Shred of Doubt (9/9)
Jo-Ann Lassiter and
Vickie Moseley   

Scully didn't even give it a thought before racing toward the buildings. 

** 

"Feeling better, Fox?" Maggie asked from the doorway.  

Mulder nodded, rubbing his forehead. "Yeah, I got hold of her. She said she thinks I'm right, that she'll head over to the greenhouse. I just don't know why it just clicked in my mind, seeing that old greenhouse, the fake roses, it all just suddenly became clear. The guy was tossing the clue right in my face and I never saw it." He sat down tiredly on the edge of the sofa bed.  

"Maybe we should put the bandages back on, just until Dana has a chance to look at your eyes," Maggie suggested with a worried frown.  

"Actually, she already did look at them, when she was here. She said they were healing. And to be honest, now that the dressings are off, I'm seeing a little better," he lied. He hated the bandages; there was no way he was going to be trussed up again if he could avoid it.  

"Well, why don't you take a nap? You look exhausted," Maggie suggested. "Tara and I have to run out to the mall to do a little shopping; we're taking Matty with us so the house will be quiet. Use this time to rest, Fox. You know you're going to be needing it soon enough."  

He nodded; it was good advice. Lying down, he could hear Maggie and Tara gathering their purses and taking Matty out to the car. When the engine of Tara's SUV roared to life and pulled out of the driveway, he felt relieved and sleepy in the now silent house. He turned on his side and curled up on the bed, trying to imagine that Scully was there with him, spooning with him, just sleeping. How much he wanted just to hold her, especially now that he'd seen those pictures.  

Maggie was right -- that wasn't the kind of picture you'd take of someone you were 'kissing goodbye'. It was a bedroom picture -- as close to erotic as he was likely to find Scully outwardly displaying. When in private, he knew better -- much better.  

He was drifting off, thinking of her. He could see her trying to convince Kresge that they needed to go to the new location. Of course, being the ass he was, Kresge would argue. Scully would argue back, but she would know time was of the essence.  

Time. Scully would know that they had to get to Kocin quickly. What if she couldn't get Kresge to see the truth? What if the asshole denied her back up? She'd made friends with the Sheriff, she'd told him, but would she bother with that?  

What if she went to the greenhouse alone?  

Mulder jerked up from the bed and compelled his eyes to focus. There was a film covering them and it took several blinks to make them clear enough for him to see. He pulled on his boots and searched for the bag that held the clothes he was wearing when he was taken to the hospital. His keys were in the bottom of the bag, along with the spare key to the rental car.  

A quick glance out the family room window was all he needed to convince himself to grab his sunglasses out of the bag as well. His gun -- he knew Scully would have secured it somewhere. He ran up the stairs to the spare room where she was staying. He found her suitcase in the bedroom closet and in a locked compartment found his service weapon. He also found his wallet and badge. Strapping on the holster and tucking the wallets in his back pockets, he hurried down to the rental car waiting for him in the driveway.  

He was halfway down the street when he remembered that Scully had her cell phone. He speed dialed her number at a stop light. It rang four times and then rolled over to her voice mail.  

"Scully -- I'm coming to the greenhouse. Don't do anything until I get there. I mean it, Scully. Don't do anything until I get there. I'm only 10 minutes away." Traffic started and he moved forward, the phone still plastered between his ear and shoulder. "He's dangerous, Scully. Don't do anything stupid. I love you. Bye."  

He tossed the phone down on the seat and turned his attention to the road. He had to blink a lot to get the film from his eyes, but at least he could see reasonably well.  

It had clouded up and the sky was a threatening shade of deep blues and grays by the time he pulled up to the old greenhouses. He searched the area and found no squad cars, no unmarked vehicles, nothing. Dread formed in his stomach. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and tried Scully's number again. This time it went directly to voice mail, indicating that it had either run out of charge -- or she'd turned it off.  

Something told him it was the latter. She'd gone off and done exactly what he usually did -- walked headlong into trouble. He cursed silently and shook his head. Of all the things to rub off on her, it had to be 'the ditch'. When he got hold of her -- he'd kiss her senseless just out of sheer relief. But after that, he'd let her have it.  

