Title:              PAAB II: Troubled Waters (NC-17)
Author:             D. Street
E-Mail Address:     masonfan@aol.com
Rating:             NC-17
Category:           SR
Spoiler warning:    Set after Redux II
Keywords:           Skinner/Maggie Scully romance, some MSR
Summary:  Skinner is kidnapped and tortured. When Maggie is
          attacked, she must come to terms with his job and her
          part in his life... Will Skinner back away from Maggie to
          protect her? And what will Scully do?

I would appreciate any and all comments or criticism. Thanks!

Author Note:   Thanks go to beta readers: Cary, Kathy, Jo, Darla
               and Deb. "PAAB" will be explained in Part III. <g>
               This may make more sense if you read "PAAB I: The
               Holiday Season" first. For purposes of this story,
               Maggie Scully is 54 years old.

     The characters and situations of the television program "The
X-Files" are the creations and property of Chris Carter, Fox
Broadcasting and Ten-Thirteen Productions, and have been used
without permission. No copyright infringement is intended and no
profit will be made.
*********************************************************

PAAB II: Troubled Waters
by D. Street


2:30 AM WEDNESDAY
SCULLY HOME - BALTIMORE

     Walter Skinner woke slowly, feeling like he was being
plummeted. Opening his eyes, the AD realized he was at home in bed.
He turned to the woman beside him, now imprisoned by a nightmare.
     "Maggie--" Gently he shook her. "Maggie, wake up." He bent to
kiss her forehead. "You're dreaming, sweetheart."
     Her fingers gripped the blankets and she whimpered in her
sleep, tossing, trapped within her dream.
     "Maggie!" Skinner turned on the bedside lamp and leaned over
her, holding her still.
     Dark eyes flashed open and Walter could see the fear in their
depths.
     "Walter?"
     He smoothed her cheek. "You were dreaming."
     "Walter!" She pulled him down, arms going around his neck. "It
was just a dream." He soothed. "You're safe." He rubbed her back,
finding her skin coated with a sheen of sweat. 
     Since becoming involved with Dana Scully's mother nine months
before, Skinner had begun spending most of his free time with her.
Now he cuddled her to him. "Tell me about the dream."
     "You were being held prisoner somewhere," she whispered
against his neck. "And they were hurting you... Walter, I could
feel your pain and it was so bad!" Her arms tightened around his
neck and Skinner pressed his body against her, his flesh touching
hers, chasing some of her demons with his nearness.
     "It was just a dream, Maggie," Walter insisted. "I'm here with
you." He dipped his head to kiss her nose. "The only pain I've felt
tonight was when you sunk your teeth into my shoulder," he teased.
      The troubled look faded a bit and Maggie smiled softly. "I'm
sorry. But that was a new trick--"
     "Trick?" Skinner protested, pleased to have diverted her
attention. "I'll have you know what was *skill*."
     "Oh. Skill." Maggie wriggled against him, feeling his partial
erection against her hip. "Well, you can't blame me for losing
control, then." She brushed the half-moon bruise she'd made with a
fingertip.
     Skinner licked her chin, then moved to lave her throat. "I
love it when you lose control." He shifted on the bed, trailing his
tongue between her breasts, across her stomach. "Makes me feel like
I'm giving you pleasure."
     "Pleasure?" Maggie laughed, wiggling away from his questing
mouth. "I've never felt like I do when I'm with you." Then,
"Walter!"
     "What?" He glanced up at her, then returned to his
ministrations.
     Maggie tried to sit up, but a strong hand held her on her
back.
     "You have the arraignment tomorrow!" She squeaked as his
fingers gently parted her.
     "That's not until 3:00... and it's Friday, not tomorrow." His
tongue darted across her center and she gasped. 
     "Walter!" Her dream forgotten entirely, Maggie reached for her
lover, trying to touch any part of him. She cried out as two
fingers penetrated her, dragging over the sensitive bud, nails
scrapping its head. "Please!" She screamed at him. "Let me hold
you!" She panted, back arched as his tongue joined the assault.
"Just let me hold you."
     "No ma'am." He grinned, moving to kneel between spread legs.
"Not yet."
     She moaned loudly, pushing up against him as his mouth worked
her. Skinner reached a hand up to knead a breast, fingers lightly
pinching a nipple.
     It was such a turn-on to see his lover writhing beneath him,
her passions consuming her; a passion he alone induced. Each time
they made love, Skinner tried to make it special. While they hadn't
discussed it, occasional remarks and Maggie's insecurities had led
him to wonder what kind of married life she'd had. Maggie was so
responsive, so much of their play obviously new to her. Walter
didn't understand how a man could have lived with her for over 30
years and not worshipped both her mind and body.
     Maggie's groan of disappointment made him smile as he withdrew
his fingers from her wetness. Skinner moved to lie on top of her,
arms sliding under her shoulders, head dipping to claim a kiss.  
Finally able to touch him, Maggie's arms smoothed along his broad
back, nails scraping, mouth leaving his to blaze a frantic path
across his face, to his throat.
     "Maggie, I love you--" Skinner panted, rising above her,
gently lowering his rigid shaft into her.
     "I love--ah!" Maggie arched against his body, accepting him,
welcoming his passion. "Walter, don't ever leave me." She gasped in
his ear. "I don't think I could stand it."
     "You're not getting rid of me." He vowed, resting on her,
filling her with himself.
     Maggie forced herself to relax, letting Walter completely
posses her. She hung on as he began to move; shifting, nudging her
until she felt the now-familiar warmth spread through her. Maggie
panted, a small sound escaping her as he rose and thrust, hard and
fast, changing the pace, taking her breath away. Again and again he
took her, building force and rhythm until she felt him explode
within her, his warmth mixing with the fire that started in her
groin and ran through her, blanking her mind of everything save the
man inside her.
     When they lay spent and gasping, Skinner kissed the tip of her
nose and brushed damp bangs from her eyes.
     "Okay?"
     Not trusting her voice, Maggie nodded. She traced his jawline
with a finger and Skinner rolled onto his side, pulling her closer.
Finally her silence made the AD wonder if she really was all right.
     "Hey, I'm sorry," he whispered, kissing her neck.
     "Why in the world?" Maggie propped herself up and reached over
him to switch out the light.
     "I didn't ask whether--" He stopped, suddenly embarrassed.  
"Walter, the day I don't want you to make love to me will be the
day I'm totally insane!" Her laughter relaxed him and he grinned
back at her in the darkness, running a palm along her side; over a
hip.
     "Goodnight, Maggie."
     "Are we still going away this weekend?" Her sleepy voice
caressed him.
     "Even if the trial goes late, which I don't think it will, the
worst that will happen is we leave early Saturday morning." Maggie
snuggled closer. "Good. I can't wait to get you all to myself for
a couple of days."
     He felt her relax into sleep and thought about the diamond
he'd bought two days ago. It was in the glove box of his car,
waiting to be presented in offering this weekend. 'If she'll have
me', he thought. 'Please God, let her want to marry me.' Smiling,
Skinner drifted off to sleep thinking his world was pretty damned
perfect at the moment.

7:05 PM THURSDAY
FBI BUILDING UNDERGROUND GARAGE

     It was after seven Thursday evening when Skinner finally left
his office for the underground garage at the Bureau. He'd call
Maggie from the car; he glanced at his watch... he was late.
Annoyed with himself for forgetting the time, Skinner jogged the
distance to his sedan and unlocked the car.
     Almost before he sensed the presence behind him, Skinner felt
a pressure on his back and a sharp pain at the base of his skull.
His suit jacket was yanked down, pinning his arms.
     "What--" He tried to turn, but whoever was behind him pushed
him forward, slamming his forehead against the roof of the car.
Walter sank to his knees, dizzy. He realized that he'd been
drugged; the car began to shift and move in front of him and he
passed out.

12:05 AM FRIDAY
DANA SCULLY'S APARTMENT

     "Hello?"
     "Dana, it's Mom."
     "Hi Mom." Scully glanced at her watch, then at Mulder who sat
on the sofa. It was almost midnight... what could her mother want?
     "Were you asleep, honey?"
     Dana could hear the agitation in her mother's voice.
     "No. What's wrong?" Out of the corner of her eye she saw
Mulder sit forward.
     "I'm afraid something's happened to Walter... he was supposed
to be here hours ago... we were going to pack for the weekend."  
Scully experienced the flash of discomfort she always felt when she
thought about her mother and Walter Skinner together as a couple.
Not that she had objections to Skinner... other than worrying that
the danger of his job would wash over onto her mother's life... it
was more just imagining the two of them together. It was a place
Scully just didn't want to go.
     "Mom, I'm sure he's okay. You know how he is... he's probably
just working late."
     "Dana, it's midnight." Maggie pointed out. "Lately he's had
something better than paperwork to come home to." 
     Scully heard the irritation in her voice and sighed. She
couldn't help the way she felt.
     "I know that, Mom." She paused. "Maybe he's stuck in traffic.
I know there was an accident on the beltway."
     "No, he would have called me from the car." Maggie paused,
this wouldn't go over well. "Dana, I had another dream last
night... I know Walter's in trouble."
     "It was just a dream. It doesn't mean anything more than
you're worried about him."
     Mulder rose and took the phone from his lover.
     "Maggie? Tell me about your dream.... why you think Skinner's
in trouble."
     "Fox." He heard the sigh of relief. As close as Scully and her
mother were, Mulder sometimes thought he understood the older woman
better. In fact, he understood them both better than the other did.
Perhaps that while he loved them both, he had the necessary
distance to see things more clearly.
     "Tell me," he urged again.
     "It was a lot of disjointed images; but Walter was restrained
and in pain... Fox, so much pain!"
     "It's okay, take a breath..." Mulder soothed, "What else?"
     "And a car accident... it didn't seem to go with the rest of
it, but as I said, it was very disjointed."
     "Okay." Mulder tried to sound reassuring, though alarm bells
were sounding in his brain. He'd never forgotten the way she'd
predicted Scully's abduction. "We'll find out where he is and call
you."
     "Thank you, Fox. I'm sorry to be such trouble--"
     "It's okay."
     Mulder replaced the receiver and turned to his partner.
     "Mulder, do you really think something could have happened to
Skinner?"
     "I've been afraid something would because of the hearing
tomorrow. I wanted him to have protection, but he refused." 
     Scully nodded. "I know... I offered us as bodyguards and he
brushed it aside. Said he could take care of himself."
     "Maybe he couldn't." Mulder met her serious gaze. "They
probably nabbed him to keep him from testifying at the arraignment
and presenting his evidence."
     "Who are 'they', Mulder? Stefano's men?"
     "Probably. Let's go see if he's home and not answering his
phone."
     
EXACT TIME AND LOCATION UNKNOWN
FRIDAY AM

     Skinner slowly rose to consciousness, feeling as if he'd been
hit by the proverbial bus. His head pounded and his mouth was dry
and cottony.
     He opened his eyes, squinting against the naked bulb that
burned in the ceiling above him. Without glasses, his world was
fuzzy. He was sitting with his back to a damp cement wall and he
shifted, trying to find a comfortable position but failed. His suit
jacket was gone, but otherwise he was dressed as he had been all
day.
     Skinner tried to move his arms and found he couldn't... they
were fastened to the wall on either side of him with handcuffs...
no shackles, not cuffs. What the hell? Fear shot through him, and
he yanked on the restraints.
     "Well, looky looky."
     His head came up at the sound of the sneering voice. Above him
towered two men in jeans and T-shirts, one was chewing on a piece
of jerky.
     "Mr. Assistant Director." One of the men mocked him. "How high
and mighty are you now?"
     "Who are you?" Skinner's voice sounded unused. "What am I
doing here?" He steeled the emotion out of his expression, jaw
clenched against his rising panic.
     "Guess," the first man snorted. "You want to tell us what we
want to know or you want us to enjoy our work a little?"
     "What the hell are you talking about?" 
     The toe of the man's shoe connected with Skinner's thigh. He
shouted, pulling again at his bonds.
     "What's this about?" he demanded, but he knew. It was about
Antonio Stefano's arraignment.
     "We want the evidence you got on Mr. Stefano." The second man
swallowed the last of his beef stick and knelt beside Skinner. "And
we want it now."
     The AD glared at him, but said nothing. 
     "We searched your apartment... your car..." He leered, "...
you. But we didn't find it." He leaned forward. 
     Skinner could feel his breath against his face... the spicy
smell of beef jerky; combined with whatever drug they'd shot him
with, he felt nauseated. 
     "I want it."
     Skinner was silent.
     The man sighed and started to rise. 
     The blow he delivered to Walter's jaw was unexpected and the
AD cried out in pain.
     "Tell me where you stashed the evidence against Mr.
Stefano!"  
     "Go to hell," Skinner spat out. 
     A wicked chuckle escaped the man's lips. "Oh, you're gonna
make this tough on yourself, aren't you?"
     Skinner leaned his head against the wall, eyes closing.
'Mulder, you'd better watch your back...' He thought, 'If they
figure out you've got the files, they'll be after you.'
     "You listen to me, Mr. AD!" 
     Skinner sagged under the force of another slap to his face. 
"Tell me what you did with it, dammit!"
     He relaxed, trying to out-ride the rain of blows the man
inflicted. After a while, he felt himself floating on the pain, the
darkness coming closer.
     "Stop it." The first man spoke, putting a hand on his
comrade's arm. "That's not going to get us anything."
     He knelt beside Skinner, reaching out to cup his chin in his
hand. The AD's eyes opened to meet the steady gaze. His captor
smiled.
     "There's no need to get rough with Mr. Skinner," he reasoned
smoothly. 
     His fingers moved up to caress the side of Walter's face,
gently easing the pain from his partner's blows. Skinner jerked his
face away.
     "Oh, Mr. Skinner... may I call you Walter?"
     Stony silence.
     "We don't have to go about this interrogation in the
traditional way." He said softly, running a fingertip across his
prisoner's lips, his other hand unbuttoning Walter's shirt. "You're
a very attractive man. We could be... mutually beneficial to each
other."
     Skinner's stomach turned and he closed his eyes against the
sight of the leering face before him. Briefly a vision of Maggie
hovered in his mind and he reached for it, holding on to her. He
had to get out of here. He had something to live for now and he had
to get back to her. But his heart sank; even if they pried the
information out of him, they'd never let him live. He fought down
the grief that threatened. He'd never see her again. He'd never
touch her or see her eyes laugh up at him. Instead he was going to
be violated by the man who knelt before him.
     "Come on, Walter..." the man cooed, unbuttoning the shirt.
"I'm pretty good--"
     "Come on, Stan," grouched his partner. "Party later... after
we find what we're after."
     Stan ran his thumb over Walter's mouth. 'Later." he promised. 


