Aftermath

Spoiler warning: Some references to the third season.

Rating:   17+ (one adult scene)

Classifications: S (Story), R (Romance) Skinner/Scully

Summary:  The following is a romance story between Skinner
          and Scully, wherein Skinner has been injured. 

     I would appreciate any comments or criticism. Thank you.
Please e-mail to: 71022.1045@compuserve.com

     The characters and situations of the television program
"The X-Files" are the creations and property of Chris Carter,
Fox Broadcasting and Ten-Thirteen Productions, and have been
used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended
and no profit will be made.

Aftermath
D. Street

     Slowly, carefully, Walter Skinner, Assistant Director of
the FBI, moved down the steps of the Hoover building. He'd
come back to talk to Scully, but Mulder had been alone in the
tiny office; his partner was at the cemetery, putting flowers
on her sister's grave. He'd given Mulder the business part of
his message and left; he'd save the more personal part for
later, when he saw the red-haired agent. 
     Now he was trying to decide if he should go across to the
cafe for lunch... somehow, that didn't appeal, given the fact
he'd been shot there two weeks before. Or, he reflected, he
could go to his car and relive the excruciating experience of
driving home. Finally he decided to go back up to his office
and do some paperwork. God only knew how much had accumulated
during his absence. 
     "That shouldn't take too much effort." he decided,
turning around. 
     Skinner contemplated the mountain of steps and almost
gave up. Then he heard a familiar voice behind him. 
     "Excuse me, sir... would you like a lift home?"
     He turned slowly to see Dana Scully leaning out of her
car window, smiling uncertainly at him. 
     They hadn't talked, really talked, since he'd gotten out
of the hospital. She hadn't been to his house to see him and
wasn't returning his calls, which was what had prompted his
surprise visit to the X-Files office. The AD felt a very
important, if new, part of his existence slipping through his
fingers and he seemed powerless to do anything about it. 
     Hesitantly, he took a step toward the car.
     "I..." he licked suddenly dry lips. "I don't want to take
your time, Agent Scully." That wasn't what he wanted to say,
"I mean, you undoubtedly have--" 
     "Get in, Walter." She smiled slightly, opening her door
and sliding to the pavement. 
     "I'm all right," the AD objected as she helped him around
to the passenger side, settling him in the seat. 
     "Sure you are," she murmured, clicking his seatbelt in
place. As she leaned across his chest to fasten the belt,
Scully breathed in the familiar scent of his cologne and her
stomach tightened. Then she steeled herself; they had to deal
with this. She went around to her side and climbed behind the
wheel. 
     "Home?" she questioned, quirking an eyebrow at her lover.
     Skinner nodded, eyes straight ahead.
     "Right," Scully murmured, putting the car in gear.
     The ride across town was made in comparative silence.
Walter took off his glasses, gently massaging the bridge of
his nose. 
     "Dana," he began, fitting the wirerims back over his
ears. "I'm sorry about Melissa." 
     He felt her tense beside him.
     "I- I just saw Mulder and he told me you were at the
cemetery..." he stopped, uncertain why he had ventured into
such sensitive waters and now, how did he get out of them? "I,
um, was playing catch-up in my office, and went down to the
basement..." 
     She studied his profile out of the corner of her eye.  
"Is that why you came in? Paperwork? Or did you come to talk
to me about what happened?" She spared him a look. "Mulder
gave me your message." 
     "Scully... Dana," he began, but stopped as they pulled up
in front of his house. 
     "We're here, sir." She opened her door and stepped out,
into the driveway. 
     *"Shit,"* Skinner muttered under his breath. *"You may as
well kiss this relationship off, Walter,"* he told himself,
resigned. *"You can't win this one."* He realized Scully had
his door open and was waiting. He took her proffered hand and
carefully edged his way out of the car. 
     He put as much weight on the cane as he could, but Scully
had to pull as her boss maneuvered himself up and out of the
car.      
     "You should be in bed," she scolded.
     Walter snorted, biting back the reply on his lips.
     "Alone," she stressed.
     "Yeah, well, that goes without saying, doesn't it?"
Skinner immediately regretted the words, but dammit! why did
he always have to be the one in control. He knew the answer
before the question had been completely processed; because
that was the only way he knew to survive... anything. 
     "Come on." Dana was pulling gently at his arm and he
allowed her to lead him to his door. 
     Using her key, the FBI agent swung open the door and
ushered her companion into the living room. 
     "Sit down while I try and rustle up something for
dinner."  
     Skinner took off his trenchcoat, tossing it carelessly
over the back of the sofa. 
     "There's not much in there, Dana." He looked vaguely
around the room, then carefully lowered himself into his
favorite chair. "Don't bother." 
     She stood, contemplating her lover. She could almost see
the blanket of depression that had wrapped itself around the
assistant director. 
     Taking a breath, Scully knelt in front of him, a hand on
his. "Walter... we need to talk."
     He regarded her in silence, watching. Waiting.
     "The reason I didn't return your calls--"
     "You don't have to give me an explanation, Scully."
Walter told her. "I... I can guess why you haven't wanted to
have anything to do with me, and I understand. Because of my
job, I'm the bad guy. I'm the one who tells you what you can
and can't do. I was ready to close your sister's murder case.
You told me what you thought of that... and me... that last
night we were together." 
     Dana cringed at the memory of their fight. It had made
Hiroshima look like a skirmish. 
     "That's not it," she insisted, clasping a large hand in
her own, bringing it to her lips. "I needed time... Mulder
kept me informed of your progress... I knew you were
recovering." 
     The sad smile that crossed his features; touched the dark
eyes... wrenched her heart. 
     "I had to have some time alone to sort things out and to
grieve." Tears pooled in her eyes and she blinked them back.
"Things were happening so fast with us... I needed time to get
the rest of my emotions in order before I could deal with
something as important as, as..." She bit her lip. 
     "As what, Dana?" He reached out to cup her cheek, sending
