::  Paris, Wyoming  ::

Chapter Ten

They were half way back to town, Skinner determinedly walking next to Scully’s horse, when Doggett, Pendrell and Frohike met them. Frohike surrendered his horse to Skinner and rode back into town behind Pendrell. After Scully told Doggett what had happened, the deputy rode out to find Kersh’s body.

They reached town by mid-morning and Skinner allowed her to lead him up Soo Ling’s steps to be looked at. Mulder was propped up in bed being fed soup by Melissa who kept staring at him with adoring eyes.

Soo Ling fussed over Skinner, pronounced him as hard-headed as Mulder and gave him a strong tea to drink before shaking her head and shooing Melissa Scully out to the front room, leaving the three of them alone.

Skinner filled Mulder in on everything he had discovered. When he came to the part about Kersh, Mulder was surprised to see little regret on Skinner’s face, just an intense sadness. Mulder noticed with just a touch of jealously that Skinner seldom took his eyes off the redhead and when he did, he soon sought her out. When the story was over Mulder grinned. "Well I guess the hawk swooped down and saved your sorry self."

"Oh brother." Scully yawned. "Well I better go see if the jail is still standing." Suddenly, something fell into place and she glanced back at Skinner just as she opened the door. "You know, I’ve got a Wanted Poster I would like you to look at. Could you stop by?"

"Sure. Let me talk to Mulder about the hideout and how we’re going to handle it and I’ll be right there," he replied happily.

After she left the two men studied each other for a minute. Mulder finally broke the silence with a gentle, "so are you okay?"

"Hey, I thought that was my line?"

Mulder shrugged and then proceeded to give Skinner information on how to contact Washington. "Be sure to use the code phrases; no telling who will get information back to Spender. He has lots of friends in low places."

"I can handle it. But what I don’t understand is why the nonsense with the miners?"

"I’ve got a feeling that the miners were just an annoyance to him. He really feels he is the king of his little domain and he’s having troubles with his subjects. When he realized that he could use them to draw attention away from himself then he upped the stakes and made a big show of calling for help."

"I agree with that. I just wonder how long it will take for him to figure out his hired gun is dead." Skinner stifled his own yawn just as Soo Ling re-entered the room. She glared at him and ordered him to get some rest. Skinner nodded but looked around. "Excuse me Soo Ling, but where’s Krycek?"

She motioned for Skinner to follow her and led him through the room where she had her bed and into a small room toward the front of the bank building. Alex Krycek, pale but breathing evenly lay on a cot next to a window overlooking the street. Skinner considered the sleeping man and asked, "is he going to be all right?"

"It’ll take more than a bullet to the chest to kill me, Skinner." The voice was low and raspy, but his eyes opened and they were clear and seemed to bore right through him. Soo Ling checked his bandage and then left the two of them alone. Once she had closed the door Krycek admitted, "that was a damn fool thing I did."

"Yeah it was. Why’d you do it?"

A groan escaped from his lips but he managed a weak shrug of his shoulders. "I don’t know, massive stupidity. I told you the night before I didn’t think you were cheating. I still don’t think you were. I’m surprised my temper hasn’t gotten me dead before this." He closed his eyes and Skinner started to turn away when Krycek whispered a plea. "Promise me one thing, Skinner."

"What’s that, Krycek?"

"Keep the girls on. They’re all good girls and need the work. And, and Phoebe…well, I’d just really appreciate it if you were good to them."

Skinner shook his head and opened the door before answering. "Don’t worry about it Krycek. As long as I own The Black Nugget, they can stay."

::  ::  ::

Skinner stood at the door watching her rifle through some paperwork. John Doggett was stretched out on one of the curve-back chairs in the corner; his hat pulled over his eyes. Skinner looked inquiringly at Scully who nodded. "Spiney’s got the body. Look at this will you." She handed him a paper.

He studied it before handing the ‘Wanted’ poster back. "Yeah, that’s him, Henry Wills was the name he used back in Texas, when he was running with Robinson."

Scully dropped her eyes and whispered, "you ever gonna tell me about Texas?"

Skinner licked his lips. "Yeah. But not now, okay. I have to get to the telegraph office for Mulder and then I’ve got to get to the saloon." He studied her carefully. "You and Dogget aren’t going to try anything on your own, are you?"

She met his eyes again. "No, Skinner. I’m not stupid. There aren’t enough guns in this town to take out that gang. We’ll wait for the cavalry to round them up. But I think we need to keep an eye out on them. Maybe set up some kind of watch."

Skinner growled, "who are you going to get?"

She smiled. "Oh, I think that Mr. Langley and Mr. Bond will do just fine. They’re already pretty familiar out there and I don’t think that anyone will notice a horse that is just a little faster than the mules they’ve been using."

Thus assured, Skinner left abruptly. His feelings were a tumbled confusion. For fifteen years he had risen every morning for only one reason – because he might find the man that killed Sharon. Now Kersh was dead, not even by his own hand and he felt empty. Last night had been wonderful; her skin against his had been both exciting and calming. Waking up next to her was the best thing that had happened to him in a very long time and he was unsure of how to react. He wasn’t sure he was ready to face the emotions that she deserved and, he suspected the commitment that she would demand.

He stopped at the telegraph office then pushed open the doors to the saloon. It was early afternoon and there were only a few customers. Frohike was behind the bar and waved, "Hey, boss." Diane Fowley ran up to him and hugged him, but he disentangled her arms before she could go any further.

Tiredly he climbed the stairs and found the room where his stuff had been moved. He stripped down to his long johns and washed at the small pitcher and bowl before gingerly stretching out on the clean sheets, under the warm counterpane. Someone had lit the fire in the corner stove and he quickly fell asleep wishing she were lying there next to him.

A luscious aroma awoke him and he looked around wildly, but moonlight and lamplight suffused the room. He sat up and saw the covered tray sitting on the dresser. As he made his way toward the inviting smell her voice stopped him. "Mom insisted I bring it over, you know." He whipped around to find her sitting in the rocking chair in the corner. He gulped and turned away from her, afraid that his reaction to her presence would be evident even in the dim light. The rocking chair creaked and he felt her behind him and Scully held up one of his shirts and, as he pulled it on, she smoothed the wrinkles down his back, causing a moan to escape from his lips. Before he could do or say anything she continued. "Sit down and eat." She took the tray and moved it to a small table next to the rocker and he finally went and sat down. While he ate, she sat on the bed and watched him, keeping her comments to a minimum. He was nearly done before he realized that she was wearing a soft blue dress, her hair pulled up in a pretty cascade of curls. He put his fork down and just stared at her until she blushed and demanded, "What?"

He was lost in the sensation of her and blurted out, "You are so damn pretty, Dana Scully."

Her blushed deepened and spread and she managed a tiny, "Oh."

Suddenly full, he covered the tray, stood and went to stand by the window. "Thank you," he whispered.

"You’re welcome. Are you feeling all right? Does your head still hurt." Her questions were soft and washed over him like a gentle breeze.

"I’m fine." He glanced around and found that she had come to stand just behind him again. "You’d better go, Dana."

"Why?"

