Scully slowly woke up, the light filtering through the curtains reminding her of the events of the previous evening. As memories rushed back, she felt a mix of grogginess and clarity settle over her. She glanced around the room, realizing she was alone in Mulder's bed.

Determination surged within her. She needed to leave, to regain control. There was no point in lingering in a space that felt so heavy with unresolved emotions. She scolded herself for not getting up earlier, but now she was resolute.

Sitting up, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and took a steadying breath. She wouldn't let yesterday define her. After a quick glance around to ensure she hadn't left anything behind, she quietly made her way to the door, ready to face whatever came next.

Scully made her way to the kitchen, still wearing the t-shirt Mulder had given her to sleep in. As she stepped inside, she was greeted by his warm voice. "Hey there," he said gently. "Just in time for breakfast."

She looked over at the stove, confusion washing over her. "You're making breakfast?"

Mulder nodded, a small smile on his face. "I know it's noon already, but breakfast is your favorite, and I went shopping yesterday. So almost zero chance of food poisoning."

As his words sank in, Scully's eyes widened. "It's noon? Why didn't you wake me up?"

"Because you needed some sleep," he replied, his tone soft yet firm.

Scully's gaze flicked to the table, neatly set for two. "You want me to have breakfast with you?"

"Of course," he said, stepping closer. "I won't let you leave without any nutrition."

She felt a rush of emotions, and her voice trembled slightly. "You're not mad?"

Mulder smirked, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Depends on what definition of mad you're going with here."

Scully took a breath, feeling the weight of her own guilt. "At me… mad at me."

He closed the distance, his hands gently resting on her waist as he pulled her closer, his eyes searching hers. "Horrified at the thought I may have done something to cause your reaction last night, yes. Concerned about your well-being, yes. Hoping we get to talk, yes. Mad at you? No, not mad at you and why would I be mad at you, Scully?"

Her heart softened at his words, and he encouraged her with a nod. "Come on, sit down. Have some breakfast with me."

After breakfast, Scully sat on Mulder's couch, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. He settled across from her on the coffee table, noticing the turmoil etched across her face. She looked like she was wrestling with something deep inside.

Scully opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she took a shaky breath. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Mulder shook his head, his expression firm but kind. "You don't need to apologize, Scully. Just talk to me."

Tears welled in her eyes again, and she struggled to find the courage to express what she felt. "I… I just... I don't know how to—"

Before she could finish, a loud knock echoed through the apartment. "Mulder, open up! We know you're home!" Langly's voice boomed from the other side.

Frustrated, Mulder turned to Scully, his concern shifting to annoyance. "I'll get rid of them," he said, rising from his seat.

"Mulder, wait—" she started, but he was already heading for the door, leaving her with the weight of her unspoken words hanging in the air.

The door swung open, and the Lone Gunmen pushed in, excitement buzzing in the air. "Mulder, you have to see this!" Frohike exclaimed, holding up a tape.

Mulder held up a hand, trying to rein in the chaos. "Guys, it's really not the moment."

Byers, noticing Scully on the couch, immediately sensed that something was off. "Maybe we should let them be for today," he suggested, concern creeping into his voice.

Langley and Frohike, however, didn't pick up on the tension. Frohike smirked and leaned against the doorframe. "My, my. Lovely to see you here this fine afternoon, Agent Scully."

Scully stood up from the sofa, her resolve hardening. "I was about to leave anyway," she said, her voice steady but cool. "So you can watch that video together and have fun, if that's what you're doing."

Mulder shot her a look, wanting to reach out, but he felt the tension thickening in the room. The Gunmen exchanged glances, sensing that something deeper was at play but not fully understanding it.

Mulder stepped toward the door, urgency in his voice. "Scully, you don't have to leave. I can ask them to go. They won't mind."

Scully shook her head, her expression firm. "That's fine. I'll take care of the paperwork. That's the least I can do." She reached for the pile of files stacked on the table.

Byers moved closer, trying to help. "Let me help you with those, Agent Scully."

Scully glanced at him, her tone resolute. "That's not necessary. I can carry them myself."

As she pulled the files toward her, Byers gently tugged on them, almost causing a small tug-of-war. "I'll walk you to your car," he offered, casting a quick look at Mulder.

