"Hey guys."

"Hey Mulder, what's up."

"Nothing, Frohike. Just came to hang out, is that okay?"

"Sure. Did you bring the pizza and beer?

"Of course. You know, I've known you guys for how long now; did you really think I'd come by without pizza and beer? That's usually the only reason you let me through the damn door - don't think I don't know that."

"That's not true...well, most of the time it's not."

"Anyway, here you go - one extra large pizza, with all the trimmings except anchovies, and two six-packs. Will that do?

"I suppose so...Thanks... Seriously man, what's up."

"Langly...just leave it."

"Hey Mulder, we - and by we I mean Langly - may look stupid but we're not. You've got look on your face that says something's wrong. So, we ask once again. What's up?"

"Frohike...sigh...It's Scully..."

"What's wrong, is she hurt? ...No she can't be or you wouldn't be here. Ummm..."

"Byers, Scully's fine...I...damn it."

"Dude, just tell us. What's happened?"

"It all started the day before yesterday, we were on a case and..."

42 hours earlier

"Hey Mulder. You ready to go?"

"Sure Scully. Did SAC Currie give the order yet?"

"No but he says it's gonna be any minute now and we've all to get into position."

"Alright. Are you ready to go?"

"Yes. I just...We're moving."

"Let's go."

"I'm right behind you."

crash

"Scully, look out! ...damn! Scully, are you okay? ...Scully?"

" groan I'm f..fine Mulder."

"Where are you? ...I can't see a damn thing, you're not sounding too good."

"Umm..."

"What? ...What is it Scully?"

"Mulder, don't move okay."

"Why?...Scully, what's wrong?"

"Just don't move."

"Okay Scully. I won't move but tell me why. What's wrong?"

"What's wrong is I have your precious 'Scully' in one hand and a knife in the other and if you move one millimetre it's going to slice her pretty little throat right open."

"Andrews?"

"That's right Fibbie! 'Mulder', your name was - right Red?"

"Yes...ahh"

"Scully..."

"Oh it's alright Mulder. There's no blood...yet. I think I'll save that so you can SEE her bleed! Wouldn't want you to miss out on the fun - don't want to miss out on it myself."

"Andrews I swear - if you touch her I'll..."

"You'll what Mulder? ...Oh I don't think you'll be doing anything to me while I've got your partner right in my grasp. Come here!"

"Where?"

"Over here so I can see you...and so you can see us."

"I don't know where you are Andrews..."

"Quit stalling...oh no, see what you made me do. 'Red' here's gonna have a lot more red on her unless you get here NOW!"

"Scully...don't hurt her. I'm coming, just don't hurt her."

"A bit late for that, but I'll stop so you don't miss any more."

"Right, I'm here. Now you can let her go."

"Oh, I don't think that was part of the deal Mulder."

"Yeah, well neither was this."

BANG

"Aaagh!"

"Scully, are you okay?"

"Yes. The bullet got Andrews though, he's bleeding a lot - we're going to need an ambulance now."

"Can we get the paramedics over here?!!"

"There's no pulse Mulder, I'm gonna have to do CPR."

"...The paramedics are here Scully. You can stop now, let them take over."

"...Still no pulse...I think we've lost him."

"Agent Mulder, Agent Scully? What on earth happened?"

"Andrews jumped us when we were going in, SAC Currie. He took Scully hostage with a knife and threatened to use it on her...he didn't take my gun off me so I shot him when I got a chance. I felt that not doing so would endanger Agent Scully's life."

"Agent Scully?"

"Sir, Agent Mulder's right. Andrews was becoming dangerous - he wanted to let Agent Mulder see me get hurt so, when Mulder got to where he could see us, there was nothing stopping Andrews from proceeding with his plan. It was a justified shooting sir."

"Very well Agents. I expect to see you both tomorrow for debriefing. There may well be another raid set up for tomorrow evening and I'll need you both there."

"Certainly sir. We'll see you on Mulder."

"Scully you're bleeding."

