HOME AGAIN

CHAPTER 5



"Smith? I've got something I need to bring up; it's kind of personal." Walter said after Jeremiah Smith examined him.



"What is it?" Smith asked, pulling a stool up next to Walter's bed.



"For some reason, each time I wake up, I have to make a dash to the bathroom and I ejaculate."



"That's not uncommon with the drugs that were given you."



"They drugged me? Can't you give me something to counter-act whatever it was?"



"I already have. It should slow down and eventually go back to normal."



"It's just really strange. I mean, this hasn't happened to me since I was a teen-ager and then it was usually accompanied by a hot dream." Walter relaxed somewhat.



"I have something I'd like to try. I'll explain it and you can choose to try it or not."



"What is it? Will it help me get my memory back?"



"It may. What it does is help you focus more clearly."



"How does it work? Is it another drug?"



"No. It's something that I do. You close your eyes and I touch your forehead. Things will immediately become clearer."



"Hypnotism?"



"No. Hypnotism is a mind controlling device; what I do doesn't control or manipulate your mind in any way. It simply allows you to see things clearer, sharper."



"Would it be a permanent thing?"



"No. And you can control it yourself. If you want it to end, you simply open your eyes and the contact is broken."



"Sounds simple enough; but I'm really not comfortable with anyone messing with my mind."



"May I give you a small example of what I'm talking about? We can do it right here or we could go into my office."



"It would be nice to get out of this room for a bit. Is your office close by? I'm not exactly dressed for a long walk."



"The waiting room is through that door and my office is just off that. I think there should be a robe in here somewhere." Smith got up and rummaged through the cupboards and came up with a robe.



Skinner took it and put it on; anxious for his first steps out of the room since he had gotten there two days before.



They settled in Smith's office; Skinner on the couch and Smith in a chair across from him.



"Are you ready?" Smith asked; pulling his chair up close.



"What do I have to do?"



"Just relax. We'll try a little exercise first. See that bowl of fruit over on that table?"



Skinner took a quick look then back. "Uh huh. What about it?"



"Close your eyes now."



Skinner did as he was told and felt Smith's fingers against his forehead.



"Now, think about that bowl of fruit."



"Oh wow! I see what you mean. It's perfectly clear. I can see each and every grape in detail."



"OK. Now you can either open your eyes and end this session or we can go on. Which do you prefer?"



"Let's go on."



"OK. You said the last thing you remembered was sitting at your desk. Think about that desk now and then describe it to me."



"It's nice desk. Looks like walnut. The top is polished to a fine sheen; the style is plain and sleek."



"What's sitting on top of the desk?"



"Papers, a file folder, the silver framed photo of Evie, and a double deck of cards."



"Take a good look at the file folder; what does it say on it?"



Walter turned his head sideways like he was reading a label. "Hoyle's Rules" he read.



"Can you tell me what that is?"



"It's the rules for Shanghai Rummy. I had them printed out."



"OK. Describe the photograph in the silver frame."



"It's Evie and she's wearing a pink striped shirt and blue jeans. It was taken during a picnic we went on."



"Is she alone in the photograph?"



"Yes. She's wearing the locket I gave her. It has her name on the front."



"Do you remember Evie? Tell me about her. When and where did you meet her?"



"Of course, I remember Evie. I met her here, in Medical."





They were interrupted by Smith's com going off and Walter opened his eyes. The link was broken.



"I'm so sorry, Walter, but I'm needed elsewhere right now. We can continue this another time if you like."



"Yes, of course." They stood up and Smith escorted him back to his room.





Walter paced around his room a bit before he got back into bed. His thoughts were still confused. He wondered where Mulder was and hoped he would come back to see him soon.



What confused him most was this Evie. He remembered the little girl clearly now. He could remember that picnic they went on but everything else was still blurry around the edges. Who was this girl and how did he know her? Why would he have a photo of her on his desk? And what desk was that anyway? It wasn't the desk in his office; that was standard Government Issue. And it sure wasn't the desk he had in the living room of his condo. Yet he clearly remembered sitting at that desk, knowing it was his desk. So many questions and so few answers. Still the thought of this little girl comforted him somehow. He smiled when he thought of her. She was special; he knew that for sure. He leaned his bed back and dozed off.



