Scully woke up in her bed alone. She looked at the clock. It was almost 9:00am. She figured Mulder might be in the kitchen making coffee or something. Walking out of her bedroom, around her apartment, there were no signs of him. She started feeling a little panicked. Was what she remembered about last night just a dream or a delusion. She went back in the bedroom and looked around. She saw the clothes she had let him use last night folded up on her dresser. She sighed, at least she hadn't imagined it. 'Did he leave in the middle of the night'? she wondered. She was usually such a light sleeper. Gathering up some clothes she decided to take a shower.

When she was dressed and ready for the day she heard her door close shut. She reached for her gun and had it raised when Mulder walked into the bedroom.

"Whoa! I'm not armed G woman," he said with his hands raised in the air and a smirk on his face.

"Sorry, Mulder. I thought you were gone," she said lowering her weapon and putting the safety back on.

"Well, I was. Now I'm back," He said smiling back at her. "I woke up a couple of hours ago. I could tell you needed some more sleep. I didn't want to wake you, so I went home took a shower and picked us up some breakfast."

"Coffee?" She looked hopefully at him.

"Of course." Walking back in the direction of her kitchen Mulder picked up her cup of coffee and handed it to her.

"I guess I really needed that sleep," taking a sip of the coffee letting the warm beverage sooth her as it always did in the mornings.

"I think we both did," Mulder said taking a seat at her kitchen table, taking out the bagels he had bought them for breakfast and handing one over to Scully. "I know you may not want to Scully but we have a lot we need to talk about. I would really love if we can do that today."

"We may need to order in lunch and diner," Scully said more to her to herself then to Mulder. "Ok, Mulder your right. Where to do you want to start?"

"Lets start with you deciding to take your implant out Scully." He saw her flinch. He hadn't meant for that to come out as angry as it did.

"I was tired of not being able to walk through a metal detecter without being stopped." Her attempt at lightening the mood did not amuse him. He stared intensely across at her.

"Seriously, Mulder it was not a decision I made lightly. I weighed my options. As I told you last night, I could feel the implant. It was like a low and subtle pressure in the back of my neck." She unconsciously put her hand to her neck where her implant used to be. "I wasn't sure at first. I couldn't recognize it for what it was but the stranger my experiences became the stronger the sensations."

"But Scully, you know what happened the last time you took it out. How dangerous it was. You almost died, Scully. I just don't understand why you would take that risk again." Mulder could feel is heart quicken at the memories of Scully being sick in the hospital with cancer. It was a miracle that she was sitting in front of him. He couldn't believe she would willing take a chance like that again.

"The implant is preserved exactly like it was when you found it. Before you suggested replacing it with the one I originally took out. Besides it hasn't seemed very safe to have it right now either. People are dying Mulder, and I fit description of the victims." She inhaled deeply. It was difficult actually admitting this to herself. "I'm fine, Mulder."

"Yea well you were fine for a long while when you removed it the last time." He was smoldering.

"Yes, but last time we had no idea what could happen. We're smarter this time around. I know what signs to look for. Besides I get checked up routinely every the 3 months with blood work by my oncologist and a PET scan every 6 months. I had my last scan just over a month ago and it was unremarkable. Not signs of cancer at all. If there are any changes I will know right away and I can put it back in. I needed some sort of freedom from this. What was I supposed to do? Lock myself away somewhere so I couldn't unconsciously go about to finally let it bring me to my death?" She scoffed.

"No, Scully, of course not. I could have been there for you, with you. I could have looked out for you and made sure you were safe." Mulder was staring so intently at she felt like she was on fire.

She couldn't help but laugh. "And what would that have changed. I would still have been a prisoner in my own body and on top of it needing a babysitter every moment of my life. Thats no way to live Mulder."

"I just wish there was a different way. I don't like this." There was a long pause. "There's something I've been wanting to tell you, Scully. I think I know who may have called you that night. Cigarette man was at the warehouse last night. He's definitely involved in this."

"Why doesn't that surprise me." Shaking her head Scully got up to clear the table. They had been sitting there talking for almost an hour. She needed to move around.

Sensing her need for a break he asked her, "Why don't we take a walk Scully. Its beautiful outside and I think we could both use some fresh air."

"Yea that sounds really good actually. There's a really nice park not to far from here. Its walking distance." She was ready to get out of the house.

