ONE

Mulder steered the car carefully along the icy road. Driving conditions were not perfect, but at least the snow had let up for a little while.

Alex was sitting in the passenger seat, his nervousness betrayed by the constant nibbling at his lower lip. Mulder risked a quick look at the younger man sitting beside him.

"You are going to gnaw your lip bloody if you don't stop." He remarked.

Alex glanced at him, then relaxed into a smile. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He replied. "How far is it now?" That was the fifth time he had asked that question in the last hour.

"Not much farther." Mulder replied. "Relax Alex, I'm sure that we'll find Natty, maybe some kids broke in and took her, who knows."

"Yeah, or maybe she was abducted by some of those aliens of yours." Alex replied sarcastically, then instantly regretted it, after all, Mulder was putting his ass on the line taking him back to Fallon Gates to try and find her. He knew that Skinner was going to go ballistic once he found out what his agent had done.

"Sorry." Alex muttered. "That was out of line."

Mulder's lips quirked up. "Don't worry about it." He replied, he was just grateful that Alex was no longer angry at him.

Finally the town's sign loomed up in the darkness. "Here we are at last." Mulder remarked as he turned down the street that led to the veterinarian clinic.

Dr Owens was sitting in his surgery, he had been waiting for Mulder and Alex to show up. He ushered them both in, obviously flustered.

"I just don't understand it." He was saying as he led them through to where he kept his four legged patients.

"I mean, if your cat had been a valuable breed, a show quality animal I could certainly understand, but she's just a domestic short hair, why would anyone want to steal her." He shook his head, puzzled. "Nothing like this has ever happened before."

The elderly vet showed the two men the cage that Natty had been kept in while she had been recuperating, the lock had been neatly cut in half.

"What did the local police have to say about this?" Mulder asked slipping smoothly into full FBI mode.

"Not that much really." Dr Owens replied. "They dusted for fingerprints and took a statement from me, then they said that they would get back to me if they found anything. Oh this is just dreadful." It was easy to see that the elderly man was distraught.

Mulder nodded, his face thoughtful. "Do you mind if we took a look around here, we might be able to spot something that the local guys might have missed."

"Yes of course, please do." Dr Owens replied. "I just feel terrible about this, I really, I can't work out how they got past my alarm system." He left the room, muttering and shaking his head at the state of things.

Alex and Mulder checked every inch of the room and found absolutely nothing, not so much as a hair or clothing fiber. They could see by the fingerprint powder residue that the cops had not picked up any prints either. It was clear to see that this had not been done by local kids pulling a prank. Whoever it was that had broken in and taken Natty had been a professional.

They checked the alarm system, it turned out to be a rather cheap older model, easily tampered with. Alex held up the wires to show Mulder that they had been neatly cut.

Mulder nodded, his face grim. "Come on, we may as well pay a visit to what passes as the local law enforcement around here.

TWO

The deputy sitting behind the desk looked up as the two men clad in thick jackets and jeans entered the station.

"Help you two gentlemen?" He asked. Mulder flashed his badge.

"I'm Agent Mulder, FBI and this is Mr Krycek, we just want to ask someone about the break in at the vet's surgery."

The deputy glanced at the badge in front of him, then his eyes flicked up to the young dark headed man who was holding it.

"The officer you want to talk to is Deputy Samas, since he's the investigating officer." The deputy replied, obviously bored.

"Would he happen to be here?" Mulder asked, his voice edged with impatience now.

"Sure is." The deputy replied. "In fact he's sitting right over there." He nodded towards a short heavy set man sitting behind another desk over on the far side of the room. He was ponderously tapping away at a computer keyboard in front of him.

"Deputy Samas?"

The older man looked up from the computer screen. "That's me all right, how can I help you two boys?"

"Agent Mulder FBI, and this is my associate, Mr Krycek." Mulder held his badge up once more for the deputy to inspect.

"I believe you are the officer in charge of investigating the break in at the veterinary clinic."

