Title: Apollo 1, Chapter 9

Author: Kendall

Fandom: X-Files

Rating: NC-17

Pairing: S/M/K.

Archive: All requests are welcomed

Date: April 21, 2002

Category: AU

Spoilers: None specifically

Series: Greek Gods

Summary: The boys take a trip to sunny Mexico in search of the third clone.

Apollo 2 (God of Brothers)

Olympic Industries Building

New York City, New York

"Apollo are you ready to deliver your report?" Zeus asked as the group took their seats.

"Yeah Pops," the blond haired God said as he popped a large gum bubble.

"Must you do that?" Athena, who was sitting next to him, asked with a glare, "I swear that if I didn’t know you were almost two thousand three hundred years old I would think you are fifteen."

"Don’t you know it's not polite to swear," the unrepentant God said with a wide grin as another bubble popped and stuck to his sister's hair.

"Agggh, Apollo you ass…I'm going to…" Athena spluttered as she tried to get the gum out of her hair.

"Children enough," Zeus thundered. Why couldn't these meetings ever be simple? "Apollo stop acting like a brat and tell us about Alex's clone. Did you have any trouble finding him?"

"Actually Ares found him," Apollo said.

"Ares?" the King of the Gods asked with surprise. "Is Alex's clone one of yours?" he asked.

"In a roundabout way," the God of War said and when he saw the look of confusion he quickly added, "He is a soldier but not one of mine."

"What does that mean," Zeus asked.

"Why don’t you let the boys do their report," Hera said impatiently, "I have a hair appointment at three."

"Why? You are a Goddess you don't need to go to a hairdresser. All you do is think about it and your hair is done."

"Yes…but I can't get good gossip that way," the Queen of the Gods said with a smile.

"Okay Apollo and Ares, present your report." Zeus commanded.

"For the fiftieth time Alex, no he didn’t," Fox Mulder said rolling his eyes.

"What do you think it is?" Alex Krycek asked as he bit on his lower lip nervously.

"What do you think it is?" Fox asked back and tried not to smile at the anxious look on the younger man's face.

"How would I know?" Alex said with a frown, "You are the profiler in the family. You should know how to read the clues."

Fox sighed deeply and turned to face his lover. He pulled Alex towards him and took his hands in his, "Alexei please tell me why you are so worried about Walter's call."

"You know I hate surprises Fox," Alex said looking down at their interlocked hands, "I know I'm being silly but I don’t like not knowing stuff."

"Stuff?" Fox said with a smile. "Is that the technical term?"

"I thought it was better than saying I don’t like not knowing shit," Alex said returning the smile. "You really don’t know what Walter was talking about?"

"Alexei I told you exactly what he said," Fox said rubbing his hands up and down Alex's arms to soothe him, "He said to make sure we were both home for dinner and that he was brining take out because he had a surprise that he hoped we would like."

Walter Skinner had called less than an hour before and delivered the mysterious message and since the moment Fox shared it with Alex, who had been out walking the dog, the young Russian had been on pins and needles trying to figure out what the big surprise was.

"Why don’t we bet on what it is and the looser has to do the dishes for a month," Fox suggested.

Alex thought about it for a split second and then nodded, "Deal. What do you think it is?"

Looking thoughtful for a moment Fox said, "I think he is going to tell us that he got a couple of days off and that we are going to visit his folks for the weekend."

"Uhm…that'd be nice," Alex said, "But I think he is going to tell us that he has to go on a business trip and that he is going to take us out for the weekend to make up for it."

"Man Alex you are sure full of doom and gloom," Fox said shaking his head. Alex never saw the bright side of any situation but Fox and Walter had agreed between themselves to help their lover become more optimistic. "Well…whichever way it goes it doesn’t do us any good worrying about it. What do you say we go to the den and do some heavy cuddling until the Big Guy gets home," Fox said wiggling his eyebrows suggestively and burying his face in Alex's neck.

"Are you trying to get my mind off it Foxlet?" Alex asked with a sly smile as he arched his neck to give Fox better access.

"I love the way you taste Little Rat," Fox said hoarsely as he ran the tip of his tongue up the long column of Alex's neck.

"Fooooxxx…that tickles…stop," he yelped as he tried to squirm out of Mulder's grasp.

"Do you really want me to stop?"

"No…but I rather you ran that wicked tongue of yours up and down somewhere else," Alex said panting and grabbing the back of Fox's head and pulling it back to kiss him.

The kiss was long and passionate and left both men breathless when they pulled apart. Fox stood and grabbing Alex's hand led him to the couch. Pushing him down gently, until Alex was nearly horizontal on the couch. Fox kneeled in front of him and slowly unzipped the jeans the Russian was wearing and pulled them down enough to reveal the black silk boxers underneath. The erection tenting the boxers made Fox lick his lips in anticipation.

"Fox…it's not a ice cream cone," Alex said with a lust-filled chuckle, "Don’t lick your lips, lick it."

"Bossy ain't ya," Fox said and released the rock hard penis from it's confinement. "Look it's melting," he said pointing to the weeping head.

"You are in rare fooooorrrrrrrm," Alex said but his last word was lost in a moan of pleasure as Fox leaned in and engulfed his cock with his warm mouth. "Oh Gods…Fox…Fox…oh Gods…that…that feels oh shit that… feels…ahhh Fox…Fox…Fox…I love you…I love you…I…I can't…can't hold…" with a shudder Alex released his load in the waiting mouth and slumped back down on the couch, panting breathlessly.

Fox pulled back and smiled at the sight of Alex Krycek sated and smiling goofily, his emerald green eyes hooded under long black lashes. Fox smacked his lips and said, "Uhm…tasty and creamy…I wonder if Haagen Daz would make a flavor that tastes like you."

"Gross Fox," Alex said scrunching his nose in disgust at the idea of cum flavored ice cream. "I wonder what Walter is bringing home for dinner."

"You think of food at the weirdest times Alexei," Fox said and laughed.

"Well you just ate…now I'm hungry," the Russian said with a low growl.

"Have mercy," Mulder said in his best Elvis imitation.

"Burritos?" Alex said as he opened another bag of food from Taco Bell, "We never have Mexican Walter."

"You don’t like Mexican?" Walter asked, his voice sounding a little disappointed.

"Oh no on the contrary, I love Mexican food…I just didn’t think you guys did. We usually have pizza, Chinese, burgers or sushi but not Mexican."

"How about you Fox? Do you like…never mind," Walter said with a smile as he saw Mulder stuff half a soft-shell taco into his mouth.

"I luv M'xican ood,"

"Never would have guessed," Skinner said, "Could we at least sit at the table like adults instead of devouring our food standing up in the kitchen?"

"I much rather be devouring you Big Guy," Fox said after he swallowed the food in his mouth, "But you are right…we can't let all this wonderful food go to waste. What's in the bag?"

Walter lifted the brown paper bag he still held in his hand and said, "Tequila. It for the surprise I have for you."

"What is it?" Alex asked as the trio moved to the den.

"You've had the poor boy in suspense all afternoon Walter," Fox said as they took their seats, "You forget he is a spy…former spy…not knowing something is driving him batty."

"Did I Little Rat?" Walter asked innocently, "I'm sorry…didn’t mean to worry you."

"I wasn’t worried," Alex said frowning. He knew the twosome were just pulling his leg but it still wasn’t fair that they ganged up on him, "I was just curious."

"Good thing you are a Rat and not a Cat," Fox said and took a bite of his crunchy taco.

"What?" both Alex and Walter asked simultaneously.

Fox swallowed and grinned, "Curiosity killed the cat…I would hate to see you die baby."

Alex chose to ignore him and turned back to Walter, "So Walter are you going to keep me in suspense or what?"

"Okay okay," Walter said with a smile. "I have to go on a business trip next week…"

"I win!" Alex shouted suddenly and clapped his good hand against his thigh.

"What?" Walter asked in confusion, "What do you mean you win?"

"We made a bet to see what the surprise would be," Fox explained, "He said that you would have to go on a business trip and to make it up to us you would take us out this weekend. So where are we going?"

"Mexico. What was the bet?" Walter said quickly.

"MEXICO!" both the younger men yelled in unison.

"Wait…wait…" Fox said, "Mexico? Are you going on business to Mexico or are we going to Mexico for the weekend?"

"Actually a little of both," Walter said smiling at the confused look on his lovers' faces.

"Clear as mud Big Guy," Alex said, "Which is it?"

"The Director was supposed to attend the Global Conference on Terrorism in Mexico City that starts on Monday the first to the fourth. He can't go…his mother was in some kind of accident and he has to fly to Nevada to be with her…so I'm going to represent the F.B.I at the conference. We'd have to leave early on Monday and then I thought we stay a few more days and go to Cancun."

"You want us to go with you?" Alex asked excitedly.

"Of course," Walter said, "That is if you want to. I thought that since you aren't teaching right now and Fox can really start his next novel anywhere as long as he has a laptop…"

"Wow! Mexico…I've never been to Mexico," Fox said, "This is way cool Walter."

"Yeah…way cool Big Guy," Alex said nodding his head in agreement.

"Way cool? You guys have been hanging around Jay too much. You sound like teenagers."

"But…" Fox began before he was cut off by Walter.

"I love you anyway," the older man said with a grin. "So are we going to eat or gab?"

"Can you imagine all the great Mexican food we are going to eat when we are in Mexico?" Fox commented excitedly as he reached for another taco.

"Except in Mexico they just call it food," Alex deadpanned.

Fox stopped in mid bite and looked at his youngest lover and then at Walter, "Did Ratboy just make a joke Walter?"

"I believe he did," Walter said trying desperately not to laugh at the smug look on Alex's face at having beat Fox to a punch line.

"Did you get any hot sauce Walter?" Fox suddenly asked.

"Yeah…it's in the bag somewhere," Walter said not surprised at the sudden change of topic, he was used to the younger man's leaps.

"Good," Fox said grinning as he took three packets out, "This should be enough."

"Enough for what Fox?" Alex asked confused.

"I just wondered how Walter's cock would taste with this all over it," Fox replied with a wicked grin.

Both Walter and Alex swallowed visibly at the picture Fox's words put in their mind.

"Fox," Alex said softly, "You will be nice and share won't you?"

"I might think about it," Fox said slyly, "Race you?"

Walter watched in amusement as his two lovers reverted to teenagers and raced each other up the stairs. A second later he realized what they had done and he yelled, "Hey! How come I get stuck cleaning up!"

"Hot…hot…hot," Alex said rushing out of the bed to the bathroom.

"Fox…I swear if you don't take all that sauce off my, shit…shit it's hot," Walter said writhing in pain and pleasure as Mulder dutifully continued to run his tongue up and down Walter's shaft.

Alex ran back to the bed and smiled when he saw Fox's bottom wiggling invitingly in the air. Grabbing the lube off the nightstand he quickly positioned himself behind his unaware lover and inserted one slick finger into the tight opening.

"Shit Alex," Fox cried out in surprise.

"I sure hope you don't," Alex said as he slipped a second digit in.

"Where is this wicked sense of humor come from all of a sudden Alex," Walter asked with a grin and then moaned when Fox returned to his job.

"Been hanging around you two long enough, I guess it just rubbed off," the young Russian said and thrust into Fox's ass with a quick swish of his hips.

"Dear Lord, Alex," Fox cried out as Alex filled him.

Walter was close to completion and the look of ecstasy in Fox's face drove him over the edge and he let go with gusto. He reached down between Fox's legs and grabbed onto the erection that had been poking him on the thigh and pumped until he could tell by Alex's face he was close to coming. He wanted to bring Fox off at the same time and he was successful as both young men shouted in unison.

"Fox give me your passport," Walter asked putting out his hand.

"Why? Don’t you think I can take care of my own passport?"

"I didn't say that. It's just easier if all the documents are together," Walter explained. "Alex didn’t give me much trouble."

"Alex is still half asleep," Fox said looking over where the younger man was sitting waiting for them. "You shouldn't have kept him up all night."

"Me! I wasn't the bunny on speed that had to fuck him three times," Walter said quietly since they were in the terminal.

"Don't complain, I made you scream a couple of times too," Fox said with a wicked grin which only got wider when Walter shushed him.

"Come on let's get to the Admiral's Club," Walter said, "We have an hour and a half before take off."

"Good that should be enough time," Fox said mysteriously.

"Fox? What did you do?" Walter asked worriedly.

"Don't you worry Snickerdoodle," the younger man said smiling, "Just make sure you keep Alex with you."

"Fox William Mulder," Walter growled, "If you did anything that is going to ruin this I swear I'll tan your ass…Fox? What's the matter?"

Fox's eyes had grown cold at Walter's words, "How dare you think that I would do anything to ruin our first trip together."

Seeing how much he had hurt Mulder, Walter was quick to apologize, "Fox I'm so sorry…I'm just…I don’t have an excuse for saying what I did."

"What's going on guys?" Alex said walking up to them. He had not heard their exchange but by the look on their faces he knew something had happened.

"Nothing Alex," Fox said forcing a smile, "I need to do something and you and Walter are going to the Admiral's Club."

"I'll go with you Fox," Alex said somehow feeling that Fox was the aggrieved party in the discussion.

"No Alex…you come with me," Walter said taking him by the arm. "I need help with the luggage."

"Okay," Alex said reluctantly and followed Walter, "Fox when will you be back."

"Half hour tops," Fox said with a wave.

When they were out of Mulder's hearing range Alex asked, "Walter what did you do to him? He was fine before."

"I fucked up royally," Walter said as they took seats near the bar in the American Airlines lounge. "I'll apologize to him when he comes back, I promise."

"He wouldn't tell you where he was going?"

"No. But he won't miss the flight don't worry."

Both men settled down to wait, both hoping that Fox's mood would improve so they could have a pleasant trip.

"Where is he?" Alex asked worried an hour later when there was no sign of Mulder. We need to be at the gate in fifteen minutes.

"Relax Alex," Walter said feeling all but relaxed. "We are in First Class anyway."

"You guys looking for me?" Fox asked as he rushed in.

"Where the hell were you?" Alex said jumping to his feet.

"Just had two pick up a couple of things for the trip," Fox said grinning. "They'll be here in a minute."

"Fox," Walter said coming to his feet, "I'm sorry…about before."

"It's all right Walter," Fox said smiling sincerely, "I know you hate to rush and worry when we travel. It's not a big deal."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure," Fox said, "Besides once you see what I brought, you'll feel so bad that you thought ill of me that it'll make up for it."

"What you get? Is it for me? It's not one of those big Mexican sombreros is it…I am not a hat person," Alex asked.

Rolling his eyes Fox said, "No, it's not a sombrero and besides you get those in Mexico not in DC on your way to Mexico."

"So what did you get?" Walter asked just as curious as Alex.

"Not what…who," Fox said and pointed behind them.

Alex and Walter turned simultaneously and nearly let out what could have been mistaken as squeal when the saw Cooper Donovan and Chris Newman walking towards them.

