Chapter 31
As Maggie pushed the wheelchair at a rate Mulder considered way too slow, it was all he could do to stay seated. Actually, he felt like he was floating along on Cloud 9, between the effects of the morphine and his elation at finally getting to see Scully.
He came crashing back down to Earth with a bone-jarring thud when he realized that the bustle of activity was coming from the room that Maggie was steering him towards. She was forced to pull back as the portable x-ray machine lumbered noisily past them. Mulder painfully craned his neck and was able to see that Scully was being hooked up to a 12-lead EKG machine while a nurse was drawing several tubes of blood.
"What's going on?" Mulder whispered nervously. "I thought that she was okay."
"The fever, Fox. Remember? They're just running some tests." Maggie whispered back.
"Oh - yeah." Mulder shook his head and tried to clear away the drug-induced cobwebs.
"The doctor said that he was doing a work-up to determine the source, but he assured me that she'd be all right." Maggie went on, confidently.
Mulder nodded, biting his lower lip in consternation. (Something else was wrong.) He thought fuzzily. He squirmed impatiently, trying to see past the equipment, the nurse, the tech but the bed was too high and he was too low. And then it registered in his brain. The metal, tubular framework over Scully's bed.
"Oh God," he hissed.
"What is it, Fox? Are you okay?" Maggie leaned over his shoulder and stared anxiously at his face.
"What - what happened to her leg?" He asked, his voice hoarse, as the EKG tech hurried past them, affording him his first good look. Scully's right leg was encased in plaster from her hip to her foot and suspended above the mattress.
"Oh, Fox, I'm sorry. I thought you knew - I thought that Director Skinner had told you." Maggie said sorrowfully.
"Told me what?" He asked, unable to tear his eyes away.
"That her leg was broken in the fall, Fox." Maggie admitted.
Mulder closed his eyes as yet again he saw Scully's body plunging past his outstretched hand. He should have known. He should have known that she had fallen too far to escape injury. Why couldn't he have caught her - he was there - he should have been able to save her.
Maggie knelt beside him. "Fox, stop it. I know what you're thinking, Fox and it won't do you any good."
Mulder slowly opened his eyes and dragged his gaze up to meet hers. "I tried. I tried to catch her."
Maggie sighed and without a word reached over and simple hugged him. "Don't do it Fox. Don't blame yourself. Please. I know you tried. Dana knows you tried. Now let it go. Blame isn't going to help you or Dana now. You can't look back."
She drew back to gauge the effectiveness of her words.
"You're right," Mulder admitted softly. "I know you're right, it's just that I keep seeing her going past me and I'm reaching and it's never enough."
"Fox, I can't make the bad memories just disappear," Maggie told him sadly, "but I think if you talk to Dana she might be able to help. Don't you agree?"
Before he could say another word, Maggie pushed him forward as the nurse lowered the bed to its lowest position then quickly slipped back out to give them some privacy.
Mulder at long last was able to see Scully's face. She was looking right at him, her cheeks flushed with fever. And in that instant, everyone and everything faded away leaving just the two of them.
Mulder stared at her, entranced. The bright crystal blue of her eyes captured him and drew him to her.
"Hi," she murmured in a breathy voice that sent an electrical current of joy straight to his heart causing it to skip several beats.
"Hi, yourself," he finally managed to get out in a voice heavy with emotion. He reached over to take her hand in his.
At his touch, Scully sighed happily, a smile lighting up her face and effectively driving away all the demons plaguing her partner's memory. "I've been waiting for you," she said, her tone informing him that she meant the sentiment on several levels.
"Well, you know how it is around here...so much to do..." His voice broke, overcome with relief and joy and he couldn't keep up the casual façade. The strength of the emotions simmered at the surface, threatening to spill over.
As their gazes locked, their hands clenched and suddenly words became superfluous. Mulder felt helpless under the spell of the woman lying before him. They had almost lost each other. Again. It had been close. Much too damn close.
And yet - they had won. Together, they had battled death and emerged victorious, but it was different this time. They were different. They had openly expressed their love for each other, pushing away barriers and mutually deciding that their relationship would go on to a higher level.
Maybe, somehow, that declaration had given them an added advantage in the game of life and death. They had already learned that together they were a force to be reckoned with. So now, what? Were they invincible?
(Probably not,) he thought hazily. But when she looked at him like she was now, he felt like he could take on the powers of heaven and hell...and win.
He bowed his head and pressed his lips to her palm as sudden tears coursed down his cheeks. Scully felt the wetness on her hand, even as her eyes became heavy with tears of her own. She lifted his chin.
Reading his face, Scully was moved to speak. "I love you, Mulder." She said her voice a throaty whisper.
"I'll always love you, Scully," he responded with a raw passion that touched her heart and her soul and sent them soaring to new heights.
"Are you okay?" She asked softly.
"I am now," he answered with a tiny smile touching his lips. "How about you?"
She nodded. "As long as I know you're here."
"I'll always be right here," he whispered, reaching up awkwardly to place his hand over her heart.
"I know," Scully smiled.
She licked her lips, suddenly finding it difficult to catch her breath. She looked over and caught sight of her mother moving in. "Time to go," she told Mulder sadly.
He kissed her palm again before reluctantly letting her go. "I'll be back," he promised.
"I'll be waiting," she reassured him.
"I'm sorry, Fox. I have to get you back." Maggie said sorrowfully.
Mulder kept his eyes on his partner, drinking her in. "I know."
"Behave," Scully mouthed the command as she watched him leave.
He quirked his lips and his eyes twinkled mischievously. "Never," he mouthed back.
And then he was gone.
