'TEMPERS ON ICE'
By: Waddles52

Mulder held DaSilva down as Hodge put the worm in her ear. As she began to calm down he rolled off of her and got to his knees. He suddenly found himself sitting down rather hard on the floor. "Something's not right," he thought as his brain began to take note of his surroundings after the adrenaline of the past few minutes began to fade.

Scully stood as she saw Mulder fall back. "Mulder, you're hit!" she exclaimed and began to move toward him.

"So, that's what's wrong with this picture," he realized as a horrible burning, broken-bone kind of pain exploded throughout his right shoulder.

She reached him as he began to slide to the left. "Dr. Hodge, if she's stable I could use your help!" Scully called.

"I'm shot?" Mulder asked, a surprised look on his face.

"Yes, Mulder. That's what it looks like," Scully answered as she steadied him. Blood had begun to spread over the right side of his shirt.

"Oh, damn! I'm shot?" he asked again. His look of surprise was quickly replaced by a look of fear and pain.

"Take it easy, okay? Let me get a look at you."

Hodge made his way over and knelt beside them. He handed a pair of latex gloves to Scully who quickly pulled them on. Scully pulled Mulder's shirt away, causing Mulder to wince.

Hodge looked at the back. "Through and through," he announced.

"That's good, Mulder. We don't have to worry about the bullet," Scully explained as she leaned over to examine the exit wound.

"Feels like something's broken," he gasped.

"Let me see. It's going to hurt a little bit."

"Mulder nodded and Scully began to feel around the wound. When she felt his collarbone, Mulder jerked away and yelped in pain. Hodge reached out to steady him.

"Sorry, Mulder. It looks like the bullet angled up and glanced off your collarbone. It's definitely broken."

"Shit, Scully! It hurts!"

"I know, Mulder. Let's get you off the floor and over to that stool. We need to stop the bleeding and clean it out. Dr. Hodge, if you could help us over, I can handle it from there."

"Okay. I don't want to leave her for long."

They got Mulder on the stool and Hodge left to tend to DaSilva.

"Let's get your shirt off and get this taken care of. Do you think you can sit there while I get some supplies?"

"Yeah, I'm a little shaky, but I think I can hold myself up."

"Good. Hang in there. I won't be gone long."

"How's she doing?" Mulder asked, nodding toward DaSilva, his voice shaky.

"She's unconscious but her vitals are returning to normal. Agent Mulder, she didn't know what she was doing. The worm . . ."

"I know. I don't blame her."

"I'm sorry about the way we treated you," Hodge offered.

"We'll talk later," Mulder answered. "Scully, where are you?"

"I'm coming."

"Don't think I can sit here much longer," he sighed as she set the supplies on the table.

"Please try. It will be much easier to work on you if you're sitting."

"I'll try."

Hodge came back over. "Agent Mulder, I'll hold you steady. Let's get that shirt off."

Between the two of them, Scully and Hodge stopped the bleeding and cleaned the wound.

Scully was taping gauze over the bullet holes when Mulder began to perspire heavily. "Need to lay down," he groaned.

"Hang on for just a few minutes more while I immobilize your arm," Scully directed.

"Hurry."

Scully placed his right arm against his chest and wrapped an ace bandage around his arm and chest. "There, that should keep you from moving it. Now, let's get you to your room. Do you think you can walk?"

"Don't know. Feeling kind of sick," he reported as he wiped the perspiration from his forehead.

"You're going into shock. We need to start an IV. I have all the supplies right here, let's just get to your room and I'll get it started and you'll be much more comfortable."

"Hate needles."

"It'll be over before you know it. Come on, let's see if you can stand."

She helped Mulder to his feet while Hodge went back to check on DaSilva. He began to sway, then took a deep breath and steadied himself.

"Better?" Scully inquired.

"Some. Let's get going. I don't think I'll last long."

Scully put her right arm around him and grabbed the medical supplies with the other. After a few stops to rest, she finally got Mulder to his room and eased him down to the bed. "I've got a nice shot of morphine for you. Let me get that IV going and I'll put it in there. It'll work much faster.

"Thanks, Scully," he shivered.

"You okay?"

"I guess. Getting shot? Kinda scared me." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"I'd be frightened too, Mulder, but you're going to be just fine. Other than the pain factor, it's really not a serious wound. If you were seen at an ER they would probably observe you for a few hours, then send you home." Scully began to prep him for the IV as she talked.

"Never been shot before, you know? Hurts like hell."

"I can't imagine." She got the IV catheter inserted, taped down and hooked up to the tubing. "Now for some joy juice," she said as she adjusted the flow.

"Joy juice?"

"Sure. You'll be seeing pink elephants in no time."

"As long as they don't tap dance on my shoulder, they're welcome to share my space."

