Shaken II
by Lorelei "Is anything wrong?" he asked, crossing the room to the bed. Alex smiled a
little and shook his head.
"No, I was just thinking, that's all. I'm okay." Skinner was concerned, but
decided not to press.
"Well, if this doesn't cheer you up, nothing will," he said, handing the
glass to Alex. He watched Alex's eyes as he took the first sip and closed
them reverently.
"Ohhh," he sighed. "This is so good." He sipped some more and sighed with
contentment. "Thank you."
"I can tell you're a connoisseur," Skinner said with exaggerated pride. "You
recognize true craftsmanship when you taste it."
He sat down in the chair, watching approvingly as Alex sipped the milkshake.
When the glass was empty, he took it and handed Alex a napkin, repressing
the urge to wipe the whipped cream from his lips. Alex wiped his mouth and
handed the napkin back. He yawned, his eyelids already at half-mast. Skinner
took the glass downstairs and cleaned up before returning upstairs to get
Alex ready for bed. He helped him to the bathroom, making sure he was steady
before stepping discreetly outside the door. Alex finished and Skinner came
back in, helping him back to bed. He got Alex comfortable and then left the
room, returning with his pillow and blanket. Alex sat up a little, watching
him.
"Skinner?" he said. "Why don't you sleep in your bed? You've got to be stiff
from sleeping in the chair every night. I'll be okay."
Skinner hesitated. He hadn't left Krycek to sleep alone since he'd been
there, but his back was definitely not appreciative of the nights spent in
the chair.
"Are you sure you'll be all right?" Alex nodded.
"Go ahead," he said, swallowing hard. "Please, you'll be more comfortable."
Part of him wanted Skinner to sleep in the chair. He felt safer with Skinner
there. But the man had been so kind to him, asking nothing for himself, had
taken care of him even after all he'd done. The least he could do was try to
make sure the man got a comfortable night's sleep in his own bed.
"All right," Skinner said at last. "But promise me, if you need me, you'll
call me."
"I promise," Alex said. Skinner gathered his pillow and blanket, pausing at
the door.
"I'll leave my door open. I'm right down the hall. Good night, Krycek."
"Good night, Skinner."
Alex lay back, already regretting his decision. The room seemed empty
without Skinner's big frame slouched in the chair, his soft snores
reverberating in the not-quite-dark. Tears came to Alex's eyes as he thought
of Skinner's selflessness. He even left the lamp on, all night, he thought.
For me. He smiled as he drifted off to sleep, thinking of Skinner
comfortable in his own bed, feeling good to have been able to give back a
little something.
Skinner lay in his own bed, groaning with pleasure as his aching back
pressed against the mattress. It did feel good to be sleeping in his own bed
again, although he remained alert for any sound of distress from Krycek. He
went to sleep in stages, listening for Krycek's husky voice, listening to
see if he was needed.
The next week passed quickly. There had been a brief, worried phone call
from Scully and an apologetic e-mail from Mulder. Skinner kept himself
occupied, taking care of Krycek and attending to the usual household chores.
He kept Krycek on a regular schedule, realizing his need for structure. To
be suddenly without it would have left him frightened and confused, and he
responded well to the regimen. Skinner hadn't realized just how well until
the day that he was fifteen minutes late with lunch and found Krycek sitting
up in bed, nervous and agitated, wondering where Skinner had been. He had
comforted Krycek, spurring him on to eat his meal with the promise of a
milkshake.
The milkshakes, too, became routine. One between lunch and dinner and one
between dinner and bedtime. The milkshakes themselves remained the same,
plenty of protein powder and chocolate syrup, but Skinner varied the
toppings, liking to surprise Krycek with a different one each time. Crushed
Oreo cookies, shaved chocolate, even ground pistachios. Krycek was always
appreciative, always whispered his thanks before taking the first sip. Both
men began to look forward to the time of day when Skinner would hand Krycek
his milkshake and then sit down in the chair by the bed. Sometimes they
talked quietly, sometimes they just shared the silence, each enjoying the
other's company.
Gradually, Skinner began getting Alex up and out of bed more and more. At
first, he would get him to walk up and down the hallway outside his bedroom,
then sit for a while in the chair before going back to bed. The bruises were
beginning to fade and Alex was able to move about with less discomfort. He
was able to walk to the bathroom unassisted and, much to his relief, able to
take a shower by himself, although Skinner found things to do near the
bathroom in case Krycek needed him. That Thursday afternoon, Skinner came
into the bedroom. Alex had been lying atop the covers, watching television.
He turned it off and looked at Skinner questioningly.
"How about coming downstairs?" Skinner asked. "You must be tired of these
four walls by now."
Alex hesitated. He wasn't sure about this.
"Come on, Krycek. A change of scenery will do you good."
Alex allowed himself to be helped out of bed, although he could manage
better on his own now than before. Skinner handed Alex the robe his mother
in law had given him for Christmas the last year he and Sharon were married.
He had never cared for it, but it seemed to suit Krycek, although it was far
too big. He cinched the belt around Alex's waist and led him to the
stairway.
"Lean on me, now," he admonished as Alex started down. "Not too fast."
He helped Alex to the bottom of the stairs. Alex stood looking around,
taking everything in. His gaze reached the spot by the front door where
Skinner had punched him before dragging him out to the balcony. His eyes
seemed drawn to the balcony door against his will. He stared through the
glass at the railing outside, seventeen floors above the city, where he had
spent a cold and miserable night, chained and helpless. He swallowed and
looked away. Skinner went to the balcony door and pulled the drapes. He
looked at Alex with understanding.
"Better?"
Alex nodded timidly, the memory of that night still vivid in his mind.
Skinner took him around the condominium, showing him his office, and the
kitchen, studiously avoiding the balcony. Alex was impressed with Skinner's
home, and touched at the way Skinner carefully showed him where all of the
telephones were, and the first aid kit, and the fire extinguisher. Like he
was going to be here for a while. Skinner led Alex over to the sofa and
picked up the television remote control.
"You like hockey?" Alex smiled.
"Are the Canucks playing?" Now it was Skinner's turn to smile.
"As a matter of fact, they are. You support Vancouver?" Alex nodded. Skinner
went to the kitchen and returned with a beer for himself and a Coke for
Alex. Alex took the Coke, making a face.
"No alcohol for you yet," Skinner said gently. "I promise you can have one
as soon as Dr. Skinner gives you a clean bill of health."
Alex laughed a little, sipping his Coke. Skinner listened, absorbing the
sound. He had never heard Krycek laugh before and he caught himself
wondering what he might not do to hear that sound again. They watched the
game, each rooting enthusiastically for his team, Skinner having taken up
the cause of the Maple Leafs. He looked at Krycek. Krycek was leaning
forward, cheering as the Canucks scored, looking incredibly beautiful with
his dark hair falling forward into his eyes.
Skinner felt an almost irresistible urge to pull him close, kiss along that
sweet curve where his neck and shoulder met, nibble along his jaw until he
sighed with pleasure. Skinner got up abruptly, going to the kitchen for
another beer. No, he thought to himself, smiling encouragingly as Krycek
turned around inquisitively. He's traumatized and a long way from being
well. I can't take advantage of him. Skinner sighed and returned to the
living room as Krycek cheered another Vancouver goal. He turned to Skinner,
smiling like a boy, his cheeks flushed, his eyes bright.
"Thanks so much for this, Skinner," he said. "I don't remember the last time
I saw a hockey game. I used to love it, before" he broke off, that faraway
look in his eyes again.
He bit his lip and looked away. Skinner thought he was probably remembering
something from his childhood, before Spender got him. He had wanted to ask
Krycek about his parents, but had avoided the subject, afraid it was too
sensitive a topic to explore just yet. Krycek had made good progress, but
Skinner remained worried. He was still very vulnerable. He experienced mood
swings, sometimes smiling, seemingly a little more at ease, and sometimes
withdrawing into himself. Skinner had heard him crying in his sleep on at
least one occasion and agonized over whether or not to wake him, lingering
at the door until the soft, hiccuping sobs diminished. Often, Skinner would
go upstairs to find Krycek's eyes red and swollen, but Krycek rarely
responded to Skinner's gentle questioning. Skinner always backed off, never
pushing too hard, hoping that eventually Krycek would be able to talk about
it.
By the weekend, Alex was off bed rest, coming downstairs on his own,
carefully minding Skinner's orders to hold tightly onto the rail and take it
slow. Skinner, as usual, was up early, brewing coffee and cooking breakfast.
Alex sat down at the counter and Skinner placed a plate of bacon and eggs in
front of him. Alex nibbled a piece of bacon, glad to be gradually getting
off of the bland diet Skinner had had him on. They ate breakfast quietly,
each letting the other finish waking up. Skinner parked Alex on the couch
while he did a little light housecleaning, adamantly refusing Alex's request
to be allowed to help. Alex looked down, crestfallen. He felt so useless.
Skinner saw his look of disappointment and relented.
"You're still healing, Krycek, so you need to take it easy. I'll tell you
what, though," he said, reaching over the kitchen counter to the stack of
bills he had been meaning to get to.
"Here," he said, handing the bills to Alex along with his checkbook, a book
of stamps and a pen.
"Do you mind helping me with this?" Alex shook his head, his eyes wide.
Skinner nodded approvingly.
"Good. Just write out a check for each of those bills, and I'll sign them
when you're done. You can also stamp the envelopes. All right?"
Alex nodded as Skinner went into the kitchen to clean up after breakfast.
Alex looked down at the leather-bound checkbook in wonder. He trusts me that
much? He thought in amazement. He smiled and set to work, writing out the
checks in a careful, neat script, making sure to note the account number on
the memo line of each check. He made three neat piles on the coffee table.
One pile of checks waiting to be signed, one pile of envelopes, and one pile
of payment slips. He began putting the stamps on the envelopes, finishing
just as Skinner came back into the living room.
"All done?"
Alex looked up from the last envelope.
"Yes," he said. Skinner surveyed the organized piles on the coffee table.
"Thank you, Krycek," he said admiringly. "You've done a great job and I
definitely needed the help. You've saved me from one chore I really hate."
Alex beamed as he handed him the pile of checks and the pen.
"If you'll sign them now, I'll stuff the envelopes."
"All right," Skinner said, signing each check with a flourish.
"There you go." Alex looked at the pile of checks.
"Do you want to check my work?" he asked timidly. "Make sure I got the
amounts right?"
Skinner smiled.
"No, Krycek," he replied. "I'm sure they're fine."
He walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee, smiling to
himself, feeling Krycek's startled eyes on him. Alex stared after him in
amazement for a moment, then started matching up the checks, envelopes and
payment slips, blinking hard to see through the sudden tears in his eyes.
Trust, he thought again. He trusts me.
That night, they dined on casserole, Alex determinedly plowing through his
required half plate. Skinner watched approvingly, glad for the slight
improvement he had seen in the boy's appetite. After dinner, Skinner took
inventory in the kitchen, looking in the cabinets and in the refrigerator.
They were getting low on supplies. He would have to go shopping soon. He
glanced at Krycek, who was sitting on the sofa, one leg jiggling up and down
absently, watching an old science fiction movie.
Skinner realized with a start that he hadn't left the condo in nearly a
week. He laughed to himself. Normally, he would have been half out of his
mind with cabin fever by the end of the second day, but he had been so
absorbed in Krycek's care that he had scarcely noticed. He wondered if
Krycek was strong enough now to be left alone for a couple of hours. He
decided to broach the subject with Krycek tomorrow. He was not about to
leave Krycek alone unless he agreed to it and wasn't afraid. If need be, he
could ask Mrs. Napoli to pick up a few things for him at the corner store.
"Do you want your milkshake in here or do you want to go up to bed first?"
Skinner asked.
Alex thought for a moment, and then said shyly,
"I'd like to have it down here." He looked at Skinner. "Could I watch while
you make it?"
"Sure," Skinner replied, opening the freezer.
Alex settled in at the counter, his feet, clad in Skinner's too-large socks,
hooked around the rungs of the barstool. He watched intently as Skinner
scooped the ice cream, dropping it into the metal cup, followed by the
chocolate syrup and milk. He peered at the label on the can of protein
powder.
"What's this?" he asked curiously. Skinner measured three heaping spoonfuls
of the powder into the cup.
"It's protein," he said, putting the lid back on the can. "My secret
ingredient. Guaranteed to help you get your strength back. Even," he paused,
giving Krycek a mock-stern look, "when you're not eating enough."
Alex smiled and looked down, his breath hitching in his chest. No one had
ever been so good to him. Skinner turned off the machine and poured the
milkshake into the tall glass. Alex practically licked his lips in
anticipation as Skinner spooned on the whipped cream and topped it with few
chocolate chips. He slid the glass over to Alex, who stared at it for a
moment with that now familiar look of delight and disbelief. Disbelief that
such a thing had been created just for him.
"Thank you, Skinner," he whispered.
Alex pulled the glass closer to him and leaned down, his eyes closed,
sighing with happiness. Skinner watched, transfixed, as the tip of Krycek's
pink tongue delved into the whipped cream and disappeared back into his
mouth. He repeated this process twice more, and Skinner leaned against the
counter, groaning inwardly. Lord, give me strength, he thought helplessly,
his knees threatening to buckle at the sight of the dollop of whipped cream
on the end of that delicate pink tongue. Krycek looked up and smiled,
unaware of Skinner's agony. He picked up the glass and began to drink
through the straw, to Skinner's only slight relief.
After Krycek had finished his milkshake and Skinner had cleaned up the
kitchen, they retired upstairs to bed. Skinner made sure Krycek was settled
in for the night before going to his own bedroom. He placed his glasses on
the nightstand and switched off the bedside lamp, sighing a little as he lay
his head on the pillow. He remembered Krycek's fascination as he made the
milkshake, and the look of almost transcendent happiness on his face as he
took the first sip. The way he looked intently at Skinner sometimes, as
though he were trying to commit him to memory, as if it might be the last
time he ever saw him. His heart went out to Krycek. He had lost so much in
his life, it was no wonder he found it hard to count on anything. Skinner
fell asleep gradually, as he had grown accustomed to doing, listening for
any sound from Krycek's room.
Skinner woke in the night and got up to go to the bathroom, pausing at the
door to Krycek's room to check on him. Krycek was curled up in the middle of
the bed, his lips slightly parted, sleeping soundly. Skinner watched him for
a moment as he sighed in his sleep, pale and beautiful in the lamplight.
Skinner looked around the room, Krycek's room. When had he stopped thinking
of it as the guest room and started thinking of it as Krycek's room? He
smiled a little. He would have to see about getting Krycek's things from his
apartment. Hopefully they would still be there. Maybe having his things
would make him feel more at home. Skinner quietly walked down the hall to
the bathroom and then went back to bed. Soon, he was asleep again.
Skinner awoke, disoriented, his heart pounding. Someone was hurt, someone
was screaming. He switched on the bedside lamp and fumbled for his glasses
as another terrified shriek pierced the air. Krycek! Skinner bolted from the
bed and tore down the hall into Krycek's room. Krycek was lying on his back,
tangled in the bedsheets, his limbs flailing. He was screaming and sobbing
at the same time.
"NO!" he screamed, "Please! Please don't! Don't leave me here!"
Cautiously, Skinner approached the bed, trying to decide on the best way to
awaken Krycek. Krycek suddenly sat up, his eyes wide and unseeing. His face
was chalk white, his sweat-soaked hair plastered to his skin. He began
backing up toward the headboard, staring at something only he could see. The
look on his face was one of stark terror.
"Please! Please let me out!" he sobbed. "Please! Please don't leave me here!
Not in the dark! Not in the dark!"
He screamed again, a terrified wail that made the hair on the back of
Skinner's neck stand up. Slowly, he reached out toward Krycek.
"Easy... easy, Krycek... it's me," he said gently. "It's me, Skinner. Can you
hear me, Krycek?"
Krycek was huddled against the headboard, shaking violently. He seemed to
look through Skinner, his green eyes almost black. He rocked back and forth,
crying, his one arm locked around his knees. His breath came in ragged
gasping sobs. Skinner put one knee on the bed, leaning close to Krycek.
"Easy, Krycek," he said again. "Krycek? Come on, it's all right. Wake up
now."
He reached for Krycek's shoulder, his fingertips barely grazing it before
Krycek let out an animal shriek and twisted around, his one hand pounding,
clawing at the wallpaper. Skinner stared openmouthed for a moment, aghast at
what he was seeing. He had considerable experience with nightmares. This was
no nightmare. This was a night terror. Krycek was sobbing and screaming,
pounding at the wall, begging to be let out.
Skinner winced as he stump of Krycek's left arm slammed against the wall. He
moved quickly, grabbing Krycek by one shoulder and pulling him down. He
covered Krycek with his weight, pinning the struggling man beneath him.
Krycek screamed louder, his eyes wide with horror, as he frantically bucked
and fought. Skinner held him down, trying to get Krycek to hear him, trying
to cut through the terror that was gripping him.
"Krycek! Krycek!" he shouted. "Krycek! Wake up, you're having a nightmare!"
Skinner kept this up for several minutes, until gradually Krycek's struggles
began to weaken. Skinner gathered Krycek into his arms and held him tightly.
Krycek lay against Skinner's chest, sobbing and panting, his eyes closed. He
whimpered and tried to pull away. Skinner held him close, smoothing the dark
hair away from Krycek's face.
"Krycek? Come on, Krycek, wake up," he said firmly. "Come on, come on,
Krycek. Come back to me."
Krycek shuddered and gasped. Finally, through the sobs, Skinner heard a
muffled gasp.
"Skinner?"
"That's right, boy, that's right," Skinner said, rocking him gently. Krycek
lay exhausted in Skinner's arms, shaking, the memory of the awful dream
still close. He tried to pull away again, murmuring an apology, afraid
Skinner would be angry at being awakened. He was surprised to find himself
pulled closer, nestled more deeply in Skinner's strong arms.
