "No, not a brother. Definitely not a brother." She smiled and
looked up at him, "besides, you know that if anything does happen,
Roger taught me to fight dirty."

     Her reference to the self -defense class that she took after
her divorce made him chuckle. Roger, the instructor taught the women
in his classes how to hit a man in all of his most sensitive parts
to disable him and give her time to get away. Roger was notorious
with the men in the area because he didn't believe in the Marquis
and Queensbury rules."You're fighting for your self-preservation,
for your life: fight to win" was Roger' s motto - and if that meant
that a woman had to fight dirty, then that's what she had to do.

     "At least you can disable him if he tries to play pattycake
with you."

     "Did it, maybe occur to you that I might want to play pattycake
with him?" When Jim looked shocked, Rae laughed." I'm not an
innocent you know." She pulled her pillow out from the seat pocket
in front of her, "Now go to your seat so I can sleep. We have to
get up before ten tomorrow for another parade, and its after one."

     Rae gave him a push, and he rose  to go to his own seat to
sleep. He wished again that she would take his advice and stay away
from 'that bald guy' (Jim was the only one who referred to Walter
that way in Rae's presence. None of the others on the bus would
have dared.) He sat in his seat staring out at the dark landscape,
sleep eluding him. He kept trying to come up with ways to make Rae
'see reason'.

     He couldn't help but worry about her. She was his oldest and
closest friend. She never judged him, never made him feel bad, and
always supported him. Just like a friend should. When he was with
her he didn't feel so lonely. 'Maybe that's why I don't want her to
stay in San Francisco with him,' he thought, as if just waking to
the thought. 'I'm afraid she's going to fall in love and be happy
with him. I'm afraid I'm going to lose her.' He drifted into a
light nap with that thought whirling in his mind.

     Rae stirred in her sleep. She had been happy and carefree all
summer long, but now the reminder of Tom brought all kinds of
unwanted thoughts to her consciousness. Her dreams were muddy and
confused, dark and frightening. All summer her dreams had been of
happy things. Walter had joined her in many of them: together at a
Packer game, fishing on Forest Lake, handing her a tiny puppy. But
now she writhed in her seat, trying to get away, trying to wake up.
She moaned softly.

     Jim heard  her in his doze and went to her. There were tears on
her face, and she was moaning, "No, please don't." So he lifted her
gently, and slipped her head onto his lap. He stroked her hair and
whispered, "Its all right Rae, Jim's here. I'll take care of you."
She settled down immediately and slept quietly again.

     Jim fervently hoped that she would be okay. He'd go home after
the tour like he was supposed to if she didn't ask him to stay. He
wouldn't bring up Tom ever again. He'd keep quiet about Walter,
too. If she wanted him then Jim would stay out of it.

     'He'd just better not harm her,' he thought looking down at the
pale, sleeping face on his lap.

...............................................................

     Skinner's day was rapidly going from bad to worse and it showed
on his face. Even Kimberly steered clear as much as possible. You
didn't want to mess with the boss when his dark eyebrows were
knitted in a deep frown, and his mouth pulled into a straight, tight
line. Every muscle in Walter's body portrayed tension.

     But that didn't stop Mulder.

     With Scully right on his heels Mulder swept past Kimberly and
into Skinner's office.

     "I'm sorry , sir." Kimberly sounded angry." I couldn't stop
them." She was protective of Skinner, even more so now that he had
shown a softer side and she didn't want Mulder to upset him even
more.

     "Its all right, Kimberly. I'll handle this." Skinner nodded at
his secretary, and looked at Mulder, annoyed."What do you want,
Mulder?"

     "What is this bullshit assignment that you have us on?"

     "I don't know what you're talking about Agent Mulder. Your
assignment was deemed important enough by my superiors to merit
investigation and I presumed that you would be the right person to
do the investigating. Do you disagree with our assessment of the
situation?" Skinner glared at the younger man, pausing in his task.

     "Lights in the sky over a lake in Northern Minnesota? Sir,
there could be a dozen explanations for them." Mulder was fuming.
"The lake is near an airfield and a SAC base. There's also a large
contingent of nighttime fishermen who frequent the area..."

     "I understand that there were several disappearances in the
area as well. So like I said: investigate. How you do this is up to
you, but I want a full report on my desk in a week. That should be
enough time for you to figure out what's going on up there."
Skinner threw a sheaf of folders into his open briefcase." Right
now I don't have time, I have a plane to catch."

     Mulder flew out of the office with a disgusted grunt, but Dana
Scully stayed behind.

     "May I have a word, sir?"

     Skinner looked up and, seeing that she was troubled motioned
her to a chair. He had nothing against either of his agents, but it
seemed to him that they were intent on causing him trouble this
week. And now he was going to miss his flight.

     "What is it Scully?"

     "Sir, Mulder really believes that there's nothing going on up
there. The three missing persons were teens who have a history of
running away from home, and the lights over the water could have
been amplified by the low hanging mists that pervade the area." She
looked right into his eyes, "I think that there's another case that
Mulder is concerned about."

     "I gave him this case to investigate. If he finishes this one
to my satisfaction, then - not before can he move on to another."
As impatient as he was he couldn't leave without giving her some
reassurance."All right, what' s so important that Mulder thinks it
should take precedence over his assigned duties?"

     "Sir, there have been a series of strange disappearances in the
Seattle area. Mulder believes that they may be related to a system
of underground tunnels ." She paused, unsure if she should share
the information Mulder gave her this morning before Skinner's
Minnesota investigation came down."He believes that there may be
something unexplained at work there."

     "What, monsters in the sewer system?" But he saw her look and
relented."All right. If you really find nothing in Minnesota then
you can go to Seattle. But I want a thorough job up north before
any travel requests are submitted to my secretary. If I find that
you two have not done a satisfactory job in Minnesota you'll both
be on suspension." He looked at her sternly, "I want the job done
right." He handed her a stack of signed travel plans."I'll have
Kimberly make up an itinerary for Seattle with the dates left blank
and I'll sign them before I leave."

     "Thank you, sir. I hope that the conference is a success."
Scully looked at the clock."I didn't make you  miss your flight
did I ?"

     Skinner followed her eyes and realized that he would never make
it to the airport now."I'll have to get a later one." Skinner
called his secretary to have her reschedule his flight and confirm
his hotel reservation as Scully left and once again his face
darkened into a scowl.

......................................................

     The entire group was tired and dirty when they checked into the
Durant Hotel in Berkeley on Thursday night. The eight of them filed
into the lobby, wearily collected their keys and went to their
rooms with few words, and even fewer jokes.

     Jim rode with Rae in the elevator to the sixth floor in
silence. Their relationship was still somewhat strained since their
disagreement over Walter, but right now they were both too tired to
argue.

     At the door to Rae's room Jim kissed her on the cheek, and
wandered to his room around the corner. Silently she opened the
door, only to let out a squeal when she snapped on the light."Oh
my gosh !"

     Jim immediately turned back. He thought that there might be
someone in her room - until he saw the delight on her face. She
stood in the hall with her hands over her mouth, but they couldn't
hide the wide smile."What is it?"

     He looked over her shoulder, and let out a slow whistle."Wow.
Who sent all that?"

     Rae walked slowly over to the treasure laden table. There was a
basket of flowers (she leaned over to sniff the roses and
carnations), a bottle of champagne and a wooden crate filled with
Ghiradelli chocolates. She stood transfixed, thinking that perhaps
all this had been delivered to the wrong room. But then she saw the
card stuck into the flowers : a card bearing her name.

     Jim saw it too and grabbed it off the stick before she could.
He looked at the heavy handwriting and held it high over Rae's
head."Now I wonder who this could be from?" He waved the card out
of Rae's reach."Let's just open it and see."

     "Just you give me that you pain-in-the-butt English teacher."
She hopped up to try and grab his fingers.

     "But I want to see." He teased her exactly like he and her
brothers used to when they were kids.

     Rae hung on his arm, picking her feet off the floor, forcing
him to lower it. She snatched the card away and held it to her
chest."Its mine thou dolt. And if you don't leave it alone I'll
come up with a Shakespearean curse that will whither you in your
tracks !"

     In the envelope were two small cards. On one was written:
"Welcome to San Francisco (Berkeley, rather). Here are a few treats
to enjoy until I get there," signed simply: Walter. It was written
in a heavy, angular hand, and she thought that he must have gone to
the flower shop himself. The other was one of Walter's business
cards. On the back of it was the telephone number for the Sheraton
and the message: "Call me..... W" . As she read them again and
again tears began to sting her eyes. It was the sweetest thing
anyone had ever done for her.

     Jim was looking over the loot, appreciating what it must have
cost Walter to get this all together for her arrival. The flowers
were definitely expensive, as was the champagne (Not Dom Perignon,
but a very good label nonetheless. Besides, Dom Perignon would have
looked pretentious). The chocolates were one of Rae's secret
cravings - and he must have taken the time to find that out from
Bob. He looked at Rae and wondered if, finally someone other than he
and her brothers was seeing something special in her. The look on
her face spoke volumes. He knew the tears were partly from
exhaustion; they had had a particularly rough week and all were glad
to light in one spot for a while. Besides Rae always got teary when
she was extremely tired. But he also knew that much of it was
because of the thoughtfulness of Walter's gifts. She had always
longed for someone special to give her champagne and flowers, candy
and romance. It looked as though she was finally going to get some.

     Jim put his arms around her and gave her a firm hug. He knew
that she must be feeling a little overwhelmed."Maybe I was wrong
about him, Rae." Suddenly a rush of feeling crashed over him and he
realized that he had been chasing the wrong star. He had loved her
since the fourth grade when she punched Melbourne Freitag in front
of the whole class for calling her 'Flubber'. He had loved her
through her misbegotten marriage. He had loved her fat and he had
loved her thin, he had loved her laughing and he had loved her
crying. But he couldn't give her what she needed; he couldn't *be*
her lover. He laid his cheek against her hair. He knew that, in a
way he was saying good-bye to her. But in another way he would keep
her forever, as a friend."I think I've been wrong about alot of
things."

     Rae looked at him and saw a look of peace in his eyes that
hadn't been there before. It was as if, in those brief moments he
had come to a revelation. There was sadness also and a distant
longing, as if he was leaving something behind. She squeezed him
tightly even his touch was different, less demanding.

     Suddenly Jim held her shoulders and smiled, "But I still claim
the right to act like a brother. If that means defending your
virtue against tall dark strangers, then so be it."

     She chuckled at him, laughing at the mental image of slender
Jim (the kids in school used to call him 'Slim Jim') going at it
with tall, muscular Walter."That's always providing that I have
any virtue left to defend."

.......................................

     In the morning Rae called over to the Sheraton to thank Walter
for the gifts, but he hadn't checked in yet. She left a message
then asked to be connected to her brother's room. In a bizarre
coincidence Terry was also staying at the Sheraton because he
didn't like the hotel his conference had booked for them.

     After agreeing to meet for a drink before her show and dinner
Rae stretched out on the bed, feeling luxuriously lazy. She called
room service to order a pot of coffee, allowing herself the
indulgence this once and went again to look at Walter's flowers.
She breathed deep of their fragrance and smiled. She had never
received flowers from a man before (other than her brothers) and
she liked how it made her feel. After a childhood and youth as a
fat girl, it felt so good to be treated like she was pretty.

     After the coffee came and with it a plate of croissant and
fruit, Rae took a shower and dressed in a pair of jeans and a t-
shirt. It felt good to be really clean for a change. Showering at
the places they had been over the summer was hit or miss, sometimes
the dressing rooms had showers, sometimes they didn't even have
walls.

     She called the Sheraton again, but Walter still hadn't checked
in. She decided to give him time so after eating she went out to
walk around Berkeley.

     She had loved this area ever since coming here on a family
vacation seven years ago. They were some of the last happy times
she had with her mother before her illness. Rae had been able to
get back here a couple of times since then, mainly for conferences
and she had always stayed at the Durant. But since her mother's
death two years ago the only traveling she did besides the summer
tour was to places in northern Wisconsin.

     She walked the streets aimlessly, buying food when she was
hungry and eating as she walked. The streets were still relatively
quiet since the semester here didn't start for another two weeks.
In fact the jazz festival that the band was playing in tonight was
called the 'Freedom's End Festival'. Rae loved the color and
variety of the street though, no matter what time of year. On
previous trips she had been here in winter and spring, yet the
vivacious nature of the area near campus was always new, always
sparkling.

     She turned back to the Durant at about three, to rest and get
ready. Her throat felt a bit raspy and she wanted to relax and
drink plenty of water to hydrate herself for the exciting night
ahead.

     Back at the hotel she checked with Kevin, the desk clerk for
messages. The only one was from Terry, to say that he'd pick her up
at five. She was disappointed that there was no message from Walter,
but it was only Friday. He said that his conference started tomorrow
and she knew how busy the hours could get at these things. She
really shouldn't expect to hear from him until Sunday night, after
it was over. She was being selfish, but she was just so filled with
anticipation that she was nearly vibrating. She wanted to be near
him again, to hear his voice, to look into his eyes. She wanted to
be bathed in the warmth of his smile, and filled with butterflies
when he kissed her.

     'Stop acting ridiculous!' she chided herself as she got out her
costume. 'Maybe he won't even kiss you, its been six weeks after
all. ' Then she tilted her head at herself in the mirror, 'but
maybe he will.'

................................................................

     All through the next two days at her performances and even
touring the city with her brother, she looked out for Walter's face
in the crowd. She had called twice more to his hotel, but all they
could say was that he hadn't checked in. However they were still
holding his reservation.

     Rae began to wonder if he was coming at all. They had only
walked around a carnival together. Maybe he had found someone
else........


Chapter 3

     The wind ruffled Rae's honey colored hair as she leaned on the
railing and looked out across San Francisco Bay. Alcatraz Island
floated on a bed of mist and darkness was rapidly approaching from
the east. Shades of deep blue and purple invaded the sky and the
sun hung low on the ocean like an orange beach ball.

     Terry was still inside the old fort building looking at the
books and maps. He had brought her with his group to the Presidio
for a tour and they were going back to Fisherman's Wharf in a few
minutes. But all Rae wanted to do was go back to the Durant. She
was feeling unreasonable lonely and she wanted to sulk.

     Walter had not checked into his room at the Sheraton and he had
not tried to call her at the Durant. She began to wonder if he'd
changed his mind about coming after sending all of the lovely gifts
to her room and didn't want to tell her. He hadn't seemed like the
fickle type, but she'd been wrong before.

     She didn't see her brother watching her silently from the
doorway. 'She looks so sad,' he thought. 'Maybe he can cheer her
up.' By some stroke of luck he had run into an old friend who was
visiting San Francisco for the week. Terry was very pleased because
he'd be leaving in the morning and he didn't want to leave Rae alone
in San Francisco when she was feeling so sad. So he had asked his
buddy to join them for a drink later. The man had to make some calls
and get some sleep, but had promised to meet them in the Sheraton
bar at 9 tonight. He went to his sister and leaned on the rail next
to her.

     "We'll be going back soon, its after seven. Do you want
anything from the gift shop?"

     "No, thanks. I'm just enjoying the breeze. I don't think I'll
join you for dinner, though."

     "Oh yes you will. I'm not going to let you go back to your room
and mope on my last day in town." She looked up at him, surprised.
"I have to go to a user group meeting in Japan, I leave in the
morning. I'm sorry our visit was cut short."

     "Its okay. I haven't exactly been good company."

     "Do you want to tell me what's wrong? You usually love it here,
but you've been distant all day."

     "I was expecting someone, that's all. I just didn't realize
how much I was looking forward to seeing him." She saw her brother
raise his eyebrows."Yes, him. I met him over the summer and he was
planning to meet me here - well he was coming anyway." She shook
her head."I guess he changed his mind."

     "Without telling you? What a louse." He took her arm and pulled
her away from the rail." Well let your big brother cheer you up
with dinner and some company. I met an old Navy buddy this morning
and he's going to join us for a drink. Maybe, between the two of us
we can make you forget that jerk."

     "Now that's not fair. You don't even know him." Rae slid her
arm through her brother's." And what makes you think that I want
to be set up with one of your old Navy pals? I've met some of them
and, brother they are no prize."

     Terry laughed, "I don't want you to marry him, just have a
drink. We can get together and buy you a root beer."

     They got on the motorized trolley that brought them on the tour
and Rae hung on for dear life. She loved trolleys and the terror
they gave her when they tipped over the San Francisco hills. She
resolved to forget all about Walter and have a good time here.

.........................................................

     Walter rushed into the lobby of the Sheraton- Fisherman's Wharf
and to the desk. He got so delayed in DC that he'd had to take the
red eye to LA and the early shuttle up the coast. He was exhausted,
harried and worried. His mind was filled with an endless series of
What If's: she hadn't called, she didn't want to see him, she'd
left with the bus?

     The desk clerk handed him a sheaf of messages when he checked
in. Walter was scanning them, looking for messages from Rae, when
he heard his name. Turning he saw a friend that he'd not seen in
years."Terry! You dog, how long has it been?"

     "God you look like hell," Terry chuckled, shaking Walter's
hand. Terry was also a large, muscular man and between he and
Walter they seemed to fill the room. The sight of the two massive
men in the middle of the elegant lobby caused several women to turn
and stare." What are you doing here?"

     "I've got a law enforcement convention and then I'm staying for
vacation."

     "I was here for a convention, but now I've got to goon to
Japan, I'm leaving tomorrow. How about joining us for a drink
tonight? My sister's here, too. I know she'd love to meet you."

    "Well, I was supposed to meet someone."

    "I won't take no for an answer. Nine tonight in the bar, bring
her along, we won't mind." Terry grinned wickedly and winked at his
friend.

     Walter chuckled low and went gratefully to the elevator. His
flipped through his messages once again. Rae had called every day.
Twice yesterday. He smiled, she was still here, then and she still
wanted to see him.

     Once in his room he lay on the bed and picked up the phone.
"Connect me the Durant Hotel in Berkeley, please." But Rae wasn't in
her room. He left a message, and planned to drive over this
afternoon, but drifted off to sleep instead.

...............................................

     Terry and Rae left the restaurant in the Sheraton at five of
nine. She didn't really want to go for a drink with this friend of
Terry's. She wanted to go back to her hotel and see if Walter had
arrived. She waited in the doorway while Terry looked for his
friend and thought that she should check once more with the desk
clerk to see if he was here. 'No,' she thought. ' I've got *some*
pride. If Walter Skinner wants to see me, then Walter Skinner can
by god call me !"

     Walter was sitting at the bar when Terry tapped him on the
shoulder. As he looked up however, he thought he saw Rae standing
in the lobby. She still wasn't in her room when he called after
dinner, and now that he was wondering if he should try calling
again, here she was.

     "Will you excuse me for a moment, Terry? I think I see someone
I know." He walked up behind her and leaned over, "Looking for me?"
he said softly.

     Rae spun around eyes wide, mouth agape. It was as if he stepped
right out of her thoughts and appeared."You're here !" The
transparently happy expression on her face was enough to make
Walter's heart stop."I didn't think you were coming. I thought
that you changed your mind, or forgot, or..."

     "I'm sorry I'm late. Something came up at the office that I had
to take care of." He took her hands." I got your messages. All of
them." He grinned broadly, and she blushed. "I have to have a
drink with a friend and his sister, but will you join us?"

