Life from the Ashes Book 3 - SBS
Chapter 3
Sleeping Beautiesby Jo B.
purplefox@usfamily.net***
Foxfire Glenn Estate
Friday, January 20
5:00 p.m.Mulder frantically rushed into the mansion, bumping into Shinji Takeda in the foyer. "Shin, where's Walter?"
"Mulder, I'm sorry. He's upstairs, Tristan and Dana are with him," Takeda said softly, meeting Krycek's stunned eyes over Mulder's shoulder, he stood frozen in the doorway holding Hope and Faith bundled protectively within his arms. The babies were dressed snugly in one piece snowsuits.
Mulder took the steps two at a time, his long overcoat flapping behind him as he sprinted across the hallway into Sawada's former bedroom. They had removed all of the furniture to use in Duffy's new apartment, and replaced it with three hospital beds and medical equipment. Skinner was lying still in the bed closest to the bathroom and veranda. Mulder swallowed back tears as he walked up to the bed and grasped his lover's hand in his.
He looked over at Dana Scully. "Scully, I knew this was going to happen, but it's still a shock," Mulder grieved. "My god, I thought we had at least two more days to be together."
"Mulder, he'll be fine . . . Walter at least had the foresight to have this room outfitted with the appropriate medical equipment, and Tristan will be able to attend to his daily needs until we can find a cure," she assured.
"Are you making progress?" Mulder asked as his fingers gently caressed Skinner's face.
"It's going slow, we haven't been able to isolate the virus that is causing these symptoms."
Krycek walked into the room and over to the bed. "Justin and Joe are watching the girls. How is he?"
"Alex, he's in the same condition as the other sorcerers. Don't worry he's not in any pain," Scully replied.
Krycek smiled sadly at her. "Well I see he took the bed with the best view and left the other for me," he quipped sorrowfully.
Scully gave him a weak smile. "I doubt that he's even aware of our presence here."
Walter Skinner stood unseen beside Krycek, he tried to reach out to the younger man, but his hand went straight through him. He tried to communicate with his lovers by telepathy, but he was unable to access the required energy needed to accomplish that feat. It was as if he was in a state of limbo.
"We don't know that, Scully," Mulder replied. "For all we know he could be standing in this room with us."
//That's my Fox.// Skinner murmured hopefully.
"Fox, we'd, *I'd* be able to sense him if he were," Krycek protested.
Mulder frowned glumly. "Yeah, you're right, Alex."
//Fox, don't listen to him! Use your intuition! I'm here, damnit!// Skinner growled.
"Can you communicate with his mind telepathically?" Mulder asked.
"No," Krycek sighed. He placed a hand on Skinner's chest and brushed his fingers through the larger man's chest hairs, he felt the rise and fall of Skinner's breathing and the faint beating of his heart beneath his fingertips.
"Fox, I'll sit up with him. Why don't you go and fix the babies something to eat, I don't think it's wise to have them eat Rory's cooking three nights in a row," Krycek murmured halfheartedly.
//Well, at least you have good sense about some things, Alex,// Skinner muttered.
"Yeah, his cooking is giving both girls gas, but they do seem to like what he's been making them." Mulder bent down and gently kissed Skinner's lips then headed for the door.
"That's because of the extra brown sugar he's added to the baked apple slices, and what kid doesn't like macaroni and cheese," Krycek complained, he looked over at Scully and Tristan Woods who were both finding his complaints humorous and were trying not to show it. "Why don't you both take a break, too."
"Sure, Alex, I want to get back to the lab," Scully replied, following Mulder out.
"Alex, I'll be back in an hour," Woods said.
Mulder headed for the kitchen; he smiled when he saw Frohike who was helping MacIver prepare dinner and there wasn't a single macaroni in sight.
"Don't worry, Mulder, I have everything under control," Frohike assured, he was well aware of his friend's fragile emotional state.
"What are you making?" Mulder asked, walking over to a large kettle he lifted the lid.
"Chicken and dumpling soup, I made double the normal recipe to include Duffy," Frohike said.
"Oh, that's right, he was moving in today. How did it go?"
"Fine, he's all settled, and he was very impressed with the apartment," MacIver answered.
"What are you doing, Rory?"
"Since, Melvin has banned me from cooking dinner . . . I'm making dessert," MacIver replied, pouring rice in a two quart saucepan.
"What type of dessert?"
"Rice pudding."
"Rory, that sounds . . . perfectly healthy."
Skinner leaned against the counter between his lover and MacIver. //Well, wonders never cease.//
"It's an old family recipe," MacIver replied. "The babies should be able to eat it, without any ill effects."
"Thanks, Rory," Mulder said, suddenly looking sad.
"He's going to be all right, Mulder. Dana and Shinji will find a cure for him and the others," the Scotsman soothed.
"I know he will be, but I miss him already. I can't imagine going days or weeks without him by my side," Mulder replied, smiling weakly. He looked over at the doorway as Duffy ducked underneath coming into the kitchen.
"Mulder, I'm sorry about Walter," the giant murmured.
"Thank you, Duffy. Have you had time to get settled, yet?"
