Painful X-Perience Series
by DiAnn

Painful Experience Part VI 

FEEDBACK NOTE: DiAnn passed away in her sleep on 
August 23, 2000.
Xanthe has set up a Book of Condolences at:
http://www.xanthe.org/Guest/Diann.htm
Please take a moment and sign the book if you 
enjoyed this story.

Rating: NC17 - language, adult themes 
Category: Vanilla Slash / Pure Trash / 
Discipline

Warning: Mulder/Scully/Skinner If you don't 
like this kind of thing, or you are underage, 
go somewhere else . . . NOW! I
don't want to hear from you and I don't want 
to hear from your Mama.

Spoiler: None Maybe some mention of other 
episodes but nothing too revealing.

Disclaimer: I do not, nor ever will, own 
Mulder, Scully, Skinner, Krycek or the 
X-Files. I am borrowing them without
permission and am obviously not receiving 
money for this stuff. We all know who they 
really belong to, CC, Fox and lots of
other people but again, not me.



Painful X-Perience VI
Out Foxed
by DiAnn

Fox Mulder looked at his computer and 
groaned. His partner, Dana Scully, looked up, 
"Is there a problem, Mulder?"

"Scully, have I done anything recently that 
made you angry with me?"

Scully considered the question. "Well, you 
ran off and left me sitting in a car 
overnight with an alien bounty hunter. But I
forgave you because you were so worried about 
your Mother. And then you got yourself 
paralyzed in that vent and I had to
lift you down, you were drooling all over my 
new suit. And then you decided that some 
weirdo was your long lost
soul-mate," she rolled her eyes, "that really 
upset me, Mulder. And then you . . . "

"Okay! Okay, forget it Scully, I'm sorry I 
asked. Have you discussed any of this with 
Skinner? What I mean is, do you know
why I have this message to report to his 
office this morning? Why this particular 
morning?"

**Skinner couldn't have heard about last 
night already. There were no witnesses and it 
had only been a little more than five
hours ago. No way he could know.**

"This morning, huh, does he want me to come 
too? I wouldn't want to miss anything."

"Scully!"

"Well, I'm going with you. If Walter doesn't 
want me there, he will just tell me to leave. 
But I really don't want to miss this.
What do you think you did this time? What do 
you think he will do to you?"

"I'm really glad you are so happy about this, 
Scully. I always like to make your day."

"Oh you make my day, Mulder. Almost every 
day, you make my day."

With one last disgusted look for his overly 
anxious partner, Mulder looked back down at 
his files.

**I wonder what I did now. **

****

At precisely eleven a.m., Mulder and Scully 
entered the office of their supervisor, 
Assistant Director Skinner. Mulder was
nervous to say the least and the presence of 
his traitorous partner was not helping. She 
really wanted to see him in hot water
with their boss, pent up frustration no 
doubt.

The three of them had been lovers for several 
months and Mulder found himself invariably on 
the bottom of this particular
threesome.

He was beginning to think that he preferred 
the time he spent with just Scully. She 
kissed him and took care of him and made
him feel loved.

No, that wasn't right, he loved Walter too, 
found their weekends together very exciting. 
He knew he scared them sometimes
but he had work to do, important work. And 
after all, he was an adult *and* a federal 
agent.

Skinner looked up from his desk, "Have a seat 
please."

He noticed Mulder seemed to be walking a 
little stiffly but not too badly.

"Dana, I'm glad you could join us, I assumed 
Mulder would let you know about this meeting. 
He doesn't keep much from
you, does he?"

Scully smiled at her partner, then at 
Skinner. "No he doesn't, Sir."

Mulder visibly cringed and stared at the 
office carpet. He didn't like the way this 
was starting out. Nope, didn't like it at 
all.

"Yes, I am sure Agent Mulder would not like 
what would happen if he withheld vital 
information from his partner or . . . from
his direct supervisor." When he received no 
response, he spoke louder, "Would you Agent 
Mulder?"

Mulder jumped and his head jerked up quickly. 
"Ugh . . . no, of course not, Sir."

Mulder's bottom lip had protruded noticeably. 
Dana found it extremely attractive. She was 
sure it was having the same effect
on Walter. She glanced at their boss. 
Unfortunately for Mulder, it didn't seem it 
was going to help his situation one bit this
time. Skinner appeared to be really angry 
with him. Scully wondered why.

