Rebecca was having an off day, even the thought of a chat with Mulder seemed downright boring at that point. He had made her think a little bit but for some reason being able to look at him was almost more than her body could handle. Since bringing up her ex with Mulder she felt depressed, like she was alone and had no one in the world to spend her life with. Always caught up in her work or studies there was no time for relationships, it was one thing to have a 'personal friend' but an actual relationship was a little hard for her to settle down with. She wondered with how complicated Mulder and Dr. Scully's lives were how they ever managed to find any sort of happiness, but then again she didn't know the whole story. Maybe it was more complicated then they let on, maybe they were together to keep each other sane and whole. She smiled at the seemingly perfect relationship that she had been witness to but wondered if there was a dark underbelly, secrets hidden or some crazy life outside their professionalism.

Rebecca sensed a presence in the room and turned to the door from her daydreaming. Noticing a tall man with dark hair and smiled faintly.

"Morning Mulder…" she sighed and turned her gaze back out the window, she wasn't as interested in seeing him today as she once had been.

"Heya Becky, you seem out of sorts today, anything I can do for you?"

"Did you figure out a way to cure me…?" she was sarcastic in her response, longing to get out of the damned hospital as she stared out the window.

"We can take a walk, go sit outside if you'd like. Dr. Scully and I have decided to go ahead with mypsychological approach and seeing what it does for you ok?" he was trying to sound optimistic for her. She wasn't herself and he was really hoping he might be able to pull her out of the funk she was in.

"Sure. How is the weather?" Being sick she figured she should probably put her slippers on anyways, wrapping her robe up around her she came up to Mulder and hooked her arm into his, mainly for support.

"We can grab a wheel chair if you like, you don't have to walk." He was hesitant to let her continue to touch him in this way, it seemed strange for him but she really just wanted the comfort. Not the comfort a lover would give but as a father.

"I'd really like to walk, is this ok?" she gestured to her arm linked into his and he smiled down on her. His mind flashed of Scully when she was fighting her cancer and sick in the hospital, so sick and frail. He would have died had anything happened to her and now with Rebecca he felt protective of her, being 20 years older than she was, technically old enough to be her father. He relished it, having someone needing this type of affection; he knew through Scully, that Rebecca wasn't particularly close with her parents.

They walked, arms linked down the corridor to a hospital courtyard. Noticing the statues of important Biblical figures, most of which she couldn't remember by name, she scoffed at the Catholic references and caught Mulder's attention.

"So why a Catholic hospital if you are such a skeptic?" he questioned her quietly.

"You know why…"she was there because of Scully and he knew that when he looked at her, Rebecca admired Dr. Scully and wouldn't wish anyone else to be helping her with her predicament besides her. "…honestly my parents too, they came to visit a couple times, my mom offering prayer, my father always distant, non approving of my lifestyle choices. Even though I am here I still find myself pushing faith away, I tired talking to priests and the nuns but they just don't understand what I'm going through." She sighed taking a big breath and exhaling it slowly.

God, she is just like Scully. Almost to a tee!

"Well like I said sometimes faith is really what you need just to keep you sane. You want to know a secret about me?" He didn't even wait for her response and inhaled a deep breath, "…I'm happily with Scully because she keeps me sane, she has enough faith for the both of us. Without her nagging at me about laundry or dinner—I'd be so lost without her and probably dead. There was a time in our past that I would have let her go to for knowledge I wanted so desperately to seek out. I kicked myself when I realized how much it hurt her…" he was silent for several moments. Remembering getting out of that godforsaken military prison and running for the 'truth,' only to feel like an utter failure. "Her faith helped me really see what was important; and you, you think about all the science but you are blind to what is in front of you…" Mulder gestured to the statue of the Virgin Mary in the courtyard that they eventually ended up in.

Rebecca stifled back a sob as Mulder sat her down on a bench, she wiped her eyes and turned from him…a moment of weakness that she wasn't about to let him see. Noticing the weak moment Mulder turned the mood.

"Just so you know I didn't plan on doing a lot of scolding or talking this session." He was trying to sound encouraging. "I've been trying to think outside the box and get some ideas on how to stimulate your mind." Pulling out a notepad and pen he spoke, "I've got a series of riddles for your mind to muddle over. They aren't particularly complex but it might up your spirits for the day at least." He smiled at her and she warmed to him, taking in his good looks and sincerity. "…ready then?" she nodded her response as he spoke the first riddle.

