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Watching her lie in the hospital bed, unconscious for the fifth day in a row, he wonders when or if she'll ever wake up. He's pissed at Kersh and Ritter. He wanted to be pissed at Scully, but he can't. It's not possible for him to be angry with her. Mrs.Scully has been in and out, she's staying in a hotel nearby, provided by the FBI. She's brought him coffee and hospital cafeteria food. She's made sure he's showered, promising that she won't let Dana out of her sight while he does so. However, she can't manage to get him to leave her room. When the nurses come in to change the dressing on Scully's wound, he moves to sit in the corner of the room, rather than in the chair nearest her bed or his most usual spot- in the bed with her. The first time a nurse came in to change Scully's bandages, she found Mulder lying in the bed with Scully. She took note that he seemed uncomfortable. He was trying his hardest not to hurt her while trying to be as close to her as possible. She warned him that he shouldn't have let the guard rail down and he promised not to let her fall. When she asked him to leave the room in order to give give Scully a sponge bath and redress her wound, Mulder protested immediately. After many minutes of argument, the nurse finally conceded and asked him to stay out of the way. Once she was finished with her job, Mulder returned to his spot beside her on the hospital bed.
Over the past five days, he hasn't stopped talking to her. Even saying little nonsense things. He'll bring up old cases. He'll say strange things to see if he can get her to raise an eyebrow, but nothing happens. She never responds. The first night was difficult. The shock over seeing her hooked up to all kinds of machines reminded him of her return from her abduction. He hit the floor hard. He was distraught enough that the doctor went against protocol and allowed Mulder to stay through the night. Visiting hours didn't apply to Mulder and for that he was eternally grateful. Lying next to her, his nose nuzzling the space behind her ear, his chin resting on her shoulder, he whispers to her.
"Scully, you have to wake up. It's time to wake up now. We miss you. You're mom's been here. She needs you, Scully. I need you, Dana."
Yet, no movement of eyes beneath their lids, no finger twitch, nothing to indicate she's heard anything he's said to her.
When he wakes on the sixth morning, he tells Scully that he'll be right back that he's just going to the bathroom. He leaves the door cracked just in case. When he returns to her side, he takes her hand in his and leans down to place a gentle kiss to her temple. When he pulls back, he can see her eyes move beneath her eyelids. His heart jumps into his throat and he squeezes her hand.
"Scully? Scully, can you hear me? It's Mulder. You've gotta wake up, Scully. Come on, Dana."
No response, still the movement of her enclosed eyes continues. Mulder refuses to leave her side, so he presses the nurse button. A nurse come rushing into the room and Mulder tells her what's happening. She leaves and when she returns with the doctor, Mulder is moved back to his corner. He watches with small amounts of hope blooming in his chest. When the doctor let's Mulder return to Scully's side, he notices tears rolling down Scully's cheeks. Mulder snaps his head to the doctor.
"She's crying. Why is she crying?"
The doctor informs Mulder that it is not uncommon to see tears or eyelid twitches in comatose patience. She's more than likely dreaming.
"Is that a good thing? She hasn't done anything, but lay here the past week. This has to be some kind of change."
"We're going to keep our eyes on her, Agent Mulder. I wouldn't say that Dana is out of the woods, yet, but this event could be seen as a good sign towards improvement."
The doctor leaves and Mulder sinks into the chair by Scully's bed. He holds her hand and his thumb caresses her cold, pale knuckles. He reminds himself to call Mrs.Scully as soon as possible. He just needs a moment to calm down first. His eyes roam over Scully's face.
"What are you dreaming about, Scully?"
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Scully wakes to the sun peaking through the curtains. It can't be too long past sunrise. She feels a heavy arm draped over her waist and a warm hand holding one of her breasts. She smiles to herself.
"I know you're awake."
His baritone voice whispered into the crook of her neck sends a shiver down her spine. He gives her breast a squeeze and she rolls onto her back to stare into his hazel eyes. His lips meet hers, while morning breath is ignored.
"Morning."
"Morning. How long have you been up?"
"Not long."
He begins leaving a trail of kisses down her neck and shoulder, as his hand moves from her hip to the waistband of her panties. She hums and looks over at the alarm clock.
"We don't have long."
"I can be quick."
She laughs.
"I don't know if that's a good thing."
His head drops into her cleavage.
"Way to ruin the mood, Scully."
She holds his face in her hands and runs her thumb over the mole on his right cheek.
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
He begins his journey back down, but the sound of little feet bouncing down the hall stops him abpruptly. He rolls off of Scully and heaves a heavy sigh.
"I told you we didn't have long."
The bedroom door bursts open and a sandy-haired boy about the age of three runs to jump onto the bed.
"Mommy. Daddy. It's morning. You gotta get up."
