By Her Side Always by Mulderslady Part of the What if stories universe DISCLAIMER: They don't belong to me, wish they did. Only Beth, Richardson, and Gini do. RATING: Pg-13 to R CLASSIFICATION: S, A, MSR, Pre-XF, Character deaths KEYWORDS: MSR, Mulder angst, Pre-XF Character deaths SPOILERS: None, though it does follow my Love letters format URL: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Capsule/5160/whatif.html FEEDBACK: Please!!! at damacia@home.com ARCHIVE: Oh yeah, anywhere!! SUMMARY: What if Scully was writing Mulder anonymous Love letters? Part of the What if Universe, a group of stories that ask the ever intriguing question, What if . . . **********************%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind I put down in words How wonderful life is when you're in the world Elton John **********************%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% She watched him jog, his calves shaking from impact, his wavy chestnut hair bouncing with each stride, his face flushed with endorphins. I've watched this routine for years. He doesn't even notice me as he sprints by, but I notice him. He's beautiful, but he hasn't had any admirers for a long time. People seem to shy away from him. Shakespeare comes to mind whenever I see his haunted hazel eyes. 'What mysteries in Men's eyes'. He's a paradox. He works for the FBI, he's a behavioral profiler. The horrors he must see, he seems to be running from them every morning. He seems troubled, he seems lonely. His last girlfriend, Diana was so unworthy of him, she left him thankfully two years ago. Now he's ripe and ready for someone new. It's time for me to step out of the shadows and claim what's mine. "Hey Spooky speedy delivery. You got that profile done yet?" Agent Richardson said, slapping an envelope on Mulder's desk. Mulder looked at the envelope curiously. His name spelled across the front in neat block letters. "Yeah it should be in your inbox Richardson." "Thanks, oh yeah Patterson wants to see you." "OK" Mulder said, opening the envelope quickly. It had a classic scent, bold, but not over powering, Chanel No 5 he thought as she looked at the type written pages. "My beautiful Fox." His eyebrow quirked with interest. Who's this from? What day is it, April first? This has to be a joke, he thought. Well I'll read it later. Mulder's apartment 8 p.m. Mulder dropped some food into the tank for his fish and went to take off his jacket and tie. God I hate Patterson! I wish he'd die in his sleep, it would make my life easier. The Paperhearts case took everything out of me, all I wanted was a day or two to recoup. He acts like I don't have the vacation time! 37 profilers and I'm so necessary that I can't take more than a 30 minute lunch break and got home and sleep maybe. He sighed heavily and laid across his couch. Now for this letter, he thought as he pulled the letter out of his pants pocket. "My beautiful Fox, You don't know me but I know you. I've watched you every morning for over 2 years. I don't want to hurt you, I just thought you should know how I felt. I'm smitten, dare I say taken with you. Your in my dreams every night, and I wish I had the right to be with you, to calm my dreams, but alas I don't . . ." the letter continued on eloquently and Mulder read it engrossed. The phone rang and he answered it quickly "Have to call you back." he slammed the receiver back down and reread the letter. WOW this is amazing! Some one thinks this highly of me? Spooky Mulder? God who is this woman? He reread the signature "Your truly D." Diana? God no! Debbie from processing? Nah, she probably couldn't spell smitten if I spotted her the smitte. "I just pray you read this letter." Mulder sighed softly and refolded the letter. Alright wonderboy, profile her. Woman, professional, insecure but attractive. She believes she's a closed off, cold person, even though she's not. 26-35, passionate, has few friends but is very loyal and absolutely perfect for me. I wish I knew who she was. The phone rang again. "Later." Mulder said hanging up and stretching out across his couch, the letter held firmly to his chest as he fell into a peaceful sleep. Two weeks later "Spooky! Man I called you last night a thousand times." "I was busy." "With who?" "No one you'd know," though for once I wish you did, Mulder thought as she remembered reading D's latest letter. I'm falling in love with a woman that believes she isn't worthy of me. "What do you want Richardson?" Mulder said, when he realized he had followed him to his desk. "Paperhearts paperwork." "In you inbox." "Oh