Sorry about the delay. It was my birthday this weekend so I was too busy with drunken debauchery to upload the final chapter...bhut here ya go!

The Sleepy Hallow Inn

20th December 2004 8.06 AM

Scully slid the key into the lock and pushed the stiff door open with a loud creak. Almost immediately after she closed it there was a soft knock from the other side. She knew it was David and he had been waiting up for her so she beckoned for him to call in.

"How is he?" David asked immediately watching as she kicked off her shoes and went in to the small bathroom to switch on the shower.

"He's going to be fine. After some rehab."

"Good."

A silence heavy with unspoken thoughts clung to the air threatening to overspill if it weren't addressed. She removed her jacket and walked into the bathroom. Closing and locking the door behind her she almost wished David would force her to speak. She wanted to tell him everything and let him know exactly what was going on, but she just didn't have the strength. Eventually emerging barefoot and wrapped in her robe she saw him sitting on the edge of her bed. Sympathy flowed through her suddenly so she walked over and sat next to him. He nudged her with his shoulder, catching her weary eyes with his own.

"How are you?"

"I'm okay David."

"Sure?"

"Yeah...I will be."

"So...should I book the flight for today?"

"Yes. After lunch. I need to go back to the precinct and tie up some loose ends."

"Get some rest Dana. I'll arrange everything."

Thankful for his taking charge Scully stood and went to the head of the bed to pull down the sheets. David walked out already grabbing his phone and booking flights.

The cool sheets stung her legs but she forced them to stay in the bed and warm it up. His words circled her mind again in the raspy voice he used. All this time he had battled alone, ignoring the warning signs, running when it got too tough and now she was leaving. Is that what he wanted? He already told her she couldn't fix him that; she didn't have the solutions but it didn't seem that he was searching too hard for them himself.

She tossed in the bed for hours rolling thoughts around with her mind as she tried to gain new perspective, but to no avail. Finally giving up, she dragged her tired body out of the bed and decided on another shower to wake her up. She dressed quickly and called David. He was on his way back to the motel and said he'd meet her in the diner across the road for lunch.
Waiting for him in a window booth she ordered eggs on toast and a glass of orange juice. Her meal had just arrived when David sat across from her with a warm smile.

"How do you feel?"

"Tired."

"I went to see Frank." Her eyes shot up to him, a piece of toast hovering before her mouth. "He was asking for you but I said you were packing and sorting out reports."

"I'll go see him before we leave."

"I'm not sure there will be time. Flight leaves in an hour and a half."

"But David I have to finish my reports at the precinct."

"I filed reports and told Detective Shane you'd fax through yours form DC."

"I need to see the files from the case."

"I have our copies."

He seemed to have covered all the usual things at the end of a case but she wasn't happy at having it all planned out for her. She bit into her toast and dropped the rest onto the plate. Slapping her hands together to get rid of the remaining crumbs.

"Give me the keys."

"Where are you going?" he asked as he fished them out of his pocket and held them out to her.

"I'm going to see...Frank." She dashed out of the diner and cursed the midmorning traffic for slowing her journey.

Eventually the hospital was in sight and she parked in the set down area abandoning the car without care for a ticket. Glancing at her watch she saw that it was quarter past one as she stepped off the lift and made her way to his room. She stood outside and smoothed her hand down her top before opening the door slowly in case he was asleep. He didn't move as she closed the door behind her and crossed the room with careful steps.

"Mulder?" He made no response. "I came to say goodbye." She was almost glad he was asleep, knowing how hard it would be to leave if he was awake. "My flight is in a little under an hour so I can't stay long."

Her hand reached out and tentatively touched his arm. He was facing away from her but she could see his eyes were closed and his chest moving in slow shallow breaths. Vivid memories of the last time she had stood by his side in the hospital haunted her but she pushed them aside.

"I wish...I wish..." Her voice faltered but she choked back her tears and continued. "I wish I could stay longer...I wish you would ask me to help you. I know I could if you let me."

A nurse came in and stalled at the sight of Scully leaning over Mulders still form but she walked over and started to take his vitals. Scully rubbed her cheeks with her fingers to hide the stray tears, but the nurse had seen it all before and knew what had happened.

"Did he sleep all night?" Scully asked.

"Yes, woke earlier for pain meds but went back down then. It's normal for the body to want to relax after what he's been through."

"Yes." Scully looked away from the young nurse and back to Mulder.

"Goodbye Mulder. I'll miss you."

