I don't normally write fluffy cuteness but I would give it a try. I was searching for ideas and this came to mind. Post Milagro!

I own none of the characters or X-Files shows but enjoy letting my imagination do the wandering. ENJOY!


Padgett had done a number on her mentally, she felt violated, unnerved and confused. The only person she ever wanted to know her as deeply as he did was Mulder. Never in her entire life had Scully felt as vulnerable as she did that night in Mulder's apartment. There was something utterly comforting just having him hold her as he did, thinking that she had died, Mulder's heart hit the ground when he saw her covered in blood. Then when her eyes popped open and she was so terrified and hysterical, he couldn't help but be her only comfort.

Hours later upon returning from the hospital, being checked out for excessive blood loss and any open wounds, Scully wanted nothing more than Mulder at her side. The comfort that he had always offered her, especially when she was sick or injured always seemed to make her ten times better.

Lying on the couch with him staring blankly at the TV screen while the movie they had put in was almost at an end, her eyes wandering up to the ceiling where she had fired shots into apparent nothingness. Mulder was dozing; his arm draped around her waist, there was comfort in that, knowing their relationship had taken them this far and there was nothing sexual about it. He would do anything for her and she knew it.

Stirring slightly, mainly needing to stretch her legs, her body hurt from the intrusion that it had apparently suffered. She felt achy, very much like being sick. Mulder's arm tightened around her waist and hip and she was getting slightly uncomfortable at his comfortableness with it. Though deep down she needed his touch and relished his insistence of her staying with him tonight.

"You ok, Scully?" his eyes still closed slightly.

"Yeah, just need to stretch out a bit…" barely whispering.

"You are more than willing to sleep in the bed," he offered, knowing she would be much more comfortable there, being able to roll and stretch when needed.

"Mulder, I couldn't imp—"sighing as he looked at her with pure truth in his eyes, she was never able to say 'no' to his gaze.

"Go ahead, I can snag you a t-shirt and you can make yourself comfy." He wanted nothing more than for her to have a shoulder to cry on if she needed. He wanted to be at her beck and call, taking care of her. She was so small and frail when feeling poorly he wanted to be her rock and for her to be his when needed. Letting loose his grip, she rose and stretched her legs out in front of her. Mulder in a semi sleeping state rose from the couch and made his way to the bathroom first and then rummaging through his laundry found a shirt for Scully that didn't smell too awfully bad. Scully had gotten up and was waiting in the door way to the bedroom as he grabbed the cleaner of his shirts and handed it to her.

"Here ya go…" he was extremely tired and Scully could tell by his slurring of words.

"Thank you," she said, staring into his sleepy eyes, "I really appreciate you letting me stay here." Scully stood up on her tip toes and gave Mulder a kiss on the cheek out of sheer appreciation.

"I just wanted to make sure you were going to be ok, Scully—"he couldn't spill any more tonight. He didn't want to overload her brain with a love confession. Mulder had already gotten his when they were speaking with Padgett in the prison cell, he couldn't believe it when he heard it but when Scully got uncomfortable shortly thereafter, he knew her love was for him. Giving her a loving hug and a little kiss on her head, Mulder set back out to the living room to doze for awhile.

Scully made her way to the bathroom off the side of the bedroom and stared at herself in the mirror a long while. It had been quite an evening, usual testing at the hospital and the look of confusion upon the doctors' faces when they realized she was ok but covered in her own blood. Laughing a little at the thought of it she turned serious again. I know he loves me and I'm sure he knows now that I am in love with him, why can't we seem to move forward? She was confused and tired and knew in the morning she would have a better understanding of her feelings towards the situation. He was so insistent on letting me stay here with him. Giving me his bed out of pure love and tenderness I suppose. Undressing herself, she knew she might feel a little more relaxed after a hot shower. Her neck was still slightly stained with blood as she examined it carefully. Confusing and crazy as the entire case had been, Scully had never been more terrified of dying, that was not a way she ever imagined she'd die. When fighting cancer she had the understanding of why she was dying but she didn't know when, cancer was not a murder or accident; it was a slow, painful and emotionally draining sickness to go through.

