BACCARAT FIGURINES III (continued) by Sean Spencer seans13@hotmail.com CHAPTER TEN FIRST HOUSEGUEST Michelle Lister paid the cab driver and tiredly got out of the taxi. She entered the lobby of her dad's building and lugged her backpack and luggage and waited for the elevator. She got into the next car and smiled vaguely at the two men inside. She saw that the seventeenth floor button was already punched. She looked at the two men and saw that they were talking to each other in low tones. The big yellow dog on the leash caught Michelle's eye as the animal wagged her tail at her and looked at her with equal interest. All of them got off at the seventeenth floor and Michelle was when the bespectacled man easily got her suitcase. "Let me help you with that," he said smiling down at her. "Which one's your apartment?" "1701," Michelle said. The man set down her luggage in front of her door and she thanked him. As she waited after ringing the doorbell, Michelle watched the two men enter 1704 with their own bags and the dog. Michelle waited and rang the doorbell again. After ten minutes of waiting and no one answering the door, Michelle got that familiar sinking feeling in her stomach again. Her father forgot again that she was coming for two weeks for the summer holidays. She came straight from school and it seemed that there had been another mix-up. She thought out her predicament. She had one dollar left after taking the cab. Even if she had access to a telephone, she couldn't very well call her mother or her stepfather because her mother and her new family were in Europe. As far as her mother was concerned, she was supposed to be at her father's now. But her father was nowhere to be found. She didn't know anyone in DC. And she was getting really hungry. Michelle sat in the hallway and thought about other solutions to her problem. It was hearing the dog's bark that saved her. She really had no other choice. All she could think of was that the man in glasses in the elevator seemed nice enough. Leaving her things at her father's apartment door, Michelle went to 1704 and rang the doorbell. Skinner wondered who could be at the door. He looked through the peephole, checked to see that Mulder was not in any state of undress and opened the door. The little girl from the elevator stood there before him. "Ye-es?" Skinner said, his frown creasing his forehead. "I'm supposed to meet my dad at his apartment but he's not there," the little girl said somewhat nervously. "I was wondering if I could use your phone?" "Sure," Skinner let her in and showed her the phone in the den. He then went back to the kitchen where Mulder was just putting dinner on the table. It was a Sunday night, another end to a perfect weekend. "Who was that?" Mulder asked. "The little girl from the elevator," Skinner said. "She wants to use the phone because her dad's not home." "That must be Lister's kid," Mulder said. They sat down and started eating. "He's divorced and he gets the kid for two weeks every summer. She was here last year, I think. Her name's Michelle." Michelle waited for the tenth ring but there still was no answer. The dog was looking at her and put his head on her knee. Somehow, she felt better with the dog. She thought of other people to call but there was no one else. Dejectedly, she stood up and left the library. She heard voices coming from the kitchen and she knocked on the swinging door. "Sir?" she called. "Thank you for letting me use your phone." The man with glasses opened the door and to her embarrassment, she saw that they were eating dinner. "Uhm, it's Michelle, isn't it?" the younger man asked. "Did you get in touch with your dad?" Michelle shook her head. "I'll try again later," Michelle said. "Thank you. I'm sorry for being a bother." The girl was about to leave when the one with glasses told her to wait. "You can't wait out in the hallway by yourself," he said. "By the way, I'm Walter and this is Fox. We'll try to see if we can find your father. In the meantime, it would be better if you wait here." Before Michelle could say anything more, Skinner got her things from the doorway of her father's apartment and put them in the den. Mulder set out another plate for her and told her to eat. Meanwhile, Skinner got on the phone and called the doorman, asking the time that Lister left. The two men were very kind. They were able to determine that her father had gone out a couple of hours earlier, probably on a date, Michelle thought. Skinner then told her to write a note on a piece of paper to tape to the apartment door so that her dad would know where to find her when he came back. It was kind of nice having a houseguest. Now that Skinner thought about it, Michelle was their first houseguest. Mulder kept her occupied by watching television with her while Skinner retreated upstairs to get a headstart on tomorrow's paperwork. By nine o'clock, however, Lister still hadn't shown up and when Skinner went down to check, he found that both of them were dozing off on the couch. Skinner got a blanket and pillows and prodded the two awake, telling Michelle that she could stay until her dad came back. Taylor stayed with the girl and he told her that he and Mulder would be just upstairs. "Uh, Walter, what if she comes up here?" Mulder asked as they undressed for bed. "I've already locked the door," Skinner said. "Maybe, we can convince her that we are just having a slumber party. When you were eleven, did you know about these things?" "Hell, no," Mulder declared. "I barely had the facts of straight sex." "I bet you were a cute innocent eleven year old," Skinner laughed. He took Mulder into a bear hug and squeezed him hard with affection. Mulder was slightly stiff, the little girl downstairs always at the back of his mind. Skinner could see that Mulder wasn't up to it tonight, but he certainly was. The DD couldn't get enough of Mulder these past month and right now, all he wanted to do was get into Mulder's pants. He started off with kissing the agent on the neck, knowing that this was something that Mulder could barely resist. Skinner managed to maneuver them onto the bed and soon had Mulder dazed on the pillows, not even protesting when Skinner pulled up his shirt from his jeans and unbuttoned it. "She's down there, Walter," Mulder's protest was very mild and Skinner smiled when Mulder started kissing him back with eager lips and tongue. It didn't take much more effort on Skinner's part before he had Mulder fully undressed and writhing under his mouth and hands. "Sshh..." Skinner hissed when Mulder's cries were becoming too loud. Somehow, he could sense that part of Mulder's excitement was due to the fact that they were making love in the house for the first time with someone else was in it, not counting Mrs. Jackson which had been accidental. Mulder eagerly turned to his stomach and shuddered when Skinner lovingly lubricated his moist parts. Skinner then parted Mulder's buttocks and easily slipped inside the younger man. Mulder had to bite into the pillows as the extreme pleasure threatened to engulf him. "Walter..." Mulder's moan was tempered to a whisper, "you're so big for me..." "Only for you, honey," Skinner said through clenched teeth. Mulder's silken hot sheath was intoxicating and Skinner ground his hips into the agent, making sure that he wasn't generating too much force. Skinner forced himself to go slow, the rhythm itself driving him to a frenzy. Somehow, it was all right, too that they had to keep as quiet as possible and when Mulder came, a small satisfied sigh was all that escaped, just the right tone of voice that Skinner liked. He himself, however, gave in to a loud grunt and stifled it unsuccessfully. Skinner laughed at his inability to keep as quiet as he should as he slumped onto Mulder's back. Skinner was just reaching for the washcloth when both of them froze at the knock on the door. "Sir?" they both heard the little girl's voice through the door. "Shit," Mulder shuddered as Skinner jerkily pulled out. Skinner put a reassuring hand on his back to calm him. "I'll take care of this," Skinner whispered. He said in a louder voice, "Michelle, I'll be right out in a minute." Skinner hastily put on his glasses and frantically searched for his bathrobe. It didn't help any that Mulder had used it a few days ago and the bathrobe wasn't in sight. Skinner hurriedly put on a pair of pajamas and told Mulder to bury himself under the covers. Then he opened the door. Michelle stood in the dim hallway light and Skinner's irritation softened when he saw how little she seemed. "What's wrong, honey?" Skinner said, kneeling down at her level. He just hoped that she couldn't smell Mulder on him. "The dog, sir," Michelle said. "He's crying." Skinner cocked an ear and indeed heard Taylor whining downstairs. The DD ran down the steps, followed by Michelle. It was unusual that Taylor would be disturbing them since the good natured dog never fretted. Skinner found the dog lying down on its side and from what he could surmise, its