Fragile

6

by

Trycee

Time-Line: Alternative Universe. Season 6. After Milagro and before the Unnatural.

Disclaimer: This is written for fun not profit.

"Dana, I talked to mom and she said you were here in San Diego."

"Just got in last night," she said, as Mulder held her hand. He was looking at her concerned.

"Were you going to come and see us? You haven't seen Matthew since he was born. And Tara and I would love to see you."

"Thanks, Bill."

"So, are you here for a case?"

Scully turned to look back at her daughter's grave. "No, not a case."

"Well, where are you? Are you busy right now? When are you coming to see us?"

"We can come now," she said, noticing the intense fear and worry on Mulder's brow.

"We...as in Mulder?", Bill's tone changed.

"Yes both of us."

There was a small pause as she heard the phone being snatched away from Bill. "Dana, we'd love to go to Brunch with you both, how does that sound?", Tara, Bill's wife asked.

"That sounds great," she said, aware of Mulder's intense gaze. "Where?"

"Well, we were already heading out to eat. Why don't you and Mulder meet us there. Brother's Restaurant on Waring Rd. Do you know Waring rd, Dana?"

"I think I remember it," Scully answered.

"We're on our way there now, so if you wanna..."

"We're leaving now," Scully said, hanging up.

Mulder closed his trenchcoat and gathered his keys from his pocket.

"Brunch with Bill?", he asked.

"I guess we are going to see Bill after all."

He stepped up to her and held her elbow. "You sure you can handle it Scully?"

"You'll know when I can't."

He searched her eyes and then opened the car door for her, watching as she slid inside. He slammed it closed and then rounded the car and started it up, heading back to the entrance of the cemetery. He'd noticed that Scully hadn't looked back at the grave but instead looked almost hopeful. It was the first glimpse of the old Scully he knew and loved since the accident. She was lost in her own thoughts and he noticed a tiny smile at the corner of her mouth.

"How old is Matthew?", he questioned.

She turned to look at him. 'He was reading her mind again', she thought to herself. "I was just thinking about him. The last photo I got was probably three months ago. He's almost two years old now. He's probably walking and talking," Scully said, excitedly. "I used to spend time babysitting my nephews when they were little, whenever Charlie and Jill came home for a visit. "

He admired Scully, her ability to place her pain in the foreground. That was the Scully he used to know and she seemed to be coming back to herself, he thought. They parked in front of the restaurant and Mulder helped her out, opening the door for her and placing his hand in hers. They were getting used to holding hands and he was enjoying it even if it was during stress. He held the door open and Scully ducked under his arm entering, her eyes scouring the tables for her family. She spotted Bill before he saw her and she could see Matthew in a high chair. Bill waved in her direction and she waved back, turning to look at Mulder who kept his eyes glued to her. He followed behind Scully and the waitress to Bill's table.

Bill stood up and hugged his youngest sister in a bear grip and smiled down at her. She look at her brother and smiled back at him, her eyes sparkling in a way Mulder hadn't seen in days. Tara hugged her sister-n-law as wel. But, Scully lit up like a Christmas Tree when she picked up the red headed Matthew who seemed fascinated with his new aunt, pulling at the strains of her hair and staring wide-eyed into the blue swirls of her eyes. Bill was blushing as he watched his sister play with his son. He then looked up at Mulder and his face changed immediately. Mulder reached out his hand to Bill and Scully turned towards Mulder, her body leaning into his. Bill looked at Tara who was giving him 'the look' and so he shook Mulder's hands. Scully placed Matthew back into his restaurant high chair and began to slip off her trench coat, Mulder stood behind her and slid it off her arms. Bill shot a glance at Tara who was smiling as she watched them. Scully seated herself as Mulder hung up their coats. He returned and sat down next to Scully. He was grateful that he was sitting between Scully and Tara, like a buffer. Scully was playing with her nephew as Bill watched her, looking at them proudly.

"So, what are you doing here?", Bill said, excitedly. He then noticed their attire. "Was their a funeral?"

Mulder expected Scully to clam up as she always did with him but instead he found her comfortable and relaxed. "We're here because something happened to me," Scully said, watching as Bill's head turned toward Mulder.

"I was in a car accident," she continued. "I accidentally hit and killed a woman."

Mulder noticed she'd used the term, "accidental", instead of blaming herself.

"That's terrible," Tara gasped.

"It was," Scully sighed. Mulder stretched out his arm and placed it in back of Scully's seat. Bill turned to Tara, his jaw taut and his face red as Mulder gazed at Scully.

"I went into clinical shock after it happened and I kept blaming myself," she said, looking up at her eldest brother for support. "And I started dreaming that it was happening to Emily."

