From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org Date: 17 Nov 2003 17:28:43 -0000 Subject: The Domino Effect by Waddles52 Source: direct Reply To: waddles52@insightbb.com Title: The Domino Effect Author: Waddles52 Summary: An expenses paid trip to Miami to help Skinner with a seminar doesn't turn out as planned. Rating: PG 13 Category: MT, MSR, M/S/Sk friendship Disclaimer: Just for fun. Not for profit. No copyright infringement intended. Archives: Probably, but please ask Feedback: Sure. Waddles52@insightbb.com Thanks: To Lisa, beta extraordinaire. She helped me shape, form, polish and get this fic ready for human consumption. Love ya! Notes: This fic will be presented in several parts; however, it is not a WIP! It is finished and in the capable hands of my beta. I will hopefully post every other day until its completion. Part One- Scully stood on the balcony of the luxury hotel. The morning sun shining brightly, she took a deep breath of warm, salty sea air and let the sun's warmth bathe her face. It felt wonderful after another night of worry. "Oh, Mulder," she sighed, thinking about the last few hellish days. This trip had showed such promise, damn it! Several days earlier, the Hoover Building- Hands planted on hips, Mulder sighed discontentedly even though a steady stream of warm sunlight poured through the office window. He felt a strange pang of homesickness for his real office, the basement den he shared with Scully. This one was nice but it wasn't what he was used to, not a place he felt at home. The sun was giving him a headache. "Mulder, I just faxed the last report to Skinner's office," Scully reported as she entered their temporary quarters, which resembled a made over broom closet more than an office. "Now what?" Mulder shrugged. "I just tried to get down to the basement. No go. I talked to one of the exterminators and they said that it would be at least a week before we could get back in our office." "It takes that long to get rid of a spider infestation?" "Evidently, they're being very thorough. According to them, it's a major infestation," Mulder sighed, throwing his pencil down on his desk. "This absolutely sucks. I can't get to the files, my computer or even my Rolodex to look up some phone numbers I need. I even have two packs of seeds down there which are probably toxic by now." "I'll treat you to some fresh ones during lunch. I guess we've learned to be a bit more cautious when bringing evidence to our office," Scully stated. "Thank you for taking part of the blame on this one, Scully, but it's all on me. I brought the sample in and let it sit." "I knew it was there. I should have taken it upstairs and put it in a proper container." "Well, at this point, it's all water under the bridge anyway. I guess we could take an early lunch," he suggested, grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair. "Mulder, it's only 9:30," Scully protested. "All right. Brunch?" A knock on the door startled them both. Kimberly, AD Skinner's assistant, stuck her head in, apologetically. "Agents, I'm sorry to bother you, but since you don't have a phone yet, AD Skinner sent me to get you. He'd like to see you right away." Scully reached resignedly for her jacket. "Thank you, Kimberly. Tell him we'll be right there." Kimberly nodded. "I'll tell him you're on your way, then." She closed the door quietly behind her. "He's probably going to rake us over the coals for causing the mess in the basement." Mulder held the door open for Scully, then shut it, leaving their quaint, new cubbyhole behind. "Just let me handle it. Don't say a word. Just nod and let me take all of the blame." "Mulder . . ." As soon as they reached Skinner's office, Kimberly sent them in. "Agents, have a seat," he offered. Mulder and Scully took their usual seats and prepared to be blasted for the spider infestation and anything else that had gone wrong in the FBI that particular day. "Agents, I want to thank you for sending in the paper work on your last case so promptly. If I'm not mistaken, you don't have anything current." "That's correct, sir," Mulder answered cautiously, flashing a look at Scully. "Good. As you probably know, I'm scheduled to conduct a workshop at a joint federal-state law enforcement convention in Miami, Florida in five days." Mulder and Scully nodded yes. "I have conducted this workshop in the past, but it has been several years. Truthfully, agents, I could use your help. There have been changes in some laws and procedures in the past five years, and I find that some additional research is needed. At this time, my plate is full until the evening before the conference is scheduled to begin. I could use some help with the research and modernizing the presentation. I would also like to utilize your expertise at the conference itself." The two agents passed surprised looks between themselves. "I'd make it worth your while. I've managed to secure single rooms for each of you at the conference site, and there should be ample time for sightseeing, or whatever you wish to do once the workshop is over. Of course, your expenses will be paid, and I think I can even wrangle a couple of extra days off if you're interested." "Since we're pretty limited right now, what with the basement being off-limits, I think I can speak for both of us and offer our assistance," Mulder answered. "We'd be glad to help, sir," Scully added. "Wonderful. You'll need a larger space to work. Kimberly will get you all set up and I'll be down later to see if you have any questions." XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX The agents settled into their comfortable temporary quarters. They had all of the files open in front of them, looking over the information. "This is going to be a lot of work," Mulder groaned. "Just think, though, sunny Florida in the middle of one of the worst DC winters on record. It will be worth it," Scully reminded him. "You going to bring your swimsuit? The real skimpy one?" Mulder asked hopefully. "You going to bring yours? The red Speedos?" Scully countered. "Of course. I never leave home without them." Mulder tried to hide the big grin on his face at the thought of Scully in a swimsuit. "We'll see." "I certainly hope so." "Mulder," Scully laughed. "Let's get to work on these updates. We can talk about our wardrobe later." "Is that a promise?" "Mulder . . ." "Okay, okay. I'm working." After three days and nights of hard work, Skinner gave his approval and the agents sent everything to Kimberly to be printed. The plan was to have everything delivered to the conference center before their flight left for Florida the next morning. That would give them a full day and a half before the start of the conference to organize the slides, videos, articles and worksheets. Skinner gave it his seal of approval and thanked them once again, promising to meet with them as soon as he checked in. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Scully was in love. The hotel was exceptional. Her room and all the surroundings were much more than she had dared hope for. It had been 22 degrees and snowing when they left DC, and here in Miami it was 72 with all of the sunshine she could possibly want. Heaven! Mulder was having similar feelings as he eyed the heated pool from his room. He noticed that the hotel restaurant held the biggest seafood buffet he'd ever seen, and what was this? A mini-bar! He looked it over and grabbed a beer. This all expenses paid thing was great. He settled down on the nice, comfortable bed and turned on the TV. Might as well get comfortable while he waited for the conference materials to be delivered. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX "You know, Scully," Mulder said as he placed the last slide in the carousel. "This is moving a lot faster than I figured." "Yeah," Scully agreed. "We'll probably be able to finish up in another hour easily." "Yep. Nice of the hotel to let us have the conference room early. The only thing left to do is to make sure Skinner's lecture notes are in order." "We can do that in the morning. His flight won't get in until late afternoon," Scully suggested. "I was thinking the same thing. How would you like to visit that seafood buffet in the hotel restaurant for dinner?" "Well, I'm not really in the mood for seafood, but I suppose I could get something else." "I'm sure they have a wide variety of menu items. You don't have to get the buffet." "Sure, Mulder. It will be wonderful to go to a nice restaurant instead of heading for the drive-thru of the closest burger joint. Now, the sooner we get finished here, the quicker we can enjoy our dinner," Scully smiled. Mulder loved to see her smile. He hoped to see a lot more of it on this assignment. He checked over the slides one more time, then began to put the videos in order, salivating over what he might find on the seafood buffet. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Scully couldn't help but laugh as Mulder made his way back to their table, carefully balancing his heaping, full plates from the buffet. "Good grief, Mulder. That's enough for a small army!" she exclaimed as he sat down and tried to decide what to eat first. "Nah, Scully, I'm just getting warmed up." With a gleeful look on his face, he stabbed a fried shrimp and stuffed it in his mouth. She continued to be amused as Mulder cleaned his plate, exclaiming his praise after every delicious bite. "Scully, these are the best crab cakes I believe I've ever had. You've got to try one." He turned his plate around so that she could easily reach one. "Just a bite, Mulder," she decided, and scooped up a small bit. She swallowed it and made a face. "I don't much care for the taste. Must be the seasonings." Mulder looked at her in disbelief. "I'm going back for more." "Fine. Eat your fill. I think I'll just stick with my Caesar salad." "Be right back." Mulder grinned like a child at Christmas and took off for another load. Scully shook her head, making a mental note to stop at the gift shop on the way back for antacids. After dinner, the partners took a walk around the hotel, inspecting all of the amenities, then decided to work on the lecture notes before turning in for the night. Mulder knocked on the door to Scully's room after he finished a quick shower. Scully held the door open for him and watched as he padded barefoot across the floor and headed straight for the mini-bar. He looked relaxed and comfortable in his sweats and t-shirt. After rummaging around, he came up with a soft drink and popped the top. "Mulder, they're charging five dollars a can for those!" she exclaimed. "So?" he shrugged. "Don't you think you might be pushing the expenses paid thing a little bit?" "Nope." "Whatever," she sighed, rubbing her stomach. Mulder noticed her discomfort. "What's wrong?" "Nothing really. My stomach just feels a little off." "I'm fine. Full, but fine," he patted his stomach contentedly, plopping into a chair. "So, where are the notes? What do you want me to do?" "Uh, drink your soda. I'll be right back." She quickly made her way to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. Mulder heard the faucet come on and thought he heard Scully being sick. He wasn't sure if he should offer to help or just leave her alone for the time being. He settled on the latter, but decided if she wasn't out in a few minutes he'd check on her. He was just about ready to get up and go to the bathroom door when Scully came out looking extremely shaky and pale. "Are you all right?" he asked, concern in his voice. "Not exactly. I think it was the crab cake," she moaned, wrapping her arms around her stomach. "But, you only had one teensy, little bite." "I know but . . ." she abruptly turned around. "Definitely the crab cake," she muttered as she dove back into the bathroom. "Well, shit. Why did she have to get sick? She really seemed to be enjoying herself," he muttered, staring after her. He stationed himself by the bathroom door, ready to offer aid or comfort as soon as she came out. It was then that he began to notice an uncomfortable feeling in his own stomach. "I just ate too much," he told himself. "It couldn't be the crab cakes. Could it?" End Part 1 The Domino Effect, Part 2/? Mulder helped his partner into bed and gently pulled the covers over her. "Better?" He gently sat down beside her. Scully nodded weakly, then took a deep breath. "Mulder, go back to your room. I think I'll be okay now. I'm just a little tired." He took her hand and gently rubbed her fingers, his eyes showing his concern. "Uh-uh, I'm going to stay with you for a while just in case you need anything." "I just want to sleep." "Fine, then sleep. I'll be right here." He squeezed her fingers gently and reluctantly let go, although he made no move to stand. She looked too pale for his comfort. Scully could tell that she wouldn't convince him to leave. She looked at him fondly, noting that he looked rather pale himself. "Mulder, you okay?" "Just a little concerned about you." "I'm okay," she answered sleepily, as she felt her eyes closing, shutting out his worried expression. Mulder went back to the chair he'd occupied earlier and sat down, feeling an uncomfortable twinge in his midsection. His stomach was definitely upset and he knew it was only a matter of time before he would be tossing his dinner too. Every time he thought of the crab cakes, his nausea increased. He eventually fell into an uneasy sleep. He heard Scully get up again, but couldn't muster the strength to get up and check on her. Scully got back into bed, grateful that there was nothing but dry heaves this time. She was surprised that Mulder hadn't even stirred. Well, just as well. All she needed was some sleep, and he looked a bit off-color himself. She had been dozing for only a few minutes when the unmistakable sounds of Mulder in the throes being sick awakened her. Scully's stomach gave a little flip then settled. Well, that pretty much confirmed what she suspected. She sighed. They both had food poisoning. After a few minutes, Mulder staggered from the bathroom and reclaimed his chair. He was only there a few minutes before leaping up and bolting for the bathroom again. "This is going to be a very long night," Scully groaned as she pushed the covers back. Mulder refused to lie down beside her at first, as she suggested so she could keep an eye on him. Sometime around 3 AM he ordered her to scoot over and then fell into bed beside her. He had vomited thirteen times and she was concerned that he was dehydrated. "Mulder, if I get up and bring it here, would you try to drink a little water?" He shook his head no, then shivered when Scully reached over to feel his forehead. "Yes, Scully, I have a fever," he moaned weakly. "How are you doing?" "I feel like death warmed over, but even at that I think I'm in much better shape than you." "Be thankful you only took a small bite," he groaned as his stomach began to cramp again. "Mulder, I need to get you to a hospital." "No! Too sick to go to the hospital." He sat back up on the side of the bed, clutching his stomach, panting with exertion and pain. His hand flew to his mouth as he gagged and took off for the bathroom again. Scully forced herself out of bed, leaning against the wall as a wave of dizziness hit her. If she felt this badly, Mulder must be near death. She forced herself to move to the bathroom, only to be met by Mulder, leaning heavily on the doorjamb. "Back to bed," he ordered, breathing hard, scarcely able to support his legs. "Let me call 911." Her arms tried to support him. "Bed," he choked out, moving around her and collapsing onto it, face down. "If you're not better in an hour, I'm calling for an ambulance," she threatened. "If I'm not better in an hour I'll be dead. Sleep." Scully crawled back into bed, and began rubbing his heaving back in small circles. Worry gnawed at her, but soon sleep claimed them both. Although she was awakened almost every hour when Mulder lurched off the bed for another round of vomiting or dry heaves, she had to agree with his argument that he wasn't vomiting as much as he had been. She decided not to call for an ambulance. Yet. The next time Scully awakened she heard loud, banging sounds. She quickly checked on Mulder, but he was still beside her, terribly pale, but sleeping soundly. Puzzled, she checked the alarm clock. 9:30 AM. At least they had finally gotten a little sleep. The banging started again, and it finally dawned on her that someone was at the door. Groaning, she pushed herself out of bed and staggered to the door. She looked through the peephole and was surprised to see Skinner. She hastily opened the door. "Sir?" Skinner took in her disheveled appearance. He looked past Scully and was taken aback when he spied Mulder sprawled in her bed. "Agent Scully, what the hell is going on here?" "Sir?' she questioned, confused. "What is Agent Mulder doing in your bed, or should I even ask?" he fumed. "Oh, sir! It's not what you think!" Scully exclaimed, swaying as her knees began to tremble. Skinner's glare morphed to one of concern in less than a second. "Scully, are you all right?" Skinner reached out to steady her. He looked her over more carefully. Observing her pale appearance, he realized that she was ill. He also noted that Mulder hadn't moved an inch since he had entered the room. "Scully?" "Sick. Both of us. Food poisoning," she whispered as her knees gave way. Skinner scooped her up and deposited her on the bed next to Mulder. He moved around to Mulder's side and pulled the covers back. His breathing was very shallow, and as Skinner checked his pulse he found it much too fast for his liking. He shook his agent's shoulders and got no response. "Scully, how long has he been like this?" "Mmm, not sure. He's been very sick. Last time he woke up was maybe six. Not sure. What's wrong?" She blinked her eyes, obviously having trouble focusing. "He's unconscious." "Wanted to call 911." "I'm calling them now. You're probably both dehydrated as hell. Lie back and rest. I'll see to Mulder." Scully found that she didn't have much choice, as her body refused to do what she wanted it to. "Tell them to hurry, sir." End part 2 The Domino Effect-Part 3 Skinner walked briskly into the ER treatment room that held Dana Scully. "I just came from Mulder's room. He's awake, Scully." "Thank God." Though still pale, Scully looked much better than she had a few hours earlier. She'd had some fluids and a little more sleep since they'd arrived. "You were both dehydrated, Mulder much more severely than you," Skinner explained. "He vomited at least twenty times. I lost count sometime after five this morning. I should have gotten him to the hospital sooner." Guilt was written all over her tired face, and tears threatened to fall when she dwelled too much on the state her partner was in. "You were both terribly ill. I doubt that either of you was thinking straight." "I knew he was bad but . . ." "Scully! That's enough! Stop beating yourself up over this. You did the best you could. Just be thankful that I was able to get an earlier flight." "How is he?" Scully asked wearily. "Very weak, but the vomiting seems to have stopped. They want to keep him on IV fluids for another six hours at least and keep him under observation. If he does all right and his blood work is normal, he may be released later," Skinner reported. "I expected them to admit him." "I thought they would admit both of you, but the doctor said that you can leave as soon as you finish this IV." "Good. That will give me some time to rest before Mulder gets back." "You're still too weak to take care of yourself, Scully," Skinner pointed out. "Well, someone will have to keep an eye on him. You know how he is." "I plan on taking care of both of you." "But sir, you need to prepare for the conference," Scully protested. "I can look over my notes while you're resting, and the hotel will provide a nurse if necessary," Skinner informed her. "Well, they should. It's the hotel's fault we're in this mess. How many others are ill?" "Amazingly, only two. Only one pan of crab cakes was involved, and I've been told that Agent Mulder ate the majority of those." Scully smiled ruefully, recalling his overfull plate and the look of boyish devilment as he tore into them with gusto. "Yeah, he said they were the best he'd ever tasted." The IV pump began to beep, signaling that it was empty. "I'll get the nurse and see what we can do about getting you out of here." "Thank you. I'd like to see Mulder before we leave." "All right, but you'll need to make it a brief visit," Skinner cautioned. "He needs plenty of rest. He's really wasted after the night he had." XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Skinner pushed Scully's wheelchair into Mulder's treatment room. He'd been moved onto a hospital bed and was receiving oxygen through a nasal cannula. The nurse was in the process of removing the IV line from his right arm, leaving the one in his