"Sit here." Fox told Alex sternly as he led the younger man over to the couch. Without a word, Alex sat down on the couch, hand loosely dangling between his knees.

John Doggett smiled with real sympathy at Alex, he had never seen Fox Mulder this mad in his life.

"Are you two going to be okay?" He asked.

Fox nodded, distractedly he ran his hand through his thick dark hair. "Yeah, thanks John, we'll be fine...honestly." He added when he saw the doubtful look on his friend and partner's face.

John nodded, then he walked over to where Alex was sitting, noting the younger man's pale, miserable face.

"Cheer up Alex." He said softly. "It's not the end of the world."

But to Alex, it may as well been. He sighed and looked down at his hands, unable to meet either Fox's or John's eyes.

"I screwed up." He whispered unhappily. "I really screwed up."

"No harm's been done." John told him firmly. He shot a meaningful glance at Fox. "Has there?"

Fox sighed. "It's okay John, really."

"Good then." John gave Alex a reassuring pat on the knee. "It will be all right Alex, you'll see."

He straightened up and walked over to where Fox was still standing.

"Listen Fox, the kid's still pretty shaken up, go easy on him, okay?"

Fox glanced at John for a moment, then he whispered. "I can't John, not this time, what he did tonight was downright dangerous, he could have been killed for Christ sake."

"I know." John whispered back. "But Fox, he's really upset all I am saying is..."

"It's all right John." Fox replied, his voice low. "You are acting like I am going to kill him or something."

John sighed, he glanced over at Alex once more, he had not moved off the couch, he seemed oblivious to the whispered conversation going on between Fox and himself.

All I'm saying is that I think you should calm down a little before you deal with him, that's all."

Fox drew a deep breath, then let it out. "You are right John." He replied with a weak smile. "I am as mad as hell, if I do try to deal with this tonight, I am just as likely to end up blistering his backside for him."

John chuckled. "Fox, between you and me, what that young man needs right now is a sore backside, but not while he's so upset and you're so dammed angry. Wait until you are a little calmer, a little more in control of yourself. You don't want to do anything that you'll end up regretting."

Fox nodded, he could see the wisdom in what John was saying. "You are right." He replied. "I'll wait until tomorrow, that way I'll be in a better frame of mind and hopefully Alex will be a little calmer as well."

"If you want my advice, what you should do now is take Alex upstairs, put him to bed and give him all the comfort and love that you can. TLC, that's what he needs right now, the blistered butt can come later."

Fox grinned at that, the first genuine smile he had felt ever since Alex had taken off to confront the Smoking Man by himself.

"Deal, tonight Alex gets TLC, and tomorrow he'll be needing a pillow on his chair to be able sit down to eat his supper."

John chuckled. "Sounds good to me, that is one young man that is need of a good lesson." He replied. Look, if you need me for anything..."

"I know." Fox replied warmly. "And John, listen, thanks for everything, I really appreciate it, you know."

John nodded and clapped Fox lightly on the shoulder. "I know, I'm going to call into the hospital and check on Walter, if there's any change, I'll call and let you know."

"Thanks John." Fox walked him to the door, after seeing him out, he turned and walked over to where Alex was still sitting.

He looked up at Fox, his face a picture of abject misery.

"You're going to spank me, aren't you?"

Fox squatted down beside him, his face utterly serious. "What do you think Alex?"

"But you and Walter said that you wouldn't hit me, you both said that..."

Fox lifted his hand to quiet the suddenly frantic young man. "Alex, remember the time back at the cabin when you were acting like a brat, what happened?"

Alex's face coloured. "You spanked me." He replied his voice sullen.

"That's right." Fox replied evenly. "And then what did you do after I spanked you?"

Alex mumbled something, turning his face away.

"What was that, I didn't hear you."

"I ran away in the middle of a snow storm." Alex snapped, his eyes wet with tears. "Okay, are you happy?" He turned away from his concerned lover.

Fox sighed and reached out to grasp Alex under his chin, turning his head around to face him.

"Alex, listen to me...right now!" The sternness in his voice made Alex jump.

"What did you and Walter and I all talk about after we found you and took you back to the cabin?"

"That I needed structure, and rules." Alex replied reluctantly, Fox nodded.

"That's right Alex, and what would be the consequences if you broke those rules?"