Dana blessed Skinner with another smile, 
"Sir, may I ask what Agent Mulder has done 
this time? I know I have been very
lenient with him lately. He has had some 
rather traumatic experiences recently and 
after his last kidnaping . . . well, I just
couldn't hurt him."

Skinner returned her smile, then sobered. "I 
understand, Dana, but he did run off to 
Canada with a strange - and I do mean
*Strange* - man who was a suspect in a very 
unusual murder case. A man with toxic, green 
blood no less. Then he stood up
during an FBI raid and walked alone into a 
house full or armed fanatics, to find some 
woman who was crazier than him - a
novelty to be sure. And then, of course, he 
had to be pulled out of the bay last night 
and . . ."

"HE WHAT!" The blood had drained from 
Scully's face.

Skinner looked over to see Mulder's stricken 
look. He smiled at his troublesome agent. 
"Didn't tell her about that, Mulder?
Did you not realize that I would get the 
police report this morning? It was hard to 
cover up the fact that I knew nothing about
what had happened to one of my own men."

Mulder jumped to his feet. "So I trusted a 
seemingly reliable informant and things went 
a little wrong."

Mulder was desperate now. "I didn't think I 
would be in any real danger and I knew if I 
told Scully about the meeting, she
would worry." **Or not let me go.**

He took a deep breath. "It all worked out all 
right, I'm alive, aren't I?" **There, that 
should do it, forceful yet respectful. **

Scully's face turned a very unhealthy shade 
of red, "Mulder, what *were* you thinking? 
Are you deliberately trying to get
yourself killed? You just make me so mad 
sometimes . . . I . . . I . . . "

Both Scully and Skinner were glaring at him 
now. Mulder paled, this was obviously not 
working. He sighed deeply and
resigned himself to his fate.

"Fine. I give up. Do what you want with me." 
**You will anyway. **

Skinner looked at his two agents and spoke 
softly only for their ears, "My house tonight 
at seven. Plan to spend the
weekend."

He gave Mulder one of his best scowls. **That 
boy is going to be the death of me yet. **

"You are dismissed."

****

Mulder reluctantly arrived at Skinner's house 
well after seven. It really made no 
difference if he was late, he was already in
trouble, big trouble. He did bring a couple 
of bottles of good wine though, never hurt to 
try to smooth things over.

He had tried to come up with a reason, any 
reason, not to show up. But in the end, he 
couldn't risk losing his relationship
with Scully or Skinner. They were the only 
two people who cared about him, and he had to 
face it, he really loved both of
them.

He pulled his car into the garage beside 
Skinner's and closed the door. Usually Scully 
rode with him, so no cars would be
viable from the street. Tonight, however, he 
had been unable to contact her so he had 
driven over alone.

He stepped into the bright, clean kitchen. 
There was no one in sight. At least dinner 
smelled good, last meal for the
condemned. He didn't think he would be able 
to eat anything. His stomach was in knots.

Mulder started to call out when Scully 
stepped into the doorway. Mulder's jaw 
dropped and his heart almost stopped.

He had never seen this Scully before. Dressed 
in very tight black jeans - skin tight 
actually. Mulder's eyes started at her black
booted feet and moved up to the brief black 
leather concoction that barely covered his 
beautiful Scully's upper body. Her
bare white shoulders looked so smooth and 
creamy, lightly dusted with the most adorable 
freckles. And it seemed that her
lovely breasts were trying desperately to 
break free of the confining leather. And . . 
. it was all topped off by a flaming mass
of bright, shiny red hair. **Oh yeah, he was 
in serious trouble this time, no doubt about 
that. ** He couldn't seem to breathe
or close his mouth.

"Don't you have anything to say, Mulder?" He 
quickly shook his head a couple of times, it 
was the best he could do right
now.

Scully walked toward him. He really thought 
about trying to retreat. Just a few hours ago 
she had been furious with him but
now . . . now . . . He needed a little time 
to get his head together, to get used to this 
new Scully, but he just couldn't get his
legs to move.

She stopped in front of him and ran a hand 
over the now obvious bulge in his jeans. 
"Glad to see me, Fox?"

Scully laughed. Mulder swallowed hard and 
nodded but this time he was able to back 
slowly away.

