|
|
|
|
The roses had been a sweet surprise - the large, poorly scrawled
on card even moreso - and yet the surroundings she had literally
been forced to ensconce herself in on this cold but beautifully
sunny Valentine's Day came as no surprise at all - far from...
Yep, they were back at D.C General Hospital, and just as
unsurprisingly she was sat at the bedside of her injured,
sleeping partner...
"Only you, Mulder...Why is it always only you?" she
sighed solemnly, outstretching a hand to rest on his arm.
"B-b--...Because...y-you l-lo-ve me?" came the dry,
drug-addled voice from the bed.
Dana Scully's head snapped up to lock eyes with him, and -
despite how tired and angry she was - a small smile lifted the
corners of her mouth. "It's not funny, Mulder!"
"Made y-you smi--...smile, though, d-d-didn't it?"
Fair play.
After swallowing hard several times to try clear his throat did
very little - if anything at all - Mulder uneasily turned his
head a fraction to glance at the glass of water on the
nightstand...which was too far out of reach. "Scu--"
She saved his voice by quickly picking up the glass and holding
it to his lips so that he could sip from it. "You
shouldn't-- *we* shouldn't be here - we were supposed to be going
out for a meal! Skinner could've gotten the situation under
control without any--" A hand raised to indicate he'd
finished with the water, and she took a quick, deep breath as she
put the glass down. "There would have been no
casualties!" Cue raised eyebrow and pointed glances at the
bandage round his head, and his strapped right shoulder.
"Instead, you had to put your big feet in and now another
Valentine's Day has been laid to waste."
"You didn't l-like the f-flow-ers?"
Silence.
"And, hey, we had a good time last y-year at that beach
c-c-club, didn't we? I-I know I'd ditched you earlier that
mor-ning, but I made up f-for it, just as I will this time - I
promise." He made a painful attempt to reach for her, but
the movement of his right arm was a little too restricted for his
liking, and outstretching his left any further only threatened to
disconnect the IV and monitor lines.
"The year before we were - surprise, surprise - in a
hospital with you incapacitated...I thought it'd be different
this time..." Scully trailed off and shook her head. She
knew he didn't get injured on purpose, and that he had been
desperate to make everything special for this day (praying hard
that it would work out, considering it never did when he tried
every normal day), but, God, she was angry at him for his
anal-retentive need to keep his nose in where it was hardly ever
needed, let alone wanted...Basically: stepping blindly into a
situation that would, without a doubt, always result in his being
badly hurt. Yesterday's stupidity had almost claimed his life,
and she was too tired and emotional to joke about any of it.
"With the house...I just dreamt it would be different...I-I
know I shouldn't, but...I dreamt about us going out for the
candle-lit dinner at the restaurant, and then coming home,
sitting in front of the fire and sharing a glass or two or three
of champagne, and then...Well, retiring to the bedroom..."
Mulder watched her for a moment and then let his eyes slip shut
as he pictured the things she was describing in his head
(thankfully the pain meds still swimming around in his body
stopped him becoming too aroused, though only just). He
understood that her anger matched his frustration at the whole
injustice, but he'd had to do what he'd done - he'd just had to;
for the little girl, for Scully...for the safety of them all...
XxXxXxXxX
24 HOURS EARLIER
FBI HEADQUARTERS
WASHINGTON, D.C
Scully was preparing their
reports for the meeting with Skinner when Mulder hung up the
phone and moved to snag his coat from the stand by the basement
office's exit.
"Where are you going?" she frowned, resting back in her
seat and folding both arms across her chest.
This ought to be good.
"That was Kim," he mumbled rather distractedly and not
meeting her eyes as one arm waved dismissively in the general
direction of the phone on his desk, whilst the other fumbled
through the pockets of his coat til he found his car keys. She
waited patiently for him to continue, but he looked as if he was
working something out in his over-active mind.
"Mulder?"
"Hmm? Oh, uh, she said our meeting with Skinner's
cancelled...The case he's been involved with has hit a head, and
he's had to go out..."
"Mulder?" The cautionary tone worked, and he finally
stared at her. "Is this the kidnapping case you've been
using the computer to hack into and take a look at Skinner's
files on?" She'd had a stern word with him about it two
weeks ago when she'd realised he was reading reports by Skinner,
not them, over the network, but had said nothing more - at least
he'd kept his distance, and that was always for the better when
it came to child abductions - if he wasn't reading about it, he'd
have only been hounding the A.D to let him in on the
investigation. "The Orlowski case?"
