The Placebo Effect
by Trycee
Timeline: Season 7, -(6 weeks RIGHT)- Before All Things
Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Files, it's owned by Chris Carter.
***Some sexual references.
***The Peacock Family is from the X-Files episode HOME, 4th season.
Mulder lay in the hospital bed, staring up at the ceiling. He was shaking internally as fear cascaded over his body but he couldn't let her see that or anyone for that matter. His right arm was in a sling while this other hand had been bandaged. They were investigating a case involving stolen black market viruses and diseases. They'd gone to a building in Downtown Washington, D.C. where Mulder's unknown source had instructed them to go and he'd been cornered, beaten and injected with an unknown substance. Mulder had been searching one of the hallways of the building with Scully covering an alternate hall when he was seized by two men, pulled into a back room where they beat him and injected him with a needle. He had screamed out and when Scully found him she noted that they had taken the injection with them, leaving her and the other doctors to guess as to what Mulder had been injected with. He could see the television screen but his mind was racing. They're been everything from vials of the AIDS virus to Ebola virus recovered there by the CDC and he was worried that maybe this time, his luck had run out.
Scully opened the door of his private isolation room. She wore a mask and gloves as she approached him with a clipboard in hand. She walked over to him and then removed her gloves and mask. "Mulder...We ruled out any of the communicable diseases...except..."
"Which leaves?", he said, trying to steady his voice.
"Sexually transmitted diseases," she said slowly.
Mulder's eyes widen and his head fell back hard against the pillow. "What did they inject me with, Scully?"
"From what we can tell...well we don't know...According to the records they kept, there was 50 vials of the AIDS virus they'd stolen and all 50 were accountable. We've yet to determine the number of vials for the other diseases."
Mulder closed his eyes as a tear fell down the side of his cheek. Scully reached out and wiped his tear. "Mulder...it may have been nothing...a placebo..."
"Or it could be more, Scully...so much more..."
"Don't think that," she said, softly, running her hand through the top of his head. "It may be nothing...Mulder..."
She trailed her fingers down the side of his face and Mulder grabbed her hand and placed it near his heart. "You're just as scared as I am, Scully...I know you are and I know what you're thinking..."
Scully looked down to his arm and then lifted her eyes back up to him. She stood there a moment, staring him deep into his eyes. They were telling her that he knew she was afraid that they could never be intimate...and that this was now threatening that prospect. She broke his gaze and slowly removed her hand, placing it back on the chart. "Mulder," she whispered. "I know from your past blood test that you're clean...But as your doctor and because of this situation, I now have to have a base line ...I have to ask you some personal, intimate details..."
Mulder stared into her deep blue eyes and could see the fear in them. "Is the door closed Scully?"
"Yes," she said with a dry mouth. "I'm sorry to have to ask you this...", she said, darting her eyes away from him.
Mulder raised his elbow and nudged it near her fingers. "We need to talk about this...you and me."
"For your history...for the testing," she said, quickly.
"No," he said, shaking his head. "Scully...could we stop pretending there's nothing between us for one second? We could stop pretending that we don't love each other? Please..."
A tear trailed down her cheek. "Okay," she whispered. "Mulder...", she began. "How long has it been since you've had sex?"
Mulder looked hard into her eyes. "6 ½ yrs."
Scully could feel a wave of both relief and jealousy course through her body. Her face reddened and her mouth twisted up. "6 ½ yrs?"
"Yes," he said, looking embarrassed.
She caught his eye and then looked back down to the form as she scribbled in his answer. "Do you remember the name of the person you were last intimate with..."
Mulder sighed and shook his head. "This is hard for me to explain this to you..."
"Oh god," she said as her body seized up. "Who, Mulder? Diana...Phoebe? Who?", she said, desperately. She felt as if he had just confessed to cheating on her and she wasn't sure why.
"I need to explain it to you, Scully...I know this is for a form...but this is about you and me...", he said, looking her dead in the eye.
"How?", she gulped.
"I was attracted to you from the moment I met you," he said, grinning shyly. "You challenged me...intrigued me...you didn't back down from me...plus you were gorgeous...", he admitted.
