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CHAPTER FOUR


They walked through the courtyard after dinner, enjoying the companionship and catching up after nearly a six week separation. Alex had been on assignment in Russia and couldn’t afford to be distracted so there had been no contact.

Aaron came up to them in a rush. “Alex, I need you. Barrington’s in trouble. They want you and me to go in and retrieve him.”

“What happened? I thought this was just a surveillance job?” Alex asked as the three of them hurried to the transporter room.

“It was as far as I know. I have no idea what happened. Jeremiah said Barrington tried to transport but his signal was fluctuating; he couldn’t get through.

The three of them arrived and stepped up on the platform. Jeremiah reached out and pulled Walter back. “I want to go!” he protested.

“No! You can’t go; it’s too dangerous. We have no idea what’s going on down there.”

“Yet you send Alex and Aaron down?” He watched in frustration as the two men blinked out.

“Yes! They know what they’re doing. If they get separated they can still get back. They cannot retrieve Barrington and look after you at the same time.”

Walter followed Jeremiah back to Medical feeling totally useless.

“There must be something that I can do?” He desperately wanted to help.

“I appreciate your wanting to help, Walter, but right now we’re in a sit and wait phase until we hear something.”

Three other men, Walter knew to be healers, entered the room. This un-nerved Walter even more.

“This is just standard procedure when we have a retrieval in action. There’s probably
nothing …” He stopped mid sentence and hurried with the other three healers into the next room. Walter followed them into what apparently was a small transporter room in the back of Medical. The four men circled the waist-high platform and waited.

In seconds the room was filled with the stench of smoldering charred bodies. An anguished moan escaped Walter’s lips as he tried, along with the healers, to help separate the bodies.

“Life here,” one of the healers called out. “Too late for this one,” another called out and the third one called “Life here.”

There was one in a sitting position hunched over the other two; it was Aaron. He had a death grip on a semi-conscious Alex; arms wound tightly around him and blood running out between the fingers of both hands where he clasped the place where Alex’s left shoulder had been.

The healers tried to separate them but Aaron wouldn’t let go. He was out of his mind in shock. “No, I have to take him home. I can’t let go.”

One of the healers pressed a finger in the middle of Aaron’s forehead and he slumped over unconscious. The release of his grip on Alex’s body caused the blood to spurt and brought a scream of agony before another touch brought blessed unconsciousness, while Jeremiah’s hands stemmed the flow of blood.

Two healers took Aaron of into one room while the other two took Alex into another. Walter followed them with a steady stream of questions. “Where are you taking him? You can heal him, can’t you? You can save him?”

They placed him, burnt ragged clothes and all, into what looked to Walter like a large glass coffin and closed the lid. The container immediately started filling with a clear amber colored liquid.

“What are you doing? Can’t you just touch him and make him better?” Walter was frantic.

Jeremiah turned to Walter and gripped his arm. “Just try and relax, Walter. He’s in good hands.”

Walter felt a warmth wash over him from the touch and managed a weak, “No, don’t,” before Jeremiah helped him to a nearby chair.

“Alex’s injuries are severe but his life signs are strong. There is every reason to believe that he will make a full recovery. This is a re-generation chamber and his body is already in the process of being repaired.”

Walter struggled to his feet and made his way over to where Alex lay, as though asleep, in the glass box; completely submerged in the amber liquid.

“His injuries were much too severe for a mere healing. His body needed re-generation and he’s getting that in there.”

Walter walked around the box and for the first time saw the extent of Alex’s injuries. The liquid was swirling around and the tattered clothing seemed to be dissolving and melting away. The blackness on his face began to fade and the blisters and flaking off of skin became visible. The hair was gone on the left side of his head along with his ear. Bone fragments, ligaments, and flaps of tissue where his shoulder had been and large blisters and gashes all the way down the left side of his body completed the picture.

Walter winced and couldn’t hold back a shuddered. It was hard to believe that a body could sustain such horrific injuries and still be alive. Anywhere else but up here; he would have already bled to death.

“He can survive this?” Walter had to ask for further re-assurance.

“Barring any unforeseen complications.”

“And Aaron?” Walter asked, thinking about little Evie.