Slowly she leaned down and pressed a kiss to his temple before standing and rushing out. The nurse looked after her in confusion wondering why she called him Mulder but thought little of it as she left herself.

Mulder rolled his head over at the sound of silence after the door thuded softly shut. His voice caught in his throat and as he tried to take a deep breath to call out, a sharp stinging pain centred in his chest and quickly deflated his injured lung. Hastily, ignoring the pain he reached for the call button. He pressed it roughly and held it down until the nurse came in. "Get her back! Get her back!"

"Who? Who is it Frank?"

"Scully...the lady who was here a minute ago...get her back!" he yelled as much as he could without rupturing something.

The nurse ran out to the corridor and caught a glimpse of Scully as the elevator doors closed. Dashing for the stairwell she burst through the door bouncing down the steps as fast as she dared shooting out at the ground floor with a burst of energy that surprised the people in the corridor. She rushed to the elevator and saw it was empty so she ran for the front door only to see Scully driving off into the city traffic.

Returning to Mulder with considerably less gusto than she left with she shook her head at him as she crossed the small room to his bed.

"I'm afraid she's gone." Mulder closed his eyes against her concerned face and let his head fall back onto the pillow. "Can't you call her?"

"No...she's gone..." His head fell back to the side facing the window and the nurse left in silence.

Georgetown Washington DC

24th December 2004 9.15 PM

Scully's apartment was adorned with the usual Christmas decorations, gold shining stars hanging from the ceiling and a real six-foot tree in the corner by the window. The lights lay in a puddle by its foot with David hunched over them trying earnestly to undo the knots from the previous year. Scully searched through the boxes of tree decorations for the tinsel strips and baubles to hang on the full branches.

She sat on the edge of the couch and sipped her cup of hot chocolate; her heart not in the task. Somehow her mother had been convinced that she wanted to spend Christmas at home, but David took no such hints. He arrived at her doorstep a little over an hour ago with a grin and insisted on helping her decorate when he saw the boxes scattered around her living room. She poured him a glass of wine and succumbed to his force, handing him the bundle of lights with a smile. Watching him now fight with the knots she was almost glad for the company. "So why aren't you spending the night with Janet?" she asked.

"Janet is stuck in Boston. Can't get a flight out because of the storms."

"Will she make it tomorrow?"

"I hope so. We're supposed to be eating Christmas Day dinner at her parents and they would be disappointed if she couldn't make it. What are you doing for dinner tomorrow?"

The question she was expecting him to ask since he arrived this evening finally made an appearance. She sipped her hot chocolate to give the unhurried air of non-chalance before she answered.

"My family are all gone out to San Diego to my brothers house. So I'll make something here and relax for a while."

"You mean stay in on your own and dwell in the loneliness that's been festering around you since we got back from Seattle?"

"I'm not lonely David. I just want to be on my own. Is that so hard to understand?"

"Yes." He smiled grimly watching as she took another sip of her drink and sat back on his hands. He took a deep breath about to say something but the knock at the door stalled his words.

"Santa?" she joked.

"No Dana, he only comes to see good little girls." She tossed a pillow at him as she stood to get the door. "He might be here for me though."

She opened the door a little and peered around, not knowing what to expect. Her face fell at the sight of him standing tall and somewhat guiltily in her hallway.

"Are you going to invite me in?" Mulder's voice was whispered into the hallway through a half smile and shoulders covered in snow.

"What are you doing here?" she managed to say as her shock subsided enough for her to speak.

"I came to see you."
Slowly she stepped back and he walked in. He stepped around her without touching her and his eyes absorbed the scene that was set out before him. David sat sipping wine with the lights still bundled in his lap and the tree was empty with boxes of expectant decorations beneath it. As soon as David saw him he stood to his full height, letting the lights fall to the floor.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he asked his voice laced with tension as his hands grabbed his hips.

"David, don't." Scully closed the door and turned to meet them both standing almost toe-to-toe in her living room.

"Hi David," Mulder said holding his hand out waiting to be shaken.

"Frank Williams." David took the outstretched hand and shook it firmly.

"It's Fox actually. Fox Mulder."

Their shaking hands froze as David stilled, his eyes moving slowly over to Scully who stood to the side her arms crossed over her chest and her eyes closed.

"Dana?"

"It's true. This is Fox Mulder."

David snapped his hand back and couldn't help being annoyed at the smile on Mulders face.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I eh, I wasn't sure what was happening. I'm sorry David," Scully stammered.

"Well I have to admit it explains a lot of what was going on last week."

