Chapter 1
The Conquering
Escape to Me

She waits in cold and silence deep,
Biding time in winter's grip.
Cradled still and utterly,
Beneath imagined ships.
When summer breathes its sunny breath
And nature's curtain's drawn
With silence predatory,
She rises.
She rises.

"I don't see anything, Mulder. What do you suppose..."

Mulder held up a hand to quiet Scully. "Something is watching us. I can feel it." There had been a gentle wind blowing through the trees but it had stopped suddenly, adding to the eerie feeling of stillness. They had been looking for the Dorl camp for less than one half hour and already Fox was uneasy about taking Scully out alone.

She instinctively drew her gun and, while she was nervous, her hand was steady as it held the heavy weapon. "Where do you think it is?" She didn't even hesitate in her thinking that whatever it was might not be human. The days of disbelief had been swept away along with the ways of the old world. She didn't pause to reflect on how distant that rational world seemed. She had discovered within herself the ability to adapt to her new reality with more ease than she ever would have thought possible. If anything, it was Mulder who had the most trouble of the two. There would be time later for her to reflect on the irony of that. For now the hairs on the back of her neck were standing at attention. Survival in this new world, like the old, was based on the need for vigilance.

"I don't know," Mulder whispered. He felt as if there was something moving in a circular pattern around him and his partner. Earlier, moments really, he had sensed something moving passed them—something that had stilled the noises of the animals—but this was different. There was no describing the difference. He heard Scully gasp one moment before he saw the three women move out from different spots in the sparse landscape, seemingly appearing from shadows that simply had not been there before.

"Sleep, sister," the three women voiced as one. Their words, their tones so similar, in such perfect cadence yet still somehow sounding as if they were refracting, bouncing and beguiling. As if one voice spoke with residual echoes. Compelling.

Scully slowly crumpled to the ground, gently, as if cushioned by some unseen force. Mulder tore his gaze from the women, so beautiful were they it seemed a torment to take his gaze from them. He moved to go to Scully, worried despite the look of pleasure on her face. She lay as still as death, but her breathing rose gently in her chest.

"Fox," the voices called, softly. Whispering. The thrumming echo quality irresistible. "Come here."

The command made him forget Scully, forget everything but obeying. Some dim memory of Mikhail and his seduction alarmed Mulder, but he went to the women who had gathered close together, their arms beckoning to him. They all had flowing hair, gentle ripples of red, gold and black. Their bodies were covered in some shimmering fabric that caught the light in arcs of colors. Their eyes burned green, every one, and he thought of shaded glens, mossy and moist. Smooth skin in shades of white, tawny and pure ebony. Enchantresses.

"Sure are we that you are the one. Our master has given us your image," he heard. "But different are you now—so human."

One woman touched the medallion on his chest and smiled. "Tricked are we not, Fox."

He nodded, feeling insufferably rude that he would think to try and trick these visions.

"Come to want that which you see here, lovely one," they crooned while an image began to form before him.

He was drawn into their midst. They circled him restlessly, weaving about him as fluidly as their mingled voices. They faded before him, like smoke, until another figure appeared before him, resplendent in ivory silk. The garment, an intimate robe, was silky around a powerful frame, masculine and dark. He moaned a bit in trepidation. He saw dark eyes first, compelling and intense. The face took form and he drew back. Murdoch was before him.

"Need him."

"Want him."

The words eddied about him in intoxicating demand and his eyes took in the man before him. He shook his head desperately as Murdoch reached him. A hand, gentle and yet so strong, stroked his cheek and his body trembled with remembered need. He remembered the absolute lust inspired in him, the inevitable screams of need wrought from his lips. He shook, desperate.

"Long for him."

He saw himself, legs spread, tied to the enormous bed, squirming on Murdoch's tongue as that slick appendage slowly pumped in and out of him, scraping his prostate, lapping at the stretched flesh of his anus. Felt the building orgasm, wanted it. He saw those black eyes looking up at him from between his thighs, the full mouth wet and hungry. His hips pumped up in remembered lust. Wanted to be filled, to be fucked, to be pounded into dust with the heavy sex he could feel on his leg, wet and hard. He tossed his head and begged for it. God he wanted it. Sliding onto Murdoch's fingers, pumping up and down angling to hit that spot inside that made him come undone. Remembered the hot mouth on his neck as he did as he was told and fucked those thick fingers.

Their voices, rippling around him, were insistent. Stronger and more demanding than before. He felt Murdoch's hand leave his face and he sighed as it went to Murdoch's chest, parting the fine fabric and trailing down. Revealing hard muscles encased in bronze skin. Lower still and then dark hair trailed downward under the big hand.

"Lust for this."

"Lust for this."

He licked his lips, eyes wide as the hand further parted the ivory robe. Gasping as he saw the quiescent member. So impressive in size even in its unawakened state.

"Want to make him moan."

More commands. A dozen invitations and he felt dizzy with it. The desire he felt all but eclipsed the commands. He moved towards Murdoch only to find that for every step he made toward the big man, Murdoch moved back, a teasing smile on his handsome face.

"Lust, pretty prince. Lust. Call to him in lust."

***

Garren was truly going to pay, Alex thought. Akael was staying a few feet behind him, but his presence alone, a nursemaid, was infuriating. He threw an irritated glare, one in a long series of such glares, back toward the huge male when he noticed the frown on his face. Akael slowed and reached out a hand to Alex. Placing his fingers on his Alex's shoulder with gentle insistence.

"Stop."

"What is it?

Akael shook his head. "Something is ahead of us. Something wrong."

"Fox is ahead of us," Alex growled.

Akael cocked his head, then lifted his face and drew in a long, considering breath. He could smell the male called Fox, but the scent was wrong too. Human. There was nothing truly enticing about his scent and he knew that Fox smelled far sweeter than this. "He is...I think. But, something is different." He frowned. In all his years he had never had such a trouble with scenting a particular scent. He had had trouble tracking Fox for the whole morning. As if Fox weren't really ahead of them but some other human instead. He had initially had no trouble in heading in the right direction because Garren had passed close to Fox and the little, succulent female. Now he scented her and she too smelled differently. It was maddening.