"It's all right, you're safe now, it's all right," Skinner said, one hand
rubbing circles between Krycek's shoulderblades.
Krycek tensed, then lay his head awkwardly on Skinner's chest. Skinner
looked down at Krycek. It felt like he was holding a bundle of wires.
Christ, he thought, you'd think he'd never been held before. A sudden pain
lanced through him and he looked down at Krycek again, his own eyes filling
with unexpected tears. God in heaven, he thought. He really hasn't ever been
held before. Alex was crying quietly, exhausted sobs muffled against
Skinner's chest.
"That's right, let it out, Krycek. I've got you. Let it out," Skinner
whispered.
Alex began to cry harder, his slight body racked with sobs. Skinner held him
tightly, tears pricking at his eyelids. He rested his cheek against Krycek's
damp head and rocked him as he cried. Alex felt Skinner's hand rubbing his
back, felt the warm weight of Skinner's head against his, and let go. He lay
in Skinner's arms, crying harder than he ever had in his life. He had had
another nightmare. But this time he wasn't alone, he wasn't curled up in a
ball in his cold bed in his empty apartment. Skinner was here, holding him.
Holding him. He sobbed for several minutes as Skinner held him and rocked
him, whispering a litany of reassurances.
"Shhh, Alex," he whispered. "Shhh, Alex, it's all right. Relax, just relax."
Skinner raised his head for a moment, realizing what he had said. It had
slipped out unintentionally, but it felt natural, it felt right.
"Alex, it's all right, I've got you. I'll keep you safe. Shhh, it's all
right..."
Alex burrowed deeper into Skinner's chest and breathed deep, taking comfort
from the clean, manly smell of him. Slowly, he relaxed into Skinner's
embrace, his sobs diminished, and he began to calm. Skinner continued to rub
his back and smooth back his hair.
"That's it, Alex," he said softly. "That's it, take deep breaths."
Alex obeyed, finally sitting up, Skinner holding his shoulders gently and
looking deeply into his eyes.
"Okay now?" Krycek wiped away tears and looked down.
"Y-You called me Alex," he said in a small voice.
Skinner smiled and reached for the box of tissues on the nightstand. He
cleaned Alex up, drying his eyes and wiping his nose.
"Is that all right? May I call you Alex?" he asked.
Alex looked up, the answer shining in his eyes. Skinner pulled Alex close
again, surprising him for a moment. Alex went willingly into that warm
embrace, this time resting his head against Skinner's chest with a small
sigh. Skinner wrapped Alex in his arms, thinking to himself how well they
fit together like this, Alex's smaller frame nestled against his larger one.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked gently.
Alex shook his head. Skinner rocked him gently for a few minutes and then
said, "Do you think you can go back to sleep?"
Alex hesitated and then nodded, even as his face crumpled and he began to
cry again.
"I-I'm scared," he whispered. "The dreams always come back."
Skinner dropped a light kiss on the top of Alex's head, unable to stop
himself and not giving a damn.
"I'll stay with you, Alex," he said. "Go on, lie down, there you go," he
soothed as he pulled the covers over Alex.
He took off his glasses and left them on the nightstand, sliding into bed
beside Alex. He spooned Alex up against him, one strong arm around his
waist. Alex tensed involuntarily, then relaxed as Skinner's reassuring voice
eased his tension.
"It's all right, Alex. We're just going to go back to sleep, no bad dreams
this time."
Alex melted into Skinner's embrace and soon was snoring softly. Skinner
watched him sleep for a little while, listening to his soft breaths, feeling
the warmth of him against his chest. He lay his head down on the pillow, the
quiet rhythm of Alex's breathing lulling him to sleep.
Skinner awoke the next morning with Alex curled against him, sleeping
soundly, his dark head nestled against Skinner's chest. Skinner looked down
at him, raising his hand to stroke Alex's hair. Alex sighed and murmured in
his sleep, his one hand clutching Skinner's T-shirt. Skinner looked at the
ceiling, a faint smile on his face. He was in love with Alex Krycek. He
looked down again at the sweetly sleeping face of his former enemy and
laughed quietly to himself. God loves irony.
Skinner's eyes filled with tears as he lay listening to Alex's quiet
breaths, feeling the warmth of Alex's body pressed against his. Alex needed
him. A lump rose in his throat. Christ, when was the last he had felt
needed? With Sharon? He dropped his hand to Alex's shoulder, resting it
there, holding him close. Alex stirred and Skinner found himself looking
into two sleepy green eyes. Alex looked up at Skinner, surprised for a
moment, then remembering the events of the previous night. He tensed,
wondering if Skinner would push him away now. Skinner saw the fear and
wariness in Alex's eyes, felt him tense.
"Come here, you," he growled, pulling Alex into a bear hug.
Alex laughed, a healthy, unaffected, utterly delightful sound, and Skinner
savored it. Alex snuggled close, Skinner's arms wrapped tightly around him,
and sighed. He wished he could stay there forever, held in those strong
arms. Tears stung his eyes and he closed them, resting his head on Skinner's
chest, that strong heartbeat soothing him. He had never thought he would
ever be free of Spender. He had never thought anyone would ever hold him
like this. Skinner's hand traveled over Alex's back, rubbing gently through
the thin cotton of his T-shirt.
"Skinner?" Alex said softly.
"Yes, Alex?" Skinner replied, kissing the top of Alex's head.
Alex sighed and wriggled a little, nuzzling his face against Skinner's neck.
"I'm glad you own me, now," he whispered.
Skinner closed his eyes, Alex's soft words paining him. He had nearly
forgotten his hastily spoken promise to Alex. He had told Alex that Alex
belonged to him, that he was his. I only said it to calm him down, he
thought, worried. What am I going to do? Will Alex be able to adjust to
being loved instead of being owned? His stomach turned as he remembered the
payment Spender had forced him to make. A token sum for a token boy. In
Spender's eyes, Alex was just a commodity, a piece of property. Skinner
vowed again never to let Alex find out about the money. He loved Alex. He
never needed to know what Skinner had done to gain his freedom.
Skinner smiled at Alex's slight weight pressing against him. Falling in love
definitely hadn't been in the game plan. He had planned to get Kry-Alex
back on his feet and send him on his way, but now, all that had changed.
Skinner felt a pang of guilt as Alex lifted his head and gazed up at him
trustingly. He was in love with Alex, there was no doubt about it. But what
did Alex want? Was Alex in any condition to exercise free will? Was he able
to make his own decision, without fear, without coercion? Skinner bit his
lip. He wanted Alex Krycek in his arms, in his bed, in his heart. Would he
be taking advantage? Would Alex understand that he had the right to say no?
Stroking lightly down Alex's neck and back, Skinner made his decision. He
would love Alex, give him the home he had never had, give him the guidance
and structure he needed. When the day came that Alex was ready, he would
give him the choice to leave or to stay. Skinner looked determinedly down at
Alex as he drowsed, a blissful expression on his face. Alex had spent half
his life in Spender's grasp. Could he even function on his own, now, after
all he'd been through? His life, horrific as it had been, had had a certain
structure. Skinner knew that to have that structure suddenly stripped away
could send Alex into a tailspin. He kissed Alex's head again, inhaling the
clean sweet smell of his hair. He would give Alex the limits, the boundaries
he needed. But, he thought grimly, I'll be damned if I'll let him spend even
one more day thinking he's owned like an animal. After breakfast, Skinner
thought. A long talk is definitely in order.
Skinner was standing at the kitchen island, stirring batter for pancakes
when Alex came downstairs, dressed in a pair of Skinner's old sweats and a
T-shirt. The borrowed clothes hung on him like curtains.
"Looks like you need a few more milkshakes, boy," Skinner growled
affectionately.
Alex laughed, coming into the kitchen and peering into the mixing bowl.
"Or blueberry pancakes," he said, smiling.
"Well," Skinner said with a grin, "sounds like someone is getting his
appetite back."
He turned to the stove and began ladling the batter onto the hot griddle. "I
certainly hope so. My pancakes are almost as good as my milkshakes."
Alex leaned against the kitchen counter, fidgeting a little as he watched
Skinner expertly turning the pancakes.
"Skinner?"
"Yes, Alex?" Skinner replied, arranging sausage links on the other end of
the griddle.
"I want to help."
Skinner turned and looked at Alex. Alex stood, looking at him from under his
lashes, his hand nervously fingering the hem of his T-shirt. Skinner smiled
reassuringly. He knew it was difficult for Alex to express his feelings, to
ask for anything. Years under Spender's control had taught the young man
that his feelings, his wants, were not important. That he was not important.
Skinner sighed and wondered how long it would take for Alex to lose that
worried, tense expression. How long it would take for Skinner to make him
understand that he mattered. That asking to help with breakfast wasn't going
to earn him a beating.
"I don't think setting the table for breakfast would be too much of an
exertion," he said. "But no reaching or stretching. I'll get the plates and
glasses down and then you can set the table."
Alex nodded happily. Skinner placed the plates and juice glasses on the
countertop while Alex explored the rest of the kitchen, as curious as a cat.
He quickly found the silverware and napkins and set about his assigned task.
Skinner watched, amused at the seriousness with which Alex went about his
work, carefully aligning the silverware and glasses, and fanning out the
napkins just so. When he was finished, he stood back, surveying his work,
reaching out to brush a nonexistent wrinkle from the tablecloth. He looked
at Skinner expectantly.
Skinner smiled, his heart full of love for this beautiful, battered
ex-assassin who had somehow stolen his heart.
"It's perfect, Alex," Skinner said. Alex beamed.
"Thank you," he said. "What can I do now?"
Skinner chuckled at Alex's eagerness, piling a platter with pancakes and
sausage.
"Go ahead and have a seat," he said, grabbing the bottle of maple syrup on
his way into the breakfast nook. "It's time to eat."
Alex sat down at the table, still glowing after Skinner's compliment. It
felt so good to be told he had done something well, even if it was something
as ordinary as setting a table. Abruptly, the smile faded from his face.
Jesus, you're pathetic, Alex, he thought. All you did was put some plates on
a table and manage not to fuck it up and you're acting like you just won the
Nobel Prize.
He absently toyed with his empty juice glass as he thought about the old
Alex, the man he used to be. The old Alex would have sneered at the new
Alex, the Alex who woke up screaming, woke up crying, was afraid of his own
shadow. Then the old Alex would have taken great pleasure in kicking the new
Alex's ass, a three-minute job, tops. He closed his eyes, seeing the face he
had spent years trying to forget. Nikolai's face. Alex had spent years
hiding behind a dark and dangerous facade, hiding the broken and frightened
boy with tough talk and black leather. Seeing Nikolai again had stripped him
of his thin disguise, left him naked, exposed as the helpless, beaten thing
that he was.
Alex blinked back tears, watching Skinner as he got up and walked back into
the kitchen to retrieve the butter. He wore jeans and a crisp white T-shirt
that hugged his broad shoulders, the fabric rippling slightly as he moved.
He really was attractive, Alex thought, incredibly sexy, in a way that made
you look twice. Alex looked down at his plate, a faint, bitter smile on his
face, wondering how much time he had left here. His heart ached as he
thought about leaving this place which for one night had been his prison,
and which now seemed like the warmest, safest place he could imagine.
He knew it was only a matter of time, that soon those kind brown eyes would
look at him with disgust, with the realization that Alex wasn't good enough,
could never be. What then? Would Skinner send him back to Spender? To
Nikolai? Alex shivered, willing a look of casual contentment onto his face
as Skinner returned to the table. Skinner placed the butter on the table
between them and picked up his fork, spearing a plump sausage link from the
platter with gusto.
"I'm starved," he said, "let's dig in."
They enjoyed a leisurely, quiet breakfast, Alex nearly cleaning his plate,
much to Skinner's delight. After they had eaten, Alex cleared the table
while Skinner loaded the dishwasher and washed and dried the big griddle
that had been his grandmother's. Alex was wiping down the kitchen counter
with meticulous, even strokes, frowning a little as he did, making sure not
to miss a spot. Skinner watched him, a little sadly, Alex's look of grim
concentration making him want to grab the sponge from his hand and fling it
across the room. He wanted to hold Alex, to kiss all the worry and fear
away. Skinner held himself back.
It seemed so important to Alex to help, to feel useful, instead of having
everything done for him. Having spent time recuperating after Vietnam,
Skinner understood the feeling of helplessness. After two weeks in bed, he
had ceased to feel like a person, more like a piece of meat to be poked and
prodded and fed pills. Some of the nurses didn't even bother to make
conversation as they bathed the embarrassed young ex-Marine with cool,
impersonal efficiency.
Skinner knew how much completing the smallest task mattered to Alex, how
important it was to him to do it right. But, Skinner thought, as Alex began
cleaning the same section of countertop for the second time, he would do
anything to see that hesitant, fearful look gone from Alex's face for good.
Skinner sighed. It was going to be hard work, convincing this unloved,
unwanted man that he was finally loved, finally wanted. That he was home.
But then, Walter Skinner had never been afraid of hard work.
Skinner had been about to steer Alex into the living room for a talk when a
knock at the door startled them both. Alex started and turned toward the
door, immediately tense and alert. Skinner put a reassuring arm around
Alex's shoulders and felt him trembling slightly. Alex looked up at Skinner
questioningly, his green eyes wary. Skinner realized grimly that getting
Alex used to him was only half the battle. He would then have to get Alex
used to the rest of the world. Skinner rubbed Alex's back as he guided him
over to the sofa. Alex sat down, his eyes fastened on the door, his jaw
tense.
"It's all right, Alex," he said. "I'm expecting someone."
Alex watched apprehensively, biting his lip as Skinner went to the door. A
tall young man with a dark, neatly trimmed beard stood in the doorway. He
wore a T-shirt with "Pete's Moving" emblazoned across the chest. He grinned
and shook Skinner's hand.
"Hi," he said, "I'm Peter Napoli. My Aunt Jeannie sent me over to," he
fished a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket and looked at it, "111
Morgan Street, apartment 12, to pick up some stuff."
He reached into his other pocket and handed Skinner a key.
"Here's your key. Where do you want the stuff?" Skinner pocketed the key and
stood to one side.
"Right here by the door will be fine. I really appreciate your doing this,
Peter," Skinner said. "I hope it didn't take you away from anything."
"Oh, no," Peter said as he carried in a large box and placed it beside the
door. "There's really not much. I didn't even need the truck, it all fit in
my car."
"Can I offer you a cup of coffee?" Skinner asked as Peter brought in the
last box and put it down beside the others.
"Oh, no thanks," he said, wiping his hands on his jeans. "I've got to get
down to the soccer field. My kid's got a game this afternoon." Skinner went
to the sofa and placed a hand on Alex's shoulder.
"Peter, this is Alex Krycek. Alex, this is Peter Napoli. His aunt lives down
the hall. You'll meet her. She's a great lady." Skinner smiled broadly.
"It's a wonder I don't weigh three hundred pounds the way she keeps me
stuffed with those delicious cakes and pies of hers."
Peter laughed and nodded.
"You and me both," he said with a grin. "She's never happier than when she's
got someone to feed."
Alex looked up at Skinner. Skinner nodded and smiled. Slowly, Alex got up
and walked over to Peter, trying to will the fear away. He hadn't expected
to have to deal with a stranger today, no matter how gregarious. It reminded
him too much of his life with Spender, of strange men, strange, leering
faces, a knock at the door and then being laid bare, stripped of everything,
degraded and used and hurt. Stop it! Alex scolded himself. God, you're a
basket case, he thought disgustedly. This man is not going to hurt you. He's
Skinner's neighbor's nephew. Skinner trusts him.
Peter put out his hand and waited patiently, smiling at Alex. His Aunt
Jeannie had told him that Mr. Skinner had a houseguest, and that it was his
things that Peter had been sent for. Aunt Jeannie had also mentioned that
this houseguest had not been well.
"Hi, Alex," Peter said.
Alex looked at Peter, then back at Skinner. Skinner nodded, gesturing toward
Peter, whose hand was still out.
"Hi," Alex said shyly, and shook Peter's hand. "Thank you, sir."
He quickly retreated to the sofa, curling up with a pillow in his lap, his
one arm wrapped around it. His heart thundered in his chest and he flushed
bright red, humiliated and embarrassed at his weakness.
"You're welcome," Peter said, turning to go. "Well, I'd better get going.
Aunt Jeannie said to tell you you're invited to dinner whenever you want to
come."
Skinner followed Peter into the hallway.
"Thanks again, Peter, I can't tell you what a help this is. I would have
gone to get Alex's things myself, but he's been ill and I didn't want to
leave him alone." Peter smiled and pushed the button for the elevator.
"No problem. Hey," he said amiably. "Aunt Jeannie talks about you all the
time. The way you check on her, help her with repairs. I can't thank you
enough. I live all the way across town and it makes me feel good to know
you're right here when she needs you. It's the least I could do."
He pulled out his wallet and gave Skinner his card. "Anytime you need any
moving done, just give me a call."
The elevator doors opened and Peter got on, waving as the doors closed.
Skinner waved good bye and walked back into the living room, closing the
door behind him. Alex was still on the sofa, clutching the pillow. As the
door closed, he seemed to relax visibly. Skinner walked over to the sofa and
sat down beside him. He spoke gently.
"Are you all right, Alex?" Alex swallowed and nodded.
"I'm sorry. I hope I didn't embarrass you in front of Mr. Napoli," he said.
"I-I guess I'm just not used to... strangers."
Skinner smiled and put a hand on Alex's arm.
"You could never embarrass me, Alex," he said kindly. "It's all right.
You've been through a lot and you're still adjusting. Just give it time."
Alex smiled a little, the warmth and weight of Skinner's hand on his arm
feeling substantial and real.