Lying alone in the room, Scully fought down the wave of miserable raw panic that threatened to consume her. She felt as though all of her strength was taken away when her mother wheeled Mulder back to his own room. It was all she could do not to cry out, beg them to bring Mulder back to her. Here. He belonged here. Or let her go to him. That's the way it was supposed to be. Everyone knew that.
She heaved a great tortured sigh and sank back against the pillows as exhaustion set in claiming her thoughts. She held on to one, though, like a precious talisman to keep her safe. Mulder. . .
Chapter 32
2 days later
Maggie watched her daughter closely as she stared out the hospital window, absorbing all that the doctors had told her. For Maggie, of course, it had been unexpected to say the least, but Dana was either prepared for it or in shock. She lay quietly on the bed, one hand absently fingering the ever-present gold cross around her neck. Maggie wondered if she was gathering strength from it, or was it an unconscious habit.
She glanced over at the cardiac monitor that Dana was still attached to. The pattern was steady at eighty-six beats per minute. She found herself watching it...staring at it...it was almost hypnotic. She blinked and shook her head ruefully. A glance down at her watch let her know that Fox would be in shortly as he was in the process of being officially discharged from the hospital today.
"Dana," she called softly. She hated to intrude on her daughter's thoughts but she wanted to talk to her before Fox arrived.
Dana jumped slightly and turned to face her mother expectantly.
"Dana, what about work?" Maggie asked, thinking that she knew the answer already, but wanting to hear Dana verbalize it.
Scully's reply, however, took her completely by surprise. "To tell you the truth, Mom...I really don't know. A lot will depend on Mulder."
Maggie's brow furrowed, clearly displaying her confusion. "How exactly?"
Scully smiled wistfully. "Mom, I have to face facts. It's going to be at least a month, probably more before I can get around on my own. Work, even deskwork, is not possible unless I can do it at home. And since the infection of my heart prevents the necessary physical rehabilitation for my leg, it's going to take who knows how long to get back to fieldwork. If it was one or the other, I could manage, but together I'm completely helpless."
Maggie's heart broke as she listened to her daughter try to maintain her composure, even though she could easily see the pain and fear those last two words brought her as well as hear it in her voice. The slightest tremble betrayed her. Dana was indeed completely vulnerable and she was trying to appear strong as usual. And she probably did seem quite strong to others, but as her mother, Maggie saw through her easily and she was quite certain that Fox could as well. "You haven't told me exactly how Fox figures into this."
"Mom, I'm his partner, but I don't think that Skinner will let him work on his own. He never has in the past, at
least not for long. He will probably be assigned a new partner and since I don't know how long I'll be out, there might not be a position in the X-files unit for me to go back to. That is provided that I can make a full recovery."
There it was. Spoken calmly, matter-of-factly with her usual quiet reserve, Maggie felt like if she had blinked, she would have missed it. Dana had just sat there, wearing a cloak of clinical detachment and had just confessed one of her deepest, darkest fears without any fanfare. Anyone else would have missed it entirely.
(But a cloak can't hide your eyes,) Maggie thought sorrowfully. Looking into her daughter's blue eyes, she was confronted by the full force of what her daughter truly feared. It wasn't the fear of not having her job back, it was her fear of not being at Fox's side, protecting him as he protected her while they carried out their quest. A quest that had exacted a high price by her family and his, but one which it appeared that they were destined to continue.
Scully finally crumpled under the weight of her mother's caring and concerned gaze and let the tears she'd felt pooling in her eyes fall.
Maggie hugged her tightly. "Let it out, Dana," she whispered. "Let it all out." She stroked her daughter's hair, with tears of her own sliding down her cheeks. "Sweetheart, you know that Fox wouldn't let that happen. He's not going to go on without you. Not after everything that you've both been through. Surely you're aware of that."
"What if he doesn't have a choice, Mom?" Scully cried. "I can't hold him back. I won't."
Maggie shook her head and continued to console her distraught daughter. The depth of Dana's fear literally
took her breath away. When she heard the door open she looked up quickly, expecting to see Fox. It wasn't him but Dana's nurse, Abby. The young woman raised her eyebrows, silently asking Maggie if everything was all right. Maggie nodded yes, and the nurse slipped back out. She glanced over at the heart monitor. One hundred and ten beats per minute she saw and winced. Too high.
"Sshh," Maggie soothed. "Sshh. Fox isn't going anywhere without you. Even I know that."
Several minutes passed before Scully's cries turned to sniffles and to Maggie's relief, the heart monitor showed that her heat rate was down in the nineties. She continued to hold her daughter, whispering assurances that she hoped would ease her discomfort.
"I-I'm sorry, Mom," Dana whispered, unable to meet her mother's worried gaze as she tried to regain control.
"Sweetheart, don't. Don't apologize. I can only imagine how hard this is going to be for you. But I'm here for you. And Fox will be too." She told her confidently.
"I know he will," Dana replied, but Maggie could see the doubt that clouded her face.
Abby returned and handed Dana her medication including a sedative that she insisted be taken. Scully resisted at first, but Maggie urged her to take it, and stayed with her until she was asleep.
Chapter 33
Mulder had to restrain himself from whistling cheerfully as he showered. He was finally free of IV's and his surgical wound as well as the abrasions on his knees and elbows were healing nicely. There were some things in life that simply had no substitute and one of them was a long hot shower.
As the hot water pounded his still aching body, he had to remind himself that he couldn't stay in too long; per doctor's orders. But as he shampooed his hair and lathered his body with hospital issue soap, he let himself enjoy every single minute.
Finally, reluctantly, he turned the water off and reached for the always too small towel. Gingerly he patted himself dry, grimacing when he came in contact with the large bruises under the abrasions. He caught sight of himself in the mirror and did a small double take when he got his first look at himself.