     "I have to have a drink with a friend of my brother's..." Both
of them looked at Terry, who had come up next to them unnoticed.
"Your friend?" Terry nodded.

     "Your sister?" Terry nodded again. Walter and Rae erupted into
a gale of laughter and fell into each other arms.

     "I'll get us a table. This I *have* to hear." Terry wandered
off, giving them a moment to recover.

     When their laughter receded to Rae's giggles and Walter's
chuckles they looked deeply at each other. Walter still had his
arms loosely around her waist, and she rested her hands on his
forearms. Rae began to blush. She felt like she did that hot night
in Washington: fluttery and happy and pretty. The feel of Walter's
strong arms was exciting and the look in his eyes made her
tremble.

     Walter didn't want the moment to end. Her deep blue eyes smiled
up at him as the cherry-red blush stained her cheeks. He felt her
slight tremor and hoped it was because of him. "Maybe we should go
to that table, before I do something rash." Grinning down at her,
he took her hand and led her into the bar.

     Terry waved from the back and Walter propelled her forward with
a hand to the small of her back. "Go join him, I'll get the drinks."
Before she could turn to tell him what she wanted he was gone in the
crowd.

     "Do you want to begin this story, or do you want to wait for
Walter?" He looked infinitely amused, and just a little suspicious.

     "I was in DC for the Fourth of July and I ran into Bob. He
introduced me to Walter and we spent the day together. But Bob
never mentioned that you knew Walter, too. I just assumed that,
when you said Navy buddy it was someone else."

     "I say Navy because we adopted him. He was a pretty pitiful
looking case when we got him, even for a Marine. I assume Bob told
you about the evac mission? " She nodded, then smiled at Walter as
he sat down next to her. They were in a booth so he had to squeeze
in close. "Well, Walter here was hurt pretty badly and we had to do
some shipboard rehab on the way back to Pearl." Terry stopped and
stared as Walter put his arm across the back of the booth.

     "We played a lot of poker and I lost a lot of money. I still
think Bob had an extra ace taped to the bottom of the table."
Walter looked at Rae, "Your brother and Bob kept me from feeling
sorry for myself and got my mind back to getting well."

     "Yeah, we were a good pair of distractions."   Terry looked at
the table and noticed the three drinks, "Hey how did you know what
to order for Rae?"

     Walter blushed. He didn't want to tell them about his lunches
with Bob, grilling him like a suspect about all of Rae's likes and
dislikes. "She told me that she liked wine, I just took a guess.
How'd I do?" He flashed her his big smile.

     Rae gulped, and took a quick swig of wine. It was perfect and
she began to wonder. "Its just right." Her eyed twinkled. "Doesn't
Bob work for the Defense Department, Terry? In Washington
DC? And isn't the FBI headquarters also in DC, Walter?"

     Walter held up his hands. "Okay, you found me out. I took Bob
to lunch. But I haven't seen him in a long time, we had a lot to
catch up on. Your name just happened to come up, a few times."

     Terry just chuckled, "Smart man, Walter. Get as much
information as possible, then you might - and I mean might- have
the upper hand. For a while." He watched the way the two of them
reacted to each other and was glad he was across the table. If he'd
had to sit between them he would have been burnt by the looks they
exchanged. Terry sighed 'I've got to let go,' he reminded himself.
'She's not my little sister anymore.'

     The conversation continued for a while, until Terry looked at
his watch. "Rae its nearly eleven. I'd better get you back to your
hotel and get my packing done. I haven't been back to my room all
day. I probably have two dozen messages." He stood and motioned Rae
to get up. But Walter didn't move.

     "Look Terry, if you have to leave early tomorrow I'll take Rae
back to her hotel. You go ahead and pack."

     "Why don't I take a cab back to Berkeley, since there's no
sense in either of you running across the Bay then back again."
The two men looked at each other and both opened their mouths to
protest. "Oh for heaven's sake, I've been on tour with a band all
summer, I can certainly get from San Francisco to Berkeley without
a masculine escort. Both of you stay here." She gave Walter a
shove with her hip. "Now let me up."

     Walter rose and let her out of the booth stifling the urge to
argue with her. He'd take her back to Berkeley all right, but he
wouldn't discuss the matter here in a crowded bar. He took her hand
and began to lead her to the lobby.

     Rae, in turn took Terry's hand and began to pull him after.
Part of her was resolved to go back to the Durant alone, she needed
time to think. All of the things she was going to say to Walter
disappeared when she looked up into his eyes. She wanted to
remember them. But she needed time to regroup. She simply couldn't
think rationally while looking at his lovely grin. It was that grin
that made her want him to drive her back to Berkeley. She wanted to
talk to him and look at him. She wanted to feel him close to her
again. The two opposing factions argued inside her as they walked
through the lobby to the elevators.

     At the elevator doors she hugged her brother tight. She had
really been looking forward to spending time with him. Since he'd
left home they hadn't spent more than a few hours together. No
wonder he still thought of her as eight years old. 'Maybe I should
go with him to Japan.'

     "Call me when you get home, if you ever get home my gypsy
brother."

     "I will, kid. Call Paula and TJ. I don't expect to be home for
a month, they could use a call from home." Terry kept his arm
around Rae's shoulders and shook Walter's hand. "Take care of my
sister, bud." Walter simply nodded then walked a bit away to give
them a chance to say their good-byes in private.

     After Terry left Walter went to Rae and took her arm. "I don't
even need directions to the Durant. I memorized a map of Berkeley."
He tried to be humorous, but he saw trouble in her eyes.

     Rae was stopped dead in her tracks, stubbornly refusing to go
with him. "I said I'd take a cab. There's no need for you to go
all the way to Berkeley, only to turn around and come right back,
its a waste of gas."

     "I can afford the gas. Unless of course you'd like to stay
here." He chuckled as her mouth dropped open. "I have a suite:
two bedrooms, two baths, a locked door between - if that's how you
want it to be."

     "No, I'd better go back to the Durant." She felt the anger
draining out of her. Why was she acting like a crazy woman? She
wanted him to take her home so why fight him on it? What was she
really angry about anyway? Shaking her head, she simply said, " I'm
sorry. I can get awful stubborn sometimes, especially if I think
someone's trying to treat me like a child. Terry does that
sometimes because he still thinks of me as a kid."

     "Hmm, you definately don't look like a kid to me." He looked
pointedly down the length of her body and back up, making her blush
again. "You are definitely not a child and I don't want to be
another brother." He put on his best scowl, " and I can get
stubborn, too." Then he smiled again, and it lit his face." Let's
make sure we don't do it at the same time, okay? "

     Rae laughed, feeling more at ease again."Okay."

     They walked to the parking garage arm in arm chatting easily
about her concert in Berkeley. But when Rae saw his car she
groaned. "Gray? "

     "Its a standard Bureau rental. We're supposed to be
inconspicuous, you know."

     "I know, but you're also supposed to be on vacation. I
pictured you in something red and fast like a Firebird or Corvette.
Or in a black Jeep. Something with personality, not gray."

     He backed her up against the car, hands on either side of her
and whispered, " Pictured me? As in thought of me over the summer?"
He leaned close, " Does that mean you think I have personality, or
don't? "

     She placed her palms flat against the car behind her and looked
into his deep eyes. There was a fire there that threatened to burn
her right up if she didn't act fast. "Oh you have loads of
personality, Mr.Skinner. You have no need to worry about that !"
His soft breath against her cheek was making her head spin.

     He felt her tension, her hesitancy, and backed off a bit. "Well
thank you Ms. Craine. Next time I rent a car for us I'll take your
request into consideration, providing I fit into the car in question
that is." He smiled widely and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

     Once in the car however, Rae changed her mind. She sank into
the luxurious soft seat and sighed. Walter looked over at her,
startled by the sound, and unexpectedly excited.

     "I have to admit though, " Rae said with another sigh, " hot
cars aren't nearly as comfortable."

     His eyes were wide seeing her reclining in the seat. He
wondered if she realized how she affected a man lounging there like
that, looking relaxed and content. He wanted to reach over and hold
her. He wanted a lot more than that. Instead he cleared his throat
and reached across to buckle her seat belt. "San Franciscans can
drive pretty crazy. I don't want anything to happen to you."

     She merely smiled at him and watched him as he drove. She was
suddenly very sleepy and tried to stifle a yawn. She watched him
drive, watching his hands on the wheel, their sureness and
strength. She remembered the feel of those hands as they held hers,
the feel of his arms around her. Her eyelids began to droop.

     "Sleepy ?"

     The sound of Walter's deep, soft voice startled her. "I'm
sorry, I guess I'm dozy. Its been an eventful day, and I'm not
quite used to getting up early yet." She stretched her arms
overhead arching her back, unaware that her motion was suggestive.

     Walter watched her sensuous  movement and nearly drove off the
road. She seemed totally unaware of how beautifully fluid and
graceful her body was. Walter wanted to stop the car and run his
hands over her luscious breasts, wanted to......... 'Get a grip,
Skinner,' he admonished himself. 'Don't want to have an accident
in front of the lady, or because of her.' He smiled at her,
clearing his throat again. "I really am sorry I was late. I had to
get some travel plans out for a couple of my agents, and then
missed my flight. I couldn't get on another San Francisco flight so
I went to LA and took a shuttle. If you check with your desk clerk
you'll find three messages from me." He took her hand and held it
on his knee." I was going to come over, but I fell asleep."

     Rae looked surprised. "You went all the way to LA? Just to get
to San Francisco?" His hand was warm on top of hers, his knee hard
underneath. She was having difficulty thinking straight. "Was your
conference that important? Oh, I bet you were presenting a paper.
Or were you chairing something?" She began to rattle on about
presenting a paper at a music teacher's conference once, but her
voice trailed off when she saw his look.

     He was totally taken aback. "It wasn't the conference I was
worried about." He said softly. They were stopped at a red light so
he took the opportunity to look directly at her. "I was worried
that I'd miss you."

     They drove on in silence for a while, each deep in their own
thoughts. He wondered what made this mysterious and beautiful
woman so unsure of herself. Bob had mentioned a weight problem when
she was young, had warned him that Rae wasn't what she seemed, but
that only served to intrigue him. Now he wanted the answers even
more. Seeing her again started an ember smoldering inside him and
it wouldn't take much effort to make it start a fire. But he saw
now that if he wanted set this lady on fire with him, he'd have to
go slowly. He glanced at her. 'I want her, its as simple as
that.'

     Rae worried again, for the hundredth time if she was making a
mistake. Walter obviously wanted to be more than friends. 'Its
been a long time. Too long, I suppose. Maybe I won't remember what
to do.' She stole a look at him. He was concentrating on driving
over Bay Bridge. The lights played across his thoughtful face,
turning it into a sculpture of angles and planes. 'What if I can't?'

     Once across the bridge Walter made a left turn, the wrong way
for the Durant.  He pulled into a waterside park and stopped the
car.

     Rae held herself still as he unbuckled first his belt, then
hers and quietly took her in his arms. He pulled her head onto his
chest and stroked her hair, leaning back so that she was almost
laying on top of him. He kissed the top of her head and rested his
cheek there. He caressed her shoulders gently feeling the tension,
wanting to ease it away. That she was nervous was evident, so he
tried to relax her gently.

     "Don't be afraid, Rae. I'm not going to do anything you don't
want me to. I just want to hold you for a little while. We've never
really been alone, you know." He spoke softly, letting his words
soothe as well as his touch.

     Rae felt his words rumble in his deep chest and closed her
eyes. The fear was slowly fading to be replaced by a warmth and
security she'd felt only rarely in her life. Shyly she slid her
arms around him, snuggling close. He was wearing a subtle cologne,
faintly woodsy with a hint of spice. She breathed deep of his
scent, trying to memorize it. Her breath came out as a sigh.

     Walter began kissing her forehead, moving to her eyelids, then
her cheeks and the tip of her nose, turning her face gently up
toward him. When he found her lips he was tender, first kissing the
corners, then taking her bottom lip between his and sucking. He
slid his hands down her back and up again. Her lips parted to allow
his tongue entry when a bright light flashed in the window.

     There was a cop outside tapping on the window with his baton.
Groaning Walter ran the window down.

     "Park's closed for the night folks. I don't want to give you a
ticket for loitering." He looked closely at the couple. They were
obviously adults. "I'd think you two could find a better place to do
that. I don't guess you have parents to bother you. Move on, now."

     Walter bristled at the cop's tone, but Rae broke into giggles.
Looking at her he suddenly saw the humor in the situation and began
to laugh. It broke the tension, and the mood, but it felt good.

     "I think we better do what the officer says and move along,"
she said still giggling like a girl.

     "I was rather hoping you meant the part about finding a better
place to do this." He put the car in gear, laughing and placed her
hand on his knee again."What are you doing tomorrow?"

     "Terry and I were going to go to Golden Gate Park and
explore."

     "Well since Terry's not here and I am, would you like to go
out to Alcatraz Island with me?"

     Rae began to laugh. She put her hands over her mouth and closed
her eyes bending over her knees.

     Walter looked puzzled."Did I say something funny?"

     "You don't think its funny when an FBI Assistant Director asks
a former federal criminal to visit an infamous federal prison? I
have got a record somewhere you know, fingerprints and all." Her
eyes were sparkling with suppressed mirth. "You weren't planning
to leave me there were you?"

     He began to chuckle. "Well, I won't promise anything." He
picked up her hand and kissed her fingers.

..........................................................

     Finally at the Durant, Walter wanted to walk her upstairs. He
was secretly fishing for an invitation to stay, but Rae wouldn't
let him.

     "You go on back to the Sheraton, I can find my room all right."
She kissed him on the cheek and he began to put his arms around her,
but she slid away and opened the door. "I'll see you in the morning.
If you come before eight you better be armed with coffee - I get
pretty mean before my first cup." She dashed into the hotel before
she could change her mind.

     Walter watched her into the lobby, saw her check at the desk
then go into the elevator. He knew he was going to have a hard time
sleeping tonight. She had left him unsatisfied still tasting the
sweetness of her lips and aching for more. 'Damn, I've got to have
that woman, somehow.'

     Once back at his hotel he was handed several messages from
Mulder and one from Scully. He was beginning to regret leaving a
number, but he did want their report on the Minnesota case so he
called Mulder's cell phone when he got to his room.

     " What did you find out, Mulder? " Skinner was tired and it
showed in his voice. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

     "The lights on Spirit Lake are kids, sir. They take boats out
onto the lake when there's a fog and try to catch catfish. We found
plenty of local superstition and a few genuine ghost stories, but
nothing on the lights." Mulder was concise and tense. He wanted
something, Skinner could hear it.

     "The report is signed and on my desk?"

     "It will be later this morning, sir. I'm just finishing it
now."

     "Very well, Agent Mulder. When that report is reviewed by my
secretary for gaps she will give you a set of travel plans for
Seattle." Mulder began to speak , but Skinner cut him off, "not
before. I approved your trip only with the stipulation that the
Minnesota job be thorough, Kimberly can verify that."

     "Yes sir. The report will bear out my findings, as will
Scully's."

     "Good. Do you have any idea why your partner was trying to
reach me?"

     "She wanted to give you an overview of our preliminary
findings."

     "Then I won't disturb her. Please try to remember that, for
the remainder of this week I am on vacation and will not answer any
more calls. Good night." Skinner disconnected and began to
undress.

     At least talking to Mulder had one positive effect - it made
him stop thinking about Rae. Maybe now he could settle down and
sleep.

................................................................

     Walter strode into the lobby of the Durant Hotel shortly before
seven. He asked for Rae's room number at the desk, but the clerk
pointed to a chair. Curled there, looking tired and cold was Rae.
She was wearing jeans and a heavy sweater pulled tight around her.

     Walter crouched down in front of her, smiling and held out the
steaming cup of coffee. "Peace offering."

     Rae cradled the cup in her hands and sipped. She closed her
eyes, sniffing the fragrant aroma of cinnamon. "How did you know I
like cappuccino with cinnamon?"

     "Good guess." He rose and held out his hand. "You'll feel
better after we eat."

     They rode down to Fisherman's Wharf without talking much. Rae
was content to sip her coffee and watch the sights. She hadn't
slept much. Walter had haunted her dreams like a dark angel making
her toss and turn.

     Walter concentrated on driving, and trying to ascertain her
mood. He didn't want to push her too fast, she was obviously
inexperienced, but his desire threatened to run out of control if
something didn't happen soon.

     Once at the Wharf they stopped to eat near the ferry dock.
Walter had gotten up early and gone to the dock for tickets so they
had time to spare. Still, he didn't want to miss the ferry. He had
the day planned: Alcatraz until noon, then lunch back at the Wharf,
a few hours walking or shopping, then take her to her hotel to
change and dinner. It was part of his makeup to not leave things to
chance. He was too organized to take things as they came, which was
why Rae drove him so crazy. He wanted her to stay with him last
night, it had been in his timetable for the week. Now he had to
change his schedule and that put him off balance.

     On the ferry they both stood leaning on the rail, letting the
salt spray rinse their faces. Rae was exhilarated. Between the
motion of the waves, the tangy sea scent and Walter's presence so
close to her she couldn't be happier.

     Once on the Island Walter handed her a Walkman already set up
with a cassette. She liked this, they could take the tour at their
own pace. When they had the tapes cued up in sync (or nearly) they
walked off holding hands. Walter took pictures of her in various
places around the grounds and let Rae photograph him. She collared
a passerby to take a 'tourist shot' of the two of them in one of
the cells.

     Things were fine until they got to the underground levels or
'the hole'. The solitary confinement cells were dark and bleak and
they terrified Rae. She couldn't understand her reaction, the cells
were empty and had been untenanted since the forties. But she
couldn't imagine confining a rabid animal in such a space, much
less a human being. She began to tremble.

     Walter saw her blanch. He took her hand and pulled her forcibly
after him back into the light. There he clicked off the tape
players and put his arms around her. "You're not going to get sick
on me, are you?"

     She leaned against him, relaxing into his strength. "No I'm
okay." She looked up at him gratefully. "I'm sorry. I didn't
realize I was so swoony." She managed a weak smile.

     He stroked her shoulders gently, "You wouldn't be the first
person who couldn't handle the hole."

     "I'm glad you're not leaving me here, federal criminal or
not."

     He walked her over to a bench. They sat talking until he saw
the color come back into her cheeks. When she could smile naturally
at one of his jokes he decided that she was okay. Walter glanced at
his watch and realized that it was time to return anyway. He looked
closely at Rae, making sure again that she would be all right for
the ferry ride and rose.

     On the ferry going back to the mainland Rae once again leaned
against the rail, but this time Walter stood behind her with his
hands on either side. He took the position ostensibly to point out
interesting landmarks, but he just wanted to be close to her. He
was careful not to lean too near, even though the temptation was
great to wrap her in his arms and press his hips to her firm rear.
He knew though, if he ever started nothing could compel him to
stop.

     They ate chili out of sourdough bread bowls from a stand on
Pier 39. Her eyes had regained their sparkle and she could talk
about the trip. She gave him forthright impressions on everything
but the solitary cells and he didn't press the matter. He enjoyed
her honesty, she looked him in the eyes as she answered him
something that, in his line of work he didn't see often.

