TITLE: Poison AUTHOR: C.J. Greene E-MAIL: cgreene2@aol.com ARCHIVE: Gossamer; Anywhere and Everywhere FEEDBACK: Oh, yeah baby! CLASSIFICATION: Story, MSR RATING: PG-13 SPOILERS: Everything up to the movie DISCLAIMER: They ain't mine, and heaven knows I have no cash. Song lyrics belong to Gloria Estefan, Marc Cohen and Savage Garden. NOTES: This story takes place after the movie, and I'm assuming Mulder and Scully were reassigned to the X-Files. Major thanks to Jamie who talked me into posting this! SUMMARY: Mulder is given a deadly poison, can Scully find a way to hold on to him? ***** Undisclosed location New York City Wednesday, 1:15 PM The men sat around the room, each contemplating their next move. "We have reached a critical stage in the Project. The X-Files cannot continue right now. It is too dangerous to our immediate needs." A voice said quietly. "We must eliminate Mulder." Across the room, a tall blonde bristled slightly. She was not usually a part of these meetings. She had, in fact, only just returned to the fold of the group. She had been...ill. After a very serious bout with a fate as good as death, Marita had been cured. Her employer had not wanted to see her die and had made sure she got the vaccine she needed to survive. She had recovered quickly, only to discover that her employer had been killed by the very men with whom he'd chosen to work. He had been devoted to the Project, and was well aware of the importance of certain key players. Marita knew that Fox Mulder was one of those players. This was the last thing her employer had wanted. He, more than anyone else in the organization, had known how important Mulder was to the future. Now that he was dead, things had changed. Marita Covarrubias felt it was now her responsibility to watch over Mulder. Her employer had been sure to see that Marita was well versed both in the Project and certain unforeseen possibilities that might arise. "That would be dangerous. He is watched too closely. If he were to die now, there are others who will know that his work has truth." Her voice was stiff, cold. A medium height Arab man shook his head. Strughold. Marita bristled again. In a roomful of untrustworthy people, she trusted him the least. He was short-sighted, and that, in Marita and her former employer's opinions, made him very dangerous. "Then we must stop him. Agent Scully..." An older man sitting quietly at the head of the table drew in a deep drag on his Morley. "Eliminating Agent Scully is not the answer either. It is quite obvious that without her, Mulder is much more dangerous. She dies and nothing will stop his quest. A man with nothing to lose is a dangerous man. She is his Achilles' heel. At this point, keeping Agent Scully alive is a much more stable situation. We cannot afford unstable variables at this point in the project." There were nods of assent throughout the room. They all knew how badly the situation had turned out when they'd tried to eliminate Scully before. It was because of this, they each kept their opinions about the Cigarette Smoking Man's personal interests to themselves. Strughold sighed. "Slowing Mulder down will be enough. If we could distract him long enough to move the files from New Mexico, it will buy us significant time." The Cigarette Smoking Man took another drag on his cigarette and then smiled slightly. "I think I have an idea." *** The Sicilian Slice Arlington, VA Friday, 8:43 PM Johnny opened the door of the pizzeria and was greeted by a wave of heat. He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of dough, cheese, various vegetables and meats. His stomach turned a little. he thought darkly. He leaned against a counter, trying to stay out of the way of the cooks. As usual, people were bustling around, slicing, dicing, tossing dough and sliding pizzas in and out of ovens. The waitresses and waiters from the sit-in part of the restaurant didn't usually come back this far, so it was only the night manager, cooks and delivery people. He waited patiently for the night manager to finish with another driver and get around to him. Johnny's eyes swept the kitchen. He'd been working there for three years, since his senior year in high school. It might not have been glamorous, but the pizza delivery gig certainly helped pay tuition at Northern Virginia Community College. He hoped to transfer to American soon, but for now, he was doing what was necessary. He followed the progression of the cooks, the kids sweeping the floor, and washing the dishes. His eyes rested on an unfamiliar face. Johnny frowned. He knew everyone that worked here. Johnny had more delivery shifts than anyone else, and he worked almost everyday. He hadn't heard anything about anyone new being hired. The man was average, absolutely nondescript. Average height, medium brown hair, medium build, brown eyes. He wore the blue shirt and baseball cap proclaiming the restaurant's name, like everyone else, but it didn't look right on him. He looked like he should be in a suit or something. Johnny's frown deepened. There was something not right about this dude. "Yo, Johnny!" He was pulled out of his revere by Andy, the night manager. Andy thrust six boxes of pizza at Johnny. "Okay, here you go. Be careful kid!" Taking one last look at the new cook, Johnny headed out for his battered gray Honda Accord. The car was ancient and on its last legs. Johnny carefully put the pizzas inside and climbed behind the driver's seat. After tuning the radio to the Redskins- Dolphins game, he looked at the list of addresses. He grinned as he recognized the first name. Mulder, Hegel Place, Arlington. The FBI agent. Johnny liked this guy. He'd been delivering regularly to Mr. Mulder for the three years he'd been working. Mulder was always pleasant to him, usually listening to a game as he paid him. Not only that, Mulder was a good tipper. Johnny wondered idly if Mulder's cute little redheaded girlfriend would be there. At least, he thought she was his girlfriend. She was there often enough. Johnny started his car and drove the familiar dark streets to Hegel Place. He pulled up in front, and grabbed the pizza. In the elevator, he glanced at the tag on the box. Pepperoni, olives, green peppers and extra mushrooms. Nope, the redhead wouldn't be there. She hated peppers. He walked swiftly down to number 42 and knocked swiftly. A groan came from the inside a moment before the door opened. Johnny grinned at the taller man. "Hi Mr. Mulder." "Hey Johnny." "I missed the score." "Skins are down by ten." "Yeah, but it's only the 3rd, they still have time to turn it around." "I wish." Johnny handed Mulder the pizza and Mulder handed Johnny a twenty. "Keep it, Johnny. Don't work too hard." Johnny grinned. "Thanks, Mr. Mulder." Whistling, Johnny headed back down the hall. *** Two Weeks Later J. Edgar Hoover Building Washington, DC Thursday, 1:23 PM Special Agent Dana Scully watched her partner turn an interesting shade of green. He was sick again. She watched him try and fight off the nausea and lose. A shadow crossed his face and he stood quickly. "You okay, Mulder?" "Yeah, Scully. Lunch didn't agree with me, that's all." He hurried out of the newly renovated basement office. Scully put down the file she'd been reading and sat back in her chair, staring at the half open office door. This had been going on for over two weeks. At first she had just written it off, but now she was beginning to get worried. Mulder did not catch simple colds. Blood congealing retro-viruses with non- earthly origins, but a simple, ordinary cold? Nah, Fox Mulder never did anything simply, and he sure as hell was not ordinary. The doctor in her began cataloging his symptoms. Fatigue. He'd tried to hide it from her, but she'd noticed how easily he tired climbing the stairs. Most mornings, he came in looking unkempt and exhausted, as if he hadn't slept. She knew her partner did not have the best sleeping patterns in the world, but he rarely had the dark circles under his eyes that were now so obvious. Nausea. Mulder's eating habits usually frightened her more than the crazed monsters he used to chase in the Violent Crimes Section. Lately though, he had avoided the greasy burgers, the salty fries, the sugar coated donuts. He'd even cut down on the flaming hot potato chips and sunflower seeds. The coffee was down to two cups a day. He'd been eating Tums by the package and had avoided any real lunch. He'd gone so far as to stick to soup and crackers today. Which he hadn't finished. Not to mention the quick trips to the bathroom several times a day. She thought. She would not be at all surprised. Mulder ate like a twelve year old most of the time. Not to mention the fact that he had been under an amazing amount of stress recently. The past couple of years had steadily gotten worse and worse. The trip he'd taken to Rhode Island had led to another injury, more unanswered questions and a severe rift in his relationship with his mother. Scully's own fight with cancer had taken a toll on him as well. He'd almost been shot in his apartment after Scully herself had torn his heart out. She still felt a pang, well, more than a pang, of guilt over that. She really hadn't meant to hurt him so deeply. She didn't even know she had until Mulder had absent-mindedly let it slip one day that his gun had been out. In his hand. Scully didn't even want to think about the implications of that. Then, San Diego and Emily. Scully's mind shied away from all that had happened over last Christmas. They hadn't talked about it, but she knew how much he'd hurt for her. The bridge, Agent Spender, Mulder's disillusionment. Then, the burning of the X-Files, another illness for her, Antarctica. Scully shivered a little, remembering. So much had happened, so much had gone wrong. But now, they had the X-Files back. They had both recovered from Antarctica. They were still together. She had been hoping that things were settling down. Not everything had been bad though. Despite the strain in their relationship, they'd managed to find their way back to each other. They'd had some real moments of connection. She smiled a little, remembering the joking after the vampires, the pitiful little fire in Florida, dancing at a Cher concert. Then, the piece de resistance, the near kiss in his hallway. She smiled a little, remembering the warmth of his lips just reaching hers... Mulder shuffled back into the office. His tie was askew, the top button of his white shirt unbuttoned. His brown hair was ruffled, probably from him running his fingers through it. His complexion was pasty white, completely unlike his normal skin tone. His face even looked slightly puffy. Scully's small smile vanished. What caught her most was his eyes. She loved her partner's deep green eyes, usually sparkling with wit and good humor. Today, however, they were bloodshot, puffy, and a little watery. "Um, Scully, I'm going to shove off. I've got a bit of a headache." "Sure Mulder." She kept her voice carefully neutral. "Is there anything I can do for you? You look a little ill." He gave her a small smile. That was an understatement and they both knew it. "No thanks, Scully. I'll be fine. Must be a cold or something." He gathered his things together and made his way out of the office. Scully watched him go, her ice blue eyes narrowed. It was obvious it was more than a cold; it had been going on too long. She was worried. Mulder could frustrate her faster than anyone she'd ever known, a true accomplishment for anyone who'd grown up with three siblings. But, he was her partner, and he was sick. He wouldn't talk to her but she had to know what was going on. She sat down at his desk, grimacing slightly at the usual mess on top of it. Files and papers were everywhere. She sighed. Mulder filing. She began sifting through the mess when his phone rang. She reached over and picked it up. "Scully." "Oh, hello, Agent Scully. This is Harry Bryer." "Hello, Agent Bryer." "Is Agent Mulder around?" "No, he wasn't feeling well so he left early. Can I take a message?" Scully had no idea why she'd asked. She hated taking messages for him, but some instinct told her to ask. "Well, I guess. Tell him that I looked up his benefit package for him and the insurance will cover most of what he asked. Also, let him know that everything is in order as far as his pension goes. It'll be taken care of per his request." Pension? "Sure, no problem, Agent Bryer. Have a good