TITLE: I Heard the Roar of Thunder

NAME: frogdoggie

E-MAIL: frogdoggie@zdnetonebox.com

CATEGORY: SRA, M/SK/SC. Warning - graphic sexual content of a
threesome nature. Implied Slash.

RATING: NC-17

SUMMARY: Requiem happened, but after that things took a slightly
different turn. Mulder, Scully and Skinner explore extreme
possibilities...together. Want to read more of my fic? Then surf here:
http://www.squidge.org/3wstop

FEEDBACK - YES PLEASE, AND THANK YOU SIR, CAN I HAVE ANOTHER?
Comments, suggestions and healthy debate are always welcome. Flames?
They only serve to warm me, body and soul.

ARCHIVE: Sure. Anywhere - as long as my name and e-mail addy stay on
it.

TIMESPAN/SPOILER WARNING. Post-colonization, I guess. Everything up to
and including Requiem. This is a Doggett free universe.

KEYWORDS: story romance angst Mulder Scully Skinner NC-17

DISCLAIMER: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Walter Skinner and all other
X-Files characters belong to Chris Carter, Ten-Thirteen Productions
and 20th Century FOX Broadcasting. No copyright infringement is
intended and no profit is being made from their use.

Author's note: This story is kind a of hybrid in that it's an entry in
two "I Want to Believe" list challenges. To find out what the two
challenges were, see my additional notes at the end. Once again,
thanks to my fellow Believers for the inspiration.

Many thanks to Susan for her incomparable beta and Truthygirl for
invaluable suggestions.

I Heard the Roar of Thunder

by frogdoggie

Past imperfect...

The darkest darkness alternating with the brightest, blinding light.
Pain, upon pain, upon pain and then...blessed oblivion.

I floated for a long time. Unable to communicate, comatose, my
thoughts a crazy quilt of disjointed impressions...like someone
skipped a rock across the pool of my memory forming disconnected
ripples across my consciousness.

I heard the roar of thunder. Felt heat. The air moved and it was like
the Archangel Gabriel's trumpet sounded and God walked over the
world...

I thought I heard God...and he had the voice of John Byers. He spoke
and he said...

"Is he still alive?"

And then God had the voice of Alex Krycek answering.

"Oh yeah, he's alive. Talk about if looks could kill. Mulder...if you
can hear me as well as you can see me...it wasn't my fucking fault.
Now, we're here to get you out. Hang on."

I remember...a whoosh of...fire...smelled...heard.

"Shit, that was one hell of an explosion, Frohike."

"Oh yeah, that flamethrower Skinner's using is one mean son of a
bitch."

"Mulder's going under again. Let's get him the hell out of here."

"Krycek!"

"Here, Skinner!"

"Jesus...is he alive?"

"Yeah, he's alive. Barely. Come on, help me."

"Mulder...don't you die on us...you understand? That's an order,
Agent."

And I thought...Skinner is God...Skinner...Skinner, where's Scully?

xXx

Later I remember...Skinner, coldcocking Krycek so hard the blow
knocked the bastard flat on his back.

"*Now* we're even," Skinner saying in that rumbling voice of his.

Krycek laughing despite the pain. Skinner offering him his hand, and
Krycek clasping it, pulling himself up.

Did I see or merely sense the handshake of a wary truce? At the time I
had no idea and my thoughts spiraled away until I heard the sound of
an engine...

Jet engine. Plane taking me somewhere and I couldn't get that blasted
song by...by Peter, Paul and Mary out of my head. Damn it to hell I
was going on a plane somewhere and all I could think of
was...1960s...song lyrics. 'I'm leavin' on a jet plane. I don't know
when I'll be back again. Oh, babe, I hate to go'. Hate to go? Somehow
I didn't think so. But going from where to where? I just couldn't put
my finger on it.

Someone...Skinner saying, "He's still out."

"Yeah, but his eyes are moving under his eyelids, man. He's doing the
REM sleep boogie, big guy. Oh hell...give Byers the barf bag."

"I don't think he's asleep, Langly, I think he's unconscious."

"Then how come his eyes are moving around under there? That's more
indicative of REM sleep dreaming."

"I'm not a doctor. I have no idea."

"Maybe it's something they did to him."

"Langly...where's Krycek?"

"He's up with the pilot. They've got Scully on the radio. Man,
Byers...not on my boots."

"I'm going forward, you and Frohike make sure Mulder stays secure.
Frohike...you said you know how to change the IV and cath bag?"

"Got it covered, G-man. I'll check on the boy again too. Byers, you
with us?"

"Yes, sorry, guys. I just don't do well on airplanes."

"There's some Dramamine in my duffel bag, John. Take it. No sense in
suffering."

"Thank you, Mr. Skinner."

"You think Mulder'll come out of it, Frohike?"

"I hope to hell he does, Ringo. I really hope he does."

I remember at the time that all I really cared about in overhearing
this conversation was the name 'Scully' and the prospect that I'd be
with her soon.

xXx

It's dark in your mind...time passes and you don't know if it's night
or day or...spring...summer...fall...winter...or who's there or who's
not...and then I heard the voice of a boy...in the darkness of my
mind.

/Mr. Mulder?/

/Who?/

/Do you remember the ship? Do you remember me on the ship?/

/I...remember...yes...you...you're Gibson...Gibson Praise?/

/Yes./

/I remember thinking...you'd grown./

/I'm older...so are you./

/How much older?/

/I'm not sure. I don't think very much older. And I can still talk
like this./

/We both can./

/Yes, just like on the ship. But I still can't wake up. Can you?/

/No. Gibson...where are you?/

/On the plane with you. I...I guess we have to wait a little longer
before we can wake up./

/Wait...wait for what?/

/Until it lets us go./

xXx

You remind me of the babe.
What babe?
The babe with the power?
What power?
The power of Voodoo.
Who do?
You do.
Do what?
Remind me of the babe.