     After lunch they walked around, peeking into shops (he knew
that women loved to shop and he was pleased to find that Rae was no
different in that regard at least), and she only asked him to take
a picture of the seal sculpture for her. He did this gladly, asking
someone to photograph the two of them together with the imposing
figures. He was a little surprised that she didn't ask for a
souvenir of their outing, but then he realized that she might feel
strange about such a request. After all they barely knew each
other. 'But I'm going to remedy that tonight.'

     When they walked down to the waterside she leaned on the
railing to look at the live seals that inhabited the wharfside. She
told him of her attraction to the ocean and its creatures and her
deep satisfaction when she listened to the sibilant swishing of the
waves. He made a mental note of this for reference when he planned
tomorrow. Depending on her mood they would either go for a drive,
or if things went well spend the day in his bed together. He hoped
it was the latter.

     They walked again, holding hands when Rae stopped dead in her
tracks and dropped Walter's hand. "Would you wait here a moment?"
Walter nodded and watched her through the shop window. She pointed
to something in the window and Walter noticed the replica of the
seal sculpture that stood on the pier. He saw her bite her lip and
nod before she came back out, empty handed.

     "Its getting late, should we get going?" She took his hand
again and began to move toward his hotel.

     He chose to ignore the incident in the shop for now because he
didn't want to embarrass her. Instead he allowed himself to be led
out of the pier area and down the street toward the Sheraton.

     "Should I take a cab to Berkeley and back? Or maybe the BART?"

     "No, I'll drive you to the Durant, wait while you change then
we can come back to the city together. I've made reservations at a
place I think you'll like for seven, that gives us plenty of time."
He slipped her arm through his and slowed her down. "So you don't
need to run. Slow down, Rae. Are you that hungry?"

     Rae blushed deeply, disconcerted by this ability of his to make
her do so. She didn't want to tell him how upset she was that the
seal statue was priced out of her reach. She didn't want him to
know how she had to save all winter for this week in San Francisco
and she still had to budget right down to the last meal and phone
call. She didn't want him to know that she was just a high school
music teacher from Pewaukee, Wisconsin nothing romantic or
exciting, nothing mysterious or high powered. Just plain Rae,
nothing special.

................................................................

     Walter waited downstairs for her to change. He hoped it
wouldn't take her the hour he had given her, but most women did. He
sat in the lobby bar staring at a shot glass that someone had put
on the high wainscot and wondered why she was staying here.

     The Durant was a nice hotel. It had been restored and had a
colorful, rich history but it wasn't high on the rating scale.
Surely its charm and convenient University location made up
somewhat for its lack of amenities, but it wasn't the kind of place
he would feel comfortable about for a woman staying alone. The
hotel staff knew her (she said that she'd stayed here twice before
for conventions) and were quite observant, but he'd feel better if
he knew that the place was safer than it appeared.

     'Face it, Skinner, you'd feel better if she was in your room,
no matter where that was !'

     He looked up at the bar and was surprised to see a man staring
at him in the mirror. He was standing close by the corner on the
street and Walter could just make out his features. He didn't
recognize the man, but it made him faintly uneasy.

     He was about to go out and check it out when he felt a light
tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Rae looking beautiful in a
black dress, smiling at him. Whatever had upset her earlier was
gone now and the effect was stunning. Walter sheepishly found
himself gaping.

     "Better close your mouth, I think there's a fly in here !" She
laughed outright at his expression, but it made her feel warm all
over.

     Walter held her hands in both of his and looked her up and
down, caressing her with his eyes. He appreciated it when a woman
made an effort to look good for him, and it showed in his gaze. "You
did it in less than a half hour. I think you've broken a record!"

     Outside Walter looked for the 'staring' man, but didn't see
him. That didn't stop the old caution from prickling the back of
his neck, though. The guy was still around and Walter was
concerned.

     In his room he changed as fast as he could. He didn't want to
leave Rae in the crowded hotel bar for very long. Not that he was
afraid of anybody beating his time, but she looked so lovely
tonight that she was bound to get a lot of attention. Walter just
didn't want it to come from the wrong source.

     Walter parked a block away from the restaurant on purpose, so
that it would be a surprise. Bob had told him about Rae's passion
for anything with garlic, and so The Stinking Rose was a natural
choice. When Rae saw it she lit up, "How did you know? I've wanted
to come here on my last three trips, but I always ran out of time!
Oh, Walter thank you."

     She was beaming up at him, hugging his arm close. Walter had to
swallow hard to get any words out. "Bob said you liked garlic and
I'm willing to make a few small sacrifices for a smile like that.
Have a good time and order whatever you like. We may not get back
here for a while."

     He didn't realize that he had used the plural, instead of just
saying 'you', but Rae heard him distinctly. She watched him as he
registered with the maitre d' then escorted her to the table. She
wondered if it was an unconscious slip of the tongue? She hardly
believed that a man like Walter did anything unconsciously.

     They had a good time during dinner. They talked easily about
traveling (even though Walter had traveled much more than Rae) and
about music. She filled him in on what she had done for the first
three days of her stay, and about the guys taking off with the
bus.

     Walter revealed little about himself. He told her about his
flight and made jokes about parking in DC, but he said nothing of a
very personal nature. It wasn't that he didn't trust her, but he
couldn't open up right away. He envied that in her, her trust and
relative naiveté. He had seen too much to be able to talk about
himself without exercising extreme caution.

     When they finished dinner he asked her what she would like to
do. He knew what he wanted, but he wanted her to make the
suggestion.

     "Can we go for a walk? Maybe down by the water somewhere?"
She looked up at him with those blue eyes and even though he was
disappointed he couldn't refuse.

     So he drove back to Pier 39 and they walked down by the water
near the seals. As they stood watching the animals sleep and rumble
Rae hopped up to sit on the rail. She half- turned to get a better
view of the water, unaware that Walter was watching her intently.

     He slipped his hand to her knee and rubbed it gently. "Is there
someone in your life, Rae? Someone special?"

     "No." She still wasn't looking at him. "Not since my ex."

     Walter teemed with questions. He decided to begin slowly.
"Why?"

     Rae bit her lip. She wasn't sure how much to tell him. "My
husband was, well - mean. When we got married he said that he
wanted to take care of me, but I couldn't do all the things he
wanted me to. I didn't know much about men, not that I know much
more now, but when I didn't want to he, he'd get angry, and, uh,"
her voice began to break, and she shook her head. The last thing
she wanted to do was cry, but that's what happened every time she
thought about Tom. She turned further out toward the water.

     Walter looked at her troubled face and turned her back toward
him with a gentle hand. Her eyes glistened  and he stroked her cheek
softly with his thumb. "Sounds like you married the wrong man." His
voice was quiet and deep. "He sounds more like a boy who doesn't
know how to treat a woman." He lifted her down off the rail and
folded her tightly in his arms. "I'm not a kid, Rae. I know how to
please a woman, how to care for her. I know how to be gentle. I know
what I  want." He tipped her face up to his, "And I want you." He
kissed her tenderly at first, but gradually deepening. He cradled
her head in his palm and pressed her close.

     Rae sank into him, head spinning. She slid her arms around his
muscular body and up his back to caress his shoulders. One part of
her brain couldn't believe this was happening, but she could only
hear the part of her that was whispering: more, more..............

Chapter 4

     Walter heard the bullet whizzing overhead, but not the actual
gunshot. He dragged Rae down to the boards and lay on top of her
shielding her from the next shot which slammed into the post. A
chill crept along his spine. He waited, listening. "Stay here and
keep down." She began to speak, but he covered her words with his
lips. "Please, Rae stay quiet."

     He crouched into a low run back toward the street, where the
shots appeared to have come from. Staying in the shadows he watched
the street closely. Reaching to his side he remembered leaving his
weapon in his room. With a whispered curse he crept further out
toward the sidewalk when he heard an engine roar, then speed off.
There was no way to follow, by the time he got to the car they'd be
out of sight.

     He straightened cautiously, just in case the shooter wasn't in
the car, but there was no other sound. Cursing again he began to
walk back to the waterside, his mind in a whirl. Surely the people
who had it in for Mulder couldn't be responsible for this? That was
too far fetched, even for them. Or was it? Then he broke into a
run, 'God I hope Rae's okay.'

     He got back to the walk but she wasn't there. Had he
miscalculated the spot? No, there was the fresh chink in the wooden
post. Where was she? "Rae?" His voice rasped in the silence.

     "I'm here." She stepped out from the darkness of a doorway.
She had wrapped her dark shawl around her bright hair and pale
shoulders to better blend into the darkness. She had been standing
silently in the doorway, waiting until he said that it was safe to
come out.

     He pulled her tightly against him. "Are you all right? Did you
get hit?" He held her back at arms length and examined her in the
dim light. Her eyes were huge, and she was pale but otherwise
okay.

     "I think I scraped my elbow when you pulled me down." Her voice
was a bit shaky as she tried to look at her arm. Walter pulled her
against him again. She was trembling. He admired her cool exterior
when she was so obviously upset. She was a growing enigma, so
seemingly strong in the face of danger, yet so shy and timid when he
kissed her.

     She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face against
his chest. She could hear his heart beating, and his breathing. She
gathered strength from him. "You sure know how to show a lady a good
time, Mr. Skinner."

     He chuckled deeply, reassured. He tilted her chin up toward him
and kissed her lightly on the tip of the nose. "Now I know you're
okay."

     "So, do we report this? What happens next?"

     "We take you to the Sheraton, buy us both a drink and
then-n-n..."

     "We take me back to the Durant."

     "No we don't." He saw the same expression cross her face that
he'd seen last night. "Don't try to get stubborn on me, Raelene
Marie Craine. Someone just shot at us. I'm not going to leave you
alone." He traced his finger along the line of her jaw. "Its my
turn to be stubborn. If you want to go back to the Durant and get
your things, okay. But you're *not* staying there alone tonight."
He held her tightly and stroked her hair. "Like I said, I have a
suite, two of everything, with a door in between. It will stay
locked tonight and until you're ready to tell me to open it." He
looked down at her and smiled.  "Scout's honor."

     "The problem is not with you Mr. Skinner, but with me. I have
no doubt whatsoever that you will be an absolute gentleman. I'm
just not sure I can sleep in the same building with you, no matter
how many locked doors are in between." She smiled, feeling safe in
his arms. Then she snuggled against his chest.

     "Are you teasing me Ms. Craine?"

     "Can you take it Mr. Skinner?"

     In answer he kissed her deeply, finally teasing her lips open
with his tongue. "I can take anything you can give Ms. Craine."

.......................................................

     The man got out of the car and walked over to the coffee shop.
His hands were trembling. He wasn't used to this, he was used to
hitting the people he aimed at, not merely frightening them.

     He sat in a stool by the counter next to a tall dark haired
man.

     "I didn't hit them."

     "Good, you weren't supposed to."

     "What's this all about anyway? Who is this guy you've got me
following? Or is it the girl you're after? Is she somebody's wife
or something?"

     "You don't need to know that. Just keep an eye on him. We want
to know where he goes and who he sees."

     "The seeing part is easy. Where he goes, that's harder."

     Another man blew a puff of smoke past him. "We'll pay."

.......................................................

     Walter watched the rowdy crowd in the bar, trying to make out
if the 'staring' man was there. He didn't see anyone that looked
familiar, but that didn't keep his eyes from continually scanning
the crowd.

     After Rae had told the desk clerk to prepare her bill, Walter
had escorted her upstairs and checked her room. When he was
satisfied that nothing was wrong he went back to the lobby to wait.
He wasn't sure that taking Rae back to his hotel was the right thing
to do, but he was certain that the security was better there and he
wanted her close to him. He would stand by his half-joking word and
keep the door locked, but he'd have to take a lot of cold showers to
forget she was on the other side. He hoped that she wasn't merely
teasing him with her remark about not being able to sleep.

     When Rae returned pulling only a wheeled carry on and a small
duffel bag, Walter was amazed. Sharon could never manage with
anything less than two huge suitcases. In fact most of the women he
knew traveled with a bag at least double the size of Rae's.

     He moved to take the bags from her. She was trying to do a
balancing act with both bags and the flowers he'd sent. He was
gratified that they meant enough to her for her to want to bring
them along. Others (including Sharon he thought ruefully) would
have tossed them.

     "Why don't you put these in the car while I take care of the
bill," she said as she handed over her bags. "It'll just take a few
minutes."

     Waiting for her outside, Walter reflected on how little they
knew about each other. He didn't even know where she worked, or at
what. He hadn't told her anything about his family, or his divorce.
He didn't know how long she'd been alone and she didn't know how
long he had been.

     'But none of that really matters,' he thought, as he watched
her pay the desk clerk. 'I know how she makes me feel.' He smiled
thinking how good he felt when he was with her; relaxed, happy. He
liked the fact that she seemed more at ease with him tonight. His
plans were pretty much out the window after tonight's incident, but
at least she was coming to his hotel and that was a start. He'd
work on the door tomorrow.

     On the drive back to San Francisco Walter wanted to ask her
about so many things. But he settled on asking her about Terry.

     "Well, I guess you didn't figure him for my brother because I
kept Tom's last name. Craine sounded better to me than Gray. I
always thought Rae Gray sounded too cute." She told him about her
other older brother ('Great,' Walter thought,'two older brothers.
I hope I don't ever have to meet both of them and her father at the
same time.'), his wife and kids. She obviously adored her nephew and
niece from the way her voice warmed when she spoke of them.

     At the Sheraton Walter went to the desk and checked her into
his suite."Will you be needing a second key card, sir?"

     "No."

     "Yes," Rae chimed in. "I might need to go out alone, you know."

     He gave her a look that spoke volumes, but reluctantly nodded.
"Give the lady a key."

     On the elevator Rae was nervous again. Walter was carrying both
of her bags, and she had the flowers but he managed to free a hand
to hold hers. The pressure of his fingers made her warm and she
felt as though the elevator car was too small. She was glad that
there would be a door between them tonight. She wanted him, she
wasn't so inexperienced that she didn't realize it, but she wasn't
ready. Not yet.

     Walter swiped the key card in the door and nodded her in. A
faint ghost of his cologne hung in the darkened air. She closed her
eyes, breathing in the fragrances of him: soap, shaving foam,
cologne. She made a mental note to see what brands he preferred.
'What a dunce!' She chided herself silently. 'You probably won't
see him again after this week.' The thought made her more than a
little sad.

     He snapped on the lights, and she saw a tidy hotel room. A few
papers were scattered on the desk, and a tie was draped over the
doorknob. Other than that it could be anyone's hotel room.

     She pointed to the open door on her left, "My room?" At his nod
she walked in. It was an exact mirror duplicate of his.

     He followed and put her bags on the bed. It was a king-sized
bed and looked huge to Rae. She wondered how she was going to be
able to sleep in such a space.

     "Is that a bed, or an aircraft carrier?"

     Walter grinned, "I could help take up some of the extra space."

     "Thanks for the offer, but I'll make do. "She looked at her
watch. "I can't believe its only nine-thirty. It feels like it
should be about midnight."

     "That's only because you're not used to getting up so early.
Why don't you change, then join me next door for a drink? We can
talk about what we'll do tomorrow." He went to the door, "Shall I
order a bottle of wine, or champagne?"

     "You decide." She began to unzip her case, but went to the
door, "Walter? Could you make that Asti?"

..................................................

     Much to Walter's disappointment Rae tapped on the door twenty
minutes later wearing sweats.

     The wine had just arrived and he was sitting on the sofa. The
bottle and two glasses were on a small coffee table in front of him
along with a plate of cheeses and fruit. He patted the seat next to
him, but Rae pulled one of the chairs around to the other side of
the small table and curled up in it.

     He grinned as he handed her a glass of the bubbling pale wine,
"Stubborn woman. Are you afraid to sit next to me?"

     "Should I be?"

     After he stopped laughing they began to discuss what to do
tomorrow. It was quite clear that they would spend it together, but
what Walter had planned obviously wouldn't happen. He felt that it
would be better to get out of the Bay area for the day and throw
their trailer a loop.

     "Do you think we could go for a drive down highway one? We
could make it to Monterey and back." Her eyes lit at the idea.

     Seeing her beaming expression made up his mind in an instant.
"Actually we might as well pack an overnight bag and stay there for
the night. We could make it down as far as Big Sur, or did you have
a particular reason for suggesting Monterey?"

     She told him about the last actual vacation she had taken seven
years before with her family. it was the last trip that her mother
was able to take and she had many beautiful memories. Monterey had
been a particular favorite with the whole group. They all loved the
aquarium and the colorful cannery row shops, the quaint pastel
houses and the magnificent scenery.

     As she spoke he heard the wonder in her voice at the beauty of
the area and saw the wistful look in her eyes when she talked about
going back. She painted the trip in such rich detail that he felt
as though he saw it in her mind's eye along with her.

     "Well I couldn't very well disappoint you when we're so close.
Monterey it is. We can pack a picnic lunch and be there before
dark. After we find a place to stay, we can walk around town. Sound
okay? "

     "Oh, Walter it sounds wonderful. Thank you so much - for
everything." Her eyes were eloquent and Walter felt as though he
was drowning in a deep blue sea.

     He went to the chair and raised her up into his arms. "You are
very welcome." His mouth found hers and he teased her lips with
the tip of his tongue. She returned his kiss shyly and
tenderly. 'Yes, Rae, open up to me. Let me in. Let me, let
me..........' his thoughts repeated as he stoked her back with
strong, caressing hands.

     Without thinking about it Rae slid her arms around him, feeling
his strong shoulders under her fingertips. She caressed his ears
and head, wanting only to touch him. She moaned softly when his
lips left hers to travel to her ear and nibbled gently there.
Electricity tingled along her neck as his soft, wet kisses wandered
down to the hollow of her collarbone.

     In one tiny corner of his mind Walter realized that he was
taking advantage. That small flicker kept trying to tell him to
back off, to give her time. Yet his whole body ached with a deep
desire; the kind of desire he hadn't felt in many years. He wasn't
even sure anymore if he ever felt like this with Sharon, certainly
not with the women he'd been with lately. But he'd had no lovers
since he met Rae and now he knew why.

     Dimly through her moans he could hear that tiny corner of his
brain calling to him. He had to stop. He had to cool down, at least
for now and ask her if this was what she wanted. Groaning he laid
her head on his chest and wrapped his arms tightly about her. He
held her for a long moment without speaking, until he could be sure
that the words would come out without a tremble.

     "I think you'd better go back to your room Ms. Craine, before
I lose control." He stroked her hair, and looked down into her
deep eyes. He saw a fire starting there, a fire that he wanted to
stir into a blaze. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed those
eyes. "Before I pick you up, throw you onto that bed and rip those
blasted sweats off you."

     "But then how would I keep warm?"

     He looked at her carefully, then realized she was teasing him
again and grinned. "Oh, I'd find plenty of ways to keep you warm,
honey. You know what they say about rubbing things together to make
a fire." He loosened his hold on her and enjoyed the blush that
spread from her cheeks to her ears. "Any man would think you'd
never been propositioned before."

     At that she lowered her eyes. "I haven't."

     Walter was thunderstruck. "Are all the men in Wisconsin blind,
or have they just got frozen privates ?"

