From: Cookie8302@aol.com
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 11:48:46 EST
Subject: xfc: The Empty Bed (Part1 of ?)
Source: xfc

Title: The Empty Bed
Author: Kristen
E-Mail: RBran10092@aol.com
Rating: PG-13 for now
Category: SRA
Spoilers: Little ones throughout the show
Keywords: Skinner/Scully
Summary: Scully ponders her new life
Feedback: Please
Archive: Yes, anywhere
Disclaimer:  I do not own any of the characters used in this story and I will 
not make any money from this

The Empty Bed

She rolled over and felt the space on the sheets next to her.  It was
empty.  Her bed, their bed, was empty.  Most nights, Walter would come
in, late, but he would come.  She'd hear him lay down and stretch,
sometimes groaning as he let the strain in his shoulders and back melt
away.  She would never let on that she was awake.  She'd never let him
know that she cherished his warmth and his presence there.  She'd
never let him know, how safe she felt with him beside her.

There were some nights when Walter wouldn't come to bed. Nights like
tonight when he would sit and stare at the blank TV screen, silently
punishing himself for one thing or the other.  He never talked to her
when he was like this.  He'd ask about her day, and about Will, then
he'd fall silent.  She could see in his overly expressive eyes the
pain, the anguish, but she could not detect a reason and he would not
reveal one.

They had been married six months.  Just after Mulder had left her for
the last time.  He'd not been gone a week before she was notified of
his death in a car wreck.  She'd grieved for Mulder, but after he was
gone, marriage to Walter seemed inevitable.  She needed someone, as
much as she hated to admit it, to be with her and be there for her
son.  And Walter needed someone too, he needed companionship.  Yes,
theirs was a perfect marriage.  A perfect marriage of convenience.  
She worked in the hospital, she cooked his meals, and kept his house.  
He still worked for the bureau, and he gave Will the father he so
desperately needed.  He cared for her, and she for him.  More than she
would ever let on, yet they had never made love.  He never held her at
night, he never told her of the nightmares that so often plagued him.

A sound from the living room startled Dana.  It sounded like a wounded
animal, groaning in anguish and pain.  It was no Will, for he was
sleeping soundly in his cradle at the foot of the bed.

She rose, finally realizing what the sound was.  Slowly, not bothering
with a robe, she padded to the living room and knelt in front of her
husband.

He was hunched over, elbows on his knees, head in his hands.  His
shirt front was covered in blood, his eyes red with unshed tears.

"Walter," she said so softly he could barely hear her.  "Walter, what
is it?"

He looked up and into her eyes.  They were wide with concern and even
fear.

"Oh, God, Walter, are you hurt.  Is this your blood?"

"Some may be."

"Let me see.  Lie back."

Walter obeyed, moaning slightly, and opened the buttons on his shirt
to reveal an ugly stab wound.

"Oh, you should be in a hospital.  This could get infected."

"No, no doctors.  You can clean it."

"Walter, I..."

"Dana," he said, his tone holding warning," I said no doctor."

Even in her days as an agent, Dana never questioned him when he used
that tone with her.  She hurriedly went to the bedroom and got her
medical bag.  He'd need stitches and the wound needed to be cleaned.

"This may hurt, I don't have any Novocain."

"My teeth are okay."

"Tell me what happened."

"It's nothing.  A mugging.  Nothing to do with work."

"Your chivalry got you hurt again.  Where did the rest of this blood
come from?"

"The mugger.  I got him after he got me.  There's nothing to worry
about, Dana."

"Walter,this is really bad.  I want to take you to the hospital."

"Just sew it up.  If it's still like this tomorrow, I'll go."

Dana tried to keep her hands steady as she sewed.  He was all ready
running a fever, probably a result of the pain and blood loss.  He
also had chills and appeared to be losing consciousness.

When she was finished, wiped her hands.  He looked so relaxed in
sleep, fever induced though it may be.  She could have lost him
tonight, with out telling him...she would tell him, but not now.  
Later, she would tell him, because at least for the time being, she'd
just let him sleep.

The Empty Bed 2/?

Dana Skinner sat on the edge of the sofa, gently bathing her husband's
forehead.  His fever was not terribly high, but it was high enough to
warrant concern.  She remembered all of the times she'd kept vigil
over Mulder like this, tending a wound or a fever, praying, waiting,
to see if he would be all right.

For months she'd lived with this man, and never before had she
realized how beautiful he was, inside and out.  He'd put it all on the
line tonight to save a stranger from some horrible fate.  That was
what his life was all about, fighting for those who couldn't fight for
themselves.  The marines, the FBI, this marriage, all of those were
selfless gestures, sacrifices that Walter made for others at his own
expense.

She wrang the cloth out again, and slowly, in gently circles, bathed
his forehead, neck and chest.  She knew he'd not sleep comfortably
until she could bring the fever down.  More than once she'd thought of
disobeying him and calling the ambulance, but this was not Mulder,
this was Walter, and never would say not to call without a reason.

He moaned in his sleep and slowly opened fever glazed eyes to look at
her.

"Hey," she murmered, "Feeling better?"

"I'm cold," he told her, "Stop it, Dana."

"Stop what?  The rag? I need to do this, Walter, you have a fever."

"Leave me alone.  I don't deserve this.  Go to sleep."

"Hush, now.  Just rest."

"No, you sleep.  I'll be all right.  I can't lose you too."

"Lose me?  Walter, you aren't going to lose me.  I'm right here.  Do
you want to go to the hospital?"

"Do you want to tell me what happened?"

"Jake, he had her by the throat.  She was crying, i came at him from
behind.  No one can know Dana, no one.  I did it because i thought it
was you he was hurting.  My own brother, no one can know."

"No one will know, and no one will hurt me.  I'm fine, I'm safe, and
I'm with you."

"You wish I was Mulder."

"Don't talk like that.  I married you, Walter."

"But I love you, that's the difference."

Dana couldn't muster a reply. He loved her. It would be so easy now to
confess, but she couldn't force the words, they wouldn't come.  All
she could do was place a kiss on his forehead as he fell once again to
sleep.

Part 3/?

It had been a few weeks since Walter Skinner had come home to his
wife, tired and bleeding from an altercation with a brother she didn't
know he had.  He was doing well, the stitches having come out the week
before.  Things in their marriage had never been better, however.  
There hadn't been a night since that Walter hadn't slept beside her.  
He'd even reached out for her once when he'd had one of his
nightmares.  He still wouldn't talk to her though, about the dreams or
about what had happened that night.

In truth, Walter had very little recollection of what happened in the
alley and after he got home.  All he could remember was Dana in
trouble, Dana being hurt.  A feeling of murderous rage shot through
him and the next thing he knew he had been stabbed and had murdered
his only brother.  Then, when he'd arrived home, she was there, a
vision in her white nightgown.  An angel, his angel.  She'd tended him
that night, bathed his face and stitched his wound, and he had nothing
he could do to repay her.

He came home this night, not to the peaceful domestic scene he usually
attended.  Dana was sitting in the middle of the floor, surrounded by
file folders and textbooks.  Will was crawling away from her, his
bottom red with some sort of rash.

"Dana, what is this mess?"

"This mess, is what happens when the nanny hired fails to show up for
the third time this week."

"You were there when I interviewed her, you agreed with the choice."

"I never said otherwise, Walter, why are you so grumpy tonight?"

"Because, Dana, I thought that we had an understanding, that when I
got home, there would be a meal on the table, the house would be in
some semblence of order, and our child with clothes on, and not with a
rash all over his bottom."