2:00 AM FRIDAY
WALTER SKINNER'S APARTMENT
CRYSTAL CITY, VA.
     "Wow," Scully breathed, doing a slow circle in the middle
of Skinner's apartment. "Somebody really trashed the place."
     "Yeah. Looking for the Stefano file," Mulder agreed.
     "You think they found it?" Scully asked, looking at the
broken glass and upset furniture.
     "Nope." He nodded to the door. "Come on, Scully. Let's
take a ride."
     "What?" She let her partner lead her.
     "I want to show you something."

FRIDAY PM
EXACT TIME AND LOCATION UNKNOWN
     Skinner jerked awake as the bucket of cold water hit his
fevered skin. He didn't know any more what the two men had
done to him, but his body roiled with pain and he desperately
wanted to sleep. But sleep wasn't in his captors' agenda and
every time he drifted off, he was soaked with ice water.
     "Look!" 
     The first man grabbed him by the front of his shirt,
slamming his body into the cold wall.
     "I'm gonna kill you if you don't tell me where you
stashed those files!"
     His head rolled with the punch. He'd passed the level
where superficial pain meant anything... until the beatings
stopped, he wouldn't feel the damage they'd done. He reflected
that the two men didn't know their jobs very well. They should
have allowed him to sleep, then started the process again. His
pain would have been greater. He'd passed the point of fear
for his life... his life was forfeit. He still mourned his
loss of Maggie. He'd just found her and now he'd never see her
again. But she'd be safe. He knew Scully was still worried
that somehow his job would injure her mother... now she could
rest easy.
     And he'd accomplished his main goal... by the clock on
the wall, the trial was in session and Mulder no doubt had
already delivered Skinner's proof of Stefano's purchase of the
loyalty of several higher-ups in the FBI. 
     Stan knelt before him, reaching out to unlock the
shackles at his wrists.
     "All right. It's too late for you to present your
evidence now," he soothed, the back of his fingers stroking
Walter's face. "So I'm gonna have a little fun with you before
we take you out and kill you."
     "Why?" Skinner murmured, swallowing hard, trying to focus
on the man's words.
     "Because without that evidence, we can't guarantee Mr.
Stefano that you ain't gonna go and testify in the future."
His hand drifted to cup Walter's throat, fingers gently
caressing. "But that don't mean your last hours can't be
pleasant. Does it?"
     Weakly Skinner shook his head. He had to get away from
these men. Stan's partner had gone out to get food. If he was
going to do anything, it had to be now.
     He leaned forward, into Stan's embrace and felt the other
man sigh with anticipation. Stan helped him to his feet and
led him toward the cot that stood in one corner.
     "That's a boy... you're so handsome... so strong... good
boy." Stan cooed, an arm around Skinner's waist.
     When the other man turned to pull the blanket off the
cot, Walter summoned every ounce of strength he possessed and
landed a karate chop to Stan's neck that dropped him like a
rag doll.  Skinner stumbled past the table, grabbing up a gun
that lay there, and his key ring. 
     "My car must be here," he murmured, moving almost blindly
toward the door. 
     He glanced back at the man then went out, closing and
locking the door behind him. He turned to look at his prison
and found they'd been in an abandoned storage warehouse.
Quickly he found his car and got in, breathing a sigh of
relief when it started. He seemed to be operating under water;
doing everything in slow motion as he pulled out into the
street and headed for the expressway.    The road ahead of him
weaved, and he used all his concentration to stay on his side.
The drugs in his system were disorienting and he was having
trouble navigating the car. He wished fervently for his
glasses... Skinner leaned over to pop the glove compartment,
searching for his spare pair. His one thought was that he had
to get to the hearing... he had to testify and expose the
executives in his division that were on the take. He'd been
sickened, but not surprised when he'd found the list of names.
     Sweat poured off him, soaking his clothes as he drove
faster, his only thought being the trial. He gave up on
fumbling for his glasses and turned his full attention back to
the road. Behind him red and blue lights flashed, but he
ignored them... they didn't matter. All that mattered was
getting to the arraignment. He concentrated on the road, but
when it seemed to turn sharply to the right, Skinner jerked
the wheel and propelled his car headlong into a cement median.

     The police car skidded to a stop beside the Taurus and
its two occupants advanced, guns drawn.
     Inside the driver slumped over the wheel, head bleeding,
unconscious. 
     "Better call an ambulance." 
     His partner jogged back to the radio.

3:02 PM FRIDAY
COURT HOUSE - WASHINGTON DC
     Fox Mulder gathered up his papers and walked out of the
hearing room. The arraignment had gone well and Stefano had
been bound over for trial. While the judge was sympathetic
about the agent's fear that Skinner had been abducted by some
of Stefano's men, he nonetheless emphasized the importance of
the AD's presence at the trial set for the next week. 
     As he gained the outside, his cell phone rang.
     "Mulder."
     "Mulder, it's me." Scully's voice was grim. "I found him.
Or rather, the police found me."
     "Where is he?" Mulder picked up his pace to the car.
     "Washington General. He ran his car into a median."
     "How bad?"
     She sighed. "Bad. But he'll live... no surgery or
anything, but Mulder, he's pretty beaten up."
     "Not from the accident?"
     "I don't think so... they're examining him now. I'll go
over his chart when they're done."
     "I'll be there in half an hour, Scully. Did you call your
mom?"
     He heard the reluctance in her voice. "I thought I'd wait
until we find out how badly he's hurt."
     "Call her, Scully. You're going to have to no matter how
bad it is and it'll take her over an hour to get here." He
paused. His partner still had a problem with this. "She has a
right to know, Scully. They're practically living together."
     "I know," she said quietly. "Okay, I'll call her now."  
     "I'll see you in a bit."
     "'kay."
     Mulder unlocked his car and slid behind the wheel,
starting the engine in the same motion. Well, at least Skinner
was alive.      

3:45 PM FRIDAY
HOSPITAL
     Scully looked up as the doctor she'd spoken to earlier
came toward her.
     "Agent Scully, we've finished our examination of Mr.
Skinner and I think you were right..."
     She frowned. "Oh?"
     "We tested his blood and found evidence of a heavy dosage
of drugs... drugs similar to those used to keep mental
patients cooperative. And the bruising around his head and
chest can't be entirely written off as effects from his car
accident. I'd say that most of them were inflicted as much as
twelve hours before he ran that car off the road."
     Scully nodded; she'd been afraid of this. "All right,
thank you, Dr. Lewis. Can I see him?"
     "He's in a private room. This way."
     As they neared the end of the corridor, Scully heard
Skinner shouting and began to run, the doctor following suit.
Once in the room, she stopped to take in the scene before her.
     Skinner lay on the bed, two nurses trying vainly to hold
him down while he thrashed, shouting and flailing. Dana
realized he was calling for her mother.
     "Watch out, he'll hurt himself on the guard rail!" Dr.
Lewis shouted, moving to help the two women.
     "We're trying to get the restraints on him, Doctor, but
he's too strong."
     "No restraints!"
     Scully turned to find Mulder entering the room. 
     "He's going to pull out his IV and possibly--"
     "You don't know what happened to him!" Mulder snapped a
little more sharply than he intended. "Reassure him, don't
restrain him!"
     "Mulder, he wants mom... I called her about 45 minutes
ago, but it'll take her at least an hour to get here."
     "Sir..." Mulder stood by the bed, replacing one of the
nurses... "Walter, it's Mulder. Can you hear me?"
     Skinner looked at him with feverish eyes and the agent
cringed. He'd been through the ringer from the look of it...
it was a miracle he'd been found. The AD's face and chest were
a mass of bruises. Mulder looked at the doctor, across the bed
from him. "How much of this is from the accident?"
     The man shook his head. "Not much, I'm afraid. The head
wound certainly, some torso bruising." He hesitated. "Possibly
the gouge on his thigh... but that could be from whatever
happened to him before the accident, too."
     "Mulder!"
     Skinner gripped his hand, as if he'd just noticed he was
there. Which, Mulder reasoned, he probably had.
     "It's all right... " His voice seemed to calm the older
man.  
     "Maggie..." Skinner's chest heaved and his words came out
in a breathless rush. "You've got to find her, Mulder!"
     "She's on her way, Walter... she's okay."
     "No!" Skinner's grip on his hand was almost painful. "I
don't remember where they jumped me, Mulder!" His eyes were
wide and frantic. "They may have her... I don't know if she
was with me--"
     "No." Mulder folded his other hand over the man's fist.
"She was at home waiting for you. They got you in the Bureau
garage." He glanced at the medical personnel in the room. To
hell with it, he decided. Reassuring Skinner was more
important than FBI delicacies.
     The AD relaxed visibly. "You... are you sure?" His voice
was raspy and he forced the words out between clenched teeth.
     "I'm sure."
     "I spoke with her less than an hour ago, sir." Scully
joined him by the bed. "She's on her way." She smiled down at
him. "She's very worried about you."
     Skinner's eyes drifted closed and his grip on Mulder's
hand loosened.
     "I think he'll be all right." Mulder raised his eyes to
the doctor. "No restraints."
     "Absolutely not." 
     The all turned to find Margaret Scully standing in the
doorway.
     "Mom." 
     Both agents relinquished their spots to the older woman.
     "Dear God." she breathed when she saw the angry bruising
that covered so much of her lover's face and neck. Gently
Maggie took his hand in both of hers, kissing the broad
fingers. She looked at Dr. Lewis. "How bad is he?"
     Years of experience told him that beneath the soft-spoken
question lay a lot of fear. He could see it in the deep blue
eyes.
     "Mr. Skinner has sustained a lot of superficial
injuries... mostly surface bruising... some internal. The
scalp wound is minor... he has a gash on one leg, but it's not
deep enough to give him lasting trouble."
     Maggie took a steadying breath. "Then he's going to be
all right?"
     "Yes. It'll take some time before he's feeling like
himself again, but there's no permanent damage." 
     Scully held her breath, hoping the doctor wouldn't
mention the drugs in Skinner's system. She didn't want her
mother to know this was the result of anything more than a car
accident. At least not yet.
     "Well, I'll be here... I'll make sure he doesn't move
around too much." Her smile quivered slightly.
     "We'll find you a comfortable chair and something to
read." Dr. Lewis nodded to his nurses and they left the room.
"You're free to stay as long as you'd like, Mrs. Skinner."
     Maggie opened her mouth to correct his mistake, then
closed it. They wouldn't give her any trouble about staying
with Walter if they thought she was his wife.
     "Thank you," she said instead.
     Scully's eyes widened and Mulder turned to hide a grin.
Like mother, like daughter, he swore to God. Sneaky women,
both of them.
     Lewis nodded to Dana. "I'll be at the other end of the
hall in my office when you've finished."
     "Thank you, doctor. I'd like to look at his chart."
     When he'd gone, Maggie turned to face her daughter.
     "Don't say anything, Dana." She worked to keep control of
her voice. "I'm not delusional, I didn't correct him because
they won't throw me out this way."
     "They won't throw you out anyway." Mulder leaned over to
kiss her cheek. "How are you doing?"
     Maggie nodded. "Fine." But her eyes were troubled as she
turned back to the sleeping man.
     Dana wished the other woman didn't look so distraught.
She'd be willing to bet she hadn't gotten any sleep the night
before. Dammit it to hell, for her falling in love with
Skinner. Hadn't the X-Files caused her enough grief?
     "Maggie?"
     Skinner was gazing at her, not quite believing his
blurred vision.
     "Walter, I'm here. You're going to be okay."
     "Maggie..." His fingers tightened around hers and then he
relaxed into the bed, losing consciousness.
     "Dana!"
     His hold on her relaxed and Maggie lay his arm across his
chest, her heart racing.
     "It's okay, Mom," Scully assured her, a finger on
Skinner's pulse. "He was worried that you were okay... once he
saw you, he relaxed and now he can sleep."
     "Why would he be worried about me?"
     "He wasn't sure..." She paused, "...whether you were in
the car with him or not."
     "Oh. Poor baby." Maggie smoothed his forehead with her
fingertips. "Dana... the marks on his face--"
     "I don't know, Mom. Why don't you and Mulder get a cup of
coffee while I take a look at his chart?"
     "No, I'd like to stay with him for awhile." She smiled
absently and reclaimed Skinner's hand.
     Scully exchanged a look with Mulder and went to find Dr.
Lewis. 
     "He's going to be okay," Mulder assured Maggie.
     "I know." She leaned on the guard rail, fingers rubbing
Skinner's hand. She spoke softly, eyes on her lover's face.
"You know, Fox, he's the kindest, gentlest man I've ever
known." She turned to look at the young agent. "Why did
something so violent have to happen to him?"
     "I don't know." Mulder moved aside as an orderly brought
in a large, cushioned chair and set it by the bed. When the
man had gone, Maggie sat down, eyes on the still form. Mulder
pulled up the another chair, deciding to stay with her for
awhile.
     "Fox..." Maggie turned to him with a matter-of-fact
voice. "Are all of Walter's injuries from the car accident?"
     Mulder looked into the calm, trusting eyes and found he
couldn't lie to her.
     "No, we don't think so."
     She nodded. "He was kidnapped, wasn't he? Beaten." She
drew a breath. "Just like the dream."
     The agent leaned forward in his chair. "Tell me more
about your dream."
     Maggie shuddered at the memory, still so vivid. "I dreamt
that someone came up behind him and hit him... very hard." She
winced, "Then it got disjointed, but there were flashes of
beatings and pain... so much pain... and blood." Her voice
trailed off and Mulder reached out to take her hand. 
     "It's over now. He's safe."
     "That's what happened to him, isn't it?" Maggie asked,
anxiety raising her voice. "I know Dana doesn't believe in
that sort of thing, but I know that's what happened."
     "We're going to find out what happened to him, Maggie."
Mulder promised. "We already think we know why."
     "Thank you, Fox." She squeezed his hand. 
     "I'm going to go and find Scully." He rose. "You want
anything?"
     "No." It was a whisper. "I just want to be here with him
when he wakes up."
     "Okay. We'll be back." He bent to kiss her cheek. "We're
going back to the Bureau and see if we can trace his
movements."
     "I'll be here." Maggie's smile was a little sad as she
watched the younger man leave. Then she turned her attention
back to her sleeping lover.   