“His injuries are far less severe. I was just going to go check on him. You’ll be alright here for a little while?” Jeremiah asked.

“Yeah, sure; go ahead. Do I need to do anything here? Any monitors to watch?” He glanced around the room noticing there was nothing else in the room but a few chairs and this glass box with tubes and cords running from it to connections in the wall.

“No, nothing like that here. The chamber does all the work. We just have to sit and wait now.” With that, he left the room.

Walter continued to walk silently around the chamber, not taking his eyes off Alex for a minute. Another thirty minutes passed and Aaron walked into the room.

“Aaron! You’re OK. Thank God!” Walter greeted him with a hug.

“Yeah, thanks to Alex. We both saw the explosives at the same time when we lifted Barrington. Alex threw himself on top of me taking the full brunt of the blast.” Aaron said and walked over to Alex and took a closer look.

“I heard Barrington didn’t make it. I’m sorry.” Walter said.

“He was already dead when we found him. It was a trap.” Aaron said sadly as he gazed down at Alex.

“Who did this?” Walter demanded. “We’re not going to let them get away with it are we?”

“It is not for us to decide what action should be taken. The Elders will decide and assignments given.”

“I want in on this, Aaron. This one is personal!”

“That’s exactly why you or I or Barrington’s family will *not* be in on whatever action is taken. When emotions are involved mistakes are made. Rest assured, actions *will* be taken; just not by us.”

“I want to take somebody apart for this!” Walter was having trouble controlling his anger.

“I know the feeling. Barrington was a good man and a friend. He was going to be married next month.”

“I’m sorry,” Walter looked Aaron over for the first time noticing the white medical jump suit, the puffy raised patches on his face and neck where the newly healed skin still stood out bright red. “Are you OK? Do you want me to call Carolyn?”

“Jeremiah already has. She should be here any minute. As if on cue, Carolyn came flying into the room and into Aaron’s arms. They spoke a few soft words to each other and Walter turned his attention back to Alex. He pulled a chair up to sit as close to Alex as he could get; both hands touching the glass.

Carolyn came up behind him, resting her hands on his shoulders and asked, “How are you holding up, Walter?”

“I’m fine, Carolyn,” he reached up and patted her hand.

“He’s in good hands, Walter; he’ll be fine,” she assured him.


And so went the next several days. Walter never left the room except to use the bathroom. Meals were brought in to him and he nibbled at them. One quick call to Cassidy declaring a family emergency and he was relieved of all obligations down below. He sat in the chair and watched and waited; dozing off now and then when his eyes could no longer remain open.

Slowly, slowly – a tiny bit at a time, the wounds started to close. At one point he noticed a sharp piece of metal about three inches long made its way up out of Alex’s thigh. Walter watched; stunned, as the swirling liquid washed it away and it clinked to the bottom of the tank; the wound closing up behind it. Several more smaller pieces eased up and out of his flesh and were swirled away and the wounds closed.

The roundness of the shoulder re-appeared and that same day, a loose flap of skin on the side of his head re-formed itself into an ear. The blisters on his face faded away and his hair began growing back on the renewed scalp. Every day brought new improvements.

On the tenth day he awoke with a jerk to find Jeremiah standing beside him. One look at Alex and he gasped. His body had completely re-generated; all wounds healed and a new left arm at his side.

“Oh my God! He’s completely healed!” Walter exclaimed.

“Not quite but he’s almost there. He should be regaining consciousness in a few hours. Why don’t you take this time to go get cleaned up; grab a shower and shave and come back. I’ll wait until you get back then we’ll drain the tank.”

“Will he be able to get out of there then?”

“Not immediately. He’ll need a few hours for his body to start working on its own again. It’s best for those recovery hours to be spent in the chamber just in case he needs further treatment.”

“Does that happen often?”

“No it doesn’t; not with someone as young and strong as Alex but his injuries were severe and the re-generation extensive. We do not want to remove him from the chamber too soon. He needs at least twelve hours free of life support before we remove him.”

“If he makes that, he’s free to go?”

“He will need an hour after removal to spend some time with our counselor.”

“Counselor? Why?”

