To say that their relationship had been strained since their one night together would be an understatement; it was like stating the Titanic had a 'little mishap'. They had returned from the case and filed the reports in their normal manner but had not spoken once on the journey. They had not discussed that night any further as they were both painfully aware of where they stood. If it had of stopped at that, it might have been possible for them to get through this rough patch but they were becoming strangers to one another.
Mulder had stopped looking at her all together, she was sure he thought he was hiding the fact from her but she had noticed that he looked over her shoulder or the top of her head to find something to focus on other than her. He no longer touched her either. She had become so used to him guiding her through door ways with a gentle touch at her lower back; she longed to feel him again. He used to caress her face and stroked her hair out of her eyes but now he stayed a minimum of three paces away from her at all times. One afternoon she had even stumbled and he had actually stepped away from her instead of helping her steady herself.
They had stopped talking about anything other than work, he had stopped calling her in the night. She longed to hear those magic words from his mouth "Scully, it's me!" She would find herself laying awake at night waiting for his call but he never rang.
He had even stopped referring to her by her name, she wondered whether he was aware of it and whether it was a conscious effort. He would refer to her as 'she' or 'her' to A.D Skinner or any other agent for that matter. To civilians she would identify herself. He seemed to have excused them from all pleasantries.
Scully was still seeing Adam having decided not to tell him about her indiscretion, 'It hadn't meant anything to Mulder, why should it mean anything to me?' she concluded at the time. When Adam and her had first met she had refused to give him her work phone number but now she found herself longing for him to call her and break up the continuous silence that surrounded her and Mulder's working day. She didn't know how much longer she could take his coldness towards her, it had been four months now, a fact she was painfully aware of.
Mulder had been arriving and leaving work exactly on time apparently not wanting to spend a second longer with her than necessary. When they were away on cases he had stopped requesting adjoining rooms and had instead asked for rooms as far apart as possible, she couldn't help but wonder how long it would be before they were staying at completely different motels.
Mulder rose from his desk and grabbed his coat without saying a word. It was 16:59 bang on time, then he was gone. No 'see you tomorrow', no glance to indicate that he was leaving for the day, just empty space where he had just been. She heard his foot steps travelling down the hall and heard the elevator doors open and then a ping as they closed. The tears rolled down her face silently at first, she pushed the file she had been working on to the back of her desk and rested her elbows in her lap and her face in her hands. She began to sob loudly; it wasn't like anyone ever came down here that might over hear her.
Only a couple of minutes passed until Mulder asked "Scully... what's wrong?" he reentered the office, all the tension that had been built up over the last few months disappeared momentarily from him at the sight of her tears.
"Scully?" she whispered to herself as she felt her heart pounded hard in her chest 'That's the first time he has said that in months, since that night.' she whipped the tears from her check and tried to still herself.
"What's wrong?" he repeated frozen in the doorway by her uncharacteristic display of emotion.
"Mulder...I'm fine." She replied with her usual statement. "I thought you had left?"
"I forgot my keys." He replied as he approached her, she had not lifted her gaze yet. She looked so weary. He did not want to get close to her again, he didn't think he could take the heart ache but he couldn't see her like this either. He crouched down next to her placing his hand on her knee. They both suppressed shudders of pleasure at the contact, it had been so long since they had touched. "Please Dana? Tell me what's wrong?" he crocked a finger under her jaw and lifted, forcing her to make eye contact with him. Her gorgeous blue eyes looked terrified.
He was looking straight into her soul with his hazel eyes full of concern, she wasn't sure if that made this easier or harder but she began to sob again unable to control herself. She mumbled her problems to him but he was unable to understand through the sobs. He stroked her lower back gently.
"I'm sorry but I can't understand you." He stated, wishing he had heard her so she would not have to repeat herself. She calmed herself and tried to get her breathing under control.
"I'm...pregnant." She stated again and this time he heard loud and clear. He moved away from her so quickly she half wondered if she had imagined the contact. He couldn't have gotten away any quicker if she had physically pushed him, he was back to his three designated paces. She slumped over her desk and sobbed brokenly.
He didn't know what to say, this was a revelation. "I..." he hesitated
"I would have thought you and Adam would be happy." His chest felt colder then before, he hadn't thought that possible. She was pregnant with Adams baby, there really was no hope for them anymore. He found himself longing for her to be happy but wishing that she could have found happiness with him.
"Adam doesn't know." She didn't know where all the tears were coming from but now they had started she could not stop them.
"Oh...it will be better when you've told him." He was watching her intently, trying to reassure her, she could feel his gaze and it felt so good to her. "Why haven't you told him?" he asked confused.
"He's not the father." She stated sadly.
Mulder's eyes widened with disbelief. She had been with someone else, not just Adam but someone else. "How can you be sure?" he asked. It was really none of his business but the words escaped his lips before he could stop them.
"Adam is ...a religious man. We have never..." she shook her head.
"Never!" he repeated shocked "Have you told the babies father?" he asked and realized it was the wrong thing to say as she started shaking beyond control, he had never seen her like this and frankly it was scaring him.