Deputy Samas nodded. "That's right, someone broke into old Doc Owens clinic, took a cat of all things."

"That's right." Mulder replied. "I was wondering if you had any information that you could share with us concerning the...robbery."

"Well not really." Samas replied, rubbing his stubbly chin with one pudgy hand. "We checked out the crime scene and went over everything, but so far we haven't turned up a blessed thing. No fingerprints, nothing." He sighed. "Nothing other than the cat was taken, no money, drugs... strange case really."

Mulder sighed inwardly, he could see he was not making much headway here, he turned to look at Alex, who was standing a little way back, his green eyes dark and unfathomable. He had not said a word since they had entered the station.

He handed the deputy his card. "If anything turns up, please call me immediately."

The deputy nodded, taking the card. "Sure, but why would the FBI be so interested about someone taking a cat?"

Mulder gave the older man his most charming smile. "Just let me know if anything turns up, thanks."

The deputy watched the two men leave the station, then after taking another look at the business card, shrugged and tossed it into his desk drawer.

THREE

"We aren't going to find her Fox." Alex said softly as he sat down on the edge of the motel room bed.

By mutual consent, they had decided to take a room at the motel instead of returning to the cabin. Mulder had thought that it would not be safe and Alex had agreed, but the real reason was simply that going back there would invoke too many painful memories.

So they found themselves back at the motel, and oddly enough, back in the same room they had shared before.

"We are going to find her Alex." Mulder replied firmly. "We are going to find out who the hell it was that took her and then..." Just then, his cell phone buzzed. Mulder pulled it out of his coat pocket.

"Mulder speaking." He answered, then instantly wished he hadn't.

"Agent Mulder where the hell are you?" It was Skinner and he sounded incandescent with rage.

"Ah, AD Skinner." Mulder replied, visibly wincing. "How nice of you to call."

"How nice of me..." The Assistant Director spluttered. "Mulder, is Alex with you?"

"As a matter of fact, he is Sir." Mulder replied. Alex looked over at him nervously.

"And where are you right now Agent?" Skinner voice had become calm, almost too calm, a very bad sign indeed.

"Ah, we are back in Fallon Gates Sir." Mulder replied, ignoring Alex's frantic hand signals. "We received a phone call several hours ago from Dr Owens..."

"Dr Owens?" Skinner's voice was sharp.

"The town's vet Sir, you see there's been a break-in at his clinic."

"I see, a break-in at a small town vet's clinic constituted an investigation by a Federal Bureau agent. The same agent that was supposed to be staying at a safe house in DC looking after a potential witness whose life is in danger." Skinner's voice echoed through the phone, reaching clear across to Alex who was standing several feet away.

"It's Natty Sir." Mulder broke in hurriedly. "She's gone."

"Natty...oh you mean Alex's cat?"

"Yes Sir, it seems that someone broke into the clinic and took her."

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a moment, then Skinner replied.

"Took her, what the hell do you mean, took her?" He sounded confused.

"That's why we are both here Sir, we are trying to find out why anyone would want to take Alex's cat." Mulder said into the phone.

"You have spoken to the local law enforcement there?"

"Yes Sir, but they have not been able to find any kind of forensic evidence, it's obviously not the work of local kids like I first thought, whoever broke in knew what they were doing."

Another silence, then Skinner said. "Mulder, you and Alex are to return here ASAP, is that clear, I want Alex back in the safe house where he can be properly protected and I want you back here so as I can kick your ass...and his as well."

Mulder swallowed hard, then replied. "Sir, I need to try and find out who took Natty and why." He glanced over at Alex, who was had heard practically everything the furious AD had said. He was looking decidedly pale now. He knew from painful experience that pissing Walter Skinner off was an extraordinarily bad idea.

Mulder sighed inwardly, then said. "We'll leave for DC first thing tomorrow morning Sir."

"See that you do." Was the surly reply. Then softer. "Tell Alex I am sorry about his cat, I know that he was close to her." Skinner stopped, feeling awkward.