To take his mind off that confusion he held Alex still. "The female sleeps. I can scent that." The last statement surprised him as it sounded, at least to him, like he was being defensive. His frown darkened.

Alex shrugged the big hand off his shoulder. "Scully is sleeping? Just out for a walk with Fox and decided to sleep? I think *you* need more sleep if you think I'll believe that one."

Akael glowered as Alex moved on. He increased his stride now to stay a step ahead of Alex. There were other scents ahead. Foul scents. He could hear voices too and their grating cacophony hurt his sensitive ears. Witches! He drew up sharply and shook his head. "You stay here, Alex. I will check on Fox. He and the female, Scully are not alone."

Alex's eyes narrowed. "Is he in danger?"

Akael missed the look of icy determination in his charge's face and nodded. He hurried forward, commanding the wolves who lingered nearby to watch their Garren's mate. Normally he would not have left Alex's side, but knowing the importance of Fox to Alex made him a concern for Akael. He had taken only two long strides when he heard Alex behind him. Growling in anger he continued. Garren would have to discipline this one!

Feminine screams rent the air, horrible sounds that could only be the mortal screams of witches. He halted abruptly and gathered Alex into his arms, ignoring Alex's struggles.

"No, Alex! There is too much danger ahead," he commanded harshly.

Surprise etched his entire face as Alex gained his freedom. He had been felled by a human! Impossible! And yet here he lay on the ground, terrible pain in his throat where Alex's hand had attempted to crush bones and tendons. He saw Alex running toward the battle and he gained his feet with a roar, changed and followed at a deadly pace.

***

Dimly Fox tried to fight the need that consumed him. "Walter," he whispered. "Please! I need you." That plea cost him greatly. To beg for help was intolerable and yet he repeated it as the women's words enveloped him.

Suddenly he felt himself cast away from the women and from the ground he saw them, truly saw them for the first time. Not even remotely human now, horrible and wet. As if they had risen from a bile-filled pool, dank and reeking. He couldn't truly make out any feature save for burning green eyes. Pulsing bumps, leaking grayish pus, covered the three forms and he quickly scrambled backwards even as they began to scream. He turned to crawl on his hands and knees toward Scully. Scully! How could he have left her to lie on the ground? He saw Skinner then, standing above Scully, his eyes burning an intense red. He looked so calm that it calmed Mulder, though he still scrambled toward him. Behind him, he heard the—creatures—still attempting to weave their spell, but this time in an effort to control Skinner.

"Leave us! We are harmless! Let us live!" the women's voices entreated, becoming mere whispers.

The echoing quality was still as compelling but Skinner only smiled. Mulder saw a feral look of enjoyment on Skinner's face and then there was one last scream, fractured, three women with different voices, no more cadences. The whispers of the women were fading now, but they did not seem to come from behind him anymore. They had been all around him, in the air he breathed, but they were falling silent, or like the wind, they had traveled on to other, darker regions.

Then silence.

He looked toward where the three hags had been and saw absolutely nothing. He turned to Skinner, his face showing his confusion. Skinner turned toward him and bent down to stroke Fox's shoulder. He ran a hand through Fox's hair, reveling in its texture.

"Are you all right?"

Fox nodded and let the question lie for a moment as he turned his attention to Scully who was only now opening her eyes.

"Scully? Scully, are you okay?" he asked.

She blinked slowly, took in Skinner's presence with a small frown and tried to sit up. "What happened?"

A sudden rustling in the bushes startled the three before Alex came from the bushes. He paused only a moment to give Walter a strange look before hurrying to Mulder's side. He had knelt beside his lover only moments before a large form followed him, fully changed and uncaring of Skinner's presence.

Alex was the only one who ignored the furious beast. "Baby, are you okay? What happened?"

"That is what I want to know," Scully grumbled, tearing her eyes from the huge wolf. Alex had wrapped himself around Fox in such a way that he was partially resting against her. She nudged Mulder impatiently and he immediately pushed gently at Alex to allow himself to get up.

Mulder stood unsteadily. "I don't know...there were three women..." he stopped abruptly as he recalled specifically what the three had been doing. "They had to have been sent by Murdoch," he said brusquely. He suddenly realized that Alex was with him and he pulled him to his feet, from where he still kneeled by Scully. "Alex," he breathed and pulled him close, kissing him deeply, not caring that they had an audience.

"Alex, you will learn respect," Akael growled changing back to human form and drawing close to the two, embracing men. He looked very like he wanted to pull them apart. His amber eyes were glowing with supreme disapproval.

Skinner glared at the wolf and with a subtle push of pain into him, he let his displeasure known. Akael responded with a small growl.

"Leave it alone, Ascendant. You gave him into Garren's care. He is mine to protect."

Alex and Mulder didn't even hear the exchange, nor did they notice Scully gaining her feet. "Are you okay?" Mulder asked softly, running a hand over Alex's face. He traced the square jaw slowly. "I was so worried. I tried to go after you. I wouldn't have let him take you—I never wanted this..."

"Shh, baby, I know," Alex purred unable to resist kissing Fox's plump mouth once more. Fox was different somehow, more like the man he fell in love with, sensual and beautiful still, but more human. It thrilled him at the same time it confused him. Nothing could ever keep him from wanting Fox. Nothing. "What happened here? There were screams..."

"They were women at first—I don't know, they were beautiful, but they weren't..."

"Witches," Akael corrected, never taking his reproachful stare off of Alex. "They must have risen for a reason. They exist only in the darkest, still waters. Humans have never understood them. Only the true ascendant can call them. Can make them rise for his own purposes." He shook his head, wondering anew at the threat of Murdoch. Alex had been so close to the witches Murdoch had called forth. "I heard them," he continued. "They have very distinct voices. Horrible to hear."

