Shit! Suddenly he realised, Krycek hadn’t been faithful to him all those years as he’d supposed. Mulder had been fooling himself when he had thought the programming had made Krycek true to him, irrationally or otherwise. Oh shit, we’ve been having unprotected sex!

He rapped his knuckles on the door, making sure Skinner wasn’t going to shoot him when he entered his own apartment.

He nodded to his boss, finding it hard to meet the man’s eyes without blushing. What did you do with him? he couldn’t help imaging the two of them together, couldn’t help picturing how hot they would look together.

"You all right?" he asked Krycek, who was holding one hand over his stomach, his colour very pale.

Krycek nodded quickly, "Yeah, fine, thanks."

Well, he kept the promise of not telling if Skinner hit him, Mulder thought. Mulder noticed Skinner looking away, uncomfortable, a little embarrassed by his loss of control, probably.

"You hungry?"

Krycek nodded automatically, but Skinner overrode him, "We’ll eat later. Get packing, Agent Mulder, we have to be on the road soon. I have arranged alternative accommodation. As soon as Scully gets back we are all leaving. And pack some stuff for Krycek."

"I have some things at the place I was staying..."

"Too dangerous."

Mulder realised this was the first time Skinner had spoken to Krycek directly, excluding the angry scene he’d just overheard, even if it was just two words. Perhaps they were going to work out their problems, work together on this... and Mulder found that core of jealousy after all. Krycek’s romantic past was no business of his, but Mulder didn’t want him making eyes at his boss. And there was no denying Skinner was an attractive man. Krycek had made his own emotional choices over his involvement with Skinner, he hadn’t been given a choice with his involvement with Mulder. Skinner is not your competition, Mulder, he chastised himself. But watching Krycek watch Skinner, he wasn’t so sure. He’d been watching me like that yesterday.

Mulder was ecstatic, the preliminaries were perfect. They had the doctors in custody, and the guys who directed the entire thing were running scared. He’d get that cigarette smoking bastard on this one too, or at least put a decent dent in the guy’s empire. He warned himself not to get too confident, I’ve been close before, and it’s always fallen through. But as far as he could tell, they didn’t know for sure about Mulder’s surprise witness, and the longer he could keep that quiet, the better their chances. Certainly the better their chances of keeping Krycek alive.

Their bungalow had been turned from the Lone Gunmen’s war room into a continual recycling of attempts to keep Krycek entertained, quiet, and out of trouble. It had been two days, and he was getting increasingly difficult to deal with. Right now he was close to bouncing off the ceiling with excess nervous energy. They understood why he was so nervous, but they had weeks, probably months of this to go through before he could even step outside the door. Everyone was getting a little cabin fever, but Krycek was in prison in these rooms. Both Skinner and Scully would have been happy to leave him gagged, chained or sedated, but Mulder had vetoed any physical restrictions. It hadn’t been much of a showdown with Skinner on that issue, after he’d explained Krycek’s problems with being tied down. Mulder wanted to believe it was because Skinner was a reasonable man, not because he and Krycek were working out their differences.

Mulder started on the complex secret knock Langley had insisted upon, forgot some of the knocks and threatened to knock Langley before he was admitted entrance.

Frohike, Langley, Krycek, and Scully all appeared quite engrossed in a game of Mystery Date, and he waited ‘til Scully drew the dud (as she always did) before interrupting them.

"We have our court date!" he announced, and Scully applauded. When there was no other reaction he gave Krycek a jab with the toe of his shoe.

"What?" Krycek looked up annoyed, crease appearing at the top of his nose, he was sure he’d be dating the head of the football team on his next throw.

"How’s my star witness then?"

"Fine," Krycek hauled himself to his feet, "Whatcha want?"

"Nothing. Here, brought you a gift."

"Oh, thanks," Krycek chirped taking the box of chocolates over to the bed, and starting to chow down. No thought of sharing until he’d at least picked out his favourites.

"How come he gets candy?" Frohike complained.

Mulder quietly whispered from the side of his mouth, "Trying to keep him quiet for a while."

"I heard that!"

"Mulder, can I speak to you for a moment?" Scully gestured for Mulder to follow her into the other room.

"What is it, Scully?"

"Do you think he’ll hold up on the stand?"

"Why? Is he changing his story?"

"No, it’s just... sometimes he says strange things. His emotional responses are... inappropriate. If I ask him a question based on people he knew he’ll give totally contradictory statements in the same sentence. You’re the psychologist, surely you’ve noticed."

"Yes, but he should still be able to give a reliable testimony."

"Is that all that’s important to you? Krycek is showing signs of induced sociopathy, he’ll be unable to function in normal society, and your only thought is for the case? I thought you and he... well, I thought you had something..."