a shiver through her. 
     "Before I could deal with the fact that I... I might be
falling in love." 
     His jaw slackened and Skinner swallowed hard.
     "But I'm okay now and I know you did everything you
could," she went on, quickly. 
     Skinner opened his mouth to object, but a slender finger
hushed him. 
     "You did. You put your life in danger because you
wouldn't let it go." She held up a hand as he started to
speak. "And don't tell me it's your job." 
     Blue eyes searched his, piercing through to his soul and
Skinner wanted to take her in his arms and make all the pain
'They' had caused her vanish. 
     "You've put yourself on the line for us a lot and I
appreciate it." She leaned forward, hands pressing gently on
his legs as she kissed him. 
     The first kiss was feather-like, barely felt; even so, it
sent a jolt through Skinner that made his hands tighten on the
arms of the chair. It took all his self-control to push her
back. 
     "Don't, Dana." 
     She pulled back, puzzled.
     "Not out of gratitude. That's not what I want from you." 
     A smile pulled at the corner of her mouth. 
     "What do you want?" she whispered, a tapered finger
running the length of his jaw. 
     "You." His voice was hoarse and he cleared his throat.
"But because we care about each other, not because you feel
you owe me something. It's bad enough that I'm above you--" 
     "Not always," she grinned.
     Totally non-plussed, Walter stared at her. "What?"
     Scully laughed, moving forward to cover his lips with her
own, leaning into him, careful not to put weight on his
stomach.  Suddenly forgetting his train of thought, Walter
opened his mouth to her, allowing her tongue to caress his,
losing himself for the moment in the sensuous dance. 
     When Scully pulled back, she studied his face, lower lip
caught between her teeth. 
     "You were saying?"
     He cleared his throat.
     "I was saying that I don't want you to feel you owe
me..." He gestured lamely, "If you come to me I want it to be
because you... feel... something--" 
     "Say it." She demanded, eyes darkening.
     "What?"
     "Say the word, Walter."
     He drew in a shaky breath. Why the Hell did this scare
him so much? He'd had relationships before. Why was Dana
different? Maybe because none of them had been as important as
this one. 
     "Walter?"
     "I want you to love me, Dana." He spit the words out
before he could think about them. "As much as I love you."
There, he'd said it. He could tell by the way her blue eyes
widened that she was as startled by the confession as he was. 
     "That's all I wanted to hear." She smiled, fingernail
trailing across his throat and dipping under the collar of his
dress shirt. "Something has to be real in my life, Walter."
She told him seriously. "I have to have someone I can trust.
Someone solid I can hold on to when things get too weird. I
trust Mulder and I trust myself." 
     Skinner smoothed her hair. "You can trust me, Dana. You
should know that. Even if I have to do it covertly, to hide it
from prying eyes, I always try and do what's right for you and
Mulder." 
     She nodded. "I know that." She shrugged, "Mostly we both
do. But you and I need to figure out how much we want this
relationship, because it's a risk we can't take casually." 
     His fingers tightened in her silky hair. 
     "It's never been casual for me," he whispered. 
     Skinner leaned forward to kiss her and stopped, the
physical reality of his injury burning in his gut. 
     "Don't." She pushed him back. "It's too soon."
     "No," he protested, but her face settled into the
uncompromising mask he knew only too well. With a sigh he
nodded. 
     "Why don't you move to the sofa?" she suggested. "Are you
hungry?" 
     He shook his head. "Not really. Just tired."
     "Want me to rub your shoulders?" she offered, helping him
lever himself out of the overstuffed chair. 
     "Aren't you working today?" he asked, a smile lighting
the dark eyes. 
     "Nope. Mulder's covering for me." She grinned at him.
"And I have a very understanding boss." 
     "Do tell." 
     Skinner undid his tie and loosened the top buttons on his
shirt. "We still have to talk about this," he told her.
"Soon." 
     Dana knelt by the sofa, reaching up to unbutton the rest
of his shirt. 
     "I know. When you're feeling more yourself." She
carefully pulled his shirt out of his trousers, noting the
grimace of pain he tried to suppress. 
     "Sit sideways," she instructed, and slipped behind him on
the couch, supporting some of his weight. "You weren't
supposed to be back at work for another two weeks." 
     "I had to see you. You didn't return my calls... I was
frantic. I thought I'd lost you." 
     "No." She kissed his shoulder. "This won't work. Lay
down." 
     "Dana--"
     She rose and pulled his shirt off, then gently pushed him
onto his back. 
     "Relax."
     Skinner closed his eyes as she smoothed her palms across
his chest, fingers playing casually in the silky hair. In
ever-widening circles, Dana massaged him, softly kneading
tight muscles, fingertips occasionally dipping under his
waistband, then smoothly moving up, away from the erogenous
area. 
     Walter closed his eyes, drifting on the waves of
relaxation her touch brought. He tensed when she ventured too
low, then stilled as she returned to safer territory. 
     Scully watched him, seeing the tension lines smooth away
as he relaxed, making him seem, somehow younger, and more
vulnerable. Carefully she removed his glasses and Skinner
brought a hand up to rub tired eyes. 
     "You need to rest," she repeated. "It's been a long few
months." 
     "It's been a long few years," he corrected, dully.
     Her eyes saddened at the loneliness in his voice. 
     "You could have asked anyone at the Bureau out," She said
softly, cupping a nipple and caressing. "Why didn't you?" 
     "I didn't want to," he said simply. Dark eyes opened to
meet hers. "I think I've loved you almost from the time you
joined the X-Files. It was only a matter of working up the
nerve to breech Bureau policy." He smiled at her, reaching up
to tuck a strand of red hair behind her ear. "And prepare
myself for the rejection I felt sure I'd get." 
     Dana smiled, amused. "Why?"
     "Because you're beautiful. And smart and could date
anybody you wanted." He stroked a cheek. "And I half thought
you were with Mulder." 
     Scully chuckled. "Wrong."
     She bent to cover a nipple with her mouth, lips pulling,
teasing, teeth gently nipping. 
     At his sharp intake of breath, she grinned. "I assume
that, except for your abdomen, you're uninjured?" 
     He caught the devilment in her voice, even though he
