TITLE : Stranger before my eyes

TITLE : Stranger before my eyes

AUTHOR: M & S Shipper

SPOILERS: Everything is fair game up to the end of season 7, excluding requiem.

RATING: R (Mostly for Language)

CATEGORY: Romance

ARCHIVE: Yes please, just let me know where, so I can visit.

DISCLAIMER: Any remotely interesting characters aren't mine and remain the property of Chris Carter, Fox and ten thirteen. No copyright infringement intended, only meant as a small shrine to a show that has become so much more than just a show.

SUMMARY: Mulder has changed and Scully is afraid of the man he's become.

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Mulders Car

Washington

1.11pm May 3rd

Even hours after our argument, I'm seething, there is no way I'm going back to that office today. She was picking a fight with me, of that much I was certain, but beyond that I had no idea. I had been sitting in the car for a while now, trying to work through my anger, but it was obvious, I was still too riled up. The car nudged onwards through random streets, at this point I didn't care where I was going.

My phone remained silent as it rested on the passenger seat. I had checked it so often today I had lost count of the times, but there was nothing. She was just as stubborn as I was.

Her short fuse worried me. I am not an idiot, I can tell when someone is upset about something or troubled. Scully was obviously scared of something, and when I pressed her about it she'd bitten my head off, telling me I was being overprotective. I'm the first to admit I am protective of her, I love her, but why was this time different to any other.

My mind just wouldn't rest today. I was uneasy about something, but it was nothing I could put my finger on. I had gone though almost a pound of sunflower seeds in an effort to relieve my stress. Obviously it hadn't helped.

The car rounded a familiar corner and I realised where I had unconsciously ended up. I was out the front of Scully's apartment. It was only then that an idea suddenly dawned on me. Maybe there was a clue of what was going on in her house, I have a key, she wouldn't have given it to me if she didn't want me to use it.

I parked the car and crossed the grass to her door before I could change my mind. Sliding the key in I looked up and down the hall to make sure no one had seen me, then proceeded to open it with just a little nudge of my shoulder.

The room was dimly lit with only minimal natural light, probably because the blinds are almost closed. Quickly I noted that everything was back in it's original positions. She must have been busy since the break in. I popped a sunflower seed into my mouth and began to look around.

The light of her answering machine was flashing and I noticed her counter read that she had two missed calls. Not even contemplating the whole issue of invasion of privacy, I quickly hit the play button and the tape rewound. A familiar voice came over the speaker.

"Hi Dana," It was her mum. "I know you're at work, but I just wanted to see if you'd like to come around for dinner on Saturday. Let me know anyway, bye sweetie."

There was loud beep before the next message began.

"Hey Scully. It's Frohike here, I tried to get you on your mobile but you must have it switched off or something." My eyebrows raised at that comment, she never turned her mobile off. "I've got that letter you wanted me to check, no prints I'm sorry, but how about dinner sometime? I'm free. Whenever. Bye."

I snickered at this and continued to have a look around. It hadn't been a conscious decision not to press stop on the tape but I didn't. It continued onwards into old messages but these were strange. It was like one hang up call after another, but then I head it.

"Scully, no-one can save you now, we're watching you, always." I almost choked on the sunflower seed I had just cracked in my mouth. The voice was altered by a computer or something but the words had been clear and menacing.

My mind went into overdrive. Why the hell hadn't she told me about this? I couldn't believe it, obviously someone was harassing her and she hadn't said a word. Her apartment being trashed was no longer a random act, but a calculated event. I looked back over the past week or so for anything else that seemed unusual. The phone call at the office! She was not only receiving threatening phone calls at home, but at work as well, if I remembered correctly. Why didn't she come to me? My mind was unable to fully take everything in when I remembered something.

Frohike said her phone was off, that had sounded strange to me before, but now it scared me half to death. She never switched it off something must have happened. My heart hammered in my chest while my mind wouldn't stop playing out worst case scenarios over and over.

Then I heard it.

There was a pained groaning coming from the bedroom. Scully? I threw open the door expecting to see the worst but she was just huddled under the covers, her eyes and forehead peeping over the top.

