Dr McKenzie's office
Friday, 30th December


The rest of the week had passed quickly with no arguments to spoil the holiday spirit since Bill was not there. Scully hadn't been feeling very well though ever since she had fainted on Tuesday and Mulder and Maggie were both growing concerned about her health. She had been very tired and feeling weak and dizzy quite a lot of the time, so much so that Mulder had had to carry her to the bed one night after they had gotten out of the bath. Not wanting them to worry any more about her, Scully had reluctantly agreed to go and see her mother's doctor and she had made an appointment.

Sitting in the waiting room, Scully's mind wandered away from her health and to what Mulder was doing at that precise moment. He had offered to come with her to the doctors but she had insisted that he didn't need to and had refused to let him come. He had been slightly put out at first and then his face had brightened as if he had remembered a secret. He had agreed to let her come on her own but he wanted to drive her in as he had something he wanted to do anyway. Glad that he had backed down she had gratefully accepted but now she was getting more and more curious as to what he was doing.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of her name being called and looked up to find that the practise nurse was standing in the doorway. Seeing that she was beckoning for her to go with her to the doctor's room, Scully stood up and followed her in. Her legs felt shaky beneath her and she knew that it was not only due to whatever illness she was suffering from; she was scared of what the doctor was going to tell her.

She described her symptoms to Dr McKenzie and gave her a brief rundown of her recent medical history. When the doctor heard that she had just been through a battle with cancer, she sat up straighter and took a lot more notice of the details Scully was giving her. She had initially thought that she would be dealing with nothing more than a simple virus or something similar but she knew now that it could be a lot more serious than that.

Scully watched for a while as Dr McKenzie carried out all the normal tests and then ordered a few extra lab-tests but she soon grew bored of the whole procedure. As one who had had far too many medical tests carried out on them, she knew of the fear that would begin to bubble up if she allowed herself to think of all the possibilities. Her mind drifted back to Mulder and what he was up to, hoping that whatever it was she would find out about it soon. She smiled as she remembered his last few surprises - his Christmas gifts to her - and her smile grew even bigger as her thoughts turned to their very first date and the events immediately after it. So caught up in her memories again, the doctor had to say her name three times before she got her attention.

She apologise for her inattentiveness but the doctor shook it off and told her not to worry about it. She then gave her the results of the tests she had performed and revealed the reason behind her symptoms. Scully looked at her with open mouth and a tear trickled from her eye as Dr McKenzie repeated the news.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive Dana...it couldn't be anything else."

"Oh my God."

"Is there anyone you'd like me to call Dana...I realise that this is a bit..."

"No...No, it's all right. I'll do it...I need to do it."

"Of course."

"Can I go then?"

"Sure...you'll need to make a follow-up appointment though."

Scully nodded in agreement and exited the examination room, hurrying through to the admittance desk. After making an appointment she crossed the waiting room on even shakier legs than when she went in. Walking out of the revolving doors, she took out her cell phone and immediately pressed speed dial one. As she waited for Mulder to pick up, she thought about how she was going to tell him what the doctor had just told her. She'd barely had time to process the implications of the news let alone figure out a way to tell him before the ringing in her ear stopped and his familiar voice came on the line.

"Mulder."

"Mulder, it's me."

"Hey Scully, where are you?"

"I'm still at the doctor's office...well in fact I've just left, I'm standing outside it at the moment."

"Everything's okay right? ...Right? ...Scully?"

"It's fine Mulder. Can you come and get me?"

"I thought you were going to get a cab back Scully, I'm kinda busy at the moment."

"Please Mulder..."

"Scully...what's wrong?"

"Can you just come and pick me up...I need to see you."

"I'll be there in five minutes Scully. Hang on."

"Thanks."

Scully hung up the phone and put it back in her pocket. Her mind was still concentrating on what the doctor had told her and she blinked back tears as she sat down on a nearby bench. She bit her lip and stared off into space whilst she waited anxiously for Mulder to arrive, knowing that she needed him there. Pulling her jacket more tightly around her, she wished that it was his arms embracing her that was keeping her warm but she knew that he would be there soon enough.