Note: For Sue and Allison's Birthdays. Repost as Elizabeth requested a sequel for her birthday
The face was as pale as the hospital sheets, bleached white as age worn marble. The slit of green eyes flickered and opened through the dark circles of swollen flesh.
"Krycek? Krycek, can you hear me?" Walter asked.
The gaze traveled over him and a small moan was the only reply.
Lights out. Krycek had returned to the deep sleep that he had been in for days.
Walter told the nurse, "Call me if he wakes."
Mulder stayed after. Walter turned to look and saw the expression as Mulder touched the bandaged head. Walter's occasional lover was no longer indifferent. He leaned down and kissed Krycek's cheek. "Wake up, Alex."
Eyes flickered open and the sweet bows of the lips smiled at Mulder before Krycek returned to sleep.
OoooOOoooO
Two months later, Walter drove Mulder to the cabin. Krycek sat with his nose pressed to the glass, fascinated by the outside world. He exclaimed in delight as they passed a herd of cows.
Turning to Mulder, Krycek tugged on his sleeve and pointed, "What?"
"Cows, Alex, cows," Mulder explained. He rolled his eyes as he glanced back at Walter.
"Pretty," Alex said. He yawned and turned away from the window. "Hungry," He said.
"We'll eat soon," Mulder replied.
Alex smiled at that and snuggled against Mulder's shoulder. The wounds had healed miraculously or rather the nanocytes that infested the man's body had rebuilt him, healing even the ravaged wreck of the left arm.
The only thing that clearly showed that the event had happened was the shorn hair.
"Waffles," Alex said.
"No, not today," Mulder said, "just sandwiches."
Feeling queasy as he remembered the shooting, Walter said, "What did the neurologist say about his condition? Does he think the memories will come back?"
Shrugging, Mulder replied, "He said that he didn't know. It's not exactly covered in the medical books."
"I don't know what we'll do with him if he doesn't get his memory back," Walter said.
"You know, Walter, he's a person," Mulder remarked.
"Just because he's hurt doesn't make him any different," Walter said.
"I know," Mulder said, "but there are things I can't forget, my love."
Wincing, Walter looked away. Right, he had tried to block out too many of those memories already.
OoooOOoooO
The cabin was deep in the woods. The road was worn to the point of near danger; Mulder would have to pay for having it graded.
Walter had bought the cabin as a fix me up and had been here once or twice for fishing. He had made it habitable but it still needed work.
Grinning, Mulder stared at the cabin and said, "You remember that weekend we spent here."
"Didn't get much fishing done," Walter admitted.
"No, but I didn't hear you complaining," Mulder replied. He got out and stretched.
Alex tugged at Mulder's sleeve and said, "You said we would eat."
"Yes, I know. I'll get the food," Mulder said.
The cabin did have electricity and Walter had it turned on last week. The caretaker, who contracted to take care of the fishing lodges, had stocked some basic groceries and aired the place. Walter still thought that it was not Mulder's most rational plan, but the man was determined. No one could stop Mulder when he had his mind made up.
Walter thought that at least Alex gave Mulder something else to focus on rather than just waiting for the alien rebels to contact them with a plan. The creatures had shown up to cure Krycek of the nanocytes and take their operative back. The aliens had been perturbed that "The human unit was not functional"
Mulder had told them he would take care of Alex. He had said that humans were fragile, but had amazing powers of recovery. The aliens had rewarded Mulder by curing Walter of the nanocytes. Walter had thought he was out of danger with Krycek out of commission, but the rebels assured him that the plan to use the nanocytes wasn't Krycek's.
Getting rid of the nanocytes had hurt as bad as having them used against him, but Scully had confirmed that they were gone. Walter was free, but he mistrusted the price.
However, Mulder told him that he would have left anyway. Not only was it safer for him to be away from Scully and her child, but also he had discovered that he couldn't force himself to love his partner the way she deserved. Mulder had done a lot of growing up with that decision.