"Mulder?" She was frightened and groggy I could tell that right away, even with that one word.

"I'm here Scully. What happened, are you all right?" I tried to assess any damage visually, her face was flushed and her brow was damp, but that was all I could ascertain from this position.

"I'm cold." I reached up and felt her forehead, which was burning up, before stroking my hand down her cheek.

"Scully, I don't know what to do here, you say you're cold but you've got a fever. Do you remember what happened?"

"I don't know, I think I was drugged."

"Are you ok? I mean, does it hurt anywhere?"

"Not really" I breathed out a sigh of relief. "Maybe my arm, a little."

I pulled back the covers to see what was wrong. She was dressed in the clothes she had worn to the office, except for her jacket. Lifting her arm up as gently as I could I turned it over to check for abrasions or swelling. What I saw though scared me more than any cut. There were three needle marks on the inside of her arm, as well as some bruising around the area.

"Mulder?"

"Yes."

"I think I'm gonna be sick."

"Ok, lets get you to the bathroom then, easy now, I've got you." She wavered slightly even though I was supporting most of her weight. Eventually we made it to the bathroom.

"I'll be fine now ok, Can you get my pajamas from under my pillow?" She looked incapable of keeping herself upright, but she looked insistent, so I let her have her privacy.

Returning to her bedroom, I was just about to retrieve her pajamas, when I noticed something on her pillow. There was a small circle of blood in plain view.

Unable to keep myself standing I plopped down onto her bed. The worst case scenario came directly into view. Someone had removed the chip. Why was this happening to her, to us? Unable to face the truth I frantically searched for a plausible explanation for the blood. Could be from her arm, maybe a small cut somewhere or maybe it wasn't even hers. This didn't have to mean my worst nightmare was coming true, but what if it did? I had to know now. I raced to the bathroom, and knocked on the bathroom door.

"Scully, can I come in?"

There was no reply. Silently cursing myself for leaving her alone I opened the door to find her sprawled out on the floor, unconscious. I fell to my knees in half a second feeling desperately for a pulse.

Thank god. It was strong, as was her breathing.

My heart began to beat again as I reached my hand up to feel her forehead. It was warm, but the fever had come down a little. As carefully as I could I slipped my hands under her knees and arms and carried her back to the bedroom.

As much as I dreaded what I now had to do, I did it anyway. My hand shakily worked it's way through her Auburn hair, tilting her head to the side. Brushing away a few stubborn strands that were still blocking my view, I gasped at what I saw. There was a tiny, fresh incision at the base of her neck where the chip once was. I gently applied pressure in that area and found no indication of anything just below the skin.

Oh god. Please no…

I'm unsure of how long I've been sitting here, stunned and despondent, but it had changed from light to dark outside. My mind continued assessing the situation over and over. Why had I ever allowed her back into my life? I love her. How can I risk her this way? You've killed her Mulder, the chip is gone. That final thought chilled me to the bone. I killed her.

Then only thing that brought me back from my thoughts was a small movement from the figure beside me in the bed.

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Scully's Apartment

Georgetown

7.45pm May 3rd

Where was I? The room was dark, but the long shadows still seemed familiar to me. I was in my bedroom. Blinking quickly to bring things further into focus I noticed a figure sitting at the end of my bed.

"Mulder?"

"Yes, it's me Scully. How are you feeling?" His brow was furrowed and his eyes were full of concern.

"Better, not so drowsy."

"Good. You've been asleep for a while now." He said looking away.

"What time is it?" I said, pulling myself up onto my elbows.

"Almost eight. Are you hungry?" He was not meeting my gaze, something was wrong.

"I am a bit."

"Just lie back then, take things easy and I'll make you something." He got up to leave the room, but not before I laced my fingers through his, urging him to sit again. He obeyed silently.

"There's something I haven't told you Mulder." I drew in a deep unsteady breath, readying myself for something I should have done days ago. "Over the past few days…" But he cut me off before I could finish.

"I know Scully." His voice sounded hurt.

"But how?"

