Vampire Series Part VII 
by DiAnn

Rating: NC17 - language, adult themes

Category: Slash / MSR/ Pure Trash / Discipline

Warning: Mulder/Skinner/Scully 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.

Summary:  Vince the Vampire warns Mulder of danger to Skinner and 
Scully.

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.





Vampire Series Part VII 
It's About Time 
by DiAnn



Georgetown Scully's Bedroom 5:00 a.m.

"Mulder."

Fox Mulder snuggled further into the warm nest he had made for 
himself. He was wrapped snugly around Scully's beautiful naked body 
and that was exactly where he wanted to stay. Besides, there was 
something chilling about that dream voice that sent a wave of pure 
terror up his spine. He did not want to have any little surprises 
tonight. He was much too comfortable.

"Mulder."

"G'way."

"Come on, Sweet Boy, wake up."

Mulder opened one eye. It couldn't be! He blinked a couple of times 
just to make sure and accepted the awful truth. His worse fear was 
realized, Vince that damned useless vampire was sitting on the side of 
their bed, poking at Mulder's bare shoulder with one long icy finger.

Mulder closed his eyes tightly, "I said, go away. Now! Do it before I 
open my eyes again."

"I have to talk to you, Sweet Boy. Your Scully and Skinner are in 
terrible danger and you are the only one who can save them."

Two Hours Later Highway 70 West

Scully was shuffling through the information contained in the case 
file now spread out on her lap. Reading a file in a moving car was no 
easy task but she had become adept at it over the years. "Mulder, I 
can't find the copies of the 302 forms authorizing this case anywhere 
in the file."

When she didn't get an answer, Scully looked over at her partner who 
was keeping his eyes very carefully on the road ahead. Trying 
desperately to avoid looking at her.

"Mulder?"

"Well . . . uh-h-h . . . you see . . . "

"Oh no. Mulder you did get Skinner to sign off on this investigation, 
didn't you? Please tell me this isn't happening again."

"It'll be okay, Scully, we'll just take a quick look. Walter is out of 
town until Wednesday, which is three whole days. He is sure to sign 
off on the request when he gets back and we'll have a head start on 
the investigation."

"And just why are you so sure he will sign off on this request of 
yours."

Mulder wiggled his eyebrows at her, "He likes me."

Scully fought a smile as she put the file away and started digging 
frantically through her purse.

"What are you looking for, Scully?"

"My hairbrush. I just want to make sure that I have it with me."

"Oh, come on Scully, this will be fun. Walter won't mind. Especially," 
he looked at her pointedly, "when he doesn't find out about it."

"All right, Mulder . . . for now. What exactly are we looking into?"

"Reports of stra-a-a-ange happenings," he glanced over and wiggled his 
eyebrows at her again, "just outside of Boston. Specifically at the 
DeWit Mansion, now operating as the DeWit Mansion Inn. This case has 
everything you like Scully, weird flashes of light, strange noises . . 
. "

"Those are all things that you like, Mulder."

"And . . . missing bodies."

She raised on an eyebrow at him but remained silent.

"We'll have a nice couple of days in this beautiful historic Inn, see 
what is going on and be back in D.C. in time to pick up our 302 and . 
. . " he wiggled his eyebrows at her again, "welcome Walter home."

"Just remember what he said, Mulder. Our boss wants to come home just 
once and find you have not gotten into trouble while he was away. You 
promised."

Her partner snorted, "Not like I had a lot of choice in the matter. Of 
course I promised."

"Mulder he was not threatening you with his belt, he was only getting 
dressed."

"Yeah, right! Don't worry, Scully, I'm not going to get into any 
trouble."

"Of course, you aren't, Sweet Boy. Are we there yet?"

"Mulder! Get your head up off the wheel and watch the road! What is 
wrong with you? Why are you whimpering like that? You'd better let me 
drive. Mulder? Mulder?"

DeWit Mansion Inn Murrey, MA

Scully appraised the old inn with a critical eye. Well, it may have 
been a luxurious home once but it certainly had seen better days. It 
was sad really. Such a grand and glorious history and now it just 
seemed . . . well faded. Like a shadow of what it had once been.

The front lobby was old and a little shabby but still wonderful. 
Beautiful hand crafted mosaic tile floors, covered here and there with 
softly faded oriental rugs. Stained glass placed strategically in 
areas of the floor to ceiling windows, creating glorious focal points 
of light. Hugh marble pillars stood guard intermittently around the 
large sitting room and everywhere Scully looked there were dark, rich 
walnut-covered walls. Not that cheap paneling like in most of the 
motels she shared with her partner, this was the real stuff and it 
gleamed warmly in the soft muted light.

"Welcome to The DeWit Mansion, may I help you?"

Scully ran her hand along the polished wood of the desk. "Yes you may. 
I'm Dana Scully. We have reservations. This is a beautiful old house 
by the way."

"Thank you. We are trying to restore it. This mansion has a marvelous 
history. It was built in the early eighteen hundreds by a rich ship 
builder." The man lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, "It 
was said the man was a real tyrant and quite mad. He had a wife with 
the face of an angel, who some say, was more frightening than her 
diabolical husband. And then there was the brother that no one ever 
talked about. In eighteen nineteen there was some kind of scandal 
involving the bodies of a young man and woman found in the basement. 
The mansion remained in the hands of some distant relative for many 
years before being sold to the DeWit Family in eighteen forty-one. It 
was turned into an Inn in nineteen sixty-two when the last of the 
family, Margarite DeWit died at the age of ninety-three."

"My partner is going to love that story."

Encouraged by the obvious interest of the beautiful woman in front of 
him, the desk clerk continued, "Most people do love the story. Are you 
going to be staying with us for very long, Mrs. Scully?"

"Actually, it's Special Agent Scully, FBI. I believe you have 
reservations for me and my partner, Fox Mulder." She looked around but 
could not see Mulder anywhere. Now what?

"Yes." He smiled brightly, "You are in rooms 402 and 403. They are 
adjoining, as per your request. As a matter of fact they were once the 
master suit for the owner and his wife. However, I'm afraid those 
aren't two of our newly redecorated rooms. We were able to book a 
convention of Hospital Administrators this week. We're very excited 
about it. We have just recently converted the stables into a 
convention center. However, that does mean that you are on the fourth 
floor. That floor is exactly as it has been for the last one hundred 
plus years. The rooms are very lovely, just a little worn."

Scully smiled at him. "I'm sure they will be fine."

Scully turned to find her wayward partner when a thought struck her. 
"Did you say Hospital Administrators?"

"Yes Agent Scully, from all over the country."

"Would you mind giving me the name of the person who is in charge of 
the conference? I would like to speak with them, I am also a medical 
doctor. Perhaps I know some of the attendees." And maybe they know 
what is going on with the missing bodies at this Inn.