“The chamber can rebuild his body but his mind is going to need a little help too.”

“What are you talking about? Are you going to mess with his mind? He’d hate that!”

“No; we don’t change anything in his mind. We merely soften the memory of the trauma.”

“Soften the memory?”

“Yes. His body was torn apart, burned, riddled with metal fragments. The memory of that pain can be as destructive to the mind as the actual trauma was to the body.”

“So what do you do; erase the memory?”

“No, we merely lessen the severity of the memory; make it easier to bear.”

“I see. And is this a difficult procedure? Is surgery involved?”

“No, no; not at all; on the contrary; it’s quite pleasurable. You simply sit in a comfortable room; drink a specially mixed cocktail and chat with a counselor. It’s quite amusing actually. She asks all sorts of silly questions like what kind of tree would you like to be or what color drapes would you hang in a blue room or who would win in a race between an ocelot and a bumble bee. Silly things like that. All the while she’s making notes on her pad and by the time she’s finished she has a complete psyche profile. All this is needed to gauge a person’s stability and also gives the drugs in the cocktail time to do their magic.”

“It sounds like you have covered all the bases,” Walter nodded his head in agreement.

“It’s the best we could come up with and it seems to work well. He’ll do fine; you’ll see.” He gave Walter a reassuring pat on the shoulder then added, “Why don’t you go clean up now. We don’t want you scaring him half to death when he wakes up.”

“Yes, I’ll do that. I’ll be right back. You won’t start without me?”

“You have my word. I’m going to go grab a bite to eat and I’ll see you back here in about an hour.”

“I’ll be here waiting,” Walter said as he rushed out the door and headed for his quarters.


The shower felt darn good and he couldn’t even remember the last time he had shaved or brushed his teeth so he did an extra good job. He pulled on clean clothes and headed down to the Courtyard. Three different people stopped him and asked about Alex. He happily told each one that Alex was doing well and would be out of Medical by the next day; though he could hardly believe it himself.

He arrived at the little flower shop and told the assistant what he wanted then hurried back up to Medical. He had just finished placing the flowers on top of the glass chamber when Jeremiah walked in.

“Oh, I like that. That’s the first thing he’ll see when he wakes up.” He smiled at Walter.

“That’s what I thought. He’ll know what each flower means.”

“Ah yes. The language of flowers; it’s a beautiful ancient tradition. The red rose – I love you; white heather – wishes will come true; Thyme – Strength and courage; and Yarrow – health and healing. An excellent selection.” He manipulated some controls on the chamber and the liquid slowly drained away.

“At first he will cough quite a bit. This is necessary to clear the excess fluids from his system. Sometimes it is swallowed but most times it’s spit out so don’t be alarmed. The coughing will start him breathing on his own.”

“Will he be able to talk?”

“Not for the first few hours. He’ll be able to hear what you say though. I will remain in the room for the first several minutes then I’ll leave you to your privacy. If I am needed I will be in the next room and will hear you call.”

“Thank you, Jeremiah. There are no words to express my gratitude for what you’ve done.”

“I’m just doing my job, Walter. This is what I do.”

“Your work must be very gratifying.”

“It is; especially on a day like today. We lost one; but two were saved.”


Alex began to stir and instantly drew their attention. The coughing started and Walter was glad he had been fore warned as the sight of the yellow fluids bubbling up out of Alex’s mouth was alarming. Walter stood as close as he could get to the chamber; his stomach and chest against the glass. He desperately wanted to reach in and grab Alex and pound him on the back until the spasms stopped. One great gasp and Alex began breathing on his own.

Walter and Jeremiah both sighed in relief to see the chest begin to rise and fall with each breath. A hand moved first; it stretched open then closed again. The head turned slightly to one side. The tongue came out and licked his lips.

“Alex? It’s time to wake up now,” Walter rapped on the glass lid.

The eyes fluttered and the head turned in the direction of Walter’s voice. Shoulders moved next and the left hand came up and rested across his abdomen.

“Alex? Can you hear me? It’s time to wake up.” Walter coaxed gently.

Slowly the eyes began to open. He blinked a few times to clear his vision. The Adams apple bobbed as he swallowed and frowned at the taste in his mouth.

