Title:            Revenge
Author:           Lovesfox
E-mail:           Lovesfox@rogers.com  (Feed me, please)
Web site:         http://www.geocities.com/kim_djd/index.html
Rating:           NC-17 (violence, consensual M/S sex and strong 
                  language)
Category:         Implied UST then MSR, Angst, Story/X-File
Classification:   XRA
Spoilers:         Not really, but up to mid-S7
Archive:          As long as my name and everything stays attached
Summary:          An old case of Mulder's resurfaces seeking revenge

Disclaimer:       Alas, not mine.  They belong to Chris Carter and 
                  1013 Productions

Dedication:       To true friendship, through thick and thin.  
                  Thanks, T.

Warning:          This story contains some scenes of violence, a
                  rape attempt, implied character death, references
                  to incest, and graphic sex.




Revenge Part 12 of 29
by Lovesfox





Walter Reed Memorial Hospital
4:00 pm

Margaret Scully sat quietly at her post beside Dana's bed.  She had 
been there for the last couple of hours, watching and waiting.  Dana 
lay so still and pale, her chest rising rhythmically to the motions 
of the ventilator, and it hurt to see her so.

The shock of the lurid bruises stark on her face and arms had worn 
off, and she could look at them now without flinching, although her 
heart ached to see evidence of the pain her baby must have 
experienced at the hands of that...Her mind halted there, she had 
always hated to swear.  Yet 'bastard' was the word that had 
immediately come to mind on first sight of her daughter's bruised 
and battered face.

When she had first arrived at the Intensive Care Unit, the duty 
nurse had asked her to wait for a few minutes, telling her that 
they were just checking Dana's vitals.  Not long after that, another 
nurse had exited the private room, carrying what looked like a 
sterile cloth-covered tray.  She wondered what had been in the tray; 
she had always thought that checking vitals meant taking blood 
pressure and pulse.  She had shrugged then, telling herself it was 
probably blood work, and that they covered it up in order not to 
distress other patients or family members.

Margaret shook her head slightly, and fought back a yawn.  She was 
tired, and her back was starting to ache.  She even thought she 
might be a little hungry.  Dana had not moved once since she had 
been there, not even when she had kissed her brow and squeezed her 
hand.  

She had whispered to Dana that Fox would be there soon, and that he 
missed her very much.  She had hoped that at the mention of Fox, 
Dana would react somehow, but she had not.  Logically, she knew Dana 
was deeply sedated, but a small part of her had hoped for some small 
sign.  

Her eyes drifted over Dana again, taking in the paleness that only 
served to emphasize the bruises on her cheek, the gauze bandages 
around her neck, which the nurse had told her covered what looked 
like rope burns, more gauze wrapped around both wrists, also 
covering wounds from ropes, to the blankets drawn to her daughter's 
waist.  She wondered what bruises and marks were hidden beneath 
those blankets.  

The doctor had been in not too long again, and had reiterated that 
Dana had no broken bones or serious lacerations, just some more 
bruising and abrasions.  It had not comforted her any.

A sound at the door had her looking up, to see Mr. Skinner, standing 
hesitantly in the doorway.  She smiled faintly and beckoned him 
inside.  He came in slowly, and stood beside her, staring down at 
Dana.  Margaret could see the shock and anger on his face as he took 
in her daughter's condition, and was surprised by the surge of anger 
that ran through her.  Why did Dana have to suffer so?

"Any change?" he asked softly, one hand coming out to lightly stroke 
Dana's hand, lying alongside her body.  "She's cold," he remarked, 
and let his hand rest fully atop Dana's, as if to warm it.

"No, nothing," Margaret replied, staring down at the large hand 
that completely covered Dana's much smaller one, seeing again his 
compassion and tenderness toward her daughter.  "The doctor was here 
earlier and he said that this was normal.  That she would be out of 
it for some time."

Skinner nodded, seeming unsurprised, and Margaret guessed in his 
position that he had witnessed similar scenes many times.  "Are 
you hungry, Mrs. Scully?"  he asked then.

