Necessities - Part 1 (PG-13)

She looked up as he stretched and hid her smile.  His hair was tousled where he’d run his hands through it, his sleeves were rolled up and the fabric was pulled tight across his chest.  But most devastating, he was wearing his glasses.

God she had it bad.  She was noticing things like that way too often now.  He was her partner, and yes, her friend.  But it stopped there.  Seeing him as a man wasn’t only stupid, it was dangerous.

“Uh, Scully, you in there?”

She startled back to the present.  “Did, did you say something?”

“I asked if you wanted lunch.  Are you okay?  You look feverish.”

“Yeah, sorry.  I was thinking.”  She turned away, berating herself.  How could she have slipped like that?  “Did you say lunch?”

“Yeah, you want to go out?”  He was watching her.  She wasn’t usually spacey or flustered.  It was a good look on her though.   Not that Scully ever looked bad.  He mentally shook himself, they were getting closer.  He didn’t want to push too fast, but things were good on a personal level now.

He wanted that to continue.  She’d been important to him for a long time.  Hell, now she was indispensable and he hoped someday she’d feel the same way about him.

He shoved his sleeves down and grabbed up his suit coat.  She hit save on her computer and stood.

He approached, standing too close as always.  She could smell the faint scent of his cologne and the stronger smell that was Mulder.  That was the scent that came to her in the mornings before she was fully awake.

His hand came to rest on the small of her back and, since he couldn’t see her face, she smiled.

He led her to his car.  “Anywhere you want to go?”

“You pick.  I just wanted to get out of the basement.”

“I hope that wasn’t a metaphor.”  He grimaced.

She gave him a shake of her head, “It wasn’t.”  She let herself into the passenger seat and buckled as he started the engine and backed out.

She got quiet then and he saw her rub her forehead.  A headache?  That always caused a frisson of fear in him.

“Scully, are you okay?”  He couldn’t help it, she was important.

“Yes, I’m fine.”  She looked over at him.  “Really.”  She frowned though. “Mulder, could we run by Mom’s place?”

“Your mother?  Sure.  Is everything okay with her?”  He glanced over at Scully again.

“Of course.”  But she didn’t look as sure as she had a minute ago.

He tried to lighten the mood.  “Think she’d feed us?”

She managed to smile. “Probably.”

He grinned.  “Good.”  He turned at the next corner and made his way to Mrs. Scully’s home on surface streets.

Scully grew restless as they approached the house.  He kept his mouth shut, something was bothering her, and it was growing with each mile.  Maybe spending a little time with her mother, even with him there, would make her feel better.

He pulled into the driveway behind her mother’s car.  Scully was out before he was, heading toward the door.  His first thought was that she was feeling ill.  Something obviously wasn’t right.

No one came at her knock, so she used her own key to let them in.  “Scully, are you sure she’s here?”

“Her car - “

“Someone could’ve picked her up.”

“No.” She wasn’t successful hiding her unease now.  “I’ll check upstairs.  Why don’t you see what’s in the frig?”

He nodded, watching her.  She seemed ‘turned on’ today.  Not in the way he’s like to see her, but something had her wired.  He watched until she disappeared up the steps and he heard her call for her mother.  Mulder turned left toward the kitchen, walking through the tastefully decorated dining room where he’d eaten on a more frequent basis lately.  He pushed the swinging door open and moved toward the refrigerator.

Just past the counter he stopped, what the . . . Shit!  “Scully!”  He was on his knees beside Mrs. Scully, his fingers pressed into her neck, feeling for a pulse.  Her skin was still warm, but he wasn’t finding a heartbeat.

On instinct now, he tilted her head back and blew two breaths into her cool blue lips.  Seeing her chest expand, then fall still again sent fear to his deepest levels.  He heard the door from the dining room open, “Mulder, wha - Oh my god.”  She was on her knees beside him even as he measured down Mrs. Scully’s chest and began compressions.  “Mom!”

Like the team they had become, she took over the CPR smoothly.  He breathed for the woman at the break, then pulled his cell phone from his jacket pocket and dialed 911.

“They’re on their way, Scully.  Is she . . . “

Scully didn’t seem to hear him, concentrating on the life saving movements, so he resumed helping her, even trading off when he felt she needed it.  She didn’t argue, allowing his aid.