"Alex? I want to talk to you about something." Skinner said, and immediately
felt Alex tense.
Alex looked at Skinner apprehensively.
"W-What about?" he asked softly.
He swallowed again, his mouth suddenly dry. Was Skinner tired of him? Was he
going to send him out, make him whore like Spender had? Had the last
wonderful week been only a dream? He closed his eyes. It was what he had
been expecting, after all. At least he would still have the memory of being
held. He opened his eyes to see Skinner looking at him with concern.
"Alex, it's all right. I just want to talk, that's all. Come here," he said,
gently pulling Alex toward him.
Alex was tense but unresisting as Skinner drew him close, one strong arm
encircling his shoulders.
"Comfortable?" Skinner asked. Alex nodded.
"Good," Skinner said gently. "What I want to talk about, Alex, is us."
Alex stiffened again, and Skinner rubbed his back soothingly.
"It's okay, Alex," he said. "What I have to say to you is very important,
for both of us. Will you promise just to listen, to hear me out?"
Alex nodded again, his fingers picking nervously at the knee of his
sweatpants.
"I promise," he whispered.
Skinner continued to gently rub Alex's back, making circles against the thin
cotton, soothing him. He felt the tension ease a little, felt Alex relax a
little.
"Do you like it here, Alex?" Alex looked up at Skinner.
"Yes," he said. "I love it here. I feel safe here." He paused, a lump
forming in his throat.
"I never had anything like this before."
Skinner took a deep breath before speaking again.
"Alex, when I said that you belonged to me... I... I said it because you were
upset. I didn't mean it the way you think."
Alex suddenly sat up, freeing himself from Skinner's arms, his eyes brimming
with tears.
"You said I belonged to you! You said I was yours!"
He began to back away from Skinner, his lip trembling as the tears began to
trail down his cheeks.
"Please, Skinner, please don't send me away."
He broke down, pleading through his tears.
"Please, whatever I did, I'm sorry, please let me stay. Please don't send me
back."
Skinner's own eyes filled with tears as Alex huddled, shaking, in the far
corner of the sofa. Slowly, carefully, he moved toward Alex. He took Alex's
hand and gently pulled him close again, wrapping his arms around him,
letting him cry.
"It's all right, Alex," he said. "It's all right."
He waited until Alex quieted, then looked down into the tear-streaked face,
wiping away the tears with his hands.
"You promised to listen, remember?"
Alex looked down and nodded. Skinner sat beside him, his arm around Alex's
shoulders.
"Alex, do you think it's right for one person to own another person? For one
person to have the right to abuse another person, to ignore their feelings?
To hurt them?"
Alex looked down, fidgeting nervously with the pillow that had again found
its way into his lap.
"No," he said softly. Skinner smiled and continued.
"Alex, I know that you were with Spender for a very long time, and that he
was cruel to you. He treated you like a piece of property. I don't want to
be like him."
Alex looked up, his eyes shining.
"I want you to live here, with me, Alex. I want this to be our home. I want
you to be my lover, my friend, my soulmate. I do want you to belong to me,
but I want to belong to you, too. Do you understand? Not owning. Belonging.
To each other."
Alex nodded, fresh tears threatening to spill over his lashes. Skinner
leaned down and kissed an errant tear away before it could wend its way down
his cheek.
"I love you, Alex Krycek," he whispered into that perfect elfin ear. "I love
you and I want you here with me always. I want to take care of you the way
you need to be taken care of. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
I want you to be here, with me, not because you think you have to. Because
you want to." He paused.
"Alex, look at me." Alex obeyed.
Skinner looked into his eyes and spoke softly the words he felt it most
important for Alex to hear.
"If you don't want to be here, Alex, you have the right to say so. I know
that what you want hasn't mattered very much up until now, but it matters to
me. You matter to me."
Alex looked up, startled, then threw his arm around Skinner's neck, hugging
him tightly.
"I want to stay, Skinner," he whispered against Skinner's neck.
"Please, I want to stay with you. I don't ever want to leave."
Skinner held him tightly, overwhelmed with emotion. He began to speak, then
hesitated. He took a deep breath. He had to be sure. He gently pushed Alex
away, so that he could look into his eyes.
"Alex, I need to know. Are you sure about this? Are you saying that you want
to stay with me because you're afraid of making me angry? Do you think
you'll be hurt if you say that you want to leave?"
Alex shook his head vigorously.
"No, Skinner," he said, his eyes huge and serious. "I know you won't hurt
me." He hesitated.
"I... I was scared at first, but now..." he smiled, the wary, watchful look
gone from his eyes. "I know you won't hurt me. I do want to stay, because
you want me to. Because I want to." His lip trembled.
"No one ever treated me like you do. Like it matters what happens to me.
Like I'm important." He put his arm around Skinner's neck again.
"I want to stay," he said softly. "I love you."
Skinner laughed and held him close.
"My little rat," he whispered. Alex looked up, surprised for a moment, and
then laughed, too.
"I'm yours," he agreed. "Your rat. And you're mine. My... bear."
Skinner laughed again, a delighted roar.
"Bear?"
Alex smiled and rested his head against Skinner's chest.
"You're always giving me bear hugs," he explained.
Skinner couldn't resist giving Alex a kiss on the nose.
"All right," he growled. "The rat and the bear. If nothing else, we can move
to England and open a pub."
He smiled and stood up, going over to the three large cardboard boxes beside
the door.
"I hope you don't mind," he said, gesturing toward the boxes. "The key was
in the pocket of your jeans."
Alex stood and went over to the boxes, opening the flaps of the nearest one.
"Oh no," he said, smiling a little. "I don't have much, but I thought it was
gone forever. I know I couldn't..." he trailed off, his eyes suddenly
clouded with pain. "I know I could never go back there."
He reached into the box and exclaimed with delight, pulling out his battered
leather jacket. He hugged it close to him, a genuine grin spreading over his
face.
"Thank you, Skinner, thank you!" He slipped it on with a sigh.
"I thought I'd never see it again!"
Skinner watched, a grin lighting up his own face. Alex looked adorable,
smiling and talking more at one stretch than he had the entire time he'd
been there. He sorted through the boxes, seeming to let his guard down
completely for the first time as he lovingly handled his small, well-worn
collection of books. Skinner couldn't help but notice that he looked sexy as
hell in that black leather, too. A smile played about his lips as he watched
Alex, looking so much like the cocky, confident Alex Krycek Skinner
remembered, like the man he used to be. And will be again, Skinner thought,
with love and perseverance.
"I'll get a bookshelf for those," Skinner said as Alex repacked the box.
"We'll find places for all of your things, the old and the new."
Skinner looked into one of the boxes, which was filled with clothes,
reaching in and pulling out the neatly folded stacks of T-shirts and boxers,
all of which were dark blue or black. He put them on the sofa, followed by
the few pair of black jeans and sweaters. Alex looked at the clothes
miserably.
"He bought those," he said softly. Skinner put a hand on Alex's shoulder.
"I understand how you must feel, Alex. We need to go shopping and get you
some new clothes. You'll pick them out yourself."
Alex bit his lip and nodded. After nearly fifteen years of being dressed
like a doll by Spender, the thought of being allowed to choose his own
clothes was a revelation. But the thought of going out was terrifying. There
were so many people that had hurt him, that had enjoyed being cruel to him.
The only safe place was here, in Skinner's home, in Skinner's arms.
"W-When?" he asked. Skinner smiled.
"Not for a little while, yet," he said. "Will you be all right with these
until then?" Alex nodded.
Skinner moved to pick up one of the boxes.
"I'll just move these into my office for the time being. I'll just be a
minute."
He hefted the box and began to carry it toward his office. Alex reached for
one of the remaining boxes.
"I'll help," he said. Skinner stopped and looked back at Alex.
"No, Alex," he said with concern. "It's too heavy. Your back and ribs are
still healing."
Alex stooped over and got his arm around the box, attempting to lift it.
"It's not that" he broke off, gasping, the color draining from his face
as pain raced up his side.
Skinner quickly put the box he had been carrying down and crossed the room
in three swift strides as Alex slowly straightened up, his face white. He
put his hand on Alex's shoulder and looked into his eyes, his expression
worried.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"I think so," Alex said, rubbing his side gingerly. "It was just a twinge."
Skinner looked at Alex seriously.
"Good," he said. He grasped Alex's arm and turned him around, swatting him
firmly on his backside. Alex gave a surprised squawk and put his hand back
to rub his suddenly stinging backside.
"Ow!" he yelped, staring at Skinner in shock.
He rubbed the seat of his sweatpants, his eyes wide with shock. Skinner
immediately wrapped Alex in his arms, holding him tightly. Alex resisted
fiercely, trying to back away, then sagged, burying his face in Skinner's
chest. Skinner stroked Alex's hair, murmuring softly.
"Shhh, it's all right, Alex." Alex clung to him, his hand clutching
Skinner's shirt.
"I'm sorry," he said, his voice choked with tears, "I'm sorry, please don't
be mad at me."
Skinner held Alex tightly, rubbing his back through the soft fabric of his
T-shirt. He tilted Alex's face up to his.
"I'm not mad at you, Alex," he said softly. "It's over now. You did
something foolish, endangered yourself, and I swatted you for it. It's over
and forgotten. Okay?"
Alex nodded, biting his lip.
"I'm not helpless," he whispered.
Skinner held Alex close, massaging the back of his neck, Alex's face pressed
against his shoulder.
"I know," Skinner said. "I know you're not helpless. But you were badly
beaten, Alex, and even though you're up and around now, you're still not
completely healed. You have to be careful not to overexert yourself.
Understood?" He smiled at Alex, to reassure him that he wasn't angry.
Alex nodded.
"Understood."
Skinner brushed away a tear from Alex's cheek and put a finger under his
chin, gently bringing his face up again.
"Alex," he said gently, "Nothing matters more than your health and
well-being. I had a good reason for telling you not to pick up that box and
you should have listened. You're important to me, Alex," Skinner said,
looking deeply into Alex's eyes, "I love you. I'll never do anything to hurt
you, and I won't let you do anything to hurt yourself. Promise to trust me
next time?" Alex nodded again.
"I promise," he said. Skinner smiled and kissed Alex's hair.
"Good," he said, smiling brightly. "The important thing is that you're all
right." He leaned down and whispered,
"I love you, Alex."
Alex sighed and cuddled against Skinner's chest.
"I love you, too, Skinner." Skinner looked down at him and chuckled.
"Alex?" Alex raised his head, his eyes bright.
"Yes?"
"Do you think you could call me Walter?"
Skinner's tone was lighthearted, but his expression watchful, almost tense,
realizing at that moment just how much Alex's answer meant to him. Alex
looked up, smiling, his eyes clear, bottomless green. He hooked his arm
around Skinner's waist, holding tight.
"I love you, Walter," he whispered.
Alex perched at the kitchen counter, his chin resting on his hand, watching
as Skinner made lunch. Alex's pleas to help had been quickly and firmly
refused, and he had found himself consigned to the barstool. His ribs did
still ache a little, he admitted to himself. Trying to lift the box had
aggravated them and it hadn't done a thing for his backside, either. He
shifted a little on the barstool, the spot where Walter had swatted him
still warm although it no longer stung.
Alex sat, deep in thought, as Skinner stirred the soup and rummaged in the
refrigerator for the cheese, his T-shirt stretching over his well-muscled
back. Walter had hit him. No. Walter had swatted his butt, as though he were
a naughty child, and then had folded Alex in his arms and held him, told him
he loved him. Alex remembered the look of concern on Walter's face when he
heard Alex gasp, remembered Walter rushing over, worried that he was hurt.
Alex felt himself tearing up and blinked the tears away, not wanting Walter
to see and misunderstand. Walter loved him. He had said so, demonstrated it
by his actions, by his gentle and constant care, his soft, whispered words.
Alex swallowed past the lump in his throat. Walter. There was a time, when
he was green young Agent Krycek, that he had glimpsed the imposing, gruff AD
in the hallway for the first time and never dared to imagine that the man
had a first name, let alone that he would ever be allowed to breathe it.
That he would ever sit in his kitchen, still warm from his embrace, and say
it out loud and see him turn and smile, see the love in his eyes.
"Yes?" Alex looked up. Skinner was standing at the stove, buttering a slice
of bread.
"Huh?" Alex blinked in surprise.
"You said my name," Skinner said, grinning.
"I did?" asked Alex, blushing. "I-I guess I'm still getting used to it." He
answered Skinner's grin with one of his own. "I like it."
He looked at Skinner, unconsciously running the tip of his own finger along
his bottom lip. "Walter," he said huskily. Skinner crossed the kitchen, his
eyes locked onto Alex's, seeming almost to look into the very center of him.
He took Alex's hand and kissed the fingers lightly, one at a time, then
placed his hand lovingly along Alex's cheek.
"Alex," he whispered, smiling. Alex's heart felt as though it would burst,
and he did not fight the tears this time. He had never known such love, such
gentleness, each tiny kindness a treasure undreamt of, each touch almost
unbearably beautiful. He smiled at Skinner, speaking with his eyes, and
turned his head to kiss Skinner's palm. Skinner squeezed Alex's hand and
returned to the stove, smiling over his shoulder.
"I hope you're hungry," he said. "My grilled cheese sandwiches are"
"Almost as famous as your milkshakes and pancakes?" Alex asked, his eyes
wide and innocent over his smirk. Skinner gave Alex a mock stern look.
"This is good for more than just cooking, young man," he said, brandishing
his spatula. Alex grinned.
"Gotta catch me first," he said, laughing. Skinner smiled, placing Alex's
plate in front of him with a flourish.
"Welcome to Walt's Lunch Counter," he joked. "One bowl of vegetable soup and
one grilled cheese sandwich. That'll be $3.75."
Alex's smile made the older man's heart rate increase. Skinner felt himself
growing warm, felt his knees weaken a little.
"Run me a tab?" Skinner gazed at Alex adoringly, loving the way those green
eyes welcomed him, no longer afraid, no longer wary. He covered Alex's hand
with his.
"For the rest of your life," he said softly, and was favored with a dazzling
smile, Alex's hand turning under his, clasping it, interlocking their
fingers. Alex blushed and looked down, almost shyly, but his smile remained.
Skinner put his own plate down on the counter next to Alex's, and sat down
beside him. He placed a glass of milk in front of Alex, taking a sip from
his own glass of iced tea. Alex cast a longing look at Skinner's glass
before taking a sip from his own. He didn't like plain milk very much, but
he knew that he was underweight and needed to get his strength back.
Somehow, knowing that Skinner knew that, too, that Walter cared, made the
milk taste better than any he had ever had.
Alex nibbled the last of his sandwich as Skinner emerged from the pantry, a
pen and paper in his hand. Skinner glanced approvingly at Alex's empty soup
bowl and nearly empty plate. Good, he thought, he's definitely getting his
appetite back. He looked worriedly down at the grocery list. It was already
a page long and he hadn't even gotten to meats and fresh fruits and
vegetables. This trip to the supermarket was going to take at least a couple
of hours, and he still wasn't sure about leaving Alex alone. He sighed. They
were out of nearly everything, and there was no question of Alex going with
him. He hadn't asked and Alex had seemed relieved, not ready yet to leave
the safety of the condo and deal with the outside world.
Skinner thought to himself, tapping the pen thoughtfully against the paper.
He wanted Alex to be a little stronger physically before going out for the
first time, and mentally... He glanced at Alex, who had hopped down from the
barstool and gone to put his dishes in the sink. Mentally, it wasn't going
to be easy. He would have to introduce the outside world slowly, in stages.
The giant supermarket with its garish colors, noise and throngs of people
was definitely not the way to start. He wondered if Alex would have forced
himself to go had he asked, for fear of disappointing him. Skinner watched
as Alex wandered into the living room and sat down on the sofa, turning on
the television.
Skinner looked at Alex worriedly. He would have to begin slowly, but he
would have to begin soon, before Alex's retreat from the world became
irreversible. He made a mental note to telephone Mrs. Napoli that evening
and accept her invitation for dinner, maybe for the upcoming weekend. He
wanted Alex to meet Mrs. Napoli and it would be a good way to introduce the
idea of leaving the condo. He smiled. It would also introduce Alex to Mrs.
Napoli's lasagna. He picked up the paper and pen and joined Alex on the
sofa.
"Alex?"
"Hmm?" Alex murmured, surfing through the channels with lightning speed,
finally giving up hope of finding anything watchable. He put the remote
control on the coffee table and smiled at Skinner. "What's up?"
"Tell me some of your favorite foods," Skinner said, poised to write. "What
do you like to eat?" Alex looked surprised for a moment, then looked away.
"It doesn't matter," he mumbled. Spender had trained the wanting and needing
out of him early on. What did he like? When was the last time he could
remember wanting anything and having it matter? He saw the look of concern
on Skinner's face. He knew Walter cared, wanted him to be happy, and he
wondered if he would ever be able to be free of Spender's influence, able to
forget the hard lessons he had learned at his hand.
"It doesn't matter," he repeated shyly. "Anything." Skinner frowned.
"It matters, Alex." Gently and quietly, he questioned Alex, recalling the
meals they had had in their short time together. Gradually, a picture
emerged of a young man who liked chicken and steak, hated fish. Liked soups,
except split pea. He liked salads and pasta. Liked bacon and eggs, wouldn't
touch oatmeal. Skinner filled another half page with his neat, precise
handwriting. He smiled, jotting down another item. He didn't have to ask
about the chocolate. Slowly, with Skinner's encouragement, Alex began to
enjoy helping to make out the grocery list, even mentioning a couple of
items Skinner had overlooked. Alex smiled as he remembered long-forgotten
likes and dislikes, preferences that, with no one there to care about them,
he had long since locked away. He felt as though he were rediscovering
himself as he made his quiet, simple requests, loving the careful way
Skinner noted each one. Skinner put down the pen, put his hand on Alex's
arm.
