The Domino Effect-Part 10
Headers and disclaimers in Part 1
Skinner swung around, surprised to see Scully. "What
are you doing here?"
"I can't explain it, but I just knew that I should be
here. Guess that feeling was accurate." She quickly
made her way to Mulder's bedside. "What's going on,
partner?"
"Back hurts really bad."
"When did this start?"
"About 15 minutes ago."
"Any other symptoms?"
"Vomiting, temp's back up," the nurse answered. "The
doctor on call should be here any minute."
"Scully, what's wrong with me?" Mulder gasped, trying
to fight the pain. Even the drugs in his system
weren't enough to disguise the fear that shone
through his eyes.
"I'm not sure, Mulder, but we're going to find out."
She turned around to face the nurse. "Have you given
him anything for pain?" Her fingers were running
through Mulder's sweat soaked hair, soothing him.
"Demerol."
"How long ago?"
"About five minutes, Scully," Skinner supplied.
"Hello," a voice greeted from the doorway. "I'm Dr.
Southard."
"Come in, doctor," Nita invited.
Seeing how crowded the room was getting, Skinner made
a decision. "I'm going to wait outside."
"All right, sir. I'll fill you in when we know
something." Scully didn't bother to look at him, so
intent was she in trying to soothe her partner's
suffering.
Skinner left the room and leaned against the wall.
To say that he was concerned would be an
understatement. "How much more can he take?" he
wondered, hoping that for once it would turn out to
be something minor.
Who was he kidding? Mulder and minor complications
didn't go hand-in-hand. He just hoped that they
could figure out the problem, treat it and get the
poor man back on his feet as soon as possible. His
thoughts were interrupted by a gentle touch on his
arm.
"Sir?"
"Yes, Scully? Do you have any idea what's wrong with
him?"
"Well, he has all of the symptoms of a kidney stone."
"That would explain the pain."
"Yes, it would. The doctor is scheduling him for
some diagnostic procedures ASAP. We should know more
then."
"And what do we do in the meantime?"
"The doctor has ordered some additional pain
medication which will hopefully give him some
relief."
"And if it does turn out to be a kidney stone?"
"Depending on its size and location, it will either
pass or some sort of intervention will be scheduled."
"Intervention as in surgery?" Skinner shuddered at
the thought of Mulder having to go through a major
operation as ill as he already was.
"Probably not. The most often used procedure is to
break them up and let the smaller pieces pass."
"Good. I'd hate for him to undergo surgery in
addition to all he's already been through."
"Remember that this is still a preliminary diagnosis.
We won't know anything definite until the test
results are back. Why don't you go back to the hotel
and try to get a few hours of sleep, sir? I intend
to stay here with him."
"I think I'll stick around for a few more hours. I'm
meeting someone for coffee at around 7," he
explained. "And this night is pretty well shot
anyway."
"All right, sir."
"I think I'll go downstairs for some coffee. Could I
bring you anything?"
"Some hot tea would be nice."
"All right, one hot tea it is, then. I'll be back
soon. Don't hesitate to page me if you need me."
"I think we have everything under control for the
moment. I'm going to sit with Mulder, then."
As she turned to go back in the room Skinner caught
her hand. "Scully, I meant what I said earlier. You
won't be helping Mulder any of you make yourself sick
again. He's worried about you as it is."
"I'm fine, sir," Scully assured him.
"I'll have to trust you on that then, Scully."
"Yes, sir. You will."
Scully went back to Mulder's room. The nurse was
injecting the additional pain medication as she
arrived back at his bedside.
"We'll let you know as soon as we hear about those
tests, Mr. Mulder."
He nodded his understanding while she deposited the
used syringe and needle in the sharps container on
her way out.
"Well, Mulder, I must say that you're keeping things
interesting on this trip." Scully smiled down at him
reaching for his right hand.
"Never a dull moment. You okay?" He squeezed her
hand. "And how did you know I needed you so badly?"
"For the last time, I'm fine and I just had a very
strong feeling that I needed to come to the hospital.
I really can't explain it."
"And they call me Spooky," he tried to laugh but it
brought on another spasm of pain. "I just worry
about you," he managed to get out.
"Well, stop worrying about me and concentrate on
yourself. Is the additional medication helping?"
"No, just made me woozy."
"Perhaps it will make you sleepy enough to get some
rest."
"Scully, what's wrong with me? This is something
more than the food poisoning isn't it?"
"Yes, it is, but we're not 100% sure what the problem
is yet. We'll know more after the tests."
"What kind of tests?"
"An ultra sound and X-rays with some dye injected.