As he backed up, Scully stayed with him, her 
caressing hands never leaving him. He got to 
what he thought should be the
doorway leading into the den, instead he 
backed into a solid wall. Before he could 
glance behind him to get his bearings, the
wall reached out and held him firmly around 
the chest, trapping his arms at this sides. 
**Shit! Skinner! He had forgotten
about Skinner. **

He could feel Walter's breath on his neck as 
he was pulled firmly back against the AD's 
broad chest.

Skinner growled in his ear, "You aren't going 
anywhere, Agent Mulder. Just relax. Your 
evening is all planned for you. You
have run out of options, so to speak."

Suddenly the dazed agent was spun around. He 
found his face buried in the muscular 
shoulder of Walter Skinner. At least no
leather. **Thank you, Walter. ** Scully was 
still running her hands over his body, 
caressing, patting and pinching lightly.

"Have I ever told you what you do to me when 
you wear these jeans?"

Skinner could feel Mulder tremble in his 
arms. This was going to be one interesting 
weekend. Walter moved his hand down
to Mulder's wrists and pulled them behind him 
as an offering to his partner. Dana snapped 
the cuffs in place. Mulder came to
himself enough to struggle a little. It was 
much too little and much too late. Mulder 
tried his best to sound in control, "Okay,
that's enough. Both of you let me go now. I. 
. ."

Scully's hand over his mouth cut off any 
further objections. **Hm-m-m, he felt so 
warm.** He must be really turned on, she
knew she was. "Quiet," she purred.

Mulder was still struggling in Skinner's 
arms. He heard the man's deep growl in his 
ear once more, "Calm down Mulder, or I
will be forced to deal with you sooner than 
expected. You don't want a preview of you 
punishment right now . . . do you?"

Mulder took a deep breath and forced himself 
to stand still. Scully's marvelous hands had 
never stopped, they were running
all over his backside. He could feel her heat 
though his cloths. It felt good, really good. 
Skinner felt good too. He tried to
forget his precarious predicament and 
concentrate on the sensations created by her 
wonderful hands and his muscular chest.

Suddenly Skinner half carried, half-dragged 
him over to the table and pushed him down 
hard into a chair. Intense pain shot
through Mulder's body. He hoped no one 
noticed his wince. Skinner growled, "We are 
NOT going to have a repeat
performance of that other meal, Agent Mulder. 
I don't care if you feel anxious and upset, 
this evening you are going to eat.
We are going to make sure you start this 
weekend well nourished, punishment of no 
punishment. Do I make myself clear?"
Mulder swallowed hard, closed his eyes and 
nodded.

Seating herself beside Mulder, Scully 
preceded to pop a small cherry tomato from 
her salad in his mouth. As soon as he
swallowed, she put in a piece of chicken. 
Occasionally she would pause in her feeding 
of her partner to reach up and press
her mouth against his lips and lick 
provocatively. "Better than any old napkin, 
right Mulder?"

Skinner had been quiet and sullen throughout 
the meal. Glaring at him and scowling at 
Scully's sweet and gentle attention to
Mulder. She hadn't noticed, but Mulder 
certainly had. He knew his boss was furious 
with him. He also sensed that Skinner
was deeply resentful that he had to sit there 
and watch Scully baby her partner. Mulder 
watched his boss out of the corner of
his eye. He wondered just how much Walter 
knew about last night. **Where DID he get his 
information anyway?**

After a full meal, fed to him one bite at a 
time and washed down with generous amounts of 
wine and Scully's soft lips, Mulder
was feeling very warm and noticeably fuzzy. 
He felt himself begin to sway. **Boy, that 
was some potent wine.** Or maybe
it was the wine mixed with the prescription 
pain pill, leftover from a previous injury, 
that he had taken before driving over to
Skinner's house. Scully would kill him if she 
knew he had mixed wine with medication. 
Mulder felt himself start to slide from
the chair.

"Whoa!" Suddenly Mulder's world tilted as he 
was caught, lifted and slung lover Skinner's 
broad shoulder. Another wave of
pain! Another wince, this one hidden by 
Skinner's back.

"Hey, put me down," Mulder slurred.

Scully laughed, "He isn't much of a drinker."

Skinner hooked his arm around the back of 
Mulder's thighs and headed for the den. "So I 
noticed," he growled. "But this
could work out for the best, he will still 
learn a lesson but I doubt he'll pull a 
repeat of that last stunt and take off 
jogging at
midnight to who knows where. Not in this 
condition.