day." Scully hung up, her pretty face creased into a frown. Why was Mulder checking his benefit package? Something was seriously wrong. With a growing sense of panic, Scully gathered her own things together. She had to get to the bottom of this. *** Apartment 42 Hegel Place Alexandria, Virginia Scully let herself into Mulder's apartment. She had long ago taken the little tag off the key marked "Mulder." She'd used that key so much since he'd given it to her five years ago, his place was as familiar as her own. "Mulder?" She called. He hadn't answered her knock, so she figured he wasn't at home. He'd looked so awful when he left. She wondered. Scully slipped out of the black trench coat and draped it over the back of a chair. She looked around. The place looked different. It suddenly hit her. It was cleaner. It looked as though Mulder had actually begun to get rid of some of the junk that had cluttered the tiny apartment. She frowned. Mulder was a pack rat. He didn't get rid of anything unless absolutely necessary. She sat in the desk chair and surveyed the top of his desk. Papers were everywhere. Her gaze wandered, finally resting on the trash can. Inside were more papers, empty Tums wrappers, and an empty bottle of aspirin. One of the papers on the desk caught her eye. She read over it, her frown deepening. It was obviously a list of some sort. She took a closer look and stiffened. It was an appraiser's list, ones that lawyers used when preparing a will. She shuffled some of the papers around until she found it. "I, Fox William Mulder, hereby..." It was a draft of Mulder's will, dated last week. Scully read no further, her heart rate increasing. More shuffling revealed a copy of his life insurance policy. Panic gripped Scully tightly. Was Mulder really sick? He had a dark, morbid side she knew, but she had never known him to be overly concerned with mortality. If anything, he was too laissez-faire with his own life. A conversation they'd had earlier in the week came back to her. <<"Hey, Scully, have you thought about what you'd like to do if I weren't around?>> <<"What's up, Mulder? Planning on a little vacation?>> <<"I dunno. Maybe.">> Had he been trying to tell her something? Scully ran her fingers through her fiery hair. She was determined to get some answers from him. They hadn't been talking much lately. Well, less than usual. That case with a fellow agent's mother and the alien abduction had really been a turning point for them. Mulder had quit talking to her, quit taking an active interest in the X Files. She thought they'd gotten past it, but after their conversation in his hallway, things were a little weird between them. Scully was sure it was only a matter of time before the subject of that conversation came up again. For now, the subject was closed, and things were a bit awkward. Something was going on with him and this illness was the final straw. She refused to let him shut her out anymore. She grabbed the latest copy of _The Lone Gunman_ and settled down on his couch to wait for him. *** Scully roused herself from sleep the minute she heard his key in the lock. She hadn't been asleep long, just long enough to cause her a moment of disorientation. After a minute, she remembered what she was doing in Mulder's apartment and she sat up. Mulder shuffled in, closing the door behind him. He looked up and was surprised to see Scully sitting on his old green leather couch. "Scully?" He frowned. "What's wrong?" He was beginning to get a little nervous about the new habit she had for suddenly appearing in his apartment. "That's my question, Mulder." He shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about." The corner of her mouth lifted in a grin. "Are you a rotten liar." She quipped, her voice a fair imitation of Billy Crystal's in _The Princess Bride_. He sighed deeply. He didn't have the energy for a verbal sparring with his partner. He just wanted to collapse on his couch and sleep until the inevitable nausea forced him into the bathroom. He was exhausted, his stomach hurt, his head pounded and there were now pains in his back. No, there was no way he was up for this. He collapsed next to her on the couch and closed his eyes. His head leaned back as he slumped down. "Doesn't matter, Scully. It'll be over soon anyway." She turned to face him. "Mulder, what the hell are you talking about?" He groaned. He knew her well enough to know that she was not going to let this drop. She was going to keep at him until he told her and if he didn't, she'd find out another way. He'd wanted to spare her any more pain if he could help it but it didn't look like she was going to let him. She hated it when he tried to protect her anyway. Besides, deep down, he really didn't feel like going through this alone. Mulder struggled to sit up and faced her. She was sitting, her arms crossed, blue eyes calm. Mulder felt a sense of smug satisfaction that soon she would not be quite so composed. He took a deep breath. He had yet to really say it out loud, the exact words he was about to use. Never had he thought he'd be saying these words to her. He'd always assumed it would just sort of happen. He hadn't expected to have to wait for it. "Scully," his stomach flipped over. It was harder, much harder than he thought to actually say it. He looked her straight in the eyes. She wouldn't believe him any other way. "Scully, I'm dying." *** Scully stared at him a moment. she thought. On the heels of that, she thought, She stared furiously into his eyes. What she read there made all her anger at him slowly dissipate. He wasn't joking. Dear God, he was serious! She took a deep breath to calm herself. "Mulder, what are you talking about?" She'd read the truth in his eyes, so Mulder decided to tell her everything. "I'm dying, Scully. Acute kidney failure." She shook her head. "What? How? You've never..." her voice trailed off as she saw another shadow cross his features. "Mulder, what is it?" He sighed. "Have you ever heard of a galerinas?" She nodded slowly. "Yes, from botany in school. It's a fungus, I think." Mulder nodded. "A mushroom to be precise." He replied. "Cortinarius orellanus, if I remember correctly." Despite the situation, they shared a brief smile. They both knew that he remembered correctly. His eidetic memory had served them well on more than one occasion. "It's toxic. The poison, orellanin, causes acute or chronic kidney failure. Among other things." He shrugged and sat back. Scully looked pale. She waited for him to continue. After a moment he did. "About two weeks ago, I ordered a pizza from the usual place across town." He smiled. "You know me, pepperoni, olives, green peppers and... extra mushrooms." They said together. He smiled at her. With a bit of difficulty, he stood and walked over to his desk. He opened the top drawer and handed her a letter. "The next day I got this." Scully read over the neatly typewritten letter: Agent Mulder - By the time you read this, it will already be too late. As I'm sure you know, I am scheduled to die in the electric chair. In fact, I shall be dead when my final revenge is put into place. I take comfort in the fact that as I die, so too shall you. You and Agent Kipler are the final victims of the greatest serial poisoned that ever lived. I remember how much you two liked mushrooms, so I decided that they would be the instrument of my revenge. I die, secure in the knowledge that you and Agent Kipler shall soon follow. There is no cure for the mushroom I have chosen. My final body count shall not be fourteen, as I was convicted for, but sixteen. Sixteen always was my lucky number. Michael Hutchens Scully looked up at Mulder, her eyes wide. "Hutchens? The killer in Oregon?" Mulder nodded, collapsing into the chair. "The one and the same. Kipler and I tracked him through the restaurants he worked at. He died in the electric chair last week. I had my leftovers analyzed by the lab at the Bureau. The mushrooms were galerinas." He sighed. There was something not quite right about the entire situation, but since his blood tests had indicted the presence of the poison slowly killing him, Mulder had been a little less than enthusiastic about investigating his own death. "I never thought it would end like this." He closed his eyes and laughed a little. "I've chased monsters to hell and back and I knew they'd get me someday, but I never, ever imagined this. I always thought a gunshot, or maybe being stabbed. Perhaps bludgeoned..." "Mulder!" He opened his eyes and met Scully's slightly green face. "Sorry Scully." He murmured. His eyes drifted shut again. There was utter silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. Mulder was surprised to feel Scully's hands rest lightly on his shoulders. "There has to be some way out of this." She said softly. He shook his head. "There's not. There's no chance to stop the poison now. There's no cure. It's just a matter of waiting for it to destroy my organs." "A transplant - " "Will take too long. You know that. The poison is actively destroying my kidneys. Besides, the best chances for transplants are from family members. I don't even speak to my mother anymore." He didn't mention Samantha. She'd made it clear at the diner that night that she did not want to see or hear from him. He would not search her out now, not even to save his own life. Scully could find her after his death to deliver the letter he wanted to write her. He hadn't even told Scully about meeting Samantha again yet. "How long?" The question was asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "No telling." "God!" Mulder opened his eyes and looked up at her. Tears had filled her eyes. "Mulder, after everything we've...I can't believe...I...How can it end like this?" He reached up and pulled her hands off his shoulders. Holding them lightly, he gazed into her eyes. "It'll be okay, Scully." "No. No, I can't, I won't accept this." He smiled at her. "What is this, role reversal?" He asked, remembering his own reaction to the news of cancer months before. She shook her head. "We won't give up, Mulder. You can go on dialysis." He shook his head. Squeezing her hands gently, he hoped he could soften the blow. "Only for a while. My kidneys will give out, Scully. When they do, I'm going to die." "NO!" She was furious. How could he be accepting this so easily? He never gave up. Ever. He sighed. "Scully, I've been thinking about this a lot longer than you have. There's a chance for organ transplant. My name is on the list. But, you know as well as I do that the ones that die far outnumber the ones that live." He squeezed her hands lightly. "I'm not exactly looking forward to my imminent demise, but I need to face the possibility." He tried a smile. "You know me and extreme possibilities." The tears that had been standing in her eyes began their journey down her cheeks. "I just lost my daughter, Mulder." Her voice trembled. "I don't want to lose my partner too." Mulder stood and enveloped her in his arms. "I'm sorry." He whispered. He didn't know what else to say. Scully buried her face in his chest and held him as tightly as she could. *** "So, what are our options?" Scully was curled up on Mulder's couch. Her hands were curled around a steaming mug of tea. They'd just held each other for a long time, then finally, a wave of nausea forced Mulder to the bathroom. Scully had let him go alone, offering him a glass of water when he came out of the bathroom. He'd smiled gratefully, accepting it before plopping down on the couch. She'd let him sleep for a couple of hours, preparing tea and soup in the meantime. Mulder shrugged. "I've been getting things together for the last week or so. You know, just in case." He watched Scully grimace and then nod. He had a point. They needed to plan. "I've checked my insurance and pension. Money won't be a problem. As you've noticed, I've been trying to get things straight here." Scully darted a glance at him then returned to staring at her tea. "I - I guess I meant about work. What should we do?" Mulder sighed. "We've got to tell Skinner. I can try and work as much as possible, but I shouldn't be in the field. Not like this." He finished quietly. "Have you called your mother?" He nodded. "She won't call me back." He said quietly. Scully heard the hurt in his voice. Once again when he needed her, his mother was not there. She put her tea down and scooted closer to him. "I'm here, Mulder." She said quietly. "And