The story was that six-year-old Sarah Orlowski had been snatched
from her mother's grasp whilst they were out on a shopping trip
in downtown D.C. A couple of notes had been sent to the parents,
warning them that a high ransom would be wanted in exchange for
their daughter back, but there'd been nothing else - no amount,
no date of exchange - and the local law had no clues to work
with. Skinner had only been called in because the family were
friends of the Director's wife. And so the hunt had begun, with a
lot of frustrated waiting involved. Three days ago, Forensics had
managed to finally lift some of the kidnapper's DNA from the
second letter, and a match had been found in the shape of escaped
mental patient Matt Gout...
...who'd been untraceable, until now.
"Yeah. Somebody reported seeing suspicious activity at a
derelict, burnt out building...turns out it was Gout. Don't know
anything else, except that the situation became hostile, and
Skinner's gone to help."
Still frowning, Scully continued to stare at her partner as he
relayed the facts Kimberly had passed on to him, and then
realisation dawned - no wonder he hadn't wanted to make eye
contact with her...
"Oh, no you don't!" she exclaimed, quickly raising to
her feet and moving to stand in front of the open doorway with
hands firmly on hips. "You're not going down there, Mulder -
for a start it's not anything to do with us, and secondly we have
plans for tomorrow, remember? Special plans? Plans you promised
wouldn't be jeopardised this year?"
"I know, I know! Valentine's Day..." He paused and
smiled. They'd been 'lovers' (Jeez, he hated that word) for
several years now, but this year was very different due to the
simple fact they were properly living together, in *their* own
home. The thought of returning to that after a beautiful meal to
continue the romance by the open fire made him warm inside - he
couldn't believe how far they'd come...or even how far *he'd*
come along since those first days of their being partnered
together.
There was a job to be done, though - a little girl was in danger
- and although he knew it wasn't his to do, he couldn't let it
go.
"I promised, and I'm gonna keep that," he swore,
cupping her chin in the hand he'd used to point at the desk.
"How can I pass up on the opportunity to share a tub of ice
cream with you by firelight?" Both of them smiled, but too
quickly the seriousness returned to his face and voice. "But
I gotta do this. Something just tells me I gotta be there...if
not for the girl, then Skinner."
She couldn't believe she was actually listening to his excuse,
and that tub of ice cream suddenly looked as if it was rolling
away, further and further.
"You better not get injured, Mulder, because if you do I
guarantee I'll hurt you twice as much when you're
recovered," she growled, snatching up her own coat. A
placated Mulder was much easier to deal with than one that
disappeared against her will, so the best answer was for her to
go with him.
The opportunity to make a leery innuendo had stepped forward, but
he let it slip as she turned away and he rested a hand against
the small of her back. Pushing his luck was not a good idea,
especially considering she hadn't put up an argument.
XxXxXxXxX
H STREET
FEBRUARY 13th, 2005
2:13 PM
"GET AWAY FROM
HERE, OR I WILL - I'LL KILL HER!"
Walter Skinner pinched his temples between thumb and forefinger.
The negotiator they'd sent in had only infuriated Gout even
further and forced him to a higher floor in the unstable
building. On the positive side, they knew the girl was still
alive, but for how much lon--
He saw movement through the corner of his eye and turned to see
Agents Mulder and Scully approaching.
"What the hell are you--" He frowned and glared at
Scully - silently reprimanding her for letting Mulder anywhere
near here. "What is he doing here?!
"Playing a hunch," Dana shrugged. Their boss knew as
well as her about Mulder's obsession with these kind of
scenarios, so no further explanation was really necessary.
Mulder wiped a sweaty hand down his face as he looked up at the
building surrounded by the local PD and SWAT teams.
"I GOT A GUN, SO JUST GIVE ME THE MONEY AND LET ME ALONE AND
SHE'LL BE OKAY!"
There were gasps from the crowd that had congregated at the road
block, and a few more officers quickly ran over to help the
couple already guarding it.
"We have a visual on the suspect," a voice crackled
over the radio in a nearby police car. "Need-- Wait! No,
that's a negative - repeat, *negative*...The suspect has moved
and we have no clear shot."
The annoyance began to bubble inside Mulder.
"What are his demands?" Scully queried the assistant
director as she shot a concerned glance at her partner's back.
"There's been nothing definitive - he just keeps rambling on
about getting money," the police chief cut in from behind
her. "Must have watched too many movies before they carted
him off to the nuthouse."
Mulder listened to it all until he couldn't take it anymore and
decided he had to do something. He gave one quick glance at the
two familiar figures behind him and then - drawing his weapon -
ran toward the building's entrance.
"At any rate, we've got snipers strategically placed, and
they'll move in as soon as the slightest opportunity
arises."
Scully nodded, and turned back to stare at Mulder...
...only to just catch a glimpse of his back before the tall, dark
looming tower swallowed him into its depths.
