Title: What goes around…Part Three Alex and Fox blamed each other for ‘The Accident’. All because Mulder opened the kitchen window and Alex left his watch on the window ledge after the washing up was done. Skinner walked into the kitchen to be assaulted by a very angry bird who had flown in through the window, attracted by the sunlight reflected off the metal watch. It had become disoriented and exhausted until Skinner’s sudden appearance startled it into renewed escape attempts. ‘What the Hell..?’ Hearing Skinner’s shout, Alex and Fox abandoned their respective books and rushed into the kitchen, only to be dive-bombed by the frantic bird as they tried to reach the kitchen door to open it. Alex said quietly: ‘I’ll let it out.’ Skinner and Fox exchanged a glance, then left Alex to it. The cage Skinner vaguely remembered seeing in the basement was perfect for the sparrow while it recuperated from its ordeal. Using some breadcrumbs as bait, Alex had dropped a heavy towel over the bird and managed to get it into his hand, soothing its severely ruffled feathers until the could call the others for help. The tiny bird hopped from perch to perch, pecking at the wild bird food Fox found in the back of a cupboard, taking tiny sips of water from the plastic cup fixed to the side wall of the cage. Skinner pulled Alex away from where he sat, fascinated by the trapped wild creature on the table in front of him. ‘Alex, it’s had a nasty shock. It’s probably best to leave it in peace for a while. We’ll let it go this afternoon. That way it can find somewhere safe before it gets dark.’ Reluctantly, Alex nodded. ‘Okay.’ They were all sitting watching a Hitchcock film. Alex walked into the kitchen to get a drink. Then they heard his shout. ‘No!’ They both guessed what had happened before they opened the door. Alex sat, eyes glazed, no longer seeing the bird as it lay, dead, on the floor of the cage. Skinner helped Alex up while Fox took the cage outside, grimacing as he realised he was stuck with the task of burying the tiny feathered corpse. Alex was inconsolable, and, after a short time, Skinner lead him upstairs, stripped him to his boxers and put him to bed. When he descended the stairs, he saw Mulder with the now-empty cage in his hand. ‘I washed the cage out.’ ‘Thanks Fox. I’ll put it back in the basement while Alex is sleeping.’ ************* ‘Why did you leave the FBI? Was it because of me? Us? ’ Fox forked a piece of cake into his mouth then looked up. ‘Eat your lunch Fox.’ ‘Well?’ ‘Fox, be quiet.’ ‘Does Scully know?’ ‘No.’ ‘I won’t tell her.’ Skinner looked up. ‘Eat.’ ‘I can eat and listen at the same time.’ Skinner reached for Fox’s bowl. ‘You want me to put you to bed too?’ As he rinsed the plates and stacked the dishwasher, Skinner’s mind drifted back. ‘Come on in Walter.’ ‘You wanted to see me Director?’ ‘Sit down. How are you?’ ‘Well, thank you sir.’ ‘Good, good. Now, this is awkward, but there’s something we need to discuss…’ The options. Resign or be fired. The reason. Inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. If Skinner hadn’t been sure the cigarette smoking bastard was dead, he would have checked the ashtray for cigarette butts. He was sure the Director, and other people, had been aware of his relationship with Fox for some time. Yet it was only now he was being pushed out over it. Skinner signed the sheet of paper the Director handed him. ‘What now?’ ‘Go back to your office and clear your desk. It’s been decided that it won’t be necessary for you to work your notice. Your pension and other benefits will begin immediately. If you feel able, meet with Acting Assistant Director Scully when you get back to your office. Go through things with her.’ Scully. Dana Scully. In his office. With his Kim. Kim. He wasn’t sure how he’d explain what had just happened to the one person he trusted enough to drop enough hints about him and Fox that one day she had simply asked him outright. ‘Sir, are you and Agent Mulder living together?’ ‘Yes Kim.’ ‘Okay sir.’ It had been the first and last time he’d discussed his relationship with Fox with her, but she’d seen to it that, when Fox needed him, Skinner’s day was re-arranged. Doctors, dentists, times when Mulder thought he was getting close to finding Sam only to be disappointed. Skinner had called her in to his office on numerous occasions. The apologetic tone was always sincere, only the words varied. ‘Kim, I need to leave early.’ ‘Yes sir.’ ‘Kim, I won’t be in today.’ ‘Okay sir.’ Whatever the reason, Kim had covered for him. Telling her he had resigned hadn’t been that hard. She had been crying so much after he got the first sentence out that he hadn’t had to worry too much about what he said after that. They had hugged. It was the first time he’d been so physically close to Kim. ‘It’s not fair sir.’ Skinner had handed her his handkerchief. As she dabbed her eyes dry, he nodded. ‘Go home. Come in tomorrow and if you’re half as nice to Assistant Director Scully as you have been to me, she’ll be very lucky to have you as her Assistant.’ He knew Kim didn’t drive, and he called her a cab, giving the driver her address and what he guessed was enough cash for the fare and a healthy tip. Then he’d sat in his office, picked up the phone, and dialled Scully’s extension. ********** ‘Agent Scully.’ ‘Sir?’ Skinner sighed. ‘Agent Scully, I’m not your boss any more.’ Scully looked at her watch. ‘It’s only a quarter to five sir. You have fifteen minutes left.’ As she spoke, Scully realised her attempt at humour had fallen flat. She picked up another folder. ‘Agent Mulder.’ ‘Do you need me to tell you anything about Fox?’ Scully shook her head. ‘I don’t think so sir. Where is he?’ ‘I have him in a budget meeting over at the OEOB.’ Skinner got up and walked over to a small cupboard behind his desk. He pulled out a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. ‘Drink, Assistant Director Scully?’ Scully’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I didn’t want this, sir.’ Skinner nodded. ‘I know.’ ‘Have you talked to Kim?’ ‘About an hour ago. I sent her home. I guess I should have asked you first.’ Scully flushed, uncomfortable ‘Will you tell Mulder?’ ‘Tell Mulder what?’ Fox rushed into the office without knocking. He’d heard the gossip as soon as he walked up to the fifth floor. Skinner’s resigned. Scully’s been promoted. Desperate for the truth, he’d run down the corridor, arriving breathless at Skinner’s half-open office door. ‘I’ve resigned. Dana has been promoted. Effective immediately.’ Shocked, Mulder couldn’t move. Or speak. Eventually, he managed: ‘Why?’ ‘I have my reasons Fox.’ ‘I want to know.’ Skinner shook his head. ‘Come on Fox, let’s go home.’ ************* Alex slept. Too deeply to hear Skinner’s scream of pain as he slipped and fell heavily onto the edge of the cage. The sound of his own scream was the last thing he heard before he slipped into well-timed unconsciousness. Fox heard the scream. And was on his feet in seconds. ‘Alex, wake up. I need your help.’ Alex growled at the unwelcome voice. ‘What?’ ‘Walter’s hurt. He can’t get up.’ Slowly, Alex lifted himself onto one elbow. ‘Where?’ ‘In the basement. Come on.’ Sighing, Alex pulled himself out of bed, dressed quickly and followed Fox into the gloomy room, lit by a single bare bulb. He shivered, forcing down memories of similar rooms, and the pain he’d endured in them. Recognising Alex’s vacant look, Mulder snapped him back. ‘Can you manage his legs?’ Alex nodded. ‘Yeah. But I’m not walking backwards.’ Between them they managed to get Skinner onto the couch. Alex’s experienced hand pressed into bone and felt for movement. ‘I don’t think anything’s broken.’ Fox reached for the phone. ‘I’ll call Scully.’ ************** ‘What happened?’ Scully looked up at Mulder, who was too shocked to reply. ‘Sir, I need to get your t-shirt off. Can you sit up?’ Skinner moved slightly, then groaned. ‘No.’ ‘Mulder, give me a hand.’ Mulder supported Skinner while Scully lifted his t-shirt off. Despite his anger at what had happened, Mulder couldn’t help his instinctive reaction to Skinner’s washboard abdomen. ‘Mulder, let him down slowly.’ Shaking, Mulder obeyed Scully’s instruction. ‘Sir, I’m just gonna feel your ribs. Try and keep still.’ Scully’s hands pressed into Skinner’s chest until he yelped. ‘I don’t think you’ve broken anything sir. We’ll get you dressed, and I’ll drive you to the Emergency Room.’ ‘No.’ ‘Sir…’ ‘I said no Scully. I’ll be fine.’ Scully stood up. ‘Sir, you need to be examined properly. You shouldn’t rely on my judgement.’ Skinner smiled despite the pain. ‘I trust your medical opinion Doctor Scully.’ Realising she wasn’t going to change Skinner’s mind, Scully made an angry noise. ‘Mulder, can you help him upstairs? He should be in bed.’   Scully settled Skinner into bed. ‘Mulder, did you hear me?’ ‘It was his stupid bird.’ ‘What?’ ‘A stupid wild bird. Walter went to put the cage back cos it died of shock and he fell.’ Scully didn’t fully understand, but put her hands up. ‘Just call me if you need anything. I’ll get the pharmacy to drop round some pain meds and other stuff.’ ‘Thanks Scully.’ *********** ‘It wasn’t stupid.’ ‘What?’ Alex scowled. ‘The bird. It wasn’t stupid. It was smarter than you. You couldn’t survive out there.’ He nodded at the window. ‘Shut up Alex. If you hadn’t left your watch in the kitchen, this wouldn’t have happened.’ That was it. Alex ran at Mulder, knocking him over, and they both fell to the floor. Suddenly, Mulder became very aware that brawling with a man trained to kill with his bare hands was probably stupid. Very stupid. He lay still under Alex, trapped by the younger man’s legs, staring up into the green eyes. ‘You fight like a girl Mulder.’ ‘You’re scared of everything.’ Mulder taunted. Moments later, Alex’s hand closed on Mulder’s throat, the rigid plastic moving to add pressure. Mulder struggled, then blacked out. Alex pulled himself to his feet and reached for the phone. He pressed ‘last number redial’. ‘Scully.’ ‘This is Alex. You need to come back here.’ ‘Is there something wrong with Skinner?’ ‘Nope. I just killed Mulder.’ He heard the screech of tires and blaring horns as Scully did a dangerous and illegal U-turn. Then he closed the phone, opened the front door and sat on the couch, waiting. ********** Ignoring Alex, Scully dropped to the floor and began to examine Mulder. Contrary to Alex’s assertion, he was very much alive. Apart from a few bruises around his throat, she could find nothing else wrong. As she stroked the hair from his damp forehead, Mulder began to stir slightly. ‘Walter…’ Firmly, Scully said: ‘No Mulder. It’s Dana.’ A dreamy smile filled Mulder’s face. ‘Scully. Am I dead?’ ‘No. No thanks to him.’ She shot a venomous look at Alex who sat, staring unseeingly ahead, his arm wrapped around his chest, rocking slowly. ************** ‘What happened?’ Skinner had been woken by the noise that came upstairs. ‘Alex almost killed Mulder.’ ‘Almost?’ Skinner frowned. Suddenly the same thought occurred to Scully. Why hadn’t Alex simply left the apartment. Mulder apparently dead, Skinner unable to move. He would have had a huge head start. Yet he’d stayed. ‘D’you think you can help me downstairs?’ ‘Sir, you should…’ ‘Agent Scully, that was an order.’ Shocked, Scully turned to Skinner and saw the slight smile. ‘Yes sir.’ ‘Alex.’ Skinner walked slowly across the room, Scully inches behind, ready to support him. ‘Alex, look at me.’ Eventually, Alex’s head lifted slightly. ‘I’ll leave.’ ‘Why?’ ‘You don’t want me here. Mulder doesn’t want me here. She doesn’t want me here. You all hate me.’ ‘Assistant Director Scully, not ‘she’ Alex. No-one hates you.’ ‘I do.’ Mulder’s voice carried from where he stood in the kitchen doorway. ‘Be quiet Fox.’ Scully stayed silent amazed both at the calmness in his voice and the skill with which Skinner was defusing the tension in the room. ‘While I’m incapacitated, you’re gonna have to find a way to share out the household chores which doesn’t involve physical violence. Fox, bring your notepad. Alex, find yours.’ Fox flicked the wire-bound pad open, hastily turning the pages from where his handwriting, the same words repeated down the page, could be seen. Alex seemed not to care if Scully could see his lines. ‘Start on a fresh page Alex. Now, Fox, shopping. Both of you cooking. And washing the dishes. Fox, housework. Alex, the garden. Anything I’ve forgotten?’ ‘Uh, how about taking care of you?’ Fox asked. Skinner smiled. ‘Alex, daytimes. Fox, evenings. You can share weekends. I’ll ask Frank to come over so you two can have a break every few days, okay?’ Both men nodded. ‘Now, Alex, apologise to Fox for attacking him. Fox apologise to Alex for whatever you said that made him so angry.’ Both men looked stonily at each other, bodies rigid. ‘I’m waiting.’ ‘No way. He nearly killed me.’ ‘Fox, not another word unless it’s to Alex. Alex?’ Alex dropped his gaze to his lap. Skinner sighed. ‘Fox. Lines. I will not tease Alex. One hundred times. Alex, you too. I will not use physical violence against the people I live with. One hundred.’ Alex looked up. ‘That’s not fair! That’s way more than he got.’ Skinner frowned, nearing the limit of his patience. ‘You both got one hundred lines.’ ‘But I have more words.’ Alex whined. ‘Because you deserve more punishment. Now get on with it. Neither of you gets any dinner until you’re both done.’ ‘That’s not fair! Alex will be ages.’ Skinner took a deep breath, exchanging a look with Scully, who was too surprised by what she’d just watched to do more than smile slightly. ‘That’s fine. You can start the dinner while he finishes.’ Mulder scowled, but began to write. **************** ‘Can I help?’ Mulder looked around. Even with his prosthesis, there was a limited range of things Alex could do. ‘Carrots.’ After a couple of minutes, Mulder realised Alex was finding it almost impossible to hold the carrot and peel it. He dug in the drawer they kept their smaller gadgets in, handing Alex a vegetable peeler. ‘Here. Use your good hand to hold the peeler.’ By trapping the carrot under his plastic fingers, Alex managed to roll it around and peel it. But it was going to take forever to peel and chop the whole bag full. After a few more minutes, Alex snarled and threw the peeler across the room. ‘Forget it. I can’t do anything.’ Mulder turned, holding out his wooden spoon. ‘Here. Stir the gravy. Don’t stop or it’ll go lumpy. And don’t let it boil. Turn down the heat if it starts to bubble more than this.’ Then he walked across the kitchen to pick up the peeler and finished the carrots. In the sitting room, Scully and Skinner heard the exchange and both smiled as they realised they had both been poised to break up another fight. ‘How are you feeling sir?’ ‘I’m not your boss anymore Agent Scully.’ Scully looked away. ‘When you get low on your pain meds, I’ll get the pharmacy to deliver another supply.’ ‘Thank you.’ The strained silence, broken only by the sounds coming from the kitchen, became unbearable after a few more minutes. Scully got to her feet. ‘I should go.’ ‘Please stay Scully. Mulder would be terribly upset if you left after he’s made dinner for all of us.’ ‘Okay. But sir…call me Dana, okay?’ Skinner nodded. ‘Okay. And Dana?’ ‘Yes sir.’ ‘I think you might wanna risk calling me something other than ‘sir’.’ ‘Um, I think your first name is too informal. You were my boss.’ ‘How about Skinner?’ Dana gave the matter a few seconds thought. ‘Okay sir, I’ll give it a go.’ ‘Dana!’ Skinner chastised mildly. Scully flushed. ‘Sorry.’ ********** While the two younger men were clearing up in the kitchen, Scully made Skinner comfortable. ‘You make them write lines?’ ‘What can I say? It seems to work. I tried corner time. It wasn’t a punishment for Fox. His mind was free to wander. And Alex couldn’t bear to stand with his back to the room. Writing makes Fox concentrate on nothing else but what he’s doing which he finds frustrating. Alex has already been hurt in every way possible. The threat of physical punishment just doesn’t deter him. Having to be still and quiet annoys him.’ ‘It’s effective. D’you need anything else? I should get going.’ ‘No thanks. Fox, Alex, Dana is leaving.’ Mulder came in, closely followed by Alex. ‘Bye Scully.’ Mulder leaned in and hugged his partner. Alex nodded. ‘Bye.’ ‘Take care of Skinner, you two. And no more fighting.’ ‘Yes Scully.’ ‘Okay.’ ************* They were sitting squashed on the couch. Fox was flicking through the channels trying to find something on TV. Skinner was trying to finish his crossword, only to have his concentration interrupted every time the TV blared. Alex was reading a book he’d found on the shelf in his room. Suddenly, the TV flicked off. A moment later, the lights went out. ‘Walter!’ Fox’s panicked shout almost drowned out Alex’s terrified whimper. But Skinner heard both. He was used to Fox’s reaction to the unexpected darkness. Alex’s reaction surprised him. Calmly, he tried to reassure them. ‘It’s just a power cut. Don’t move off the couch. I’ll get a torch and we’ll light some candles.’ Within a few minutes, the room was bathed in a soft yellow light which flickered each time one of them got up. Fox had calmed immediately the torchlight shone into the room from the kitchen and he heard Skinner’s confirmation that he’d found candles and matches. Alex stayed tightly curled up for several minutes. Skinner sat with him, stroking his tense neck and back muscles. ‘Shh. It’s okay. The candles are lit. And the power will come back on soon. That’s it. You’re safe. There…’ Cautiously, Alex had uncurled, sitting up slowly, his face shiny with tears. ‘If they wanted to punish us, they’d lock us in a room and turn the light out.’ ‘It’s all right Alex. Nothing like that is going to happen.’ ‘Yeah, you don’t have rats, right?’ Skinner hugged Alex tightly. ‘No Alex. Now, who wants to help me check the fuse box?’ Skinner wasn’t altogether surprised when both men followed him down into the basement. Skinner woke as Alex screamed. He gasped as he sat up automatically, only to be caught by a sharp pain. Mulder rolled onto his back. ‘S’okay.’ ‘Fox…’ Skinner said warningly. Tiredly, Mulder sighed. ‘I know.’ ‘Alex, wake up. Come on. It’s a dream. Wake up.’ Mulder put his hands on Alex’s shoulders and shook him gently. Alex’s eyes snapped open, but he stared straight through Mulder. ‘I’m sorry. Don’t hurt me. I’m sorry. Please…’ Mulder sighed. ‘It’s okay Alex. I’m not gonna hurt you. Come on, it’s me, Mulder.’ Sharply, Mulder snapped: ‘Alex Krycek, wake up right now!’ Alex’s eyes focussed on Mulder, his chest heaving, his whole body trembling. ‘What…’ ‘You were dreaming. It’s okay. Go back to sleep.’ ‘I’m sorry.’ Mulder shrugged. ‘I do it all the time.’ ‘Why?’ Mulder sighed. ‘Sam, my father…’ He saw Alex’s face. ‘Hey I know you were just following orders.’ ‘I didn’t kill him.’ Mulder started to get up. ‘Whatever Alex.’ Alex pulled at Mulder’s arm. ‘I didn’t kill Bill Mulder. I was supposed to. I don’t know who did. I do know what they did to me cos I didn’t.’ Stunned by the revelation, Mulder stammered: ‘What…they…hurt you…why?’ ‘Cos I failed. Failure is always punished.’ ‘Was, Alex. Was.’ Alex gave a lop-sided half-smile. ‘Yeah.’ Fox reached down tentatively and pushed Alex’s hair off his damp forehead. ‘Sleep.’ He pulled the bedclothes back up. ‘If you woke them in the night they got angry. They’d beat us in the morning.’ Mulder frowned. ‘No-one’s gonna do that here Alex, okay?’ In a small voice, Alex replied: ‘Okay.’ As the younger man turned onto his side, tucking the blankets tightly around him, he called: ‘Night Mulder.’ Flicking off the light, Mulder turned back. ‘Night Alex.’ ************* ‘Okay?’ Mulder climbed back into bed. ‘Yeah. They hit him if he had a nightmare.’ Skinner had given up being shocked at what Alex seemed to have endured. ‘Which would give you nightmares.’ Fox nodded. ‘The ‘rat in the dark’ thing’s gonna keep me awake for a while.’ Skinner turned onto his side, groaned, and lay on his back. Reaching for the bottle on the nightstand, he looked at his watch. ‘Five more minutes.’ Fox laughed. ‘It’ll take you five minutes to get the stupid lid off.’ ‘It’s childproof Fox.’ ‘It’s stupid. We’re adults.’ Skinner had to agree. ‘I usually ask for ordinary lids. I guess Dana didn’t think.’ ‘Yeah.’ Mulder lay back wondering yet again when ‘Assistant Director Scully’ had become ‘Dana’. Sleep came more quickly for him than either Skinner or Alex. ************** ‘Leo.’ Skinner knew he had been an FBI AD. He knew they weren’t that far apart in age. But every time he met Leo McGarry, he had an almost irresistible urge to call him ‘sir’. And he knew Leo sensed his discomfort. Maybe even enjoyed it. Which was why McGarry was White House Chief of Staff and he was a former Fibbie with two time-consuming kids under his feet. ‘Can I come in?’ ‘Sure.’ Skinner stood aside and Leo walked into the apartment. ‘How’s the kid?’ Smiling slightly, Skinner asked: ‘Which one?’ Leo laughed. ‘The one with a death wish.’ Skinner laughed too. ‘You’ll have to be more specific. Alex, Fox, we have company.’ Fox’s gaze dropped deferentially as soon as he saw Leo. Alex stared at him. ‘What do you want?’ ‘Alex!’ Skinner remonstrated sharply. ‘I just came to make sure you hadn’t got into any more trouble.’ Leo said calmly, ignoring the sarcasm in Alex’s voice and the anger in Skinner’s. ‘Is he still alive?’ Guessing Leo asked: ‘Hoynes? Yeah.’ Alex continued to stare at him. ‘Then no, I haven’t.’ Leo picked up his briefcase. ‘If you were mine, kid, you’d have learned some manners by now.’ ‘Yours?’ Alex’s eyes glinted dangerously as he closed the distance between himself and Leo. Desperately, Skinner said quickly: ‘I’m sure Alex didn’t mean…’ Mulder contemplated getting between the two men, then decided against it, remembering what had happened the last time that he’d upset Alex. Skinner knew he was still healing, and couldn’t become involved if Alex decided to attack Leo. So he decided to pre-empt Alex’s actions. ‘Alex, go to your room.’ Alex didn’t move, and Skinner raised his voice a notch. ‘Alex, do as you’re told.’ A slight movement told him Alex was at least thinking of obeying. ‘Alex, do you want me to punish you?’ Finally, the three men were able to let out a collective breath as Alex stamped away. Leo suddenly remembered the other reason he’d visited. ‘We’re having a reception tomorrow. Eight o’clock. I’ll send a car. That way you can have a drink.’ Leo saw Fox’s excitement. ‘You’re not invited. Someone’s gotta stay with the kid.’ Fox scowled. ‘Great. A night in with Alex.’ Skinner cast an apologetic look towards Leo. ‘Thanks. I’ll look forward to it.’ Leo paused in the doorway. ‘Maybe you should get a sitter.’ Skinner nodded. ‘I know just the person.’ Mulder closed the door and turned back. ‘I know. Write out one hundred times ‘I must be nice to visitors.’ Skinner snapped crossly: ‘Since when did I allow you to set your own punishment?’ ‘Two hundred?’ Mulder asked warily. ‘It must be all those X-Files Mulder. You’re developing the ability to read my mind.’ Mulder groaned and walked into the living room wondering where on earth he’d left his notepad. ************** Skinner pushed Alex’s bedroom door open. Alex lay on the bed, badly feigning sleep. ‘Alex, sit up.’ After a few seconds, Alex moved slowly upright. ‘What?’ ‘Apologise.’ ‘What for?’ ‘For your behaviour. You behaved appallingly.’ ‘Did not.’ ‘I’m not arguing with you Alex. Apologise or accept the consequences.’ ‘What ‘consequences’?’ ‘Don’t push me Alex. You know the house rules.’ ‘F--- you. You don’t scare me old man.’ Fighting for calm, Skinner took a deep breath, which hurt, then a slightly shallower one, which hurt only a little less, and walked over to the bed. Grabbing Alex’s wrist and sitting on the bed at the same time, he flipped Alex face down over his lap. Skinner endured wave after wave of ear-splitting screams punctuated by a stream of curses. Finally snapping, he pulled a small piece of soap from his pocket. Dipping it into the water glass on the nightstand he pushed it into Alex’s mouth swiping it several times around his teeth. Choking and spluttering, Alex cleared some of the foamy mess from his mouth and began to scream as if he were being torn limb from limb. While being horribly tortured in some other way. Reluctant to move, Skinner was finally forced to get to his feet as Alex stretched and deliberately cracked his head against the cast-iron headboard. Skinner leaned in and pulled Alex backwards, away from the headboard, making a mental note to dismantle it in the morning. ‘Alex Krycek stop this right now!’ Skinner was afraid Alex would inflict further injuries on himself, and he pulled Alex towards him and held him in a crushing bear hug with their faces inches apart. He gasped at the pain in his ribs as Alex’s hand pressed against his chest as he tried to release Skinner’s grip. ‘Let go of me!’ ‘No.’ ‘Get your hands off me!’ ‘No. Alex stop this.’ ‘Leave me alone!’ ‘Not while you’re behaving like this.’ Suddenly, Alex shrieked: ‘I hate you.’ Skinner released him as Alex’s anger degenerated into sobbing, and he lay on his side, his whole body shaking with each shuddering breath. He began to retch. Skinner brought a bowl from the bathroom and held it under Alex’s head while he vomited. Eventually Alex lay back on the bed, gasping for breath. Skinner handed him the water realising too late that it was murky from the soap he’d dunked into it. Alex swallowed, pulled a face, and immediately vomited again. Skinner got up, washed the glass in the sink, and came back with clean water. ‘Alex, I’m sorry. I lost my temper.’ Alex’s voice was almost a whisper. ‘I deserved it.’ Grimacing at the pain, Skinner reached across and put his hand on Alex’s shoulder, maintaining his grip as Alex twisted away. ‘No Alex, you didn’t.’ Rubbing Alex’s shoulder, Skinner pushed Alex’s hair off his damp forehead. ‘Come into the bathroom and let me look at your head.’ Alex sat on the edge of the bath. Skinner pulled a bottle of antiseptic and some cotton balls from the bathroom cabinet and began to clean Alex’s temple. ‘Would you ever hit me?’ Skinner snorted. ‘No. I don’t hit. But I would spank you.’ ‘Same thing.’ Skinner lifted Alex’s chin. ‘Alex, if I spank you, you’ll hurt for a few hours. If I hit you, you’d be unconscious for a week.’ Alex dropped his head. ‘I’m sorry.’ Skinner dropped the blood-stained cotton into the waste basket. ‘Alex, you’ve gotta stop telling us what you think we want to hear. And you need to stop thinking that reacting with your fists is the way to solve every problem.’ ‘It’s all I know.’ Skinner finished drying Alex’s forehead. He taped a dressing onto the small cut. Then he lifted Alex’s chin. ‘It doesn’t have to be Alex.’ ‘When I was three, to punish me they hit me with their hands. When I was six, they used a ruler. When I turned twelve, it was a belt. On my fifteenth birthday, I got hit with a cane for the first time. I was supposed to kill a chicken. I couldn’t do it. So they hit me. Afterwards, this guy gave me a cigarette. And he wished me ‘Happy Birthday.’ The next day he gave me a gun. And another cigarette. I shot the chicken. It just…disintegrated. Every day for the next week I got given chicken three times a day. That was the last time I ate chicken.’ Skinner only just managed not to throw up. Alex seemed to notice his unease. ‘They took good care of me. Mostly. I was important. They’d invested time and effort in me. I was treated okay. Mostly. Except when I was bad. And when they hit me, I went to the place. So it didn’t hurt. Mostly.’ Skinner looked at his watch. ‘I’ll call Leo and tell him something came up.’ Alex sat up. ‘No! Not cos of me. I’ll be good. I promise. Don’t call Leo.’ Skinner frowned. He really didn’t have time for one of Alex’s full-blown panic attacks. ‘Alex, tell me what’s wrong.’ ‘Leo scares me.’ Skinner chuckled. Leaning close to Alex, he whispered: ‘Me too.’ Standing up, Skinner walked to the door. ‘Be good. I won’t be long.’ ‘Do you want me to ask Frank to come over, Fox?’ ‘No! I can take care of myself?’ ‘And Alex?’ Mulder sighed theatrically. ‘Him too.’ Skinner scribbled on a piece of paper. ‘This is his number, if you need help, call him. Do not call me.’ ‘I don’t like Leo.’ Skinner didn’t answer. He had even less time to get ready now. And, despite his respect for Leo’s position, he had to agree with both the two younger men’s assessments of Bartlet’s Chief of Staff. Leo was scary. And Skinner didn’t like him. He always had the feeling that what Leo thought and what he said were two completely different things. He didn’t trust the man at all. As he showered, he wondered why he simply hadn’t made some excuse to get out of the reception. The sudden cold draught startled him as the shower curtain was drawn back. ‘Want me to scrub your back?’ ‘Finished your lines?’ Mulder scowled. ‘Yes.’ Skinner nodded, his face blank. ‘Okay.’ Mulder stripped quickly and climbed under the water. ‘How the Hell do you stand the water so hot?’ Skinner reached across, stepping out from under the water and quickly turned the tap back the other way. ‘Aaarrgh!’ Mulder screamed as the freezing water hit his warm skin. ‘You’re supposed to be nice to me. I’m the one who’s gonna be stuck with Mr Sunshine while you’re schmoozing with the President.’ Turning the water off, Skinner asked: ‘Wanna swap places?’ ‘Is Leo gonna be there?’ ‘If you mean Mr McGarry, Fox, then yes.’ Mulder accepted the rebuke, dipping his head. ‘I’d rather stay with ten Alex Kryceks then have to be nice to one Leo McGarry.’ Skinner let Fox’s slip pass. Pulling a towel off the rack at the side of the bath, he climbed out of the bath and began to towel himself off. ‘You could say you were sick.’ Skinner tossed Mulder another towel. ‘Dry off then go lay out my tux.’ ‘Yes sir.’ Mulder’s insolence earned him a swat on his bare butt and he ran from the bathroom without further comment. ************ Skinner had been in the White House a couple of times. He’d met with junior staffers, even been invited to a reception one night. This was different. He was here at the personal invitation of Leo McGarry. Who spotted him as he hovered in a doorway. ‘Skinner.’ ‘Leo.’ ‘Come and meet some people. You wanna drink?’ Skinner didn’t drink much. Occasionally a scotch after a hard day. Otherwise a few beers watching a game on TV or out for the evening with Frank and a few of the guys. Champagne wasn’t something he was used to. He took a glass from a passing uniformed waiter and held it tightly as Leo steered him across the room. ‘Mr President, I’d like you to meet former FBI Assistant Director Walter Skinner.’ ‘Jed Bartlet.’ Skinner took Bartlet’s hand and found the handshake firm but quick enough that if Skinner had gripped the President’s hand particularly tightly, no lasting damage would have been done. Unexpectedly, Skinner was too nervous to think straight, and simply smiled. ‘Leo tells me you helped us out the other night.’ ‘Yes sir.’ ‘We’re very grateful.’ ‘No problem sir.’ ‘How is the kid?’ ‘Recovering sir.’ ‘Good. Excuse me.’ Not realising he was being guided into another room, Skinner was startled when Leo’s hand grasped his glass and took it from his shaking hand, setting it down on a table. ‘You spill that on you this early, no-one’ll come near you all evening.’ ‘I promised myself I wouldn’t be nervous.’ Leo laughed, closing the door behind them. ‘Once you’ve known him a while, you’ll realise he’s just a regular guy.’ ‘Who just happens to be the most powerful man on earth.’ Skinner felt a hand on his shoulder. ‘That would be Leo.’ Skinner recognised the voice and turned slowly. ‘Mr President?’ ‘Don’t be scared of him. I’m not.’ Leo huffed. ‘Yes you are!’ Bartlet made a face. ‘Yeah, I am. And with good reason.’ ‘I know all your secrets.’ Skinner realised he was witnessing something he guessed not a lot of people got to see. The President and his Chief of Staff being themselves. He kept still and silent and, after a few seconds, something occurred to Bartlet. ‘You don’t know about my silver dollar.’ ‘The one which you keep in the world’s oldest surviving sock?’ Bartlet pretended hurt. ‘Dammit!’ Leo smiled. ‘Better get back out there Mr President.’ ‘What about you?’ ‘Those people didn’t empty DC’s finest clothes stores to impress me sir.’ Bartlet sighed deeply. Looking at Skinner he suggested: ‘What say we sneak out the back and get a beer somewhere?’ Leo raised his eyebrows. Then he opened the door. ‘Go get re-elected. I like the view from this window. And talking about beer is just mean.’ Bartlet exchanged a look with Skinner. ‘Sorry Leo.’ When they were alone, Skinner said: ‘About earlier. With Alex…’ Leo turned back from the window. ‘Make him understand that he won’t get within a hundred yards of Hoynes.’ ‘I don’t think he’ll still be at our place when I get back.’ ‘Why not?’ ‘I lost my temper. He was cursing. I washed his mouth out.’ Leo laughed. ‘You put your fingers near his mouth? That was either really brave or really stupid.’ ‘I didn’t think. I just did it.’ ‘You ever wash Fox’s mouth out?’ Without thinking, Skinner replied: ‘Sometimes.’ As if Skinner hadn’t said anything out of the ordinary, Leo smiled. ‘You’re more likely to get away with your hand intact with him, right?’ Skinner smiled. ‘Yeah.’ ‘We should get back out there.’ ‘You should. I should get back. If Alex is gone, Fox’ll be panicking.’ Leo picked up the phone. ‘Okay. Let’s find you a car.’ Skinner walked to the door. ‘Thanks for inviting me.’ Leo nodded. ‘Thanks for your help the other night. If the kid is gone, let me know, okay?’ ‘Sure.’ ‘Oh hey, if we can do anything for you, just let me know.’ Leo handed Skinner a small card. Hoping he sounded sincere, Skinner nodded. ‘Thanks.’ He had a sudden insight into how a trapped fly must feel as the spider approaches it. Leaning down to put his empty glass on the table, he hissed as he felt pain. Frowning, Leo asked: ‘Alex?’ Skinner shook his head. ‘No. I fell.’ Leo opened the door. ‘Your car’s downstairs.’ ‘Thanks. Goodnight.’ ************* Wearily, Skinner untied Mulder’s wrists. ‘What happened?’ ‘I fell asleep. Next thing, he’s tying me up. Ow!’ Pulling the card Leo had given him out of his pocket, Skinner walked slowly over to the phone. On to Part Four Home Send me feedback on this fic Return to the Crossover Fic Index