The Phone

by Southern Belle





Mulder was grounded...again. All because he could not keep from running his mouth. This time he was not even allowed to use the phone. Skinner left about an hour and a half ago to run a few errands and was not due back for 2 more hours. His parting words were, "If the phone rings, let the machine answer it".

The front door opened with such force it hit the wall and made Mulder jump to his feet. Skinner was walking toward him with a look of pure anger. The A.D. stopped in front of the startled young man and said in a loud voice, "In the corner. Now"!

Fox stood and with a questioning look made his way to the corner by the window. He did not know what was going on, but did not want to push his luck either. *Could he have found out about yesterday and the.......?*

No.

*Maybe Scully told him about.....*

No.

He could not figure out what had the older man so angry. After what seemed like an eternity, Skinner asked in a calmer voice, "Have you been on the phone? After I told you not to use it?"

"No!" Fox shook his head and turned, "I was reading."

"Face the wall, Fox, I have been trying to call you for the last hour, every five minutes to let you know that I left my credit card here and for you to bring it to the store for me. It has been busy the whole time!"

"But, Sir, maybe it's out of order." Mulder tried to explain.

"I don't want to hear any of your excuses, take off your jeans . You are going to learn that when I tell you not to do something, I mean it!"

Mulder let his jeans slide down his legs and felt his boxers being pulled down to meet them. Skinner held him by the left arm and spanked him while he stood in the corner. It was a hard spanking and Fox had a bright red bottom to prove it. He tried to say several times that he had not been on the phone, but the punishment continued. Trying to explain while crying is hard to do, especially when you have a mad partner who does not want to listen.



Soon it was over, and twenty minutes later, Mulder was still in the corner showing off his red backside. Skinner had calmed down, found his credit card and was on his way out the door to go back to the store.

"Do you think I can leave you alone for an hour?" Came a voice from behind him.

Saying again that he had not been on the phone, Mulder just stared at the wall.

When Skinner picked up the phone to call his service, he did not hear a dial tone. His stomach did about three flips and turns when he realized that Mulder was telling the truth. The phone was indeed out of order.

*How am I ever going to get him to forgive me for punishing him and not letting him explain.* He sat on the couch and held his head, feeling nothing but shame.

Mulder stood facing the corner with a pleased look on his face thinking *He will be putty in my hands for awhile now.*

As Skinner was trying to get his thoughts together so he could tell his friend how sorry he was, the doorbell rang. Skinner opened the door to see John from next door holding a pizza.

"Fox came over to use the phone and order a pizza. Seems yours is out of order. The Pizza Palace has my number on file and sent it to my apartment instead."

After paying for the dinner and thanking John for bringing it over, Skinner walked back into the den.

"Were you telling me the truth?"

"Yes, I was not on the phone. Maybe the line is dead."

"How did you know the phone was out if you did not try to use it?"

"I did not use the phone!" Mulder was close to shouting.

"Your pizza is here."

Busted. Mulders stomach was now at his feet and a new feeling of dread came over him when he heard the sound of a belt being unbuckled and pulled through loops. He had a strong feeling that he would be eating the pizza standing up tonight.

"Come here," was all Skinner said.

The End

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