The complex was huge, made up of some 30 individual greenhouses arranged in rows of four and running back over at least several acres of land. The whole place reminded him just a little too much of the New Spartans' compound. He could still smell the earthy perfume as he was marched to his would-be execution. Mulder shuddered and tried to wipe the image from his mind. Not today. There would be no more death today, not if he could help it.  

As he stepped forward the sky opened up, drenching him to the bone by the time he made it between the first two buildings. Most of the glass roofs had broken panels and he could hear the rain pattering on the cement floors of the derelict structures.  

He heard a loud crash several rows ahead. He crouched low and ran as fast as he could. It was the most he'd moved in several days and by the time he reached the source of the sound, he was winded. Rain was streaming into his eyes, forcing him to wipe at them blindly with his free hand, keeping his gun arm extended in front of him. He heard another crash to his left and took off again. 

He was sure anyone passing by could hear his heart pounding in his chest and his ragged breathing. Damn it all, he'd been feeling better while he'd been at Bill and Tara's. Emotionally, he'd been a wreck, but physically, he'd almost convinced himself that he was doing better. Except for that whole pesky blindness thing, his little 'Scully' voice reminded him snidely. As if to prove that point, the wind blew something in his left eye and he doubled over from the pain. He tried to keep his fist from scrubbing at the abused orb. Rapid blinking did little to relieve the anguish. Finally, he was able to see, but his left eye was blurry at best.  

His eyesight wasn't the only thing working against him. The glass walls of the greenhouses were covered with years of dirt and grime, making them almost opaque. In one building to his right he could see movement, soft shadows in the dim light provided by the dark clouds. A struggle was taking place.  

"Federal Agent, freeze!" he shouted as he shouldered his way into the poorly lit building. He could just make out Scully trying to break free from Kocin. She looked up at his voice, her eyes wide.  

"Mulder, look out -- the place is rigged!" she cried out, but it was too late. Something large and heavy dropped from one of the cross beams above his head and he dropped to his knees, stunned.  

"I'll take that, if you don't mind," Kocin purred as he snatched Mulder's gun from his nerveless fingers. "Get up," the killer ordered the dazed agent.  

Mulder blinked slowly and complied with much effort. In a moment, he was standing next to Scully. "Your gun?" he asked.  

"He's got it." She turned her head so she could show her partner the matching bruise she wore. "There are booby traps all over this place," she said with a bitter scowl.  

"Not booby traps, Agent Scully. Prestidigitation. Everything here in this structure is meant to make the audience shiver -- maybe even scare one or two to death," Kocin giggled manically. He moved behind Mulder and tied his hands behind his back, doing the same to Scully. "Now, if you both would be so kind," he instructed with the pointing of the gun. "I have a little magic trick I've just been dying to try."  

Mulder hung back a step, putting himself closer to Kocin. He stumbled, on purpose, as if he'd slipped on the wet cement floor, and went down on one knee. Kocin bent down to grab him and Mulder's elbow shot out, knocking Kocin off balance. The agent took that opportunity to grab for Scully's gun that he saw sticking out of the murderer's waistband.  

The struggle was fierce but short-lived. The killer knocked the weapon out of Mulder's reach and brought the butt of the gun in his hand down on the agent's head. Mulder saw stars for a moment and then felt the muzzle of Scully's gun shoved hard against his temple.  

"I think the audience is getting a little rowdy. I wouldn't want to have to call the ushers, Agent Mulder," Kocin growled through his teeth. "Get up. Any more stunts like that and the first bullet goes through that pretty red hair over there."  

Mulder nodded mutely and allowed Kocin to drag him to his feet. The would-be magician pushed him toward his partner.  

"Did you call for backup?" Mulder whispered hoarsely in her ear.  

"Twenty minutes ago," she whispered back.  

Mulder glared at her. He'd been on the property for well over 20 minutes and there were no sirens, no squad cars -- no back up.  

She blinked. "Give or take."  

He rolled his eyes. And then he saw where they were headed.  

All the planting tables had been shoved to the walls to make room for the object that was the center of attention. It was a glass box. He was positive he'd seen David Blaine in just such a box on some magic special. Six feet high, two feet wide, three feet deep -- and water-tight. There was a stepladder next to it.  