I'm not going anywhere." She reached out and ruffled his hair. "Mulder, when you get really sick, I want you to come stay with me." He opened his mouth to protest and she cut him off. "No, Mulder, I mean it. I want you to stay with me. There's nobody to take care of you and once you go on dialysis, you'll need me." He thought. "Okay. But only when I can't do it alone anymore." Scully offered him her best smile. "Good. Now, hand me the phone. I'll set up the meeting with Skinner." *** J. Edgar Hoover Building Washington, DC Friday, 9:45 AM Assistant Director Walter Skinner stared in shock at his two most troublesome agents. Part of him wished that this time they had simply screwed up. It would make life so much easier. "I don't know what to say, Agent Mulder." He replied. He had said something similar to Scully barely a year ago. First Scully, now Mulder. Skinner wasn't sure he could take much more of this without getting an ulcer. Mulder shrugged. "I'd like to work as much as I can, sir." He said quietly. He looked awful. There was no disguising his illness anymore. "Agent Scully will be able to watch me. She'll help me decide when I should stop." He glanced at her. Scully sat rigidly next to him, the cream color of her suit accenting the paleness of her complexion. It was obvious she hadn't slept. She had spent the night at Mulder's, watching him sleep, and wondering how she was going to live without him. "She'll be with me at my remaining doctor's appointments so she'll know as much as she can about my condition." He shrugged. "I guess I shouldn't go into the field, it - " Mulder stopped, turning pasty white. Skinner stood quickly and opened the door to his bathroom. Mulder hurried inside, closing the door behind him. Skinner looked at Scully. She stared at the bathroom door, looking pale and worried. Skinner sat on the edge of the desk. "What can I do, Agent Scully?" She shrugged, unconsciously mirroring her partner. "Nothing, sir. Mulder's condition will deteriorate as time goes on. Nothing can prevent that. This afternoon, I'm meeting with his doctor for the first time. Apparently his doctor has already been in contact with Agent Kipler's doctor in Philadelphia." "How is Agent Kipler?" "Much worse, sir." She looked down. "We're going up there later today so Mulder can - so Mulder can say good-bye." Skinner nodded. "I'm assuming you'll be caring for Mulder?" "As much as I can, sir." She looked down at her hands. "Eventually, he'll have to be hospitalized." "If there's anything..." She nodded. "Thank you, sir." *** Georgetown University Medical Center Friday, 12:23 PM Scully liked Dr. Garrison. He was smart and personable, only a few years older than Mulder. a small voice inside her whispered. She caught Mulder's gaze and stopped her thoughts immediately. He looked hurt. "What can we expect, Doctor?" Scully asked. Garrison ran his fingers through his sandy blond hair. "Well, Mulder's already experiencing the gastroenteritis. Have you had any headaches, or pain in the back or joints?" Mulder nodded. "Yes to both." Garrison nodded. "I thought so. The kidneys will continue to fail, eventually they'll go altogether. Unfortunately, this is a particularly nasty poison. Mulder might improve several times before... before the end. There's usually damage to several internal organs, including the heart, liver, intestines, kidneys, nervous system, and genital organs." Garrison turned to Mulder. "We'll need more blood samples, Mulder." Mulder grimaced. "I'd also like to take a spinal tap, urinalysis, and get some semen samples. I want to test everything to see if the poison is present." Mulder sighed deeply. He hated this. He hated everything about being sick. "I feel like a damn pin cushion." He mumbled. "When should we consider hospitalization?" Scully asked, shooting a slightly amused glance at her partner. "Once we reach the point where the kidneys can no longer function completely on their own. I'm glad you're a doctor, Agent Scully. He'll need you around once his condition worsens." "He's staying with me starting today." She said firmly. "No way, Scully." "Button it, Mulder. We agreed." "Scully..." Garrison interrupted. "Sorry, Mulder, Agent Scully's right. It'll only get worse from here on out and you won't be able to take care of yourself." He smiled at Mulder tightly. "Or we can put you in the hospital now." Mulder sighed. "Okay, okay." He held his hands up in a gesture of defeat. "Good." Garrison smiled genuinely. "Cheryl's waiting outside. Go see her and she'll take your blood." Mulder stood and shuffled out of the room with all the enthusiasm of a prisoner about to face the guillotine. Garrison turned to Scully. "I don't want to alarm you, Dr. Scully, but Mulder's condition is serious. There is no cure." "How do the prospects for a transplant look?" "Not good." He sighed, taking off his glasses and pinching his nose. "Damn." He smiled at her weakly. "This is the part of medicine I hate. I can't fix this, can't cure it. There's a problem, and I can't help. Not at all. All we can do is hope a donor comes through." "Miracles can happen." Scully murmured, fingering the small gold cross hanging around her neck. "I've seen them. And usually with that man." "Let's hope your history holds, Doctor." He said grimly. Scully waited until Mulder had been poked and prodded, and sent off with a wink and a smile from Garrison's nurse, Cheryl. With an amused smile, Scully escorted her grumbling partner out to her car. Soon, they were on their way to Philadelphia. "So, Mulder, tell me about the Hutchens case." Mulder leaned back, actually enjoying the fact that Scully was driving. "It was in late 1990, I guess. It was before I officially got the X-Files. I was working too hard. Burying myself, trying to forget." "Forget what?" He shrugged. "My childhood. My marriage." Scully tried to keep a neutral expression. He'd mentioned his marriage only briefly before but would never talk about it. She quelled the small flare of emotion she felt inside before she could decipher its meaning. "All of it. I got assigned to the Hutchens case. I was teamed up with Marion Kipler." He smiled a little. "She was a ten year Bureau veteran, smart as a whip, sarcastic as hell. She loved calling me Spooky. I got back at her. Called her Midget. She's actually shorter than you, Scully." She shot him a nasty look. "Anyway, it was Midget's idea to check restaurants. We caught Hutchens planning his fifteenth poisoning. We got him cold. Evidence was no problem, trial was a cake walk." "How did he know about the mushrooms?" He smiled. "Midget and I like the same foods." He watched Scully shudder. "We were in the habit of ordering pepperoni pizza with extra mushrooms. The last place Hutchens worked at was a little Italian place. Midget and I ate there several times. We'd order a pizza, split a salad, have a few beers and discuss the case. He must've known." He glanced over at her. Her jaw was clenched a little too tightly. Scully was upset about something. "What is it, Scully?" "Nothing, Mulder." That he could be so comfortable with another partner...another woman... He stared at her until she sighed. "I'm sorry. I guess this is just...a lot to handle. You know?" Mulder reached over and pulled one of her hands off the steering wheel. He squeezed it gently. "Scully, you know you're the best partner, the best friend, I've ever had, right?" She smiled a little. In his own way, he was telling her he knew she was jealous, but there was no reason to be. "That goes double for me, Mulder." She grinned. "A dubious distinction, considering I'm the ONLY partner you've ever had." He grinned back. "Take it or leave it, Spooky." He kissed her hand lightly and placed it back on the steering wheel. "I'll take it, doc. Always." **** Philadelphia General Hospital Philadelphia, PA Mulder entered the room quietly. His eyes rested on the small occupant of the bed. She looked up and smiled warmly at him. "Spooky." Marion Kipler's normally husky alto sounded weak, a shadow of its former self. "Midget." He returned. Marion looked worse than he'd ever seen her. Her chocolate colored skin was pale. She looked thin and gaunt. Her hair lay limply on the pillow. Her dark brown eyes, which Mulder remembered as sparkling with wit and vitality, were bloodshot and watery. Mulder knew with frightening certainty what lay in his near future. He crossed the room and sat in the chair next to her bed. Scully was waiting outside, not wanting to intrude on a private moment between friends. Mulder took Marion's smaller hand in his, kissing it lightly. "No offense, Spook, but you look like hell." Marion managed a weak smile. She knew he had been poisoned as well. She gave his hand a light squeeze. "Gee, thanks, Midget. You're looking shorter than ever." "Funny, Spooky, real funny." They held the warm smiles for a moment longer before Marion sobered again. "Really, Mulder, you don't look so good. How long's it been for you?" "A couple of weeks. Marion, how did he get to you before me?" She sighed. "I'm sure it's that damn pizza. My mom always said that stuff would kill me." She tried a smile, but neither she nor Mulder took much amusement in her half-hearted joke. "He must've tracked me down before you." Mulder squeezed the bridge of his nose between his fingers. "Who?" "Remember the brother we couldn't find?" Mulder nodded. "Baltimore Bureau picked him up about two weeks ago." Marion's eyes were sympathetic. "Must've been he was leaving after..." Her voice trailed off. Mulder's eyes narrowed. "That doesn't seem right, Midget. It just doesn't fit." Marion nodded. "I was thinking the same thing." "Maybe Scully and I should check it out." His face was thoughtful. Marion grinned at the familiar expression of Mulder at work. "Maybe you should, but not now. You need rest." Mulder nodded in agreement. They were silent for a moment. "So," she said, forcing a cheerful tone, "where's Scully? I'm looking forward to meeting her." "She's outside. She said she didn't want to intrude." He squeezed her hand. "Midget, I - I wanted to..." "'S okay, Spooky." She smiled. "I've made peace with it. I've had longer than you." Her voice dropped to a low, gentle tone. "I'm gonna miss you, Mulder." Mulder felt a lump in his throat. Marion Kipler was one of the few agents Mulder had worked with that he could honestly consider a friend. She hadn't been fazed by his strange theories, his nightmares hadn't scared her. She'd never thought he was insane. She had respected his ideas and stood by him when the case got hot. He respected and liked Marion a great deal. He hated to see her dying like this. It was hurting him almost as much as the thought of Scully's death a few months before had. "Hey, Spook, it's okay, really. Now, I want to meet Scully. Go get her." Mulder nodded and went to the door. *** Dana Scully sat in a comfortable chair outside Marion Kipler's room. She'd sent the agent on duty for some much needed coffee. Even though they had a suspect in custody, the Bureau wasn't taking any chances. Dana closed her eyes. She could hardly recall when she'd last been this tense. Her thoughts were a jumble. She took a deep breath to calm herself. "Excuse me, who are you?" She opened her eyes to see a tall dark skinned man staring sternly down at her. She sat straighter and flashed her id. "Special Agent Scully. I'm Fox Mulder's partner." The man's stormy features cleared. He nodded. "Oh, yes, sorry about that. I'm Ahmed El Majali, Marion's partner." They shook hands and Agent Majali peered through the glass window. "Mulder in with her?" Scully nodded. "I imagine this is rather difficult for you." She said quietly. Majali laughed a little. "No harder than it is for you." He smiled. "Marion's told me a lot about Mulder, and by extension, you. Seems you two are close." Scully smiled at the floor. "You could say that." "Marion's like a sister to me." He leaned against the wall. "I've never had to watch anyone die before, Agent Scully. I can't say I like it." "I know how you feel." She said quietly. "Not too long ago, Mulder's and my positions were reversed. I know what he went through back then. I've spent a lot of time over the years praying he'd live. I've used all my medical training to save his life. But this is different than a gunshot wound or even a disease. I can't do anything about this." She sighed. Majali squeezed her shoulder. "Believe me, I understand. If I can