Chapter 4: Telling you

Hospital parking garage

6:02 pm

Scully walks through an underground parking garage to her SUV. She unlocks her vehicle using her remote key fob and is about to get in when she realises there was something on the tailgate window as she walked past. Someone has written "Don't give up" in the dirt on the window with their finger. Mulder suddenly emerges from beside a pillar behind her vehicle.

- There's something called the Venus Syndrome. It's a runaway global warming scenario that leads us to the brink of the Sixth Extinction. Those with means will prepare to move off the planet into space, which has already been weaponized against the poor, huddled masses of humanity that haven't been exterminated by the über-violent fascist elites. If you believe in that kind of thing - he looks tired and disappointed, she looks at him with tenderness

- You look exhausted, Mulder - she says almost in a whisper, she looks tired too and sad

He tries to make a joke out of the situation - It was a long day at the office…- both try to smile but seems impossible, her look is sadder with every minute that passes

- I don't know if you saw, but... Tad O'Malley pulled the plug - he denies with his head a little angry

- They're very good, these guys, you know? - she looks down trying to avoid his gaze, Mulder gets serious waiting for her next question.

- And what about Sveta? Where is she? - the poor girl lied in national television and disappeared

- I'm sure they scared her to death - Scully is sad, he can see it now, what's wrong with her, he needs to know.

- We need to find her, Mulder. We need to protect her, no matter what - his voice is about to break into tears, now he is intrigued

He frowns and look into her eyes - Why? You said her tests came back negative - she keeps talking in a whisper and he leans down a little looking for her eyes

- I ran them again. In fact... I sequenced her entire genome because I didn't trust the initial results - she is holding back her tears, his brain is on fire, he is trying to understand her words

- Are you saying she has alien DNA? - he asks with new hope, she lied the first time, he knew it

- And I sequenced my own genome... because of my history and... because we have a child together - now he can't breathe, is like if someone punch him hard in the chest, she is talking about herself, someone did something to his Scully and now she's scared and sad

- Scully... what are you saying? - she swallows and makes a paused that seems extremely long for him - I'm saying she's not the only one... I'm saying someone has to stop these sons of bitches - her eyes are full of tears now and he feels a pain in his chest,he doesn't know what to say, he just wants to punch someone right now, his worst fears are coming true.

Suddenly Scully's cellphone beeps as it receives a text message and his cellphone beeps at almost the same time. They both check their phones and say - Skinner - at unison, they understand the message that reads - Situation critical. Need to see you both ASAP -

Mulder looks at her again scared about her, their past is here again, putting them together one more time and in a difficult situation - Scully, are you ready for this? - he asks her carefully, she looks at him with a frown, new tears clouding her eyes - I don't know there's a choice - He nods gently and she keeps looking at him, suddenly a single tear roll down her cheek and she raises an eyebrow licking her lips.

He walks closer to her and pulls her towards him in an embrace, she doesn't resist anymore and starts crying in his chest crossing her arms on his back, her sobs get stronger and he hugs her tight stroking her hair and kissing the top of her head - It's ok Scully, I'm here and we will do this together - she stays in his chest and nods, the smell of him clings to her making her feel better, he closes his eyes and is drunk by the scent of her hair, having Scully in his arms revitalizes him, she feels so fragile among his arms, it is normal to be nervous and sad, all her skepticism broken discovering that her own DNA is anomalous, alien. All the answers to his questions are inside that woman hanging from his shirt on his chest, his Scully.

She pulls away a bit from him and looks up into his eyes, he bends over and kisses her on the forehead, she smiles sadly and closes her eyes, he then bends over a little more and kisses her lips softly, she opens her eyes in amazement and closes them again corresponding to his kiss, but she moves away breaking the hug too - No Mulder, we can't, please - she walks towards her car and he holds her hand.

She turns again and he has a sad face - I'm sorry Scully - she swallows and let go of his hand.

- Me too - he denies with his head and looks up with despair

- I can't do this anymore Scully. See you again, have you so close is ... to be alive again -

She looks sadly at the ground - Mulder please, don't do this now, I can't, I'm sorry - he feels a lump in his throat as he looks at her without knowing what to say, the truth is that every time he feels her close he wants to hug her, kiss her, take care of her, protect her, but he understands her reaction, he understands her feelings, at this moment thousands of things must be going through her mind and thinking about their relationship is the last thing she should worry about

He approaches her again and takes her by the hand - I'm sorry Scully, promise me you won't go away because of my impulse, I wanna do it right this time, baby steps, ok? - she nods and sighs, she was the one who decided to leave, she was the one who couldn't stand being next to him, she was the one who fled leaving everything behind, she wounded herself, but what she really regrets is having hurt him, but he seems willing to give himself a new opportunity with her, that makes her feel more guilty.

He put his hand on her shoulder and bends down to look at her directly in the eyes - I'm here Scully, we will solve this, ok? - she nods feeling tears filling her eyes, she blinks trying not to cry, he puts his hand in her lower back and walks with her towards the driver's door opening it, she gets up a little stiff but feeling her lips burn, she can't feel angry with him, she is feeling the same but they need to do it slowly, he climbs up and take her out of her thoughts closing the door, she starts the engine without looking at him and drives to the FBI headquarters.