CHAPTER TWELVE

Mulder didn't have time to think, he slammed the door shut and locked it behind him, as he had a feeling that Bruce was still alive.

He was panicking, but his face didn't show it as usual, it was stoic, not moving or showing emotion.

"Scully come on, we gotta go." He said firmly and ignored her cries of pain as he literally almost picked her up in his one arm but he couldn't really. He was pretty much dragging her as he tore off into the trees. It was getting dark by now and he just wanted to get as far away from the apartment, which was not an apartment now he realized, but actually some sort of underground structure. He frowned heavily as he looked back, just once more at the strange building, but again he didn't have time think.

She was in so much pain.

Scully tried to pull herself together but every time she did another wave of agony would rush over her.

She was sure now she had hurt her back, she needed to lie down. But she couldn't. She knew that Mulder was trying his best and just doing what he needed to keep them alive. She whimpered as they hurried into the trees. It was cold and it was wet, it had recently rained. She wasn't sure how long they could survive out here on their own, as she knew she couldn't keep on the run for long.

She needed rest.

He spoke to her softly and tried to calm her down, tried to reassure it was all right but she knew it wasn't.

She needed medical attention and fast, they both did..

They must have scrambled for any sign of shelter for about fifteen minutes, then she was done, she couldn't do it anymore.

She was strong but she couldn't handle any more..

"Mulder I need to stop." She blurted out tearfully.

He turned to look at her, frowning with worry.

"Scully come on, just a little farther, maybe we can find somewhere.."

"No Mulder, there's nowhere!" She cried out, harsher than she intended, but she was just in so much pain she couldn't handle it anymore.

"Scully…" He started sadly, terribly worried.

He felt his heart aching so bad, he was sweating and exhausted and he wanted to get her to shelter somewhere, he had to hope that there was some other house or a lodge in the woods or something, with a phone that they could use to call for help.

He needed to call Skinner, this was his first thought...

"I have to sit down Mulder. Dammit please, just stop, we can hide…" She panted, pulling away from him and placing her hands on her hips, wincing in pain and bending over, trying to catch her breath…

"Scully.. ok, ok... it's ok…" He gasped as he saw her struggling, he hated to see that so he moved towards her and gently pulled her into an embrace.

She stifled a frustrated sob as he hugged her, she closed her eyes and took deep breaths as he tried to soothe her by caressing her back but then she cried out again in pain and he jumped and pulled away, looking at her in shocked sadness.

"I'm sorry, jeez.. I'm so sorry Scully, where does it hurt?" He asked again, as she didn't answer her last time. He placed his good hand on her shoulder. "Is it your back?"

She looked up at him with her blue eyes and she melted when she saw how worried he was, she could see it in his hazel eyes. She felt her lower lip trembling and she nodded silently. It was her back, she was sure now. And she knew back injuries were dangerous.

He sighed and reached to stroke her damp hair back from her face with one hand and then bent down to kiss her forehead softly.

"Come on, lie down." He whispered gently, and they did their best to hide.

There was grass and a large cluster of bushes, so he laid her down as gently as he could and pushed the bushes aside so they could hide behind them. He just hoped that Bruce didn't have any more keys, or they would be in trouble.

They hadn't gotten that far because they were slow, but at least they had some shelter.

For now..

She laid down on her side and curled her legs up to her chest, and he watched her then immediately laid down next to her and wrapped his good arm around her waist, pulling her close and hugging her as gently as he could without hurting her back.

"We're gonna be fine..." He said as strongly as he could, but he was trying not to cry himself, as she was just so weak and fragile right now, and he hated to see her this way, as she was always the strong one.

She made a small sad noise in response, and he sighed and reached up to run his hand through her hair as he couldn't touch her back, so he tried to soothe her like that. He then leant down to kiss her softly on the lips, tenderly. He didn't kiss her hard although he kind of wanted to, as he felt like he had nearly lost her back there, but he kissed her to try and calm her and show her how much he loved her, that he was there for her and that he was going to protect her.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, he tried to calm her shaking body as she was so cold. He kept kissing her softly, trying to keep her alert as he was scared she was going to pass out or something.

"Scully?" He whispered after a long while, keeping his eyes on her at all times.

"Hmm?"

He sighed and closed his eyes then as he hated the question which was burning on his lips. But he needed to know.

"Have you been on your own with him all day?" He asked nervously.

She was silent for a moment and then opened her eyes and looked up at him, her eyes looked so lost and upset. He looked at her dead in the eyes again and then studied her face. Her cheeks were red with the cold and she still looked so beautiful even though she was upset and in pain. He sighed and caressed her cheek gently, urging her to respond to him as he needed to know what he had done to her, if anything.

"Yes." She said in a whisper, not taking her eyes off Mulder for a second. He nodded and felt dread fill his chest and moved his hand down to her waist again as he hugged her closer, still not so much to hurt her but just so she was warm and comforted. He pecked her on the lips again gently.

"What did he make you do..?"

She swallowed nervously and frowned a little in sadness. She felt Mulder's worry and concern for her and it killed her, she didn't want him to think that he had done anything to her like that, so she spoke quickly to reassure him.

"He made me cook for him, and call him darling." She said in a stronger voice than before, may be it was his body heat and the fact she was resting, but she felt a little better. "I swear he didn't hurt me. I promise." She told him, her voice trailing off into a whisper as she saw Mulder almost break down at that.

He was relieved, but he was also still so angry, as he hated the fact that he had done that to her, and that he hadn't been there to help her.

"Is that all?" He asked cautiously after a moment, his eyes were welling with painful and angry tears as he searched her eyes for the truth, just in case she was hiding something to protect him.

"He brushed past me a few times… but it was nothing…" She started.

"Did he touch you!?" Mulder snapped over her immediately, demanding an answer. His grip on her tightened, protectively, his eyes were then full of rage. "Tell me, did he? Scully tell me right now!"

"No!" She blurted out in response and raised one of her hands to cup his face and she held his gaze firmly. "NO. I promise."

He was shaking a little with rage, as he tried to calm himself down, tried to get over the fear that he had touched her, as she said that he didn't.

He didn't touch her. It was ok. He didn't touch her..

"Thank god." He gushed and pressed his forehead against hers, closing his eyes and breathing raggedly as the panic slowly left him. He was still shaking a little but he was calmer now, he held her close, like he was never going to let her go. "Thank god he didn't touch you. I-I don't know what I would have done if…" His voice broke off with emotion.

"I know." She whispered and caressed his stubble, closing her own eyes and resting with him, with their foreheads touching like they always did in times of difficulty. "I know Mulder, it's all right."

They were silent again for a while as they held each other, gaining heat from each others bodies. He finally looked at her again with such concern and saw her hair was lank and losing the normal vibrant red she always had. His heart sank with sadness at the state of her.

"Go to sleep." He whispered gently as he held her close. "You need to rest. I'm gonna keep you safe. I promise..."

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