She dreamt of waves crashing angrily against sharp, dark, jagged rocks. Wind whistled louding around her, her hair whipping violently in her face. Closing her eyes, she tried to take in a deep breath, but felt as if she were choking.

A wave hit the rocks again and she felt the spray of it, bitingly cold and stinging her skin. Her eyes flew open as she coughed and tried again to take a breath. She felt her knees beginning to buckle, when from behind her, someone called her name.

Stumbling, she turned in the wind, another wave crashing and spraying her bare feet. She looked down and found she could not move, her feet stuck to the rocky ground.

"Scully!"

She heard the voice again and she choked on her breath as she looked up and brushed her hair angrily from her face.

"He… he… here!" she screamed back, forcing the words from her throat, gagging and retching as she clutched her throat and chest.

"Scully!"

"I… I…" she tried to yell, the tears in her eyes cutting into her skin like glass. "Please…"

She fell to her hands and knees, pain reverberating through her as she cried without any sound, unable to take in any oxygen as her lungs failed her.

Water hit her calves, collecting in a puddle at her knees as she fell onto her stomach, her eyes open as she felt and saw water nearing her face. A guttural breath and she heard the voice again, right at her ear, soft and gentle.

"Scully. Scully. You need to wake up."

She opened her mouth to speak, but water rushed in to fill it and she closed her eyes, accepting her imminent death.

"Scully!"

Her eyes flew open and she drew in a harsh breath, feeling something heavy on her arm. Coughing and gagging, she sat up, dislodging the heaviness from her arm as she fought against the cold water filling her lungs.

"Hey! Hey! Scully! Calm down. Relax. Hey!"

She heard, but the words did not resonate. Where was the water? Where was she?

Hands held her upper arms and soft words were spoken as she thrashed, closing her eyes, believing a wave was coming any second.

"Scully, it's me. It's Mulder. You need to relax. You're okay. Take a deep breath. Come on."

"I can't," she rasped and then she felt pressure on her chest. "Oh God, I can't."

"Feel my hand on you. Feel me pressing. Breathe against my hand. Push it out."

"I…"

"You can. Push my hand. There. Again. Yes. Do it again. Good."

Her head down, she opened her eyes. It was dark, but she could see his hand on her chest as it rose and fell. Her hands were clutching the blankets covering her and she slowly released them as she raised her head.

Mulder's eyes were full of concern as he searched her face.

"I'm okay," she breathed, nodding as she covered his hand with hers. "I'm… I'm okay." She squeezed his hand gently and he nodded, lifting his hand from her chest, nodding as he licked his lips.

She wiped at the tears on her face and took a few deep breaths.

"What happened?" she whispered.

"What?"

"I… I thought I was… that I was drowning. There were waves and I couldn't breathe. I was stuck… but then I heard you calling my name. Telling me to wake up."

"Yeah, you were coughing and clutching at your throat. I…" He shook his head and she sighed.

"What are you doing here? What time is it?"

"I honestly don't know- the time that is," he said, attempting a smile, but failing. "Can I get you some water?"

"Yes, thank you," she answered, rubbing at her throat. With a nod, he stood up from the side of her hospital bed and walked to the table with the water pitcher and cups.

Taking a deep breath, she shifted and reached for the remote to adjust the bed into a sitting position.

"Straw?"

"Yes, please." Leaning back, she closed her eyes, exhausted and still thinking of her dream.

"Here," he said softly and she opened her eyes, turning her head to the side.

He held the cup and straw for her as she drank the cold water. The nurse had filled the pitcher with mostly ice before Scully had gone to sleep and now the water was the perfect temperature.

She drank until the cup was empty, licking her lips as she closed her eyes again.

"Thank you," she whispered, letting out a sigh.

"Hmm," he hummed as she heard the cup being set down on the table. "I uh… I should go and let you get some rest."

"What?" she asked, her eyes flying open and staring at him.

"I'm sure you're tired."

"I am, but I don't want you to go."

"I shouldn't have come so late. You should be… you need to rest and… save your strength. Fuck…" He turned away from her and she heard him stifling a cry.

"Mulder," she said softly, pulling her blankets back and moving her legs to the side of the bed, attempting to get up and go to him.

"No," he said with another sobbing breath as he turned around and walked toward her. "Don't get up. You need to rest." He reached for her blankets and she stopped him.

"Mulder, stop."

"Scully, I didn't mean to wake you, I just needed… but you need…" He shook his head, looking down at the floor, not meeting her eyes.

"Stay. Lay with me," she said, shocking both of them. He raised his head and looked at her with wet red-rimmed eyes. She gave him a wobbly smile and began to move over, creating some space for him in the small hospital bed.

"Scully… I… we… there's not enough room for both of us."

"There is." She laid on her left side, the bed still in a sitting position, and she fumbled to find the remote.

