Salvation, Redemption and Hope by Mulderslady Part of the Tough Love Universe DISCLAIMER: They don't belong to me, wish they did. Only Skyler Wilson, Mike, Meg, and Jim do. RATING: R to NC-17 CLASSIFICATION: A, Slash, Mulder/other KEYWORDS: Slash, Mulder/other, Skyler and slight Mulder angst, Skyler torture SPOILERS: none URL: www.geocities.com/Area51/Capsule/toughlove.html FEEDBACK: Please! at damacia@home.com ARCHIVE: Oh yeah, anywhere!! SUMMARY: Mulder and Skyler come to a crossroads in there relationship, something happens that could take Skyler from Mulder forever. Part of the Tough Love Universe. You may want to read that one first so you know who the Heck Skyler is, but it's not totally necessary. This story picks up four months after the last one. ****************************************************************** It could all be so simple, but you rather make it hard Loving you is like a battle, and we both end up with scars Ex-Factor by Lauren Hill ****************************************************************** Mulder's body hummed with sexual energy. It's been four months since he was released from the hospital after his suicide attempt, but Skyler still won't let me touch him. Mulder ran his fingers lightly across Skyler's arm and chest. "So beautiful" he said softly. Skyler opened his piercing green eyes and smiled "So are you." He said as he aggressively attacked Mulder's lips. "Oh Sky, Oh man, Yes! Oh" Skyler turned over to look at Mulder, it didn't sound like a nightmare. Mulder's eyes were closed, his hands wrapped around a dangerously hard erection, stroking and swirling his thumbs around the tip, squeezing just right to elicit more moans of pleasure. Skyler watched amused as Mulder continued to jerk off. He touched his face lovingly and Mulder came hard, Skyler's name on his lips. Skyler blushed, a feeling of pride sweeping over him as Mulder sighed, "I love you Skyler." Skyler gently placed his hand over Mulder's heart, Mulder calmed and relaxed, falling back into a deep sleep. "I love you too Mulder." Skyler said as he watched him sleep. Meg's Office Next day "He jerked off again last night." Skyler said flatly. "Does that bother you Skyler?" Meg said, sensing he was upset "Well no, kinda, yes. Yes it does." "Well there's one way to fix that." "I know I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet." "You'll never know till you try." Skyler smiled and nodded. He's getting more confident with his sexuality, but he still seems reluctant to admit it, Meg thought as she watched Skyler leave. Mulder must really love him to be this patient with him. FBI headquarters "I'm tell you Spooky hasn't screwed the Ice Queen." "How do you know?" "Spooky likes to take it up the ass." "He's gay?" "Big time. I think that guy who come by all the time is his lover." "The one with the curly hair? Get real, that is Skyler Wilson! He writes that column for the Post. He's as homophobic as they come." "Hold that thought here he comes." Skyler hated meeting him at work. The guards know that I'm not just Mulder's good buddy and give me leering looks, he thought as he went through the metal detectors. "Hi'ya, How's it going?" "Fine thank you." "You know where to find him in Loonyville?" "Yeah thanks." The guards' eyes watched him as he headed to the elevator. "You sure it's him? He doesn't act gay?" "Neither does Spooky. Those are the kind of gay guys I like, they're gay but they don't feel they need to announce it over the PA system." Skyler wished Mulder had heard that, Skyler thought as he boarded the elevator. He thinks I'm paranoid about people talking about us. He smiled at the woman next to him, she kept checking him out and accidentally brushing against him. She even missed her floor and rode down to the basement with me, he thought as Mulder met him at the elevator. "Hey Sky." He said getting on the elevator and pulling Skyler into a passionate kiss. The woman's eyes bulged and she moved away quickly. Better than a cold shower, huh? Skyler thought with a smile "I missed you today" Mulder said, resting his forehead against Skyler's then pulling away. His hand lightly slid down Skyler's chest as he pressed for the lobby. "Oh hey Carol." Mulder said finally noticing the other person in the car. "Hi Agent Mulder, how are you today?" "Great now." He said looking intently at Skyler then asking, "Have you met?" "Ah no." "This is my lover Skyler, this is Carol Simmons, she works in records." Carol shook Skyler's hand "Nice to meet you." Carol said as the elevator stopped on her floor. She exited hastily and Mulder