They had come a long way, an inappropriate thought, he realized, but true never the less.  He could hear the siren now, they switched again and he forced himself up to let the EMTs in.

The paramedics took their place at her side, and began asking questions as they hooked her up to the monitors.  Scully didn’t answer, staring at the woman on the floor as though no one else was in the room, so Mulder responded.

Yes, they’d found her this way.  No, they hadn’t found a pulse.  Yes, CPR for, he looked at the clock, at least seven minutes.  The men gently moved Scully away and she rose to her feet, her arms around her waist as though warming herself.

The defibulator was open and ready.  “Clear.”

Scully’s body jumped as her mother’s did and Mulder stepped closer, his hands on her shoulders.

“Clear.”

The two men on the floor glanced at each other, then up at Mulder.  “I’m sorry.”

The words seemed to hit Scully physically and she fell against his chest.  He didn’t know if she was stepping back or falling, but his arms came around her.

“No,” but it was only a whisper from her.

“Scully.”  He turned her, pressing her face into his chest.  Her arms hung limply at her side.  Her knees buckled then and he lifted her into his arms, carrying her out of the kitchen and into the living room.  He sat her gently on the couch.

“No.  I should - “

“Scully.”  It was all he said, but she looked at him and the tears that had formed in her eyes overflowed.

“No.”  He pulled her into his lap, rocking her, letting her cry.

It was several minutes before the paramedics interrupted; the older of the two joined them in the living room.  “We can transport the body.  Where would - “

“Georgetown Memorial.”  Scully interrupted.  “I can do the autopsy there.”

“Autopsy?  Scully, no.  Look at me, no.”

“We have to know - “

“It was a heart attack, Scully.”

 

“We don’t know that.  Besides she . . . she died alone.  It’s the law.”

Mulder looked up at the paramedic, who nodded.  Mulder sighed, he knew she was right, but no way in hell would he allow her to do this.

“We’ll take her to Georgetown.  I’m very sorry for your loss.”  He backed away and headed out to the ambulance for the bag and stretcher.

Mulder continued to hold Scully, only allowing her to rise when they had the stretcher at the front door.  “I need to go with - “

“I’ll take you, Scully.  Let them go on.”  His arm went back around her.  He nodded to the paramedics to leave.

Her eyes were riveted to the stretcher and she took an involuntary step toward the door.  “Scully,” his finger on her chin turned her back to him.  “Do you want me to call - “

“Bill, and Charlie.”  She seemed to snap back to a more conscious state at those words.

“I was going to say Father McCue,” Mulder spoke softly.  Her brothers, shit.

“Father McCue, yes.  And Mrs. Carlisle . . . “ She looked up at him.  “Mulder.”  Her voice shook on his name.

“I’m right here.”

Her nod was almost imperceptible, but it was there.  He felt a slight sense of relief.  She wasn’t going to do this alone.  Somehow she had just acknowledged that.

“Is her address book in the desk?”  He reached for the drawer.

“No! Don’t touch it, that’s evidence.”

“Evidence?  Scully - “ What was she thinking?  “Scully, was anyone bothering her?  You, did you suspect something?  Is that why you wanted to come over here?  You could have said - “

“No.  No, I just . . . I don’t know, I . . . I need to call Bill and Charlie.”

Mulder winced at that, but she was right.  “I’ll call Father McCue.”  He pulled out his cell phone again and dialed information.  He watched as she reached for her phone and then hesitated.  “Scully, do you want me to - “

“No.  I’ll do this.”

“Do you want some privacy?”

“No, please.”

He nodded, Father McCue’s secretary picked up.  By the time he hung up, Scully had one of them on the phone.  She held out her hand to him and he took it, holding it tightly.  She only paused in her conversation.

“I haven’t called Bill yet.  I need to go ahead and start making a-arrangements.  Okay, yeah, tomorrow.  No, I’ll be okay.  Yes, Mulder’s here.”

Mulder blinked at that.  Charlie had asked about him?  Was that good or bad?  He hadn’t met that brother.  If he was anything like Bill . . . It didn’t matter now.  Scully needed him and he was here.

She’d saved his life when his mother had died.  Nothing was going to drive him away.

“No, I need to call him, talk to him.  I’ll be okay.”  She was being strong again and wouldn’t look at him.  Hell, he wasn’t going to dispute that she needed to talk to Bill.