"Yes. The apartment is more than I expected, thank you," Duffy replied. "Mulder, I had time to look over the estate's security systems, and found a few areas that could use improvements. When you have time I would like to go over them with you."
Mulder smiled softly at the immense giant. The estate's security was one area his lovers had excluded him from participating in. When he tried to get involved, they tended to take his contributions lightly and argued among themselves as if he weren't present. It touched him that Duffy had come to him instead of Alex or one of the other sorcerers for his opinion on security issues. After all, he knew quite a bit about security regardless of what his lovers believed; he'd sneaked onto military bases and broken into enough high security facilities in the past.
Skinner frowned. //Duffy, Fox is an FBI agent he doesn't know anything about security, you should be talking to Kazuo or Alex they both have military backgrounds..//
"We can talk tomorrow afternoon, Duffy," Mulder replied.
"Good, it will give me time to walk around the estate's perimeter in the morning and check for any other flaws." Duffy was determined to repay the residents here for their kindness and friendship. He would see to it that this estate was defensible against any outside aggression.
"Hey, Melvin, how's chow coming?" Blaise asked, walking into the kitchen carrying Hope who was sucking contentedly on her pacifier. The baby appeared to be freshly bathed and was dressed in a warm sleeper.
"It will be ready in half an hour," Frohike muttered.
"Have you chopped all of the ingredients small enough for the babies?" the Texan questioned.
"No, I left them all large enough so they'd choke on it," Frohike growled sarcastically. "Of course, I chopped everything small!"
"Hey, no need to get bent out of shape, Melvin," Blaise smirked, kissing the top of Hope's head, her thick, wavy, black hair was still slightly damp from being washed. "Uncle Melvin is grumpy, isn't he angel?" he teased.
Duffy stepped over. "Can I hold her?"
Hope looked up at Duffy; her green eyes widened as Blaise passed her over to the giant. She looked around frantically for her father and was surprised to see the top of his bald head from such a great height. She looked down at him and giggled delightedly, her pacifier falling from her mouth.
Skinner stared up at her, he could swear that his daughter was looking right at him.
"You like it up here, little one?" Duffy cooed deeply.
Hope looked at him and kicked her feet excitedly. She looked down at the tops of the all the men's heads, spotting her other father way across the kitchen. Hope looked back down at daddy Walter; she giggled and held out her arms to him.
//You can see me, angel!// Skinner gasped, reaching out to her.
Duffy turned around so she could see the rest of the room, blocking her view of Skinner.
Mulder walked over. "Duffy, you must have a knack with kids, Hope doesn't let just anyone hold her."
Duffy smiled happily down at him. "I thought she was going to cry there for a second, but she seems to have calmed down. I think she enjoys the view."
"If you don't mind watching her for a little bit, I want to run back upstairs to check on Walter."
"Mulder, I don't mind watching her, you go ahead," Duffy murmured.
All the men turned and watched Mulder speculatively as he left.
"He seems to be taking Walter's illness in stride," Blaise commented.
"No, he's not. It's tearing him apart inside," Spender replied, standing in the doorway.
***
Foxfire Glenn Estate
Saturday, January 21
3:00 a.m.Mulder threw his leg over Krycek's hip and nuzzled in closer to his lover's warm slumbering body, the younger man had his head tucked underneath his lover's chin and an arm draped over his waist.
Walter Skinner stood sadly beside the bed watching his lovers sleep. He longed to touch them, to tell them how much he loved them, to let them know he was here with them. Sighing dejectedly Skinner wandered into the nursery; he smiled lovingly down at his sleeping daughter and niece. He drifted back into the bedroom when he heard Fox's voice.
"Alex, wake up."
"What, Fox?"
"Sorry, just checking," Mulder sighed.
"Fox, this is the fourth time you've woken me tonight. If I get it, it won't really matter if you aren't able to wake me now or in the morning," Krycek muttered.
"It does matter. You're awake talking to me so I know you're okay," he argued. "Alex, I think we need to make adjustments in what you're permitted to do," Mulder murmured.
Krycek pulled away and glanced up at his lover. "What do you mean *permitted* to do?
"Alex, this disease comes on suddenly, I don't want you doing anything that could injure you or the babies if you fell asleep suddenly. Like driving, carrying the babies, swimming, bathing alone, or going anywhere alone for that matter, and I don't think you should go into work next week."
Skinner snickered at the look of disgust on Krycek's face. //He has you there, Alex, you might as will give in now.//
"Fox, I'll agree with *most* of your restrictions except for not going to work, but I'll make a deal with you -- I'll stay home if you do, too."
//Good thinking, Alex.// Skinner chuckled.
"Blackmail? Alex, you're falling back on your old habits," Mulder grumbled, he saw no other choice but to agree. "Okay, you win."
"Good. Now spread em," Krycek purred, rolling Mulder roughly onto his back he climbed between his lover's legs. He leaned down for a long delicious kiss, licking his way into Mulder's mouth. "Mm, scrumptious. Fox, promise me that when I get sick you'll kiss me good morning and goodnight every day."
//Hey, no fair, I never had time to extract any promises from Fox.// Skinner complained.
"Whatever you want, baby, but don't forget good afternoon." Mulder wrapped his long legs around Krycek's legs and brought their groins together. "So, are you going to continue extracting promises from me or fuck me?"
