HeartsDesire_r2-Nicole-p3

"Grandfather, please come inside," his young grandson entreated. The old man could see the light reflect on the boy's badge. Symbols only of oppression. "Please, grandfather," the boy asked, this time in the language o their people, an overture of respect.

"The storm is waning, as the storm begins," the old man said cryptically. "Already the beast tries to separate them, to divide their strength. I need to seek power," he finished as he headed back toward the smokehole.

"Grandfather, no, please…"

"Stop your pleading, Little Cloud, and make yourself useful. Gather green wood for the fire," he commanded as he made his slow way toward his visions.

A flush covered his grandson's smooth face. Black eyes that were normally filled with authority and strength lowered in obedience and he hurried to do the old man's bidding. He gathered several pelts along with the wood and he discarded his uniform to join his grandfather in the smokehole. Under his grandfather's observant eyes he traced vivid yellow paint over his hairless chest, circling the nipples with red. In the flickering flames, the old man rejoiced for the one instant that his grandson, so caught up in the world of the white man, looked like what he was, a warrior of The People. Though the glossy black hair was kept short, there was a fierceness in those young eyes that warmed the old man's heart. He knew the fierceness was only in the young man's determination to protect his old grandfather, but the fire of a warrior burned there. The old man gave Little Cloud one small smile before he sat back to seek strength for the men who must not be tricked by the enemy.

***

I woke up to silence. It wasn't an ominous silence, just the absence of wind howling at the window. I was huddled in a corner away from the bed. I looked at the bed, the scene of my humiliation. I had wanted it at first, hadn't I? I had always wanted it, I think. Mulder, damn him. Though I could pretend that everything was his fault, could in fact do a good job of blaming him for the price of tea in China, in the cold light of this still morning I knew my reactions to him yesterday were somehow not my own. Did I resent him? Fuck yes! Did I think him pompous? Double that! But I had to admit that he didn't control my life or my actions. I made him take me to Russia, hadn't I? Dammit, I didn't want to absolve him of that! It was far easier to place blame on him for my missing arm, for my choices to betray him, for wanting so badly to save the world that he would sacrifice anything…but not everything, I had to admit. He would never sacrifice Scully. Now that was one person I wished he would. I didn't want to think about why Mulder's blind loyalty to her disturbed me. Skinner was another person I didn't want to think of. I should have killed him when I had the chance…left him dead on that hospital table with Mulder mourning him like the son of God was dead. It seemed Mulder would only bend the rules of his little fucking quest for people he thought were honorable. Fuck! Why couldn't the stupid prick realize that I, Alex Krycek, wanted the same thing? I stood then, resolutely. I touched the stump of my arm, feeling strangely vulnerable without my prosthetic. If I tried really hard, I could blame Mulder for that too. He was the one who shot it after all. Of course that he had done so to keep it from killing me was just one more little fact that I could hide from. If I wanted to. If I wanted to stay in my warm little world of denial. Angry with myself, I went to the bathroom to take a leak. I looked into the mirror above the sink and saw the shocked look in my eyes. I didn't want to think about the roots and the attacking clothes. I didn't! I wouldn't!

When I finally exited the safe little bedroom where I had hidden all the night I saw Mulder staring out the window. His hands were deep inside his front pockets and I knew he was probably trying to come up with some way to apologize to me for the attack. His lips were pursed in that adorable pout that made me want to punch him…or kiss him… and I ran my hand through my unruly hair.

Good morning, Mulder," I said gruffly, but no so gruffly as I could have. I narrowed my eyes as he barely acknowledged me with a little nod.

"Krycek," he replied, his voice was distant.

"So the storm seems to have stopped," I added, staring at him intently. He looked over at me and saw the intent look, misreading it he smiled a bit.

"Don't worry, Krycek, I am not about to attack you." His voice was caught somewhere between husky amusement and anger.

I frowned at his tone, at the way his eyes traveled over me dismissively before returning to the window.

"I made some oatmeal," he offered off-handedly. "If you like, I'll go in the bedroom so you can feel safe enough to eat it." Again the voice was amused and angry.

"Fuck you, Mulder," I growled. His attitude was aggravating. So I fucking over-reacted? What would he have done had the situation been reversed…if I had held him down…parted those fucking long legs and tried to rape that tight, pink…I stopped myself from thinking further of that. Stopped thinking of how he would look in that wanton, submissive position.

