r3-Aqualegia-p2

As the drug continued to drive him deeper, in his mind Alex snuggled into the warmth that was Walter's arms; ignoring the prick of needles, wanting only to be left to fall asleep cradled against the massive chest that had fuelled his fantasies for so long. Ever since that fateful day when he had been called to the AD's office to pick up a 302 which Skinner had signed for Fox Mulder.

#####

Secured standing back to back with Dancer, Scully had seethed as she had been forced to watch Krycek being taken away. No sooner had Dancer spoken than Scully growled over her shoulder at her 'bond-mate'.

"Later! Let's get over to the window. Maybe we can see what kind of transport they're using. We must make getting Alex back our first priority." Even as she finished the sentence, she started to move and Dancer, hearing the anger in the other woman's voice, kept quiet and did her best not to impede their progress.

Seeing the women already on the move, Skinner spoke over his shoulder to Byers. "We have to get free, and quickly. Move with me towards the kitchen counter so we can get hold of a knife."

By the time Scully and Carla Dancer had crab-walked to the window, they were only just in time to see the last of the thugs getting into a dark blue panel truck, with a light-blue flash along the side. Dancer read off the licence plate as the vehicle pulled out into the traffic. They waited until it had gone out of sight, then turned to watch the antics of Skinner and Byers as they attempted to get a knife.

Skinner was exhorting Byers to try to coordinate their movements as he bent sideways towards the knife block and tried to grasp the handle of a large knife in his teeth. After some muttered curses, and more than one cry of "ouch", Skinner straightened up with a wicked looking knife held firmly in his mouth.

The two couples worked their way towards an open area, then very carefully, Skinner leaned towards the two women and delicately applied the knife to the taut rope that held their upper bodies together. As the rope started to give way, the two women leaned away from one another to put more strain on it, and they had trouble retaining their balance when it suddenly gave.

Delicately, Scully took the knife from Skinner's mouth and made short work of setting everyone free. Detective Dancer made for the telephone, scribbling the description and licence place number on the pad beside it, before dialling in to her station house.

Byers and Langly quickly set up Scully's laptop. They logged into a chat room haunted by conspiracy theorists and started putting the word out about the van's description.

-o0o-

A few miles east of Scully's apartment, David Foad sat by his window keeping half an eye on the conversation taking place in his favourite chatroom, while watching some workmen digging a hole in the street below, causing hiccups in the traffic flow as the board man gave first one, then the other direction permission to 'go'.

He snickered when a van driver beat his steering wheel in frustration at being halted to let a slow moving, wide vehicle use the open lane.

His attention was drawn back to the chat room when <LGM-RL> entered. Usually things got interesting when RL was around.

There were quite a few 'Hi RL' messages incoming as he started to type in his own welcome...

<LGM-RL> URGENT, PLEASE READ FOLLOWING MESSAGE

All conversations halted as they waited to see what RL was going to say.

<LGM-RL> Look out for dark blue panel truck with light blue flash on the side, Virginia plates, licence...

Foad's eyes immediately switched to the view outside where the frustrated driver of the dark blue van was just pulling away. Grabbing his binoculars, he quickly focussed on the licence plate and compared it to the one on the screen. A match! Excitedly he double clicked on RL's usernic to open a private window and typed in his name and address, adding that the van had just passed his apartment building, heading east.

Dancer, reading the screen over Langly's shoulder, relayed the location to her colleague, and asked him to make sure that the crews knew that they were only to follow the van, not intercept it.

Meanwhile, Skinner told Byers and Langly that they shouldn't stay behind in case Frohike came back and found them on their own. He/it might not listen to any explanations. He then delegated Byers to go with Scully, and Langly was to go with him as they left Scully's apartment to catch up with the van.

Led by Detective Dancer, with her police light flashing, they were guided into position by the police cars which now had the vehicle in sight. As they got closer, the detective stopped to switch off her light and stow it back inside her car, out of sight.

As soon as both Scully and Skinner reported that they could see the van, Dancer contacted the despatcher and asked him to tell the patrol cars to back off as they now had the suspect vehicle in sight and were able to take over the surveillance. Using the peel off and double back method, Skinner, Scully and Dancer took turns at being the lead car so that the driver wouldn't see the same car behind him all the time.