Scully looked astounded. "You did...you thought I was gorgeous?", she said loudly.
"Yes...I did...I still think you're gorgeous. You couldn't tell?", he said surprised.
She cast a quick look to the front door as if she were afraid Skinner might walk in any moment. "Actually...I could, Mulder...", she said, focusing back on his beautifully handsome face. "You were a little obvious..."
Mulder laughed out-loud. "Yeah, I guess I was...but...when they split us apart...I felt like I was losing you...and then when Duane Berry took you," his voice cracked. "I wore your necklace...I felt lost without you...I couldn't work hardly...I was useless at work...nothing mattered any more...", he said, as she placed her hand on his shoulder, gently squeezing it.
"Scully...Your mother knew I was in love with you...", he announced. Her eyes grew wide as she stared him in the face.
"My mother knew?"
"Yeah and your sister...They knew from how I was acting...not as a partner...or a friend...but like...like..."
"A lover?", she said incredulously.
Mulder smiled shyly. "Yes...and so after awhile I had to keep on with my cases but I was just working almost mechanically...it meant nothing...not even the X-Files meant anything to me, Scully. I just needed you back..."
She bent down and planted a soft kiss on his cheek and then ran her finger back through his hair. He swallowed hard. "Scully there was this girl..."
Scully's hands stilled against his hair line. "Yeah?", she said questioning.
"A vampire girl..."
Scully's mind searched the various files throughout the years. "Killed herself?"
"Yeah," he said, as his eyes fell down. "She knew I was in pain because you were gone," he whispered. "She knew I was missing you...She kissed me and things got a little heated..."
Scully could feel the rush of jealousy increase. "Yeah?", she said softly, unsure of her feelings.
"I couldn't go through with it," he sighed. "But she did do something else," he said, lifting his eyes toward hers.
"Something else," she whispered. "OH!", she said out-loud.
"I felt like I was cheating on you...and we weren't even...we were partners...but...", he said, searching her eyes. "I haven't been with anyone since...", he said, observing her.
Scully's eyes lit up and she cleared her voice, writing in her notes. "And before then?"
"1 yr before that..."
She looked up surprised. "1 yr prior to that, really?", she said shocked. "Mulder that's a long...long time...7 ½ yrs since you..."
"Hence the porno collection, Scully," he chuckled. "I was too wrapped up in finding Samantha," he said seriously. "I got burned by Diana and Phoebe and countless women like them...I was waiting for the one," he sighed. "And when I found her it took several years for me to sit here now...maybe dying," he joked. "Finally telling her I love her..."
Scully's eyes teared up and she buried her head next to his heart. "I love you too Mulder...", she whispered.
"What about you?"
Scully lifted her head off his chest abruptly. "Mulder this is your..."
"Scully, Please just tell me...", he said, pleadingly. "For us..."
"Okay," she nodded. "It's been...", she sighed. "7 yrs..."
Mulder's sat up slowly. "What about..."
"Ed Jerse?", she smiled. "Mulder...I couldn't...He kissed me...it was bad...really bad," she laughed. "He had just gotten a divorce and I was in love with my partner," she sighed, looking into his eyes. She ran her finger near his mouth but removed her hand quickly. "I borrowed his shirt to sleep in and he slept on the couch and I slept in his bed...alone", she admitted.
"Why didn't you tell me..."
Her head dropped down. "I thought you'd get jealous...I thought if you realized other men thought I was attractive...you'd care about me..."
"Oh god, Scully...How could you not know I was in love with you?"
She looked back into his penetrating eyes. "I was going through so much then, Mulder...you were acting like an asshole,"
He looked hurt but she touched his cheek with her hand. "I had figured out that something was wrong with me and I was scared that I had cancer and wouldn't get to live my life...I wanted to rebel against you and everything else...", she said quietly. "I have to admit that I was tempted to sleep with him, Mulder..."
She refused to look him in the eye. "I guess it was to show you other men do find me attractive. You made it sound like I couldn't get a date."
"Scully, you are the most gorgeous woman I've ever known or seen...You don't think I have to literally beat men off of you on a daily basis? It's tiring...I give them my look to let them know you're taken...that you belong to me..."
