Two mugs of tea were on the coffee table as they sat silently on her couch. A man lay dead in Mulder's apartment, and the cancer inside her had metastasized. A secret she had not shared, devouring her body like a stick of dynamite: the fuse long though the flame was rapidly gaining speed.
"I'm so sorry, Scully," he whispered and she looked at him. His eyes were closed, his expression defeated. "You never should've stayed with me…"
"Mulder, it was always my decision to stay. My decision, Mulder." He opened his eyes and held her stare. "You can't get rid of me so easily." She smiled softly and his eyes became sadder.
"Scully… don't… don't say that," he whispered, his hand finding hers and holding tightly. "If this cancer was given to you, to make me believe… Scully, there has to be a cure. I didn't know how to help you, but if that dead man's government access gives me the chance to find what you need..." She squeezed his hand and nodded, knowing that no matter what he found, it would not be enough. Time was running out and nothing was guaranteed.
She was dying and he could not save her.
"It might not even exist, Mulder," she said quietly, her heart pounding with the knowledge which he did not know, the words threatening to fall from her lips.
"I won't accept that, Scully. It's there. I just need to know where to look," he whispered, his eyes boring into hers, and she smiled sadly as her words from so long ago were echoed back to her. She held tightly to his hand, putting her faith in the belief that he would find a cure, as silence once again filled the room.
The ringing of the telephone pulled Scully from her sleep. Opening her eyes, she saw she was laying with her head on Mulder's shoulder. He mumbled in his sleep as she sat up and she stood to answer the phone.
"Hello?" she asked, looking back at him. "Yes, this is Dana Scully." She nodded at him and he stood up, coming close to her. "What? Fox Mulder's apartment? What's happened, can you tell me… yes. I'll be there as soon as I can. Yes." She hung up and sighed, closing her eyes.
"Here we go," he said softly and she nodded, opening her eyes to look at him. His eyes were different than she had seen before: sad, empty.
"I need to get dressed," she said quietly and he nodded, neither of them moving. Finally, she sighed and turned to walk to her bedroom.
"Scully," he called softly and she turned to look at him, his face now hopeful. "It's gonna be okay." She gave him a small smile and continued into her room, closing the door behind her. Tears filled her eyes as she covered her mouth to hold back a sob.
It was not going to be okay.