"I got it," he said, moving the bed to a prone position.

"There's enough room, Mulder. Please, lay with me," she said again, staring at him, and reaching for his hand. He stared at her and then he nodded.

He took off his shoes and his tie, looking at her once more for confirmation, before he lifted the blankets and laid down beside her. It was a tight fit, but exactly what she wanted and more than that, it was what she needed.

He laid on his right side facing her and without any hesitation she moved closer to him, wrapping her arm around his waist and snuggling into him. She felt him breathe in sharply and stiffen, as if he was unsure of what to do.

"Hold me, Mulder," she whispered into his neck, tears clogging her throat. "Please."

He exhaled and then his arms were around her, one of his legs over hers, her name on his lips. She breathed in, tears spilling from her eyes, as his familiar scent washed over her, replacing the bleach smell of the sheets and the disinfectant smell of the room.

He was so warm, she almost did not need the blankets, so long as he stayed with her, holding her close and rubbing her back gently.

"Something happened," she whispered with a sniffle, closing her eyes.

"It doesn't matter," he whispered back, shaking his head and pulling her closer.

"Did you find more information about the chip?" she asked hopefully, praying he had found something. Anything. "Is there…?"

"No," he said softly, his right hand moving to her neck and touching the bandage there, as she clung to him.

"It's not working, Mulder," she cried. "The tests today…"

"I know, Scully. Your mother called me. That's why… I had to… I needed to…" he said, sobbing into her hair.

They cried as they clung to one another, his hand at her neck encompassed the entire bandage and held firmly. It hurt a little, the incision site slightly sore, but she said nothing, the dull pain proving she was still alive.

"We just need… it needs more time," he said, taking in a shuddering breath.

"Time is something I don't have," she whispered and he held her close.

"Don't say that, Scully. I can't…"

"I don't want it to be true, but I have to face that reality."

"Not tonight. Can we… for tonight, forget everything? Just… please?"

She kissed his neck and let out a deep breath, shifting closer to him.

"For tonight," she agreed in a whisper, tears streaming down her face, as he exhaled her name.

He shifted, finding a more comfortable position, never letting go of her for a moment. Their feet tangled together, his rubbing against hers gently, and she breathed back a sob.

Knowing she may not have another chance, she inhaled and gathered her bravery.

"I love you," she whispered into his chest.

His movements paused as he drew in a shaky breath and released it.

"Scully, Jesus Christ." He held her to him, stroking her hair and kissing the top of her head. "I love you too."

She cried bittersweet tears, deep cries that shook her body. She loved him, he loved her, and she was going to die.

To leave him forever.

He peppered her head with kisses, whispering his love for her as she cried and clung to him. Pulling back and staring at her in the darkness, he wiped her cheeks, his thumb grazing her lips as he shook his head.

"I love you, Scully," he whispered, holding her gaze and licking his lips. "I have for so long."

"Me too," she whispered, her chin quivering, eyes wet with tears.

His eyes flicked to her lips and she nodded with a watery smile. Holding her chin between his thumb and forefinger, he gently pressed his lips to hers.

She whimpered as she kissed him back, his lips soft. He moved his fingers, grazing her jaw and cupping her cheek. She gripped his shirt and broke their kiss as she began to cry.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"No," he whispered, his forehead resting against hers. "Don't apologize."

"It's not fair," she breathed, letting out a shaky breath.

"No, no it's not," he agreed and she moved her hand to his face, stroking his cheek softly.

"For tonight, we forget," she whispered and he nodded against her head.

"For tonight…" he echoed her words and kissed her again, gentle and chaste, whispering to her how much he loved her as he held her close.

He placed his hand on her neck, his fingers rubbing softly.

"Scully, it's gonna be okay," he whispered close to her ear and she drew in a deep breath. "It has to be."

Exhaustion tugged at her, and she began to fall asleep as his fingers massaged gently, praying he was right.

Again she dreamt she was by the water, but this time it was calm and bright blue, the sun warm as it shone down on her and the wind blew gently. She lay on a blanket, running her fingers through sand so white it hurt her eyes to keep them open for long.

"Need anything?"

Opening her eyes, she looked up to see Mulder smiling down at her and she shook her head with a contented smile.

"Just you," she said and he chuckled as he sat down beside her on the blanket, bending his head to kiss her.

"Not even an ice cold margarita?" he asked against her mouth and she laughed, holding his face in her hands.

"Maybe later. Just lay here with me and enjoy the breeze and the sunshine." He kissed her again, before he lay down beside her and pulled her close, her head on his chest and arms around his waist.

In the hospital room, she hummed in her sleep. Moving closer to him, she sought out his warmth as it calmed her and kept her sleeping peacefully.

Reality would greet them in the morning, but tonight they lay together, hopeful that their pleas and prayers would be answered.