Gossamer | Story: "Generations 27: Naked Moment (1/3)" by Evenstar, Eowyn & MacspookyThe Gossamer Project Author - Title - Date - Spoilers - Crossovers - X-Files - Adventures - Stories - Vignettes Other stories by: Macspooky - Evenstar, Eowyn Date: Fri, 24 May 1996 09:34:24 -0700 From: eowyn7@ix.netcom.com (Gail Moore) Subject: The Naked Moment By Macspooky and Eowyn Greetings. Back again, can you believe it? This is the follow up story to Generations: Ghosts From the Past. It was actually planned to be all one story but got too long and so we decided to split it. The Naked Moment deals with another attempt by Cancerman and his associates to get at Mulder and the X-files. In this one they try to take supervision of them away from AD Skinner. This story is also a case... a real actual X-file. It concentrates mostly on the developing relationship between Skinner and Mulder and how they use it to solve a case together. It was completed April 27 just hours after Avatar... a most excellent Skinner episode but needless to say one which did not occur in the televised form in this universe. Third season spoilers. Big time guys. Rated R for that word. And a hint at the end that there are other ways to skin a cat. ;-> E-mail me at: Eowyn7@ix.netcom.com Eowyn. CC: macspooky@erols.com. We both love mail. Disclaimer stuff. I don't own Mulder, Scully, Skinner or Meg. I'm just borrowing them to play. Chris Carter is the person who I borrowed them from and I promise to give them back when I'm done, only slightly dented. The other characters you find in this story don't belong to me either. They belong to Macspooky and her most excellent Generation series and are used with her full permission. This is not part of my Fusion series. Please feel free to circulate this or any of my other stories around with only two conditions. One: keep our name and addresses attached and two: if you want to put it in a zine or something like that let me know because we want a copy. Deal? Okay. On with the show... The Naked Moment Chapter One "The Challenge" By Macspooky and Eowyn Three weeks after his and Fox Mulder's trip to the cape and William, Liam, Mulder Sr.'s death, Walter Skinner sat uncomfortably in a meeting with his direct superior, several individuals from Justice and a couple of others that he didn't know. he thought to himself. Cancerman, of course, was present. He was in trouble and he knew it. Jones, aka Cancerman, had finally made his move. They were trying to remove the X-files from his direct supervision. "Assistant Director Skinner, now that you are related to Fox Mulder by marriage we are concerned that you cannot objectively supervise his cases. His behavior has been most erratic in the last few years and perhaps someone not as..." here the man paused not for effect but to insinuate more, "Involved could better supervise him and the X-file investigations." Skinner thought. He knew the people from justice but the others hadn't been introduced. Half an hour with these men made Walter feel in need of a shower. This was worse than any meeting he'd had with congress. At least with them you knew what they were after. He rubbed the back of his neck trying to release some of the tension. "Walter," his boss spoke. "It's just that appearances are important." "Agent Mulder and myself are related only by marriage, there are several more closer relationships in the Bureau than ours. Bradford is ASAC of the department that both his son and daughter work in." "His daughter is a secretary, not a field agent..." "No but his son is a field agent." "Their speciality dictates that arrangement..." "Nevertheless, it exists and is much closer than Agent Mulder's relationship to me. We simply married two women in the same family." Now it was Cancerman's turn to press the point. "Are you saying that there are no feelings between yourself and Agent Mulder?" Skinner didn't like this. Jones obviously knew too much. "I respect Mulder and his work, and am concerned about him in the same way that I am concerned about any other agent under my supervision." "Would you care to explain why you named your son after him then?" He turned to Cancerman and replied. "My wife is very fond of her son-in-law and liked the name. Her mother, who died last year, was also fond of Agent Mulder and I believe she wanted to honor her, as well." That wasn't quite a lie. Margaret loved Fox very much but after wrestling over a boy's name for several days he was the one who had suggested Fox as a middle name. The girl's name they had picked out had been easy, Mary Margaret, but Walter didn't want his son to be a junior. He remembered how much his brother had hated it, so he suggested Fox. He knew that Meg would go for it and although he didn't admit it to himself at the time, he'd wanted to make a statement to Mulder. Trouble was it made a statement to others as well. Cancerman was subtle but ruthless, "So your wife decided to name the boy Walter Fox?" "That's correct." He hated denying his feelings but the full truth in this instance would get the X-files removed from his supervision. "And what did Agent Mulder name his son?" Walter figured he had the SOB here because he had talked Mulder and Scully into not naming the baby Walter. Jones didn't have to know that his nickname was Wally Wolf. "His son was named Patrick Steven Wolf. After a great uncle, I believe." "Isn't Steven your middle name?" "Yes." His answer was short and sharp. "So he named his son after you. I'd say that indicates a rather close relationship, wouldn't you?" "I have no idea why he named his son Steven, I doubt that it had anything to do with me however," "Since I've used only my middle initial for the last twentyfive years, my middle name is not common knowledge. "You don't think that's stretching coincidence a bit, Assistant Director." Walter had had it. The SOB was not going to use innuendo to take the X-files away from him. Far too much was at stake. "Look, as far as I know Mulder named his kid Steven because his favorite film maker is Steven Spielberg. He never asked me my middle name nor has he ever said anything about having named Patrick after me. The only person he has ever mentioned naming his son after was his great uncle, who, for all I know, could have been named Steven as well. My relationship with Agent Mulder is professional and has always been professional." "If you want to accuse me of unprofessional conduct in relation to Mulder then I suggest that you produce the evidence or cite the incident. Otherwise shut the f**k up." Walter's boss thought it prudent to intervene. "No one is accusing you of anything, Walt. Calm down." He wasn't fond of Jones either but they had to listen to him, he had powerful allies. "We're just wondering about why you are so adamant about keeping direct control of the X-files. VC could handle it." "The X-files never received the recognition or independence they deserved under VC. Also, if you'll check Mulder's record you'll find that there has been far less disciplinary problems since I took over direct supervision." "That's only because you don't reign him in." Cancerman blew out smoke as he spoke. "You mean I don't interfere with his investigations for political purposes. Don't you? Nor do I try to cover up covert operations within our own government. I only give Agent Mulder the respect due an agent of his experience and with his solve rate." "You allow Mulder to pursue his own personal crusade into this ridiculous search for proof of EBE's." "EBE's interesting term. Most people simply call them ETs or UFOs." Skinner was emphasizing the fact that Cancerman appeared to be more informed than most. "Mulder follows up leads. One such lead led to the termination of a project where teenagers in Wisconsin were being injected with unknown chemicals." "That was never proven." "No it seems that the doctor responsible died. It was, however, proven from blood tests that strange chemicals were found in the blood of these teenagers. What was never proven was who was behind it." "The doctor..." "The doctor had thousands in cash on him when his plane went down, he didn't pull that out of a hat, or alien spacecraft for that matter. Somebody, with extensive resources was funding him." Cancerman didn't like the direction this was taking. He went again on the attack. "We're talking supposition here. The bottom line is that because of your relationship to Mulder he doesn't respect your authority. He does what he damned well pleases. The X-files should be supervised by VC. Your resistance to this merely serves to illustrate your unreasonableness in this area." "My resistance to this stems from the fact that the X-files and Mulder are special and need special handling." "So you admit that you treat him differently. My point gentlemen." "You're damned right I treat him differently." Jones smiled thinking that he'd gotten the AD to lose his control and that as a result he'd won the battle. Skinner pulled out his ace. "None other of my departments or agents has had a spy assigned as a partner to them. One, who I might add, has been tied to the deaths of several individuals, not to mention the man involved in my own shooting. None other of my agents has had backup