CHAPTER TWO
She licked her lips nervously as the door swung open a little. She held the tissue to her nose, it was still damp with some blood, most of it she had flushed away. She kept her eyes low, away from a Mulder's soul bearing hazel eyes, as she just couldn't look at him right now or she would be in floods of tears..
"Scu- Scully.." he gasped.
Just as she expected, he was shocked to see her in such a state.
It upset her, she didn't want it either.
"I didn't want you to see me like this.." She muffled into the tissue, her blue eyes wet with tears.
"Jesus Scully, come here.." He beckoned, pushing the door open further gently then extending his arms wide open now to embrace her, and before she could stop it from happening, he had wrapped his arms around her tightly, hugging her face into his shirt.
She closed her eyes and bit back the tears which she so wanted to cry, but she didn't want him to pity her.
Such was her personality. Very closed, very insular.
Mulder saw her emotions sometimes, when she let him, he was the only other person in the world apart from her own Mother who she would let see her insecurities.
"Scully.." he gasped again, his chest rising and falling anxiously against her cheek. She kept her eyes shut and her tissue pressed right up to her nose. "You wanna sit down? Come on, let's sit down, may be you wanna go to bed? How about some tea, hmm?"
His voice was so soothing, so caring, she was struggling not to burst into tears against him.
"No.. I'm ok.." She whispered, knowing that yes, she should really go to bed, and yes, god, she would love some hot tea.
"Ok.." He sighed, clearly not believing her but letting her have this one, "I'll just stand here as hold you then, so you don't topple over.."
She heard the slight jokiness in his voice, which she was used to in these situations, he just couldn't help it. "But.." He continued after a few moments, serious again now, "I really think you should sit down." He reasoned softly.
She froze for a second as she felt her walls coming down, one by one. Her strong inner self was screaming, don't tell me what you think I should do.. I can take care of myself.. but her heart was melting inside at the tone of his voice, his sweet words, the way he was holding her.
She felt a little shaky, a little dizzy, nauseous.
She knew that he was right, she should sit down, in fact she should be in bed...
"I erm…" she started nervously, raising her head up to his slightly.
Mulder looked down at her, his face full of heavy concern.
"Yeah?" He asked softly, then reached to tuck a loose piece of red hair behind her ear.
Scully shivered a little at his touch, he was always doing that, when they were close. She loved it, she did, but it took her off guard every time...
"I think may be… I should go to bed."
He nodded slowly, worried but relieved she was finally resting. He was almost fainting with worry as he knew that she should be off her feet.
Keeping his strong arm around her shoulder, he moved with her to her bedroom then kind of slid away from her slightly awkwardly, as he didn't want to intrude too much..
"It's ok Mulder, you can go home now." She said softly, moving to her dresser to get out her favourite pyjamas.
"I'll um, give you a minute to get changed." He ignored her, as he already told her he wasn't going to leave. "You want some tea? Water? Anything?"
She sighed and held her pyjamas in her hands, then turned to him and gave him a slight look, to which he turned away quickly and left the room.
Scully got undressed slowly, her body was aching with tiredness, pain as well, pain that she couldn't pin point to one area of her body, it was just a dull pain, which took her by surprise every now and then. The headaches were the worst, and the nausea.
That was hell.
She looked to the door as she pulled off her cream blouse and bra and replaced it with her pyjama top. It was quite cold today so she was grateful to put it on, it was blue, cosy and warm, same as her pants. She pulled them on after taking off her trouser suit and finally slipping her feet out of her heels.
She loved wearing heels, she never found it difficult to wear them, but being sick had changed that. She was now struggling in them towards the end of the working day, she felt as if her strength was diminishing more and more each day and it scared her...
Keeping her eyes on the door she thought of Mulder, he wasn't going to go home, or back to the office, she knew it.
No matter what.
She sighed again and finally was dressed for bed, so she pulled the covers over her and got comfy in her own bed, what a relief that was.
But it was only 2.49 in the afternoon..
"Scully?"
She heard his voice from outside her door, she had nearly been dosing off, but she opened her eyes slowly.
"Yeah?" She said softly.
"Can I come in?"
She stared at the digital alarm clock, which now read 3.15pm. She licked her lips nervously again, unsure, but she guessed she could use the company..
"Erm… ok.."
The door swung open immediately behind her.
She turned over in the bed to see him carrying two cups of hot tea, she imagined, and smiling a little sheepishly.
"I'm sorry, I know you didn't answer me about the tea, but I really think you should have some.."
She couldn't help but blush and smile a little, pushing herself up from the bed slightly and frowning in slight exhaustion as she rested against the pillows. Mulder saw this of course, and hurried towards her, sitting on the bed by her side – not thinking at all if he was invading her space or not, as this is what he did.
He looked after her.
End of.
"Don't, don't do that, let me help you.."
She looked up at him as he placed the cups on her nightstand and was already moving to help her, his arm around her shoulders as he pulled her towards him and into his chest, supporting her weight as he fluffed up the pillows behind her.
All very understandable of course, in the circumstances, not unlike a nurse would do for a patient in hospital..
But Scully gasped and closed her eyes as he pulled her close, she could smell his scent and a faint whiff of his shower gel, she assumed, or his shampoo. Mulder wasn't one to wear a lot of aftershave, occasionally she would be surprised to smell it on him, and it would make her a little weak in the knees, but also her cheeks would flare, wondering if he had met a girl last night!?
But no, she liked his usual scent the best, it was familiar, comforting, calming..
"There you go.." He was saying softly as he laid her back down gently, then gave her a small smile.
She just stared up at him, her Mulder, her best friend in the whole world. She was a little speechless, she couldn't believe he was still here, looking after her..
Didn't he have better things to do?
"What's wrong?" He asked, searching her eyes, a small, amused smile on his lips.
She was silent, her heart racing.
Without thinking, she looked down at his hand which was near her side and took it in hers, lacing her fingers through his.
"I'm just…." She gushed, "..amazed you're still here.."
Mulder frowned but kept his little smile, squeezing her fingers in his.
"Where else would I be?"
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