"Scully, this is what I’ve been working for all my life. We have the chance to bring them down now. I’m sorry about Krycek, and I’ll do everything I can for him once this is all over, but there’s nothing we can do right now. I’ve considered getting him a professional psychiatrist, but if they mess up the programming he could get worse, or he could start forgetting the things we need him to remember. We can’t take that risk right now. And besides, his behaviour now will impress on a jury..."

"It’s not going to be a closed trial?"

"No." Mulder looked a little nervous.

"What?"

"I discussed this with Skinner. There’s no way we can keep him alive if we keep this secret. When we get closer to the trial, the information will be strategically leaked. It’ll be an open trial."

"You’ll turn this into the OJ trial all over again?" She couldn’t believe she was hearing this.

"It’s the only way we’ll be able to protect him, or us. We keep this quiet until we go to trial, then there will be a carefully orchestrated set of media leaks."

"This will become a total media circus. You’ll destroy Krycek’s life."

"He’ll have a life. He’ll be alive at the end of it. That’s better than he came into this with."

"How will he have any kind of life after the world finds out about what he is, what he’s been involved in?"

"I can’t think of that, Scully. Not and do what has to be done. And since when have you and Krycek become so pally anyway?" Mulder tried to keep the irritation out of his voice.

"What’s happening?" Krycek stood in the doorway.

"Nothing, it’s okay." Mulder rubbed the bridge of his nose, and Scully pushed past Krycek to leave, taking the last of the chocolates as he handed them to her.

"Trouble in paradise?"

"No, come in, Alex. Shut the door."

"Do you want to tell me something?"

Mulder hesitated, "No." He wrapped his arms around Krycek, holding him close for a moment. He used a finger to tip Krycek’s chin up, looking deep into fallen angel eyes. "You’re important to me, you know that?"

Krycek looked at him quizzically.

"I don’t mean just for this case, you are important to me." He pressed his lips to Krycek’s, kissing him softly, pulling away, moving in to capture the full lower lip and worry it gently between his own. He worked their jaws together, holding Krycek’s head in both hands, sucking Krycek’s tongue into his own mouth, nibbling along its whole length before releasing him.

"You know, Mulder? That’s the first time you’ve kissed me properly."

"I’ve kissed you plenty."

"No, you kissed Sandy, you’ve never kissed me."

"Same person."

"No, not as far as you were concerned."

"Well, maybe we have some lost time to make up then." He cupped Krycek’s head close, and proceeded to do that, using his tongue to explore every crevice, to explore teeth and gums and palate. Krycek sucked his tongue back, and Mulder followed, enjoying the vibrations of Krycek’s squeaky chuckle, following them deep into Krycek’s throat.

He turned and flicked the latch on the door. "If we have sex now, you be quieter this time, okay? Scully can deal with it, but I really don’t want Frohike making comments."

"I dunno, Mulder," Krycek grinned, his hands massaging Mulder’s butt, "It’s been a while..."

Mulder pulled away and dropped the rest of the shopping by the bed. He started to remove his coat, folding it neatly over the chair. Scully had a room to herself, The Lone Gunmen had the main room between them, but Mulder, Krycek, and Skinner – when he was here – all shared this room, so Mulder was forever having to think ‘neat’. "Let’s talk,"

"Let’s not," Krycek dumped his shirt on the floor, moving to undo Mulder’s tie. He wrapped it around his knuckles, tight around Mulder’s neck, holding Mulder close while he ravaged Mulder’s mouth. Chocolate tasting kisses, Mulder smiled. He’d never been a big fan of candy, but Krycek was, and he tasted of it now. Mulder believed he could learn to love the taste.

"No, Krycek, I mean it, I think we should talk."

Krycek shrugged, undoing the buttons on Mulder’s shirt, "Sure, okay. What do you want to talk about?" He liked listening to Mulder, the flat monotones that expressed the most amazing concepts as if they were common everyday occurrences. His finger tips found the hair across Mulder’s clavicle, and he rubbed and pulled there a moment. He liked this fine down, and bent his head to kiss it, happily letting it tickle lips and nose, while his fingers followed the trail of buttons, teasing Mulder’s skin, dipping into navel, until he found belt buckle.

Mulder grabbed his shoulders, pushing him back a little to get his attention. "Krycek, I’m serious, we need to talk."

"That’s fine, Mulder, I’m not arguing. But we can talk naked, yes?" Krycek grinned, slipping Mulder’s fly down, his hands inside finding the warm and getting warmer cotton of Mulder’s underwear. He brushed over the firmness he found there, finding the outline of Mulder’s growing erection, finding the tiny dampness where excitement was already leaking.

Mulder pushed harder, toppling Krycek onto the bed. "Krycek, I want to talk about you!" his tone was a little exasperated, but it was hard to try and be taken seriously with an erection sticking out the front of his pants.

