49.

4.59am

Mulder woke up gasping for breath. He couldn't believe it. Scully was dead. How could he explain that to his little girl? Looking down beside him he noticed she was missing. Standing up he saw his little girl tucked up in bed beside Scully. His face crumpled with tears. How could she have died like that? It wasn't fair. They had finally decided to get married and have a baby together, both of them in the same house, and now everything was gone.

Taking hold of her left hand he toyed with the ring that he had given her days ago. He couldn't believe how her hand still felt warm despite her soul not being there. Her face was pale, just like the time they had first met. He studied her face knowing it was the last time he would see her. Scully had dark circles beneath her eyes from the lack of sleep they'd had lately. Her skin looked so colourless. Her lips were edged in a feint blue.

With Samantha snuggled up tightly against her everything looked so normal. A Mother asleep with her child, also asleep, beside her it was the perfect picture of being a family. What was wrong with that? He couldn't answer. How could he have let her do it? Why hadn't he said it wasn't okay to take the drug and that nature should take its course? Just plain WHY???

"Why did you take the drug, Dana, we had so much going in our favour!"

He caressed her cheek, jumping a mile when she rubbed her face into his hand and opened her eyes. "JESUS!" he yelled.

"What? Fox, what is it?" she said half scared, half asleep.

"You… you're alive?"

"Yes… I was the last time I checked!"


"But you died. Right there on the floor!" Mulder pointed down to the floor his face flushed with anxious excitement.

"Calm down. What are you talking about?"

"You took that 'miracle' drug and died."

"No. I didn't. What happened was the doctor told me about the fatality risk, you fell asleep and I made the decision to try a second shot of the first drug. The one he told me about shouldn't even be allowed in the hospital let alone in the vicinity of patients. Luckily the second shot has worked. The baby is going to be okay."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. You've had a nightmare and a half by the sounds of it."

"I thought you were dead. I was devastated. I couldn't imagine how I was going to tell Samantha." He kissed her hand and held it to his cheek, which she caressed with her fingertips.

"You don't have to worry now." He nodded.

"When can you leave here? I want you home where I can keep an eye on you!"

"The doctor said in a the morning if I get loads of rest. I need you to take Samantha home and I'll see you both tomorrow."

"You sure?"

"Yes. You are shattered yourself and could do with the rest." Scully smiled tenderly at Mulder. He still couldn't quite believe his eyes. He had been so sure she had died. Shaking his head he picked up Samantha, who moaned profusely about being moved yet again, from beside Scully and carried her to the car. Mulder blew Scully a kiss as they exited the room. He still couldn't believe she was alive so just to make sure he reopened the door. Scully threw a pillow at him.

"I'm okay now get out of here!" she laughed as he gave her a wounded puppy look. He smiled back and headed for the car and home.

***

6.23am

Mulder had snuck past the nurse's station and the doctor's lounge. He had called Maggie so he could drop Samantha off with her. Mulder knew he wouldn't have been able to sleep without Scully at his side. Even when he had expelled himself to the couch he had been restless. He needed Scully more than she would ever realise. Mainly because he needed rest and only she could provide it. Only her body fitted into his perfectly. The two halves of the proverbial orange!

Opening her door he was surprised to find her awake.

"Couldn't you sleep either?" she said tiredly, shaking his head, he climbed into the hospital bed beside her.

"We could always…" Scully raised her eyebrow in that divine way of hers and chuckled momentarily.

"I don't think so… I just want sleep." She lay on her side and Mulder spooned behind her. This was his favourite time. Her being asleep in his arms, everything about her was de-stressing. It was perfect. No matter where they were, just as long as she was in his arms. Everything would be fine. Now all they had to worry about was meeting William's new parents and making sure Scully got to the hospital to deliver the baby. This time she would get there before she gave birth even if he had to break twelve traffic laws!