"COOP!" Alex shouted as he rushed towards his clone twin, who greeted him with open arms.

"Hey Little Bro…how the hell are ya?" the Wyoming cowboy said as he hugged him.

"How…what…how?" was all Walter managed to say as Chris, Cooper's lover, shook his hand.

"I called them on Saturday morning and invited them as a surprise. I know it's our first vacation but I thought it might be nice for them to come along. We don’t have to hang around together all the time. I hope it's alright Walter."

Seeing the look of sheer joy in Alex's face as he stood next to his twin Walter knew there was only one answer to that question, "All right? Fox this is better than all right…this is terrific. Thank you," he added and hugged him briefly since they were in a public place. "This was really nice of you to do," he whispered in Mulder's ear before releasing him.

"How did you get here so quickly," Alex asked. "Could you drop things and just get here in such short notice."

"It was all your boyfriend's idea," Chris said, "He called, told us what he wanted, we said yes and he had a private jet chartered for us that landed about twenty minutes ago. We were just checking in on your flight. First class even."

"Fox…I don’t know what to say," Alex said trying not to get emotional, "This must have cost a bundle…I don’t know how to repay you for this…"

"Hell…I'm a millionaire now," Fox said, referring to the money he was making from his highly successful first novel, "What good is that money if you can't spend it on the ones you love."

"You love me Fox," Cooper said with a grin, "I love you too."

Before Fox could reply Walter said, "We better get going we have to be at the gate in five minutes."

"Mexico City better watch out," Fox said as he took Walter's arm and led him out, followed by the other three, "'Cause we are going to paint the town red."

Walter glanced back and smiled at the sight of Fox Mulder fast asleep on the seat behind him. When they had boarded the plane Alex and Cooper had sat together on the second row and Fox had insisted that Walter and Chris take the seats on the third while he spread out on the fourth.

"So Walter, how busy are you going to be with this conference?" Chris Newman asked, "I mean are you going to have any time to see Mexico City?"

"There is a welcome reception tonight and meetings all day tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday. Friday we only have a closing breakfast and we are done by ten. I was hoping you'd be willing to keep an eye on the guys for me. Mexico City is not very safe and Alex and Fox tend to be rather adventurous."

Chris chuckled as he said, "So is Spud. Don’t worry Walter, I'll keep an eye on them."

"I'll try to get out of as many group events as I can but I can't guarantee anything. Friday afternoon is a different story however. We get to Cancun by five and then we have eight glorious days in the sun."

"Man look at the size of this place," Cooper commented as they entered the suite. "Must be nice to be rich."

"Niiice," Fox agreed as he set his bag down.

They had been assigned a two-bedroom suite. A king bedded room with a connecting room with two double beds. Cooper and Chris were in the adjoining room on the other side of the suite.

"Was the Director supposed to get a suite like this?" Alex asked, "Our hard earned tax dollars at work."

Walter chuckled and said, "No, he had a regular room. The desk clerk said that this was upgrade that was called in by someone in Mr. Mulder's publishing company. So I guess Fox gets the king size bed and you and I get the double bedroom."

"Uh?" Fox said raising his eyebrow in confusion, "What do you mean? We aren't going to sleep in the same bed?"

"We need to keep up appearances Fox," Walter said quietly, "It's one thing that everyone in the States knows about our relationship but we are now representing the U.S. in a foreign land."

"But we saved the world from Colonization…not just the United States," Fox whined, not happy at all with the idea of not getting to sleep with his lovers.

"I didn’t say we couldn't sleep together," Walter said as if reading his mind, "I just meant that we needed to make it look like all the beds were being used."

Alex sighed in relief and said, "Good…I thought I would get a case of Lackanookie instead of Montezuma's Revenge."

"Lackanookie?" Chris asked with confusion.

Cooper laughed out loud and then turning to his lover said, "Lack…of…nookie. No sex."

The others joined him in laughter until Walter said, "Okay fellas we need to get organized. It's two thirty Mexico time which is twelve thirty our time. I don’t know about you guys but I am starving. I have to be down at the convention center at five for the first general session before the reception at six thirty."

"What time will you be back?" Fox asked.

"By nine I guess…I'm not sure," Walter replied. "What are you guys going to do while I'm gone."

"Don’t know yet," Fox said with a grin, "I'm sure we'll think of something."

Walter sighed and said, "That's what I'm afraid of. Remember the U.S. has good relations with Mexico… just don’t cause an international incident."

"Who me?" Alex and Fox said simultaneously and everyone shared another hearty laugh.

Walter came back to the suite later than anticipated. He had forgotten how talkative, and boring, some of his counterparts could be. He took of his coat and laid it on the dinning room chair as he looked at the living room. There were two room service tables filled with leftovers. It was obvious that the boys had recently finished eating. He turned and walked to the open connecting door and peeked in, noting that both the double beds were empty. He smiled in anticipation at finding his lovers in the big bed of the master room. Quickly shedding his tie and shirt he moved through the living room and headed to the king size room. His brows furrowed in confusion at the sight of the empty bed. He moved to the middle of the room when suddenly he felt a push from behind and he staggered to the bed.

"What the hell," Walter managed to say before a gag was stuffed in his mouth. A split second before his glasses were replaced by a blindfold he caught sight of two dark shapes looming over him. He struggled ineffectively as the two men, he guessed they were men by their strength, managed to raise his arms over his head and secure his wrist to the headboard.

"Relax and you will not be hurt," a whispered command made him stop struggling. He had recognized the voice and knew he was not in danger.

Walter felt his shoes being pulled off, followed by his socks, belt and finally his pants. He had decided to play their game and had not been cooperative in the divestment of his clothing, until he felt long fingers tickle his ribs. Walter was extremely ticklish in certain spots and both his lovers knew exactly where those spots could be found. As he moved away from the tickling fingers he raised his hips and his pants were pulled down completely. When he was down to his boxers and undershirt he heard a giggle followed by a snort. He belatedly remembered he was wearing his Mister Happy Face boxers, a present from Mulder. He knew who the giggler and the snorter were and relaxed a little more only to stiffen in surprise as a hand slipped under his tee-shirt and grasped his nipples.

"Hey Roy let's get a move on," Alex's voice said, "We need to get the information from him quickly or the boss will be mad."

"I'm working as fast as I can Jasper," Fox's voice answered back. "Do we go with the original plan then?"

"Sure. We strip him naked, I suck him until he is almost ready and then you ride him to completion."

Both young men smiled at the whimper their conversation elicited from their captive.

"Wait that won't work," 'Roy' said, "How are you going to get off?"

"He is bound to scream," 'Jasper' said, "I could put something in his mouth."

"Good idea Jasp," 'Roy' said in agreement. "Let's get started."

Walter had listened to the conversation with a mixture of emotions. He was certainly amused by the antics of his lovers while at the same time he was quickly becoming aroused by their words. He wasn’t sure what he had done to deserve this impromptu scene but he was not about to complain.

He would however have to complain about the destruction of his undershirt as he felt it being ripped off his body. His boxers were carefully removed and for that he was grateful. He had hated the tacky looking garment the moment he saw it but the look on Fox's face made him reconsider.

All thoughts flew out of his head as a warm and moist mouth engulfed his cock and began to suck at it masterfully. The feeling was indescribable. He felt his cock fill and fought the urge to release his load then and there.

"He's ready for you Roy," 'Jasper' said.

Before Walter knew what hit him he felt Fox straddle him and lower himself over Walter's erect penis.

The tightness that now surrounded his member was familiar and comforting all at once. He bucked his hips upwards as he felt Fox begin to ride him.

"I'm going to release one of your hands now," 'Jasper' growled in his ear, "so you better don’t do anything stupid or Roy will stop what he is doing and you don’t want that do you?" Walter shook his head in desperation wanting to convey how awful he thought that idea was. "Good. I'm also going to take off the gag and I don’t want a peep out of you. Got it boy?" This time Walter nodded emphatically.

He felt his right hand being released and a moment later the gag was removed. He had to bite his lip to stop the scream of pleasure from erupting. He felt someone, 'Jasper' he assumed, as 'Roy' was still busily jumping up and down on his cock, guide his newly released hand downwards. Suddenly his hand was filled with the half-aroused penis of his lover and he immediately understood what was expect of him and he began to slide his hand up and down the lube-slicked cock.

He still couldn't see so he was startled as Alex's lips locked into his and Alex's tongue invaded his mouth. The kiss was deep and passionate and for a moment Walter felt as he would loose consciousness.

"I…I can't hold it any more…" he gasped against Alex's mouth.

"Go for it Stud," Alex said pulling back and kissing him gently on the cheek.

Fox had been playing with his own erection and came at the same time Walter's cum filled his tight passage. A couple of seconds later Alex's cries of release joined those of his lovers.

There was no sound except for the heavy panting of spent lust as the trio tried to recover their senses.

Walter felt Fox shift and roll off him and Alex slip the blindfold off. Walter blinked his eyes a couple of times to get them in focus and smiled lazily at the look his lovers were giving him. They looked like little boys playing ninja. They each had a black bandana wrapped around their heads and another around their necks that he assumed had at some point covered the lower part of their faces. They had no pants on but still had black sweaters on.

"You ready to talk boy?" Fox 'Roy' Mulder gasped as he settled alongside his older lover.

"What…what…would you like to know…Sir?" Walter said playing along with the scene.

"We want to know all the plans you and your cronies made tonight" Alex 'Jasper' Krycek said from Walter's other side.

"Cronies?" Walter asked his mouth quirking up in a smirk. "Oh you mean all the stuff-shirts I had dinner with tonight…those cronies."

"Don’t play innocent Skinner…we know you are their leader," Fox growled.

"If I promise to tell you what we talked about will you go release my other hand… please?

"Very well," Alex said and unlocked the handcuff. "So spill the beans."

Walter sat up quickly and turned to face the two men. "We've decided to punish kidnappers."

"How," came two squeaky-voiced queries as the two young men noticed the glint in Skinner's eyes.

"Like this," Walter said with a growl and using his powerful arms to roll the two unsuspecting men unto their stomachs, his hands began to mercilessly tickle them.

Unbridled laughter filled the room where just moments before the sounds have been moans of ecstasy.

"Fox don’t wander off," Chris Newman warned as he saw the glint in the hazel eyes. "Remember what Walter said."

"My dearest Christopher," Fox said with a grin, "I am quite capable of taking care of myself and I don’t need a babysitter."

"Fox…I'm not trying to tell you what to do," Chris said quietly, "I promised Walter I'd keep an eye on you guys to make sure you were safe. You know he worries."

Looking around Fox said, "I very much doubt that I can get into any sort of trouble in the middle of an Aztec pyramid site Chris."

The foursome had decided to play tourist and had taken a tour to the Pyramids an hour outside of Mexico City. They had hired an interpreted that had finished showing them around the Pyramid of the Sun and was now showing them its twin, the Pyramid of the Moon.

"Come on Chris," Cooper said pulling on his arm, "Let's get going. I'm hot and I am hungry."

"We can eet in dee cantina Senor," the guide said in heavily accented English.

"What is that over there Carlos," Alex asked pointing to an area to the side of the pyramid.

"There has been new site deescovered," the small man replied, "Scientist find some metal thing under pyramid…dey don’t know what eet is."

"Metal?" Fox said, his eyes lighting up with curiosity.

"Fox," Chris growled.

"Oh you are no fun Newman," Mulder said and stuck his tongue out at the other man who chuckled.

"I don’t know how Walter does it," Chris said shaking his head, "You guys are a handful."

"Why do you think he has no hair," Alex said seriously and then smiled when the other three looked at him in surprise.

"Did my baby bro just make a joke," Cooper said with a big grin. He knew Alex hated being called 'baby bro' by him but that is what made it fun.

"Let go fellas," Chris said taking his lover by the arm and pulling him forward. He glanced over his shoulder and said, "That means you two as well. And stay out of trouble."

"Yes Dad," Alex and Fox said simultaneously and grinned innocently when the older man glared at them.

"Fox I don’t think this is a good idea," Cooper said as he followed the older man down a poorly lit corridor.

Cooper had seen Fox veer off in one direction while he, Alex and Chris had gone in the other. Deciding to follow his brother's lover to make sure he didn't get into trouble he had instead ended up following him into tunnels underneath the pyramid. Chris and Alex had been unaware of their departure, and Coop knew there would be hell to pay when they reconnected.

"We are just going to take a quick look Coop," Fox said continuing down the tunnel, "You can go back to Chris if you want."

"I wouldn't know where to go," Cooper answered gruffly, "We've been down here for hours Fox."

"Ten minutes Coop," Fox said sighing in exasperation, "Man you are such a whiner…Alex wouldn't whine half as much."

"Well he is more used to getting punished for his behavior than I am," Coop grumbled. "Chris is going to beat my ass black and blue."

"He will not," Fox said with more confidence than he felt. He knew that the moment Walter found out that he had taken an impromptu side trip he was going to be livid. "Hey look here…man look at this…"

The tunnel they had been in had opened up into a large cavern. It was obvious that it was an excavation site by the various tools strewn around the place. An area of the cavern was cordoned off around what appeared to be a metal object invaded in the ground.

"What is it?" Cooper asked as he followed closer to see what Fox was pointing at.

"I can't tell but it looks like a part of a spaceship of some kind," Fox said kneeling next to the exposed metal.

"Does everything look like an alien spaceship to you Fox," Cooper said rolling his eyes. "You are really are paranoid aren't you."

Fox smirked at him and said, "We know that there are several ships buried all over the planet. We got that information from the Rebels. I think this could be one of them."

"And if it is?"

"The Mexican's don’t know what they have in their hands. We need to get the government involved in this as soon as possible. They scientists that are working on deciphering the drawings on the ships that have been found so far need to take a look at this."

"And they will as soon as we have it uncovered," a voice said from behind them.

Both men turned to see who had spoken and their eyes widened at the sight of five rather large men in uniform, all holding automatic weapons.

"Shit!" Fox said to no one in particular.

Walter Skinner paced from one end of the suite to the other. Every few steps he would stop, turn to face the two men on the couch, open his mouth to say something, change his mind and continue pacing. This went on for a full five minutes before he finally managed to speak without shouting.

"Do you have anything to say for yourselves?"

"It was all my fault Walter," Fox said contritely, "Cooper didn't do anything."

"Cooper is a big boy, he didn't have to follow you," Chris said, his arms crossed over his chest. His lover looked at him from behind long lashes and gulped audibly.

"Yes he is," Walter agreed, "And I thought you were too Fox. How many times did I tell you this morning not to do anything stupid…and then you go and break into a excavation site."

"I didn’t break in," Fox mumbled.

"You did and you know it, don't act stupid Fox," Walter almost shouted.

Mulder sprang to his feet and yelled, "STOP CALLING ME STUPID!" and with that ran out of the suite and to the connecting room.

"FOX! Get back here," Walter yelled out at the disappearing back. "Damn it!"

"Walter calm down," Alex said quickly, "Loosing your temper is not going to do any good."