couldn't see her face. 
     "Completely."
     "Good."
     While one hand fondled his left nipple, Scully's lips
worked their magic on his right. 
     Skinner lost himself in the sensations that washed over
him. It had been nearly a month since they'd last been
together and he felt familiar stirrings in his groin.
Stirrings that brought with them pain. 
     "Dana." 
     "Humm?" Her tongue moved down the center of his flat
stomach to tease at the beltline. 
     "Let's not start something I'm not going to be able to
finish." 
     "Oh, don't worry about that." She said sweetly,
unbuckling the leather belt. "I'll finish it for you." 
     "Dana--"
     She sat back on her heels, meeting his eyes.
     "For once just relax and enjoy, Walter. This is from me
to you. To kind of make up for the Hell I've put you through
the last few weeks." 
     When he didn't speak, her features softened. "Besides, I
don't want to you forget what I feel like." 
     "No danger there." 
     "We do need to talk about it and we have to be careful,
but right now, just let me love you." 
     Skinner frowned, Scully thought, to hide the wetness that
suddenly filled his eyes. 
     "Shh." She smoothed them shut and returned to her
ministrations. 
     Pulling the belt from its loops, she unzipped his
trousers and slipped a hand under the elastic of his shorts. 
     Skinner's chest filled with breath, excitement filling
him at her touch. Who was he kidding? He wasn't going to be
able to lay here and docily let her play with him any more
than he could stand by and let anyone at the Bureau hurt her. 
     He reached down and pulled her on top of him, carefully
settling her along his body. 
     "Walter, I don't think--"
     "Shut up, Agent Scully," he said in his best AD voice.
     "Yes sir," she murmured, lowering her head as a large
hand guided her mouth to his. 
     He pressed her lips to his, tongue urging them apart,
entering the moist haven. Their tongues dueled and caressed
while his hands slid along her back, stroking her through the
cotton of her blouse, redefining the curves he knew so well. 
     Dana was careful of his body, not wanting to hurt him,
but she reveled in his warmth and snuggled against him. 
     Parting for breath, Walter gazed up, into her face.
     "We can't do this now," he told her. "I'm already feeling
it." 
     Immediately she became Dana Scully, doctor.
     "Pain?"
     "A little. Nothing serious."
     She sighed and lay her head on his chest.
     "I guess we're just going to have to talk first and fool
around later." 
     Skinner laughed. His first real laugh in weeks. It pulled
at his gut, but Dana's warmth against him soothed it. 
     "I guess so." He stroked her hair, feeling its silkiness.
"I know you don't like me feeling protective, Dana--" 
     "I don't mind that." She corrected him, raising her head
to meet his eyes. "I just don't want you to keep me from doing
my job. Mulder and I take risks, that's what we do. I don't
mind you worrying about me, just don't try and wrap me in
cotton wool and keep me safe." 
     "I am trying not to." Skinner told her. "But sometimes,
when I'm safely in my office and you're out there, chasing God
only knows what--" 
     Scully's laugh was sharp with irony. "Safe in your
office?"  Carefully she maneuvered herself off Skinner to sit
on the floor beside him. The AD kept hold of her hand and she
leaned her head against his hip, looking up at him. 
     "Do you know how much I've worried about you since we
started this?" 
     "About me?" His brow furrowed. "Why?"
     "Why?" She fairly yelled shouted at him. "Because I'm
falling in love with you, you idiot!" 
     Skinner stared at her as she laughed. 
     "Let me recap." The model of an Academy lecturer, Scully
held up her hand folding down a finger with each point. "Let's
see, in the last four months you been; shot," she nodded to
his stomach, "Threatened twice." 
     "That's just talk," Skinner objected.
     "Shut up, I'm not done. And those are just the times I
know about." She nailed him with a hard gaze. "You've gotten
the Hell beaten out of you on two occasions, once for Mulder
and once for me." 
     "Oh, but you should have seen Mr. X," Walter told her
with a smile. 
     "You're awful." She shook her head, then resumed. "And I
don't even want to know how many times you've had a showdown
with Cancerman." She gave him a mock glare. "Now, shall we
talk about who's safe and who's not? At least I have Mulder
with me." 
     Skinner made a disgusted sound. "Sometimes I think that's
a liability, the way he goes rushing off without thinking." 
     "I'm just saying that I'm not the only one who worries;
it's a two-way street." 
     "All right. Enough talk for now."
     Skinner reached out to touch her face. Suddenly he felt
bone tired. 
     "I think I need to sleep."
     Instantly concern shadowed the woman's eyes and she
helped him to stand and guided him to the stairs. 
     "I can make it, Dana." He picked up the cane he'd bought
and mounted the first step. 
     Scully slipped under his arm, taking his weight on her
shoulders. 
     "Come on, you'll still be trying to get upstairs by
morning." 
     "It's not that bad," Skinner protested, but didn't object
any further. Truthfully, he'd missed her and didn't want her
to leave. "I should have taken you to dinner." 
     "Are you hungry?" She asked, as they defeated another
step. 
     "No. Just very tired."
     When they reached the landing, Scully waited while he
undressed and took a shower. 
     When he came back into the bedroom, clad in pajama
bottoms, he stopped. 
     The bed was turned down and Special Agent Scully lay
under the covers, clad in one of his USMC t-shirts. 
     "Dana," he warned.
     "I just thought you might want some company." 
     She met his eyes and Skinner was moved by the neediness
he saw there. 
     "I really don't want to sleep alone tonight, either," she
said softly, patting his side of the bed. "We don't have to do
anything. Just hold me." 
     Scully's display's of vulnerability were so rare that it
disturbed him a little, but only for a moment. Skinner had to
admit that he hadn't been looking forward to another night
alone, either. 
     He climbed into bed and switched out the light. Rolling
onto his back, he drew Scully to him. 
     "Ummm, this is nice," she murmured, settling against him,
her cheek on his shoulder, body molding to his. "G'nite,
Walter."  
     "Goodnight, my love." 
     Skinner kissed her forehead and closed his eyes. Before
long they were both asleep.   
****************************************************
The Blue Light
D. Street      

