Part 13



Fox threw the door open and blew into the office, spinning around just as Skinner closed the door behind them.

"All right, let's have it. You couldn't tell me without what?"

Skinner drew a long, deep breath, and he looked up at the irate man.

"Mulder, please understand. I...when this first began with you and Krycek, I was shocked to say the very least."

"You're stalling."

"No, I'm trying to say this so that you'll understand. Please listen."

Fox folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the front of his desk, eyeing the older man like a tiger waiting for its prey to make one fatal move.

"I didn't get it. I couldn't fathom a relationship between the two of you. I was sure that Krycek was manipulating you fifteen ways to Sunday, and I saw him as Scully does. Lying, dirty dealing, duplicitous, cheap whore, who was only trying to take you for anything he could get. Like Scully, I didn't want to see him ruin you."

Fox emitted a soft, hissing laugh.

"You're a little behind, I see. Scully wanted just a little bit more than that."

"What do you mean?"

"Alex. She wanted Alex. She did that shit to him for one reason, and one reason only. To blackmail him into sleeping with her."

"*What*?"

"I can see you're surprised," Fox said flatly. "Imagine *my* shock."

"When did you find this out?"

"Alex told me. That night I found him at Scully's."

"Have you confronted her about it?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I don't think I can. Not without wanting to snap her little neck."

Christ, he really wasn't making this any easier to say.

"We're getting off track," Fox said, that eerie calm still in his tone, making Skinner actually wish he'd start yelling again. "Continue with this story of yours."

The older man licked at dry lips then cleared his throat.

"Uh...as I was going to say before, I couldn't tell you that I knew what had happened without telling you that..." Skinner closed his eyes for a brief moment, praying for the best. "...that I was there."

Fox cocked his head, the blood raging through him.

"You were where?"

"At your building. After the fact," he added quickly. "I saw the one who limped coming from your apartment, and I confronted him. Before he could answer, his buddy stepped off of the elevator carrying a couple of cameras and some device in his hand. They ran. The other one got away, but I tackled the one with the limp, and he started giving me some bullshit story. I wasn't having it, I threatened him, and he started to sing."

"And then what?"

"I...I let him go."

"You let him go..."

"Please believe me when I tell you, Mulder, that I wish with all my heart that I hadn't. But when he said that it was Scully who had brought him there, I couldn't hold on to him without seriously implicating her in what they'd done."

"So, you..." Fox stopped, trying to compose his thoughts, then he started again. "You let this mother fucker, who had drugged and raped Alex just..." He snapped his fingers then gave a brief toss of his hand. "..leave. Because you didn't want to get Scully into trouble. Have I got this so far?"

"Basically, yes. And because I...God, there was no way that I could explain my presence there."

Fox blew out a hard breath.

"Yeah. Yeah, Walt, let's talk about that. What were you doing there when you knew I was away? And did you even go inside to check on Alex to at least make sure he wasn't dead?"

"Yes. I did. I went inside to check. He was out, Mulder. He didn't know a thing. His pulse was steady, and when I touched him, he started to stir. I found a used condom on the bed, there beside him, and I flushed that, then pulled the sheet up over him and left."

Skinner looked up at the younger man, knowing that he was now waiting for the reason he'd been there.

"I'd...I'd gone over there in the first place to...wait, I have to back up a little. I'd been there before."

"When?"

"Not long after the two of you returned from California. Just after you'd returned from suspension. I'd gone there to confront him," he continued quickly. "I wanted to know what it was he thought he had to gain by being with you. I wanted him to tell me. To admit that he was up to no good. But he insisted that he loved you. I refused to believe it. Was so sure that he was lying.

"He was so arrogant. He taunted me, and I was so angry. Angry at him, and angry that he could tick me off so much. I wanted to knock him down a notch or two. I caught him by surprise and got him against the wall..."

Fox's heart pounded triple time, and his hands clutched the edge of the desk so hard that they'd turned a bluish white. And he said nothing.

Skinner looked up into the fixed and severely dilated eyes, and a shiver passed through him. But he had to finish. He might leave this office in a bag, but for Mulder's sake, and Alex's, he had to tell the other man everything.

"And it...it was like that night all over again. That night at my apartment. I didn't know what to do with all the anger. I was pressed against him. The feel of him...his scent..."

He thought he'd be dead by now for sure.

"But umm...he said he'd kill me. Said *you'd* kill me, and I don't know, I just sort of snapped out of it. I left, but the feeling stayed with me."

Fox spoke.

"And you waited until I'd left town to try again."

"Try again. No, I...I don't know if...Mulder, this is no excuse, but you said it yourself. He's tempting as hell without even trying. I couldn't...Christ, I couldn't help myself. And I couldn't understand why. I truly despised him, and I swear I'd have been happier than you know to have him out of your life. And mine. Yet, I'd get near him, and I'd just want to...

"But something happened that night. That second night I'd gone to your apartment and found him lying there unconscious and so vulnerable. I saw him that night for the first time as a person. A victim. I was...God, I was furious at what those men had done to him. I wish I had held onto that little bastard, but what's done is done. As much as I'd like to go back and undo it, I can't. I'm sorry, Mulder. You'll never know how sorry."

Fox remained silent for some time, bowing his head, resting his chin against his chest. When he finally looked up at the other man, there was a mixture of fury, hurt and confusion in his eyes.

"I don't get it," he started softly. "What is it with you and Scully? You hate him, you despise him, you want to jump him, you couldn't give a shit less that he's mine..."

"I didn't believe it," Skinner explained. "I mean, I knew that as far as you were concerned he was yours, but I really thought he was using you. I was positive that he didn't care a bit about you. And I guess that maybe somewhere in my clouded mind, I figured that made him fair game. Until that night, Mulder. And most especially a few nights ago. Any doubts that may have lingered about Krycek's feelings for you were obliterated the night I walked into Scully's apartment and found him there. Jesus, he was so completely destroyed." Skinner looked Fox directly in the eyes, willing the younger man to believe him.