She shook her head in reply to his question 'No... Not in so many words...God he thinks I'm a slut.' She thought to herself. 'I am a slut.' She confirmed in her head 'otherwise I wouldn't be pregnant by someone other then my boyfriend.'
"Who is the father?" he asked completely inappropriately, the notion never occurring to him that it might be him, that had after all been four months ago so she surely would have told him before now.
"He was a one night stand..." she replied sadly "I was foolish...he never loved me...just an easy lay...a quick fuck...cheaper then a hooker." She added the last part with venom as her emotions ran freely.
'How has someone made you feel like this?' he thought to himself staring at her in disbelief. 'How could anyone not be in love with you?'
"What?" she questioned him the tears beginning to subside to anger. "Like you have never slept with someone you didn't love?"
"No...I have." He confirmed "...but I only did it once." He replied flatly. 'and that was when you were taken from me...three years ago...I just needed to feel something' he left the later unsaid.
'Great thanks...' she thought to herself 'Would you like salt to rub into that gaping wound?'
"What are you going to do about Adam?" he asked her still somewhat baffled 'How has Adam had her for so long without succumbing to human instincts?'
"I have to tell him, it's not like I can keep hiding it." She straightened herself up as she turned to Mulder "Thank you for being - 'you'" she said as she gathered her things together to go and face Adam.
x
Washington DC Basement Office One hour later
Fox Mulder had been intending to go home but Dana Scully had left the building an hour ago and he was still sat in the same position completely dumbfounded.
'She's pregnant...I really have lost her!' His mind was reeling. 'How could anyone have made her feel so used?' he wanted to punch the guy that had done this. 'What was it she said - cheaper than a hooker? Had someone really said that?'
His mind played various scenarios as he sat motionless in the darkening office. "She is going to leave me... even if it is only for six months worth of maternity leave. She won't want to traipse after me on my endless quest anymore...not with a baby waiting for her at home... she might not even want to be a working mum.' This thought scared him but the next thought scared him more. 'Maybe she will be happy now.'
He had felt like he had lost her after they had spent the night together. She had hurt him so badly that he had been pushing her away ever since. On more then one occasion he had considered requesting a transfer for her off the X-Files, he had even started to fill in the paperwork but he had been unable to go through with it. He had come to the conclusion that maybe she would just leave him, so he started making things so unbearable that she would take control and request a transfer herself. That would be the best thing for all.
The last few months had been impossible for him. He had been so close to her, he had made love to her but she had merely used him. Every time he saw her, every time he smelt her perfume, memories from that night flooded his mind. He had had to develop his own personal mantra to deal with the situation. 'Phoebe Green, Phoebe Green, they will always hurt you.' He had come to the conclusion that if he remained at least three steps away from her and avoid contact she couldn't affect him nearly so much.
He thought again to their night. 'Love you too' she had said, he had thought she meant it but that was before he knew about Adam. To have had her so close and then lose her was tearing him apart. It had been better before, before he had known. Before he had known how gentle and loving she was; before he had known the feeling of complete bliss, of making love to her.
'Stop this.' He thought to himself sternly 'She is pregnant and she needs a friend. What was it she had said? 'Thank you for being - you' He hadn't realized what she had meant at the time but he now did, he hadn't been himself for a very long time.'
He grabbed his keys and headed for his car. He wanted to be there for her. She had to explain to a man she had been dating, for what he now knew was nearing on six months that she was pregnant by another. 'He's a religious man...' he knew 'she should be safe... but he is a man none the less, a man with pride.' The thought sent fear though him as he decided to head to her apartment.
x
George Town Outside Dana Scully's Apartment
It suddenly occurred to Mulder that she may not have even broken the news yet or that she might be doing it right now. He contemplated this idea for a moment before reaching his cell phone and pressing the memory one button. The phone rang briefly before she answered.
"Mulder I..." there was a loud crash and the line went dead. This panicked Mulder more then he thought possible. He raced into the apartment block and took the stairs three at a time, encountering the buildings superintendent as he arrived on Dana Scully's apartment floor.
"Agent Mulder!" the man greeted him on sight "Thank God...I was just about to call the police...They have been screaming and crashing about in there for the past half an hour." Mulder nodded to the man and unbuttoned his gun holster as he headed for the door.
The door was ajar and he could hear Scully sobbing wildly. He stepped into the room hesitantly, she was huddled on the sofa, cradling her knees while a man loomed over her hurling abuse at her.
"Hey, hey!" Mulder said halting the onslaught of abuse. Adam turned on Mulder with vengeance in his eyes. "Scully? Did he hurt you?" she tried to reply but found herself unable to form words.
"Scully?" Adam repeated as realization struck him "Agent Mulder I presume?" Adam stated with loathing. "Is it yours?" he shouted "Was it good? Does she charge by the hour or do you have a fixed arrangement?"
Mulder's eyes widened "What? How dare you talk about her like that?"
Mulder fumed stepping forward.
"She's nothing more then an educated hooker." This certainly wasn't what Mulder had expected from a religious man.
"I think you had better go." Mulder stated as he grabbed for Adams lapels. Adam stepped back and swung his fist, it contacted hard with Mulder's jaw.