I heard Gibson's voice one moment and in some glam-rock inspired
hallucination, David Bowie's from that film Labyrinth the next, and
then I suddenly felt...clean sheets. Warm sun on my face and the smell
of perfume overlaying antiseptic. Scully...and a hospital. Where?

"Mulder? I don't know if you can hear me or not, but you're in DC and
you're safe. We've run a battery of tests. So far, under the
circumstances, you're doing well. You have some injuries that looked
worse than they actually are...nothing life threatening. For what it's
worth, we found evidence they removed all the chips. You were somewhat
dehydrated but we've got you hydrated again. I just...damn it...I just
can't figure out why..."

"How's he doing?"

"He's the same. This is as frustrating as hell. All the tests,
including the EEG were normal."

"Scully...we don't know what they did to him."

"The tests should show something. Even when he was suffering from his
earlier brain anomalies the EEG showed up as abnormal. I can't get a
handle on why he's in this coma."

"God, Dana...if only...if only I could take back what happened to
him..."

"You...you can't go on blaming yourself. It's not your fault they

took him; not my fault, not his fault...it's no one's fault."

"I understand...but it's still not easy for me. You know that."

"I know. All right, look. When the tests are done we need to talk
about where we'll take him. I don't...I don't want to leave him here.
I don't want him in this place."

"Agreed. Let me see what I can come up with in that regard. I have
some ideas...I just need to call in a few favors."

"Thank you...Walter."

"Listen...it's the least I can do. Hang in there. I'll be back as soon
as I can."

I heard a woman holding back tears as she whispered words. "We'll
solve this, Mulder," she said...and then the tears broke through and I
knew again it was Scully. "I love you, we'll fight this," she declared
with vehemence.

I love you too, Scully, I thought...and damn it...when 'it lets me go'
I'll say it too.

xXx

I heard a baby crying. High pitched bird-like sounds that faded to the
mumbling of voices I couldn't quite make out. I think I opened my eyes
and saw it was night...I wasn't sure.

Later on I felt something in my head...I came close to laughing
maniacally...if I'd been capable yet of vocalizing that night. Voodoo,
I thought...the "IT"...whatever 'IT' was Gibson spoke about was in
there...and it hadn't let me go yet. A tiny tendril...a thread of the
power I sensed in my mind snaked out and I promptly felt the mind of
someone nearby. Joyously primitive thoughts so alive...hearing,
seeing, learning from his environment. His diaper had been wet but he
was dry, content and asleep now. He dreamed of a big man with kind,
brown eyes and large, gentle hands. For some reason 'IT' pulled away
as if not quite interested, and cast about again...
listening...seeking...

I heard the sound of sex. Two people making love. The man was rutting
hard, his thoughts a jumbled confusion of a selfless wish to please
his partner, guilt and blissful satisfaction. The woman was in the
throes of climax, a cry of passion issuing from her lips and I was
distracted from her thoughts only tasting a trace of regret that
quickly spiraled away in the heat of fulfillment, respect and love. I
told myself I'd know that voice anywhere as she cried out
incoherently. Scully. And I couldn't help it...the power surged
forward and I felt...Skinner's orgasm build and roil up, exploding
through him, his body convulsing as he bit back his moans, mind
screaming in utter joy...he...he loves.... he loves her...I could feel
it...Skinner was in love with Scully...and she loves him too...I felt
his ecstasy and hers as well...compounding in electric feedback...and
then thousands upon thousands of short, sharp shocks in my
head...short...sharp...short...circuit...and...I passed out. It was
the last time I ever sensed anything that way again.

xXx

When I woke up it was to the smell of something salty, a soft, muted
light and the touch of two large, but gentle hands bathing me in a tub
of warm, soapy water.

"Son of a bitch," Skinner exclaimed in shock and pleasure. "Scully!"
he yelled.

I thought the smell of salt was from her thankful, elated tears.

xXx

"How long?" I managed to croak out, through a throat unused to
speaking.

Skinner supported me, holding my arm as I sat down on the edge of the
bed in a bedroom with large windows that faced the ocean. I could hear
the surf and see the stars through the open curtains. I felt a warm
summer breeze on my skin and didn't even flinch at my nakedness. And
yes, I thought...that ocean breeze is where the smell of salt had come
from.

"Almost fourteen months," Scully told me, rubbing my shoulders with a
big, soft, hunter green towel.

"We found you a little over two weeks ago," Skinner added. "You've
been comatose since then. It's August 9, 2001."

"We've been doing physical therapy but if you feel a bit weak, don't
be surprised," Scully warned as she rubbed my arms with the towel to
get my circulation going.

I tried to whistle in response but spat instead and Skinner chuckled
through the tears he couldn't stop from trickling down his face.

"Welcome back," he rumbled, patting me on the shoulder.

I smiled at him, still groggy, and then looked at Scully.

"I love you," I whispered, pinning her eyes.

"Oh, Mulder. I love you too," she said, hugging my shoulders through
the towel. She sat down next to me and kissed me carefully on the
cheek. Her arm snaked around my waist and she hugged me tight.

I rested my head on Scully's shoulder. Skinner shifted, hesitant, and
then he sat down next to me on the bed. I felt his arm tentatively
drape over my shoulder.

"Thank you," I murmured, giving him a quick grin.

He nodded, his lips twitching a smile.

My leg snuggled into his jean-lad thigh. It felt good to be between
them both. Comforting, and natural and good. We sat there, silent,
just breathing together, touching...until I looked up. There was a
mirror above the dresser across the room.

Is that me, I thought in dismay, knowing full well it was. I stared
slack-jawed at the bleary eyed, wild-haired, skinny scarecrow sitting
between Scully's petite form and Skinner's muscular bulk. At least I'm
clean and shaved, I thought closing my mouth. I examined the unusual
pattern of pale, round red scars running down both my cheeks. My eyes
traveled to the thin, red scar over my sternum as well. I ran my
tongue over the roof of my mouth and I could feel a slight ridge
there, tenderness. The pain when I touched the spot caused me to
remember some of what they did to me.

