The Domino Effect Part 7
Headers and disclaimers in Part 1
Scully was shocked and increasingly worried that her
partner seemed to have gotten so much worse in a
short period of time. She was immediately at his
side, feeling his forehead. "You're burning up! I
need to take your temperature. Do you think you can
hold the thermometer under your tongue?"
Mulder shook his head no. He was sweaty and
exhausted, his eyes wanting to close.
"All right. Hang in there while I get my
thermometer." As she rushed to her room, she wished
that she had brought the larger aural thermometer on
this trip, but she really hadn't expected to need
more than a few basic first-aid items. She quickly
found it, and returned to Mulder's room to find him
in the same position, curled up in a ball and shaking
with chills. A wave of sympathy washed over her when
she thought that her normally strong partner had been
reduced to this poor, pitiful creature.
"I'll need to put this under your arm," Scully
explained, pulling his t-shirt up. "It will take a
little bit longer, but will have the same result."
She positioned the thermometer and sat beside him on
the bed to wait for the results, he hand gently
moving up and down his spine in a soothing motion.
"I need another blanket," he demanded through
chattering teeth.
"We need to keep you cooled down, Mulder. I'm sorry,
but an extra blanket wouldn't be a good idea right
now."
"Torturer."
"Oh, you haven't seen my mean side yet," she teased
as she ruffled his hair.
"Don't think I want to."
The thermometer finally beeped and Scully removed it,
pulling Mulder's shirt down. She turned to show the
readout to Skinner, reminding him to add a degree.
He whistled when he saw it.
"How high?" Mulder convulsed with chills.
"103.6. Sir, could you get a Tylenol out of the
refrigerator, then bring a bowl of tepid water and
some towels?" Scully asked as she began to tug
Mulder's t-shirt up.
"Scully, not in front of the boss." Mulder continued
to shiver. Scully chuckled as she pulled the t-shirt
over his head. His arms immediately folded around
himself as the chills shook him harder.
"Well, at least you still have your sense of humor."
"I'll be right back." Skinner left in search of the
items Scully needed.
"Mulder, besides aching all over, do you hurt any one
place more than another?" Scully had snapped into
full doctor mode.
"My back started hurting pretty bad about an hour
ago."
"Can you show me where?"
Mulder pointed out the area below his ribs on his
right side.
"Any burning or discomfort when urinating?"
"Yeah, but it wasn't too bad." Scully's skeptical
brow rose slightly.
"Any other new symptoms?"
"No, now can I have my shirt back?"
"We need to bring that fever down. I know it's
uncomfortable, but it is necessary."
"Come on, Scully. I'm freezing here."
She had to smile at his persistence. That was one of
the things that made him so endearing to her. Funny
that she had been thinking of those little things so
often lately.
Skinner interrupted her thoughts when he put the bowl
of water on the nightstand and handed her the Tylenol
suppository.
"I'm going to need a rubber glove. I should have
several in my medical kit. It's lying on my bed."
Skinner nodded and left.
"Scully, do you have to put the suppository in?"
Mulder asked his face flushed from fever and
embarrassment.
"It's either me or Skinner. Take your pick."
"All right, Skinner's not getting anywhere near my
ass," he conceded, pushing his boxers and sweats
down. "Don't get too excited."
Scully shot him a look that warned him not to push
his luck. Mulder cringed even through his chills at
the thought that his ass was now vulnerably displayed
for all to see.
Skinner arrived with the rubber glove and handed it
to Scully. She snapped it on quickly, reflecting her
years of experience with that maneuver. "Ready,
Mulder?"
"I guess." Mulder hoped that Skinner wouldn't stick
around for this little epic.
Skinner did have the decency to look the other way as
Scully quickly completed the procedure and discarded
the glove. "Let's get you turned over on your back,"
she suggested, helping him pull up his sweats.
When Mulder was once again facing her, he began to
have another violent chill. "What's wrong with me
now?" Weariness was evident in his voice.
"I suspect a urinary tract infection. It's a common
complication of food poisoning and dehydration."
"How are you going to treat it?"
"I'll have to check with Dr. Lamas. She may want to
admit you to the hospital."
"No! Absolutely not!" Despite his weariness, Mulder
was able to make his wishes well known.