He checked his computer and smiled at her, "Yes, his name is Dr. 
Gerald Ramsey." He saw Scully's eyebrows climb, "Friend of yours?"

"My partner is much more closely acquainted with him than I am, 
actually."

The clerk smiled at the grinning red head. What a charming woman.

Mulder pulled the suitcases out of the trunk. Vince had better know 
what he was talking about or Mulder was going to find himself in big 
trouble with Scully and with Skinner. Not a healthy situation.

"I thought we'd never get here, Sweet Boy. You drive like an elderly 
gentleman making his weekly trip to the proctologist."

Mulder gritted his teeth, "I do not drive like . . . Vince, why are we 
here at all. What is going on? Tell me now or I go in that house, 
spend two great days in bed with Scully and then back to DC."

"Well I'm really not sure. Some kind of experiment is going on here. 
All I know for sure is that they were going to kidnap your Scully and 
Mr. Skinner to participate in whatever they are doing. Now, it's up to 
you, you can go have sex with your scary little partner or you can 
find out what these people are up to and stop them."

"Experiments? This is an Inn Vince, what kind of experimentation could 
be going on here? The formula for a new hollandaise sauce maybe?"

Vince shrugged his shoulder, "Fine. You want to make jokes, go right 
ahead but when your two lethal lovers are gone, don't come crying to 
me."

"Okay, don't get your fangs in a twist. I'll go check in and then have 
a look around. This is a huge place, maybe there is some kind of 
medical facility hidden here."

"<We'll> have a look around. This is my case."

"Your . . . your case! Since when do you have cases?"

"Since I gained my full powers." The vampire grinned wickedly, "I have 
magic and don't you forget it. You let me help you or you'll find out 
first hand how it felt to be the whipping boy for Henry VI.

Shit! Mulder turned and stomped into the hotel while Vince followed 
behind him looking smug and completely contented with his life.

"Got our keys, Scully?"

"Yes. Where were you?"

"Uh-h-h-h, just looking around. Thinking about the case. You know."

"Did you see any ghosts, Mulder?" She smirked at him.

Mulder rolled his eyes at her. "Ghosts, Scully? You have got to be 
kidding me. What would possibly make you think I would see a ghost?"

Scully just stared at him. She would have bet cash money that he was 
here to look for ghosts.

"It isn't even dark yet, Scully. Jeez!" And he walked away.

Scully watched him retreat toward the elevator, "Well, at least no one 
replaced him with a clone while he was out of my sight."

DeWit Mansion Inn Room 402

"How did you get us into this dinner tonight, Scully?" Mulder asked. 
This was a stroke of pure luck, if anyone knew about government 
experiments and lost or missing bodies, it would be hospital 
administrators.

"They learned I was a medical doctor and extended the invitation as a 
professional courtesy." She looked up into his eyes and straightened 
his tie, "You know Mulder, I'm surprised that you are so anxious to 
attend. I thought you wanted to look for ghosts or something."

"If this makes you happy, it makes me happy. Come on Scully, I want to 
see who is here. And we may not be looking for ghosts. Ghosts do not 
usually steal bodies,"

She pulled him down and kissed the end of his nose. "Let's go. I 
haven't gotten an opportunity to talk to other physicians for a long 
time. This should be fun. A lot of fun."

He rolled his eyes at that doubtful notion but dutifully followed her 
to the elevator and down to the banquet room.

The DeWit Mansion Hotel Private Dinner Party

Mulder looked around the room. Doctors were certainly a stuffy bunch. 
He spotted the three doctors who were the main speakers for this 
conference. Mulder was a little surprised. They looked more like The 
Three Stooges than three genius doctors. Two of them were short and 
rotund. The third was tall and willow thin. He looked like a good 
brisk wind could easily knock him over. All seemed ill at ease in this 
social atmosphere and any one of them could have launched a successful 
campaign for the Nerd of the Year' Award.

"Well if it isn't Fox Mulder, the FBI's Agent Boy, Extraordinaire."

Mulder froze. He knew that voice. He looked up slowly to see Dr. 
Gerald Ramsey being seated across from him. He blushed in spite of his 
best efforts. He saw the doctor smile at his discomfort.

"My nurses are still talking about how much they enjoyed your stay in 
our hospital, Agent Mulder."

Mulder blushed a more brilliant shade of red and nodded weakly at Dr. 
Ramsey.

A middle-aged man in too tight pants and tons of gold jewelry, seated 
to Ramsey's right, took the opportunity to join in the conversation 
with the two handsome men. He eyed Mulder as if he were the chef's 
selection on the menu for this evening.

"Agent? As in 007?" He batted his lashes at Mulder.

"No, Sir, as in FBI. Special Agent Fox Mulder." Mulder used his best 
kick-ass- macho- federal agent- voice'. He didn't want any 
misunderstanding about his interest, or lack thereof, in this 
blatantly flirtatious man.

"Well you certainly are as handsome as that man in the movies." He 
held out his hand limply, "My name is Toby Bender. I am Dr. Carl 
Welch's . . . companion. Carl is one of the main speakers this year 
and very busy, so I have lots of free time on my hands."

He batted his eyelashes again and Mulder cringed. He glanced over at 
Scully, who was carrying on a conversation with a bearded little man 
on the wonders of artificial valves. No help there. He gulped and 
glanced back across the table, Ramsey was talking again.

"Yes, I had the pleasure of having Agent Mulder as a patient at my 
hospital recently. We started off on a rather bad foot, I'm afraid. 
But once he was made aware of hospital policies and procedures, and 
what could happen when these procedures were ignored, everything went 
much smoother for all of us. Didn't it, Agent Mulder?"

Mulder swallowed hard. He didn't like the direction this conversation 
was headed.

"Yes . . . yes, Sir. I think . . . "

Ramsey now had Toby's undivided attention, "Fox became quite popular 
with my staff. They spent as much time as possible in his room. I 
really think they just liked the view."

Mulder blushed again.

"Well," Toby laughed. "I can understand that." His mascara laden 
lashes batted once more, "You are quite gorgeous, Agent Mulder. " 
Mulder shuddered and reached for his iced tea.

"Yes, I heard my nurses make several comments that Agent Mulder had 
many spectacular ass-ets. Especially after . . . "

Mulder spewed iced tea through his nose earning him a glare from 
Scully and a chuckle from his former doctor. "Pl . . . please Dr. 
Ramsey, could we change the subject now. I'm sure Mr. Bender doesn't 
want to hear about my stay in the hospital." He could feel his face 
flaming with embarrassment.

Toby Bender winked at him. "Oh, Fox you are blushing so charmingly. I 
can see why his nurses were smitten."

