Starting Over

AD Skinner, formerly of the FBI, now retired, was doing a little shopping in the local grocery store. He had been flown in by his former employer as a guest lecturer for the latest recruits that were about to graduate from the academy. He'd stay in town for a few days, say a few words at the ceremony and help weed through the dossiers for a select few that would qualify for special assignments. Then he'd assist the committee in going through the hundreds of applicants for the next class. When his assignment was completed, they'd pack him up, give Skinner a big fat pay check, drive him to the airport and wave him a fond goodbye. Well, maybe not a fond goodbye and maybe not wave at all, but who really gives a shit. It was two weeks out of the year that he chose to leave his newly adoptive home state of Montana, put on the old suit and tie and come back to the big city.

For now, he was in the mood for some fresh fruit, so that led him here to the supermarket. Restaurant food was beginning to aggravate his now ulcer free stomach. Skinner was examining a honey dew melon when he spied a 'gentleman' thumping a cantaloupe, his hand instantly looking for the side-arm he no longer wore.

"Krycek! What are you doing here? I thought you were dead? I ought to arrest you."

"Nice to see you too, sir. I'm sorry to disappoint you but the rumors regarding my demise were just that, rumors. And what the fuck are you going to arrest me for? Assault and battery to a cantaloupe? I don't think the melon is going to press charges, sir."

"Don't you smart mouth me, boy!" Skinner growled and was about to cuff the upstart but he was distracted by two things. First, a blue haired little old lady suddenly appeared next to Krycek doing her best to select a ripe melon. And secondly, Skinner had no handcuffs.

"Excuse me, young man," the nice lady asked Krycek. "I see you know the art of picking a ripe melon. Would you mind assisting me? I never seem to get a good one." Seeing a damsel in distress, Krycek began picking up melons and giving each one a thump or two. When satisfied with the correct thump, he handed the winner to the woman. "Thank you. It's nice to see that someone has manners."

The elderly lady gave Skinner a scowl and Krycek a warm smile before placing her melon in her cart then pushing it down the aisle.

"Now, where were we, oh yeah, you were about to arrest me for assault with deadly intent to a melon. In the interest of getting out of here without bloodshed and perhaps tomorrow's breakfast, I'll go willing, sir." Krycek held out his arms, palms up, waiting to be cuffed. Skinner looked down at Krycek's arms. Arms!

"Alex? Your arm, you have two arms!"

"Not so loud, Skinner. You want the whole fucking world to know? And yes, it's real, and yes, I'm human and we're not having this discussion in the produce section of Winn-Dixie. So either arrest me now or let me buy the fucking melon so we can get out of here to have our 'discussion' in private." Krycek gave Skinner a pained look. Skinner nodded then followed Alex and his cart to the checkout counter.

Out in the parking lot, Skinner had some quick choices to make as he watched Alex pack the groceries in the back of his black SUV.

"Your place or mine, old man?"

"What?" Skinner was stunned by the question. Actually he was stunned by the entire situation.

"For our discussion. You want to follow me home or do I follow you. Let me know now, because I have milk in here and it won't stay fresh long in this heat."

"What?" Alex Krycek, dead, one-armed, triple agent was now talking about milk in the parking lot of Winn-Dixie. It boggled the mind.

"Snap out of it, Skinner. Where's your car?" Alex asked as he searched around looking for the tell-tale signs of a rental car. "Over there, is that it?" Alex nodded toward an indistinct sedan. Skinner nodded in reply. Alex led Skinner to the car, shoved his hand into Skinner's pocket and drew out a set of keys. Then he jiggled said keys in front of Skinner's eye to get his attention. Skinner snatched the keys out of Alex's hand and got into the car. He rolled down the window and growled out, "I'll follow." Alex shrugged then went back to his truck.

About a half an hour later they were driving up to a row of small apartments. The block was relatively dark, the street lit only by a lone streetlamp. The neighborhood wasn't very inviting but it looked safe enough for the right inhabitants and Alex Krycek fit that bill. Alex pulled up to his parking space and indicated that Skinner should take the next space. Alex got out, went to his front door, did a little scan of the area then unlocked his door. He quickly swept his apartment then came back out to unload the SUV. With Skinner's help they only had to make two trips, all the perishables stowed away with care.