7:18 PM - SKINNER'S ROOM
HOSPITAL
     Maggie started awake. The late afternoon sun that had
warmed her earlier had been replaced by deepening shadows. 
     "How long have I been asleep?" she murmured, pulling her
sweater tighter.
     "A while."
     Her face lit up and she rose to stand by the side of the
bed. "Walter!" She took the hand he reached out to her with
and held it to her lips, eyes closing as she felt his warmth
under her fingers. "How long have you been awake?" She gazed
thankfully into the deep brown eyes.
     "I don't know..." He smiled up at her. "Half an hour or
so. I was enjoying watching you sleep." He squeezed her hand.
"I always enjoy that."
     She blushed. "Walter, you're supposed to be indisposed."
     "Sore as hell, Maggie... not dead." He laughed, then
winced as tender ribs and stomach protested. 
     "Let me get the doctor--"
     "No." His hold on her tightened. "Just stay with me for
awhile."
     "I'm not going anywhere, love." She told him, reaching
out to smooth his cheek.
     "I guess I've effectively screwed our weekend."
     "Well..." Deep blue eyes sparkled. "I suspect you'll be
in for some sick leave after this."
     "That's true." He allowed with mock seriousness. 'And I
might actually take it this time,' he added silently.
     "Fox and Dana were here. They went out to do some
investigating." She shook her head. "I wasn't really
listening."    
     Walter stroked her cheek. "It's nothing you have to be
concerned with."
     "I'm concerned with everything about you, Walter." Maggie
kissed his palm.
     "Some things--"
     "Hey!" Dana came in, smiling. "You're awake!"
     Maggie felt Walter's grip on her hand tighten and looked
down into his eyes. She knew he felt her daughter's discomfort
at their relationship and that he wished he could somehow
convince her to accept him.
     "How do you feel?" Scully took up his other wrist,
checking his pulse.
     "Sore." He shifted on the bed, grimacing at the slight
movement.
     "I'll bet." She met his gaze. "Car accidents can do that
to you."
     Skinner's expression changed and he closed his eyes, then
opened them to meet Maggie's gaze. 
     "I need to talk to Scully for a minute."
     "No."
     Skinner frowned. "What?"
     "I said I'm not leaving." She threw her daughter an angry
gaze. "I know that something happened before the accident...
if there was an accident."
     "Mom," Scully began, but her mother interrupted. 
     "I will *not* be kept in the dark about Walter any more
than I wanted to be about your illness, Dana." The dark eyes
were hard, her gaze taking in both of them. "You both have
this impression of me as a weak-willed woman who can't stand
to hear the truth, but I want to know what happened to Walter
and I want to be told what his condition is."
     "So do I." Skinner spoke up. With an effort that was
obviously painful, he pushed himself up in bed, mindful of the
IV. The effort left him light-headed. "Maggie," He turned to
the older woman. "Scully's just trying to spare you the darker
side of our
business." He stroked her cheek. "Don't take it personally."
He took her hand, then turned to look at his agent, "Get
Mulder in here, Scully."
     "Sir--"
     "Now." He held her gaze with his best AD stare and she
sighed, moving toward the door.
     "Walter, I think the doctor will want to see you before
you start raking us all over the coals." Maggie ventured with
a small smile. He was so easy to read and right now she could
see that he was angry.
     "I'm not going to rake anybody over the coals." He told
her quietly. "I want to know how the trial went and I want to
find out from Scully what my condition is and when I can get
out of here."
     "The trial you were supposed to testify at?" Maggie
asked, moving her chair closer and sitting down. She reached
through the guardrail to reclaim her lover's hand. "Is that
what happened?"
     He nodded, giving her an encouraging smile. "It wasn't
bad. Mostly I think the drugs gave me a reaction."
     "Walter..." She might have been talking to a child who
was trying to con her, "You're a mass of bruises. Don't tell
me that's from a drug reaction--"
     She turned as the door opened and the two X-Files agents
came in, closing the door behind them.
     "Hey." Mulder smiled at his superior. "'Bout time you
decided to join us."
     Skinner settled more comfortably against the headboard.
"Well, it was so nice to get some sleep for a change."
     "Well, thank you." Maggie pulled her hand away and sat
back, arms crossed over her chest. "I'll remember that the
next time you get amorous."
     "Maggie--" Then he saw the twinkle in her eyes and shook
his head, fighting his own smile. Turning to his agents; "All
right, what happened at the hearing, Mulder?"
     "Everything went like clockwork except that you weren't
there," Fox told him. "They bound Stefano over and next week
he'll go to trial. Obviously you'll be around to testify and
we'll put him away."
     Skinner nodded, satisfied. "Good. Scully?"
     "I'd say you can go home in three or four days."
     "Oh, no," Skinner told her firmly. "Try tomorrow."
     "Walter." Maggie was on her feet, leaning on the railing.
"Give yourself a chance to recover."
     "I'll recover better at home." He gave her his best
little boy look, "I hate hospitals."
     Maggie made an exasperated sound. "I'm going to freshen
up. I'll be back." She nailed her lover with a glance. "Stay
in bed."
     "Yes, ma'am." Skinner tried to look contrite.
     "You had her worried, sir," Scully said quietly, when her
mother had gone. "Don't worry her more by pushing yourself too
fast."
     Walter met her gaze. "I think I can take care of myself
and my relationship with your mother, Scully."
     "Can you?" she asked, head cocked to the side, eyes
studying him. 
     "Okay." Mulder rubbed his hands together. "Do you want to
tell us what you remember about your abduction?"
     Skinner forced his anger down. Scully had every right to
be annoyed with him... he'd caused her mother a lot of worry.
She'd calm down as soon as things were back to normal.
Whatever that was. He turned his attention to Mulder's
question.
     "I went to my car... somebody jumped me... I woke up
chained to a wall in an abandoned storage room on the
outskirts of town. That's about all I remember." He ran a hand
over his head. "I wish I could give you a location, but the
rest is pretty much a blur..." He broke off as Maggie came
back in with Dr. Lewis.
     "Well, Mr. Skinner, your wife tells me you're awake and
already talking about going home."
     Skinner's mouth opened and closed. Wife? Had he actually
asked her... no, he was sure he hadn't had the chance. He saw
the fiery flush that rose in Maggie's cheeks and realized the
doctor had made a wrong assumption.
     "Yes, and she's giving me a hard time about it." Walter
replied.
     "As well she should." He glanced at the agents. "If the
three of you would like to wait outside, I'd like to check Mr.
Skinner over. It won't take long."
     "Of course." Maggie kissed Walter's cheek and left the
room, grateful to escape. Walter's chuckle followed her as his
agents made good their exit.
                            *****
     In the waiting room, Mulder volunteered to go to the
cafeteria for coffee and sandwiches. Scully crossed to one
corner of the room and picked up a paper bag.
     "Mom, these are Skinner's things... his badge, ID... I
have to keep his gun but, do you want to take the rest of the
stuff home for him?" She paused. "I assume he'll be staying
with you?"
     "I'm sure he will... we didn't talk about it." Maggie
swallowed, calming herself as she reached for the bag. How
close had she come to keeping the effects of a dead man?
     "Oh..." Scully reached into her pocket. "We found these
in the Bureau garage." She handed over Skinner's glasses,
which Maggie carefully added to the collection. 
     "I'll have to bring his other pair," Maggie smoothed a
thumb over the cracked lens. "He'll get a headache if he tries
to read without them." She might have been musing out loud,
she sounded so distracted.
     Scully watched her mother for a long moment, then, "Would
you mind if I stayed at the house, too?"
     Margaret's head came up. "Why? Do you think Walter's
still in danger?"
     "No, but you might need help with him. It's going to be
awhile before he's up and around." She smiled, "And if I know
Skinner, he's going to be out of here tomorrow." She peered at
the other woman, who appeared lost in thought. "Mom?"
     "What?" She looked up, "I'm okay, Dana. Just tired." She
paused, considering, then; "Honey, can I ask you something?"
     "Sure." 
     They sat on the sofa, Scully studying her mother's face.
Something was bothering her, besides Skinner's injuries.
     "Why did the police call you? When they found Walter's
car." She began.
     Scully frowned. "I don't know... because I'm on his
emergency card, I suppose."
     "Why are you on his emergency card?" Maggie persisted. 
"Because of work, I guess. Mom, I don't understand where this
is leading."
     "Where it's leading is why Walter doesn't seem to have
integrated me into his life enough to be notified if something
happens to him."
     "I'm sure he just hasn't gotten around to it yet, Mom."
Dana told her. "You never *expect* to be in a car accident...
I'm sure he just forgot to change it. Or maybe he left it that
way because of work. I don't know."
     "Maybe." Again Maggie seemed lost in thought.     
     Dana looked up as Mulder came in with coffee and
sandwiches.
     "What's up?" He took in the looks on the women's faces.
He'd just missed a discussion and he thought he was glad about
it.
     Maggie refocused on the young man. "Oh, nothing, Fox."
She rose. "I'm going to see how the doctor's doing."
     "Mom, you should eat something..."
     Maggie's brow furrowed briefly in annoyance. "I'm fine."
She shook her head, thoughts obviously still elsewhere. "I'm
fine."
     Mulder stepped aside for her to pass, then looked
questioningly at his partner. "What happened?"
     "I don't know... something's wrong. Other than Skinner
being injured. Something else is bothering her."
     "Like what?" The agent took the lid off a cup of coffee
and handed it to his partner. 
     Scully shook her head thoughtfully, "She was upset
because I'm on Skinner's emergency card." She sat back in the
chair, gazing at Mulder. "Do you think it's odd that he hasn't
changed it?"
     "Not for Skinner." Fox shrugged. "He wouldn't want your
mom to be the first to see him if anything happened. You're
trained for it, she's not." He grinned. "Or it could be as
simple as he hasn't gotten around to changing it yet."
     "That's what I told her." Scully agreed. "I don't know,
Mulder, maybe she's just upset over what happened to him."
     They turned their attention to their meal, hungrier than
they'd realized, until finally Scully spoke.
     "Mulder... when Skinner woke up so afraid that Mom had
been kidnapped by those men..."
     "Uh-huh." Mulder washed his ham sandwich down with
coffee.    "What if she *had* been with him, Mulder?"
     He tossed his empty wrapper into the trash. "She wasn't."
     "But he was right... she could have been." Scully leaned
forward, food forgotten. "Mulder, someday she might get hurt
because of Skinner's job. What if they're together the next
time something like this happens? She could be killed."
     "Yeah, and she might get hit by a bus too." At his
partner's exasperated look, Mulder hurried on. "Scully,
Skinner's job is less dangerous on the whole than ours is. He
doesn't even work the long hours now that he's met your mom."
     "So I've been told." Scully said dryly.
     "You can't worry about what ifs. It'll make you nuts.
And..." He flicked a finger at her, "... it's your mother's
call, not yours."
     She sighed. "I know."
     "Eat." He pointed to her half-eaten sandwich. "Then let's
go and check out Skinner's car."
     