"Well, if the nanny you hired came to work, then Will would have been
taken care of so I could run errands in peace.  That, however was not
the case and as you well no, taking Will to do anything always makes
it a day's excursion.
 If doing the laundry and shopping didn't take the entire day, maybe I
could have gotten a meal cooked and done this research I need for a
patient of mine.  And as far a Will is concered, he had a diaper rash,
babies get them all the time, and if you would cut this bullshit and
help me, he wouldn't be crawling around naked."

"Did you call a doctor about the diaper rash?"

"No, I called my mother, she' raised four children, we all get diaper
rash."

"Well, your mother, while I love her dearly, is not a doctor."

"If you think he needs to see a doctor for this rash, you take him.  
The doctor will laugh you out of the office!"

"You know Scully, for all you went through to get Will, you sure are
careless with him."

For that she slapped his face, "You son of a bitch, I love my baby,
and he's my baby Walter, mine, not yours, you are not his father."

"Oh, I'm not.  I am here, Dana!  I was here when he was born, I was
here when he got that ear infection, I was here when he wanted to be
held, and the first time he crawled.  I am his father, I may not be
biologically, but it takes more to be father than a few seconds in the
dark!"

"Give me my baby, and make your own damned dinner.  And you can sleep
out here tonight too.  I don't want you in my bed."

"Oh, Dana, as cold as that bed is, I don't want to be in it anyway."

She didn't here his last words, for she had all ready retreated to her
room, put her son in the cradle, and wept across her empty bed.

The Empty Bed (4/?)

Walter Skinner silently curses himself.  How could he have been so
stupid and insensative.  Dana was a good wife to him and a good
mother, and yet he'd come in here today and accused her of neglecting
her child.

Oh, but she'd got him back.  The remark about Will not being his son
had stung, almost as much as the slap she'd delivered him just before
that.  In his mind, there was no doubt about it, Will was his son.  
Maybe not biologically, but in every other way, in all the ways that
really mattered.

Walter let his mind drift back to the week after Mulder's death and
his a Scully's whirlwind wedding.  Will had been crying all night, and
nothing that Dana could do would make him stop.  Finally, seeing the
exhaustion in Dana's eyes, he took that baby from her.  He'd rocked
him in Dana's old rocking chair, and softly sung a lullabye that his
mother had sang to him.  He didn't understand the words, having never
learned much of her native Polish, but he did remember the sounds.  
After, he'd told Will so many things he'd never told anyone, not even
his first wife, Sharon.  The baby listened and did not pass judgement.  
They had both fallen asleep in the chair that night.  Things like
that, made a father.

True, he had been unfair in his remark, Mulder wasn't a father to Will
because he couldn't be, not because he'd abandoned Dana, although,
sometimes, it seemed like that.

Sighing, Walter approached the lock bedroom door.  He could hear
Dana's sobs from the other side, and they tore at his heart.  Slowly,
he raised his hand and knocked on the door.

"Dana," he called, softly, "Dana, I'm sorry about what I said.  I'm
tired and it's been a crappy day.  I shouldn't have judged you or
ridiculed you.  I know that tiredness isn't an excuse for the way I
acted, but I hope that you'll forgive me, I need you to forgive me
Dana.  I care about you, very much, and I love William with all my
heart.  I don't, I can't, come on, Dana, please open the door.  
Please."

Dana heard his words through the door, but they fell on deaf ears.  
She'd had enough of the way he treated her.  He ignored her, shut her
out, and she couldn't take that pain any longer.  She'd packed
Walter's suitcase while she was in the bedroom, enough clothing and
supplies for a week.  She obeyed his request that she open the door,
handing him the case when she did.

"What's this for?" he asked, hurt even, fear evident in his voice.

"It's...I need time to think.  This is not permanent, it's only for a
week.  Since Mulder died, we've been married, and adjusting, and I
haven't had time to mourn him, or grieve for him.  I need this time to
myself.  I hope you understand."

"I understand, Dana.  I don't like it very much, but I understand."

The words were soft, his voice catching on the words.  "Can I
saygoodbye to Will?"

She moved aside to allow him admittance, and felt her eyes sting with
tears when he cuddled the baby close to his chest and places the
tenderest of kisses on his soft little cheek.

Replacing Will, Walter lifted his suitcase and stood to his full
height over Dana.

"If you or William need anything, I'll be staying with the Gunmen.  
Take care of yourself."

Slowly, he leaned in a placed a kiss on her cheek, then, quietly
turned and walked into the night.

The Empty Bed (5/?)

It had only been three hours since Dana Skinner packed her husbands
things and he'd left quietly for the Gunmen's.  The Gunmen's was the
last place she expected him to go.  He had a sister in Baltimore and
enough money to stay in any hotel, and yet, he decided to camp out for
the duration with the Three Stooges.

He hadn't been gone ten minutes when she realized she'd made a
mistake.  Her own reservations about their relationship had led to a
horrible fight and subsequent separation.  Walter had tried and
succeeded to apologize, and she could not forgive him.  She'd always
been able to forgive Mulder, but she could not forgive Walter for
hurting her that way.  Well, you only hurt the one you love.  That was
how the song went.

For the last seven years, she'd loved Mulder.  But she hadn't been in
love with him.  She'd never been in love with anyone, until now, and
that realization scared her more that the most gruesome and horrible
cases she'd ever worked on, for this was not a fear for her body, this
was a fear for her soul.  Argument after argument, hurt after hurt
with Mulder, healed and forgiven.  They were friends, and had been
lovers, but friends and lovers, they forgave and forgot.  Husbands and
wives, they did not.

William fussed again and drew her attention to her son. Her perfect
miracle child.  It was time for him to be fed, so she went and heated
the bottle.  She was surprised when he wouldn't feed on it.

"What's the matter, Baby?  You don't want the milk?"

Scully had been reminded by her mother never to force William, he
would eat when he was ready to eat.  So, she put the bottle down and
held him in close.
 They walked the halls for a few minutes, and she tried to feed him
again, when the phone rang.

"Sc..Skinner," she answered.

"Mrs. Skinner, this is Dr.  Cydney Reed at George Washington Memorial
Hospital.  Your husband, Walter has been in an accident."

"What kind of accident," she asked, thinking, oh God, this is Mulder
all over again.

"An automobile accident, Ma'am.  He's in critical condition and in
ICU.  He's called for you."

"Thank you, Doctor.  But why are you calling me, and not one of the
nurses?"

"The name read, Dr. Dana Skinner.  It's a professional courtesy, but,
I must ask you to hurry.  His condition is very critical."

"I'll be there immediately."

Dana's distress was communicated to William, who began to cry again in
earnest.  The best thing to do was to call her mother.

Margaret Scully was watching the late night movie when the phone rang.

"Hello?"

At first there was silence on the other end, although she could hear
the sounds of both a crying woman and a crying baby.  Who else could
it be?

"Dana?  Is that you?"

"Mom?" It came out in a sob. "I need you to meet me at GWU hospital.
Now."

"What is it sweetie?  Where's Walt... Honey, is Walter sick?"

"No, Mom, he's hurt.  Badly.  I need you Mom, for Will."

"I'm coming now, I'll meet you there."

The call ended, and Maggie dressed hurriedly, offering a silent prayer
that her daughter's husband would be all right.

Dana hated hospitals.  Sound weird for a doctor to hate hospitals, but
she did.  There were to many sad memories in hospitals.  Memories of
Mulder, and a few times Walter, but this time, after losing Mulder in
an accident, the smell of antiseptic almost made her vomit.