When they got further out of the city, and the traffic thinned out, they let Dancer take the lead while the other two cars dropped back a little for with so few exits it didn't look so odd for the same car to be following. The van kept up a steady speed until, approaching an exit, it started to slow down. Dancer decided to take a chance and started indicating to turn off. Moments later the van's indicators started flicking and a wolfish smile appeared on the detective's face when she found she had guessed right.

Once off the highway, the van stayed on the main road until it reached a large building set in spacious gardens, where it turned into the drive passing a large sign proclaiming it to be the "Happy Days Retirement Village and Nursing Home". The van went past the visitors car park and drew up at an entry way signposted "Nursing Home Admissions" at the side of the main building

Dancer pulled into the "Visitor's car park". She watched intently as a gurney was brought out from the building and a limp form was taken from the van and strapped on to it. It was then wheeled back inside accompanied by the doctor, Spender and the Bounty Hunter's cousin.

While this was happening, Byers came to sit beside her in the car.

For a few minutes they sat in silence, watching the van. But when it didn't move, Byers said, "AD Skinner would like you to go back to talk to him. He sent me to take your place in case it looked as if they were about to move Alex anywhere."

Dancer nodded her head, then got out of the car, perfectly willing to go along with the FBI agents so long as she got an explanation in the end, and hopefully, some closure on the case she was investigating. With this firmly in mind she walked briskly down the road and joined the others in the AD's car.

Skinner raised an interrogatory eyebrow when she turned to face him. Wasting no time, she described how Alex had been transported into the building, mentioning that the two thugs had stayed with the van while the other three had gone inside with Krycek.

Scully voiced their thoughts by saying, "So what do we do now? We can't leave him in their hands too long, heaven only knows what they'll do to him."

Skinner's gut clenched at the thought of anyone hurting Alex and he had to look away while he got the sudden bout of nausea under control.

When he turned back to the others he had his stern AD face firmly in place. "It goes without saying that we must rescue Krycek as quickly as possible. One of us will have to get inside and see if we can spot the most likely place for him to be held. We need to find way inside as well."

Before Skinner could continue, Dancer interrupted. "I believe it would be best if I were to the one to go inside. They've only seen me once and I don't suppose they took much notice of me. I can clip my hair back and put on a pair of glasses, which I always carry around with me just for times like these."

Scully looked at Skinner and they both nodded, the detective's suggestion made the most sense.

"All right Detective, we'll wait to hear from you. Tell Byers to stay there on watch when you leave. Meanwhile, Agent Scully and I will move our cars to the Mall down the road, we won't be so conspicuous there if the van leaves the nursing home before you get back."

"Okay." Dancer dug down her purse. She took out a make up bag and handed a mirror to Scully. "Would you mind holding this for me please?" She quickly restyled her hair using a claw clamp to hold the sides back, applied a brighter shade of lipstick and blusher. Looking at Scully she slipped on a pair of spectacles, then asked, "How do I look?"

Scully gave a nod of approval. "You'll do. I doubt very much if they will recognize you... but don't take any unnecessary chances," she added as the detective got out of the car.

Dancer acknowledged the advice with a wave of her hand and walked back towards her car. There was silence in the car she'd just left as the occupants watched the policewoman walk away.

"I wish there was some way I could have gone in," Skinner said just as Dancer disappeared from view.

"So do I," Scully admitted with a sigh.

Langly looked glumly from one to the other, seeing the worry etched on their faces. "She must be pretty good," he offered, "She's obviously not a novice at undercover work, and she's still alive."

Scully and Skinner looked at him as it he's grown another head for a few moments, then they both grinned wryly, and the air of gloom and doom lifted slightly.

Suddenly feeling she couldn't sit still any longer, Scully said, "Let's get the cars moved." She left Skinner's car, walked back to her own and followed Skinner as he drove back in the direction from which they they had come, until he reached the shopping mall they had spotted.

As Scully rejoined him in his car, Skinner couldn't help noticing that they were both very overdressed for loitering, and indeed for any rescue mission they might have to carry out. Accordingly, he suggested that they should go into the mall and find something a little less formal to wear.

Leaving Langly with the vehicles, they went into the mall, agreeing to meet back at the cars as soon as possible.

