Hi all! First off, I'd like to thank everyone for following and reviewing! I do hope to get some more substantial reviews this time, because most of them said 'please update' lol! Anyway, here is chapter 2, I hope you enjoy!

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Mulder shook his head and rubbed his hands over his eyes, trying to force those horrible images from his mind. A small hitch in Scully's breathing made him look up, and when he saw that her eyes were open, he jumped up from the chair.

"Hey sleepy-head," he said softly, "how are you feeling?". Scully swallowed and looked around. "What happened?", she asked, confused about her surroundings. "Well, it seems your neighbour, Matt, was a jealous psycho", Mulder explained matter-of-factly. Scully raised her eyebrows. "What?".

"They've searched his apartment, he had a wall full of pictures and drawings of you". Scully looked away, a sick feeling burrowing up in her throat.

"You warned me he had a crush", she said bravely, trying to make light of the situation. Mulder smiled. He came closer and brushed her hair out of her face gently. "Yeah…." He said. Just then, the doctor came in. Mulder winked at her and left the room to give her some privacy.

The doctor filled Scully in on her condition. The bullet had entered her shoulder, so she had been very lucky. She could go home, but she might need someone to help her out the first couple of days, as her right arm would be quite immobile. Scully nodded and thanked the doctor.

Half an hour later, Scully exited her room, dressed in her jeans and her bloody sweater, her right arm wrapped in a sling. She found Mulder waiting for her, head down. He jumped when she approached and stood up. "Ready?", he asked. Scully nodded.

"So um, Scully…" Mulder started. "I was thinking that you should stay with me for a couple of days."

Scully smiled. "That's really sweet Mulder, but I can take care of myself". "Even with one arm?" he asked, sarcastically. He sighed. "Look Scully, you're injured, we've got the week off-work, will you just let me help you out?"

Scully stopped, the smile fading from her lips. "We've got the week off?", she asked. Mulder nodded, "Skinner's orders", he said.

Scully started walking again. "Well okay but you don't have to help me Mulder, really", she said again. They had reached their car. Mulder forcefully opened the door, threw his jacket on the back seat and slammed the door shut again. Scully jumped at his sudden violent behaviour.

"I KNOW you can take care of yourself, Scully", he said, "I know you're fine and I know you don't need me, for anything," he continued, venom creeping into his voice, "but for once, will you just let me take care of you?" he ended passionately. Scully was dumbfounded. She wasn't sure where this reaction was coming from. Mulder could see the hesitation in her eyes and added softly: "I nearly lost you, Scully". Tenderness won out and Scully stepped close to her partner, trying to hug him with one arm. He surprised her when he grabbed hold of her petite body, wrapping her securely in his arms. She could feel his warmth and his breath against her neck made her shiver. He shifted slightly, and the whispered "Please?" in her ear would have made her say yes to anything right then. She stepped back and nodded, slightly embarrassed at her reaction.

"Can we pass by my apartment to get some clothes?", she asked timidly, a blush still visible on her cheeks. "Of course", Mulder said, and opened the door for her.

They had picked up some of Scully's clothes and toiletries, and headed back to Mulder's apartment. He had carried her bag, and she had let him, which Mulder considered a good sign. As it was nearly dinner time, Mulder suggested that she take a shower while he prepared them some food.

Scully stood under the hot spray of water, enjoying the feeling on her strained muscles. Her shoulder felt a bit sore, but a few painkillers would fix that. She washed her hair and her body, avoiding the use of her right arm. When she got out, she had to admit that Mulder had been right. Doing things with one arm was going to be difficult. She could dry herself off just fine, but how was she going to get into clothes? The nurse had helped her get dressed at the hospital, and taking her shirt off had been relatively easy.

Wrapped in the towel, she suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to bring any pajama's to Mulder's apartment. Tightening the towel around her body, she stepped out of the bathroom in the hopes of stealing something of Mulder's to wear.