"A certain street contain 100 buildings. They are numbered from 1 to 100. How many 9's are used in these numbers?" He finished and thought to himself that this should be an easy one for her to figure out, he looked her in the eyes her brain trying to wrap around the riddle, her eyes becoming bright with thoughts and then she spoke.

"Twenty…come on that was pretty simple." She was slightly sarcastic and Mulder laughed and continued with another one.

"The first two letters of an English word refer to a man, the first three refer to a woman, the first four to a great man and the whole word to a great woman. What is the word?" She eyeballed him curiously in a 'are you serious' face.

"Heroine. Come on Mulder these are kids' riddles." She scoffed and turned from him, he noticed her strength returning, her body seemed livelier than it did moments before unbeknownst to her yet.

"I'm just gauging, it seems that no matter how simple you think the riddles are, your body is showing us otherwise." He gestured to her feet, which were shuffling.

She examined her hands, she was no longer shaky and she didn't feel frail like she had before. Rebecca rose to her feet and stretched to the sky, inhaling deep, the fresh air stimulating her other senses. Her eyes closed as she stood there, taking in the sounds of the birds in the trees, the gentle rustle of the trees.

"I have one more for you if you'd like it…." He had interrupted her trance with nature and she turned to him, she was intrigued what the last one was, it peaked her interest and kept her excited. Mulder sketched something on his notepad and showed it to her.

O_er_t_o_

"What does this mean?" he asked her as she studied it over. Her skin was suspiciously becoming flushed and her eyes were moving fast, as if she was trying to read a lot at once. Standing there her breathing was rapid as she closed her eyes again, absorbing the image of the letters and its potential meaning.

"Rebecca…? Are you still with me?" he grabbed at her wrist and she pulled her arm free from him, walking away swiftly. "Becky!" he hollered for her but there was something still bothering her. Boy she certainly had a Scully temper. He laughed as he kept his distance, following her. She strode through the courtyard, making laps around the grounds, it felt good to finally be able to feel alive and move this way.

"Pain-less operation!" She yelled at him and stopped in her tracks, turning to face his direction, she knew he had been following her. Her hair blew in the breeze, creating a beautiful fan of red around her, her eyes gleamed green and tear-filled but her skin alone is what showed life, glowing and radiant. She was beautiful, Mulder had noted that this was the best he'd ever seen her look.

"Come on let's go back to your room…" he was trying to get her back inside before she started going crazy. Why do I get stuck with the crazies?

"Why so I can be poked and prodded until they find something wrong and how to fix me. I'm so exhausted from that alone. Look at me Mulder! Have you ever seen a livelier body?" She was fiery and malicious as if she was straining to escape from a mental hospital, her brain was in over drive and Mulder needed to get her back to her room.

"Come on, why don't we go meet with Scully and get some vitals down huh?" She nodded slowly and finally complied with his request, latching onto his arm yet again but this time not out of weakness but flirtatiousness. She hooked her arm into his and squeezed, rubbing her hand along the muscle of his arm and smiling to herself. Mulder was feeling slightly uncomfortable; if Scully were to see this she'd be furious. Mulder didn't like the jealous side of Scully; she was always territorial of him even when they were together just as partners, she was spiteful and wicked when she was jealous and he sensed Rebecca felt the same way.

Getting back to her room, Rebecca felt alive and full of energy. Hesitantly letting go of Mulder's arm she smiled at him and batted her eyes slowly, her hands lingering on his forearm, feeling his muscles tense under her touch.

"Rebecca…" it was a warning, she should know better. "…you've got to control your emotions, I know what you are feeling and I know you feel like you're getting better but tomorrow you're going to need that 'fix' again. This will end up being treatment program that you can't give up on." He backed out of her touch and made his way to the door, "…take a rest, I'll go talk to Scully and have her meet up with you shortly ok?" He smiled and closed the door behind him, sighing ever so gratefully.

Shit. He was extremely confused and not sure how to pursue this. Could a simple game of chess work? I mean this is a temporary fix, if she isn't 'stimulated' regularly she'll die. As his own brain was trying to make sense of it all, Mulder walked along the corridors to Scully's office and knocked gently.

