Scully lifted her head to a soft rap on her door and massaged her aching temples. "Come in," she called tiredly.
Mulder let himself in and quietly closed the door behind him. "How're you doing?"
She shrugged.
"You've been crying," he pointed out, worriedly scanning her face and resting on her red eyes.
"Yeah, so what?" She sniffed.
He was at her side in an instant, rubbing her back gently. "Scully, it's okay to let yourself fall apart. Your sister just died, for goodness' sake. It's okay to be sad."
She gave him a watery smile, refusing to meet his eyes. "Thank you for your concern, but I'm fine. Really, Mulder."
"I, uh, I brought you some comfort food. Can I use your stove?"
She nodded gratefully.
"You sit on the couch and rest, this'll only take a few minutes. I'll be right back."
Scully did her best to settle into the couch cushions, but with every movement, she felt herself shattering. She wouldn't hold it together much longer, she knew, and she hoped Mulder would be long gone before she lost it. He'd just lost someone too, she reminded herself. She couldn't just dump all of her emotional baggage on him, when he had plenty of his own.
He popped his head around the doorway. "Soup's ready."
He placed his hand on the small of her back as she got up and he ushered her into the kitchen. They sat down silently.
She laughed half-heartedly when she saw what he'd cooked for her. "Chicken noodle soup, Mulder?"
"Comfort food. I figured we could both use a little comfort. Was I right?"
She smiled, soft but genuine. Then she looked down, ashamed of her happiness.
"I'm sorry about your father, Mulder. I really am. How are you holding up?"
"I'm not sure. I think there was a lot I didn't know about my father, things he was hiding from me and my mother. I think I'd know what to feel if I knew the whole story." He paused. "How was the funeral?"
"It was small. Somber. I met your mother."
He looked up at her, raising his eyebrows.
"She's nice. She seemed to be holding up okay, after everything. I told her I had a feeling you were going to be alright."
"How did you know?"
"I had a dream," she shrugged. "You talked to me and told me you were alright. That's all I needed to know, although I think your mother thinks I'm a little crazy now."
"She's been around me my whole life, Scully. Believe me, you're not the one she thinks is weird."
He cracked a small smile. She watched him for a minute, then said quietly, "I don't think you're weird, Mulder."
"You don't?" He looked incredulous.
"I might have at first, but now...I respect you. You have firm beliefs and you have reasons for those beliefs. You're not crazy. And if you are, so am I."
He took her hand, looking her intently in the eyes. "Then we'll be spooky together."