Holding William close, she entered the ICU cubicle which held her
husband.  His color was gray and pasty.  Their were tubes and wires
protruding from every part of his battered body.  What disturbed her
most was the respirator.

"Mrs.  Oh, I'm sorry, Dr. Skinner.  I'm Dr. Reed.  Is this your son?"

"Yes, this is William Mul..Skinner.  William Walter Skinner.  My Mom
is coming for him."

"That's good.  A baby should be frightened by all this."

"He really missed his father.  He's glad to see him.  He doesn't
understand... but you all ready knew that."

"Yes, I have two children myself. "

"Dr. Reed is the respirator really necessary?"

"Yes.  We had to trach him, and put in on the vent.  He suffered
injuried to the C5 and L4 vertebrae.  The lower being the worse of the
two.  He's on pain meds and steroids to reduce the swelling so we can
see how the injuries effected his spine."

"Will he be...Is he going... Will he be paralyzed?"

"I honestly don't think that, with the severity of the injuries to his
lower back, that he will ever walk again without at least a great deal
of pain.  The cervical injury is not as severe and the lack of
function may be from swelling and fluid.  We'll need time to be sure."

"Can I sit with him?"

"For awhile.  He was able to talk for a few minutes when he brought
him in, and I think he can hear you.  Talk to him, Mrs. Skinner.  
I'll send your mother in when she arrives."

Dana secured Will on her lap and took her husband limp hand, "I'm here
now, Walter.  Nothing else matters, I'm here now."

The Empty Bed (6/?)

She didn't know how long she sat there.  She felt, rather than heard,
her mother come in and take the baby.  She heard, rather than saw, the
nurses taking vitals and injecting medications.  All of her senses
were focused on the man in the bed.  Her husband.  Walter.  The man
she rejected, yet couldn't stand to lose.  He was holding his own, the
doctors said, yet there was still too much swelling in the spine to
determine the extent of the damage done by the accident.

In her time with Mulder, she had seen him face many brushed with
death, both from illness and injury.  But almost never, had he faced a
life of permanent damage like Walter did now.  The information alone
would surely kill her strong independent husband.

How to break news like this?

"Walter, sweetheart, I hate to have to tell you this but, your a
quadriplegic for life, or at the very least a paraplegic.  You'll have
to piss and shit on a schedule, and I'll have to wipe your mouth."  
Somehow that didn't do, even though, in worst case scenario, it was
the truth.  And lately, with them, the worst case scenario, was the
only scenario.

Holding his limp hand, occasionally, brushing his knuckles with her
lips and inhaling the scent of him, she thought about the time they
wasted. Six months of pain, of one shutting the other out of his or
her feelings.  She'd thought they'd been making progress the night he
was stabbed.  He'd told her he loved her, but had fallen asleep before
she could return the feeling.  That night was never really discussed.
What happened between him and his brother, and what happened between
him and her was kept silent in an unspoken agreement that it was
"forbidden fruit."

But the nights had changed.  He'd help her with William, tuck him in,
sing to him, then he'd lay beside her.  Not touching, only once
holding her, but his presence calmed her and made her feel safe, and
she hoped, hers did the same for him.

Walter's speech and swallowing had been affected by the injury, so
when he did try to speak, the words were difficult to form and came
out in a gaggish type slur.  She calmed him with a hand on his
forehead when this happened, like now.

"Ssh, Walter.  It's Dana.  I'm here sweetheart.  Stay still, you must
stay still."

That sounded ridiculous.  The man was almost tied to the bed.  He was
trying to communicate with her.

"Walter, you have a tube in your neck helping you breathe.  You cannot
speak very well.  Listen to me.  I want you to blink twice if you
understand me and once if you don't.  Do you understand me, Walter?"

Two blinks.

"Good.  You are in the hospital.  You were in a car crash?  Do you
remember?"

Two blinks.

"Are you in any pain?"

One blink.

"Do you know who I am?"

Two blinks.

Stupid, Dana.  You ask like you'd know if he were wrong.

"Am I Maggie?"

One blink and an effort at a smile.

"Am I Diana?"

No response.

"Am I Dana?"

Two blinks.

She smiled a smile all the way to here eyes, "Well, at least you're
straight about that."

Walter tried to speak again, this time, it sounded like Bark or Baby.

"William?  Are you asking about William?"

Two blinks.

"Will is fine.  He's at Mom's.  She's going to bring him to see you
later, ok?"

One blink.

"It's all right, sweetheart.  He'd been here twice all ready.  He's so
happy when he sees you.  Mom says he won't feed his seven p.m bottle.  
He needs to see you.  He misses you."

Two blinks.

Just then a nurse came in and smiled when she saw Walter with his eyes
open.

"Well, welcome back, Mr. Skinner.  I'm Nurse Garret.  How are you
feeling?"

"Numb," he answered in whistle type gurgle.

"It very hard for him to talk," said Dana.

"That will improve, Mrs. Skinner.  It all will.  Mr. Skinner, are you
in any pain?"

One blink.

"No, he's not in pain.  I think he wants to ask a question, but I'm
afraid he's choke if..."

"Well, let's let Dr. Currington, take a look.  He's the neurologist on
call. He'll see if there's a way for Walter to communicate with us."

Walter let out a moan and began blinking furiously.

"What is it, darling?  Are you in pain?"

One frustrated blink.

"I know you are confused, and you can't move or feel right now.  But
everything will be all right.  The doctor is coming and he'll help
you, I promise."

Walter seemed to settle with that and fell asleep again, while they
awaited the doctor.  He would have to be told soon, but she didn't
have the first clue had to do it.  She hoped his speech would be given
to him.  The muscles seemed to be working, but the tube was very
constricting.  Perhaps the doctor could fix it so he could speak.  
Other quadriplegics did, she'd seen it.  But until then, there was
nothing to do but wait.

The doctor came in an woke her husband.  She was then asked to leave
the room and join her mother who had since arrived.

"I don't know what to tell him, Mom.  What am I going to do?"

"Well, the first thing you are going to do, is move home with me."

"You'll need the help, with Will and Walter."

"I know.  It'll be like having two babies, only one is stubborn as an
ox."

"And you aren't daughter?"

"I didn't say that.  I don't want to impose on you, Mom."

"No imposition.  I need someone to fill up that empty house, and I
think you'll need your mother."

"I'll need someone, Mom.  I do need someone, and now, I can't have
that."

"He's with you, sweetie.  He's still here, with all of us."

"I'm not talking about Mulder, Mom, as much as I miss him."

"I know that.  But Walter's here.  His heart, his mind, his strength.  
Use that.  Lean on it.  Physically he's weakened, but a man like that,
nothing weakens his heart baby, nothing weakenes his heart."

Dana turned and sobbed into her mother's sweater.  The first release
of tension since Dr. Reed had given her the grim diagnosis.  She knew
her mother was right, but it hurt to see a strong, physical man,
knocked down by a drunked fourteen year old with his mother's car.

Walter could hear his wife's sobs through the slight crack in the
doorway.  He wanted to scream when he couldn't move, but the tube only
allowed him whispers at best. When she came back in, he'd tell her, he
was all right.  He'd lie, but, he'd allay her fears, and that was most
important of all.  The words, the horrible hurtful words, forgotten
now, were insignificant.  The only thing that mattered, was that Dana
didn't have to cry.

Part 7/?

Drs. Reed and Churrington kept Walter in the hospital for two weeks,
until they were sure that the superficial injuries he'd received in
the accident were completely healed.  He was still weak and had some
difficulty speaking, but that was steadily improving.  When it came
time to discharge him, both he and Dana argued over the next course of
action with the doctors.