"Well that's just great," he muttered in disgust, eyeing the large bruise that covered his chin, another reminder of that terrifying slide down the cliff.
The look of pure horror on Scully's face would live on in his cursed memory but with a shake of his head, he willed the image back into its furthest recesses. Weakly he lowered himself onto the toilet feeling a little dizzy. An unexpected knock on the door brought him out of his reverie with a jolt.
"Hey, Mulder! You in there?"
Mulder groaned good-naturedly: Frohike.
"Yeah, Mulder - what's taking you so long?"
Mulder shook his head, smiling: Langly. Two down, one to go.
"Mulder - are you okay?"
Bingo. Byers. "Be right out guys." Mulder shouted.
Several minutes later, Mulder exited the bathroom feeling human for the first time in days, comfortably attired in his own familiar clothes instead of an indecent hospital gown. He found Langly stretched out on the bed, while Byers and Frohike restlessly paced the room.
"Who died, Frohike?" Mulder teased, seeing that Frohike was dressed up in what Mulder called his "funeral suit" complete with bow tie and that he nervously clutched a small bouquet of wild flowers.
"Very funny, Mulder." Frohike retorted, self-consciously straightening the maroon bow tie.
"How are you feeling?" Byers asked quietly.
"Better all the time, man. Thanks." Mulder replied, catching and holding Byers' eyes. He sent a silent message to his friend, letting him know that he knew Byers had called Skinner and that he appreciated it.
"Well - we were worried." Byers stated, struggling to meet Mulder's eyes.
"I know. But it's all over now." Mulder said with a slight nod.
Byers breathed a silent sigh of relief, realizing that Mulder would keep his secret.
Langly watched them silently. Something had just passed between them, he was sure of it, but damned if he knew what. "So Mulder, how much longer 'til you're out?" He asked.
"As soon as I pack up and find a place for the lovely flowers Frohike brought me." Mulder replied breezily as he got his suitcase out.
"These aren't for you," Frohike protested. "I'm trying to get them in to the lovely Agent Scully."
Mulder paused with a frown. "What do you mean 'trying'?"
"The nurse said she wasn't to be disturbed because of the conference." Langly supplied helpfully, "And Frohike wanted to deliver 'em in person."
"Conference?" Mulder floundered. "What conference?"
Byers stepped in. "According to the nurse, Agent Scully and her mother were in conference with the doctors. I take it that you didn't know."
Mulder shook his head, stunned and more than just a little afraid. Having a 'conference' with your doctor didn't sound promising. In fact, he was pretty sure that it meant just the opposite.
Without another word, he turned and yanked open the door, bolting from the room with the Lone Gunmen hot on his heels. Mulder took two steps before running right into Maggie Scully.
"Oh!" Maggie cried out and Mulder instinctively reached out to catch her. Byers was hit from behind when he suddenly stopped to avoid Mulder and almost tumbled into him anyway. Langly, the last in line, almost laughed at the absurdity - it looked like a scene from the Keystone cops.
"Mrs. Scully - I'm sorry. Are you okay?" Mulder hastened to apologize.
Maggie stepped back, straightening her shirt. "Of course, Fox. I'm fine." She replied a little breathless.
"What's wrong?" She caught sight of the Lone Gunmen. "Who are your friends?"
Mulder ran a hand distractedly through his hair. "Frohike - Langly - Byers." He indicated each and they nodded politely. "This is Scully's mom. Maggie Scully."
"Pleased to meet you all. Dana's mentioned you, I believe." Maggie said and they returned the sentiment.
"I was going to see you and Scully," Mulder broke in impatiently on the pleasantries. "They said that you were in a conference. What's going on?"
"Why don't we go back in and talk. Dana's asleep right now." Maggie suggested, stepping into Mulder's room.
Mulder hesitated. He really needed to talk to Scully. See for himself that she was okay. But Maggie, seeing that Mulder hadn't followed her in, reached back and took him by the arm. "Come on, Fox. You too, boys." Maggie called back to the Lone Gunmen.
Frohike snickered and elbowed Byers. "Boys." He whispered and even Byers had to grin. They all, including Mulder, sat on the bed while Maggie took the only chair.
"I'm going to get right to the point. Dana is looking at a long recovery period, Fox. That's what the doctors told her." Maggie admitted.
Mulder swallowed hard and braced himself. "How - how long?"
The Lone Gunmen exchanged worried glances.
"We don't know for sure, but the cardiologist has laid down strict guidelines about any strenuous activity, how fast her heart rate can be and the orthopedist said that she'll be in that cast for a month, maybe more." Maggie told them.
Mulder was unable to hide the pain he was feeling. (Things just kept getting better and better.) He knew
that Scully would be on crutches for a while but he also knew that crutches were hard work and anyone who told you differently was fooling themselves. And not only crutches, but wearing that heavy plaster cast. (Hell, the damn thing probably weighed as much as his petite partner.)
Then it hit him. If Scully had restrictions on strenuous activity, and going around on crutches with a cast definitely constituted strenuous, then she wouldn't be allowed on crutches. Not until the cardiologist cleared her.
"She won't be able to get about on her own." He said in dismay.
"She's going to need our help, Fox, but I'm not exactly sure what to do. Dana is so independent and to be put in this position I know will be one of the hardest things she's ever had to do."
Mulder agreed. He tried to picture Scully in her apartment, trying to get around with that cast, exerting herself against doctor's orders, needing help and refusing to ask. Stubborn Scully. He truly loved all of Scully, but that stubborn streak was definitely a force to reckon with.
And yet, her stubbornness had a positive aspect and he didn't want her to lose even a tiny part of herself while getting through this. They would have to find a place in the middle: allow Scully as much independence as possible, keep her spirits up without compromising her health and refraining from hovering over her every minute.