“Alex?” Walter said his voice raw with emotion.

Alex tried again and this time his eyes focused. He saw Walter and grinned.

“Hey! How’re you feeling?” Walter asked relieved to make contact once again.

Alex managed to raise two fingers on his right hand in greeting but that was all he had the strength to do.

Jeremiah leaned over the chamber and spoke to Alex. “Alex; do you know where you are?”

Alex thought a minute, his eyes moving to take in all he could see, and he nodded just a bit.

“You’re in the chamber. You were injured in an explosion but you are going to be just fine. Aaron was with you and he is fine too. You know the routine. Six hours in here on your back, a visit with Counselor Dorothy, and you’re free to go.”

Alex made an attempt at nodding his head, then turned back to meet Walter’s eyes. A moment or so later he noticed the flowers. His eyes went from one to the other and back again to Walter.

“Do you like them?” Walter asked. Alex smiled his answer.

“Do you know what they all mean?” Walter picked up the Yarrow first. “Yarrow –health and healing.” Then he picked up the Thyme, “Thyme – strength and courage.”
Then the white heather. “White heather – wishes will come true.” Then he picked up the red rose, smelled it and said, “The red rose – I can’t remember for sure. I think it’s something like ‘I love your Gladiolas’.”

Alex choked out a laugh and began coughing again. Walter immediately regretted his feeble attempt at humor and waited anxiously as Alex settled down again.

“You know what a red rose means?”

Alex made a slight not of his head.

“Good. That’s settled then.” Walter grinned at him then asked, “You doing OK in there?”

Another slight nod from Alex.

“A few hours and you’ll be out of there; good as new.” Walter assured him.


The hours passed slowly but they were good ones. Walter could see, almost minute by minute, the strength returning to Alex’s body. First the stretches then the movements of his arms and hands touching his face. Each movement was a little stronger, surer.

At first all he could do was nod his head, then he began to whisper. After two hours the lid was removed and Walter could reach in and touch him. By four hours he could speak. His voice was hoarse and raspy but he could speak. Another hour and he sat up and asked Jeremiah to let him get out. Jeremiah insisted he stay that one last hour and when it was up, Alex was able to climb down out of the chamber by himself; just a little bit unsteady. He donned the clothes that Walter had brought for him and left for the Counselor’s office.

***

Walter stood talking with Aaron and Carl in the Courtyard while he waited for Alex to complete his time with the counselor. He was giddy with relief and exhausted from the strain of the last 10 days.

“Now he’s going to be weak for a while; maybe a week or ten days; he might even be a little confused but he’ll be back to his old self before you know it.” Aaron was saying.

“I’m just glad that he finally had Jimmy banned. He was getting more and more erratic and I could just imagine how he’d be taking all this.” Carl added.

“His voice was pretty hoarse but Jeremiah said that would be temporary.” Walter said.

“Probably last a couple of days, is all. I think it took me, like three days before I quit coughing and spitting up that stuff.” Carl offered.

“Yeah; that stuff is kind of hard on the throat and on the eyes as well. I remember when I was in Chamber last year, it was my eyes that bothered me more than the hoarseness,” Aaron said.

“I think these last two hours have been the longest yet!” Walter shook his head, his patience sorely waning.

“Well, I for one am glad you shaved. I’d hate for Alex to wake up and the first thing he saw was you in that beard! You could have given him a heart attack!” Aaron teased.


“There he is,” Carl announced, pointing some distance away as Alex made his way through the lunch-time crowd shaking hands and returning hugs along the way.

Walter stood watching and waiting for Alex to work his way over to him.

“Hi,” Alex said with a sweet smile.

Walter was speechless and just grabbed him up in a big bear hug and held on tight while the crowd around them cheered their approval. They parted long enough so Alex could give Aaron and Carl each a hug then back beside Walter he whispered, “We need to be alone. Let’s get out of here.”

Walter took Alex’s arm and they headed for the nearest up-ramp. By the time they made it to the third level, Alex pulled Walter into a deserted hall way and kissed him. Several kisses later, Walter pulled back.