Bill reached out his hand and placed it on top of hers. "So you came to visit Emily's grave, didn't you."

Mulder still surprised by the openness Scully expressed with her family. She was completely different around them. He could see she needed the support of not only him but from her family. "Yes," she said, offering no further explanation.

"Well, how long are you here for?", Bill questioned.

Scully hadn't noticed that Mulder was leaning into her space. She looked up at him and Tara sat back, her hand covering her mouth as she watched their interaction. "Mulder?", Scully asked, searching his eyes.

"We could take a flight out tomorrow afternoon."

"I'd like that," she said, as Mulder's eyes traveled from Scully's mouth to her eyes. He was mesmerized. He'd never seen her so calm and natural, without a shield that usually kept him out. He couldn't help but stare at her.

"Okay," Mulder said, as Scully turned back to her brother.

Scully noticed that Bill looked like he could blow his top. He motioned for the waitress who was busy placing waters on the table. "Can we order?"

Scully and Mulder both tore their gaze from one another to look down at the menu. "I'll take the country fried steak and eggs," Mulder began.

"Mulder," she said, raising an eyebrow.

He smirked. "What?", he said, as his voice rose slightly.

"It's enough that you don't eat anything green," Scully said, rolling her eyes. "But you'll clog your heart."

"I'm having the steak and eggs," Bill added. "Medium well, fried eggs, hashbrowns and white toast."

Mulder turned back at Scully. She sighed. "Fine."

"The country fried steak and eggs or the steak and eggs?", the waitress asked.

"The country fried steak and scrambled eggs with cheese, hashbrowns and wheat toast," Mulder said, handing her his menu.

Tara already knew what she wanted. "I'll have the California Scramble and a bowl of Oatmeal with orange juice in a sippy cup for Matthew."

"Okay," the waitress said, writing in her notepad. And you ma'am?", she said, waiting on Scully.

"I'll have the Veggie Scramble and Coffee."

"I'll just bring a pot of coffee," the young waitress said, as she grabbed up the menu's and walked away.

Tara smiled at the two of them completely unaware of the way they looked to the outside world. She noticed that Mulder would push a strain of hair out of Scully's face and she never flinched, not once. It seemed so natural for them to sit so close despite being in separate chairs. The way they looked at each other was like a couple. She could tell that her sister-in-law Dana had such an emotional morning. The tracks of her tears were still slightly visible on her cheeks. She was glad that Mulder was with her. He was so attentive to her needs and she knew from the look that Dana gave him, she loved and appreciated him just as much as he loved her.

The food was brought to the table and Mulder watched as Scully fed baby Matthew as her food cooled. "Scully..."

"Hmm?", she said, turning to him.

"Eat. You haven't really eaten in the past few days," he said, quietly.

Scully looked at her brother who was watching them. "I will," she said, picking up her fork and eating a bite or two before returning to feeding Matthew his oatmeal as he giggled.

"I've got it sis," Bill said, noticing the concern in Mulder's eyes. "I finished already."

"Well Dad did call you the human vaccum," she smiled.

"Yeah, me and Charles," Bill smiled. "Mom was like a short order cook for all of us. I have no idea how she did it."

"Me either," Scully said, shaking her head. "She's a saint, she really is."

"Yeah, maybe I should call her more often," Bill sighed.

Sculy locked eyes with her brother. "Maybe I should too more often than I do."

"It's been awhile since she's been out here, maybe I can call and invite her for a visit."

Tara smiled at them both. "Homemade meals I don't have to cook for a week, sounds like heaven."

Bill smiled at his wife. "Yeah, I'll call her tonight."

"Maybe I'll invite her to lunch sometime in D.c.," she said, looking at Mulder.

He nodded his understanding.

"Well, if we're done, let's head back to our house."

Mulder was delighted as he watched Scully sitting on the floor with Matthew just as she had with Emily. She played with his soft plastic blocks and endured the numerous hugs that sometimes almost toppled her over. Mulder had watched her for hours as she practically took over, feeding Matthew at the dinner table, reading to him, laying him down for his naps, and giving him his bath. Mulder's heart ached for her and for himself knowing that this would never be them. Each song that Scully sang off-key, every adoring look she gave yo him as well as Matthew, he filed away in his memory bank. He wanted nothing more than to give her what she wanted but it was more than that. He wanted a family with Scully himself.

Scully kissed Matthew on the forehead before laying him in his crib for the night. "Goodnight, Matthew," she sighed. Her heart ached because she knew these were all the things she'd never get to do with a child of her own.

Scully came down the steps where Mulder was seated alone watching a football game. She sat down next to him, there arms and legs touching.

