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Title: Quick fix Part Four – warnings and disclaimers in Part One ‘I’m gonna go upstairs for a while.’ Walter’s words had both Mulder and John instantly concerned, for different reasons. Knowing the answer, but having to ask anyway, Mulder asked: ‘Do you feel okay?’ ‘Yes Fox. I’m just tired. Can you two make dinner or do we need to order in?’ ‘I’ll make a stew.’ Walter smiled. ‘Great John. Fox and I really enjoy your one-pot wonders. Call me when it’s ready.’ ‘Sure.’ Doggett turned away, already mentally sorting through the kitchen for the ingredients. After a while, Fox wandered into the kitchen. ‘Need a hand with anything?’ ‘No thanks Fox. You go check on Walter, okay?’ Waking at Fox’s deliberately noisy entrance into their bedroom, Skinner said quietly: ‘Fox, come here.’ Mulder knelt in front of Skinner, trying to control his rapid breathing. Looking up into Skinner’s face – his expression a mix of anger and disappointment - Mulder felt sick. ‘I’m sorry.’ ‘Fox, I’m in no fit state to discipline you. But you did wrong, and you deserve to be punished. You know that.’ Mulder nodded. ‘So I’m giving you a choice. Either we delay your punishment until I’m fit…’ ‘Or?’ Mulder asked hesitantly. ‘Or you do lines. Five hundred. This weekend.’ Walter forced down a smile. Fox’s indecision lasted several seconds. Finally he said quietly: ‘I’ll do the lines. I wanna get it over with.’ Walter nodded. ‘Very well. I take it dinner’s ready?’ ‘Yeah. D’you…um…need a hand with anything?’ ‘No Fox. Go on down and I’ll be right there. Oh, one more thing. After all that he’s done, I’m going to ask John if he’d like to stay here a while longer.’ Fox was confused. In all the time he’d shared his life with Skinner, not once had he been asked his opinion on Walter’s decisions. Until now. He was amazingly pleased. Seeing Fox’s grin, Walter said: ‘So, you’re okay about John staying on?’ Patting the bed, Skinner had to wait until Fox was settled before he heard his firm answer. ‘Yeah. Can I ask you something?’ Walter put his arm around Fox’s shoulders, his fingers picking up the slight trembling as they lay together. ‘Of course Fox. Anything.’ ‘Why are you asking me if it’s okay? About John.’ ‘Because I know you better than you think Fox.’ Smiling shyly, Fox said: ‘He’s really nice.’ ‘John?’ ‘Yeah. He’s kinda…looked after me.’ Walter pushed Fox upright. ‘Not terribly well, from the look of things. How much weight have you lost, hmm?’ ‘Some.’ Fox said guiltily, dropping his gaze. Walter sighed, scissoring Fox’s straggly hair between his fingers. ‘And you need a haircut. If I was away at a conference, is this what I would come back to?’ ‘No sir.’ ‘So why?’ Fox couldn’t help it. He turned suddenly, his arms tightly enclosing Skinner’s ribcage. ‘Please don’t ever leave me again.’ Skinner stroked Fox from the top of his head down his shoulders, which heaved with his desperate sobs. ‘Shh. It’s okay. I’m here. Hush now. There…’ Wiping his eyes on the handkerchief Skinner handed him, Mulder asked shakily: ‘When you were in the hospital in the beginning, did you know we were there?’ ‘Yes. I recognised your voices. I knew I was safe if you were there.’ Walter’s words seemed to calm Fox, who lay quietly for a few minutes, his eyes closed. //’John, when did this come?’ Fox bent down and picked up the envelope from the floor.’ ‘Dunno. I was in the shower. Maybe someone pushed it under the door.’ Fox ripped open the envelope and pulled out the folded sheet of paper. The unmistakable smell hit him. ‘I’m…um…gonna be out till late.’ From the kitchen, John called: ‘Okay. See ya.’ ‘There are no fingerprints, no watermark, nothing.’ Fox groaned with frustration. ‘Who the Hell would send me a blank sheet of paper?' Langley smiled. ‘Just cos there’s nothing on it, doesn’t mean it’s blank.’ Byers got up and left the others to it, picking up the Post and settling into an armchair. Frohike put on another pot of coffee while Fox and Ringo set to work on the apparently blank sheet of paper. Byers answered their phone. Few people had the number, and the call was being recorded, so he wasn’t too worried. But he was still careful. ‘Hello?…yeah…okay…bye.’ ‘Got it!’ Ringo’s excited shout brought Mulder back to the workbench. ‘What is it?’ ‘Heat sensitive ink. Recognise the address?’ Mulder pulled the sheet from Langley’s grip. ‘No. But I’m gonna check it out.’ ‘Not without back up you’re not.’ Doggett stood behind Byers, his body language unequivocal. Fox was *not* getting past him.//
Fox ran his fingers down the soft flesh of Walter’s forearm. Felt the warmth of the skin, the slight reaction to his touch, the muscles contracting as his fingers stroked the scars that had almost faded. His eyes half-closed, he leaned into Walter’s chest and lay still, synchronising his breathing with Walter’s, listening to the heartbeat, loud in his ear. **************** Slowly, Fox came back to the present to find Walter stroking his hair. ‘Definitely needs a trim. Do it tomorrow, okay?’ ‘Yes sir.’ ‘Now go and see if John needs any help.’ Quietly, Fox said: ‘I found you. I worked it out. Not John, not Scully, me.’ ‘I know Fox. And I’m very grateful.’ ‘Were you scared?’ ‘Some of the time.’ His voice faltering, Mulder said quietly: ‘I was scared too.’ ‘Why Fox?’ ‘The people who kidnapped you won’t say who paid them. But they were after me.’ Cautiously, Skinner asked: ‘How do you know that?’ ‘You were in my car.’ ‘So?’ Fox lifted himself up slightly. ‘It’s obvious.’ Walter said firmly: ‘No Fox, it is not. What happened to me was *not* your fault. It happened, but it’s over. Now, can we please put the past behind us? I don’t want you worrying about this any more, okay?’ Fox’s unwillingness to leave the room was obvious and Walter didn’t push it. After a few more minutes, Walter leaned down and kissed the top of Fox’s head. ‘I love you Fox. Nothing will change that. Now somewhere in this house is a casserole that smells just about ready and I’m hungry. Off you go.’ Relieved of his guilt, Mulder walked back downstairs, smiling broadly. John turned at the sound of Mulder’s steps behind him. Mulder’s grin, a huge contrast to his red-rimmed eyes, made him ask: ‘What?’ ‘He knew.’ ‘Who knew what Fox?’ ‘Skinner. He knew we were there. In the hospital. When he was…really sick.’ Smiling, John nodded. ‘I told you he did, didn’t I?’ Dropping his gaze, Mulder nodded. ‘I didn’t believe you.’ John shrugged. ‘I don’t blame you. But you believe him, right?’ Mulder nodded quickly. ‘Yes. He wouldn’t lie. Ever.’ ‘Did you get into hot water over telling Scully about us?’ Fox groaned. ‘Yeah. Lines.’ ‘How many?’ Both men turned as Skinner walked into the kitchen. ‘Five hundred. Need a hand with anything, John?’ ‘No sir. It’s all but done. Go on in and sit down.’ John was relieved Fox was getting lines. Although he understood it was none of his business, he was still really uncomfortable with the thought of Skinner punishing Mulder in any other way. He still remembered the first and only time that he’d made the mistake of following Skinner’s instruction: ‘John, please wait in your room and close the door’. //As he listened to Mulder’s screams, John had tried to read a magazine, even flicked the TV remote on, but all he could focus on were the sounds of distress coming up the stairs. When the sounds quietened slightly, he walked slowly down the stairs. Unnoticed, he went straight into the kitchen, sat at the breakfast bar and listened to Skinner’s soft reassurances, quiet against Mulder’s loud sobs. Walter gently eased Mulder upright, holding him tightly as Mulder tried to apologise between sobs. ‘I’m…sorry…Walter…really.’ Stroking his hair, Walter soothed him. ‘Shh…I know…it’s over now…all forgiven…there…Shh.’ Reaching for the damp washcloth on the table, Skinner wiped Fox’s face carefully, the cold dampness cooling his burning skin. When Mulder was quiet, he pulled the throw from over the back of the couch and covered Mulder with it. ‘I’ll be right back.’ Intent on getting Fox a bottle of water, Walter didn’t immediately notice he wasn’t alone in the kitchen. Then he saw Doggett in the periphery of his vision. ‘John.’ Doggett stood with his back to Walter, staring out of the kitchen window. ‘I will never, ever, get used to that. I didn’t know how hard it was gonna be just listening to it. I’m not sure I understand why you do it.’ Walter shrugged. ‘Sometimes Fox needs it.’ Uneasily, John muttered: ‘I doubt Fox would agree with you.’ ‘Yeah I would.’ Both men turned as Mulder appeared in the kitchen doorway, the throw wrapped around him. ‘Fox, are you okay?’ Seeing Fox’s tear-swollen eyes, John felt uncomfortable. ‘Yeah, I am now. It’s okay John. Sometimes lines just won’t do it.’ Horrified, John persisted: ‘But it’s gotta hurt like Hell.’ Mulder shrugged. ‘For a while. It wears off by the morning.’ John wanted to ask more questions, but there were too many, and he ended up just shaking his head. Wrapping the throw tightly around himself, Fox walked back into the living room. ************* ‘You want me to sit with you? I have some reports to finish.’ John wasn’t sure whether Fox would welcome his company at the table. Or if he was even allowed to be there. So he spoke loudly enough for Walter to hear him. Finding his notebook and a pen, Mulder nodded. ‘Thanks John. I’m gonna be here a while.’ Pulling the pile of folders out of his case, Doggett sighed. ‘Me, too.’ ************ Engrossed in their respective tasks, both men were startled when Skinner walked into the den. ‘Fox, two hours is enough. How many pages have you done?’ Mulder flicked through the notepad. ‘Six sir.’ ‘So you’re around halfway done. That’s enough for tonight. Come and do something else for a while.’ Mulder got up and Skinner’s attention turned to the pile of folders at John’s elbow. ‘How many did you get through John?’ ‘Four sir. I just have two more.’ ‘Leave it until tomorrow. That way Fox gets some company again and you don’t fall asleep over a report.’ Closing the folder, John got up. ‘Yes sir.’ ************* //‘I’m gonna be away a couple of days sir.’ ‘Vacation Agent Doggett?’ ‘No sir. Funeral.’ Skinner’s face immediately softened. ‘Family or friend?’ ‘Kinda both sir. We were in the same unit in the MC and then we kept in touch.’ ‘I’m very sorry John. Is there anything I can do?’ Doggett saw the offer Skinner’s eyes. ‘No, thank you, sir. I’ll have my desk cleared by this afternoon. ‘l’ll leave straight from here this evening..’ ‘Very well. I’ll see you when you get back.’ ‘Yes sir.’ Skinner veered between being hurt that John had waited until they were in the office to tell him he was attending the funeral and being concerned at the repressed emotions the younger man was obviously barely holding onto. He sighed and turned his attention back to the stack of reports on his desk. ************ ‘John?’ Skinner’s softly voiced concern pulled Mulder’s attention from the latest edition of TLG as the front door opened. He looked up and saw John’s red-rimmed eyes and slumped posture. Without a word he went upstairs and began to run a bath. ‘I’m okay. Just jet-lagged, I guess.’ Skinner nodded understandingly. ‘Take your coat off and sit down. Bath’s running.’ John slumped into the couch as if he were hoping he could erase his memories of the previous forty-eight hours. He hunched over, his mind racing until Skinner’s arm around his shoulders cut into his thoughts. ‘Easy John. You’re home now. It’s okay. We’re here.’ Tears flowing, Doggett raged: ‘He was my age. He was a good person. Why?’ Skinner sighed. ‘Who knows, John…’ ‘What if I’m next?!’ John’s raised voice carried into the bathroom on the floor above where Mulder sat, perched on the edge of the bath, his hand trailing in the warm water. Doggett wasn’t even aware of moving into Walter’s arms, of being hugged, stroked, soothed. All he knew was that he felt safe. And he clung to Skinner, their bodies shaking with his anger and fear. After a couple of minutes, Skinner lifted Doggett gently upright. ‘You need a warm bath and a good night’s sleep. Come on.’ Reluctantly, Doggett allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. Skinner had to hold him tightly as they climbed the stairs and walked into the bathroom. ‘Thank you Fox.’ Skinner said quietly. Mulder nodded and walked out. Walter pushed Doggett down onto the toilet seat. Slowly, he loosened Doggett’s tie and unfastened the buttons of his shirt. Doggett’s glazed eyes stared unseeingly ahead as he was undressed. Skinner hooked a hand under his elbow and lifted him to his feet, removing Doggett’s belt and unfastening his pants. ‘Can you manage from here?’ Doggett frowned uncomprehendingly. Skinner said firmly: ‘John, listen. Do you want me to help you into the bath?’ The sharp tone seemed to pierce the fog in Doggett’s mind. Slowly, he nodded. ‘John, you have to try and stay awake. Come on. Open your eyes.’ Groaning with the effort, John forced his eyes open and pulled himself upright. Only then did he work out that he was naked, in a bath, with FBI Assistant Director Walter Skinner kneeling at his side. He grabbed a washcloth and covered his groin, barely visible in the milky water, flushing bright red. ‘I’m…sorry. I’m okay now.’ Skinner lifted himself to his feet. ‘Okay. Yell when you’re done. I’ll give you a hand up.’ ‘I’ll manage. Thanks.’ Skinner decided his teeth could do with another clean and he stood in front of the mirror carefully concentrating on making sure his mouth was totally minty fresh. Quick reflexes allowed him to grab Doggett’s arm and haul him above the water before he had sunk completely under. Holding John tightly, Skinner said dryly: ‘I think you’re probably clean enough.’ With very little help from an exhausted Doggett, Skinner managed to get him out of the bath and wrapped in a towel still warm from the radiator. ‘John, dry yourself off.’ Doggett’s unfocussed eyes stared at Skinner as if he had just asked him the answer to life, the universe and everything. Sighing, Skinner pulled the towel from Doggett’s waist and began to dry him. Wrapping him in a dry towel and sitting him on the toilet seat again, Skinner walked across to the bedroom. ‘Mulder. Put some clothes on. I’m bringing John in here.’ Reluctant to give up the warmth of the bed, Mulder muttered as he pulled back the covers. ‘One more word and I’ll punish you. John’s had a rough couple of days. Be nice.’ Pouting, Mulder opened his closet. ************ When he woke the following morning, Doggett opened his eyes slowly, luxuriating in the knowledge that it was Saturday and he didn’t have to get up. He focussed on the hazel eyes staring at him, turned to find darker brown eyes watching him. Skinner smiled kindly. ‘Good morning John.’ Doggett lay on his back, aware of the quiet breathing of the people either side of him. Quietly, Skinner said: ‘Breakfast Fox.’ ‘Yes sir.’ The sudden rush of cold air as Mulder eased himself out of bed raised goosebumps on Doggett’s warm skin. He digested the implication of the sensation in an instant. ‘Oh God.’ Reassuringly, Walter said: ‘It’s okay John. You were upset. I didn’t want to leave you alone last night. And you were exhausted. You would never have managed to get dressed.’ John groaned. ‘Couldn’t you at least have tried sir?’ ‘Why? You were perfectly safe. We weren’t going to take advantage of you in the middle of the night.’ Embarrassed, John leaned up on one elbow. ‘I know. It’s just I’ve never…’ Walter nodded. ‘Yes John. I know. When you’re dressed, come and have some breakfast. Skinner, Doggett noted, wore a t-shirt and boxers. Mulder had been similarly dressed. He’d been the only one wearing his birthday suit.// ************* John offered to clean up the dinner things. Fox didn’t argue. Walter was too tired to do more than look up as Fox came into the sitting room. ‘Come here Fox.’ Surprised, Fox found himself sitting on the couch. Walter lifted his arm and Fox settled onto his lap, a couch cushion under his head, Walter’s hand resting gently on Fox’s upper arm. Fox was dozing when John eventually finished cleaning the kitchen and walked in. Seeing Fox, he stopped. ‘I’m, um, gonna go on up sir.’ ‘It’s been a long day.’ Walter said understandingly. He saw something he didn’t understand in John’s eyes. ‘But not that long, surely?’ John stared at the carpet. ‘Um…’ Walter smiled reassuringly. ‘Keep me company for a little while? Mr Sleepyhead’s not exactly fun company right now.’ Sleepily, Fox muttered: ‘Tired, okay?’ John smiled slightly. ‘You want anything while I’m up sir?’ ‘Glass of water would be great. And you can relax John. I’m too tired for formality, and I’m sure you are, too.’ ‘It’ll be good to get back to normal.’ Walter said conversationally. John nodded. ‘Yeah. Fox has been like a coiled spring these past few weeks.’ ‘And you’ve been the strong one.’ It was a statement, not a question. ‘One of us had to keep it together.’ Walter smiled. ‘Thank you John.’ ‘No problem.’ ‘I guess you’ve had to put your apartment hunt on hold.’ ‘Yeah. I’ll start looking again tomorrow.’ ‘Or you could leave it. For a while.’ John nodded. ‘Yeah. I guess I could. If that’s okay?’ Walter smiled. ‘John, you’re a part of ‘us’ now. As far as I’m concerned, you don’t have to leave unless you want to.’ He looked down. ‘Fox?’ ‘Mmm?’ ‘John’s staying.’ Fox’s eyes opened slowly, and he yawned, rolling onto his back, Walter’s arms holding him safely. He looked up at Walter, then leaned his head back to look at an upside-down John. ‘Okay.’ ************** Fox didn’t want to move around too much. He could see the clock. Three-fifteen. Sensing the movement, Walter rolled over. He stared into Fox’s anxious eyes. Whispering, he said: ‘Can’t sleep either, huh?’ ‘I’ll warm some milk.’ Fox got up and walked to the door. ‘Shall I bring some cookies, too?’ Walter tutted. ‘If you don’t mind sleeping in a crummy bed for the rest of the night.’ ‘Chocolate chip or..?’ Losing patience, Skinner snapped: ‘Fox, just go!’ Fox grinned. ‘Okay.’ ‘Did I say something amusing?’ Fox shook his head. ‘You’re home.’ John stood in the doorway. ‘So I guess we’re all having trouble getting off to sleep?’ Walter managed not to let his surprise at John’s sudden appearance in the bedroom doorway show on his face. ‘Yeah. Fox is warming milk. Call down, and he’ll make you some too.’ ‘Fox?’ Whatever he was doing, it wasn’t heating milk. Concerned, John walked across the room. Hunched over the table, a torch illuminating the notepad, Fox was writing. ‘Hey.’ Fox looked up, startled. ‘John?’ ‘You’re supposed to be heating milk.’ ‘I wanted to get some more of this done before tomorrow. I don’t wanna spend my whole day writing lines.’ ‘Fox, it’s three am. Maybe Walter will let you have another day to finish. Come on back to bed.’ ‘No. He won’t. I have to get them done by bedtime Sunday night. That’s the rule.’ ‘Which I may bend a little, in the circumstances.’ Fox looked up as if Walter appearing in the kitchen in the early hours was a usual occurrence. ‘No. I’ll get it done.’ ‘John, heat the milk. There’s some carrot cake in the red tin. It’s less messy than cookies.’ John busied himself with heating the milk while Walter took the notepad from Fox. ‘Why did you lie? You said you were going to make hot milk because we couldn’t sleep.’ Crossly, Fox groused: ‘If I had to do the rest, I’d spend my whole day sitting at this damn’ table. We wouldn’t be able to do anything together.’ Stifling a smile, Walter said reasonably: ‘Fox, I’m not going back to work for a while yet. We’d have had time together after your lines were done.’ Fox sighed heavily, dropping the pen onto the table. Sulkily, he said: ‘Monday, John goes back to work. Tomorrow and Sunday are the only days we’ll have together. And Sundays aren’t the same.’ Walter didn’t bother pointing out that, technically, it was already ‘tomorrow’. Or that, feeling as he did, he doubted he would be in a fit state to do anything much outside the apartment. John loaded the three mugs and the plate of cake onto a tray and went upstairs. Walter put a hand on Fox’s shoulder. ‘It only took you around two hours to get it half done. If you put your mind to it, you can have it all done in another two. It won’t take you the whole day. Now come back upstairs.’ *********** Setting the tray down on the nightstand, John reached for one of the mugs and turned to leave. Reaching an arm around Fox’s shoulder Walter looked across at John. ‘You can stay here and drink that John. If you want to.’ Walter patted the end of the bed and John sat down, hands cradling the mug he held. ‘So what shall we do…today?’ Skinner asked. ‘Let’s have a picnic.’ Fox suggested. ‘Okay with me. John?’ Doggett nodded. ‘Sure. Um…’ ‘Yes John?’ Walter asked. ‘Maybe, sir…we could…invite Scully.’ Fox waited for Walter’s decision, smiling when Skinner nodded. ‘Sure. We’ll call her after breakfast. Which…’ Walter yawned. ‘…is about four hours from now. Fox, you done?’ ‘Yes sir.’ ‘John?’ ‘Almost sir.’ When the tray held three empty mugs and an almost-empty plate, Fox leaned in, resting his head on Walter’s chest. John watched for a moment, then began to get up. ‘Night sir.’ ‘You don’t have to go back to your room John. Not if you don’t want to.’ Hesitantly, John sat where he was, unsure what to do. Patting the far side of the bed, Walter said lightly: ‘You can come round this side. There’s plenty of room.’ Sensing Fox’s building unease, Walter’s arm reached down to gently stroke the sensitive spot in the small of Fox’s back. His slight moan and arching back told Walter he had done the right thing. Even in bed next to him, John was still sitting almost upright, barely touching Walter. ‘It’s okay John. Whatever you’re comfortable with.’ Walter reassured. He had always known that Fox needed touch in order to be reassured that all was right in his world. On the other hand, John seemed to find reassurance by merely being in their presence, sitting close by. And this was the first time he had ever come in their room during the night. Apart, Walter remembered, from that one time, which he decided didn’t count, as John had barely been coherent. ‘That…um…looks good.’ John nodded at Fox’s blissful expression. Walter lifted his arm and John slid into place. He was bulkier than Fox and it was more of a stretch to reach the same spot. Feeling Walter’s tense arm, John slid further up, his head resting on Walter’s collarbone. Immediately, he felt Walter’s unexpectedly gentle touch on his skin. He couldn’t help the low moan that escaped from his surprised throat. Walter looked from John to Fox and smiled. Softly, he murmured: ‘Welcome home Wisk.’ END Go to the Sequel – Permanent Bond – Part One Return to the X-Files Fic Index Return to the West Wing Fic Index
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