abdomen was slightly distended. Fortunately, the vet was easily called and the tentative diagnosis was a possible ingestion of a mild irritant plant from the vicinity of the cabin. "Michelle, would you be okay down here alone?" Skinner asked as he lifted Taylor with the intention of keeping the dog by their bed for the night. "Yes, sir," Michelle said. "I just hope he gets well." "His doctor said he should," Skinner tried to reassure her. Fortunately, the girl seemed to be no crybaby and settled back onto the couch in the den with aplomb. Skinner gently laid the dog on the floor on his side of the bed, making sure that there was a towel by the dog's head that could catch anything the dog might bring up. Being within the sphere of his two significant others, the dog seemed to calm down and Skinner sighed with relief as he got into bed. Mulder was curled up into a ball in the middle of the bed, taking up most of the space and the older man had to shove him to make him scoot over to his side of the bed. The next morning, Mulder went down the stairs to the kitchen and found that Skinner had already prepared breakfast. Skinner was leaving for work much earlier than before. Prior to going to work, he'd awakened Mulder to make sure that he knew that Taylor might need to be looked after closely. The dog was much better this morning and he was to wait for Mrs. Jackson to come in at seven thirty so that he could tell her to keep a close eye on the dog for the rest of the day. Mulder went for his morning run and saw that it was going to be another warm day. He had to mainly walk-run because he wanted to be sure that Taylor would have no difficulty catching up. When he got back to the apartment half an hour later, he was startled to find that Michelle was still there in the den. He went out to check 1701 and saw that the note Skinner had stuck on the door was still there. Mulder frowned and wondered what to do. He was due for work within an hour and a half and he wasn't sure if an eleven year old could be left alone in the house. He was very wary of leaving children alone in the house. The agent took a shower, fed Taylor, judicious that he didn't leave too much kibble in the dog bowl and ate his breakfast. After a few minutes, Michelle showed up in the kitchen, saying a shy good morning. Mulder poured her a glass of milk and told her to help herself with the bacon and eggs. He made toast for her and as he watched her eat, he asked if she knew how to get in touch with her dad. He was worried after a few minutes of interrogating the girl since she didn't even know where her dad worked. Mulder called her dad's apartment to verify that Lister was still out and then made a few calls to the doorman and to the apartment manager. His worry deepened when it turned out that the information they got last night was wrong. It seemed that Lister was out of town and that his newspaper delivery was stopped for a few days and that the apartment manager was collecting his mail until Thursday. The fact that the girl's mother was in Europe was another serious matter. So from today, Monday until Thursday, the little girl had no place to go. Mulder got hold of Lister's place of work and was able to contact some people who knew him, hoping that the man was on a business trip or that they knew where to get in touch with him. Michelle shrank back in her chair as she watched Mulder getting exasperated by the minute. She never meant to cause so much trouble. She wasn't supposed to. It didn't surprise her that her dad forgot again. When Mulder was asking her for any other relatives she could stay with, Michelle shook her head and said that there was no other relatives to take her in. She could see that the man was already late for work and kept looking at his watch. Finally, Mulder was able to elicit Lister's phone number from a coworker. He was able to get in touch with the elusive Lister and told him of the situation. Michelle almost balked when Mulder gave her the phone. Just as she expected, her dad yelled at her over the phone and Michelle kept saying that she was sorry. Mulder was in the process of putting the breakfast dishes in the sink and he froze when he heard Michelle's repeated "I'm sorry". It sounded so much like he did when he was her age. It reminded him painfully of similar situations with his dad, that of apologizing over something he had no control over as a little kid. He just couldn't help it. Mulder saw red and grabbed the phone from Michelle before more harm could be done. The agent wanted to scream some sense into the man, but mindful that the kid was in the room, Mulder instead talked tightly and in a measured tone of voice. Lister was apparently so dense that he didn't catch the tension in Mulder's voice. Instead, the man pleaded with him to keep Michelle at their place for one more day because he had a meeting that just couldn't be cancelled. Mulder could only see how small Michelle was trying to make herself. Mulder tried to sound pleasant for Michelle's sake and in a sudden generous mood, told Lister that it would be no problem if they could keep Michelle until Thursday so that the dense neighbor wouldn't have to change any of his previous plans. The relief in Lister's voice only made Mulder realize how much Michelle was unwanted. The conversation ended with Lister quite satisfied with the arrangements. Because Mrs. Jackson still wasn't there to keep an eye on both Michelle and Taylor, Mulder excused himself to make a call from the upstairs bedroom. Mulder called Skinner with perfect timing. The DD was just about to start his endless round of meetings. "What!" Skinner exclaimed when he heard how Mulder had acquired the unexpected babysitting job for them both. Mulder was dithering at the other end, trying to explain why he felt it would be better for Michelle if she stayed with them instead of with Lister, who obviously wasn't too keen on having his daughter with him. "I know, Fox, but you know how people will talk if the doorman or anyone there knows that a little girl is living with two men, none of whom is her blood relative," Skinner had to close the door to his office. He had to stop his voice from rising above its normal decibel range. As usual , he had to be a voice of reason. He knew why Mulder wanted to keep the girl at their place. It was just something about Mulder and little helpless girls that undid him. He'd seen him more than once or twice coming to the rescue of these little girls. The first one was in Boston, where a six year old got separated from her mother in the park. It was then that Skinner had a sudden understanding of how Mulder must have treated his own sister when they were kids. They had spent an hour looking for her mother in the huge park, Mulder making it seem like a game for the benefit of the tearful child. The next one had been in some airplane where he found himself seated next to a ten year old travelling alone. Although the stewardess was assigned to look after her, it had been a busy flight. Mulder was the one who took it upon himself to make sure that the girl was comfortable throughout the three hour flight. It seemed that Mulder had another project of saving little girls from the cruel mean world. But this time, it would be an all out project, lasting more than a few hours. Days, this time. At first Skinner told him that it might be better if Michelle stayed with some female, like Scully perhaps. But Mulder kept talking a blue streak and the DD couldn't interrupt. Skinner resignedly listened to Mulder, who refused to listen to his objections. Just a hint of impropriety for the next few days could have long lasting implications. But it was just like the old days when Mulder was badgering him for a 302 on another outlandish case. He wouldn't let go of it, like a fox with a bone. Skinner just couldn't say no. Besides, he was already going to be late for the meeting. "Okay, Fox, as long as everyone behaves," Skinner said, alluding to Mulder's tendency to run around the house in his underwear. Mulder was late for work that morning, waiting for Mrs. Jackson and handing over Michelle. Mrs. Jackson didn't seem flustered at finding the little girl in the kitchen. It was nice having company for the day while she worked in the apartment. Meanwhile, Mulder hurried to the Hoover, but ever mindful of being careful on the road. He was breathless by the time he got to the basement office. Scully, however, was understanding when she heard his explanation and just wordlessly handed him a file for him to peruse. Scully also knew about Mulder's absolutely mushy heart when it came to small children. The rest of the week was surprisingly pleasant for Skinner. Having a small person in the apartment was quite strange. Now that he thought about it, he never really had close contact with kids, except for the brief times when he coached Little League so long ago. At first Michelle was shy and barely said a word. But later, as she opened up, mainly to Mulder, Skinner agreed that having this