10:00 PM FRIDAY 
FBI IMPOUND
     "Mulder, look at this." Scully knelt beside Skinner's
car, scraping bits of red clay into an evidence bag. Her
partner took some between his fingers, sniffed, then dusted it
to the floor.   "I don't think I've seen that on the roads
around here any place."
     "No. Maybe once we get it analyzed, we can figure out
where he was being held."
     "Yeah." Her partner agreed.
     "You find anything inside?" Scully rose, putting the
baggie carefully in her pocket.
     "Evidence-wise, no. The glove compartment was open,
everything was on the floor."
     "The lock on the trunk was jimmied." Scully told him.
"Obviously they were looking for Skinner's evidence."
     "Well they were either single-minded or they didn't look
too closely," Mulder told her.
     "Why?"
     The agent reached in his pocket and pulled out a black
velvet box. 
     Scully frowned. "What is it?"
     "Unless I miss my guess..." Mulder lifted the lid to
reveal a glittering diamond ring. "...Skinner was going to
propose this weekend."
     He heard Scully's sharp intake of breath and regarded her
curiously. "You okay, Scully?"
     "Yeah. Fine," she said sharply, eyes on the ground.
     Mulder pocketed the ring for safekeeping and tipped his
lover's chin up. "What's wrong?"
     "I don't know. It's just that I hadn't actually thought
Skinner would want to marry her."
     "Why?" Mulder leaned against the side of the car. "He
loves her. Why wouldn't he?"
     "I don't know."
     "Scully, there are worse things than having Skinner for
a step-father."
     "Like what?" she demanded, arms folded across her chest.
     "That's not fair. Skinner's a good man. He's proven it."
     "The fact that he's trustworthy doesn't necessarily make
him a good match for my mother, Mulder!" she exclaimed. 
     "It doesn't make him a bad one!" Mulder countered. Every
time he turned around anymore he was defending Skinner. Man.
     "I don't want to talk about it, okay?" She started for
their car, Mulder following.
     "Hey, maybe she won't want to marry him," he offered.
"Maybe she doesn't care about him like that."
     Scully shot him a look. "She's sleeping with him, Mulder.
She cares about him like that." Scully opened her door with a
jerk. "Let's get these samples to the lab."
     Knowing he wasn't going to win, Mulder slid behind the
wheel and started the car.

11:30 PM FRIDAY
SCULLY HOME - BALTIMORE
     Maggie closed her book and put it aside. She hadn't read
a page in the last half hour; she might as well admit defeat
and go to bed. All she could think about was Walter and how
she'd hated to leave him alone. 
     As she reached for the light switch, the phone rang.
     "Hello?"
     "Maggie? Did I wake you?"
     "Walter..." She sank back onto the couch. "Are you all
right?"
     "I'm okay. I miss you... " He paused. "I just wanted to
hear your voice."
     Concern niggled in the back of her mind. "You should be
asleep. Rest is the best thing for you right now."
     "I was asleep..." he began, then stopped. "I just miss
you."
     "Walter, something's wrong. I can hear it in your voice."
     Silence.
     "Bad dream?" she finally asked.
     "Yeah."
     "Love, it's all right to have a nightmare. I just wish I
was there to chase it away."
     "I do, too." She could hear the smile in his voice.
"Goodnight, Maggie."
     "I'll be there at eleven. Dr. Lewis said he'd release you
if everything checks out."
     "I'll see you then. Go to bed."
     "I will. Walter..."
     "Hum?"
     "I love you."
     "I know. I love you too. Goodnight, Maggie."
     She sat, receiver in her lap, for a long time, then hung
up the phone and went to bed. Tomorrow was going to be a very
long day, she suspected.

10:00 AM SATURDAY
ABANDONED STORAGE WAREHOUSE
     The X-Files agents stood in the center of the abandoned
warehouse, surveying the room where Skinner had been held
hostage. Mulder found his stomach turn queasy... the knowledge
that a friend of his had been tortured here was somehow worse
than all the grotesque cases he'd witnessed. 
     "Mulder," Scully knelt before a makeshift wall with
manacles attached to it. Using a surgical glove, she picked up
a scalpel that lay one the floor. Her partner squatted down
beside her.
     "Blood." He commented as she dropped it into an evidence
bag. "Skinner's, probably."
     The redhead nodded. "That's probably where his leg wound
came from." She began bagging evidence, while Mulder did a
slow search of the place, looking for clues to the identities
of Skinner's captors.
     "Mulder... Mom doesn't need to know about this." She
indicated the half dozen plastic bags in her hand. "She
doesn't need to know exactly what happened to him."
     "She has a right to know, Scully," Mulder told her.
"She's stronger than you give her credit for."
     "Please, Mulder."
     The tall agent shrugged. "If Skinner tells her, it's on
your head."
     Scully nodded. She felt confident that if the AD ever
regained his memory about what had happened to him in this
room, the last person he would share those memories with would
be her mother.  "Well, let's get these samples to the lab.
Maybe they'll come up with something."
     Mulder followed her outside. While they knew where
Skinner had been held and what had been done to him, he hadn't
seen anything that pointed to the identities of his captors.


2:30 PM SATURDAY
SCULLY HOME - BALTIMORE
     Maggie pulled her car into the driveway and turned off
the engine. She looked over at her passenger; Skinner had
slept most of the way. Despite his claim to being fine, Maggie
was afraid he should still be in the hospital. In fact, she
knew it. Dr. Lewis had released his patient reluctantly and
only after extracting a promise that Walter would rest for the
next few days. Now that the bruises on his face had begun to
heal, the greenish yellow that mixed with the angry black
marks made it somehow worse. Her stomach clenched again as she
thought about his suffering. 
     She laid a gentle hand on his arm. "Walter... we're
home."     He started awake and she smoothed the back of her
fingers across his cheek. "Okay?"
     Skinner nodded and opened his door before Maggie could
get out to help him.
     "Walter Skinner, you'd better behave," she muttered under
her breath as he made his way out of the car, leaning heavily
on a cane.
     Maggie took his arm and slowly they made their way up the
steps and inside. Skinner hated being weak... he didn't want
to be a burden on anyone, especially Maggie. Maybe he should
have stayed in the hospital another day or two. No, you should
have been firm about going to your apartment, he told himself.
But then his doctor wouldn't have allowed him to check out.
With an inward sigh of resignation, Skinner slipped out of his
coat and headed for the living room.
     "Oh, no," Maggie told him.
     He stopped, turning back to her. "What?"
     She pointed to the stairs. "Up to bed."
     "Maggie--"
     "Bed." She stood, hands on hips, eyes uncompromising.
     Nodding, he turned and slowly negotiated the stairs,
pausing frequently to rest. His leg burned where he'd been
jabbed with Stan's scalpel. He didn't remember exactly *how*
he'd gotten the leg wound... he didn't actually remember very
much about his captivity, which suited him just fine for the
moment. The doctor claimed that once the drug had completely
left his system, his memories would solidify. Skinner could
wait. But he didn't want the leg wound to reopen. All he
needed was to have Scully down here, too. He'd talked her out
of staying overnight, but knew that she wouldn't need much of
an excuse to renege on their deal. 
     Maggie followed two steps behind, ready in case he lost
his balance, but not helping him. Men, she thought. Why can't
they just admit they're not invincible and get on with it? But
she knew it was going to be hard enough convincing Walter to
stay in bed for a few days... she didn't want to push her luck
by bruising his ego, too.
     Finally they made it to the landing and Skinner turned
into their bedroom.
     "While you get undressed, I'll fix you something to eat."
     "I'm not hungry," Skinner told her, sitting heavily on
the edge of the bed. "I think I just need a nap." He was
utterly exhausted and it was irritating. 
     Maggie knelt in front of him. "Are you all right?"
     "I'm fine." Walter rubbed a thumb lightly over her nose,
tickling her cheek with his fingers. "I'm just tired."
     Maggie stood and leaned over to kiss him lightly. "Get
into bed and I'll be back in a few minutes."
     Skinner nodded, watching her leave. He looked around the
room, trying to muster the strength to get undressed. Finally
he forced himself up and moved slowly into the bathroom.
                            *****
     When Maggie came up to check on him later, Skinner was
deeply asleep, one arm thrown over his eyes. Quietly she drew
the blinds and switched on the light in the bathroom.
     She stood by the bed, studying him. Dressed in his shorts
and nothing else, blankets thrown off, she was afforded an
unobstructed view of her lover's injuries and it turned her
stomach. Bruising and welts patterned his chest and ribs, a
heavy bandage covering his upper thigh. She'd have to change
that before they went to bed. Maggie fought to get a hold on
her emotions. Why had something so horrible happened to such
a wonderful man? Gently she eased the blankets out from under
him and tucked him in, careful not to wake him. Pulling the
bathroom door part way closed, she went back downstairs to fix
dinner.
                            *****
     The first thing he noticed when he opened his eyes was
that the sun had set. The next was that he wasn't in the
hospital any more. It took a minute to get his bearings, then
he remembered coming home with Maggie. Shit. He was so sore he
could barely move without cringing and he'd let her talk him
into coming here. Truthfully, he'd like nothing better than to
be tended to by his lover, but he hated being dependent on
others and he hated to show weakness. 'Walter, you're an
idiot.' he told himself. 'Let her take care of you. She loves
you. She'll overlook the fact you can't make it down the
stairs alone.' With a shake of his head, the AD sat up and
eased his way out of bed.
     When he came out of the bathroom, it was to find Maggie
sitting on the edge of the bed.
     "Hi." She smiled at him.
     "Hi."
     "You hungry?" She restrained the impulse to help. He
looked like he was in such pain that it tore at her heart.
     "No." Setting the cane aside, Walter sank gratefully onto
the bed. He reached out to pull Maggie closer. "How are you
doing?"
     "Fine." She rubbed his shoulder with her cheek. "It's
time to take your pain pills, though." She held up the bottle.
     "I think I could have guessed that." Skinner winced as he
slid up in the bed, resting his back against the brass
headboard.      After administering his medication, Maggie
pulled the covers up to his waist and sat back down beside
him.
     "You should eat something." 
     "Maybe in the morning." Walter brushed her cheek with his
hand. "I'm still a little nauseous. Probably from all the
garbage they pumped into me at the hospital."
     "That 'garbage' probably saved your life," She reminded
him. 
     "Don't start with me." Skinner warned, good-naturedly. "I
just want to go back to sleep, Maggie. I hate to admit how
much the trip wore me out."
     "Okay." She kissed him lightly and rose. "Um... I can, if
you want I can sleep in the guest room. If you'd be more
comfortable."
     Skinner banked down on the sadness that flooded him. "If
you'd rather," he said stiffly.
     Maggie studied his expressionless features. For the first
time since they'd been together, she couldn't read him. She
suddenly understood why he had the reputation of being a
stoneface at the Bureau. She didn't like it. "Walter--"
     "It's up to you," he repeated, briskly.
     She sighed. "Walter, I'd *rather* sleep with you, but if
I'm going to disturb your rest, I'll stay in the other room.
How uncomfortable are you?"
     Skinner looked at her, standing there looking so
uncertain... so vulnerable, and kicked himself. 'Jesus,
Walter. First you scare her to death, now you all but tell her
to sleep somewhere else. What more can you do to hurt her?' 
     "Maggie, I just meant that if you weren't comfortable
being close to me... after what happened... I'd understand."
He held out a hand to her. "You know I sleep better when
you're beside me." 
     A hesitant smile curved her lips and she took his hand,
letting him pull her down beside him. Skinner put his arms
around her and pulled her close. 
     "Please don't let me hurt you," he whispered. "I never
want to do that."
     "I'll go down and lock up." She pulled back slightly to
look into his eyes. "Then I'll be up. You get back in bed."
     She rose, kissing the top of his head, then went
downstairs to close the house for the night. Maggie tried to
calm the conflicting emotions that churned inside her, but she
couldn't and they gave her an uncomfortable feeling of rough
times to come.
     
3:45 AM SUNDAY
SCULLY HOME - BALTIMORE
     The scream brought Maggie out of a sound sleep,
propelling her upright in bed. Heart hammering in her chest,
she lunged for the bedside lamp. 
     Beside her, Skinner wrestled with the blankets, crying
out. Maggie narrowly missed being struck with a fist.
     "Walter!" She grabbed his wrist, but the AD wrenched
loose, shouting at her. She tried to shake him awake, but he
fought with her, pushing her away.
     "Walter!" Maggie fell on him, arms going around his neck,
her face inches from his. "Wake up, you're dreaming!"
     Skinner woke, eyes wide, fingers gripping Maggie in an
almost painful hold.
     "Maggie." He gasped, eyes filled with terror. Then he
seemed to calm slightly and his grasp on her relaxed. "I'm
sorry."   
     "Walter, I didn't know what to do." She sat up beside
him, a hand on his chest. "I was afraid to shake you too
hard... I didn't want to hurt you any more."
     "Oh, honey..." Skinner drew her down to lay against him,
one hand smoothing her hair. "I'm sorry if I frightened you."
     "Were you dreaming about what happened?" She peered up
into his face. "Before the accident?"
     He gave her a squeeze. "Let's not talk about it."
     "Walter, it might help--"
     "No." His tone left no room for argument.
     Silently Maggie lay her head on his shoulder, an arm
going across his chest. "I just want to help," she said
softly, nestling closer.
     "I know... I'm sorry." He kissed the top of her head. "I
just don't want to talk about it, okay?"     
     "Okay," Maggie whispered. She lay still, thoughts
wandering, along with her hand, which caressed her lover's
chest in slow circles. Fingertips moving ever lower, nails
gently scraping.     Skinner pulled her closer, fingers
massaging her back through the thin silk of her nightgown.
Even as his heart raced from his nightmare, he could feel the
heat in his blood from Maggie's touch. Never had anyone been
able to turn him on so quickly by doing so little. He plucked
at the material of her gown. "What's this?"   Maggie smiled at
the old joke. She raised herself on her elbows so she could
look into his eyes.
     "You're indisposed," she reminded him with a low laugh.
"I didn't want to temp you." She cocked her head, uncertainty
flickering through the blue eyes. "Do I tempt you?"
     He stroked her cheek. "You know you do." His palm
smoothed across her cheek, fingers carding through her dark
hair. "I think I'm feeling much better."
     "Walter..." she warned, "The doctor told you not to exert
yourself."
     "Uh-hum..." he murmured, rolling on his side as he pushed
Maggie onto her back.
     "You don't want to over do so soon--"
     Skinner's lips silenced her and Maggie's arms went around
his neck, body stretching under him like a cat, surrendering.
She hadn't realized how much she'd missed him beside her until
this instant as his tongue plundered her mouth, seeking out
familiar territory, sucking her tongue between his lips.
     She moaned, hands roaming across his back and down his
sides, smoothing over firm buttocks and up again. She still
marveled at how easy it was for him to arouse her. His
slightest touch... sometimes even a look... and she was lost.
     Walter shifted so that his body pressed against the
length of her, one hand cupping a breast; kneading, thumb
circling the nipple through the thin material. His hand
slipped underneath, pulling the silk up, fingers teasing until
his lover pulled her mouth away from his, urging his lips to
take the sensitive mound. Happily the AD shifted his focus,
tongue laving the tender breast, lips teasing it's tip until
the nipple stood erect with arousal.
     Skinner covered her with himself, mouth seeking every
inch of smooth shoulder, tongue playing in the hollow of her
throat, teeth nipping lightly at her neck until Maggie's
breath came in shallow pants. Her hands were everywhere;
caressing him, sending warm passion through him, arousing him,
melting away the pain in his muscles.
     As he felt her passion building, wet and ready for him,
Skinner realized that he wasn't aroused. His partially erect
penis showed no sign of hardening, despite the need that
coursed through him. He wanted Maggie... he needed her... but
his body wasn't cooperating. 
     She felt the change in him and opened her eyes, looking
up into her lover's tortured gaze.
     "Walter..." She smoothed his cheek. "Sweetheart, what's
wrong?" 
     "I... can't, Maggie." Skinner bit his lip, feeling as if
he'd failed her again. "I..." He trailed off, then decided
that he could still make Maggie's experience pleasant. His
hand slipped under her nightgown, fingers finding her wetness,
brushing across her center.
     "Walter, no--" Maggie caught his hand, pulling it up
under her chin. "What's wrong? Talk to me."
     "I don't know. I've never... maybe because of what
happened... or the drug they gave me." He hugged her to him,
nearly cutting off her breath. "Oh Maggie, I'm sorry." His
laugh caught in his throat. "All I do anymore is apologize to
you."
     She hugged him back, legs entwining with his. "It doesn't
matter. As long as you're all right, I don't care," she told
him, kissing his neck. "I just want you safe and here with me.
We have the rest of our lives to make love. This doesn't
matter."
     But it mattered to Skinner. Gathering himself, he gently
moved out of Maggie's embrace and leaned over her to turn out
the light. Kissing her cheek, he turned on his side, his back
to her.
     "Goodnight, Maggie."
     She laid a hand on his shoulder, lips near his ear.
"Walter?"  
     "Goodnight."
     She could almost feel him pull away from her and it
closed the fist tighter around her heart. Biting back her own
fears, Maggie spooned against him and tried to go back to
sleep. She could feel the tension in him and it transferred
itself to her, keeping her awake for a long time after she
felt him finally fall back to sleep.
 