So here they were, on their way to a cabin on the edge of nowhere. Mulder to live and Walter to get the two men situated.
Walter looked around at the old cabin and wondered about the family that had built it. They had chosen this remote place for a reason he supposed, but whatever it was had vanished with the last member of the family to live here. Walter had bought it for the tax money after the elderly man had passed away and no heir could be found.
As soon as the perishables had been put into the ancient avocado colored refrigerator, Mulder made sandwiches, cut fruit, and poured juice. Alex ate eagerly and without any hint of manners. Walter grunted and put his own hand over Alex's to stop him from grabbing another quarter of his sandwich while his mouth was stuffed chipmunk full.
"Slow down, no one's going to take your food," Walter growled.
Resentful green eyes glared at him. Walter said, "I'm not backing down. Finish chewing and take smaller bites."
Walter cut the remaining quarters in half and moved the plate slightly toward him. He told Mulder, "He can learn, Mulder. If you're going to work with him, you're going to have to treat him like a kid."
"I know, but it's not like anyone is here to be offended," Mulder said.
"Still, he can't be stuffing his food in his mouth like an animal," Walter said.
Mulder rolled his eyes and said, "I'm not his father."
"More like his keeper," Walter said. "Mulder..."
"Please, Walter, don't argue," Mulder said, "I need to stay out of sight and I may as well have a project while I'm in hiding."
Walter snorted, but he shut up. He liked the idea of Mulder living here in the cabin Walter had bought. Mulder had been very amused by the pseudonym that Walter had used and had used it. He was living under the name of Winthorp Sanders.
Walter spent the weekend at the cabin. There was a lot to do to make the cabin into a comfortable home for Mulder and his charge. It would have been easier to accomplish without Alex wandering about, curious and totally lacking any semblance of boundaries. Walter learned to lock the door of the bathroom after the second time that Alex intruded on him. It drove him crazy that Mulder allowed the man to sleep in his bed. He wanted to make love to Mulder, but he hardly could do that with Alex there.
Mulder said, "When he's more secure, Walter, there will be time."
The kiss that his lover gave him offered a promise. Walter would have to be content with that. He drove away, feeling uneasy and dissatisfied. He was glad that Krycek had survived, but not happy that Mulder had taken the damaged man as a project.
OoooOOoooO
It was a full month before Walter could return to the cabin. He was surprised to see that the old chicken coop had been refurbished. Krycek was in the yard feeding a flock of chicks. He smiled at Walter with sunny childlike enthusiasm.
"Hi, I remember you!" Alex said. He picked up a chick and held it to his face. "Mulder bought me chickens," He added. "We're going to have eggs when they get big."
Mulder ran to Walter's arms and greeted him with a kiss. "Missed you," he said warmly.
"Love you," Walter said, watching pleasure and shock vied in Mulder's face.
There was a long silence and then Mulder replied, "We've never said that to each other."
"You don't have to say it because I did," Walter said. "I was thinking about how it felt when you were missing. I never want to feel that way again. I kept thinking that I had never said what you meant to me."
Mulder kissed him again and then said, "I love you, but I thought you knew that."
Walter hadn't been sure, but the warmth flowed through him. He knew that he wanted to be with Mulder, all of the time. It wasn't possible now, but soon. He promised himself that.
OoooOOoooO
"Chickens," Walter remarked, watching Alex clean the chicken coop. The man was careful but not organized in his efforts. Occasionally, he would sweep the same spot for several moments before something cued him to move on. At other times, he was easily distracted, but managed to get back on track by looking at the picture signs that Mulder had put everywhere to remind him.
"Occupational therapy," Mulder said, "They keep him busy and amuse him. It's stimulating him to think independently."
As Krycek finished his work, he walked out of the coop. The bell rang and Alex frowned until he smiled, remembering to securely latch the door.
"Wash up now," Mulder said. He grinned at Walter and said, "It's coming back. He can talk in full sentences and take care of himself with just a few prompts."