particular houseguest was not so bad after all. Mrs. Jackson had whispered to Mulder that Michelle only had her threadbare school uniform and had no other clothes. Plus the few pairs of underwear and socks had holes. Skinner tried to stop Mulder from going shopping with Michelle, saying that it was too much to do since her dad was coming back in a few days. Mulder had hissed back that he didn't want Michelle to lack for anything when she was with them. So after taking her to see the latest summer movies with Scully, Mulder dragged her to the mall and bought her a few things. Of course, Michelle came back with shiny bright eyes, clutching the jeans and t-shirt to herself. Mulder was blissfully unaware that this was the first time Michelle ever had anything new in quite a few years that weren't school or camp uniforms. Skinner tried to see if the girl was aware of their unusual household. It was his turn to be surprised when Michelle fully understood that they were not just two men living together. "Fox is your boyfriend and you're his boyfriend," Michelle said simply. She was playing with Taylor, who was fully recovered as the two of them watched television. "How did you know?" Skinner looked at her with interest. "When I first saw the two of you in the elevator," Michelle cryptically said, her eyes now distracted by the television as Taylor tired with the game. Skinner waited for more. How did she know when everyone else, except for a handful of people was unaware how close he and Mulder were? Skinner prompted her again after the commercial. He just really wanted to know. "In the elevator, your collar was crooked and Fox fixed it for you," Michelle finally said. "Other men don't fix each other's clothes for them." Well, they really had to be careful, Skinner mused. Those little gestures between him and Mulder might give them away someday. They had Michelle with them until Thursday night. Somehow, both of them restrained themselves from each other while Michelle stayed downstairs during the rest of that short stay. Lister came back and collected her. Although her father was now there, Michelle still visited quite frequently during the rest of her stay with her father, having taken on a shine to the two men who had rescued her from the hallway. END OF BACCARAT FIGURINES III (2/3) BACCARAT FIGURINES III (3/3) by Sean Spencer seans13@hotmail.com WARNING: Slash NC-17 Skinner/Mulder DISCLAIMER IN PART ONE CHAPTER ELEVEN BRATWURST AND VISCERAL CALISTHENICS Skinner looked at his watch and for the nth time that day, tried to pay attention to the meeting. The agent who was presenting for this meeting was stuttering away, once he saw that the Deputy Director was getting impatient. It didn't help any that this meeting was called for disciplinary measures, that the agent in question didn't follow procedures and that there was a serious error in judgment. Agent Nelson was from the regional New York office and Skinner still couldn't believe how much younger the agents were getting to be nowadays. This particular one was not even 27 and the fact that he was licensed to carry a gun and used it unwisely was the whole reason for this meeting. Skinner was just glad that Mulder was never in called in for these kinds of sanctions. He really should stop thinking of Mulder. Skinner shook his head slightly and concentrated. The OPC chief was now badgering Nelson, and the young agent was starting to crumble under the intense questioning. Chief Vaughan was making the agent see the errors in his ways, that a suspect with vital information was now dead and that two years of fieldwork just went down the drain. Just as Skinner had predicted, Nelson was starting to cry and he intervened. He really hated it when the agents cried under the pressure of meetings like this. Especially well meaning agents, eager beaver agents like these. Skinner called for a recess of the meeting, finally told Nelson and the OPC chief to stay. Skinner put out the box of Kleenex he had prepared and shoved it into the agent's hands and waited for the agent to collect himself. When Chief Vaughan looked sufficiently contrite, Skinner knew that it was time to leave. He said a few more words, enough to encourage Nelson and just enough for Vaughan to realize that this really was a good agent, then dismissed them both. Skinner stretched his aching back and gathered up the papers. He must be getting old when he started to think of a 26 year old as young and too green for the field. He suddenly remembered that he was 18 years old, so full of himself, when he was in the Marines. And he even had automatic weaponry. It was only four o'clock and he knew that it was still early but he just had to go home. Mulder just returned from Germany, where he was given a short stint as adviser for the German police on investigative techniques of paranormal phenomenon. Apparently, the paranormal was very big there and they had heard of Mulder's work. But now he was back, verified by Skinner after a brief call to the apartment. He called Kimberly and gave her a few instructions for tomorrow and left. He exited from the side entrance where the car was waiting and got in. He greeted his driver less curtly today and after debating, he got the car phone and called the apartment again. Skinner got the answering machine and he was puzzled. He shrugged and thought that Mulder might be taking a shower so he hung up without leaving a message. He impatiently drummed his finger on the armrest, but he was glad that today's route was the scenic route, away from the highway and through the suburbs. Finally, he got home. He thanked the driver, like always and got his things in the car. The elevator seemed to crawl but he knew that it was only because he was just so eager to get home. He dumped his stuff in the living room, noting that Mulder's presence was signalled by the luggage strewn all over the place and the packages. Skinner called Mulder but there was no answer. He got to the bedroom but he was alarmed when Mulder likewise wasn't there. Taylor was following him around. Skinner found him in the den, asleep on the couch. Jet lag had taken its toll on the younger man. Skinner looked at him first, drinking in the sight of him, after being away from each other for two whole months. His hair was longer and he had a five o'clock shadow. He seemed thinner, too. "Hey, Fox," Skinner whispered, laying a hand on his arm and gently shaking him. Mulder didn't awaken and Skinner had to shake him again for a second time. The younger man finally stirred and was stretching awake; Skinner smiled at him in welcome and Mulder smiled back. "Walter," Mulder murmured, as he ran a hand over his mouth. He still wasn't fully awake and Skinner waited for him to do so. As Skinner embraced him in welcome, he noted that Mulder indeed had lost weight as he crushed the younger man to him. "I missed you," Mulder muttered. "You haven't been eating," Skinner lightly admonished as he took the agent at arms' length and eyed him critically. "I've been eating but it's just different," Mulder curled up happily, sighing with satisfaction that he was now with Skinner. He crawled into Skinner's lap and they just cuddled for a while. Mulder even smelled different, probably from the different shampoo and soap he used while in Europe. Despite Skinner's protests, Mulder got up and rummaged through his bag and got out a box for Skinner. It was an expensive pair of cufflinks, a very expensive pair. Mulder was getting more animated and took out his pictures. He'd gone around Germany touring in between work and had a lot of pictures to show Skinner. Skinner looked at the pictures with initial passing interest, but as he saw more of the pictures, he realized that there seemed to be an awful lot of pictures that included an Aryan type, a young blonde man. Skinner knew that Mulder never mentioned anyone who seemed to be constantly with him. Mulder had seen Skinner's darkening features as he perused the photographs. He smiled inwardly and was sort of glad that the older man seemed jealous. It always made him shiver when Skinner was jealous and he wanted to prolong the agony for the older man. "Gunther's gay, too, Walter," Mulder mentioned casually and he almost laughed when Skinner's frown deepened further. "He was my room mate in the apartment. Don't you think he's kind of cute?" "Yes, he's very cute," Skinner intoned. "You never said that your room mate was gay." "I didn't think it was important," Mulder said. He folded early however. "No, Walter, we never did anything. He had his own lover and he wasn't interested." Mulder didn't mention that he had been tempted, however. That was why he lost weight. He felt so guilty all the time. He'd never been attracted to men his own age and he had been disconcerted. It was hard enough to find out his housing had included a room mate and it was even harder that Gunther had known at once at first glance that he was gay, too. Gunther's lover was an older man, just like Skinner and had frequently