The Persuader's Challenge
by Sculder
Disclaimer: Mulder, Skinner, Kersh, The Lone Gunman and Scully do not belong to me, they are the property of CC and 1013 Productions. I'm not getting paid for this story.
Rating: PG-13 - for language and discipline. No slash.
Spoilers: Triangle and a small reference to Paper Hearts
Author's Note: Here is my attempt at The Persuader's Writing Challenge, which was to write a discipline story, that includes an actual situation from an episode. I kinda', sorta' included two episodes in my story and the discipline was already established. I hope this is okay. Also, this is an un-beta'd story, so please be patient. Thanks.
Summary: Mulder must now face the consequences of his trip to the Bermuda Triangle
Feedback encouraged at Sculder_X69@hotmail.com or The Persuader's List. Please be kind!
J. Edgar Hoover Building
Assistant Director Skinner's office
10:13 AM
"You asked to see me, Sir?" Mulder asked, as he opened the door to his ex-boss' office.
"Yes, Agent Mulder. Please be seated." Skinner requested, as he removed his glasses and leaned back in his chair.
Mulder closed the door, then moved to sit down, eyeing Skinner suspiciously.
Skinner watched his ex-agent, seeing the anxiety that he was trying desperately to hide from his face. Leaning up from his chair, he said, "Agent Mulder, I'm glad to see you back at work. Are you feeling better from your little rendezvous in Bermuda?"
Mulder paused before he spoke. "Yes, Sir, I am - thank you."
Mulder wrung his hands nervously, out of sight from Skinner. He couldn't figure out what was on Skinner's mind and it was very disconcerting.
"Sir, if I may ask, what is this all about? I'm sure you didn't call me here to ask me how I was feeling."
Skinner gave him a slight smirk. "Well, Agent Mulder, I am concerned, but you're right, I didn't ask you here just for that."
Mulder gave him a curious expression.
Skinner leaned back in his chair again, letting out a sigh.
"Agent Mulder, tell me a little about your trip to Bermuda."
Mulder gave him a puzzled look. "What, Sir?"
"Your trip to Bermuda. Why did you go there?" Skinner inquired.
"Sir, wasn't this explained to you already?"
"Yes, Agent Mulder, but I want to hear it from you." Skinner, gave Mulder one of his patented glares.
Mulder began to squirm. Same old Skinner, he thought, hasn't lost his ability to do this to me.
He swallowed, then began his explanation.
"Well, Sir. I heard that the Queen Ann had surprisingly, materialized on the Sargasso Sea, near the coast of Bermuda. You could imagine the amazement of anyone who had discovered this information. I had to get out there to see for myself, so I went to Bermuda and chartered a power boat out of Hamilton Harbor."
Skinner considered what Mulder said for a moment, then asked, "How did you know exactly where to go?"
"Those three guys I know, the Lone Gunmen, they constructed a map of the location for me, from the radar scan. "
"Were they the only ones who knew about your little trip?" Skinner asked, glare still intact.
"Yes, Sir. I knew that they could help me."
"So you didn't tell your partner, Agent Scully? She is still your partner, isn't she?"
Mulder gave Skinner another puzzled look. "Yes, she's still my partner, but I didn't think that I needed to involve her in this. Sir."
"You didn't 'think' you needed to involve your partner, in an investigation."
"It wasn't really an investigation, Sir. I was just curious and wanted to check this out for myself."
"So what you're telling me is that you didn't get permission to investigate this, you went out there on your own and alone."
Mulder nervously licked his lips, swallowing. "Yes, Sir. I didn't think I needed permission. This was on my personal time."
Skinner got up from his desk and walked over to the window. Mulder's eyes followed him. Then Skinner turned around, with his arms folded, as he walked back towards his desk, to sit on the edge-in front of Mulder.
Agent Mulder, I've noticed that you have been saying, 'I didn't think' a lot in your explanation of the events. And in my opinion, this is precisely your problem, you don't think." Skinner told him in an even, too calm tone.
Mulder looked up in his ex-boss' face, with a slight frown.
***What the hell was this all about? ***
"Sir..."
"I'm not finished, Agent Mulder. I don't think, I know, that you must have forgotten certain Bureau procedures and Lord knows, it's not the first time."
Skinner moved from the front of his desk and went back to sit down behind it. He watched Mulder purse his lips, in an attempt at superiority, so it would seem like he were still in control of the situation. Skinner continued.
