Mulder stared in shock at the scene presented before him. Although he was physically exhausted, his observation skills were still sharp. Time paused as Mulder's eyes scanned over the three bodies beside his bed. He noticed Scully's tense shoulders at the way Skinner's fingers were curled into the curve of her waist. The touch was familiar, something Skinner was used to doing. That explained why William was unaffected by the sudden invasion to his and his mother's shared space. In fact, William seemed perfectly content with Skinner's proximity. Scully was the only one uncomfortable, trying to subtly regain her distance despite the strong arm clasping her firmly against Walter. Mulder's mind was racing. He thought that it could be a joke, but it just didn't make sense. Then he saw it. He was sure it had just appeared on her finger since he hadn't noticed it before. The large sparkling gem glared at him, taunting his new reality.
"Mommy, I have to go potty." The statement was meant to be a whisper, but William still didn't understand the concept of vocal volume so everyone heard him. Scully looked over at Mulder, offering an apologetic expression as she excused herself and William. The image of her engagement ring burned his vision, even after Scully left the room. He listened to her steady footsteps as they faded into the noise down the hall, refusing to acknowledge that he was now alone with Skinner.
The room was silent, tension keeping the reunited friends locked in their separation. Walter shifted on his feet anxiously, hoping Scully would return quickly. His fidgety actions were annoying an already upset Mulder. After Skinner looked toward the door for the fifth time, Mulder lost control. He could feel a plethora of emotions bubbling up, ready to escape. Driven by shock and anger, he narrowed his eyes on Skinner and said the first thing that slipped off his tongue uncensored.
"How long?"
The question startled Skinner, he hadn't expected Mulder to want to talk without Scully in the room.
"Mulder, it's been five years since you were abducted in Oregon." Skinner tried to keep his voice low and soft knowing that the information would be shocking. Mulder was growing more frustrated with each second. He completely ignored Skinner's ignorant answer.
"How long did you wait before you made your move on Scully?" Skinner stared open-mouthed at the fury in Mulder's eyes, saying nothing. "If you two are engaged, you couldn't have waited that long. Did you realize I was gone and think "Oh here's my chance?"?"
"That's enough!" the authoritative tone rang through the room.
"You just couldn't wait, could you? She was probably vulnerable, desperate to find me, and you took advantage of her. What did you say? Did you give her some bullshit about how I would want her to be happy while you were seducing her? Did you try to convince her that you were just what she needed in her time of grief?"
Skinner stood there taking every blow Mulder was throwing his way. He was trying his hardest to remain calm, knowing that anger would only make everything worse. Mulder's voice was becoming hoarser with each word, the physical toll of his emotional distress. His rant ended abruptly, pain mixing with anger on his face. Skinner seized the opportunity to defend himself.
"I understand that you are upset. Five years is a long time and you've missed a lot. Despite what you are accusing me of, I did not trick Scully into falling in love with me. We were both shaken by your disappearance and we both have been fighting to get you back. Over the last five years we've grown close. We became romantically involved almost a year ago, and I asked her to marry me. You couldn't have expected her to stop her life and wait for you to possibly come back. She had to live her life."
"Cut the self-righteous bullshit, Walter."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I've known for years that you've had feelings for Scully. What? Did you think you were the only person on earth that I couldn't profile?"
Skinner swallowed nervously despite his mouth being uncomfortably dry. What he had told Mulder was true, but he couldn't deny that he had been in love with Scully for years before Mulder's abduction. He was at a loss for words. Trying to compose his thoughts, he stared at his feet then glanced at the door.
"You stole my life."
With that, Skinner snapped.
"What life, Mulder? You weren't here! I was! She turned to me because you were gone, and she was left alone and pregnant!"
"I didn't ask to be abducted!"
"Bullshit you didn't! You put yourself in that situation, Mulder. You went looking for it. You may not have wanted to be gone for five years, but you should have thought of that. You should've thought about what you were leaving behind. I didn't steal anything from you, you gave it all up."
"I thought of Scully every day! Her name was the only thing that left my lips. She's the only reason I wanted to live. Now I am back and what do I find? Our boss has taken it upon himself to fill my place in her life. You can't just act like a hero, like you are innocent and weren't trying to take her for yourself."
"I didn't have to take her, she was never yours. You strung her along, but you never committed to her. I did! I made sure she knew I wouldn't leave her. That's why she's marrying me, that's why she loves me. She doesn't have to guess where she stands."
Seven years of gazes, of whispered promises, and secret moments flashed in Mulder's mind. He hadn't imagined the depth of their relationship, it was real. Yes, it was unconventional but it had to be. Their lives were constantly in danger while they pursued the truth. He couldn't have proclaimed his love to Scully to the world because it made her a target. Scully's few comments about wanting a normal life haunted him. Skinner was fulfilling all her dreams of domestic normality, he was giving her what Mulder never could. That reality was hard to face.
"Get out."
The command was low and direct. Skinner did as he was ordered, leaving Mulder's room and slamming the door behind him. Anger burned inside him at Mulder's accusations, but he had to bury his fury when he heard William's excited voice calling him from down the hall. He offered a charming smile to the toddler as he walked to meet him and Scully. Already, he could see the question written on Scully's face.
"He's tired, said we should come back later." With that feeble explanation, he kissed her temple and lead her back down the hallway. His heart grew tight as Scully turned her head to look towards the closed door.