visited from Munich. They stayed mainly in Gunther's room and it really didn't help Mulder that the walls were so thin. Mulder sure learned a lot of German words, but he wasn't sure if those words could be used in polite company. In between visits from his lover, Gunther was a willing tour guide however. Skinner seemed to be appeased somewhat and Mulder took more pity on him and told him more of what went on. Skinner couldn't keep his hands off Mulder, however. Once he saw that Mulder wasn't so tired after all and wasn't hungry either, they went upstairs and made love after showering together. Now that Mulder smelled like his old self, Skinner launched his attack. Both still damp from the shower, Skinner was kissing Mulder on the neck even before they got out of the bathroom. Skinner knew he wasn't being as gentle as Mulder preferred but he couldn't help himself. Mulder moaned as Skinner's tongue ran over his mouth and he felt Skinner sucking his tongue. "I really missed you, Walter," Mulder repeated and sighed as he elicited a deep moan from Skinner with a strategic lick of his nipples. Their heavy breathing was punctuated by sharp gasps and much movement on the bed. When Skinner finally entered Mulder, he noted at once that there was a difference. "You're so tight, honey," Skinner groaned, with a bit of puzzlement in his voice. Mulder laughed and watched as Skinner's face above him got that slack look that was his alone to see. Skinner only lasted a few thrusts. Mulder was almost as tight as when he was a virgin and the very pleasant surprise was too much for Skinner as the tight silken grip seemed to make him feel every ridge and heighten each sensation. It was one of the rare times when Skinner had his orgasm before Mulder and he finished off Mulder with his mouth. Mulder's legs were over his shoulder as Skinner focused his full attention on Mulder's penis. The two months of deprivation was too much for Mulder also and he soon came. "Did you like it?" Mulder chuckled as he got into Skinner's welcoming embrace. He was still gasping. "Was there a difference?" "What have you been doing in Germany?" Skinner asked somewhat suspiciously. "You're absolutely virginal. Do you want me to get a heart attack?" "I wasn't sure if it was going to work," Mulder started to explain. "Before I left for Germany, I saw Dr. Cormier and he told me to do some exercises while I was away from you. He said it was guaranteed to drive you wild." "Exercises?" Skinner was puzzled. "They're called Kegel exercises," Mulder said. "They were first developed for women but it seems that they work for men, too. Cormier said that it will help me control my coming much better." Skinner wasn't appeased until he asked for permission to check out Mulder. Mulder turned on his side and Skinner inserted a finger in Mulder. Then he was astonished when he felt the grip that Mulder's internal muscles had over his finger. "Christ!" Skinner said. Mulder smiled back at him and laughed again. It was rare that Skinner ever took the Lord's name in vain. Skinner cleaned him up and they cuddled for a long while. Mulder couldn't get enough of having Skinner beside him after two whole months of being away from each other. He was lying on Skinner with his head in the crook of Skinner's neck as they talked. He shivered as his skin tingled as the older man ran a loving hand over his back and buttocks. It was very nice to finally be in bed with his one and only Walter after two months of having to listen to his roommate and his lover rutting away through the thin walls. Sometimes, due to his need, he had masturbated while Gunther and his lover were at it hard, desperately wishing that Skinner was with him. Then he would feel guilty for masturbating and his bad mood pervaded through the whole day. He felt that he was being unfaithful to Skinner when he did that. He breathed in Skinner's warm and comforting and clean scent and ran his hands over the bigger man's chest, as if memorizing what he missed so much. There were times, too, when he was so homesick and it had been a grim reminder of his condition when he was at Oxford. Although the McDonald's was just a few blocks away, the food tasted somehow different. In the first few days he was there, he'd made daily collect calls to Skinner but with the older man's hectic schedule, he couldn't get hold of him in the house as often as he liked. It was easier to find Scully through transatlantic phone but it was a poor substitute for the voice he really wanted to hear. "Walter, did you miss me?" "Oh, baby, the house seemed empty even when Taylor was here," Skinner stated, hugging Mulder to him. He rained more kisses on Mulder until the agent relaxed. "My honey was gone from me and all I did was work my ass off when you were away. I only went to the cabin once, you know." "You did?" "I couldn't stand it being so big and empty," Skinner declared as he shifted Mulder's weight on him. "Next time, can we go to Europe for a vacation?" Mulder asked. Skinner nodded. After a few more minutes, Skinner's stomach was growling and they made their way down for dinner. Skinner heated up Mrs. Jackson's prepared dinner and they ate while Mulder showed more of his photographs. It was so sweet of Mulder to have indulged in those exercises while he was gone and Skinner felt his affection and deep love for the younger man. He ran a hand over Mulder's longer hair and yanked it affectionately. "I know, I'll have it cut tomorrow," Mulder said ruefully. He knew that Skinner preferred his hair to be short. Skinner watched with amusement as Mulder demolished most of the food. Mrs. Jackson had taken pains to cook Mulder's favorites. During one of their infrequent conversations about his family, Mulder had casually mentioned that his mother never cooked him his favorite foods on special occasions, like his birthdays. So through their years together, Skinner had found out Mulder's preferences and made Mrs. Jackson aware of what these were. Once the dishes were in the dishwasher, Skinner helped the agent unpack. Even Taylor got a welcome home gift. Although Skinner wanted to make love again that night, he restrained himself because of Mulder's full stomach and the younger man was now indeed conked out. Skinner took out his usual sheaf of papers to read and did his work as Mulder slept beside him. Mulder's naked torso was tempting, however, and Skinner couldn't help it sneaking a hand over the smooth pale skin once in a while just to reassure himself that the younger man was indeed home at last. CHAPTER TWELVE DRIVE-IN KNIGHT Skinner was in one of his generous moods again and Mulder reaped the benefits. He'd been back for three days and in that short span of time, Mulder was sated almost all the times they were together. Skinner wanted to have him everywhere in the apartment and they would sometimes make love twice a day. That first night he was home, Mulder had his climax four times and he had to stay home the next day. All the pent up tensions and frustrations of their two months apart was gradually dissipating. Skinner couldn't get enough of the younger man while Mulder couldn't get enough of his "big man". He knew that Scully watched him from sidelong glances with amusement but he didn't care. He was too happy that Skinner was always there for him. While he was in Germany, Mulder had lost weight but had gained a corresponding increase in muscle because he'd run frequently when he had nothing to do. Skinner appreciated the strong muscles he'd obtained, especially at how good it felt under his soft skin. They had dinner with Uncle Charles as the old man was likewise eager to see him and wanted his aquarium checked. It was nice being wanted by others after being gone for some time. Mrs. Jackson was cooking up a storm in the kitchen, too, determined that he have his favorite dishes. But, of course, it was back to work and he got back to the old grind. Pretty soon, he and Scully were out in the fields again, working on cases, some of them X-files while the others weren't. It was just sometimes frustrating for Mulder that he and Skinner were even going out less than before. Previously, when they wanted a getaway, they could safely go to the Boston townhouse and spend a weekend there if they wanted to go out to restaurants or concerts together in relative anonymity. But now that Skinner was Deputy Director, there was more chance of being recognized especially since Skinner was appearing more on television whenever some sort of crises came up and a spokesman was needed to clarify some matters to the public. At home, it was still great of course,with Skinner always so concerned about him and loving him all the time. But it really hurt sometimes when he wanted to do something even go out to watch a baseball or football game and not be able to do it with the older man. Skinner, of course, planned some things for them, mainly camping or other solitary pursuits where there was less of a chance for them of being seen. But Mulder had never been an