Taking Care of You

Part 1

by Trycee

Time-Line: Season 7, after the New Year's Kiss but way before All Things.

Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Files, this is written for fun not profit.

An Alternative Universe Story...

Scully was holding it together with a very thin thread. She'd spent three days in the hospital watching over Mulder, never leaving his side for more than a few minutes or by force from Skinner or her mother whom she'd called to bring her a change of clothing. Mulder had been shot in the lungs and his lungs had collapsed, but he'd also coded three times which had sent Scully over the edge. Each close call when it was over and Mulder was stable, she'd excuse herself for a moment and quietly scream out in his bathroom . She'd practically moved into his private hospital room, sleeping inches from his heart with her head laid down on the mattress so she could hear his every breath. It was uncomfortable but she'd grown accustomed to it over the past six years as his partner. It was clear to everyone that she was lost without him. She waited patiently as she always did for him to flutter or make a sound and she would be rewarded with some sly Mulder joke.

After Mulder had finally opened his eyes, Scully could take her own breath but this time was different because this time every time she let her guard down, thinking he was out of the clear, Mulder would mysteriously code again. It was too much for her to take but she would never complain or show any weaknesses but her mother knew better. Maggie made it a point to bring Dana something to eat and would force her to eat it in front of her. They had established a routine in the past, as Scully took care of Mulder, Maggie would be there to take care of her daughter, to make sure she slept, ate, and functioned as much as possible while he lay there. But this time when Mulder awoke, Scully had a glimmer of hope. Mulder's color had returned, she could see his beautiful lips were flush with color, which made Scully feel so much better. "Hi," she said, as she had countless times before.

Mulder looked at her in a way she had never seen before. "Come here...", he said, in a whisper.

Scully stood up and walked over to his bed and leaned down over him. "How are you feeling, Mulder?"

"No," he said, shaking his head.

Scully reached out her hand to touch his cheek but Mulder instead, lifted his blanket. "Come here, Scully..."

Surprised, she stood there a moment, trying to understand what he was saying. "You want me to..."

"Pull down the railing...", he ordered.

She did as he'd asked and then looked again at Mulder as he made room for her in his bed. "Come here...lie down here with me, Scully..."

Scully glanced at the door as if she expected to see the full hospital staff standing there. "Why?"

"Because I need you too...I want you too...", he said, with a look that nearly stole her breath.

"Okay...", she said, taking off her shoes which made her drop instantly in height. She tucked her shoes under the chair and then reluctantly climbed onto Mulder's right side. She sat up looking over him, waiting for him to say something.

"Lay down...next to me..."

She took a deep breath and then slid her body down as Mulder laid his blanket over her. Scully awkwardly tried to avoid touching him but Mulder gather her up with his right hand and squeezed until her head rested on his chest. Scully's breath was caught as Mulder kissed the top of her head. "Now I can go to sleep...", he said.

For what felt like an eternity, Scully lay against him until she finally gave him to the warmth of Mulder's arm and chest and wrapped her arm across his waist. She could smell the tang of his breath, and the familiar smell of Mulder that she'd grown to know more than any other and before she knew it, Scully was fast asleep. Mulder had been listening to her every breath but soon he too fell asleep with the love of his life wrapped in his arms.

Maggie Scully had rushed out from her daughter's apartment where she was staying temporarily as she commuted back and forth from the hospital to Scully's apartment. She would pick up a meal or two on her way trying to be her daughter's comfort when she needed it. Dana had always been emotionally closed off to most but Maggie knew she could never hide her feelings from her and she was grateful for that. Whatever Dana needed to be by Mulder's side, she would provide. As she stepped out of the elevator, she saw a familiar face just a few yards up the hallway. "Mr. Skinner?", Maggie questioned.

Walter Skinner turned on his heels and smiled. "Mrs. Scully, how are you?"

"I'm Fine," she said, with a nod. "Just bringing Dana something to eat... And a change of clothes..."

Skinner nodded. "Most partners...I expect them to continue on with their work...but not with these two...", he said, quietly. "I take exception with them..."

Maggie smiled slightly. She knew what he was saying, that without the other, no work got done. Maggie knew too that her daughter and Mulder loved each other though she wondered when they'd finally say it. They were both stubborn, afraid, she'd reasoned. It wasn't like her to interfere but she prayed that they'd finally realize it and be happy before it was too late. Mulder's three flat-line's had shown her that and she hoped it showed Dana that too.

"Well, I was stopping in to check on him...", he said, holding out his hand to let her go ahead of him into the room.

When Maggie stepped in she stopped in her tracks. Skinner too stepped in and he stood there for a moment surprised at what he was seeing...Mulder asleep with Scully wrapped in his arms, the blanket covering them both. Maggie tried to conceal her smile as she glanced up to Skinner, he nervously looked away. Just then a nurse came in and she too stopped in her tracks but she shrugged her shoulders and continued on with her work, leaving as quietly and as quickly as she'd come. Maggie glanced over to the side table and placed the salad on it and a bag with fresh clothes for Scully in a chair. She glanced at Skinner who had stepped out and she took one last look at the way Mulder was holding her daughter and she smiled. She then closed the door behind her.

"Well...", she began, speaking to Skinner. "I'll stop by in the morning..."

"Ah...yeah...", he said. "I think I'll stop by myself before work..."

"Right...", Maggie said. "Nice seeing you Mr. Skinner," she said, noticing his embarrassment at witnessing such an intimate moment between his top two agents.

"Nice seeing you...", he said, with a wave and quickly walked away.

Maggie turned on her heels, headed back for another night at her daughters, but this time she felt a little happier.

Please Leave Feedback.