Chains of Desire: Ch. 42 -Crossing the Threshold
Author: Diana Williams
Email: diana@slashcity.com
Web site: http://diana.slashcity.com/
Rating: NC-17 for m/m sex and language; M/Sk-Romance, M/K-UST
Archive: Yes

Disclaimer and Author's Notes: Disclaimer and other pertinent information are in Chains of Desire: Intro. Chapter quote comes from "Point of No Return" from "The Phantom of the Opera" by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Alternate Reality Warning: From here on out, I will be taking several serious departures from the 6th season, most of which will be obvious. If you're a plot-line purist, sorry, but the show just doesn't fit with my story line, and I just can't believe my Skinner and Scully acting as they did. Besides, this is going to be a hell of a lot more fun <VEG>.

Series Summary: Mulder takes a walk on the wild side, and Skinner has to rescue Mulder from the consequences of his actions. They form a new working relationship.

Chapter Summary: The X-Files are reopened and Skinner fulfills a promise.

---

Chapter Forty-Two

"Past the point of no return, no going back now
Our passion play has now at last begun
Past the thought of right or wrong, one final question
How long should we two wait before we're one?
When will our blood begin to race, the sleeping flower burst into bloom,
When will the flames at last consume us?
Past the point of no return, the final threshold
The bridge is crossed so stand and watch it burn.
We've passed the point of no return."

"Good morning, Scully!"

Scully looked up, startled by the cheerful voice of her partner, in time to see a cup of Starbucks coffee and a paper bag deposited on her desk. She stared at them blankly for a minute then looked up to see him grinning at her in a way that she had rarely seen. Realization hit and she knew she was smiling back as she leaned forward to say, softly, "Everything's okay?"

"Better than okay," he replied in a low voice. "Although I won't be sitting comfortably for awhile."

"Too much information, Mulder," she said, laughing. "So you're - you know - back?"

"I haven't moved back in yet. We're taking it slow, doing things right. We'll be - um - looking for a place. Together."

Scully grinned. "I'd give anything to see you house-hunting."

"Actually, I thought you could help me with that," Mulder admitted. "He's pretty busy right now so I'm going to do the preliminary run - you know, narrow down the list. I have a meeting with my real estate agent tonight to get the ball rolling and I thought maybe." His voice trailed off and he looked at Scully hopefully.

"All right, Mulder, I'll go with you. I never can resist that pitiful kicked-puppy look."

Mulder let out a relieved breath. "Thanks - I owe you, partner."

"Good - you can take me to dinner afterwards and give me all the juicy details." She laughed as Mulder flushed and waved him towards his desk. "Go on - we've got a meeting with OPR in an hour and I'm sure that you'll need that coffee to sustain you."

"We?" Mulder said, sitting down at his desk gingerly. His backside was still sore after its encounter with the strap the previous day even though Skinner had applied a second treatment of the soothing balm this morning before they had left the Club. He looked over at his partner. "I thought you'd already danced with them and it was my turn. Cutting in on me, Scully?"

"Well, if you'd prefer to face them alone."

"Not on your life."

"Actually, you seem to be taking this pretty calmly."

He shrugged. "What's the worst that can happen? They aren't going to send me to some remote office - they don't want me out where they can't keep an eye on me. So I get stuck doing background checks or crosschecking fertilizer purchases for a while. Someday, something is going to break loose and when it does I'll be here, waiting."

"I'm impressed, Mulder. That's a pretty mature attitude for you."

He grinned at her. "Your little boy is growing up, Scully."

Scully threw a file at him.

*********************

Mulder entered the conference room and settled at the table, glancing briefly at Skinner before looking down at his notes. Despite what he had said to Scully, deep down inside he was worried about what the OPR might decide to do with him. He may have joked about being stuck doing boring routine work, but the reality was pretty unappealing. And then there was the matter of Scully's transfer, an order that had been temporarily frozen. If they decided to transfer her, Mulder was looking at two depressing scenarios - Scully accepting the transfer and moving away or Scully resigning from the Bureau. Even though she had said that she would continue fighting, with them separated like that it was going to be even worse than when she had been assigned to Quantico.

One of the Assistant Directors seated at the table glanced up at Mulder briefly. "Agent Mulder, before we begin the regular part of our hearing, AD Skinner has told us that you have some information regarding the old case files from the X-Files."

Mulder nodded. "Part of the reason that the X-Files were shut down was due to the fire that destroyed much of my office several months ago. Using a process that restores moisture to the documents and by reassembling the fragments, I should be able to recover a large percentage of the case material that was damaged. And, while this process will be tedious and ongoing, what I've already recovered will allow Agent Scully and I to begin work on the X-Files immediately."

The door opened and Scully entered, smiling at Mulder slightly as she took a seat next to him. It was as near a "thumbs up" gesture that she could give him and it lightened his heart.

"Agent Mulder, as you said, that was only 'part' of the reason that the X-Files was shut down." AD Maslin looked down at the file folder in front of her. "Another - and more substantial - reason was because of some rather unusual charges made by another agent. You made some rather incredible claims about one Gibson Praise, got the backing of the Justice Department in fact." She paused and glanced over at Skinner. "Claims that you were unable to substantiate."

"Because Gibson Praise was abducted, not because they were proven wrong," Mulder pointed out.

"Be that as it may," AD Kersh said, "An agent was injured, a suspect in a related murder killed while in custody, and the boy was abducted."

Skinner spoke up. "None of which was the fault of Agents Mulder or Scully. In fact, it was Agent Mulder who pointed out that Gibson Praise was the original target of the hit man."

AD Cassidy nodded but frowned at Skinner. "We understand that, Walter. No one is attempting to blame Agent Mulder for the Gibson Praise incident."

"And for Dallas?" Mulder asked, keeping his expression neutral. "Am I still being blamed for that?" He ignored the intake of breath next to him and the glare from Skinner. If he was going to be hanged for a sheep, he might as well be hanged for a goat.

AD Cassidy looked down at her notes. "We have both your report and Agent Scully's. We have attempted to find corroborating evidence to your claims but the bone fragments appear to have disappeared, although we did find evidence in SAC Michaud's home that links him to the bombing. If you hadn't followed your 'hunch', it appears that many more lives would have been lost. It appears you are to be commended, Agent Mulder."

"And the X-Files?"

"About that," AD Maslin said, looking through the file in front of her. "Agent Mulder, I'm reading here a very pie-in-the-sky report about global domination plans by vicious, long-clawed spacelings. Is there going to be data to back up this vague, omnibus account?"

"Yes."

One of the other ADs sat back in his chair. "I see your renowned arrogance has been left quite intact. You're asking us to accept this report of a spaceship buried under polar ice and your death-defying escape from it?"

"Yes, I am. The ice became superheated by the ship as it rose beneath us, causing the ice to collapse. The Australian survey team has filed their own report substantiating the presence of a large crater in the precise location that I was sent to, and their opinion that the ice shelf was stable and that there was no reported quake activity in the area."

Another AD spoke up, a smirk on his face. "These spacelings - they weren't something that I saw in 'Men in Black'?"

Mulder tried not to sigh at this crack. "I didn't see 'Men in Black'."

"Too bad - damn fine movie."

Mulder reined in his temper, aware that Skinner and Scully were counting on him. He took a deep breath. "As much as this sounds like science fiction, we can and will prove the validity of our report."

The ADs exchanged a look and Maslin continued to look through the file. "I'm just trying to get this straight. The plot is for these spacelings to take over the planet aided by a group of men here on earth?"

Mulder nodded. "A shadow conspiracy within our own government."

"Men who are growing corn in the middle of the desert which features pollen which was genetically altered to hold a virus which will be taken away by bees. Whose sting transmits the virus causing the growth of an extraterrestrial being within the human host?"

"Which we will prove now that the X-Files have been reopened."

Maslin spoke again. "Let us remind you that the FBI is not a school for science or the grinding of personal axes. Hopefully you will be able to present us with some material evidence to support a continued investigation."

"Agent Scully, who was assigned to the X-Files as a scientist, was stung by one of these bees, and was infected with this virus. She is here today with hard evidence about this virus." He turned and looked at his partner, relieved at the small nod she gave him before turning to face the panel.

"Agent Scully?" AD Maslin spoke up. "Would you care to inform us of your findings? What is the nature of this virus you were infected with?"

"I can't identify it. I have run three separate tests - "

"Verifying that it is alien in nature?"

Scully drew a deep breath. "No. The virus' DNA and proteins are very much of this world. However, the damage that it did to the body that I autopsied was beyond anything I've ever seen. And what Agent Mulder witnessed in Antarctica - an alien being inside a human body - "

"Did you witness this as well, Agent Scully?"

"No. I was barely conscious most of the time."

"And did you see this alien spacecraft?"

"Not clearly, although I saw the evidence left behind."

"So you are saying that you can't substantiate Agent Mulder's claims of human hosts for aliens or the spacecraft? And that the virus is terrestrial in nature?"

"Yes. However, I believe that Agent Mulder is telling the truth."

AD Cassidy said, dryly, "You are not the only one willing to take Mulder's word on blind faith." She glanced briefly at Skinner, then back at the two agents. "However, this panel requires more evidence -concrete evidence." She glanced back at her notes. "That's all we require at this time, Agents. The panel will deliberate and let you know their decision. In the meantime, you will carry on with your assignments from before the Dallas incident."

Scully nodded and stood up, and Mulder reluctantly rose as well. He followed her out into the hallway and collapsed onto the bench with a sigh and a wince. She sat down next to him, patting his knee reassuringly.

"Sorry I couldn't be more help in there," she said.

Mulder gave her a half-smile and shrugged. "I'm just glad you were there to support me. I can't imagine what I'd do if you and Walter didn't believe me. Although I wish that the virus could have shown some kind of extraterrestrial origin."

Scully sighed. "Well, I expect it'll be awhile before we hear anything so we'd better get back to work."

**************

Mulder sat at his desk, piecing together more burned files. The room was quiet, most everyone having left for lunch. Scully had gone out, too, but he hadn't been hungry. He looked up as he heard the door open and couldn't help smiling at Skinner as he came in.

"Hi, there," he said softly. "You seem to have escaped the lions more or less intact."

"More or less." Skinner stood inside the doorway, his hands in his pockets, looking around the room.

"It's okay - everyone's gone." Mulder leaned back in his chair, noting that his lover looked a little lost and uncomfortable. "What's wrong? The vote go against us?"

"No," Skinner said, drawing in a deep breath. "You and Scully have been reassigned to the X-Files, although they feel that your attempt to recreate the files is a waste of time."

Mulder couldn't suppress his grin of relief. "Yeah? Well, I expect the boss will cut me a little slack on that, as long as the rest of the work is being done."

Skinner looked down at his shoes, avoiding the younger man's eyes. "I doubt it. Kersh goes pretty much by the book."

"What?"

He looked up, meeting Mulder's eyes. "The X-Files department has been reassigned to AD Kersh. Effective immediately."

"But - they can't do that! You've worked with us for years! You understand what we're up against!"

"The panel feels that I'm too close to the situation for objectivity."

Mulder's eyes widened in horror. "My God! They know?"

Skinner shook his head. "No, although the puppet masters above them undoubtedly know. They're keeping silent for their own reasons. No, the review board feels that I've been 'contaminated' by exposure to and involvement with your cases over the past four years. They think I've lost my ability to objectively discipline you."

"They should have been at the Club yesterday," Mulder murmured with a faint smile.

A slight smile momentarily lit Skinner's eyes. "I see that you're able to joke about it today," he said softly, momentarily diverted from the subject at hand.

"Yeah, and Scully wants all the details over dinner tonight." He looked up at Skinner. "You're still going to be tied up in that meeting with the Director, right?"

Skinner nodded. "I'm glad you're going to be with Scully. All joking aside, are you okay?"

Mulder nodded. "Better than okay. Centered somehow. Even with all this crap."

"That's not all. In addition - "

They were interrupted as the door to the bullpen opened and several agents entered, still carrying on their lunch conversations. They glanced curiously at Skinner as they headed towards their desks, still talking.

"Well, guess I better get moved back in," Mulder said, standing up and reaching for the box that held several of the files he was piecing together. "I'm looking forward to the quiet again."

Skinner nodded, unable to say more with the other agents wandering around. In the open doorway, he paused and looked back at the agent. "Oh - and Mulder?"

Mulder looked up. "Sir?"

"I think you'll find something on your desk that might give you the evidence you need."

Mulder stared at the empty doorway for a long moment, then hefted his box and headed towards the elevator.

**************

Mulder entered his old office and stood for a moment in the doorway, looking around. The room showed no sign of fire damage - on the other hand, it showed no sign of personality, either. Nothing of the physical presence that he had given it over years of working here. The walls were bare, the two desks antiseptically clean. Two - he grinned. Scully would be happy about that. He hefted the box in his hands and moved purposely forward. Time to get settled in and start personalizing the place.

There was a single file folder lying on his desk, and he set his box down to pick it up. Opening it, he was startled to see a picture of what appeared to be the remains of a man, his chest gaping open. Images of what he had seen in Antarctica flooded him and he could feel the excitement building inside. He flipped up the picture to read the information.