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Walking down the block from her house on the way to the park nearby, Scully was thinking about how they have just scratched the surface of everything they need to discuss. It was going to be a long day but she was looking forward to getting everything out in the open. Just the little bit they have talked about made her feel lighter.

"Its funny Mulder," Scully said looking up at her partner as they walked together, "how far off track has my life has become when the most normal thing I've done in months feels so odd."

"What do you mean Scully?" Mulder slowed his pace when he saw the park just up ahead. They walked to a nearby bench underneath a large oak tree shielding them from the sun in their faces.

"Taking a stroll to the park." She laughed out loud. "Its just a normal thing that normal people do. I haven't felt normal in a long time."

"I hate to be the one to break this to you Scully but I don't think either one of us could be classified as normal any more but I think we could blend in from time to time." He was laughing with her now. She was right. They had both seen and been through so much over the years, it had changed them.

"Do you want to continue?" He asked her quietly. He didn't want to push her but there was more he needed to know.

"Yea," looking down at her feet she continued with her story. "The first night I saw the warehouse I instantly knew I recognized it. I had been there before but I couldn't remember when or why. I wanted to go inside, look around, see if it could jog my memory but I had no idea where I was or how I got there. I was almost out of gas, I didn't have my weapon on me and I had no cell phone service. I decided against it and continued to try and get home."

Mulder reached out and held her hand, reassuring her to continue. She held his hand back.

"On multiple attempts I tried to find it again but never succeeded until I followed Ashely Case. The first time I followed her there I just waited outside. I was relieved that I wasn't crazy. There were other cars there when I pulled up. I waited there for hours. Eventually everyone started to trickle outside. They all seemed so strange. No one looked at each other, no one said a word to each other. They just piled in their cars and drove away. There were two more cars sitting there. I knew others were still inside. I waited. Two men came out. They were smiling at one another. They seemed to be congratulating themselves. They shook hands and got in their cars and drove off. After I was sure no one else was in the building I went inside to have a look around. It was the strangest thing Mulder. It looked just like the room I saw in my dream only there were no people lying on the beds. The set up was identical though. There was medical equipment that I have never seen in my life and could not identify there." She sighed. She knew he wouldn't like the next part.

"The devices that I dreamt about where there. I decided to put it up to my own neck to see what, if anything at all happened." Her eyes pulled back up to meet Mulder's. She could see his displeasure in what she was telling him but his only response had been to rub the back of her hand with his thumb prompting her to continue.

"Mulder, it was like this thing became alive just being near my implant. It stuck to the back of my neck almost flying out of my hand. The computer monitor came on and I could see series of digits and letters coming up on the screen. It was the last thing I remembered. When I came to I was laying face down on the floor. The device had fallen off my neck. I inspected the computer. There was a disc inside and I believed it had recorded whatever information it had just taken from me. I left then. I had seen enough. When I walked outside it was fully dark. I had been unconscious for hours. Its when I decided to take a leave of absence from the Bureau."

She needed another break. If even just a short one. Standing up still holding his hand she said, "Come on Mulder lets walk around a little."

They continued through the park hand in hand. Letting the silence become a welcomed presence. Molder's mind was reeling. This entire time she was gone he had been arrogant enough to think it was because of him. He felt foolish and ashamed of himself. He should have been there for her.

A long stretch of time passed as they walked in silence. They were headed back in the direction of her apartment.

Mulder finally broke the silence. "Do you have the disc Scully?"

She was surprised he hadn't asked sooner. "I have it, yes. I haven't had it checked out yet. I feared if I did it would have been brought to your attention. I wasn't ready for that to happen yet."

"Scully what happened last night? When you were inside with the rest of those people." They had stopped now, sitting on the ledge of a near by building. Watching people go about their every day routines.

"I knew I was going to go back but I wanted to be able to blend in just in case. I knew that having a tattoo on the shoulder was significant I just didn't know why. Thats when I decided to get the henna. Just a few short days later I found myself back in the warehouse only this time I hadn't voluntarily driven there. I couldn't remember doing so anyway. I was in the same room as before but now everything had been cleared out. I stole a glance around the room hoping my movements would not be noticed. All these people seemed to be in some sort of trance. After what fell like hours of sitting still the two men that I had seen leave last on my previous trip there, finally walked in. One was rolling in a machine. He hooked it up to Ashley Case's shoulder. It was as though a jolt passed through her and after a minuet or so they disconnected it from her and left the room. Everyone started to get up and leave, so I followed suit. When I got back home I got in touch with a physician I went to med school with and asked him to remove my implant. I was sure my life was in danger." Scully felt light headed. She had been talking for hours now. It was after one.