"It was quite a shock. She didn't know I was there." Mulder took a step back making a circle with the three of them in the living room.

"I bet it was a shock."
David caught the stolen glances between the both of them and decided it was time to leave. He took his coat off the couch and draped it over his arm. Scully stepped over to the door with him and opened it.

"Do you want me to stay?" he asked in hushed tones.

"No David it's okay. I'll be fine." She squeezed his arm and smiled warmly at him.

"Call me if you need me." He winked and walked out pulling on his coat.

Scully turned back intro the living room where she saw Mulder glancing around the room. His eyes absorbed the familiar furniture with only a few additions since he had last stood in her living room. Different magazines adorned the table and a newer computer on the desk but then he expected as much. His fish tank on her sideboard by her kitchen entrance caught his attention; dragging him towards it with the strong desire to touch it, feel its cold glass under his slender fingers. He didn't imagine the fish swimming inside were the same ones he had left in her care four years ago but that wasn't what mattered. The mere fact that they had sustained a prime position in her home was what warmed his heart.

"Mulder?" she asked again making him pull his eyes around to face her. Then at the look in his eyes that she couldn't place she said, "Frank?"

"No Scully...don't say that...don't..." he took a step closer to her but his head hung low in shame, hiding his eyes, pushing back his emotions.

"I don't understand, what's going on?"

"I came to ask you...something."

Scully somehow managed to break her gaze at him and walked over to the sofa. She took the still warm mug from the table and held it with both hands, concentrating on the bubbly froth on the top of her drink rather than face him. He followed her to the couch and sat next to her.

"I need your help."

"My help Mulder?" she sneered trying no to sound as harsh as she was sure it was appearing. "I don't have the solutions to all the problems."

"I deserved that." He conceded her point with a wry smile but persisted moving himself from the couch to the table in front of her. "I'm sorry Scully...what can I say...I was wrong."

"About what Mulder? Tell me exactly what is it you want from me?"

"Four years ago...I had an experience." He stammered with his words searching for the right ones and still struggling to push them past his lips.

"I tried my best to face it but it hurt too much...so I ran. I ran away from my life, I ran away from my problems and I ran away from you."

Scully looked up at him from over the rim of her drink wanting to toss it to the side and grab him into a hug, but instead she just looked.

"I thought I could deal with it and in some ways I did...by pushing it away I found I could ignore it, function normally, hold down a job..." he laughed derisively. "It took me a while to do even that."

"Mulder-."

"No let me finish. But they came back. They always come back. I stopped sleeping, I stopped living...I stopped caring." He paused and took a deep shaky breath. "Until you arrived. The other night in my apartment. It was the first good nights sleep I had in four years."

Her eyes sprang up in surprise as she recalled the feeling of lying back against his warm body, the contented feeling of his chest breathing against her back as he slept deeply and soundly.

"I want more of it...I want to sleep like that again."

"You want to sleep with me again? That's how I can help you?" she said surprised.

"No...well yes...but that's not what I mean!" He laughed, happy for the release of tension and let out another breath from the bottom of his lungs.

"What is it you want from me?" she asked in a timid voice too afraid to know too afraid not to.

"I'm going to do this properly...I'm going to get help...but I don't think I can do it alone...I don't think I want to."

"Are you seeking this help in...Seattle?"

"No. No I've arranged to meet a Dr. Keith Morrison here in DC twice weekly for two months then on a provisional basis after that...depending on progress."

"Here in DC? You're moving to DC?"

"Scully I've never spoken of...about...what happened to me. I never told a soul. You're the only one who knows, probably the only one who cares." He looked away from her his feet bouncing to an irregular rhythm, as the hands that lay clasped between his knees fidgeted. She put her cup down and took his hands in hers. But he still refused to look up. "I will understand if you don't want to but I'm asking...for your help."

"Mulder," she said reaching out to his chin to force him to look up. "Of course I will help you."

All of a sudden the emotions were too much for him and he let out a breathy, shaking sob that forced tears to fall down his cheeks. He wept loudly letting his head fall down again and she guided him onto the couch. His arms snaked around her waist and his head fell onto her lap. She rubbed his back feeling the bandages that were still there and threaded her fingers through his hair as he cried openly and fearlessly.

They stayed like that for what seemed an eternity and it was as if his tears dried up, his cries became dry and raspy but his body still shook with emotion. He began to shiver with all the emotion spent. She touched his cheek and wiped away the damp trails of his tears.

"Mulder, sit up, let me get you a drink."