-o0o-

Once inside the main building, the detective had a good look around. To her left, the side of the building where the van had stopped, was the nursing home, the rooms to her right looked more communal. Deciding that the Nursing Home was much more likely to house facilities for the Asian doctor, she went to the reception desk and told a woman wearing the name tag 'Jenny' that she wished to talk to someone about having her grandmother live here.

Jenny picked up the phone, and spoke into it. When she put it down again, she said, "Please take a seat, Ms French will be out to see you as soon as she can."

Thanking her, Dancer went towards a waiting area. On the wall was an artist's impression of the main building and a large map of the layout to help visitors find their way around. On the table beneath the map there were some brochures about the facilities which also included a copy of the visitor's map. Taking one, she sat in one of the easy chairs and studied the layout.

A few minutes later, a kindly looking woman came into reception and having spoken to Jenny, she approached the Detective. "Ms Dancer? I'm Monica French, one of the administration staff. How may I help you?"

Dancer got to her feet and shook the offered hand. "I'm pleased to meet you Ms French. I'm looking for a nice home in which to place my grandmother and I was wondering if you would be kind enough to show me the facilities here so I could describe them to her. Then, if she thinks she might like it, I'll make an appointment to bring her along."

Monica French recognized 'new money' and smiled. They could do with having some of the more expensive rooms occupied and this might be a good opportunity... on the other hand...

Sensing a possible rejection, Dancer went on, "I realize that you must be busy, but I didn't know there was a home here until I was driving past. A friend has just moved out this way and I was on my way to see her, we're going to meet our husband's for dinner later."

The administrator's attitude sotfened again. "Was it the retirement village or the nursing home you were interested in?"

"The nursing home. She's not bedridden, but she is finding it very difficult to get around and needs more care than my mother can give on her own."

Ms French nodded her understanding. "I'm sure she would be comfortable here. We are a fairly new home, and we also have a private hospital here for the residents, which is shared by the local community. It gives so many of the residents peace of mind to know that there is always a doctor on the premises." She paused obviously expecting her visitor to comment.

Dancer obligingly murmured, "I'm sure it does, I shall certainly mention it to my grandmother."

Ms French smiled approvingly. They walked across the reception area together, and the administrator continued extolling the virtues of the well planned common areas and spacious rooms which looked more like bed sitting rooms, than anything you would normally find in a hospital, a sentiment with which Dancer had to agree. As they walked down the corridor, they passed the open door where the van still waited outside, there were some smaller cubicles and examining rooms, then they passed through some swing doors into the hospital proper.

About half way along this part of the corridor was a large nurses station, where they stopped and Ms French explained that beyond there was the ICU and the operating theatres.

At this point one of the nurses, came up to the administrator with a query. Ms French asked Dancer to excuse her for a few minutes, and the Detective was left to her own devices. She studied the map she had picked up and orientated herself on it.

Along the corridor behind the nurses station, a door opened, drawing Dancer's wandering attention. A man came out, pausing to light a cigarette followed by the very large man who had taken Alex away from the house.

Turning her back slightly towards them, she bent her head to stare at the brochure, pretending to be reading about the retirement complex. The two men went past her without taking any notice, and went out of the door by which they had entered the building.

She looked down the corridor again, counting the number of doors to make sure that she would remember which one they had come out of. Then a voice she had heard before dragged her attention back to her immediate surroundings, and found it was that of the Asian looking doctor who had been so keen to run experiments on Alex Krycek. She couldn't actually make out what he said, but he picked up a chart and walked past her down the corridor and went into the same room Spender had left a few moments before.

Attracting Ms French's attention, the Detective looked at her watch and said apologetically that she really had to be going now as she was expected by her friend. She thanked the administrator for taking time out of her busy schedule to show her the facilities, and assured her that she could find her own way out. They shook hands and Carla Dancer made her way back outside to her car.

-o0o-

When Scully and Skinner arrived back at their cars, Langly reported that the van had just left the area, going back the way they had come. Byers had reported that the Smoker and the Bounty Hunter's cousin had also been in the vehicle.

A short time later, Dancer's car drew up beside them. She admired the two agents' choice of new clothes. Skinner was dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, Scully in leggings under a T-shirt, a dark haired wig on her lap. They both looked very different from the well-groomed government agents they'd been less than an hour before.

