************************

Krycek had a new girlfriend.

Skinner could tell because he was behaving like a 14 year old. Sprawled half off the couch, head on the floor, talking on the phone with a silly smile and cute murmurings, Krycek snapped at anyone who picked up an extension to use.

"Alex, is there something wrong with your phone?" Skinner asked, after having to use his cell phone for the fifth time that day.

"Yes," he snapped with a frown. "Your damned dog chewed through the cord." He turned back to the phone, his frown immediately replaced by sap complete with dimples. Skinner looked down at Kisa.

"Good girl," he said, scratching her head. She thumped her tail on the floor.

Unfortunately, Skinner could listen to them all he wanted to but it wasn't going to get him anywhere -Krycek was speaking what sounded like Hebrew. He heard the word 'Yael' several times, so he assumed that it was the woman's name. Skinner went into the other room and picked up his cell phone again and dialed.

"What?!" he heard Krycek answer in stereo.

"I'm not paying for your three hour call to Israel, am I?" Skinner asked. Krycek snarled and clicked back to the first line.

Natti poked her head out of her bedroom door. "Alexei Valerii Krycek!" she called. "Invite the young lady over for dinner and get off the phone," she ordered him.

It took another twenty minutes, but Krycek finally hung up.

"God, can't a guy even make a phone call in peace?" he called out.

"Alex, for the past week, you've been on the phone almost 24 hours a day," Skinner said. "Give it a rest. Go visit her. Go on a date. At least tell us who she is."

He knew she was a she because he had answered the phone several times with the lady asking for Alex. He had been tempted to chat her up and find out more, but good manners over-came him.

The front door opened and Mulder came in. He hung up his coat and took his boots off, looking at Krycek still sprawled off the couch, trying to fend off Kisa who was trying to lick his face.

"Talking with your mystery woman again?" Mulder asked.

"Yes," Skinner answered for him. "For three hours before we cut him off." Mulder took his apple and finished it in a few bites.

"Come on, Alex, give," Mulder said. "Who is she? And what happened with Emilia?"

Krycek pouted. "Em's on a sabbatical," he groused. "A sexual sabbatical. Can you believe that? Said it's her version of Lent. Only she does her sabbaticals for an entire year. Last year it was chocolate. This year it's sex."

"Bummer," Skinner said. Krycek frowned up at him.

"Was that a crack?" he growled. "Up yours, Skinner. So anyway. I met Yael in London quite a few years ago. Ran into each other on an assignment. She's my counter-part in Israel."

"Heaven help us all," Mulder said, shaking his head. Skinner agreed with the sentiment.

"Alexei Valerii???" Skinner questioned. He turned to Mulder. "According to Natti, he's Alexei Valerii."

Krycek kicked his legs over his head and rolled to his feet. He was in Skinner's face in an instant.

"Do you have a problem with that? Walter Sergei??" he snarled. Skinner held up his hands in surrender.

"Nope, not a one," he said.

"Fox William?" Krycek turned to him. Mulder formed a halo with his hands over his head. Krycek pointed a finger at them both in warning before straightening his shirt and going into the kitchen.

"Valerii??" Skinner mouthed at Mulder with a wince. "Ouch."

"Is kissing no longer in fashion?" he asked out loud. Mulder was on him in a flash. After several minutes of mouth to mouth, Skinner simply held him, drinking in the weight and scent of Mulder in his arms.

"Are you done hugging yet?" a small voice asked impatiently.

The men looked down to find the boys looking up at them.

"What if we're not?" Skinner asked them. He released Mulder but kept an arm around his shoulder.

"Couldn't you do it later?" Pavel asked. "You said we could go to Miss Emilia's with you tonight. It's six thirty-five o'clock." He pointed at the clock. "You said we could go when Uncle Fox got home at six thirty. Uncle Fox is home, so let's go."

Mulder stooped and picked him up, shaking him in the air.

"Pushy little devil, aren't you?" Mulder said to the giggling boy. He put a smack on Pavel's cheek and set him down. "Let me change out of my work clothes first. Go get your boots and jackets." The boys ran off and Mulder went upstairs to change. Skinner took a moment to call the hospital.

"Hi, how is she today?" he asked Stephanie when she answered.

"A little bit of a scare this morning," she said, sounding tired and worn out. "Her T-cell count went down a little but it's back up again. She's sleeping right now."

"You sound exhausted," Skinner said. "Are you getting any sleep?"

"What's sleep?" she countered. "I haven't been this tired since I had three children under six in the house."

"Well, then, you should know better," he said. "When the baby sleeps, so do you. I haven't had a baby in the house, but that's what Carlo says."

"I know," she said. "And for the most part, I do. I'm having a problem with Mandy at the moment. She needs my attention and I'm not there to give it to her. My in-laws are staying at the house with them while I'm here, but they have no idea what to do with a teenage girl. They have boys. Mandy is pulling one way and Mom and the Major are pulling the other way. I'm sorry, this isn't your problem," she apologized. "I'll deal with it later."

Mulder came down the stairs and sat to pull his boots on.

"Hang on a minute," Skinner said into the phone before covering it with his hand. "Fox, can I invite Amanda to come and stay a week?"

Mulder shrugged. "I don't mind," he said. The boys crowded in front of him, waiting. Skinner took his hand off the phone.

"Stephanie, would you like to give everyone a break and send Amanda here for a week?" he asked. "I'd like the chance to start getting to know them."

"Well... I..." she floundered. "What about school?" she asked.

"Have her teacher send work with her," Skinner said. "Carlo is a qualified teacher, he can oversee her work. I don't think he'd mind. If he doesn't have time, I'll ask one of the other teachers. I can pick her up and bring her here."

"You know what?" she said. "I'm just about at wit's end so I think I'll agree. If she wants to."

"Fair enough," Skinner said. "I have everyone standing here waiting for me, so give me a call in the morning, let me know."

******************

"Are you done putzing around?" Emilia asked him as soon as they were in the door. The boys quickly kicked their boots off, flinging their coats to the floor before they were off with Kisa to run through the house.

"Boys!" Skinner and Mulder both yelled. They pointed to the coats and the boys came back, world weary, to pick them up.

"Playroom only," Skinner said. "No investigating the premises, no casing the joint, no dusting for fingerprints, no searching for hidden treasure, got it?"

"You're no fun, Popi," Pavel complained, but they agreed before going off to play.

"Dusting for fingerprints?" Em questioned.

The men nodded. "The latest entry into the Manual," Skinner said. "They covered Carlo's house one day with talc powder and scotch tape. I warned Carlo but he didn't listen."

"And I hope you locked any doors that you'd rather they didn't open," Mulder said. Emilia began to nod and then rushed off down the hall in a panic. She was back a moment later, relieved.

"It was locked," she said.

"What was locked?" they asked.

"The adults playroom," she said.

Skinner was sure he didn't want to know.