"Let the local boys handle it Mulder, I'm sure they find her." With that, the phone clicked. Skinner had hung up.

"We can't go back." Alex said taking a step forward. "Fox, we can't, we have to find out who took her...and why. She's here somewhere, I can feel it. We can't just up and leave now."

Mulder could hear the plea in Alex's voice and closed his eyes for a moment, a sudden feeling of utter weariness wash over him, the last thing he wanted to do now was get into another argument with Alex over this, the way he felt at the moment, he simply wasn't up for it.

"Alex, she's not here, whoever has taken her would be miles away by now. You know that." He said as gently as he could. Alex opened his mouth, preparing to argue, when suddenly he realized that Mulder was right. This was not the work of kids playing a stupid prank, or some local thief, whoever did this would not have stuck around to view the fun. They would be long gone by now.
Alex nodded. "Yeah, I guess you are right Fox, they'd be long gone by now." He was beginning to have his suspicions as to who had taken her and where she could be now.

Mulder yawned again, and rubbed the back of his neck, all the long hours behind the wheel and now knowing that Skinner was on the war path had taken their toll, he was exhausted and had the beginnings of one mother of a headache.

"Shit." He muttered. He twisted his head from side to side, trying to relieve the ache.

"What's wrong Fox?" Alex asked, concerned. He moved over to where he was standing.

"Nothing much." Mulder replied tiredly. "I just need a good night's sleep is all."

Suddenly he felt a warm hand on the back of his neck, rubbing gently in a circular motion, soothing the ache away. Mulder sighed and leaned back into the massage, sighing with relief as the headache started to recede.

"Mmmm, feels good." He mumbled, feeling the muscles loosen and relax. Suddenly a pair of lips were gently pressed against the back of his neck. Mulder could feel the puff of warm breath against his skin.

"I guess this means I'm finally forgiven." He chuckled. Alex sighed and wrapped his arms around Mulder's lean waist, pressing himself against the FBI agent, the man he desired.

"Yeah, you could say that." Alex replied. "He started running his lips up and down the back of Mulder's neck again, planting delicate little kisses over the sensitive skin.

Mulder could feel himself becoming hard as Alex's hands began their slow exploration, drifting down from Mulder's waist, to the bulge in the front of his jeans.

A soft moan escaped from his lips as Alex's hands began to rub at the bulge, his own erection pressed up against the other man's jean clad butt.

"Can we fuck now please?" He heard Alex ask softly from behind.

"Sure we can." Mulder turned around and gathered the slightly smaller man into his arms, gazing into those incredible green eyes, eyes that he could become lost in and never find his way out.

With a single movement, Mulder's head dipped and his mouth was plundering Alex's with a hunger that was almost brutal. Alex responded with a passion to match Mulder's and soon they were struggling out of their clothes in the haste to fuck each other into senseless oblivion.

FOUR

It was light outside when Mulder awoke, filled with a warm fuzzy haziness, he rolled over and reached out to touch Alex, and felt only cool sheets instead.

"Wha..." He opened his eyes and stared at the other side of the bed, it was empty.

Mulder sat up, a frown creasing his forehead. "Alex?"

The empty sheets stared mutely back at him. Throwing back the bed clothes, Alex got to his feet and padded across the ugly brown carpet to where the bathroom was located.

He pushed the door open, the room was empty, no Alex.

Mulder checked in the closet, Alex's dark canvas overnight bag was gone.

"Shit." The word exploded out of his mouth and echoed in the quiet motel room. Where the hell could he be?

Gone to get us both some breakfast? That was probably it, Mulder told himself. He's just gone down to the corner store to get some coffee and maybe a couple of danishes. Yes, that was it.

*//But why take his overnight bag?//* A niggling little voice inquired. *//Face it Mulder, he's done a runner as they say. He's gone.//*

Feeling sick, Mulder sat down on one of the plain motel chairs. *//He has to come back.//* He thought with something close to desperation. *//He has to, how can I face life without him.//*

The sudden realization of just how much Mulder had come to need Alex in his life was almost dizzying. Disorientated Mulder ran his hand across his face, it was shaking.