"I'm alive," was all I could say, and saying it I realized that no
matter what had happened to me, that was the only important thing.

Scully squeezed me tight again and Skinner rubbed my bicep with his
warm hand.

"And safe," he replied in a soft voice.

The next thing I knew they were helping me into bed.

"Get some sleep, Mulder. We have a lot to talk about in the morning,"
Skinner said, his voice a little hoarse with emotion.

"Talk...yes," I mumbled as Scully kissed my forehead and took her
leave. We had a lot to talk about for sure.

xXx

The summer sun warmed my face but the sound of seagulls was what
actually woke me the next day. I shifted and swiveled my head toward
the window. The curtains were open again; the window as well, and the
warm breeze was wonderful on my naked chest.

Scully sat in a chair by the window, highlighted by the sun. Her red
hair glowed like burnished copper and my breath was almost taken away
by her beauty. Only almost however, because the little owner of that
inquisitive mind I'd touched sometime earlier quickly distracted me.
The owner was the baby suckling eagerly, its small fingers kneading at
Scully's exposed breast.

"Mulder...this is your son," Scully whispered, her eyes moist with
tears again.

I stared, wide-eyed for a moment as Scully waited, her face full of
hope. Then I cleared my throat, smiled, and managed to reply.

"He's got my appetite," I said, and Scully laughed.

"He does. And I think he has your nose too," she replied, gazing with
love down into the baby's face.

"God...I hope he outgrows that...or at least into it."

She looked up at my remark, shook her head with good-humored
exasperation and then we stared at each other in silence for a moment.
I'm a father, I thought. A father. A mixture of wonder, fear and
unbridled euphoria coursed through my whole body, one demanding
precedence over the others. Euphoria won out and happiness filled my
heart...despite my fears of ever being a decent parent.

I smiled. I smiled wide in satisfaction but also from amusement
because I could see my thoughts mirrored in Scully's face. She's as
scared as I am, I thought...at the prospect of motherhood...but
equally as joyous.

"He's what...four months old?" I queried, clearing my throat a little.

He looked so small...but sturdy...his arms appeared strong and his
legs the same. He had some downy, auburn hair and I noticed a tiny
birthmark on his right leg just below his diaper line. A little brown,
star-like shape. I contemplated the appropriateness of that mark as
Scully answered me.

"Yes. And he's the reason Skinner categorically refused to let me go
to Tunisia to help rescue you."

Tunisia barely registered with me as my mind grasped the concept that
Scully and I had made a baby; she'd gone through the pregnancy without
me and given birth without me. She'd had to face it all without my
support...and I'd missed those experiences of first time fatherhood. I
hardly knew what to say, so I just ventured the first thing that
entered my head.

"I almost asked how," I replied with a self-deprecating shake of my
head. "But I guess the 'how' of his conception is pretty obvious," I
added, chuckling. She chuckled too.

"Yes, we pretty much estimated his conception as occurring on that
first night you and I were together as a matter-of-fact. I had no idea
I was fertile again when we made love. We still don't know what
happened to restore my fertility...although we certainly have
theories."

I could think of several and I supposed we'd discuss them all later. I
just nodded and watched my son for a minute as he nursed. Finally I
blinked and spoke again.

"What's his name, Scully?"

"Charles...Charlie. I hope that's all right...I had to name him
something because I had him baptized, so...it's Charles Patrick
Mulder."

"Not Fox, Jr.? I'm *so* disappointed," I interrupted, giving her a wry
grin.

She gave me a patented, world-weary Scully look.

"No...I had a feeling that would be a bad idea," she replied, watching
my eyes as if she was still unsure my grin meant I didn't object to
anything.

"Charlie's fine. I like the whole name, the baptism,
everything...really," I reassured her with a softer smile.

"Ok, um...good," she replied with a small nod. "Oh...and my...my
mother picked Patrick. She remembered you saying once that you had a
favorite Uncle Pat who passed away when you were young...and of course
for St. Patrick...." Scully's voice trailed off, but the relief that I
didn't object to the chosen name was palpable in it before it did.

"Can I hold him?" I asked. "As soon as he's finished of course."

As if he understood what I said, Scully's nipple popped out of
Charlie's mouth and he turned his head my way.

"I guess that would be now," Scully observed, gently moving the baby
away from her chest. She pulled her T-shirt down and cradled Charlie
in her arms.

I levered up, still a little weak, as Scully rose from the chair and
approached the bed.

"You'll need to burp him," she advised an amused smile on her lips.

"Ah...my first test of fatherhood," I murmured as she handed me my
son. "Hey, Charlie," I said into his round little face. "You wanna
puke some milk up on your old dad?"

Charlie gave me a gassy grin and a bubble squeezed from between his
lips and burst while Scully snorted her laughter.

"Here, you'll want this," she remarked, placing the towel that had
been on her shoulder over mine.

"Let's see...I think I remember how this works," I remarked, a sweet
if poignant memory of my mother placing Sam over her shoulder coming
to mind.

As I got young Charlie settled on my shoulder and rubbed his back,
Scully watched us and I saw a question in her eyes.

"Mulder...are you really ok with this?" she asked, her voice a
whisper.

And with her words I knew I was...I was more ok with it than I'd been
with almost anything else in my life.

"Yeah, I am," I told her. "I really am."

Scully's smile was radiant then, one of those stellar smiles she very
seldom shared, but which I saw that first time we made love. She
smiled more than once that night, it lit up her whole face, and I went
to sleep with that smile in my mind's eye as she lay sleeping beside
me.

She came over and sat down on the bed next to my leg. Charlie gave a
small burp and I continued to pat him. Scully gave my leg a squeeze.

"I'll try to be a good father," I assured her, then I shook my head a
little in bemusement. "But I have to tell you...this is so...new."