For several minutes, they were all quiet, thinking and puzzling over the dilemma.
"I think I have an idea - but I'm going to need everyone's help. And we'll have to hurry." Mulder spoke up.
"Anything you need, Mulder - we'll get it." Frohike vowed.
"That's right, man," Langly added. "What can we do?"
Mulder laid out his plan and Maggie was skeptical at first but with some fine tuning and input from all of them, she quickly warmed to the idea. With suggestions from her, they came up with what they hoped would be an ideal proposal. Mulder made a call while the others waited with baited breath to hear if they could move ahead with their plans.
"It's a go." Mulder announced.
Everyone sighed in relief.
"When do we tell her?" Maggie asked as she stood to leave.
"We don't." Mulder stated flatly. "Not until she's in the car, leaving this place."
Maggie couldn't help but laugh. Mulder obviously was not going to underestimate Dana's strength. He was more than a match for her daughter and she prayed that they would finally live the love that she saw in both their eyes.
"All right, Fox. I better get started. Tell Dana that I'll see her in the morning." Then she hurried off, still not quite sure if they could do it and just exactly how Dana would respond. Quickly she shook off her doubts. Fox loved her daughter and she had to have faith in that love. He would make it work and heaven help anyone who stood in his way. Actually she had to admit that his optimism was infectious.
The Lone Gunmen received their assignments and then they too rushed out. Mulder waived them out even as he began making more calls. If this was going to work, they had no time to waste. And it was going to work, he vowed. In a heartbeat it had all become so clear to him and everything else just faded away. He knew what he had to do.
Chapter 34
Scully awoke with a muffled cry of alarm. One hand flew to her mouth as she realized that her eyes were indeed open, but the room was almost completely dark, causing instant disorientation. In that brief startled moment she was back on that island, in that windowless cell.
All rational thought fled and she moaned softly, cold all over and shivering. "No." She whispered. "No." She forced herself to close her eyes, to breathe slowly, allowing the brief panicky thoughts to dissipate. Her hands clutched instinctively at her chest feeling her heart pound, her muscles tight and painful.
Suddenly and without warning, the door opened. Startled, Scully jerked her head over with a sharp intake of breath.
"Mulder?" She managed to call out, her voice hoarse, her fear quite evident.
"No, Dana, it's Abby. Your nurse." Abby stepped over. She turned on the over-bed light and quickly assessed her patient. She didn't like what she saw or what she'd heard in Dana's voice. She flicked her gaze over to the cardiac monitor and frowned at the reading. "Dana, what is it? What's wrong?"
Blinking against the too bright light, Scully fought to gain control over her troubled expression, wishing that the monitor faced her so that she could see it for herself. "I - I'm fine," she answered, not knowing for sure just now if she was or not.
"Are you sure?" Abby asked carefully, apparently reading her patient's mind and not wanting to provoke her. Dana's heart rate was slowing, but her breathing was a bit ragged, her cheeks flushed. "Maybe I should get you - "
"No!" Scully broke in anxiously.
Abby stared at her.
Scully lowered her voice. "I'm fine," she told Abby steadily now. "I just woke up from the medication I had earlier. I don't want anymore - please. I'm fine, really."
Abby nodded in understanding. She leaned down and rearranged the pillows and straightened the rumpled sheets. "Okay. For now." She told Scully, noting the lines of stress that hadn't quite gone away.
Scully smiled gratefully. She got the implied message.
"Is everything okay in here?"
Both women jumped at the sound of Mulder's voice in the doorway.
Abby whirled around. "Agent Mulder," she scolded. "Do you mind? I just got my patient settled back down. I don't appreciate being snuck up on either."
Contrite, Mulder mumbled an apology and Abby sighed in exasperation.
"It's all right." She grinned good-naturedly. "A simple knock will do, for future reference." She glanced back at the monitor and Dana then went back to her rounds as Mulder stepped aside to let her pass.
"Gee - was it something I said?" He quipped as he hurried over to Scully's side. Without hesitation, he leaned over and brushed his lips tenderly over hers.
Hungrily, Scully immediately wrapped her arms around his neck to pull herself deeper into the wondrous kiss, her lips parting instinctively.
Mulder groaned as a flood of emotions coursed through him like wildfire - love - passion - desire - want. Want. He wanted to take her in his arms. He wanted to pick her up. He wanted take her out of here and ...
Reluctantly, he put a stop to that line of thinking for now. At least he was able to kiss his Scully and finally express his love to her. The rest, by necessity, would come later.
When they finally broke apart, Scully stared up at him, raptly, her blue eyes shining with happy tears. "I love you," she murmured breathlessly.
Mulder softly stroked her cheek. "I'll always love you."
Scully managed to make room on the bed so that he could sit, which he did, taking great care not to jar her leg.
"Got a question for you," he said earnestly.
Scully cocked an inquiring eyebrow at him and the sudden topic change. "Shoot."
"What, exactly, did Abby mean when she said 'I just got my patient settled back down'?" He inquired.
Scully bit her lip and looked away guiltily. Mulder immediately reached over to take her chin and gently brought her face back around. "What?" He asked as he looked down at her, his fears returning. "What's wrong?"
She swallowed hard and saw the concern clouding his eyes. She sighed. "I was afraid," she said simply, venting her frustration at her earlier behavior.
"Afraid?" Mulder asked in amazement. "Of what?"
Scully slumped. "I woke up - it was dark - no one - no one was here and for a moment - for just a moment," she faltered then went on. "For a moment, I thought that I was back on the island."
"Oh, Scully," He bent down and carefully took her in his arms. "I'm here. I'll always be right here for you.
Always. I promise."
