Chapter Seven

Georgetown Memorial Hospital – 2.07am

Scully slept soundly by Mulder's bedside. She sat in the chair and she leaned forwards against the edge of the bed with her arms tucked under her, her head turned towards the door. The hospital was quiet and dark.

Skinner looked through the small window to Mulder's room and spotted Scully sleeping next to him. He needed to speak to her. He tapped on the window gently, trying to get her attention. She was obviously on edge as she awoke suddenly. After looking around in confusion for a moment, she turned to the door and saw Skinner, motioning for her to come out of the room to him. Scully blinked herself awake and looked back at Mulder sleeping soundly. She felt her heart reach out for him, she was glad that he was safe. She didn't want to leave the room.

She looked back at Skinner who was now glaring at her through the glass. She sighed and slowly got up from her seat and edged towards the door, desperate not to wake her partner.

She pushed the door open silently and slipped through.

Skinner placed his hand on the top of her back as if to guide her away from the room to speak to her but she objected and pushed him off, and stayed by the door.

'No.' She whispered urgently. Skinner frowned in frustration. 'I said I would stay with him.'

'Agent Scully.. what is going on?'

'He's in danger.' She said softly, worry rising in her chest. She looked back at him again through the window. Skinner looked confused.

'What are you talking about?' He hissed.

'Sir, Mulder said that the suspect from the case did this to him.' She whispered. 'He said that he made him crash, cut his brakes and his steering. Mulder said that he did it with his mind somehow, that he saw him on the side of the road before he crashed.'

'Dana, that is not possible.' Skinner urged.

'How many of our cases are possible Sir?' She hissed back angrily. She glanced back at Mulder to check if he was still asleep. She didn't want to wake him. He needed his rest.

Skinner sighed heavily as he picked up her protective vibes.

'Dana, I came here to tell you something.. and you're not going to like it.' He started with difficulty. Scully felt her heart racing.

'Sir?' She urged.

'The main witness Tessie has gone missing.' Scully frowned angrily.

'She was supposed to be guarded at all times..'

'She was guarded at all times Scully. But someone GOT to her!' He said forcefully. Scully looked aghast and motioned for him to quieten down. They both looked into the room at Mulder and saw that he was still asleep. 'Agent Scully.' He started, trying to calm himself. 'I need you to go back to Maryland and close this case.'

'Wait no… not without Mulder.'

'Agent Scully – a girl is missing. You need to help her!' He whispered urgently. Scully frowned and felt tears coating her throat. She shook her head.

'No… I'm not leaving him.'

Skinner shook his head in frustration.

'This is an order Agent!' He snapped through gritted teeth. Scully frowned at him with desperate eyes. Skinner caught her gaze and softened. 'He will be fine Dana!'

'Mulder believes that this man will come back to finish the job. I have to stay with him, to keep him protected.'

'Scully if this man is as dangerous as Mulder thinks he is you won't be able to protect him on your own!' Skinner whispered urgently.

'Fine, do you what you have to, but I am not leaving his side.' She snapped, and pushed open the door slightly. Skinner turned away from her. He knew that there was no persuading her.

'He really thinks that he ran him off the road?' He asked. Scully bit her bottom lip and looked down at the floor nervously.

'I can't leave him on his own again… I can't…' She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. She turned back to Mulder and watched him sleeping. She wasn't going to let anyone tell her what to do now, they had been in this game too long and it just wasn't worth risking their lives over anymore. She suddenly longed for her job at the hospital back. She knew that Mulder would disagree, but she wasn't willing to die and she certainly wasn't willing to let him die either.

'Keep me updated Agent.' He said in a low voice, then he left her.

Tessie watched as he started chanting. She cried heavy tears as he held out his hands towards her. She couldn't move. She was trapped. It was over.

She was going to die.

Fox jerked awake.

He looked around the room, trying to figure out where he was. He frowned in confusion then exclaimed in pain as his brain registered his arm. It was aching like crazy.

He felt panic fill his chest as he realised he couldn't see her anywhere. He scanned the room, looking for her desperately.

'Scully?' He called out. He was alone in the room. He wanted to know where she was.

'Oh! Good morning Mr Mulder.' A nurse popped her head around the door. Mulder swallowed nervously.

'Where's my partner?' He asked. The nurse smiled.

'She's just gone to get a cup of coffee. She was tired.' The nurse said kindly. She came into the room and stood by the end of the bed, her blond hair tied up into a tight bun. 'How are you this morning? You are looking a lot better.' She took a look at his notes and turned over the page.

'I erm.. I'm much better thank you..' He started with difficulty, his mind racing. He was worried about Scully.

'Please could you.. could you get her for me?' He asked as calmly as he could. The nurse raised an eyebrow and looked at him over the clipboard.

'Sure… as soon as I have checked you.' She said. Mulder swallowed again nervously. He didn't like the fact that he couldn't see where she was.

'Mulder?'

He saw her familiar flowing red hair come through the doorway and then he saw her beautiful face. He took a sigh of relief. She rushed into the room as she caught sight of him. Mulder noticed that she looked tired. Her eyes were heavy and her hair was slightly messier than usual. He smiled to himself as he thought she looked cute that way. Scully came over to him and stood by his side, and to his pleasure she raised a hand to his forehead and felt his temperature caringly. He glanced down at her plastic coffee cup steaming in her other hand.

'You're awake.' She said with a smile. Mulder nodded and looked back at the nurse. She checked his drip, then went back to the clipboard and ticked a few boxes.

