Maggie

Part 3

by Trycee

Time Line: Post IWTB

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

The dim light of the television illuminated the bed as Scully sat listening to the combination of mechanical noises sounding off near her mother's bedside and the low grunts and spews of two men sleeping in the sleeper recliners, stretched out asleep in the early morning, their hotel room long forgotten. She was crying softly against her mother, trying not to wake her brother or Mulder. She felt helpless...none of her medical expertise could help her with her mother. She was not a cardiologist and nothing she could do could bring her out of her coma, she knew this, but it still pained her. Father McCue had visited earlier that day, performing her mother's last rites though the doctors were all hopeful that her coma was a temporary state, there was still the possibility that Margaret Scully would not wake up and that possibility scared Scully the most. His presence had also brought back memories for her of when he'd performed her own last rites when she was fighting her bout of cancer. She hadn't prayed much then but now she prayed desperately asking God to touch her mother's soul and bring her back. Scully knew her mother was somewhere between this life and the next and she knew that if she could only feel their presence, she'd know how desperately they needed her to wake up.

Mulder shifted uncomfortably in the recliner bed, his legs dangled off onto the floor. He awoke and focused in the dark on Scully. She was hunched over her mother. He stood up and touched her shoulder. "Scully!"

Her eyes fixed on him and he could see she'd been crying. "Mulder?," she said, concerned. "You okay?"

"We should go to the hotel, Scully. You've been here all day. You need to rest..."

"No, you go Mulder and take Charles with you. I need to stay here for when she wakes up."

Mulder knew he had to force her to leave or else she'd be glued there for days or weeks, however long it took for Maggie to wake up. "Scully," he said firmly. "Let's go now, we'll be back in a few hours."

He walked over to Charles who was slumped in the recliner chair and carefully tapped his shoulder. "Hey, we're going to the hotel..."

Charles nodded and stood next to Mulder at the door. Mulder waited for Scully. She kissed her mother on the cheek and reluctantly followed them down the hall.

The sun woke her from a fistful sleep. She focused on the hotel clock on the nightstand and reached out and poked Mulder in his side.

"Hunh?', he moaned, turning to look at her.

"Mulder, we need to hurry back..."

"What time is it?", he said, groggily.

"It's nine," she said, sitting up.

"We only got four hours sleep, Scully...", he whined.

"This is my mother we're talking about!", she exclaimed.

Mulder reached over and kissed her forehead. "Sorry...okay, lets get up..."

Scully picked up her cell phone and dialed her brother's number. "Charles...we're heading back...about a half hour. Just walk down and knock on the door when you're ready."

She then dialed her older brother. "Bill?"

"Hey Dana, I just walked into mom's room...my plane was delayed."

"How's she doing?", she said concerned.

"Still in a coma...Are you coming back soon?"

"We will be there soon...within the hour."

She hung up and rushed into the bathroom. Mulder could the shower turn on. He waited his turn and then hopped into the shower as well. He was dressed and ready by the time Charles rapped on the door, handing them both a fresh coffee. "Get much sleep?", he asked, looking at his older sister. He could see dark circles under her eyes barely covered by makeup.

"Not really, you?", she said, buttoning up a clean blouse. She was grateful they still kept clothes in the trunk, a habit from the X-Files they hadn't broken.

He shook his head no. He smiled shyly at Mulder. "You rest up, Mulder?", Charles asked.

"Not much," he said politely. He liked Charles though they had barely spoken but he immediately liked him much more than Bill.

"Bill's at the hospital," she said, gathering her things.

Scully could feel Mulder tense up as he stood close to her.

"Well, let's hurry up and go...", Charles said, walking towards the door.

Mulder held Scully's arm preventing her from following behind her brother. "Honey...Bill...I..."

She smiled warmly and kissed him. "Come on Mulder, drive us back..."

He nodded and they walked out, slamming the hotel door closed.

Charles was the first to walk back into the hospital room. He walked straight over to his older brother and gave him a hearty hug. Bill hugged him tightly. "Hey, little brother," he said solemnly.

He then hugged Scully. "Dana..."