"Agent Mulder, you are an agent for the FBI. This means that you don't have the same freedoms as the average citizen. You can't just disregard the Bureau's procedure and protocol, whenever you feel like it, even if it's on your personal time."
Mulder shifted his eyes down towards the top of Skinner's desk, his lips still pursed. He kept them there as Skinner began again.
"You should have notified Scully of your plans, even if you had no intentions of having her come with you, which I might add, you should have done. The smart thing to do in any situation is to always have your back covered. For Christ's sake Mulder, you learned that during your first year at the academy!"
Skinner's voice was growing more and more angry as he spoke. This situation was really pissing him off. Mulder was relieved that Skinner was no longer his boss and didn't have the authority to take his anger out on him. But if this was so, why was he sitting here getting reamed like old times.
Mulder bought his eyes to center on the face of the very peeved Assistant Director.
"If I may speak now, Sir?" Mulder asked, with innocent, doe eyes.
Skinner just glared at him. Mulder took a deep breath, before he spoke.
"Sir, I couldn't tell Agent Scully about my trip, because she probably wouldn't let me go. She would have thought it was just another one of my wild goose chases, but I knew it wasn't, so I decided not to tell her and go on my own. I didn't.....I didn't believe that anything was going to happen to me." Mulder was leaning forward in his chair, giving Skinner his most determined demeanor.
"Regardless of that reason, you still ignored protocol and procedure." Skinner stated.
Skinner watched as Mulder rolled his eyes at the statement.
"You can roll your eyes all you want, Agent Mulder, but you have done this for the last time!" Skinner barked.
Mulder watched as Skinner opened his desk draw.
***Oh no, he can't be reaching for what I think he's reaching for. He's not my boss anymore, he can't do anything to me. I won't have it! ***
He watched wide eyed, as Skinner put something that he couldn't quite see, on his lap, under the desk.
"Agent Mulder, do you remember the last time you really screwed up?"
Mulder thought for a moment. "When I took that paper hearts monster to Boston." Mulder answered.
"Do you remember what happened after I brought you back to DC?"
Mulder gave Skinner an embarrassed glance, then clenched his jaw. "I was reprimanded, Sir."
"How, Agent Mulder?"
Mulder looked at Skinner, with a shocked expression on his face.
***He couldn't have possibly forgotten, I'll remember that day for the rest of my life. ***
"You know how, Sir." He said with an indignant tone, that Skinner heard loud and clear.
"I asked you a question, Agent Mulder, and I expect you to give me an answer!" Skinner was practically yelling.
Mulder swallowed hard, then closed his eyes. As he opened them again, he slowly -- in a quiet, little boy voice--answered his ex-boss' question. He kept his eyes down.
"You...you p...paddled me, Sir." Mulder could feel his face flushing, crimson.
"That's right and why did I do that." Skinner asked, his voice calm once again.
****Because you're an evil son of a bitch, that's why. ****
"Because......I disregarded procedure and protocol."
***Christ, this statement might as well be tattooed on my ass. ***
"Right again, two for two. Now, let's see if you could make it three for three. What do you think should happen to you for this current little offense?"
Mulder's head snapped up and he looked straight into Skinner's eyes. "NOTHING!" He yelled, getting up and moving towards the door. "You are NOT my boss anymore. You have NO authority to do anything to me, ever again.....Sir!" Mulder was about to place his hand on the door knob, when he heard Skinner's roar once more.
"Get your ass back over here right now, Agent Mulder! I may not be your boss anymore, but I am an Assistant Director of the FBI and I did not give you permission to leave this office!"
Mulder froze, realizing he was trapped. He knew he was already in hot, no boiling, water and it would be stupid to make things worst. He reluctantly turned around and came back to sit in front of Skinner. He refused to give him any eye contact. He was still furious as he bowed his head, resigned to remain there until he was dismissed.
Skinner leaned across his desk, moving closer to Mulder.
"I know you weren't reprimanded for this incident by AD Kersh, because he doesn't give a rat's ass about you." Skinner continued in a calmer voice. "But you see, Agent Mulder, I do, I always have and as long as I'm around, I will not stand by and see you get yourself killed for acting impulsively. You came close to drowning out there, actually dying and for what? Because of your incessant search to uncover every truth know to man and you continue to do this without regard for your own personal safety. You know as well as I do that you should be punished for this little stunt you pulled." Skinner paused to see if Mulder had anything to say. When there only silence, he continued.