"Mr. and Mrs. Skinner, please listen to reason.  Mrs. Skinner can't
handle the work by herself, not with a little baby.  Mr. Skinner, you
have a chance at recovering some movement if you work at it.  The
rehabilitation hospital will help you learn to be independent."

"I don' t think you've heard my husband.  He'll work on the therapy,
with me and his son, at our home.  You forget, I'm a doctor too."

"And you're too close to tell.  You're determination and dedication is
admirable, but, Dr. Churrington is the expert."

"Excuse me.  I know what you are all trying to do, but no one is an
expert in my body that way I am.  I know what those places are like
and I don't want any part of it.  These are facts, I'm paralyzed, and
there's nothing that is going to change that.  So let's stop arguing,
this is my decision, it's final, and I want to go home."

"Walter," Dana interjected, " There is hope for you.  The cervical
damage is not that significant.  You may regain the use of your hands,
sensation in your chest, and perhaps one day walk again, if you work
hard.  I understand that you don't want to be in a rehab hospital and
I'll accomodate that, but I won't let you lie around all day and give
up either."

"Dana, all I want to do now is go home.  Please, we'll talk about the
rest of this later."

"All right," she agreed.

Dana could tell how exhausted Waltet was and didn't want to push him
too hard at first.  The doctors capitulated because they knew with
their patient and his wife joined against them, they wouldn't get any
where.  So Dr. Reed signed the discharge papers and sent Walter
Skinner home.

Dana had turned down her mother's offer to move in with her, but
Maggie was at the apartment when she and Walter got home.  Maggie
tried to bite down her emotions when she saw him, the once tall strong
Walter Skinner, shoulders slumped, arms and legs flaccid, in a
wheelchair her daughter could barely move.

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

"I just thought I'd bring the baby by and fix things up so it would be
nice when you got home.  And anyway, someone was anxious to see his
Papa."

"Where's William?"

"He's in the playpen in the bedroom.  I'll get him."

"No, Maggie.  I'll go.  I need to get used to how this thing runs in
the house.  If he needs to be picked up I'll call you."

When Walter was in the bedroom, Maggie and Dana made lunch.

"He seems to be handling things well so far."

"Yeah, let's see how he does the rest of the day. When he realizes he
has to ask for everything. I love him, I really do and this is killing
him inside, Mom.  I almost wish that kid killed him.  Then I wouldn't
have to look at this."

Walter had seen the baby to sleep and was headed back to the kitchen
to talk to his wife and mother-in-law, and overheard the last part of
Dana's comment. Taking it out of context, the way so many of their
problems had started, he called to Dana.

"Dana, come here, please."

"I'm coming.  What is it, Walter?"

"I want to rest awhile.  Help me lie down."

"Don't you want lunch.  Mom heated some soup. I could bring..."

"No! I want to rest, now are you going to help me or aren't you?"

"Of course, I'll help you Walter."

Dana didn't know what caused the sudden change in Walter's mood, but
she knew that things like this would have to be expected until he
became accustomed to his situation.  Gently she helped him transfer
from his chair to the bed and kissed his head softly.

"We are going to get through this you know.  I promise you that."

Walter lie there and pretended not to hear her, and she left the
bedroom believing he was all ready asleep.

Part 8/?

A few weeks had passed since Dana had brought Walter home from the
hospital. Her mother had helped a great deal at first, but slowly they
settled into a sort of routine. Dana's medical training came in handy
in helping Walter get used to the more annoying aspects of his
condition and she had lost the last ten pounds of baby weight and
fifteen more besides, with all of the physical demands taking care of
Walter made on her.

Physically as well, he was improving. The remains of the bruising and
lacerations he'd received in the accident had faded completely and
some of the feeling although none of the motion was returning to his
hands and arms. It was his emotional well being that Dana feared for
and tried, but failed to help.

"Walter?" she called one morning almost a month after he'd come home,
" I need to go out and run some errands. Could you keep an eye on
William for me?"

"No, I don't think that's a good idea. Take him with you."

"Walter, come on now, you know I can't do that. He's still has that
little cold and I don't want it to get worse."

"You can't leave him here with me, what if he needs something?"

"You're right arm is working well enough now to see to his smaller
needs. I won't be gone too long, I promise."

"Can't your mother come over and watch him?"

"By the time Mom drives in from Baltimore, I could have left, finished
my errands and been back with time to spare. It's just for a little
while. I'll put all of his things on the low shelf in the kitchen so
you can reach it. He won't need anything by a juice any way. I'll
change him before I leave so he won't need new pants with any urgency.
I know that is still difficult for you."

Walter looked at Dana. Her once perfect figure now a bony shell of
what had been. She was a size 2 now, having lost thirty pounds since
the accident, he'd figure. She was right. The swelling in his upper
spine had decrease and his feeling was returing to his hands, right
more so than left, he could take care of Will for a few hours.

"All right, just don't take very long. I'm not able to do too much for
him."

"No, not yet. But look at how much things have improved since the
accident. I won't be more than an hour."

A few minuted later, Dana had moved all of the items her son could
possibly demand to a shelf where Walter could easily reach them, and
placed the baby in his Daddy's lap. Kissing them both, she left to
complete her tasks.

"Well," Walter said to the baby, "It's just you and me kid. What do
you want to do?"

William looked at him and giggled, then he lay his head to his chest,
letting out a little baby yawn.

"You want to sleep. Okay, Daddy'll tell you a story then. Once upon a
time in a faraway place, lived the beautiful Princess Dana. Princess
Dana could have anything she wanted in the whole kingdom, but she
chose to go and stand with the soldiers and fight the evil, nasty Earl
of Spender. Her partner in the fight was a kind, handsome man, Duke
Fox of Mulder, and the Duke would do anything to protect his princess.
Alas, the Duke and the Princess fell in love and made a beautiful baby
boy, Prince William.

Sadly, the Duke and the Princess did not live happily ever after. The
Duke was kidnapped by evil forces and summarily executed upon his
ransom, leaving the princess pregnant and alone.

The Duke and Princess did have one friend or ally of sort, the
Commander of the military, Sir Walter. And Sir Walter, who'd secretly
loved Princess Dana came and took care of her and the little Prince.
Her married her and wanted to protect his family for all of his days,
and they lived contentedly ever after.

If only things happened that way, little one. If only I could protect
your mother and you from all the evil in the world."

The phone rang just then and he hurriedly to grab it so it wouldn't
wake William.

"SKinner."

"Assistand Director Skinner, this is Detective Michel, DCPD. We're
sending an officer to you're home, you wife has collapsed in the
market."

Part 9/?

Less than an hour after the uniformed officers picked up Walter and
William, Walter was seated in the emergency waiting area of Georgetown
University Hospital.  Maggie had been called and was on her way.  
Will was in his carrier, napping, to Walter's relief, for he knew the
environment would be disturbing to the baby.

Lord, he knew this would happen!  Damn it! He should have been
prepared, he knew very well that Dana wasn't taking care of herself.  
He knew very well that she wasn't eating enough, wasn't sleeping
enough, but he didn't care about that.  Oh, no, he only cared about
himself and what his disability meant for him.  He never once
considered what is implied for Dana.  What kind of husband did that
make him?  What kind of father did it make him?  William needed his
mother and his selfishness had almost taken her away from him.  Hell,
maybe it really did, for so far, none of the nurses would answer his
pleas for answers.  Couldn't they see he was terribly worried about
his wife?

