Revelations (G)

She was absorbed in her work and really only aware of his presence at the cellular level. That was a constant now, something she didn’t dwell on. Mulder was in the universe and all was well, that kind of thing. So she was startled when he stumbled against his desk as he rose to his feet. "Mulder? You okay?"

"Yeah, I’m fine." She looked up then and saw the lie. She rose herself and approached him, her hand automatically going to his face.

"Oh Mulder, you’re burning up! What are you doing here?"

"I needed to check the lab results and – "

"You need to be in bed. Your temperature has to be over 100 right now." She turned back to her desk and pulled out a bottle of aspirin. "Take these." She had poured two into his hand, which he now noticed was shaking slightly. "I’m taking you home and you’re going to stay there for at least 24 hours."

He’d gotten that bug that was going around. She’d had a mild case of it last weekend, but her fever hadn’t gotten this high.

He was now perched on the edge of the desk, no longer quite able to stand. "Scully, I’ll be. . . " The eyebrow shut him up. She only looked smaller than him, he knew better.

He stayed where he was, it was steadier anyway, until she had gathered up what she needed. It felt good when she took his arm and he allowed her to lead him from the room.

Mulder sank into the seat of her car, leaning back and closing his eyes, relinquishing all control of his fate to Scully. It was safer in her hands anyway.

Scully looked over at him when he began to snore lightly. Just a child, she smiled at him, in a man’s body, yes. But a child nevertheless. It was a good thing he had someone to look after him occasionally. Her smile grew warmer, she was glad it was her.

She pulled up in front of his apartment and when he didn’t wake, walked around and opened the car door. "Mulder? We’re home, wake up."

"Scully?" He pried his eyes open and squinted against the light.

"Yeah. Come on, let’s get you inside." He nodded wearily and pulled himself out of the car. He was grateful for her steadying hand, though he kept quiet about it. No way he’d reveal how much he needed her. She got him inside and he headed in the general direction of his couch.

"No way, big guy. The bed. Go on." She guided him in that direction instead and he didn’t bother to protest. Scully was usually right about these things anyway. "Get undressed and in bed. I’ll check on you in a few minutes."

Again he nodded and felt her hand leave his arm. Not good, he wanted her beside him. Yeah, right.

When she came in the bedroom he was in the bed, only the sheet over him, his clothes save for his boxers scattered on the floor. Scully bathed his face with a cool cloth and he stirred but didn’t wake, even when she continued on down to his chest.

The aspirin should have kicked in by now. In another thirty minutes he was getting more regardless. Why didn’t the man own a thermometer?

She returned to his living room, leaving the door to the bedroom wide open and booted up his computer. She might as well try to get something done.

It had been nearly the thirty minutes when she became aware of his voice. He wasn’t crying out, not fighting. She rose to see what she could do for him.

That he wasn’t awake was her first realization but he was pleading with someone, tears rolling down his face. She sat on the bed beside him to wake him, bring him out of this dream.

"Please!" He grabbed hold of her arms, startling her, "Bring her back, she’s all I have, all I want! Please, you can have the rest of it, just let me have her back."

Oh god, the Samantha dream. His eyes were open now, though it wasn’t her he was seeing.

"Just let me have Scully. Nothing else matters. I need Dana. Please, I need her."

Her? He was dreaming about her? No, this was. . . nothing else matters? Get a grip Dana; he’s delusional, feverish. He doesn’t mean what he’s saying.

"Mulder, wake up. It’s only a dream, I’m right here. Mulder, can you hear me?" She took the cloth to wipe down his face and chest again and saw that her hand was trembling now. Dana! He doesn’t know what he’s saying; he’s just gotten the names mixed up. Scully, Samantha, it wouldn’t be that hard to mix them with his fever.

When the cloth grazed his chest he reached frantically for his neck. "Where is it! What did you do with it!"

He grabbed her now with one hand, still searching with the other across his chest and throat.

"Mulder, wha-"

"The cross! What did you do? I haven’t had it off since she was taken! Her mother let me hold it for her. Give it back to me!" His grip had tightened.

It was her he was talking about. Not Samantha, he had been pleading for her return.

"Mulder, Mulder relax. It’s right here." She reached up and removed the cross from around her own neck. "Right here."

His fist closed over it and he relaxed slightly, back against the pillow. "Would you like me to put it on you?" His eyes narrowed, but her hand was soothing him and he finally nodded. She worked the clasp and he raised his head slightly for her to place it around his neck.

He sank back down onto the bed with a sigh, his hand not leaving the gold metal.

"Take your medicine Mulder. It’s going to be okay." She held out the aspirin for him and when he placed them obediently in his mouth, she gave him the glass.

Was it her imagination, or was his fever down slightly? At least he was calmer now. She started to rise from the bed to let him sleep, but his free hand shot out and rested on her leg. "Scully, um," he turned to his side, curling around her, "don’t leave me."