You already have an IV, so it won't hurt." She
reassured him when he winced.
"Couldn't hurt any more than this." He tensed up as
another pain tore through him.
"Just try to relax, Mulder."
"I'm glad you're here," Mulder intoned softly,
rubbing his thumb across her knuckles. "I missed
you."
"Mulder, it's only been a couple of hours since we
saw each other." Scully couldn't help but smile.
"Doesn't matter. Even five minutes away from you is
too long. I love you Scully."
For once, Scully found herself at a loss for words.
She had heard his declaration of love previously, and
like this time he had been under the influence of
some pretty heavy drugs. She stroked his cheek with
the backs of her fingers, her eyes not leaving his.
"Get some sleep, Mulder. I promise you that we will
discuss this at length when you're better."
"Okay, but can you just tell me if I have any reason
to hope that you return my feelings?"
"Yes, there is hope, Mulder. Now, close you eyes and
rest.
Mulder visibly relaxed, a huge grin on his face. The
medication seemed to be helping.
Suddenly, Mulder's body stiffened and though Scully
didn't think it possible, he turned even paler.
"Mulder?"
"Scully, help!" he croaked.
"Mulder, what is it?"
"Pain, bad!"
Scully reached over and pushed the call button. "I
need some help in here!"
Mulder was sitting up straight in bed, trying to keep
from screaming in agony. Perspiration began dripping
from his forehead, evidence of the intense pain and
his effort to hold it in.
"Mulder, talk to me. You're scaring me," Scully
pleaded, holding onto his arms.
At that point, Mulder could no longer hold it in. He
groaned loudly and then began keening out loud with
the intensity of the pain.
Two nurses burst through the door. "What happened?"
Nurse Ricardo demanded.
"Another intense spasm," Scully explained. "It must
be excruciating."
"Mr. Mulder, can you tell me where it hurts?" the
other nurse questioned while Nita adjusted the oxygen
flow.
"Back, right side! Arrrgh! Help me, please!" he
cried.
He continued to sit up straight in bed, his left hand
gripping the bed railing and his right squeezing
Scully's hand. Scully put her free arm around him
trying to comfort him, but he was past hearing her
soothing words. The pain was his entire world at
that moment.
Scully's vision blurred as tears began to fill her
eyes. "Call the doctor and get his ass up here!
Stat!"
End Part 10
Headers and disclaimers in Part 1
Skinner swung around, surprised to see Scully. "What
are you doing here?"
"I can't explain it, but I just knew that I should be
here. Guess that feeling was accurate." She quickly
made her way to Mulder's bedside. "What's going on,
partner?"
"Back hurts really bad."
"When did this start?"
"About 15 minutes ago."
"Any other symptoms?"
"Vomiting, temp's back up," the nurse answered. "The
doctor on call should be here any minute."
"Scully, what's wrong with me?" Mulder gasped, trying
to fight the pain. Even the drugs in his system
weren't enough to disguise the fear that shone
through his eyes.
"I'm not sure, Mulder, but we're going to find out."
She turned around to face the nurse. "Have you given
him anything for pain?" Her fingers were running
through Mulder's sweat soaked hair, soothing him.
"Demerol."
"How long ago?"
"About five minutes, Scully," Skinner supplied.
"Hello," a voice greeted from the doorway. "I'm Dr.
Southard."
"Come in, doctor," Nita invited.
Seeing how crowded the room was getting, Skinner made
a decision. "I'm going to wait outside."
"All right, sir. I'll fill you in when we know
something." Scully didn't bother to look at him, so
intent was she in trying to soothe her partner's
suffering.
Skinner left the room and leaned against the wall.
To say that he was concerned would be an
understatement. "How much more can he take?" he
wondered, hoping that for once it would turn out to
be something minor.
Who was he kidding? Mulder and minor complications
didn't go hand-in-hand. He just hoped that they
could figure out the problem, treat it and get the
poor man back on his feet as soon as possible. His
thoughts were interrupted by a gentle touch on his
arm.
"Sir?"
"Yes, Scully? Do you have any idea what's wrong with
him?"
"Well, he has all of the symptoms of a kidney stone."
"That would explain the pain."
"Yes, it would. The doctor is scheduling him for
some diagnostic procedures ASAP. We should know more
then."
"And what do we do in the meantime?"
"The doctor has ordered some additional pain
medication which will hopefully give him some
relief."
"And if it does turn out to be a kidney stone?"
"Depending on its size and location, it will either
pass or some sort of intervention will be scheduled."
"Intervention as in surgery?" Skinner shuddered at
the thought of Mulder having to go through a major
operation as ill as he already was.