"Are you sure you'll be all right tomorrow? It's only for a couple of
hours." Alex smiled. It was his turn to reassure Skinner.
"Don't worry, Walter, I'll be all right," he said. "I'll read a book or
watch TV. I'll be fine. Besides," he added, "it'll do you good to get out
for a while instead of being cooped up with me all the time."
He laughed as Skinner swept him up into a hug, tickling him gently.
"I can't think of anyone I'd rather be cooped up with," he said, holding
Alex tightly.
"Come on," he said, standing up. "We've still got toiletries to do."
Alex gave a mock groan and followed Skinner into the bathroom, secretly
happy to be doing something of use.
That night, Skinner awoke suddenly, on the verge of an explosive orgasm. He
blinked and looked around, thinking at first that this was one incredible
wet dream, then realizing that Alex was not beside him. Alex was under the
covers, his long fingers delicately manipulating Skinner's swollen balls,
his warm wet mouth sliding up and down Skinner's cock, his tongue expertly
dancing under the crown, flicking over the head. Skinner's hips bucked and
he clutched the side of the mattress, gasping.
"A-Alex? Alex!"
God, he was so close. Alex redoubled his efforts, driving Skinner half-mad
with pleasure. Groaning, Skinner threw back the covers and sat up, gently
pushing Alex away. Skinner sat panting, his throbbing cock hard against his
belly, as Alex knelt beside him, naked, his own erection beginning to
subside. Skinner hunched over, trying to get his breathing under control, as
Alex stared at him, his eyes filling with tears. He started to reach for
Skinner, then stopped. Skinner looked at Alex's face and wanted to weep for
the hurt he saw there. A tear rolled down Alex's cheek and he made another
attempt to reach out, only to withdraw again. He looked at Skinner with
misery in his eyes.
"Don't you want me?" he asked softly, his voice trembling.
Skinner reached over and pulled him close, lying back so that Alex was
draped partially over him. Alex rested his head on Skinner's chest, his
shoulders shaking under the gentle weight of Skinner's arm. Skinner could
feel the wetness of Alex's tears against his bare skin, could hear the sobs
Alex was trying so hard to suppress. Skinner stroked Alex's hair soothingly.
"Alex," he whispered. Alex lay motionless in his arms, his breath hitching
slightly.
"Wasn't it good?" Alex choked. "Didn't you like it? Why don't you want me?"
Skinner lay against the pillow and groaned. His cock still felt hard enough
to shatter glass. He gently raised Alex's head, wiped away the tears. Alex's
lip trembled and he looked away. Skinner gently drew his face back toward
him and looked deeply into those sad eyes.
"Alex," he said, his chuckle surprising them both. "That was incredible. Do
you have any idea how hard it was to make myself stop you?"
Alex sat up, confused.
"Then why did you?" he asked. His brow furrowed. "I wanted to please you. I
thought you'd like it."
Skinner reached behind him and fluffed the pillows, stacking them against
the headboard. He put his arm around Alex, bringing him close again and
settling them both back comfortably against the pillows. He kissed the top
of Alex's head and spoke softly, choosing his words carefully. What he was
about to say was important and he wanted to be sure to get it right.
"Alex," he began. "I want to do this right. I want our first time to be
special. Not," he added, ruffling Alex's hair affectionately, "that what you
were doing wasn't special, but..." he trailed off.
He didn't want to hurt Alex. What Alex had been doing had been pretty damned
special indeed, if Skinner's rock-hard erection was to be believed. But it
had been too much like... being serviced. He wondered about Alex's time with
Spender, the man who had stood in Skinner's living room, smoke curling from
his lips as he called Alex a "slut" and a "whore". The choice of words had
seemed strange at the time, but Skinner remembered the sick gleam in the old
man's eye and understood.
Skinner looked down at Alex, curled tightly against his side, and his heart
ached as he remembered Alex's solemn eyes, that soft, sad voice asking "How
do you want me, sir?" Expecting to be used again, degraded and debased and
tossed aside. Skinner thought bitterly of Spender, wishing vainly for
revenge, revenge for this shattered man, this unloved boy who had been used
and hurt and sold.
Skinner gently stroked Alex's back and shoulder, feeling him relax slightly
under his touch. He knew he might never know the full extent of Alex's
suffering under Spender's hand, and he knew now was not the right time to
bring it up. Alex was very vulnerable right now. One day, Skinner hoped,
when Alex was stronger, he might be able to tell Skinner about what had
happened to him, and Skinner would help him heal.
He massaged Alex's shoulders gently, feeling the smooth skin under his
hands. Alex had said he loved him, and Skinner had no reason to disbelieve
him. But, Skinner thought, has Alex really had the chance to think? Is he
capable of understanding, really understanding, that he has a choice? Does
he think he loves me because he views me as his savior? Or, Skinner thought
with dread, his master? Tears filled Skinner's eyes as he looked at Alex,
his heart full of such fierce love. I'll never take advantage of you, Alex,
he promised silently. I'm going to do this right. I'm going to be everything
you want me to be, everything you need me to be, and one day you'll realize
how much I truly love you and how much I want you to love me, for the right
reasons. Skinner squeezed Alex's shoulder gently.
"Alex, look at me."
Raising up on his elbow, Alex obeyed, looking up at Skinner, remnants of his
tears sparkling in his black lashes. Skinner leaned down, holding his
breath, his heart pounding, and kissed that rosebud mouth, feeling Alex's
soft pink lips parting under his as he explored that moist velvet mouth with
his tongue. Alex sighed, his breathing becoming more rapid, his hand
clutching Skinner's thigh as Skinner's tongue flicked gently against his, as
Skinner gently sucked and nipped at his bottom lip. When Skinner released
him, Alex lay stunned, flushed, and thoroughly kissed. He looked at Skinner
and closed his eyes, his fingertips delicately brushing his lips as if he
were trying to rub the kiss in, to savor it forever. Skinner waited for him
to open his eyes again and then spoke softly, his hand closing over Alex's.
"I want to do this right," he said softly. "I... you've been through so much,
Alex. I want us to take every step together. I want us to discover each
other, learn everything there is to know about each other. I want us to fall
asleep every night in each other's arms, and wake up every day that way. And
when it happens, Alex, it'll be perfect. For both of us."
Alex considered this silently for a moment. That kiss had been... incredible.
But why had Skinner really pushed him away? He looked away. He had thought
Skinner would be pleased with him.
"Alex?" Skinner asked softly.
Alex swallowed and looked up, smiling bravely.
"Do you understand what I'm saying? I'm not rejecting you, baby, far from
it. I just want it to be right, I just want it to be special. For you and
for me."
Alex nodded unsurely. He wanted so desperately to believe, but doubt was
beginning to creep into his heart.
"Will it be soon?" he asked.
Skinner leaned down and nipped gently at Alex's ear.
"If I have anything to say about it," he growled, cuddling Alex close.
He lay back against the pillows, his arms wrapped around Alex. Alex lay with
his back against Skinner's chest, looking up at the ceiling.
"I think we should have a talk, Alex," Skinner said. "About relationships."
Alex shifted uncomfortably.
"Okay."
Skinner's hand rubbed circles against Alex's stomach, played gently with the
light hair there.
"Monogamy is very important in a relationship, Alex. It's very important to
me. Do you understand?" Alex swallowed again.
"Y-yes," he whispered.
Skinner held him more tightly and kissed him softly on the neck.
"You will be the only one to touch me, Alex. I make that promise to you now.
No one will ever touch me again but you."
Alex turned his head to look up at Skinner, his expression serious. Skinner
continued.
"Would you like that, Alex?" Alex nodded.
"Yes," he whispered, his hand resting on Skinner's arm. Skinner kissed
Alex's neck, close to the jaw, lingering for a moment in that soft, sweet
hollow.
"And I want to be the only one to touch you. Will you promise me? Only me.
No one else."
Alex nodded again. He had become very still. Skinner rested his cheek
against the top of Alex's head.
"Say it," he whispered. "Please." Alex looked down.
"I promise, Walter," he said softly. "No one touches me but you." And in the
back of his mind, Spender's voice whispered, "Whore."
Skinner hugged him tightly, unaware of Alex's growing apprehension.
"I love you, Alex," he said, tugging the pillows back down and lying back,
pulling the covers back up over them both.
Skinner sighed as he rested his head against the pillow, Alex pressed
tightly against him.
"My Alex," he murmured, drifting off to sleep. "I love you."
Alex sighed, the words he had longed his entire life to hear now wounding
him to the very heart. He clung to Skinner, feeling the tears pricking his
eyelids. God, Alex, he thought bitterly, you're such a fucking fool. Did you
really think this would last? Did you really think you were good enough for
him? Walter wanted the first time to be special. How special would their
first time seem when he found out how many had been there before him? Alex
lay very still, listening to Skinner's even breathing, feeling him relax
into deep sleep. Alex raised his head to look at him, his handsome face in
repose, lit faintly by the bedside lamp. He even keeps the light on, all
night, Alex thought, for me. He let his fingers brush reverently over
Skinner's face, careful not to disturb him.
Alex sagged, burying his face in the crook of his arm as the doubts assailed
him, his heart aching as he envisioned what was to come. Walter had brought
him to his bed, held him close, kissed him, told him he wanted to be the
only one to touch him. My Alex, he had said. What would he say when he found
out that His Alex had been passed around like a party favor for the last
fourteen years? That he had been fucked by every sleazy business associate,
every dignitary, every "client" of Spender's in the fifty states and several
foreign countries?
Skinner stirred briefly in his sleep and then settled, snoring softly. Alex
lay listening to that comforting sound, wondering how many more nights he
would get to lie there like this, listening to him, how long it would be
before Walter found out what he was and where he'd been. He felt sick as he
remembered the photographs he'd been forced to pose for, the videotapes that
even now circulated amongst Washington's elite.
How long before someone, Spender, for instance, made sure that evidence of
Alex's degradation fell into Walter's hands? Walter wanted him to go out,
eventually. To go places together. How long before they ran into a former
"client"? How long before an eager mouth pressed close to Walter's ear,
spilling Alex's shame, his secrets, telling stories of Alex moaning,
thrashing, his legs spread, his mouth open...
"No. No, please..." Alex whispered, the hot tears beginning to fall.
He breathed in Walter's scent, huddled close to him, shaking. Was that why
Walter had pushed him away? Did something in him sense what Alex was? Alex
curled up in a ball, his bedtime milkshake sitting heavily in his stomach.
Walter wanted to be the only one but it was too late, too late. Alex might
be able to hide the truth for a while, but sooner or later Walter would find
out what he had done. Alex moaned softly, aching with the pain of knowing
that he could never be good enough for Walter. Walter would learn the truth
and look at him again with disgust and hatred in his eyes and throw him back
into the gutter where he belonged.
Alex sniffled, curling tighter. Walter deserved so much more than a used-up
whore who couldn't even sleep through the night without waking up screaming.
He deserved to share his life with someone who was clean and decent, like
him. Not someone like Alex, dragging along his wretched past, his
nightmares, his sad, scarred body that had been used by so many.
Alex trembled, remembering the hands that had held him down, the harsh
voices, the coldness the revulsion in their eyes as they rammed into his
ass, his mouth. Spender's little whore, only good for beating or fucking. So
many men, faceless, unnumbered, filling him and then leaving him empty,
broken, huddled in his tiny shower, the hot water turning his skin scarlet.
Trying to wash away the shame along with the blood and semen and piss. Alex
shivered, his agony almost physical. He knew he could scrub himself raw
every night for the rest of his life and he would never be clean enough for
Walter, never be worthy of the heaven of his bed, of his heart. Skinner
slept, blissfully unaware that beside him, Alex was employing one of his
lesser known talents: the art of crying in absolute silence.
Skinner sipped his coffee, watching Alex over the rim of his cup, his
handsome features creased with concern. Alex had been quiet and withdrawn
all morning, speaking only when spoken to, and then only a few nearly
whispered words. He had barely touched his breakfast, pushing the scrambled
eggs around on his plate and tearing the toast into tiny pieces, finally
losing interest even in that. He sat now, shoulders slightly hunched,
staring down at his plate. Skinner frowned.
Only the day before he had been congratulating himself on Alex's progress,
pleased with the improvement in his appetite and the increased frequency of
those dazzling smiles. Alex had accepted the swat and the reasoning behind
it without resistance and had seemingly forgotten the incident. They had
fallen asleep in the same bed for the first time, Alex feeling so right, so
perfect, nestled in the crook of Skinner's arm.
Skinner was puzzled. He and Alex had had such a good talk in bed the night
before and he had fallen asleep secure in the knowledge that he and Alex
were starting their relationship out right. True, Alex had been upset at
first when Skinner had prevented him from completing the most incredible
blowjob he had ever experienced. Skinner groaned inwardly at the memory.
Never let it be said that Walter Skinner was not one tough Marine.
Skinner had held him and given him plenty of love and reassurance,
explaining why he felt it was important that the first time be special, the
two of them discovering one another, as equals. Skinner himself had fallen
asleep smiling, a small sigh of absolute happiness escaping his lips as he
drifted off to sleep with his lover beside him. His lover. The words made
him grin in the dark like a teenager, a big, goofy I'm-in-love grin that
would have been instantly recognizable to anyone who had ever experienced
the blissful high of a new romance.
Skinner had awakened that morning and reached over to gather Alex in his
arms and kiss him awake, only to find Alex's side of the bed cold and empty.
He had gone downstairs in his boxers and T-shirt to find Alex sitting in the
breakfast nook, staring out the window, an untouched cup of tea in front of
him. Alex had turned to look at Skinner, that watchful, hesitant look back
in his eyes. Skinner had hugged him and kissed him, worried that Alex was in
the throes of another mood swing.
Alex had continued to sit quietly as Skinner prepared breakfast, his huge
eyes following Skinner's every move, his responses to Skinner's cheerful
morning conversation limited to a few mumbled words. Skinner poured the
orange juice into their glasses, casting a few concerned looks Alex's way.
He had to admit to a little disappointment at Alex's sudden reticence, but
immediately chastised himself. Come on, Walt, he's been through hell. He's
going to be like this for a while. He just needs time to heal and to adjust
to everything that's happened.
Skinner finished his coffee and looked over at his silent lover.
"Alex?"
Alex looked up, unconsciously biting his lip.
"You barely ate a bite," Skinner said with concern. "Is there something
wrong with the eggs?"
Alex stared down at his cold eggs for a moment.
"No," he said quietly, fidgeting a little. "I guess I'm just not hungry."
Skinner stood and walked over to Alex, leaning down and putting his arms
around the smaller man.
"It's okay, Alex," he said, kissing Alex on the cheek. "I won't nag you, but
you know how important it is for you to eat. Promise to have a snack while
I'm gone?"
Alex nodded. Skinner moved to begin clearing the table but Alex stood and
began placing the cutlery on the soiled plates.
"Please, let me," he said softly, his eyes briefly meeting Skinner's before
traveling quickly back down again.
"It's not much, it won't be a lot of work. You go ahead and shower." Skinner
smiled and ruffled Alex's hair.
"All right," he said, "but..."
"I know," Alex said, "no stretching and no lifting."
He smiled briefly, turning on the tap and beginning to scrape his uneaten
eggs into the disposal. Skinner poured himself another cup of coffee to take
upstairs, watching Alex as he methodically cleared away the breakfast dishes
and put the frying pan in to soak. Well, he had seen a smile, at least, but
it had been all too fleeting. Skinner frowned again.
"Alex? Is anything wrong?"
Alex shook his head, biting his lip again, focusing intently on tamping the
last of the eggs into the disposal with a wooden spoon. Skinner stirred his
coffee, noting the shadows under those beautiful eyes, the tight line of his
lips.
"Alex," he began again, waiting for those sad green eyes to meet his.
"Please tell me if anything's troubling you."
Was it the trip to the supermarket? Was Alex anxious about being alone but
unwilling or unable to say so? Skinner decided to broach the subject.
"Is it this morning? Being alone while I'm out? I can ask Mrs. Napoli to
pick up a few things, maybe have some things delivered..."
Alex shook his head again and forced a smile, trying to reassure Skinner.
"No," he said, "I guess... I guess I just didn't sleep well last night.
Please go, Walter," he said, attempting a light tone. "We're out of
everything and it'll do you good to get out. I'll be okay, really, I'll just
take a nap or something."
Skinner hesitated, sure that there was more going on with Alex than just
lack of sleep, but not wanting to press too hard. Alex had experienced a
great deal of trauma and had a new relationship to deal with as well. Events
had progressed at a dizzying speed for both men and maybe this was just
Alex's way of dealing with it. Alex put the juice glasses into the
dishwasher and began to wipe down the counter. Skinner placed his hand over
Alex's.
"All right, love," he said softly. "I'm going to have a quick shower and
then go to the supermarket. And when I get back, I'm going to make you a
milkshake with extra chocolate syrup and all the trimmings. How does that
sound?"
"Good," Alex murmured, managing another faint smile. Skinner squeezed his
hand and headed up the stairs to the shower, intending to get to the
supermarket and back as quickly as possible and then see if he couldn't
raise Alex's spirits a little. A milkshake followed by a good long cuddle on
the sofa might do the trick. He showered and shaved efficiently and dressed
in freshly pressed jeans and a crisp white T-shirt under a chestnut brown
v-neck sweater. He returned downstairs and paused in the kitchen, tucking
the neatly folded shopping list into the pocket of his jeans. Alex watched
with a heavy heart as Skinner shrugged into his jacket, dropping his car
keys into the pocket.
Skinner approached, his arms wide, and Alex obediently stepped forward for a
hug, fighting to keep his carefully neutral expression in place. Skinner
hugged Alex, kissing him lovingly, smiling as he looked into Alex's eyes.
