Chapter 2

"It'll make me feel better if I'm there," Scully softly admitted after a moment.

"I need you," he let slip.

Before Scully could respond, the doctor returned with the news that Mulder could be released into Scully's care the next morning. They just wanted to keep him one more night to make sure everything was looking as well as they thought.

"I'd high five you, Scully, but right now...I'm just too damn tired." He grinned at her.

"Don't worry about it, Mulder." She was just happy he could talk to her again...well sort of. He did it with some difficulty, like it was a chore.

"I'll be as well-behaved as I can. I promise." He knew he could be difficult and knew that Scully sometimes wanted to ring his jaws. Her only response to that was to rolling her eyes.

"Pay back." He groaned. "Shouldn't have done that so much when I couldn't talk."

She pulled up the blankets around his waist a little more snugly. "Do you need anything?"

YOU his head screamed. "I'm good."

"Okay. I'm just gonna.." she settled against the pillows beside him. "Close my eyes for a bit"

"Sleep." He said more forcefully than he intended.

"Okay, daddy." She half-smiled before giving in to her exhaustion.

"Don't call me that." He teased.

She was already asleep though and didn't hear him. He sighed against her hair.

What felt like only moments later she heard, "Scully? Scully?" He was gently shaking her shoulder.

"Hm?" She was embarrassed. She had been dreaming about him. Her cheeks were slightly pink as she sat up.

"I don't want you to think of me as half a man, but can you help me go to the bathroom?"

"Yeah, one sec." She rubbed her eyes and sat up, trying to get her composure back.

Then she pulled back the covers, momentarily staring at Mulder's exposed legs.

Get a grip on yourself, Dana

"Don't worry about squashing me." Scully didn't know why she said it, but it was already out.

"Scully, are you calling me fat?"

"Never mind..." Her blush turned darker.

He touched her cheek. "I'm teasing."

Scully smiled and concentrated on putting his feet down on the floor. They were half way there when he was sure his legs were going to give out on him. "I'm gonna fall."

"I've got you. I promise." She tightened her arms around him and shifted him a little.

They barely made it to the toilet when Mulder fell rather ungracefully onto it.

Scully held onto his hand to keep him from really hurting himself.

"Damn." He muttered. "I hate this. I hate feeling weak around you."

"Mulder..." was all she could say for a second. She made him look at her. "You are one of the strongest people I have ever met."

"Not today."

"Hey... seriously, it doesn't bother me." She touched his face to make sure he was seeing her eyes. "Okay?"

"Yeah." Now it was his turn to redden in the face. "Could you turn away or something?" He wasn't sure he could "go" with her watching him.

"I'll be outside." She closed the door behind him. She was glad he couldn't see the tears on her face.

He finished a few moments later. "Scully?"

"Yeah...okay." She tried to keep her voice calm. She wiped her face.

He felt horrible and a shower sounded good to him, but could he ask her? "I was wondering..."

"Mulder, you can ask me anything. You know that."

"Feeling horrible...and well, sweaty. I was wondering if I could talk you into helping me take a shower." He said softly.

Her eyes widened a moment behind the closed door. She took a breath and opened it slowly.

"I could get a nurse..." he continued.

"I'll do it." She sat him down on the toilet seat before turning on the water. She flexed her hands a couple of times under the running water to calm herself down. It didn't mean anything...

"It's okay if you peek." He teased.

When she was sure she had it at a temperature where he wouldn't scald himself, she turned her attention to helping him with his gown. She had trouble with her composure when she got a good long look at his physique. She managed to calm herself down, but not before he caught the flicker of admiration behind her eyes..

He blushed again. "Now how can I talk you out of your clothes?" The pain meds were making his tongue loose.

"Will you be okay for a minute? Maybe you can brace yourself against the bar."

Scully was thinking "logically" about holding him up. Well...for about a millisecond.

Then the nurse arrived to take over for her. Mulder was disappointed and pouted through the rest of his bath. Scully, on the other hand walked out of the bathroom, still chiding herself. No, kicking herself. Mulder was only teasing her because he was under the influence of pain medication. A few hours later, he was released into her care.

"Scully, why are you so quiet?"

"Just thinking about whether my place is more practical or your's."

"Your's, I'm sure." He said as the nurse wheeled up a chair.

"Okay." She helped him into a wheelchair.

"Are you mad at me?"

"Why would I be mad? You didn't do anything wrong."

"You've been distant since this morning."

Scully knelt down in front of Mulder. "I didn't do it on purpose...I guess I'm just worried."

"About me being at your place? If it makes you uncomfortable...I can hire a nurse...or something."

"No...that parts fine" she said slowly. He wasn't so sure she was being honest with him now. The pain medication had worn off and he'd refused to take another dose.

"I'm worried I'll disappoint you. That I won't be able to look after you properly."

Finally she wrapped her arms around him whispering "I was so scared I'd lose you"

"You didn't...You won't...and Scully you could never disappoint me." He kissed her forehead.

"Why does it always take a mutant to make me figure this stuff out?" she murmured more to herself than to Mulder. She was unaware at first that he could hear her.

"That you care about me?" He needed to hear her say it.

TBC...if you want it :D