Walter was uneasy about interactions with the man. There was too much baggage, the memory of the pain that Alex had put him through and increasingly, the memory of the pleasure. It didn't help that Alex looked much as he had when the man had been part of them...the three of them stealing moments of lovemaking in Walter's king sized bed. It had been a long time since Walter had been inclined to remember that, but now with Alex underfoot...
However, Alex was willing to sleep in his own room now. Bless that and the fact that the man went to bed early.
Things had progressed to the point of no return when Walter was aware of a sudden light.
"What are you doing?" Alex asked.
"Get out," Walter roared.
Mulder said, "Hey, take it easy."
"Shut up, Mulder! Krycek, get the fuck out of here," Walter shouted.
Sniffling trailed behind Krycek. The moment was gone. Walter pulled his wilting erection from Mulder's body and groaned.
"Walter, we should have locked the door. Calm down. It's just Friday evening. We have the entire weekend to make love," Mulder said, getting up.
"Where are you going?" Walter said.
"I have to go check on him," Mulder said.
By the time, Walter had cooled down enough to leave the bedroom; Mulder was rocking Alex in his bed.
"He scared me," Alex sniffed, pointing at Walter. "He's mean. You should spank him."
"Spank me?" Walter asked.
The blush told the story. Mulder said, "Well, yeah, it's the easy way to get the rules across. He seems to understand spanking more than lectures."
Mulder said to Krycek, "Walter does not get spanked when he's bad."
"Why?" Alex asked.
"Because he's...ah, he's different than you," Mulder said.
"Different is good," Alex said as if this was a frequent assertion.
Kissing Alex's forehead, Mulder said, "Yes, different the way you are is good."
Staring hard at Walter, Alex said, "I remember...we did that. What you were doing. It felt good."
"Christ," Skinner said. He backed out of the room and all the way to the outside.
Mulder came out a few moments later and put his arms around Walter's waist, resting his head on his shoulder. "Take it easy, Walter. Things are bound to come back."
"Yes, well, what are you going to do if he comes back and tries to finish what he threatened to do in that garage?" Walter asked.
"He won't. He couldn't do it then and he won't do it now. Walter, his body was so full of nanocytes that he couldn't even die. If anyone could understand what that meant, you're the one," Mulder said.
"I do understand," Walter said, "That's why I helped you, but it's hard for me to forget everything that happened."
"Don't forget, forgive," Mulder replied.
To the big hazel eyes, it was easy to say, "I will."
OoooOOoooO
The next morning, Walter woke early to make the waffles that were Alex's passion. The small nose came sniffing on the trail of the treat. "Waffles," Alex said.
"Yes, waffles to say I'm sorry that I yelled," Walter said.
A moment later, his arms were filled with green-eyed demon. He disengaged the man and said, "Alex, what..."
"It's good to be thankful," Alex said.
"Yes, but you don't kiss everyone that does someone nice for you," Walter lectured.
"Why?" Alex asked.
"Because," Walter said. He didn't want to get into a sex education lecture. He said, "Mulder will explain it to you."
"I used to kiss you. I remember," Alex argued. "I'm not stupid. I know you don't kiss everyone. Mulder taught me. You liked to kiss me."
"Alex," Mulder said gently, "Go feed the chickens then you can have waffles."
After Alex left, Mulder said, "He's not a kid, Walter. He's a damaged adult and it's natural as he heals that he's going to have feelings, sexual feelings..."
"You're not going to..." Walter started and couldn't finish.
"Not until he's able to make a decision like that. Right now, he's having sexual feelings, but doesn't have the judgment to give consent," Mulder said.
"How can you even think about letting him back in your life?" Walter asked.
"He is back in my life," Mulder said. "I'm dealing with it. Are you trying to tell me that you don't have any feelings yet?"
"I won't lie to you. I've thought about him, but thinking...you're beyond that. You're talking about fucking him," Walter said.
"Making love to him," Mulder said. "Walter, you remember how good it was with the three of us."