"I'm fine, it's just a scratch. We'd better go home and get some rest since SAC Currie wants us in on the raid tomorrow - he's going to need all the man power he can get."

"Scully, I'm not sure you should take part tomorrow..."

"Mulder, I told you I'm fine. There's nothing wrong with me."

"But..."

"No 'buts' Mulder. I'm going to be involved and that's that."

"Okay. Need a ride home?"

"Sure, that would be great."

Present time

"Then on the raid the next day I suggested she stay behind in the van until any medical help was required. Of course she gave me hell for saying it when we got back to the office. She was really riled that I had suggested that she couldn't do her job and she thought I was being sexist."

"So, what's the problem? ...Just apologise to her and tell her it won't happen again."

"I did apologise, Byers - but I couldn't say it won't happen again because I know that it will."

"Why will it Mulder? You know the delectable Agent Scully can hold her own."

"Yes I know that, Frohike - that's not the problem. When Andrew had her hostage, I ...I realised..."

"Realised what?"

"Well, first of all - my objection to her going in had nothing to do with the fact that she's a woman. I never thought she couldn't handle it, I just didn't want her going in there - I didn't want there to be any chance of her getting hurt again. It wasn't about her not being able to do her job - I know fine well she can - it was just that I wanted the others agents to take the risks, not her. I know that the next time we're in the same situation I'm going to want to stop her going in too."

"Why would you stop her?"

"I don't want her taking any unnecessary risks - I can't handle it when she gets hurt. When Andrews was holding the knife to her throat, I couldn't breathe thinking that she could die. ...I...I think...I'm in love with her."

"Well, duh!"

"Langly..."

"I'm serious dude. You mean you didn't already know that?"

"No, I didn't already know. Do you think I would be here like this if it didn't come as a bit of a shock!"

"Calm down Mulder. Don't take it out on Langly, he's right. We all thought you knew - it's pretty obvious man."

"Obvious?...Obvious?!!! How the hell could it be obvious if I didn't even know?"

"Mulder, do you really think that's the important point here? I mean, okay so we knew before you did, but you DO know now. I think the important thing is you've got to figure out what you're going to do about it."

"Umm...I don't know. Do I need to do anything? I mean if, as you guys say, I've been in love with her for a while, then does anything need to be done about the fact that I know it now?"

"I suppose not but..."

"But what?"

"Well, now you actually know - it could cause problems because you'll be hiding something from her, willingly."

"What can I do about that?"

"Tell her how you feel."

"Yeah, right...you're serious?"

"Yes he's serious Mulder. Scully's gonna know something's up cos - let's face it - she knows you even better than we do and we noticed it right away."

"God, you're right. What am I going to do?"

"I suggest you just tell her Mulder."

"Really Byers? Then what? ...What if she just laughs in my face? - It could be well worse for our friendship than just keeping quiet. There's no way she could love me back - why do I need to set myself up for rejection?"

"She's not going to laugh in your face Mulder - she cares far too much about you to do anything that insensitive. I don't think she'll reject you either although I obviously don't know that - it's just my...our...opinion. Just invite her over for dinner tomorrow and take it from there."
"Okay...dinner...just tell her...I can do that...can't I?"
"Of course you can Mulder. Now go home and phone her - oh and, do her a favour and don't cook, unless you've had lessons since the last time you did."

"No. Don't you think I should cook? I could ask for help...she might think it was sweet or something...make her not laugh when I tell her."

"She's not going to laugh! Just order in ...Set the table though and use plates - no eating out of the cartons."

"Since when did you become an expert on dating, Frohike?"

"Since I had a chat with Scully about what her perfect man would do for her on a date."

"What?"

"Nothing. Just do what I suggested."

"Okay. Well...see you."

"Bye Mulder, good luck."

"Thanks, I'll need it."

"If it makes you feel any better Mulder - we're pretty sure Scully's gonna be happy when you tell her."

"What makes you so sure?"

"We see the way she looks at you when she thinks no ones watching."

"Really?"

"Really! So go tell her."

"Okay then. Bye."

"Goodbye."