'I told you to stay with me.' He said in a false offended tone. He smirked at her.

'I have been with you Mulder, all night in fact.' She said with a raised eyebrow. 'I had to get some coffee, and get some fresh air.'

'What are you saying Scully; that I stink?' He asked with a jokey face. Scully stared at him, pretending to be unimpressed, but his heart danced as he noticed a small smirk from the side of her mouth.

'Ok, you are all good.' The nurse said with a small smile. 'Just another day's rest and you should be on your way – oh I mean… you will be able to go home at least. You still need to take it easy.'

'It's ok, I know what he needs to do.' Scully said appreciatively. The nurse smiled.

'Sure Dr Scully.'

She left the room.

Scully edged herself onto the side of Mulder's bed and looked into his eyes.

'You look tired Dana.' He said with sincere concern. Scully was taken aback.

'I'm fine..' She flustered, her cheeks reddening.

'I know you are.' He said with the smile that only he could give her. She felt her heart racing with love for him. She sighed heavily and looked down to the bed covers. Mulder frowned in concern.

'Scully?' He sensed that something was wrong.

'I just spoke to Skinner.' She said quietly. She raised her eyes to his and he noticed that they glistened with tears. 'Listen, Mulder. I have something to tell you.' Mulder reacted.

'Uh oh.'

'It's Tessie.' She said, lowering her head again sadly. Mulder waited for her response. He braced himself for the bad news.

'She's dead.' Scully gasped, tears stinging her eyes. She raised her eyes to Mulder's and hated seeing his sadness.

'No..' He started in sad frustration.

'I'm sorry Mulder…' She started.

'Scully we have to get out there, we need to find this son of a bitch..' He urged, and she saw him try to get up. She put a hand on his chest to stop him.

'No Mulder. You need to rest.' She said forcefully.

'Scully! I need to solve this case. You need to solve this case.'

'Mulder, I'm not leaving you.' She said, her heart aching with sadness. This was the problem, right here. He was just too god damn heroic for her.

'Scully!' He exclaimed, the determination so strong in his eyes. 'He nearly killed me, he killed Tessie. He's going to come back and kill me and you if we don't find him!'

'MULDER!' She exclaimed, and stood up in annoyance. 'You are not leaving this hospital until you are well enough to do so! Do you hear me?!'

There was a silence as they stared across at each other. She trembled as she saw the anger in his eyes. She hated seeing it there.

A terrible memory came back to her as she saw that look in his eyes, of their arguments at the house, when it had gotten really bad. She had begged him to take his meds, but he had refused. She had pleaded with him to try and get better, to try and get through this together, but he had been so far gone that she had had to leave.

And when she had left, he had been cold and heartbroken. It had been terrible to see him in that state.

Mulder turned away from her, knowing that it was useless. She took a deep breath and blinked tears away from her eyes.

'May be we should never have done this…' She said in a heart wrenching whisper. She could hardly breathe. Mulder turned back to her in anger.

'So that's it… you're just gonna walk out on me like you did before? Is that it Scully?' He raged, tears now blinding his own vision. Scully flinched at his angry tone. She recognised it, she had never wanted to hear it again. She knew that he was hurting, that he was feeling the same way she was. It was bringing back the memories.

'Mulder… when you are better we will go to Maryland together.' She said in a timid voice. 'But not right now. Not right now Mulder.' She pleaded. Mulder didn't answer. There was a deafening silence between them.

'I let you go back to work.' He started. Scully frowned in confusion.

'What?' She asked in a whisper.

'When your Mom died.' He said bluntly. She felt her heart stop. 'I let you go back to work. You made me take you back. I didn't want you to, but you made me.'

'Mulder… this has nothing to do with..' She barked back furiously.

'No Scully this has EVERYTHING to do with it!' He shouted. Scully backed away from him. She couldn't help herself. She couldn't believe he was making her feel so broken.

'God why are you so infuriating Mulder!' She exclaimed. 'I can't do this anymore…' She said sadly. Mulder stopped. He turned to her with wide eyes.

'Don't walk out on me again… don't you dare.' His voice was fearful.

'When you are strong enough, we will finish this case. I will not watch you die Mulder. I can't.' Her voice broke off, tears coating her throat. She swallowed nervously.

'..and when we are done… I am going back to Our Lady of Sorrows.' She said painfully, feeling Mulder's emotions showering over her.

'Oh come ON Scully.. you have alien DNA inside of you for gods sake! You're telling me that you don't want to find out why?' He asked incredulously.

'Don't Mulder..' She snapped.

He looked at her with apologetic eyes. He hadn't meant to cross the line. It had just come out of the hurt in his heart – he couldn't believe that she was going to leave him again..

'Just.. don't..'

Mulder had to stop her. He couldn't do this without her. He opened his mouth to try and apologise, but the look on her face made him stop himself.

She couldn't bear it. Her heart broke once again, as it had before. She couldn't live like this anymore, she wasn't going to let him die or let her die. She loved him too much.

She turned away from him and walked towards the door.

'Scully..' He started in a low tone. His pain was evident in his voice. 'Don't walk out that door..'

But she grabbed the handle.

Mulder shook his head and turned to look out of the window. She bit her bottom lip and left the room quietly.

She closed the door behind her and rested her back against it as it shut. Closing her eyes she stifled a heavy sob.

She was going to stand by her word until this was over. After that, she wasn't sure what the future might hold.

Aww no :(

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