"I'd be punished." Alex's reply was a barely audible mumble.

Fox smiled and got up from his crouching position to sit next his his sweet but miserable young lover.

"That's right Alex, and you are going to be punished." Fox told him gently. Alex turned his head to look at him, bottom lip out in a glorious pout.

"I don't deserve to be punished Fox." He protested. "Walter got hurt because of me, He's in hospital because he got a bullet that was meant for me..."

"Alex!" Fox cut across the distraught man's words.

"Now you listen to me young man and you listen good because I am only going to tell you this once. None of this was your fault. Walter made the decision to make that meeting, he did it because he wanted to warn the Cancer Man off once and for all, he had no idea that he was going to be walking into a trap."

"But..."

"No Alex, I am not going to sit back and watch you beat yourself up over this."

"No, not when you can do it for me." Alex muttered resentfully.

Fox had to bite down to his lip to stop from laughing out loud. "Alex, I am not going to beat you, have Walter and I ever beaten you before?"

"No." Alex sounded doubtful. Fox suddenly reached over and gathered him into his arms, holding him close. Alex closed his eyes, enjoying the closeness, he could smell the subtle traces of Fox's aftershave and he could hear the faint beat of his heart.

Fox stroked the younger man's sable hair, soothing him as best he could.

"I would never do anything to hurt you Alex, you have to believe that." Fox told him softly. "Walter and I both love you so much, you complete us Lexi you always have and you always will."

Alex nodded, he could feel a tear trickle down his face. "I'm sorry Fox, I shouldn't have taken off like that, you already had enough to worry about with Walter being in the hospital and everything and all I did was add to it all. I am so sorry."

"It's all right Lexi, everything will be okay now that we have you back safe and sound." Fox told him lovingly. Alex smiled and pulled away to look at Fox earnestly.

"Does that mean that you not going to spank me now?" He asked hopefully. Fox shook his head, his hazel eyes twinkling.

"No Lexi, you still going to get a hot bottom, but now you'll know the reason why, and the fact that I'm doing it,not because I'm angry at you, but because I love you and I want to keep you safe, understand."

Alex sighed and nodded, he looked positively crestfallen. Fox gently gathered him up in his arms and together they went upstairs.

Two

Alex had spent a fitful night in Fox's arms. He had tossed and turned, moaning in his sleep.

Fox had held him, comforting him when his nightmares had caused him to wake several times. Finally Fox had managed to coax Alex into a deeper sleep by singing him tunes that he remembered from his childhood.

Alex had smiled, finally settling down as Fox sang an old Beatles song, only half remembering the words...I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me. She showed me her room, isn't it good, Norwegian wood...

Sleepily Alex had joined in until exhaustion finally overtook him, leaving Fox awake and keeping watch over him all through the night.

Morning, sweet and sunny dawned and Fox went downstairs to prepare breakfast.

Alex woke, turning over on his side, he realized that he was alone in the bed. Slowly he got up, and throwing on a robe, he padded downstairs.

"Good morning." Fox said cheerfully as he handed Alex a cup of coffee. "Scrambled eggs and fried ham for breakfast this morning, and you are to eat everything on your plate, got it."

"All right." Alex mumbled. He sighed and sipped the hot coffee, trying to wake up. He watched Fox as he moved around the kitchen, his lithe body moving with a grace that Alex always found incredibly sexy.

"I called John to tell him that I'm going to be in later today." Fox informed Alex as he set a plate of steaming food down in front of him. "He's going to cover for me."

"Okay." Alex replied. He picked up his fork and began to eat, not really tasting the food that Fox had prepared.

"I thought that we could both go in and visit Walter this morning." Fox continued as he dug into his own breakfast. Alex nodded, a tiny little ray of hope was dawning inside him, maybe now that Fox had calmed down...

"But before we go anywhere, there's still the matter of your punishment."

The tiny little ray of hope vanished. Alex felt his stomach sink, suddenly he didn't feel like eating any more.

Fox looked up at him, seeing the sullen expression on his Lexi's face.

"Alex..." He said warningly.

"I know, I know." Alex snapped irritably. The lack of sleep and now having to face his butt being blistered was taking it's toll on his already frayed temper.

"If you want to beat my butt Fox, let's just get it over and done with, okay?"