left arm in place. He still looked extremely ill, and Skinner seriously wondered if he would be well enough to be released later. Mulder slowly turned his head in their direction. "Scully? You okay?" He tried to reach out his hand for her but found that he was too weak. Instead, Scully took hold of his hand, rubbing along his thumb in a comforting gesture, "I'm better, Mulder. They're letting me go." "She's going to the hotel to rest. They've arranged to let us have a three bedroom suite, so I'll be able to keep an eye on the two of you a little easier," Skinner reported. "I can take care of Scully, sir," Mulder said weakly. "Yeah?" Skinner questioned. "And who's going to take care of you?" "I'll be fine, sir," he insisted. "Get some rest, Mulder," the AD advised. "I'll be back in a few hours to see how you're doing." XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX "I can't believe they released you, Mulder. You're as weak as a kitten," Skinner observed as he held on to his agent in an effort to keep him from falling to the floor of the elevator. Mulder grunted, concentrating on his next breath for the moment. He was able to speak in a few seconds. "No more vomiting, blood work improved, no reason to keep me, sir," Mulder gasped, holding onto the hand- rail for dear life. "No beds available." The elevator stopped at their floor. "Come on. We're just a few doors down." "I can make it." Skinner and Mulder lurched through the door startling Scully who was resting on the couch. She jumped up and Skinner deposited Mulder where she had been lying seconds earlier. Her partner immediately groaned, pulling his legs up to his stomach. "What's wrong?" Scully asked, sitting back down beside him. "Stomach muscles hurt!" Mulder exclaimed. His eyes were squeezed shut against the wave of pain that assaulted him. He felt Scully's steadying hands on his back and collapsed into her touch. "That's normal after all of the vomiting you did. I'm very surprised they discharged you." "No beds," he managed to get out. "What are his discharge instructions?" Scully questioned, turning to Skinner, her hands still rubbing soothing circles onto Mulder's stiff back. "Basically the same as yours. Rest, small amounts of fluids every half hour, return to the ER immediately if symptoms return," Skinner read from the paper before he showed it to Scully. Mulder dozed off while they were talking. "They should have admitted him," she sighed angrily, gathering up the blanket that she'd been wrapped in a few minutes earlier, gently spreading it over him. "You're preaching to the choir, Agent Scully. We'll just have to do the best we can. You need to get into bed and rest yourself. I'll wake him up in about half an hour and make sure he drinks a few sips of water. Then I'll get him to bed." "I can lie on the recliner and keep an eye on him if you need to go over your notes." "I fully intend to go over my notes while I'm waiting to wake him up. Now, do you need any help getting to your bedroom?" "Uh, no, sir. Please wake me if you need any help." "I'll keep that in mind, Agent Scully. Now, please lie down in your room before you lose what little strength you've gained back," Skinner insisted gently. "I'm going now, sir." Mulder awakened shortly before Skinner had planned to rouse him. "Thirsty," he rasped hoarsely. "I'm going to fix some ice chips and pour a few sips of water over them. You can chew or suck on the ice after you drink the water." Skinner made his way to the counter where the ice bucket was kept. "Do you need any help sitting up?" He opened the small refrigerator and took out a bottle of water. "Nah, I'm up. Oh, shit!" he exclaimed, grabbing his stomach. "Muscles really hurt." Skinner handed him the glass of ice and water. "Would you like for me to call the hospital and see if it's all right for you to take some Tylenol?" "No, I'll be okay." He drank the water quickly. "Good water. Thanks." "You can have some more in another half hour. Let's get you on your feet and into bed." Skinner helped Mulder to his bed. It had been terribly painful for the younger man to move. His strained stomach muscles barely allowed him to straighten up, and each step had been agony. He knew that Mulder didn't want to make a fuss, but this was one time when he could not abide by his wishes. Grabbing the phone from its place on the end table, Skinner called the front desk and asked of there was a doctor on call. He was more than a little worried. Half an hour later, Skinner had just delivered a small amount of water to each agent when he heard a soft knock on the door. He hurried to answer it and was greeted by a lovely, young Hispanic woman carrying the traditional, black doctor's bag. "Hello, I'm Dr. Shelly Lamas, the physician on call." "Yes, Dr. Lamas. Thanks for coming. Please come in. I'm Walter Skinner. I believe we spoke earlier." "Yes. You said your friend was in quite a bit of pain?" she questioned. "He's in a world of hurt right now. He's one of the food poisoning victims. I think he vomited so much that his stomach muscles are unbelievably sore." "I see. May I examine him?" "Right this way." Skinner brought her to Mulder's room. "Mulder, this is Dr. Lamas. I called her to see if she could prescribe something for the pain you're having." Mulder wearily nodded his acceptance, which gave Skinner some concern. Normally, Mulder tried to keep a safe distance away from doctors. The fact that he gave in so easily led him to believe that the pain must be excruciating. "Dr. Lamas, I'll leave you to your examination. I'll be in the living area if you need me." Ten minutes later Dr. Lamas exited Mulder's room, closing the door softly behind her. Skinner motioned her to have a seat on the couch. "I gave him an injection of Demerol and Phenergan so he should sleep for a while. Quite frankly, Mr. Skinner, I have trouble understanding why he was discharged from the hospital." "You're not the only one puzzled by that decision. The hospital claims there were no available beds," Skinner explained, biting down his annoyance at that decision. "I see. They must have given him enough IV fluids to bring his blood work up to a borderline acceptable reading. He is very weak." "I know, but is he doing all right for the time being?" "Yes, his condition is satisfactory, but barely. It will take him several days to get over this. He's asking about his partner, Miss Scully. I'd like to examine her also." "I'll see if she's awake." Skinner rapped lightly on Scully's door then stuck his head in. After a few seconds he motioned for the doctor to join him. "She has some questions about Mulder also. She's a qualified doctor in her own right, and more often than not sees to her partner's medical care." "I'll speak to her and see you again when I'm finished." After a few minutes she was back with Skinner. "Miss Scully is recovering nicely. I think it would be safe for her to go on a clear, liquid diet. Why don't you call the kitchen and have them send up some broth, jello and tea? She's in much better condition than her poor partner." "She only had a small bite of the tainted food," Skinner explained. "Lucky for her. I think she should be able to sit up when she feels like it, but she should be careful not to push herself." "Now, that's easier said than done," Skinner grinned. "I understand. I'm going to leave some pre-loaded syringes with Demerol and Phenergan for Mr. Mulder. Miss Scully, er, Doctor Scully assures me that she can administer the injections when he awakens." "Yes, I'm sure she can," Skinner agreed. "Continue to give Mr. Mulder small amounts of water when he awakens. Rest is a very important factor in his recovery right now along with re-hydration. If he doesn't experience any more vomiting, you may want to start him on a clear, liquid diet at lunch tomorrow." "All right. The hotel is sending a private duty nurse to stay with him tomorrow while I'm at the conference. I'll be sure to tell her." "I would like to examine Mr. Mulder again in the morning, so I'll either speak to her or leave written orders. Any questions?" "No, Dr. Lamas, I think you've covered everything. Thank you for coming so quickly." "Not a problem, Mr. Skinner. I live here at the hotel. Please do not hesitate to call if you need me during the night. I can be here in minutes," the doctor stated, shaking his hand as she turned to leave. "I'll keep that in mind," Skinner agreed, walking her to the door. Mulder awakened as soon as the painkillers began to wear off. He was surprised to see Scully sitting in a chair near the foot of the bed. "Scully? How are you?" He tried to sit up but quickly abandoned that idea when his stomach muscles protested. "Damn it! Hurts like hell!" "I can't imagine, Mulder. I'm a little sore myself, but you must be suffering unbelievably." "I'll be okay as long as you're better. You are looking much better, by the way." That thought alone comforted him despite his pain. "Why, thank you, Mulder," she smiled, getting up to sit beside him on the bed. "I even had a little broth and jello a few hours ago." She took his left hand in hers. "I think I'll have to pass on that." He made a face indicating his displeasure at the mention of food. "Unfortunately, you're right. The doctor says maybe you can try some broth for lunch. In the meantime, have some water." She offered a glass of ice chips with a little water to him. He started to sit up but Scully pushed him back. "Let me hold the glass for you." Mulder didn't protest as he began to sip the water through a straw that Scully had thoughtfully placed there earlier. He kept sipping until only ice was left. "More?" "Sorry, Mulder, not right now. You can have the ice, though. Do you think you can manage the glass?" "I think so." She gave it to him and he grabbed a few ice chips and popped them into his mouth. "How's the pain?" "Let's talk about somethin' else," Mulder winced as he crushed the ice chips in his mouth. "That bad, huh?" "Beyond bad." "The doctor left another dose of Demerol and Phenergan. Would you like for me to inject it?" "Later. Tell me about this mornin', when Skinner found us. I don't remember." "Actually, there isn't much to tell, but he did jump to the wrong conclusion when he saw you in my bed," Scully giggled. "Oh, really?" "Yes, really. He went crazy for about ten seconds, then when I nearly passed out and you didn't move, he finally figured out that we were both extremely ill and hadn't been doing the horizontal mambo." "So, he went a little ballistic, huh?" The thought that scene conjured up tickled him, but he didn't dare laugh. "You could say that." "Damn! I always miss the good stuff. Urgh!" "Mulder, you okay?" "Mm, yeah, just a stomach cramp. They hit every now and then. It'll pass. Just remove my head from my body and that should cure the problem," he assured her, handing the glass back. She ruffled his hair gently. "I'm going to get your pain medication. I'll give you that injection, then you can rest," Scully decided, getting up from her comfy place beside Mulder. "You too." "Me too?" she questioned. "You need to rest too." "I will as soon as I give you the injection." Mulder patted the bed beside him. "Plenty of room here." "You must be delirious," Scully commented. "Oh?" "To risk your life over Skinner's reaction, you're either delirious, crazy, or both!" "Well, it was worth a try." "Oookaaay, I'll be right back with that injection." When she returned she asked, "Which hip did the doctor use earlier?" "Uh, hip?" "You know this has to go in your hip. I'm just trying to keep one side from getting too sore, but if you don't care . . ." "All right, all right. The doctor put it in the left one." "Thank you. Can you roll onto your left side by yourself?" "Yeah, ow! Does hurt though. You trying to get into my sweats, Agent Scully?" She grinned evilly as she squirted air bubbles from the syringe. "Be gentle with me." "Always, Mulder." Scully pulled down the waistband of his sweats and swabbed the skin with an alcohol pad, injected him, then swabbed the area again. "There you go." She stifled a giggle that formed when she realized the vulnerability of his current position. After mentally admiring his nice ass, she pulled the waistband back up and patted his bottom. "Ooh, Scully, I'll give you five minutes to stop," he moaned suggestively. "In your dreams, Mulder. Skinner's getting ready to turn in. He asked me to leave your door open, so give a shout if you need anything." "All right, if I must. You're going to rest too, right?" "Yes, I am. I've only been up for around fifteen minutes and I'm already done in," she sighed wearily. "C'mere." "Yes?" Mulder took her right hand in his and stroked her thumb. His eyes took on a serious gaze. "Scully, I'm really sorry about this." "For what? The food poisoning?" He nodded yes. "And how was that your fault?" "You wouldn't have eaten any of the crab cake if I hadn't insisted." "I don't seem to recall being tied down, or having it forced down my throat. You couldn't have known. Put the blame where it belongs. The kitchen was the guilty party on this one." "'Kay." He looked down and watched his fingers as they moved across her palm, sighing. "Mulder, I mean it. This was not your fault. They are looking into the crab meat, lobster, or the eggs used to make the batter." "Ugh, thanks for that picture," he moaned. "Sorry. Still queasy?" "Some." "Mulder, the Phenergan should help that, but if it doesn't, let us know," Scully instructed. "I will. Indian Guide's honor," he promised, weakly making the sign. "You're still slightly dehydrated and your body can't take too much of that. It could eventually cause a systemic organ shutdown, coma, or even death. It's nothing to fool around with, Mulder, so please let us know if you start vomiting again," she pleaded. "I promise" "Good." She leaned down and kissed his forehead and ruffled his hair. "Get some sleep." "You too." "I'm heading for bed right now," she said, reaching for the door. She took another lingering look at him and satisfied that he was indeed resting, she made her way to her room. Later, Skinner was awakened from a fitful sleep when he heard a dull thump in the room next to him. It took a few seconds to process it, but when he did he leapt out of bed and shot across the room. "Mulder!" End Part 3 The Domino Effect-Part 4 Skinner rushed into Mulder's room to find him on the floor beside his bed, trying to push himself up and cursing under his breath. He knelt beside him. "Mulder, you okay?" "Um, think so." "Let me help you up," Skinner offered, taking his elbow. "'Kay," he agreed, groaning loudly when his stomach muscles began to protest. The AD helped him up and sat him on the side of the bed. "What were you doing trying to get up, anyway?" he inquired, looking Mulder over for any obvious injuries. "Bathroom. Guess I'm weaker than I thought." "It appears that way. Let me help you, all right?" "That might be a good idea," Mulder admitted, breathlessly. Skinner helped him up, holding onto him until they reached the bathroom door. "I can take it from here," Mulder assured him. "Sorry, Mulder, but there are too many sharp edges for you to hit your head on. I'm going in with you." "Suit yourself," Mulder shrugged. Skinner stuck to him like glue until he had Mulder safely back to the side of the bed. "How about some water?" "Not now," Mulder answered, turning even paler. "What's the matter?" "Feel sick." Skinner hastily pulled a wastebasket in front of Mulder who was suddenly seized with dry heaves. By the time he finished retching, Scully was at his side. "Better?" she asked, pushing back a stubborn lock of hair back from his forehead. "Yeah, just weak from walking. I'll be okay. Just need to rest." "You do need to drink something, though. Do you think you can keep it down now?" "Let me rest, then I'll try." "Scully, should I call the doctor?" Skinner looked worried. "No, not yet. I think Mulder's right. The exertion of walking to and from the bathroom probably caused this. Let's let him rest a bit and then see if he can keep some water down." "Just need to lie down for a few minutes," Mulder groaned. "All right, I'll stay with you for a few minutes," Scully agreed. "Thanks," Mulder groaned again loudly as he lay back, grabbing his stomach. "That does hurt." "I'm sorry. You'll start to feel better whenever you feel like getting up and moving around more." "I'm afraid that might be awhile." "It will probably be a few days before you're up and around very much, but don't get discouraged. You've been quite ill. Just give it some time," Scully soothed. "I'm going to get some cold water for both of you while I'm up," Skinner decided. "Thank you." Scully watched him leave before turning her attention back to her partner. Skinner went to the mini-bar where he could be heard preparing their drinks. "Can't even take a piss by myself," Mulder grumped. "Well, the good news is that you feel the need to urinate. That means you're not dehydrated like before. You may even feel like sitting up a little bit by this afternoon, but in the meantime don't feel bad about needing help." "I hope you're right," he sighed. "I hate being sick!" "I know. I feel the same way. I was really looking forward to spending some time in the sun." "Maybe we still can in a few days. You're getting better a lot faster than I am. If you feel okay, don't stay inside because of me." "Mulder, it will be another day or two before I feel like doing any sunbathing, and I don't mind staying inside with you, really." "Thanks, Scully." He haphazardly patted her arm. "Agents, I have your water," Skinner announced as he stepped back into the room. "Drink up." Scully took both glasses and put one on the nightstand. "Mulder, don't try to get up. Let me hold this for you while you take a few sips." "Too tired to sit up anyway," he agreed. Scully held the glass while he took two sips. "That's it?" she asked. "For right now. Need to sleep." "All right, I'm going to put it on the nightstand. Be sure to drink more when you're ready." "I will. Thanks Scully, Skinner. Sorry, I woke you." "That's okay. Give a shout if you need to get up again," Skinner directed. "Okay." "Scully, let's get out of here and let him rest. Don't forget your water." Mulder's eyes were already closed as Scully and Skinner quietly left the room. Once they were in the living area, Scully took a seat in the armchair and began to sip her water. "How do you think he's doing, Scully? Should we be concerned about his continued weakness?" "Well, I'd feel better if he seemed to be gaining his strength back, but we have to remember how ill he was just twenty-four hours ago. It's going to take some time. We have to be careful not to rush him." "I'm just not used to seeing him like this. I'm afraid I'm not a very good nurse." "You're doing just fine, sir," Scully encouraged. "You're doing all you can. You need to get back to sleep. You have a busy day today." "Yes, I do and you need to get some more rest too." "I'm afraid you're right. I am pretty tired." "The nurse should be here by 8:30 and Dr. Lamas wants to examine you two again. She will leave orders for the nurse. I'll try to be up by 6:30 or 7:00 to check on you two and get ready for the day." "Sounds like a plan," Scully agreed wearily, getting up slowly from the chair. "I'll see you in a few hours then." When Dr. Lamas arrived at 8:00 AM, Skinner greeted her and filled her in on her two patients. She examined Scully first and was pleased with her progress. She even gave her the okay for a switch to a bland diet. Mulder was sleeping restlessly when she entered his room, followed by an anxious Scully. Scully sat on the side of his bed and gently shook his left shoulder. "Mm?" "Mulder, Dr. Lamas is here and she wants to examine you." "Morning already?" he asked, rubbing his eyes. "Yes, you slept like a log after you drank the water. You need to drink a little more when Dr. Lamas is finished." "I'll try," he promised. "Morning, Dr. Lamas." "Good morning to you too, Mr. Mulder. How are you today?" Scully gave him a look that let him know he needed to tell the truth. He groaned inwardly. "Honestly, I don't feel all that great," Mulder ground out. He was shocked at how exhausted he sounded even to himself. "Well, let's see what's going on, shall we?" The doctor opened her bag, taking out her stethoscope and an aural thermometer. She put the thermometer in Mulder's right ear, a concerned expression on her face as she studied the read out when she removed it. "100.4," she announced. "That's up a little from last night. Okay, I'd like to listen to your heart and lungs. Dr. Scully, could you help him sit up please?" Scully helped him to a sitting position. The pain it caused was evident in the way his face tensed up. "Stomach muscles not any better?" The doctor slid the cold bell of the stethoscope under his t-shirt. "Not that I can tell," Mulder answered, wincing at the contact. The doctor took her time listening to his