mysteriously pulled, almost costing him and his partner their lives. So your damned right I treat the X-files differently. When it stops looking like someone in the government is out to kill one of my agents then I'll relax." Skinner was up in the smoking man's face now, knowing that he'd just played his last card. He hoped it worked. The men around the table recognized the implied threat. The Executive Branch was still furious about what had gone on in Arizona, and even more than that, at their inability to get any further information about the unknown forces at work in the government. If Skinner decided to press the issue in the executive branch it would stir the whole trouble up all over again. The AD's boss thought it best to intervene. "We realize that the X-files have some rather special needs. It's just felt that Agent Mulder would be more inclined to obey someone else's orders." Walter fought to maintain his control too much was riding on this. "Gentlemen if you care to give me an instance where you feel Mulder ignored my authority because we were related then by all means do so." Mr. Slime, as Skinner had christened him, spoke. "Perhaps we should have a test case." Again a pause. The AD didn't like the direction this was headed but held his piece. "There is a possible X-file case at a university and government sponsored research center on the outskirts of Boston, The Binford Research Center in Applied Gravitational Physics. Several researchers have been behaving strangely. Almost like they were extremely drunk or drugged. Yet blood tests have all come back negative. Agent Mulder has been requested for his special expertise. I believe the file came across your desk this morning, Assistant Director." At Skinner's nod of yes he continued. "You refuse his request. Simple as that. It's not a serious case. No one's been seriously hurt and only minor property damage. The only reason the FBI was called in was because it involves a restricted government research facility. If he obeys your orders without protest and doesn't pursue the case on his own, then he passes the test, but if he ignores your orders in any way then the X-files are moved to VC." "Mulder never takes orders he doesn't like without protest." Were the first words out of Skinner's mouth. Before he could go any further he found support from an unexpected source. One of the men from Justice, Mark Rodgers was the name, if he remembered correctly, laughed and piped up. "He's got you there. Spooky Mulder drove Blevins crazy bitching at him when he got turned down about anything. Went behind his back a lot of times, too, or just didn't bother to ask." Slime nodded and continued, "Alright, Agent Mulder may protest a normal amount but that's all. No secret investigations, no running off to pursue the case on his own or Bureau time. If he does then the X-files are transferred. And you, AD Skinner, are not to in any way, shape or form to let Agent Mulder know what is going on or why his request to be assigned to the case has been refused. You simply give him the orders. The question is how can we be assured that you won't clue him in. Maybe by telling your wife, who could tell her daughter..." Skinner didn't like it... he didn't like it at all but he couldn't see any way out. "I'll give you my word that I will not inform him or anyone else about this test until it's over." Slime wasn't satisfied. "Excuse me Mr. Skinner but do you really..." This time it was Cancerman's turn to interrupt, shocking Walter Skinner totally. "If the AD gives you his word, that will suffice. He is a man of honor." The look of stunned shock on Skinner's face was worth every bit of it. The smoking man fought hard not to laugh. Of course he also realized that if Agent Mulder saw anyone else in the room when Skinner turned down his request that he would suspect a rat. No, it was much better if he didn't suspect who was behind the AD's refusal. Walter Skinner was a man of his word and would not break it once given. He'd gotten him backed into a corner. There was no way Fox Mulder would put up with an arbitrary refusal, especially if Skinner wouldn't give him any explanation. Comes with being too familiar with your agents... they no longer obey without question. Driving back from the meeting Walter Skinner felt exhausted. He rubbed the back of his neck. He really hated this. He'd read over the case and had planned on giving Mulder the okay that afternoon. Profiling was beginning to put a strain on Mulder and this case looked harmless but with enough of a challenge to relieve some of the tension he was under. Scully still had a few weeks to go on maternity leave and the AD was reluctant to allow Mulder to investigate anything too dangerous. This case had been perfect. Not too serious plus the fact that the team of agents who had requested his help had worked with Mulder before and had helped to save his life. It was, therefore, doubtful that they had a hidden agenda or were part of a set up to get him killed. Mulder wouldn't have to worry about watching his back. Now he had to turn him down cold and on top of that he'd have to keep Fox at a distance. They'd be watching him closely and his son-in-law would be pumping him as to why he turned down the case. Skinner knew that the more he refused the more likely that Mulder was to suspect that something was up and the more likely he was to start digging. He'd given his word not to clue Mulder in but it would be hard. He could keep his mouth shut, no problem, but Fox knew him too well. He'd be able to figure out some of it if they were together too much. This was going to wreck havoc with his home life for a few weeks. Margaret would know there was a problem and though she'd try to be understanding she'd still feel left out. And she, Dana and Fox would know something was up when he started avoiding family gatherings. Going would just be too risky. Some of the men around that table wouldn't believe that he wouldn't tip Mulder off, especially if they were seen together outside of work too often. This test would have to be final and definitive. Walter sure as hell didn't want to have to go through one every few months. The worst part of all this was that he was worried how Fox was going to take his sudden efforts to distance himself from him. He'd have to take it as rejection. Hell, that's exactly what it was. At the stop light Walter bent his head down and rubbed the back of his neck hard. God it was starting to ache. He slammed his fist against the steering wheel. He didn't want to hurt Fox. His son had already been through too much hurt and rejection by people he cared for and trusted. And now Walter was going to add to that. Just when they had finally started to accept the fact that they were family. Now Walter almost wished that he hadn't gone to New England with Fox when he went to face his grandfather. The boy had opened himself up, told him things he'd never shared with another living soul and as a result this was likely to hurt all the more, to seem like a more personal rejection of him, of the inner man he had revealed to Walter. Skinner felt a knot in his stomach, Yet Walter knew that he had to do it. Had to distance himself from Mulder until this test was over. Too much was riding on it if they failed the test. He only hoped their relationship was up to it. If the X-files were moved back to VC it was only a matter of time before they were closed down or Mulder was injured or killed. They'd tried it several times before and even with Skinner standing in the breech had almost succeeded on more than one occasion. Agent Schmidt and the Arizona case was just the most recent attempt. There had also been Davis who had sexually harassed him, trying to push him out and before that... Well there were just too many instances and Walter was convinced that without his direct supervision they'd at the very least drive Mulder out of the Bureau. Maybe that would be better. Fox had inherited enough money to pursue his investigations on his own... But damn it the Bureau needed Fox Mulder. Even Bill Patterson during his slow decent into madness had known that the only man who could help stop him was Mulder. After the first copycat murder he had come quietly to Walter and requested Mulder's help. Skinner had been shocked. Patterson had adopted the young agent and mentored him through his first several years at the Bureau, but when Mulder found that he could no longer handle the daily decent into the minds of serial killers and had requested out, Patterson had been livid. He'd bad mouthed Mulder to everyone he could and his verbal attacks of the agent had been vicious. Lessor agents had transferred out of DC and even left the Bureau under such a barrage but Mulder had hung on and stuck with the X-files. Walter had been impressed. The kid had staying power, he would give him that. So, after all of this, when Patterson had come and requested Mulder's help... the AD hadn't known what to do. He'd approved the request but had been worried about Fox the whole time. He was afraid that Patterson was trying to get some sort of revenge on the agent. When Mulder realized that Patterson was the one who had gone mad and had caught him, Walter