Chapter 6

"You...Me...This..."

She waited for him to talk.

"I know there is something between us, Scully...uh...I mean, Dana. I've felt it since we met." He swallowed afraid to go on.

She smiled encouragingly.

"I just need to know how you feel..."

"Like I can't breathe when I'm away from you," she whispered.

His eyes locked with hers. "Yeah."

She took a breath. "I don't expect things to change over night...I just wanted you to know that I knew there was something between us too..."

"Slow is good." He said as he moved hair from her face.

Scully swallowed hard, begging herself not to cry, but tears were forming again.

"I need you."

"I'm here...always and forever." He kissed her lips gently.

"You leave me I'll kick your ass," she mumbled.

His eyes misted over. "I'll never leave you."

Then Scully realized he was thinking about losing her. "I'm not going anywhere." Scully shifted tactics slightly, taking the focus off of her while being honest.

"I'll follow you no matter how far."

"Maybe we better get you on your feet first before the travelling, huh?" she asked softly, brushing back a strand of hair. She wondered if Mulder knew what she was doing and if he would call her on it...but they were in tune with each other, so he probably would call her on it.

"It won't work, Scully."

"What won't work?"

"Don't give me that. You know what you are doing...as do I."

"What do you suggest I do instead? I'm worried about you."

"Let's just take care of each other like we always do."

Scully felt his forehead. "You feel like you're running a bit of a temperature.

She could feel Mulder wanting to shake her or kiss her for not letting his statement sink in.

"Yeah...I guess so." He moved to get up.

"I'll get you a drink," she trailed off with a sigh, letting him go. She was so sure that at the end of this he was going to leave.

He stopped her once she rounded the end of the bed. He placed his hands on her arms. "Look at me."

Slowly, she relaxed her body and met his gaze. "What is it?"

"I don't need a drink, Scully." He took a deep breath. "I just need you."

"Okay," Scully relented after a second. She crawled back into bed beside him intent on only responding to what he specifically wanted or needed.

No focus on me she verified.

He pulled her back against his chest and wrapped his arms around her tight. He began humming a song in her ear. Then he stopped and said softly, "If not for you, I'd have been out of the bureau by now. You've saved me more times than I care to count. You've kept me honest." He felt a tear hit his chest.

"I'm not going anywhere," she said softly.

"I just need you to know what you mean to me."

Scully pressed a kiss to his chest. "I'm learning."

"Good." He placed a kiss to her head.

Scully let herself rest her head against his chest, being lulled by his heartbeat.

"Sweet dreams."

The next time Mulder woke, it was later that morning. He felt the empty bed beside him and then heard the shower running. He got up slowly and made his way to the bathroom. He had to 'go' and couldn't wait. He let himself in softly. "Scully, I'm using the bathroom...don't be alarmed."

"Just let me know if you need help."

She bit her lip. She was ready to get out of the shower, but with Mulder there...

"Don't mind me...I'm almost done." He said as he pulled up his sweats and was making his way to the sink. "I've seen you nearly naked before."

Scully had almost forgotten about that. There's a difference between nearly naked and completely naked a voice told her.

"You have a beautiful body." He didn't know why he added that.

Scully reached out of the curtain for a towel.

He handed it to her. He was right by the shower stall edge now. "Very, very beautiful."

She opened the curtain, wrapped in a white fuzzy towel.

"Morning," she greeted him with a smile