Skinner found himself again vaguely worried. That lost, haunted look that he
had hoped was gone forever was back, although Alex seemed to be doing his
best to hide it.
Skinner gently caressed Alex's face with his fingertips, tracing the elegant
line of his cheekbone. The last of the bruises Spender had inflicted had
faded, but how long would it be before the bruises on Alex's soul would
fade? How long before the deepest, unseen wounds healed? Skinner sighed and
held Alex close again, feeling the younger man suddenly cling to him
tightly, and wished for the thousandth time that he could take Spender apart
slowly, with his bare hands. Skinner gave Alex a reassuring squeeze and
looked into his eyes again.
"Are you sure you're all right?" he asked for the second time that morning.
Alex nodded, his eyes remaining solemn as his lips curved into a pale
imitation of a smile.
"I'll be okay," he said quietly. "Don't worry, please, Walter."
He opened his mouth, wanting to say more, much more, but closed it again and
looked down. He clenched his hand at his side, fighting the urge to go down
on his knees and confess everything, to tell Walter the truth about what he
was, what Spender had turned him into, about the many men who had come
before. To beg Walter to let him stay. Alex closed his eyes against the
pain, cursing himself for being a coward.
He trembled, wanting to throw himself at Walter and beg, plead, promise
anything if only this didn't have to end, if only those chocolate brown eyes
would still look at him with love once he knew the extent of Alex's sins.
Weak, Alex, he thought. Pathetic. A stupid slut, just like Spender always
said. Skinner will find out sooner or later. Tell him. Get it over with. He
deserves someone good, someone clean, like him, and you know it. He knows
it, and he'll hate you for not telling him before he had to hear it from
someone else.
Alex looked up quickly and then back down again, his chest aching, wishing
vainly for a second chance, as he had countless times before. To be worthy
of this man, this man who now stood before him with such tenderness in his
eyes, this man who caressed him, held him with such reverence, touched him
with such gentleness, as though he were good and pure and whole. This man,
this good man, who never dreamed that the flesh he so lovingly kissed was
unclean, that the secret places of this sad, scarred body were known to so
many. Alex quickly blinked back tears. Walter had forgiven him so much. Was
there a chance, even a small chance, that Alex could be forgiven this too?
Alex swallowed hard, fearing the answer. Perhaps Walter would try, at first.
But would he be able to truly forget? Forget that he held a whore in his
arms? Forget that the skin that lay against his was all too familiar
territory to countless men? Alex looked back up at Skinner.
"I'm fine," he said, a little too brightly. "Go to the supermarket."
Alex's smile hid the agony blossoming within. He was just postponing the
inevitable. Again he fought the urge to tell Skinner everything, again he
faltered. I love you, Walter, he thought. I just want you to love me a
little longer.
"I'm fine, Walter," he said again. "Go and try to enjoy it, you need an
afternoon out."
Skinner placed a hand on Alex's shoulder, a slight frown still visible on
his face. Alex was obviously not telling him something. Skinner smiled
encouragingly at him. Maybe after the milkshake and the cuddling, he would
be able to get Alex to open up a little. Skinner gave Alex another small
kiss.
"All right, rat," he said with a smile. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Keep
the door locked and don't open it for anyone. I have my key and I'll let
myself back in. Okay?"
Alex nodded. Skinner went to the door and opened it.
"Go ahead and take that nap, the rest will do you good. And don't forget
that snack you promised to have. There's apples and yogurt in the
refrigerator."
"Yes, Walter," Alex whispered, his eyes moist.
He savored the moment, tucking it away carefully, clutching it to him. When
would anyone ever care for him like this again? Skinner closed the door
behind him and in a moment, Alex heard the sound of the elevator doors
closing. He sagged, finally releasing the flood of emotions he had been
struggling to contain all morning. He sobbed quietly, hugging himself as
best he could with his one arm. The scent of Walter's cologne still hung in
the air and Alex breathed it in, squeezing his eyes shut, rocking slightly
back and forth. He looked around the living room, alone here for the first
time. Here in Walter's home.
The strain of keeping himself together in front of Skinner had exhausted him
and he began to tremble a little as he walked slowly into the living room,
weeping, tears dripping onto his dark blue T-shirt. Two hours, Walter would
be gone for at least two hours. He was suddenly seized with longing,
hyper-aware of missing Walter, wanting him there, even though the man had
only left moments ago. Alex then switched with dizzying speed to dreading
Walter's return.
Walter would be back in two hours. It hurt so much to see him, to hear his
voice, feel his touch, knowing that these treasures were not his to keep,
knowing that he would likely be relegated to being Walter's whore as he was
Spender's, or worse, cast out altogether. Alex drew a ragged breath, gazing
around the room at Walter's books neatly lining the shelves, Walter's
morning paper neatly folded, aligned with the corner of the coffee table,
Walter's umbrella standing neatly in its brass stand in the corner. Neat,
orderly. Like Walter. Like Walter's life. Walter's neat and ordered life,
just waiting to be destroyed by Alex's shameful past.
Alex sat down on the sofa, hunching over miserably, tears sliding down his
cheeks. A large book lay in the center of the coffee table, its cover a
black and white photograph of a narrow dirt road bordered on either side by
dense jungle. White letters across the center of the photograph spelled out
the book's title: "Tour of Duty: Photographs from the Vietnam War". Alex
slid the book across the coffee table and flipped it open. He knew Walter
had been in Vietnam. He knew a lot about Walter's life from the thick
dossier he had been given on the AD prior to infiltrating his section. But
the dry, impersonal tone of the dossier hadn't really given the young
double-agent a real sense of the man, of what he had been through, of what
he stood for.
He sighed, fresh tears pricking his eyelids. He had only just begun to get
to know Walter, the man he truly was, and now he was going to lose him. Alex
silently turned the pages, the glossy stock under his fingertips contrasting
with the roughness of the images it contained. The burnt-out shell of a hut,
its occupants killed or fled. A small boy sitting, vacant-eyed, on a pile of
rocks by a road, clutching a skinny white cat to his narrow chest. Planes
flying low over the dark trees, trails of white fire falling away beneath
them. Napalm. Mud. Alex studied the stark images, trying to imagine what it
had been like for Walter. He came to the last photograph in the book and
caught his breath as he suddenly found himself looking into familiar eyes.
Walter's eyes.
The photograph was of a group of five men sitting on a felled tree by the
side of a dirt road. They squinted into the camera, gazing out from 1969
with eyes too old for their boyish faces, their rifles slung across their
backs or leaning against the tree, close at hand. At the end of the fallen
tree sat a young Walter Skinner, a skinny teenager, his bony wrists dangling
between his knees. A hank of dark hair peeked out from under his helmet. His
sweatstained shirt was open at the neck, his dogtags glinting against his
hairless chest. Alex stared at the photograph, his fingertip tracing the
familiar angle of the jaw.
Nineteen. Walter had been nineteen when that picture was taken, in a hellish
place thousands of miles from home, a moment captured in the life of a boy
forced too soon to become a man. Alex gazed into those dark eyes. They met
the camera levelly, hiding nothing, speaking of things no one should see.
Alex closed the book and put it back on the table, his hand sliding across
the cover almost reverently. Walter was a soldier. Walter was a hero. Alex
bit his lip, bright pain blossoming in his heart. And what about you, Alex?
What are you? Where were you at nineteen? That taunting voice in his head,
never letting him forget. He closed his eyes and moaned softly.
Nikolai had kept him in Russia most of that year, refining his training.
That cultured voice rising over the swish of the cane, demanding obedience,
punishing imperfection. Alex shuddered as he remembered the endless days
spent blindfolded in the small windowless room, willing his hands not to
shake as he assembled and disassembled the various weapons. The dry, spicy
scent of Nikolai's cologne as he stood behind the chair, leaning close, the
terror of his nearness almost unbearable. Trying not to flinch as the cane
split the air and blazed a white-hot trail of agony across his shoulders.
Thin trickles of blood beginning to thread their way down his back. That
cold voice in his ear, relentless, implacable.
Again, Alexei. Faster this time. And stop biting your lip. Yes, Teacher. I
have warned you before, little one. Yes, Teacher. Please, I'm sorry.
Nikolai's voice growing harsh as he gripped Alex's jaw, fingers digging
painfully into the flesh. A hiss of irritation as Nikolai's dark eyes
scrutinized Alex mercilessly. You have made marks that will take a day to
fade, Alexei. Alex could feel his tormentor leaning closer and instinctively
tried to pull away. The slap made his ears ring. Your body is not your own.
Do you understand, Alexei? It does not belong to you. It is ours to do with
as we please. The hard fingers released Alex's jaw. You will be punished
after your lessons, Alexei. Yes, Teacher.
Choking back bile, trying not to vomit. Pale, sweat-slicked hands gripping
the gunmetal tightly, trying not to slip. Trying to make the pieces fit.
Long hours spent in the tiny cinderblock room, huddled shivering on the
concrete floor, his sobs swallowed by the crushing darkness. Alex hugged his
knees and rocked back and forth, trying to calm his fear as he awaited his
punishment. First the dark and then the pain. The sound of a key turning in
the lock, the heavy iron door swinging open with a groan, letting in only
the barest amount of light. Alex's trainer had identified the boy's intense
fear of the dark early on, and had used it to great advantage. The sound of
his teacher's footsteps approaching filled Alex with uncontrollable fear.
Trembling and blind, whimpering as unseen hands pulled him to his feet and
arranged him against the wall, the rough surface scratching his chest and
stomach. Tugging uselessly at the sturdy leather cuffs that encircled his
wrists, holding him in place. Nikolai's voice, solemn and implacable. You
must learn, Alexei. The unforgettable sound of leather against flesh. Agony,
consuming and complete.
Tasting blood in the back of his throat as he gasped the familiar catechism
in a voice ravaged from screaming. I'm sorry, Teacher, please, please, I'm
sorry, I'll be good, please... Released at last, returned to his rooms on
tottering legs, stunned by this most recent scourging. Nikolai's voice
directing him back to his training. Not a minute must be wasted, little one.
We have much work to do, and look at how much time your misbehavior has
already cost us! Bad boy! Alex flinching, scurrying to obey, gritting his
teeth against the pain that seemed to consume every cell in his body.
Training. His purpose in life. The purpose for which he was allowed to live.
Nothing must interfere with training.
Alex sat once again in the hard wooden chair, forcing himself to remain
ramrod straight, fighting the almost overwhelming urge to pull away as
Nikolai once again tied the blindfold across his swollen eyes. Trying not to
cry, trying not to let the moan tear itself from his throat as the darkness
closed in. White hands reaching, feeling blindly for the partially assembled
rifle, the coldness of the oiled metal a peculiar comfort. Nikolai trained
Alex every day that year, readying him for the Consortium, for Spender.
Honing the tool for its many possible uses. Hour after hour of drills. Hand
to hand combat. Explosives. Surveillance. Special Skills.
Alex caught his breath, squeezing his eyes shut tightly against the memory.
Special Skills was always at night. Alex never knew which night, his only
warning the sound of the black sedan approaching the dacha. No cars ever
came down the long, tree-lined drive, except on those dreaded nights.
Kneeling by the window in his little room, careful to stay back out of
sight, Alex trembled as he listened to the sounds cutting sharply through
the frigid air of a Russian winter night.
The sound of the car door shutting, the crunch of the driver's feet on the
gravel drive. The chime as he pressed the discrete button set into the
doorknocker. Nikolai's voice, quiet and precise. His footsteps on the
stairs. His obsidian eyes as he stood in the doorway of Alex's room, dark,
neatly folded clothes over his arm. Alex fighting to control the trembling,
head bowed, staring at the rug on which he knelt. The only pretty thing in
the room, it gave him a tiny measure of comfort. Nikolai's terse commands
were obeyed mechanically as Alex repeated the familiar pattern over and over
in his head. Red, green, gold, blue. Red, green, gold, blue. Red, green,
gold, blue.
The parties were in grand ballrooms. Ballrooms he caught only a glimpse of
as he was led up ornate staircases to the rooms upstairs. Music he heard
drifting faintly up from below, briefly increasing in volume as the door to
the bedchamber opened and closed, as a new voice whispered in his ear, as
different hands touched and claimed and hurt. Pale arms stretched to their
limit, straining against the bonds. Dark satin sheets, cool against his face
as he pressed it against the bed, trying to block out what was happening.
It was worse when he was untied, when he had to see their faces. When he had
to talk to the nameless men who entered the room one by one, passing the
corner where Nikolai sat unmoving, observing his student. Nervous, aware of
Nikolai's constant presence, Alex sat on the edge of the bed, trying to be
everything they wanted. Trying to please his teacher. Terrified of the
punishment that would follow if he did not.
His cool exterior belied the panic that always dwelt just below the surface
as he spoke softly, answered the questions put to him, offered opinions on
the topics he was given. Nikolai had seen to his education with his
customary thoroughness. Alex spoke six languages and was well-versed in
literature, history and politics. He spoke knowledgeably and volubly on many
subjects, all the while reciting the litany in his head, remembering the
lessons that really mattered. The ones that had been carved into his flesh,
their supreme importance driven home by the sting of the whip, the bite of
the cane. Don't slouch. Don't fidget. Don't bite your lip. Arrange yourself
pleasingly, let the client see you. Smile. Flirt. Trying to keep the tremor
out of his voice as he charmed, flattered and seduced. Keeping his
expression carefully neutral as he flirted and aroused, artfully shedding
his simple, elegantly cut clothing, the dark silk whispering as it fell
away, leaving him naked, exposed.
Kneeling between unfamiliar legs, hands behind his back, head bowed
gracefully. Looking up through his lashes as he leaned forward, trying to
make his mind blank as rough hands grabbed the back of his head. Closing his
eyes as his mouth was brutally plundered, straining to keep his balance,
trying not to gag, trying to make pleasing sounds out of what wanted to be
cries for help, for salvation. Choking down the last of the bitter semen
that flooded his mouth as the client grunted and thrust forward. Pale hands
gripping the sheets as Alex was lifted from the floor and thrown across the
bed, his legs roughly parted. Closing his eyes and waiting for it to be over
as the client impaled him, a little spit the only lubrication he granted to
the pretty whore beneath him. Riding the wave of painful thrusts as the
voice echoed in his head, constant, implacable, refusing to be silenced.
Your body is not your own. Your body is not your own. Your body is not your
own.
Alex forced himself back to the present, closing his eyes against the
painful memory. He stood and began to pace, losing the struggle to keep
control. He would have wrung his hands, had he had two, but had to settle
for wrapping his one arm around himself as best he could in an attempt at
self-comfort. His bloodshot eyes looked around the room, as if he were
trying to memorize everything in it. His teeth worried at his lower lip.
Walter said he loved him but he couldn't be held to that. Walter didn't
really know him, didn't really know the man he held and kissed and touched.
Alex trembled as he fought against the flood of images from his past. The
leering men, too many to count, who had possessed him, who had bought pieces
of his life like the real estate, the stocks and bonds, the secrets they
bought and sold. The innumerable impersonal hotel rooms, bedrooms, back
rooms in too many cities to recall where he had been forced to strip naked
and spread himself wide for a stranger's pleasure, trying not to tremble,
trying not to cry. Pasting an expression of idiotic blankness on his face so
the client wouldn't see the self-loathing, the fear, the misery. So he
wouldn't earn another hour in the dark, another beating.
Alex walked to the closed front door and leaned against it, his one hand
unconsciously massaging the opposite shoulder, his eyes squeezed shut
against the hot tears. I should just leave, he thought desperately. Leave
before I'm thrown out, before I have to see the look in his eyes when he
sees me for what I am. Alex ran a shaking hand through his dark hair. I
should get out before I ruin his life, it would be the kindest thing I could
do.
He moved away from the door, swiping roughly at the tears on his cheeks. Of
course he wouldn't go. Coward! The harsh voice in his head snapped. Deep
inside he knew he couldn't do it, could never be brave enough to do the
right thing, to just slip out and disappear, sparing Walter the grief and
embarrassment that was sure to come. Selfish! The voice nagged. Alex cringed
and moaned again, his shoulders shaking with the increased force of his
sobs. He knew he couldn't bear to leave, couldn't bear to leave this, the
only safe place he had ever known. Couldn't bear to lose even one second of
time with Walter, even if it was the last. Even if his last moment with
Walter was filled with anger and hatred, that kind and handsome face
contorted with rage. Those warm brown eyes grown cold with disgust.
Alex glanced fearfully back at the door, then moved close to it again,
checking the lock. Spender was out there, and Nikolai. His mind raced as he
peered fearfully through the peephole at the deserted hallway on the other
side of the door. He could leave, could try to disappear. But you belong to
Skinner now, the voice hissed. Alex backed away from the door, whimpering.
You're his, the voice continued. Alex knew the voice was right. He was
Walter's and it wasn't his place to decide. He would have to stay, miserable
and afraid, dreading the moment when Walter would send him away. He couldn't
go away on his own. But even if he could... how long before Spender found
him? How long before he reclaimed the property, so recently given away, now
unwanted? He would then give Alex to Nikolai to be retrainedAlex's stomach
lurched sickeningly at the thoughtand then... Alex swallowed. He knew what
then.
Alex moved across the living room, almost unconsciously drawn to the balcony
door. Neither man had mentioned that night on the balcony since Alex had
first arrived at the condo. They had both studiously avoided the subject as
well as the balcony itself, Skinner thoughtfully keeping the drapes
partially closed, in order that Alex not be reminded of their confrontation
and the long night that followed. Alex moved closer, almost in a trance, and
grasped the door handle. Without knowing why, he slid the door open and
stepped outside, trembling a little in the late October morning air, the
cold tile floor of the balcony chilling his stockinged feet.