"Ladies first -- Agent Scully, if you please," Kocin said congenially. Scully hesitated until Kocin placed the muzzle of the gun at base of Mulder's skull. "Don't even think about it," he warned with a slimy grin.  

Without taking her eyes off her partner, Scully moved up the ladder and then jumped down into the box, as well as she could with her hands bound. Mulder soon followed suit, trying hard not to land on her feet as he jumped down into the box. "Cozy," he whispered in her ear and she shot him a glare, but her eyes twinkled at his gesture.  

"This is a really amazing trick, I want you to fully understand how it works. I put the lid on, like so -- oh, duck a bit there Agent Mulder, I wouldn't want to catch your hair in the lid -- that's right," Kocin chattered as he locked them in the box. "Now, here comes the fun part." The killer scampered off the ladder and ran over to a corner of the greenhouse. With great ceremony he turned on a faucet. Mulder felt something cold at his feet. They both looked down only to find the box filling with water.  

"Now, I know it's not the 'sawing the lady in half' trick that I've been perfecting, but I think it's spontaneous enough to be a show stopper," Kocin prattled. "But you see, I really must be going now. So sorry I can't stick around for your big finale." With a flippant salute, he exited the structure.  

"I think I saw this movie, Scully. James Bond managed to turn the box into a yacht and they sailed for Bermuda," Mulder quipped as he struggled with the ropes tying his hands.  

"Mulder, turn around. Maybe I can get you loose," Scully ordered. They both tried, but the box was too tight. Their shoulders prevented them from changing positions too much.  

"Stop, Scully, stop. Besides, the water's rising," Mulder pointed out.  

She looked up and met his eyes. "Mulder, I -- "  

"Shhh," he chided. "Scully, I want you to know -- "  

"I love you!" she blurted out, surprising him. "I love you," she repeated, softer, and he was amazed by what he read in her eyes. God, how he'd missed seeing her eyes.  

He smiled at her. "I must say you have impeccable timing, Agent Scully." He rested his forehead against hers, never allowing his gaze to leave her eyes. "I love you, too. I can't remember when I didn't love you."  

"Oh, Mulder. I'm so sorry. I kept you at arm's length, and I can't even tell you why. I've loved you for so long, and when we finally got together it was wonderful! But then you got sick and I got scared and we came here and -- "  

"Scully, shut up. I'm trying to kiss you," he told her firmly and pressed his lips against hers, silencing her instantly. He was afraid she might pull back, but she surprised him and pressed closer, opening her lips and deepening the kiss.  

They were still kissing when the water reached their chins.  

** 

Mulder jerked up from their kiss, and Scully panicked as water quickly took his place. "Mu -- " was as far as she got as liquid filled her mouth, and she spluttered the rest of his name. 

Standing on tiptoes gave her a temporary reprieve, but she knew it was only a matter of time. The only good thing was that she wouldn’t have to watch Mulder die. At this thought, she locked eyes with him. By the look in his eyes, she knew he'd had the same thought. 

"Scully, no!" Without warning, he ducked his head into the water, catching her under the chin. Using the water's buoyancy, he pushed her body upward, and her face out of the water. He then pinned her to the wall with his body so that their heads were level with each other at the very top of the box. "I'm sorry," he coughed out, "but I can't. I can't watch you die." 

"Mulder…" What could she say? She laid her head on his shoulder and kissed his neck. "I know. Neither can I."  

She didn't know how he found the strength to keep them both upright. Thanks to his little foray underwater, he was coughing almost continuously now, and his breathing -- when he could catch a breath -- was noisy and sounded painful. The water was hitting her ear on his shoulder, so she reluctantly removed it. Mulder's head was turned so he wouldn't cough on her, but she needed to see him, wanted to be looking at him as she drew her last breath. 

"Look at me." 

He shook his head frantically. "Can't," he grated out.  

"Mulder, we're going to be dead in about three minutes. I want to spend that time looking into your eyes." 

He barked out what sounded suspiciously like a laugh. "My… eyes… are closed. Won't… see much." 

"Then I want to see your face. Not the back of your head -- your face. Come on, look at me." 

He turned toward her, watering eyes incredulous. "Nice… vision of me… to take… to your… grave… Scully." 