"Mulder, remember what I said just before I left your hospital room? I asked you to get better, because when you did, I was going to kick your butt, but good. You remember me saying that, don't you Mulder, but I believe you assumed that I was joking. Well, I'm here to tell you that I wasn't and I'm about to make good on that promise."
Mulder took this time to look up at Skinner's face, his eyes were moist with tears.
"I don't have to let you." He said in a whisper.
"You're right, you don't, but you will and you know why, Agent Mulder?"
****Cause I'm a fool?****
Mulder just held his gaze, not blinking.
"Because you know you deserve it. You are very aware of your recklessness and I believe that you know that without some kind of guidance and direction, you would be six feet under by now. I am the only one who is willing to give you this, Agent Mulder. I'm the only one who cares enough about you to do this. I hope you know that."
Mulder chewed on his bottom lip. Skinner's words touched his heart. He knew that Skinner cared for him, because if he didn't he wouldn't have reamed and reprimanded him so many times. He would have just gotten rid of him. And he was right about Kersh not giving a damn and he knew that in the long run, this would not be good for him or anyone around him.
***Scully***
Scully kept him in line, but more times than none, he still did what he wanted to do. He realized all too well that he did need a strong source of guidance. Physically strong. Someone who would redirect him when he was going down the wrong path. A path that could mean sudden death. Of all the people in his life, and there weren't that many, Skinner was the only one who he knew was up to the challenge and was willing to do it. And who he trusted with his life.
"Sir, I'm aware that I should be reprimanded for what I've done," Mulder paused, nervously wetting his lips, "but do I have to be punished with that thing?" Mulder motioned his head in the direction of the paddle that he knew all too well was hiding under Skinner's desk.
Skinner decided that there was no sense hiding it anymore, since Mulder knew it was there, so he brought it up and placed it in plain view, on top of his desk.
Mulder stared at it, remembering so well, the pain it cause to his unsuspecting bare bottom. He wasn't able to sit comfortably for days afterwards. His eyes returned to Skinner and he waited for what he prayed was the answer he wanted to hear.
Skinner eyed him for a moment, then spoke, picking up the paddle.
"Mulder do you really think that anything but this," he said holding up the paddle, "is going to drive the point home? I think you know as well as I do that you are beyond a mere, suspension or black mark on your file. We went through all of this the first time and came to the conclusion that this form of punishment is the only way to go. The only thing that would get through that stubborn hide of yours."
Mulder sighed loudly. He didn't want to admit it, but Skinner was right. Damn him, he was fucking right. The thing was that after that first time, Mulder was always afraid that it could happen again, so yeah, he did watch his step a little more. When the X-Files was taken from Skinner and given to Kersh, he figured that he could breathe easy again. He knew that Kersh probably wouldn't care what he did and if he did, he was certain that he wouldn't use the same discipline tactics that Skinner did. He had no idea that something like this could actually happen.
Skinner glanced at his watch.
"Mulder, we have to get going with this. I have a meeting in 45 minutes," he said rising from his chair, paddle in hand. He walked around his desk towards his ex-agent.
Mulder could feel the familiar sensations that marked the beginning of his impending doom. He began to breathe quicker and his heart felt like it was going to burst out of his chest. A heart attack would be welcomed right now, he thought.
"Come on, Son, let's get this over with. Drop your pants and boxers, then get across the back of that chair."
Skinner moved back to his desk, picking up the phone.
"Kimberly, would you mind running a small errand for me?... Thanks. Look, I need you to pick out a birthday card for my niece. She's 10 on Wednesday and I want to send her a card, but I don't have the time.....Thanks Kimberly, you're a real gem. Buzz me as soon as you get back. Thanks again." Skinner hung up the phone and listened for his assistant to leave her desk.
Mulder was slowly removing his suit jacket.
"Son, you're going to have to move a little faster than that, unless you want Kimberly to hear you in here."
Skinner was now, standing next to him, paddle in hand, waiting for him to position himself over the back of the chair.
The last thing Mulder wanted was for Skinner's secretary to hear anything, so he decided to move a little faster. He walked behind the chair and undid his belt, opening it and zipping down his zipper. Next, he let his pants drop to the floor, then pushed his boxers down to join them. Then Mulder leaned his elbows, on top of the chair's back, with his head down.
Skinner quickly moved behind him and pushed him down, so his elbows now rested on the seat of the chair. He slid Mulder's shirt up his back, so his bare ass was nicely uncovered, then he left his hand there to hold him in place. He could feel the trembling in the younger man's body.