Dana jumped to her feet before Mulder could respond "Adam, No!" she shrieked but he shoved her away with his elbow causing her to trip over the coffee table, she fell to the floor hitting her head hard.
Mulder felt the colour drain from his face as he saw her lying on the floor, a pool of blood emerging from her head wound. He looked at Adam with rage in his eyes, Adam evidently sensing the danger bolted for the exit.
Mulder crouched down to Scully as he withdrew his cell from his pocket to call the emergency services quoting his badge number, he stroked her face gently. It seemed to him like they were always in hospitals but it didn't make the panic any easier to control.
She stirred slightly into consciousness. Partially opening her eye's as her hand slipped to her stomach. "Our baby..." she whispered as she slipped back into unconsciousness. Mulder's jaw dropped in confusion.
x
Medical hospital Room 1013
Scully had been rushed straight to the head trauma ward and had been given all the necessary scans. The doctors had determined that there was no brain swelling but that there may be a slight concussion. She had yet to regain consciousness but that was largely due to the pain killers administered to relax her for the sake of the baby.
She had been transferred to the maternity ward and examined thoroughly. Mulder had refused to leave her side; this was not proving to be a problem as a lot of the doctors knew Mulder and Scully by name and by sight. It was true, they spent far too much time in hospitals.
The midwife had come in to hook Dana up to a baby monitor and perform an ultrasound scan. "Are you the father?" she asked. Mulder found himself unable to answer and looked at her blankly. She realized that he was suffering from shock so continued to explain Dana's condition; he was after all listed as a next of kin. "Dana's condition is improving but we are monitoring her closely..." the baby monitor beeped to life, joining the one already monitoring Scully's heartbeat, as she continued "The baby is about sixteen weeks old and is looking strong. The heart rate is slightly erratic but that is due to the circumstances. Mother and baby are going to be fine." She added as she headed for the door giving him a reassuring nod.
Mulder nodded his thanks. 'Mother and baby' the words echoed in his head 'Going to be fine... sixteen weeks ? I'm going to be a father!' He took her hand in his as he rested his head on the edge of the bed, listening to both heartbeats, he could feel the tears of joy welling in his eyes but refused to let them fall until he was sure that they were both completely safe.
This scene would have been all too familiar to him if it wasn't for that second heart beat he could hear playing. He looked to the image still on the small screen alongside her, he couldn't tell exactly what he was looking at but knew that it was the image of his unborn child, he felt a sense of pride swell within himself.
He kissed her hand gently as he felt her stir beneath him. She tried to sit up but the pain coursed through her so she remained laying. "The baby?" she asked him, worry etched into her features, it wasn't that she hadn't wanted the baby; she was just scared how he would react.
"The baby is going to be fine...so are you." He replied relieved she was back with the living. She strained her eyes, the drugs still had a firm hold on her body.
"Adam?" she stated. He was confused, did she not recognize him? His heart sank a little until she continued "Where is he?"
"Skinner is out looking for him...I wanted to... but I needed to be with you...I don't think the FBI would approve of how I would deal with him anyway, they can't afford another law suit." He added the concern and anger playing in his voice.
She tried to smile but ended up wincing in pain "Skinner knows?" she questioned.
"I told him about the baby and Adam...I had to when they admitted you to maternity." She nodded in understanding. "Dana..." he began "In your apartment...you said 'our' baby?" she didn't respond as her eyes fixed on a position in the ceiling but tears began to stream down her face, he stroked the tears away with his thumb as he turned her face to him. "But you also said the father didn't love you?"
She responded now in barely a whisper "You don't." it wasn't an accusation; it was a statement, as though she really believed it.
"Why would you think that?" he questioned, surely she knew how much he loved her, after all this time, after their night together, he had told her so many times, for years with the slightest touches before he had blatantly verbalized it for her.
"You said you had only ever slept with one person you didn't love - me." She added as more tears streamed down her face slightly.
"I never said that." He replied "How can you think that?" he needed to explain "...I was referring to someone I slept with, three years ago...when the woman I love was gone...when you were taken from me."
She was confused partly because of the terrible banging in her head but mainly because of the conversation. "You said I was 'handy'?" she accused, now meeting his gaze.
"You had just told me you were involved, what did you expect?..." he questioned wondering to himself 'How could this women be so smart and so dim at the same time.' "I also told you that night, 'our' night that I love you and I meant it."
She looked at him surprised. "I thought I dreamt it... or that maybe you said that to all the girls." She smiled at him, a weak smile but a smile none the less.
He grinned broadly "You are all the girls...the only one for me. You always have been." He leaned down to kiss her forehead gently. "I love you Dana Scully...and I love our unborn child." He said as he placed his hand on her tummy.
She was crying again but this time from joy "We love you too Fox Mulder." She whispered. They had a lot to sort out and a lot to discuss but at that moment in time, with her man by her side and her baby in her tummy, she felt happier that she had in about...sixteen weeks .
The End
Authors notes - I hope you enjoyed reading this. I know I enjoyed writing it. This was my first attempt at writing a sex scene please let me know what you think. The songs included in this story are 'One' by Filter and 'Walking After You' by the Foo Fighters, if you don't have Them, get them, they are fab.