Scully felt two tears slip out unbidden. "I know. I do know. It's just - it's just that I haven't' seen you
since the doctors talked with Mom and me. I'm so tired of being stuck in this bed all day. And Mom's gone and they gave me a sedative and it was dark in here when I - " She broke off. "Oh God, when did I become such a baby?"
Mulder took her face in his hands. "You, Dana Katherine Scully, are most certainly NOT a baby. Well, at least not in the sense that you mean," he grinned.
Scully smiled shyly.
Mulder went on, relieved by her smile. "I spoke to your mom earlier - she told me to tell you that she'll see you later. She's got some things she's got to take care of. I've been in and out of here myself, but that pill they gave you really knocked you out, so I was doing some errands, too and getting a report for Skinner."
Scully huffed. "There's just no end to the paperwork, is there?"
"Nope. And just to make sure that you don't die of boredom in that bed, I brought you your laptop, so that you can make your report." He said playfully.
"Gee, thanks, Mulder," Scully groaned. "Just what I wanted." Then she laughed.
"What? What's so funny?" Mulder asked quizzically.
"Most guys bring flowers," she teased. "You bring me a laptop."
"Very funny." Mulder retorted. "You make it sound like I didn't bring you anything else."
That got her attention and she craned her neck to look around him and the traction set-up. "Well, I don't see any new flowers, or nicely wrapped presents lying around, and baseball is out for a while, so what is it?"
Mulder leaned back and took Scully's hands in his. The look in his eye caused hers to widen and she grew silent, waiting. Something was about to happen. She could feel it. The air in the room suddenly became thicker and her breath seemed to catch in her throat. Silently and without taking his eyes off of hers, he released her right hand to reach into his pocket. Scully kept her own eyes on his face, trying to read the emotions that flickered across it but not quite succeeding. When she felt him fumble with her left hand, she jerked her gaze down to see what he was doing.
She found herself staring at the most incredibly gorgeous ring now on her left fourth finger. The brilliant diamonds caught the light and reflected back at her like the stars in the heavens above.
She was utterly speechless.
"Dana Scully - will you do me the ultimate honor of marrying me and making my life complete?"
Transfixed by the beautiful ring and the magical words that she never thought she'd ever hear cross his lips,
Scully was completely overwhelmed.
"Is that a yes?" Mulder asked, apprehensive at her silence.
"Oh my God, Mulder," Scully breathed. "Yes. Most definitely, absolutely, without a doubt - yes." And she realized how true it was: without a doubt. She had doubts before, but not anymore. They would work it out. They would work everything out - together.
She carefully wrapped her arms around him and he buried his face at her neck. The sensation of his tears trailing down her back brought tears to her own eyes and she pulled him even closer. The only thing in life that mattered was holding her and she knew how foolish they'd been to ever think otherwise.
"I love you, Scully," his voice muffled.
She smiled. "I'll always love you, Mulder."
Chapter 35
Abby checked her watch and quickly reviewed her patients' charts, noting any new orders, keying in lab and x-ray requests and verified that no medications would be due for the next hour. She then rounded on her patients, making sure that they were settled before tackling the charting that she found so tedious and seemed to get worse every year.
She ran into Director Skinner as he was leaving Dana Scully's room. He had been in every other evening or so and always had a kind word for her and the other nurses on duty. They exchanged pleasantries and before heading out, escorted her back to the nurses' station.
Abby tried not to groan as she gathered up her nurses notes and settled in, hoping that the call buttons would be silent long enough for her to finish.
Fifteen minutes had passed, when she heard the elevator ding, signaling that someone was coming. She looked up from her paperwork and couldn't help but smile when she saw who exited. Agent Fox Mulder, grinning madly who did not walk these days: he floated.
Abby discreetly elbowed the nurse sitting next to her. "Melody," she whispered. "Look who's coming."
Without raising her head, Melody glanced down the hall. "What's he so happy about?" She whispered back as Mulder got ever closer to their position.
"Hang on a sec and I'll tell you," Abby promised, then quickly raised her head to greet the visitor. "Good evening, Agent Mulder," she called cheerfully.
Mulder, eager as usual to get to Scully's room, hated to delay, but politely acknowledged the two nurses who had taken such good care of them.
"You just missed Director Skinner," Abby informed him.
"Thanks, Abby, I'll catch up with him in a bit," Mulder responded. "See you later," and he was gone.
Melody looked over to see Abby grinning like a Cheshire Cat. "All right - what's the scoop? Let me have it," she demanded with a gleam in her eye.
"He proposed!" She crowed happily.
"What?" Melody felt her mouth drop open. "You're kidding!"
"Nope," Abby sighed, staring wistfully down the hall. "Isn't it romantic?" she asked in a dreamy voice. "You should see her ring - it's simply gorgeous. I had gone in to give Dana her meds and her mom was there, saying she just couldn't believe it, and they were all laughing and crying. Dana was positively glowing and Fox couldn't keep his hands off of her."
"Wow," Melody managed to get out, dumbstruck that she had missed it. "That is so incredible. A real proposal on our floor."
"I know," Abby said, "I just can't believe it either."
"Well, having recovered from my earlier shock - I can," Melody said knowingly.
"Why?" Abby asked, puzzled.
"Are you kidding? He's so in love with her, I couldn't believe that they weren't married already." Melody informed her, recounting Mulder's determination to see Scully and what the ICU nurse had overheard.
"Yeah," Abby agreed. "But it's still romantic," she sighed again, propping her chin on her hand and turned her gaze back down the hall to Dana Scully's room.