chuckled to himself. "That cooled her heels. So you finish your column for the week?" "Yeah I did." "Good then we have the whole night to ourselves. I ordered Thai before I left the office, I think we should talk." Skyler nodded and Mulder grasped his hand loosely as they got off the elevator. "The creature for the Black Lagoon didn't try to attack you, did it?" A guard asked as they passed through the detectors. "No, the Wolfman was down there at the moment, they don't get along." Skyler responded flatly. Mulder chuckled softly to himself as he reholstered his weapon "Man I'm rubbing off on you." Mulder said as he reached for Skyler's hand again. Mulder sat on the couch and watched Skyler as he talked, he hadn't heard a word he said since they finished dinner. The only thing thinking at the moment twitched with delight every time Skyler moved. Mulder leaned over quickly and kissed Skyler hard on the mouth, trying to insert his tongue to taste him. Skyler pushed him back. "What's wrong?" "I don't want to do THAT tonight." "You never want to do THAT or anything else, then you get mad at me when I jerk off. I'm getting frustrated Skyler." Skyler looked at him, stunned by his sharp tone then said "You're right, I'm doing it again and I don't know why." "Your afraid. You're afraid I'm going to hurt you. You know I won't hurt you Sky. Please come to bed, let me make love to you tonight." Mulder said kissing Skyler's neck tenderly, heading to the bedroom. 9:30 p.m. Scully knocked on the door softly and entered the apartment. I've been trying to reach him for hours. His cellphone and pager are off, phone busy, now he's not answering the door, something's wrong, she thought. She heard noises coming from the bedroom and went to investigate. Nightmare? Scully eased the bedroom door opened and covered her mouth quickly to muffled the gasp that emitted. Mulder was on top of Skyler, his cock buried deep in the other man. He was draped over him thrusting into him gently. One hand caressing Skyler's back as he placed gentle kisses on it, the other disappeared under Skyler. Both men were whimpering and groaning with pleasure as Mulder continued his loving ministrations. Scully closed the door back and blushed wildly. Oops! No wonder he wasn't answering the phone. "OH god Skyler! Yes! Ah! Sky!" Mulder screamed as he came hard, Skyler following quickly. Scully skittered out of the apartment. I really wish this could wait till the morning, she thought as she relocked the door and knocked loudly. Mulder appeared at the door a few moments later, in his silk pajama bottoms, his hair still wet with sweat, breathing a little hard. "Hey Scully what's up? Something wrong?" "Yeah, did I wake you?" "Ah no, no you didn't wake me." She entered the apartment and explained the case for Mulder. He nodded "We need to go investigate this right now. Got tickets?" "Yeah the 11 p.m. flight. Do you think it's her?" Mulder shrugged. "Could be, I have to see come on." Mulder said as he headed to his bedroom." "Ah . . ." "It's alright Skyler's asleep." Wore him out huh? Scully thought as see walked into their bedroom. It still smelled heavily of sex. Mulder rushed around packing as Scully sat on the bed. She turned to look at Skyler who was stretched out on his stomach, his face turned towards her, a contented smiled plastered across it. Scully turned back to Mulder, flushing madly. Mulder smiled amused "Another satisfied customer." He said softly, making Scully turn crimson. "I'm sorry." "It's okay, we had just finished when you knocked." Mulder said putting on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. He left Skyler a note and kissed him tenderly on the back and cheek. "Come on lets go." Mulder said heading out the door. 10 a.m. It's her, it's really her and this dickhead won't tell us where she is, Mulder thought as Scully said "No sir she's not in any trouble, she has information on a missing child that would be invaluable." His cellphone rang and Mulder answered it quickly "Mulder." "Hey it's me." "Sky, it's really not a good time right now, you got my note?" "Yeah, I just wanted to say I hope this is Samantha and I love you." Mulder smiled "I love you too Sky, I'll call you later." Mulder placed his cellphone in his jacket pocket as Scully walked over to him "She works at the Hannaford grocery store, as a produce manager." Mulder nodded and got in the car quickly. Lunch I never thought I'd see her again, or for that matter have lunch with my sister, chatting about families and life in general. She thought I was dead, that's what they