"I'll take what I can get," she said, kissing his forehead, then pressing her cheek to his.  

After a few more seconds, his coughing spell passed, and she waited while he worked at getting his breathing calmed. She wondered how much damage he'd done to his eyes and lungs by rushing to get to her, even as she realized that at this point it didn't really matter. "Thank you," she whispered. 

He didn't say anything for a couple of seconds, then, "For what?" 

"Coming after me." 

"I'll always come after you, Scully. You know that." 

She did. And despite their circumstance, she smiled. "I count on it. I count on you." 

"And I, you. You always come after me, too, Scully." An expression of realization came over his face, and a smile curled his lips. "I guess that should have told me."  

"Told you what?" 

He was silent for a moment. "That you love me. That you aren't interested in Kresge." 

"God, no!" she said with all the emphasis she felt about that statement. "Whatever made you think that?" 

"He. . . well, he's interested in you, and you kind of seemed to, well. . . like it," he said, lamely, feeling stupid now that he knew the truth. 

"I guess I did at first, but I was never interested in him that way." 

"Why not?" 

Poor Mulder. Always in need of reassurance. "Beyond the obvious?" 

She could see that he was at a loss. Like any other male, he needed to have it spelled out for him. She smiled gently, her eyes conveying that she understood his confusion. "'The obvious' is that I love you. 'Beyond the obvious' is that he's irritating, condescending, and a sexist!" 

Mulder grinned. "Come on, Scully. Don't hold back. Tell me how you really feel." 

How she really felt was like her heart was about to explode. Or was that her lungs, since the water was now up to her nose? Mulder tried to push her higher, but there was no higher. His forlorn gaze bored into hers. 'I love you,' she told him with her eyes, and she read the same in his.  

She kept her eyes on his until he faded away. 

** 

Detective Kresge's car

En route to Rose Capital of the World 

Detective John Kresge was pissed. Totally and royally pissed off. Not ten minutes after she had walked out on him, John had received a courtesy call from San Diego county dispatch informing him that they were sending a car in response to a back-up request from Dana.  

What the hell was up with her? He'd tried to be everything her partner wasn't -- charming, attentive, thoughtful and protective -- but she didn't seem to appreciate it. She'd called him a pig, for Chrissakes! 

And now she was out at the old Rose Capital greenhouses for God knew what reason. The dispatcher didn't have any details, only the name of the officer requesting back-up and the location. Since county's records indicated that Dana was a federal officer working with SDPD and him in particular, the call was piped through to his cell phone. Was she crazy, going there alone? 

He repressed a shudder as the first building came into view. Even at the best of times, the old deserted buildings were spooky -- and twilight was definitely not the best of times. 

How on earth did she get out here? he wondered. There wasn't a car in sight. He felt a little guilty that he'd insisted on driving her and then letting her leave without caring how she was going to get herself back to her brother's. 

Parking beside the first building, he got out, closing the door carefully and quietly. If she was waiting for back-up, then where was she? He didn't need spidey sense to know something was wrong. 

"Dana!" he called in a hushed voice. "Dana! Where are you?" He wasn't really expecting her to reply, but he thought it wouldn't hurt to try. "Dana!" 

Swallowing hard, he entered the building closest to the road. It was eerily silent, and a cold chill ran up his spine. In that second, he gained a little respect for what Dana and her partner investigated on a regular basis. Danm. They had to be crazy to subject themselves to this all the time. 

He'd just come out of the second building when he saw a man emerge a few buildings down. The man saw him at the same time and made a run for another building. Kresge didn't know who the guy was, but the blood stains on the guy's shirt made the detective fear for Dana's life. "Hey!" Kresge called. "Police officer. Stop right there!" 

The guy was fast, Kresge'd give him that. He was out of sight before the detective had drawn his weapon. "Damn," he swore. He'd have to let the guy go so he could search the building the guy had exited. 

"Detective Kresge!" 

He whirled around towards the voice that had called his name. Doug Colter, his mind automatically supplied. Deputy Doug Colter. "Doug! The perp went into that building!" Kresge yelled, pointing to the greenhouse into which the man had disappeared. The detective scanned the area behind the deputy. "You come alone?" 

Colter trotted up to him, nodding. "Yeah. But Jim Greenville should be right behind me." 