came to understand that his request of Mulder had been a cry for help in the only way he knew how. Patterson had requested the one person who he viewed as a match for himself. It wasn't widely known around the Bureau but Mulder had conferred with the doctors about Patterson's treatment and significant progress had been made. He would never be able to return to work but he might someday be able to live close to a normal life. And if he did, it would be due in large part to Mulder. The FBI needed Fox Mulder's mind and his compassion. Assistant Director Walter Skinner could only hope that the trust they had build up over the last couple of years would see them through this test. That for once in his life Fox Mulder would trust someone enough to follow orders blindly and without too many questions. End Chapter One E-mail us at Eowyn7@ix.netcom.com CC: macspooky@erols.com. We both love mail. The Naked Moment Chapter Two The Game By Macspooky and Eowyn "I'm sorry, Agent Mulder, but I cannot approve your request to investigate this case. There is not sufficient evidence that an X-file is warranted." AD Skinner fought to maintain an impassive expression. They had been going at this for twenty minutes. He could tell that Mulder was puzzled and could sense his withdrawal but he knew he couldn't risk opening up even the least little bit. Fox Mulder was trying to find out what was wrong with his boss. The AD looked beat, wasn't being reasonable and was shutting him out totally. It hurt. He thought that they were far beyond this. He watched Walter reach up and rub the back of his neck. That was the forth, no fifth time since we started. He knew his father-in-law and he only reacted like that when he was under enormous stress. He was about to ask what was wrong when he looked up into Skinner's face and saw his eyebrow twitch a look of sadness briefly cross his face. Fox Mulder knew he had grown up a lot in the last year but he hadn't realized how much until that moment. He decided that his boss would have told him if he could and that he was just going to trust him and not argue anymore with his refusal. "Very well, Sir." At the way his boss' head snapped up in shock, Mulder smiled. "I'll inform you of any new developments." "Thank you, Agent Mulder. That will be all." As Mulder left Walter hoped that he was going to follow orders and not try to go behind his back. He knew without a doubt, that if it had been Blevins Fox would be planning his strategy on how to circumvent the Section Chief. But the brief smile that flashed across Fox's face seemed to indicate that he was going to act on trust and obey orders. Walter Skinner hoped so. Cancerman who had been listening to the exchange had observed the same actions on Mulder's part but arrived at different conclusions. He figured that Mulder would think that he could get away with going behind the AD's back and that that was exactly what he was planning. His plan was working very well. One way or another he'd force Mulder out of the Bureau. Hell, he'd be doing the kid a favor. Without Bureau resources behind him he would be much less of a threat and they'd probably be able to ignore him and leave him alone. He took a long draw on his cigarette feeling very pleased with himself. The phone rang in the X-file office a few hours later. "Mulder." "Hey, Mulder. What's up with you? You promised that you'd request to help out on this case. I've just been informed that our request for your assistance has been denied." Dwayne Bothrington's voice asked. "Skinner turned down my request. I have no idea why." "Can't you get him to change his mind? Hey, man, I thought you had some pull with him." Mulder sighed to himself, "I tried, Both. We went round and round with this for half an hour this morning. He says there isn't enough evidence to warrant opening an X-file and assigning me." "Damn it, we're way out of our depth here. Hell, even Smithson wants you. Shit you know how hard that was for him to admit." "Yeah, well I don't know what's going on either but I've been turned down flat. Look I can't come up there but there isn't anything in the rules that says I can't give you help over the phone. Maybe if we get together enough evidence Skinner will change his mind." "You going to tell him about this, Mulder?" Fox was surprised by the question and by his answer to it. "Of course I'm going to tell him. Hell, I'll probably write up each of our conversations." He suddenly realized that two years ago he would have gone behind a supervisor's back without a second thought if he believed he was right but he found that he didn't even consider it an option with Skinner. He'd worked with Bothrington on a child killer case at the Vineyard the year before and had been impressed with his abilities. Hopefully he would be able to provide enough detail that they could convince Skinner to assign him or the agents handling the case could solve it. He leaned back in his chair, propping his feet on the desk and said. "Okay, the file was a bit sketchy so start at the beginning and give me all the details you can remember. Don't try to filter anything out, I need it all. Let me judge later what's important." Both began. "It started about a month ago. The researchers had begun a new phase of the project about a month before that." "What is the project." "Hell, Mulder, why did I know you were going to ask that." "They won't tell you?" "Oh, they'll tell you alright. In great and glorious detail. They've been making wonderful strides and are very proud of their work. Trouble is I can barely make heads or tails of what they are talking about." Mulder smiled to himself, he knew that feeling. "So give me a snapshot of what you do understand." "First and foremost there aren't any chemicals involved. Our first thought was that they were being contaminated by a leak of some kind. It's got something to do with electrons and protons and all that physics stuff. They are trying to do something with gravity-- create it or simulate it or... hell, Mulder, beats me. Anyway the idea is that they are trying to simulate what happens when a star collapses to form a nova. I got that much at least. The theoretical stuff they've been working on for about four or five years and now they are actually testing it. Apparently the tests are going real well and they've been able to simulate on a very small scale what they wanted to. So naturally they are ecstatic. "Well everything was fine for the first month or so. Results were great and they were so happy that they began pushing up the schedule. Damn, from what I can tell they were all so excited by how well it was going that most of them practically moved into the facility. Then one of the researches went nuts. He'd been observing the results of a late night test and when they came in the next morning he had stripped off all of his clothes and was quoting Shakespeare at them. 'Bout gave himself pneumonia because the heat in the building overnight was down about sixty two degrees. Still he kept complaining for the next couple of days that he was hot and they couldn't get him to keep his clothes on. And the one time they did manage to get him to keep his clothes on they found he had disappeared. Fifteen minutes later he was found in one of the rooms on the psych floor taking an ice cold shower with his clothes on. He ended up with a bad case of bronchitis. "Anyway after about forty eight hours he just woke up and was back to normal. Except of course for being really sick from exposure. He had to stay in the hospital for another week to get rid of the infection." "Don't tell me... let me guess. He couldn't remember anything that happened." "Nope, he remembered everything and was very embarrassed. Couldn't explain what had come over him. So they chalked it up to stress and gave him a months vacation. And thought that that was it. "Except about a week later another couple of researchers did something similar. This occurred about three in the afternoon so that the others watched as it hit them slowly. Six of the staff were involved in conducting another test when two of their group started complaining that they were hot. They kept that up for fifteen or twenty minutes then they began to act a little weird. Couldn't seem to concentrate at first, then kept removing parts of their clothes. Their companions had a hard time stopping them. One of the guys..." Mulder heard a certain amount of amusement in Both's voice as he continued... "Took off running down the corridors when they tried to stop him from undressing. He's short and chubby and about fifty five, looks a bit like Santa Clause without the beard. Anyway, he stripped as he ran. Clothes flew everywhere and several secretaries were offended. Seems he decided to dart into their area after he had removed all of his attire except his socks. Started grabbing them and kissing them, both males and females. Took five men to finally get him secured. I won't repeat any of their comments because Dr. Paulsen, that's the scientist, kept kissing and grabbing certain private parts until they had him down. Actually that's why it took so many men. They'd start to get him pinned and then he'd grab one of them in the nuts and they'd