"I realize now that he does love you. And I swear, Mulder, on my life, I won't do anything to ruin that."

"Why should I believe you?" Fox asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I didn't have to tell you any of this," Skinner answered. "I didn't have to try and help that night at Scully's. I want to make it right. I want to see the two of you make it past all of this and be happy."

"Uh huh. So, all of a sudden, you just don't want Alex any more. He holds no more attraction for you."

"I...I'd be lying if I said I didn't still find him incredibly attractive. But I'll never act on it. I have new respect for what's between you."

"You know, if you had believed me from the beginning, a lot of this might have been avoided."

"You must understand, Mulder, how incredible it seemed. Alex Krycek. In love with you. One hundred percent committed to a monogamous relationship with you."

Fox lowered his head and sighed.

"I believe that if you could go back and change the way things went down, you would. But what happened, happened. And I could beat the shit out of you for what you did. And what you didn't do."

"I know, Mulder, I..." Skinner walked over to face the younger man head on. "If you want to punch me, go ahead. I deserve that and worse."

Fox studied the older man for a long moment, wondering if Skinner thought he really wouldn't do it...

There was no time to brace himself as Fox's fist whistled through the air and connected with his jaw, spinning him one hundred and eighty degrees, and sending him stumbling into Scully's desk. He leaned over the oak surface for a moment, trying to get his bearings, then he straightened up and brought his hand up to his throbbing face.

"Shhhhhit."

"You're going to come with me," Fox instructed the disoriented man. "We're going to go to my apartment, and you're going to apologize to Alex."

Skinner nodded silently. He followed in Fox's wake as the younger man blew out the door, keeping up with his purposeful strides. Reaching the parking garage, each man got into his own car, and Skinner followed Fox straight to his apartment.

Pulling up in front of Hegal Place, he sat quietly, gathering his wits for a few seconds, then got out of the car and walked to meet the man who waited for him on the steps outside of the building's main entrance.

Saying not a word to Skinner, Fox turned and entered the building. He rang for the elevator, and the doors opened immediately, allowing the two men to enter.

"I need something else from you," Fox announced as the doors closed.

"What do you need?" Skinner asked, wincing slightly at the pain in his jaw.

"Scully's pictures."

"Why?"

"I know Alex must have destroyed the ones that were sent to me. I didn't ask him, but I don't find them anywhere around. I need something to show around once I get to California."

"Mulder..."

"And I need you to cover for me. I'm going to tell Alex that I have to go out there on a case."

"How would you explain going without him? You said you wouldn't travel anymore and not take him with you."

"I plan on asking him to go. He'll refuse. He'll tell me he's fine, and that he should stay here and get the apartment set up."

"You seem very sure of that."

"I am."

"Mulder, you shouldn't be going out there."

"I'm going. And you're the only one who knows about it." Fox gave the older man a cool stare as the doors opened. "Time to redeem yourself, Walter. You gonna do it?"

They stepped into the hall, one man facing the other.

"Jesus," Skinner whispered, then, "When are you going?"

"Get those pictures from Scully as soon as possible. As soon as we've moved into the apartment, I'll tell Alex that I've got an important case on the west coast."

Skinner sighed as they started slowly toward Fox's door.

"I don't like this, Mulder, I don't..."

"I don't love it much either," Fox cut in. "But you put me in this position by not holding onto that bastard. Now, you owe me."

Fox unlocked the door as soon as they reached the apartment, and the two men walked in to find much of the place packed up.

"Alex?" Fox called, looking around as he moved to the middle of the living room.

The younger man emerged from the kitchen carrying a box and stopped cold in his tracks when he saw that Fox wasn't alone. The smile fell from his face, and he looked from Skinner to his lover, who had since moved to his side.

"You got a lot done," Fox said softly, taking the box from Alex's loosened grip and lightly kissing the younger man.

"Yeah, I uh..." Alex closed his eyes briefly, trying to compose his thoughts. "..the manager from this building called a little while ago to let you know how much of a penalty we'll have to pay for breaking this lease."

Fox nodded. "Is he really going to sock it to us?"

"No. No, not really. Since the lease was up..." He paused, sending an uneasy glance Skinner's way. "..umm...up soon, he didn't charge any ridiculous amount."

"Good." Fox set the carton down on the dining room table and took Alex's hand. "Come here."

The two men walked into the living room, followed by Skinner, and Fox guided Alex down to the sofa, sitting beside him.

"Skinner has something he wants to say to you."

Wary green eyes rose to the other man's face, and Alex frowned, noting the deep bruising around the left corner of his mouth and part of his cheek.

"Krycek, I..." Skinner stopped, blowing out a long breath then began again. "I want to apologize to you. What I did to you. I never should have come here that day. I had no right to touch you, and I...I misjudged you. I didn't think you were worthy of the consideration one would give a dog. I was wrong."

Alex's gaze dropped to the floor.

"What made you come to that decision?"

Skinner looked to Fox then back to Alex.

"I know what happened to you. Not because Scully told me, but because I was here that night. I saw the two men. I had one of them, and I let him go."

Alex cocked his head, not quite believing what he'd just heard.

"You what?"

"I let him go. I'm so sorry, but I...I couldn't...Scully was involved, and I would have to explain my own presence here. But after I came inside and found you, I'd wished that I had held on to him. And the other day at Scully's place...I'd never seen you as human before. Never thought it possible that you could love or hurt. That day I saw both. And I realized that you and Mulder were for real.

"I want you to know that I am truly sorry for harassing you and for treating you like a...the way I did. And I promise I'll do everything I can to keep a lid on Scully. Though I doubt that after you nearly killed her the other night, she'd try anything else."

Alex shrugged.

"It's understandable that you would treat me the way you did. To a large extent your distrust and hatred of me are more reasonable than Fox's feelings."

Skinner watched Fox lean in and rest his forehead against Alex's temple before depositing a soft kiss on the younger man's cheek.

"Mulder told me that things were different," he countered after the men returned their attention to him. "That you weren't who we'd known. I believed that he believed it, but I was so sure he was being suckered."