"I know. We'll both muddle through, Mulder. This is very new for me
too."

"There's bound to be a learning curve," I replied, smiling a little.

"That's what Skinner said, actually," Scully replied, glancing at me.

"Where *is* Skinner?" I asked.

"Good morning."

Right on cue I thought, as Scully and I both looked toward the open
bedroom door.

Skinner was standing barefoot, his muscular chest naked, a pair of
tight jeans clinging to his legs and his T-shirt in hand.

"Hey," I said with a shy smile.

Skinner took in the scene and smiled shyly back.

"I see you met your son."

And also right on cue, Charlie let out a burp that could have been
made by an adult male of at least Skinner's size, and promptly spit
breast milk down my back. All of us stared at each other for a second
and then we burst out laughing.

"He's a chip off the old block, all right," I coughed, pulling Charlie
back from the soggy towel. I held him nose to nose and looked into his
blue eyes. "I bet that feels better, doesn't it?"

Charlie smiled as a little milky drool ran down his chin and Scully
scooted forward to take him from me, a grin playing about her lips.

"Here, hand me the towel," she suggested, taking Charlie and placing
him in her lap.

Skinner stood in the doorway watching, his posture indicative of
someone who suddenly thinks they're intruding.

"I took a run on the beach and then I showered," he offered.
"Uh...we're in Maine, Mulder. Crossroads, Maine. This is my sister and
brother-in-law's summer home. They loaned it to us because they're in
Europe for a year," he added as I handed Scully the folded towel and
she blotted Charlie's mouth.

"We...we wanted to bring you someplace bright and warm
and...well...someplace with fresh air where it was peaceful. We
thought it might help you to wake up," she interjected.

"Or at least make it pleasant for you when you did," Skinner finished,
shifting his weight in the doorway.

"I take it you both took a leave of absence?" I queried, looking from
Skinner to Scully.

"Yes," Scully answered, cradling Charlie, who seemed content to take
in the conversation now that he was well fed and de-gassed.

"Yeah. Six months each. Look...why don't I go start breakfast and we
can talk about all this over it?" Skinner suggested, pulling his
T-shirt on over his head. Scully looked at me and I nodded in
affirmation.

"Sure. I'd like to shower and then I'll be down."

"Do you think you can manage by yourself?" Scully asked, her brow
furrowing a little.

I flexed my arms and naked legs under the bedding...and smiled.

"Yeah, I think I can," I confirmed, pushing the covers back a little.
And I wanted to. I needed just a few minutes of privacy to process
what had transpired in the last few...what seemed like lifetimes.

Scully's gaze turned to Skinner.

"Then I'll give you a hand," she said.

Skinner's face grew soft for a second when he looked at Scully. When
his gaze refocused on me, he'd hidden his regard for her before he
answered.

"How does bacon and eggs sound?"

"I think that sounds like something that can put some weight back on
my bones. Yeah, that'd be good," I replied with a grin. Scully rose
from the side of the bed, Charlie held close to her breast and the
soiled towel in her other hand.

"Great. See you shortly, Mulder," Skinner said.

"I'll put on some coffee too," Scully added, giving me a last smile.

I nodded and as they left the room with Charlie in Scully's arms. I
contemplated just how I was going to clue them in on the fact I knew
they were lovers, how I knew, and that oddly enough...I was beginning
to realize I wasn't bothered by the notion they were lovers at all.

Oh yeah, we have a LOT to talk about, I told myself again.

And talk we did.

@@@

Present intense...

"Mulder?"

"Hmm?"

"Penny for your thoughts."

"I'm sorry, Scully. I was just thinking about...love, amongst other
things."

"Love?"

"Yeah, how love works in mysterious ways."

Scully gives me a playful raised eyebrow from her position in front of
the communal laptop.

"Oh?"

"Well...yeah," I chuckle, warming to the subject and to her gaze as
she studies me. "The more I think about it, I could argue that love
somehow saved the world from alien invasion."

Scully gives me an indulgent smile.

"I have to hear this," she says, pulling away from the laptop and
resting her back against the throw pillows piled behind her.

I shift on the couch and return her smile.

"I'll be happy to elucidate," I reply. "It's my theory that Krycek's
love for Marita somehow caused him to have an epiphany and go before
that congressional committee to expose the whole colonization effort."

"And I suppose love also had him persuade the other members of the
resistance, including the Jeremiah Smiths, to create the vaccine
that's protecting us...and later the toxin that killed the grays?"
Scully answers, crossing her arms over her breasts.

I give her that kicked puppy look I know drives her nuts.

"Well...of course I know you had something to do with the vaccine and
toxin. I would never discount your contributions in any of this."

She chuckles.

"I know...I'm just 'yanking your chain'...as you're fond of saying."

The wry look I shoot her makes her shake her head again in amusement.

"Regardless...you can't deny that Krycek certainly had a change of
heart...and it was probably a result of Cupid's arrow in said organ,"
I continue.

"Oh, so now we're dragging in mythological entities as well as
aliens," Scully teases, giving me another raised eyebrow.

I give her a mock peeved look and she offers up a very false,
exaggerated sigh.

"All right, I'll concede that Krycek certainly loves Marita. I'll
allow that maybe that influenced him somewhat. But you'll have to
admit that Skinner had something to do with persuading him as
well...and certainly Skinner's participation in the congressional
investigation helped in the long run too. And Mulder...you can't
discount your own efforts."

"Agreed...he says modestly...and you shouldn't discount yours either."

"And I thank you, she says graciously."

A bemused smile traces Scully's lips but when it disappears she clears
her throat.

"Speaking of Krycek..."

My brow furrows a little. Krycek. After all he's done...helping to
haul my ass out of Tunisia, helping to save the world, deactivating
Skinner's nanocytes and forming a truce with him after years of
animosity...hell...even working to make amends with Scully...I still
can't talk to Alex. Our issues run deep and I just haven't been ready.