XXXX



Mulder, Krycek and Smith were quietly discussing Skinner's condition in the waiting room when they heard a crash from his room. They hurried into his room in time to see him making a dash for the restroom; his side table overturned in his haste.



They straightened his room and in moments he came back in looking slightly embarrassed but trying not to let it show.



"Sir, are you all right?" Mulder asked and went to him, assisting him back into his bed.



"I'm fine, Mulder. What's everyone doing here? Has something happened?"



"No, Walter. We were just discussing your condition out in the waiting room when we heard the crash. I thought maybe you'd fallen." Smith said.



"What's he still doing here?" He nodded towards Krycek.



"Alex works for me now, Walter. He's been a big help in more ways than I can explain."

Smith said.



"I can leave if you'd rather." Krycek said.



"I'd rather!" Skinner said.



Krycek nodded and headed out into the waiting room. Smith followed him out.





"He saved your life, Sir." Mulder said.



"I thought you saved my life? Or Smith?"



"It's complicated. I'm not supposed to discuss it with you or give you any details but if it wasn't for Krycek, I wouldn't have even known you were missing and Smith certainly couldn't have fixed you up."



"Excuse me if I don't feel exactly 'fixed up'!" Skinner said with a little sneer. "I've never been more confused and mixed up in my life. I need to know what the hell happened to me, Mulder. I don't understand why, if Smith is such a great healer, he can't just fix me; give me my memory back."



"The way he explained it to me was that they don't like to mess with people's minds unless it's absolutely necessary. They much prefer for the patient to get it back by himself."



"That doesn't explain why Krycek is hanging around. Is he expecting me to say 'thank you' or something?"



"I think he's probably just worried about you."



"I don't believe that for a minute and I'm surprised that you do. You know what he is, Mulder. You can't trust a snake like him and you should know that. Why don’t you see if you can figure out why he still here."



"OK. I can nose around and see what I can find out."



"I'm still convinced that if he knew where to find me, it's because he was in on whatever happened to me." Skinner said.



Mulder said nothing, just made his way towards the door and said as he left, "I'll see what I can find out." He closed the door behind him and walked out into the waiting room where Krycek stood close by with his head down and looking miserable. It was obvious he had heard Skinner's remarks. From the look on Smith's face, he had heard too.



"We've got to do something." Smith said as he paced the floor and rubbed the back of his neck. "I think we should try something a little more radical.



"What do you have in mind?" Mulder asked. Krycek slumped in a chair, brooding.



"I think after dinner he should be taken to his quarters; maybe being in familiar surroundings will stir his memories." Smith said.



"Are you sure that wouldn't be pushing it?" Krycek asked.



"Well, I think maybe he needs a little push about now. We've given him a couple of days and he has remembered a few things but he should be much farther along in his recovery."



"Do you think he'll believe you if you tell him that's his room?" Mulder asked.



"We don't need to tell him that. We'll let him figure it out for himself. We can just tell him he doesn't need to be here in Medical any more and we're taking him to a room."



"That would probably work. He's anxious to get out of here. But how can you keep him from seeing everything?" Mulder asked.



"We won't. Maybe taking a walk and seeing a few things is just what he needs."



"I'd be just across the hall. I can keep an eye on him." Krycek offered.



"I think that's what we'll do then. After dinner, I'll walk him to his room and have another focusing session with him then leave him there to poke around in familiar surroundings. Something might just trigger his memory."



XXXX



"Where are we going?" Skinner asked as Smith escorted him out of Medical and down the hallway.



"As I said, Walter; you are well enough now to leave Medical but I want you near by to keep an eye on you. You'll be staying in a room of your own and I'll be checking on you to make sure you have everything you need."



They started up the ramp and Skinner saw the railing and the vast open area beyond.