Alex nodded. "So...I don't have to ask what you were doing here the night Fox was away." His gaze shifted to the side of Skinner's face. "But uh...you didn't look like that a few hours ago." He looked to Fox. "What happened?"

Skinner answered before Fox could.

"Your uh...your boyfriend here has a worse temper than I'd imagined. It's okay," he said, holding up a hand as Alex's head snapped back and forth between the two men. "I had it coming. I'm not going to suspend him or anything."

"That's not what I'm surprised about. I told you not to think you could mess with me and expect Fox to just blow it off. What surprises me is hearing you call him my boyfriend."

"I've pulled my head out of the sand so to speak. I have to learn to fully accept every aspect of your relationship, and I will."

Skinner went silent, and Alex lowered his head, looking at the floor. Fox sat quietly as well, drawing his hand gently up and down Alex's back. Finally the younger man lifted his head and looked to his lover.

"Do you believe him?"

"Would you think I was crazy if I said yes?"

"I guess not," Alex murmured, momentarily losing himself in the tranquil green and amber of his lover's eyes.

"You don't seem especially pissed."

Alex shook his head, covering the older man's hand with his own.

"You were apparently pissed enough for the both of us."

Fox lowered his gaze and said nothing.

"I already knew about him, Fox. It came as no surprise to me."

The older man looked up into his lover's eyes.

"I wish you had told me, baby. I know that you were thinking of me, but I hate that you've carried all of this around by yourself."

"I know. I'm sorry, Fox. I just...like you said, I couldn't do it to you. Your life had already been shaken up so drastically. Scully and Skinner were closer to you than just about anybody, and I didn't want to be the cause of any trouble between you."

"Any trouble between Skinner, Scully and me, they caused themselves."

Skinner watched as Fox tenderly petted his lover's hair.

Soft, silky, dark hair. Thick, matching eyelashes sweeping shut as the hand slid down and around to the lightly stubbled cheek.

He wanted to look away. He tried, but he was mesmerized by every touch...every look that passed between the two, and when Fox leaned forward and covered Alex's mouth with his own, he felt his legs weaken.

A moan rumbled in Alex's throat as Fox's mouth moved slowly over his, and his hands came up the older man's back, stroking longingly over its length. Only the soft coughing of the third man drew them apart.

"I'm going to leave now. I've got some work to finish."

The two men rose and escorted the third to the door.

"I'll get back to you about that case we discussed," Skinner said as he stepped into the hall.

Fox nodded, pulling Alex into his side, and as Skinner looked on, Alex wound his arms around his lover's waist and laid his head on his shoulder.

"I'll wait to hear from you."

Skinner made no move at first, eyes still trained on the two in front of him, but the ringing phone startled him out of his hypnotized state. He cleared his throat softly and walked away, hearing the door close. He stopped then, leaning against the wall and drawing a few deep breaths.

Jesus Christ, why did he have to be so fucking gorgeous? And why did they have to be so goddamn hot together?

He gritted his teeth, praying for the ache in his pants to subside.

//All right. All right. Think cool thoughts. Snow. The ocean in spring. Ice cube...sliding over Krycek's smooth chest...circling one nipple then the other, making them hard and stiff...//

//...Mulder blowing your balls off with his service revolver...//

"Okay, that last thought was a sobering one."

Pushing himself away from the wall, he walked to the elevator and looked back at apartment forty-two.

//And they're going to be living in your building soon? What fun that'll be.//

The door opened, and Skinner stepped inside, sighing audibly.

Now to find Scully and threaten those pictures out of her.

********************

"Hello?"

Alex listened to the caller and looked to Fox, nodding his head.

"Uh huh. All right then, thanks for getting back to us so soon. In a couple of days, I'd say. Yeah. Thanks again."

Alex hung up and gave his lover a soft smile.

"Our application's been approved already. We can move in whenever we want to."

"Wow, that was fast," Fox replied, moving closer to his lover and drawing him into his arms. "Do you still want to?"

"Yeah, I...what about you? You've had a bigger shock today than me."

"Yeah. All things considered, it'd be kind of stupid to want to move into Skinner's building. He's admitted to me that he's still attracted to you. But I believe him when he says that he'd never try to come between us, and he'll never again treat you the way he did. It's a big, nice place. It's close to work, and it's more secure than this hole."

"So, it's settled."

"No," Fox murmured, "it isn't. Now I know what happened. I know that you might never trust Skinner, and I understand completely. We don't move into that apartment unless you give the word."

Alex studied his lover for a short while then leaned forward, resting against his chest.

"I'm fine with it. I believe that Skinner'll behave himself." He pulled back and kissed the older man's chin. "I think he's sure now that you'll kill him if he doesn't." He pulled away and stared at the older man, eyes shining. "You slugged him good."

"He deserved a lot worse. But I can't ignore the help he's given us either."

"I know."

Alex tried to suppress a smile.

"I guess I should be ashamed of myself but..."

"But what?"

"I kinda felt this little tingle when I saw what you did to him."

Fox smirked, gently running his hand over the small of his lover's back and a bit beyond. "A tingle, huh?"

"Maybe a twinge."

One golden-brown eyebrow arched while the other waited.

"Okay, it really, really turned me on."

Fox chuckled softly and nuzzled Alex's cheek.

"What do you say we leave the packing for a little while?"

"Don't you have to go back to work?"

"No. Not really."

"What about that case Skinner mentioned?"

"He's got to review it first, then he'll contact me." Fox took Alex by the hand and led him to the door. "Come on. Let's go back to the hotel for a while. Then we can hunt down some more boxes."

"We don't have to wait that long," Alex argued, hanging back a bit. "It's okay if we stay here."

"Well, not really." Fox's smirk turned lascivious. "I'd packed up all our toys and took them with us, and I find myself suddenly in the mood to play."

"Oh yeah?" Alex asked, rubbing himself against the older man, making his own arousal known.

