Chapter Six

He scowled in fury as he saw the FBI agent being lifted from the wreckage on a stretcher. He saw movement. He was alive. He had failed.

Suddenly he saw a lady running towards him. He guessed that she was probably his lover. He paused as he watched her struggle with a fire fighter to get to him.

Love..

He turned away. He had never known it. It amazed him how people could feel that way about each other.

He sighed and turned away from the scene, walking back into the shadows.

He had to finish this.

He turned back again to the scene and he saw the lady fussing over the FBI agent. He wondered if she was his partner with the FBI, as well as his lover.

He didn't care, there was a connection there, and he was going to get rid of them both.

He sank away into the bushes.

Georgetown Memorial Hospital – 7pm

She ran a nervous hand through her hair. The plastic of the corridor chairs were harsh against her back. She winced and shifted her weight. The sensation was making her feel more on edge. She put her hands in a prayer position in front of her face, her fingers just touching her lips.

Skinner was lurking further down the corridor, on his phone. She looked over to him for a moment and then back at the door just down from her, where Mulder was. She checked her watch and felt her leg tapping nervously on the floor. She couldn't control it. Time was taking so long to pass. She continued to wait.

She sighed heavily. Another doctor came out of his room and gave her a sympathetic glance. She looked up in worry but the doctor walked away from her.

She needed to calm down.

Mulder was having surgery on his arm. She knew that he was in good hands, the amount of times they had been in this hospital. She felt like a spare wheel at times like this, she just wanted to help. But they had seen the state she had been in and they had advised her it was probably not for the best.

Scully took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She sank back into the plastic chair and tried to zone out the bright lights of the hospital.

Suddenly she felt calm. She was standing in their home, the cabin. She smiled and looked around, the morning sun shining through the kitchen windows. She looked down at her silk nightgown and flip flop style slippers.

These had been happier times. She was remembering the times when they had been so happy, as if no one could touch them.

Mulder appeared out of the corner of her eye, clean shaven and dressed in a navy t-shirt and relaxed jeans. He was barefoot.

She smiled at him, love filling her chest. He came over to her and grabbed her around the shoulders lovingly. She looked up at his handsome features. He smiled back and leaned towards her for a morning kiss. She obliged and pulled him in passionately. She felt the earth fall from around them. He made her feel so sexy, so special, so loved.

They finally broke away and she pulled into his warm, strong chest. She rested her head in her usual favourite place, and he took a sigh of pleasure.

'I'm so glad that we get to just be here today.' He murmured into her hair. Scully nodded, her heart rising in her chest.

'I missed you.' She whispered.

'You've been working so hard.. I'm proud of you.' He said gently, and stroked her hair. She took in his familiar scent with glee.

'But now it's Saturday.. and what have you got planned for me Mulder?' She asked with a cheeky smile and looked up at him. His eyes bored into her soul and she felt breathless. His expression turned more serious.

'I think you know exactly what…' He said in a low voice, full of desire. She blushed and looked away coyly.

'You just showered..' She said with a shy smile. He ignored her and to her surprise he lifted her up into his arms.

'But you haven't..' He said. Scully giggled as he carried her out of the kitchen and towards the bedroom.

Her giggles filled her ears as she slowly snapped back to reality, the life they had once known fading away from her. Scully wiped a sad tear away from her eye. She couldn't believe how much had changed. She lowered her head.

'Agent Scully?'

She raised her head. Reality came crashing down.

'Agent Scully?' The nurse placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. Scully met her eyes.

'Sorry… yes?' She stuttered, pulling herself together.

'He's out of surgery now.' She said gently. Scully nodded and felt hot tears spring her eyes. Her heart raced.

'How is he? Can I see him?' She asked desperately.

'He's in recovery. You can go in and see him shortly.' She said in a sympathetic tone. Scully caught a glance of Skinner looking at her from down the corridor.

'Thank you.' She gushed, trying to stop her heart from exploding. 'His arm?' She asked in fear, terrified of what she was going to be told. 'It's… ok?'

'We managed to save his arm Dr Scully.' The nurse replied with a smile. Scully took a huge sigh of relief. 'It is going to heal up nicely.'

'Oh… thank god.'

'He's suffered a major trauma, and was in shock. But he should recover quickly. His arm will be painful for a few weeks, but we can give you some meds for him to take. Some of his bones were shattered in the impact.'

Scully nodded silently.

A doctor came out of the room and looked at her. She grabbed her jacket from the chair beside hers and brushed another tear away from her cheek.

'Ok, you can see him now. He is still asleep, he may be coming round soon.' The Doctor said to her, then left her alone, the nurse following behind him. Scully took deep breaths to calm herself. Skinner nodded at her from down the hall and gave her the space she needed.

She walked towards his hospital room door and grabbed the door handle.