outdoors kind of guy, having grown up in suburbia, with too many bad memories of unsuccessful camping trips with his dad. Mulder chafed of course that anything he wanted them to do together had to be approved or vetoed by the older man. He knew that Skinner was more sensible with these things, but sometimes, he wished that they had the spontaneity of just going out together to some bookstore or eat out when they felt like it. As it was, the last time they ate out was months ago. He couldn't even remember when they last went out to see a movie. But Mulder knew that situations like this when both of them were in the closet was something inevitable, that there would be a lack of spontaneity. From the very beginning of their relationship so many years ago, Skinner had made it clear that this was the way their life was going to be together. So he just gritted his teeth and bore it, especially when he knew that Skinner was the only one he ever was going to have a relationship with. He only had to look at the signet ring and the watch and remembered the best times. Skinner could see that Mulder was in one of his grey funks again and somehow knew the cause. They were in the apartment and having a quiet night. He hadn't gone home too late and they'd already had dinner. It was only eight o'clock on a Tuesday night. Mulder was fooling around with his aquarium again, adjusting the salinity and water temperature and other mysterious things that Skinner didn't care to know about. All he knew about the fish was feeding them and making sure they were still alive. Since that damned aquarium had been his responsibility whenever Mulder was away from DC on his cases, Skinner had tried to keep the mortality rate down. Seeing Mulder anguish over that dead Chichlid floating on the surface was too much for Skinner. It didn't help matters any that the aquarium was a lot more elaborate than the one Mulder used to keep in his old aparment. That small old one was a freshwater tank while this one was saltwater with the more expensive and larger kinds of tropical fish. Taylor's eyes watched Mulder's actions with interest. The dog always seemed to hope that one of the fish would fall flopping to the floor and then straight to his mouth, Mulder complained. Skinner went over to the newspaper and checked out some things. "What say we catch a movie at the Odeon?" Skinner suggested. He cringed inwardly when he saw how Mulder's face lit up. He kicked himself for being so selfish with Mulder, only doing things that he knew was safe all the time. When was watching a movie ever dangerous? "But if we catch the last show, it would be too late for you. You need to get up early tomorrow," Mulder was still unconvinced. Too much of his caution was rubbing off on the younger man, Skinner thought. "Let's live dangerously," Skinner said wryly. "There's a show in half an hour. Would you be finished by then?" Mulder nodded and hastened to finish with the aquarium. The Odeon was only two blocks away and they didn't need to take the car. Like always, when they were walking down the street together, they were apart from each other. Looking like two old friends instead of the lovers that they were. The theater was almost empty, being a weeknight and was dark enough that Skinner relented and drew Mulder to him with one arm. Mulder was stiff for a while, looking around the theater. "We're at the back, Fox," Skinner hissed and the younger man finally softened up against him. Skinner was glad that they watched the movie. It was good with a lot of special effects. They walked back to the building at almost midnight and on the way back, he took Mulder's hand in his. Like before, Mulder stiffened and looked around the street. Skinner gave him a reassuring smile and held his hand more firmly. Even a simple pleasure like watching a movie and walking home afterwards had to be so complicated for them and Skinner was getting tired of the subterfuge as well. "You okay with this?" Skinner asked, shaking their hands so that Mulder knew what he meant. The street was deserted and only an occasional passing car was the sign of life around them. Mulder nodded back at him with some trepidation, but walking with Skinner hand in hand was too good. "We should do this more often," Skinner sighed once they were in their elevator. When the weather got warmer and the drive-ins opened, it was even better because they were now able to go to the movies in relative anonymity. Mulder was glad that they were now able to see first- run movies instead of having to wait for the videos to come out. Skinner would usually take the Town Car with the dark windows while they were surrounded by rowdy kids in convertibles. It was less than ideal sometimes but it was better than risking it everytime they wanted to see a movie. It was one of the Friday the 13th movies that Skinner absolutely abhorred but Mulder liked. Skinner didn't want to watch any of the gory stuff, saying it reminded him too much of Vietnam. He was trying to entice Mulder into necking in the car just like the other kids were doing in the cars all around them. Mulder, however, wasn't biting and his eyes were transfixed on the screen. It was the middle of the movie and he wanted some popcorn. Skinner was kissing his neck but he wasn't really into it. "I'm going to get popcorn. Do you want anything?" Mulder asked. Skinner sighed as he extricated himself from the agent and shook his head. Mulder got out and because he was walking backwards to be able to view the movie, he didn't see the group of young men who had watched him emerge from the car with interest. Mulder first went to the bathroom. He was standing in front of the urinal, using it, when he realized that two large young men were beside him, ostensibly using the bathroom, too. Some sort of sixth sense kicked in and Mulder tried to finish as fast as possible. It didn't escape his notice that the two were both looking down on him and when he was zipping himself up, the one on his right looked him straight in the eye and mocked him with pursed lips. Mulder tried to hurry out of the bathroom, not even bothering to wash his hands. But there were two more of the seedy men blocking the bathroom door and that was when Mulder knew he was in real danger. The one in the ponytail swaggered up to him and sneered. "I saw you with your 'daddy' out there," he said, menacingly advancing on Mulder. "You let him put it up your ass, don't you?" Mulder cursed when he realized that he didn't have his gun. He'd left it at home. He sized up the four men and with a sinking feeling knew that he was outmatched even if he could take out one or two of them. The cramped bathroom also didn't have any other avenues of escape. It happened so fast that Mulder didn't even have the time to fast talk his way out of there. The four were belligerent and Mulder found himself backed into a stall, the worst place to be and when there was no way out anymore, he used all his self defense maneuvers taught at the Academy. But he was soon pinned helplessly against the tiles and he really started to get scared when the one with the tattoo started ripping off his t-shirt and a damp cold hand was on his bare skin. As he struggled, he felt a malicious hand on the crotch of his jeans. Mulder felt the first tendrils of panic as the hand down there was just starting to hurt when he was suddenly released and he collapsed to the floor. There seemed to be a commotion but he was too dazed to get out of there. A door was slammed shut and it was abruptly silent in the bathroom. Skinner shakily put back his gun into his jacket and approached Mulder who was silent on the floor. The DD didn't like the way Mulder looked, all pale and sweaty despite the chill in the air. "Oh, honey, are you okay?" Skinner crouched down at him in the narrow stall and was rubbing Mulder's back. "Fox, I'm here...you're safe. The bastards are gone." Skinner took out his handkerchief and wet it in the sink and then wiped Mulder's face with it. The agent's breathing was still irregular with fright but it was slowing down as Skinner's soothing words were starting to register. The older man checked out Mulder and saw that aside from the torn T-shirt and a red bruise on one arm, there were no other marks on the younger man. "You okay, now?" Skinner murmured to him. "Can you stand? I'll take you home." Mulder seemed to come back to himself and Skinner helped him get on his feet. Mulder was still pale but less shaky now and when they emerged from the bathroom, there were thankfully only a few people milling around. They went back undisturbed to the car, the perpetrators long since gone. Skinner saw that Mulder was still pale but he was now answering in monosyllables. Skinner knew that if they pressed charges if he caught even one of them, it would only cause further anguish for both of them if the local police were involved. He started the car and drove home. Mulder was silent as Skinner felt guilty about the drive in thing. His jaw clenched as he eased the Lincoln