Here we go. You've been expecting it for a while, and now the time has come. This chapter contains spoilers for Memento Mori. I'm sorry.

A few weeks later Mulder got a call from his partner that he was certainly not expecting; a call that instantly had him worried. Scully had asked him to meet her at the hospital, but when he'd asked her what was wrong, she didn't respond. But then she'd told him the department he needed, and her words almost brought him crashing to his knees. Oncology. Cancer. She was fine she told him. Yes, she hadn't been herself lately, ever since her encounter with Ed Jerse, but Mulder presumed she was stressed, not to mention still dealing with her feelings following yet another near death experience, coupled with those over the murder of her sister. And then there had been Mulder's kiss those fateful few weeks ago. They hadn't mentioned what had happened; not that Mulder expected them to. Scully knew he'd been drinking that night after all, and so she no doubt put his kiss down to that. She seemed happy enough to forget all about that night, including their almighty argument, so Mulder went along with it, though he doubted he'd ever forget the taste of his partner's kiss.

En route to the hospital he stopped to pick up some flowers, wanting Scully to know he was thinking of her, and also as a silent apology for their argument. After being directed to the Oncology department, he found his partner looking over an x-ray. Her x-ray. "Scully?"

She turned to look at him, taking in the flowers he was holding. "I uh…I stole these from some guy with a broken leg down the hall. He uh…won't be able to catch me". He knew it wasn't the time to joke, but he was nervous. "How ya doing?"

"I guess that's the question, she replied thoughtfully. "Actually I feel fine".

*Fine* She was anything but, Mulder thought. "What uh…what exactly are we looking at here?"

"It's what's called a nasopharengeal mass. It's a small growth between the superior conchea and the sinoidal sinus".

"A growth?"

"A tumor. You're the only one I've called".

She still trusted him, he thought. Despite everything they'd been through in the past few weeks, she still turned to him when she needed it. "Is it operable?"

"No".

"But it's treatable". It had to be.

"The truth is that the type and placement of the tumor make it difficult, to the extreme".

He couldn't quite comprehend what she was telling him. She was dying… "I refuse to believe that, I -"

It seemed that Scully had had time for her news to sink in. She was calm as she spoke, whereas Mulder felt anything but. "For all times I have said that to you I am certain of this as you have ever been. I have cancer. It is a mass on the wall between my sinus and cerebrum. If it pushes into my brain statistically there is about zero chance of survival".

"I don't accept that". He couldn't lose her, not now. She was his partner, his friend. She had a daughter, and Ashley couldn't lose yet another member of her family. "Th…there must be some people who have received treatment for this. We can…"

"Yes there are".

Her words gave him hope. Little did he know.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

After heading to Allentown to visit Betsy Hagopian, who had been suffering from similar symptoms to Scully, the two of them discovered that the woman had died from her illness. During their visit they met fellow MUFON member Kurt Crawford, who revealed that all bar one MUFON member had died of cancer. Scully took his announcement as confirmation of her worst fears, but Mulder refused to give up – there had to be some cure out there for his partner. Kurt claimed that Scully's cancer was a result of her abduction and part of a government conspiracy and while Mulder was inclined to agree, his partner refused to believe. Scully visited Penny Northern, the last only surviving member of MUFON, and having discussed the woman's condition, decided to begin chemotherapy straight away with Penny's physician, Doctor Scanlon. Mulder supported her decision and vowed to support her, even if that meant calling her mom on behalf of her and explaining the situation. Scully knew that Maggie would be upset that she didn't call her herself, and she wasn't surprised when her mom turned up at the hospital shortly after her admission.

"Dana".

Scully paused in her conversation with Doctor Scanlon, who had just told her that during her treatment she'll feel like she's dying, as her mom walked into the room. "Hi mom".

"Hi".

"This is uh…this is Doctor Scanlon".

"Hi". The man smiled over at Margaret, seemingly unaware of the tension between mother and daughter.

"Hi". Maggie shook the doctor's hand. "I uh…I drove. I was going to take the shuttle, but it's only an hour more by car. Can you imagine?" She was nervous and it showed.

"Mom, I'm fine. I'm going to be fine. I'm just here for treatment".