As soon as she was settled in the car, the Detective gave the brochure to Skinner, and started her report. "Here's the layout of the nursing home. Looking from the front, it takes up most of the left side of the main building. Towards the rear of the wing is a hospital. I saw the Smoking man, accompanied by that hulking guy who carried Krycek out of Agent Scully's apartment, come out of this room here." She pointed to a room on the floor plan. "A short time later I saw the doctor go into the same room."

"Well done, Detective," Skinner praised her. He thought for a moment then said, "From the openness of Ms French, and the number of people wandering in and out, I would say that most of the operation here is legitimate. Probably, only a few of the hospital staff know any different.

"Therefore, if we're careful, I think we should be able to get in and out without ruffling too many feathers. Here's what I suggest.

"As she has only recently been inside, I would prefer it if Detective Dancer stayed here and kept a look out for the van, in case it comes back for any reason. The three of us will take my car and park near the gardens. Byers will remain with it and be your contact detective, if you see anything you think we ought to know about. Agent Scully, with that wig and a lab coat, will go inside and see if she can get in to see Alex, Langly and I will go in as visitors. Any questions, or suggestions?"

Three heads shook, 'no'.

"Okay, let's get this show on the road." He pulled a baseball cap onto his head, as did Langly.

Dancer helped Scully put the wig on making sure no stray strands of red could be seen.

When they were ready, Skinner drove them back to the 'Happy Days' building. After picking up Byers, he followed the signs inside the entrance to the 'staff parking' area, which was at the rear of the building. Dropping Scully off near the staff entrance, he drove back to the visitor's area and parked on the far side of the lot, close to the trees dividing it from the gardens.

-o0o-

Scully, a stethoscope clipped around her neck, walked in the staff entrance unchallenged, and made her way to the hospital area Dancer had pointed out. She marched down the main hospital corridor, nodding at the nurses as she passed their station, and went to the ladies toilet which had been marked on the map, making sure she looked in the room they thought held Alex as she passed by.

The blinds were open, but the curtain had been drawn around the bed. She did, however, recognize the Asian doctor who had been with the Smoker, writing some notes on a chart, and she could clearly see that there was a well built male nurse in the room as well.

After exiting the ladies, she went into one of the empty rooms, angled the blinds so that she couldn't be seen from the corridor, and pulled out her cell phone to report back to Skinner.

-o0o-

After parking the car, Skinner and Langly went into the gardens and strolled towards the rear of the main building as if going to visit a relative.

When his phone rang Skinner had a fight to get it out of his jeans' pocket before he could answer it, glaring at Langly who, unable to hide his amusement, had started laughing.

He listened while she told him that she hadn't had any trouble getting inside, and that she was now in an empty room just across the corridor from the one in which they believed Krycek was being held.

Remembering the description of the rooms that Dancer had given them, Skinner asked, "Does that room have a door into the garden, and more importantly, can you open it?"

"Yes to the first part, and if you'll hold on a moment, I'll see if I can get it open." She put the phone down on the night table and went over to examine the door.

The locks were sturdy, yet easy to operate even for an elderly person in a wheelchair, and she soon had the door open. Picking up the phone again, she told her ex-lover that the door was unlocked.

A few minutes later the two men had joined her in the hospital room.

Skinner locked the outer door, then turned to Scully and asked, "What's the layout?"

Motioning the others to follow her, Scully moved over to the windows facing the corridor. "I believe Alex is in the room almost opposite, at least, as you can see, the doctor that was with Spender is there and there's a male nurse in there too. The curtains are drawn around the bed so I can't confirm that Alex is there without going inside.

"The nurses station is along the corridor to our left. We'll have to be careful not to be seen. There were two nurses there when I walked past and I seem to remember Dancer saying there were two at the station while she was here, so maybe that's the norm."

Skinner grimaced, "It's a pity we can't find some way to distract the nurses, because whatever we do is bound to make some noise."

"I've got an idea," Langly interrupted. "See those wheelchairs along there. Why don't we take one, wrap Agent Scully up in some blankets, and just walk in there. While we're apologising for having gone in the wrong room, we overpower them. We can then use the blankets to disguise Krycek, and wheel him outta here."

Scully and Skinner gaped at him until he felt uncomfortable and asked, "What?"

"I think we're both wondering why we didn't think of that," Scully replied. "Can you see any reason we shouldn't adopt Langly's suggestion?"

