It was about 3 am when he heard a scream from Scully's room…

Mulder sat bolt upright and leapt towards their connecting door so quickly that his feet barely touched the floor...the door was rarely locked so he opened it and flew in.

His heart was racing and his mind whirled with all the worst-case scenarios.

He found Scully collapsed next to her bed crying uncontrollably. He glanced sharply around the room desperate to find the source of her despair and his stomach churned. Stepping closer Mulder dropped to his knees in front of his partner.

"Scully…?" he said quietly.

Finally registering his presence in her room Scully sobbed loudly and threw herself into his arms. Shocked and heartbroken by his partner's anguish Mulder held her tightly and started to rock, "It's okay, Scully…I'm here…I'm here…"

He heard a noise and looked down to see her mobile phone on the floor next to the bed, a small tinny voice echoing out of it. He nervously picked it up with a shaking hand as he held Scully to his chest.

"Hello this is Agent Mulder…" he said awkwardly.

"Oh, Fox thank goodness…I was so worried…I thought maybe I shouldn't have called…but then how could I not call…and I didn't know how long she would be gone…maybe I should have called you first..." Margaret Scully gasped and paused; her own tears obvious and painful to Mulder's ears.

"Mrs Scully…what's happened?" Mulder asked gently holding Scully close and kissing her head as her tears started to quieten.

"It's William…my Billy…he and his wife Tara were in an accident this evening on the way home from the theatre. Fox, they were both killed…we've lost them both…"

Margaret started to sob and Mulder's heart constricted as he glanced down at Scully's head.

No more, he thought sadly, she's been through too much already...

"Mrs Scully are you alright? I mean…that's a stupid question…I meant to ask are you alone? Is someone with you?" Mulder asked with concern.

"Don't you worry about me, Fox… You'll stay with Dana?" Margaret asked with an urgent tone.

Mulder pushed off his heels and lifted Scully with him, he moved to lean against the bed and pulled her tightly back against his chest. "I won't leave her side, Mrs Scully…I promise. I'll stay with her tonight and in the morning I'll book us both on a flight home. We'll be with you by mid-afternoon…" Mulder paused, "…if you don't mind me intruding?"

Margaret sniffed and Mulder could hear the smile in her voice when she replied, "You are a fundamental part of my daughter's life and I think Dana will need you right now...and Fox, you are always welcome."

A tear slid down Mulder's cheek at the love and acceptance in Margaret Scully's voice; even in her grief she still had the strength to open her heart to others.

He kissed Scully's head again…her tears had subsided and she was looking up at him with sad eyes.

"We'll leave first thing in the morning…" Mulder confirmed to Margaret Scully.

"The case…" Scully protested weakly, "...you don't need to leave Mulder. I can…"

Mulder shook his head firmly at Scully but spoke into the phone, "We'll see you tomorrow Mrs Scully and don't worry about Dana…I'm here."

"Thank you Fox…can you pass her the phone?" Margaret asked.

"Mom, I'm sorry…" Scully started to say when Mulder held the phone to her ear.

"Don't you dare apologise Dana. I should have asked you to wake Fox first…or even called him myself," Margaret said sadly. "You stay with Fox now, let him look after you and I'll see you tomorrow. I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you too, Mom, I'll see you tomorrow..." Scully said sadly and the phone went dead.

Scully looked up at Mulder, obviously in no hurry to move out of his embrace, "I'm sorry if you felt pressurised to come with me…to leave the case."

Mulder looked a little shocked and shook his head, "I didn't feel pressurised. I would have worried sick if you'd left without me…first and foremost I need to make sure you are okay."

"But what about the case?" Scully asked.

"I'll call Kersh and tell him we've had a family emergency. Forget the case, Scully…the case doesn't matter," Mulder replied firmly.

They sat quietly for a few minutes and then Mulder gently brushed her arm, "Get up, Scully, we can't sit down here for the rest of the night."

Scully got up and held out her hand to help her partner up. She half expected him to say his goodnights and return to his room and was surprised when Mulder climbed onto the middle of her bed and lay back on her pillows. He held out his hand, "Lie here with me, Scully, I'm not leaving alone tonight."