"Don't get all bent out of shape, Mulder. It's not a
certainty," Skinner reminded him.
Scully dipped a hand towel in the bowl of water and
squeezed out the excess. As she began to bathe
Mulder's face she turned to her supervisor. "Sir,
could you call Dr. Lamas and see if she could examine
Mulder right now?" He's developed some new symptoms
and in light of the temperature rise I think he needs
to be evaluated immediately."
"I'm on it, Agent Scully. I'll return as soon as I
can to help you."
"Thanks." She continued to bathe Mulder's face and
chest.
"Freezing, Scully."
"Shh, just lie back and let me do this. You'll start
to feel better soon. Just try and relax."
"Normally, I'd love you bathing me, running your
hands up and down my body, but I need to get warm."
He didn't mention that that was high on his list of
fantasies, minus the potential hypothermia.
"As soon as your fever drops you'll warm up. I
promise." She smiled ruefully, sponging his arms and
chest again. She was secretly enjoying the physical
contact, but would have wished for better
circumstances. She knew Mulder despised being ill.
Skinner returned with the news that Dr. Lamas would
be there in around ten minutes. "What do you want me
to do?"
"You can refresh the towels as I hand then to you."
"All right. I think I can handle that."
For the next ten minutes they worked between them to
bring Mulder's temperature down. He was shaking like
a leaf and getting quite testy at their
ministrations. Scully felt mean for having to put
him through this distress, but it was important to
keep it going. She could tell that her boss was
concerned too. There was a knock and Skinner left to
answer the door.
"That must be Dr. Lamas. Let's take your temp again
while she's making her way in here, partner."
"Still cold," Mulder complained as Scully put the
thermometer back under his arm.
""What's going on, Mr. Mulder?" the doctor asked as
she breezed into the room, coming over to sit by him
on the bed.
"They're trying to freeze me to death. Help."
Scully rolled her eyes as she removed the thermometer
from under her partner's arm. She looked at the
read-out and handed it to the doctor.
"103."
"That's down 6/10ths of a degree in the last 10
minutes."
"Mr. Mulder, I understand you've developed some new
symptoms?"
"Yeah," he answered dejectedly.
Scully took over for him. "He's developed pain and
burning with urination and some back pain."
"I'd like to examine you more thoroughly and ask you
some questions. Would you like your friends to stay,
or should I ask them to leave?"
"They might as well stay. It'll save you the trouble
of explaining it twice." His embarrassment was
complete now, anyway.
When she finally finished her examination, Dr. Lamas
once again sat beside Mulder on the side of the bed.
"Well, we have two options. The first one is the one
that I prefer, and that is to admit you to the
hospital. With a course of IV antibiotics and
fluids, I think we can have you back on your feet in
a few days."
The look on Mulder's face expressed his displeasure
with that option.
"The other option would require taking blood and
urine samples and sending them off for analysis. In
the meantime, we can treat the symptoms and start you
on broad spectrum antibiotics."
Mulder didn't comment for a few seconds then asked a
question. "Which option will get me well the
fastest?"
"Hospitalization," they all answered in unison.
"Okay, Doc. Make the arrangements," he sighed.
"You're making the best decision, Mr. Mulder," the
doctor assured him, patting his hand.
"Do you think they'll let me have a blanket?" he
shivered.
"I'm not making any promises," she chuckled and
grinned up at Scully who had a similar smirk on her
face. "If you'll excuse me I'll call the hospital
and set things in motion." She got up from her
position beside Mulder. "I'll be back in a few
minutes with the details."
As soon as she left, Scully began gathering the
things that Mulder might need for the next few days.
"Let's see about getting you dressed." Skinner began
looking around for his agent's socks and shoes while
Scully laid out some clean clothes and Mulder's carry
on flight bag.
"Could someone find my coat?" Mulder continued to
shiver, hugging his arms to his chest.
Between the two of them, they quickly had Mulder
dressed and wearing shoes by the time Dr. Lamas
retuned. "I've made arrangements to have you
admitted to a different hospital. I think you will
find that they have a very knowledgeable and caring
staff. I talked to the hotel management and there
will be a car waiting for you. Someone should be
coming with a wheelchair any time."
"Wheelchair?" Mulder looked horrified. "I don't
think so."