Fox nodded distractedly though he had first thought the voices wonderful and sweet. But it was true. They were horrible. What they had said—what they had wanted. "They were..." he stopped not wanting to admit to what they had been doing. "Skinner killed them," Fox admitted. He reluctantly turned to face Skinner, still holding tightly to Alex. "Thank you, Walter. I—I needed—help." He tightened his grip on Alex reflexively, uncomfortable with that admission. Walter's eyes were so gentle, so full of tenderness. He thought back to those nights alone with him when Walter was his whole world and he mourned for that moment. Why had he torn Alex from him? How could he ever forgive him for that?

Alex stared at Skinner beneath dark lashes and nuzzled Fox's neck with his nose. It hurt to look at Skinner. There! He had admitted it to himself. There had been such a short time when he had actually begun to feel like he belonged, like he was valued. He squeezed Fox and wondered once more how he had ever deserved this man. He was the only sanity he had left. Fox's love was the only thing he had left to cling to. He didn't even have his physical superiority to fall back on. Not in this world. Akael should be dead, not glaring at him as if he were a naughty boy. Nothing made sense. Only Fox. Only Fox. He reveled in Fox's strong arms about him, leaning into him, wanting never to let him go.

Skinner stared into Alex's eyes, wishing he could find the words to erase the look in those jade depths. Hurt and anger. He shifted his gaze to Fox, seeing the reluctant gentleness there. "Don't thank me, Fox. I'll always protect you." He saw Alex's lips tighten and he wanted to call back those words. He hadn't protected Alex. Had failed him. Sold him. How he wanted to take the assassin into his arms and take all the hurt away. Instead he looked away, shamed by the unblinking jade accusation.

"I think it's time for everyone to go about their business now. Alex, you can come with Mulder and me. We are looking for someone," Scully said briskly. She dusted off her clothes, as she dusted off the incident.

"Scully, you can't mean to go on after this?" Skinner asked, amazed. "Not alone! Murdoch won't stop until he has Fox! You don't even know what happened to you. What they did to you." His eyes, brown again, still burned with disapproval. He knew though that they would indeed go on, traipsing about, pretending that they could affect anything. That thought shamed him. These two had done things that no two other people could have—would have done. They had an energy and a determination that humbled him. What he had done over the years to help them paled in significance. But he didn't know how to explain to them that all that was changed. When they had gone after the Consortium or any of the many unexplained creatures in the past they weren't what they were now. He frowned then. In fact, they didn't seem changed to him now. They seemed less there, more human. Still beautiful, Fox did not have that draw that was the changed ones' irresistible appeal. He wanted to comment on that, but the big wolf was shaking his head.

"Alex will not be going," Akael said firmly.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Fox growled. "Alex isn't your puppet!"

"He isn't yours to endanger," Akael said calmly.

Fox immediately moved toward the big man and Alex held him back with a tight squeeze. He wasn't sure if this Akael would hurt Mulder and he wouldn't risk it. The thought of it made him sick. Garren had more than one thing to pay for.

"If Fox goes, I go," he answered for Fox. "If you think any differently, then you're crazy."

Akael sighed and looked at Skinner who, surprisingly, was smiling now. Akael knew the big man was enjoying his difficulty with Alex.

"I would never endanger him, you son-of-a-bitch!" Fox growled. "You and your bastard leader dragged him away from me..."

"Do you insult my Garren?" Akael growled, appalled.

"Enough! I said we are going!" Scully said in a very slow, controlled voice. "Skinner, if you and hairball here want to tag along far behind, suit yourself." She raised her brow and stared at each man, daring any of them to contradict her. It was a look Skinner knew well. "Mulder, let's go." Not waiting to see if he would follow, she continued on her way.

Mulder gave one last glare at Akael and followed her, looking back to Alex to make sure he was coming.

Alex gave Akael a warning look and followed the two former agents.

"You can go find your master, Akael, I will follow them," Skinner sighed.

"I will not. My place is with Alex. Garren does not need a keeper," he replied meaningfully, following his charge without a backward glance.

Skinner rubbed his face absently. Would Murdoch ever give up? It was a start toward Mulder's continued safety that he had called for him. If he did that in every instance of trouble, he had no doubt that he could protect him. There were strangers coming to them, coming towards the camp. At least ten humans and the two ancient wolves had arrived as well. He knew that Antonio was aware of them and had gone out to meet the group of humans, leaving Garren to confer with the two old wolves, but he wanted to be there when they arrived.

Antonio was often easily distracted. If there was an attractive member in this new group, Antonio would see nothing else, possibly missing any danger that might lurk there while he inspected the new bit of goods. The one plus for Antonio's vigilance was that there was not a changed human among them.

He made his way back to the encampment, thinking of the best way to keep Mulder safe. He arrived at the most obvious answer as he walked. He had to destroy Murdoch. But could he? Could Murdoch even be destroyed?

Another thought followed this one. If Murdoch was destroyed, there would be no need to allow Garren to keep Alex. He could once again be in the middle of Fox and Alex. He knew Garren would never agree, but what if? It was a dream worth dreaming if nothing else.

***

Three studied the food given him with curiosity. He had never eaten this particular dish before and food fascinated him. It was a necessity only, but the way it was prepared seemed to indicate that the sensation of taste was as high, if not higher, a priority as the nourishment value of food. His brothers were eating, but more interested in the actions of the white coats than in their nourishment. One looked about while Three watched and then, after a pause, he took off the shirt that had been forced on him. Four smiled at One in such an approving way that Three smiled too. Four was the easiest to please but also the one who Three felt was the most sensitive to other's emotions. The white coats could upset Four much more easily by just changing their tone.

A white coat was approaching One with a look Three had come to realize was censure. There was a brief exchange between the white coat and One before One replaced the shirt, his lip out again. Three wondered just why it was so important to wear the clothes. They weren't uncomfortable to him, but seemed unnecessary. The white coats covered themselves from neck to ankle though, so maybe it was simply a law.