"No thank you, Krycek. This thing…whatever it is…may find you irresistible, but I prefer my *fucks* to be someone I can stand. You are safe…utterly from me," he taunted with a half-smile, the muscles in his jaw flexing. "And you can just forget your little blackmail too. It took me all night, but I finally realized I was used every bit as much as you. And no one would believe you over me. So spare yourself the drama."

His emphasis on the word fuck made me grit my teeth and I watched him angrily as he did indeed go into the bedroom. I heard the sound of water and then the sound of a toilet flushing before he came out once more.

I sat down to eat the oatmeal he had made. It was cold and disgusting, but it was food. I'd eaten a lot worse. I decided to ignore him, but he didn't notice as he pulled on a jacket and strode toward the door.

"Where are you going?" I asked; trying to sound profoundly disinterested.

He turned to me and for one moment I thought I saw a flicker of concern in his beautiful eyes, but in an instant they were hard once more. "I'm going to check the fuel in the generator, try to ascertain the weather and pray to little gods of the forest for a snow plow," he responded before he left.

That was it! He might be angry with me for whatever fucking reason Mulder ever had to be angry with me, but I was the one with the sore ass and no arm. As I thought that, the ludicrousness of it made me chuckle. I started laughing so hard that I choked on the globs of oatmeal and I stood, hacking, still laughing. I suppose he must have heard my laughter, for when he returned there was a wary look on his face, as if I was some maniacal loon in his presence. That made me laugh harder.

"You're losing it, Krycek," he mumbled, keeping his distance.

"What's wrong, Fox baby, didn't you always think I was crazy?" I chuckled darkly at that.

"No," was all he said, but there was a wealth of emotion in that one word.

I sobered and stared at him quietly. "No?" I asked, not knowing why my heart was suddenly beating rapidly in my chest.

"I used to think you were…" he stopped with an irritated gesture.

"What?" I asked. "You used to think I was on the same side as you? That I wasn't someone who deserved what he got?" I kept my voice carefully scornful.

"Yes…but you aren't are you? You're on your own side…whatever side suits you best, isn't that right, comrade?"

"You'll think what you want, Mulder. You always have. The only people you trust are the ones who kiss your ass. I bet Skinner likes to kiss it doesn't he?" The image of that made me angry and I really wished I had killed the big oaf.

Mulder flushed and for one horrifying moment I thought he was going to admit that, yes, Skinner did actually kiss his ass. I wanted to go to him and shake him, shake him until he was dizzy and too dazed to say anything that would resemble those words.

"I think this is counter-productive," he finally said. "We hate each other, fine, but we are in a situation that means we have to work together." At my look of disdain he smiled almost sadly. "Or would you have preferred I left you there to be strangled by your clothes?"

He didn't know, I realized. He didn't know that the roots and my clothes were doing more than strangling me. Hadn't he seen the face in the clothe of my shirt? It hit me then really. Whatever it was out there had taken over the roots, my clothes and even Mulder to try and rape me! What the fuck was going on? Why me? Mulder was prettier in my opinion. "Mulder…when you…when you tried…"

"Krycek, how many times do I have to say it?" he spat. "I did not *would* not try and rape you! I don't want to fuck you…I don't want anything from you!" The flush on his face belied the latter and he wet his lips reflexively.

"I got it, Mulder, but you were…taken over right?"

"Yes!" he hissed at me.

"Okay, so we know that whatever it is, it has the hots for me," I blushed then, damning the staining blood in my face as a weakness. "It…it made my clothes…and the roots…touch me too…not just to kill me, If you can get what I am saying." The look on his face was priceless; it almost made me laugh again. His full lips, lips I knew could be as soft as down, gaped open and his hazel eyes widened.

"Your clothes were trying to…trying…"

"Yes," I growled.

"Okay, let me think here," he murmured. "This thing…it can take over animate and inanimate objects…and it seems to want to…uh…engage in sexual activity with you…"

"Why not you?" I asked. My eyes automatically trailing over his long, lithe form. "You’re the one who *looks* like a natural bottom." I really wasn't trying to piss him off, he really did look like a bottom…all long legs and tight ass…big eyes and God the lips…what a man could do to those lips. I shook my head again and remembered that I no longer had fantasies about him. Nope, no more. As in never again think of kissing those lips or being held in his arms like that night…before the thing had taken over him. Old school thoughts…history. Don't forget the mole, that fucking mole that made him look just enough like a slut that it made the imagination run rampant about what a slut like that would do for you. Not thinking about that either.