"*Mulder*!"
Skinner sharply turned in the direction she was facing and then
stared at her. "You knew he'd do it - why did you let him
come? There was a reason I didn't want him knowing anything about
this, Agent Scully!" He paused and a look of puzzlement
creased his features. "For that matter, how *did* he
know?"
Well, she couldn't exactly say 'he's been reading your private
files'...could she? "Uh..." She continued to stare at
the entrance to the burnt out structure - her mind working to
worry more about her partner's safety than why they were here.
"We got a call from your assistant to cancel the meeting we
were supposed to have with you earlier."
Technically, that didn't really answer the question at all, and
yet the assistant director pushed no further.
She let out a sigh and weighed up the options of following Mulder
in or waiting.
*I promise nothing's gonna get in our way this year - it's just
gonna be me and you.*
She had thought it better to wait until there was a sign or
something to say she should do otherwise, but with his words
still echoing in her head the reality struck that he would be
injured for tomorrow unless she intervened, and so quickly moved
to follow.
~~~~~
Mulder carefully climbed the flight of stairs - being sure not to
step on any of the ones that looked ready to collapse and perhaps
take the rest with them. He could hear Gout's voice from
somewhere above him, broken once by the sound of Scully calling
from below, so onward he went, until he reached the top, fourth
floor.
"Mulder?"
The familiar, hushed voice made him pause and turn briefly.
Surely she hadn't followed...
"Mulder?"
Yep, she had, and when her small figure came into view, he wasn't
sure if he should jump for joy or have a panic attack.
"You promised!" she whispered sharply, approaching
quickly with her own drawn weapon held low.
He only had chance to reply with a shrug before Gout yelled out
again from down the hall.
"COME ON! WHERE IS IT?"
The two agents glanced at each other and then slowly stalked
toward possibly the only room still with four walls standing - as
destroyed as they were.
They found him huddled in the corner in his asylum-issued pyjamas
with one hand holding onto the small girl, and the other gripping
onto a revolver as if it were a lifeline. He raised his head to
stare at them as they entered, and sharply raised the gun.
"It's okay, Matt, we're here to help," Mulder started,
gently.
"I just want my money," the other man whined like a
ten-year old - the gun beginning to waver. "But they won't
give it to me!"
Scully nodded and took a step forward, hoping to help calm the
crying child. But the floorboard creaked under her weight, Gout
panicked, the revolver fired, Orlowski screamed, and with an
"Oh, crap," Mulder collapsed.
~~~~~
The sound of gunfire set everybody into action down on the
street, and a woman bystander fainted. Skinner immediately pulled
out his cell phone to dial 911, whilst the SWAT team ran into the
building.
"Those your agents?" the police chief sniped, grabbing
Skinner's arm. At the assistant director's nod, the other man
finished, "You better pray that ain't the little girl that's
been hit, otherwise your head'll be had."
~~~~~
As chaos assembled downstairs, Scully quickly knelt beside her
partner to examine the wound to his shoulder.
"I...I'm sorry," he choked through grit teeth, staring
up at her with pleading eyes. "I prom--...promised..."
Lifting him slightly to search for an exit wound that it turned
out wasn't there, she shook her head. "You never keep them,
Mulder. Dammit, the bullet's still in you..."
"Sculleeeee..."
"It's gonna be okay. Relax and stay still - I'm sure an
ambulance is on the way."
"I'm sorr--"
"Shh...Just stay with me. That's all I ask." Feeling a
tear roll down her cheek, she reached out to brush a few errant
strands of hair away from his face. "I need you with me
every day, not only tomorrow."
Gout watched with his head cocked slightly to the side - the girl
sliding out of his grasp. She immediately ran toward Scully, who
gathered her up in her arms, but then the pyjama-clad man
realised what had happened and lunged for them both.
"Scu--"
Before she had chance to raise her gun, it was knocked from
Dana's grasp and she was being held against the kidnapper by a
large arm.
"I got me two now!" Gout giggled, keeping a tight hold
on the two struggling females as he turned to look out the window
at the figures below. "YOU BETTER GIVE IT TO ME NOW!"
The sharp pain tearing through his shoulder, the nausea and
light-headedness were all forgotten as Mulder lifted his head
slightly to stare at the back of the man keeping his partner and
the girl captive. Getting himself injured due to his own
stupidity was one thing, but he couldn't let anything happen to
her - anybody but Scully... Shakily, he struggled to his feet -
hissing at the pain that threatened to send him hurtling into
darkness - and then moved toward Gout.
"Hey!" he started. When Gout turned, he struck out and
hit him directly on the jaw. Scully and Sarah broke free and
quickly moved out of arm's reach. Mulder wavered on his feet -
completely drained and unable to fight anymore. But it didn't
take long for Gout to regain his senses, and once again made for
the two women.