     Assistant Director Walter Skinner sat behind his desk at
FBI headquarters, resisting the nearly uncontrollable urge to
reach for the bottle of aspirin in his desk drawer. 
     Fox Mulder, one of his best, if most unpredictable
agents, was explaining why the report of their last case had
included torture, disfigurement and a winged serpent. He
sighed. This whole report was going to have to be redone
before he sent it upstairs and he really didn't want to work
late tonight. And to make matters worse, Dana Scully, Mulder's
partner, sat placidly on the sofa, watching the proceedings
with more amusement than Skinner thought appropriate. 
     "So what you're saying, Agent Mulder, is that a giant
winged snake has been terrorizing this city and taking
sacrifices to uphold some ancient voodoo custom." The Director
cocked is head. "Is that right?" 
     Mulder considered. "Yes, sir. That's about it."
     Both agents jumped as Skinner's fists connected with his
desktop. 
     "God Dammit, Mulder! How the Hell am I supposed to tell
my superiors that? They'll have us all for lunch on Monday."
     Mulder looked slightly uncomfortable. Although he felt
that over the past months his situation with his superior had
improved, he still got antsy about these yelling sessions.
Skinner really needed to get laid or something. Man, he was
way too tense. 
     The older man took a breath and tried to smile at his
agent. Scully kept her eyes in her lap, afraid of laughing at
the distraught AD. 
     "Agent Mulder," he said quietly, "I want you to take this
home over the weekend and at least try to come up with a more
plausible way to present the facts of your last assignment." 
     Mulder sighed and took the folder. "Yes, sir."
     "That will be all." Skinner sat down behind his desk
again as the two agents rose. He looked up. "Agent Scully, I'd
like to speak with you for a moment." 
     "Yes, sir." She gave Mulder a smile and a nod. Her
partner reluctantly abandoned her to the lion and fled.     
     When the door had closed behind him, Skinner touched the
intercom. 
     "Yes, sir?"
     "Why don't you call it a week?" He told his assistant.
     "Thank you, sir. Have a good weekend."
     "Good night."
     Skinner rose from his chair and circled the desk,
stopping in front of Scully. 
     "Agent Scully." A smile quirked at the corner of his
mouth and he pulled her to him. "Dana, I'm sorry. Why the hell
did he hand in a report like that?" 
     "Because he wanted to get your goat, I think." Dana
laughed. "Mulder worries that you don't have enough excitement
in your life." 
     The AD humphed. "Great."
     Skinner smoothed a palm along her back, gently kneading
the taunt muscles he found in her shoulders. 
     "Why so tense?" he asked.
     Dana shook her head. "It's always stressful, wrapping up
a case and writing the report." She grinned up at him.
"Particularly when you have a hard-ass for a boss." 
     "Thank you." Skinner succumbed to the urge for
painkillers and went back to his desk, digging out the bottle
of Excedrin(tm). 
     "You take too much of that," Scully pointed out
seriously. 
     Skinner gave her a look but didn't comment as he washed
three tablets down with water. He took off his glasses and
rubbed tired eyes. God, he was glad it was Friday. 
     He felt Scully's presence behind him as he replaced his
glasses, and smiled as strong fingers began to massage his
sore shoulders and neck. 
     "You think I'm tense?" She asked in astonishment.
"Walter, haven't you been working out? You're tied up in
knots." 
     "Of course I've been working out." The AD told her. "It's
just stress." He shrugged. "Nothing to worry about." 
     "I'd like you to live long enough to retire."
     He sat back with a sigh, giving himself up to her
backrub. 
     "Yeah, well, tell that to your partner, will you?"     
Since the two had admitted an overwhelming physical attraction
to one another two months before and become lovers, they'd
been stealing as many evenings and weekends as possible to be
together. Over the course of those weeks, both had discovered
that sex, while wonderful, was only part of what they felt for
one another. Skinner knew he was dangerously close to falling
in love with the beautiful agent and Scully had already
admitted her feelings to herself. 
     "Have you checked this office for bugs lately?" She asked
suddenly. 
     Skinner frowned. "This morning. Why?"
     "I just didn't want to get you called up in front of the
OPC or anything." 
     "Why--?" he began, but the rest was cut off as Scully
swiveled the chair around and dropped lightly into his lap,
her lips on his. 
     Slowly his arms went around her and Walter let his mind
drift on the wave of desire that washed through him. God, had
it really only been since Tuesday that they'd last been
together? It seemed like months. 
     Scully sat back, fingers unbuttoning the buttons of his
white shirt. 
     "Scully," Walter's voice was low and laden with emotion.
"Is Mulder waiting for you downstairs?" 
     "Um," She hesitated, torn between telling him the truth
and continuing her present course. Walter really needed to
loosen up or he was going to have a heart attack, and Scully
knew a great little relaxer. 
     "He is." Skinner took her silence for what it was and
pushed her off his lap. "Come on Agent Scully, back to the
salt mines." 
     "It's after six." She pouted.
     Skinner bent to lightly brush her lips with his own.   
"I'll pick you up at eight. We've got 8:30 reservations."   
"Where?"
     "Andres'."
     Scully nodded. "Sounds good." She stood on tiptoes and
kissed him. "See you at eight." 
     Skinner watched her leave his office, feeling better than
he had all week. 
     "Walter," he told himself. "This is not good. You're not
supposed to be fraternizing with your subordinates." Then he
thought of Scully's lips on his and grinned. "Oh, to Hell with
it."      
DANA SCULLY'S APARTMENT -
THAT EVENING