"Well, yeah I guess I do…can't hide it I guess. I mislaid my slave collar, but it is in the posture I suppose," he said sarcastically. "The fact is that it wants you for some reason."

I bridled at his incredulous tone. "So do you, Mulder…remember?" I taunted.

"Yes, I do," he replied challengingly.

That took the wind out of my sails a bit and I nodded. "As long as you aren't trying to hide from it anymore, bunny," I tried once more to disarm him…make him squirm as he did when he still felt guilty for attacking me. But, it failed. He had already absolved himself of guilt apparently as he accepted that the thing had been in charge, had in fact tried it again without his help. He simply stared at me, that fucking superior smile on his face, almost a smirk.

"You need to get some new material, Krycek. Maybe I do like men, that is a whole lot more acceptable then being a traitor. In fact I'd say that there is no comparison." He stared at me for a long moment. "I seem to remember you liking it at first…maybe you are the one with issues," he challenged. At my shocked silence he tilted his head. "What's wrong, traitor, you can dish it out, but can't take it? Did I hurt the bad traitor's feelings?"

I was on him before he knew what hit him. And it felt good! It felt great to know that even with one arm, I was stronger than he was. I placed my arm across his throat and pressed down. "One last time, Foxy baby, I am not…*not* a fucking traitor!" He didn't reply, but then how could he? I was keeping him from breathing nearly. His eyes burned up into mine, like they had the time I had pressed a gun to his pretty face and…and kissed him. "I am not what you think I am, and if you were half the profiler you seem to think you are you'd know it!" His lips gasped open and yet there was no fear in those eyes. I didn't think…didn't think at all when I pressed my lips to his. I just acted…or reacted to the sight below me. Fox Mulder, bane of my existence in my more self-pitying moments…thorn in my side in any moment…and secret cuddler. I sucked in his lower lip and groaned. When his mouth opened beneath me I took some of the pressure off his throat and sucked his tongue into my mouth. And God it tasted good, so hot and silky, the lips a soft heaven. He made a small sound, like a whimper and it turned me on...God it turned me on and I rubbed my aching groin against his, the evidence of his arousal a hard lump in his trousers. I closed my eyes and kissed him deeper, wetter, harder and his arms wrapped themselves around my back. I knew it was insane, but fuck it felt good. A flash of fire startled me behind my closed eyes and I saw smoke and the face of an old man staring into the writhing flames. I jumped off Mulder with a curse, rubbing my eyes wildly. He lay still, eyes averted from me, a flush of shame on his smooth skin.

"Okay…okay…what was that?" I asked myself.

"You kissed me!" he growled, not quite keeping the passion out of his voice, but trying obviously to do so.

"I know that, Mulder, but I saw…I saw something…an old man sitting by a fire…lots of smoke…" I trailed off as he regained his feet and turned away from me.

"We are going crazy here," he offered. "I think we should try to get out of here. I know I said it was dangerous, but the weather isn't going to get better than this. We are both healthy obviously, but if we go together maybe we can avoid sex fiend roots and clothes."

I looked at the kiss-ripened lips and saw the gleam of lust in his eyes as he flickered a glance in my direction. Fox Mulder might hate me, but he wanted me with everything in him. It gave me an illicit thrill. Even in the wake of the attack that had so shaken me, I had to accept that I wanted him too. I realized that I had over-reacted to his part in the creature's game, but I didn't know why. Shaken, that's all I was, I assured myself. I wanted him. So what? Hell, he was beautiful, who wouldn't want him? It didn't mean I wanted to buy matching sets of china with him. But, yeah I wanted to hear that little moan again. He had been spreading his legs so sweetly too, before the old man had intruded. I groaned and Mulder looked at me curiously.

"Yeah, we need to get the hell out of Dodge," I concurred.

"Are you all right, Krycek?" he asked, and I swear there was real concern in his voice. Maybe he just didn't like the idea of his little sex fantasy being crazy. That was unfair and I knew it, but I was struggling to understand the emotions he brought out in me…had always brought out in me.

"Yeah…yeah…let's get started. No time like the present. No sense putting off for tomorrow what you can do today. The early bird gets the…"

I get it, Krycek," he growled and began to gather up clothes for the journey; the hard bulge in his trousers a delectable piece of evidence to his willing surrender of moments ago.