Whirling to face the younger man Skinner said, "And where the hell where you?"

Alex was taken aback by the outburst and his eyes widened in surprise before becoming guarded as he glared at his lover, "I forgot that Fox was his own man…what was I thinking taking my eyes off him."

Walter realized the validity of the words and sighed deeply, "Alex, I'm sorry. You are completely right. You are not responsible for Fox and neither am I. Please forgive me…I was just…"

"Worried," Alex said smiling, "I know Walter. But nothing really happened. Fox was able to explain who he was and what he was doing. Hell…he had the police asking for autographs by the time Chris and I got there."

"I know…I know…but still…he should have known better," Walter said shaking his head.

"And you'll punish him accordingly," Chris said as he pushed away from the wall he had been leaning against. "Won't he Spud?" he added looking sternly at his lover.

Cooper looked up at him and reddened. He knew he was going to get it and get it good and he saw no way of getting out of it. "Yes Chris."

"Go talk to him Walter," Alex said quietly, "And don't loose your temper…it scares him."

Walter looked at Alex for a moment before nodding slightly. He knew that Fox's father had had a violent temper and had often punished Mulder out of anger instead of out of concern. "I will. I'm sorry for snapping at you before Alex."

"Stop apologizing and go," Alex said giving him a quick shove. When Walter was out of the room Alex turned to look at his forlorn brother and said, "Now I know what I look like before I'm about to get my ass whipped."

Cooper, who had been staring down at his hands, snapped his head up and glared at his smiling twin, "You think it's funny. I'll show you funny," and he sprang to his feet intent on causing Alex bodily harm.

"Cooper Nicholas Donovan," Chris' voice boomed, "You are in enough trouble young man. Don’t make it worse." Cooper stopped in mid-stride and bit his lip to stop the words he wanted to say from escaping. "Let's go."

Alex watched them leave and sighed. He hadn't meant to get Cooper so angry with him and now he worried that he had caused a rift between himself and his brother.

"Fox?" Walter said softly as he entered the darken room. He could see Mulder laying on his side facing away from the door. "Fox…can we talk?"

"What makes you think I can carry on an intelligent conversation," came back the bitter reply. "I'm stupid remember."

Sighing Walter entered the room and made his way to the bed. Sitting behind his angry lover he put his hand on Fox's shoulder and was surprised when he felt the body beneath his hand stiffen. "Fox…I'm sorry for what I said. There is no excuse for my words. I didn’t mean you were stupid but that you had done something stupid. Forgive me?"

Fox rolled onto his back and looked up at the face he loved so much. He could easily tell Walter was sorry for causing him grief so he quickly relented. "It's okay Big Guy. So does that makes us even?"

"What?"

"Well you made me mad and I made you mad so we are even right?" Fox said with a big smile.

"Fox William Mulder," Walter growled menacingly.

"All right Walter," Fox said as he sat up, "You are right. I deserve to be punished…you told me not to do something, I agreed not to do it and did it anyway. I broke my word to you."

"I'm glad to hear you say that since I agree completely," Walter said and turned on the light on the nightstand. "Let's go to the bathroom."

"Why the bathroom," Fox asked as he came to his feet.

"Because that is where you are going to have the first part of your punishment," Walter informed him.

"Fi…first part," Fox asked nervously as they entered the large bathroom.

"First I'm going to wash you mouth out with soap and then you are going over my knees for a spanking."

"Why two punishments," Fox whined.

"The soaping is for lying and the spanking is for the actual act of breaking the Mexican law by going to the excavation site."

"Waaalter…I don’t like to have my mouth washed out…pleeeease," Fox said his voice cracking.

"Do you want Alex here?" Walter said.

"No…that's all right," Fox said grumpily, "He can come in when it's over."

"Okay…open up," Walter said as he placed a frothy bar of soap in Fox's mouth. As they had been talking he had been busy rubbing the bar of soap under the faucet until it was bubbly.

Fox grimaced as he bit down and tried not to gag as his mouth filled with bubbles.

"Five minutes in the corner and then you can rinse," Walter said as he turned his lover around to face the only empty corner of the bathroom. "I’ll be right back. I don’t want you to move or take the soap out. Is that clear."

"Clru," Fox said around the soap.

Walter quickly walked back to the suite where Alex was sitting on the couch watching television. "Alex can you go down to the gift shop and get some mints or something. I didn’t bring anything with me."

"Mints? What the hell for?"

"For Fox? He will need them after I take out the bar of soap out of his mouth."

Alex scrunched up his nose in disgust and shuddered in sympathy, "I'll be right back. I want to kiss him later and I don’t want soap in my mouth."

Walter returned to the bathroom and gently turned Fox around. His heart broke at the tears running down his young lover's face. Fox was trying not to gag and was breathing rapidly to calm himself, "Okay baby it's done. Open up," Walter said and put out his hand to catch the soap. "Go ahead and rinse well," Skinner instructed as he wrapped the used bar in toilet paper and threw it in the garbage can.

A couple of minutes later Fox had gotten as much of the bad taste of his mouth as possible and turned to face Skinner, "I'm done Walter," he said meekly.

"Let's get this over with. I want to have dinner and then cuddle with my boys."

"Dinner?" Fox said with a grimace, "Walter you are mean."

"Sorry sweetie…I wasn’t thinking," Walter said apologetically. "Come on."

"Bare?"

"But of course," Walter said straight-faced.

Fox groaned as he dropped his pants and boxers and settled over the spacious lap, "Gods Walter don’t give up your day job. You'd make a lousy comedian."

"I don’t think you are in any position to be a wise ass," Walter said and then chuckled, "A sore ass maybe… a pain in the ass definitely."

"Ha ha owwww…owwww…Walter…ouch…ouch…" Fox yelled out as Walter's callused hand impacted on his bare bottom.

"What is this spanking for Fox?"

"I…I…ouch…ouch…owww…I broke a promise and went where…damn…ouch…owww…went where I wasn’t supposed to…owwwey…"

"I don’t like it when you put yourself in danger…is that understood," Walter said, each word emphasized by a slap to the quickly reddening flesh.

"Yes…yes sir…I'm sorr…sorry," Fox gasped as the spanks continued to fall, "I'm sorry…pleeasse stop…I'm

sorry…"

Walter continued to spank until he had completed three repetitions and Fox's bottom was a bright red.

When he finished he rubbed gentle circles on the crying man's back to help calm him down, "It's all right Fox…there…there…calm down…breath baby…I know it hurts…it's all right. Come on let me help you up."

Once he had Fox off his lap and sitting on it he pulled the sobbing man into a tight embrace. "I love you baby…I don’t want anything to ever happen to you. You've put yourself in danger so many times…"

"I…I wasn't in dan…danger…I had…back up…Coop was there…" Fox said as he hugged Walter's neck.

"Fox…Cooper and Alex might look alike but don’t forget they are different people. Coop might not be a good in a fight as our Alex would be. Don’t confuse them okay."

"O…okay…I'm sorry Walter…I'm sorry."

"I know baby I know. I'll order up some dinner for all of us. Chris should be done with Coop by now."

"I'm sorry I got him in trouble."

"He got himself in trouble. He should have found Chris and Alex and told them where you were. Now why don’t you go take a shower while I go call room service."

Fox stood and wiped at his swollen eyes with the back of his hand, "I can't take a shower in my bathroom Walter."

"Why not?"

"No soap."

"Coop…I'm sorry," Fox said when he walked out of his room into the living area of the suite. Coop and Chris were there with Alex and Walter.

"S'right," the younger man said shrugging his shoulders. "I deserved what I got. I didn’t have to follow you."

"I'm still sorry you got punished," Fox said with sincerity.

"Room service will be here in a few minutes," Walter said, "Fox…Alex has some mints for you if you want to get the taste out of your mouth."

"Taste of what?" Cooper asked confused.

"Taste of soap," Fox said simply.

"Soap," Coop asked still confused and then realization hit. "Damn it Fox…at least I didn’t get that. I thought the spanking was bad enough."

"I got that too," Fox said with a grin. "Alex you have a mint for me?"

"Right here baby," Alex said and stuck out his tongue where a mint sat on the tip.

"So nice of you to unwrap it for me honey," Fox said with a leer and wrapped his arms around Alex pulling him into a hug as his mouth descended on the younger man's.

"Uuuuh gross," Cooper exclaimed as Chris and Walter laughed.

"Where are the twins?" Chris asked Fox as he walked up to him.

"They are next door at the leather store. Alex saw a jacket he thinks Walter might like."

"You find anything you like?"

"Yeah some stuff for Scully and the babies and even something for Doggett."

"We need to be back at the hotel by three. Walter is going to get out early so we can go to the bullfight."

"I still find the whole thing barbaric," Fox said with disgust.

"Hey…I raise cattle and I find it disgusting but Walter was invited by the mayor of Mexico once the man found you guys were in town. We can't refuse the invitation."

"You guys can," Fox said, "Just because Walter, Alex and I have to sit through it doesn't mean you do."

"Cooper wants to spend time with Alex as much as he can."

"Hey guys you ready to go grab some lunch?" Alex said as he joined them.

"Sure," Chris said, "Where is Spud?"

"What do you mean?" Alex asked with surprise. "He said he was coming over here to get you…what do you mean he is not here?"

"Calm down Alex," Fox said, "Maybe he went to the wrong store. Let's go take a look okay."

"Okay," Alex said trying to keep the calm that he was not feeling.

Ten minutes later the calmness was replaced by panic when Cooper was no where to be found.

"Very well. Thank you…we'll wait right here for your call," Walter Skinner said and then hung up the phone. He stood and walked to where the other three men waited.

"Who did you talk to Walter?" Fox asked, looking up at the older man from his seat on the couch.

"I spoke to the office of the Mayor and told them what happened and they will contact him and have him call me."

"We can't just sit around all day waiting for some crooked politician to do something about finding Cooper," Alex said coming to his feet.

"What makes you think the Mayor of Mexico is crooked?" Walter asked patiently. He knew they were all worried about Cooper's disappearance but no one more so than Alex…well with the possible exception of Chris Newman who was looking like his world was ending. "Besides if he were what makes you think he would not help find Cooper."

Running a hand through his hair in frustration Alex began to pace, "I don’t know Walter…I just can't sit here waiting to hear something…I need to do something."

"I'm with Alex…we need to do something," Chris said in agreement.

"You both keep saying you need to do something but what is that something you think you need to be doing?" Walter asked.

"I don’t fucking know," Alex yelled, "But sitting here on my ass while something could be happening to my brother because of me…"

"Wait a minute," Fox said also coming to his feet, "What the hell makes you think someone took Cooper because of you?"

Alex opened his mouth and then clamped it shut. After a moment he said, "Never mind."

"No never mind," Walter said putting his hands on either side of Alex's face and pulling it up so he could see into the tortured green eyes, "What did you mean Alex? How is this your fault?"

"I…I have…I have enemies all over the world," Alex said his voice faltering, "Someone must have thought he was me and took him."

"You think someone took him by mistake," Chris said in astonishment, "You think it was you that they wanted. Damn it Alex if you thought he was in danger why the fuck didn't you say something. I swear if something happens to him I'll…"

Walter let go of Alex and put a restraining hand on Chris' chest, "I know we are all on edge here Chris, but I will not let you blame Alex as I would not let Alex blame himself. Do I make myself clear?" he added looking back at Alex who stood behind him, glaring at Chris.

Chris swatted Walter's hand away angrily and said, "Crystal."

Walter sighed in frustration and turned back to Alex, "Alex? Do I make myself clear? You are not to blame yourself and you are not to do anything stupid."

Alex's eyes grew cold and he gave his lover a curt nod before turning on his heel and walking out of the room.

"I'll go after him," Fox said and followed Krycek out.

Walter turned to Chris, who stood with his back to the room staring out the large windows. Skinner walked up to his friend and put a hand on his shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze, "It'll be all right Chris. We'll find him and he'll be fine."

Chris wrapped his arms tighter around his chest and let his chin drop down, "I don’t know what I'd do if anything…if anything happens to that boy. He is my whole life Walter."

"I know he is Chris, and I know that he wouldn't want you to do anything rash…anything that could bring you harm. Fox and I are both here for you and Alex. We will get through this together and we will celebrate together once he is found."

"I hope you are right Walter," Chris said, his voice hitching with an unwanted sob, "I…I don’t want to think what Rosie would do to me if I lost the Spud," he added, referring to their long time housekeeper and surrogate mother back at their Wyoming ranch.

Walter chuckled softly and wrapped his arm tighter around the other man trying to give him reassurance and strength.

"Alex? Can I come in?" Fox said knocking softly on the bathroom door.

"I…I rather be alone Fox," was the almost inaudible reply.

"Please baby," Fox said pleadingly, "I know what you are going through…"

His words were cut short by the door opening suddenly and a very angry Alex Krycek yelling in his face, "What the hell do you know about it…how can you say you know how I feel…"

"Samantha," was the one word reply.

Fox watched as guilt and sorrow replaced Alex's anger, "Oh Fox…I'm so sorry…"

Fox caught him in his arms and pulled Alex into a tight hug, rubbing his hand on his back to calm the now sobbing man, "I know Alex…I know. Cooper will be all right and he'll be home before you know it."

"We…we had a fight yesterday…when he was going to get punished. I made fun of him and he got angry."

"But you guys were fine this morning," Fox said continuing to soothe his lover, "Weren't you?"

"We were both kind of ignoring it, but I know he was still angry with me," Alex said more calmly, "And now if…if I never see him again…I'll never…"

"That's enough Alexei," Fox said sternly pushing his lover at arm's length to be able to look into the face he loved so much, "You have to stop blaming yourself. You and Chris aren't doing anyone any good by blaming yourselves."

His brows furrowed with confusion Alex said, "Why is Chris blaming himself?"

"Because like any good lover he feels that if his partner is in any kind of trouble they should have done something to keep them safe."

"Do you and Walter feel that about me?"

"What do you think?" Fox said with a smile. After all this time he was amazed by the surprise in Alex's eyes whenever Walter or himself told him they loved him. "And guess what…you do the same thing."

After thinking about it for a moment Alex returned the smile and nodded, "I guess I do. I love you Fox."

"And I love you Alex…more than I ever thought possible. Now let's go see if we can talk Chris into getting something to eat."

A knock on the suite door startled the four men. Walter, who had been sitting at the large desk working to keep himself from going crazy, was the first one up and answered the door.

"Senor Skinner?" a tall, broad shouldered man with a very bushy mustache said.

"I am Walter Skinner," Walter said and added, "May I help you?"

"I am Captain Ruiz," the man said, "Alberto Ruiz of the Mexico City Police Department."

"Please come in Captain," Walter said and stood aside to let the man enter. "Do you have any news for us?"

"I have my men looking for Senor Donovan but nothing yet," the Captain said as he followed Walter into the suite's living room. "Dios mio," the Captain said softly.