onto the expressway. The drive in was located in a bad part of town and he shouldn't have been persuaded by Mulder. Likewise, he should have gone with Mulder to the concessionaire stand. Especially since his car stood out like a sore thumb. But they had used his car precisely because of black windows. Once they were in the safety of their building, Skinner could see that Mulder was still badly shaken. "At least they didn't get my watch," the agent said in the monotone Skinner knew he used when he was trying to distance himself. Once they went into their apartment, the DD was baffled when Mulder shed his clothing. When he heard the shower running, Skinner understood. When the shower was still on after more than twenty minutes, Skinner stuck his head in the bathroom. "You okay, Fox?" Skinner asked again. "I'll be out in a minute," Mulder shouted above the noise. It was a full ten minutes before Mulder emerged. Skinner saw that the agent was wearing one of his pajamas as if it afforded some sort of protection for him. Just as he expected, the agent's face and neck were red probably from vigorous scrubbing. "Thanks, Walter," Mulder said once they were in bed together. "I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't been there." As usual, Skinner's protective instincts were fully activated and he took Mulder into his arms and embraced him tightly. "Sorry, Fox," Skinner breathed into his hair. "I should have gone with you for the popcorn." Mulder knew in his mind that he was safe now but the whole incident had agitated him. Even if he was used to people deriding his ideas and being scornful of him, it had upset him to the core that anyone could hate him enough to actively harm him because of his orientation. Sure, he had moments of real danger in working in the Bureau, but those dangerous moments had never been directed personally at him, it was just part of the job of being a field agent. The predatory nature of what happened, that it was planned and that there were four of them all the more served to illustrate how vulnerable anyone could be. More than that was the extreme feelings of helplessness that had surfaced despite all the self-defense lessons in the Academy. The two men who had held him down each outweighed him by thirty pounds and the third one who had his filthy hands on him had been his height but was still more built than he was. Only the fourth one keeping watch by the door had been smaller than him. Skinner drifted off into sleep but a few hours later, he stirred awake when Mulder moved. "Fox, you awake?" the older man turned on the light at his bedside. Mulder looked exhausted with dark circles under his eyes. "Oh, honey, why didn't you tell me you couldn't sleep?" It was in the wee hours of the morning and Skinner was being so kind and solicitous. Mulder hated it but he started crying, releasing all the fears of being harmed and possibly raped in the bathroom. Skinner clucked and soothed him as best he could. "Hey, baby," Skinner murmured. "I'm here for you. I'll never let anyone harm you..." "Why do bad things always happen to me?" Mulder moaned through his sobs. He knew he was being childish but he didn't care. Right now all he wanted was to have Skinner's strong arms around him. Skinner waited for him to cry himself out. CHAPTER THIRTEEN WINNER WORSHIP Once morning came, Skinner woke up early as usual and went to Mulder's study to make a few calls from the telephone there. First, he called Scully and gave a sanitized version of events, telling her that Mulder won't be in for today. Then he called Kimberly at home and told her that he was sick. A call to Cormier yielded a name of a therapist and Skinner made an emergency appointment. The agent was starting to stir once Skinner got back to the bedroom. Skinner knew the younger man needed comfort and he tried to provide it by touching him, thinking that maybe Mulder needed to make love. But Mulder reared away . Skinner acquiesced and let him be. Despite his protests, Skinner took him that morning to Baltimore where the therapist had her clinic. Mulder was the first appointment for the day, the therapist aware that this was the best time to deal with the crisis, at the earliest possible moment. Skinner stayed in the waiting room for more than two hours. He was called at the end of the session, with the therapist telling him that it was a good thing that Mulder was brought in so early. She gave him a prescription for mild tranquilizers and told Skinner that Mulder was dealing with the incident adequately. He was supposed to stay home for one more day because the tranquilizers might make him too woozy. Then he was supposed to come back after three days. She gave Skinner her card in case they needed to get in touch with her. The older man looked closely at Mulder as they sat in front of each other in the therapist's office. His eyes were red and swollen but his face was more animated. "How do you feel?" Skinner asked as they exited the clinic and headed for the car. "Better," Mulder said. His voice was likewise stronger and more confident. "Do you think you'll want to see her again?" Skinner questioned casually. He was well aware of Mulder's tendency to ditch medical personnel when he could. "Uh-huh" It was midday and it did Mulder a lot of good that they went around Baltimore and ate lunch in a nice restaurant. Skinner insisted that he take the tranquilizer and pretty soon, the deprived hours of sleep from last night was beginning to show. "I want to go home," Mulder yawned once they were back in the car. "Sure," Skinner patted him on the thigh. Mrs. Jackson was righteously indignant when Skinner explained their early presence in the apartment. She shook her head angrily and, as if to banish the incident, started chopping up vegetables in a fury to make Mulder's favorite soup. Skinner made a call to Kimberly and tried to find out how things were holding up in the Bureau. She was holding the fort and was competently managing the endless calls for him. Mulder was trying to watch a sitcom on the Comedy Channel and promptly fell asleep in the den. Miraculously, Mulder was able to sleep on the couch without nightmares for the rest of the afternoon and when he woke up, Skinner could see that the sleep had done him lot of good. Mulder was stretching on the couch to straighten out the kinks in his back and he grinned when he saw that Skinner was watching him sleep. "I'm okay," Mulder reiterated. "What time is it anyway? You didn't have to watch me." "I wanted to make sure you were safe," Skinner mumbled. "That there were no nightmares." Just being home and safe had the desired effect and Mulder seemed to have bounced back from the incident. Skinner was glad that he'd inquired with Cormier on a crisis interventionist. He knew it was the newest thing in victim advocacy but he wasn't sure if they would handle cases like Mulder's, who was not really assaulted but just nearly assaulted. The older man was pleasantly surprised when Mulder spontaneously got up and sat on his lap, wrapping his arms and legs around Skinner's torso and laying down his head on his shoulder. "I love you, Walter," Mulder breathed. His voice was rough with sincerity and Skinner put down his book and hugged him hard with his other hand insinuating through the T-shirt so that he rubbed Mulder's bare smooth back. "Dr. Morgan said that I shouldn't be blaming myself for being so impotent, that no one could have beat off those four bastards especially with the element of surprise they had on me. But you were there for me, Walter...like you always are." After a few minutes of hugging, Mulder looked up and had a solemn look on his face. "You're my hero." The bald adoration in Mulder's voice caused Skinner to blush. Surprisingly, Mulder laughed and Skinner was able to chuckle with him. They had a nice, relaxed dinner and Skinner noted that Mulder ate with more appetite. They went to bed early and made love with Mulder being more submissive than usual and Skinner fiercely solicitous of his lover's sensations. Somehow, the act reaffirmed Skinner's protective role over the younger man and Mulder was lapping it up, having Skinner's bigger body shielding him as his own body fully opened to the older man. Mulder was being transported and he was writhing on the bed in abandon as he thrust his hips upwards in counterpoint to Skinner's rhythm. His neck and back were arching off the bed with his hips just angled right with the pillow underneath him, affording maximum stimulation of his prostate. "Walter, you're my big man," Mulder grunted and moaned as Skinner could feel the internal muscles gripping him so lovingly. The DD bent his head to nip at Mulder's right nipple while one hand supported Mulder's back to further deepen the thrusts. The agent's hero worship of him was having the desired effect on Skinner and he made sure that Mulder was having the time of his life. It took all of his self control not to come until Mulder had his orgasm. Skinner was growling at the