Title: Clubbing Part X (files) ‘Sir, there’s someone asking to speak to you.’ ‘Who?’ ‘Mr Skinner, sir.’ Leo looked at Jimmy for help. ‘He’s with the FBI sir. Been a member for a couple of years.’ Jimmy nodded across the room to two men. One older, one younger. The older one caught Leo’s gaze and Leo looked at the younger man at his side. Taking in his bruises, the sling around his shoulder and the pinched look on his face as he moved, Leo asked: ‘Who’s the kid?’ ‘He’s called Fox, sir. What should I tell Mr Skinner sir?’ ‘Do you know what he wants?’ ‘No sir.’ ‘Josh, go talk to…’ ‘Fox sir.’ Jimmy supplied helpfully. Obediently, Josh slid off his barstool. ‘Yes Leo.’ Leo took a deep breath. ‘While I talk to the Fed.’ ‘What can I do for you?’ Skinner swallowed hard. ‘I need a favour.’ Leo raised his eyebrows. ‘Oh?’ ‘I’ve gotta go out of town for a while, and usually I’d take Fox, but, as you can see, he’s in no fit state to travel.’ ‘Yeah. So?’ ‘There isn’t anyone I’d trust to take care of him while I’m gone. Except you.’ Leo nodded across the bar. ‘Try Edward. He responds to flattery.’ Skinner began to get up. ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have bothered you.’ Leo looked at the slender dark-haired man at Josh’s side. Then he had an idea. ‘Is your slave well-trained?’ Skinner decided a sort-of version of the truth would do. ‘Usually completely obedient.’ ’What happened to him?’ Without thinking, Skinner groaned. ‘He disobeyed an order, went after a perp without backup and found the guys’ friends in an alleyway.’ Leo’s eyebrows raised again. Smoothly he said: ‘Completely obedient, huh?’ Skinner suddenly found an interesting spot on the floor in front of him. ‘Most of the time. Occasionally, he needs a firm hand.’ Leo smiled. ‘I know that feeling.’ Skinner relaxed a little. ‘Me too.’ Sipping his drink, Leo at last asked: ‘How long would you be gone?’ ‘Long weekend. I’d leave Friday, be back Monday morning.’ ‘When?’ ‘This weekend.’ Leo frowned. ‘It’s Wednesday. That’s not a whole lot of notice.’ ‘I realise that. Unfortunately, Fox was only injured the day before yesterday and yesterday I found out he wouldn’t be fit to travel. He’s got meds to take and I want to make sure he takes them. He can be a little…forgetful, if he’s not reminded of that kind of thing.’ ‘Are you sure you wouldn’t like to revise your earlier statement?’ Skinner was lost. ‘Completely obedient.’ Leo reminded him. Skinner looked embarrassed. ‘Some days he doesn’t put a foot wrong. Then suddenly…’ He shrugged. ‘I dunno.’ ‘Is his arm broken?’ ‘No, but his ribs are, so the sling is more comfortable. He can take it off for short periods, but not too long.’ Leo sat silently for a moment. ‘Bring him over Friday. You’ll have to collect him early Monday. We leave for work at six.’ Skinner managed not to let his feelings about arriving home after midnight on Sunday and having to leave around five to collect Fox on Monday morning show on his face. ‘Thanks. I appreciate it.’ Leo nodded at Fox. ‘Have you told him?’ ‘No. I didn’t want to say anything until I’d talked to you.’ ‘Let’s tell him now.’ Skinner called across: ‘Fox.’ Immediately both men turned round and Leo gestured for Josh to join them. ‘You’ll be staying with Leo while I’m away.’ Leo didn’t miss the surprise in Fox’s eyes. Or the jealousy in Josh’s. ‘But you’re not going for another two days. I might be…’ ‘Fox!’ Skinner snapped, embarrassed. Dropping his head immediately, Fox muttered: ‘Yes Sir.’ Leo smiled, amused at the exchange. ‘Make sure your desk is clear Friday night, kid. We’ll be staying home Saturday. And make sure there’s enough food in the fridge.’ Suppressing a smile, Josh dropped his gaze to the floor. ‘Yes Leo.’ Skinner groaned inwardly. Even Leo’s new boy was better behaved than Fox. Leo wasn’t fooled for a second by Josh’s meek behaviour. But, for whatever reason, Josh had behaved well. Fox had not. Knowing the relationship they had, Leo imagined Fox would regret his lapse when they returned home. He had never used physical punishment on Edward. He didn’t intend to start with Josh. But it would be interesting to see how Fox got on for a whole three days without the constant threat of it hanging over him. He was suddenly looking forward to the weekend. Even if Josh clearly was not. ************* ‘Make some space for Fox’s stuff in your room, kid. He’ll be here soon.’ With bad grace, Josh got up from the floor where he had been reading a magazine on fish-keeping and walked towards the bedroom. ‘Okay, come back here.’ ‘Leo?’ ‘It’s only for a couple of days. And, who knows, you might learn a few things.’ Crossly Josh muttered: ‘I doubt it.’ ‘He’s a guest, kid. You will be polite. I won’t be pleased if your attitude hasn’t disappeared by the time he arrives.’ ‘Why did he ask you?’ ‘Politeness. He knew if he asked someone else first, I wouldn’t be happy.’ ‘I wish he had asked someone else.’ Wearily, Leo patted the couch beside him. ‘Siddown. Okay, now you wanna tell me what this is about?’ ‘Fox told me he’s been with Skinner four years.’ ‘And?’ ‘So he’s gonna be perfect at everything.’ Leo laughed. ‘Believe me kid, Fox is less than perfect.’ ‘What if you like him more than me and want him instead?’ Leo stared at Josh. ‘One, he’s Skinner’s. Two, I told you before, I chose you. And I wouldn’t swap you for a dozen Fox’s.’ Josh brightened a little. ‘Promise?’ Slightly cross, Leo nodded. ‘Promise. Now go make some space in your closet.’ He got up, looking down at Josh. ‘Whatever happens, kid, you’re mine. No-one else, just you.’ Reaching down, he ruffled Josh’s hair. *************** Although they had been in the car park for several minutes, Skinner was still trying to get Fox to understand how important it was that he behave himself. ‘Leo doesn’t have the kind of relationship with Josh that we have. You foul up, the worst you’ll get from him is a headache from being yelled at. Until I get back. Fox?’ Fox groaned. ‘Don’t you have a plane to catch?’ Skinner decided he’d rather miss the plane than leave Fox in any doubt as to the kind of behaviour he expected from his slave in his absence. ‘Fox!’ ‘I get it. I’ll be good. It’s only two days.’ ‘And two days, as we both know, is sufficient time for you to get yourself in a whole lot of trouble. Grab your stuff, I don’t wanna miss my plane.’ What started off as a gentle trail of Skinner’s fingers through Mulder’s hair became a painful stretch of his slave’s neck as Skinner tightened his grip, pulling Fox’s head back until he gasped. ‘Behave yourself and I’ll bring you a present. Put a foot wrong and I’ll make you regret it. Get outta here.’ As he got out of the car, Fox muttered: ‘Missing you already. Sir.’ Scowling, Skinner drove off, praying he wouldn’t get caught in any traffic snarl-up or he really would miss his plane. *************** ‘It’s Fox.’ Josh pressed the entryphone button and the front door clicked open. A couple of minutes later, the doorbell buzzed. Leo stopped Josh on his way to open the door. ‘Hey kid, remember what I said. They live differently. Be nice, okay?’ Josh pulled a face. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t heard different versions of the same warning several times in the past hour. ‘Yes Leo.’ Leo smiled. ‘Get the door, kid.’ ‘Anything you don’t like to eat, Fox?’ ‘No sir.’ ‘Okay. We’ll go out. Book somewhere kid.’ ‘Yes Leo.’ For whatever reason, two hours had already passed and Josh was still maintaining a totally submissive attitude. Leo smiled inwardly, waiting, knowing. ***************** Josh managed the whole meal without the façade cracking. Even in the cab on the way back he was polite. But Leo saw the strain beginning to show as they arrived back in the apartment. ‘I’ve got some work to finish. Why don’t you two find something to do for an hour? Scrabble, perhaps?’ Leo saw Josh’s quickly-hidden delight at the suggestion. Leo watched the two younger man through the half-open door as they sat on the floor, their game closely-fought until the final few minutes. Then it came. ‘What the Hell kind of word is ‘mzungus’?!’ ‘It’s just a word.’ Leo got up. ‘What’s going on?’ ‘Fox made up a word!’ Calmly, Fox shook his head. ‘It’s a perfectly acceptable word.’ Sarcastically, Josh retorted: ‘Oh, yeah? What does it mean then?’ ‘It’s, um, Swahili for ‘white person’.’ ‘We’re playing in English!’ Leo went to the bookshelves and dragged down the Official Scrabble Word book Josh had bought with him when he’d moved in. He walked across and dropped the heavy book onto the floor beside Josh. ‘Look it up kid.’ Flicking angrily through the pages, Josh found the word. Slamming the book closed, he heard Leo’s voice behind him. ‘Seventy-one.’ ‘What?’ ‘Seventy-one. Fox’s score.’ Josh looked up from his calculation. ‘You win. I’m going to bed.’ Calmly, Leo said: ‘Fox, clear the game away then get yourself ready for bed. Take your pain meds and your antibiotics.’ ‘Yes sir.’ Less calmly, he said: ‘You come with me, kid.’ Dragging Josh by the arm, Leo pulled him into the bedroom, slamming the door. ‘If Fox had behaved in the way you just did, Skinner would have had him over his knee in full view of you and anyone else in the room.’ Josh locked eyes with Leo. ‘So?’ ‘I’m not gonna hit you Josh, although God knows you deserve it. Acting like a spoilt brat just cos you lost a game?’ Leo shook his head. ‘I’m disappointed in you. You can sleep on the couch tonight.’ ‘No!’ Josh’s voice cracked, his eyes filling with the injustice of Leo’s instruction. ‘And tomorrow you can stay home and clean the apartment. Fox and I are going out.’ ‘Leo…’ Josh was distraught, and Leo almost relented. But he remembered how angry he had been a few minutes earlier, and shook his head. ‘You make your bed, kid, you lie in it. Except in your case, Fox will lie in it.’ ‘You lied.’ ‘What?’ ‘You lied Leo. Earlier you said you wouldn’t swap me for Fox. And that you didn’t want anyone else. You lied. You want Fox and you want me to leave so you can have him all to yourself.’ Although he regretted it seconds later, it was instinct that made Leo strike out, hitting Josh across the face. ‘Never, ever, speak to me like that again.’ He fought for self-control for several seconds before looking across at Josh. Leo’s voice, hard with anger, was, Josh thought, even scarier because it was so quiet. He stood unmoving, his breath coming in ragged gasps, shocked at the stinging, and wholly unexpected, blow. Then he realised Leo was staring at him. ‘You are a liar and a bully. I hate you.’ ‘Come here.’ ‘No.’ ‘Come here.’ ‘So you can hit me again?’ ‘No. Come here.’ After a couple more seconds, Josh walked slowly towards Leo. ‘Sit there.’ Leo nodded to the bed. Moments later, he was back with a damp washcloth. He moved it towards Josh’s face, pressing it on the reddened skin, ignoring Josh’s sharp intake of breath as the coldness cooled his hot flesh. After a few minutes, he moved the cloth away, then dropped it into the bathroom sink. When he came back, he could see Josh, bent almost double, his hands in his hair. As Leo approached him, he jerked upright. ‘I’m sorry I hit you.’ ‘Yeah, I’ll bet you are.’ ‘No kid, you misunderstand. I’m not sorry I punished you. You deserved it after your behaviour earlier. I am, however, sorry I hit you.’ Josh’s face creased into a look of incomprehension. Sighing, Leo dropped onto the bed beside Josh. ‘I don’t want Fox, kid. I don’t want anyone else. You are quite enough to cope with. I don’t believe in physical punishment. It won’t happen again. Now get ready for bed. And be grateful you’re not Fox. If he’d behaved like that in front of Skinner, he wouldn’t be able to sit for a week.’ Leaving the door open, Josh walked across to where Fox was sitting on the floor in his pyjamas, Josh’s fish-keeping magazine open on the floor in front of him. ‘Hey, Fox, about earlier.’ ‘Forget it. I was being a Smartass.’ Leo’s voice cut into their exchange. ‘Yeah, Fox, you were. Now get in here and I’ll give you some bedclothes. Josh will show you how the couch folds out. You stay in your room, kid, and you stay out of it Fox. If I hear the two of you talking before six, you’ll regret it. Fox, leave your pain meds and a glass of water on the coffee table. I don’t want you wandering around in the early hours and falling over and hurting yourself. I’ll leave the bathroom light on so you don’t get lost. Now both of you go to bed.’ Both younger men exchanged a look. ‘Yes Leo.’ ‘Yes sir.’ ************* Leo woke slowly and blinked several times. Josh was sitting on the edge of his bed with a tray in his hands. Leo pulled on his glasses, then took in the toast, coffee, and orange juice on the tray. And the time. 6.01. He groaned, laying back on the pillows. ‘Please don’t make me clean the apartment.’ ‘You woke me up at 6am with an attempt at a bribe?’ ‘It’s 6.02.’ Leo sighed. ‘Go back to bed Josh. We’re not going anywhere in the next couple of hours.’ ‘So can I come? Please?’ Leo thought for a few seconds. ‘Yes. Only if you promise not to piss me off all day. And all of tomorrow.’ Josh pulled a face. ‘O-kay.’ Leo laughed. ‘I don’t believe you actually had to think about that.’ ‘Two whole days Leo. I’m lucky if I go two hours.’ Leo nodded. ‘Yeah kid. You are.’ He picked up a slice of toast. ‘Can I ask you something?’ Leo put down the toast. ‘Maybe.’ ‘How did you get involved in…the club…and stuff?’ Leo called out: ‘Fox, you awake?’ A couple of seconds later, Fox appeared in the doorway. ‘Yeah. Sir.’ Leo looked pointedly at Fox’s arm. ‘Where is your sling?’ ‘On the table.’ ‘Put it on. Make yourself some breakfast, then shower and get dressed. Come back in when you’re done.’ ‘Yes sir.’ Leo looked back at Josh. ‘Close the door.’ ************** ‘Fox, do you feel well enough to go out?’ ‘Yes sir.’ Unlike Josh, who had spent at least ten minutes while he was eating his breakfast pestering to get the information out of Leo, Fox seemed uninterested in their destination. ‘Okay, get your coats.’ Fox only realised the imported BWM soft top was Leo’s when they got near enough for Leo to activate the remote-control alarm and door-locks. ‘Wow, nice car sir.’ ‘Thanks Fox. Jump in.’ Thinking of something they could do which wouldn’t cause Fox’s ribs too much strain had taken some time. Finally, Leo decided, as they had the whole day, they would do several things. *********** ‘It’s Skinner.’ Leo pressed the entryphone button and Skinner walked through the lobby and up the stairs to the third floor. By the time he arrived, Leo was standing in the apartment doorway waiting for him. Skinner felt his heart sink. ‘Was he that bad?’ ‘No trouble at all.’ Fox picked up his holdall. ‘Bye Josh.’ ‘Bye Fox.’ Fox turned back to Skinner. ‘How was your trip?’ ‘Boring Fox. Give me that.’ Skinner took Fox’s bag, which was noticeably heavier than it had been four days earlier. He looked enquiringly at Fox. ‘We went out. We got you something.’ Fox and Josh exchanged a look and the two older men smiled. ‘Take your bag down to the car.’ ‘I’ll give you a hand.’ ‘I can manage Josh.’ ‘Yeah, but the lift’s not working and the stairs are narrow, and with your arm…’ ‘Thanks.’ Skinner handed Fox’s bag to Josh. ‘Thanks for taking care of him.’ ‘Where did he learn Swahili?’ ‘Oh don’t ask me. The stuff that’s stored in that brain should be kept under lock and key. Was he okay?’ Leo nodded. ‘Yeah. No trouble at all. And I counted his meds. He’s taken them all.’ ‘Thanks. Somehow taking care of himself was never high on Fox’s list of priorities.’ ‘He missed you.’ Skinner smiled. ‘Good. I’d have been hurt if he hadn’t.’ Nodding, Leo looked at his watch. ‘Yeah. I gotta get ready for work.’ Yawning, Skinner said tiredly: ‘I’ve gotta sleep. Bye.’ ************** ‘Leo yelled at Josh.’ ‘Fox!’ Skinner’s warning tone was intended to stop Fox gossiping. It failed. ‘I heard him. And Josh’s face was red. Well, one side. I thought you said he didn’t use physical punishments.’ ‘I heard he doesn’t. And unless you were actually in the room, you have no idea what really went on, do you?’ ‘No.’ Fox said eventually. ‘So, let’s talk about something else.’ ‘Why does Josh call Leo by his name?’ ‘Something other than Josh and Leo perhaps?’ ‘Okay. But why?’ Skinner sighed. ‘Probably because he hasn’t signed his contract. Or maybe Leo prefers it. I don’t know Fox. How’re you feeling?’ ‘Okay. They eat a lot.’ ‘Fox!’ This time there was no mistaking Skinner’s meaning. ‘Josh has a fish tank. Can I get some fish?’ Skinner groaned, then gave up, simply ignoring Fox for the remainder of the drive back to their apartment. ‘I got you something.’ Fox pulled a package out of his holdall. Taking it from him Skinner said: ‘Thanks.’ Watching him, Fox said excitedly: ‘Open it.’ Smiling at Fox’s anticipation, Skinner sat on the couch. ‘Okay.’ ‘It’s great. Thanks Fox.’ Skinner held the framed print at arms’ length. It was a montage of the tourist sites of DC, with the Hoover building in the centre. ‘Where shall we hang it?’ Fox nodded at the wall opposite their front door. It had always cried out for something, but nothing they hung there seemed right. So, after a few failed attempts, it had remained bare. Skinner held it up and Fox stood back. ‘Perfect.’ Resting the picture on the floor at the base of the wall, Skinner walked towards Fox. ‘Well, almost. But I’m prepared to overlook your smaller flaws.’ Encircled in Skinner’s hug, Fox’s voice was muffled. ‘Welcome home sir.’ ‘It’s good to be back Fox.’ ‘What did you get me?’ Skinner frowned. ‘What?’ ‘You said if I was good, you’d bring me a present. I was. Did you?’ ‘Yeah.’ Fox had long ago discovered that Skinner’s voice alone had a pleasing effect on a part of his anatomy. The added sensation of Skinner’s large hand gripping him made him feel light-headed. ‘But I get to unwrap your present Fox.’ Breathlessly, Fox rasped out: ‘Yes Sir.’ ************* As they drove in, Josh asked: ‘Why does Skinner hit Fox?’ ‘What?’ Leo was trying to concentrate on the heavy morning traffic, and was only half-listening to Josh. ‘You said they have a different lifestyle. Fox told me Skinner hits him. With canes and stuff.’ ‘I don’t know kid. I’ve never understood it. But it obviously works for them.’ He pulled the car into the White House entrance as Josh sighed. ‘I’m glad you don’t hit me.’ ‘I already apologised…’ ‘No, I mean, you know, like Skinner.’ Josh interrupted quickly. ‘It’s consensual kid. Skinner isn’t doing anything against Fox’s will.’ ‘I think it’s weird.’ ‘Whereas we are living a completely normal lifestyle.’ Josh laughed. ‘We work at the White House. We make policies that affect the world. How we organise our free time is insignificant in comparison, right?’ Leo frowned. ‘When exactly did you come round to this way of thinking?’ ‘At the Museum. We were walking round and I was thinking we didn’t look any different from anyone else there.’ ‘And?’ They were almost at the security check, and Leo wanted to get the conversation over before they entered the building. ‘We’re not. Everyone’s different. We’re just one kind of different.’ ‘Get inside kid, before your boss works out you’re five minutes late for a staff meeting.’ Josh walked through the scanner, pushing his backpack off his shoulders and dropping it in front of the guard for its usual check. ‘Morning George.’ ‘How are you today Mr Lyman?’ ‘Never better.’ Grinning at Leo, Josh picked up his backpack and, without waiting for Leo, began walking quickly down the corridor to the West Wing. Opening the door, Josh saw Bartlet standing in the doorway of the Oval Office. ‘Josh, you’re late.’ Looking around, Josh managed: ‘Leo’s not here either.’ Bartlet frowned. ‘Leo is around somewhere. You’ve just arrived. Get in here.’ Seconds later Leo, minus his coat and briefcase, walked slowly through his office and into the Oval Office. ‘Morning Josh. Good of you to join us. Can we get started now?’ Open-mouthed, Josh just stared at Leo. Shrugging off his coat and backpack, Josh pulled out a folder and pen. ‘Yes Leo.’ End Home Send me feedback on this fic Return to the Crossover Fic Index