"Oh yes, Mr. Bender, you would be surprised what a wonderful shade of 
red Agent Mulder can turn with the correct stimulation."

Mulder choked on his tea again. Scully reached over and took it away 
from him, sitting it down on the table in front of her before resuming 
her conversation with the gentleman to her right. Jeez! Maybe she 
should start carrying one of those little sippy cups for him.

As the three Reconstructive Surgery Specialists took the podium, 
Mulder watched Dr. Ramsey out of one corner of his eye. Deciding the 
quack doctor wasn't going to enlighten the dinner table with tales of 
how to keep errant FBI Agents in line, he listened to Moe, Larry and 
Curly' talk about their big medical breakthrough.

They had discovered an artificial prosthetic that functioned 
identically to the lost limb. They claimed it was perfect in both 
appearance and feel. And actually attached itself to the body to 
become a permeant part of the living tissue. It was, they claimed, a 
medical miracle. He glanced at Scully, Jeez! She questioned everything 
that her own partner said but believed this stuff. Just label it with 
science and reel Scully in.

As he listened he realized they only wanted to talk about successful 
results with three patients. When asked about initial test subjects, 
they were vague. When asked about funding they became nervous and 
moved on quickly. When asked about the actual mechanics of their 
procedures, they were evasive, almost defensive.

Mulder the psychologist watched the body language and grew more 
suspicions by the moment. This whole thing just reeked of government 
funding and cover-up. More covert labs doing dark little experiments 
on the American public. He was sick of it.

Finally he couldn't stand it another moment, he stood to ask some 
questions of his own, "Is your project funded by the government?" He 
felt Scully pulling on his sleeve, trying to make him sit down again.

"Uh-h-h, we would like to focus on the results at this ti . . . "

"Did you come here in a black helicopter?"

"Uh-h-h-h . . . "

"Do you know a man who chain smokes?"

The three little men were staring at him with open-mouthed surprise 
from their position behind the podium. They looked decidedly nervous 
and distressed. The crowd was beginning to look harshly at the 
disruptive young man asking these rude and inappropriate questions.

Mulder went in for the kill. "Are you abducting innocent civilians to 
use as lab rats for your project? Are you covering up these abductions 
with false reports of UFO sitings and alien abductions? Are you or are 
you not, involved in a global conspiracy to . . . "

Mulder suddenly realized the room had gone dead silent and Scully had 
laid her head down on the table. Actually she seemed to be pounding it 
against the table. Interesting. He had only ever seen Skinner do that, 
perhaps she had picked up the habit from the Assistant Director.

Outdoor Pool Area One hour later

Mulder walked morosely around the deserted pool, he was in trouble. 
Scully wasn't even speaking to him . . . well except to threaten him 
with that damned hairbrush of hers. And that asshole Ramsey was 
lurking around somewhere, probably hanging all over Scully. Well he 
couldn't have her. Mulder might drive Scully absolutely crazy but she 
loved him, he was sure of that. Ramsey didn't stand a chance. Did he?

He sat down forlornly on a deck chair and looked at the dark water. 
Why was it that no one ever listened to him? He had some perfectly 
legitimate questions for those doctors and no one, including Scully, 
wanted to hear them.

"Fox?"

Toby Bender stepped out of the shadows. Mulder sighed. Shit! He was 
not in the mood to be hit on right now. He rose to his feet.

"Mr. Bender, I'm afraid I'm not very good company at the moment."

"I know, Fox. I just needed to talk to you. You're right, you know. My 
Carl is involved with that terrible cigarette smoking man. He came to 
our house once and I had to have the maid air everything after he 
left. I'm afraid for my lover, Agent Mulder. When I heard your 
questions, I knew I could confide in you."

Mulder nodded his head, encouraging him to go on.

"I think they are doing something terribly evil and immoral. My lover 
was very upset about it at first but then when everything started 
going so well . . . he just . . . he just pretended that it was . . . 
he needs your help, Agent Mulder. Carl isn't like that. He's a kind 
and gentle man, I know this is tearing him up. His brother, Floyd 
would do anything to advance his work but not my Carl. Floyd is the 
one who invited Dr. Stines to join the research team."

"Dr. Stines?"

"Yes. Dr. Franklin J. Stines. He is supposedly the best Reconstructive 
Surgeon in the world. But . . . well, I just don't like him. He's . . 
. he's well, he's just spooky."

Mulder frowned at him, "Spooky people have many redeeming qualities, 
Mr. Bender. Why don't you just tell me everything you know? I'll help 
you if at all possible."

"I know Dr. Stines is responsible for all of this. When he joined the 
research team I could tell an immediate difference in my precious 
Carl. I don't know what they are doing or how they are making those 
amazing artificial limbs but I . . . I just . . . "

He suddenly threw himself into Mulder's arms, sobbing daintily, his 
head resting on the agent's Armani clad shoulder.

Mulder tried to gently push him away, "There, there, Mr. Bender, 
everything will be fine. I'll help you and . . . "

He heard a throat clear behind him, "Am I interrupting something, 
Sweet Boy? Are you going to ask him to have sex with you?"

Jeez! Leave it to the vampire to think of a stupid thing like that. 
"Oh course, I'm not going to ask for sex."

"Sex?" Toby backed up still holding the agent by his upper arms and 
looked into his beautiful hazel eyes, "Is that . . . is that usually 
your payment for helping people in distress, Agent Mulder?"

"Sweet Boy, I am shocked. Did you demand that Agent Scully have sex 
with you too?"

"Of course not, but I wanted it from the moment we met." Mulder said 
dreamily.

"Oh-h-h-h, Agent Mulder, I'll do anything for you." Toby's lashes were 
fluttering again

"How romantic, Sweet Boy. What did you want most from Agent Scully 
back then?"

Mulder smiled, "Just one kiss."

"Oh My Fox, your wish is my command." Toby Bender threw his arms 
around the surprised agent, bent him backwards and locked their lips 
together.

Mulder did not even have a chance to struggle before he felt a 
familiar hand latch onto his arm and attempt to jerk him away from 
Toby.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Wal . . . Walter?"

Mulder was tying desperately to extricate himself from Bender's arms 
and figure out what the hell Skinner was doing there. When the 
enamored Toby finally looked up from his struggles to retain 
possession of his new conquest, he noticed the large scowling man who 
was jerking on Mulder's left arm. He let go of the agent quickly and 
started backing away.

"Well, Fox . . . I mean Agent Mulder. I will go for now but I will 
certainly look you up later." He turned and hurried away.

"Why the hell were you kissing that man?"

"I..."

"Why are you in Massachusetts?"

"We . . . "

"Where is Dana?"

"She . . . "

"And why the hell were you kissing that man?"