     At 7:50 Dana looked up from the book she was reading at
the doorchime. 
     "Coming!"
     She opened the door to find her lover in the hall, a
single rose in hand. 
     "Walter, thank you." She held it to her nose as he
followed her into the apartment, nuzzling her neck. 
     "You're certainly in a better mood." Dana commented with
a smile. 
     She put the rose in water and came back to find Skinner
leaning against the wall, watching her. 
     "What?"
     "You're very beautiful," the AD told her. "That dress is
lovely." 
     Dana blushed. She wasn't used to compliments. She'd gone
out the night before and bought the simple, black silk dress,
especially for tonight.
     "Thanks."
     He watched for a long moment, gazes locked, and then
pushed off from the wall, closing the distance between them.
     Dana lifted her head as Skinner's arms enveloped her, one
hand tilting her chin for a kiss. 
     Walter trailed his lips across her throat and Scully
moaned as the fire began to bathe her like sun-warmed water.
     When his mouth became more insistent against the
sensitive area, she tossed her head, hands on his chest to
push him away. Smiling, Skinner held her more tightly, mouth
bathing her throat with its chilling warmth. 
     "Walter..." Scully swallowed, breath already coming fast.
"Please..." 
     "Please what?" he whispered, fingers sliding the silken
dress up around her waist. 
     She bent her head, cutting off his explorations,
struggling to reassemble her thoughts. 
     "Not fair," Walter told her, pushing the black material
over her shoulders, dropping it to the floor. 
     "Since when?" Tapered fingers gripped his shoulders.   
     With a grin, Skinner circled her body with his arms,
palms against her warm back. Scully drew in a breath at the
coolness of his hands, then laid her head against his chest.
     Skinner felt her tremble slightly as he moved a hand up
to cup her breast. He felt good when they made love... it was
always as exciting and new as the first time. He knew it was
enhanced, too, by the dangerous nature of their liaisons, but
he would have given anything to openly date the beautiful
agent. 
     Gently he kneaded a breast, its soft warmth spreading
through him as his fingers found the rosy tip and gently
squeezed. Scully gasped, her lips opening to kiss the side of
his neck as he bent over her, teeth softly nipping as he
teased the nipple erect, frustration building until her
fingers dug into his muscled arms. Up and down she bathed his
throat with her tongue, fingers massaging his sides. Her
fingers fumbled with the pearl buttons of his shirt. Still
Skinner toyed with the tender breast, plying, caressing,
flicking the stiff node with his finger until Scully thought
she would scream with the agony of it. 
     "Walter!"
     "Hum?" he murmured, bending his head to capture her
mouth, tongue pushing past her lips to explore the velvety
interior. But Dana pulled away. 
     "You either have to stop now or take off a lot of
clothing." She declared, shaking with the desire that coursed
through her. 
     "We don't have time," the AD said, not without regret. "I
shouldn't have started--" 
     Dana reached up to pull his head down to her.
     "How much do you want to keep that reservation?"
     "Aren't you hungry?" he murmured, lips caressing the side
of her face, eyes closing as the feel of her played on his
senses. 
     "Depends."
     "On what?" His voice was ragged and both of them knew
they weren't going out tonight. 
     Scully turned slightly, both hands on his chest, undoing
the buttons on his white shirt. She pushed it off his
shoulders, her hands smoothing across the broad chest, palming
a nipple, fingers luxuriating in the thick, curling hair. The
heat from his body pulsated, warming her, yet making her
shiver with excitement. 
     "Cold?" Skinner asked, wrapping his arms more tightly
around her. 
     "No," Scully whispered, forehead against his chest. "You
drive me mad." 
     "That's the idea, isn't it?" he chuckled.
     She looked up into clear, dark eyes. 
     "Let's go to bed."
     Without conscious thought, they went to the bedroom,
undressing each other, until Skinner gently lowered her onto
the double bed. 
     He gazed at her, lying naked before him, and felt a wave
of lightheadedness wash over him. Of all the women he'd known,
none had had the effect on him that Dana Scully did. He ran
broad fingers through her thick copper hair, letting it
cascade over his hand. 
     He covered her with his body, her flesh warm against his,
trailing light kisses along her jaw to her throat. His tongue
played in the hollow there, laving the sensitive skin until
Scully whimpered. Holding her on her back, Skinner edged his
way down her body, tongue trailing between her breasts, lips
caressing her flat stomach, teasing her toward the edge.    
     Grasping her hips in his large hands, Skinner bathed her
skin, moving lower still until he heard Scully's sharp intake
of breath. Purposely he lowered his head, the scent of her
sweet and heady, and gently parted her thighs with one hand.
With the other, he covered a breast, fingers caressing,
stroking, while his tongue entered her, searching for the most
sensitive areas. 
     Scully edged up, away from him in an effort to relieve
the maddening sensations that swirled like a kaleidoscope,
upsetting her perception. When he held her fast, she twisted
away from him, rolling onto her stomach, trying to catch her
breath as the passion pounded in her mind. 
     In the next motion, Skinner pushed her down, into the
bed, his body covering hers, and renewed his assault. It
seemed to Scully as if his hands were everywhere, burning her
skin with each touch, stroking her passion to greater heights.
     Finally he turned her onto her back once more and rose
above her, plunging deeply, again and again, until both lay
panting and sated. 
     Skinner pulled her to him, brushing a lock of damp hair
from her face. 
     "Okay?"
     Dana nodded, doubting she had the breath to speak. 
     "We're going to miss dinner," the AD told her.
     Scully laughed, rolling over to look at him.
     "We could be bad and go right to desert." She grinned
wickedly. 
     "Oh?" Skinner propped himself up on one hand. "And what
did you have in mind?" 
     With a lunge, Scully showed him.

