The elevator door closed slowly on Scully's stricken face, and then it was just the two of them. Skinner and Mulder both looked up as the numbers on the door moved towards the roof.

Mulder didn't look over at Skinner as he said, "Y'know, I'm getting a bad feeling about this."

"Don't you think it's a little late for that?" Skinner replied dryly, watching the numbers.

"Seriously, Walter-this plan, it's-I don't-you're going to be a sitting duck up there." Something in Mulder's voice wavered a little. "I should be the bait."

"No." Skinner's tone was as firm and as final as Mulder had ever heard it.  "Something's going on between you and that alien; I don't know what it is, but I don’t like it, and this is the only way."

Suddenly he grinned crookedly. "Besides, it's about time I got to be the pretty one while you push from behind."

No laugh. Just a sad smile, and a hand taking hold of his. Still not looking at each other.

"What if this is a set-up? This Agent Craine, or Krycek-"

"If either of them has done anything to hurt you, their lives aren't worth a pile of shit."

Mulder shuddered at the cold raw fury in Skinner's voice.

Just before the final level, Skinner jerked his hand away from Mulder's and slammed the emergency stop button.

Mulder was in his arms a fraction of a second later, and their mouths came together desperately in a frightened sloppy kiss, their hands running frantically over one another.

Skinner pushed Mulder back against the elevator wall, kissing him hard, devouring the sweet hot mouth under his and tasting all his own fear and uncertainty returned.

Mulder groaned against Skinner's lips and wrapped his arms around his lover's wide shoulders, wishing briefly but fervently that he'd never heard of the X-Files, Billy Miles, little grey men or even Dana Scully. He gave all his focus to the big man kissing him, and felt it come back from Skinner tenfold.

At some unspoken signal, they broke apart, both breathing hard, both with tears barely held in check. Skinner set the elevator back in motion, and Mulder took his hand again.

The elevator shuddered to a halt.

"Be careful out there, Walter. I love you."

The doors slowly slid open.

"I'll be fine, Fox. I've got you to watch my back." Skinner let go of Mulder's hand and took a step forward, then turned to give his lover a small smile, barely a tic at the corner of his kiss-swollen mouth, but Mulder recognized it. "And I love you too."

They went their separate ways.