He took a long deep breath and let it out slowly in effort to calm his
frazzled nerves and instead found a ragged sob being released from his
chest. One worde had etched itself in his mind, fault.  This was his
fault.  Dana, his sweet, beautiful, loyal Dana was lying in a
hosptial, in God knows what condition, all because of him and his
foolish pride and self pity.  He could lose her now and she'd never
know how sorry he was or how much she meant to him.

He didn't know how long he sat there, shoulders slumped and convulsing
with sobs when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Walter?  Walter, did they tell you anything?  Is Dana going to be all
right?"

"I don't know, Maggie.  They won't tell me anything until the doctor
finished with her.  One nurse said something about radiology," he
answered his voice tearful and constricted.

"You were crying when I came in."

"It's so hard to sit and wait like this, especially when you know
everything that happened was your fault.  She's here because for
weeks, shit, for all of the months that we've been married I've cared
about nothing but what would benefit me.  I didn't put Dana or even
William first, I put myself first and this is inexcusable and that is
the reason we are sitting here right now."

"That's not true, Walter and you know it.  We are sitting here because
ever since the accident you were forced to think of what was right for
you, before anyone else, and Walter, giving everything that's
happened, there's nothing wrong with that.  Think about what would
have happened to Dana and William if you didn't step in and take over
when you did, and if you didn't take care of yourself, then what.  
The only thing you're guilty of is loving my daughter and grandson too
much, and that is no real sin."

Walter raised his head and looked directly at his mother-in-law, "I do
love her, Maggie, part of me always has in one way or another.  But I
can't be a husband to her, not in every sense of the word.  And if
this in any indication of my success so far, not in any sense of the
word.  Plus, there is the Mulder issue..."

"Walter, Dana loved Fox Mulder, probably from the moment she met
him,and true, he was William's natural father, but I've known my
daughter for 37 years and she's never once done anything against her
true heart.  She cares about you, Walter, why do you think she gave
you so much."

"Walter Skinner?  I'm looking for a Mr. Walter Skinner," the young
doctor announced.

"I'm Walter Skinner," he replied anxiously.

"Mr. Skinner, if you would come with me, I have some information about
your wife."

Maggie helped Walter manuver through the crowded waiting area, Will's
carrier on his lap, to the blocked off area the doctor had indicated.

"Mr. Skinner, Ms..."

"Mrs. Scully, she's my wife's mother."

"I'm Dr. Thornton, I'm the emergency room physician that treated and
examined your wife.  First of all I want to assure you that with
proper treatment, your wife will be fine.  She was severely dehydrated
when she was admitted, she is severly underweight, malnourished, and
anemic.  She is also exhibiting the classic signs of exhaustion and
has in her weakened state has contracted pneumonia.  She has a long
road ahead, but she will recover.  But for now I will not lie to you,
she is a very sick woman.

What I would like to talk about for a minute is how she got into this
condition.  Dana's weight is just above 80 lbs., she has all the
classic electrolyte and enzyme imbalances of someone suffering from
anoerxia."

"No," Walter stated firmly, "No, Dana eats fairly well, she never ate
much and with a baby and a disabled husband, she spends a lot of
calories I guess. She eats at odd hours and not the healthiest
food..."

"Mr. Skinner, this is just something I have to make you aware of.  
You know better than I about Dana's daily habits.  She needs a
balanced, regular diet, but right now she needs rest, IV vitamins, and
anitbiotics.  Sometimes when women and men, men too, are in the
situation that Dana is in, they may develop eating disorders or
sleeping disorder and we have to watch for that."

"Dr. Thornton, this whole situation is my fault.  I should have
realized Dana was well, that she wasn't taking care of herself, and I
didn't.  I'm sorry it had to come to this.  May I see my wife now?"

"Yes, for a few minutes, she's needs to rest and recover.  Mrs.
Scully, I would like for you to wait unti Mr. Skinner is done, then
you may see her for a few minutes.  I'd rather not excite Dana or
expose the baby to anything contagious."

Maggie nodded and follow the doctor out of his office to intensive
care where Dana was being treated given her weakened condition.

She looked horribly frail, with tubes and machines attached to her.
lying in the bed cocooned in heavy blankets she looked even thinner
and paler than before.  Walter wished he could hold her and protect
her from every horror in the world.  He hadn't done a very good job of
protecting her in the past, but that was going to change, as of this
very moment.

Dana's hand moved slightly to touch the back of his as she opened her
eyes to look at him, "Walt," she rasped weakly, "What happened?"

"You are you sick, Little One, you're in the hospital.  You need to
rest."

"I was so scared, Walter, I wanted you, but you wouldn't come."

"I'm here now, and I'm not going to leave you.  I'm going to take care
of you.  You don't have to be scared, darling."

Dana stroked his hand lightly savoring his nearness.  He was so good
with Will when he cried at night, singing that lullabye his mother
sang to him, all of a sudden she had a desire to hear that song again.

"Walt, will you sing to me?" she almost pleaded.

"I'm not much of a singer Dana."

"The song you sing to Will, please."

At least he could do this for her.  She wa frail and scared and if
singing the old lullabye would calm her, then he would do it.

Dana savored the sound of his voice, easily pronouncing the foreign
words and the touch of his hand, unsteady, but calming and soothing.  
She loved this man and at this moment she believed he could maybe love
her too.  She held that belief as she allowed his voice to lull her to
sleep.

Walt felt Dana's had relax it's grip on his, and so Walt withdrew his
and lifted her wrist to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on the tender
flesh.

"I love you, Little One, and things are going to get better.  I'm
going to be better.  I swear, I'm going to work hard and I'm going to
walk again and then, then, my darling Dana, we'll have our new
beginning I swear this on my life."

Part 10/?

***************************************************

For the first three days that Dana was in the hospital, Walter was at
her side almost every minute, unless the doctors asked him to leave or
he had to feed William.  She looked so small and frail in that
hospital bed, he couldn't bear the thought of leaving her alone.  
Now, she was down in radiology having another chest X-ray and he'd
been told to relax and get some coffee, it would be a while.

Maggie had joined him in the cafeteria, a sleeping William in his
stroller.  This was the kind of opportunity he'd been waiting for; a
few minutes alone with his mother-in-law without Dana or he doctors in
earshot.

"Maggie, while I've been sitting in with Dana these past few days,
she's been sleeping a lot and I've been thinking a lot.  I've made a
few decisions I want you to be aware of.  This is not up for
discussion, I just wanted you to know what I've decided."

"This sounds very serious, Walter.  Just, before you tell me what's on
your mind, let me remind you of how much my daughter needs you and
relies on you."

"I know, Maggie, and that's why I'm doing what I'm doing.  I know how
much Dana needs someone strong, and I also know how completely she'll
deny it.  I know that , and no matter what you say or believe, I was
not that for her in the past few months, and that is going to change."

"Oh, but Walter, you have been strong for her for so long.  I know you
suffered a great loss, too, when Fox was taken, but you were there for
Dana.  I know you grieved when they found him dead,but you put that
aside and were there for Dana.  You were the reason that Fox was
discovered alive in that grave and as I understand it, you were
instrumental in his recovery from that virus.  Again, you came through
for Dana.

And after Fox was killed in that car crash, you never hesitated to
step in and provide for Dana and William.  What happened to you,
Walter, was an accident.  A terrible, tragic accident.  You didn't ask
for it, you didn't even cause it, you are lucky to still be alive.  
Dana told me why you were out driving that night, that you and she had
decided on a one month separation.  Imagine what would have happened
to her if she'd lost you.  You are her strength, its because of you
that she can take it all in her stride, andI think sometimes you
always were, even when Fox was alive.  He leaned on Dana, and whether
she knew it or not, she leaned on you.

