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CHAPTER THREE


Back at the bureau, sitting behind his desk and drumming his fingers, Walter did not look forward to the weekend. It was going to be long and boring compared to last weekend. All week long he had gone over every minute of the last weekend’s events and time and again he had to wonder if it all wasn’t just a wild dream.

Saturday morning he tried to sleep in but it was no use. The amount of alcohol he drank the night before left him dehydrated and hungry and he had to get up and eat something. A glance in his refrigerator showed he hadn’t been to the grocery store in some time so there was no breakfast to be had here; except for a protein shake that he made for himself. He finished it quickly, donned some jeans and a sweat shirt and headed for the gym.

Everything about the gym seemed old and out-dated after spending time in the state of the art gym up there. He put in his full hour, took a shower and dressed. He was fully aware of all the odors now that he never noticed before. None of these odors were in the other gym. He wondered how they managed to achieve that. In fact, he wondered about the air in the entire facility. It had been wonderful fresh air; so pure and clean that he hadn’t even noticed it.

He drove home with the windows opened and stopped at the grocery store on the way. The clerk was surly and un-interested and had trouble making change. He finally told the gum chewing teen to just keep the change and he left with his purchases. He couldn’t help but compare that clerk to the smiling, friendly assistants in the shops above. He wondered if they could ever manage to go from the system they now had to the no-cash system. Not in a million years, he surmised. People were too cash hungry down here;
those that had it, kept it and wanted more; those that had none, never did have any and never would.

He carried his groceries in and put them all away and started about his Saturday chores of laundry and cleaning. He ate dinner out at a near by restaurant and couldn’t help but compare it all to last weekend’s dining. Once again back in his apartment he fixed himself a drink and put some soft Jazz on. He needed to sit and think.

His entire world as he knew it had been turned upside down. He had seen and experienced things he thought were impossible. He had spent time with someone he had thought of as an enemy and found a friend; maybe more than a friend. He stood up and paced the floor when he thought of that kiss. How could that have happened? Hadn’t he known Alex for years and years now? Apparently not. It would seem that he never really knew Alex at all. Alex. Why does just the thought of him scramble his mind? How can just thinking about him bring such excitement? And where did all these strange feelings come from? Alex Krycek? Hadn’t he always preferred more the brainless blond beach boy, Jimmy types himself? How is it that this green-eyed creature could capture him so completely and so fast?

He went upstairs to bed and fell asleep thinking about that kiss and the delicious mouth that delivered it.


It was nearly a month before he heard anything. He was going through his morning mail and noticed an envelope marked ‘personal’. He tore the end of the envelope open and pulled the sheet of paper out. It said merely, “Evie misses you. Call me 555-123-4567”

He dropped the rest of his mail, unopened to the desk and grabbed his phone. He punched in the number and waited anxiously.

“Yes?” came the quick answer.

“Is this 555-123-4567?”

“Yes, it certainly is and you’re speaking to Evie’s fiancée.”

“Hey there,” he was stumped for a moment wondering what to say.

“Got any plans for the weekend?”

“No, none; what did you have in mind?”

“Evie says she misses you. I thought maybe you might be interested in another visit?”

“Would this be an appointment, a date, or an affair?” Walter asked leaning back in his chair and grinning.

“Any or all of the above. Your choice.”

“I like the sound of that. When and where?”

“How about the air port this time? Over night parking lot. I have something I need to take care of first but I should be able to make it out there by 10:00pm Friday night.”

“I’ll be there.”

“See you then.”

He replaced the phone and just sat staring at it for a time then got back to work. He was asked three different times that day why he was smiling. He was determined to get better control of himself but later on in the washroom, he noticed in the mirror that he was smiling again.


Friday night came and he left work early. He wanted to stop and get a hair cut and while he was there, he might as well get a manicure too. Afterwards he donned jeans and an emerald green knit shirt he left un-buttoned at the collar. He grabbed a light weight jacket and headed for the air port. He drove in the over night parking area; parked and waited.

By 10:15 he was getting a little anxious. He was a little early; Alex was a little late; no big deal. By 11:30 he was sweating bullets. He got out of his car and paced around the area. Airport Security pulled up to him and asked if there was a problem. He showed his ID and said he was waiting for someone.

“Your friend from Chicago? I hear a lot of planes got delayed coming out of there; big storms up in that area.”

“That must be it. He did say something about a lay over in Chicago.”

“He’ll probably be along shortly. Take care now. These lots aren’t all that safe to be walking around in. We try and keep ‘em patrolled but we only got so many men and we can’t be everywhere at once.”