"I'm going to go", Doctor Scanlon said, deciding to give the two of them the space to talk. "I've ordered some additional blood work and I'd like to start this afternoon".

"Thank you". Scully waited for him to leave the room before addressing Maggie. "Mom, I know what you gonna say, but I don't have any experience being sick. I promise you, I feel find, I feel –"

"I don't know why you didn't tell me". Maggie was visibly angry. "I don't know why you didn't tell me immediately".

"Mom –"

"Don't you think I had a right to know as your mother, instead of having to hear it from Fox?"

"I asked him – "

"Was I the last to know? I thought you'd at least want me around to take care of Ashley". She paused. "Where is she?"

"She's with Emma".

"So you told your babysitter about your condition before you did your own mother?"

"No, mom…." Scully sighed heavily. "I didn't want to bother you with Ashley".

"Bother me? She's my grandchild Dana!"

"I told Emma I was working. She was fine about taking Ashley for a little while until I'd spoken to you".

"I don't know why you didn't tell me immediately", Maggie repeated.

"I wanted to get all the answers first".

"And you found them here?"

"I have found some clarity, and maybe a way to fight back".

"I don't want to be kept in the dark".

"You'll know mom". And this time she meant it.

Maggie stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her daughter. "You have always been the strong one, but you are my only daughter now".

"I know mom". As Maggie began to cry, Scully held her mom, feeling her own tears fall. She had to get through this, she told herself. There was too much to live for. She had to survive.

Xxxxxxxxxx

It had been a rough few days for both Mulder and Scully. As Scully checked herself into hospital to begin her chemotherapy, Mulder sneaked into a fertility clinic, where a number of the abductees were treated despite them being childless. During his investigation he happened upon clones of Kurt Crawford whom, it emerged, were working alongside Doctor Scanlon. Inside the facility they showed him Scully's ova, harvested during her abduction. He'd pocketed a few vials without their knowledge, though he had no idea how to tell his partner what had happened to her. As soon as he discovered the news about Scanlon, Mulder entrusted Byers to pass the news onto Scully and ensure she put a stop to her treatment. Then he made his way to the Medical Center to check in on his partner, who was keeping a bedside vigil by a dying Penny's side. He was there for Scully when she emerged from Penny's room; loss written all over her pale complexion.

"She gone?" Scully nodded in confirmation, her face crumpling. "I'm sorry. I know what she meant to you. When I came to find you, you weren't in your room and I got scared that something had happened…and I read some of what you wrote". Scully's journal, of her thoughts that she'd been compiling since she'd been admitted to hospital. How he shouldn't blame himself if the worst should happen; how her treatment was weakening her spirit; how she needed him by her side if she was to beat the cancer. It was a rare insight into his partner's mind, and he felt guilty for reading it.

Sighing, Scully stepped in closer. "I didn't want you to read that. I had decided to throw it out. I decided tonight that umm…that I'm not going to let this thing beat me. I came into this hospital able to work, and that's how I'm leaving".

"Byers tell you about Doctor Scanlon?"

"Yes".

"He may very well have killed those women". And tried to kill you, he added silently.

"That will have to be proven, if we find him".

"When we find him", Mulder stressed. Scully something was done to you, something that you're just beginning to remember. You can't quite figure it out but it can be explained and it will be explained. And no matter what you think as a scientist or a doctor, there is a way, and you will find it, to save yourself".

"Mulder, I can't kid myself. People live with cancer. They carry on, and so will I. You know, I've got things to finish, to prove to myself, to my family, but for my own reasons. And I have a daughter to live for".

Smiling, she stepped into his embrace. "Come on back", Mulder replied. "The truth will save you Scully. I think it'll save both of us". He kissed her on the forehead and watched as she pulled away and headed back down the hall towards her room. As she disappeared from view, he pulled one of the vials out of his pocket and stared hard at it. He couldn't bring himself to tell Scully what had happened to her just yet; she was still reeling over the shock of her cancer. Soon, he told himself. Soon he'd tell her and he'd be there to pick up the pieces. After giving her a few minutes of privacy, Mulder headed towards Scully's room, noticing when he entered that she was dressed in her day clothes and packing her remaining belongings into her overnight bag. "Hey".

"Hey". She smiled. "I'm almost done".