“Hold on, Alex. Jeremiah said we would have to cool it for a couple of days.”

“I know, I know; but I have some news and I have a question to ask you.”

“You want to do it here; or in private?” Walter asked while caressing Alex’s cheeks, neck and shoulders; unable to break contact for a moment.

“Privacy is always best. I just don’t know if I can wait that long,” Alex was about to burst with excitement.

“OK. So go ahead and tell me your news.”

“It took a little longer getting to you just now because as I was leaving the counselor’s place, I was told the Elders wanted to see me.”

“The Elders? What did they want?”

“The decision has been made. I am officially retired.”

“Retired? You’re out of it now?”

“Exactly! No more assignments. I’m through! And I get to keep this.” He raised his new left arm with pride.


Walter hugged him close and whispered a silent prayer of thanks then asked, “Your question?”

“Why don’t you retire too? Move in with me up here. Become a permanent part of this community.”

Walter was flabbergasted! His greatest amazement of all was how desperately he wanted to say yes.”

“Say yes! We can go on up right now and move your stuff into my room. Or you can keep your room if you want; it doesn’t matter as long as we’re together.” Alex took a quick breath and went on. “We can get you a chip implanted, it’s super easy and you can go back and forth whenever you want.”

“Yes.”

“You’ve got more than twenty years in, Walter, you can … what did you say?”

“I said yes.”

“Yes to what? You’ll retire? You’ll move in with me? You’ll become part of this community? What?”

“All of the above.” Walter answered and closed Alex’s open mouth with a deep kiss.

“You will?” Alex pulled back from the kiss. “I’m not talking five or ten years down the road; I mean right now.”

“How about in three days; when you’re strong enough to go down with me? Please don’t ask me to leave you right now. I just got you back.”

“In three days? Really? You’ll do it?”

“Uh huh. Can we go on up now?” Walter grinned at him.

“Oh yeah; sure.”


They walked back to the ramp and headed on up; arms wrapped around each other.

“You’re not going to change your mind are you?”

“Nope. I did a lot of thinking while you were in that chamber thing. We belong together. I don’t know if the Elders will accept me but I think we should request a meeting tomorrow. I’m willing to do any kind of job or work they assign me to become a member here.”

“You wouldn’t have to work; you could stay here as my family,” Alex suggested.

“No, I mean an assignment. I want to help.”

“Walter, you’re retiring!”

“I know. I’m retiring from the Bureau; but I’ll take anything they offer me. I’ll do anything to have them accept me up here.”

“You’re already accepted up here.” Alex hugged him closer as they walked to the doorway to his room.

“I’ll have to prove to them that I wouldn’t be a burden; that I can make a real contribution.”

“You already have. They know all about you and the kind of man you are.”

“You’ve talked with them about me?”

“Uh huh. They know all about you.”


Walter grinned and pulled Alex down on the couch beside him.

“I mean it, Alex. I’ll take any job they ask me to do.”

“If they do ask you to do something; I’m sure it would be something you’d be suited for.”


Walter pulled his cell phone out and punched in a number. Alex watched with keen interest.

“Cassidy please; Walter Skinner, security code 6048.”

Alex held Walter’s free hand with both of his.

“Cassidy, I have decided to retire; effective immediately. I’ll be in on Thursday to sign the papers. What time will be convenient for you to have them ready?”

He listened for a minute then cut her off. “No! There is no negotiating here and I’m not training anyone. I’ll be in Thursday morning; say 10:00. That gives you three days to have everything ready. If you’re not available, please leave the paperwork with my secretary. Thank you.” He clicked the phone shut.

Alex sat and stared at him still not believing all this was happening.

Walter punched in another number and waited. “Arlene? Skinner here. I have decided to retire effective immediately. I have just spoken with Cassidy and she is getting the paperwork ready for me. I will be in Thursday morning to finalize everything.”

He listened in silence for a minute.

“No; everything is fine; there’s nothing wrong. I have been thinking about it now for some time. I’ll have a letter of recommendation for you; I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding another position.”

Silence again.

“Thank you, Arlene. I appreciate that. I’ll see you Thursday morning then. Bye.” He closed and pocketed the phone.

