Scully took no notice of the car that screeched past her on the street as she turned toward Mulder's apartment. She swung into the garage and made her way up to the fourth floor. She entered the apartment, and, turning up nothing in her initial search, checked in with Skinner.

"It's Scully, sir. I'm at Mulder's apartment. I haven't found anything that might give us a clue as to where he is...yes, sir. Has anyone there seen him?" She covered her face with one hand. "I'm getting worried, sir. I'm beginning to think that he may be off looking for Krycek."

Skinner sank down into his chair, phone to his ear. "What makes you say that?"

Scully paced the length of Mulder's living room. "You never asked me this morning what we were doing home. While in Massachusetts, he thought he saw Krycek. Some reflection in a store window...I got upset with him and said something I obviously shouldn't have, because it really put him over the edge. He wanted to come home right away, and I think it may have been to go looking for Krycek."

"Well, Agent Scully, if that's the case, we have no choice but to sit back and wait until he comes back or decides to contact us."

"Yes, sir, but what if he actually *finds* Krycek? He could possibly be in danger."

"I agree, Scully, but what do we do? We wouldn't even begin to know where to start looking for him. I think at this point, the only thing we can do is nothing. Mulder has to work through this himself. There's nothing you or I can do or say to help him. He needs to see it through, however it turns out. It's the only way he's going to get any peace."

"If he survives it."

There was a brief silence, then Skinner spoke. "You're going to keep looking for him, aren't you?"

"I have to."

"All right. Let me know if you turn anything up."

"I will."

Scully disconnected and decided to search the apartment one more time.

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

Mulder smelled the smoke long before he saw its source.

"Good morning, Mr. Mulder. I trust you slept well?"

"Who wouldn't?" Mulder looked around the bare room. "With accomodations as luxurious as these..."

"Glad you approve. Now. Where is it?"

Mulder smirked up at him, but inside he was just a bit nervous. The lie he was about to tell wasn't *all* falacy, but he had no way of knowing how big a deal it would be to his captor. Any way he looked at it, he'd be dead meat soon, unless...

Alex would show. No doubt about it. Scully could deny it from now till Christmas, but he knew that his former lover was still watching him. As soon as he realized that he was missing, Alex would go to his apartment looking for clues, find the answering machine tape, and be on his trail. He'd know where to look. Fox had more faith in Alex finding him than he did in the sun rising every morning.

Apparently from the amount of personnel and hardware that Smokey was carting around with him, he knew it too. He just hoped Alex would get there *before* they killed him...

"You think I'd bring it *with* me?"

"Wasn't that the whole point?" The watery eyes narrowed. "Unless for some reason you're pulling my leg, Agent Mulder. Now, why would you do that?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out."

"Oh, I *will* find out." He leaned in close, and Mulder turned away from the stale, smoky breath. "And I'll use the most unpleasant methods at my disposal." With a tap on the door, he summoned two burly men into the room. "Agent Mulder, meet Donald and John. I don't know which is which, but it really makes no difference. They aren't here for a social call. They're here to persuade you to tell me the truth about this item of yours." He nodded to the two men, and they wrestled Mulder to his feet. "Now. What have you found...if anything?"

Mulder cocked his head, chewing thoughtfully on his lower lip.

//Ah, what the hell? I'll either get a rise out of him, or I won't.//

"You spent an awful lot of time in Chilmark."

"Your father and I were good friends."

"I never could recall a whole lot about that part of my life, but lately I've been remembering things."

The withered smirk faded a bit. "Things?"

"Yeah. I remember you giving him a book one Christmas. He thanked you and you told him that every one of the...*group* received the same thing. You told him to be careful with it and put it somewhere out of the reach of little hands. Then just weeks before my sister disappeared, you told him to burn the book. I never could understand why someone would give a Christmas present, then ask the recipient to burn it..."

"Do you have a point, Agent Mulder?"

"Yeah." Mulder watched his face. "He never burned that book. I found it. I found what was in it. I want to know what it means."

"Where is that book?" The man hissed in his face.

//Ooooh, bingo. Too bad he actually *did* burn the damned thing.//

"I want to know about it, first."

The smoker backed away and nodded to one of the men who doubled Mulder over with a punch to the stomach while the other held his arms behind his back.

"Tell me where it is."

Mulder breathed deeply, trying to stop himself from coughing. "Tell me...tell me what it is, first."

"It's no concern of yours, that's what it is."

"I beg to differ. It was my father's concern. He's dead, thank you very much, and since I'm his only known surviving child...again, thank you...it's mine. Tell me."

The man shook his head as he pulled a cigarette from a crumpled pack. He lit it and took a long drag before nodding again.

The man holding Mulder let him go, just as the other delivered another punch. The blow knocked him to the floor, and he knelt there, doubled over with his arms wrapped around his middle.

"Fine, I'll find it myself. I hope you don't mind if I do a little redecorating in your apartment and in your office."

"Hey...listen, could you put my garbage out while you're at my apartment? I forgot to do that before I left, and it's really gonna stink up the joint..."

"You're an amusing man, Agent Mulder. One would think that between your quick wit and your other...talents...you would have been able to keep Alex Krycek interested for a *little* bit longer than you did."

"Well," Mulder sneered up at him. "You know how unpredictable he can be."

"Yes." The man blew a stream of smoke in his direction. "Yes, he certainly can be that." He motioned with a tiny toss of his head, and the man closest to Mulder backhanded him with a closed fist, sending him sprawling into blackness.

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

"Man, I got a headache the size of all outdoors."

The guard at the window turned to his companion. "Did you take anything?"

"Nah."

"Why the hell not?"

"This new chick I've been seeing is into herbal remedies. She says there's a natural cure for every problem."

"Doesn't work, does it?"

The man at the desk rubbed his temples. "Nope. Think I'm gonna have to dump her."

The other laughed and returned his gaze to the window. "No shit."

"God, I wish I could just...take my head off..."

"Oh, yeah, that'd be real..." The sudden cracking noise and thump spun him around and he came face to muzzle with a gun. At the other end of the weapon, a tall, green-eyed man pointed to his dead friend, smiled at him, and held his index finger up to his lips.

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

A soft moan rose up from the floor as the door opened and someone attempted to haul Mulder up to his feet.

"Get him to the car, quickly."

"I'm *tryin'*, but he's a dead weight! This'd be a lot easier if he was awake..."

"If he finds us, there's going to be a lot more dead weight around here, now hurry!"

"Why the hell'd we have to come back here for him, anyway?"

"Shut up, and pick him up!"

As the man hefted Mulder up, he was knocked back by an abrupt butt to the head. The man they'd thought to be unconscious came to life, and the two fell back onto the bare mattress. As they struggled, the third fled the room, smelling the approach of hell.

Mulder gathered his strength and landed an awkward cross to the man's jaw. They both fell to the floor, and Mulder's head hit the iron pipe that ran up from the floor to the ceiling. As the other man was rising up, a bullet square to his chest knocked him back onto the bed.

Mulder lay motionless as the dark figure fully entered the room and with only a glance at the body, crouched beside him.

"Fox," Alex whispered.

No response.

"God, baby, talk to me."

He smiled to himself as he heard the fuzzy but unmistakable voice of his Alex.

//Got here even faster than I thought you would.//

Alex took a deep, stuttering breath and offered up a fast prayer of thanks as Fox's eyelashes fluttered and he uttered a pained groan. A heavy-lidded stare fixed on his face and the other man's mouth began to move.

Seeing his difficulty, Alex put two fingers to his lips. "No, it's okay. Just be quiet. I'll get you out of here."

Slowly, he lifted Mulder from the floor and half-walked, half-carried him out and to his car. When he'd made sure that his passenger was comfortable, he pulled away from the building and made his way out to the road. The minute they were safely on their way, Mulder's head rolled to the left and his eyes drifted open.

"Alex..."

The younger man looked across the seat and lifted a hand to the other's cheek. "Yeah, it's me. You're gonna be okay, Fox. I'm taking you to the hospital."

"Nooo. No hospital."

"Fox, you were unconscious. You could have a concussion."

"I'm all right. Just want to go home."

"That is *not* a good idea."

"You can call Scully. Please, Alex. I don't want to go to the hospital."

"Dammit....all right." He stroked Fox's cheek once more before he returned his hand to the wheel. "But if Scully says you belong in a hospital, you go. Clear?"

Fox gave him a nearly imperceptible nod. He was quiet for a while, then asked, "Why'd you leave me?"

Alex released a harsh rush of breath and glanced over at the other man. "Let's...let me just get you home, okay?"

Fox answered with silence. He lay his head against the back of the seat and stared at Alex through the curtain of his lashes, unwilling to take his eyes off of the beautiful face he'd missed so much, for even a minute.

While he drove, Alex pulled his cell phone out of the inside pocket of his jacket and asked Fox for Scully's number. He punched the numbers in and listened. The phone rang only twice before Scully answered.

"Scully...it's Alex." He pulled the phone away from his ear, letting Fox hear her screeching. "Scully....Scully!" When the screaming stopped, he put the phone back to his ear. "*God*. That's better. Scully, I've got Fox..."

The screaming began again.

"Would you shut the hell up, a minute? I'm taking him *home*....*yes*. He's been injured....quit yelling! I called you, didn't I? Now are you going to meet us there, or what? Okay, we'll be there in about five minutes." He hung up and tossed the phone onto the seat, muttering.

"Goddamn harpy..."

Fox let the irritated observation pass without comment.

Alex looked over to the man beside him, and his tone softened. "We're almost there. You okay?"

Another nod.

A few mintues later, they arrived at Fox's building, and Alex helped him out of the car and into his apartment. As soon as he had Fox settled comfortably on the couch, he began running his hands over the older man.

"Are you hurt anywhere else?" he asked, observing the bruising and small cut on the right side of his face.

"Got punched a couple of times in the stomach...must've hit my head."

"I would assume that's why you were unconscious when I found you," Alex murmured, running his hands through Fox's hair. "Yeah, you got a nice lump in the back here. Fox, what the hell were you doing there?"

The other man's gaze dropped from Alex's, and he stared at his hands. "I needed to find you."

Alex shook his head in confusion.

"You said you'd always take good care of me."

"I believe that was in reference to keeping you stocked with batteries."

"You know it meant more than that. *I* know it meant more than that...I knew you were still keeping an eye on me, and I didn't know how to find you..."

Alex cocked his head and his eyebrows drew down into a suspicious frown. "*And*?"

Fox shrugged. "And..."

"You didn't."

Plaintive hazel eyes looked up at him. "I didn't know another way to make you come to me."

"So..." Alex bowed his head and stared at the floor. "...so you *purposely* got yourself snatched by the man who you *knew* wanted you dead?"

"I know how impossible you are to find if you don't *want* to be found."

"So you got yourself captured and almost *killed*?" Alex leapt from the sofa and stood screaming in front of Fox. "Are you out of your fucking *mind*?"

Fox's tone rose to almost match the other man's. "Well, I wouldn't have had to go to such extremes if you hadn't *left* *me*!"

"Oh, don't use that as an excuse for *this* insanity."

"It's not an excuse, but it *is* the cause of all this!"

"I left because I was fucking up your life!"

"Who *said*?"