The door opened and he looked up, then frowned when he saw Jeffrey Spender enter. "Spender, what are you doing in my office?"

"It's my office, too, Spooky." Spender sat down at the other desk and leaned back in the chair.

Mulder barely kept his jaw from dropping. "You are not my partner."

"No, actually I'm not. Diana is." Mulder swung around as he heard Diana Fowley enter. "Or so she says."

Fowley shrugged. "Fox, I just thought that - since we work well together and I know your methods and I'm not a skeptic - "

"What the hell is going on?" Mulder demanded.

Scully entered behind Fowley and regarded Spender sitting at the other desk with crossed arms. "The department has been expanded to two teams. Since you are the senior agent, you are still the department head - and responsible for determining the teams."

Three pairs of eyes turned on him - one scornful, one smugly confident, one cool - and he clenched his teeth. He drew a deep breath and plunged in, determined to salvage the situation as best he could.

"You're right, Diana - you know my methods. However, as the two senior agents, it would unbalance the department for us to be partners. I believe it will work much better for each of us to lead a team." He glanced over at Spender, trying to control his ire at the thought of that man being involved with his pet project. "Agent Spender may be a skeptic, but never underestimate the value of a skeptical eye to help uncover the truth."

Fowley glanced over at Spender and if she was disappointed, she hid it well. "All right. Come with me, Agent Spender - AD Kersh has a case for us to look into." She glanced over at Mulder apologetically, but Scully thought there was a hint of a knife-in-the-back-gleam in that look. "You okay with that, Fox?"

Mulder gave her his best deadpan expression and gestured to his box. "Go right ahead - I've got settling in to do."

Scully wasn't fooled by that expression - she had seen it too many times over the years and knew that it covered something. She watched the other pair leave the room and crossed to lean against the other desk. "Mulder, what are you up to?"

He grinned and held up the file folder. "Jackpot, Scully. Go pack a bag - we're going to Arizona."

***************

"Mulder, when you offered me dinner tonight, this isn't what I had in mind."

Mulder grinned and handed her an in-flight meal. "Come on, Scully. You're getting a trip, too. What more could you ask for?"

Scully grimaced. "Something edible would be nice." She picked at her food. "So what are we looking for, Mulder?"

"Evidence." He handed her the folder.

Scully opened it and looked at the photo. "Good thing I didn't want to eat. What am I looking at?"

"Would you believe an Indian - pardon - Native American attack?"

"I thought they scalped not disemboweled."

"Branching out?"

"I take it you don't believe the crime scene report or the coroner's report? What do you think happened?"

"I know what happened. I've seen something like that before," Mulder said, and Scully looked at him questioningly. "Antarctica."

Scully looked at the picture again, queasy at the thought that something like this might have happened to her. Still, she had to play Devil's advocate. "Mulder, just because I admit that the crime report is unlikely doesn't mean that I can just accept your theory."

Mulder gave her a look of affectionate exasperation. "What does it take? For this thing to come up and bite you on the ass? I saw these creatures. I saw them burst to life. You would've seen them, too, but you were infected with that virus. You were passed out over my shoulder."

Scully said, softly, "Mulder, I know what you did. I know what happened to me but - " She reached over to take his hand in hers. "You told me that my science kept you honest. That it made you question your assumptions. That by it I made you a whole person. If I change now, if I stop questioning, it wouldn't be right. Or honest."

Mulder nodded, understanding that she had to take the objective view to keep him from being overwhelmed by his own enthusiasm and need to believe. "I understand, and I need you to be honest. But Scully, this time I think your science is wrong. In fact, I'll bet you the best dinner in DC when we get back that I'm right, that this is evidence about extraterrestrial life - alive on this planet in our lifetime."

"Done." Scully shook his hand to seal the bet. "You better save up your money - I've got someplace really expensive in mind."

He grinned. "That's okay - I'll mooch meals off Walter to make up for it - if you win."

"Speaking of Walter, how is he taking all this? Our being reassigned, and Agents Fowley and Spender on the team?"

Mulder sighed. "I don't know. We didn't get much of a chance to talk about it, but I plan to sit him down and discuss it when we get back."

"You left him a message, right? Let him know where you were going?"

Mulder grinned. "Who do you think gave me that folder?"

Scully drew in a breath. "Skinner did, not Kersh? Mulder, AD Kersh is not going to be happy about this."

"Then he should have given the case to me instead of trying to hide it."

"You don't know that he was going to do that, Mulder. Maybe he was planning on bringing it to your attention this afternoon. Not every thing is a conspiracy."

"I don't trust him," Mulder said baldly. "And why else would they transfer us to him? They know Walter can't be corrupted or coerced anymore. They're trying to control us, Scully. And that's why Spender was assigned to the team - to spy on us, try to discount the evidence."

"And what about Agent Fowley?"

Mulder sighed. "I know you don't like Diana or trust her, although I don't know why. She believes in the work, supports what I'm doing. So despite your suspicions and Walter's - "

"So Walter doesn't trust her either?"

Mulder flushed. "Actually, I think he's jealous. Diana and I were -involved several years back."

Scully nodded. "I know. The Gunmen told me. They also said that you were devastated when she took the job in Europe and left."

He looked down at his meal tray and shrugged. "I took the whole thing more seriously than she did. But I got over it. I'm not about to fall into that trap a second time. Besides, I'm in love with Walter - I'm about to move in with him, for God's sake!"

"Maybe you should let Agent Fowley know that."

His head jerked up and he stared at her, horror-struck. "Tell Diana about me and Walter? Are you crazy?"

"Not that, Mulder. Tell her that you're taken and that it's serious."

"I already did. I think she understands and just wants to be friends."

"Right," Scully said skeptically. "I saw the look in her eyes, Mulder -and that was not an 'I just want to be friends' look. It was an 'I want to get him in a dark corner and fuck his brains out' look."

Mulder gave her a wide-eyed look of innocence only spoiled by his grin. "Scully! What language! You've been hanging around Sean too much."

Scully gave him a withering look and a one-fingered salute, then pointedly pulled out a book and started reading. Mulder just grinned and picked up the folder, studying it again for information. All they needed to prove their claims was here - he just knew it. And somewhere in Arizona was the proof.

****************

"Skinner."

"Hi. It's me."

The voice on the other end of the phone was tired and discouraged. Skinner sat down on the couch and set down his coffee cup on the table so that he could concentrate on his lover. "You sound wiped out, babe. Just got back in?"

"Yeah. I'm at my apartment. Gonna catch a couple hours sleep before we meet with Kersh this afternoon." Mulder drew in a ragged breath. "Damn it, Walter, we had him. We had the boy and they took him from us, then shut us down cold."

"I'm sorry," Skinner said softly. "Maybe I shouldn't have given you that file - "

"No, God, no, Walter. It wasn't your fault that this happened."

"It wasn't your fault either, Mulder." There was silence on the other end of the phone. "Fox, you're blaming yourself for what happened, aren't you?"

"I should have known - I didn't want Scully to take him to the hospital, but when she said that she could run tests. I didn't think about him, that he wouldn't be safe. I just wanted my damn evidence, no matter what the cost. As usual."

The bitterness in the younger man's voice worried him. He had seen this too many times not to recognize the symptoms of Mulder heading into another self-destructive cycle. "Stop it, Mulder. You did the best you could under the circumstances, so stop beating yourself up over this." He paused and let a humorous tone creep into his voice. "That's my job."

A weak laugh on the other end reassured him. "Bastard."

"I love you, too. And speaking of beatings and such, would you like to go to the Club this weekend? Play around and release a little tension?"

"Yeah, I'd like that," Mulder admitted.

"Good. I'll meet you there at six tonight. Get a good nap - you're going to need it." Delighted laughter filled his ears and he smiled. "Take care of yourself - and keep your head down with Kersh. I'll see you tonight."

"All right." Mulder sighed softly. "Thanks, Walter."

Skinner smiled as he hung up the phone and began to make plans to take care of his troubled lover.

***************

"Mulder!"

Mulder turned in the hallway and grinned at the redhead running towards him. "Hey, Sean. What's up?"

"You will be - strung up by your thumbs if you don't spill." Sean grabbed Mulder and dragged him into Mason's suite. "What's going on with you and the Mountain? Did you get everything worked out? Why were you back here last Sunday when you should have been exhausted, sated lumps? You're not here alone, are you?"

Mulder grinned. "Take it easy, Sean!"

"Mulder, so help me - " Sean growled. "If you don't tell me every little detail, I'm going to tell Dana your sub name."

"You'd blackmail me?"

"Blackmail is such an ugly word. I prefer to call it an application of disreputable knowledge towards a desired goal. Now are you going to talk, or do I have to hold you down and tickle you?"

Mulder laughed and settled on the couch. "Okay, okay. Yes, Walter and I are back together. And we appreciate your efforts in that area - the hotel suite was wonderful and we got a chance to really talk."

"Among other things?" Sean asked, smirking.

"What, you don't know? You didn't install cameras?"

Sean stuck out his tongue at Mulder. "So why did you came back here to play afterwards?"

Mulder looked down at his hands, flushing. "Um - we had some - business to take care of."

Sean perked up. "Please tell me that Walter paddled your sorry ass for that strangulation trick."

"Your sympathy is under-whelming," Mulder said ironically.

"Yes!" Sean crowed, pumping a triumphant fist skyward. "All right, Walter!"

"Gee, thanks, buddy."

Sean chuckled. "Sorry, Mulder, but you know you deserved that one. Important subbie note - never push a Dom on the Rules unless you know what the price is and are prepared to pay it. So I take it that you two finally talked about what each of you really wants out of this?"

Mulder nodded. "Yeah. We're going to play the same way most of the time, but when I need something more, Walter's going to try to give it to me."

"I'm happy for you, Mulder," Sean said simply, reaching over to take one of his friend's hands. "You two have something really special together, and I don't want to see you lose that. If you need any advice or help, you know that you can come to me, right? And you promise you won't try anything stupid again?"

"I promise."

The door opened and Mason walked in. "Sean, you wouldn't by any chance be harboring a fugitive submissive, would you? Here's Walter and he seems to have misplaced Mulder."

Sean grinned at the two Doms. "Guilty as charged. I forcibly dragged him in here and I've been trying to pump him for information."

"You're out of luck," Skinner said, crossing the room to pull his lover up from the couch. "FBI agents are trained to withstand incredible torture."

"I don't know about that. I threatened to tickle him and he folded."

Skinner chuckled. "Well, not too many desperate criminals try to tickle my agents." He kissed Mulder tenderly. "Hey, babe. How did your meeting with Kersh go?"

Mulder slid his arms around Skinner's waist and made a face. "About what you'd expect. He chewed my ass about grinding personal axes."

"Not too much, I hope," Skinner said, sliding his hands over the ass in question. "I have plans for this later."

Mulder grinned. "I think there's enough left for your purposes. Kersh also spouted regulations about filing paperwork, getting proper authorization, co-operating within a team - it seems he had given the case to Spender and was ticked that I had gotten hold of it. I pointed out that - according to regulations - as department head, the case should have come to me and that I should have determined the team to investigate it."

Skinner shook his head sympathetically. "Poor man. I predict a heart attack or stroke within two months at the most."

"Well, he was shaking a bit at the end."

"You are such a brat," Skinner said affectionately. Then his eyes grew serious as he studied the younger man's face. "Are you all right?"

Mulder shrugged. "I'll survive," he said flatly.

Skinner frowned, recognizing that Mulder was trying to hide something -more than likely his own guilt over the Praise boy. "Mulder - "

"I'll talk about it - I promise. Later."

Before Skinner could say anything more, Mason came back into the room with a bottle of champagne.

"I thought this occasion required a little celebration," Mason said as he opened the bottle and poured glasses. Once everyone had a glass, Mason raised his. "To Walter and Mulder. It's been a rough road, but here's hoping that the path will be smoother from now on."

"I'll second that," Skinner said with a smile for Mulder. The younger man grinned and clinked glasses with his lover. The past month had been an emotional roller coaster and he was looking forward to settling back into their regular routine at the Club.

"And in honor of the occasion, I've got a little gift for you two," Mason said as he handed Skinner a small, flat box. Mulder saw the wicked twinkle in the older Dom's eyes and immediately became wary.

Skinner set down his glass and removed the ribbon from the box, then removed the lid. Mulder peered into the box and then back at Mason in disbelief.

"A paddle? You gave us a paddle?"

Skinner removed the small black paddle from the box and ran his hand over the varnished wood side of it, smiling as his fingers traced the name carved on it so many years ago.

"What kind of a present is a paddle?" Mulder demanded.

"A very special kind of present," Skinner said.

"That's easy for you to say - it's not your ass that it's going to be used on."

Skinner's eyes met Mason's and they smiled in shared memory. "Time to go, Mulder. Thanks, Geoff. I'll be sure this gets plenty of use."

"Oh, shit!" Mulder muttered as Skinner ushered them out of the room. "Can't we talk about this, Walter? I've been very good lately. Well, there was that little incident with Spender in the copier room this afternoon, but you're not going to hold that against me, are you?"