Krycek shrugged, "Sure, go for it," but he sat up on the bed, bent over, and started untying his shoelaces, before grabbing Mulder’s feet and pulling off his loafers. Mulder was forced to drop a hand to Krycek’s head to maintain his balance, and Krycek simply grabbed him round the thighs and dumped him onto the bed. Krycek wriggled out of his jeans, then straddled Mulder’s chest. His hands got busy rubbing pectoral muscles, scraping finger nails until the small brown nubs of Mulder’s nipples ached, sensitised, needing his mouth.

What do I call you, Krycek? You’re pretty, but I don’t think you’d like me to call you that. Handsome? That’s a bit weak. Beautiful? Definitely, but inappropriate, "You’re quite lovely, Alex," he whispered, his hands cupping Krycek’s face.

Krycek looked at him, pausing in his explorations of Mulder’s chest, a little surprised. Mulder’s thumbs traced the outline of full lips, and Krycek licked at them, before turning and sucking Mulder’s finger tips.

He mumbled around an index finger, "I think I think you’re pretty lovely too, Mulder."

"You think you think?"

"I don’t know what I think," his smile was both sad and playful.

"No, I guess you don’t." Mulder wanted to distract him from that as soon as possible. "Hang on, let me get these off," he grabbed Krycek’s butt, lifting it a little so he could heave off the last of his clothing, letting it fall to the floor – so much for neat.

"Come here," he grabbed Krycek’s shoulders, pulling him down ‘til they lay side by side, lengthways across the bed. His hands caressed Krycek’s back, shoulders, riffled through his hair, and ran down the length of thigh. He kissed the welcoming mouth, exploring thoroughly, deciding there really was little different between kissing Sandy and kissing Alex: both were past-times he was willing to devote a lot of time and effort towards perfecting. He stroked firm stomach and taut muscles, his caresses gentle and slow, until Krycek’s urgency was dulled by the promise of completion.

"Alex?" he waited until Krycek’s expression was almost dreamy.

"Hmm?" Krycek raised his head from where he’d been kissing Mulder’s collar bone.

"What do you want for the future?"

"What future?" he asked, perplexed. These were not the type of questions he wanted to answer, and this had been so nice up until now.

"After the case, once this is all over. What do you want to do with the rest of you life."

Alex rolled onto his back, putting his hands to his head. He rubbed his eyes, suddenly tired, "Why are you asking me this, Mulder? Why now?"

"This case won’t last forever. When it’s finished, you’ll have to start making plans. I thought, if you had an idea of what you want... I could help..."

"Mulder, be serious. For one thing, it’s highly unlikely that I will survive this court case. They have assassins everywhere. You, Scully, Skinner, and the three stooges out there, don’t make a decent body guard between you," his warm arousal was fading fast. "I made my choice when I decided to help you. I’m going to die, I’m quite prepared to die. As long as I hurt those that did this to us, I don’t care anymore. I have nothing left to lose, nothing to gain, and I just want to grab a little bit of happiness before I bite the bullet. Okay?" He held his hands out in angry supplication.

Mulder considered a flip comment, but he could see, under the matter-of-fact resignation there was real fear. Krycek really didn’t dare hope to walk away from this fight. He bent his head to place a kiss in the middle of Krycek’s chest. "Alex?"

"Hmm, what?" Krycek’s irritation was already fading. He couldn’t remain angry around Mulder for long.

"You know this spot here, between the collar bones at the base of your throat," Mulder put a finger into the tiny indentation.

"Yeah, it has a name, but I don’t remember it. Why?"

"It’s really sexy on you."

Krycek laughed at the unexpected and ridiculous compliment, turning that to a sigh as Mulder’s lips followed his finger. A warm wet tongue lapped and probed the patch of skin under discussion, absorbing the vibrations of the laughter.

"What was in the bag, Mulder?"

"What bag?"

"The bag of stuff you brought in, there," Krycek pointed.

"Oh, that bag."

"Mulder!"

"Things. Presents."

"Snacks?"

"Alex! What is it with you and food?"

"I have to watch my weight, all the time. But I figure, hey, I might be dead tomorrow, might as well eat. You’d be amazed how some time at the bottom of a silo with nothing but slime and aliens helps you appreciate the tastier things in life." He made to roll towards the bag, but Mulder beat him to it.

"No snacks."

"No interest, then." Krycek lay back again, trying to wrap Mulder up in his legs.

"Ah, you may change your mind when you see what I have." Mulder started to rummage in the bag, holding up a large tube of flavoured lubricant, "See?"

"Okay, is it edible?"

Mulder looked down, exasperated. "As a matter of fact, yes, it’s strawberry glacé flavoured. Perfect for blow jobs."