He took a deep breath and turned to her. "Because, you have to live in this town and I don’t want your reputation compromised. What would people think?"

Her eyes sparkled in the moonlight. "I don’t care what people think. But, if it is any consolation to you, I came up the back stairs. There’s lots of people in the saloon and I didn’t want to answer any rude questions."

He looked away. "So you do care what people think?"

"Okay, a little. But not enough to keep me from checking on you."

He touched her cheek. "You checked. Now you better go."

She moved back from him and went to the door. Instead of opening it though, she turned the key and turned back around. Her hand went to the button at her throat. "No. I want to stay."

He tried to fight the urge and tried to be noble, but her hand opened the second button of her dress and he was at her side, pulling her to him in a searing, passionate kiss. She groaned into his mouth and his tongue plundered her. He pulled back long enough to finish undressing her so he could touch her like he had longed to do last night. Languidly he trailed his hands down her neck, caressed her shoulders and finally settled on her breasts. He twisted and pinched the aureoles until they were stiff and distended and then he lowered his lips to them. She stroked his head, running her fingers through the neat fringe, urging him on. Suddenly he straightened and, picking her up swung her around and deposited her in the center of the bed.

Stripping off his long underwear, he stood before her and studied her as she lay sprawled on his bed. She reached out a hand to him, begging him to join her and he lay next to her and began kissing and touching her all over again. He teased her mound and she spread her legs so he could touch and probe her, bringing her waves of delicious sensation. He found her bundle of throbbing nerves and ministered to it for a while as she thrashed her head back and forth against the pillow, begging him for more. "Walter, please. I need you in me, pleassssseeeee."

Finally, he took pity on her and plunged into her in one fulfilling stroke. He waited a moment, savoring the feel of her around him, engulfing him, protecting him. He gazed down into her passion filled eyes and she brought her hands to cradle his head to her breast. He began a slowly escalating rhythm; thrusting deep into her and then pulling nearly all the way out until on one down stroke she brought her legs up to embrace him. Locking her ankles at the small of his back she began to return his thrusts with gyrating movements of her own urging him on until she threw back her head, exposing her long creamy neck to his lips and came with a shout of delight. As her inner walls contracted around his pulsing shaft he followed her over the edge.

They held each other as their breathing stilled. She snuggled into him and he caressed her tangled hair. "You are something else, Mr. Skinner," she sighed in satisfaction.

"You are pretty incredible yourself, Sheriff Scully," he responded sadly.

She rose up and stared into his tortured eyes. "What is it? What is the matter?"

She was surprised to see tears glisten in is eyes. "This…" his hand came up and his thumb ran along her lips. "This is almost too much, Dana. I’ve been alone for so long. I don’t know…"

She descended and stopped him with a long demanding kiss. When she finally pulled away she whispered, "Hush. You think I’m asking for the world here. Let’s just see how this works out. Tonight…tonight we have. Tomorrow morning will take care of itself, Walter Skinner."

He pulled her to his chest and after a long while he fell asleep.

::  Chapter 11  ::

He woke late and wasn’t surprised to see that she had gone. He prayed that she had made it back to the hotel without stirring up any gossip. He was somewhat reassured when he descended the staircase to the saloon floor and found no one treated him any differently than before, no knowing grins, no winks of approval. Even Diane Fowley sashayed up to him and made an inviting comment that he was able to grin away.

"Diane, honey, is there any coffee in back?"

"Sure, boss I’ll get you some."

After he woke completely he made his way to the bathhouse and cleaned the last of the fight away. He donned his fawn colored suit, put the Stetson on his head and made his way to the hotel where Melissa Scully was just leaving, bearing a huge tray. "Here, Miss Scully, let me take that for you. I assume you are taking this to Mr. Mulder."

Melissa eyed him cautiously before nodding. "Well, Mr. Mulder, yes. But there’s some broth for Alex too."

They walked down the sidewalk and he nodded for her to proceed him up the steps. As he set the tray down on a table next to Mulder’s bed, Soo Ling came out of the back room. "Oh good, you brought Mr. Krycek some broth, too?"

Missy nodded. "Just like you asked. How’s he doing?"

Soo Ling smiled. "Remarkably well. I’ll just take this into him." She looked down at the fidgeting Secret Service Agent and grinned knowingly. "I’ll let you give Mr. Mulder his lunch."

"Hey, I’m perfectly capable of feeding myself." Mulder sputtered indignantly as Missy sat in the chair next to the bed and handed him a plate.

Skinner met his eye and shook his slightly. "Don’t fight it, Mulder, Scully women are stubborn." He turned to leave but Mulder stopped him.

"Any word?"

"I haven’t checked the telegraph office yet. I was going to get some lunch first. Don’t worry Mulder, I’ll be back after I check."

Mulder whined, "I’m fine, I want to get out of here. Say something to Soo Ling."

Melissa held up a spoonful of stew. "Eat something Fox."

Skinner’s eyes widened in surprise as he mouthed "Fox?"

Mulder groaned. "Get out will ya. Sheesh, it’s my middle name. She found my ID in my suitcase."

Skinner shook his head and headed down the steps. He saw Doggett heading toward the hotel and fell into step next to him. "Have you heard anything from Langley or Bond?"

"No, but the Sheriff rode out there this morning to check on them. She should be back in a little bit." He could feel the tension build in the big man and turned and studied him. "She knows this country, Skinner and she’s known. Nobody is going to mess with her."

Skinner growled, "like nobody messed with her father?"

"She told you about that?" Doggett was surprised. He had been in town for two years and she had never told him. Frohike had been the one to fill him in, the day he had decided to take the job as deputy instead of a job with Spender.

"Yeah, is there a problem?" Skinner waited for a lecture from the serious man, but was surprised when Doggett just shook his head. Skinner noticed that the deputy’s attention was suddenly elsewhere and he smiled as Monica Reyes closed the door to the schoolhouse and approached them. "Morning, Miss Reyes." Skinner tipped his hat and Doggett belatedly followed suit.

"Morning? Why Mr. Skinner, it’s nearly 12:30." She smiled benignly and carefully kept her eyes away from the bemused deputy. "Are you having lunch today?"

The three of them entered the dining room just as Maggie was bringing a large platter of meat to the table. Two teenage girls were setting the table and several people waited to sit down. "Mr. Skinner, Miss Reyes, how nice. Hello John. Well everyone take a seat."

After lunch, Skinner left Doggett talking earnestly to a very demure schoolteacher and made his way to the telegraph office. Just as he opened the door he met the operator coming around the counter, an envelope in his hand. "Oh, there you are. I was just bringing this to you."

Skinner took the message and hurried back to Mulder, who was determinedly pulling on his pants, despite Soo Ling’s protests. "Soo Ling, Walter here is probably hurt worse than me. At least that bruise looks worse." He bent down and kissed her forehead. "See I don’t even feel faint and I had to stoop really low to do that," he grinned.

She slapped his arm. "Go, but take it easy for a few days, I don’t want those stitches to open up."

Mulder waved away the envelope until they had descended the stairs. Skinner watched the man carefully but could find no evidence of dizziness. Once they had reached the street Mulder held out his hand for the message. "Damn, they won’t be here for two days."