"Fuck you, definitely fuck you," Krycek murmured as his hand sought and found Mulder's anus, he pushed a tentative finger inside to test its preparedness. Mulder was still nicely lubed from earlier and his sphincter muscle was still relaxed.
Mulder smiled at him as he eased his legs over the other man's shoulders. "I'm glad to see you're getting your priorities right." He gasped as Krycek sunk into him.
"There nothing wrong with my priorities. My number one priority right now is making you so tired that you sleep through the rest of the night," he quipped, pulling out and pushing swiftly back in.
Mulder moaned, and pushed up to meet Krycek's downward thrust, their flesh slapped loudly together. "Oh, fuck me, harder, Alex."
"Your wish, lover," Krycek grinned, increasing the force of his entry. He spent the next fifteen minutes pounding into Mulder, watching with satisfaction as his lover writhed and squirmed on his cock with undisguised pleasure. He grasped Mulder's cock and stroked in time with his thrusts, the organ swelled as his lover finally came spurting semen over his belly and chest. Krycek gasped as his own orgasm hit, pushing in deeper he filled the other man with his love.
Krycek pulled out reluctantly, he bent down, and licked his way up Mulder's belly and chest, getting every last bit of come from his lover's body.
Skinner stood by the bed licking his lips, wishing he could share in Fox's come.
Mulder giggled as Krycek's tongue tickled under his chin. "God, you must have been a cat in your previous life."
"Yeah, a horny *gay* tomcat, and you were my boyfriend," Krycek snickered.
"Cats can't be gay," Mulder smirked.
"Sure they can," Krycek argued, capturing Mulder's mouth and stopping his protest.
Mulder panted heavily coming up for air. "Okay, if we were both cats in a previous life then what was Walter?" He chuckled over the ridiculousness of their conversation.
"A hound dog," he replied straight faced.
//A hound dog? Alex, just wait until I'm better, I'll show you a hound dog.// Skinner growled.
"Yeah, a big cuddly hound dog with big, warm, brown eyes," Mulder sighed. "God, I miss him," he sniffed, wiping a tear away.
//Oh, Fox, I'm here. Damn, why can't you see me? Our daughter can see me, why can't you?// Skinner grumbled.
Krycek pulled Mulder into a tight embrace. "C'mon, lover, everything is going to be okay. Let's try to get some sleep."
Mulder yawned. "S'kay, night," he murmured tiredly, cuddling against his lover's chest he allowed the blackness to pull him back under.
***
Foxfire Glenn Estate
Sunday, January 22
11:00 a.m.Kimberly sat next to her boyfriend's bed, Tony had been moved into the room with Skinner. She had reluctantly agreed to move into the mansion with their children until a cure could be found. Schatz and Hunter were currently watching the couple's two daughters.
"Kim, I'm going down to the kitchen to fix a cup of tea would you like me to bring you back a cup?" Scully asked.
"Thanks, Dana, that would be nice."
Krycek walked in as Scully left. "Kim, we've moved your stuff into the room around the corner next door to Justin and Joe."
"Thanks, Alex. How are you feeling?" she asked looking at him closely.
"Fine, still wide awake," he replied.
"How's Mulder doing?"
Krycek frowned. "He's worried. This isn't easy for him, Kim."
"No, I can't imagine it would be."
Krycek went over to Skinner's bedside, and caressed his smooth cheek. Tristan shaved him earlier. His fingers traced the line of the IV bag, knowing this was going to be him in a few days if a cure wasn't found. He was scared to death of leaving Mulder alone, knowing how his lover was prone to taking careless risks. Krycek's only hope was that Mulder would put their daughters' welfare ahead of Walter and himself.
*Alex?*
Krycek smiled, hearing Mulder's telepathic inquiry. *Fox, I'm okay.*
*Just checking. Come down to the family room your daughter wants to see you,* Mulder replied.
*I'll be right down.* Krycek bent and lightly kissed Skinner on the lips.
Tony, who was standing in the doorway next to Skinner, started when Krycek walked through him. //Yikes, now that was weird.//
//You'll get used to it. Especially in the kitchen when half the family is present, it's almost impossible to avoid being walked through,// Skinner replied.
//How come we can't get back into our bodies?// Tony asked, walking over to stand next to Kimberly.
//I think it is one of the symptoms of the virus, and probably the reason behind our comatose state.// Skinner wandered over to the window looking out. //The worst thing is no one can see or hear us, with the exception of the babies, and we can't sleep, we're perpetually awake,// he sighed.
//Why do you suppose that the babies can see us?//
//I don't know, if Fox were here I'd bet he'd have some way out theory.//
***
Krycek passed Scully as she carried a tray out of the kitchen; he smiled at her, then walked into the family and stood still for a few minutes watching Mulder play with the babies. He was sitting cross-legged on the floor rolling a small, colorful, rubber ball to them. Faith would roll it back laughing, while Hope slapped the ball with her hands giggling at the sound it made.
"Hi, can I play, too?" Krycek eased down between Mulder and Faith she instantly scrambled up on his lap. "Hey, cutie," he murmured, hugging and kissing her.
