Skinner cursed as he patted his pocket, realising he’d left his cell phone on the coffee table. Locking his case into the trunk, he left the underground garage, heading for the stairs. It would be quicker than waiting for the elevator. Opening the front door, he saw the phone, reached for it then realised he could hear sounds in the kitchen. Figuring it wouldn’t make him much later if he stopped to make sure Fox knew where everything was, he walked into the kitchen and stopped in the doorway. Fox was standing over the hob in only his boxers, his forearm across one of the gas burners. Which was lit. Skinner pulled him backwards, clearly startling Fox who had been unaware of his presence. He grabbed at Fox’s arm, looking into the dull expressionless eyes as he checked the wound. ‘Mulder, what the Hell were you doing?’ He knew that, deep down, he already knew the answer. Mulder had been replacing emotional pain with physical pain. He got to his feet, turned the gas off, then was forced to leave Fox where he was while he went in search of some clothes. He pulled a pair of sweatpants over Fox’s trembling legs and almost missed Fox’s terrified whisper. ‘I didn’t want to make a mess.’ ‘What?’ Skinner concentrated on pulling Fox’s sweats up all the time keeping an eye on the burn on his forearm. ‘I didn’t cut myself in case I made a mess.’ ‘Jesus Mulder, if I hadn’t come back…’ he sighed heavily. ‘Come on, let’s get you to the Emergency Room.’ ************** While they waited to be seen in the busy ER, Skinner’s phone rang. ‘Walter, it’s Catherine. Are you coming over for lunch?’ Walter felt a cold shiver. ‘Um, no. I’m busy.’ ‘Walter? You’re hiding something. Tell me. If I find out later, and I will, I’ll be cross you didn’t tell me.’ ‘Mulder, uh, he, burned himself.’ As he spoke, Skinner wondered if he had a death wish. ‘Cooking?’ ‘No, when I left this morning I realise I’d forgotten my phone. When I walked in, he was standing in the kitchen with his arm over the gas burner.’ Skinner paused, waiting for the inevitable reaction. ‘I’m on my way. Which hospital are you at?’ ************ Eventually, because he said nothing and Skinner lied as to the true cause of his injury, Fox was given antibiotics and painkillers and told to have the dressing changed daily by his own doctor. Skinner and Catherine had stood in awkward silence around his bedside while he was treated, and Catherine took Mulder’s arm as they left the hospital. ‘You’re going to come home with me Fox.’ Skinner was about to protest, then decided against it. ‘I’ll see you soon Mulder, okay?’ Mulder nodded dully, pain and shock adding to his already overloaded mind. ************** Skinner knew the phone would ring. And he would have to face Catherine’s anger. In the event, it was three days before the call came. And even then, Catherine made sure Skinner understood how angry she was with him. The call came from Jimmy. ************* Skinner walked through the door Jimmy opened and looked around. Every muscle and nerve reacted to the sight. Catherine, sitting on the couch, hands folded on her lap. Spender sitting in an armchair, coffee cup in hand. And Krycek was standing quietly at his side, his eyes missing nothing. Wasting no time on pleasantries, Catherine asked coldly: ‘What did I tell you I would do to you if you allowed any harm to come to the little Fox?’ Skinner swallowed hard. ‘You said you’d break my legs.’ Skinner could see Spender, still sipping his coffee, looking at him through vaguely-unfocussed eyes. Spender smiled slightly. This was what he had come for. To see the AD suffer. That he wasn’t feeling well was immaterial. He had felt unwell for some months now. He sipped the strong coffee and waited. ‘I did. However, as he’s here, I’ve decided to make use of Alex.’ She turned. ‘Alex, come here.’ Obediently, not making eye contact with Skinner, Alex stepped forward. ‘Ma’am?’ Catherine turned her attention back to Skinner. ‘Give me your gun Walter.’ On the verge of panic, Walter handed Catherine his weapon, his hand shaking. Catherine seemed not to notice and handed Alex the gun. He immediately checked it and slipped the safety off. ‘Lay face down on the couch.’ That was too much for Skinner. ‘No way!’ He growled. He also noticed that Spender seemed uneasy. Someone giving a man who had a hundred reasons to kill you a loaded gun was, he imagined, the reason for Spender’s fidgeting. ‘Don’t argue! I warned you. Do it!’ Catherine’s voice snapped through the silent room like a whip. Reluctantly, aware that all eyes in the room were on him, Skinner stretched out on the couch. This was his punishment for failing to protect Fox. He deserved this. He needed this. Catherine said quietly: ‘Jimmy, bring the car round then come back in here.’ Skinner’s heart pounded and his mouth filled with cotton as he lay with his face pressed into the silk cushions, which, he couldn’t fail to notice smelt of a mixture of Catherine’s perfume and Spender’s Morleys. ‘Alex, concentrate.’ Catherine said sharply. ‘I want a clean shot into each leg.’ Skinner could hear Alex moving around behind him, making sure he wouldn’t miss. Somehow, Skinner almost found the sound reassuring. He had half-expected Catherine to come at him with a baseball bat. Spender leaned forward to get a better view and toppled out of the armchair and onto the floor in an untidy heap. Catherine took the gun from Alex, ignoring the look of confusion on his face, and flicked the safety back on. Skinner heard the sounds behind him, but didn’t dare turn his head to look. he could hear the exchange. 'Cath...Catherine...why?' Spender fought to remain conscious long enough to hear the answer. 'You made me drink in the middle of the day. I never did that until I met you.' Catherine said, stroking the hair from Spender's closing eyes. As if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, Catherine went to the door, opened it, and called for her sub. He arrived seconds later, and Catherine nodded at Spender’s limp form. ‘Alex, help Jimmy to get Mr Spender into the car.’ She leaned down, kissed her fingers, then touched them to Spender’s cheek. ‘Your friends won’t be pleased to see you my dear. Especially when they read this.’ She tucked a folded sheet of paper into his pocket, patted it twice, then straightened up, watching as he was taken out of the room. ‘Walter, get up.’ Slowly, not quite believing what had happened, Skinner rose. ‘What the..?’ Catherine shook her head disappointedly. ‘Walter dear. If I was really angry with you over Fox’s little accident, I would have pulled the trigger myself. And not into your legs. Now sit down.’ She gestured to the armchair which, until a few moments earlier, had been occupied by the man Alex and Jimmy were now carrying out of the room. ‘You’re clearly not ready to be responsible for Fox. So, here’s what I propose.’ Skinner recognised the words for what they were. Something he wouldn’t be able to say ‘no’ to. ‘I’ll keep Fox and Alex here. They’ll be safe and well cared-for. You will resign. That will allow you spend all your time learning how to care for them.’ ‘Them?’ Skinner said suspiciously. ‘Yes. You will take responsibility for both Fox and Alex.’ ‘No.’ Skinner said firmly. There was no way… ‘In that case…’ Catherine stood up suddenly. Skinner wondered where his gun was. ‘Get out. Leave and never come back. You will never see Fox again.’ As she expected, Skinner’s shock at her words was evident on his face. Gently, she said: ‘We both know you couldn’t agree to that. So, rest tonight, and return here in the morning.’ ‘How is Fox?’ Catherine put a hand on his arm, steering him towards the door. ‘Missing you. Almost as much as you’re missing him.’ ‘How did you know?’ Skinner asked, his voice a pained whisper. Catherine smiled kindly. She put a hand up and Skinner moved his head into the embrace of her warm hand. ‘Because you’re here.’ Skinner stood outside the bedroom door, stalling while he worked out what he would say to Mulder. ‘How do you know I’ll cope?’ ‘I’m a good teacher.’ Catherine said softly. ‘I’m a lousy student.’ Skinner admitted. ‘You’ll be fine.’ Catherine said reassuringly. ‘You have a lot to learn. As does little Fox.’ ‘Such as?’ Walter asked, in spite of knowing he probably wouldn’t want to hear the answer. Holding the door open for Skinner, Catherine said firmly: ‘You both have control issues.’ Continued in Part Two coming in October 2002 Home Send me feedback on this fic Return to the X-Files Fic Index Return to the West Wing Fic Index Return to the other fic index