"Frankly no, I think it's got a good chance of success. Langly, you go get the wheelchair, while Agent Scully and I remove the blankets from this bed."

Langly nodded and left. While he was gone Skinner and Scully quickly stripped the bed, then remade it without two of the honeycomb blankets, so it looked as if it hadn't been touched. When Langly returned they carefully wrapped Scully in the blankets in such a way that she could easily throw them off.

With Langly pushing the chair, they made their way over to the other room. Pausing outside they took in the positons of their targets, the small doctor on the right would be Langly's target, the male nurse, to the left would be Skinner's. Scully, the gun in her lap hidden by the blankets, would assist whichever of the men needed help.

When Skinner murmured 'go' he opened the door and moved inside, Langly following close behind, so that they were both well into the room before its occupants were able to react. Skinner made straight for the nurse, slamming him into the wall and using his gun butt to knock him out. Langly threw a punch at the doctor, which staggered him back towards the window, Scully extricated herself from the chair and pointed her gun at him, he froze for an instant and Langly was able to finish the job he had started.

While Skinner dragged the doctor into the bathroom, Scully checked Alex's chart that the doctor had dropped, to see what had been done to him so far.

"He's been given a strong anaesthtic. Fortunately he hasn't yet been hooked up to any monitoring equipment which would show up on the nurses station," she told the AD on his return. "There's some more of the drug in the vials here, so I propose we use it on the doctor and nurse to give ourselves a head start. Help me get Alex into the chair and we'll put the nurse in his bed."

Skinner tenderly lifted Alex's limp body hating to see the sable head flop around lifelessly as they moved him to the wheelchair. This time when he and Langly wrapped the blankets, they tied the ends around the arms to make sure that he wouldn't fall out. Then, as soon as Scully had finished administering the injections, Langly looked out of the door and when both the nurses were looking in the other direction, they moved back across the corridor each of them praying that the nurses wouldn't turn back too soon.

Scully let them out into the garden, locking the door behind them, then walked out of the building the way she had come in, meeting the two men with their unconscious passenger just before they reached the car.

Leaving Alex still wrapped in the blankets, they manoeuvred him into the back seat of Skinner's car, and Langly folded up the wheelchair and placed it in the trunk, since they might need it again when they reached their destination.

As soon as they were on their way back towards the mall, Scully gratefully dragged of the wig and asked, "What are we going to now? We can't very well take him back to my appartment, Spender will come looking for him there."

"I've thought about that," Skinner replied, "I have the keys to a beach house which I have been looking after for a friend who is stationed in Europe at the moment. He's not due to return to the States until next year. As he and his family will be seeing the sights of Europe during their vacations this year, we can use it without fear of being interrupted. It's about an hour's drive from here."

Langly drew up beside the Detective's car, and Dancer smiled as she realized they had been successful in liberating Krycek from the kidnappers. She came over to the car and leaned in the open rear window.

"You got him then. What are you going to do now?" she asked.

"I was just explaining that I have the keys to a cottage not far southeast of here. Byers, in the glove compartment there should be a pad and pen, if you'll hand them over I'll write the directions down and draw a map of how to reach it. There's a copy shop just inside the mall where we can make extra copies. We'll make Alex more comfortable in the back, and I'll drive Agent Scully and I straight there. Langly, you and Byers go to Agent Scully's apartment and get her some clothes and the equipment we were going to use for dealing with the Oilien. Detective Dancer, I assume you still want your answers, so if you go back to your apartment and get some clothes, and tell whomever that you are following up some leads, we'll meet you there too. We don't know when the doctor will be found, so try not to spend too much time getting the things you need."

Langly handed him the pad and he quickly drew the map, then handed it back to the long-haired Gunman who left the car and walked quickly into the mall. As soon as they had made Alex more comfortable across the back seat of the car, Skinner drove away, reminding them again that they needed to move fast.

-o0o-

Alex was flying, he could feel the air rushing past him, the clouds tickling at his skin, the sun was beating down on him and he was too hot. He tried to land without success and moaned. The motion was making him feel sick.

-o0o-

Scully, leaning over the back of her seat keeping an eye on her patient, said, "We'd better stop Walter, he's not looking too good. He's probably feeling the after effects of the anaesthetic."

