The Alliance
by Nicole
DATE: 02/01/00
RATING: Very NC-17
SPOILERS: Probably, but do you care?
SUMMARY: Alternate Universe After the events of The Changing, the world is ruled by magic and Mulder has to learn to find a role for himself in the new paradigm.
WARNING: Sexual Assault, Angst, explicit sex (consensual and non-consensual) between hot men, magic, and B&D. If that isn't your thing or you are below the age of consent. DO NOT READ!!!!!!!!!! My Krycek has two arms and he's going to keep them thank you.
DISCLAIMER: They aren't mine. They belong to CC and 1013 Productions. I don't make any money...wouldn't take it if I could, just borrowing, you can have them back.
FEEDBACK: Please and thank you. Bientot19@aol.com
Website if applicable: http://www.parkers-place.net/roundXFslash/nicoleshome.htm
DEDICATED TO: Megaera for beta and for reminding me that the supernatural exists beyond the written word, (but mostly near her home) And to JoB (who gives great beta and has an arsenal of ideas). Thanks to Cerulean_Blue, Amothea, and Michael for their support, beta and *delicious* ideas...keep 'em coming love.
Chapter Six
Seduction of a Man"I'm not asking to grow flowers in the desert
But I can feel and hear and see the sun in wintertime
In a big country
Dreams stay with you
Like a lover's voice cross the mountainside stay's alive."Big Country
***
Cabins
Fort Bragg, California
Day Eighteen
Hour 1400Alex stopped at the steps of Garren's cabin. It had been Garren's since the moment he claimed it. Maggie and the Gunmen hadn't even argued; the Gunmen were happy to stay in their trailer and Maggie assured Dana that she preferred the town anyway. Even Antonio had shrugged off the claim as unimportant, and so it was Garren's, though Alex would bet anything that the man would rather burn the frivolous retreat than actually stay in it. He didn't want to see Garren just now, he was too furious. Garren would ask a million questions and he was in no mood to explain. He backed away from the door and hoped that for once, just once, Garren wouldn't know he was near. It was a hope in vain as he backed into Garren's solid frame
Garren steadied Alex with a frown. What had enraged his mate now? Had the meeting with the prince not gone well? He bent and kissed the shiny black hair before Alex slipped out of his grip and turned with a frustrated noise.
"Garren, not now! I am..."
"Just about to talk to me," Skinner said smoothly, but there was a thread of steel in his tone, one that made Alex jerk away from Garren guiltily before he remembered himself.
"I don't think you want to talk to me now, Skinner," he managed through clenched teeth.
"Oh but I do," Skinner replied.
Garren enfolded Alex in his arms and his eyes glittered a silent warning. "If you were a wise man, ascendant, you would do well to leave Alex..."
Skinner's jaw danced as the two men glared. He noted with something akin to contempt, how Alex did not throw off the wolf's embrace. He threw Garren away from his assassin and grabbed Alex's arm. "I will speak to you. Now." He turned to watch as Garren seemed to coil to spring at him and he smiled. "Alone."
Garren let out a howl of rage as his mate and the ascendant disappeared. His head swiveled about madly looking for what he knew he would not find. Some trace of Alex. He felt the rage build and the change in him quickened like some eager child, but he controlled it. He thought of the possible people that the ascendant would have gone to and he set members of his pack to watching them. The mother of the changed female was on the outskirts of the town, near the northern most river. She was following the burial committee and spray painting an orange X on the curb in front of a house that had been cleared of the dead. The fear of disease had been a major motivating factor for the burning of the dead. He waited, motionless, until Antonio and Dana were located on the bank of the lazy river. His pack shied away from the ascendant but stayed close enough to watch the two lovers. Garren grinned darkly as he saw Skinner and Alex appear at Antonio's side. Satisfied that his mate was not far away and under the watchful eyes of many of his pack, he let his curiosity of the prince draw him toward the cabin in which he slept.
He made his way silently to the sleeping form and stared down at the cause of Alex's turmoil. His nostrils flared at the intoxicating scent. What lovely skin exposed by negligent sheets. He crouched near and listened to the soft breathing, tilting his head slightly, considering the bounty before him. Skinner was a fool to leave his sweet prize so tenderly alone and vulnerable. He reached out a hand and lightly touched the full lips, lips made for pleasure, for surely there was no other practical use for such softness. Alex loved this human, fiercely. That, rather than fear of Skinner, kept Garren's touch light and gentle. There was exhaustion painted on the pretty face even in sleep and Garren withdrew his hand. A wolf could but take one mate, but had he not already claimed his, this male would be more than satisfactory. As it was he was firmly pledged to Alex and would place no other before him, but he could always sample this male at a later date, when all was settled. Alex might even enjoy watching this one pant and beg with need. Skinner, on the other hand, would not. Garren grinned, imagining the big ascendant's reaction to Garren taking Fox. He could scent the little prince's sex and he clenched his teeth. How easy to draw back the sheet, part the long legs and coax that sex to life with his mouth, his lips, his teeth, his tongue all working together to make the pretty beg. With a sigh he left the room, once more having cause to wonder at the wisdom of taking a human mate. A wolf would have gladly shared, would not have dared to even think of refusing to share. Alex, Garren thought. What a troublesome little cat. Garren left the cabin and looked to the sky. Even in the brightness of day he could sense the moon waxing full. It was calling to him, to hunt, to run free, to slaughter. That was one thing Alex could never keep him from. Soon he would resist the call no longer and he would run with the moon.
***
Alex wasted no time with looking at Dana or Antonio. He pulled away from Skinner and made to leave.
"We have to talk, Alex," Walter sighed.
"Sir?" Dana gasped, drawing close her unbuttoned blouse, the frilly, sapphire blue camisole beneath a stark contrast to her ivory flesh. "Skinner? Is Mulder...?"
Skinner looked to his agent and nodded brusquely. "Fox is sleeping now, Scully."
"Is he okay?" she asked, standing, leaving Antonio to recline on the soft, scented grass alone.