"Not chocolate?"

He sighed deeply, "Not chocolate, but I figured I’d be the one eating most of it."

Krycek smiled widely, "Sounds good to me. What else did you get?"

"Hang on, I’ll show you. Just gonna get you lubed up first."

"Well, that’s a romantic way of putting it," Krycek grinned, and wrapped his hands around the backs of his knees, drawing them to his chest so Mulder could get down to business.

Mulder opened the tube of PeterButter, but stared down thoughtfully before using it. "You have a very cute ass, Krycek, you know that?"

"You’re just full of compliments today, aren’t you, Mulder?" Krycek said, his tone making it clear he wasn’t protesting at all.

"And an extremely cute asshole," Mulder bent down and pressed his lips to the tiny pink bud.

Krycek jerked a little at the contact, "First time anyone’s ever said that to me!"

"Do you mind if I kiss it?"

"No, not at all, go ahead," Krycek said, his voice falsely mocking, ultra polite. He’s gonna... he’s gonna... he’s gonna...

Krycek couldn’t believe it, as Mulder took that intimacy. He hugged his legs back tighter, grimacing in excited expectation, Oh god he’s doing it...

Mulder’s kisses pressed wetly to his flesh, around perineum, inner thigh where the skin was softer than satin, then back again, firm, not at all tentative. Warm wet swirls circled the pink bud, smoothing it out, making the sphincter contract then relax in involuntary pulses. A tongue tip pressed forward, breached muscle tight again after days of abstinence, muscle that quivered with anticipation.

The muscles in Krycek’s abdomen seemed to contract, forcing his chin to his chest for a moment, before he snapped back on the bed, "Uh..."

"Krycek, quiet!" Mulder looked up, his hands braced on the back’s of Krycek’s thighs, holding him in place. "If you make any noise I’ll stop, you understand?"

Krycek nodded frantically, awkward to do lying like this.

"Do you want me to continue?" Mulder teased.

Krycek nodded again, "Please," that tease had made him ache.

That tongue was back, prodding, invading; softer, smaller, but hotter and more flexible than any cock, investigating and finding all of Krycek’s secrets. He turned his head, trying to muffle his whimpers in his shoulder, biting his own skin to quiet his uncontrollable squeaks. "Please... oh please, please..." he couldn’t help the whispers, begging quietly. He couldn’t believe Mulder would do this, and the simple fact that it was Mulder was sending his arousal sky high. He slipped one hand down the back of his thigh, he was so tense now he didn’t need the support, and grabbed his own penis. He jerked himself, trying not to move, trying desperately to do nothing to stop that wonderful fucking tongue.

Mulder was using that tongue like a hot little cock now, jabbing and thrusting it up into Krycek in rhythm with Krycek’s own movements, finding flesh as soft as wet tissues, silky, wet, vulnerable, moaning soft and low. Every nerve was on fire, prickling even the skin of his face, making his eyes burn, and the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Mulder’s moans and his own snorting breaths reached his ears, he barely noticed the small pain in his tongue as the sweet metal taste of blood filled his mouth. Krycek pulled faster, one hand massaging his balls, the other pulling himself in the rhythm that brought him off the fastest, I’m gonna cum, I’m gonna cum with Mulder’s tongue up my ass... Mulder’s! "Mulder!" He arched suddenly, barely catching his instinctive shout, biting his tongue harder, mutating it into a sharp, "Ahfff," as he came, shooting cum over his own stomach, chest, the second shot catching even his chin. Beautiful… exquisite…

Mulder’s tongue was suddenly climbing his shaft, swallowing his erection whole. Mulder started sucking hard, catching the last of the jism, his fingers pinching the base of Krycek’s shaft, and working it hard. His hands were everywhere, finding every sensitive spot on Krycek’s body, doing everything he knew to make sure Krycek didn’t lose the erection. If he could keep the blood from drawing away, Mulder could keep Krycek erect. He let go for a second, grabbed the lube and greased up a finger to slide it into Krycek’s body, before bending his head to start a strong suction, his head bobbing, his hair flopping into his eyes with the intensity of his actions.

Krycek was floating, caught in post-coital bliss between the sensations of Mulder’s talented mouth, and a finger inside flesh turned to liquid. He murmured nothing happily, his hips gyrating lazily, in counterpoint to the frenzy of Mulder’s felating.

Mulder sat back, releasing the erection with a pop, watching it bounce and twitch against Krycek’s belly. Yup, that’s gonna stay up a while longer, he thought in satisfaction, before rummaging in his bag of tricks again.

"Guess what else I’ve got?"

"Don’t care, actually," Krycek gasped, he felt totally destroyed, and never wanted to care about anything else again.