"Actually, I am," she replied, smiling faintly at him, slightly 
ashamed that she could think of food while Dana lay here bruised 
and hurt.

"I am too," he said.  With a final squeeze of Dana's still fingers, 
he held out his hand to her.  "Let's get something to eat, shall 
we?"

Margaret nodded and allowed him to help her to her feet.  She moved 
the chair aside and bent to kiss Dana's cheek, whispering, "I'll be 
back soon, baby."  She lifted her coat, and was not surprised when 
Mr. Skinner's hands were there to help her put it on.  She lifted 
her purse and he gestured for her to go first, his long arm reaching 
out to open the door for her to walk through.  

With one last look over her shoulder at Dana she walked through, Mr. 
Skinner at her heels.

***

7:00 pm

Skinner walked down the hallway to Mulder's room with Mrs. Scully at 
his side.  After eating at a nearby restaurant, he had convinced her 
to go for a little walk to get some air.  He was relieved to see she 
was no longer as pale, and that she seemed much more refreshed now.  

They had decided to check on Mulder once more before Mrs. Scully 
would go upstairs to see Dana.  Knowing Mulder's intense dislike of 
hospital food, Skinner had bought him a submarine sandwich, which 
was currently tucked inside his jacket to be smuggled inside.

Reaching the door, he pushed it open, gesturing for Mrs. Scully to 
go first.  An empty bed greeted them, the sheets and blankets 
pushed aside.  Skinner cursed, and then his cheeks reddening 
slightly, apologized to Mrs. Scully for his outburst.  She told him 
it was all right.  

It hit him then.  Mulder had probably snuck out to go see Scully.  
Skinner was surprised it had taken him this long.  With a last 
glance around the room he said, "I think I know where he'll be."

Mrs. Scully had a tender smile on her face.  "So do I.  He's gone 
to see Dana."

Skinner took the sandwich out of his jacket and put it inside the 
drawer of the little night table beside the bed.  He didn't want 
to carry it throughout the hospital.  With one last look around 
the room, he headed for the door, holding it open once again for 
Mrs. Scully.

As they walked down the hallway to go to the elevators, passing 
the nurses station, he mused quietly, "I guess he must have snuck 
out after the last time he was checked by the nurses.  It doesn't 
seem like they know he's missing yet."

Mrs. Scully nodded her agreement.  "Something tells me Fox has 
had a lot of experience sneaking around.  Dana doesn't tell me 
much about the cases they work on, but I know they can be 
dangerous."

Skinner kept his face blank, and non-committal, and declined to 
answer.  

In moments they were on the elevator, going up to the third floor.  
After the doors opened, they turned left and went through a set 
of double doors into the Intensive Care Unit.  They had to pass 
the nurses station to get to Dana's room, and the nurse sitting 
at the desk looked up as they did.  Mrs. Scully smiled, and the 
nurse smiled back.  Skinner assumed she remembered Mrs. Scully 
from earlier.  They walked a few more paces and then turned right.

Both halted in their tracks.

Mulder was there, outside Dana's room.  He was dressed in hospital 
pajamas and slippers, and his head was bent so that his forehead 
just touched the door.  His bandaged hands were up, resting on the 
wood surface as well.  He did not move.

Skinner rushed forward, gasping, "Mulder?  Are you all right?"  
When he reached the agent's side, he reached out a tentative hand 
and placed it on Mulder's shoulder.

Mulder flinched at the contact, and slowly pulled his head up.  His 
eyes were tortured, his face drawn and sad.  His hair was spiked in 
every direction, and he weaved slightly on his feet.  "Scully," he 
whispered in a thick voice.

"Mulder, you shouldn't be up here.  The doctor wanted you to wait 
until tomorrow.  You should be resting," Skinner said, keeping his 
voice low, not wanting to attract any attention.  He was fairly 
certain that Mulder was under the influence of his medication, and 
marveled that he had managed to get up here in his condition.

"Had to see Scully," Mulder mumbled, and weaved again.  His knees 
started to sag, and Skinner moved quickly to support him.  Mrs. 
Scully had joined them, and she stood at Mulder's other side, her 
arms also helping to hold him up.