"Mulder you know that this is necessary don't you?" He asked, positioning the paddle at one of Mulder's butt cheeks.
"Y--yes, Sir." Mulder gasped out, bringing his arms up close around his head.
"I'm doing this because I'm concerned for your well being, Agent Mulder and I want you to start caring about that yourself."
Skinner raised the paddle in the air and brought it down, with full force on Mulder's cheek. The slap sound filled the room.
Mulder let out a loud grunt, then a hiss.
Again the paddle make painful contact with his ass. This one caused a cry from his lips. He had forgotten how horrible this felt. He shut his eyes tight and gritted his teeth against the agony.
Skinner was now picking up speed and was smacking him on that same cheek, covering every bit of it.
))) SMACK, SMACK, SMACK (((
Over and over again. The only sound that could be heard. That and---
"Ahhhhh!!!!!!!!""
Mulder was screaming now, with tears streaming down his face. He knew begging wouldn't stop Skinner, so he didn't. He just cried and moaned and sobbed his heart out.
Finally Skinner stopped.
***Thank you Jesus!***
Before he could catch his breath, he felt a tremendous sting on his other butt cheek. This time Skinner didn't start slow, he just laid into him, with one smack after the other.
))) SMACK, SMACK, SMACK (((
"Owwwww!!!!! Pllllleeeaase, Ssssirrrr!!!!!!"
))) SMACK, SMACK, SMACK (((
"Ohhhhh!!!!!!! Gaaaahhhhhd!!!!!! Plllllleeeeaase, stahhhhp!!!!!!
Mulder was truly desperate now and he figured that maybe begging might work.
***Please God, make him stop***
Mulder continued to pray and plead, but Skinner was not letting up. He was determined to make this count. As he was about to bring the paddle down on Mulder again, his buzzer called. The paddle stopped in mid air. Kimberly was back.
***Thank you God. I promise I'll make this up to you. I'll never do anything to deserve this again. ***
Skinner removed his hand from Mulder's back and went to answer the buzzer.
***I wonder how long she had been back before she pressed that buzzer? ***
"Yes, Kimberly?"
"Um...I'm back Sir and I have your card." Kimberly answered, nervously.
***Um...she said, um!!!! That um was because she didn't know what to say after hearing me getting my ass smacked and my screams of pain. SHIT, SHIT, SHIT!!!***
"Thanks, just keep it until I'm through here." Skinner moved away from his desk and returned to Mulder, who hadn't moved an inch.
Skinner placed the paddle on his desk and sat at the edge, next to Mulder, observing his handy work. Mulder's butt was a bright, red, from the tops of his hips, to just below his cheeks. Man, that's gotta' sting, he said to himself.
"Agent Mulder, as you are aware, Kimberly has returned, so I guess this is your lucky day. I'm done, so you can get up and pull up your pants."
Mulder slowly raised himself up, seeing his ex-boss sitting with his arms folded on the edge of his desk--watching him. He quickly wiped a hand across his face, then reached down for his underwear and pulled them up a little too gingerly over his battered buttocks. He bent again to retrieve his pants, which he fastened quickly. Next he turned to get his suit jacket and pulled it on, all without looking once at Skinner.
Once he was dressed again, he then raised his eyes to look at Skinner.
"Permission to leave, Sir." Mulder said, with a sniffle.
After a slight pause, Skinner replied, "You have my permission, Agent."
Mulder turned on his heels to make it out the door, when he heard Skinner's voice again.
"Mulder...."
***SHIT!***
Mulder stopped in his tracks and turned back to face Skinner, his eyes towards his feet and a serious pout on his lips.
"I want you to know that I'm going to always be here for you." Skinner said, in his most sincere, tender voice.
***Yeah, for me and my ass. ***
Mulder looked up at Skinner briefly, then turned towards the door again. As he placed his hand on the knob, he said, "Thank you, Sir." Then he opened the door and quickly went through.
Skinner kept his gaze on the door, then laughed to himself, shaking his head. "I don't know why I even bother," he said aloud. Then he moved back behind his desk and picked up the paddle, placing it back in the draw. He sat for a moment, then a warm smile came on his face. "Yeah, I know why," he whispered to himself, then opened the case file for his meeting.
The End
Feedback is encouraged at Sculder_X69@hotmail.com or The Persuader's List. Please be kind!