     The thought struck Rae funny, and she began to giggle. "Well
I'm not exactly a centerfold, you know."

     "No I don't. I haven't been invited to see the merchandise
yet. But if you'd care to strike a pose, I do have a camera with
me."

     They both dissolved into laughter. Rae poured them another
glass of wine, then picked up some food. "Maybe I'd better get
myself hence to yonder bedchamber." Suddenly she looked up at him
eyes dancing. "I wouldn't want to keep m'lord from his rest."

     Walter tried to grab her around the waist, but she slipped
through the door too quickly. He heard the bolt shoot home, and a
softly laughing voice saying, "Goodnight, Walter."

........................................

     Walter breathed deeply of the misty air as he strode up the
street from Fisherman's Wharf. His long, strong legs carried him
swiftly up the hill toward the hotel. He was an early riser by
nature and had gone out to get their lunch before Rae awoke. He
ticked items off his mental checklist: strawberries, fresh sourdough
baguette, cheeses, sliced veggies, olives and a bottle of icy
sparkling cider, a special present for Rae. He wouldn't have to
worry about the car, it was gassed and the oil was okay. He smiled
into the mist: everything was ready...

     Back at the Sheraton he noticed that the door connecting his
room to Rae's was standing open. She was sitting gazing out at the
gray, misty sky, feet propped up on the windowsill. He entered
quietly and planted a kiss on the top of her bright head.

     "Honey, I'm home."

     She smiled up at him with a look of sheer happiness. "I heard
you go out. What got you up so early?"

     He explained to her about the lunch, and looked around for her
bag. "We can go whenever you're ready. We'll get breakfast at the
buffet downstairs."

     She stood up and held his hand. It was big, with long sensitive
fingers, and it covered hers completely. "My bag's over on the
bed. I got up right after you left. I know how men hate to be kept
waiting." She reached up and brushed his lips with hers. "Let's
go."

     On the drive through the city Rae looked side to side trying to
see everything. Once on the highway though, her gaze was held by
the ocean.

     Huge, jagged rocks rose from the water like the prows of a lost
fleet. Deep blue water tossed and foamed around their ankles and
opposing currents created a dance of ripples. Where the restless
waves crashed to shore they leapt up in fantastic plumes then fell
again to dissolve into the waters of their birth.

     Rae watched the wild, restive landscape, searching the waters
for wildlife. Other than the gulls that screed overhead, she was
too far from the water to see any signs of life. Occasionally she
thought she heard the songs of whales carried on the wild wind, but
she wasn't sure. She sighed as she sank back against the seat.

     "Something wrong?"

     She turned to him, "No. I was just trying to see if there were
otters or something out on the water. But we're too far away from
the shore. I forgot that I had a pair of binoculars last time."

     "Well don't let that stop you. Look under the seat." Much to
her surprise she found a pair of very good binoculars there,
labeled "Property of the US Government". She shot him a questioning
look."Just don't drop them overboard or I'll have to pay for them,
okay?"

     They stopped at a small park around twelve-thirty to eat. Rae
spread out a blanket, and Walter brought the cooler from the car.
During lunch Walter began to open up more. He told Rae about his
marriage, and divorce. She heard the loneliness in his voice, saw
the hurt in his eyes. Rae understood about shutting the sensitive
parts of yourself away, she'd been doing it all her life. That a
man with so many obvious gifts could feel the same was a
revelation.

     Walter couldn't look at Rae as he spoke. He watched the waves,
the birds, anything but her eyes. For the first time in recent
months he felt the need to have another person think well of him.
For the first time in a long time, someone else's opinion mattered
to him.

     When he finally did look at Rae he wasn't disappointed. Her
eyes were filled with kindness, compassion and understanding. She
reached for his hand without speaking. Words weren't required of her
she knew. Just her touch, her presence, her quiet listening heart
was enough for now.

     Walter laid his head on her lap, feeling lighter than he had in
many years. It wasn't that Sharon never listened to him, but he
never felt that she really heard and reacted to what he said. For
the first time since he was a kid Walter felt like he could share
himself with another person. The knowledge gave him a sense of
peace.

     Rae stroked his forehead lightly with her fingertips. The
intimate things that he had just told her reinforced her trust in
him. Her thoughts were as restless as the endless ocean. What would
she do if they had to share a hotel room tonight?

     Walter snagged her restless fingers kissing each one then held
them on his chest. He perceived a change in her. Not a raise in
tension, rather a heightened awareness. She was no longer so shy
about touching him. He noticed from the first this morning that she
was ..............he couldn't exactly put his finger on what, but
he hoped it continued. His restraint was beginning to bear fruit.
He would wait as long as he had to for her.

     They rested for a little while longer then packed to go. Walter
carried the cooler back to the car, and Rae watched him as she
folded the blanket. She found herself admiring his body. Dressed in
walking shorts and a loose shirt with sleeves rolled up and neck
open he was a magnificent man. She watched the smooth motion of his
muscles as he walked, the easy long-legged lope that bespoke
confidence and athletic grace. She blushed when she realized that
her eyes had strayed south of his beltline to investigate other
parts of his anatomy. Her gaze was riveted.

     Just then Walter turned to call to her and he saw her blush
deepen as she hastily dropped her gaze to the ground. He grinned
widely, 'Checking me out Ms. Craine? Go ahead, I want you to look,
to want. At least I know you're thinking along the same line I am.'

 ...........................................

     They made Monterey by two. They had stopped often to take
pictures, or look more closely at an interesting outcropping. They
traveled easily together.

     Once in town Walter parked near Cannery Row. There wasn't
enough time to tour the aquarium ( at least not for Rae who wanted
to explore every nook and cranny) so they walked around the area
instead. They walked like lovers: arm in arm, peeking into shops
and laughing. Walter wanted to buy her something to remember the
trip, but she insisted that the photos would be enough.

     Nearing six they returned to the car to search for a hotel.
Walter began to head out of town then turned onto a small road back
toward the ocean. Rae held herself still, thinking that she
recognized the drive, but a lot could change in seven years. She
couldn't believe that he would try to get a room at the bed &
breakfast that she had loved so much then. When they turned a bend
in the road and came upon the beloved Victorian facade, however she
turned excitedly to face him.

     "Walter! How did you........."

     He stopped the car and faced her."Rae I have to tell you
something before we go in." He took her hands looked earnestly into
her eyes. "Rae they only have one room, with one bed. I didn't plan
it this way, I promise you but after the way you described this
place last night I had to try. I got lucky and they had a
cancelation, but only one room." He caressed her hands. "God knows
how much I want you Rae, but I won't force you into a situation that
you may be uncomfortable with. If the room has a sofa I'll be all
right, but I can't lay next to you in a bed and not make love to
you, I'm not that strong. So if you want me to, I'll drop you off
here and go get another room for myself."

     Rae looked back to the house, then into Walter's eyes. "I don't
want you to leave. Isn't there another solution?"

     He saw the longing her eyes, and the desire. It wasn't a flame
yet, but it could be. Was she ready? "Why don't we take a look at
the room, then decide. The bathtub might be big enough for me to
sleep in."

     She grinned, then slipped her arms around him. The seat belt
held her back a bit, so Walter unbuckled it and gathered her close.
He whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, honey. I used to be a boy
scout, remember? I'll figure something out."

     Walter walked up the front steps, but Rae hung back. She
remembered some wonderful vistas from the back porch, and wanted to
see if her memory served her right. "I'll come out and get you when
I get the key. Do I need to get a key for you, too?" His eyes
glittered with merriment as she tossed the car blanket at him.

     After an unsuccessful attempt to get a second room, Walter
asked to have extra blankets and pillows sent up. The manager
assured him that the sofa could be used as a bed, but not a very
long one. Walter then handed a package over to the manager and
asked him to place it on the window seat. He smiled at the
manager's reaction to the whole situation and fervently hoped that
his gift wouldn't make Rae angry - or embarrassed.

     Walter watched Rae for a moment before joining her on the rear
deck. She was leaning on the railing just as she had on the ferry.
He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist,
pulling her close to him. Instead of tensing, or trying to escape
she rested against him and stroked his arms lightly. He lay his
chin on her shoulder and gazed out into the bay with her.

     She began to speak softly, telling him about some of the
creatures that inhabited the bay and about the giant kelp forests
that grew there. It was fascinating and he could tell that the
subject was very dear to her. He listened, however with only part of
his mind. He was thinking about her firm rear pressing against him
and wondering how she would react if he moved his hand just enough
to cup her breast. He was wondering what the scent was that she was
wearing, mixed as it was with the wind and the salt spray. He was
wondering what her skin tasted like right at the spot where his lips
rested. All of these wonderings were beginning to have their effect
on him and he could feel the excitement beginning.

     He straightened reluctantly and suggested they get cleaned up
for dinner. Food was always a safe out, especially since it was
near seven.

     Rae could feel him, too. She too wondered as he held her.
Wondered what his hands would fell like on her breasts. What it
would be like to touch him, if he would be gentle or demanding. The
depth of her desire surprised her. She wanted to make love with
this man, even if she went back to Pewaukee on Saturday and never
saw him again. Tomorrow didn't matter, or next week. Tonight was
now, she'd deal with next week then.

..................................................

     The room was on the third floor and completely charming. It was
one of the huge old attic rooms that had been converted when the
house was remodeled. Window seats had been installed in two of the
deep windows that overlooked the bay, and the walls were a fresh
creamy yellow. The bed was a huge old fashioned affair with a big
brass frame and was covered with a handmade quilt. There were also
two chairs, a small gate leg table and the infamous sofa.

     Walter went into the bath to stow some gear and Rae went to one
of the windows to drink in the scenery before the sun went down. A
mist was beginning to rise and the sun turned the restless waves to
little orange rills.

     On the window seat was a package and at first Rae thought the
people who had the room before had left it. Then she recognized the
name on the box and looked up to see Walter standing in the doorway
smiling at her."Go ahead, open it," he said softly, his voice deep
and rich.

     She untied the string and inside, nestled in a bed of tissue
was the seal statue reproduction that she'd seen yesterday (could
it be only yesterday?). She couldn't raise her eyes when Walter
came to kneel in front of her. She sat holding the cool marble in
her hands and tears began to fall.

     "I can't take this, you have to know that. I can't..."

     "Why?" His voice was incredibly gentle. He placed his hands
over hers. "Because of some outdated notion of propriety? Because
your mother told you not to accept expensive gifts from men because
they might want something that you're not prepared to give?" Her
blush told him that he was right. "Forget all of that. I want you to
have this.  Don't think about its price, but its meaning." He held
her then, pulling her off the seat onto his lap. "Besides, you're
going to want something to remind you of the balmy California
breezes when those cold February winds in Wisconsin blow."

     "How can I thank you for everything you've done for me since we
met? What is it that makes you so good to me?"

     "You satisfy a need inside me, Rae." He saw her eyes stray to
the bed, then back. "Maybe that need too, but not until you're
ready. I told you that before and it still holds. I don't want
payment in kind, I want you to want me." He stroked her honey hair
and breathed deeply. "Its getting late. Why don't you get ready
for bed and I'll see if I can get us a snack. I think the manager
said that the kitchen closes at eight thirty."

................................................

     Rae was sitting on the window seat when he returned with a
plate of sandwiches and a bottle of wine. She was wearing a simple
white cotton gown with a ruffle at the bottom, and a line of little
buttons from neck to hem. Walter had seen women in sexy lingerie,
but he had never seen anything so beautiful before. She was radiant
and captivating and he suddenly wasn't hungry anymore. But he sat
by the table and ate a couple sandwiches before going to change. He
hoped she'd be in bed when he came out, preferably covered to the
neck with the thick quilt.

    Rae ate while he was changing. She listened to the shower, then
the quiet. She crawled into the bed and snuggled under the quilt,
turned toward the door.

     Her eyes went wide when he came out. She had only seenhim
fully clothed, but now she was stunned by the shear power of his
nearly naked body. He wore only a pair of soft dark blue boxers and
a matching robe whichhe'd left open. His chest was massive and
deep, covered with a mass of dark hair and it tapered to a slender
sculpted waist. It was evident that he worked out often, and was as
sensuous as hewas strong. The boxers and robe were silk and she
longed to feel them sliding against her skin.

     Walter saw her appraising him and walked over to the bed. He
tucked the covers tightly around her and kissed her on the forehead
('Like a brother,' she thought.). He had already laid out the
blankets and pillows on the sofa and snapped out the light before
he lay down."Goodnight, Rae."

...................................................

     He had finally fallen asleep after listening to her toss about.
He was tired from driving all day and from trying to keep his hands
to himself. So when he awoke to the silent room he thought he was
dreaming. He scanned the room slowly, trying to determine just what
woke him when his eyes rested on a figure in the window seat.

     He was certain he was dreaming, because he couldn't believe
anything so beautiful could be in his room. The light from the full
moon was streaming in and falling on her, turning her into a statue
of molten silver. Her golden hair was turned to a river of gilt as
a light breeze from the open window ruffled it. She turned silently
to gaze at him with eyes that were dark pools.

     She couldn't fall asleep. She tossed in the big bed, lonely and
aflame with desire. Finally giving up she went to sit by the window,
hoping the sea could calm her. She didn't know why she looked over
to the sofa, but she saw Walter raised on an elbow, staring at her
with a look she couldn't define.

     He rose slowly, seeing her eyes grow even wider. He went to her
and knelt in front of her. He cupped her face gently in his hands,
stroking her cheeks with his thumbs. His hands slid to her
shoulders then down her arms. His hands slid back up over her belly
to rest on her firm breasts.

     A moan escaped her. His touch was gentle, not demanding. It
stirred the fire in her slowly, bringing her to a new plane. She
touched his chest, relishing the texture of his hair and the smooth
strength of his muscles. Her hands caressed his shoulders, ran
along the smooth skin and down his arms.

     Walter lowered his head and kissed her breasts through her
gown. His hands began unbuttoning all those tiny little buttons,
following each one with a kiss. Rae was caressing his chest,
stroking him. He held her hands at her sides and kissed her
tenderly, licking her lips and caressing her tongue with his.

     "Let me, baby. Let me love you tonight." He wrapped his arms
around her, not daring to look at her body just yet. "Rae, how
long has it been?"

     She kept her eyes low, "There hasn't been anyone since Tom."

     He raised her face, and she saw the astonishment in his eyes.
"But that was ten years ago!" he stroked her face with his
fingertips."I won't hurt you, honey."

     "I know." She looked directly at him her eyes filled with trust
and desire. "I want you, Walter. I've never felt like this before.
Please........."

     But he needed no more. He kissed her deeply, caressing her
hair, running his hands down her back. "I brought protection,
honey. They're in the bathroom." He started to get up, but she
wouldn't loosen her hold.

     "I'm on the Pill." She kissed his cheeks and lips. "It'll be
all right."

     With that he finally slid the gown off her shoulders. She was a
little embarrassed at his look, but he was obviously pleased with
what he saw. He cupped her firm breasts in his hands, teasing the
nipples erect with his thumbs and watching her amazed reaction. He
buried his face in the hollow of her neck, and trailed his tongue to
one breast, then the other.

     Rae moaned and arched her back, pushing her breasts toward the
source of pleasure. 'This is different,' one part of her mind
thought. 'God, this is wonderful!'

     Walter spent a long time suckling and gently nibbling her
breasts. Her moans excited him, and his erection was straining the
fabric of his boxers. He slid one hand down to her thighs and
pushed them apart. He cupped her mound, caressing it firmly, and
she gasped. He stroked her silky hair, and left a trail with his
tongue down her belly. Sliding her hips closer to the edge of the
seat, he lapped at her soft pubic hair and tickled the tip of his
tongue on her clitoris.

     Rae moaned and writhed beneath Walter's expertise. Tom had
never done this. She wasn't exactly sure what Tom had done, all she
knew was that it hurt. But this......"Ohhh Walter!"

     He continued, hearing her calling to him with ever greater
fervency. He pushed his tongue as deeply into her as he could, and
she very nearly jumped off the seat. He stopped his ministrations,
and rose shucking off his boxers, and stood for a moment, waiting
for her reaction.

     Rae watched in awe as his erect penis was released. She moaned
and trembled, a little afraid, but too far gone wanting him to
protest. She raised her arms to him, and he picked her up
effortlessly. He kissed her face as he carried her to the bed, and
she captured his bottom lip between hers and sucked on it.

     He laid her down and stretched out beside her, his hands
roaming over her smooth skin. His lips followed his hands wanting
to excite her as much as he was. When he knelt between her thighs
he looked into her eyes for a moment, silently asking permission,
and receiving it. She reached for him wanting to feel his entry.

     He slowly inserted a finger deeply. She writhed as he moved his
finger and rubbed her clitoris with his thumb. When he felt her
strong muscles bear down he withdrew his finger and entered her. He
went slowly, giving her time to adjust, listening and watching for
signs of pain. He heard her gasp, and held himself still. She had
tensed up."Relax, honey. I'll go slow." Her eyes had been clenched
tightly shut, now they opened slowly, wonderingly.

     "It doesn't hurt." Her voice was full of amazement and desire.
"Oh, Walter. I want all of you." She began to caress his shoulders
and back. "Please, I want all of you."

     Still going slowly though, he went deeper, a bit concerned that
she wouldn't be able to take all of him. But to his delight he was
completely inside as she began to move her hips in a tight side-to
side motion.

     Walter began a steady pace. He began by thrusting long and
slowly, going deeply each time and listening to her moan. He kissed
her and bent his head to suckle her beasts. She bucked under him,
urging him faster.

     Rae couldn't have put words to what was happening to her. She
had little experience and no basis of comparison for these
feelings. She became a creature of pure sensation, concentrating on
Walter's hardness inside her, his size and how he filled her. She
didn't even realize that she was making any sound at all when,
suddenly she cried out as the waves of her orgasm hit. She didn't
realize that she was digging her nails into Walter's shoulders or
that he had stopped moving to allow her the fullness of her
climax.

     Walter held back, watching her. His own climax was near yet he
forced himself to wait, to give all the time she needed. When she
began to slow, when he felt the contractions of her muscles begin
to lessen, he began to move again. This brought her quickly back.
It was as if her internal strength was caressing him, bringing him
spiraling over the top. He cried out her name as he let loose and
dimly heard her answer.

Chapter 5

     Sunlight was streaming in, falling like a golden veil over the
woman on the bed. She lay in exhausted sleep on her stomach, arm
flung out to one side, one leg hanging over the edge of the bed.
Her hair was alive with dancing red and gold highlights as the
light breeze drifted in. She lay half covered by the handmade
quilt, her shoulders and back naked and smooth. There was only the
faint hairline tracing of a scar that ran from her shoulder blade
to her hip.

     Walter stood in the bathroom doorway, smiling and watching her
sleep. He woke at the light tapping of the manager with
complimentary coffee and muffins, and couldn't fall back to sleep.
He was filled with a deep, quiet satisfaction and he didn't want to
shatter the mood just yet by waking Rae and getting ready to go
back to San Francisco. 'It's still early,' he thought. 'Let her
sleep a while yet. Heaven knows she deserves it!'