Skinner glanced quickly both ways down the hallway.  No one was 
visible right now, but he knew it would only be a matter of time 
before a nurse or doctor saw them.  The ICU was a busy department.  

He made a decision, and pushed the door to Scully's room open with 
his back, pulling Mulder inside.  He guided the agent to a chair and 
helped him sit down.

Mulder's eyes immediately sought out Scully, and his breath audibly 
whooshed out of his lungs when he saw her, pale and still on the 
bed, surrounded by machines, tubes and wires snaking from her body.  
"Scully?" he whispered again.  He struggled to his feet, and Skinner 
braced himself to catch him if he fell, but he did not.  

Mulder shuffled to the bed, stopping by Scully's head, and Skinner 
watched as he looked her over, saw his shoulders tense when he took 
in her condition.  

"Oh, Jesus, Scully, I'm so sorry," Skinner heard him say.  Mulder 
bent slowly and brushed a kiss on the cheek unmarked by bruises.  
"I'm here, Scully.  Please get better.  I have so much I have to 
tell you."

Skinner heard Mrs. Scully sniffle, but kept his gaze on Mulder.  He 
watched as Mulder awkwardly stroked Scully's hair with one bandaged 
hand.  He felt like an intruder, spying on Mulder's grief, but knew 
he should not leave Mulder alone.  

"Mulder, we've got to get you back downstairs," Skinner said, 
loathing himself for interrupting him, but knowing it was necessary.

Mulder nodded, and with one last stroke of Scully's hair, and a 
final press of his lips on her cheek, he pulled away.  "I'll be back 
tomorrow, Scully.  I promise."

Skinner took Mulder's elbow and looked at Mrs. Scully, whose tear-
filled eyes went from her daughter to Mulder.  "Mrs. Scully, I'll 
take Mulder back downstairs.  You stay with Dana.  I'll come back in 
a little while, take you..." he stopped.  She had not packed a bag.  
Where could she stay?

Mrs. Scully had picked up on why he had stopped.  "I'd like to stay 
here tonight.  In case she wakes up.  Maybe you could take me to 
Dana's apartment tomorrow, I have a key."  She went to Mulder and 
kissed him on the cheek.  "Fox, you get some rest.  I'm staying with 
Dana, she'll be just fine."

Skinner replied, "If you're sure, Mrs. Scully.  I'll check back on 
you later."  He stopped again, and the muscle in his jaw flexed.  

At last check with Powell, there had still been no sign of Elliot 
Andercott.  Neither Mulder nor Scully was safe.  He would have to 
arrange a 24-hour guard for both.  He was angry with himself for 
not thinking of it sooner.  He had let his worry and concern for 
Mulder and Scully override his common sense.  

"Mrs. Scully," he began, and paused yet again.  He did not want to 
alarm her, but she had to know.  "We still haven't apprehended the 
man who did this to Dana, so I'm going to post an agent outside her 
door, and one for Mulder, okay?  I'm going to take Mulder back to 
his room and make the arrangements.  I will introduce you to the 
agent as soon as they get here.  In the meantime, I'm going to call 
hospital security, and have them wait here until the agent arrives."

Mrs. Scully blanched a little at his words, but nodded.  "Thank-you, 
Mr. Skinner," she replied and moved to pull the chair Mulder had 
vacated closer to Dana's bed.  She sat down, and her hand came up to 
rest on her daughter's, lying still on the bed.

Skinner helped Mulder out of the room, and guided him down the 
hallway to the nurse's station.  He stopped there, and saw the 
nurse's eyes widen in surprise at seeing a patient with him.  Her 
mouth opened, but he interrupted her.  He pulled his ID badge out 
of his pocket and said, "I need to use your phone to call Security."

He knew the nursing staff had more than likely been briefed on 
Scully's status, and she did not hesitate.  She picked the phone up, 
dialed a number, and handed him the receiver.  A male voice answered 
the rings, saying, "Security."  