"Uh, you said something about putzing around?" he said instead.

"Chicken," she said, turning to lead the way into the livingroom. "I'll get you naked one of these days," she informed him. "Yes, putzing. You have been leading me on a merry chase for two months now. How am I supposed to convince this town that they should vote for you if you're never around? The special election is scheduled for next month and you have hardly shown your face or anything else around here. How's that little girl of yours?"

Skinner took a moment with the sudden change of topic. "She's doing well, thank you," he said, touched that Emilia would be concerned.

"Good," Em said. "I've been prayin' for her, I hope you don't mind a little help from my side of the fence."

"Not at all, Em," Skinner said. "We'll take help from all corners. And I don't know about holding that vote for next month, it's our anniversary, we want to take a trip somewhere."

Emilia screeched and put her hands on Skinner's neck, giving him a shake.

"You can't!" she yelled. "I'm calling Alex and I'm telling him to beat you up," she promised. Both men laughed.

"Not going to happen," Skinner said.

"Yeah, it takes three guys to hold him down before Alex can even get in one hit," Mulder told her.

"That's what Alex said about you," she told Mulder.

He shrugged with a dry grin. "I'm a lover, not a fighter," he said.

"Don't change the subject," she snapped at them. "You!" she pointed at Skinner. "Do you want to be Sheriff or don't you?"

"Yes, Ma'am," he said humbly.

"You!" she pointed at Mulder. "Stop distracting him!"

"Yes, Ma'am," Mulder echoed Skinner's tone.

The finger swung to the diningroom table. "Sit!" The men sat.

"Am I distracting?" Mulder whispered to Skinner.

"Very," Skinner whispered back. They both shut up when Emilia glared at them. She plopped a set of papers down in front of them.

"Please go over these forms, fill out what ever you need to," she said, suddenly prim and proper. "They are questionnaires, for the most part. I tried to think up any question that might be asked by the residents of this town, and you'll need the same answer every time or else they'll think you're making things up. These are to help you get it straight in your mind first. I also need you to ok the posters. Since you've been avoiding me, I got a selection of photos from Mulder." She opened a folder, taking out a pile of miniature posters to be enlarged. Skinner shifted through them and groaned.

"Fox, these look like those Play Girl pictures before the guy strips," he complained.

"So what?" Mulder and Emilia said together.

Skinner waved a hand over them. "So... so, if I'm going to be hired as Sheriff, I want it to be as a professional law keeper, not a Pro."

Em shifted and cocked a hip. "Walter, in case you haven't noticed, this town is filled with people who are female, gay men, and people who just plain like you. You may be living with a man, but you are macho enough for the Latins and butch enough for the gay men. Everyone knows how good a job you can do, this is just a reminder of how good you look filling a uniform. And anything else you wear or don't wear."

"I'm not macho," Skinner frowned. Macho was those ya-hoos taking the truck for 360's while tossing beer cans by the dozen in the back. Macho was hanging out at the bar, dressed in cowboy boots and large buckles, with wide-brimmed hats, spitting chewing tobacco and talking with a drawl that made speech almost sound like a different language....

"And who's been teaching the boys carpentry and home repair?" Mulder asked.

Skinner poked him in the arm. "Don't you start that again," he warned. "Everyone should know how to keep up their home."

"This one," Mulder said to Emilia, tapping a picture. Skinner looked at it. He was reclining across the hood of a police car, leaning on a hand, one long leg bent, uniform shirt half unbuttoned, chewing on a straw as he melted the camera with a steamy gaze.

"No, Fox," he whined. He didn't intend to look like that, but Mulder had seriously kissed him just before snapping the picture.

"I agree," Emilia said. Unfortunately for Skinner, she was agreeing with Mulder.

Skinner sifted through the pictures, dismayed to find all the photos that Mulder classified as 'hot'. "Here, how about this one?" he said, pushing one out of the pile. They both shook their heads.

"You look hot, sexy, and entirely too imposing," Mulder said. Em agreed with him again.

"Yes, you should look approachable," she said. "That one makes you look like a goon at a night club."

"What about that one?" he said, pointed to another picture. They shook their heads.

"Make you look too butch," Mulder said.

Skinner didn't get it. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"You look like one of the Village People," Em said. "It would completely turn off the Latin and Black population, and the Lesbians wouldn't be able to take you seriously."

The Village People?? Skinner took the picture and tore it up.

The boys came in and gathered around the men, looking over shoulders and under arms.

"I like this one," Adam said, pointing to one. Skinner picked it up. He was sitting in one of the porch chairs, a glass of iced tea in one hand, smiling at something one of the boys had said.

"Why do you like this one?" he asked Adam.

"Because, it makes you look nice," Adam said. "I mean, you are nice, but this one make you look nice." The twins nodded their heads.

Mulder and Emilia looked at the picture.

"He's right," Em conceded. "We'll send the sexy one to Play Girl and keep the nice one." "What's Play Girl?" the boys asked.

********************

"Scully's here," Mulder said, seeing her car as they pulled up to their house.

The boys were completely puzzled as to why men would want to put naked pictures in a magazine and why women would want to buy them. They got out of the car and ran into the house with the puppy.

Skinner's heart raced with anxiety, knowing that his lover was about to be hurt by the conversation that he and Scully needed to have with him.

"Hey, Scul," Mulder said as they entered the livingroom. Skinner nodded to her.

"Natti, would you keep the boys occupied for a while?" Skinner asked her. She nodded and went to find them.

"Fox, we need to talk with you," Skinner said. "Let's go downstairs." Puzzled, Mulder went down. With the door newly put back on the frame, Skinner was able to shut it and give them privacy.

Scully sat on the couch with Mulder between them.

"I'm not going to like this, am I?" he asked apprehensively. Skinner sat sideways, facing him.

"No, I don't think you will," he said honestly. "Fox, I... we... Dana and I love each other, Fox. But we're not in love. We're comfortable in the relationship that we've developed and we don't want to change it."

Mulder folded back against the couch, frowning, lacing and unlacing his fingers. "You said you'd like a threesome," Mulder said, swallowing hard, not looking at Skinner.

"I know I did," Skinner said. "I don't have a problem with the concept of a threesome, but only if it's with someone I was in love with. I thought I was in love with Dana. Maybe I was, but it was years ago. I enjoy being with her, I enjoy making love with her. But it's comfortable, safe. And that's no slight toward you, Dana." He reached across Mulder's thighs and took Scully's hand. "We had fun. I want you to find someone that will rock your world and I'm not that person." Scully smiled and wiped her cheeks, sniffled. She gave his hand a squeeze and released it, taking Mulder's. Skinner took his other hand, feeling it clench tightly, threatening to pull away, but Mulder didn't.

"Fox," she said, sniffing again. "I love you, you know I do. And I know you love me. But I'm not your lover anymore, Walter is. People change, Fox. We have all grown and we each have different needs. You need Walter, not me."