"Looks like I’ve found out your little secret there, Krycek," Mulder smiled indulgently.

Krycek nodded. It was supposed to have been him who used his ass and mouth and his wiles to seduce and manipulate Mulder, not Mulder finding out how to turn Krycek into his own personal love slave.

He slipped the ring around his penis, fitting the small egg shaped generator between penis and balls. It fit rather snugly, not really meant for a man his size, but still comfortably. Like a firm cock-ring, really. He picked up the lubricant, and placed the nozzle at Krycek’s anus, still open for business with Krycek once again holding his legs back, and shot a dollop up inside.

"Raise your hips a little," he instructed, before dragging Krycek’s up onto his lap. He pressed forward, pushing in. No resistance at all, it was merely moments before his bulk was inserted, his balls pressed against Krycek’s hot little asshole.

"Comfortable?"

Krycek nodded, his eyes closed, his expression totally relaxed.

"Okay, here we go." Mulder flipped the switch on the remote control up to full, and watched in delight as Krycek’s eyes flew open, his expression completely stunned as the vibrations shot through his body.

"What the hell is that?" Krycek almost shouted.

"Shut up!" Mulder looked at the door, "It’s a porator."

"What the hell is a porator?"

"It’s a toy." Mulder showed him the remote unit, "See? It turns the penis into a vibrator."

Krycek flopped back onto the bed, his expression making it clear he’d never heard of such a thing, and didn’t wholly approve of being surprised like this! He’d used toys on other people, when they’d asked for that pleasure, he’d never had anyone take the time to use one on his own body. He’d never thought to use one himself. The vibrations were going through his ass, up through his cock, through his belly and eventually to every part of his body. He twisted, trying to relieve the pressure... but it felt... it felt weird. It was noisy, but he could feel... it kind of felt... he couldn’t quite describe it.

"Feels like my butt is melting," he said finally.

Mulder put his hands behind Krycek’s knees and slowly eased them up and back 'til they were pressed into the bed by Krycek’s head, crawling forward himself until Krycek was bent in half. Krycek couldn’t breathe easily in this position, but with the generator pressed into his balls, this took the strain off for Mulder. Mulder had also decided, from the last time he’d had Krycek in this position, the view was fantastic! He could see all the delicious tasty bits of Krycek’s body and watch his face as his arousal grew. He got up onto his toes, his hands wrapped around Krycek’s calves, thankful for Krycek’s flexibility. The man was made for fucking.

Krycek stared at the point their bodies merged, his chin tucked awkwardly into his chest. The only thing separating their bodies was the little beige ring of plastic. There was the tiniest blur of movement, not nearly enough for the sensations that coursed through his body now, with neither of them moving.

"Whatever you paid for this thing, Mulder, it was worth it," he choked out.

Mulder would have nodded if it wouldn’t have probably made him fall over. It had been the most expensive model in the shop, but, yep, this was worth it.

"Alex?"

"Uhm?"

"I can’t thrust."

"Okay."

"I think I’m coming."

"Okay."

Krycek couldn’t do much like this, but held onto the other man’s elbows as Mulder came, silently, without moving, his face screwed up as if he was in agony. Krycek had no feeling of hot cum splashing into his body, a sensation he missed, but he realised Mulder’s new toy was making him numb to just about every other sensation.

Very slowly, like an arthritic old man, Mulder crawled back, until he was squatting on the bed, and Krycek’s ass was on his lap again, legs wrapped loosely around his shoulders, sliding down awkwardly. He groaned long and hard, a deep rumble in his chest, his head falling back.

Krycek stretched his legs out and down behind Mulder, as much as possible without dislodging himself, and arched his back, his arms up over his head, "Next time we’ll have to put some music on to cover the sound of that thing," he observed.

Mulder nodded, eyes shut, "Mmm. You okay?"

"Sure, I’ll wait." Krycek wiggled a little, trying to settle, but it was rather difficult to relax with the thrumming that spread out through his groin. "It’s making my cock vibrate too, a little," he pointed out.

Mulder put thumb and finger around the tip of Krycek’s cock, holding it still, rubbing his thumb over and over the glans. "I’m not going soft, Krycek," he said, sounding not terribly concerned.

"Do you want to pull out?"

"No. I don’t think I can do much about it just yet, but it’s nice being inside you. If you don’t mind, that is?" he smirked down at the other man, his touches lightly teasing.

"Actually, my back is killing me. Mind if I turn over?"

It took some serious manoeuvring, Krycek’s legs too long and Mulder too awkward, but finally Krycek lay comfortably on his stomach, Mulder cushioned on his back. He would have dozed off if he’d been able to relax, but he drifted in a mildly aroused state instead.

"You still hard?" Mulder asked.

"A little."

