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Title: Thirty-six Part Two Mulder
sat and flicked through the files, his frustration growing. He felt as if the
answer to the two cases which he was working on was just out of his reach. But
no-one, least of all Skinner, seemed interested. All he cared about was making
sure Mulder didn’t move from his chair. ‘Where
are you going?’ Skinner’s growl made Mulder stop half-way to his feet. ‘Bathroom.’ Mulder scowled. Skinner
reached across and handed Mulder his empty mug. ‘Don’t bother.’ Mulder
looked daggers at Skinner and walked out slowly, hissing as he reached for the
door handle. ****************** Walter
put the phone down and looked across at Fox, focussed on the folder on the desk
in front of him. ‘I’m,
um, just gonna…I’ll be back in a couple of hours.’ Fox
made a noise which might have been acknowledgement. Skinner
ruffled the younger man’s hair as he walked past, eliciting a sharp groan from
Fox. ‘Walter, I’m not twelve!’ Skinner
paused in the doorway. ‘No, a twelve year-old would need reminding to wear his
glasses when he read.’ Fox
pulled a face at Walter’s retreating back. When he was sure he was alone, he
fished his glasses out of his desk drawer. ******************* The
smoke drifted across Skinner’s scowl, and he screwed his eyes and nose up. ‘I
don’t wanna be away long.’ Spender
looked at Skinner for a long moment. ‘Yes, Fox does need…constant guidance. And
I hear lessons on crossing the road safely might also be required.’ Skinner
let out a deep breath. ‘What do you know about the kids on the school crossing…’ Spender
shrugged. ‘The timing was…regrettable.’ Skinner
began to find breathing calmly impossible. He leaned forward, his facial
muscles twitching. ‘Anything happens to Fox, you’ll have to find someone else
to…’ Spender
laughed, stubbing out his cigarette stub. ‘Oh dear Mr Skinner, you have got it
bad. Still, I suppose there is a certain…something…about the boy.’ He got to
his feet. His voice dropped in pitch and volume. ‘Tell Detective Mulder to look
both ways in future.’ Skinner’s
hand shook has he downed the last of his coffee and got up. Spender handed
Skinner his coat. ‘Any leads on the two murders?’ Skinner
shook his head. ‘Fox thinks they’re connected. He just can’t get any further.’ Spender
smiled. ‘I’m sure he’ll work it out.’ Skinner
walked to his car, fishing his keys from his pocket. His hand scraped something
and he pulled it out. A business card. For a company
he had never heard of. ‘All Natural Products Inc.’ Sighing,
he looked back into the coffee shop. The table he and Spender had occupied was
empty, the waitress clearing their cups. ******************* Mulder
opened the door and couldn’t help his startled reaction. ‘Um…Walter.’ Walter
nodded and thrust a brown bag at Mulder. ‘Plates.’ Mulder
turned and went into the kitchen, praying Skinner wouldn’t follow him. The room
had…deteriorated...a little since Skinner’s previous visit. Skinner
sat silently hunched over his plate, hardly touching his food, moving it around
with his fork. Eventually, he looked up. ‘Fox…’ Fox
stopped eating, setting his fork onto the edge of his plate. ‘What is it?’ Skinner
sighed, rubbed his scalp and looked at Fox. ‘Fox…’ Fox
smiled. ‘Yes *Walter*.’ ‘How
are you feeling?’ ‘Okay.
Better. Not great.’ Walter
managed a weak smile. ‘Fox, your…accident…wasn’t an accident. Someone…’ He
stopped, leaning his head in his hands. ‘Did
your chain-smoking friend tell you that?’ Walter’s
head snapped up. ‘Fox!’ ‘It’s
okay Walter. Everyone has informants.’ Walter
stared at the floor, silent for a long moment. ‘He’s not an informant Fox.’ Fox
shrugged. ‘What did I do?’ Skinner’s
eyes met Fox’s. ‘*You* didn’t do anything Fox.’ Fox
frowned. ‘Someone tried to run me down on a school crossing because they were
pissed off with you?’ Skinner
nodded, getting to his feet. ‘I’ve asked for a transfer back home.’ ‘Walter!’
Fox jumped up and stood in what was definitely his partner’s personal space.
‘There is *no* way you’re being transferred.’ Walter
smiled sadly at the younger man’s tone. ‘As soon as they find a spot for me,
Fox, I’m gone. You’ll be okay. Your new partner won’t have my enemies.’ ‘What
can I do to make you change your mind?’ Walter
frowned at Fox’s desperate tone. ‘Fox, a month from now you won’t even remember
me.’ Fox’s
eyes filled with hurt tears and his voice dropped to a whisper. ‘Please don’t
leave because of me.’ Walter
sighed. ‘Fox, don’t.’ Fox got up, his body tense and shaking. Walter put a hand on his
shoulder and Fox shook him off. ‘I think you should go.’ Walter
walked to the door, pausing with his hand on the doorhandle. ‘It’s for the best
Fox.’ ******************* Walter
got out of bed and padded grumpily to the door of his apartment, pausing to
glance at the clock showing it was just after Fox’s
eyes were bloodshot and red-rimmed. ‘Um…I…you…’ Walter
hauled his incoherent partner into his apartment. ‘Do you know what time it
is?’ ‘Um…no,
I…did I wake you up?’ Walter
sighed crossly and released Fox against the couch, watching him drop into the
heavily-upholstered black leather. He leaned down, lifted Fox’s feet onto the
couch, slipping his shoes off. Ignoring Fox’s closed eyes he reached over Fox’s
already half-asleep form to pull the folded Aztec-patterned throw down from the
back of the couch. Walter smiled, shaking his head as he gently tucked the
thick woven cloth around Fox’s shoulders, watching him snuggle down, settling onto
his side, breathing gently. ‘We’ll talk in the…in a couple of hours.’ Sighing,
he reached down, pushing a thick lock of glossy brown hair out of Fox’s eyes. ***************** Fox
woke slowly, each part of his body seeming to go from sleep to waking in turn.