"The vam . . . "

Skinner grabbed him and gave him a couple of hard shakes, "Why the 
hell won't you answer my questions?"

"Gee Sir', I guess I just don't feel like talking tonight."

Skinner grabbed Mulder's lapels and pulled him in even closer, nose to 
nose. "Why. Were. You. Kissing. That. Man?" He spit out each 
individual word between gritted teeth.

"The vampire made me do it . . . Sir."

The DeWit Mansion Inn Lounge

Mulder gritted his teeth. He had spotted Scully sitting with a group 
of people. Among them was the almighty Dr. Ramsey. Bastard. Mulder 
caught his partner's eye and pulled her away from her friends.

"Walter's here, Scully. He came home early and tracked us through my 
credit card record.' Mulder rolled his eyes, "Seems our boss has 
become quite the hacker. He said it only took him ten minutes this 
time. He's also totally pissed off and he has another one of those 
headaches."

"Oh? Well, I'll just go up and check on him. Are you coming up with 
me, Mulder?"

"I'll wait here, Scully. Walter has been discussing' this case with me 
for the last two hours. I think that's how he got the headache."

"No doubt it was. Fine, I'll go check on him and then I'll be right 
back. Wait for me Mulder."

Of course when she came back down, Mulder was no where to be found.

The DeWit Mansion Inn Basement

Mulder sat tied to a chair, his head resting on his chest. A slow 
trickle of blood ran down the side of his face from somewhere under 
his hairline.

Mulder groaned and slowly opened his eyes. He looked around carefully. 
He was in a lab. And a very well equipped one from the looks of it. He 
shook his head to clear it, then winced with pain. Oh yeah, hit on the 
head again. He and Vince had come down here looking for . . . well, 
looking for this. A medical laboratory. Oh Shit!

He looked around for the vampire. Fat chance he'd hang around once 
they got caught. And of course, they got caught because of Vince. 
Mulder had pulled his gun and the damned vampire had gone completely 
hysterical. Mulder had been so preoccupied with trying to alleviate 
Vince's fear and get him to quiet down, he didn't even see his 
assailant before it was too late.

The agent carefully twisted his head around looking for the door. He 
spotted a table with a sheet draped form lying on it. Oh Shit! But he 
still couldn't turn far enough to see an exit. He had to get out of 
here some how and quickly.

Then his heart sank as he heard the door slowly opening behind him. 
"Agent Mulder, you're finally awake. How nice of you to visit my 
humble little research facility."

Mulder waited until the speaker, a tall distinguished man in his early 
fifties, had moved around into his line of vision. "And you are, I 
presume, Dr. Stines?"

"Good guess! Excellent! But you may call me Dr. Frank, Fox . . . all 
my friends do. My friends and my test subjects. By the way, I do 
appreciate your volunteering like this."

"And just what am I volunteering for, Dr. Stines?"

The doctor moved over to the shrouded table and quickly pulled back 
the sheet. Underneath lie a man. A very large man who had obviously 
been in some sort of horrific accident. From all appearances, he had 
been literally torn apart and then rather haphazardly put back 
together. He was so odd, he almost seemed to be made of spare parts. 
He looked . . . Oh Shit!

"Is that . . . "

"Yes Fox. My creation. Dr. Frank Stines's most successful experiment. 
Don't your see the irony in this? I was so appropriately named. I have 
known since I was a child that I would some day be one of the world's 
greatest doctors." He threw his hands into the air, "Dr. Frank Stines, 
creator of life."

Mulder expected there to be a clap of thunder and a flash of 
lightening but it didn't happen. Jeez! What a egomaniac. He wondered 
if the real Dr. Frankenstein shared that rather annoying trait?

"So you are funded by the Cigarette Smoking Man?" 





The doctor nodded and smiled.

"To create what? The ultimate soldier?"

"No." The doctor was still smiling. It made chills run up Mulder's 
spine.

"A cold-blooded assassin?"

"Nope. Try again, Fox. I know you are a bright boy. Now think hard."

Mulder gritted his teeth, "Just what kind of diabolical monster are 
you creating here, Dr. Stines? Some heartless, blood thirsty mutant 
meant to prey upon humanity and promote widespread terror in an 
unsuspecting population? "

"Close! You're very close, My Boy." Dr. Stines puffed out his chest 
and smiled coldly at his captive federal agent. "But think worse than 
that, Fox, much worse. Much more frightening and much more monetarily 
valuable, it's . . . " He turned,

"The world's first perfect," he pointed to his creation proudly, 
"Tele-marketer!"

"Ah-h-h-h-h!" Mulder couldn't help the scream that tore from his 
throat. This was fiendish! This madman was pure unadulterated evil.

"Imagine it, Fox. An employee who never needs rest, who can make calls 
twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. He will bring a fortune on 
the corporate black market. Every Fortune 500 company will want at 
least a dozen, probably more, and they will pay millions to get them."

"Stines, this is inhuman. This is the most heinous plot I have ever 
encountered."

"Yes, Fox. Impressive, isn't it? This is why I needed you here. You 
and your friends. From your Mr. Skinner I will take intimidation and a 
tendency toward strong-armed tactics. Everyone will be afraid to hang 
up on Harvey."

"Harvey?"

"Everyone needs a name, Fox. And besides that was my mother's name."

"Your mother was named . . . Harvey?"

"Yes. She was a very strong woman, Fox. But enough of that for now. 
>From your delicious Agent Scully I will take that sanctimonious 
attitude. My creation will be sure he is always right and never listen 
to anyone else's opinion. And never, ever, under any circumstances, 
take no for an answer. >From Alex Krycek . . . "

"Krycek! Alex Krycek is here?"

"Why yes, Agent Mulder. He came here to steal my research for Mother 
Russia and to get a new arm, of course. From him I will take a 
complete lack of conscience. My creation will not care if it is dinner 
time or if a child is sick or if . . . "

"Where is he? I haven't seen him."

The doctor ran his hand down Mulder's smooth cheek. "You are also very 
well named, my beautiful Fox. And you can be assured that Alex knows 
that you are here. In fact, I think he has almost decided to forget 
about the research and take you instead. Ah, young love!"

Ew-w-w-w-w-w!

"And from your Dr. Ramsey . . . "

"He is not <my> Dr. Ramsey, you can have whatever you want from him."

"That's very uncharitable, Fox. And after he has tried so hard to 
guide you. But none the less, from him I will take his intolerance of 
others. Harvey will not care how offensive he becomes because he will 
always consider himself superior. No one will be able to hurt his 
feelings because he will not have any."

"Yeah, that's Ramsey all right." He eyed the doctor suspiciously, "And 
just what are you going to take from me?"