He returned his attention to his food, picking at what he knew to be rice. He inspected it for several minutes until he too was spoken to by a white coat and urged 'Not to play with his food' though he was certain he hadn't been engaging in play. He ate it though, not wanting to get what Two had insisted were lectures. He wasn't sure if that was indeed the term, but they were to be avoided. A stern face, what Two called 'the lecture face', always accompanied these lectures. The white coats were getting more and more impatient with him and his brothers. They touched him and his brothers a lot and when their touches lingered, they would always draw back and get the lecture face before abruptly leaving.

It was curious.

He finished his meal and made his way to the restroom. That was a very interesting room. Waste actually came out of their bodies and he found that so fascinating. He also loved the room because the shower was there. He and his brothers had come to love showers. The hot water, the slide of soap. Wonderful! A white coat followed him, to make sure he would do everything correctly no doubt and he turned to him.

"May I take a shower now please?" he asked.

The white coat paled. His skin went from the normal shade to white and then burned red. Three was fascinated.

"I-I—can't! I—let me get Dr. Jhenny. He'll help you." The white coat rushed from the room and Three peered after him, leaning around the doorframe to watch the white coat's flight. The man was behaving very strangely. He had always been happy to shower Three before. Making Three feel those wonderful sensations in his penis with long strokes that made Three almost love him. He had even once used his tongue on Three to clean his lips. That had been strange too, but wonderful.

"Dr. Jhenny," the young aide breathed when he reached the older man. "You have to help Three. He wants a shower and I just can't do it! No more. He and the others take so many—I can only take so much."

Dr. Jhenny frowned. He certainly didn't want to do it. It was getting hard enough just to be in the same room with the clones. They were like living, breathing aphrodisiacs. And the old man would surely have any who touched them killed. Oh, he, like the others had indulged here and there, but more and more he wanted to do more to them, any of them, all of them. "I am not doing it. Tell Three to do it by himself. He will enjoy that."

They turned to look back at Three, who was standing in the doorway of the washroom and staring at them with avid curiosity. His hazel eyes were wide with consideration and his lovely lips were parted. They both moaned in reaction.

"We have got to get them out of here, before we all face the firing squad," Dr. Jhenny moaned. More than anything he wanted to push Three into that shower stall, watch the hot water stream down the perfect body and then lap it up from the silken flesh. Wanted to spread those long legs and suck hard on the small hole buried between the round, rip buttocks before fucking it. Fucking it hard and long until the lust he was feeling exploded inside that tight sheath. Or even better to make him hard and suck his first orgasm out of him. He trembled with that desire. Knew that Three wanted him to do just that. Knew that Three would bend over to tempt him with that ass and beg for it with his eyes. Or would spread his legs and pump his cock eagerly into Dr. Jhenny's mouth.

"Amen," the aide sighed. He made his way back toward Three, but was stopped by Four who had a very concerned look on his beautiful face. "What is it, Four?" He and the others could only tell the clones apart due to the colored bands fastened about the golden necks. Necks that would, no doubt, be sweet to a questing tongue. He moaned again and pulled his arm free of Four's hold.

"Three hasn't done anything. Why are you angry with him? He simply wants a shower. No need to be angry." Four looked mutinous and the aide was surprised. More and more Four was challenging them—always for his brothers never for himself.

"I am not angry with Three, Four. He is simply going to take a shower by himself."

Four, obviously not appeased, followed the aide to the washroom and moved close to Three, rubbing a hand up and down Three's arm. Three smiled at Four and rubbed his face against Four's.

"Oh God. You can't do that! Don't you understand? Can't you—stop, Three." They wanted to rub each other all over, the aide knew. Wanted to pump each others cock in tight, long hands and drive him mad.

The two clones stopped and turned surprised looks at the white coat. His voice was harsh and he was trembling. Three patted Four's arm, sensing his upset.

"Shower now?" Three asked. He had only spoken a few times and though at first the white coats had seemed pleased, now his speaking seemed just to annoy them. This aide was doing something with his mouth that made his jaw muscles dance in a strange rhythm. He lifted a hand and touched these dancing muscles. For a brief moment the white coat leaned into the hand and then with a harsh sound he slapped Three's hand away and then shoved him backwards.

"Stop touching me, slut! God! Don't you care about anything but yourself? All you want is to be touched! You just want to be fucked until you're raw!"

Three withdrew until his back was pressed against the wall. He held his hand in concern. The white coat had hurt it. The lecture face was worse than ever before. Then Four did something that made Three forget his pain. Four hit the man. Such a thing! The hand that Four had used to hit the white coat in the face had been folded and the sound it made was impossibly loud in the small room. The white coat fell back and landed on the floor with such speed that Three actually leaned away from the wall to peer closer.

"You are bad!" Four accused. "You hurt Three."

Three stroked Four's shoulder, looked to see One and Two in the doorway, their expressions mirroring his own. Open mouthed and stunned.

White coats came running and the aide got to his feet. Three stepped forward, not willing to let the white coat do to Four what Four had done to him.

"What in the hell is going on?" Dr. Jhenny demanded.

"He hit me," the aide accused. "Four actually hit me!"

"He hurt Three," Four said and his voice was hard.

One looked at Three. "Three? Are you hurt?"

"Of course I didn't hurt the little slut! I simply wanted to get his hands off me! Dr. Jhenny, may I be excused?"

Dr. Jhenny nodded. He stared after the aide as the other doctors tried to soothe the clones. He saw that Four was still defiant and he looked to Three. "Three, are you all right?"

Three nodded. Indeed his hand hurt no more and he was far more interested in what Four had done. And what was a slut? He was certain that he would know it if he were one. Wouldn't he?

"You wanted a shower. You can take one by yourself," Dr. Jhenny said in a falsely excited tone. "Isn't that exciting? You know how don't you?"

Three shrugged. The mechanics of showering weren't exactly difficult. The white coats did many things that seemed easy to him. Then since Dr. Jhenny seemed to want a reply, he nodded.

"Wonderful. You go ahead. Four, why don't you and One and Two go back to practicing item recognition?" he suggested, referring to the arduous task of teaching the clones the act of matching what items went with the English word associated with him. Though the clones were amazingly smart, they still had some difficulty with certain words.