told her, I'm so glad she's safe and happy. "So you have a picture of your girlfriend Fox?" Samantha asked as she took a bite of her pasta. "Yeah here." Mulder said pulling out his wallet and taking out a recent picture of Skyler. "OH! She's a he!" Samantha said blushing slightly, "Sorry Fox." "No problem." "What's his name?" "Skyler Wilson." "He's cute, does Mom know? I mean does she know that your . .. " "Yeah, she does, she's happy for me. I don't have much luck in relationships. Now Dad, he's probably flipping in his grave." "So they're all dead, and the colonization plans ruined? All thanks to you two? Wow you have been busy." Mulder and Scully looked at each other and smiled, just as his cellphone rang. "Excuse me, Mulder. Skyler not now, I said I'd call you later. No, no, YOU DIDN'T!! Skyler, he's going to blow a gasket when he finds out you got another waterbed. Remember what happened the last time, yeah, yeah. Don't touch my TV Sky. Skyler!" "Are they always like that?" Samantha asked Scully, an amused smile on her face "Always" "Skyler, I'll be back by tomorrow afternoon. My TV had better still be there and that waterbed better not . . .Yes, no, I don't . . . Sky, Sky, SKYLER! Fine, if it springs a leak like the last one you're paying for it. Yes. Okay Bye. Yes, I love you too bye." Mulder placed his cellphone back in his pocket and sighed. "Back to his old tricks?" "You could say that. Why does that man insist on rearranging and throwing out valuable furniture?" "He probably misses you. I know I start doing stuff like that when my husband leaves for a while." "Hmm, never thought of that. Maybe I should get him a dog to keep him occupied. Maybe then he'll leave my TV alone." "So where is he?" Scully asked as they waited for Skyler to pick them up from the airport "I don't know he should've been here by now." Mulder said worried. A light blue convertible Jaguar XK8 drove up, a sunglassed and smiling Skyler in the drivers seat. "Hey, sorry I'm late." "When did you get this?" Mulder asked admiring the new car. "Yesterday, nice huh? I took back the waterbed and used the money for a down payment." "How could you . . ." "I got a very sizable raise. I decided to splurge a little, let's go." Mulder and Scully put there bags in the trunk and hopped in the Jag as Skyler took off. "What's the hurry?" Scully asked as Skyler wove in and out of traffic. "I got tickets for Hamlet at 6 then made dinner reservations for me and Mulder, then I rented us a cabin in Orange County for the weekend." "Ok, who are you? Where is Skyler? And did you lock him away good so he won't come back?" Mulder asked, Skyler chuckled "Yes far away. Want me to drop by somewhere so you can get some dinner Dana?" "No, I'll splurge and order a pizza you, two have fun tonight." Cabin "I was thinking you got a cabin, not a house." Mulder said as he walked into the lavishly furnished cabin. "They said it was a cabin. Nice huh? All secluded, fridge stocked, a whole weekend to ourselves, romantic huh?" "Very Sky . . ." Skyler put a finger to Mulder's lips and kissed him gently on the lips. "Meet me in the whirlpool." Skyler said vanishing quickly. Mulder started to undress, grinning madly. What has gotten into him? He was affectionate in public, actually introduced me to people he knew as his lover or as he put it significant other. Now a fun-filled weekend away from home, together as a couple. I need to remind myself to thank Meg. Whatever she did worked! Whirlpool Mulder eased into the whirlpool, the bubbles swirling around him as he locked eyes with Skyler, who was eyeing him like a predator his prey. "So this all to celebrate your raise?" "No, to celebrate our 2 year anniversary and to tell you I love you." "Two year anniversary? Oh dang I forgot!" "I know, you've been busy. You deserve a break. Here, my present to you." Skyler said handing him a little velvet box with a red bow. Mulder opened it quickly and smiled "What's this?" he said when he say the white gold diamond and onyx eternity band. "A commitment ring. It's as close as we'll get to begin married, short of a trip to Hawaii." "Thanks it's beautiful." Mulder said, putting the ring on his left-hand ring finger. Skyler moved closer to Mulder and stared to run a washcloth over his body, caressing him, seducing him. "You know I always wanted to know something Mulder." "What?" Mulder asked quietly, his eyes closed as he relaxed into his touch. "When we make love, why are you always on top?" Mulder's eyes snapped open and he looked at Skyler quizzically. "Cause I'm usually the aggressor. I never