| “I know.” Mulder said as he continued to stoke Scully’s hair. “But we have time together now.” “Not much time.” Scully whispered. Mulder felt as if a knife had pierced his heart. He didn’t want to believe Scully was going to be gone. “Is there anything you want to do? Anywhere you want to go?” “I just want to be with you.” * * * * Scully woke up and shaded her eyes as she looked out the window. She was cocooned in layers of blankets. She brushed hair out of her face as Mulder walked into the room. “Morning.” He said. “You look a lot better.” She smiled slightly. She looked over at her bed stand and saw a tray with food on it. “I thought you might be hungry.” Scully picked up a cup of coffee from it and sipped it slightly. She looked down at the tray and saw an envelope labeled ‘Scully’ on it. “What is it?” She asked. “Open it.” He said. Scully looked at him and then opened the envelope. She gasped as she looked at the contents. “Mulder…plane tickets to Hawaii, what are you doing?” “I’m taking you on the best trip ever.” “Mulder, you didn’t have to do this.” “No, but wanted to. I wanna be with you.” Scully smiled. “Thank you.” Mulder hopped onto the bed and climbed next to her. He leaned over to her and kissed her. * * * * Mulder took long strides over the hot sand. The soles of his feet burned slightly but it didn’t bother him. Scully was lying on a lawn chair, reading a book. Other people and couples were around. Most of the women wore nothing at all but not Scully. She had khakis and a long sleeve shirt on. She had to protect her fair skin. Mulder walked over to her and sat down in a chair beside her. “You like it here?” He asked. “It’s beautiful.” She answered as she put the book down, marking her page. “Just like you.” Mulder complimented. Scully smiled and blushed slightly. She stared out over the ocean where the sun began to set. Beautiful purples and pinks highlighted the sky. It was a night to remember. Mulder looked at the sky and then to Scully. He noticed her stiff gaze at the sky. “What are you thinking about?” He wondered. “About how perfect it is here. How simple and how different it is from everything I’ve ever known. And about how I’ll never see anything this beautiful again.” “Don’t say that, Scully.” Mulder said as he began to get that sunken feeling in his heart. Scully flipped her protected legs onto the warm sand. She faced Mulder and enveloped his hands in hers. “Mulder, I know you don’t want to think about me dying and I know you don’t want to talk about it…” “Please, Scully, don’t. Don’t ruin this moment.” Mulder begged as he stood up. He turned, unable to face her. This time, he wanted to break down in cry. He wanted her to catch him as he fell but she wouldn’t always be there to catch him and he knew it. “Mulder, what’s going to happen when the time comes when I die? What’s going to happen to you? To the X-Files? I need to know that you’re going to be able to continue your life without me. I need to know that you’re going to be okay and that I have nothing to worry about. I want you there for me when the time comes but if it’s too difficult for you to sit, waiting…” “No, Scully.” He said turning back towards her. “It is very difficult for me to talk about this and to even imagine myself sitting there with you but I want to be with you. I want to spend every last minute with you, right up to the end. I want to be your support but only if you’ll be mine.” “I will be for as long as I can.” She said. “And even when I’m gone, I’ll always be in your heart.” She stood next to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He tucked her head under his chin and they stood, hugging each other. To others around they looked like the perfect couple but to each other they were a match that barely came together in the nick of time. * * * * Five days later, Mulder walked into his office. He went over to the desk and fingered his nameplate. He asked himself why he never got Scully one. Was it never that important or did he just not want her to have one? He looked to the various pictures of UFO’s, aliens, and tabloid headlines that he had posted around. In an instance of fury he wanted to rip them down. He wanted to blame them for what was happening to Scully. Over the last eight years he had found what he was looking for, his sister but it had cost him so dearly. He sat down at his desk and put his head in his hands. He wanted the last few days to come alive again. Scully looked so well while they were in Hawaii. She was laughing and having fun but now she was sick again. So sick that she was sent to the hospital immediately upon returning home. Mulder wanted to rush over there and see her but he had a few things he had to worry about first. “Agent Mulder.” A voice said. He looked up and saw a tall, blonde woman standing in the doorway. She walked in and handed Mulder a piece of paper. Mulder looked at her slight makeup and her business-like way of dressing. He read the piece of paper and then looked up at her. “Who are you?” He asked. “My name is Special Agent Nicole Racquel. I’m guessing we’re going to be partners.” The woman said. “Partners?” Mulder questioned in a whisper. “Who sent the note?” “Assistant Director Skinner. He told me to tell you that a Dana Scully recommended me. He said the name would mean something to you. Does it?” “Yes.” He mumbled. “Well, then nice to meet you, Fox.” She said as she extended her hand. Mulder brushed passed her, not shaking her hand. “It’s Mulder.” He said as he walked out the door. * * * * Mulder shoved his hand into his jacket pocket and searched for his keys. He found them and then fumbled for the right key. He passed over Scully’s, which made him shudder. He wanted to get into his apartment as quickly as possible and then get over to the hospital. He had just spent the last thirty minutes trying to convince Skinner that he didn’t need a partner. Mulder finally found the right key and he jammed it into the key hole. He opened the door and stepped inside. The only light came from his large fish tank on his shelf. He took off his coat and dropped it onto the couch. “You’ll want to pick that up.” A woman said. Mulder quickly reached for his gun and pointed it outward. “Who are you?” Mulder asked as he backed up into the wall. He flicked on the lights and stared out. He lowered his gun and scowled. “Agent Racquel, how did you get in here?” She stood up, dumping Mulder’s jacket on the floor. “I learned how to pick locks throughout the years. It’s a good trade to pick up, you should try it.” “I’ll keep that in mind.” Mulder said as he walked into the kitchen. He took a gallon of milk out of the fridge and then poured some in a glass. He held the bottle up, offering some to Racquel but she shook her head. Mulder put the glass to his lips and sipped slowly. He looked at Racquel who was standing with her arms crossed. She looked impatient. “What do you want?” Mulder finally asked as he slammed his glass on the table. “I want an apology. After the way you walked out on me today. What was that all about?” Racquel demanded to know. “I’m having a pretty bad day.” Mulder said. He looked at Racquel who didn’t seem to happy with his answer. “Actually, a pretty bad couple of weeks.” He mumbled. “I don’t know why you don’t want a partner and I think I deserve a chance. If you’re old partner did something awful to you, I’m sorry but I am not…” “My old partner never did anything to hurt me.” Mulder said, cutting her off. “And she’s not my old partner.” “What do you mean she’s not your old partner?” Racquel asked. She sat down on the couch, expecting a story but none came. Mulder didn’t respond. “What is it? What do you have against me?” “It’s not you.” Mulder said, sitting down at his kitchen table. “Then tell me. Whether you like it or not we are working together and it would help if I knew why you disliked me.” Mulder sighed. “The woman, Dana Scully, that you spoke of earlier was my partner for eight years. Four years ago she was diagnosed with cancer and it was my fault.” “How could her getting cancer be your fault?” Mulder gave her a stern look. “If you want me to tell my story, don’t interrupt.” Racquel nodded. “She was fine, sometimes having a few scares but she pulled through. A few weeks ago she found out that her cancer had spread. She knew she was going to die.” A tear rolled down his cheek. He quickly brushed it away not wanting Racquel to notice but it was too late, she already had. “She’s lying in a hospital bed right now, dying.” “I’m sorry.” Racquel said. She stood up and walked over to Mulder. She placed her arm around his shoulder as he buried his head in his hands. “Do you love her?” |