Chapter Seven

She was back at Mulder's side as soon as she put down the phone. Kneeling down next to him she placed a hand on his shoulder as he held his stomach tight, his face twisted in pain. She frowned with concern and confusion, and squeezed his shoulder gently, trying to reassure him.

'Mulder, what's wrong?' She urged gently.

'I'm ok…' He breathed, 'Katherine needs your help more than me Scully..' He said between gritted teeth.

'I know, I just want to know what's wrong..' She asked, looking across at Katherine who was lying motionless. She sighed an exasperated sigh, she knew that there was hardly anything she could do for her, but her doctor instincts were going overdrive, and she felt torn between the need to help both of them.

She hated seeing him like this, and she couldn't understand what was wrong with him.

'Mulder, Skinner is sending a team, but we have to keep moving. I have to keep us hidden.' She said, pulling herself away from him and towards Katherine, then checking her pulse. Scully glanced back at the door with worry as she imagined him bursting through it, gun loaded and shooting all three of them where they sat..

She managed to find Katherine's pulse, and to her relief she opened her eyes slightly and met her gaze.

'Katherine? We're out now. You have to stay with us…' She said strongly, holding onto her hand tightly. She heard Mulder grimace in pain again and glanced up at him quickly with worry, her brow furrowing with concern. Her heart raced, the fear trickling up her spine. She needed to move, now.

'Mulder, we have to get out of here. Can you get up?' She asked, hot tears stinging her eyes.

'I… I think so..' He managed, then started to try to get to his feet, but Scully was already with him, grabbing his arm and pulling him up to his feet, he struggled on his shot leg again and cried out in agony. Scully opened her mouth in shock and helped him steady himself.

'Mulder, be careful.' She said with worry. She saw the blood continue to leave him, and she knew she had to patch up that wound as soon as possible. She just had to get them to safety, now. 'Mulder I know it hurts, I know, and I'm going to have a look at you as soon as we get somewhere sheltered.'

'I'm ok Scully…' He said, trying to remain strong. She knew he wasn't, she admired his chivalry but she knew better. She nodded, letting him keep his pride, and looked at him with wide eyes. He nodded as he read her mind and let her go over to Katherine, desperately trying to keep his balance. She ran over to her as quick as she could, her heart breaking as she left Mulder, but she had to stay strong.

'Katherine? Katherine wake up.' She said urgently, shaking her awake. 'We have to move now honey, just stay with me.' She said gently, then before Katherine could react, she was grabbing her up in her arms and picking her up, using all of her strength. Luckily, Katherine was light, because of her condition.

'Scully, you go on ahead..' Mulder said weakly, stumbling on his feet. Scully froze and blinked at him, she didn't want to leave him. 'It's ok Scully, you can't help both of us. Get her somewhere… safe..' He said between breaths.

'But Mulder..' She started, her heart smashing into pieces again. She felt tears coat her throat.

'No Scully, just go.' He said in a low voice, and slowly got down onto the ground again, stretching his leg out before him in pain, flinching as it moved across the grass.

'I'll be right back.' Scully said sadly. 'Do you have your gun?'

'It's right here.' He said between gritted teeth as he leant over and picked it up from the ground. 'One bullet left… lucky huh?' He said with a forced smile. Scully shook her head in sad disbelief, even in times like this he would try and make light of the situation.

'Stay here Mulder, I'll be right back, I promise.' She said, her voice cracking with emotion as she left him sitting on the ground, doubled over in pain.

She turned away from him and felt the tears roll down her cheeks, the sobs threatening to erupt from her chest.


Mulder held his stomach as he felt he agony take over. The man had done something to him, he knew it. He had felt it, as he had glared at him.

God dammit, not now.

He kept his eyes on the door ahead of him, he had shot him a few times but he wasn't sure if he had killed him. It had been so dark in there, and his head had been all over the place.

But what the hell had he done to him?

Why had Skinner sent them here?

He closed his eyes for a moment as he felt himself weakening, he felt as if all the blood had been drained from his body. His leg was now going numb, and his stomach hurt like hell.

What the hell had he done to him?!

He waited for Scully to return and kept hold of his gun tight. He needed to stay conscious.


Scully lay Katherine down.

She had found a sheltered area with trees and bushes surrounding it. It would be somewhere where they could wait out the night, but hopefully they wouldn't have to, she thought, glancing at her watch nervously, catching her breath.

Katherine looked up at her with cold, scared eyes. Scully was taken aback as she reached over and grabbed her arm.

'You have to save him.' She said suddenly, her eyes burning into Scully's. Scully gasped in shock and confusion, was she talking about Mulder?

'He's going to be fine, you're going to be fine..' Scully said, trying to calm her.

'No, you don't understand. He's got it now, he gave it to him.' Katherine said to her urgently, her voice full of dread. Scully felt a sickening in her stomach as she tried to process this, she thought Katherine was delirious and in shock, but she couldn't help but feel panic creep through her veins. There was something about the way she was looking at her..

'Katherine, please just rest..' Scully said, brushing off her words.

'No! You have to save him, he did it to me, now he's done it to him!' She said, fear etched across her face. Scully felt the fear and worry for Mulder take over and she blinked back tears as she pulled away from Katherine and ran as fast as she could back to him.


'Mulder!' She called out as she reached him, pushing the tears away from her cheeks. She had no idea what Katherine had said to her, but she knew from Mulder's face and pain that something was wrong, something had happened to him while she had been outside.

She crouched down to him and placed her hands on his arms, trying to get him to focus on her face. But his eyes were all over the place, darting about madly. Scully frowned in concern as she placed her hand on his cold and sweaty cheek, trying to steady his eyes to hers. Slowly he managed to find her, and she forced a gentle, reassuring smile.

'Mulder..' She cooed softly. 'I'm here.. I'm here.'

'Scully..' He gasped, his eyes filling with relief. She saw tears brimming in his vision. He looked so lost and helpless. 'Thank god..' He said, lowering his head bashfully. Reaching up to his hair she brushed it away from his forehead then placed her hand back on his cheek. 'Where am I?' He suddenly blurted out weakly. Scully felt her heart skip a beat with dread, surely he couldn't have forgotten in such a short space of time. What was going on?

'Mulder, you're delirious. Come with me, everything is gonna be fine.' She gushed lovingly, desperately trying to calm him down. She needn't worry about his momentary amnesia, she just needed to get him to safety.

He raised his eyes to hers again and she was struck by the look she had seen a few times before, he was so lost and frightened.

'What…? What happened? God Scully, it hurts…' He said, doubling over in pain again. Scully was hit with worry and blinked back frustrated tears. But she had to keep it together.

'We have to go. NOW Mulder.' She begged forcefully, trying to get him back with her. He nodded numbly then she finally managed to help him up to his feet as best as she could. Scully held onto him and supported his weight and she heaved him forward, holding him tightly. She had done this before, she could do it again.

Slowly but surely, they made their way to the shelter.


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Mulder & Scully forever