"Mmm hmm. I have this very strong desire to see you cuffed face down to the bed, squirming while I spank your pretty ass."

Alex's breath left him in a low moan as he cupped Fox's ass with both hands and writhed against him.

"Let's go."

Grasping one of the younger man's wrists, Fox spun around, jerking him along as they headed out of the apartment and toward the elevator. Minutes later, they were on their way to the Saint Gregory, where Fox would spend the rest of the afternoon teasing Alex to the very brink of insanity.

When the younger man finally lay exhausted and motionless, Fox lifted himself from the bed and picked up his cell phone. He punched in Skinner's number and slipped into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

"Skinner."

"It's me. Have you seen Scully yet?"

"No. I told you I'd call you when I did."

"Yeah, well it's been hours. What's the hold up?"

"I hadn't been able to reach her until just a few minutes ago, actually. I'm on my way over to her place in a little bit. I'll call you after I meet with her."

"All right. I need those pictures, Walt."

"I know that. As much as I disagree with your plans, I'm going to do everything I can to help you. I'll call you when I get back from Scully's."

"All right. Uh...thanks."

Fox disconnected, turned the phone on vibrate, and inched the bathroom door open. He crept into the room and over to the bed, where Alex lay in the same position Fox had left him in. A half smile curved the older man's lips, and he lowered himself to the bed, curling himself around his sleeping lover. Phone in hand, he closed his eyes and waited.

********************

The redhead groaned as she looked through her peephole and found one of the last people she really wanted to see right now, standing at her door.

//Open the door. You know he knows you're here.//

The lock clicked, and Skinner watched as the door inched open.

"What do you want?" Scully asked through the six-inch opening.

"To talk to you for a minute."

"Haven't we said all we needed to say?"

"Not quite. "

Scully stared but made no move to let him in.

"I'll make it as quick as possible."

Sighing heavily, Scully swung the door open and allowed Skinner to enter. Leaving the door open, she walked toward the kitchen.

"Okay, well, I know you're not here to see how I'm getting along in the lab, so..."

"I'm here for the pictures," Skinner broke in as he shut the door, stopping the woman in her tracks.

"The pictures?"

"And the negatives."

"Why do you want them?"

"To make sure they're out of your hands," he answered, unwilling to tell her the whole reason.

"What happened to your face?"

"Little accident. Now, please just give me the pictures."

"What makes you think Mulder would be any more comfortable with them in your possession?"

"I'm going to give them to him and let him destroy them."

"What a pal."

"I'm trying to be. God knows you've failed miserably." Skinner looked at the woman, shaking his head. "I know now why you did what you did. But Scully, Mulder is..." he amended his statement. "..was...your best friend. How could you let your lust for his lover come between you?"

Scully blinked, thrown by Skinner's extended knowledge of the situation.

"There are going to be lots of things throughout our lives that we'll want," Skinner went on. "And we'll get some of those things. But not all of them. And we can't go around hurting people to try and get them the way you have."

"It wasn't my intention to hurt Mulder."

"But you didn't stop when you realized that it was inevitable, did you? You couldn't. You wanted Krycek. Period. And you were going to get him. If Mulder got hurt in the process, oh well. You did hurt him, Scully. Severely. You hurt him when you hurt Alex, and it's perfectly understandable that he would want nothing more to do with you."

Scully folded her arms across her chest and cocked her head.

"*Alex*."

No response.

"Okay." She walked away, tapping at her forehead with her middle finger. "Okay, I'm getting this now." She spun around, glaring at the man. "You've got a thing for him."

Still nothing.

"I'm right, aren't I? You've got the hots for Alex. And Mulder found out about it, didn't he? And he clocked you. That's what the bruises on your face are." She gave Skinner a venomous smile. "That's what Alex was talking about that night, wasn't it? When he said fuck you, then said, you'd probably like that. And that explains why you were so sickeningly sweet to him." She snorted. "How noble of you. Wanting him to be happy even if you couldn't have him."

"They love each other," Skinner answered. "Deeply. I've awakened to that fact. They won't be happy with anyone but each other. And I want them both to be happy."

"Nice. So Krycek has now got you as well as Mulder seeing stars. Oh, he's good. Two of the last people in the world I ever thought..."

"And what about you?" Skinner broke in. "Seems you're the one who's gone completely around the bend."

"For the record, I haven't lost my mind. All I wanted from Krycek was sex. It's you and Mulder who are all ga-ga over him. And as far as I'm concerned, that's far more dangerous. You've both lost sight of who it is you're dealing with."

"Krycek is not who he was," Skinner argued. "But I didn't come here to do this with you. Give me the pictures and the negatives."

Scully stood her ground, glaring up into the determined face.

"Don't make any more trouble than you already have, Dana," Skinner warned. "It will not end well for you."

The woman emitted a soft, bitter laugh then left the room. She was back seconds later, shoving a large envelope at her visitor.

"It's all there," she hissed, watching him check the contents.

"I'd prefer to see for myself." Skinner resealed the envelope then looked down at the redhead, compassion sneaking in past the stern tone in his voice.

"Forget about him, Scully. Count yourself fortunate that you aren't dead or sitting in prison, and move on."

"While Krycek and Mulder trip happily into the sunset."

"It's not going to be all wine and roses from here on out for them. Not yet. But it'll be a little easier for them to get there if no one is purposely trying to sabotage them."

"What are you going to do? Stand guard outside of Mulder's apartment?"

"I'm going to leave them alone. I strongly suggest that you do the same."

Skinner fixed a warning stare on the woman then turned abruptly and left the apartment, leaving her standing alone in the middle of the room.

Staring at the door, Scully stood frozen, digging her nails into her palms, and when the pain finally began to register, she spun around, searching wildly for something to throw.

Finding nothing within her immediate reach, she tore into the kitchen and threw the utensil drawer open, yanking out the liner and scattering silverware over the floor and table. Screeching, she grasped the two nearest cabinet doors and jerked them open only to slam them shut again. She repeated the action several times, stopping only when one knob came off in her hand. She then flung the object across the room, watching it bounce off the wall then hit the edge of the table and clatter to the floor.