At the exclamation of surprise Walter turned to face the man, "What do you mean 'My God'?"

"My apologies Senor Skinner, I just wasn’t ready."

"What are you talking about?" Fox asked confused. He saw the man staring intently at Alex and added, "Does this have something to do with Mr. Krycek?"

"Senor Krycek again please my apologies. I was told that you had provided a picture of Senor Donovan

for our search but I didn’t realize how much you look like him."

"They are twins," Walter explained impatiently. He wanted to know if the police had found anything about Cooper not if the Captain was astonished by the similarities between the two men.

"May I sit down so I may explain," the Captain said pointing to the couch.

"Please," Walter said, "Can we get you some coffee?"

"No gracias. I think I need to explain something to you all." The four men took seats around the Captain, waiting to hear what he had to say. "We have been working in trying to find Senor Cooper since the moment you contacted the Mayor. Please believe me that we are working all possible leads."

"What sort of leads do you have," Fox asked.

"You have to understand that the Mexican people they are not very trusting of us in law enforcement. The storeowners were not very willing to cooperate with information. The few witnesses we have been able to get anything out of have been American tourists like yourselves."

"Captain Ruiz…please…we don’t mean to rush you but we need to know what you have found out about our friend," Walter said trying to be diplomatic but worried at the looks Alex was giving the man. He knew that if Alex didn't get some answers and quickly he was liable to do something they would all later regret.

"Of course, I'm sorry. The witnesses say they did see your Senor Donovan. A particularly attentive young woman mentioned that she had been keeping an eye on him since he was rather good looking. She said she saw him and I guess you Senor Krycek enter the leather store. She was outside with her parents when Senor Donovan came out. She said that she saw two men in uniform approach him and a few moments later they took him away."

"Men in uniform?" Chris asked. "What kind of uniform? Military? What?"

"I'm sorry you are?"

"This is Chris Newman," Walter offered, "He is Mr. Donovan's partner."

"Oh you are in business with Senor Donovan?" Ruiz asked.

"Not that kind of partner," Chris said in frustration, "You were saying about the men that took Cooper?"

"They might have been policemen."

"Might have been? Don’t you know?" Alex said, his voice barely containing his anger.

"Kidnappers are very clever," Captain Ruiz explained, "They can disguise themselves."

"But why kidnap Cooper," Fox asked, "Do you think he was targeted or was it something random?"

"It might also be that they were indeed policemen," Ruiz said without answering the question.

"Are your men in the habit of taking innocent people off the street without warning," Alex said angrily.

"Alex…calm down," Walter said softly giving his lover a look that brooked no argument. "Please continue Captain Ruiz."

"The reason I say that it might have been my men is that we are on the lookout for someone matching the description of Senor Donovan…or Senor Krycek for that matter."

"You are looking for me?" Alex asked with surprise.

"No not you Senor," Ruiz explained quickly, "But someone who looks very much like you. I fear my men may have mistaken your brother for this person and taken him into custody. I hope this is the case as it will mean that we might find him sooner than later and that he is in no danger."

"And if it was not your men?" Chris asked.

"Then I fear that we will have to wait for a ransom note or a demand of some kind from whoever took him."

"This man that you are looking for…what has he done," Fox asked, glancing at Alex and then at Walter. He could tell that the Captain's words had struck a cord with both his lovers.

"He is helping the guerrillas of Chiapas."

"Guerillas…you are saying he is a mercenary of some kind," Alex asked. "And what is he helping them with?"

"The region is under turmoil," Ruiz explained, "They are fighting the government and this man is helping them."

"And you say he looks like me?" Alex asked both excited and hesitant to hope that the man Ruiz was referring to could be another of his clone brothers. "What is his name?"

"We call him El Lobo but he has many names."

"El Lobo? The wolf?" Fox asked raising an eyebrow in surprise. "You say he goes by many names?"

"He is also known as Espiritu Santo and Argangel."

"My Spanish is a bit rusty but don't those names mean the Holy Ghost and Archangel?" Walter said.

"Yes…I believe that is what they mean. We have only some small amount of information from men that have been captured and interrogated. They talk about this man as if he were sacred. They will not give away his location."

Before anyone could ask anything else a cell phone rang startling them. The Captain pressed a button and said, "Capitan Ruiz…si…si…no…no ahora mismo…si…si…no." He disconnected the call and looked at the other four with a smile, "Good new gentlemen…Senor Donovan has been located and will be brought back to the hotel momentarily."

An audible collective sigh of relief filled the room.

"Is he all right?" Chris asked with concern.

"Yes he is fine," Ruiz said with a smile. He was silently glad that his men had not harmed the American having mistaken him for the man that had been the cause of so much controversy. He was well aware who Walter Skinner, Fox Mulder and Alex Krycek were and he didn't want to have to answer to his boss if anything happen to anyone they were related to. "They will have him here within the hour. I must truly apologize for everything that has transpired. I hope that this unfortunate misunderstanding will not make you think less of our city and it's law enforcement."

"Well you don't have the best reputation," Alex mumbled under his breath but obviously not low enough that Walter didn't hear him.

"ALEX! That was uncalled for…apologize immediately," Walter said with his Deputy Director voice.

Alex colored instantly at the rebuke and said, "I'm sorry Captain Ruiz. Walter is right, it was uncalled for."

"The truth hurts as they say," Ruiz said graciously accepting the apology. "We have a lot of work to do if we are to overcome this reputation of corruption. Now I must take my leave."

"Thank you for your help and for your explanation Captain Ruiz," Walter said shaking the man's hand as he walked him to the door. When he returned to the living room he fixed Alex with a deadly glare. "Alex I am ashamed of you. That was the rudest thing to say."

Alex shrugged and looked at the floor, "I apologized and he accepted. I'm sorry I made you mad but he is right. The truth hurts…they are corrupt."

"Regardless of your feelings on the subject you still were out of line."

"Walter…he apologized. Cooper will be here shortly and I doubt that he would appreciate coming home to a place full of anger don’t you think?"

"Fox is right Walter," Chris agreed. Silently he agreed wholeheartedly with Alex's comment. His feelings towards the Mexican Police Department were not warm and fuzzy.

"We better order some dinner," Fox said trying to break the tension in the room. "I'm sure that Cooper will be starving when he gets here. If the police here is like the one in the States they probably didn’t think of feeding him."

"He better not have a scratch on him or there'll be hell to pay," Chris said with a warning.

"Let's not jump the gun," Walter said, "Why don’t you go ahead an order dinner Fox. I need to run down to the conference and make my apologies for my hasty departure. I will be back as soon as I can."

"And I need to go next door," Chris said, "I want to take a shower and change before the Spud gets here."

When the two older men were gone Alex collapsed in a heap onto the couch. Fox took a seat next to him and said, "What's the matter babe?"

"What he said…about this man…this El Lobo…do you think…"

"That he could be your clone? There is a very real possibility."

"Do you think…that maybe we could go look for him. Do you think Walter would want to now that he is mad at me?"

"Walter loves you Alex and he knows how important it is to you that you find your brothers. He will move heaven and earth to make that come true for you, and so will I…and I am pretty sure that Cooper will do anything to help you find your brother."

Alex leaned over and laid his head on Mulder's shoulder and sighed when the older man put his arm around his shoulder and hugged him. "Fox I was so scared."

"I know you were baby."

"I hate feeling scared. Before…before I never did. I felt fear but not like this."

"It's okay to feel scared when it concern's the ones you love Alex. It's means you care."

"Damn but there are a lot of emotions to get used to when you become reformed," Alex said wryly.

"Aren't there though," Fox said with a laugh.

"And you should have seen the face of the cop that took me in…I think he was a Sargent or something and when he got the call that I was not who he thought I was he looked like he swallowed a lemon. He started spluttering in Spanish…I thought his head was going to explode. He didn't know I spoke Spanish thanks to Rosie and that I understood that he was getting his ass chewed out by whomever he was talking to. When he had to apologize to me if looks could kill I would have been six feet under…"

"Take a breath Spud," Chris said with a smile. He had been smiling goofily at his lover since the moment the younger man had arrived an hour before. Now as Cooper regaled them with his adventure in the clutches of the Mexican Police Department he was just thankful that the young man had come home unscathed.

"Oh sorry," Cooper said with a blush. "I didn’t realize I was talking so much. It was just so bizarre. One moment I am coming out of a store and the next I am in the back of a police cruiser heading God knows where. I don’t mind telling you I was scared."

"But you are safe and sound now and in dire need of a bath," Chris said still grinning, "You smell rather ripe my boy."

"I have an early day tomorrow so I think I'll head to bed," Walter said stretching with a yawn. "You have a good night…and Cooper I'm glad you weren't hurt."

"Thanks Walter. Good night."

"I think I'm going to go as well," Fox said. "Alex you are going to stay up a while?"

"No. I'll be in soon." When Fox was gone Alex turned to his brother and said, "Coop…I want to apologize about…about the other day."

Cooper frowned in confusion and glanced at Chris for an explanation. When his lover shrugged he asked, "What are you talking about Alex?"

"The other day I made you mad," Alex said. "I made fun of you and you got angry. I want to apologize."

Cooper's reaction was nothing like what Alex had expected. Coop threw his head back and laughed before saying, "For Pete's sake Alexei you really have to get a hang of this brotherly stuff. All brothers fight and most of the time the fight is about something really stupid and inconsequential. I forgot all about that about a minute after I left. I'm sorry you worried about it all the time I was gone."

"Spud is right Alex," Chris said, "You'll have bigger fights than this…and you'll hate each other and call each other names before you make your peace. It's all part of being brothers."

"And speaking of which…I want to hear all about this possible new brother we might have out there," Cooper said.

"But we will do that in the morning after a good night's sleep," Chris said and stood, taking a hold of Cooper's arm he pulled him up and into a hug. "And we will get that good night's sleep after you take a shower and we have some fun."

"Can't wait," Cooper said with a wicked grin. "For the shower I mean."

"You brat," Chris said and slapped his lover's bottom.

"Hellooo…little brother in the room," Alex said with a chuckle, "You guys better get to your room before you give me an eye full."

"You heard the boy Christopher," Cooper said winking at his clone. "Let's go."

When they were gone Alex stood and walked to the bedroom he shared with his lovers. He could hear Fox in the bathroom and Walter was on the bed reading a file.

"Walter?"

"Yes Alex," Walter said looking up from the folder in his hand. "What's up?"

"Walter I think I should be punished and I want you to do it," Alex said quickly, as if he didn’t he would loose his nerve.

"What is this all about Alexei?"

"I know you are angry and disappointed with me about what I said to Captain Ruiz. I hate it when you are angry and I hate it even more when you are disappointed in me. Please Walter I want to feel forgiven."

"Come here," Walter said with a smile as he opened up his arms.

Alex needed no further invitation and he rushed to the bed and into Walter's arms. "I'm sorry Walter. Punish me…make me feel forgiven…please."

"Are you sure Little Rat?"

"Yes."

"Do you want Fox here?"

"He'll hear it soon enough I guess," Alex said with a shrug, "But Walter…uhm…could you just spank me."

"What did you think I would do?"

"I thought you might want to wash out my mouth with soap," Alex said making a face, "I had a great dinner and I would have to have to throw it all up if you do that."

"All right a spanking it is," Walter said and rolled to a sitting position. "Get over here," he said patting his lap.

Alex scurried of the bed and dropped the sweatpants he was wearing. As he was not wearing underwear he draped himself over Walter's strong thighs and buried his face in the bed's comforter.

"What is this spanking for Alexei?"

"I was rude and disrespectful to Captain Ruiz."

"Since you are not going to get your mouth washed out with soap you will get forty with my hand."

Alex's head came off the comforter and he looked back in alarm, "Forty! Walter that's too much…it wasn’t that baaaaad….owwww…oouch…I'm sorry."

Fox came out of the bathroom at the sound of the first yell and when he saw what was happening he leaned on the doorframe to watch the proceedings.

Alex didn't even notice him standing there as he was concentrating on the increasing pain on his behind. Walter was doing quite a job of turning the previously pristine white flesh a rosy shade of red from right above the crack of his ass to half way down his thighs.

Fox could not help but notice the difference in Alex's behavior during punishment. Where first he wouldn’t utter a sound, not even a whimper now he was fully vocalizing his displeasure at having his seat warmed by Walter's expert hand. Where before he was afraid to show any emotion now every motion was written on his expressive face. Fox could easily read the pain but underneath he could also read the trust and the peace that came with forgiveness.

"Are you going to be rude again?" Walter asked as the thirtieth spank fell.

"I…I will try…not too…but…but I can't promise…" Alex cried in between sobs.

"Well I guess that will have to do for the time being," Walter said as he brought the punishment to an end. He rubbed his hand on Alex's back to bring the sobs and tremors under control. "You okay baby?"

Alex rolled onto his side and onto a sitting position on Walter's lap, snuggling against the wide chest. "It hurts Walter."

"It's supposed to Alexei," Walter said trying to keep the amusement out of his voice, "You say the same thing every time."

"'Cause it hurts every time," Alex said hiccuping, "Am I forgiven?"

"What do you think?"

"Say it…please?"

"Everything is forgiven Alex…everything is forgiven." Walter said soothingly, "Come on let's get some sleep."

"Not sleepy," Alex said as he let out a bone-cracking yawn.

Walter smiled at Fox, who returned the smile and joined them on the big bed. He crawled on the other side of Alex as Walter laid the languid Russian on the bed.

"You want some aloe for your bottom Little Rat?" Fox whispered in Alex's ear.

"No…it's alright," Alex said snuggling further down into the mattress, "Just don't play with it."

"Walter he won't let me play with his bottom," Fox whined in mock grumpiness.

"Go to sleep Foxlet," Walter said as he turned off the lights and snuggled down besides Alex, wrapping his arm protectively around the younger man's waist.

"Not fair…" Fox grumbled, "At least Chris is gonna get some tonight."

"And if you don’t go to sleep you'll be getting some too tonight, but not some of what you are looking for," Walter growled, "I'd be happy to make your backside match Alexei's."

"Stop giggling Alex…I'll give you something to giggle about," Fox said running his fingers lightly over the still heated behind.

"Waaaalter help me," Alex said trying to get away from the tickling fingers.

"Fox William Mulder…don’t make me come over to that side of the bed," Walter said, his eyes still closed but with a smile on his face. He enjoyed it when the boys played.

"Promises, promises," Fox said and then yawn, "Night Walter, 'night Alex,"

"Good night Alex, good night Fox."

"Good night Jim-Bob, goodnight John-Boy," Alex said and began laughing when both Walter and Fox began tickling him.

"Is our stuff going to be safe here?" Cooper asked as he handed Walter his suitcase.

"Safer than if we took it into the mountains. The hotel will keep everything under lock and key until we get back. We are only taking three days change of clothing."

"What happens if we don’t find him after three days," Cooper asked as he followed the older man to the elevators. "You know Alex wont want to give up until he finds this El Lobo…not if he thinks he is our brother."