Chapter 36
Unaware that he and Scully were the hot topic of discussion at the nurses' station, he could hardly contain his excitement as he bounded into her room. He had been far too busy getting ready for Scully's discharge, dodging her questions as to his whereabouts and he missed her terribly. He was bereft when he wasn't with her now; when he was unable to simply reach out and touch her, and kiss her whenever he wanted. And he wanted to all the time now.
He went straight to his now appointed place on the bed, where he would expect Scully to smile beatifically up at him as usual, inching over carefully to one side to give him room to sit down next to her.
As he settled in and leaned over to kiss her hello, he realized immediately that her smile was not quite as bright today.
"Hey," he said softly, stroking her cheek. "What's wrong? Are you hurting somewhere?" It took a monumental effort on his part to keep the worry and fear out of his voice, even as his stomach clenched painfully.
Scully reached up and clasped his hand in hers. "I'm okay," she reassured him. "Just a little sad. Skinner just left and he didn't exactly have good news."
Now Mulder was really worried. Had Skinner said something to Scully about their getting married? They had told him that details would be addressed after Scully's recovery and not to worry.
"Abby told me he just left." Mulder said nervously.
"He just wanted to let us know that there still hasn't been any sign of the Dickersons or Gibson." Scully told him despondently. "Mom is just beside herself, even though I told her that there's nothing she could have done."
"That's right." Mulder agreed, slightly relieved. "In fact, if it had just been her there Friday night, it's possible that those guys wouldn't have done anything to her and simply stepped up their search for the doc. Maybe the extra time allowed him to escape."
"I tried to tell her that." Scully said. "Anyway, he also told me that there's no way to get any further forensic evidence to tell us exactly who Danielle was."
"Who?" Mulder asked, his confusion obvious.
"Danielle. The young woman who took care of us." Scully stared at him. "Oh, Mulder, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that you didn't know her name."
"No, it's okay. It just took me by surprise," Mulder told her. "We really haven't discussed her. Actually, I wanted to tell you something that I didn't even tell Skinner."
"What?" Scully asked, intrigued.
"Before Diana killed her, she said that Deep Throat was her father and that Diana killed him as surely as if she'd pulled the trigger herself." Mulder admitted painfully.
"Oh my God," Scully whispered, shocked. "And we still don't know Deep Throat's real name."
Mulder hung his head, shaking it sadly. "Right back where we started."
Scully reached up and pulled him down, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him as hard as she could. "But at least we have each other."
"Yes, we do," Mulder replied and Scully could hear the smile as he spoke.
Chapter 37
Mulder looked out the window in Scully's hospital room and sighed heavily. On the day of her long-awaited discharge, the rain was coming down in buckets.
(Torrential. Raining cats and dogs.) He sighed again. (Knock it off,) he admonished himself. (You don't have to be a human thesaurus to make a point.)
Under normal conditions, he knew that he wouldn't mind getting a little wet. (Okay, a lot wet.) Scully wouldn't mind either, he reasoned, if it meant getting out of the hospital, but there was her cast to reckon with. The huge, hip to foot, monstrosity that couldn't get wet under any circumstances and the awnings over the patient loading zones were ineffectual against horizontal rain.
And so they were forced to wait out the storm. Scully had been dressed and ready to go when they heard the first crash of thunder. Mulder left Jackie and another nurse to help get Scully in the wheelchair while he had rushed out to bring the Explorer he'd rented around. He was too late. With a deafening crack of lightning and a thundering boom, the rain began to pour from the black clouds above.
Ignoring the "Do Not Park" signs posted everywhere; he'd thrown the vehicle into park and turned off the ignition. The wind was blowing hurricane force, nearly knocking him to the ground as he ran out and by the time he'd gotten to the door, he was completely drenched.
Jackie was just getting off the elevator, pushing Scully in the wheelchair with her casted leg sticking straight out in front of her, when she caught sight of the dripping Mulder, now looking like a drowned rat. Without a word, she backed into the elevator with Scully and waited for him to catch up to them.
Scully stared up at him, smiling sadly. "Guess we should have watched The Weather Channel, huh?"
"It's okay, guys," Jackie tried to console them. "Census is low so nobody's waiting for your room. You can make yourselves comfortable and I'll have them send up something to eat, if you want."
"Nothing personal, Jackie," Mulder said ruefully, "but I don't think either one of us wants to spend another night here."
Jackie smiled in sympathy. "Oh, I understand. I always tell my patients that I don't ever want to see them in here again unless it's to visit."
Mulder and Scully exchanged amused glances as they were ushered back to her recently vacated room and got Mulder dried off.
Mulder was pulled from his reverie by a blinding streak of lightning followed immediately by an explosion of thunder causing him to reflexively jump back.
"Mulder," Scully called worriedly, raising her voice to be heard above the rain pelting the glass, "please come away from the window - you're scaring me."
He guiltily looked over at her, lying on the bed. She had stubbornly refused to get under the covers saying that it made her feel like a patient all over again. Quickly he shut the curtains and resolutely turned his back on the raging storm outside.
"Are you sure you don't want to get more comfortable?" he asked, looking at the flowing skirt she wore. Maggie had gotten Scully several different lightweight skirts that they both felt world be easier to get over the cumbersome cast.
"I'm fine, Mulder, really," she said, "but I'd feel better if you were over here instead."
Mulder grinned. "Well, you know that I always feel better when I'm next to you."
Another thunderclap drowned out Scully's reply and she flicked her eyes over to the window, seeing a flash of lightning around the edges of the curtains.
Mulder sat down next to her on the bed. "You want me to doodle on your cast?"
Scully arched one eyebrow. "I don't think so, Mulder. I have no intention of seeing any obscene pictures on this thing and then trying to explain it to the doctor."
"How about I put it where you can't see it and then - I'll - explain it to him," he teased her.
Scully swatted at him playfully as he easily backed out of her reach with a laugh.