"Well, *you* sure didn't." Alex prowled the length of floor in front of the sofa. "I asked you, and what did I get? A pat on the head and an 'it's okay, Alex'. You were about to throw your whole career away, it was killing you, and you couldn't even talk to me about it! Do you know what I felt like?"

It was Fox's turn. "Well, why the hell didn't you tell me that you knew? You know when I found out that Scully told you? Just a couple of days ago. She was yelling at me for insisting that I saw you in Massachusetts, and she let it slip." He raised a hand to his forehead. "I...we both fucked up, okay?"

"Yeah," Alex agreed. "Yeah, I can tell you that I fucked up too. But *you*." He pointed at the older man. "*You* fucked up royally!"

"Are we back to that?"

"Shit yeah, we're back to that! He would have *killed* you! Don't you understand that?"

The knock at the door interrupted Fox's answer.

Alex whirled around stalked to the door, throwing it open. Scully swept in, closely followed by Skinner, who glared at the other man as he passed.

"Mulder, are you all right?" Scully asked as she dropped beside him and immediately began to examine him.

"No, he's *not* all right," the agitated voice came from a few feet in front of them. "He's gone *nuts*."

Skinner looked from the standing man to the one who was sitting. "What the hell is he talking about?"

"Go ahead, Fox." He waved a hand in the air and walked away. "Tell 'em what you did. Insane bastard..."

When no answer was forthcoming, Alex turned and moved toward them. "Smokey had him." He looked to Fox. "You wanna tell them *how* it is that you came to be his prisoner? No? Okay, I will. He got himself caught on purpose so I'd find him."

"You *what*?"

The shocked chorus made Mulder flinch.  "I had to find him," he said in defense, then looked up into furious green eyes. "I had to tell you."

"You had to *tell* me...what did you have to tell me that you couldn't have written me a damn note? You said you knew I was still watching you. You could have left it for me to find like I did the tape. Christ." He began to pace again then suddenly stopped and held his hands out parallel to each other, growling at the other man through gritted teeth. "I oughta break your goddamn neck, you know it?"

"And I'll drop you before you can reach him," Skinner warned.

Alex turned around and squinted at the other man. "Tie a knot in it, would you, Wally? This isn't your concern. What the hell are you doing here, anyway?"

"Not that I've got to answer to *you*, but it damn well *does* concern me. One of my agents was in trouble. He's been injured. I'm here to make sure that he's all right. And now he's receiving threats of bodily harm in the presence of witnesses..."

Alex responded with a harsh laugh. "Are you serious? Stupid question, Alex, of course he's serious. Does he know how to be anything else? Listen, Skinner. If it wasn't for me, he'd be dead right now. You think I'd *actually* hurt him?" When he received no answer, he continued. "And about that 'coming to make sure that he's all right' bull...tell me. Do you make housecalls to *all* of your injured agents? I doubt it."

Skinner glared silently.

"Not going to argue the point? No, of course not. Because it's true..."

Fox watched warily, ready to jump in if he had to, but knowing that sooner or later this would have to happen, and it might as well be now.

Skinner's top lip curled and he sneered at the younger man. "Go to hell, Krycek."

"I know the way there blindfolded. I'm out, and I don't plan on going back."

The larger man folded his arms across his chest. "Ohhh. Mulder your salvation?"

"If you want to put it that way."

"Well, that's sweet. Krycek, I doubt that God himself could save *you*."

"Bad to the bone, huh?"

"Absolutely."

"He's wasting his time on me..."

"You said it."

"He'd be much better off with someone stable. Trustworthy." He grinned at the older man. "Someone like...Scully." He glanced toward the sofa and winked at the woman who, if she could, would pull out her gun and blow him off the face of the earth. He returned his gaze to the man in front of him, and the humor faded. "Or you."

Skinner's face turned a furious shade of red.

"Didn't go very well, did it, Wally? Oh, I'll admit I was a bit nervous there for a while. I thought you might actually be able to succeed where Scully had failed. I was afraid that you might turn his head...get him to see me the way you wanted him to..."

Scully looked from one man to the other, shocked. Shocked at what she was hearing, and even more shocked that Skinner denied none of it.

"But in the end, you couldn't do it. His faith in me was too strong." The smirk returned. "Drives you crazy, doesn't it?"

Skinner's eyes left Alex's face, and he looked down at Mulder. "Are you listening to him? This is the arrogant son of a bitch that you just had to have back. *This* is what you want?"

Fox brushed Scully's hands away as she tried to turn his head. He tried to answer the question, but his partner insisted on having his attention.

"Mulder, look at me for just a second, would you?"

He sighed impatiently and turned his head, letting her shine her penlight into his eyes.

"I think he's okay," she directed her conversation to Skinner, avoiding his gaze even as he avoided hers. "Just banged up a little."

Fox ignored her and turned his attention back to Alex. "Alex, I need to tell you..."

"He doesn't need to go to the hospital?"

"No, sir, I don't think so."

Skinner chose then to light into his agent.

"Now that I know you're all right...are you *insane*? Do you know what could have happened to you?"

The question diverted Fox's attention from the angry, green, hypnotic glare of the man in front of him.

"Yeah, I know. I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid."

"You're lucky you're not dead."

"Yeah, and, hmm. Who have I got to thank for that?" He refocused his attention. "Alex..."

Skinner stepped forward, coming to within just inches of Alex's face. "He can also take the credit for you being there in the first place."

"That's true, Krycek. You saved him, but he wouldn't have been in that situation if not for you," Scully added icily.

"Would you both just shut up for a minute?"

All three heads snapped around in Mulder's direction. He shot a warning glare to Scully and Skinner, then looked up at Alex.

"Scully told me what you said to her at the cabin."

Alex said nothing. His eyes merely flicked suspiciously from the seated man to his partner, then back again.

"That's when I realized exactly why you left me." Sincere, amber-flecked eyes stared up at the younger man. "I love you, too."

The angry glitter faded from Alex's eyes and his jaw went slack.

Fox continued. "I'm sorry that I didn't let you in. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you how I felt that day, but Alex, it would have changed nothing. I wouldn't, and I *still* won't give you up for the X-files, my career, or *anything*." He looked into the two blatantly aggravated faces of the others. "They think I'm out of my mind for feeling that way. They think I'll come to regret it, but..."

"So do I," Alex rasped softly. "And I couldn't live with myself if you did."

Fox rose from the sofa and wobbled over to the younger man. "How did you feel while we were apart?"

"God," Alex breathed. "Sick. Hopeless. Desperate...depressed as all hell..."

"Desperate," Fox whispered within inches of the other man's mouth. "That's a good word. Me too."

The younger man averted his eyes, catching his meaning.

"Do you want to feel all those things for the rest of your life? Fox asked gently. "I don't. But I will if you leave me again."

Alex shook his head slowly and looked back up into the other man's eyes. "I can't leave. I knew that if I was ever this close to you again, I'd never be able to find the strength to pull myself away..."

Skinner watched the exchange, a mixture of emotions swirling inside of him, not the least of which was deep jealousy. *He'd* never see that look in Mulder's eyes when the younger man looked at him. Mulder would never speak to *him* in that low, tender tone...

His attention switched to Krycek.

If the man was acting, he ought to be nominated for an Oscar. Every last bit of his attention seemed focused on the man in front of him, and his eyes appeared to glow with the same love that Mulder's did.

God, he wanted to kill him...

Fox lifted his hands to the jacket Alex still wore and curled his fingers into the worn leather. "It's true, isn't it?"

"What?" Alex answered softly. Luminescent hazel eyes warmed him.

"What Scully said. I want to hear you say it."

Alex closed his eyes and his mouth turned up into a hint of a smile. When he opened his eyes, he raised a gentle hand to the back of Fox's head. "I love you, baby."

The words sent a shudder of ecstasty through Fox, and he melted into his lover's arms.

As the two men clung to each other, Skinner drifted from the room and into the kitchen. Scully followed seconds later and found him leaning against the counter, arms folded across his chest, eyes down to the floor.

"What do you think?"

Skinner straightened his posture and assumed his usual rigid manner. "I don't know what to think."

Scully advanced and stopped a couple of feet in front of him. "That makes two of us. Sir...those things that Krycek was saying..."

Skinner turned a hard stare on her, but it didn't stop her from continuing.

"You did nothing to dispute what he said. I saw your face..."

The A.D. closed his eyes and tilted his head back. "It would appear that you and I are in the same boat, Agent Scully," he said softly. "....Are you surprised?"

"Yes, sir, actually I am."

"Is it a problem for you?"

Scully thought a while then spoke up, resignation saturating her tone. "I suppose not. It isn't as though either of us is even in the running."

"I don't get it," Skinner grated. "Alex *Krycek*?"

"I know you probably don't want to be anywhere around them, sir. Neither do I, but I *was* forced to be for a few days. I...I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but they're really very sweet together. I've seen Krycek be completely docile...*submissive*...two words I didn't even think he knew the meaning of. He seemed so sincere..."

"The words Krycek and sincere don't belong anywhere near each other."

"I know. I feel the same way...usually. Then something will happen to make me think otherwise. He can't...it's impossible for him to be acting all the time, in every situation. I don't know how that look in his eyes can be faked."

Skinner gave her an incredulous stare.

"I'm not ready to canonize the man, but I can't deny that there are times when I simply am not so sure that he's out to do Mulder in. The bottom line, sir, is that I care enough about Mulder to want him to be happy. And if it's Krycek that makes him happy, then what can I do?" She sighed softly. "What can either of us do?"

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

Fox's hair flowed like silk through Alex's fingers as he combed them through the thick fringe at the back of his lover's head. The older man nuzzled the curve of his shoulder then kissed the side of his neck. "I love you," Fox whispered against his skin. "I love you, I..."

Alex's lips came down on his, cutting off his words and his breath. He sighed into the younger man's mouth as their tongues rediscovered each other, sliding and twining together. Their bodies pressed closer seeking out the familiar hardness and warmth, and when they came up for a breath, Alex growled softly into Fox's mouth.

"Don't think that you're off the hook."

Fox brushed his lips against Alex's, then tickled them with a slow pass of his tongue. "I'm not?"

"No, you're not. You scared ten years off my life. You're going to pay for it."

Fox writhed against him. "How?"

"Don't worry, I'll think of a proper punishment for you."

"Why does the thought of that make my cock throb?"

"Simple. You're an outrageous slut." Alex stroked his back and ass. "And I love you."

"We gotta get them out of here," Fox moaned and lowered his head to Alex's shoulder, "while I'm still able to control myself."

"I'll take care of it." Alex kissed the golden-brown head, then turned Fox toward the sofa. "You sit down and rest."

"Alex." Fox caught his hand before he could turn away. "Be nice."

The younger man leaned over his lover and brushed the tips of their noses together. "Of *course*, I'll be nice."

"I'm serious, Alex, I really don't think I have the strength right now to separate you and Skinner."

Alex laughed softly. "I'll be on my best behavior, I promise." He kissed Fox and headed into the kitchen. He pushed the door open and found Scully and Skinner standing by the sink, talking softly.

"Get out."

Scully cocked her head, wrinkling her brow. "Excuse me?"

"Which one of those two words didn't you understand? Get. Out."