thanks." God that man was born a pest, Mulder thought as he sat at his desk. He smiled when he saw another letter in his in box. He grabbed it eagerly, placing it in his jacket pocket as he plopped the rest of the files on his desk. "Simple, simple, simple, thought, simple, thought, thought, thought, simple." Mulder muttered as he sorted the pile into a plausible work order. "Hey Mulder." He looked up at the man and smiled "Your way too happy for this time of the morning." "Vacations can do that for you. You need to think about one." His partner Reggie Perdue said, pulling up a chair next to Mulder. "I have many times and Patterson has denied them many more. Here partner, which pile you want to start with simple or thought?" "Simple, too early in the morning to think. Coffee?" Reggie said handing him a 20 oz cup of 7 eleven coffee. "Thanks oh French vanilla blend, we could use a path report on this one." "Which one? Hey you're in the thought pile!" Reggie teased "Yeah, I finished my stack of simples." "Dang spooky! Which one needs the path?" "The slasher/skinner one." Mulder said, handing him the file. "I'll order it, any others need it?" "This one and this one." I wonder what she does she sounds like a woman with some power, Mulder thought as he looked at a file. "Ok anything else Mulder?" "A name." "Huh?" "What?" "You said a name, what name?" "Oh nothing, thinking of something else." "Oh ok I'll order the path reports." Mulder sat back in his chair and pulled the envelope out of his jacket, he opened it and smelled it, sighing heavily when he got a whiff of the familiar Chanel no 5. "Darling Fox, I hope your reading these. These letters are the only way I can really express how I feel about you. I'm not good with people, but I had to try with you. I couldn't let this opportunity pass by. I hope you don't mind me giving these to you. I don't want to scare you. I want to love you, to cherish you like the precious gift you are." Mulder smiled as he continued reading, sighing heavily when he finished. D, D who are you? "Mulder, Mulder? Hey Spooky!" Reggie said, waving a file in Mulder's face. "Man where were you?" "Outerspace. What's that?" "Request slips. Just our luck the path we got is a real piece of work." "Who Peterson?" "No the chief path herself, the legendary Doc Ice." "Does she had a real name or do I just call her Ice?" Mulder teased "Ice queen is more like it. Scully, Dana Scully. A real piece of work. Gorgeous, but such a B . . ." "I got the idea Reg. Dana Scully, haven't met her." "Your lucky. She took over for Launders when he retired. She's relatively young too, 26 or 27." "Well we get who we get. When will she be done?" "She says end of the week tops." "Good enough. I want to interview a few people. Come on Reg, I need out." "So what were you reading?" Reggie asked as he followed Mulder out of VCS "My playboy bill." "I really need a minivay Reg. I'm burning out." Mulder said as he stared out the window of Reggie's car. "Mulder, you're the best hands down. Unless you collapse it the middle of his office, Patterson will not let you go on vacation." "If I keep this up, I will collapse. I've lost 20 lbs. in 3 months Reg, and that was 20 lbs. I needed! I have bags under my eyes, I can't sleep . . ." "You could never sleep." "Yeah but at least I could dose off for a few hours before I wake up." "I feel for you man, I really do. The only reason Patterson lets me go home is because I'm married. Hey, why don't you . . ." "If I had time to go out on a date. I come home at about 7 or 8, I'm tired. Plus look at me, would you seriously consider going out on a date with me?" "Well . . ." "Hypothetically." "Well you do look a little rough." "Thank you! I'd get a haircut but . . . hey stop by the barber shop will ya? I do not care, I'm going to get a hair cut on the clock!" "You go boy! Live dangerously." Reggie said with a smile as he pulled into the barber shop. 6:30 p.m. Mulder plopped down on his couch. "Are you sure you don't want to have dinner with me and Gini?" "Nah you go ahead, have fun. I have plenty of things to keep me busy." "I'm sure you do. Oh this was on your floor." Reggie said, handing him an envelope. Wow twice in one day?! "Thanks Reg, see you later. You driving tomorrow or me?" "I am, be ready by 8 ok?" "Yeah I will." Mulder said opening the letter and sniffing it. He shivered with delight when he smelled the faint Chanel no 5. Next day 8 a.m. Reggie knocked on Mulder's door. Reggie used his key and unlocked it. The playboy channel was on, no sound, Mulder was sprawled across his couch asleep, some