"No, we will stay with Three while he showers," One said calmly. But that he had defied a direct order was something that Dr. Jhenny was very concerned about. Thank God they had only to keep the clones for another half day and then they would be shipped to their new home. Then it would be the man who seemed to want to control the world's responsibility to train them in obedience. He looked at their identical, beautiful faces and wondered what the man, Murdoch, would teach them first. He knew what he would teach them first. Their lush lips were made for only one thing.

He absently rubbed the aching erection he had had since being trapped with the four sluts, imaging those lips doing their work, spread wide and hungry.

***

Down the hall, unaware of what was going on in the other wing, Spender sat with the Fox clone. He smiled at the playfulness of the clone. So unlike the real Agent Mulder. Affectionate and sweet. Little Fox would nearly bounce about in pleasure when Spender came into the room. He kissed his face and patted it like a child might do to his father. Bounding away immediately to find something to bring to Spender, something he was sure Spender would find amazing. Just now, he had brought to Spender a snow globe. The scene trapped behind the glass was of a church, painstakingly decorated with Christmas festivity. The fake snow, which drifted about when the globe was shaken was resting at the bottom, like a blanket of snow.

Little Fox's eyes were sparkling as he showed it to Spender. "Look, look at this." He shook the globe and laughed with pure delight as the fake snow clouded the water and looked to be falling in gentle torrents around the tiny church. "It is snowing inside!"

"Yes, that is very nice," Spender smiled.

"That is a church. A house of prayer. Of reflection and remorse," Little Fox informed him.

"Remorse? What do you know of remorse?"

"Remorse is what you feel when you have done something wrong, and a church is where you go to find relief from remorse," Little Fox said absently, shaking the globe again when it seemed the snow might stop falling.

"Ah, yes. A powerful emotion, remorse," Spender agreed. He went to the desk and sat. He spent hours there, watching the beautiful creature explore the only room he had ever known. He wondered what the sweet clone would think when he was allowed out. What would he think of the outside? Granted, Sacramento, in the area where the base was situated wasn't exactly the garden of Eden, but there were trees mixed in with the countless old apartment buildings and small businesses. To the clone, it would be endlessly fascinating. Maybe Spender would let Alex show the clone the joy of outside. After-all it was for Alex that this clone had been born.

He knew that Alex would appreciate this gift. A virgin to teach, one who would be eager to please in all ways. And the beauty of Fox Mulder, something to which Alex was apparently fatally susceptible. Who couldn't find pleasure in such a gift? The clone had returned with another treasure, a book.

"You can read this! It has words in it and it tells a story," the clone whispered, as if revealing a precious secret.

"Yes, isn't that something?"

The clone smiled, such nice lips over pristine teeth. "It is mine, but you can have it if you want. Dr. Morson gave it to me. He is my special friend." The clone nodded seriously.

"Special?" Spender asked calmly. He kept his tone calm despite the urge to shout the question. The clone was especially sensitive to changes in tone.

"Yes, he told me so."

"I see. And why is he special? Has he shown you anything special? Made you feel anything special?"

The clone tilted his head a bit and after a moment he frowned. "Feel? No? He gave me this book."

"Just the book?" Spender knew the clone wouldn't think anything wrong. The damn fool doctors could molest him and he would think it all part of everyday life.

"Oh and a shower. I learned how to wash myself. Can you smell the soap? It is a blue bar."

"Yes, you smell quite clean." He stroked the clone's face and felt the young man turn into the light touch. It was certainly undeniable that the clones liked to be touched. "Fox, you need to tell me if someone touches you. All right? Either Dr. Morson or Dr. Namble." The clone nodded, but the intent expression hid confusion. He had no idea what Spender was talking about.

"It is only for another day or so, Fox. Your friend, Alex, will be here to keep you company."

"Alex is my friend," the clone repeated happily. "I'll give him a book too."

"You will give him much more than that, my little Fox," Spender chuckled. He smiled as the clone looked about the room suddenly as if wondering just what Alex would also want to take from him. His eyes alighted upon something on a shelf and he nibbled his lower lip anxiously.

"Will he want my dolphin?"

"Oh, I think he'll let you keep that treasure," Spender assured the clone. Smiling darkly as he imagined watching Alex, that wonderfully magnificent male, take the clone's virginity. What a beautiful scene it would be. Alex, so strong and sleek, so dangerously beautiful, parting the innocent's clone's legs with ruthless determination. Stretching him, tonguing him. Fingering him as he had Agent Mulder so deliciously that morning not so long ago.

Soon Alex would be here. So too, no doubt would Agent Mulder. But Mulder would quickly be shipped to Murdoch and Alex would remain. He knew that the agents had entered Skinner's encampment in Salmon Falls the previous morning and had already been successful in their endeavor. In fact, in just a few, short hours if things went as planned, Alex would be on his way.

Mulder stared at the new people who sat about the camp, thinking of his and Alex's plan. Antonio had taken Scully and the Gunmen off to San Francisco several hours ago, and he already missed them. He and Alex and Scully had found nothing in their trek except the Gunmen. He frowned. The Gunmen had actually found the site of an encampment that had to be where the Dorl had stayed, but it had been abandoned the night before. At least that was what Byers concluded as he had shifted his hand through the cold ash in the rock-encircled fire pit. He smiled, remembering Frohike's reaction to Alex's presence.

"Outstanding!" he crowed as he hurried to Alex's side. He forgot all fear and gave Alex an awkward hug, slapping him on the back enthusiastically. "Outstanding!"

Frohike smiled up at Alex and was rewarded with a graceful smile and a wink in return.

Akael had moved close and stared at Frohike as if he expected Frohike might try to take advantage of his closeness with his charge. He growled softly in warning.

Frohike drew back and stared a bit nervously at the looming figure behind Alex. "Good to see you, Krycek. We were all outraged, I can tell you."

Byers nodded. "We were." He moved closer to Krycek, but kept a safe—madly dashing away—distance from the dangerous assassin.