The petite woman folded her arms across her chest and glared at him. "You'll forgive me, Krycek, if I ignore you. Who the hell are you to tell me to get out of my partner's apartment?"

"You're his work partner. I'm his *life* partner. I believe that gives me the authority."

Skinner pushed away from the counter.

"You leave him, then you pop back into his life and just take over?"

"I'm not taking *over*. But he's had a rough few hours, we've been apart for a while, and we'd really like to be alone now. It isn't a difficult concept to grasp, Walt, even for you. Now, if you don't mind, get the hell out so I can go make love to my man." He opened the door and waved the two out in front of him.

Fox stood as the three exited the room. Alex went straight to him and wrapped him in his arms.

"See?" The younger man murmured, "No screaming, no gunplay, no bloodshed."

Fox gave him a mildly exasperated sigh.

"How do you feel?"

"A little achy. A little tired."

Alex gently guided Fox's head down to his shoulder then tossed a look over in the direction of Scully and Skinner. "Well," he said loud enough to be heard as he petted his lover's hair, "as soon as your guests leave, I'm putting you to bed."

Fox rubbed his head against the younger man's shoulder, virtually purring with contentment. As he opened his eyes, the somber faces of his partner and supervisor came into focus. Unwilling to pull himself from Alex's embrace, he gave them a tiny smile. "Thanks for coming over. I appreciate your concern, but I'm okay now."

"We're *still* concerned," Skinner responded. "Mulder..."

Before he could continue, Scully laid a hand on his arm and gave him a barely noticeable shake of her head. His jaw tightened, but he said no more, and they moved to the door.

Alex kissed Fox lightly on his lips and followed their departing guests. As they passed into the hall, Skinner turned and issued a soft warning.

"You do anything to him..."

Alex's laugh interrupted his threat.

"Walter...Walt..." He leaned in until their faces were only inches apart. "...Wally...I'm going to do plenty to him. And he's going to love every minute of it."

Skinner's jaw convulsed, but he said nothing.

"I really do feel sorry for you," Alex whispered. "And I can't blame you. Who *wouldn't* want him?" His eyelids drooped, and he gave the other man a smoldering look. "He's so goddamn pretty when he's squirming and whimpering. And when he comes...oh, God, when he comes..." Alex caught his lower lip between his teeth and inhaled audibly. Then his face changed to an unreadable mask. "Too bad you'll never know. You have a good night, now." He closed the door in Skinner's flushed face and leaned against it, smiling at Fox.

"Alex, what were you telling him?"

"Just telling them to drive safely and thanking them for stopping by."

"Why don't I believe you?"

The younger man gave him an innocent shrug.

Fox shook his head. "Prick."

One corner of Alex's mouth slanted upward. "Sweet talking me isn't going to get you out of trouble."

"Oh." Fox smirked. "Am I still in trouble?"

"Uh, yeah." Alex approached and slid one hand along Fox's jaw. He let the hand travel to the back of his lover's head, and anchored it tightly in his hair. "Listen to me," he said softly. "This part is serious. That had to have been the craziest thing you've ever done, and you've done some insane shit. I understand what your reasons were for doing it, but what *if* I didn't get your clue? Or what if I didn't get there in time? You could have been dead right now. You would have left me alone for the rest of my life." He shook his head. "I can't even *imagine* my life without you." He snapped his fingers in the other man's face. "Yet, I came this close to having to realize it..."

Fox had half a dozen arguments for him, but remained silent.

"Fortunately, it worked out all right, but thoughts of me finding you dead...or not at all, keep running through my head, and they're driving me crazy."

"I'm here," Fox answered softly. "You found me. I knew you would."

"I appreciate your faith in me, Fox, but it isn't realistic. You're here in front of me...I'm looking at you...I'm touching you, and still I'm shaking inside at the thought of what could have been. I can't tell you how upset I am with you."

Fox sucked his lower lip into his mouth and lowered his gaze, and Alex's heart leapt in his chest.

//And they say *I* play dirty...//

Alex's loosened his grip on Fox's hair and came around to cup his chin. "I love you," he whispered. "I wouldn't be so upset with you if I didn't."

Fox stepped forward and lowered his head to his lover's shoulder, moulding their bodies together.

Alex inhaled deeply and rested his hands on the other man's hips while he nuzzled his hair. "You did a very bad thing, Fox. I have to punish you."

Fox shuddered at his lover's words, and he winced at the further hardening of his already firm cock.

Alex released him and backed away. "Come with me."

Fox meekly followed him into the bedroom.

"Stay here." Alex walked into the bathroom and turned on the tap in the tub, waiting until the water was the desired temperature, then he returned.

"What are you doing?"

"Running your bath." Alex stepped forward and began to undress the older man.

Fox stood quietly as he worked, trying to understand what the hell it was that Alex was doing. Finally, he decided that it would probably be best not to question the younger man, and he just went with it. When he stood before the other man, naked, Alex looked him up and down. His hand came up and caressed Fox's rib area.

"You've got a little light bruising here. Does it hurt?"

"Not much."

"I never asked you. That man I shot. Was he the one that did this to you?"

"Yes."

A satisfied, feral gleam lit the green eyes. "Good," Alex said softly. His eyes met Fox's, and he motioned toward the bathroom with a small toss of his head. Fox moved silently into the steam-warmed room, and waited. Alex held his hand out, and when Fox slid his into it, he helped the older man into the tub. He finally removed his jacket and kneeled on the small rug in front of the tub. Picking up the sponge and bottle of bath gel, he squeezed on a generous amount and began to gently scrub his lover's back.

Fox closed his eyes, enjoying every moment of his *punishment*, allowing himself to feel every stroke of the sponge, the tiny tingle of the soap bubbles, and the occasional rub of Alex's bare knuckles on his skin.

Alex worked silently, mesmerized by the way the water ran in rivulets down his lover's body, and the silky, slick glow of his skin. He washed Fox an inch at a time, taking care to cover his entire back before moving to his chest. The sponge skimmed his shoulders then passed over his nipples, pulling a very soft moan from Fox. He ignored the sound and continued in his task, moving on when it was completed.

Fox's eyelashes fluttered as Alex slowly washed each of his arms, gently working the lather from fingers to shoulder, massaging the muscles that until now, Fox hadn't even realized were tense. He caressed the sensitive skin at the back of Fox's neck, then stroked the sponge up and around the convulsing throat, and traveled a leisurely path down his chest and stomach, stopping just shy of that part of him that begged for attention.

Fox groaned as the sponge detoured, flowing down one leg, rubbing and soothing the long muscles. He flinched as it danced over the ticklish underside of his foot, then relaxed again as Alex made him bend his leg at the knee, and the sponge moved over his calf in small circles, then proceeded up to his thigh.

Suddenly Alex stopped, and Fox's eyes flew open. He gazed into the unsmiling face, then his body turned in the direction that the hand on his back pushed him into. Now resting on his hip, head pillowed against the folded towel that Alex had placed at the edge of the tub, his eyes closed again as his lover finished washing his legs, then concentrated on his ass.

Slowly, Alex followed the rounded curves, drawing circles on the smooth skin, and gently working his way into the crevice. Fox writhed against the probing sponge and groaned when his lover's other hand came down on his hip to stop the movement. Alex pressed deeper, finding the tight ring hidden beneath. He passed the sponge over the opening, and Fox shuddered, whining softly. Inch by excruciating inch, he pushed the sponge inside. Ignoring Fox's desperate whimpers, he continued until more than half of it had disappeared into the tight entrance.

Fox gripped the side of the tub until his knuckles showed white as he was stretched and filled slightly past the point of comfort. He uttered not one sound of complaint though, knowing that he would gladly take more if it was Alex's wish...

Leaving the sponge in place, Alex turned Fox back into a sitting position and met his gaze. As he studied the pleading amber eyes, his hand wandered over his lover's body, still ignoring the aching cock. Then, finally, he spoke.

"Have you figured out yet what your punishment is, Fox?"

The other man closed his eyes and nodded.

"How severe do you think it should be?"

"What..." Fox swallowed hard, not believing he was about to say this. "...Whatever you decide."

Alex skimmed a nipple with his fingertips. "Good answer." He slid Fox farther down onto his back and pulled the sponge slowly out of him. "Your bath is over. Get out of the tub."

Fox stood on trembling legs and stepped out onto the rug that Alex had just vacated, and the younger man stepped forward, wrapping a large bath towel around him. Gently, Alex dried him, favoring him with the occasional kiss to his shoulder or neck. As he dried the lower half of Fox's body, his lips brushed his upper thigh, and Fox's cock jumped in response. His own cock throbbed within the confines of his jeans, and he knew that he'd better do something about it or he'd never be able to draw this out the way he wanted.

He finished his task, then dropped the towel onto the edge of the tub, and met Fox's eyes.

"Bedroom."

Fox obeyed the one-word command, preceeding Alex into the other room, and standing by the bed. Alex arranged the pillows, then motioned for Fox to lie down, which the older man did without question. His eyes roved over the body stretched out before him, and his cock strained against the zipper of his pants. A soft grunt pushed past his lips, as he turned around and went to Fox's closet.

Curious eyes watched as Alex rooted through the closet and came out with a couple of neckties. The younger man approached and wrapped a tie around one wrist and secured it to the headboard. He repeated the action with the other wrist, then moved down and straddled Fox on his hands and knees.

"Is that uncomfortable?"

The other man shook his head and whimpered softly as Alex stroked his chest.

"Good." He pushed himself away, then walked toward the chair at the end of the bed, unbuckling his pants as he did. "I've got a small problem, baby." He pulled the chair up beside the bed, and drew the zipper down. Pushing the jeans down over his legs, he sat the chair and gave Fox a good view of his very erect cock. "You see this?" He stroked the length of it gently. "It's driving me crazy. It's distracting, and I need to do something about it..."

Fox watched intently, absently licking his lips as Alex teased himself. "I'd love to feel your mouth around it, but you'd enjoy it too much. Wouldn't be much of a punishment, would it? Well, I guess I'll have to take care of myself tonight."

"No," Fox sobbed. "Alex, please..."

"Please, what?"

"Let me...let me do it. Please..."

"No. You watch. And while you're suffering, you think about what it was that got you here in the first place." As he spoke, he continued to caress himself .

Fox strained against his restraints, though he knew such and action was pointless. "Don't do this to me, Alex," Fox pleaded. "It's been so long..."

"Yeah, it has. It doesn't make me happy to be doing this, Fox." He tilted his head back and gasped as he increased the speed of his strokes. "You think I enjoy sitting over here jerking off when you're only a few feet away from me?" he panted. "You think I wouldn't rather be buried in your ass? God, it's killing me. But you're going to learn, baby. You will *not* pull any more stunts like the one you pulled yesterday."

"I won't," Fox sobbed, "I promise, Alex..."

"I know you won't. I know..." Alex stopped talking and concentrated on the sensations that were now fogging his brain. He pressed his lips together and arched his back as he began to jerk his cock to completion.

"Please," Fox whispered unheard as Alex twisted and moaned in the chair, and his eyes dropped shut when the familiar sounds of his lover in the throes of orgasm reached his ears.