thought you wanted to be on top." "I do tonight." Mulder's cock leapt to attention. "I want to make love to you tonight till you can't see straight, till you can't speak or think. I'm going to make you feel how I always feel after you make love to me." Mulder moaned slightly and Skyler kissed him hungrily. He tore away and got out of the tub. Mulder followed quickly. Skyler carefully dried him off and pushed him towards the bed. Mulder laid across it, watching Skyler dry off and come towards him. His heart pounded as Skyler smiled down at him and climbed over top of him "Which way do you want me?" Mulder asked, arousal deepening his voice "Any way I can get you." Skyler responded attacking Mulder's neck with light nips and kisses, then kissing his full lips hard, his tongue tasting him. He tasted salty, a little sweet and tangy, he loved how he tasted. His hands teased Mulder's sensitive skin as his lips moved down to caress his collarbone and chest. Mulder's hands ran lightly up and down Skyler's sides, encouraging him to continue, his eyes dark with pleasure as Skyler's lips neared their goal. He placed a quick kiss on the tip of Mulder's cock, making him squirm slightly with anticipation. "Do you want that Mulder? Do you want me to suck you?" Mulder's eyes were closed tightly, sweat already beading his forehead as he nodded yes. He howled in ecstasy when he saw Skyler engulf him in his mouth. He licked his entire length, then swirled his tongue around the tip before letting it fall out of his mouth. He locked eyes with Mulder, his hazel eyes wide with anticipation as Skyler's mouth closed around him again. Skyler's hands caressed Mulder's thighs, teasing him even more as his tongue swirled and played around his cock from base to tip. Skyler added just the right amount of suction and soon had Mulder on the edge. Mulder clutched handfuls of Skyler's hair and pushed his head in more as he started to thrust into his mouth. Mulder came hard and long as Skyler swallowed him down, then licked him clean. Mulder stared into Skyler's blazing eyes amazed and reached to pulling him to his lips, kissing him hungrily, tasting himself in his mouth. "Now turn over, round two." Skyler said pulling away from Mulder's hungry lips. Mulder smiled and turned over, resting his head on a pillow as he felt Skyler put a lubed finger tentatively in his rectum. Mulder groaned in pleasure and started to rock back and forth on his finger. It had been way too long since someone had made love to him. "Easy Mulder, we'll get to that in a minute. Relax, you're tight." Mulder exhaled heavily and relaxed as two more lubed fingers entered him, feeling him, prepping him, making love to him then they were gone and replaced by something else. Skyler groaned as he pushed his hard lubed cock into Mulder "God this feels good! You feel so good!" Skyler exclaimed as he slowly buried himself to the hilt. "You okay babe?" Mulder nodded and started to rock again. "Ok jeez you're impatient." Skyler said as he started to slowly thrust into him. Mulder groaned loudly, whimpering as Skyler continued, kissing his back lightly and ruffling his sweat soaked hair as he increased the intensity of his thrusts. Mulder rose up a little on his knees as his climax neared, countering Skyler's frantic thrusts. Mulder came hard again, screaming Skyler's name as Skyler followed quickly, collapsing over Mulder, caressing his wet back as they calmed. Skyler pulled out and cradled into Mulder's chest. "Happy anniversary Mulder." He said as he fell fast asleep. Monday " Well you look refreshed had a nice weekend?" Scully asked as she watched Mulder bounce into the office, a smile on his face. "The best. I don't know what got into him but I like it." "Well, lets see if you can concentrate on work." The Post office building "Skyler! Hey loved that article, but could you get any more homophobic? Your going to start getting death threats if you're not careful. Where were you this weekend I called you?" "Hey Mike, I was out of town, on a little romantic getaway." "That's nice, with this Mulder?" "Yeah, so where's my 'fanmail'?" "You mean your hate mail. The more controversial, the more you get." "Well at least you know people are reading." Mike laughed and patted him on the back as he left. Skyler looked at the large sacks of mail in his office. Man, how am I going to get this to the car? He spied a cart in the hall and loaded some sacks on it and wheeled them down to the garage. Skyler fiddled in his pocket for his keys, when someone said "Hello Mr. Wilson" Skyler turned and looked at the man. He was middle aged and he looked just like him, right down to what he had on. "Hello, nice outfit." The man stepped closer to Skyler. "I'm your number one fan Mr. Wilson." "Well that's good to know." "Yeah it is." The man said, whipping out a tazer and quickly shocking Skyler into unconsciousness. 