"From you?" The doctor laughed, "My dear Fox, you are merely beautiful 
bait to lure the others here. Harvey does not need disobedience, 
disrespect for authority, impulsiveness, recklessness or a hot temper, 
thank you very much."

"Hey, I . . . "

"I had considered using that velvet voice of yours but then my 
assistant . . . uh-h-h . . . dug up Elvis' from somewhere or other. I 
didn't really want to ask. So you see . . . "

Suddenly lightening flashed in the room blinding Mulder momentarily. 
He closed his eyes tightly hoping the sudden explosion of light had 
not caused permanent cornea damage. When he dared open them again, he 
was no longer strapped to the chair. He was tied to a table.

He looked around slowly. What the hell had happened. He was no longer 
in the sparkling clean laboratory. He now appeared to be in a dank 
subterranean facility of some sort. The medical equipment looked old 
and very outdated. What the hell?

The door creaked opened and in came the doctor. Oh Shit! He was 
beginning to smell a vampire here. The doctor was dressed in a long 
dirty lab coat and his eyes looked distinctly insane. And worst of 
all, the doctor was now Gerald Ramsey. Oh Shit! Mulder pulled 
ineffectually at his restraints.

"My Beautiful Fox, I have paid your father the agreed upon price and 
now you belong to me."

"You paid . . . you paid my father for me? You . . . you bought me?"

"Yes, Fox. William has many mouths to feed. He needs the money we paid 
him for you. It will feed the rest of your family for the whole 
winter. You are a bit older than my usual patients' but I think you 
will do quite nicely." The doctor loosened the bindings holding Mulder 
to the wooden table and the agent quickly scrambled to his feet.

"Now take off your cloths, we need to get started."

Mulder backed toward the door, "St . . . started?"

"Well, what do you think, Sweet Boy?"

Mulder jerked around sharply, Ramsey was frozen in place and that 
damned useless vampire was grinning at him proudly.

"What the hell are you doing, Vince?" Mulder hissed.

"It's my first fantasy, what do you think?"

"I think you're crazy. I was in the middle of a case, Vince. Suddenly 
you're doing this shit! What are you thinking? This is nuts! That mad 
doctor is after Scully and Skinner. I can't be here. I have to stop 
him."

"It's the only way I knew to get you out of that basement without your 
friends falling into the hands of that mad' doctor. He can't do a 
thing until you get back. And besides that doctor is the last living 
link to the original family. His great-great-great . . . oh whatever, 
Aunt was the wife of the original builder. And down through the years 
cousins married cousins frequently, which explains . . . "

"Vince, stop babbling. Just get on with it."

"You have the patience of a rattlesnake, Sweet Boy. Is it any wonder 
that doctor didn't want any of your traits for his perfect man?" He 
ignored Mulder's scowl, "Anyway, If you can use my fantasy to change 
the dark history of this house, I think you can stop Dr. Stines' 
future work. And besides, this will be fun, My Sweet Sold' Boy."

"Damn it, Vince! And need I mention that none of the other vampires 
ever showed up to gloat about their questionable accomplishment during 
one of these fiascos?" He jabbed a finger in the vampire's chest. "You 
aren't supposed to be here."

"Cut me a little slack, Sweet Boy. It's my first."

A loud smack on the table beside him got Mulder's immediate attention. 
He looked over to see a long switch had landed fiercely on the scarred 
wooden table right next to him. Shit!

"I said undress, Boy. You'll feel my cane soon enough, no doubt. No 
need to push me this soon."

Mulder quickly took off the odd clothing he was now wearing. He threw 
the ragged and smelly garb aside thinking that someone really should 
open a good dry-cleaning establishment here.

"Bend over my examination table, I want to be more familiar with your 
body before we begin our experiments."

The door creaked open and Walter Skinner walked in. Well sort of 
walked in. He seemed to have something wrong with one of his legs and 
he was sort of . . . dragging it behind him. And he was holding his 
body at a very odd angle. A hump! He had a hump! Damned sex crazed, 
good for nothing Vampire. And the face! Walter's beautiful face, now 
misshapen and disfigured. Oh God, Walter, no! Mulder did, however, 
take some comfort in the fact that his nose was now smaller than 
Walters.

"Ah, you finally decide join us, Sergei. This is our newest addition, 
Fox. He is very beautiful isn't he?"

Walter grunted. Mulder took that as a yes. Skinner had always told him 
that he thought he was good-looking. A pain in the ass but a very 
attractive one.

"I think he will look even better with a few welts across his pretty 
backside. Hold him down, Sergei."

Walter grabbed Mulder's hands and extended them above the agent's 
head, clamping them to the wooden table, pulling him forward until the 
rough edge of the table cut into his thighs. Oh Shit! He looked up 
into Skinner's eyes, trying to break the spell and get his help.

"Do you have him, Sergei?"

Another grunt which Dr. Ramsey seemed to interrupt as a yes also. The 
cane swished through the air and landed with a white hot lightening 
strike across Mulder's butt.

The agent bit down on his lip and choked back his scream. He had heard 
that a caning hurt, now he knew for a fact that it was true.

He heard the swish of the cane cutting the air and the lightening 
struck once more. A moan escaped his lips. Shit! That hurt! He looked 
up and caught Skinner's one good eye, and saw . . . sympathy. Thank 
God, Skinner was still in there somewhere.

The cane struck again and Mulder sucked in his breath only to expel it 
again almost immediately in a scream.

"That should do for a start, I think. Sergei, get the boy cleaned up. 
He will be allowed to rest this night but tomorrow night he will warm 
my bed."

Ew-w-w-w-w! Mulder certainly hoped the doctor took a good bath before 
tomorrow. He wondered if he should suggest it but then decided against 
the idea. Dr. Ramsey was none too stable to begin with, even without 
the help of bumbling vampires and their sick fantasies.

He felt Skinner lifting him up from the examination table. He grunted 
twice, which Mulder took to mean, <Come with me, My Love, I will make 
it all better.> Okay, so it was a stretch but Mulder needed a little 
comfort here. His butt hurt badly.

After Walter had bathed him and rubbed some foul smelling ointment 
into his burning behind, Mulder was lying quietly on what he hoped was 
a bug-free bed. Sergei was making his way around the dark room. Mulder 
wasn't sure what he was doing. Wasn't really sure he wanted to know.

"Don't do that tonight, uh-h-h . . . Sergei, I need you."

Skinner eyed the beautiful man from across the room. "Grunt." <Just 
what I needed, a spoiled brat to babysit.>

Skinner hobbled slowly over to the bed and Mulder held his arms out to 
him.

"Grunt?' <Now what?>

"I want you. I need to feel your arms around me. Please, come to bed 
with me now."

"Grunt?" <What the hell? Is this a dream? Did I nod off or something?>

"Please, I need you."