"You weren't expecting to walk?"
"Actually, I was." His face remained impassive,
cluing Scully in to the panic and helplessness he
felt.
"Take the wheelchair, Mulder," Skinner ordered. "I
don't particularly feel like catching you when you
pass out."
"He's right, Mulder." Scully sat on the bed beside
him and rubbed his back. "Listen to him."
"Scully, you weren't planning on accompanying us were
you?" Skinner inquired.
"Well, yes, I was."
"I'll get him admitted and stay with him until he's
settled in."
"But . . ."
Mulder noted that Scully was about to start an
argument with Skinner and stopped her in mid-
sentence. As much as he wanted her company, he was
concerned that she too had been sick and needed to
rest after the past few rough days of that, and
looking after him. He wasn't a good patient at the
best of times, and besides, this whole thing was his
fault. "Listen to him, Scully. You still need to
rest. I'll be in good hands with Skinner."
"All right, but I intend to be there first thing in
the morning to see how you're doing." She gave him a
resigned, sad smile, taking his hand and squeezing
it.
"We'll discuss that when I return," Skinner decided.
"No, sir. There will be no discussion. I believe I
was going to take one more day to do as I liked in
order to get my legs back under me, and that is the
way I intend to spend it."
Skinner remained silent for a minute, thinking it
over. "All right. I can see that arguing with you
would be futile."
Mulder nodded his affirmation as he continued to
shiver. He squeezed Scully's hand back, giving her
the best smile he could manage. His bravery was all
for her benefit.
Scully smiled back, hiding the fact that she was
secretly frightened to see him so ill. She would
miss not being by his side, being there to hold his
hand as she so often did at his hospital bedside. It
didn't feel right that he would be going without her.
It almost broke her heart and despite his strong
reassuring smile that he would be okay with this, she
knew he had to be dying inside.
The doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of the
wheelchair.
Mulder took a deep breath while continuing to shiver,
as Skinner helped him into the chair. His eyes
unbearably sad, a myriad of unspoken emotions passed
between Scully and him as they looked at each other.
Mulder waved a weak good-bye and was gone, leaving
Scully to say a silent prayer for his recovery.
End Part 7
Headers and disclaimers in Part 1
Scully was shocked and increasingly worried that her
partner seemed to have gotten so much worse in a
short period of time. She was immediately at his
side, feeling his forehead. "You're burning up! I
need to take your temperature. Do you think you can
hold the thermometer under your tongue?"
Mulder shook his head no. He was sweaty and
exhausted, his eyes wanting to close.
"All right. Hang in there while I get my
thermometer." As she rushed to her room, she wished
that she had brought the larger aural thermometer on
this trip, but she really hadn't expected to need
more than a few basic first-aid items. She quickly
found it, and returned to Mulder's room to find him
in the same position, curled up in a ball and shaking
with chills. A wave of sympathy washed over her when
she thought that her normally strong partner had been
reduced to this poor, pitiful creature.
"I'll need to put this under your arm," Scully
explained, pulling his t-shirt up. "It will take a
little bit longer, but will have the same result."
She positioned the thermometer and sat beside him on
the bed to wait for the results, he hand gently
moving up and down his spine in a soothing motion.
"I need another blanket," he demanded through
chattering teeth.
"We need to keep you cooled down, Mulder. I'm sorry,
but an extra blanket wouldn't be a good idea right
now."
"Torturer."
"Oh, you haven't seen my mean side yet," she teased
as she ruffled his hair.
"Don't think I want to."
The thermometer finally beeped and Scully removed it,
pulling Mulder's shirt down. She turned to show the
readout to Skinner, reminding him to add a degree.
He whistled when he saw it.
"How high?" Mulder convulsed with chills.
"103.6. Sir, could you get a Tylenol out of the
refrigerator, then bring a bowl of tepid water and
some towels?" Scully asked as she began to tug
Mulder's t-shirt up.
"Scully, not in front of the boss." Mulder continued
to shiver. Scully chuckled as she pulled the t-shirt
over his head. His arms immediately folded around
himself as the chills shook him harder.
"Well, at least you still have your sense of humor."
"I'll be right back." Skinner left in search of the
items Scully needed.
"Mulder, besides aching all over, do you hurt any one
place more than another?" Scully had snapped into
full doctor mode.
