Chapter 12: Worry about You
Scully parks her car outside the FBI headquarters and walks to the basement - Sorry I'm late. The parking garage is locked down for some reason… You here, Mulder? - She looks around but the place is empty, she then walks towards the desk putting her bag in a chair and then sitting behind the desk she plays the latest Tad O'Malley video on Mulder's laptop
- Six weeks ago, we went off the air due to threats from outside forces bent on controlling content deemed dangerous to their cause. Today we're back, with facts threatening these forces yet again, the discovery of something that's so shocking you'll want to sit down and prepare yourself for the truth, what may seem like science fiction but is science fact, the legitimate and verifiable discovery of alien DNA that's in virtually every American citizen -
She suddenly feels her heart pounding stronger inside her chest and a palpitation inside her head that grows until it is only a sharp pain in her brain, she takes both hands to her head trying to alleviate the pain but it is useless, as she can, she gets up from the desk to go out and ask for help, but the pain is so strong and after a few steps she falls on her knees to the ground and a series of images crowd her mind making her lose the notion of reality, images of a virus, people dying, the cigarette smoking man, Monica Reyes, Mulder agonizing, the end of the human kind, a spacecraft. She tries to speak but she can't, the pain is so strong and sharp that trying to stifle a scream she bites her tongue with force and blood flows from her mouth, after that everything turns black.
Mulder comes down to the basement again, when he arrives at the office door he feels like he loses all the air in his lungs and his heart starts to beat faster, he runs to where Scully is lying unconscious on the floor and a thread of blood falls from the side of her lips, he tries to hold her but doesn't dare, the only thing he does is hold her hand to take her pulse and make sure that she is alive, then he calls emergencies and waits right to her side, he calls her name several times touching her cheek but there's no response, a lot of thoughts cross his mind, if something happens to Scully he would not know what to do, as far as he knows she is not sick, since they have been going out together he has seen her very well, what the hell is happening, he begins to despair, in that moment a female paramedic enters the office and kneels next to Scully followed by a male partner, Mulder steps away letting them work, the man takes out his Stethoscope to check her heart while she checks her pupils with a small flashlight - What's her heart rate? - she asks while doing her part of the job - Heart rate elevated to 186 BPM - he answers a little agitated.
Mulder realizes that the situation is critical, he walks from one side to the other scratching his head with one hand, damn it - Ma'am, can you hear me? Can you hear me, ma'am? I need her blood pressure… No dilation, unresponsive. No indication of trauma...You found her where she is? - she asks Mulder, he gets closer to the woman looking to Scully - She must've fallen. It's me, Scully… Can you hear me? - he tries again, but she is completely unconscious.
The woman keeps checking her - She's bit her tongue, but no trauma to her head… Has she had seizures before? Does she take meds for anything? - He seems confused, what the hell is she implying - No, no… She's perfectly healthy. She's a doctor. She would've told me -
Right then a new couple of paramedics come inside followed by Skinner, the male paramedic stands up giving space and asking them to move - Hey, hey, hey. We got a gurney coming in - Skinner walks towards Mulder with a concerned face - What happened, Agent Mulder? -
Mulder walks his eyes between Scully and Skinner - They say she had a seizure -
The paramedics do their job while they look at them worried - One, two, three, lift… Gentle, gentle… Call the hospital with our ETA… Let's clear out - They put her an oxygen mask and walk out of the office - Coming through - Mulder does not wait for a second to follow them, Skinner reacts and follows him - I'm going with you -
They arrive at the parking lot and both climb into Mulder's car, both men look worried and surprised, Scully was only sick once before and both know it was a critical situation, thinking about cancer makes Mulder feel a knot in his throat, his only wish is that Scully be well, he can't lose her, not again, Skinner looks at him and guesses in his face what he is thinking because he is thinking the same, this is strange and uncommon in Scully, it must be something serious, but he doesn't want to alarm Mulder, he knows how much he has always loved his partner and if he is with him right now is to accompany him and reassure him - Relax Mulder, she will be fine - Mulder frowns driving fast behind the ambulance, he doesn't know anything, she was fine yesterday, this is like a nightmare to him - That's what she always says, so I don't know if is true anymore - Skinner smiles with bitterness, it's true, she always says that she is fine, no matter how bad she feels or the difficulties she is going through - She is a strong woman Mulder, she has already demonstrated it, more times than I can remember - Mulder nods with sadness, he is telling the truth, but what if this is it?, what if she can't face difficulties anymore?, what if she is tired?, she has the right to be, no, he has to be positive, Scully is the strongest person he knows, she will be ok.
General Hospital, Washington D.C.
Two Hours Later
Mulder stand up and walks around desperate, what's taking so long? He looks at every doctor waiting for an answer, but none seems to address him or give him any importance, Skinner stands behind him and puts a hand on his shoulder - Mulder calm down, these things take time, I'm sure that as soon as they know something, they will let us know - Mulder sighs and puts his hand on his waist denying - This is insane, I can't stay here waiting forever, I need to know something - Skinner looks away knowing that there's nothing he can say in the moment.
Mulder takes a sit leaning forward putting his elbows on his thighs, Skinner goes away looking for a coffee. Mulder is worried, he can't help it, things have been improving with Scully and suddenly this, it has no sense, he can't lose her now, he close his eyes and breaths heavily, her image is in his mind, she bit her tongue, he can't imagine how much pain she was feeling, he needs her, he needs to see her, talk to her, feel her close, this must be another sick joke of destiny, why she always has to suffer? Why can't she be just happy for once? He blame himself, all her pain is always his fault, the x files destroyed her life, he stands again, he can't stay still, Skinner comes back and give him a cup of coffee - Thanks Walter - he nods and leans against the wall.
Half hour later both men are more worried, Mulder is completely out of himself, all the wait can't be normal, he needs to see her - I just want someone to tell me what the hell is going on here - Skinner looks at him with sympathy - No news, good news, Mulder - Mulder doesn't look at him, he looks around looking for answers - That's BS, and you know it - Skinner tries again to calm him down - Why don't you go outside and get some fresh air? I'll text you when there's word - Mulder can't stand it anymore, he doesn't care if Skinner is his superior - I don't want to hear it from you. I want to talk to Scully -