"There's a town a couple of miles ahead, hopefully he can last out till then as I'd rather not draw attention to ourselves by just pulling over."

A couple of minutes later, Krycek moaned again, louder this time and tossed his head. Skinner pulled into the first parking lot he came to and quickly opened the rear door. Throwing the blankets aside, he got Alex into a sitting position, with his legs outside the car, and held him still while the young man recovered from the drug he had been given.

Scully, noticing they were by the side of a diner and gas station, went into the station's shop and purchased a large bottle of spring water, some mens' handkerchiefs and some dry crackers. By the time she returned to the car Krycek was looking a little less green and had his eyes partly open. Wetting one of the handkerchiefs, she wiped the sweat off his face and neck. Wetting it again, she wrung it out and handed it to Skinner, then she wetted another and tried to coax Alex into sucking some of the water from it. After a few moments he seemed to get the idea and managed to swallow some of it, and whimpered when the wet cloth was withdrawn. He tried to follow her hands with his, to stop the water being withdrawn, but he couldn't make his eyes focus enough to do so.

Skinner gave Scully a despairing look. She grimaced in return, then said, "It's probably just the drugs making his hand and eye coordination worse.

She poured some more water on the handkerchief and offered it up to Alex's mouth. Again he sucked at the moisture greedily, placing his hands over hers, but he let go when she ruffled his hair and said, "That's enough for now Alex, you can have some more later."

He smiled at her as she looked closely at his eyes, and she smiled back while feeling his temperature with the back of her hand.

"You look just like my mommy," he told her seriously. "She had blue eyes and red hair too. Well, it wasn't really red. She told me once it was bottle red, then laughed and told me not to tell anyone."

His eyes started closing again and he sagged against the AD whose firm grip was the only thing which stopped him toppling to the ground. Again, the AD and the Agent exchanged worried glances.

Scully cast around for something to take their minds off Alex's condition. Spotting a supermarket, she said, "Do we need to buy any groceries or anything?"

"Bread, milk, juice, that sort of thing," Skinner replied, glad of the change of subject. "The place is pretty well stocked with canned and frozen stuff. The couple of times I've stayed there I've replaced what I've used just before I've left.

"Okay, why don't I go get the groceries while you settle Krycek in the back. Maybe it would be best if you stayed in the back with him for a while."

Skinner nodded, glad that Scully had been the one to suggest it, as he really didn't want to let go of Alex at the moment. It seemed that Alex didn't want to let go of him either and clung to him with dogged determination. By the time he had got Alex and himself settled on the back seat, with the young man's head cradled on his chest, he was *really* glad that he was no longer wearing his suit. He had put the water and and handkerchiefs in the door pocket before he started and used one of the cloths to wipe the sweat from both their faces.

When Scully returned to the car she wisely made no comment. She placed the groceries in the trunk, and made herself comfortable before driving off, following the occasional instructions from the back seat.

-o0o-

Springfield, New York
Laurel Street.

The Bounty Hunter smiled grimly as he watched Mulder return to his car and sift through the file of papers he'd been given on Dr. Hartford's patients, comparing addresses on them to a map, obviously planning his next visit.

Just a few hints here and there, and Mulder was where he shouldn't be, digging his own grave. A few more days and Mulder would be in so deep that he'd be booted out of the FBI before the week was out.

Mulder's car started forward and the Bounty Hunter followed, soon no-one would care what Mulder did or said, and the last irritating obstacle would be removed from their path.

-o0o-

For Skinner the drive had taken on a kind of sureal quality. His ex-lover, Dana Scully, was driving, sitting only a few feet away from him and he had the object of his wet dreams in his arms, a half-awake Krycek whose sable head was tucked into the side of his neck and occasionally he would feel a tongue swipe at the bristles there. Not only that, but the younger man's fingers were playing with the hairs on his chest, making him hot and hard and wanting to fuck Alex stupid. He just hoped that when they got to their destination, he would be able to walk out of the car - if in fact they managed to get there before he came in his pants.

Scully, though Walter didn't realize, was enjoying the show. When she had adjusted the interior mirror, she had angled it so she could keep an eye on her patient. She'd grinned when she saw the long, sensitive fingers start playing with the hair on Walter's chest, and nearly snickered aloud when she caught sight of her ex-lover's reaction to the tongue licking his neck.