effort, intoxicated by the rubbing of their sweaty bodies against each other. "This..is...for...you, baby," Skinner grunted with each strong thrust. Mulder's eyes were rolling up his head and Skinner kissed him with extreme intensity, pouring all his effort into his mouth as he muffled Mulder's howl as he ejaculated. Skinner took his time and slowed down his thrusting despite his own pressing need and once Mulder's orgasm subsided, he took the semen slicked penis of his partner and lightly rubbed the frenulum at just the right pressure, renewing Mulder's spent arousal. "Come for me again, baby," Skinner moaned as he stilled his hips and concentrated on gaining another erection for Mulder. "Oh, God, Walter, I'm...getting hard again." "Come, on, love, come for me again...That's right...You're getting big again...Look how big you are." It took only another two minutes before Mulder's member stiffened and Skinner restarted his powerful thrusts. Mulder had his tongue out between his lips as his younger body revived under Skinner's skillful hands, hands that were large and powerful and well shaped and exclusively for him. Mulder had his hands over the potent broad shoulders of the older man, riding out the process of being ridden by the man he loved. Skinner gasped as he urged on Mulder who had another equally strong culmination. Only then did Skinner let go and release his own bottled up arousal. This time it was Skinner who sobbed with ecstacy as his muscles relaxed over Mulder and he sagged onto the younger man's body. The agent still had his own hands on the DD's shoulders, not wanting to let go of Skinner's all enveloping warmth. Mulder slipped down a hand to a special place in Skinner's now sweaty armpit that he knew was pretty sensitive and the older man wriggled as he got tickled lightly. Skinner absolutely loved it like this, lying over Mulder's sated body, both of them with that cherished exhaustion that always never failed to revive them both and renew their love for each other. Skinner bent down and and resumed kissing Mulder, his tongue aggressively entering Mulder's mouth, just as his nether parts had done so earlier. Mulder moaned and let Skinner's questing tongue seemingly drink him up to a different sensation. Lately, Skinner had been preferring to do this more and more, as if he wanted to enter and become unite with Mulder's body in more ways than one. "Uhm...my legs are...cramping, Walter," Mulder had to tell him, because Skinner's body was still between his legs just as his softened penis was still within Mulder's sated anus. "Sorry, baby," Skinner moaned and withdrew with a sucking sound. He helped Mulder adjust back his long limbs in a more comfortable position and massaged it to make it better, but did not cease his deep, very deep kissing of Mulder's luscious mouth. He'd found that this was one way to keep the agent awake after vigorous lovemaking, that of occupying him with kissing. Skinner took Mulder up in his arms as he sat them both up and had Mulder's head bent back with Skinner's broad hand supporting his neck. It was just like in the movies, Mulder thought dazedly as the older man's other hand ran down his heated side. For the third time that night, Mulder found his erection was starting to demand attention. He didn't know if he could have another come tonight. With Skinner's hand rubbing his side, it was inevitable that the older man would encounter Mulder's renewed arousal. He looked down with surprise. "You still hot?" he said with some amusement. Mulder's naked form still had that flush over his neck, face, chest and upper thighs. "Yeah," Mulder moaned through half-lidded eyes. He still couldn't believe that it was so good after six years. He arched his back involuntarily as his Walter lightly put his fist over his penis and scrotum and carressed him lovingly, with just the butterfly wings' pressure that was all he needed at this point. It still amazed him how well the older man knew his body so well. Mulder held Skinner's head in his hand so that their kiss wouldn't be broken off. His hips started their involuntary motions. "That's it, baby, honey...show me how your body loves me." Mulder gasped as he came with a force much decreased from the other two that night but no less pleasurable. He shuddered against Skinner who held him as he rode out the extreme delight. "That's why I will protect your body and you to the best of my abilities, Fox," Skinner breathed into his neck. "I want you safe for always." Mulder smiled that special smile he only had after a very good come. Skinner gave him a final kiss as he got up and cleaned up Mulder who was stretching like a cat on the bed, a very sated cat. When Skinner got back in bed after taking a very quick shower, Mulder was caught up in his embrace again. The agent's heart was full to bursting. Even if yesterday was a bad time, today more than made up for it. Skinner taking the day off just for him even when there were more pressing issues in the office, finding the right therapist to help him banish the fears, helping him to deal with it, holding him and not being judgemental when he cried, all the more convinced Mulder that Skinner was the only one for him. No one would have done the same, no one. Because he had Skinner with whom he didn't need to hide being vulnerable, this gave Mulder the strength to appear more invulnerable to the world. Skinner was his avenging angel, who would do anything to protect him. This was shown with some clarity yesterday when he had stormed that drive-in bathroom even with the four burly thugs inside. "I really love you, Walter," Mulder whispered before he slipped off into the sleep of the surfeited. Those words came so much easier throughout the years they were together. Sometimes, even those words didn't even seem to convey what he actually felt inside. "I know, honey...I know," Skinner smiled. Skinner went back to work the next day, only when he was sure that it was okay with Mulder. He left the younger man in bed, opening the window because of the musty smell of sex in the room. He ruefully shook his head as he saw the sheets spattered with the drying evidence of Mulder's activities last night. It was just as well that Mrs. Jackson had long since gotten used to Mulder's stains on the bed, although she would reprimand mainly Skinner when she had to clean the dried encrustations in the unlikeliest places, especially "her" kitchen. Mulder saw the therapist three more times and the tranquilizers were stopped when it was clear that he didn't need them anymore. Skinner forced him to go out to the movies again, not wanting him to develop a phobia for going out. Once a week, with seeming regularity, it became part of their after work ritual. It was better after they had a weekend in Boston, when Skinner finally was able to leave the work behind for once. On their sixth anniversary, Skinner took pains to locate one of his old friends from Vietnam. Jake Reilly had a beach house in Cancun and wasn't using it for the four days in October. Skinner did some careful interoffice maneuverings and was able to schedule Mulder's yearly vacation so that it coincided with his own. The Cancun vacation was another highlight in their life together. Mulder was loved thoroughly there and when he returned to work with a tan and that stupid glowing of his person, Scully once again teased him endlessly about the insatiability of the Deputy Director. Skinner had given him a videocamera for his birthday and he irritated Scully endlessly in turn by following her around with it. Of course, Mulder got creative with the camera and once, only once, mind you, Skinner agreed for them to make love in front of it. Skinner forgot about the video Mulder made and was completely startled when Mulder showed it to him mischieviously one night. The older man had to admit it was very erotic watching yourself and your partner going at it on television. That had been a night where Skinner was being especially solicitous of the younger man. He blushed hotly at the obvious evidence of their love for each other but he had to take a firm stand and told Mulder to erase the thing because with their luck, the tape could get into the wrong hands. Besides, he couldn't stand watching his own naked form cavorting so uninhibitedly on the bed, although for Mulder that had been the chief attraction of the video. Mulder pouted but he had to follow Skinner because as usual, the ex-marine was only sensible and right. CHAPTER FOURTEEN CAGE CRISIS It had been fantastic. The ex-Marine still couldn't believe how they had gone at it a few hours ago. He only had Mulder to thank. The agent always welcomed him home, but the lovemaking was something else. It had been an intoxicating meld of Mulder being submissive but dominant all at the same time and Skinner found that he preferred it that way. Skinner laid back against the pillows, luxuriating in the way his body was feeling so satisfied and rejuvenated. It had been a hellish week. The pressure to find the militia