PART 2 – Scully's musings

Two days later…

Lying in the hospital bed, Scully kept her eyes closed even though she had been awake for a while. She was a little bit sad to find out that her dearest friend and soulmate was nowhere around and wondering if he had finally decided to follow the doctor's orders to go home and rest his injured foot. It was still in a boot but he had been allowed to walk with the support of a pair of crutches, making it possible for him to hover around her bed offering to assist her in almost everything she needed.

For countless times, Mulder heard her saying her most famous line as a response to his constant caring but he knew that she wasn't totally fine. The hypothermia effects followed by a bad cold had knocked down his petite partner harder that she herself admitted and slight fever and congested nose added more exhaustion to her already weak organism.

But she was getting better now, much to his relief, and hopefully would be released soon so that both of them could go home and rest for the forthcoming week.

The noise of the door suddenly opening caused her to open her eyes and see her partner approaching her bed skilfully manoeuvring with the crutches and the boot with a smile on his face. Following him, came the morning nurse, Susan, a friendly woman in her sixties who had immediately realised the nature of the FBI agent's relationship and finding it endearing. She carried a tray with breakfast and also a board with a clipped paper and a pen.

"Hey!" He said, taking his place on the chair by the bed, which only Mrs Scully had the right to take once she was there to see her daughter.

"Hey…" She replied, managing a small smile at him.

"Good morning, Agent Scully. How are you feeling today?"

"Good morning, Susan. Eager to hear someone telling me that I'm free to get up from this bed and go home. Would it be possible?" She pleaded with hopeful eyes. Had she made Mulder that same request, he wouldn't have the courage to deny it, due to the fact that he couldn't say no to practically everything she asked him.

But the hospital staff had managed to remain immune to her charm and kept holding her there for precaution.

"Well…" The nurse said, raising her eyebrows as she read the content of the bulletin board. "…I cannot tell you for sure but I have a hunch that you'll may be told some good news today…"

The smile on Scully's face grew a bit wider at that piece of news.

"You think so?"

"You'll have Dr Mitchel talking to you soon. Meanwhile, I brought your breakfast and agent Mulder here went downstairs to talk me into making a few changes in your menu so that some things were removed and others were added, claiming that you've been partners for long seven years and by that time he knows all your eating habits."

Susan set the table with her breakfast by the other side of the bed not missing how Scully shook her head with amusement and looked at Mulder with an expression that transmitted both accusation and affection.

"I'm not surprised. My partner has a tendency to break rules, you see." She replied, never taking her eyes off his.

"Hey, I managed to have her include the Tofutti yoghurt!" He replied with pride, pointing directly to the food.

Scully raised her eyebrows and turned to look at the tray on her left, seeing that it was true and wondering how on Earth he had managed to find Tofutti yoghurt in a hospital's kitchen.

"Oh, my…you really did!" She exclaimed, touched by that single act of affection.

With a discreet smile of her own, finding the bond between the two agents rather adorable, Susan bid them good morning and left them alone.

"Want me to settle it for you?" Mulder offered, ready to arrange the tray on her lap so that she could have a better access to it as Scully had already lifted the bedrest to a sitting position before he came in.

But she let out a tired sigh and shook her head.

"No, it's ok, Mulder. I'm not very hungry yet."

"But we have Tofutti yoghurt!" He said, with a mock exasperated tone of voice, which caused her to giggle.

She looked at an invisible point ahead of her, as if the images of her following words were being displayed right there. "I know I have to be patient. In fact, I was being quite patient two days ago, but now I truly want to go home, lie in my own bed, take a warm bubble bath and sit on my fluffy couch with a good book in my hands."

Mulder nodded in understanding. "Well…hearing you talking about all these fancy stuff makes me understand why your house is so much nicer than mine!"

A small giggle was heard and she kept on talking, now with a slight frown as she looked at her nails. "I also need a manicure and a hairdresser. I look awful…"

Mulder scuffed at her last sentence as if hearing the most absurd thing in the world.

"I would say that the word 'awful' and your name don't go in the same sentence, Scully! If there's something considered impossible, it is you being anything less than gorgeous."

Scully extended her hand until she found his and their fingers laced.

"Flatterer…" She said, looking at him with much affection. "Bet you charmed the entire hospital staff down there to get that breakfast arranged."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Scully. I just happen to have some good contacts, is all. Plus, like I said, I have my eyes on that doctor! She's the only one who's got my full attention!"