"Come in…" He heard Scully's voice from within and made his way into her office. She was sitting at her computer, searching for any ideas on how to help Rebecca. "Oh good I'm glad you are here, Mulder I found some interesting information on a possible treatment course. I think we'll need to check her hormone levels but I really think that is what is going on…" Scully was excited on her newfound information and Mulder sat across from her silent, guilty that he let Rebecca touch him in a somewhat intimate way, as harmless as a touch on the arm was, he understood her signal all too well. "…Mulder, you ok? I mean I really think we'll get this thing figured out."

"Yeah—I uhh—I'm going to head home for the day, I don't know that I'm feeling too well…" Mulder was antsy and wanted nothing more than to bolt.

"Mulder…?"

"We'll talk later tonight ok? Anything sound good for dinner?" He smiled at her.

"Only if you feel up to it, whatever sounds good for you…" she was slightly worried about him but more suspicious than anything. "…I'll see you later then," she smiled up at him as he walked out of the office.

If I can regulate her hormones maybe that will take care of it…I think. There was so much activity around the tumor when she was being scanned and now with the research she had came across, there had to be something there that could help them out.Scully was confused yet intrigued. Taking a break from her computer Scully figured a visit to Rebecca was probably needed. She strode down the hall in confidence, a smile spread across her face as she came to Rebecca's room.

"Becky?" The room was seemingly vacant, Scully looked around and Rebecca's robe was discarded on the bed and her pajama bottoms and top were strewn about the floor. Making her way towards the bathroom, the door was closed and she listened carefully, hearing a slight moan and gasp and Scully backed away from the door. She was speechless and not sure what to do, shit, who the hell is she with? Her mind flashed to Mulder and rage burned within her, she had to be sure. Scully knew Mulder better than that but now it was Rebecca she didn't trust, she'd taken extremely good care of this girl, working determinedly looking for treatments. She just had to be sure; making her way towards the door again she pushed the door handle down and peered inside, noticing the coupling on the countertop, thanking God that it wasn't Mulder but one of the hospitals attractive, blonde orderly's. Clearing her throat she spoke, "…when you are finished …" she didn't even have to finish as she caught them by surprise. The orderly flushed deep red and hid himself as best he could in Rebecca's shoulder.

"Doctor...shit—I'm—"

"Just—"Scully held up her hand, turned and closed the door, a bit flushed herself after seeing the two of them. Scully sat at the table in the room and awkwardly waited, taking notes, I guess this might not be a bad thing…raised Oxytocin levels in her body might benefit here. Scully was deep in thought when the couple emerged from the bathroom, Rebecca wrapped in a towel made her way without eye contact to pick up her discarded pajamas from the floor.

"James…you are excused and I'll deal with you later." She gave him a serious look and an eyebrow as he removed himself from the room. The two women were quiet for several moments, Scully was still taking notes as Rebecca dressed, not looking up as the young woman approached the table and took a seat.

"I'm sorry—"

"I can't believe I'm about to say this…" Rebecca looked down at her hands and expected the worse "…you might have just given me the best chance I have to run this test I was going to run on you. However it was very irresponsible of you. He's hospital staff; do you have any idea how much trouble he could be in?"

"I wasn't thinking clearly…I'm terribly sorry." She almost was in tears, her doctor, whom she respected more than anyone in her past had caught her in the act and brushed it off as a good thing. Rebecca felt embarrassed and humiliated that she let her hormones get the best of her and jump the man when he came to check on her. She knew she was stronger than this but for some reason after speaking with Mulder and feeling so awakened it was the only thing that she could do for herself.

"Believe it or not, that's not the strangest thing I've had the pleasure of seeing as a doctor…." Scully tried to be lighthearted; people do crazy things when they've got abnormal brain activity. "Now, I'm going to need a simple saliva sample from you and the sooner the better…" Scully made her way to the cabinet and grabbed supplies, snapping on a pair of gloves and making her way towards Rebecca and she opened her mouth, gathering the saliva on the swab, "...Now I need to get this too the lab, I'll get back with you tomorrow, take a rest will you, your heart is racing." Scully grinned and patted the girls knee and left.

If that could get any more uncomfortable, please let me die now. She couldn't believe how eventful her day had gone, her mind was racing and she felt lively. I'm praying that she finds something in that test, can't enough hormones just melt this damn tumor away. Suddenly getting a headache, Rebecca closed her eyes and lay back on her pillow, her mind flashed images of her day and her brain felt like it wanted to explode, she was feeling waves of vertigo and felt sick to her stomach. Sleep it off, girl, it'll pass.