"Oh he's okay all right, Scully!" Alex hissed. "Skinner here just made sure he didn't remember that he and I are lovers!"
Skinner sighed. "He doesn't remember any of us, Scully. Try not to barge in like a certain bull I know," Skinner drawled.
She raised a brow and then nudged Antonio with her foot. "Antonio, let's go," she urged, trying to ignore the heated atmosphere between Skinner and Krycek.
Alex waited until the two vanished and he turned on Skinner. "You just couldn't resist could you? Fox, vulnerable, not remembering anything. You couldn't resist putting in his mind that it's you he loves. Why? Are you hoping that once he remembers everything, and he *will* remember everything, that he will still feel the same way about you?"
Skinner shook his head. "Alex, it wasn't like that."
"Bull shit!"
"When I spoke of the others, Fox could remember small things about them, not what they looked like but little things. With you...and yes I did speak of you, with you it was as if it hurt to try and remember you...like he couldn't even try."
"Why should I believe you?" Alex sneered. "You kept him for four days, four fucking days, Skinner. You could have brought him back immediately, but you kept him to yourself, fucking him, with no thought to how the rest of us were going out of our minds!"
Skinner shook his head. "If you had seen how he was, wanting to go back to Mikhail, the vampire who had taken him, you would understand. He was scared, overwhelmed. I didn't want to place him in an environment where everyone was..."
"Oh cut the crap, will you? You think you are the only one who could have soothed him? He's my lover, Scully is his best friend, the Gunmen even would have been a better choice. At least they wouldn't have fucked him when he was confused."
Skinner remained stubbornly silent.
"You did this before, Skinner. You got me out of the way, sent me to help get Maggie, and you fucked him then, too. We fucking told you we would accept you! What more do you want?" Alex shook his head. "No, don't answer that. I know what you want."
"And what is it that I want, Alex?"
"You want Fox's love!"
"That I already had, assassin. Before all of this, I had it. I don't want what you think I do. I didn't like leaving you alone so long." His face darkened. "And I can see the fruits of that for myself. Tell me, Alex, how long after Fox was abducted did you wait before giving yourself to Garren?" His own jealousy burned bright, but he noticed the pained look that crossed the pretty face and he wished he could take back the words, no matter how true they were.
"I didn't...he just...listen, stop trying to change the conversation," Alex hissed desperately. His own guilt was like a tidal wave. What would Fox think?
"This is the conversation, Alex. Fox and you belong to me. I do what I think is best. I can't regret going after him and I couldn't have retrieved him with you along to slow me down. I would have gone after you as well had you been the one taken."
"But I bet you wouldn't have tried to convince me that I wasn't in love with Fox!"
"I never told Fox that he didn't love you. In fact I think he is a bit jealous of you," Skinner sighed. "He knows what I feel for you, but he doesn't understand the rest."
"The Rest? Oh, yes. The rest being that he *loves* me," Alex argued.
"Maybe I did want him to love me as much as he loves you, maybe I did keep him for that, but I swear to you it wasn't my motivation, Alex. If I knew that by leaving you alone for so long that you would cleave to Garren, I would have come sooner. I thought you might resist..."
"This isn't about me and Garren," Alex ground out. "Much as you would like to make it. This is about you!"
"What would you like me to do, Alex? I want you and Fox to be happy. I know he wants to remember you, he has dreams that wake him, crying. I *know* he is trying to remember you. Do you think I want...that I *like* him to be tortured?" Skinner growled. Now furious, but not only with Alex, with himself as well. It had been partially self-motivation that had kept him from Alex's side.
Alex blanched a bit. "You asked me what I wanted you to do. Do you mean that you would do what I asked?"
"If it wasn't to let you two go off alone...yes. I don't want to have anything like what's happened happen again. I am not keeping you prisoners, but understand that it isn't safe for you...or Fox anymore."
Alex considered him, weighed the truth of his words. "Not going off alone, but being alone. No interference from you, no you trying to make your claim. Just Fox and me. He'll sleep alone until he asks me to sleep with him. You won't interfere. You won't touch either of us until he remembers. That's what I want. That is the only thing that would show to me your sincerity," Alex challenged.
Skinner's eyes flared red for an instant, the urge to crush the rebellion in his little assassin, strong. He wanted to take Alex in his arms and capture the red lips with his own, bend him to his will. Reclaim him from Garren's touch. But the pain in Alex's eyes when he realized that Fox didn't know him made him pause. The excitement when Alex realized that Fox was back, the four days he had kept Alex from that happiness made him nod. "Fine. We will be leaving soon for San Francisco. We will travel by car, slowly. When we make camp you and Fox can be left alone, but I will not let Fox think I don't love him. That would be cruel."
Alex considered this. Knowing he had received more than he expected and not really sure why Skinner was allowing it. "Agreed, but you aren't to have sex with him," he clarified.
"And *you* aren't to have sex with Garren," Skinner added. Raising his brows when Alex nearly choked. "Is that a problem, Alex?" he whispered dangerously. His blood was pounding, Alex was his. He knew that the change had made Alex and his kind ready and willing for sex, but there could be only one master of this pretty human. Knowing that changed human's lust for sex was primarily a self-defense mechanism, to keep them from going stark raving mad from the attentions of all those who would die to taste their embrace, didn't ease Skinner's mood.
"It is not," Alex whispered. Already wondering how he could ever expect Garren to obey that edict. Garren seemed to care little for what anyone thought or wanted. Expect me, a little voice in his head reminded him. And it was true, Garren did seem to want to please him. He shook his head. What was important here was his relationship with Fox.
"Fine. If you do, Alex, all bets are off. I will not stand by while you act the..."
"Don't say it," Alex warned. "Don't fucking say it."
"Fine, I won't say, but don't act on your impulse to spread your legs. I know you can't truly help yourself, but if you need to be taken, there is only one person other than Fox who has that right. And don't you forget it."
Alex stared into the fierce, red eyes and felt himself nodding, dumbly.