The balcony looked just as it had that night, the night that Walter-Skinner,
then-had slugged him viciously in the gut and hauled him out here, throwing
him down like a bag of garbage. Alex winced at the memory. It had been no
more than he deserved. He looked around, hugging himself more tightly, and
took another cautious step toward the railing. The wind picked up and
whistled around the building's corner, making an eerie howling noise. Alex
stood on the empty balcony, shivering in his T-shirt and sweatpants, staring
out at the skyline. He had a passing thought that the last time he had been
here, he had had two arms, had been whole.
The city droned on, oblivious to his suffering just as it had been that cold
November night when he had huddled here, his manacled hand alternately numb
and aching, his muscles beginning to cramp. Alex stood at the railing, his
finger tracing and retracing a small scrape on the painted surface, the
scrape made by the handcuff he wore as he dangled seventeen stories above
the ground. Gritting his teeth against the agony of the metal slicing into
his wrist, the small bones cracking and shifting, using all of his remaining
strength to vanquish his enemy, to survive. To fight the darkness, the
all-consuming void, to win the right to live another day, even if it was on
his knees.
Alex turned and sat with his back against the railing, the coldness of the
tiles seeping through his sweatpants. He wrapped his arm around his knees,
unconsciously echoing his movements of that terrible night. He looked at the
balcony door, remembering. Skinner leaving him there, cold and alone,
returning to the warmth and the light, sliding the door shut behind him. The
way that Skinner had stood there, framed in the doorway, for just a moment,
his expression unreadable. How bereft Alex had felt when Skinner had turned
off the last light inside, leaving him only darkness and his own faint
reflection in the glass balcony door.
Alex wept intermittently, occasionally scrubbing his hand roughly across his
cheek, hating himself for his weakness, for the hope that had filled him so
completely, the hope for which he was now paying a terrible price. He stood
awkwardly, his one hand clutching the railing to pull himself up. He paused
once more before going back inside, staring at the balcony door, that cold,
disdainful voice in his head sparing him nothing. This is where you belong,
Alex, the voice whispered. On the outside looking in. Alex drew in a deep,
hitching breath and stepped back inside, sliding the door shut behind him.
Morton's Supermarket was always crowded on a Saturday. Skinner paused as he
passed the coffee shop, tempted by the aroma of freshly roasted gourmet
coffee. He glanced at his watch and decided not to stop. He wanted to hurry
back home to Alex. The coffee shop was just one of the conveniences Morton's
offered. The clean, modern supermarket also boasted its own bank, flower
shop, pharmacy and dry cleaners. Skinner skillfully navigated through the
sea of well-heeled shoppers. He had shopped at Morton's ever since moving to
Crystal City, but his previous visits had been hurried, grim affairs as he
quickly filled his cart with steak, beer and frozen dinners, the staples of
bachelor life.
He smiled appreciatively as he approached the extensive gourmet foods
section, already planning a week's worth of sumptuous meals that would have
Alex's appetite running at full throttle in no time. He selected a bottle of
good red wine and a variety of freshly ground spices.
He chose generously from the attractive array of meats in the butcher's
shop. Morton's sold only Black Angus beef, and Skinner deliberated for a
moment before choosing the New York strip. He had steak in the freezer at
home, but chose two of the best steaks and stacked them in the cart. Alex
would need plenty of red meat if he were going to get his strength back.
Soon, packages of plump chicken breasts were piled next to the steak and
Skinner moved on to the lamb. His mouth watered as he remembered his Aunt
Tati's kharcho, the way it smelled as it bubbled away on the stove, the way
she would always save aside a few walnuts and dried cherries for her
favorite nephew. He smiled. The recipe for Tati's kharcho had always been a
closely guarded secret, and he had been surprised and deeply touched when
she had sent him the recipe a few months before, tucking it into an ornate
Easter card.
Skinner headed for the produce section. If he were going to make kharcho for
Alex, he was going to need fresh lemon juice, cilantro and onions. He
efficiently selected and bagged the fresh cilantro, already anticipating
surprising Alex with the traditional Georgian lamb stew. He chose from the
heaping bushel baskets of lemons, oranges and apples, carefully placing them
in one corner of the cart to avoid bruising.
He passed by an attractively arranged display of strawberries and paused,
unable to resist their sweet scent. He leaned down and inhaled deeply,
grinning in spite of himself. The strawberries were out of season, but they
were unusually red and juicy. He added a quart of them to the cart, then
stopped, picturing one of those plump, juicy strawberries disappearing
between Alex's lush lips, white teeth biting deep, droplets of pink juice on
those lips, just waiting to be kissed away... Skinner shook himself out of
his reverie and looked around quickly to see if anyone had noticed him
standing there daydreaming. He quickly picked up a second quart of
strawberries and headed for the dairy section, in search of fresh whipping
cream.
Skinner finished in the dairy section and moved into the pharmacy. He
stopped next to a display rack of condoms and chose a large box. He smiled
as he anticipated the night ahead. He had told Alex that he wanted their
first time to be special, and he intended to keep his word. He would cook
Alex dinner, then they would relax together, perhaps have some wine.
Candlelight, strawberries and cream. By the time the last strawberry had
been eaten, they would both be naked, and he would show Alex what it was to
be loved, truly and passionately.
He glanced at the box of condoms and imagined Alex wearing only the
bedsheets, writhing, his lips parted, calling his name. Skinner felt
stirrings of interest from below and hunched over a little, glad he had worn
his jacket. He grinned and pushed his cart along a little faster, pausing to
select a bottle of potent multi-vitamins for Alex. He started to move along,
then stopped and tossed another bottle in the cart for himself. He was going
to need it.
Morton's flower shop was well-stocked, the gently humming refrigerated cases
displaying a stunning variety of roses, irises, lilies and tulips. Lush
potted plants, from the smallest pot of ivy to the tallest ficus tree, lined
the shop's paneled walls. Skinner's gaze wandered over the violets, lilies
and tulips, only to return again and again to the long-stemmed red roses, a
heart-shaped sign on the window of the refrigerated case displaying their
price. He hesitated. Maybe Alex would like something a little more exotic.
Skinner glanced at the stargazer lilies and then back at the roses,
undecided. Roses were so overdone, almost... corny, he thought, but yet... he
smiled as he thought of Alex.
It seemed hard to imagine that he had once hated Alex Krycek, now that it
seemed he lived for those green eyes to see him, counted the moments until
he could see that rare and beautiful smile again. That soft, husky voice
that made his pulse quicken at the mere sound of it, the way Alex's body
seemed sculpted to fit his, how holding Alex felt like he was holding the
most precious thing on earth, something half-glimpsed in dreams, almost too
beautiful to believe. His smile widened as he opened the door and reached
into the case. Damn it, he was in love and if that wasn't a reason to be as
corny as he wanted to be, he didn't know what was. He selected a dozen
long-stemmed roses, pleased to find no blemishes on the delicate, blood-red
petals. The salesgirl gave him a knowing smile as she wrapped the roses.
"These must be for someone pretty special," she commented.
Skinner grinned as he took the roses from her and placed them gently in the
child's seat of his cart. The salesgirl giggled as he looked down and gently
fingered the heavy floral paper, feeling the blush creeping along his neck.
"Very special," he answered.
Skinner found himself drawn to an area of the store he could not remember
visiting previously: the candy section. He smiled to himself as he surveyed
the astonishing variety of chocolates and candies, the very air in this part
of the store seemingly saturated with sugar. Alex's sweet tooth amused him
and, in some strange way, touched him deeply. His smile widened as he saw
the small bottles of decorative candies. Soon, the items in his bulging cart
were joined by a bottle of white chocolate sprinkles and one of tiny dark
chocolate stars. Those would certainly add a little interest to Alex's
twice-daily milkshakes.
Skinner bought two bags of Hershey's Kisses, Alex having mentioned them as a
particular favorite. He was about to move on when he spied the elaborate
endcap display of imported Belgian truffles. He raised an eyebrow at the
price but couldn't resist picking up a box. The truffles, dark chocolate
with raspberry filling, a tiny white chocolate ribbon tied around each one,
nestled in their golden box. He hesitated, looking at the bags of
foil-wrapped kisses already in the cart, then shrugged, beaming happily as
the truffles found a home beside them. It was too much, but damn it, where
Alex was concerned, too much was barely enough.
Skinner's cart fairly groaned under the weight of his purchases as he made
his way toward the checkout stand, a gallon of double-fudge ice cream
balanced precariously on top of the heaping cart. Skinner checked his list,
pleased to see that he hadn't forgotten anything. He rummaged in his wallet
for his credit card, looking impatiently at the woman ahead of him who
seemed to be taking an eternity to write her check. Skinner glanced at his
watch again, wondering helplessly why people didn't ever do that sort of
thing ahead of time. He wanted to get home to Alex.
At last, the preceding customer was on her way and the cashier gave
Skinner's nearly overflowing cart an apprehensive look. Skinner shrugged and
smiled apologetically, enjoying the sight as bag after bag was loaded onto
the courtesy clerk's trolley. Skinner's eyes misted over momentarily. How
long since he last shopped for two? He held his hands out for the roses.
"I'll carry those myself," he said.
Morton's was one of the last supermarkets on Earth, it seemed, that still
employed courtesy clerks to carry shoppers' groceries out to their cars.
Skinner had been fortunate to get a good parking space, a near impossibility
on a Saturday and the clerk had to push his trolley at a fast clip to keep
up with his impatient customer. Despite the roomy trunk of Skinner's sedan,
the clerk looked a bit uncertain as he began packing the car. By the time
the last bag was loaded in, the trunk as well as the back seat and the
passenger seat were loaded to capacity. Skinner thanked the clerk and got
into the car. He pulled out into traffic and laughed as he glanced in the
rearview mirror. He could see nothing except the brown bags. He drove
cautiously but quickly, eager to get home and surprise Alex with the gifts
he'd bought.
Alex had made his way upstairs and now lay in Walter's bed. Alex had spent
the night in this bed, "our bed", Walter had called it, but Alex still
thought of it as Walter's bed. He had to. He knew it wasn't his, not
permanently. He lay clutching Walter's pillow, breathing in his scent,
wishing he could bottle that clean, familiar scent and carry it with him
always. So that no matter what happened, he could smell Walter and remember
what it was like to be with him, to feel safe and loved, even if it was only
just for a little while. Alex lay on his side with his knees drawn up to his
chest, his eyes shut tightly against the memories that he had tried so long
to wall away. Memories that now seemed to wash over him in an almighty
flood, unstoppable.
He moaned softly and rocked a little, clutching the pillow more tightly as
he remembered. Spender. Those cruel implacable eyes, the acrid smoke, the
big wooden desk and the brass horse. Nikolai. Darkness and pain. Jason.
Hurtful hands probing, handling. The clients. The man with the thick
extension cord, his face impassive and cruel. The man who had drugged him,
advancing toward him as he lay helpless on the bed, the needle glinting in
the light... something in him broke and the memories came even faster now,
memories from long ago, things he had forgotten, things he had been forced
to forget. A beautiful woman with long dark hair and eyes that sparkled as
she laughed. Her voice, low and husky, amused as the tall, dark man helped
her with her coat.
"I tell you I don't need it, Viktor," she said, "it's not so cold." She
laughed playfully as she buttoned up the coat. "Only a month in Washington
and already these American winters are too much for you?"
The tall dark man smiled, his teeth so white and straight.
"It'll be cold enough, Sonia," he admonished, caressing her cheek lovingly.
"And you are in a delicate condition. We don't want Alexei's little brother
or sister getting cold, do we?"
Papa. Mama.
"A brother," Alex murmured into the pillow, a tear sliding from beneath his
lashes. "I hoped for a brother."
A flurry of hugs and kisses, Papa sweeping Alexei into his arms before
gathering up the luggage and opening the front door of the townhouse,
letting in a blast of icy winter air. Mama, smelling so wonderful, hugging
him, her hands in his hair, her green coat matching her eyes.
"Be good for Mrs. Karlinski, Alyosha."
Alexei had gone to the window to watch as they got into the car to leave for
the airport. They had never come home. Alex curled around the pillow,
remembering, not wanting to remember. The phone ringing in the middle of the
night. Mrs. Karlinski in her blue bathrobe, her eyes puffy, sitting on the
edge of his bed. Alexei sitting stunned and silent as she told him that his
Mama and Papa were gone.
Watching numbly as the movers came and took everything away, all of Mama's
things, Papa's things. Alexei's things loaded into a different truck. Mrs.
Karlinski's face, so different now, blank, her eyes cold and distant as she
led Alexei down the sidewalk toward the black sedan that sat idling at the
curb, plumes of exhaust rising in clouds behind it, white in the chill
morning air. The back door opening. Alexei craning for one last look at his
home as the door closed behind him and the car began to pull away. The man
sitting across from him, watching him silently, the tip of his cigarette
briefly glowing brighter as he inhaled.
Alex sat up abruptly, flinging the pillow aside. He ran his hand through his
hair, shaking his head as if to try to stop the onslaught of painful images
from the past. He stood and began to pace manically, biting his lip, his arm
crossed protectively over himself. It was bad. The anguish wasn't lessening.
He whimpered softly as he paced, trying unsuccessfully to block out the
pain. It wasn't often that it got this bad, but when it did, the anguish was
nearly unbearable.
There was only one thing that would give him any relief, and he resisted it
as long as he could. Something in him knew that it was terribly wrong. He
also knew the relief, blessed though it was, would be only temporary. His
stomach lurched and he paused in his desperate movements, gulping air,
trying to calm himself. Mama, happy, laughing as Papa helped her into her
favorite green coat. Papa's hand on Alexei's cheek as he said goodbye to his
son, expecting to see him again in two weeks. Not knowing it was the last
time they would see each other. Not knowing what cruelty and despair lay in
wait for his beloved son.
Alex moved down the hall as if in a dream, his eyes taking on a vague,
distracted cast. He went into the hall bathroom and opened the medicine
cabinet, feeling behind the bottle of cough syrup. His hand closed around
the tiny box and he held it in his palm, staring at it for a moment. Pal. He
had found the box as he was unpacking his things from the moving boxes and
had hidden it in the back of the medicine cabinet, telling himself he
wouldn't need it.
He took out one of the single-edged razor blades and carefully held it
between his teeth, using the fingers of his one hand to peel the protective
cardboard strip from around the blade itself. He paused and looked at
himself in the mirror. His eyes were red and puffy and his hair in disarray.
His heart pounded in his chest as he willed himself not to think about what
he was about to do.
He had begun doing it when he was about sixteen. The scars left by the razor
blade were fine and light, lost amongst the more prominent scars already
disfiguring his young body. Alex shuddered to think what Spender would have
done to him had he known his young charge was taking such liberties with his
property. Alex closed his eyes, feeling the slight weight of the razor blade
in the palm of his hand, and remembered the first time. He had just begun
his training under Nikolai Andreiev. Hours spent in total darkness, kneeling
naked and shivering, unable to lie down lest he be choked by the collar and
leash securing him to the wall. Crying softly, afraid his teacher would hear
and come to punish him again. Damp stone wall rough against his flesh,
trails of agony across his back where the whip had cut in. Finally released,
trembling and disoriented, led back to his room.
"Bed, Alexei, now." A disapproving frown from the tall man in the black
suit. "You must learn to tolerate pain, little one. We have much work ahead
of us."
Alexei had stumbled into his small, dimly lit room, closing the door against
the horror that lay on the other side of it. He had paced then as he paced
now, trying to outrun the fear and misery that effortlessly kept astride of
him. He had knelt then, and pulled up the edge of the rug, glad his secret
hadn't been discovered during one of the regular inspections of his room. He
had taken the razor blade from one of the servants' rooms a few days before
without really knowing why. He had slipped it into his pocket, terrified of
being caught, and had hidden it away just in case... in case of what? Alexei
didn't know. He just knew it made him feel better to know that it was there.
He had taken the razor blade into his tiny bathroom. There wasn't much
blood. The two thin scratches on the inside of his left arm looked black in
the fluorescent light. He had felt better then, eerily calm, almost serene.
For a little while.
Alex placed the razor blade on the edge of the sink and tugged at the
waistband of his sweatpants, exposing the pale curve of his hip. His eyes
were distant and unfocused. He tried not to concentrate on the reality of
what he was doing. He tried to concentrate on the relief it would bring, the
strange inexplicable calm, no matter how fleeting. He picked up the razor
blade and brought it toward his hip.
Alex's face bore a look of intense concentration as he carefully drew one
thin red line across his alabaster flesh, wincing a little at the sting. He
closed his eyes and breathed deeply, feeling the ache in his chest subside a
little, concentrating on the sting, letting the small pain eclipse the
larger one. He opened his eyes and touched cold metal to his skin again. One
more should do.
"Alex."
Skinner's voice was almost a whisper, his soft tone disguising his shock.
Skinner's military training was the only thing preventing him from
surrendering to the almost overwhelming urge to rush in, to physically
prevent his lover from hurting himself again. Stay calm, Walt, he admonished
himself. Contain the situation. Then react. Alex held the razor blade
between his finger and thumb, his eyes wide. His mouth opened and closed.
Finally, he bit his lip and looked down at the floor. He knew Walter would
never understand, never comprehend why Alex had to do this, why this was the
only way to get a little respite, a little peace. He gripped the razor blade
tightly, his hand trembling. What did it matter? It was over anyway. Walter
would be disgusted, of course, repulsed by what he had just seen. He would
be cast out.
"Alex," Skinner repeated quietly. "Alex, listen to me."
Alex looked up, his expression one of resignation. Skinner winced at the
exhaustion and despair he saw in Alex's face. He took a deep breath and
looked into Alex's eyes.
"Put the razor blade down." Skinner's voice was even and unstressed, yet the
undertone of command was unmistakable. Alex flinched almost imperceptibly.
"Walter, I"
"Please, Alex," Skinner said quietly. "Do it now."