He quickly gave his name and title, and a brief explanation, telling 
the man guards were needed outside Scully's room in ICU and Mulder's 
room in the Emergency Department.  He listened as the man promised 
to get right on it, and hung up the telephone.  He thanked the 
nurse, and asked her for a wheelchair for Mulder, who had begun to 
sway.

She moved with alacrity, coming around the station to get one from 
just around the corner, bringing it to them and helping Mulder into 
it.  She even went and got a blanket, tucking it gently around 
Mulder's shoulders.

Skinner had decided to wait in the ICU department until the security 
guard arrived, and then take Mulder back to his room.  Once the 
agent was settled, with security guard in place, he had some phone 
calls to make.

***

Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Emergency Ward, Mulder's Room
Monday
7:00 am


Mulder slid his feet to the floor and stretched tired, aching 
muscles before slowly shuffling to the door.  He pulled it open 
and poked his head out, to see Agent Traci Reynolds still sitting 
on the leather-backed chair that had been her post for the night.

She looked up at the sound, still alert, although her eyes were 
red and tired-looking.  "Agent Mulder?" she asked.  "Is anything 
wrong?"

He shook his head and went back in his room.  He had been hoping 
to see Skinner around, to ask the AD if there had been any news 
of Elliot Andercott.  He knew it was too early to go up and see 
Scully, even though he had been lying awake waiting since at least 
five.  As well, there was his promise, grudgingly given, to Skinner 
that he would not go up to her room without him.

He had gotten little sleep, the sounds of the hospital too 
difficult to ignore, as well as being plagued by more dreams of 
Scully.  This time they were far from pleasant.  Over and over 
again he saw her bruised face and still body as she lay in the ICU. 
These visions were interspersed with images of Elliot hitting her, 
his body pressing down on hers.  

Mulder clenched his jaw, and thrust the images that tried to form 
again out of his head.  Scully was here, and she was safe.  And 
when they got out of the hospital, he was not leaving her side.

He paced back and forth in the small, square-shaped room.  There 
was a sound at the door, and he turned, almost a little too quickly, 
feeling his head spin a little in reaction, to reveal the night 
nurse.  

She smiled at him, saying cheerily, "Here's your breakfast, Agent 
Mulder."  With swift, light steps she carried the covered tray to 
the rolling table and placed it on top.  She gestured for him to 
get back on the bed, watching with narrowed eyes as he made his 
way there.  "You're still in some pain," she commented.  "I just 
need to check your vitals."

He climbed onto the mattress, letting his feet dangle towards the 
floor.  "It's not too bad," he replied.  "Just got a little dizzy 
when I moved too fast."  

He watched as she withdrew a stethoscope from the pocket of her 
little happy-faced decorated blazer and set about taking his pulse 
and blood pressure, with the cart he hadn't seen her wheel in 
with the tray.  She checked his temperature next, and he gathered 
by her smile that all was normal.

"Eat up, Agent Mulder," she called over her shoulder as she left his 
room.

He pulled the table a little closer, and with some apprehension, 
removed the lid.  A piece of dry toast and a bowl of some lumpy, 
gray substance that he thought might be oatmeal greeted him.  There 
was a cup with steam rising from it as well, and he pulled it 
closer, hoping it was coffee.  

No such luck.  Removing the lid revealed hot water, and he looked 
about on the tray, spying a forlorn-looking tea bag almost shoved 
under his plate.  Not even a juice in sight.

Sighing, he dunked the tea bag in the hot water and made an 
unenthusiastic cup of tea.  His teeth crunched methodically through 
the dry toast, and he gave up after only two bites.  The tea was 
equally as unappetizing as the toast.  He wasn't even going to 
attempt the questionable oatmeal.  With another sigh, he pushed the 
table away and swung his legs back onto the bed.  He lowered his 
head to the lumpy pillow and stared at the stain-marked ceiling.

He could only hope that when Skinner arrived, he would be carrying 
contraband in the form of an Egg McMuffin and hash browns just like 
the submarine sandwich the AD had sneakily given to him last night.