"Take your time. Did you want to pick up Ashley on the way home?" She nodded hesitantly. "What have you told her? Does she know you're here?"

Scully looked away, unwilling to meet his gaze. "I told her I was away for work", she replied quietly.

Mulder couldn't help but groan, throwing his head back as he looked up towards the ceiling in frustration. "Jeez Scully –"

"I know, I know. I know I should tell her but I can't. Not yet".

"She deserves to know".

"Don't lecture me on how to be a parent Mulder", she snapped, her patience wearing thin. "I'm well aware she needs to know, but right now I can't bring myself to break her heart, I…"Sighing hard, Scully rubbed her eyes wearily. She was tired Mulder realised, and he cursed himself for not seeing it sooner. All the signs had been there right in front of him, but he'd been too busy pushing her away, criticising her, being angry at her for her actions in Philadelphia. He hated himself more than anything at that moment. "She's been through so much. I just want to give her a little more time before I turn her world upside down. I will tell her, but I need to accept the news myself before sharing it". He wanted to ask her how long she'd wait; whether she even had time to wait, but he didn't – he didn't want to know the answer himself. Instead he nodded, appreciating her reasons, walked further into her room and drew her into his arms once again, unwilling to let her go.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mulder pulled up outside of Ashley's babysitter's house, where the little girl had been spending the night. He looked over at Scully in the passenger seat, sensing her worry. "You want me to go up and get her?"

After a moment she nodded, letting out a deep breath before forcing a smile. "Thank you".

Though he hated to leave her alone, Mulder got out of the car and quickly rushed up to Emma's door, making small talk with the familiar woman whilst Ashley ran around the house packing up her things; though, Mulder noted with some amusement, she did attempt to leave her homework there. Mulder carried her bag down to the car while the little girl enthusiastically told him about her night and told him how excited she was to see her mom. Mulder's heart hurt as he realised that pretty soon her world was going to be turned upside down. Again.

Less than twenty minutes later, Scully was letting the three of them into her apartment. She waited for Ashley to put her bag in her bedroom, before she called her daughter back into the living room. "Do you want me to go?" Mulder asked, already sensing what Scully's answer would be. Sure enough, she shook her head.

"Would you mind staying?" She needed his support, now more than ever, and she knew that if he stayed, she would keep calm rather than breaking down in front of her daughter. She needed to be strong for Ashley.

"Of course I don't mind". In a show of solidarity Mulder reached out and squeezed her hand, letting go the moment he saw Ashley walk into the living room. He let Scully take a seat next to her daughter on the sofa, before seating himself on the other side of his partner. "Ashley", Scully began. "I have something to talk to you about".

The little girl's eyes narrowed as she studied her mother. "I didn't do it".

Scully looked puzzled. "Do what?"

"I didn't call Mrs Palmer a naughty word".

"What naughty word?"

Ashley shrugged. "I don't know, but it wasn't me, I promise".

Scully thought about pressing her daughter more on the subject, but decided against it. "We'll talk about it later", she replied. "I have something important to tell you".

"What mom?"

"I've uh…I've been having some tests done at the hospital".

Instantly Ashley paled. "Are you sick?"

"I am…" She paused, taking a deep breath as though to draw strength into her body. Mulder squeezed her knee reassuringly. "I have cancer".

"What does that mean mommy?"

"It means…it means that I have a tumor growing inside of me. And it means that I may get sick but –"

"Are you going to die?" Ashley's voice was barely there, and for a moment Mulder didn't see the young girl in front of him but the little child he first met; a child who was frightened she was going to lose her mom. He couldn't blame her; he was scared too. He waited with bated breath for his partner to answer. Scully said nothing at first, instead wrapping her arms around her daughter and pulling her in close.

"I'm going to get treatment and I'm going to fight this hard". Mulder noted that she didn't answer Ashley, neither confirming her terminal illness or denying it. It was probably for the best, he thought sadly. It wouldn't give her daughter false hope.

"Because I don't want you to die", the little girl added before promptly bursting into tears, summing up the thoughts of everyone in the room.

"Me either baby", Scully murmured. "Me either". She hugged her tightly and moments later felt Mulder's arms envelope the two of them, keeping them safe. For now.