Turning on the water and realizing she had not grabbed a fresh towel and figured after the day she had she would settle for the one that smelled of Mulder. She had always loved the smell of him, even after a run, he smelled all of male and she knew it was only a matter of time before she got to smell more of him in different ways. Stepping under the spray of the shower and letting the water run on her naked flesh, soaking up the hot moisture she desperately needed on her abused body. She couldn't wash her hair unless she wanted a smell like a man so she opted for a good rinse and condition instead. Scully knew she didn't have any female toiletries at his house so she would have to settle for dry skin and weird hair in the morning. Letting the water run cold, Scully turned off the shower and reached out for a towel, she hadn't heard the bathroom door open but Mulder was standing there with a fresh towel ready to wrap around her.

"Mulder!" she tried to be a little modest and cover herself up with hands, he turned his gaze away from her and she snagged the towel from him wrapping herself quickly. She knew he had seen her in a semi naked state before but this situation was different, it wasn't life or death or decontamination.

"Sorry Scully, I didn't want you to use that towel…it's –"

"Its fine, I'm sorry you really scared me, I thought you'd be fast asleep." Her heart still pumping, "can I get dressed without you looking?" she was being slightly sarcastic, after all he was being extremely kind opening his home to her.

"Yeah but I do have something for you." Mulder reached into the cabinet in the bathroom and grabbed a bottle of lotion, a bottle of Scully's brand lotion. "I always keep this here, you know just in case. I know how you are with skin care and whatnot so—"he was really going the extra mile here and she didn't know whether to be suspicious or grateful. Looking at him, mainly wanting him to give her some space to get dried off and changed, he took the hint and moseyed his way back to the bedroom closing the bathroom door behind him.

Scully was very touched at his kindness that she didn't know what to think of him anymore. He's probably just worried. Taking a moment to lotion her legs, arms and chest she let it soak up for a moment before throwing on the t-shirt he had given her, it smelled of him and she relished it. It was a calming smell for her, no matter the situation he was her comfort and he had always been.

Emerging from the bathroom, Scully saw Mulder sitting on the bed, looking like he wanted to talk about something.

"What's up, Mulder?" she was starting to feel slightly more worried about him at this point.

"I just want to make sure you are going to be ok. It was quite an ordeal you went through, I—Scully, I just—I just need to know you are going to be ok." He was honest and pure in his intentions. No funny business. They had been partners for 6 years now and really had grown to genuinely care for each other. Smiling purely at his kindness, she couldn't have asked for a better partner, they meshed well, had some connection that no one could every match. There was comfort in knowing she was safe with him no matter the situation.

"I'll be fine, I really just need to sleep…" after the shower deep relaxation took her over and she wanted nothing more than to curl into a ball and sleep until noon the next day. Mulder rose to take his leave to the couch, "…you don't have to leave—I could use the company." Looking into her tired eyes he could tell that she really didn't want him to leave. She shuffled in her stance a little bit not sure how he would react, he was nervous, he'd had thoughts about his partner for a few years now but he never thought it would be under these circumstances. Maybe she just really doesn't want to be alone. Could I blame her? After that creeper, told her more about herself than she knew…

"Just let me go shut off the lights and TV, I'll be back in a minute." Walking out of the bedroom and leaving Scully to make herself comfortable in bed, Mulder almost couldn't contain his excitement. Being able to be with Scully in this way made him feel alive and warm on the inside, knowing he was being her only comfort, made him finally feel needed and wanted.

Walking quietly back to the bedroom, seeing that Scully had already made herself comfortable in a fetal position facing the outside window. He wondered if she was already asleep as she barely moved when he came into the room. Mulder removed his jeans and t-shirt and hoped Scully would be ok with him sleeping in his boxer shorts, he debated for a moment then found his pajama bottoms and replaced boxers with those instead. Slipping into the bed as slowly and smoothly as he could he made himself comfortable and wiggled is way closer to Scully, who as it turned out was already asleep. Inching closer he wrapped his arm around her waist and she instinctively scooted backwards into his open arms. Mulder could smell her lotion and the fresh clean body that was untainted by make-up and oils and perfumes, it was all Scully, her natural smell. God, Scully if I could only tell you how much I love you. Snuggling into her hair and breathing in deep he kissed her head and soon dozed off into a peaceful slumber.