***

8:00 am

Skinner strode out of the elevator and down the hall to the 
Emergency Department.  He had checked in briefly with Mrs. Scully 
first, and she was going to wait in the ICU until he brought Mulder 
up to see Scully.  

He was then going to take her to Scully's apartment so she could 
get some rest.  He had realized it would be wise to post an agent 
with Mrs. Scully as well, particularly as she would be staying at 
a place they knew Andercott had already been in, and had called to 
arrange for one to meet them there for nine.  They had never found 
Scully's keys either, and he made a mental note to himself to have 
the locks changed on her apartment as well.

In one hand was a deli bag, with an egg sandwich and a juice for 
Mulder, and in the other he held a small duffle bag with a change 
of clothing for the agent.  As he approached, he nodded at the two 
agents standing outside Mulder's door.  Agent Reynolds was filling 
in her replacement, Agent Marks, while stifling a yawn behind her 
hand.  

"Anything to report?" Skinner asked, coming to a stop before them.

"No, Sir," Reynolds replied.  "Quiet all night."  She started to 
turn away and then turned back.  "Agent Mulder has been up for some 
time."

"Thank-you, Agent Reynolds.  I believe Agent Mulder is to be 
released today, check in with Kimberley this afternoon, you may have 
a new post," Skinner ordered.

"Yes, Sir.  Goodnight, Sir," was her reply.  She walked slowly down 
the hall to the exit.

Skinner turned to Agent Marks and said, "I need to speak to Agent 
Mulder for a few minutes, and then we are going to take him upstairs 
to see Agent Scully."  He caught the agent's answering nod as he 
pushed open the door to Mulder's room.

Mulder had been lying on the bed, his eyes closed, but he sat up 
immediately upon hearing someone enter the room.  He started to 
rise, but Skinner waved him back down.  "Sit, Mulder.  I brought 
you something to eat, and after that, I'll take you upstairs to 
see Scully."  

He saw the flare in Mulder's eyes, and narrowed his own, 
warning the agent down.  Mulder subsided, and Skinner plopped the 
deli bag on the little table and slid it over to Mulder's bed.

As Mulder opened the paper bag, somewhat eagerly though with 
difficulty, Skinner noted, he held up the duffle bag, saying, "I 
brought you a change of clothes and some toiletries.  I haven't 
spoken to the doctor yet to confirm if you're being released today.  
Have you seen him yet?"

Mulder shook his head around a mouthful of sandwich and then 
swallowed. He opened his mouth to speak, but the door being pushed 
open had him pausing, and both men turned to look.

Coincidentally, it was Dr. Cray.  In his hands were two charts. 
"Good morning, gentlemen," he said, nodding at Skinner, who nodded 
back.  He flicked through one of the charts, his lips moving 
silently.  He looked up and said, "Well, Agent Mulder, everything 
seems to check out, so I'll be releasing you shortly.  The nurse 
will come in a few minutes to change the dressings on your hands, 
and I recommend you see your personal physician to have them 
checked out again in a few days."

Skinner saw Mulder frown as he chewed, and knew instantly the 
agent was thinking of Scully.  She was Mulder's personal physician.  
He made yet another mental note to himself; this one to take Mulder 
to get his hands looked at.  Skinner watched as the doctor switched 
to the other chart, wondering if it was Scully's.

He was correct.  "Agent Skinner?  Is that the correct title?" 
the doctor began.  He did not wait for Skinner to reply, merely 
continued on.  "I saw Agent Scully earlier this morning, and she 
had a very quiet night."  

Skinner knew this already, Mrs. Scully had told him.  The doctor 
continued paused, flipping to another page in the chart, before 
continuing,  "I'm afraid to say that the rape kit we performed on 
Agent Scully was rather inconclusive. There was no trace of semen, 
nor tearing or bruising inside.  Nor was there any other trace 
evidence.  As I mentioned previously, there were abrasions and 
bruises on her inner thighs, which could be consistent with sexual 
assault.  I'm afraid you'll have to wait until Agent Scully is 
awake to ask her."