"Well Fort Laramie is pretty far away. What else does it say?"

"They sent a man out last night with a detailed plan. He should be here this afternoon. I hope they coded the message, cause if that man is stopped…" Just then a soldier pounded into town and pulled up at the sheriff’s office. When he discovered that the office was empty he came out to find Mulder waiting for him. Once Mulder had identified himself, the man handed over a large oilskin package and made his way to the saloon.

Mulder motioned for Skinner to follow him into the empty sheriff’s office. "This will work better than trying to talk at the saloon."

They had been poring over the papers for nearly two hours, studying the map that had been sent, making notes and discussing options, when Scully entered the office. "Well, what have we got here?"

Mulder smiled up and motioned her over. "Look, Sheriff, this is the plan."

Scully smiled down at him and shook her head before turning her gaze upon Skinner. "Is he always this excited when there’s a chance he’s gonna get shot."

Skinner bravely returned her smile. "He’s like a little kid on this birthday."

After the plan had been explained and Scully had made a few welcome suggestions, she sighed. "Well gentlemen, the boys report that there hasn’t been much action. Langley found the entrance into the valley and he says that there is no evident push to move or anything, people are just preparing for winter. You think that they will let that stagecoach alone?"

Mulder shook his head. "Nah, word has been leaked that it’s carrying army payroll."

"And you don’t think that they will suspect a trap?"

"Not if our information is correct, only three people were leaked the information and two of them immediately reported it to the commanding officer, advising him that the man leaking the info ought to be disciplined. The other man rode out of Fort Laramie an hour before the messenger did."

"Well there’s not much we can do for the next two days then is there?" She eyed Skinner speculatively and was pleased with the faint blush that marked his cheeks.

::  ::  ::

Everything had been calm and peaceful the past two days. Mulder had ridden out early to meet the troopers and find out where they were setting up the ambush. It was evening and Skinner sat in command at the poker table, dealing and winning some and losing some, as were Byers, Spiney and Marcus, the banker. In fact everyone was pretty much breaking even, except Jeffery Spender.

Jeffery had ridden into town the previous day and had spent last night playing cards and losing and finally had spent the night with Diane Fowley. Skinner hadn’t heard much of what had gone on in Fowley’s room because he had spent a rather engrossing early morning in the town jail, making love to Dana in one of the cells. It hadn’t been until almost 2:00 in the afternoon when he noticed Diane’s black eye. She had refused to tell him what had happened and pleaded with him not to do anything, but Skinner had gotten the story from Frohike. "Oh, damn. It happens ‘bout two, three times a year. The little prick gets rowdy and takes it out on one of the girls. He always pays them a lot of money and they don’t want to make trouble because he’s Spender’s kid and all." Melvin sighed. "Just drop it, boss. It’s over."

But Skinner hadn’t dropped it. Krycek had been right about Skinner - he hadn’t cheated at cards. Not because he couldn’t but out of a deep sense of personal honor. No, Walter Skinner could cheat at cards with the best of them. In fact he counted as one of his fondest memories a card game with several of his peers where they decided that cheating was allowed just to see what would happen. The stakes in that game had been dinner at the finest restaurant in San Francisco. The stakes tonight were to make sure that three men walked out with what they came in with and Jeffrey left with his tail between his legs. Some part of Skinner wanted the little shit to draw on him again and he planned for that occurrence too.

They played until Marcus looked at his watch and groaned. "The wife is gonna kill me. Night, gentlemen." Spiney got up next but Byers stayed seated. The something that made him a good reporter, kept him at the table, watching. Watching Jeffrey get more and more flustered, watching Skinner win, always surprised when he himself won a hand, taking Jeffrey’s money. Finally, Byers sat out a hand and went to the bar for a drink. From there he observed the slaughter. While the five of them had played Skinner had kept the betting low and friendly. In fact, Byers thought, it had been one of the more enjoyable rounds of poker he had ever played. Skinner kept the conversation going, particularly on subjects that Jeffrey declared boring. Byers had watched the kid that nobody liked losing nearly every hand; winning only those pots that barely had more than the ante in them. But now he sensed the mood change and Skinner go in for the kill. The pot had risen to a tidy sum. Nowhere near what it was the night that Krycek had been shot, but certainly higher than Jeffrey had usually stayed in for. Byers suddenly understood what was going on and he turned away to watch in the mirror behind the bar, realizing that Frohike knew what was going on too. The two watched as Jeffrey lost the last pot and tensed as they waited for the outburst.

Skinner sat back and didn’t even bother to touch his winnings. He kept his eye on Jeffrey, a sly smile just visible on his lips, letting Jeffrey know exactly what had happened. Jeffrey’s eyes grew wide and he suddenly stood up and knocked the table over, scattering cards, chips and cash everywhere. Skinner’s gun was in his hand before Jeffrey could even move the flap of his coat away from his holster. Jeffrey looked around and saw everyone was studiously ignoring him. He glared over at Diane Fowley and started to reach out for her, but Skinner’s hand fisted in his shirt. "Don’t even think about it, boy. You’re through here. Get the hell out of my place and you leave MY girls alone." Jeffrey tried to pull free, but Skinner pulled him even closer. "Before you leave, you apologize to Miss Fowley."

He pushed him to the floor at Diane’s feet. The whore looked at Skinner beseechingly, "Please, Walter, it isn’t necessary."

Skinner kicked the rising Jeffrey back to the floor and ground out, "yes it is. Do it."

Jeffrey quailed but then whispered out a stilted, "Sorry."

Skinner picked him up the by the belt, relieved him of his gun and threw him out the door. "You want this back, you send your daddy to come and get it."

He turned to Frohike. "One last drink on the house, Melvin then close up."

The piano player started one last song and Diane came up to him and hissed. "You best watch your back, Walter. Jeffrey gets even with people. He’s done it before. You’ve only made it worse."

Skinner looked at her tiredly and wondered what had ever possessed him to think she looked anything like his dead wife. "What’s he going to do?"

Her eyes shifted and he grabbed her arm. "Tell me, what you know, Diane."

She whispered hoarsely, "nothin’. I don’t know nothin’ for sure, just what the little shit threatens me with." She saw the deadly look in his eye and swallowed. "They’re probably just boasts. Hey, I never heard Melissa was really raped, not for sure. And he wasn’t even in town the day that the old man got it."

A chill froze him in place for a moment and he suddenly had to find Dana. He ran out into the street and down to the sheriff’s office, bursting through the doors to find Doggett coming out of the back, tucking in his shirt. Seeing the look of panic on the gambler’s face he demand. "What’s happened, now?"

"Where’s Dana?"

Looking at his watch he said, "she probably just kissed Emily goodnight and is talking to her mom and sister for a while. Why?"

When Skinner turned and ran back out, Doggett swore and followed him. They had just reached the hotel when they heard a hysterical scream come from the schoolhouse. They ran toward the building, guns drawn when Monica came running out, tears streaming down her face, her dress torn nearly to her waist and Jeffrey, a large knife in his hand, following her. "You bitch, you get back in here." He shouted and reached back to throw the knife. Two shots rang out and Jeffrey staggered back before falling to his knees, dropping the knife behind him. Doggett clutched Monica and held her while the townspeople ran out from their houses and came up to the schoolhouse.