Kresge nodded in approval. "Good. Wait till he gets here before you go after this guy. He may have already killed an officer," he reported with dread. "I'm gonna go check it out." 

Colter's eyes widened, but he said nothing. Good man, Kresge thought, running to his destination as fast as he could while still keeping an eye out for their suspect. He breathed a sigh of relief when he reached the building and moved around to the doorway out of the line of fire. 

Clearing a spot on the dirty glass, he peered in. When he caught sight of the two federal agents drowning in a glass box filled with water, he didn't hesitate. In the back of his mind, he knew he might be walking into a trap if their perp had an accomplice, but he dismissed it as something he'd deal with if he had to. 

In the meantime, though, he had to save Dana. 

Seeing Dana being held up by her partner, John aimed his weapon at the area below her feet and fired. But the glass was thick, and all his bullet did was create a very small leak. Taking aim again, John kept firing until finally he'd created a hole so large the force of the water pushed at it until it shattered. 

Dana and her partner collapsed to the ground and lay still. Kresge didn't even have to think about which one to help first. He knelt beside Dana, putting his mouth to her ear. Breathing, but barely.  

He pinched her nose closed, then placed his mouth over hers, filling her lungs with air. After a few breaths, she coughed and spit up a small amount of water. "Dana, you okay?" 

After a moment of disorientation, she met his eyes and nodded. 

Happy that she was all right, John quickly moved over to her partner, who was laying face down a few feet away. The male agent wasn't breathing, and as much as John disliked the man, he wouldn't let him die if he could help it.  

"Mulder. . ." Dana choked out. "Is he alive?" 

John shook his head. "He's not breathing." John flipped the agent until he was lying flat on his back, turning Mulder's face to one side. Kneeling astride the agent, John positioned his hands on Mulder's abdomen and thrust upward. Water spewed from the agent's mouth. John kept up the action until the agent's airway was clear of water, and the man began coughing. By that time, Dana was beside her partner, encouraging him to keep breathing. 

John moved away and took out his cell phone, punching in 911. Giving their location, he requested immediate backup and an ambulance, then turned his attention to Dana. She had her partner's head on her lap, and was gazing upon him with unabashed love in her eyes. Painfully aware of how disrespectfully her partner treated her, John felt embarrassed for her, to be displaying such an emotion to someone who didn't give a fig about her. 

Right then and there, John vowed never to mention the incident to her, ever. It'd be awkward enough once Mulder was back to his normal behavior; Dana didn't need to know that John was witness to her momentary lapse, that she'd allowed the hero worship she felt -- for whatever reason -- for this man to show. 

The thing was, though, when John took a look at the object of her affection, at the man John was so used to seeing with a scowl on his face or a biting remark on his lips. . . The thing was that he was giving her the look right back. 

John didn't understand what she saw in him, and he didn't understand how Mulder had kept it so well hidden, but he did understand that he'd never had a chance in hell. 

** 

Scully peeked out of the ER cubicle, looking both ways. She'd been pushed in the room upon her arrival at the hospital, promptly told to disrobe and don a thin gown and left there without any word on her partner. Mulder had been given oxygen at the scene and he'd appeared coherent but he'd been placed in a different ambulance and no amount of questions about his condition had produced any information. She'd been there over two hours and she was determined to find out what was going on. 

She spied her clothes in a bag under the gurney. It was just a few seconds to pull them on, slide her feet into her shoes and run her fingers through her hair. She glanced in the mirror. Her clothes were damp from their time in the glass box, and she sniffed at them, noting that they didn't smell too bad -- it had been clean water at least. She was more concerned about Mulder than about her current appearance, so she tiptoed out of the room. 

She hadn't gone two feet from her examination room when a hand landed on her shoulder. Scully spun around so fast she made herself dizzy and two hands gripped her upper arms. 

"Whoa there, Scully FBI," John Kresge said with a grin. "Shouldn't you be in bed?" 

"I'm trying to find where they took Mulder. I've been waiting in that damned room forever and no one will tell me how he is -- " 

"Slow down, I just came from seeing him. He's in room 7, right over there." Kresge pointed to the opposite corner of the large emergency department. Scully took off in that direction, but Kresge's hand on her arm brought her up short.  