Scully climbed onto the bed and snuggled into his side, she laid her head on his shoulder and smiled sadly. She felt comfort in his arms, a comfort that she felt might be slightly untimely given her conflicting grief.

"He was a good brother. I know he was unkind to you...and Bill and I had words about that. But he loved me, Mulder…we were very close when we were children." Scully said quietly.

Mulder held her tightly, "You don't need to tell me how much he loved you, Scully, I could see it in his eyes. If he was unkind to me it was only because he felt that my presence in your life put you in danger…and that is probably true."

Scully shook her head; "I am where I choose to be, Mulder, with you. Bill learned to accept that...even if he didn't like it." She was quiet for a minute and then sighed, "Tara was a good friend and good woman…" She paused for a second and then gasped, "Oh God, I didn't even ask about little Matthew!" Scully sobbed and tighten her arms around Mulder's torso. "That poor little boy…to lose both of his parents. Mulder, he's all alone…"

Mulder ran his hand up her back and leaned down to kiss her temple, "He won't be alone, Scully…he'll have his family...he'll have you."

Scully closed her eyes, "Thank you for staying with me, Mulder, I felt so alone when my mom told me…but I never feel alone when I'm with you."

Mulder smiled, "You'll never have to be alone, Scully…you will always have me."

After several minutes Mulder felt Scully relax in his arms and he knew she had fallen asleep. He smiled at her sadly, slipped down the bed and fell into a deep sleep with his partner wrapped tightly in his arms.


At a little after 8 am Scully woke to an empty bed. She heard Mulder's voice, got up and walked towards their open adjoining door.

"Yes both of us…we'll be leaving in a couple of hours," Mulder said firmly.

There was silence as Kersh spoke and then Mulder responded, "If you want this case followed up then you'll have to send some other agents out here..."

Another pause. "How often does Scully take personal time? Or me for that matter?"

More silence and then Mulder sighed, "I'm not suggesting that you are questioning the validity of our request for time off sir. Agent Scully is not just my partner, she's my friend and she comes first."

Another long pause, "You can just send me the bill for the flights..."

After a long silence Mulder seemed to lose his patience, "Agent Scully is the only reason I'm still playing along with this farce. Listen, I will call you in a few days and then we can discuss then when we might be available to return to work, but I need you to understand that Scully is my priority and her needs come first…if she needs me then I won't leave her side until she is ready."

Scully felt tears spring to her eyes at Mulder's obvious concern and devotion; she walked slowly into his room. Mulder was sat on his bed and looked up as she entered, he rolled his eyes and smiled at the phone in his hand before hurrying to wind up the conversation, "Yes sir…we'll be in touch when we know what's happening…yes, I will pass your best wishes on to Agent Scully…goodbye."

"Scully…" Mulder stood up and walked towards her, "How are you?"

"Okay…I'm sorry about last night," Scully said awkwardly.

"Nothing to apologise for, Scully. I'm here for you whenever you need me, I hope you know that." Mulder said softly.

Scully nodded, "I do Mulder…can I ask…?" she paused and looked at him awkwardly.

Mulder looked concerned, "Whatever you need, Scully, if it's within my power it's yours...you can ask me anything."

Scully smiled, "I was wondering if I could have another hug…," she asked with a slight blush.

Mulder laughed, "The woman wants a hug and somehow makes it sound like she's asking for a kidney…" he brought her into his warm embrace and rested his chin on her head, "…I'd give you the kidney too if you wanted it."

Scully laughed gently and relaxed in his arms, "Thank you, Mulder, for coming home with me and for talking to Kersh. I know we were only just starting to make some headway with him, this could cost us..."

"You need me, Scully, so I'm here. Work is important…but nothing is more important to me than you…" he replied firmly. "We're on a flight out of here in a couple of hours. I've already called your mom to check on her and tell her what time to expect us. I hope that's okay…"

"Whatever did I do to deserve you, Mulder?" Scully said gently.

Mulder smiled, "I've often asked myself that very question, Scully…but I promise to try my best to make up for your misfortune."

Scully shook her head; "No matter what misfortune has befallen us having you in my life has been my greatest joy and comfort…I thank God for you every single day, Mulder."

