From: dmcintoshtx@yahoo.com   
      
   Title:  HOME   
   Author:  dmcintoshtx@yahoo.com   
   Fandom:  X-FILES   
   Pairing:  Skinner/Krycek   
   Rating:  NC-17  FRAO   
   Disclaimer:  These characters belong to Chris Carter; not to me.   
   Warning:  Graphic description of severe injuries.   
   Summary:  Krycek introduces Skinner to a new way of life.   
   Beta:  Thank you Ursula for the great work you do!   
      
   HOME   
      
   Walter Skinner pulled his coat on, grabbed his briefcase and headed   
   for the door.  Just as his hand reached for the door knob, his phone   
   rang.  He hoped for a moment that his secretary would get it but   
   remembered she had left for home hours ago.  With a sigh, he walked   
   back over to his desk and lifted the receiver.   
      
   "Skinner," he said with a growl; letting his aggravation at being   
   called so late show in the tone of his voice.   
      
   "Skinner, listen to me before you hang up.  I know you don't have any   
   reason to trust me but I've got to tell you something that I just heard."   
      
   "What is it, Krycek?  It's late and I'm tired."   
      
   "I was just at the old man's place.  I heard two guys talking as they   
   were leaving.  They've been given a contract on you."   
      
   "Shit!  Give me one good reason why I should believe you?"   
      
   "Because it's the truth, Skinner!"   
      
   "Yeah and what do you get for warning me?  Huh?"   
      
   "Nothing!  Please … just watch your back!  I'll see if I can find out   
   what it's all about."   
      
   "You do that, Krycek.  Then you write it all down in triplicate and   
   send it through the proper channels."   
      
   "Skinner, WAIT!  Don't hang up!"   
      
   "I'm going home!"   
      
   "That's not a good idea.  Don't you have someplace you could stay for   
   a few days?  At least until I can find out what all this is about?"   
      
   "You're full of shit, Krycek and I'm not playing your games."  He   
   slammed the phone down and headed out the door.     
      
   His footsteps echoed as he walked down the empty hall towards the   
   elevator.  Not a soul around; all the offices were dark; everyone had   
   gone home.  He took a cautious look around as he stepped into the   
   elevator.     
      
   The door opened out into the deserted parking area.  He glanced   
   carefully around and walked to his car.  He scanned the area; it was   
   deserted.  He took a walk around his car, checking for any marks in   
   the dust; any tell-tale smudges that might indicate someone had   
   tampered with it; nothing.  He knelt down and looked underneath;   
   nothing there either.  He opened the hood gently, nothing there.  He   
   stood back a few feet and pressed the un-lock feature on his key   
   chain.  The door lock clicked open.  He carefully opened the door;   
   bent down and looked under the dash; nothing.   
      
   "Krycek, you're full of shit!"  He mumbled as he turned the key and   
   started the engine.    
      
   He drove straight home, his usual route; checking cautiously in his   
   rear view mirror; no one was following him.  At each stoplight he eyed   
   the cars next to him.  At one turn a car that was behind him for a few   
   blocks, followed him around the corner.  He removed his gun from its   
   holster while he watched in the mirror.  Two blocks down the car   
   turned left and he breathed a sigh of relief.   
      
   He pulled into the underground parking at Viva Towers and made his way   
   to his parking level.  One last turn to make and he'd be at his spot.   
    Just as he made the turn a bullet burst through his windshield.  He   
   hit the breaks and flattened himself out on the seat.  He reached up   
   and cut the engine off just as another bullet crashed through the   
   driver's side window.   
      
   "Two of them!  Damn!  Krycek was right!"  Skinner gripped his gun and   
   tried to figure an escape route.  More shots slammed into the side of   
   his car.  He heard footsteps running and peeked up enough to see two   
   men running towards his car.   
      
   Then there were tires screeching, more shots fired.  His car was hit   
   and spun half way around.  Bullets were still flying and someone was   
   yelling; calling his name.  He looked out again to see the other   
   person's passenger door open.  The driver was wearing a ski mask but   
   raised it enough for him to see that it was Alex Krycek.   
      
   "SKINNER!  Get in!"  Krycek called to him while he was shooting at the   
   two men who had taken cover between some cars.   
      
   Skinner hesitated only a moment before he slid his door open and made   
   a quick dash into Krycek's car.  The car immediately sped off.  When   
   they made it to the exit ramp it was blocked by a car.  Krycek cursed,   
   switched into reverse and burned rubber backwards.  He pulled into a   
   parking spot, cut the engine and waited.  The two men in the parked   
   car got out and were immediately joined by the other two.  With drawn   
   guns the four of them began a search.   
      
   "Oh shit!"  Krycek whispered to Skinner who was still on his knees and   
   leaning on the front seat.   
      
   "Any bright ideas?"  Skinner asked peeking out and assessing the   
   situation.   
      
   "Just one.  It looks like you and I are going to take a little trip."   
    He leaned over the top of Skinner and closed his eyes tightly.   
      
   A minute of light-headedness and Skinner was on his knees in a small   
   room with Krycek reaching a hand down to him.     
      
   "You can get up now.  It's safe."   
      
   "What the … Where are we?"  Skinner glanced around the small   
   non-descript room then up at Krycek.   
      
   "You're in a safe place."  He helped Skinner to his feet and grabbed   
   him when he faltered.   
      
   Skinner's hand flew to his shoulder and came back bloodied.     
      
   "C'mon.  Let's get that taken care of."  Krycek led him from the room   
   and down the hall into another room that was obviously a medical   
   facility of some kind.   
      
   "What's going on here, Krycek?  Where are we and how did we get here?"   
      
      
   "Alex?"  Jeremiah Smith walked through the doorway.  "They told me you   
   were back and in need of Medical."   
      
   "I'm back but it's not me in need of medical; it's Walter Skinner."    
   He nodded in Skinner's direction.   
      
   "Yes, I see," Smith said taking a closer look at Skinner and seeing   
   the blood.  "Over here please, Mr. Skinner."  He motioned to the   
   examining table and helped Skinner remove his jacket.   
      
   Skinner undid his tie with his left hand and unbuttoned his shirt,   
   pulling it down off his right shoulder.  The bullet had just grazed   
   him.  Not a serious wound but a bloody one.   
   Smith took some gauze squares from a container on the cupboard and   
   held it to the wound.  He stood holding it there for some time.    
   Skinner felt a warmth in the area and an easing of the raw pain.  When   
   Smith removed the gauze the wound had closed and only a reddish pucker   
   remained.  Skinner was stunned.   
      
   "I have heard of your work, Smith, but this is the first time I've   
   actually seen it.  Thank you."  Skinner slipped his shirt and jacket   
   back on.   
      
   "You're most welcome, Mr. Skinner.  The shoulder will be a little sore   
   for a day or two but you should be fine."  Then with a smile and a   
   brief hug for Krycek, he was gone.   
      
      
   "Mommy, hurry!  Hurry!"  The small voice from the outer room preceded   
   a little girl running into the room and into Krycek's arms.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)