     He thought of their lovemaking last night and was filled with
the warmth of returning desire. He had been a witness to the
awakening of passion, and he was still amazed at it. It was as if
he was in the middle of one of those trashy romance novels that
Sharon and her friends were always reading. Rae had known so
little, hardly anything really except for pain at the hands of her
ex. Last night, though her fear gave way to hunger and Walter was
determined to give her her fill.

     His eyes traveled to the scar and he wondered if her ex had
anything to do with it. She had only told him briefly, haltingly
when he plied her with questions after loving her a second time. The
only thing Walter had learned was that Tom had hurt her, but she
wouldn't elaborate. She had stopped his questions with kisses,
wanting only to make love with him she said. Walter sensed though,
that she was unsure of how much to reveal. He understood this. He
was a professional at keeping secrets, but he didn't want to have
any from Rae. And he didn't want her to keep anything from him,
either.

     He grinned more broadly, of course her ploy had worked, as had
her growing curiosity about his anatomy. She had kissed and
caressed him until he writhed, watching his reactions, not wanting
to hurt him (she had been so upset about his shoulders that he had
to reassure her three times that it didn't hurt), wanting to please
him, testing her new-found power. 'Until I threw her onto her
back!' he chuckled.

     He knelt on the bed, moving her hair aside, and kissed her
shoulder. 'Maybe I should wake her anyway.' He threw off his robe
(a present from one of his more recent lovers, but he liked the way
it felt) and bent to the task. He began at her shoulders and kissed
down to her firm, smooth buttocks. He teased his tongue between
them a bit and she moaned. She tried to get up, but Walter threw a
heavy leg over her and pulled her legs apart gently. He licked and
sucked her labia, groaning against her.

     She moaned even louder, only this time with words, "Oh, Walter.
Let me up, please, I have to use the bathroom! "

     Walter rolled onto his back laughing, "Just hurry back, or I'm
not going to know what to do with this! " His erection was huge and
ready.

     Rae looked over shoulder and her eyes opened wide, "Its a good
thing it was dark last night, or I might have run!" His laughter
followed her into the bathroom and she stared at herself in the
mirror. She had to shake herself to believe that this was real. She
felt so good, so happy and satisfied. They hadn't talked about
anything serious yet, but she didn't want to hope for too much. She
could go on feeling like this for the rest of her life, but if all
he wanted was this week, she'd deal with that when it came.

     Walter leaned back against the pillows, calming a little while
he waited for Rae. He wasn't used to feeling so satisfied either.
Rae was more completely with him than any other woman in his recent
experience. When he spoke to her or kissed her, she was there
totally. Her eyes were full of honesty and her voice soothed him
like no other. 'God, I think I've fallen in love!'

     He sat up at the thought. Was he so baffled by this woman that
it had crept up on him without any warning? Or was that the feeling
that hit him there in Washington as he kissed her by the reflecting
pool? He lay back again, thoughts whirling. If he loved her, then
he couldn't let her go back to Wisconsin. She would have to come to
live with him. He'd buy a house out in Virginia, far enough away
from the city, but not more than an hour commute. She could furnish
it however she wanted, they'd probably have to paint, did she like
to garden? He could take care of a lawn, but not much else,
children - would she want them? In his mind he had the last of
their children graduating from medical school and he and Rae off on
a worldwide tour when he heard the door.

     She stood, rather shyly, unsure of his reaction to her body in
the filtered sunlight. She had worked hard to get and keep her
slender form. After a lifetime of being overweight, it hadn't been
easy, and she was proud. But she'd never had to display herself for
a man before -especially a man who was himself so beautiful. She
looked shyly at him from under her lashes, and was gratified by his
expression.

     Seeing her full in the light made Walter catch his breath. Her
smooth muscles gave her a firmness that was slender, yet strong and
her firm breasts were enticingly rounded. He appreciated the work
that it took to maintain such a body, and he was amazed that she
was at all shy about it. Small scars on her abdomen bespoke of a
surgery, maybe two, but they didn't detract from her overall
loveliness.

     He sat up on the edge of the bed, "Come here." His voice was
low and filled with desire. Seeing her naked had aroused him again.
"I'm going to make love to you until you tell me to stop."

     She walked over to the bed and stood between his hands. She
slid her fingers over his shoulders, stroked his ears, caressed his
chest and climbed astride his thighs, "Funny, I don't think I know
that word."

......................................................

     "So you've lost him, then." The man blew a cloud of cigarette
smoke through his lips.

     "I lost them in traffic on the I. They were headed west, maybe
south. They probably went for a day trip somewhere. He'll be back."
It was the 'staring man' that Skinner had noticed from the Durant
bar." Skinner hasn't checked out of his suite yet. He even checked
the girl in with him. He'll be back."

     "Very well, but don't lose him again." The smoking man turned
to the other man in the car, a tall dark man. "Alex, see if you
can find out about the girl. Skinner's spending a lot of time with
her. She may be the chink in his armor." Alex nodded and got out."
Remember, Michael, don't lose him this time." The other man got out
then and headed back to his car.

     Alex leaned close to the window, "You want me to move on
Skinner?"

     "No, let Michael watch him for a while. He's clumsy, and bound
to be noticed. I want Skinner to know."

     "And the girl?"

     "When the time comes, Alex. When the time comes."

.................................................

     They never made it down to breakfast. In fact they were hard
pressed to make it out of the room by the eleven a.m. checkout
time. Walter found that he lost all sense of time while he was
making love to Raelene. In her growing confidence she had taken the
lead this last time and he found it delightful. He looked forward
eagerly to tonight.

     His eyes scanned the room one last time as Rae checked the
bath. She had insisted on showering alone ("I have to have some
privacy, don't I?") so he made her check the bath for 'leftovers'.

     "Raelene, get out here, or I'm going to let you walk back to
San Francisco!"

     She came smiling out of the bath, " Fat chance, Mr. Skinner."
She put her arms around his neck and kissed him lightly, teasingly
on the lips.

     He wrapped his arms tightly around her and picked her up,
kissing her deeply. "You're right." His voice was deep and tender.
"I guess I can't leave you here alone. You're just going to have
to come back with me."

     "Then you're going to have to put me down."

     Walter sighed as he released her and picked up the two small
bags. "We could have saved the trouble and packed everything in
one bag."

     "But I didn't know we'd be roommates for the night."

     Downstairs Rae walked around the deck to the back while Walter
took care of the bill. He looked rather sheepish when the manager
asked if the couch had been comfortable, but only answered that it
was fine. Walter knew the manager was fishing, they must have
raised an unholy racket last night especially with all the windows
open, but he was gentlemanly enough to not speak about it. 'Let him
use his imagination,' Walter thought and blushed.

     After putting the bags in the trunk and the cooler in the back
seat, Walter went in search of Rae. He found her in the exact
position that he had last night and just like last night he wrapped
his arms tightly around her from behind. Only this time he rubbed
his hips suggestively against her rear.

     Without turning Rae smiled, "You better not get yourself into
a lather Mr. Skinner. There's no place for me to take care of you
now."

     He nuzzled into her neck, nibbling. "We could make out in the
car. I haven't done that since I was sixteen."

     She turned to face him, face filled with suppressed mirth."We
tried that once and were nearly collared by one of Oakland's
finest!"

     He laughed heartily a big, relaxed sound that lightened her
heart. With a sweep he gathered her up, lifting her as if she
weighed nothing at all and carried her to the car.

     After some discussion they skipped the aquarium ("We can see it
another time," Walter had said, making Rae's heart jump.) and hit
the road back to San Francisco after lunch.

     Rae turned on the radio and sang along with it, gazing both at
him and past him toward the sea. She felt totally at peace, safe
and cared for in Walter's presence. She relished the sensation,
relaxing into it and letting it curl up inside her like a cat in a
patch of sunshine. She reached over to stroke his ear gently.

     Walter turned the radio down and held her hand. He wanted to
tell her how he felt, but not in harmony with the music. He kissed
her fingers.

     "Rae, I need to tell you something." He didn't like this. He
wanted to look at her, to see her reaction to his words. They were
coming to a bridge so he pulled off onto the rest area and parked
the car. Rae held herself very still, but her heart was bumping and
pounding in her chest. She couldn't tell if it was good news or
bad.

     Walter turned to face her, holding her hands and caressing them
with his thumbs. He was suddenly as shy as she. He wasn't used to
exposing himself like this leaving himself in the open and without
retreat, but he wanted Rae to know that this wasn't just temporary,
not just a one night stand. He glanced at her and saw her nervous
expectation.

     "Rae, last night, maybe it was this morning, I don't know but I
realized something..." he swallowed hard, a lump suddenly in his
throat. He stroked  her cheek. "I realized that I've fallen in love
with you, that I want to be with you."

     He looked into eyes suddenly glistening with tears, sparkling
like faceted sapphires in the sun. He cupped her face in his hands
and kissed her eyelids, and the tears began to spill. He pulled her
against him, once again releasing the seat belt. He cuddled her
close, glad that she was the kind of woman who like being touched.
She wept against his chest, babbling about not believing it could
happen like this, that it couldn't be real, that this just didn't
happen to women like her.

     Her words puzzled him. What kind of woman did she think she
was? Why couldn't she believe ? He looked forward to the finding
out though, to unraveling every mystery about her. He kissed her
again tenderly, as he did before they became lovers, tasting the
tears on her lips. "I'm always making you cry."

     "Its not you. You're the sweetest, most wonderful man I've ever
met. It's just that no one's ever said that to me before and I've
waited all my life to hear it." She slid her arms around his waist,
snuggling against his chest. "It sounds better than I ever imagined
it could because I love you, too."

     In answer he pulled her head back gently and kissed her with
his whole heart. It took a greater degree of his trust than he
realized at first to even believe the feeling. To say the words and
to mean them, took every ounce of faith he had left. He knew
intuitively that she meant it, that she loved him back. He also
knew that he'd found his safe haven, a place where he could be
himself without the protective facade he'd built up in layers over
the years. He had felt her steadily chipping at that stony face
ever since Fourth of July, now it crumbled away completely.

     A passing semi blew his air horn, but Walter didn't flinch. He
raised his hand and waved, but didn't release her lips.

..............................................

     Passing through the lobby of the Sheraton was difficult for
Walter. He was walking on air and he was certain that everyone in
the place noticed it. He couldn't wait to get Rae upstairs, into
bed. He wanted her in every way possible and he wanted to start
right now.

     One person though, did notice the change in Walter Skinner.

     Michael lowered his newspaper and watched the couple cross the
lobby, holding hands and looking at each other with that
unmistakable look - the look that new lovers had. He thought it
looked slightly ridiculous on a man of Skinner's maturity, but it
made the woman radiant. She was pretty before, but now.... 'Maybe
that's why Alex took such an interest.'

     In the elevator Rae was giddy. She wasn't sure if she'd ever
been this happy. Compared to other times in her life when she
thought she'd been happy, that was. This big, gorgeous man loved
her, wanted her. 'Oh, god,' she thought,'don't let me wake up!'

     Walter was chatting about going for a swim or maybe a walk,
when Rae lowered her hand and began to caress him. She stood up on
her toes and nibbled his earlobe.

     "Are you trying to get us arrested?" He smiled at her. He was
already reacting to her.

     "We're alone. No one else is in the car and I want to let you
know that I don't want to swim."

     "I guess not. What exactly did you have in mind for the rest
of the afternoon, Ms. Craine?" He shifted the bags to his other
hand and put his arm around her. The pressure of her hand on his
crotch was making him tremble.

     "How 'bout an afternoon of wild, passionate........poker?" She
took her hand away abruptly.

     Walter groaned and tightened his arm around her. "Put that
back," he growled as he lifted her off her feet to meet his lips.
"When did you suddenly learn how to tease?"

     "I'm experimenting." She returned her hand to caressing him.
"It's something I've never had the urge to do before."

     As the elevator door opened he held her buttocks firmly and
raised her onto his hip. "Key card, in my shirt pocket." He said
between kisses as he carried her to the door of their rooms.

     Rae fumbled with the card but managed to get the door open as
Walter stumbled into the room without putting her down. He dropped
the bags and kicked the door shut. There was a small counter
outside the bathroom. Sweeping aside his shaving kit he put her on
this. Then he reached under her skirt and pulled her panties off
with one swift motion. Rae pulled his shirt up over his head, and
began unzipping his jeans. He reached around and unhooked her bra,
pushing it out of his way as he suckled hard on her nipples.

     Rae gasped, the sensation amazing her. She pulled her blouse
and bra over her head, tossing them aside. She wrapped her legs
around Walter's hips and slid forward on the counter. He inserted a
finger into her wetness making sure she was ready for him. Then,
placing his hands on her hips and pulling her forward he entered
her with one strong thrust.

     Rae cried out, not having time to adjust to his size, not
caring. She matched the rhythm he set, grabbing him by the ears and
kissing him. Then she leaned back, holding on to his shoulders,
bucking and writhing under him.

     Walter buried his face between her breasts, thrusting deeply.
He could feel her climax starting, but he couldn't hold back. He
pulled her close to him as he began to make shorter, harder
strokes. She was moaning his name, gasping. He planted his feet and
thrust hard and deep as he felt himself coming, sending his seed
deep inside her. He jerked a few more times, crying Rae's name then
slumped weakly against her.

     After a few moments Walter slipped his hands under her buttocks
and picked her up. He held her carefully, closely and carried her
to the bed. Before he laid her down he pulled off her skirt. Then
he sat on the edge of the bed and finished undressing.

     She watched him silently, tracing her fingertips over his wide
muscular back. She was still in awe that the things he did didn't
hurt her. The depth of her desire for him and its frequency also
amazed her. For so many years she had doubted, sure that she'd
never be able to please a man sexually. But the way Walter looked
at her after making love assured her that she had been wrong. The
light that burned in his eyes when he wanted her made her shiver.

     Walter turned around, stroking her belly and kissed her navel.
"That's what you get for teasing me Raelene Marie." He kissed his
way up to her mouth and licked her lips delicately. "I'm no boy
you can play around with, you know." He lay next to her, still
stoking her softly.

     "I told you I was experimenting." She was beginning to feel
warm under his touch.

     "And you never experimented before? Not even on him, your ex?
He was a fool." He wrapped her close in his arms and settled her by
his side. He was going to get some answers. "How could he have a
woman like you and not know how to handle her?" He took her hand
and kissed it. "How could he hurt someone like you?"

     She bit her lip. She wasn't sure how much she should tell, or
how much he wanted to hear. Only two people knew the details of her
last night with Tom, how could she tell Walter, this stranger she
loved?

     Walter felt her hesitating. "It won't matter, Rae. It won't
change how I feel about you. Please tell me."

     Rae kissed his chest, "Why don't we go for that swim? I could
go up the street a ways and find a clothing store. I didn't bring a
suit with me...." She tried to sit up, but he wouldn't release his
hold on her.

     "Raelene, why don't you want to tell me about him? What did he
do to you?"

     "I just don't want to talk about it. I don't want to spoil our
time together." She suddenly wrapped her arms around him and
squeezed. "I don't know what's going to happen with us after
Saturday. Why should I go over all the sad things in my life and
ruin the one happy time I've had in years?"

     "I just want to make sure I don't make any stupid mistakes."
He squeezed her back, holding her tight. He lay his cheek against
her fragrant hair.

     Her voice was muffled against his chest. "Please, not yet.
There's so little time and I don't want to waste it." Rae squeezed
him again, hugging him for all she was worth before letting her
hand wander to his stomach. "Anyway, isn't there something else
you'd rather be doing?"

     "This distraction's only temporary, you know." He kissed her
deeply, moving her hand lower. "I'm going to have some answers, or
you're not leaving."

     "Then I guess I'm not going to leave."

..................................................................

     Michael began to get bored in the lobby. He went to the
restaurant and took a table near the entrance where he could watch
the elevator bank. He drank at least two gallons of coffee and ate
two meals, still they didn't come down. 'This is worse than
staking out a honeymoon,' he thought.

     Just when he was toying with the idea of leaving Alex walked
in. He strode over to the table and slouched in the facing seat.

     "Nothing yet. I don't think they're going to come out until
they go to the airport."

     Alex nodded. "I want you to get into the kitchen and watch for
room service orders from them. Get a uniform and take their order
up, they'll probably eat in." Alex was getting impatient. Caution
was one thing, but inaction made him fidget. He wanted him to get
the message. Skinner had to know that he'd taken the wrong side. He
had to know that it was dangerous to protect Mulder.

     The girl would send that message loud and clear and Alex would
enjoy that. He knew Skinner, knew he'd want to protect her because
she was out of it. But he wouldn't be able to protect her, and that
would break him. It would break him the way the shooting hadn't,
the way the hooker's death hadn't, the way his ex-wife's accident
hadn't.

     Alex was bitter and angry at his treatment at Skinner's hands.
He had re-opened the X-Files without authorization, and given
Mulder almost complete autonomy. This gave Mulder the authority to
give Alex the bum's rush. Alex had been sincere when he said that
he admired Mulder's work. He had studied the file on him, and had
fervently hoped at the beginning that his cigarette smoking
superior wouldn't order him to move on him. But Skinner, now that
was another story.

     Alex thought about the girl again and the pleasure he'd get
from this and smiled. 'Maybe I can keep her for a while. Maybe I
can show her a thing or two the tired old man doesn't know.'

...................................................

     Walter lay back exhausted. He looked at the bedside clock and
realized that they hadn't eaten since their hasty breakfast in
Monterey. It was nearly six.

     He lay his hand flat on Rae's stomach and felt a rumble. She
began to giggle. She was damp, sweaty from their arduous
lovemaking. He ran his tongue in a long lick from her navel to her
chin. He leaned over her and brushed the hair from her eyes.

     "Sounds like good sex makes you hungry." He sucked on her chin.
"Do you want to go out, or should I order in?" He began to nibble
her ear.

     "Guess." She ran her hands down his back to his hard buttocks.

     "Definitely room service." He looked directly into her deep
blue eyes. "And then we *are* going to talk Raelene." He traced the
line of her lips with his fingertip. "I want you to tell me
everything, even the bad stuff." He kissed her shoulder and
whispered in her ear. "I won't even look at you if that will make
it easier for you. I won't touch you until you tell me to, but I
have to know."

     Rae lay silently, stroking his back and neck. She caressed his
smooth beautiful head and ran her fingers around his shapely ears.
She stared at the ceiling, wondering if there was still a way out.
She only had to hold out until Saturday then they'd both be going
home and... she found she couldn't complete the thought. She found
she'd fallen too hard and couldn't see anything beyond Saturday but
gray.

     She put her hands flat against his shoulders and pushed him up.
"I have to go." She pushed harder. "Let me up."

     He held her chin for a moment and looked into her eyes, now
gone serious and a bit frightened. "I love you Raelene. Remember
that." He kissed her tenderly, then rolled off her toward the
phone. "What do you want?" He heard her muffled reply as she
closed the door and grinned, "Pizza, I should have guessed."

     In the bath Rae showered and put on a sundress. She wasn't
sure how she was going to do this and make it seem like it was no
big deal. All her life she had dreamed of heroes coming to take her
away from her unhappy existence. As a fat child and adolescent, she
was tormented by the other children. They called her names and
teased her, making her painfully shy. As an adult her life was a
series of sad and frightening events, causing her to retreat into a
shell. Her ex-husband's behavior and the aftermath caused her to
perform a serious re-evaluation of her life. With the help of her
old friend Jim and a few others she made sweeping changes, but when
she felt unsure she reverted to her frightened, shy behavior. She
had finally found her hero, and she had never felt so unsure of
herself.