4 p.m. "He's supposed to be in today." Mulder said to Scully as he got of the elevator. "Oh good you're here! Some one has kidnapped one of our writers." Mike said frantically "I'm sorry, I don't . . ." Mulder started "Skyler Wilson, our commentary writer. He was taking some stuff down to his car, he never came back. We saw the stuff by his car, no Skyler, a tazer and blood. We didn't touch anything. I knew something like this would happen one day." "Thank you. Scully, I think we need to get a forensics team down here." "'K I'm on it." "Thank you agent . . ." Mike started, looking at his tag, his eyes widening, "Mulder . . . Mulder?" Mike looked at him surprised "Yes Fox Mulder . . ." "Mike, Mike Sullivan, his editor. Nice to meet you, Skyler talks a lot about you." Mulder smiled and turned back to Scully. "Let's look in his office, it could have a lead or two." Mulder said as he headed to Skyler's office. Mulder looked around Skyler's office, he had never been in here before, and it was just as neat and organized as their apartment. "Compulsive neat freak." He muttered under his breath, Scully giggled as she sorted through papers in his in box. She stopped when she found an envelope labeled FBI. She handed it to Mulder, who opened it and read it quickly. "Fuck!" He said as she stormed out of the office, heading to the elevators. Scully picked it up and read it "I'm his #1 fan. I want to be just like him, I want to be him. You won't find him and if you do, he won't be alive. He's not worthy to be Skyler Wilson any more. Its time for me to take over." Scully placed it in her pocket and followed Mulder quickly. He got off at the garage and went over to the crime scene. "Mulder don't touch anything. Mulder?" Mulder stood where the tazer was dropped and closed his eyes. "Mulder? What are you doing?" "Shh, I'm getting something." "OK! Go for it wonder boy." Scully said sarcastically "He came up behind him and said something to make him turn around. Skyler saw him, something was wrong with him." "What?" "He looked like him, just like him, even the clothes." "OK spooky, how do you know that?" Scully said incredulously. "I imagined it." Scully gave him THE LOOK. "Plus that piece of sweater on the floor is the same one Sky had on this morning." "How do you know it's not his?" "The tazer placement and the scrap. It's more in line with the attacker. If it was from Skyler, it would have been over there." "AH! Want me to run it?" "No don't bother, if we do get a make on the guy he probably won't have a prior. I think he was saving up for one person, Skyler." Next day 2 p.m. "Hello Mr. Wilson, can I call you Skyler?" Skyler opened his eyes slowly "Sure, what's your name?" "Skyler." "Wow! That's cool, I haven't met many guys with my name." Skyler said, as he thought keep him talking, buy yourself some time. "Well I'll be the only Skyler soon. My real name is Jim. Say, is your hair naturally curly?" "Yeah, my curse." "I had to put mine on rollers." Skyler stifled a snort laugh. Oh this guy is nuts! I need help. Mulder, where are you? I need you. "You're a hypocrite Skyler." "Hmm?" "You have a boyfriend, you fag! You are so homophobic in your articles. I thought you understood, is that article a joke for you? You're lying to the public! Don't worry, I left a note for your boyfriend at your office." "Really?" "That queer FBI Freak." Jim said, sharpening a large knife. "Jim, what are you doing? Let's talk." "No! NO! You're a Fucking Fairy! You are not worthy to live, you're not worthy to be Skyler Wilson anymore. I will take over from here. Quiet!" Jim screamed at him, slapping a piece of duct tape over Skyler's mouth. Oh boy, this is bad! Mulder please hurry, Skyler thought as Jim came towards him with the knife. "I think we'll end this now. The sight of you makes me sick you Fucking creep! Bet you want me to fuck you, don't you? Bet you like it rough, don't you?" Jim punched Skyler hard in the face and kicked him repeatedly in the ribs till blood pooled in his mouth. Jim kicked him one more time and Skyler heard a sickening crack and screamed into the duct tape, tears coming out of his eyes from the pain. "Now to put you out of your misery." He grabbed him by his hair and shook his head hard. He pulled the tape off his lips and