Fox stood up and walked over to where Alex was still sitting, he pulled the younger man up out of his chair and into a bearhug, holding him close.

"No Lexi, I don't want to beat your butt as you put it, but if I let this go past, then I wouldn't be giving you the love and the care and the attention that you deserve now would I?"

"No, I suppose not." Alex replied. Then he lifted his face to Fox's, his green eyes pleading. "If you are going to spank me, could we just get it over and done wit...I can't bear to have this hanging over my head."

Fox nodded, he understood exactly what Alex was saying, as a child, his father would draw a punishment out for days making life hell for everyone, especially Fox. There was no way he was going to lay the same kind of head trip on Alex...no way in the world.

"Alex, the reason didn't punish you last night was because neither of us was in the right frame of mind." Fox explained gently.

"You were too overwrought to be able to deal with it, and well, I was just too dammed mad at you. If I had spanked you last night I probably would have ended up taking the skin off your behind."

Alex stared at him, eyes large and uncomprehending. "But isn't that what you are going to do anyway?"

Fox stared at him for moment, his heart going out to this vulnerable, insecure, hurting young man. He had to constantly remind himself that Alex never had a normal life, that to him, a spanking constituted a beating, and that it was done not in order to correct and guide him, but only to keep him down, keep him obedient.

"No Lexi, that's not what I'm going to do." Fox told him, his voice firm. "Now I want you to finish your breakfast, then..."

"No Fox, please, I just want to get it over and done with." Alex whispered, his face had become flushed, his eyes wet.

"All right Lexi, you're the boss." Fox said. "Come on."

Gently he led the younger man upstairs, handling him as though he were made of spun glass. Fox pulled out a straight backed chair from the corner of the room and sat down.

"Come on Lexi."

Alex licked his lips nervously. "Hey Fox." He said suddenly. "How about we you know, forget about the spanking and fuck instead, I'll give you a blow job that will blow everything, including your mind, and then I'll...."

"Alex!"

"Okay, okay, it was just an idea." Alex muttered as he reluctantly dragged himself over to where Fox was sitting. Then he stopped. "I know, how about we go and see Walter first then..."

"Right now young man." The warning in Fox's voice was quite clear.

"But...but..."

"The only buts around here are going to be spanked ones, so get yourself over here right now."

With a heartfelt sigh, Alex took his robe off and walked over to where Fox was sitting with the air of one that was doomed. Fox guided him over his knees and pulled his boxers down, baring his backside.

Holding him tight, Fox brought his hand down against the pristine skin of Alex's bottom with a loud crack. He felt Alex jump slightly, gasping with the sudden flare of pain across his bottom.

Fox spanked him thoroughly, making sure he covered every inch of Alex's posterior, he wanted to make this spanking as quick as possible, but memorable as well, he needed to teach Alex the consequences of deliberately putting himself in danger. The thought of his sweet young lover racing off to face the Cancer Man on his own still sent shivers down Fox's spine.

Alex for his part sobbed heartbrokenly through each spank that landed on his stinging behind, he tried to protect his butt with his hand, but Fox captured it and held it against the small of his back, still paddling away at the kicking struggling young man.

Finally Alex stopped struggling, he lay limply across Fox's knees, bawling helplessly, tears puddling under his chin and dripping onto the floor.

Seeing that his Lexi'd had enough, Fox lifted him up and settled the weeping man onto his lap.

Alex hissed with pain as his throbbing bottom connected with Fox's lap. Fox quickly turned the slightly smaller man onto his side so his hip took the weight rather than his sore butt.

"There, there baby, it's all right, it's okay, it's all over now sweetheart...all finished now." Fox rocked him back and forth, whispering nonsense words, comforting the trembling creature lying in his arms.

After a while Alex's sobs lessened and gulping he managed to get his emotions under control.

"That really h...hurt Fox." He stammered, lifting his hand up to wipe at his tears.

"I know baby, I know." Fox replied. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up, okay." With that, he led Alex into the bathroom and wetting a wash cloth with warm water, wiped the tears off his face.

Alex lifted his face up, allowing Fox to clean him up.

"There, that's better." Fox said with a smile. "See baby, it wasn't was bad as you thought it was going to be, was it?"

"No." Alex sniffled. "It was worse."