"What about you Coop…would you give up after three days?"

"Not when we are this close I wouldn't," Cooper admitted.

"If after three days we don’t find him we'll take a vote about what to do next," Walter said, "I'll have to go back to work…I only took an extra few days to go to Cancun."

"I'm sorry about that Walter," Cooper said, "I know how much you really wanted to spend time with Fox and Alex."

"Don't be silly Cooper. When this all started…and by that I mean the search for Alex's brothers both Fox and I knew we would do whatever it took to find them. You were easy…you found us."

"And I am sure glad I did," Cooper said and smiled, "I not only got a brother but two good friends as well."

"So did Fox and I Cooper," Walter said and threw an arm across the younger man's shoulders.

They joined the other three men in the lobby and boarded the mini-van that they had rented for their excursion into the Mexican countryside.

"I've been in worse," Fox said as he dropped his overnight bag on one of the twin beds in the room he was to share with Alex. "But not much worse."

"What do you expect in this part of the country," Alex said, "They don’t get a hell of a lot of tourists here. We are going to stick out like a sore thumb."

"But you'll be a really cute sore thumb," Fox said wrapping his arms around the Russian and kissing him gently.

"Uknu…ihetitwenu…allmeut," Alex said around the kiss.

Pulling back and looking at Alex in confusion Fox said, "I've gotten pretty good about deciphering your mumbling when you are giving us blow jobs but I missed this one completely. What the hell did you say?"

"I said…you know I hate it when you call me cute," Alex said with a smirk.

"Face it Krycek my boy you are c.u.t.e. cute," Fox said and kissed the impish nose. "I don’t know how anyone ever took you seriously as an assassin you are so darn adorable."

"Fox I'm warning you," Alex growled menacingly, "And as I recall you thought I was a pretty rotten character before."

"Yes that is true," Mulder agreed, "But that was before…"

"Before what?" Alex asked cautiously.

"Before I saw your cute little butt and fell in love."

"You mean you didn't love me until you saw me naked?" Alex said with mock hurt, "Now I know you only love me for my body and not my mind."

"I didn't have to see you naked to fall in love with your butt baby," Fox said and gently pushed him onto the bed, "You look so hot in jeans. Now get them off."

"Do we have time for this now?" Alex asked as he began fumbling with his button and zipper. "I think we should be out looking for this man that could be my brother don’t you think. That is why we came all this way."

"Walter said that he didn't want us going off half cocked," Fox said and looked down at his rampart erection, "No fear of that now," he added with a grin. "He wanted to check with the local constabulary to let them know we are here and to see if he could get some information. He and Chris will be back soon and Cooper said he had a headache and wanted to lie down for a bit so it's just you and me baby."

As Fox divested himself of the rest of his clothing and draped his long lean body over Alex's sturdier one, the sable haired Russian said, "Will Walter be mad that we fucked without him."

"I would prefer if we called what we are doing making love if you don’t mind," Fox said rubbing his body slowly against Alex's quickly warming skin. "And no, I don’t think he would mind. We've talked about this before. We can make love in any combination when the mood strikes us. Now of course we have to be careful as to where the mood strikes us. You know Walter can be rather conservative…"

"Fox! Are you gonna keep talking or are you gonna make love to me?" Alex said impatiently bucking his hips against Mulder's groin.

"Such impatience," Fox said with a wicked grin. "So what is your pleasure?"

"Well since you are already on top why don't I just bottom," Alex said spreading his legs wider to give Fox better access.

"Wait I need to get the lube," Fox said and reached down to the bag and rummaged one-handed until he found what he was looking for, "Ta-da," he said triumphantly holding a small tube of lube in his hand.

"Ta-da? What are you five? Get on with it."

Fox didn't need any further coaxing as he was as hot as Alex. Quickly warming the lube in his hands he began preparing Alex's hole, first with one finger and then two until he had the younger man writhing and moaning under him. "You are so incredibly beautiful like this Alex. I wish you could see yourself."

Alex didn't have any words to spare as he was concentrating to much on the sensations Fox's touch were eliciting from his body. He groaned as the head of Fox's penis slipped past the tight ring of muscle and stopped. Alex's eyes flew open and he stared up at the smiling face of his lover, "What are you doing? Why did you stop?"

"Just admiring the view," Fox said and leaned down for a kiss, "You eyes are sparkling like emeralds Alex."

"Fox I didn't know you were this poetic," Alex said with a tiny smile. He didn't want to admit that Fox's romantic words, even when he called him cute, made his heart swell.

"When I'm with you it just comes naturally."

"And speaking of cumming?" Alex said waggling his eyebrows suggestively and once again bucking his hips.

Fox gave him a blinding smile and pushed further in. No more words were spoken as they settled into a slow pace. They knew each other's body intimately yet they let their fingers explore with feather light touches that conveyed the love they felt for each other.

Fox pulled in and out unhurriedly, building the pressure slowly. His right hand slipped between their bodies and he found Alex's erection. Wrapping his long fingers around it he began to gently but firmly pull upwards.

"Fox…Fox…I can't hold it…don’t do that…oh Gods…that is so…don't tickle Fox…I can't…"

"I'm almost ready myself…your ass is so fucking tight…I can't hold it much longer…"

"Tight…I'm tight…really," Alex said with a wicked smile and squeezed his anal muscles twice in quick succession.

"You brat," Fox gasped, "Fuck…Alex…" he added with a roar as he came. When moments later he had spent his load and was breathing hard, he looked down at the smug smile on Alex's lips. "That was mean you little brat. I'll show you," Fox said placing his hand at the base of Alex's cock and closing his fist firmly. "Let's see how you like not coming for a while."

Alex's eyes grew incredibly wide and he begged, "Fox…Foxling…my beloved…you wouldn't…please Fox, I was so close…please I'll be good…I'll be good."

"You are good," Fox said and released him watching as the semen streamed out in an arch hitting him in the chest first and then falling into Alex's chin and chest next. "You okay?"

"Uh hu," was all Alex managed to say as he took deep breaths to fill his lungs before he passed out.

"We better get cleaned up," Fox said after a few minutes, "Walter will be back soon and we don't want him to have to unglue us."

Alex giggled as Fox stood and pulled him up and tickled him gently, "Could you see his face if he came in here and found us stuck together."

"He works with the X-Files, I don’t think anything will ever faze him again," Fox said leading Alex to the bathroom, "Uhm…we have a small problem Alex."

"What?"

"This bathroom is a closet."

"What?"

"This bathroom is a closet…there is no bathroom in the room…shit…"

"What?"

"Will you stop saying what," Fox said turning to him, "Now we are all sticky and we have to go to the bathroom down the hall."

"Shit!"

"Exactly."

"Where have you two been?" Walter asked as they returned to their room, "And why are you all wet."

"There is no bathroom here so we had to go down the hall to take showers," Fox said disgustedly.

"And the towels were not overly absorbent," Alex added equally disgusted.

"And you needed a shower because?" Walter asked and then noting the disarray the room was in, "Wait I can guess…you guys couldn't keep your hands off each other for a couple of hours?"

Both young men looked sheepishly at the floor and said, "Well you can't blame us when you yourself can't keep your hands off us either."

"Well that is true," Walter said with a smile. They looked so completely adorable with their damp hair and bare feet that he really couldn't stay mad at their antics. "We'll be meeting Coop and Chris for dinner in twenty minutes so we can discuss what we've found so far."

At his words Alex became instantly curious, "What did you find? Anything about this man El Lobo?"

"Well the police here were not very forthcoming…it's a language issue and they don't like strangers poking around much but we did get some answers."

"What?"

"There he goes again," Fox said rolling his eyes and laughing when Alex poked him in the ribs with his elbow.

"Be serious," Alex said frowning, "I can't believe you are making jokes at a time like this."

"At a time like what Alex?" Walter asked confused at the sudden change in mood. "What are you worried about?"

"Worried…I'm not worried…I'm just a little anxious to find out if this man could be my brother that's all," Alex said shrugging his shoulders. He felt Walter's big hands on them and looked up, "I'm not worried."

"But if you were you know there is no need for you to be don't you?" Walter said softly, "Because no matter what happens we…Fox and I will be here for you. That will never change…ever."

"They say he is a mercenary," Alex said quietly, "What if he doesn't want to be found?"

"I wont lie to you Alexei," Walter said, "Finding him will not be as easy as finding Cooper was but we will do our best…I promise you that."

"I know Walter," Alex said and smiled at him, "I never doubted that."

At that moment Mulder's stomach rumbled audibly, "I guess I'm a little hungry."

"A little?" Walter said grinning, "They are going to think the local volcano is about to erupt."

"Oh Mt. Fox already erupted earlier," Alex said mischievously, "I'm sure later tonight you'll get to experience it for yourself."

"Can't wait," Walter said his grin widening at the blush creeping over Fox's cheeks. "We better get going. We have a lot to discuss."

"How's your headache?" Alex asked his twin as the two men sat on the twin beds in Cooper and Chris' room.

"Not so bad now. You were awful quite at dinner," Cooper noted.

"Just thinking."

"What about?"

"About this man that could be our brother," Alex said and looked at Cooper from behind his lowered lashes, "Wondering what he is like…what he is?"

"Did you wonder about me?"

"Since I found out that there were others I've wondered about all of them. I wondered if they all grew up to be like me or if they grew up loved and cared for and grew up to be good people."

"You are good people Alex," Coop said placing his hand on his brother's knee, "It just took you longer to get there that's all. You did a lot of good Alex…saved a lot of people."

"And killed a lot too."

"Either because they deserved it or because your life was in danger. Alex your past is just that…in the past. If we find this man and he turns out to be someone we don’t want to be associated with…"

"You mean if he turns out to be a killer…"

"Or worse."

"What could be worse?"

"He could be a sheep farmer," Cooper said straight-faced. As a cattle rancher he had a natural dislike for sheep farmers since sheep tend to eat the grass down to the root and leave nothing for the cattle.

"God forbid," Alex said in mock horror and then laughed. "Coop?"

"Yes?"

"What…what happens if we find him and he is…nice…I mean if he is a nice guy…"

"What do you mean what happens? If he wants a relationship with us we will work on it."

"What if he only wants a relationship with…" Alex began and then feeling suddenly stupid stopped talking.

Cooper looked at him in confusion for a moment and then understanding set in, "You think that he and I might get along and that you will be left out? Is that it?"

Alex jumped to his feet and started pacing, "No that's not what I meant. I don't know what I meant. "

Cooper stood and to Alex's surprise wrapped his arms around Alex and gave him a hug, "Whatever happens Alex you'll always be my little brother…no matter what or who comes into our lives. You got that?"

Alex was never comfortable with physical contact unless it was Fox and Walter but he had been getting used to Cooper's more demonstrative nature. Returning the hug with a quick squeeze he said, "I got it. Uhm…Coop you can let go now."

Squeezing him tighter Cooper said, "I'll let go when I'm good and ready. Maybe this El Lobo dude will be more warm and fuzzy."

"I'll show you warm and fuzzy," Alex growled and shoved Cooper gently back until the other man fell backwards into the bed. Without giving Coop a chance to retaliate Alex straddled him and began to mercilessly tickle him.

Cooper struggled helplessly as he tried to catch his breath he was laughing so hard. Finally he managed to gasp out one word, "UNCLE!"

Alex stopped immediately and with a wide grin said, "No…not Uncle. Brother."

Cooper looked up and smiled and with a small nod said, "Yeah…brother. Little brother, " he added with the emphasis on 'little'.

"Oh you are asking for it now," Alex said with an evil grin and began tickling again.

x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0

"We should split up," Alex suggested as the five men stood in the small plaza in the middle of the town.

"I don’t think that is a good idea," Walter said quickly.

"And I don’t think too many people are going to be willing to talk to us if we go all together," Alex reasoned. "Beside we could get done a lot sooner if we split up."

"Both Coop and I speak enough Spanish to get by in questioning the locals," Chris said, "Why don’t I go with Alex and you and Fox can go with Coop and that way we can also show them in person who we are looking for."

"According to Captain Ruiz, this El Lobo is sort of a folk hero around here," Fox said, "We need to make sure we don’t come across as a threat to him or we wont get anyone to talk."

"And let's not get ourselves into anything dangerous all right," Walter warned with a direct look at both Alex and Fox who had the decency to blush.

They split off and took different path from the plaza.

"This is useless," Alex said in frustration as the twentieth person shook their heads and closed the door on their faces. "If they know anything they aren't talking and if they don't they ain't talking either."

"We can't give up yet Alex," Chris said with understanding. He knew Cooper was as anxious to find the man who could possibly their fellow clone as Alex was and he wanted Cooper to be happy. "We've only been looking for a couple of hours."

"Yeah…but this town is not that big. We've talked to about just everyone."

"We might need to talk to people on the outlying villages, but we have to make sure we don't miss anyone here. You hungry?"

"I don’t have much of an appetite," Alex said looking around as if hoping to suddenly find El Lobo. A movement out of the corner of his eye had him turning his head to see a small boy staring at him from around the corner of a church across the street. Turning back to Chris, "Why don’t you go ahead to the restaurant and meet up with the guys. I think I'm going back to the hotel and see if we have any messages from Captain Ruiz."

Eyeing him suspiciously Chris said, "Alex you aren't planning on doing anything on your own are you?"

Giving him an innocent look Alex smiled and said, "What and chance having my ass chewed out by Walter for taking unnecessary chances. I promise I'll behave."

"You better of you'll have more than Walter to worry about," Chris said returning the smile but making the threat clear, "I have no problem tanning your butt."

Alex's eyes widened in surprise, "Walter might just have something to say about that."

"If you get into any trouble because I left you alone Walter would have my ass so I think it is only fair that I have yours."

"Seems only fair," Alex said and smiled again, "I'm only going to the hotel, nothing else."

"Well…I guess I'll have to take your word for it," Chris said, still unsure it was a good idea. "We'll see you in about an hour."

Alex watched him walk away and turned to look at the corner where he had seen the boy. He was surprised to see the child still hiding in the shadows watching him. He tried to walk with nonchalance so as not to spook the boy but as he got closer the child retreated into the alley besides the church.

"Hey wait a minute," Alex called out to the boy then remembered that he probably didn’t understand him and tried in his limited Spanish, "Espera un momento…por favor." The alley was dark even in the middle of the day and it took a moment for Alex's eyes to adjust to the lack of light.

"Who are you?" a small voice asked from the darkness, "Why you look like Archangel?"

Alex followed the voice until he saw the boy, who appeared to be no more than ten, standing besides a stack of discarded boxes, "You speak English very well."

"Archangel teaches us the English," the boy said with some pride. "Why do you look like him?"

"You know a man that looks like me?"

"Yes. What is your name?"

"Alex, what's yours?"

"Luis."

"Nice to meet you Luis. Luis can you tell me where I can find Archangel. I want to meet him."

"No one can meet him," Luis said shaking his head, "He was hurt. Mi padre…my Papa is here to get medicine for him."

