Chapter Four

Saint Mary's Hospital

The corridors were painted in a soft blue with wallpaper of clouds aligning the panels. The fluorescent lights were a bit brighter than normal, but not enough to distress patients. Equipment was tossed against the side walls for emergency uses. Nurses made their routine routes to make sure everyone was comfortable and vitals were in the clear. A couple doctors bustled around as their names were called over the speakers to various rooms.

With a cup of cold coffee in her hand, the red haired agent paced the tiles in the waiting room. She didn't feel like she was doing anything useful out there wearing a hole in the floor. So, when she heard a shuffling coming from the general direction of the hallway that housed her partner, she whipped around and snapped to full alert.

A weary doctor crossed the room to her, chart in one hand and a fresh cup of coffee in the other. He handed her the drink with a genial smile. "I figured you might want another shot at it." He gestured her to a chair. "Your husband seems to have…"

"Partner. He's my work partner."

A light shade of red crept into the young man's pale face. "Yes, sorry, forgive me for my mistake. Mr. Mulder seems to have suffered from shock and a mild seizure. It appears it was brought on by stress. Has anything significant occurred in the last twenty-four hours?"

"Yes. Um…do to the FBI's policy that on-going investigations are confidential, I can't share that information with you." She crossed her arms protectively over her chest, daring the doctor to rebuke her. "Let's just say it's been a rough few weeks. May I see him?"

"Of course. Follow me."

The doctor left her at the door with a reassuring smile before departing to run some paper work. Scully hesitated before tentatively turning the doorknob and pushing it open. Mulder was propped up on pillows staring into space. She strolled closer and took his hand. It was then that he seemed to notice her for the first time.

"Hey there, partner." She pulled a chair closer to the bed and winced as it scraped across the floor. "The doctor says you'll be fine."

"As long as I take it easy. Yeah, yeah, he told me all that, too." He peered over at her intensely. "Yet, it's not over. I won't quit until I find that little girl. I made her parents a promise. I made myself a promise. That bastard isn't going to get away with this and I'm going to make sure of that."

He pulled at his IV. "Get me out of here, Scully." He yanked the offensive needle out of his arm, leaving a swollen mark. "Help me or leave me. It's your choice."

"I would never leave you."

RED WOOD INN…

Two hours later they were both sitting on his mattress with files strewn about them haphazardly. Mulder was pouring over the crime scene documents over and over again. Occasionally he would reach up and rub his throbbing temple, but never took his eyes off the pages before him.

Scully watched him off an on between the autopsy reports. She was worried about what this new twist in the investigation was doing to him. She had been scared when she first saw him motionless on the ground outside of the Ronalds' home. She didn't want to relive that.

She flipped the folder she was reading closed and tossed it on the floor. She then proceeded to do that to all the files. Mulder glanced up at her as she snatched the one he had been reading and dropped it on the pile with the rest. "No more for tonight, Mulder. You're not going to do that girl any good if you're not thinking straight. You need to rest."

Mulder made an attempt to protest, but it was lost in his throat when she held up a finger to his lips. "Don't argue with me, G-man." She got up and pushed him gently down onto the mattress. She lifted the blankets and covered him with them before crawling in beside him. "I'll stay here if only to make sure you don't try and do anything stupid."

Mulder's eyes softened to a tender gaze that penetrated straight to her heart. "Thank you, Scully. Thank you for letting me do this. I need to catch this monster." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Thank you for being there for me. Heaven knows I don't deserve your compassion."

Scully shook her head. "Of course you do. You're not only my partner, but also my closest friend. How can you honestly not see the wonderful man you are? You're so determined and passionate and adorable. And you care. You truly care about what happens to people."

"Scully…there' nothing for you here. Why do you stay?"

"Because everything I need is right here. Mulder," she caressed his arm, "I have your friendship. I have you. Nothing on earth could ever tear me away from this."

His gaze dropped to where her hand was trailing up and down his skin. He clasped her hand into his and brought it up to his mouth and kissed each of her knuckles. "And I have you." He leaned in close to her face. "I have everything I need." Then his mouth descended onto hers in a delicate kiss. "I've loved you for so long." He made a path down her jaw line to her neck.

Scully released a groan before placing her hands on his chest and slowly prying him away. "Mulder…" The hurt and confusion in his features nearly made her want to cry. "Mulder, this isn't right. We're partners. Friends."

"But you told me at the funeral that you loved me." Darkness crept across his face and he recoiled from her touch. "I knew you were lying to me. I told you that you were and you denied it. What? Was it out of pity? Oh poor Mulder," he sneered mockingly. "Tell him what he wants to hear. Yeah, Scully, I get it."

"No, Mulder, it's not like that," she pleaded.

"Get out, Scully."

"Mulder, it's not that I don't love you. I just don't love you in that way. How could I possibly when…"

"When I'm Spooky Mulder? Yes, of course, you need to uphold whatever decent reputation you still have. You shouldn't get involved with a messed up, psychotic, paranoid shit like me. No, must stay far away."

"Mulder…"

"GET OUT!" He jumped from the bed as though the near sight of her would turn him into a pillar of ash.

Scully slowly crawled off the bed, never tearing her eyes away from him. She stood motionless for a moment before attempting again in a soothing voice: "Mulder, I do love you. Yet, you know as well as I do that we could never be more than friends."

From across the room she felt his eyes touch deep into her soul. "You're wrong, Scully. We have so much more, but you aren't willing to see it." He crossed his arms and stiffened, causing the muscles in his arms to flex. "You better leave and forget any of this happened." He gestured towards the door with a sharp nod of his head. "Goodnight, Agent Scully."

She hesitated before uncertainly staggering out the door. She idly walked to her room. After the door was securely closed behind her, she flopped onto the mattress and buried her face in the old pillow. Tears trickled down her face and soon she fell into a restless sleep. Her dreams were filled with nightmares of Mulder swallowing a bullet.

End Chapter Four

Keys: That's very sweet of you say. Also, I know what you mean about TLW. I'm slowly beginning to lose my love for it, too. I think it's because there aren't any new episodes. And I'm going to try to make it to the Con, but I live over 3,500 miles away, so…we'll see.

DDstalker: Fae de Luna? What's that? Anyway, you can tell the voices in your head thanks for the compliment and that I'm sorry it took so long.

Gillian: I like angsty, too, as long as there's at least a semi-happy ending.

Crazie: Thank you very much. It's great to know you feel that way. (Mmm…maybe you're just trying to butter me up…)