Langly pushed his glasses up more snugly on his nose and said, "Absolutely outraged, man."

The fact that the three men had crowded close to Alex made Akael move even closer, so that his chest was touching Alex's back. He was given a glare that he ignored.

"These men are not enemies, hairball," Alex sneered, borrowing Scully's name for the big wolf.

"Do I make that decision, Alex," Akael replied, though he could sense the men were harmless. He stood back and let Alex interact with them. He could sense Garren's curiosity about his mate's whereabouts and so he let his leader see him through his eyes. Satisfied that Alex was surrounded by friends, Garren's awareness retreated and Akael's sight was his own again.

The pretty Fox was still antagonistic toward him, but since the prince smelled so normal, Akael had no interest in him. The little friends of Alex were far more interesting at the moment. Of course Fox was still lovely to look upon, but it was the scent of the changed ones that pleased his senses so.

Alex knelt by the fire and brought the ash to his nose. "Eucalyptus," he said.

"What about eucalyptus, Alex," Fox asked, bending beside him.

"They were burning it. Here," he said, holding up the soft ash, "smell."

Fox smelled the scent and nodded, a frown of contemplation on his face. "Why? Why eucalyptus?"

"It smells horrible," Akael informed them. He had scented the plant, but had ignored it. Younger wolves hated the scent. Why, no one had ever known. It wasn't a debilitating dislike, but young wolves would generally steer clear of eucalyptus groves. "Young wolves don't like it. I don't like it for that matter." He didn't care that he told these humans this. The tree was not a threat. Not even to young pups, though bitches usually kept their litters far away from anything that might upset them. He smiled then. Bitches were better mothers than any human could ever be, even though they avoided motherhood as often as possible. Once mothers, a bitch would spend every waking moment with her young, until they were fully capable of surviving on their own. Even later, when her young would roam and hunt, a bitch would fret for their safety.

Garren's mother had been positively brutal with any who dared approach her young. Many wolves, even close friends of the Garren, had died for presuming to try and see the young children of their leader. The birth of a male with the blue eyes of a Garren had been something to rejoice in, even as they rejoiced in the birth of the entire litter. This excitement had made some wolves careless in their eagerness to see him. Even when the young Garren was weaned, Dani had been completely ruthless. Not even the old Garren would come near his children when they were sightless and weak. No male wolf would come close at that delicate time. Not even a Garren, assured of loyalty, would approach his mate's litter then, though other bitches would never presume to attack the Garren. No human mother could ever compare to the sheer protective ferocity of a mother wolf. Only when the precious litter had begun to frolic about with each other and begun to change to human form for short periods of time, had the Garren been allowed to touch them. Though no other was allowed close for many years after that. So was it with the pack.

Lost in thought for a moment, he thought back to a day so many, many eons ago when the young Garren had been allowed out from his mother's constant attention for the first time at the tender age of six years, allowed to go hunting with his father. He, Akael, had been there of course, as he had been since the birth of the litter. Though in those early years he had stayed far away from his young charge, never doubting that Dani, who loved him as a friend, would have killed him without a second thought had he gotten too close to her litter. He had been so pleased to see the young, blonde pup with the blue eyes of the blood, running at his father's side in human form in the forests of the land now called Germany. The pup had been so easily distracted, turning to follow a squirrel or a deer, bounding along carefree as his father and Akael had patiently followed him. It was such a sight! The young Garren had had the energy of ten pups. Leaping up to catch a pheasant, not caring when he missed, just charging off after another beguiling scent.

After an unsuccessful bid to bring down a fawn, the pup had abruptly turned to follow the scent of a rabbit and had fallen into a deep pit. He had begun to howl immediately in pain and fright, as if death itself was tearing at him. Changing then and there into the shape of a wolf pup while his father and Akael leapt into the pit to soothe him. The Garren had gathered his howling son to him, unsure how to deal with this sudden change in his fearless son. It had been only a second before there was a familiar flash of silken fur and a painful snapping of teeth that drove the two males back with ferocity, drawing blood from them both. Dani had changed to human form then to better hold her pup, covering her child protectively with long, graceful arms. She held the yowling pup close, soothing him until he had changed back to a sobbing boy, tears streaking down his already beautiful face.

"You aren't hurt, little one," she had crooned over and over, until the pup had finally believed her and simply buried his face into her long golden hair and quieted.

The old Garren had heard of his carelessness with his son for many a night thereafter. "The young," he had been lectured, "ought not be allowed to run wild. Falling into pits! Incredible! Males!"

Akael smiled in memory. Only Dani had ever dared lecture the old Garren. The Garren had grumbled to Akael and his brother, Josia, indeed to all who were in shouting distance, that Dani should not have even been out with them. Following them, of all disrespectful things! That a father ought to have some time alone with his son. Ought to be trusted with his son's safety. "Who better to care for a son than a father who loves him," the old Garren had grumbled. Of course all had agreed with him, for who, save for his mate, would dare not?

He was brought back to the present when that pup's mate moved away from the camp listening to the female's words. He shrugged off the memories of those long ago days and refocused his attention on his contrary charge.

"They must have been warding off wolves," Scully mused. "Or attempting to."

"They know a lot of things we need to know," Mulder said impatiently. "We need to talk to them dammit!"

Akael didn't comment.

Fox, sitting in the camp, remembered that the feeling of disappointment he had felt at missing the chance to talk to Baku had been softened by Alex's presence. The fact that he had Alex by his side, even if it were only for a few, precious hours, had made him eventually shrug at the Dorl's absence while Scully had been left fuming.

"We should have been on this earlier," she had complained. "I should have gone with you when you wanted to, Mulder."

He shook his head at that. "Scully, I know we will find Baku. But, I think it won't be until he *wants* us to see him."

She had sighed then and turned her face up to the sky. "We'd better head back. I am sure that no matter what we say, Antonio will insist we move on. The only reason I will agree is that I am sure that Baku has already go on to San Francisco."

