The Gift of Warmth

"Damn, Alex! How can you stand there and whip up potatoes by hand after the day we had today? I do believe I can sleep for a week. I used muscles that I forgot I had."

"I feel surprisingly invigorated," Alex said as he was whipping the hell out of his large pot of boiled potatoes. He had put chunks of the cooked potatoes through a mouli before adding milk and butter.

"What are you doing?" Walter asked as he peered over Alex's shoulder.

"Adding the yams," Alex replied matter-of-factly.

"Damn!" Walter exclaimed again. "I love a mixture of potatoes. Are you trying to seduce me with food?" he asked with a low growl.

"Maybe. Is it working?" Alex replied coyly. A large glazed ham was heating in the oven and there were green beans waiting in a strainer to be sauteed. Alex was putting his potato mixture in a large casserole dish. He planned on topping it with grated cheese then baking it for a few minutes.

"Working very well," Walter purred next to Alex's neck. "Are you planning to have your way with me after dinner?"

"Uh huh, if you're up to it. We did a lot of hard work today, but I'm glad it's all finished. We won't have to work on the fences again for a while."

"At least not until the Fall. We should be good till then but, Alex, you don't have to bribe me with food. You can have your way with me anytime you wish." Walter moved behind Alex to give him a hug.

"You deserve a hearty meal. You'll need all of your strength for later," Alex quipped as he winked at his partner.

Walter bellowed out a laugh. "Do I have time for a quick shower?"

"Plenty of time. Dinner should be just about ready when you come out." Alex shooed Walter toward the bedroom and shower as he tended to his dinner.

Alex began to shift the ham around in the oven to make room for the casserole dish when the unexpected sound of silence began to worry him. Alex went into their bedroom to check on his lover. There, lying on the bed with his shirt, socks and shoes off, was Walter; he was lightly snoring.

"Walter," Alex said softly while gently nudging the man, "are you asleep?"

"Hmpf, sorry, love, I must have dozed off," Walter murmured as he stretched his tired body. Alex knelt next to the bed.

"Want me to bring dinner in here? I can set up a tray."

"Thank you, Alexi, but I can manage the shower and coming to the table. But I think having your way with me will have to wait until tomorrow," Walter said with a conciliatory kiss.

"Babe, we have the rest of our lives to have each other. I'm a patient man. Go take your shower. Dinner will be on the table by the time you get out."

*****

"Dinner was delicious, Alex." Walter pushed himself back from the table, his belly comfortably full. He yawned widely.

Alex chuckled as he shook his head. "Come on, old man, time for all good bears to hibernate so they'll be well rested for when the next heat wave strikes." Alex quickly got up from his chair to assist Walter up and to the bedroom.

"I'm not an invalid," Walter grumbled.

"I am more than aware of that; however, you are tired. Tired people are accident prone. I intend to see you safely tucked into bed, then I'll clean up and join you." Alex's tone was emphatic and would brook no argument from the older man.

Retired AD Skinner glared at Alex with the look that left highly trained federal agents quaking in their Oxford style shoes. Ex-assassin, triple spy Krycek snorted, ignored the look, then he continued to lead his man to the bedroom. With Walter comfortably ensconced in their room, Alex made short work of storing the leftovers and cleaning up the dishes.

"I would have helped," Walter mumbled as he felt Alex slip under the sheets.

"No need, it didn't take long." Alex wriggled under the covers so that he was snuggled close to his lover.

"Alexi..."

"Shh, sleep, I'll keep you safe." Alex wrapped his arms around the bigger man, enveloping Walter with his love.

It was really unnecessary; there was no one to threaten their lives but Alex was made to feel safe in the welcomed monotony of their quiet life together. This was the gift Walter gave to Alex. And in return, Alex guarded his lover as he slept, even as Alex slept.

"Alexi, I love you, we'll keep each other safe," Walter whispered.

"Safe and warm?" Alex purred. Finding the last ounce energy before sleep overtook him, Walter gently patted Alex's ass.

"Very warm, love, almost tropical," Walter murmured as the lovers allowed sleep to take them.

-end-

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