“Thank you; I’ll stay alert. I have my cell phone if there are any problems.” He walked back to his car and waited. Another few minutes and a car pulled into the space beside him. He waited a few minutes and nothing happened. He got out and knocked on the passenger side window. The window lowered and he could see Alex sitting there. He opened the door and got in.

“I was worried … God, what happened?” He saw Alex clutching his side, hunched over the steering wheel.

“Grab my arm. We need to be in physical contact for me to transport you.”

Walter grabbed his arm and then they were in the transporter room. Alex sank to his knees. Walter helped him back up, just at Jeremiah came rushing into the room. The two of them helped Alex down to Medical and onto the examining table.

“It’s nothing; just a small cut. Couldn’t get the bleeding to stop.”

Jeremiah lifted the tee shirt up and found a two inch gash, bleeding profusely. He reached for a bunch of gauze squares, pressed them to the wound and did his thing.
Alex immediately settled down; his breathing went back to normal and in a few moments he sat up. He slipped his jacket off, pulled the tee shirt off over his head and tossed it basket ball style into the trash can. He put his jacket back on, zipping it half way up.
He went to the small sink and washed the blood off his hands and they headed out after thanking Jeremiah once again for fixing him up.

“Do I need to know what happened back there? Are there going to be any dead bodies show up in the vicinity of the air port in tomorrow’s news?”

“No, nothing like that at all. It was funny, actually. It was an attempted car jacking. The guy jumped in the car when I was stopped at a red light and held a knife on me. He had me drive him clear across town. Then when I got him where he wanted to go he decided he wanted the car. We had a little tussle there in the front seat and I finally got him out of the car. He was all in one piece and running like his ass was on fire once I got the knife away from him. I’ll have to do a little clean up job on that car before I return it.”

“Return it? It’s not yours?” Walter asked as they took the hallway to their rooms.

“Oh no. I don’t have any vehicles registered in my name. Whenever I need a car, I just borrow one.”

“You ‘borrow’ one?” Walter asked with a frown.

“Uh huh. I always take them back and sometimes in better condition than they were when I got them. I leave a little cash present on the seat and seldom keep the vehicle more than a day.”

“And you’ve been doing this for how long?”

“About 10 years now.”

“It’s a wonder you’re still alive.” Walter shook his head as they stood in the hall outside their rooms.

“I wouldn’t be if it wasn’t for Jeremiah.”

“Are you going to try to see Evie tonight?”

“No. I didn’t tell her we were coming. I talked with Aaron last week and he told me she’d been asking about you. I told him I’d see if I could get you to come for another visit but not to mention it to her so we could surprise her. I figure it’s best to wait until morning. That will give me a chance to rest up before seeing her.”

“Good idea. I guess I’ll see you in the morning then.”

“Yeah; sounds good,” he gave a little wave and went into his room.

Walter went into his room and got ready for bed. It surprised him to realize how much he considered this room ‘his’ room. He smiled as he dozed off; thinking of the man across the hall and what the weekend might bring.

The weekend consisted of a quiet breakfast in the courtyard, a leisurely walk through the aviary to see the new specimens recently added; lunch in the children’s play area with Alex chasing Evie through the monkey bars and pushing her so high on the swing that she could almost touch the top tier. Saturday afternoon the five of them; Walter, Alex, Evie, Aaron & Carolyn took a canoe ride that Aaron had managed to set up at the last minute with some friends down below. It seems that Evie was studying Indians in class and wanted to take a canoe ride for herself. Dinner was just the two of them; hot roast beef sandwiches in the little Jazz bar. A few drinks later the two of them headed up to the Observation lounge.

They lay there on the grass for some time gazing at the stars and pointing out the different constellations that they could see from their vantage point. But the laying down brought one thing clear; they were both tired. Canoeing used a whole different set of muscles and those muscles were proclaiming their annoyance with the afternoon’s activities and they decided, reluctantly, to call it a night.

Sunday brought an early breakfast and a long walk afterwards on the upper levels where there was far less traffic. They both talked about their childhoods; Walter growing up on a farm and Alex growing up right there with a lot of time spent down below in Springfield, Ohio. They told each other their life’s story, laughed at each others amusing experiences and got to know each other well for the first time.

A long leisurely lunch with Evie and family in their rooms with lots of games afterwards and Evie falling asleep in Walter’s lap in the late afternoon; then a quiet dinner before returning to Crystal City were the plans for the evening. They parted in the hallway outside their rooms with the agreement to meet in thirty minutes after cleaning up.

