Title: Field Trip
Rating: K+
Status: Complete
Spoilers: None
Archive: Wow, what an honor, hell yes, just drop a note first.
Feedback: Most definitely
Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended, characters and show reference belong to their creator CC and 1013. I do not own or profit from these stories or characters. X Files and the characters belong to Chris Carter yada, yada, yada….you know the drill. I'm just a fan adding my own spin to the episodes' end. I appreciate any and all reviews, it's the only way I'll get better I can't critique myself… R & R
No money so, I prefer you just read and enjoy.
Summary: This AU takes place after the ambulance ride to the hospital following their extrication from the psychedelic fungus trying to dissolve and digest them in Field Trip. S6 E21 I decided to write the ending after they reached for each other. Such a great scene. This is from Scully's POV.
How many times have I heard 'nice trip to the forest' come out of his mouth. He has shown me the world in such a different way than I expected to see it. At one time seeing the world meant travel, flights to exotic places, hikes up mountains, tasting different foods, exploring the area with your well, whatever he is to me. He is my alter-ego at times. I have fed off his crazy theories and entertained them because I love his mind, the way it works. I wish I had his openness, his daring to see and say what others scoff at.
Truth be told I fell in love with him years ago. I have kept him at a distance because I know at some point, he'll lean into whisper something in my ear, and I won't be able to listen without turning into him and lip-locking him. I have fantasized about him for so long. I love all of him, his fluffy hair, his green eyes, his low, sultry voice, his physique, and his five o'clock shadow in the afternoons. When we get together for dinner and a movie in our free time, I love the way his unshaven face looks.
I could never tell him but, I have opened my mind somewhat. At times I have difficulty reconciling his opinions, and my science with my faith so, I let him say it and I silently agree with his….wild-ass theories that are more than likely true to a degree. I love proving him wrong but, it's not that easy I have to work for it. I also know if I begin agreeing with him the FBI will reassign me. I am here to give his work scientific credibility or at least question it, not condone it.
Lying on the gurney on the back of the rescue truck all covered in some psychedelic digestive juices, spores, and dirt I realized I could feel every bump in the grassland leading to a hospital stay and decontamination showers. My back was killing me, my lungs were on fire from the inhaled spores, and my brain was in a fog, but I had to know he was there, no doubt feeling as much like shit as I did. We were after all in this together and foggy brain or not he was my first thought. I stretched my arm out hoping it was longer than it seemed to be or that the truck was narrower than it seemed.
My search for him just yielded open space. The fog in my brain refused to lift even as I willed it away. Had they found him, was he okay. I needed to touch him to know he was, as always right next to me. Just as I was about to give up, my hand was grabbed, whatever it was it was gritty, and damp yet warm. My thoughts suddenly realized he had been searching for me at the same time I was searching for him, such synchronicity we had. God, I loved that, it reassured me he was absolutely the right choice in my life. I wanted him and needed him in my life, he was my armor when mine failed.
It was a small hospital with few rooms, we were brought right to the decontamination showers. The staff were dressed in some type of yellow MOP gear looking vaguely like life sized rubber ducks. Perhaps the brain fog was lifting just a smidgen. They rinsed us off clothing and all. I remember them asking if we could undress ourselves or if we needed help. I threw my arm in the air and declared I was capable, but I don't think the entire word came out before the searing pain stopped me. I heard Mulder attempt to say 'ditto'.
So, here we are back in the decon showers. It wasn't like we hadn't been here before. It seemed like just weeks ago we were in one as well. I struggled just to sit up. My skin felt like it was on fire in places. My face was the worst, it felt like a blowtorch was searing my skin. My lungs were ablaze as if being used as a fire pit. My best educated guess was Mulder was feeling it too. I looked over at him. He was sitting on his gurney staring at the floor.
"Mulder," I tried my best to talk, it hurt. "You need any help?" He just sat there staring at the floor for a few seconds.
"Mulder?"
He looked up at me and gave me what I thought was a wink. I am positive it was because speaking anything would have made him feel like a firebreather.
He tried to take off his clothes. The staff had vacated the room due to our stubbornness in refusing their help. I had not seen Mulder completely naked but, I've undressed him in my mind's eye. This was not the time for my brain fog to lift. I weakly scooted off my flat board and made my way to him. I started with his boots, socks, then his jacket, and his shirt. All that was left were his pants. He needed to get into that shower just to have the steam relax him and his lungs. I undid his belt and unhooked the clasp pulling the zipper down.
Brain fog don't fail me now. He stood up and I saw his knees buckle. He wasn't grabbing my hands, so I finished getting him out of his pants. He stood there in his boxers. The staff had started the showers for us which were now steaming the glass. I walked him over to one of them and opened the door. As he stepped inside, I told him the boxers had to come off. He was still in his 'spore' daze. He stopped at the threshold and put his hand on my shoulder to steady himself. He grabbed the waistband and pulled off his boxers. My eyes were glued to the floor below barely resisting the temptation to look as he walked in. I shut the door and stripped, not giving one care of he was watching me or not. My face and lungs were on fire, and I needed to douse the inferno.