"I wouldn't count on that, Sir. He is the 
most stubborn man I have ever known, and 
believe me I have known some
har-headed men in my life. I'm not going to 
take my eyes off him. He will NOT be going 
anywhere tonight."

"Hey, I can still hear . . . hear you guys, 
you kn . . .know. You better let me down now. 
I'm getting *real* dizzy."

Skinner set him on his feet, hard. Felt him 
sway and grabbed him before he could fall. 
Scully got right in her partner's face
with one pointing finger. Mulder pulled his 
head back a little while Scully's narrowed 
eyes swam in front of his face. "You
listen to me, Fox Mulder, you are getting 
just what you deserve tonight and if you pull 
that running away crap again I will hunt
you down and blister you again whenever and 
wherever I find you. Got that?"

This was ridiculous. "Oh yeah, you and who 
else, Scully?"

A throat cleared loudly in Mulder's ear. 
**Shit! Forgot about Skinner again. ** 
Skinner spun him around, his hands like twin
vice grips on Mulder's upper arms. The AD 
looked into his agent's large, dark, and very 
glassy eyes, "it is time, Agent
Mulder, to talk about you putting yourself in 
unnecessary danger, proceeding without backup 
and worrying your partner . . .
not to mention your direct supervisor. Do you 
have anything to say?"

Skinner looked furious. Mulder made an 
uncharacteristic and very wise decision to 
keep his mouth shut. Skinner gave him a
little shake. "Cooperation . . . a good 
choice, Kid."

Mulder shook his head, he felt like he had 
cotton in his throat. He licked his lips and 
finally croaked as softly as possible.
"Plea . . . please whatever you know, Walter, 
just . . . please don't tell Scully."

Dana heard every word and they immediately 
got her full attention. "Don't tell me what? 
What are you hiding from me
Mulder?"

Mulder stared at his boss, his eyes full of 
pleading. Skinner gave him another shake and 
a very evil smile. Wrapping one
massive arm around Mulder's waist, Skinner 
easily lifted the younger, thinner agent's 
feet off the floor and headed for the
couch.

Now Mulder was furious. **Big Ex-Marine 
Show-off** Mulder knew this tactic was just 
to let him know that cooperation
was really his only alternative. Skinner most 
assuredly had the upper hand, he just wished 
Scully wasn't here to watch him
being manhandled like some kid.

At least Skinner hadn't shaken him like that 
last time. That was really embarrassing. What 
if the bad guys found out that
Special Agent Fox Mulder didn't know how to 
stop someone from shaking him like a naughty 
little boy. Gun, knife, mutant
slime . . . no problem, just don't shake the 
big tough Fibbie. Jeez!

In one smooth graceful move, Skinner sat on 
the couch and Mulder landed hard face down 
across his thighs, the air
completely knocked out of him. Pain shot 
through his body. ** Shit! Shit! Shit!**

Scully watched closely as her beautiful 
partner struggled across Walter's lap. He 
seemed to be gasping for breath. It seemed
to her that Walter was being unusually rough 
with Mulder. She wondered just what was 
really going on here. What had
Mulder not told her? What *did* Walter know 
that was making him so angry. Well someone 
was going to tell her, and soon,
they could just count on that.

Skinner dropped one hand to the back of 
Mulder's dark head and pushed down, 
effectively trapping the fighting, cursing
man. "Calm down, Mulder, or I'll gag you. You 
don't want Scully to see you like that do 
you?" Skinner reached around and
expertly unfastened Mulder's jeans. Too quick 
to even anticipate, everything was pushed to 
his knees and Mulder lay bare.
**Nice view**

Mulder blushed furiously. Skinner ran his 
hand over the surface of his agent's 
backside. "Now Fox," he said, "you just lay
here quietly while I tell Dana the full story 
about your activities last night. I assume 
you have yet to fill her in on all the more
interesting points of your little nocturnal 
adventure." He was rewarded with a groan from 
Mulder.

Scully's confused eyes met Skinner's. "Well 
finally! Wha . . . what did he do?"

"Dana, you partner, based on one more than an 
anonymous note slipped under his door, met an 
unknown informant' at two
a.m. in the absolute worst section of the 
wharf. Apparently he told no one about the 
meeting and waited there in plain view
for some time.