     She heard the knock of the waiter bringing their meal. She
heard muffled voices, then Walter shouting. A gunshot rang out and
without thought she bolted out the bathroom door.

     Her eyes quickly assessed the scene, her defense training
taking over as if it was instinct.

     Walter was struggling on the floor with a blond man. He was the
one who had fired the shot. Walter was holding his gun hand with
both of his, and trying to free one hand to throw a punch.

     Another, dark man was standing over them, lashing out with is
feet, trying to catch Walter and missing.

     With a yell Rae charged the standing man, leaping at him with
her claws, and scratching his face. She booted him in the gut and
spun around to kick him in the solar plexus. It served to knock the
wind out of him.

     Rae looked frantically for a weapon. All of the men were taken
by surprise by this harridan who had sprung screaming from the
doorway, but Alex recovered as soon as he regained his breath.

     "You bitch," he cried as he backhanded her sending her flying
across the bed. He'd caught her cheek with his heavy ring. She hit
her head against the wall and fell to the floor.

     "No!" Walter threw the man off him and leveled a punch at his
jaw that sent him spinning. Then he threw himself at Alex as he
grabbed Rae by the hair to punch her again.

     Grabbing him by the collar he punched Alex time and again until
he crumpled to the floor senseless.

     Alerted to the commotion by a neighboring room the hotel
security officers entered, baring weapons. Ignoring them Walter
sank to the floor beside Rae. Her head was bleeding. Walter cradled
her in his arms, calling her name softly, tears sliding down his
cheeks." No, please, god no.."

Chapyer 6

     "Rae? Rae, answer me. Rae please."

     Dimly the warm, worried voice penetrated the shrill ringing in
Rae's head. She tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt stuck.
She tried to sit up.

     "Don't move, honey. There's a doctor on the way."

     "I don't need a doctor." She struggled against the weight that
held her.

     "Well one's coming anyway, so just lie still. I've got you."
One of the guards handed him a damp cloth before he left the room.
Walter tried to hold it over Rae's eye, but she pushed his hand
away. "Stop that." He pulled her tight and kissed her forehead.
"There's blood in your eye, Rae. I'm only trying to clean it up."

     "If you'd let me up I could go to the sink and clean myself
up."

     "By god, but you're a stubborn woman!" He held her tightly for
a moment longer. "Okay, but let me... Rae!"

     She pushed herself up using the wall. "Bastard caught me on my
blind side. Roger always told me not to over spin my kicks. Leaves
me off balance and open for a shot. Post kick has always been my
weakest stance." She leaned against the wall for a moment to steady
herself. She felt dizzy and sick and extremely embarrassed. Walter
had his hands lightly on her waist.

     "You're going to have a shiner in the morning." He kissed her
lightly on her unbruised cheek, but she didn't respond to him.

     "It won't be the first," she mumbled as she went past him
into the bath.

     Walter was stunned, and more puzzled than ever. Instead of
letting him comfort her she retreated. She wouldn't even let him
help her up. Who was this woman he'd fallen in love with? How could
anyone profess love, then reject compassion? Then he heard a glass
shatter in the bath and a weak voice asking for his help.

     Rae was sheet white and trembling, a broken water glass in the
sink. Without a word Walter gathered her up and took her to the
bed. He sat beside her, holding her gently as her trembling eased.
'What's taking that damn doctor so long?' He looked at the propped
door.

     "I'm sorry, Walter." Her voice was tiny and frightened.

     "I'm only trying to help, honey," he said.

     She swallowed hard, stung more than he could know by his gentle
rebuke. "I'm not used to being helped after... after I get beaten
up."

     Before Walter could ask the questions that crowded into his
head there was a tap at the door, and a pair of kind brown eyes
peeked in. "Are you the folks needing a doctor?" But before they
could answer his eyes took in Rae's face. "I guess you are. Will
you excuse us, sir?"

     Walter stood up to his full height and asked for the man's
credentials. If the doctor was at all put out he didn't let on and
cheerfully handed Walter his ID. "My name's Dr. Brooks, but you can
call me Dan. Let's see if we can get you more comfortable..."

     Walter watched for a moment, reassuring himself that Rae was in
good hands before leaving the room. "I'll be right outside,
Raelene." He pulled the door nearly shut, and began to go over the
incident in his mind.

     Krycek. Mulder's erstwhile partner. Walter should have believed
his gut when he first assigned Krycek to the X-Files. He was a
little too eager, too impossibly green to be believed. Now Walter
suspected a hidden agenda from the start, but why here? There were
plenty of chances for a hit in DC, why wait until he was on
vacation? Because his guard was down, that's why. He'd been so
focused on Rae that he'd forgotten to take proper precautions. He'd
left them both wide open.

     'I'm glad I didn't leave her alone in Berkeley. They could
have gotten her and held her hostage. Or worse.' He took off his
glasses and rubbed his eyes. 'Will it ever be over?'

     "You can come in now, sir."

     Walter looked anxiously at the bed to see Rae, color returning
with a bandage on her forehead and a badly bruised cheek. His heart
wrenched.

     "He must have been wearing a heavy ring or large watch." Dan
spoke to both of them, but directed his gaze mostly at Walter,
looking at the large Marine Corps ring. "The cheek is bad, but
there's no break. It'll go down in a day or two with ice." He went
to the bed and took Rae's hand. "I want you to rest tonight and to
take it easy tomorrow. You can go out, I won't try to spoil your
vacation, but go easy on the walking." He turned to Walter, his
eyes kind. "I can't see any signs of concussion, but you should be
aware of the danger signs...."

     "I know what to watch for, and I will be watching her,
carefully."

     "Good ." He wrote some instructions on a pad and handed it to
Walter. "Call me if you're worried, or if something should
develop." He turned to Rae again and squeezed her hand. "Take care
of yourself, young woman."

     Walter escorted him to the door, thanking him. Then he hung out
the "Do not Disturb" sign and double locked the door.

     During the entire exchange with the doctor Rae had been looking
at her hands. Now she raised her eyes to see Walter leaning his
back against the door, his eyes teeming with questions.

     "Talk first, or eat?" Was all he said. He said it softly, in as
neutral a tone as he could muster.

     Rae took two deep breaths, but she couldn't control the flood
of emotion. The tension that she'd been holding inside her since
she left the bed to shower broke. She felt as though she was
shattering like the glass. She curled up into a ball and cried.

     Walter made it to the bed in three long strides. He pulled her
to him, reaching her arms around him and pressed her tear-streaked
face to his chest. He spoke low, soothing words and stroked her
hair and shoulders. These weren't the happy tears of yesterday.
This was pain, fear and shock. He knew that it didn't matter what
he said she just needed to hear his voice. He didn't care if she
cried, at least he could comfort her then.

     They lay like that for a long time. Rae finally quieted and was
so still that Walter thought she was asleep. Her breathing was even
and deep, and she relaxed against him, snuggling into his warmth.
He kissed her lightly on the forehead, and was surprised to hear
her voice.

     "I didn't mean to act surly." Her voice was still small, but
less frightened. "Maybe I'm too used to being alone. There hasn't
been anyone who's cared about me since was very small and it
feels.......I don't know how it feels." She looked up at him, her
eyelashes spiky from her tears. "I do know that I like to have you
hold me like this though."

     "Then I'll hold you tight while you tell me about the other
shiners, the ones your ex-husband gave you." He felt her deep sigh,
and knew that she would resist. "It was him, wasn't it?" She nodded
against him, not speaking. "I don't understand, Rae. After the way
you went after Krycek, how could you let a guy pin a shiner on
you?"

     "One: I didn't know how to fight then. I took self defense
classes after my divorce. Two: he was my husband - he wasn't
supposed to hurt me, at least that's what I thought. He thought
otherwise."

     "Please tell me." She began to shake her head, but he
persisted. "Please."

     Rae sat up and turned away from him. "I shouldn't have married
him in the first place. We were totally wrong for each other, and I
didn't love him. I was working two jobs and trying to get my
teaching certificate. Tom said that if I married him, he'd pay all
the bills, and I could concentrate on school." She sighed and pulled
her feet up flat on the bed, wrapping her arms around her legs. "It
sounded so good."

     Walter lay on his side, head propped on hand, watching her for
clues. "What went wrong?"

     "I went wrong. I couldn't make love with him." Her words came
in a rush. "I didn't know anything, I'd never been with a man. I
was fat, and ugly and everybody told me to take Tom because nobody
better was going to come along - but I didn't want him. On our
wedding night it hurt so much that I got scared. It hurt every
time. He wasn't like you, he didn't kiss or touch, he just got on
top of me and...and...and when I started saying no he began to get
angry." She put her face down onto her knees.

     Walter sat up and put his arms around her from behind, pulling
her against him. "Is that when he hit you?"

     "That's when he started, yes. It wasn't often, but it was
enough that Jim noticed. I didn't see him much at that time,
because Jim didn't like Tom, but we'd meet for coffee once in a
while and he noticed the black eyes, the split lip. He was so angry
that he wanted to beat Tom up." Rae laughed bitterly, "as if he
could. Tom weighed 250 and could hoist a case of canned fruit with
one hand while eating pizza with the other."

     "Charming. I'm beginning to like Jim more all the time."

     Rae turned her face into his shoulder. "Oh, Walter it was such
a mess. I was so stupid and green. I didn't even know that there
could be more for me. All my life my father, kids in school,  kids
on the block kept telling me I was ugly, stupid, fat. My father
even told me I'd never get married because no man would want a fat
wife. I thought Tom was my only chance!" She stood up and began
hitting the wall next to the bed, "How could I be so stupid? How?
How?"  She leaned against the wall, suddenly dizzy.

     Walter rose and put his arms around her once more. Her words,
her reactions were so much clearer to him now. He could hardly
conceive of the kind of life she must have lived. He couldn't
imagine what it could be like to not even have a parent on your
side. Walter's parents were supportive and loving, not perfect, but
damn near. But to live a life of verbal and physical abuse...

     She was still trying to hit the wall with her hands, but Walter
pinned them and held them close to her. She was crying again,
weakly. He picked her up, but instead of going to the bed he sat on
the sofa, holding her on his lap until she calmed again.

     "Maybe I should go into the other room."

     "Why?"

     "I don't want you to feel sorry for me. I should probably
just..."

     "Stay right where you are." He tilted her face up to look into
her eyes. "You're not going anywhere. You're going to stay here
with me, we're going to eat that cold, cold pizza, and then we're
going to go to bed. Together. Got it?" He leaned his forehead on
hers, looking into her deep, rich blue eyes.

     "Walter, you don't need...."

     "Don't tell me what I need, Raelene Marie." He kissed her as
deeply as he dared. He didn't want to hurt her bruised skin. "I
don't feel sorry for you, and I'm not going to let you go, not for
an instant, until I have to." He breathed deeply. "I love you,
Rae. They're not just words to me, and I don't say them lightly.
I'm not a kid looking for a lay on my summer vacation and when
Saturday comes I won't be saying good-bye to you. I intend for you
to be in my life for a long time. A very long time." He kissed her
again, heart on his lips.

     Rae cuddled against him. Her mind was whirling with new
feelings and ideas. That she could have a man like this want her,
and want to keep her was so foreign to her that she couldn't
believe it yet. But she wanted to believe.

....................................................

     "It was foolish, and clumsy. To make a move like that, with no
preparation, no plan. Alex, I'm ashamed of you!"  His hands
trembled with anger as he lit another cigarette. "I thought you
knew better than this. Now we may have lost the girl. Skinner may
decide that's she's too hard to protect, and leave her."

     "He won't." Alex stung at the criticism. "Michael said that he
looked at her like, well like he was crazy about her."

     "That doesn't mean that Assistant Director Skinner is ready to
start nest building. He's been with several women in the last few
months...."

     "This one is different!" Alex snapped.

     "How do you know, Mr. Krycek ? Do you have intimate knowledge
that I'm unaware of ? " His tone dripped sarcasm.

     Alex looked up sharply. "No." He rubbed the scratches on his
cheek." No."

     "Explain to me, Alex: why Skinner's woman? What is your
interest in her? Or is it just your hatred of your former superior?
Which is it, Alex, or do you even know?"

     Alex turned his back on the man. Twisting inside him were
feelings too convoluted for him to sort out. He couldn't explain
why he hated Skinner, Mulder and Scully so much. He'd not had that
much contact with Skinner, why did he have such a need to destroy
him, to see him in agony? Was it jealousy? Alex coveted the
position Mulder was in - allowed to do the work he loved, that he
was passionate about, and his immediate superior not questioning
any move he made. Alex felt that, at another time, if he had been a
few years sooner, he could have been Mulder.

     He shook his head. Maybe this cigarette smoking fool was right.
Maybe he was getting too personal. "Maybe we should leave the
woman out of it," he said aloud, musing. "The rest of the
'gentlemen' might not like it. They don't seem like the types that
would enjoy a good rape."

     "No, they wouldn't. And rape was never in the plan Alex,
remember that." He rose and walked toward the door. "I'll post
Michael's bail then I'm going to ship him overseas. You  better go
back to Washington. Mulder and Scully should finish their
investigation soon, and Skinner's leaving on Sunday. I'll have
someone else take over the surveillance for now, someone who has
more control."

     Left alone Alex sought answers to the strange conundrum that
held him captive. Could he still be under the influence of the
alien being that had possessed him? Alex never shirked his duty,
not even when it required him to commit violence, but this single
minded stalking of Skinner was out of character. Especially when
neither Skinner nor this new woman of his were the prime objective.

     Frustrated, Alex realized that he didn't know what his
character was any more.

.............................................

     "No ma'am, no wine for you. You still might have a concussion,
you know." Walter held the bottle out of reach.

     Rae sat back and smiled, relieved that the hard part was over
at least for now. She hadn't told him everything, but at least it
was enough. Someday she might be brave enough, feel safe enough to
tell him the rest. For now it was enough to bask in the light of
his smile, to warm at his touch, to tingle at his glance.

     Walter looked over at her, seeing the return of the Rae he
knew, the woman he'd made love with, had fallen in love with. The
resiliency of her spirit astonished him. After the horrors she'd
lived through anyone else might have folded, given up or turned
into a bitter, angry person. But she had retained a gentle nature,
and an incredibly huge capacity to love. 'Just like Bob said.'

     Rae reached over him to grab at the bottle, "He said I didn't
have a concussion, and that he wouldn't spoil my vacation."

     'And a large capacity for fun,' Walter grinned. "Uh-uh. I want
you awake and conscious when I make love to you." He leaned over
and kissed her."Mmmmmm, you taste like pizza. I like it."

     "Gee, I wonder why." He picked up her hand and licked her
fingertips suggestively. "Maybe I should have poured marinara all
over me."

     "I don't need any sauce." He slid to his knees in front of her
and began to kiss and lick her neck. He nibbled down her shoulder
and across the top of her chest to the hollow at the base of her
throat. His hands caressed her thighs, and pushed up her loose
dress, sliding his hands to her hips. He slid his fingers up under
the elastic of her panties, and eased them down.

     Rae lifted her hips to make it easier for him, then gasped as
he fastened his lips on her nipple through the thin fabric of her
dress. She kissed his ears and ran her hands over his chest. She
drew her nails lightly through his chest hair, and lightly teased
her fingertips over his nipples. He groaned and increased the
pressure of his mouth.

     Walter began to unbutton her dress. "You do love buttons,
don't you?" His lips smiled against hers. When his fingers
encountered her bra he groaned again. "Rule number one for the
rest of the week: no more bras." He unsnapped it with one hand and
pushed it out of the way so that he could nuzzle her breasts. He
licked her nipples with the flat of his tongue, going from one to
the other. Rae arched her back and moaned.

     After he finished unbuttoning her dress he slipped it off her
shoulders. He gazed at her for a moment and cupped her breasts in
his hands. They fit perfectly, neither too large or too small. He
skin was luminous as it began to flush pink from his touch. Her
eyes lit the room with their desire.

     "Walter, I want you." She pulled down his sweatpants,
caressing his hips. With one hand she drew him to her lips, her
other hand reaching around to fondle his erection, gently stroking
from the base to the tip letting her fingers stoke through his
pubic hair. Then she caressed his hard, muscular rear.

     Walter groaned loudly. His mouth went back to suckling her
breasts, and his free hand reached between her thighs to stroke her
mound. His fingers caressed her clitoris then reached for her
labia. His touch was expert and gentle, making her writhe and moan.
She whispered his name breathlessly, asking something of him that
he couldn't quite hear. He leaned closer, taking her ear in his
teeth.

     "Now, ohhhh, Walter now." She guided him into herself, opening
wide for him.

     He felt her wetness, her readiness and entered slowly. She
bucked under him, trying to increase the pace."No, baby." He
kissed her deeply, and stopped moving. She whimpered, wanting
more. "Don't go so fast."

     "Oh, Walter, please............." her voice trailed off into a
long cry as he thrust deeply into her, then stopped again. "Are
you teasing me?" She pulled his lips down to hers. She raked her
nails over his chest, up to caress his ears.

     "Not teasing. I just wanted to hear you ask me." He chuckled
deeply at the shock in her eyes. "I love it when you say my name
that way. It drives me insane." The last words were said against
her lips just as he caught her tongue with his. He began to thrust
rhythmically, not too hard or deep. He was mindful of her injuries
and took her gently. He felt her moving with him, matching him. She
braced her feet on the coffee table and raised her hips off the
sofa.

     Rae placed her hands flat on the cushions beside her and swung
her hips in slow circles reaching up to meet Walter with each
thrust. Her thoughts raced along her nerve endings, unformed and
excited. She concentrated on their pleasure, listening to Walter's
breathing as it became rapid and erratic. His thrusts became
shorter and harder. Suddenly Rae lost all conscious thought as she
felt the waves crash into her. She felt like she was standing in a
pounding surf, and she clung to Walter to keep from sinking. She
squealed, a high shrill whoop from the back of her throat.

     He felt the force of her orgasm squeezing and caressing him as
he pumped his last strokes. It was as if he was pulling up every
ounce from the soles of his feet and giving it to her. He cried her
name with his last powerful thrust, and sank into the safety of her
arms.

......................................................

     "Walter? Walter?"

     He heard the lovely voice and raised his head from its soft
resting place on her breast. She was gorgeous, looking at him with
her deep blue and now very satisfied eyes. She had the look of a
cat that had gotten the cream. He kissed her deeply, holding her
tight.

     "Yes, honey?"

     "Can we take the wine and the food and get into bed?" She
stroked his cheek, wanting to look at him. His brown eyes were soft
and content. He had always looked so restless before but now his
face had a peace that spoke to her of his love and trust. "I'm
cold."

     He ran his hands over her arms. They were cold as were her
hands. He held them to his lips warming them with his kisses. "Well
that's just where I want you anyway, in bed." He reached under her
buttocks and lifted her up in front of him. She grabbed the wine
bottle as he lifted and he laughed, "You certainly won't give up,
will you?"

     Her only answer was to bite his earlobe.