She was drawn to the delicious smell in the kitchen, where her partner stood stirring what seemed like spaghetti sauce.

"Mulder?", she started quietly, Mulder looked up from his cooking, and noticed his partner standing in his kitchen, wearing nothing but the small towel he had given her. He did a double-take as his hand betrayed him and did some sort of spastic gestured that made the spoon drop to the flour. The sound startled him and tore his gaze away from Scully's scantily-clad body.

"I was just wondering if you have a shirt I could sleep in?", she continued, mystified by Mulder's sudden clumsy behavior. He straightened, trying to act naturally and hoping that he wasn't blushing like a schoolboy. "Yeah, of course Scully, hold on", he said. He went over to his wardrobe and chose a long navy blue Yale-shirt. "This okay?" he asked. "Sure, thanks", Scully smiled. She stayed still, the T-shirt in her hand. "Something else?", Mulder asked. Scully hesitated. This was going to be embarrassing. "Well," she said, "I can't really put it on with one arm…"

Mulder swallowed. He wasn't sure what she was asking of him. "Do you want me to help you get dressed?", he asked. "Yeah", Scully said quietly.

Sensing her discomfort, Mulder approached her. "It's okay Scully, of course I'll help." He took the shirt out of her hands and bunched it up. He was about to pull it over her head, when he realized that the towel would be in the way. "Um, Scully? You're gonna have to lose the towel". Scully looked at him, panic shining in her eyes. "Turn around", Mulder suggested, "I won't look, I promise". Scully swallowed and nodded. She turned her back to her partner and slowly undid the towel. She lowered her head as it fell to the ground, feeling the redness in her cheeks. Mulder pulled the shirt over her head, gently pulling her immobilized arm through the sleeve. "All done", he said quietly.

He noticed she was still feeling uncomfortable, so he stepped back and said: "Why don't you take a seat on the couch, Scully? Dinner is nearly done."

Scully nodded, grabbed her sling and walked over to the couch, noticing the candles Mulder had put on the coffee table. She suddenly felt nervous, butterflies were fluttering in her belly. The whole setting was almost romantic, the smell of a homemade dinner in the kitchen, the dim lights, the candles… She dismissed the thoughts immediately, the idea of Mulder trying to seduce her with a romantic setting was ridiculous.

"Why don't you pick something to watch?" she heard him yell from the kitchen. Scully turned on the TV and flipped through the channels, settling on a romantic comedy that was playing. She leaned back into the cushions, her legs folded underneath her, when a plate of steaming spaghetti appeared. Mulder stood proudly in front of her, and she accepted the plate with a grateful smile. "What are we watching?", he asked her. "It's called 'The Proposal', it's a comedy", she said.

The pair settled in the couch, steadily working away the pasta. Scully was pleasantly surprised at Mulder's cooking skills. About an hour into the movie, she realized that she had forgotten to take another painkiller after the shower, and could feel her arm starting to hurt. Her current position on the couch was getting uncomfortable, and she winced when trying to sit up. Mulder noticed her discomfort immediately, and looked over worriedly. "You okay?", he asked. "Yeah, I just think I need another painkiller", she admitted. Mulder got up and got her the medicine she needed along with a glass of water.

When the movie was over, Scully had snuggled into the couch, and was now sleeping soundly. Mulder decided that she couldn't sleep like that, and picked her up to carry her to his bedroom. Luckily, he had changed the sheets, so he tucked his partner into his freshly made bed. She looked very peaceful asleep, and Mulder noticed how tiny she was. She hardly took up any space in his double bed. Of course, he knew Scully wasn't very tall, but usually she more than made up for her height. She was a strong, capable and stubborn woman. 'And beautiful', he couldn't help but think, when he pulled the covers over her legs. He sighed, he shouldn't be thinking like this. Scully was his partner, and he was lucky to even call her his friend. The last thing he wanted to do was risk that friendship, no matter how he really felt about her.

That's it for chapter 2! Please leave a review and you'll get a new chapter next Sunday!