"I listened to your answering machine." One eyebrow raised unconsciously at that comment, but I knew overall I was in the wrong so I let it go. " I know I shouldn't have but it was the only way I was going to find out what was going on by the looks of it. You certainly weren't going to tell me."

"I wanted to, god you have no idea how much."

"Then why didn't you. Don't you trust me? I thought we'd grown closer lately, I even thought we 'd become more than …" His voice broke as pain covered his face.

I had to tell him why I'd lied to him. I had to say it was to save us, not because I didn't trust him

"No you don't understand…" But he was beyond listening.

"I think I do." And with that he headed off to the kitchen.

There was a muffled noise from outside my door. It was faint at first so I listened more intently. Yes, he was speaking to someone. I pushed the covers back quietly and crept over to the door, pressing my ear against it. His voice was muffled but now I could make out most of it.

"Skinner. I want to organise a 24 hour guard for Agent Scully……………she's been receiving threats and her apartment was vandalised…………….No, I will not be staying, I will just wait until the first shift gets here, thanks, bye."

I heard the receiver being replaced and his footsteps grew louder. He was coming back. Shit! The bed creaked as I tried to ease myself back in without being caught eavesdropping.

"I've organised a guard for you Scully. They'll be here soon."

"You're not staying with me." I couldn't believe it.

"Ah… no, I don't think that would be wise. We were warned to stay apart, and we ignored it. I think that was a mistake. We don't want to antagonise whoever is doing this. It's probably best if we stay apart."

"But, just until this is over though, right?" I could hear the desperation in my voice now but I didn't care. I love this man and I will not lose him now.

"I don't know Scully, maybe this wasn't working between us anyway. If you didn't trust me enough to tell me what was going on, I have to wonder what else you aren't telling me."

"Mulder.." That was the only words I was able to form as tears cascaded down my face.

There was a knock at the door, and as he turned to exit the room, I thought I saw a tear glistening in his eye. The guard had arrived and now there was no reason left for him to stay. Sobs were building in my throat, so I rolled over, forcing my mouth against the pillow to contain the noise, but nothing could stop my shoulders from shaking violently, as the pain I'd been holding escaped me.

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Scully's Hallway

Georgetown

9pm May 3rd

Pulling the door behind me, I knew I was closing a chapter on my life that I had hardly begun. I didn't want to leave her, but I was responsible for what happened. I knew the consequences and I still risked it.

My shoulders hunched forward as I walked slowly down the hall, defeated and powerless.

Then I heard it. Someone who was hiding around the corner, had made a noise. Keeping as quiet as possible, I crept back up the hall, toward the noise. It was hard to tell if my shoes were squeaking for my heart was beating so loudly, but I prayed they weren't.

In an unconscious decision I removed my gun from its holster and drew it up to eye level. The corner was rapidly approaching and the outline of a figure in shadow was now visible on the floor. Spreading my legs slightly to balance myself more I prepared to meet the intruder. Using my thumb, I switched off the safety on my gun.

It made more of a noise than I'd anticipated and the intruder sprung out knocking me to the floor, my head connecting with a metal door handle, momentarily stunning me. Even though I was in a stupor I could still make out the face of the intruder, it was Krycek.

Trying desperately to ward off the dizziness I was feeling from the blow to my head, I pulled myself up, and tore off down the hall. This may be my only chance to save her.

Krycek was fast, but he didn't have as much riding on this as I did, and I was quickly able to catch him up. I was almost able to reach out and grab him when he darted out across the road, in the direct path of oncoming traffic.

I gasped as the car connected with his body sending him across the bonnet and into the windshield. The squealing of brakes and smashing of glass was deafening. The driver of the car hit the brakes and his crumpled body was flung back onto the road, where it lay still, in a contorted position.

Once I had overcome my shock I ran out to the body, checking for signs of life, but her was dead. The woman that had been driving was still in her car, but I could hear her hysterically crying. If only she knew him, then she would feel nothing as I did.

As discretely as I could, so as not to worry the mounting crowd of spectators, I patted him down, desperately hoping for a miracle. There was something in his coat pocket. Slipping my hand under the lapel, I was able to retrieve a small, fragile vial, with a chip floating inside. How could it be that almost every bone had been broken in Krycek, and yet this vial remained in tact.