Tessie screamed in horror as the window to her living room smashed.

She was knocked down, and the force of the impact made her fall into her coffee table. Pain soared her chest.

'Help me!' She screamed out, to no one. She lived alone, and now she was helpless. She didn't know why she bothered.

The hooded man stood over her, glaring down at her. Tessie looked up at him in terror. She started to tremble.

'LEAVE ME ALONE!' She pleaded. She saw the darkness in his eyes. It made her feel sick.

'You're coming with me. We have unfinished business.' He rasped. Tessie cried out in shock. Where were the police officers? Weren't they supposed to be protecting her?

'NO! No please! Leave me alone!' She screamed, but he reached down to her and pulled her up by her blouse. She struggled against him. He slapped her around the face and glared into her eyes. Tessie found herself paralysed.

He had her under his control. She felt cold tears run down her cheeks as she felt his hold on her force her out of her home and into the darkness, following him into the danger.

Mulder's chest rose and fell under the thin white hospital blanket. She stared at him for a moment, looking peaceful, but also so weak and helpless. She let out a sob and she raised a hand to her mouth to stop herself.

Scully slowly started to walk towards him, pulling up the chair next to his bed. His arm was heavily bandaged and was in a sling. She saw an IV going into his arm, and blood. She knew he had lost a lot blood at the scene. She felt her heart break again. She wished that she could have been there with him. She suddenly felt a painful memory of her mother lying in her hospital bed, just over a week earlier. She saw her lying where Mulder was lying. She shook her head, trying to push the memory away. She couldn't bear any more loss. She couldn't lose Mulder, he was the only family that she really had left. She still had Bill and Charlie, but they weren't close to her. No one knew her like he did, no one in the world.

She felt a powerful urge to rush to him and she sat down on the chair next to him on his good side and took his left hand in hers. It was warm. She was happy it was warm. It was a good sign.

She rubbed his hand in hers, trying to wake him gently. She raised his hand and kissed the back of it softly. Closing her eyes.

'Scully?' He whispered from the bed. She opened her eyes in shock. Had he really just woken up?

'Mulder?' She gushed, blinking happy tears away. He had his eyes closed still, but he was frowning. He was confused.

'Is.. is that.. you?' He rasped, his voice weak and tired. She let out a small laugh of relief and kissed his hand again.

'Yes, I'm here.' She said strongly. He seemed to relax. 'You're going to be fine. You're in Georgetown Memorial. You just had surgery on your right arm. But you're going to be fine, your arm will heal.' She said softly, swapping his hand into her right hand and raising her left hand to his forehead. She brushed a loose piece of hair away from his eyes and caressed his forehead softly. He responded to her touch and moved his head towards her. He slowly began to open his eyes. 'Just rest. You're going to be fine.' She cooed. Mulder followed her voice and finally rested his eyes on hers. He gave her a small weak smile.

'You look like you've had a bad day.' He whispered. Scully let out a laugh again, at him being his usual self. She was happy to see him back to normal.

'You frightened the life out of me, I thought I'd…' She started, then her voice broke. 'Lost you.' She said, tears falling down her cheeks. Mulder caught sight of her sadness and his eyes burned into her soul. She lost her breath for a moment as she stared at her in the only way that he could.

'Don't ever do that to me again.' She pleaded. Mulder slowly began to smile.

'You love me, Dana Scully.' He said happily. Scully paused for a moment, time seemed to stand still. She wasn't sure what he was implying, of course she loved him - she had always loved him. But did he mean… loved, loved him? What was he expecting? He knew that she still loved him

'Of course.' She said in a whisper, and he looked at her in surprise. Scully smiled at him and stroked his cheek. 'Mulder you need to rest..' She started.

'Stay with me..' He replied softly. She felt herself start to falter.

'Ok..' She said softly, and smiled down at him. He winced suddenly.

'Do you need any more pain meds?' She asked with concern.

'No.. just stay with me.' He said, squeezing her hand. Scully nodded. They stayed like that for a while.

'Can you remember what happened?' She asked gently, not wanting to pry too much. He closed his eyes for a moment then turned back to her.

'I was run off the road.. someone smashed into me.' He said with difficulty. 'Scully..' He started. She waited patiently. 'It was him.. it was the man from the murders. He was following me.'

'What?' She asked in shock. She figured that must be high from the meds.

'He cut my brakes, my steering was blown..' He said, looking into her eyes. She frowned in disbelief. Scully opened her mouth to disagree with him.

He stopped her.

'Scully, you have to believe me. This wasn't an accident.' He pleaded with her, and she gave in. She nodded silently and stroked his cheek again gently.

'Ok.' She whispered gently. 'I'll be right here. Get some rest.' She said soothingly. He closed his eyes.

She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself.

Her heart raced with worry.