D. C. THEATRE - 
THE NEXT EVENING

     "It wasn't that bad." 
     Walter Skinner shot her an incredulous glance.
     "Dana, the acting was bad, the plot was almost non-
existent; it was just plain bad." 
     Dana Scully grinned teasingly. "Yeah, but the leading man
was cute." 
     Her escort snorted, handing over his parking receipt to
the valet. 
     "That's the thanks I get for sitting through this rotten
play? You're comparing me to that no-talent actor?" 
     The car pulled up and Skinner helped his date into the
passenger seat. When he was seated behind the wheel, Dana
touched his hand. 
     "I didn't compare him to you. Cute isn't exactly the way
I would describe you." 
     Skinner growled, pulling out into traffic.
     "Come on," Dana urged, drawing a finger along his jaw. "I
was just kidding." 
     With a sigh the AD relaxed. "I know. It's been a tough
week, I apologize." 
     "That's okay." She changed the subject, aware that her
partner had contributed much of the week's stress. "Where are
we going to eat?" 
     "Well, I found a cafe that looks good. Out of the way--"
     "Of course." Scully agreed.
     "I'm sorry, Dana." Skinner pulled off the highway, onto
a paved road. "I wish we didn't have to sneak around in order
to see each other. Someday, I swear--" 
     "Walter." She put a hand on his arm, squeezing lightly.
"It's okay. I know what would happen to both of us if the
higher ups got wind of this. It's okay." 
     "It's not okay," he grumbled. He glanced at her. "Have
you told Mulder?" 
     Scully shook her red head. "No. Every time I think I'm
going to, he says something that makes me reconsider." 
     "I don't think I want to know," Skinner told her, turning
into a small parking lot. He turned off the car and faced her.
"Dana, we're going to have to make a decision about our
relationship." 
     Scully was fascinated with the play of emotions in the
dark eyes. From firm resolve to desire to fear flashed across
his face in the space of a few seconds. 
     "I don't know how much longer I can go on not admitting
that I'm--" He stopped, paling slightly. Suddenly he opened
the car door. "Come on, we'll be late for our reservation."
     Dana thought, with rye amusement, that for someone who
wanted to discuss their relationship, he certainly seemed to
shy away from stating his feelings. Of course, she was no
better. She hadn't even gotten up the nerve to tell her best
friend. Mostly, she admitted, because she was afraid Mulder
would either kill himself or her. She figured Skinner was
safe; he out-weighted the younger man by a good 50 pounds of
muscle. 
     Her door opened and she took Walter's proffered hand,
walking with up into the tiny cafe. 
     She saw immediately why he'd brought her here; it was
like being in an English B&B. The furnishing were comfortable
and the lighting low and romantic. Candles provided the only
light at the secluded booths and wonderful smells caressed
Scully's nose. 
     He gave the hostess his name and they were shown to a
corner booth, near the door. The waiter appeared and took
their drink orders, then disappeared. 
     Scully sighed, contentedly. "This is lovely." She smiled
across at her companion. "I'm having a wonderful evening." 
     "And it's only Saturday night." Skinner grinned at her.
"Just wait until I get you home." 
     "That sounds vaguely like a threat." The agent studied
him, light dancing in her eyes.
     "More of a promise." Skinner told her.
     The drinks arrived and they ordered dinner. Suddenly the
romantic mood was shattered by a barrage of shots fired at the
ceiling. 
     There was screaming, and then silence. Instinctively,
both Skinner and Dana went for their guns, then froze. Better
to wait. They were obviously out-gunned for the moment.     
     "Everybody stay where they are and nobody gets hurt!" A
ski-masked man shouted. 
     He stood just across from their booth, a machine gun
making an arc of the small room. 
     "Give me the money," he demanded.
     The shrill sound of police cars could be heard in the
distance. They came closer and the gunman turned to the
cashier. 
     "You turned in a silent alarm, you bitch!"
     The woman ducked behind her counter as bullets pelted its
surface. Scully couldn't tell whether she was injured or just
keeping out of sight. 
     "I got to get out of here!" the gunman muttered, more to
himself than anyone in the room. 
     His eyes lit on Dana and he nodded.
     "A hostage. You!" He took a step forward and held out his
hand. "You will come with me, Red." 
     Scully felt Skinner tense beside him and she took a step
forward. He'd get himself killed, whereas, she told herself,
she might be able to convince the man that it was useless to
run with the police on their way. 
     "Get over here!" the man demanded.
     As she took another step, Dana felt Skinner grab her arm
in an iron grip as he thrust her behind him, placing himself
in the path of the machine-gun. 
     "Walter!" 
     She tried to stop him but the FBI man stood unwavering.
     "She's not going with you. If you want a hostage, you'll
have to take me." 
     "No way, man," the thief sneered. "I'll take your lady
friend." His laugh made Dana's skin crawl. "She's prettier."
     In what seemed like endless time, but in reality probably
happened in seconds, Dana watched Skinner draw his gun and
fire at the same instant that the gunman fired his weapon. 
     Bullets dug up the floor as the man went down, spraying
the table top, shattering the glassware that rested on it. 
     Scully watched in horror as Skinner grabbed his side and
dropped to one knee, face convulsed with pain, blood running
freely between clenched fingers. A swatch of crimson marked
the side of his face where another bullet had creased his
scalp. 
     "Walter!" Scully gripped his shoulder, pushing him gently
to the floor. "Call an ambulance!" she shouted, then ripped
open his dinner jacket to expose the wound. 
     "How... bad?" Skinner's jaw was clenched as the pain
threatened to overcome him. He always forgot how much it hurt.
The room was spinning and somewhere in the distance he could
hear Scully telling him to lay down... to let her see...
something. 
     "Dana..."
     Frantically Scully tore at his clothing until she found
the wounds. She bit her lip, forcing her objective side to the
front. She was a doctor. She'd done this a million times with
Mulder... with others... she had to function--
     As she looked up, several officers and a pair of
paramedics entered the restaurant. She felt relief that
someone else was here to take charge. 
     "Here!" She almost screamed it, shaking uncontrollably,
as she tried to staunch the flow of blood. 
     "He's been shot." She told the medic, "I'm a doctor."
     "We'll take care of him. You want to ride along?" 
     Scully nodded, numbly following their actions as they
worked to stop the blood flow and finally lifted Skinner onto
a gurney and carried him out to the ambulance. 
     Scully followed, climbing in the back and sitting next to
the young medic. 
     "How, how bad is it?" Her voice trembled and she hated
herself for it. Why couldn't she function like a doctor?
Dammit! This was not worse than when Mulder got himself shot.
But it was worse... much, much worse. Skinner didn't have the
charmed life her partner seemed to... and she was so
frightened of losing him. 
     "He's lost a lot of blood," the young man said, eyeing
her warily as a prospective patient. "But I think he'll be
okay." He paused. "Are you all right?" 
     Scully nodded and gripped Skinner's limp hand in hers,
bringing it to her lips, eyes fastened on the pale features of
her lover.