Carefully placing the tube in my pocket I looked down at the man who had almost been the means of Scully's death. I felt nothing but relief knowing that no longer would he have any control over me. It scared me, my lack of concern for a fellow human being, but this was no man. Any remnants of compassion and humanity had been dead for years.

In less than a minute, I had made it back down the road and inside Scully's apartment. The agents were surprised to see me, even more so when I told them they could go.

As I rounded the corner into her bedroom I could tell she was still crying. Though silent, I could see her small frame through the covers, shuddering with sobs, and my heart contracted in seeing her pain. Without invitation I entered the room and wrapped my arms around her, feeling the tension ebb away instantly.

"Oh god Mulder, I thought you'd left me, I was so scared. I…I " She was hysterical, fighting for words her emotions were holding back. " I couldn't bear it if….It's gone Mulder, the chip, someone has taken it."

"I know."

"We'll get it back, together, ok , just don't leave me please, I don't care what it means, I'd have given it up years ago, if I'd known we could be together."

"Shhh.." I said soothing her with my voice and hands that were stoking her hair gently. Her breathing became even as she managed to get her sobbing under control. "It was Krycek. I found him in the Hall, he had this."

I reached into my coat pocket and removed the vial to show her what I was referring to. The little chip bobbed around in the solution, so small and insignificant but so important to us than anything on earth.

"Oh Mulder, thank god." She threw her arms around me with a strength I didn't know she possessed.

"I've called the doctor, he'll put this in just like last time."

"Thank you. You have saved me so many times now, I've lost count, and not just physically but emotionally too."

"Scully. You don't have to say…" But she cut me off.

"Yes I do. Now medically that chip keeps me alive but without you, I'd surely die. I need you Mulder."

"You don't, any danger that you're in, I've put you there. I love you so much and yet I risk you all the time. I can't do that to you any more, I won't. It's best that you go back to teaching at the university, hell get as far away from me as you can before it's too late." I couldn't look at her, it would be my downfall. As long as I didn't have to look at her, I could keep up this facade.

"You love me?" Her voice was small but full of hope. Damn why had I said that.

"Didn't you hear anything else I just said?"

"No, I lost you right after you said you loved me, and I love you too Mulder, so much that I'll risk anything to be with you. I'd rather have a few wonderful years together than a whole life of alone. Not that it's going to happen that way though, with you, I am far more protected than on my own. You said it yourself, these people can't be trusted, who's to say if we stayed apart that we would ever really be safe?"

"It's worth it if it's true." The words had come out of my mouth but I never for a second believed them. My tone betrayed that.

"No it's not." Her voice was stronger now, she was not giving up on us. She leaned in and kissed me full and hard on the lips the emotion and exertion squeezing a tear out the corner of her eye.

My mind was screaming to pull away now and end this for her sake, but I couldn't the feeling of her warm lips gently working against my own was intoxicating, and all the emotions I'd been suppressing came to the surface as I allowed myself to respond.

She jumped at first at the ferocity of my passion, shocked, but within seconds she fell into the rhythm, matching my urgent desire. We both fought to get closer to each other, her arms cupping my face while I pulled her body full against mine. I let my hands knead all the way down her back before grabbing her buttocks, in an attempt to get closer . My tongue delved into her mouth, tasting her, owning her, eliciting soft sounds that were driving me even wilder.

It took me a few moments to realise she had begun to undo the buttons of my shirt, because I was so intent on caressing her lips with my own. I was beyond the point of thinking now, I wanted her and nothing was going to stop me. I responded by reaching up under her pajamas and tracing the outline of her breast. She shuddered for a moment before completing the task she'd started, and removing my shirt.

"Wait."

"No Mulder, I want you now." Her voice was thick, dripping with desire, and I almost decided to ignore the knocking I could hear at the door. I couldn't though, this chip had to go in now, who knows, it may already be to late.