9:00 AM SUNDAY
SCULLY HOME - BALTIMORE
     Maggie came into the bedroom to find Skinner making the
bed. "What are you doing?" She demanded.
     "Maggie, I can't stay up here another day." Skinner
implored. "I'm lonely. All I do is lay here and think about
you downstairs."
     She studied him. She knew he was soft-soaping her, but
decided that he was charming enough about it that she'd let
him come downstairs. Besides, she reflected with a tiny smile,
she missed him, too.
     "All right. But you'll lay on the couch, understood?"
     Walter beamed. "Great." He sobered and held up a hand. "I
promise."
     "All right, let's get you settled."
     Together they made up a bed on the sofa and Skinner sank
gratefully onto it. While it still didn't take much to tire
him out, he could tell he was recovering. 
     After lunch, Maggie told him she was going to the market
and he was to stay put. 
     However, after flipping channels and deciding that he'd
slept himself out for awhile, Skinner began to get restless.
He felt sure that if he could just move around... exercise his
muscles... he'd recover quicker. He brightened at the thought
of his exercise bike in the upstairs guest room. He'd moved it
to Maggie's house the month before, since he'd been spending
so many of his evenings here. He could get in a quick workout
and be back on the couch before Maggie got back. Happily he
started for the staircase.  *****
     Maggie opened the door, arms full of grocery bags. She
heard the television in the living room and called out to her
lover. When she got no response, she quietly peeked in to see
if he was asleep. The room was empty.
     "Maybe he's in the bathroom." She put the groceries in
the kitchen and checked the back bathroom... it was empty. She
contemplated the stairs. "Would he have gone upstairs?"
Deciding that he must have, she quickly went up, checking both
bathrooms and their bedroom. He was nowhere to be found.
     "Walter!" Panic taking firm control, Maggie ran down the
stairs, back to the living room. Maybe he'd gone for a short
walk. She'd kill him, but at least it was a possible answer.
Maggie breathed a sigh of relief as the door bell sounded. She
flung it open, recrimination on her lips, when she saw it was
Mulder.    "Fox!"
     "What's wrong?" the agent stepped inside, "Is Skinner
okay?"
     "I can't find him!" Panic seized her again. "I just went
to the market--"
     "Maybe he passed out in the bathroom..." Mulder started
for the stairs.
     "I checked." Maggie told him.
     "What about the exercise room upstairs?" Mulder asked
her. "Didn't he move his bike or something down here?"
     "Oh, Walter wouldn't be stupid--" She paused, meeting the
young man's gaze. "Let's check," she agreed.
     Maggie's stomach dropped when they reached the guest
room, fear gripping her. 
     Skinner lay on his back on the carpeted floor, dead or
unconscious, arms flung wide.
     "Walter!" She didn't even try to keep the fear out of her
voice.
     Mulder slid to a halt on the other side of the fallen
man, fingers to his neck. "It's okay... his pulse is steady.
I think he just passed out." Mulder glanced down to see blood
seeping through the gray sweatpants. "Looks like he broke open
his leg wound--"    
     "Dammit!"
     Mulder's head shot up. Blue eyes dark with anger flashed
at him. He'd never seen Maggie Scully look so furious.
     "Look, I'll get him down to the bedroom, you call
Scully." He suggested.
     "I asked him not to overdo..." she exclaimed, fingers
still gripping Skinner's limp hand. "Is he *trying* to kill
himself?"
     Mulder reached out to touch her hand. "Maggie. Call
Scully's cell phone. She wasn't too far behind me but tell her
to step on it. She's probably going to have to re-close this
gash."
     Breathing heavily, Maggie nodded and rose to do as he
bid. All her worry of a few minutes ago turned to anger...
anger and fear for the man she'd come to love so much. As she
left, Mulder started the laborious task of getting his
extremely heavy boss off the floor and down the hallway to his
bed.
     Mulder appeared on the landing just as Maggie started up
the stairs. "She'll be here in twenty minutes."
     "Okay. I'm going throw water on my face." He gestured to
the bedroom. "He's no lightweight."
     Anger returning, now that the crisis seemed to be over,
Maggie went to stand by the bed, watching her lover's limp
form. 'Why? Why are you doing this? First you don't want to
stay here, then you do everything you can to bring on a set-
back. If you don't want to be here, then let Fox take you
home.' Depression and anger warred, her anger winning as her
gaze fell on the dresser top which held Skinner's badge,
glasses and... handcuffs. A small smile curved her lips as she
picked them up. Laying the key on the bureau, Maggie neatly
snapped one circle around the AD's wrist and looped the other
around the bedpost. Nodding her satisfaction, Maggie turned
and went to look for Fox. She just wanted to prove a point. If
he was going to recuperate in her house, he was going to do it
her way. Period.
     "You okay?" Mulder came out of the bathroom and slipped
an arm around her waist as they started down the stairs.
     "I don't know..." It was a whisper. "Sometimes I'm just
so afraid!"
     "He's gonna be okay," Mulder assured her.
     "I mean of losing him, Fox." Her voice broke and Mulder
stopped. He looked into her eyes and saw real anxiety in their
depths.
     "You're not going to lose him." Mulder told her. "He's so
in love with you he can hardly stand it." He grinned. "Most of
us can hardly stand *him* anymore. You've got him totally
besotted."
     Maggie's laugh was nervous. "I hope you're right, but
lately... I just don't know." Her voice shook slightly. "He's
pulling farther and farther away from me and I don't know what
to do about it. I wish he'd just tell me if I'm doing
something..."
     Mulder wished he could tell Maggie about the ring he'd
found in Skinner's car, but knew that secret wasn't his to
share. "I'm sure it's nothing you're doing. He's just working
through things in his own way." He paused, "You want me to
talk to him?"
     "No!" she said quickly. "If he's tired of me, I don't
want him to feel pressured."
     "Tired--" He reply was cut short by a bellow from the
room above. "What the hell?" Mulder took the steps two at a
time, closely followed by Maggie.
     Caught between waking and dreaming, mind confused by pain
medication, Skinner tossed violently on the bed, jerking the
arm that was cuffed to the bedstead, screaming at remembered
tortures. Mulder took in the scene and immediately knew what
had happened and why... Maggie had been trying to prove a
point, but it had backfired, reawakening Skinner's recent
ordeal. Mulder literally laid on the bigger man to keep him
from flailing. "Get me the key!" he ordered.
     Horrified, Maggie grabbed up the piece of metal and with
shaking hands, managed to unlock the cuffs, releasing
Skinner's wrist. She unlocked the other end and replaced them
on the dresser.
     "I'm so sorry... oh, Fox, I just wanted to make him see--"
     "It's not your fault," he told her, "You didn't know." 
     "Can't I do *anything* right anymore?" she almost
screamed. "It's no wonder--" She shook her head, kneeling by
the bed. "Is he all right?"
     "Yeah, he'll come around in a minute."
     "I'm so sorry!" Choking on emotion, Maggie turned,
literally running from the room.
     "Maggie!" Mulder shouted after her, but he heard rapid
footfalls descending the stairs.
     "What happened?"
     Mulder turned to stare down into bewildered brown
eyes.      "Why are you sitting on me?"
     "Oh, sorry." Smiling a bit self-consciously, Mulder stood
up, releasing his hold on the AD. "You were having a nightmare
and we couldn't get you to wake up."
     "Maggie?" He glanced around the room, then back at his
agent.
     "She went downstairs... she's upset."
     Skinner ran a palm over his face. "Dammit, I can't seem
to do anything right anymore! I'm going to lose her if I'm not
careful." He drew a deep breath, "Mulder, she's seeing too
much of the darkness. She's not going to want to be a part of
my life." 
     The younger man decided to let that pass for the moment.
"What were you doing on the bike?" he demanded instead,
frowning his displeasure.
     Skinner had the decency to look guilty. "I'll bet she
wasn't too happy about that, either," he ventured.
     "Uh... no," Mulder agreed. "In a moment of pique she
handcuffed you to the bed... that's why you were freaking out,
I think." 
     Skinner nodded, flexing his hand. Bruising was already
beginning to appear on the abused area. "Mulder, I don't know
what to do... every time I turn around, I hurt her." Pain-
filled eyes looked up into the younger man's. 
     "I wouldn't worry," Mulder said gently. "She loves you a
lot." Then he remembered, "Oh, here...." He reached into his
pocket and pulled out the black velvet box and handed it to
Skinner. "I meant to give this back to you in the hospital but
you checked out before I could."
     "Oh, thank God." The AD took it, opening the lid. "I
thought they'd taken it... or I'd lost it somewhere."
     "It was on the floor of the car, under the passenger
seat." He hesitated. "Um... Scully saw it."
     "Oh." He looked up at his agent. "How did that go?"
     Mulder shrugged.
     "Well... " The AD sighed and slipped the box into his
bedside table. "She probably won't have to worry about it."
     "For God sake's, Walter!" Mulder groaned. "I've never
seen two people who care so much about each other and are
determined that the other one doesn't care! Geez." Shaking his
head, Fox
contemplated his boss. "You need anything?"
     "No. I think I'm going to go back to sleep."
     "Well, that would be safer," Mulder agreed. 
     When the younger man didn't leave, Skinner raised an
inquiring eyebrow.
     "Look, I know this is none of my business..." Mulder
began.
      "And when has that ever stopped you?" Skinner settled
back against his pillows.
      "Before... when you were out, she talked to me a little
bit. She thinks you're withdrawing into yourself... pulling
away from her."
     Walter sighed. "She's right. It's the way I cope."
     "I know you want to protect her, but isn't this what
ruined your marriage?" The question was tentative. He didn't
want to piss the man off, but he didn't want a
misunderstanding to ruin what he had with Maggie, either.
     "I've always kept things inside, Mulder. I never wanted
Sharon involved in my work life."
     "I don't think that's going to work here," Mulder told
him. "Maybe you should try something else."
     "I know you're right." The older man met his gaze and
Mulder saw a vulnerability he hadn't seen since the AD had
been accused of murder. "I just don't know if I can."
     "Is keeping Maggie worth trying?"
     "She's worth everything." It was a whisper. 
     Mulder leaned over to gently squeeze his shoulder. "I'll
see you later." He paused in the doorway, the ghost of a smile
playing over his lips. "Oh, Scully should be along in a
minute."
     "Why?" Skinner grimaced as he pushed himself up in bed.
     Mulder nodded to his leg. "Looks like you tore open the
stitches."
     "Great," the AD muttered.
     Mulder left him, hearing the doorbell as he went
downstairs. Well, Skinner would just have to suffer through
Scully's ministrations and probably her lecture. He grinned.
>From personal experience, Mulder knew that few things pissed
his partner off like testosterone poisoning.