"I will put up with a lot from you, Alex, but this is one thing that you *will* obey me in. Garren is not, will never be, your lover."
Alex nodded again, but he knew that it wasn't true. In the same way that Skinner was his lover, by right of power and conquest, so too was Garren his lover.
"Then let's get back to him," Skinner finally said, his eyes still red for want of Alex, but determined to keep his word. Until Fox remembered Alex, Skinner would not dally with either of them. But should Alex disobey him and slink off to meet Garren, he would be forced to remind the young assassin just to whom both he and Fox belonged.
***
Cabins
Fort Bragg, California
Day Eighteen
Hour 1930When Fox opened his eyes it was getting dark in the room. Little shadows were creeping along the walls making fluttering images on there. He stared at the shadows for a bit until his eyes turned to the source. The curtains of the window flapped lazily, the dying sunlight caught in the flapping folds. His heart started to pound in tandem with the sound of the distant surf and he saw that window, darker, the wind moving the curtains then too...something outside calling to him...others in another room arguing. It wasn't the one that called to him that he struggled to remember, but another whose voice was just loud enough to hear, angry, no, frustrated. His heart thudded desperately, he was close to something, black lashes, gentle touch, skin like worn velvet. He could see himself, taking off his gun...straining to hear the conversation beyond. The flap of the curtains continued. He could almost make out the ghostly words. He pressed his hands to his head and cried out in frustration. Why couldn't he remember? He wanted to scream, but the image was gone.
He got out of bed and could hear people talking just beyond the door. It was hushed conversation, an attempt not to waken him he knew. A female voice spoke and the familiar tone sent a chill through him. She would have red hair, eyes so blue that the sky looked dull. He didn't understand it, but he was eager to see her. He hurriedly dressed and rushed out of the bedroom. His eyes alighted on first Skinner. Paused for a considerable moment on Alex, before searching her out. She was in the small kitchen pouring water into a small glass. She was tiny, he thought with a frown. Somehow he had pictured her larger. "I heard you talking," he said for want of anything else to say. When she turned to him with a little gasp he grinned. "I know your voice." He missed the flash of pain in Alex's eyes at his words. The woman hurried to his side, hugged him briefly, affectionately, before proceeding to eye him clinically, running her hands down his arms.
"Mulder! Are you okay? I've been..." she paused and looked to Alex, "we've been worried sick."
"Do you remember her?" Skinner asked hopefully.
"I don't know," Mulder sighed. "I recognized her voice." He beamed. "I really did!"
She smiled, "That's understandable, you've been hearing me nag you for years. I'd have to wonder if you couldn't recognize it." She led him to the couch and he was painfully aware of how close Alex was standing to it. He risked a glance at the man, so beautiful that his heart thudded a bit, but the face was completely void of expression. If anything he looked utterly bored.
"What has Skinner told you?" the woman with the wonderful eyes asked.
He heard a small snort come from Alex, but when he looked at him there was just that boredom there. "Not a lot. Just that there has been something, some event that has changed the world...making it like some nasty fairytale."
"What about you? What do you know of your past?" She sat next to him and he took a breath. "Walter told me I was an FBI agent, but I don't remember that. I remember bits and pieces of my childhood. Beyond that I remember strange things. Like faceless people, living dolls, and killer beetles." He looked embarrassed. "And though this is odd I remember a name, one that seems so important to me, Samantha."
"Your sister," the woman stated and smiled gently at his excited gasp. "My name?"
"I guess from what Walter has told me that it is either Maggie or Dana Scully...no it is Dana. I know that." And he did. Alex shifted a bit and he was very aware of the coiled strength in that body. He's dangerous, Fox thought. It wasn't a matter of memory rather than a matter of perception. He had been an FBI agent, that would have been a wonderful training ground for learning about dangerous men. He risked yet another glance up at Alex. His eyes met the jade green and his mouth went dry.
"Yes, Maggie is my mother. You and I are partners. We have been for a lot more years than anyone would have bet on us staying together."
"And they tried to split us up," he added. His eyes widened. "I don't know where that came from. But who are they?"
"People who we don't have to worry about anymore," Scully assured him. "Do you remember anything else?"
"Images really," he admitted. "Sometimes, when I am waking I think I might remember it all, like it is there just on the edge of my perception. It's frustrating as hell. I know you're all here, but it's like I'm missing something! Something that is driving me crazy." He rose abruptly and ran a hand through his hair. "What did he do to me?" he whispered, torn. He felt a gentle hand on his back and he looked up, startled to find that it was Alex, a look of concern and sorrow in his vivid eyes.
"You're going to be okay, Fox," Alex said so softly, Fox had to strain to hear him.
"I want to remember." He looked away from Alex. "I was so excited to recognize Dana's voice, but..."
"But what?" Alex asked, his hand still slowly stroking Fox's back.
"I don't know. I feel like I'm missing more than memories. I can't explain it."
"Try," Alex urged.
Fox stared at him again. Black lashes so thick it was hard to tell how they could all fit on the lids. He stared in silence for a moment. "I feel like I need to do something, be somewhere, but I don't know what. It's like a dream." He drew reluctantly away from Alex and went to Skinner's side. He wrapped his arms about Skinner's waist and sighed, resting his head on Skinner's broad shoulder.
"Don't strain yourself, Fox. It'll all come back to you," Skinner soothed.
"So you keep telling me," Fox grumbled.
"It will. The longer you are separated from Mikhail the easier it will be," Skinner assured him softly.
"Mikhail?" Scully looked at Skinner with confusion. "Was he the vam...the one who took Mulder?"
Skinner simply nodded.
"And he caused Mulder to forget who he was? For what purpose?" Scully rose and shook her head. "Was it some attempt at control?"
"I think that is partially the reason. The other was to keep me from finding him," Skinner replied as he bent to kiss Mulder's cheek. One glance at Alex's face and he straightened with a frown.
"How did you find him, sir?" Scully asked. She wanted to be left alone with Mulder, to talk to him without any interference but she knew that Alex wouldn't even consider leaving his side.
