Kitsunegari: The Sly Fox Is Caught

by Xraycat





Category: Discipline

Rating: R for violence and language

Disclaimer: They don't belong to me. I'm only borrowing them for a while.

Notes: This idea was suggested to me by Brown Eyed Girl. Thanks, I hope you like it.

Synopsis: Mulder must answer for his actions during the manhunt for Robert Modell and Linda Bowman.



Walter sat staring at the CAT Scan film. He glanced across his desk at Dana, "Linda Bowman?"

Dana nodded, "She has an advanced left temporal lobe tumor, just like Modell's. It seems to run in the family," speaking lightly, as she dropped the first of several bombshells.

"She and Modell were related?" Walter was stunned. He stared intently at Fox, who held his gaze, silently.

"Fraternal twins," Dana answered tonelessly.

Walter shook his head, mumbling, "He was trying to protect his sister." He looked at Fox with new respect.

Dana continued, "Apparently, Linda Bowman only learned about Modell six months ago. They were separated when they were two weeks old and raised apart." Dana paused for a moment, "Her 'fox hunt' began because she wanted revenge for what she felt we did to her brother."

Addressing Fox, Walter asked softly, "Anything you want to add?"

A very subdued Fox Mulder responded, "That just about covers it." He and Dana rose to leave.

As Dana's hand touched the door knob, Walter spoke, "Fox, a moment, please?"

Dana glanced back, but Fox indicated she should go on without him. Turning back he stood silently, waiting for Walter.

Walter stood and walked around the desk. Placing his hands in his pockets, he offered awkwardly, "I just wanted to say, you did a good job."

Fox gave him a bitter smile, "How's that?"

"No one but you could have figured this thing out, Fox. You were way ahead of me," Walter sighed.

Fox shook his head, "I nearly killed my partner." Sorrow settled upon his shoulders.

Walter placed a hand lightly on Fox's arm, "Despite everything, you prevailed! You won her game, Fox."

Staring at his boss for several seconds, Fox asked, "How come I feel like I lost?" He turned and left the office, without waiting for a response.



Later that same evening....

Walter had showered and changed into his favorite 'around the house' clothes. He wore an old USMC tee shirt, and sweat pants. Searching the kitchen cabinets for something to fix for dinner, Walter decided he wasn't really hungry. Grabbing a beer from the refrigerator, he headed into the living room, hoping there was a baseball game on one of the cable channels. Approaching the television, he heard a knock on his front door.

Fox Mulder slouched in the doorway, "Um, if this is a bad time, I can come back..?" He very obviously wanted to stay.

Walter stepped back, "Hello, Fox. Come in. You know you're always welcome." Closing the door, Walter watched the miserable young man enter the living room, shoulders slumped and head hanging in shame.

Offering his unexpected guest a seat, Walter asked, "Would you like a beer?" Fetching another bottle from the refrigerator, he handed it to Fox, "What's on your mind?"

The dark head drooped even lower, "I think you know exactly what's on my mind, sir."

Walter sighed in exasperation, "Fox. We've already been over this. You were right. Modell is dead, and Linda Bowman is in custody. It's finished."

Fox shook his head, "It's not finished! I screwed up, *again*, and nearly killed Dana. I can't forget or forgive myself!"

Walter spoke softly, "Fox, look at me." Waiting until his order had been obeyed. "You were right. I was wrong. I didn't listen to you, and ended up shooting an unarmed man." Walter rubbed his head in frustration, "As far as I'm concerned, *I* owe *you* an apology."

Fox stared uncomprehendingly at his superior officer, "I won't accept it! You had no reason to listen to me." He slammed the unopened beer on the coffee table and began to pace. Counting his transgressions on his fingers, as he confessed them, "I didn't follow procedures, I disobeyed your direct orders, I continued the investigation, after being placed on suspension." He stopped to stare defiantly at a stunned and silent Walter, "The list goes on! I placed Dana in mortal danger. I nearly shot her myself!" Fox threw himself down on the couch, "Don't even think about apologizing, Walter. The only thing you've done wrong was to place your faith in me!" Scrubbing viciously at his eyes, Fox fought to regain control.

"Well, you've tried and convicted yourself. What's your sentence to be, Fox?" Walter snapped. 'Way to go, Walt. Sarcasm instead of compassion. This will certainly help matters!'

Fox glared at him, "Why are you making this so hard?" Leaning forward, he pleaded with Walter for understanding. "You know what 'my sentence' should be! That's why I'm here, sir."

Shaking his head slowly, "No Fox, I don't know." Walter stood firm, "You tell me. If you deserve to be punished, say so."

Meeting Walter's gaze, Fox answered in a pain-filled whisper, "I deserve to be punished."

Walter moved to stand in front of the wretched young man, "I don't agree." Fox opened his mouth, but Walter silenced him, "Is this the only way, Fox?"

Fox merely nodded.

"That's not good enough, son. Say it," Walter pronounced sorrowfully.

"Please," Fox hissed. "Walter, I need... please?" Dropping his eyes, "I nearly killed Dana, you have to do it," he finished forcefully.