"Yeah, okay," I whispered suddenly shaky. I was scared, I realized. Scared to go outside. It made me angry and with the ease of habit I took it out on him. "Stop staring at me, Foxy baby," I hissed, but the words came out more a truth than a curse. He was a foxy baby. And once released, the truth, the depth of my lust for him, made me shake. I glared at him with eyes I hoped intimidated him and he just shook his head.

"You are one confused man," he said finally.

"I know," I whispered and he looked at me almost gently, surprised by my honesty. God, I was so rarely honest with him…when we were partners, I lied to him…kept him from going to Scully to save her because I had been ordered to. That I had saved his life was certain, but Mulder wouldn't appreciate that. How could I even explain my role in this whole mess, when it was confusing even to me? My British mentor had been so clear on it, 'divide and conquer' and 'pick your allies carefully.' He had trusted Mulder, had admired Mulder even. "I am confused…and…and scared to go outside," I gasped at my revealing that. What in the hell had come over me? I raised wide eyes to Mulder and saw that his face was a mask of concern. My honesty was taking its toll on him. He looked more tender than wary and I hadn't seen that look on his face directed at me since we were partners.

"Alex…we *have* to go outside," he said softly. "Whatever it is that is out there, isn't just going to go away."

"I know," I hissed, hating any sign of weakness, but still I had to control a tremble. The memory of my shirt sucking on my nipples, my underwear and jeans pushing into my ass. I raised my gaze to his, trying to gauge his reaction. Did he pity me? Me the one-armed coward?

"I am scared too," he admitted and I think I may have gasped because he looked sheepish then.

"Then let's do it," I said finally. Though it was difficult to do I put on the last, Gore-Tex suit in the closet without any help from Mulder. To his credit he didn't offer any help and I was able to save face in that at least. I watched as he suited up in his suit from the previous day and stuffed his pockets full of little energy bars. "This cabin is loaded for bear, isn't it," I grumbled.

"Yeah right, with everything but a radio," he echoed.

"Well, we're leaving anyway so fuck the radio," I said with disgust. I was surprised when he chuckled at my words.

"Krycek, you are strange."

He sounded amused not angry and I found myself chuckling a little too.

"Out we go then," I said and Mulder nodded.

"Out into the cold, cruel world. Maybe we'll come upon a band of big, strong survivalists who will take pity on us," Mulder joked.

"You'd like that," I mock-sneered and he grinned.

"Oh yeah, I would. I wonder if they would want to keep me warm…hey it's my fantasy so yeah they would want to keep me warm…*very* warm," he teased.

I was surprised that he was being so relaxed. Yet as we made our way away from the cabin that had been our refuge and prison, I bristled at his lewd thoughts. "They better not keep you *too* warm, Mulder," I growled, unaccountably jealous of the imaginary men. In my mind's eye I could see Mulder cuddled up to a big, burly survivalist, his legs parting eagerly. It was inane, I knew, but I was jealous.

"You are…you are a slut, aren't you?" I accused and yet he laughed uproariously.

"You should know, you are the one who spies on me. Don't tell me you missed the night I entertained the Aussie football team in my apartment? Or the Swiss soccer team?"

"Shut up, " I growled, the point taken nonetheless. One had to actually *have* sex to be a slut.

"You are not a very good spy, Krycek if you could have missed all the orgies at my pad," Mulder chuckled. "You ought to be fired."

"Mulder, I am warning you…"

"No, don' get all riled," he smiled, "I promise to tell you the next time I'm the main course in a gang-bang…"

I shoved him then and he laughed. "The point is you *want* to gang-bang. You *are* a slut at heart," I growled, ridiculous sounding even to me.

"A slut at heart? Yeah, well you missed me and Skinner…fuck that was awesome…on his desk…after hours…"

That was too close to home and jealousy sparked up in me like an inferno. "You did *not* let that fucker fuck you! If you did…" I trailed off, my eyes narrowed at his look of realization. He finally realized I was serious and that I was…fuck…jealous! He wet his lips then and my cock reacted like the traitor it is. I could see that pink tongue licking my dick, lapping up all the juice and begging for more. I did what I did best, I pretended I wasn't effected and I moved ahead of him. When I looked back at him some several minutes later I caught him staring at my Gore-Tex covered ass. I turned away quickly and tromped on in the direction of the mythical town.

