Archive: Okay for Gossamer, others ask first, thanks! You'll probably get it, just please email me first.

Author's Notes: It's short, so please give it a shot. I was trying to fall asleep last night and once when I yawned my jaw popped pretty loudly. An idea was born. What if Mulder's jaw was stuck open? Thus a story was born! Ta-da! Please let me know what you think! Feedback is a wonderful thing! :-)

Disclaimer: Straight simple and to the point: Mulder and Scully are property of FOX Television, 1013 Productions, Chris Carter, and probably a bunch of other people. If I owned them, I wouldn't need student loans.

Mulder's Apartment

The small apartment was lit by the flickering television, casting distorted shadows across the man who was laying on the leather couch. His eyes were heavy, blinking ever more slowly. Resting the remote on his stomach, he reached his arms above his head to stretch.

He opened his mouth to yawn, half way though the motion when a sudden jolt shot through his jaw. It was accompanied by an audible pop and Mulder froze. Sitting up, suddenly wide awake, his hands flew to his face. The remote clattered to the floor, forgotten.

After trying to close his mouth with the pain forcing him to stop, he fought the urge to panic. The thought of walking around with his mouth wide open was not appealing. Hurrying into the bathroom, he flipped on the overhead light and faced his reflection in the mirror.

He couldn't help but think he looked like Geena Davis' character in Beetlejuice when she warped her face to scare Lydia's family. The gaping hole in the front of his face looked ridiculous, and found himself wondering how dentists faced similar sights every day.

The throbbing that coursed through the side of his face was continuous, but he had no idea how to take anything for it. In fact, he couldn't figure out how to swallow at all. He could only think of one thing he could do that might help.

***

Scully's Apartment

A ringing filled the darkened bedroom where Dana Scully was sleeping, stirring her from her rest. Looking over at the digital clock that rested beside her bed, she realized that only Mulder would call her at such a late hour. Picking up the telephone that sat next to the clock, she punched the talk button.

"Scully." She managed to clear most of the sleep out of her voice.

She expected to hear Mulder's familiar voice, but the response was not her partner's voice as she knew it. "Sccul . . . "

Sitting up straight in her bed, Scully listened, confused. "Mulder?"

"Uh-huh."

"What's wrong? Are you drugged? Someone beat you up?" The possibilities that sprang to her mind were too numerous to begin even to count.

"Uh-uh."

"No? What Mulder? You're not making much sense." She knew he might be pulling her leg, but she felt it was otherwise. Something was wrong. She just had to get it out of him.

She could hear Mulder take a breath before continuing. "...y ...outhh," was the best he could manage.

Outh? She wondered silently. "Mulder, what? Wait. Your mouth?"

"Uh-huh."

She would have started laughing, but she could hear that Mulder really was in pain. "Hold on, Mulder. I'll be over there in a little while, okay?"

"Otay."

She smiled, "Otay."

She heard what sounded close to a growl followed by "Scuuul-leee. -ot un-y"

Hanging up the phone, she got out of bed and started getting dressed.

***

Mulder's Apartment

Mulder heard a familiar knock on his apartment's front door and he went to let Scully in. He placed his hand in front of his face as if stifling a yawn. He scoffed when he thought back on it was a yawn that had landed him in this trouble to begin with.

"Hey, Scuul-lee," he said from behind his hand.

She walked in the opened door, closing it behind her. Leading him by the arm over to the couch, she motioned for him to sit down. Sitting down on the edge of the coffee table, she looked him over. "Okay, how did you manage this, Mulder?" When he cut her a look, she continued. "For starters, you're going to have to put down your hand."

"On't wanna."

She forced herself not to laugh at his struggled words and stubborn refusal to move his hand. "Mulder, you're in pain, right?"

"Uh-huh."

"And you couldn't do anything for it, right?"

"Uh-uh."

She smiled, gently pulling his hand down away from his face. "Then let me help you. But I have to see your face first." She recognized the annoyed look in his eyes. She wasn't sure what was annoying him more, his jaw or being seen with his mouth gaping open. "That's better."