Mulder pulled his hands free and shot up. "Don't tell me what I need, Dana!" he shouted. He stomped a few steps away, turning his back. "I... I love you," he said in a husky voice. "I love Walter, too. After all the three of us have been through, we should be together."

Skinner stood up and went up to Mulder. "We are together, Fox," he said quietly. "We don't have to share beds to be together. We are each other's family and that will never change. Yes, we have been through a lot together and that's what will keep us together, not sex."

Mulder spun around, giving his face a hasty wipe. "You're making me choose, Walter, you said you wouldn't make me choose," he spat out. Mulder turned and took the stairs two at a time, slamming the door behind him.

Skinner bowed his head. "I've lost him, Dana," he whispered. He heard a rustle and felt

her next to him. Scully put her hands on his shoulders.

"You haven't lost him," she said. "He's angry and upset. He needs space to think, he always has. He'll cry himself out, get angry some more, cry again, maybe get drunk. He'll spend some time looking through photo albums, mourning the past, and then he'll be ready to get on with things. You'll find him quiet and thoughtful, maybe a few more tears. Hold him, rock him, croon to him. He'll be fine."

"What if he is in love with both of us?" Skinner asked. Scully drew her fingers over his cheeks.

"He isn't," she said with assurance. "He's in love with the past. He's trying to make things the way they were and it isn't working which is why he's angry. You have every right to ask him to choose, you married him, I didn't. He needs to wake up and make a decision."

Skinner felt a choke hold on his throat and buried his face in Scully's neck.

He had lost his Fox.

******************

Scully went home after kissing Skinner's cheek, and Skinner got the boys to bed quietly, telling them that Uncle Fox was angry and just needed time alone. Skinner had a hard time looking Adam in the face, seeing the man he loved there. Adam's chin quivered and Skinner shushed him. The tears fell over.

"We argued, that's all," he said in Adam's ear as he held the boy. "Yes, it was a bad argument, but just let us work it out. No matter what happens, you will always be my nephew and Fox will always be your father."

Krycek had taken one look at everyone and surprisingly didn't say a word. He got the twins into the pj's and into bed, was even patient enough to read to them. He took Kisa upstairs with him for the night.

Skinner tucked Adam in, checked in on the twins, and went to bed. Alone. He tucked Mulder's pillow to him and turned over, his shoulders shaking.

In the morning, Mulder was still gone. Skinner got the boys ready for school, giving them extra long hugs, assuring them that he loved them and so did Uncle Fox.

He called Stephanie, but wouldn't discuss what she could hear in his voice. He could pick up Amanda in two days, on Saturday, if he liked. He did like. He needed the distraction, more than anything else at the moment. He spent the rest of the day in front of the TV. Later in the day the phone rang and he looked anxious when Natti answered it. It was Mulder but she handed the phone to Adam who passed it to the twins who then hung up. They didn't know where he was.

Skinner didn't hear from Mulder until the next evening. He was called by Emilia who requested his presence in one hour. He let Natti know he would be gone and paced for an hour.

There were five other cars at Emilia's house. Scully's was one of them. Confused, Skinner rang the doorbell. To his surprise, Krycek answered the door. He was wearing a black robe tied closed with a rope belt.

"Come in," he said, motioning Skinner inside.

"Alex, what...?"

Krycek shook his head.

"Follow me," he said. He led Skinner down the hall and turned on a bathroom light. "Take a shower and put this robe on." He handed Skinner a white robe from the back of the door. He shut the door. Skinner was even more confused. The door opened again and Krycek poked his head in. "Every inch," he said, pointing from head to foot. He shut the door.

Seeing that Krycek was in a mood to be obeyed, Skinner took his shower. From head to foot. Knowing Krycek, he'd insist on checking. Just minutes after the water was turned off, there was a knock at the door.

"You ready?" he heard Krycek call out. Skinner opened the door, tying his own rope belt.

"Ready for what? Alex, what's going on?" he asked urgently.

"Nothing that will be done against your will," came the ambiguous reply.

Skinner found himself following Krycek down the hall to a door that he had seen but had never been in. He had always felt a strange urge to stay away from it. A man he had never seen before stood at the door. Skinner would know if Denzel Washington's twin lived in town.

"Do you enter of your own free will?" the man asked Skinner.

"Do I... Aleeexxx..." Skinner turned to Krycek. He saw something that he had never seen before in Krycek; a light of peace on his face.

"Trust me, Walter," he said quietly.

Skinner found himself agreeing. What was Krycek up to?

He followed the stranger down a flight of stairs into a cellar that he didn't know the house had. It was warm, lit with candles everywhere. The floor was covered in pillows, except for the very center where they had been cleared out. Emilia stood there in a black robe, along with another stranger, a man also in a black robe. Mulder was with them, kneeling in the middle wearing a white robe.

Skinner was flanked by Krycek and the stranger as they stood still, just outside the circle of the others. He began to speak but was shushed by Krycek. They seemed to be waiting for something. Or someone. Scully was escorted into the room by two women, neither of whom Skinner had seen before. Scully was in a white robe, while the others were in black.

She stood near Skinner and looked over at him. He shrugged, he didn't know what was going on either. The air was thick with candle heat and incense.

"This is sacred space," Emilia said, breaking the silence. "All who enter are free of their earthly confinements. No lies are spoken, no truths left unsaid. Nothing is hidden." Everyone in black robes untied their belts and dropped their robes to the floor, remaining naked.

"We are aware that you are not of our spiritual path, and no one here will seek to change your own personal ideology" she continued. "This Circle, however, is not one of spirituality. This Circle gathered here tonight is at the request of Fox, who has asked for neutral space and for the intervention of a Monitor. What he has to say is extremely personal. Rest assured that nothing said here, nothing done here, will leave here. I will not speak to you of it once we are outside and neither will Alex. It will not have happened. Unless you specifically request it. Will you enter this Circle of your own free will and accept this intervention?" Emilia waited, her skin glowing with the candle light.

"I will," he heard Scully say. He got the impression that she knew these people. There weren't too many people that she felt safe with but she seemed at ease here. Mulder stood up as Scully was escorted to the center. They stood next to each other. Scully reached out a hand but Mulder stepped back.

"Walter?" Emilia asked. Skinner swallowed his pride and stepped forward.

"I will," he said.

"Trust," he heard Krycek whisper next to him. He turned. Krycek was naked also. Krycek and his other escort walked him to the center. Skinner drank in the sight of Mulder. He looked pale and exhausted, but he was keeping himself together.

"Fox, do you have anything to hide from Dana or Walter?" Emilia asked.

"No," Mulder said, his voice a little husky. Skinner wasn't sure because of the light from the candles, but he thought that Mulder's eyes were bloodshot. Mulder untied his robe and dropped it to the floor, standing nude before them.

"Dana, do you have anything to hide from Fox or Walter?" Em asked her.