papers clutched to his chest. Reggie removed the papers and pulled a blanket over him. He deserves to sleep, Reggie thought as he dialed Patterson's number "What?! He can't be sick!!!!!" "He's sick. He's got a fever and everything. I think it's the flu." "It's the middle of July!" "Well he's got something, he's burning up. He'll be ok in three or four days, I think." "Well alright, see to it three days." Patterson said, hanging up quickly. Reggie smiled triumphant. A minivay for you Mulder. Reggie looked at the papers he'd taken from Mulder. Must be a case he thought till he read the intro. "My precious Fox." Reggie said softly, smiling amused. Well, well, well, I don't have anything better to do, I have to know who this is, he thought as he went into Mulder's kitchen and made some coffee. 11 a.m. Mulder groaned softly and stretched. Man I feel rested he thought as he looked at the TV. The naked angel bunnies were on. Huh? They came on late morning. He looked at his wall clock. 11!! I over slept big time! He bolted up and tried to clear his head. "Morning sunshine." Reggie said smiling at him from the kitchen. "I'm sorry, I'll be ready in . . ." "No need, your sick. I got you three sick days. You can thank me later, you unofficially have the flu or something like it." "The flu? Patterson bought that?" "Yeah." "Cool 3 days off. Man I feel good, I haven't slept like that in weeks!" "Yeah you were sleeping like a baby, this clutched to your chest. This is sweet, who's D?" "Huh?" "D. Is she your girlfriend?" Reggie said, waving the letter at him. "Oh jeez give me that!" Mulder said getting up and snatching the letters from Reggie's hand. "You didn't get anything on it, did you?" "No I saw 3 how many more you got?" "A bunch, about 20." "So who is she? You have a girlfriend and you didn't tell me?" "No, I don't know who she is. They just started coming about two weeks ago. D is all I know." "Wow she seems to know you well. I'd say she's quite taken with you. Go Mulder go Mulder!" Mulder blushed "I'm in the shower, don't touch anymore of my letters." Mulder said, sniffing the letter and nodding. "What?" Reggie asked amused "Chanel no 5." Mulder said with a smile as he headed to the shower. "Bagel?" Mulder nodded and grabbed the bagel from Reggie. "Mmm, Sunflower seed, got the strawberry cream cheese?" "Of course, oh this got slipped under your door when you were in the shower. I didn't open it." Reggie said, handing him another letter. "Did you see who it was?" "Nope she was gone before I could get to the door." "Dang it!" "Is that the reason you were sleeping like a baby when I came in?" "This and Vixen space bunnies was on last night. RRRROOWLL!!" Reggie laughed and sipped his coffee. Mulder opened the letter and sniffed it. "She must spray them lightly or something. I love that perfume." 'My Handsome Fox, I missed you this morning, I hope you are alright.' "She missed me this morning." Mulder said to Reggie, smiling happily as he continued reading in silence, sighing heavily when he finished. "I have to find out who she is. Do you think we could dust for fingerprints?" "What if she wears gloves?" Mulder's eyes brightened with the thought. "Oh I didn't need that mental image Reg." Reggie laughed "So since your free tonight, Gini's sister is in town. She's really nice, cute. We're going to dinner, want to come?" "Sure, sure, I'll come. I need something to make me stop thinking about D." 9 p.m. God she was such a pill!! One of those bubbly over grown cheerleader types. Good for playboy, not for real life. He opened the envelope he found on his floor. Who are you D? I wish I could tell you I feel the same way. I wish I could tell you you're not cold hearted, that I'd love to spend eternity with you too. You are so right for me. Why won't you tell me your name? 5 months later "Package for you Mulder." Mulder looked at the box and saw the familiar writing. "Thanks Reg." "It from her?" Mulder opened the package, catching the familiar scent, Chanel no 5 "Yep!" He pulled out a note that simply read "To show you how much I love you D." Mulder looked into the box and pulled out a Yankees hat, a Knicks sweat shirt and pants and a silver rope necklace with half a heart on it. "Christmas coming early for you Spooky?" Richardson said, looking at Mulder's gifts. "Hanukkah Richardson. These are Hanukkah presents." I think I'll wear my new outfit jogging tomorrow, bet she'll love that, he thought as he repacked the box and put on the necklace. "Hey Mulder, got something interesting at Quantico that our favorite Chief path wants you to