"Wonder how long the batteries last on this thing?"

Krycek laughed a little, his eyes drifting shut, his hips gyrating with a very relaxed rhythm.

"Krycek? Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Since this happened to you, this genderbender business, has it changed you, changed your sexuality?"

"No. I’ve always been gay."

"I didn’t mean that, I mean..." it was getting harder to form words, his body was screaming out both to rest, and to reach another orgasm, a contradiction he didn’t have the energy to pursue. "...are you more sexual, for example, or do you feel stronger desire?"

"Oh, yes, very definitely. And it’s not the same. Before I was usually looking for affection, or approval. Really more interested in emotional closeness, but I’m horny all the time now. And once I’m turned on, it’s all but uncontrollable. I can’t hold back once I get the idea, and I find if I start thinking about you, or about sex in general, I’m restless and uncomfortable until I get it. And I don’t mean I get a hardon, it’s like... all over. And more intense."

"How different is it, coming as a man, as opposed to a woman? Which one is better?"

"Apples and oranges, Mulder, apples and oranges."

"That’s not a very good answer."

"I’d have to think about that to give a better answer, and I don’t wanna think that hard right now."

"Okay, try this one. Before this, could you come more than once in a session?"

"Never tried before on myself, but in my experience, most guys can, given sufficient provocation. In fact I knew one guy who could go bang five or six times an hour!"

"Oh. Impressive!" Mulder mollified himself over the fact he couldn’t have five or six with the ego boo he had been the first to take the time to give Krycek more than one. He moved again, the plastic egg shaped porator was pushing his balls down, away from his shaft, making him aware that a second orgasm was going to be difficult to reach.

"Mulder?"

"Hmm," he was distracted from his undulations.

"I read the file on the Kindred, back when I was your partner, to find out what it was they’d done to me. It said that when they touched humans, they exuded pheromones that made sexual response impossible to avoid. I remember what it felt like – the totally helpless desire, unable to stop responding even to an unattractive partner. Do you feel that? Is that why you sleep with me?"

"No, of course not. I mean, I do feel a lot of desire, but it’s natural." He started up a gentle thrusting, testing his sensitivity against the wet silk insides that encased him. The hot butter walls of an ass that sucked his cock like a hungry mouth.

"Are you sure?"

Mulder paused again, "I think so. At least... my desire is strong, I get very horny with you, but it seems pretty natural to me. The Kindred killed by having sex with humans, and I haven’t infarcted yet."

"Be serious, Mulder," Krycek started to rock back, his own rhythm influenced by Mulder’s. "Actually, there’s something you may not have thought about..."

"What’s that," Mulder got up onto his elbows, starting to thrust in earnest, staring down between them at the little round butt presented for his pleasure.

"I caught... this… through touching them. Through exchange of bodily fluids. Will you get it? Will Scully? She touched them too, not as much as I did, but she did. You’re touching me, what if I pass it along? What if it’s like AIDS?"

"Well, if I catch it, you’re gonna have one hell of an ugly girlfriend, Alex!"

Krycek couldn’t help laughing, nothing phased this guy! Mulder’s warm wet mouth suckled the back of his neck; kisses as a reward for his laughter.

"Hey, Alex. If I do catch it, you and I could get into some serious lesbian action!" Mulder’s thrusts were lifting Krycek’s ass from the bed now, Mulder’s balls, tight and painful, were ground between their bodies, and the porator was pushed into the gap between Krycek’s thighs with every shove, still vibrating each individual nerve in Krycek’s body.

"No way, Mulder, I’m not into women. The last time caused enough trouble."

"Not even if it was me?"

"Mulder, as a man, you’re gorgeous! As a woman... No Way!"

"Ah, you’re just saying that because you’ve never seen me in drag!"

Alex buried his head in his arms, shoulders shaking with laughter and the image of Mulder in a dress. Never happen! But then... this was Mulder...

He spread his legs a little further, raised his hips a little higher, giving Mulder a more comfortable ride. He could feel the fat head of Mulder’s cock as it pushed in, deeper and longer than any other man he’d ever had, distending his rectum. He could feel the slide of the shaft, spreading his anus, and the vibrations felt like they were waging war on his prostate. His broken breathing sounded more like sobbing. He could see Mulder’s forearm by his head, the tendons flexing and relaxing with Mulder’s movements, the light hairs dusting his warm flesh. He could smell nothing but the sex scent of their bodies, and hear nothing but their breathing, Mulder’s muffled exclamations of pleasure. In every way Mulder filled his body, filled his senses, filled his world; and he could remember no other time in his life when he had been so happy.

His own penis was starting to slide in the small puddle of leaking precum, and he raised his hips higher, avoiding the sensation, wanting to concentrate on nothing other than the large fat cock that plundered and vibrated his ass. His feet were up off the bed, his toes curling.