After explaining weather conditions to Maggie and the Lone Gunmen, they spent the next two hours playing a variety of card games and eating the sandwiches Mulder brought up from the hospital cafeteria.
At last the thunder ended, but the wind and rain showed no signs of stopping and Mulder finally lay down next to Scully, his head nestled comfortably in her lap. The sound of the falling rain soon lulled him to sleep as did feeling Scully's hands lovingly roaming across his face, his hair, stroking his shoulder and arm lightly.
She marveled when she felt him drift off to sleep and thanked God that she was alive to do so.
Chapter 38
"Mulder, wake up," Scully gently nudged him.
"Huh? Wha - ?" Mulder mumbled incoherently, trying to burrow deeper into her lap.
"Come on, Mulder. Wake up," she said insistently, gripping his shoulder and shaking him. "The rain stopped. Come on - let's go."
With a yawn, Mulder sat up and stretched lazily. "Wow. That's what I call a power nap. How long was I asleep?" he asked, his voice still rough with sleep.
"Three hours," Scully answered, thinking how sexy that "just woke up" voice was and how she rarely got to hear it. Usually he was the one waking her up from a sound sleep. (Might have to try waking him up more often,) she briefly considered.
Mulder shook his head in amazement. "Unbelievable." He looked at her closely. "How about you? Did you sleep?"
Scully shook her head. "I'm fine, don't worry. I'm much too excited to sleep anyway. I kept thinking the storm would quit any minute and I didn't want to be asleep when it did." She pushed him up. "Now enough chit chat, come on. Let's go. Let's get this show on the road."
She didn't add that she'd been worrying about what her life was going to be like for the next several weeks. Her tiny apartment, the wheelchair, the awkward crutches. She imagined being confined to bed or the couch while Mulder went to work, or being "babysat" by her mother. She loved her mother, of course, but she just couldn't picture them remaining friends cooped up in her apartment for days on end. She hadn't expressed her fears to either Mulder or Maggie, preferring to deal with it when she was discharged. Now the time had come and as much as she wanted to leave, part of her was dreading what came next.
Mulder bit back the chastising words that nearly escaped his lips. (Well, maybe it'll work out for the best this way,) he reasoned. (If she sleeps in the car, then I won't have to explain where we're going.)
Chapter 39
Jackie was off duty, but Melody came in with the wheelchair and she helped Mulder get Scully out of bed and into the chair. Mulder glanced around the room one last time to make sure they hadn't forgotten anything as Melody wheeled Scully out.
Scully looked around for Mulder's car. Not finding it, her confusion was made complete when Mulder opened the only vehicle at the curb. "What's with the Explorer?" she asked, puzzled.
"It'll be more comfortable for you to stretch out in," Mulder explained as he gently scooped her up. He eased her into the back seat as Melody helped guide Scully's casted leg.
Scully kissed his nose affectionately as she let Melody and Mulder get her settled for the trip home, propping her leg up with pillows and covering her snugly with a wool blanket.
The heavy rains had brought cooler weather and Melody shivered in her lightweight scrubs. "Do you have everything?" she asked one last time, before Mulder shut the door.
"I think so," Mulder responded. "I filled the prescriptions yesterday and took them home with her crutches and wheelchair."
"And I have the doctors' phone numbers and dates for follow-up visits, as well as their lists of do's and don'ts," Scully added with a grimace.
"Good. By the way, Abby called a little while ago and wanted me to give you this." Melody handed Mulder a slip of paper.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Her address. She wants a wedding invitation." Melody said with a mischievous smile.
Mulder and Scully laughed in delight. "Don't worry," Mulder told her happily, "You're both invited. And thanks for everything. Tell Abby too."
Scully nodded in agreement. "That's right. Your names will be on the top of the list. Now get back inside before you freeze out here." She scolded with a grin.
After a last round of good byes and well wishes, Melody hurried back inside and Mulder jumped in the Explorer. Huddled under the blanket, Scully waited patiently for him to get the heater going, wishing that she had one of her sweaters.
Mulder adjusted the vents and shifted in his seat so that he could check on Scully stretched out behind him. "Is it any warmer back there?" he asked in concern.
Scully nodded and reached out to take his hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "Take me home, Mulder," she said, unable to keep the fatigue out of her voice. Now that she was out of the hospital, the adrenaline faded away leaving her obviously exhausted.
Mulder kissed her hand. "Your wish is my command. Try to rest, okay, Scully."
Scully needed no further encouragement and settled back against the pillows. Her eyes slipped shut immediately and within minutes she was sound asleep.
Chapter 40
With Scully sleeping behind him, Mulder pulled out his cell phone and called Maggie to let her know that they were on the road.
"Did you tell her?" Maggie asked, unable to hide her glee. Although she'd had her doubts about Fox's plan at first, it had turned out perfectly thus far and she could hardly wait to hear Dana's reaction.
"Not yet," Mulder replied, as he flicked his gaze behind him to check on Scully. "She's asleep right now."
"I'll call the boys and let them know." Maggie said.
Mulder had to choke back his laughter every time that Maggie called the Lone Gunmen "the boys". He teased them about it relentlessly even though he knew that they were touched by Maggie's endearment.
"Are you sure you don't need me to come over?" Maggie asked hopefully, breaking in on Mulder's thoughts.
"We'll be fine," he said with a quiet laugh. "Thanks again for everything you've done."
"It was my pleasure, Fox." Maggie told him. "You just take care of my baby girl."
"Always." Mulder vowed with an affectionate glance back at his fiancée.
As he turned off the phone he realized that Scully had shifted slightly, causing the blanket to fall away from her feet. Diligently keeping his eyes on the road, he managed to pull the blanket back over them without waking her up.