"John, if you value your life, let go of me," she hissed. 

He put his hands up in surrender. "I just thought you might be interested in hearing what happened to Kocin and the last victim," he said with one eyebrow cocked. "Agent Mulder, if it will put your mind at ease, was taking a breathing treatment when I just saw him and he couldn't talk to you if he wanted to." 

She looked longingly over to the room where Mulder was housed and then gave Kresge her undivided attention. "You can tell me on the way over to Mulder's room," she told him as she started walking. Kresge had to double-time a couple of steps to catch up with her. 

"Right after you left in the ambulance, one of the Sheriff's deputies found Kocin. He was hiding in one of the greenhouses. We have him in custody -- solitary -- at the county jail awaiting arraignment tomorrow morning on 7 counts of murder -- " 

"And two counts of attempted murder _and_ assaulting two Federal Agents, I hope you managed to include," she interjected. "But what about the woman? I heard a scream when I got to the greenhouses. That's why I went in to find Kocin." 

Kresge pulled out his notebook and flipped to a page. "Carol Jo Vecchio, hairdresser, does make up for some of the acts at the Palace." He smiled at Scully. "She's alive. She was cut up, but apparently before he could finish the job he caught sight of you coming and left her for later. Knocked her out. She lost quite a bit of blood and has a concussion but the docs say she'll be able to testify against him." 

"So can Mulder and I," Scully reminded him. "Mulder can go through his profile for the prosecution." 

Kresge rolled his eyes but smiled sweetly. "Of course, it's all in the DA's hands at the moment, but suffice it to say, we are throwing the book at him. However, you'll have to come back to San Diego to testify." 

"John," she said, placing her hand on his chest. "We'll come back to testify, but I want you to understand something." 

"You won't be coming back to see me," Kresge said, attempting a boyish grin that didn't reach his eyes. "I saw . . . well, it doesn't matter what I saw. But I did see the two of you. I guess that means you and I -- " He shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe, under different circumstances?" 

"Not for the last seven years, no, John. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry if I led you to believe -- " 

"Oh, no, Dana, stop! Any presumptions were mine and mine alone. I just thought of you when this case came up and the last time you were here . . . and well, you're just about perfect in my eyes. I have to be honest, I can't see what you see in him, but I wish you the best." 

Scully tried hard not to blush, but impulsively she reached up on tiptoes and kissed Kresge on the cheek, right next to his mouth. "Thank you, John. And for what it's worth, I think I might be the only person on the planet to see the real Fox Mulder. I'm just sorry that he hides himself so completely. He's pretty perfect, too." 

Kresge shrugged again. "Well, I'd better get back to the station. I just wanted to make sure they were treating you right. Oh, and if you're up to it, we'll need a statement sometime soon. Just give me a call, I'll come by." 

"Thanks, John, but I'll probably just come down and do it. It would be easier on everyone." 

The detective nodded and sighed. "Whatever you think is best. Goodbye, Scully FBI." 

"Bye, John. And thank you for rescuing us." She took his hand and gave it a squeeze before he proceeded down the hall. 

Mulder was sitting up on the gurney, in his mouth was a plastic pipe attached to tubing and a hissing machine. From his less than happy expression, she could see he'd witnessed her conversation with Kresge -- and the kiss she'd bestowed on the detective. It was time to set a few things straight, again. 

"Hi, partner," she said, leaning over and taking the pipe out of his mouth just long enough to give him a tender kiss. "How are you feeling?" 

He grabbed the pipe out of his mouth to speak. "A little water-logged," he said before breaking into a chain reaction of coughs. 

From where she stood next to him, she could hear the fluid still in his lungs. "I think the less you talk, the more medicine you'll get in you." 

He poked her in the chest and glared at her.  

"Me? I'm fine. I'm so fine they haven't even come back to take my temperature. Now that I've found you I'll tell the nurse that I'll move over here to keep you in line." 

He pulled the pipe out of his mouth again. "What did Kresge want?" he asked, his eyes narrowing a touch at the detective's name. 

"Just to tell me that they caught Kocin and that he's being arraigned in the morning and that his last victim is alive, recovering and should be able to testify at the trial," she said with a smile. "Kresge neglected to give you credit for finding the bastard, but I'm sure that was just a small oversight." 