Dana, dressed in pale yellow calico came running up to them. "What happened?"

Skinner looked down at the ground and whispered, "it’s my fault," before holstering his gun and walking away.

Scully started to go after him, but Doggett stopped her. "I was there, Sheriff, in fact one of my bullets is in him too. I don’t know why he said it was his fault but, he saved Monica’s life." Seeing her bewildered look, he continued. "Skinner came to the office in a panic looking for you and when he found out you were back at the hotel he ran out and I followed him. That’s when we saw Monica here run out of the school house."

Dana finally saw the schoolteacher huddled protectively in Doggett’s embrace, his jacket flung over her shoulders, covering the damage done by Spender. "Monica, come on lets get you back to the hotel." Looking at a couple of the townspeople she instructed, "some of you get this…this body over to the undertaker."

They settled her on a sofa in the back parlor and Soo Ling arrived to check her out. Dana stood before her and gently probed. "Monica, honey. I gotta know. What happened?"

Monica looked from Soo Ling to Dana and then up at Doggett. "Could you leave please?"

Doggett shook his head. "No ma’am. I’m stayin’ right here." He sat down next to Monica, gently clasped her cold hand in his and in a flash of insight calmly insisted, "I’m not going anywhere and nothing you can say will make me think any less you. So just tell the story, Monica."

Keeping her eyes locked on his she began. "I was finishing up on my preparations for tomorrow’s school opening. I was just getting my coat to leave and I had the walking stick that Soo Ling gave me to carry when I was going to be out late, when I found him in the doorway. I could see that he had been drinking and I clutched the stick and told him to get out but he just laughed at me. He said such awful things. Told me I would enjoy it." She looked at Dana. "He said I would enjoy it just like Melissa had, only I would know who did it."

Dana went pale but managed to stay on her feet. She heard the sigh from the doorway and looked back to see Melissa standing there, tears in her eyes. "I always thought it was him. But I never knew for sure."

Monica started to cry. "He said something else, something I don’t understand."

Doggett squeezed her hand tightly. "What, Monica."

"He said that he would get him another Scully sheriff, but just not tonight, he would wait until the time was better. I knew then that he was going to kill me…after…after he." Doggett pulled her to him and put his arm around her shoulder.

"Oh, God." Scully sank to her knees and Melissa ran up to her and held her. "Jeffrey, Jeffrey killed dad? Why?"

Monica pulled out of Doggett’s comforting embrace and joined the sisters on the floor. She touched Dana on the cheek. "I don’t know, he didn’t say anything else, he lunged at me and tore my dress, but I hit him as hard as I could and then I screamed. I dropped the cane and ran out into the street." Her voice dropped as she looked up at Doggett. "I saw you running toward me, John and I knew that if I made it to you I would be safe."

Dana wearily got to her feet and trudged up the stairs. Her mother was just coming down. "I had to calm Emily, sweetheart." Seeing the look on Dana’s face she demanded, "Honey, what’s the matter?" Dana didn’t want to tell her but led her back upstairs to her room.

"Sit down, mom. We know who killed dad."

Maggie listened intently as Dana related the story. "I guess we’ll never know why. I doubt if Spender will tell us, if he even knows."

Maggie studied her hands. "I know."

"What!"

"Your father caught Jeffrey rolling a drunk about two nights before he was murdered. He told me about it, because he didn’t know what to do. You know how Spender is. Your dad was so mad at Jeffrey, he had tried all those years to befriend him but it was just no use."

Dana sputtered. "He told you? Why not me?"

Maggie sighed. "What could he do, Dana? Spender is a big man in this town. There will be hell to pay when he hears that his son is dead."

Dana ground out. "Oh there will be hell to pay, no doubt in that mother.

::  Chapter 12  ::

It was dawn before she left the hotel and stepped into the street. Making her way to the saloon, she just opened the swinging doors when the sound of galloping hooves turned her away. Mulder jumped down and ran up to her. "Where’s Skinner?"

Her personal problems forgotten, she entered the saloon and was surprised to see the bartender pacing back and forth. "Frohike, where’s Skinner."

Frohike silently pointed upstairs and together, Scully and Mulder climbed to the second floor. They had just reached the top when Skinner came out of his room. A piece of paper in his hand, his saddle bags over his shoulder.

Dana gasped but Mulder angrily spat out. "Where are you going?"

Skinner looked at Dana and then shrugged. "I’m out of here. I did what I came to do and it’s stupid for me to stay."

Mulder yelled. "Stupid! We need you. The men are in place and a scout has just come back and said that the hideout is suddenly jumping. We got the sheepherders away and everything is ready." More calmly, he insisted. "Come on, big guy, you remember what the Indian said. "The Fox, the Wolf and Hawk, have got to fight this evil together."

"That Indian was as crazy as you are. I can’t…"

Scully looked back at Mulder. "How much time do we have?"

"Maybe five hours, if they hold with their pattern of striking at noon, but we have to get out there we have…"

She placed her hand on his forearm. "Go get a drink, Mulder. Give us a minute."

Mulder muttered his way back down the stairs and Dana watched him. "He’s like a big kid."

"Yeah well the world needs grownups, Dana and I don’t qualify for the position either."

He tried to push past her, but she stood her ground.

Pointing toward the room he had left she bit off. "In there now, don’t piss me off, mister."

He glared at her, but returned to the room. When she had closed the door, she noticed that half of his clothing was still there. "What is this? You really are running away, leaving your stuff like this. Traveling pretty light aren’t you?"

He stood there, his arms cross and waited. "I can buy new suits when I get to Frisco."

"Oh, you heading for the big city, huh? Bored with the small town. Bored with me, are you Walter?"

Skinner sighed. "You know that’s not why I’m leaving."

"No I don’t know why you are leaving. You said Jeffrey was your fault. Doggett says no. Now who’s right?"

"I am." He bit off. "I forced the issue. I played God. I made the decision to set the little time bomb off. He hurt Diane and I reeked my revenge. Just like I spent the last 15 years of my life trying to avenge Sharon."

"Good!" She stood there, her hands on her hips waiting for his denial.

"Good. Just like that. The schoolteacher nearly died because of what I did and you say ‘Good.’ I’m a wonderful influence." Skinner sat wearily on the bed and buried his head in his hands. "Dana, don’t you see, I’m no good for…"

She knelt before him, pulling his hands away. "Walter, I don’t know what you did to set him off, but he would have gone off eventually anyway. He told Monica he raped my sister and killed my father and would come after me soon." Her voice broke, but she continued, "I don’t know what was wrong with Jeffrey, maybe his father really is evil but Dad tried to befriend him, and he died for the trying. I have no idea what Melissa ever did to him to make him feel he needed to rape her." She reached up and took his face in her hands. "I do know that it’s over now. Monica’s fine. Hell, Walter, she fought him off and got away on her own."

"He would have put a knife in her back."