Removing the last waffle from the iron, Walter said softly, "I remember."
Alex burst through the door and said, "Chickens are fed. Can I have waffles?"
"Wash first," Mulder instructed.
"Okay," Alex said, running for the bathroom.
The discussion was tabled for now.
Walter curled the whipping cream on the waffle and added strawberries. He laid two bacon strips and an egg on the side. He barely had time to put it in Alex's place before the man shot into the seat.
"Waffles!" Alex said, with gusto. He grabbed a knife and fork and was quickly silent, eating with noisy pleasure.
After breakfast, Walter meant to go for a walk to the lake. He might do some fishing this time. He walked out on the porch, stretched and then yelled, "Mulder, Alex's chickens are loose."
The pullets were all over the yard, happily scrabbling at the dead leaves and overturning every pebble in search of bugs to eat.
"Alex! Alex, didn't you hear the bell? You didn't latch the pen,"
Mulder said.The next two hours were spent chasing chickens. The tame birds were not good fliers, but they managed to flutter out of reach, time after time. All three men were sweating by the time the last stubborn bird was confined.
"That's nineteen," Mulder said.
"Salt is gone," Alex said. "I can't find her anywhere." He sat down on the porch and cried.
Mulder rocked him for a while and then said, "Alex, you know I put the bell there to remind you to latch the gate. Didn't you hear it?"
"I don't remember. I wanted my waffle," Alex said. He looked up and said, "Are you going to spank me?"
"Don't you need a spanking?" Mulder asked.
"Yes," Alex agreed, standing up. He dropped his jeans and underwear, crawling across Mulder's lap.
Walter tried not to look at the smooth ass. He felt how inappropriate it was to have the feelings the sight invoked. Mulder didn't seem to have that problem. His hand contacted Alex's ass in a steady rhythm. Walter knew how strong Mulder's arm was. He didn't envy Alex the force of the paddling.
The peach colored skin became a ripe peach. The center of Alex's ass slowly became deep scarlet. The white thighs reddened. Alex struggled and yelped, but didn't seriously try to get away. Mulder said, "That's all, Alex, all over now."
Snuffling, Alex righted himself and flung himself into Mulder's arms.
He cried shamelessly. "I lost Salt. A dog will eat her. Poor Salt..."Walter said, "I'll go look in the woods. Maybe Salt wanted something special to eat and went there."
Enough of Walter's farm childhood had returned to make him realize that the chicken would be either on the trail or in a clearing. They didn't like deep woods, preferring open ground to forage. Walter heard a squawk after an hour of looking. He saw the hen fluttering away as an opportunistic eagle swooped down. He yelled as he ran and the eagle aborted its dive so quickly that the king of birds did a clumsy near back flip. The predator shrieked indignantly as it flew away.
Salt had enough adventure. She quivered on the ground and didn't protest as Walter scooped her up. He triumphantly returned the bird to her owner.
This time, Walter didn't protest as Alex embraced him. He patted Alex's back and said, "It's okay. You need to be careful even if I cook waffles."
"Yes, I will," Alex said. He rubbed his sore behind. "My butt will remind me."
"I imagine it will," Walter said.
OoooOOoooO
The rest of the weekend went well. Alex remembered to lock the hen house. Walter remembered to lock the bathroom and bedroom door.
As Walter hesitated after kissing Mulder goodbye, Alex sidled up to throw arms around him. He said, "I don't want you to go."
"I have to work," Walter said, "but I'll come back."
"Come back and stay?" Alex asked.
"As soon as I can," Walter promised, but as he spoke the words the real vow was to Mulder.
They were fighting a battle still, but Walter knew that his usefulness in the FBI was coming to an end. Soon, he could turn in the letter of resignation waiting in his desk drawer. Soon he could return to this cabin to wait with Mulder...wait and plan.
As for Alex...
Walter could find it in his heart to forgive him. He was an innocent now and only time would see what role he would play in the coming days.
The End
sequel: Tarnished Innocence
