They had been home for two weeks, from a case in Minnesota that had been especially gruesome. The suspect was now locked away, his crimes heinous and heartbreaking, tearing families apart.

Scully had been quiet, reserved, and determined to find him. They had, but Mulder could see she was still carrying the worry and pain of it within her.

"I'm going to head out," she said on Friday at three, her eyes not meeting his as he glanced at the clock and then her.

"Okay," he said, not questioning her as she nodded and walked out the door, closing it softly behind her.

He sighed and tapped his pencil against the desk, nervous energy running through him. Standing up, he began to pace the office, shaking his head as the images of the crime scenes appeared in his mind.

Sighing heavily, he shut down his computer, turned off the lights, and grabbed his jacket from the coat rack. Picking up his wallet, keys and cell phone, he left the office and locked the door.

He drove to a nearby flower shop and bought a bouquet of white and yellow daisies. Next door was a wine shop and he took his time searching for one he thought Scully would enjoy. Leaving the store, he drove to her apartment and parked.

Sighing as he looked up at her window and saw the faint glow of her desk lamp, he turned off the engine and got out of the car. Walking up the steps, his body felt heavy and slow. He debated intruding in her space, considering instead leaving the flowers and wine on her doorstep, letting her decide if she wanted them.

But as he arrived at her door, he met her coming out with a garbage bag in hand, her face scrubbed clean of makeup, hair up in a messy ponytail, and in casual clothes. She stopped at the sight of him and he could see she'd been crying.

"I uh…" he said, clearing his throat and lifting the wine and flowers for her to see. "I thought maybe you could do with some cheering up. Or…" He shrugged and sighed as she stared at him, moving the trash bag to her other hand.

"I need to take this out," she said quietly and he nodded.

"I could leave them for you."

"You… you don't want to stay?"

"I don't want to intrude. I can see that you're…" he sighed again and her gaze dropped before she raised her eyes and looked at him.

"You aren't intruding. I… I'd like to talk, if that's okay." He nodded, feeling relieved. "I'll take this down and you go inside."

Nodding again, they switched places and she smiled sadly as she started to walk away.

"Don't leave," she said softly, without turning around.

"I won't. I will wait for you," he said, the words holding many different meanings. He watched her nod and then turn the corner of the hallway.

He stepped inside and set the flowers into the sink and the wine on the counter. Opening the drawer, he took out the corkscrew and opened the bottle, letting it breathe as he took down a vase and filled it with water.

Taking the flowers out, he placed them in the vase and set it on the kitchen table. He poured two glasses of wine and brought them to the coffee table. He took off his coat and laid it over a chair as she walked back into the apartment and locked the door.

He watched her smile slightly at the sight of the bright and cheerful flowers as she walked to the sink and washed her hands. Drying them on a towel, she turned to him with a sigh.

He smiled and she set the towel down. Rubbing her hands together as she crossed the room, she sank into the couch and sighed again. He handed her a glass of wine as he sat beside her and she nodded her thanks.

"Take as long as you need," he said softly and she drew in a deep breath as she raised the glass to her lips.