Gaining Trust 3: Battles

by Lady Midath

Disclaimer: I don't own them. CC and Ten Thirteen does.

Fandom: X Files

Pairing: Skinner/Krycek

Rating: NC17

Archive: Yes

Spoilers: Please assume all episodes

Status: Part three of the Gaining Trust series

Summary: Walter tries to win Alex's trust

Gaining Trust 3: Battles
by Lady Midath

Alex

The days inched by and I barely noticed them. Walter had decided to take the rest of the week off work to keep an eye on me. That was okay, I liked being near him, although I would have let him cut off my remaining arm rather than admit it.

Walter and I had fallen into kind of a routine. We would eat our meals together, watch television; listen to music and just generally speaking, relax. To me, this was the best vacation I had ever had. In fact, it was the only vacation I had ever had.

Walter had backed off with the questions, something for which I was profoundly grateful. Instead we talked of inconsequential things, keeping to safe topics like sport, stuff like that. There was only one thing that reminded me that I was not a guest in his condo was the fact that he still insisted on handcuffing me to my bed every night.

Still, things could be worse, I reminded myself on those long nights lying alone, listening to his soft snores in the next room. At least he hasn't, a: killed you, b: beaten you to a pulp, then killed you, c: thrown you out on your ass.

Still life could be better without these fucking handcuffs.

ooo)O(ooo

Walter

There has to be a way I can get Alex to open up to me, to trust me. I know he wants too, I can sense it. He is not as hostile as he was when I first found him here in my apartment. Oh sure, the tension was still evident in the way he spoke, the way he carried himself but he seemed more… trusting of me now, not so constantly on his guard whenever I was around.

Still I was determined to find a way to convince him to stay without the use of handcuffs or a twenty four hour guard. I decided to take the week off in the hope that I could convince him that I could be trusted, that I could be his friend…maybe even more.

I had called Kim that morning to tell her that I would not be in for the rest of the week. The flu, I had explained, being careful to make my voice sound croaky in the hope of convincing her that I was at death's door. It must have worked because she told me to stay in bed and drink plenty of fluids. I was touched by the concern in her voice. I hated having to lie to her but circumstances did not exactly leave me a choice.

I knew that time was running out though. Eventually I was going to have to return to work and what was I going to do then?

Common sense told me that I could not keep Alex here indefinitely. I was fully aware that what I was doing was illegal at best. At worst, downright immoral. I sighed, a sudden feeling of fatigue descending on me like a lead weight.

What choice did I have but to eventually turn him loose, after all, he was a human being not an animal to be caged. But Spender and his thugs were still out there somewhere, just waiting to pounce. Alex had told me himself that he had finally run out of both good luck and good will. This time there would be no fucking around with Tunisian prisons and silos. This time Spender
would see to it that Alex would wind up in the morgue. I had not asked him what he had done to incur his ex-boss's wrath this time but I was fairly certain that eventually I'd find out. But for now it was better to try and convince Alex into staying here for awhile.

Perhaps Alex would see the sense in that, rather than taking his chances out there. After all; he might be a reckless at times, but I have never known him to be downright suicidal. Still with someone like Alex Krycek, one could never be sure.

I would discuss this with him tonight, convince him that he was safer here, and just hope that he will listen to reason.

ooo)O(ooo

Alex

"How hungry are you?" Walter asked as he took a couple of steaks out of the freezer.

I shrugged, not really caring. To be entirely honest, food was the last thing on my mind. I leaned against the kitchen door watching him as he moved around the small room with a lithe grace that belied his size. I had to admit, I liked watching Walter. Even doing simple things like preparing a meal or watching television. He gave off such a feeling of comfort…of safety. As much as I was
loathed to admit it, I could have happily stayed here with him forever.

Yeah, as if.

I knew that the only reason he was keeping me here was to soften me up, probably hoping that I would spill everything I knew about the Consortium. Then once he had the information he was after, he would more than likely call Mulder and Scully. Both of them would be more than happy to put a bullet between my eyes. Save Walter the time and the trouble-not to mention the bullet.

Still, I kept these thought to myself, watching as Walter put together a green salad, his movements as deft and skilful as any top class chef.

I observed him with more than a little envy, even with both arms I had always been a disaster in the kitchen. I truly admired people that could cook, and I'm not talking about the boil-in-the-bag variety either.

"Do you want something to drink?"

"Huh?" I stared at him for a moment, uncomprehendingly, so lost had I been in my own thoughts; I had not caught what he had said.

"A drink Alex." He repeated patiently "I have some beer or some orange juice if you'd prefer that instead."

"Uh, beer." I replied, feeling my face grow hot. I could feel him staring at me and I quickly turned away.

"Here you are." I felt a bottle, still cold from the fridge placed into my hand.

"Dinner's nearly ready." Walter said as he moved back towards the stove.