Mulder gasped quietly, "Scully, I…"

Scully pulled back and leaned up to kiss his cheek, "You don't have to say anything, Mulder. I guess losing Bill has put some things into perspective and reminded me how important it is to tell the people I love how much they mean to me…"

Mulder looked slightly stunned and Scully pulled away and walked towards her room, "I'll go change, Mulder, I should be ready to leave in about half an hour."


They pulled up outside Margaret Scully's home at a little after 3 pm and sat silently in the car for a few minutes.

"I could wait here…" Mulder suggested awkwardly.

Scully shook her head, "Mom knows you're bringing me, Mulder. More than that, I want you with me...I'm not sure I'm ready to do this alone yet. That is unless you would rather…"

Mulder reached over and squeezed her hand, "I'm not going anywhere, Scully."

She nodded and looked over at him with a sad smile, "Let's go in then."


When the front door opened Mulder watched Margaret Scully hug her daughter as they exchanged words of love and comfort. His heart broke all over again, both of these ladies had been through too much already…he felt a desperate need to protect them from further harm or heartbreak.

"Mrs Scully…" he said softly as she hugged him tightly, "I don't know what to say."

Margaret pulled back and smiled at Mulder sadly, "There's nothing to say, Fox. Apart from to thank you for looking after my girl."

Mulder shook his head, "No thanks are ever necessary for that, Mrs Scully…I hope you know I would do anything for Dana."

Margaret nodded and tapped his cheek lovingly before turning to smile at her daughter, "We need to talk, Dana…maybe in private…" she looked back at Mulder awkwardly.

"I could go and wait in the…" Mulder pointed at the door.

"No…" Scully said more sharply than she intended. "I mean…unless you want to talk to me in private there is nothing that you could say to me that I wouldn't be happy for Mulder to hear."

Margaret nodded and directed them both through to the sitting room; Mulder and Scully sat side by side on the couch and Margaret sat opposite them.

"I'm not sure how to say this so I'm just going to tell you everything I know and…" Margaret paused to smile at her daughter and then at Mulder, "…you know I think you were right to include Fox in this discussion, Dana, I think what I am about to tell you will affect him almost as much."

"Mom, what are you…?" Scully was getting nervous and Mulder sensed her fear and automatically reached out to take her hand.

Margaret looked at their joined hands and gave a strangely satisfied nod. "Dana, I had a call from the authorities last night. As Matthew is so young they were quick to investigate Bill and Tara's wishes with regard to his care." Margaret paused and looked at Scully, "Dana, your brother and Tara named you as guardian of Matthew…if anything happened to them they wanted you to take care of their child."

Scully gasped and let go of Mulder's hand to cover her mouth, "That can't be right…why on earth would they…?"

"I'm not as young as I used to be, Dana, Charlie isn't…settled, Tara's sister has four children already. I spoke to the lawyer and he told me that you were their first choice - they were aware that Matthew has always felt a special bond with you and they felt that you would be the best person to give him a stable and loving home."

Scully felt sick, Matthew was their life…the centre of their world…Bill and Tara wanted her to take care of him? Did they trust her to look after their baby boy? "Mom, I don't…"

"Bill was very proud of you, Dana. You've always been the brains of this family and he understood your generosity and warm heart better than almost anyone..." Mulder was surprised when Margaret stopped to smile at him.

Scully sat in shocked silence for almost a minute, "So…I'm not sure how this works…what do I…?"

"There will be court procedures and formalities...but you are an FBI agent and Bill and Tara were very clear about their wishes…if you are happy to have Matthew with you the lawyer seems to think the transition will be remarkably smooth." Margaret explained.

"What about work?" Scully asked suddenly looking at Mulder.

"You will have to think about that, Dana. Your schedule is challenging and I'm not sure you can be a full-time caregiver and a field agent," Margaret observed. "You need to think seriously about what you really want."

Scully shook her head, "There's no choice to make…my brother and sister-in-law are dead and my nephew needs a home…they selected me so I can't let them down."

Margaret nodded proudly and reached to take her daughter's hand.

Mulder sat silently reproaching himself. Two good people have died...his best friend is going through a heart-breaking and life-altering upheaval...a little boy has lost his parents…

...and only one selfish thought was echoing around his mind.

I'm losing her.