Then it seems he was attacked from behind by 
an unknown assailant with a rather large 
knife. I think that later when you
remove his clothing, you will find some sort 
of knife wound. Maybe several.

Caught unaware, Mulder could not get his gun 
out as the person slashed at him. He was 
forced to jump into the ice cold
water to avoid further injury. The DC police 
officer who called me this morning wanted to 
be sure my agent had obtained
medical assistance. Mulder had spent over an 
hour in the freezing water . . . "

"It was not an hour," Mulder's added comment 
earned him a solid thump to the back of his 
head. "Ouch!"

Skinner resumed with his story, "When they 
pulled him out of the water he appeared to be 
hurt, however he refused to go to
the hospital. In fact, he made such a fuss, 
the officers were more than happy to give up 
and let him leave. "

Scully's face had lost all color but her eyes 
were spitting fire.

Skinner again reached down and thumped the 
back of Mulder's head, "Did you get any 
medical attention, Mulder?"

Mulder winced, "No, I didn't need any." 
Another thump to his head. "Hey, cut it out." 
Another thump. At this rate he was
going to have a concussion before they got 
around to doing anything else to him.

"Did you let your partner know you were hurt 
and needed her assistance?"

"No." Mulder didn't dare look at Scully. She 
was probably planning where to hid his body 
at this point. Skinner was being
rough with him. Scully just might really kill 
him.

"I noticed you were walking a little stiffly 
today. Can I assume you are not seriously 
injured?"

"No, just a couple of little scratches." In 
truth the scratches had needed to have the 
bandages changed several times today
because the cuts had bled through. He had 
made sure he did not remove his dark jacket 
all day, effectively hiding any blood
stains. Tonight he hoped his heavy dark 
sweater would offer the same protection. He 
had planned to take a firm stand and to
make a quick get away this evening to avoid 
undressing.

But no need to hide anything now, Walter 
would make sure Scully saw the knife slashes 
to his left side and right arm. She
would insist on patching him up, probably 
very painfully, then after she considered him 
properly tortured she would simply
finish him off. Hopefully a clean kill.

Skinner looked over to where Agent Mulder's 
long suffering partner sat. She looked ready 
to murder him herself. Skinner felt
he had been wise to get Mulder completely 
under his own control, shielded from the 
wrath of Scully, before he told her
about Mulder's late night activities.

He wasn't sure how badly Mulder was hurt. The 
heat coming from the young man's body could 
mean a fever. Better to get
this over with and see to his wounds. Why 
didn't he tell them if he was badly hurt.

"Do you see why I am so angry, Dana?"

Scully took a few moments to answer, all the 
time glaring at her unresponsive partner, who 
wisely kept his eyes glued firmly
to the carpet that was so close to his nose. 
Mulder winced. This position was really 
hurting the cut on his side but he didn't
think now was the appropriate time to 
complain.

Scully's eyes were shining brightly, "Yes, I 
do. Of course I would like to examine any 
wounds he may have as soon as
possible. But since you have him in that 
position I think a little warm up would be in 
order. If he could go without my medical
assistance all day, he can surely wait just a 
little while longer. I'll get the paddle for 
you, Sir."

Mulder closed his eyes and swallowed hard.

As Scully left the room, Skinner reached down 
and ruffled Mulder's hair. "I think you 
really messed up this time, Kid. As
angry as she is right now, I really doubt she 
will waste any time patting your head and 
kissing your ear this time."

Did he have to sound so happy about this? And 
why was Skinner calling him Kid'? **Better 
wait to bring up that objection
too. **

Scully walked back into the room carrying 
that dreaded paddle. Skinner had shown it to 
him soon after he had acquired it.
Where had Skinner gotten such a thing anyway, 
he as an Assistant Director for the FBI for 
Heaven's Sake, he couldn't just
walk into a store and buy something like 
that. Could he? Come to think of it, Skinner 
had lots of little toys'. Just where did he
get that stuff but more importantly, why did 
he feel that he had to use them on Mulder.

He heard Scully's soft voice. She sounded 
frustrated and angry and hurt all at the same 
time. Mulder was beginning to feel
really guilty. "Sir, why did you let me feed 
him and be so nice to him when you knew how 
angry I would be when you told
me about last night."

