From: yankeestarbuck@yahoo.com   
      
   *-*-*-*   
   That night, Walter watched the news, which was still running   
   stories about the cases broken by Alex's plethora of information.   
   There was a brief clip about Walter resigning, and Mulder's new   
   statement that his boss was taking the blame for things "that   
   happened before he was born!  It's a travesty, a crime and a   
   serious miscarriage of justice if the American people need to feel   
   better at the expense of the good name of a hero."   
      
   Walter smiled.  He was thankful his old bureau cell phone had been   
   returned.  He assumed it would be going off like crazy after that   
   statement.  His home phone had been an unlisted number, and it was   
   silent.  Too silent.  Did none of his friends want to speak to him?   
    And...did he have any friends?  No, he didn't.  All he'd had was   
   coworkers, then subordinates.  Mulder had been the closest thing he   
   had to a friend.  Mulder was too busy being the media darling.   
   Walter didn't have a hobby.  He didn't even own a pet.  He lived a   
   pretty pathetic life.   
      
   Arriving at the hospital around 1PM, Walter had made sure he   
   brought clothing he thought would fix Alex.  He didn't want to take   
   the chance that he didn't have any friends either, no one to bring   
   him anything.  After spending the morning in the local mall,   
   something he did not relish, he thought he'd done a fair job of   
   choosing black Levi's 501s, soft cotton shirts and under things,   
   and a brand new pair of black Doc Martin boots, the kind he'd   
   always wanted for himself.   
      
   Alex was sitting up in his bed, ignoring the tray of lunch in front   
   of him.  The nurse was standing over him, lecturing him that they   
   couldn't release him until he ate another solid meal.   
      
   "This isn't a meal, this is a pile of..."   
      
   "Alex, you should know better than to speak that way to a lady.   
   Now, say you're sorry and eat your lunch."   
      
   Alex looked up at Walter and if looks could kill, Walter would have   
   been struck down by lightning.  Grudgingly, though, Alex mumbled an   
   apology and picked up his fork.  He poked at the steamed chicken   
   breast and boiled rice.  "Walt, this is disgusting."  The nurse   
   shook her head and left the room, nodding at Walter.   
      
   "What's in the bag?" Alex asked, mouth full.   
      
   "Your clothes.  I'm going to assume the things you arrived in   
   aren't fit to wear, so I bought you some new things.  I remembered   
   your shoe size, but I had to guess on the clothes.  You look like   
   you've lost weight."   
      
   "With this kind of food, do you blame me?" Alex spat, putting his   
   plastic fork down, and declaring the meal concluded.   
      
   "No, I don't.  Why don't you get some clothes on and I'll wait   
   outside.  We'll get you signed out and on your way back to my   
   place.  And since you know my house, you know how nice the guest   
   room is."   
      
   Assisting him from the bed, Walter pulled the curtain closed around   
   Alex's bed.  He began pulling clothing out, cutting off tags,   
   removing sizing stickers so that he did not watch at Alex shimmied   
   his boxer briefs up his hips and adjusted his package into place.   
   "I'll wait outside while you finish here."   
      
   Walter left the room quickly, knowing he'd want the same privacy   
   offered, but Alex wouldn't really have cared.  He wasn't one to be   
   modest.  When he stepped from the curtained area, boots in his   
   hands, he eyed Walter warily as he sat in the chair to tie his   
   boots.  "These fit pretty good, Walt.  Thanks."   
      
   That was a huge disclosure on Alex's part.  Especially saying thank   
   you.  Walter didn't take it for granted, nor did he condescend to   
   Alex.  He just nodded in thanks of the compliment.  After Alex had   
   tied his boots, he sat back a moment, eyes closed.   
      
   "Are you all right, Alex?" Walter asked, concerned, but not   
   hovering.   
      
   "Yes, fine.  Came up too fast, little dizzy."   
      
   Immediately, Walter was by his side, arm about the small of his   
   back.  Alex's face turned to his, and Walter remembered why he was   
   so long so long ago, in those eyes, those beautiful green eyes,   
   those long and luscious lashes.  It was plain and simple.  Alex was   
   just as alluring and enticing as he was when Walter first fell head   
   over heels for him.   
      
   "I said I'm fine!" Alex protested and pulled away from Walter.  He   
   ran a hand through his hair and pulled it back, frowning.  "Fuck, I   
   need a shower.  I smell like a homeless person."   
      
   "That's fine.  There's plenty of bathing facilities at my house.   
   Let's go, Alex.  I promise to take good care of you."   
      
   Alex nodded and they made their way to the nurses' station, where   
   several of the young trainees, and even interns, gave Alex knowing   
   looks.  Walter smiled, knowing the women standing there, all vying   
   for Alex's attention, were shit out of luck.  Alex was gay, always   
   was, always would be.  Walter had been one of the fortunate few to   
   have gotten a taste.   
      
   Alex was thankful they didn't make him ride in a wheelchair to the   
   car that Walter had pulled up to the exit.  The smile of   
   appreciation was well noted as Alex got into the Jaguar.  "Nice   
   wheels.  Was this one of your parting gifts?"   
      
   "No, this was in place of a midlife crisis and a mistress."  Walter   
   smiled as Alex sat back and appreciated the smooth acceleration.   
      
   "I thought I was your..."   
      
   "Shut up!  If you don't want to have to deal with it, then stop   
   bringing it up."   
      
   Walter was instantly sorry he'd snapped at Alex, hoping it didn't   
   spark one of his fabulous brooding sessions.  Being Russian, Alex   
   could brood with the best of them.  It almost ruined one of their   
   stolen vacations.  Walter was able to bring Alex around with the   
   smell of steak and onions.  Alex's weakness was good food.   
   Thinking back, Walter wondered if he'd learned to cook for himself   
   after the divorce, or to possibly lure Alex back into his bed.   
      
   "I didn't say I didn't want to deal with it.  I just said that your   
   cock would tear up my ass..."   
      
   "Yes, I remember.  You needn't worry.  Any newly found virtue is   
   safe from me.  Rest assured."   
      
   Walter wasn't sure, but he thought that the sideways look he got   
   from Alex was something less than snide.  Something more like   
   longing.  He couldn't let that seep into his brain.  That had to   
   roll off his back.  If he let the old feelings slide back into his   
   head, they'd take over his life.  And letting Alex back into his   
   life was tantamount to suicide, political, social and physical.   
      
   When Walter pulled up to the house, he immediately went over to   
   Alex's side to help him out.  Alex batted his hand away and said,   
   "I'm not a baby!  You can just go in.  I'll be fine."   
      
   Walter stepped back and let Alex get himself out of the car seat   
   and slam the door closed.  It hurt a little to hear the rattle of   
   the window, knowing that window was forever loose, but it was   
   better for Alex to feel the strength of his actions.  Walter   
   followed behind Alex, making sure each step was sure.  The progress   
   was slow, but with the abscess at the center of the small of Alex's   
   back, it probably still throbbed in pain.   
      
   "Alex, do you have any prescriptions you need filled?" Walter   
   asked.  "I can take them for you."   
      
   "No, I'm fine."   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)