“Any other calls you need to make?” Alex asked.

“Nope. That about does it.”

“What about Mulder?”

“What about Mulder?”

“Don’t you need to let him know?”

“I would imagine that within an hour everyone in the Hoover will know; don’t you?”

“You’re probably right,” Alex chuckled and snuggled against Walter’s chest.


“Right now all I want to do is hold you in my arms and never let you go.” Walter pressed a kiss on the top of Alex’s head and rested his cheek there.

“I like the sound of that. How about we make that our plan for the next three days?”

“Sounds like a plan to me!”

*****

Walter signed the papers with relish, picked up his retirement package envelope and left Cassidy’s office; ignoring her attempt to engage him in further conversation. He was met in the hall by Mulder and Scully.

“Sir? A few of us got together and wanted to give you a little going away party but we knew you’d hate that.” Mulder started out.

“You got that right!” Walter said as he headed down the hall towards his office with Mulder and Scully trailing along beside him.

“So we figured we’d just make it a few drinks; a toast to your retirement.”

“It’s 11:00 in the morning, Mulder.”

“I know that sir, but just one drink wouldn’t hurt.”

“If you’d rather, we could just do a quiet lunch; just the three of us.” Scully offered as they entered Skinner’s outer office.

He handed his secretary the letter of recommendation that he and Alex had written for her the night before and headed on into his office. He opened his desk drawer and began cleaning it out. He pulled his trash can over and started dumping things in. Something fell out and rolled across the floor. Mulder bent down, picked it up and handed the gold wedding ring to Walter. He took it, looked at the engraving inside (Forever) and his only thought was that as soon as he got home he was going to get Alex a ring; his mind started thinking of a suitable inscription.

He tossed the ring into the trash along with the entire contents of the drawer. He retrieved his pocket knife, his favorite pen and headed out the door; Mulder and Scully following along.

“You know I hate this kind of thing, Mulder,” he said as the three of them got on the elevator.

“We were all so surprised, Sir. Was there something particular that brought about this sudden decision to retire?” Scully asked.

“I’m tired, Dana. I’ve spent the last 22 years of my life here. It’s time for me to move on.”

“Does this have anything to do with the emergency leave you took last week? You look like you’ve lost weight; are you ill?” Mulder asked as they made their way out the front door. They stopped at the top of the steps as Walter tried to get away.

“I’m not ill, Mulder, I’m tired; there’s a difference. I’m ready to get on with my life.”

“You do look tired,” Scully admitted.

“Dana, I’m fine. I’m just in a hurry.”


“Mr. Walter, Mr. Walter!” A familiar little voice called out and they heard the tap, tap, tap of her patent leather Mary Janes on the concrete as Evie ran up the steps. Walter swooped her up in his arms.

“Evie, what are you doing here? Where are your Mommy and Daddy?”

Her little arms hugged his neck and she tossed her curls as she spoke.

“She’s in that big black car down there.” She pointed to a stretch limousine parked at the curb. “But Daddy didn’t come down yet. It’s just Mommy … and my fiancée waiting for you.”

Walter carried her down the steps and set her down with a kiss on the top of her head. “Tell them I’ll be right there,” he said and she scampered back into the limo.

“I guess I’ll see you two around then. Take care of yourselves and each other.”

“It’s nearly noon; why not have a quick lunch; all of us? My treat,” Mulder offered gesturing to the limo.

Scully chimed in, “That’s a great idea; we’d love to meet them.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. I have an appointment and I can’t be late.” He glanced at his watch.

“Well maybe we could do it tomorrow?”

“I’m leaving DC, Mulder. I don’t know when or if I’ll be back.”

“You’re moving? Where to? Do you have another job lined up?”

“Yes, I’m moving; final destination is undecided at the moment. And there is nothing decided yet on possible future employment. I’ll most likely be doing some volunteer work.”

“That’s wonderful, Sir!” Scully exclaimed, “I was thinking of doing some of that myself. Do you know where? Maybe we could work at the same place?”

“It’s a private organization, Dana. You have to be invited to join.”

“And you’ve been invited?” Mulder asked.