Fox sighed and rolled his eyes. "Lexi..."

"Well, it hurt!" To emphasize this, Alex pressed his hand against his burning rump, his lips out and trembling, eyes still wet with tears, his thick sable hair flopped into his eyes making him look all of twelve. Fox chuckled and pulled him into a tight hug, kissing him lovingly.

"I know baby, it was meant to hurt, that's the whole idea of being punished."

"I know Fox." Alex replied. "But I don't have to like it do I?"

"No baby, not at all." Fox led him out into the bedroom once more. "Now you get dressed and come downstairs while I clean up, then we both can go and see Walter."

"Okay." Alex replied, then he looked up at Fox, his face troubled. "Are you going to tell Walter that you spanked me?"

"I sure am." Fox replied. "And I am sure he'll take great pleasure in seeing your red behind." He added with a grin, making Alex's face blush even harder.

"Now hurry up, I don't want to have to add any more swats to that butt of yours."

Fox watched as Alex hurried over to the wardrobe pulling clothes out to dress himself. Chuckling, Fox went downstairs and back into the kitchen to clear away the breakfast dishes.

Three

Walter was awake and sitting up in bed, his body swathed in bandages. He was looking pale with dark smudges under his eyes. His face lit up with a smile when he saw Fox and Alex enter the rather cheerless hospital room.

"Hi guys." He said. Alex went straight over to him, laying his head against the bigger man's shoulder. Walter could tell that he was upset. He looked over at Fox questioningly.

Fox quickly filled Walter in on what had happened, watching the bigger man's eyes widen with horror when he heard about Alex's visit to the Smoking Man. After Fox had finished, Walter's arm tightened around Alex.

"Is this true Alex?" He asked. He felt Alex's head nod against his shoulder.

"I see." Walter glanced at Fox once more. "And you warmed his butt for him?"

"Sure did."

Walter nodded, satisfied. "Good."

He heard Alex sniffle softly, Walter could tell that he was feeling very picked on and extremely sorry for himself at the moment.

"And did this teach you anything young man?" Walter asked, forcing his voice to be stern. Alex nodded again.

"Good." Walter told him in no uncertain terms. Awkwardly he hugged Alex to him, dropping a kiss on the mass of sable hair.

Fox smiled, watching them together, then he walked over and perched on the side of the bed, rubbing circles on Alex's back.

Together the three of them sat, drawing strength and comfort from each other until finally a nurse popped her head around the door, informing them visiting time was over and that they would have to come back in the afternoon.

Walter kissed both his lovers good-bye, watching with a fond smile as they left, then worn out himself, he closed his eyes to sleep for awhile.

Four

Alex lay snuggled against Fox, they were both sitting on the couch, some old movie was on the television, but neither of them were watching it.

Fox had ordered pizza and was carefully feeding Alex small bites of it. He had wrapped the younger man up in pajamas, and a thick robe, then as an afterthought, had put a nice soft cushion under Alex so he could sit comfortably, he had noticed earlier that Alex had been squirming in his seat, in the car on the way to the hospital and back again.

Alex swallowed the last of the pizza, then settled against Fox, contentment written all over him. Fox smiled, his Lexi was practically purring.

"How are you feeling now kitten?" He asked. Alex glanced at him. "Kitten?"

"Well you remind me of a kitten right now." Fox replied with a grin.

"Gee thanks." Alex replied heavily. "I'm okay Fox." He said with a smile of his own. "A bit sore, but other than that..."

"Okay then kitten." Fox laughed. "And now I think it's time for bed, don't you."

Alex smile turned into a grin. "Sure, oh and Fox, about that blowjob, the one I offered this morning?"

"The one you offered in order to try and save your bare butt, yes I recall." Fox replied drily.

"It's still on offer." Alex wriggled his eyebrows suggestively. Fox smiled at him.

"Okay, you're on." With that, Fox suddenly lifted Alex up into his arms and carried him up to the bedroom, holding him close, his cock already stirring at the thought of Alex's beautiful mouth wrapped around it.

"I wish Walter was here." Alex suddenly whispered. Fox nodded. "I know sweetheart, but he'll be home soon, he's recovering really well, and when we get him home we can both spoil him rotten, how does that sound?"

"Perfect Fox, absolutely perfect."