"That was the door, the doctor is here." After some gentle insisting, she reluctantly let go of my neck, and lay back against the headboard, flushed and still panting slightly.

Letting the doctor in, I proceeded to show him into Scully's room, and then gave them some privacy. He was not in there long before he returned.

"The chip is in place, just like it was before. She seemed fine other than that, a little over excited maybe, so I gave her something to help her sleep."

"Thanks for coming out at such a late hour."

"Well if that thing does what you say it does, then the sooner it went back in the better." He began to make his way to the door.

"Well thanks again, good night." I said double bolting the door behind him.

Her lamp was on, so I peeked around the corner to see if she was awake. Her eyes were barely open but she saw me peeking in and they fluttered open wider.

"Mulder, come in. He gave me something to make me sleep but I think I can fight it off, quickly come over here."

Chuckling a little, I made my way over to the bed and sat myself down. She brought her arms up, with some trouble, and circled my neck. It was obviously an effort but in a second she brought her lips to mine and began trailing kisses down my jaw line.

"What are you doing?" It was sweet what she was trying to do, but it was tickling me and I couldn't help but laugh.

"I want you Mulder, now." Her head was lolling a little and her speech was drowsy and almost slurred.

"Scully!" I said biting back a laugh. She had moved one hand down and was working on the buttons of my jeans. "Stop! I am not going to do this now, I mean, you're out of it, he's given you something pretty strong by the looks of it. "

"I told you, I'll be fine, we just have to be quick, now help me get these jeans off." Her hands were shaky but she'd managed to get the first two buttons undone and was now just inches away from..

"Dana!" The use of her first name finally got her attention, and I managed to get a hold of her wrists. " We have plenty of time to do this, you'd regret it if it happened this way, I mean you'd probably pass out by the time I got your pajamas off. I don't want to rush anything with you Dana, I love you, I want everything to be perfect when we do make love, and we have the rest of our lives to be together."

"Oh Mulder, I love you so much. Don't ever give up on us. Will you hold me tonight, please, I need to feel you with me."

"Sure I can."

I toed off my shoes and the jeans followed quickly behind them. I pulled back the covers and snuggled up beside her. She rolled over and slid her knee between my legs, her crotch rubbing up against me, in a slow rocking motion. I could feel her warm mouth trailing up against my arm, gently kissing, licking and biting in turn. God, how was I supposed to resist. The woman I loved was rubbing up against me.

No! Not tonight, she'd hate me for it.

I was about to reaffirm my position that nothing would happen tonight when I heard her breathing come a little louder and in a slow rhythm. Her mouth was still against my arm, lips slightly parted, in mid kiss. She made a small noise of complete comfort and relaxation before closing her mouth and dozing off further.

Smiling, I leaned down, pressing my lips to the top of her head, inhaling her incredible scent. She was asleep and more beautiful than ever. In my heart I knew that everything was going to be ok, as long as we had this, I could face anything.

My own eyes became heavy and I felt sleep begin to overtake me. Usually I had a great deal of trouble getting to sleep, but this was happening so much faster. I guess that kind of ease comes with getting your hearts desire, and having it snuggled in your arms.

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Scully's Apartment

Georgetown

7am May 4th

Skinner had been standing at the door knocking for a few minutes before he became worried. Using a small piece of wire, he kept for such circumstances, he began to pick the lock with amazing precision.

He made his way in seeing no signs of anyone being there and checked around for anything out of the ordinary. Peeking his head around the corner he was shocked at the view before him.

In the bed, snuggled together, were his two favourite agents, sleeping blissfully, in each others arms. A smile filtered across his features as he eased himself backwards, careful not to make a sound.

Closing the door to her apartment, he thought back to a little while ago when he had sent those pictures to Scully. The note had been cryptic, and perhaps a little scary, but there was no way he could ever implicate himself as being an advocate of their relationship.

He quietly left the building confident in the knowledge he'd done something right.

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The End.

I hope you enjoyed it.

Thanks to those who made it all the way through, I thought this story was going to be much shorter, but like always it got away from me. Congratulations if you lasted this long.

Please review for me. It only takes you one minute to make my whole day.