With a smile on his face, Walter entered his room and stopped dead in his tracks. He had been around long enough to smell danger. He took a few steps forward and came face to face with Jimmy walking out of his bedroom.

“This yours?” Jimmy asked playing with the gun in his hand.

“It is.” Walter answered eyeing the sure way Jimmy handled it. He was used to firearms alright. “May I have it, please?” He reached out, palm up, for the gun.

“Why? Are you afraid? You could always call for help. Alex would probably hear you. He might even get here in time before this thing went off.” He clicked the safety off.

“What is this all about, Jimmy?” He knew full well what it was all about but he needed time; time to come up with a plan.

“I think you know what this is about. This is about you trying to take Alex away from me.”

“Why don’t we sit down and discuss this. Put the gun away, Jimmy. You don’t need that to talk with me.”

“That’s a good idea. You sit over there on the couch. I’ll take the chair; but I’m keeping the gun.”

“OK.” Walter took a seat and watched carefully as Jimmy sat in the chair; moving it so that he was directly across from Walter.

“First of all, *Walter*, I’d like you to know that I’m not a violent man. Violence repulses me but I am well trained and can use it when necessary.” Jimmy started out.
“Alex and I have been together for years now; we’re a pair, a couple. We work well together, you can ask anybody.”

Walter sat and waited for him to continue.

“You are trespassing on private property and I’m asking you nicely to back off.” He fingered the gun in his lap.

“This is asking me nicely; with a gun in your hands?” Walter tried not to sound too sarcastic.

“You brought the gun here. I’m merely … looking at it.” He turned the gun over and back but never took his hand off the grip.

“I see. Now that you’ve had a chance to look at it; may I have it back?”

“When I leave; you can have it. But not until we finish our little talk.”

“OK. Continue.”

“I think I’ve made myself perfectly clear. You are new here and may not know our ways so I’m telling you as nicely as I can that Alex is taken and I want you to back off.”

“Alex doesn’t seem to agree with you on that point. Why don’t we get him in here and ask him?”

“Oh you’d like that, wouldn’t you? But what you want has no bearing on this conversation. This is about Alex and me; not you. You are the intruder here; you’re not wanted. I’m asking you to just go home and not come back.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then I’ll have to teach you a lesson. We don’t allow intruders up here.”

“And just how do you propose to do that; with a gun? Don’t you think Alex would be in here two seconds after that gun went off?”

“Oh, I have no intentions of shooting you, Walter.” He leaned forward, elbows on knees and removed the clip from the gun and tossed it to the end table. “There have been others you know. You aren’t the first one to try and take Alex away from me. His name was Angel and he was easy to get rid of. He had a taste for the good life down below. I offered him a million to get lost; permanently. He did.”

“So you think you can buy me off?”

“It was a thought.”

“You can forget it.”

“I expected as much. There are other ways to teach someone a lesson.”

“I’m listening,” Walter was growing angrier by the minute.

“I could beat the hell out of you without working up a sweat.”

Walter dipped his head with a chuckle. “Is that what you want? You want to fight me?”

“I want you gone. You can come with me right now and I’ll transport you down and this can be all over with right now. Or I can mess you up so bad your oldest friend back home won’t even recognize you. It’s your choice.”

“You think you can take me?” Walter had gone from anger to amusement. He had dealt with punks like this before.

“Granted, you’ve got the upper body strength and probably 30 pounds on me; but I’ve got 20 years on you. I’m younger, faster and have more stamina. I also have a gun in my hands.”

“An empty gun,” Walter reminded him.

“Hadn’t planned on using it to shoot.” Jimmy turned the gun around, grabbing it by the barrel and slamming the pistol grip into the palm of his other hand.

“It’s still a weapon. You figure you need a weapon to take me?” Walter grinned at him.

“Actually, you’re right. I don’t need this.” He tossed the gun across the room and it slid over the carpet and into the sleeping area.

Walter stood up and Jimmy did too; hiking up his jeans and ready to fight.

“Look, why don’t we go down to the gym and settle this. No sense in busting up all this nice furniture.” Walter said still grinning at him.

“You need witnesses? You really think you can take me, *old man*?”

“You think you can bait me? I’ve been swatting punks like you since before you were born. Bring it on!” Walter walked around to some open space in the middle of the room.

