Military Hospital
Friday
5:57pm
Scully was sitting in the hall, head in hands, waiting. Alison DuBois was sitting next to her, watching the agent intently.
Footsteps in the hallway approached the two women and when Alison looked up she recognised A.D. Skinner.
"Any news?" Skinner asked her as he sat down next to his agent. Scully looked up and sighed.
"He's having a CT for brain damage at the moment. They managed to improve his dehydrated state, his left arm is broken and set, but no cast yet since the swelling is too big. The knee is just bruised. Three cracked ribs and a laceration of his colon, which they already operated. No skull fracture but a bad concussion. Until they can set his arm in a cast they'll keep him somewhat sedated. No", she added seeing Skinner's questioning look, "he'll be conscious, but just barely. Unless they find in the CT that his brain is injured and bringing up a swelling which would give too much pressure on the skull when he's lucid. In that case he'll be heavily sedated." Scully's voice sounded somewhat tired.
"Are you okay, Agent Scully?" Skinner asked a little concerned.
"I'm fine, just tired, relieved, concerned and at a loss of explanation. I'd really like to know who did this to Mulder and WHY." she replied.
"The only thing I know is that they found two sets of fingerprints on the car and three on Mulder's phone. Mulder's were of course on each and yours on his phone. The remaining prints were identical but from an unknown person."
"Hm", Scully mused. "Maybe Mulder can help us when he's awake."
"That's our best chance", Skinner replied.
A group of doctors came around the corner and headed towards the group. Scully stood to greet them.
"Agent Scully?" the one doctor asked.
"Yes, and this is my boss, A. D. Skinner", Scully introduced her companion. The doctor nodded.
"My name's Dr. Sheppard. We just got the results on Agent Mulder's CT. I heard that you're a doctor yourself. Would you like to have a look at it?" he offered.
"I'd appreciate it, thank you." Scully replied and followed them to the examination room.
Luckily it turned out that there was no swelling on the brain.
Scully found Skinner and Alison again and told them the good news. Then the three went to the room where Mulder had been brought.
The nurse was still busy putting a new IV on Mulder, who, to Scully, looked way better than when they found him.
"We're reducing his sedatives slowly so he might come around in the next fifteen minutes. If he does, please let us know", the nurse asked Scully.
"Sure will", Scully agreed.
Mulder's left arm was strapped up in a half cast and bandaged to prevent his broken limb from moving. A solid but flexible way of immobilising a limb.
"Would you care for some coffee?" Skinner asked the women. "I'm going to get myself one in the lounge."
"That would be great", Scully replied thankfully and Alison also nodded her thanks.
Scully pulled up a chair to Mulder's bed when Skinner left. She sat down, her hand touching on his uninjured right hand. He felt way cooler to the touch and also his lips looked like they were grateful for the moisture from the IV.
"Mulder, who did that to you?" Scully murmured. "Who left you there to die? And how did you manage to get Allison DuBois to the rescue?" Mulder didn't reply.
"Agent Scully?" Alison started. Scully looked at her. "I'm going to wait outside. I've got a weird feeling right now and I want to see if I can find something that will explain it."
"And what do you mean with *weird feeling*?"
Alison shrugged. "I don't know how to explain it. But there was a cold wind going down my spine and the hairs in my neck… well, my personal alarm."
Scully nodded and watched Alison leave the room. Then she turned her attention back to Mulder. She decided to check out his other injuries and pulled off the blanket. His chest was strapped up to support his ribs. His stomach was sporting a sticky plaster to protect the stitches from the operation.
Scully wanted to pull his covers further down to check his knee but caught herself, because it was to be expected that they didn't put any briefs on him. So she covered him up again and just removed the blanket at his legs. The knee was also strapped up heavily. The smaller wounds looked fine and the bruises were starting to turn yellow.
Dana Scully sat back in her chair just when A.D. Skinner returned with the coffee.
"I also brought you a sandwich, ham and cheese", he said.
"That was very thoughtful of you, Sir. Thank you." Scully sipped her coffee and took a bite of the sandwich.
"Where's Mrs. DuBois?" Skinner asked.
"She went outside to investigate a *weird feeling*." Scully explained.