2:30 AM THURSDAY
SCULLY HOME - BALTIMORE
     Maggie opened her eyes, startled from a sound sleep as
her lover jostled against her in bed. Gathering her wits about
her, Maggie sat up and turned on the bedside lamp. Walter's
dreams had stopped soon after he'd returned from the hospital
and Maggie had gotten used to nights of unbroken sleep again.
Now she turned to find the AD once more caught in a web of
horrifying memories.
     "Walter!" She shook him, shifting to kneel beside him.
"Walter wake up!"
     Skinner came awake, disoriented, until he saw Maggie's
worried face hovering above him. He let out a breath.
     "Maggie... I'm sorry."
     "I thought the dreams were over." She smoothed his
forehead with her hand. "What were you dreaming?"
     Skinner shook his head. "It's already fading... I can't
remember."
     He saw the corners of her eyes crinkle in annoyance, but
he couldn't bring himself to share the nightmare. It was too
personal... too violent to inflict on Maggie.
     "Walter, you're always harping about how Dana and Fox
don't trust you, well you don't trust me. Why does that make
you any better than them?"
     "I do trust you!" he objected, sitting up to face her.
     "Do you?" She demanded, eyes flashing in the dim light.
"Then why are you shutting me out? You're pulling farther and
farther away. Are you always like this with people who care
about you? Is it a sign of weakness to confide in someone?"
     "Maggie, I don't want you to be a part of that life,"
Skinner told her, reaching out to take her hand.
     She pulled away from him. "I am a part of it, Walter.
It's a part of you. Either I'm in your life or I'm not. Make
up your mind."
     Maggie turned and got out of bed. Grabbing her pillow,
she left the bedroom.
     "Maggie!" Skinner was about to follow when the sound of
the spare room door slamming stopped him. With a heavy heart,
the AD lay back down, but sleep never came.

6:30 PM THURSDAY
SCULLY HOME - BALTIMORE
     Maggie realized she was doing busy work to keep from
worrying, and went to watch television. Restlessly she channel
surfed, nothing catching her attention. 
     After their argument the night before, she'd lay in bed
worrying that she'd pushed him too hard... that she was trying
to force him into being someone he wasn't. But dammit! she had
a right to know what was going on inside him. 
     That morning his agents had come to escort him to court.
Skinner had tried to make light of it, but Maggie knew that
Fox and Dana felt he could still be in danger. Now it was
after 6:30 and she hadn't heard a word from any of them and
she was worried. Walter had left that morning without even
kissing her good-bye. What if that was the last time she saw
him? 'Stop it!' she
commanded.
     Maggie jumped when the doorbell rang.
     "Well, thank goodness!" she murmured, hurrying to the
door. But Walter had a key. She opened the door to find two
men in suits on her porch.
     'Oh dear God--' she thought.
     "Margaret Scully?" the taller man asked politely.
     "I'm Margaret Scully," She felt her throat dry up.
"What's happened?"
     "Can we come inside, ma'am?" Both men pulled out ID.
"FBI." 
     Heart sinking, Maggie stepped aside for them to enter.
Where were Dana and Fox? Were they all right?
     "What's happened to Walter?" She fought for control of
her voice.
     "Nothing--"
     Maggie turned as he clicked the lock on her front door.
"...yet."
     Alarm registered in her mind. "Who are you?"
     The taller man drew his gun. "Check the house."
     Nodding, his partner left the room.
     "Who are you?" Maggie demanded again.
     "Mrs. Scully, *silence* is what I want from you right
now." 
     Maggie gasped in pain as he gripped her arm in an iron
hold. "Sit down and be quiet!"

                            *****
     "Sir," Mulder exited the freeway and headed toward
Maggie's neighborhood, "Why are you so sure something's
wrong?"
     "I just am, Mulder." The AD sat forward in his seat, eyes
on the road. "When Stefano looked at me today... after he was
sentenced... he smirked."
     "Sir," Scully leaned forward from the back, "He was
trying to psyche you out."
     "Well, he did!" Walter snapped. "Park on this block,
Mulder. We'll cut through the back yard to Maggie's."
     Neither agent had tried to talk him out of his fears and
in fact, both were beginning to believe, given the intensity
of his conviction.
     Mulder rolled to a stop and switched off the lights and
engine. Then the three hurried noiselessly through the yard
that bordered Maggie's back yard.
     "Wait here... I'll see if I can see anything."
     "Be careful!" Skinner hissed. "If something is wrong, and
they spot you, they might hurt her."
     Mulder nodded and disappeared into the darkness.
                            *****
     Inside, Maggie sat staring at the man before her, trying
to think of some way to warn Walter. He was already late and
she was afraid that at any--
     "Hey!" The shorter man by the window gestured, shoving
the last of the beef jerky into his mouth. "Headlights!"
     "About time." The other man rose and reached for Maggie.
"Come on--"
     "No!" Maggie slipped away from him, but he lunged and
caught her arm, jerking it painfully behind her.
     Outside, the car door slammed.
     "Let me go!" She hoped Walter heard her--that he was
warned.
     "Will you shut up!" Stan slapped her across the face hard
enough that Maggie tasted blood.
     The next few seconds happened so quickly, it seemed like
a blur to her.. She heard Walter's key in the lock as her
captor reached for her again. As he grabbed at her shoulder,
Maggie bit him, drawing blood.
     "You bitch!" As she fell from his second blow, crying
out, Maggie saw the door slam black on it's hinges. The man
grabbed her and whirled, gun drawn, her throat lodged
painfully in the crook of his arm.
     "Hold it or she dies!"
     Maggie had little doubt that he meant every word. She
looked at her lover's face and saw a stranger. A cold chill
ran through her as hard eyes looked back, not at her, but
meeting the gunman's gaze.
     "Two guns on you, Mr. AD," Stan sneered. "You can't win."
     "I can kill you," Skinner said evenly. "Maggie, have they
hurt you?"
     She couldn't move and her voice didn't seem to work.
Maggie could feel the blood trickle from the side of her
mouth, onto the man's wrist.
     "Freeze! FBI!"
     Maggie heard Mulder's voice behind them and saw the man
by the window turn, aiming at the two agents who'd come in
through the back. She felt Stan's grip on her loosen and she
shoved him back and slipped out of his grasp.
     "Get back here, bitch!"
     Maggie cried out again as he jerked her to her feet, gun
aimed at her head...and then the air exploded. Maggie screamed
and fell to the floor with a heavy thud that knocked the
breath out of her. A weight landed on her as Stan fell across
her legs. She heard Mulder shout, "Walter!" and Scully's
follow-up, "Sir... no!" Then someone was pulling her up,
lifting her with strong arms. Vaguely she heard her daughter
reciting the Miranda to the second gunman as she was cradled
against a broad chest. Maggie looked up to see Skinner's
beloved face before she surrendered to the blackness.
                            *****
     "Maggie." 
     She batted at the stinging insect flying around her face.
Her hand was caught in a familiar grip and she smiled,
shifting on the bed and drawing the hand under her chin.
     "Maggie..." Fingers brushed through her hair and she
opened her eyes.
     To her surprise, she was in the den, on the sofa. Walter
knelt beside her, features marred by a worried expression.
Deep in the brown eyes she saw guilt. Behind him stood the X-
File agents; both looked down at her with concern. Then she
remembered.
     Skinner pulled her up, into his arms, and held her fast.
     "Walter, are you all right?" Maggie whispered, tears
wetting his neck. 
     "I'm fine," he assured her. "We're all fine." The
doorbell rang, but Skinner didn't move. "Mulder?"
     "I'll get it." The agent agreed, leaving the den.
     "Maggie," Walter laid her down, a hand smoothing her
cheek. "The FBI team is here... they're going to take evidence
and clean up the mess I left you." His eyes closed, then he
met her gaze again. "I'm so sorry, Maggie."
     Skinner rose and for the first time she saw him as he was
so much of the time; Assistant Director of the FBI.
Jacketless, badge on his belt, shirt sleeves rolled up with a
gun holster strapped to his side, the butt of his weapon
visible. How different he looks, she thought, how much harder.
With a nod to Scully to stay with her mother, Skinner went to
direct the clean up.
                            *****
     Skinner followed the bodybag out, talking to the last
agent. "Wait for me in the car, will you? I'll be right
there."
     "Yes, sir. I've got to do some last minute instructions
with forensic."
     Skinner nodded and moved to one end of the enclosed
porch. He gazed out over the peaceful neighborhood and thought
about what he'd brought to the woman who'd come to mean so
much to him. 'Walter, you've brought her nothing compared to
what you just did to her life.' He cursed, fist slamming into
a wooden support beam.
     "You saved her life."
     He turned to find Scully behind him. His eyes were
tortured, remorseful. 
     "I *caused* this." He glanced at the ground, then back to
his agent. "Take care of her for me, Scully."
     She watched him dismount the stairs and get into the last
car. Agent Johnston pulled out of the driveway and headed down
the street. With a sinking feeling, Scully went back inside.
     In the den, Mulder sat with Maggie. They looked up at her
entrance. He'd made tea and Scully was relieved to see some
color back in her mother's cheeks. Scully had cleaned the
split lip that Stan had inflicted, but Maggie's jaw was
swelling from the blow. Scully felt a flash of anger. 
     Mulder poured out a cup of steaming liquid, which she
gratefully accepted.
     "Skinner had to leave," she said simply, sitting on the
sofa beside her mother.
     The older woman didn't miss Mulder's look of surprise, or
her daughter's slight shake of the head. Walter hadn't *had*
to leave. A fist closed around her heart and she studied her
teacup, forcing back tears.
     "Listen, I'm going to go out and make sure everything's
back the way it should be," Mulder told them, rising.
     "You want help?" Scully asked.
     "No. I think they were pretty careful." He grinned. "They
didn't want Skinner's wrath to come down on them."
     Maggie smiled, biting her lip, wincing at its soreness.
"I'm going to go up and take a shower." She shivered. "I
feel... like I need one." She set her cup down and rose.
     When she'd left, Scully turned to her lover. "Mulder, I'm
going to stay here tonight. I don't think mom should be
alone."
     "Okay," he readily agreed, "I'll stay too."
     But she shook her head. "You need to talk to Skinner." 
     "Why? The trial's over and your mom's safe. He'll be
okay."
     "You didn't see his eyes, Mulder," Scully insisted. "He
needs somebody."
     The tall agent shrugged. "I don't see him letting me in,
Scully. Not about this." He waved to the empty seat where
Maggie had been.
     "Well, he's not going talk to me about it." Her eyes
implored him. "Please Mulder."
     "Okay. I'll try. Call me later."
     "Thanks." She rose and went to him, pulling him down for
a kiss. "I love you."
     He hugged her. "Me too. I'll check and make sure
everything looks like it should and I'll go."
     "Okay."
     She watched him leave, then went to the kitchen to look
for something to fix for dinner. Suddenly she was starving.
                            *****
     When her mother had showered, Scully helped her change
into a nightgown and shooed her off to bed. 
     "I'll bring you up something to eat," Dana told her.
     "I'm not hungry," Maggie said tiredly. "I'm just so
sore..." She rubbed her neck and shoulder. "Sit and talk to me
for awhile." She patted the bed beside her.
     Scully sat, a hand on hers.
     "Dana... tell me exactly what happened." Maggie ran
fingers through her hair. She wished she could erase the feel
of Stan's hands on her... the memory of his gun in her face,
but it was right there, waiting to be relived when her guard
slipped.
     "Something Stefano did at the trial made Skinner think he
planned to avenge himself somehow and he was afraid something
was wrong here." Scully explained. "Mulder saw one of them
through the window and we snuck in through the back while
Skinner came in the front. He'd hoped to pretend he didn't
know anything was wrong... get the drop on them." Scully
hesitated. "But I guess when he saw you he kind of lost it."
     "It's a miracle no one else was killed." Maggie breathed.
"What else?"
     "When Stan grabbed you, we came in and Skinner shot him."
Scully told her. "Mulder had his gun on the second man and I
cuffed him while Skinner pulled you out and took you to the
den. We called the team and I cleaned up your face."
     Maggie raised a hand to her bruised cheek, her lip split
and swollen. "I've never seen Walter like that..." Maggie
said, remembering her lover's entrance with a shiver. "So
hard... so cold. He was like a different person." She met
Dana's eyes. "He killed that man."
     "To save you." Scully gripped her hand. Odd, she
reflected, to be defending Skinner to her mother. 
     "Yes." Maggie sighed. "And you stopped him from shooting
the other man, didn't you?"
     Scully shrugged. "I don't know, Mom... he was so
outraged..." 
     Maggie made a noise of frustration. "I guess I'm having
trouble assimilating the man I've known with the man I saw
tonight." She bit her lip. "Maybe I don't know him at all."
     "He's the same man, Mom," Scully told her softly. "You
just saw a different side of him tonight. A side I know he
never wanted you to see."
     Maggie pulled her hand back, exhaustion suddenly
blanketing her. "I think I'd like to sleep now, Dana." She
kissed her daughter's cheek. 
     "'Night, Mom." Scully helped her slide down in bed and
covered her with the comforter. "Call if you need anything."
     "I'll be fine, sweetie." 
     With some reluctance, Scully turned out the light and
left her mother's room. It was a long time before she herself
felt like sleep.  