"Homey," Skinner remarked as he looked around the small one bedroom apartment. "Won't your neighbor get pissed that I'm in his parking space."

Alex went to one end of the apartment and opened a door; it led to the next unit. Then he did the same on the opposite end. Alex had three units.

"I like quiet and I randomly rotate the bedrooms I use," Alex said by way of explanation.

"Hmm, aren't you tired of living this way? The war is long over, the good guys won. There's no one left to hunt you down and anyone who might be left, thinks you're dead. I certainly did."

"Can't help it, Skinner. I get restless sometimes. Instead of pulling up stakes and starting all over again, I just move to another unit. They're all decorated differently, with different food in each refrigerator. Anyone looking would think that three different people live here."

"What name do you go by?"

"Spender. Lexi Spender."

"You've got to be fucking kidding me? Why would you do that to yourself? To us? After what that fucking asshole did, how can you name yourself after him?"

"To remember. You're right Skinner; everyone's dead or disappeared. I did it to remind me to never allow something like that to ever happen again. And in some weird way it gives me satisfaction that I'm alive and using his assets and his name for the good cause. Let him stick that in his cancerous asshole and smoke it." Alex spat out the last sentence like venom. He hadn't spoken to anyone about this in a very long time. And Alex was exhausted.

"Alex, how long has it been since you slept the whole night through?" Skinner asked softly seeing the younger man begin to slump.

"Don't know. What century is it?" Alex answered with a snarky chuckle.

"Bed."

"Think you can handle me, old man?"

"Don't you smart mouth me, boy! And, yeah, I can handle you. But I don't hunt fish in a barrel. You get a decent night's sleep and then we'll discuss who's handling whom. Besides, you owe me a slice of cantaloupe."

Alex showed Skinner to the bathroom, gave him a new toothbrush then some privacy as he went about locking down the units for the night. After everything was bolted, alarmed and the security cameras engaged, Alex showed Skinner to the bedroom then went to the bathroom to perform his own nightly rituals.

Alex found Skinner lounging on top of the sheets in nothing but his boxers. His clothes neatly folded on the chair in the bedroom, his glasses on the nightstand.

"Huh, I was right," Alex mumbled.

"About what?"

"You're a boxer man." Alex removed his clothes, letting them fall in a small heap on the floor. He was wearing briefs, very tight briefs that showed off his assets nicely.

"The years have been kind to you, Alex," Skinner noted with admiration and a little lust.

"A perk from the good guys. Physically I'm about the same age as when we first met. They wanted to go younger but I said no. They couldn't understand why I didn't want to live my teens all over again. So I settled for somewhere in the late twenties. Plus I earned my scars. The arm works good; a spasm now and then but I can live with it."

Skinner shimmed himself under the sheet and held it up for Alex. Alex gave him a weary look.

"Alex, your virtue is safe as well as your new body. You can sleep. I'll keep watch although I wish I had my gun with me." Alex slipped his hand under the pillow and pulled out a fully loaded Glock. He had the good grace to blush as he handed the lethal weapon to his former boss and enemy.

"You do remember how to use it, don't you, old man?" Alex snarked.

"Shut the fuck up, boy, and go to sleep," Skinner retorted without hesitation. Skinner covered Alex with the sheet as he felt the younger man slowly squirm closer, seeking out Skinner's body heat.

"How can a Russian be cold in the DC Spring?" Skinner mumbled as Alex seemed to be burying himself into Skinner's armpit. Skinner felt all of Alex's muscles relax, one by one. Then he heard the soft snores of a man totally out cold. And all this in less than ten minutes.

Skinner carefully maneuvered his large frame around the smaller man, the gun within reach. He felt himself slip into protective mode and this time he welcomed it. Skinner inhaled the scent of Alex's rich deep brown hair, savoring the scent of spice. Skinner wanted to commit it to memory. He may never have this opportunity again. He smiled then chuckled softly, it gave a whole new meaning to the proverb of sleeping with one's enemy. Skinner held the younger man closer and drifted into a peaceful sleep.

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"Get off of me, you big old bear!" Alex groused early the next morning as he awakened with one of Skinner's heavy muscled arms draped across his chest. Alex was effectually imprisoned. On one hand Alex relished the feeling; on the other hand, which he could say with all honesty since it was fully restored to him, Alex had to pee real bad. He never was a bed-wetter and he'd be damned if he was going to start now.