"Well I guess you were right Scully. Looks like its time to get some lunch." They walked to a local deli and ordered sandwiches. There they hadn't discussed anything about their time away from each other. They were just enjoying their time together.

Back at her apartment now it was finally time to conclude her story. She was so happy her tale was almost over. Once she was done they would finally be able to work on what comes next.

"Mulder, I believe that these people served as a type of catalyst. They're being used for something unknown to us at the moment. The people behind this is gaining information from them and then disposing of them when they have everything they need. I just don't know what yet. It was what I was hoping to find out yesterday. The only thing that happened was that device was hooked up to almost everyone. They started from the back row and was working their way up. I would have been next and I would have most likely been found out, I'm sure of it, if it wasn't for you and the diversion you caused." She was finally done. She had explained everything of importance and had finally reached the events of last night.

Mulder sat in silence for some time. What type of information could these men be gathering. It was obvious that they chose their victims based on their life styles. The more secluded the better but besides that he was at a loss.

"Were going to figure this out Scully." He was sitting on her couch. She was sitting on the opposite end. "Together." He said this quite seriously. There was no amusement in his expression.

"Together," she said nodding. He reached his hand out to her and pulled her close to him. She felt a brand new conversation leading way. Another conversation that was equally important as the one they just had. This one she sensed would be even more uncomfortable but much more personal to both of them.

Now sitting right next to each other, all either one of them could hear was the sound of each others breathing. Scully pulled her knees up resting them on his stomach while he was sitting catty corner in the nook of the armrest and back of the couch. One hand rested on her thigh while the other was stroking he hair and occasionally her check.

"I guess we still have more to talk about huh Scully?" As Mulder said this he could feel his pulse start to quicken.

"I guess we do. I'm thinking this one is yours to start though Mulder." She wanted to put the ball in his court.

He smiled at her and realized how easy it would be for him to chicken out of this and leave well enough alone. He also realized that would probably be the biggest regret of his life.

"Ok Scully. I'll start off by saying that I have wanted to apologize if I came on to strong that night. I guess there were just so many thoughts and feelings that I needed to share that it just came out all together probably overwhelming you with it. The last thing I wanted was to smother you." Mulder felt her hand on top of his thigh and with it a blot of electricity run though him. She wasn't pulling away. She was in fact responding to him.

A small giggle escaped her. "What's so funny?" He asked her. A smile pulling at his lips.

"Nothing at all actually. It's just that over this past month I have imagined this conversation and each time I pictured me as the one apologizing." She had now become serious again. "We had finally been honest about our feelings for each other. More honest than we have been over the years of our partnership together and I just left after that. I knew that I should have at least offered you some sort of explanation but I just didn't know how to do that without involving you in everything. As much as I wanted and needed you there with me, I was afraid. I didn't want something happening to you because of me."

"Well, how about we start fresh from this moment on?" He was now hopeful that she was going to reciprocate his feelings for her.

"I would love that Mulder." She stared directly into his eyes.

"For some reason I feel a but coming on," he continued the gaze being sure not to break it. His confidence starting to waver.

"I'm just afraid of what would happen to us if this didn't work out. More than anything else Mulder your my best friend. Your the most important person to me on this planet. I can't fathom loosing you even if that meant never truly having you." She couldn't believe she had actually spoken those words. She could feel herself start to tremble.

He pulled her closer. "Scully, one thing you never have to worry about is loosing me. What ever could possibly happen between us, I promise you I will always be there for you. Also, Scully, we don't have to rush into anything. All I know is that you are my perfect opposite and by that Scully I mean you are my perfect everything. Your the one that I was meant to be with Scully. I just can't imagine being with anyone other than you."

He pulled her even closer now. Their lips just inches apart. "If this is something you think you want, I'm all in." His hand held a fist full of her hair now. He just waited for her response. He was rewarded with her lips closing on his. It was the sweetest kiss he had ever known.

She pulled away slightly. "Theres nothing more in this world that I want more than what's in front of me," She said just above a whisper and he pulled her back in to continue their kiss.

Hope all the dialogue wasn't to boring. I guess that's what happens when these two are away from each other for too long!