It was difficult to hear the doctor speak so clinically of the 
possibility of Scully's rape, when the very thought had his fists 
clenching in rage.  Skinner kept his face calm by sheer force of 
will, with only that telltale ticking of his jaw muscle betraying 
his emotional turmoil.  "Thank-you, Dr. Cray," he said.  He 
watched the doctor leave the room, and then looked over at Mulder.

The agent had shoved his half-eaten sandwich aside, and was staring 
straight ahead, blank-faced and unblinking.  As Skinner stepped 
closer, concerned, Mulder's head swiveled to meet his gaze, his 
hazel eyes pinning Skinner to the spot.  

"I'm fine," Mulder gritted out in a voice that was still a little 
hoarse.  He then slid off the bed and moved over to where Skinner 
had placed the duffle bag on one of the chairs.  "I'm going to 
get dressed and after the nurse comes, I'd like to go see 
Scully," he said as he walked into the tiny attached bathroom.  

Skinner said nothing, shoulders braced for the slam of the door.  
It did not come, Mulder had shut the door quietly.  He moved over 
to the other chair and sat down to wait for Mulder.

***

8:15 am

Mulder stepped out of the bathroom after a difficult struggle to 
get dressed.  Thankfully Skinner had brought easy maintenance 
clothes, supplying him with a tee shirt and sweatpants.  There would 
have been no way in hell he would have asked the AD to button up his 
jeans.  

Brushing his teeth and hair had also been quite a chore, and he 
had barely managed to wet a cloth and swipe it over his face.  His 
stubble was dark on his cheeks and jaw, but shaving was something 
else that would have to wait.

Skinner was sitting in the chair by the bed, and looked up when 
Mulder came back into the room.  Mulder saw the man's eyes scan him 
from head to toe, stopping at his running shoes, which were on but 
untied.  

"Would you like me to tie those?" the AD asked gruffly, gesturing at 
the laces trailing on the floor.

Mulder nodded, resigned to being somewhat handicapped for a day or 
two, and Skinner got up from his seat, indicating with a nod that he 
wanted Mulder to sit on it instead.  He complied, first dropping the 
duffle bag on the floor beside the chair, and the AD knelt and 
swiftly tied his laces.  

"Thanks," he muttered, trying not to sound ungrateful.  

Skinner nodded in reply and had just stood again when the nurse 
entered the room.

It was a new nurse, not the one who had brought him breakfast.  "Hi, 
Agent Mulder," she said with a smile.  "I'm Ashley, and Dr. Cray 
wants me to change the dressings on your hands.  Could you sit up 
on the bed, please?"

Mulder rose from the chair and got back on the bed.  Ashley pushed 
the table over in front of him, and he laid his bandaged hands on 
it.  She quietly and gently unwrapped each hand, touching the palms 
of both with careful fingers.  He managed to hold in a hiss of pain 
and then looked at them curiously.  

The palm of his left hand had what looked a little like a blister, 
reddened and puffy, while the right palm had two fairly shallow cuts 
across it.  There were also a few cuts on the backs of both hands.  
He barely remembered cutting them on the glass of the hospital 
window, and had no idea where the burn had come from.

"They look like they're healing nicely," Ashley remarked.  "I don't 
think I'll wrap them as much.  It'll make things a little easier for 
you as well."

She applied ointment to some of the wounds and put sterile pads on 
both the palms and the backsides of each hand, wrapping them with 
gauze.  After taping them up, leaving his fingers free, she patted 
him on one forearm.  

"There you go, Agent Mulder.  You're all set.  The doctor has your 
discharge papers at the nurse's station, and you're free to go."  
She gathered up the discarded wrappings and her supplies and headed 
for the door.  She pulled it open and then paused, saying, "Don't 
forget to get those hands looked at in a few days, okay?"

Mulder nodded, seeing Skinner do the same out of the corner of his 
eye, and slid off the bed once more.  "Scully," he said, prepared 
to argue.  

Skinner merely nodded again and scooped the duffle bag off the 
chair.  He indicated with a lift of his chin for Mulder to proceed, 
and Mulder headed out the door, Skinner behind him.