"If you and Doggett hadn’t been there to save her." Skinner started to say something else, but she raised her self up and stopped him with a kiss. He hugged her to him and kissed her back before she pulled away. "Don’t. Don’t say anything more. You know that you have to go with him. If anything happened today, to either one of us, you’d never forgive yourself." She stepped toward the door and before opening it she whispered, " or is that what you can never do, Walter, forgive yourself and you’re looking for more ways to feel guilty."

Scully forced herself to calmly walk down the stairs and joined Mulder at the bar, where the agent was drinking a cup of coffee. "I’ll have one of those too, Melvin." They drank in silence and it was a good half-hour before they heard the stairs creak under his weight.

Joining them at the bar he handed a piece of paper to Frohike. "Here, it’s yours. The only thing I ask is that you keep the girls on and let Krycek run the poker table when he is fit enough."

The little man stared at the paper and then up at Skinner. "Mine. What the hell am I going to do with this kind of responsibility?"

Skinner grinned. "Grow up, Frohike." Turning to Mulder and Scully he barked, "well are the two of you just going to stand there? Lets go get us some bad guys."

::  ::  ::

The wind whipped their faces as they rode to the meeting spot. The soldiers, under the command of a fresh-faced captain, way too young to be in charge in Skinner’s opinion, were spread out behind two long stretches of rock formations.

Mulder conferred with the captain and came back and gave them the details. "The scout just came back, the gang is riding this way. The coach should be here about the time they show up."

Skinner shook his head. "Wouldn’t they want to be prepared?"

Mulder shrugged. "All we can go by is the one witness that didn’t die. The guard on the last robbery was shot and thrown off the coach and managed to hide in the rocks. They never found him and he made it back into the closest town. He told the army that the band had just been waiting for them in the middle of the road. By the time they made the turn around some rocks and saw them, it was too late. He said that there were twenty of them, just waiting there. He didn’t even have a chance to get off a shot."

Skinner sighed. "Where do we wait?"

They huddled in a small vee in the rocks and waited less than twenty minutes before they heard the scout yell out "they’re coming."

The fight was over quickly, the gang had ridden in just as expected and the ones that weren’t killed outright managed to take their own lives before the soldiers could get to them. Skinner stood staring down at the carnage. "I don’t get it. Did you see that one guy just burst into laughter before he pulled the trigger on himself." They looked at each man and then waited for the lookouts that had been placed back along the road to report in. Each one said the same thing; no one had ridden past them. They had gotten them all.

Mulder pushed his hat back on his head. "He’s not here. Spender isn’t here."

Scully patted his arm. "You really didn’t expect him to be part of this did you?"

"Scully, I know he’s part of this. You gotta believe me," Mulder demanded plaintively.

She nodded. "But without proof, there’s nothing we can do, Mulder. Come on, let’s get back into town."

They came to the sign that welcomed them to Paris and Frohike stepped out from behind it and motioned for them to hurry over. "Spender is over at the hotel. He heard about his boy. He brought some men with him and there’s trouble brewin’. Byers got shot and Soo Ling is there in the middle of the street trying to save him. The gunmen won’t let her get him back to her place. Your brother, Miss Dana, was hauled into the hotel. I managed to sneak out of town to warn you. He’s waiting for you, boss."

Skinner nodded. "Then I best not keep him waiting anymore."

Dana reached out and grabbed his reigns. "Walter, please."

He moved his horse so he could capture her lips in a passionate kiss. She clung to him; not wanting to let him go but he finally broke the kiss and pulled away. Looking at Mulder he demanded. "Watch out for her, Mulder," and rode into town.

Mulder stared after Skinner and suddenly reigned his horse toward the back of the town. "Come on Scully, let’s see what we can do back here."

Skinner rode down the silent street, noting the prone form of Byers, Soo Ling sobbing over him. He liked the newspaperman and spared a brief prayer for his soul. He got down from his horse outside of the hotel and entered the lobby where two men roughly grabbed him and shoved him into the dining room. Maggie and Melissa Scully huddled together and Monica Reyes knelt next to chair holding a badly beaten and bloodied Dogget, his arms bound tightly.

"Well Mr. Skinner I see we meet again."

Skinner turned and saw Spender sitting there. Rage and understanding settled in his gut. "Robinson," he whispered.

Colonel Spender smiled. "Ah, you remember me. I’m surprised you didn’t recognize me while you were spying on poor Wills or shall we call him Kersh. No matter. We would have never met again, if you hadn’t killed my boy."

Monica Reyes screamed out, "he only saved my life. You son was going to kill me."

"Nonsense, and regardless, it doesn’t matter what he did. He’s my son and I have to avenge him. Don’t I Mr. Skinner? Vengeance is mine. You killed him and you and Mr. Doggett are going to pay for your sins. Isn’t that right, Mr. Mayor."

Skinner looked over and saw Bill Scully, a gash on his lip and a bruise on his eye starting to swell. "Go to hell, Spender. I’m not signing it."

Skinner asked softly, sign what?"

"Your and the deputy’s death warrant, of course." Spender blew out a cloud of smoke. "Oh and you will sign it Mr. Scully or I will kill your mother."

"You’re insane." Bill spat out and strained at his bonds, trying to free himself. Spender stood up and smiled. "Perhaps, Mr. Mayor." He pulled out his gun pointed it and fired. Monica screamed as Melissa clutched her stomach and fell to the ground. All hell broke loose as several other screams and shouts joined in and a loud crash was heard in the kitchen. Skinner took the opportunity and shoved both of his captors away, reaching for one of their guns as he did.

Dana ran into the room and shot two of the gunmen and Mulder came in from across the hall, guns blazing. Monica pulled Doggett to the floor out of the line of fire before crawling over to where Maggie cradled Melissa in her arms, crying, trying to staunch the flow of blood. Skinner looked around wildly and saw Spender dive headfirst through the dining room window and tried to follow, only to be driven back a volley of gunshots from the street.

"Mulder, can you get any of them from the doorway?" He shouted.

Finally he was able to reach the street and look around for any tale tell signs. He saw the door to Pendrell’s store swinging open. He ran up to it and bracing his back against the small wall between the door and window he listened and heard the shopkeeper’s wife scream and a shot ring out. He dove for the floor of the store and fired on his way down.

Silence settled on the small town as people numbly came out of their hiding places to see what they could do to help. Soo Ling shouted directions to the blacksmith who was carrying Byers, and to Mulder who had Melissa cradled in his arms as he carried her up the stairs to Soo Ling’s office. Skinner made sure that Spender was dead before dragging him out of the General Store into the street. He sent one of the women to wait with Kim as she cried over her husband’s body. He kicked Spender over onto his back and spotted the tattoo through the rip on his shirtsleeve - a union flag planted into the back of a longhorn steer. Maggie Scully ran down the street and bounded of the stairs to herbalist’s shop. Doggett trudged out of the hotel, his arm around Reyes shoulder.

Skinner stepped up to him. "Let me help."

Monica smiled up at him. "That’s okay, I’ve got him. I’m going to take him into the saloon and patch him up, okay? Soo Ling’s kinda of busy now."