"Nothing," Scully said. To Skinner's surprise, she dropped her robe, too. They were both beautiful, perfect with their skin aglow.

"Walter, do you have anything to hide from Fox or Dana?" Emilia asked him. Skinner looked at his friends and lovers, feeling strengthened by their very presence.

"No, I don't," he said. He untied his robe and dropped it to the floor.

Skinner had seen Emilia's public rituals before and they were nothing like this. Everyone was naked this time but there was nothing sexual about it. Instead, it seemed to bind them together. None of the strangers were any that Skinner had seen at the public rituals. This must be her Inner Circle, he thought, remembering a piece of one of Mulder's lectures. Mulder said that the Inner Circle is the most powerful of the Coven. And since when is Krycek....? Skinner wondered what was going to happen.

Krycek and 'Denzel', and the two women that escorted Scully, joined Emilia and the other man, forming a circle around the three in the center.

Behind him, Emilia spoke again.

"Each of you will have the chance to open yourselves to each other," she said. "No interruptions while one is speaking, even if it takes all night. Fox will go first, since this meeting is at his request. Listen with your hearts, not just your ears. Sit. Fox?"

They all sat on the pillows, spreading the robes out, facing each other. Mulder sat with his head bowed, gathering himself. Skinner didn't notice the low hum that began.

"First, I love you both so much," he said, clearing his voice. "I'm sorry I've caused all this to happen to us. I would never hurt either of you for anything in the world, and here I've gone and hurt us all so bad." He sniffed and swiped at his cheek. "Dana, I'll start with you. When you entered my life, you were so young and naive. I couldn't believe that fresh face was so eager to dig into dead bodies. You looked like a co-ed. When you didn't scare off easily, I became intrigued. I didn't realize that I had gone and fallen in love with you until I thought you were dead. I was ready to sell my soul for you. Someone beat me to it. I took too long making my intentions known, I know that. I was afraid. Everyone else that I loved had gone away and I didn't want you to leave me, too, so I kept quiet. When you asked for my help in getting pregnant, I was jealous. Of the baby. It would have come between us and I was too selfish to want that. But your happiness came first, so I agreed. Having my own son now, I know that the baby wouldn't have come between us, I would have. I cried so hard when the baby was lost. For you and for her, for the new love that I was just beginning to feel.

"I haven't been able to see the woman that you've become. You're more centered, more aware of what you want, stronger and happier. I do love you, Dana. I think that what has hurt the most is discovering that I'm in love with the you of the past. That person who looks up at me starry-eyed, willing to lie to the Supreme Court for me, go to jail for me, who accepts me as I am. In my own self-interest, I didn't see you. You needed someone to be there for you and I wasn't. I haven't been. I'd tell myself that I loved you, all the while wanting to get home to Walter and our sons. I've been so unfair to you. Please forgive me, Dana, I love you so much and I only want your happiness." Mulder bent low, his head on his crossed legs as he cried out the last few words. Scully wailed and threw her arms out, encircling him. Skinner took a deep breath, trying to clear the rock in his throat as they cried on each other. They released their arms enough to touch and kiss. A hand put a box of tissues next to them. Skinner didn't see who it was, the entire area outside their triangle seemed to be pitch black even though he could see the candles still burning. He took a tissue and wiped his own face.

To Skinner's horror, he saw Mulder take his ring off.

"Walter, I.... I have never felt anything as intensely as when I'm with you," he said, twisting the ring between his fingers. " Sometimes it scares me. I would be perfectly happy to spend the rest of my days doing nothing except being near you. I didn't trust you when I first met you, and I think you can agree that you didn't trust you either. We know why. When you began stepping out for us, and speaking up for us, I noticed. Strange things began begging for attention. Your aftershave, the way your eyes darken, how soothing your voice is. Sometimes I got angrier because I felt that I had a right to be angry at all the confusion that you were causing to my hormone levels but the sound of your voice kept driving my anger away. You would touch my shoulder or shake my hand and I'd feel electric shocks. I would think, 'great, I'm in love with my partner and lusting after my boss'. Typical Mulder weirdness.

"When you began being hurt because of us, because of me, you could have protected yourself and stopped defending us. But you didn't. You kept right on. I thought you had something going for Dana, but when you backed me through some things I also won't mention here, it shocked me to the core that you might have feelings for me. Feelings other than wanting to punch my lights out for putting you through all that crap. Dana once said something about seeing a person in a different light. You began glowing like a supernova. I think my biggest shock was after all this mess. I was paid a visit by a brother that I didn't know I had, even though he had tried to kill me several times, and we all came close to doing him in. We got to talking and he spilled the beans on you. You should have seen your face when I kissed you on the porch. I thought you were going to have a heart attack. But God those fireworks! I wish I'd have done it sooner. You give me life, Walter, you make me believe that no matter what happens, everything will be alright just because you say so. No one has stood by me like you do, no one else but you would have stormed the Hoover and kissed me in front of all those men except you. You could have taken me on the floor or bent over a desk right then and there and I wouldn't have cared who was watching.

"I think I was doing fine until Dana began seeing someone. Someone who's name she wouldn't give us. When we found out who it was, I thought I was ok with it. I'll talk with you later, Alex. I didn't realize that it would effect me like that. All I could think of was that she was being taken away from us again. She was ours and how dare he. It was making me crazy and I didn't know it. I wanted her with us. I wanted to protect that sweet, naive co-ed who had the balls to tell Einstein he was wrong. In not having faith in Dana to make her own decisions about her love life, I hurt you, Walter. You've risked your life for me, you put your trust in me, your faith in me, you've loved me, told the world to go to hell to be with me, and I failed you." Mulder held out the ring with shaking fingers, sniffling and rubbing at his eyes.

"Take it, Walter," he said. "I want to earn that back from you, if you'll give me the chance. Please, Walter. Don't send me away, give me one more chance to prove how much I love you. Please forgive me."

Skinner grabbed the ring and pulled Mulder to him, crying into his hair as Mulder sobbed loudly on his chest. Mulder's arms went around his waist, squeezing the air from him. Skinner had never felt anything more welcome in his life.

"I'm sorry!" Mulder cried out. "I love you so much, I'm sorry!" Skinner held him as he kept repeating his mantra.

Skinner stroked his hair and back, everywhere he could reach. "Don't, babe, you'll make yourself sick," he said in Mulder's ear, barely able to talk. "I love you, Fox, I don't know how else to tell you, to make you understand that. Maybe if Dana and I told you up front how we felt, this wouldn't be happening, but we tried to make a go of it, for you, Fox." Skinner sniffed and lifted Mulder's head, forcing him to look Skinner in the eyes. They both looked like shit from all the crying and stress.