see. She thinks it ties in with the Pumpkinhead case." "Really, what?" "They found the heads of the last two victims." "Great we'll check it out tomorrow. I need some food and some sleep." "Yeah right, Galactic Babes from the ninth universe is on this afternoon." "Dang, how could you guess? That's a pure classic Reg." Next day "Dr. Scully?" Mulder said softly, straightening his tie. The legendary Doc Ice. Reggie was petrified to come with me. She turned quickly "What?! I'm . . . oh hello I thought you were someone else." Wow! Mulder thought, she was stunning. Petite, fire red hair, glowing sapphire eyes, a smattering of freckles coloring her porcelain skin. "Well I would hate to be that other person. Fox Mulder and my partner Reggie Perdue." "Nice to meet you. You're here about the floater. Freaky thing, I was opening him up and well . . . hold your nose." She said as she pulled the body out and uncovered it. Two human heads were stuffed in the victim's stomach. Reggie's eyes bulged and he ran toward the bathroom. "It's a safe beat that he didn't eat them before he died." "Yeah." "But there were no stitches or anything." God he's beautiful up close she thought as she looked around his neck and saw the necklace she had given him peeking from under his shirt. He had looked real good in the Knicks sweats I gave him too. He had worn them this morning when he jogged, perfect fit. "Thanks, this explained where the heads from the other two victims went." Dr. Scully covered the body and put it away. "Here's my report on the other victims." Mulder took it and caught a familiar scent. Chanel No 5? Here? He looked at the report, his eyes widening slightly at the familiar handwriting. Oh god! It's her?! He looked up and saw a silver necklace peeking through her shirt. He nonchalantly reached for it, taking it in his hand. The other half of the heart! He looked into her eyes and smiled brightly. "It's a . . ." "Mulder I need some fresh air, are we done?" "Yeah, yeah. I'll see you later Dr. Scully." "Bye Agent Mulder." He knows, he didn't seem upset, he actually looked happy! Could it be . . . nah, Scully thought as she went back to work. 7 p.m. Scully sat on her couch, a bowl full of Campbell's Simply Home Chicken Noodle soup nestled in her lap as she watched MSNBC. Scully tried to rationalize what happened that day. He was going to say something when his partner interrupted. Did he want to tell me off? Arrest me for stalking? A knock came at her door as she polished off her soup. She put the dish in the sink and opened the door to see HIM standing there. He smiled "Can I come in Dana?" "Agent Mulder sure how . . ." He stepped in and closed the door, grabbing her gently but firmly. "Don't play games. You've been sending me the letters, haven't you?" "Yes I'm sorry." "Don't be I love them, I look forward to them everyday. They are the only thing that keeps me going these days. I . . . I just wanted you to know that I love you too and that you are worthy of me. I think you're a warm, generous, loving wonderful person and I want . . . I want you in my life." Scully stood shocked a second, then he stepped closer to her and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her quickly on the lips and pulled away, looking into her eyes and kissing her again hungrily, his hands exploring her wildly as they stumbled into her bedroom. Next morning Mulder answered his cell phone quickly "Mulder." "Mulder? Where are you?" "Huh?" "I'm in your apartment and your not here." Reggie said "Wha . . .oh" Mulder said, looking around. I'm in a bedroom, I'm naked. He heard a soft sigh and turned and saw a flash of red. "I'm not in my apartment." "Well Duh! Where are you? You want me to pick you up? Its Friday are you paying hooky?" "Uh yeah I have a pretty bad hangover." "So where are you?" "I'm not quite sure, I'll call you later Reg okay?" "Mul . . ." Mulder hung up quickly and turned back to Scully. "Hey." She said softly. "Morning sunshine. How'd you sleep?" "Good, a little sore." Mulder smiled, blushing slightly. "Sorry if I was a little rough with you last night, it's been awhile." He said laying on his side, draping his arms around her loosely, letting his fingertips tease her sides. "I hope I didn't . . ." "No you didn't, Fox?" "Yeah?" "I . . . I . . . gee I had so much I wanted to say to you, but now I can't think." "Sometimes words aren't needed." He said, as he caressed her face with his fingertips, letting them run down her jaw-line. "I'm in love with you Dana. I've loved you since your first letter and I will always love you." She snuggled