Scully remained beside Mulder's bed until the nurse came to inform them that he was to be moved to a room upstairs where he would have to remain for several nights. Scully held his hand as the orderlies rolled him up the corridor and onto the elevator, ignoring the headache that had begun not longer after she had woken up and had been steadily increasing in intensity ever since. She massaged her temples with her free hand as the elevator rose, taking them to their new floor. Mulder noticed her action and tugged on her hand to pull her down to his height. His temperature had dropped significantly when the cooling blanket had been placed on him and he was now almost coherent when he spoke. The cooling blanket had been removed down in the ER, his decrease in temperature causing the doctors to think that it was no longer needed. His oxygen mask had been replaced with a nasal cannula so he was now free to speak to Scully.

"Scully, you're not well. Go home and get some rest."

"Mulder I'm not leaving you, I'm fine."

"Scully no...you need to take care of yourself..."

Mulder broke off as he started to cough, his chest aching and pain etched on his features as he tried to make himself stop. Tears sprung to Scully's eyes as she saw his pain and she gently rubbed his chest to try and ease his severe discomfort. As he calmed, Scully wiped the beads of sweat caused from the exertion off his forehead and ran her fingers gently through his hair to soothe him. He tried again to get her to go home but she stuck firm to her decision to stay and so he gave up.

The elevator bell rang to show that they had reached the floor and Mulder was pushed put of the doors, down the corridor and into a private room. He began to cough again as he was transferred from the gurney to the bed and he rolled on his side in an effort to support his chest. Scully rubbed his back tenderly even as she called for the nurse with the call button. When his coughing fit was finally over he turned onto his back and closed his eyes, exhausted. Scully rested her hand across his forehead and informed the nurse who had just entered the room that his temperature had risen once more.

The nurse left to get the doctor and Scully sank wearily onto the chair beside the bed, making sure she was still in his sight should he open his eyes. Mulder started to shiver from the cold and Scully tucked the thin blanket more tightly under his chin. He rolled over so that he could see her better and they positioned themselves like they had in the ER, her head on the edge of his pillow. Mulder reached out from under his blanket with one of his hands and grasped her hand again, lacing their fingers together. They were so lost in each other's eyes that they didn't hear the door opening and jumped at the sound of a man's voice.

"Good afternoon Agent Mulder. I'm Dr Wilson and I'll be your attending physician today. What seems to be the problem?"

"His temperature has increased and his coughing seems to be more painful and lasts for longer than it did."

"Right...and you are?"

"Dana Scully. I'm his partner at the FBI."

"So you're not a family member then?"

"No."

"Well then, you should know that you aren't supposed to be back here."

"I realise it's unusual but Mulder was very agitated and the doctors downstairs wanted to keep him calm so they said I should stay with him."

"He seems calm enough to me. Why don't you go and have a seat in the waiting room. Visiting hours are not until 5 o'clock this afternoon. You can see him then."

"But..."

"Ms Scully,"

"It's Dr Scully thank you very much."

"Dr Scully then, I'll ask you again to please leave. It's hospital policy."

Dr Wilson gestured to the door as he readied himself with his stethoscope, dismissing her from the room. He turned his attention to Mulder and began his cursory exam - glad that he would have no interference from Scully since he had told her to leave. Scully stood up from her seat beside Mulder's bed and began to walk away, defeated. Mulder grasped her hand tighter and would not let her go, pleading with his eyes for her to stay.

"Mulder I have to go."

"Scully stay...ple...please."

"I can't Mulder. I'm sorry."

Mulder released her hand as another fit of coughing overtook him and Scully, halted in her effort to comfort him by a glare from Dr Wilson, slipped out of reach. She took one last sorrowful look at him as tears escaped from his eyes and then left the room. Her legs were unsteady beneath her and she balanced herself on the wall as she made her way down the corridor to the family waiting room. Finding that there was no one else in there, she lay down on the small sofa to stop the room from spinning. She closed her eyes and pulled her jacket more tightly around her, suddenly aware now that she no longer had Mulder to look after, that she was very cold. Curling into a foetal ball, she fell into a restless sleep, tossing and turning so much that she almost fell off the sofa.

Back in his room, Mulder was no calmer than she was. His temperature had risen to an almost alarming height and he began struggling against the confines of his blanket. He got himself free of its restraint and he started to flail his arms in an attempt to fight off his invisible demons. The nurses tried everything to calm him down but nothing helped and he continued calling for Scully in his fever-induced nightmare.