"My back started hurting pretty bad about an hour
ago."
"Can you show me where?"
Mulder pointed out the area below his ribs on his
right side.
"Any burning or discomfort when urinating?"
"Yeah, but it wasn't too bad." Scully's skeptical
brow rose slightly.
"Any other new symptoms?"
"No, now can I have my shirt back?"
"We need to bring that fever down. I know it's
uncomfortable, but it is necessary."
"Come on, Scully. I'm freezing here."
She had to smile at his persistence. That was one of
the things that made him so endearing to her. Funny
that she had been thinking of those little things so
often lately.
Skinner interrupted her thoughts when he put the bowl
of water on the nightstand and handed her the Tylenol
suppository.
"I'm going to need a rubber glove. I should have
several in my medical kit. It's lying on my bed."
Skinner nodded and left.
"Scully, do you have to put the suppository in?"
Mulder asked his face flushed from fever and
embarrassment.
"It's either me or Skinner. Take your pick."
"All right, Skinner's not getting anywhere near my
ass," he conceded, pushing his boxers and sweats
down. "Don't get too excited."
Scully shot him a look that warned him not to push
his luck. Mulder cringed even through his chills at
the thought that his ass was now vulnerably displayed
for all to see.
Skinner arrived with the rubber glove and handed it
to Scully. She snapped it on quickly, reflecting her
years of experience with that maneuver. "Ready,
Mulder?"
"I guess." Mulder hoped that Skinner wouldn't stick
around for this little epic.
Skinner did have the decency to look the other way as
Scully quickly completed the procedure and discarded
the glove. "Let's get you turned over on your back,"
she suggested, helping him pull up his sweats.
When Mulder was once again facing her, he began to
have another violent chill. "What's wrong with me
now?" Weariness was evident in his voice.
"I suspect a urinary tract infection. It's a common
complication of food poisoning and dehydration."
"How are you going to treat it?"
"I'll have to check with Dr. Lamas. She may want to
admit you to the hospital."
"No! Absolutely not!" Despite his weariness, Mulder
was able to make his wishes well known.
"Don't get all bent out of shape, Mulder. It's not a
certainty," Skinner reminded him.
Scully dipped a hand towel in the bowl of water and
squeezed out the excess. As she began to bathe
Mulder's face she turned to her supervisor. "Sir,
could you call Dr. Lamas and see if she could examine
Mulder right now?" He's developed some new symptoms
and in light of the temperature rise I think he needs
to be evaluated immediately."
"I'm on it, Agent Scully. I'll return as soon as I
can to help you."
"Thanks." She continued to bathe Mulder's face and
chest.
"Freezing, Scully."
"Shh, just lie back and let me do this. You'll start
to feel better soon. Just try and relax."
"Normally, I'd love you bathing me, running your
hands up and down my body, but I need to get warm."
He didn't mention that that was high on his list of
fantasies, minus the potential hypothermia.
"As soon as your fever drops you'll warm up. I
promise." She smiled ruefully, sponging his arms and
chest again. She was secretly enjoying the physical
contact, but would have wished for better
circumstances. She knew Mulder despised being ill.
Skinner returned with the news that Dr. Lamas would
be there in around ten minutes. "What do you want me
to do?"
"You can refresh the towels as I hand then to you."
"All right. I think I can handle that."
For the next ten minutes they worked between them to
bring Mulder's temperature down. He was shaking like
a leaf and getting quite testy at their
ministrations. Scully felt mean for having to put
him through this distress, but it was important to
keep it going. She could tell that her boss was
concerned too. There was a knock and Skinner left to
answer the door.
"That must be Dr. Lamas. Let's take your temp again
while she's making her way in here, partner."
"Still cold," Mulder complained as Scully put the
thermometer back under his arm.
""What's going on, Mr. Mulder?" the doctor asked as
she breezed into the room, coming over to sit by him
on the bed.
"They're trying to freeze me to death. Help."
Scully rolled her eyes as she removed the thermometer
from under her partner's arm. She looked at the
read-out and handed it to the doctor.
"103."
"That's down 6/10ths of a degree in the last 10
minutes."
"Mr. Mulder, I understand you've developed some new
symptoms?"
"Yeah," he answered dejectedly.
