Title: Things That Make Mulder Wonder or The Enigma That Is Dana Scully
Category: X-Files (MSR)
Summary: A whole pile of post-eps for episodes in season 6 and 7 (not necessarily every episode), revolving around Mulder's thoughts, particularly about Scully.
Rating: G - this might change per chapter
Spoilers: Spoilers up to seasons 6 and 7. You'll know if you read the title of each chapter which episode it pertains to.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. I don't know if that's good or bad.
Once again, I'm sorry for delays in posting. Real life hampers as much as possible. As you probably know, these were all written a long time back, however, sometimes when I read them I wonder what I was thinking or if I could have done better. This is one of those chapters. I didn't change it, so I'll leave the decision up to you.
And once again, I appreciate the feedback you've been leaving. I welcome more of it, and I hope you leave your thoughts, whatever they may be. :) I hope you enjoy!
Per Manum Insert II
"I, um, I have my appointment with Dr. Parenti tomorrow morning," she says to him as she enters his office. She has her coat and bag with her, and he'd thought she'd left some time ago.
"Oh?" he asks, his attention quickly and completely taken from the document on mysticisms circling around Y2K. "What for?"
"It's to see if the implantation has taken effect. If it has, there is a good chance that I could carry to term."
"Oh. Like pregnancy?"
"Yes, like pregnancy."
"How do you feel?"
She sighs. "Nervous. Terrified, actually. It's probably too early for a pregnancy test to be fully accurate, but I wish I could just know right away, skip the waiting. I mean, I don't feel different, so I don't think it's worked."
"If women simply 'felt' pregnant this early, Scully, there wouldn't be a need for pregnancy test." He watches her as she fiddles with an errant staple on his desk. He wonders if she'll ask him to accompany her. He hopes she does.
"I don't know. I just thought I would feel something." She smiles sadly at herself. "I'm being ridiculous, I know."
"It's okay to be scared, Scully. Hey, uh, why don't I go with you to your appointment? Maybe it'll take the edge off. We can have brunch after, come in to the office late. It's not like we haven't earned it."
"I can't ask you to do that, Mulder. I'll just be a mess until I know for sure."
"All the more reason for me to come along. I'm used to your mood swings."
"The appointment is at eight AM."
"Great. I'll pick you up at seven thirty."
She smiles at him, and he wonders if it's possible for her to see that his heart skipped a beat.
xXx
He goes up to get her from her apartment because he feels as if this is too much of a monumental moment for him to just call her down. She's dressed in her office best, carrying a bag with her and looking as if she will throw up at any moment.
"Calm down, Scully. Either way it doesn't matter. You said you had more eggs, right? So this doesn't work, then the next time will. Stress isn't good for the baby."
"How do you know all of this?" she asks. He doesn't answer. He wonders if she'll find it stupid that he's spent the majority of his down time on the internet reading about what she's going through.
Instead of answering, he shrugs.
"Mulder, I… I don't know how much you know of what they will do today. I'll have an ultrasound, and there may also be a gynaecological examination. I know you're optimistic and I appreciate it, but I want you to be prepared for the worst."
He cringes slightly at the term "gynaecological examination," but he nods solemnly. As they wait in the outer area of the clinic, he can't stop his hands from fidgeting or his knee from bouncing. Finally, she puts her hand on his thigh.
"Calm down," she smiles.
He looks at her, about to ask her how she can stay calm, when a nurse calls them in. He jumps to his feet a bit too quickly, feeling dizzy for just a brief moment, before putting his hand on her back and leading her in.
"Dana, how are you? And Fox, so nice to see you make it to the appointment." He doesn't know what Dr. Parenti means with that statement, however he just nods and tries to stop his knee from bouncing again. "Dana," he starts, "It may be that it's just too early for the pregnancy test to be accurate. I think we'll do the ultrasound first. We'll have a better idea of what our strategy is after we know for sure."
As they go to the ultrasound room, Mulder bends to whisper in her ear.
"Do you have to be naked or change or something for this? Want me to give you some privacy."
She shakes her head and takes his hand. He's surprised, but squeezes it before she drops it to walk down the hall and into the room.
Her shirt is pulled up and her pants pulled slightly down and a strange gel is squirted on her flat stomach and he's suddenly sure of it too. No baby could fit in a stomach that flat and toned. The doctor rubs a wand through the gel and over her stomach and a fuzzy image appears on the screen in front of them. Mulder takes her hand once more, his heart pounding in nervousness and hope.
Scully won't look at the screen. Instead, her focus is on their entwined fingers. The doctor rubs around and is a little forceful in some places and Mulder turns to her in time to catch her wince.
"Take it easy there, doc," he says, looking into her eyes to make sure she's okay.
It's painful silence for some long moments until the doctor speaks. "I'm sorry, Dana," Dr. Parenti says, as he wipes her stomach of the goop.
He watches as her eyes drop from his. She nods gently, and takes in a shaky breath.
"Dana, we have other options. I think we should discuss what we should do for the next round." The doctor leaves them alone then, and Mulder presses her forehead to hers.
"Don't give up, Scully."
His heart breaks as she takes in another shaky breath only to let out a sob. He kisses her forehead, then kisses her cheek, then kisses the hand he still holds tightly in his.
"Let's hear what the doctor has to say." He helps her up and turns while she buttons her slacks and fixes her blouse. When he turns back, he's disappointed to see her the picture of rigid professionalism, her features carefully schooled and the slight red rim to her eyes the only evidence that she's been given such devastating news.
"Scully…." He says.
"Let's see the doctor, Mulder."
Doctor Parenti speaks of embryo growth and injections and all Mulder can do is wonder how Scully can be so clinical after they've just lost their baby.