Mulder slowly opened his eyes and moaned. His entire body felt like a Mack truck had hit him. He shifted and found himself lying on the floor. As his eyes focused, he started to look around the room, which he found to be in a state of disarray. Papers were strewn on the floor, some breakable items were shattered on the floor and it basically looked like a cyclone had gone through it. And in a way, one had. "Oh god, Scully is going to kill me when she sees this mess." He slowly sat up and shook his head, which was pounding. He then started to remember what had happened. The candle!

His eyes searched the room desperately for the candle that he had been put in charge of. At first, he felt fear as he found all of the candles he saw were blown out. But then he remembered that the candle he was looking for was different from the rest. It had marks etched into it and was on an elaborate stand. And that was when he found it. He let out a sigh of relief as he saw the candle's flame still burning brightly. He closed his eyes and put his hands in prayer. "Oh, thank you." He whispered.

A low moan came from the other side of the room reminding him that he was not alone. It then dawned on him who it was. "Isabelle!" He regained his composure and rose from the floor to move over to the prone figure on the ground. He knelt down and cradled her delicate head. "Isabelle? Can you hear me?"

Isabelle's eyelids fluttered and her eyes half opened. "Fox?"

He caressed her dark hair gently. "Yes, it's me, Isabelle."

Isabelle then quickly sat up. "The candle! Where is it?"

"Isabelle, it's ok." Mulder answered placing his hands on her shoulders.

"But the candle?"

Mulder smiled. "It's still lit, Isabelle. And…from what I can tell Jeremy is gone."

Isabelle closed her eyes and laid her head back. "Thank god."

Mulder carefully eased her up. "And it's all thanks to you, Isabelle."

Isabelle carefully steadied herself on her feet. "Well, I have to admit that was one of the most difficult spirits I have ever had to deal with. He most definitely did NOT want to leave."

"But…he is gone, right?"

Isabelle walked over to the lit candle. "The candle to the other side is still burning. His presence is no longer here. I can't see why he would not have crossed over." She blew out the candle and started to walk around the room with her arms outstretched. "I can feel….no spirit presence here only what he has left behind." She turned to Mulder. "This apartment is clean, Fox. He is gone."

"You're sure?"

Isabelle nodded. "If he had not passed over I would still be able to pick up his spiritual energies. He's gone, Fox."

Mulder closed his eyes as a tear trickled down his cheek. "Scully is free."

Isabelle started to gather her candles. "Yes, if he has crossed over he can never harm her again."

Emotion overtook Mulder and he walked to Isabelle, hugging her tightly. "Thank you! Oh god, thank you! How can I ever repay you?"

Isabelle returned his hug and then pulled back. "I'm sure you'll think of something sometime. But in all seriousness, it's enough that I was able to vanquish such an evil spirit as that." She went back to getting her supplies put into her bag.

"You say you've never dealt with something like that before?"

Isabelle shook her head. "Normally, when dealing with a spirit, I can…feel some ounce of good in them. But that man…he was nothing but pure evil. Can you tell me how you knew his name?"

"Jeremy?" Mulder chuckled. "Oh he and I go WAY back as old friends."

"Really?"

Mulder handed her the book she had been reading from during the banishment. "Jeremy Reinsfeld was a serial killer responsible for the deaths of five prostitutes. He would…torture and sexually abuse his victims before killing them with a knife. He thought of himself as a modern day type Jack the Ripper." He paused. "Scully…was supposed to be victim number six but I stopped him. So, I guess he's a little peeved at me, go figure. But all that matters to me now is that Scully will be safe from him. That we can…both move on with our lives." He touched the side of her face. "Thank you, Isabelle."

Isabelle smiled back at him. "Anytime, Fox. Please give my apologies to Dana for the mess in her apartment. And tell her…I am sorry for all the pain she has suffered." She picked up her bag of supplies.

Mulder nodded. "I will." He escorted Isabelle to the door.

"And should anything happen, don't hesitate to call me." Isabelle then gave him a smile before walking out the door.