Something in the pit of his stomach made Alex grimace, "Archangel is hurt? How? What happened?"

"He was shot by the soldiers…he was helping my Papa and he got shot in the side," Luis said pointing to his left side, under the ribs.

"Listen Luis, it is very important that I see this man. I think he might be my brother."

"Your brother? Archangel never talks about his family…he says my Papa is his brother."

"Luis I really need to…"

"Luis! Donde estas hijo, ven aqui," a man's voice interrupted Alex's words.

"Si Papa," the boys said and rushed out of the alley, "Papa…this man looks like Archangel."

"Que?" the man said as he put his arm on the boy's shoulder and looked up as Alex came out of the, "Dios Santo…quien es usted?"

"I'm sorry…I speak little English," Alex said quickly. "My name is Alex Krycek and I am looking for…"

"Archangel…you look like him but how…how can that be?"

"I believe that this man you call Archangel is my brother," Alex said, "Your son tells me that Archangel is hurt…I need to see him."

"No…I can't trust you," the man said slowly, "You look like him but I know he has no family. His father was a friend of my father and I know he had no brothers…no more family."

"It's a long story but you have to believe me that he is my brother," Alex said trying to keep calm, he was too close to let this chance to find his second clone, "What will it take for you to believe me?"

The man didn't answer but instead looked down at his son and then back at Alex, "I will make my decision and let you know. You staying at the hotel?"

"Yes…but I am not alone," Alex said, deciding that being up front would make the man trust him more, "There is another…my twin brother and our friends."

Shaking his head the man said, "No…too many people."

"Please…just me and my brother then," Alex pleaded, "If we can prove we mean your friend any harm then you can let the others come. Please…this is important."

"Ten o'clock here at the church," the man said, "If you are here with more than one other you will not see me."

"I promise," Alex said, "Please tell me…is Archangel all right…is he hurt badly?"

"He has a bad fever…an infection," the man said, "We took the bullets out but he bled so much. I am afraid for his life."

"I'll be here," Alex said as he watched the man and the boy walk away.

"No! Absolutely not!" Walter said with finality.

"Walter you have to understand," Alex said firmly, "I have to do this."

"We have to do this," Cooper said standing by his twin and giving his lover Chris a pointed look, daring his to argue.

"Walter…I think that they mean it," Chris said, never taking his eyes from his young lover.

"You don't know anything about this man," Walter said trying to keep hiss calm, "You don’t even know his name. Fox why aren't you saying anything about this?"

"Because there is nothing to say Walter," Mulder said and walked up to Skinner and put his hand on his arm, "Alex and Cooper need to do this."

"Damn!" Walter said with frustration, knowing they were all correct, "I don’t like it but I guess I have to live with it." Pointing his finger sternly at the two youngest he said, "But I am warning you if I have to go get you with the cavalry in tow, I'll tan both your behinds and I don’t care who is watching."

"Man what is it with you guys and my butt," Alex said with a grin, "First Chris threatens to tan it and now you."

"I told you Alex," Fox said trying to keep his face straight, "You have a cute butt, everyone wants to get their hands on it."

"Fox!" Alex growled and everyone laughed releasing some of the tension.

"We better get going," Cooper said and the somber mood returned.

"Coop come with me first please," Chris said and towed the younger man outside and to their room.

"Alex…" Walter began but was stopped when the Russian threw his arms around his neck and pulled him into a kiss. When they broke away he managed to say, "Be careful."

"I will," Alex promised and turned to give Fox a similar kiss.

"Send for us as soon as possible," Fox said hugging him tightly, "And take care of yourself or you'll have more than Walter's hands on your bottom to worry about. You got it?"

"I love you too Fox," Alex said his voice hoarse with emotion. "I better get going. It's nearly time."

As they watched him leave the room Fox sat on the bed and looked up at Walter, "He'll be fine. He is a survivor."

"I still can't help but worry about him Fox," Walter said staring out the window watching Alex meet up with Cooper and make their way out of the hotel courtyard. "I feel like I'm in the dark and I don’t like it."

"I don’t like this Alex," Cooper said as the bounced on the hard seat of the jeep.

"What is not too like at ridding in a jeep that is probably older than we are and being blindfolded so we can see where we are going," Alex said sarcastically. He was trying to keep his tone light to lessen Cooper's fears.

They had met up with Luis' father who had led them down several streets and paths before reaching a battered old jeep. Another man, much larger than Luis' father and armed with dangerous looking knives was waiting at the jeep. They had quickly blindfolded them and tied their hands behind their backs. They had been placed in the back of the jeep where they were trying very hard not to bounce off when they hit one of the hundreds of potholes. Alex estimated they had been in the road for nearly an hour.

Suddenly the jeep lurched to a stop and Alex bumped heads with Cooper eliciting a yelp of pain from both of them.

"Sorry Senores," Luis' father said apologetically, "We are here."

They were helped out of the jeep, their hands were untied and the blindfolds removed. It took them a few seconds for their eyes to adjust but soon they were able to make out they were in a small village with several shacks and tents.

"What is your name?" Alex said, "I mean…you don’t have to tell me but I keep thinking of you as Luis' father and I know you must have a name."

"It's Ernesto," the man said, "Follow me. He wants to see you."

"You've told him about us," Cooper said as they began to follow Ernesto.

"Yes. He is very sick but he wanted to meet you," Ernesto said, "He is confused. He said he dreamed about you…that he knew you would come."

"He dreamed about us?" Alex said with surprise.

"He is here," Ernesto said and held back the front flap of the largest tent. It was dimly lit by gasoline lanterns.

Alex entered first, Cooper right on his heels. They could see a man lying on a cot towards the back of the tent. A young woman sat on a stool next to the cot, a damp washcloth in her hand. She looked up at them and her eyes widened in surprise. She stared at them for a moment and then looked down at the man on the cot. "Son ellos?"

"Si querida," Ernesto said, "It is them." To Alex and Cooper he said, "This is my wife Elena. She has been taking care of him."

"How is he?" Cooper asked as he slowly approached the cot. "Oh my God!"

"What is it?" Alex said moving to his side. When he looked down he saw the reason for Cooper's surprise. There laying on the bed was the man who was unmistakably their clone, but he was barely recognizable as such. The man on the cot was deathly pale, his skin almost translucent. His sable hair hung limply in strands framing his face. He was thin, his cheeks prominent and his eyes sunken. "Is he all right?" Alex asked the woman.

"His fever is very high," she said in broken English, "He lost a lot of blood. I think there is infection."

"We have to get him to a hospital," Cooper said with urgency, "He is dying. We have to do something Alex."

"If you take him from here he will surely die," Ernesto said shaking his head, "He is a wanted man."

"For what…what is he wanted for?" Cooper said as he placed a hand gently on the shoulder of the prone man.

"He helps us…that is his only crime," Ernesto said quietly. "He helps us with food and medicine. He helps us fight the government who wants to take our land and make us pay for it."

"Sit here Senor," Elena said to Alex, "Talk to him."

"Gracias," Alex replied with a slight nod of thanks and took a seat, while Cooper came to his knees next to the cot. He put a hand on Archangel's shoulder and was surprised when he felt the man stir. He was even

more surprised when he saw the lids flutter open.

"You…came…I…I knew…you'd…come," the man said, his voice hoarse with pain and lack of use.

"We came…" Alex said softly, "There are two of us."

Archangel smiled weekly as he tried to look up and see Cooper who smiled back at him, "Hi…"

"Hi."

"You must let him sleep Senores," Elena said as Archangels eyes fluttered close once again.

"We need to get him help," Alex said, "We need to get my friends. They can help."

"How…how can they help him," Ernesto asked.

"We…we are powerful men," Alex said slowly, "We are well known, we can get him out of the country. If we are able to convince your government it is for the best that they release him in our custody…"

"He won't want to go," Ernesto said. "He is very loyal to the cause…but if you can promise to keep him safe."

"We will do whatever it takes," Cooper said.

"Please you must talk outside," Elena said, "He needs to rest. You can make decisions later."

Cooper and Alex followed Ernesto with hesitation, neither wanting to leave the sick man. Ernesto led them to a nearby tent and they sat around a rickety table, which had seen better days. The Mexican offered them coffee, which they both accepted.

"I will send for your friends," Ernesto said, "Now that he recognized you…I can trust you. If you take him you will have to do it soon. Our camp could be compromised and we have to move very soon. Most of our men have already left…we couldn't leave him behind so we have stayed, Carlos, the big man that came with my family and me. Archangel could not be moved."

"Why do you call him Archangel?" Cooper asked.

At this question they were surprised to hear Ernesto laugh out loud, "I have known him most of my life. His father and mother were missionaries. When we were young we called him Archangel because of his name."

"What is his name?" Alex asked expectantly.

"Gabriel," Ernesto said, but he used the Spanish pronunciation and it sounded more like Gabrielle.

"He has a girl's name," Cooper said with confusion.

Alex rolled his eyes and slapped him in the back of the head, "No. Its pronounced Gabriel. Where does the other name El Lobo come from?"

"His last name is Wolff, with two effs."

"Gabriel Wolff," Alex said pronouncing the name slowly as if he were getting used to the sound.

"When can we send for our friends?" Cooper asked.

"I will send Carlos at dawn as soon as it is safe," the Mexican promised. "We will make you as comfortable as possible tonight."

"Can we sleep in his tent…in Gabriel's tent," Alex asked. "Just in case something happens…please."

"Of course," Ernesto said with a nod. "We can go now if you wish. It is late and we will be up early."

Once again the brothers followed Ernesto to large tent but before they entered Alex asked, "He has another nickname. The Captain said they also call him something else…something I am afraid I can't pronounce."

"Espiritu Santo…the Holy Ghost," Ernesto said.

"Why do they call him that?" Cooper asked.

"They call him the Ghost because of his ability to move unnoticed through the mountains," Ernesto explained, "And he is the Holy Ghost because of what he is to us. He is our spiritual leader."

"Your spiritual leader? I don’t understand," Alex said with confusion.

"Yes. I told you Gabriel's parents were missionaries, and so is he. He is a priest."

"A PRIEST!" both Cooper and Alex said simultaneously.

"Walter?"

"Uhm…"

"Stop thinking so loud. I can't sleep."

"Fox how can you sleep at a time like this…not knowing where he is or how he is."

Fox sighed deeply and rolled on his side to face his lover, "Walter I am worried but it's not going to do any good loosing sleep over it. We might have to be up early to go to him and I want to be bright-eyed and bushy tailed to do it."

"I guess you are right," Walter admitted and when he heard Mulder chuckle added, "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Fox said with a grin, "Just wondering when we switched places. I'm usually the worry wart and you are the calming, level headed one."

Walter couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips, "I guess you are rubbing off on me."

"Speaking of rubbing," Fox said and put his hand on Walter's crotch and rubbed it up and down slowly.

"I thought you wanted to get some sleep," Walter said wiggling closer to Fox.

"I always sleep better after you make love to me," Fox said huskily and kissed the big shoulder closest to his face.

"But I'm the one that can't sleep," Walter said softly, looking at Fox from under lowered lashes.

Fox swallowed audibly at the implication of Walter's words and managed to say, "Uhm…you sure Big Guy?"

"Don't sound so surprised Fox," Walter said running his hand gently over Mulder's bare arm, "I enjoy having you in me just as much as I enjoy making love to you. So what do you say?"

"Lube is on the nightstand," Fox said and captured Walter's lips in a searing kiss.

Reaching behind him blindly Skinner found the small tube of lube and handed it to Mulder. When the younger man broke the kiss Walter slid his body towards the middle of the bed and settled on his back looking up at the man kneeling between his legs.

"Bend your knees a little and lift your butt off the bed," Fox said, and when Walter complied slipped a pillow under his hips, "You comfortable?"

"Yeah."

Fox smiled at the older man and patted him on the hip, "Relax Snickerdoodle. You know I'll take nice and slow. I don't plan on rushing this…it's is too rare a treat."

Walter couldn't help but blush and was glad for the dimness of the room. Only the light of the full moon outside lit the room. He moaned faintly as the first of Mulder's long fingers penetrated him and the groan that followed the second finger was loud enough to still the younger man.

"You okay Walter?"

"Uhm…yes…guess I'm just a little tight…"

"A little?" Fox said with a chuckle, "You are the master of understatement babe. You ready for more?"

Gritting his teeth and closing his eyes Skinner gave a brief nod. The third finger pushed through the ring of muscle and Walter could not help but cry out and squirm.

"I know baby I know just go with the feeling," Fox soothed as he scissored his fingers, stretching the taut muscles. "Tell me if I'm hurting you."

"I…I'm fine," Walter said slowly as he took deep breath trying to adjust to the intrusion to his anus.

Fox didn't say another word as he concentrated on finishing his task. He wanted to make sure his lover didn't experience any unnecessary pain when he entered him. After a few more minutes of stretching he felt satisfied that Walter's opening was ready. Mulder quickly coated his own erection and kneeled up grabbing Walter's legs as he did so. Settling the legs on both his shoulders he ran his hands down the long limbs and felt the small tremors of nervousness.

"I love you Walter," Fox said softly and not giving the older man any more time to worry about what was to happen plunged his slicked erection into the prepared opening. He gasped as Walter's muscles contracted around his penis. "God's Walter…don’t do that…or I'm going to come…be…before you get…any…pleasure."

Walter tried to relax but instead bucked his hips to impale himself further. This movement caused the tip of Mulder's member to reach Walter's prostate and the older man screamed with surprise.

Fox's face lit up with a smile as he said, "You doing all the work for me Big Guy or can I get in on some of the action?"

"Fox…Fox move already damn it…" Walter gasped as he wriggled impatiently.

"Yes oh Lord and Master," Mulder replied cheekily and grabbing Walter's hips began pumping in an out of the older man. Minutes later he was close enough to climaxing that he could hardly catch his breath but managed a strangled a cry as his cum filled Walter's passage. His hand was wrapped around Walter's erection and Fox managed to time his explosion with Skinner's own. Both men panted in unison as they tried to catch their elusive breath.

Moments later Fox rolled to one side without pulling out of Walter and settled behind him. Kissing the back that faced him, "Think you can sleep now babe? Walter? Big Guy?" when he didn't get a response Mulder pushed up onto one elbow and looked over Skinner's broad shoulder to find the older man snoring softly. "Well I'm glad it worked," Fox said smiling as he once again kissed the exposed back.

"Alex are you asleep?"

"Was trying to get there Coop," Alex mumbled tiredly as he rolled to one side to face his twin. They were each laying in a small cot a few feet away from where their newly found brother lay. "What's the matter?"

"I can't sleep…I'm worried about him," Cooper said glancing at the bed that held the sick man. "What if we can't get him out of here and get him some help."

Sighing deeply Alex Krycek sat up and swung his legs over the side of the cot. Looking at his worried twin he tried to smile valiantly trying not to convey the worry he felt. "Coop I am not going to lie to you. It doesn't look good. I wish Fox and Walter were here…they would know what to do…but I'm sure we'll come up with something. I'm not going to let anything happen to Gabriel now that we've found him."