Alex sat sprawled in the chair, sticky and spent. He groaned softly, removing his hand from his softening cock, and opened his eyes. As they began to refocus, he saw Fox, lying against the pillows, cock rigid and flushed, in obvious agony. He took a few more seconds to compose himself then stood up kicking his pants off, and slid up on the bed beside him. He held his hand up to the other man's mouth, and Fox licked hungrily at it, removing all traces of semen. "Very good," he rumbled softly, then straddled his lover's chest. "So good, I'll let you clean my cock."

Fox opened his mouth, and while Alex held his cock for him, he proceeded to lick away all traces of residual semen.

Alex stroked Fox's hair while the older man cleaned him, then, deciding that it was enough, he pulled away, leaving his lover more frustrated than before.

"Thank you, baby." He leaned over Fox and placed a tender kiss on his mouth. "I feel so much better, now." He reached for his pants and pulled them on, and much to Fox's dismay, he walked to the door.

"Where are you going?"

Alex turned around and faced him. 'I'm going to let you get a little rest."

"*No*!"

The younger man walked back to the bed and cupped his lover's cheek. "Yes. You said it was my decision, remember? Get some sleep. You've had a hard couple of days."

"Alex...please. I'm begging you...I can't...I can't take it..."

The words were kind, but the expression was blank. "You can, and you will. Go to sleep." He leaned down and kissed the tip of Fox's nose. "I love you." He walked to the door and closed it behind him, leaving a dazed and tormented Fox to wonder just how long he planned to drag this out.

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

After Skinner parted from Scully in the parking garage, he drove to the bar that he had taken Mulder to. He never did this on a worknight, but as special circumstances prevailed, he talked himself into it.

Much quieter than a Friday night, the place was only half full. He found himself a quiet table at the back of the place where he could sit and lick his wounds undisturbed. The waitress found him fairly quickly, and he placed his drink order. While he waited, he looked around the bar, observing the various groups of people. Some laughing, some deeply engrossed in conversation, others apparently arguing, but there was one thing that they all had in common. None of them were alone.

His drink was placed in front of him, and after thanking the waitress, he retreated back into himself.

Not one who was usually given to these sessions of self pity, he let himself go, tonight.

Too old. Too bald. Too authoritarian. Too cautious to be attractive to a young, beautiful, irrepressible man who spent so much of his time walking the edge of destruction with his life balanced in one hand, and his career in the other.

Thinking along those lines, he could almost begin to see what it was that Mulder saw in Alex Krycek.

More of a wildcard than the man who was in love with him, Alex Krycek seemed much more of a kindred spirit. He was someone who would walk that edge *with* Mulder, not try to pull him down too soon to safety.

Skinner's brow drew down into a deep frown.

But he *would* pull Mulder to safety. He'd done it three times that Skinner knew about.

He tossed his scotch back and grimaced.

The best of both worlds.

That was it. That's what Mulder needed, and Krycek would provide that for him. Freedom to do his thing, no matter how outrageous, and the security of knowing that someone had his back if he needed it.

He ordered another drink and continued to brood.

It wasn't fair. He would have done that for Mulder if he could, but his position didn't allow him that luxury...

//Come on, Walter, even if you could, he wouldn't be interested in you. Look at you and look at Krycek. He's young and handsome, and apparently has forgotten more about taking care of a man than you ever *knew*.//

He tossed down his second drink the moment it was served then buried his face in his hands.

They were probably going at it hot and heavy by now. He could see it all over Mulder's face when he and Scully came out of the kitchen. He'd refused to peel himself away from Krycek to even offer them a proper good-bye, and Skinner could see the look of pure lust sparkling in his eyes as Krycek stroked and petted him.

The minute Krycek shut the door in his face, Mulder was probably right there behind him, demanding to be swept into the whirlpool of sensual bliss promised to him in every flash of those stormy, green eyes.

He could see them now, Mulder pinned beneath the other man on his bed, sweat rolling down their bodies as Krycek slammed into him, again and again...

He wasn't sure why it was that particular image that played in his head. He supposed it was because of the way he viewed the other man. He knew one side of Alex Krycek, and one side only, and the thought that he could possibly be sweet, or tender, or submissive was inconceivable, even though Scully had attested to it. Even though he'd seen the look in his eyes as Mulder admitted that he loved him...even though he said the words in return and looked for all the world like he meant them.

This was the image he still carried in his head. Krycek in total control. Brutal and emotionless, selfishly taking his pleasure, and only incidentally taking Mulder with him on his journey to satisfaction.

His fingers clasped together, squeezing to the point of numbness.

It was a sick thing to think, but it made him feel better. Somehow that particular thought was less disquieting than the idea that they were actually lying together, kissing and stroking, and making love so sweetly...

"...*Sir*..."

His head snapped up, and he blinked at the concerned waitress.

"I'm...I'm sorry, I guess I was pretty deep in thought."

"That's okay," the woman answered, smiling at the embarrassed man. "I was beginning to think you had left us."

"Sorry."

"Would you like another drink?"

"...No. No, I don't think so. I think I've had about enough."

The woman smiled again. "That's what I like. A man who's responsible enough to know when to quit."

"Yeah, that's me," he muttered. "Mr. Responsible."

"It's not a *bad* thing, you know."

"No. No, of course not."

"You don't sound convinced." She cocked her head and studied the man sitting in front of her. "Somebody do a number on you?"

"Nobody but myself." He peeled off a few bills and handed them to the woman. She took the money and sat down at the table.

"Don't worry," she said, smiling at his confused expression. "My shift is over. You were my last customer."

He nodded and looked down at his hands.

"Hey, you know, I'll go if you want me to, but it just looks to me like you could use a little pick-me-up. Sometimes it's easier to talk to a stranger than someone you know. Would you like to get something off your chest?"

Skinner looked up at the pleasant, attractive face, and suddenly he found himself rattling on like a seven-year old home after an eventful day at school.

"There's...someone. Someone I've known for years. I've been attracted to this person for almost as long as I've know them. They were involved with someone else, then something happened and the person left them. I tried to be a friend. Offer what comfort I could. I knew I should've kept my distance, but I couldn't help myself. This person was so upset. So despondent. I wanted to take the pain away...make them forget. I couldn't. The person told me as much. Told me that nothing but the return of their lover could make them happy." His gaze dropped to the table and he went silent.

"Is this person the man you were in here with the other night?"

His shocked eyes met hers and she gave him an understanding smile.

"Hey, I'm a woman. I notice when a handsome man comes into this place. And when *two* walk in at the same time..."

He did not respond to the compliment.

"It's all right, I'm not about to judge you. Though I must say that I'm a bit disappointed. I guess it'd be kind of pointless now to flirt with you."

He shook his head and one corner of his mouth twitched into some semblance of a smile. "I *was* married."

The waitress brightened. "Oh, so you swing both ways?"

The smile became more conspicuous. He liked this woman.

"So, what happened?"

"He found out how I felt. I hadn't intended him to...not so soon, but... he was never anything but honest with me about his feelings. I knew I didn't have a snowball's chance in hell, still I hoped. His lover returned today and really drove it home. He'll never be with me. And so here I sit, feeling sorry for myself...can't even get a proper buzz going..."

"You're right," she said. "You are feeling sorry for yourself. Knock it off. The one you want doesn't want you. Happens all the time. You're a good-looking, honest, respectable guy. If he'd rather have someone who runs in and out of his life on a whim, it's his choice." She leaned in and whispered confidentially. "The pretty ones are always so weird. I know. I used to go out with one. I'm well rid of him."

Skinner shook his head. "He's not just pretty. Okay, yeah, he's a little weird, but he's brilliant. And he's compassionate and sensitive..."

"And his heart belongs to someone else. Another man?"

Skinner nodded.

"Bad boy type? Leather jacket, earring...not exactly a pillar of virtue?"

He blinked at her dead-on assessment.

She laughed softly. "I just figured he was more than likely the exact opposite of you."

Skinner nodded. "He's like a magnet. The way he moves...his voice. Just a look...one word from him, hypnotizes this man. It's like he forgets who he is..."

"Maybe not," she observed. "Maybe it's with this magnetic, mesmerizing dog that he really *knows* who he is." She covered his hand and gave him a sympathetic smile. "You gotta let him go. He isn't yours. Doesn't sound like he ever will be. Not as long as this man chooses to hold on to him."

"He says he loves him, but I can't believe it. I don't know if he's ever told the truth in his life."

"Well, whatever the truth is, it'll reveal itself in time. Let him be. If you stick your nose into their relationship, all you'll succeed in doing is drive him so far away, he won't even want to be your friend anymore...assuming you still *can* be his friend..."

"We're thrown together every day. It's mandatory that we keep up communitcations."

"Ah. Work?"

"Yeah."

"Well, honey, good luck."

Skinner glanced at his watch. "Thanks. I really have to be going now. I have to be up early."

The two rose from the table and walked in the direction of the bar.

"Goodnight, handsome," the waitress called softly as they parted company. "Maybe I'll see you around."

He hesitated then nodded his acknowledgment and left the building, feeling just a little bit better. It wasn't until he was almost halfway home that he realized he'd never even asked for her name.

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

Fox opened his eyes and found himself in total blackness.

He couldn't believe he'd actually fallen asleep. How long he'd been out, he had no way of knowing, but he had to have been damn tired to be able to fall asleep tied to his bed and aroused to the point of pain.

He moaned softly and moved his arms as far as the restraints would allow, his cock quickly coming to life as he recalled his bath and the way Alex had tormented him through its duration. Then, not long afterward, he was tied up here and Alex sat just a few feet away, masturbating. He had to listen and watch as his lover came, panting and gasping, unable to touch him. Then to make the torture worse, he'd allowed Fox to lick his cock clean and then left him here alone and frustrated.

"Alex," he called softly into the darkness, steadily working himself into the same state he'd been in earlier. And again, a little louder, on a sobbing gasp. "Alex..."

"I'm here, baby."

Fox strained to see into the void, to determine exactly where the smoky rasp came from.

There was a faint click followed by a hiss, and a small flame appeared, illuminating the hand that held the match. It moved a few inches to the right, and touched off another flame. The original light was extinguished, and the hand picked up the candle it had just lit, raising it high enough for Fox to see his lover's face.

Alex turned away and moved silently around the room, lighting the candles he'd set in place while Fox slept. "I haven't been here the whole time," he said as he moved, "I actually just came in about half an hour ago."

Fox's eyes focused on the softly illuminated figure. "How long have I been asleep?"

"Almost three hours."

"Three hours?"

"Yeah." The younger man stood at the end of the bed, staring intently. "Are you hungry? I fixed us some supper."

"Y-yeah."

He wasn't really, but if he said yes, Alex would have to untie him so he could eat, and then maybe he'd be able to touch him and properly convey his need...

"Be back in a minute." Alex moved forward and leaned in to kiss his lover's mouth, lingering for a moment on the soft flesh.

Fox's lips parted and his tongue inched out, sweeping across Alex's mouth and finding access to the warm interior. He heard the younger man's soft moan and pushed farther inside, finding and engaging his tongue in a slow, sensual duel. His hips arched upward, desperately seeking some sort of contact, but a hand clasping in his hair drew his attention.

Alex held Fox's head to the pillows, and he pulled away. "That mouth could tempt the purest saint to sin." He backed away from the bed and moved to the door. "I'll be back."