“I love you too, Charlie.”  She hung up then and sank down onto the couch as his hand came out to steady her.  “I’m fine.”

He closed his eyes.  When he opened them, she was watching him.  “No, I’m not fine.  Mulder, what am I going to do?  How do I tell Bill that Mom is  . . . I’m a pathologist, and I can’t even say . . . “

“You’re not a pathologist now, you’re a daughter.”

Her shoulders slumped, relaxing.  “Don’t go anywhere.”

“I’m not.”

After a moment she looked down at her cell phone again.  She took a deep breath and pushed 7 on her phone list.  “Bill, it’s Dana.”

*****

Mulder seated her on the couch again.  He hadn’t been able to hear Bill’s words, but the tone had come through loud and clear.  “Scully, let’s get out of here.”

“What?”  She had gone deep inside herself.  He helped her to her feet and walked her to his car.  There was no reason to go to the hospital now.  Father McCue had said he would go to the hospital.  Scully was not going to do any autopsy.

He seated her in his car and buckled her in, then drove her to her apartment.

“Mulder, I need to go to the hospital.”

“No, you need to relax a little, get something to eat.”  He saw her swallow convulsively.

“I, I can’t.”

“Okay, but I want you to relax some.”

“There are things I need to do.”

“You’re going to want your brothers’ input.  No decisions need to be made right now.”

She looked over at him and opened her mouth, but he shook his head at her and she sank back in the seat.

Once at her place, he seated her on the couch and moved into the kitchen to put some water on for tea.  When he returned with her tea, she hadn’t moved, sitting where he had left her.  She seemed unaware of the tears slowly coursing down her cheeks.

“Scully, have some tea while I run you a bath.”

She took the mug and nodded.  At least she was letting him help. He drew the bath and poured in a little of her favorite oil.  When it was ready, he returned to her.

“Come on Scully.”  He took her hand to help her to her feet.  She moved past him and on to the bathroom.

Just before she entered the hall, she turned back to him.  “Will you be here?”

“Of course.”

She nodded.  He watched the door close.

She had been everything to him when his mother died.  Not just as friend, she'd been . . . necessary.  He would be here for her, regardless of the rest of her family.  He made himself comfortable, hanging his jacket in her coat closet and rolling up his sleeves.

He was in the kitchen when he heard the bathroom door open.  He gave her time to get to her bedroom, then moved into the living room to wait.

She emerged shortly, wearing her white terrycloth robe.  Her eyes were red and her face pale.  The red tresses were slicked back.  He knew it was his imagination, but it looked like she’d already lost weight.

Before he could speak, the phone rang.  She glanced at it, but made no move.  He took the hint and picked up the receiver.  “Hello?”  He listened, then, “Just a minute.”  He put his hand over the mouthpiece.  “It’s Father McCue.”

She closed her eyes, then reached for the phone.  “Father.”

He started to move away, but her hand coming up stopped him.  He took hold of it and led her to the couch.  He seated her close to him and kept his arm around her while they talked.  Eventually, she thanked the man and pressed the off button.

“He says the women’s group at church wants to bring food over.”

Mulder nodded. “I’m not surprised.  Your mother was very active and loved her in her church.”

Scully nodded.  “I guess, with the boys coming in . . .” She seemed to press into his side a little.

“Do you think you could eat a little now?  It’s nearly dinner time and you didn’t have lunch.”

“No, thanks.”

He didn’t argue, not yet.  “What about a nap?”

She shivered after the glance at her bedroom.

“Scully?”

She curled into his side and his arms went around her.  They sat in silence then.

He wasn’t aware when she actually dozed off, but it was the best thing for her.  He made himself comfortable, prepared to hold her as long as she would let him.

*****

Mulder woke with her atop him as he sprawled on the couch.  She was still sound asleep and seemed very comfortable lying on him.  It felt right, but this was no time to think like that.  He eased himself out from under her.  She barely stirred.  He checked his watch as he made his way to the bathroom.  Morning, nearly 7 a.m.  He used the facilities, then headed for the kitchen to start the coffee.

He was watching the coffee brew when the phone rang.  He grabbed it immediately so she wouldn’t be disturbed.  “Hello?”

There was silence for a moment.  “Mulder?  What the fuck are you doing there?”

