| Mulder quickly looked up and at Racquel. She removed her arm from his body and looked deep into his eyes. Mulder didn’t know how to respond. He loved Scully with all of his heart but how could he tell another agent that? “I do love her. I care more about her than anything in the world. Seeing her dying is killing me.” Mulder admitted. He looked over at Racquel with pleading eyes. “Please don’t…” “I won’t tell. I know how the FBI doesn’t like it’s agents to fall in love but I know how you’re feeling. I fell in love with a colleague of mine and then he was shot while on one of our cases. He died so I know what you’re going through.” She paused. “What hospital is Dana at?” “Georgetown Memorial.” Mulder said. “I was going to go see her…” “I’d like to meet her, if it’s okay.” Racquel said. Mulder nodded. “I’ll drive then.” Mulder wiped his eyes and picked up his jacket. He put it on as he followed her out the door. * * * * “Scully.” Mulder said as he walked into her room. Racquel hung by the door as Mulder took a seat next to Scully’s bed. She turned her head towards him slowly. He took her right hand and held it tightly. She opened her eyes and smiled at him as she saw Mulder’s face. “Mulder.” She whispered. Her voice was cracked and her face was pale. Even her eyes had no color. “How are you feeling?” Mulder asked. He stroked her hair with his free hand, never taking his eyes off of her face. “Tired but better since you’ve arrived.” Scully said. Mulder smiled. Scully looked past his shoulder at Racquel. “This is ah Agent Nicole Racquel.” Mulder said as Racquel stepped forward. Mulder let go off Scully’s hand as she loosely shook Racquel’s. “Your new partner.” Scully commented. She smiled though Mulder knew she was upset. She didn’t want to face the fact that someone else would be doing her job, keeping Mulder inline. “Agent Scully, it’s so nice to meet you.” Racquel said. “I’m sorry about…” “Thank you.” Scully said. “I’ll leave you two alone.” Racquel offered. “It was nice to meet you. And Agent Mulder, I’ll be waiting outside.” “That won’t be necessary, I’ll find my own way home.” Mulder sad. “Okay.” Racquel responded. Racquel turned to leave when Scully said her name. She turned back and looked at Scully. “Take care of Mulder for me. Don’t let him talk you into going on UFO hunts but don’t dismiss all of his insane theories.” “I won’t.” Racquel said. “Good-bye.” She took one last look at Scully and then over at Mulder. Water began to swell up in his eyes. He blinked his tears away as Racquel left the room. “She seems really nice.” Scully said. “I just met her today, but yea, she seems like a person easy to work with.” Mulder said. He took her hand again. “Mulder, I want you to work with her. She’s a good agent and a good person. After all you’ve been through, you deserve a partner like her. She’s open to extreme possibilities but she’ll also a scientist and she’ll look at the facts. You two will make great partners, you’ll work well together.” “Scully, we worked well together. We worked better than well. No one thought we could do it but we did and now I wish we hadn’t.” They both grew silent. Neither knew what to say. A few moments later, the door opened. Mulder turned and saw Samantha walk in. She wore a full set of scrubs, safety glassed on her eyes, and a mask covering her nose and mouth. “Fox, I didn’t know you were here.” Samantha said. She held a file in her hand. “You need to leave, Fox. You need to leave now.” “What? Samantha, what are you talking about?” “Get out, Fox.” Mulder looked at her and then at Scully. Scully loosened her hand from his grip. “Scully?” Mulder questioned. He wasn’t sure what to do or how to feel. He wanted to know what was going on. His mind raced with questions including what Samantha was talking about. “Do what she says.” Scully said as she pushed Mulder away. Mulder let go of her hand and stood. He looked at Samantha and then passed her, as he continued to walk outside. Samantha waited until the door slammed. She walked over to Dana’s bed and touched her arm with her hands that were covered with latex gloves. “Dana, I asked Fox to leave because what you have isn’t cancer.” Samantha said. “What is it then?” Scully asked. “There’s something in your blood that appears to be killing you. We can’t figure out exactly what it is. It’s something we’ve never seen before but we have a feeling that it could be contagious. Now we’re not sure if it’s transported through blood, touch, saliva or all three but until we do we have to put you into quarantine. Now Dana, I don’t want to do that because since we can’t find the cause or how this originated, we can’t tell how long you have but I have to do what is right.” “I understand.” Scully said. “Can you tell Mulder?” Samantha nodded. “I’ll be right back.” She said. She walked out of the room and came back a few minutes later with other doctors and men in white suits. Mulder stood in the open doorway, wanting to jump in and hold her but he restrained himself. He caught her eye as they transferred her onto a gurney. He began to weep silently. He watched as they wheeled her out of the room and down the hallway. He wanted to follow them, to see where she was being taken but he didn’t. “What?” Mulder yelled. He stood and clenched his fists. Samantha rose from her chair and stood next to him. She touched his arm but he brushed her away. He didn’t want to hear what she was telling him. He wanted to be there for her. He wanted to hold her hand and tell her everything was going to be okay but he knew she could infect him with something deadly. Something that no one could identify. “Fox, I’m sorry about this and I know you’re going to want to be with her and you can. You can be with her in the quarantine area of the hospital. You’ll have to stay in a protective room but you’ll be able to view her and talk to her.” “I want to do more than talk to her, Sam. I love her, and I need to show her I need to be with her.” “Fox, Dana knows you love her. She’s always known. Now show her you still care for and respect her by being with her but by not contaminating yourself. We do need to run tests on you to make sure you’re not infected with this.” Samantha said. Mulder didn’t respond. Samantha looked at him and called a few doctors over. They walked over to Mulder as he sat back down and wanted cry but he didn’t. He stayed strong for himself but most of all for Scully. The doctors urged Mulder to stand, and he did. They began to walk off towards an examining room but Mulder stopped them. “When you go to see her, tell her I’ll be there as soon as I can and tell her I love her.” Mulder said. “I will.” Samantha said as Mulder was led away. * * * * Mulder stood in a small room, peering in at Scully. He wasn’t allowed to touch her or even go in the same room as her but at that moment he didn’t matter. She breathed lightly as she slept. Mulder crossed his arms as he stared at her. He wiped a tear off of his cheek as he heard the door open behind him. “Is she still sleeping?” Samantha asked as she walked in behind him. “Yea.” Mulder whispered. “Whatever she has, it’s taking a lot of energy out of her.” Samantha said. Mulder turned and looked at his sister. She held a manila folder in her hands. “Are those my test results?” Mulder asked. Samantha nodded. He didn’t really care what the tests said. Sometimes he wished he had been infected with Scully instead of having to watch her die alone. Samantha handed him the file and then exited the room. Mulder wasn’t sure if he wanted to know the answer. He thought about what Scully was telling him in Hawaii. How he had to keep living for her and for their work. Mulder opened the file and looked inside. * * * * A year later Mulder sat in his office looking around at his posters as he often did. They reminded himself of his quests, of the truth, of her. It had been too long - too long since he had seen her. Since he had heard her words. He needed her, he needed her more than ever. “Agent Mulder.” The female voice said. Mulder turned in his swivel chair to face Agent Racquel. She stood in front of his desk. “Where were you this morning?” “I was out.” Mulder responded. “Out where?” Racquel demanded to know. She took a seat in front of Mulder’s desk. “What I do on my personal time does not concern you, Agent Racquel.” “No. I guess it doesn’t.” She paused, unable to keep in her curiosity. You were out there again, weren’t you?” Mulder ignored her. “Is there something you specifically wanted?” |