"Grunt! Grunt!" <Holy Shit! I think I'm gonna' get lucky tonight!>

Mulder shifted his body once more, he was having trouble getting his 
arms around Skinner's hump. And, even more annoying, when he tried to 
lay his head on the man's shoulder, it kept falling off of the slant. 
He finally arrived at a solution by lying his head on Skinner's 
stomach. He began to dig his way through the many layers of tattered 
wool that covered the hunchback's body. He finally made his way down 
to hard warm flesh and kissed Walter's flat stomach lovingly.

"Grunt." <Lower, Kid.>

He trailed kisses down until he could take Skinner's erection into his 
hot silken mouth.

"Grunt! Grunt! Grunt!" <Oh Baby! Oh Baby! Oh Baby!>

"Do you like this?" Mulder smiled up at him.

"Grunt!" <Just try stopping and you'll find out, Clueless Boy.>

Mulder was working his way over every inch of Skinner's body using 
only his lips and tongue. He had reduced the hunchback to a series of 
incoherent grunts. Well okay, none of Skinner's grunts were really 
coherent right now but he already knew what the older man liked.

"I want to feel you in me. Please, make love to me."

"Grunt!" <Did I win the Publisher's Clearing House, or what?>

Some time later, a very satisfied and astonished Skinner smoothed his 
hand through the soft dark hair of the gorgeous man who lay dozing on 
his stomach.

"That was great, Sergei," Mulder snuggled deeper into his lover's 
body.

"Grunt." <I should probably buy him dinner or something.>

"I don't think I could make it here without you."

"Grunt." <I m not looking for a committed relationship, Kid.>

"I love you." Mulder whispered.

"Grunt!" <Well Shit! Now I'm gonna' have to protect him from Ramsey.>

Next Morning Laboratory of the Evil Dr. Ramsey

"Was he good for you, Sergei?"

"Grunt." <Was he ever!>

"Well today, we will see if he possesses any useful skills or talent."

"Grunt." <I can personally guarantee that he has useful skills and 
talent.>

Ramsey ruffled Mulder's hair. "Good boy. You are wise to not give us 
any trouble." Mulder jerked his head away. He had not been allowed to 
dress and it was cold in this damned cave of a room.

"You'd better change your attitude, Boy. I enjoy using my cane on 
troublesome young men. Especially ones who look like you. Now get up 
on the table and spread your legs."

"No!"

Mulder turned and made a run for the door. The cane caught him across 
the shoulders before he had gotten more than three steps. The pain ran 
down his spine and up into his head. He dropped to his knees. The cane 
came down again in a breath taking stoke across his back. He tried to 
rise, to run, to get out of there, away from Ramsey. The cane struck 
again, this time across his already sore buttocks. Mulder screamed and 
curled up on the floor. He could hear Ramsey laughing like the madman 
he was.

"Grunt!" <Shit! I haven't even had my coffee yet..>

Skinner grabbed the enraged doctor and tore the cane from his hands.

"What are you doing, Sergei? Have you lost what little mind you have? 
Give that back to me. This boy needs a firm hand."

The hunchback looked down at the sobbing Mulder.

"Grunt." <Yeah, he does. But not yours.>

Skinner broke the cane over his knee.

The door of the laboratory opened with a grating squeal, making 
everyone cringe. When Mulder looked up, he was amazed to see . . . 
Walter Skinner. A beautiful, whole Walter Skinner. He looked over at 
the man the doctor called Sergei. Yep, Walter Skinner too. What the 
hell?

"Dr. Ramsey, what is going on in here?" Walter sounded his usual 
cranky self.

"It's the new boy we purchased from William Mulder, Sir. He is in need 
of strict discipline and your brother has taken an unnatural liking to 
him."

Skinner turned to the hunchback, "Is this true Sergei? Do you want 
this boy."

"Grunt!" <Yeah, and twice on Sunday.>

Walter walked over and helped Mulder to his feet. He lifted his chin 
and examined his face, then walked slowly around him.

"Yes, I can see why you like him, Sergei. We will take him upstairs. 
He will make a good addition to our staff. I'm sure Dana will be quite 
pleased with his appearance. Of course, he may visit you anytime you 
like, Sergei. And Dr. Ramsey, you will not use this one for your 
experiments, do you understand?"

"But, Sir . . . "

"No more discussion, Ramsey. There are lots of boys on the street who 
are not this pretty and who will not be missed. Go find one. Sergei, 
bring this one upstairs immediately."

Walter watched with interest as his deformed brother held the 
trembling man in his arms. What was even more amazing to Walter was 
how the beautiful man clung to the hunchback for dear life. Strange, 
very strange indeed.





One Day Later Skinner Mansion

"How dare you?"

Mulder looked into the eyes of a furious Walter Skinner.

Mulder had been sent to the market that morning and had taken the 
opportunity to do a little investigating into the activities taking 
place at the Skinner Mansion. Just like modern times, the perfect 
place to get information was from the people who worked there. The 
grapevine was an ageless informational tool.

He questioned Molly, the serving girl, who flirted with him 
outrageously and then directed him to go see Stev, the coachman. Stev, 
it seemed was responsible for taking the carriage out to actually 
collect the volunteers' for Dr. Ramsey.

After a couple of hours, Mulder felt he had made some real headway. He 
was fairly certain that Dr. Ramsey was trying to create a means to 
immortality for Walter Skinner and his beautiful but evil wife, Dana. 
At least that is what the doctor had told Walter. Mulder was not so 
sure that Ramsey did not have his own agenda.

Mulder really wanted to talk to a few more of the servants but 
realized that he would have to hurry to the market and complete his 
errands or the Skinners would begin to question his activities for the 
day. He did not want that.

In his haste to get to the village he bumped into none other than Bill 
Scully, Jr., literally. Bill had grabbed him by the collar and 
demanded his name and position. Then Bill, Jr. had summoned his 
master, Walter Skinner, to deal with the pick pocket. Mulder knew he 
was in big trouble. Even if he couldn't tell from Walter's frown, the 
smirk on Bill's face would have given it all away.

"Boy," Walter hissed shaking his recalcitrant servant, "you are going 
to get a good dose of my strap tonight. And of course, Mr. Scully, 
Sir, you may witness the punishment."

Oh Shit!

Mulder was thrown into a waiting carriage and driven in silence to the 
large Skinner Mansion. As Skinner drug him in the front door, a vision 
in lavender lace came down the stairs. Scully. Mulder had learned in 
the short twenty-four hours he had been in the Skinner House to avoid 
her. This Scully had wondering hands and a serious BD/SM sexual 
preference. His Scully had turned into a real perv, a dangerous one.

"Walter, what is it, Dear."

