Fox stumbled and when Alex would have helped him he shook his head. "I'm fine, Alex. If we just go a bit further…we'll be fine."

Alex nodded and though he stayed close to the man he loved more than anything, he respected the man's independence.

After another twenty minutes Mulder took a right turn and slipped under low hanging branches, having to take off his backpack and push it before him. When Alex followed he saw that Fox had found a huge area completely canvassed by branches of large trees. The branches touched the ground and formed a natural tent, but it was large enough to allow for a fire even considering rising ash and sparks. Alex gave Mulder a nervous look as he noticed a plentitude of dry wood and several stones. Mulder was beginning to drag rocks together to form a circle. Alex was gaping at him as Mulder sank to a sitting state but the rocks still continued to form a circle.

Mulder shivered, the effort of setting up for a fire tiring him. He didn't even realize that he had begun to move the rocks with his mind instead of his arms.

Alex caught Fox as he fell and he spent only a few moments arranging small pieces of wood and pine needles in a layered criss-cross. He lit the eager fuel and while it formed a hot base he got out Mulder's and his sleeping bags. He zipped them together and after he put several more layers on his lover's body he slid Mulder into the large bag. He fed the fire larger pieces of wood and spent long moments clearing a five foot range from the perimeter of the fire. When he was certain that only dirt lay between the outer line and the fire he slid into warmer garb and slid into the bag with Mulder. He kissed the sweet lips and his cock twitched at the proximity of the sweet body.

Fox's eyes opened suddenly and startling Alex he asked, "Are you warm, Alex?"

Alex blinked tiredly. "Yeah. I am so warm."

"You feel warm." Fox's voice was a purr, a sleepy purr. "You feel so good, so there. Does that make sense?"

Alex kissed Fox's lips softly, chastely. "It does. You are so there to me too. You have always been more there than anyone else."

Fox's eyes glimmered in the flickering fire, "Tell me about your world, Alex." He raised one hand to caress Alex's face. "What brought you to me?"

Alex pushed his hardening cock into Fox's belly. "Oh why are we even talking? Baby, I know …I *know* how quick life is over…at the least expected moment, it's over…everything you think you want to do…you don't do it…you get one chance, and I want to spend as much time loving you as I can."

Fox suddenly shoved Alex back and fell on top of him with a ravenous kiss. "Oh Alex, I need you."

Alex let Fox strip him and when Fox slithered down to take Alex's hard, dripping cock in that warm mouth Alex couldn't help but let out a strangled scream.

"Shh, Alex… this is just beginning." Fox bent with a small smile and proceeded to show Alex just how much he appreciated Alex's body.

Alex was pumping his hip up, a hand bitten in his mouth to keep his sounds of pleasure from exploding in their own private world. His legs spread wide and he gasped, almost a sob, as Fox sucked harder and faster, his mouth a hot, liquid suction that took him over the edge faster than he could have imagined.

His body was still quivering when he came back to himself. Fox was leaning over him with a small, tired smile on his face.

"You are so beautiful, Alex. You come so pretty...so sweet."

Alex tilted his head. "Come here and I'll show you who is beautiful."

Fox lay down next to Alex and actually began to dress him. "No, Alex. I am too tired…I really need to rest soon…I just want to hear about your life…your childhood. The image of you as a child in the snow...that happened didn't it?"

Alex frowned. He remembered that. Marie had died that day…died horribly and wetly...blood everywhere. "I…I…yes."

"I'm sorry. You loved her…your sister…didn't you?" He kissed the pink lips. "I guess we are more alike than we know."

Alex nodded. "My family was slaughtered and I...well I was to go to the slavers. I guess they thought I was a pretty child." He jumped up to add several more pieces of wood, enough to stoke the fire for many hours. He slid back into his clothes, the image of his sweet, loving sister…blood a crimson stain about her torn body, a definite ardor dowser. He slid back in with the intently staring man he'd die for. "You don't know how many different types of aliens there are that come to the trough that is Earth. Some are really into human flesh…and not to dine upon. Pretty children are a commodity just like the breeders are."

Mulder stroked the stubbled jaw, feeling that Alex was almost unbearably sad. He knew Alex would never admit to vulnerability and so he smiled and feigned a yawn.

Alex, predictably rubbed a concerned hand over Mulder's face. "Are you tired, baby?"

Mulder nodded, not entirely lying. He drew Alex tight to him and said. "Do you mind if we just sleep now?"

Alex snuggled in happily, relaxing his guard and enjoying the protective grip of his lover. "No, not at all. You rest, I'll…" he yawned suddenly and deeply. "I'll keep a watch."

Fox smiled into the dark silk of Alex's head and said, "Thank you, baby."

"No…no prob…" and Alex was asleep.

Mulder shifted Alex a bit, and he slid himself into a half sleep, knowing that he was coming out of his change. He shifted the fire a bit and added even more wood, all the while holding Alex. It wouldn't do for his lover to catch cold.

He listened to the whispers again in his mind, only now they were making sense. They weren't frightening, they were communications between alien and human…they were things to come and things that had happened already. A cacophony that was easily tamped down and controlled until the only thing he heard was the sweet sound of Alex's breathing. He knew what he was…and what the alien invaders wanted of him. However, he knew too what he could do to thwart them. He had no guarantees that he and Alex…and Scully of course could win against the odds they were up against, but he knew that they had to try. He sighed. They *had* to get to that ship in Africa. The answers…the weapons they needed were there.

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Jo's next.