Scully took over for him. "He's developed pain and
burning with urination and some back pain."
"I'd like to examine you more thoroughly and ask you
some questions. Would you like your friends to stay,
or should I ask them to leave?"
"They might as well stay. It'll save you the trouble
of explaining it twice." His embarrassment was
complete now, anyway.
When she finally finished her examination, Dr. Lamas
once again sat beside Mulder on the side of the bed.
"Well, we have two options. The first one is the one
that I prefer, and that is to admit you to the
hospital. With a course of IV antibiotics and
fluids, I think we can have you back on your feet in
a few days."
The look on Mulder's face expressed his displeasure
with that option.
"The other option would require taking blood and
urine samples and sending them off for analysis. In
the meantime, we can treat the symptoms and start you
on broad spectrum antibiotics."
Mulder didn't comment for a few seconds then asked a
question. "Which option will get me well the
fastest?"
"Hospitalization," they all answered in unison.
"Okay, Doc. Make the arrangements," he sighed.
"You're making the best decision, Mr. Mulder," the
doctor assured him, patting his hand.
"Do you think they'll let me have a blanket?" he
shivered.
"I'm not making any promises," she chuckled and
grinned up at Scully who had a similar smirk on her
face. "If you'll excuse me I'll call the hospital
and set things in motion." She got up from her
position beside Mulder. "I'll be back in a few
minutes with the details."
As soon as she left, Scully began gathering the
things that Mulder might need for the next few days.
"Let's see about getting you dressed." Skinner began
looking around for his agent's socks and shoes while
Scully laid out some clean clothes and Mulder's carry
on flight bag.
"Could someone find my coat?" Mulder continued to
shiver, hugging his arms to his chest.
Between the two of them, they quickly had Mulder
dressed and wearing shoes by the time Dr. Lamas
retuned. "I've made arrangements to have you
admitted to a different hospital. I think you will
find that they have a very knowledgeable and caring
staff. I talked to the hotel management and there
will be a car waiting for you. Someone should be
coming with a wheelchair any time."
"Wheelchair?" Mulder looked horrified. "I don't
think so."
"You weren't expecting to walk?"
"Actually, I was." His face remained impassive,
cluing Scully in to the panic and helplessness he
felt.
"Take the wheelchair, Mulder," Skinner ordered. "I
don't particularly feel like catching you when you
pass out."
"He's right, Mulder." Scully sat on the bed beside
him and rubbed his back. "Listen to him."
"Scully, you weren't planning on accompanying us were
you?" Skinner inquired.
"Well, yes, I was."
"I'll get him admitted and stay with him until he's
settled in."
"But . . ."
Mulder noted that Scully was about to start an
argument with Skinner and stopped her in mid-
sentence. As much as he wanted her company, he was
concerned that she too had been sick and needed to
rest after the past few rough days of that, and
looking after him. He wasn't a good patient at the
best of times, and besides, this whole thing was his
fault. "Listen to him, Scully. You still need to
rest. I'll be in good hands with Skinner."
"All right, but I intend to be there first thing in
the morning to see how you're doing." She gave him a
resigned, sad smile, taking his hand and squeezing
it.
"We'll discuss that when I return," Skinner decided.
"No, sir. There will be no discussion. I believe I
was going to take one more day to do as I liked in
order to get my legs back under me, and that is the
way I intend to spend it."
Skinner remained silent for a minute, thinking it
over. "All right. I can see that arguing with you
would be futile."
Mulder nodded his affirmation as he continued to
shiver. He squeezed Scully's hand back, giving her
the best smile he could manage. His bravery was all
for her benefit.
Scully smiled back, hiding the fact that she was
secretly frightened to see him so ill. She would
miss not being by his side, being there to hold his
hand as she so often did at his hospital bedside. It
didn't feel right that he would be going without her.
It almost broke her heart and despite his strong
reassuring smile that he would be okay with this, she
knew he had to be dying inside.
The doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of the
wheelchair.
Mulder took a deep breath while continuing to shiver,
as Skinner helped him into the chair. His eyes
unbearably sad, a myriad of unspoken emotions passed
between Scully and him as they looked at each other.
Mulder waved a weak good-bye and was gone, leaving
Scully to say a silent prayer for his recovery.
End Part 7