Mulder closed the door and leaned against it for a moment. He couldn't believe it was finally over! He had defeated an enemy from beyond and saved the woman he loved most. "Scully!" He ran to the closet and grabbed his coat before running out the door, closing it behind him.

Mulder carefully and quietly made his way to the hospital. After what Skinner had told him in regards to the rape, he didn't want to take any chances on a welcoming party. He knew that Scully was his only chance to escape trial for rape but with her unconscious it would make it VERY difficult. He had to at least see her to let her know that she was safe. He crept into her room and found her lying on the bed with her eyes closed. He smiled as he saw the cross he had placed around her neck, still dangling. At least no one had jeopardized anything by removing it. She looked just like angel to him as he watched her chest rise and fall. At least this time she was breathing on her own and not being aided by some machine. He reached over and brushed some of her red hair from her forehead. "Scully?"

Scully stirred and moaned as she felt something touch her skin. Her eyes then shot open and she sat up. "No! Jeremy!Please don't hurt me anymore!" She struggled against Mulder's gentle grip.

"Scully!" Mulder replied as he caressed her cheek gently. "It's ok, it's me. It's, Mulder."

Scully stopped struggling and looked back at him. "Mulder?"

"Hey, how are you?" He took her hand gently. "You know the FBI benefits group is going to come uncorked when they get your bill."

"I guess I keep insurance companies in business." She gave him a slight smile. "And….I'm doing ok, actually."

"Do you remember what happened?"

"A little." She swallowed. "All I know is that Jeremy somehow hurt me."

Mulder lowered his head and sighed. "He raped you, Scully."

Scully's smile faded. "He…"

"It's true, Scully. I saw it." Mulder winced as his memory recollected the terrible event.

"Oh my god." She whispered. "He'll never stop. He'll never leave me alone!"

Mulder raised his head. "Scully…"

"But he won't, Mulder!" She screamed back. "He won't stop until he kills me!"

Mulder placed his hand on the side of her face. "Scully, listen to me." He looked into her tear-filled eyes. "He can't hurt you anymore."

"What…what do you mean? We thought he was gone when he was dead!And yet he still hurt me!"

"He won't be coming back, Scully. I took care of it."

"How?"

"Remember, Isabelle? Well, I called her after you were taken to the hospital and she came over."

For the first time, Scully noticed the scratches on Mulder's face and his disheveled appearance. She reached out her hand and touched his face. "My god, Mulder what happened to you?"

"She performed a banishment ritual."

"Banishment ritual?"

"Basically, she tried to get Jeremy to cross over to the other side. What you would call Heaven? Anyway, the marks you see on me prove that he didn't really want to go." He took her hand and brought it to his lips. "But we did it, Scully. Jeremy crossed over and can never hurt you again. You're free, Scully."

"Oh my god." Scully rested her face on his hand and cried.

"Ssssh…it's ok." Mulder whispered as he caressed her hair. "I told you I would protect you, Scully. That I would find a way somehow and I did."

Scully turned her head and kissed his hand as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I just want us to be together. That's all and nothing else."

"And we will now, Scully." He reached over and lifted her necklace from her neck. "I promise."

Scully looked down at the necklace and then back up at him. "I've always had the strength of your beliefs."

Mulder moved his hands to the side of her face. "You are my strength and always have been." He leaned toward her. "I want this to work, Scully. I love and care about you more than anything." He tilted his head as he inched close to her lips. "You…are my life now."

"You're my savior." Scully whispered as she closed her eyes and closed the gap between them with a kiss.

Mulder had to admit that he hadn't quite expected this reaction from her but he wasn't exactly objecting either. To him, this kiss meant that she wasn't afraid of him anymore. He returned her kiss with pleasure and ran his fingers through her hair.

The sound of someone clearing his or her throat then broke the mood.

Mulder reluctantly pulled back and turned to see Skinner standing in the doorway. "Why doesn't it surprise me that the person to interrupt something like this would be you?"

"Excuse me for interrupting your…visit. But I need to speak with you in the hallway."

Mulder reached over and took Scully's hand. "Anything you need to speak to me about you can say in front of Scully."

"I think under the circumstances this is something that she doesn't need to be a part of. She's been through enough as it is."