The water scorched my raw skin, I felt like I was covered in first degree burns. The juices had caused burns to our skin, throats, and lungs. It would take days to feel like we weren't inhaling or exhaling flames. The water scalded my body, but my lungs calmed down and I was able to expel some of the crap that had settled in them. I knew they would be putting us on heavy antibiotics and oxygen once we were dry and in those stupid 'johnnies' they make us wear, considering the number of times we have worn them I should own stock in the damn company.
I looked over at Mulder. He was shivering from the hot water scalding his body as well. He looked over at me nodding his head with a sheepish grin. I smiled at him. I relaxed when I saw him feeling a bit better. He had a coughing fit spitting out crap from his lungs as I had. I washed my hair twice to get rid of any spores and dirt still in it.
I stepped out first, grabbing a towel and wrapping myself up. I grabbed his towel and waited for him to turn off the water. I handed it to him as he opened the door. He wrapped himself and stepped out.
"Scully are you okay?" He asked.
"I'm fine Mulder. My skin feels like fire, but I think we are out of the ground. Hopefully this isn't another hallucination." I said, my lungs were still burning.
"No Scully we're out. I feel weird, my skin is hot, and your hair looks great. My throat is on fire." He managed to notice me despite his pain. It was comforting.
"It will take weeks for our lungs to completely heal, and my hair is a wavy mess Mulder you can't possibly think it looks good." I said as I began toweling my hair dry.
"I never get to see you au naturel before you dry it. I like it." He whispered thinking it would be easier on his lungs.
"It's better if we keep our talk to the necessary right now." I said seeing him nod his head in agreement.
I grabbed the gown and put it on sitting back on the gurney and waited for him to do the same so we could get to a room and be given doses of antibiotics, fluids and hopefully some sleep aids. I was exhausted and I knew he was too.
The triage nurse came in a few minutes later. "We are waiting for another room open so we can take you both up at the same time." She looked us over. "Do you need anything?"
"Water." I said looking at Mulder who gave me a thumbs up. "Make that two."
"We can stay in the same room." Mulder said in a weak voice. He looked over at me smiling.
I rolled my eyes 'oh brother' I thought now what. It wasn't that I was against sharing a recovery room with him for 48 hours, it was the speed at which he made the comment. I was actually kind of impressed with his decision. A curtain would separate us when his insomnia kicked in and I could get some privacy while I slept. I rather looked forward to another adventure with him even if it was sharing a hospital room.
We got up to our room several minutes later. It was smaller than I thought it would be. I guess in a small town they don't have large, fancy rooms. We were hooked up to the IV drips and Mulder had the TV remote looking for something to watch probably a ball game of some sport, no VCR movie tonight. I was at a bad angle to see the TV anyway so I opted for some quiet time hoping sleep would find me.
I am not sure how long I was out. When I woke up the light had faded from the sky and the window blinds were drawn. All the lights in the hallway were on so I gathered it was after 7pm. I was hoping to find sleep again when Skinner walked in. He stopped when he realized both of us were in the same room as he looked past the curtain. He looked at me and nodded his head towards Mulder's bed.
"His idea sir. I didn't oppose it. We were tired and just wanted to get the drips started so we can recover and go home."
"He's out so, they must have given him some good shit, he never sleeps. How are you feeling?" he asked looking haggard. He had been in the field all day looking for us. If he hadn't put in the time we would still be out there.
"We both feel like we are slow roasting over an open pit but, I am sure we'll feel better in the morning. Thank you, sir, for not giving up. I know you searched for hours with little information to go on. We would still be out there probably dead by now if you hadn't been there." I spat that out with searing lungs. They didn't hurt so bad until I tried to speak then the flames danced up my throat.
"It's what we do Agent Scully. I wasn't about to lose my two best agents to a fungus in a cave when I'm convinced Mulder will do that another way." He walked to me and gave my shoulder a pat and a squeeze. His version of a hug. "If you need anything before you get out of here just call me. I have notified the local office you are here in the event you do. I have a flight back to DC in a few hours." He was gone on the turn of his heel.
After Skinner left the nurse came in to check on us. I assured her we were fine and to close the door on the way out to keep the lights out of our room. I slid out of bed, used the restroom and quietly opened the curtain. Mulder was sleeping. He was tangled in the sheets, legs sticking out and one arm across his chest.
How many deaths would I have experienced if this man didn't have the mind he has. The ability to open his thoughts, dream, imagine, theorize his way to reasonable conclusions. I would love to examine his brain in a slow, methodical, manner. It could take years but, I was willing to spend my life doing it. He must feel about me as I do about him, a deep, profound trust, spiritual, soul-filled love, yes that's what this love is in its purest form: unconditional and unquestioned. I suppose that is the reason we have never talked about it, we just know.
I lowered the side rails to my bed and his. I walked to mine, stepping on the brake, freeing it I slid our beds together until they bumped. Stepping on the brake again, I turned off the light in the room, crawled back into my bed feeling spent and all I did was move a bed…on wheels no less. I snuggled under the sheets and searched for Mulder's hand when I felt him doing the same for mine just as we had hours before.
As our hands connected, our fingers intertwined, I felt the warmth of his hand permeate me, my body, my soul. I smiled and let sleep take me but not before I heard him lightly snoring. I could get used to this. The sleep monster grabbed me and I joined him in a dream.
