ALL RIGHT NOW 2
Author's note: Okay, this looks like
it's going to be a little series here... I love to spin out the delight
as long as possible. Don't worry, they'll get to the NC-17 stuff eventually!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometime in the early hours, the nightmare
woke him.
Horribly vivid, the dream replayed
over and over not his rescue of the terrified child, but her death - in
a dozen grotesque ways. He still felt the chill of that warehouse as he
lurched awake, tremors shuddering through his body. He still heard the
little girl's whimpers echoing in his head.
Hardly knowing where he was, he tore
at the twisted sheets and tried to struggle from the bed, until calming
hands stilled him. His shaky legs gave way then and he sank back onto
the edge of the mattress. The haunting horror of the dream still with
him, he felt the room spin as gentle touches guided him back under the
covers.
"He's in shock, Mulder. Go get that
fleece blanket from the couch in the den and then I think some hot tea
might be good."
Scully eased herself up in the wide
bed, wrapping her arms as best she could around Skinner's broad shoulders,
rubbing some warmth back into him. Mulder hovered, one hand resting on
Skinner's foot under the comforter.
"Will he be okay? I've never seen him
like this... I know how these cases can..." He trailed off, looking anxiously
at Scully.
"I think it's all just catching up
with him now", she said, brushing a gentle hand over Skinner's damp brow.
"Being a hero is very tiring. He had to hold that madman at bay for seven
hours and if his reactions hadn't been lightning fast the girl and he
would both be dead now. Get that fleece, Mulder, he's cold as ice."
Skinner heard the words but they were
just sounds. If only he could stop shaking he could maybe sleep, but no,
sleep brought dreams... He shuddered violently and felt something soft
settling around him, a steaming mug held to his lips. His teeth were chattering
too hard for him to drink, but the delicate herbal scent relaxed him.
Scully set down the camomile tea and
tugged the soft blanket closer. Shifting so that Skinner's head was pillowed
on her chest, she began softly massaging his temples, murmuring soothing
words against his smooth scalp.
Mulder climbed in to spoon against
Skinner's back and added his warming caresses up and down the length of
the shivering body. Slowly the tremors subsided and Mulder took one of
Skinner's hands in his as they all finally slept again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bright sunshine splashed in from the
open window when Skinner woke again. He was momentarily disoriented by
the unfamiliar surroundings, but them embarrassment took over, as he remembered
the night before - all of it. Had he really been so out of it that he'd
needed to be put to bed and watched over like a sick child? Had he really
spent the night sandwiched between Mulder and Scully like some unwilling
chaperone? He had to leave and right away. Not only was he intruding on
the two of them when he must be the last person they'd want to let into
their private life, but he had to admit he wasn't up to the strain. It
had been altogether too pleasurable to be held and kissed and included.
It would be very dangerous to let himself enjoy this when he didn't belong
here.
He swung his long legs over the side
of the bed and was looking around for his clothes when Mulder appeared
in the doorway.
"Good, you're awake. Breakfast is on
its way, although it's more like brunch now. Scully says you'll probably
need to sleep a lot more yet, but you need to eat and then I can help
you get a shower if you like."
Mulder sounded as sane as he ever did,
which admittedly wasn't saying a lot, but Skinner felt as if he'd missed
a huge chunk of the plot somewhere. He tried to gather some shreds of
his dignity.
"I'm very... well, I'm grateful for
you taking me in last night, but I do have a home to go to, and a report
to write and if you could just tell me where my clothes are...?"
"It's not going to happen, sir. Scully's
already called the Director and got you some leave time and he says your
report can wait until after the weekend. Even Freeh is no match for Dana
when she's that determined. So all you have to worry about is bacon and
eggs and letting us take care of you, for a change."
"That's exactly what I am worrying
about, Mulder. I can't be here. Freeh will have me up before the OPR in
the blink of an eye. And I don't need 'taking care of'..." Skinner could
see this whole situation slipping away from him.
"Let me be the judge of that,
sir." Scully had her best no-nonsense manner in place and a breakfast
tray in her hands. She carried it to the bed and simply stood over him
until he sheepishly scooted back under the blankets and let her set the
tray across his lap. Crisp bacon, scrambled eggs, orange juice and a toasted
bagel made his mouth water and when he looked up to see Dana, warrior
princess, standing with arms folded and a mock-severe expression on her
face, he gave in with a good grace and began to eat.
"The Director has no idea you're here,"
she reassured him. "I told him you were exhausted and we'd made sure you
were getting plenty of rest. I imagine he thinks you're in Crystal City.
He said he'd keep the press and the paper-pushers at the Bureau off your
back until next week, so you have the whole weekend to get used to this."
The food was delicious: warming, tasty,
comforting, but he couldn't just let this go on indefinitely.
"Get used to what?" He sounded
churlish, even to his own ears, but he had to know.
"To us, sir, um... Walter. To
you and us together. Finish your breakfast and have a shower and
then we can talk some more."
She leaned over and kissed him softly
on the cheek, then retreated to stand with Mulder. Arms looped around
each other's waists, they beamed at Skinner as he lay back on the pillows,
feeling as if he must have fallen down a rabbit hole.
He made them leave him alone to take
his shower, shy enough about peeling off the borrowed robe and standing
naked in their bathroom. In the steamy heat of the shower, with the soporific
hiss of the water, he felt less like questioning this fantasy into which
he'd apparently strayed. Tiredness swept over him again and he sank down
to his haunches, leaning back against the smooth tiles, his eyes closing.
Mulder found him there a short while
later, barely awake. He peeled his own T-shirt off and reached in to shut
off the cooling spray, then took a big towel and swathed it around the
drowsy man.
"C'mon, Walter. Let's get you back
to bed."
Skinner stood obediently and let himself
be led back into the bedroom. Scully was waiting and she began to dry
his feet and legs while Mulder rubbed at his shoulders and back. It felt
so good not to have to do anything, or even to think. He swayed against
Mulder's chest, fighting a losing battle against sleep, and Mulder just
held him closer, blotting at the damp trickles on his neck and stomach.
He could feel Dana's soft hands running the towel over his thighs and
buttocks, fluffing up his pubic hair. Distantly, he registered arousal
uncoiling itself deep within him, and felt a blush make his cheeks and
ears glow. Someone kissed his hipbone and someone else brushed a finger
over his nipple, ruffling the damp curls of his chest hair. Eyes closed,
he moved where they urged him, settling back onto fresh, cool sheets,
no fight left in him.
"Sleep, Walter, we'll be here when
you wake up."
HOME
- ALL RIGHT NOW
- SERIES
- EMAIL