And so they had made their way back. But just shortly before reaching the camp, Fox had held onto Alex and with a hand gesture ushered the others on, indicating that he wanted some time alone with Alex. Akael had stopped, of course, but Fox ignored him for a moment in order to pull Alex close.

"What are we going to do?" he whispered. "I can't live with this. I don't want to."

Alex kissed him then, devouring his mouth with a hunger that inflamed him.

"It seems like a hundred years since I held you last," Alex breathed then. Their lips so close it was almost a kiss. "I can't live separated from you, baby."

"What are we going to do then?" Fox repeated.

"I don't know," Alex admitted. He turned to stare at Akael. "Can you give us some privacy?"

The big wolf sighed and walked away, stopping twenty yards from them, concentrating on their surroundings. Though nothing but wolves had dared to approach except the witches sent by Murdoch, Akael was vigilant in tracking everything near his charge.

"We need to—leave," Alex whispered into Fox's ear.

"They'll find us," Fox whispered back, shaking with the excitement of the idea. He and Alex, alone and together.

"I have to be with you, Fox. Garren and Skinner have divided us for their own purposes."

Fox stroked Alex's face. "I'm so sorry he hurt you, angel. I don't care how horrible he feels. He sold you!"

Alex nuzzled Fox's neck. "You're the only one who matters to me, Fox." Even as he said the words he knew that he could never admit to Fox how much Skinner's dismissal of him had hurt and how glad he was that Skinner was feeling bad about his actions.

"Garren has—infected you with something, Alex," Fox hissed, trying to stay quiet.

"I know," Alex admitted. "He told me."

Fox was surprised. "He did? Why? What did he have to gain by telling you?"

"Fox, it was pretty obvious that he did something."

"Why? Why was it obvious?" Fox demanded. His stomach clenched at the possibilities.

Alex shook his head, "Baby, don't ask..."

"No," Fox insisted. "Why?"

"Because I forget everything. Like with Skinner when he first—took us. But even more so than that."

"That is why you want him," Fox whispered. "It isn't that you love him, Alex."

"I don't care what I am infected with, baby. I'll only ever love you." He kissed Fox again, noticing for the first time the medallion around Fox's neck. "Is this the thing that Baku sent with me to give you?"

"Yeah," Fox murmured, distracted. "It makes us—any of us so-called changed humans seem human. Scully and I wore them. I am not sure if they work."

"They do," Alex informed him. "You definitely seem different. Here," he said as he took the medallion off of Fox, "let me see something." He set the medallion down and immediately Fox's appeal assailed him. Making him harder than the kisses had done. "God, yeah they work."

Fox grinned at the flush that stained Alex's beautiful face, the fire in the jade eyes. "I should be insulted that you didn't find the real me so appealing."

Alex grinned. "Oh, I do, baby, it is just that this change has made you even more so..."

He was interrupted as Akael returned to their side, a look of surprise on his face. "Fox, you smell right again. What did you do?"

Alex glared at the wolf, who was looking at Fox as if he were some tender morsel to be savored by a discriminating gourmand.

Akael's gaze went directly to the medallion on the ground and bent to pick it up, but Alex snatched it up first. "It's his. Leave it alone."

Akael grumbled and looked at the pretty prince, tempted once more to taste his skin. He turned abruptly and resumed his former position of wary protection.

"Fox!" Alex breathed. "We could use this—did Scully take the other one?"

Fox shook his head, "No, she didn't. Baku gave me one and you one. She knew this. Though I should have sent one with her," he mused.

"No, you shouldn't have," Alex grinned. "It's perfect."

"Alex, she still is my partner. I do want her to be safe," Mulder scolded him, ruining the effect by rubbing his body against Alex sensuously.

"I do too, but with these," he looked warily at Akael and moved his lips sinfully close to Fox's ear, making Fox shiver in reaction, "we will be harder to track. I mean, wouldn't we? We stand out now, but with these—maybe not."

Fox's eyes lit up, as he understood. "Yes," he breathed. "We would, wouldn't we?"

Alex smiled at the expression on Fox's face. The very idea of being free to just be together eclipsed all other concerns. "We could find someplace and hole up."

"Live together—alone," Fox sighed, kissing Alex's face.

"Never get out of bed."

"Mmm," Fox breathed, "I like the way you think. You and me and a bed..."

"A big bed," Alex corrected. "A very big bed."

"With leather sheets."

Alex drew back, the fantasy of lying with Fox amid soft, white sheets lurching to a halt. "What? Leather sheets?"

Fox smiled, but said nothing.

"Leather sheets?" Alex said again. "You are a lot kinkier than I ever suspected." He sounded mournful but his hands were busy finding all the curves and hard planes on Fox's body that pleased them both.

"Yeah, well, leather sheets, and you writhing on them has been one of my more cherished fantasies," Fox said before lapping at Alex's mouth with a hungry tongue.

"Oh yeah? Why am I writhing? What are you doing to me?" He could imagine all the things that Fox could do to make him writhe. He looked at the full lips and groaned. Fox could make him writhe with just the touch of those lips. He could see them on the tip of his cock, feathery kisses that Fox loved to give, spreading open to take him in that plump rimmed mouth. So hot! So sweet! He moaned softly. He wanted to rip Fox's clothes off right here, right now!

"Find me a set of leather sheets and I'll tell you," Fox promised huskily. He pushed a lock of black hair out of Alex's face, running his fingers through the silken strands, reveling in the texture. His. His man. The thought, the possessive feeling, made him harder than steel. "You're mine, Alex." His voice, though tender, was firm. He pressed his very insistent erection into Alex's and licked his lips feeling that heavy flesh against his own.

"And you're mine, baby," Alex whispered. "God, I love you. I love everything about you." He breathed in Fox's scent. There was always some spice, some hint of spice in Fox's scent. He brushed his lips against Fox's ear, delighting in the expected shiver. He wanted to make Fox come undone, wanted to do it right here, watch that expression on Fox's face as he struggled to make it last. He moved his right hand to the hard bulge in Fox's jeans and rubbed it hard.

Fox squirmed and clutched tight to Alex's shirt.