The door shut behind them and Sean grinned up at his lover. "I think Mulder's in for a big surprise."

"I hope so," Mason said with a troubled frown. "I just hope Walter can handle it."

"I think he'll be fine," Sean said complacently. "Mulder says that Walter punished him last weekend and he seemed to be dealing with that just fine."

Mason nodded slowly. "But that's a whole different issue from bringing erotic spanking into their games."

"Geoff, stop worrying," Sean admonished, sliding into the larger man's arms. "I'm watching them, you're watching them, Jean-Pierre's watching them - they won't be able to sneeze without us knowing about it. So just relax for a few minutes."

Mason smiled and wrapped his arms around Sean's slender body. "And I suppose you have some suggestions on ways to help me relax?"

"Mmm-hmm." Sean nuzzled the Dom's neck. "I thought you could take a nice, relaxing bath and then I'll give you a thorough massage. JP's got a nice dinner lined up for us, and after dinner I thought I'd take you to bed and let you have your wicked way with me."

Mason chuckled and tightened his hold. "If I was a suspicious man, I'd wonder what trouble you're in."

Sean gave him a wide-eyed, innocent look. "Me? Trouble?"

"You. Trouble. Words that are practically synonymous." Mason said, lightly smacking Sean's backside. "'Fess up, brat."

To his surprise, Sean colored and dropped his head so that he was staring at Mason's chest as his fingers toyed with the buttons. "I -it's just that you've been so busy lately - we haven't had any special time together in a while - "

Mason hugged Sean tightly, murmuring against his ear, "You're right, love. And I'm sorry. What with Dana's training, and this whole business with Walter and Mulder - "

"That's not everything, Geoff," Sean said quietly. "Something else has been bothering you lately."

Mason sighed. "It's just that a certain package that I promised someone I'd be responsible for has - gone astray."

Sean looked up, his eyes narrowing. "A package? You mean a person, don't you? And someone that you don't want me to know about?"

"It's safer for you if you don't know any more," Mason said. "And it's not as important as you are." He kissed Sean, a long and tender kiss, and felt the younger man melt against him. "I should be taking care of you."

Sean grinned at him. "Oh, you will be. Believe me, I have big plans for you, my Lord and Master."

Mason laughed and let Sean lead him into the bathroom.

*******************

Mulder was still protesting as Skinner opened the door to their suite and, as the Dom had been silent during the entire time, he was becoming more and more nervous. Once the door closed behind them, Skinner took Mulder into his arms and kissed him into silence.

"Does this mean you're not angry with me?" Mulder said cautiously.

Skinner chuckled and pressed a brief kiss on Mulder's mouth. "Fox, this isn't about punishment. Remember? I promised to give you what you need, how to release all that guilt inside without punishing you."

"But - I didn't ask you to do this!"

"I know. But do you remember that I said I would be watching you for signs to tell me when you needed something more? All my instincts tell me that you need this. You've taken on a load of guilt because of what happened to that boy and you need to release it before you do something self-destructive. I know that this will help." Mulder looked skeptically at him. "You trust me, don't you?"

"You know I do."

"Then get ready for me, my pet. Clean inside and out."

Mulder sighed and dragged himself into the bathroom. When he returned to the main room a short time later, Skinner had uncovered a St. Andrews cross at the end of the room and was checking the chains set into the wood at each corner. The Dom had removed his shirt to work and, as he ran his hands down the wood to check for roughness, the light glistened off his skin. Mulder swallowed hard, caught between arousal and fear, and slowly moved to his place on the floor. The sight of the paddle lying beside his collar made his heart race and, for a moment, he thought he might pass out. He saw Skinner look over at him questioningly and went into position down on his knees.

Skinner crossed the room, picking up the clothes he had set out, and paused briefly to caress Mulder's head. "Breathe, babe," he said softly. "I'll be right back - don't make me have to resuscitate you."

Mulder drew in a deep, shaky breath and forced his eyes down to the two items on the floor in front of him, reminding himself that he had asked for this deeper level of play. The black paddle was small and oval in shape, about the size of a table tennis racket. Tentatively, he reached out to touch it and was surprised to find that one side was a soft velvet-like fabric. Curious, he picked it up and rubbed it over his thigh, smiling at the sensuous feel of the cloth moving over his skin. He turned the paddle over and saw that the other side was varnished wood. Light glinted off something on the surface and, looking closer, he saw that the name "Walter" had been carved into the surface of the paddle. The lettering had been filled with gold paint and then varnished over so that the surface was smooth but, as he ran his fingers over the letters, he almost fancied that he could feel the carving beneath.

So this wasn't a new item, but something that had belonged to Mason and evidently held a connection with Skinner. Mulder wondered if Mason had used it on Skinner but still had trouble picturing his Dom being paddled by anyone, even Mason. Experimentally, he brought the paddle down hard on his thigh and almost jumped at the loud noise it made. He quickly set the paddle back into place before Skinner could come out to investigate the noise then studied the faint red mark on his thigh curiously. Oddly enough, for all its noise, the sting had been very mild and the marking left behind almost impossible to see. He thought that there just might be a chance of surviving whatever Skinner had in mind.

Skinner came out of the bathroom, hiding a smile as he saw Mulder quickly settle back into position. He had deliberately left Mulder alone with the dreaded paddle so that the younger man could have a chance to get acquainted with it. And, from the sound of things, Mulder had done just that.

He crossed the room to the cabinet, glancing over to see that Mulder had his eyes properly focused on the floor. Looking through the cabinet, he located the items he wanted and set them on the bed.

"All right, Kitten. Kneel up."

Mulder moved up on his knees, letting his eyes move up from Skinner's black leather boots and over his black leather pants. His breath caught as he saw that these were a new pair that laced up at the crotch, nicely framing the older man's assets, and his fingers itched to loosen those lacings and gaze on the prize underneath. He heard Skinner clear his throat and flushed, holding his collar to his neck and bending his head so that Skinner could fasten it at the back. Then he let his eyes travel back up Skinner's body, lingering once more on the inviting crotch before moving up over the silk shirt that had been left unbuttoned and merely tucked into the pants. He drew in a deep, shaky breath, all thoughts of the paddle forgotten.

Skinner smiled, noting the signs of severe lust in Mulder's face, and reached out to grasp the back of Mulder's head, pressing the younger man's face against his crotch. "Is this what you want, my pet?" Mulder nodded vigorously. "Show me how much you want this." Mulder eagerly reached out for the lacings but Skinner batted his hands away. "No, you don't, boy. You have to earn the right to do that. Right now I just want you to show me what you want."

Frustrated, Mulder glared up at the Dom, wondering what the other man meant, then he focused his attention back on the prize he wanted. He leaned forward, nuzzling the leather-encased cock. He breathed in deeply, drowning himself in the scent of Skinner and butter-soft leather. His tongue snaked out to trace the shape underneath and he heard Skinner groan.

"That's my good Kitten."

Encouraged, he worked his mouth and tongue over the entire surface, his tongue tracing out the shape of a cock ring and the hardening shaft inside it. The rest of the world retreated until all that remained was the scent of leather and the body he was worshipping.

"Enough," said a soft voice, gently pushing his head away. Mulder moaned but Skinner pulled him up and kissed his lips. "Soon, pet. I promise I'll let you finish that if you'll be a good boy for me."

"Anything," Mulder promised, pressing kisses over Skinner's face. "Whatever you want."

"First, I'd better put this on you. I don't think you'll be able to control yourself." Skinner fastened a cock ring on him, and Mulder felt a twinge of anxiety through the lust fogging his brain.

"What - ?"

Skinner smiled and kissed him again. "Hush. Just trust me."

He led Mulder over to the cross, quickly attaching the cuffs to the chains so that Mulder was stretched out along the X shape, smiling to himself at the appropriateness of the structure. Mulder looked over his shoulder anxiously, opening his mouth to speak, and Skinner ran a fingertip over Mulder's lips.

"Hush, my pet. I'm going to take good care of you, take away all the guilt and pain inside. And I'm going to make you feel so good, make you fly." He kissed Mulder briefly. "You remember your safe words? Tell them to me."

"'Kirk' for physical distress, 'Spock' for emotional problems."

"Good boy. I won't blindfold you, but I want you to try to keep your eyes closed. Don't fight me, Kitten, and I promise to make this good for you."

Mulder looked at him with complete trust in his eyes. "I trust you -Master."

Skinner smiled and caressed his sub's face tenderly. "Thank you, my sweet slave. Now close your eyes."

Mulder obeyed, letting his head fall forward as he tried to calm himself. He felt the Dom's hands moving over his back, gently rubbing oil into his skin and loosening his muscles. It felt wonderful and his body relaxed under the attention he was receiving. Those strong hands moved over his shoulders, along his back and chest, over his buttocks, then down his legs and he surrendered willingly to the expert touch. Then the hands were moving over his buttocks again, massaging them harder, and he groaned. He could feel the Dom lean in close to his body and heard him murmur in his ear.

"I like to start with my hand to warm up the area."

Mulder tried to make sense of that comment but his brain seemed to have shut down and his body seemed to have melted. Then a sharp smack across his ass startled him and brought his attention back to his present situation. "Shit!"

"Relax, Kitten," the Dom murmured, his hand soothing away the sting. "Don't fight the sensations. Give into the feelings."

Mulder groaned as the pattern repeated, swats followed by soothing rubs followed by more swats, until his ass felt warm and so sensitive to Skinner's slightest touch that he didn't know whether to beg for more or for Skinner to stop. He needed this, needed the pain to drive back the demons. "Please," he gasped, "Please."

Skinner moved in close behind him, butter-soft leather rubbing against sensitized skin, and nuzzled his neck. "Talk to me, pet. Tell me what is happening here."

Mulder felt the dark despair in his soul rise up and overwhelm him. He let his head fall forward. "Punishing me - the boy - "

"No, Fox," Skinner said gently. "I told you that this wasn't about punishment. This is about taking care of you, releasing these demons of yours."

Bleakly, Mulder said, "It's not working."

Skinner pressed a kiss against his skin. "I've just started. Trust me."

Mulder nodded weakly. He didn't know how Skinner could possibly drive away the darkness without giving him the pain that he needed but he was willing to put himself into the other man's hands. Skinner stepped back but kept one hand on the sub's body to reassure and anchor him. He slid his left hand over Mulder's abdomen and picked up the paddle with his right, rubbing the padded cloth side against the slightly pink skin. He heard Mulder's soft purr and grinned, then raised the paddle and brought it down with a series of light, firm strokes. Mulder gasped in surprise and then groaned in a way that sounded like pleasure. His left hand moved downward to check Mulder's erection and found that he was definitely enjoying this. Skinner smiled in relief and intensified his attentions.

Mulder gasped at the explosion of sensation that seemed to begin in his ass and vibrate throughout his entire body with each stroke, an intensity of feeling that he had never known before. It was pain and it was pleasure, and it was more intoxicating than the darkness that beckoned to him from inside. The feeling of the soft cloth moving sensually over his heated skin in between blows made him groan with pure pleasure and try to wriggle closer. Another set of strokes, firmer this time, and he could hardly catch his breath under the intense need that consumed him. Something was winding up inside of him, a delicious tension that begged for more - more paddling, more caressing, more attention. He knew that he was saying that word out-loud now, begging and demanding more. He thrust his ass back to meet the blows that were coming steadily now, lifting him onto his toes with their force. He caught his breath on a sob, feeling the darkness and guilt and despair rising inside him, forced to the surface by the emotions that were raging inside. Mulder felt the Dom move in close again, the soothing hand caressing his sensitive flesh as a voice murmured in his ear.

"That's it, my pet. Let it all out. Let me turn the pain to pleasure."

He surrendered to the man who was manipulating him so skillfully. A wet warmth was moving across his heated skin and he realized that Skinner was kneeling behind him, soothing his skin with his tongue. The mental picture of Skinner on his knees, pleasuring him like this, made him moan and try to wriggle closer.

Skinner laughed softly. "That's my little slut. You want something, pet? Something like this?" He ran his tongue over Mulder's sensitive opening and smiled as he set to work, rimming and tongue fucking until his sub was nearly mindless with need. He reached for the massage oil and gently pressed a finger inside, working Mulder open, and then slowly slid a small plug inside.

Mulder groaned at the feeling of penetration and tried to push backward, growling in frustration as the bindings on his wrists and ankles kept him from moving as he wanted. "God -please! Please!"

"You want to come, my pet?"

"Yes!"

"Then talk to me, Kitten. Tell me what this is about."

The plug was moving in and out, slowly fucking him senseless, and he could barely think. "Not - not punishment. Helping. God, feels so good!"

"That's right." The plug was now firmly seated inside him and those skillful hands removed his cock ring. "You've been a very good boy, and I'm very proud of you. I'm going to take you flying now."

"Master - yes - " Mulder moaned as the hands moved away, then sighed as he felt the paddle rest against his skin again. "Yes - more - "

He felt the sting against his skin, the thud that vibrated through his body, and each movement made the plug move deep inside him. His body was overwhelmed with sensation and he felt as if every nerve was on fire. Each stroke moved him higher, carried him away from the darkness trying to claim his soul, lifted him towards the light that hovered just above his touch. And then he was there, the glorious golden light spilling over him, running through his blood like a tidal wave of champagne, and he was laughing and shouting and sobbing all at once before tumbling into the light and letting it carry him away.