"We can't be forced into being in love," he said. "I'm already in love, with you, you goon. Someone recently asked me if I need the passion before I slept with someone. No, I don't need the passion. But if I'm going to make a commitment to someone, yes, I need the passion. You make me passionate, Fox. I love Dana, and at one time there was passion, but no longer. We've been together for two years now, you and I, and you still make me hot. If I need to make love with you right here in front of these people in order to prove that to you, I will." He stroked the tears from Mulder's face, touched his lips with his fingertips.

"We are your family, Fox. Don't push us away in your anxiety to keep us together. You are not alone, you will never be alone. We will always be here with you. Me and Dana, Adam and the twins, even Alex and Natti are all here for you. I know that Adam, Alex and the twins are your only blood relatives but this is your chance to chose your family, when most people can't. By choosing us, you are willing to fight to keep us together, excluding all outside forces. Will you fight for us, Fox? Will you fight to keep me?" He gave Mulder a shake. More tears fell.

"Yes," Mulder croaked, trying to nod his head which was captured between Skinner's hands. "Just us, no more pushing for more. I have so much, I've been so blessed these past few years. You are the center of my universe, my best friend, my lover, my husband. I know that I have a family and I'm proud to have all of you walking at my side. In trying to pull Dana into our circle, I had forgotten that she was already there. I'll fight for us, Walter, anything. I know you love me, you will always be my choice. There is nothing you have to prove to me, but I need to prove myself to you. Tell me what I can do."

Skinner leaned forward and kissed him. "Nothing, Fox. By bringing us here, you have proven all you will ever need to." He picked up Mulder's left hand and slid the ring back on. "I told you before, Fox, I take my vows seriously. I married you, not Dana. I will fight to keep us together. It will take a hell of a lot more than your anxiety attacks to keep us apart. Emilia, I know it's early, but would you renew our vows right now? I believe that the next contract calls for five years."

Suddenly, Skinner could see the rest of the room. No lights had been turned on, the candles still burned, but it seemed to him as though a veil had been lifted from his eyes. Em stepped into their space, her own face conspicuously wet.

"Fox, do you agree to a five year contract with Walter?" she asked.

"I do," Mulder said, staring at Skinner.

She put out a hand and helped Scully to her feet. She touched both the men on the shoulders before walking to the outer circle to stand next to Krycek. 'Denzel' stepped into the center and stood opposite of Emilia. Skinner made to rise, but Em signaled him to stay on his knees with Mulder. This wasn't like it was last year. There was also another man's penis close to his face but he didn't seem to care as he stared at Mulder.

Em held out her hands over them, one palm up and the other down. Her partner positioned his to mirror hers and they locked their hands together, keeping Skinner and Mulder in the center of the circle of their arms. The High Priest, Skinner realized. Nothing was said, but he felt the hairs on his body stand up as the room blacked out again. A compulsion hit him and he took Mulder's hands, staring into Mulder's eyes. He felt a breeze, but there were no windows in the room, nor a fan. The candle flames remained steady. All the hurt and pain that he had been feeling was suddenly gone, his heart, soul, and mind were calmed and centered. Centered on Mulder. Mulder had stopped crying, the waterworks turned off suddenly as though a faucet had been shut off. Mulder gasped and Skinner wondered what he had felt. Skinner had an immediate sense that a rope of some sort had been attached to his heart, tossed out, and knotted with a second rope coming from Mulder. The knots dissolved and formed a single thread that stretched between them.

He could feel Mulder. What an amazing sensation! He was seeing himself from the eyes of another person. Did he really radiate like that to Mulder?

~Yes~ he heard echo in his head.

~Fox?~

Skinner heard a rambling of bad love sonnets stream through his mind, echoing off into a mediaeval wilderness.

~I make you think of poetry?~ he thought.

~You are poetry~ he heard. Skinner felt a brush of pain behind his words. A sense of dozens of people filled him along with a void between them and him, Mulder. A sense of aloneness.

~You feel alone, Fox? Why?~ Skinner asked him.

~You have so many people who love you and care for you. I know it isn't your fault, it's no one's fault, it's just life. I can deal with it.~

Skinner was dismayed. ~God, Fox, no! You are not alone! You belong with them just as much as I do! You have Adam and Alex. You're still fertile, if you want more kids, just say so. We can find someone willing to surrogate for you. I would love to hold your baby. I'm your family. Pavel and Ivan are your family, hell they're Alex's clones, that makes them more your brothers than nephews. Fox, I...~ How could he make Mulder understand? Through Mulder's eyes, he saw himself begin to brighten, the radiant light around him becoming as luminous as the Sun, stretching out and enveloping Mulder. He felt Mulder's Awareness jump in shock before taking a deep gasping breath, as though suddenly rescued just before being swept away in a strong tide.

~Walter??~

~I love you, Fox. Now do you understand?~

~I... no one has ever... made me feel like that before.~

~Fox~

~Who?~ they said together. A third party had entered their private conference. The feminine presence felt familiar but Skinner couldn't place it. An image of a white haired woman filled them.

~Mom???!~ Mulder's Awareness cried out. Teena Mulder? Skinner thought.

~Yes, Fox~ she said. ~Hello, Walter.~

~Mrs... Mrs. Mulder~ he stumbled.

Her spirit raised an amused eyebrow and looked over his nude body still kneeling on the floor of the Circle. ~Oh, I think we can dispense with the formalities, Walter. Teena will do. Or Mom if you'd like. Ah-hem. Fox William, I'm only going to say this once, so listen carefully.~

~Yes, Ma'am,~ Mulder said in his best 'son' voice.

~Quit being a boob.~

~!?!~

~You heard me. All your life, you've put yourself into these fits of self-doubt, now snap out of it. It's my fault that you don't have a family, so if you want to lay the blame somewhere, here I am. Lay it on me, I'll bring it to the Big Guy myself. Or Big Girl, in Emilia's frame of reference. Whatever. I've seen Him dressed like a goat, too. I think it's funny. Anyway. I had to keep you alone when you were little, Fox. Our entire world was filled with people like him. If I allowed you to associate with them, you would have become one of them. Your cousins, aunts and uncles we kept away from for the same reason. To protect them. Alright, so they don't know you and you don't know them. It would be easy enough for you to find them, if you wanted to. But I'd suggest you clean your own house before you go messing with someone else's first. Reach out, Fox. Don't be afraid. You've made yourself a wonderful family, enjoy them, be happy with them. You don't need a million crazy Italians knocking on your door to make you happy.~

~Hey!~

~Really, Walter, you deny it?~

~Well, no...~

~Keep quiet then. Go and love your son, Fox, he's a beautiful boy. He looks so much like you at that age. And don't worry about his development, he'll be fine. Walter's idea of surrogate is a good one. There are three souls waiting in the wings with your name on them, if you want them. You are going to need a larger house, in any case. Trust me on this. Don't make my mistakes, Fox, don't push people away. It's too late to change the past, but you can change your future. Being with Walter is exactly where you're supposed to be. I thought it was with Dana, but once I got beyond the Veil, I knew that she wasn't the one for you. Walter was. Imagine my surprise. I learned something over here, Fox. The soul has no gender, it is simply filled with love. No DNA is involved, no genetics to say who you should love. No color, no race, no religion or ideology. Just pure spirit. The world is your family, Fox.~

~I love you, Mom. I miss you.~

~I miss you, too, son. And I love you more than I can ever say. Take care of my baby, Walter.~

~I will, Teena. Mom.~

~I bless this union~ she declared to the Universe.

