As the wood was smashed and pulled back Skinner reached down to grab onto the first limb he saw. After five hours of digging, he'd heard the water starting to flow and was convinced that they were too late.
He'd had one fast choice to make…try to locate the source of the water or get everyone digging towards it in the hope of getting to them on time.
He could only pray to any God within shouting distance that he'd made the right call.
He grabbed an arm and pulled, it was tight – he quickly realised they were wrapped around each other and his heart clenched at the thought that they could be too late.
He pulled again, there wasn't much room but he had just enough space to leap into what looked to be a horrifyingly small container and drag up who he was quick to realise was Dana Scully. Regretfully, Skinner pulled her out of their embrace into the bright spring air – he quickly breathed into her mouth.
Scully immediately coughed up some water and gasped, but he had no time to celebrate…after heaving Scully up towards two waiting figures Skinner reached back in for Mulder.
As he grabbed his arms Skinner could already hear his friend's partner stirring on the bank above, he heard her weak first word, "Mulder…"
Gripping him by both arms Skinner growled and used all of his strength to pull Mulder up and out of the waterlogged hole.
"Is he breathing?" Frohike shouted down.
"No!" Skinner replied as he moved him onto the bank and dropped his ear to his mouth.
"Mulder!" He heard Scully's panicked voice.
"Keep her up there..." Skinner started to say even as Scully pulled herself up off the ground.
She pushed Byers and Langley to one side and practically flung herself back down the bank.
"Mulder!" Scully gasped as she shoved her burly boss out of the way and immediately covered her partner's mouth with hers. "Come on, Mulder," she gasped and then breathed again, "do not", breath "do this", breath, "to me..."
Scully listened for his breathing again, nothing.
"Come on, Mulder," breath, "come on", breath, "don't leave me" breath, "not now", breath.
Scully felt a strong hand on her shoulder and shrugged it off.
"Mulder", breath, "come on", breath, "I love you", breath, "so much", breath, "I refuse to", breath, "lose you", breath, "please, not now!"
The men surrounding them all glanced at each other hopelessly with equal levels of heartbreak...
But then suddenly Mulder coughed and Scully rushed to roll him onto his side and bring up the water.
"That's it…" she said through her tears, combing her fingers through his hair.
After a few seconds Mulder's head dropped to the side on the freshly dug earth, then his eyes cracked open and looked up at Scully. A smile flickered on his lips, "They did save you…then…" he croaked out.
Scully grinned tiredly and smiled up at their friends, "They saved both of us."
"You really did…hold on…" Mulder coughed and rolled back over to bring up more water.
Laughing softly Scully flopped exhaustedly onto her side next to him and nodded sleepily as their friends rushed to help. "I've got you…" She muttered peacefully and then passed out cold, her face lying pressed up against his back.
There will be a sequel.
What was going on while Mulder and Scully were trapped underground?
And also, well...what happens next?! ;-)