"It's a long story, but to cut to the chase I gave up tracking Fox and joined up with a group of travelers, pretended to be hum..." He stopped abruptly and cleared his throat. "Pretended to be just another traveler. I wanted to be attacked by other vampires...or be near when they attacked so that I could find out everything about them, if there was anything that would help me track the one that had Fox. It didn't take long until I got what I wanted. After that tracking Mikhail was easier. He had this penchant for sending me images of what he was doing to Fox...it was a tactical mistake on his part," Skinner finished grimly.
Fox pulled away from him with an embarrassed scowl. "You never told me that you knew what he and I...did...I never knew that. Why would he do that?" Fox clenched his fists. Of all the memories he lacked he wished he could void himself of the still clear memories of Mikhail and the things they had done. Black eyes, soft lips and the blood, always the blood. He felt sick suddenly. He had been fed upon, fed upon and fucked by something out of a nightmare and he had wanted it. "Oh God," he groaned desperately, feeling the bile surge in his throat. He ran toward the bathroom and made it just in time, voiding what little there was in his stomach. A wet cloth was pressed to his lips as his neck was rubbed. He looked up, somehow not surprised to see Alex kneeling beside him, though he had not heard the man enter after him.
"You're safe now, Fox," Alex gritted out. Skinner came to the door but one look from Alex and he retreated with a look of concern on his strong features.
Fox wondered at that. Why would Alex glare at Skinner? He shook his head and tried to stop thinking of blood running down his chest as he watched himself in the mirror. Heaving again at the memories, he bent forward, feeling Alex's strong arm wrap around him, his voice pressed to his ear, whispering soft unintelligible words of comfort as Fox shuddered. When he could, he took a sip of water. "I can't stop thinking about it, Alex. I thought...I thought he was my lover...but he fed on me." He raised wet eyes to Alex's. "I couldn't tell this to Walter, but when he fuck...had sex with me he would always feed...I didn't know that it was wrong...it felt so good." He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms about his waist, dropping his head down. Alex made an angry noise and Fox found himself drawn to the muscled body. "I didn't want Walter to know," he whispered. "When I realized that it was wrong, that Mikhail was a monster, I didn't want him to know."
"He, none of us think any differently about you, ba...Fox . If you had your memories you could probably recite to me all the ways that vampires can seduce their victims. You would know that this wasn't your fault."
"I know it isn't, but it doesn't change how I feel."
"And how do you feel?" Alex asked gently, not being able to keep from kissing Mulder's lowered head.
"Dirty...but something else too. It's like I know the feeling...like I've felt it before."
Alex helped him to his feet. "You'll be fine. You're the strongest person I know. You'll be fine."
"I am? Strong?" Fox asked, lifting his head.
Alex grinned a little. "Stubborn might be the word I was looking for, but strong is up there too." Alex touched Fox's cheek fleetingly.
"Do you know me? I mean before all this...the change, did you know me?" His eyes met Alex's again and he nearly forgot his question. Where had he gotten the idea that Alex was dangerous? He was clearly an extremely gentle and sweet person. Perhaps it had been the shock of seeing Mulder back in the fold that had sent him off on a tirade against Skinner. That still didn't make sense really. Alex had been excited to see him, ecstatic even. He'd kissed him! It was only after he realized that Mulder was with Skinner that he had lost it. Whatever the case, he must not have been a good agent if he could have thought for one moment that this gentle, young creature was dangerous. He was too beautiful to be anything but what he looked, an angel.
"I knew you." The words were given in a husky voice and Fox frowned. Alex gritted his teeth and led Fox to the bedroom. "Do you want to rest?"
Fox shook his head, but sat down on the bed. "I want to do something...anything. I feel pent up."
Alex bit his upper lip and narrowed his eyes, considering his forgetful lover. "Maybe you need to run. You haven't done that for awhile. I'm sure it would be good for you...exercise always seemed to clear your mind before." He was thinking of the best way to give Mulder what he needed without endangering him. "There's a community center in town, I think it has a track behind it."
"Actually that sounds great," Fox answered. "I think I would like that. Is the town far?"
"No. A quick trip actually. I was going to go there later today anyway, but then you came back and...well I didn't go. It's getting late so if you want to go, we should get going." Alex was doing his best to remain normal, to not push Mulder back on the bed and kiss him until he remembered everything...or just to kiss him until he could convince himself that everything would be okay. More than anything he wanted to lay on the bed and hold Mulder tight. So tight that no one could ever take him away again. He settled for going to find Mulder something to wear. He sorted through the various clothes they had picked up and those that remained from the previous occupants while Mulder stared at him. "Hey, look, a sexy sweat suit that might fit you."
Mulder frowned at the baby blue sweatsuit and sighed. "Sexy huh? I'll look like a Skittle."
Alex laughed, his face transformed into something wonderful, entrancing Mulder who had to look away guiltily.
"A Skittle? Oh so are you soft and chewy...and fruity?" He wiggled his eyebrows at Mulder until Mulder grinned.
"I think I am more a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup kind of guy," Mulder smiled as he stood to accept the shiny, blue tracksuit.
"Oh yeah, that's exactly what you are," Alex purred.
Mulder raised a brow and asked, "Why do I get the feeling I should be careful what I say around you?" when Alex just chuckled and crossed his arms over his muscled chest Mulder sighed. "And *why* are you agreeing with me?"
"Oh you know...there's no wrong way to eat a Reese's," Alex grinned.
Fox blushed furiously and tried to think of what to say in reply to that. "Oh," he rebutted brilliantly before falling into embarrassed silence. Alex was...well he was definitely a character. He's young, he told himself, though he had no clue as to his own age, or even why he could remember things like Reese's, Skittles and the Big Mac but not who his parents were or his friends.
Alex watched as the flush on Fox's face settled down and he devoured every part of the beloved face. "You can get dressed. I'll be good," he promised as he made a show of covering his eyes.