Hope abandoned the rubber ball and crawled over to him, too. Krycek lifted her up on his lap next to her sister hugging both babies. A tear ran down his cheek at the thought of losing all of this soon. He buried his face between the two babies, memorizing their scent and the feel of their warm bodies. Hoping he could take those memories with him when he was afflicted with SBS. He smiled sadly at Mulder when the other man's arms wrapped around them.
"Alex, I'll find a cure . . . I promise, no matter what it takes, you won't be out of their lives for long," he soothed.
"Fox, please, don't do anything reckless. I won't want to wake up if you're not here," he pleaded, raw fear gripping him.
"Ssh, Alex, don't worry, everything will come out okay," Mulder reassured, kissing the younger man softly on the cheek.
Spender and Frohike stood watching them from the kitchen counter.
"Melvin, shouldn't we do or say something? We both know Mulder is going to sacrifice himself for a cure for SBS," Spender asked despondently; he had come to respect and care for Mulder these past couple of months.
"Jeff, we only had glimpses of what is going to happen, neither of us know the exact chain of events. Look at what we do know, Mulder goes to Slava for a cure and the next thing we know is that Walter, Alex, and Tony are cured. We have no evidence that they will ever be cured if Mulder doesn't go to Slava, if we interfere they may never recover from their comas," Frohike reasoned.
"But, Melvin, we also know that Mulder is forced to share Slava's bed and held captive by him. Why would Slava send a cure for Walter and Alex when he has Mulder in his clutches? Wouldn't he be worried that Walter and Alex would try to rescue Mulder?"
Skinner stood next to the two clairvoyants, his face red with rage. He couldn't believe the two men were discussing this without intervening and preventing Fox from going to Slava. Skinner clearly remembered the conversation he had had with Frohike many months ago about the smaller man's vision of seeing Fox with Slava, while Fox sat on the floor reading to many beautiful little girls. He was going to lose Fox, and his friends were going to nothing to help.
"Jeff, I've had other visions about Mulder and Slava, also visions of Mulder, Walter, and Alex living happily together. It's driving me nuts, I'm afraid that if we interfere it would change any possibility for our friends to be together and happy again. What about the other members of this household? We could be jeopardizing their safety and wellbeing, too. We know that Mulder goes to Slava for a cure and shortly after they are cured." Frohike paced fretfully back and forth.
"But, you don't know when Mulder comes back, it could be years from now for all you know!" Spender growled lowly, glancing across the great space into the family room where Mulder and Krycek were playing with the babies.
//Listen to him, Melvin, please stop Fox from turning himself over to Slava.// Skinner pleaded to unhearing ears.
"Jeff, if we prevent Mulder from going to Slava, Walter, Alex, and Tony may never wake up. Eventually Rory, Kazuo, and Gabriel will fall victim to the virus putting all the immortals in danger, including Mulder and the babies. With Walter and Alex cured, they can take steps to rescue Mulder from Slava," he reasoned quietly.
"You're right, Melvin, I don't like it, but we don't really have any choice, do we?" Spender sighed glumly.
Skinner shook his head miserably; Frohike's arguments made sense, but he didn't believe Slava had a cure. He hated that Mulder would be gullible enough to fall for that man's lies.
"C'mon, help me with lunch," Frohike said, turning his thoughts away from future worries.
***
Foxfire Glenn Estate
Monday, January 23
7:00 a.m.Something was wrong. Mulder awoke suddenly. He was lying curled sideways on the bed with his head resting on Alex's belly. The constant hum inside his head was missing; it was his telepathic link to Alex. Shakily, Mulder crawled up the bed to his lover. "Alex, please wake up. Please, don't do this to me," he cried, combing his fingers lovingly through Krycek's hair; he was unable to wake him up. He enfolded his body around the younger man's and gave himself up to his grief, crying his despair against his lover's shoulder.
//Fox, I'm here, please, don't cry,// Krycek murmured.
//He can't hear you, Alex.// Skinner said, startling the younger man.
//Walter! What's going on?// he asked, tearing his eyes away from Mulder's sobbing form.
//Welcome to limbo land, and by the way, Alex, we *are* able to hear and see everything that is happening around us,// Skinner growled.
//Oh? Ooh, so when I convinced Fox that you wouldn't be able to hear him that must have really pissed you off,// Krycek retorted.
//Alex, let's just say, I wasn't particularly thrilled.//
//So, Walter, what have you been doing for the last few days?//
//Wandering around and listening to our friends conversations, you know, it's amazing how much we are not privy to around here.//
//Spying, Walter, I'm shocked,// Krycek quipped, staring at Skinner's naked semitransparent body.
Skinner drifted over to the bed, gazing lovingly down on Mulder. //Did you know that Fox comes to see me every morning before anyone else is up and cries at my bedside?//
//Yeah, this is really tearing him apart, he's been trying to hide how he's feeling from the others, and me, but we all know.// Krycek replied, he attempted to touch Mulder, but his hand passed straight through his body.
