Disclaimer: Yeah, right, like these characters are mine.

Category: SRA
Classification: MSR 
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: tiny one for Beyond the Sea
Timeline:  6th season
Archive: Gossamer. Others ask me.
Feedback: Yes!
Summary:  Mulder finds out how far Scully will go to protect him.
Author's Note:  Special thanks to Brandon Ray for help with the  
the medical aspects of the story.  It's accurate to the best of my 
ability, but maybe not to his. ;-)   

"Split Second" (1/1)
by Lisa 
(haven599@msn.com)


Georgetown

    "Jonathan Tanner?"  Scully asked after the man opened the door.
    "Yes?" 
    "I'm Agent Scully with the FBI and this is Agent Mulder.  Can
we ask you a few questions?"  Scully showed him her badge.  
    "What's this about?"  Tanner asked.
    "Can we do this inside?" Mulder added.  
    Jonathan Tanner was a middle age man with brown hair and brown
eyes.  There was nothing remarkable about his features.  However, he
did look nervous.  He shifted back and forth on the carpeted floor. 
    "We were told that you made threats against D.C. General hospital."
Scully questioned. "Something about the unfairness of your HIV 
positive diagnosis."  
    "I don't remember."
    "These were bomb threats."  Mulder reminded him, absently
glancing around the room. 
    The FBI knew about that.  Why did they care?  Why was that 
partner of hers looking all around his place?  What were they 
going to do to him? 
    "Sir, we also know that you threatened a lab technician and a
social worker."  Scully explained.  
    "What are you going to do?" Tanner said.  "Search my apartment?"
    "If you give us a reason to."  Mulder stated. "Do you have any
plastic explosives?" 
    "Hey, do you have a search warrant?" He was getting agitated.
    "We can get one."  Scully said. 
    "Do what you have to do."  Tanner opened the front door.
    Tanner watched the two FBI agents from his window.  They were
still standing outside.  What were they talking about? They probably
had a file on him.  On everyone who was HIV positive.  Well, he
wasn't one of *them.*  The hospital made a mistake.  Damn them, 
he shouldn't have told them anything.  It was a mistake.  He couldn't
be sick.    

    "Let's go get something to eat."  Mulder said.
    "We need to get that warrant, Mulder." Scully knew this wasn't
his favorite assignment, but they needed to stay on task. They 
couldn't afford anymore trouble with management. 
    "Probably can't get one until tomorrow, anyway."
    "All right."  she sighed. 
    "Don't sound so enthusiastic, Scully."  he smiled. 

    Tanner got his gun.  Opening the door slowly, he aimed his 
weapon at the man - what was his name - something unusual. They 
weren't going to do this to him.  He didn't do anything wrong. 
He was innocent.  It was the government's fault.  

    Scully started for the car when she happen to see him out of
the corner of her eye.  Tanner was aiming a gun at Mulder.    
    "Mulder, watch out!"  she yelled, running back to her partner.
He was looking at something on the ground. 
     Scully tried to push him out of the way, but she didn't make it
in time.  
    She collapsed against Mulder, a terrible pain shooting through 
her leg.  "Scully?  Scully?" She heard Mulder's voice. It sounded
far away, but his body was next to hers.  His hands touching her. 
    Scully reached for him, trying to say his name, but the words 
wouldn't come out. It was too much effort to speak. 
    Mulder wasn't sure what happened.  He heard the gunshot, 
but didn't realize Scully was hit until she fell against him.  
Reaching in his coat, he pulled out his cell phone and called the
paramedics. He could only whisper words of comfort to her until
help arrived.  Words he feared she couldn't hear.   

++++

Georgetown University Hospital 
6:57 p.m.