do anything, please call. Marion would want that. She's got a soft spot for Mulder." Scully smiled up at him. "He does grow on you. The same goes for you. If Mulder and I can help, just name it." Mulder chose that moment to stick his head around the doorway and motion to Scully. She stood up and beamed a farewell smile to Majali. He smiled back sadly. Wordlessly, Mulder led her to Marion's bedside. "Marion Kipler, Dana Scully." "Hi, Marion." Scully took her hand, shaking it lightly. Marion smiled. "Hello, Dana. It's good to finally meet you." She returned Scully's handshake weakly. "I just wanted to meet the woman that had stolen my Spooky's heart." The women shot amused glances at the now blushing Mulder. "Listen, Dana, I want you to take care of Spooky there. He needs it. Please, be good to him. He deserves a little happiness." Her eyes were calm, serious. Scully felt a knot in her throat. Someday soon, Mulder could be asking that same request of someone, probably Skinner. "I will. I promise." Scully said. "Good." "Your partner is outside. He seems a very nice man." "He is. Keep an eye on him for me too?" Mulder and Scully both nodded. Marion beamed her approval. "Okay. Well, you guys should shove off. Mulder needs his rest." She smiled at Mulder. "Gimmie a kiss, Spooky." Mulder bent and kissed her forehead tenderly. "You keep the faith. It's not over for you yet." He nodded and squeezed her hand. "Bye, Midget." He whispered. Scully took his hand and they walked out together. Majali stood outside talking to the agent Scully had relieved earlier. Mulder stuck out his hand. "Fox Mulder." Majali shook it firmly. "Ahmed El Majali. I'm sorry we have to meet under these conditions." Mulder nodded. He motioned to Marion's room with his head. "Take care of her for me." He said quietly. Majali gave one sharp nod. "Will do. You take care. Again, Agent Scully--" She nodded. "You too, Agent Majali." They left soon after, Mulder stopping for the bathroom a few times before they made any progress down the road. He was tired, pale, the activities of the day having worn him down. Scully drove along in silence for a while. It was only when they were nearing DC that she spoke. "Don't forget you're staying with me tonight, Mulder." "Mm. 'Kay Scully." He murmured sleepily. Scully glanced at him, worried. He never agreed to anything so quickly. "You okay?" He nodded. "Just tired, that's all." He sighed and took a sip of the ginger ale Scully had bought him the last time they had to stop. "Ugh. I hate that stuff." "It'll help settle your stomach." "I know, Doc, I know." He glanced over at her. "Hey, Scully, what have you always wanted to ask me?" "Huh?" "You know, what one thing have you always wanted to ask me but never did?" "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Fox Mulder but Were Afraid to Ask?" She said, drily, hoping to joke with him and maybe tease him off the topic. "Come on, Scully, there must be something." Scully sighed. He was in stubborn-Mulder mode. "Mulder, " she said quietly, "why are you doing this?" "I don't want to die without you really knowing me." "I already know you. And you're not going to die." "Scully..." "Mulder!" They both sighed. There was silence for a long moment. "Tell me about your wife." She said quietly. He glanced at her. "Gotta start with the whammy, don'tcha?" She arched one eyebrow and fixed him with a stern gaze. "Please explain the scientific nature of the whammy." She said, deadpan. He grinned at her despite the nausea he felt. God, she remembered. She was incredible. He chuckled a little then sobered up, wondering where to start, how much to tell her. "She was - not what I needed. She was too much like Phoebe in a lot of ways. She thought I should kill myself to please her. But, I loved her. Or I thought I did." He sighed. "I worked hard and she hated it. She hated what I became when I profiled." He shrugged then shot her a slight grin. "She reacted the same way you did. I scared her." Scully stiffened. "You've never scared me." Mulder didn't bother to refute her verbally. They both remembered vividly the case he'd worked for Patterson. Scully had been more than scared, she had been terrified. It was the only time in their partnership that she'd actually been afraid of him. She'd been very happy to leave that case, and everything else she knew about Mulder's time in the BSU, behind. There was silence for a few moments before she asked quietly. "What's her name?" Why she wanted to know was beyond her. "Jackie." He closed his eyes. "I came home from a pretty horrendous case in Arizona and found her with a friend of hers. She said Ned was stable, normal. He didn't have nightmares, he didn't chase monsters." Mulder's voice had turned bitter. Scully's heart twisted painfully. She hadn't known why Mulder got divorced, and she knew how much a betrayal such as adultery would've hurt him. "She left a few days later." He gave a short laugh. "We weren't even married a year. Rumor has it she and Ned got married after that." He shrugged. "I haven't heard from her since the divorce. After she left, I met Diana." He sighed. "Out of the frying pan into the fryer." "Mulder, I'm so sorry. I - I don't know what else to say." "Nothing to say, Scully. It's done. It's been a long time. I'm over it." His gaze caught hers and Scully felt his smile wash over her like a warm rain. Not wanting to dredge up any more memories or unresolved feelings, Scully reached over and turned on the radio. It was tuned to an easy listening station and a soft ballad began to play. To be completely honest It scares me to imagine What life would be without you And for this very reason I ask you to forgive me For what I'm putting us through Tension suddenly flared between them. Mulder tried hard not to look at Scully. It was so close to what he wanted to say to her that it hurt too much to look at her. He closed his eyes and willed his mind to stop whirling. Scully glanced over at him. She had not ignored the meaning of the lyrics. They were a perfect summary of the words unspoken between them. Although there are so many things Against us, I've decided That I'm not giving you up, no... Scully willed her thoughts to him, almost hoping that he would finally prove her wrong about telepathy. Thinking back, I see what we have Is something different I think we've known all along So how fair would it be To divide this love's existence Between what's right and what's wrong Scully stiffened slightly. She could barely admit to herself that she was in love with Mulder. But now, with time against them, what harm could it do to admit it? At least, to herself. She glanced at him, her eyes skimming over his familiar features. She took in the strong jaw line, the small chin. She smiled at the slightly too big nose, the mole on his cheek, his oh so kissable lips. He was scruffy, a state Scully has always found to be particularly attractive on him. Her jaw tightened as she saw the fading scar on his forehead from when he'd been shot a few months back. Even though his eyes were closed, Scully could call to mind their exact shade. To her prejudiced eye, she had never seen anyone else with such beautifully expressive green eyes. And you, always wondering if we'll make it Time will tell you That I'm not giving you up, no... A small smile played around Scully's mouth. For once, she was the believer and Mulder was the skeptic. She knew the situation was grave, but she refused to give up hope. She could not stand idly by, it was Mulder's life at stake. As he had never given up on her, she was not about to give up on him. She had absolutely no idea what she would do without him. We'll find a way to be together However long it takes, wherever If it means having you for only a moment A moment just might be enough I'm not giving you up, no... Scully reached over and snapped off the radio. She couldn't take anymore, not right then. The idea of being with Mulder was entirely too enticing by half. She glanced at him one more time. She was not sure what lay ahead for them, but she was certain that they'd face the future together. They arrived at Scully's apartment not long after. Scully looked over at Mulder. He had managed to fall asleep. He looked so peaceful, she hated to disturb him. She so rarely had the chance to just look at him, outside of his many trips to the hospital. Now, he was simply asleep. Her eyes noted the faint lines on his face. Part of him was so boyish that it was always a shock to her when she remembered he was three years older than she was. Scully drank in his relaxed features. The slight smile told her his dreams were not nightmares this time. Her fingers itched to push the errant lock of brown hair off his forehead. She so rarely felt such tenderness for him. She reluctantly admitted to herself that she often held herself back from him. She knew she loved him. She'd realized it when she sat in his bedside in Alaska, willing him to live. Since then, she'd built a wall around her heart to protect herself. She'd tried every trick in the book to keep from falling deeper in love with him. She'd even gone so far as to intentionally try and disagree with him to make him angry. His anger gave her reason to harden her heart. She was absolutely terrified of loving him, of losing the control she'd always felt was so important. Dana Scully did not lose control. It was a trick she'd employed since she was a child. It had then been a way to keep herself from hurting too much when she left her friends as her family moved around the world. It had quickly become second nature to her, earning her the title of 'Ice Queen' at Quantico. That had faded a bit with Jack, but she'd held herself back from him too, leading them to grow apart. Once she and Mulder had begun to transcend the boundaries of a normal partnership, she used the same old tricks against him. But, now, she could not afford such selfish indulgences. She did not know how much time they had left. She indulged herself, reaching out to brush the lock of brown hair back. He stirred slightly, and moments later, he opened his bottle green eyes. "Are we home?" He asked. Dana's heart swelled at his words. Under other circumstances, they could have had a whole other meaning. Choking down the lump in her throat, she whispered, "Yeah. Come on." She hurried out and went to the other side to help him. He stood and his knees nearly buckled. "Mulder!" Scully hurried forward and wrapped her arms around his waist. He slung his arm around her shoulder, leaning on both her and the open car door. "I'm...okay, Scully." He paused. "Really." "Uh-huh." She said. She coaxed him into leaning back against the car as she closed and locked the passenger side door. She slipped her arm around Mulder's waist and his arm came around her shoulders heavily. Slowly, they made their way to her front door. She fumbled with her keys, finally managing to get the right key in the lock. They stumbled into her apartment, Scully steering him to her bedroom. She pushed the comforter and sheet aside as Mulder struggled out of his long black coat. She then turned to him and eased him down on her bed. She slipped out of her black trench coat and tossed it into a chair. "Sc- Scully, your bed...no." He tried to speak but it wasn't quite coming out the way he wanted. He struggled to sit up but small, strong hands pushed him back against the soft pillows. It was too enticing, her bed, so soft, comfortable, smelling faintly of vanilla and her. "Sh, Mulder. It's okay." She whispered. She settled him comfortably against the pillows, swinging his legs up on the bed. He stopped struggling, exhaustion winning out. She looked at him a moment before deciding to proceed. "Okay, Mulder come on." She unbuttoned his shirt quickly, pulling off his tie first. Together they struggled to get him into a sitting position. As soon as Scully pulled off his suit jacket and shirt, Mulder collapsed against the pillows, his eyes closed. Smiling faintly, Scully tossed his jacket, shirt, and tie on the end of her bed. She untied his shoes and placed them in her closet. She pulled off his socks and tossed those into her hamper. She looked at him, dressed only in his undershirt and suit pants. She considered leaving him like that, but another part of her wanted to make him as comfortable as possible. She chided herself. Before she could change her mind, she unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned his pants and pulled the zipper down. Tugging carefully, Scully slid his trousers down his legs and off. She pulled the sheet and comforter over him. Again indulging herself, she ran her fingers through his hair. He stirred and murmured, "Mm, Scully," but did not awaken. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks at the husky way he'd said her name. She had a brief image of them in her bed together, Mulder whispering her name in her ear in that same husky tone. She shook her head to clear it of traitorous thoughts. She hung his jacket and pants in the closet. She pressed the wrinkled white shirt to her nose. She tried to tell herself that she wanted to gauge its cleanliness, but her heart knew better. Mulder's scent on the shirt was faint, but she easily recognized the strong, familiar scent. She'd know it anywhere. It was as familiar as her own. She hugged the shirt to her, enjoying the slight residual warmth it still held. She loved the thought that not long ago, it had been resting against, caressing his skin. After a moment she threw the shirt into the hamper and turned off the light. Before she closed the bedroom door, she looked back at him, sleeping in her bed. she thought, Her jaw set stubbornly. ***** Mulder awoke slowly, aware of a number of unfamiliar sensations. The scent of vanilla tickled his nose. The bed beneath him was warm and soft. Sunlight streamed into the room from a window. He opened his eyes cautiously, knowing he was not at home. The room was unfamiliar for a split second before he realized where he was. He thought with relief. He sat up and stretched his back, actually feeling close to human. He pushed the covers off his legs, slightly amused to see himself in nothing but boxers and a T-shirt. he thought. He shuffled over to the dresser and opened the bottom drawer. The drawer had been reserved for some of his clothes ever since New Mexico. It was just easier for him to keep some things there, considering some of the unusual predicaments he got himself into. He pulled out a pair of jeans and pulled them on. He made his way into the bathroom. After washing his face and brushing his teeth with the unopened toothbrush Scully kept in her medicine cabinet, he felt much better. He opened the bedroom door and smelled coffee. He smiled slightly. He followed the scent to the kitchen where he saw Scully on the phone, puttering around the kitchen. She looked like a college coed, in her faded blue jeans and plaid flannel shirt. The shirt was almost two sizes too big, it nearly swallowed her petite frame. Mulder could easily imagine her in one of his shirts and nothing else. He had barely visualized the image before the more rational side of his brain took over. he thought darkly. "Yes, that's Dana Scully. Mm-hmm. Yes. Washington Bureau, J. Edgar Hoover Building. Okay. Yes. We'd like to see the suspect as soon as possible next week." She looked up, saw him and smiled brightly. He smiled back, banishing his slightly sour mood. She gestured to a chair at the kitchen table and he sank into it. "Just some questions. Yes. Walter Skinner. Yes. That's fine. Thank you very much." She thumbed off the cordless phone and regarded him warmly. "How're you feeling this morning?" She asked. "Not bad. Kind of good, actually. Is this a good sign?" She shrugged, recalling that his doctor had said that he might improve several times before the end. "Maybe." She finally answered noncommittally. To avoid further discussion on that topic, she turned to make him a cup of tea. Mulder took the hint. "So, who was on the phone?" "Baltimore Bureau. I wanted to arrange some time to speak with Hutchens. Just in case." She handed him a mug. He grimaced slightly but made no protest as he sipped the herbal blend. He'd rather have coffee but knew better than to try and push his luck. "What're you doing today?" Scully put two halves of a bagel into the toaster. She turned to him and leaned against the counter. "What do you want us to do today?" Mulder set the mug of hot tea on the table so he wouldn't burn himself. "If you have plans, Scully," he said carefully, "I can make myself scarce. I was planning on doing that anyway." He added hastily. Scully's eyes narrowed. "Didn't we have this discussion already, G-man? Staying with me means just that. Staying _with_ me. That means you are within my sights most of the time." She held up a hand. "No arguments. Just deal with it." Mulder sighed. "I wasn't this bad with you when you were sick." He hoped his light tone would take the sting out of words that were best left unsaid. Scully smiled a little, her eyes telling him that she understood. "That's because you're a shrink, not a medical doctor." She said matter-of-factly. She pulled the blueberry bagel out of the toaster and buttered it extremely lightly. She passed it to him. "Eat it. You need your energy." She said, cutting off any I-don't-eat-breakfast protests. They spent the day together quietly. They tried to make some plans about the X Files, talked about what to do in any eventuality. Scully made it clear that it would be difficult for her to continue without him. She wasn't sure if she wanted to. Mulder quietly suggested that they had better let Skinner in on the discussion and they left it alone. Scully went out and rented movies and they spent Saturday night sacked out on her couch watching old Charlie Chan flicks. Mulder was feeling much better, causing Scully to indulge him and order Chinese, after a strict warning that he'd eat much better from then on. They went to bed early, Mulder insisting on the couch this time. They went to Mulder's place on Sunday and cleaned up. Mulder didn't want Scully to have too much to go through when...if...he died. He tired out pretty quickly, and Scully took him back to her place in the early afternoon. He was sacked out on the couch when the phone rang. She answered it quickly, moving into the bedroom so she wouldn't wake Mulder. "Agent Scully?" Asked an unfamiliar voice. "Yes?" Dana's spine stiffened. After nearly six years with Mulder, her paranoia kicked in immediately. As much as she hated to admit it, that paranoia had probably saved both their lives more times than she cared to admit. "This is the Baltimore Bureau. Agent Majali asked me to call. It seems that the suspect, Harold Hutchens, died early this morning in prison." "WHAT? How?" "We - aren't sure yet. The coroner has yet to discover a cause of death." "Have the ME fax a copy of his findings to either Agent Mulder or myself in Washington as soon as they become available. Also, I'd like to speak to everyone involved in his arrest." Under other circumstances, Scully would have driven the forty minutes to Baltimore to perform the autopsy herself. But, she was unwilling to leave Mulder alone in DC for that long, nor did she wish to subject him to as long a day as an autopsy would inevitably be. She was willing to rely on someone else this time. "Yes, ma'am. We'll be in contact." Scully hung up the phone and sighed. "Damn." "What is it?" She looked up to Mulder lounging in the doorway, staring at her in concern. She sighed. She dreaded telling him. "Mulder -" "God, Marion." His hands clenched into fists. "No, Mulder." He relaxed slightly. "Hutchens was found dead in jail this morning." He frowned. "How?" "Unknown. The ME is faxing a report ASAP." He shook his head. "I don't like this, Scully." "Neither do I." Three days later, when the Maryland ME's report still hadn't come in, Scully began to get suspicious. She called on help from Skinner and by Thursday, she and Mulder were pouring over everything Baltimore had on the case. Which wasn't much. They found themselves with more questions than answers, both of them sure that there was much more to the poisoning than met the eye. "I don't think it was an act of revenge, Scully." Mulder said quietly, late Thursday night. They were curled on her couch, papers spread out on the coffee table in front of them. "I think you're right." He shot her an amused look which she returned. Despite actually agreeing for once, they had no idea how to proceed. There was not much there to go on. They decided to re-question the DC pizza parlor, even though they both felt it would lead to another dead end. Scully stretched and sighed, unfolding herself from the couch. "I'm going to go clean up in the kitchen." "I'll help." He struggled to stand up. The swelling in his ankles and knees made it difficult sometimes. Scully put her hands on her hips and fixed him with her best glare. "You'll do no such thing. You'll sit here and rest like a good boy." She teased, her face a study in mock severity. A slight grin tugged at Mulder's lips. "I don't have to listen to you. I'm bigger than you. I can kick your ass." She scoffed. "You and what army?" She tossed over her shoulder, heading for the kitchen. Mulder chuckled a little and managed to struggle to a standing position. He felt slightly light-headed for a moment, but it passed quickly. He sighed. Part of him wished the poison would hurry up and do what it was going to do because he was getting damn tired of feeling feeble all the time. The rest of him rebelled against that idea, firmly set in self-preservation mode. He didn't really want to die. Dying would mean leaving Scully. Mulder wandered over to the stereo and flipped on the radio. As usual, Scully had it tuned to some easy listening oldies station. If I could save time in a bottle The first thing that I'd like to do Is to guard every day til eternity passes away Just to spend them with you He found himself grinning a little. He recognized the song from an old episode of _The Muppet Show_ he'd seen once, late one night. He'd liked the song, even though he'd never managed to find out exactly who sang it. If I could make days last forever If words could make wishes come true I would guard every day like a treasure and then Again I would spend them with you He let his eyes wander to the kitchen where he could hear Scully washing the dishes. Seized by the sudden need to be near her, he walked quietly to the kitchen. He stood in the doorway, watching her graceful movements. His heart swelled with love for her, for all she'd done for him. She had changed so much since those early days, but one thing that had not changed was her beauty. If possible, he found her more beautiful now than she'd been when they first met six years ago. He took in a shaky breath, knowing that his time with her was growing short. He would give anything, anything at all, to stay here with her forever. As it was, he was content to spend what was left of his life with her. She knew he was there, but she didn't turn around. She just let him watch her, knowing that right now, that was all he wanted. After a moment, he came up behind her and slid his arms around her waist. He hugged her tightly, burying his face in her hair. He took a deep breath, enjoying the scent of strawberries and Dawn dishwashing liquid. Scully wiped her hands on a dish towel and covered his arms with hers. But there never seems to be enough time To do the things that you want to do once you find them I've looked around enough to know that You're the one I want to go through time with Scully turned around and buried her face in his chest. He rocked her gently, praying that this simple moment of comfort and love would indeed last forever. He sighed a little. There was so much he wanted to do with her that he would now never have the chance to do. He would have to take these few moments and hope they would sustain them for the seeming eternity it would take for her soul to once again rejoin his. If I had a box just for wishes And dreams that had never come true The box would be empty except for the memory Of how they were answered by you She lifted her head and looked up at him. They were amazed to see tears in each other's eyes. Scully ran her fingers lightly across his cheek. He smiled at her gently, silently telling her with his eyes how much he cared for her, how much he loved her. She returned the small smile, hoping he could read in her eyes how much she loved him too. She took a deep breath, breathing in his warm, familiar scent. She took a moment to pray that she'd never forget its exotic fragrance. She allowed him to overwhelm her senses, allowed herself to be enveloped by him. She never wanted to forget the safety and warmth of his eyes, his embrace. She wanted to remember every little thing