//Damn. Walter, just what the fuck are we able to do in limbo land?//
//Not a damn thing. We can pass through solid objects, but we can't pick up or move anything. No one can see or hear us except for the babies.//
//Hope and Faith can see us?//
//Yeah, it's a little comforting, but we can't communicate through them, which is frustrating.//
Mulder had stopped crying he pulled away from Krycek's body and rearranged his lover's limbs into a more comfortable position before leaving the bed. He stared sadly down at his younger lover. "God, Alex, how can I live without you and Walter here to protect me. I'm so afraid that I won't be able to protect our daughters, that they'll be taken away from me just like Samantha. Why couldn't it be me that got this disease instead of you and Walter?" He turned and walked over to the nursery, stopping in the doorway he looked in on the babies. Hope was up playing with her toes, but Faith was still soundly asleep. "C'mon, princess, you can share a shower with daddy Fox this morning," he murmured, picking the baby up he peeled off her soiled diaper.
Hearing a knock, Mulder turned toward and saw Gabriel and Rory standing there.
"Mulder, we'll take care of Alex for you."
"Thanks, guys." Mulder didn't have to question how they knew Alex had succumbed to the virus, he was aware that they had been keeping a close watch on Alex and himself.
"Baffaafaafa," Hope cooed, slapping Mulder's bare chest.
"Okay, princess," he murmured, kissing her brow he carried Hope into the bathroom with him.
He stepped back into the bedroom fifteen minutes later carrying Hope lovingly in his arms, they were freshly showered. Mulder was wearing a pair of button fly jeans and a sweater. He smiled weakly at Shinji and Hans who were sitting on his freshly made bed playing with Faith and Ayako.
"Hi," Mulder greeted, grabbing a fresh diaper from the changing table and an outfit for the baby from the dresser.
"Hi, Mulder, we wanted to see how you were doing," Takeda replied.
"I'm fine. I was just going to fix the munchkins breakfast, then do the laundry. It's really starting to pile up," he answered, detached.
"I'll help you with the munchkins," Schatz replied, picking up Faith he carried her over to the changing table.
"That's not necessary, Hans. They're my responsibility," Mulder said halfheartedly, fastening the snaps on Hope's romper.
"Mulder, you can't look after them all by yourself, they're the family's responsibility, too," Schatz scolded as he taped on Faith's diaper.
Mulder picked up Hope and hugged her against his chest, sitting forlornly on the bed. "Thanks, Hans, I never expected to have such good friends in my life."
Takeda reached over and squeezed Mulder's shoulder. "Let's go eat breakfast." He stood with his daughter cradled in his arms.
Skinner and Krycek followed them out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, where Kimberly had both of her daughters strapped into the highchairs and was feeding them rice cereal. Gabriel Hunter was helping her with them.
//Hi, Tony, how's it hanging?// Krycek joked, looking at the younger man's naked body.
//Stick it, Alex,// Tony snapped, blushing.
Sawada turned around at the stove. "Good morning, Mulder. Do you think your babies could handle pancakes?"
"Yeah," he replied softly, sitting at the counter with Hope on his lap.
"Daaddawa," Hope babbled when she spotted Walter standing next to the counter.
//Hi, angel, how's daddy's precious little girl?// Skinner cooed, he wanted more than anything to pick her up and cuddle her in his arms.
Hope grinned happily holding her arms out to him. "Daddewawa."
"Ssh, Hope," Mulder murmured as he cut a pancake into small bit size pieces and poured a little maple syrup on it. "You're really going to like this," he said, scooping a piece on a spoon he offered it to her. Her pink tongue darted out as she tentatively tasted the pancake, upon tasting the sweet syrup she opened her mouth for it, all of her attention was now focused on the food.
Sawada set a cup of coffee and Hope's covered drinking cup filled with apple juice in front of Mulder. "Thanks, Kazuo," Mulder murmured, shoveling another piece of pancake into the baby's mouth.
Schatz was sitting next to Mulder with Faith on his lap trying to spoon feed her the pancake, but she kept pushing his hand away. Faith picked the sticky food up with her fingers and ate it, smearing syrup all over her face and romper.
//Give it up, Hans, once my kid makes up her mind there is nothing you can do,// Krycek said, chuckling at the look of frustration on the young Argentinean's face.
//Faith is going to have to learn some manners eventually, Alex,// Skinner replied.
//She will, right now she's testing us. Remember how hard it was to get her to go to bed? She stopped fussing once she realized she wasn't going to get her way. It's the same here, we'll just have to be firm with her,// Krycek acknowledged, proudly watching his daughter.
//Right, Alex, she has your number and you know it. It was Fox who put his foot down about her bedtime, you wanted to let her stay up and watch television with us,// Skinner chuckled.
//Well, she is still too young anyway to enforce a firm schedule on her, even Fox has a difficult time keeping her in bed.// Krycek shrugged his shoulders as they continued to watch their family interact over breakfast.
***
Foxfire Glenn Estate
Saturday, January 28
1:00 p.m.Mulder covered the babies with a blanket; they had fallen asleep in their playpen, which he had assembled in the upstairs suite where his lovers lay comatose. He spent all of his free time up there, meditating. Mulder clenched his teeth as the first withdrawal pain coursed through his body. It had been five days since Alex had been afflicted and he'd last had sex.
*Rory,* he called telepathically.