She had enjoyed her time with Walter, but they both knew it was lust, not love. Just as they both knew, deep in their hearts, that the other was a substitute for the ones they really loved, and when they arrived at the 'safe house' she and Walter were going to have to talk about it, or see their friendship shatter.

When they reached the beach house, it wasn't what she had envisaged at all. Though thinking more about it, and having seen what Mulder's family called a beach house, she should not have been quite so surprised.

It was a large, single story building, approached by a fairly long private drive. When they reached the house, Skinner told her to drive round to the garage, and that she would find the remote control in the glove compartment.

Once inside the garage, and the doors closed behind them, they got Alex out of the car, into the wheelchair and into the house, leaving him sitting in the living room while they emptied the car.

Scully made them some tea and sandwiches, as it was a long time since any of them had eaten. Alex managed to eat two of the sandwiches and drink his tea, but he was quite obviously falling asleep at the table, so they helped him into the bathroom, gave him a wash then put him to bed.

With Alex taken care of for the moment, Skinner remembered a job he should have done as soon as he had arrived. He went to the phone and told the caretakers that he would be in residence for a few days and wouldn't need their services, confirming that he would, as usual, let them know when he was about to leave. He then took a walk around the house and garden, to make sure everything was okay, before settling down at the front to watch out for the other members of their party.

He hadn't been waiting very long, before the remaining Lone Gunmen and Detective Dancer followed one another up the drive. He directed them around to the garage and helped them unload their cars, alloting the guest bedrooms somewhat arbitarily, though none of them seemed to mind.

Langly set up the computer in the study, and commenced a search of the networks to see if any mention of their activities had made the news.

Skinner reminded them that he would have to leave again soon. They needed the vaccine for Alex, so he had to be at the warehouse on time for the meeting with the Rebel Aliens. He detailed Byers to look after Alex, and Dancer volunteered to make dinner for them, while Skinner spoke to Scully about the security systems.

While they were out of earshot of the others at the other end of the pool, Scully decided to tackle the thorny subject of their on-off relationship before things got out of hand. She took a deep breath, and said, "Walter, we need to talk; about us, and about Alex." She held up a hand when he started to protest. "Please, hear me out.

"We both know that it was never really love between us. I've carried a torch for Mulder for years, and it's about time you acknowledged your love for Alex. It's obvious, to anyone who knows you well, that you've loved him all along. You're always mentioning him, and to see the two of you together these last few days - it's a wonder that no-one else has noticed... " she grinned at his sudden discomfiture, "And, I don't think it's one sided either, Ive seen the way he looks at you, too."

Skinner grinned. "I hope it isn't," he admitted. "And I hope that you get what you want too, Dana."

"Thanks Walter. As soon as my job is done here, I'm going up to New York and bring Mulder back by the ear."

Walter laughed at the image of the petite red-haired woman leading Fox Mulder around by an ear. He looked at his watch and sobered slightly. "I think I'd better be going. It's a longish drive and I don't want to be late."

Scully watched the car turn out of the drive, then went into the kitchen, saying, "Detective Dancer, I believe you wanted an explanation....."

-o0o-

CGB Spender's Office

During the drive to his office, Spender had played the conversation about sons over in his mind and decided to follow up on the remarks that had been made. Accordingly, as soon as he had settled himself at his desk, and lit another cigarette, he picked up the phone and ordered a researcher to compare the DNA of Fox Mulder, Jeffrey Spender, and Alex Krycek against his own.

He didn't move far from the phone, for he knew that the information he required would be easily accessible to Quinn, his researcher.

Three cigarettes later, the phone rang and he answered it with his customary abruptness.

Quinn was never quite sure how to deal with his employer and resorted to abruptness himself. "Sir, the three young men all have one parent in common... You, Sir."

"Thank you Mr Quinn," he Smoker replied camly, "I trust you will keep this information to yourself..." He let the threat hang in the air.

"Yes Sir, I have wiped all traces of the query from the database."

"Good. Thank you, Mr Quinn." He replaced the receiver and sat in the chair, contemplating the plume of blue smoke issuing from the end of his cigarette. So, he'd sired three sons, One too naïve to live, the second hated him, the third.... the boy he hadn't even known was his, had escaped death at his hands twice... Should he intervene? Should he phone Dr Akhanho and claim this one before it was too late...?