When he was gone, Fox began to whine softly, having nothing else to concentrate on but the ache of his cock. He closed his eyes and took a long, deep breath, praying that Alex returned soon.

Five minutes later, his prayer was answered when Alex entered bearing a tray full of fried chicken, potatoes, biscuits and corn. Fox had to admit to himself that it did smell awfully good, and his stomach rumbled its agreement.

Alex set the tray down and advanced toward the bed. He untied the restraints and coaxed Fox into a sitting position, then retied his wrists to each of his thighs, allowing just a little room for movement.

"Nooo. Alex, come on," Fox pleaded as his lover secured the first knot.

"You're not going to touch me or yourself," Alex said matter-of-factly as he worked on the second knot.

"I won't, I promise, I....how am I supposed to eat?"

Alex retreived the tray and set it down over Fox's legs. "I'm going to feed you." He looked into deeply frustrated eyes. "Your efforts are wasted, Fox. Now relax and accept your punishment. It won't go on forever, I promise." He moved in as close as he could without their lips touching. "And when it's done, I'm going to make you forget your own name..."

Fox shuddered.

"...You're going to scream until you can't scream anymore..."

"Oh, God...Alex..."

"...You won't be able to sit down for a week, and Scully, Skinner and anybody else who might be paying attention is going to know that you've been fucked long and hard..."

Fox whimpered and leaned forward, trying to reach his lover's mouth. A hand at his throat moved him back against the headboard.

"But not yet." The hand gentled and stroked the sensitive skin, then skimmed the older man's cheek. "Now, let's eat."

For nearly half an hour, Alex fed himself and his restrained lover, often dropping bits of food onto Fox's body and picking them off with his teeth or tongue. When he had Fox writhing and pleading for mercy, he cleared the tray away, then returned to the side of the bed. "Was it good?" he asked as his hand slid up to the top button of his shirt.

Fox nodded, his eyes trained on Alex's hand.

The younger man slowly undid the button then moved on to the next. "How about some dessert?"

Fox's hips bucked slightly off the bed in response to Alex's offer.

"Was that a yes?"

"Yes," Fox rasped. "Please..."

Alex said nothing more as he finished removing his shirt, then started on his jeans. He held Fox's eyes with his own as he undid the top button and pulled the zipper down, revealing the rigid, flushed shaft behind it. He pushed the jeans down to his knees and sat down on the edge of the bed, removing his shoes and socks, then pulled the denim down and off. Finally, he stood naked before his tortured lover.

Fox's eyes raked over him and he unconsciously bit into his lower lip.

"You ready for your dessert?" Alex asked softly while one hand grazed the underside of his own cock.

Fox mouthed the word yes as his body squirmed in anticipation.

Alex approached and untied one hand, bringing it back up to the headboard and securing it there. As he reached for Fox's other hand, the older man began to fight.

"No...*no*..."

Alex wrenched Fox's arm up above his head and held it to the mattress until the older man ceased to struggle. "You just tacked another hour onto your punishment," he growled, receiving a desperate sob as a response.

"No, Alex, please. I can't. Find another way..."

"Would anything else be as effective?" Alex asked as he now unbent Fox's arm and tied it to the headboard. "Of course not," he answered his own question.

"Alex...baby, I promise...I..."

Alex stretched out beside Fox and stroked his cheek with one knuckle. "What do you promise?"

Fox rubbed his face against the finger, grateful for any contact. "I'll be good," he pleaded. "I won't...I won't do anything else to upset you."

"Of course you will," Alex purred. "You're an exasperating, infuriating, stubborn man. Sounds like I'm describing myself." He paused and went on. "Anyway, if you *didn't* do things to upset me, you wouldn't be you. What I *do* want from you is your word that you'll never intentionally put yourself in danger again. I don't care what your reasons are."

"I promise. I promise..."

"Good. Then I won't have to punish you any more after this."

Fox turned his head and groaned. "You're not going to let me go."

"Not till we're through." He slid off the bed and again headed out of the room.

"Where are you going now?"

"I'll be back," Alex called as he continued out the door. He returned minutes later with a bowl of strawberry ice cream and set it down on the nightstand. He stooped down and pulled a small bundle wrapped in a bath towel out from under the bed and placed it on the mattress.

Fox watched warily as Alex unwrapped the bundle, then his eyelids drooped and he sucked in a hard breath as the contents were revealed to him.

A simple, studded cock ring, a red silk scarf, some lube, a vibrator that he assumed was his own, and a larger, thicker, but very life-like dildo.

"I got you some new toys to go with your vibrator," Alex said as he picked up the red silk first. "You like them?"

Not sure how he should answer, Fox remained silent.

Alex straddled his waist and rubbed the material against his face. "You can answer me honestly."

"I...I don't know," Fox breathed, nuzzling the silk.

"You like *this*..."

The older man nodded.

"Feels good?" Alex dragged the scarf down Fox's chest, stroking it over his nipples.

Another nod.

Alex pulled his hand away and began to neatly fold the material lengthwise. He covered Fox's eyes and secured the scarf at the back of his head. "Now let's see if you like this..."

Fox jumped as for the first time in ages, his lover touched his cock.

Quickly and efficiently, Alex fastened the cock ring around the base of the swollen shaft and watched as his lover gritted his teeth and let out an agonized moan. "I guess you don't like that as much," he murmured. "You know what *that's* going to do, don't you? It's going to keep you from coming." Now unseen, he smiled at Fox's sob. "That's the bad news. The good news is, when I take it off, you're going to come harder than you ever imagined you could. And all of a sudden, you're going to love this little strip of leather. "Now let's see, what else?" He reached for the vibrator and the lube. Squeezing some out onto the vibrator, he spread it over the latex shaft then pulled Fox down until he had better access to his ass. "Did I tell you that I broke my vibrator?" He asked as he spread his lover's cheeks and stroked the tip over his anus.

Fox's muscles seized, and he cried out as the cool, slick object pressed against him.

"Easy, baby," Alex hummed softly as he inched the shaft inside. "What was I saying? Oh, yeah. I broke my vibrator. Chucked it against the wall one night after I finished fucking myself with it. I was so frustrated..." He ignored Fox's continued cries and pushed the vibrator deeper. "I mean, I came, but it wasn't the same. I'm sure you know what I mean. It was you I wanted." He paused, then slid the vibrator in the rest of the way. "Do you miss fucking me, baby?"

"Yes," Fox choked. "Miss...miss you...oh, *God*..."

Alex turned the vibrator on low and shifted Fox so that the end stayed wedged against the mattress. "How's that?" he asked, knowing damn well that he was pushing his lover to the limit and beyond.

"Please...Alex, please...I'll do anything for you. Anything, but *please* let...let me come..."

"I will," Alex whispered into his ear. "But I'm not through with you yet." His tongue danced around the outside edge of Fox's ear then tickled the inside for a moment before embarking on the next part of his torture.

Something cool, smooth, and sweet touched Fox's lips, and he stopped whimpering long enough to realize it was the ice cream. He lapped cautiously at the melting dessert.

But that was no spoon it was on.

His tongue ventured farther out, sliding along the ridge of the latex head of the dildo, then disappeared back into his mouth carrying the ice cream inside. The next lick and the one after that were bolder, more wanton, and Alex's cock twitched as he watched his lover's tongue slither over the smooth shaft.

When Fox removed all of the ice cream, Alex dipped the tip of the dildo back into the bowl. As he again touched the head to Fox's lips, he reached behind his head and untied the scarf.

Fox blinked as his eyes refocused, then he looked at the man in front of him.

Alex said nothing. He simply held Fox's gaze and nudged the dildo against his mouth. Fox's lips parted, and he slid the head between them. In seconds, he was sucking hungrily at the latex, drawing more and more into his mouth until he was deep throating the thing, and Alex's hands began to tremble.

Fox was whimpering continuously now. His eyes dropped shut as Alex slowly fucked his mouth with the dildo, and the vibrator sent tremor after tremor through his lower body. The sensations being sent to his cock went way beyond agony, and he was sure that if Alex stimulated him *any* more, he would explode.

Alex lowered his head to Fox's chest, and the tip of his tongue flicked delicately at the painfully hard nipples. The muffled shriek vibrated down the dildo and into his hand.

"Shhhhh." He blew on one moistened nipple, then gently clamped his teeth around it and pulled.

Fox arched up off the bed, twisting his head from side to side as he screamed.

Alex lost his grip on the dildo and it fell to the floor. He released Fox's nipple from his mouth, and he slid up until he was sitting on the older man's thighs, knees straddling his hips. His weight put more pressure on the vibrator, it shifted, just barely touching Fox's prostate, and he screamed again.

"Mmmm," Alex purred against his mouth, "is that the spot?"

Fox bucked under him, sobbing and cursing.

"Yeah, I guess that's it." Alex reached down and lightly stroked his lover's cock, watching with satisfaction as Fox hissed through clenched teeth and arched against his hand. "Do you wanna fuck me, baby?"

Fox forced his eyes to open, and he trained them on his tormentor. "Don't tease me."

"I'm not." Alex lifted himself up a few inches and held his lover's cock as he sank down onto it.

"Oh, my God," Fox whispered harshly, "oh, my God. I can't...I..." He bucked again and again, pushing himself as deeply into his lover as he could go, all the while sobbing broken, unintelligible words. Mind-shattering orgasm loomed right in front of him, but he couldn't grasp it...it wouldn't come...

Alex reached out, his hands stroking and kneading the other man's flesh as he rode him. His own cock screamed for release, and as tempted as he was to really drive Fox insane and jerk himself off again, he didn't. The next time he came, it would be while he was deep inside Fox, and his beautiful, tormented love would be coming with him...

Fox strained against the ties, and the veins stood out on his neck. A wild howl broke from his throat, and as quickly as the sound had risen, it was smothered as Alex took his mouth in a kiss that demanded his attention. He arched into the kiss, opening his mouth for his lover's probing tongue, and shuddered as his senses went into overload. He was now being fucked in every way he possibly could be, and still, he could not come.

A tear of extreme frustration escaped past his closed lids, and just as he thought his mind and body would break in two, Alex pulled away from him. The younger man lifted himself off of his cock and gently pulled the vibrator out of his ass, twisting it slowly from side to side as he did. Fox lay twitching and empty, all stimulation having been removed at once. Then a breath, warm and sweet on his lips, prompted him to open his eyes. Almost black eyes stared down at him, and Alex traced the swell of his lower lip with the tip of his tongue.

"I'm going to untie you," he whispered, incurring a grateful whimper. "And then I'm going to take the cock ring off."

"Oh, God, thank you," Fox sobbed, writhing against his lover.

"And then," Alex paused, making sure he had Fox's undivided attention. "I'm going to fuck you into tomorrow."

Fox's neck arched as jolts of electricity accompanied Alex's words. He lay as still as his trembling body would allow as Alex untied first one hand and then the other. The younger man massaged his wrists then kissed each one and laid his arms at his sides.

"Now, relax." He stroked Fox's cheek and placed a light kiss on his chin. "Breathe easy..."

Fox stiffened but did his best to obey Alex's instructions as he removed the studded strap. He gathered up fistfuls of sheet, biting his lip until at last, the strap dropped to the floor.