*Mulder, I'll be right up. Are you sure you want to go through with this?* the Scotsman asked.
*Yes, I can't be incapacitated,* Mulder sighed.
A few minutes later MacIver and Takeda entered the bedroom.
"I'll watch the babies for you, Mulder, while you and Rory take care of business," Takeda said understandingly.
"Thanks, Shin," Mulder murmured, blushing.
"Do you want to go down to your bedroom?" MacIver asked.
"No, we can just go into the bathroom." Mulder did not want to have sex with any other man in his and his lovers' bedroom. They walked in the bathroom and closed the door.
//Alex, where do you think you're going?// Skinner growled as Krycek attempted to follow them.
//Ah, to watch. I want to make sure Rory doesn't take too many liberties.//
//He's going to fuck our lover how many more liberties are there?//
//I'm going to watch, Walter, and you really don't have any say in the matter,// Krycek snapped, going into the bathroom through the closed door, Skinner followed him through the wooden barrier.
Mulder had already pulled down his sweatpants and boxers; he was leaning over the counter as MacIver stood behind him preparing the younger man's opening. "Mulder, remember what an idiot I was in Mexico?"
"Yeah, you were going to wear a condom," Mulder chuckled.
//Fox still hasn't talked to us about all of his experiences in Mexico,// Skinner grumbled.
//Walter, he's embarrassed by them.//
"How about when we went skinny-dipping together?" MacIver asked lightly.
"That was fun. Rory, thanks for being there for me then and now," he replied somberly.
"Always, Mulder." MacIver lubed his cock, placing it against Mulder's anus he slowly pushed in.
//Fox doesn't sound too embarrassed to me,// Skinner griped, watching jealously as the Scottish sorcerer fucked his lover.
//Remind me to ask him about skinny-dipping in Mexico,// Krycek grumbled.
They closely studied their lover for the next ten minutes for any signs that he might be enjoying himself. They finally calmed down, noticing that Mulder wasn't getting too hard or making his normal sounds of pleasure.
Mulder relaxed when he felt MacIver's orgasm and his hot release spurting into his body. MacIver slipped out of him and grabbed a washcloth he cleaned Mulder off, then helped him pulled up his boxers and sweatpants.
"Rory, I'm worried," he whispered, meeting the older man's sated eyes in the mirror.
"What about, Mulder?" MacIver tucked himself into his pants.
"They're no closer to finding a cure for SBS, and they've never been able to find a cure for my withdrawal symptoms or for preventing the virus from killing females. I'm afraid they may not find a cure or find one in time, and time is something we don't have!"
"Mulder, what do you mean?"
"Rory, I talked to my source in the military yesterday, he said seven countries are forming an alliance to invade the U.S. once the virus disables a majority of our sorcerers. This estate is their primary target, my source figures we have until March before they launch their attack," Mulder stated with frustration.
"Shit, that doesn't give us much time! I thought the U.S. government would have been able to keep SBS a secret longer than it did. We'll just have to readjust our plans and go into hiding earlier," MacIver swore.
Skinner and Krycek stood there stunned. They knew that if a cure wasn't found by May that Fox and their friends would be in danger, but they hadn't counted on a seven country force attacking the U.S. in March for the main purpose of capturing the seven immortals living here. Those countries must be willing to sacrifice many men to get their hands on Fox and the others.
"Rory, I don't want to scare the other men, particularly Hans and Shinji, but Hector Cardoso and Kong Woo Long are part of the seven nation coalition. The seven countries have each staked a claim on one of our immortals, Cardoso gets Hans and Kong gets Shinji."
"Those insolent dogs!" MacIver growled, pacing anxiously around the bathroom he turned angrily back to Mulder. "Don't tell let me, let me guess, Nikolai Slava is the head of this coalition."
"No, he's not. My source told me Slava was approached, but he told them to go to hell."
"God, at least that is good news. C'mon, Mulder, Shinji is probably starting to wonder what we're doing in here for so long. Please don't tell him about Kong."
"Don't worry, Rory, he won't hear it from me."
Takeda looked up at them when they exited the bathroom, making a show of looking at his watch. "Thirty minutes, old man? It usually only takes you two minutes with me," he quipped.
MacIver growled and playfully wrestled Takeda onto the floor on his back, pinning him beneath his body. "I'll give you two minutes, beautiful," he growled huskily, kissing the younger man into submission.
"Make that thirty minutes, stud," Takeda purred, rubbing his rapidly growing erection against his lover's.
"Guys, do you mind taking it back to your room, I don't want my daughters getting an eyeful," Mulder admonished.
MacIver looked over at the playpen; both babies were awake and watching them intensely. "Sorry, Mulder," he gulped. "C'mon, lad, an hour of pleasure awaits you." The Scotsman stood and pulled his lover up with him, they quickly left the room.
//Do you want to go watch?// Krycek asked.
//Alex, didn't you get your fill last night watching Justin and Joe?// Skinner scolded.
//I'm studying their techniques. By the way, did you have any idea that Frohike was such a proficient lover or that he was hung like a horse? He makes Fox look small.// Krycek walked over to Mulder and positioned his body so they shared the same space.