"I want you," Alex whispered.

"Mmmm!"

He released Fox's wet erection and then his own so their flesh touched, and they both hissed in reaction to that touch. Alex moved his hand out of the way so he could press his own erection into Fox's. The memory of greeting Fox in such a way when he had returned from California hit him and he was intoxicated by it. He grasped Fox's buttocks in strong hands and moved Fox's hips into his in a slow rhythm.

Fox fell into the rhythm with eagerness and he sought Alex's lips hungrily. Their tongues slid together, so intimate this kiss that it made the movements of their hungry bodies secondary. Their eyes were open wide to see the other. Forest and jade locked together and filled with adoration as their lips parted with gasps of pleasure.

"Oh, Alex."

"Shh, let me see you."

Akael shifted uncomfortably, the smell of their arousal assaulting him. He wasn't sure that the mate was allowed to share himself with his lush pet, but that was something for Garren to address, not him. Fox was making such eager sounds that he was hard pressed to stay still and vigilant, but he did just that, scanning the surrounding area for danger. He caught sight of other wolves moving closer in response to the pet's arousal and he growled low and deep in warning. The young wolves moved back immediately until they were out of scent range.

"Make me come, angel," Fox husked desperately, so close already that the friction was nearly intolerable.

"Yeah, I'll make you come," Alex breathed. "Watching you will make me come."

"Watch me, " Fox begged. "Touch me."

Alex moved his hips harder, drowning in the heat of Fox's body. The friction was so intense that his own orgasm was rushing dangerously close. He panted desperately and squeezed Fox's ass demandingly. "Come on, baby, come for me. Come for me before I do."

Fox shuddered and his eyes lost all focus, biting his lips reflexively as his semen splashed up between them. He cried out, a desperate, hungry sound that sent Alex irrevocably over the edge, his semen mingling once more with Fox's in the ultimate embrace.

Akael studiously ignored the two mating humans and waited while they whispered softly to each other. He let them clean themselves of the evidence of their mating before approaching with determination. "Alex, we need to continue on. Garren wants you back in the camp," Akael interrupted them.

Two sets of beautiful eyes glared at the large wolf, but his expression brooked no argument. "Time with your Fox will be given to you again. We go now. Garren has commanded me."

Fox held Alex close, "Tell your Garren to go fuck himself." The words were barely out of his mouth before Fox found himself dangling in the air, Akael's left hand wrapped in the collar of his sweater. His eyes met the burning amber of the wolf's. Fury burned there, but control too, such deadly control. He felt the strength in that one hand holding him aloft as if he weighed nothing. So damn strong. How could he or Alex fight such things?

"You are not to be harmed, prince, but you will *never* speak so of my Garren again," Akael barked. He set the pretty, furious male down, pausing not at all to appreciate the beauty of that face, just as Alex leapt to Fox's defense. Akael had to grab Alex and hold him still for a few moments while the cat seemed to want to tear him apart. Fox attacked him for holding Alex and he wanted to howl with frustration. He had to be careful not to harm either of them and so his frustration was doubled. It didn't take much to get the two facing each other and held still, he could scent their fury so he made his voice deliberately calm. "Do you wish to stay like this, keep struggling. Do you wish to walk back to the camp with some measure of dignity, behave."

After only a few moments they both stilled, they had become distracted by one another. Starting to rub their faces together in some type of soothing gesture, Akael assumed. He sighed. Changed humans! They were foretold to be essentially sexual, but this was getting him nowhere. He could still scent the anger the mate felt over his manhandling of Fox. But in truth any other human, changed or no, would be dead for his disrespect. No member of the pack would have stood for it. It was enough to make him growl in anger. The words still burned him. To tell his Garren to go fuck himself? What gall, what stupidity! When he decided the two were ready to behave properly, he released them and stood back, gesturing toward the camp in a blatant command for the two to move.

Fox looked at Alex and the message within that forest gaze was clear, speaking volumes.

"Soon!" that gaze said.

Alex got the silent message and he nodded in complete agreement. He took Fox's hand and they walked away from Akael without any of the intimate teasing they had enjoyed for a few moments lingering in their demeanor.

Akael followed with a shake of his head, his dark, gray-streaked hair, fell about his broad shoulders in a curtain. Had any wolf ever had to deal with such things? Certainly only if they took a human mate. And yes, that had happened, mostly female wolves who could not breed with humans and so would sometimes prefer a human male to a wolf male. But a mate was one thing. A wolf would love a mate and so their antics might not so enrage one. To handle another's mate was quite another. And then that that mate was the Garren's own made things even more frustrating. He had to admit that he was glad that Josia and Emil had both arrived.

Let them share in this frustration, Akael decided. Of course Emil would be sorely pressed to maintain control of his natural inclination to kill. He was a wolf who could not abide humans and often killed them simply for the pleasure of the pain he inflicted. Of course any such action here with the powerful ascendant would bode ill for them all. And should he show Garren's mate anything other than protective respect, Garren would kill him. Josia was another matter. He, like the old Garren, was wont to think things through, but he too had little love for humans. These thoughts made him sigh again, hoping that there would be no trouble around Alex. The little cat was trouble enough on his own. The hazel eyes of the lovely Fox turned back to glare at him and Akael raised a brow in reply. What a pretty little piece. Perhaps even Emil would be able to tolerate this one. His eyes trailed down the trim back, nicely shaped in a long V. Slender and graceful, lithely-muscled. And the round ass. A true temptation. He was glad he had age to temper his emotions, or he would be sorely tempted to take the pretty away for himself.

He might have done, age or not, had he not a new charge to protect. He looked to the mate and shook his head. Punishment! That was the only way to tame this one. He would continue to charge into dangerous situations until he learned to obey. Had not Dani and the old Garren both stood by while Akael had punished the young Garren for disobeying Akael and putting himself in danger? Yes, they had. And so too could Garren watch his mate be punished to insure his protection. His mind made up to tell his Garren just that, Akael brooded on how to best convince the pup to allow it.

Continued part 2