From: dmcintoshtx@yahoo.com   
      
   CHAPTER ELEVEN   
      
   They rode into the valley to the cheers of the others.  As soon as   
   they stopped, Mulder hurled himself at Scully, dragging her out of the   
   sidecar and kissing her violently.  Skinner walked up to Alex, kissed   
   him hard then pulled back a fist and punched him in the face, knocking   
   him down.  With that, he turned away and walked back to his barracks.   
      
   The group gathered around laughed and applauded while they hauled Alex   
   to his feet and shoved him towards the barracks after Skinner.   
      
   Walter stood with his back to the door, one hand on the bunk bed.    
   Alex came in and turned the lock on the door behind him so they   
   wouldn't be disturbed.   
      
   "I'm sorry."  Alex said.  Walter remained silent.  "I saw you in the   
   woods with Mulder.  The two of you were kissing.  Then you were on the   
   ground on top of him kissing him again."   
      
   Walter remained silent.     
      
   "I couldn't stay here; I couldn't … share you."   
      
   "You're a fool! You know that?  A God damned stupid fool!"  Walter   
   whirled on him.   
      
   They stared at each other, neither willing to back down or comment   
   further.   
      
   "What would you have done?"  Alex asked angrily.   
      
   "What would I have done?"  Walter thought for a moment.   
      
   "Yeah.  What would you have done if you had come into the woods and   
   seen me kissing Mulder; lying on the ground on top of him, kissing him?"   
      
   Walter stared at him for a moment then started out.  "I would have   
   come up to you and offered a hand to help you up as you had   
   *obviously* stumbled and as Mulder tried to help, he went down too   
   taking you with him.  I would have dusted you off and invited the two   
   of you inside for dinner."   
      
   "You lying son of a bitch," Alex chuckled.   
      
   In an instant Walter had him in his arms and kissed him passionately.   
    "I'm a lying son of a bitch and you're still a fucking idiot!  Did   
   you really think that something was going on between me and Mulder?"     
      
   "I didn't until I saw you kissing him."   
      
   "You didn't see me kissing him.  You saw him kissing me – big difference."   
      
   "Not from my angle."   
      
   "Then you should have stayed around long enough to ask questions!    
   Jesus, Alex.  You've been gone nearly a year!  I was sure they had   
   taken you!"  Walter held him close, crushing the life half out of him.   
      
   "They did but I got away.  And the camp they put me in just happened   
   to be the one where Scully was being held."   
      
   "Why didn't her name show up on any of the lists?"   
      
   "I don't think any of our teams got up into Canada."   
      
   "Canada?  You went to Canada?"   
      
   "Hell, I was so drunk; I didn't know where I was half the time.  I   
   just kept on going and drinking; trying to wipe what I'd seen out of   
   my memory."   
      
   "Like I said, you're an idiot."  Walter kissed him tenderly this time.   
      
   "I thought I'd lost you.  I couldn't stand it.  I couldn't stay around   
   here and see the two of you together."   
      
   "The only thing that matters now is that you're safe and back here   
   where you belong."   
      
   Alex melted against him; into the only warmth he had ever known and   
   sighed with contentment.   
      
   "Oh my God!  I haven't told you the news!"  Alex pulled back from the   
   embrace.   
      
   "The news is that you're home and you found Scully? I know that."    
   Walter pulled him back again but Alex resisted.   
      
   "It's all over!  They're gone.  The aliens are all gone and all the   
   camps are liberated.  Everyone is out in the streets celebrating!"   
      
   Walter stared at him open mouthed.  "Are you sure?  It could be some   
   kind of trick?"   
      
   "No, it isn't.  Here."  Alex pulled the leaflet out of his pocket and   
   gave it to him.  "It's all over, Walter.  That's from the President.    
   He wants everyone connected with the Bureau to come to D.C.  You'll be   
   made Director for sure!"   
      
   Walter scanned the document and as he read he heard the celebrating   
   out side as the cheers broke out.  They were all safe now.  Safe from   
   the aliens, but what was left of their country?  A shiver of fear went   
   through him as he thought about that.  Would things ever again get   
   back to where they were?   
      
   They were swept up in a maelstrom of celebration.  Everyone was   
   screaming and shouting and hugging everyone.  The SO men who were in   
   camp at the time took off on their motorcycles to investigate.  People   
   were dancing and singing "Happy Days are Here Again".  A shower   
   finally sent them all inside for lunch.  They were all so excited they   
   could barely eat.  Afterwards there was packing to do then came time   
   for good-byes.   
      
   They loaded up their belongings and climbed into the trucks.  Everyone   
   was hugging and promising to write one another or keep in touch in   
   whatever way they could.  Even Harry was weeping and he said his good   
   byes and hugging everybody.   
      
   "Alex, I'll never forget what you did for me; for us all.  You made me   
   realize that I am capable of a lot more than I ever dreamed possible."   
    He grabbed Alex and hugged him.  "You ever get to NYC, you look me   
   up!  I'm Yellow Cab number 6048."   
      
   "Yeah, thanks, Harry."  Alex answered as he disentangled himself.   
      
   "I mean it now.  I'm in the phone book.  Call me or come by.  I'll buy   
   you a beer."   
      
   "I'll do that.  Take care of yourself now."   
      
   "I will.  I know how to now, thanks to you."  Harry said and climbed   
   into the back of the truck.   
      
   "Are you ready to go, Walter?"  Mulder asked as he and Scully walked   
   up, their arms wrapped around each other.   
      
   "In a minute."  Walter said and turned to Alex.  "So what are your plans?"   
      
   "I don't have any.  For the first time in four years, all I have to do   
   is look out for myself."   
      
   "Why not come back to D.C. with us?  I'm sure I could put in a word   
   for you; maybe get you back on at the Bureau."   
      
   "No thanks.  I'm not the neck tie and briefcase type."  Alex answered   
   as he sat on his motorcycle.   
      
   "You could be if you wanted to."  Walter said, dreading what he knew   
   was coming.   
      
   "You go on to D.C.  Do your thing, Walter.  They need you now more   
   than ever.  What they don't need is an ex-Consortium assassin."   
      
   "No one needs to know about that."   
      
   "Enough do to make working at the Bureau out of the question for me."   
      
   "So you're saying 'Good bye' then?"  Walter hated that his voice and   
   his words sounded so needy.   
      
   "Come on, Walter.  The last truck is leaving."  Mulder called to him   
   as he helped Scully on board and jumped on himself.   
      
   Alex pulled his helmet on, keyed the ignition on his motorcycle and   
   roared off.  Walter watched him go as he climbed on board the truck.    
   He watched as the motorcycle cleared the bridge, crossed the fields   
   and disappeared into the tunnel.  He glanced back for one last look at   
   the settlement just before they entered the tunnel.  A great sadness   
   welled up inside of him.  This had been his home for two years.  He   
   had found safety there, freedom, companionship and much, much more.    
   He swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to join in with all the   
   others who were celebrating going home.  He didn't have much luck. He   
   couldn't help but wonder what they were going to find when they got   
   there.     
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)