:: Working through the Night ::Part 6 As with so many of Mulder’s very best X-files (the ones that made his partner groan and his boss grit his teeth and reach for the Tums™), it started out with a phone call and escalated because he was bored. :: :: :: :: Friday, January 15 For once, things were blissfully quiet. Scully sat at her desk (the one she now shared with Monica – Doggett having found a small table that seemed to suit him reasonably well), wondering if she might, just might, be able to sneak out early and meet AJ like he wanted. "Mon?" "Hmmmmm." Monica didn’t bother to look up from the report she was reading. "You busy this afternoon?" "No. I’d sneak out but, Clay’s in meetings all day." Mulder, who was leaning back in the one really comfortable chair, flipping pencils up into the ceiling, snorted. "That’s what you get for dating a spook." "Nice talk." Which, for Monica, wasn’t much of a rise at all. "So now that we’ve established that I’m not busy, you want me to cover for you this afternoon?" "What’s up, Scully? Hair appointment?" Mulder smirked, pausing in his projectile launching. "Or, do you plan on getting into someone else’s hair. Oh wait, that’s not a problem with Chegs, is it?" Scully considered him, carefully weighing the possibility of taking this conversation where he really didn’t want it to go. She wondered what his reaction would be if she told him just how much hair AJ really possessed, just not on his head. Or, how she adored running her fingers through the fine salt and pepper matting on her lover’s chest, eliciting the most un-admiral like sounds when she did so. And, when the hell had this much joy come into her life? She sighed blissfully, and Mulder made gagging noises. Even Monica looked at her rather askance. But she couldn’t help it. Her relationship with AJ Chegwidden was about as aboveboard as any she’d ever undertaken. Absent was the darkness, the hiding, the very duplicity she had become so used to. In fact, the presence of the JAG people in her life brought a straightforward aspect that had been lacking for nearly eight years. She was spared the need for any explanations by the ringing of a cell phone. She and Monica immediately checked theirs before turning their attention to Mulder. "You’re kidding me?" He sat forward with a thud, and found his cell phone. He looked at the device, puzzled. "Bermuda?" Scully’s eyes grew wide. "Oh no!" He glared at her. "Chill. Mulder!" Scully listened in horror, while Monica just looked confused. "Hey…what are you doing in Bermuda? Oh yeah. No shit! Get out! No. No, I don’t mind. I’ll get the guys to help. Yeah, yeah, Frohike’s a little twisted, but who isn’t? How come you don’t have your cell phone? You’re kidding. Why be friends with Webb if you can’t get a decent cell phone? Sure." He reached out and grabbed a pen and tablet. "I’ll get back to you later. Bye, Rabb." At the mention of Webb’s name, Monica finally put down the report. "Mulder." Dana glared at him. "You know, even my mother never turned my name into six syllables." "That’s because your mother called you Fox and it’s impossible. And, don’t change the subject." Mulder stood and walked around the desk, grabbing up his coat as he did. "Didn’t know we had a subject, except for the bald guy you’re dating. Always figured you’d fall for a baldy, just not that one." Scully leaned back and gave him a long look. Oh partner, you would be scarred for life – or never let me live it down – if you knew I’ve had both of them – together. He returned her look, and while she had long ago stopped blushing at his intense stares, she was suddenly very nervous. After all, he was the best (if most erratic) profiler that the FBI had ever produced. She fully expected him to one day figure it out, and when he did, watch out. Oh well, it wasn’t as if it was a weekly orgy. In fact, the four of them hadn’t been together since that night, six months ago when they’d taken out Kersh and the Secretary of the Navy Alexander Nelson. Krycek had died that night too. But, she didn’t want to think about that, or the aftermath still to come. "Where are you going?" "Got to see the guys. Rabb’s in Bermuda with that other JAG officer." "Mac?" Both women said in unison. He looked at them disgustedly. "I know the name of Skinner’s girlfriend, ladies. Not that I approve of that anymore than I approve…" "Who?" Scully gritted out. "The pudgy one." "Pudgy?" Scully thought quickly. "Roberts." Mulder smiled. "Yeah. Anyway, they’re tracking down pirates." Scully groaned. "No. No. No. No." "Hey, he just needs some information. Sheesh." He grinned. "Promise." "Yeah, yeah." Scully had heard it all before. "Hey listen, if the Deputy Director comes looking for me, just tell him I’m practicing the fine art of interagency cooperation." :: :: :: :: Friday, January 15 Skinner was, at the moment, practicing his own form of interagency cooperation. Marine Colonel (though you wouldn’t know it unless you found her uniform jacket flung over the hotel room chair) Sarah MacKenzie was leaning forward, bracing her weight on the dresser, staring at Skinner’s reflection in the mirror before her. Her hair was plastered to her face from the sweat they’d already raised through one intense orgasm. Her breasts swung free, swaying in time with each thrust as Skinner drove into her. "Oh God! Yessssss!" She cried as she came hard. Still pumping into her he groaned, "You’re going to be the death of me." Pulling her back, tight against his groin, he shuddered his second release in less than an hour. A remarkable feat considering he was 50 this year and wasn’t on Viagra or any other medication. He needed nothing except her to keep him in a high state of arousal. Skinner couldn’t believe that they were still together after nearly a year. He couldn’t believe his luck at finding someone so insatiable as this incredible woman. She was up for anything he could think of, and came up with some rather kinky variations all on her own. Earlier, he’d almost succumbed to her demand that they do it in his office. However, he was too aware that even though Krycek was gone and he hadn’t heard from the Black-Lunged Bastard in a very long while, that his office was still vulnerable. But then, she really hadn’t pushed that hard, advising him that she’d reserved a room at the Willard. Kim had just rolled her eyes when he advised her that he was taking Mac to lunch. "Your three o’clock?" His "Can you reschedule it for Monday?" had met with another roll of her eyes, but he knew that if Kim couldn’t reschedule, she wouldn’t have made it a question. Falling back on the bed, pulling her with him, he nuzzled her sweat soaked neck. "Damn, you’re incredible." "You’re not so bad, yourself. Happy Birthday, Walter." "It isn’t my birthday until tomorrow." "I know that. I plan on pampering you for the entire weekend." He rolled her over and stared into her eyes. "Just promise me one thing." "What?" She arched up and kissed him, tracing his lips with her tongue. "No surprise party." "No surprise party indeed. A surprise party would entail you actually wearing clothes." "You plan on keeping me here all weekend?" "No. I know you have to go back this afternoon, Mr. Deputy Director. But tonight, you’re coming to my place and I’ve got the weekend all planned. Food – for eating and for play – is already stocked." She bit her lip and looked a little tremulous. "That’s okay, isn’t it?" He kissed her again, long and sensuously. Finally, breaking away he smiled. "It’s perfect. I particularly like the fact that you don’t mind me playing with my food." She wriggled her eyebrows. "I like the way you play with your food." Pulling her up, he half-dragged, half-carried her into the bathroom. "Shower with me." :: :: :: :: Friday, January 15 AJ Chegwidden signed the last report on his desk. He was done for the weekend. Maybe he could slip out, call Dana on his cell and see if she wanted to drive up into the mountains for the weekend. The snow that had blanketed the area wasn’t impassable, not even for people not used to the stuff. It just made everything pretty. "Admiral?" Tiner’s voice floated over the intercom. "Damn it," AJ muttered as he glared at the phone. "What is it?" "Lieutenant Roberts on line two." Well that shouldn’t be too bad. "Roberts! How are things in Norfolk?" He could hear the hesitation but stifled his groan. "Roberts?" "Uhm…sir…actually, that’s why I’m calling." "Where are you?" "Uhm…Bermuda, sir." "Bermuda!" AJ’s roar rattled the surface of the coffee still in his mug. "What the hell!" "Sir, we followed a good lead. We think it might be pirates! We’re pretty sure we have a line on them. The commander is checking with a source now. I just thought I’d let you know." "Roberts! Exactly where are you?" "Oh, we’re at a bar down at the harbor in Somerset. Rabb’s calling someone to run a couple of details down. It’s okay, sir." "Famous last words. Tell him to call me before he does anything further. That’s an order, Roberts." "Yes, sir!" AJ hung up the phone. He should be thankful that Roberts was with Rabb and not MacKenzie. Sarah, even with her seemingly happy involvement with Walter Skinner, was still prone to giving 150% to her partner. He was glad that she’d been assigned to the bench when the case of the missing LCAC had come in. However, as it turned out, Roberts had been the one raring to go and check out half-backed theories. ‘Sir! It was found three nautical miles from the edge of the Sargasso Sea! It was still inside the Bermuda Triangle. Sir!’ And for once, Rabb was getting a taste of just what it was like to be Sarah MacKenzie. He’d rolled his eyes and grabbed Roberts’ arm. ‘Don’t worry, sir. I’ll keep him under control.’ AJ had kept his fervent ‘Why the hell doesn’t that make me feel any better?’ to himself. Now, they were faced with pirates. And, oddly, that possibility had AJ wishing for something simple. Dana had told him about a case that Mulder… "NO!" His bellow had Tiner pounding on the door. "Sir? Is everything okay?" AJ buried his head in his hands. "I’m fine." "Dear God, anything but that. Not the three of them together, down there. Surely…" He reached for the phone and dialed a now familiar number.
Friday, January 15 "AJ, honestly. He’s here in town. I saw him not three hours ago." Dana tried to reassure the very angry man sitting across from her. "Rabb did call him from Bermuda, but just for information." The look on her lover’s face softened a bit. It was rather funny. In the year that the relationship that ‘could not be named’ had been going on, Rabb and Mulder hadn’t really gotten into too much trouble. They always had a logical explanation for their minor escapades. She figured that, after the shootout at the Barkley Center in upstate New York six months ago, Chegwidden had accepted the fact that his lawyer was involved in a relationship that, after years of flaunting the rules in a variety of spectacular ways, would most likely get him kicked out of the Navy. It was sad really, because both men seemed to affect the other in the very best of ways. She reached out for AJ’s hand and caressed it softly. "Besides, isn’t your Lieutenant Roberts down there, keeping an eye on them?" "Yes. And, normally I’d feel much better about this, except…" At her quirked eyebrow, he clasped her hand and brought it to his lips. "Well, it is the Bermuda Triangle, and it is Mr. Roberts." "Oh dear. That bad?" "I swear to God, the only difference between Roberts and Tiner in regards to the supernatural is that Roberts has Harriet to keep him grounded." "You see! Roberts will keep them out of trouble." She didn’t bother to pull her hand away. He was doing quite wonderful things to her fingers with his lips; a promise of what he would do to other parts of her body later. She shuddered and he felt it, and all trace of worry about her partner and his best lawyer fled. "Your place or mine, Admiral?" "Check!" He really would have to learn to take her to dinner much closer to one of their homes. As it happened, they were closer to her apartment in Georgetown than his house in McLean. Even as he made his way through rush hour traffic, she began her torture. "Do you know, that I’ve never done this with any one else, AJ?" she said softly as she leaned over to lower the zipper of his khaki uniform slacks. He didn’t know whether to grip the wheel harder or roughly pull her away. "Damn it, Dana. You’re certainly making up for lost time. I have to make it from the street to your apartment, remember." "Such a baby. You’re so big, AJ." Her hand stroked him from root to tip. "The first time I saw you, I wasn’t sure I could take all of you." He grunted and slammed on the brakes when he noticed the light above them had turned red. "Jesus! Darlin’, please!" He tried to move her hand, but she rubbed her finger over his already weeping slit. "These are the only pants I have, Dana." "Oh fine." She pouted. "Are we almost there?" "Yes. Three more blocks." "You will make it up to me." It wasn’t a question, and AJ wondered just how she would manage to make him pay. He liked her paybacks. "Darlin’ for the evening, I’ll do whatever you ask me." "Oh, yes you will." He found a parking place right outside her building. Carefully rearranging himself, he stepped out into the cold January night, allowing nature to battle nature. However, she didn’t allow the cold much time to work. "Come on, sailor!" She tugged at him, and had him laughing and cursing at the same time as she slid across the icy sidewalk. "You and those high heels." He grabbed her up and carried her the rest of the way. "Only way we don’t look ridiculous standing side by side." "You could never look ridiculous." He frowned as two young women passed them. They didn’t wait long before they began to giggle. I, on the other, look exactly like an old fool in love with a woman young enough to be my daughter. He set her down at the door of the building to allow her to rummage for her key. She knew immediately when his mood darkened. And, she knew exactly what had caused it. They were happy together. Why did he have to dwell on the one thing that made this less than perfect? She opened the door and let him follow her into the building. She knew she could tease him out of it. Knew that all she had to do was arouse him to the point where his performance would lay his fears to rest. But, it was an issue. He was older than she. Eighteen years older to be exact. Old enough to be her father. In fact, he was only six years younger than her father would have been, had William Scully lived. She didn’t want to think about Ahab right now. She didn’t want to compare the men at all. That was too twisted, even for her. Pirouetting at her door, she glared up at him. "First rule, buster!" She poked a finger at his chest. He shook his discontent away. He would deal with it later, much later. "Command me, my lady." He took her finger and bit it softly. "No more bad moods. I have much to do to you tonight." She turned and unlocked the door. "Okay, first off." It was as far as she got. She gasped as he spun her around. His lips on hers swallowed anything else she might have said. His tongue demanded entrance, and even as she allowed it, he pushed her up against the door, holding her off the ground. There’s definitely a plus side to dating a man so much bigger. His body held her tight, and his hands roamed free, pulling at her clothes. Finally, when he transferred his lips to that spot at the base of her neck that had her wet faster than anything except direct stimulation of her nipples or clit, she tried to scold him. "No…fair." "Oh, little girl, I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to make you pay for torturing me in the car." "But you said." She gasped as he pulled her slacks down, one-handed. She kicked off her shoes and ignored her trouser socks. "What did I say?" He brought his knee up to rest between her legs, which served to not only hold her in place but to stimulate the aforementioned clit. "Oh, God! AJ! Please!" She cried as he pulled her shirt open. "You drive me nuts, little girl. You make me feel like a teenager and dirty old man all at the same time." He roughly pulled the material over her shoulders. It caught somewhere behind her and she stopped her token struggle to embrace him. "I’m a naughty girl, Admiral, sir." She bit his earlobe. "You should punish me. Please punish me, AJ." He groaned as her voice wound it’s way around his soul. Giving up on his plan to take her hard and fast against her front door, he scooped her up into his arms and made his way to her bedroom. Tossing her on the bed, he pointed to the pillows. "Lie there and wait for me." "Yes, AJ." Reaching down, she quickly removed her socks, then her jacket and blouse. Then she posed the way she remembered seeing porn stars on the Internet pose. Legs spread, the satin hiding her sex already soaking wet, her breasts straining at her bra. Quickly he stripped before crawling up to her, nipping at her tender flesh, pausing at those spots that made her moan his name. Finally, he reached her panties. Hooking a finger through both leg openings, he tugged. Sometimes they would tear from her, but tonight they held. He lifted her legs straight up between them so he could pull them off. Instead of letting her relax though, he pushed at the back of her knees until she was completely exposed before him. "Please, AJ," she whimpered, reaching up to hold her legs tight against her body. "Please what?" he demanded harshly. What had ever made her think he would allow her to remain in charge? What had ever made her think she really wanted that tonight? "Eat me," she begged. His grin was more teenager than admiral, but his technique had been honed over forty years of loving, no, worshiping women. He knew just what spots to apply pressure to. He’d learned the secret pattern around her clit that would bring her to the edge the quickest. He knew the spot between her vulva and anus that was to be avoided if he wanted to keep her on edge. Try as she might, she couldn’t control his movements tonight. All she could do was beg. Finally, he lifted her hips even higher, before he began to fill her. And fill her he did. Admittedly, she wasn’t as experienced as he. She wasn’t as experienced as either Mac or