"Mulder...he did send you that e-mail. He's in Moscow with Marita and
he's willing to talk when you're ready. I think you have to talk to
him eventually."

I sigh and squeeze the bridge of my nose.

"Yeah, I know. We both should be in dialogue with him." I'm beginning
to resign myself to the inevitable. "Ok...I'll e-mail him...tomorrow.
I guess...I guess I shouldn't put off talking to him any longer. I'll
extend the olive branch."

Scully makes a satisfied nod.

"So...Krycek and Marita qualify as love working in mysterious ways,"
she replies, getting the conversation back on a more pleasant track.

"Right. That's one example." I sit up straighter on the couch and rub
my hands together.

"You have more?"

Scully uncrosses her arms and taps a few keys, logging off the
Internet as I answer.

"Sure," I say, holding up two fingers. "Way number two. Melvin
Frohike's a husband and father."

Scully snorts a breath of laughter.

"Yes, that would qualify as most mysterious. You have me there."

"Yeah, a year ago you'd never have expected him to marry the doctor
that treated Gibson and then adopt the kid, now would you?"

"A petite, red-headed doctor," Scully chuckles, shaking her head.

"Well...ok...maybe love isn't quite that mysterious. But the rest?"

Scully grows a little pensive.

"I'm glad Doctor Carter was able to shut Gibson's alien DNA off. He
has to be a lot happier with a quiet mind. But I'm sorry about his
parents. I wish they'd lived to testify before the committee too."

I give her an understanding nod.

"I regret that too. But I think the kid's going to do ok. The Lone
Gunmen are still going strong, and with Gibson's IQ I'm sure Langly
and Byers will be happy with a fourth member," I answer quietly.

Scully smiles again and nods. "I'm sure they will."

We stare at each other in silence for a few moments and I meditate on
just how much I love the woman sitting in front of me. There wasn't
anything mysterious about it really...maybe stupidly hesitant and
nervously bumbling over the years but nothing mysterious. I know I'm
lucky in love. I'm privileged indeed to be by Scully's side, to have
her and our son to cherish. And she's so beautiful, I think as the
warmth of sexual desire for her spreads from between my legs through
the rest of my body. I pull my legs together a little as I feel my
cock stir. Scully clears her throat.

"So...you were saying..."

"Yes...more mysterious ways. Well...I saved one of the best for last
really. Love brought us Charlie. I'll qualify it as a mysterious way
because we'll never really know how your fertility was restored even
though you and I and Skinner have discussed and debated the possible
reasons. But our love brought us a son...and I'd like to think of it
as a beautiful mystery more than anything else I guess."

Scully looks down; suddenly shy...I see a glint of moisture under her
eyelashes as she takes a deep breath.

"Some people would call it a miracle," she whispers, exhaling.

I smile at her bowed head.

"Yeah, I could call it that too," I whisper back.

She looks up and the tears are threatening to brim up in her eyes but
I know they won't fall. She's smiling, and then she laughs.

"I'll get you into church yet, Fox Mulder."

I grin. She may get me there eventually at that; I muse as I run a
hand through my hair.

"Not if you use the 'F' word," I tease her.

She gives me a half-hearted exasperated gesture and we both laugh for
several moments. Finally our laughter subsides and Scully shuts down
the laptop.

"We could almost use a fire tonight," she remarks, telling me any
discussion of church and/or possible marriage isn't that important to
her at the moment. In truth, it's not a pressing life decision for
either one of us. We have time...all the time in the world now to get
there when we're both ready.

We *could* use a fire, I think. It's October after all, nearly
Halloween, and this year nights in Georgetown are getting a little
nippy now.

"Yeah, why don't I make one?" I suggest, tipping my chin toward the
fireplace.

I'm glad we bought this townhouse with the fireplace on nights like
this one. It's really a nice feature and it was one thing that made
the hefty mortgage a little less of a sticker shock.

"All right. I'm going to go make sure Walter's got Charlie well in
hand. I'll be back down in a minute."

"No need," Walter's bass rumble comes from the living room doorway.
Scully's head turns to take him in and mine does as well. "He's
bathed, in his pajamas, been told a story, and now he's in his crib
and out like a light," Skinner adds with a slight smile. "You
know...we're going to have to talk about a 'big kid' bed for him
sooner rather than later I bet. It seems like he's bigger every time I
see him."

"Oh...I missed the story," Scully replies, her frown showing that
she's a bit guilty.

"Well I explained to him that Mom needed a little time with Dad so he
settled down. He's pretty perceptive for a two year old."

"Besides, Uncle Walter enjoys doing all those voices but he'd die of
embarrassment if anyone besides Charlie heard him," I interject,
smirking.

Skinner gives me a really withering look. But he can't quite pull it
off and ends up chuckling.

"Yeah, busted I guess."

"He is growing fast, I guess he's going to have Mulder's height,"
Scully muses as Skinner enters the room and shuts the sliding doors
behind him.

He saunters over. His muscular jean clad legs carry him to stand in
back of the easy chair by the fireplace. "We could use a fire," he
remarks, pushing the sleeves of his black Henley up his corded
forearms.

"Mulder was just suggesting it," Scully volunteers, smoothing down the
material of her sweat pants. "Right after our discussion about love
working in mysterious ways," she adds, a Mona Lisa smile on her lips.

Skinner's ears actually turn red at her words and I have to clamp down
my jaw hard to keep from bursting out in laughter.

When I said I'd saved one of the best ways love works in mysterious
ways for last when discussing Charlie's birth earlier, I was certainly
thinking of the other best way that stands before us now.

Yes, Skinner was the remaining example of love working in mysterious
ways, and I think he still has some trouble coping with the fact that
he's with us both now, no matter how much he enjoys the relationship.

