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Crumbling Walls 
By Starbuck_Jayne
Starbuck_Jayne@mulderandscully.co.uk

Rating: PG I think!  I can't think of 
anything too bad...I don't do the NC-17 stuff 
so no smut!  Sorry.

Spoilers: Milagro, Paper Clip (I think!), 
Irresistible and possibly others but they 
will only be very mild references.  Oh and pretty
much the entire season 4+5 mythology arc!

Keywords:  MSR, Post-ep, Mulder angst I 
guess

Disclaimer:  I wish I owned these characters 
but I don't! They belong to Mr. Carter and 
1013 and everyone else who will hopefully 
take pity on me for borrowing them because I 
am just a child!!!

Archive:  I would LOVE you to post this 
fanfic if you really think it's worth it but 
please keep my name and e-mail attached and 
a note to say where you put it would be nice 
so I can come visit!  

Summary:  Post-Milagro. Mulder helps Scully 
deal with her ordeal.  (In a way!)

Author's Notes: I was really really annoyed 
with the last scene from this episode!!  
What is Chris Carter trying to do to us??  
Yes I know it was an open ending yadi yadi 
yada (always gotta get that in somewhere!) 
but still!!!  Ok, now this is my second 
piece of fanfic and I think it is definitely 
a lot more sappy than the first but hey!  
Sometimes sappy is good!  I would REALLY 
appreciate your comments on this one!!  You 
know where to find me PLEASE do cos I would 
LOVE to know what you thought!!  
Constructive criticism is also greatly 
appreciated but NO flames!!  
Pleeeaaaasssseee!!  Right this is dedicated 
to everyone that sent me feedback for the 
last story cos I love u guys!!  Oh and of 
course Jill and Pippa and Lily and Kelly and 
Allison and Amy (cos she's a star!)  And 
Natalie-u go girl!

Crumbling Walls
Starbuck_Jayne

Starbuck_Jayne@mulderandscully.co.uk

It was a bitter wind that blew that night.  
A sharp and cruel gale, which, as it 
gathered speed, whipped together teardrops 
of rain, hurling them liberally over the 
rooftops of a frozen Alexandra skyline.  
Sharp diamonds of ice pounded at Mulder's 
window, threatening with the fierce howl of 
each gust to slice through the trembling 
pane of glass.

The apartment's occupant was oblivious to 
all about him...except the woman who knelt, 
crying, in his arms.  Tears soaked his thin 
shirt, leaking through and choking his 
heart.  He'd never seen her like this...ever.  
Not when her sister died, or at any point 
whilst fighting her cancer, or even after 
the Pfaster case had she broken down in such 
a way.  She had crumbled before him, 
grasping at his shirt and pleading through 
her sobs, asking him to protect her.  To 
keep her safe from Philip Padgett.

Mulder held her small frame, weakened 
severely in body and mind.  She clung to him 
still and he stroked her hair, promising 
through his own tears that everything was 
all right now.  He pulled her up from the 
floor and led her to the sofa, where he sat 
down beside her, laying an arm about her 
shoulders for support.  The familiar air of 
independence was rapidly resurfacing and she 
tried to calm herself with short gasps of 
breath.  Mulder squeezed her hand and rose, 
heading to the kitchen to make tea.

"Mulder?" she stopped him.  He turned.  "I'm 
sorry," she whispered, her eyes beginning to 
glisten once more.  Her partner shook his 
head with a sad smile and left her alone.  

The blood still encrusted her shirt, sinking 
deep into the fibres and staining them a 
crimson associated only with pain.  Tears 
threatened but she was too weak to allow 
their release.  Besides, she could not allow 
Mulder to see her in this state any longer.  
She couldn't tell if she was embarrassed, or 
just afraid.  She was so damn scared of 
letting him down-making him feel he had to 
protect her atop of all his own problems.

Mulder returned with two steaming cups of 
tea, setting them gently down on the table.  
He glanced up at Scully.

"Umm, don't you think we should call a 
doctor?" he asked, already knowing the 
answer.  She shook her head.

"I'll be alright," she tried to assure him.  
He cast an uneasy eye over her ruined 
garments.

"Scully at least let me help you get cleaned 
up," he begged.  She nodded, letting him 
take her arm and guide her to the bathroom; 
for she was still slightly shaky on her 
feet.  They sat down together on the side of 
the bath, with her beginning to unbutton her 
shirt as he moved away to find a flannel and 
fill a bowl with warm water.

He offered her the cloth, which she took, 
easing it over her skin with trembling 
hands.  But it was too much, the sodden 
fabric fell from her grasp as tears began 
again to blur her vision.  Mulder set down 
the bowl and embraced her once more, taking 
her up in his strong arms and holding her 
tight.  At first she seemed unsure, 
reluctant to encourage further displays of 
emotion, but she was still weakened by shock 
and so relented.  Mulder retrieved the 
flannel and rinsed it carefully before 
passing it gently over her wounds.  Despite 
the apparently large loss of blood there was 
no visible scar, and so Mulder's only task 
was to wipe away the red mess which 
blemished her pure skin.  A task that also 
brought fresh tears to his eyes and more 
soothing words to his lips.

This done, he helped her into bed.  The 
gentle movements of the water that filled 
the mattress caused a faint smile to flicker 
on her lips.  She snuggled deeper into 
Mulder's bedspread.  That and the comfort of 
the old sweater he had leant her soothing 
her into a light sleep.

"Just call if you need anything," he spoke 
softly before flicking off the lights and 
shutting the door-sealing her within the 
protection of the room.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

He was there again.  Oh God he was there 
again.  He was gaining on her as she 
scrambled backwards, fear weighting her 
every breath.  His face neared hers and she 
detected the musty scent he had no doubt 
accumulated from several years of inactivity 
of any description.  His hand was thrust out 
towards her chest and she panicked.  What 
was he doing?  How could she break free?  
Where was Mulder?  She closed her eyes as he 
sank his hand into her flesh, wincing in 
pain and yet still unable to cry out.

"Mulder!" her voice was barely a whisper, 
"Mulder!"

"Scully?  Scully?  Scully wake up!" she shot 
up with a gasp, her hand flying 
instinctively to her chest.  She turned to 
face Mulder who was standing above her, 
concern clearly etched on his brow.

"I'm fine," she told him, "it was just a 
dream."

He reached for her shoulder and rested his 
hand there.

"Scully, look, I know you keep telling me 
you're fine...but, well, you've had a tough 
day and I'd feel better if...if I slept in 
here tonight."

Scully might have protested if it wasn't for 
the fact that she secretly appreciated the 
comfort.  She shifted over in the bed and 
Mulder lay down on top of the quilt next to 
her, not wishing to invade her personal 
space.  However, she reached for his hand 
and he closed his fingers about her smaller 
ones.  

"Thanks Mulder," she breathed, pressing her 
head against his shoulder and allowing him to 
brush the hair from her cheek before gently 
kissing the top of her head.  His arm hung 
loosely about her with her hand still clasped 
in his own, their fingers  twined, so neatly 
interlocking.  She smiled softly, and so they 
slept.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Hey people what say y'all???  Good?  Bad?  
Very bad?  Please please PLEASE tell me!!  I 
don't just *want* feedback...I NEED it to 
survive!!