"Come on, Skinner, I have to take a piss."

"Walter."

"What?"

"My name is Walter," Skinner mumbled into his pillow.

"Okaaay. Walter, would you mind removing your ten ton arm from my chest so that I can go to the bathroom before I embarrass myself." Skinner turned his head to see Alex fidgeting uncomfortably.

"Only if you come right back to bed. The sun isn't up yet."

"I promise; just let me empty my bladder." Skinner removed his arm and watched Alex bolt to the bathroom. After a few minutes, Skinner heard the flush then the sink and then a very relieved Krycek sauntered back into the bedroom and slid under the sheets.

"Better?"

"Yeah, thanks. Don't you have somewhere to be? A class to teach, bad guys to annoy? Something?" Alex asked as he snuggled again next to the big man.

"No, Alex, even I get a day of rest. I'll go to the graduation the day after tomorrow, make the rounds and be polite."

"How pc of you."

"Yeah, well, I think of it as my contribution to the cause. What about you? Is anyone expecting you somewhere?"

"No, I'm independently wealthy. No time clocks to punch. I try to stay out of trouble but I still have eyes and ears in certain places."

"Making sure the dead stay dead, Alex?"

"Something like that. And that the living go on living without interference."

"You know where they are, don't you?" Skinner inferred a certain fox, his red-headed mate and their son.

"Yes. Living quietly in one of those 'o' states. He writes in those e-zines and she's a coroner for the local hospital. They live quietly and peacefully."

"And you make sure they stay that way." A statement more than a question.

"Yes." Not elaborating and Skinner never asked for more. This was one file that was going to remain closed.

"Good," Skinner affirmed.

"Skinner?" Alex raised his head, his longish hair beautifully tussled.

"Shush. More sleep then cantaloupe," Skinner instructed.

"Okay," Alex mumbled into the big man's chest then fell back to sleep.

At about ten in the morning both men woke up. Alex had indeed experienced the most restful sleep he had ever gotten in years. It felt remarkable.

"Feels good, doesn't it, Alex," Skinner said nonchalantly as he stretched his long thick frame.

"Yeah. I really don't remember ever sleeping that deeply before. I could get used to that," Alex replied as he stretched and scratched. "You ready for breakfast? I owe you."

"Coffee?"

"I can make coffee. But I have to warn you, I like it strong. It's good Russian coffee. I have it shipped to me. It'll put hair on your chest."

Skinner looked down at his already furry body and at Alex's almost hairless one. The two men laughed out loud like they were friends for years. Not the enemies they once were who had killed each other on at least one occasion.

"Go on, Skinner. Hit the shower in the other unit while I start breakfast. Each unit has its own water heater. You can use all the hot water you want. I think I can dig up a pair of sweat shorts and t-shirt that might fit and I have plenty of clean socks." Skinner nodded then followed his host out to the living room. Alex went about unlocking the door to the other unit and opening the curtains to let in the sun. Even on this dreary street the sun looked good.

Alex puttered in the kitchen, starting the coffee, scrambling some eggs and putting thick slices of ham-steak in a pan to sear. Leaving the toast for last, Alex washed the melon then sliced it up with an assassin's precision. The last piece of toast was popping up as Walter came to the table.

"Skinner, for an old dude, you look hot." Walter was poured into the snug fitting shorts and t-shirt, his well toned muscles rippled under the thin material. He was slightly taken aback with Alex's comment.

"I think they screwed up your eyesight. You must be seeing things. I'm well over fifty, Alex."

"Could of fooled me. I mean it, Walter. My body has been manipulated, yours, let's just say, I'm glad I got a good night's sleep. I think I'm going to need it."

Skinner blushed at Krycek's innuendo then crunched on a piece of toast. The two men ate their breakfast in companionable silence.

After breakfast Alex got up to clear away the dishes. Walter stopped him.

"No, Lexi, allow me. You cooked and it was so much better than room service. You go wash up; I'll take care of the dishes." Alex nodded and moved towards the bathroom.

"The remote is on the coffee table if you want to put on the TV. It's set to CNN but you can put on whatever you want," Alex called over his shoulder as he shut the bathroom door. Walter padded over to the remote and switched on the news. The noise was somehow comforting as he cleaned up all evidence of breakfast.