     Once in bed they talked softly, munching pizza and drinking
wine (despite her repeated asking, Rae drank juice). She leaned
back against his warmth feeling his deep voice vibrate through his
body. Walter wanted to go on another day trip.

     "We were the safest in Monterey. I don't think out trailer made
it out of the city." He thought a moment. "I used to have a friend
in Anchor Bay north of here, an artist. If he's still there he'll
put us up for the night. Nobody even thinks he's still alive, much
less living in Northern California. It might throw off any other
surveillance, especially if we check out of here and move to
another hotel when we come back. It might be nice to sleep in a
room in a house, instead of a hotel, have a home cooked meal. What
time does your flight leave on Saturday?"

     Instead of answering him Rae rose, pulled on his robe and went
into the other room. Walter followed and saw her take out her
ticket and pick up the phone. "I'd like to change my departure,
please." Walter listened to her for a moment, and went to get
something from the other room. When he returned she looked up with
a question, "Eleven a.m. on Sunday?" He nodded. "Okay, I'll take
it. Pardon? You say you only have a first class seat left? How much
is the upgrade?" Walter handed her his MasterCard. She tried to
push it away as she reached for her purse, but he pulled it out of
her reach and put his card into her hand and mouthed, 'Take it.'
Her glance was eloquent. He merely chuckled and put his arms around
her.

     When she hung up she snuggled against him. He was so warm and
close that just standing like this made her relax. She felt his
breath tickle her ear as he whispered "Thank you." She reached her
arms around his neck and stood on her toes to kiss his cheek.

     "You're going to spoil me, Mr. Skinner. Expensive hotels,
restaurants, gifts. I'm only a small town music teacher, you know."

     "No I didn't." He stroked her cheek. "You've never told me, so
I just assumed that you sang in the band."

     She laughed."I'm sorry. It's so much a part of me that I feel
like it's tattooed on my forehead or something." She turned her
face to kiss his hand. "For the record Assistant Director Skinner,
I teach choral music and beginning music theory at Pewaukee High
School."

     "Where's Pewaukee?" He began to kiss her cheeks, her forehead
and the tip of her nose.

     "In Wisconsin." She stroked his shoulders, relishing the feel
of his powerful, hard muscles.

     He grinned at her, "That's not much help, honey. Wisconsin's a
big place."

     "Southeast corner: west of Milwaukee, north of Waukesha and
east of Oconomowoc." Her eyes danced mischievously, believing that
he would be dumbfounded by her directions.

     "That's better. At least I know where Milwaukee and Waukesha
are." He laughed at her surprise. "I was at Bob's wedding, remember?
And I've known Terry for nearly twenty years." He nuzzled her neck.
"Bob even claims that I danced with you."

     "If we had danced I don't remember. I wasn't into Marines in
those days."

     "Funny, I thought it was a Marine who was into you." He picked
her up and headed back to the bedroom.

     "You're a bad boy, Mr. Skinner." She licked his ear.     

     "That's AD Skinner to you ma'am."

     "If you're not careful, you're going to find yourself
surrounded by a pack of artists and musicians. My crowd if full of
'em." She kissed his forehead, then looked into his eyes. "By the
way, how did a stern, humorless Marine get to know this mysterious
artist that we're going to visit?"

     He laid her on the bed, then stretched out full length beside
her. He held her hand on his chest, remembering.

     "We were in boot camp together, and moved up the ranks. We got
separated after OTS, but met up again in Da Nang. My unit moved into
a forward area before his, but they were right behind us all the
way." He smiled as he thought of the jokes they used to make about
it, 'Great, Skinner's been here. Left all the clean up for us!' His
voice turned quiet. "Dave was always a strange one. He would draw
beautiful portraits of the villagers, or the wildlife then go out
and fight. It was like he put himself into his drawing then when the
time came he'd close the cover and become a different person." He
looked at the ceiling. These were thoughts he'd never shared before
and it felt odd to put them into words. "It's how alot of us got
through the war. We'd separate ourselves, locking our real selves
away for a safer time, and using whatever we could to escape." He
squeezed his eyes shut and sighed.

     Rae was watching him closely and saw the moment of pain. Now
she realized why he had shared so little of his past with her; it
was as hard for him as it had been for her. She wrapped her arms
around him and lay her head on his shoulder. She felt his need for
comfort just as clearly as he had felt hers and wanted to give him
the warmth and quiet support that could be her only gift to this
kind and tender man.

Chapter 7

     They arrived at the battered house on the beach after making
several inquiries in the small picturesque town of Anchor Bay. The
weathered wood facade looked deserted and Walter began to wonder if
Dave had moved on since the last time they spoke. It had been a
year or two, and he always talked about moving on, but he loved the
ocean and the moody shoreline so much that Walter seriously
doubted...

     Suddenly a large dog came charging up, neck bristling and
barking furiously. Walter pulled Rae behind him and braced for an
attack.

     "Vince, heel!" An equally scruffy man came around the side of
the house wearing a surly expression and carrying a battered
artist's box. "Who the hell are you and what the hell.... Walter?
Walt, is that you?" He broke into a wide grin. He grabbed Walter in
a huge bear hug, nearly picking him up. "I'm damned. Walt! "

     Rae hung back, enjoying the scene. Dave was huge, as tall as
Walter but at least twice in bulk. His long hair was an
indeterminate shade of brown and he had high red cheeks. Rae found
herself thinking that, with white hair and beard he'd look just like
Santa Claus. But when he turned his eyes on Rae she nearly gasped.
His left eye was gray, but his right eye was completely white.

     "Walt, you old goat, what have you gotten yourself into here?"
He stepped over to Rae and took her small, square hands in his huge,
horny paws. He looked her up and down, appraising her with his
artists eye judging form and balance, harmony and line. "You are a
pretty little thing, aren't you? I'm Dave." His voice softened and
he smiled wide. "Welcome, both of you. Come inside." He tucked Rae's
arm through his and hung the other across Walter's shoulders pulling
them both into the house.

     Inside the worn old home was a magical place. Paintings in
various stages hung and were stacked all over. There were
landscapes, portraits, stills of every description. There was a
sculpted metal fountain in a corner of the room and the constant
tinkling of the water down the metal bowls made a pleasant
counterpoint to the crashing and hissing of the waves. Rae wandered
into the house wide eyed. She wanted to look at everything, to
touch. She turned back to the men, her expression rapt.

     "Welcome to Beach Head." Dave appreciated the way she looked
at his things. He took pride in his work, and her look gratified
him. "Its nearly lunch time. Why don't you look around while I get
something for us all. Can't guarantee what it'll be, you caught me
low on supplies, but I'll throw something together."

     "Let me, please." Rae took the burly man's hand. "I think I'm
having cooking withdrawal, and this would be a good time to test my
limited talents on Walter." She looked at him, no longer startled by
hisblind eye. "Just point me in the right direction and I promise to
come up with something edible."

     Dave took her shoulders, turned her around toward the
beach-facing windows behind her. "Right over there, little one." She
started to move, but he spun her around again. "Now I know Walt,
here, and you know me, but...."

     "I'm Rae." She gave him a sparkling smile and extended her
hand.

     "Nowwe're even, pretty Rae. Now you may use my kitchen!" He
pressed her fingers warmly, then let her go. Once she was gone he
turned to Walter, "Where on this pitiful earth did you find such a
jewel? And what brings you here my friend, trouble?"

     Waltersmiled and put a hand on his friend's huge shoulder.
"That's one thing I've always liked about you, Dave. You're the
subtlest guy I know." He sat on a battered easy chair. "Trouble?
Yes, more thanyou can know. As for Rae, she was an extremely lucky
accident."

     "You government types just don't know a healthy dose of honesty
when it jumps up and bites you in the ass. Although your Rae there
seems pretty forthcoming. Tell me about her first, I'm in the mood
for a happy story, daddy." Dave sat on an equally battered sofa and
put his feet up on the table.

     Walter began with Rae and the Fourth of July party and told him
all of the events up to today. He left only out Rae's revelations
about her ex-husband (it was a subject that he felt should remain
between them), and their more intimate details. Dave was one of the
privileged circle of few (that now included Rae) with whom Walter
had been completely honest. Dave had an unusual view of the world
and he always gave Walter a new way of looking at things. It was as
if the unusual dichotomy that had given rise to the artist/soldier
gave him an interestingly skewed philosophy which allowed him to
get to the deeper, truer nature behind the actions of men.

     Dave listened to Walter thoughtfully, smiling occasionally,
frowning and nodding. Although Walter had merely alluded to the
fact that Rae had a troubled past, Dave sensed the depth behind his
friend's words and knew instinctively that there was more. The
trouble with renegade FBI agents, though was a surprise, even for
Dave. He knew all too well that these people rarely acted without
orders from somewhere higher up.

     After leaving the Marines, Dave had worked briefly for the CIA
as a consultant. He left after only a few months because the work
was abhorrent to him. Engineering murders and takeovers weren't a
part of his palette and he couldn't live with the way it made him
feel. For Walter the FBI was okay, he needed the structure, the
organization, he needed to feel like he was making a difference.
Dave wanted his freedom.

     But Dave thought he could re-think his ideas on women when he
saw the happy expression on Walter's face when he spoke of Rae.
Dave thought that the sham of a happy relationship would never
stand up to close examination. He even believed that Walter's first
wife was some kind of modern witch. ' I'm surprised he didn't cut
himself on her!' But to be as content for even a day as his friend
appeared to be now might just be worth a little inconvenience later
on.

     Rae occupied herself in the kitchen, both to have a chance to
absorb and to explore, but also to give Walter a chance to talk to
his friend alone. She knew that he was worried about the attack on
them last night. He had told her just enough on the drive today to
silence any further questions, but she could feel him closing the
subject off. He fell back on security, saying that he couldn't tell
her any more because of the risk involved, but she knew that he was
trying  to protect her both from physical harm and from fear.

     Rae didn't feel secure enough yet to challenge him, or to try
to get involved in his work. She had to take each day as it came
for now and trust to Walter to plan for tomorrow. Right now they
were too new to each other for her to have hopes for a future.

     She knew that Walter would talk to Dave, though. He needed
reassurance from someone with shared experiences right now, someone
he could trust. The two of them went back a long way and could
communicate on a level beyond words.

     After she had a meal prepared and the table set she called to
them. They had walked out onto the beach in front of the house and
were looking out to the sea. "Come on, guys. It may not be fit to
eat, but its hot!"

     The three had a hilarious meal. Dave told stories about Walter
and boot camp, stories about following him up the DMZ, all while
Walter tried to stop him. It finally ended with Dave rising and
trying to pin Walter in a head lock and Rae laughing so hard she
nearly choked.

     After lunch, which Dave and Walter insisted on cleaning up Rae
wandered through the artist's domain. His house was chock full of
fascinating books, art pieces and bits of nature. A huge piece of
driftwood comprised the base of the table, attached to a redwood
burl top. The fountain was formed of simple metal bowls, but
attached to them were bits of different metals crafted into
dragonflies. His Marine decorations were in a display frame hung
around with withered wildflowers. Polished pieces of worn glass of
every hue picked up from the beach now filled an old brandy
snifter. Intriguing things were everywhere and Rae wished that they
could stay more than a day.

     When the two men came out of the kitchen both watched her
poking reflectively into the corners of an especially interesting
book shelf. They exchanged a look and Walter went to put his arms
around her.

     Dave watched the way she snuggled against him. He saw the soft
expression still Walter's usual restlessness. Dave wanted to give
them an image to remember this time, because he knew that from what
Walter had told him, they would have a hard time ahead. He went to
get a sketch pad and began to make some quick drawings.

     Walter kissed Rae's cheek and whispered in her ear, "Let's go
for a walk."

     "We should stay here with your friend. He's kind enough to put
us up for the night, we should visit." She looked over at Dave and
saw that he was engrossed with his sketch pad. She walked quietly
over to peek over his shoulder and gasped. He was drawing a
portrait of them. She sat silently on the arm of the chair and
watched the piece take shape.

     Dave looked up at her. Her expression was astonished and
lovely. It made Dave think again about getting himself a woman.
"Go take a walk you two. All this billing and cooing makes me sick.
Get out of here for at least an hour! Go on the beach, go make
love, go..well just go."  He waved his hands at them.

     Undaunted Rae kissed the top of his head, and slipped quietly
away to take Walter's hand.

.......................................

     They walked on the beach for the rest of the afternoon. Rae
walked ahead and picked up shells which she carried in a fold of
her skirt. She had left her sandals at the Beach Head and walked
barefoot in the foam. The wind whipped her hair around her face and
gave her a flush. Walter caught her and pulled her against him. He
wrapped his arms tightly around her and just stood there with the
water splashing around their ankles.

     She turned a smiling face up and stretched up to kiss him. His
lips were warm and tasted of salt spray. She wrapped one leg around
his, reaching her arms around his neck, caressing his ears along
the way. The shells dropped to the sand about their feet.

     He allowed her to explore his mouth with her tongue, reaching
down to fondle her rear. He wanted her to touch him, to
'experiment' as she put it. 'I wonder what she'll decide to try
next?' The thought excited him.

     Rae noticed immediately, pleased by his quick response to her
amateur caresses. She rubbed her hips against him. "Do you think
anyone uses this beach much?" She whispered in his ear.

     In answer he dragged her to the sand, kissing her. They were
shielded from sight by a large boulder. He tugged her skirt up high
enough to rub the coarse fabric of his jeans against the tender
flesh of her thighs. He ducked his head to nuzzle her breasts
through her sweater. He hadn't done this since he was about
seventeen, and had to make out with a girl at a crowded drive-in.
He found it exhilarating and slightly forbidden.

     She pulled him tight against her gasping into his neck. She was
surprised at his willingness, but the area was deserted. They were
still fully clothed after all , even though she doubted that they
could make a quick get away if they had to. She stopped thinking
and squeezed Walter's buttocks as he moved against her.

     It was brief and very wet, and when it was over the look Walter
gave her made her forget the water and how cold she was. "I love
you," she whispered.

     "Me, too." He held her for a moment longer. But the tide was
beginning to come in and the water was nearly up to their waists.
"We'd better get out of this water, it's freezing. I don't want
either of us to get sick." He stood and helped her up. "How about
a nice hot bath when we get back to Beach Head?" He said it softly,
suggestively. His eyes had that special light that told Rae exactly
what he had in mind.

     Rae smiled at him, raising one eyebrow. "You do like your
comforts, don't you?"

     "As long as you're one of them." He wrapped his arms around her
to keep her warm and they walked back to the house.

........................................

     It was nearly dark when they reached the Beach Head and Dave
was nowhere in sight. But propped on the table was a pencil
portrait of the two of them together and a note: "Went into town to
get supplies. I took Vince with me and will be gone a couple hours
- D." Walter smiled, it was just like in OTS : when one of them got
lucky they'd leave a tie on the door. He noted that Dave even put
down the time, he must have been watching for them to come back,
because he'd just left.

     Rae was delighted by the drawing. It was a tender portrait
showing Walter holding her and kissing her cheek. She was standing
in the circle of his arms and smiling. She secretly thought that
Dave was rather kind with his depiction of her features but it
didn't matter, the sketch was beautiful.

     Walter took her cold hands and held them to his cheek. "How
about that bath? You feel half frozen."

     "Mmmmm, sounds nice. But do you think we'll both fit in a
bathtub?" She stroked his wide shoulders and lay her hands on his
deep chest. He was a tall muscular man, and the thought of him
squeezing himself into a narrow tub made her smile.

     Walter kissed the corners of her smile. "You haven't seen
Dave's tub."

     He pulled her by the hand through a small plank doorway. Inside
was a glass walled room with a stone flagged floor. Alongside the
door was a redwood bench worn smooth from years of use and in the
center of the room was a huge tub. Walter flipped a wall switch and
low, sunken lights came on in such a way so as to cast the tub in
shadow. Jets began to foam in the water.

     Rae noticed soft towels and robes laid on the bench. She put
her arms around Walter's waist and rested her chin on his chest.
"Looks like you're not the only one who likes his comforts." She
smiled and began to unbutton his shirt.

     He pulled the shirt off his shoulders and began to help her
with his jeans, but she pushed his hands away. She caressed his
chest sensuously and kissed his shoulders and trailed her tongue
along the line of his collarbone. She nuzzled her face into his
chest, feeling his hair tickle her nose and breathed deeply of his
scent.

     Walter moaned deep in his throat as Rae flicked her tongue
lightly over his nipples, then moved lower. Her hands were pushing
his jeans and boxers off his hips, so he stepped out of them and
kicked them aside. As she began to sink to her knees, however he
pulled her up by the shoulders and kissed her deeply.

     "You don't have to do this, honey. If it makes you
uncomfortable or uneasy....."

     "Don't you want me to?"

     He looked deep into her eyes, she was totally sincere. "Yes.
Oh god, yes, but-"

     She covered his lips with her fingers. "Then be quiet and let
me." She stroked his cheek, eyes twinkling as she repeated his
words, "I won't hurt you."

     Rae knelt in front of him and held his engorged penis gently
with both hands. She stroked it with her fingertips, then licked
firmly from base to tip. Walter gasped, and she looked up to make
sure she hadn't hurt him, but the expression on his face was one of
pure pleasure. She went on, swirling her tongue around the tip
before enclosing her mouth around him.

     Walter moaned loudly and put his hand on her hair. He was glad
that they were still close to the wall so that he could steady
himself. He felt a deep shudder pass though him as Rae began to
suck, gently at first, but with steadily increasing intensity.

     Rae listened to him and concentrated on his reactions. She
wanted to make certain that she did the right things, wanted to
please him. She took as much of him as she was able to and moved
her lips and fingers rhythmically along his shaft. She slid her
free hand around to caress his hips and muscular rear.

     Walter's groaning increased and he tightened his grip on her
hair, tangling his fingers in its length. He thrust and jerked
against her, his breathing ragged, lost in the incredible
sensations she was giving him. Just when he thought he would fall
down he came, raising his voice in a wordless howl to the sea.

........................................

     Rae released him, kissing his relaxing member gently, tenderly
and wrapped her arms around him. She helped to steady him as he
leaned against the wall. She pressed her face to his hard stomach
and listened as he began to slow his breathing.

     Rae closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She wanted to remember
this experience with perfect clarity, just as she remembered their
first night together in Monterey, and their incredibly fierce
passion when they arrived at the Sheraton. She wanted to be able to
remember his scent and feel, the sounds and taste of him. For there
might be a cold winter ahead for her, and she would need all her
memories to get her through.

     When Walter was able to move again he sat down on the floor
next to Raelene and leaned his head on her shoulder. He wrapped his
big, strong arms around her and held on as he'd never held anything
before. He nuzzled his face into her neck and just lay there against
her, absorbing her warmth and love.

     Rae held his long, strong body tightly. She ran her hands over
his back, caressed his neck and kissed his cheeks.

     But Walter felt the cold dampness of her clothing and roused
himself. "You'd better get into that hot water, love. You're teeth
are going to start chattering pretty soon."

     "Better now than ten minutes ago."

     He laughed and kissed her as he eased the waistband of her
sodden skirt over her hips. Her flesh was cold to his touch.
"You're frozen!" She raised her arms to allow him to remove her
sweater and her skin dimpled as the cool air hit her.