"Fuck you, Skinner," she panted, gritting her teeth until her jaw hurt. "Kiss my goddamn fucking ass!"

And as for the other two...

Soon. Just as soon as she figured out how...

********************

Black turned to gray, and then a hazy light filtered in through the curtain of Fox's lashes as he opened his eyes.

He hadn't meant to fall asleep. Hadn't thought he would, but he'd been more tired than he'd thought, he supposed. And the warmth and comfort of Alex's body pressed back into his had definitely helped to relax him enough to put him out.

Now, the vibrating of his cell phone drew him out of his soft, quiet paradise. Shifting too quickly, his movement disturbed Alex's sleep, and the younger man sighed and turned onto his back as Fox raised the phone to his ear.

"Mulder."

He kissed the sable eyelashes as they fluttered and began to rise.

"Hmm?"

"Go back to sleep."

"Mulder?"

"Yeah, I'm here," Fox answered as he stroked Alex's chest. "What's going on?"

"I've got the pictures and also the negatives."

"All right...that's fine. So I'll hopefully at least have time to move in to the apartment."

"What do you...oh, I get it, Krycek's there."

"Yeah. The apartment manager called right after you left. Said the apartment was ours."

"Really. Well...good. Uh, listen. If you want, and if Krycek doesn't mind, I'd be happy to give you a hand moving. I'm sure you want to get it done as quickly as possible."

"Thanks for the offer. I'll have to get back to you on that."

"...I assume I'll see you sometime tomorrow?"

"Yeah. You'll be in the office all day?"

"I believe so."

"All right then. You'll hear from me at some point during the day." Fox looked down at Alex, who was now wide awake and staring back up at him. "Goodnight."

Disconnecting, he turned his full attention on his lover.

"You were unconscious," he informed Alex, grinning as he brushed a few wild hairs away from the younger man's forehead.

"You wore me out," Alex answered hoarsely. Frowning, he cleared his throat and spoke again.

"So was...damn. What the hell happened to my voice?"

Fox laughed softly. "Apparently you aren't aware of the amount of noise you sometimes make."

"God," the younger man croaked and attempted once more to clear his throat. "Anyway...that was Skinner?"

"Yeah. He's got some more people to talk to before he decides whether or not I get that case. I figure we'd better go get a Ryder truck tomorrow and start hauling some of our stuff over to the new place. And uh...Skinner offered to help."

Alex's gaze dropped from Fox's face. "He did?"

"Yeah. I thanked him and said I'd have to get back to him on it."

"Should we take him up on it?"

"It's your call."

Alex shrugged. "I don't know, Fox. Can't you make the decision?"

"Not without your okay, no."

"But I don't know. I mean, I guess it would be good to have an extra pair of hands. And I did say that I was okay with living in the same building with him. I guess it's just that it'll seem kind of weird to have him banging around with our stuff...you know, like we were all bosom buddies or something."

"Okay." Fox kissed the side of Alex's nose. "I'll tell him thanks but no thanks. We'll do it ourselves."

Alex fell silent for a while, content to feel his lover's body brushing his, then he looked up at Fox, drawing the older man's attention to his face.

"Okay, that's just stupid."

"What is?"

"Not accepting Skinner's help. We really could use it."

"We can handle it ourselves."

"Yeah, but it'll go faster if there are three of us instead of two. If he really wants to help, let's let him. It'll provide us both with kind of a safe environment, where we can get a little better acquainted. Maybe then things won't be so uncomfortable."

"You think?"

Alex gave the older man a tiny smile.

"No. But it's worth a shot. Especially if he's the closest thing you've got to a friend left."

Fox pulled Alex into his arms, laughing softly.

"I love you."

The third such proclamation today, and yet it produced exactly the same sensations that the first had stirred up. In truth, his insides melted into his stomach without fail, every time Fox uttered the words.

Emerald eyes glowed up at the older man, and Alex stretched up for a kiss. He pulled away long seconds later, again lowering himself to the mattress.

"Those words give me such strength." A bemused smile curled his lips. "And at the same time they make me weak all over."

"Makes it easier for me to take advantage of you," Fox growled into his lover's ear.

"Yeah," Alex giggled, squirming as Fox's tongue teased the inside of his ear. "Like it was ever hard. So, listen..."

"Hmm?"

"God." Alex pushed against Fox's chest, separating them and putting a stop to the sensations that turned his brain to mush. "Before I completely forget what it was we were talking about; tell Skinner that he can help us move if he really wants to."

Fox squinted down at the younger man.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. If he wants to haul furniture and throw his back out along with us, who am I to deprive him?"

"What d'you mean, 'along with us'? I'm a perfect physical specimen. There'll be no throwing out of the back here."

"Oh," Alex smirked. "Of course."

"That sounded just a little condescending." Fox flicked the end of Alex's nose, sneering as the other man swatted his hand away. "You don't think I'm in excellent shape?"

"Sure I do. I am too. God, we'd have to be the way we go at it. But screwing like bunnies and moving a refrigerator are two different types of exercise. There's a science to moving furniture."

"There's a science to fucking too, babe," Fox purred. "Not everybody can make their lover scream himself hoarse. It takes know how."

Alex moaned softly, writhing gently against his lover.

"You know how, baby."

"Damn right," Fox murmured, brushing his mouth over Alex's.

"Why don't you show me again?"

Low, throaty chuckle. "You sure you can take it? You're not going to pass out on me in the middle of it, are you?" Not waiting for an answer, he rattled on. "Maybe we should have something to eat first. You know, build your strength."

"Hey, wait a minute. I admit you've got a hell of a lot of stamina for a man your age...?"

"A man my *age*?"

"...but you're no more resilient than I am."

Narrowed, hazel eyes stared down at the younger man.

"Is that right?"

"Yes, that is right."

"Look here, baby boy," Fox drawled, "I can fuck you into next week and back, go for a five mile run, stop at the park and play a couple of pick up games, come back, and you'll be right here where I left you, comatose."