Skinner released Mulder from the cuffs, catching the sub as he collapsed and carrying him to the bed. He laid Mulder down on it and then sat down beside him, waiting for him to surface. Memories of all the subs that he had sat beside afterward flooded him, subs who had been blissed out and sated, ones that had been aroused and insatiable, and one who had blazed with a fire that had burned them both. He both longed for and dreaded Mulder's awakening, wondering what direction this would take his lover. Would Mulder want to be cuddled or fucked? Would he be at peace with himself or need more intense stimulation? And if he did need more, would Skinner be able to give that to him.

A few minutes later, Mulder's eyes fluttered open and a lazy grin crossed his face. "Mmmm."

Skinner grinned back at him. "Back among the living? How do you feel?"

"Like you're too far away." Mulder tugged at Skinner and the Dom let him pull him down for a kiss. It was gentle and teasing, and the last of his worries fled. Mulder was obviously at peace within - not to mention aroused. His own erection, which had flagged while he attended to his sub, leapt to life.

Mulder felt the response of the hard body stretched along his and smiled, parting his legs so that Skinner could lie more comfortably between them. "You okay?"

"Yeah. I'm okay."

Mulder reached down between their bodies and stroked the Dom's cock, feeling the semi-hardness through the soft leather. He looked at Skinner questioningly. "That didn't turn you on? Usually you're so hot after you've been playing with me that you're ready to pound my ass."

Skinner shrugged. "I was concentrating on you."

Mulder's eyes narrowed. "You were thinking about what happened before, and you were afraid to let yourself get too caught up in it. Dammit, Walter, I'm not Krycek!"

"No, you're not." Skinner let a grin cross his face. "Krycek never giggled while he was flying."

"I do not giggle!" Mulder said indignantly.

"Yes, you do." Skinner leaned down to kiss Mulder thoroughly. "And I think it's very cute."

Mulder wrinkled his nose at being called 'cute' but responded to the kiss passionately and let his hands rove over the Dom's clothed body. When Skinner released his mouth, he murmured, "You promised me a reward if I was a good boy."

Skinner grinned and sat up. "I did indeed." He held out his arms. "I'm all yours."

Mulder sat up as well. "Mmm. What an invitation." He pushed Skinner flat on the bed and began working his way down the Dom's body, kissing and fondling every inch of skin he could get to through the open shirt. Reaching the leather pants, he once more nuzzled and fondled the swollen cock through the leather until Skinner was groaning with need. He cast a saucy grin up at the Dom.

"Permission to open these now and suck you off, Sir?"

"Granted," Skinner gasped. "But don't make me come. I want to take that saucy red ass of yours."

"Yes, Sir!" Mulder wasted no time in unlacing the pants and freeing the other man's erection from the cock ring before taking it deep in his mouth. Skinner groaned at the sensation of that talented mouth working him over, licking and sucking and tasting every inch. He resisted the urge to grab the head moving between his legs and set the pace, marveling at how proficient Mulder had become at this over the past year. But the sensation was too much and he finally growled and pushed at Mulder's head.

"Enough! On your hands and knees, my pet. I want to see that beautiful red ass in the air."

Mulder quickly obliged, his shoulders down on the bed and his ass high in the air with his knees spread wide apart. He loved being like this -on his back or his belly, exposed, waiting to be filled and dominated by the other man. He wriggled against the cool fingers as they removed the plug and prepared him, enjoying the coolness against his warm ass. Then the Dom was sliding into him with one long stroke, taking him and claiming him. He pushed back against the welcome invader, relishing the burn as it quickly turned to pleasure. The heat of Skinner's body against his warm ass was deliciously erotic and he found himself rocking backward into the other man, forcing Skinner to quicken his pace. Skinner's hands tightened on his hips and Mulder didn't care if he had bruises the next day as long as the Dom didn't stop what he was doing. He gave into the climax as it enveloped him, shouting out Skinner's name as he came, and heard a low growl as several more deep thrusts brought the other man over the edge.

They collapsed on the bed, Skinner barely remembering to turn them sideways so he wouldn't crush Mulder, and lay there still entwined for a long time. Skinner pressed a sleepy kiss against the back of Mulder's neck and was surprised to hear him laugh softly.

"What's so funny, Fox?"

"Just thinking that maybe I should thank Mason for that paddle after all," Mulder said with a grin. "And are you ever going to tell me about your name being on it?"

Skinner smiled and wrapped his arms more securely around his lover. "Someday, Mulder. If you're lucky."

*****************

Mulder hesitated in the doorway to Mason's office, reluctant to disturb the older man, then said quietly, "Sir?"

Mason looked up and stood, smiling. "Mulder! I'm a little surprised to see you this morning. Where's Walter?"

Mulder came into the office. "Sleeping. I'm on my way to the gym to exercise, stretch out some of the kinks after - um."

Mason noted the flush on the younger man's face and the smile on his face widened. "I take it that Walter used that paddle on you last night and took you flying?"

"Yes, sir." Mulder drew in a deep breath, trying to control the heat on his face. "It was - incredible. I'd never imagined that it could be like that." He gave Mason an uncertain look. "I know you were worried about Walter but I think he's okay. He - um - it didn't turn him on, though."

Mason frowned. "That's not like Walter. He used to get so hot that I could barely keep up with him."

Mulder suppressed a slight stirring of jealousy at the thought of Mason and Skinner together, then was surprised at the sudden flush of heat that filled him at the image that flashed into his mind. "It's okay - I took care of him."

Mason reached out to ruffle Mulder's hair. "You're a good boy, Mulder. You're probably right about Walter but I'll just touch base with him later to be certain."

"Thank you, Sir" Mulder said gratefully.

"Is there anything else?"

"Um - yes. I wanted to - when you gave us the gift I wasn't exactly appreciative, and I just wanted to say - " He suddenly reached out to hug the master Dom. "Thank you, Master Mason."

Mason folded his arms around the younger man, holding him tight for a moment, and smiled. "You're more than welcome, little one. Oh, and Mulder?"

"Yes, sir?"

"You can call me 'Geoffrey'."

Mulder pulled back and smiled. "Yes, Master Geoffrey. Thank you."

"Mulder, you're family now. Anything I can do for you, you know you have only to ask." He gave the sub a last squeeze and then playfully patted his ass. "Now get out of here, boy. I've got work to do and you've got a master to see to."

Mason watched the young man leave and settled back into his chair with a smile. One problem solved, he thought with a sigh of relief, and thought that Sean would be relieved to know that everything was turning out okay for that pair. Then he turned his attention back to his efforts to track down another problem sub that seemed to have vanished.

"Damn it, Alex Krycek - where did you disappear to?" he muttered then picked up the phone to call his old master. He had a feeling that something bad was about to happen if he didn't find that young man. It was time to call for reinforcements.

End of Chapter 42

 

---

 

Title: Chains of Desire: Chapter 43 - Kitten
Author: Diana Williams
Email: Diana@slashcity.com
Web site: http://diana.slashcity.com/
Rating: NC-17 for m/m sex and language; M/Sk
Archive: Yes.

Warnings: This series includes elements of BDSM, including bondage, dominance and submission. If that's not your preference, please read no further.

Disclaimer and Author's notes: Disclaimer and other pertinent information are in Forging the Chains: Intro. Most everyone here belongs to someone other than me, however Sean Matthews, Geoffrey Mason, Dr. Kate Malone and the Dionysus Club are my inventions - please ask before borrowing them. Chapter quote comes from "Misty". Also, this chapter is dedicated to Gaby - she sent me the suggestion for this chapter and I loved it so much that I had to do it. Thanks again, Gaby, and keep those suggestions coming!

Series Summary: Mulder takes a walk on the wild side and Skinner rescues him from the consequences. They form a new relationship away from work.

Chapter Summary: Mulder and Skinner make a bet

---

Chapter Forty-Three

"Look at me -
I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree."

Mulder knelt in the center of the floor, staring at the leather strip in front of him with disfavor. Normally, this was one of his favorite parts of the weekend - kneeling naked in Skinner's Club suite, smoothly shaven, clean inside and out, his eyes fixed on the symbol of his submission while he waited for his Dom to arrive. It was his time to focus on why he was here, what he was while he was here, and to let go of all the outside tensions and responsibilities, to put all his trust in Skinner's capable hands. Some days he just wasn't able to let go and Skinner had recently begun experimenting with ways to help Mulder release his guilt and tension. But today he actually felt pretty relaxed - of course, it helped that his other "team", Agents Spender and Fowley, had been out of the office the last two days on a case. No, today the problem was his collar.

It was a beautiful strip of leather, soft and supple from all the attention that Mulder lavished on it. The collar had been his first gift from Skinner, a present on his birthday the previous year when he had long ago given up the idea of anyone but Scully even remembering the day. The first real present he had received since he was twelve. It had been a symbol of the deepening of the Dom/sub relationship between them but, more than that, it had been a claiming and Mulder had responded by surrendering his whole being to the man who Dominated him. He loved this collar, loved wearing it here at the Club, loved to hold it at home while he cleaned and oiled the leather to keep it supple. If someone had asked him what was his most cherished possession, he would have unhesitantly admitted it was this collar.

And today he stared at it with loathing.

Skinner had borrowed the collar earlier this week at the same time that he had taken the new black paddle that Mason had given them. When he returned both of them to Mulder, the younger man had been delighted to see that "Fox" was now inscribed on the wooden side of the paddle, right below the name "Walter", carved into the wood and painted with gold. It had given him a warm feeling to see that, a sense of completion.

But he hadn't looked at the collar till today.

Laying it out on the floor before him, he had realized that there was something on the inside of the collar, on the part of the leather that would go against his skin. He had flipped it over and looked closely -and then he had started swearing.

There, on the inside of the collar, was carved one word - Kitten.

His sub name. The name that Skinner delighted in calling him, knowing how much he disliked the idea of being called Kitten. Bad enough that Skinner insisted on calling him "Fox" in their personal life, but at least a fox was clever and had keen senses. A kitten was just - cute.

Skinner had put his sub name on his collar and, although it wasn't on the outside where anyone might see it and make a rude comment, it was on the inside, right against his skin. Branding him. Marking him forever with that despised name.

He would kill his lover when he got his hands on him.

The cardlock clicked and the door opened to reveal Skinner standing on the threshold. Mulder looked up, giving the man a withering look, then returned his gaze to the floor in front of him like a proper submissive. Skinner, however, wasn't the least bit fooled and he chuckled.

"Something wrong, boy?"

"I hate that name and you put it on my beautiful collar."

Skinner smiled and closed the door, setting down his bag. "I think it's the perfect name for you."

"It is not!" Mulder said indignantly. "Kittens are - are cute!"

Skinner chuckled and crossed the room to caress his indignant sub's head. "And so are you."

"I am not cute! Cute is for babies and small animals! I am not small!"

"No, I'll have to grant you that," Skinner said with a smirk as he cast an appreciative look down Mulder's body. "But nevertheless you are cute. And when you're really feeling content, you make this cu- sexy little purring noise."

Mulder gasped indignantly. "I do not purr!"

"Sorry, Fox, but you definitely do purr." Skinner gestured for Mulder to kneel up and, reluctantly, the sub placed the collar against his neck and bent his head to have it fastened. "Besides, it doesn't matter what you like or don't like. I'm in charge, and I like it, so it sticks."

"Yes, Sir," Mulder said with a sigh, rising to his feet to help Skinner undress. As he hung up the suit and bagged the rest of the clothing for the laundry chute, his mind was busily working over the situation, looking for a way out. An idea struck him and he turned it over in his mind for a minute before speaking. "Sir?"

Skinner paused in belting on his robe and looked over at his sub, wondering what had been going on in Mulder's mind while he had been silently working. "Yes, Kitten?"

Mulder winced. "How about a little wager?"

"What kind of wager?" Skinner asked cautiously.

"You say that I - purr like a kitten. Well, if you can make me purr just once over this weekend - and it has to be a real purr, not just the word 'purr' or humming or anything like that - then the sub name stays. If I win, meaning that I don't purr, then you have to stop calling me 'Kitten' and remove that name from my collar."

"I don't have to do anything," Skinner reminded him. "I'm the one who makes the rules here."

"Of course you don't have to," Mulder said, moving close and nuzzling Skinner's neck. "But you will because you're fair and generous."

Skinner wrapped his arms around the warm, naked flesh in his arms and lightly nipped at Mulder's shoulder. "I could point out that what you're doing right now is very kitten-like - rubbing against me and nuzzling my neck."

"But I'm not purring," Mulder pointed out, "So it doesn't count. "What do you say, Sir? Don't you think that you can back up your claim?"

"Don't taunt me, my boy - it won't work and will just earn you punishment." Skinner thought for a moment and then nodded. "All right. You have a bet."

"Yes!" Mulder crowed, pumping his fist.

"Don't start celebrating yet - Kitten. You still have to win the bet," Skinner reminded him.

