A/N: No, still don't own the X-Files. Here's Chapter 6! Enjoy!
The overwhelming scent of bleach invaded her nose. There was an algid feeling surrounding her. Her eyes felt as if someone had super glued them shut and then placed something heavy over her face. She sensed something warm being placed on her cheek followed by a soft voice with a thick Russian accent. "Ms. Scully. I'm Sasha, can you hear me?" The taste of sleep was still evident when she tried replying to whomever called out to her. There was a slow, abysmal chill that ran up her spine at the realization that she wasn't in her dorm. Her body was paralyzed by an icy sheet that seemed to rapidly crawl across her skin. She attempted to speak and found that her throat was hoarse. Her eyes began to flutter open. Scully's eyes wondered around the room. It was dark, there were green tiles that seemed to cover every inch of the room except the floor and the ceiling.
On her left, there was a hanging tube that brushed against her cheek when she turned. Her eyes followed the tube upward and noticed it was attached to an IV. She pinched her eyes shut when she looked into the harsh light that appeared to only shine down on her. Dana looked down to see that she was in a metal tub filled with mostly water and a thin layer of ice gripped onto the surface like a lifeline.
To her right, there was a doctor and two nurses. Based on their body language, they all seemed nervous and discombobulated. One of the nurses was pulled from the conversation when she heard Dana trying to shift in the bath. "Ms. Scully." Dana didn't respond, she kept moving. "Ms. Scully, you can't get out yet. You only have five more minutes left" The nurse, Sasha, pressed her hands down on Scully's shoulders to keep her from leaving the tub.
"H-h-h-h-h-o-w" Her teeth chattered when she spoke, "d-d-d-i-d I- I ge-get h-h-h-ee-r-ee" She shivered tremendously. The other nurse brought over a chair and sat down. She placed her hand upon Dana's cheek. Her hand was warm, Dana unintentionally leaned into the gesture. Dana's eyes started drooping. There was a warm taste in her mouth indicating that she was about to fall asleep again. Her head leaned towards the opposite side the nurse had her hand on. The nurse placed her other hand on Dana's other cheek to hold her head upright.
"A man brought you here. I forget his name, he's a kind gentleman. Moher, Munch, Middler-"
"M-Mulder" Dana's voice was barely audible.
"What was that?" The nurse asked her.
"His-s" she took a deep breath, "n-name is-s M-Mulder" she struggled to breathe. "C-can-can't br-br-eathe"
"Pull her out and get her an oxygen mask then get her to X-Ray." The doctor commanded.
"Yes sir." The nurse replied back to him.
Scully felt like someone had wrapped their hand around her throat, cutting off all oxygen. 'This is the end' she thought to herself. Something cool was placed over her mouth and nose. The sudden introduction of oxygen back into her system was rejuvenative. Her breathing started evening out. The sound of something being wheeled towards the tub played in the background. Scully was lifted out of the tub and placed on the bed. She pulled the oxygen mask off her face, or attempted to before she was stopped by one of the nurses.
"Ms. Scully you must keep that on at all times." The nurse told her calmly. Scully pulled the mask again.
"Will you cover me up?" She whispered to the nurse. The nurse blushed slightly at her request.
"Of course I can, I'm so sorry." She giggled as she walked away to find something to cover Dana with.
"What's your name?" Dana barely managed to get out before her lungs burned for oxygen.
"My name is Debbie Reynolds, like the famous actress. Just call me Nurse Reynolds or just simply Debbie." Scully pulled off the oxygen mask again to speak.
"Who is the other one?"
"Her name is Sasha Chenkov." Scully theorized for a moment, 'Chenkov , why does that sound so familiar. Chenkov-'
"Okay Ms. Scully we're taking you back to your room now." Debbie told her while she placed a gown on Dana.
Mulder's heart pounded as he paced in the waiting room. 'Cancer. She really has cancer? She was fine just last week, I highly doubt someone could miraculously get cancer within that short of time. Then again cancer is a scary bitch.' His thoughts were interrupted when Nurse Chenkov called to him. "Mr. Mulder."
"How is she?" Mulder panicked slightly.
"Her temperature returned to normal after two baths. Right now she's resting, would you like to see her?"
"Yes please." Mulder rushed to her side. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course Mr. Mulder."
"Why did you leave Russia?"
"I'm actually Ukrainian. After the Chernobyl accident my family and I were forced out of Pripyat. We decided to head to Russia but we made it to the city of Kharkov and we settled there. Then two years ago, the Russians invaded and took control of the eastern cities in the Ukraine and I decided that I didn't want to be in constant fear for my life. I snuck out of Kharkov and headed to the capital and took a flight to America. I was a nurse in the Ukraine and I got a job at this hospital a year ago. Why do you ask Mr. Mulder?"
"I've always been curious of why people leave their countries and come here. That's all. Do you think you'll ever go back to Kharkov?"
"I have no reason to go back there." She stated dejectedly.
"What do you mean? Don't you have a family that'll miss you?"
"Not anymore." Mulder got the hint.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. What caused it?"
"Cancer from the accident. They had both Thyroid cancer which was treatable and then they were diagnosed with Leukemia five years ago."
"I'm so sorry."
"Mr. Mulder why are you sorry for something you could not control?"
"I-I just don't know what to say in these conversations. I'm bad with words." They walked the rest of the way in silence.
'My Dana. My? When did she become my Dana? She isn't property, I can't claim her.' He chastised himself upon entry of her hospital room. His chest tightened when he saw her. She was covered in tubes and wires. He tiptoed over to her bed, not to wake her, and pulled up a chair. When he took her hand into his, he rubbed the pad of his thumb over it. Her skin was cold smooth.
Mulder's vision became clouded with his own tears. He let them fall, he didn't care if anyone saw him like this. He was just glad that she was okay for the time being. 'She's not fine' he thought 'She has cancer. How do I approach that subject besides saying "Oh thanks for telling me you have cancer by the way." .' Mulder had fallen between the cracks. He spoke out loud.
"We've been together for a week but I know that you're the one. I love you Dana Scully."
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