back off. That gave Paulsen a chance to go after another set of balls, and of course that guy would back off and then he'd get loose and go after one of the women in the area. From the description I'd love to have a video tape, it sounded like something out of a Marx brother's movie. After they finally got him pinned he just kept making lewd comments. If you want I'll fax you a copy of the comments but I'm not about to repeat them on the phone." The amusement was no longer hidden. Both was laughing as he finished. "These scientists are all a bunch of prudes and according to them Paulsen was the most uptight one of the lot. Some of them were astonished that he even knew about some of the things he mentioned." "In the mean time most of them had forgotten about the other guy that had been complaining. Well when they got back to the lab and noticed he hadn't followed, they looked for him. He was found curled up in a ball in a closet crying. Seems his wife had died a couple of months earlier and all he would mention when asked why he was crying was her. He cried off and on for the next couple of days. Paulsen spent the next couple of days propositioning anyone who came within earshot. "Two days later they were back to normal. Dr. Paulsen resigned his position and left quickly. He was very upset by what he had done. The other guy is on extended leave." "I assume they ran medical tests on these guys?" Mulder asked. "Every test in the book and then some. Everything came back negative. No drugs or alcohol in their systems. Slightly elevated Adrenalin and insulin levels but nothing very out of the ordinary. After that incident they called us in. They were afraid that someone was trying to sabotage their project but so far if that's the case we can't figure out who's doing it and what is being used. "Since then there have been two other incidences both similar in nature. The individual starts feeling hot and then starts behaving in a strange manner." "Has it all been men and do they all work on the project?" "No and no. There was one woman. She was the secretary for the projects director Dr. Tim Wilson and although she worked in the same building she never went into the lab where the research was being conducted. We've tested food, water and air in the building but nothing unusual has been found. So any ideas?" "Fax me your notes and more detailed reports and I'll think about it tonight and get back to you in the morning. On second thought you'd better call me, around nine tomorrow." Fox Mulder sat and thought about the case for a long time he then sat down and wrote out a report for Skinner on what he had learned during the conversation, why it was important for him to visit first hand and what his theory was of possible causes. He dropped it off at the AD's office as he headed home after work. Skinner was still in his office, but Fox left it with Angela to give to him. He didn't quite feel like facing Walter just then. Fox was still feeling the pain of his boss' rejection. Returning to his office after a late meeting Walter Skinner found Mulder's report. He raised his eyebrow. But if your supervisor turned you down for lack of evidence it was perfectly acceptable to get more and reapply. Mulder hadn't reapplied but he was keeping his boss updated. The AD read the report and laughed. Fox always managed to highlight the best parts with his wickedest driest wit. He'd included the fax of the propositions Paulsen had made as an attachment to the file. Skinner was laughing pretty hard by the end of them. For a conservative individual this man knew a great deal about leather, lace, whips and chains. A couple of references even Skinner hadn't been able to figure out. He thought to himself that he'd have to ask Fox if he knew what the guy was talking about. He stopped that train of thought and sighed. Keeping Fox at a distance had been both easier and harder than he thought. Mulder had behaved in an exemplary fashion, much better than Walter had thought he would. He'd accepted the AD's decision with what was, for Mulder, minor protests, as far as he could tell he hadn't pursued the investigation behind his back and the report before him only detailed the request of Smithson and Bothrington for him to consult. For the first time he began to hope that they both might pass the test. The hard part was what had been the surprise. He missed Fox. Plain and simple. Missed cracking a subtle joke that only he would get or getting together with him to play with their kids while their wives talked. He'd known that Fox would feel rejected but he hadn't realized how much this test was going to affect him as well. Real friends were few and far between in this job. Too much stress and too many with their own political agendas, Fox was a real friend and he missed being able to kick back, be honest and relax. He hoped to hell that this test would end soon and things could go back to normal. He headed home to his wife and son. It had been a long day and he had a terrible headache, one of the sort that wouldn't quit. It started at the top of his head and worked it's way down the back of his neck, a combination of tension and stress combined with the fact that he hadn't eaten all day. Well, he would be home soon, and knowing Meg, there would be a delicious meal waiting for him. No matter how late he was, she always seemed to have something wonderful to warm up. With luck, he would be able to keep his career concerns to himself. Traffic was heavy and some fool trying to beat the light very nearly broadsided him causing the adrenaline to pump and his head to throb more than ever. By the time he got home, he was ready to lose it. When he walked in the door of their new home, things were scattered everywhere and Margaret was no place to be seen. He tossed his jacket aside and headed for the kitchen where he didn't smell anything cooking. What he found was Meg sitting in the kitchen chair instead of being there to kiss him hello, with their son on her lap, and she was feeding him some sort of disgusting looking mush instead of nursing him or giving him a bottle. "Hello, Walter," she smiled. He didn't smile back. "What's wrong, honey?" Normally he would have bent over to kiss her, but now he was standing there glaring at her. "Where's dinner?" he asked. "I thought we'd just have some sandwiches tonight. I tried to get some unpacking done, and the Squirt here was fussy all day." "Great... you know I like dinner when I get home, Meg...." he sighed. "Don't worry. You'll get fed," she assured him. "Speaking of which, what the hell are you feeding him?" He pushed the puppies away with his feet as gently as he could. They seemed to want constant attention. Normally he would have given in and picked them up, in spite of the fact that he had wanted them about as much as a case of the bubonic plague, and Mulder's face when he saw them with him didn't bear thinking about. Walter was well aware that Fox found the dogs a hoot and his father in law's reaction to them even better. But he had other more important concerns at the moment than the little hairy rats. "Applesauce and rice cereal," she replied. It seemed to Margaret that he was acting rather belligerently almost as though he were spoiling for a fight. "Have a bad day, dear?" He stopped himself... no... she wasn't that. C-man was getting to him. "Day was just fine.... Listen, Meg, the pediatrician said no solid food for four months. Aren't you worried about doing that?" "Nope... all six of my babies got cereal and fruit early on... no I take that back. Not Melissa. She was my picky eater. Five got it." "But, the doctor said...." he had been noticing that Margaret had a distinct propensity for ignoring a lot of what the pediatrician said. He never said much, but it concerned him. "Look, Walter, this baby has been wanting to be fed every hour all day long. If the doctor wants to come and do it, that's fine. I couldn't get anything done today." She shoved another spoon of the cereal into his mouth and putting him on to her shoulder got up. He promptly spit a little back up as he burped. "He's throwing up, Meg..." It looked gross, not like when he spit up milk. "He's not throwing up. He's spitting up. No big deal." She carried him to the nursery and took his diaper off. '"Well, you just are a mess aren't you, Fox," she smiled wiping his bottom. "He still has that rash...." observed Walter. "I know, but it's clearing up," Margaret told him putting Desitin on it and re-diapering him. "Well, did you call the doctor about it?" "About a diaper rash?" she laughed. "Don't you worry about anything Margaret?" he demanded. "Suppose he's crying because he is sick and giving him that food makes him worse and...." "Look, Walter... damn it... I don't know what's got you in such a mood tonight, but he's my seventh child... seven... got it? At this point in time, I probably know more than the doctor, who by the way, has no children and is young enough to be my child. In fact, I do have a daughter who is a doctor, and who did, by the way look at his ears just to make sure they weren't hurting him" "But Dana is a pathologist...." "I know what she is, Walter," sighed Margaret, "And for that reason, since she