Skinner held the door open for her before continuing on to the hotel. Men were pulling bodies out into the street and Spiney was directing a couple of men to get a wagon from the stable. "Ain’t wastin’ no money on this scum. Couple of you boys go get some shovels. One grave will do them just fine."

Skinner told the undertaker about Pendrell and Spiney left quickly to see that the body was treated with more respect than the murderers around them.

Skinner pushed his way through to the hotel and looked around for Dana. "She’s out back." Frohike came out from the parlor, two men dragging another corpse. "That makes 10 that we can find. Don’t know if any got away."

Skinner growled. "Did you check every building in town? What about the rooms upstairs."

Frohike stepped back at the harsh tone and held up his hand. "We’re workin’ on it. The hotel is clean. Bud and Carl just checked every room." We’ve found the horses too so we can count them and make sure."

Skinner left them to it and made his way out back. He found her standing at the end of a browning vegetable garden hugging her daughter in her arms. He stepped close and hugged them to him. "Why don’t you get over to Soo Ling’s and see if you can help? I’ll stay with Emily."

"Mom’s there. I’d just be in the way. I’m no good with blood. I can make it pour I just can’t stand the sight of it." Her shoulders began to shake and Walter turned her around and held both of them tightly. "It’s not f-f-fair. Melissa shouldn’t die. She didn’t do anything."

"I know, Dana. A lot of people die young in this world that don’t deserve it. I’m sorry, Dana." He whispered into her hair. "Sorry for bringing this on you."

"Don’t, damn you, Skinner don’t." Dana pushed away. "You’re probably right. I should go see what I should do." She held out her daughter to him. "Take good care of her for me, Skinner. I’m trusting you." She walked back into the house past Spender’s body and out the front door. She saw the wagon with the body’s pulling away. "Wait! Where are you going?"

Spiney looked back at her. "Figured we’d dump em in a grave at edge of the cemetery. Bruckman can say a few prayers if he wants to later."

"That’s fine with me, but you forgot one." Dana pointing to the body of the rancher.

Spiney jumped down and came up to her. "Well I figured…"

"You figured what? You think he’s better than them out in the wagon? We waited angrily until Spender’s body was tossed on top of the pile before stomping off to Soo Ling’s.

::  ::  ::

She stood in the shadows staring at her sister’s body. Soo Ling had done all she could, but Melissa died within an hour of being shot. Mulder sat by her side still holding her hand. "You know," he whispered, "my sister died when I was twelve. This hurts just as bad."

Dana looked in the other room and saw that Krycek was sitting up in bed, keeping an eye on Byers, who dozed fitfully in a cot next to him. "How are you doing, Alex?"

"Sore. I’m sorry about Melissa, Sheriff. She was a good woman."

"Yeah."

Dana turned and left the shop. Soo Ling had taken her mother back to the hotel and given her a draught to calm her down. Dana climbed the stairs and was surprised to see Monica come out of her daughter’s room. "Monica? Is something wrong? Where’s Skinner?"

Monica stared at her for a minute before reaching into her pocket. "Emily’s fine. I just put her down. I read her a story, I hope you don’t mind."

Dana’s eyes were glued to the note Monica was clutching in her hand. "No, of course not. Is that for me?"

Monica reached out the note. "Dana, I’m sorry. He wrote this and then rode out about an hour ago. I had just made John lie down on one of the spare beds and Skinner brought Emily to me. Asked me to watch her till you got back. Then he wrote the note. Dana…he rode west."

"Yeah, I know, toward San Francisco." She looked in on her daughter and started to go to her room when a rage shook her and she yelled out, "No. Damn you, no." Monica came out of her room, panicked, but Dana ignored her and ran down the stairs. She found her horse and took off toward the west.

::  Chapter 13  ::

She had ridden hard for nearly an hour when the snow began again, falling harder and harder, but still she rode on until the horse finally gave out and she stumbled to the ground. She suddenly realized how very cold she was and looked around trying to find some shelter. She found some rocks that had tumbled down upon themselves and crawled into the small space and huddled back as far as she could. "Walter," she whispered as she nodded off in the cold.

"Scully! Scully!"

She woke to an intense glaring light and looked around. The rocks radiated heat and she was so thirsty her lips were cracked.

"Scully! Dana!"

She crawled out into the baking sun and croaked out "here, I’m over here" as she looked around in confusion. She looked down at her thin slacks and long sleeve thin blouse and then up into the scorching sun.

"Agent Scully." He ran up to her and held her by the shoulders. Picking her up, Assistant Director Walter Skinner carried her back down the ridge and to the Jeep Cherokee. Reaching into a cooler in the front seat he pulled out a cool bottle of water. "Here drink this." He held the sport cap to her lips and squeezed some of the moisture into her mouth. She drank gratefully.

"You came back for me. I knew you wouldn’t leave me." She sighed and held him tight. Skinner looked down at her in surprise, but brought his hand to her head. "I don’t understand, Scully. Came back for you? I flew out as soon as I heard that you were missing. Mulder’s in the hospital, worried sick."

"Hospital. No. He was fine. Melissa was..." She pushed him away? "What’s going on? It’s winter." She looked around wildly and saw the way he was dressed. "Where’s your coat? Your suit?"

Skinner, dressed in blue jeans, a pale blue golf shirt and hiking boots, considered her for a long time. "Get in the car, Agent. You must have hit your head when Kramer attacked you."

"Kramer, no it was Spender. Emily, I’ve got to get…" Memories crowded in on each other before sorting themselves out and an intense sadness over took her. She looked around at the Wyoming foothills and saw nothing but green pasture and the Snake River far to the east. The sun beat down on them with an intensity that threatened to come through the steel of the car.

"Kramer, the bank robber who Mulder thought was Jesse James? Remember, Scully?" Dana looked over and saw panic begin to take him. He fought to control his emotions and carefully asked, "What was the last thing you remember?"

<<<You running off and leaving me, breaking my heart.>>> "I’m not sure, Wa…sir."

Skinner’s eyes widened for a moment and then he reached for his cell phone and tried a number. "Son-of-a-bitch." He stuffed it back into his shirt pocket and turned on the car. "I can’t reach anyone, out here. Too much interference." He backed out of the small spot he was in and angled the car down the incline. Slowly he maneuvered his way back down to the narrow dirt road below. "Do you remember coming out here with Mulder?"

"No."

"Damn it. What’s your full name?"

She sighed. "Dana Katherine Scully. Clinton is President. William Fox Mulder is my somewhat insane partner. Walter Sergei Skinner is my long-suffering, ever-surly boss at the Federal Bureau of Investigation." She gulped when she realized she had said that last part out loud and she glanced over to see his reaction. "Sorry."

"Is there any doubt, Agent Scully, why I am ever-surly?" He said with just a touch of humor.

"No, sir. Look, I’m sorry I can’t remember anything, except…"

"Except what?"

"Nothing, you wouldn’t understand." She sighed. <<<I don’t understand>>> "Did we get him?"

"Who? Kramer? Hell, no! I’ve got 20 agents, 30 state and local cops out looking for him and I’m about ready to call in the cavalry."

"What?" The excitement in her voice caused him to jerk the wheel and look at her anxiously and he nearly drove them off the road.

"Jeez, Scully. How hard did you hit your head?"