"Probably not. The most often used procedure is to
break them up and let the smaller pieces pass."
"Good. I'd hate for him to undergo surgery in
addition to all he's already been through."
"Remember that this is still a preliminary diagnosis.
We won't know anything definite until the test
results are back. Why don't you go back to the hotel
and try to get a few hours of sleep, sir? I intend
to stay here with him."
"I think I'll stick around for a few more hours. I'm
meeting someone for coffee at around 7," he
explained. "And this night is pretty well shot
anyway."
"All right, sir."
"I think I'll go downstairs for some coffee. Could I
bring you anything?"
"Some hot tea would be nice."
"All right, one hot tea it is, then. I'll be back
soon. Don't hesitate to page me if you need me."
"I think we have everything under control for the
moment. I'm going to sit with Mulder, then."
As she turned to go back in the room Skinner caught
her hand. "Scully, I meant what I said earlier. You
won't be helping Mulder any of you make yourself sick
again. He's worried about you as it is."
"I'm fine, sir," Scully assured him.
"I'll have to trust you on that then, Scully."
"Yes, sir. You will."
Scully went back to Mulder's room. The nurse was
injecting the additional pain medication as she
arrived back at his bedside.
"We'll let you know as soon as we hear about those
tests, Mr. Mulder."
He nodded his understanding while she deposited the
used syringe and needle in the sharps container on
her way out.
"Well, Mulder, I must say that you're keeping things
interesting on this trip." Scully smiled down at him
reaching for his right hand.
"Never a dull moment. You okay?" He squeezed her
hand. "And how did you know I needed you so badly?"
"For the last time, I'm fine and I just had a very
strong feeling that I needed to come to the hospital.
I really can't explain it."
"And they call me Spooky," he tried to laugh but it
brought on another spasm of pain. "I just worry
about you," he managed to get out.
"Well, stop worrying about me and concentrate on
yourself. Is the additional medication helping?"
"No, just made me woozy."
"Perhaps it will make you sleepy enough to get some
rest."
"Scully, what's wrong with me? This is something
more than the food poisoning isn't it?"
"Yes, it is, but we're not 100% sure what the problem
is yet. We'll know more after the tests."
"What kind of tests?"
"An ultra sound and X-rays with some dye injected.
You already have an IV, so it won't hurt." She
reassured him when he winced.
"Couldn't hurt any more than this." He tensed up as
another pain tore through him.
"Just try to relax, Mulder."
"I'm glad you're here," Mulder intoned softly,
rubbing his thumb across her knuckles. "I missed
you."
"Mulder, it's only been a couple of hours since we
saw each other." Scully couldn't help but smile.
"Doesn't matter. Even five minutes away from you is
too long. I love you Scully."
For once, Scully found herself at a loss for words.
She had heard his declaration of love previously, and
like this time he had been under the influence of
some pretty heavy drugs. She stroked his cheek with
the backs of her fingers, her eyes not leaving his.
"Get some sleep, Mulder. I promise you that we will
discuss this at length when you're better."
"Okay, but can you just tell me if I have any reason
to hope that you return my feelings?"
"Yes, there is hope, Mulder. Now, close you eyes and
rest.
Mulder visibly relaxed, a huge grin on his face. The
medication seemed to be helping.
Suddenly, Mulder's body stiffened and though Scully
didn't think it possible, he turned even paler.
"Mulder?"
"Scully, help!" he croaked.
"Mulder, what is it?"
"Pain, bad!"
Scully reached over and pushed the call button. "I
need some help in here!"
Mulder was sitting up straight in bed, trying to keep
from screaming in agony. Perspiration began dripping
from his forehead, evidence of the intense pain and
his effort to hold it in.
"Mulder, talk to me. You're scaring me," Scully
pleaded, holding onto his arms.
At that point, Mulder could no longer hold it in. He
groaned loudly and then began keening out loud with
the intensity of the pain.
Two nurses burst through the door. "What happened?"
Nurse Ricardo demanded.
"Another intense spasm," Scully explained. "It must
be excruciating."
"Mr. Mulder, can you tell me where it hurts?" the
other nurse questioned while Nita adjusted the oxygen
flow.
"Back, right side! Arrrgh! Help me, please!" he
cried.
He continued to sit up straight in bed, his left hand
gripping the bed railing and his right squeezing
Scully's hand. Scully put her free arm around him
trying to comfort him, but he was past hearing her
soothing words. The pain was his entire world at
that moment.
Scully's vision blurred as tears began to fill her
eyes. "Call the doctor and get his ass up here!
Stat!"
End Part 10