"It seems our new boy is a pick pocket, Dana My Love." He shook Mulder 
like a dead kitten.

Scully reached up and pulled on a rope causing a bell to ring further 
back in the house. Mulder heard something being drug down the hallway 
and tried to clamber out of Skinner's grasp. He breathed a sigh of 
relief when only Sergei came ambling around the corner.

"Grunt?" <Now what? Can't this kid stay out of trouble for ten 
minutes?>

"Sergei, Walter has caught our new servant trying to rob someone. 
Please get him cleaned up and have him in the parlor in two hours. 
We'll be ready for him then."

Skinner released Mulder into Sergei's iron grasp.

Mulder now sat at the large table in the kitchen. He glared at 
Skinner's back. If the man really loved him like he appeared to last 
night, he wouldn't let this happen. It was obvious that Sergei was 
only using him for sex.

"You better eat Fox."

Mulder turned around to see a good-looking man slouching arrogantly in 
the back doorway. "You are going to need your strength later."

"Krycek, you Bastard." Mulder started to rise but was stopped by 
Sergei's solid right hand on his shoulder.

"Grunt." <Give it a rest. I'm almost out of ointment.>

Alex smiled, "The Skinner's are not easy on pick pockets, Fox. But you 
are a pretty one, so they may go easy on you. They probably won't kill 
you or leave any permanent scars." Mulder's face paled visibly. Krycek 
smiled wider.

"What are you doing here, Krycek?"

"I was their found boy' before you came along. Can't say I'm sorry to 
lose the position. I think they will want to keep you around for a 
long while. Do you like it here, Fox?"

"No."

"Too bad. The choice will be theirs, not yours. If they turn you over 
to the local constable, well . . . they hang pick pockets, Fox." Alex 
reached out and ran his hand through Mulder's soft clean hair. Mulder 
tried to jerk away .

Mulder swallowed hard. Oh Shit! What had Vince gotten him into this 
time? And could the inexperienced vampire be able to control something 
like this.

All too soon, Mulder was escorted to the parlor. He was angry with 
himself for trembling. He was sure Sergei could feel it through the 
hand he kept on Mulder's shoulder.

"Bring him in, Sergei. We are ready for him."

Ready for him? Oh Shit!

Mulder was left standing in the middle of the room as Sergei backed 
away to a shadowed corner. Scully sat on the couch looking for all the 
world just like a fairy princess, dressed in a soft yellow dress that 
spread out around her fetchingly. A deadly fairy princess but still 
very beautiful.

But Walter! Walter looked like any criminal's <or FBI Agents'> worst 
nightmare. Pacing across the rug and glaring at Mulder. He held a 
large leather strap in his hand and was slapping it ominously against 
his high leather boot.

"Take off your cloths, Boy."

It was then that Mulder noticed Bill Scully, Jr. leaning against the 
fireplace, a brandy snifter in his hand and a self-satisfied smile on 
his face. He seemed well pleased with this fortunate opportunity.

"No, Sir. I don't want . . . "

Skinner glared harshly and grabbed Mulder by the front of his shirt, 
"I don't care to hear about what you want, Boy. And you will not 
refuse to obey me, my sweet wife or anyone else in this house. The 
life you knew on the streets of Boston is finished, Fox. Mrs. Skinner 
and I are quiet taken with your beauty. We have decided to keep you 
here with us indefinitely. Whenever we choose to punish you, which 
will be often, you will remove all of your clothing and straightaway 
prepare yourself for chastisement. There will be no arguments or 
discussions."

Skinner stared into Mulder's wide, shocked eyes, "And if we should 
have guests in the room at the time," he indicated Bill Scully, "that 
will be your misfortune. You will immediately strip when told to do so 
and you will be punished until we think you have received enough. 
Understood?"

Mulder was embarrassed to feel tears fill his eyes. He swiped at them 
angrily. What the hell was wrong with him anyway? Walter was always 
yelling at him, why did this hurt him so much? Maybe it was the 
presence of Bill, Jr. and Sergei who still hovered in the corner. Or 
maybe it was that Bastard, Krycek, who had slipped in seemingly 
unnoticed.

He reviewed his options and found them all but non existent. He 
quickly undressed and stood naked on the soft oriental rug. Blushing 
furiously as everyone in the room looked him over. This was so 
humiliating.

The front bell sounded and Krycek moved quickly to answer it. He 
returned immediately with the town constable. None other than Tom 
Colten. Mulder's chin hit his chest. This just could not get worse.

"I heard you had a little trouble today, Sir." Colton moved around so 
he could get a good view of Mulder who still stood naked and 
dispirited in the center of the room.

Walter moved to shake the newcomer's hand, "Nothing we can't handle, 
Officer Colton. Why don't you stay and see how young hoodlums are 
handled in the Skinner home? I'll get you a brandy to take off the 
chill."

"Come here, Fox." Scully patted her knee.

"Wh . . . what?" Mulder was dazed. Two of his worst enemies were going 
to watch him get strapped. He wondered if Cigarette Smoking Man was on 
his way, too.

"Come here, Dear. I am going to warm you up a little so you can truly 
appreciate Walter's talented use of his strap. Come on, get across my 
knee. Don't dawdle, Dear."

"But . . . but I . . . " This just could not be happening. Damned 
vampire.

Mulder felt Walter's very familiar hand land on his shoulder. "Do it, 
Boy. Don't make this go any worse for yourself."

Mulder walked over, dropped to his knees and lowered himself over 
Scully's lap, resting his upper body on the couch. "Damned vampire." 
he mumbled.

Something very hard slammed down on his right buttock, "What did you 
say, Fox Dear?"

"Nothing! Nothing at all, Ma'am!'

"Good. Well keep it that way, Fox. My husband hates back talk. Now I 
am going to give you fifty smacks with my grandmother's hairbrush. I 
would let you count them but I don't think you have the mental 
capacity to count that high. So, I'm afraid, you are just going to 
have to . . . trust me."

Scully was ruthless with that brush. She covered every inch of his 
butt then moved on to the backs of his thighs. When she was satisfied 
with her work in that area, she moved back to his blistered bottom. 
Mulder was almost positive that she delivered many more than fifty 
strokes. So much for trusting Scully.

He managed to keep reasonably quiet during his ordeal. The occasional 
male laugh he heard behind him helped to keep him motivated in that 
direction. He knew there were tears running down his cheeks and he 
tasted blood where he had bitten his lip but all in all he had taken 
his punishment well. At least he thought so.

Scully patted his red butt, "All right, Fox Dear. Now it is Walter's 
turn. I'm sure you won't be able to stay so quiet under his strap."

Mulder stood up on shaky legs. He hurt. He hurt badly. He really 
needed to find some new friends. The vampires were right, Scully and 
Skinner were dangerous.

