Maybe get tissues handy...

"Mulder…I—I've got some strange news about Becky…" Scully hated making this phone call, she knew Mulder was expecting it all morning but she was having a hard time doing it. She had already made a phone call to Rebecca's parents and told them they should head up and expect the inevitable. Not in such harsh words but from doctor to patients family as easily as she could. God I hate this part of my job. It was a rarity when Scully couldn't help a patient.

"Scully? Is she ok?" He was concerned as if he would be for his own child.

"She's fine for now. Mulder—I—I don't know what we can do for her. This tumor is acting strangely; I've never seen anything like this." She was quiet for several minutes, tears stinging her eyes. "If we do anything too quickly it'll shut her body down, her body would be comatose and if we try slowly making her feel better she'll die from the pressure the tumor is inflicting alone…" tears fell from her eyes and down her cheeks, Scully didn't often cry about patients but she felt so terribly helpless that she failed Rebecca.

"Scully, maybe it's just best if you let her go…what can we do for her in the mean time?" Mulder was trying to be helpful; maybe he could do something for her. "She's going to die isn't she, Scully?" He could sense it in her voice and her silence, she had tried so hard to make her better and it hadn't worked.

"If anything I think I made her worse this morning…"Scully choked back a slight sob and sat for a moment. "In a moment of desperation, for something to ease the pain her poor brain was going through I gave her chocolate and I know that sounds weird to say but—it gave off those same endorphins...it was worth a shot and it worked…too well I'm afraid and she was completely-stoned." She laughed a little at her statement but kept flashing of Rebecca's scan and how strange it looked with fluid movement around her tumor.

"Stoned Scully?" Mulder was also taken aback at the response she had given him but it was the only way it made sense to anyone.

"She was completely out of it; giggling down the hallway, disturbing other patients…she was quite the spectacle." Scully sighed heavily, "…She does want to see you though…I've called her parents but I don't think she cares too much. She's asked about you."

"What do you think Scully should I come and visit, I mean it's not strange is it?" He did feel quite protective of her and wanted to comfort her as much as he could. He felt the same way about Scully all along as well.

"I think it'd mean a lot to her for you to be here with her. Might ease her enough to where she's not in much pain." Scully tried to sound hopeful, she was out of ideas and didn't know what to do for the poor girl.

"I'll come down Scully." It was a simple statement, feeling like the right thing to do for both Scully and Rebecca, "do you need me to bring you anything?"

"No, I'll see you soon." Hanging up the phone, Scully laid her head on her desk and thought deeply about Rebecca and what her condition was doing to her body. It was becoming complicated and she wished there was something more she could do for her. Scully fell asleep in her office, still drowsy from getting there so early that morning and the bottle of wine the night before.

Making his way to the hospital, Mulder wasn't sure what he could do for Rebecca, should I bring more trivia for her brain to wrap around, should we play a game? Nothing seemed clear but she was at her very best and level headed when she was with him. Mulder smiled at the thought, he was glad he made a difference in someone's life, even if Rebecca did have a little crush on him, it made him feel good. He knew he loved Scully very much but innocent flirting was not a bad thing for anyone, its part of basic customer service every day.

Pulling up to the hospital, Mulder found himself sitting in the car longer than he wanted to be, just thinking about Rebecca. I've got a few riddles up my sleeve if she can handle that much right now, Scully didn't sound hopeful of recovery at this point. He didn't feel like he wanted to give up so early, maybe treating her in these unorthodox ways exacerbated her illness. He was still confused at what he wanted to do but getting out of the car he knew he had to see her at least, maybe him being there for her is what she needed.

Making his way through the lobby and grabbing a visitor's badge, Mulder made his way upstairs to where he knew Rebecca was, he was nervous. This borderlines visiting Scully when she was returned from her abduction. He was nervous and excited but not sure what to expect. Why had she made such an impact on their lives, all the sudden she was a part of them, as little time as she had spent with them she had filled a void that both Mulder and Scully needed, maybe it was their way to be parents after all.

Bracing himself for the worst he opened the door to Rebecca's room and saw her laying in bed, she was awake but in a daze, staring lifelessly out the window next to her bed.

"Knock, knock…" Mulder smiled as she turned to look at him, she looked a lot like she did when they first met, she was weak, and she did indeed look like she was currently fighting off her cancer. Her skin was pale, her hair pulled into a loose pony tail and she just looked flat out exhausted.

"Mulder…" tears stung her eyes looking at him but she was indeed grateful. "…I'm glad you're here, you are the only one besides Dr. Scully that I'd really want by my side right now and I understand that she's got things to work on." He joined her on her bed and held her hand, tears falling onto her cheeks as much as she tried to not let them. "…I'm dying you know…I'm not sure—my parents are coming?" Mulder nodded his head in agreement. Her speech was jumbled, some of her thoughts seemed incomplete, Mulder knew she was trying to make sense of what was happening still, trying to help herself…to help Scully help her.

"I've got some more trivia if you want, ease up any pain?" He was trying for her but she shook her head 'no' and he nodded in understanding.

"Can you—can you lie with me?" her request was that of a child, scared and lonely, having had a nightmare. Mulder wasn't sure how to respond to her request; he was afraid if he didn't lie with her she'd feel a sense of rejection and possibly start feeling worse. If he did indeed end up lying with her she might just fall asleep peacefully, I really hope she'll just sleep. Mulder didn't see he had much of a choice, Rebecca really needed the rest and if he could offer her the comfort, then he'd just bite the bullet and fight about it later with Scully. He swallowed as he crawled in behind her, he tucked her in making sure she was comfortable and she snuggled into him close, wanting the comfort that she had been lacking in her personal life. Mulder felt her instantly relax in his arms, he held her, wanting to cry himself, imagining being a parent and having their child suffer through anything and knowing there was nothing you could do besides offer a shoulder to cry on, a voice to speak to and a body to hug. This was being a parent; this is what he missed from his own son. Within minutes she slept and Mulder closed his eyes thinking this was the best he could offer her at this point.

Scully stood in the door way, not wanting to interrupt the tender moment Rebecca and Mulder shared. She wanted to be jealous but she couldn't, not this time, she understood what this was from the moment Rebecca had asked if he could visit. This girl needs all the love she can get, keeping her endorphin levels at normal is what she needed to pass on, the stability that Mulder offered Rebecca was the best that they'd ever seen. Scully watched the exchange between the two of them, the way Mulder tucked her in, the way his arms wrapped around her frail body, hugging Rebecca as tightly as he would her. She bit her lip as tears rolled down her cheeks, there were so many emotions going through Scully thinking of their striking similarities, cancer and all. Please dear Lord, make this girl happy. The way Mulder held her so carefully, as to not break her; she wanted to be held looking at the two of them.

Easing her way into the room, not wanting Rebecca to wake up she looked upon them from above, knowing all too well this is exactly how parents feel when their children have a hard time sleeping. Reaching out her hand, she brushed her fingers through Mulder's hair, rousing him slightly. He blinked a few times; it was only midday so it was still pretty light that he saw who had intruded on them right away.

"I can't leave her Scully…" he whispered lightly, "…don't be mad at me…" he added and she chuckled a little.

"I'm not…I know…" she barely whispered back. "I just wanted to check in—I'll let her rest though." She smiled and ran her fingers through his hair again; bending down hesitantly she captured his lips in a kiss, appreciating everything he's done for her and for Rebecca. Mulder smiled knowing she wouldn't have kissed him publically if this wasn't a big deal to her. "I know she's in good hands…" Scully commented and left without a second thought, she trusted Mulder with Rebecca as much as she would her own life.