“Bill.  She didn’t need to be alone last night.  Where are you?”

“We’re at the airport.”

“Here?”

“Let me talk to her.”

“She’s still asleep.  I don’t want to disturb her.  Do you want me to pick you up?”

The noise Bill made at that suggestion couldn’t be strictly interpreted.  “I’m renting a car.  We’ll see her over at Mom’s.”

“I’ll give her the message.”  The phone was slammed down in his ear and he sighed.  He was startled when he turned, to see her standing in the door.

“Was that the phone?”

He nodded.  “I’m sorry.  I hoped it wouldn’t wake you.”

“Who was it?”

“Bill.”  He managed to keep his face impassive.

“Where is he?”

“At the airport.  Here.”

“Here?  He took the redeye?”

Mulder nodded.  She caught his look then.  He wanted to ask, but he was restraining himself.

“I’m okay, Mulder.  Well, I will be.  Really.”

He nodded.

“I should get ready. I don’t know what to wear.”  She sounded young and, and lost.

“Something comfortable.  It’ll be a long day.”

Instead of leaving, she sank into a chair at the table.  She seemed to study her hands for a minute.  “Did I sleep on the couch all night?”

“Yes.”

“Where did you sleep?”

“On the couch.”  He gave a little sideways grin.  “You make a good comforter.”

“So do you,” she said softly, but she had looked down.  He poured her a cup of coffee and sat it in front of her.  She nodded her thanks.

“Scully, I don’t suppose you have any of my clothes here.”

She looked up then, with a slight smile.  “Matter of fact I do.  Remember a couple of weeks ago when your laundry room flooded?”

“Oh yeah.  I didn’t take that stuff home?”  Her eyebrow rose.  “Guess not.  Well that’s good.  I don’t have to wear my boxers inside out.”

That didn't even get a smile.  “Why don’t you take first shower?”

“You don’t mind?” He was watching her closely.

“No.  I want to sit here with the coffee for a little while.”

Mulder nodded, squeezing her shoulder.  He headed for the bathroom.  Just at the door she stopped him.

“Mulder, I know it’s . . . uncomfortable around Bill.  You don’t have to - “

“Yes, I do.  Scully, I’m going to be with you until you kick me out.”

“You may be around a long time.”

“I certainly hope so.”

She met his eyes then and after a moment, nodded.  He turned finally and let himself into the bathroom.

*****

When they were ready, her in casual slacks and a sweater, him in jeans and t-shirt, he led her back to his car.

They were quiet on the ride back to Mrs. Scully’s house, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.  When he parked, she glanced at the house, but made no move to exit the car.  “Scully?”

“Yes.”

“We have to go in.”

“I know.”  But she still made no move.

He got out then and rounded the car.  When he opened her door, he squatted in front of her.  “You can do this, Scully.  And I’ve got your back, always.”

She nodded and let him take her hand.  His arm went around her as they walked to the door.  She fumbled for her key, but the door opened.  Bill reached for her and drew her into a bear hug. They could hear Matthew crying in the background.  Mulder kept quiet as they held each other.  After a long moment, Bill released his grip but kept his arm around her.

Bill moved her inside, then his arm came out to the door frame, blocking Mulder.  “Thank you for bringing her over, Mulder.”

 

Mulder smiled slightly. “You’re welcome, but I’m not leaving.”

“Yeah, you are.  She’s with family now.”

Scully turned then to see where Mulder was and stepped back toward the door.  “Bill, let him in.”

“We don’t need him here, Dana.  I have a car here when we need to go anywhere.”

“Let him in, or I leave,” she spoke quietly, but her tone left no doubt of her sincerity.

Bill looked at her.  When he didn’t remove his arm, she ducked under it and moved back to the front step.

“Dana.”

She looked at him, her shoulders square, not backing down.  Finally he looked away and moved from the door.  Scully looked up at Mulder, who took her hand and followed her inside.

They both looked toward the stairs, where the boy continued to cry.  “What’s wrong with Matthew?”

“He’s tired.  He couldn’t sleep on the plane.”

“You could have waited until this morning.  I would have understood.”

“I needed to get here.”  His eyes flickered toward Mulder and away.

Tara started down the stairs, Matthew in her arms.  Scully moved toward her.  “Dana, I’m so, so sorry about your mom.”

