The nurses refused to tell him anything. They were under strict orders, they said, and he would be informed in due time. But it felt like hours ago and Mulder needed to know happened to Scully. The flow of doctors and nurses looked at him sorrowfully which only intensified his need to know.

Eventually Skinner entered the room with a grim look on his face.

"Where's Scully?"

"Agent Mulder, glad to see you're up."

"Where's Scully?"

Skinner glanced around the room, refusing to look Mulder in the eye.

"Where is she?"

"Agent Mulder, before I tell you, I need you to clarify some things for me."

"What things?"

"You were present when Agent Scully drew up her will?"

Mulder let out a drawn out yes.

"So you are aware of its parameters."

"What's wrong with her?"

"Answer my question Agent Mulder. According to Agent Scully's will, she stated that you would be the one who makes the final decision on her …"

"Has it come to that sir? Am I the one who decides if Scully lives or dies?"

"Yes."

"I need to see her."

After much debate, Mulder was finally allowed to see Scully. The nurses helped him into a wheelchair and brought along his saline drip and other medical devices. His body was sore and ached all over but Mulder refused to let the pain get to him.

Skinner had informed him that it had been three days since they were found and brought into the hospital. Mulder's sleep had been medically induced in order to subdue the pain. Visitors had been plenty and the flowers scattered about in his room was evidence of that. Mrs. Scully periodically dropped by to check up on his condition but she mostly stayed near her daughter.

The nurse traveling with him harshly stated that Mulder shouldn't even be up and about as his broken bones were still not well enough and any sudden movement might cause greater damage. She continued to chide Mulder during the entire journey to the ICU, claiming that she did not believe in special treatment for patients, but as soon as she saw Mulder's expression when he first saw Scully, she immediately stopped and quietly apologized.

Mrs. Scully was there, as was the rest of the family. Bill refrained from speaking after laying eyes on Mulder and seeing his sorry state. Charlie introduced himself claiming that it was an inopportune time to finally the infamous Agent Mulder. Mrs. Scully gently embraced Mulder and made clear that she was aware of their current situation. She displayed some obvious disappointment that her daughter would name Mulder as the decider of fate, but Mrs. Scully understood the choice. The Scully family left to leave Mulder alone.

The nurse had placed Mulder close to the bed. He reached out for Scully's hand, filling a need that had plagued him for days. He looked at her, saw the damage done, and wept a bit. Butch had battered her more when he took her away. Mulder could hear her screams – he could feel them. Butch's own men took advantage of Mulder when they were finally left alone. He recalled the thrashing and their pathetic insults that were aimed at him. But he counted himself lucky after surveying Scully.

She was in a coma, on life support – the very thing she did not want. Her doctor stopped by briefly to inform Mulder of Scully's stats. They were wavering between her stated parameters but Mulder already knew his choice. He made a promise to Scully to not let her live this way. Now all he had to do was wait until she either got better or dipped below her boundaries.

Mulder leaned in a bit so he could get closer to Scully and began whispering in her ear.

"Scully, I'm not ready to let you go; no one is. But I promised you all those years ago and I'm a man of my word. If it comes to it, I will not hesitate to give the order but before I do, I need you to promise me something. I need you to promise that you'll try to get better because I don't think I can go on without you. I've depended on you far to long to start going without. You're like a drug to me. A wonderful drug. My miracle drug.

You've made me better, Scully. I'm not ready to let you go but if you want me to, just give me the sign, and I will."

Mulder pressed a kiss upon Scully's cheek and sat there for awhile in silence.