After all the years of guilt, self-hate, and self-recrimination, I
suppose it was difficult for him to realize he could be loved and
accepted by us. I know it was difficult for him to become Scully's
lover. It wasn't something that had been easy for Scully either. The
fact they admitted they loved each other too must have been an added
shock as well. However, they entered into the affair quite frankly out
of shared grief from losing me, and the desperate loneliness of two
people trying to support each other while they bucked the system in
order to bring me back again.

But if Skinner's obvious contentment in our company is any evidence, I
know it was liberating for him to finally admit that he did the best
he could over the years, and he did it primarily because he loved us
both. His idea that he betrayed my trust by bedding the woman carrying
my child was mitigated eventually by the fact that in the end I was
just hedonistic enough to share...and so was Scully.

I'd known he was in love with Scully the night I sensed it of course.
But his love for me was something he'd kept hidden in the deepest
recesses of his soul. Even the times I was in his mind, I never saw
that hidden place where he kept that feeling under wraps. It took a
lot of trust for him to finally admit it openly. I know he did it out
of respect for Scully and me, and also a healthy dose of lust which I
came to find out I didn't mind any more than I minded the idea he
loved Scully as well.

I don't know, maybe I did sense something of his thoughts in regards
to his sexual desire for me. Maybe it was gaydar more than
anything...or more accurately, bi-dar. It's not like I hadn't had men
before. I could have picked up on the vibe.

At any rate, I'm glad he's with Scully and me, in mind, body and soul
now. He treats Charlie like his own son. He was there at his birth
after all, and helped take care of him for the first four months of
his life too so I know he loves the kid. And to top it all off, he
helped bring my son's dad back to him too, of course.

So, even if Walter does still show some bewildered embarrassment over
the current state of affairs, he's with the program. Scully and I
couldn't be happier with him, red ears and all.

"Uh...yeah...I can see where love working in mysterious ways is
definitely true," he chuckles, running a hand over the back of his
neck.

I finally can't hold it back any longer and burst out with an
explosive guffaw.

My uncontrolled chortling causes Scully to join in.

"Oh fuck you," Skinner growls, shaking his head in good humor at me.

"God, I hope you can stay on tonight and make that more than just a
pissy remark," I tease, sitting up and flexing my arms a little.

I can see Skinner take in the movement of my lats and pecs under my
gray sweater. A smile of obvious interest plays about his lips.

"Can you stay, Walter? It's Friday after all. Mulder's done grading
theses and I've already prepared my test questions for Monday's
forensic exam. So we're free this weekend. You're welcome to stay.
We'd appreciate it if you looked over the outline for the manuscript
anyway." Scully pulls herself out of her seated position in front of
the laptop on the coffee table as she addresses Skinner. She crosses
to the easy chair, sits and shifts her upper body to look at him.

"I don't know why you just don't move in. You're here so much anyway.
Besides, the book's your story too...it would make the collaboration
easier if you were living here," I interject as Skinner picks up a log
and tosses it into the fireplace.

"Well, I kept the apartment in Crystal City because it's fairly close
to the Hoover and convenient," he replies with a shrug. "You know how
it is...there's a lot to do as the new Deputy Director. I'm not
getting any younger, Mulder. I don't fancy sleeping on my office couch
if I can avoid it."

"You're in pretty good shape for an old fart," I tease, giving him the
once over as he straightens and dusts off his hands.

He chuckles.

"Yeah, well...I work at it. And for someone who hit the big 4-O not
that long ago, you're not doing so badly yourself," he retorts, giving
me a knowing grin.

A smile flashes across Scully's lips and she looks down, trying not to
break out in gales of laughter again.

"Ok, does this mutual admiration society mean you're staying on for
the weekend or considering moving in permanently?" I ask, standing up
to get some tinder for the log Skinner placed in the grate.

"It means I'll stay the weekend. I'll give the other some thought.
Maybe once I get into the swing of things in the new position at the
Bureau we'll see," he pronounces with a quick nod.

I cross to his side as Scully watches, a wider smile on her face. The
tinder gets tossed into the grate. I pick up the matches from the
mantle and hand them to Skinner.

"Light my fire...sir," I deadpan.

"Oh blow me," he laughs and then he laughs even harder at his words.

"Mulder...you're seriously bent, you know that?"

Scully is shaking with silent laughter now, unable to even respond as
Skinner and I stand face to face, grinning at just the sheer pleasure
of feeling comfortable enough to participate in good-natured banter
with each other.

"Hey, you want a whiskey?" I finally ask.

"Yeah. Scully?"

"I think white wine for me," she manages to gasp out, her laughter
finally subsiding.

"Ok, coming right up," I advise. Leaving Skinner, I walk to the nearby
wet bar.

xXx

My gaze strays to the end table. I take in the remainder of the
watered down whiskey that's in the bottom of my glass and I think...it
looks a little like the color of Scully's hair in the shadows and
firelight that bathe the room. Or maybe the color of the orgasmic
flush on the top of her breasts. I look up at her, where she straddles
my thighs...naked, her smooth, pale skin patterned by light and shadow
as well, her hands stroking my cock. I revel in her passionate grace
for a few seconds. Yup...close to the color of what's left of my smoky
whisky on both counts...and she tastes just as good too, I think as I
run my tongue over my lips and savor the musky dampness from between
her legs.

"What are you thinking?" she asks quietly, her breasts rising and
falling enticingly as she speaks.

"He's not thinking," Skinner interjects with a chuckle from the
fireplace where he kneels, stirring the embers.

My eyes track lazily over to him as he stands and places the poker
back in its rack. I admire his tanned nakedness, the expanse of his
well-developed body in the firelight, the elegance of his heavy cock,
erect between his muscular thighs.

"I have to admit, my mind's rapidly losing its coherency, yes," I
reply, returning my attention to Scully with an appreciative grin.
"She has very talented hands."

"Yes, I do," she comments, smiling mischievously at me.

I grin as Skinner replies, his voice even more husky with passion.

