Title: Cabin Fever Part Two – the conclusion Alex heard the door open. He didn’t bother turning round. He was already in so much trouble, risking Walter’s further wrath for not being asleep just wasn’t worth it. ‘Alex, I know you’re awake. Turn round and face me please.’ That was different. Walter sounded sad. Which was his fault too. He sighed and rolled over. ‘Alex, I’ve changed my mind. I’m not going to punish you tomorrow. It’s not fair to make you wait.’ For a moment, during the first part of Walter’s slow, softly-spoken speech, Alex had begun to think he was going to get away with being yelled at. Then Walter had clarified his comment. This was not good. Tomorrow was, well, tomorrow. Not today. Certainly not right now. ‘Tell me what you did wrong.’ ‘I didn’t leave a note.’ ‘About?’ ‘Where I was. The blood. The broken glass.’ ‘And?’ ‘You didn’t know where I was.’ ‘Alex, I’m going to make this punishment so memorable, you won’t even leave the room without leaving a note.’ ‘Okay.’ Alex said resignedly. Walter got up. ‘Fox, come up here please.’ What was bad just got worse. Not only was he going to be punished, but Fox was going to be in the audience. Alex started to breathe heavily. ‘Calm down Alex! There’s a long way to go yet.’ Walter said firmly. ‘Yeah?’ Fox appeared in the doorway. ‘Fox, I’m going to tell you to do something and you’re going to do it. No arguing, no refusal, just get on with it.’ Fox looked from Walter’s determined expression to Alex’s terrified face. ‘Uh, okay.’ He hated the idea of watching Walter punish Alex. But he guessed that was part of the punishment, and flopped onto the bed. Walter unhooked his belt. ‘I hope you won’t forget this evening for quite a while Alex.’ He handed the belt to Fox then unbuttoned his jeans, dropping them to his ankles. ‘Walter, what are you doing?’ Fox’s words followed Alex’s confused look. They never, ever, got intimate before or immediately after a punishment. Walter hooked his fingers into the waistband of his briefs. ‘You’re going to punish me. Twelve strokes. And you, Alex, are going to watch. Maybe this way you’ll think twice before you break one of our rules again.’ Although the scenario was one Fox had dreamed of as a fantasy, he realised with a sickening jolt that the reality was different. And there was no way, absolutely definitely no way, he was going to be able to go through with it. ‘I can’t do this.’ He whispered. ‘Yes you can.’ Walter asserted, leaning forward over the bed, his head inches from Alex’s body. ‘No Walter! No, please no! I’m sorry. Noooo!’ Alex screamed, scrambling up the bed, hugging his body in a tight ball. Not caring about disobeying Walter, Fox ran from the room. Walter heard the sounds of Fox vomiting, mixing with the Alex’s keening sobs as he rocked his body on the bed. Pulling his underwear and jeans back up, he called: ‘Fox, rinse your mouth and get back in here. It’s over.’ The bedroom door opened a few inches and Walter saw Fox’s anxious eyes scanning the room. When he was sure Walter was fully dressed, he walked back in, holding a glass of water. ‘Alex, I know you were scared. It’s over now. But that’s how scared Fox and I were that something had happened to you.’ Alex fought for breath and self-control. He was silent for a long time, then sniffed, taking the glass of water from Fox and draining it in two long sips. ‘Don’t ever, ever, ever do that again!’ He realised his tone was a little too loud, and bowed his head. Eyebrows raised, Walter said: ‘You took the words right out of my mouth Alex. Fox, is it still warm outside?’ Fox opened a window and leaned out. ‘Yeah. Sticky. It might storm.’ ‘I think we all need to cool off. And as this bath’s not big enough, the next best thing is…’ Fox’s eyes lit up. ‘The jacuzzi.’ Walter nodded. ‘Alex?’ He reached out his hand. Alex grasped it tentatively. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t leave a note.’ Walter helped him off the bed, then put an arm around Fox’s shoulders. ‘That’s done with now. Let’s move on.’ ‘Are you still going to punish me tomorrow?’ Alex asked timidly. ‘No Alex.’ Walter said firmly. Alex needed to know the incident was closed. ‘I think you’ve been punished enough, don’t you.’ Alex nodded fervently. ************* The three men lay back in the bubbling water, Alex sandwiched between Walter and Fox. They each had a cold beer and Walter took a long sip of his. ‘Maybe we’ll book this cabin again next year.’ He suggested. Alex and Fox looked at each other. ‘Yeah.’ They answered in unison. End Home Send me feedback on this fic Return to the X-Files Fic Index Return to the West Wing Fic Index Return to the other fic index