“I have. Now if you’ll excuse me; I’m running late …”


Meanwhile in the limo –

“If I know Mulder, he’s trying to talk Walter into a going away party somewhere.” Alex said with a sympathetic grin; know how Walter must be squirming trying to get away.

“OK. Time to bring out the big guns,” Aaron chuckled, holding his daughter on his lap.
“Carolyn; go get him.”

Carolyn grinned at her husband; then fluffed up her shoulder-length blonde hair; unbuttoned the top two buttons on her blouse and folded the flaps back exposing some cleavage and stepped out of the car. She walked up behind Walter and slipped her arm through Walter’s and purred in her sweetest voice, “Are you about ready, Darling? We have people waiting for us at the club.”

“Oh, uh, yes! You’re right. Mulder, Dana, I’ll give you a call next time I’m in town and we’ll have that lunch.” He turned and with his arm around Carolyn, headed for the limo. The door was open when they got there. Carolyn stepped in and she, Aaron and Evie disappeared in a blink. Walter pulled the door closed behind him and dived into Alex’s arms.

The limo took off as they kissed in the back seat. “Let’s go home,” Walter said between kisses.


Mulder chased after the limo to where it had stopped at the red light on the corner. He banged on the driver’s window and the driver rolled it down.

“I almost forgot. I wanted to give this to Skinner.” He thrust the small package through the window containing the gold watch they had all chipped in to buy; as he did so, he glanced inside the vehicle. The privacy partition was down and he could see through to the back seat; it was empty.

“I’ll see that Walter gets this,” the driver said as the window rolled back up and he drove away.

Mulder stood staring after the limousine as it disappeared into DC traffic. Scully joined him at the corner and asked, “Everything OK?”

“I don’t know,” Mulder answered. “I think we have another X-File.”

“An X-File?”

“Uh huh,” the two of them walked back into the Hoover, side by side.


THE END


Epilogue A

The pounding on Scully’s door continued so she finally got up to answer it. A quick look through the peep hole showed Mulder, bedraggled and unshaven standing there. She yanked the door open.

“Mulder, it’s Saturday morning; my one morning I get to sleep in!”

“You’ve got to hear this, Scully! You’re not going to believe it.”

“Couldn’t I *not* believe it at 10:00 or 11:00? Do I have to hear it at 7:15 on the one morning I get to sleep?” She made her way to the kitchen and put a pot of coffee on. Pulling her robe closer around her, she sat cups on the table and smoothed her hair back.

“You’ll want to hear this; it’s about Skinner.”

“Mulder! For Pete’s sake. What’s the big deal? He met someone, fell in love, retired and is making a life for himself. Why can’t you just be happy for him?”

“I did a little digging. Don’t you want to know what I found out?” Mulder grinned across the table at her.

“From the looks of you, you’ve been digging since he left two days ago. Have you slept at all?”

“Not really. You wanna hear it or not?”

“I don’t know how you could find out anything. We didn’t even get her name. What did you do; trace his credit card usage?”

“No. I started with the volunteer work angle. I checked everywhere. There are no organizations that use volunteers who are set up on an invitation only basis. In fact no one has ever heard of that.”

“Well, it could be some private organization we’ve never heard of.” Scully reasoned as she poured the coffee and sat back down.

“There are other things too, Scully. Remember that fight he had? Well it wasn’t a bar fight like he said it was.”

“How do you know that?”

“You came in at the very end and only heard that guy telling Skinner to watch his back. He said a few things earlier that you didn’t hear.”

“Like what?” Scully prodded.

“He called Skinner a liar and said it didn’t happen in a bar fight. He said Skinner was cheating.”

“Skinner doesn’t strike me as the kind who cheats. I mean if he’s going to give up his career for that woman and her little girl; I hardly see him cheating on them.”

“I know. There was something else the guy said that was really strange.”

“What?” Scully was all ears now.

“This guy, Jimmy, Skinner called him; pointed to me and said ‘Tell him he’s not the only one you’re screwing.”

Scully’s jaw dropped. “Are you sure you didn’t misunderstand?

“We were standing two feet apart; he was shouting; I didn’t misunderstand.”