Skinner smiled at her, "Dana, he drives both 
of us absolutely crazy. He's thoughtless, 
impulsive and reckless but . . . we
LOVE him. We know he only sleeps when he is 
with us, he only eats right when he is with 
us and he only stays out of trouble
when his is with us. I couldn't let him skip 
dinner like he did last time we had to punish 
him. I want him to remember tonight
but I want him healthy to do it. Agreed?"

Mulder groaned softly. Why did they have to 
talk about him as if he wasn't even in the 
room? Actually, not be in this
particular room right now would be a really 
good thing.

Scully signed, "You're right as usual, Sir, I 
DO Love him but . . . " her voice took on a 
hard edge. "I don't want him to be
able to sit down for a week. Agreed?" Another 
groan from Mulder.

Skinner laughed for the first time that 
night, "agreed, Agent Scully." Then he 
brought the paddle down hard on Mulder's left
buttock. Mulder flinched and bite down on his 
bottom lip hard in order to remain silent. 
The pain shot up his backside,
through his body and settled in his injured 
side.

"Mulder" Slap! Slap! Slap!"you are the most" 
Slap! Slap! "reckless person I have " Slap! 
"ever had the misfortune" Slap!
Slap! "to know."

Skinner alternated sides and Mulder squirmed, 
desperately trying to avoid that viscous 
piece of wood. Slap! "For someone
with your intelligence" Slap! "when it comes 
to your own safety" Slap! "you just never 
seem" Slap! "to use your head."

"Walter . . . pl . . . please stop . . . no 
more."

Scully was shocked. Mulder sounded so 
desperate. **It must be the wine. ** Usually 
Mulder tried to remain absolutely
silent during any chastisement. It was a 
matter of pride with him. He was so easily 
embarrassed by this treatment. That was
one of the reasons it was so effective. 
Mulder hated every minute of it.

"How many times do I" Slap! Slap! Slap! "have 
to tell you to not go off" Slap! "by 
yourself" Slap! "to not listen to every
crackpot" Slap! Slap! "with a lame brained 
story" Slap! "and NEVER" Slap! "NEVER" Slap! 
"NEVER" Slap! "proceed
without backup."

Mulder moaned and seemed to be gasping for 
air. "I won't . . . won't do it again. I 
won't. I promise."

Mulder's backside was a deep burning red. He 
seemed exhausted and was hanging almost 
limply over Skinner's lap. As
Walter continued with his punishment, Mulder 
groaned with pain. Scully hardened her heart, 
he deserved every bit of this but
still she wished it was over.

Mulder's injured side was really hurting now 
and he thought he could feel a sticky wetness 
soaking his shirt. "Stop . . . please.
Please, I won't do . . . it . . . again." He 
was beyond pride now, he would beg is 
necessary.

Skinner stopped, "Does this hurt, Mulder? 
Slap! "Well, you still have a lot more to 
come, but first I'm going to let your
partner get her hands on you. I think she has 
been waiting very patiently for the chance."

Mulder groaned again, **No doubt she was just 
itching to get at him. ** As uncomfortable as 
he was right now, Mulder
would prefer to stay right where he was. 
Scully could be very dangerous, even to him. 
And he was *so* dizzy. Damned
wine.

Skinner set him on his feet, held him steady 
while he roughly rearranged his clothing. 
Scully had moved to stand in front of
him and was already pulling impatiently at 
his sweater. He knew his side wound had 
reopened and was bleeding badly. He
could feel it hot and wet on his skin. 
Probably had ruined his favorite shirt and 
Skinner's pants as well. He felt her hand 
move
across the soiled bandage covering the cut. 
He closed his eyes and waited for her 
inevitable lecture to begin. Instead he felt
her hand connect sharply with his cheek, 
driving his head back against Skinner. Both 
men were totally surprised by her
attack. Evidently Scully's own no one hurts 
Mulder' rule did not apply to herself.

"Mulder, I can't believe this. You know 
better. I have been your partner for five 
years, FIVE YEARS! I have taken you to
the hospital many times for lesser wounds 
than this."

"Yeah, but you weren't there this time, 
Scully." Oops! That was not the right thing 
to say, she was glaring at him again. He
certainly hoped she didn't decide he had 
earned another slap. He was feeling really 
lightheaded now. Maybe too much wine,
maybe too much blood loss, or maybe just too 
much attention from his friends'. **He really 
should consider a major change
of lifestyle. **

Scully had her hand on his forehead. Her palm 
felt so cool and nice. He wanted her to leave 
it there for just a little while.