    Mulder sat in the ICU waiting room hoping it wouldn't be long
before he could see Scully.  The nurses told him it may be awhile
before she would be out of surgery after about the millionth time
he asked about his injured partner. 
    Now he had nothing to do but replay the scene in his mind over
and over.  What could he have done differently?  He looked down
for a second and Scully was hurt.  
    They would've been eating dinner right now.  Not fast food, either.
Something nice.  Now the thought of food made him nauseous.  When 
he asked Scully if she wanted dinner, he wasn't really hungry, just 
wanted to be with her.  Technically, they were still working so it was
all right.  He couldn't  ask her out to dinner on the weekend because 
it would be considered a date and Scully would have some reason 
why they couldn't see each other outside of the working environment.
The weekends were so long without her.  If it had to be this way, he 
would have to just accept it.  Never *really* knowing each other 
until it's too late.  
    He wished someone would tell him what the hell was taking so
long.  No one knew a goddamn thing about her condition?  If she 
didn't make it, he didn't know what he'd do. How he would fill the
aching void in his life? 
    Mulder started walking down to the nurse's station.  A woman 
met him halfway telling him he could see Scully, but only for a 
few minutes.  
    She was out of surgery.
    She was Ok. 

    Mulder walked into the second ICU cubicle.  The sliding glass
door was open.  The bed seemed to swallow her whole. She looked   
so small in the middle of it. Blankets were tucked around her for 
extra warmth.  Machines beeped and hissed as they monitored her
vital signs.  She looked very pale from the surgery and the absence
of make-up.  He touched her hand lightly.  
    Scully responded.  "It hurts, Mulder."  she mumbled.  "Hurts."
    Mulder motioned to a nearby nurse.  "Can you help her?" he
asked frantically. 
    She touched a button on Scully's monitor.  "I gave her a little
more pain medicine.  "That should help." She told him before 
walking away. 
    Mulder leaned close to her, but she was already back to sleep.
He kissed her gently on the forehead and let her rest.      
    Before leaving, Mulder gave his card to the ICU nurse, writing
down his home phone on it and telling her to notify him should her
condition change at all.  
    At his apartment, Mulder decided to take a shower. Taking off
his clothes, he discovered some of Scully's blood on his pants.  It 
must have seeped through when he held her. 
    Afterwards, he collapsed on the couch surrendering to his 
emotions.

++++

    The next day, Scully was moved out of ICU.  Still groggy from
her ordeal, she didn't remember much that day except for Mulder 
nearby.  He seemed emotionally distant, despite sitting close by 
her bed.  Maybe he just wanted to let her rest.  Preserve her strength.
    A few more days passed, her mom was here each day to take some of
the boredom and dreariness out of her stay.  However, Mulder's 
absence was noticeable. She couldn't help but think he felt guilty 
over what happened.  After all, he was aiming for Mulder, but she
intervened and maybe spared Mulder's life. And she would do it 
again in a heartbeat. 
    "They say I might be discharged in a couple of days."  Scully 
said hopefully to her mom. 
    "I hope so,"  she said.  "Then I can look after you."           
    The doctor urged Scully to have someone to help her out for 
the first few days at home.  She was still weak and needed help 
with daily activities even though she would be using a cane to 
help take some of the weight off her right leg. 
    It would be nice to have her mom at home despite the circumstances
surrounding the visit.  

    Mulder walked towards Scully's room carrying flowers, like 
that would make up for what she is going through.  Hopefully, she
was doing much better. 
    Her mother was in there with her.  A feeling of dread came over
him.  Scully probably told her mother the whole story.  How it was
his fault she was lying in that hospital bed.  
    Mrs. Scully liked and trusted him, but now he wasn't so sure. 
She had every right to be angry and upset with him. One of her
daughters was already gone because of him.  
    Mulder knocked softly before entering. Mrs. Scully smiled at 
him.  So far so good.  
    "I brought you these." He gave Scully the bouquet 
    "How are you feeling?" 
    "Better."  she answered. 
    There was a short, tense silence between them.
    "I'll go find something to put these in." Mrs. Scully took the 
flowers from her daughter. 
    "Are you sure you're Ok?" 
    "Yes, Mulder." she admitted.  "I should be going home in a few
days."
    "Good."  She did look better.  Her color was back. 
    "I -" she began, shifting positions in the bed before wincing 
in pain.
    "Scully?" 
    "I'm fine.  I should have moved the other way." she told him.
    But she didn't look fine.  He could see it in her eyes.  Her 
hip must be -  "I have to go.  I'm late for an appointment." he lied.
    Scully watched him walk to the door.  "Mulder, wait -" she 
began.  But he had already walked out. 
    "She's doing much better, isn't she, Fox."  Mrs. Scully was outside
the door waiting until they finished their conversation. 
    "Yes, she is."  he agreed.
    "You know I worry about her a lot since her career is a dangerous 
one."  she confessed.  "I know she's an adult, but I still pray she 
stays safe."
    Her mom didn't know the half of it. He wanted to tell her it was
all his fault, but didn't want to see the disappointment on her face.
The unspoken accusations.  
    "I'll see you later."  She told him then disappeared into her 
daughter's room.  
    Mulder walked away full of guilt and regret.  