"I wish Chris were here," Cooper said as he too sat up. "What do you think he meant by he dreamt about us coming?"

Alex shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, "Maybe the fever is making him imagine things."

"Maybe God told him about us in a dream," Cooper said.

Alex raised an eyebrow in disbelief and snorted, "Come on Coop you don’t really believe that do you?"

"No but at least it makes as much sense as a man neither of us has ever met dreaming that we were coming to find him," Cooper said, "Man, of all the things I imagined him to be, a priest didn't even make the list."

"Yeah…quiet a shocker," Alex said with a nod. "I guess that kind of settles how he is going to react to us."

"What do you mean?"

"Well I doubt that he is going to be willing to have anything to do with us when he finds out about our relationships."

"Oh," Cooper said as understanding dawned, "I guess you are right. Us being in a same sex relationship is not going to be something he will approve of."

"Lets not get ahead of ourselves here," Alex said, "We don’t know how he his going to react."

"Then why the hell did you bring it up," Cooper snapped and stood up.

"Hey don’t bite my head off," Alex said just as angrily, "I'm worried okay…and I don’t handle it very well…"

"You have been in pressure situations before," Cooper said looking at him with surprise, "How did you ever survive fighting against the Consortium if you couldn't handle the pressure."

"It's what kept me on my toes okay," Alex said frowning, "This is different."

"How?"

"If…if you two…don’t mind…I'm trying to…to…to get some sleep here," a hoarse, pain-filled voice drifted towards them from the cot on the other side of the tent. Both Alex and Cooper rushed to the cot and looked down at the fevered face of their brother. "Well…will you look…at you two."

"How are you feeling?" Cooper asked worriedly.

"That’s a stupid question," Alex said acidly, "He's been shot and he has an infection. How do you think he is feeling?"

"Do you…two always…fight this much?" Looking at each other guiltily Alex and Cooper said nothing. "So… who is who?"

"I'm Alex and this is Cooper," Alex said and quickly added, "You shouldn't be talking…you need to save your strength."

Gabriel shook his head weakly and willed himself to reopen his eyes, "I…I don’t know…know how much time …I have left…"

"Don't say that," Cooper said angrily, "Don't say that!"

Gabriel gave him a tired smile and said, "We…we have to be…realistic…I'm afraid that…I'm not going to… be around much…longer."

"Coop is right," Alex said not realizing that he had taken hold of Gabriel's hand in his and was rubbing his thumb over the top of it. "We'll figure out a way of getting you out of here safely."

"It's not…going to be easy…too many people want me…want me dead…" Gabriel gasped out before a coughing fit wracked his body.

Cooper looked at Alex worriedly and saw the pained look mirrored in his twin's eyes. Alex cleared his throat and said, "Believe me Gabriel if anyone knows about having someone wanting them dead it's me. If I can survive as long as I have I can keep you alive too."

"You…you sound…pretty sure," Gabriel said faintly, "How…how'd you do it?"

Thinking of Fox and Walter, Alex smiled and said, "I had help…lot's of it. And so will you. I'm not letting you go now that I've found you."

"Neither will I," Cooper said as he put a hand on Gabriel's shoulder. He smiled when Alex put his hand over his.

Gabriel lifted a bony hand and placed it carefully on top of Alex's and gave it a brief squeeze, "Okay…I'll trust you…little brother."

Alex groaned and shook his head as Cooper laughed.

Fox was still spooned behind Walter when a sharp knock on the door brought them out of a sound sleep.

Both men looked at each other for a second before scrambling out of the bed and quickly donning their robes.

Skinner moved to the door and opened it slowly, his eyes widening as he caught sight of a very large man standing behind Chris. "What's going on?"

"This man says that he is going to take is to where the boys are," Chris said, glancing back towards the mountain of a man. "His name is Carlos and says that we are to come now."

"Give us a minute to get dressed and get some clothes together for Alex," Walter said, "Do you want to come in?"

"No, I think I better get some stuff together for Coop too," Chris said and turned to explain to the man behind him that they would be a few moments. The man said something quickly and nodded. Chris turned to Walter and said, "We have very little time. He wants to get going before the sun is much higher. He is afraid of being caught. Five minutes."

"Okay," Walter said and closed the door.

Fox had already started throwing some clothes in a carryall and was pulling on his jeans by the time Walter had finished speaking. "Where are my shoes?"

"Under the bed I think," Walter said as he also slipped on a pair of jeans over his boxers, "Hey when did you clean me up?" he added looking at his body.

"I couldn't very well leave you all sticky now could I?" Fox said as he slipped on his sweater. When his head popped out of the neck of the sweater his hair stood up in every direction, "What are you smiling at?"

"You," Skinner said and put on his loafers, "You sure know how to take care of me. I slept very well last night."

"I don’t do anything you don't do for me all the time," Fox said and picked up the carryall, "You ready?"

"Yes…let's go."

"Chris!" Cooper shouted as he saw his lover step out of the jeep.

"Spud," Chris whispered with relief as the younger man stepped into his arms, "I'm a glad to see you."

"Me too," Cooper said as he returned the hug.

"Cooper where is Alex?" Fox asked as he waited for the embrace to conclude.

"He is in the tent with Gabriel," Cooper said and pointed with his head towards the tent.

"Gabriel?" Walter asked, "Is he your brother?"

"Yeah," Cooper said as he led them towards the tent, "He is pretty sick guys. We need to do something to help him"

"Well do our best Cooper," Walter said as he entered the dark tent. "Alex."

Alex turned at the sound of his name and his worried expression vanished at the sight of his lovers. "Walter! Fox! Am I glad you guys are here."

"How you doing babe," Fox said as he hugged him briefly before passing him on to Skinner for another embrace.

"Better now that you are here," Alex said smiling, then remembering they had an audience he turned to face the others in the tent. "Guys this is Ernesto and Elena Navarra. They are friends of Gabriel and have been taking care of him."

"How is he doing?" Walter asked after they all had shaken hands with Ernesto and his wife.

"He is not well," Ernesto said sadly, "Fever has not broken and the wound will not close. I am afraid he will not make it."

Fox noticed Alex's stiffening at the man's words and said, "We'll try not to let that happen."

"I wish your good intentions were enough," Ernesto said with a cheerless smile, "I am afraid my friend is beyond anything but prayers."

"Nesto…don't be…be so gloomy," Gabriel said as he heard his friend's words, "I'm…sure if the Lord wanted me…by his side…he would have…taken me by now…"

Alex rushed to the cot and sat on the edge, "You are awake. I was getting worried."

"I thought…Cooper was the worrier…" Gabriel said and looked towards the others, "Aren't you going to… introduce me…to your friends…"

Alex suddenly felt uncomfortable as he looked first at his brother and then at his lovers, "Uhm…sure… Fox Mulder, Walter Skinner…this is Gabriel Wolff my brother. Gabriel these are Fox and Walter my… uhm friends."

Both Walter and Fox looked at each other in surprise but did not say anything as they stepped to the bed and looked down at the sick man. "Don’t worry Mr. Wolff we'll do everything within our power to help you," Walter said.

"It's Brother," Cooper said suddenly.

"What?" Chris asked with confusion.

"It's not Mister Wolff…it's Brother Gabriel," Cooper explained, "He is a priest."

"Oh," Chris said and quickly dropped his arm, which had been wrapped around Cooper's waist.

With sudden understanding Fox looked at Alex and saw his lover blush slightly, "It's a pleasure to meet you Brother Gabriel."

"Thank you Mister Mulder," Gabriel said grasping the offered hand.

"Call me Fox please," Fox said with a smile.

"A Fox and a Wolff…it was meant to be," Gabriel said and took a deep breath as a sharp pain hit him.

"Please…he must rest now," Elena Navarra said as she ushered them away from the bed. "You too Alex," she added when Krycek hesitated. "I will keep an eye on him."

"Very well," Alex said hesitantly as he followed the others out of the tent.

"It's not much but you are welcome to it," Ernesto said as he handed a plate of food to Walter.

"We appreciate it," Skinner said, "I know this food wasn't easy for you to get." Looking around the empty camp he added, "It's a wonder you've been able to survive here undetected."

"But not for long," Navarra said, "We need to move within the next three days or we will miss the rendezvous with the rest of our group."

"What would you have done if we hadn't come," Cooper asked, "What would have happened to Gabriel?"

"We would have taken him with us."

"But he could die," Cooper said beginning to grow angry.

"He could still die," Navarra said, "He is my best friend in the whole world. We have known each other since we were five. If leaving him here meant that the men we are fighting would have taken him into custody or taking him meant he could die…I would have not hesitated in taking him."

"Why?" Alex asked quietly.

"If they get their hands on him they we'll torture him into giving us up and he will die first before doing that," Ernesto said, his eyes hard and angry, "It would be a victory to them to capture him."

"So what do we do?" Cooper asked looking at Walter.

Walter could feel all eyes on him, expecting him to come up with a plan. Sometimes he hated being put in that position of control and decision but looking into Cooper's eyes and knowing that the same trust was in Alex's eyes he could not and would not shirk his responsibility. "Is there a way we can get a doctor to at least patch up the wound?"

"There is no one we can trust?" Carlos said surprising them as it was the first time he had spoken since he had brought them to the camp. "But there is someone we can buy if we have the money."

"We have the money," Fox said. "When can you get him?"

"In a few hours I can be back with him," Carlos said and stood, "I will be back soon."

Watching him go Ernesto said, "What happens if the doctor helps him…what happens then?"

"We need to get back to Mexico City," Fox said, "I can get a private plane from there back to the States."

"But what about once we get there?" Chris asked, "How do we get him into the country?"

"I can work on that," Walter said, "I can call in a few favors and get him asylum. I'm sure the Mexican government will be happy just to have him out of Mexico."

"But how do we get him to Mexico City without the local police stopping us?" Cooper asked.

"If they have been watching our movements," Alex said, "As I am sure they have, they saw you and me leave…so how about you and me go back."

"What do you mean?" his twin asked.

"They couldn't follow us because Carlos knew how to loose them," Krycek continued, "But they know five of us were in the town and five of us left. What we need to do is have five us of go back."

"What are you thinking Alex?" Walter said not liking where the conversation was going.

"You three go back with Cooper as Cooper and Gabriel as me…"

"No!" Walter said emphatically.

"Hear him out Walter," Fox said putting his hand on Skinner's arm. "Go on Alex."

"I'll get myself to Mexico City and meet you there," Alex explained, "You go back to Chiapas and then back to Mexico City."

"I don’t like it," Walter said, "I don’t like you out here alone."

"He will not be alone Senor Skinner," Ernesto said, "I will make sure he makes it to Mexico City. I will give you my word he will make it there safely."

Still looking unhappy Walter finally gave his consent to the plan, "Very well. Alex you'll leave now and we will leave when the doctor patches him up…"

"No, I want to be here to make sure…" Alex began to protest.

"Alex, I said you will leave now," Walter said not allowing for any arguments, "It will take you longer to get to Mexico City than it will take us."

Noting the unhappy look in his lover's face Fox said, "It'll be all right Alex. We will take good care of him for you."

"I know you will Fox," Alex said forlornly, "I would just feel better knowing that he is alright and that you guys got out okay."

"Let's not have any more discussion on this," Walter said standing up, "Ernesto, how quickly can you leave with Alex?"

"We are always ready to go," the Mexican said, "We can leave within the hour. I will get him to Mexico City and my wife and son will head to the rendezvous where I will meet them later."

"What about Carlos?" Chris asked.

"He will bring the doctor here and then meet us," Ernesto said, "He has been living in these mountains all his life. He will be all right. I need to go talk to my wife and son. If you will excuse me."

"Of course," Walter said and shook the man's hand. When Ernesto was gone he turned to the other four men and said, "Alex…"

"You are doing this because you are mad at me," Alex said suddenly jumping to his feet.

"What?" Walter asked taken completely by surprise, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"You are mad that I didn’t tell Gabriel that we were lovers," Alex said angrily, "You are punishing me by sending me away."

"Cooper I think we should go get Gabriel ready," Chris said pulling his lover to a standing position. Cooper, realizing that there was going to be a hell of a fight and not wanting to miss it shook his head and wouldn't budge. "Cooper Nicholas Donovan move your tail or I'll move it for you."

"Oh you are no fun Chris," Cooper said with a pout but when a sharp slap landed on his butt he yelped, "Okay, okay I'm moving."

While this was going on, Alex had stood glaring at Walter, and Fox had stood between them trying to prevent the explosion from taking place. He was not to be successful.

"You are the one that hurt us by denying our relationship and you think I'm punishing you," Walter said trying not to shout. He wasn't sure about Fox's feeling but having heard Alex referred to them as 'uhm…friends' had surprised and hurt him.

"Walter," Fox said trying to placate the older man, "You know Alex is not ashamed of our relationship. You know that. Alex was just worried about Gabriel's reaction…after all he is a priest and…"

"Is that true Alex," Walter asked suddenly understanding, "Are you afraid that Gabriel would reject you because of us?"

"I don’t know…I just didn't know what to say," Alex said looking down at the ground.

Walter, his anger forgotten, wrapped his strong arms around his lover and hugged him, "Alexei why didn't you just say that? I know it is not easy what you are going through and I'm sorry I didn't make it any easier by getting mad at you…but you have to believe me when I tell you that sending you away now has nothing to do with what happened. I'm just making sure that you make it to Mexico City in one piece and that we can get out of here as soon as possible."

"I'm sorry Walter," Alex said against the chest his face was buried in, "I promise I'll take care of myself."

Pushing him at arm's length Walter growled as he said, "If you have one single scratch on you I will tan your backside so that you have to fly home standing up."

Smiling up at his lover Alex said, "I'll take care of myself…if you promise to take care of Gabriel."

"You know I will…we will," Fox said stepping up to them and joining in the hug.

When they separated Alex, his voice hoarse with emotion said, "I want to say goodbye to Gabriel before I go."

"Good idea," Walter said, "We'll leave you to it while we go talk to Ernesto."

Watching him go Fox said, "He'll be fine Walter. He's survived this long…"

"That excuse doesn't carry the same weight anymore Fox. He isn't the same triple agent, Consortium operative he was before. He lives in suburbia, drives an SUV and teaches Kindergarten."

"Survival instinct isn't something you forget," Fox said patting him in the arm, "Come on let's go find Ernesto."

"He wanted to know what is wrong with our friend," Chris translated for them when the hotel manager questioned them upon their return.

"What did you tell him?" Cooper asked as he pushed open the door to Walter's room.

"Told him we had been exploring in the mountains and that he had taken ill," Chris said, "Or at least that is what I hope I told him. My Spanish is not that great. How is he doing?"

Fox and Walter were settling the unconscious Gabriel on the bed. "Still has a fever but I think it is not high as it was, and his breathing is stronger."