WASHINGTON GENERAL HOSPITAL - 
MUCH LATER THAT NIGHT

     Dana Scully sat by the hospital bed, gazing at the man
who lay so still and pale. After ten hours of surgery to
remove the bullet he'd taken in the cafe, Walter Skinner
hovered between worlds in a drug-induced sleep. 
     Scully clasped one of his large hands, sometimes talking
to him, in case he could hear her, sometimes just watching the
steady rise and fall of his chest, as if that assured his
recovery.. He was so still. The brave, vibrant man that had
made love to her just the night before lay like a dead man.
They'd only just discovered each other, dear God! don't take
him from me now. You can't be that cruel! 
     "Scully?"
     She jumped, guiltily pulling her hand back as she stared
at her partner. 
     "Mulder."
     The young man stepped into the room, nodding to their
boss. "How is he?" 
     "He... he hasn't regained consciousness since he came out
of surgery." 
     "They get the bullet?" Mulder watched his friend,
noticing the frayed edges, the quiver in her voice. The unshed
tears in her eyes. 
     "Yeah." 
     "The shooter dead?"
     Dana nodded, then looked up, meeting his gaze. "I don't
know if he's going to make it, Mulder," she whispered.
     "He'll make it," Mulder assured her quietly. "He's
strong." 
     When she didn't reply, Mulder knelt beside her chair,
taking her hands in both of his. 
     "Scully. I know.... I know."
     Startled blue eyes met his. Mulder grinned. 
     "It's hard to hide stuff like that from a sensitive guy
like me." 
     She gave a short laugh and let out the tears she'd been
fighting since Skinner had been shot. 
     "Oh, Mulder." She leaned forward and Mulder gathered her
in his arms, holding her, murmuring in her ear. 
     When she stopped shaking, Mulder pulled back and smoothed
the damp hair from her face. 
     "You want to talk about it? About him?" he asked gently.
"We'll discuss why you didn't feel the need to *tell* me about
it later." 
     "Mulder, I didn't know how you'd react." She defended
herself. "I thought you might think I was compromising the X-
Files... compromising you." 
     Mulder's eyes twinkled. "I'd say if one of us was
compromised Scully, I wasn't me." 
     His teasing worked and she blushed, eyes on her hands. 
     "I, it...."
     "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.' Mulder
took her hand again. "I just thought it might help if you
talked about him." A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"God knows I never would of matched the two of you up, so if
you'd like to indulge my natural curiosity..." 
     Dana smiled too. She looked at Skinner for a long moment,
then took his hand again. Mulder knew, and he was all right
with it... she didn't care who else did. 
     She cleared her throat, trying to get her thoughts in
order. 
     "It happened after you disappeared... when we thought you
were dead." Scully began slowly, letting the memories wash
over her. "When Mr. X came to your apartment that night... he
wouldn't tell me where you'd gone." 
     Fox nodded. He knew this part.
     "I thought we'd lost... I thought you were dead and I
couldn't do anything to save you." She licked her lips, eyes
fixed on some point in the past. "And then the next thing I
knew, Skinner as at your door, bleeding on your carpet and
giving me the coordinates of where you'd gone." 
     Mulder nodded again. 
     She looked up at him. 
     "I think that's when I realized that I cared about him.
All the times we weren't sure... that we didn't know whether
we could trust him." She swallowed, eyes drifting back to
Skinner. "All that time, I think I was attracted... more than
attracted..." She frowned, trying to put the elusive feelings
into words. 
     "You were falling in love with a man that you thought
might be the enemy, so you buried it." 
     She shrugged. "I guess."
     "And then, when he proved to you that he was a good guy,"
Mulder grinned slightly. "You let it happen." 
     "All I could think about was finding you. Getting you
back safely." 
     Their eyes met again. Mulder waited.
     "And then, after you were back but on leave, he called me
into his office and asked me how you were doing. Mulder, he
really cared about you... about whether you'd been hurt
badly... how you were handling it." 
     "He's a good guy, Scully. You don't have to convince me."
     "He, he asked me to dinner. He said he wanted to talk to
me." 
     "That old line," her partner laughed.
     "No, Mulder, I don't think he meant it as a pass... I
think he really wanted to access whether I was okay to do my
job." She shrugged. "I don't know." 
     "Then what happened?" Mulder urged.
     Giving up any pretense at professional detachment, Dana
stood up and leaned over Skinner, smoothing his face with her
palm. She sat back down, taking his hand again. 
     "We had dinner and drinks and we talked. About you
mostly." She smiled at the memory. "He really respects you,
Mulder. It hurt him to think that you didn't trust him. That
neither of us did." 
     "You obviously do now, Scully. Or do you love him in
spite of that?" 
     She shook her head. 
     "No," she whispered. "I trust him." She met Mulder's
gaze. "It scares me how quickly I've become so involved
emotionally. Mulder, I've only been... been..." 
     "Dating?" he offered helpfully.