"I will," Mulder said confidently, turning to the service chute to unload their dinner dishes. "You just wait and see."

After dinner, Skinner stretched and yawned. "It's been a long week, Fox. I think I'll get a quick shower and then go to sleep."

Mulder gaped at him. "What! But - Walter - I mean, Sir! Aren't we going to play at all tonight?"

"Sorry, babe," Skinner said, hugging his lover and kissing him gently. "But I wouldn't do you any justice tonight - I'd probably fall asleep on you."

"Oh, all right," Mulder grumbled crossly. "It's just that it's been days since we were together and I'm horny as hell."

Skinner chuckled but said, admonishingly, "And if I told you that you wouldn't be coming at all this weekend, it would be within my rights as your Dom to say so. So if I hear one more grumble out of you, I'll be locking that nasty little cock cage that you hate so much on you and it won't come off till Sunday."

"Yes, Sir," Mulder said with a sigh. "Sorry, Sir."

"On the other hand, if you're a good boy, I'll give you a nice long session tomorrow."

Mulder perked up at that. "Really?"

"Um-hmm." Skinner nuzzled his neck. "When I'm done with you, my pet, you'll scream so loud that they'll hear you through the sound-proof walls."

"I like the sound of that," Mulder said, rubbing his body against Skinner's. Then he grinned mischievously at the Dom. "But I won't purr."

"Brat," Skinner growled, smacking his ass lightly. "Dishes and then into bed. And if I even suspect that you're touching yourself, the cage goes on and I send you down for laundry duty instead."

Mulder made a face but said obediently, "Yes, Sir." He had earned laundry duty for himself twice during their year together, and the idea of being stuck down in the hot basement washing, folding, and ironing laundry while wearing little more than a loincloth when he could be writhing under whatever delicious torment Skinner had planned for him was enough of a threat. On the other hand, the Dom had been particularly sweet to him when he returned to the suite all hot and tired on both occasions, bathing him and then sucking him off. His cock stirred at the memory of that and he immediately began thinking of everything nasty that he could to cool himself off as he set about clearing the table.

Skinner smiled to himself as he stepped into the shower. Mulder thought that he was being pretty clever, setting up this challenge, but Skinner knew he had a whole arsenal of tricks at his disposal. He was confident that before the weekend was over, he would have Mulder purring - and once he won the bet he would teach Mulder a thing or two about challenging his Dom. But first he had to win that bet, and part of that involved making Mulder so hot that he would lose control and forget what he was trying not to do. And that meant that Skinner would have to be in total control of himself.

Mulder was right about one thing - it had been a long time since they had been together. Since they were taking things slowly outside the Club, Mulder was only spending one weeknight at Skinner's, and Tuesday night they had both been too tired to do more than mutual hand jobs before falling asleep in each other's arms. Not that Mulder had slept much, waking from a nightmare brought about from his recent case and babbling something about Skinner's head exploding because Mulder couldn't drive fast enough. Skinner had ended up holding Mulder's shaking body most of the night but in the morning the younger man had seemed to be okay, not haunted like he usually was by such things. Still, Skinner would be glad to be back together under one roof where he could keep a closer eye on his lover - which reminded him that he needed to check with Mulder about how the house hunting was coming.

Meanwhile, the sight of his lover in naked-and-available sub mode was doing dangerous things to his libido and if he hoped to maintain any kind of control, he would have to do something about that. He positioned himself comfortably under the streaming water and took his cock in hand, stroking himself with just the right amount of speed and pressure to bring himself off quickly. Then he washed up and dried off before joining Mulder in the bed.

Mulder rolled over and snuggled into his arms, sleepy despite his earlier protests, and Skinner was thankful that he had taken care of himself in the shower. He wrapped his arms around Mulder and pressed a kiss against his hair, deeply content with life at the moment, and fell asleep.

*********

Skinner woke to the sensation of something tickling his feet and said, without opening his eyes, "Someone is looking to get himself in big trouble this morning, isn't he?"

There was a chuckle from somewhere near his feet. "Depends on what the punishment involves."

"That's it - you've been hanging around with Sean entirely too much. Come back up here and behave yourself."

Mulder pressed a kiss against Skinner's ankle. "Coming, oh Lord and Master." He slowly moved up Skinner's body, pressing kisses against his skin along the way until he reached his mouth, his body stretched out over Skinner's. "You want me, Sir?"

Skinner groaned, wrapping his arms around Mulder and kissing him hard. "You are such a slut, Fox."

"Mmm," Mulder agreed. "And you wouldn't have me any other way." He sat up, straddling Skinner's hips, and grinned at him. "Anything I can do for you this fine morning, Sir?"

"As a matter of fact, Kitten, you can employ that talented mouth of yours to suck me off." Mulder eagerly bent to take the halfway erect cock in his mouth and Skinner said, warningly, "And don't you dare come, boy."

Mulder made a face at that but eagerly took Skinner's cock in his mouth, using every trick he knew to tease and excite, bringing Skinner to the edge and then backing him off before starting again. When he started to back off a second time, Skinner growled and took control, pumping up into the sub's mouth while Mulder held on and swallowed everything as quickly as he could.

Skinner caught his breath and then pulled Mulder's head away from his softening cock. He made a soft, unhappy sound that sounded like a kitten's mew and Skinner grinned. "That sounded very kittenish to me, boy."

Mulder grinned back and crawled up to nestle his body alongside Skinner's. "But it wasn't a purr."

Skinner chuckled and playfully cuffed the younger man. "Brat. And I think I need my breakfast before I can deal with anything else."

After breakfast, Mulder cleared the dishes and then curled up on the floor next to Skinner's leg, resting against him comfortably while the Dom finished reading the morning paper. Absently, one hand came down to rest on Mulder's head, carding though the soft hair, and Mulder nuzzled into the petting hand. He was feeling content with life at the moment and anticipating an interesting weekend. And it felt good to just relax and let himself drift, letting Skinner handle everything. He closed his eyes and began humming as he relaxed under the petting, barely aware of what he was doing until he heard a soft laugh.

"That sounds suspiciously like purring, my pet."

"It's humming," Mulder murmured sleepily. "There's a difference."

"Sleepy, boy?" Skinner asked softly, putting away the paper and tugging on Mulder's hair. "I believe that I can wake you up."

Mulder obediently crawled up into his lap, nuzzling Skinner's neck. "I like the sound of that."

"Good. A little exercise is just what we need." Skinner kissed the tip of Mulder's nose, grinning at Mulder's protest. "Get dressed and we'll go down to the gym."

Mulder made a face. "I had a different kind of exercise in mind." He rubbed himself against Skinner, his naked skin against the lush warmth of Skinner's robe, and felt the Dom's cock stirring in interest.

"Little slut," Skinner said affectionately. "Plenty of time for that later. Sweats and sneakers, boy."

Mulder sighed. "Later. Always later."

Skinner reached up, taking hold of Mulder by the back of the neck. "I think you're forgetting your place in this relationship, boy," he growled. He saw Mulder's eyes widen and felt the slight shiver that went through his body at this. "I think I've been a little too lenient with you lately and you need a reminder of just who is in charge." He released Mulder. "Waiting position, boy - now!"

Mulder scrambled off his lap, his heart racing. He loved it when Skinner did this, took him deeper into his submission and as he knelt in place he wondered anxiously what the Dom planned to do to him.

Skinner stood in front of the kneeling sub, noting with approval his perfect positioning - back straight, head level, eyes on the floor and hands relaxed on his knees. He took a few steps away and barked, "Supplication!" and Mulder went flat on his belly, arms stretched over his head. He had judged his positioning to perfection, ending up with his face on Skinner's feet and he reverently kissed them.

"Whom do you belong to, boy?"

"You, Sir."

"And who makes the rules?"

"You do, Sir."

"Kneel up, boy."

Mulder obediently pushed back into a kneeling position, this time with his knees spread wide and his locked behind his neck, elbows out. He was totally open for almost anything Skinner chose to do to him, and he watched avidly as Skinner walked over to the cabinet. He almost groaned when he saw the Dom pull out the dreaded cock-cage but remained still as Skinner fastened the straps to separate his cock and balls.

"Laundry duty, Sir?" he asked, resigned to his fate.

"Not today, Kitten. I think that they pamper you pretty boys too much down there, and you need a tight leash today."

Mulder liked the sound of that but decided not to make it too easy for Skinner. "Kittens don't go on leashes," he murmured, daringly. "They wiggle out of them."

"Unless you use a harness." Skinner pulled out the rest of the accessories, fastening the belt and then attaching the cock-chain to it. "Ass up, boy, and keep still."

Mulder bent over, touching the floor with his nose and lifting his bottom in the air. He groaned as Skinner caressed the firm flesh and wiggled enticingly, hoping that his Dom would forget whatever he had planned and fuck him through the floor. His hopes were dashed as Skinner smacked him. "Ow!"

"While I appreciate this fine ass of yours and plan to use it to the fullest later, I believe I gave you an order to stay still, didn't I?"

"Yes, Sir." He groaned again and spread his arms to either side to brace his body as Skinner began playing with his hole, teasing him as he circled the outside before plunging a lubed finger into him. Mulder gasped and tried to keep still, not wanting to lose that delicious connection or invite any more punishment. He closed his eyes to concentrate on the sensation of being finger-fucked like this, moaning his pleasure softly.

"You love this, don't you, my slut? You love to have this hungry hole of yours filled, don't you?"

"Yes - Sir," he moaned.

"Such a hot and greedy little sub." Skinner added another finger and felt the infintesimal rocking of Mulder's body. "One day I'm going to make you take my whole hand. You'd like that, wouldn't you, slut? My hand inside this sweet hole, filling you up, possessing you."

"God - yes - " Mulder groaned. "Do it!"

"Not today, Kitten." Skinner pulled out his fingers and lubed the plug he had ready. "You're not nearly ready for that yet - physically or mentally."

Mulder groaned at the emptiness in his ass. "I can take three fingers," he protested. "It's only two more."

"It's a lot more than just five fingers." Skinner slid the plug into the prepared hole and Mulder moaned his pleasure. "We'll have to talk and you'll have to do some reading before we even attempt that." He fastened a set of chains to the plug, attaching one to the belt and running the other to the cock harness. "Stand up, boy."

Mulder cautiously stood, wincing a little as the plug moved. He wondered how long Skinner was going to make him wear this and just was going on in that devious Dom mind of his.

"All right, time to go work out. Dress me and then put on sweat pants -no shirt or underwear - and come back to me."

Sighing, Mulder obeyed. Skinner pushed his sweat pants down so that he could check that his harness was still in place, then attached a slender leash to a ring on the cock-harness before pulling up the pants again.

"Your leash," he said to Mulder, wagging it in front of the younger man's face. "When we are in public and together, I will hold onto this - and I advise you not to get too far away. Since you are a cat and not a dog, I won't expect you to heel." Mulder rolled his eyes at that and Skinner lightly cuffed him again. "Watch it, boy. I can think of a lot less pleasant ways to spend your day than walking on a leash."

Mulder sighed. "Yes, Sir." He followed as Skinner led the way down to the gym, careful to stay close after he learned that a sharp tug on the leash pulled on both the cock cage and the plug in a way that was both painful and arousing.

The gym was crowded that morning and he glanced longingly at the near-empty pool but knew that there was no chance of doing laps in this get-up. Reluctantly, he followed Skinner into the weight room and prepared to endure a torturous session. Skinner had decided that Mulder needed to build strength in his upper body and had set up a training regime that Mulder was haphazardly following. Mulder had no patience for the endless repetition of lifting and pushing weights, preferring to swim or run laps where he could disengage his mind, but Skinner had tried to convince him that a little strength training would be good for variety.

Mulder groaned silently when he saw three familiar figures over at the bench press and then groaned out loud as Skinner made his way towards them. Scully was doing the lifting with Sean spotting for her while Mason stood to the side giving encouragement, and as Skinner approached, he looked up and smiled.

"Walter! A little early today, aren't you? You two lazybones don't usually drag yourselves out of bed till noon."

Skinner smiled and Mulder flushed at that, knowing that everyone within earshot knew just what they were doing to keep them in bed that late. Sean grinned at that as he handed a towel to Scully.

"You're embarrassing the poor innocent lamb, Geoff," he said in a mock-chiding voice. "And Mountain, you're not corrupting Mulder fast enough."

Skinner appeared to consider this. "Some prefer a fast corruption but I prefer a thorough one."

Mason nodded sagely. "You were always thorough in your work, Walter. And stop teasing Mulder, Sean. I think it's sweet when he blushes like that."

Mulder rolled his eyes. First cute and now sweet. He would really have to do something about his image, he thought. A hand smacked the back of his head. "Ow! What was that for?" he demanded then, as Skinner raised an eyebrow, added, "Sir."

"You are being impolite, my boy. Master Geoff has just paid you a compliment - you do not roll your eyes at him."

Mulder bit back a sigh and said, trying not to grit his teeth, "Sorry, Sir. Thank you, Master Geoff."

Mason smiled. "You are most welcome, little one, even if you don't really appreciate the compliment." He looked Mulder over critically, then looked at Skinner. "He could really use some fattening up and some muscle tone." Skinner nodded and the two began discussing ideas.