about him that could sustain her through the dark days ahead. But there never seems to be enough time To do the things that you want to do once you find them I've looked around enough to know that You're the one I want to go through time with If I could save time in a bottle. Mulder's eyes darkened. Scully recognized the flare of desire and for once, she gloried in it. She willed her acceptance with her eyes. They'd always communicated best in silence. It was fitting that this too should be without spoken words. Mulder's head dipped towards her. Her hands involuntarily curled around his shirt. He was finally going to finish the kiss he'd started months ago. Mulder's lips just brushed hers when the phone rang. "Dammit!" They both yelled at the same time. Scully sighed loudly and reluctantly pulled from Mulder's arms. "Scully." She barked in a short, clipped tone her military family would be proud of. She listened for a moment, her face growing pale. "Yes, I will. Send him our sympathies. Thank you for calling." Mulder's eyes closed. he thought. He opened his eyes cautiously when he felt Scully's hands on his chest. He saw the tears in her eyes and knew. "Marion." He choked. He knew it was coming, had been trying to steel himself for it, but the reality was still painful. Scully threw her arms around him, her embrace desperate. Marion's death hammered home the reality of the situation. she realized with horror. She looked up at him and opened her mouth but he put two fingers over her lips. "No, don't." He whispered. He led her out to the couch where the sat together, wrapped in each other's arms. They held each other, not speaking. Finally, Mulder broke the silence. "Do you know how much you mean to me?" He asked, brushing his hand across her hair. She looked up, about to answer but immediately forgot what she was going to say. Mulder's face suddenly drained of all color. He doubled over, groaning, clutching his stomach. "Mulder! God!" She helped him up and into the bathroom. He spent nearly the entire next day throwing up, wracked with pain in his back and joints. Scully forced fluids into him, sat up with him, tried to help him rest. She bathed his forehead and chest with cool water to soothe him, however little it helped. By late Saturday night, she was exhausted. While Mulder rested in her bedroom, Scully tried to take a quick nap. She was interrupted by a sharp knock on the door. She struggled up, staggering toward the door. She opened it to reveal her mother. "Dana, honey, you look awful!" Maggie Scully exclaimed as she entered her daughter's apartment. "Sh, mom, please." She hurried and closed the door to her bedroom. "Mulder's finally getting some sleep." Maggie looked confused. It was obvious to her that her daughter's exhaustion was beyond simple work-related stress. "What's the matter? Why's Fox here?" Despite herself, Maggie liked Mulder. She knew, no matter what, he was a good, strong man, who was deeply in love with her daughter. His devotion to Dana was something that Maggie liked. But, at the same time, so much had happened since Dana had been partnered with him. Maggie tried not to let the anger at the events of the past six years color the way she saw Fox Mulder. Scully led her mother to the couch where they both sat down. She couldn't face her mother, so she stared at her clenched hands. The last day had been difficult. She'd felt so helpless, watching him in pain. She did everything she could for him but nothing made any difference. All Dana had been able to do was hold him as he shuddered with pain and nausea. Tears filled her eyes as she confided in her mother the events of the past week. By the time she was finished talking, tears were also in Maggie's eyes. "So, we don't know how long he has?" Maggie asked, her arm around Dana's slender shoulders. Dana shook her head, wiping her eyes with a Kleenex. "No." She sniffled. "He's weakening, mom, I can see it. And it's only going to get worse. He's exhibiting all the signs of kidney failure, Mom. It's coming. It's only a matter of time." She shook slightly. "There's no chance for a transplant?" "His mother is the only close blood relative he has." Dana said quietly. "She's too old to be a suitable donor. Even if she cared." She added bitterly. Tina Mulder's refusal to help her son even now infuriated Scully. She'd spoken to the woman only once, telling her of her son's condition and asking her to come to Washington. Tina had later left a stiff message on Scully's machine saying that as far as she was concerned, her son had made it clear he wanted nothing to do with her and she was sure that hadn't changed. Scully had erased the message quickly, making sure Mulder never heard it. "Can we get tested to -" "I'm not a match, Mom, there's little chance you would be either. He'll have to go on dialysis soon, but this is not ordinary kidney failure. The poison is destroying the organs at a multiplied rate. Once that's done, it's over." Maggie ran her hand over Dana's hair. "I'm so sorry, Dana." Was all Maggie could come up with. "I'm sorry, too, Mom." ***** The next few weeks passed by much the same. Mulder improved once more, only to relapse violently. Dr. Garrison was worried, and Mulder went on out-patient dialysis. Scully's heart dropped when the treatment began. She didn't need Garrison to tell her that the next step was hospitalization. After that, there was little chance for recovery. There was no news on how he was poisoned. Re-questioning everyone had only led to more frustration on everyone's part. There were simply no answers. All evidence led to the same dead end. After Mulder went on out-patient dialysis, he moved into Scully's apartment completely. She called the Gunmen to sweep her apartment for bugs and keep an eye on Mulder's place. The boys were worried, scared, and they vowed to do anything to help. They used every bit of technical experience they had to try and dig up some information. Scully and Mulder were grateful but knew there was little they could do. Skinner put the X Files on indefinite hold. He would not close them until something more had been decided. He offered them to Scully, telling her not to make a decision until it was time. Maggie Scully, in typical fashion, cheerfully volunteered her time to help nurse Mulder. The dialysis left horrible bruises and scars on his forearms, and Maggie cleaned them carefully every night to prevent infection. Scully had tried the first time and afterward had cried herself to sleep. She'd done it before during her residency but doing it now on Mulder was too much for her to take. As for Mulder, he tried to keep his spirits up for Scully's sake. He could see the toll his illness was taking on her. He did his best to stay cheerful and even joke with her. She appreciated his efforts and tried to just enjoy the time they had left. ***** Marita Covarrubias stood quietly in the corner as she listened to the young man deliver his report to the members of the Consortium. "Agent Mulder's condition is grave. His doctor's reports indicate that he will be hospitalized within the next week." The young man stood, waiting for his next set of instructions. There was silence. Marita, unable to take it any longer, asked, "Are we going to let him die?" It was the Smoking Man who answered. "No. I have a solution." "What solution? We must act quickly." She said firmly. "There are things you do not know, Ms. Covarrubias." He said, his cold eyes pinning her to her spot. "I have a vital piece of information I would like you to share with Agent Scully." ***** Scully found herself smiling as she watched her sister in law change her nephew's diaper. She took a sip of her iced tea and felt herself relax. When Mulder found out that Bill Scully and his family was coming in for a visit, he had insisted that Scully spend time with them. She'd argued at first, wanting to keep an eye on him. He'd promised to stay home and sleep, but she'd only relented when Frohike agreed to spend a few hours with Mulder. Mulder knew how much of a toll his illness was taking on her, and he had been trying to get her to go out and relax once in a while. He'd tried to suggest he leave, that she give up on him, only once. The look she'd given him could have cut glass. He'd apologized, and of course, she'd forgiven him. It was hard for her not to. She knew what he was trying to do and she appreciated the effort. She refused to let him apologize for her having to take care of him. Scully did what she always did, she squared her shoulders and pushed on. But, she was tired from her constant nursing. She tried hard to keep her spirits up but it was becoming extremely difficult. Mulder was deteriorating rapidly. She ran a hand through her hair, pushing it behind her ear. She sighed deeply. As much as she wanted to spend as much time with Mulder as she could, she was glad for a night off. she thought, knowing she could never tell him that. Bill Scully came over and sat next to Scully on the couch. She smiled at him. "You look tired, Dana." He said quietly. His mother had told him what was happening with Mulder. Dana glanced at the clock. Frohike was leaving at nine, and it was past that already. she thought. "I'm okay, Bill, just a little beat. Mulder's really getting sick." Bill took a deep breath. "Dana, listen, about Mulder - " "Dana, honey?" Maggie poked her head around the corner. "It's Fox." Dana pushed herself up from the couch so quickly, she didn't notice the flash of anger that crossed her brother's features. She took the phone from her mother. "Mulder?" "Scully, I think...you should...come back." Mulder's voice was weak and Scully heard him gasping. Her heart nearly stopped. "Mulder, I'm on my way." She tried to make her voice as soothing as possible, knowing a rapid downturn in his health was probably scaring him. She hung up and turned to her mother, only Bill was there instead. Dana pulled up sharply, slightly startled by the look of anger on her brother's face. "Sorry, Bill, I have to go." He grabbed her arm. "Why? Dana, why do you drop everything for him?" She jerked away from him, a little taken aback by Bill's attitude. "He's my best friend, Bill. He needs me." Bill drew himself up to his full height. "Your family needs you too, Dana. Since when does this guy, who doesn't give a damn about you, determine your every movement? What does he have on you? After everything he's done to you, you should leave him the hell alone!" "Bill, you don't understand. You don't know everything." Bill stiffened. "I don't need to know, Dana. All I need to know is what he's done to you." Dana stiffened as well. She gave as good as she got where her older brother was concerned. She always had. "Mulder has done nothing to me, Bill. He's done a lot for me. He's gone to the ends of the earth to save me. He's risked his life for me. Nothing that has happened has been his fault." "Like hell!" Maggie and Tara Scully came into the hall to see what was going on, both surprised to hear the voices raised in anger. Maggie looked from her son to her daughter. Her stomach tightened. She recognized the squared shoulders, the determined set of their jaws. There was about to be a battle royal. "Bill, he _needs_ me! He has no one, and he's dying." "Maybe that's best." He said coldly, crossing his arms across his chest. "William!" Dana barely heard her mother's indignant shout. All she saw was her brother's anger. "How could you say that?" She asked, her voice shaking slightly with anger. "I was there during your cancer, remember? I told him then to leave you the hell alone and look what's happened since then!" "You did what?" Dana took a step back. Was that why Mulder had been so distant with her after her recovery? She remembered how Mulder had refused her mother's invitation to join the family for several celebration dinners. "I can't believe you did that." She grabbed her coat and pulled it on. Bill grabbed her arm again. "Dana --" She shook him off and fixed him with the coldest glare in her arsenal. "Don't you touch me, Bill." Her voice was flat. She turned and walked out of her mother's house, slamming the door behind her. ***** Tears of anger filled Scully's eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall. She knew of her brother's antagonism towards Mulder, but she had chalked it up to his usual brotherly over-protectiveness. He'd always been that way, playing surrogate father to his three younger