Walter struggled with conflicting emotions. He couldn't bear to see Fox in this state, yet he couldn't bear the thought of beating him, either. He tried to bargain, "I don't want to do this. Can't you sleep on it, and make your decision in the morning? Stay here tonight, we'll talk."

Tears filled Fox's eyes. "No," a single tear spilled, and ran down his cheek. Fox didn't bother to wipe it away.

Walter walked slowly into the bedroom. He returned with a belt dangling loosely at his side. "Take them off, Fox, Over the arm of the couch," working to keep his voice steady.

Fox could no longer meet Walter's eyes but did exactly as he was told.

Walter stood behind Fox, and doubled the belt. "I'm going to say this one more time, Fox. This isn't necessary. Accounts are squared as far as I'm concerned." When he received no reply, Walter prepared to swing the belt, and administer the beating Fox demanded.

Tears flooded Walter's eyes, blinding him. His shoulders shook so violently, he could not raise his arm to strike. Dropping the belt, he staggered into the kitchen. Gasping for air like a drowning man, Walter fell into a chair and placed his face against the cool surface of the table.

Fox struggled to get up, trying to make some sense of what had just happened. Pulling his clothing into place, he hurried after Walter. His jeans started to slide down, and he realized he'd failed to button them in his haste to get to the kitchen. Jerking them back up he announced himself before intruding, "Walter... ?"

Walter didn't lift his head, "Why, Fox?" He pleaded, "Why would you ask *me* to punish *you*? This entire mess was *my* fault! You didn't do anything wrong, until I forced you to!"

Fox stood speechless, not knowing how to respond.

Once started Walter was unable to stop, "If I had only listened to you.. " Pausing for a shuddering breath, "I killed Robert Modell. I knew he wasn't armed but couldn't admit it. To you or myself." Bitterness dripped from his voice, "You tried to tell me but I refused to accept your explanation. No way in Hell. Walter Skinner couldn't be 'pushed'!" Bringing his arms up to encircle his head, Walter's muffled confession continued, "I allowed both Modell and Linda Bowman to control me." Walter had to stop again or he would choke on his next statement, "Modell is dead. *I* killed him. Linda Bowman is dying, *I* made the decision to release her. Why should you be punished when I made all the mistakes?"

Fox moved carefully to stand beside his grieving friend, "Walter, you didn't kill Robert Modell. Linda Bowman did. I was in the hospital and still couldn't prevent it from happening." Striking his fist against the table in frustration, Fox spat, "I should have recognized her! I've been through this before." Grabbing Walter's collar, Fox hauled his head up. Staring into Walter's eyes, he said deliberately, "Did you know Modell 'pushed' me to point a gun at Dana the first time we caught him? You didn't. I made sure you didn't find out." Pulling Walter's face closer to his own, "You'd never met him, Walter. You had no idea what to expect. You can't blame yourself."

Walter glared at him, "I most certainly do blame myself! I believed a complete stranger instead of listening to you. There's no way to excuse it. I decided you were wrong and acted accordingly."

Fox shrugged, "You were simply relying on past experience, Walter. I don't blame you for it. You shouldn't either. I've never given you any reason to trust me, have I?"

Walter flushed red and dropped his eyes, "I lecture you constantly about trust. Doesn't that make me a hypocrite?"

Fox smiled, "People who live in glass houses... " Loosening his grip slightly, "I've never seen you like this, Walter. It's nice to know you're human after all."

Walter scowled and tried to pull away.

Re-establishing his grip on Walter's collar, Fox choked him into submission, "Nope. You're not going anywhere."

"Let me go, Fox. I'm asking not telling you, okay? Go home and we'll talk tomorrow," Walter begged softly.

Fox shook his head, "I'm not leaving. You shouldn't be alone, Walter."

"I'm fine," Walter lied.

Fox stepped close, "No you're not. I'm staying."

"Why? What can you possibly accomplish by staying here?" Walter wondered.

Fox smiled gently, "I'm going to take care of you."

"I don't need to be 'taken care of'," Walter growled.

"How many times have you stayed to look after me?" Fox asked pointedly.

"I appreciate the offer, but there's no need," Walter protested.

"Walter, I'm trying to return a favor," Fox insisted. Very slowly, he placed his arms around Walter's massive shoulders. Struggling to pull his boss into an embrace, "Walter, let me do this." Inspiration struck, "It will make me feel better. Please?"

Even though he knew he was being conned, Walter allowed his head to rest against Fox's chest. He refused to weep.

Fox finally felt Walter's rigid shoulders begin to relax. He held him close, and murmured softly.

Walter despised himself for his weakness but could not slow the tears soaking the front of Fox's shirt, "I'm truly sorry."

"I know, so am I," Fox squeezed a little tighter. "It's going to be okay, now."

Eventually, Walter pulled away. Wiping his eyes he stared at the floor, embarrassed by his emotional display.

"Better now?" Fox queried, rather satisfied with himself.

A rumble started deep within Walter. When it finally erupted, Fox was shocked to hear Walter laughing, "What's so funny?" Fox demanded, smarting just a little.

"You are, Fox. You are," Walter gasped as he pointed to the jeans pooled on the floor around Fox's ankles.

End