Fox hurriedly undressed, keeping a wary eye on the scamp. When he was properly festooned in the too-large running suit he gave an exasperated sigh. "I'm decent, you can open your eyes." He looked a himself in the mirror and chuckled. "Walter will love me in this, don't you think, Alex?" He saw the smile go off Alex's face as if it had never resided there. And when the hands were removed there was only the bored young man he'd glimpsed in the living room. He felt guilty then. Alex did love Walter, too. And despite his earlier vow to keep Walter to himself, a vow he had made before meeting Alex, he had no desire to hurt the beautiful young man. He cleared his throat. "Maybe I have some running shoes too."
"I think I saw a pair there. Skinner must have gotten them before you were taken." Alex stood and went to the door. "I'll go tell him we're leaving." A bitter look passed over the fine features. "We need him to start the car."
Mulder nodded and watched as Alex left. Mercurial didn't even begin to start describing Alex, that was for sure. When he had put on socks and the shoes he left the room again. Skinner sat on the couch, alone. "Hey, you," Mulder smiled and went to him. "I'm going to run...want to come?" He knelt at Skinner's feet and placed his hands on the strong thighs, squeezing appreciatively.
"No, I think I'll stay here, try to convince the Gunmen to start on dinner. You'll be back soon right?"
Mulder nodded. "Yeah. Alex says that there is a community center in town. He says that running used to relax me." He grinned then. "I know something even better though," he husked out bending to nibble on Skinner's knee.
Skinner smiled. "You are incorrigible, aren't you?"
"Do you mind?"
"Not in the slightest. But, go on. Alex is waiting." Skinner hoped that Mulder would remember Alex soon. He wanted to take Mulder in his arms...to go out and drag Alex out of the car and make them both beg and scream. But, he had promised Alex and in his heart he knew that it was the best thing for them all. Mulder wouldn't thank him for anything less once he regained his memories. While Mulder loved him he was sure of that, Mulder was in love with Alex. Only time could change that, not some mind fuck.
Mulder stood and bent to kiss Walter. "I'll be back. Do you want anything while I'm there?"
Skinner smiled. If he wanted anything, he could simply get it. It was sweet though. "No, Fox, go on. And don't let Alex keep you out too long."
Mulder smiled and headed out to meet Alex. He found Alex standing beside a white Range Rover talking heatedly with the biggest man Mulder was sure he had ever seen. From behind the man looked like a giant, silky blond hair tied back in a simple ponytail. His shoulders appeared to be five feet across though Mulder knew that couldn't be possible. "Hello," he said as he approached.
Alex's mouth clamped shut and he looked at Mulder with a small smile before stepping back from the big man. When the man turned Mulder frowned. He was young. Younger than Alex. Surely barely twenty. And beautiful. A smile curved the full lips and the man looked him up and down.
"Alex tells me you are going to go running." His voice was deep, silky, amused.
Mulder looked to Alex. "That's right. And you are?"
"This is Garren. Ignore him," Alex grumbled.
Fox felt a tightening in his stomach. Images of teeth, of claws dripping with blood, motion so fast it blurred...beating sounds above him, fire illuminating the darkness as things...unknown things...screamed in pain. Someone screaming his name...'baby, we have run...'
"Fox! Fox, are you okay?"
Mulder shook his head to find Alex in front of him shaking him. "I'm fine...I just..."
"You zoned out," Alex said worriedly. "Maybe you should be in bed."
"Oh he definitely should be in bed," Garren chuckled.
Alex glared at him. "Don't even think about it," he hissed.
Garren simply smiled.
Mulder shrugged off Alex's hands. "Really, I'm okay. I just thought I remembered something...it's nothing. Please...let's just go. Garren, it was...nice to meet you," he managed to say, not knowing why he immediately disliked the man.
"I'll see you soon," Garren purred. "Talk to the old man soon," he added with a dark smile hovering on his face.
"What old man?" Mulder asked, confused.
"Just get in the car, Fox. He talks too much," Alex urged.
When Alex was closing his door, Garren stopped him and leaned in. "Tell Skinner that I'll not follow his little edict, cat."
Alex flushed and remained silent. When Garren pulled back he shut the door with a angry slam. He pulled away and sped up the darkening road. After a few minutes of silence he turned a quick glance at Mulder. "Don't let him get to you, Fox. He isn't important."
"Isn't he your lover?" Fox asked. "The Gunmen said you two were *tight.*"
Alex frowned. "Some people should learn to keep their mouths shut."
"It's not true then? I didn't get the impression that they were liars." For some reason the very idea of someone calling the three goofy men liars, made Fox angry and it showed in his tone.
Alex did want to have this conversation. Not now. Not ever if he could get away with it. "Garren isn't what he seems, Fox. He's not human."
Fox moved his head back in surprise. "Do I want to know?"
"No," Alex answered tersely. He sighed then. "This isn't exactly how I wanted things to go, Fox. I hope you know that." He frowned darkly. "Just tell me this. Skinner did kill the fucking bastard that took you didn't he?"
Fox shook his head. "I don't know. I...he was burning...I don't want to talk about it."
Alex turned to look at him, there was no trace of anger or boredom, just that solicitous concern. "It's okay. You don't have to."
"I'm sorry," Fox sighed. "I think I am not usually this high-strung. It's just been...weird."
Alex nodded and after a moment he said, "But you are always high-strung, Fox." When Fox gave him a shocked look, he shrugged. "Sorry, but you are. Brilliant, driven, loyal to a fault, tenacious like you wouldn't fucking believe, beautiful, paranoid and yes, high-strung."
Mulder flushed again. Every word had sounded like a caress. "Oh," he said. Grinning himself he added, "but wordy I ain't!"
Alex smiled, confused. "What?"
"I never know what to say to you, but 'oh'," he explained.
"Yeah, 'oh...oh...oh'," Alex teased, every syllable a sexual gasp.
Mulder flushed even hotter. "You...you are a flirt!" he accused, disconcerted further when Alex just laughed.
