Mulder quickly made his way to Scully's room, panic written all over his face. Mrs. Scully was waiting for him in the hallway.
"What's going on? What's wrong?" Mulder blurted out as he tried to gain access to Scully's room. Mrs. Scully held him back.
"Fox, wait. Let me explain. You need to be prepared..."
"Prepared for what?" Mulder yelled, no longer able to control the unyielding feelings of anxiety that hung heavy in his chest.
Mrs. Scully grabbed his arms. "Fox, listen to me. Calm down. We have some good news. But there's some bad news, too."
"What is it?" Mulder tried to see past her into Scully's room.
"Doctor Zuckerman came and told us the results from the test that they ran late last night. The tumor is shrinking. The chip seems to be working!"
"What?" Mulder looked into Mrs. Scully's eyes with disbelief. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. He seems to think that at the rate it's shrinking, the tumor will be gone in a few days."
"But you said there was bad news?" Mulder asked, confused and dazed.
"Doctor Zuckerman thinks that her body is trying to reject the chip. She's developed a high-grade fever. She's on heavy antibiotics, but the fever is so bad it's to the point where she is incoherent and delirious. We can't keep her lying still. She keeps calling out your name. Fox, if she is unable to fight off this fever, the doctor said he's going to have to remove the chip."
Mulder shook his head in understanding. Mrs. Scully finally released her grip on him and he let himself into the room. Bill was holding down Scully's arms as she was thrashing around in the bed. Her eyes were closed but she was mumbling something. Her face was flushed and her expression distressed.
"Dana, you have to calm down. It's going to be okay," Bill tried to soothe her.
"Mulder...Where...I want...Mul..." Scully garbled.
Mulder stood just inside the doorway, taking in the scene. He was scared frozen. Bill looked up and noticed him standing there.
"So I guess you were right about the chip, huh?" Bill angrily spoke to Mulder. "But it didn't come without a price, did it? You better start praying she makes it through, or I will never forgive you for this." Bill stormed out of the room, leaving Mulder alone with Scully.
Scully called out his name again, throwing her head from side to side, still keeping her eyes closed. Mulder's heart was suddenly overflowing with an uncontrollable urge to comfort her, to calm her. He found his legs again and quickly walked over to her bed. He sat down on the mattress next to her and caressed her cheek. She was burning up under his cool touch. Mulder saw a basin of cold water and a washcloth on the bedside table. He took the washcloth, dampened it in the water, and gently patted Scully's face, wiping away the beads of sweat. She was mumbling again, trying to say his name. Realizing how desperately she had wanted him there, he was overcome with strong feelings of love for her. Feelings that used to go unnamed, but in this moment he now knew the truth. She needed him just as badly as he needed her.
" Shhhh...I'm here, Scully, I'm here," he whispered to her gently. Scully relaxed a little, subconsciously leaning in to feeling of the cold washcloth against her skin and the sound of his tender voice.
"Muld..." Scully breathed out, her eyes still closed.
Mrs. Scully was standing in the doorway now, watching. Mulder didn't know she was there.
"Shhhh, it's okay. I'm here. I'm not leaving. Rest, Scully. I'm here." Mulder's voice was filled with affection. He folded the washcloth and molded it to her forehead, letting it rest there. He took her hand and lightly kissed it, then bent over and kissed her cheek. She was much calmer now, almost sleeping.
"You have to fight this, Scully. I will not lose you. I can't lose you."
"...love..." Scully slurred as she slipped further into unconsciousness.
"I love you too, Scully," Mulder whispered, knowing that she couldn't hear him. She had succumbed to sleep.
Mrs. Scully suddenly felt like an intruder, so she quietly left the room without being noticed. She let out a sigh knowing that her daughter finally had the comfort that she needed. He was her best medicine right now.