She took his question seriously and gently felt all over her scalp. "Must not have been too hard, I don’t…"

The windshield spidered and a bullet imbedded into the back seat. Skinner pulled the car off into the ditch, pushed her down and reached into the glove compartment. "Here." He handed her his backup piece. Another shot shattered his window and he pushed her out of the car. She peered over the side and immediately three shots in succession took out the remaining windows. Skinner grabbed her, "there’s a backpack in the back seat, I’m going to draw his fire and you grab it and the cooler if you can, okay?"

She nodded and waited for him to let loose with returning fire, reached in and grabbed the large, rather heavy backpack. A hail of bullets rained down on them and Skinner pulled her away from the car, just as the gas tank took a hit and began to smolder. "Run." He yelled as he pulled her behind a huge rock. The explosion shook the earth and she would have fallen if he hadn’t pulled her up. Pushing her up over the rocks as chips ricocheted and flew as bullets struck them. They climbed over a ridge and Dana stood stock-still. "Damn it, Dana, run."

She looked around and then pointed, "this way." She ran down the ridge and Skinner could do little else but follow her. She veered to the right and then made for another ridge. Unerringly she started to climb, Skinner hoisting her up until she found the small path. Panting she called a halt. "Is he following us?"

Skinner strove to catch his breath and peered around the large sheltering rock. "Not that I can hear, or see. Where are we going, Agent Scully?"

She didn’t answer him and continued up. Finally, she stopped and he nearly ran her over. "How’d you know this was here?"

She breathed a sigh of relief, "if I told you, you wouldn’t understand." She made her way to the line shack. It was in remarkably good shape, though the door hung on one rotting leather hinge and the shutter had long since disappeared. Inside the detritus of over a hundred years filled the corners. The bedstead was still there, but the thin mattress had long since returned to the elements. "Well thank God it isn’t winter, that thing is useless."

"Scully, that THING is an antique stove, probably over a hundred years old." Skinner shook his head and looked around the small room. "Well, at least the sun isn’t beating down on us. Stay here. I want to make sure our buddy really isn’t following us."

Skinner returned in a little over an hour. "I checked all around. You can see the smoke from the car billowing up. Spiney will come looking for us soon."

Scully whirled on him. "Spiney?"

"Yeah, the sergeant in charge of the State Troopers. Good man. Came on board after Mulder got shot." Skinner walked over to the backpack and opened it. He pulled out a blanket and spread it out on the dirty floor, then reached in and pulled out a first aid kit. "Sit. Let me check you out. You’re really beginning to worry me."

"I’m fine."

"Yeah, I’ve heard that before. Sit, Agent Scully. That’s an order." She glared at him and he sighed. "Cut me some slack, Scully. Sit."

He gently felt all over her head and she fought the feelings that his tenderness was invoking. <<<It was a dream you idiot.>>> Finding nothing, he sighed and sat on the edge of the blanket and pulled the backpack in front of him. "Here." He handed her a Powerbar and another bottle of warm water. "It’s not much, but I figure you have to be hungry."

"How long was I out here?" she asked softly, afraid of his answer.

"Two nights and two days. You and Mulder came out here to check on a lead Monday afternoon and Mulder was shot and fell into the river. You must have run 10 miles. Agents found Mulder about a mile downstream clutching a tree branch. He’s gonna be fine, Scully. The bullet just grazed his head."

"I know."

"Then you do remember."

She shook her head and stood and went to the window. The sun was beginning to set over the hills; bright crimson shot with gold suffused the sky. "It’s beautiful." He was so close that his breath tousled her hair.

"Yes it is." She sighed and turned, the feeling of déjà vu almost overpowering. He stepped back and let her return to the blanket.

"You want some more water?"

"No. I’m fine right now." She clasped her hands in front of her and hung her head. When she looked up she caught him staring, his emotions and thoughts suddenly unguarded, for just a moment, before he shut them down tightly behind his wire rims. <<<I wonder how long he has felt this way about me? And why did I never notice before now? I rather like him in his glasses.>>> "Do you think we should go back to the car?"

"No. I think that if they come at night we’ll hear them. I rather suspect that they will wait until morning though. Spiney knew where I was looking and he’ll send his men here."

Softly Dana probed. "Why were you out here by yourself…sir?"

"Promise not to tell?"

She was so surprised by the playfulness of his response she nodded. "Promise."

"I had a dream on the plane out here. I saw you standing on this big rock. Well when I got to the site where they found your car there weren’t a whole lot of rocks around. So I looked around and…"

"And, you followed your hea…hunch," she amended quickly.

He stretched out and rubbed his calves. "So what happened after you ran away." He saw the confusion on her face and apologized. "Sorry, I thought just throwing that out would get you to remember."

She studied him and she made up her mind in a quick second. "You say you had a dream. Well I did too. I remember it all so vividly. Everything seemed so real. Actually it still does, every time I look at you I’m surprised you aren’t in your gambler’s suit and vest." She stopped suddenly and expected to hear a guffaw of derision but he just looked at her with one eye cocked. She took a deep breath and blurted out. "You were there. I was sheriff of this little town and Mulder was there too, he was a Secret Service agent."

"Let me get this straight. Mulder was a Federal Agent and I was a gambler?"

"Don’t interrupt." She smiled to take away the sting of her words. "Mom was there and Missy." Her voice dropped in sadness. "And I had a little girl named Emily. And Pendrell was there and even Kim."

Skinner laughed softly. Well everyone you know, huh? Sounds like a pretty normal dream."

She nodded but her brow furrowed. "Yeah, but it was weird too. Krycek was a gambler and you shot him."

"Good."

"No, you felt bad about it. And you and Diane Fowley." She blushed deeply and Skinner’s eyes grew round in shock. "Well Diane was a…a…a saloon girl and it was only one time…" She buried her head into her knees and then took a deep breath before meeting his incredulous glare.

"Go on!" He gritted out but then softened his voice. "Please."

"The lone gunmen were there, but not together like they are now. Frohike was a bartender, Langley was a sheepherder and Byers was a newspaper man."

Skinner thought for a moment. "Makes some sense, I guess."

Dana started to giggle. "Marita was the uptight wife of the minister. Like I said, Fowley was there and so was Phoebe. That’s Mulder’s old ‘friend’ from London."

"What was she?"

"A hooker too." Dana started to laugh. "It’s weird, Spiney was the undertaker, but I don’t know Spiney."

"Did you maybe hear the name, of course if you did you probably don’t remember?" The room was getting darker and the temperature was beginning to drop. Skinner shifted closer to her but waited for her to continue.

"I had a deputy named Dogget."

"Dogget? I didn’t know you had ever worked with him?"

"Who? Dogget? I haven’t."

Skinner looked at her for a long while. "But you’ve read the name on a report somewhere? John Dogget is stationed out of the New York field office. A good man from what I understand."

Dana shook her head. "No. I’m pretty good with names." Tremulously, she asked. "Do you know a Monica Reyes?"

Skinner closed his eyes and sucked on his lower lip. She watched the emotions crawl across his face and she longed to smooth them out. She was unconsciously leaning toward him when he snapped open his eyes and she jerked back. "Uhm…actually…yes."