Losing you would be her undoing, I know it, if the pain didn't do her
in, the guilt would.  Physically, strong or not, Walter, you are where
Dana gets her strength.  For years, I thought it was from Fox, now I
realize, it's from you.  When your injuries affected you emotionally,
as well as physically, that's whnit all came apart for her."

"Maggie, I realize that, I realize that when I stopped trying, Dana,
she stopped hoping.  She believed I'd recover after the surgery,
absolutely believed it, and something in her a little bit of faith
died when that didn't happen.  She needs to get that back, Maggie, she
needs to get her hope back, she needs to get her faith back.  And I
think I have a means to that end."

"Oh, Walter, please.  You can't do this.  She can't take it."

"She's not going to be involved, Maggie.  This is something I'm going
to do on my own. I'm an unnecessary burden to her, Maggie.  An
unnecessary stressor she's supposed to avoid, and as he husband it's
my responsibility to see it removed."

"But think about what it will do to her and the baby."

"If it doesn't work, there may be some adverse effects, but that's why
I don't want Dana to know."

"Walter, I think she's going to notice you're..."

"Maggie, please.  I've really given this a lot of consideration.  I'm
not Mulder.  I'm not going to go leaping off the deep end without
testing the water, excuse the expression.  I've researched it,
considered it, and I know there's a way to do this without Dana being
privy to it unitl it's all said and done."

"Walter, I can't help but think this course of action is a little
extreme, and I'm asking you, please, don't abandon my daughter, don't
do it!  I'm begging you!"

Walter gaped at Maggie astounded.  All this time he'd been talking
about making changes, taking responsibility, creating a better
situation for Dana and William, and she thought he meant to do that by
leaving Dana on her own.  Now, his mother-in-law sat before him, tears
welling in her eyes, begging him not cause her baby more pain.

Walter reached with his hand and covered Maggie's trembling one.  He
searched out her eyes and looked directly into them.

"Maggie, I'm not leaving Dana.  I'm not divorcing her and I'm not,
before you make that leap, contemplating suicide.  I should leave her,
I should, because she has enough problems without me adding to it.  I
love her too much to live without her. That's why I've decided that
things in the Skinner household have to change, and one way that I'm
going to do that is by walking again, or at least trying to.

After the surgery, I worked with my arms, now I have almost full use
of them. I can dothe same with my legs and with you helping me, by
watching Will, I may be able to dothat by our first anniversary."

"Walter, that's only four months away," she pointed out.

"I can do it, Maggie," he stated firmly.

"I believe you can," she told him, "and I will help you."

"There's more to this idea.  I want to throw her a real anniversary
party and I'm going to pledge my love for her there and marry her all
over again. This pary is going to need a mom's touch.  Well, what do
you think."

"I think that this is one of the most foolhardy, ill conceived plans
I've ever heard of, Fox has come up with things more possible, but I
love it.  It's going to be very hard and it may not work, but able to
walk again or not, this anniversary celebration will give her what she
needs.  It'll show her you love her like she loves you, and I love you
for it."

Maggie moved in and embraced he son-in-law, he mother's heart elated
with joy at the love her daughter finally found.

Part 11/?

Dana had to stay in the hosptial for another week before her doctors
thought she'd regained enough of her strength to go home, but she was
told that she had to remain in bed for at least another week after
that. While in the hospital she'd gained about five pounds, but to the
critical eyes of her mother and Walter, she was still dangerously thin
and pale.

Walter and her mother came to pick her up and the first thing she
noticed was how haggard Walter looked. She knew he'd been there with
her almost every minute the first week she was in the hospital, and
from the moment visiting hours began until the moment they ended the
rest of the time, but still he was relaxing most the time there,
especially the first few days when she did nothing but sleep. She
would address this exhausted look he had as soon as they got settled
at home.

Walter helped Dana move her things into their room, mainly by placing
her suitcase and other belongings on his lap and putting in the
appropriate drawers. Then he made sure she was comfortable in bed and
that she had everything she needed.

"Yes, I'm comfortable, Walter. Walt, I'm worried about you. You look
so tired."

"I'm fine, Dana. I'm just realizing how close a call this actually
was.

Part 12/?

Walter lay in bed, his wife sleeping next to him.  He spent most of
his nights like this now, laying next to Dana, watching the slow rise
and fall of her chest as she slept in peaceful oblivion.  It was
nearly impossible for him to sleep now, the therapy awakening all of
the deadened nerves in his legs and back.  He could feel the burning
and tingling constantly, but that wasn't the worse part, the worse
part was the cramps.  The muscle spasms that brought tears to his eyes
and perspiration to his brow.  And he couldn't share his pain with
Dana, he never could, not his emotional pain anyway, but this was
physical pain and maybe just maybe her touch, which he cherished could
ease it somewhat.

Walter studied his wife's sleeping form intently. Her hair was splayed
across the pillow, the sunset hues a beautiful contrast against the
white pillowcase.  She was breathing easily and deeply, totally at
peace with the world.  When she was asleep, the lines of grief and
fatigue disappear and she looked young and vital, so much like the
Dana Scully of old, so much like the woman he first fell in love with
so many years ago when she told him she believed he underestimated his
position in the chain of command.  No one had ever been that bold, not
even Mulder and he had been bold in his time.  That spunk, that
spirit, that's what made him love her, and that's what her grief and
anguish over Mulder's abduction and then their present situation had
killed.  Walter had vowed to himself to restore that fire, but if his
plan didn't work, if the party still didn't clear the air and reassure
her of his love for her then he would set her free of the burden of a
marriage of convenience.

Walter didn't know how long he lay there in the dark until he dozed
slightly only to be awakened by his wife's now labored breathing and
incoherent murmurs.  He could only hear one utterance clearly, his
name being cried and sobbed out desperately.

"Walter, Walter, no, please, don't leave me alone.  Do let them hurt
me, Walter.  You can ... you can save, no please, Walter!  Walter!"

"Dana!" he shouted at her to free her from the terror that now gripped
her mind. "Come on, Dana. Wake up.  It's a dream, it's just a dream."

"Oh, Walter," she sighed meeting his eyes, "it was awful.  You were,
and the men, they, Oh, God."

"Ssh, it's all right, little one, " he soothed, "I wouldn't let anyone
hurt you.  Even if I only have half a body that functions, I would do
everything in my power, Dana.  You know that don't you?"

"You couldn't help me Walter, that was the point.  Krycek, he, the
nanocytes, you were gone, I'd lost you."

"Oh, honey, Krycek is dead.  He can't hurt me with the nanocytes
anymore.  He's gone, Dana."

She seemed to settle with the reassurance that Alex Krycek couldn't
hurt them anymore, but she was still shuddering with fear.

"Come now, lie down next to me.  I'll hold you if you want me to."

She sighed and nodded, then she saw it.  The veins in his legs were
somewhat engorged and his muscles were knotted. There were also
bruises on his chest and some on his arms.

"Walter, oh, God.  What happened to you?"

"Think fast Walter,"  He commanded himself.

"Oh, yesterday while you were at work, I had a little accident.  I
wasn't completely transferred into that chair and it slipped away from
me."

"That doesn't explained why the veins in your legs are so enlarged.  
Walter, have you been..."

Suddenly he was overtaken by such fierce muscle spasm that he couldn't
fight the grimace or bite back the scream of near torture.