“You’re saying this Jimmy thought that Skinner and you were in some kind of … relationship?”

“Uh huh,” Mulder nodded his head and sipped his coffee.

“Well that’s ridiculous! Does he think Skinner is having an affair with a woman and a man at the same time?” Scully scoffed.

“It’s not un-heard of, Scully.”

“I know that; but Skinner? No way!

“There’s more. Remember that limo that picked them up? I had it traced. It was rented just for the day to Lomar Industries, a company that does not exist. You want to know who signed for it?”

“Who?”

“A. Krycek.”

“Krycek?”

“Uh huh. And the limo driver? I asked him to give the watch to Skinner and he said he’d see to it that ‘Walter’ got it.” He cleared his throat and went on, “Since when is a limo driver on a first name basis with his fare?”

“There’s more, Scully. When I handed the driver the watch, I looked into the back. The privacy partition was down.”

“So what did you see? Were they making out in the back seat?” She asked with a giggle.

Mulder sat in silence for a minute then said, “Nothing. I saw nothing; no one.”

“What do you mean? Skinner was in there and the woman and child.”

“The back was empty.”

“How could that be? We would have seen them if the had gotten out.”

“Uh huh,” Mulder stared off into the distance.

“Well, what happened? Where did they go? And what does Krycek have to do with all this?”

“I don’t know. But there’s one more thing. The driver’s voice sounded familiar. In fact, I’m sure of it.”

“You think you know him? Was it Krycek?”

“No. It wasn’t Krycek.”

“Who was it then?”

“I think it was Smith. Jeremiah Smith.”

“Smith?” Scully was again in a state of shock. “I don’t understand any of this.”

“I know. Me neither. As I said the other day – another X-File.”

**********~~~~~~~~~*********~~~~~~~~~~************~~~~~~~~~~*********


Epilogue part B


The Elders lounge…

Elders Robert and Daniel were playing chess; Elder Eli was watching a WW2 video. The other three were chatting over a cup of tea.

“Well, I see you finally made it on board my friend.”

“It’s so strange watching myself like that. Sometimes it seems like it was all just yesterday.”

“Any regrets?”

“Not a single one. How about you?”

“Only one. That you taught me that stupid game, Chinese Rummy.” He laughed.

“Shanghai Rummy! Shanghai Rummy! I’ve told you a thousand times! And the only reason you regret it is because I beat you all the time.”

“You beat me because I let you beat me.”

“You *let* me beat you?”

“Of course I do. You know I hate it when you pout.”

“He pouts?” Elder Jeremiah asked with a laugh.

“Yeah, and it’s not a pretty sight! There really ought to be a law against ex-marines pouting!”

“That’s not pouting; that’s biding my time.” The only bald headed Elder explained.

“Biding your time? For what?”

“If you have to ask that; you really are getting *old*!” He grinned then added, “Sour-puss.”

“Ooohh No! I’ll never live that down; will I? I gave Evie a photo of me smiling but she always preferred the one you gave her.”

“It gives her a chance to laugh at you. She loves that.”

“You know she’s being considered for Elder. I personally think she’s a wonderful choice.” Elder Jeremiah said.

“I think it’s a great idea. We need a woman Elder. And she’s certainly proven herself worthy. That program that she set up with her granddaughter is amazing!”

“Great granddaughter.”

“Huh?”

“You said Granddaughter; Trina is Evie’s Great Granddaughter.”

“Granddaughter, Great Granddaughter, who cares! Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s not nice to correct your elders?”

“Hey, I’m an Elder too!”

“Yeah, but I’m an elder Elder than you are.”

“OK, you two; if you’re going to argue I’m going to have to send you to your room.”

“Sounds good to me. We can finish that game we started. Whose deal is it?”

“Mine and it’s two books, one run. You think you can remember that?”

“I could if you weren’t trying to distract me by playing footsie under the table!”

“I wasn’t playing footsie; I was just trying to keep you awake.”

“There are better ways of accomplishing that, you know.”

“Yeah, I know. What do you say we forget about playing Chinese Rummy and just go to bed?”

“I like the way you think, Elder Alex.”

“I thought you might, Elder Walter.”


THE END