"Yes?"

Skinner sighed. "Yes, Scully. Reyes. She sent in a rather interesting report from New Orleans. I was going to show it to Mulder, but this thing with Kramer turned up. Are you sure…" he began but the look in her eyes stopped him. "Never mind. So tell me about this dream."

Suddenly she just wanted it to go away. She felt embarrassed and even a little afraid. "I…" She stood up and went to the window.

He followed her and standing closely behind her vowed, "Scully. I swear. It never leaves this cabin. You look like you need to tell someone." He backed away then and whispered, "of course, if you want to wait and tell Mulder…"

"No." Her voice cut through the night air. "No." She repeated more softly. She returned to the blanket and sat down. "That’s how I found this place. It was in my dream. You had ridden out to kill Kersh."

He flopped down next to her. "Oh please. What was Alvin Kersh in your dream?"

She closed her eyes but his finger touched her chin and pulled her back to meet his gaze. She took a deep breath. "He was the man that killed your wife at the end of the Civil War. You were a Confederate, a Johnny Rebel from Texas and he was a Union marauder who robbed the bank in town and killed her. Anyway he was working for Spender and Mulder was a Secret Service Agent trying to get Spender who was this rancher and head of a gang. You found out that Kersh was here and that’s why you came to town. Anyway you two fought and I saved your life."

"Again?" She looked into his dark brown eyes and thought she saw something soft there, something moist.

She looked away and focused on his strong hands resting lightly on his knees. "Yeah, anyway, you had only ridden out here because Mulder had gotten shot and you were mad after he said those bad things about us." She gasped. She hadn’t meant to say anything about that, not out loud.

"What did he say?"

"It doesn’t matter, he didn’t mean them, he just didn’t want you to ride off and do something stupid. Anyway, when I found you, I knew about this place then too and we spent the night here. I patched you up and you slept on that bed there. Only there was a mattress and it was standing…and…well…"

"What happened?" He was so closed she tried to move away but his hand clamped down on hers. "What happened?"

She closed her eyes and decided to tell him just about how he had killed Jeffrey and the ambush of the bank robbers and the final show down. She actually cried when she told him about Melissa and he put his arm around her. "And then you left town and …"

"And you and Mulder lived happily ever after." She was jarred out of her reverie by the bitterness in his voice.

"I rode out after you. Trying to find you, only I got lost in the snow storm and I thought I was going to die and you saved me." She whispered, "but you didn’t save me back then, you saved me now." She tried to smile. "See, I told you wouldn’t understand."

It was so dark out now that his face was just a shadow next to her; the moon was still hidden behind the mountains and the stars merely flickered in the night sky. "What makes you think I don’t understand?" He voice was so soft and yet rough against her mind. "What happened out here, Scu…Dana?"

Their lips were so close she only had to lean in before they met. His hiss of surprise didn't stop her and she pressed against him harder and when her lips opened to his he finally took control and put his arm around her, holding her to him. Her hand was captured for a moment between them but finally she was able to reach up to touch and caress his chest. He broke the kiss, gazed into her eyes and then captured her mouth again. Nibbling on her lips, trailing his tongue up her cheek to her ear, his free hand began a gentle, tentative exploration of her body. "God Dana, I’m going to wake up any minute now."

Gently she pushed him back until he was lying on the blanket. She knelt beside him, and slowly pulled off her shirt and unhooked her bra. He struggled out of his clothes and held out his arms to her and she fell upon him, kissing him on the eyes, then his mouth for a long exploration before trailing down until she reached his chest. She intimately explored every inch that she could find, until she reached his straining erection. Taking him into her mouth, she licked the thick head before finally engulfing him. His groans echoed off the ancient wood and he reached down and ran his fingers her hair. "Dana, please, I need you."

She released him and crawled up until she straddled him. He ran his hand up and down her body, teasing her nipples until she though she would come just from the sensation of his hands on her. She leveraged herself up until she could slowly lower herself onto him. It felt so completely right as he filled her, stretched her. "Walter." She breathed his name like a prayer and he sat up to embrace her, supporting her by crossing his legs under her bottom. She rode him, holding on to his shoulders, her fingers caressing his straining neck muscles. He held her tightly as he thrust up into her until they both stiffened in their climaxes, grinding into each other as they rode out the after-tremors of their passion.

He lowered her to the blanket beside him and nestled her to his chest, holding her. Just as she was drifting off into sleep she heard a fervent sigh, "Please be here when I wake up, Dana."

::  ::  ::

The thumping of helicopter blades woke them, the strobing lights cut across the night sky. Skinner jumped up and looked out the window while Dana searched frantically for her clothes. She started to run outside when Skinner stopped her. "Wait, there’s a flashlight in the bag. She dumped the contents out and found the light and ran outside to shine it above into the night sky. By the time he had dressed and found the emergency flare he could hear the pilot shouting down instructions from the microphone system. He grabbed his gun and followed her down the illuminated path to a clearing that the helicopter pilot guided them to. He kept a close look out as the copter landed. Dana had just been pulled on board when a bullet ricocheted off the hull. He turned and crouched and one of the agents on board fell as another bullet hit home. The next time Kramer took another shot Skinner saw the muzzle flash and took aim and fired. He saw a body fall down into the ravine below and he sighed in relief as he ran to the edge and looked over. He felt a hand on his back and found her standing next to him, hair blowing in the tornado kicked up by the rotors. Putting his arm around her he pulled her back to the copter and helped her climb in.

She allowed him to strap her in before she laid her head on his shoulder. She had no idea what had happened to her from the time she got out of Mulder’s car at the Snake River and the time that Skinner had found her, but she knew that it was something wonderful - something painful and yet very wonderful. She smiled as he put a headset over her ears so she could hear the pilot and Sergeant Spiney tell them how they had been found. Spiney turned around and was rather surprised and pleased by the bright smile, almost one of recognition that the pretty redhead agent gave him. "We just radioed Agent Mulder to let him know we found you. Maybe now he will get some rest."

She adjusted her microphone and laughed, "I doubt it, but I’m glad you let him know."

"Agent Scully, you got any idea how you made it 15 miles across that rugged country down there."

"No Sergeant, I don’t. I don’t know this country at all. Do you?"

"Yes ma’am. I was born about 30 miles from here and we used to ride horses all over this country. Course, I tell my friends I grew up 30 miles from Paris. Scully’s eyes widened in shock and it was Spiney’s turn to laugh. "That’s the reaction my friends usually give me. I don’t tell them which Paris though." He switched channels for a moment and they could see him talking to the pilot. He made another adjustment and turned back to them. "Look out the window on the port side." Scully leaned over Skinner and looked down just as a spotlight illuminated an ancient ghost town, most of the buildings tumbled down. "That down there is Paris Wyoming. Of course it’s seen better days." Scully gazed on the ruined buildings until memory returned and she saw the bustling little town that her brother had such high hopes for once. She smiled at the memory she couldn’t have and started to sit back up, but Skinner threw his arm around her and hugged her protectively to him.

"That is has, Sergeant," she whispered and she closed her eyes.

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