"Where are we? What is this place?" He asked as he walked over to the railing and looked around.



"It's a large complex where I'm currently working and living. That's all the information I can give you about it at the moment." He walked on and Skinner followed.



They walked through the door into Skinner's quarters and he stopped dead in his tracks in front of the desk. "This is my desk!" He said.



"That's right. Sit down; make yourself comfortable. Would you rather sit at your desk or at the table?"



"My desk." Skinner said as he slid into his leather chair and leaned back. His hands caressed the polished surface of his desk and he picked up the little photograph of Evie.



"Who is this girl and how do I know her?" He asked more of himself than Smith.



"It'll all come back. You're getting closer all the time. Would you like to try another focusing session now?"



"Yes I would." Skinner answered.



"All right." Smith walked over and sat on the corner of Skinner's desk closest to him and asked. "Ready?"



"Yes. Let's do it." He turned towards Smith and closed his eyes.



Smith reached out and touched his forehead. "OK. Where are you?" He asked.



"In my quarters."



"Describe them to me."



"Couch against the left wall as you come in; desk and two chairs across the room on the right. A table and two chairs; counter space and small kitchenette; a doorway into my bedroom; bed on the left, blue coverlet; closet and chest of drawers on the right; a door through to the bathroom; tub on the left, sink in the middle and toilet on the right."



"Very good." Smith said then asked, "What were you doing the last time you were sitting at this desk?"



"I don't know; something with the papers; the file folder."



"What would that be?"



"The rules. I was looking something up in the rules."



"OK. What's this?" He handed Skinner the framed photograph.



"A picture of Evie."



"Where did you get it?"



"She gave it to me. It was wrapped in blue paper; it was a gift."



Smith took the photograph back and handed him the double deck of cards. "What are these?"



"Cards. Playing cards. It's a double deck."



"Why a double deck?"



"Because you need two decks to play Shanghai Rummy."



"And who do you play Shanghai Rummy with?"



"I … I don't know. But we play at the table; game after game after game."



"And do you win?"



"Sometimes I win and sometimes I loose. We're pretty well matched." Skinner grinned.



"That's good. What else do you do here?"



"We eat here sometimes. I make a pretty good omelet."



"Anything else?"



"Sure. We use the video screen and keep up with things down below; the news and all."



"We?" Smith asked.



"Huh?"



"You keep saying 'we'. You and who else?"



"Me and … I don't know. Someone else is usually here … I don't know. Is it Mulder? No; it wouldn't be him. I don't know. I can't see him."



"OK. I think we've gone about as far as we can for this time. Why don't you open your eyes now and we'll call it an evening."



Skinner opened his eyes. "I remembered more this time."



"Yes you did. I think being here in this room is going to help. I want you to make yourself at home, relax and don't push yourself too hard. Let it just come to you a little bit at a time. I will ask one thing though; please don't leave the room and go walking around alone. This is a huge complex and you could very easily get lost. See the com link here on the wall behind your desk?"



"Uh huh."



"If you want anything or have any questions; just call. Either I or someone else will answer. The important thing now is for you to relax and get some rest."



"Is Mulder still here in the complex?" Skinner asked as he got up and walked with Smith over to the door.



"Yes, he's still here. He has been given a room for his stay. I will make sure he comes by to see you before he leaves."



"Thank you. I appreciate all that you're doing for me."



"You're welcome. Get some rest now." Smith said as he left.





Skinner was alone in his room now. It was completely foreign to him but something about it was vaguely familiar; like he'd been there once a long time ago. He went back over to the desk and picked up the photograph.



He smiled. Something about that little face just warmed him. He had always thought he'd make a pretty good father but he was never given the chance. Sharon didn't want kids; she was too busy with her many social obligations. But that part of his life was long over now and he didn't want to dwell on it.