Silently he sat up wincing with the small pain moving caused his chest. Sitting back against the couch he buried his face into his hands and rubbed it vigorously, shaking his hair and letting his fingers lock at the back of his neck. She returned by his side with a cup of hot chocolate for him and he took it with a grim smile. He sipped it gingerly and licked the traces off his lips before putting it down on the coffee table.

"Nothing like a hot chocolate after a barrage of emotions!" he said lightly, looking into the flickering flames of the fire.

"I could make it a little Irish chocolate if you'd like?" "Sounds good to me." She disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a bottle of whiskey. "Always keep one of those here?"

"You never know." She poured a healthy shot into his drink and another into her own. He smiled at her and held out his cup for her to clink with.

"Here's to...to...painful times ahead?" he suggested.

"Light at the end of the tunnel?" she countered.

"New friendships?"

"Old friendships renewed?"

"Here's to you Scully...for letting me in."

"Here's to you Mulder for coming back in."

They clinked their cups together and watched each other as they sipped the now sour drink.

"Whoa that's more than a little Irish right there." He said sipping his drink again. She smiled and put her cup down before walking to the fire to stoke the dying flames. Throwing a few more logs on she passed the bundle of lights to him.

"Here seeing as you ran my last helper, you can untangle these."

"Thanks Scully."

He put down his strong drink and sat down onto the floor. She caught the small wince as he crouched by the tree and started to sort out the lights.

"How is your chest?"

"It's a little tender."

"Can I take a look at it?"

"It's a little soon to get my clothes off but if you insist..." She shook her head as she knelt down beside him and helped him take his shirt off. They pulled it gently over his head and he moaned a little as he stretched his arm up over his head.

"Now it's your turn!"

"This is gonna sting..." she peeled the bandage gently back pulling the sticky tape off his back. the bruising was still evident and it was slightly swollen but the stitches were magnificent, small and linear leaving little scar tissue. "It looks good. Does it hurt?" She pressed her fingers against his hot skin testing the wound with a little pressure.

"Only if you keep pressing it!"

"Sorry." She stuck his bandage back on and handed him back his sweater before rolling back onto her heals. "It should heal up completely. Any trouble breathing?"

"No. It's a little shallow still and I do get out of breath a bit easier than before...so I guess yes...a little trouble breathing."

"Don't worry that will go." Moving back to the couch she leaned her back against it and pulled the box of decorations closer.

A silence fell between them and they both relaxed into it lazily enjoying the familiar sensation of each other's company. Eventually Mulder connected the lights up to the plug and had them all lit and untied.

"Ta daa!"

"Thanks Mulder, you know where they go."

With a grunt he stood and began to drape the lights around the tree starting at the top and coiling it down to the last branch. When he was finished he stood back to admire his handiwork and smiled at Scully who was now standing beside him.

"Here," she said handing him the small white angel to perch on the top branch. He took it from her small hands and tenderly sat it into its place. Joining her side once more he caught her sad smile and draped an arm around her shoulders.

"Do you think I can make it?" he said softly not looking down at her. "I know you can." Squeezing her shoulders he turned her into his chest for a hug and she felt the shaky breath he took in. "What are you going to do Mulder?"

"What do you mean?" His hug loosened enough to look down to her face.

"I mean about work? Living? What are you going to do?"

"I have a lot of money saved. I'll get an apartment somewhere. As for a job...I don't know...I haven't really thought about it."

"You haven't?"

"Well I wasn't sure if you were going to help me Scully. All I knew was I was going to ask you...if you said no...I would have hightailed it back to Seattle."

"Hightailed it?" she said laughing.

"You know what I mean."

"What about the FBI?" she said tentatively.

"I dunno Scully." He released her totally and sat back onto the couch.

"Look forget it, you don't need to worry about that now." He glanced up at her with a disbelieving expression. "There are some people you need to call though."

"The Lone Gunmen?"

"Yes."

"I called them this morning. I needed to make sure you were still living here."

"They never said. I spoke to Frohike this morning."

"I asked them not to." Mulder looked a little sheepish.

"What about Skinner?"

"No...I haven't quite gotton the courage to call him yet." "He'd be pleased to hear from you."

"What about you?"

"Me?"

"Are you pleased?"

"I eh, yes I'm pleased."

"You don't sound to sure." He stood up and approached her.

"I'm confused," she admitted. "It's all so fast."

"I know. Look maybe I should go." He reached to get his coat but she stalled him with a hand on his arm.

"It's late Mulder." She sighed unsure if she wanted to continue with what she was about to say. "Where are you going?"