***

Satisfied with his ability to free the two men from the poisoning hatred of the enemy with a little compulsion toward honesty, the old man watched as the two men made their way toward the town. The love in the two men was trapped deep beneath suspicion and old wounds. Both felt betrayed by the other, and both wanted so desperately for something they thought out of their reach…the other man's passion and love. His grandson watched the flames seeing nothing of what he saw, but suddenly the old man knew how to bring to two men together. The young one, the one whose eyes burned like the jewels of nature, the one that the enemy had focussed on with evil lust, was fighting more strenuously to deny his feelings. His youth was deceptive for he had seen great evil…had been evil without accepting it…without seeking evil. His path was one that he believed to be just and his desire to do good would draw in the enemy like a moth to the flame. The other man was tortured by guilt of his past, but he *knew* his path was just…the enemy would hate him for that. In trying to divide the men, the enemy could take possession of them…feed on them until the young one would kill the one he loved. And when that happened, he would belong to the enemy, heart and soul.

He stared at his grandson, the beauty of youth and the beauty of The People shone in him. His strong body, muscled and dark, his intense, black eyes, and strong features would surely attract the older man…and force the younger man to reveal his feelings. Jealousy was a strong emotion and it burned in the heart of the young grass-eyed man. He was possessive of the other without understanding that he was. If he was forced to watch the other *seem* to fall for another surely he would fight for him…and then together they could defeat the enemy. He had long known of his grandson's preference as to what sex would warm his pallet at night and though he despaired that this virile youth would have no children he knew the Great Father worked in strange ways. Here was the proof of it. Of all his grandson's he would have here, able to send on this mission it was the one who would respond to the pretty agent should he find his grandson attractive. It would be interesting to watch. He smiled gently. He could only hope that his grandson would not be hurt when the stubborn, green-eyed one finally took what he had been long afraid to claim. He closed his eyes tight then looked into the flame and smiled. He knew Little Cloud would be successful in both finding the men and returning with them, but also in attracting the attention of the older of the two. He frowned as the vision clouded…would his grandson stand in the way of the two joining? Would he be too caught up in his own desire to see the rightness of the two joined? It was too late now. The plan was set in motion and it was the only possibility. He returned to keeping his thoughts and power on the enemy, lulling it into a false sense of security as it slept. The old ones were with him now and the battle was very nearly joined.

"Little Cloud," he spoke. His grandson looked at him, waiting in respectful silence for him to continue. "The snow is coming again. Two men will die in the storm unless we can bring them here. You will go and find them. If you cannot make it back here you will all die. I risk you, my beloved child, for I fear for us all. Your brothers will not return before the snow has left…and I will not emerge from here until I am called to leave this spot. You will bring the men here, treat them as family, and only bring wood and food to me here. You will not speak to me…you will not try to get me to leave…and you will *not* try to leave here." He saw the struggle, the disagreement in his grandson's wide eyes, but in the end, respect won out and his grandson nodded.

"They are east of here…just ten miles…south of the logging road. Go quickly for the enemy is soon to know that his prey has moved. He sleeps now, but will waken soon."

His grandson moved quickly to obey and just as the snow began to fall he started a snow mobile in the shed, hooked a second snowmobile to the hitch in the back of the first, checked the fuel gauge of both and set out east in search of the two men that his grandfather had commanded he find.

***

"The snow is gone. It isn't going to get better than this," I mocked as the snow began to fall around us like a blinding shield.

"Shut up, Krycek," Mulder growled against chattering teeth. The Gore-Tex was warm and waterproof or we'd be laying in frozen stupor already, but neither of us was in the peak performance of our lives.

We had walked for hours already and the mythical town just kept eluding us. Fancy that, I mused. I couldn’t really blame Mulder. I'd rather die fighting to live, than cowering in some cabin with no chance. But he didn't have to know that. What else was there to do but amuse myself with jabbing at Mulder? "I guess you have managed to get us killed after-all, Mulder. The car crash didn't work…"

"*Shut* up, Krycek, or I swear…" his voice trailed off and he stilled, his body as unmoving as a block of ice.

I made my way to his side in order to grab him and force him to move lest he think of lying down and stopping. I might be prepared to face my maker, but I was *not* prepared to watch Mulder face his.

"Do you hear that, Alex?" he asked.