A tear fell down her cheek. "I didn't know that...I thought you were attracted to everyone but...me...", she said, looking down to his chest. Her eyes rested on the small patch of hair that could be seen through his hospital gown. "I was scared that you just wanted to be friends...Let me correct myself, I knew you were attracted to me but I thought I wasn't your type and that you just wanted us to be friends."
"I thought you wanted to just be friends," he gasped. "Scully...I've...I've tried so many times to tell you I loved you..."
"I know," she said, shaking her head. "How stupid were we, huh?"
"Very stupid," he smiled. "When did you know...that you cared about me, Scully?"
"Mulder...the day I met you...you turned around and I thought, Whoa!", she said, seriously.
A wide grin spread across Mulder's face. "You're just saying that because I said that about you..."
"Mulder! You should know I wouldn't lie to you," she said, reaching out to run her finger's through his chest hair. "I noticed immediately how you invaded my personal space...but you smelled so good and looked so good I couldn't help it," she smiled devilishly.
"Really?"
"Yeah," she said, tracing his neckline with her fingers. "Then I remember the date I did go on...My friend Ellen told me to think about dating you..."
Mulder's eyebrows arched.
"But I told her no...", she said, looking up to him. "I didn't want to mix business with pleasure...", she said, timidly. "I went out with that boring dad..."
"Yeah, I remember," he said, rolling his eyes.
"You called and interrupted my dinner..."
"On purpose," he laughed.
She slapped his face playfully. "I was glad you did because he was boring me to tears...I was spoiled by then...by the one person that stimulated me intellectually."
"Scully...you're turning me on which isn't a good thing since I'm in an isolation room..."
She smiled widely. "I remembered how cute you acted about my date...You were WAY too personal...and when he called for a second boring date, you answered and when you realized who it was you didn't say anything...you just kind of handed me the phone and walked off."
"I did not," he smiled.
"Oh you did," she giggled. "And when I came to join you as you requisitioned us a car, you asked another personal question of whether I was going out with him again...and I knew I wasn't because I wanted it to be with you..."
"You got jealous whenever women came around me," he said, winking.
"Mulder," she blushed. "They were stepping on my territory," she said firmly, gazing into his eyes.
"You are absolutely turning me on Scully," he announced. "Too bad I probably have an incurable disease now..."
Just then a nurse walked into the room, eying the two of them suspiciously. Scully's hands were still resting on Mulder's chest and he had a slight rise in between his legs. Scully quickly snatched a pillow and placed it between Mulder's legs and then looked back to the nurse, daring her to say something.
"Dr. Scully...here's you're test results," she said, eying them both before turning to close the door behind her.
Scully searched through each result. "Mulder...looks like you were given a placebo...All your test results are coming back clean. They found the needle near the woods of the building we were in...It was H2O, filtered not tap," she smiled.
She could see the relief in Mulder's face. He threw his head back against the pillow. "So can I get out of here now, doc?"
"Mulder...you still have a fractured arm, and two broken fingers," she said, touching his hand. He winced.
"Scully, you're my doctor...Doctor me," he said, leeringly.
"Mulder," she said, shyly trying to hide her smile. "Let me finish telling you what I have to say..."
"C'mere," he said, in a low sexy tone. "Come over here Scully..."
"They found a print on the needle but they haven't been able to determine who the perpetrator was even through the FBI's database..."
Mulder motioned with his head for her to come closer.
"Mulder," she whispered as she stepped closer to him.
"Scully...kiss me..."
"No, Mulder," she smiled as she shook her head.
"Why not?", he said, winking. "Scully we confessed our love for each other. I'm free from diseases...let's make this mattress bounce!"
Scully's eyes grew wide and her face turned a bright red that even enveloped her ears. "Mulder!", she said with a giggle.
"Will you please, kiss me...", he whined.
"Okay...but not a real kiss..."
"What?"
"I want our first kiss to be when you have two functioning hands," she snickered.
"Hmmmmm," Mulder nodded. "Okay...but this isn't our first kiss, Scully."
"No, I mean our first REAL kiss...with tongue...", she laughed.
"Oh goodness," he said, alarmed. "Scully..."
