01:10 am

Location: En route to Hegal Place, Alexandria

The silence between them was louder than any conversation they have had in the past. She anyway was not keen on building up a conversation when she is driving; he was trying to reason out as he looked at the faraway horizon dazzling with night lights as precious jewels as they drove in this very morning. It was a busy night despite the early hour and it was fair enough for late lovers and visitors who were mostly on the way back after the dawn of the New Year.

He wondered why his usually voluble self has suddenly gone silent. Nothing came to mind rather than a feeling of sheer euphoria and exhilaration. He knew he was still trembling, and his heart racing as if is really the end of the world. He clearly knew that his brain is still dealing with the addictive sensation of pure passion and love like a teenager who was on his very first date.

He closed his eyes, the best and the safest option available for him now, to think of what happened and to prove himself that it's not a dream. It was not a dream. The pain from his arm tingled his muscles time to time letting him know that it is not. Maybe the painkiller is wearing out, he thought as he braced his sling to self-comfort him.

He had a massive urge to talk to her, to look in her eyes and to ask if she is OK. He tried to recall each and every second of their precious "KISS" to recall her expressions. He knew she didn't protest nor pushed back, but after spending all those years with her, he needed her consent, her proper consent to completely feel comfortable with this stage of their relationship.

"Mulder…" he gasped to hear her calling his name.

"We are here" he was surprised to learn that she has already parked and was waiting for him to wake up to get down at his place.

"Oh…I'm sorry…I might have fallen asleep" He smiled at her sheepishly. She gave out a hearty smile before their eyes met for a one brief second. He felt as if his heart started to pound wild and loud and she might also notice the same.

"Let's get you in" she said in a barely audible tone, a tone he knew so well that he can hear her so well even in the middle of the loudest noise.

She was the first to get out of the car and quickly walked to him to assist him. She held the door for him as he struggled with his seat belt.

Once again it was dead silent as they walked in, he was thankful that the lift was already there; the first time he was ever properly thankful for something in his old apartment building.

He followed her like an obedient student, still trying to figure out a way to break this uncomfortable silence between them.

"Maybe I should go and have a wash" he was already slipping off his shoes

"Mulder, you can't let your arm get wet yet and you will have to keep the sling for a couple of days! And to be clear, what I meant is no work for a couple of days!" she looked in his eyes as she made it clear to him with her usual Dr. Scully tone.

"But I stink Scully, I smell like corpses, salt and gunpowder" His expression now was not a very pleasant one. He was desperate to make her understand.

She took a deep breath as if to agree with him. "Ok…whatever"

"I will make us some tea… do you think you need any help?"

"Nope…I think I can manage" he boasted with a victorious tone. Will give you a shout-out if I needed anything."

"Right – don't lock your door!"

She sighed in relief as she walked slowly to his kitchen. She took a moment to kick off her shoes and to take off her jacket as it was quite warm in there. She splashed a handful of tepid tap water to her face as she pulled her hair back, leaning towards the kitchen sink.

She knew she is not yet completely there at that moment. Her heart felt heavy with so many emotions which she never knew she carried during the past years. "Was it just a coincidence or just a random gesture that she should be worrying at all – or does it truly worth the excitement she felt at that moment his lips touched hers with thousands of tiny sparks!"

Her hand reached to touch her cross, the most common gesture she has when she is truly is disbelief.

But then, she felt a cold touch on her shoulder.

"Jesus Mulder!" She panted and gasped for breath, leaning more towards the kitchen sink.

"You should have at least called my name"

"I did, I called you so many times – I started to panic when you didn't show up!" his voice was a mix of anger and pain as he spoke to her.

'I'm sorry… I'm so sorry I guess um...I guess I was stuck in my thoughts – Oh GOD are you OK?"

He was not in good shape. His face was plainly drenched with pain. His injured arm was tangled with his t-shirt and he was struggling to ease off the pain the stretching has caused.

"It hurts and I need help!" he managed to mutter underneath his breath

"Oh, Mulder – let me…come sit here" she guided him to a nearby chair as she held his arm gently to avoid further pain.

"I'm going to undo the sling and I want you to hold on to me until I put it back right" she was gentle now as if she is talking to a child. She knelt down in front of him, still holding his arm as she undid the plastic clips of the sling.

He inhaled deeply with each breath fighting the pain and the sudden gush of emotions as she was so close for him to tolerate anything else.

She was quick, and within seconds his arm was free, but still within the careful hold of hers. She pulled off his t-shirt gently as possible but still, it was painful enough for him to whimper with pain.

"Easy, there you go" she clipped back the sling carefully. He was half-naked in front of her and all of a sudden she felt her heart tighten with a massive tautness as she struggled not to feel the burning sensation underneath her skin where she touched him.