wasn't certain about it, I spent the morning in the pediatrician's office, who says there is nothing wrong with his ears or anything else. He's just hungry." She was running out of patience. She was tired. She loved this baby dearly, but she wasn't as young as she used to be either, and it had been a tough day. Normally she would have handed him to his father to play with but instead she placed him in his crib. "Come on. I'll get you something to eat and maybe you'll stop being so damn cranky." "I am not cranky... I am the child's father and I have a right to worry... One of us has to, Margaret." "That does it! You're as big a mother hen as Fox. In all the years I was married to Bill, he never once questioned my judgement or the way I took care of the babies. I don't tell you what to do at the FBI, so don't you be telling me what to do at home." Her hand went on her hip and she glared at him with a look that was remarkably like his most stubborn female agent. "Well, maybe he didn't go to the pediatrician with you and maybe he was just too busy to question, Margaret. Annie would have been appalled if I hadn't questioned. In fact, Annie would have listened to the doctor." "Well, I'm glad that you and Annie were both perfect. Bill and I were just human beings. We really screwed up. That's why our kids are so awful I guess." She picked up her son again and went into the bedroom and slammed the door. "You can get your own damn dinner and sleep in the guest room. I'm staying in here to abuse and neglect my seventh child in peace." Walter looked after her. "I might as well sleep in the guest room for all the sex I've been getting from you lately...." he called after her hitting the door frame with his open palm. Walter tossed and turned restlessly. He'd grabbed himself a sandwich leaving the mess for her to clean up, had taken a tylenol #3 left over from Meg's surgery, something rare for him, and had gone to bed. It had knocked him out, and when he had awakened the headache was gone. Margaret finally dozed off. There had been times when Bill had spent the night on the couch, but she had never liked those times. It wasn't good to go to bed angry, and she supposed she had been far too sensitive. Part of it was that she was feeling so bad, and part of it, she knew was feeling tied down again, tied down and constantly tired. She'd done so well after Uncle Squirt was born, and now it was all catching up. She truly loved her new addition... and giving Walter the son he had always wanted made her feel so special and the baby did make her feel young again, but it wasn't always easy and she had expected a bit more understanding from him. Maybe she wasn't being fair though. He was obviously under some kind of pressure at work and it probably concerned Fox. Everything else he seemed to take in stride but trouble for or with Fox... Margaret sighed to herself. Her beloved son-in-law was her husband's Achilles heel. Fox Mulder could push all his buttons both good and bad. He could make her calm rational husband blow his stack faster than any man she knew and if he got in trouble then Walter dropped everything to come to his defense. And heaven help anyone who hurt Fox Mulder... Her husband was a formidable man to deal with and a threat to Fox was met with all due force. In fact Margaret could trace to the day when Walter had committed himself to Fox. Dana had returned from New Mexico convinced that Mulder was dead, her heart broken and Margaret had comforted her and let her rest at home but Dana had insisted on returning to her apartment. Refusing to let her walk back she had given her daughter a lift and then on the spur of the moment decided to stop by and see how Walter was doing. She had always suspected that AD Skinner's feelings for her daughter and her partner were stronger than he let on. They had been dating several months and although still not committed were becoming very close. Margaret Scully wanted both to see how Walter was holding up and if he agreed with Dana that Fox must be dead. The thought of losing Fox was breaking her own heart and she really needed Walter's comfort. She had known when he opened the door and invited her to come in that he thought Mulder was dead. They went back to sit on his couch and held each other. In the light Meg could see what he was trying to hide. His eyes were red and puffy and his nose was running. Walter had complained about hay fever but she knew it was still pretty early in the season and that the pollen count was not very bad right now. It was obvious he'd been crying and didn't want her to know about it. She'd been very attracted to him, maybe even loved him before that but the caring and compassion he obviously felt for Fox Mulder broke down her last reserve. She knew that night that if he ever asked her she would marry him. When against all hope Fox had returned alive she had watched years lift off Walter's shoulders. The minute she heard his voice on the phone calling to tell her that Fox was alive he hadn't had to actually say the words. The joy underlying every word was enough. After that, although he might complain about Mulder he always supported the X-file pair and did his best to protect them. In spite of his gruff, hard exterior her husband was a very loving man. And if he treated their Little Squirt in the same way he dealt with Fox their son was going to be in for an interesting ride. One thing was for sure he'd never doubt that his father loved him. Then of course there was her ready made family. It wasn't easy for Walter to deal with her family, and he did try. He had been alone for so long, and childless. He worked hard at walking the tightrope in his relationship with her children and grandchildren. She knew that. Maybe she should have been more understanding. And, he had had a headache. She had known that the moment she had seen him, but it had been such a difficult day with the puppies backsliding on the paper training and Little Fox fussing all day... She nursed the baby and changed him, and then headed for the guest room thinking she had better try to make up. They ran into each other in the dark. "Meg... I'm..." "Walt, I'm... Their arms went around each other. "Life is too short to fight," he whispered in her ear. "It's just too short, Meg... "I know... I know that... Come on, Walt, let's go to bed. We are both tired and cranky today... yesterday..." They began to kiss and caress each other passionately. Margaret found herself not enjoying it very much she was so very tired, but for her husband's sake was careful to hide it. Walter seemed to need her desperately at that moment, and just as things were about to reach the inevitable conclusion, for him anyway, the baby let out a shriek. They tried to ignore it, but suddenly all the fun was gone, and with a frustrated sigh Skinner slipped away from his wife, and Meg went to get their son. Obviously he hadn't eaten enough before. '"Sweetheart," said Walter quietly determined to be patient, "tomorrow night, do you think you might give him his bowl of cereal a little closer to bedtime?" Margaret threw back her head and laughed. "He's my seventh child Walter. I knew that. I should have known that. I had just forgotten. It's been a long time since I've had to share my time between a horny husband and a starving infant." He nodded slowly falling asleep leaving her to nurse their baby tiredly. End Chapter Two E-mail us at Eowyn7@ix.netcom.com CC: macspooky@erols.com. We both love mail. The Naked Moment Chapter Three "Respite" By Macspooky and Eowyn Dana sighed. She had been enjoying the novel she had purchased, but now Patrick was hungry again. Although she really needed to nurse someone, she had been hoping to hold him off a little longer. It was reaching the point where she felt like she was a milk bar. She got Brenda and lay her on the sofa, and then went back for Patrick. Sitting down, she undid her blouse and unsnapped her nursing bra. Her son latched on to her greedily. There was an instant of pain until her milk started to flow, and then she smiled for a moment. He was a greedy little bugger like his dad. She closed her eyes and thought about Fox, now at work. She was a little worried about him. Something was going on at the office, and she didn't know what it was. He had told her that he didn't either, but that he suspected that Skinner was under a lot of pressure about something to do with the X-Files. Fox had been doing an excellent job in VC, better than he had since he'd first joined the FBI, and Dana feared Skinner might be under pressure to close them down again and send Fox back to Behavioral, but she kept that to herself. Fox was being on his best behavior for now, but he had the feeling that Dwayne Bothrington really needed his help up in Boston, and Skinner wouldn't let him go. Dana had sympathized with him, she knew just how difficult it was for him not to follow up an X-file. Especially since they owed Both for his help on a child murder case the year before. Her husband's answer had surprised her. "Yeah, I'm frustrated about not being able to help Both but I won't go behind Walter's back to do anything. I just can't do that to him anymore." He'd smiled at her and changed the subject. Even with everything Fox and Walter had been through together over the last year neither was comfortable discussing the affection they felt for each other. Fox had probably already thought of the possibility that they might close down his department again. Wally Wolf had stopped sucking for the moment, so she took the opportunity to put him against her shoulder and pat his back. "God, but he was a beautiful baby...." She inhaled his baby scent and rubbed her face against his hair. It was thick and dark and so very soft and it didn't seem as though it was going to fall out. She hadn't known it was possible to love something quite so much. No, that wasn't true. She had, still did love their father that much, but it was a different sort of love. She had wanted this baby desperately, something a part of them both, so much so that she really hadn't considered the impact it would have on her, on their lives. Finally he burped and then nursed some more. Just as he fell asleep, Brenda began to stir, so Dana picked up her little girl to nurse her. She wasn't quite awake yet though. 