She was gone as suddenly as she came.

~Walter~

Another presence joined them.

~Mama??~ he breathed, shocked to see the familiar face of his own mother. She bent and he felt a whisper of a kiss on his cheek. He choked as her scent filled him, making him heartsick for her to hold him again.

~Shhh, don't, carino,~ he heard her croon. ~I'm so happy that you found everyone again. Ginny missed you so much. She prayed for you every day. You don't know this, but you were her favorite nephew. I had a hard time with your birth, you were a big baby, and I was a little weak after, so Ginny stayed with us for just a while and helped me with you. Dominic was so jealous of you, taking his Mama's attention from him. You know that tiny scar you have on your finger? Dominic's teeth made it. But don't be mad at him, he was only a toddler and he didn't know better.~

~You have found where you're supposed to be, Walter. I don't think I could have accepted this while I was still with you, but knowing what I do now, I'm just glad that you have someone to love and to share your life with. The twins are yours, never fear that they will be taken from you. They were supposed to be yours from the start, it was important that they be in your life. So arrangements were made. Yes, someone else's genes made them, but they're souls are marked for you. They are your sons in everything that counts. Be patient with Stephanie, her grandparents raised her more than her mother did, so she's a little on the defensive side. She has a lot of shields, pick away carefully and slowly at them. You and she have been siblings in so many other lifetimes. Your current position with her is a little unusual and she's feeling the awkwardness of it. I think you are beginning to sense it, too. She's too old now to accept you as a father figure, so just be her friend. Be her big brother.~

~Fox, his father spent his life showing him love and then pushing him away when he needed more love. Don't do that to him. He's been starved for attention so give him all he can take and then push some more on him. Yes, he acts the big, strong, tough guy, but he needed to be or else he'd be walked all over. He's really a big fluff ball.~

~Mama!~

~You are, Walter. Fox, if he wants to give you flowers and candy and stuffed bears, let him. If he wants to croon sappy love songs in your ears, let him. Immerse yourself in his attentions. I can guarantee you that you'll have more attention than you'll know what to do with.~

~Thank you, Maria, I will,~ Mulder said.

Skinner looked at her. She looked so young and beautiful.

~Stop that, Walter, you'll make me outshine the Archangels. They can get a little cranky about that,~ she said.

~I miss you, Mama,~ he said. ~I love you.~

~I miss you, too, caro. And I love you so very much.~

She raised her arms and face skyward.

~I give blessings to this union~ she called out before vanishing.

The Universe gave a jerk and suddenly Skinner found himself on solid ground, feeling the weight of the world again. He was back in his own body, staring at Mulder, holding hands.

"The Union of Walter and Fox is now complete," Emilia said out loud. She released her hands and clapped them once. Skinner jumped, startled at the crack. Once more, the world came back into focus.

"What was that?" Skinner breathed out loud as he stared in wonder at Mulder.

"Just a little playtime on the astral plane," Emilia said. "Don't worry, nothing happened against your will. Stand up, guys."

Still holding hands, Skinner and Mulder stood. Skinner released his hands and touched Mulder's face before pulling him into his arms.

"Were they really here, Fox?" he whispered in Mulder's ear. Mulder tightened his arms and nodded.

"I think so," he said. "I can smell her."

Skinner slid his hands down Mulder's bare back and remembered that they were all naked.

"Um," he began. Em chuckled and he felt the robe go around his shoulders just as one was placed around Mulder by 'Denzel'.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of, Walter," she said. "And neither does Mulder. Turn and face me, please."

The men turned, still linked by their hands. Skinner resisted the urge to close and tie his robe, instead he stood proudly before her. Em gave him a slight nod of acknowledgment. Despite her own extra fifty pounds or so, she held herself regally. Skinner could understand what attracted Krycek.

"Somehow, the bonds between you came undone," she said with a frown of contemplation. "We have repaired and strengthened them. It is up to you both to make sure they stay that way. I think that you're going to find yourselves exclusive, which means don't even try to bring someone else into your relationship, it will backfire on all of you. My choices concerning my relationships works for me, that doesn't mean you have to make it work for you. Follow your own hearts. Mulder, how are you feeling? More centered and calm?"

Mulder nodded. "Yes. I didn't realize it before, but I was feeling -lost- is the only word I can think of."

Em nodded and cast a look to her partner. Skinner decided that he didn't understand the look and he wasn't sure he wanted to. The evening had been weird enough as it was.

"Well, be that as it may, you're alright now. Your contract is renewed for five years and a day. Walter, do you accept the terms of agreement of that contract and pledge yourself to Fox?"

"I do," he said.

"Fox, do you accept the terms of agreement of that contract and pledge yourself to Walter?"

"I do," Mulder said.

"As witnesses to your pledge, we acknowledge your rite of marriage. May blessings continue to rain down upon you. Heard and witnessed!"

"Heard and witnessed!" everyone yelled in echo.

Skinner turned to Mulder and kissed him, wrapping their arms around each other as they opened their mouths. Skinner thought he'd never be able to hold and kiss Mulder again, and yet here he was, suddenly renewing their vows, standing naked in front of strangers, holding his lover, kissing him, tasting his mouth. To Skinner's great concern, he felt the lower half of his body begin to respond. He broke away and hesitated. Emilia's partner chuckled.

"It's alright, Walter," he said, his voice a velvety bass. "Pan is a frequent visitor here. The energy of ritual causes it, just ignore it. Or do something about. The choice is yours. There are certainly enough pillows in here."

Skinner cleared his throat and looked at Mulder's glittering eyes. "I, uh, I think we'll wait until we get home to do something about it."

"Good idea," Mulder said.

"Chickens," Krycek spoke up.

"Shut up," both Skinner and Mulder said. The others laughed.

"Oh, and Walter?" the man said. "My name is Michael, not Denzel."

Emilia stepped forward. "We need to speak privately for a moment with Walter, Fox, Dana and Alex." The others gathered their robes and left the room, chatting, not at all put out by her request. "I'll be straight with you on this," she said to them seriously. "Michael and I heard every word your Visitors said to you, just as we heard everything you said to each other. We heard what you said about the twins and Alex."

Skinner wasn't the only one pausing and stiffening in alarm. Em held up a hand.

"Your secret is safe with us," she said. "I understand now, why you go out of your way to protect the twins over Adam. I had thought that you were being a little unfair, making a preference of one child over another, but knowing this; if word got out about them, they'd be taken away and used as lab rats in a circus."