Alex slowly placed the razor blade on the edge of the sink and moved away
from it without being told. He stared at the tile floor, his shoulders
hunched, waiting for what would happen next. His face burned with shame. No
one had ever known about this, no one was ever supposed to know. To know how
bad it could get. What he had to do to make the pain stop.
Skinner moved quickly. Picking up the small wicker trashcan that sat just
inside the bathroom door, he held it under the edge of the sink. Tearing a
length of toilet paper from the roll, he wadded it into a protective ball
and used it to sweep the razor blade into the trashcan, grimacing a little
at the faint red smear on its thin blade. Skinner noticed the small box with
the remaining razor blades and dropped it into the trashcan, too. He turned
to Alex, who was still staring at the floor, his sweatpants still shoved
down below his right hip. Skinner's eyes were drawn to the red trail the
razor blade had left across Alex's pale skin. His eyes filled with tears.
Alex. He had been wasting time in the supermarket, precious minutes ticking
by as he pondered whether the porterhouse looked better than the New York
strip, what brand of catsup to buy, for Christ's sake, and Alex was here,
in pain...
Skinner grasped Alex's shoulders firmly and leaned down. Alex's eyes were
fastened on the floor.
"Alex. Look at me."
Alex mumbled something and shook his head. Skinner gave him a gentle shake.
Alex looked up, his expression one of apprehension. Skinner's eyes sought
his and held them.
"In God's name, Alex, why?" Skinner's voice was raw with emotion. "Why?
Haven't you been hurt enough?"
Alex's eyes widened and he squirmed in Skinner's grasp.
"It's not what you think, Walter," he said quickly. "I wasn't"
Skinner's grip tightened slightly and Alex stilled, trembling slightly.
"I wasn't going to try to kill myself," he whispered, tears pooling in his
green eyes. Skinner spoke quietly but firmly.
"I know exactly what you were doing, Alex." He took Alex's arm and guided
him over to the closed toilet seat. He sat Alex down and then bent down,
opening the cabinet under the sink and taking out the hydrogen peroxide and
cotton balls. Skinner knelt down and examined the cut on Alex's hip. It was
about an inch and a half long and shallow, what little bleeding there had
been had stopped. Skinner applied the disinfectant. Alex winced a little as
the peroxide bubbled, cleansing the wound. Skinner recapped the brown
plastic bottle and stood.
"I know what you were doing," he repeated. He gently cupped Alex's jaw,
forcing him to look up. "It's called self-mutilation. Intense emotional
distress manifested physically."
Alex saw the naked pain on Skinner's face and tried to look away, but
Skinner wouldn't allow it.
"Are you hurt anywhere else?" Skinner asked softly. Alex shook his head.
Skinner helped him to his feet and pulled his sweatpants up.
"I don't think that needs a bandage," Skinner said. "But we'll need to clean
it frequently to make sure it doesn't get infected."
Alex nodded numbly, knowing that shortly it wouldn't matter if the wound
became infected or not. He would be out there again, alone. A cut on his hip
would be the least of his problems. Skinner led Alex downstairs to the
living room. The area just inside the front door was so thickly strewn with
grocery bags that Alex couldn't see the carpet. Skinner gestured toward the
sofa and Alex's legs carried him over to it. He sat down, his hand in his
lap, looking at Skinner resignedly. Skinner glanced at the grocery bags.
"I need to get the perishable things put away," he said. "I want you to stay
right there and not move."
Alex nodded mutely. Skinner picked up two of the grocery bags and carried
them into the kitchen, pausing as he passed the place where his lover sat,
his expression curiously blank, staring at nothing.
"Alex?"
Alex looked up slowly. His voice was a whisper.
"Yes?"
Skinner put the bags on the kitchen counter and began unpacking them. He
spoke quietly but firmly.
"I want you to think about why you were doing what you were doing just now.
When I'm done with this, you and I are going to have a long talk."
Alex nodded. Skinner moved efficiently between the kitchen and living room,
swiftly unpacking the bags and filling the refrigerator and freezer. He bit
his lip as he came to the bag containing the strawberries and cream. Tonight
was to have been so special. He had planned a romantic evening, had intended
to kiss and caress Alex all night long, to show him all the love he had
never been given. His lips thinned into a determined line as he pushed the
berries toward the back of the refrigerator. That would have to wait. He had
a serious situation to deal with first. The roses lay alone on the top shelf
of the refrigerator, Skinner having stowed them immediately upon returning
home, relieved at the time that Alex was nowhere in sight and the surprise
hadn't been spoiled. Skinner picked up the bag with the chocolates, looked
into it, paused, then folded the top of it down and set it aside. Alex
barely noticed. He was only waiting for the inevitable.
Skinner put away the last of the perishables and leaned on the counter for a
moment, steadying himself. He was not surprised to find his hands were
shaking. He looked at Alex. Alex was sitting with his knees drawn up tightly
against his chest, his one arm wrapped around them. His eyes were closed. He
looked utterly exhausted. Skinner's heart ached. Why, Alex? He thought
desperately. Why? What could have happened? I was only gone a couple of
hours... Skinner's stomach tightened. I shouldn't have left him. He cursed
himself silently. My gut told me something wasn't right and I ignored it. I
should have stayed.
Skinner sat down next to Alex, unsure what to do. Alex huddled in his corner
of the sofa, unmoving, his face a blank mask. Waiting. Skinner hesitated,
then made a decision.
"Come here, Alex," he said softly.
Alex's eyes opened. He looked at Skinner's outstretched hand and stiffened.
He shook his head. Skinner saw that he was trembling.
"It's all right," Skinner said gently. "I won't hurt you, I would never hurt
you. Come on, Alex. I just want to hold you."
Alex made a small sound deep in his throat and shook his head again. He
swallowed and looked down, hoping to hide the pain in his eyes. He wanted
nothing more at that moment than to fling himself into Walter's arms and
hold on tight, but he refused to let himself. That's over now, Alex, he
thought to himself. Don't make it harder than it has to be. If you let
yourself feel those arms around you again it'll hurt that much more when he
pushes you away. And he will.
Skinner took a deep breath. He wanted to take Alex in his arms and soothe
the pain away, hold him until that hunted, frightened look in his eyes was
gone for good. His eyes stung. He had left the condo that morning smug and
pleased, so convinced of his progress in healing Alex, body and soul. He
cursed himself now, inwardly. Damn, you're a cocky bastard sometimes, Walt.
Did you really think a few milkshakes and hugs could fix everything? You got
him to smile a few times, even laugh, got him to stop flinching every time
you came within five feet of him, so that's it? You just pat yourself on the
back and congratulate yourself? You work your patented Skinner magic and
presto! A horribly abused young man becomes a happy, confident member of
society? He shook his head, still reeling from the shock of seeing Alex
mutilating himself. He had a long way yet to go with Alex and right now,
Alex's body language was screaming Stay Away.
"Alex? Are you afraid of me?" Skinner asked, unable to keep the hurt from
his voice.
Alex looked up, surprise evident on his face before he willed that blank
look back upon it.
"No," he said quietly.
Skinner was relieved. Cautiously, he inched closer to Alex. Alex watched him
sadly. Skinner held his arms out again.
"Then why won't you let me hold you? I'm not angry, Alex, if that's what
you're worried about. I'm upset that you were hurting yourself, yes, but I'm
not angry. I just want to understand."
Alex's resolve weakened and he leaned forward, desperate for Skinner's
touch. Skinner's eyes filled with tears as Alex slowly moved into his
embrace. He held Alex tightly and rocked him gently, rubbing his cheek
against the soft dark hair. Alex closed his eyes, nestling his cheek against
Skinner's shoulder. The tiny relief afforded by the stinging cut on his hip
had been short-lived, and the raw emotions were back with a vengeance. He
clung to Skinner tightly, knowing it was for the last time, trying to
imprint every word, every touch into his memory, knowing that soon it would
be all he had left of this time, this place, this man. This love.
Skinner kissed the top of Alex's head and then looked down into agonized
green eyes.
"Please, Alex," he begged. "Please tell me why."
Alex shook his head.
"I can't," he whispered.
He tried to pull away but Skinner's strong arms held him in place. He felt a
warm hand rubbing circles in the middle of his back, and he sagged. His one
hand fisted in Skinner's sweater as he tried to fight back the tears.
"Please, I can't..."
Skinner continued to rub Alex's back, trying to ease the tension he felt
there. He felt it ease fractionally.
"Tell me, Alex. Tell me what's hurting you so badly on the inside that you
have to hurt yourself on the outside."
Alex's voice, sounding impossibly small and defeated.
"I'm not what you want."
Skinner sat stunned, his hand ceasing its circuit between Alex's
shoulderblades. Alex was rigid. This is it, Alex thought. Goodbye.
"Alex, how can you say"
Alex suddenly broke free of the embrace and leapt up from the sofa, his face
contorted with pain.
"I'm a whore!" he shouted, his voice choked. "A worthless slut, that's all
I've ever been!"
Walter stared at Alex, his eyes wide and shocked. He stood and stepped
toward the anguished man.
"Alex..."
Alex backed away.
"No... please," he whispered. "Please don't touch me. I can't bear it. When
you know, you'll never want to touch me again."
Walter moved closer, reaching out to Alex.
"Alex, I don't understand. Talk to me, please."
Alex pressed his back against the wall and slowly slid down, resting his
head against his knees, hiding his face. He spoke in a muffled monotone, as
though he were talking about someone else.
"I was trained to be many things, two things above all others. An expert
assassin and a skillful whore. Spender always liked me better as a whore,
but he needed me as an assassin. I only got whored out when it was necessary
or when I was being punished for screwing up. Until," Alex's voice broke and
he paused for a moment, trying to regain his composure. "Until Bill Mulder.
Until I took the tape and tried to run. After that" Alex's control broke
and he began to cry, his body shaking with the force of his sobs.
Skinner moved slowly and carefully. He knelt next to Alex, desperately
wanting to touch him, to stroke his hair, but he held himself back. Alex's
shoulders shook as he cried, and he drew himself even tighter, as though he
were trying to disappear.
"Alex, please," Skinner said softly. "Talk to me, tell me. I can't help you
unless you tell me what the problem is. How can you think I wouldn't ever
want to touch you again?"
Alex gave a strangled laugh and wiped his hand roughly across his reddened
eyes. He leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Walter," he whispered. "I should have told you. You're going to
find out eventually anyway."
Skinner waited. Alex took a deep, ragged breath.
"The first time they called me a whore I didn't even know what one was." He
gave another sharp, humorless laugh. "But I learned."
Skinner winced. He reached out, unable to stop himself this time. He cupped
the back of Alex's head and gently massaged it.
"Alex, please let me hold you."
Alex hesitated, those hollow, hopeless eyes closing tightly and then opening
again, regarding Skinner with a look of utter sorrow. Why not, Alex thought
to himself. One for the road. Skinner sat down beside Alex and Alex allowed
himself to be held. He lay his head on the older man's shoulder as Skinner's
strong arms encircled him. Skinner stroked Alex's hair gently.
"Tell me, Alex. Tell me all of it. Everything."
Alex waited for a moment, wanting to savor the sensation of being held by
Walter this last time. Then he began to speak, his voice detached and
remote. Squeezing his eyes tightly shut, he told Skinner everything. His
years as Spender's property. His training. Broken, naked, crawling,
degraded. Countless men in countless places. Alex the whore, legs spread
wide, taking whatever he was ordered to take. No part of him left unused.
Skinner sat silent and motionless as Alex quietly spoke of the nightmare the
last fourteen years of his life had been. Alex's voice was tired and
resigned as he spoke of his many "clients". He heard a sharp intake of
breath from Skinner as he spoke of the man with the frightening needle and
the hallucinations that had resulted from the drug he had been given.
Finally, Alex grew silent. He lay still, his head on Skinner's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Walter," he whispered.
Skinner made no sound. Slowly, Alex raised his head, fearing the look of
disgust he knew would be there. He looked up just as the first sob broke the
silence. Skinner sat, staring straight ahead, tears coursing down his
cheeks. His broad chest hitched as he cried, his sobs rough and deep and
terrible. Alex got to his knees and began to back away, stricken.
"I'm so sorry," he repeated hoarsely. "I'm sorry I'm not... what you want.
What you deserve." A tear trickled down Alex's cheek. "I never should have"
he bit his lip, unable to find the words.
The devastation on Skinner's face was utter and complete. Alex choked back a
sob and began to get to his feet, wanting to spare Skinner the sight of him
even as he mourned the loss of contact.
"No!" Skinner shouted, his voice strangled with emotion.
He grabbed Alex and pulled him back down to his knees, wrapping the younger
man in his arms. He held him close, burying his face in the curve of Alex's
neck. Alex could feel Skinner's tears soaking through the thin material of
his T-shirt.
"Alex," Skinner sobbed. "Alex, what they did to you..."
He rocked Alex and cried, cursing Spender, cursing the abuse that his lover
had suffered. Alex knelt there, still as a statue in Skinner's arms, his
eyes closed, his lashes stark against his pale cheeks. He waited for the
anger. Waited for the hurt. Skinner slowly, in stages, got control of
himself. He wiped his eyes, then gently tilted Alex's chin upward. Alex
looked at Skinner, accepting, waiting.
"Alex," Skinner whispered, his voice trembling. "How could you think that
any of this would change things? That I wouldn't want you anymore?"
Alex looked down.
"Because I'm..." Filthy? Used up? Fucked up? He swallowed and looked back up
into Skinner's worried brown eyes.
"I'm not... I'm not what you want," he repeated. He shook his head, confused.
Didn't Walter see that? "I'm a whore, a slut. You deserve someone good and
clean, like... like you," he said softly.
Skinner stood up slowly. Alex knelt there on the floor like a penitent, his
eyes closed. Skinner held out his hand, waiting until Alex opened his eyes
and saw it.
"Come on," Skinner said quietly.
Silently, Alex took Skinner's hand. Skinner gently pulled Alex up to his
feet and took him in his arms, holding him close before leading him back to
the sofa and waiting for him to sit down. Skinner sat next to Alex, still
holding his hand.
"Alex?"
Alex looked at him. Skinner stroked the back of Alex's hand gently as he
spoke.
"Do you remember the talk we had when you first came here? The one where we
said the past stays in the past? We were going to start over with a clean
slate?"
Alex nodded.
"But... but this is different," he said, unable to meet Skinner's eyes.
"How, Alex?" Skinner asked, trying to keep the frustration from his voice.
How could Alex think that he could forgive him for the murders he had been
forced to commit but not for being forced to prostitute himself? Alex took a
deep breath, his eyes still cast downward.
"Last night in bed," he whispered. "You want to be the only one. But I'm not
clean and good like you." A tear ran down his cheek. "You pushed me away,
like... like you knew."
A look of pain crossed Skinner's face.
"Oh, God, Alex..."
He pulled Alex close and held him.
"Alex, I had no idea... you can't think... I told you why I stopped you. I
want our first time to be mutual, to be special for both of us, not just for
me."
Skinner stroked Alex's hair again.
"I have a past, too, you know," he said, kissing the top of Alex's head.
"Not like mine."
"No, Alex, not like yours. I was lucky. I wasn't forced to do the things
you've been forced to do."
Alex clung to Skinner, trying to fight back the tears.
"You said you wanted to be the only one."
Skinner grasped Alex's shoulders firmly and looked into his eyes.
"I am the only one, aren't I?"
Alex nodded seriously.
"But"
Skinner kissed him gently.
"But what? What else could matter?"
Alex looked down, desperately trying to find the words, to make Walter
understand.
"Don't you get it?" he whispered savagely. "I'll cost you everything! You'll
lose it all because of me!"
Skinner drew him close again.
"I love you, Alex. Nothing else matters. There is nothing I have that could
be taken away that would matter more than you."
Alex tried to pull away but Skinner held him tightly. Alex looked up into
Skinner's eyes, his expression one of agony. He gripped a fistful of
Skinner's sweater tightly.
"You don't understand!" he cried. "There are pictures! Videotapes! People
who know! Don't you see? Please, Walter," he sobbed. "Please, I can't bear
to watch your love for me turn to hate when you lose everything you've
worked for your whole life because of me. I'm not worth it," he whispered.
Skinner stared at his young lover with eyes full of deep sadness. He ached
to make Alex whole again, to say the words that would erase the memory of
the years of abuse and degradation. To make him understand that he was
worthy of love. He trailed his finger lovingly along Alex's cheekbone.
"Alex, I want you to listen to me," he said firmly.
Alex looked at him, not knowing what to expect. Skinner looked deeply into
those wounded green eyes as he spoke.
"First of all, I love you. Period. End of sentence. I am the only one for
you now, just as you are the only one for me. It doesn't matter what
happened before."
Alex looked down. Skinner continued, letting a little bit of Marine creep
into his voice. He was going to need it.
"I'll say it again. I love you, Alex Krycek. I want you to understand that.
I... love... you. Nothing else enters into it. Is that clear?"
Alex nodded numbly.
"Second. You are not, I repeat, not a whore. You are not a slut. You are a
beautiful and intelligent young man who suffered years of systematic abuse.
You never had a choice. You did what you were told or you suffered terribly.
Am I correct?"
Alex wiped away a tear and nodded. Skinner cupped Alex's jaw and raised
Alex's face again.
"I don't ever want to hear you use those words to refer to yourself again,
Alex," he said sternly. "That's my lover you're talking about."
Alex's eyes were wide and bright as he nodded. He buried his face in
Skinner's chest, shaking as the emotions washed over him. Relief. Gratitude.
Disbelief. Desperate hope that it still wouldn't all be snatched away.
"I should have told you," he mumbled. "I was so scared, I thought you
wouldn't want me anymore"
"Shhh," Skinner soothed, rocking him slightly again. "You don't ever have to
worry about that. Nothing could ever stop me wanting you. You're here, with
me, where you belong."
"Walter," Alex whispered. "Walter."