'You're such a beautiful baby, Brenda," she whispered softly. "And you're going to be smart too... like your daddy... You're both lucky babies to have the daddy that you do." The tiny creature stirred in her arms and her little face puckered, but Dana stopped the upcoming wail by giving her daughter the breast. "Just call me Elsie the Cow," she sighed thinking about the struggles in med school and her career, the one that had taken such and unexpected turn and that she loved so much, and how suddenly her life had changed. With just one baby she knew she could have coped with her career, but with two she was starting to worry. Even with help from Aunt Sophia, she seemed to be tired all the time and spent so much of her day nursing and doing laundry and changing diapers. She was gradually switching to bottles, but even those took a lot of time when you were doing double duty. What if she couldn't handle it? Aunt Sophia had assured her that her out of town trips would stop now that they had the data from her father who she called nothing but the old SOB. Even so.... sometimes she wished for some extra backup for Fox, someone who could be trusted when she couldn't be there... like when the babies got sick.... Brenda took a break and Dana turned her on her tummy to burp her rubbing her tiny back. Brenda tended to be difficult to burp although Fox seemed to have a lot less trouble. She wished he were here. Absently she let her mind drift to her husband. It was he who had jokingly started to call her Elsie, Elsie the cow. They were lying in bed with the twins both asleep, and she had leaked through her nursing pad. He had reached his hand inside of her nursing gown and unfastened the bra. He had fumbled with it for awhile, and when he had finally gotten it open, he had said, "Jeez, Scully, that was more trouble than trying to cop a feel in high school." "Oh, and did you cop a lot of feels in high school, Mulder?" "I tried," he laughed. "Hey, you really are soaking wet.... a regular Elsie the Cow.... Guess I'll have to start calling you Elsie from now on." He tickled her as she laughed. "Wonder if Elsie had udders that big..." The look she gave him shocked him. She stopped laughing and turned away to get a dry nursing pad.... "You need to change," he said quietly. "You really are all wet. I'll get you some dry things." He realized that he had hurt her. He hadn't meant to. "What's the matter?" he asked gently not getting up. "Nothing...." she replied. "I hurt your feelings. I didn't mean to. Dana, you are more beautiful to me now than you have ever been." He stroked her hair. "Always I think I couldn't love you anymore, and then I live with you another day, and I realize I do." Then, he had begun to nuzzle her neck and whispered in her ear.... "precious angel, joy of my life..." Instead of reaching for a nursing pad, she had reached for a condom and put it in his hand. She hadn't wanted to use it, but they couldn't take a chance, even with her nursing, not with a newborn set of twins in the house which was already beginning to feel small. His lovemaking had been so sweet and tender that the thought still sent shivers through her. He had always been a wonderful lover from that first night, but some times were more special than others, and this had been one of those times when everything had been perfect. He whispered the most beautiful things to her... She knew she had been overly sensitive to his teasing. As much as she loved her children though, sometimes the responsibility weighed heavily, and she didn't feel pretty just now. Brenda finally burped, but seemed disinclined to eat anymore. Suddenly Dana felt very sleepy. She stretched out on the couch with Brenda on her chest and Patrick on her stomach, a hand protectively on each of them as they lay on their stomachs against doctor's orders and dozed off, feeling a little guilty. She loved her babies so much, couldn't think of her life without them anymore, yet somehow today, they had managed to make her feel tied down. She should be making dinner... just a few minutes sleep... Fox turned the key in the lock. It had been a frustrating day in VC. Tom Colton was going to drive him crazy, the guy was such a jealous idiot. He'd been bad enough when he was just 'Spooky' Mulder and the X-files had been a part of VC but now that Skinner had taken over direct supervision of them Colton had become impossible. Mulder was still waiting for Colton to start calling him teachers pet. Skinner's support and protection had made his life easier, the Spooky jokes had decreased and even if most didn't take his work seriously they knew that the AD did, so they kept the derogatory comments down to a minimum. No one wanted to get on the bad side of the Assistant Director. The worst part of the day had been that he hadn't been of much help to Bothrington over the phone, yet somehow he knew that he couldn't go behind Skinner's back. Not this time, probably not ever again. The bond of trust that had developed between them over the last couple of years was something he just couldn't betray. Somehow he sensed that whatever was going on with Walter it was for his own good and the good of the X-Files. There had been something in Skinner's eyes when he had refused to give him the case... something he couldn't pin down, but he had known not to disobey on this occasion, that there had been more than his own career to think about here. Sometimes love and respect was a complicated thing. For him thinking of others first, trusting others had not always been easy in the past. It was not easy now. He knew Aunt Sophia must be downstairs as he slung his jacket over the coat rack. No little creature started to bark at him and there was no squawking from the family room. He kind of missed it. The menagerie was with her. The house was so quiet he wondered if Dana had gone out, and then he stepped into the living room and saw her sound asleep on the sofa with the two babies. He knew they weren't supposed to be on their stomach, and started to get annoyed, but then thought to himself that Dana must be truly exhausted, and it melted away. Her face took on a relaxed peaceful look when she slept, all the cares and worries melting away. She looked so young. He thought about their lovemaking the night before. It really hadn't been planned, but somehow there had suddenly been so much love between them, her forgiveness for his teasing instantaneous and complete. "Dana," he whispered softly. "I love you so much..." Brenda stirred a little. She looked so much like her mother. He reached out with his index finger and gently touched her tiny head. Her hair was not nearly as thick as Patrick's, but it was already red and it would be curly, for it was full of swirls, and then straight up the middle there was a narrow mohawk about 3/4" wide that Dana always combed straight up. "Hostages to fortune.." Cancerman had called them. Suddenly he remembered something. He had heard that expression, read it actually in a series of books by Dell Shannon. The Chief Detective Luis Mendoza had been married to a redheaded woman and they had had a set of twins, a boy and a girl. With a pang, he remembered that the twins had been inadvertently abducted in one story but had escaped. He pushed that thought away quickly. It wouldn't happen to his children. He would keep them safe, and then he recalled something Gran had said when looking at one of her grand-babies. "Wolf, lad, when you look at your babies you always wonder where their little legs will carry them one day." It hoped would be someplace safe... someplace wonderful and filled with love. He couldn't let himself think any other way or he would slip into blackness. "I love you, Brenda," he whispered. "And you too, Wally Wolf..." he continued touching his son. Patrick opened his eyes and tried to lift his head. Mulder smiled. He was already more physical and wiry than his sister. He was going to be a little handful when he became mobile. As it was, he was an eating machine, and Dana had promised herself that she was going to buy him a box of baby cereal the next time she went to the