Everyone nodded, relieved that she understood their situation.

"We make ourselves known to you for this," Michael said. "As Pagans in a Christian world, we understand the need to protect our own. If something ever happens, know that you have an entire community of hundreds of thousands of people to fall back on in your time of need. The Burning Times still lives as a constant fear within our hearts and souls. If you need, we will hide your children for you."

Skinner held out his hand to Michael and had it shook in a firm grip. Before he knew it, he had been pulled into a hug against the man's bare body, and his mouth brushed.

"Blessed be, Walter," Michael said, releasing him.

*******************

They were quiet on the way home after having sent Scully on her way with prolonged hugs.

"That was seriously weird, Fox," Skinner said, breaking the silence. Mulder squeezed his thigh.

"Weird doesn't cover it," Mulder said. "I think I'm going to write this up as an X-File and put it in my private collection." He leaned down and put his head on Skinner's shoulder, snuggling in with happy sounds. Skinner looked down at him and smiled, placing a kiss on the top of Mulder's head.

"I missed you, babe," he said.

"Missed you," Mulder murmured sleepily.

"Fox? Next year, if Adam wants to set out a plate for his mother, I think we should let him."

"Mmmmm," came the sleepy reply.

After calming the boys down and taking an ecstatic Kisa out, they changed and got into bed.

"Just hold me tonight?" Mulder asked, leaning on an elbow to look down at Skinner. He wrapped his arms around Mulder and pulled him close.

*********************

In the morning, Skinner's irritation was on the rise again as Krycek paced the house, watching the clock.

"What is your problem?" he finally snapped. Krycek whipped his head around, giving an equal glare.

"I'm waiting for the 10am," he said.

"10am what?" Skinner asked.

"Flight," Krycek said, rolling his eyes. "10am flight, Mr. Nosy."

Skinner looked at the clock. He reached up, lifted it off the wall, and reset it, bringing the hands forward an hour before putting it back on the wall.

"If you're going into the city for a 10am flight, don't you think you'd better get moving?" he suggested. Krycek looked at the reset time. "You forgot to reset the clocks last night, Alex," Skinner said. Krycek panicked and shot out the door, the newspaper flying behind him and settling to the floor.

"What was that?" Mulder asked, coming down the stairs rubbing his face.

"Alex," Skinner said. "He forgot to reset the clocks so now he's late for an appointment."

Mulder looked at the clock in confusion. "You reset the clocks last night," he said. Skinner took the clock back down and set it back.

"I know that," he said. "I was just torquing him."

Mulder chuckled and put his arms around Skinner, holding him tight before locking his arms around Skinner's neck and kissing him. Skinner hummed in contentment and nibbled his way down to Mulder's neck.

"Again?" a small voice complained. The men looked down at the boys.

"Make up your mind," Skinner said. "Do you want us fighting or hugging?"

Pavel turned and shuffled into the kitchen, waving his hands at them in a mirror image of his older self. Adam held out his arms and Mulder picked him up, just as Skinner picked up Ivan. They carried their sons into the kitchen. Adam was giggling as Mulder buzzed him in various places on his head and neck.

"Can we go with you to get Amanda?" Ivan asked as Skinner sat him in a chair.

"No, not this time," he said. "I'd like a chance to be alone with her and get to know her a little before I spring you boys on her." He tweaked Ivan's ear as he sat down. "Just remember, she has sisters, not brothers."

"Will she play with us?" Pavel asked.

"She might," Skinner said. "You'll have to ask her. She's a lot older than you are, so she might want to go and find kids her own age to play with."

The phone rang and Skinner reached up to answer it.

"Skinner," he said.

"Hi, Popi," he heard a young girl's voice say.

"Hi, honey, how are you feeling today," he asked Bethany. It tickled him to hear the girls call him that.

"Tired but good," she said. She sounded weak. "I tried calling you on the computer but you haven't been on."

"I know," he said. "I'm sorry, it's been very busy here lately. Have you been able to talk with your mother and everyone else on it?"

"Yeah, it's really cool, thank you for giving it to me."

Skinner indicated the coffee and Mulder got up and poured him a cup. "You're welcome. Amanda will be here this afternoon for a few days, would you like to set up a chat time?"

"Ok," she said. "Will I be able to come over for the weekend, too, when I'm better?"

"Yes, of course," he said, taking a sip. "Your mother has to ok it, though."

"Ok. I'm tired."

"Then you go back to bed," Skinner said. "Get plenty of rest and get better fast. Is there anything you need?"

"No," she said. "But... could I have the new Brad Pitt movie?"

Skinner reached for the toast. "Uh-huh, how about something that isn't over PG-13, Ms. Ten-year old?"

She sighed. "Alright," she reluctantly conceded. "Molly Ringwald Sixteen Candles?"

Who? he asked himself. "Let me check with your mother and we'll see."

"Ok, but she lets us watch it when it's on TV," Bethany pointed out.

"How is she?" Mulder asked. Skinner reached past Ivan for the butter.

"She sounds tired, but that's to be expected," he said. "She reprimanded me for not being on the computer."

Mulder chuckled and hooked an ankle around Skinner's. "That's a first," he said. "We're usually on the computer too much. What did she want that was over PG-13?"

"Brad Pitt," Skinner said.

Mulder contemplated and shrugged. "Not a bad choice for a kid," he said. Skinner threw a piece of the crust at him.

"Alright, tell me this," Skinner said. "Who is Molly Ringwald and what is Sixteen Candles."

Mulder spent the rest of breakfast discussing Molly's career and the merits of said movie. He ran down a list of movies but nothing rang a bell until he said, "The Stand". Skinner finally placed the woman's face. Mulder then launched into a one-man discussion on the career of John Hughs and the teenage flicks of the eighties.

Skinner finally halted him. "I have to go, babe," he said. "We can do an eighties retrospective later." He buzzed Mulder and ran a hand over the boys heads before heading out the door, calling for Kisa. She leapt joyously and ran for the door, doing a happy dance and chasing her tail. The cats turned up their noses but were quick to jump down from the refrigerator when Mulder put his bowl of cereal milk on the floor.

The trip into Church Falls was uneventful except for a doggie pit-stop. The countryside was beautiful, dressed in snowy gown. Skinner enjoyed the sight-seeing aspect of the trip and made a mental note to have a family drive sometime soon.

He made his way around the town and found the address after getting lost several times.

"Stay," he told Kisa, She was disappointed but she stayed in the car. Cat answered the doorbell and pulled him into the house by his hand.

"Mommy!" she yelled. "Popi's here!" She pulled him further into their home until he stood in the livingroom. The Major sat stiffly on a chair.

"Sir," Skinner greeted him. "Ma'am," he said to Mrs. Ramsey. She was holding Dani on her lap. The child gave him a shy look and buried her face in her grandmother's chest. Mrs. Ramsey gave him a small smile while shooting a look at her husband.