FOUR DAYS LATER
FBI BUILDING - AD SKINNER'S OFFICE
     Skinner sat at his desk, a blank sheet of paper in front
of him, pen in hand. He'd been trying to write this letter for
over an hour. 'Just do it, Walter. Tell her and get it over
with.'
     Heaving a heavy sigh, Walter began to write, telling
Maggie why, despite the fact she meant more to him than his
own life, he couldn't see her anymore. How he couldn't put her
in danger... how he'd died inside when she was hurt by the
gunman's revenge on him. And how she shouldn't want to be with
him now, after what had happened. Now that she knew the truth
about the other side of his life.
     In the outer office, Skinner's assistant was deeply
worried about her boss. While he'd had her check with Agent
Scully about her mother's condition, the AD had had no direct
contact with the X-Files pair. Kimberly had hoped a romance
was budding between Skinner and Dana Scully's mother, but
after the shoot-out three nights before, things had apparently
fallen apart. She looked up from her thoughts as the door
opened and Skinner walked out, an envelope in his hand.
     "I'll be right back, Kim." 
     There was no inflection in his voice and his eyes were
dull. This was not good. She knew that Agent Mulder had tried
at least twice to see the AD, but both times Skinner had
claimed to be too busy. After a long moment of debate with
herself, Kim picked up the phone and dialed the X-Files
office.

SCULLY HOME - BALTIMORE
1:30 PM
     "Father, come in." Margaret Scully opened her door to the
priest. 
     "Margaret, I thought perhaps I should come by... you
weren't at services Sunday and I thought perhaps you needed to
talk with someone."
     Her smile faded as she ushered the man inside. 
     "I've just made coffee. Sit down and I'll be right
in."  When she'd served them both, Maggie sank into Walter's
chair... funny how she'd come to think of it as his... it had
been in her home far longer than he had been.
     "Margaret?" 
     "Oh, I'm sorry." Maggie smiled too brightly and then,
suddenly, abandoned her facade of strength. "Father... I'm so
confused by what I'm feeling! I don't know *what* I feel any
more. I'm not sure I even know him... so how can I possibly
love him?" She fingers clenched over the arms of the chair.
"And even
before... after he'd been, been... abducted." Her eyes closed
as she gathered strength, then she went on, "He was
withdrawn... he's pulling away from me and I can't do anything
about it! But that night...He was so different... ruthless. "
     "That ruthlessness is what protected you, Margaret."
     "He *killed* that man in my home," she persisted.
     "Before the gunman killed you," the man reminded her
gently. "That man loves you, Margaret. I can see it in his
eyes. And don't tell me you didn't have to drag him to church,
because I could see his discomfort. But he came because it was
important to you."
     Tears slid down her cheeks. "I just don't know what to
do!"
     "Do you love him?"
     Tear-filled eyes met his kind gaze. "Yes. With all my
soul."
     "Then you have to forgive him... accept him. He's trained
to do a dangerous job. He protects innocent people from men
like that gunman. It's the same job your daughter is trained
to do. And that young man of hers." The priest leaned forward,
taking her hands in his. "Margaret, you've surrounded yourself
with people who do dangerous, but important work. Granted,
Dana sought her own path, but Walter... you have to decide
whether it's enough that he loves you and you love him.
Whether that will chase the darkness away from the two of
you."
     Maggie was silent, face in her hands now, shoulders
shaking.
     "From what Dana told me, that gunman was seconds from
killing you. How do you think Walter felt? He had little
choice other than what he did. I don't condone killing, but
God will forgive him for this one. Now you must decide whether
you love him as he is... the whole man... or only a part of
him. You'll never have peace until you do."
     He rose to kneel beside her chair, taking her in his
arms. He soothed her as she cried, praying softly for her
direction. Finally, when she was spent, he rose and pulled her
to her feet.    "Margaret, you have to do what's in your
heart. But don't cast away something that means as much to you
as Walter obviously does. Ask yourself why you're so upset
about what happened. Was it the danger he put you in? The
darker side of him that you saw? Or is it the fear that you've
lost what you had together?"
     Maggie walked him to the door, swiping at her tears. "I
hate to cry!" She smiled ruefully.
     "But it's good for the soul," the priest told her.
     She opened the door as a delivery boy was about to
knock.     "Margaret Scully?"
     "Yes..." She took the long white box and tipped the teen,
then closed the door.
     "Looks like someone's tired of waiting for you to
decide." The priest winked at her.
     With shaking hands, Maggie undid the bow and opened the
box. Inside lay a dozen pink roses, a letter nestled among the
greenery.  "It's from Walter." She agreed.
     "No? Do you really think so?" he teased. 
     She smiled and opened the letter. But as she read, the
priest realized that it wasn't a reconciliation letter.
Wordlessly Maggie handed him the paper. 
     The priest read the short letter, his heart heavy.
Shaking his head, he replaced it in the box. "Margaret... that
isn't what he really wants." He gestured to the note. "You're
the one light in his dark world... he's trying to protect you
by letting you go."  Maggie ducked her head, tears coming
again. "Thank you for coming." She turned and left the room.

10:00 PM - SAME DAY
MULDER'S APARTMENT
     Fox Mulder lay on his back, Scully tucked in the corner
of his arm, fingers making lazy circles on her back. She'd
been quiet... almost pensive most of the evening and he had
tried to be extra charming and distracting, but it hadn't
worked. Even now, after they'd driven each other mad making
love, he could feel her slipping back into the sadness.
     "Are you going to tell me what's bothering you?"
     Dana sighed. "Nothing new."
     "Still worried about Skinner and your mom?" Mulder
shifted, drawing away a little so that he could see his
lover's face.
     "I guess. I mean, I know he's good for her and she loves
him and I'd just about accepted that it was a good thing....
and now they've broken up." She looked up at him, "I just
don't understand why I'm so upset. I never thought it was a
good idea and now I want them back together." She frowned, "I
feel like a flake."
     Mulder laughed, hugging her. "You're a normal daughter.
You thought Skinner was replacing your dad. You were afraid
he'd endanger your mom with his job. You were afraid they
didn't really love each other enough. Once you realized all
those assumptions were false, you were okay with it." He
paused, "Right?"
     "Right," she finally admitted.
     "And now you're upset because they're apart and making
each other miserable." He kissed the top of her head. "Sounds
pretty normal to me."
     Dana rolled onto her stomach, propping herself up on her
elbows. "So how are we going to get them to make up."
     "Us?" Mulder's brows rose into his hair. "Don't you think
that's up to them?"
     She punched her pillow, propping it under her. "No," she
decided. "I think they need some help."
     "I've tried to see Skinner twice since the shooting and
he's avoiding me," Mulder reminded her. "I don't know what
else I can do, short of scaring up an X-File."
     "I know," Scully brooded. "Well, something's bound to
come up... some excuse to see him."
     "You need an excuse?" Mulder rolled onto his side,
caressing her shoulder.
     Scully turned her head to smile at him. "No. I guess
Mom's a good enough reason to want to see him."
     
3:30 AM 
SCULLY HOME - BALTIMORE
     That night Maggie tossed and turned, unable to sleep,
unable to turn off the thoughts that chased through her head.
The cold emptiness beside her didn't help. 
     She missed Walter desperately and cast around for a
reason to call him... and searched her heart about whether she
wanted to call. And whether he'd even talk to her.
     At first her confusion had turned to anger when she'd
received Skinner's letter. How could he just abandon her
because of what had happened? Did she mean that little to him,
that he wouldn't stand by her? After all, it hadn't been her
fault that those men had tried to use her to kill him. She'd
lost a sugar bowl to her anger when she'd thrown it against
the wall that morning in frustrated grief. Now she lay wide
awake, anger slowly turning to insecurity.
     Maggie turned onto her side. She glanced at the clock;
3:30. Might as well give up and admit to another sleepless
night. Why had he pulled away from her? It had started before
that night... right after he'd escaped his captivity. Why
wouldn't he let her in? He'd grown so silent... so cold.
Perhaps he'd finally grown tired of her. Tears tracked down
her cheeks to soak the pillow. Had he decided she was, in
fact, too old for him? Maggie feared she'd been right all
along; that she wasn't sexy... that Walter didn't want to be
with her anymore, and this was the first opportunity he'd had
to break it off without hurting her.
     She let out an anguished cry. Hurt her? Dear God, her
heart felt as though it were breaking. She hugged his pillow
to her, the cloth wet from her tears. 
     "I can't help it!" she sobbed. "I'm trying... he's just
so different from Bill!" 
     Her tiny frame shook with sobs until finally exhaustion
claimed her and she fell into a restless sleep. 

THE NEXT MORNING
FBI BUILDING - AD SKINNER' S OFFICE
     Skinner looked up at the knock on his door. "Come in."
     Dana Scully slipped inside, closing the door behind her.
"Sir. Can I speak with you for a minute?"
     He waved her in. He'd known it was only a matter of time
before one or both of the agents cornered him about Maggie.
"Sit down Agent Scully." Business... that's always the best.
     "Sir... Walter." She moved the chair closer, leaning on
his desk. 
     She'd called him Walter... that wasn't good, he decided.
     "You're both acting like idiots," Scully told him
bluntly.
     Skinner blinked. "I beg your pardon?"
     "You're dumping Mom because you're trying to protect her
and she's beating herself up because she thinks you don't love
her any more. You're both acting like teenagers."
     "I did not *dump* your mother!" Skinner exclaimed,
annoyed. "You're right in that I want to protect her. That's
why I sent her the letter--"
     "Coward," Dana snapped.
     He shrugged. "I knew if I did it in person, I'd never be
able to carry through."
     Dana rose, leaning into him. "Maybe there's a reason for
that."
     "Sit down." Skinner pointed to her chair. "I will not be
bullied in my own office."
     Scully sat. "Sir. My mother loves you... I didn't really
realize how much until now. Mulder and I were over there last
night and she's--" Scully stopped, unsure of how much she
should be telling.
     "What?" Concern registered in the AD's voice, his brow
furrowing. "Is she all right?"
     "No, she's not," Dana told him. "She looks like she
hasn't slept since the shooting... probably because she
hasn't. She's lost weight... the circles under her eyes make
her look like a
raccoon--"
     "Dana!"
     "I'm not kidding!" The redhead stood, fists on his desk.
"Walter! Stop screwing around. If you love her, tell her,
because she's miserable. I caught her crying twice last
night."
     Skinner stood, primarily to ease the feeling of
intimidation the petite redhead was giving him. "I thought
you'd be happy about this!" he argued. "You haven't liked the
fact we were seeing each other from the beginning."
     "Yes, but I like the fact that my mother is miserable and
torturing herself even less."
     Skinner frowned again. "What are you talking about?"
     Oops. Too far.
     "Nothing. Just call her, will you?"
     "Scully, what did you mean by 'torturing herself'?"
     "I mean she thinks you're using this as an excuse to
break up with her," Dana told him. "She's convinced herself
that she's become undesirable to you and you're going to find
somebody more... I don't know... adventurous... younger... I
wasn't clear on her reasoning." Scully sighed. "She's always
been so strong and now she seems so insecure. I don't
understand it."
     "Insecure?" Skinner sat back down in his chair. Slowly
his head sank to his hand. Dear God, what had he done? He knew
Maggie was insecure about her sex appeal... why hadn't he
realized she'd mistake his motives? No matter what he did
concerning his lover, it was wrong.
     "Walter?"
     And they had just been making progress... she'd actually
been experimenting herself... He truly believed she'd begun to
think of herself as attractive. Skinner thought about the
engagement ring, stashed in his desk drawer. He so desperately
wanted to be with Maggie. He wanted things to be the way they
had been before this nightmare had begun.
     Scully suddenly noticed that her boss wasn't looking his
best, either. He looked as though he'd lost weight and dark
circles showed beneath his eyes, even through the wirerims.
Scully decided he probably hadn't slept much himself lately.
One of the reasons she'd come to talk with Skinner was because
he had his assistant so worried that she'd called she and
Mulder. Unlike his usual, sometimes explosive self, the AD had
become, in Kim's words, dull and lifeless. Kind of like mom,
Dana reflected. She tried again.    "Sir, are you all right?"
     "What?" Distracted from his thoughts, Skinner looked up
at her.
     "I said, are you okay?" she asked softly.
     "Yeah." He filled his lungs with air and rose. "Thank you
for coming by, Scully. I think I have something to attend to."
     She smiled. "Good. Thanks."
     Skinner stepped around the desk and took her by the
shoulders. "No, thank you. Sometimes we get so intent on a
purpose, we fail to see that we're missing the point." He
pulled her into a quick hug, then stepped back. "I'll talk to
you later."
     Startled by the show of affection, Scully watched him
leave the office, pausing to tell his assistant that he'd be
gone for the rest of the day. Breathing a sigh of relief, Dana
went in search of her partner.
                            *****
     As he rode the elevator to the parking garage, Skinner
pulled out his cell phone and pushed the speed dial button for
Maggie. The answering machine picked up, saying that he should
leave a message and someone would get back to him. He humphed.
She probably means that literally, he thought glumly. Someone
*else*. I wouldn't blame her if she was screening her calls.
With a heavy sigh he put the phone away and stepped out of the
elevator.

     The drive to Baltimore was quick due to lack of traffic
in the middle of the day. When he pulled into the driveway,
the first thing he noticed was the absence of Maggie's car.
Maybe she was running errands. He got out and strode to the
front porch. He'd just wait for her. He'd come this far, he
wasn't backing out now.
     He used his key to get in and slowly moved through the
house.    "Maggie?" Silence. He called again, but got no
answer. Well, she must be out.
     He ran up the stairs to the bedroom. It felt right, being
in the house again. He'd been a fool to turn away from her and
he just hoped she could forgive him. He'd hurt her terribly
and he'd been berating himself ever since he'd left the
office.
     Skinner stopped inside the bedroom door. Clothes lay
strewn across the bed, the closet was standing open and
toiletries littered the bathroom vanity. Panic rose in
Skinner's chest as he opened the closet further... her
suitcase was gone. 
     "Dammit!" He began to pace. 
     "All right, Walter, don't panic. This is her house... she
can't have left for good." He ran a hand over his head. "Where
the hell is she?" Obviously she hadn't told her daughter, or
Scully would have mentioned it that morning. Frustration
exploded in him and he hurried down the stairs and locked up.
Then he headed back to the city to find Dana. Maybe she would
have some ideas.