bombers were coming from all sides, from the press, the Justice Department and the public. Fortunately, the Director for once was handling the brunt of the blows. Skinner called Mulder from the various nameless hotel rooms he was forced to stay in and the young agent fortunately only focused their conversations on themselves, instead of asking for updates on the situation the way Kimberly, his secretary, had done. Skinner found that calling Mulder whenever the day was done made him long for the man all the more. Just as he expected, the telephone rang with the New York regional head at the other end. It was only during times like these that Skinner tolerated calls of this nature at home. As much as possible, he wanted to keep his life as Deputy Director and his life as Mulder's lover as separate as possible. However, he didn't begrudge Scully's very rare calls here when she had to speak to Mulder. He knew that the pretty redhead only called when absolutely necessary. From experience, he knew she was prudent. The news was encouraging in that there were significant strides being made on the case. Skinner smiled evilly to himself as the voice at the other end shook with the tension. Skinner had made his displeasure widely known in New York, on the way the case had been handled at the outset. Mulder stirred in the bed and would have groaned heavily while stretching if Skinner didn't clamp his hand over the younger man's mouth to silence him. Skinner barked more orders over the phone, satisfied with the way the regional head had snapped to attention. As Skinner hung up, he found Mulder grinning at him. "What?" Skinner asked, his tone abruptly gentled since he was now talking to his love. "Ooohh, I like the way you sounded on the phone," Mulder crooned mockingly. "I bet all their balls are crawling up their abdomens even as we speak." "Well, their balls should," Skinner muttered darkly. "I didn't see any evidence of their having them with the way the press is harping on the Bureau...Let's not talk about it, okay? I've had enough of this bombing to last me a lifetime. Come over here and let me give you a hug." Mulder shivered as he complied. He could still feel Skinner's semen seeping out of him and feeling and smelling the evidence of Skinner's love for him only made him quiver inside. Skinner kissed him hotly and Mulder smiled when the older man thanked him for the fantastic time they had a ago. "I'm glad that you're mine," Skinner growled into his mouth. "Have I ever told you that?" "I...I think so," Mulder said, moved beyond words. They both got up after a while and Skinner cursed when he saw that it was already one o'clock in the afternoon. Most of the Saturday was slipping by, a Saturday he'd hoped to spend in the cabin. "Let's just stay here, Walter," Mulder said as he dragged Skinner into the bathroom. Skinner started on his shower as Mulder sat on the toilet and used it. The bigger man was glad that Mulder was losing his inhibitions about using the bathroom with Skinner inside with him. It had taken years of breaking down those inhibitions. That damned New England stiff upper lip and demand for privacy was finally being chipped away after years together. What was the use of locking the bathroom or getting into a tiff when Skinner inadvertently walked in on him when every inch of Mulder's body was more familiar than his own? As far as he hoped, Mulder shouldn't feel he had anything to hide from him anymore, that they were truly of one body and soul by now. Skinner knew every mole and bump on the younger man's person, knew all his rough spots and smooth spots, the wet spots and dry spots, where the most tantalizing erogenous zones were and knew the places he was still shy about. He would have recognized the agent in a line up by feel and smell alone. Because of his particular interest in particular parts of Mulder's anatomy, he was now familiar enough to know when the agent had bouts of constipation or diarrhea since Cormier had emphasized that Mulder's bowel health was mainly his responsiblity. After finishing up quickly, Mulder flushed the toilet and joined Skinner in the shower. He wriggled and splashed about as Skinner took it upon himself to bathe the younger man. Pretty soon, he had Mulder gasping with his hands spread out on the tiles as Skinner masturbated him into completion with soaped hands. The older man made sure that no soap touched Mulder's urethral meatus where soap could sting. "God, Walter, you're so good to me," Mulder writhed his hips which he pumped into his lover's hand. It didn't take long before Mulder ejaculated, his semen spurting out in thick gobs. The quivering of his lover's body was so precious to Skinner that he savored the moment for what it was, that of Mulder surrendering his desires and keeping nothing of his response from the older man. They got out of the shower in a few minutes, both spanking clean and smelling wonderful. Mulder shaved as Skinner dressed. The agent was still getting the hang of the straight razor and Skinner chuckled to himself as he heard Mulder curse at another nick. Skinner turned on the small television in the bedroom, changing the channel to CNN to see if there was more about the bombings in New York. "Were you planning on going fishing this weekend?" Mulder asked, his voice muffled as he put on a T-shirt. Skinner shot a glance at the agent, amused to no end at how ludicrous Mulder appeared, struggling with the T-shirt sans boxers. Sometimes, he was such a child. Skinner stood up, his eyes still fixed on the screen while he helped Mulder extricate himself and put the T-shirt to rights. "Yes, I wanted to, but it's too late now," Skinner answered after a while, his attention still transfixed to CNN. "Want to do something special instead?" Mulder stepped into his boxers and hitched it up. His face was still screwed up as he thought of an answer to Skinner's question. Skinner tried not to wince when he saw Mulder taking out the rattiest pair of jeans he owned and putting it on as well. He must remember to conveniently "misplace" that pair in the future, Skinner thought. Fortunately, there was an important NFL game. It was one of the few sports they both liked to watch. Skinner found himself relaxing as they both got caught up in following the game. Mulder made his monster sandwiches which they munched on as the game progressed. The telephone rang again. Each of them had separate phone lines and both of them recognized that it was Skinner's phone. He wiped the mayonnaise from his hands and answered the call. Mulder tensed when he heard Skinner barking over the phone again. From what he could tell from Skinner's side of the conversation, it had something to do with the bombings. The agent sat up, football game forgotten. Skinner continued to talk grimly on the phone. It was a good thirty minutes before he hung up. "What was that about?" Mulder could see that the older man was rigid and seemed to be collecting his thoughts. "Fox, we might be in trouble," Skinner began. "Ashcraft's home was bombed just now. Fortunately, no one was home. And the militia who did that thing in New York has owned up to the bombing. Freeh just called and said that us higher-ups will need 24 hour security for a while. They'll be coming in an hour to start the security sweep here." Mulder swore an oath and started collecting his things from the den. Skinner hid Mulder's picture in the drawer and the younger man went upstairs. The portrait of their fifth year anniversary, Samantha's and Skinner's photograph from Mulder's bedside table, all these went into a box. They'd talked about this before: what they were going to do in case something like this ever happened. It was one thing to talk about it and quite another to actually do it. Skinner packed up more of Mulder's things from the bathroom. Both of them were concentrated on their immediate task, that of eradicating any traces that Mulder even lived there. What they were going to do in the next few days weren't discussed. As always, Skinner's foresight paid off. The extra apartment in the same building that was barely furnished and unlived in, the one that was Mulder's official address was now going to be used. The two brought the few boxes there. Skinner left the agent, with a brief kiss. Even if he was preoccupied with the current bombing crisis, he couldn't help noting how miserable Mulder looked in the empty apartment. He honestly didn't know how long the tightened security was going to last. Mulder watched the door close, not daring to think of how uncertain everything always was. He opened the nearest box and saw the Pooh bear, somewhat grimy now after almost seven years. He took it into his hand and put it on the top of the dust laden empty shelf. And thought hard. END OF BACCARAT FIGURINES III. It would be just great to hear from you and give me more ideas of what you want our boys to do. Written in the tropical summer of 1997 while on vacation (away from the weak summer sun of Wisconsin). You should see my tan!