Can I Count on You?

Part 8

By Trycee

Time-Line: Season 7. This is an Alternative Universe story. All Things hasn't happened but this is around the same time and feel of that period.

Disclaimer: I do not own the X-files. This is written for fun not profit.

***Mulder is paralyzed and Scully is caring for him. Mulder becomes bitter. Can Scully handle it? Will their love survive?

Mulder had begun a more aggressive physical therapy regiment to strengthen his legs and retrain him to walk. His physical therapy sessions would leave him in pain most of the day which left Scully to care for him after working a full shift at work. Skinner had assigned her a new partner, an Agent Lanx who had lasted only two weeks before leaving after being spooked in a ghost case they were assigned to. She returned to the office alone, working on cases that kept her close to Mulder.

Eventually though, the X-files was closed up with the promise that if Mulder were to recover, they both could return. Scully was assigned to teach at Quantico which often gave her more time to be at home to with Mulder, which they were both grateful for. Mulder began walking with his walker and with assistance, he could make it to the bathroom on his own. He still wasn't stable on his feet which made Tim and Bernard fixtures in Scully's home. She was doing her best to adjust to having her home invaded by strangers and the occasional replacement when Tim and Bernard were on vacation but it still bothered her to have them there though she valued their help, she longed for the day when she and Mulder could finally be alone, snuggled up in each other's arms and being a regular couple together.

The Gunmen who were nervous about visiting Mulder in his paralyzed state started coming around when Scully wasn't home. They made sure to high-tell-it out of sight before she got their despite Froehike's insistence that he see her. Scully's home, which she valued as her comfort-zone had been violated for months and it often erupted into arguments with all of her guests and with Mulder.

"I'm tired of working a double shift here," she yelled out. "I just want to know that I don't have to come home and spend another 8 hours cleaning up after you guys," she said, to Mulder and Tim.

"I apologize, Ma'am," Tim stated. "I promise to clean up much better than I have the next time."

Scully nodded and then looked at Mulder. "Scully," he said, in a way that she knew meant 'calm down' but she wasn't in the mood.

Months had gone by and Mulder began to walk without assistance with a walker and then he was given a cane. He joked with Scully that his 'pimping days were over' now that they were together. She rolled her eyes and ignored him. Eventually Scully's wish was granted and she had her home back to herself with just her and Mulder. But still being Mulder's sole caretaker too was stressful with her only breaks from work and home being when her mother came to visit or take her out to lunch. Mulder's leg strength was still a challenge but he was progressing rapidly which helped with the stress-level Scully was put under. She had dropped even more weight than before. Her entire focus was Mulder and it didn't matter what happened. He wanted her to relax and so he began to help around the house with making their bed, though sloppily and tossing his messes into the garbage. He would go for long walks throughout Georgetown to help strengthen his legs, hoping that eventually he could get back to jogging as he did before.

Mulder's apartment was paid for monthly though he had nearly moved entirely into Scully's apartment. She had forced him to give up his porno collection to Froehike who seemed happy to leave where Mulder left off. Scully told Mulder as she gave his porno's to Froehike that it wasn't allowed in THEIR bedroom. Mulder hadn't minded after all they had been intimate for months already so he wasn't concerned about the women he use as a substitute for her.

Despite being assigned to Quantico, Scully often found herself in the basement at Mulder's demand, pouring over cases. Skinner wasn't surprised in the least to find her there on the phone with Mulder going over cases.

Skinner looked a little hesitant. "I have a case for you, Scully. Its an X-file in Arizona," he said, handing her the case file. "I know you're currently assigned to Quantico and I know you want to stay close to Mulder but..."

"It's okay," she said. "Mulder is able to function without me or anyone right now. I'll tell him when I get home."

She could see the cringe in Skinner's features.

"Sir, is something bothering you?"

Skinner shook his head no. He paused and then looked at her from head to toe. "Actually, it is."

"Yes sir?"

"How long is Mulder going to stay at your apartment? I mean, if he's able to walk without any assistance, shouldn't he go home now? And what about work? Is he thinking about returning?"

Scully glanced down and folded her arms defensively. "We haven't talked about that."

"I thought the move into your apartment was temporary."

Scully stared at Skinner for a long moment. "Are they going to reassign one of us, sir? Because I can tell you, Mulder IS itching to return."

Skinner sighed loudly. "I suspected there was more than partnership between you two for a very long time."

Scully cleared her throat and stared down at her toes.

"I don't know what the FBI would do if they found out that you and Mulder are living together," Skinner sighed. "I'm just not sure," he said, turning to walk out the door.

"Sir, what Mulder and I have personally has never and will never affect us professionally."

"That may be the case, Agent but that's not for me to decide. If Kursh gets wind of it, that's all he'll need to send you both packing or to different departments and he'll close the X-files for good."

Scully nodded her head. "I see. "

"Now, I can keep Mulder's address the same on record but eventually agent either he'll have to go back home or you both will have to accept reassignment. And if you decide on reassignment, it's my advice that you should apply for it first instead of having Kursh humiliate you when he does it."

Scully sighed. "Okay. I'll talk to Mulder."

Skinner walked out, not looking back.

When Scully came home, she found Mulder walking around the apartment without his cane, much to her delight. "Scully, look," he said, walking around her living room in a circle. "Can you believe it?"

"I can," she said, as she reached out her hand to slow him down.

He bent down and kissed her on the lips. "How was work?"

"Skinner is sending me on an X-files case in Arizona."

Mulder's face peeked up. "What is it?"

She handed him the case and he sank down into the sofa cushions. "You will need to check to see if this mother's story checks out. I would also look at this kids friends and see if there's any video or other accounts to back up the claim that this kid came back from the dead, Scully."

"Will you be okay with me being gone?", she asked.

She could see the look on his face.

"I can manage."

"I know you can," she said, looking disheartened.

"Scully, is something wrong?" he asked.

"They may separate us, Mulder," she said, sitting down next to him. "Skinner is concerned..."

"I'm going into the office tomorrow," Mulder said, interrupting to her and standing up on still weakened legs. "I'm showing face tomorrow. Where's my suits?"

"In the spare bedroom closet," she sighed.

"Good," Mulder said. "You go on that trip. What time does your flight leave?"

"Four am," she said, jumping up.

"I need to show up."

"Mulder, Skinner had another talk with me. "

"Yeah?", he said, swinging around slowly. "What about?"

"He said, either you move back home before Kursh gets wind of us living here together as lovers or we can make the decision before Kursh does to reassign ourselves. I guess, you would stay in the X-files and I would remain at Quantico."

Mulder stood above her looking down in her wide eyes. "Then the decision is made, Scully."

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