Scully nodded. “Is he okay?”

“No.  He shouldn’t have flown.  He was getting an ear infection.”

“An ear . . . Bill, you didn’t put this baby on a plane with a bad ear.”  Scully turned on him.

“We had to get here.”

“Dana, could you check him out?”

“Sure.  Mulder, could you get me the flashlight from the kitchen?”

“Of course.”  He moved that way and returned immediately with the light.  Bill’s face showed his fury that this man knew his mother’s home so well.

Scully knelt in front of Tara as she held the boy.  “Yes, it’s very red.  Has he had this before?”

Tara nodded. “Last time he was on amoxicillin.”

“Did it work?”  She caressed the whining child’s cheek.  Tara nodded.  “Okay, I’ll call in a prescription.  Mom’s pharmacy delivers.  It shouldn’t take long.  In the meantime, we can use a warm compress.”

“Dana, we have things we need to discuss,” Bill interrupted them.  Mulder noted the look that Tara gave Bill and felt his balls shrivel up.

Scully rose to her feet, trying to hide her disgust.  “Fine.”

“Uh, Tara,” Mulder drew her attention. “Can I give you a hand?”

“Thanks.”  She stood, adjusting the boy against her shoulder.  She turned toward the kitchen to make the warm compress.  Mulder followed her after a look at Scully.

Matthew was crying again.  Tara looked ready to drop.  “May I take him?”

“He probably won’t go to you,” she sounded weary.

“Let’s try.”  He held out his arms to the boy and made his goofy face.  The boy looked at him, then seemed to nod and allowed Mulder to take him.  Tara hurried to make the compress.  Mulder took it from her hand.  “Why don’t you go lie down, Tara.  We’re gonna be friends now.”  He bounced the two year old lightly and placed the warmth against his ear, turning away.

Tara watched them for a moment, then headed upstairs.

*****

Scully answered the door for the delivery boy and thanked him for hurrying, then headed for the kitchen.  Mulder was there, with his back to the door.  She didn’t see Tara.

“Mulder, did Tara - “ He turned then, swaying lightly in that instinctive move everyone made when holding a baby.  He was cuddling a drowsy Matt to his chest, crooning softly.

Scully was stunned motionless; her mouth dropped open and new tears formed in her eyes.

“Tara was exhausted,” he whispered to her.  “I sent her upstairs.”

Scully managed to nod and held up the bag of medicine.

“How much?” he asked.

“I’ll get it.”  She moved to the cabinet where her mother had stored medicine and located a child’s medicine spoon.  She poured the dose and as Mulder held the boy, got him to drink the bubble gum flavored medicine down.

“Tara, are you - “ Bill strode into the kitchen as Mulder and Scully both shushed him.  It wasn’t the entreaties for quiet that stopped him.  It was the sight of his son in Mulder’s arm.  Outrage was plain on his face, so Scully took his arm and forced him from the room.

“Be quiet, Bill.  He’s almost asleep.”

“Where’s Tara?  Why does that SOB have Matt?”

“Because Tara was ready to drop.  What were you thinking putting her and a sick child on the red-eye?  If you felt you had to be here, you could have come on and let her follow at a reasonable time.”

Bill’s eyes narrowed at her criticism, but his words were forestalled as Mulder came into view with the sleeping Matt in his arms.  “Where should I put him?” he whispered the question to Scully.

She turned to Bill. “Did you put up the baby bed?”

“I don’t know, Tara takes care - “

Sully had turned her back on him in disgust.  “Come on upstairs.  We’ll find something.”

Mulder nodded and followed her up, purposely not looking at Bill.

Once the baby was settled, they returned downstairs.  Bill’s eyes burned into Mulder as they returned; his arm around her shoulders.  Before Bill could speak, the doorbell rang.

Scully moved away in that direction and Mulder met Bill’s eyes impassively.  It only ticked the large man off more.

“Mrs. Carlisle.”  Scully accepted the teary hug.

“Dana, I’m so sorry.  I had no idea she was ill.  I saw her earlier this week at the church and we made plans for lunch.  I don’t know what I’m going to do without her.”

Scully patted the woman’s hands, and managed an “I know.”