Mulder grabs the boy and gently throws him between himself and Scully. Then, tickling ensues and the little boy is gasping for air.
"Daddy, Daddy, stop. You da tickle munster. Mommy save me."
Scully wraps the boy in her arms and the tickle monster's attack ceases. The sandy-haired boy looks up to his mother.
"Mommy, is sissy awake?"
Scully gives Mulder a stern look, before returning to her son.
"Your baby brother or sister is sleeping right now. Why don't you go brush your teeth and we can eat breakfast. How do pancakes sound?"
His face lights up and he sprints from the bed. Once he's out of ear shot, Scully glares at Mulder.
"Why does William think the baby is a girl?"
Mulder climbs out of the bed and pulls on his pajama pants.
"I don't know."
"Mulder."
"Okay, I might have made an inference that the baby could be a girl."
"We don't know what we're having. Mulder, that's how we wanted it. What if Will gets set on a sister and he ends up with a brother?"
"Scully, he'll be happy either way. He can't wait to be a big brother. You see how good he is already."
Tears escape Scully's eyes and Mulder wipes them away with the pads of his thumbs.
"Okay, but you need to be the one to clear up that his baby sister might be a baby brother."
"Done."
He kisses her forehead and heads into the kitchen. Scully walks over to the bedroom mirror and lifts her nightgown. When she turns to the side, she can see the small bump of the new baby. She cradles the bump and smiles, before releasing the gown and turning to find her boys.
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Maggie Scully enters the hospital room to find Mulder's head resting at Dana's hip. His eyes are closed and he's breathing deeply. This is the most peaceful she's seen him in almost a week. She's quiet not to wake him and moves to the other side of the bed. She pulls the only free chair close to Dana's side and holds her daughter's hand in hers. It's as if Mulder and Maggie are giving Scully their strength for her to come back to them. Mulder stirs and lifts his head from the bed. He looks around disoriented for a moment before his eyes settle on Scully, then move to Maggie.
"Hi, Fox."
"Mrs.Scu- Maggie. Hi, Maggie."
He has to correct himself. Maggie has asked him many times to refer to her as Maggie.
"She looks better. You said her eyes were moving and she was crying?"
Mulder sniffles and nods.
"Yeah. The doctor said it could be a step towards improvement."
"Oh, Fox. That's great news."
Maggie examines Mulder closely.
"Fox, I'm here now. Why don't you take a break? Go get some fresh air, it's a beautiful day out."
She sees his hand tighten around Scully's and he squeezes his eyes shut for a moment. He surprises her by nodding.
"You'll call me if anything happens. I mean anything. One eye twitch."
"Absolutely."
He gives one last long look at Scully, before leaning down to leave a lingering kiss on her hairline. Maggie thinks she hears a whispered 'I love you.' Mulder leaves the room without looking back.
When Mulder returns, Maggie tells him that there's been no change. However, as soon as Mulder grabs hold of Scully's hand, he swears he feels her fingers twitch. He looks between Scully and Maggie, then back to Scully.
"Scully? Can you hear me? Come on, Scully. It's time to wake up now."
This time he is certain her fingers grasp his. Maggie gasps and jumps up to get the doctor. Mulder brushes Scully's hair back from her face with his free hand.
"That's good, Scully. Open your eyes. Can you open your eyes for me?"
He watches her eyes move beneath their lids, but she fails to open them. She squeezes his hand again.
"It's okay. That's okay, Scully."
The doctor comes into the room and this time Mulder refuses to let go of Scully's hand. The doctor and nurses work around him and once their finished the doctor informs him that Scully is in the process of waking up. They still have a long way to go.
Over the next twenty-four hours, Scully drifts in and out; never opening her eyes. This doesn't worry Mulder, though. He knows she's going to be okay. She's getting better. He just needs to give her time.
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"Scully? Can you hear me? Come on, Scully. It's time to wake up now."
Scully stirs and turns her head to look over her shoulder. Mulder looms over her with a small smile on his face. Scully hums and looks down at the little boy sleeping on her chest.
"I didn’t mean to fall asleep. What time is it?"
"Just after two. He's still got some nap time left."
She slides the boy from her chest and rests him on the pillow. Mulder helps her from the toddler bed and they walk out of the room quietly.
"Why didn't you wake me sooner?"
"You needed the sleep."
They sit on the couch and watch a movie until it's time to wake Will. Mulder lets his hand rest over their unborn child and Scully lays her head on his shoulder. She gasps suddenly when she feels the baby kick. Mulder must have felt it, too because his head snaps towards her instantly.
"Woah. You felt that, too. Right, Scully?"
"Yeah. They're saying 'hey.'"
Mulder leans down to place a kiss on the small bump.
