TITLE:  Once More From The Heart
AUTHOR:  salliejohns
EMAIL ADDRESS:  [email protected]
SPOILERS:  Triangle
RATING:  Should be fine for anyone
CLASSIFICATION:  Gentle MSR

SUMMARY:  Fluffy post-ep for Triangle

DISCLAIMER:  FOX, 1013, and Chris Carter-or some combination thereof-
own everything except the idea for this silly, little scenario.   

FEEDBACK:  Favorable feedback is cherished, acknowledged and saved
in a special folder

DEDICATION:  While this story isn't about an anniversary, it *is*
about love.  It's dedicated to my friend Gwen and her husband Tim,
on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary.  Way to go, guys!

Once More From The Heart by salliejohns

This time Dana Scully had really blown it--blown it big time.
Weren't FBI agents supposed to be fearless?  Well, not fearless
exactly, but brave certainly.  Scully however, hadn't been brave at
all.  When it came right down to it, when it was time to step up to
the plate, Scully had caved.  She hadn't turned and run actually, but
she'd come damn close to it.

Scully tried not to think about it, tried to put it out of her mind,
but it simply wasn't that easy.  She knew what she had to do to make
things right, if only in her own mind.  So at 9:30 PM, Scully took
off the warm fuzzy robe that she'd retreated into earlier in the
evening, pulled on a pair of jeans and a navy turtleneck, and headed
out into the night.

Visiting hours were long over by the time the cowardly g-woman
arrived at the hospital.  Since there was obviously no "official"
investigation in progress, Scully's FBI credentials did little to
gain her access to Mulder's floor, much less his room.  Luckily she'd
had the presence of mind earlier that day to make sure she was listed
as her partner's private physician in the hospital's database.

After only a few minutes and a couple of desultory questions, Dr.
Dana Scully was informed that everything seemed "in order," and she
was allowed to make her way down the hall to Mulder's room, although
not before being reminded that "Mr. Mulder is sleeping.  He needs his
rest."  Biting back her own terse rejoinder, Scully forged ahead with
her mission.  Hesitation might very well allow her to entertain
thoughts of retreat, and that surely wouldn't do for a fearless FBI
woman like herself.

Scully walked purposefully into her partner's room, and faltered.
Mulder was sleeping on his back, his mouth slightly open, his chest
rising and falling evenly.   Quickly and quietly, Scully checked his
chart.  She wasn't sure if she was surprised or relieved to find that
Mulder's I/V contained only normal saline for rehydration.  He had
received no pain relief medication since his admission, and the only
sedative administered was a mild sleeping pill at 9 PM.  When Scully,
Skinner and the Gunmen visited that afternoon, Mulder was on nothing
mind altering.  The words he had spoken had come from his heart.

Scully wasn't one for public displays of affection, but she knew she
had hurt Mulder that afternoon with her flip reply to his sweet
declaration of love.  She hadn't realized how much she had wanted to
hear those words until the moment had passed.  It was time, high
time, to make things right.

Even though Mulder was asleep, Scully felt sure that on some level
her message would be heard.  Bending low to whisper in his ear,
Scully drew a deep breath.  "I love you too, Mulder.  I guess I've
been fighting to keep from acknowledging the feeling, even to
myself."  Sealing her oath with a tiny kiss to his temple, Scully
turned and quietly left the room.

fin