store as Margaret had suggested. Dana opened her eyes sensing activity around her. "Hello, Mommy," he whispered kissing her gently. "I'll put them in the bassinet." One at a time, he took his children and moved them to various containers, carefully placing them on their sides, then ever so gently he covered his wife with the afghan. "I love you, Fox.." she murmured. "You go back to sleep, sweetheart. I'll get them when they cry." "I love you," she muttered again and fell back to sleep. Briefly he turned his attention to the old fashioned mantel and what it contained... their wedding portrait from Ireland hanging next to an enlargement of the photo of Gran and Wolfe hanging above it... the line of framed photos set on top, his mother and Ed, his twin sisters, their faces lit in mischievous smiles, going to have to watch them, he thought, Mom and Walter at their wedding, Aunt Sophia, Eileen in her new step dancing costume... nieces and nephews, and his babies... his very own children, and lastly Samantha... the one who was missing... He closed his eyes.... "Oh, Sam, when I find you Sam, you'll have the most wonderful family to come home to... You'll be lucky too..." Fox went upstairs to change before one of his hostages to fortune woke up. Sunday Evening Several Days Later The door bell rang and Fox got up to answer it. "Hey, mom, come on in." He looked behind her and was disappointed when he didn't see Walter. "Let me take your coat. I thought Walt was coming with you?" "So did I, Fox. But at the last minute he said he had to take care of something at work." He thought to himself. Mulder had been counting on tonight to try to get Walter to open up and tell him what was wrong. He noticed that Margaret looked very tired and a bit put out, Fox wondered if things were going alright at home. Margaret wasn't the type to allow herself to be picked on for very long. Perhaps there had been a lack of domestic bliss of late. He had a feeling that Walter could be difficult to live with at times, he was sure difficult to work for on occasion, and although Fox knew he loved his wife and son very much, he had seemed under a great deal of stress lately. "Go put Little Squirt in the play pen. He and Wally Wolf can entertain each other by making faces. Dana's out in the kitchen making the salad, why don't you join her, I'll watch the kids." He gave her waist a brief hug and she smiled. Fox sat down to think. It had been a long week. Both had called every day sometimes twice a day for Mulder's advice. Fox had carefully written up every conversation and turned in the reports to Angela, Skinner's assistant. She assured him that Skinner was getting the reports and reading them but whenever he'd tried to see him he was always busy. He tried not to feel rejected, like he had done something wrong, but it was hard. And Angela for once had been unable to tell him what was going on. The AD was under a lot of stress but as to why or who was behind it she had no idea. Cancerman. It had to be Cancerman but how and why? I haven't been up to anything recently, nothing I'm working on now is remotely interesting. So why are they giving Dad a hard time. He got up and began to pace. Then began to think some more. Walter was avoiding him but why? And what can I do to help? Making a decision he called into the kitchen, "Mom, Dana I'm going to be gone for a couple of hours. Go ahead and eat without me." With that he put on his jacket and headed out the door. If Skinner wouldn't come to him, he'd go to Skinner. Sighing as he signed off on the last report, Walter thought that he'd never been so caught up on his paper work. Hell he'd even finished the damn personnel evaluations and they weren't due for over a month yet. He hated doing them with an absolute passion and they were one bit of paper work that he put off till the last minute but this year he was so desperate for something to do that he'd tackled them early... way early. For a week and a half now he'd been avoiding Fox and even home. It made him feel guilty, feeling like he had to make a choice between his family and his job. Meg knew something was bothering him and only wanted to help and what did he do but snap at her. He'd been a real bastard this last week and in defense had withdrawn in to work so as not to hurt her more. Course being gone all the time wasn't that much better, it put all of the burden of Little Fox's care and moving in onto her. Plus he missed his wife and son more than he ever would have thought possible. Just last night he'd pointed out to Meg that their son could lift his head a little. She'd smiled and told him that JF had been doing that for several days. God that had made him feel terrible, he was missing important parts of his son's life and he hated it. If only... Rubbing the back of his neck again he hoped and prayed that this case would be over soon. He wanted to tell Fox and Meg what had been going on but couldn't until the case was over. He'd given his word, and that meant something to him, he thought. He'd never let them make him promise to keep secrets from his family... not again. Mulder had been the surprise. He'd followed orders to the letter, filing detailed reports of his discussions with Agent Bothrington. The reports had helped to keep Skinner sane. Mulder let his dry wit out in full force. Each new day brought another detail of the strange behavior or the investigation. The AD figured that his agent could always make a living as a humorist if the FBI kicked him out. He presented the material to the most effect. Saving up the punch line to the very end sometimes to the point that Walter would laugh out loud. There had only been one more instance of one of the researchers losing control. They'd learned to spot the signs so that when someone complained of being hot they were restrained and taken to the hospital. Agent Smithson was requesting that he and Bothrington be relieved since they had made no headway. Actually they had made some headway, thanks to Mulder, but Skinner knew that the insight Fox possessed didn't work as well long distance and the investigation had been at a stand still the last few days. No new cases, no new leads. If nothing changed by the middle of next week Walter would allow them to move on to a new case. The head and neck ache were constant companions now. Walter Skinner simply wanted to go home and be with his family. To play with his son, make love to his wife, trade barbs with his son-in-law, and eat his step daughter's dinner. He looked at his watch, they would be sitting down together for dinner now. Backing out at the last minute had been tough but dinner would be harder. Knowing that Mulder was counting on pressing him for answers he had told Meg at the last minute that he had something to do at the office. Meg would have probably started in as well and Dana would join... He just hadn't been able to face the idea of a third degree. Especially since he so wanted to tell them what was going on. Well, it was the truth he did have something to do at the office... of course if this case continued for another week it wouldn't be true. There was only so far ahead that you could work, and he had heard the hurt in her voice as she had told him that it was okay... that she understood. It was the same hurt that he had heard in Annie's voice years before when he had been building his career. Back then he'd thought that it was just the price you had to pay. Now he knew that the cost was too high. At the knock at his door he called come in, suspecting who it might be but not knowing how to avoid the coming confrontation. Fox Mulder opened the door but didn't come in, instead he leaned in the door frame. The penetrating look he cast at Walter made him want to squirm but he controlled himself. Fox cut right to the point. "Is there anything I can do to help?" He didn't bother to pretend that nothing was wrong or that he didn't know what Mulder was talking about, "Just keep doing what you've been doing." Mulder nodded thoughtfully. He hated to see Walt under so much stress. "Okay, for now but this can't go on indefinitely." Walter nodded his agreement. The agent before him had been remarkably restrained during the last week. Fox continued, "If I promise to talk about nothing but babies, dogs and parrots will you come to dinner and take a break." The look of sheer exhaustion which crossed his father in law's face was painful for Mulder to see. It was followed by a look of desperate hope. He smiled, "Come on, Walter, little Fox misses his daddy." Walter got up and nodded. "I'll meet you at your place." "Good." Was his son's only comment as they walked out to their cars together. Mulder fought down the desire to hug his father-in-law, to remind him that he was there for him, as Walter had so often reminded him, but the Bureau was never totally empty and such an action, if word got out, would bring down a lot more talk than the teacher's pet gossip already taking place. He settled for briefly squeezing his shoulder as he headed off for his own car. Meg and Dana had stalled dinner wondering where Fox had gone and hoping for his return. Her mom had told Dana how worried she was about Walter. Something was bothering him