heart and lungs and then took his pulse. Scully continued to hold him up and rubbed his back in a reassuring gesture. "Well?" Mulder asked, the examination exhausting him further. He just wanted to be left alone. "I'm afraid I don't see a lot of improvement yet, so it's going to take some time. I'd like to draw some blood and send it to a lab. I want to check your electrolytes and your white blood count." Scully had been listening to every word. "Do you suspect a secondary infection?" "I want to rule that out. In the meantime, continue on water only until lunchtime, and then you can try some broth and jello. Continue the bed rest. I'm going to give you another injection of Demerol and Phenergan and I'll leave the bottles with instructions for the nurse to inject you every four hours if needed. Any questions?" "How long do you think I'll have to stay in bed?" Mulder asked in a tiny voice that worried Scully. "If you don't have a problem keeping the broth and jello down, I'm hoping that you can begin to sit up for short periods this evening. To tell the truth, Mr. Mulder, it will probably be at least a week, maybe more, before you completely regain your strength," Dr. Lamas smiled confidently as she packed up her bag. "Damn! That long?" "Yes, I'm afraid so. I wouldn't recommend traveling for at least a week either. If you push it, you'll just have a relapse and end up in the hospital for several days at the very least." "Listen to her, Mulder," Scully emphasized, helping him lie down again. "All right, Scully, I promise not to push it." He settled back slowly on the pillows while Scully made him comfortable, enjoying her care despite his exhausted state. He blew out a weary breath. "I'm glad you want to cooperate, Mr. Mulder. I can see that we're tiring you. Let me get that blood drawn and give you the injection. After that, I want you to drink some water, then rest." A few minutes later Dr. Lamas and Scully left Mulder's room. Skinner was in the living room going over his notes. "How's he doing?" he queried as Scully took a seat on the couch next to him. "I'm a bit concerned," the doctor stated. "I'm leaving directions for the nurse to take his temperature hourly and I'll also leave some Tylenol suppositories in the event it goes over 101. I drew some blood that I will send to a lab as soon as I leave here. I'll get back to you as soon as I get the results." "What about his pain?" Skinner asked. "It is still quite intense. I'm leaving enough medication so that the nurse can inject him throughout the day, as he needs it. I'll be back to check on him around 6PM. Dr. Scully, I'll write all of the directions for the nurse, but don't hesitate to call me if you think his condition warrants it." "I will. Thank you." "Dr. Scully, you need to take care of yourself too. You are doing quite well, but you must not push yourself. I know you're concerned about him, but please let the nurse attend to Mr. Mulder." "She's right, Scully. Don't wear yourself out trying to take care of Mulder," Skinner ordered, sternly. "I don't intend to wear myself out, but I would like to check on him from time to time," she huffed. "We're not asking you to ignore him. Just let the nurse do her job," Skinner said gently, realizing that he'd been too harsh before. "I will." "I'll be back at around 6:00 then," Dr. Lamas said as she walked to the refrigerator. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX The nurse had been there for two hours and had already threatened to quit twice. Scully decided that it might be time for a prolonged visit to Mulder's bedside. She found a new tube of Chap Stick and fixed some ice water. After taking a deep breath, she entered Mulder's room. "Thank goodness it's you, Scully," Mulder enthused as he breathed a sigh of relief. "Where's Nurse Ratchett?" "The last time I saw Mrs. Waters, she was eying the wet bar, trying to decide if it was too early to have a stiff drink. She's already threatened to quit. What do you have to say for yourself?" "I'm sorry, but I just don't feel like having that damned thermometer jammed into my ear every hour on the freaking hour." "I saw a nice, big rectal thermometer in her bag. I wouldn't push my luck, Mulder," Scully chuckled. "Too late. I've already been threatened with her devices of torture." "Why does that not surprise me? I have a new tube of Chap Stick here and I thought you might be able to use it." "Thanks, Scully. My lips are really cracked." "A side effect of dehydration. So, are you feeling any better?" "Honestly, no. Is that iced water?" "Yes, just for you." Scully handed him the frosty glass. "You're going to spoil me if you aren't careful." He gave her a half smile and took a sip. "Mm, good and cold." "Maybe you need a little TLC." "What did you have in mind?" Mulder asked, waggling his eyebrows. "Mulder . . ." "Sorry." "What I had in mind was helping you get washed up and into some clean clothes. You've been wearing the same thing for a day and a half and I just thought it might make you feel a little better." "I can't take a shower?" "Not as weak as you are." "I guess I'll have to settle for what I can get. A bed bath sounds great," Mulder stated. Actually he was glad he didn't have to take a shower. There was no way he'd be able to stand up long enough to actually get clean and toweled off. "I'll get Mrs. Waters to fix some water, then I'll try to find something comfortable for you to wear in bed." "I think I have another pair of sweats and some shorts in my bag. I should have a couple of t-shirts too." "All right. Let me get Mrs. Waters started on the water and I'll be right back." After helping Mulder with part of his bath, Scully waited patiently outside his door while he finished up and changed clothes. When he indicated he was decent again, she went back into his room. "Better?" "Well, cleaner anyway. Thanks, Scully." "You're welcome. Now, you need to drink some more water and rest a little more. It will be time for Mrs. Waters to take your temperature again pretty soon." "Oh, joy. Couldn't you take it and give her the results?" "Nope. I think one of us needs to stay on her good side. She was giving me the evil eye while I was helping you, so I think I'd better go back to my room like a good little patient and rest a bit too." "I'm sorry, Scully," he sighed. "Don't wear yourself out over me." "I'm not, Mulder. I'm feeling much better now," she assured him. "But I do get a little tired from time to time, so I'm going to take the doctor's advice and sleep for a while." "Will you eat lunch with me, such as it is?" "I had already planned on it," she smiled, ruffling his now clean hair. "Great. You know where to find me," he grinned back. "Finally, a little smile. You must be feeling better," Scully said happily as she headed for the door. "See ya, later." As soon as Scully left, Mulder lay back on the pillows and closed his eyes. He wished he did feel better. He decided not to tell his partner about the pains he'd been having in his back from time to time. They didn't last long, and they weren't totally unbearable. Maybe he'd strained another muscle. He made himself as comfortable as possible and tried to ignore all of the aches and pains that were assaulting his body. Another hour and Scully would be back for lunch. Just being with her would make him feel better. He could make it until then. End Part 4 The Domino Effect-Part 5 Scully followed Mrs. Waters into Mulder's room. The nurse put their lunch tray on the nightstand with a disgruntled clatter. "Thank you, Mrs. Waters. I think we can manage from here. Why don't you have your lunch now and I'll let you know when we're finished." "I just need to take Mr. Mulder's temperature, then I'll leave you two alone." Scully gave Mulder a classic look, one that told him he'd better cooperate or else. He nodded a reluctant yes and the nurse moved in, gently putting the thermometer in Mulder's right ear. "100.9," she announced. "Mulder, it's going the wrong way," Scully pointed out, concern lacing her voice. He just shrugged as Mrs. Waters left them alone. "Do you feel like eating?" "I'll try." "Don't push yourself," she cautioned, noting how miserable and unwell he looked. "I won't." Mulder managed a few sips of chicken broth and a few spoonfuls of jello. He put the bowls back on the tray and concentrated on his ginger ale. "Maybe you'll feel like eating more at dinner," Scully tried to encourage him. "Maybe." "Is the pain bad right now?" "I'm okay. Eat. Don't worry about me," he answered, taking a sip of his ginger ale. "I'll have to admit that I'm getting tired of soup," Scully sighed. "At least yours has noodles and vegetables in it and you even got crackers. Maybe you'll get the go ahead to return to a regular diet later." "I probably will. My stomach feels okay now, although I'm still a little weak." "Ow!" Mulder put his ginger ale on the nightstand and lay down suddenly, curling up in a ball and clutching his stomach. "Mulder, what's wrong?" "Another stomach cramp," he gasped. "This one must be a doozy," she observed, moving closer to rub his back. Mulder shook his head and hopped off the bed as fast as he could, which wasn't very fast in his condition. "Be right back," he managed to blurt as he stumbled into the bathroom. "Can I do anything to help?' Scully asked anxiously through the door. "No, I'm okay. Be out in a minute." When Mulder came out a few minutes later, he was paler than ever and was perspiring heavily by the time he made it back to the bed. Just to be on the safe side she moved the trash can over within his reach. Not a moment too soon as Mulder proceeded to lose what little lunch he'd managed to get down. It was also the exact moment that Mrs. Waters decided to check on them. "I see lunch was a rousing success," she commented wryly. "Mrs. Waters, could you get us a wet washcloth please?" Scully asked sweetly. "Can't get a break," Mulder gasped between heaves. "If it's not one end, it's the other." By the time the nurse returned, Mulder was sprawled out exhausted on the bed. Scully gently wiped his face and turned to the nurse. She didn't like the way this was going at all. "I'm going to call Dr. Lamas. Mulder, I'll be right back." By the time she returned, Scully noticed that the wastebasket had been cleaned and placed next to Mulder whose stomach was in the process of trying to empty itself again. To her surprise, the nurse was sitting beside him, rubbing his back in slow circles and speaking to him softly. When he was finished, Mulder flipped limply over on his back, clutching at his stomach. "Scully, if I ever go near a seafood buffet again, shoot me!" "Somehow, I don't think that will be necessary. Dr. Lamas ordered a one-time increase in your pain and anti-nausea medicine. She doubled it, so it should make you very sleepy. When you awaken, she wants you to have some Gatorade." "No, I hate that stuff!" he exclaimed, his breath coming in short pants as the pain claimed him once more. "She's worried that you'll become dehydrated again and a sports drink will replace the electrolytes more readily than plain water," Scully explained. "And you really need the calories. You're loosing weight and you don't have it to spare." Scully handed the nurse the hypodermic syringe and a couple of alcohol wipes. After she had injected him, Mrs. Waters produced a thermometer out of her pocket. "I know you don't like this, but I need to check it again and then I'll let you get some sleep. Mulder scowled but nodded yes and she popped the thermometer in his ear, frowning when she saw the results. "What is it?" Scully was instantly by her side, peering over her shoulder. "103.2." "I just can't catch a break can I?" Mulder moaned, grabbing his ailing stomach. "Damned stomach cramps!" "I'll get the Tylenol Dr. Lamas left," Mrs. Waters said. "I'll be right back." Scully sat down beside her partner and resumed rubbing his back until he began to fidget under her ministrations. "Do you need to get up again?" "No, it's going away." "Mulder, all of the medications you are receiving should make you feel a little better." Mrs. Waters returned with the Tylenol. "I'm going to rinse out this washcloth while Mrs. Waters gives you the Tylenol. I'll be right back." "What? You don't want to witness my total humiliation?" Scully ran her fingers through his hair. He was a miserable sight. "Mulder, I'm going to ignore that because I know you aren't feeling well." By the time Scully returned with the washcloth and a bowl of cool water, the nurse had mercifully completed her task and left the room. "Scully, I'm sorry. I feel like hell and I shouldn't take it out on you or Mrs. Waters," Mulder apologized, looking close to tears. "It's okay, I know. Apology accepted." Scully wrung the excess water from the washcloth and began to bathe his face. "You know, Mulder, I think we may have misjudged Mrs. Waters." "I know. She was very nice to me while I was trying to throw up my toenails. I'll say something nice to her later. Could you pull the blanket up, please?" "Sorry, but we need to cool you off," she answered as she ran the washcloth down his arms. "But I'm freezing." "Don't worry. As soon as the Tylenol starts to work, you'll be very warm." "Promises, promises," he yawned, leaning into her touch. "Just relax and let the medications work. You'll feel a lot better soon." "Glad you think so. Damn, I'm so cold!" Scully continued to bathe him until he relaxed enough to fall asleep. She noticed that Mrs. Waters had left the thermometer on the nightstand so she grabbed it and carefully took Mulder's temperature. He didn't stir. She looked at the readout and was pleased that it was down to 101.5. She headed back to the living area, surprised to see Mrs. Waters talking to Skinner. "Agent Scully, how are you doing?" "I'm feeling much better, sir." "Mrs. Waters tells me that Agent Mulder is still feeling pretty rough." "Yes, sir, I think that would be an adequate description." Scully dropped wearily into the armchair that had become her favorite. "We suspect he may be developing a secondary infection." "And if he is?" "He may have to go back to the hospital for a course of IV antibiotics." Skinner looked at his watch. "Lunch break is almost over. We should be winding up by 5 PM. I'll try to get back before Dr. Lamas comes. In the meantime, get some rest, Scully. I have a feeling we may be in for a long night." XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Dr. Lamas arrived promptly at 6:OO. "Dr. Scully, you're looking much better." "Thank you. I'm feeling a lot better too. I'm almost back to full strength." Scully motioned for her to come inside and shut the door after she entered. "No problem with the bland diet?" "None whatsoever." "Wonderful! I think it would be safe for you to return to a regular diet tomorrow. Try to avoid anything greasy or spicy, though." Scully smiled as she thought of her normal diet on the road. It was usually either greasy or spicy, depending on what Mulder was in the mood for. How she wished her partner felt like eating something right now. "How is Mr. Mulder?" "His temperature has been up and down all afternoon," Mrs. Waters reported. "Any more vomiting?" "No, but he has refused to drink even water. It's all here in my notes." The nurse handed over a very detailed report of Mulder's ongoing misery. "Oh, not good. His electrolytes were borderline and his white cell count was slightly elevated, but that isn't unusual in light of the staphylocccus aureus." "So, they've determined the type of food poisoning?" Scully questioned. "Yes, they think it was in the eggs used to make the batter for the crab cakes. Neither the food handlers nor the crab meat was contaminated." "I see. Do you think it's possible he might also be dealing with a secondary infection?" "I don't know, Dr. Scully. It's quite possible that Mr. Mulder might still be fighting the primary infection. He did ingest quite a large portion. In light of the severity of the initial onset, I'm sticking with that diagnosis for now. Let's give him another twenty-four hours. If there's been no improvement by tomorrow evening, I'll suggest that he be admitted to the hospital." "All right," Scully agreed, worry niggling at her. "That's on the condition that he can get some fluids to stay down. Otherwise, I'll send him tonight." Scully allowed herself a small smile. "He hates hospitals. Maybe the threat of hospitalization will convince him to drink something." "Did they deliver the Gatorade?" "Yes, they brought it about an hour ago," Mrs. Waters supplied. "Good. I'm going to examine him now. Dr. Scully, why don't you stand by with that drink? Mrs. Waters, you may go now. We'll need you again tomorrow if that fits in with your schedule," Dr. Lamas hinted. "Yes, I can do that. Same time?" Dr. Lamas looked to Scully for confirmation and she nodded yes. "We'll see you in the morning then." Mrs. Waters gathered her things. As she opened the door, Skinner exited the elevator. She greeted him and held the door open. Skinner closed the door behind him. "Sorry I'm late. There were quite a few questions. Even though the two of you did an excellent job of preparing everything, I could have used your help. How is Agent Mulder? Is he any better?" "No, I'm afraid not," Scully sighed. "Why don't I fill you in while Dr. Lamas examines him?" Skinner pulled his tie off with a flourish and sank onto the sofa. "Sure." Dr. Lamas disappeared inside Mulder's room. "Would you like something to drink, sir?" Scully opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of Gatorade. "No, thanks. I'm good. Why isn't he getting any better, Scully?" "We're not sure. Either the primary infection hasn't run its course, or he's developing a secondary infection." "But, you're almost over it," Skinner pointed out. "Fortunately, I'm almost back to normal, but much more of the toxin entered Mulder's system." "I see. Should we be concerned?" Skinner asked, point-blank. "At this point, I'm not sure. I'll have to admit that I've never seen Mulder this ill, other than when he battled that virus in Alaska. He's getting very discouraged because he usually bounces right back." Scully put the sports drink on the counter and joined Skinner on the couch. "Has he been cooperating?" "For the most part, yes. He's refusing to drink anything right now, though. He's had quite a bit of abdominal pain and I think he's so afraid he'll start vomiting again, that he'd rather not even try. Dr. Lamas is more or less going to threaten him with IV's and hospitalization. If that doesn't persuade him, nothing will." "I see." Skinner propped his feet up on the coffee table. Scully sighed, rising from her seat. "I'm going to take this in to Mulder now. Wish me luck." "If you need me as an added threat, just give a shout." "I'll keep that in mind," she replied as she strode across the room and knocked on Mulder's door, then entered. "How's it going?" "I think I've persuaded Mr. Mulder to at least try the Gatorade. I've given him another shot of Demerol along with some Phenergan, so the nausea shouldn't be as intense." "Great. Here you go, Mulder. I've seen you drink fruit punch before," Scully reminded him as she sat on the side of his bed, handing him the bottle of red liquid. "That doesn't mean I liked it." "Just pretend that you do." "Why don't you get some of that down while I talk to Dr. Scully and Mr. Skinner outside? I'll be back to check on you before I leave," she promised. Mulder saluted her with the bottle, pulled the top, drank a sip and made a face. End Part 5 The Domino Effect-Part 6 "Dr. Lamas, I want your honest opinion," Skinner voiced after they were all seated. "Have you seen any improvement whatsoever?" "Mr. Skinner, I can honestly say that I haven't seen any improvement. In fact, his condition is slightly worse than 24 hours ago." "I'll have to admit that Agent Scully and I are very concerned. Agent Mulder usually bounces right back from any illness or injury he experiences. He's been so ill that he hasn't even turned on the TV in his room. That TV is always on, even when he sleeps. That just isn't normal for Mulder. I think you can see why we are so anxious." "I understand, Mr. Skinner. I'm at the point where I'll have to see some improvement in the next twenty- four hours or I will insist that he be hospitalized." "What can we do in the meantime?" Scully queried. "You're doing all you can. Continue to encourage him to drink, and administer Tylenol for the fever. I think tonight could be the turning point. Staphylococcus aureus generally lasts from 24 to 48 hours so we should see some improvement by morning. Please remember that it will take several days for Mr. Mulder to gain enough strength to even sit for short periods of time. He must not push it or he will suffer a relapse." "Thank you, Dr. Lamas, for all you've done. We'll continue with what we've been doing and hope for the best." "That's all I ask. I've arranged for the nurse to return tomorrow. Dr. Scully, if you feel up to it you may start taking short walks or sit outside in a shaded area." "I had planned to start moving around a bit more tomorrow," Scully reported, wishing Mulder could join her in the sunshine. The fact that he hadn't yet exhibited his usual stir craziness was testament to how ill he was. Dr. Lamas rose from her seat. "Listen to your body, Dr. Scully. Don't push yourself, either. If your body feels tired or weak, then by all means rest. It's fine to help with your partner's care, but please let Mrs. Waters do most of the work." "I'll keep that in mind. Sir, if you don't need me for anything, I'd like to sit with Mulder for a while." "Sure, Scully," he smiled. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX "Are you finished discussing my lack of progress?" Mulder was propped up on several pillows, eying his bottle of Gatorade with distaste. "Don't flatter yourself. Who says you were the topic of the entire conversation?" Mulder rolled his eyes, sighed, and took another short sip of the sports drink. "Nasty!" Scully sat beside him and pulled his hands up so she could see the bottle. "I see you've managed to get down some of the Gatorade at least." "Down being the operative word, as in, will it stay down?" Scully pulled him into a hug, and rubbed her hands over his back. He still felt far too warm. "Have faith, Mulder." "As far as my stomach goes, I've lost all faith," he sighed. She hugged him tighter. "Come on. Don't get discouraged." "Sorry, but I'm just not good at being sick." "Who is?" Mulder handed her the bottle of Gatorade. "No more." "Well, you got almost a third of it down. That should help." "Could I go back to water or ginger ale, please?" he pleaded. "You can have water or ginger ale for the time being, but you need to drink some more Gatorade later. You heard what the doctor said and what she threatened." "Okay, I'll try." He slid down in the bed while Scully removed a few pillows. "Why am I so tired? All I've done for almost 48 hours is lie in bed." "I know," she said sympathetically. "Dr. Lamas thinks tonight could be the turning point. The average case of food poisoning of this type generally lasts for 24 to 48 hours. If you can fight off that fever, I think you'll start to see a great improvement." "I'm trying." Frustration was evident in his voice. "Gotta get up." "Bathroom?" Mulder nodded. "I'll get Skinner." "Can't you help me?" "Mulder, if you start to fall there's no way I could hold you up. Besides, do you really want me to stand by while you do your business?" "Uh, no, and I don't particularly care for Skinner to observe either." "Until you gain some strength back someone will have to be with you. You don't want to add a concussion to your list of woes do you?" "No, I think I'll pass on that." "Good decision. I'll get Skinner." XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX "Agent Mulder, we've got to stop meeting like this," Skinner teased as he entered his agent's room. "Couldn't agree more, sir." Scully helped him swing his legs over until he was sitting on the side of the bed. Skinner reached for Mulder's elbow. "Ready to go?" "As soon as the room stops spinning." Mulder blanched as he waited for his equilibrium to return. Scully's face began to show concern. "Will you be able to make it? I can find the urinal you brought home from the hospital." "Got to go or start swimming, and I may need to sit for a while, if you get my drift, in which case the urinal would be useless." "Agent Scully, why don't you order us something to eat while I stay with Mulder?" "Yes, sir. Mulder, would you like anything?" "No. Just want to use the bathroom and go back to sleep." "I'll order some jello and maybe you'll feel like eating it later." "Whatever." "Mulder, you ready?" Skinner reached for his elbow once again. "Let's do it." Skinner helped him stand and everything was fine until he tried to straighten up. He groaned loudly and clutched his stomach. "Those muscles still bothering you?" "Worse than before." "Do you need to rest another minute or two?" Mulder shook his head no. "Unless you want to clean up a huge mess, we'd better get going now." Skinner grimaced with empathy and tightened his grip on Mulder as they quickened their pace. Scully was gone when they came out of the bathroom. "Make sure Scully rests." Skinner held on tightly to Mulder's elbow, as his strength seemed to be flagging. "Don't want her to have a relapse," he gasped out. "I agree. One sick agent is more than enough." "Tired," he groaned as he collapsed in a heap on the bed. Skinner helped him get as comfortable as possible and arranged the pillows. "Get some rest. I'm sure Scully will be back later." XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX "Dinner should be here soon," Scully announced as Skinner entered the living room. "Great. I'm so hungry I could eat a horse. Mulder's tucked safely into bed. I could tell that he was very tired. He tends to speak in shortened sentences." "I've noticed that too. I ordered some jello. Maybe I can convince him to give it a try when he wakes." Skinner sat down on the couch propping his feet up on the coffee table, a favorite position. "What do you have planned for tomorrow, Agent Scully? "I haven't really made any plans. I thought I'd play it by ear. I don't want to go far from Mulder. Do you need my help, sir?" "No, I want you to take the day to rest and relax and get your strength back. If you're up to it, perhaps you could help a little on the last day of the conference. We'll see how you feel after you're up and about tomorrow." "I'd be glad to help." "I don't want to hear that you've spent the entire day taking care of Mulder. Go outside and take a short walk along the beach, or sit on the balcony and watch the pleasure boats on the ocean. Mrs. Waters is being paid to watch over him." "I would like to spend some time with him. He relates better to someone he knows." "I understand, Agent Scully. I just don't want you wearing yourself out." Scully raised her right hand as if taking an oath. "I promise I won't." Scully and Skinner chatted amiably until their dinner arrived. Scully found the jello and put it in the refrigerator, then settled down to eat her own meal. After dinner, they watched TV and talked about the conference and the seminar Skinner was conducting. A full stomach and comfortable surroundings soon relaxed Scully to the point that she dozed off in her favorite armchair. Skinner gently shook her shoulders. "Scully, I think it's time to call it a night." "I'm sorry, sir. I must have nodded off." "That's all right. Do you need any help getting to your room? "No, I'm fine." She stretched and yawned. "I guess I was more tired than I thought." "Then you definitely need to get to bed." Skinner offered his hand and she took it. Just as he pulled her up, they heard a pitiful moan from Mulder's room, then a very weak, "Scully." It took the two of them just seconds to reach Mulder's side, dreading what they might find. He was curled in a fetal position, shivering. "Freezing. Hurts all over," he gasped. "Help me . . .please?" End Part 6 The Domino Effect Part 7 Scully was shocked and increasingly worried that her partner seemed to have gotten so much worse in a short period of time. She was immediately at his side, feeling his forehead. "You're burning up! I need to take your temperature. Do you think you can hold the thermometer under your tongue?" Mulder shook his head no. He was sweaty and exhausted, his eyes wanting to close. "All right. Hang in there while I get my thermometer." As she rushed to her room, she wished that she had brought the larger aural thermometer on this trip, but she really hadn't expected to need more than a few basic first-aid items. She quickly found it, and returned to Mulder's room to find him in the same position, curled up in a ball and shaking with chills. A wave of sympathy washed over her when she thought that her normally strong partner had been reduced to this poor, pitiful creature. "I'll need to put this under your arm," Scully explained, pulling his t-shirt up. "It will take a little bit longer, but will have the same result." She positioned the thermometer and sat beside him on the bed to wait for the results, he hand gently moving up and down his spine in a soothing motion. "I need another blanket," he demanded through chattering teeth. "We need to keep you cooled down, Mulder. I'm sorry, but an extra blanket wouldn't be a good idea right now." "Torturer." "Oh, you haven't seen my mean side yet," she teased as she ruffled his hair. "Don't think I want to." The thermometer finally beeped and Scully removed it, pulling Mulder's shirt down. She turned to show the readout to Skinner, reminding him to add a degree. He whistled when he saw it. "How high?" Mulder convulsed with chills. "103.6. Sir, could you get a Tylenol out of the refrigerator, then bring a bowl of tepid water and some towels?" Scully asked as she began to tug Mulder's t-shirt up. "Scully, not in front of the boss." Mulder continued to shiver. Scully chuckled as she pulled the t-shirt over his head. His arms immediately folded around himself as the chills shook him harder. "Well, at least you still have your sense of humor." "I'll be right back." Skinner left in search of the items Scully needed. "Mulder, besides aching all over, do you hurt any one place more than another?" Scully had snapped into full doctor mode. "My back started hurting pretty bad about an hour ago." "Can you show me where?" Mulder pointed out the area below his ribs on his right side. "Any burning or discomfort when urinating?" "Yeah, but it wasn't too bad." Scully's skeptical brow rose slightly. "Any other new symptoms?" "No, now can I have my shirt back?" "We need to bring that fever down. I know it's uncomfortable, but it is necessary." "Come on, Scully. I'm freezing here." She had to smile at his persistence. That was one of the things that made him so endearing to her. Funny that she had been thinking of those little things so often lately. Skinner interrupted her thoughts when he put the bowl of water on the nightstand and handed her the Tylenol suppository. "I'm going to need a rubber glove. I should have several in my medical kit. It's lying on my bed." Skinner nodded and left. "Scully, do you have to put the suppository in?" Mulder asked his face flushed from fever and embarrassment. "It's either me or Skinner. Take your pick." "All right, Skinner's not getting anywhere near my ass," he conceded, pushing his boxers and sweats down. "Don't get too excited." Scully shot him a look that warned him not to push his luck. Mulder cringed even through his chills at the thought that his ass was now vulnerably displayed for all to see. Skinner arrived with the rubber glove and handed it to Scully. She snapped it on quickly, reflecting her years of experience with that maneuver. "Ready, Mulder?" "I guess." Mulder hoped that Skinner wouldn't stick around for this little epic. Skinner did have the decency to look the other way as Scully quickly completed the procedure and discarded the glove. "Let's get you turned over on your back," she suggested, helping him pull up his sweats. When Mulder was once again facing her, he began to have another violent chill. "What's wrong with me now?" Weariness was evident in his voice. "I suspect a urinary tract infection. It's a common complication of food poisoning and dehydration." "How are you going to treat it?" "I'll have to check with Dr. Lamas. She may want to admit you to the hospital." "No! Absolutely not!" Despite his weariness, Mulder was able to make his wishes well known. "Don't get all bent out of shape, Mulder. It's not a certainty," Skinner reminded him. Scully dipped a hand towel in the bowl of water and squeezed out the excess. As she began to bathe Mulder's face she turned to her supervisor. "Sir, could you call Dr. Lamas and see if she could examine Mulder right now?" He's developed some new symptoms and in light of the temperature rise I think he needs to be evaluated immediately." "I'm on it, Agent Scully. I'll return as soon as I can to help you." "Thanks." She continued to bathe Mulder's face and chest. "Freezing, Scully." "Shh, just lie back and let me do this. You'll start to feel better soon. Just try and relax." "Normally, I'd love you bathing me, running your hands up and down my body, but I need to get warm." He didn't mention that that was high on his list of fantasies, minus the potential hypothermia. "As soon as your fever drops you'll warm up. I promise." She smiled ruefully, sponging his arms and chest again. She was secretly enjoying the physical contact, but would have wished for better circumstances. She knew Mulder despised being ill. Skinner returned with the news that Dr. Lamas would be there in around ten minutes. "What do you want me to do?" "You can refresh the towels as I hand then to you." "All right. I think I can handle that." For the next ten minutes they worked between them to bring Mulder's temperature down. He was shaking like a leaf and getting quite testy at their ministrations. Scully felt mean for having to put him through this distress, but it was important to keep it going. She could tell that her boss was concerned too. There was a knock and Skinner left to answer the door. "That must be Dr. Lamas. Let's take your temp again while she's making her way in here, partner." "Still cold," Mulder complained as Scully put the thermometer back under his arm. ""What's going on, Mr. Mulder?" the doctor asked as she breezed into the room, coming over to sit by him on the bed. "They're trying to freeze me to death. Help." Scully rolled her eyes as she removed the thermometer from under her partner's arm. She looked at the read-out and handed it to the doctor. "103." "That's down 6/10ths of a degree in the last 10 minutes." "Mr. Mulder, I understand you've developed some new symptoms?" "Yeah," he answered dejectedly. Scully took over for him. "He's developed pain and burning with urination and some back pain." "I'd like to examine you more thoroughly and ask you some questions. Would you like your friends to stay, or should I ask them to leave?" "They might as well stay. It'll save you the trouble of explaining it twice." His embarrassment was complete now, anyway. When she finally finished her examination, Dr. Lamas once again sat beside Mulder on the side of the bed. "Well, we have two options. The first one is the one that I prefer, and that is to admit you to the hospital. With a course of IV antibiotics and fluids, I think we can have you back on your feet in a few days." The look on Mulder's face expressed his displeasure with that option. "The other option would require taking blood and urine samples and sending them off for analysis. In the meantime, we can treat the symptoms and start you on broad spectrum antibiotics." Mulder didn't comment for a few seconds then asked a question. "Which option will get me well the fastest?" "Hospitalization," they all answered in unison. "Okay, Doc. Make the arrangements," he sighed. "You're making the best decision, Mr. Mulder," the doctor assured him, patting his hand. "Do you think they'll let me have a blanket?" he shivered. "I'm not making any promises," she chuckled and grinned up at Scully who had a similar smirk on her face. "If you'll excuse me I'll call the hospital and set things in motion." She got up from her position beside Mulder. "I'll be back in a few minutes with the details." As soon as she left, Scully began gathering the things that Mulder might need for the next few days. "Let's see about getting you dressed." Skinner began looking around for his agent's socks and shoes while Scully laid out some clean clothes and Mulder's carry on flight bag. "Could someone find my coat?" Mulder continued to shiver, hugging his arms to his chest. Between the two of them, they quickly had Mulder dressed and wearing shoes by the time Dr. Lamas retuned. "I've made arrangements to have you admitted to a different hospital. I think you will find that they have a very knowledgeable and caring staff. I talked to the hotel management and there will be a car waiting for you. Someone should be coming with a wheelchair any time." "Wheelchair?" Mulder looked horrified. "I don't think so." "You weren't expecting to walk?" "Actually, I was." His face remained impassive, cluing Scully in to the panic and helplessness he felt. "Take the wheelchair, Mulder," Skinner ordered. "I don't particularly feel like catching you when you pass out." "He's right, Mulder." Scully sat on the bed beside him and rubbed his back. "Listen to him." "Scully, you weren't planning on accompanying us were you?" Skinner inquired. "Well, yes, I was." "I'll get him admitted and stay with him until he's settled in." "But . . ." Mulder noted that Scully was about to start an argument with Skinner and stopped her in mid- sentence. As much as he wanted her company, he was concerned that she too had been sick and needed to rest after the past few rough days of that, and looking after him. He wasn't a good patient at the best of times, and besides, this whole thing was his fault. "Listen to him, Scully. You still need to rest. I'll be in good hands with Skinner." "All right, but I intend to be there first thing in the morning to see how you're doing." She gave him a resigned, sad smile, taking his hand and squeezing it. "We'll discuss that when I return," Skinner decided. "No, sir. There will be no discussion. I believe I was going to take one more day to do as I liked in order to get my legs back under me, and that is the way I intend to spend it." Skinner remained silent for a minute, thinking it over. "All right. I can see that arguing with you would be futile." Mulder nodded his affirmation as he continued to shiver. He squeezed Scully's hand back, giving her the best smile he could manage. His bravery was all for her benefit. Scully smiled back, hiding the fact that she was secretly frightened to see him so ill. She would miss not being by his side, being there to hold his hand as she so often did at his hospital bedside. It didn't feel right that he would be going without her. It almost broke her heart and despite his strong reassuring smile that he would be okay with this, she knew he had to be dying inside. The doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of the wheelchair. Mulder took a deep breath while continuing to shiver, as Skinner helped him into the chair. His eyes unbearably sad, a myriad of unspoken emotions passed between Scully and him as they looked at each other. Mulder waved a weak good-bye and was gone, leaving Scully to say a silent prayer for his recovery. End Part 7 The Domino Effect-Part 8 The trip to the hospital was very hard on Mulder. Every time his body was racked with chills, his stomach muscles complained mightily. By the time the car pulled up to the emergency entrance, he was on the verge of losing consciousness. The transfer from the car to the gurney didn't even pull him from his stupor. Skinner looked on, growing more worried by the second. The attendants took him straight to an examining room, while Skinner was left to deal with the admitting process. The AD fervently wished Scully could have been there in his place. Mulder coped so much better when she was with him at times like this. By the time the AD was allowed into the examining room, Mulder's clothes had been replaced with a hospital gown, an IV had been inserted and he was hooked up to the standard monitoring equipment. He looked dreadful and it didn't take a doctor to note that his heart monitor was reading a rather worrying elevated rate. "Well, Agent Mulder. Here we are again." "Where's Scully?" Mulder asked weakly. "Need her." He seemed to be having a little difficulty breathing and his lucidity appeared to be failing too. "She's coming in the morning, Mulder. She needs to get a good night's sleep," Skinner explained gently. "What happened? How did I get here? You're sure Scully's not hurt?" "She's fine, Mulder. You've both been ill. Don't you remember?" Skinner was a bit taken aback at his agent's confused condition. "Um, not sure. Feel sick though. So cold," he shivered. "Can I have a blanket?" Skinner looked to the nurse who was writing in Mulder's chart. "Mr. Mulder, remember I told you that you have a very high fever? We need to cool you down, not warm you up." "I'll just get it myself," he decided, attempting to get up. "Easy, Mulder!" Skinner warned, gently pushing him back. He noted with alarm that Mulder's monitor was starting to sound most unhappy at the exertion he was creating by his movements. "Mr. Mulder, you need to stay in bed or else we'll have to use restraints. Do you understand?" "Uh-huh, but I'm so cold." He sounded almost like a little boy as he tried to curl up into a tight ball. "We're trying to make you more comfortable, Mr. Mulder. I just put some nice medicine in your IV. It should start to make you feel better pretty soon." "Just want to get warm," he mumbled as he dozed off. "The doctor ordered a sedative," the nurse explained. "His temp is close to 105. We're going to give him a tepid bath now and try to keep him as comfortable as possible while they get his room ready upstairs." The doctor breezed into the room. "I'm Doctor Kensington." He offered his hand to Skinner "Walter Skinner. I'm Agent Mulder's supervisor," Skinner informed him as they shook hands. "We're going to get some lab work done here in the ER and then we'll be sending him upstairs as soon as they're ready for him." "Any idea what we might be dealing with?" "Dr. Lamas suspects a kidney infection, and my preliminary exam agrees with that. We're going to insert a catheter, get a urine sample and take some blood for a complete work-up. After we get the results we'll know a little more about how to treat him." "I see." "He's pretty sick right now. We're going to work on getting his temperature down quite aggressively too. Will you be staying with him?" "For a few hours at least." The doctor gave Skinner a knowing look and shuffled his feet as he spoke again quietly. "He'll need someone with him until his fever is more manageable, otherwise we'll have to put him in restraints. From what Dr. Lamas indicated, the hotel will be picking up the tab on this, so I could call in a private duty nurse if you like." "No, I'd rather stay. He needs someone he knows." "As you wish." Skinner crossed his arms over his chest. "Exactly how sick is he? I mean will he recover quickly once you find the correct treatment, or will this be a long, involved recuperation?" "Mr. Skinner, right now he's in serious condition. His recovery will depend on a lot of factors, but let's hope for the best right now." "Which would be?" "That he'll be up and around in a few days. Plan on a minimum 48-hour hospitalization. