No particular spoilers, as this is a stand-alone fantasy inspired by a beautiful photograph of David Duchovny that was passed around the group.

Ignoring the bustle of the hospital personnel, the white-haired woman wove her way down the hallway. She paused at the door of the ICU waiting room, as if to gather her courage. Sighing deeply, she pushed the door open and stepped in.

The only other occupant of the room was asleep curled in a corner of the couch. She would have been lovely if she had slept more than an hour or two in the last few days. She was dressed in rumpled slacks, with an oversized sweater covering her upper body. Glowing auburn hair fell over her face, and she clutched a small leather photo book in her hand.

The older woman crossed the room, and sat on the chair next to her. Gently she touched the photo book, and meeting no resistance, slid it out of the younger woman’s hand. Turning the pages, she began to silently weep.

The sleeping woman suddenly sighed, and her hand moved back and forth. Her eyes opened, and widened as she saw the older woman next to her. She pulled herself up and sat up.

"Mrs. Mulder," she gasped. "I didn’t know you were here . . . "

"It’s all right, Dana," the older woman replied. "Walter called me a few hours ago. He is down in the coffee shop with your mother and some other people."

"Mulder – is he?" She started to stand. Mrs. Mulder put her hand out and gently pushed her back on the couch.

"There’s no change. I checked on him before I came here. Dana, I know I haven’t been much of a friend to you, and I regret that. It’s just that with Fox being so hostile to me in the last few years, I didn’t really feel like I could just pick up the phone and chat."

Scully managed a slight smile. "I know, Mrs. Mulder, and I should have been the one to call. There’s no excuse for the oversight, and now . . . " She began to rummage through her pockets, looking for a tissue.

Mrs. Mulder took out a handkerchief, and handed it to her. "Dana, please call me Teena. It’s silly for us to be so formal."

Scully accepted the handkerchief with a smile. "All right, Teena. Did you say my mom was here? Where are the kids?"

"I believe she said someone named Tara had them. Is that your sister?" she asked.

"No, it’s my sister-in-law, my brother Bill’s wife. Is Bill here?" Scully looked around the room. She noticed the photo book in Teena’s hand, and reached for it.

"Sorry, I just wanted to see what you were clutching so closely. No, your brother isn’t here, but there are three strange men sitting with your mother." She sighed. "There are photos in there that I haven’t seen in years. Where did you find them?"

Scully opened the book, and gazed at a photo. "These were photos that Mulder was trying to throw away one day. I confiscated them. He laughs at me for keeping them." She showed one photo to Teena. "This is my favorite of all. He is so young in the photo, and he looks so healthy. If I could just get him that healthy again . . . "

Mrs. Mulder took the book and looked at the photo. It showed a younger Mulder, in a white sleeveless undershirt, chewing on a piece of grass. His color was that of a young boy, although this was definitely a man. This wasn’t a man who spent days in a basement office. This man ran outdoors and played sports, and had a zest for life. She closed the book and handed it back to Scully.

"That photo was taken on Martha’s Vineyard, one summer years ago. I believe the photographer was a neighbor, who had an attraction for Fox. Poor thing never had a chance with him. But she was a good photographer."

Scully opened the book and looked at it once again. "I wish I had known him then. It’s a beautiful picture. " She looked up as another visitor came into the room. "Maybe I should go check on Mulder. What time is it?"

"Dana, your mother said the doctor would come here with news. You don’t want to be away from here in case he comes in." She looked at her wristwatch. "It’s 3:45 a.m. Do you want a cup of coffee?"

Scully shook her head. "No, I have already had more coffee than any human could possibly ingest." She looked down at the floor, and when she raised her head again, bright tears were standing in her eyes. "I just wish I had gone with him on this investigation."

"Why, so you could be lying there in that operating room also? I wish neither of you did this kind of work!" Mrs. Mulder was angry. "Think of your children! What happens if both of you get ki . . ."

Scully stared at her, and burst into tears.

"Oh my, I’m so sorry, come here Dana." Mrs. Mulder moved onto the couch, and put her arms around Scully. They both were sobbing as the door opened and the surgeon came into the room.

He cleared his throat. "Mrs. Mulder?"

Both women jumped up and said in unison, "Yes, I’m Mrs. Mulder!"

"Umm, Mrs. Fox Mulder?" he asked tentatively.

Scully stepped toward him. "I’m Mrs. Fox Mulder. Do you have any news?"

The doctor smiled briefly. "Yes, Mr. Mulder just came out of surgery, and he is doing well. He is conscious and asking for ‘Scully’. Is that you?"

Before he could finish his sentence, Scully was out of the room and headed down the hall. The doctor picked up a small book she dropped and handed it to a smiling Teena. He raised his eyebrows in a question. She took the book from his hand.

"Do you want to see? It’s just a photograph!"