Alex picked up the lube and settled himself on top of Fox. "It's all right, baby," he murmured in soothing tones, noticing that Fox's arms were still at his sides, "you can touch me."

Fox's fingers unwound from the sheets and slid up over Alex's hips. They lingered on the rounded muscles of his ass, rubbing and squeezing, then wandered up and down his back as he pushed upward, whining impatiently.

Quickly, Alex squeezed some lube into his hand and reached between them, applying it to his cock. "Okay, baby," he rasped as he threw the tube aside and reared back, flipping Fox over and pulling him up onto his knees. He held the writhing man as still as he could with one hand while he guided his cock with the other toward his goal.

Fox pressed his cheek to the pillow, gasping at that first tentative thrust, and before he could suck the breath back in, it was lost. All at once Alex was there, perpetrating an exquisitely ferocious assault on his body, driving relentlessly forward even as he yanked Fox back against him. He withdrew almost to the tip, then slammed back in, and Fox rediscovered his voice.

Alex's mouth trembled into a satisfied smile as his lover emitted a loud, mewling sob. He plunged one hand into the golden-brown hair and pulled Fox up so that he was now on his hands and knees. Not releasing his grasp on the tangled strands, he again surged forward, enjoying the slap of flesh against flesh, and the tight, hot grip on his cock.

"Beautiful," he ground out between gritted teeth, now pounding into Fox with short, fast strokes. "Squeeze me, baby....oh, God, yeah..."

Wracked with agony and drenched in sweat, Fox stuggled to hold himself up, but his weakening muscles refused to cooperate. As his shoulders began to sink to the mattress, he felt Alex pull out of him. Before he could protest, he was jerked onto his back, and his lover unceremoniously plunged back into him.

"Fuck...fuck me, Alex," he gasped, clawing at the younger man's perspiraton-slick back. "Please...harder..."

"Yeah?" Alex drew back and drove in. "You want it harder?"

"*Yes*. Oh, God, please."

Alex was hanging on by a thread, but he refused to come until he had made good on his promise. He gritted his teeth and proceeded to fuck Fox within an inch of his life. "How's that?" he growled, ramming his cock again and again into his lover's ass.

Fox responded with a bone-jarring wail.

"That's it, baby...that's what I want." Alex picked up the silk scarf and wrapped it around his lover's cock. "Come on, beautiful..." His hand moved over the silk-draped shaft, milking it in time to his quickening thrusts. "...give it to me..."

The wail turned to a ferocious, sobbing scream as the unbearable tension finally burst and Fox came, drenching the scarf and Alex's hand in his semen. He thrashed wildly, spending every ounce of his strength then went limp, whining softly as he was pressed repeatedly into the mattress.

"Jesus," Alex grated, "thank you, baby...thank..." Two more brutal thrusts and he exploded, filling Fox with his heat. His body shuddered uncontrollably then collapsed on top of his motionless lover. He lay quivering, head resting on Fox's shoulder, and before any of his thoughts could organize into anything intelligent, he had joined the other man in oblivion.

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

Alex blinked in the darkness and turned his head in the direction of the alarm clock.

Two forty-five.

//Shit. Good thing those candles were slow burning.//

He turned and looked at the man beside him.

Though at some point Alex had moved from on top of him to beside him, Fox looked as though he hadn't budged since he'd passed out in this position at least three hours before.

Alex stroked the stubbled cheek with the backs of his fingers, smiling at the tiny twitch of the sleep-swollen lips. He slipped out of bed and moved quietly around the room, snuffing out all of the candles, then walked into the bathroom. Five minutes later, he returned and got back into bed, snuggling close to his unconscious lover and drifted back into sleep.

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

Bacon.

"Mmmmmm."

Coffee.

Fresh baked...something.

Fox's eyes fluttered open and he moaned softly as he began to move.

"Shit."

The grimace turned to a grin as he remembered the cause of his sore muscles. He pulled himself into a sitting position and winced again, turning onto his side.

Another grin.

Alex wasn't kidding when he said he wouldn't be able to sit down for a week.

Bless his sadistic heart.

Fox slipped out of bed and performed a few simple stretches, trying to loosen up. A few curses later, he headed for the bathroom and a hot shower.

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

Alex smiled as the kitched door opened and he felt Fox approach.

"How's your ass?"

The older man pressed against his lover's back, wrapping his arms around his waist.

"How do you *think* it is?"

Alex turned to face him, eyes sparkling. He reached down, stroking a hand over Fox's rear. "I don't know," he purred. "You're *walking*."

"Yeah. Not without some discomfort. We won't even *talk* about sitting."

"Awww. I'm sorry."

"Fucking liar. "

Alex gave him an impish grin. "Okay, so I'm lying. Tell me you didn't love it."

"I didn't love it."

"Now, who's lying?"

Fox chuckled and tightened his hold on the younger man. He dropped his head to Alex's shoulder and lightly nuzzled his neck. "Actually," he purred, "you've made me your slave for life."

"You mean you weren't before?"

Fox closed his teeth over a patch of skin and growled softly in answer.

"If you're not careful," Alex warned, his cock beginning to stir, "it's gonna be *two* weeks before you can sit."

Fox released him and gently licked the area. "Is that supposed to be a threat?"

"It probably would be for anyone but you." He gave his lover a lascivious smirk. "So, you gonna eat here, at the counter, or what?"

"No, wise-ass, I'll sit."

Alex served breakfast then sat and watched, amused, as Fox winced and sighed, trying to find a comfortable position.

"Want me to get you a pillow?" Alex snickered. "Or one of those donut things that people with hemmoroids use?"

Fox picked up a hot corn muffin and gave Alex a mock glare. "Fuck you."

Twin pools of deep green glittered with growing lust. "Promise?"

Fox picked a piece off of the muffin and fed it to the younger man. "Bet on it."

As they ate, their conversaton took on a different tone.

"So, what do you think Smokey's going to do now?"

Alex swallowed his mouthful of scrambled eggs before replying. "Stay the hell out of my sight if he knows what's good for him."

Fox snapped his fingers. "Speaking of sight. We gotta search the apartment. He's got it bugged."

Alex rubbed his temple with two fingers. "That's right, he did allude to that in the answering machine recording."

"I'd actually forgotten about it till a few minutes ago."

"Okay. Let's finish breakfast and then we'll turn this place upside down...unless it really bugs you that he may be watching us eat..."

"No." Fox looked around and raised his glass of orange juice. "But God knows what else he might be watching."

Alex grinned. "You mean, you think the old pervert was watching us last night?"

Fox shrugged then shuddered.

"Hope you got your rocks off, motherfucker," Alex spoke into the air. "It was the last time."

When breakfast was done, the two men loaded the dishwashwer, then began their search. Five hours later, they'd turned up a phone bug and one camera in the bedroom.

"Shit, he really did have one in the bedroom,"  Fox moaned after Alex had destroyed the device.

"I didn't call him an old pervert for nothing." Alex gathered up the pieces and dropped them into the garbage bag they'd brought into the room with them. He turned and found Fox sitting on the bed, a combination of disgust and anger in his eyes. He set the bag down and came to kneel before his lover. "It bothers you that much?"

Distrubed hazel eyes looked up into his. "Y-yeah. Doesn't it bother you?"

Alex shrugged. "Even if he taped us, there's nothing he's going to do with it..." He grinned. "...except watch it and jerk off." The grin turned to a half-grimace. "A disgusting thought....anyway..." He cupped Fox's chin and smiled up at him. "It's okay, baby, there's nothing to worry about. Believe me, despite that three pack a day habit, the man really does want to live."

No response.

The smile faded. "*Is* there something to worry about?"

Fox's head tilted a bit to the side. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know." Alex rose to his feet. "Fox, did..." He stopped, not wanting to ask, but he took a breath and posed the question. "Did anything happen with you and..."

Understanding widened Fox's eyes. "*No*."

"Nothing at all?"

"*Nothing*. Alex, why would you..." He paused, recalling Alex's confrontation with Skinner the night before. "*That's* what all that was about. You know, I was so intent on telling you that I loved you, most of it went right over my head at the time, but...you'd been watching me. You saw me coming and going with Skinner."

"Yeah," Alex said softly. "I saw you. I was fairly sure that nothing had happened, but..."

Fox rose to stand face to face with his lover. "But *nothing*. I have to tell you that you *were* right when you told me that he wanted me. But as soon as I realized it, I laid it all out for him. I was kind, but I told him that under no uncertain terms, you were all I wanted."

Alex nodded then asked another question. "What made you realize it?"

Fox inhaled deeply, then let it out before answering. "Different little things he said...looks...the way he touched me. I...I started wondering, but I thought it was just me. I felt terrible about it. Then the night I came home from Massachusetts...wait...let's get something straight first...that *was* you I saw, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

The older man nodded. "Okay. Where was I? Uh...that night I went to his apartment. I was so upset with Scully and he'd been so good about listening to me. I went there and started ranting, and I guess...well, he *said* he couldn't help himself..."

"Couldn't help himself *what*?"

"He just...touched me. They were more like...caresses..."

Alex's jaw tightened but he remained silent.

"He tried to kiss me..."

Until that last statement.

"He what?"

"Tried, Alex, I said he *tried*. I stopped him." Fox threaded his fingers through his lover's hair. "And that's when I told him that I belonged to you." He brushed his lips against Alex's. "Just you."

Alex wound his arms around Fox's waist and covered his lips in a long, possessive kiss. When he pulled away, he hugged Fox to him. "Mine," he whispered into his lover's hair.

"I'm glad you're so happy about it." Fox rubbed his head against Alex's shoulder. "Because chances are, you're going to have a whole lot of me on your hands." He lifted his head and looked into his lover's confused eyes. "I'd made it clear to Skinner that if you were to come back to me, I'd take you back. Then I asked him about my job."

Alex's eyes dropped shut for a brief moment then opened. "What'd he say? As if I couldn't guess."

"In essence, he said it'd depend on how he read you."

"Shit. If I'd known that, babe, I'd have made an effort to be nice to him..."

"Oh, yeah, you'd love that. No, I don't want my job security dependent on how well you can kiss Skinner's ass. I've told you several times, it isn't *that* important."

"It *is* important, Fox. In your position, there are resouces that you can more readily access than me..."

"Alex, I don't believe that there's anything I can get my hands on that *you* can't."

"That's true. But you'd more than likely leave a lot less of a mess in your wake than I would." He reached up and lightly massaged the back of Fox's neck. "Besides, for *years* you've put your blood into the X-files. It's your baby. You can't tell me it wouldn't break your heart to have to lose it."

Fox kissed each of his lover's cheeks then the tip of his nose.  "*You're* my baby. And giving you up would break my heart into a thousand *more* pieces...it did. I don't ever want to feel emptiness like that again."

Alex dropped his head down onto Fox's shoulder and sighed softly into the mustard-colored cotton of his shirt. "I don't want you to look at me years...maybe *months* from now and think, 'shit, what've I done?' I don't want you to end up hating me. That's why I left. I'd rather go knowing you still loved me. I'd rather remember seeing love in your eyes than loathing. I couldn't live with that."

Fox grasped a handful of hair and pulled Alex's head up. "And how do you think I'd be able to live with wondering what the hell had happened?"