"Hi, baby. It's Daddy."
Scully smiles and when Mulder sits back up, she burrows her face into his chest. They hear a floorboard creak and look up to see a sleepy William standing in the doorway.
"Look's like the baby isn't the only one awake."
At Mulder's observation, Will's face lights up and he runs for the couch.
"Sissy's awake?"
Mulder pulls Will into his lap and wraps his free arm around Scully's waist. Scully guides Will's hand to where the baby is kicking. He smiles and whispers to the baby.
"I'm you big brofer, Will. I love you."
Scully has never been more happy in her entire life.
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She wakes with a strangled gasp. There's an intubation tube down her throat and she can hear the sounds of the machines. Her eyes search the room frantically, before landing on Mulder. His face breaks into a huge, hopeful smile.
"Hey, Scully. It's okay. You're okay. I'm going to get the doctor."
She squeezes his hand with every bit of strength she can muster, urging him to stay. He looks down at her and caresses her cheek.
"I'll be right back. I promise."
A kiss is placed on her forehead and he's rushing out of the room. When he returns with the doctor, the tube is removed Scully's throat and Mulder holds a glass of water for her to sip. Once the doctor is satisfied that Scully is stable, he leaves Mulder and Scully to themselves. Mulder sits on the bed facing Scully.
"Where's Will?"
Mulder tilts his head to the side. He thinks maybe she's trying to say Bill.
"Bill's in California, Scully. Your mom's here though. I should call her and tell her you're awake."
Scully shakes her head at him.
"Not Bill. Will. Our son. Does mom have him?"
Mulder is at a loss for words. He opens his mouth, then closes it.
"Wait. Mulder, why am I in the hospital? Did something happen to the baby?"
"The baby? Scully..."
All he can manage is a whispered voice of confusion and concern. He watches Scully push the hospital blankets away and she grasps at the fabric of her hospital gown.
"Mulder, our baby. Where's our baby? What happened to her?"
The sound of her heart rate on the monitor increases. Her automatic blood pressure cuff takes her blood pressure and the machine starts beeping. She's having a panic attack and the only thing Mulder can do is sit there. He has no words of reassurance. He's frozen. The nurses and doctor run into the room and give Scully a mild sedative. Still, Mulder just stands his feet glued to the tiles. One nurse comes to his side and helps him to a chair. She pushes his head between his knees in fear that he's going to pass out. Once everything calms down, Maggie Scully is called and comes into the hospital room.
"Fox?"
Mulder's gaze drifts from Scully to Maggie at a slow pace.
"She woke up. She was okay. She was Scully. Then, she just...she wasn't making any sense."
Maggie moves to kneel in front of Mulder and takes his hands in hers.
"What was she saying, Fox?"
Mulder swallows hard and moves one of his hands to rub his temple.
"She, uh, she asked about our...about our son and our ba...baby. Maggie, we don't...Scully can't...we can't-"
Tears roll down Mulder's cheeks and Maggie pulls him into her arms. She rubs his back and rocks him in a way his mother never did. A way a true mother would comfort their child. Scully coughs in the bed across the room and they pull apart. Mulder can't seem to find the energy to stand, so Maggie goes to Dana's side.
"Dana, honey. It's Mom."
Scully opens her eyes to meet her mom's.
"Mom?"
"Hi, honey."
"Mm. Where's Mulder?"
Maggie turns to look at Mulder. He stands and staggers towards the bed. Maggie moves over to give him room to sit down.
"I'm right here, Scully."
Scully reaches for his hand. She looks between him and her mother.
"Mm. I, uh, I had this strange dream."
She seems to retreat into the dream for a minute before returning to the present- to reality.
"I was shot. Wasn't I? I was on a case in...in New York. Are we still in New York?"
Maggie answers.
"Yes, sweetie. That's right. We're still in New York. It's been almost a week."
Mulder watches Scully's hand drift to her abdomen and for a moment he's worried she will ask about their non-existent unborn child again.
"Agent Ritter shot me."
"Yeah, Scully. You were standing behind Fellig and the bullet went through him and into you."
Scully nods. It seems there is more she wants to say.
"I'm going to get some coffee. Fox, do you want anything?"
"No, thank you, Maggie."
Once her mom is gone, Scully looks back to Mulder.
"My dream. I was so happy. We had a son. His name was William and we had another baby on the way. We didn't know what it was, but you were certain it was a girl. You even had Will convinced he was going to have a little sister."
Her eyes drift to her lap and she licks her lips.
"It wasn't real. None of it was real. I lost it."
Mulder pulls Scully close.
"We're real, Scully. We're real and you haven't lost me."
"We're real, Mulder. We have each other."
He holds her impossibly close and kisses her head.
"I love you."
"I love you, too."