XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Title: Hurtful Lies
Author: Gabiabi
Rating: PG
Classification: Angst, MSR
Summary: What if Mulder wasn't told that Scully's cancer had gone into remission?
Spoilers: Redux II
Disclaimer: Any characters you recognise are not mine
Author's note:- I'm not in any way medically trained so please excuse any medical inaccuracies. I tried my best to research it but it's quite hard to do that and very time consuming. that said, I do hope that it's not too badly inaccurate.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Scully looked at the three people around her bed, each face as worried as the next in their own way. Although her brother Bill tried hard not to show how scared he was, she could see past his blank facade. Mulder on the other hand looked too weary to even try and hide his emotions so the fear and worry were written plainly on his face. Her mother stroked a lock of hair from her face, trying to keep up her hopeful attitude that had been vastly depleted by her afternoon visit when Scully had told her that she wasn't getting better. They were all waiting for the doctor to come in with the latest test results, which, depending on what they said, could well be the very last tests she would ever have. All four turned quickly to the door as it opened suddenly and the doctor came through it, no hint on his face of what news he had.
"Is everyone staying for this Dana?"
"Yes..."
"I think this should be just family actually Dana."
"Bill..."
"It's okay Scully, I'll go. You can let me know afterwards."
"Mulder..."
"Hey, it's alright. I...I don't know if I should be wishing you good luck or what but...good luck."
"Thanks."
Mulder bent down over her to press a gentle kiss on her forehead and she reached out with one hand to grab his. He held it tightly for a brief instant until he heard Bill clearing his throat pointedly. He gave her hand one last squeeze and then made his way across the room and through the door. Mulder sat on the chair just outside her room and, unable to remain calm, he jiggled his legs up and down, impatiently waiting to know her prognosis. Realising that this could be it - that he would not in a few minutes whether the chip or the extreme medical methods used had worked or not - his legs stilled. He buried his face in his hands and prayed fervently to a God he didn't really believe in to ask him to have mercy on Scully and let her be cured.
When the doctor left the room he could sit still no longer and, standing up, began to pace up and down the corridor, waiting for someone to come tell him that it was okay to go back in. Deep in thought as he paced, he spun round and nearly crashed right into Bill who had just come through the door of Scully's room. He closed the door behind him so that Mulder could not see into the room and folded his arms across his chest, not speaking.
"What did the doctor say? Is she going to be okay?"
"No, Mr Mulder, she's not. Your 'chip' thing didn't work. She's not getting any better."
"What...I...I thought."
"Yes well Mr Mulder. We all know what you thought - that you'd come in and magically cure her so she would stay with you and get hurt on your next mission. It's not going to happen - she probably won't be well enough to leave the hospital, never mind go chasing after your little green men with you."
"I just wanted her to get better...I...can I see her?"
"She doesn't want you to go back in Mr Mulder. She hates you for getting her hopes up for nothing - she doesn't want to see you again."
"Scully...she hates me?"
"Don't tell me you're surprised? Think about it, would you want to see the person who was killing you slowly and painfully? The bastard who dangles a so-called cure in front of you, giving you hope and then to have it crushed by the doctors - the doctors who know what they're doing?"
"I suppose not...I...I'd better go."
"Yes I think you'd better."
"Tell Scully..."
"She doesn't want to see you Mr Mulder, why on earth would she give a shit about anything you have to say?"
"I...I..."
Mulder clamped his mouth shut, not wanting to show how much he was hurting to Bill. He turned away from him and walked down the corridor to the elevators, his shoulders slumped in defeat. Bill watched him go and the corners of his mouth turned up in a self-satisfied smirk. He waited until the lift doors had closed on Mulder before grinning outright and turned to go back into his sister's hospital room. He had opened the door before he noticed that Mulder had left his suit jacket lying on the chair beside the one that he had been sitting waiting on. His mother had noticed him in the doorway and was looking puzzled at him, wondering why he had paused. He decided to just go into the room and ignore the jacket, thinking that Mulder would come back and pick it up later. He knew that if he took it in, not only would his sister and mother know that Mulder had left hurriedly, but also that Mulder would have to come into the room to find it thus seeing Dana.
"Where's Mulder, Bill. Is he not coming in?"
"Mulder had to go home. He says he's sorry but he had to go."
"What? Didn't Fox want to come in and see Dana?"
"I don't know mom. He just said he had to go and then off he went."
"Oh, I thought he would come in, I wanted to see him. Why wouldn't he come in, mom?"
"I don't know honey. Why don't you phone him and find out?"
"I'll need to phone him later, mom. His cell will be switched off since he got told off for using it in the hospital earlier. I'll give him time to get home and then phone him to find out what's up."
"Okay Dana. Why don't you get some sleep while you wait. I'll wake you back up in half an hour or so."
"Thanks mom. I am pretty tired."
"No wonder, honey, you've had a long day. Sweet dreams."
Maggie stroked her daughter's hair gently as she watched her eyes close and her breathing grow even. When she was sure Dana was fast asleep she took her hand away and sat down on the chair beside the bed to wait. It was not long before her eyelids began to droop and soon she too was asleep. Bill watched the two of them sleep for a moment and then turned to the door to go back to his mother's house like he had planned since he didn't particularly like hospitals. As he walked passed the chairs outside the room he saw that Mulder's jacket was still lying there and he paused, considering taking it into the room where it would be safer and less likely to go missing. He shook off the thought and began walking again towards the elevators, glad to be getting out of the hospital.