The next moment they were into it. Fists were flying; furniture was being bumped into and knocked over and in a matter of moments Walter had him down on his knees in a head-lock he couldn’t get out of. Jimmy wiggled and struggled and cursed a blue streak but couldn’t budge the hold Walter had on him.

The two men struggling on the floor didn’t notice the door open and Alex walk in.

“What the … What the hell is going on here?”

Walter released the head-lock he had on Jimmy and they both got to their feet. Jimmy pulled free and ran to Alex’s side.

“Thank God you got here! He attacked me, Alex! I came by to invite the two of you to dinner and he attacked me. He’s crazy!”

Alex stepped back to the door, opened it and motioned to Jimmy. “Out! I’ll talk to you later.”

“He’s crazy, Alex. You shouldn’t be alone with him!” Jimmy said as he walked out the door.

Alex closed the door behind Jimmy and turned to Walter. “Are you OK?”

Walter stood, wiping a small trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. “Uh huh,” he answered with a little grin.

Alex stared at him, wide eyed. “Are you sure?”

“Uh huh,” Walter answered pushing his sleeves up to his elbows.

“Are you … ready for dinner then?”

“Uh huh,” Walter said and headed for the door.

“Aaa … you’d better change your shirt then.” Alex pointed to the large tear on the left shoulder of Walter’s shirt.

Walter glanced down at the tear and slipped the shirt off over his head. He headed for the bedroom, picking his gun up on the way and returning it to the nightstand drawer. He took out a long sleeved, dark gold knit shirt and pulled it on, pushing the sleeves up. He walked back into the front room, picked up the cartridge clip and stuffed it into his pants pocket.

He joined Alex standing by the front door, hands on hips and a look of amused amazement on his face.

“I fought for you and won. I think at the very least, I deserve a kiss.”

Alex’s mouth dropped open and Walter took that opportunity to claim his prize. When he pulled back they were both visibly shaken.

“So where are you taking me for dinner?” Walter asked after regaining his composure.

“Oh yeah; dinner.” Alex found it difficult to concentrate. “Up to you. I was thinking about that Italian place. You haven’t tried their lasagna yet. It’s incredible!”

“Incredible?” Walter asked as they walked out the door and headed to the nearest down ramp.

“Absolutely! Guaranteed!”


He was right. They ate their meal with great relish and lingered over one last beer.

“Your jaw is going to be black and blue by morning.”

“So are my knuckles probably, but it was worth it.” Walter rubbed his sore fist.

Alex reached across the table and caressed the bruised hand. “I still can’t believe the two of you – fighting like that.”

“You never did ask me if I was the one who started it.”

“Didn’t have to. I know you and I know Jimmy. I’m surprised he didn’t try and buy you off; he’s done that before.”

“Oh, you know about that?”

“He told you about Angel? It was about 3 or 4 years ago. This guy and I were kind of hanging out together.”

“Kind of like, friends with benefits?”

“Yeah; that sort of thing. It was nothing serious for either of us and we both knew it. We were just spending the summer fooling around. He was getting married in the fall and giving up guys for good. At least that’s what he said. Anyway, he came to me and told me that Jimmy had offered him a million dollars to get lost. It was the middle of August and we only had a couple more weeks. We had a good laugh about it and I told him to go ahead and take the money. That way he could start out married life with a nice little nest egg and have a bit of a cushion just in case it didn’t work out.”

They both laughed.

“Where would Jimmy get that kind of money?” Walter asked.

“Oh money is easy to come by down there. There’s a million different ways,” Alex grinned.

“You are one surprise after another, Alex Krycek!” Walter chuckled.

“It’s late,” Alex said checking his watch, “I’d better be getting you home.”

“I’m a big boy. I can stay out late if I want to.”

“Your alarm goes off at 5:30. That’s in seven hours.”

“So I go in late. I’m entitled.”

“C’mon; let’s go.” Alex stood up from the table and Walter reluctantly did the same. They headed up towards their rooms so they could retrieve their weapons and jackets before leaving.

They stopped in the hallway outside their doors.

“You’re not coming in?” Walter asked; the full meaning of the invitation obvious to both of them.

Alex hesitated just a second before saying, “I’ll just get my stuff and we can leave.”

“It’d be more fun if you came in,” Walter teased.

“It’s a little bit late this evening for any more fun.” Alex answered as he opened his own door.

“Killjoy!” Walter said and went on in alone. He grabbed his gun and jacket and came back out meeting Alex in the hall and they headed towards the transporter room.

They stepped up on the platform and Walter stopped them. “Wait a minute before you blink us back into your car.”

