Scully woke up dismayed at her familiarity with her surroundings. Another deluge of injuries, another hospital. The frequency of their stays at hospitals frightened Scully; sooner or later their luck would run out. But the time was not now as Scully caught of glimpse of Mulder making his way to her room. He was walking slightly hunched over, probably due to the pain in the abdomen. Skinner and Byers followed closely by, switching their focus between the two agents.
Mulder collapsed into the chair when he finally made it to Scully's beside.
"Best workout I had in months."
Scully smiled and reached her hand out for Mulder's.
"How you doing partner?"
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? You're the one who just woke up from a coma."
"But I asked first."
"All right, fine. The wardens let me out once in a while to stretch my muscles but I still can't jump over the wall. Still sore all over, you see, quite a number was done to my baby back ribs."
"Oh god, Mulder, don't talk about food. I'm starved."
"You should be. The only thing you've been feed is the magic nutritional liquid that flows through these tubes."
Scully cracked a weak smile.
"I'm so tired."
"Then close your eyes and sleep."
"But we've already lost so much time …"
Scully's eyes drooped as her voice faded. In a few seconds, she was soundly asleep. Skinner and Byers, in the meanwhile, had consulted with Scully's doctors. They were updated on her condition. During her coma, somehow, the healing process had slowed. Only the cut running the length of her body healed. Additional surgeries were still needed on her broken leg; she would be confined to a wheelchair for at least a month, depending on her recovery.
Two weeks later, Scully was discharged from the hospital; her right leg engulfed by a plaster cast. Mulder helped her pack up her belongings in the hospital and wheeled her outside where they were greeted by Bill. They exchanged somewhat polite greetings but their main focus was Scully. Bill opened the side door to his rented van, and with Mulder's help, managed to maneuver Scully inside without causing pain to her leg. Then Mulder reached into the van and embraced Scully warmly.
"I'll see you soon partner."
After closing the side door, Bill sped away. He wanted to get his sister as far away from Mulder as possible.