I shivered wondering when my clothes would begin to attack. Or if…and this was worse somehow…Mulder's began to attack him. "I…I don't hear anything expect that damned wind…and my teeth chattering to beat the band," I growled.

"There…again…it's a motor!" he said excitedly.

As he said it, I could hear it, the steady thrum of an engine coming toward us. I saw the man on the snow mobile first and I nearly jumped for joy. "Hey!" I shouted. "Over here! Hey!"

Amazingly the snow mobile headed toward us, towing a second vehicle behind him.

"Jesus Christ, Mulder, we are going to make it." I smiled even though it hurt my face to do it.

The man pulled up alongside us and he slid up his goggles to reveal the prettiest eyes save for Mulder's I have ever seen. His skin was a rich, dark color and black hair fell over his high forehead. "Get the second machine unhooked and follow me," he bit out. "The storm is just gearing up now…we don't have any time."

I looked at Mulder in shock. It was as if this man was *looking* for us. Mulder was busily unhooking the second vehicle and with sure movements he stowed the cables and started the engine. I slid on behind Mulder and the man tossed us two pairs of goggles. Not waiting for me to do it, Mulder slid them over my head and I growled, but he ignored me, sliding his on and following the man back the way he had come.

After only forty-five minutes of travel, I was more numb than before…if that were possible. I buried my face shamelessly in Mulder's back, taking comfort in his steady warmth. I had started to doze off when we hit a bump and I jerked awake, the deceptive, warm lethargy frightening me. I saw the house in the distance, and a large barn behind it. The smoke coming from the ground confused me, but anything was acceptable as long as we got inside and warm. We parked the snowmobiles in front of the house and the man ordered us inside. Amazingly he started off again toward the barn in order to put the first machine away.

Mulder shoved me toward the house weakly. "Go on, Krycek, I am going to help him put these away." Before I could protest he was driving after the other man. I stumbled up to the house but was unwilling to enter without Mulder. I'd be damned if he thought he was more resilient than I was, I assured myself as I watched him emerge, minutes later, from the barn. The other man had to steady him as he and Mulder made their way back to the house. The snow began to come down in such waves that I lost sight of everything…even my hands in front of my face. I looked around desperately and could just make out what looked to be an old tire swing still equipped with rope lying right at my feet. I grabbed blindly at the rope and stumbled off the steps in search of the two men, hoping the rope would be long enough. I cried out for Mulder and heard him calling back to me. He was close. I grabbed at Mulder's arm just as he and the other man were heading out toward the forest in their confusions and Mulder grabbed the other man as I led them back to the house…the house I could not see at all. I could only see the rope sliding through the crook of my elbow, where I rested it as I gripped onto Mulder. I tripped on the stairs and the two men fell into me.

When we were in the house the man instructed us to take off our clothes and wrap ourselves in blankets by the roaring fire. We were sluggish in obeying and he grabbed at Mulder and began undressing him. I was too tired to care really. When we were situated he handed us mugs of hot water and left once more…this time bringing a long rope with him. When Mulder protested him leaving he said something about checking on his grandfather and left.

I surveyed the fingers o my hand…the Gore-Tex gloves had protected them from frostbite, thank you, God, for that. Mulder shivered next to me and I didn't make one single crack when he moved to cuddle next to me. I appreciated the extra warmth, nothing more, I told myself as I lifted my blanket and his cold, bare, skin touched mine. I felt immediately warmer despite his chilled flesh. He buried his face in my throat and I didn't make any comment, was in fact too tired to tell him to get away, I figured, as I buried my face in his hair.

After fifteen minutes Mulder stirred. "Where is he?" he asked with a worried frown on his face. His nose was red and his eyes glittered in the fire. He had never looked so appealing, I thought. He must have thought the same thing about me, for when he looked at me he seemed to freeze, his mouth opening slightly. He brought a hand to my face and touched it with all the reverence of the saved. He was wonderfully nude next to me and I reacted in the only way I could, I pushed him away from me with a small growl. He looked embarrassed and then moved away to the other side of the fire.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, his cheeks red to match his nose.

"Don't worry, Mulder, I know you can't resist…I'm too fucking beautiful right?" I hid my own confusion at his nearness with easy words of disdain and he just stared at me for a moment before looking back into the fire.