"-or ouu ay-ee."

Biting her lip, she managed to not laugh. She knew Mulder was in pain, but it was humorous compared to so many other circumstances he had managed to get himself entangled in. It was hard not to react with something akin to a light heart.

She examined his jaw, punctuated by random groans of complaint from Mulder. She stood and walked into the kitchen and returned carrying an impromptu ice pack. "Here, hold this against your cheek. Well, I have to say you really managed a doozy here, Mulder."

Mulder took the offered ice pack, and held it against his face, still managing to cover his mouth with part of his hand. "Oozy? Hut is die scienti-ic na-tur oth the oozy?"

Rolling her eyes at his thin attempt at humor, she countered. "You, every time you manage yet another injury. Just how did you do this, Mulder?"

"Ya-. Ya-." He gave up trying to form the word yawn, and simply patted his hand in front of his mouth.

"Yawing? How in the . . . Never mind, we need to get you to the Emergency Room, Mulder."

"Uh-uh. Ouu -ix it."

Standing in front of him, she continued. "Sorry, can't, Partner. This is beyond my capabilities." Mulder waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "In your dreams, Mulder." She laughed. "Come on, get up. You haven't been to an E.R. in all of a month."

"Doo I hathe to go? On't wonna."

"They probably miss seeing you at Georgetown anyway. You're hitting below par."

"I -on't tay -olf," he said with something akin to disgust on his face.

Handing him his keys, she picked up her cell phone form where she had laid it on the coffee table. "Do yourself a favor, Mulder. Don't bother starting. You and a pack of portable lightning rods is not something I want to picture. Much less clean up."

"Scuul-lee. Ouu -ound eee." He was walking toward the door, with Scully close on his heels.

Shaking her head as she locked the door behind them, she laughed. "No, you do a good enough job of that yourself without my help."

She was relieved to see that he wasn't hurting so badly that his humor, such as it was, suffered. "Ouu shot eee."

The elevators closed behind them. "But only once." Mulder could have sworn that Scully had managed something close to a whine. Giving up on winning the argument, Mulder resigned himself to the inevitable humiliation of being seen in public looking like a fish on land.

***

Georgetown Medical Emergency Room

As was typical for a late Friday night, the Emergency Room was buzzing with activity. The waiting room which serviced emergency was rather large, but in hardly any area was there more than three available seats together. Finding a place to get Mulder situated for what would most likely be a long wait, they crossed the crowded room.

Stepping over strewn legs, and scattered belongings, they found a couple of chairs in the far corner. The whole time they were walking through the mazes of variously injured people. Mulder was careful to keep his hand in front of his mouth, still managing to not drop what remained of the ice. His eyes, however, were busy scanning the room to see if anyone was staring at him. What he was too distracted to think about was each of the room's occupants were too caught up in their own concerns.

It didn't matter, to Mulder, he still felt like a fish. A fish with a pulsing pain in his face. Dropping down into a chair, he watched as Scully walked over to the admitting desk. Closing his eyes, but careful not to drop his hand, he tried to ignore everyone and everything.

On the other side of the room, Scully had just stepped up to the nurse's desk after waiting in a short line.

"May I help you?" the short nurse asked. She had reading glasses perched on the bridge of her nose, and looked at Scully over the top of them.

Scully nodded. "Yes, I just brought in Fox Mulder. His jaw is locked out of socket."

The nurse had been gathering up some paperwork, and looked up. "His jaw?" Scully nodded. "Okay. Well, you'll need to fill out these forms and I'll add you to a waiting list for the lower level emergency cases. All right?"

Taking the forms, Scully glanced over her shoulder at Mulder and said "How long should the wait be?"

"About thirty to forty-five minutes, depending on if any higher-priority cases come in." The nurse managed a small smile, and turned her gaze behind Scully at the still-waiting people. "Next."

Scully walked from the desk back over to where she had left Mulder. He hadn't moved since she had last looked over at him. "Mulder?"

His eyes shot open and looked up at her. "-ow long?" He asked from behind his hand, having given up on the now soaked rag that once compromised an iced compress.