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll get his orders written and see about getting him upstairs. Dr. Lamas did request a deluxe private room, so you should be fairly comfortable." "Thank you, Doctor." As he left, the nurse prepared to insert the catheter. He grinned to himself. He knew that Mulder would really hate that. He wished for the umpteenth time that Scully was there in his place. No prizes for guessing whom Mulder would rather have holding his hand about now. "I guess you'll want me to leave?" Skinner questioned, hoping that she would say yes. "No, it's all right. You can stay. He might feel a little more comfortable with a friend here." Skinner grimaced as she inserted the tube. Mulder stirred and whispered, "Scully, wait until I feel better," then dozed off again. That gave Skinner some food for thought. He grinned widely, sheepishly looking anywhere but at his agent, and wondered how much was in the office pool at this point. The nurse busied herself with recording the supplies used and keeping an eye on the monitors. "Who's Scully?" "She's his partner at the F.B.I. and probably the best friend he has." "Sounds like it might be a little more intimate than that," the nurse grinned. She winked and her whole face lit up. Skinner grinned back. "For right now, that's still a matter of speculation." "Someone should be here soon to take him to his room. Because of his high temperature, Dr. Kensington has requested that I remain here until the transfer. My name is Karen Bower," she said offering her hand. "Walter Skinner," he answered as he shook her hand. "How long have you two worked together?" "Around 6 and a half years, give or take a month or two." "Working for the F.B.I. must be a very exciting job." "It has its moments, but it's also a lot of paper work, continuing education and management headaches." "Sounds very similar to nursing," she grinned. "Are you in a supervisory position also?" "Yes, I am. So, what brings you to Miami, Mr. Skinner?" "Walter, please." "If you'll call me Karen." "Well, Karen, it's one of those continuing education opportunities I was referring to. Agents Mulder and Scully were here to assist me and were felled by food poisoning. While Agent Scully is recovering nicely, Agent Mulder has been quite ill." "Walter, let me assure you that Mr. Mulder will receive the best of care here." "If everyone is as nice as you, Agent Mulder might actually behave himself." She gave him a knowing smile. "Well, I happen to think we have an excellent staff." Mulder moaned. "Can someone turn up the heat? Damn it to hell! Don't tell me I forgot to pay that bill again!" "He's really out of it," Skinner chuckled. "Poor thing," Karen sympathized as she began running a basin of lukewarm water. "Well, Mr. Mulder, let's see if we can make you feel a little better." Skinner was quickly at her side. "Here, let me carry that for you." "Thank you. Let me get his temp again before I start bathing him." After a few seconds she looked at the readout on the aural thermometer. "105.2. He's hot as a firecracker. They'll probably put him on a cooling blanket upstairs." She began to gently bathe Mulder's face. When she finished there, she untied his gown and folded it down around his waist, baring his upper torso. She carefully bathed his chest and arms while he continued to shiver violently, muttering unintelligibly all the while. "Are you sure you couldn't at least give him a sheet?" Skinner felt sorry for his agent and wanted him to be comfortable. "Walter, I wish I could, but his temperature is dangerously high. He could go into febrile convulsions, lapse into a coma, or suffer permanent brain damage." "Stop! Too cold!" Mulder complained loudly, trying to push her hand away. "Mulder, calm down." Skinner moved closer to the gurney. "She's only trying to help." "Stop it now! I'm freezing my balls off!" "Mulder, I know you're uncomfortable, but if you don't cooperate they will put you in restraints." "Where's Scully? She'll give me a blanket." "Mulder, remember Scully has been ill too. She's resting at the hotel," Skinner urgently explained again as Karen continued to bathe a restless Mulder. "She's sick? Got to go to her." He made an effort to rise and Skinner held him down with one large hand on his chest. "Mulder, she's feeling much better. She'll be here to stay with you in the morning." "Skinner, what's wrong with me? Why do I feel so sick?" Tears began to form in his eyes and he angrily wiped them away. Karen grabbed both of his hands. "Mr. Mulder, you have a high fever. You've had food poisoning and you just don't seem to be getting any better, but if you'll let us help you, we'll have you up and about in no time," Karen assured him. "'Kay. Stomach hurts." "Are you about to vomit?" "Don't know," he moaned. "Maybe." Karen grabbed an emesis bowl just in time as Mulder brought up mostly bile from his tortured stomach. "Sorry," he gasped, collapsing back onto the gurney. "That's all right, Mr. Mulder. Dr. Kensington left orders for some Phenergan if you needed it. I've got it right here in my pocket. I'm going to put it in your IV and it should start helping in a few minutes." "Hate being sick. Hate being cold. Need Scully." Mulder was panting with exhaustion, his monitor echoing his distress. "Mr. Mulder, don't you want to be feeling better when she arrives? She sounds like a wonderful person." "She is. I love her. Gotta tell her." Skinner grinned from ear to ear. Yes, he would definitely need to put in a call to Kimberly about the status of the inter-office pool. "Well, if you want to tell her, let's work on bringing your temp down," Karen smiled. "'Kay. What do I need to do?" Mulder asked, trying to concentrate despite the drugs and high fever. "You just lie there and think happy thoughts about Scully. Let us do all of the work, okay?" "Scully's the love of my life. So beautiful. Can't live without her." Mulder's last words were slurred as the drugs took over and he slid into an uneasy sleep. "Do you think he'll remember any of this?" Skinner chuckled. "I doubt it. Poor guy. He's really got it bad for this Scully. I'd like to meet her. She sounds pretty special." "She'll be here bright and early, giving orders and protecting him like a mother bear with her cub. She's an MD in addition to being a field agent." "Wow, really? Sounds like she has the same feelings for him." Skinner pushed his glasses up on his nose. It was all he could do not to grin like an idiot. "Yes, I would say the feeling is mutual. Say, if you have some time to spare, why don't you come up to Mulder's room after your shift is over and I'll make the introductions all around. Then we could stop for a cup of coffee before I have to go back to the conference." "Why, Walter, I'd love to." She flashed him a beguiling smile. Skinner grinned back. Their conversation was interrupted as two people from patient transport arrived to take Mulder to his room. Karen busied herself getting him ready and recording his chart notes. As Skinner followed Mulder out of the room, she handed him a piece of paper, folded in half. He quickly looked at it. It contained her name, address and phone number. "Thanks," he smiled shyly. "I'll see you later?" "Count on it. All right, let's get this poor patient to his room so he can get more comfortable," the nurse ordered. "Come on, Walter, I'll accompany you there." End Part 8 The Domino Effect-Part 9 After arriving in Mulder's room, Skinner called Scully to fill her in on her partner's condition and to ask her to notify the seminar participants that there would be a two-hour delay in the start time. That would give him enough time to meet Karen for a cup of coffee and get back to the hotel for a quick shower. He turned his attention back to Mulder who was protesting the use of the cooling blanket, among other things. Mulder wasn't too happy with life in general at the moment, and was loudly making his demands known. He wanted the damned Foley out, along with the oxygen he was receiving by nasal cannula. He had already told them in no uncertain terms where they could put the cooling blanket, and he was threatening to remove his IV. "Mulder, calm down!" Skinner ordered. "Why isn't Scully here? You told me she would be here." "I just talked to her. She'll be here after she gets some sleep," Skinner explained. "You've got to calm down or they will be forced to put you in restraints. Scully won't be happy is she gets here and sees you tied down." "She'll be pissed at me. Don't want that." He panted, eyes seeming unable to focus. "Good. All you need to do is relax and let these people do their jobs." "All I want is a damned blanket. Is that too much to ask?" "Mr. Mulder, I'm Nita Ricardo. I'm going to be taking care of you until 7AM. I have a deal to make with you." "Deal?" Mulder asked warily. "Yes, Mr. Mulder. When your temperature drops to 100, I'll get you a nice, warm blanket." "Promise?" he asked pitifully. "Yes, I promise. I'll take it right out of the warmer and bring it to you. Deal?" "Yeah, deal. I'm tired." "I'll bet you are. I need to get your vitals and get you set up with the cooling blanket. Dr. Kensington said you could have some more medicine to help you sleep, so I'm going to put that in your IV now." "Okay," Mulder agreed, closing his eyes and shivering. "Hang in there, Mulder," Skinner said as he stood by, wanting to help but not really knowing what to do. "Trying." He wrapped his arms around his chest in an attempt to stop the chills. "Let me sleep." "You go ahead, Mr. Mulder. I'll only wake you up of something important comes up," Nita assured him. "Good. Leave me alone," he sighed as he dozed off. "I'm sorry, Ms. Ricardo. I think he's been sick for so long that he's lost what little patience he had," Skinner said apologetically. "The high fever is making him cranky. It's okay. I've seen worse." "Will you really give him a blanket?" "Sure, if he still wants it. By the time his fever breaks, I'm afraid the last thing he will want is a blanket." "Very sneaky." "Well, whatever works. His temp is still way up there," she informed him "105.2." She whistled as she considered that, shaking her dark head. "What can I do?" "For right now, just keep him from pulling anything out if he gets restless." "Okay, I'll try." "I'll be checking in every 15 minutes or so, but please feel free to call me if you're concerned or have any questions." "Thank you." "You can pull the couch out to make a bed. I'll bring you some linens when I come back." "I hadn't planned on sleeping." "Well, you never know. If Mr. Mulder's fever breaks, you might get a chance to catch a few winks," the nurse said. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you again," Skinner acknowledged. "See you in 15 minutes then," the nurse said as she exited, closing the door softly behind her. The AD stood beside Mulder's bed and observed him as he slept. He appeared to be resting comfortably for the time being. Once again he was forced to wonder why this one man never seemed to catch a break. It appeared that almost his entire life had consisted of dealing with one crisis after the other. Scully seemed to be the one bright spot in his miserable existence. His mind began to think about Mulder and Scully's relationship. The big question was what kind of relationship did they have? They had become friends almost immediately. Everyone knew that the bond of friendship was so strong between them that it was rare to think of one without the other. Many had speculated, sometimes rather crudely, that they had long ago gone beyond friendship and had become lovers. Skinner wasn't sure they had taken that step yet, but from what he'd observed lately, if the two friends weren't lovers yet, they weren't far from it. That brought about another question. As their immediate supervisor, what should he do? Should he take them aside one by one and advise them to watch their backs? No, he couldn't see himself doing that. He had to admit to himself that he was all in favor of their relationship. Even as they grew closer, their work was still top-notch. No complaints in that category. Skinner turned away from the sick man, determined to do the same thing with their burgeoning relationship. Yes, he decided, the best course of action would be to just turn his back and ignore the whole thing. He wouldn't become involved unless forced into it by some unforeseen problem in the future. He settled down on the recliner beside Mulder's bed hoping that his agent would have a smooth course in getting over this illness so that he and Scully could have some quality time to concentrate on their personal relationship. Skinner began to think of ways to give them the time they needed. He was so deep in thought that he was startled when nurse Nita Ricardo came back in, bringing the linens for the sofa bed. "Sorry, Mr. Skinner," she grinned, putting the linens on the sofa. "How's Mr. Mulder?" "He's been sleeping peacefully." Thank God, he thought to himself. "Great! That's what he needs more than anything right now. I'm just going to take his temperature again, then I'll leave you alone for another 15 minutes." "No, problem, Ms. Ricardo. I was just sitting and thinking." "I imagine your line of work gives you plenty to think about," the nurse ventured. "You have no idea," Skinner sighed. "All right. All finished. A little better. His temp's down to 104. If he keeps this up I may have to come up with that blanket," she laughed. "Well, let's hope you do." "See you in 15," she promised and was out the door. "Come on, Mulder. Keep up the good work," Skinner encouraged softly. Mulder moaned and rolled awkwardly onto his left side, facing Skinner. "You say something?" he asked sleepily, opening one eye. "Yeah, your temperature is down a little. Good going." "Still cold," he muttered closing his eye. "Go back to sleep, Mulder." Skinner didn't get an answer as Mulder began to snore softly. Nurse Ricardo was back right on schedule carrying a small bag of IV solution with an orange sticker on it. "The infectious disease doctor that was consulted suggested an additional antibiotic, so I'm going to hang it and take Mr. Mulder's temp again. Is everything still going okay?" "Yes, he was awake for a few seconds, but went right back to sleep." "All right. I'll make a note of that. His temp is now down to 103.4." "That's good news." "Yes, it is. He's beginning to perspire so I'm going to get a washcloth and wipe off his face. You might want to wipe him down from time to time. Try to keep him as comfortable as possible." "Okay, I will." "Good," she agreed, going into the bathroom and coming out with a basin of water, a washcloth and towel. "I'm just going to wash his face right now, but if he becomes really uncomfortable, you can pull his gown down and wipe his chest and back." "All right," Skinner agreed hesitantly. "You'll do fine," the nurse grinned, patting him on the back. "I'll be back in 15 minutes. Call me if you need me." Skinner stood beside Mulder's bed, observing him. In what seemed like no time, the younger man was covered in a sheen of perspiration. The AD wrung out the washcloth and wiped Mulder's face. He moaned in response and tried to shift his position, only to be stopped by his painful muscles. His gowm was drenched in sweat. Skinner decided that he needed to untie Mulder's gown and at least make an attempt to make the sick agent feel a little more comfortable. He bathed him gently, gingerly dabbing at his fevered skin, glad that no one was present to see his awkward ministrations. He finished rinsing out the washcloth and turned back to dry Mulder's back and chest. He was startled to find Mulder watching him. "Having fun?" Mulder asked sleepily. "Are you?" Skinner countered as he began to dry him off. "Tons." "How are you feeling?" Skinner asked as he retied Mulder's gown. "Surprisingly hot." "Your temperature is coming down quite well," Skinner explained. "Don't know what's worse, freezing or sweating," Mulder sighed. "Still tired." "Go back to sleep. You need the rest to heal" "Why don't you go back to the hotel, sir?" "Can't, Mulder. I promised Scully I'd stay with you until she gets here at 7:00." "I won't hold you to that." "No?" he chuckled. "You might not, but Scully will." "Sorry sir, you're right," Mulder grinned as he wiped a rivulet of sweat from his forehead. Skinner leaned over with the cloth and wiped Mulder's face again. "Better?" "Yeah, thanks." "Try to get some more sleep, Mulder." "You too, sir." "I will after the nurse checks your temperature again," Skinner assured him. Mulder nodded his understanding and closed his eyes. As Skinner rinsed the washcloth, he noticed that Mulder's gown was already soaked through and wondered what he should do about it. Fortunately the nurse came in for a temperature check just then. "How's he doing?" "As you predicted, now he's hot." "Actually that's good. Let me get his temp and then I'll take off that wet gown and cover him with a sheet. There's no sense in getting him another gown until his temperature stabilizes." She inserted the thermometer in his ear and looked at the readout as she ejected the cover. "It's still coming down. 102.5," she announced. "I'll be right back with that sheet." Nurse Ricardo returned with the sheet, and then spread it over her patient, before tucking it in at the foot of the bed. As she was loosening the ties of his gown, Mulder opened his eyes. "Well, hello, Mr. Mulder. I'm just trying to make you more comfortable." She finished untying the gown, pulling it down and unsnapping the sleeve over his IV. With one swift yank, the wet garment was removed. "I think we'll just leave that off for a while." "Okay," Mulder said uncertainly. "Thirsty." "I'll bet you are," the nurse smiled as she poured a cup of water. "Let me get a straw for you and we'll be all set. Just take a few sips. If that stays down okay, you can have some more." She held the water while Mulder sipped greedily. After two long sips he stopped. "That was good." "Well, let's wait a few minutes before you try any more." Mulder nodded his agreement. "Are you still feeling cold?" "No, I'm feeling rather warm now." "That's good news, Mr. Mulder. That's because your temperature is going down." "Can I go home now?" Skinner suppressed a grin at the pleading in his sick agent's voice. "Oh, I don't think you're anyway near ready for that just yet. Let's give it a couple of days at least," the nurse smiled. "More water?" "All right. You can have two more sips, then you can have as many ice chips as you want." "Only two?" "Uh-huh. You need to take it easy on your poor stomach." "Listen to her, Mulder," Skinner advised. "You don't want to strain those stomach muscles any more." "What's wrong with your stomach muscles, Mr. Mulder?" The nurse gave him a thoughtful look. "Sore from too much vomiting," Mulder supplied as he finished his last sip of water. "Thanks." "You're welcome," the nurse answered, looking into the water pitcher. "Looks like you could use some more ice." "If you'll give me directions, I'll be glad to go and fill the