++++

    Mulder couldn't go back to the hospital and see Scully.  It was
just too hard for him.  Anyway, her mother was with her.  She 
wasn't alone. 
    He did get a search warrant on Tanner.  Nothing incriminating 
was found at his apartment.  The guy had left town, presumably after
he shot Scully.  In a way, Mulder was glad Tanner wasn't there. 
He couldn't look at him after what he tried to do to him - to  
Scully.  
    In Mulder's dreams, his subconscious replayed the scene when 
Scully was shot over and over again.  However, no one came to help 
her.  She bled to death right in front of him.  Her blood was all over
his hands. He'd awaken screaming thinking she had died.  All because
of him. 
    Some nights he didn't even try to sleep, fearing the nightmares
to come.

++++
 
    Scully had been home a few days now.  She hated this.  Her body
needed to recover and that took time, but she was restless.  Her 
mom was leaving tomorrow.  Scully had to talk her into it, but it
was for the best.  How was she going to get stronger if her mom 
insisted on doing everything for her?
    "Mom, have you heard from Mulder?"  Scully asked that evening
as they were finishing dinner.  
    "No,"  she replied.  "Why would I?" 
    "I just thought maybe he would have called.  Never mind." She 
got up from the table and moved gingerly to the couch.  
    "Wait,"  her mom said.  "You forgot this."  Mrs. Scully handed 
her the rubber donut. That's exactly what it looked like.  It helped
her sit more comfortably and avoid any unnecessary pressure and
pain to her hip. 
    "I hate this damn thing."  she muttered, a little upset.  
    "He feels guilty for what happened to me."  Scully began
to cry softly.  "He won't even come and see me.  Talk to me." 
    Mrs. Scully sat down next to her.
    "I didn't tell you . . ."
    "What, Dana?" she asked curiously. 
    "I told you I was shot, but the man we were investigating  
was aiming for Mulder. I tried to get him out of the way and . . . 
I didn't want Mulder hurt.  I've seen him shot before and I couldn't
go through that again."  Scully sobbed.  
    Her mom hugged her close, trying to calm her.  A few minutes
later, she looked at her daughter and said: "You shouldn't be telling
me this.  You need to tell him."  
    She knew her daughter and Fox shared something special.  In the
beginning it was friendship, but now she wondered if it went deeper
than that.  It was a bond stronger than friendship or love.  One she
couldn't begin to understand.

