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Disclaimer: The characters from the show aren’t mine, they
belong to others. No copyright infringement intended. Any characters you don’t
recognise are mine. Again, if someone’s used the name(s) or storyline(s)
elsewhere, the same applies
Feedback would be nice, positive feedback would be nicer. Enjoy! Rating: NC-17 for topic Characters: Skinner, Catherine (OFC) and the dinner guests. Series: Yes Part One Spoilers: None intended Summary: Walter attends his first dinner party as
Catherine’s trainee. It’s someone else’s first invite too. Archive: Just tell me where it’s going Additional ‘stuff’: Warning: Scenes of dominant Catherine, submissive Walter. Catherine is a recurring character in my fics. She owns the ‘alternative lifestyle’ club of which Walter is a member. |
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Title: Service not
included. Part One – Table manners Walter settled
in his place at Catherine’s side. Kneeling, eyes cast obediently down. He had
imagined that getting into the right frame of mind to be completely obedient to
Catherine would require no more effort than anything else. And that he could
practice anywhere. Very quickly he found that neither of those things was true.
He found the mental discipline exhausting, often returning home in a cab only
to fall asleep on the couch and wake the next morning still fully dressed. ************** Settled into
the mindset he needed to achieve in order to be completely obedient, Walter
didn’t at first recognise the voice of the woman across the room. Kneeling at
Catherine’s side, hidden by the large ornate dining table and chairs, he couldn’t
be seen from where she sat. ‘I’m sorry I’m
late. My partner wanted me to look over some lab results from a case we’re
working on.’ Catherine nodded to the late arrival, then waited until she was settled in her chair before nodding to one of her staff to start serving dinner. ************ As the food was served, Catherine pulled gently on the chain. ‘Up Walter.’ When he was on his knees, eyes staring at the floor beneath his legs, Catherine said: ‘This is Walter. He’s in training. You know my views on being a successful Dom.’ As she spoke, Catherine tore off a small piece of her bread roll. She moved it towards Walter’s mouth sensing the self-control he was exercising not to reach up for it. As he chewed it, she put a hand on his shoulder. Her whisper was intended only for his ears. ‘Well done.’ One of the men
groaned. ‘You can’t be a great Dom unless you’ve subbed.’ Catherine
smiled. ‘You are living proof of my theory Simon. No-one is to touch him. He
will speak only to me. And no sneaking him food. He will eat later. Dana,
Harry, perhaps you could stay this weekend? I’d like him to get some experience
of working while I have company. So far, all the training I’ve done with him
has been with just the two of us in the room.’ Snapped out of
his calm state by the words he’d just heard – he was to be watched while
Catherine trained him - Walter suddenly remembered one of the names he’d heard.
Dana. He tried to calm his breathing. There must be a hundred Dana’s in DC. No
way could it be… The
middle-aged man next to Catherine nodded. ‘Sure. I don’t have anything much
planned. I could stay until Sunday night.’ Still
concentrating on her meal, Dana hoped her excitement at the idea of watching a
slave being trained didn’t show. She hadn’t known Catherine long, and she
guessed this was a sign she was being accepted. ‘I’m leaving for Chicago on
Monday, and I’ve got some stuff left to do before I leave, but I could stay
Saturday.’ She couldn’t see the man clearly, but she didn’t think she would
mind what he looked like. Catherine
smiled. ‘Good. Walter, say thank you to Dana and Harry.’ Knowing he was
being disobedient, and not caring, Walter confirmed his suspicions by looking
up and staring into the shocked face of Dana Scully. Cheeks
flaming, heart pounding, Walter scrambled to his feet, his
only thought escape. Off-balance, the sharp tug on the chain around his neck
pulled him over. 'Catherine please…’ Anger turning
quickly to concern, Catherine leaned down. ‘Walter, what’s wrong?’ Catherine’s
hand slapped at Walter’s as he fumbled to undo the collar around his neck.
‘Walter stop this! Sit down and be quiet. What on
earth is the matter with you?’ Dana heard
Catherine’s sharp question. Almost as shocked as Walter, she said quietly:
‘He’s my boss.’ Walter was relieved
that Catherine seemed more amused than angry. ‘I think our plans for the
weekend just changed Walter dear.’ She unfastened his collar. ‘Go to your
room.’ Instantly he
was free, Walter ran, his feet pounding on the staircase as he fled upstairs. More slowly
than Walter, Catherine got up from the table. ‘Excuse me for a moment. Please,
carry on with your dinner.’ *************** Catherine
walked into the dark room. Skinner lay on the bed, face down. ‘Walter? I’m
sorry. I didn’t invite Dana deliberately. I would never do that. Can you at
least turn over?’ Slowly,
Skinner rolled onto his back. ‘Please don’t make me come back down.’ Catherine
stroked his damp cheek. ‘Tomcat.’ Walter relaxed
slightly. ‘Thank you.’ ‘I don’t use
our safe word lightly Walter. But I’ve never seen you this upset.’ ‘I know I
should…’ Catherine put
a gentle finger to Walter’s lips. ‘Let’s put it behind us. We both made
mistakes tonight. Mine was the greater. Get dressed. I was going to do some
work with you after the dinner party but I doubt either of us is in the mood
for anything more tonight. You can go home this evening and come back
tomorrow.’ Walter shook
his head slightly. ‘I can’t do this any more.’ Catherine
seemed shocked by Walter’s firm assertion, but hid her reaction quickly. ‘Very well. Leave when you’re ready.’ ‘That’s it?’ Catherine
nodded. ‘If you don’t want to stay, I can’t make you.’ Angrily,
Walter snapped: ‘This is your fault and I’m being made to feel like it’s mine.’ ‘Walter…’
Catherine said warningly. Trying to
explain, Walter looked at Catherine. ‘I was humiliated back there.’ ‘That’s
enough!’ ‘No, it’s not.