"Great." I head myself mumble. Clutching the beer as though it were a life preserver, I headed towards the living room and the safety of a football game that was on. All the while cursing myself for the coward that I was.

ooo)O(ooo

Walter

I watched with some amusement as Alex headed towards the living room. For some reason I seemed to be unsettling him today. Well good, I intended to unsettle him a lot more before the night was over.

But I could at least give him a decent meal first.

Taking the steaks out from under the grill, I carried them over to the table along with the salad and the baked potatoes that I had prepared.

Alex looked up, and then seeing that dinner was ready came over. He sat down and that was when I noticed how pale and set his face was.

"How's the game?" I asked, more to make conversation than anything else.

"Okay." He replied somewhat shortly.

Picking up my knife and fork and began to slice the meat up on my plate. Well there was no putting it off, time to take the plunge.

ooo)O(ooo

Alex

I could sense that something was coming. Walter had been looking rather preoccupied all day, as if mulling something over in his head. We sat at the small round table together facing each other over the food that had been laid out.

Carefully balancing the Spork in my hand, I sliced a piece off and chewed, not really tasting it.

"Alex." Walter began suddenly, "There's something that I think we need to discuss."

With a cool weight settling at the bottom of my stomach, I looked up at him, finding his warm brown eyes gazing seriously into my own.

"What about Walter?" I asked, willing my voice to sound normal. Okay, so this is it, the crunch was finally coming, so why did I still feel such a dull pang of surprise?

"I have a proposal for you."

I stared at him frowning; this was not the way I was expecting this to begin.

"I know that Spender is after you and I also know that the minute you leave here, you're going to wind up dead."

"Staying here won't protect me either Walter." I replied.

"I realise that Alex." He said with a nod. "But I can't help but think that your chances might be a little better here than out there."

I stared at him for a minute, not quite sure if I had heard him correctly…he was actually inviting me to stay?

"What's the catch?"

"No catch." He replied. "I want you to stay."

"Why?"

He heaved a sigh and I could almost hear him mutter `god give me strength' under his breath.

"Does there have to be a reason Alex?"

I nodded, keeping a steady gaze on him, searching for any sign of duplicity.

"As I recall, you were the one that came here every night, breaking into my apartment to watch me sleep."

"I know." I muttered, my face colouring now. Appetite gone now, I pushed my plate away.

"The truth is I think that right now you could use a friend." Walter said softly. That brought a smile to my face, wasn't that the truth.

"That's what I'm trying to offer you Alex-friendship, pure and simple."

"What about Mulder?" I asked suddenly, a frowned crossed Walter's face.

"What about him?"

"Aren't you going to tell him about me being here?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Isn't that why you have been keeping me here Walter?" I asked. "So you can milk me for information, and then hand me over to him. You know as well as I do that he'd love to see me dead more than Spender does."

"If I was going to do that Alex, don't you think I would have by now?"

I opened my mouth to answer him, and then closed it again. The trouble was he was right. Hell it wasn't as though he hadn't the time or the opportunity. Shit, all he would have had to do was pick up the phone and dial 555-Fox-I-hate-Krycek-Mulder. Okay, so that was a plus on Walter's side sure…but did that mean I would be able to put my life into his hands? That was a big ask at best.

"I know that you don't trust me." He continued, his voice the very essence of calm and reason now. "But I want you to be able to. I want you to know that you are safe here."

I said nothing for a moment and neither did he. I think Walter was giving me time to assimilate everything that he had told me. I could feel his steady gaze resting on me and suddenly I felt uncomfortable under his scrutiny.

ooo)O(ooo

Walter

I sat back in my seat and watched him as he mulled over my proposition. I could see that he was trying to figure out what the hell my angle was. Being used to betrayal, he could not accept this as a simple act of friendship. I could not blame him though. After all, why would I even want to be his friend, or even his lover? Utter madness it was to think that Alex and I could even begin to go down that road, not after the history we shared; the things that he had done to me.

So why did I want him to accept my offer so desperately?

//Because you always wanted him, that's why.// I was disconcerted to find that sneaky little voice back again. I thought I had laid it to rest.

Maybe it was because I was so tired of being alone. Oh sure, there was Mulder and Scully, but they were together now and as much as they liked me to visit them in their new house in the suburbs, I always felt as though I was intruding.

John Doggett and I got on quite well, two ex-marines together, but as with Mulder, his time was taken up with Monica Reyes. A wonderful woman, warm and kind even if she was slightly nuttier than Mulder. I could forgive it of her though, after all, she really was a kind hearted woman-perfect for John.

No, I needed more. I needed someone for me. I was tired of being on the outside looking in. Maybe that was why I was attracted to Alex as much as I was; I could see the similarities between us.

Finally his answer came.

"Okay Walter, I'll stay willingly, if that's what you want."

I could feel my body relax and I gave him a smile. "That's great Alex."

Tentatively he returned my smile and for now, that was enough.

END