"That is something I can honestly say, no one has accused me of before. A Flirt. Hmm. I think I like it."
"Well just concentrate on driving and stop it," Mulder scolded.
"Why, am I bothering you?" Alex teased, enjoying the hot look on Fox's face. Even in the dim light he could see the flush. He knew it. Fox was on the edge of being turned on. God, he wanted to turn him all the way on...just pull the Range Rover over to the side of the road and show Fox just how he really gasped and groaned that little word.
Fox shifted uncomfortably in the seat. Hearing Alex gasp out 'oh' breathlessly, even when he had just been teasing had made him hot, embarrassed and guilty and hot. Would Alex gasp like that if someone licked the little crevice of his throat...the tender spot behind his ear? He shifted again, trying to ignore the sudden heaviness in his groin. "No...no I just think we should just go down...go to town I mean. Go to town and run," he said flustered.
Alex was suddenly reminded of that first night as lovers. How flustered Fox had been, how his words, every word seemed to connote some sexual vision. Of course at the time he had simply thought that Fox was ill, that was until Fox had molested him. Oh God, why couldn't Fox molest him again? "Okay. I'll be good. I promise," he said huskily, staring at Fox quickly from beneath the shelter of inky lashes.
"Somehow I think I should doubt you," Fox muttered, controlling himself with an effort.
***
Fort Bragg Community Center
Fort Bragg, California
Day Eighteen
Hour 2030They made it into town quickly, but for Fox it was a long drive. He couldn't resist taking long looks at Alex. Alex was so beautiful, the features almost too pretty, saved from femininity by the strong jaw and the surprising ability to look so serious. Too serious for one so young and gentle. They reached their destination, the Community Center was sitting dark in the wake of the sun's passage. Gone were the days of fluorescent light. Alex wondered grimly how long it would be before he would stop expecting the little luxuries of the past civilization.
"Well there certainly is a community center, but there aren't any lights," Fox observed. The sun was nearly completely down only giving off a few last, stubborn rays that barely trickled through the high windows of the community center gym. Fox had decided to run inside the center when they arrived, seeing that the track beyond was completely covered with darkness. "I should just run tomorrow," he sighed.
"No. You want to run now, we'll figure out a way. Get lanterns or something," Alex insisted stubbornly. They both stood in the doorway to the gym. Alex didn't like the long shadows that liberally covered the cold room. Fox stepped inside and Alex was able to stop his instinctive urge to drag Fox back. He frowned and kept right behind him. "It's a bit dark, Fox, maybe we should just not explore."
Fox chuckled, the smooth sound going straight to Alex's groin and for a moment he forgot the shadows and the things that might lurk therein.
"Don't worry, Alex, I'll protect you from the bogeyman," Fox assured as he walked to the center of the gym, standing in a beam of pale light. He stared up at the dust motes that were barely visible in the light and he shook his head. "Tomorrow will be soon enough." He turned to go back to Alex, only to find Alex right behind him. He bumped into the other man with a small exclamation of surprise at his nearness. Alex reached out to steady him, his strong hands firm on Fox's upper arms. A moment passed with the two just staring at one another until even that luxury vanished into shadow.
Alex breathed in Fox's scent. God it had been an eternity since he had had the pleasure of holding his lover, feeling their bodies rub against each other...and eternity since he had kissed the fucked-dazed expression off of Fox's face. His body strained in protest at the denial of its lover.
Fox stood, very aware that his erection was but millimeters from Alex's body. He sucked in air to desperate lungs. His eyes widened in surprise when he heard a small groan come from Alex. One that made him want to eat Alex alive.
"Alex...you...do you think we should just go back"?," Fox asked. The proximity of the other man was too much of a temptation. He stepped back and looked away from the sweet face. He sensed that Alex was moving closer and he held up his hand to stop him. "Alex, stop."
"Stop what?" Alex stroked Fox's face. "This?" The feel of Fox's face, stubbled and warm beneath his palm was heaven. Fox. Here with him. Wanting him, even if he didn't understand it. Alex understood then how someone would say they could die happy. That had always seemed, to him, a moronic sentiment, but now he understood. He smiled as Fox rubbed his face into his hand, the soft lips grazing Alex's palm.
"Yes, stop," Fox moaned. He knew he should not let the young man get under his skin, but he just wanted to taste those pink lips, to touch the muscular body everywhere. He gasped as he was drawn tight to that body. God, Alex was so tight, so hot. That thought led to another. How hot, how tight would he really be?
"I can't stop, baby, not now that I have you back. I can't...I can't...I have to touch you, kiss you. God." Alex was trembling as he bent to claim Fox's mouth. "Can't stop, Fox," he sighed. His lips grazed Fox's lightly. In seconds he would have to rape him he knew. Throw him down and reclaim what was his, but for now there was only butterfly kisses over ripe lips, over that tempting mole, all the while the blood throbbing in his erection an insistent reminder that this was the man he loved more than life itself. Fox's hands, hesitant at first, were suddenly avid in their exploration. Alex shuddered as those wonderful hands moved around him to cup his ass. "Fox," he moaned. "Fox. My Fox. My beautiful, beautiful, Fox." The name became a litany on his lips, carried in the darkening room in a voice that was almost tearful.
The emotion in Alex's voice served to break Fox out of his lustful daze. Something was wrong here. Alex was too emotional...he was missing something important and it made him draw back abruptly. "What's going on?" He could barely see Alex now and considering his raging passion that was definitely a plus. "This is wrong..."
"No, Fox, this is the only thing that isn't wrong. Can't you see that? Can't you remember that? Please, baby, remember that," Alex begged. "I need to you to remember that."
Fox looked away from the shadowy figure. He saw movement in the shadows on the east wall of the gym and he started. Alex reached for him again, but he turned so his back was to the young man, shielding him from whatever lurked in the darkness. He spread his arms out to further shield Alex and he moved backwards. "Something is in here, Alex," he whispered. To the darkness he called, "Who's there?" He narrowed his eyes, determined to protect the angel behind him, the sweet youngster who confused him more than his lack of memory. No sooner had he called out than there was a shuffling sound coming from the darkest portion of the gym. He had time to gasp before he was flung behind Alex. "What in the hell?" he growled.