Monica, if their stories were to be believed, but she knew he was big. And, while she wouldn’t admit it out loud, he was bigger than Skinner (at least it seemed so to her, and she should know). And while she enjoyed the playful interludes when Skinner and Mac would join them, to pleasure each other, this was more precious to her, and she’d give up everything to continue it. She would fight even his perceptions. Damn the future. Right here, and right now, he was bringing her to the edge and holding her there. "Oh…oh…yes." Her breath came in gasping pants. Words of more than three letters failed to form. And finally, she said the only word that meant anything right at the moment. "AJ!" She screamed and thrashed and he began his own frantic pumping, thrusting into her with such force that she had to reach up and push back against the headboard to protect her head. She didn’t care. She could focus on only one thing, his face. He was beautiful to behold as he came, his face exploding in that decidedly male look of wonder and amazement that anything could feel this damn good. He knelt there before her, trying to catch his breath. Sweat ran down in rivulets through the matting on his chest. Their eyes met and the squall that had threatened passed on with little consequence. When he pulled out, he started to get up but she held out her arms. "Later. Come and cuddle." And, because he knew she liked it, he moved to lay beside her. Quickly, he finally divested her of her bra, bestowing chaste kisses on each crown. Positioning her so her back was against his chest, they settled down. He would admit to no one, not even her, that he too liked this part of their lovemaking (though not, as some women’s magazines purported, best). He swore he’d just fallen asleep when he heard the shrill beeping of his cell phone. "Wha.." Dana demanded sleepily, struggling to get up. "Lie still, darlin’ it’s mine." He stood up, already fully awake, already composing the blistering attack on the fool who dared to call him at 0330 hours – on a God Damned Saturday! He didn’t even realize that Dana was following him. He jerked the phone from his jacket pocket, surprised that the person persisted. "Chegwidden," he growled, not bothering to check the ID on the screen. "Sir?" Roberts’ voice quavered, and AJ’s anger dissolved into icy fear. "What’s the matter?" "Sir, they’ve gone. And, I’m really angry, but, sir?" "Damn it, Roberts! Report!" "Sir. Mr. Mulder…" "Mulder!" AJ whipped around to find Dana standing there, wide-eyed. "What about Mulder?" "Mr. Mulder flew in last night. We…we went back to the docks, and they began to ask questions, and the next thing I know they were renting a boat to leave at dawn." "God damn! Son-of-a-bitch! Why didn’t you go with them?" He was glad that Roberts hadn’t. He didn’t want to tell Harriet that her husband had been lost in the Bermuda Triangle, and he had little doubt that Rabb and Mulder together would be hard pressed not to find that aliens were raising Atlantis from the depths. "Sir! They wouldn’t let me. Rabb said that I had to stay and keep an eye out on things here." AJ took a deep breath, too angry to respond immediately. He was going to transfer the cocky bastard to Iceland – no damn it – Antarctica! If he did it now, Rabb would arrive just in time for winter to hit down there in June! "I’m on my way. Oh, and Roberts…" His tone had been know to make SEALs cry and Marine Colonels (at least one) cock their eyebrows in a credible imitation of the woman before him. Roberts didn’t let him finish. The sigh floated across the miles. "I know. Go to my hotel room and wait for you. We have a room on the docks, at a local inn. We kind of stumbled across it. It’s called The Jolly Roger." AJ just groaned and severed the connection. "AJ?" Dana touched his shoulder and almost jumped back. She could feel his fury. "What have they done now? How bad is it? Why do you have to go down there? I’m coming with you." "I can’t talk about it yet. Find Skinner." "Oh dear." She was really worried now. "Do we have to? Can’t we handle it? It’s his birthday." Now was not the time to tell him of Mac’s ‘surprise’ party for Skinner – a party that was to include just the four of them. AJ sighed and looked down at her. "I know, darlin’ but he’ll want to know. We might as well all go together." "Damn them both. I’m going to kick both their asses." "No, my dear." His smile never reached his eyes. "I do believe I’m going to pull Admiral’s privilege on you and a certain Marine Colonel." "We’ll see about that," she muttered even as she was searching for her cell phone.
Saturday, January 16 The dream had been remarkable, but the waking was even better. Webb slowly opened one eye to the dark room. He was glad she’d left the light on in the bathroom. That way he could watch her as she laved his cock with her tongue. "Hmmmmm. Nice. But wasn’t it my turn to wake you?" She paused, her chin teasing his fully erect cock, as it stood erect and so tantalizingly close. "You keeping score, spook?" "Come here. I want to taste you." "In a minute." She returned to her chore by dragging her tongue up the back of his cock, flicking the tip across that spot just behind the head. "Oh sweet Jesus, Monica!" He arched into her assault, fisting the sheets in an effort to keep from grabbing her head and fucking her mouth like he wanted. She held his hips and proceeded to swallow him. Working him, caressing his balls, she stretched one finger back to lazily tease his anus. Even though he had come twice before falling into an exhausted sleep, she brought him release yet again. Crawling forward, she kissed him hard, demanding that he taste himself on her lips. Pulling her down, he gasped. "Give me a minute." No one gave better head than Monica. And, he wasn’t a novice to this. He wasn’t a novice to taking his pleasure when it presented itself. Before meeting the intense FBI agent, Webb had never tried to be faithful to any other lover. He made that perfectly clear to the few women who’d tried to work out some kind of relationship with him – all failed miserably. He was gone for too long a stretch for it to be fair to him or his ‘girlfriend’ of the moment. He really didn’t have girlfriends. In fact, the first time she had called him her boyfriend, he’d teased her and asked if she wanted him to take her to the prom. He thought it would put her off. But instead, she had calmly looked him in the eye and suggested her fifteen-year high school reunion instead. And, son-of-a-bitch, if he hadn’t been in town when it took place! And, by God, she dragged him to it. And, most surprisingly of all, they both enjoyed themselves. She was good for him, instinctively knowing just how to get what she wanted. In the beginning, when he would disappear for weeks on end, she never questioned him when he returned. But, the first time he exploded because she’d gone away on a case without informing him, all he received in return was a steady gaze. After that, he always made a point of letting her know when he was going to be out of town. In the eight months they’d been together, they fought over inconsequential things, clearing the air with a thunderstorm of yelling, followed almost immediately by some of the most electrifying sex of his life. In eight months he hadn’t even looked at another woman, even managing to sidestep one assignment that would have required him to ‘give it up’ for his country. There had yet to be a declaration of undying love from either of them. He had no idea if she was faithful to him. However, at the FBI Christmas party, he’d caught a blistering look from one of Skinner’s fellow DDs – Folmer. When he questioned Skinner about it, all he received in response was a cryptic, "He’s the reason why I don’t kick your ass, Webb." He’d made the leap of logic that Folmer and Monica had been involved once, and that, because Webb was on the scene, Folmer was history. Good. He rolled over until they were facing each other, sharing one pillow. "So, I take it you want me compliant this weekend?" Honey brown eyes met hazel, and a wicked grin – a grin that he hoped she saved for him – kissed her lips, just before he did. She pulled back to murmur, "You know that stack of take out menus you have next to the phone in the kitchen?" "All weekend?" He mocked a groan. "See, we’re on the same page. You hungry?" "Yeah." His voice grew husky. "You delivering?" Laughing, she rose up and pushed him on his back. "You’re sure?" She teased him as she straddled him, holding herself over his face. Her sweet musky smell enveloped him and in answer, he pulled on her thighs until he could taste her, lap at her folds, and tease her already inflamed clit. "Oh Clay!" She moaned and gripped the top of his headboard. "Oh, God! So good." Letting his mouth trace a familiar path, he brought his hands into play, rubbing her thighs, probing at her anus, as she had probed him. She enjoyed anal sex as much as she enjoyed giving head. In fact, to date, he had suggested nothing that she’d turned down. Even allowing him to tie her up. Maybe this weekend he would finally allow her to reciprocate. Taking her clit between his lips, he sucked hard and drove his finger deep into her. Shrieking, she arched back, driving down on him even harder, causing yet another orgasm to crest and flood Clay’s mouth with her essence. She was shaking so hard she was afraid she’d fall on him, but his hands gently held her, allowing her to move back down his body. "We’re a collective mess," she murmured as she rested her head on his chest. "Yep. Just the way I like it." He kissed the top of her head. "Shower?" "Got to. I’m all sticky." She lifted her head and grinned at him. "So are you. Let’s go." They were adept at shower sex. If Webb made an inventory, he would be hard pressed to find a room or a piece of furniture in his (or her) dwelling that hadn’t witnessed their sexual antics. There were even a couple of restaurants that he wasn’t sure they could return to for a while. But, this morning they contented themselves with gently soaping each other, then drying off. After they both brushed their teeth, and she watched Clay shave, they returned to the bed. "Ewwwww," was her only comment. Clay was in the hall when a cell phone chirped. "Damn it!" He quickly returned, ready to toss her the clean sheets, only to find that it was her cell phone for a change. He didn’t like that any more than if it had it been his. He watched her face as she answered, "Dana?" He saw the fear there and wondered if there was trouble with her partner. Doggett, if he remembered correctly was on vacation. Monica’s shocked eyes flickered to him before she answered. "Yes. He’s right here. Oh, damn it." Webb almost didn’t reach for the phone. When he took it, he strongly considered hitting the ‘end’ button, grabbing Monica, and just running away for the rest of the weekend. But the look on her face made him answer, "Webb." "It’s Skinner. You have any contacts in Bermuda?" "Fuck!" :: :: :: :: Sunday, January 16 It took most of Saturday, into Sunday night, for them to pull everything together. None of them slept much; certainly not with each other. However, each of them was used to catching catnaps when they could. AJ had been on the phone several times with Roberts. However, the young lieutenant told him little beyond, "I’m checking with everyone I can find, sir." It wasn’t until one last phone call before boarding the plane Webb had procured, that Bud finally remembered to mention a tiny little detail. "We’re still getting intermittent signals from the boat." "Excuse me?" AJ choked out. "Well nothing’s clear in the Triangle, sir," Bud explained. "Nothing in this God damned case is clear! What the hell are you talking about – signals?" During the past 24 hours, the rest of the party had become used to AJ’s outbursts, but now, they all paused in grabbing up their merger luggage to listen to the one-sided phone conversation. AJ’s face seemed to contort through rage and incredulity; aggravation that even Dana’s hand in his couldn’t soothe. But now, for the first time since Frohike gave Skinner enough information to actually justify leaving the States, a look of mild relief just barely flickered across his face before aggravation set in again. "When were you going to tell me that you put a tracking beacon on the boat?" The others all exchanged wide-eyed looks, and Webb had his cell phone in hand again. The pilot of the small plane waited patiently, and Dana finally picked up her luggage and said to the other women. "Come on. He’ll tell us on board." The Lear Jet was an Agency plane used mostly for people higher up than a mere operative. Webb motioned them to take seats as they would. "The Agency’s man in Bermuda knows about the tracking device. He never mentioned it either because he thought Roberts was filling us in. There’s nothing to do until we get there anyway." He smiled at the nervous look on Mac’s face. "Don’t worry, the pilot said we had clear air – for now." "I just hope we find them in time. I’ve been watching the weather, and it doesn’t look good." "It is what it is, Mac," AJ said gruffly. "One of these days…" However, at the distressed look on Dana’s face, he stopped and sank into one of the comfortable seats. After a brief glare at her lover, Dana chose a seat across the aisle and farther up. Mac looked from Skinner, who’d done his own fair share of bad mouthing both Mulder and Rabb, to AJ, and settled next to Dana. Webb pulled Monica down to sit next to him. They’d been exasperated that their weekend alone had been curtailed, but at least they were together. And neither felt the same overwhelming emotions toward the lawyer or the agent. "Try and get some sleep," he ordered softly. Skinner knew that nerves were on edge. He had bitched about Mulder’s, and by proxy, Rabb’s, incredible, ongoing stupidity. Dana had accepted it as status quo; Mac had not. "He doesn’t deserve that tone, Walter. He was following a lead." He’d given her a long look before quietly rebuking her. "You get to bad mouth him, and we can’t?" She blushed but said nothing more. He was angry with Mulder and Rabb, not that they were pursuing ‘viable avenues of investigations;’ it was just he – and AJ – had to deal with the damn fallout. He knew that both men had used up about every one of their extra lives, more than they were due. And, he realized, that even if they found the two alive this time, it truly was only a matter of time. That thought saddened him. He’d come to terms with his feelings for Mulder and the part he played in the demon child’s life. He was beginning to like Rabb. The two of them were good for each other; he knew that. Hell, he suspected that AJ knew it too. But, unlike Skinner, who could go so far as to quietly acknowledge the relationship between the two men, AJ couldn’t. The Navy wouldn’t allow him to do so. Skinner and AJ both lived pretty much by their own set of rules. They might very well make love to either of the women who’d stolen their hearts, either together or separately. However, neither man would acknowledge the draw they felt for each other. And, they never would. It would complicate an already convoluted set of circumstances. All that notwithstanding, Skinner felt the need to lighten the tension that seemed to hug them like an itchy blanket. He waited until they were airborne before coming back to where the two women were silently sitting. Swiveling the captain’s chair in front of them around to face them, he gave Scully a rueful smile. "This is better than the last time, isn’t it?" Dana nodded. "The only seats we could get then were on that charter flight of fishermen. You never have done very well in coach." AJ stood and came to stand just behind the women. "You know, this is second or third time one of you has alluded to Mulder having been in Bermuda before." Webb joined them. "I found out a little while ago, setting this whole thing up." He shuddered. "You know, that Frohike guy is very strange." "You have no idea," Skinner said. "Well?" Monica slipped her hand into Webb’s. "Let’s hear the story." Skinner nodded to Scully. "You know more about it than I do." And so, quietly, and with as much dignity as she could muster, she told them the story of the time she had found Mulder floating in the Sargasso Sea, amidst the remains of the boat he’d rented while searching for a mysterious cruise ship – the Queen Anne. "I’m still trying to explain why the FBI is responsible for his wrecked boat." Skinner met Scully’s icy glare until she sighed and continued. "But I found the ship, too. I walked through that ship." She glared up at AJ, daring him to say a word. However, in a conciliatory move, he just rested his hand on her shoulder. "It was deserted – Mulder swore it wasn’t." "What do you mean, wasn’t?" Monica asked. After relating what Mulder story about Nazis and Thor’s Hammer, AJ rolled his eyes and sat down in the seat behind her. "The boy has some very interesting dreams. So what happened to the Queen Anne?" "The British Navy couldn’t find it." Skinner and Dana shared a long look that said, ‘There are just things that no one but the three of us can understand.’ However, Dana stood and turned to where AJ was sitting. "Scoot over." Skinner settled in next to Mac, and the tension, if not completely abated, eased somewhat. They landed at a small airfield and were met by Roberts and Felix Lieter, Webb’s man in Bermuda. AJ immediately set upon Bud. "Well, is the signal still strong?" Lieter deftly stepped between the angry two-star and his subordinate. "We’ve lost and acquired the signal off and on over the past thirty hours, Admiral." "Felix," Webb said, "is there somewhere you and Roberts have set up shop?" "Just back at the Jolly Roger. The Brits aren’t putting a lot of man power into the search – one boat." Roberts took a deep breath. "I spoke to the captain of the USS Billings, they’re searching the southwestern quadrant. The Coast Guard has dispatched two boats. But visibility is pretty bad, plus you’ve got the whole Triangle mess." "Balls. It’s just another part of the sea," Webb insisted. AJ grimaced. "Actually, no. I’ve never spent a lot of time there, but there’s a definite difference inside the area. It has to do with true and magnetic north. If you don’t make compensations in your plotting, you could be off by twenty degrees – that’s a lot of miles." Monica cleared her throat. "There’s another area just like it in the Sea of Japan." Webb fisted his hands on his hips. "So? What’s the game plan?" "Admiral," Lieter said, "I’ve got the information on the paramilitary group calling themselves Black Beard’s Ghosts. I’ll fill you in on the way into Somerset. I’ve arranged for two Range Rovers to take us back. Mr. Roberts can drive the ladies and…" he stopped when Webb laid a hand on his shoulder. "Bad idea, Felix." "Damn straight," Mac growled. "You’ll wait until we can all hear it." Lieter looked from one angry woman to the next, and quickly nodded. They were pleasantly surprised by the Jolly Roger. Right on the water, the clean sea breeze swept away much of the smell of the small processing plant across the bay. They elected to sit outside, though it was chilly this early in the morning. "This isn’t the season for Bermuda," Lieter said. "In fact, this is pretty warm for January. And, of course the water is only a couple of degrees cooler than the air. Makes for strange weather, though we don’t get much of the tropical storms – haven’t had a hurricane set down in years. More the opposite really." At their confused looks, he continued. "Only a fool would set out into the sea in a sailboat with no gas motor as back up. Ships have becalmed there for centuries." He explained all this as the owner of the small inn bustled about, setting out coffee and breakfast fare. Once the owner disappeared back inside, they all sat forward. "Tell us what you found out, Felix," Webb said. "Well, from what I could tell, and Bud here was a huge help." Bud blushed at the praise from the veteran operative. "Three buddies from Viet Nam, all former SEALs, came to Bermuda after their discharge. They set up a salvage operation and ran a little mercenary strong-arm stuff on the side. The mercenary end kept them in Guinness and KFC. The salvage operation was never that good – until about five years ago, and suddenly their bank accounts start showing black." "A Mr. Byers called me, sir," Bud said. "Just after we spoke last." "I told him to," Skinner said. "He was really helpful. Even gave me some tips I didn’t know about offshore bank accounts." "Watch it, AJ." Webb laughter never reached his eyes. "I wouldn’t put it past those guys to use Roberts as a source." "Mr. Webb! I would never." "Of course you wouldn’t, Bud." Mac shot a glare at Webb, who had the grace to faintly blush. "Continue, Lieutenant," AJ said. "Well, with a little help from Byers, I tracked Clark Wallace’s account to the Caymans. He’s the senior SEAL, a former captain. As good as they’re doing in their commercial account at Butterfield and Sons, their Cayman account is ten times as large." Lieter sat forward to interject, "You understand that Bermuda tightly regulates their banks. None of the four banks here operate as offshore facilities, and any international bank that offers offshore locations is not allowed to register here. And, because the banks are so highly regulated, it’s easier to track large money transfers." "I assume you’re building your case for piracy?" AJ was not pleased. It was a personal affront to him whenever he heard of former SEALs (or any branch’s special forces personnel), using their training for violent, illegal purposes. "Well, about the time the boys started making their big profits, the Triangle started to ‘up its take’ on the local tourist trade, if you get my drift." Lieter sat back and let them digest not only their breakfast but also the information he’d supplied. "Spell it out," Skinner barked. Roberts took up the story. "In 1997, Black Beard’s Ghosts, Ltd, showed $250 as gross profit on their tax documents. That year, one pleasure craft was lost in the Triangle and two months later, a British man of war discovered the vessel, derelict but not stripped. In 1998, the corporation showed a profit of $10,000, and that was the first year we found evidence of the Cayman account. That year, three different pleasure craft – all valued at over a million dollars – were lost, presumably in the Triangle. No evidence was ever found on the first two. Three months later, a fisherman found a piece of the hull, with just the words ‘No Re…’. One of the missing craft was called No Regrets. Two months after that, a friend of the owner of the No Regrets purchased a brass bell that he swore was from the boat." "What’s wrong with that?" Webb asked. "They’re a salvage operation." "What’s wrong is that no one ever saw them bring the ship in, and two days after the man bought the bell, he was found dead, floating in St. Charles harbor, his throat slit by a K-Bar style knife. The case is still open." "Are the British authorities checking on Black Beard’s Ghosts?" Dana asked. "They checked all the salvage operations around here. They’ve found nothing." Lieter sighed and finished his coffee. "They found nothing, or they were paid off?" Skinner barked. Lieter just shrugged. "I have no evidence to suggest that corruption is involved. But then, this is the first I’m hearing about it. It’s all very low key. No one even made the connection between the bell and the body floating in the bay until Roberts here talked to the dead man’s wife." "Well that’s all very well and good," Skinner said. "It’s the Brits’ problem. We have our own problem – two missing colleagues." "Actually, sir," Bud corrected softly. "We’re missing seven men. Mr. Mulder, the Commander, and the five crewmen of the LCAC." They paused to remember that there really was a viable reason why JAG and Rabb had been assigned the case. "Any word at all on the missing men?" AJ asked gruffly. "No, sir." "Was anything missing from the LCAC when it was found?" "Well, no…" He didn’t want to tell them yet. Rabb had told him to keep it quiet, but after all, the Admiral was his CO. "There’s evidence that there was a theft at Gitmo." "That wasn’t in the original report!" AJ said. "I know. The base commander thinks it’s a paperwork glitch. He’s trying to track them down. Rabb said he could have 24 hours before he added it to the report." "Added what?" Mac finally asked. She was almost more concerned about AJ now, than she was about Harm. Oh partner, you’ve really crossed the line this time. "Four stinger missiles." They could barely hear him over the squawking of the swooping seagulls. AJ looked at Skinner, and they all looked at Webb, who was sitting back watching them all. "Did you know, Felix?" "Not until right now," he lied glibly. "Fine. Find out after we leave and report to Washington. We never knew, understand?" "You got it, boss." Webb nodded. "What I want to know is why they rented a craft. What the heck were they looking for? And what made them think it was out there?" He pointed to the bright blue ocean. "The crewmen of the LCAC. This guy said he thought he knew where the missing crewmen might be." "What?" AJ’s voice was barely audible. His face was beet red. Skinner looked at Roberts, opened mouthed. Even Mac and Dana hid their faces, unable to maintain their support for their respective partners. "Sir! The man, Mike Casey, found out we were looking for the missing crewmen. He was the one who approached the commander. He was the one who gave us all the information." "And they just went!" AJ batted his hand out toward the sea. "No sir! That’s when the commander called Mr. Mulder for more information." "So Mulder found a connection, and instead of calling it in, flew down with it, and the two of them, with Mr. Casey, set out on a boat?" Skinner looked thoroughly disgusted. "Let me guess, it wasn’t the Minnow." "You mean the boat from Gilligan’s Island?" Bud looked affronted. "No sir, it was a good, seaworthy boat." "Actually, it was an eighty foot pleasure craft valued at a million five," Lieter refused to meet any of their looks of incredulity. "And?" AJ demanded. "And, it appears that Mr. Casey, formerly Master Sergeant Casey, is the half-brother of one of the original Ghosts. Of course, we didn’t find this information out until late last night." "So, it looks like they tricked Rabb into renting a boat so they could strip it and sink it without having it traced back to the Ghosts. Thus, not only ridding themselves of an annoying investigation, but securing another boat." AJ said. "Sir, I really think that Mr. Rabb and Mr. Mulder were prepared," Bud insisted righteously. "Indeed, Mr. Roberts," AJ purred. "And did they activate the homing device on the boat?" Bud blushed furiously. "No, sir. They didn’t know about it." "They didn’t?" Bud sighed and seemed to collapse in on himself. "I found a homing device at one of the boating shops along the harbor. I put it onboard when none of them were looking. The commander had already told me he wanted me to stay on shore and handle the investigation from this end. To call you and…" His voice trailed off for a moment. "Well, after all, sir, it is Commander Rabb!" "Were they at least armed?" AJ sighed. "Uhm…" "Bermuda is very strict about gun control. I doubt that the Commander or Agent Mulder could’ve found guns on such short notice," Lieter said. Everyone looked at Bud who’d suddenly taken a great interest in the contents of his empty coffee cup. "Roberts?" AJ growled. "Mr. Mulder found them guns. They made sure that Mr. Casey didn’t see them." "Well, thank God for that." Skinner rubbed his hands over his face. He was so damned angry with Mulder. "Some birthday." "Oh. Happy birthday, sir." Bud blushed some more and then stood. "I’ve an appointment at the embassy. You do know that there’s an FBI agent stationed here?" Skinner knew all too well that there was an agent stationed here, and he planned on making sure that Ken Hammond didn’t know that he was back. After all, Skinner had promised that neither Mulder, Scully, nor he would ever return to the island. "Does Hammond know that Mulder is here?" "Uhm…no, sir. I thought it prudent, after what Mr. Mulder said about Mr. Hammond, to only mention that it was a Navy operation." "Excellent. Let’s get to it then." Skinner stood, followed by AJ and the rest. "You found us a boat?" "Quite a nice one, actually. A former gunrunner’s boat," Lieter said. "The owner is a friend. He bought it at the last RICO forfeiture auction in Miami. She’s fast and laid out rather plush, considering what her primary function was. It’s worth a cool million, he picked it up for half that." "Terrific!" Webb grinned at AJ. "I’m sure we’ll sink her." "Don’t say that!" The boat was a beauty. Sleek, the cockpit high above the boat offered an unobstructed view of the sea around them. The owner seemed pleased that a two-star admiral would be the pilot, and he directed his instructions to AJ, though Skinner and Webb paid close attention. "She’ll do 30 knots, if you push her. She’ll weather most storms, but you need to be back by 1700 hours. There’s supposed to be a storm brewing. It’ll probably miss the island, and I’d suggest that you go around to the East, but still, be back before dark, sir." "The running lights work, don’t they?" AJ was studying the layout. It was similar, though much larger, to a boat he had owned years ago, before everything got too hectic. "Everything works!" Mr. Rutledge sniffed. "There’s just so much debris and shallow obstacles. I’ve insurance, but your security deposit will be forfeit if you bring her back damaged after dark." "I just want to bring her back, period," Webb muttered so softly that only Skinner heard him. "Damn straight." AJ climbed up to the helm, while Webb and Mac cast off the lines. He thought for a moment how nice it would be if they really were just going for a day of boating. The clouds in the sky were puffy white, and the breeze, while bracing, wasn’t unpleasant. He was pleased with their decision to wear cotton slacks and tee shirts with windbreakers. He was just as glad that they had time to pack a change of clothes. Beyond wanting to keep a low profile, the dress blue uniform he’d worn to take Dana out to dinner and then back to her place, wouldn’t have been very comfortable. Not to mention the shoes. "Hey sailor, you’re looking mighty perfect there." Dana came and sat on a chair next to him. She reached inside her windbreaker pocket and pulled out a kerchief. "Should’ve brought a hat." She deftly tied back her hair. "You look adorable." "But not beautiful and nautical, like Mac?" "Don’t fish for compliments, Agent Scully." They both laughed at his choice of words. "It really is an incredible boat. There are two huge cabins down there – really plush. The benches in the galley fold out into a full size bed." She reached for his hand. "It could be really nice, AJ." He squeezed it gently before releasing it to back away from the dock. "I know, darlin’. Keep it in mind. Maybe we’ll get a chance – the four of us." "Yeah. Like we’re ever in town all at one time for a weekend, let alone a week." "We’ll work it out." :: :: :: :: :: Sunday, January 16 Mac leaned forward on the handrail at the bow of the boat. There was plenty of room to throw down a towel and sunbathe, and she could imagine what it would be like doing this for fun. Leave it to her partner to not only ruin her weekend, but to rub her nose in what she knew they’d never find time to do for pleasure. She was glad she remembered to pack her sunglasses. The glare off the water would’ve been blinding without them. She tried hard to picture him in her mind. She thought it should be easier now than that she’d already done it once. Her fear was that it’d been a one shot deal - one trip to the magic crystal ball inside her head. No. There had been Zoey lost in the woods before, and Commander Laura Aiken’s body in Rock Creek afterwards. Damn him. She was concentrating so hard she didn’t notice Skinner make his way towards her. Not until he settled next to her, hip-to-hip, did she turn to face him. He put his arm around her shoulders. "You okay?" She shrugged and hooked her thumb into one of his belt loops. "Not what I planned for your birthday." "I’ve had worse. You’re here, and for once, I’ll have help beating the crap out of him. Dana’s as mad as I’ve ever seen her." "Almost as mad as AJ, I’d expect." "But not you, huh?" "Me? I followed Rabb to Russia – twice. I actually got into a plane with him again – after he crashed the first one we were in together." She felt the sting of tears, and brutally brushed them away. "I’m tired of being mad at him, Walter." "They are two of the luckiest bastards on the face of the earth." They’d never actually discussed the relationship between Mulder and Rabb. Everyone knew about it, but nobody said a word. "Why? Because they’re together?" "No, because they have partners that will go to any length for them." "Oh, and you’re here because?" "Because I’m going to kick his ass but good – I mean it this time." "Sure you do." :: :: :: :: Webb searched the enclosed cockpit, just below the fly deck where AJ was currently piloting the boat. If they were caught out in a storm, they could move down here. He checked the radio, contacting Roberts first to see if there was anything else they needed to know. He then contacted the British and US Navies, and gave them their position. He was just signing off when Monica entered from the aft deck. "Damn, this is sweet. I feel underdressed." "You’re beautiful in slacks and tee shirt, though the windbreaker could go." "Oh yeah?" She sidled up to him, and demanded a brief kiss. "You know, I packed my bikini." He groaned but pulled back. "Kind of cold for a bikini, babe." "Oh, I bet you could warm me up." She looked around, then went to the small hatch leading to the main cabin. Three steps down brought her into the galley. "Holy cow." He followed her, wishing he could take her right then and there. "It’s not fair, you know." She sighed as he embraced her from behind. "Look at this place." "I know." He kissed her neck, nibbling at the spot just behind her ear that always elicited a low, pleasured growl. "Pick a week and we’ll go somewhere you can wear that bikini. Or, if you like, we’ll fly to the Riviera, and you can go nude. I’d like that." She turned and considered him with sad, serious eyes. "We tried that, remember? We can’t plan anything." She’d picked a week, and they had made plans, and he had to cancel them. National Security came first. She understood and accepted it. It didn’t make it any easier. His lips met hers for just a moment. He took her hand and led her back up to the deck. "We better help look." He left her at the starboard quarter. Mac and Skinner were keeping watch forward. He climbed up to the fly deck where Dana was scanning the horizon. "I take it we’re going to start from their last known position? The HMS Ranger is searching from there out toward Cuba. They aren’t keen to go into the ‘soup,’ as they call the Sargasso Sea." AJ glared down at the radio next to him. He could use it if he had to, but it would be difficult to hear over the noise of the engine and the boat pounding into the waves. All he really cared about was the tiny box next to the radio. It would flash red if the homing device emitted another signal. "You check in with our people?" "The Navy is tracking up the Carolina coast at the twelve-mile limit, using long-range radar. Nothing yet. It’s kind of choppy that close to shore." "They wouldn’t have made it that far. It would take us two full days in this thing." "Yeah, and according to Felix, this is a much nicer boat that they had – a prime target for the Ghosts." Dana jerked around at that. "You don’t think they’d try another attack do you?" AJ glared at Webb, who shrugged. "Don’t know. But the guns are right where Lieter put them." "Good." AJ yelled. "I’m going back to stand watch with Monica." At least they were together. He found he liked that. He didn’t even mind that the other two couples were with them. He rejoined Monica, slipping his arm around her waist. "Cold?" "No. I’m good, but I’m warmer now." "Good." He pulled her tighter against his hip, and together they scanned the ocean for a tiny speck. :: :: :: :: Sunday, January 16