//Alex, stop that. You don't know what effect you might be having on him!// Skinner glared at him until the younger man stepped out of their lover's body.
//But, Walter, I can smell and taste him when I merge with him.//
//We have other more important concerns, Alex. We have to find a way of preventing Fox from going to Slava!//
//How? We can't do a damn thing! I've never felt so helpless before in my life.//
//I don't know, Alex,// Skinner sighed.
***
St. Petersburg
Monday, January 30
1:00 p.m.Nikolai Slava stormed down the long, wide hallways of the Winter Palace. He stopped in front of his clairvoyant's bedchamber and barged into the room. "Fyodorov!"
The little man startled awake from a sound sleep falling out of bed onto the hard, cold, wooden floor. He quickly scrambled to his feet, pulling his white nightshirt down over his erection.
Slava glared angrily at him. "Have you been fantasizing about my daughters' nannies again, when you should be concentrating your full attention on bringing Fox to me?"
"Moi Tsar, Master Fox has my undivided attention and I promise you that he'll be here within a week. Everything is going as planned," the little man reassured.
"No! Everything is not going as planned! You never even saw this seven nation invasion force in your visions. They pose a serious threat to my Fox and his daughters!" Slava bellowed.
"Moi Tsar, they pose no threat to your Fox, otherwise I would have seen them in a vision. Master Fox should have received your email by now, he will be replying shortly. I'll get dressed and help you compose your reply to him, it's important that he believes that you have a cure for this American-made virus," Fyodorov reasoned.
"Tell me, Fyodorov. Have you seen if my scientists are going to be successful in finding a cure?"
"Moi Tsar, my visions do not see everything."
"I expect you and your apprentices to find answers for me. I will need the cure to permanently bind Fox to me," Slava growled.
"Moi Tsar, please, it would be wiser not to cure these men; Skinner and Krycek will do anything in their powers to get Master Fox back," Fyodorov argued.
"Fox will never love me as long as his former lovers are left suffering. Marat, I want his love as much as I want his mind, body, and soul," Slava admitted, as he paced around the tiny bedchamber, his face turned thoughtful. "Alexei will be welcomed here, I will tolerate his presence if it makes Fox happy. I will make a monetary settlement with this Walter Skinner and I'll even allow him to keep their daughter Hope," he replied reasonably. He thought that Krycek was young enough that he'd be able to bend him to his will.
"You would share Master Fox with Alexei Krycek?" Fyodorov asked, shocked.
"No, he would be my protégé and Fox's pet, I would allow Fox to have sex with him, but only under my direct supervision," Slava stated. He was realizing the need to have other sorcerers under his command. Clairvoyants and n'thrals didn't offer the protection his country required to stem off foreign aggressors. He would make a point of training the thousands of sorcerers in Russia and elevating them to positions of power in his military and government. They would be greatly rewarded for their loyalties, and like him, become the new royalty in Russia.
Fyodorov looked worriedly at his employer, he had heard from others how Fox Mulder had changed Slava's personality, but this was too strange. "Moi Tsar, I heard that Alexei Krycek is a dangerous sorcerer, wouldn't it be wiser to make a monetary settlement with him, too?"
"Are you questioning my judgment?" Slava snapped, glaring down angrily at the little man.
"No, never, but as your adviser it is my duty to state my concerns if I think something might be harmful to you and your family," Fyodorov groveled.
"Hmm, very well, Fyodorov. Get dressed I expect you in the throne room in twenty minutes," Slava said abruptly, he left the room.
***
Foxfire Glenn Estate
Monday, January 30
3:00 p.m.Fox Mulder reread the email message for a fourth time before typing his reply. He needed more information; if Nikolai Slava really did have a cure for SBS he'd sell his soul to get it. The lives of his lovers, daughters, and friends depended upon a cure. Mulder kissed the top of Faith's head, the little girl was sitting on his lap watching him type on the keyboard. He glanced over his shoulder at Hope; she was playing on the carpet next to the coffee table. Mulder thought that like her sister, Hope was behaving strangely lately. She picked up her toy and held it out as if she was trying to hand it to someone. Sighing, he glanced back at his monitor and quickly erased the text Faith had added while his back was turned. He finished writing Slava, as he hit the send button he was telepathically contacted by Hunter.
*Fox, there is a Major Murphy Walker to see, he says it's urgent.*
*Thanks, Gabriel. Have him wait in the living room, I'll be right down.* Mulder quickly logged off the computer. Balancing Faith on one hip he scooped Hope up with his other arm. He left the office and took the main staircase down to the living room.
The handsome, young major stood as Mulder entered the room, his blue woolen overcoat was draped over the back of the sofa.
"Agent Mulder, thank you for seeing me," Walker said. Looking appreciatively at the beautiful young immortal and the two prettiest baby girls he'd ever seen.
"Major Walker, please have a seat. You said it was urgent?" Mulder smiled appreciatively at Hunter as he took Hope. Mulder sat across from the major holding Faith protectively in his arms.
"She looks like you," the major murmured, losing himself in two sets of hazel eyes.
Mulder had become so used to men falling into a daze and forgetting all else while in his presence that he just sat calmly and waited for the major to come to his senses. After five long minutes, Mulder sighed. "Major, why are you here?"
