TITLE: Christmas Eve 2006, 4:20 p.m.
AUTHOR: Forte
E-MAIL: Bjm1352@aol.com
URL: http://www.thebasementoffice.com/
RATING: PG-13
CATEGORY: VA
SPOILERS: Basically everything through "The Truth"
SUMMARY: "I'm going.  You're not going to stop me."
TIMEFRAME: Post-"The Truth."  Fifth in the "Christmas 4:20" series
("Christmas Day 2001, 4:20 p.m.", "Christmas Eve 2003, 4:20 p.m.",
"Christmas Eve 2004, 4:20 p.m.", and "Christmas Eve 2005, 4:20 p.m.").
It's not absolutely necessary to read the others first but this fic
will make more sense if you do.  You can find them at
http://www.thebasementoffice.com/Xmasseries.html
ARCHIVE: Gossamer and Ephemeral OK; anywhere else
please ask first.
DISCLAIMER: They belong to CC, 1013, and FOX; *definitely* not me.
FEEDBACK: Would make my day!
THANKS: To Musea, for all manner of friendship and support.

****
Christmas Eve 2006, 4:20 p.m.
****

"Are you out of your fucking mind, man?"

Byers' jaw clenched as he wrapped a dark gray scarf around his neck.
"She needs to know."

Frohike planted himself between his friend and the door.  "We have
other ways to get that information to her."

"And she doesn't need to know right away," Langly added, moving to
stand next to Frohike.  "We've got time."

"Any other time there could be more people watching."  Byers' gloved
fingers fumbled as he tried to button up his wool overcoat.  After
three unsuccessful attempts he yanked off the gloves and threw them on
a nearby table, muttering an obscenity.  He glared at the two men in
front of him.  "I'm going.  You're not going to stop me."

Frohike glanced at Langly, who shrugged.

"All right," Frohike sighed, stepping to the side.  Langly moved in
the other direction, giving Byers a clear path to the door.  "Just go,
deliver the message, and come straight back."

"Like we have any other options these days."  Byers kept his eyes
downcast as he strode to the door, stooping to pick up a plastic
shopping bag next to it.  He started unbolting the multiple locks.

"Byers, wait."

Byers turned back to Frohike, jaw set.  "What?"

Frohike scooped up Byers' gloves from the table, walked to the door,
and deposited them in his friend's hands.  "You're going to need
these."

Byers looked down at the gloves then back up at Frohike.  "Yeah."  He
glanced over at Langly.  "Thanks."  He chuffed out a sigh, then
unbolted the door's last lock.  "I should be back within 48 hours."

And then he was gone, the door shut after him, a puff of cold air
replacing him in the room.

Langly punched in a code on a wall panel to reactivate the alarm
system.  "Mulder isn't going to like this."

"No, he's not," Frohike replied.  "And neither is Scully."


END

****

Author's notes: I'm sorry it's short, but this was all I could get
Frohike to tell me.  (Hmm, maybe if I got him drunk...?)

Feedback is better than spiked eggnog: Bjm1352@aol.com

Thanks for reading.  May you and yours have a wonderful holiday
season and a happy, peaceful New Year.