WEEKEND RESORT - EARLY AFTERNOON
SEASIDE
     Maggie sat on the beach, watching golden sand shift
through her fingers. Handful after handful slipped back to the
ground, relaxing her, helping put her thoughts into some sort
of order.  She'd come here the afternoon before to think. She
and Walter had been planning to escape to the seaside retreat
before this whole mess had started, and Maggie had decided
that it was as good a place as any to straighten things out in
her mind. She knew she couldn't do it at home... Dana and Fox
were worried about her, and she couldn't stand to feel their
pity. And everything in the house reminded her of Walter
now... like it had right after Bill had died. But Walter was
alive. Alive and suffering, if Mulder's comments were to be
believed. 
     *'He broke it off with you because he can't stand the
thought of anything happening to you.' Fox had told her
earnestly.
     'How can he turn away so completely if he loves me?'
she'd argued.
     'Because he loves you that much,' Mulder had said
quietly.*  And he was right, she realized that now. Before
everything had started, they'd been happy. Happier than Maggie
could remember being since the early years of her marriage.
Not just content and cared for but loved with a desperation
that frightened her sometimes. As if she were the only thing
he had to hold on to.    
     She had to come to terms with the fact that she was
deeply in love with a man in a dangerous line of work. And
sometimes that work would seep into their homelife, but she
trusted Walter to protect her and nothing could be worse than
the wrenching emptiness she felt now.
     Walter did love her, she knew that for certain. And she
knew herself well enough to realize much of her anxiety was
her own insecurity. Walter was handsome, dynamic, smart and
nine years younger than she was. No matter how attentive he
was, Maggie knew that doubt was going to rear it's head
occasionally. The trick was to recognize it for what it was.
And squash it.
     With a last look at the horizon with it's puffy clouds,
she rose and headed back to check out of her bungalow. It was
time to go back home.

2:00 PM
BALTIMORE BELTWAY
     As he drove, Skinner tried to ignore his rising panic.
Logically he knew that Maggie wasn't gone for good... it was
her home and she'd obviously be back. However, he argued, from
the impressive disarray of clothes and toiletries in their
bedroom, she had obviously left in a hurry and probably under
some emotional stress. 'To get away from you, Walter,' he
berated himself. 'You pushed her away and she finally took the
hint.' He just hoped she was safe somewhere, not hurt or sad.
How many times had he heard of drivers so distracted with
their problems that they didn't see the oncoming truck or so
blinded by tears that a sharp curve was under estimated... It
didn't bare thinking about. When he got home he'd call and
leave her a long and groveling message. And he'd keep calling
until she finally talked to him. Scully was right; he was
acting like a teenager and if he didn't want to lose Maggie,
he had to act. And one thing the red haired agent had made him
realize was that no matter how much he wanted to protect her,
he couldn't do it by staying away. All that accomplished was
to make them both miserable.
     A course of action decided on, Skinner spent the rest of
the drive succumbing to anxious thoughts about Maggie's
whereabouts.

SAME DAY - 5:00 PM
SCULLY HOME - BALTIMORE
     "Hello!" Maggie grabbed the phone, dropping her overnight
bag on the floor.
     "Maggie?"
     "Oh, Fox! I just came in." She drew in a much-needed
breath. "What can I do for you?"
     "It's Scully..."
     Maggie froze.
     "She was shot in a raid... she's okay, though. But she
wanted me to call."
     "Which hospital, Fox?" Maggie's voice quivered.
     "Washington General."
     "All right. Tell Dana I'll be there as soon as I can. I'm
leaving now."
     "Okay. Don't worry, she's okay."
     "Thank you."
     Picking up her purse, Maggie headed back to her car,
heart pounding.

6:30 PM - FBI BUILDING
AD SKINNER'S OFFICE
     "Yes, Kim?" Skinner pressed the intercom.
     "It's the hospital, sir. Washington General, on line
two."
     He scooped up the receiver. "Skinner."
     "Sir, I was asked to contact you... one of your agents
has been shot."
     Skinner held his breath, blood pounding in his ears.
"Who?"
     "Dana Scully. I don't know how badly--"
     "Thank you. I'll be right there."
     Grabbing his overcoat, Skinner was out the door before
Kim could tell him she was leaving.

7:00 PM 
HOSPITAL 
     Walter Skinner hated hospitals and since he'd been
assigned to the X-Files, he'd seen the inside of more of them
than he cared to think about. But, he reflected, he'd met
Maggie because of those visits. His anxiety over her
disappearance returned and he shoved it down. Right now he had
to worry about the daughter... then he'd concentrate on his
own life.
     He found Scully's room and pushed open the door. He
wasn't surprised to find Mulder standing on the other side of
her bed, her hand in his. And he shouldn't have been surprised
to see her mother sitting in a chair beside her... but he was.
     "Maggie." Time froze as he stared at her, coherent
thought failing him. She looked so lovely. With a pang, he
realized how desperately he'd missed her. Finally he torn his
eyes away and turned to his agent. "Scully... are you all
right?"
     "I'm fine, sir. The bullet grazed my shoulder. It went
right through," she added quickly. He looked like he was about
to fall over, but she suspected it was the sight of her mother
rather than the news of her own injury.
     "She's going to stay overnight as a precaution," Mulder
explained. 
     Skinner frowned. That didn't sound like Scully. Was her
injury worse than she was letting on? Still, she seemed all
right... He decided retreat was the better part of survival. 
     "Well... good, that's good." He glanced from one agent to
the other and finally, briefly, at Maggie. "Well, I'll leave
you alone." He turned to leave.
     "Walter." 
     He stopped, slowly turning back to her as she stood
up.   "Let's get some coffee."
     Reluctantly he nodded. He'd wanted so badly to talk to
her this afternoon, and now a part of him wanted nothing more
than to run away. The other part however wanted to touch her
and hold her and tell her what a fool he'd been and beg her to
be with him again.
     "Get some rest, Dana." Maggie squeezed her daughter's
hand, "We'll be back." She turned and followed Skinner out of
the room.
     When their footsteps had faded, Mulder looked at his
lover.     "You didn't plan this, did you?" He gestured to her
bandaged shoulder.
     Scully grinned. "No. But I'm certainly not above using
it." 
     Mulder shook his head. Women. Just when you thought you
had them figured out--you didn't.
                            *****
     Skinner brought two coffees to the table where Maggie
waited. They sat in silence for a long time, each trying to
find a way to start. Finally he touched her hand.
     "I'm sorry if I hurt you, Maggie. I was just so afraid of
putting you in danger again that I pulled away. It's what I
did with Sharon all those years and I'm doing it again, with
you."
     "Walter, I don't want you to shield me from your life."
Maggie leaned forward, her voice filled with conviction. "I
want to share it with you."
     "I know." He nodded, gaze on the tabletop. "It's very
hard for me to open up to anyone." He looked at her. "Even
someone I love more than anything in the world. And sometimes,
it's dangerous. A part of my life is ugly... I'm probably not
someone you should be mixed up with--"
     "Walter..." She laid a hand over his, fingers
intertwining. "I won't lie to you... at first that side of you
frightened me."
     Skinner cringed.
     "But you wouldn't be the man you are if you didn't have
that side."
     "I won't put you in danger." Walter reached out to touch
her face, nearly healed. "I died inside when I saw his hands
on you... his gun at your throat. If you'd..." He swallowed
hard, hands clenching. "I couldn't have survived."
     "Yes, you would have. I was terrified for you. The
thought that they could use me to kill you... that you could
die." She took a steadying breath. "But when I saw you, my
fear left. Not when I heard Dana or Fox but when I knew that
you were there. I knew you'd protect me and you did."
     "I damn near got you killed!" Skinner hissed.
     "No! You did your job. I've seen glimpses of it through
Dana, but never so close... I was just confused, but Walter,
I love you! I don't want to lose you!"
     "I went to your house today." Skinner began, taking her
hand again. "And you were gone... I didn't know what to do. I
was so afraid that you'd left me ... that I'd pushed you away
forever."
     "No." She stroked the back of his hand with a fingertip.
"I was very afraid for you after you were kidnapped. Every
time you woke from a nightmare I wanted to help, but you
wouldn't let me. You pushed me away. I can't live with that,
Walter. You've helped me lay a lot of my ghosts to rest, but
you've got to let me help you, too. That's what being together
is. But you have to let me in."
     Skinner looked into tear-filled eyes and his heart
wrenched. What a fool he'd been to risk losing this woman. He
rose to his feet and pulled her up, into his embrace. He held
her tightly, now that he had her in his arms, and never wanted
to let her go. He realized with regret that Scully had been
right; Maggie had lost weight and he felt another pang of
regret. His arms tightened around her.
     They stood holding each other for a long time, coffee
forgotten, tears wetting their faces. Skinner held her so
tightly Maggie fought to breath, but she didn't care. She'd
been so afraid and now Walter was here and no matter what
happened, everything would be all right.
     Finally she looked up at him. "We should go back and say
good-bye to Dana." She wiped tears from her face and Skinner
pulled out his handkerchief, handing it over. Maggie dried her
eyes, then brushed the tears from his cheeks. "I love you."
     "Maggie.... I adore you." He hugged her again, not caring
that they were probably the spectacle of the room. "Let's go
and tell 'em. I'm sure they're waiting for us." 
     She laughed. "You sound so resigned."
     "It smells like a put-up job to me."
     Maggie slipped her arm through his. "Walter! Dana
wouldn't get shot just to get us back together." She frowned.
"I don't think."
     "Are you sure she was shot?" He glanced down at her.
     "Well..." She cuffed him lightly. "Stop it!"
     Skinner grinned.
                            *****
     They got back to the room to find Scully up and dressed.
     "I talked to the doctor and decided to go home with
Mulder." She smiled at them. "No sense in taking up a bed if
I don't have to."
     Her mother's eyes narrowed. "Dana Katherine Scully."
Maggie studied her suspiciously.
     Scully's look was innocence itself. "Yes, Mom?
     "Never mind." She crossed to hug her daughter, then
Mulder. "Make sure she rests." Maggie told him.
     "I will."
     She threw Skinner a look. "I hope you have better luck.
They're both stubborn."
     "All right." Walter took her arm. "Let's go home." He
helped her on with her coat. "I don't expect to see you at
work tomorrow, Agent Scully," he announced, gravely.
     "Yes, sir." She smiled at the departing couple, then
grinned up at Mulder. 
     "Let's go." 

11:00 PM THAT NIGHT
SCULLY HOME - BALTIMORE
     Skinner leaned over to kiss the tip of Maggie's nose,
tenderly brushing her face with his fingers. He'd come so
close to losing her, both because of Stefano's men and his own
stupidity, all he wanted now was to make sure she stayed with
him forever.
     "What are you thinking?" Maggie asked, turning her head
to kiss his fingers.
     "How beautiful you are." Skinner kissed each eyelid. "How
much I love you."
     Maggie settled more snugly against him. It was the first
time they'd made love since their failed attempt and she
wanted to bask in the afterglow forever.
     "Do you think we could go away this weekend?" She raised
an eyebrow. "We could just start over... pretend none of this
ever happened."
     "Hummm." Skinner propped himself on one elbow and reached
under his pillow. "Actually, I thought we might spend the
weekend with Mulder and Scully."
     Her eyes widened in surprise. "Why?"
     "Well... I was hoping to share something important with
them, and it might make it easier for Scully if we spent some
time talking about it."
     Maggie frowned. "You're worrying me." Her eyes narrowed.
"What do you have planned?"
     Walter blushed, suddenly at a loss for words. His gaze
fell to the sheets. "Well, I understand if you're not ready...
or if you've decided that I'm not what you're looking for
permanently--" 
     "Walter Skinner, what are you talking about?" Maggie
laughed up at him, palm cupping his cheek, drawing his gaze
back.
     Pulling his hand out from under the pillow, Skinner
opened the box and held it out to her. 
     "Will you marry me, Maggie? I meant to ask you when we
were at the resort, then everything happened and I just don't
want to wait anymore."
     She stared at the ring sparkling in the moonlight that
fell across their bed. "Oh, Walter..."
     "I know we've got some problems to work through--" he
began, but stopped when she patted his cheek and reached for
the ring box. "You like it?" he asked hesitantly.
     "It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," she
whispered, sitting up beside him.
     "Really?" Relief flooded through him. 
     Maggie handed it back and held out her hand. "Put it on?"
     Skinner swallowed hard. "You mean... you... yes?"
     She laughed, lip catching between her teeth. "Yes," she
agreed, arms going around his neck. 
     Walter gave a shout and hugged her tightly. 
     He sat back and pulled the diamond from it's box.
Reverently he slipped it on her finger, wishing his heart
wasn't pounding so hard. It was making his ears ring. He'd
been so afraid she'd say no...
     Maggie studied her hand, holding it to the light. "It's
beautiful." She looked at him... "I love you."
     An impish grin curved her lips and Maggie lunged at him,
pushing him on his back.
     "Hey!" Skinner laughed.
     Molding her body to his, Maggie kissed him thoroughly,
robbing him of his breath, melting his heart. When she finally
broke the kiss, she laid her head on his shoulder. "I like
this... I could stay here forever."
     "Well..." Walter teased, "I don't think I can."
     Maggie's head came up. "Why?"
     "Because if you lay on top of me much longer, I'm going
to have to ravish you again, young lady."
     "Oh, you are, are you?" She laughed at him, then gasped
as he rolled her on to her back, laying on top of her.
     "Yes... I think I am."
     And he bent his head to kiss her.

The end of PAAB II: Troubled Waters

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