"At least thirty minutes." She sat down next to him, and noticed that the clutter of people had cleared out somewhat. "For now, we have paperwork to do."

If possible, Mulder's shoulders slumped even more. "-a-er erk?"

Scully smiled. "It's not as if you're having to fill it out, Mulder. It's not the first time I've had to do this for you." The look on his face suggested he hadn't looked at it in quite that light, and an evil glint sparkled in his eyes. "Mulder, behave or I'll make you fill them out, and then how would you cover your mouth?" An equally mischievous look filled her eyes.

"Scuuul-leee."

"Stop talking, Mulder. It'll hurt less." When he turned his gaze to again look around the room, Scully turned her attention to the monotonous forms.

In the time until the nurse came, Mulder would sneak side long glances at Scully. Occasionally he would catch her pushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear, or chewing on the end of the pen lost in thought. He, on the other hand, noted the passing of each minute with nothing to occupy his thoughts. Except the throbbing by his ear.

Scully stood up, "Wait here, I'm going to give the nurse another Fox Mulder original admittance form."

"Ain't stay-in 'ere," he pouted. He watched as she walked over and then returned to her seat. At one point, he noticed his fingers falling asleep, so he switched hands careful to keep his mouth covered. Off to the side, Scully laughed. She had noticed Mulder flexing his fingers and was waiting on him to finally give up and drop his hand. So she wasn't surprised when he switched, but it was still humorous in some small way. "-hot?"

"Nothing, Mulder." She smiled, although she knew he wasn't buying it. "Why are you so concerned about keeping your hand in front of your face? You look like you're trying to keep out bugs." She paused, the glint in her eyes told Mulder what was coming. "Not that blocking out bugs is a bad idea when your mouth is hanging open."

"Ha. Ha."

"Gee, Mulder. That's the first thing you've managed to say right all night," she laughed. "Seriously, why are you doing that?"

"I -ook -ike a -ish." For an instant he had to fight the instinct to cross his arms. Instead, he crossed his free arm in front of him stubbornly. "Sta hazz-ing so -uch -un with this, Scuul-lee."

She sighed. "Mulder, you've done many a stupid thing. And you've had things happen to you that landed you in the hospital that most people wouldn't even dream of. But this," she gestured at his jaw. "This is most normal and mundane thing you've managed."

Mulder thought she was done when she added, "Besides. A girl has to have some fun." At the look he cut her, she burst out laughing. Composing herself, she managed a strangled "Sorry."

"Uh-huh. 'Sure ya -re."

She was laughing again when a nurse walked up to them with a confused look on her face. "Mr. Mulder?" The nurse asked. Scully finally managed to catch her breath and stop laughing. Mulder nodded his head. "Right this way, please." The nurse motioned for them to follow her back into the treatment area. "A doctor will be with you shortly." With that she was gone.

Mulder eyed the bed before him, knowing he should probably sit on it, but not wanting to lower his hand. Scully watched his indecision and sighed. "Mulder just put your hand down and get on the bed." Mulder's eyes shot over to her, as if uncertain for a moment. "I've already seen it, Mulder."

Seeing her smile begin to form, he gave up and dropped his hand. After climbing up on the bed, he caught himself putting his hand back in front of his mouth, which only caused Scully to laugh. Clasping his hands together in his lap he wouldn't let himself cover his mouth again.

After several minutes, a woman no older than Scully walked in the curtained off area. "Mr. Mulder?" She asked. "I'm Dr. Quintana."

Mulder nodded his head, not wanting to have to talk anymore. The doctor walked over to stand next to Mulder, and scanned the information she had been given. She began to gently probe the area around the joint. "Mr. Mulder, exactly what were you doing when it locked?"

Mulder looked over at Scully, hoping she would answer for him. Stepping up, Scully complied. "He was yawning, according to what I was able to translate." The smile never left her face, Mulder would have scowled if he could have managed it.

The doctor turned, "And you are?"

"Dr. Dana Scully. I'm Agent Mulder's partner with the FBI."

