I don't own the X Files or any of the characters, story made by entertainment purpose.

Chapter 1: Pain

Scully enters the DOD medical room to find Mulder lying with his arms outstretched, a small sheet over his hips and a bandage on his head, she walks towards him and touches his head, then she whispers.

SCULLY: Mulder. Mulder, you've got to wake up. I've got to get you out of here. Mulder, can you understand me?

Mulder's eyelids flicker slightly and Scully begins to cry

SCULLY: Mulder, you've got to get up. I don't know how much time we have. You've got to get up, Mulder. No one can do it but you, Mulder. Mulder, help me. Please, Mulder.

A tear rolls down her cheek and falls on his eyelid, then down his cheek, Mulder opens his eyes and clears his throat. His voice is raw and weak.

MULDER: You... help... me.

He wraps his arms around her as she tenderly supports his neck and head. He remains sit while she looks for something he can wear, she finds a bigger sheet and wrap him up with it, then help him to walk down the hall, he is weaker than she thought but they are not far from the main entrance, they get there and can't see anyone, he is getting heavy in her shoulder but she doesn't stop, they get outside and into the car, she reclines the front seat so that he can lie down and she can watch him while driving, he falls asleep almost immediately, but she has a lot of things in her mind.

She checks his breathing and pulse every couple of minutes, she can't believe how lucky they are to be alive, when they arrive to his apartment she holds his face with her hands again to wake him up, she holds him again and take him inside, he isn't able to walk much so she leave him in the couch and brings a blanket to cover his naked body.

She stays in the chair next to the couch and takes care of him the whole night.

ONE WEEK LATER
Mulder's Apartment Building.

Scully walks down the hall and knocks at Mulder's door. He opens it wearing a half-buttoned shirt with a tie under the collar. His head is still bandaged and he is wearing a New York Yankees ball cap over the gauze. He smiles at her while speaking.

MULDER: Scully, what are you doing here? Actually, I was just getting dressed to come see you but I... I couldn't find a tie to go with my victory cap.

Scully reaches up and takes the cap off of his head.

SCULLY: Mulder, no work. You have to go back to bed.

She starts to pull the tie away, but he grabs it back playfully

MULDER: Oh, wait. Tie goes to the runner.

Mulder chuckles at his joke, and Scully smiles.

MULDER: Scully, I, um... I was coming down... to work to tell you that Albert Hosteen is dead. He died last night in New Mexico. He'd been in a coma for two weeks. There was... no way he could have been in your apartment.

SCULLY: He was there- we... we prayed together. Mulder, I don't believe that. I... I don't believe it. It's impossible.

MULDER: Is it any more impossible than what you saw in Africa or what you saw in me?

SCULLY: I don't know what to believe anymore. Mulder, I was so determined to find a cure to save you that I could deny what it was that I saw and now I don't even know... I don't know... I don't know what the truth is ... I don't know who to listen to. I don't know who to trust.

She starts to crying and looks away from him, then her voice gets weaker while she continues

SCULLY: Diana Fowley was found murdered this morning. I never trusted her... but she helped save your life just as much as I did. She gave me that book. It was her key that led me to you. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry. I know she was your friend.

She puts her arms around his shoulders and they hold each other. He talks still holding her.

MULDER: Scully, I was like you once- I didn't know who to trust. Then I... I chose another path... another life, another fate, where I found my sister. The end of my world was unrecognizable and upside down. There was one thing that remained the same.

He now pulls her away and holds her face while gazing at her

MULDER: You... were my friend, and you told me the truth. Even when the world was falling apart, you were my constant... my touchstone.

SCULLY: And you are mine.

They move their faces close together and Scully kisses him on the forehead, a long and tender kiss. They pull slightly apart, still touching. Scully puts his ball cap back on his head and cups his face in her hands. They look at each other for a while and then she touches his lips gently with her fingers and leaves. Mulder stands in the doorway with eyes closed, he calls her name and she stops before reaching the elevator, they walk toward each other through the hall, he holds her in a hug again and then kiss her gently in the lips.

MULDER: Scully stay with me

She looks at him with a question in her eyes, but he holds her hand and guide her to his apartment, they sit in the couch gazing at each other.

MULDER: Listen Scully, those days I was sick, I saw a future I thought was real, but now I realize that's really not what I want, I don't want a normal life, at least not the way I saw it.

SCULLY: What were you dreaming about Mulder?

MULDER: I… I dreamt about having a family, and living happily ever after but it wasn't with you, you were there but still as my best friend, and... I don't wanna lose that, but I want something else.

She looks at him with a raised eyebrow and her lips trembling.

SCULLY: Then what?

MULDER: I want you Scully… always with me, always like this, I want a life with you.

Tears start falling down her cheeks, he wipe them away with his fingers, he holds her in an embrace and she cries in his chest, he kiss her forehead and caresses her hair.

SCULLY: We want the same then…

She raises her face looking at him but this time, they melt in a long and sweet kiss.