"Ohh," he moaned in shear agony. Dana anxiously searched his face for
some explanation, but all she saw were contorted lines of pain, his
mouth worked into a grimace, tears falling from his eyes.  His hands
were reaching out to her, seeking the softness and comfort of her
touch.  He's dreamed about this. If only he didn't have to worry her,
if only he could tell her the true reason for his pain.

"It's my legs, honey.  Cramps, I guess I should exercise them better,
but I only use them when I have to."

"Is there something I can do?  You're in agony, Walt, I can feel it."

"Make the pain stop, Dana.  And there's no way to do that."

"I think there is.  Can you roll over and relax for me.  I'll be right
back."

Her own nightmares forgotten, Dana hurried to the bathroom and wet too
large towels with warm water.  Then she returned to her husband's side
and bathed his legs with the warm compresses.

When he seemed to relax a little bit, she placed one small hand one
either side of his right calf and began to massage to tense, spasmed
muscles. Her husband let out a moan half of pain, half of pleasure.  
When the right leg had been tenderized to her satisfaction she bather
his left leg in warm water and massage that one as well.

"Dana," he moaned as she completely her task, "Dana, I..."

Then he turned over and she saw what he had been trying to tell her.  
She had turned him on with her delicate, therapeutic massage, and now,
he was going to call her on it.

She didn't know if she would be able to make love with him, not like
she had with Fox, but oh, she wanted to, just once let him love her
body if he couldn't love her soul.

"Walt..." was all he allowed her to say before his lips were on hers
like liquid fire, pouring emotion, desire and pent up lust into his
kiss.  She'd never been kissed like that before, never burned so much
from one little kiss.  Suddenly, his arms were around her pulling her
down and his hands roamed freely over her body.  She was beautiful was
his only coherent thought and he told her as much in a breathy whisper
as he moved his mouth to the delicate spot behind her ear.

It didn't take long before Dana began to reciprocate his attentions.  
A kiss here and nip there.  He was a wonderful lover, slow and gentle,
just the way she liked it.

His large body covered hers and his mouth, his soft eager mouth worked
its way from her lips to her throat to the valley between her breasts.  
He looked up at her face and searched her eyes for permission.  He saw
it there, along with her deep desire and trust for him.

With her unspoken consent, Walter turned his attention to her right
breast.  He cupped it in his large hand, perfect, just a handful, the
way he liked it.
 Slowly he bent his head and drew the rose bud nipple into his mouth.
He nipped and sucked the tiny point until his wife arched back and
cried out in pleasure.  When she did so, he abandon her right breast
and started his assault on her left.

"Oh, Walter," she moaned, so huskily she couldn't recognize her own
voice, "Yes, oh, more, please, Walt I..."

"Hush, little one, I'll take care of you.  Tell me what you want," he
whispered.

"You.  I want you, Walter now."

"Oh, you'll have me.  When you're ready."

"I'm ready now," she half purred, half whined.

"I'll be the judge of that," he told her, moving his hand down her
body to her most private most feminine area and placing a finger
inside.  She was tight, very tight, he hoped he didn't hurt her.

Once again, his lips claimed her, but this time, he withdrew his hands
and used his upper body strength to position himself fully between her
open thighs and thrust into her.

She cried out at the feel of his hot, silky flesh spreading apart her
femininity.  Tears came to her eyes as the relief of long suppressed
desire overcame her.  She let out a small sob and as soon as Walter
heard it, he froze.

"Dana, did I hurt you. I'm so sorry baby."

"No, Walter, it's wonderful. I've never felt anything so wonderful.  
Make love to me, Walter."

As encouragement she lifted her hips delicately and joined him a
lover's rhythm of slow gentle thrusts.

When they lay spent, still entwined in each others arms, that last
thing she heard Walter say was, "You're mine, now, Dana.  Mine
forever."

Part 13/13

Dana awoke slowly the next morning and rolled over.  The bed beside
her was empty and judging from the temperature of the sheets, it had
been for quite some time.  Last night with Walter had been so
wonderful, his love making gentle and slow and fulfilling, so why did
she feel that this was a big mistake?

Dana descended the stairs and was greeted by the sound of Isabella and
Walter talking and the smell of coffee brewing.  Walter was seated in
his wheelchair, but he looked relaxed.  She still hated to look at him
in that chair, it gave the illusion of weakness, made him seem old and
sick, but that was not Walter at all.  He was vibrant and healthy,
only a cruel twist of fate landed him in that chair.

"Good morning, Walter. Isabella," she said cheerfully.

"Good morning, Dana," Walter said, carefully, searching her face for
some silent communication, "Um, Isabella, would you excuse Mrs.
Skinner and myself for a few minutes.  I'll help you with that box of
stuff later.  It needs to be sorted.  Thanks."

Isabella left and Walter invited Dana to sit beside him.  He turned to
her, his eyes held a serious look.

"Dana, last night was wonderful.  I've never felt quite like that
before, I mean, you gave me so much and I wanted to say, while I
enjoyed it and liked being with you like that, well, honestly last
night was a major mistake.  I shouldn't have happened, not like that.  
I took advantage of you in your emotional state, you had a nightmare
you were upset..."

"You didn't take advantage of me, Walter.  If anything, I took
advantage of you.  You were in pain and you needed something,
someone..."

"No!" he almost shouted.  Scully stared at him.  "Dana, if I had
wanted something for the pain, I would have taken some aspirin. I
wanted it, but I didn't need it... So that's what it was to you, huh?
Sympathy sex..."

Skinner was interrupted as Scully turned to face him angrily.

"No!  I love you Walter, with all of my heart. But if that's how you
feel.  It's obvious that you don't feel the same way."

"No. That's not true. You could never love me with all of you heart
because you heart still belongs to Mulder!" Skinners voice had risen
suddenly.

"I may still have feelings for Mulder, but that is because he is the
father of my child!" Scully's voice too had risen to match Skinner's.

"Our child, Dana! Our child! Mulder is dead. Face the facts! You're
living in the past! You need to move on!" shouted Skinner.

To her horror, Scully found her eyes watering as the memory of Mulder
flooded her mind. He was right. She still did have feelings for him,
and then she saw red.

"How dare you tell me how to live my life!" In the distance she heard
William start to cry. "You have NO idea what I went through while
Mulder was missing!  Now I understand why your first wife left you!
You're a stubborn, pompous son of a bitch!" She drew in a sharp breath
of air as Skinner grabbed her arm and pulled her around and promptly
slapped her in the face. She threw her head around and stared at him
coldly.

"Get out of my house. Get out!" Skinner furiously wheeled himself to
the door and threw it open. He stared at her for a moment and then
turned away.

Scully slowly slid down the refrigerator and dissolved into tears. Her
shoulders shook as she contemplated what had just taken place.

Walter sat near the doorway and watched his wife sink away from him
and cry her heart out. Someone had to answer his son cries, and it was
obvious his mother wasn't going to. She was too distraught. He closed
the door and went to the babies room and lifted him out of the crib.

The child was scared. The shouting, his shouting had terrified his
son.

"It's okay, little guy. Daddy's sorry. Daddy doesn't mean to yell. I
didn't want to scare you and I didn't want to hurt your mother. You
have to believe that. I hit her, William. I hit her," his voice was
cracking as he held the baby, who had since settled in the arms of the
only father he knew.


Walter buried his head in the baby's soft hair and let his anguish
poor out.  He could still hear Dana crying downstairs. She was
wailing, high pitched, pitiful wailing. Had he hurt her that much
physically?  He could pack a pretty powerful punch even when he wasn't
trying to and he had been trying to hurt he as much as she hurt him
with lying, telling him she loved him.