Skinner made his way back to the fly deck. Scully had come forward and motioned that AJ wanted to talk with him. Webb was just coming out of the cockpit. "You going up?" At Skinner’s nod, he said, "Tell AJ, still nothing to report from Roberts, the Brits, or our guys." "Got it." Skinner watched as Webb made his way back to where Monica stood. "This is hopeless!" He told AJ once he climbed up to take one of the captain’s chairs. "I know. But what were we supposed to do? They would’ve come without us." "I know that. But, they would come after us, if we…" "Bullshit, Walter. They wouldn’t have to." His friend snorted. "But that wouldn’t stop them from following us." AJ gave his grudging consent. "Perhaps. But it’ll be dark sooner than we thought. Check out to the southwest." "I saw it. I know we have to…" The words died on his lips as he saw Mac jumping up and down, pointing far off to the western horizon. The wind whipped her screams back up to them. From the corner of his eye he caught Webb moving forward, Monica right behind him. "I’m going down there." AJ took one last look at the approaching cloudbank, and steered in the direction that Mac was pointing. "Oh my God! I see something!" Mac screamed at the top of her lungs. Dana was gripping her arm, but both were leaning well over the handrail. Webb was already making his way forward as Skinner ran around the other side, toward the bow. She shouldn’t be able to see it. She wasn’t even sure she really did. She knew that Dana was looking at her questioningly. The sun was sparkling up off the water and the glare was intense, but Mac wouldn’t be put off. "I tell you, I see them." "Okay, okay." Dana prayed she was right. Walter came and stood between them. "Where?" "They’re there." "I don’t see anything." "If she says she sees them, then she does," Webb said calmly. He was standing next to Mac, and reached out to grab her other arm. "Don’t fall in though, okay?" She turned and gave him a smile. "Thanks, Clay." He shrugged. "Hey, I don’t question your sense of time, and I don’t question your ‘inner eye.’" "Inner eye?" Skinner looked down at his lover. They talked when they could, but he knew there were things still to be discussed, still to be found out about each other. In fact, he blushed as he realized that he’d never told Sarah of his dead wife, or how she died. So much to learn even after a year of joyous sex. It angered him though that Webb seemed to know something about her that he didn’t. He took the spy by the shoulder and moved him away, which Webb did with a grin of understanding. He steadied her, pulling her back just a bit from teetering over the side in her eagerness to see with her eyes what her second sight had already told her they would find. "They’re in a boat." "How can she see that?" Monica, who hadn’t heard Webb’s comment to Skinner, demanded as she too strained to see something besides the afternoon sun reflected back on the waves. While they waited, Webb filled her in on what little he knew. Rabb had told him some, Roberts more. When he was done, she looked at him oddly. "I didn’t know you and Roberts were so close that he would tell you things like that." "I have my ways." It was just one more thing to explain to her. Explain how Roberts, almost more than anyone else, had been not only a pain in the ass, but also a lighthouse beacon of doing right in a bad situation. They weren’t friends really, but they had raised a glass together on more than one occasion. Skinner couldn’t believe it. It was a full thirty minutes before he caught the first glint of something that Mac swore was there. Even AJ, who was steering as he peered through binoculars, hadn’t seen it until moments before. "At least they aren’t in the drink." Webb, now that he could make out the life raft before them, scanned the sea around them. "You think it might be a trap?" Skinner jerked around, then nodded. "Excellent point. I want something besides this thing." He patted the service revolver, which, since they landed at a private field, no one had bothered to check him for. "On it." He went back to the cabin, Monica following close behind. By the time they returned, with the three rifles that Lieter had snuck aboard, Webb could barely make out two dark forms lying in the life raft. Dana and Mac wore identical fearful looks. Even Skinner’s scowl had morphed into concern. "Here." Webb thrust one of the rifles at Skinner. Monica kept the other one. "Should I take this to AJ?" "Why don’t you go up there with him. He’ll need to manage the boat, not hold a gun." Skinner didn’t know where to look. He needed to know that Mulder had once again escaped death, but he needed to protect them all. The only good thing was that no ship could sneak up on them. Regardless of the idiotic name the pirates had chosen, he didn’t think they could hide in the cloudbank, emerging like a terror to attack them. He’d be able to see another ship long before it reached them. As long as the pirates weren’t using a high-powered cigarette boat, they could outrun them with any kind of warning. He even scanned the skies to no avail. They were within hailing distance when one of the men lifted his head. They could see him nudge the other, and both stood and began waving frantically. "Hey! Over here." Webb stood there, shaking his head in amazement. "Now they start looking." AJ idled the boat, and Mac threw Rabb a line. "I knew you’d find us, Mac." Rabb looked tired. He hadn’t shaved in a few days, and there was a vivid bruise on his cheek. It needed to be vivid to stand out from the deep red sunburn on his face. He allowed Skinner to pull him on board, wincing as he did so. "Been out there for two days with nothing to shade us. We used the emergency water up a couple of hours ago. Thank you." He accepted the bottle of water that Webb thrust at him. Mulder, looking a bit more circumspectly at his boss, tried to make his own way on board, but he stumbled and would’ve fallen flat on his face had Webb not reached out to grab him. "Thanks," he mumbled. Webb released him but noticed the brown stain on his shirt. "What happened?" "Mulder!" Instantly, Dana was at her partner’s side. "How bad is it?" She began to tug at the knit shirt he wore. "Sheesh! It’s scratch. Literally." He tried to jerk away, but Skinner got in his face. "Get your ass down below and let her look at you and Rabb." Mulder thought to argue, but the look on Skinner’s face made him blush. Turning to his partner, he smiled in apology. "Sorry, Scully. It just hurts, and there’s so much stuff we need to know." "Yeah, Mulder." The three made their way aft. Mulder was just ducking into the cabin, when he noticed the shadow looming over him. Looking up, he saw AJ glaring down at him. He was used to Skinner’s resigned aggravation, but at the raw fury on AJ’s face, he felt real fear. "I’m really sorry, Scully." She sighed and glanced up at her lover. What was there to say? AJ turned away and returned to start the engines again. :: :: :: :: Skinner was still at the rail, scanning the ocean. AJ was chewing his lip as Mac followed Dana, her arm around Harm’s waist. Monica stood at the ready, next to AJ. Webb quickly climbed up to the fly deck. "Why don’t you and Skinner go down there, chew some ass, and, if possible, try and make some sense out of what Tweedledee and Tweedledum did since arriving on the island. Don’t kill them though," he said with a brief smile. "We really do need to find out what happened to the boat they probably destroyed." "You can handle this?" AJ said. Webb’s smirk was nasty. "AJ, I learned to sail when I was six. I’ll handle…" he didn’t finish as AJ pushed past to descend the ladder. "Just don’t head into the storm, and yell out if you see any boat smaller than a British warship." "Aye-aye, sir." Webb’s smirk softened when he turned to Monica. "It’s just you and me, kid." He reached to put his arm around her waist, but she stepped away. "Don’t start. This is important." She wedged the rifle between two of the padded seats, and picked up the binoculars that AJ had been using. "Try and stay ahead of the storm, okay?" "Aye-aye, ma’am," Webb sighed and turned the boat east, toward Bermuda. :: :: :: ::
AJ and Skinner sat side by side on one of the couches that wrapped around one side of the boat and to the door of the master stateroom. Scully had positioned two chairs in the middle of the galley, sat Rabb and Mulder down on them, and proceeded to search through her black bag. "She takes that thing on sea trips?" Rabb murmured to Mulder. "SHE," Scully gritted out, "takes this damn thing whenever SHE has to watch Mulder’s ass. Evidently, SHE now has someone else’s ass to kick, too!" "Oh, man! Don’t get her started." Mulder yelped and jerked away from the finger that thumped against the back of his head. "Hey!" Mac smiled sweetly. "Shut up, Agent Mulder." She came to stand in front of her partner, hands on her hips. Bending at the waist so she could glare directly into his eyes, she demanded. "Well? You’ve taken to crashing boats along with planes now?" AJ leaned a little closer to Skinner. "Is this cruel and unusual punishment?" "Oh yeah, and I’m loving every minute of it!" Rabb bristled. "You found wreckage?" He looked at Mulder, anger and defeated sadness evident in his eyes. "Why would they have wrecked it? That was a good boat! They could have sold it." Mac took a step back. "If it wasn’t wrecked, why were you in a life raft?" Mulder spoke up. "We didn’t wreck it. We escaped in the fog. We thought you would follow the emergency beacon and maybe run into us first." "So you found the homing device that Roberts planted on board while you weren’t looking?" Skinner asked. "Huh? We left the lifeboat emergency beacon on board." AJ and Skinner stood and took the two steps that brought them into the group. AJ gripped Rabb’s shoulder. "We were following the homing beacon Roberts put on board the ship? We never picked up the emergency beacon." Before any of them could say anything further, the intercom squawked. "Skinner!" Monica’s voice floated down to them. "We got a signal. It’s reading about fifteen nautical miles west of here." AJ hurried up the gangway and into the cockpit. Skinner followed, and after shaking off their partners, so did Mulder and Rabb, albeit at a much slower pace. By the time the six were huddled into the now cramped cockpit, AJ was signing off with the commander of the HMS Ranger. "Damn it." He rested his head in one hand as he began to hail Bud in Bermuda. "Star of the Sea calling base, Star of the Sea, calling base." The reception was even worse than it had been with the Ranger. Static seemed to fill the air, and if that was Roberts’ voice ghosting through, none of them could understand what he was saying. AJ grimaced then repeated the hail. He looked back at Skinner. "I don’t want to give our position if it’s not Roberts." "I agree." Skinner hit the intercom button. "Webb?" "Yeah!" They could hear the roar of the engines and the whistling of the wind behind his voice. "Seas clear?" "No boats, if that’s what you mean. That damn storm behind us is getting closer, and I can’t get another knot out of this baby." "Stand by, keep heading back to Bermuda." "No!" Rabb cried. "We have to find them. You don’t understand. We have to get to them." "Rabb." AJ turned away from the radio. "The captain of the Ranger said that they are in the middle of the storm registering 18-foot waves. The HMS Ranger is a cruiser. This boat isn’t going to do well in 18-foot waves." "Sir, you don’t understand. They told us what they do. They were going to make us do the same. Sir, please." "AJ!" Webb shouted over the intercom. "We’ve got trouble!" "Report!" "The storm front is moving between us and Bermuda. The temperature up here is dropping, and the wind is cutting our speed down to 25 knots. This isn’t good! I’m having to head away from shore. Somebody needs to find a chart and tell me what to do!" AJ, Skinner, Mulder, and Rabb studied the chart. After exchanging glances, Mac and Dana left them to it, and returned to the deck. Behind and to the portside they could see the angry black clouds rolling across the ocean. They didn’t try to talk to each other, the wind was starting to howl, and the waves were already kicking spray up along the sides of the boat. Mac pointed to a locker and Dana nodded. Together, they took out eight life preservers. After each donned one, Mac shoved two at Dana, and pointed to where Webb and Monica stood. She then started for the cockpit with four more. The boat was lurching and jumping in the waves, and several times Dana thought she would loose her handhold, or the vests. She just reached the top when she saw Webb throwing switches. Monica grabbed both vests and screamed. "AJ wants everyone below. He’ll handle it from inside." Dana nodded and climbed back down, but she waited until first Monica, then Webb, drunkenly made their way down to the cockpit hatch. The first drops of rain were beginning to join the sea spray, and she was suddenly very frightened. Webb took both women’s arms, and shoved them toward the hatch. Then he took one last look behind him, cursed loud enough for them to hear, and dove for the end of the boat. "Clay!" Monica scream and started after him, but Dana held her arm tightly. "He’s securing the lifeboat. I just noticed too. He doesn’t need your help, and he won’t appreciate having to worry about you. Now, come on." By the time Webb joined them, he was soaked in seawater. "Damn tie-downs had come loose. All we needed." He groused, but paused to thank Scully for the dry towel she handed him. "Good thing we brought a change of clothes." He walked over to where AJ was steering the boat. The sky to the front of them was darkening into evening, but it was still more clear than cloudy. Fat raindrops patterned against the windshield, but AJ hadn’t bothered with the wipers yet. "Well?" "Just trying to stay ahead of it. We’re roughly on a course that will take us to the Carolinas." "We got fuel for that?" "No." "Terrific." "I’m telling you, they have a base of operations somewhere near here!" Mulder was jabbing at the chart. "You have the coordinates of the homing device, though I still don’t understand why you’re not getting the emergency beacon." "Mulder," Skinner rubbed his hand over his face in frustration. "Did it ever occur to you that they might’ve found it and destroyed it? We never got any emergency beacon reading. Just the homing device that Bud planted." "Why would Bud do that?" Rabb asked them all. As a group, they snorted and returned to looking at the chart. "We’re gaining on the homing signal. If it’s your boat, derelict, there’s nothing we can do about it. The cost isn’t going to be able to be hidden in the budget under Health and Safety this time." AJ said grimly alluding to the time Rabb shot up the courtroom ceiling. "They wouldn’t have abandoned it. They were going to sell it in Africa, like they’ve been doing the past eight years. Two or three a year!" Mulder said. "I suppose Mr. Casey told you all this?" Webb said snidely. Mulder nodded. "Yeah, he was real talkative once he got the drop on us." Webb rolled his eyes. "Hey, we let him, okay?" "Sure you did." Mulder reached for Webb, but Mac stepped between them. "Knock it off." "We did. We knew we had to find the base, and we knew they weren’t stupid. We had it all figured out." "Now, that I can believe." Skinner’s relief that they were alive was long forgotten. "You come up with the damnedest plans." "But it got them talking." "Them?" Dana said. Mulder’s look pleaded with Skinner for understanding. "Yeah. Tom Casey took us to a spot where, surprise, surprise, another boat was waiting for us, right at the edge of the Sargasso Sea. I could touch the kelp beds; we were that close. There’s an island there somewhere. At least that’s what Tom Casey and the General said." "General?" AJ glanced away from the last of the sunlight. "Well, that’s what Tom’s brother, Greg, calls himself. Big guy; taller than Rabb – two of Rabb, really." "Wait a damn minute." AJ was staring at him; the shock more pained than anything Mulder had seen before. "Greg Casey? Scar down the side of his face?" "Yeah. You know him?" "Yeah. Marine captain; I saved his life in Nam. I don’t believe it." "It’s true, sir." Rabb said softy. "He…he knows you. He seemed to know exactly who I was. I think someone on Gitmo is in partnership with him." "What did he say?" "Said, ‘Well, well. Tell me, does AJ still walk around like his shit don’t stink?’ Wondered if he would send his pet lapdog out." Rabb blushed as he related what Casey had said, but if AJ was upset by it, none of them could read it in his expression. "That all?" "No sir. He made sure that we knew what was going to happen to us." "And?" Rabb looked at Mulder. "Said that we’d be given the same choice that all their captives received." "What choice?" Monica asked. Mulder looked out into the darkness, unable to meet their gaze. "He’s insane. Maybe they all are. They’re holding the crew of the LCAC – at least four of them." "Four? What happened to the fifth?" "They raped her, then killed her." Mulder didn’t turn to see which of the three men gasped. None of the women said a word. "Casey said they’d have some fine entertainment." He couldn’t go on. Rabb took a deep sigh. "The way Casey explained it, when they first started taking the boats, they would kill the owners and any crew on board. But one crewmember begged them to let him join them. Casey told him fine – you kill them all. And the guy did. They had pictures and prints, and I guess other evidence. But Casey said they didn’t need it with that one. But it gave them the idea. The next boat they took had four old friends out for a weeklong fishing trip. They gave them the choice – fight to the death – one got to join." Mac went pale and reached for Skinner’s hand. "That’s sick!" "Maybe, but that’s how they got their doctor. At least that’s what the General told us. He said that once we reached the island, where they have a ring set up, we’d be given a knife, and put inside the cage; only one would get to walk out." "And if you refused?" Dana whispered. "Then Casey would string up both combatants from a tree on the island, and let them rot." "Fucking insane!" Mulder hissed. "That’s when we put our plan into operation." "They just let you go?" AJ said; the doubt etched into his face. "Well, we’d planned for that to." Mulder took up the story again. "We knew the head guy of the Ghosts was named Casey. So when his brother showed up, saying that he felt really bad about what was happening and that he wanted to do the right thing, we made our plans and that included some personal protection. We each hid a knife – taped it to the inside of our thighs, with this flesh colored tape. It was Rabb’s idea." "Hey!" Webb gasped at Rabb. "You do pay attention sometimes." "Yeah, sometimes. Thanks." Mulder waited for a moment, then continued. "Rabb was able to get to his. It was a tiny knife, and took most of the night to cut through the rope, but it was so foggy, and they kept us outside – I think to unnerve us – and we finally got loose. Back in Bermuda, we took one of the lifeboat packs and rigged it under the dive platform. We entered the water, grabbed it, and swam as far away as we could before inflating it." Mulder shuddered at the memory. "That’s where I got the scratch on my side, a piece of driftwood caught me." For the first time since coming on board, Rabb reached out and touched him, soothing him. "We damn near lost it. Rabb dove for it." "Sir." Rabb faced his boss. "We thought for sure that Bud would follow the emergency beacon. Why it didn’t work, I don’t know." His wry smile showed more maturity than either Mac or AJ could remember seeing on his face. "I guess it’s a good thing Bud was a step ahead of us." "Yeah, I guess," AJ responded gruffly. He already knew he would do everything in his power to protect the top gun once again. Mac met his gaze from across the room and smiled in resigned acceptance too. Rabb who had missed the entire exchange continued, "Casey told us that they hide a boat for a year before they make a few changes, like the name and registration number. Then, they sail it to a port in Liberia, and sell it at the marine auction there. Casey bragged that once, they sold one of the women there too, but normally they just use them, then kill them." He closed his eyes in pain, and let the exhaustion take him. Skinner gripped his arms, and moved him to one of the empty seats. "Sir," Rabb pleaded. "We’re so close. We have to try and save those men." And of course, he was right. Nature herself seemed to agree. Between the wind and the rapidly approaching storm, they were forced to head south and west, right toward the increasingly strong homing signal. They lost contact with all other ships, and Webb was sending a constant Mayday. "Hell, regardless of the storm or the pirates, we’re going to need all the help we can get." The boat shuddered and rocked in the ever-rising sea, and Dana and Monica were looking decidedly green. Mulder and Rabb weren’t faring much better. Finally, Skinner ordered them below, leaving the four to watch out the windows. AJ strained against the wheel. "Just let the storm hold back – just a little. Visibility is bad enough." Once again, Mac strained to see farther than physical sight allowed. But, her inner sight, as Webb called it, seemed to work on its own timetable. Though thankful that they had found Rabb and Mulder, she wanted desperately to find the crewmen too - alive. She hoped to hell she and her friends didn’t die in the middle of the ocean. Skinner’s hand in hers calmed her a bit. "Hang on. AJ’s doing just fine. We’ll make it." "I’m sorry." "For what?" "For getting angry with you. You have a much right to bitch about him as I do." She sighed and hugged him tight. "I’m just so used to pulling his ass from the fire. Dana’s used to it too, isn’t she?" Ignoring the others present, he gently lifted her chin and softly kissed her. "I may bitch a blue streak, but it’s either that or pummel him regularly. I’m sure, AJ’s the same way." "Yeah, Mac." Webb said from over by the radio. "Rabb gets yelled at. I get my nose broken." AJ just grunted. They watched in silence until Webb called out. "According to the tracking device, we should be seeing something now." It was a shadow against the black night, and this time, it was Skinner who spotted it first. "To the starboard bow!" He pointed, and without question, AJ swung the boat around until they were heading back into the storm. "This is stupid!" Webb yelled. "Just keep sending the Mayday and those coordinates," AJ growled. "Walter, do you see any lights on the island?" "No. Not a glimmer." Lightening flashed across the sky, and the rain began to sheet down the glass. "Webb." AJ grabbed the spy to make his point. "Get over here and help me watch these instruments." There were almost as many dials and gauges here as there’d been on the ships AJ served on. Webb called out the depth readings, but both men kept checking the radar and sonar monitors that gave them a clear picture even if the rain was starting to fall harder still. "Almost takes the fun out of it, doesn’t it?" Webb said. "As long as it works and keeps us off the rocks." "Any obstacles should show up. Including any boats that might be on patrol." "If this is the right island. If they didn’t just ditch the boat." "No real reason why they should. They had every reason to believe that Rabb and Mulder would drown. No way of knowing there was a life raft stored under the dive platform." Rabb poked his head up through the gangway. "You find it yet?" Webb never took his eyes off the depth sounder. "Yeah. Come on up and help look for crashing waves." "How are Monica and Dana?" AJ asked. "Green, but hanging in there. Mulder’s with them." "He’s sea-sick too, isn’t he?" Skinner growled. "He went through a lot, Director Skinner." In the year that he and Mulder had been together, Rabb seldom saw Skinner unless it was official business. He treated the man with the same respect as he treated his CO. "He always does. What’s that?" Skinner pressed his hands and nose against the glass. "Hey!" Mulder came up next. "Scully thinks there are rocks ahead. We can see better down there." Suddenly a claxon rang out. "Hold on!" AJ spun the wheel. Skinner grabbed the handholds, Rabb tumbled against Webb, and Mac went flying across the cockpit, hitting her head against the bulkhead. "Sarah!" Skinner pushed past Webb and Rabb, and drew Mac into his arms. "You okay?" She rubbed her head. "Hurts." "Sit down, damn it." "Rabb, where the hell are you going?" Webb cried as the lawyer struggled with the door to the outside. "Someone has to look for the break in the rocks." "Oh, for God’s sake." Webb grabbed up a coil of rope from the storage compartment under one of the seats. "Always have to be the God damned hero. Tie this around you." Rabb did as instructed, then Webb did the same to himself, half way down the length. "Skinner?" "I’ve got it. Stand by the door and yell back what Rabb tells you." He expected to get soaked again, but Webb thought he was breathing water. He could barely see, let alone hear Rabb as waves crashed against rocks not twenty feet away. We’re going to die out here. I always knew I’d die because of something Rabb and his JAG buddies pulled me into. "I see something!" Rabb shouted. :: :: :: :: It wasn’t pretty, and was going to cost them their security deposit and probably a lawsuit to recover even more of the damage. The side of the hull scraped and crashed against the volcanic rocks that protected the island; an island that didn’t appear on any chart on the boat. AJ kept checking the GPS. The military had trusted the tracking devices for decades and the boat’s pervious owners would have spent the money necessary to insure they could elude the Coast Guard and DEA. They didn’t have to worry about true or magnetic north with it. So why wasn’t the damned island on any of their charts? He was beginning to accept the whole Bermuda Triangle reputation even though he knew deep down it was silly. As soon as they passed the rock barrier, the sea suddenly calmed. Freed of resistance, the engine shot them toward the beach, and he had to throw it into reverse, causing yet another alarm to go off. It was still raining, and the spotlight barely cut through it to show the trees on the beach bending to the ground. They were all crowded into the cockpit. All had their service revolvers out; AJ gave Rabb his .45, and Skinner gave Mulder his .38. AJ, Skinner, and Mac all clutched the rifles they’d had brought on board. After one glance with Skinner, AJ took command. "We’re going nowhere tonight, nowhere in this storm – don’t argue with me, Rabb." "No, sir." He set up a rotating watch, ordering Rabb and Mulder to the stateroom to get some sleep. By general agreement, the couples paired up, and kept watch together, grabbing a few hours’ sleep in the other stateroom. No one disappeared for more than a few hours, and it was obvious that they were sleeping in the same clothes they’d worn since climbing on board the jet at Regan National, nearly twenty-four hours ago. Monica had to drag Webb away from the radio. None of them knew whether or not their Mayday had been heard by Roberts, the British, or the Ghosts. Someone made the coffee. No one professed to be hungry. :: :: :: :: Dawn came. At least they assumed it came, though they couldn’t see it – or the island for that matter – through the heavy mist. They could hear the waves pounding on the shore and against the rocks. It effectively cut off any other sound. Webb slumped over the radio, fiddling with the dials. Skinner came up behind him and placed a fresh cup of coffee on the console in front of him. "I owe you one." "After what you pulled in the basement nine months ago, you owe me into the next decade." The two exchanged a meaningful glance, and Skinner sighed. "Of course, your damned seal of approval on my promotion probably evened us up." "Who’s counting? Rabb and Mulder still asleep?" "Yeah. Scully checked on them about twenty minutes ago." "Brave woman." At the, angry look on Skinner’s face he hastily added, "Hey, I didn’t mean it that way." Webb knew exactly what Rabb and Mulder meant to each other, and he was happy that Rabb had someone steady in his life. Webb had uncovered evidence of Rabb’s sexual preferences dating back to his time at the Academy. Nothing overt, just whispers from men he trusted. And, except for the one drunken confession about the way Rabb felt about him, Webb really didn’t care that the flyer was homosexual. "You hear anything besides, static?" "Oh, hell, I’m so tired I’m beginning to think Monica is right, and little green – excuse me, gray – men are sending messages. But no, nothing that I can recognize." "What are the chances?" "Well, we have Rabb and Mulder on board – I’ve given up trying to figure out how that balances out the luck o’ meter." The door to the outside pushed open, and AJ stuck his head in. "At least it stopped raining. But we’re going to have to make a decision here soon." "You hear anything?" "Not above the crashing waves." AJ stepped inside when he saw Dana’s head peak over the top of the gangway. "Morning, darlin’." "Did you get any sleep at all?" "Sure I did. Remember?" They’d gone down together and stretched out on the bed. But he had stayed awake, watching her sleep. When Skinner dragged Mac down later, AJ rose, allowing the two of them to curl up next to Dana. It wasn’t long before Skinner also returned to the cockpit, and the two insisted that Webb and Monica get some sleep. They had opted to sleep out in the galley, pulling out the couch. Webb had followed the other men’s example and returned, once his lover was sound asleep. They all knew they’d have their chops busted, but that would come later. Now, Webb stood and stretched. "Mon still asleep?" "No, actually she’s in the shower." Scully said. Sniffing delicately, she nodded her head towards the gangway. "I’m sure she’s out by now." As Webb passed her, she took his place at the radio. "So, guys, what are you planning?" Webb made his way through the galley. Mac was pouring coffee into a cup for Rabb. No one said anything. There was too much to say, not enough time to say it in, and little to be changed by the saying of it. They all knew that this close brush with death, if they all escaped it, would only reinforce Rabb’s perception of his invincibility. Giving one quick knock on the stateroom door, he poked his head inside. "You decent?" She stood there, in bra and panties. "Unfortunately, yes. I brought in your case." He walked into the bathroom. "It’s really plush." She followed him into the surprisingly large head. "You want me to shave you?" He kissed her on the cheek. "After we clear this mess up." At the sad look on her face he began to pull off his clothes. "Monica, I promise. We’ll find the time." "Sure we will." She turned and closed the door. He slammed his palm into the fiberglass. Damn, they just couldn’t seem to catch a break lately. Ever since they’d discovered the connection between Kersh, Nelson, and the brothel specializing in young men and snuff films, they had all been even busier than before. Whispers were getting louder; sidelong glances, longer. But, they couldn’t think about that now. He could see no connection with the conspiracy that Mulder insisted upon and this mess. Climbing into the shower, he quickly washed off. The water wasn’t particularly hot, so he didn’t linger. Stepping out into the now empty stateroom, he found that she’d laid out his clothes for him. He brutally pushed aside the daydream of domesticity. Neither of them wanted that. Was an uninterrupted weekend too much to ask for, though? He found her and Mac in the galley, drinking coffee Monica was chewing on a pale thin bar of something. He grimaced at the wrapper she held up. "Hey, don’t knock it. Power Bars are good for you." Mac held up coffee, refusing to comment. She was holding what looked suspiciously like a chocolate chip cookie. Webb found his proof in the bright blue bag, open on the counter behind her. Before he requested a cookie though, they heard rapid footsteps overhead, and the door to the outside being thrown open. Looking out the windows, they could see the fog was rapidly lifting. Grabbing up their guns, they climbed to the cockpit. "Ahoy!" A deep-throated yell echoed across the lagoon. They could see several men standing on the beach waving at them. Mac looked around the cockpit, where the smoke glass prevented the men on shore from seeing inside. "Where’s Walter?" "He’s outside." AJ was peering through the binoculars. "Mulder? Rabb?" AJ handed the binoculars to Rabb to use. "I don’t see Casey. Those aren’t the crew men from the LCAC are they?" "Don’t know, sir. I didn’t see pictures of them. Those guys are kind of old though. The crewmen were all in their twenties; even the skipper was just a lieutenant." They stopped to listen to Skinner’s hale. "Ahoy!" "This is a private island. You have to leave." "I understand, but we sustained hull damage." "Be that as it may, the storm is over." "I’m telling you I can’t." "How many of you are there?" "Three of us!" "Can you fix her yourselves?" Rabb sucked a hiss in. "That’s one of them. Fox, look." He handed the binoculars to Mulder, who peered through them. "Oh, yeah. That’s the General’s right hand man. We found them." "Terrific. What do we do?" Monica said. Mac shushed them. "Quiet. I can’t hear." Skinner peered through the fog. He and AJ hadn’t had much time to come up with a plan. They had to go with the assumption that this was the island they were looking for, and that no one had heard their distress signal. Other than that, they had to play it by ear. Hopefully, they could lure some of them on board. They couldn’t risk alerting the men by showing AJ, in case Casey was watching from somewhere they couldn’t see as yet. Skinner could see the men on the beach was getting nervous, and would want an answer. "I’m not sure. I think so. We’ve been sending out distress signals. Hopefully, the British, or maybe even US, Navy heard us." Inside the boat Mulder chuckled. "Oh, they didn’t like that at all." "We’ll send out a boat. We’ve got some supplies. Maybe we can help you." The men on the beach were looking behind them as if someone was speaking to them. "Our boat’s on the other side of the island. It’ll be around in about an hour." "Sounds good." Skinner returned inside. Mulder never moved the glasses, but followed the man who’d been shouting as he made his way back to the trees. The other two stayed on the beach. "Well, we aren’t going to be able to send a boat ashore with them watching. Three people are going to have to show their faces." "It’ll have to be me and one of the women," Webb said warily. No one argued. If Casey were watching, he’d know Rabb, Mulder and AJ. Skinner came inside. "I don’t like it. I saw movement in the growth." He looked from Mulder to Rabb. "They tell you how many men were involved in the group? How many might be here – how many elsewhere? What about this boat of theirs? Did you see it?" "We saw it," Mulder said. "It was a 40 foot deep sea fishing boat, with one interesting modification." "Let me guess." AJ glanced at the women. "Armament?" Rabb nodded vigorously. "They had a .50 caliber machine gun mounted to the back, and another up top. Looked like Viet Nam vintage." "Makes sense." AJ spared another look at the women. "Mac." "Yes, sir?" "You’re as good a shot as anyone on this boat." "Yes, sir." "You’re going to have to stay here and cover them. If that boat gets too close, you may have to pick off their men." Mac looked scared. "Where are you going?" "What are you planning, AJ?" Webb asked for all of them. "We have to get on that island and see what we’re dealing with. If those men are to be saved – almost more importantly, if there really are missing stinger missiles – we have to make the effort." "How!?" Dana felt the same fear that she felt whenever Mulder came up with a hair-brained plan. The fact that AJ was nothing like Mulder, and any plan he came up with had at least logic on its side wasn’t helping right now. "You’re going to lower the life boat and…and what, damn it?" He shook his head softly. She’d seen the few mementos of his years on the Teams. She knew he took pride in the fact that he kept in shape – running three miles every day and swimming three days a week. "There’s still some bite in this old dog, darlin’. I’m going to slip over the starboard side and swim to shore, underwater." "No!" Anger flickered across his face, and she knew she’d gone too far. "Please. What can one man do?" "I’ll go with him," Rabb said. He didn’t look at Mulder. Mulder didn’t bother to volunteer. He knew his strengths, and his limitations. Neither did he protest his lover going with his CO. It made sense. "So Reyes and I are back up?" "Actually, no." Webb sighed. "No?" Monica’s eyes grew wide. "Why no? What are you planning?" "Two of them won’t do much. I’ll go with them." "You!?" She hadn’t meant to sound disparaging, but still he looked hurt. "Look, I know you’ve gone in country. I know you’ve gone undercover and…" "And you know that I’m as good a choice, if not better than Rabb. I’m a strong swimmer and…" He shook his head and turned to AJ. "We better get going if we’re going to do this." And, as only Mulder could, he broke some of the tension with a snort. "Walter, you dog, you and two babes. I’m so proud." "Shut up, Mulder!" :: :: :: ::