"Let's get you under the covers." She helped Mulder lay back and get as comfortable as possible. "Better?"

"Yeah. At least my stomach's not rolling anymore. The rest of me is starting to spin though."

"That's the morphine. Close your eyes and let it work."

"I'm almost afraid to," he admitted.

"Relax, Mulder. I've got your back."

"Can I count on that?" he asked, closing his eyes.

"Yes, Mulder. You can trust me."

"Then why did I spend the night in the storage room?" he questioned angrily.

"I think we all let the situation get out of hand," Scully sighed.

Mulder slowly opened his eyes. "It was me, Scully. I thought you knew me, trusted me."

"I do, Mulder, but you pulled your gun on us. I reacted the only way I could."

"But, it was me, Scully," he said softly as his eyes closed again. "Too sleepy to talk now. Gotta talk s'more later," he slurred and then gave into the drug.

Mulder began to shiver and she pulled the covers more tightly around him as she wondered what she could do to repair the fragile trust that had been shattered hours earlier.

A tear rolled down her cheek as she hesitated, then smoothed the hair back from his forehead. "Oh, Mulder. What have I done?"

Mulder mumbled something as he shifted uncomfortably.

The door opened, startling her. Dr. Hodge poked his head in. "She came around enough to get her to a bed. How's he doing?"

"Physically, he's shocky and hurting like hell. Emotionally, I think he's hurting even more. I don't think he trusts me now, and I don't blame him."

"We did what we had to do."

"Did we? Damn it! I know him and I trust him. I should have listened to him." Scully swiped angrily at the tears that were now flowing freely.

"Agent Scully, you need to get some rest. We can talk this out later when our emotions aren't so raw. We're stuck here until the storm breaks and we need to get along," Hodge said. "I know I blew it, but we've got to get past that. Please, give us another chance," he pleaded.

"We'll talk later when Mulder can participate."

She got up and found a blanket, then moved a chair over to Mulder's bedside. "Just go. I need to get some rest."

"All right, Agent Scully. I'll be by to check on you in a few hours," promised as he shut the door.

Mulder slept fitfully while Scully dozed and checked on him from time to time. She was awakened from her light sleep by a whimper of pain. She sat up quickly.

"Mulder, what's wrong?"

"Got any more joy juice? The elephants are starting to tap dance," Mulder explained.

"They're not very considerate are they?" Scully grinned. "Let me check you over first."

She checked his pulse and blood pressure and pulled the bandages loose, causing Mulder to stiffen and try to pull away. Satisfied that he was holding his own, she injected a little more morphine into his IV.

"Hodge. What did he want?"

"He was trying to apologize," Scully answered wearily.

"Tough shit. If he'd listened I might not be here." Mulder closed his eyes again as he felt the rush of the medication. "Gonna have to do a lot of talkin' to convince me." He shivered again. "Feel like hell."

"I'm sure you do. I'm going to run in some antibiotics. I'm afraid you're developing an infection."

"That's just great," he groaned and gritted his teeth against the pain.

"Just relax and let the morphine work."

"Easy for you to say." He shivered again. "Can't get warm."

"I think you have a little fever." Scully rummaged around in her medical kit. "Aha!" She held up a bottle of ibuprofen. "Think you can get a couple of these down?"

"They'll go down. Can't guarantee they'll stay there.'

"Nothing ventured. Nothing gained," she reminded him, looking around until she spotted a bottle of water on the nightstand.

She handed it to Mulder who just looked at her. "Uh, Scully. Bottlecap?"

"Sorry." She took the bottle back and opened it for him, then placed two of the tablets on his tongue. He took the bottle from her and drained half of it in one gulp. "Take it easy, or you will be sick," she warned, taking the bottle from him.

"I'm thirsty."

"I know. Go back to sleep and you can have some more when you wake up."

"'Kay. Tired anyway."

Mulder had been sleeping for around 45 minutes when Hodge stuck his head in the door. "How's he doing?"

Scully left Mulder's bedside and met Hodge in the hall. "He's not doing as well as I would like. His temperature is elevated and before you even suggest it, he's showing no signs of infection by the parasite."

"I wasn't going to suggest that," Hodge defended himself. "It could be from shock, blood loss or infection. How are you treating it?"

"I'm using ibuprofen to lower his temperature and I'm piggy-backing a broad spectrum antibiotic along with the normal saline IV."

"That's about all you can do for the moment."

"How is Dr. DaSilva?" Scully inquired.

"Nancy has been in and out of consciousness. She doesn't remember what happened. Will she be charged, Agent Scully?" he asked worriedly.

"I honestly couldn't answer that. I'll turn in my report and state the facts. Whether she is charged will not be my decision. I can tell you that I will not recommend that any charges be placed."

"Thank you."