Skyler screamed from the pain, spitting out the blood in his mouth. Jim punched him hard in the eye and put his knife to Skyler's throat, pressing it in slowly. "I love you Mulder, I love you." Skyler whispered as he felt the neck cut into his flesh. A shot rang out and the knife fell into his lap. "I love you too Sky. Oh forgot, Stop Federal agent!" Mulder said with a smile. Skyler smiled, wincing from the pain. Mulder touched his cheek gently. "You okay, what he do to you? Did he touch you?" "I think he broke my ribs, it's hard to breathe." Mulder touched his swelling eye and untied Skyler's hands and feet. Scully called the medics up. Mulder looked deep into Skyler's eyes, the concern etched on his face. "I'm fine Mulder." Skyler said looking away from him. Mulder touched his cheek, making him look at him. Skyler crumpled into Mulder's chest and sobbed wildly. "It's okay he's gone, I took care of it. He can't hurt you anymore." Scully came over to them and gasped excitedly "OH Wow! He looks just like him! Single White Female with a twist!" Mulder laughed and helped Skyler to his feet as the medics arrived. They strapped him onto the stretcher and Mulder went over to Skyler, lightly placing his hand over his heart. "I'll see you at the hospital Skyler, ok?" "NO! Come with me please." Skyler begged, clutching at his arm. My, how your reservations about your sexuality vanish when you're in pain, Mulder thought as he held Skyler's shaking hand and walked out to the ambulance with him. "I'll follow behind, let the police hand the clean up." "Ok Scully thanks." Mulder said climbing into the ambulance and shutting the door. ****************************************************************** I know there is nowhere you can hide it. I know the feeling of alone Trust me and don't keep it on the inside I know by Jude ****************************************************************** 8 weeks later Mulder stretched out across the couch and mindlessly flipped through the channels. He had wanted him with him constantly at the hospital, but now it seemed like he couldn't stand to be near me, as if he was punishing me for something, Mulder thought. He's just upset, it was traumatic for him. But all I want to do is help, comfort him, be there for him. To talk with him, discuss how he's feeling but he won't open up. "I'm fine" was his stoic response to everything. He's worse than Scully with that I'm fine stuff. Skyler came out of the bedroom and stood by the couch. Mulder straightened up and patted the empty side of the couch. Skyler sat next to him and chewed his bottom lip slightly. "I'm sorry if I've been distant, but I had a lot to think about. I needed to be alone." "It's okay, I understand. I just want you to know I'm here if you need to talk about anything Sky. I love you and I will always be there for you." "Well where were you when I was tied up and getting the shit kicked out of me by a Fatal attraction Loony! Huh? My loyal defender! Where were you when I needed you?!" Mulder stared at him in disbelief, he was mad at me?! I don't believe this "I was looking for you! You better be glad I just happened to drop by or you'd be dead right now!" Skyler froze. "What do you mean?" "The FBI doesn't start investigating kidnappings right away. The only reason you were found was cause I was coming to take you out to dinner with Scully and me. Pure old fashioned good luck saved your ungrateful sorry ass!" Skyler sat back on the couch in shock "I'm sorry I didn't know. I didn't mean to yell at you Mulder. I'm sorry I yelled at you, it was uncalled for. So," Skyler said looking at Mulder, "I'd be dead right now if you weren't being your usual bothersome self?" "Yep, but you got to tell me something. Why are you so neat all the time? I mean is it an obsessive compulsive behavior?" "Why are you so disorganized?" "Opposites attract, want to go out to dinner?" "Later, I have to go see Meg." "I'll come with you." "Ah no, I need to go by myself." "Well then I'll drive you and wait in the waiting room. I'm an obsessive-compulsive protector. I don't feel comfortable letting you out of my sight right now. It scared me when I couldn't find you Sky. I never want that to happen again, you be more careful ok?" "I will, I will Mulder lets go. I want to go to Outback tonight,, it gets crowded after 6." "We got all the time in the world. Scully and me took the rest of the week off and I made reservations for the two of us at our cabin in the sky and this time Skyler . . ." Mulder said, leaning into him and whispering in his ear, " I'm going to be on top."