“What?” Alex asked.

“This,” Walter answered, placing both hands on a leather clad shoulders; pulling him close and kissing him.

When they broke apart Alex muttered a breathless, “You don’t give up easily, do you?”

“Nope.” Walter answered and kissed him again; and then again.


In an instant they were on Walter’s bed, side by side. Walter pulled back, looked around and said, “Oh I *like* that!” then returned immediately to devouring Alex’s mouth. Piece by piece clothes began falling over the side of the bed until there was a trail all around it.

The sex was fast and furious but the after glow was savored for long moments, wrapped in each other’s arms while the kissing and caressing continued tenderly.

“I’ve got to go so you can get some sleep.” Alex whispered against Walter’s chest.

“I have to go with you to pick up my car.”

“Nah. You go to sleep. I’ll get your car. It’ll be in your parking space when you’re ready for it.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Walter protested.

“I know that. I want to. It’ll only take a little while and I get to sleep in, in the morning; you don’t.”

“You could just sleep here?” Walter offered.

“No way! I’ve got to go back up and have a word or two with Jimmy. He should be calmed down enough now to reason with.”

“I’m sorry about what happened, Alex, but he brought it all on himself.” Walter sat up and watched as Alex dressed.

“I’m sure he did. You have nothing to apologize for. This is my problem and I’ll take care of it. I should have put an end to it a long time ago.”

“Be careful.”

“I will.” He answered giving Walter one last long kiss then he was gone.


Walter stretched out in his bed, turned on his side and wrapped both arms around a pillow. It wasn’t the same as holding Alex but his scent was still on it and the room still smelled of sex. He dropped off to sleep a happy and satisfied man.

When he went down to his car the next morning he got in and found a Dandelion lying on the front seat. He picked it up and grinned. He knew it meant something, his mother used to tell him that each flower had a different meaning; he just couldn’t remember what it was. He placed it in his briefcase and left for work.

Once settled behind his desk he turned his computer on and went straight to Google and looked up the meaning of flowers. He finally found it: Dandelion – Wishes come true.
He held the small flower in his hand and wondered that Alex would know about such things as flowers and their meanings. He went into his en suite bathroom and poured a glass of water. He put the flower in and sat it on the sink. Amazing! Alex Krycek knows about flowers. He shook his head and went back to work.

Two days later he was standing outside a small coffee shop near the Hoover talking with Mulder. They were waiting for Scully to join them for lunch. Walter was trying to explain his bruised jaw and knuckles as a bar fight but Mulder didn’t seem to be buying it. He felt someone shove him on the shoulder and turned around.

“Why don’t you tell him the truth? You didn’t get that in any bar fight; you liar! Why don’t you tell him you’re cheating on him!” He pointed to Mulder. “Tell him he’s not the only one you’re screwing! Go on; tell him!” Jimmy railed at him.

“Jimmy, this is neither the time nor the place for this.” Walter tried to settle him down. The last thing he wanted was another confrontation with Jimmy and certainly not in front of Mulder.

“You think this is over? You think you’ve won? Well I’ve got news for you! I don’t give up that easily!” He was shaking a finger in Walter’s face and it was taking everything that Walter had in him not to bury his fist in that face again. His fists were at his sides opening and closing; itching to go at him one more time. Just then Scully appeared.

“Hi, have you been waiting long … What’s going on here?” She saw the three of them glaring at each other. This was the first time she saw Walter’s bruised jaw and her glance went to Jimmy’s severely blackened eye and bruised face.

“You’d better watch your back,” Jimmy waved a threatening finger and turned around and left.

Walter stood riveted to the ground; jaw clenched. Mulder was in a state of shock and Scully was saying, “What did I miss? Who was that guy? Did he do that to you? Did you do that to him?”

Mulder got his senses about him first and urged them all inside. “Let’s go eat. I’m starved.”

They went in and took a table in the back and sat down. Walter removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. Scully sat staring back and forth from Walter to Mulder. “Is anybody going to tell me what’s going on?”

“Apparently Walter got in a little bar fight over the weekend; looks like he got the best of it.” Mulder answered her. Walter gave him a grateful look but said nothing.

That seemed to satisfy Scully and she sipped her water the waiter sat in front of her. They gave their orders and waited.

“So, have you seen a doctor?” Scully asked taking a closer look at Walter’s jaw.

“No; it’s OK; just a bruise.” Walter made light of it and sipped his coffee.

