Breakdown "I'm sorry," Mulder whispered, "that you had to take care of me. I
should have been the one caring for you—you're hurt."
Settling against the headboard, Alex groaned. He accepted the
steaming cup of what smelled like Earl Grey.
Mulder gingerly probed the black and blue contusion with the tips of
his fingers and winced along with his lover as he explored the
area. "Are you sure nothing's broken?"
"Did you get your MD while I was out?" Alex snapped. He immediately
regretted it when Mulder flinched at his tone. Mulder was acting so
normally that it was so easy to forget that he was anything
but. "I've had broken ribs before—this is nothing," Alex consoled as
he leaned forward for a kiss.
Mulder jerked back and climbed off the bed, his breathing rapid and
shallow. He stumbled out of the room.
Alex slumped back against the headboard and pinched the bridge of his
nose between his thumb and forefinger. He jumped as drawers slammed
across the hall. Rolling off the bed, he went to stand in the guest
room's doorway and watched as Mulder shoved his belongings into a
large duffle. He couldn't help but smirk at the incongruous site of
his lover packing in the nude.
Feeling Alex's eyes on him, Mulder looked up and returned his gaze.
The resignation in Mulder's expression was more chilling than his
earlier rage.
"I'm of no use to you any more," Mulder said, worrying his lower lip.
Alex moved around the bed and took the gray t-shirt from Mulder's
clutched hands. Tossing it onto the bed, he wrapped his arm around
his lover's waist and drew him close.
Mulder turned his face into Alex's neck and toyed with the hair at
his nape. "You can't leave me alone; you can't trust me to back you
up; the only thing left for you to do is shoot me," he said,
unnaturally calm.
Feeling like he'd been kicked in the stomach, Alex grasped for
something to say—to do— to get Mulder off this train of thought.
Needing time to think, he asked, "Why were you packing?"
"I didn't want you to have to do it after I'm gone," Mulder
whispered, his lips brushing Alex's ear.
The End
Go to Embraced
Stalled in Fargo IV
by Siberian Skys
Alex woke to a warm thumb gently stroking his cheek.