"Over here, Boy." Skinner was indicating a large carved wooden desk. 
Now with the top cleared by an overly enthusiastic Alex Krycek. "Bend 
across the desk, you have a lesson to learn tonight."

Mulder hesitated as he eyed the desk and the heavy strap in Skinner's 
hand. He wasn't sure he could take too much of this without breaking 
down and embarrassing himself.

"Would you like Mr. Krycek and Officer Colton to help you get into 
position, Boy?"

Mulder moved quickly then. Bending across the desk with his sore 
backside offered up for further punishment. He made himself a promise. 
If he got out of this stupid fantasy alive, he was resigning from the 
bureau. He was moving to Alaska, no make that the Arctic Circle, some 
place where there was no Scully, no Skinner and most important, no 
vampires.

He heard the strap cut the air and land with a breathtaking stroke 
across his already abused backside. It felt like a red-hot brand. He 
heard a whimper escape his lips and bite down hard. He was not going 
to let Colton and Bill, Jr. to see him cry.

The next stroke landed with white-hot intensity. He heard someone cry 
out and realized too late that it was him. He was lost. This just hurt 
too much.

Skinner delivered twelve sizzling lashes with his heavy strap. Each 
one earned fresh tears and cries of pain from Mulder. When Walter 
finally lowered his strap, he had a twitching sobbing young man across 
his desk. A lesson well learned. So far.

He allowed Mulder a few short moments to pull himself together, then 
demanded that he stand and face the room.

"Very well done, Old Man." Bill Jr. slapped Skinner on the back.

"Yes," Colton chimed in, "I dare say the boy has learned a lesson 
tonight. Such pretty tears."

Mulder rubbed his eyes angrily and glared at the men.

Skinner sighed sadly, "I was afraid of that. It seems it will take 
more than one strapping to tame this young reprobate."

He handed the strap to Mulder, who looked at it in confusion. "Since 
you wronged Mr. Scully, ask him to give you six more."

"No! No . . . I won't. I...I can't!"

Skinner grabbed Mulder chin, raising his tearful eyes to meet his own, 
"Do it or I will give you two dozen more tonight and another two dozen 
tomorrow, in front of the entire staff. Now ask him!"

Mulder stared at the extended strap and then into Skinner's cold eyes. 
Shit, he meant every word. Mulder took the strap in his hand. It felt 
heavy and still warm from contact with his body. He walked over to 
Bill Scully, Jr. all too aware of all the eyes in the room on his 
body. He held out the strap to Bill, blushing furiously.

"Will . . . will you give me six more?" Mulder felt like he was 
choking on the words.

Bill smiled, "Are you sure, Fox? Your backside must be very sore by 
now?"

Mulder glanced back at a scowling Skinner. Shit! "Yeah, I'm sure."

Bill took the strap, hefting its weight in his hand.

"Lean up against the fireplace and stick your butt right out here 
where I can get to it. And stand still. You make me work too hard and 
I may lose count and have to start over."

Mulder placed his hands against the cold stone fireplace and leaned 
forward, his feet about eighteen inches behind him.

"Legs further apart."

Mulder did as he was told, his jaw twitching in irritation. He was 
going to kill Vince at the same time that he killed Bill. Only have to 
clean his gun once that way. Oh wait, have to use a sharp stick on 
Vince. Must not forget that. Very important.

The strap struck from underneath, catching him with an upward stroke 
right where he sat down and causing him to almost lose his footing and 
tumble into the fireplace. He only had time to think, Damn, that hurt' 
before the strap landed again, same spot. Shit!

Bill delivered all six of his allocated strokes in this same manner. A 
heavy stroke coming from under and up, landing on the lower curve of 
Mulder's seat. Bill Scully felt great satisfaction that Mulder was 
sobbing and muttering incoherently at the end of his six. Something 
about killing vampires or something. This kid needed to be locked up 
but that was not his problem. He had done his part to teach this 
little shit a much deserved lesson.

Walter moved over and placed a steading hand around Mulder's waist. 
"Not quite through yet, Fox."

He handed the strap to Mulder, who looked at it fearfully. "Kiss the 
strap and ask everyone here to forgive you for this unseemly display 
that you caused tonight."

Mulder couldn't control the hiccuping sob that accompanied his 
reaching for the strap. He raised it to his lips and almost gagged 
from the smell of well oiled leather.

"Pl . . . please forgive me."

Mulder swayed on his feet. He was sure it was only a matter of time 
before his knees buckled and he would be kissing the floor at Walter's 
feet.

Walter tightened his hold around his waist, "Sergei, take him 
upstairs, to my room."

"Grunt." <Not on your life, Big Brother. Find your own.>

Sergei drug a dazed Mulder out of the room but instead of turning and 
going up the stairs to the master bedroom on the fourth floor, he 
headed instead for his own rooms in the basement.

Mulder again lay on Sergei's bed while the gentle man rubbed ointment 
into his abused skin.

"Guess I made your brother mad at me."

"Grunt." <Well, duh.>

"I need to find the truth, Sergei. I bet you know what's going on down 
here."

"Grunt." <Sure I do, Kid. What's it worth to you?>

Mulder turned and looked over this shoulder, "I wish you could tell 
me. I'm so sorry about this whole hunchback thing. That vampire is 
such a . . . "

"Grunt." <Excuse me? Vampire?>

"Listen I would rather face a whole room full of aliens or even that 
liver eating mutant again instead of seeing you like this. It just 
breaks my heart."

"Grunt." <Why are all the cute ones either married or crazy?>

"But I promise you, when we get out of this I will do whatever you 
tell me to do, no matter what."

"Grunt." <Careful, Kid. I can be one kinky dude.>

Mulder kissed the large protrusive lump over Skinners right eye, "I 
love you." He moved to kiss the end of the huge bulbous nose, "No 
matter how you look." He kissed Skinner's . . . well, where Skinner's 
chin used to be, "Please, make love to me. I need you."

"Grunt." <It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!>

"Can you show me what that doctor is doing down in the basement?"

"Grunt." <Yeah right, I'd be more likely to show you to my brother's 
room.>

Since Sergei was shaking his head wildly Mulder assumed that meant no. 
He stuck his bottom lip out.

"Grunt." <Oh Damn, he's using the lip on me.>

"I really need some help here." Mulder threw in the puppy dog face. 
Always a sure fire persuader when it came to Walter Skinner.

Mulder watched the hunchback eye him. He poured on just a little more 
pout, let the bottom lip quiver slightly, allowed one tear to form in 
a hazel eye and collect in his dark lashes. Bingo!

"Grunt." <Damned Kid. No wonder everyone he meets wants to beat him.>

Cont'd 7b