"When do you think we can leave for Mexico City?" Cooper asked.

"As soon as possible," Walter said, "Why don’t you and Chris get the van ready and load up the luggage. Fox and I will check the wound and make sure he is ready to travel."

"Okay," both men said in unison and left the room.

Looking down at Gabriel, Fox said, "He looks so much like Alex did when we found him in the Consortium lab."

"Have you given any thought about what we are going to do with him once we get back to the States?"

"Do with him?"

"After he is healed and back on his feet," Walter said, "What do you think he'll do?"

"Whatever it is and however it affects Alex we can't let it change our relationship," Fox said, "Well we can't really do anything about it until it happens so let's check the wound and change his bandages so we can go."

For the next few minutes the two men concentrated on checking the injury site and making sure it was still clean. The doctor Carlos had brought to the camp the previous day had been old and unwilling to help until several thousand pesos had been placed in his hand. Once the bribe had been paid he had proven amazingly skilled at his profession and had cleaned and stitched the wound and even provided them with a prescription for antibiotics, even though they would not be able to have it filled until the were back in Mexico City.

"Are you guys ready?" Chris asked poking his head in. "We put the backseat down and he should be fairly comfortable for the ride."

"Any sign of trouble?" Walter asked.

"No. The local police doesn't seem to be very active here, as a matter of fact I think I saw one sleeping outside the jail."

"Well let's not tempt fate and try to get out of here unchallenged," Walter said and gently picked up Gabriel. The man weighed almost nothing as Skinner cradled him in his strong arms. "Let's go."

"Where is he?" Walter said pacing the suite.

"I still don’t know Walter," Fox said sighing, "Not since the last time you asked."

"How the fuck can you be so calm Fox," Walter said, "He should have been here by now. He had a twelve hour head start."

"But he had to be more careful than us getting back," Fox said patiently, "Walter calm down. This is not like you Walter. I've never seen you this nervous. What gives?"

"I guess not being in familiar ground is making me a bit more jumpy than usual," Skinner admitted. "I just want to make sure we don’t start an international incident."

"You aren't thinking of turning Gabriel over to the authorities are you?" Fox asked incredulously.

"Of course not," Walter said insulted by the thought, "I just say we need to be careful on how we handle this. Speaking of which have you got the plane set."

"Yes. It will be waiting for us at the airport," Fox said, "It's incredible what being a millionaire can do for getting things done."

"Pretty smug aren’t you?" Walter said with a smile, "Well Mister Smug, I also got something accomplished. Once we get back to the States we will have someone from State waiting with the appropriate paperwork to grant Gabriel asylum."

"And I called Scully so she can meet us at the airport," Fox said. "She will have Doctor Green meet us there as well so they can take Gabriel to the hospital."

"Now if only we could figure out where Alex is?" Walter said but didn't get much farther when the door to the suite opened and the object of his inquiry walked in. "ALEX!"

"What the hell happened to you?" Fox said rushing to his side and helped him in.

"Just had a little accident that's all," Alex said as he came in limping. "We were chased for a few miles after leaving Chiapas. Had to take off on foot until we were able to get back to someplace where Ernesto knew a few folks with horses…"

"You rode a horse to get back here?" Fox asked with surprise.

"Yeah and is my butt sore," Alex said wincing.

"Not as sore as it's going to be," Walter said with a growl as Alex took his seat gingerly.

"Aww come on Walter, I made it back in one piece," Alex whined, "How is Gabriel by the way?"

"Don’t change the subject," Walter said but couldn't hold back the smile of relief, "And he is fine. Fever broke on the way here."

"Did you run into any problems?"

"None. This has actually been a lot easier than I thought it would be," Fox said.

"We are not out of the woods yet," Walter warned, "I won't rest until we are on that plane tomorrow."

"Speaking of rest," Alex said standing up, "I think I'm going to take a shower and get a nap."

"And after your nap we will have our little talk," Walter said warningly and smiled at the groan from Alex.

"You aren't really going to punish him are you?" Fox asked.

"It doesn't hurt him any to think I will," Walter said with a chuckle, "Why don't we go see if he needs any help with that shower and nap?"

"I like how you think," Fox said with a grin.

"Can I get punished like this more often?" Alex purred contentedly as he lay languidly between his two lovers.

The trio had just finished a rather energetic love making session and was trying to regain their senses. It was early evening and they would have to leave for the airport at first light the next day.

"Oh this wasn't punishment," Walter said stretching.

"Oh come on Walter, you weren't really serious about spanking me are you?" Alex said pouting.

"I am always serious Alex," Walter said, as he landed a none to playful slap on the Russian's exposed behind.

"OWWW! Walter!," Alex screeched in shock at what just happened. He didn't have a chance to say anything else as a second slap landed, making a matching imprint on his other buttock. "Stooop…Walter stop…Fox help me…"

"Uh hu," Fox said shaking his head, "I'm not getting anywhere near that paw."

"Traitor," Alex gasped as several more spanks found their target. He couldn't even move to evade them since Walter had placed his other powerful hand on the small of Alex's back and had him pinned in place.

"Ouch…ouch…please Walter…please…owwww…I'm sorry…"

"I'm not spanking you that hard brat," Walter said but stopped and pulled the younger man onto his lap.

Alex quickly wrapped his arm around Walter's neck and hugged him, "I know…I just was yelling for show."

"You were, were you?" Walter said and began to tickle him.

"Stop…stop Walter…pleease…" Alex shrieked as he tried to unsuccessfully wiggle out of the bigger man's grasp.

Fox just sat there smiling at the antics of his two lovers. He was glad to see both of them more relaxed than they had been in days. The shrill of the phone suddenly ringing brought the shenanigans to a stop.

"Hello," Fox answered, "Okay…yeah…I'll tell them."

"Tell us what?" Alex asked, still seated on Walter's lap.

"Gabriel is awake and wants to see you."

"You are looking better than the last time I saw you," Alex said as he entered the room they had settled Gabriel in.

"Feel better as well," the missionary said with a gentle smile, "I don’t know how to thank you…"

"No thanks necessary," Alex said waiving his hand. "I'm just glad we got there in time."

"I knew you would."

"Did God tell you?" Cooper asked and then blushed when he heard Alex groan. "What? He is a priest isn't he?"

"A former priest," Gabriel said slowly, breathing still hard for him to do. "I was a priest…not anymore…"

"But…but Ernesto said…" Cooper stammered in surprise.

"Ernesto has never reconciled with the fact that I was excommunicated five years ago," Gabriel explained, "The Church and I didn’t see eye to eye on how to best take care of my flock."

"What do you mean?" Alex asked, "Is it because you helped the rebels?"

"In part," the former priest said, "And in part because of my beliefs that everyone deserves to be treated as equals regardless of their social status, their beliefs and their lifestyles. Before I took up with the rebels in Chiapas I traveled with my parents all over the world and I got to experience all sorts of people and cultures. When I decided to take my vows I promised myself that I would give comfort and guidance to all who sought it."

Noting that the other man was getting tired from speaking Alex attempted to make him stop, "Gabriel, we'll have time to talk on the plane and when we get you back to the States, you need to rest now."

Shaking his head slowly Wolff said, "I have waited to see you for such a long time…"

"You keep saying that but I don’t understand…" Alex said getting slightly frustrated.

"Since I was a very small child I always felt as if something…someone was missing from my life. It was as if a part of me was no longer where it was supposed to be. As I got older I began dreaming…very clear and vivid dreams. It wasn't until much later…I guess I was about ten or eleven when I realized what I was dreaming off was other little boys like me. I saw them laughing and crying, afraid and safe. I couldn't understand what the dreams meant but as time went by they became a comfort to me."

"A comfort?" Cooper asked enthralled by the story.

"Growing up I didn’t have many friends other than Ernesto and I didn’t get to see him too often," Gabriel explained, "His parents were also missionaries and we would cross paths once in a while…but most of my childhood was spent travelling with my parents and I by the time I made friends I would have to leave them. It was strange…"

"What was?" Alex asked.

"I didn’t notice it at first but we traveled a lot more than was common," Gabriel said, "It was as my parents were running from something. Once I asked but they dismissed me as having to vivid an imagination."

"You said your dreams gave you comfort. How?" Cooper asked.

"It was as if I had built-in companions," Gabriel said with a smile, "You have been with me for a very long time. When I was wounded I saw you coming…I can't explain it…I just knew that you were real and that you would come but…"

"But what?" Alex asked, still unsure if he believed what he was hearing.

"But in my dreams there were more of you," Gabriel said, "At least two more…maybe three."

Cooper glanced at Alex as if hoping he would be the one to explain it to Gabriel and was glad when Alex opened up his mouth to speak. "Uhm…Gabriel there are others but…but I would like Fox and Walter to explain it to you."

"Explain what to me Alex?" Gabriel asked confused.

"Let them tell you…please," Alex said patting his hand reassuringly, "It'll make more sense coming from them."

"Okay," the other man said unsure of what his brother meant but willing to listen.

"If he wanted to talk to me he would have said so," Alex said shrugging and continued to stare out the window of the plane.

"Fox told you that he took the news rather well," Walter said of their conversation with Wolff the previous night. When Alex and Cooper had asked them…almost begged them to explain the cloning to Gabriel, they had done so and had been surprised when the man had asked only a few questions and then asked them to leave him alone to think.

This morning they had gotten everything ready for their departure and to make Gabriel's trip easier had given him a sedative to deaden the pain he still felt. He had awoken a few minutes before and was now sitting up on the stretcher that had been loaded on the plane. Cooper was asleep, his head on Chris shoulder and Fox was busy typing away on his laptop.

"Go on, go back there and talk to him," Walter said and gave him another gentle shove.

"Oh all right," Alex grumbled as he stood and made his way to the back of the plane. When he got close to Gabriel's seat he said, "Hi…mind if I join you?"

He was surprised by the smile that lit the other man's face and the nod of welcome, "Not at all Alex…"

"You all right?"

"Fine."

"Do you want to…uhm…talk?"

"I am still trying to process all that Fox and Walter told me yesterday," Gabriel said quietly, "It is very surprising information…yet it does clear a lot of questions I had about my childhood and my parents."

"How…how does it make you feel about me…us…Cooper and me?"

"No different that I felt before," Gabriel said and his smile widened at the look of relief on Alex's face, "I waited to meet you a long time and now that I know there are three others somewhere I wish to find them as much as you and Cooper do."

"So…you are okay with coming to the States and staying with us?"

"Mister Mulder has kindly assured me that he will assist me in doing anything he can to help the rebels and I believe that I will be of greater help if I am in the United States than if I am a wanted man in Mexico. I think that is one of the reasons the Mexican government failed to put up a struggle to keep me there when we departed this morning."

"Uhm…Gabriel…there is something you should know…uhm…about me and…"

"Alex," the former priest said putting his hand on Alex's prosthetic hand, "Walter explained a lot of things to me…about you and your past and what happened with this Consortium. It is quite unbelievable the amount of information I've missed while living in the jungles of South America."

"It's not only about my former life…it's about…"

"Your lovers are quite remarkable men Alex…"

"My lovers…they told you about us?"

"There was really no need for them to tell me," Gabriel said, "I am very adept at reading people. Even when I have a bullet wound on my side and a raging fever I can tell when people care deeply for each other. You have very expressive eyes. Did you know that?"

Alex couldn't help but chuckle, "So do you."

"Well I would hope so," Gabriel said with a chuckle of his own. "Remember when I told you and Cooper that the Church and I parted ways when they frowned upon how I choose to lead my flock."

"Yes."

"There was a young couple…both males…they were ostracized by their community for their love. They came to me for guidance and I gave it to them. The Church was not too happy when I married them."

"You married them?" Alex said shocked.

"Oh they both knew it was not legal or condoned by anyone but themselves and me, but you see one of them was dying of AIDS and they wanted nothing more than to live the rest of their lives together as partners. So I performed the ceremony and the Church kicked me out. The rebels were not too choosy about who their spiritual leader was…they took Ernesto's word that I would be able to do what was needed for them. I have lived with them for the last three years…giving last rites to their dying, praying with them before each encounter with the enemy, performing weddings and baptizing the babies those marriages vows produced. My not being in the Church does not mean I have lost my faith or my love of helping those in need."

"What are you guys talking about?" Cooper said joining them.

Alex gave Gabriel a quick wink and said, "Gabriel was just telling me how much he always wanted a little brother and now he has two."

"Hey! You don’t know that," Cooper said with mock anger, "I could be older than him."

"Give it up Coop…you are now a little brother and that's that," Alex said trying not to smile.

"Don’t matter…you are still the littlest any way," Cooper said sticking out his tongue at Alex who returned the gesture in kind.

"Now that is very mature of you both," Gabriel said laughing, "I believe I am going to enjoy playing referee between you two."

"There won't be much to referee…I always win," Cooper said smugly.

"You wish," Alex countered.

"Music to my ears," Walter said to Fox as he heard the trio in the back laughing.

"Gabriel seems to be a good guy," Fox said smiling at his lover.

"I just hope that they don't get into a tug of war with him," Chris said from his seat behind them.

"What do you mean?" Walter asked.

"Well…I'm sure Alex will want Gabriel to stay with you guys while he recovers and I am equally sure that Cooper will want him to come to the ranch with us to do that."

"I hadn't thought about that," Walter said frowning. "Well for the time being he will need to recuperate in Washington with Doctor Green supervising is recovery. Once he is up on his feet it will be up to him to decide what he wants to do. Let's not borrow worry okay?"

"All right," Chris agreed and glanced back to were the triplets were still talking and smiling. "Hard to imagine we are only looking at half of what it is to be."

Fox and Walter also looked back and nodded, "Three more to go. Let's hope the others get along as well as these three seem to."

Olympic Industries Building

New York City, New York

"Well are they?" Aphrodite asked as soon as Apollo switched the monitor off.

"Are they what 'Dite?" the blonde God asked.

"Are they as nice as these three?"

"How would I know…I haven't found them yet."

"Then can you at least tell us what Gabriel is going to do," Artemis asked, "Does he stay with Coop or Alex."

"Man, Artemis you are as bad as Aphrodite," Ares said snorting with amusement.

"Ares is right Sis," Apollo said grinning wickedly, "Besides, I've done my duty and found him. Now it's up to one of you to take over."

"Apollo is correct," Zeus said. "So who is next Missy?"

"That would be…uhm let me look at my Palm Pilot," she said turning on her PDA, "That would be Great-Auntie Mnemosyne."

"Mnemo?" Zeus asked his Aunt, "I didn't think you would be interested in playing our little game."

"Why not Zeus?" the Goddess of Memory asked with a benign smile. "It's not just for you young people to have all the fun."

"So what to do you have planned for the boys Mnemo?" Hera asked.

"Let's just say that it will have something to do with their memories," the elderly Goddess said mysteriously.

"Oh come on that's not enough information," Aphrodite said with a pout.

"Well that is all you are going to get until I start my report," Mnemosyne said.