Monday, January 17
They hadn’t planned for this, of course, and AJ kept shooting accusatory looks at Rabb, who for once had the sense to shut up and do what he was told. They left their jeans and tee shirts on. Monica found plastic zip lock bags in the galley, and they wrapped their service pieces in them before securing them to their bodies under the tee shirts. Through the starboard side window, they scanned the ocean beyond the rocks for any ships. They saw nothing but waves pounding against the rocks and a clear sky above. Webb looked back toward the cockpit, and murmured, "I guess she’ll get to wear that bikini after all." "What?" AJ demanded. "Nothing. You ready?" "You both sure you’re up for this?" AJ pushed open the window and pulled himself up on the deck, crouching to make sure that no one on the island could see him. Webb motioned to Rabb. "You next, hotshot." Rabb pulled himself over the side, and Webb noticed that he was favoring his left leg. He didn’t have time to consider it though because Monica hurried down the steps. AJ had kissed Dana in front of all of them, and Rabb and Mulder exchanged heartfelt looks, but Monica had seemed embarrassed by her outburst about his abilities, and had kept careful watch on the activities on the beach. Now, she stood there for a moment before whispering, "You come back to me, Clayton Webb." Before he could say anything, she turned around again, and ran back up to the cockpit. He slipped into the lagoon. It was warmer than he expected. AJ and Rabb were treading water, waiting for him. They’d already gone over what little plan they had, and without a word, took several deep breaths and dove below the surface. Back on board, Skinner handed Mulder one of the other rifles. "We’re going to have to make a show of seeing what we can do about our damage. They’ll be expecting to see all of us out there." He looked at Dana and Monica. "Ladies, I think we can get away without swimsuits this early in the morning." "Oh come on, Skinner. Pictures. I want…" At his boss’s glare and Mac’s jab in his side, his voice trailed off but the huge grin never left. "So, MacKenzie and I wait down in the galley?" "Yeah. Mulder, you watch the island side. Go on." He turned away from the look on Mac’s face. Dana nudged Monica, and the two quickly checked the pistols strapped to their ankles before they pushed open the door leading to the aft deck. They could already see activity on the beach. No one was making an effort to swim out to them, but there were now six men standing watch on the boat. "Let’s make sure that they watch us, and don’t look toward AJ and the guys," Dana said softly. "Well, I hope to hell, even dressed in slacks and oxford shirts, we can keep their attention." However, to help matters, Monica unbuttoned her shirt and tied it tight under her breasts. The pants, cotton twill, were loose everywhere but over her bottom, and she made sure to bend and stretch. Dana followed suit. Skinner came out and watched them for a while. And to think, I used to daydream about this. If it were Mac out here, I’d have trouble keeping my hands off them. If Reyes even guessed, she would…would what? As he scanned the ocean behind the boat, seemingly ignoring the men on the beach, he considered the latest addition to the X-files. Even though Monica and Webb had been a couple for a while now, it still gave him pause. Such an odd pair: the uptight CIA man and the agent who could give Mulder a run for his money in the odd case department. Of course, is there anything odder than Sarah and I, even without the occasional addition of Dana and AJ? He pulled off his shirt and slacks, in preparation for going into the water to check the boat. Leaning over the side, he checked the gash first. They hadn’t taken in much water, so he was sure it was nothing but cosmetic. However, they noticed this morning that the rudder had jammed too. That could be more trouble. Monica whistled. "Nice ass. I do like a man in tightie whities." Dana looked shocked. "Mon. You’re supposed to have seen it before." "So? You wouldn’t tell AJ how good he looked, if he stripped down to his Jockeys and bent over like that?" Dana blushed and turned away. "Of course," she hissed. "But in front of an audience?" Monica gave her a long appraising look. She suspected something was going on between Skinner and Dana. Wondered for a moment if they were cheating on Mac and AJ. But the four seemed comfortable around each other. Almost as if… "No!" She decided to test her theory. Turning to lounge on the upper deck, she watched their watchers, waving to them. "Besides, Skinner has a nice ass. Is it as nice as AJ’s? I didn’t get to see this morning." "Monica!" "Balls. Admit it." Scully stood between Monica on the bow and where Skinner was still bent over. His ass muscles as tight, tighter than AJ’s perhaps. AJ was older than Skinner by three years, and all the swimming in the world couldn’t hold off nature for long. They were both extraordinary lovers, as was Sarah. However, she loved AJ, even though neither had spoken the words yet. She just hoped they’d get out of this alive, ditch Mulder and Rabb, and Webb and Monica, and be able to have a few hours alone before returning to the grind of conspiracies and paperwork awaiting them back in DC. And, while she might very well damn Mulder and Rabb for pulling them all into this mess, ruining their weekend, she hoped that the shore party would find the four crewmen alive and retrieve the stinger missiles. "You think I should go back in and try the radio again?" Skinner looked over his shoulder at Dana, then straightened and gave Monica a brief glance. "Couldn’t hurt, but don’t stay in there too long. We’re going to have to play this for real. I need you to help with distracting those men." She arched her eyebrow then considered her attire. She hadn’t brought a swimsuit like Monica had snuck on board. Neither had Mac, not that she could’ve worn either woman’s top. Even though she was the smallest in stature, Dana’s breasts, to her everlasting embarrassment and AJ’s delight, were the fullest of the three. She didn’t turn to look at the men on the beach. "Are they focused on us?" He met her gaze with a serious one of his own. "They’re looking around, but I saw AJ and the others go ashore. We would’ve heard something if they’d been caught. The guys on the beach are pretty much focused on Monica." Pride, tempered by a bit of jealousy, made Dana bolder than she would have normally been. Without another word, she crossed her arms and pulled her top over her head. The bra she wore was one of her sexiest. Black mesh, it completely covered her lush breasts. From a distance it might pass as a swimsuit top. She hoped so. She wanted them focused on the boat and not the men on the island. "Be right back." She sashayed into the cockpit, leaving Skinner slack-jawed for a moment. However, he quickly returned to side of the boat. "Monica?" "Yes, Walter?" It was the first time she’d ever called him by his first name, and it seemed to skitter on her tongue. "I’m going in. Go up to the fly deck, and act like you know what you’re doing. You can see better from up there. You heard Dana?" "Yes." She rose and also shed her shirt. Her bikini top barely covered her aureoles, and Skinner admired the view for a moment. She was well built, though the smallest of the three women. He was sure that Webb didn’t mind one bit. She strolled over to him and lifted her face. "You know, I’ve always wanted to do this. Now, I have an excuse." Stretching up on tiptoe, she brushed her lips across his. He was too stunned to reciprocate. She gave him a wicked smile. "Have to make it look good for the boys on the beach." She mimicked Scully’s sway as she walked toward the ladder, but Skinner added a little flourish. "Ouch." Monica rubbed her ass cheek, but grinned back at him. "Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about." :: :: :: Carefully, AJ and Webb fanned through the undergrowth, with Rabb following behind. Three days of almost complete inactivity seemed to have tired the former jet pilot. Also, his leg hurt like hell. Normally, he would’ve wanted to be in front, but the exercise of swimming under water hadn’t helped, and when Webb took the lead with AJ, he didn’t argue. AJ strained to hear anything above the pounding of the surf on the beach. The island wasn’t that big. Once ashore, they could make out the beach on the other side. There were a smattering of palm trees and undergrowth. Webb touched his arm and pointed to his left. Together, they crept forward. The guns they’d held close to their bodies in the plastic bags survived the trip, dry and ready. Suddenly, they heard the approach of several men, unconcerned with keeping quiet. "It’s a beauty, Greg." "Kind of fishy if you ask me, little brother." "Oh, come on. That storm was unexpected. Probably caught a couple of boats out last night." "Well, with those two pretty boys escaping…" "General," a new voice interjected. "That FBI agent and the lawyer are dead. We searched in and around not only their boat and the boat we met them in, just in case they tried to pull a fast one. They had to have drowned. Even if they grabbed life jackets, they would’ve died in that storm last night." The three men huddled as Casey, his brother, and the other man hurried past them. They just heard Greg Casey’s final retort. "Regardless, we aren’t taking any chances. Send the boats around. I want them all dead. And, I want those crewmen killed, too. We don’t need any more. Foster, go back and tell Jonesy and Martin. I want to get the hell out of here for a while. The only thing important is…" They didn’t hear what was important, but all three exchanged glances that said they knew – the stingers. The sale of the stingers would set the Black Beard’s Ghosts up for the rest of their lives. All they had to do was kill any witnesses. Wordlessly, they watched as the man Casey called Foster turned back the way he had come. AJ followed him. Webb and Rabb stayed closed behind. All prayed that their friends could hold out from any assault, glad they’d left the rifles on board. They didn’t have long to trek; the island really was very small. The camp that Foster led them to reminded AJ of the small Viet Cong bamboo prisons he’d stumbled across on his missions over thirty years ago. Flashbacks threatened but he pushed the memories down. They saw the cage, meant to hold one, suspended from a palm tree. Four men huddled inside. Webb had his own memories of bamboo cages. He remembered the time in Columbia, long before Rabb had figured out that he was CIA. Of course, Mac had always known. Images of her looks of disgust with him over the years of their acquaintance forced a smile to his lips. Rabb nudged him and gave him a knowing smirk. He too remembered seeing Webb suspended over that terrorist camp. Webb nodded in acknowledgement, and they both waited for AJ’s hand signals, telling them what he wanted them to do. Without giving any warning signal, AJ raised his gun and killed Foster. The shot rang out over the island. Rabb and Webb immediately took out the other two. "Hopefully, the sounds didn’t make it to the others, but keep a watch out." "Sir. You and Webb stay here. Cover me." Without waiting for permission, Rabb loped into the center of the camp, his limp a little more noticeable. "God damn him! Screw Antarctica. I’ll kill him myself." "Easy, AJ." Webb kept scanning their surroundings. AJ nodded and did the same. He didn’t hear the twig snap, he couldn’t have. But some instinct still alive after thirty years spun him around, and together he and Webb killed the man approaching from behind. Rabb didn’t bother with finesse. "You guys okay?" he demanded, even as he shot off the lock. They tumbled out, unable to stand for a moment. "Water," one of them managed to croak. "No time." "Water!" another demanded, pointing to a small cooler, tantalizingly close. Quickly, Rabb opened it and pulled out two bottles. He opened them and gave them over to the men, who greedily drank them down. He reached in for another, when AJ finally came running up. "We don’t have time. Can you men walk?" One shook his head, but another stood and stretched. "We’ll do what we can. Who are you guys?" "Just lawyers, son. Let’s go." AJ turned back to where Webb was standing guard. "See anything?" "No, but that doesn’t mean they’re all at the beach. Weapons?" One of the crewmen pointed to a shed. "There’s something in there." "What about the stingers?" "They never took them off the boat." Suddenly realizing what he admitted, one of the crewmen stepped forward. "Sir, who are you?" "He’s the JAG, a former SEAL." Rabb explained quickly as he made his way to the shed. "Admiral? Sir!" The obvious leader came to attention. "Lieutenant Charles Saunders." "Saunders, answer me this," AJ said, even as he took an assault rifle from Rabb. "Why did you have stingers on the LCAC?" "That’s the weird thing, sir." Saunders said as he stretched and reached for one of the rifles. "The XO at Gitmo told us we were taking them to the New Jersey for transport. Only when we got to the coordinates, there wasn’t a sub waiting for us, it was an old PT boat – in great condition, but old, you know?" One man didn’t look like he was going to make it. He stumbled and fell twice. AJ considered him for a moment. He had to make an instant decision. "Stay here, son." "Sir, I want…" "I know you do, but you’ll slow us down. Wait here for us." "But what if they…" "You were going to die anyway. That’s what Foster was sent back to do." AJ watched the man carefully. "Really?" "That’s right. We heard Casey tell him to kill you all. That’s why we didn’t wait to try and take Foster." The man nodded and settled back to the sand. "I’ll wait here, sir. Sorry." He grasped another water bottle. "Come on. We’ve got other people to save now." AJ headed back into the trees. Rabb followed him, but Webb hung back, waiting for the three crewmen to take up arms and go with them. "Saunders?" AJ pulled the young man forward with him. "Sir?" "How well do you know these guys?" "Well, Perkins and Bennett and I went through basic together. Morgan…" his face grew sad. "She’d just come on the crew about a month before." Tears threatened. "They killed her, sir. We heard her screaming and begging. They raped her and killed her. We heard the gunshot, and then there wasn’t any screaming. Collins, the guy we had to leave back there…well frankly, sir, he’s a screw up. Always has been. You think one of us tipped off these guys?" "Not sure. Rabb." Rabb stopped and waited. "Sir?" "One of us needs to watch our six." "Sir, let Webb do it." "Commander, I trust you do remember how to obey an order. You’re a fine lawyer, and I know you remember the articles covering disobeying a direct order." "Aye-aye, sir." Rabb was none too happy, and pushed Webb out of his path as he made his way back to the clearing. Webb spared just a moment to finally notice the way the lawyer limped. "When did that happen?" "Not sure, but I don’t want him jeopardizing the mission before us. Now let’s get this done." :: :: :: Mac listened to Dana as she sent yet another Mayday. She hoped that whatever was blocking the return messages wasn’t affecting the outgoing. She glanced over her shoulder at Mulder. "How many men on the beach now?" "Looks like ten. I don’t know if there are any hidden, however." "Firepower?" "Most of them have hip holsters, though none of them have pulled out their guns. Can’t tell from here, but I’m betting the smallest piece is a .45." "Yeah, that’s what I’m…holy shit." Mulder turned away to peer out the starboard window. "What’s that thing?" "A PT boat." "The Marines have landed?" He gazed at the small boat cutting through the outer waters, the stars and stripes trailing in the wind. "Hey what’re you doing?" he demanded as she put her rifle to her shoulder, and eased open the smoked glass window. "Get back to your post, Mulder." "But those are uniforms. They’re our guys." "Don’t think so." She peered through the scope, aiming not at the man behind the machine gun, but at the pilot. "There hasn’t been a PT boat that old commissioned since Viet Nam." Before Mulder could protest further, they heard Skinner’s roar. "Take the shot, Sarah!" The pilot fell, wrenching the boat out of control. However, no one had time to follow its progress as Mulder yelled. "That’s cut it!" Mac pulled back from the starboard side to join Mulder as they laid down fire on the beach. Above deck, Dana dove back inside the cockpit. Skinner began to fire on the beachhead. His service revolver barely reached the shore and was useless. "Come on, Monica! Get below." On the fly deck, Monica grabbed up the rifle she’d left there the night before. She crouched low and returned what fire she could. The fire from the beach barely hit the boat. It was almost like they were trying to divert their attention. She was glad that Mac had taken out the PT boat. A spectacular explosion erupted behind her as the boat, out of control, crashed into the rocks sheltering the small lagoon. She didn’t have time to cheer, though. She emptied her rifle and ducked for cover. She was useless up here now. She was just starting down the ladder, when the men on the beach brought out their own rifles. She started to crawl down, ducking to keep out of sight of the men on the beach. She was paying such attention