"Hands and mouth." He crosses back over to where I sit, naked, on the
couch, my feet on the floor and lap full of Scully. Scully arches her
neck as Skinner nuzzles it, kissing and licking the sweat off. "And
she tastes superb," he adds, snaking his hands around to her breasts.
Skinner kneads her nipples slowly in time with her hands moving up and
down my erection. His cock brushes the small of her back.

"Actually, I *was* thinking that," I reply.

"Speaking...speaking of losing coherency," Scully gasps, arching her
spine as Skinner's mouth roams over her neck again.

"You want him?" he rumbles next to her ear. "You want us both?"

"Yes," she replies, licking her lips. "I want you both in me." Skinner
chuckles as Scully shudders under his hands sliding up and down her
torso. "As soon as possible," she amends with a gasping chuckle as
well. All I can do is give Scully a grimace of pleasure as Skinner
leaves her and takes the short step to the table at the end of the
couch. He retrieves two condoms, a towel and the bottle of Astroglide
and returns to us.

Scully receives one condom from his hand and she efficiently opens the
packet, pulls my cock away from my stomach and suits me up. Then she
sits back, watching my hard-on bobbing between us.

"What are *you* thinking?" I ask her with a quick grin.

"I'm just admiring my handiwork," she teases, running her thumb over
the swollen head of my erection.

I chuckle and then my attention is drawn to Skinner pumping his cock a
couple of strokes before he rips his packet open and works the latex
down his length. The empty packets are discarded on the floor as
Skinner's fingers move along his rigid flesh.

Man, that thing's some piece of work I think as I contemplate his
hard-on. And he's skillful with it too, I muse, recalling more than
one occasion when he's reamed my ass in a way I would never have
imagined when he was doing it verbally back at the Hoover.

"Mulder?" he rumbles, glancing at me as he seats the condom's ring
down near his balls.

"Yeah?" I pant, taking Scully's hips to steady her as she prepares to
lever up over my cock.

"You ever regret not still having that talent? I mean the power to get
in here," Skinner asks, pointing at his head. I stare up into his
deep, brown eyes so open without his glasses, so filled with love and
desire.

"You mean now because it might add to the experience?"

"Yeah."

"No, not even at a time like this," I reply honestly. "There are some
things I regret, and invading the privacy of your and Scully's
thoughts is one of them."

Skinner smiles at me and Scully does too.

"I love you," she whispers.

"I love you too," Skinner whispers as well.

My throat clogs with emotion and I have to clear it to answer.

"I...I love you both," I reply quietly, admiring my partners in the
flickering firelight.

We're silent for a moment, basking in that love for each other, and
then

finally Scully rises up. It takes her a moment to balance and I assist
her by holding her hips as she guides my cock to her vulva. In a
moment she's sliding slowly down me. I watch my cock disappear into
her inch by inch and swallow hard at the exquisite sensation.

"Oh, fuck...that's good," I gasp as she reaches my balls. My hands
splay out over her hips. She tips forward, her hands on the couch
back, to kiss me hard on the lips.

I take her head in my hands and our tongues war, our mouths devouring
each other. I taste the heady flavor of white wine, good whiskey,
Scully...and just a hint of Skinner's salty pre-cum on Scully's
tongue. Scully moans, throaty and deep. As Skinner shifts in behind
her, we break our kiss and lie panting. He's backlit in the firelight,
his face like a sculpture of cut rock, his shadow falls across us
both, a powerful yet protective mantle of darkness.

"Hold still," he says, placing a hand gently on Scully's ass. I
support her weight, running my hands up her arms. My cock is tilted up
inside her but the way it pulls on my balls is incredibly arousing.
Her right hand traces my nipples before she comes to rest against my
chest and I slide my arms onto her back.

"You feel good," she whispers as Skinner tosses the towel next to my
thigh and then pours some Astroglide into his palm.

"So do you." I smile into her eyes.

I can't see Skinner's hand but I can tell by the small gasp from
Scully that his large fingers, slick with lube warmed from his body
heat, are touching her anus, delicately coaxing it open and probing
inside.

After a few moments Scully rocks gently back and forth and I join her,
thrusting my hips in a slow counterpoint to her sensuous pumping.
Shit, that's perfect I think as I savor the friction on my cock.

"Good?" Skinner asks, gazing down at both of us as his right hand
moves back and forth, in and out from between Scully's ass cheeks. His
left hand massages her hip, steadying her.

"Oh yeah," I confirm with a grin.

"God, yes," she groans and then she bites her lip just savoring the
feeling.

Skinner looks at me and we share a moment of satisfaction at bringing
pleasure to Scully.

"Scully...you're phenomenal," I tell her as she slides up and down my
erection.

"I'll second that," Skinner agrees, stroking Scully's ass cheek.
"Exquisite."

Scully gives us a sensual laugh. She glances back at Skinner and
favors him with a sultry smile. Then her head moves back and she
smiles at me as well.

"Well gentlemen, I can only say both of *you* are outdoing yourselves
right now. It certainly gives me...inspiration."

Skinner and I both chuckle.

"Inspiration or perspiration?" Skinner rumbles, flexing his fingers
inside Scully's ass.

"You bastard," she moans and the moan ends on another sensual chuckle.
"Keep that up and I won't know the difference."

Finally Skinner removes his hand from between Scully's legs and pats
her ass.

"Ready?" he asks, his voice ragged.

Scully nods.

"Ok, hang on," he replies, reaching for the Astroglide again. He warms
some in his hands once more and then taking his cock in hand, slicks
it up, moving his fist up and down the latex. Once he wipes his hands
on the towel and discards it, I know he's ready.

"Here we go," he warns huskily.

Scully inhales in anticipation. I rub her back, and then lay one hand
on her ass. Pulling gently on her skin, I help to spread her open for
Skinner.