"Put him on the couch, Walter. On top of 
everything else, he has a fever. I should 
have known." Skinner uncuffed him and
helped him the rest of the way off with his 
shirt. **Uh-Oh, the arm wound was now clearly 
visible. ** Another dirty
bandage. Another glare from Scully and a 
couple of hard shakes from Skinner.

"Whoa!" The room titled again and Mulder 
headed for the floor. Skinner caught him 
easily in his arms before he fell, took a
few steps and laid him down on the couch.

Cool cloth on his face. **Nice** Soft gentle 
voice, Scully's voice. **Nice**. "Mulder, can 
you hear me? Mulder? How do
you feel?"

"My ass hurts, Scully." He graced her with 
his best pout using that luscious bottom lip 
to its fullest advantage. Even this far
gone, he knew he needed all the help he could 
get.

She smiled down at him, "Yes, I'm sure it 
does. However, if I were you, I would not 
count on that improving in the near
future. How about your arm and your side? Are 
you in much pain? Do you feel nauseous?"

**Whoa, too many questions at once. ** Mulder 
just stared at her with his big glazed hazel 
eyes.

Scully softened, "Mulder what am I going to 
do with you? I can't even trust you to tell 
me when you are hurt, let alone when
you decide to take out on some idiotic 
secret' mission."

"I'm sorry, Scully." He really did look 
sincere. Big sad eyes, trembling bottom lip, 
almost his whole range of manipulative
expressions. Usually magic. She looked up at 
Skinner. He still wasn't buying it. She 
patted Mulder's soft hair. "Sorry, it
appears you are still in trouble with the 
boss." Scully brushed the hair out of his 
eyes and proceeded to patch him up . . .
again.

As Dana worked on him, a very dizzy Mulder 
pouted, whined, squirmed and wiggled, then 
finally slipped into
unconsciousness. Scully signed with relief 
and finished with her stitches.

"Sir, I'm not saying he doesn't deserve 
everything you want to give him but I think 
the remainder had better wait. After all, we
have all weekend and he just doesn't have 
much left tonight."

Skinner looked at the darkly handsome man and 
the beautiful red-haired woman. He really did 
love both of these gorgeous
people. He took a deep breath. Time to let go 
of his anger. After all, he wanted to teach 
Mulder a lesson, not torture him.
**Even if he is the most irritating, 
reckless, pigheaded . . . ** Skinner took a 
deep breath. Just let it go.

Scully gently rolled Mulder over and pulled 
down his jeans again preparing an injection 
of a good antibiotic. She could have
administered it in his arm but she liked this 
view better. Besides why give him a sore arm. 
He wasn't going to be able to sit
down tomorrow anyway, probably wouldn't even 
notice this new hurt.

"Okay, all done." She pulled his clothing 
back into place and moved away.

Skinner reached down and easily picked Mulder 
up into his arms. **This kid really is too 
thin. We need to make sure he
eats better. ** "All right Dana, you win. 
Let's take him upstairs and see if we can 
make him feel better. But I guarantee that if
he ever pulls a stunt like this again, I will 
. . . "

"I know, Walter. I feel the same way. But can 
you forget it and just enjoy the rest of our 
weekend together?"

Walter looked down at the beautiful man 
sleeping in his arms. Long black lashes 
resting on smooth, tear stained cheeks. He
looked about twelve years old and very 
innocent. Did Mulder know how to look like 
that whenever needed? It was certainly
effective.

Walter sighed, "Yeah Dana, no need to ruin 
our weekend." He shook his head. "Why does my 
anger at this man always
dissipate so quickly?"

Scully looked at him sympathetically. **Why 
indeed, she had asked herself that same 
question more times than she could
count. **

Skinner looked down at the young man's face 
again. "More punishment probably wouldn't 
stop him next time anyway. What
are we going to do with him? He just makes me 
crazy."

"I know, Walter. All we can do is love him 
and try to take care of him." Then her eyes 
narrowed dangerously, "But I do
know this, every time he takes an unnecessary 
chance, every time he ditches me, every time 
I have to save his ass . . . I am
going to be right there to claim a piece of 
that same cute little ass. He will learn. Oh 
yes, I swear to you, he WILL learn."

Together they headed for the stairs. "Look at 
it this way Dana, at least we won't have to 
try to get him back from some
crazed psycho tonight."

End Six