but he wouldn't or couldn't talk about it. He slept fitfully and spent most of his time at work. She decided not to mention the problems that she was having. She was the mother after all. Dana had told her mom what Fox had said about Walter acting strangely at work as well. She mentioned in passing the case that the AD had turned down without a word of explanation. Her husband was still consulting on it in an unofficial capacity but he didn't know what was bothering his boss either. Dana avoided telling her mother that Fox was really concerned about Walter. Her mother didn't need the added worry. She looked tired and burdened. They were just sitting down to dinner when they heard Mulder's mustang roar up. Dana laughed to herself. Her hubby loved driving that car 'hot'; the neighbors weren't so thrilled with it. They'd reached a compromise. Before nine at night Fox could drive hot. After nine he had to behave. It seemed to be working. She checked her watch and smiled, Meg and Dana were very surprised to hear two voices as Fox opened the back door. He shouted out, "I've brought company for dinner. Hope there's plenty, he's hungry." The look of joyful welcome on Meg and Dana's face when they saw who was with Fox made Walter feel guilty. It also warmed his soul, he smiled at them in return. He decided he didn't give a damn what happened on this case but by the end of next week he was going to have it out with those interfering bastards and stop this test. As far as he was concerned if Fox made it three weeks that was more than long enough to prove he would follow orders. he sighed quietly. He went over and gave his wife a hug and a long kiss. It had been a while. Too many nights at the office this week and too damn tired and stressed out at home. When he was done he looked up to see Dana and Fox smiling at him. Actually smiling wasn't the right word. Dana was grinning and Fox was smirking. Walter knew what Fox was thinking. Walt felt himself blush and watched Mulder's smirk get bigger. His son-in-law was true to his word. When Dana and Meg tried to press for some answers Fox had intervened. "No talking shop guys. For tonight it's babies and dogs. And speaking of which how is house breaking coming." Meg allowed Fox to change the subject. She proceeded to tell how the new little ones were fairly well paper trained. There was only one problem... they weren't too discriminating on what paper they used. Walter had found that out last Sunday when he'd laid his New York Times on the floor while he was reading it. They had all laughed, even the AD. Then Meg told Dana that she had gotten a letter from Aunt Mary. Dana's second cousin Aislinn had just graduated from a school for "nannies" in Dublin and was hoping to find a berth in the United States, hopefully a nice warm place. Dana laughed and said it was either feast for famine. If they didn't have Aunt Sophia, there wouldn't have been a nanny available in the entire world, and said she was sorry they didn't have a place for Aislinn. Walter spoke up here. "Why don't you tell her to come on over for a visit. We've got that spare apartment and I'll pull a few strings to get her a green card. With all the new babies in the family I imagine that we could keep her busy. You could sure use some help with little Fox." "I'm not so sure, Walter, think of the expense." "Don't worry about the expense, Mom, I'll cover the bill." Fox broke in. Macho pride reared it's head and Walter answered, "There's no need to do that, Mulder, we've got quite enough..." Fox smiled at him, a soft wistful smile. "I know you do, Walt, but paying a full time nanny plus benefits... and I think she should look at taking some college classes... don't you? All that adds up. Mom can arrange for her to come, you all can put her up in your rental unit and Dana and I'll pay her salary, social security, and insurance benefits. I'm sure that with the twins we'll need her help too. Aunt Sophia can't handle it all. Especially when they get mobile." Skinner's jaw hardened. He was quite capable of paying his own way but before he could speak Fox reached over and squeezed his hand and said. "Walt, you told me to take the money and do some good with it. So let me do this, okay?" Sighing he nodded his acquiescence. He found it hard to remember that his son-in-law had become a multimillionaire a few weeks ago. You'd never know it from the way he acted. Walter had slowly come to the conclusion that money just didn't matter to Fox, it was only a means to an end. In any case, it was just as well if Fox handled the paper work. If there were any complications, the press would make political hay about the FBI's Assistant Director trying to get a green card for a relative to come and act as a nanny. Politically, they couldn't do much to Mulder at this point. As Meg and Walter were getting ready to leave Fox made a suggestion. "Little Squirt is down for the count. He's just been fed and we have some spare bottles. Why don't you leave him here for the night and you can pick him up in the morning, Mom." As much as she loved her son and daughter Meg wasn't sure that she could bear to part with Little Fox for the whole night but her husband's squeeze of her waist and the look he gave her changed her mind. So she had agreed. As Meg fussed to her daughter about Little Fox's requirements Walter gave Fox a hug and said, "Thanks. Hang in there, son. It shouldn't be much longer." Shooting the older man an intense look Fox had replied. "You can't live under this kind of pressure indefinitely. I won't stand idle forever." Walter had nodded and left with Meg. "Well, at last we're alone," smiled Meg when they got home to their new house. Slowly but surely she was managing to get the place put together and it no longer looked like a cyclone hit it... exactly... "Right..." grinned her husband moving toward her to give her a hug... "Goddamn it," he declared suddenly stopping in his tracks and looking down. He had stepped in something soft and mushy all over the new carpet, in his expensive work shoes. The aroma that assailed his nostrils was far from pleasant. Meg looked down and started to laugh but then stopped quickly. "What the hell did we need those f**king dogs for anyway?" he bellowed. "I don't need this, Margaret. This carpet cost a fortune... jeez... I finally get a night alone with my wife, and the first thing that happens is I step in dog s**t..." He slipped out of his shoe and slunk away. Margaret sighed and cleaned up the mess. Walter was meticulous. Bill had been too. It was the military background. She told herself she didn't mind. It had been her who had wanted the puppies after all, but they were for his son, and when you had kids and dogs, there were constant messes. She felt abandoned and a little resentful. Here she was again, always alone with a baby to take care of and a house to keep. She looked for the spot where they had managed to break jail and fixed it so that they couldn't get out of the kitchen again, then went to get ready for bed. "Sorry I yelled at you, Meg...." he grunted as she laid down next to him. "Do you want to get rid of the dogs, Walter? If you do, tell me now while they are still little and cute enough to find good homes...." "No, it's okay. I overreacted. What I want is to make love to my wife..." He reached over and kissed her. They held each other and touched but neither seemed to be much in the mood. Both were too stressed out and tired. For Meg this wouldn't have been too much of a problem. She didn't have to rise to the occasion but for Walter it was too much. For the first time in a long time he found himself too tired and stressed to do anything. They finally fell quietly asleep in each others arms. They both overslept the next morning and by the time they were awake, it was time for Meg to go to her charity breakfast and pick up the baby. He started to try to talk her into not going, but she merely glared at him, even after a full nights sleep she was still feeling bad, and told him she had belonged to the Ladies of Charity for eons, and that she had absolutely promised the women that she would attend the breakfast and bring the baby for them to see. She knew that some of them had purchased gifts, and she couldn't not show up. He was irritated. Finally they had some time to themselves and she insisted on going off to attend a fund raiser breakfast. He sighed, he knew he wasn't being fair but damn it he wanted to make love to his wife. The day was not starting out well at all. In the end, he gave her a kiss and told her to have a good time. It really wasn't fair to take his problems out on her. Besides, he knew she missed the baby. He did too. End Chapter Three E-mail us at Eowyn7@ix.netcom.com CC: macspooky@erols.com. We both love mail. =========================================================================== The Gossamer Project Author - Title - Date - Spoilers - Crossovers - X-Files - Adventures - Stories - Vignettes Other stories by: Macspooky - Evenstar, Eowyn Please let us know if the site is not working properly. Set story display preferences. Do not archive stories elsewhere without permission from the author(s). See the Gossamer policies for more information.