"I know, I know, you can take care of your fucking self," Alex hissed. "Just back toward the door. NOW!"
Fox obeyed, but not before hooking a hand in the waist of Alex's jeans to drag him along with him.
"Let go, Fox," Alex demanded.
"No way," Fox growled.
"Hey, uh...we aren't in any trouble are we?"
"Huh?" both Alex and Fox asked at once. The voice had been young and trembling. Two small figures emerged from the blackness and approached hesitantly.
"Kids?" Fox chuckled. He made to move in front of Alex again but was unceremoniously pushed back.
"Don't assume anything in this fucked up world, Fox. Jesus, I can't believe you are still alive with how careless you are."
"Oh yeah? Well..."
"Are we?" the little boy asked again as he came to a halt before the two bickering men. He looked at his friend and with a little shrug they both ran out of the gym. Sneaking a cigarette was getting too complicated anyway.
The two men watched as the youths were illuminated briefly in the headlights of their vehicle, moving like wraiths in the night. Fox rubbed his arm where Alex had grabbed him and he followed in the wake of the boys. "You know, Alex, I get the distinct impression that you bug me," he growled. "You might think that muscle mass is the most important thing in a fight, but I've got age and experience on you. Need I remind you that I was an FBI agent?" He shook his head at the younger man who had followed him out. The headlights illuminated the bright blue of his running suit, the sheen nearly blinding him. He must look like some alien in the light. He paused at that thought almost missing Alex's chuckle. The sound was pleasant and he looked at Alex with a small grin beginning to form in response to the happy sound.
"I tell you, Fox, the more things change, the more things stay the same."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you always bitch at me for trying to protect you and you always bring up the agent crap...like I wasn't one too...to say nothing of what else I was...am."
Fox was trying to absorb the words, both the facts and the sense of history behind them. "You were an agent? Jesus, you are a kid!"
Alex frowned. "I am most certainly not a kid! I might be younger than you, but I am not a kid."
"Well, you might have been an agent, but you couldn't have been a good one," Fox judged.
Alex groaned. "I don't even want to know why you have reached that conclusion."
"Well, first you didn't even know we weren't alone..."
"You didn't either," Alex barked, though he was, in fact, very disturbed by that very same thing. Whatever had happened to change him was making him so easily distracted. Usually it was when he was with Fox, so distracted by his presence that he was deaf and blind to the things around him. He shook his head. Though he would have always been slightly distracted by Fox, his old self would never have completely relaxed, tantalizing though Fox was.
"I have just gone through a traumatic experience...I am supposed to be..." he snapped his fingers, searching for the word he wanted.
"Ditzy?" Alex offered helpfully.
Fox glared at him and climbed into the driver's seat. He waited until Alex clambered in and continued, "distracted. I am supposed to be distracted. And, second, you can't even tell a child from a monster."
Alex shook his head. "I don't think it is a safe bet that things are what they seem."
"Oh stop talking in that Obiwan Kenobi way, will you?"
Alex chuckled. "You are too much. I am more a Han Solo guy."
"Oh great, now we're onto Star Wars. Have we ever had a normal conversation?"
"No," Alex grinned. "Normal has never been our strong point."
"Our?" Fox had that feeling again. The feeling that there was something important just beyond his cognizance.
"Yeah. Fox?"
"What?"
"What exactly did Skinner tell you about me...about us?"
Fox frowned. "I told you that already. And why do you call him Skinner? He said he and you...well you are lovers aren't you?"
Alex glowered. "Is that what he said? Did he happen to mention that you and I were lovers?"
Fox flushed and felt his pulse begin a steady thrum straight to his groin. "He may have mentioned that," he admitted in an embarrassed voice. "I didn't know what to make of that. Why would I...we...be in a relationship like that? I guess it is different now. I mean you have Garren."
Alex flinched. "I do *not* have Garren. Jesus, what a mess. You and I are in love. You and I! Not you and Skinner, or me and Garren. Don't you remember that?"
Fox shook his head and his breathing became harsh. He saw black eyes, intent and commanding. His head ached and yet he tried, tried so hard to remember that which he could not. He grabbed his head as the pain increased, but still he tried. A mural above him, green garments so lovely.
"Fox!" Alex cried as his lover lowered his head to the steering wheel. He leaned over to Fox, grabbing his shoulders and bringing Fox to him. "Fox...I'm sorry, what's wrong? You don't have to remember." When Fox whimpered in pain, Alex thought he might lose his mind. "Fox! Stop trying...I'm sorry. We aren't lovers. I was kidding. Just pulling the old chain. C'mon, baby, stop, you're scaring me."
Green. Green silk. Green, jade. 'I'm going to want everything,' a phantom voice, husky with passion. He shivered with pain. Alex was shaking him, his voice cutting through the pain. When he stopped trying to remember the pain vanished. He looked into Alex's eyes, noting the fear there. "I don't understand, Alex. If we love each other, why can't I remember you?" He traced one finger over Alex's cheek. "Why, if we love each other are you with Garren?"
Alex closed his eyes and shook his head. "Why you can't remember me? I don't know. Maybe you...maybe you don't want to...maybe..."
"Why wouldn't I *want* to?" Fox asked. "Alex, I can tell that you care for me...I can even feel that there is a certain...attraction between us. Please tell me what is going on! I can't stand this. I can't stand not knowing. Can't you see that?"
Alex stroked Fox's face. "I'll tell you anything...everything."
"Thank you," Fox murmured turning to face Alex with his body. He rubbed his lower lip. "I want to know about Garren, for some reason that is what I can't accept." He paused. "Maybe that is understandable...maybe despite my memory lapse, the fact that you have another lover should concern me. Or am I wrong? Is this just another twist to an already confusing tale?"