He put the photo back down and picked up the cards. He walked over to the table and sat down and began shuffling. The feel of the cards in his hands was familiar but he couldn't remember playing since he was in college. Yet he clearly remembered looking through Hoyle's Rules to check out some point or other. He noticed a tablet on the table where score was kept. The two columns were titled 'You' and 'Me'. That was no help at all. It did tell him two things though, that it was his writing so he was the one keeping score and that he was ahead with two more hands left to play.



He put the cards down by the pad and walked back into the bedroom. Bed on the left, blue coverlet; just as he knew it would be. He decided to take a shower and lie down for a while. After his shower he brushed his teeth and noticed two tooth brushes in the holder; a green one and a red one. He wondered about it but knew without question that the green one was his. He brushed his teeth and climbed into bed.



He managed after a while to doze off but woke up a short time later with the same old problem only not quite as urgent this time. He got up and walked around, determined to keep control of himself. He went into the outer room and looked around. There had to be something; something that would trigger a memory. The place was strange to him, yet there was a flicker of something there, like a memory of something he had seen long ago. He wished Smith was here to help him focus.



He was startled by a light knock on the door. He opened it to find Krycek standing there.



"I saw your light under the door. Are you OK? Do you need me to call Jeremiah for you?" A worried Krycek asked.



"No. I'm fine. I just couldn't sleep. Come on in as long as you're here. Maybe you can answer some questions for me."



"We can talk but Jeremiah doesn't want me to say much." Krycek said as he came into the room.



"What can you tell me about all this, Krycek?"



"Not much, I'm afraid." He answered and took a seat on the couch.



Skinner leaned back against his desk facing him and asked, "Then tell me about yourself. How long have you been working with these people and does Smoking Man know about your involvement with them?"



"I've been actively working with them since I turned eighteen and no, the old man doesn't know about it."



"And just where does he think you are right now?"



"He thinks I'm dead. It was arranged."



"So you're not with him any more? That surprises me. I thought you liked working for him. The two of you seemed to be cut from the same cloth, to me." Skinner said with just a bit of sarcasm.



"Working with him was my job for several years but it's over now and I'm glad of it."



"Does Smith and his group know about your working for the old man?"



"Yes." Krycek thought it best not to go into any further details at the moment.



"And they still let you work for them?"



"Yes." Krycek was beginning to get uncomfortable with this line of questioning and decided it was time to divert things. "Are you getting more comfortable here?"



Skinner thought a moment, recognizing the diversion tactic, and then said, "I'm not as uncomfortable as I was. But I'm not totally comfortable either."



"Good. That's something. Does Mulder being here help?"



"Yes it does. I trust him. He trusts Smith so I'm more or less comfortable with him trying to help me."



"I'm the only one then that you don't trust?" Krycek knew the answer to that before he asked.



"You're the only one in this particular situation that I don't trust. I've known you for too long; I know what you're capable of."



"Fair enough. You know some of what I'm capable of; the rest of it you've forgotten."



Skinner stared at him for a while, sitting there on his couch leaning back, like he'd been there many times before. "So are you trying to tell me that you and I are … what … friends?"



"I'm not telling you any such thing. That's for you to remember or not; as you choose." Krycek grinned at him.



The grin did nothing to help Skinner's awkward 'condition' and he had to get up and move around. Turning his back on Krycek, he adjusted himself, willing it to go down.



"I choose to remember everything, Krycek; all of it. Everything you did in the past as well as whatever involvement you had in my latest misfortune."



"Good; I hope you do. It's all important; every bit of it. No one will be happier than I am when you get your memory back completely." Krycek assured him.



"So I take it, we weren't exactly enemies in the recent past?" Skinner asked.



Krycek just smiled and said, "You know I can't answer that."



Skinner stood with his back to Krycek and stared at a small book sitting in a shelving unit. He picked it up when he saw it said "Uncle Walter" written on top in a child's writing. He flipped through it and saw it was a photo album. There were several snaps of him with Evie and several of him with Krycek. He turned to Krycek, holding up the album.

"Do you know about this?"



"I do. I have one similar in my room across the hall."



"Evie made this? She calls me 'uncle' yet I know my brother in Seattle is not her father. Are you her father?"