Krycek wondered if he’d ever be allowed to fuck Mulder. Not that he’d ask, yet. Not that Mulder would offer. It was a nice fantasy, to bury himself in that hard, runner’s bubble butt, but he could live without it.

"So if I did become a woman, you’d absolutely refuse to have sex with me?"

Krycek shrugged, giving up and slipping a hand underneath himself, starting a gentle stroking in time with Mulder’s thrusts. "Would it matter?"

"It’s not just sex. It’s just... I kinda miss Sandy."

"Sandy is me. I’m the same person, it’s just tits and cunt, Mulder. Tits are so overrated."

"It’s not just tits," Mulder slapped Krycek’s bottom, enjoying the sound of the impact, doing it again to the other cheek. "She was nice."

"It’s still me, Mulder." Krycek started to undulate, squeezing internal muscles up and down Mulder’s shaft. It took a lot of concentration to get the rhythm just right... up, down, squeeze and release anus, squeeze and release deep down pressure, but he was well rewarded by Mulder’s low moans, and more of the firm, open handed slaps, that made his flesh a shade pinker.

"Ohhhhhhhh," Mulder muffled his own arousal against Krycek’s flesh.

I have my own tricks, Mulder, Krycek thought, not just distracting you with conversational sex, "What do you miss?"

"I don’t know specifically, hmmm, I suppose she always listened, she was sweet."

"I still listen to you, Mulder, personally I find you quite fascinating. I’m more than happy to be your audience. And what are you saying, don’t you think I’m sweet?" Krycek tried to distract Mulder, reaching around to grab Mulder’s butt and get his thrusts coming harder and faster.

"Oh yeah, sweet, very sweet," Mulder whispered, distracted, close to Krycek’s ear. Mulder’s lips fastened on Krycek’s earlobe, worrying it gently with his teeth. One hand slipped under Krycek’s body, to take over stimulating his cock, his tongue slipped into Krycek’s aural channel, breathing hot and heavy as his excitement began to peak again. He let his lips form a seal around the small hole, sucking softly, keeping his mouth occupied as his thrusts sped up, shoving again and again into the warm wet haven of Krycek’s body, into flesh that sucked so enthusiastically at his own.

Krycek’s cock started to jerk in Mulder’s hand, and he moaned softly, his orgasm a slow easy slide from arousal to ecstasy, vibrations diffusing and spreading waves of pleasure throughout his entire body. Mulder’s other hand slid down to cup his balls, holding them gently, letting him feel totally encased in stimulating protective warmth as he poured his seed over Mulder’s fingers and the bed spread.

"Aaiii, Mulder..." Krycek sighed, his throat aching trying to keep himself from crying out loud.

Lover, Mulder thought vaguely as he slowly came down from the high, his head resting on Krycek’s shoulder, listening to his heart beat. That’s the first time I’ve thought of him that way. Lover. Not interloper, not partner, not suspect, not enemy, not useful tool in this fight against the powers that be. Lover. Mulder realised he was uncomfortable with this concept. He’d never had a lover as such, at least not since Phoebe, and she had always been a mystery to him, her memory recalled as much anger and frustration as passion. Had he ever loved Phoebe? He couldn’t really recall now.

Mulder very slowly eased himself upright. The batteries on his new toy were dying, thankfully, the stimulation was starting to become an irritant. He turned it off, and very carefully removed it, dropping it on the floor.

Another nightmare. Mulder gave a long suffering sigh as he was kicked again. At least Krycek wasn’t screeching in his own weird language this time. This time the burbling was mostly a quiet mixture of English and Gibberish.

"Dark," he said quite clearly, his hands clawing at Mulder’s sides.

The silo. Mulder got the impression Krycek didn’t know exactly how long he’d been down there, but obviously long enough to come to terms with his own impending death, to do some serious thinking about the potential of any future he might have had. "Were you scared, Krycek?" he asked the sleeping man.

Krycek whimpered, his forehead creasing, a distinct line furrowing the top of his nose, burbling something that could have been ‘trapped’. His fingers were starting to get painful, as if he was trying to dig his way through Mulder, so Mulder started to rub his back, making soothing noises.

"Did you think about what you’d done?" Mulder whispered, making his questions sound like a lullaby, "Did you think about divine retribution while you were dying down there? Hush, you’re safe now."

"Murble," Krycek gurgled softly, his tense distress starting to fade, before giving Mulder another gentle kick. "Hungry."

Mulder grinned, and slid one finger into Krycek’s mouth, enjoying the automatic suckle. Krycek was relaxing against him, starting up an arrhythmic rub against Mulder’s hip.