     Dana shot him a glance. "I don't think dating is exactly
the term I'd use." 
     "Sneaking around?" Mulder revised with a grin.
     Dana nodded. "That's better. Mulder, I just don't know if
I can keep doing this. If anybody found out they'd crucify
him." 
     "And you. And me, because I'd have to find another
partner." 
     Scully frowned. "Are you saying I shouldn't be seeing
Walter?" 
     Mulder opened his mouth, but the words wouldn't come.
Hearing Scully use Skinner's first name took a minute to
compute. 
     "Look," he said finally, "What I'm saying is, you just
need to be careful. Go on, tell me some more." 
     Mulder slid back in his chair, fingers laced behind his
head. 
     "There's not much to tell. He took me home and we were
both a little drunk and, well, I guess our defenses slipped a
little." 
     Mulder cocked his head. "A little?"
     "Okay, a lot, Mulder, is that what you want to hear?"
Scully bit her lip. "Sorry. I'm just so scared." 
     "I know you're scared, but it'll be okay. It'll take more
than a bullet to stop him." Mulder gestured to the still form.
     "I don't know exactly when it turned into love, but I do
love him." 
     The man nodded. He could see that. He felt a small pang
of envy for Skinner. 
     "He's always so strong and silent... I was so surprised
at the loneliness inside him... and his ability to be tender
and..." She stopped again, drawing in a shaky breath. "Last
night, we went to the theatre," Dana told him, glancing at her
lover, rubbing his hand with her thumb. "Afterwards we went to
this little cafe to have dinner and--" 
     Mulder paled. He'd come to the hospital because of
Scully's terse message on his answering machine. He'd spent
the night with the Lone Gunmen, running down leads on a
possible UFO sighting in Utah and he hadn't heard about the
cafe holdup until he was in the car on the way over. He'd come
in on the end, hearing only that there had been one person
shot. A Federal employee. 
     "They tried to take me as a hostage and he got in their
way." The tears were falling again and Mulder took her free
hand. "He pushed me behind him and drew his gun and they shot
him." 
     Dana desperately tried to keep from shaking at the
memory, her fingers tightening on the hands of the two men she
loved. "It wasn't even an FBI incident, Mulder, it was a God
dammed holdup!" 
     "I know." 
     Mulder drew her to him, and she relinquished her hold on
Skinner's hand to wrap her arms around her partner's neck.  
"You can't keep him safe any more than he can keep you that
way, Scully. It's the nature of our lives." 
     They sat that way for a long time before a rough baritone
broke the silence. 
     "Should I be jealous?"
     Scully almost fell off her chair as she whirled to face
Skinner. Grinning, Mulder rose to stand beside her. 
     "How are you feeling, sir?" The agent asked, trying to
put as much understanding and trust in his eyes as he could.
     "I've been better." The AD told him, grimacing as he
reached for Scully's hand. His voice was deep and harsh. "I
think it hit a nerve." 
     Scully's laugh was both amusement and relief. "A nerve?
That's the understatement." She glanced at Mulder. "Walter..."
     "I heard enough of that last speech to realize you told
him." The AD held his agent's gaze. 
     Mulder was amazed at how much power the man had, even
flat on his back in a hospital bed. 
     "It can't go beyond this room, Mulder."
     "Yes sir," The agent nodded, a hand on his boss' arm.
"I've known for quite a while, sir. I'm not going to tell
anybody." 
     "You've--" Skinner sighed, closing his eyes for a moment.
When he met the younger man's gaze again, the brown eyes were
twinkling at him. "I don't think I want to know how you
figured it out." 
     Scully squeezed his hand. "It doesn't matter. You just
rest. You're going to be okay." 
     Skinner studied her hand in his, eyes thoughtful, then he
raised them to meet hers. 
     "I can't leave now... just when I've found something
wonderful in my life. It's been too long; for both of us." 
     Mulder tried to be as invisible as he could. He couldn't
believe the AD was being as open about his feelings in from of
his maverick agent. *"Boy, we have progressed."* he thought.
*"I'll bet Scully's good for him. I bet they're good for each
other."* 
     "I'm going to find your doctor," Scully said, suddenly
needing to do something. 
     "I thought you were my doctor." Skinner smiled at her
sleepily.. 
     "You better believe it." Dana bent to kiss him, lightly
brushing his lips. When she stood up, his eyes were closed.
     "He's asleep." She looked at Mulder. "I guess he told
me." 
     "I don't think it has anything to do with your allure,
partner." Mulder grinned, putting a hand around her shoulders.
"Come on, let's find the doctor and then I'm taking you to
breakfast." 
     "But--"
     "He's gonna sleep 'til noon at least and I want to tell
you about this sighting in Utah." 
     "Sighting, Mulder? What kind of sighting?"
     "Well, six independent witnesses in the area reported
seeing a bright, blue light..." 
     Scully let out a breath as she followed Mulder down the
corridor. It was going to be okay. Everything was going to be
okay. 
     "A blue light? How cliche, Mulder."
     "No, wait! I'm serious."
     
The end