pitcher," skinner volunteered. "Right next to the nurse's station. You can't miss it," she answered, handing him the pitcher. When Skinner returned, the nurse was waiting for hi at the door. "Mr. Mulder has gone back to sleep. He expressed some concern that you were missing out on your sleep. He said something about a seminar that you had to lead. I promised him I would try to talk you into catching a few winks." "Thank you, Ms. Ricardo, but I'd rather keep an eye on him for a while longer. I feel kind of responsible for him right now with his partner also recovering from food poisoning. She would normally be here in my place. She is much better at dealing with a sick Mulder than I am." "He knew you'd say that," she laughed. "Since his temperature is going down, I won't be back for another half hour unless you need me. I pulled the sofa bed out and put a sheet, pillow and blanket on for you. I'm afraid Mr. Mulder won't rest well unless you try to get some sleep too." "You're probably right. I'll lie down, but I won't promise that I'll sleep." "Suit yourself, Mr. Skinner. Is there anything I can do for either of you before I leave?" "No, I think we're set. Thank you for being so kind." "It's just part of my job. See you in around 30 minutes." Skinner put the pitcher on the tray table and pushed it where Mulder could reach it easily. His charge was sleeping soundly, so he took off his glasses and collapsed on the bed, rubbing his tired eyes. He was asleep within minutes. Both men slept through the nurse's next visit. After taking her patient's temperature she pulled down the sheet to his waist, gently wiping the perspiration from his upper body, checked his IV, adjusted the bedclothes and left quietly. Sometime later, the AD was awakened by Mulder's groans. He quickly put his glasses on and made his way to his agent's bedside. He observed the heavy perspiration coating the man's body. The sheet had been kicked aside, exposing Mulder's nude body to the cooler air. Skinner pulled up the sheet then grabbed the wet washcloth and began to wipe his face. Mulder opened his eyes. "How're you doing, Mulder?" "Okay," he answered weakly. "I don't believe that for a minute." "Can't get anything past you." "That's right. So, how are you feeling?" "Back hurts," Mulder gasped, gripping the side rail so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "Hurts bad." "Okay, hang in there while I get the nurse." The older man reached over to push the call button requesting pain medication for his charge. In a few minutes the nurse arrived. "So, what's going on here?" "Mulder woke up with considerable pain in his back," Skinner explained. "When did this start, Mr. Mulder?" "About 10 minutes ago, I think. It's getting worse. Please! Give me a shot! Knock me out! Shoot me! Just make it stop!" he pleaded, writhing under the sheet. His face was screwed up in agony. Skinner looked on, alarmed by this new turn of events. "Okay, I will, but I need to ask you some questions first. Is it hurting on one side or both?" "Right side. Oh, shit! It hurts so bad!" "All right, Mr. Mulder. I've got some pain medication for you. I'm going to put it in your IV. It should work pretty fast. Here you go." The nurse slowly injected the painkiller into one of the IV ports. "Oh, shit! Gonna be sick!" he exclaimed and proceeded to expel the little bit of water he'd managed to get down earlier all over his chest. Nurse Ricardo fumbled for the emesis bowl stored in the nightstand. By the time she got it under Mulder's chin, he was having dry heaves. When the retching stopped, Mulder collapsed onto his pillow, exhausted, chest heaving. "Sorry about that," he apologized once he got his breath back. "Unnh!" "Mulder?" "Another pain. Bad!" The nurse turned up the oxygen flow up a notch. "I know this sounds impossible, Mr. Mulder, but try to relax. I'm going to get someone to clean you up and change your bed while I put in a page to the on-call physician. I'll be right back as soon as I get through to him. Let me take your temp before I go, though." When she finished she shook her head. "It's 103." Skinner looked surprised while Mulder appeared oblivious to the whole thing, able to concentrate only on the pain tearing through his back. "I'll be right back." By the time she returned, Mulder had been cleaned up and his bedclothes changed. "The doctor should be here in a few minutes. Did the medication help any, Mr. Mulder?" "Not much," he answered through gritted teeth. "Call Scully. Need to talk to her." "I was just getting ready to do that, Mulder, Skinner told him, dreading the phone call. "That won't be necessary," a familiar voice said from the doorway. End Part 9 The Domino Effect-Part 10 Skinner swung around, surprised to see Scully. "What are you doing here?" "I can't explain it, but I just knew that I should be here. Guess that feeling was accurate." She quickly made her way to Mulder's bedside. "What's going on, partner?" "Back hurts really bad." "When did this start?" "About 15 minutes ago." "Any other symptoms?" "Vomiting, temp's back up," the nurse answered. "The doctor on call should be here any minute." "Scully, what's wrong with me?" Mulder gasped, trying to fight the pain. Even the drugs in his system weren't enough to disguise the fear that shone through his eyes. "I'm not sure, Mulder, but we're going to find out." She turned around to face the nurse. "Have you given him anything for pain?" Her fingers were running through Mulder's sweat soaked hair, soothing him. "Demerol." "How long ago?" "About five minutes, Scully," Skinner supplied. "Hello," a voice greeted from the doorway. "I'm Dr. Southard." "Come in, doctor," Nita invited. Seeing how crowded the room was getting, Skinner made a decision. "I'm going to wait outside." "All right, sir. I'll fill you in when we know something." Scully didn't bother to look at him, so intent was she in trying to soothe her partner's suffering. Skinner left the room and leaned against the wall. To say that he was concerned would be an understatement. "How much more can he take?" he wondered, hoping that for once it would turn out to be something minor. Who was he kidding? Mulder and minor complications didn't go hand-in-hand. He just hoped that they could figure out the problem, treat it and get the poor man back on his feet as soon as possible. His thoughts were interrupted by a gentle touch on his arm. "Sir?" "Yes, Scully? Do you have any idea what's wrong with him?" "Well, he has all of the symptoms of a kidney stone." "That would explain the pain." "Yes, it would. The doctor is scheduling him for some diagnostic procedures ASAP. We should know more then." "And what do we do in the meantime?" "The doctor has ordered some additional pain medication which will hopefully give him some relief." "And if it does turn out to be a kidney stone?" "Depending on its size and location, it will either pass or some sort of intervention will be scheduled." "Intervention as in surgery?" Skinner shuddered at the thought of Mulder having to go through a major operation as ill as he already was. "Probably not. The most often used procedure is to break them up and let the smaller pieces pass." "Good. I'd hate for him to undergo surgery in addition to all he's already been through." "Remember that this is still a preliminary diagnosis. We won't know anything definite until the test results are back. Why don't you go back to the hotel and try to get a few hours of sleep, sir? I intend to stay here with him." "I think I'll stick around for a few more hours. I'm meeting someone for coffee at around 7," he explained. "And this night is pretty well shot anyway." "All right, sir." "I think I'll go downstairs for some coffee. Could I bring you anything?" "Some hot tea would be nice." "All right, one hot tea it is, then. I'll be back soon. Don't hesitate to page me if you need me." "I think we have everything under control for the moment. I'm going to sit with Mulder, then." As she turned to go back in the room Skinner caught her hand. "Scully, I meant what I said earlier. You won't be helping Mulder any of you make yourself sick again. He's worried about you as it is." "I'm fine, sir," Scully assured him. "I'll have to trust you on that then, Scully." "Yes, sir. You will." Scully went back to Mulder's room. The nurse was injecting the additional pain medication as she arrived back at his bedside. "We'll let you know as soon as we hear about those tests, Mr. Mulder." He nodded his understanding while she deposited the used syringe and needle in the sharps container on her way out. "Well, Mulder, I must say that you're keeping things interesting on this trip." Scully smiled down at him reaching for his right hand. "Never a dull moment. You okay?" He squeezed her hand. "And how did you know I needed you so badly?" "For the last time, I'm fine and I just had a very strong feeling that I needed to come to the hospital. I really can't explain it." "And they call me Spooky," he tried to laugh but it brought on another spasm of pain. "I just worry about you," he managed to get out. "Well, stop worrying about me and concentrate on yourself. Is the additional medication helping?" "No, just made me woozy." "Perhaps it will make you sleepy enough to get some rest." "Scully, what's wrong with me? This is something more than the food poisoning isn't it?" "Yes, it is, but we're not 100% sure what the problem is yet. We'll know more after the tests." "What kind of tests?" "An ultra sound and X-rays with some dye injected. You already have an IV, so it won't hurt." She reassured him when he winced. "Couldn't hurt any more than this." He tensed up as another pain tore through him. "Just try to relax, Mulder." "I'm glad you're here," Mulder intoned softly, rubbing his thumb across her knuckles. "I missed you." "Mulder, it's only been a couple of hours since we saw each other." Scully couldn't help but smile. "Doesn't matter. Even five minutes away from you is too long. I love you Scully." For once, Scully found herself at a loss for words. She had heard his declaration of love previously, and like this time he had been under the influence of some pretty heavy drugs. She stroked his cheek with the backs of her fingers, her eyes not leaving his. "Get some sleep, Mulder. I promise you that we will discuss this at length when you're better." "Okay, but can you just tell me if I have any reason to hope that you return my feelings?" "Yes, there is hope, Mulder. Now, close you eyes and rest. Mulder visibly relaxed, a huge grin on his face. The medication seemed to be helping. Suddenly, Mulder's body stiffened and though Scully didn't think it possible, he turned even paler. "Mulder?" "Scully, help!" he croaked. "Mulder, what is it?" "Pain, bad!" Scully reached over and pushed the call button. "I need some help in here!" Mulder was sitting up straight in bed, trying to keep from screaming in agony. Perspiration began dripping from his forehead, evidence of the intense pain and his effort to hold it in. "Mulder, talk to me. You're scaring me," Scully pleaded, holding onto his arms. At that point, Mulder could no longer hold it in. He groaned loudly and then began keening out loud with the intensity of the pain. Two nurses burst through the door. "What happened?" Nurse Ricardo demanded. "Another intense spasm," Scully explained. "It must be excruciating." "Mr. Mulder, can you tell me where it hurts?" the other nurse questioned while Nita adjusted the oxygen flow. "Back, right side! Arrrgh! Help me, please!" he cried. He continued to sit up straight in bed, his left hand gripping the bed railing and his right squeezing Scully's hand. Scully put her free arm around him trying to comfort him, but he was past hearing her soothing words. The pain was his entire world at that moment. Scully's vision blurred as tears began to fill her eyes. "Call the doctor and get his ass up here! Stat!" End Part 10 The Domino Effect Part 11 Nurse Ricardo set about getting Mulder's vitals while the other nurse ran toward the door to track down the doctor. She almost collided with Skinner as he came barreling through the door. He moved aside to let the nurse pass, holding the hot beverages over his head. "What the hell is going on?" his booming voice demanded. "AD Skinner, I didn't see you come in," Scully looked ashen with stress. "He's in excruciating pain. He might be trying to pass that stone." "That's a good thing, right?" "Not if it's too large to pass." Mulder continued to cry out as each new spasm hit with increasing intensity. The pain came in waves, each one seeming worse than the last. Nurse Ricardo tried to get his attention. "Mr. Mulder, the doctor should be here soon. Until he gets here, I want you to listen to me and try to do what I say." Her patient was still unable to answer due to the intense pain. His eyes were red and streaming with misery. "I want you to take a deep breath and hold it." "Can't . . .hurts too . . .much!" he gasped. Scully continued to rub his back. "Listen to her, Mulder. It will help. I promise." "Can't! Gonna be sick!" The nurse scrambled to get a basin for him. Between the retching and the pain, Mulder felt that he was near death, and was praying for a quick end to his misery. "Damn those crab cakes!" As soon as the thought of the seafood buffet came to mind, his body went into new paroxysms of pain and gagging. The doctor walked in to near chaos. After hearing the details, he ordered a different pain medication and told the nurses to get him ready for transport. "I want that IVP now!" he shouted and grabbed the phone to make his wishes known to radiology. "Hang in there, Mr. Mulder, we're going to get to the bottom of this. "Can't take much more of this!" he gasped. "Just shoot me." "I don't think we need to get that drastic," Dr. Southard grinned, patting him on the back. "Just try to slow your breathing down." "Easy for you to say," he groaned then managed to take a deep breath. "Good, keep slowing it down, Mr. Mulder. They should be ready for us downstairs. Let's just take his bed. I think that will be easier all around." The nurse started unhooking equipment while the doctor unplugged the bed. "Nita, let's take a drug box with us." "I'll get that right now." In just a few minutes they managed to get Mulder to lie back down and continue to slow his breathing rate. When Nita returned with the drug box and someone from patient transport, Mulder was on his way to radiology. After the IVP, Mulder finally managed to doze off thanks to a creative drug cocktail that combined some strong painkillers and sedatives. Scully and Skinner sat silently by his bedside, waiting for the doctor's report. Fortunately, the doctor didn't keep them waiting long. "Hello," the doctor greeted them. "I'd rather Mr. Mulder be in on our conversation, but he needs to sleep. He's pretty worn out after that last bout of pain. I see on his chart that you are listed as his medical surrogate and next-of-kin, Miss Scully?" "That's correct." "Then I won't beat around the bush. Mr. Mulder does have a kidney stone. It has probably been forming for quite a while and the dehydration from his illness exacerbated the condition, sort of a domino effect." "What treatment are you considering?" Scully inquired. "We'll use lithotripsy and if that doesn't do the trick we'll do a percutaneous nephrolithotomy." "How soon can you get him scheduled?" "We were lucky, Miss Scully. We can get him in at 8 o'clock." "That is fast." "Forgive me, but my medical knowledge is rather limited. Just what does this procedure do?" Skinner asked. "To make a long story short, it uses sound waves to break the stone into smaller pieces, which should then pass without any further trouble other than a little pain, which should be far less intense than what he has been experiencing." "He's had more than his share of pain these past few hours," Skinner stated. "I agree and we will do everything in our power to keep him comfortable." "And what is the other procedure you mentioned?" "It involves a tiny incision in the back. Once we're in, we use an instrument called a nethroscope to locate and remove the stone. I really don't anticipate having to do that procedure. While the stone is fairly large, the lithotripsy should be able to break it up." "All right, Dr. Southard. I assume I'll need to sign the standard permission forms?" Scully was anxious to get everything in order so that there would be no delays later. "Yes, I'll have the nurse bring them in after they're filled out." "So, do you think this kidney stone might be the cause of all the complications he's endured?" Skinner questioned. He had taken on his 'official stance', standing tall with his arms crossed over his chest. "Well, it has certainly been a contributing factor." "What kind of recuperation are we talking about?" Skinner continued to question him, very much like he would interrogate a suspect. "He'll be quite sore from the lithotripsy for a short time, but that should be a piece of cake compared to the pain he's been suffering lately. He's still quite weak from the food poisoning, so I'd guess that he'll need to take it easy for at least two weeks." Skinner and Scully exchanged glances, each of them thinking that it would be difficult to keep him down once he started feeling better. "If you don't have any further questions, I'll see you after the procedure." "Thank you, doctor," Skinner said, shaking his hand. After the doctor left, Skinner stood beside Scully, looking at Mulder who seemed to be sleeping comfortably for the time being. "Scully, I think I'm going to postpone the seminar until noon so that I can be here with you." "I don't think that will be necessary, sir. It's a pretty simple procedure and Mulder should sleep for a while after it's over. I'll be able to rest while he's sleeping." "I know that, but I'd feel better if I was here." "Why don't we compromise? I'll call you if I think you need to come back." He thought it over for a few seconds and reluctantly agreed. "I do expect you to call if there are any complications. Do I make my self clear?" "Crystal, sir." "Good." They went back to their vigil. After almost an hour, Mulder began to stir, his body becoming more restless and fidgety as he came to. Scully immediately left her chair to stand beside his bed, her hand automatically taking his. "Mulder, can you hear me?" "Uh-huh." "How's the pain?" "Don't ask," he groaned, feeling soft fingers stroking his sweaty brow. "Nice," he thought. "Mulder, you have a kidney stone. You're going to undergo a procedure in a few hours that should eliminate the intense pain." "Surgery?" His eyes widened at the prospect. "No, but you will be under anesthesia." "Okay, as long as it works, don't care." he agreed then shifted in the bed, unable to get comfortable. "Scully, it hurts bad." Her fingers tightened their grip and he squeezed back. "I know, Mulder. It has been described as one of the most painful conditions known to man." "Tell them they're right. How did this happen? Why me?" "Evidently, the stone had been forming for quite some time. The severe dehydration you experienced didn't help matters and the stone finally lodged high in your right ureter. The doctor described it as a kind of domino effect." "Lucky me," he sighed. "Oh, shit! It's starting again!" His body tried to curl itself into a tiny ball while the fresh pain pushed tears down his face. Scully's heart went out to him, reminding her how she hated seeing him in agony. It had happened far too many times. "Mulder, listen to me. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Just like before. Can you do that?" He did and groaned with the pain as he let his breath out. "Do it again and try to focus on something pleasant." He complied, shakily. "I'm trying but it isn't helping. Can I get some more pain medication? Please!" "Let me see what the doctor ordered. I've got to go to the nurse's station to look at your chart. Try to hang on and I'll be back as quickly as I can." "Okay, but hurry!" Scully really looked undecided. She knew that her best bet would be to get the nurse to page the doctor again to attempt to find a combination of painkillers that would be effective, yet she wanted to stay with her partner and try to talk him through the pain. Either way, she hated to leave him when he needed her. Skinner rose from his chair to stand beside Scully. "Go and see what the doctor ordered. I'll try to help Mulder." "Thank you. I'll be back as soon as I can." Skinner took Mulder's left hand. "Squeeze my hand if it helps, as hard as you like." "Don't want to hurt you." "I'll take my chances." "Unngh! Sorry to be such a wimp," he gasped. "Worst pain ever. Shit!" "You're not a wimp, Mulder. You're in excruciating pain so cry, scream, curse, do whatever helps. I won't think any less of you. Besides, after a tour in 'Nam I'm pretty hard to shock." "Don't want Scully to see me like this, but I can't help it." Tears started to flow freely down his face. Skinner reached for a cool washcloth and gently wiped them away. "Don't fight it, Mulder. It's okay. You don't have to prove anything to me." "Oh, shit!" He squeezed Skinner's hand until he thought it would break. "Where's Scully? Shouldn't she be back by now?" "She'll be back as soon as she finds out what the doctor ordered. Try to stay calm." "Trying, but it hurts so damned bad! Feeling sick again," he groaned, panic rising in his voice. Skinner held the basin while Mulder tried to vomit without success. "It's all right, Mulder. Just hang in there. You'll be feeling much better in just a few hours if you can just hang on." The retching finally stopped and Skinner wiped Mulder's face with the washcloth once again. He sank back onto the pillows, his face a deathly shade of pale, and his chest heaving with exertion. "Trying to hang on," Mulder cried, his voice almost a whisper. Skinner continued to wipe the tears away as Mulder cried silently, trying to work his way through the pain. Skinner felt so helpless, wishing he could do more to quell the terrible pain afflicting his agent. After a few minutes, Scully returned, with nurse Ricardo in tow, who was carrying a small bag of IV solution. Skinner moved out of the way as Scully took her place beside Mulder. "Sorry it took so long, Mulder, but we had to speak to the doctor and then wait for the pharmacy to deliver the new medication. You're going to receive a continuous dose of pain medication until your procedure. Hopefully, you'll get some relief," Scully explained as the nurse added the bag to the ones already hanging on the pole. "This is some pretty strong medicine, Mr. Mulder and I'm also going to add a little something to help you sleep. The doctor wants to keep you pretty much out of it until your procedure." "Sounds good to me," Mulder breathed wearily. "Never had to handle this kind of pain before. Sorry." "Mr. Mulder, you are experiencing some of the worst pain imaginable and you have handled it like a trooper. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Now, I need to get your vitals and your temp and then I'll leave you alone." "S'ok, you're not botherin' me," he assured her, his voice slurred from the added medication. She finished her duties and showed Scully that the reading on the Thermoscan was 103.2. Scully frowned, shaking her head. "What'd I do now?" Mulder wailed morosely, showing his sad, puppy-dog eyes. "Nothing, Mulder. It's just that your temperature isn't going down any longer." "But, I'm trying," he protested, blinking his eyes as he tried to fight off the medication and fresh tears. "I know, Mulder. Don't worry about it right now. Just try to rest." "Does the medication seem to be working?" the nurse inquired hopefully. "Mmmm, yeah, think it is. Scully, there are two of you," Mulder answered as he started to drift off to sleep. End Part 11 The Domino Effect-Part 12 "I'll leave you all alone now. Perhaps Mr. Mulder can get some rest." The nurse took one last look at the IV bags and turned to leave. "Let's hope that he can stay asleep for a while. Thank you, Nurse Ricardo." Scully looked up from her place beside Mulder. "Please, call me Nita. After all we've been through this morning, I feel like we're old friends." The nurse gave her a big smile. "I understand," Scully smiled back. "I'm Dana." "And, I'm Walter," Skinner supplied. "You know, I don't usually do this, but I'm going to stick around after my shift to see how this turns out for Mulder. I feel like I have a vested interest in the poor guy now." "Oh, Nita, thank you, but you don't have to do that. I know you must be tired. Mulder has really kept you on your toes during this shift," Scully protested. "I can rest while I'm waiting. For some reason, I feel compelled to see this through." "Then, we would appreciate your company," Skinner accepted. Scully looked at her boss, a questioning look on her face. "Yes, agent Scully, I've decided to stay here until the procedure is over. I just can't leave here not knowing how he's doing. He's been through more than anyone should have to suffer in the last few days. I'm getting ready to call the hotel so they can contact the participants." "Yes, sir, we appreciate it." "Why don't you two try to get some rest now? They will probably come to get him around 7:15, so you still have about two hours to take a little nap." "Thank you, Nita. We will." Skinner assured her. "All right, then. I'll be in and out checking on him. Please let me know if you need anything." Nita left and Scully pulled her chair a little closer to Mulder's bedside. Inwardly she hoped that her partner's abused body didn't pull its usual stunt of shrugging off medication that would normally keep two small elephants down for a week. She sent up a silent prayer that he could have some respite this time, but she knew his system all too well not to feel anxious about it. "Scully, why don't you lie down until time for the procedure?" "I'd rather stay close by his side, sir. He's so heavily sedated that I want to keep an eye on his breathing," Scully explained, wishing she could simply have the pleasure of watching him breathe when his health wasn't in jeopardy. "All right. I understand. I'd just be wasting my breath if I tried to talk you out of it." "You're right about that, sir." "You know, I think it would be proper if we used first names in this situation," Skinner proposed. "All right, Walter," Scully agreed, rotating her stiff neck a little. She was still pretty fatigued and hadn't had much real sleep for worrying about Mulder. "I'm going to go out and make that phone call. If Mulder wakes up, tell him that he'd better get his butt in gear and get over this because I'm going to insist that both of you take some of that comp time you've built up. I have a time-share in a condo in Destin. It's available next week and the following week. I'd like for the two of you to use that time to recuperate from this and rest up, maybe even have a little fun." Scully looked rather surprised. "Um, I'll talk to Mulder about it when he's feeling better. He might prefer to make different plans for himself." "Trust me on this one, Dana, anywhere would be fine with him as long as you're there. I shouldn't be gone longer than ten minutes or so." He left quickly, a huge grin on his face. Scully shook her head to clear it. What had just happened here? It almost sounded like Skinner was trying his hand at matchmaking. Now, that just couldn't be. Could it? Mulder stirred restlessly in his sleep and started to mumble as he tried to pull the oxygen cannula from his nose. Scully grabbed his hand to stop his flailing actions. He continued to mumble as he squeezed her hand gently. "Love you, Scully," Mulder voiced clearly. Scully realized that she was staring straight into his open eyes, dull with fever and pain. She dismissed his words as fevered ramblings until he squeezed her hand again. "Scully, love you. Love me back?" he pleaded, his words trailing off as he slipped back into his drug- induced sleep. "Now, that's strange." Mulder was under the influence of a lot of drugs, but she had a feeling that those words had come straight from his heart. Could he have discussed his feeling with Skinner? That didn't seem likely, but Skinner's offer of the condo to both of them was a rather confusing coincidence. "Something's going on here," she decided. "Mulder, I can't wait until you're feeling better, because I sure have a lot of questions." She realized that she was still holding Mulder's hand and made a move to remove it. Instead, she boldly decided to wait for Skinner to return, just to gage his reaction. She didn't have long to wait. When Skinner came back in she was holding his hand lovingly against her left cheek. Mulder was oblivious to her action, but it wasn't lost on Skinner. "Any change, Dana?" he asked, trying to erase the shit-eating grin from his face, but wasn't entirely successful. "No, Walter. He's still sleeping," she smiled back at him. "Best thing for him. Are you sure you don't want to lie down?" "Yes, I'm sure. I'm quite comfortable here." "I think that's good for him too," Skinner commented on her open affection for her partner. "Well, that pretty much confirmed it," she thought. "Those two had definitely been talking." She sighed. "I wonder when Mulder will finally get up the nerve to talk to me?" XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Skinner left for his coffee date with a promise to meet her in the waiting room. Shortly after the shift change, Nita came in wearing street clothes and carrying two cups of coffee. She offered one cup to Scully. "I got this from the vendor downstairs. It's freshly brewed and is usually pretty decent. I didn't know how you liked it, so I brought plenty of everything. She reached into her pocket and pulled out packets of creamer, sugar and sweetener. "Thank you, Nita." "I see that Walter already had a coffee date," the nurse commented as Scully went about fixing her coffee. "It seems that way. Mulder's ER nurse, I think," Scully answered, blowing across the very hot coffee. She inhaled the aroma deeply and realized that for the first time in days, her stomach actually felt normal. "Poor Mulder," she sighed as she thought of the living hell he was still enduring. "I wish he felt well enough to enjoy this coffee." "He will soon," Nita comforted her. "How long have you two been together?" "We've been partners for almost seven years." "Oh, I didn't mean at work. I meant how long as a couple." "Nita, we're not a couple, yet," Scully was surprised when she emphasized that last word. "Well, what's keeping you?" "It's . . . complicated," Scully hedged. "How complicated can it be? He loves you and you adore him. You're made for each other." "I expect when Mulder starts to feel better we'll be having a long talk about the whole thing." "Well, let's hope you do more than talk," Nita giggled as Scully blushed. There was a knock on the door and soon the room was taken over by a crew of people getting Mulder ready to go to pre-op. Scully and Nita met Karen Bower and Skinner in the surgical waiting room. The female agent had to admit that having all of those people with her helped the time to pass. It seemed like it was almost no time at all before she was sitting beside Mulder in the recovery room, holding his hand again, relieved that he was now hopefully on the mend. The recovery room nurse said that he had been awake briefly, but should start coming around a little more any time. She was right. In less than five minutes Mulder moaned loudly and opened his eyes. "Scully?" "Right here, Mulder. How are you feeling? Is the pain any better?" She squeezed his fingers to let him know she was there for him. "Um, yeah. Pain's better. Still feel like crap though." "You still have a urinary tract infection, but that should start to clear up pretty quickly with the antibiotics you're on. The lithotripsy broke the kidney stone into lots of little pieces. You may still feel a sharp pain from time to time as one of the larger pieces passes, but I think you might even be allowed to get up and try to walk tonight." "Too tired," he sighed, rubbing her fingers. "That will get better. You need to concentrate on getting your strength back. Skinner is insisting that we use our comp time and he wants us to spend it at his time-share condo in Destin." "Us . . .together?" Mulder had a shocked look on his face. "Yes, us. I was a little shocked myself when he suggested it." "I like the idea though. Oh!" "What is it?" Concern replaced the light-hearted talk as his face twisted into a grimace. "Um, one of those sharp pains you were talking about." Scully reached over and pushed a control attached to a cord wrapped around the side rail. "This is attached to a pump. Whenever the pain gets really bad, just push the button." Mulder shifted his eyes to look at the control and then looked back to Scully. "Okay. Tired, but we have to talk later." "I agree. You rest now. I'll be here when you wake up again." He leaned into her hand as she stroked his face and brushed the hair from his eyes. "Good, love you." He smiled sleepily and then drifted back to sleep. "I love you too," Scully whispered in his ear, feeling her eyes tearing up unexpectedly. She didn't really want to leave him, but got up to visit the waiting room and report on his condition. End Part 12 The Domino Effect Part 13 The crowd said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. The nurses went home to sleep and Skinner went back to the hotel to shower and get ready for the seminar. Once again, Scully found herself alone by Mulder's side. He was sleeping comfortably at last. She contented herself with having the simple pleasure of watching his chest rise and fall and knowing that he was over the worst. His face reflected a much more peaceful look, in contrast to the painful episodes he'd had before the procedure. The storm had come and now the waters were calm again. She hoped. Poor Mulder, he'd been through seven kinds of hell the past few days and Scully was happy that he was finally getting some relief. She hated to see him in such pain, this time feeling particularly helpless to ease his suffering. When he was in pain, she realized with some clarity, so was she. A nurse had been in a few minutes earlier and had announced that he had begun to pass pieces of the stone. His last vitals check had revealed that his temperature had dropped to 100. Things were looking up. In response to his fever breaking, Mulder had begun to perspire heavily. Scully began to bathe his face with a cool washcloth, smoothing his damp hair off his forehead in gentle movements so she didn't wake him. He'd been so uncomfortable the last few days that she would do anything within her power to keep him from suffering now. She carefully untied his gown, folding it down in order to bathe his chest. She treated herself to a few seconds of just looking at him like this, chiding herself the next for enjoying the view too much. She started sponging him, barely touching. "Umm, feels good," Mulder sighed. Scully jumped back, startled. "How long have you been awake?" "Not long, just since you untied my gown." He gave her a dopey leer that resembled his usual self, giving Scully the immediate impression that this scenario was ranked fairly high on his list of fantasies. "Feeling any better?" "Actually, I think I do, but my back is really sore. Goes well with my stomach muscles." "That's from the lithotripsy. Push the button on the pump if you need pain medication." "I'm okay, just happy to see you. How about you? You feeling okay?" His long fingers stretched out to meet hers, stilling the hand that was sponging him off. She hoped she wasn't quivering too much as he gazed intensely at her. His eyes were full of meaning, despite the drugs coursing through his system. Her throat was suddenly very dry. "Uh-huh." She began to bathe his chest again, seamlessly reclaiming his hand in the one that wasn't sponging his pectorals, squeezing his fingers in reassurance as she did. "I feel pretty good now. Just give yourself a few days and you'll be feeling much better too." She could feel herself starting to feel very warm now and hoped that he wouldn't mistake that flushed look for lingering illness. "I've been pretty out of it, huh?" His fingers were absently stroking her palm as his eyes momentarily left hers and flickered to the movements of the washcloth over his skin before shifting back to her face. Scully smothered her sharp intake of breath with a chuckle. "Yes, you've had a rough time of it, especially the last eighteen hours or so." "Don't remember much." "It's probably just as well." She patted him dry and pulled his gown up and re-tied it. "There, that should help for a while." And a cold shower for me, she thought unbidden. "Thanks. When do I get to go home?" Mulder grimaced as he shifted in bed. "Maybe in 48 hours or so if you continue to do well, and home is a relative word right now." "I don't understand." She smiled. Compusure regained. Just. "First, you'll need to rest at the hotel for a day or two, and then Skinner has offered us the use of his condo in Destin for the next two weeks." He nodded, a look of delight passing over his features as he processed the implications of that. "Yeah, I vaguely remember you mentioning that in the recovery room." Scully noticed a look of pain on his face and noted that he pushed the button to release a dose of pain medication from the pump. "We'll talk about it later. You need to rest for a while." "Will you be here?" "Of course, Mulder." "Don't wear yourself out. Remember you've been sick too." "There's a fold-out bed right over there. I'll lie down if I feel I need to." She gave him her best smile, absently rubbing his fingers as she held them. "Promise?" "Yes." "Need to sleep now," he yawned. "You go right ahead." Mulder smiled and closed his eyes. When he woke again Scully was sitting patiently by his side. They were connected as one by the clasp of their hands, unspoken comfort that filled his heart with warmth he'd rarely had the joy of knowing. "Still here, huh?" "Where else would I be?" "Lots of other places would be nicer," he suggested, his hand slipping from hers to cup her cheek, smoothing his thumb over her jaw, his eyes sparkling with indefinable emotion when she didn't pull away as he'd expected. "But you wouldn't be there." "Thanks, Scully." He reached for her hand again and gave it a gentle squeeze. She squeezed back, grinning, her own eyes shiny with emotion. "They brought some water in while you were sleeping. Would you like to try a sip or two?" "I guess so. Fair warning, though, if I puke again I'm giving up taking anything by mouth." Scully chuckled. "Something tells me that you won't need to get that drastic. Think positively. This is going to stay down." She held the cup while he took a quick sip of the ice, cold water. "Oh, that was nice," he sighed. "One more. Let's not push our luck." Mulder took a longer sip then relaxed back onto his pillow. "More later?" Scully ruffled his hair and she placed the cup back on the nightstand. "Let's wait at least fifteen minutes then you can have two more sips. If you keep this down you'll probably get some broth and jello for dinner." "I hate to admit this, but that actually sounds good," he grinned. "What sounds good to me is hearing those words come from your mouth." "I am feeling better, except for, ow!" "Ow?" "Another of those sharp pains. It's easing off now." "You're sure?" Scully reached for the pain medication control. Mulder caught her hand. "I'm sure. No pain meds right now, okay?" "All right, Mulder, but there's no need for you to be in pain. You've had enough of that already." She hoped that good sense would over ride his stoic tendencies. He nodded, closing his eyes. The day shift nurse came in and his eyes sprang open again with apprehension, especially after she spotted the large instrument tray she was holding. "Hello, Mr. Mulder. I see you're finally awake. I was beginning to think you were trying to avoid me." "Depends on what you need to do," he answered warily. "Just the usual, Mr. Mulder. I need to take you temperature, get your pulse and BP, check your IV and get a urine specimen. All you have to do is lie quietly." "No needles?" "Not at this time." He visibly relaxed. "You've had a pretty rough time over the past 12 hours Mr. Mulder. We're not going to cause you any pain unless it's unavoidable. Let me get your temp first." She smiled as she finished and ejected the sanitary cover into the trashcan. "Still coming down. You're at 99.8. Now, let's get the rest." His BP and pulse were both within normal range. The nurse changed out the urine collection bag after she secured the urine sample, and noted that several pieces of the kidney stone had passed. "When do I get rid of this?" He pointed to the new collection bag. "You'll have to ask your doctor about that." "Oh, I intend to. Ow!" "Another sharp pain?" Scully inquired anxiously, moving in close to him. "Uh, yeah, um, a little sharper than the others." Mulder began to pale as the pain continued. Scully took his hand and urged him to squeeze as hard as he needed. Then she reached over with her free hand and pushed the button for his pain medication. Mulder didn't comment as he concentrated on blocking out the latest painful assault on his body. His breathing was coming in fast little gasps. The nurse and Scully stood by ready to help in any way possible when she felt him suddenly relax. "Phew! That was intense," he announced, his voice a little shaky. "Is the pain completely gone?" the nurse questioned. "Seems to be. How many more of those things do I have to pass?" "Mr. Mulder, I honestly don't know. The only comfort I can provide is that most of the pieces are small enough that you're not even feeling them as they pass through." "Well, that's something I guess. Could I have another sip of water please?" "Sure." Scully