"What? Oh, sorry." The young man blushed. "The army has established a twenty-four hour patrol around the perimeter of the estate. The unit consists of twenty clairvoyants, fifteen humans, and ten n'thrals. The reason I'm here is to get dosages of the drug Shinji Takeda invented for controlling an n'thral's sex drive. The CDC hasn't released the drug to the public, yet. However, A.D. Skinner had specified that any n'thral assigned to the estate's security detail must be given the drug," Walker informed him.
"Fox, I'll notify Shinji that the major needs dosages for ten n'thrals," Hunter said, then telepathically communicated with Takeda.
"Agent Mulder, does it really work?" Major Walker asked anxiously.
"Yes." Mulder took in the major's handsome features and realized the young man must be constantly on the guard against n'thrals. He could just imagine how tough it must be for Walker to have ten n'thrals under his command.
Frowning, Walker sighed, "I'll wait to see it for myself. I can't imagine any n'thral being cured of their sex drive. It would be too good to be true."
Mulder watched the major's face with amusement as he heard Duffy's heavy footfalls heading toward their location. The major's eyebrows rose in shock as the largest n'thral he had ever seen entered the living room.
"My god."
"Don't worry, Major. Mr. Duffy is on the sexual suppressant," Mulder smiled reassuringly.
"Mulder, Shin asked me to bring up dosages of the drug for you," Duffy said, holding a medium sized box.
"Thank you. Duffy, this is Major Murphy Walker. The major is in charge of the security force that is going to be patrolling the outside perimeter of the estate. I would like you to accompany him and explain the drug to the n'thrals in his unit," Mulder replied, he held Duffy's eyes for a moment longer.
Duffy nodded knowingly, he knew Mulder wanted him to check out the troops that were going to be patrolling the perimeter.
"Agent Mulder, I don't think Mr. Duffy is going to be able to fit inside my jeep," Walker said, relieved. He was nervous about being alone with the immense n'thral.
"No problem, Major, Duffy will follow you in his customized humvee." Mulder smiled sweetly.
//Fox, you can be so gruel. God, I love you.// Krycek grinned, watching the handsome major's face fall.
A few minutes after the major and Duffy left Dana Scully walked into the living room. She watched her ex-partner holding his daughter securely on his lap. "Faith still won't let you put her down?" Scully asked, kneeling down beside the chair she smoothed a loving hand over the baby's back.
"No. It's such strange behavior for her; she usually likes crawling around on her own. But after that tantrum she threw two days ago she won't let me put her down. I think she misses Alex and Walter and doesn't understand why they aren't able to hold her. I thought she'd be happy to just be near Alex so I took her up to see him this morning. I laid her on the bed next to him, but she shrieked and kicked until I picked her back up," Mulder sighed.
Krycek sadly knelt on the other side of the chair next to Mulder and his daughter. Faith looked at him accusingly; she couldn't understand why her daddy wouldn't pick her up. She had even tried crying, which had always worked for her in the past, but still he wouldn't even touch her.
//Cutie, please, daddy loves you. I want to hold you so badly, please, don't be angry with me,// he soothed. His heart was breaking, he knew Faith was clinging to Fox because he was not able to hold her. Faith whimpered and buried her face into Mulder's sweatshirt.
//Alex, she'll get over it once we're cured,// Skinner tried to reason with his half-brother.
//Walter, something like this is going to scar her for life, she's never going to trust me again!// Krycek sobbed.
//Alex, she won't even remember this in a few months,// Skinner soothed, pulling Krycek into an embrace, their ability to touch each other comforted both men.
//Walter, I don't understand. Why was Slava able to touch Fox when he was out of his body?// Krycek murmured, wrapping his arms around Skinner's body.
//I think it was because he was still physically linked to his body, and was able to go back and reenergize himself,// Skinner replied, rubbing soothing circles on the other man's back.
"Mulder, she really seems distressed. How do you get anything done if she won't let you put her down?" Scully asked.
"I've been using the Snugly to strap her to my chest. I've even given into allowing her and Hope to sleep with me. Faith won't sleep in the nursery and Hope won't sleep in there without her," Mulder sighed. He didn't know how he was going to be able to leave his daughters behind when he went to Nikolai Slava for a cure for Walter and Alex. He knew he couldn't take them with him; Slava wanted him to agree to live with him for a year as payment for the cure. Alex and Walter would never understand him agreeing to that, let alone taking their daughters with him. No, Hope and Faith had to stay here; Walter and Alex were going to need them.
"Scully, can I ask a favor of you?"
"What Mulder?"
"If anything happens to me before Walter and Alex are cured, would you look after Hope and Faith?" Mulder looked at her pleadingly.
"Mulder, nothing is going to happen to you, but if it puts your mind at ease I'll be happy to look after them," Scully replied.
"Thanks, Scully." Mulder felt somewhat relieved at least his daughters would be protected until the cure from Slava arrived. Now he just had to wait to get through his next cycle that would begin in two days. In the meantime he would arrange with Slava to smuggle him out of the country. One week and he would no longer be part of this loving household, but at least his lovers would be cured and his extended family would be safe and secure.
***