"Why Alex?" He whispered. "I thought you trusted me, I thought you forgave me."

Grief and despair finally overtook the stricken man and head lowered, he wept.

FIVE

Scully was waiting in the basement office by the time Mulder returned from Skinner's domain.

The Assistant Director had been in full flight reaming the younger man out six ways from Sunday, finishing with a demand for a full report first thing in the morning.

Mulder walked into his office, his face stiff and emotionless and he sat down behind his desk.

"How did it go?" Scully asked him, already knowing the answer.

Mulder looked up at her, hazel eyes shadowed with fatigue. "How do you think it went?"

"That bad huh." She looked at him, sympathy clear in her eyes.

"Yup, that bad." He sighed and stared down at the desk in front of him, he looked as though he had not slept properly in a week.

"Why don't you go home, get some rest." Scully suggested kindly. "I can cover for you here."

He gave her a ghost of a smile. "Sure, I may as well, nothing's happening here." With that he got to his feet and and grabbing his coat, left the office.

SIX

The haze of smoke that seemed to perpetually follow the Cigarette Smoking Man around seemed thicker than normal in the small barren looking room.

He sat behind a plain desk, empty of anything except for a phone. And a large metal cage sitting on the polished surface.

He was looking across at the young man sitting on one of the hard chairs placed in front of the desk. A cool smile playing about his thin, cruel looking mouth.

"You know Alex, in all the years that I have known you, I never would have picked you for an animal lover." He said, his voice held a cool hint of amusement.

"And a cat of all things." He shook his head in disbelief. "I must admit, I rather prefer dogs myself, but each to their own as they say, isn't that right."

Alex said nothing, he sat, hands clenched in his lap, his face stony, betraying no emotion as he sat, listening to his former boss gloat.

"But I must admit Alex to being very disappointed with you." CSM continued, the mock sadness in his tone making Alex grit his teeth.

"Yes, very disappointed indeed."

"What do you want from me Spender?" Alex asked coldly. He was tired of listening to the older man's insincere ramblings and veiled threats.

"What do I want from you?" CSM replied. "I only want what any father wants from one of his children, obedience and loyalty. That's all."

"You are not my father." Alex replied, hot colour rising in his cheeks.

CSM leaned back against his chair. "But I have always looked upon you as a son Alex, and as a father, I must say how concerned I am over the recent choices that you have made, choices I may add that were hasty and extremely unwise."

Alex said nothing, he merely waited, knowing that the Smoking Man would get to the point when... and only when he was ready.

"I was sorry to lose you Alex." He said, blowing out a plume of smoke. "Very sorry indeed, but as a father is willing to forgive his wayward child, I am willing to forgive you." He leaned forward slightly in his chair.

"What I am saying Alex is that I am offering you your old job back."

"You want me to work for you again, is that it?" Alex asked flatly. CSM nodded. "Yes."

"And if I refuse?" Alex asked. CSM's smile widened unpleasantly. "That would be foolish indeed." He replied.

Alex took a deep breath, then said. "I guess I should consider your offer of my old job back, especially after you took all the trouble of kidnapping my cat." You bastard, he added silently.

CSM chuckled. "Well, we thought a little added incentive could not hurt, and it's sweet to see that you have become so attached to your kitty cat. I knew it was only a matter of time before you figured out where she was and tracked her back here."

Alex said nothing, after all, what was left to say. If he refused CSM's offer, both he had Natasha would end up dead and buried somewhere so deep, no one would ever find them. What choice did he have?

A sudden wave of hatred tore through him as he stared back at the old bastard seated behind the desk. Oh what he wouldn't give to be able to pull out a gun and simply blow a hole right through that wrinkled old face of his. But unfortunately, he was unarmed and the building that the office was in was a Consortium stronghold, crawling with guards. No Alex would not have made it ten feet before he was blown away himself.