Mrs. Carlisle turned then and saw the two men standing just in the door to the living room.  “Mrs. Carlisle, this is - “

“Bill.”  The older woman hugged him as well.  “Bill, your mother was so proud of you, following in your father’s footsteps, having a wonderful family.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Carlisle.”

She turned toward Mulder.  “You can’t be Charles.”

Scully stepped closer. “This is my friend, Fox Mulder.”

“Fox! Oh I’m so glad to meet you.  Maggie spoke so highly of you.  I know, I’m supposed to call you Mulder.”

Mulder smiled, glanced over at a bemused Scully.  “Why?  She never did.”

Mrs. Carlisle patted his arm, “Oh that was to give you a hard time.  She said you needed to be teased more, you were always so serious.”

Mulder blinked at that, then looked up at Scully.  She was smiling gently.  “Mrs. Carlisle, would you like some tea?”  She led the older woman to the living room after nodding when Mulder mutely offered to get the tea.  Bill’s eyes narrowed but he decided against causing a scene.  He trailed the two women into the living room.

After that, there seemed to be a steady stream of visitors.  They brought food which Mulder logged in the little book Father McCue had brought for that purpose.  Mulder stayed mostly in the kitchen, arranging and rearranging the refrigerator and keeping the coffee fresh.  He felt out of his element, but useful and it kept him near Scully without being in Bill’s face.  When there was a lull or he just needed to, he would slip through the dining room and find Scully, just to see her.

She seemed to be holding up fairly well.  She always knew when he was around, looking up and finding him, thanking him with her eyes.

This was so totally different from his experience.  There had been no mourners visiting his place when his mother had . . . died, and he had missed his father’s funeral himself.  This outpouring of support was overwhelming to him.

He had just found her again, and had turned to return to the kitchen when the front door opened without warning.  A ginger haired man, slightly shorter than Mulder stepped inside and held the door for a dark haired woman and two boys.

“Charlie.”  Mulder heard her whisper from across the room and saw her heading quickly for the door.  The man took her into his arms wordlessly and they held each other tightly for a long moment. 

When they finally stepped back the man ducked down to see her face.  “How are you doing, Dana?”

She managed about half a smile, then was crying again.  Mulder’s arms twitched to hold her, but Charlie pulled her back against him.  “I know,” he kept saying.  The dark haired woman caressed Dana’s shoulder and Dana looked up. 

“Mary.”  They hugged then and the boys, looking very uncomfortable hugged Dana as well.  She turned to Mulder then.  He hadn't been able to leave her like that.  “Charlie, Mary, I’d like you to meet - “

“Mulder,” Charlie said, “I figured that must be you.  Pleased to meet you.”

Mulder shook his hand, nodding and accepted Mary’s kiss on the cheek slightly startled.

“I’d like to talk to you later,” Charlie said to Mulder quietly.  Mulder nodded and wondered briefly if they two of them could physically throw him out of the house.  Not easily anyway.  “When do you expect Bill?” Charlie turned back to Scully.

“They’re here.”

“What?”

Scully nodded.  “They came on the red-eye.”

“With Matty?” Mary sounded stunned.

“With Matty with an ear infection.  He’s asleep now, I saw Tara come down a little while ago,” Scully offered.

Charlie looked over at his wife but Mary shook her head and said nothing.  Charlie sighed and looked toward the living room.  “What do you need?”

Scully shrugged helplessly it seemed to Mulder.  “I, I have to pick out an outfit.  I was waiting until . . . “

“Tara and I’ll help you,” Mary offered.

“Where should we put our bags?”  Charlie asked, looking up the stairs.

“I put Bill, Tara and Matty in Mom’s room.  You and Mary can have Missy’s room and the boys can sleep in the guest room.”

“What about you?” Mary asked quickly.

“I’ll go back to my place tonight.  It’s not that far.”

Charlie looked around as though he wanted to do something, but sighed.  “Let’s leave the stuff in the car until Matty wakes up.”

“Do you want to look for a dress, Dana?”

"Not, not yet, please."

"Whenever you're ready."

*****

Author's notes - this is only the first half, but you guys know I never do CD.  This is a story I started literally years ago, when I went through this in RL.  I was struck then at how very different my experience was from Mulder's.  I was encompassed in support and love and, yes, food.  That support came from you as well as the people I "knew".  I just wanted to explore his reaction to all that.