"How was your drive up, Mr. Skinner?" she asked.

"Walter, please," he invited. "And it was a beautiful trip. Very peaceful, thank you. Are you enjoying your stay with the girls?" She assured him she was.

"So. FBI, huh?" the Major finally spoke. Skinner nodded, letting the older man lead the way with pretend ignorance. He was positive the Major had investigated him thoroughly.

"Yes, Sir," Skinner said. "I retired a couple of years ago."

"And you were a Marine?" the Major asked.

"Yes, Sir," Skinner said. "Wounded in 'Nam. Honorable discharge."

The Major nodded. Skinner was feeling more like a prospective date for their daughter than an equal.

"Alright, Dad, stop interrogating the suspect without a proper defense counsel," Stephanie said, coming into the room. "Hello, Walter," she greeted him. Amanda was right behind her carrying a back pack and suitcase.

"Ladies," Skinner sketched a bow to them. Mandy smiled and bit her lip, looking away. He took the suitcase from her. "Say good-bye," he told her. Amanda went back and hugged her mother and grandmother. The Major broke his stiff posture long enough to hug her back.

"How are you doing?" Skinner asked Stephanie while Mandy said her good-byes.

Stephanie lifted her shoulder and one side of her mouth. "I have no choice, do I?" she asked. "I'll be at the hospital today, if you need me."

"Let Beth know that I'll come by tomorrow to see her, will you?" he asked. Stephanie nodded. "Oh, she wants some movie called Sixteen Candles. Is that alright?"

"Yes, it's fine," she said. "It's harmless and silly. Kind of sweet."

"Stephanie," began the Major in disapproval.

"Dad, she's ten, not one of your recruits," Stephanie responded with a bite. Skinner could see that she was close to losing it, so he took his leave before war broke out.

It was almost fifteen minutes before Amanda spoke up.

"They always fight," she said, looking out the window. Kisa moved back and forth in the back seat, looking out one window and then the other.

"They both have a lot on their minds," Skinner offered. "How are you doing, ok?"

Amanda nodded. "Can I turn the radio on?" she asked.

"Sure," Skinner said. He asked questions, receiving mostly monosyllable replies. This was going to be tough, he thought.

They stopped at a drive through for something to eat and soon after Skinner noticed a car tailing them. He groaned mentally. Not with her in the car, he complained. He took a second look as the car got closer. The car looked like Krycek's. It was Krycek's, as Skinner could see when it coasted up along side him. Skinner rolled down his window.

"Put the car in neutral," Krycek said casually.

"What?"

"You heard me," he said. "Don't touch the gas peddle or the break, just put it in neutral."

"What are you up to, Alex?" Skinner asked.

"We will discuss your little joke with the clock later, just do it."

Krycek was being unusually insistent in a carefully calm voice. Skinner put the car in neutral, wincing at the engine's protest at the cruel treatment.

"Now just let it drift to a stop. When it does, both of you get out and move away from it."

"Alex, do you know how much this van cost me?" Skinner asked him as the car began to slow.

"I didn't do anything to it," Krycek said. "I don't even know if anything is really wrong, I'm just following a warning."

A dark-haired woman sat next to Krycek, looking interested but not alarmed. Skinner had to hand it to Krycek, he knew how to pick the beauties. Krycek let his car fall back behind Skinner's.

"Mandy, when the van stops, get out and go to that car behind us," Skinner told her. "I need to check the engine on this one. You'll be alright." She nodded, beginning to look interested. She grabbed her back pack, ready to bolt.

When the van stopped, Skinner clicked for Kisa and opened the door. Kisa shot out and raced through the snowy field, barking at a snowshoe rabbit. He and Amanda walked back to Krycek's car. Just as Krycek opened the door, the van exploded. Skinner lifted his face from the snow and raced to Amanda who was also face down in the cold, wet stuff.

"WOW!" she breathed, looking at the burning van that she had just been riding in.

"Are you alright?!" Skinner yelled, turning her over. She seemed unhurt, not even a scorch mark. She nodded as he brushed the snow from her face.

"Krycek...." Skinner said, standing up, helping Mandy to her feet. Krycek stood next to them, watching the van. He held out his hands in innocence.

"Hey, a practical joke with the clock isn't worth blowing up your van," he said. "I got a call from Em. She said to find you and get you away from your car, that was it. Said the cards were reading bad this morning. Your cell phone isn't working again."

"Uh-huh," Skinner said. "Amanda, meet your Uncle Alex."

Krycek heard the word 'uncle' and winced.

"Just Alex, please?" he begged.

The van blazed away merrily as they stood around and watched.

"Uncle Alex is cute," Amanda said to Skinner, fluttering her eyelashes at Krycek.

"Yes, he is," Skinner said. "He's also off limits." He moved her further away from Krycek.

Krycek moved closer to Skinner. "You think I'm cute, Walter?" he asked.

"Shut up, Alex. Did you call the fire department? Let's avoid Fox as long as we can," he suggested.

Krycek took his cell phone out and called in the fire. Skinner looked at the dark-eyed beauty next to him and held out his hand.

"Walter Skinner," he said.

She put her hand in his. "Ya'el Gaist."

He like the sound of her soft accent. She was so tiny, though, he didn't know how she would hold up against Krycek when he got into one of his pushy moods.

"How is Israel these days?" he asked, escorting the ladies into Krycek's car.

"She is war-torn and weary," Ya'el said, sliding into the front seat. "And I think that ours is one of the few countries that doesn't have to thank you for that." She yelled something out the window at Krycek, pointing imperiously to the driver seat. Krycek immediately got in at which Skinner choked down a laugh.

The fire department and police arrived soon after, along with Scully who was called in because of Skinner. Stephanie arrived and it took all powers of persuasion to convince her to allow Amanda to continue with her trip.

"It's probably just a manufacturer's problem," Skinner said. Thankfully, several officials spoke up and agreed with him. "Steph, if I thought for one minute that she wasn't safe, I wouldn't allow her to come over."

Scully motioned him over, frowning at her cell phone. Krycek followed, his nose in the air.

"No one is answering at your house," she said. "Not even the phone. Its ringing out of order."

Skinner grabbed her cell and dialed. She was right, there was an operator recording. Mulder's cell phone was dead, too. He dialed the Sheriff's station.

"Becky, is there.....? What?! Yes, get him!" He lowered the phone from his mouth.

"The house is on fire," he announced. Scully snapped up Krycek's cell phone and dialed someone from her office and began issuing orders. "Fox!" Skinner yelled into the phone. "Is everyone alright?!"

"We're all fine," Mulder assured him. "Even the idiot cats. They had gotten out so we went chasing them. We were down the street when it happened. How did you know about it? I've been trying to call you and Alex's cell has been busy."

Skinner told him what happened. Mulder was silent for a moment.

"Call in the troupes, babe," Mulder said. "We're having a confab."

End.