He rolled his eyes just about the time the stream of 'smoke' sputtered out of the end of the pipe. He sighed in relief as he pulled the mouthpiece out and licked his lips. 

"Better?" she asked, taking the pipe from his hand and resting it on the top of the machine. 

"A little, yeah," he rasped. "I saw you, um, you and . . ." 

"You saw me kissing him goodbye?" she asked sweetly. "That is exactly what you saw. I told him in no uncertain terms that there is only room for one egotistical, insensitive, quick to run off, asshole in my life and I guess that would be you." 

"Scully," he said, stifling a laugh with a pained grin. "I never knew you to be such a romantic!" The mirth ended quickly when he doubled over coughing. 

"Well, Mr. Mulder, we're getting your room all set up on 6th floor, oh, hello?" the nurse said as she bustled in to check on Mulder. "Aren't you supposed to be across the hall?" she asked Scully with a raised eyebrow. 

"Actually, there's nothing wrong with me," Scully said crossing her arms. "And I was getting cold sitting for so long in that gown," she added with a raised eyebrow of her own. 

"Scully, I don't want to stay here tonight," Mulder rasped, leaning back against the pillows. 

Scully looked over at the nurse. "May I speak to Agent Mulder's attending?" 

It took some finagling and three phone calls but finally Scully reentered Mulder's exam room with a smile on her face. "OK, you're sprung -- but there are a few conditions." 

He nodded happily. 

"One, I arranged for another hotel room -- this time guaranteeing it is non-smoking." 

He grinned like an idiot. 

"Two, you are going straight to bed, no arguments, when we get there." 

His idiotic grin took on a lecherous edge. 

"Three, don't go getting any ideas, Mulder, because any strenuous exercise is liable to put you right back here before you could blink." 

"Define 'strenuous'?" he asked softly, his eyes pleading. 

She held back her smile. "I think bed-sharing, some cuddling and maybe breakfast in bed tomorrow would be non-strenuous enough. But no gymnastics until we get home. Understood?" she said sternly. 

"Scully, just hearing you say 'gymnastics' turns me on," he whispered hoarsely and wiggled his eyebrows for effect. 

She leaned over and kissed him deeply. When she finally drew back, letting him catch his breath, she smiled. "Just thinking about doing gymnastics with you turns _me_ on." 

** 

Doubletree San Diego - Mission Valley 

Less than an hour later, the cab pulled up to the new hotel. Mulder tried to whistle but it came out a blowing sound followed by heavy coughing. Scully waited for him to get out of the cab and took his arm. Mulder looked down where her small hand rested on his elbow and wondered if it was a sign of affection or one of doctorly concern. When he looked into her eyes, the love shining back at him gave him all the reassurance he needed. 

He was pleased to see that Tara or Maggie had brought their bags from the house. They rushed to change out of their still damp clothes into sweats. After that, Scully pointed to the bed and he happily complied; he was exhausted. He woke up a few hours later to find his partner snuggled up against him, fast asleep. He had to admit, strenuous exercise was out of the question for the next few days. But as he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep again, he smiled as he thought of what awaited them when they got back home.

** 

Two Weeks Later

San Diego, CA 

"Hey, Mom, look at this." Bill shoved one of the two weeks' worth of newspapers he was reading under her nose. 

Maggie screwed up her face in annoyance. Right in the middle of the story she was reading in her *current* newspaper, Bill thought nothing of obscuring her paper with his half-month-old news. "What?" 

"That detective." He pointed out Detective Kresge's name in the article about the serial killer the media had dubbed 'The Magician.' "This says he caught the guy and saved the lives of two FBI agents at the same time." He looked up at her, his face creased with worry. "Was that Dana?" 

Maggie nodded. "And Fox. Yes." That had been what they called "a bad scene," she remembered. Although Dana had called her from the hospital to tell her they'd been injured at the scene, she'd neglected to mention that they'd nearly been killed. Would have drowned if Detective Kresge hadn't shown up in the literal nick of time. 

Dana had been upset that the whole story had been printed in the paper, and had been more concerned with who had leaked it than the actual content itself. Maggie had been concerned with the content -- and why Dana had kept the tiny detail of her near death from her mother. 