They ate their lunch with their usual banter and bid Scully goodbye as she had an afternoon class to teach. As Mulder and Walter walked back to the Hoover, Mulder asked, “Do you want me to check this guy Jimmy out? He could be dangerous. I didn’t smell any liquor so I don’t think he was drunk.”

“No, Mulder. I can handle it. I’m sorry you had to hear all that.”

“Not a problem; just kind of a surprise is all. He doesn’t exactly look like your type.”

“Life is full of surprises, Mulder. And you’re right about that; he is most definitely is NOT my type.” Walter said as they stepped into the elevator.

“I’d ask what that was all about but I don’t think you’d tell me.”

“You got that right!”

“Maybe you should at least give me his full name. I can keep an eye on him for a few days until he cools down.”

“That won’t be necessary.” They stopped at the door to Walter’s office. “I appreciate the offer and I would appreciate even more your discretion in this matter.” He glanced around to see if anyone was within hearing range.

“You have it, Sir. Look, I’ve got nothing but paperwork going on right now so if you change your mind -- just call.”

“Thank you, Mulder.” He nodded his head and went on in to work.


He sat at his desk, drumming his fingers and wondering what he could do. He had no way to reach Alex; no way to get in touch with anyone ‘up there’ as he began to think of it. Something had to be done but he had no idea what.


The next weekend came around and still no word from Alex. Walter went about his usual weekend routine but spent as much time as possible at home hoping for a visit.

It was just passed midnight when he finished up some work he had brought home and was about to turn off his computer when a message came on that he had mail. He clicked on it and it opened. It was from, Evie’sfiancée@yahoo.com

“Hey, just wanted to say that Evie misses you and so does her fiancée.”

Walter hit the ‘reply’ tab and wrote:

“We need to talk. Jimmy paid me another visit.”

“Shit! Are you OK?”

“I’m fine. But he spouted off a lot in front of M & S.”

“Fuck, fuck, fuck! How’d they take it?”

“S didn’t hear much. She came in right at the end when he was warning me to watch my back. M, on the other hand, heard enough to know that my bruises weren’t from any bar fight as I’d been telling him.”

“And he’s suspicious and asking questions!”

“You know M! When can I see you?”

“You’re probably being watched.”

“Probably. I still want to see you.”

“Not a good idea. I’d better go take care of Jimmy.”

“Let him wait.”

“You have no patience.”

“That’s right. When? Where?”

“You’re hard to refuse.”

“Then don’t! When? Where?”

“You’re crazy!”

“That’s a given. When? Where?”

No answer. Then standing in front of his desk, Alex said, “How about here and now?”

Walter nearly jumped over his desk and grabbed him; smothering him with kisses and each and every one was returned. Between kisses Alex managed to get out, “I can only stay a few hours. I have to be somewhere at 1:30.”

“Two hours? We’ll just be getting warmed up!” Walter complained as he led Alex up the stairs.

“It’ll have to do for tonight.” Alex said as his jacket and shirt sailed over the railing.


At 1:20 Alex was pulling on his clothes and Walter was saying, “You can’t leave yet, we haven’t talked about Jimmy.”

“Don’t you worry about Jimmy. That’s my 1:30 appointment. Aaron’s coming down. I’ve told him everything and we’re having Jimmy exiled.”

“Exiled?” Walter got up and donned his jeans.

“He will be sent to another facility. He will not be allowed on ours and he will not be allowed on Earth for whatever time the Elders deem necessary.”

“Do you have to go?” Walter followed him down the stairs.

“Yeah. This has gone too far. Aaron and I will take Jimmy before the Elders. I have already discussed the situation with them. They agree that something must be done. Aaron will help me take him there.”

“Do you think he will resist?”

“That’s why it’s best for two to approach when one is being difficult. Two can over-ride one’s attempt to transport elsewhere. He *will* go with us; willing or not.”

“I’m sorry about all this. I never meant to cause any trouble.”

“You have not caused any trouble. This is my error in judgment. I thought I could reason with Jimmy but he’s beyond all that now. It’s time to take action. He will get some help and maybe become his old self again.”

“I hope so.”

“Don’t worry about it. I gotta go.”

“I know you do. I just don’t want to let go.” He pulled Alex close for one last lingering kiss. “Let me know how things go. I’ll be worried until I hear from you.”

“OK. Just watch your email for something from Evie’s fiancée.”

“I’ll do it. I want to see you again; soon!”

“Me too.”

One last kiss and Walter was standing alone in the middle of his living room.

(Continued in Chapter 4)