Seeing that the two Doms were distracted, Mulder looked over at Scully and grinned. "Looking buff, partner. Mason's got you working out, too?"

Scully nodded. "Upper body strength, mostly."

"Got to be able to swing that whip, huh, Scully?" A sudden yank on his leash startled him. "Ow! Now what did I do?" he demanded.

"Scully is a Domme here, not your partner," Skinner reminded him. "You should address her properly."

Mulder looked at him, appalled. "You want me to call Scully 'Mistress'?"

"Or Ma'am. Don't you think Scully deserves your respect?"

Mulder didn't have to look at Scully to know that she had crossed her arms and was glaring at him. He was trapped. "Um - of course. I - um -apologize for my disrespect, Ma'am."

Scully nodded. "Certainly - boy." She smiled over at Skinner, her eyes twinkling. "I could get used to this."

He laughed but took pity on Mulder, handing the younger man the leash. "Go warm up, Fox. Five laps around the track."

"You two can go do some laps as well," Mason said. "Then hit the showers and we'll meet back at the suite."

Sean and Scully nodded, heading towards the indoor track with Mulder. "Ever get a feeling that you're about to be talked about, Mulder?" Sean asked with a grin.

Mulder sighed. "This day just keeps getting worse and worse."

Scully chuckled, looking him over as they stretched. "Poor Mulder! You look very uncomfortable today. Professional opinion, Sean. What's Mulder wearing on the other end of that leash?"

Sean cocked his head, considering. "Cock cage, probably attached to a belt by chains." As Mulder, ignoring them, started jogging, he added, "A nd, by the way that he's moving, a butt plug."

"Sean!" Mulder said indignantly, flushing.

Sean chuckled. "Hell, Mulder, that's nothing compared to some of the stuff Geoff's done to me. I expect Dana's gone through a lot, too, knowing my man."

"How come you get to call her 'Dana' and I have to call her 'Ma'am'?" Mulder protested as the three of them fell into step around the track.

Sean looked smug. "Teacher's pet? So - you been a bad boy, Mulder?"

"This?" Mulder asked, indicating the leash. "It's part of a bet - and I'm not going to tell you what the bet's about so don't even ask."

"You made a bet with your Dom?" Sean asked, amused. "Idiot. Don't you know that even if you win you'll lose? They've got some kind of code about getting even."

"It'll be worth it if he just stops calling me - " Mulder realized what he was about to say and bit his lip.

"Ah-hah!" Sean laughed. "It starts to make sense, although I've never heard of one being trained to a leash, except for the big ones, of course. Not the cute, domesticated ones like you."

"If anyone else calls me cute, I'll shoot them," Mulder said grimly.

Scully chuckled. "Poor Mulder," she teased. "You look all ruffled and defensive, like a cat with its back up." He glared at her and her eyes widened. "No! He doesn't call you that, does he? Cat?"

"Worse," Sean murmured, dodging the blow that Mulder aimed at him.

Scully started laughing. "Kitten? Why, Mulder! That's so - sweet."

"Oh, yeah?" Mulder stopped on the track, hands on his hips, and glared at her. "Why don't you tell us your training name, huh? Then we can all laugh about something."

"Not on your life!" Scully retorted.

"That bad, huh?" he asked, grinning. "What about you, Sean? Mason got an atrocious sub name for you, too?"

Sean looked a little wistful. "No, we never played like that, although he uses lots of love-names. Geoff always names the tops he trains, though."

"Yeah? So what was his name for Walter, huh? You've got to tell me."

Sean snorted. "Not bloody likely! I'd have the both of them after my ass!"

"Yeah? Well, right now you'd better worry about me and not them!"

Sean took off running across the track, laughing like a maniac, with Mulder in hot pursuit.

********

Mulder woke up from an after-exercise nap, something Skinner had insisted on. Not that he had argued much - being apart from Skinner most nights, he seemed to get little real rest. His couch was too narrow after months of sleeping in Skinner's big bed, and it was colder than he remembered, empty without the feel of his lover's arms wrapped around him. It had been heaven to sleep curled up with that large and solid warmth last night, and even napping alone had been tolerable because of Skinner's presence across the room.

Now he woke to the feel of ghost-like kisses pressed along his arm, moving slowly from his wrist up to his neck, and caught himself as he was about to purr. "Feels nice," he murmured instead. "And I didn't even say anything French."

Skinner chuckled and nipped at his neck. "Are you hungry, brat?"

"Yes." Mulder wrapped an arm around Skinner's neck and pulled him down for a kiss. "And I think that Hot Dom makes a wonderful appetizer."

"I had something more nutritional in mind."

"So did I." Mulder's hand drifted downward, cupping the bulge in Skinner's pants.

Skinner laughed again and disengaged Mulder's arms, rolling away to sit up. "Up, Fox."

"I certainly am."

"You're in a frisky mood. I guess that nap really helped."

Mulder sat up and crawled over to Skinner, rubbing up against his back. "Mmm-hmm. I'm rested and raring to go."

"I can tell. You're rubbing against me like a cat in heat."

"But I'm not purring." Mulder nuzzled the back of Skinner's neck. "So - what did you have in mind, O Stern and Studly Master?"

"Dinner."

"And then?"

"Hot sex."

"I like that agenda. Can we skip the first and go right to the end?"

Skinner chuckled and got off the bed, scooping Mulder off as well and setting him on the floor. "Food first. You're going to need your strength."

Mulder grinned. "I like the sound of that even more."

********

Several hours later, Mulder might have regretted his words as he lay panting and gasping on the bed. He was spread wide, his limbs cuffed to each corner of the bed, and every inch of his body had been subjected to Skinner's loving attention. His skin tingled from the rough mitt that had been rubbed over it, sensitizing his skin. His nipples ached from the clamps fastened on them and his cock throbbed within its cage. His ass trembled from the workout it had gotten from the dildo that was still inside him. He had long ago given up pleading as his words fell on deaf ears; the Dom had an agenda firmly in mind and wasn't about to deviate from it.

Mulder was in heaven and fervently hoped that it wouldn't end anytime soon.

He groaned as Skinner returned to the bed and stood surveying him with a gleam in his eye. "Beautiful," he murmured, his eyes moving over the sweat-dampened and flushed body of the sub. "You were meant to be like this, my pet. Flushed with pleasure, hot with desire, aching to be taken and filled." He unbuttoned his shirt and let it fall to the ground. "And that's just what I'm going to do." He unfastened his pants and pushed them down. "I'm going to take you and you're going to come so hard that they'll hear you scream downstairs."

Mulder groaned as another wave of arousal flooded him. "Maybe - but I won't purr."

Skinner growled as he released Mulder's ankles and crawled up the bed to release his wrists. "Oh, you'll purr, my kitten. You'll definitely purr before I'm done with you."

He rolled Mulder over onto his stomach and pulled him up onto his hands and knees. One hand played with the dildo again, moving it in and out slowly before pulling it out and tossing it to the side while the other hand stroked lubricant onto his cock. Before Mulder could even voice a protest, Skinner slid in with one smooth thrust until his balls were resting against Mulder's ass. Mulder groaned at the sensation of being filled again, this time by a hot, thick cock, and pressed backward for more. Skinner held him in place with one hand on his hip as the other hand caressed Mulder's belly before moving down to unfasten the cage and toss it aside. Mulder groaned as his throbbing cock was caressed by a warm hand and bucked into it, desperate for more. He growled as the hand moved away, sliding upward to toy with the clamps, and heard Skinner chuckle as he leaned forward to nip at the back of Mulder's neck.

"Now that's a familiar sound," he teased. "I've heard that sound from mating cats under my windows back home."

"Not - purring," Mulder gasped.

"You will be," Skinner promised, leaning backward so that he grasp Mulder's hips as he leisurely thrust into the body beneath him. "I'm going to fuck you long and hard. You'll still feel me in you when you're sitting at your desk in the basement tomorrow. Can you picture that, boy? Every move you make, you're going to feel me and know that you're owned."

"Oh, God!" Mulder moaned, his active imagination easily providing that picture. "Please! Need it - need you!"

Skinner leaned forward and placed a kiss on Mulder's spine. "And I need you, and I intend to have you - anytime, anyplace." He resumed his slow fucking while he continued talking. "Can you picture me coming into the basement and laying you down on your desk, your feet in the air as I fuck this tight ass? Or bending you over my desk and reaming you?"

Mulder gasped, his body on fire from the images that Skinner spun. He knew that it wouldn't happen - it was too risky for both of them - but the fantasy was incredible. He could picture himself over Skinner's big desk, pants around his ankles and his tie in his mouth to muffle his screams while Skinner fucked him hard and fast. He felt his balls tighten.

"Gonna - come."

"Not yet, boy. Not till I tell you to."

Mulder swore and desperately tried to stem the rising tide, trying to think of something to cool himself off but his brain had switched off. Skinner had picked up the pace now, fucking him with fast, hard strokes, and Mulder thought that his body would explode. It was so good - so incredibly good - and he needed to come so badly -

Skinner wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling him closer and his strokes became short and fierce, each one angled to strike his pleasure spot just right. Skinner's other hand moved upward, suddenly releasing the clamps on Mulder's nipples, even as his voice growled in Mulder's ear, "Come for me, Kitten. Come for me now!"

Mulder couldn't have stopped even if he had wanted to. His body bucked hard against the cock impaling him and he screamed as he exploded into a million pieces and collapsed into darkness.

*********

Mulder woke slowly with the lazy lassitude from being fucked unconscious. His body felt deliciously heavy and sated and he was quite content with the world. He realized that immediately after he passed out, Skinner must have turned them on their sides. The Dom was spooned up against his back, his arms wrapped around Mulder's waist, and as Mulder stretched slightly, he realized that Skinner's half-erect cock was still inside of him. He smiled, reveling in the thought of being close like this as they slept, and he let a soft, contented noise vibrate through his chest as he let his eyes drift closed again. Then his eyes popped open and he held his breath.

Damn! He had just purred!

Anxiously, he listened for any sound from the man behind him, but all he heard was Skinner's soft breathing as he slept. Mulder grinned, barely containing the laugh that wanted to roll out of him. Here Skinner was - so close to him that they could almost be one person, his cock actually still inside Mulder, and he had missed the whole damn proof of his claim.

I'm just too smart for him, Mulder thought smugly, and contentedly closed his eyes to go back to sleep.

He felt a slight stirring in the man behind him, the instinctive half-thrust of Skinner's body to keep himself seated within Mulder, and the feeling of a sleepy kiss brushed against the back of his neck. Then Skinner was leaning forward, nuzzling his ear, before he said, softly,

"Gotcha - Kitten."

End of Chapter 43

 

---

 

Title: Chains of Desire: Chapter 44 - Milestones
Author: Diana Williams
Email: Diana@slashcity.com
Web site: http://diana.slashcity.com/
Rating: NC-17 for m/m sex and language; M/Sk
Archive: Yes.

Disclaimer and Author's notes: Disclaimer and other pertinent information are in Chains of Desire: Intro. Most everyone here belongs to someone other than me, however Sean, Geoffrey Mason, Dr. Kate Malone and the Dionysus Club are my inventions -please ask before borrowing them. BTW, the T-shirts mentioned in the chapter are real - and I own one of them (you'll have to guess which one <BG>). Chapter quote comes from "When You Say Nothing at All" by Keith Whitley.
EPISODE NOTE: Although the X-File referred to in this chapter ("Term of Endearment") was shown later on in the year, the internal elements of the show indicate that it takes place in the early fall, so I've moved it there in my timeline. Also, I forgot to mention in the last chapter, which refers to "Drive", that it had been moved up a month since the arrest in the beginning of the show doesn't take place (my Mulder and Scully are way too busy to check up on fertilizer). So "Terms" takes place between "Drive" and "Triangle" in my timeline. And yes, "Triangle" will be in the next chapter, so anyone who wanted to see Mulder's butt "kicked but good" stay tuned.

Chapter Summary: During an important anniversary for Mulder and Skinner, important decisions are made.

---

Chapter Forty-four

"It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word, you light up the dark.
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me.
There's a truth in your eyes, saying you'll never leave me.
A touch of your hand, says you'll catch me if ever I fall.
You say it best when you say nothing at all."

Tuesday, October 9

Mulder stared at the report in front of him in disgust. The neat black and white had been completely disfigured by red slashes and nearly unintelligible comments in the margins. The net result of it all was clear - this was a do-over.

He grimaced as he pulled up the original report on his computer. At times like this, he really missed having Skinner as their supervisor. Sure, the man had been a hard-ass and it had been nearly impossible to slip anything past him, but at least he had been willing to listen. A.D. Kersh was turning out to be just plain unreasonable. Mulder really thought that he had bent over backwards on this report, downplaying the more unbelievable aspects - and not once had he ranted about government conspiracies, although it was plain that the military had known more about the testing and its effects than they let on. Even Scully had given her blessing to the report - after first checking him for fever.