"Garren is not my lover...not in the way you are...more in the way Skinner is," Alex began. "You and I are in love. We were together before any of this happened...before the world went to shit. Everything else...Skinner, Garren everything is part of this craziness."
"Walter is not crazy!" Fox argued. "He loves me...he loves you."
Alex nodded. "I think he does love you, maybe even me, but if this hadn't happened, if he hadn't changed somehow we wouldn't be with him. We agreed to stay with him, Fox, we did, but only because he could protect us." Alex leaned forward. "We *are* lovers, Fox. Can't you see how it makes me feel for you to recognize Scully's voice and not mine?"
Alex looked away then and in the lights from the dash Fox could see moisture in those expressive eyes. "And Garren?"
Alex leaned his head back and gave a harsh laugh. "Yeah, Garren. He is another story, isn't he? He pretty much just takes what he wants."
Fox felt a surge of anger. "He rapes you?"
Alex looked out the passenger side window. "I...not anymore."
Fox reached out to touch Alex's face but Alex moved away. "Alex?"
"I can't explain it, Fox, I wish to Christ I could."
"You love him." It was a statement that caused Alex to turn to Fox with a surprised look.
"No!"
Fox nodded.
"No, Fox! I don't."
"I think you do," Fox rasped.
"I only love you. In all my adult life, I have only loved you. If I could get away from Garren, I would. If I could understand what makes him...what makes me want him I would change it. If I could leave this whole fucking thing behind, I would, if I could take you with me." Alex's voice was shaking, not with anger but with emotion of a different nature.
Fox had to look away from those eyes or he felt he might burn in their intensity. "I don't know what to do, Alex. I don't want to leave Walter. I do love him." He heard Alex's expulsion of breath and the pain in that sound hurt him too. "I want to remember you, Alex. Please don't think I don't. If it is true and you and I are in love, how could I not want to?"
"We should get back," Alex rasped.
"I don't want to hurt you," Fox whispered.
"I know you don't." A muscle flexed in Alex's jaw and Fox watched him for a moment.
"Maybe you should drive, Alex."
Alex frowned. "Okay. Why? Are you still in pain?"
The worry on his face made Fox feel ashamed that he had hurt him, even if he had had no desire to do so. "No," he managed. He got out of the car and walked to the passenger side. The night was quiet, too quiet. He felt like he was in a ghost town. No streetlights, no traffic noises, no distant sounds of television. Not even the sound of a barking dog. No insects buzzing. He stopped and looked around him. Distant windows were lit, but with flickering light. Alex put a hand on his shoulder.
"It's eerie isn't it?"
Fox looked at Alex and nodded.
"Let's get you back. I don't want anything else to happen."
"There aren't any sounds," Fox observed. "No birds, no insects..." he stopped abruptly when he saw several pairs of luminous eyes in the darkness around them. Amber lit eyes that winked in and out of the darkness, moving a bit. "Alex?"
Alex followed his gaze and frowned. "C'mon, get in."
Fox slid into the seat, but waited until Alex was safely in before he shut his own door, not wanting to impede any need to go to Alex's aid. "You saw them right?"
"Yeah. I think it's okay, but we need to get back." Alex maneuvered the vehicle back onto the street.
The flash of headlights illuminated several large men with glowing eyes and Fox stared at them in fascination until Alex sped away. "Alex, I swear they had hair growing in and out of their faces. Hairy one second, smooth the next."
"They are too afraid of Skinner and Antonio to stay changed."
"You know what they are?"
Alex nodded, "They're werewolves." He saw Mulder nod, not at all shocked, and he had to smile a little. Only Fox Mulder would take that information with aplomb. "That doesn't surprise you?" he had to ask.
"Werewolves have existed in human folklore for as long as recorded history...longer than that. In some caves in Malaysia, they even found depictions of what looked to be, large, hairy men, tearing to pieces and eating the flesh of warriors." He stopped. "I remember that! And I can't remember that it is my sister whose name is Samantha or who I'm in love with? But I remember there are cave drawings in Malaysia?"
Alex shook his head. "They say all memory is simply electrical impulses tied together with associations. You have enough associations and you can't forget. Of course you have an eidetic memory so whatever you read or see, you never forget so I don't know how it works with you. Maybe if you find enough associations..."
"It's not that, Alex. My memory was *taken* from me," Fox sighed.
"Fox, I'm no scientist, but memory can't be taken from anyone...it can only be suppressed. Believe me, I have seen it tried"
Fox bit his lower lip, sucking on it while he thought. Alex's little groan broke him out of his reverie and he looked to the other man with a questioning, raised brow.
"Stop that, Fox. Stop sucking on your lip, stop looking so fucking dazed. Unless you want me to stop this car and...just stop it okay?"
Fox smiled a bit. "Sorry. A little too sexy for you?"
"It isn't funny," Alex growled.
"I know," Fox said in a voice that just barely sounded serious. He was looking innocently out the window when Alex glared at him.
'I'm serious, Fox."
"Me too," Fox assured.
"Unless you want me to stop this car and show you how serious I am you just stop."
"Oh, that serious. Hmmm. Do you want to?" he purred. "Make me remember? I wouldn't think that is the best suggestion. I mean there are wolves out there."
"They're Garren's. I think it's safe," Alex growled.
Fox looked at the serious, young man. "Garren is a..."
"Yes!" Alex snapped.
"Oh."
This time there was no teasing by Alex. Fox grew serious. "I'm sorry." Alex remained silent, a flex of muscle his only indication that he had heard Fox at all. "I was teasing. It was supposed to lighten the mood." He got a brief glare for that. "You know, ha ha?"
"Fox, I'm warning you. Stop! It isn't funny. You may think this is no big deal. But while you have no fucking memory of me, I can remember every thing about you. How you taste, how you feel and how you sound when we're making love. I can remember how you would look at me...just stop."
"I'm sorry," Fox whispered. "I didn't mean to upset you. I really didn't."
Alex nodded. And the silence in the car was tangible for the rest of the drive.
end of Seduction of a Man