Can I Count on You?

Part 3

By Trycee

Time-Line: Season 7. This is an Alternative Universe story. All Things hasn't happened but this is around the same time and feel of that period.

Disclaimer: I do not own the X-files. This is written for fun not profit.

***Mulder is paralyzed and Scully is caring for him. Mulder becomes bitter. Can Scully handle it? Will their love survive?

Scully had cooked a dinner she knew Mulder would like but it sat next to him untouched. Tim had been grateful for the meal that she generously fed him as well but as she removed his plate, she looked over to Mulder and she felt a sense of loss. Mulder was slipping from her and she was sure that if he could, he would let himself waste away but she wouldn't allow it. "Mulder, I'm ordering an IV kit if you don't start eating, I'm gonna have to feed you intravenously."

He didn't respond. "Mulder!", she said, more sternly, holding his uneaten plate in her hand. "Eat!."

"Fuck off, Scully!", he said.

Scully gasped. She could see the shocked expression on Tim's face. She stormed off and dumped the entire plate into the garbage. "What are you trying to do, starve yourself to death?"

She could see that Tim was looking uncomfortable. "If you don't mind...I'd like to take a cigarette break," he said.

"Fine," she said. "We need a minute alone anyway."

Tim glanced at Mulder and then quickly exited Scully's door. She walked back over to stand directly in front of Mulder, her feet planted firmly on the floor, as she crossed her arms in front of her. "That's it, isn't it. You're giving up, aren't you?"

Mulder continued to stare down at his hands. Scully lifted his chin though he was trying to force his chin back down. "Look at me you selfish bastard! What would I do without you, Mulder? How can you just give up on me?"

Mulder pushed her backwards causing her to stumble. "Leave me alone!", he growled. "The next time I won't be so nice about it!"

"Well, you might've given up but I haven't!"

"Whoop-dee-do!", he said, sarcastically.

Scully stared at him for a long time. "Maybe you need an anti-depressant," she said, walking towards the phone. She called in the prescriptions she needed and looked back at Mulder. Her heart ached for him and she knew he was trying to self-destruct but she would do her best to bring him back to her.

When Tim returned, she received the delivery of the prescriptions and she handed one to Mulder. He took it and drank the water to her surprise. She figured that by now Mulder was so dehydrated that he took the pill simply to drink the liquid. The sun went down and it was bedtime and instead of having Mulder moved into the spare room, she had him moved into her bed. She changed the linen and gave Tim permission to sleep in the bed Mulder had originally occupied which she knew violated the rules for his job but she assured him that she would wake him if she needed his help with Mulder. Scully showered and changed into one of her sleep shirts and pants and climbed into bed with him.

She kissed his cheek and laid her body close to his, her leg draped over his. He felt stiff against her, not from the paralysis but from the ridgedness of his upper body as he rejected her the only way he could.

"I love you Mulder," she whispered against him. "I'll always love you. I won't leave you. Please stop trying to leave me."

She could feel his body shake as his silent tears raked his body. She laid against him smelling the familiar scent of his skin and kissing his chest and cheek until sleep overtook her in her exhaustion. Mulder continued to lie awake, listening to her soft gasps in her sleep as he cried deeper wretching cries but no sound escaped his lips.

When the morning came, she woke up and found him asleep with tear streaks dried on his face. She stood up and dressed quickly and knocked on her spare room door, waking Tim.

"Morning!", Tim said, shyly.

"Morning!", she replied. "Can you help me with his daily shower?", she asked.

"Sure. You need me to change him?", Tim asked.

"Yes," she answered.

"Don't worry. I can handle it all," Tim replied.

Scully sighed. "Okay. I guess I'll find something for breakfast."

While Tim was busy his replacement, Bernard had come over. He immediately assisted Tim with helping Mulder into the shower and dressing him. Tim then left and went home and Bernard wheeled Mulder to the table. Scully offered Bernard something to eat but he told her he had already eaten and so she sat down next to Mulder. She placed some coffee and a bagel with cream cheese in front of him. He just stared at it.

"Mulder, please. I need you to..."

The knock on the door interrupted her. Scully stood up and glanced through the eye-hole and found the Lone Gunmen standing there. She yanked open the door.

"We just came to see him." Froehike said, solemnly.

"We weren't sure if he were in the mood for seeing anyone," Byers added.

"He's not," Scully said. "Come on anyway."

All three of them filed past her and walked up to Mulder. "Hey, Mulder," Langley said, cautiously. "We just wanted to show our faces."

Mulder continued to stare down at his plate. The Gunmen looked at eachother and then back to Scully. She gave them a look that told them to 'tread softly' and they got the message loud and clear.

"We just wanted to know you were okay and if you needed anything," Langley rambled.

"Really, If you need anything," Byers said, walking backwards towards the door. "Just give us a ring."

"We may need your help on something," Froehike said, following them towards the door. "Or you may need our help on a case..."

They looked at Scully once more before turning and walking out.

She sat back down at the table and she reached out and covered his hand with hers. "Do you want anything?"

Mulder looked up sharply and yanked her hand off his and pushed the plate off the table. She was grateful it was a plastic plate or it would've broken. She was also grateful it was simply a bagel and nothing more.

She turned just in time to see Mulder swiping at the cup of coffee she'd placed in front of him. Mulder pushed himself back from the table and wheeled himself towards her living room. Bernard who had been watching the entire exchanged was surprised when Mulder retreated near him. Bernard handed him the remote and Mulder flipped the channels until he found a game he could watch. Both men sat there in silence lost in a world of whistles and calls. Scully curled her arms around herself and rocked herself at her kitchen table. She jumped up to start another round of cleaning.

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