Mulder pulled him closer, burying his nose in Krycek’s hair, inhaling the clean masculine scent of him. Without the grease he used to hold his hair in place, Krycek’s hair was naturally silky, and Mulder closed his eyes, enjoying the scents and textures of having another human being in his arms. His free hand made large comforting circles across Krycek’s back, I can’t believe you’re turning on again, not after what we did earlier, and only a few hours sleep! Mulder thought, as the very start of Krycek’s incipient erection twitched against Mulder’s hip. Another rub, and a soft sigh...

"Walter..."

Mulder got up sharply, tipping Krycek onto the floor. He washed his face, gave himself a brisk rub down in the ensuite bathroom, wetting his hair, trying to restore some order. When he’d finished, Krycek was still sitting on the floor beside the bed, looking sleepy and puzzled.

"I think you were having a nightmare," Mulder told him sharply, before grabbing him under the arms and dumping him back into bed. He turned to leave, then turned back, dropping a kiss onto Krycek’s nose and pushing him under blankets. "Go back to sleep."

He put his hand over Krycek’s eyes, waiting until he was asleep again before pulling on slacks and shirt and going into the next room. A few hours sleep a night was more than he usually got, so he didn’t feel the ill effects of his rather unpleasant awakening.

Skinner was there, reading a trashy paper back novel, and they nodded at each other as Mulder poured himself coffee from the pot that had been simmering since earlier that evening. Mulder turned his back on Skinner, not quite understanding why he should feel such anger towards his boss. Whatever his relationship in the past with Krycek, it was precisely that: past. Skinner had done nothing to encourage Krycek since the beginning of this case, and Krycek couldn’t help his sleepy mutterings. Mulder knew that if he analysed it properly, he would have his answer, so he very deliberately ignored the whole question, going to sit on one of the hard backed wooden chairs. "Any news?"

"We have a Congressional hearing."

Mulder leaned forward eagerly, "This is good news, isn’t it?" A Congressional hearing would be presented far faster than a normal court case, they could be in there in weeks, instead of months. But there was something in Skinner’s eyes... "What else?"

"We’re going to have to move Krycek. He can’t stay here any longer."

"Why? There’s been no trouble..."

"You cannot conduct an investigation without bringing attention to yourself. Your movements are already being monitored, if you’re seen in this area, you’ll bring them down on us. If you have any more contact with Krycek, you’ll bring them straight to him."

Mulder felt the contents of his stomach sour. He turned away, he didn’t want Skinner to see his anger. He almost missed Skinner’s next comments.

"I also cannot condone the continued involvement of private citizens. Your friends will have to go before their lives are placed in jeopardy. It’s time to put Krycek into protective custody."

"There is nowhere he’ll be safe!" Hadn’t Mulder made that clear before?

"I know a place. I know people we can trust. They are totally uninvolved in any of this, they have a compound in Vancouver. He’ll be in the hands of professionals who have no connection to any of these conspiracies."

"RCMP?"

"No, they are a law enforcement agency dealing in mostly deep cover operations."

"Wouldn’t think there was much call for that in Canada." Mulder focussed on trivialities.

"You’d be surprised, Agent Mulder. But they are intercontinental. They have the resources required to protect our witness, but not the motivation to work against us."

"Canada." Away from both of us… away from you…

"Yes." Skinner was waiting for an outburst. He’d expected anger, denials, refusals. He expected Mulder to fight to keep Krycek with him, not stand there rigid with anger, but offering no passionate defiance.

"I want to go with him."

"You’re needed here."

"Let me finish. I want to go with him, check this place out before returning. I don’t want to send him to people I don’t trust."

"You don’t trust anyone, Mulder. Believe me, this is the only solution. If he stays here he’ll be killed, we cannot provide the kind of protection he requires now that this case has become public knowledge."

"How will he handle it? You’ve seen how he is. He needs special handling right now."

"He’ll get it."

Mulder ran out of arguments, knowing he was being illogical, "When?"

"Tomorrow morning. As soon as he’s awake."

"How will you get him there?"

"I’ll take him personally."

Mulder spun on his heel abruptly, Skinner’s assurances like heart-burn. He only just caught the door before it slammed behind him.

Krycek was still sleeping, frowning slightly, his lips compressed, the blanket thrown aside.

Can’t even stand the blanket holding you down? Mulder smiled indulgently. How will you go in protective custody if a piece of fabric annoys you so? You’ll make all their lives miserable, won’t you... I hope.

He stripped again, rolling into bed and grabbing the blanket to drag it over the both of them, receiving a sharp irritated shove in the ribs for his trouble.

"Okay, okay, I’ll leave it off..." he told his pushy bed partner. "Just you be grateful it’s a warm night."

"Umbrella," Krycek said, quite distinctly.

"Uh, yeah right."