siblings. Charles had run interference as much as he could for his sisters when they all got older, but Bill was still the oldest, and in charge when Dad was away. Bill had been as disappointed as their parents when Dana entered the FBI, had told her as much. He'd barely kept in contact in the eight years she'd been an agent. Scully took a deep breath, attempting to calm herself. It would not do to have Mulder see her in this condition. She had to be brave for him now. He needed her. She pressed her foot to the accelerator. There was something pulling at her to get back to Washington as soon as she could. The thirty minute drive from her mother's house had never taken so long. ***** Scully pulled up to the curb haphazardly and hurried out. She'd barely remembered to lock the door. She nearly ran to her apartment, cursing herself as she fumbled with the keys. She got the door open and slammed it behind her. "Mulder?" She called. A weak moan came from the bedroom. She hurried in to find Mulder on the bed, nearly unconscious. "Mulder!" She hurried to him and took his pulse. With shaking fingers she picked up the phone and dialed 911. She gave short, sharp instructions to the operator, stressing the fact that she and Mulder both were federal agents. She hung up and dialed Skinner's home number. She quickly informed him of the situation, Skinner promising to meet her at the hospital. By the time she hung up, she could barely hear the ambulance sirens in the distance. She brushed shaking fingers through Mulder's hair affectionately. "It's okay, Mulder. I'm here. It's okay." She murmured in his ear. "I won't let you leave me. Not yet." ***** The heart monitor's steady beeps were strangely reassuring to Scully. She sat slumped at Mulder's bedside, her eyes glued to her partner's face. He had lapsed into a coma, the usual side- effect of complete kidney failure. Scully had never felt so helpless before in her life. Their time was up. There was so much they hadn't said to each other. Mulder could stay alive on machines for a while, but not indefinitely. Scully herself was the executor of Mulder's living will. She had helped him draw it up. The door opened behind her and she heard a soft footfall. She turned her head slightly to see her mother. "Dana?" "He's in a coma." Her voice broke. "We're out of time. Unless a donor can be found quickly; and by quickly I mean now, Mulder's going to die." Tears streaked down her cheeks. They were not the first of the night. Maggie Scully squeezed her daughter's shoulder. She had no words to reassure her. Maggie knew how she felt, she had sat next to her eldest daughter and watched her die. Maggie's soft eyes rested on the prone figure lying in the hospital bed. "Honey, I'm sorry." "I know, Mom." Scully wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I just wish I had told him before... All this time we knew it might end like this, and we never said a thing. Not either one of us." Dana had no need to elaborate on what it was she had not told Mulder. Maggie knew. She knew that Dana was wishing she'd told Mulder she loved him. They both knew it, instinctively, but saying the words would have been beneficial to them both. Maggie smoothed down a wayward strand of her daughter's red hair. "He knows how you feel, Dana." She was careful to use the present tense. She didn't want to give Dana the impression that she was giving up on Mulder. "You know too." Dana nodded. "Yeah, I do. I just wish we could've..." Her voice trailed off. Her mother's arm came around her shoulder. Dana buried her face in her mother's stomach, greedily seeking the comfort she offered. She took in a ragged breath, recalling all the times in the past she had leaned on her mother for support. Despite the comfort her mom's soothing touch offered, Dana's heart felt like it was literally breaking. The door opened behind her again and both women looked up to see Walter Skinner standing uncomfortably in the doorway. "I'm sorry, ladies..." "It's okay, sir." Dana pulled away from her mother and stood, wiping her eyes. "Agent Scully, there seems to be some sort of problem at the Bureau. I need to go assess the situation. I've been unable to reach Mrs. Mulder." Scully nodded. "I'll do it, Dana." Maggie offered. Scully shot her a look of thanks. Maggie smiled tightly and squeezed her daughter's hand. She then bent over Mulder and brushed her lips across his forehead in motherly affection. Scully felt her heart tighten. At least Mulder had Maggie there, even if his own mother was absent. Once Maggie left, Skinner turned to Scully. "I'm sending over a couple of agents to look out for you. I'll try to be back as soon as possible." "You don't have to, sir." Skinner gave her a sad smile. "Yes, I do." He said quietly. Taking one last sorrowful look at Mulder, he was gone. Despite all other outward appearances, Walter Skinner was a good man. And a good friend. Scully sat back down, her hand straying to cover her partner's arm. "Oh, Mulder. I wish we could have had more time." She stroked his arm lightly. Again, the door opened behind her. She turned, expecting her mother but was surprised to see a tall, slender blonde enter the room quietly. Scully stiffened, automatically reaching for her Sig. The blonde noticed. "Agent Scully, please. I'm here to offer you some valuable information." Scully stood in front of Mulder, feeling strangely protective. "Who are you?" "Marita Covarrubias. I'm a....friend of Agent Mulder's." Scully nodded slightly. She had heard Mulder mention her name a few times. Now, Scully wondered about the exact nature of their relationship. Mulder had called her an informant. "What do you want?" She asked stiffly, unsure what to make of the disgustingly lovely woman in front of her. Marita smiled slightly. The jealousy coming off of the other woman was almost visible. As attractive as Mulder was, Marita had felt slightly guilty about even trying to come on to him. Before they met, Marita had known everything about Mulder. The one fact she kept hearing over and over was how devoted he was to his partner. Alex had even told her he thought Mulder was in love with Scully. After seeing pictures of the partners together, Marita could do nothing but agree. She'd thought there was no vestige of morality left in her, but she had been unable to bring herself to try and seduce a man so obviously in love. "Mulder does not have to die." Scully did not reply, merely raised an eyebrow. Slightly amused, Marita continued. "There is a donor who is a perfect match. I have her address here." She handed Scully a small piece of paper. Scully read it over, her eyes widening. "This is impossible." It was Marita's turn to frown. "Surely your partner told you he had seen his sister again?" At Scully's silence, Marita merely shrugged. "Nevertheless, it is valid. You may check it out if you wish, but I would not waste too much time." "How did you get this?" Marita hesitated for a moment. "There are those who keep a close eye on Agent Mulder." Scully reached for her Sig again. "You did this to him, didn't you? The damn Consortium." "I have no wish to see Agent Mulder die." She said quietly. "My employer knew of Mulder's importance to the future. He was not as...short-sighted as some of his colleagues. Since his death, it has become my responsibility to ensure that Mulder live to fulfill the destiny his father had in mind for him." Scully crossed her arms beneath her breasts. This was more information than she and Mulder had been given in a while. "And that would be...?" Marita smiled faintly. She wondered if Scully had any idea what was in store for her and her partner in the future; if she had any idea how important they both would, hopefully, become. "That is for Agent Mulder to discover. And, for you too." She turned on her heel and was gone. Scully stared down at the address for a moment. She glanced at her partner. She wondered. What had gone so wrong that Mulder would not even mention it to her? She grabbed her cell phone and dialed quickly. "Lone Gunman." "Langly, it's Scully. I've got an address I want you to check out. See if you can get a picture. Driver's license, anything. I need it immediately." "Shoot." "Samantha Harrison, 3505 Hawthorne Avenue, Richmond." "Gotcha. How's Mulder?" "No change. He's still unconscious." She stroked his hair a little, almost smiling at its soft texture beneath her fingertips. "Listen, I'll be there as soon as possible." ***** 3505 Hawthorne Avenue Richmond, VA 10:19 AM After insisting to her mother that the trip was necessary, Scully had gone straight to the Lone Gunman to see what they had. They had been as amazed as she when they showed her the driver's license of Samantha Harrison. It was Samantha Mulder. She looked exactly like every clone Scully and Mulder had encountered. She also bore a strong resemblance to Mulder; the same color brown hair, the same mossy green eyes. Scully jumped in the car immediately and drove the two hours to Richmond. It did not take her long to find the large white house belonging to the Harrison family. Scully got out, her eyes taking in Samantha's peaceful home. She was vaguely familiar with the neighborhood known as Ginter Park. It was quiet, considering its location in Richmond's Northside. She nervously knocked on the door, unsure what she would find. Could she even persuade Samantha to help her? She was not all together sure this was a good idea, but she had to try. If there was anything that could bring Mulder back to her, she would do it. Moments later, Scully came face to face with Samantha Harrison. "Can I help you?" Scully flashed her badge. "My name is Dana Scully. I'm your brother's partner." Samantha gasped and stepped out onto the porch, closing the door behind her. "Please, I told Fox I didn't want to see him. I thought he would respect my wishes." "Fox didn't send me. He's - he's dying." Samantha's shoulders slumped. She drew in a ragged breath and stared at the floor of the porch. She did not want to see her brother, but she bore him no ill will. Once, she had loved him very much. "How?" "Acute kidney failure. That's actually why I'm here. I've had the opportunity to check some of your medical records." She hoped Samantha would not ask her how she got them. Scully never ceased to be amazed at what the Gunmen could get when they set their minds, or rather their computers, to it. Luckily, Samantha did not ask. "You are a match. Please, I need you to come to DC with me immediately." Samantha shook her head. "No. No, I can't. My husband, he doesn't know I've seen Fox. He doesn't know I've had any contact with my birth family." Scully's eyes widened. "You have to! He's dying. You're the only one that can save him. Please." "I - I can't." Scully swallowed the lump in her throat. "Do you have any idea what he's given up for you these last twenty-five years? You owe him!" Her anger was getting the better of her. Scully took a calming breath, seeing that anger was not going to help her get through to Samantha. "No!" Samantha started to go back inside the house when Scully grabbed her arm. "No, wait, please!" Samantha turned back. "You have to help him. I - I don't know what happened with you and Mulder. I don't care. All I know is that I would do anything to save him. And you can. Please, he's suffered so much already. I don't care if you don't want to see him, you don't have to. Just donate the kidney and go on with your life. Give him a chance." Samantha sighed. It was obvious to her that there was something deep between her brother and the woman in front of her. "My husband won't allow it. We never talk about my past. I have a family that does not involve my past. I have too much to lose." Scully pushed her anger down. How could she get through to her? "Mulder has already lost his family. Please." "Do you love him?" Scully met her gaze defiantly. If this would convince Samantha to help, she'd tell her. "Yes, I do." She said firmly, amazed at how good it felt to actually tell someone the truth about her feelings for her partner. Samantha shook her head. "I'm - I'm sorry, but I can't." She slammed the door in Scully's face. She leaned against the front door, tears beginning to stream down her face. She tried to pull herself together when she heard the phone ring. She tried to answer in a steady tone, in case it was her husband. "Hello?" She face froze as she listened to the man on the other end. "Yes, I