"I was going to get a room in town."

"Stay here. You're exhausted." Just then he yawned and they both laughed. "When did you leave Seattle?"

"Yesterday. My flight was delayed and they lost my baggage. Hence I came here empty handed."

"Look just stay here. It's Christmas Eve. What kind of Christian would I be if I turned you away?" He smiled and dropped his coat back onto the chair.

"Okay. Thanks."

"Get some rest Mulder, we can talk in the morning."

She led him into her room and threw back the covers. In the bathroom she fetched a glass of water and returned to see him sitting on the soft mattress staring at the pastel coloured carpet.

"You okay?"

He nodded as she reached past him to put the glass on the dressing table. Without warning his arms grabbed her and he pulled her over to him. His head pressed into his stomach and his arms overlapped around her back but he squeezed her tighter and rocked her gently. She let her hands fall onto his back one of them tracing soft circles onto his shoulders the other reaching into his hair.

"I can't believe you are here Scully. I can't believe I am."

"Everything is going to be okay," she whispered kissing his head through his hair.

"Is it?"

"Its going to be tough Mulder. It's going to be really tough but I'm here for you. What ever you need all you need to do is ask."

"Thanks Scully." His voice was muffled against her stomach and his breathing uneven. She wasn't sure if he was crying but she didn't care. All she knew was the comfort he was seeking was in her touch so she offered it all to him.

Eventually he released her and let her step back. She helped him off with his sweater knowing the discomfort he was in, but when he kicked off his shoes and undid his trousers she looked away, making an issue of closing the curtains. The soft bed moved beneath his weight as he curled beneath the covers. She stood at the door while he got comfortable and switched off the light.

"Goodnight Mulder."

"Night."

Scully returned to the living room and cleaned up the empty decoration boxes. The twinkling lights brought a sense of peace to the room as she gathered the cups and washed the saucepan she'd used to make the hot chocolate. As she placed the clean cups into the cupboard she froze at the sound of a subdued yell. It was guttural and low but the source was unmistakable. Dropping everything she rushed into her bedroom where she saw Mulder had kicked away the covers and was balled up near the foot of the bed.
Tentatively she reached out to him but he bucked away. His skin was cold and clammy and she knew she had to wake him rather than leave him

"Mulder!" she said more firmly this time and when he flinched under her touch, she only pressed harder. His voice got stronger and his yell more painful. She climbed onto the bed next to him and curled around him, almost spooning his hunched form. "Shhhh...I got you."

He tried to get away from her but she clung to him tightly, whispering soft words into his ears and rubbing small circles into his chest. Eventually he stopped moving and his breathing became slow and shallow. She held him for a moment longer and made sure he was calm before letting go. Getting off the bed, Scully made him drag his body back up to the top and lie on the pillows. Pulling the quilt back over him, she covered his shivering body and was about to turn away when his arm reached out to her.

"Stay..." he whispered, his eyes closed and his mouth hidden beneath the blanket. "Stay with me please..."

She couldn't refuse so she nodded.

"I'll be back in a second."

She went out to the living room and locked up before returning to his side by the bed. She pulled off her sweater and stepped out of her jeans as they pooled by her feet. He lifted back the covers for her to climb into and smiled at the sight of his own Sonics t-shirt on her.

"Sonics fan Scully?"

"Yeah go Sonics."

She leaned onto the bed and lay down flat next to him. He rested a tentative arm around her waist. His head found a comfy spot on her shoulder. With his body pressed next to hers, she could feel his whole form shivering with cold or fear; she wasn't sure which. Her arm reached around his back and pulled him closer and he leaned in as her other hand found his chest.

"Get some sleep Mulder. I'm here for you."

"I know Scully. I know."

The End. © Skinfull 2004

Thanks to jmillington for all the wonderful info on Seattle and the entire team of medical guru's on Mulders Refuge for the medical advice and facts. I also consulted The Online Skeleton that can be found at: http:www-personal.une.edu.au/pbrown3/ostel.html

I always find religion an interesting aspect for an Xfile with so many choices and phenomenon attributed to the search for god. I apologise in advance for any offence caused I can only assure you it was unintentional.

I had no beta save for the delectable Janet who pointed me in the right direction concerning scenes and snowfalls! Thanks Janet, this one is for you...now you owe me one! And Lisa I know this mightn't be enough MT for you but wait till you see what I got brewing for you next...

BTW the prequel for this is nearly finished but not posted and the sequel has been started...I went for the George Lucas Method of Writing!