"I thought that in time Scully would convince you that she was right and you'd go back to hating me."

Fox merely stared, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry," Alex murmured. "I guess we're both a couple of dummies."

A smile curved Fox's lips. "S'cuse me?"

Alex returned the smile. "*We*. As in you and me. I was a dummy for thinking you wouldn't react the way you did, and you were a dummy for letting yourself drop into Smokey's lap."

Fox bowed his head in submission. "Okay, okay. From now on we make nothing but smart moves, all right?"

Alex kissed the top of his head. "Works for me. So...since you're more than likely out of a job, what do you think about us working together?" His lips brushed over Fox's, and he breathed against them, "We'll kick their asses, baby. Together, you and I will be unstoppable. We can get this shit cleaned up in no time."

Fox smiled at the prospect of working side by side with his lover. "You mean we could travel together?"

"Yeah." Alex nuzzled his neck. "We'd never have to be apart. We could watch each other's backs."

"Mmmm." Fox's hands skimmed over his lover. "I love washing your back. The way the water and the soap run down over the muscles, and your skin is so slick and..."

"Uh. Babe. I said *watch*, not wash."

"Oh. Well, I'd love to watch it too. Let's do it in front of a mirror so I can see how it moves when you're fucking me..."

Alex laughed softly. "You just can't get your mind out of the gutter, can you? I can see you now, wanting to rip my clothes off amidst the rubble of a building we just blew up."

Fox moaned and began to unbutton Alex's shirt. "Stop, you're making me hot."

"Oh, please," Alex chuckled, allowing his lover to continue. "Asking you for the time of day makes you hot."

Fox undid the last button and began to tug at the shirt. "You complaining?"

Alex assisted his lover and let the shirt drop to the floor. "Hell no. I was just making an observation."

"Uh huh." Fox shed his own shirt and pulled Alex into his arms. Their lips fused and he swallowed the younger man's groan even as he sucked his tongue into his mouth. As they kissed, his hands wandered the expanse of Alex's back, stroking over the flexing muscle, then one hand dipped below the waistband of his jeans, skimming the beginning curve of his ass.

"Take em off," Alex mumbled into his lovers' mouth as he pressed against the growing bulge in his jeans.

"Good idea." Fox backed off, undoing his own jeans and pulling them down just far enough to free his cock. "That's better."

"Well," Alex stammered, "I meant *mine*, but both is good..."

Fox cupped the back of the younger man's head, massaging lightly. "Uh, yeah, but not quite yet."

Alex sent him a suspicious frown. "No?"

"No. First I want you to get down on your knees."

The frown turned into a salacious grin. "Right here?"

"Yeah, right here."

Slowly, he sank to his knees, his eyes never leaving Fox's face. "Now, what?" His voice was a husky whisper as his hands skimmed the backs of the older man's legs.

Fox gave Alex a trace of a smile and gently pulled his head forward until his cock bumped the corner of his mouth.

Eyes still glued on his lover's, Alex moved his head back and forth, letting the solid column of flesh brush his mouth and cheeks. On the next pass, his tongue crept out and stroked the velvety skin, causing Fox's body to jerk slightly. Sable eyelashes swept downward momentarily as Alex kissed away the pearly drop at the tip, then they rose again, revealing eyes darkened to near-blackness. They stared up into eyes that at this moment seemed a deep bluish-green, and the bowed lips opened, sliding over the flared head.

Fox's head tilted back and a soft gasp pushed from his throat as he felt moist warmth engulf the head of his cock. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the heavenly sensation of his lover's tongue sliding over the blunt surface...carefully tracing the prominent ridge, and tickling the small opening at the tip. Unconsciously, his hips began to sway, and his fingers slid through Alex's hair, curling around the sable strands at the back of his head.

Alex's hands slid up over Fox's ass and carefully pulled him forward. It took very little encouragement to get the older man moving in the right direction, and Alex moaned aloud, finding the ample length of muscle now filling his mouth and nudging the back of his throat. His fingers tightened, clutching his lover's ass as Fox pulled back, leaving only the head inside his mouth, then slid forward again.

"Oh, God." The utterance barely reached Alex's ears, but nevertheless Fox had said it, whispering the two words like a prayer. His hips rotated as he inched forward again, giving Alex what he craved.

Alex sucked greedily at every new inch of flesh that was fed to him, and when it was suddenly all taken away, he whined in protest. Fox pulled him up, letting him slide up along his body, then held him in a loving embrace.

"I'm sorry, baby," Fox's shaky voice murmured. "I was too close, and I refuse to come until I'm inside you."

Alex shuddered at the declaration then quickly undid his jeans and pulled them off. He wrapped himself around the other man, kissing and licking his overheated skin. "Then fuck me, Fox. Please."

Fox took a moment to compose himself then reached behind his back, grasping Alex's wrists and pulling his hands behind his own back. He held them there and stared into the glazed depths of his lover's eyes. "How bad do you want it?" he whispered.

"Oh, God, baby, I want it *bad*," Alex whimpered, trying to get close enough to rub against him.

Fox held him away, increasing his frustration, then spun him around and pushed him face first into the mattress. Again capturing Alex's hands behind his back, Fox held them with one hand while he reached into the nightstand drawer with the other. He unscrewed the cap with his teeth, then squeezed the cool gel directly onto his cock. He gritted his teeth as he stroked it on, then guided his cock into the younger man's raised ass.

Alex cried out into the blanket beneath his head and pushed back, trying to get more of his lover into him as quickly as possible, but Fox held back and gave him a firm but painless smack on one rounded cheek.

"Patience, my love," the older man purred. "You're lucky I don't do to you what you did to me last night." He leaned over Alex's back, licking his way to his shoulder. "Don't think I won't *ever* do it. I'm just going to wait until you least expect it." He bit into the curved flesh between Alex's shoulder and neck, pulling a harsh grunt from the younger man. As he sucked the skin into his mouth, he thrust forward, fully burying himself in his lover's slick heat.

A loud, unintelligible sound tumbled from Alex's lips, and he trembled at the sensation. "Fuck me," he begged almost too softly to be heard, then said it again a little louder. Then again and again, until he was sobbing it into the mattress.

"You got it, baby." One hand kept Alex's wrists firmly secured behind his back while the other grasped his shoulder, and Fox began to slam into him with short, fast strokes.

Alex howled as the tension escalated to an unbearable level. His cock screamed for relief, but he couldn't touch it, and Fox refused to let go of his hands. "Baby," he begged breathlessly, "baby...please...please, oh, *shit*, please..."

Fox released his hands and pushed him onto his stomach. He rolled Alex quickly onto his back and, falling on top of him, hooked his hands under his knees. As he pulled them up, Alex automatically wrapped his legs around his waist, and he drove home. As he began to thrust, he grasped his lover's cock and stroked it as quickly as his hips moved. Alex's harsh sobs pushed him to more violent action. He gathered his strength and rammed into the younger man, jerking his cock harder and faster until they were both gasping and screaming their satisfaction into the still morning air.

Alex groaned softly as Fox's head came down with a not-so-gentle thump on his shoulder, and he smiled wearily as he turned his face into his lover's hair. "What a stud," he breathed, into the golden-brown silk. His comment earned him a weak squeeze and a kiss on his neck.

"Must be the company I keep."

Alex draped his arms over Fox's back and nuzzled his forehead. "I'll never get enough of you....hey...let's go out tonight."

Fox lifted his head from his lover's shoulder and squinted down at him. "Could you warn me before you switch gears like that?"

"Sorry. Actually one is kinda tied to the other."

"How do you figure?"

"I want to take you someplace special."

"*Special*?"

"Don't look so suspicious. It's someplace we'll both enjoy."

"Where is it?"

"Down on K Street. Dimly lit, good music...three different dance floor levels...interesting scenery." His hand swept from Fox's back to his ass and squeezed gently. "Lots of nooks and corners to get...lost in..."

Fox squirmed in his lover's arms. "Sounds fascinating, but, Alex...right in Washington?"

"Who the hell's gonna see you there? And if you *do* see anybody you know there, you can be pretty damn sure that they're not gonna be passing judgement on you."

"True."

"Come on, baby," Alex coaxed. "Let me take you out. We need to celebrate, don't we?"

"Yeah." Fox brushed Alex's jaw with his fingertips. "Yeah, we do."

"Good. We're gonna have such a good time."

They lay together for a while longer, then picked themselves up and headed into the shower.

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

The rest of the day was spent relaxing and talking, and of course, teasing. They ate a light supper at six-thirty and began preparing for their night out at around nine.

"This is getting dressed to go out?" Fox asked as he pulled his worn jeans down over the black boots that Alex had dug out of his closet.

"To this place? Yep." Alex secured the silver hoop in his left ear and ran a hand through his hair.

Fox stood up and gave his lover the once-over.

Faded jeans that looked about as old as the pair he was wearing, and snug enough to emphasize his beautiful ass and the bulge he was already sporting. A tight, white t-shirt, and the ever-present leather jacket added to the ensemble, and the earring, day's growth of stubble, and Doc Martens completed it.

"You look good enough to eat," Fox observed as he approached his lover.

Alex gave him a curious look. "*Really*?"

"Mmm hmm."

He smiled then, and grazed the underside of his lover's chin with one finger. "So do you." His finger traveled down the length of Fox's throat and ended at the closure of his black silk shirt. Gently, he worked at the fastening, bringing the total of undone buttons to three. Hazel eyes rose to meet his, and his lover gave him a seductive smile.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing," Alex responded softly, petting the sprinkling of golden-brown hair.

"We're not going to make it out of here if you keep that up," Fox teased, rubbing his cheek against the other man's.

"Oh, no." Alex removed his hand from his lover's chest. "We're going *out* tonight. Let's go." He opened up the closet door and, retrieving a blanket, headed into the living room.

"Uh...Alex?" Fox called after his lover as he followed, "what's the blanket for?"

"Blanket? What blanket?"

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

Tepid beef stew and a beer.

//Boy, this is living.//

Skinner shoved the bowl aside and looked over at the paper he'd picked up on his way home today.

It had taken him fifteen minutes of walking in circles to decide to actually buy the singles paper, and when he finally did, he kept his head down, paid the vendor, and walked quickly away.

Now it sat on his coffee table, unread and unfolded...beckoning to him.

He gingerly picked the paper up and opened it. He immediately noticed a large gay and lesbian section, advertising the many clubs and events in the area.

"Damn."

He'd had no idea that Washington had such a large homosexual community, but the ads for at least twenty to thirty clubs, and pages and pages of singles ads certainly seemed to confirm it.

He closed his eyes and rolled the paper up in his square hands.

//What the hell are you doing?//

The throbbing in his jeans answered that question.

//But it's not a meaningless fuck you want. It's *him*.//

//Well, you can't *have* him, can you? Every last inch of him belongs to that son of a bitch Krycek. So why *not* go looking for a little action? You've jerked off how many times since yesterday and what good has it done you? Maybe a nice warm mouth will fix you...for a little while, at least...//

He unrolled the paper and spread it out before him.

//Now. Where the hell to go?//

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

Alex's car pulled into a large parking lot behind the club, and the two alighted from the vehicle. He took Fox's hand and they made their way toward the front of the building. As they walked past a green Buick, Fox smiled. Inside, a couple of men were kissing and groping each other like there was no tomorrow.