Her smile grew wider again and she raised her eyebrows as if she had just been reminded of their conversation two nights before, when he found a way to tell her what'd been in his heart for all the years they'd known each other and was met with her deep blue eyes shining with joy at that love confession.

"Oh, yes of course! You told me that." She replied, with a playful tone in her voice, her eyes shining as she relived that sweet moment.

Mulder stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. "Yep. I've been keeping a close eye on her while we're here!"

"I see…" She cleared her throat and kept on talking. "You know, now that you've mentioned it, I realise the true reason of my urgency in getting out of here…"

"And what is it?"

Scully kept looking at him with a firm, serious face.

"I have a date."

Chuckling, Mulder raised his eyebrows with mock surprise. "Oh, you do?!"

She nodded her head. "He told me that he'd take me to my favourite restaurant and buy me fettuccini and fine wine."

"Whoa!" He exclaimed, even more impressed and causing her to bit her lower lip so as to keep a serious face, but failing all the way. "That's what I'd call good taste in all its possible meanings!"

"I don't know about that yet. It was I who made the suggestion of the food, you know. He doesn't have such good eating habits." She said, raising one eyebrow in an accusatory manner.

"Oh…" he said, a bit embarrassed at her remark. "Looks like he's making some effort though!"

"Yeah, I think he is." She said, with a warm look in her blue pools, and they were locked in each other's gaze for a few instants.

"He pretty?" He kept on talking, repeating her same question of the previous two nights, much to her amusement.

"Well…" She pretended to consider that question for a few moments. "He's erm… cute." The answer finally came out.

Feigning offense, he looked at her in disbelief. "Cute?! Just 'cute'?!"

Scully couldn't control her laughter anymore and that sound went straight to his heart, as Mulder felt proud of himself for being responsible for that.

"Yes. And overly dramatic!" She added, watching him frown deeply at that new statement.

"Overly what?!"

Scully kept on talking, having a lot of fun out of him. "Oh, and determined to unravel government conspiracies and to prove the existence of aliens, sasquatch, werewolves, vampires, moth men…among other things."

Letting out a deep sigh, he lowered his head with a sad and defeated expression on his face. "You sure you want to go on a date with this this guy, Scully? He doesn't sound like someone most people want to spend time with. Bat up crazy kinda guy, I'd say."

Her laughter subsided slowly and Scully was now gazing at him with fondness.

"Oh, I am one hundred per cent sure." She replied, causing him to raise his head to look at her again and see that her expression turned from mischievous into a soft one while her eyes shone with evident love. "Because this said guy is also my best friend, my confessor, my saviour and my soulmate." She squeezed his hand, her lips curving with a soft smile as she watched a matching smile form on his handsome face.

"Is he all that?" Mulder asked, with hopeful eyes, as if she had just surprised him.

"Oh, he is. And despite those erm…'unique' traits in his personality…" Scully made a pause as he laughed at her wording, "…he's got a noble character, a good and kind heart and a brave spirit. His courage to face any challenge that puts itself in his way and his stubbornness in not accepting any kind of injustice are some of his most remarkable qualities. A reflection of his beautiful soul."

Mulder was momentarily taken aback by her description, feeling unworthy and flattered at the same time. "That's some guy, huh?"

"Yes. And I have no doubt he'd go until the end of the world to save me if he has to." Even though there were some tears threatening to fall from her eyes, her smile grew a little more. "Oh, wait…He has done that already!"

Chuckling, Mulder feigned surprise. "He did?"

"Uh-huh."

Watching as she nodded her head, he kept on talking. "Have you considered that this guy might have feelings for you, Scully?"

"I do hope so…" She let go of his hand and placed her palm against the side of his face, stroking it gently with her thumb. "Because I trust him not only with my own life, but also with my own heart."

Deeply moved, Mulder covered her small hand with his much bigger one, turning his face just to place a kiss against her palm. "Scully…it seems to me that you also have feelings for him after all."

Scully held his gaze with certainty; her eyes never blinked or moved away from his hazel ones as she replied. "I can't deny that I do."

Feeling his heart skip a beat, he reached out and placed a strand of her red hair behind her ear. "And are you planning to let him know about it?"

"Why do you think I'm anxious for this date?" Came the immediate reply, her stomach flipping a little about the idea of them finally together not only as partners but also as a couple.

Grinning from ear to ear, Mulder moved their conjoined hands to rest against his heart as it was about to burst into a happiness he had never experienced in his life.

It was then that both agents heard the bedroom door open and watched Dr Mitchel coming in holding Scully's medical records with a smile on her face.

To be continued.