Mulder kissed her hand. "I'll be right back ok?" He then walked over to Skinner. "All right what is it?"

"I'd say you have a lot of guts coming back here after what you did!" Skinner answered in a forceful whisper as he leaned toward Mulder.

Mulder looked back at him with angry eyes. "I told you I did NOT rape her!"

"Oh are we back on that shit again! You told me you were going to come back with proof! So where the hell is it?"

"He didn't rape me."

Skinner and Mulder both turned at the same time to see Scully looking straight at them.

"I don't appreciate you making such accusations about a man that you know would never do such a thing." Scully replied coldly. "You of all people should know after all these years that Fox Mulder would NEVER commit such a crime especially with me."

"Agent Scully, he was the only person present when…"

"Regardless, he did NOT rape me and I would appreciate it if you stop insisting that he did."

"Agent Scully, I don't think you're in any condition at this time to…"

"Sir, I don't appreciate you trying to tell me what my condition is." Scully replied back curtly. "As you can see I am quite awake and able to speak. Fox Mulder saved my life or have you forgotten?"

"Agent Scully, others are not going to be as understanding."

"Then tell them. I'll testify if I have to."

Mulder looked at Scully and sighed. "Scully.."

Scully glanced back at him. "Mulder, I'm not going to let you be accused for something you didn't do."

Skinner pulled Mulder into the hallway. "Boy, you've just got her all bamboozled in there don't you?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh come on, Mulder! I come in there and you two are kissing for god's sakes! You've got her wrapped around your little finger! Having her sympathize with her rapist? Yeah, that's a good tactic!"

Anger seized Mulder and the next he knew; he was pushing Skinner up against the wall. "It's none of your damn business about the relationship that Scully and I have because I'm not an FBI Agent anymore remember? Meaning that I don't have to stand here and listen to you spitting out protocol to me regarding inner office relationships! I love Scully!"

"What?"

"Yeah that's right. You heard me. I LOVE her. Now you tell me how someone could commit a violent crime like rape against someone that they care deeply about? You care to answer that for me, Walter?"

"Look, I'm just going by WHAT I was told." Skinner answered back angrily. "And if you wish to keep your innocence then I advise you to let go of me."

Mulder released his grip on Skinner. "I told you I would stop whoever did this and I did. And if you choose to not believe me then that's your choice. But when this is all over and done with you are going to owe me an apology! And after that, I want you to leave Scully and me alone! I want EVERYONE just to leave us alone!" He moved away from Skinner and headed back into Scully's room.

"Mulder?" Scully asked in a concerned voice. "What is it?"

"Skinner….is going to try and bring this to trial, Scully." He shook his head. "He actually believes that I raped you and that I'm trying to brainwash you into saying I didn't."

"I…I can't believe that."

"Yeah, well he is." Mulder clenched his fist. "I mean I can't fucking believe this!"

"Mulder…"

"How could he believe I could do something like this, Scully?" He sighed and sat next to the bed with his head in his hands.

"He's..he's just stressed, Mulder."

He raised his head. "Dammit, he said I raped you, Scully!" He pounded the side of the bed as he laid his head on it. "He said…"

Scully reached over and kissed the top of his head tenderly. "Mulder, please don't come apart on me now when I need you the most. You said we could get through anything right? You said I was your strength? Well, you are mine."

Mulder raised his head and looked at her. "Scully.."

Scully reached forward and hugged him tightly. "We'll get through this somehow, Mulder." She whispered as she put her head on his shoulder. "We have to."

Mulder sighed as he closed his eyes and let the tears come. "We will, Scully." He reassured her. "I promise." He caressed her hair. "And when this is all over…we can tell the entire world to kiss our ass!"

Scully chuckled slightly as she closed her eyes and continued to hug him. She just had to believe that they would get through this. And then there would be nothing preventing them from being together.

Mulder paused. "Oh and Scully? I'm sorry about your apartment."

"Oh, that's ok, Mulder." Her eyes then flew open realizing what he had just said. "Wait, what about my apartment?"

Note: Special thanks to my friend Jess for being the first to read this chapter and let me know what she thought! Thanks Jess!