"No, no. I'm not Evie's father. As a matter of fact, she calls me her fiance."



"Her what?"



"She keeps saying when she grows up, she wants to marry me. It's an old family joke."



"She's a beautiful child."



"She is that. I spoke with her this afternoon and she's anxious to see you."



"She's here? At this facility? She's way too young to be involved in such goings on."



"She's fine. She's being well looked after by her parents. Everyone here knows her and loves her to pieces."



"And she thinks I'm her uncle?"



"In a way. I think she just gave you that tag because she likes you so much."



Skinner looked at the photo of him pushing her in a swing and his heart swelled for this little girl. She was precious and he knew it. He had only vague memories of being with her but they were there; back around the edges of the darkness.



He closed the album and put it back on the shelf. "Apparently I've spent some time here. I have memories of some things; vague memories."



"That's a start. It's more than you had a few days ago."



"Uh huh." Skinner agreed and took a seat across from Krycek. "I just need to figure out where you fit in to all of this."



"It'll come." Krycek smiled and again it made a rush of heat warm Skinner in places that was trying to ignore.



He sat staring for several moments straight into Krycek's eyes; Krycek made no effort to avert his gaze and stared back. Something dark and fearful lifted then and seemed to float away. He knew he was no longer in the presence of an enemy; he felt no danger present. As his guard slipped away, his desire rose and it unsettled him. He stood and went over to the little kitchenette and got a bottle of water from the refrigerator.



"Would you like something; water, juice, a drink?" He called out.



"I'll take a water please." Krycek answered from close by as he had followed Skinner.



Skinner handed him one; opened his own and drank it half down; not taking his eyes off Krycek for a moment. Krycek was watching him too, with a little smile turning up the corners of his mouth.



Krycek recapped his bottle and ran his tongue over his lips. The movement was not lost on Skinner and he capped his bottle as well, sat it down on the counter and reached for Krycek. He pulled Krycek's shirt up off over his head and tossed it. Krycek came into his arms eagerly and pressed tightly up against him.



There was a roaring in his ears then as blood surged through his veins and in two seconds he had Krycek on the couch, jeans down and he was entering him. It was wild and uncontrollable and devastatingly satisfying as Skinner collapsed on top of him. It could have lasted a minute or an hour; neither of them knew or cared; it was too perfect to question.



When Skinner regained his senses he got up quickly and headed for the bathroom. "I need a shower," he announced then stopped at the doorway and turned back. "Would you care to join me?"



In minutes they were standing under the warm water soaping up silently. There was no conversation between them; it wasn't necessary. Krycek broke the silence when he asked Skinner to turn around so he could wash his back. Skinner did and was amazed at the feelings it inspired. How could he forget this; something this good? He wondered as he then turned Krycek around and washed is back. When he got down to the lower part he couldn't help but notice the firm round butt and caressed it with both hands. Krycek's head went back and he let out a little moan.



This time he took his time, savoring every moment, every sensation; the heat, the tightness, the eager reception and vocal appreciation of his efforts. Just the feeling of his fingertips roving over the muscled back, shoulders, and arms set his mind ablaze with desire. His lips against the damp neck while his hands held the hips tightly nearly made him pass out with pleasure. His tongue tasting the droplets of water from an earlobe was sheer perfection. Alex's moans of urgency signaled the end was near. He ended it then, taking them both over the edge sky-rocketing into darkness then free-falling into bliss.



The moments after were awkward as they rinsed, dried off and got dressed. Back in the outer room Skinner mumbled as he stood by the door waiting for Krycek to leave. "This doesn't change anything. I still don't trust you."



Krycek stopped a minute in front of him and said, "I know. It's going to take time. I waited for years before; I can wait again. If you need me … for anything; I'm right across the hall."



Skinner watched as Krycek walked across the hall and opened his door. "You've been here before. Maybe you should come over just to see if anything triggers a memory."



"Maybe later." Skinner said and closed his door. He refused to think about what had just happened and went to bed; sleeping better than he could ever remember sleeping.