He began to mull the word fiancée over in his mind. Fiancée. Over the past years, Dana Scully had been so many things to him; so many necessary things. Now she was taking on a new role, albeit a temporary one. He intended to elevate her to wife as soon as humanly possible. That meant a wedding.
He groaned silently. While he knew that he'd never get away with the quick Vegas ceremony he envisioned, he desperately hoped that he wouldn't be subjected to an overblown, ostentatious affair, rivaling a royal wedding.
Then he remembered sadly that Dana was Maggie's only daughter now. That, directly or indirectly, depending on his mood, he was responsible for Melissa's wrongful death.
He shook his head and vowed right then and there to go along with whatever Maggie and Scully wanted. He owed her that much. He owed her so much more.
Chapter 41
"Hey, sleepyhead - rise and shine back there." Mulder called, as he pulled into the driveway. He turned on the interior light, causing Scully to groan and immediately cover her eyes.
"Mulder -"
"Come on, Scully. Time to go inside." He turned the light off and then the engine.
"Thank you," she muttered, trying to let her eyes adjust.
Scully glanced around, realizing how dark it was. She pulled herself up as far as she could. (Wait a minute. Why is it so dark? Where are all the streetlights? Where is all the traffic?)
"Mulder, what's going on? Where are we?" she asked, trying to see outside.
"Just a minute, Scully and all will be made clear." Mulder answered her with a grin as he climbed out of the Explorer.
Scully impatiently waited for him to help her out, her curiosity piqued. She heard the door open behind her, and then Mulder was easing her backwards, out of the car. Gripping the top of the doorway, she tried to help him, but he admonished her to let him do all the work. Scully huffed silently and tried to mask her discomfort as the pain in her leg flared when Mulder lifted her up. She bit her lip to keep any sound at bay, burying her head in Mulder's shoulder.
"Sorry, Scully," Mulder whispered contritely, as he got her out at last. He stepped away from the car and Scully shook her head.
"I'm okay," she whispered back, kissing his cheek. She looked around, trying to determine where he had taken her, since it obviously wasn't to her apartment, his apartment, or her mother's house.
It was so dark and quiet; she knew immediately that they weren't in the city. "Mulder, where are we?" she asked, seeing a charming clapboard house with a brightly lit porch.
Mulder just held her tighter and moved up the steps. With some careful maneuvering, he was able to get the front door open and step inside, with jarring her leg any further.
Scully caught smell the fresh paint and saw a light switch within her reach. "Mulder - let me get the lights." She indicated the switch over his shoulder and Mulder paused long enough for her to turn them on. She looked around expectantly.
It took a minute for Scully to realize why the couch seemed so familiar. It was hers. And wasn't that lamp the same one he kept on his desk? What was her computer doing here? And who put her wall hanging in the hallway?
Mulder moved to her (?) couch and set her down, delighting in the look of utter shock on her face. Her blue eyes were wide as she looked around, missing nothing. Familiar items mixed with unknown, all in a place she'd never been before.
Finally she found her voice - barely. "What's going on?" she asked her voice as soft as a whisper. "Where are we?"
"Quonochontaug."
Scully's mouth worked, struggling mightily to make sense of it, to respond verbally. She felt like Alice and her she was, right in the middle of Wonderland without any warning.
When she saw that Mulder was grinning from ear to ear, nearly bursting with excitement, she threw up her hands in defeat. "I give up."
"My mom said that the house is ours to do with as we please, for as long as we want. The guys hooked up cable - satellite dish - the computer. You mom made or bought enough food to last into the millenium. I think that the whole town got together to get this place ready to live in, including wheelchair ramps and made sure that the furniture and stuff was arranged so that you could maneuver around them easily."
Scully was still having a hard time taking it all in, and blinked in surprise. (The whole town?) "You mean I'm going to be living here?"
"Well, me too, if that's okay," Mulder said with a wink.
"But - but - won't that be a long commute? Or are you just going to be here on weekends?" Scully asked, confusion maintaining its firm grip.
Mulder took her hands in his. "Oh, didn't I tell you?" He asked innocently.
Scully's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Tell me what?" she asked slowly, not sure if she was ready to know what.
"I'm not going back to D.C. without you. Period." He announced.
Scully simply stared at him. Realization of the full meaning of his words sunk in. "The X-files - ?" she broke off uncertainly.
"I told you, Scully. I don't want to do this without you. The X-files will always be there. I'm not going back to work until you've recovered."
She opened her mouth to point out that her level of recovery was unknown at this point, but he cut her off.
"I know what you're going to say. I do. And we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. The only future I can see is you by my side, whether it's the FBI, the X-files, whatever. So, if you'll have me, this is where I'll be." He paused a moment. "I love you, Scully. With all my heart."
Scully didn't try to stop her tears as the liquid fire of his love coursed through her heart, her soul and her mind, burning away confusion, doubt and uncertainty.
The complexity of their lives fell away. It was simply a man named Fox Mulder, passionately in love with a woman named Dana Scully, who reciprocated that love and at this moment in time, nothing else mattered.
"I love you, Mulder. Stay with me." She said, opening her arms.
"Always." He vowed with a radiant smile as he moved to pull her close, kissing her softly. "Welcome home."
THE END
If you made it this far: Thank you. I truly hoped you enjoyed this. I wrote this in 1999 and it is the piece of work that I am most proud of. There have been several requests for a sequel and I did begin one. However, season 8 and 9 stabbed my X-files writing muse what I thought was a killing blow. I didn't think I'd ever be able to write for the X-files again. I was wrong. She is slowly recovering and starting to make her presence known. The story that I never finished is trying to get written. Think positive thoughts for me and I will be trying to get it done.