Alex found Walter relaxing on the sofa watching the news. He poured them both another mug of coffee and brought them in, setting them on the table.

"Thanks," Walter said looking up into the jade green eyes. Alex smiled, Walter's rich warm chocolate brown eyes were only enhanced by his wire rimmed glasses.

"When do you go back?" Alex ventured. He was enjoying the quiet sounds of another human being. Someone who knew what he was, someone with whom he shared a common history. Alex had never been this relaxed before.

"I leave two days after the commencement ceremony."

"Oh." All of a sudden Alex jumped up. He needed to get Skinner out of his apartment before he got used to him being there. Walter sensed the discomfort and the change in Alex's body language. Alex had all the signs of a man ready to run. Walter grabbed at Alex's arm and pulled him back down onto the couch. Walter hung on for dear life. He had so far spent his retirement alone, fearful of what he might reveal and of the nightmares he still had. Alex was the only one left that could possibly understand the nightmares.

"Alex, come home with me," Walter softly pleaded to his most worthy opponent.

"Do you know what you're asking?"

"Yes, I do. Tell me, Lex, is this how you want to spend the rest of your life? In these few rooms? I have a ranch, in the mountains, with horses, a few heads of cattle and some ornery chickens. I have hundreds of acres in the middle of nowhere. I have a workshop that I build furniture in and sell on ebay when I want to. I have no neighbors for miles and go into town once or twice a month. I have a couple of backup generators just in case the winter gets too rough. Share it with me. As nothing else but two retired warriors who have earned the right to live out their lives in peace."

"You can't mean that. This has been fun but it's a one night stand without the sex. All I've sacrificed is a cantaloupe. What you're proposing is insane."

"And who better than you to share my insanity. Alex, tell me there's nothing holding you here except for fear. You're trapped here, Alex, and I don't care how often you change bedrooms. Say it out loud. Tell me to leave, that you like it here in this apartment, in this dreary dark neighborhood. That what I'm offering you isn't a second, no third chance for a life. You can still keep those eyes and ears on. You can still protect the living. Just do it with me. Protect me. You're not the only one here that has trouble sleeping. Please Alex!"

Skinner began to tremble as he held onto Krycek. The arms of the ex-spy slowly began to find their way around the big man. Alex never felt needed before.

"Okay, Skinner, but you better have internet access and keep those ornery chickens away from me." Alex felt Walter's tension instantly flow away in his arms.

"The name's Walter and who knew you were that easy," Walter made an attempt at levity.

"I'm not but you're right, if I stayed here much longer I might have eaten my gun. I'm lonely and so tired. I know they're all gone but the ghosts won't leave me be."

"So come home with me and we'll chase away each other's ghosts."

"Are you sure about this, Walter? I'm an old spy in a young body. I'm paranoid and probably OCD. I have to check every lock at least twice before I go to bed and even then I get up in the middle of the night to check them again."

"That's nothing, Alex. I'm a neat freak. No leaving clothes on the floor. I clean and dust and vacuum until I drop. I fart and belch when I want and I'm old and bald, Alex."

"AD Skinner farts?"

"That's retired, AD Skinner, to you, boy. And yes I fart. Pretty bad ones too. How do you think the chickens got so ornery?"

Alex gaped at Walter in shock at what he had just admitted then they broke out into belly laughs that left them breathless and in tears. When they were able to breathe again, Alex confirmed his decision.

"Okay, tell me the flight you're booked on and I'll see if I can get a ticket on the same flight."

"Can't you hack into the system or something?"

"Walter! You should be ashamed of yourself. A hacker never kisses and tells. And you're still a fed. So go make us a fresh pot of coffee and let me boot up my computer in peace and privacy."

"Fine. But Alex, WE haven't kissed. As far as I know, the rat bastard has only kissed a fox, never a bear."

"I can fix that." Alex drew Walter into his arms and gave him a searing kiss as they fell back onto the couch. When they finally came up for air, Alex was flushed and Walter looked ravished.

"Fuck the coffee," Walter said as he nuzzled Alex's neck and began to suck on it.

"Yeah," Alex whispered as he tilted his head slightly to let him.

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