into his warm chest and inhaled his intoxicating scent. He still smelled like his soap and deodorant, a heady sex smell covering it slightly. "Want to get some breakfast?" Mulder asked "Yeah later, right now I'm where I want to be. Right here, by your side." Monday "Where were you this weekend?! I needed you man. Gini's mom came into town. I needed a reason out." "Sorry I was busy." "Yeah with who?" "D." "Huh?" "I found out who she is." "Who?" Mulder wrote it down and showed it to him "You're kidding right?" "Nope it's her." "So? Oh no please tell me you didn't . . .did you?" "Did I what?" "Did you two, well you know . .. did you sleep with her?" "Well hell yeah!" Mulder said, looking at him strangely. "Oh my god, are you nuts?!' "According to my last psyche evaluation, yes." "That's Doc Ice!" Reggie said in a whisper. "Yes and she defrosted nicely." "Ugh, so what, you screwed her all weekend?" "No, we took breaks and stuff." "So .. you two are what a couple?" "Yep." Mulder said, sighing slightly, a little smile crossing his face. "Gini will love to hear that. Well you seem happy, I guess it don't matter who she is. It's been awhile since I saw a genuine smile on your face. So think you can come down off your cloud and concentrate on work?" 2 weeks later "He is so handsome Bill." Scully's mom said as she put her key into her daughter's apartment door. "Yes, but she should have at least brought him by the house so we could have met him." "She's a grown woman Bill, she doesn't have to bring every guy she dates home to meet daddy." It was quiet as they walked in her apartment. "She must still be in bed, let me start some coffee." Her mom said stopping when she saw the automatic coffee maker going. "I'll see if she's up." She said as she headed to the bedroom. A muffled cry came from her room and her mother peeked in, covering her mouth to prevent the gasp from escaping. Scully's legs where wrapped around Mulder's waist, there mouths devouring each other, her hands haphazardly clutching at his hair and he thrust into her with long, strong strokes. "What's wrong Maggie?" Bill asked concerned when he saw the look of shock on his wife's face. He came over and peeked, turning red with anger. "He can't meet me, but he can have sex with her." He grumbled as he stormed back to the living room. Mrs. Scully closed the door silently. They need some privacy she thought. It was good to see her normally stoic daughter in an obviously loving relationship. They heard a loud groan, then the squeal of bed springs and soft laughter. Mrs. Scully smiled slightly. It was good to hear her daughter enjoying herself. Scully came out of her bedroom moments later with her robe on, heading into the kitchen. Mulder sprinted after her in his boxers, swooping her up in his arms, giving her a fierce hug before setting her down on her feet. "I love you." He said softly. Scully smiled and tore from his grasp. "I love you too, but I really need my coffee right now." "Addict." "Yep." "Are your parents going to be upset?" "I don't know maybe." They looked at each other quizzically, why would we be upset? "My parents didn't care. You like your ring? I could get you another one." "The ring is fine Mulder." "It was my grandmothers." "I know, you've told me a thousand times already." "Reggie's going to die when I tell him." "Reggie? My sister is going to freak, when I tell her. She always wanted me to do something spontaneous." "When do I get to meet your family?" "There's a big reunion next month. You can meet everyone then." "So Mrs. Mulder, you going to change your name?" "Well no, I was going to hyphenate it. Scully-Mulder has a nice ring to it." Her mother let out a squeal of joy and Scully turned quickly, gasping at the sight of her parents in the living room. "Mom, DAD! I . . .we didn't hear you come in." "Well you two were busy. Why didn't you call me? I would have been there in minutes!" Her mom said, hugging her daughter tightly. "Well it was a surprise to me too. We were just walking past the Justice of the peace office and he just dropped down and proposed. I hardly had time to breathe. Well Mom, Dad this I my husband Fox William Mulder." Mulder reached out his hand and smiled. "Nice to meet you ma'am, sir." "No, no you call us Mom and Dad. Give me a hug." Her mom said hugging him tightly. She brushed tears from her eyes as she pulled away. Mulder turned to her father and stretched out his hand, which was clasped firmly. "Welcome to the family son." Monday "You and Doc Ice have a good weekend?" "Yeah great weekend. We got married." "Well that's . . . WHAT?!!!!!" Mulder flashed him his wedding ring and smiled "Now what's up with the Weathers case?" 4 months later "Hey Mulder, Gini wanted me to ask if you and Dana wanted to come to dinner with us tonight. It's some thing for her community group. Please I need some one to talk with who's kind of interesting." "I'm just kinda interesting? Sure let me see if Dana has any plans." Mulder said picking up his phone and dialing her number. "Busy, I'll call her later." Patterson rushed over to his desk "Mulder, Perdue, you need to get down to Quantico now! There was a shooting." "What?" "Some one ran in there just shooting at random." Mulder's phone rang "Mulder." "Mr. Mulder this is Beth your wife's secretary um sir?" he voice broke form emotion "Your wife was shot today I don't know . . ." "What hospital? Beth Which hospital?" "UVA sir I'm so sorry, I'm going with her sir." "Thank you Beth. I'll be there as soon as possible." Mulder got up quickly grabbing his jacket and keys. "Lets go Reg. We'll call you later sir." "Mulder? Mulder you alright? What did Beth want? Mulder? Is Dana alright?" Mulder stayed silent and pressed on the gas more as he sped down the highway. "Mulder? You passed the Quantico exit. Mulder?" "I guess that means we aren't going there, are we?" Reggie sat back, Mulder's voice was low and dangerous, something was wrong. Mulder pulled into UVA hospital and ran into the ER. "Scully, Dr. Dana Scully-Mulder, where is she?" "She's in the OR, the waiting room is on the 3rd Floor." "Thank you." Mulder said, running to the elevator. "Dana was shot?" Mulder nodded, his eyes watering. "You'll do her more good trying to find out who did this and why." Reggie said "No I won't. I need to be here. I need to be with her." Mulder said through gritted teeth as he got off the elevator. "Patterson is not going to like this." "Does it look like I care what Patterson likes! This is my wife's life, I'm going to be here for her no matter what!" Mulder said, walking over to a distraught Beth and Mrs. Scully. "Oh Mr. Mulder sir, I'm so sorry. There was nothing I could do. She stepped out of the office and just flew back in. He shot her three times in the chest." "It's alright Beth, there was nothing you could do. Mrs. Scully, anything?" She nodded no. "She's died twice on the table Fox. She was shot in the neck and 3 times point blank in the chest, she lost a lot of blood. She may make it through surgery, but the doctors don't think she'll make it through the night." He nodded placing Beth in a chair and leaning against the wall stunned. Did I tell her I loved her this morning? He thought, I hope so. "When is she getting out of surgery?" "Soon, she'll be in the STICU." Mulder nodded and took a deep breath "I'll be back. I have to go to Quantico. I'll be back." Quantico "Agent Mulder? Got a present for you." Another agent said, dragging a young man over to Mulder. "What?" "This is the person who went on the shooting rampage. He says he was exorcising the demons of the people he shot." Mulder looked at the young man. His eyes were darting rapidly back and forth in his head. "What's your anti-psychotic? Your meds?" "Risperdal." "Did you take it today?" "No." "Why didn't you, you bastard?!! If she dies cause of you, I'll kill you!!!" Mulder said drawing back and punching the boy hard in the face. He got down on the ground and started to punch him till Reggie pulled him off. "Mulder? Mulder! Calm down. Man, your going to kill him! Stop!" Mulder growled in anger and pushed Reggie off him as he stormed off. "Wow Spooky's pissed." "Yeah, one of the people that got shot was his wife." Reggie said, following Mulder quickly. "Oh jeez tough break, you got off easy boy. If that was me, I would have shot you!" STICU "Hi Dana Scully-Mulder's room?" "2, sir you can't go in, someone's in with her now. Only one visitor at a time." Mulder ignored her and went to Scully's room, watching her through the glass. She was hooked up to every conceivable machine the hospital had to offer. She looked surreal against the white sheets, her mother holding her hand, wiping tears from her cheeks. Mulder leaned his head and hands against the glass and finally let the tears fall. "Sir, don't do that. Sir? You're streaking the glass. Why don't you wait in the waiting room?" "No, I'm not moving, could you please just leave me alone?" "No, I will not just leave you alone. You can't be here. You're . . ." "Please don't . . . just leave me alone, Please?" Mulder begged "No if you won't leave, I will call security." "Fine." "Look . . ." the nurse started, putting her hands on her hips readying for a battle. "No you look." Mulder said rearing around and facing her, "That's my wife and she's dying!" He yelled at her, tears running out of his eyes as he threw her a hateful glance. The nurse relented, trying to apologize quickly "I'm sorry sir, I . . ." Mulder pushed past her into Scully's room. "Fox you poor thing." Her mom said reaching for him. He fell into her arms sobbing wildly. 