Alex threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh.

"You don't believe that?"

The younger man grinned up at his lover.

"What color is the sky in your world, Fox?"

"I'm not the one who passed out for two hours this afternoon."

"Yeah, well I was working all morning and part of the afternoon, hauling stuff around, packing...I haven't gotten a whole lot of sleep the last few days...I've been under a tremendous amount of stress lately..."

"Oh, I see."

"Do you dispute any of that?"

"Not at all. But you're using it as an excuse for your obviously diminishing vitality." He shook his head. "So young, too."

"Kiss my ass, Mulder. You got nothin' on me."

"Oh, yeah?" Fox leered. "You wanna go again and see who ends up unconscious for the rest of the night?"

Alex burst into laughter. "You sound like a nineteen year old, challenging me to a drag race."

"Guess the old man's in his second childhood. Come on punk," Fox taunted, flicking at one of the younger man's nipples. "Take me on. I promise you'll never know what hit you."

"I don't want you to hurt yourself."

"I'm not the one who's going to be walking funny tomorrow," Fox answered before shifting so that he was lying fully on top of the other man. His mouth came down on Alex's, surprisingly gentle for all his previous posturing, and Alex responded in kind, winding his arms around his lover's neck.

Licking and sucking at the lush mouth, he moaned softly, the sound translating into an intense sensation in the pit of Fox's stomach. The older man groaned audibly, deepening the kiss as his hips rocked against the other's.

The feel of his lover's cock nestled alongside his, rubbing along its length and creating a heat that spread farther than that one location, washed Alex's mind of any residual notions that he would further tease Fox. All he wanted now was his lover everywhere. His hands, his mouth. Skin, soft and satiny smooth, touching his. Hot. Slick and salty with perspiration as he thoroughly and rhythmically fucked Alex into oblivion...

Fox ended the kiss and smiled down into lust-glazed eyes.

"This is your first and last opportunity to beg for mercy."

Alex forced himself to focus on what Fox was saying and not the insistent throb of his cock.

"What?"

"From this point on all requests for leniency will be denied. Speak now before time runs out."

"Fox, I don't..."

"Tick tock, Alex."

"What do you mean by..."

"Oops. Time's up."

"But you didn't even let me..."

Fox's mouth muffled the remainder of Alex's words, inflicting a harder, more demanding kiss. Half expecting quiet submission, Alex surprised him, responding with a voracity that froze him for all of three seconds before he recovered and reacted.

Plunging his fingers into Alex's hair, he dragged his mouth away from the other man's, moving down his chin to his neck, where he found and clamped his mouth over the pounding pulse.

A harsh grunt rolled in Alex's throat as Fox sucked hard at the fragile skin, and he grasped a handful of hair in an attempt to pull him away. The older man only tightened his hold, emitting a warning growl.

Alex loosened his grip on Fox's hair, giving his lover just enough slack to think he had given in, then he quickly rolled to his side and dumped Fox onto the mattress. He pressed his advantage, immediately pouncing on the older man, and the struggle for dominance was on. It ended long minutes later with a panting, slightly bruised Fox pinning the snarling younger man to the bed.

"You're so pretty when you're pissed," Fox taunted as Alex bucked against his weight. He held the other's wrists firmly, pressing his hands into the mattress as he drew his tongue up the side of the stubbled face. His trek ended at Alex's ear, and he lingered there, teasing the interior lightly.

"So fucking pretty," he whispered as the other man stopped bucking and began to writhe against him. He smiled at the faint whimper and pulled back to look down into eyes almost black with passion.

"Listen to me." He drew a long breath, attempting to restore some of his composure. "I'm going to let you go. Don't move, or I'll leave you hanging, and I know you don't want that."

Closing his eyes, Alex endured the loss of Fox's warmth as he lay in the same position the older man left him in. He could have taken the opportunity to initiate another power struggle; attack while Fox's back was to him...wear him out then toss him onto his back and fuck him blind, but something held him in his place. When Fox returned, a hard breath pushed past his parted lips. His cock leapt, and he began to whine softly as he arched toward his lover.

"I'm surprised at you," Fox murmured, placing the objects he'd pulled from his bag on the bed. "I'd fully expected to get jumped the minute I'd turned my back."

"I thought about it," Alex rasped honestly.

"What stopped you?" Fox asked, smiling as he secured the younger man's wrists to the bedposts with two silk scarves then unwrapped a condom and rolled it onto his squirming lover's cock.

"I don't...*shit*, Fox!" Alex yelled as a leather cock ring encircled the base of his erection. "Come on, this isn't fair!"

"Easy babe," the older man soothed, stroking Alex's cheek before reaching for another packet.

The restrained man watched as Fox slipped on his own condom. His eyes grew wider, shifting from Fox's hands to his face then back again, watching as the other man fastened a cock ring on himself as well.

"Fair now?" Fox asked, attempting to steady his breath as he lay down beside his lover.

"Not quite," Alex panted, straining against his bonds to emphasize his point, "but better, I...why did you..."

"Easy. I want to be able to fuck you into tomorrow morning, and you know that isn't going to happen unless I employ a little assistance."

"So, you're going to torture us both?"

"Just prolonging the pleasure," Fox whispered, lowering his head to lick a stiff nipple.

"You're fucking nuts," the younger man gasped then trained a hazy gaze on the other. "Jesus, I love you."

"Is that why you're not fighting me?" Fox purred as he teased the other nipple. "Because you love me?"

"Yes," Alex answered through clenched teeth. "And because you can too easily turn me into a big puddle of warm goo."

The vibration of Fox's chuckle against his sensitized flesh made Alex moan.

"Good thing you don't actually look like warm goo. It's not a pretty image."

Alex gasped sharply and arched up off of the mattress as Fox's teeth closed around the hard nub and pulled.

"*Christ*."

Pulling harder before he let go, Fox gave the younger man a sweet smile.

"Still love me?"

"Always."