understand." Defeated, Scully walked back to her car. She sat behind the steering wheel, wondering what was left. She hadn't been able to persuade Samantha. Her only hope to save Mulder's life had slammed the door in her face. She turned on the car and headed back toward the interstate. She cried the entire way back to Washington. ***** Scully arrived at the hospital to find a Bureau agent posted outside the door to her partner's room. Smiling at him, Scully steeled herself and entered. Her mother was, as expected, at Mulder's bedside, reading. Maggie looked up with a smile when Scully entered. Scully shot a brief smile at her mother and turned immediately to her partner. The vitals had not changed, not that Scully had expected them to. "I got a hold of Tina Mulder." Scully turned to face her mother. She knew that it was not good news. "She - she said she would try to come." Maggie was holding herself stiffly, angry at Tina Mulder's fear. "She said she didn't think she could handle watching Fox die." Scully sighed. She hadn't expected much else from her. "Thanks anyway, Mom. You did what you could." She patted her mother's shoulder. "Why don't you go back to my apartment and rest?" She asked gently. "I'll call you if - if there's any change." Maggie stood and searched her daughter's face intently. "Are you sure?" Scully nodded, tucking a stray lock of red hair behind her ear. "Yeah. I'm going to stay here. I - I need to be with him." Maggie nodded and hugged Dana close. "We'll get through this, honey. I promise." Dana couldn't reply, she merely hugged her mother tightly in return. After Maggie left, Scully took her place in the chair at the bedside, pulling it close so she could rest her head on Mulder's shoulder. She reached up and idly began stroking his arm. "You know, I used to dream about us getting to sleep together. Somehow, this isn't quite what I had in mind." She whispered softly. "Mulder, I don't know if you can hear me. I'd like to think you can. There's so much we should've said and done, I don't know where to begin. I tried, Mulder, I tried everything I could think of, but I can't save you." She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. "If you leave me tonight, I want you to know that I've always loved you." She twined her fingers with his. "I can't imagine a little thing like death could ever change that." She closed her eyes. "At least, you won't be alone. If you die, you'll die with me." Despite her awkward position, Scully found herself being comforted by the steady rise and fall of Mulder's breathing. She relaxed, and soon drifted to sleep. * She was awakened by the sound of her name being called insistently. Scully blearily opened her eyes, slightly amazed that she'd managed to get any sleep. She came face to face with Dr. Garrison. He looked more excited than she'd ever seen him. "Dr. Scully, we have a donor!" Scully bolted upright, awake and alert instantly. "What?" "Half an hour ago. A..." he glanced at his clipboard, "Samantha Harrison came in and said she was a family member who'd only recently heard of Mulder's illness. She was tested and is an exact match! We've got her in pre-op right now." Scully could barely contain her excitement. Whatever happened to change Samantha's mind, Scully didn't care at that moment. "That's great!" Garrison smiled widely. "We need to get Mulder prepped, but we should be able to perform the surgery in a couple of hours. I needed your permission as next of kin..." "Anything, do it!" Garrison nodded and left the room to begin preparation. Scully turned to Mulder and pressed her lips to his forehead. "It's almost over." She whispered. "You're coming back to me." ***** Maggie Scully hurried down the hospital corridor, her eyes frantically searching. She finally spotted Dana, curled up on an orange tweed couch in the waiting room outside the OR. Maggie's breath caught when she caught sight of Dana. For the first time in weeks, there was a smile on her baby girl's face. It was a small smile, granted, but a smile nonetheless. Maggie touched Dana's shoulder gently. "Dana?" Blue eyes filled with hope turned upward and met Maggie's. "We found a donor, mom!" She said. "Oh, thank God! Who?" Dana hesitated. "A - family member. I'm not really sure of all the details." Maggie sensed her daughter was holding something back from her but decided not to press the issue. She looked up to see Dr. Garrison open the swinging doors to the OR and stride purposely towards them. Dana jumped up. "Well?" He smiled. "It looks really good. We have to wait and see if his body rejects the kidney but so far, so good. He's being wheeled into recovery right now, and you can see him as soon as we put him back in his room." He offered her a smile. "Congratulations, Dr. Scully." He turned and walked away. Dana turned to her mother, and dissolved into her arms. ***** Dana once again sat at Mulder's bedside. He'd been asleep for hours, not unusual considering the trauma his body had been through. There were no immediate signs of rejection, and the longer his body went, the less the chance of rejection. Dana looked down at her fingers entwined with Mulder's. She did not stop to wonder why it looked, or felt, so right. She did not want to question their bond any longer. He meant everything to her and she was determined now to tell him. she vowed silently. He would be hers now, she was ready to do anything to ensure that. A slight pressure on her fingers caused her to look up into his face. His eyelids were fluttering slightly. After a moment, he blinked several times and turned his head to look at her. His tired face dissolved into a soft smile. "Hey Scully." He whispered. She'd heard those words from his lips a thousand times, but they never sounded as beautiful to her as they did in that moment. She raised their entwined hands to her lips and kissed his hand gently. "Hey Mulder." ***** Three days later Dana paused outside the closed hospital room door. She was not sure she wanted this confrontation, but she had to know. Mulder was recovering rapidly, and although he hadn't asked yet, she knew he would want to know where the kidney came from soon enough. She had vowed not to lie to him about that, or anything else. They had been honest with each other ever since he'd awakened. She smiled, hugging their private moments together close to her heart. She shook her head and opened the door. Samantha Harrison was packing, preparing to leave. She looked up when Scully entered. Samantha sighed. She'd been expecting this. Dana crossed her amrs and stared at the other woman. One word, full of meaning, left her lips. "Why?" Samantha shrugged. "He's my brother." Dana shook her head. "That's not good enough." "I - my father persuaded me to." Dana's brow furrowed. Samantha's father was dead. What could she mean --? The sudden appearance of the Smoking Man in the doorway answered Scully's question. Her jaw tightened painfully. Mulder's behavior the last few months was becoming painfully obvious. If the Smoking Man was truly Samantha's father, everything had changed. The Smoking Man smiled at her slightly. "Agent Scully. So lovely to see you again. Ready, dear?" He held out his hand and Samantha turned to follow him. She stopped at the doorway and gently laid her hand on Scully's arm. "Please take care of him." She said quietly. The door closed, leaving Dana in a stunned silence. She trudged back to Mulder's room to find him awake and channel surfing. Her mother and Skinner had left. Mulder smiled at her when she entered, his eyes never leaving the TV. "At least I get the Sci-Fi channel." He said. He finally turned to look at her when she sat next to him. He gasped when he saw her face. Dropping the remote, he grabbed her hand. "Hey, what is it?" "Mulder, I - I know about Samantha." She choked. He stiffened a little then relaxed. In a way it was a relief. He'd been keeping it inside nearly a year. He hadn't wanted to tell her at first since she was recovering from her cancer. Later, he hadn't wanted to face the issue. It had weighed heavily on his mind that the sister he'd spent the better part of his adult life searching for wanted nothing to do with him. "How'd you find out?" Scully worried the edge of the bedsheet with the fingers that were not held tightly by him. "She was the donor." At the shock in his face, she hurried to explain. "Marita came to me after you were admitted. She gave me your sister's address in Richmond. I had the boys check it out then I went to persuade her." She stopped. She didn't want to tell him what had happened next. But, Mulder, remembering his own reunion with his sister, could easily guess. "She turned you down right?" Scully nodded miserably. He squeezed her hand gently for reassurance. "I wonder what changed her mind." "The Smoking Man. She said - she said he was her father." Mulder nodded. "She told me the same thing." He shrugged. "I'll never know the truth about that, Scully." He said quietly. "My mom will never tell and Samantha obviously still doesn't want anything to do with me." He shoulders slumped and he leaned back against the pillows. "So much for family." Scully pressed his hand to her lips. "It doesn't matter, Mulder. I'm your family now." He smiled and tugged on her hand, pulling her up on the bed next to him. He wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her soft hair. He sighed contently. he thought, He kissed the crown of her head. "You certainly are." He confirmed. ***** One Month Later Dana was unsure what awoke her. She lay in bed, listening to the silence of the morning. Faint sounds from the dawning morning could be heard, but mostly, her ears were filled with the steady rise and fall of the other occupant's breathing. She turned on her side and stared at his features, relaxed in sleep. He was still living with her, partially because he was still recovering, but mainly because she wanted him to. Neither one had broached the subject, taking each day as it came. As far as Scully was concerned, he was home. She didn't ever want to go back to eating, sleeping, _living_ without him. She propped herself up on her elbow to watch him. Her other hand reached up and gently traced his lips with her fingers. So much had changed for them. Her mind was still reeling. She had brought him home from the hospital a month ago, and had awakened next to him every morning since. She sighed, content. She had never known how intimate simply _sleeping_ with someone could be. They hadn't yet consummated their relationship, Mulder wasn't really well enough, but it was inevitable. Scully was prepared to be patient. They both knew it would happen sooner rather than later. They had committed themselves to each other. I'll be your dream I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy I'll be your hope, Your life, your love Be everything that you need His lips began to curve into a gentle smile beneath her fingertips. They both loved waking in the other's arms. It was an indulgence, a luxury that each had quickly become addicted to. His hand reached up and covered hers, pressing the palm of her hand to his lips. He caressed the soft skin, loving the feel, the texture. He slowly opened his eyes, their green depths shining with the love he felt for her. I wanna stand with you on a mountain I wanna bathe with you in the sea I wanna live like this forever Until the sky falls down on me He pulled her to him gently. His arm curved around her waist, his other hand tangling in the soft red hair. She allowed him to pull her head down to his. The first light touch of their lips was electric, exerting a strong magnetic force that drew them closer together. His lips parted beneath hers, drawing her tongue into his mouth. They kissed deeply, as had become their custom in the last few weeks. Her hands cupped his face, caressing his cheeks with reverent strokes. Neither was sure how much time passed, but eventually the need for oxygen forced them apart. He held her tightly to him. "Good morning." He whispered lazily. "Hmm. It sure is." She returned with a smile. Her fingers tangled in his hair. She slid down his body slightly and snuggled against him. She laid her head over his heart, delightling in its steady thud, in the warmth of his body against hers. His arms came around her, squeezing her tightly. His lips touched her forehead. "I love you." Neither one was sure who'd said it first, only that it was said and answered. END