What the Hell am I supposed to do Monday morning,
huh?’ ‘That’s up to
you.’ Pulling his
sweatshirt on, Skinner said sarcastically: ‘Gee thanks. You’ve been a great
help.’ ‘Walter, we
need to talk about this. Walter?’ Without
replying, Walter pushed past Catherine and she heard the front door slam a few
seconds later. ************* Skinner walked past his assistant on his way into his office. ‘Kim, I’d like to see Agent Scully as soon as she arrives this morning.’ ‘Yes sir.’ Although she
has been tempted to call in sick, Dana knew she had to face Skinner at some
point, so she decided to tough it out. After all, she hadn’t been the one with
a collar and chain at his neck, naked apart from a pair of black Speedos. She
knew there were two ways they could handle it. Pretend it never happened or…the
telephone interrupted her thoughts. ‘Agent Scully.’ ‘Agent
Scully? Assistant
Director Skinner would like to see you straight away.’ ‘Ok, I’ll be
right up.’ Skinner’s only
words until the door was firmly closed were: ‘Agent Scully. Thank you for
coming so promptly. Please, come on in and sit down.’ When the door
was closed, Skinner returned to his chair. He didn’t realise he was stretching
the silence, until Scully’s hesitant voice interrupted
his thoughts. ‘Sir, if this
is about Friday night...’ Skinner looked
enquiringly at her. ‘Friday, Agent Scully?’ Scully
panicked. Skinner had called her into his office to discuss a case, or her
expenses or something else. Definitely not the dinner party.
Uncomfortable, she squirmed in her chair. Sensing her
disquiet, Skinner sat completely still and quiet for a few seconds which, he
knew, would seem like an eternity to the woman in front of him. Finally taking
pity on her, he lifted a sheet of paper off his desk. ‘I’ve approved your trip
to ‘Sir?’ Scully was completely lost now. She
already had the tickets for the ‘I can see
you’re busy with preparations for the trip. We can do this another time Agent Scully.’ Getting to her
feet, only just beginning to understand how Mulder must feel each time he was
called into the AD’s office for some reason, Scully managed to pull herself
together. ‘Sir, I think I should tell Catherine you’ve already learned enough.
You were the one who was sitting on the floor half-naked at the dinner party
and I’m in here feeling like a kid who’s been called into the Principal’s
office.’ Skinner
smiled. ‘Thank you Agent Scully. That will be all.’ A hand on the
door, Scully managed a smile. ‘Yes sir.’ ‘One
last thing, Agent Scully.
We will discuss your attendance at a dinner party hosted by the owner of a
bondage club when you return from your trip.’ Scully’s smile
faded instantly. ‘Yes sir.’ Skinner sat
back in his chair, permitting himself a small smile of self-satisfaction. The
sound of his cell phone ringing brought him back. ‘Skinner.’
His smile faded instantly as he heard the soft voice on the other end of the
line. ‘Walter, I won’t be ignored like this. Now we need to talk. Either you
can come over or I can. But we are going to talk. So?’ ‘I’ll be home
around seven.’ Catherine
relaxed a fraction. The tone was still cross, but at least he was talking to
her. ‘I’ll be there at eight.’ Skinner
listened to the dial tone for some time before folding his cell phone closed. ************** Walter opened the door and stood back allowing Catherine to walk into his apartment. Arms folded across his chest, he stood against the front door. ‘So?’ ‘Sit down
Walter.’ Slightly
cross, Walter frowned. ‘Don’t tell me what to do.’ ‘Sit down and
let me explain. And apologise.’ Appeased,
Walter dropped into his favourite armchair, his eyes never leaving Catherine’s.
‘Well?’ ‘I was wrong.
You were not at fault. I was. Dana’s mother and I went to college together. We
kept in touch. I met Dana in the supermarket a few months ago and invited her
for dinner. I have no idea why it took her this long to accept my invitation. I
can tell you that she didn’t hear about our…arrangement from me.’ ‘That’s it?’ ‘No. I’m
really very sorry about what happened. I have spoken to Dana and explained that
I made a mistake.’ Walter laughed
sarcastically. ‘Some mistake.’ ‘Walter!’
Catherine was surprised that her sharpness had an effect on Walter. ‘Now, I
failed to protect you from professional and personal embarrassment. For that I
apologise. I will arrange for you to continue your training with someone else.
Would you like it to be someone outside DC?’ Walter stared
at the floor for a few seconds. ‘No.’ Gently,
Catherine said: ‘Walter, you have invested too much time and effort to give
this up over a single incident.’ Walter took a
deep breath, letting it out slowly. ‘I want to stay with you.’ ‘Walter, are
you sure? I failed you in a big way. Are you sure you trust me?’ Walter looked
directly at Catherine. ‘Yes. And it could have been worse. It could have been
the Director.’ Catherine
smiled. ‘He wouldn’t have been invited.’ Walter looked
at Catherine for some sign that she was joking. ‘Why not?’ ‘He’s a sub.’ Walter digested
the comment. The Director was a sub. So what? Scully *had* been invited to the
dinner party. Which meant she was a… Catherine’s
gentle laughter interrupted Walter’s thoughts. He looked across and saw her
smile fade. ‘Walter, we have to address your behaviour at the dinner party. You
had a phrase and a signal if you wanted my attention. You used neither.’ Walter
frowned. ‘You’re gonna punish me because you invited one of the agents under my
direct command to your dinner party?’ Catherine
shook her head. ‘No. I’m going to punish you for your behaviour at the dinner
party. Now strip.’ To be
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