"*Really*. Hmm. Even if I teased you all night then left you unsatisfied all day tomorrow?"

"You wouldn't."

"I might. Would you still love me?"

Alex looked up at Fox with an expression that spoke of deepening frustration and unconcealed adoration.

"I'll love you till I die. Which, if you do that to me, might be tomorrow."

"You won't die," Fox promised, flicking his tongue rapidly over the nipple. "You might want to kill me..."

"Yeah, right," Alex breathed. "I just think you like to make me beg."

"Mmm hmm." Fox worked his way down Alex's chest, pausing to explore the younger man's navel. "I love it when you're submissive." He was on the move again, following the light trail of hair to Alex's crotch. "Because I know that you want to surrender to me. I know how good it feels to you."

Alex's hips rose involuntarily as Fox nuzzled the thatch of dark hair.

"It does," he whispered on a shaken breath. "I can't believe the way you make me feel. Oh...*God*." The capability of speech left him as Fox grazed the length of his restrained cock with his lips then closed them over the latex-sheathed head.

A couple of deep breaths, and Fox deep throated his lover in one move, sending Alex's blood pressure skyrocketing. Loud, pleading sobs rang in his ears as he slowly lifted his head, letting his tongue dance along the distended vein on the underside of the shaft. As he reached the end of his journey, he lashed quickly at the head, drawing coarser, more desperate cries from the other man.

"Fox, please...please," Alex cried, finding his voice. "I can't. Don't make me, please."

"If you really mean that," Fox offered, licking the swollen shaft, "if you really want to end this right now, we will."

No answer aside from choking gasps.

"Alex?"

The patch of skin between Alex's eyebrows creased as it so often did when the younger man was troubled, angry or confused.

"You're not...not hurting?"

"I am," Fox assured his distressed lover. "But I can deal with it. My cock wasn't down your throat." He kissed the flared head. "I won't make you take more than you're able to." He grinned. "Not much more, anyway."

Sable lashes lifted, but the crease remained as Alex tried to focus on the man now nibbling gently at him.

Smoky, green and amber eyes returned the stare.

"Are you mine tonight, Alex?"

"Every night," Alex moaned. "Every day."

"I know that, baby. But can I have complete control? Do you trust me to take you as far as I want?"

Whimpering pitifully, Alex nodded his consent.

"You don't seem especially sure."

"It's just...Jesus, Fox, every part of me is throbbing, and I'm afraid I'll..."

Fox cocked his head, waiting for the rest, but it never came.

"Afraid you'll what, baby?" he asked, kissing the inside of his lover's thigh.

Alex shook his head saying nothing.

"Tell me."

"Nothing, I...it was nothing."

"Alex..."

Licking at his lips, Alex forced himself to look down into his lover's eyes.

"I don't want to disappoint you. I don't ever want to disappoint you."

"How could you do that?"

"I want to take it all...for you, but what if I...if I can't?"

"Then you can't," Fox said simply, stroking Alex's outer thigh. "I wouldn't be disappointed. It's hardly an insult, baby." He gave the other a beautiful smile. "Hell, I'll probably give in before you do. Nothing in the world is better than being deep inside you when I come. I don't know how long I'm going to be able to keep this thing on before I want to fling it across the room."

"I don't have that option," Alex countered softly, drawing another smile from the older man.

"No, you don't, do you?" Fox moved up a bit, resting his cheek just above Alex's cock. "All right, listen. If you can't do it, tell me. Not 'I can't' or anything like that." There was that grin again. "It's too much fun hearing you protest. Maybe a word. Just one word."

"What word?"

"I don't know, I...Mulder. Call me by my last name, and I'll put us both out of our misery, okay?"

Alex drew an unsteady breath and nodded.

Fox looked up at his lover, utter devotion glowing in his eyes.

"I love you, Alex."

Alex's heart pounded in time to the throbbing of his cock, and he closed his eyes as the words washed over him. And then the leisurely pass of his lover's tongue over the inside of his thigh opened them. He lay trembling as Fox moved to the other side, licking and sucking, and when the older man nuzzled the heavy sac that hung between his legs, he yelped softly, desperately wanting the freedom to plunge his fingers into Fox's hair and hold his head there between his thighs.

Reaching into the pile of items he had dropped down beside Alex's hip, Fox felt around for and found a rubber glove and the lube. As he drew one testicle into his mouth, he worked the glove on then applied some lube to three fingers.

Oblivious to Fox's actions, Alex writhed and twisted under his careful ministrations, crying out for more as the moist warmth was removed.

"You liked that?" Fox asked sweetly, briefly taking the other testicle into his mouth.

"*Yes*."

Again the other man pulled away, leaving Alex more frustrated than before.

"You'll like this better," he whispered, brushing his slick fingers over the crevice of his lover's ass.

"Mmmph...Christ..."

One finger worked its way in, finding the tense ring hidden between the firm muscles, and Alex bucked, crying out softly.

"Fox..."

"I'm wearing a glove," Fox soothed the unvoiced concern. He felt Alex begin to relax a bit, and he pressed in a bit farther, sliding his finger in just up to the second knuckle before stopping.

"I love watching the expression on your face when I'm making love to you," he murmured. "It's so intense. So beautiful."

The finger withdrew a bit then slid back in, sinking up to the last knuckle. Alex's mouth fell open on a harsh gasp, and he pushed against his lover's hand, wanting more.

Fox gladly obliged, pulling back and adding a second finger. The younger man whimpered frantically, rocking now against the welcome intruders.

"That good, sweetheart?"

Alex nodded, too dazed to speak, and when Fox added a third, his head snapped back, and he cried out, quivering uncontrollably.

Pushing as deeply as he could, Fox watched the look of pained ecstasy that contorted his lover's features, and his own body begged for release. But he pushed aside his desires and concentrated on the man lying restrained beside him.

A loud shriek pierced the air as Fox took Alex's cock into his mouth, and his fingers found that spot that would have sent him right over the edge if not for the cock ring. The tortured man twisted and arched, feeling release so close. So fucking close, but it wouldn't come.