Once Skinner's cock's in place against Scully's anus, a careful,
steady thrust slides it slowly inside her. Scully exhales and then
takes several breaths in succession, relaxing in order to accept
what's entering her body as Skinner moves forward. Finally, Skinner
stops to gain some control as well as let Scully get used to the
intrusion of his penis inside her. I watch his face twist in
excitement, his mouth opens and his breathing quickens.

"You ok, Scully?" he grates out.

Scully nods and turns her head slightly to look at Skinner again.

"You...you both feel wonderful," she replies breathlessly.

"Jesus, so do you. And can you feel that, Mulder? I can feel your cock
right...there."

"Yeah...big guy...I can feel yours too. Fucking incredible."

"That...that's an understatement."

"I...I need to..." Scully pants out, lifting slightly to look into my
face.

She has the face of an angel when we're making love. It's almost more
than I can stand sometimes watching her face transformed by passion
this way.

"Move?" I ask, panting myself now, the pressure of her muscles
gripping my cock and the added tightness of Skinner's cock in such
close proximity make me grit my teeth. She nods, biting her lip again.

"Let me do the work," Skinner suggests, gathering himself behind
Scully's ass.

All I can manage is an affirming grunt. Scully nods her head again and
then Skinner takes both of Scully's hips in his large hands. With one
push he drives her forward and then pulling, rocks her back onto both
our cocks.

"Oh Jesus," Scully gasps. Skinner stops instantly.

"You all right?" he asks, concerned for a moment that he's hurt her.

"Yes...yes," she assures him, her voice breathless again. Skinner
smiles wide and rocks her back and forth again and a long groan
escapes my lips. I can't help it...it feels so damn good.

A few more thrusts and we're rocking together, as quietly as possible
though because even in our passion we're mindful of Charlie sleeping
upstairs at the other end of the house. A slow, steady rhythm of
contracting and then relaxing muscles, stentorian breathing, grunts
and low, breathless moans mark the passage of time as the warmth from
the fire and our exertions make sweat break out over all of us.

I cradle Scully as she slides over my groin, her swollen clit rubbing
between us. I can't really thrust very well now, but I don't have to
really because Skinner's doing an admirable job of moving Scully on my
cock, and the sensation is almost indescribable. To make the
experience even more of a rush, I can feel Skinner's cock through the
thin wall of skin and muscle inside Scully as the head pulls back and
pushes forward again and again and again.

My hands sweep Scully's back, pulling her as close as I can, wanting
as much contact as possible. It feels like my damp skin is practically
melting into hers. Scully buries her head in my neck, kissing me over
and over.

"Oh God...yes," she gasps in abandon, arching and twisting as Skinner
picks up the pace.

"That's it," I encourage her as she rocks faster.

"You're both so beautiful," Skinner gasps, and I look up over Scully's
head to watch his face contort in a rictus of ecstasy. "Dana?" he
pants, her name a question.

"Mmmm, so close...just...don't...stop," Scully moans.

Skinner grunts his assent, propelling Scully's hips rapidly back and
forth, his rhythm spastic for a second and then I know he's coming
because his neck muscles strain taut and his cock jerks where I can
feel it inside Scully.

"Oh man...do it," I whisper as Skinner's jaws clench. His body goes on
autopilot then and for a moment he and Scully are in a perfect
point/counterpoint of rapid rocking as she thrusts her hips as well.
It's an extraordinary sight.

Scully's breathing hard and as Skinner pushes his cock a little deeper
into her, I feel her inner muscles spasm around my erection.

"Scully!" I huff out, biting off a louder cry. I take her arms and
support her as she starts to climax.

"M-M-Mul..." she can't finish my name because she's gasping as her
whole body trembles with the intensity of her orgasm.

Skinner continues to move, rubbing her quickly against me, his hands
gripping her hips firmly.

"There you go, lover," he mumbles, his chest rising and falling with
his deep breaths.

In a few moments, Scully comes back to herself. Skinner, sensing the
relaxing of her muscles, uses his own hips to keep up a slow thrusting
for my benefit.

"Mulder?" he asks, as Scully pushes off my chest a fraction and gazes
into my face.

"Almost," I grunt, the heavy pleasurable feeling in my groin telling
me I'm close to coming.

"Pull out," Scully advises, glancing back at Skinner. "I'll help you,"
she adds, addressing me.

"Yeah," Skinner nods, stopping his weakening thrusts. He grips the
base of his cock, holding the condom tight against it. When he steps
back, his cock slips out of Scully.

I swivel my head and watch as he sidesteps and sits down heavily next
to us on the couch. His left hand touches Scully's hip briefly and
then my bicep before he pivots his upper body to watch us.

Scully takes my chin and moves my head back so I'm looking up into her
face again.

"Come for me, Mulder," she whispers. My hands clutch at her hips as
she starts to ride up and down on my cock, her ass lightly hitting my
balls on the down stroke. I gasp a chuckle.

"My pleasure, ma'am," I drawl and in a few moments I'm arching and
thrusting up into her, seeking to fulfill her request. Almost, I
think...it's...it's just...right...there. Oh...yeah...

I hear the roar of thunder. Feel heat. The air moves and it's as if
the Archangel Gabriel sounds his trumpet...and God walks over the
world...

But when I wake this time it's to the light and warmth of a friendly
fire, and the comforting arms of Skinner and Scully...and I know more
than ever that love works in mysterious ways...and I thank God for my
good fortune.

xXx

Additional notes: The two challenges were 1) to write a story
featuring hot smut with any pairing of your choice and 2) to try
writing something you normally wouldn't write. I had 1 and 1/2 choices
for item 2, actually. I made Krycek a hero when I usually prefer to
write him as a villain, and I wrote another babyfic, but since I've
done them before it's only fair that it's 1/2 choice. At any rate, I
hope you enjoyed both of my challenge solutions. Thanks for reading.

Lyrics from "Leaving on a Jet Plane" copyright Peter, Paul and Mary.
Lyrics from Labyrinth copyright David Bowie. No copyright infringement
is intended and no profit is being made from their use, either.

-THE END-