to her descent that the bullet, which ricocheted off the ladder, centimeters from her face, took her completely by surprise. She fell the rest of the way, hitting her head so hard, she passed out. The bullet that entered the galley would’ve taken Mac’s head off, if Mulder hadn’t caught the flash from the boat out of the corner of his eye moments before. As it was, he pushed her out of the way only to take the bullet himself. Clutching his shoulder, he fell to the deck. "Mulder!" Mac screamed, but turned to where the new attack was coming from. "Oh, my God." The yacht, decked out like a gunboat was bearing down on them through the opening, guns blazing. She knew they were doomed but there was nothing to do but continue to fire. She felt Skinner at her side, prayed Dana was looking after Mulder, and that Monica was safe. Skinner picked up the rifle that Mulder had dropped, and began firing out the window. :: :: :: :: AJ and the others ran forward at the sounds of battle. They began shooting before they even had clear shots. Back at the small base, Rabb was just about to step out into the clearing, when he heard voices raised in anger. "We thought you were dead!" "Now, Collins. Did you enjoy our little act?" "But why!?" Rabb eased forward and saw a woman, dressed in camouflage, hair pulled back in a tight ponytail, holding a .45 at Collins’ head. The seaman was kneeling, nearly tottering in the sand. The only thing holding him up was his grip on her leg. "Why?" She snarled. "Why, because that’s what daddy wanted. Daddy wants you dead, and you’re going…" "Hold it right there, Seaman Morgan." Rabb stepped out from behind the palmetto that had shielded him, his gun pointing right at her head. In the distance they could hear the firefight. "Don’t get any closer." The woman cocked her pistol. "I’ll kill him. Course, it won’t make any difference if I do. They’ll kill your friends, then you’ll be here all alone. Which one are you? The FBI man, or AJ’s pet monkey?" "Doesn’t matter. Put your gun down." "No." And, just before she pulled the trigger, Harmon Rabb beat her to the punch. He didn’t try to wound, and she died before her body crashed to the ground, pulling Seaman Collins with her. Collins and Rabb stared at each other until Collins finally struggled to his feet. "What now, sir?" Rabb limped forward. He didn’t need to check Seaman Morgan. Didn’t think he could handle seeing her head without a face. "Come on, Collins. Let’s get into the brush. If our guys lose…" "Admiral Chegwidden won’t let them lose, sir. General Casey hates him. He’s afraid of him. After they returned with your boat, all he did was rant that Old AJ – that’s what he called him, sir. He ranted that Old AJ would be royally pissed now, and would probably come out and kick his butt." Rabb wrapped his arm around the young man’s waist. "Let’s hope, Collins." On the beach, AJ, Webb, and the crewmen were holding their own against Casey and his men, but they could see that the boat bearing down on Skinner and the others far out gunned any of them. The wreckage of another vessel was burning on the rocks. "AJ! AJ Chegwidden!" The deep-throated roar rose above the battle, and for a moment the gunfire ceased. "I know you’re here you old bastard! They told me you were coming. You find the bodies of your pet lawyer and his lover? Naughty, naughty, AJ. Did you a favor, I did." AJ didn’t answer, but a shot rang out from the middle of the lagoon, and the heavily armed yacht, machine guns mounted on its bow and fly deck, was only getting closer. "Give up, Greg," AJ bellowed. Another shot, carefully aimed, came from his boat. Keep it up, Mac. You’ll keep them safe. Best damn marksman under my command. A mad cackle rang out. "AJ, I’ve got me something sweet here. You’re not going to take it from me. I’ve got responsibilities, people to pay off." "Like who, Greg?" "Come on, AJ. You know how it works. Lousy pay, crummy pension. It’s not that hard to find people on the verge of retirement." Next to him, Webb hissed an oath. "Nice try, Greg, but I don’t believe you. I think it’s you and the XO at Gitmo." Webb crept around a large boulder. Idly, as he made his way closer, he thought of the others, but mostly of the woman who’d managed to break through his defenses. He hoped that they’d get out of this. He was definitely going to take some time to be with her. But he had to get closer. Just keep him talking, AJ. One shot. You taught me the value of one shot. But even as he got closer, he could see Casey was well protected. He stood between two rocks, and two men stood in front and behind him, offering him a human shield. Well, the gun he had was good, and the intervening years since Italy had been an education. Raising his gun, he took aim at Casey’s head, ignoring the man between them. Webb could hear the machine guns start to crank out on the approaching boat. Monica. He pulled the trigger. The first man’s head exploded, and Casey ducked. Someone, AJ, or one of the crewmen, opened fire again. The machine guns on the boat were now strafing the Star of the Sea, and Webb felt his heart break. Could they live through such an assault? He did his part, and they slowly drove the beach contingent to the edge of the water. "Jump, damn it. Get out of the damn boat," he pleaded even as he walked up to Casey, now cringing behind two dead bodies. "General, call them off, or so help me, I’ll kill you." Casey started laughing. "How? You think they’re loyal to me? You think they’ll do what I say? Hell, the balance of power has already…" Before he could say anything else, a strange sound exploded somewhere, and they all turned in time to see the gun ship disintegrate before their eyes. Webb was caught off guard, and Casey pushed him out of the way, running toward the interior of the island. He never made it. :: :: :: :: Monday, January 18 It had taken most of the day to sort the mess out. Mulder and Rabb were already being airlifted to medical facilities back in the US. After he and AJ had availed themselves of the offered hot showers and donated dungarees, Webb had disappeared into the radio compartment, and none of them had seen him for hours, though Monica kept looking at the closed hatch whenever she walked past it. Glen Casey, former captain in the Marine Corps, his brother, and his former Sergeant, Charlie Lindstrom, were being held in the brig. Skinner and AJ both sat in on the questioning. Bud Roberts seemed to be everywhere. AJ was duly proud of him, and told him so. "Good work, Lieutenant. You kept your head, and not only found us, but took out Mr. Lieter. When did you become suspicious of him?" Bud blushed under his CO’s compliments. "Well, sir. You see, I’ve had dealings with CIA operatives in the past, and he just didn’t fit the mold." "Mold?" "Yeah, he was too nice. Too helpful. You know what I mean?" AJ barked a laugh. "Yeah, I know what you mean. It takes long exposure to JAG personnel to get them to cooperate." Webb chose that moment to walk onto the bridge. "Hell, it took nearly eight years of being exposed to you, Roberts, for me to be capable of circulating in polite society," he snapped petulantly, hoping to embarrass Roberts for making such a sweeping statement. Bud just beamed and met his stony gaze. "Yes it did, sir." Monica watched him from across the room. She made no move to get closer. She didn’t think it would be appropriate. And, she’d already embarrassed him once today when it appeared that she was questioning his abilities. "Everything okay?" He sighed and shook his head. "Hell, no. Lieter really made a mess of things down here. We thought it would be an easy assignment until he could retire with his full pension. Well, I guess it was too easy, or the pension just didn’t hold that much attraction. I’m going to have to stay down here, go through his paperwork, and get the new person in place." He was so tired he’d forgotten that they were on a British cruiser, and not an American ship. Captain Peters turned from where he was studying a screen. "Interesting to know that our allies have agents in our ports." Webb recovered quickly. "No more than you have operatives in Washington, sir." Peters dropped it and turned his attention to AJ. "Well, Admiral Chegwidden, it appears that your State Department has seen the wisdom of cooperation. There will be a joint task force to investigate how deeply this goes." He looked over at Skinner. "Deputy Director, I’ve been asked to relay Her Majesty’s compliments." Skinner groaned. "I spoke with the Director. He wants me to set it up. He and Sheffield talked, and he wants one of our agents, as well as someone from the Navy, to represent the American side. I understand that MI-5, as well as the Royal Navy, will be involved." "That’s the way I understand it." The captain agreed. Skinner shared a brief smile with AJ. "I don’t think I’m jumping the gun when I tell you that Sheffield and Director Barnes both made it clear that while Agent Mulder and Commander Rabb should be questioned upon release from the hospital, neither is to set foot on Bermuda soil again." AJ sighed. "Sheffield told me the same thing." He looked at each of the five people who had shared this adventure, adding Bud to the mix as an afterthought. "I suggest that we get the boat back, it took six of us to get it out here; it’ll take the six of us to get it back." It wouldn’t, but no one called him on it. He focused on Bud. "I assume that since you took a helo out here, you can take it back?" Bud’s face fell but he nodded. "Yes, sir." "Good, find quarters for yourself and the rest of us. A hotel will do fine for Colonel MacKenzie and myself." He looked up at Skinner, the question in his eyes. "Yes, Lieutenant, if you don’t mind, book a couple of rooms for Agents Reyes and Scully, and one for me." "Very good, sirs." Roberts looked so disappointed that AJ had trouble keeping the laughter from his eyes. The young man had never yet disappointed him. Time that he was shown some consideration. "However, since I’m leaving you in charge of the Navy’s presence in the case, and Lord knows how long it will take, you better find yourself an apartment." "You mean that, sir!?" Roberts face changed dramatically. At Webb’s groan, he turned. "Hey, Mr. Webb, what do you think? Should I find a house with a couple of bedrooms? That way we can work together. Fill each other in at night." Before Webb could choke out a ‘No thanks,’ AJ slapped the spy on the back and grinned at Roberts. "Excellent suggestion. I think you’ll find, Webb, that the DCI wants full interdepartmental cooperation on this. But I know how well you play with the other children, especially Lieutenant Roberts, so that shouldn’t be a problem at all." Webb took it with surprisingly good grace. "Tell you what, Roberts, find a nice villa overlooking the sea. This time of year the rates will be cheap. Over – looking – the – sea," he enunciated. "Well away from the cannery facilities." Roberts nodded eagerly. "I’ll get on it right away. Wow! We’re going to be partners." He turned before seeing Webb blanch at the very thought of it. However, by the time he spun around to face AJ and Skinner, they could see by the look on his face that a plan was already forming. "Excellent idea. Now, who are you thinking for the FBI’s part in this – I mean besides the idiot at the consulate?" Skinner sighed. He hated to agree with Webb, but he really didn’t think that Ken Hammond would do the job well, nor would he report fully to Skinner. However, he wasn’t going to make it easy for Webb. Refusing to look at Reyes, he said, "Let me take it under consideration. Scully? What do you think? You want a vacation in Bermuda?" Webb blushed. "This isn’t going to be a vacation, Skinner." Scully rolled her eyes at Mac, who was having a hard time not laughing at the spy’s obvious ploy. "We have to see what’s entailed. However, my plate is pretty full right now. What about you, Reyes?" Reyes looked not at her lover, but at her boss. "I’m sure that I can get along quite well…with Lieutenant Roberts. I think he might be a kindred spirit." "Yeah, I’ll be sure and tell his wife you said so." Webb growled. "I understand she has a mean right hook." He blushed as the three women glanced at each other, knowing he’d won the ‘stand-in for Rabb award’ without really trying. Suddenly, both AJ and Skinner seemed to find the consoles in front of them very interesting. After a long pitiful sigh and grimace, Webb managed a heartfelt, "Sorry, Monica. That was stupid." "Yeah, it was, but you get points for apologizing." "Never heard that out of Rabb," Sarah said. "Mulder either," Dana agreed. "Well then, shall we sail the boat back?" AJ shook the skipper’s hand and led them to the motorboat that would take them back into the lagoon. The wreck of the Ghost’s gunship was still blazing. Other motorboats were pumping water onto the frame. There was just enough room to get around it safely. Webb studied it for a moment then, almost to himself, said, "It didn’t explode with enough force." AJ heard him and nodded. "The captain told me that they were hoping to keep it in the lagoon; cool it down, and then check the wreckage for the stingers. If they aren’t there, you’ll have an even larger task – and probably NCIS and a couple more agencies will have to get involved." Several men were carefully inspecting the Star of the Sea as they climbed aboard. A young Royal lieutenant stepped forward and saluted smartly. "Sir! We’ve done a complete inspection. Chief Corwell!" At his call, a man who immediately reminded AJ of Scotty from the old Star Trek series came forward. "Admiral Chegwidden?" "That’s right, Chief. How’s my boat?" "Well sir, a bit of a mess in the galley, but the lads cleaned her right up for you. Course, there’s nothing we can do about the broken windows. Only the one in the galley was shattered. We covered that with plywood. The one in the cockpit is just grazed. You were very lucky. I personally checked the engine. You were more than lucky there, if I do say so. Had a couple of the lads check out the rudder, per Mr. Skinner’s instructions. Cor’ blimey what a mess. How you picked up that much seaweed, and still managed to steer her at all, is a poser, but we have her right as rain. Checked her out, and filled her up. You can make it back easy enough." AJ shook the man’s hand. "Thank you, chief." "Pleasure, gentlemen." He grinned shyly. "Ladies." AJ took the helm in the cockpit, and Webb raised the anchor. Skinner went to the cockpit to check in by radio. When he came out, he advised the all that the weather report was still clear. "We can make it back at full throttle by tomorrow morning. We can take turns. Frankly, I have no desire to be on the Atlantic any longer than I have to." He looked out the window and shuddered. "And, I sure don’t want to spend a night in this lagoon." Mac pouted. "Really? Is it the company?" "Don’t start." But his smile softened the retort. "I think I’ll have about a week in Bermuda, tying up the loose ends, before I can safely leave the task force to its own devices. AJ?" "Oh, I trust Roberts, but I’ll need to make nice with the locals. Mac? You willing to help?" She smiled at the two men and glanced back at Dana, before nodding, "Absolutely, sir." Dana, as she often did, stood to the side and watched them all. Then, without a word, she turned and stepped down into the galley. AJ followed her with his eyes but also kept an eye out the cockpit window. All the instruments were intact, and he was comfortable watching the depth as they made their way carefully past the burning boat. Skinner pulled Mac outside, and together they watched the rocks pass close to the hull. Monica left Webb discussing the course with AJ, and followed Scully into the galley. "Need help?" "I just realized we haven’t eaten anything all day." "Well, I had a Power Bar – you’re right. What’s there to eat?" "Soup. Lunchmeat. Bread." Quickly, they put together a make-do dinner. "I think that the guys definitely can spring for dinner when we get back." "Or breakfast." "Or breakfast." Dana paused, and looked up from her preparations. "You’re okay with this assignment?" Monica shrugged. "Sure. Why not?" "Well, I thought it might give you and the spy some time together. I know he’s been out of town lately." "And how do you know that, Agent Scully?" They looked up to find Webb standing in the opening, one hand overhead, steadying himself. The boat was just starting to pick up some speed, and it was a little rough, though the soup seemed content to stay in its deep pot. Scully gave him one of her enigmatic smiles. "A woman knows these things." She filled a mug with the soup, and grabbed up a plate of sandwiches. "Can you bring the rest?" They ate in the cockpit, talking of inconsequential things, avoiding discussing the week to come. They all had their own private hopes for time together, and AJ and Scully knew that they were the lucky ones of the group. With the addition of Doggett and Reyes to the X-Files, Mulder had a choice of partners to go on his wilder goose chases, not that he didn’t always give Scully right of first refusal. Not that she didn’t go. But more often than not, she found plenty to keep her busy at the Quantico research facilities. Now that Barnes, the new Director, seemed to be fully on their side, she was able to delve more thoroughly into the interesting cases that Mulder brought back. But she knew that she saw AJ with a regularity that was missing in Reyes’ and Webb’s, and even Skinner’s and Mac’s, daily relationships. But then, she also knew that there was a battle coming that would rip their lives apart. She was no longer sure how it would manifest, but she was grateful for every minute she and AJ had together. "What’s wrong, darlin’?" AJ asked so softly that only she heard him. "Nothing. Just tired. It’s exhausting worrying about them, you know." "I know." He didn’t bother to tell her that she was able to just worry about Mulder, as Mac could just worry about Rabb. He and Skinner worried about them all. Rabb and Roberts, Turner and Tiner. He’d even made time to worry about Webb, not that he would ever admit it to the spy. Webb finished his soup and yawned. "Schedule?" "I’ll take the first shift – four hours." AJ said. "I’ll take the