"Fox," he gasped through gritted teeth, the veins standing out on either side of his throat as he strained to meet that which danced just beyond his reach. "God...oh, God."

Fox sucked harder, taking Alex's entire length, and the younger man roared in frustration. The sound turned to a desperate sobbing as he pulled ineffectually at the scarves, and he jerked upward, trying to bury himself impossibly deeper in Fox's throat.

"You're killing me," he choked, incurring nothing more than an aroused groan for his misery. "Fox...Fox, please..."

Pulling up slowly, Fox teased Alex every inch of the way, then he gently removed his fingers and slithered up the length of his lover's body, coming face to face with him.

"Fox, please, what?"

Alex moaned, pressing up against the older man.

"Feel like..." he opened his eyes and fixed an agonized stare on his lover. "...I'm gonna die."

"Would I let that happen?" Fox asked, dragging his tongue across Alex's lips. "Hmm?"

Alex reached up, trying to capture Fox's tongue in his mouth, but the older man was faster, ducking his advance. He whined petulantly, letting his head drop back to the pillows, and Fox smiled down at him.

"You want to kiss me, baby?" he asked, brushing the tip of his nose over the other man's.

Displaying a perfectly beautiful pout, Alex nodded up at his lover.

"How can I refuse you anything when you look at me like that?" Fox asked, lowering his head to take the younger man's mouth.

Unable to touch his lover, Alex focused all of his concentration on the assets still available to him. Moaning softly, he fed on Fox's lips, sucking and nipping, teasing him with his tongue while he writhed seductively against him.

Trembling with the force of his own need, Fox pushed his tongue into Alex's open mouth, scouring the soft interior as his hands wandered over his lover's hot skin. His bound cock, wedged between them pressed hard into the other's belly as Alex's did to his, and both ached for relief. But until Alex gave the word...*if* Alex gave the word, there would be no respite for either of them.

//*You* could stop it.//

Fox laughed to himself.

//Oh, no. He's not ready to pass out yet. You want to be good and sure that when you're done with him he's going to be out for the rest of the night. You'll show him what a man your age can do.//

That he did.

Into the small hours of the morning, over and over again, Fox pushed himself and Alex right to the brink of total devastation. Only the cock rings they still wore kept them from the bliss each man so desperately longed for.

Now, with his endurance reaching its limits, and Alex's wild thrashing and cursing beginning to subside, Fox decided that they'd both had more than enough.

Alex watched, whining hopefully as the older man carefully removed his own cock ring.

"Jesus," Fox whispered through his teeth. Taking a moment to catch his breath, he opened his eyes and looked down into the tormented features of his lover and offered a pained grin. "That was rough." He reached for the leather strap around Alex's cock, incurring a grateful sob from his lover.

"Breathe, Alex. Deep breaths and relax."

Alex obeyed the whispered command, and several difficult moments later his cock ring lay on the nightstand beside Fox's.

"Are you ready, baby?" Fox asked, looking down at his lover through a heavy curtain of lashes.

Alex strained ineffectually against his restraints.

"*Yes*."

"I didn't think you'd last this long." He swung himself over the younger man and into position, and began to gently work his cock into him. "I didn't think I'd last this long." Both men gasped as with a firm push, he fully buried himself inside Alex's slick heat. "*God*...and I...I don't know how long I'm gonna last now, but...I promise baby, before this is over, I'll make you scream until you can't scream any more."

Alex sobbed his lover's name, bucking weakly against the presence inside of him, wanting more than anything to collect on the breathlessly uttered promise.

Though the torment he'd suffered at Fox's hands had brought him time and again to the point where he'd been sure he would lose his mind, he'd refused to ask for mercy. An act of the stubborn bastard he could be or the insecure child terrified of displeasing the only person who'd ever shown him love, he did not know. It was probably a bit of both. But now he would have what he could not ask for. And it came in the form of the most overwhelming sensations.

Spiraling through his body, tickling and teasing each nerve ending, every touch, every sure thrust of Fox's hips took Alex closer to a devastating end. Whimpering frantically, he rocked against the older man, unconsciously, wordlessly begging him to move faster.

Indulging his tormented love's unspoken need, Fox wrapped his fingers around Alex's cock, stroking and squeezing as he quickened the rhythm of his thrusts. Less than thirty seconds later, Alex stiffened, and his eyes snapped shut, and Fox watched as he came violently, vibrating the air around them with harsh cries. Alex's explosion touched off his own furious orgasm, and every muscle in his body seized then began an intense series of contractions. Wild, grating sobs tore from his throat, joining those of his lover, and an eternity later, the room fell into near silence.

Head resting on Alex's shoulder, Fox lingered in a haze of utter satisfaction. His senses drifted back to him one by one, and he vaguely thought he could hear a soft whimpering, just inches from his ear. He forced himself to open his eyes and focus on his lover, who seemed pretty well unconscious.

Not the slightest flutter of his lashes. No twitching muscles. Mouth relaxed into a pout so damned sexy that the sight of it would have hardened Fox in a second were he not so exhausted...

"Alex?"

Dead silence.

"Baby, you alive?"

Somewhere in the darkness, Alex heard Fox calling him. Softly. Almost inaudibly, and he tried to answer. Attempted to speak his name. Something to let his lover know that he had heard him, but his voice refused to cooperate.

Fox saw the tiny, nearly undetectable twitch of the younger man's lips, then they went still, and Alex lay completely motionless. The only signs of life were the soft, deep breaths that intermittently lifted his chest. Gingerly, he separated himself from the unconscious man, removed both condoms then released his wrists from the restraints and laid beside him, watching quietly as he slept.

"Gotcha," he whispered, lightly brushing the slumbering man's cheek with his knuckles. "How's that for a man my age?" He laughed softly and laid his head on Alex's shoulder, giving in to the heavy lethargy that washed over him.

"Not bad, huh?"

His eyes closed, and he drifted into sleep.

********************

Go to Part 14

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