Chapter Nine
Georgetown Memorial Hospital – 3.33pm
Mulder closed his eyes and held Scully's small, soft hand close to his face with both of his hands. As he leaned against the side of her bed his elbows started to ache. He had sat like this for nearly 5 hours.
The nurse that he had been speaking to earlier walked in and gave him a small, sympathetic smile. He sighed with worry and looked back at Scully. She was still unresponsive.
'Why is she still like this?' He asked in a small, low voice.
'It was a very large dose Agent Mulder..'
'Are you sure that it was just a hallucinogen? Not something else?'
'We are sure, we have done all the tox screens.' She said gently. Mulder nodded, trying to reassure himself.
'She said something earlier, under her breath.' He said, his eyes welling with tired tears as he remembered. He was exhausted. He hadn't slept a wink the night before.
'Really? What did she say?' The nurse asked with interest.
'William.' He whispered. He could hardly speak as the emotion filled his chest. He couldn't believe it when she had said his name, and then his own. 'And she said my name too.'
'Well that's good!' The nurse said with a smile. Mulder looked at her with sad eyes.
'No, it's not. You don't understand - William is our son – but he was adopted when he was baby. It has troubled her ever since. She is having nightmares, I know it.'
'Agent Mulder…' The nurse started with sympathy, 'Any response from her is good. She should be coming round soon, you'll see. She's going to be very confused and disoriented when she wakes up, so you need to be here with her. You need to be strong for her.'
Mulder blinked, and looked at her bruised face again. She looked peaceful at the moment, but she hadn't been just an hour ago.
'Ok.' He said softly with a sigh, and kissed her hand gently. He closed his eyes again and tried to sleep before she woke up.
Somewhere in Scully's mind
She opened her eyes and saw the familiar bedside table. She lay in their bed.
She frowned with confusion as she tried to remember how she had gotten here. Then it came back to her. The rain, the mud, the fear, the snowstorm, Mulder… William…
'Mulder?' She exclaimed in a sleepy voice. She rolled over in the bed to see if he was beside her. She reached her arm out across the bed but it was empty. She frowned in confusion, where was he?
'William?' She called out cautiously, but no one came. She straightened herself up in the bed and looked around the familiar bedroom she shared with Mulder. Everything seemed as it was – she saw her dressing gown hung over the chair by the dresser and her slippers by the wardrobe.
Pushing herself out of the bed she went over to grab them. She slipped the gown over her night dress and put her feet in her slippers. She headed towards the kitchen.
Stepping out onto the creaky old floorboards she knew so well, she glanced around to see if Mulder or William was around – but she couldn't see anyone. Suddenly she heard the sound of glasses chiming together, and the sound of sloshing water. She walked into the kitchen, and saw Mulder over the sink. He appeared to be doing the dishes.
The sight took her by surprise. It had been years since she had witnessed such an event…
'Mulder?' She asked in a soft voice. He stopped and turned to face her, his smile beaming from ear to ear. She couldn't help but smile back. He grabbed the nearest hand towel and dried off. Then he bounded towards her, his arms reaching out to her.
'Hey sleepy head.' He gushed, and pulled her into his chest. She gasped in delight as his skin touched hers, their bodies pressing together. She placed her head in her usual spot and sighed, closing her eyes as if to hold the moment in her memory forever. 'You've been asleep for almost 14 hours, I was worried you would never wake up.'
'14 hours?' She replied in confusion. He pulled away from her and met his eyes with her own.
'Yes.' He said, brushing down her bed hair. She swallowed her emotion as his love poured into her through his gaze. 'Are you ok? Are you feeling better?' He asked, his eyes twinkling with concern.
'I'm fine.' She said, managing a small smile. He looked relieved.
'Do you want some… brunch?' He asked, pausing before the word 'brunch'. She didn't know what time it was, but by his expression she thought it was may be even too late for dinner let alone brunch.
'Erm… no.. I mean… yes… I mean…' She stuttered in confusion. She was well aware that someone was not with them. 'Mulder? Where's William?'
He froze suddenly and frowned – the colour draining from his face. She felt dread hit her chest at his reaction.
'Mulder?' She pressed again, raising an eyebrow. His lips were in a tight line. She waited for him to explain..
It seemed to take forever.
'Scully…' He started, concern filling his voice. 'Are you sure that you are feeling ok?'
'Yes Mulder, why what are you..?' She started, but she already knew the answer. He wasn't there.
'Dana… honey…' He started with difficulty. She took a deep breath as the panic started to make her heart race. 'You know where William is. He has been adopted, you know that..'
'Oh god..' She replied breathlessly, and she pushed Mulder off her. He looked hurt and confused, but she managed to tear herself away from him. 'He's not here is he.' She whispered, her heart breaking.
'No.' He replied simply, and waited for her reaction.
'He was here… last night...' She demanded, her voice getting louder. Mulder looked at her desperately.
'Please Scully, don't do this..' He pleaded, the pain evident in his eyes.
'No Mulder.. he was here!' She shouted, tears now threatening to fall. She stepped back from him.
'How could he be here? What are you talking about?' He asked again, trying to stay calm.
'Where is he?' She demanded again, her heart pounding against her chest. Mulder looked lost. He didn't know what to say.
'Scully, please… I don't know what's wrong with you…' He said desperately. He tried to get nearer to her again but she flinched away.
'NO!' She shouted. 'THIS ISN'T REAL!'
Mulder stared at her in shock, open mouthed.
'WHERE IS HE!' She shouted, tears glistening in her eyes. 'I SAID, WHERE IS HE!?'
Georgetown Memorial Hospital – 7.15pm
Scully blinked.
She saw a glimpse of the white, sanitary hospital room with its bright lights. She squeezed her eyes shut again in a knee jerk reaction.
The cabin started to melt away around her.
Scrambling for something to hold onto, she cried out in fear as the floorboards started to snap under her and Mulder's feet. She tried to reach for him, but he was falling, down into the blackness…
'I don't care what Doctor Tansley says!' He shouted. 'I just want her to wake up!'
'Agent Mulder, please calm down…'
'Don't tell me to calm down! She's been like this for over 8 hours now! She's not waking up!'
'Please.. Agent Mulder… keep your voice down…'
'I WON'T KEEP MY VOICE DOWN UNTIL SOMEBODY TELLS ME THAT SHE IS GOING TO BE OK!'
'Mulder?' She rasped, opening her eyes slowly, her voice slowly starting to come back to her. She closed them again, and the cabin had gone.
Mulder had gone, into the darkness, but she could hear his voice… he was in the room…?
'Mulder?' She said again, her voice growing in strength.
'Oh my god… Scully!'
Suddenly she felt him grab her hand and as her vision adjusted to the bright light, she saw his face looking down at her with wide, concerned eyes…
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