Mulder concentrated on the report, trying not to let the narrow-mindedness of his current boss get to him. He heard the door open and glanced up briefly, expecting it to be one of his team members, and then did a double take. A slow smile crossed his face and he stood up.

"Hello, sir," he said. "This is an unexpected pleasure."

"Agent Mulder," Skinner said, nodding his head. His eyes locked on his lover's, conveying his own pleasure at seeing Mulder after being apart for almost a week while he was out of town, although he couldn't say anything out loud for fear of unseen listeners. "It's been awhile, now that you're not reporting to me."

Mulder grinned. "What do you do for excitement now, sir?"

Skinner chuckled. "Oh, I manage to keep myself amused." He held out a folder. "This came through one of my departments and it sounded like it was more in keeping with your - special skills."

Mulder's grin widened. "Why do I suddenly feel like changing into tights and announcing 'This is a job for Monster Boy!'?"

Dryly, Skinner said, "I believe that your usual suit will do just fine, Agent Mulder. Normally, this would have come through official channels, but since AD Kersh is out for a few days, I brought this down to you personally."

Mulder took the file and flipped it open, glancing at the report on the abduction of a fetus. "Is there anything you can tell me about this case, sir?"

"I'd be glad to, Agent Mulder." Skinner glanced at his watch. "But I'm due at a meeting in a few minutes. Perhaps I can discuss the details with you and Agent Scully over lunch at the Capital Grille."

The smile that lit up Mulder's face made Skinner's trip to the basement all worthwhile, and he found himself smiling back.

"Certainly, sir."

"Good. I'll meet you both at the restaurant at noon. There's a reservation in my name." Skinner turned and quickly left before that smile made him do something foolish like pulling Mulder into his arms for a quick kiss. And, as he encountered Agents Fowley and Spender coming back into the office, he was glad that he had been cautious. He nodded to them briefly and made his escape.

Mulder settled back down at his desk and opened the folder again, noting the report of the woman involved with interest. He glanced up briefly as Fowley and Spender entered, resisting the urge to frown as his peace and quiet was interrupted. Fowley headed for the second desk, claiming the chair as if by right, while Spender settled for leaning against the desk. In theory, only Mulder had an "official" desk here in the basement while the other three agents on his team, Scully, Spender and Fowley, had desks with the other agents upstairs. In practice, Fowley made herself at home in the basement office whenever her team was in town with the excuse that, as the other senior agent, she needed to be there. Spender generally followed her; Mulder wasn't sure if it was because he was afraid of being left out of anything or because he knew that his presence annoyed Mulder. Both, he suspected. In any case, Scully made a habit of being elsewhere whenever she could while the second team was in town.

"So," Spender said, sitting on a corner of the second desk. "What did Skinner want?"

"A.D. Skinner had a case to refer to the department," Mulder said in his blandest tone, slightly emphasizing the man's title. As Fowley started to reach for the file, he pulled it back. "It's not ready for an active investigation yet," he said, ignoring the suspicious look in her eyes. "I haven't had a chance to look over the information and see if it's really an X-File."

"Fox, I think I'm capable - " Fowley began.

"Of taking on a tougher assignment?" Mulder asked, raising an eyebrow questioningly as he picked up another folder and held it out to her. "I agree - and I think you're ready to handle this one."

Reluctantly, Fowley accepted the new folder and opened it. "What is it one about?"

"Poltergeist phenomena, seemingly centered around a pre-teen girl," Mulder said, leaning back in his chair and watching her. "You know the methods - you'll be able to determine if this is a manifestation of the girl's latent psi abilities, the actions of a supernatural entity, or a hoax."

He had already determined that it was a hoax set up by the family in an attempt to get media attention - and money - but he had no qualms about sending Fowley and Spender out to check it out. A few days of peace and quiet, and Scully back in the basement with him, were worth Spender's inevitable smugness on their return.

"A.D. Kersh approved the 302 before he left," he added. "I think it's important to check this one out as soon as possible as we know that changes in adolescents can be important in regard to this phenomena." And before the family can skip town, he thought to himself.

Spender peered over Fowley's shoulder. "Well, at least it's somewhere decent for a change. New Orleans." He headed towards the door. "Come on, partner. We'd better check in with the Travel office if we don't want to end up in another of those God-awful motels like they put us in last time."

Fowley nodded slowly, saying, "You go ahead, Jeff. I'll be there in a minute."

Spender's eyes narrowed but he shrugged and left. Fowley sat on the edge of the desk and said softly, "It's too bad that this case came up right now. I was thinking that I could take you out to dinner this weekend, to celebrate your birthday."

Mulder tried not to wince at that thought. "That's all right, Diana. I already have plans."

Fowley smirked. "I'd hardly call sitting around your apartment, drinking beer and watching television, plans." She smiled and leaned forward slightly, invading his space even more. "What I had in mind would be a lot more fun. And I expect that we could postpone this case for a few days..."

Mulder resisted the urge to push away from her and said, quietly, "Diana, I told you months ago that I'm seeing someone and that it's serious. That hasn't changed."

Fowley sat back, scowling. "I see. And I suppose that she is taking you out to dinner."

"We'll be spending the weekend together," Mulder said evenly.

"The whole weekend?" The door opened and Fowley turned her head to see Scully standing in the open doorway. "Well, I expect Agent Spender is waiting impatiently upstairs, so I better join him."

Slowly, she got up and picked up her purse, coat, and the case folder, then headed towards the doorway. As she passed Scully, she paused and said, "Any plans for the weekend, Agent Scully?"

Scully met her suspicious eyes without hesitation. "As a matter of fact, I'll be spending the weekend with friends."

Fowley glanced back once more at Mulder who had quickly turned his attention to the new case folder, then briskly headed down the hallway. Scully set down her purse and folders on the other desk, her desk, and looked over at Mulder with a teasing smile on her face.

"You know, I'm tempted to tell your S.O. about your betrayal."

Mulder snorted and set down the folder. "Right. Like that would be believed."

"I don't know. From where I stood, it looked like Agent Fowley was practically in your lap."

"Agent Fowley would like to be in my lap."

"Agent Fowley would like to be in your pants."

Mulder grinned at that. "I'm afraid that Agent Fowley is doomed to be disappointed. These pants and all they contain are the exclusive property of another party."

Scully rolled her eyes at that. "Mulder, you're such a romantic."

Mulder chuckled. "In any event, Scully, we have a new case and I hope that you don't have plans for lunch."

Scully groaned. "What are you subjecting me to now, Mulder? I don't even have a bag packed-"

"Relax, Scully. We're having lunch with the person transferring the case to us. He's going to brief us on the background."

Still suspicious, Scully said, "Where? One of your favorite little dives?"

"Nope. The Grille."

Scully raised an eyebrow. "Then I assume that you aren't paying."

"Why, Scully, you wound me!" Mulder picked up his coat. "Come on, partner. I'm hungry."

They chose to walk to the restaurant since the weather was nice. Mulder gave the desk the reservation information, and Scully's mouth quirked slightly when she heard the name 'Skinner' but she didn't say anything. The waiter took their drink order and she sat back in her chair, eying Mulder with amused suspicion.

"I thought you said that this was about a case."

"It is, honest. Walter has an X-File to refer to us - demons and everything."

"Do I want to know what this case is about, or is it going to ruin my appetite?"

Mulder snorted. "You, Scully? I've seen you do an autopsy report while eating a sandwich. Why should you think this would be worse?"

"Oh, I don't know. Years of experience, perhaps?"

"Watching the Comedy Channel this morning, Scully? You seem to be in top form - " Mulder broke off in mid-sentence and a sudden smile lit his face.

Scully smothered a smile of her own and murmured, "Mulder, stop that. I didn't bring my sunglasses."

"Huh?" He swiveled his attention back to her.

"You're glowing. I don't even have to turn around to know who just walked in."

Mulder looked indignant. "I don't glow."

"I have to disagree with you on this. You are definitely glowing." She looked up as Skinner joined them. "Good afternoon, sir. You're just in time to settle a question."

"About what?" Skinner asked, sitting down.

"Mulder says that he doesn't glow. I said that he does and that he is right now."

"Scully!" Mulder hissed as he sat back down.

Skinner cast an appraising look over at Mulder, a hint of a smile hovering on his mouth. "Sorry, Mulder, but I think your observant partner is right. You're definitely glowing." He unfolded his napkin, saying blandly, "Anything you need to tell me, Fox?"

Scully pressed her hand over her mouth to cover a surprised laugh while Mulder flushed and hissed, "Walter! Not you, too! What is this - pick on Mulder day?"

"Sorry, Fox," Skinner murmured, unrepentant. "I couldn't resist."

"You didn't even try," Mulder muttered, taking a long drink of water and resisting the urge to press an ice cube against his burning skin.

"So, sir, Mulder says that you are referring a case to us," Scully said, taking pity on her partner and giving him a chance to recover. "Or is this part of a elaborate scheme to wrangle a mid-week meeting?"

"Feeling like you're being used, Agent Scully?" Skinner asked, refraining from looking over at his lover as he gave an agonized groan. "No, the case is legitimate, my schedule is full, and lunch was the only free time I had to discuss it."

Mulder sobered immediately. "Then I take it you'll be working late tonight?" At Skinner's nod, he sighed. "This sucks. If this case is legit, we'll be heading to Roanoke in the morning. I was hoping - "

"So was I," Skinner said softly, looking down at the table, knowing that his heart would be in his eyes for all to see if he looked at Mulder right now. "We'll have this weekend, though."

"If the case is solved by then," Mulder sighed.

"It better be, Agent, or I'll come after you and drag your ass home," Skinner growled.

Mulder grinned at that. "God, I love it when you go primal."

"Which explains your antics over the past five years." Skinner turned back to Scully who had been sitting silently through this exchange. "Why don't we order, and then I'll tell you what I know about this case?"

Scully exchanged a speaking look with Mulder, and then turned her attention to Skinner. "Sounds good, sir. Do you mind my asking how you got this case?"

"Not at all. Violent Crimes was contacted by the Roanoke sheriff's department concerning the abduction of an unborn child. What will be of particular interest to you, Mulder, is the woman's description of the identity of the - entity that took the child..."

As they left the restaurant, Scully glared pointedly at Mulder. "What?" he said, defensively. "What did I do?"

"You know very well what you did, Mulder - or what you didn't do. When do you plan on telling him about the houses you found?"

Mulder flushed and looked down at his feet. "Soon. I promise."

"Mulder - "

"Don't push me, Scully. This whole thing scares the hell out of me. I mean, think about it. Me, Fox Mulder, living in domestic bliss? Who am I trying to kid? I'll bet that I drive him away within a month."

"Give the man a little credit, Mulder. He's crazy about you and he's old enough to know his mind. He knows better than either of us how tough marriage can be and he's still willing to risk it."

Mulder sighed. "I know. And God knows that I love him for that, for his certainty. But still - "

"But still nothing. I saw you two in there and you're miserable apart. I've watched you over the past two months since you got back together, and I know that you're not sleeping or eating right when you're at your place. I've seen you come into the office on Monday after you've been together, looking ready to grab the world by the tail, but by Friday you look like hell again. I can even tell when you've spent a weeknight with him by the way you look in the morning."

"If you say 'glow' again - "

She laughed, and laid a hand on his arm. "I won't. I promise. But I think you should talk to him this weekend, okay?"

"Okay, okay. Now, what do you say we head back to the office and start working on this case. When we get to Roanoke, I want you to check out the OB records while I hook up with Deputy Stevens and go out to his sister's house."

"All right, Mulder, but I think this sounds like a drug-induced miscarriage to me, not a - what did you call it?"

"A demon fetal harvest. Come on, Scully - keep an open mind on this one. There've been records of women claiming such things since the Middle Ages."

"Right. And Rosemary's Baby just happened to be playing on cable that night."

"It was? Damn! And I missed it - I could have brushed up on a few pointers." Mulder ducked the mock blow Scully aimed at him and ran all the way back to the office.

Wednesday, October 10

Mason unlocked the door to one of the lesser-used Club playrooms, one currently listed as "under renovation". Balancing the tray he held in his hands, he entered and locked the door behind him. He set the tray on the table and then looked across at the room's sole occupant. The young man sat on a thick mat, his back against the wall, hands restlessly rubbing at the cuffs locked around his wrist. Baleful green eyes glared back at Mason, although he thought he detected a flash of relief in them as well.

"Why, Alex, you don't look happy to see me."

"At least this answers my question of 'where' I am. Now perhaps you'll tell me what the hell I'm doing here?" Krycek yanked at the chains that attached him to the wall. "And why you've got me chained to your fucking wall."

Mason smiled in amusement. "That's one thing I remember clearly about you, Krycek - your ability to hurl insults in the most precarious of situations." He pulled a chair away from the table and straddled it, facing the younger man. "To answer your questions: yes, you are at the Club and you are here because of a promise that I made to an old - ally. And you are chained up because I wanted you to remain here long enough to talk. You're an extremely difficult man to get in touch with."

Krycek snorted. "Next time I decide to go into hiding to save my life, I'll be sure to leave you a forwarding address."

"I'd appreciate that," Mason said, his lips twitching.