She reached over and readjusted the pillow. "Okay...no more talk to get you all riled up Mulder...I need you to save that for another 4 to 6 wks..."
"Four to Six weeks, Scully? How do you expect me to wait that long?"
"Mulder...a man who can wait 7 ½ yrs for the right time can wait 4 to 6 wks..."
He was silent a moment. "I want you to know that the moment these arms and fingers heal...I'm attacking you...so fair warning..."
"Okay," she said, bending down to kiss him on the cheek but Mulder quickly turned so that they're lips met.
They kissed for a few moments before the kiss deepened. Scully pulled away and then glanced up nervously to the window. There was a crowd of nurses and doctor's standing outside the isolation room, watching them. She blushed bright red but then nearly fainted when the crowd dispersed and Skinner was standing amongst them. He entered the room and Scully crashed down into the seat next to Mulder's bedside.
"Ah...Agent Scully...", Skinner said in a serious tone. "Agent Mulder..."
"Sir...", Mulder said with a grin on his face.
Scully looked as if she would faint at any moment but she pulled herself together. "Sir?"
"I ah...I came to see how Mulder was doing," he said, shooting a look over to Mulder whose grin had increased. "But, I see he's doing fine..."
Scully's breath caught and she had to force herself to breath again. "Sir?", she managed to say.
"I see he's getting one on one attention from his doctor," Skinner said with a smirk.
Mulder burst out laughing but Scully looked as if she'd melt into the floor. "Anyway...Just stopped by to check on you," he said, eying them both. "Looks like you're sitting behind a desk for the next few weeks, Mulder..."
"Yes sir," he said, wiping the smile off his face.
"I guess you'll be doing double duty then, huh, Agent Scully?"
"How's that sir," she said in a meek voice.
"Oh you'll have to shoulder most of the work-load down in the X-files and nurse him back to health."
"Since when don't I," she said under her breath but Mulder heard her and gave her a look.
She was too busy eying Walter Skinner to notice Mulder. She couldn't tell if he had made another crack about them being caught kissing or if he was serious so she sat there not speaking. Mulder too remained quiet.
"Well...ah...", Walter said, looking uncomfortable. "Let me know how you're doing. I'll give you two a few days before coming back in...Rest up Mulder...actually rest," he said, pointing a finger in Mulder's direction.
Mulder looked over to Scully who was pale faced with quivering red lips. "Yes sir," he nodded.
"Take care," he said, walking towards the door. "Oh...ah..."
"Yes?", the both said.
Skinner smiled. "Nothing...", he said, turning to open the door.
When he was gone they both blew out a sigh of relief. "He knows now...", she said, shaking her head.
"Forget him...we know now," he said, motioning for her to come back to his side.
She did as he wanted and he kissed her lips again. "Scully...I do love you...you know that don't you...deep in my heart...there's no one else for me...ever."
"7 ½ yrs is proof of that, " she giggled.
"Scully...you're gonna tease me for not wanting to shack up with any other bimbo but you..."
Scully cast a sour look his way and he corrected himself. "No...I mean...I didn't...I meant..."
"I know what you meant, Mulder...No, I won't tease you but as soon as those hands and fingers heal...we'll remedy that for good...", she said, kissing his cheek this time. "I've got to go...I'll take you home with me tomorrow."
"To your place," he said in a tone as if her apartment invitation was the equivalent to the Promise Land.
"Yes," she smiled. "You and me...while you heal up..."
"Okay...", he said excitedly.
"Goodnight Mulder..."
"Goodnight Hot pants...", he smirked.
"What is this MASH, Mulder?", she said, shaking her head.
"It was on earlier...Nothing to do but wait for a hot red-headed doctor to come by," he smiled.
"Down boy...Down...", she said, grasping the door knob. "I do love you Mulder."
"I know Scully...and I love you...I want you back here first thing in the morning though...", he said, glancing out the window at the nurses who were still watching their every move. "They don't look too friendly."
She sighed, looking towards the nurses herself. "Okay...Mulder...I'll sign you out...You'll come home with me tonight..."
"That's all I've ever wanted, Scully," he said in a sing-song motion.
She arched her eyebrow and smiled and turned on her heels to sign him out.
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