Title: What goes around… ‘Margaret!’ His assistant rushed in from her adjoining office. ‘Yes Leo?’ ‘See if Hoynes can spare me some time today.’ His assistant nodded. ‘How long?’ ‘More than ten minutes.’ ‘Okay.’ ‘He’s free for an hour between eleven-thirty and twelve-thirty Margaret.’ Janeane ran her finger down the Vice-President’s list of appointments. ‘Or he’s got fifteen minutes at four.’ ‘We’ll take eleven thirty. Leo’ll be over.’ ‘Okay. Thanks. How’s it going over there?’ Margaret tutted. ‘Midterm madness.’ Janeane laughed. ‘You free for lunch?’ ‘Yeah, I can make…’ ‘Eleven-thirty?’ The two women laughed again. ‘Yeah. See you then.’ ‘Okay. Bye.’ ************* ‘We’ve found someone for you to play with.’ Hoynes and Leo rarely met, and John had forgotten Leo’s hatred of small-talk. Even so, the flat comment, with the door barely closed behind Leo, caught him by surprise. ‘Who?’ ‘New member. Well, the person he came with was. He died a couple of days ago. They are from San Diego. California.’ Biting back an angry remark, John shrugged. ‘So?’ ‘I’ll bring him over tomorrow night.’ ‘Please tell me you won’t be staying.’ Leo looked at Hoynes. ‘You know what they say John. Three’s a crowd.’ ‘What’s his name?’ ‘Al.’ ‘Just Al?’ ‘Yeah. She did tell me his last name, but I can’t remember it. Somethin’ foreign. It’s not exactly important, right?’ Hoynes shrugged. ‘Guess not. What’s he like?’ ‘Submissive.’ Hoynes smiled. ‘Okay.’ Leo put his hand on the door. ‘Oh, one thing. Catherine said he’s a little sensitive about his arms.’ Hoynes frowned, hoping he wasn’t being set up. Suspiciously, he asked: ‘What about them?’ ‘He’s only got one.’ Leo suppressed his smile at Hoynes’ reaction. ‘I guess this is where I’m supposed to say ‘thank you’?’ Leo shrugged. ‘Wait till you meet the kid, huh?’ Hoynes’ response was drowned by the sound of the door slamming as Leo left. ************ One week earlier… Alex had wasted no time in San Diego. He had scoured the Internet and the local personal ads, found a master and settled in all within a week. Perfectly obedient, he had used the time he spent bent over a table or chair or face down on the large bed working out ways to kill the man who called him ‘slave’ and ‘boy’. And wondering how long it would be before the man got the call summoning him back to his company’s Washington head office. ‘Get up slave. Pack. We’re going to DC.’ Alex stirred, groaning as the pain from the beating the night before suddenly washed over him. ‘Quiet! Get ready. We’re leaving in an hour.’ Alex was washed, dressed, and packed in under half that time. As expected, his master was already packed, and he smiled as he looked from his very expensive wristwatch to Alex. ‘We have a little time boy. Come here.’ Alex walked slowly towards the man who raised his eyebrows impatiently. Alex didn’t hurry. He needed time to get to the place in his mind where he wouldn’t simply kill the older man the moment he laid his large hands on Alex’s bare flesh. Within twenty-four hours of arriving in DC, after he’d been introduced to Catherine, the man who had paid for Alex’s plane ticket was dead. Alex returned to the club, playing the part of a terrified slave, all alone in the big city, penniless and without a master, so well that Catherine had taken him in. As he luxuriated in a hot shower without the worry of the pain which would usually follow such a reward, Alex smiled to himself. If and when the police found the man, they’d have an interesting autopsy report to leak to the press. He wondered how long it would take them to work out that the man hadn’t swallowed the wristwatch. ************** Alex wondered if he should have made more of an effort to keep his surprise from registering on his face. The Vice President. He was sitting opposite the Vice President. In the most exclusive club in DC. And they were alone. Apart from the two agents standing in the corner of the room. Hoynes got up. ‘Let’s get started. No talking. Do exactly as you’re told. If you want my attention, snap your fingers. Get undressed.’ ************ Keep still And quiet. Just for a few minutes. You can do it. You’ve done it before. Under much worse circumstances. This is easy. Just breathe. Get to the place. Alex stood still while the harness was fitted around him, buckles tightened, straps adjusted. Despising the older, taller man who fussed around him, Alex fought his instinctive reaction to anything in his mouth. ‘Easy. It’s just a rubber bit. Here…’ Alex struggled to take the sugar lump the man held on his flat palm. Eventually, he managed to get it into his mouth, tipping his head back until the strap between his chest and his chin stopped him. ‘Almost done.’ The hand in the centre of his back pushed him forward, and he hissed as the butt plug was pushed firmly home. Something soft brushed the backs of his legs as he straightened and he heard the voice behind him. ‘Your tail matches your hair.’ Cheeks burning, Alex stood still while the man circled him, adjusting this strap and that chain. ‘Now, these will help you concentrate.’ The black nylon hood being pulled over his head panicked Alex. As the eye holes were lined up, he realised the hood had been designed so he could only see forward. Taking him back to a time where survival depended on being able to see all around him, Alex began to hyperventilate. As Hoynes fitted the special boots which would complete Alex’s transformation from human to pony, Alex began tearing at the hood and the harness, striking out at anything he could reach. He kicked out, hearing the grunt as his foot connected with bone. Moments later, a stunning blow on the back of his head left him sprawling on the polished wood floor. ‘You stupid…what the Hell is wrong with you…’ Hoynes’ leather boot connected with Alex’s ribcage and he screamed. Instinctively, he rolled into a ball, trying desperately to protect himself. ‘I’m sorry…please…’ Hoynes pulled his belt off then curled the leather strap around his hand, leaving the buckle dangling from a few inches of thick leather. As he brought it down hard between Alex’s shoulder blades, he was surprised both by the volume of the scream and the amount of blood that flowed from the wound the sharp-edge brass buckle caused. The two men who stood to one side watched impassively as the Vice-President of the United hit Alex again. He tried to crawl away, only to be kicked into semi-conscious immobility moments later. Catherine’s pager vibrated and she looked at the message. ‘Leo, basement. Quickly.’ Walking quickly along the bar, Leo put a hand on Skinner’s shoulder and jerked his head towards the door. ‘I might need some help.’ Skinner followed Leo out of the room, Catherine sighed as she watched the two men hurry across the room. Then she looked round the room and caught Jimmy’s attention. He hurried over. ‘Yes ma’am?’ Leo pushed the door open and grabbed at Hoynes’ arm before he could land another blow. ‘Step away.’ The two men who Skinner hadn’t noticed now stepped out of the shadows and moved instantly to protect Hoynes. ‘I’m Leo McGarry.’ Leo snapped. His hand on Leo’s arm, the older man repeated: ‘Step away now.’ Ignoring them, and the weapons they held, Leo pulled the belt from Hoynes’ grip. Turning to Skinner he nodded at Alex’s battered form. ‘Can you manage him?’ Finding everything too much to take in – the Vice-President with his two agents pointing their guns at the White House Chief of Staff and the young man on the floor, Skinner simply nodded, bent down, and lifted the boy up. His grip stirred Alex, who moaned incoherently, turning to face Skinner. Skinner almost dropped him. ‘Alex?’ Leo didn’t have time to worry about how Skinner knew the young man. ‘Get him outta here.’ Skinner surveyed the ruins of the leather harness, guessed what had been going on, only to have his suspicions confirmed by the long tail that trailed across his forearm as he lifted Alex clear of the ground. Leo turned his attention back to Hoynes. ‘Get out of here.’ He looked from one Secret Service agent to the other. ‘And you two will be in my office at eight tomorrow morning.’ Hoynes seemed to recover his composure then, and stopped walking. He muttered: ‘You can’t be serious.’ Nodding at the bloodstains on the floor at his feet, Leo’s face hardened. ‘I am. Now get outta here.’ ************** Mulder was waiting for Skinner when the car pulled into the driveway. He walked out, cast a glance into the back, and shook his head. ‘You shouldn’t have brought him here.’ Skinner was tired. ‘No, I should have left him there.’ ‘Was it really Hoynes?’ Skinner nodded. ‘Yeah. Now help me get him inside.’ ‘I finished up all my paperwork.’ Skinner barely registered the note of pride in Fox’s words. ‘Help me get him out.’ His lack of attention didn’t go unnoticed. ‘Gently!’ Skinner was worried that Alex’s head was going to hit the car door as Fox pulled his inert form roughly from the car. ************** Bartlet always believed that as long as it didn’t harm his administration, what his staff did in their spare time was their business. He knew, because Leo had told him long ago, that his Chief of Staff was in love with Catherine Sullivan. A woman who owned what he called a ‘private club’. Of which Hoynes was also a member. Knowing it was pointless putting it off, Leo headed up to the Residence. Leo had wanted the two men who had been with Hoynes fired. Bartlet had suggested that featuring on the front page of the following day’s Post was probably not something Leo wanted to do. Leo had commented that it would be worth it. He described exactly what state the young man Hoynes had beaten up was in. In graphic detail which made Bartlet glad he hadn’t eaten for some time. After some heated discussion, Leo agreed that they were to spend a month on gate duty. Checking visitors in and out. For two men used to being on Hoynes’ detail, he hoped the tedium would make them wish they had been fired. Bartlet poured two mugs of coffee, handing one to Leo. ‘So this FBI guy helped you out?’ ‘Skinner, yeah.’ ‘And he’s discreet?’ ‘Yeah. Him and his kid.’ ‘A sub?’ Leo frowned. ‘I’m not sure what Fox is. Sometimes he’s a pushy sub, other times he’s a completely obedient slave. Drives Skinner mad.’ Bartlet smiled. Then he frowned. ‘Fox? Interesting name.’ ‘Yeah, must have been fun growing up.’ Jed nodded. ‘Where’s the boy now?’ ‘Skinner took him home. Seems he recognised him or something.’ Leo shrugged. ‘How will you ensure his…discretion?’ ‘I’m gonna talk to Skinner tomorrow.’ ‘What about John?’ Leo’s face darkened. ‘I haven’t decided. But I’ll deal with it.’ Bartlet was, as always, relieved. Leo had taken care of things. ‘Okay.’ ‘Goodnight sir.’ Bartlet’s face took on an habitual pained expression that, even in private, Leo rarely used his name. Ignoring it, Leo put down his coffee, and, tiredly, pulled himself to his feet. ‘Wanna stay over?’ Leo shook his head. Tempting though it was, he hadn’t finished for the night. ‘Nope. Still gotta check on the kid.’ ‘Do it from here.’ Bartlet picked up a telephone. Leo sighed. ‘Nah. I’ll get over there.’ Concerned at how tired Leo had to be, Bartlet leaned across to the phone a second time. ‘At least let me get you a driver.’ Leo laughed. ‘Yeah. Cos I wanna turn up in the middle of the night at Skinner’s place in an official car.’ Bartlet accepted the rebuke without anger. ‘Sorry.’ Leo waved the apology away. ‘Forget it. See ya tomorrow.’ ‘Yeah. Night. Leo, this wasn’t your fault.’ Leo shook his head. ‘Wrong Jed. I set it up.’ He turned away as his phone rang. ‘McGarry…yeah he’s fine. I took care of it. Yeah I will.’ Leo folded his phone closed. ‘Catherine says hello.’ Bartlet smiled. ‘How’s she doing?’ Leo smiled back. ‘Enjoying seeing me squirm.’ ‘Oh?’ ‘I convinced her to let Hoynes back in.’ ************* Leo called ahead. As he had expected, Skinner was still awake. When he knocked on the door, the sulky look on Mulder’s face made him frown. ‘Fox.’ Mulder held the door open for Leo, standing back to allow him inside. ‘Sir.’ ‘Where’s the kid?’ Mulder nodded at the staircase. ‘Spare room.’ ‘How’s he doing?’ Mulder shrugged. ‘Dunno.’ Wearily, Leo climbed the stairs. ‘What’s up with Fox?’ Skinner made an exasperated sound. ‘Jealous.’ ‘Of that?’ Leo nodded at Alex, who was sleeping restlessly. Skinner nodded. ‘Yup. Almost dragged him up here by his hair.’ Leo’s disapproving frown made Skinner squirm. ‘Yeah, I know. He should be better behaved. And now I’ve got two of ‘em.’ Leo put a hand on Skinner’s shoulder. ‘You want me to find somewhere else for him?’ Skinner turned back to Alex who was moving jerkily beneath the bedclothes, muttering incoherently. ‘I doubt anyone else would take him.’ ‘Hard work?’ Skinner shook his head. ‘Dangerous.’ ‘How d’you know him?’ ‘Long story.’ Leo stifled a yawn. ‘Another time.’ Skinner nodded. ‘Yeah.’ Leo nodded at Alex. ‘Thanks for this. You need anything, call me, okay?’ He fished a card out of his jacket pocket. ‘The rumours are true then.’ Leo frowned. ‘About what?’ ‘The Vice President.’ Leo sighed. ‘Yeah. But you didn’t hear that from me, okay?’ Skinner nodded sadly. ‘He was lucky Alex didn’t kill him.’ Leo shook his head. ‘The kid was lucky the Secret Service didn’t kill him.’ ‘The President seems like a nice guy. Why the Hell did he pick someone like that?’ ‘He is. Hoynes must’ve missed ‘sadistic prick’ off his resume.’ Skinner was almost sure it was the late hour and the circumstances which leant Leo’s voice its bitter edge. Almost sure. ************** Alex woke, wincing at the pain between his shoulder blades. As he opened his eyes, he groaned at the sight of Skinner standing at the end of the bed. ‘I’ll be gone in a couple of minutes.’ Skinner shook his head. ‘Take your time.’ He didn’t move, so, reluctantly, Alex was forced to get out of bed. As he moved, he realised he was wearing a t-shirt and boxers. He pulled himself upright, feeling unpleasantly light-headed as he sat up. Skinner moved quickly, reaching his arm behind Alex’s trembling shoulders. ‘Take it easy.’ Hissing at the sudden pain, Alex managed to whisper through clenched teeth: ‘I’ll be okay.’ Suddenly realising how much his touch was hurting Alex, Skinner pulled his hand away. Alex looked quickly at Skinner out of the corner of his eye, his head hardly moving. He saw concern and understanding. ‘The guy who did this. It was John Hoynes.’ Skinner nodded. ‘Yeah.’ Calmly, Alex said: ‘I’m gonna kill him.’ Equally calmly, Skinner said: ‘No, Alex, you’re not. It’s being taken care of.’ ‘By?’ ‘Do you want something for the pain?’ Sighing, Alex shook his head. ‘No. I just wanna get out of here.’ ‘At least let me change the dressings on your back and make you something to eat.’ ‘Nah. Thanks.’ Sighing, Skinner got up. ‘Alex, don’t do anything stupid, okay?’ Alex half-smiled. ‘Yeah.’ ************** ‘Wha…what time is it?’ Fox rolled over as his alarm went off. But it was still dark. He closed his eyes until he felt Skinner’s hands pulling him over the broad lap. ‘Time you learned a lesson in manners Fox.’ Defensively, Fox wondered what he’d said. ‘I just woke up. I can’t help it if I talk in my sleep.’ ‘You were wide awake last night.’ Fox groaned. ‘Alex.’ ‘Yes Fox. Alex.’ ‘Why didn’t Leo take him to his place?’ Skinner didn’t even bother to answer. ‘I have a couple of meetings.’ ‘Would you rather do this later?’ Fox considered the suggestion. ‘I guess not.’ ‘Fox I’m not angry with you for your feelings. I would never punish you for them. But you were offhand with Leo, and that was inexcusable. He was a guest in our house, and you should have been polite. I don’t expect to have your behaviour commented on.’ Fox sighed. ‘I suppose it’s too late to say I’m sorry?’ ‘No. But it is too late to hope I’ll change my mind.’ After he’d landed the final smack, Skinner’s hand was almost as red as Fox’s butt. He lifted Fox carefully onto his side, all the time rubbing his back. ‘All done. Up you come.’ Carefully Fox lifted himself so he lay with his head resting in the hollow of Skinner’s shoulder. ‘Can I have some of that stuff?’ ‘The lotion? Sure. I didn’t think you liked the smell.’ ‘Scully did.’ Skinner laughed, lowered Fox back over his lap, and reached across for the tube of aloe after sun lotion. He squeezed a little onto his fingertips and smoothed it across Fox’s heated skin. ‘Shhh. Keep still. There…’ As he rubbed, his other hand stroked Mulder’s shoulders and back. ‘Better?’ ‘No.’ Mulder sniffed crossly. Skinner smiled. ‘I’ll make you something nice for dinner.’ Mulder rolled onto his back, hissing as the cool sheets made contact with his still-sore flesh. ‘Steak?’ Making a disapproving face, Skinner sighed loudly. ‘Very well.’ Mulder smiled. ‘You’re all sweaty. Want to shower?’ Skinner swatted Mulder’s crimson backside. ‘You are wanton, Fox Mulder. Get in the shower while I…’ He saw Fox’s smile fade and stopped in mid-sentence. ‘All right. Go on.’ Mulder’s faded smile reappeared. ‘Can we invite Scully?’ Skinner made an exasperated noise. ‘Get a move on. If you’re late for work, you’ll be having toast for your dinner.’ Mulder scrambled out of the bed and almost ran into the bathroom. ************* Hoynes couldn’t concentrate. He knew Leo would be over. But he didn’t know when. A couple of times he picked up the phone, intending to force Leo to come over. Each time, he’d replaced the receiver before dialling. Summoning the man who would, in all probability, leave with your resignation wasn’t something to be hurried more than necessary. Flicking through a file, he was startled by the sound of Leo’s voice in the corridor outside. Moments later, as always, Leo let himself in. ‘Mr Vice-President.’ Hoynes relaxed at the formality in Leo’s tone. Leo wasn’t here about…what had happened. Bartlet’s Chief of Staff was here for something. This was official. ‘Leo?’ Leo dropped onto the couch in the centre of the room. ‘Coffee?’ ‘Yeah.’ When they were both seated, Leo put his cup on the low table in front of him. ‘A kid almost died. Right in here. And you got away with it cos he was nobody. Last night you beat unconscious a former FBI Agent. No way are you gonna get away with that.’ Caught out by the unexpected comment, Hoynes stammered: ‘Leo…I…It was…’ ‘What John? Accident? His fault? I’ve heard these, remember?’ Hoynes stared into his cup. ‘I’ll resign.’ ‘Your membership? Yeah, you will.’ Hoynes looked up, confused. ‘What?’ ‘Catherine won’t have you back. And I’ll make sure you don’t get accepted anywhere else.’ ‘I meant my job.’ ‘You will not! We’re heading for a re-election campaign. You are not gonna bring this administration down. You will apologise. To the kid. To Catherine.’ ‘Leo, I’m sorry…’ Leo shook his head. ‘Not to me! You didn’t half-kill me. You didn’t betray my trust.’ Hoynes flushed. ‘Is he okay?’ Tightly, Leo nodded. ‘He will be.’ ‘I lost my temper.’ Disinterestedly, Leo said: ‘Whatever.’ He got to his feet and walked out. As he walked between the OEOB and the West Wing, Leo wondered if he’d made the right decision, changing his mind half-way through his conversation with Hoynes. Sure, it was the right thing for the Administration. But it was the second time… He reached his office still deep in thought and almost walked into Bartlet, only sensing his presence at the last moment and pulling up. ‘Did you talk to him?’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘And.’ ‘It’s done.’ Bartlet was unsure exactly what the ‘it’ was, but he trusted Leo to have done the right thing. Whatever that was. On to Part Two Home Send me feedback on this fic Return to the Crossover Fic Index