He sighed inwardly, the trouble was, a few short weeks ago he would not have cared whether he lived or died, but now with finding Natty, and Fox, he had so much to live for. Foolishly risking his life was no longer an option. He had to think of another way.

A plaintive meow sounded from the cage, Natty was growing restless, hearing Alex's voice, she wanted out so as she could go to him.

"What's wrong kitty?" CSM asked as he poked his fingers through the bars to pet her. Natty backed away from him, taking an instinctive dislike to the stranger, whose acrid smell offended her delicate nostrils.

He chuckled and looked up at Alex, delighting in the look of pure rage that crossed the younger man's face.

"Such a cute little thing, isn't she." He remarked. "I can certainly see why you have taken such a shine to her. And she has such pretty eyes." CSM inhaled on his Morley.

"Such a pity if anything were to happen to her, wouldn't it." The Smoking Man took the cigarette from between his lips and held it out, Alex could see the glowing red tip.

Suddenly he thrust it between the bars of the cage, Natty yowled in pain and the smell of burning fur filled the room.

"Noooo." Alex leapt from his chair, lunging across the desk, only to find himself staring down the barrel of a gun.

"Relax Alex, it's only a small burn, nothing to worry yourself about." CSM said calmly. He withdrew the cigarette, stubbing it out in a nearby ashtray. Alex took his chair once more, trembling with a sick rage.

"Now, about my offer..."

"All right." Alex whispered, he looked up at the older man with red rimmed eyes. "I'll work for you again, but on one condition."

"And what would that be?" CSM asked, eyebrow raised.

Alex told him, the Smoking Man listened, then nodded. "Very well then, but you know what will happen if you try to betray me in any way."

"I know." Alex replied wearily. "But that's the deal."

"Fine." The Smoking Man said, fully satisfied. "Welcome home Alex."

SEVEN

It was late and Mulder had finally dropped off to sleep when there was a knock at the door.

Mulder's eyes opened and he sat up, swinging his legs off the couch, where he had fallen asleep in front of the late news.

"Yeah, who is it?" There was no answer. With a yawn, he got up and walked over to the door, pulling it open. The hallway was empty, no one was there.

Mulder was just about to close the door, when suddenly he looked down and saw the metal cage.

Bending down, he picked it up and carried it inside the apartment. He sat the cage down onto the couch and opened the door, a long black figure raced out of the cage and straight into his arms, purring frantically. With a laugh of pure joy, Mulder hugged her to him, and that was when he noticed the plain white envelope stuck between the bars of the cage.

He pulled it out and opened it, reading the neatly printed words.

*My darling Fox... I figured it all out, when we were in the motel room together. I realized who had taken Natty and why. It was the Smoking Man all along, he needed me to work for him again so he had Natty taken in order to blackmail me. The reason I did not tell you that night was because I knew that you would only try to stop me. I made a deal with him Fox, one that would save Natty. I agreed to start doing his dirty work again and in turn, he let Natty go. Please take care of her for me until I can find my way back to you both again. I just hope that one day you will forgive me and never forget how much I love you both. Alex*
Mulder could feel the tears flood his eyes as he read the note over and over until finally the words became a blur. Natty purred in his arms, licking at what looked like a small burn on her leg.

Mulder frowned when he saw it, then he realized, it looked like something a cigarette would make.

A wave of anger swept through him. "Bastard." He breathed, then hugged Natty closer to him. "It's all right Natty." He promised. "I'll look after you until Alex comes back."

*//And he will come back, he has to.//* He added silently, almost like a prayer. Alex had gotten away from the black lunged bastard before, and he would do it again. It might take a little while, but Mulder believed that Alex would come back. After all, he had left the most precious thing he had in Mulder's care...hadn't he? He smiled through his tears as he felt Natasha's warm furry body vibrate against him with her purrs.

"He knows where to find us." He whispered. "And he knows how much we need him. How much we love him. All we have to do is wait."