They started down the hallway, Agent Marks trailing behind after a 
gesture from Skinner.

Mulder remained silent in the elevator, staring at the floor 
indicator as it lit each number.  His heart was thumping almost 
painfully in his chest.  

The news from Dr. Cray that she had had a quiet night had sent 
an enormous surge of relief through him.  He had been so afraid she 
would...he hated even thinking it, but he had been afraid she would 
die, and he wouldn't have been there.

The elevator ride seemed interminable, although in reality it was 
only minutes.  They walked through the ICU department, and Mulder 
saw the nurse at the station look up, about to speak, and then stop 
when she saw Skinner.  He still remembered the way to her room, 
even though his first trip up had been a hazy one, and in moments 
was standing before her door.  

Skinner quickly introduced him to the agent sitting there, and 
Mulder nodded before slowly pushing the door open.  

Mrs. Scully had also been sitting, her chair next to Dana's bed, 
and she stood up when she saw Mulder.  

He saw that her hair was slightly disheveled and there were lines 
of weariness on her face.  "Fox!" she exclaimed.  "How are you 
feeling?"  Her voice was the same however, warm and loving.

Mulder moved closer to her and sighed when her arms went around 
him in a gentle hug, lifting his own to return it.  "I feel fine, 
Mrs. Scully," he replied.  He was fully aware of the woman in his 
arms, but his eyes were focused entirely on the woman lying on 
the bed.  

Mrs. Scully patted him on the back and released him.  She turned 
back to Scully and touched her daughter's hand lightly.  "She's 
doing well, Fox," she said softly.   "She had a very quiet night, 
and the doctor said he would probably take the breathing tube out 
later today."

"Is she still sedated?" he asked, eyes traveling her face, trying 
to avoid the bruises there.  When Mrs. Scully's hand left Scully's, 
he replaced it with one of his, needing the contact.

"They kept her sedated through the night, but stopped it early 
this morning.  The doctor said she would probably stay out of it 
for a while longer though, while her body rests."  She reached her 
hand out once more, and patted his where it lay on Scully's.  
"She's going to be all right, Fox."

"Yes, she is, Mrs. Scully," Mulder replied.  In his head he was 
thinking, I hope so.  He knew Scully would have many fears and 
nightmares stemming from her ordeal, and that it would be a 
difficult process for her while she healed.  He avowed then and 
there to help her through each and every one, no matter how much 
she would try and hide it.  He was not going to let her push 
everything aside and bury herself in work.

Skinner had been silent, but finally spoke up.  "Mrs. Scully, I'll 
take you to Dana's place where you can get cleaned up and have a 
rest.  Mulder will be staying with her, I'm sure, and there will 
bbe an agent outside her door at all times."

Mrs. Scully stroked her hand down Mulder's arm and then moved to 
kiss Dana on the cheek.  "I'll be back later, baby," she said 
softly.  "Fox is here now, and he's going to sit with you for a 
while."  She gave Mulder a small smile and turned to Skinner.  
"Thank-you, Mr. Skinner."

Mulder watched the two leave, and then pulled the chair Mrs. 
Scully had been sitting on a little closer to the bed, so he could 
sit and hold Scully's hand easily.  

The morning flew by, and still he sat.  Nurses came and went, 
checking Scully's vitals, adjusting her IV, and other tubes and 
wires.  One even asked if he needed anything, to which he replied 
in the negative.

Mulder had slipped into a trance-like state, staring at his hand 
on hers for so long, and therefore missed the faint movement of 
her eyes beneath closed lids.  

The movements continued, became more rapid, and then her hand 
twitched beneath his.

Mulder was instantly alert, and jolted to his feet.  He squeezed 
her hand and leaned over her, eyes searching her face.  "Scully?" 
he whispered.  

He saw her eyes move, and then her eyelids slowly fluttered open.  
Mulder's heart skipped a beat before falling back into rhythm 
and then a grin stretched his face wide.

Scully was awake.

***

end Part 12 of 29