next," Skinner said quickly. "I’m more used to smaller boats, but I think I can avoid discovering Atlantis and most of the really large rocks in the middle of the Atlantic." "Yeah, but can you miss the Sargasso Sea?" Webb yawned again and stood. "I’m not arguing. Agent Reyes? Care to share my bed?" he said without thinking. They were all too tired to make fun of him. Dana settled next to AJ to keep him company, and Skinner pulled Mac down the steps after Webb and Reyes. By the time they entered the galley, the door to the first stateroom – the one that Rabb and Mulder had slept in most of last night – was already closing. They went to the larger of the two rooms and quickly shed their clothes, unconcerned with titillating the other. "Shower?" Skinner mumbled, suddenly tired beyond measure. "Yeah. I think that’s a good idea," Mac, who’d slept a little more than he, pulled him gently into the stall. "I can’t believe how big it is." "Yeah, babe, but not really big enough for the two of us." "Hush." She pulled the glass door shut and reached behind him to turn on the shower. "Hey!" His eyes shot open. "Now I know why you wanted me in here with you. I protect you from the cold water." She wrapped her arms around his neck and reached up for a kiss. "That’s not all you protect me from." They shared a long delving kiss. His hands roamed up and down her back, touching those places that made her squirm, lingering at the spots that made her groan. He managed to turn them around, and she gasped at just how cold the water really was. "They didn’t fix the water heater, I see." "Big strong Marine." He nipped at her nose. "Why, in my days in the Corps, we never had hot showers. Not in boot camp, not on ship, certainly not in country." He began soaping her, soothing the lather over her skin as he worked her tired and aching muscles. He kissed the top of her head, and when she cringed, he carefully checked the bump there. "You and Monica will have matching sore heads for a while." He kissed it again, and then captured her lips in his. Slowly, the familiar tightening began deep inside her. "Walter," she breathed in his ear as he began to ravage the spot on her neck that was almost as sensitive as her nipples. "Please." He groaned before claiming another kiss. "Woman, you’re going to drive me insane," he gasped as she worked her hands between their bodies to begin stroking him. "No, that’s Mulder’s job." "Not a name I want to hear right now, Colonel MacKenzie!" He took her head between his hands. They gazed into each other’s eyes, each pausing to thank the heavens that they, and all their friends, were safe once again. Her slow smile signaled that she wanted more from him; her ankle tracking up his calf to rest against his hip showed him just what she desired. With practiced ease, he found his home, plunging deep inside of her. "Oh, yes." Her eyes fluttered shut, and she bit her lip, savoring the feeling of him filling her. "So good." Cupping her hips in his broad hands, he lifted her until she wrapped her legs around his waist. They were so tight together, he wasn’t sure that his stomach was even wet. There was little room to maneuver, but he managed, using short, abrupt thrusts that nearly drove her body to dent the stall walls. She loved this with him. Loved it when he took her in the shower or against the wall of her apartment, his apartment, even the stairwell in JAG ops once. "Harder, Walter. Fuck me hard." Her croon, at odds with her coarse words, drove him on, and burying his mouth against her neck, he gasped out his release even as she whimpered out her own orgasm. "Oh, God. Oh, Damn." She panted and laughed, and held on even tighter. "Happy Birthday, Walter." :: :: :: :: By the time he shut the door to the stateroom, Monica had already entered the bathroom, and closed the door behind her. He knew he’d acted like a jerk on the ship, and again just a few minutes ago. Maybe he was still smarting from her stinging comments about his ability to follow AJ and Rabb. Maybe he was still so scared that she’d really hurt herself when she fell from the ladder. The shipboard doctor had checked her out and pronounced her free of any concussion. But he could remember how his concern for her had hampered his abilities on the beach during the firefight. When he’d returned to the boat and found Dana checking her head, he had been nearly wild with worry. And so, he had shut down, ignored her, unable to face his own fears for her safety. He ripped off the borrowed fatigues and tossed them into a corner. One of the sailors must’ve found the clean sheets, because the ones that Mulder and Rabb had soiled with their blood when they slept here earlier were nowhere in sight. "God Save the Queen," he muttered as he collapsed onto the bed. He listened to the water running over her body, and wondered if she was angry that he hadn’t followed her into the bathroom. It really was a very small bathroom. No, this was fine. They would talk when she returned. Sure they would. She stepped out into the stateroom, and shook her head at her gently snoring lover. He looked so young like this. Not that he was old. In fact, she considered herself fortunate that they were so much closer in age than Skinner and MacKenzie, and Chegwidden and Scully. Not that it mattered. She knew they’d be together only as long as things stayed as quiet as they were. Once the situation with the shadow government exploded, who knew where they’d end up? But then, he really didn’t believe it. None of them outside the X-files really believed it. Even after taking out Kersh and Nelson, the others had been able to chalk it up as a fluke. Oh, they weren’t ignoring the possibility; they were just not as convinced as Mulder, or even Skinner now. She watched him sleep. The sheet barely covered his hips, his pubic hair dark against the white material. Her eyes ignored the gentle bulge, just hidden from sight, which only required the least little attention before fully waking, ready to pleasure her. Instead, she took the time to study his physique. He was no Adonis; forty-year-olds don’t have six packs. She smiled naughtily. But his cock is bigger than any Greek statue I’ve ever seen. He had a swimmer’s body, sleek and finely toned across the stomach, with broad muscular shoulders, and arms that could hold her tight. His hands were nothing less than perfection, graceful fingers that knew how to pleasure her. She sighed. Hands that have killed, barehanded or by using those same beautiful digits to pull a trigger. She shouldn’t have disparaged him in front of their friends and colleagues. Men were fragile that way. But she’d been so scared that he wouldn’t come back to her. One day, he wouldn’t. One day, he’d die somewhere far from her, and that thought brought tears to her eyes and a cold chill to her heart. "You still mad at me?" he whispered. "You’re a light sleeper." She stood there, the towel still wrapped around her body. "I have to be." He eyed her with one part hunger and one part wary fear. "Now, are you still mad at me?" "No, Clay." She dropped the towel but didn’t move closer to the bed. "You apologized – but I didn’t." He sat up in the bed, arranging the pillows behind his back, pulling the sheet so his growing erection was still hidden from her. He thought to make light of it, but instead, a familiar smirk kissed his lips. "No, you didn’t." She knew it was an opening to something that they both wanted and would spare her from saying the words. He knew she hated to apologize. "I’m sorry." He cocked an eyebrow. "Then we’re back to okay? I mean, you and me?" She shook her head. "Clay we were never not okay. You drive me nuts. But then, why should you be any different that any other man in my life?" And, once again, she realized she’d disappointed him. "Not that way, you idiot." She fisted her hands and looked to the heavens – or the ceiling of the stateroom. "What is it with us lately?" He shrugged. "Things haven’t been all that bad between us, have they, Mon?" "No. Except…" her voice trailed off as the shock of what she’d almost said reddened her face and stilled her tongue. "Except what?" He said it softly but she saw the fear flicker behind his eyes. "Nothing." Now, he threw the sheet off and rose from the bed. In two steps her shoulders were firmly in his hands. He forced her to face him, to look him in the eye. "No bullshit, Monica. You and I deal with too much of that everyday. No bullshit. Now. Except?" She closed her eyes, and a tear fell down her cheek. He didn’t move; didn’t lean in to kiss it better. She opened her eyes to see the concern in those hazel eyes that had grown to be so important to her. "Except, I’m falling in love with you." "Oh." Finally. One of them had the courage to admit it. He suspected he’d been in love with her from the moment he looked into her startled, embarrassed eyes, glaring at him over the top of Scully’s computer, daring him to discover their secret. And, of course, he had, in one try. That she and Scully were looking at porn sites in the basement of the Hoover had tickled him on a fundamental level. To this day, he didn’t buy their story that they were investigating a cyber stalker. But he hadn’t cared then, and he didn’t care now. "Look, I’m not asking…" Whatever she was asking for was lost as his lips covered hers. Pulling her closer, he hugged her tight against him. Backing up, he sat on the bed, pulling him down with him. Gently, he moved her, teasing her with his kisses. When she was snuggly under him, her head against the pillows, he rose up to look into her eyes. "Good – you’re finally beginning to see some good qualities worth loving. Now, lie still, and let me show you how much I love you." She gasped at the intensity of his gaze. "Clay, you don’t have to say it. Please don’t lie to me." The tears were coming harder now. He paused to cock his head in question. Then he sighed, and instead of continuing, rolled off her. Lying next to her, but not touching her, he pulled the sheet up. "Get some sleep, Monica. We’re both tired." "Clay!" Damn it. This wasn’t what she wanted. "Please. I…" He trailed his finger down her cheek. "Who did this to you? What makes you think that I’d lie to you? Is it where you work?" He grumbled a harsh laugh. "That’s a joke. Or is it this whole thing of you not trusting me to…" It was her turn to silence him with her lips. "Stop it. You’re right. We’re both too tired for this right now. Just hold me, please." He considered her for a long while, and then shook his head. "No. There’s never enough time, and regardless of what Skinner and Roberts are cooking up in Bermuda, there will never be a better time than right now." They were laying side to side, their faces so close that it would take only one of them to cross the invisible line they’d drawn. She wasn’t good at this. She didn’t believe that he was either. "Why is it so important now?" He sighed and reached for her hand, deeming it safe to bring to his lips. "Why? Because I suspect that you and Skinner and Scully, and damn his eyes, Mulder may have been right all along." "You’ve heard something?" "I’ve heard a lot of somethings." He shook his head. "But I don’t want to talk about that now. If there were anything other than whispers, I’d go to Skinner and AJ with it. But that’s not why I brought it up." He rolled away from her and studied ceiling above them. He was glad that she’d headed for this one, instead of the so-called master stateroom – that one had mirrors over the bed, and he needed to think. Needed to get this out. "Do you realize that you’re the first woman that I’ve dated more than twice in the past five years?" She wanted desperately to calm him, wanted him to understand that she understood. But she realized that any attempt at humor on her part now would fall flatter than his earlier comments about Lieutenant Roberts’ wife. She settled for the truth. "It’s rough what we do. Rough on friendships, rougher on relationships. Particularly when the other person doesn’t have a clue." "You think that’s what this is? Not love, just a higher comfort level?" She took a deep breath. "Not for me." "Then why is it so hard for you to believe it is for me?" Instead of answering, because there wasn’t one she could put to voice right now, she scooted over and laid her head on his chest. Wrapping her arm around him, she willed him to go to sleep again. :: :: :: :: "This is too hard," AJ said abruptly, jarring Scully from her light, unfocused musings. "What’s the matter?" "I’m putting it on autopilot and heading up top. I can’t see well enough down here. The whole port side is blocked by the damn crazing." "Okay. Let’s go." She stood and stretched. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, capturing her breasts and nuzzling her neck. "When we get to port, I’m throwing you over my shoulder and running to the hotel." He nuzzled her neck. "But there’s no reason why we both have to be cold. You go on below. I’m sure that Mac and Skinner will make room for you." "Oh, I don’t think so, Admiral, sir." She turned in his embrace. "I’m not letting you out of my sight." She shuddered, then took his hand and led him outside. "Besides, it’s really not that cold." She was lying, but he didn’t argue. He helped her up to the fly deck and prepared to take control again, but her hand on his stopped him. "What?" He looked down on her, and nearly gasped. The sky was clear tonight, the few clouds high and well defined in the sky. The moonlight kissed her hair, and he knew he was well and truly caught. "You are so beautiful." "Thank you. You’re not so bad yourself." "For an…" She reached up, and wrapping her hands around his neck, pulled him down for a long kiss. When she released him, she roughly pushed him. He fell against the bench seat and sat down hard. She did a credible imitation of Mac’s stance when she questioned Rabb yesterday. Only, she didn’t need to bend nearly as far, but her breasts still jutted out at him, straining the buttons of her oxford shirt. "Don’t. Don’t ever say it again. The age thing is what it is. Do I wish I were older? Not really." At his astounded look, she smiled and continued. "Frankly, old man, any woman older than I couldn’t keep up with you. You’d wear them out. Hell, there are times when you wear me out." "Yeah," he smiled shyly. "But that’s just so you can sleep." "Is that a fact, buster?" She began to unbutton her shirt. "Dana?" "Hmmm?" "What do you think you’re doing?" "You’re not that old, AJ." She smirked and continued to strip for him. "Uhm…baby, it really is too cold." But he stopped and just stared at her for a moment. The moonlight made her skin iridescent, and her green eyes seemed to sparkle in the night. He forgot to speak as she began to rub her hands over his chest. Finally, as she pulled his shirt free and dropped it to the deck, he groaned. "You’re a goddess." "Yours, AJ. Just yours." She sank to her knees, glad that the deck was covered in all-weather carpeting. She attacked his zipper. "Lift up." She pulled down his fatigues and underwear in one swoop, letting them fall to his ankles. Then, she truly set to work. He watched in amazed love as she began to suck his cock. "Oh, damn. Dana. So…Jesus!" He arched up as she sucked him in deep, even as she played with his balls. "Come here, minx. I want to be inside of you." She just hummed around his cock and continued to torment him. She was very adept at knowing just when enough bordered on too much. She could take him to the edge and hold him there. When she was ready, she pulled back and looked up into his glazed expression. "No more talk of being too old. Understood?" "Come here." He pulled her to his lap and she straddled him. But taking his head in her hands, she held herself above him, demanding. "Understood?" His fingers bit into her hips, and he lined her up against the head of his cock. "Understood." Together, they groaned their pleasure. She hugged him to her breast, allowing him to feast for a moment, content to just feel so joined. Finally, she pulled back, and locking her gaze with his, began to move slowly, up and down. AJ allowed the warmth of her body to, for a moment, convince him of the lie. She was the most alluring woman he’d ever been with, and he knew that he would never leave her, though he should. But with the coming battle, he would do everything in his power to protect her. "God, you’re tight." "Don’t know why, lover. You stretch me like no other." She squeezed her inner muscles and he finally gave in. Throwing back his head, focusing on the stars above, he let her ride him to completion, let her take what she needed. Then at the last moment, as she was slowing coming down, he gripped her hips even harder and thrust up deep inside, and held himself there, pulsing into her until she collapsed into his embrace. :: :: :: :: Tuesday, January 19 Webb had taken the last watch. He’d tried to slip out, but Monica followed him, telling Skinner and Mac to take their cabin. She made a new pot of coffee, and poured them both cups. Climbing into the cockpit, she was surprised to see it empty, the door to the deck just ajar. Stepping out into the dawn, she called up to him. "Coffee?" He reached down and grabbed both cups, allowing her to climb up to the fly deck. "Thanks. You don’t have to…" "Stop it, Clay." She leaned in to brush her lips across his. "I don’t know what happened last night. I don’t know why I said the things I said. I know you care about me." "Damn it, you can say it and I can’t? I love you. Whatever happens, I will love you and do whatever I can to protect you." "All of us?" "Of course, but if it comes down to it, you’re first." She stared at him in shock. "Nobody’s ever put me first before. There were always more important things than anything we felt for each other. Not even my father…" Her eyes closed in the pain of memory, and he pulled her close to him, one hand on the wheel, the other around her waist. "Well, kid, you’re first with me. Now go and spot for me. We’re coming in." As she did what needed to be done, she looked to the future. It was still a dark mystery to her, but somehow, his declaration had just made it just a little less bleak. Little did any of them know that the bleakness was so close. Home :: crossovers Index :: e-mail |