*How can I pass up on the opportunity to share a tub of ice cream
with you by firelight?*
Drawing on the power of his emotions, Mulder dived for Gout - not
registering the loud creaking floorboards under his weight.
"*Mulder!* No!"
As the SWAT team burst into the room and Mulder's arm wrapped
around the madman, the floor finally gave way and the two men
dropped down.
"Everybody out!" one of the uniformed men ordered,
waving to his colleagues and moving to carefully guide Scully and
the little girl out. Scully stood frozen on the spot, though,
staring with horrified, wide eyes at the hole her partner had
fallen through. "Ma'am, we need to get out of here before
the whole thing collapses!" He grabbed her arm in one of his
hands, but she abruptly shook it off.
"That's my partner!" she finally snapped, taking a
tentative step forward to look into the hole and see how far he'd
dropped. There, on the second floor, she could see the two bodies
lying motionless. She didn't care about the injuries Gout had
sustained, but the blood pouring from Mulder's gunshot wound and
what looked like an injury to his head was enough to make her
fear the worst. "Oh, my God....no..."
The team leader looked down also and shook his head. "We
need immediate EMT help on the second floor," he barked into
his headset, reaching for her arm once again and succeeding this
time in pulling her out of the room. "We have two men
down."
She refused to go any further than the second floor, though,
despite the warnings, and stayed by the unconscious-but-alive
Mulder's side until he was wheeled into the operating room at the
hospital.
XxXxXxXxX
D.C GENERAL HOSPITAL
FEBRUARY 14th, 2005
4:22 PM
Mulder woke up and
weakly looked round til he noticed his partner napping in the
seat beside his bed - the memory of yesterday's events continuing
to haunt him. He'd asked for flowers to be delivered for her when
he'd first regained consciousness early this morning, and had
struggled to sign a Valentine's card the Gunmen had brought in at
his request, but he wished he could make it up properly. So much
had been lost and destroyed this past year, he marvelled at her
resolve whilst worrying how much more of a beating it could take.
"Scully?" he whispered.
Immediately, she snapped awake and leaned forward to rest the
back of her hand on his forehead. "Mulder, are you
okay?"
He chuckled, coughed, and then smiled. "I feel like I lost
my happy thought and fe-ell quite a way, but you're helping to
b-bring it back. How about y-you?"
"I'm fine." At his frown, she quickly added,
"really. Not a scratch on me. Sarah Orlowski was checked,
cleared and returned to her parents, and Matt Gout was pronounced
dead on arrival at the hospital. Meanwhile, Skinner's not sure if
he should congratulate you or wring your neck." Uneasy
pause. "But you had me so worried, Mulder... I thought...I
really thought--...Dammit, Mulder, you shouldn't have done it!
Why? You knew the risk...You knew the cops would move in as soon
as they heard the gunshot - why couldn't you have waited those
few more seconds?"
He stared into her eyes, hoping that she would see the answer
reflected in his, but when the well-exercised eyebrow raised
higher, he tenderly replied, "Because....I love you? Because
I didn't....I didn't want to see a-anything happen to you? I
screwed up and broke my promise, and I-I'm p-p-paying for that,
but..." He paused to reach up and pull her hand away from
his forehead so that he could place it over his heart. "I
won't ever let anything happen to you as long as there's a single
b-breath in my body - that I s-swear."
The tears broke free and trickled down her cheeks as she stared
at him a moment longer and then bent to place a kiss on his lips.
"The same vice versa," she whispered, lingering there.
"But I don't know how much more I can take of this, Mulder.
I don't know if I can take almost losing you again...I love you
too much to--"
"Shhh." The hand covering hers lifted to cup her cheek,
and somehow - using their silent communication - it was agreed
nothing else needed to be said.
She nodded and lowered her head to lay on his chest. It didn't
take long for the sound of his steady heartbeat to help her drift
back off to sleep.
"Happy Valentine's Day, S-Scully. I'll make it up to you as
soon as I get out of here...and then we'll see about your
punishing me for g-getting in-jured," he whispered with a
smile, kissing the top of her head before he too gave into the
exhaustion and medication.
"Mm."
XXXXXXXXXX
THE END
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Seems to me,
seems to be
you're the reason
Why I live, try to give
all I can.
Can't you see, that for me,
life's worth living.
When you're near, I know you'll
understand.'
.........................~'You're The Reason' by Gene Pitney
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DISCLAIMER:
CC, 1013, Fox etc own 'em. I just like to play with 'em...and
maybe torture them a little bit <EG>
bravenet.com