She hugged him and then stepped back. "Bill...It's been awhile..."

"Yeah," he nodded.

Mulder stood in the doorway watching Bill closely, waiting to see his reaction. He could tell that Bill was stalling, chatting with his siblings. Scully noticed it too and stopped speaking and then stood beside Mulder. Finally Bill shook Mulder's hand though neither of them said anything. Bill moved past everyone and sat closest to Maggie, his eyes misting at the sight of his mother lying in the bed unmoving.

Dr. Adams reentered the room along with a small nurse, who checked all of her monitors. They left as quickly as they'd entered, leaving the family to sit in silence waiting. But Scully noticed it first, the fluttering of Maggie's eyes and she screamed down the hall to the nurses station. "She's waking up!"

Maggie's eyes flew open and she tried to adjust her eyes to the blinding light, covering her eyes with her hand. With a hoarse voice she spoke, "Where am I?", she asked to no one in particular.

"Mom," Bill grinned, reaching out to touch her. "Thank God..."

Scully moved over to the other side of the bed. "Mom...you're in the hospital," she said matter of factually. "You have a minor heart attack."

"Dana? Bill?"

"And me mom!", Charles added, coming into her view.

"Oh!", she said, covering her mouth. "Charles!"

Charles began to shake as tears bellowed up from deep inside of him. Bill placed a hand on his shoulders and Maggie reached out and hugged him tightly. "Was I dying?", she asked confused.

Charles gasped as guilt over took him again. "Mom...I'm so sorry I haven't been here in so long..."

"No...No...", she smiled weakly. "I didn't mean anything by it..", she said, touching each of her children. "I'm so surprised to see you all!" She then turned to Scully. "Dana...where's Fox?"

Mulder stood up and came to Scully's side. Maggie held his hand smiling. "Everyone's here..."

Dr. Adams smiled at Maggie as the same accompanying nurse pushed past them all to check her monitors again.

"Mrs. Scully, I'm your doctor, Dr. Adams," she said, shaking Maggie's hand. "Glad you're back in the land of the living..."

"Yes," Maggie said, disoriented. "What caused me to have a minor heart attack?"

"We're not sure but what we know is that your heart is strong, you will recover and live a normal life but you will need to convalesce for awhile yet. Preferably with family...", she said, scanning their faces. "Which of you live the closest?"

"I do!", Scully answered.

The young doctor irritated her but she held her tongue for both her mother's sake and Mulder's.

"Oh, the doctor," Adams said condescendingly. "Well...that's good. She'll be here for a bit but when she's released, she'll need follow up care."

Scully gave the doctor one of her patent looks. "Her care will be followed up at my hospital," she said, sternly. "Our Lady of Sorrows."

The young doctor nodded. "I'll be back to check on her.", she said, walking out.

Bill shook his head. "She needs to stay close to home, Dana. I'll pay for her to have a nurse."

"Bill, I'm a doctor!", she said, staring at him. "I think I can take care of my mother!"

"Our mother!", he huffed. "Here we go...Dana, this isn't your specialty!"

"I think...since I'm sitting right here...", Maggie said, interjecting. "I would like my daughter, the doctor to care for me," she said, gripping both their hands. "That's the benefits of having a medical doctor in the family!", she smiled.

Bill looked upset but he retreated into his seat. Charles took the opportunity to get closer and hug his mother again. "Mom, I'm so sorry...please forgive me," he whispered.

"Charles...there's nothing to apologize for," she smiled. "I love you all...you have your own lives, I understand."

"Mom, I'm so glad you're okay," Scully smiled. "I'm so glad..."

Maggie kissed her cheek. "Dana...I could feel you...", she smiled. "I could feel you next to me. I couldn't leave yet...honey. But I did want too...I saw your father and Missy in heaven...but they said it wasn't my time," she smiled, a tear streaking down her creased face. "I'll see them soon enough."

Scully looked over to Mulder and he smiled, placing a hand around her waist. He knew without her speaking what she was thinking and what she needed. He leaned into her so she could feel his presence, she could gather his strength.

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