Dr. Quintana nodded, and turned back to Mulder. "All right, Mr. Mulder. Do you have a history of this happening?" Mulder shook his head no. "Is the area sore?" Mulder nodded yes. "How sore? Can you manage some speech?"

"Ess."

She nodded again, and resumed probing the area. Pulling a small flashlight out of her coat pocked, she shined it in Mulder's mouth. "Okay, I have to examine the inside of your mouth. Just lean your head back, it won't hurt." Scully was somewhat surprised when Mulder did what he was told without too much complaint. Clicking the light off, Dr. Quintana faced both agents. "I would have to say that your muscles were simply wound up too tight and when you yawned they clamped down. In effect keeping the temporomandibular joint apart."

Scully nodded, and Mulder just looked slightly dazed. "This was most likely as a result of your clenching your teeth. Do you know if you do that, Mr. Mulder?" He shook his head no, and she continued. "It's quite possible you do it and don't even realize it. Now as for the treatment."

Mulder drew back slightly from the doctor, this was the part he had been dreading. As much as he hated walking around looking like a guppie, he was still dreading the treatment. "Otay."

The doctor reached around to an instrument tray. "First, I'll give you a muscle relaxant." Mulder's eyes shot open at the sight of the needle that she picked up. "Relax Mr. Mulder. It won't be that bad and then we'll be able to correct the problem."

Mulder nodded, and she gave him the shot. After giving it time to take effect, the doctor began manipulating Mulder's lower jaw bone. In very little time it slid back into place and he was able to close his mouth. For a couple of minutes, he simply open and closed his mouth. "Any pain, Mr. Mulder?"

"No." He marveled at the sound of his voice, able to pronounce the words right and not be in pain.

The doctor nodded, "Very good. There will probably be some disorientation due to the muscle relaxant I gave you, but it will pass. Now go home, and get some rest." She smiled, and turned to leave. "If you'll excuse me, I have other patients to attend to. Good night, Mr. Mulder, Dr. Scully."

"Thank you, doctor," Scully said. After the doctor left, she walked over to Mulder's side. "How about it? Ready to go home?"

Hopping down off the bed, Mulder nodded. "More than you can imagine, Scully."

Holding the curtain back for Mulder to walk through, "Your taxi awaits, Mulder." She then followed him out into the hall. As they walked through the hospital toward the exit, Scully watched as Mulder continued to rub his jaw. "Better?"

"Yeah, it feels great to be able to close my mouth again." He turned as he held the exit door open for Scully in time to see her smile. "Thanks for all your wonderful support, Scully."

She caught the look in his eyes that told her he wasn't really mad. He just wanted to bother her as much as she had annoyed him, now that he was able. "Get in the car Mulder before you fall over." She had noticed that the longer he stayed on his feet the more unsteady he was becoming.

Scully pulled out of the parking lot and into the street. She noted with dismay that the sky was beginning to become tinged with pink and orange and looked at the clock to find that it really was almost dawn. She stifled a yawn of her own and continued to drive.

After a few moments of silence, Mulder spoke up. "Wait, Scully. This isn't the way to my apartment." He looked around the surroundings outside the car, confusion playing across his features.

"That's because we're going to my place, Mulder. It's Saturday, we don't have work to worry about and I want to make sure that you're okay." She kept her eyes on the road ahead of her as she spoke.

"Okay," he said.

"Otay you mean."

He glanced over at her and recognized the look he saw there. "Sculllly."

Pulling up into a parking spot in front of her apartment building, she merely smiled. "Yes?" she asked innocently.

"-ot un-y," he dead panned as they were walking toward her apartment. The closer they got to it, the more tired he became.

She was unlocking the door when she finally replied. "Yes it is," her voice tinged with laughter.

"Ha. Ha." He said as the door closed behind them.

"Mulder?" When he looked at her, she continued. "Go to bed. Get some sleep. You've got the bed, I'll be out here on the couch after I get a blanket and a pillow."

"Otay." He said, weaving his way into the bedroom. Behind him, Scully started laughing yet again.

fin

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