Walter watched him for a few minutes until Fox’s eyes finally opened.
Cautiously, Fox offered: ‘Good morning.’ Walter
looked at Fox for a long moment, his eyes boring into his partners’. ‘Morning.’ Fox
bit his lip and looked away. ‘On a one to ten, how angry are you right now?’ Walter
laughed. ‘Breakfast’s ready. Let’s eat.’ ‘We’ve
been partners how long…and you’ve never made me breakfast. Why now?’ Walter
ignored Fox’s jibe and turned to walk back into the kitchen. Fox
tucked his chin on Walter’s shoulder and looked at the pan on the stove.
‘Mmm…that smells great.’ Walter
turned. ‘You look terrible.’ ‘I’m
not a morning person.’ Walter
chuckled. ‘I guess I never see you until you’ve been awake a while.’ Fox
yawned and rubbed his face. ‘Yeah.’ Walter
plated up two large breakfasts and laid one of the plates in front of Fox. Fox
made no comment, picked up his fork and began to transfer the eggs, bacon and
biscuits from the plate to his mouth. After a few minutes, his plate only half
empty, Fox began to slow, trying to sneak a look at Walter without making it
too obvious. Walter
said nothing, ignoring Fox completely for several minutes,
only looking up from his plate as Fox’s fidgeting seemed likely to upset his
chair. ‘Sit still!’ Fox
flinched at the sharp correction and looked down. Walter
stopped eating, aware of his partner’s over-reaction to his words. ‘Why don’t
you shower while I clear up in here?’ Fox
nodded. ‘I should go. I don’t have any…’ Walter
put his fork down, frowning. ‘Your bag’s in your car, right?’ Fox
nodded. ‘Yeah. But I didn’t drive over last night.’ Walter
stared at Fox. ‘What?!’ ‘I…um,
I…walked.’ Walter
let out an angry breath. ‘Fox! Anything could have
happened!’ Fox
seemed to lose inches and years as he absorbed Walter’s anger. His voice was
soft, apologetic. ‘I’m sorry.’ Walter
sighed, getting up. He put a hand on Fox’s shoulder, unsettled when Fox’s
muscles tensed under his fingers. ‘What am I gonna do with you Fox, huh?’ Fox
looked up. ‘Hug me?’ Walter
hauled Fox to his feet, holding him around the back of his neck. ‘Thereby
rewarding you for your stupidity? No way.’ Fox
sighed sadly. ‘I’m sorry.’ Walter
moved Fox away from him, still holding him. ‘Let’s see if I can find you
something to wear. When I’ve done the dishes I’ll *drive* you home.’ Fox
followed Walter into the bedroom, realising it was the first time he had been
inside his partner’s sleeping quarters. Without being conscious of it, this was
what his first thought was. This wasn’t a bedroom in the way he understood it.
Nothing other than a large brass-framed bed with a wooden trunk at the foot of
it occupied the large light room. He assumed Walter’s clothes were somewhere,
but he could see no door handles or other indications that the room held a
closet. ‘What’s in here?’ Walter
followed Fox’s gaze. ‘Blankets.’ ‘The
throw on the couch, it’s Navajo, right?’ Walter
followed the leap with difficulty. ‘Yes. I bought it…’ ‘It
was really warm.’ Walter
wasn’t sure what response was expected, but tried his best. ‘Nights are cold
right now.’ ‘You
hid the stuff on my desk.’ ‘Fox?’ ‘My first day.’ Fox smiled. ‘Wherever I go, it’s
always the same. One time, I even got a real stuffed fox.’ Walter
blushed slightly. ‘I just…’ Slowly,
Fox closed the distance between them. ‘That’s a first.’ Walter
looked up. ‘What is?’ ‘You. Blushing.’ He smiled. Walter
pushed past Fox. ‘I’ll drive you home.’ Fox’s
hand on his shoulder stopped Walter. His soft voice made him jump. ‘What are
you afraid of Walter?’ Without
answering, Walter walked quickly down the stairs, reaching into his coat
pocket. ‘Here. Maybe this’ll take your mind off…here.’ He handed Mulder the
business card. ‘What
is it?’ Walter
shrugged. ‘That’s for you to figure out. Now wait here while I shower.’ Fox
smiled slightly. ‘Yes Sir!’ ******************* Walter
turned, eyes half-closed against the powerful water
flow. ‘Fox?’ Pulling
off his t-shirt, Fox pouted. ‘You were expecting someone else?’ Walter
paused for several seconds, moving out of the water flow, looking at his
partner for some sign. Fox’s confident smile made his decision for him. ********************* The
cooling water flowed over the two men went unnoticed until it ran cold. Walter
reached up and turned it off. Fox rested his head on Walter’s damp shoulder.
‘Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for that?’ Walter
nodded. ‘I have an idea.’ Return to the X-Files Fic Index Return to the West Wing Fic Index
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