"Now, if you'll excuse me I'd like to get back to Agent Mulder."

"Just one more thing, Agent Scully. Don't you think it would be easier if we had both patients in one room? We could take turns watching over them. We both need rest and it could be some time before we're rescued," Hodge suggested.

"Yes, it would be easier, but I don't know how Agent Mulder would feel about it."

"I understand. Why don't you run it by him and let me know later?"

"I'll do that, Dr. Hodge. Now, I really must get back inside."

Scully went back into the room and shut the door just in time to see Mulder attempting to slide out of bed.

"Mulder, what do you think you're doing?" she exclaimed, crossing the room quickly.

"I was trying to get out of bed, but it's a little harder than I thought," he gasped as Scully helped him sit up.

"Just where do you think you were going?"

"I need to take a trip down the hall, you know, the uh . . ."

"Restroom?" Scully asked.

"Yes, and the sooner the better. If you could just help me get to my feet," he hinted.

"Mulder, you're going to need more help than that."

"Scully, I've been taking care of this since I was two years old."

"Not with one arm strapped to your chest I'd wager."

Mulder just stared at her.

"Buttons or zipper?" she asked

"What?"

"Button fly or zipper?'

"Oh, button fly," he answered, comprehension finally setting in.

"Then you're probably going to need some help."

"Uh, I think I'll be okay."

"Okay, then let's go. At least hold onto me until we get there. I'd rather not have to pick you up off the floor."

"Fine, can we get this show on the road before the situation turns critical?" he asked, clearly looking distressed.

"Sure, let's go. I could always get Dr. Hodge . . ."

"Scully, let's just go. I can handle it."

Ten minutes later Scully was still waiting outside the restroom. "Mulder, are you okay in there?"

The door opened slowly to reveal Mulder with his pants unbuttoned. "It's not as easy as I thought it would be," he moaned, his face bright red. "Do you think you could, uh?"

"Could I what, Mulder?" Scully asked sweetly.

"Damn it, Scully! Would you quit gloating and just button my jeans?"

"Yes, Mulder, since you asked me so nicely, I'll help you."

"This is so embarrassing."

"Mulder, if you recall, on our first case I had you checking my mosquito bites for signs of alien testing. That was embarrassing. I'd say we're even. There, finished. Did you bring any sweats?"

"Yeah."

Scully put her arm around his waist and they began to make their way back to his room. "Why don't we get you changed into a pair of sweats then? That would eliminate one problem at least."

"Okay, can we hurry this along? Feeling kind of weak."

"Of course."

By the time they returned to the room Mulder collapsed on the bed. Scully helped him stretch out, then began to take his vitals.

"Mulder, you don't need to be out of bed," she announced after she finished. "Your pressure is a little low, your pulse a little fast and your temperature is 101."

"Guess that's why I feel like crap," he sighed. "This is hurting like a son of a bitch."

"I'll give you some more morphine in a bit. Dr. Hodge has suggested that we put you and Dr. DaSilva in the same room."

"No!"

"It would be much easier," Scully argued.

"I don't trust him. At least DaSilva had an excuse. She was infected, but Hodge is a bastard and I don't want him near me," Mulder stated adamantly.

"Mulder, I helped to lock you in that storage room too," Scully said softly.

"Scully, I've been thinking about that. The way I see it, you didn't have much choice. You were out-numbered, and the circumstances did make it seem that I was infected. You tried your best to convince them I was clean."

"I feel like I should have done more," Scully protested.

"You came through when it counted. No hard feelings, Scully."

"Are we okay, then?" she asked.

"Yeah, we're okay. Now, how about some more of that joy juice? The elephants are tap dancing and I think they brought the whole troupe of Riverdance with them," Mulder grinned.

"Okay, let's get those sweats on first, then maybe you can rest a bit more comfortably." Scully moved to his bag and located a navy blue pair. "Will these do?"

"Yeah," he answered, trying to unbutton his fly again.

"Let me do that," Scully offered. "The faster we get this done, the sooner I can inject the morphine."

"Okay," he gave in. "It's still embarrassing as hell."

"You'll get over it," she smiled as she loosened the first button.

There was a knock on the door and Hodge stuck his head in. "Oh, excuse me," he said. "I didn't mean to interrupt anything. I, uh, just wanted to let you know that there's a break in the weather and a rescue team is on the way. I'll, uh, let you two get back to what you were doing," he reported and quickly closed the door.

Scully and Mulder looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"I can only imagine what was going through his mind," Scully giggled.

"His report should make interesting reading," Mulder laughed, then winced. "Ow, that hurts."

"Then let's get this project finished so I can give you some more morphine, partner."

"Okay, partner," Mulder agreed, emphasizing the word. "And we've got a report of our own to write later."

"Yes, we do. Together."

THE END

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