Krycek rolled his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall, closing his eyes. He was so tired, and it had been so long since he had been able to really sleep. "So talk. I'm a - you'll forgive the term - captive audience."

"Actually, I thought you might be able to concentrate on our conversation better without the cuffs. After a hot shower and over a meal."

Krycek was tempted. Since the Englishman's safe house had been raided and he had been forced to run for it - again - he seemed to have had little time for such luxuries as a full night's sleep, much less showers and decent meals. His temporary havens during the past two months had been little more than brief shelter or a way to pick up quick money, and definitely not places to let down his guard. Still, Krycek looked at the Dom suspiciously. "And the catch would be?"

"You have to promise to behave yourself, which means not clubbing me over the head, grabbing the keys, and running."

Krycek snorted. "Right. Like you'd believe any promise I gave you."

"I'd believe you, Alex."

Krycek opened his eyes and stared over at the older man, incredulous. The man was an idiot, he thought in amusement, the words of a false promise ready on his lips. But there was something in Mason's eyes, something that made the lie dry up unvoiced. He swallowed hard then finally croaked, "All right. I promise."

"Good." Mason smiled, a genuine smile of approval, and Krycek was startled at the sudden warm feeling in the pit of his stomach. Mason produced the keys and unlocked the handcuffs, and Krycek sat for a moment, rubbing his wrists.

Feeling disgusted with himself for letting emotions sway him against his better judgment, he snarled, "You said something about a shower?"

Mason nodded his head towards the door at the back of the room. "In there. I'm sure you're familiar with the layout. And you'll find a change of clothes as well - I borrowed a sweat suit from Mulder since you seem to be about the same size."

Krycek pushed himself up from the floor and walked into the changing room. He stripped off his clothes, which had seen better days, and consigned them to the trash, then stepped into the shower. For a long time, he just stood under the hot water, letting it wash away everything - dirt, fatigue, the aching of his body. Finally, he roused himself enough to grab the soap and thoroughly scrubbed his body, rinsed, and then forced himself out of the shower. He dragged on the pair of sweats sitting on the side of the sink, trying not to think that the last one that had worn them was Mulder, and squared his shoulders. Time to find out just what it was that Mason really wanted.

Mason had uncovered the tray and set it out on the table, and Krycek's stomach growled at the delicious scents filling the air. He sat down, slightly amused to see that the table setting didn't include a knife. Apparently Mason's trust didn't extend that far. He hesitated for only a moment and then dug in, eating voraciously.

When he finished eating, he sat back in his chair with a sigh and looked over at Mason. He expected to see a smug look on the man's face but was surprised to see only gentle concern.

"Been awhile?" he asked and then stood up. "I saw you wincing. Take off the shirt and let me look at your back." Mason walked into the changing room and returned carrying the first aid kit. Seeing that Krycek hadn't made a move, he said sternly, "Are you going to take off the shirt or do I take it off for you?"

Reluctantly, Krycek pulled the sweatshirt over his head and leaned forward. Mason didn't say anything as he examined the welts covering the younger man's back, just pulled out the gauze and antiseptic. Krycek winced as he felt the sting but he dug his fingers into his leg and refused to make a sound, waiting for the questions that were sure to follow. Finally he couldn't stand the silence any longer.

"Well? Aren't you going to ask where I got those?"

Mason snipped off a piece of surgical tape. "I don't have to. But you will excuse my saying that you were an idiot to go to that sadist and were lucky not to get worse. I hope he paid you well enough to make this worth it."

Krycek shrugged and then winced at the pain. "My options were limited and it was only one night. I needed the money." Mason was silent but Krycek doubted that it was due to him having shocked the older man. "And if you knew where I was, I guess that explains how your people were able to snatch me this morning. The Network watching him?"

Mason looked at him sharply. "And how do you know about the Network?"

Krycek snorted. "Don't be an idiot, Mason. You knew that the Old Man was the local enforcer. Did you really think he would soil his hands with the dirty end of the business?"

"Then I suppose we have you to credit for Benett's - removal."

Krycek's face hardened. "I would have done that one for free." He hesitated. "How is Mulder?"

"He got past it, for the most part. He and Walter are doing okay - no thanks to your former playmate, Spender. At least you've had enough sense to stay away from that man - and yes, my friends are watching him, too. They've been watching him for a long time." He finished bandaging the worst of the welts. "Okay, I'm done. You can put the shirt back on."

Krycek complied, cursing himself for the shakiness of his hands. "You done with the twenty questions? Time to chain me back to the wall?"

"No. You're free to go, Alex."

Krycek looked at him suspiciously. "You had me brought here just for this?"

"I wanted to make sure that you were all right. And to warn you about your playmates." Mason got up and unlocked the door, tossing the keys back onto the table as he sat back down.

"Right. And what about your Network friends? Are they waiting outside to take care of me?"

Mason shook his head. "No. You're free to walk out that door right now, go back to where you were or anywhere else. There's even a car in the garage with the keys in the ignition if you need it. Although I have another alternative to propose."

Krycek was surprised at the disappointment he felt. Of course Mason had an angle. They all did; all of them wanted something out of him. Even - "Of course. Name your terms."

Mason laid a keycard on the table. "No terms, just a haven. Smythe's old suite. You're welcome to stay here as long as you want."

Krycek gaped at him. "You've got to be kidding!"

"Why? You look like you could use a little time to recover, get your strength back."

"And then?"

Mason shrugged. "Whatever you want. If you'd like, I could make a couple introductions. No one local, of course. However, I have to tell you - "

"Here it comes," Krycek muttered.

Mason set a sealed envelope on the table. "- that Smythe left this for you. And before you ask, no, I didn't look. I don't want to know."

Krycek snorted. "That's not the Mason I remember."

Mason's face tightened. "I've learned to make a few compromises over the years."

His voice sounded bleak and Krycek felt an unexpected - and unwanted - moment of sympathy. "Yeah. I -um - I'm sorry about the kid. You know that I didn't have anything to do with that."

"If I thought that you did, you wouldn't be here right now. I would have killed you at the first opportunity."

Krycek felt a shiver run up his spine at the pure ice in that voice. He remembered the Old Man's vague comments that Mason was not a man to be trifled with, and he had never been more certain of that than now.

He hesitated and then opened the envelope, already knowing what would inside - a contact name, an address, someone inside the Consortium who was looking for someone with his skills. Someone to put him back into the game. He glanced at the name and whistled silently - the Old Man had outdone himself this time. If he played his cards right, he'd be able to climb as high as he wanted in the Consortium.

Part of him rebelled. They'd already tried to take him out twice - maybe next time they would succeed. And he was so damned tired of all the games. It would be so good to rest, just for a little while...

On the other hand, if he quit now, They won.

His decision made, he picked up the envelope and left the keycard sitting on the table. He glanced over at Mason and was surprised to see sadness on the man's face. He cleared his throat and stood up. "So, I'm free to go?"

Mason nodded, then picked up the keycard and put it in his pocket. "My offer still stands. If you need sanctuary, day or night, you are welcome here."

Krycek swallowed around an unexpected lump in his throat and nodded. Then he opened the door and walked out, not looking back.

Thursday, October 11

"Hi, there. How are you doing?"

Mulder smiled at the soft concern in the voice on the other end of the phone. "Okay," he said, dropping onto the couch and stretching out. "Everything finished but the paperwork."

"That's not what I'm asking, Fox, and you know it."

Mulder sighed and covered his face with his arm. "I'm fine, Walter. I've been through tougher cases than this. Scully's the one to worry about."

"Scully is Mason's problem at the moment, and I already clued him in. You, on the other hand, are my problem, and one that I intend to handle with a firm hand, so don't even try to wiggle out of this."

"God, I love it when you get all macho like that."

"I believe you've mentioned that in the past. So stop being a bad boy looking for a spanking and tell me honestly how you're feeling."

Mulder chuckled at that and said, with a seductive purr, "If I'm a good boy, can I still get a spanking?"

Skinner laughed but said, "You've been hanging around Sean entirely too much, Mulder. And you're not answering my question."

"Honestly, Walter, I'm fine. Sad - hell, yeah. I can't believe any sentient creature would kill an infant. But it didn't bring up any bad memories of Samantha, if that's what you're worried about."

"Good. Now - about this weekend. You still want to celebrate at the Club, or would you prefer something a little more low-key. We could just kick back at my place, or go up to the cabin, or I could take you away from all this to a little B&B I know - "

"Walter, stop hovering. I'm fine. I don't need any special treatment. And I want to spend this weekend at the Club." Mulder let the sharp tone drop out of his voice and said, softly, "I have fond memories of a year ago that I'd like to relive."

"I think I can arrange that," Skinner said, indulgently. "I'll meet you there tomorrow night at seven." Softly, he added, "Sleep well, Mulder."

Mulder murmured, "You, too." Then he disconnected and lay there, staring up into the darkness with a smile on his face for a long time before falling into untroubled dreams.

Friday, October 12

Mulder set down his bag and signed in on the Club register, picking up the keycard. A familiar touch on his shoulder made him look around in consternation.

"Walter! You're early - I haven't had a chance to get ready!"

Skinner smiled and reached around him to sign the register. "I know. I wanted to catch you first. I thought that we might be a little occupied tomorrow night, so I'd like to take you out to dinner tonight as a kick-off to your birthday."

"You're a softie, Walter," Mulder said with a grin, which became wider when he saw the shirt that Skinner was wearing. "And a braver man than me if you're planning on wearing that shirt into the dining room."

Skinner looked down at the T-shirt that announced in bold letters "It's not a bald head - it's a Solar panel for a Sex machine" and then grinned back at Mulder. "It was a birthday present from a certain audacious sub I know."

Mulder was touched - although he hadn't been able to resist buying the shirt, he hadn't expected his lover to actually wear it. He wrapped his arms around Skinner and said, softly, "Thanks, Walter. And dinner sounds great."

Skinner handed their bags to the desk clerk, asking that they be taken up to his suite. They headed towards the dining room, only to be intercepted by Sean.

"Hi, guys! How's our birthday boy?"

Mulder flushed and directed a sideways glare at Skinner. "How did you find out about that?"

Sean grinned. "Easy, Mulder. Your man didn't spill the beans. Jean-Pierre just happened to note your birthday dinner last year in his calendar. And I can't resist an opportunity to party. So come along and accept your medicine like a good boy, or we'll start your birthday spankings right here."

Mulder snorted at that. "You and what army?"

"How about me, for starters?"

Mulder nearly jumped out of his skin, swinging around to stare at Mason, who seemed to have appeared out of thin air. "Master Geoffrey!"

Mason slowly advanced on the wide-eyed sub, pushing up the sleeves of his shirt. "I've been itching to apply my hand to your backside for a long time, Mulder, and I can't think of a better occasion on which to start."

Mulder backed away, casting an imploring look at Skinner. "Walter!"

Skinner started to step forward then, at the mock glare Mason threw him, stopped and flung up his hands in laughing surrender. "You're on your own, Fox."

Mulder grabbed Sean's arm. "Okay, okay! I'll go peacefully!"

Smugly, Sean said, "I thought you'd see it my way." Holding firmly onto Mulder's arm, he practically dragged him upstairs to one of the playrooms. Throwing open the door, he said, "Okay, guys, here he is! Let the partying begin!"

"I'll get you for this, Sean," Mulder said in a mock-threatening tone, then looked around nervously for Mason, relieved to see that the Dom was out of earshot. Secretly, he was touched by the thought that Sean had done this for him - it had been a long time since anyone but his lover had gone to this much trouble for him. He saw his partner heading his way and grinned. "Hello, Scully. You got roped into this, too?"

"Are you kidding? I helped plan it." She hugged him and kissed his cheek. "Happy birthday, partner."

Mulder flushed, hugging her back. "Thanks, Scully," he said softly. Letting her go, he caught sight of the Gunman and laughed. "Not you guys, too!"

Frohike grinned. "Wouldn't miss it, Mulder." He hugged Mulder. "Happy birthday, buddy."

Mulder turned to Langley and Byers, grinning. "So - has Frohike persuaded you two to join our little den of iniquity?"

Langley snorted as Byers blanched. "No way, man, but we couldn't turn down a party. 'Bout time, too."

Byers nodded. "Langley's right - it's about time we gave you a real birthday celebration."

"I don't do birthdays, guys. You know that."

"You know, Mulder," Langley said confidentially. "I don't think you've got much of a choice anymore. That dude Sean may be little, but once he makes up his mind, he doesn't take 'No' for an answer."

Mulder saw Sean approaching him, gifts in hand and a mischievous look in his eyes, and he groaned. "I have a feeling that you're right. Maybe I should have settled for the spanking instead."

Some hours later, Mulder lay sprawled on a pile of cushions off to one side of the room, contentedly nursing a beer and watching the party winding down around him. Much to his own surprise, he had enjoyed the party. It had been laid-back with lots of food and music, interspersed with casual gift giving. He had even gotten to slow-dance once with his lover, something he hadn't done in public since New Year's Eve. Sean had been everywhere, making sure that he was enjoying himself, and now the younger man plopped down on a cushion next to him, grinning.

"So, Mulder - having a good time in spite of yourself?"

"Having a great time