24 hours later Mulder woke up holding Scully's, his head resting on the edge of her bed. "Fox? Honey?" "Dana?" "No sweetie it's mom, Dana's mom. Why don't you stretch and get something to eat, I'll keep watch." Mulder nodded and went to the bathroom and cleaned up. "How's she doing? Reggie asked as Mulder joined him outside her room. "Same. At least she hasn't coded recently." "Want some coffee?" Mulder nodded and followed, only to stop when he heard a code blue announced. "Code Blue Room 2, Code Blue." He froze and ran back to the room and watched as the doctors and nurses shocked her back to life. "Is she ok?" he asked a nurse as she left. "Yeah she's fine, she came right back." Mulder went into the room "Mom? I'll take over." "But Fox . . ." "I'm fine." "You need something?" "Some coffee would be nice." He turned back to Scully and said softly "I'm here darling, I'm sorry I left. I won't leave again. I'm right here where I belong, by your side." He said, laying his head back on the edge of the bed and holding her hand. He fell back to sleep quickly. Reggie smiled and placed his coffee on top of the heart monitor and left, keeping watch outside the door. 12 hours later "Fox? Fox? I'm going." "No please Dana, I need you, please don't go." "I can't fight anymore. I'm tired." "I'll help you, please stay. I can't live without you." "Yes you can." "No I can't. I'm nothing without you. Hang on for me, please? Stay with me Dana. I won't live without you." "Fox don't say that." "It's true. You die, I die. We won't be apart long." "Don't Fox, I'm so tired please." "Let me help you. I'm strong enough for the both of us please stay Dana. Dana? Dana?! I love you please come back!" "I loved you Fox." "Dana?" Mulder said as he snapped awake and looked at her quickly, then looked at the flatlined monitors. The nurse flashed him a sad smile and patted his shoulder sympathetically. "I'm sorry for your loss Mr. Mulder." She said as she walked out of the room. Mulder looked back at Scully "No, Dana please don't go. I love you so much. I can't live without you. Please, Please don't leave me here." He said, breaking into heart wrenching sobs. "Fox honey, she's gone, she's passed on." Her mom said touching his shoulder lightly "No! No Oh God no!" "I'm sorry son, it's okay." She said, gathering him into her arms and crying with him. "I loved her so much, oh god I can't . . . I can't." He said pulling away from her mom and looking at Scully one last time. He bent and kissed her tenderly on the lips. She's so cold already, he thought as he petted her hair one last time. "I loved you too." He said as he walked out of the room. "I'm so sorry man. Do you need anything?" Reggie asked Mulder as he passed by him. "Yeah, feed my fish. You were always a great friend Reggie. I'm going to miss you." Mulder said, hugging him tightly and heading to the elevator. Reggie looked at Mulder strangely as he got on the elevator, unaware that he would never see him alive again. Mulder gathered their wedding pictures, and her letters, sighing heavily as he laid across their bed for the last time. He closed his eyes and imagined Scully, running over and tickling his exposed belly like she always did when he laid across the bed after work. He wiped angry tears from his eyes as he took off his wedding ring. He placed her letters and the pictures on his chest, kissing his wedding ring tenderly before placing it on top of the pile. He placed his left hand over the ring and cocked his gun with his right. He placed the gun in his mouth, tears streaking his face, as he pulled the trigger and returned to where he belonged. Epilogue "Fox! Fox!" She said, running up to him happy and whole, a flowing white gown on. He smiled and ran to her swooping her up into his arms and squeezing her tightly. "I love you Dana, I love you so much. I missed you." "I know Fox, I know. Look." They looked down at 2 caskets being lowered into the ground. Friends and family gathered around, mourning their deaths. Reggie looked up and smiled. "Reggie? You ok?" his wife asked concerned. "Yeah, he's happy now. He's where he belongs, where he wants to be, by her side always."