    The next evening, Scully was making herself some tea when there
was a knock at the door.  Somehow, she wasn't surprised it was 
Mulder.  
    "Is it too late?"  he asked her.  She was in her robe and looked
like she was going to bed before he came by.  
    "Of course not,"  she said.  He looked haggard.  He was still 
in his suit from work.  It looked a little rumpled and the tie was
loosened and askew. 
    Scully picked up her tea and moved slowly towards the couch.
She knew she should be using her cane for balance, if nothing else,
but it was becoming cumbersome.  Suddenly, she felt a throbbing 
pain in her leg.  
    "Scully, what's wrong?"  Mulder rushed to her side.  
    "I . . . I think I need to sit down." 
    "Here, let me take that."  He placed her cup on the counter. 
    "No, I need to lie down."  She started for the bedroom, reaching
out to Mulder.  He took her arm and guided her to the bed.  Her 
bed was full of pillows, some propped against the headboard, some
off to the side of the bed, which was unmade.  
    "Could you help me?"  Scully asked starting to lie back on the 
bed.  "Look and see if there's anything wrong with it."
    "Sure, just let me wash my hands first."  
    Scully wasn't sure how Mulder would react to seeing her scar
from the surgery.  She was barely able to see it herself.  
    "What do you want me to do?" he asked sitting on the edge of 
her bed.  
    "You're going to have to move my robe out of the way a little."
She told him.  
   It was more than a *little.*  Mulder thought it was her hip, but 
he learned it was further up on her hip than he thought.  Her 
buttocks to be exact and he quickly learned she was wearing nothing
underneath her nightgown.  He caught a glimpse of how beautiful 
her skin was.  How pale and soft. 
    Scully knew Mulder was going to see more of her than he expected,
but, she trusted him completely. "Is it bleeding?" 
    "A little."  he replied. "It looks like you have a rash of some 
sort."  
    "I was allergic to he surgical tape they used to dress the wound." 
she explained.  "I've been trying to ignore the itching, but it's 
hard." 
    "I have an idea."  Mulder said. "I'll be right back."    
    He returned with a washcloth.  Lightly he began to rub it around
the area of her incision. "Am I hurting you?" 
    "No."  Scully mumbled.  Far from.  The washcloth was warm and
his hands were gentle.  She never thought of this as therapeutic until
now and it felt much better to have Mulder touching her like this. 
    Scully then felt his breath on her skin as he attempted to dry 
her damaged skin. It was warm just like the water.
    Mulder noticed a small plastic bottle of lotion on her night 
table.  "Is this what you're using?" 
    "Wh . . .What?"
    "This lotion. For your skin."  he inquired.
    "Yes." 
    "Do you want me to put some on?"  Mulder uncapped the small 
bottle.
    "Sure."  
    As he carefully rubbed the cream on her skin he thought how 
permanent this scar was.  Every time she gets dressed it will be 
there.  She may even grow to hate it.  Having to explain what
happened. Maybe feel self-conscious.  Future lovers will ask what
happened to her.  They will offer the requisite sympathy, but will
never really understand how protective and caring a person she is.
He felt jealous thinking about other men touching her. Touching the
same skin he was soothing now.  He stopped and put the cream back.  
    "Mulder?" 
    "I'm so sorry, Scully." he sobbed.  "Sorry this happened to you."
    Scully slowly sat up and reached for his hand.  "Mulder . . . 
Mulder look at me."  
    She saw tears in his eyes.  She squeezed his hand tighter.
    "You shouldn't have done it, Scully."  
    "And let you get shot?  Possibly killed." she said. "No, Mulder.
We're partners.  We protect each other."
    "I know, but . . ." his voice trailed off. 
    "No buts.  I'd do it again if I have to."  she admitted. "Do you 
think I'm keeping score?  Do you think I have a big tote board and 
check off how many times I've been shot and make sure it equals yours?"
She felt her eyes welling up with tears. "I don't."
    Mulder stroked her hair.  "Don't cry, Scully." he said softly.  
    That only made her more upset.  "I . . ."  
    Whatever she was going to say was forgotten when Mulder's 
hands framed her face.  His fingertips were gentle as they skimmed
over her cheeks.  The tears had fallen and probably were trapped 
in his palms. 
    Scully's eyes fluttered shut. She felt his breath on her lips.  
His lips hovered over hers for what seemed like forever before 
he finally touched them.  The kiss was soft and warm.  She opened
her mouth a little more and his lips pressed against hers once more. 
    Mulder slid his arms around her back until she was being held 
in a warm embrace.  He lowered his head to her shoulder.

++++

    Mulder ended up staying a few days with her.  He was reluctant
to leave her even when she told him to go home and pack a few things
he would need.  It was still during the week, so they only had the 
evenings together. Mulder reminded her that if she needed anything
to just call him and he'd be there right away. 
    The nights  were too short.  Scully's pain pills were running out
and she only took them if it was necessary. So, she had some trouble 
sleeping, but Mulder provided the conversation to take her mind off 
the pain.  He told her the boring work he was doing since they were
no longer on the X-Files.  That didn't last long, so he told her about
his time working violent crimes, not exactly traditional bedtime story
fare, but she liked it.  He was opening up to her. Telling her about  
his life before they met. 
    That first night, Mulder kissed her softly on the forehead after 
she fell asleep and left the bedroom.  The next day she told him 
she wanted him to stay with her the whole night.  Mulder felt a 
little uncomfortable with it at first, but soon moved closer and
closer to her until finally she was sleeping in his arms. 
    Scully promised she would be much better company after her 
recovery was complete.  She promised him they would go out and 
celebrate as soon as that happened.  
    A romantic dinner.
    The first available weekend. 

END (1/1)

I just had to do a sweet, romantic ending! - L.