"I guess we're at the right place," he said dryly, looking from the car to another couple just outside the front of the club. One of the men was against the wall and the other was pressed up against him, mouth clamped on his neck.

Just before they reached the door, it burst open and a slightly-built blonde man dashed from the building and down the street. A larger man, also blonde, ran out after him, calling his name.

"Somebody's upset," Fox commented as they finally reached the door, and one of the men against the wall tore his attention away from his partner long enough to respond.

"Jimmy and Roger. Those two have a fight at least twice a week." Then, without missing a beat, he resumed sucking on his lover's neck.

Alex snorted, shaking his head, and opened the door. With his hand closed securely around Fox's, they stepped inside.

The club was pretty much as Alex had described it. Fairly dark with three large levels for dancing off to the right. Fox looked up and noticed another floor circling the perimeter of the place. There, he noticed mostly tables and a few sofas, most of which were occupied. The denizens of the second floor, if not otherwise engaged, sipped their drinks and watched the goings-on below.

"Want to get something to drink?"

Fox's attention snapped back to his lover, and he nodded. Alex tugged him gently toward the bar, and while they waited to place their order, the younger man slipped his hand beneath Fox's leather jacket and rubbed his silk-covered back.

"What do you think?"

Fox looked around again, noting the sensuous throb of the music and rhythmic gyrations of the bodies on the dance floor, and looked back to his lover. "I like it."

Alex snaked his arm around Fox's waist and pulled him against his chest. "I knew you would. It's very uh..." He glanced to his left at the couple who were feverishly humping each other against the bar, then looked back. "...inspirational."

Before Fox could reply, the two to their left cried out, one after the other, then slumped against each other. Fox buried his head in Alex's chest, and he shook with laughter.

"Hey, what's so funny?" Alex inquired, slipping a hand under Fox's chin and lifting his head. "By the end of the night, you're going to be coming, too. Of course, it'll be better than *that*..."

Fox's eyes widened. "What? Oh...oh, no, I *won't*."

"Oh, yes, you *will*."

"Not *here*, I won't."

Alex anchored his hand in Fox's hair, holding his head still for the searing gaze the older man had come to know as deadly serious. "Yes, you will."

Fox's mouth trembled into a nervous smile. "Alex...I...I..."

"You what?" His hips moved slowly, seducing; cajoling and mesmerizing the other's into an identical rhythm.

Fox watched the green eyes darken to something resembling a starless sky, and he fell. Just fell into them as easily as if they were a pool of warm, still water. He leaned slowly forward, never closing his eyes until the very last moment, and delicately brushed his lips across his lover's.

Alex slid one hand down to Fox's ass as they writhed together, just barely making contact, and his tongue slithered out to caress his lover's trembling mouth. "Are you going to come for me tonight?"

Fox sucked in a shaky breath and nodded.

"Whenever and wherever I want you to?" He felt the soft rush of breath as Fox whispered the word 'yes' against his lips.

"Good." Alex bit down on that pouting lower lip and tugged gently. "I knew you'd see it my way."

The bartender finally made it down to their end of the bar and Alex placed the order. When they had their drinks in hand, they moved through the crowd, Alex pulling his lover along behind him. Finding no open tables, they moved into a dark corner of the club, and Alex backed Fox into the wall. He leaned into the older man, letting his lover feel every inch of him. He then took a long swallow from his beer bottle, and as he pulled it away, he rubbed it across Fox's mouth.

"Have I told you how incredibly fucking hot you look tonight?"

"More or less," Fox answered in that same smoky tone.

Alex gave him a half-smirk and let the mouth of the bottle slide over his chin and down the column of his throat. "So damn fucking sexy."

Fox watched silently as Alex drained his bottle then looked at the one dangling from his fingers. He reached down and gently pulled the bottle from Fox's grip and held it up to his mouth. Fox obediently parted his lips and drank as Alex held the bottle. When he'd drained most of the contents, Alex disposed of both bottles and pulled him out onto the dance floor.

Choosing the most conspicuous spot on the third level, Alex jerked his lover against him and they started to move in time to the pounding beat.

A few couples around them watched in appreciation as the two men writhed in perfectly in-sync, wild abandon, quickly and completely becoming lost in the music and each other.

His face not more than three inches from his lover's, Alex watched small beads of sweat appear on Fox's face and run down it as his body undulated in his lover's embrace. Unable to resist temptation, he moved and and licked the moisture away from Fox's jaw. He felt the vibration of the older man's groan, and Fox's head fell back, giving him clear access to his throat.

Several people watched, hypnotized, as the two rocked against each other, and one licked a long path up the other's throat. When he reached his partner's chin, he tangled one hand in his hair and pulled him into a ravenous kiss...

As the erotic scene played out on the third level, a newcomer entered the club, looking around and at the same time trying to remain unnoticed. Soon enough, he followed the attention of a good many people and squinted at the familiar men dancing at least six feet above the main floor.

Men.

Barely.

The way they moved. The way they clutched at each other; devoured each other's mouths, it was so feral, so...barely human.

They were gorgeous.

The one with the lighter hair shifted his head and all at once, Walter Skinner's world collapsed.

Mulder and Krycek.

"Jesus Christ."

The man he'd come to stand beside looked over at him and smiled. "Fucking hot, aren't they? The temperature has shot up at least thirty degrees since they've been up there. Watch." The man's eyes darted around. "Any time now, this place is going to explode."

Skinner blinked, unable to tear his eyes away...unable to keep his heart from thudding painfully in his chest. "Wh-what do you mean?"

"They've got everybody in this joint horny, now." The stranger smiled at the larger man. "*Everybody's* gonna get some tonight."

Skinner continued to watch, all at once horrified and hypnotized. This wasn't happening to him. This was *not* happening to him. Of all the goddamn clubs in this city, he had to pick this one...

The driving beat faded and switched to something slow, and sexy, and impossibly romantic, and the two simply melted into the new rhythm. Alex's mouth gentled on his lover's, and he pulled him into this arms, holding him in a loving embrace as they swayed gently. Their hands glided over each other, keeping themselves well aroused, and when a voice sounded only inches behind Alex's right ear, his eyes snapped open in surprise.

"Hey, uh...mind if I cut in?"

He and Fox looked at the man who stood about as tall as they did. Deep blue eyes flicked hopefully from his face to Fox's.

"Just one dance." The man smiled at Alex. "I'll give him right back to you...assuming he wants to come back."

Alex felt Fox's hands clench in his shirt and the golden-brown head dropped to his shoulder. "Sorry," he said flatly, petting his lover's head.

The other man nodded and smiled politely. "Can't say I blame you. Have a good night."

When the stranger had gone, Alex urged Fox to lift his head.

"A lot of that goes on here."

"That?"

"Yeah. There are a ton of singles here. They come to pair off for the night. A single person might go through seven or eight guys before he finds the one he wants. That guy wanted you. He gave it a shot and failed...he won't bother us again." He hugged his lover to him. "Word'll get around fast that we're together and we'll be pretty much left alone. They'll just content themselves to watch."

Fox rubbed his head against the younger man's shoulder then picked his head up. "I thought I was going to come at least three times during that first dance."

"Why didn't you?" Alex pivoted and continued to rock with his lover.

Fox gave him a timid smile. "I didn't think you'd be happy if I did."

Alex's fingers stroked a path down Fox's chest and began to work the buttons of his shirt loose. "And you want to make me happy?"

Fox's eyes grew heavy, and he nodded, whispering, "You know I do."

Alex's hand swept inside his lover's open shirt and grazed one hard nipple. "Then let's find someplace to get comfortable." He took Fox's hand and, keeping the other man very close, he moved through the crowd and found a newly deserted sofa. He dropped down to the cushions, pulling Fox with him...

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

Having ordered himself a beer, Skinner prowled around the room, ignoring a number of propositions and leering looks. Shit, he was here, so he might as well observe these two together while Alex didn't know he had an audience.

He found a spot that was out of the men's immediate line of sight, but where he had a good view. And minutes after he settled down to watch, he wished he hadn't. His hand tightened around his bottle as Mulder curled against that bastard, stroking and nuzzling him. And the look on Krycek's face was one of pure, sensuous bliss.

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

Alex let his head drop back over the sofa cushion, enjoying his lover's attention. He stroked and petted the older man's back and hair, then curled his fingers in the strands and gently pulled Fox's head up. Their eyes met, and Alex opened his mouth to speak.

Skinner couldn't make out a word at this distance, but when Krycek had finished speaking, Fox pitched forward, wrapping his arms around the other man's waist and began kissing and nipping his way down his t-shirt covered chest. Before he realized it, he was watching, slack-jawed, as Mulder lowered his head and nuzzled the other man's crotch. He forgot how to breathe as he saw Mulder's tongue creep out from between his lips and lick slowly at the denim-covered bulge. Krycek's head rolled from side to side, then he lifted it a few inches off the back of the sofa and said something else. Mulder looked up at him, and he caressed the older man's face, then moved his hand to his crotch. He undid the button and pulled the zipper down, then reached inside. He held his own cock with one hand and placed the other on his lover's head.

"Don't do it, Mulder," Skinner whispered desperately, though he knew it was pointless. "Don't let him degrade you in front of this crowd..." He looked around and realized that Mulder and Krycek weren't the only two engaged in such activity. All around him couples were making out; giving and receiving head...some outright fucking, and no one but those who were getting off on it were watching. He looked back and released a low groan when he found Mulder deep-throating the man on the sofa with him. Despite his disgust, his cock swelled painfully in his jeans, and the urge to unzip and jerk off overwhelmed him.

//What the fuck? Other's are doing it.//

"I can do that for you."

His eyes snapped up to the man standing over him. "What?"

The man sank down beside him and let a hand creep up his leg. "You're stroking yourself. Let me do it for you. I've been told I give great hand jobs."

"No...*no*. Get the hell out of here."

The man followed Skinner's gaze. "Wish it was you he was sucking on like that? Hey, me too. But it's a no-go. Did you see them dancing earlier? They're so deep into each other, ain't nobody ever gonna pull them out. So, why the hell not get a little pleasure where we can while we fantasize that the pretty slut with the perfect mouth is sucking us into oblivion?"

"He's not a slut," Skinner growled, more than a bit irritated by the other man's comment.

"Hey, relax babe, it's not a *bad* thing, you know." He studied the older man's expression and smiled. "Ohhhh, I got it." He looked from Skinner, to the couple on the sofa, then back. "You *know* them. Or at least *him*." His eyes took on a delighted glint. "Was he *yours*? Is that it? And he left you for that fine thang he's with now?"

Skinner lowered his head, and his jaw began to clench.

"Don't feel bad, man. At least you can understand why he wants the guy. That's one gorgeous piece of meat right there. How about when they dump you for some greasy scrub, and when you demand to know why, they give you some horse shit about how they feel like you just don't love them anymore. Okay. So I wasn't a cuddler. But the sex was fuckin' awesome, and he can't ever deny it, the little shit..."

Skinner tuned the man out as Mulder's head rose and fell, Krycek's cock disappearing again and again into his mouth. And Krycek, seemingly hanging on by a fingernail continued to stroke and encourage the other man...

********************
Go to Part III

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