"Alex."
They sat like that for quite some time, the only sound they made the
occasional whispered declaration of love, the only movement the occasional
small kiss, an effort to move closer. Touching. Reassuring. Reclaiming.
Alex's head lay pillowed on Skinner's shoulder. He never wanted to be
anywhere but here, nestled in Skinner's arms. He sighed, still worried about
Skinner paying a terrible price for loving him, knowing from experience that
the past sometimes just wouldn't stay buried. Deep inside, he felt sure that
someday this happiness would end, would be lost just as he had lost everyone
he ever loved. Alex closed his eyes, savoring the feeling of Walter's arms
encircling him. He wanted this so badly, wanted nothing more than to love
Walter Skinner with all of his strength.
He thought of his parents, stolen from him so long ago. He had to make sure
nothing happened to Walter, that he didn't have to pay with his life the way
Mama and Papa had. He trembled a little, felt Walter's arms hold him a
little tighter. Alex knew he had to fight, had to do everything in his power
to hold on to this unexpected and incredible gift he had been given, to be
worthy of Walter's love.
"Alex."
Alex raised his head. Skinner watched him, his expression serious. He was
taking a risk, he knew, but he had to make Alex understand that hurting
himself was not an option. Skinner took a deep breath and placed his hand on
Alex's hip, over the place where the small cut lay hidden under the thick
material of his sweatpants.
"We have to deal with this."
Alex froze for a moment, then looked down again, nodding silently.
Punishment. He understood that. He looked back up at Skinner.
"Anything," he whispered. Beat me. Hurt me. Just love me, let me stay.
Skinner understood too. He had no doubt that Alex would accept anything he
dealt out, without question, without protest. He shook his head. That wasn't
what he wanted.
"No, Alex," he said gently. "This isn't about hurting you. I'll never do
that. I need you to understand that."
Alex nodded. Skinner continued.
"It's important that you understand something else, Alex. That it's never,
ever okay for you to hurt yourself. Not ever. When I came home today and I
saw you cutting yourself" he broke off, his eyes filling with tears.
Alex touched Walter's face gently, caressing his cheek and wiping away a
tear.
"I'm so sorry, Walter," he said, his own voice breaking. "I'm sorry, I never
meant for you to see that. I..." he trailed off.
Skinner regained control, making sure to keep eye contact with Alex as he
continued.
"Alex, what you did is very serious. You know that nothing matters more
than your health and well-being." He paused. "You need to be punished, Alex.
Not hurt. Punished. I need to know that there is no doubt in your mind that
you must never do that again."
Alex looked down, picking at a nonexistent piece of lint on the leg of his
sweatpants.
"Yes, Walter," he said quietly.
"Alex? Look at me," Skinner said firmly.
"I won't punish you unless you agree to it. Enough has been done to you
without your consent. And, Alex," he said, as Alex began to nod. "I want you
to trust me. I love you and I am trying to do what's right for you. The last
thing I want is for you to be frightened or to feel coerced in any way. You
have nothing to fear from refusing to be punished. It's a decision we both
have to make. Do you understand?"
Alex nodded again. Skinner's voice was thick with emotion.
"I love you. I want to try to help you understand that you matter, that you
are valuable, that you're not just a body, some piece of meat to be used
or," his voice took on a firmer edge, "to be cut into because you're upset
about something."
Alex bit his lip.
"I know you love me, Walter," he whispered. "I know you have to punish me
because of what I did to myself. Because... because you love me," he
whispered. He looked away, ashamed. "I-I know it's wrong. I didn't want
anyone ever to know."
Skinner held him and rubbed his back.
"Tell me, Alex. Tell me why you do it, how it helps you. Tell me how it
makes you feel."
Alex hesitated, then looked down. He spoke in a near-whisper.
"I... I just didn't have any other way to..." he paused, unsure how to
express his complex feelings in words. "Sometimes, it just gets so bad, it
hurts so much... I need a... a release, you know?"
Skinner didn't truly understand. The concept horrified him. The image of
that angry red line on Alex's white skin... he tried to understand what Alex
was trying to tell him.
"I did it for the first time when I was sixteen. I was terrified Spender
would find out. But he didn't notice the scars, with all the others."
Alex went on, not noticing the flash of pain on Skinner's face.
"I didn't do it that much, I swear," he said, needing to convince Walter of
this. "Today was the first time in a long time. I just... I just never had a
way of making the pain stop, never had anybody to... I can't explain why it
helps, even though it's only for a little while. It just seems like if I
bleed a little, it makes the pain stop. Makes me stop remembering for a
while."
Alex wouldn't meet Skinner's eyes. He cleared his throat.
"You must think I'm sick," he whispered.
"Look at me, Alex," Skinner said. Alex obeyed, reluctantly, his eyes shining
with unshed tears.
"I do not think that. You're not sick. You just need another way to express
your emotions, to let the pain out."
He kissed Alex softly on the lips.
"You have that now, Alex. You have me. If you're ever upset about anything,
no matter what, you can come to me and talk about it and we'll handle it
together. You don't need to do that to yourself anymore."
Alex smiled and shyly returned the kiss, then nodded.
"Yes, Walter," he whispered.
Skinner smiled and stroked Alex's sable hair again. His heart ached for the
young man in his arms, a young man who for almost half his life had been
told, had had it beaten into him, that he existed for others' purposes, that
his body was but a thing to be used. Of course he thought nothing of carving
his flesh with a razor blade. Of course he though to bleed was to be
cleansed. Skinner gazed down lovingly at Alex and gathered his courage. He
had to be sure that Alex understood.
"Alex?"
Alex looked up. He knew what Skinner was asking.
"I trust you, Walter," he said again.
Skinner considered this.
"Do you agree that you have to be punished?" he asked. Alex nodded.
"Yes, Walter," he answered. He swallowed nervously. "What-how will you
punish me?"
Skinner thought for a moment.
"Well," he began, "in my family, the surest way to earn a spanking was to do
something reckless, to endanger yourself. It always made me think twice
before I did anything foolish again." He looked at Alex seriously.
"I think sometimes the old ways are the best ways. You and I are family now,
Alex," he paused and saw the tiny, tentative smile as Alex heard what he
said, "and I think under the circumstances that a spanking is entirely
appropriate. Do you agree?"
Alex hesitated, but only for a moment. His heart pounded in his chest. He
knew Walter wouldn't hurt him, but still, it was a little scary, the
prospect of getting spanked. He had been spanked in sexual situations with
clients, but never as punishment. Nikolai would never have wasted his time
on such a mild form of discipline. He swallowed hard.
"Yes, Walter."
Skinner sat on the edge of the sofa, and guided Alex to stand before him.
"Take down your pants and underwear."
Alex squared his shoulders and nodded. He slid his sweatpants and boxers
down to his ankles and then, with Skinner's help, awkwardly lay himself down
across Skinner's thighs. Alex lay rigidly, his one hand gripping the sofa
cushion tightly. Skinner looked down at Alex's bare back and buttocks, at
the shiny scars and puckers that were the legacy of years of mistreatment.
He saw the six round scars that marred the small of Alex's back, felt Alex's
slight trembling as he awaited the first blow, and felt his resolve begin to
weaken.
He was about to punish a man who had endured more pain than most people
could imagine. He remembered the look on Alex's face as he cut himself.
Distant, detached, as though he were dissecting a specimen in a lab. Skinner
shook his head. Come on, Walt, he scolded himself. You know the difference
between discipline and abuse. You have to be strong. He needs you. Skinner
looked past the scars to see the young man who lay across his lap,
swallowing nervously, awaiting his punishment.
"Alex?"
Alex didn't respond for a moment. He seemed almost afraid to breathe.
Skinner rubbed his back gently.
"Alex? Tell me what this punishment is for."
Alex hesitated, then mumbled something Skinner couldn't quite hear. He
caught only one word. "Whore". Skinner swiftly pulled Alex up from his
position across his lap and slid him down until he was kneeling on the floor
in front of him. He looked into Alex's eyes.
"No, Alex," he said firmly. Alex looked away.
"Look at me," Skinner commanded. Alex obeyed.
"Apparently I failed to make myself clear," he said. "You are never, ever to
use that word to describe yourself again. You are not a whore, Alex. I want
to hear you say it."
Alex stared down at the carpet. Skinner grasped his shoulders and shook him
gently to get his attention.
"Now, Alex."
"I'm not a whore," Alex answered softly.
Skinner kissed him on the forehead and then pulled him back across his lap,
positioning the bare bottom over his thighs.
"Very good, Alex," Skinner said. "Now, let's try again. Why are you being
punished?"
"Because I was bad," Alex answered, as if by rote. His voice sounded
distant.
Skinner raised his hand and brought it down sharply, leaving a large pink
blotch on the pale skin. The smack resounded in the previously quiet room.
Alex gasped and jumped.
"Try again, Alex. You're not bad. That's not what this spanking is for."
Silence. Skinner brought his hand down sharply on the other cheek.
"Why are you being punished, Alex?"
"Because... because I h-hurt myself!" Alex cried. He couldn't believe how
much two swats could sting. Skinner rubbed Alex's back gently.
"That's absolutely right, Alex," he said approvingly. "I am spanking you
because you hurt yourself. You have to understand that harming yourself is
absolutely not acceptable under any circumstances. You're not alone anymore,
Alex. If something is upsetting you, talk to me and I'll help. We'll solve
the problem together. But you have to trust me enough to come to me."
Alex nodded, close to tears. Walter was right.
"I am going to spank you hard, Alex. What you did was very serious and it
must never, ever happen again. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Walter."
Alex rested his cheek against the sofa cushion and closed his eyes. He was
afraid of the pain of the spanking, but he knew that he was safe. He knew
that Walter was punishing him out of love.
"Alex, do you understand what could have happened if you had cut yourself
too deeply? What if it had gotten out of control?"
He didn't need to say what was obvious to both of them. With one arm, it
would be difficult, if not impossible, to effectively administer first aid.
"Yes," Alex whispered. "I'm sorry, Walter. I won't do it again."
"I'm glad," Skinner answered. "I want you to really think about what this
punishment is for. Think how devastated I would be if anything happened to
you."
Alex nodded, his hand still gripping the cushion tightly. Skinner raised his
hand again.
"I'm not going to use anything but my hand on you, Alex, but I promise you,
you're going to feel it for a while."
The sound of Skinner's hand on Alex's bare skin was very loud in the small
room. Skinner began to spank in earnest, methodically covering each rapidly
reddening buttock with a circuit of sharp swats. Alex began to whimper. He
tried to keep still, determined to take the punishment he knew he deserved,
but eventually began to wriggle a little under the blazing smacks.
"OW!" he yelped. "Ow, Walter, please!... Please... ow... I won't do it again, I
promise!"
Skinner dealt a particularly stinging slap to the top of Alex's right thigh.
"Did I ask you this morning if everything was all right? Did I ask more than
once?"
"Y-yes," Alex gulped.
"And what did you say?" Skinner asked, whacking the top of the other thigh.
"Ow! I-I said yes!" Alex yelped. Two more hard spanks to the tops of both
thighs.
"And was that the truth?"
Another smack to the sit-spot of the left buttock. Alex kicked a little.
"OW! No! No it wasn't!"
Skinner went to work on the other sit-spot.
"And it's important to always tell the truth, isn't it, Alex?"
"OW! Yes! Yes, Walter!"
Skinner heard Alex's whimpers growing steadily in volume over the loud,
crisp smacks and increased the frequency and force of the spanking, sensing
that Alex was close to the breaking point. He aimed a particularly stinging
volley at the tops of Alex's thighs.
"Are you ever going to harm yourself again, Alex?"
"I won't, Walter! I swear!"
Alex bucked a little as the painful swats came fast and hard. He felt
Skinner's other hand spread wide on the small of his back, holding him
still. The other hand continued to rise and fall ceaselessly, covering
Alex's hot red bottom with carefully placed, overlapping spanks. Alex
squeezed his eyes shut as the tears began to flow. He clutched the cushion,
trying to be stoic, waiting for the punishment to be over. Skinner stroked
Alex's back.
"Let it out, Alex," he said gently. "It's all right, cry it out."
Alex resisted for a moment longer, then the dam burst. He lay his head on
his arm and cried loudly as Skinner continued to blister his ass, each
stinging smack of his hard hand driving the point home. Skinner didn't stop
until Alex's entire bottom was a uniform shade of crimson, Alex lying limp
and sobbing across his lap. Gently, Skinner eased him up, taking care to
avoid making contact with Alex's smarting bottom, and swept him into a bear
hug.
"You did very well, Alex," he whispered. "I'm so proud of you."
Alex nestled his head against Skinner's shoulder, his shoulders shaking as
he cried.
"I'm sorry," he choked. "I know it was wrong. I promise it'll never happen
again."
"I know," Skinner whispered, running his aching palm along the curve of
Alex's back. "I believe you. But," he added sternly, "if you ever do
anything like that again, I'll strap you. Do you understand?"
Alex blanched and nodded quickly.
"Yes, Walter."
He sniffled and wiped his eyes, shifting uncomfortably.
"That hurt," he said thoughtfully, putting his hand back to rub. Skinner
laughed.
"It's supposed to," he said, smiling. "Come on, I've got a couple of things
in the kitchen to take your mind off it."
Alex sat at the writing desk, the straight-backed chair that usually stood
there having been replaced with a small armchair with a well-padded seat. He
looked at the writing pad and pen doubtfully. Skinner placed a
double-chocolate milkshake on the desk next to Alex, topped with whipped
cream and the white chocolate sprinkles. Alex's eyes widened appreciatively.
"Are you comfortable?" Skinner asked.
Alex nodded. He took a sip of the milkshake and smiled.
"Thank you, Walter."
Skinner put the vase with Alex's roses on the windowsill in front of him and
sat down in the wing chair beside the desk. He looked at Alex seriously.
"I don't want you to think of this as a punishment, Alex."
Alex looked back down at the writing pad and pen and frowned. It felt like
a punishment. He reluctantly picked up the pen. Skinner gave Alex an
encouraging smile and opened the newspaper.
"Fifty times, Alex. I'll be right here beside you. If your hand gets tired,
take a break. Don't just write the lines," Skinner admonished. "I want you
to really concentrate on the words, what they mean."
"Okay," Alex said. He sighed as he regarded the expanse of white paper in
front of him. He glanced at Skinner. Skinner looked at him over the top edge
of the Sports section. He nodded encouragingly.
"Go ahead, Alex. I told you I don't want you to think of it as a punishment
and I meant it. The spanking was your punishment and it's over. This is for
you. Trust me?"
Alex nodded and bent to his task. The only sound in the room was the scratch
of his pen on the paper and the occasional rustling of newsprint as Skinner
turned the page. Alex covered line after line of the ruled paper with his
careful script. I am not a whore. I am not a slut. I am not a whore. I am
not a slut.
Skinner watched from behind his newspaper. He knew it would take more than
this to erase the effects of years of mental and physical abuse, but he
hoped that this primitive form of deprogramming would at least get Alex
thinking. Alex looked up from his writing to admire his roses, the afternoon
sun illuminating the petals as it streamed through the window. Skinner
smiled, thinking of the look on Alex's face when he saw the roses, Skinner's
worry over the selection evaporating as Alex's expression went from surprise
to purest joy. He had shaken his head in a tiny gesture of disbelief, that
elusive smile flickering and growing stronger. He gazed down at the flowers
almost reverently, whispered one word, so quietly that Skinner could not be
altogether sure that he heard it at all.
"Love."
The gift of the chocolates was met with considerable enthusiasm, Alex
popping a truffle in his mouth and groaning with pleasure before moving
close to Skinner and offering his mouth up for a kiss. Skinner had eagerly
obliged. Alex's tongue had found his, like satin, like rose petals, soft and
sharp and delicate, Skinner's mouth suddenly full of the taste of dark,
sweet raspberries.
Skinner pretended to read his newspaper, all the while gazing
surreptitiously at Alex, watching his pale hand move across the page, the
sunlight through the window finding all the red and gold in his dark hair.
Alex glanced up and caught Skinner looking, and dropped a wink before
turning back to his task. Skinner grinned and got back to the article on
budget cuts in Washington, grumbling a little as he read.
They spent the rest of the afternoon like that, Alex carefully writing his
lines and Skinner finishing with the newspaper and then starting on the new
Tom Clancy. Skinner occasionally stopped Alex, not wanting his one hand to
get too fatigued, and not wanting the words to run together in a meaningless
blur. Alex finished his milkshake, three of the truffles and a handful of
Hershey's Kisses, having somehow managed to convince Skinner that the
chemicals in the chocolate would stimulate the release of endorphins and
ease the pain in his sore butt.
Alex finished his fifty lines and stood, stretching with feline grace. His
relieved smile faded when Skinner gestured to him to sit back down. Skinner
appraised the lines Alex had already written and tore the pages off, putting
them neatly aside. He wrote something across the top of the blank page.
"Fifty more and then you're done," he said, rubbing Alex's shoulders. Alex
twisted around in the chair, his eyes wide and injured.
"But, Walter" he whined. Skinner pointed to the page.
"I'm going to start dinner. We're having steak. Dr. Skinner thinks you're
ready for alcohol again, so you can have a beer with dinner but only if
you finish all of your lines. Deal?"
"Deal," Alex said sulkily, turning back to his tablet.
He picked up the pen again, muttering under his breath about the injustice
of someone telling someone else they had to write fifty lines when what they
really meant was a hundred lines... Suddenly the white page swam as his
eyes filled with tears. He blinked them away as he read the line Skinner had
written again. He looked up with a grin, his eyes shining. Skinner smiled
back at him from behind the kitchen island. Alex gazed at him for a moment,
his expression one of love and understanding, and then turned back to his
work. He began to write.
I am loved. Walter loves me. I am loved. Walter loves me.
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