Mulder felt a mix of frustration and concern as he watched the exchange. "Scully, really, it's okay," he said, trying to interject, but she was already focused on her task, the files clutched tightly in her arms.

Scully met Mulder's gaze, a flicker of determination in her eyes, but she didn't respond. Instead, she turned to Byers. "Thanks, but I've got it," she insisted, moving toward the door with purpose.

Mulder stood back, feeling the weight of the moment, unsure of how to bridge the gap that had formed between them.

Mulder leaned against the window frame, watching Scully and Byers outside. She still wore his shirt, the fabric hanging loosely on her, but she had slipped on her own pants. In that moment, she looked so lost, standing beside Byers as he helped her put the files into the trunk of her car.

The sight tugged at him. She seemed distant, her posture tight, and he could sense the internal struggle she was grappling with even from afar. Byers chatted amiably, but Scully's responses were minimal, her gaze often drifting away, lost in thought.

Mulder felt a pang of concern. He wanted to go to her, to pull her back into the safety of their shared space, but he remained rooted to the spot, unsure of how to bridge the emotional chasm that had opened between them. All he could do was watch as she tried to piece herself together in the moments before leaving.

Byers placed the last file in the trunk and turned to Scully, sensing the weight of her emotions. "You know, Mulder has his flaws, but he cares so deeply for you. He would never do anything that would make you uncomfortable or hurt you in any way. Do you honestly think he won't understand?"

Scully's eyes brimmed with tears, her voice trembling. "He deserves better than me."

Byers stepped closer, his tone earnest. "But he wants you, Scully. I'm sure he'll do anything he can to make you feel safe."

Her gaze fell to the ground, conflicted emotions swirling within her. "I just don't want to hurt him anymore."

Byers nodded, understanding her fears. "You won't know unless you talk to him. Hiding won't change how he feels."

Scully bit her lip, wrestling with the truth in his words. She wanted to believe it, but doubt lingered, making it hard to step forward.

Mulder stood by the window, his heart heavy as he watched Byers hug Scully before she drove away. When Byers returned to the apartment, he exchanged a knowing look with Langly and Frohike, who seemed on edge.

"Did she say anything to you?" Mulder asked, his voice tight with concern.

Byers shook his head, his expression carefully neutral.

Mulder pressed, frustration creeping in. "You guys know something, don't you?"

Frohike finally spoke, his tone firm but gentle. "She needs to tell you herself, Mulder."

As he said this, Frohike's mind wandered back to that evening they confronted Scully about their findings. The promise they made to her lingered in his thoughts, a vow to respect her boundaries.

Langly added, "It's not our place to share what we learned. Just… give her some time."

Mulder felt a knot in his stomach, knowing he had to respect Scully's wishes, but the uncertainty gnawed at him.

Shortly after the Gunmen had met Scully for the first time, they found themselves standing awkwardly at her door. The atmosphere felt heavy with unspoken words.

As Scully opened the door and saw the three of them, her expression shifted to concern. "Has something happened to Mulder?" she immediately asked, worry evident in her voice.

Byers exchanged a glance with Frohike and Langly before stepping forward. "Can we come inside?" he asked gently.

Scully hesitated for a moment, taking in their anxious faces, then nodded and stepped back to let them in. The three men entered, the tension palpable as she closed the door behind them.

"What's going on?" she prompted, crossing her arms defensively, her gaze shifting from one to the other.

Frohike cleared his throat, trying to find the right words. "We need to talk about something important… something we found out."

Langly stepped forward, his tone serious. "You're the female lead in every story Mulder tells. Scully this, Scully that. He's our friend, and we want to be sure you're good to him. So we did some checking."

Scully's expression shifted, realization dawning on her. She listened intently as they laid out the outcome of their research. The implications of their findings hung heavy in the air, and she felt a rush of anxiety.

"None of this affects my work with Mulder," she stated firmly, meeting their eyes. "Please promise me you won't tell anyone."

Byers nodded, his voice steady. "We wouldn't compromise your safety, Agent Scully. That's not our intention."

Frohike added, "We just want to make sure you're both okay. You mean a lot to him."

Scully felt a mix of gratitude and apprehension. She appreciated their concern but knew how fragile things were. "Thank you," she said softly. "But I can handle this."