From: dmcintoshtx@yahoo.com   
      
   CHAPTER 5   
      
   "Smith?  I've got something I need to bring up; it's kind of   
   personal."  Walter said after Jeremiah Smith examined him.   
      
   "What is it?"  Smith asked, pulling a stool up next to Walter's bed.   
      
   "For some reason, each time I wake up, I have to make a dash to the   
   bathroom and I ejaculate."   
      
   "That's not uncommon with the drugs that were given you."   
      
   "They drugged me?  Can't you give me something to counter-act whatever   
   it was?"   
      
   "I already have.  It should slow down and eventually go back to normal."   
      
   "It's just really strange.  I mean, this hasn't happened to me since I   
   was a teen-ager and then it was usually accompanied by a hot dream."    
   Walter relaxed somewhat.   
      
   "I have something I'd like to try.  I'll explain it and you can choose   
   to try it or not."   
      
   "What is it?  Will it help me get my memory back?"   
      
   "It may.  What it does is help you focus more clearly."   
      
   "How does it work?  Is it another drug?"   
      
   "No.  It's something that I do.   You close your eyes and I touch your   
   forehead.  Things will immediately become clearer."   
      
   "Hypnotism?"     
       
   "No.  Hypnotism is a mind controlling device; what I do doesn't   
   control or manipulate your mind in any way.  It simply allows you to   
   see things clearer, sharper."   
      
   "Would it be a permanent thing?"   
      
   "No.  And you can control it yourself.  If you want it to end, you   
   simply open your eyes and the contact is broken."   
      
   "Sounds simple enough; but I'm really not comfortable with anyone   
   messing with my mind."   
      
   "May I give you a small example of what I'm talking about?  We can do   
   it right here or we could go into my office."   
      
   "It would be nice to get out of this room for a bit.  Is your office   
   close by?  I'm not exactly dressed for a long walk."   
      
   "The waiting room is through that door and my office is just off that.   
    I think there should be a robe in here somewhere."  Smith got up and   
   rummaged through the cupboards and came up with a robe.   
      
   Skinner took it and put it on; anxious for his first steps out of the   
   room since he had gotten there two days before.   
      
   They settled in Smith's office; Skinner on the couch and Smith in a   
   chair across from him.   
      
   "Are you ready?"  Smith asked; pulling his chair up close.   
      
   "What do I have to do?"     
      
   "Just relax.  We'll try a little exercise first.  See that bowl of   
   fruit over on that table?"   
      
   Skinner took a quick look then back.  "Uh huh.  What about it?"   
      
   "Close your eyes now."   
      
   Skinner did as he was told and felt Smith's fingers against his forehead.   
      
   "Now, think about that bowl of fruit."   
      
   "Oh wow!  I see what you mean.  It's perfectly clear.  I can see each   
   and every grape in detail."   
      
   "OK.  Now you can either open your eyes and end this session or we can   
   go on.  Which do you prefer?"   
      
   "Let's go on."   
      
   "OK.  You said the last thing you remembered was sitting at your desk.   
    Think about that desk now and then describe it to me."   
      
   "It's nice desk.  Looks like walnut.  The top is polished to a fine   
   sheen; the style is plain and sleek."   
      
   "What's sitting on top of the desk?"   
      
   "Papers, a file folder, the silver framed photo of Evie, and a double   
   deck of cards."   
      
   "Take a good look at the file folder; what does it say on it?"   
      
   Walter turned his head sideways like he was reading a label.  "Hoyle's   
   Rules" he read.   
      
   "Can you tell me what that is?"   
      
   "It's the rules for Shanghai Rummy.  I had them printed out."   
      
   "OK.  Describe the photograph in the silver frame."   
      
   "It's Evie and she's wearing a pink striped shirt and blue jeans.  It   
   was taken during a picnic we went on."   
      
   "Is she alone in the photograph?"   
      
   "Yes.  She's wearing the locket I gave her.  It has her name on the   
   front."   
      
   "Do you remember Evie?  Tell me about her.  When and where did you   
   meet her?"   
      
   "Of course, I remember Evie.  I met her here, in Medical."   
      
      
   They were interrupted by Smith's com going off and Walter opened his   
   eyes.  The link was broken.   
      
   "I'm so sorry, Walter, but I'm needed elsewhere right now.  We can   
   continue this another time if you like."   
      
   "Yes, of course."  They stood up and Smith escorted him back to his   
   room.     
      
      
   Walter paced around his room a bit before he got back into bed.  His   
   thoughts were still confused.  He wondered where Mulder was and hoped   
   he would come back to see him soon.   
      
   What confused him most was this Evie.  He remembered the little girl   
   clearly now.  He could remember that picnic they went on but   
   everything else was still blurry around the edges.  Who was this girl   
   and how did he know her?  Why would he have a photo of her on his   
   desk?  And what desk was that anyway?  It wasn't the desk in his   
   office; that was standard Government Issue.  And it sure wasn't the   
   desk he had in the living room of his condo.  Yet he clearly   
   remembered sitting at that desk, knowing it was his desk.  So many   
   questions and so few answers.  Still the thought of this little girl   
   comforted him somehow.  He smiled when he thought of her.  She was   
   special; he knew that for sure.  He leaned his bed back and dozed off.   
      
   XXXX   
      
   Mulder, Krycek and Smith were quietly discussing Skinner's condition   
   in the waiting room when they heard a crash from his room.  They   
   hurried into his room in time to see him making a dash for the   
   restroom; his side table overturned in his haste.   
      
   They straightened his room and in moments he came back in looking   
   slightly embarrassed but trying not to let it show.   
      
   "Sir, are you all right?"  Mulder asked and went to him, assisting him   
   back into his bed.   
      
   "I'm fine, Mulder.  What's everyone doing here?  Has something happened?"   
      
   "No, Walter.  We were just discussing your condition out in the   
   waiting room when we heard the crash.  I thought maybe you'd fallen."   
    Smith said.   
      
   "What's he still doing here?"  He nodded towards Krycek.   
      
   "Alex works for me now, Walter.  He's been a big help in more ways   
   than I can explain."   
   Smith said.   
      
   "I can leave if you'd rather."  Krycek said.   
      
   "I'd rather!"  Skinner said.   
      
   Krycek nodded and headed out into the waiting room.  Smith followed   
   him out.   
      
      
   "He saved your life, Sir."  Mulder said.   
      
   "I thought you saved my life?  Or Smith?"   
      
   "It's complicated.  I'm not supposed to discuss it with you or give   
   you any details but if it wasn't for Krycek, I wouldn't have even   
   known you were missing and Smith certainly couldn't have fixed you up."   
      
   "Excuse me if I don't feel exactly 'fixed up'!"  Skinner said with a   
   little sneer.  "I've never been more confused and mixed up in my life.   
    I need to know what the hell happened to me, Mulder.  I don't   
   understand why, if Smith is such a great healer, he can't just fix me;   
   give me my memory back."   
      
   "The way he explained it to me was that they don't like to mess with   
   people's minds unless it's absolutely necessary.  They much prefer for   
   the patient to get it back by himself."   
      
   "That doesn't explain why Krycek is hanging around.  Is he expecting   
   me to say 'thank you' or something?"   
      
   "I think he's probably just worried about you."   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)