There came a perfunctory knock on the door which then opened immediately, and Smits, one of the two muscle men who'd been with him earlier, rushed in. "Sir, Tillis has just had a phone call from Dr Ahkanho, the patient has gone. Three people burst into the room... knocked him and Morgan out. What should I tell Tillis to do?"

Spender disposed of the burnt out stub in his hand and lit another cigarette. "Nothing. He is not to be pursued." When Smits still stood there, he reiterated his orders, "Tell Tillis, do not pursue."

Smits nodded and left the room. As the door closed Spender smiled through the smoke, the decision had been taken out of his hands, so he'd let the cards play out and see what became of his third son.

-o0o-

Deserted Warehouse

The sun was just starting to set when Skinner arrived at the rendezvous. As usual there was no sign of the people he had come here to meet. To calm himself, he went over the plan again in his mind to make sure that when the time came to set it out for the Rebel aliens, he wouldn't forget any important details.

Then a bright light suffused the area, and they were there, all around him.

"You have a plan?"

Skinner nodded, and when the alien remained silent, he explained it in detail to them, explaining why they had made certain choices regarding the use of the clean blood, as he went.

When he at last fell silent, the Leader said one word, "Wait."

The Aliens moved closer to him, then stood in silence again. He could almost see them communing with one another and feel the weight of their thoughts in his mind.

Some time passed, yet Skinner was not completely aware of it. Eventually the Leader broke the heavy silence. "We are agreed. We approve of your plan." Another alien appeared out of the darkness and handed a vial of amber liquid to the AD who accepted it gratefully, wrapping it securely in a handkerchief before placing it in his pocket.

The aliens turned and walked away and the glow dimmed and disappeared. Feeling rather lightheaded, Skinner made his way back to his car, and sat there a while before starting it up and making his way back to Glebe Heights.

-o0o-

Beach House
Near Glebe Heights, MD.

When Skinner opened the door from the garage on his return, he found himself the focus of two pairs of eyes. Shutting the door, he turned to them, a huge smile splitting his face in half. "I've got it!" he cried able to share his joy with someone else at last.

Taking the precious burden out of his pocket, he passed it on to Scully, then asked, "How's Alex?"

"A bit better than he was this afternoon, about the same as he was before Spender and his goons abducted him. Byers is keeping him occupied as I can't get him to settle down."

"And the detective?"

"She didn't take the explanations about Oilien possession very well, and is lying down with a headache."

"I can relate to that," Skinner said with feeling. "Mulder's explanations of his cases and alien abductions always used to give me a headache.... They gave me a bigger headache still when I came to realize his stories were true."

Scully gave him a sympathetic look. Then shaking herself out of the reminiscent mood, she said, "Let's get Alex vaccinated, before anything else happens to him."

Scully and Skinner went into the master bedroom, with Langly trailing along behind them. As soon as Alex realized that Walter was there, he smiled. Skinner smiled back at him, watching Langly out of the corner of his eye as he shephered Byers out of the room, closing the door behind them.

"We've come to give you something that will help you get better Alex," he said soothingly. "Dana is going to give you an injection, then I'm going to stay with you while you get some sleep."

While Skinner had been speaking, Scully prepared the syringe. Then, after swabbing Krycek's arm, she inserted the needle under the skin and pressed the plunger home.

Krycek whimpered as the needle pricked his skin, then frowned as the vaccine started invading his system. He looked up at Skinner, his face crumpling like a child wondering why his parent was hurting him. "It burns," he said, scrubbing at his arm, a tear escaping from the corner of one eye.

Skinner looked at Scully and jerked his head towards the door. Taking the hint, Scully ruffled Krycek's hair and said goodnight. As soon as she was gone, Skinner took off his jacket and shoes, and climbed onto the bed. Gathering Alex in his arms, he held him close while the vaccine rid his system of the last traces of the Oilien possession.

After the younger man had stopped shaking, he went to the bathroom and got a warm cloth to clean Alex up. Then, dimming the lights and ridding himself of all but his T-shirt and shorts, he climbed under the covers and held Alex while the younger man went to sleep.

As he looked upon the man sleeping so peacefully in his arms, he found himself hoping that no further harm would come to him, and that when this was over he would have many more nights of watching Alex fall asleep.

-o0o-

Tarlan, you're next