It was then, in the heat of argument, that Dana let slip that she and Fox almost died on a regular basis. Maggie had been shaken to her very core. While she'd known that what Dana did for work was dangerous, she hadn't realized just *how* dangerous. 

Dana's explaining that that was why she never provided details of their cases was no comfort, and Maggie told her so. It was at that point that Dana went so quiet that Maggie was afraid she'd gone too far. 

Her daughter surprised the life out of her when, in a soft, sad voice, she offered an apology that her chosen career had given her mother cause to worry more about her daughter than about her sons. But she would not apologize for her choice of career on any other level. 

Maggie accepted her apology and her account of the incident at the greenhouse in which she and Fox had been captured and imprisoned in a tank of water. 

"I guess Dana was damned lucky that detective was on the ball, wasn't she?" Bill asked, bringing her back to the present day. 

Maggie didn't say a word. Instead, she pulled out the next date's paper and opened it to page two. "Yes, it was lucky that Detective Kresge arrived when he did." She pointed to an article at the top of the page. "But before you submit his name for sainthood, perhaps you should read this." 

Her son looked at her questioningly before he focused his gaze on the heading, "Detective sets record straight on Magician collar." 

Maggie watched Bill's face as he read Detective Kresge's account of what -- and who -- lead him to the greenhouse in time to catch a killer and save three lives. She had actually been surprised that the man had credited Fox for identifying the killer -- and where he could be found. The detective's assertion that he had arrived in time to save the agents only because of Dana's phone call had given her chills. And the realization that Fox knowingly placed himself in danger to save her daughter made her angry and grateful at the same time. 

"Well." Bill licked his lips. Maggie met his eyes. "It takes a big man to admit he was wrong." The admiration in Bill's voice was unmistakable, and Maggie stared at him in shock. Her son's face crinkled into a grin. "All right. Dana's partner did okay. For once," she heard him mutter under his breath. 

Maggie waited. She knew he could never let it end there. 

"But by sending her out there, he almost got her killed." Bill's eyes were blazing with accusation. 

Maggie had already given this some thought, so she was ready for him. "Bill…" She waited until she had his attention once more. "If Fox was here, blind and sick, and Dana was out on a call with Detective Kresge, how did it turn out that Fox was with Dana, and Detective Kresge arrived after the fact?" 

"Well -- " 

"Let me tell you how. After I pressed her, Dana admitted that she'd had a falling out with Detective Kresge, and was headed back here in a cab. When Fox called her, she let him assume that she was going to that greenhouse with the detective. When Tara and I left to go shopping, Fox was going to lie down. How he ended up at that greenhouse, I'll never know, but Dana didn't sound in the least surprised. She joked about how his 'Scully radar' must have gone off -- except I don't really think she was joking." 

Bill took a deep breath. "Yeah, well. . . Maybe it's not always his fault." 

Maggie smiled. Baby steps. Her six-foot son always learned in baby steps. 

But he did learn. 

** 

Six months later

X-Files Office 

When Scully stiffened in her seat, looked at him, then looked back at her computer, Mulder feared the worst. Oh, God, who had died now? "What is it, Scully?" he asked, fearfully. 

"My brother." 

Mulder closed his eyes. Oh, Jesus. "Bill?" he asked, uncertain of which one she was speaking. 

When she nodded, he noted the shock on her face. 

Getting up, he walked over and laid a comforting hand on her back, rubbing soothingly. "What happened?" he asked softly. 

"He…" She stopped, staring out into space, and Mulder's heart filled with sympathy for her. 

"What?" he prodded, gently. 

She looked up at him and pointed to the screen. Mulder held her gaze a moment before he looked down at the email. He read it, then read it again. Then he read it once more to make certain he hadn't misinterpreted it. "Does that say…" He couldn't go on. 

She nodded slowly. "I think so." 

Suddenly, he had a horrible thought. "Scully, would Bill have knowledge of an impending disaster?"

She looked quickly at him, and he knew they were on the same page. Something earth shattering was about to occur. The world was going to blow up. The universe was on the verge of imploding.  

Something major was definitely in play. 

Bill had just invited Scully -- and Mulder -- for Christmas. 

The End