     Walter stared for a moment taking in the sight of her erect,
pink nipples and firm breasts. He stroked her shoulders firmly,
trying to warm her, but his hands soon wandered to her breasts,
cupping them, molding them into his palms. He stroked her hard
nipples gently with his thumbs and heard her gasp. She began to
tremble, but not entirely with desire.

     "Damn, I'm selfish." He stood quickly and picked her up."We
can continue this after you get warm."

     Walter sat on the edge of the pool and swung his legs over.
Then he eased himself onto the seat, holding Rae on his knees. He
picked up water in his cupped hands and spilled it over her
shoulders and back to help warm her, and she did the same.

     Rae slid out of his arms and crouched down in the center of the
tub. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply of the warm misty air
above the water. Only her face remained above water.

     When she began to feel warm and relaxed she drifted to the seat
opposite Walter and leaned back. They sat, watching each other for
a few moments as if deciding what to say.

     " What happens, now?" Her voice was quiet and filled with
uncertainty. Tomorrow was Friday, and they planned to stay here,
then drive back late Saturday for a last night in a hotel. But
Walter knew she wasn't talking about tomorrow.

     He drifted over to her and put his arms around her. He was also
relaxed. "Now we go have dinner, if Dave's back." He looked into her
eyes, "I'm not sure what comes next, honey. We both have commitments
to our jobs, and our lives. Neither of us can simply pull up stakes
and pack the tent, can we? Can you?"

     "No. I'm under contract and it doesn't expire until spring."

     "I could find out about transferring to a Wisconsin branch, but
it would mean losing my seniority and a cut in pay. I'm not sure
what else." He kissed her temple and held her hand on his chest.
"I guess it means lots of cold showers for me."

     She smiled, but was still serious. "And a very cold winter for
me." She stroked his chest. "Maybe I can get away once in a while,
for a weekend."

     "Or I can. I still have lots of vacation time." He grinned at
her. "I've never had a reason to use much of it before." But then he
turned serious. "But I won't have complete knowledge of the
situation until I get back. It may not be safe for us to meet often,
I might be tailed." He squeezed her tight. "I won't do anything to
put you in danger. They can't find you, if they do they'll have a
hold on me."

     Rae sat up and looked directly into his worried eyes. "I'll
work on my spin kicks. Nobody'll catch me off balance again. Just so
I can be with you, see you, I can handle the rest."

     'Oh, baby,' he thought. 'You don't know them, or what they're
capable of but I do.' But all he did was pull her against him.

...................................................

     Warm and dry and dressed in clean clothes Walter and Rae went
back into the living room of Beach Head. There were candles lit
everywhere and a meal on the table of cheeses, rolls, fruit and
vegetables. They saw Dave rise from his seat on the deck and come
to the door.

     "I was beginning to think that the two of you had drowned.
Come, lets eat. I want to talk to the both of you."  Dave poured
the wine and the three of them talked into the night.

     He offered both of them but Rae in particular, a safe haven if
one was needed in the future. He knew as Walter did that she
wouldn't be safe once they found out about her. The would either
take or threaten her and she would need to escape on a moment's
notice.

     They discussed certain possibilities, but Walter and Dave were
careful to not say too much to frighten Rae. They felt protective
of her: Dave because of his old friend and Walter because he loved
her. Between them they devised the skeleton of a plan to get Rae to
safety and Dave and Walter promised to work out the details.

     Rae felt strange about it, though. After all the years she
suffered here were men who wanted to care for and protect her. How
she wished she had met either of them a few years sooner. She also
wished she could contribute more to the plan, but she didn't know
anyone outside of Wisconsin other than Terry and now Dave and she
wouldn't know whom to contact to make arrangements.

     Walter stretched out on the sofa, laying his head in Rae's lap
as the conversation turned to painting and art. Dave wanted to take
photos of them tomorrow so that he could paint a proper portrait.
He and Rae got into a discussion of style and period and Walter
became completely lost. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy art or that
he wasn't knowledgeable, but he was dog tired. The drive, the sea
air, the hot bath and Rae's ministrations combined to exhaust him.
He quickly dozed off.

     Rae sat with her arms looped loosely around Walter, as if to
protect him. She lay her hands on his chest feeling his deep, even
breathing and his steady heartbeat. She smiled down at his sleeping
face completely content.

     Dave was moved as he hadn't been in years by the expressions he
had seen them exchange tonight. Lately he was beginning to feel
that he had lost his inspiration, that the muse was stilled. But if
Walt's visit had been fortuitous his bringing Rae had been pure
luck. As he watched her now and the look of tenderness on her face,
he reflected that life could still be good even for itinerant
artists and FBI Assistant Directors.

..........................................

     The bright sunshine was dancing on the waves when Walter awoke.
He was still on the sofa, head on Rae's lap and she was curled
around him. She formed a protective cocoon for him to rest in
complete safety.

     He tried unsuccessfully to get up without disturbing her. She
woke immediately and smiled at him. "Hi," was all she said. She
stretched her arms overhead and looked around. "Where's Dave?"

     "I don't know. I just woke up." He turned on his side to face
her and tangled his hand in her hair to pull her lips to his.
"Good morning." He stroked her cheek. "Sorry I conked out on you
last night. I guess I'm getting old, I can't stay up to the wee
hours anymore."

     "Nonsense." She let her gaze roam down the length of his body.
"If that's getting old then I'll take it! " She slid her hand
inside his shirt. "You were tired from driving and running around
on the beach and......everything."

     He laughed deeply and got up, pulling her after."Come on,
woman, your man's hungry. Let's go see what we can scare up for
breakfast."

     "Scared is what you'll be if I make the coffee."

     They spent a laughing, teasing half hour trying to get a meal
together. It was a clumsy dance with tall Walter and small Rae, but
it was an efficient one. Walter soon discovered that Rae had no
talent for breakfast cookery other than toast and frozen waffles.
But he was a good cook and breakfast was something he did well,
especially coffee.

     "I can't see how someone who loves coffee so much never learned
how to make a decent pot." He grinned at her as he poured her a
second cup.

     After cleaning up the dishes they went out on the beach and
looked around for Dave. He was no where in sight. Walter's hand
strayed to Rae's behind as he pulled her close to him and kissed
her. He nibbled her ear, whispering, "Do you realize how long its
been since I've made love to you?" He picked her up and was about
to carry her inside when Vince came panting up. They knew Dave
wouldn't be far behind. Walter cursed softly. "Maybe we should go
back today." Rae merely giggled.

     Dave came around the corner and saw them both blush as Walter
hastily put Rae on her feet. "That's not necessary, Vince and I
are going to bunk in the studio tonight. Beach Head will be all
yours." His good eye danced like the sun on the waves. "It's even
double insulated, so sounds don't penetrate at all. Howling,
however is a different matter all together."

     Walter shot him a quick look and was glad that they could be
alone tonight. It was a good thing that he'd fallen asleep last
night. Dave was one of Walter's best friends, they were as close as
time and distance would let them be but he didn't want to share the
intimacies of their lovemaking with him.

     All day the three walked the beach. They talked and told
stories, they played with the dog and lay quietly gazing at the sky
and the never resting sea. In the late afternoon Dave took a roll
of photographs of Rae and Walter together and apart. When a mist
began to creep in they went to the house and Dave lit the fireplace
while he and Walter talked. Rae volunteered once more to cook, and
both men accepted gratefully.

     "I'll go out to the studio early tonight, Walt. I may not have
a woman, but I remember." He stirred the flames thoughtfully. "I
hope everything goes all right for you two. Does she know how
dangerous these characters can be?"

     "No. She thinks the attack the other night is as bad as it
gets." He looked his friend in the eye. "How can I tell her that I
have to plan for the worst?" Dave nodded, he knew what the worst
could be. Both men had seen it, experienced it firsthand. "I have
to protect her, Dave. Even if it means that we can't be together
for a long time."

     "Don't think of that. I know you, man. You've got markers out
all over the world. Call some of them in, especially if you think
that Rae might be in danger when she gets home. Didn't you say that
Bill Walthers was working at the Wisconsin branch? He can watch her
at least, can't he? "

     Walter brightened. "Sure. I forgot about Bill. He's been stuck
up there for so long I'll bet alot of people have forgotten him. I
still have a few agents I can trust and if the worst does happen I
can have one of them bring her to you."

     "But its not going to get that far. You forget sometimes that
you're an Assistant Director now, you have power. They won't mess
with Rae unless there's no other way for them to get what they want.
Its going to be a real line in the sand Walt, but you've got to give
them enough to keep them off."

     "And my agents? I can't just leave them out there alone."
Walter shook his head. "They need me too, Dave."

.........................................

     True to his word Dave took the dog and retired early to the
studio. He kissed Rae on the cheek upon his departure and grabbed
the wine bottle.

     Walter took her hands and pulled her to the floor in front of
the fireplace. They sat facing one another and she could feel the
warmth penetrating her clothes. She watched the play of lights
across Walter's face. All evening he had been holding something
back, not saying something. Once or twice she had caught him and
Dave exchanging a look and it made her wonder. She reached out and
touched his shoulder, "What's wrong, darling?"

     He sat for a long moment staring at his hands. "I'm afraid
that I'm putting you in danger. Maybe you were right back in DC.
Maybe I've made you do something that you're going to regret."

     She took his hands. She wasn't sure what to say, so she just
let the words flood out. "I was wrong. Knowing you, being with you
has been the best, most wonderful experience I've ever had. It makes
me believe that somewhere in my crazy, mixed-up life I did something
right, sometime. I never knew that men like you or Dave existed,
kind caring men." She looked into his eyes. "I made up my mind
before we even got to Monterey that I wanted to be with you and that
I'd never allow myself to regret it. I don't and won't." She kissed
his hands, "I can live on hope if I have to."

     Walter pulled her against him and kissed her. "You won't have
to live on hope, honey. At least not for long." He lay her down on
the faded carpet and slipped his hand up under her shirt. "It
can't be for long. I won't last." He pushed the shirt up and began
to suckle her breast. He stretched out beside her.

     She pulled the shirt off, then removed his. She ran her fingers
through the coarse hair on his chest with one hand and pulled him
up to her lips with the other. She wrapped her arms and legs around
him and rubbed her breasts against his chest.

     He felt her nipples harden and heard her moan. He loosened her
jeans with one hand, then his and pushed them both down. Rae lifted
her hips to shuck hers off, and felt his swollen member.

     "Walter I want you," she gasped.

     He raised her hands over her head and placed them on the leg of
the coffee table. Then he ran his fingers down her arms to her
breasts. He rubbed his palms over them, kneading. She squealed and
arched her back. His kisses trailed down her throat and paused
momentarily in the hollow of her neck. He whispered against her
skin and she trembled.

     His tongue left a wet trail to her breasts, which he indulged
evenly, suckling and nibbling gently. His hands continued to travel
down the length of her body, caressing places she never knew
existed.

     She reached for him, trying to touch him, but he placed her
hands back on the table leg and went back to his pleasant task. He
followed his hands with his tongue, nibbling and kissing the soft
place beside her breast, then her belly, her navel until he reached
her thighs.

     She gasped when he pulled her knees up onto his shoulders. He
stroked her belly firmly and kissed her mound. He worked his tongue
over her clitoris, feeling her gasp and writhe. He kept his hand
firmly on her belly and moved deeper, lapping the wetness of her
labia and pushing his tongue deep inside her. She whimpered and
bucked.

     He raised his head to watch her as he inserted a finger deeply,
then another. He felt her strong muscles begin to caress his
fingers. She bore down hard and cried out, "Now, please, Walter
now." He continued to caress her belly, working his fingers inside
her. He could feel the orgasm race through her entire body.

     Keeping her knees on his shoulders he moved up and entered her
with a single deep thrust. He held his weight on his hands and
pulled completely out, then entered her again. He bent down to kiss
her, thrusting his tongue as hard as he did his member.

     Rae reached for him, caressing his head and neck. He slid his
arms around her, allowing her to lower her legs, and he increased
his pace. Rae planted her feet on the floor and circled her hips
each time he moved. His breath was coming in ragged gasps.

     Rae wrapped her arms and legs around him and cried shrilly. It
was a bone tingling sound from deep inside her and it made Walter
jerk harder into her. She kept moaning, high, shrill from the back
of her throat until she felt him come deep inside her. He groaned
loudly, spiraling into a yell and lay spent on top of her.

.....................................................

     The fire had died and it was completely dark outside. In the
house only the dim light from the kitchen showed them where they
lay.

     Walter had slid his weight off but was still covering her. Her
skin was chilled where it hadn't been in contact with his. She was
sleeping soundly, legs and arms flayed out where they had fallen
after her wild orgasm.

     Walter raised his head and looked around blinking sleepily. He
realized that he was cold, and that's what woke him. He watched Rae
sleeping beneath him. She looked as relaxed as he felt. He didn't
want to move, but he wanted to warm them both so he got up slowly
and cuddled her into his arms. She woke, slipped her arms around
him and nuzzled her face into his neck.

     "I'm cold."

     "I know, honey. That's why I'm taking you to bed. Everything's
okay." He kissed her forehead.

     In Dave's huge soft bed Rae snuggled close to Walter. He rubbed
her shoulders and kissed her."Are you awake?"

     She hummed against him and laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm
really relaxed, and I feel very, very good. But I can stay awake for
a while if you want me to."

     "There are a couple things I want to tell you before we both
fall asleep." There was a strange quality to his voice which
wakened her fully.

     She looked up at him. "Is something wrong?"

     "No. Not now. I just want you to know that I love you very
much." He pulled a strand of her hair through his fingers, wrapping
it around them. "I want you to keep on hoping, because I want us
to be together. As soon as I get back and see how things stand I
can make plans to come visit you in Wisconsin. I can't make many
promises, but I can make this one." He held her chin in his fingers
gently and looked deep into her eyes. "There won't be anyone else
for me, Rae. I've waited too long and looked too hard for you to
risk losing you." He pulled his heavy Marine Corps ring off his
finger and placed it on her thumb. Then he took her class ring off
and put it on his little finger. "We'll go steady, just like in
high school. Okay?"

     Rae nodded and held him tightly. "Just imagine, I'm finally
going steady. And it only took 37 years!"

......................................

     There was a shrill noise blaring in Walter's ear. He cursed
loudly before he realized that it was the alarm clock. He slammed
it hard to quiet it before Rae woke. But he was too late.

     "You don't have to break the poor thing. Just press the bar."
She reached across him and pressed the off button gently and the
screeching stopped.

     "I didn't want to wake you yet." He picked up the clock and
stared at the time. Only seven a.m. "We have time. You don't have
to be at the gate until ten."

     "But you have to take the car back, then we have to wait on the
shuttle. We should leave by eight."

     She started to get up, but Walter pulled her back down. "I can
think of a few very pleasant ways to spend the next hour." He
grinned suggestively and kissed the tip of her nose.

     "So can I: shower, pack, breakfast." She kissed him, tickling
his lips with her tongue. "Come on, darling. We have to get moving."

     He allowed her to get up, but then put his hands on her hips
and held her from behind. "I'll move if you let me in the shower
with you." He kissed her smooth buttocks, then bit.

     "Hey, no ownership marks!"

     "Why, is anyone else going to see it?"

     But Rae just grabbed a pillow and hit him with it. After he
released her she went to the bath and locked the door.

     Walter glanced around the hotel room and decided to pack
whatever he could so that he'd be ready to shower and leave. He
picked up his silk robe and looked at it reflectively. Rae liked
it. He closed his eyes as he remembered how it felt on her and
smiled. He packed the robe in her bag, on the bottom.

     He finished with the rest quickly. He was an efficient packer,
and could make do with one bag. He looked at the suit hanging on
the chair. No more jeans and sweaters. It would be back to suits
and ties. Back to being a hard-ass. Back to being AD Skinner. He
sighed. It was going to be a long time, a very long time until he
could just be Walter. Rae's Walter.

     Rae came out of the bath and saw the expression on his face. It
nearly shattered her resolve to not cry. He looked like a little
boy who'd lost his best friend. She walked silently over to him and
wrapped her arms around him.

     He rested his head against her. She smelled fresh and clean.
The warmth of her shower had made her skin pink and moist. He just
sat there for a long moment, enjoying this last bit of closeness
before they had to go out again. Before he had to let her go.

     "Come on Mr. Skinner. We've got to go." She caressed his head
and kissed his forehead.

     "Okay Ms Craine." He rose and held her face cupped gently in
his hands. "I hope we'll make that Mrs. Skinner some day."

.......................................

     The airport was dismal. Rae had always liked San Francisco's
airport before. She loved to watch all the different people from so
many different countries. She loved to listen to the voices which
sounded like a chorus to her, a blending of tones and timbre. But
now all these things were merely interruptions trying to take her
attention away from Walter.

     They were stopped at the gate. Rae put her carry on the belt
along with her duffel. But the guard tried to prevent Walter from
passing through. He handed the guard his weapon and showed his
shield.

     "Surely you won't mind if I make certain the lady gets safely
aboard her flight?"

     The guard stammered and sputtered as he passed them both
through.

     They sat talking quietly. They held hands and looked at each
other. Both had promised that there would be no overt show of
emotion. Rae wouldn't embarrass him that way and he didn't want to
hurt her. But it was hard.

     When her flight was called and they began to board the first
class section she stayed seated. She stayed by him until the very
last moment. Finally the attendant came over and told her she had
to board.

     Walter put his arms around her, then groaned softly.

     "What's the matter?"

     "Don't look. Two of my agents are across the way and I don't
want them to see your face."

......................................................

     Mulder was as surprised to see Skinner as he was to see them.
He leaned over to his partner.

     "Is that Skinner over there? With a woman?"

     Scully looked reluctantly and found that indeed, it was Skinner
and a woman.

     "Who do you think she is? "

     "Mulder! Its none of our business."

     "But Skinner, with a woman....."

     "It is possible, you know. He is human! Mulder, don't stare.
He'll see us."

     They both turned guiltily away when they saw his eyes on them.

.........................................

     "Please, miss. You have to board." The attendant was polite,
but firm.

     Rae stood and took the handle of her bag, then tip-toed up to
kiss Walter on the cheek. She didn't know when she'd see or hear
from him. She felt tears threaten.

     "You be good Mr. Skinner." She straightened his tie. "No
fooling with your pretty young secretary!"

     "And don't you go experimenting on anyone else."

     She started down the jetway but stopped after a couple feet.
She stood very still.

     Walter watched her. His heart wrenched in his chest. It was the
side of her he liked least, the walking away side.

     Suddenly Rae dropped her bags, ran back up the jetway and threw
her arms around Walter's neck. He felt her tears hot on his cheek
as she kissed him.

     "I love you." She whispered. Then she released him just as
quickly and ran into the waiting airplane.

     He stood by the window and watched until the plane was gone
from sight. Then he leaned his head against the glass. "I love you,
too honey," he whispered to the empty room.

...................................

     After he collected his gun from the security guard he walked
over to Mulder and Scully.

     "Did you two wrap up your investigation? " He looked at them
sternly.

     "Yes, sir. We're on our way back to Washington." It was Scully
who replied.

     "Sir, who was............"

     "You didn't see anyone Agent Mulder." Skinner shot him a look
that would freeze gravel."You didn't see a thing."