reached for the pitcher and began to pour water into a cup. "Oh, that reminds me!" the nurse interjected. "I'll be back in a minute to post an input/output sheet. You'll need to write down everything that you drink and how much. We'll take care of recording your output until the catheter is removed." "I'll be sure to record everything that he drinks." Scully promised as she held the cup for Mulder. "Thank you. I'll be right back with that sheet." Mulder finished drinking and shifted in bed, turning to face Scully. "Ohhh! Big mistake!" "Pretty sore, huh?" "Yeah, but it was worth the pain just to see you more clearly." She gave him a rueful smile has she perched on the side of the bed. "I honestly don't know why you would make the effort right now. I'm pale as a ghost. I didn't put on any make up and these jeans are not my top of the line wardrobe." "Scully, you're a beautiful woman whatever you're wearing and as far as I'm concerned, you don't need any make-up. As for your pallor, perhaps we can work on that while we're in Destin. I'm sure I'm a little pale too." Scully was pleased to see his boyish smile return. "You're right. You're not your usual golden self," she laughed. "You mean you actually intend to take Skinner up on his offer?" "Only if you promise to be there too." Mulder's eyelids began to grow heavy. "I wouldn't miss it for the world." "Gotta sleep, Scully. Maybe I can stay awake longer the next time. Wanna talk to you." He took both her hands into his own, intertwining their fingers. Scully leaned in and kissed him on his forehead, her head pressed against his for a long, silent moment. It was their special communication. No words needed. Finally she sat back, observing his exhausted but delighted face. A small nod, a sleepy grin and he lay back. "Sleep, Mulder." "Umm, nice," he mumbled as he drifted off, his fingers slipping from hers almost immediately as sleep claimed him. End Part 13 The Domino Effect Part 14 The first thing that Mulder noticed when he woke again was Scully, holding his large hand between her two smaller ones. She was holding them next to her right cheek while she dozed with her head propped on the side of his bed. She was so beautiful that she took his breath away. The thin strip of sunlight coming in between the closed drapes hit her hair in such a way that it appeared to be on fire. He decided to lie quietly and watch her as she slept. She was so wonderful in every way, that he counted himself a lucky man just to have this brief opportunity. The air-conditioning unit kicked on softly. Mulder observed the dust motes stirred up by the moving air as they swirled about Scully's head. He suddenly felt the urge to sneeze, no doubt from the dust set into motion by the air conditioner. He tried to stop it. He'd done it before in the middle of important meetings, boring meetings, stakeouts, you name it. He was usually successful. This time it was most important that he stop that sneeze. Despite the fact that he knew it would cause a dizzying, excruciating, all encompassing, unbearable pain across his stomach muscles and back, that wasn't his main concern. No, Scully was sleeping and he would do anything to insure that she would stay that way. He brought his free hand up to his nose just in time to stop the explosion. Ah! Success! Just as he pulled his hand away the dust swirled again and took him by surprise. Try as he might, there was no stopping the reaction this time. He let loose a manly sneeze, one that nearly took his head off. As he recovered from the force of the sinus explosion and the resulting muscle pain, he heard three dainty sneezes erupt next to him. Scully sat up, looking somewhat dazed. "You all right, Scully?" "I think so. What about you? That had to hurt." "I suppose I'll live to sneeze again." He managed to paste a smile on his face despite the lingering pain. "What brought all of that on?" "Air conditioner started, stirred up some dust and got to both of us." "Evidently," she agreed, rising to a sitting position. "You sure you're okay?" "Uh-huh. Just hurts a little now." "It was an interesting way to wake up." "I can think of more interesting ways to awaken." He leered at her. "Oh, really? Care to share?" she asked playfully as she reached for a tissue. "I'd rather demonstrate instead, but that would require a much different setting." "And, what would that be?" "Scully, I need to ask you something first. If I don't I may get slapped when I tell you about my alternative methods of awakening." "All right," she agreed hesitantly. "Okay, here goes," he thought. "I'll either crash and burn or be a very happy man, but I have to know." "Well?" "I've been pretty much out of it the past couple of days, but I know I didn't dream this. I told you that I loved you, several different times, in fact, but I don't remember receiving a response." "I know, Mulder. I wasn't entirely sure you were aware of what you were saying." "I meant every word, Scully." "Then you deserve my reply. I have the same feelings for you, Mulder. I love you too. I'm so glad we finally have this out in the open." Mulder's face broke out in a shy, shit eating grin. He could hardly contain his joy. For a moment he thought he would cry, but he took a deep breath to steady his next words. "Me too, Scully. The big question now is where are we going to go with this?" he asked softly. "Oh, I think Skinner has given us an opportunity to explore that." "The condo in Destin?" Yes, but I'm still trying to figure out what made him offer it to us." "I honestly don't know, but I'd like to take him up on it." "So would I," Scully agreed with a huge smile. They moved toward each other, closing the gap literally and figuratively, and their lips met in a kiss. Neither of them pulled back as they deepened the kiss, tongues exploring. Finally, Mulder had to reluctantly break the kiss, his breathing ragged. "Scully, I'd like to do that a little more, but I'll have to get some of my strength back to do it properly." "Yes, uh, you certainly do need to get your strength back. I'm, um, looking forward to that because that was pretty amazing as it was," she stammered. "We'll just have to keep practicing, then," he smiled at her. "In the meantime, would you like to tell me about those alternative methods of awakening?" XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Skinner made a quick stop in the ER to say hello to Karen then went straight up to check on Mulder. He was quite surprised when he found Scully sound asleep on the foldout couch while Mulder was sitting on the side of the bed, his long legs dangling. "Come on in, sir, Scully's dead to the world right now. The nurse just came in to help me walk around the bed and she didn't stir." "Is she all right?" "Yeah, just tired, I think," Mulder answered, looking toward her sleeping figure, affection showing on his face so much that it almost shone from him. "It looks like you're feeling much better." "The nurse said my temperature is still slightly elevated and I'm weak as a kitten, but I feel much better. Thanks." "Great, Mulder. I'll have to admit that you had me a little worried early this morning." "Thankfully, I don't remember much. Have a seat, sir." "Thanks, Mulder. I can only stay for a few minutes. I have a dinner date then I'm heading back to the hotel for a good nights sleep." "I'm sorry that I kept you up all night, sir." "Nonsense, Mulder and would you please call me Walter when we're not working? I think six years of working together and a friendship has afforded us that privilege." "Thanks, Walter. I'll try to remember that," he grinned, rubbing his back. "You must be pretty sore." "Yeah, I am. I feel like I've been beaten. It's a side effect of that procedure." "Let's hope that clears up pretty quickly. Any idea when you'll be discharged?" "Maybe in 48 hours if I'm lucky." He rolled his eyes. "I'll have to admit that it looks like you could use a change of luck. You've had one hell of a week," Skinner commented. "Can't argue with that." "Have you and Scully discussed my offer of the condo in Destin?" "Yes, we have and we've decided to take you up on your offer," Mulder reported happily. "Great! I think you'll enjoy it. One bedroom has a king-sized bed with a large whirlpool bath, while the other has twin beds. There's a small kitchen along with a nice living room, a dining area and another full bath. There's also a heated pool and it isn't very far from the beach." "Sounds wonderful, Walter." "Well, you two need some time to recuperate and just kick back and enjoy each other's company." Skinner noted the shy expression on Mulder's face all of a sudden. Was that a blush? "That's just what we intend to do. Looks like you . . .er, could win the office pool after all." Mulder grinned when he saw the astonished look on Skinner's face. "Mulder, I . . .how did you know about that?" Skinner stuttered, blushing. "I'm 'Spooky' Mulder, remember?" Oh! Damnit!" "Mulder, what's wrong?" Skinner inquired, standing up to steady Mulder as he began to sway. "Passing another piece of that stone," he gasped, hugging his midsection momentarily. "Here, let's get you back in bed." Skinner helped him get situated, keeping a wary eye on him the entire time. "Should I call the nurse? Get you something for pain?" "No, thanks. Got everything I need here," Mulder replied painfully, pushing the control for his pain medication. "It's starting to ease off a little." "How long will you continue to have these pains?" "No idea, Walter," he sighed wearily. "Mulder, I hate to leave you like this but . . ." "Go on, Walter. I'm okay now." "You're sure?" "Yeah, go, but could you do me a favor?" "Sure, if I can." "Take Scully back with you when you're finished?" "Of course, I was going to suggest that anyway. Karen only gets a 45 minute break, so I should be back up here in about an hour." "I'll make sure she's ready to leave." "I'll see you two in an hour then." Skinner grinned as he left for his date. "Trying to get rid of me, Mulder?" Scully asked, rising from the sofa. "Never, Scully. I just want to be sure you get a good nights sleep." "I know that. Thank you." "How long have you been awake?" "Oh, a few minutes at least. How's the pain? Gone now?" She gave him a quick kiss on his forehead before sitting down in the recliner and taking his hand once more. "All gone for the time being anyway. I hope that was the last one." "Maybe it will be. How about eating some jello for me before I leave?" "Sure, I'd do that for you, Scully. I'd even eat green jello if you insisted." "Oh, I don't think I would force you to do that," she laughed. Nita entered the room carrying a plastic container of red jello and a plastic spoon. "Looks like your lucky day, Mulder," Scully chuckled. "What do you have for me, Nita? Strawberry or cherry?" Nita looked at the label. "Strawberry." "Wow, my favorite," he said sarcastically. "Mulder, behave, or I will insist on lime," Scully warned him with a smile. "Behaving now, Scully," he grinned as he accepted the jello and spoon from Nita. "How's it going, Mulder? Still having those sharp pains?" she asked as she prepared to take his blood pressure. "Some, it passes pretty quickly." "What about the nausea?" "I haven't had any since I woke up in the recovery room," he reported happily. "Fantastic. I'll make a note of that and I'm sure the doctor will adjust your diet accordingly. Your blood pressure and pulse are normal and I'll come back and take your temp later. Can I get you anything or do anything for you while I'm here?" "Can't think of anything, Nita. Thanks for the jello." "Not a problem. Dana, you look tired. Why don't you go back to the hotel where you can really rest? I promise we'll take good care of this guy here." "I know you will. Thanks for your concern, Nita. Walter will be picking me up soon." "Looks like you have all the bases covered. I'll just go and find someone who needs me," she joked. ""Thanks for all of the help you've given us, Nita," Scully started. "Just doing my job, Dana, and making some new friends along the way. It has been my pleasure." "Well, you've been more than helpful." "I second that, Nita. I don't remember much until I woke up in the recovery room, but I'm grateful you were there for Scully," Mulder chimed in. "Stop it, you two. You're embarrassing me." "Okay, Nita. We'll stop for now." Scully promised. "Well, okay. If I don't see you before you leave, Dana, get a good nights sleep. Mulder, I'll see you later." "Oh, I'm looking forward to it," he grinned, rolling his eyes. "Well, it looks like I'll have to see what nasty procedure we can put you through," Nita threatened with a grin. "All right, all right. I will be eagerly awaiting your next visit." "That's better. See you later." Nita left, and Scully got up and sat on the side of the bed. "You're going to behave until I come back in the morning. Right?" "Right. You won't get any bad reports on me." "Good." "My goal in life now is to keep you happy all of the time." "Wow, Mulder. I don't know what to say." "Just say you love me and give me a kiss." End Part 14 The Domino Effect Part 15 When Scully returned the next morning, Mulder was sitting in the recliner, sipping some ginger ale. "Well, I wasn't expecting this." She entered the room with a huge smile, pleased that her partner was out of bed. She leaned forward and kissed him deeply, savoring the ginger taste on his lips. "Got tired of lying around so I thought I'd have my breakfast here," Mulder explained. "The view's not that great and the food isn't much better, but it'll have to do. Things definitely started looking up when you walked in." His hands reached for her fingers. "So, what did you eat?" Scully looked at the tray. "A few of my old favorites like beef broth and strawberry jello. I hear that if I'm a good boy, I may get chicken noodle soup for lunch." He waggled his eyebrows. She laughed. Yes, he was definitely on his way back to being her usual Mulder. "Looks like you have been a good boy. I don't see anything left. So, I guess since you were able to get this down you're feeling better?" she asked hopefully. "Yes, I am." "Any more pain?" "Not a bit since you left last night. My temperature is normal. My back and stomach are still sore but much improved. They took some blood earlier, and the verdict is still out on that, but for the most part it looks like I just need to get my strength back," Mulder reported, trying to pull her in closer. "I'm so glad you're feeling better." "Not half as much as I am. I think I'm ready to get back in bed now." She could see him tiring again, reminding her that he had a way to go yet before he was back up to par. "No sense in wearing yourself out. Do you need any help?" "Um, this is a little embarrassing, but could you move that uh . . .that thing?" "The urine collection bag? Not a problem and it is not embarrassing." He gave her a wry smile. "Well, embarrassing or not, I'll be glad to see it go." Mulder climbed back into bed slowly, giving in to his sore muscles. He sighed with relief as he sagged back into the pillows. "You should be getting rid of it soon." Scully informed him as she hung the bag on the side of the bed. "Let's hope so. Come here." He snagged her hand, pulling her over. "What, Mulder?" "I just like having you close." He moved over and patted the space beside him. "Mulder, I'd love to climb in with you, but you need your rest and I don't think you'd keep that in mind with us being so close. I need you to get your full strength back for our visit to Destin." "Scullee. . ." "Quit whining, Mulder. Besides, you should remember how busy hospitals are in the morning. Your doctors will stop by and probably order tests. The nurses will want the aids to give you a nice bed bath and change your bed . . ." "Okay, okay. I get the picture. Did you pack some sweats or pajama bottoms for me to wear in case I do get rid of this torture device today?" "Yes, I did, along with a change of clothes to go home in when you're discharged. Hopefully tomorrow," she emphasized. "I like the way you think." XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Mulder was back in his room at the hotel. Scully had gone to find a pair of scissors to cut off the hospital bracelets around his right wrist. The sooner all traces of that place were removed the better. He couldn't wait to begin his voyage of Scully discovery at Skinner's condo. His heart did a little giddy flip at the thought of what delights lay ahead. Still, he tamped down thinking about it too much. They needed to take this one step at a time. It wouldn't do to screw it up by acting like an overenthusiastic puppy. Skinner had already said his goodbyes earlier at the hospital where he had happily given them the key to his condo. After a short visit with Karen Bower, the AD left to catch a flight back to the cold, snowy, Nation's Capital. "There you go, Mulder." Scully cut off the plastic bands then handed him a bottle of water. "Drink up. Remember, the doctor wants you to drink lots of water." Mulder unscrewed the top and drank almost half of the water in a couple of gulps. Scully nodded her approval and came around to the other side of the bed, kicking her shoes off. Mulder excitedly held the covers up while she slid in beside him. This was somewhat unexpected. "Mmm, you feel good," he whispered, putting the water bottle on the bedside table. He turned back around and pulled her closer. "I think it's time to practice." "Practice?" Scully questioned, confused. "Kissing. Don't you remember?" "Oh, now that you mention it, I think I do," she purred, stroking his face. They kissed deeply and hungrily. Both of them were breathing hard when they broke apart. "Um, I think your technique is wonderful. I don't think we need any more practice," Scully decided. "Perhaps not since I can't see any room for improvement on your part either. I guess we can by- pass the warm-up and go straight in without a net." He smiled broadly and then covered her mouth with his own again. After several minutes of intense kissing, Scully broke away. "What's wrong?" Mulder already missed the feel of her lips. "I think we need to slow this down. You've only been out of the hospital for an hour and you need to rest up." "Oh, I am resting up." He emphasized the last word, grinding into her. Parts of him were certainly up to speed and raring to go, she mused. "I noticed, but I don't want to do anything that would jeopardize your recovery." "I think I'll be in jeopardy if we don't continue, not to mention downright uncomfortable," he groaned, his breathing coming in heavy pants. Scully's hand found its way under his shirt where she began to caress his still tender abdomen and chest. When he didn't flinch she continued her exploration to more pleasingly sensitive areas. He was gasping a little now as he leaned into her touch. "I'm still a little sore, but I think a little movement might help to work the kinks out." He began placing light kisses all along her jawbone and down her neck. Oh boy, she needed more skin. "Um, some movement might be good," she agreed, pulling his shirt over his head and off. "But, I wouldn't want to spoil our trip to Destin by practicing everything before we get there." Mulder began to slowly unbutton her blouse. "Not a chance of practicing everything. I've been waiting almost seven years for this little rehearsal and the many moves I have in mind will need a lot of detailed choreography." He pulled her blouse off and tossed it on the floor where it landed on top of his t-shirt. "So, you're going to be the director?" she asked. "Co-director," he informed her, kissing her once again. "Yes, co-director," Scully agreed between kisses. Their hands began to roam and explore. "Let's get this production started." "Great idea. Should we continue with Act I or advance to Act II?" "Definitely Act II." "Act II of the Mulder-Scully production is now in full rehearsal," he announced, deftly unhooking her bra. "Any directions for me?" Scully moved so that he could pull the undergarment away, his eyes widening with pure love and lust at the sight or her bared skin. He almost cried at her beauty. "Just tell me you love me and let me show you my love." "Yes, try stopping me," Scully agreed breathlessly. "I love you." Mulder kissed her once again, then all thought of patience or direction flew out the window. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX On a plane making its way to Washington, DC, Walter Skinner relaxed and thought of his two agents fondly, then remembered to make a note to find out who won the Mulder-Scully office pool. He was sure it was his for the taking, though. He'd made a special effort to enter it earlier when he'd realized that they were becoming much closer, and it didn't hurt to be in the position of matchmaker either. He sat back and pondered what he would do with his winnings. Maybe he could buy them an extra week of time at his condo. It would make a great wedding gift. End Part 15