He seemed about to speak again when the door opened and the tall man returned. He closed the door behind him and with grace even bundled up so, he moved toward the fire and took of his suit. When he stood only in tan leggings before the fire I saw the painting on his smooth, muscled chest. His body was powerful and sleek, all smooth skin and muscle. I was about to ask him who he was and why he had saved us when I heard Mulder gasp a bit. I turned curious eyes to him and saw that he was just turning his head away from the handsome man and focussing on his own feet. I bridled. What in the hell was wrong with Mulder? Did any sexy male do it for him?

"My name is Adam Longfort. I am a deputy sheriff in a little town called Caplan." He turned his dark stare from me to Mulder and I frowned as he seemed to be struck dumb for a second staring at Mulder. Mulder was still looking at his feet, nibbling thoughtfully on his lower lip, but he raised his eyes politely when the man, Adam, paused. "I…I was told…ahem…was told to find you and bring you here," he finished abruptly his eyes still locked to Mulder's face. It was obvious he was gay, gay and drooling over Mulder. Fuck, do they have Neon signs on them, I wondered, that they could know when one of their kind sat nude and lovely at their feet? Adam turned to me and I glared at him, lest he look at me like he was looking at Mulder. No Neon signs on me, buddy, I thought. It must have worked because he just grinned. I frowned even deeper when I realized that he had wondered about the two of us, thought that maybe we were an item. And that he was relieved to see that we weren't. How in the hell did someone just assume that two *men* were lovers? In his American Indian dreams, I silently taunted. He crouched down then, "My grandfather told me that you two are to fight the enemy, that you have already fought him."

Mulder perked up at that and he sat up straight, the blanket falling off is shoulder to his hips, revealing his naked chest to Adam's discrete stare. Don't even think about it, buddy, I thought. Mulder is an FBI agent, he doesn't have time for quickies.

"The enemy? Your grandfather…*you* know what is out there? What attacked my friend and I?"

Friend? I mused, secretly delighted by his choice of words.

"It is something from legends really…what did you see?" Adam asked curiously.

"Oh, well it…it made roots and clothes attack Alex here…and it…well…" Mulder flushed scarlet.

"It made Mulder here attack me," I growled.

"Yes…it did," Mulder admitted, looking back at his feet.

I felt a bit guilty at that. "He didn't want to you understand," I filled in and Mulder looked up at me in surprise. "It kind of..well it entered him somehow…kind of a Linda Blair moment I guess you could say," I tried to joke, but the memory of the attack was not amusing. I opened my eyes wide and then narrowed them as Adam reached out to pat Mulder's naked shoulder. When that strong, brown hand squeezed Mulder's shoulder I nearly growled.

"It was not your fault then. You should take your friend's words to heart. You didn't want to," Adam soothed before standing again. "I am going to fix you both something warm to eat and then you can go to any room you want and sleep. You'll need to be strong."

Mulder shook his head, "But what is it?"

"I don't know really, legends say it is an evil spirit that feeds on the flesh and spirit of its victims…it is a thing of lust and evil and can turn brother against brother," Adam explained. "It has been a story with my people for so long…a legend that only the old believed in. I don't know more, but I trust my grandfather. He is the shaman of my people…and he has powers that I cannot deny. Now, let me find you something to eat."

When he walked away I turned to say something to Mulder only to find him rising to follow the handsome deputy. "It seems obsessed with Alex…is there any way we can protect him?" Mulder asked much to my complete astonishment.

"Your friend is…beautiful…Osebo likes pretty things," Adam replied, embarrassing me further.

Mulder turned a small, encouraging grin to me. "But we can protect him right? What did you call him?"

"Osebo…it is the name of the African slave that he first inhabited…we don't know its real name. I can only pray we can protect him…and you," Adam said with a heavy look at Mulder.

"Oh, it doesn't have an interest in me…just Alex," Mulder assured Adam.

"I told you he likes pretty things…trust me, he will have an interest in you," Adam declared and I rolled my eyes dramatically.

"Well my clothes have been very chaste with me so far," Mulder informed Adam.

I watched as Adam shook his head and looked Mulder up and down before hurrying to the kitchen with Mulder following a million questions popping out of his mouth. AS I didn't want to be left out of the conversation I followed the two. I could care less if the bastard who saved us drooled over Mulder. Bastard? Why was he a bastard? He'd saved our skin and was going to feed us…I was tired, I reminded myself. I was always a bit touchy when tired, I remembered as I stood close to Mulder as he talked Adam's ear off.

***

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