Bill and Tara walked out from the kitchen. He walked over to the entertainment center and muted the TV. "Can you stay here tonight, Dana or do you already have a hotel room?"

"We already checked-out of our hotel."

Bill sighed and looked at Mulder. "Your room as in one?"

"Bill,"Tara sighed.

"I have the guest bedroom upstairs, Dana," Bill said.

"Mulder," Tara spoke. "We have the couch unless you would you prefer to sleep together."

Bill's face twisted up as he turned towards his wife who was surprised by the intensity of his deadly glare.

Mulder and Scully's face reddened as they blushed. "I think the couch will be just fine," Mulder said, his head low and a smile on his lips.

Scully could see the disgusted look on Bill's face. "We're just...", Scully said.

"Partners," Mulder finished.

"We're not..."

"Together," Mulder said, as they both kept their eyes low.

Tara looked surprised but she didn't question them. "Well, Mulder, why don't you go get the luggage and Dana, you follow me upstairs."

Scully stood up and nervously turned from Mulder. He grabbed her hand and stopped her in her tracks. "That's not true, Scully."

"What is?"

He briefly glanced at Bill and then turned back to her. "Between me and you. We are together. We just haven't...Acted on it."

Scully watched as Mulder headed for the door to retrieve their things from the car.

"What in the hell does that mean?", Bill said, irate.

"BILL," Tara said. "Now is not the time..."

Bill turned to see the look on his sisters face and then sighed. "Sorry sis. It's none of my business."

"I know," Scully said.

"I just want you to be happy."

Scully nodded. "I just want to be happy too."

Bill turned and headed back to the kitchen. Scully followed Tara up to the bedroom where they stripped the linens on the guest bed. "You sure you want him to sleep downstairs?", Tara questioned.

Scully sighed and looked at her sister-n-law. Scully crossed her arms, deep in thought. After the car accident, I was in such a state of guilt, I was depressed because I'd snuffed out the life of someone and I hadn't intended too."

Tara looked at her lovingly. "That's understandable, Dana."

"I turned to Mulder when I couldn't sleep. I was having nightmares. Not of Alex Hutchings, the victim, but of Emily. I was reliving the accident only with Emily having been hit and laying on the ground. And so I turned to Mulder then. Twice he slept in the bed with me."

Tara smiled excitedly.

"Nothing happened.", Scully said, noticing the sudden disapointment in her sister-n-law.

"Oh Dana..."

Scully had never really talked with Tara. She was her sister-n-law but they had never become close. At that moment, knowing that she had no female friends and Melissa had passed on, Scully felt bold, renewed. "I want that though," Scully sighed. "I want when I'm in pain or stressed to be able to turn to him. I tend to keep my feelings bottled up."

"Oh we know," Tara joked. "It's a Scully Family trait."

"It is," Scully smiled. "But, I like waking up to him," she whispered. "I liked knowing he was there to comfort me."

Tara covered her mouth and jumped up and down. "Oh Dana, I'm so happy for you."

Scully looked confused. "What? Am I missing something here."

Tara hugged her and smiled. "You just admitted your feelings for Mulder. "

Scully smiled shyly. "I love him," she said, dreamily. "I'm in love with him."

"And he loves you," Tara agreed.

Scully smiled again. "I know he does."

"So, you sure you want him sleeping downstairs?", Tara continued.

"Ah...I'm sure. Plus, anything else and Bills head might explode."

"Oh right. Now, help me with the corners of this sheet."

Mulder stood outside the bedroom door having heard the conversation of the two women. He stood there with his heart pounding hard. He left her suitcase by the door and then quietly retreated back down the stairs, sitting back on the sofa. Scully came down, her hands full of linens and a pillow. "S'okay, Mulder?"

"Yeah," he said, as she handed him the sheets and a nice warm blanket. He watched as she slid two pillows into pillowcases and fluffed them out for him.

"So you do love me, Scully?", he whispered, looking up at her.

Startled, Scully looked into his eyes. "You heard me?"

"I was bringing you up your suitcase."

She looked into his hopeful swirls. She leaned down and pressed her red lips to his soft lips in a chaste kiss. "You already know the answer to that."

Mulder placed his hands on the side of her face and stared into her eyes. Scully tilted her head and kissed him again which deepened into tongue play. She pulled back when she heard Bill say, "Oh Jeez, Dana. Seriously?"

She giggled and then smiled at Mulder. "Good night, Mulder."

"Good night Scully."

Bill shook his head and then walked behind Scully up the stairs. He stopped and then pointed towards Mulders indicating that he was watching him. Mulder smiled to himself as Bill disappeared up the stairs.

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