Dana stopped at door way when she saw how he was holding the baby. His
shoulders were shaking, Was he crying?  What right did he have to cry?  
He started to speak to the baby again, as she listened.

"I never thought she could love me. You're dad, your birth father,
he's so handsome and vibrant and young. And me, well, I'm older and
not that handsome, bald, and now look at me. I'm a cripple, what am I
kidding myself?  I'm not going to walk again no matter how much work I
put into it. I might as well accept it. A woman like your Mom, she
could have anyone. I was the logical choice, but, William, I can't
give what I could then. I'm a cripple, plain and simple. She doesn't
need that. And she sure as hell doesn't need a cripple who'll hit her
and hurt her and make her cry.  She's cried enough. I've never hit a
woman in my life, and now, I go a do it to the one that's meant the
most in my life. I'm not only a cripple, I must be the stupidest son
of a bitch alive."

The child he held gaze at him with large questioning eyes, and then
the baby smiled.  He smiled as if to say, "It's all going to be all
right."

Dana entered the nursery at this point and took her son from Walter's
arm.

"If you want us to leave, we'll pack our things and be on our way.  I
didn't mean to hurt you and I didn't lie when I said I loved you.  I
did, I do.  I still love Mulder, part of me will always love him for
what we shared and what he given me, but he is gone and I have to move
on with my life.  I tried to do that, to show that I was trying, but
obviously I failed, so, we'll pack our things and go to my mom's."

"Dana,"  he said in a voice so filled with hurt that she could help
but forgive him, at the sound of it, "I never should have doubted
that.  I do understand how hard it is for you, and I should have been
more understanding. It's just, and oh God, sweetheart, I never should
have hit you.  I would break the neck of any bastard who dared to hit
a woman and now I'm the bastard.  I love you, Dana, so much, and the
idea of you still not sharing that feeling after last night, it hurt
me and I wanted to and this is no excuse and I'm sorry..."

"There's nothing to be sorry about.  It really didn't hurt that much.  
What hurt was that you didn't believe me.  We have a lot to talk
about, a lot to work out, but I think that this thing with us, now
that we both know how much love there is in the relationship will turn
out to be something really good.  I love you, Assistant Director
Skinner."

"And I love you, Dr. Skinner.  And you too, little Skinner."

Dana sat on Walter's lap with William still in her arms and the little
family shared what would prove to be the first of many family hugs.

THE END

Note: There will be an epilougue and a sequel.  The only hint is it
involves Mulder.

The Empty Bed Epilouge

Walter Skinner was on edge, actually he was petrified.  Petrified that
his new found love with Dana would be destroyed if this damned
anniversary party didn't work out well.  She was still resisting him
at every turn, she didn't feel like going to the FBI fundraiser and
she didn't think he was "up to it." He'd tried to tell her that the
doctor told him at his last visit that soon he would be allowed back
to the office on a full time basis, even if it was light duty, and
that he had to get back into the swing of things.  She'd finally
capitulated, but he could tell she was not thrilled.

"Dana, honey, time to go get your hair done.  I want my best girl to
look beautiful tonight."

"I thought I was beautiful every night," she teased him smiling.  
Ever since that awful fight they'd had a few weeks ago, he'd been a
changed man, so attentive and loving.  He'd stopped feeling sorry for
himself, he'd stopped not sharing his feelings, he's opened up and
allowed her to love him, and more importantly he allowed himself to
love her.

"You are, but tonight is extra special.  This is the first time I'm
going to get to show you off at a bureau gathering, in that green silk
gown with you hair all swept up, I've dreamed of you like that."

"Walter you can be really romantic when you want to be.  All right,
I'm off.  Will, you be a good boy for Daddy, ok," she instructed.

"Da..." the baby babbled and toddled over to Walter.

"He'll be a good boy, You go and enjoy your hair appointment.  It's
few and far between for you I realize."

Dana left and Walter let out a sigh of relief before dialing his
mother-in-law's cell phone.

"Hello," Maggie answered.

"Hi, Maggie.  It's Walter.  I finally got her out of the house.  How
are things going over there?"

"I confirmed everything with Father McHugh and the band is setting up.  They 
sound terrific."

"And your sons, when will they get here?"

"Bill and Charlie will be getting in around five.  We're ready for you and 
Dana at seven.  I'm going to come and get William by six."

"Everything sounds like it's going to work out well, I'm just not sure."

"Is something wrong?  Isabella said you're walking and moving as well as 
anyone could after an ordeal like yours."

"Well, part of me is always afraid I'll trup and lose my balance, but I'm 
more nervous that Dana will be angry when she finds out this is not a bureau 
fundraiser."

"She'll be thrilled.  She loves you very, very much you know."

"I know.  Well, I have a little boy getting very anxious here, so I have to 
go.  I'll see you tonight.   She went to the beauty parlor to get her hair 
done."

"Dana did?"

"I sort of forced the issue, but she went.  I want her to feel perfect and I 
know she likes the way she looks with her hair up."

"You're good for her, Walter.  You treat her like a lady, only you don't let 
her know it."

"Thanks, Maggie.  I'll see you at six.  Good bye."

Walter hung up with his mother-in-law and turned to tend to his son.  The boy 
was the picture of Dana, with reddish blonde hair and expressive blue eyes.  
He was a beautiful child.  Recently though, Walter had started thinking about 
his own son or daugher and what that child would be like.  The best parts of 
him and Dana. He felt guilty about it, but the thought was forever present in 
his mind, while he loved this boy like his own, he was not his child.  He 
belonged to Mulder, and parts of Mulder would always be evident in the child.

"Dada eet..." the baby babbled.

Walter laughed and picked him up and hugged him, "Okay, little man, Daddy 
will get you something to eat.  You want some noodles.  Mommy wouldn't 
approve of that, but Mommy's not here."

Walter reheated some of the pasta from the day before and gave it to William. 
 The baby had a terrific appetite but her always ended up smearing half of 
what he was eating all over any object that would stand still, and as Walter 
and his shirt found out, some that wouldn't.

By the time Dana got home, he hair swept up into a perfect twist, he had 
William cleaned up and the kitchen almost spotless.  She loved that about 
him, he was so neat and considerate, not at all like Mulder.  There was only 
one thing that was bothering her, the date.  He hadn't even made reference to 
the fact that they had been married one year today, and she had to admit that 
hurt a little bit.

"Oh, thanks for feeding him, Walter.  When is my Mom coming to get him?"

"Around six, that'll give us plenty of time to get to the party.  Now, could 
you keep and eye on the little guy while I take a shower?"

"Of course, need any help?"

"No, Isabella showed me a little trick.  I'll be fine.  I love you, Dana."

Dana set about putting on her make up while he husband showered and her son 
slept.  She selected a pale colored foundation to emphasise her hair and a 
reddish colored lipstick that almost matched it.  Her eyes, she highlighted 
with a pink colored eye shadow and a lash lengthening mascara.  She looked 
beautiful, she felt beautiful, worthy of the love and attention of her 
handsome Assistant Director.

Walter came out of the shower and Dana helped him change into his tuxedo.  By 
the time she had done that and finished her make up, he mother was there to 
get William.

"Are you sure this isn't an inconvience, Mom.  Walter and I could get 
Isabella to watch him."

"Nonsense, I don't get to spend enough time with my grandson.  Come on, Will, 
let's go have some fun at Nana's house.  Want to?"

The baby loved his grandmother and smiled when took him, "Na Na," he greeted 
with a toothy grin.

"Ok, you two kids have fun and I'll have him back to you in the morning."

Maggie and the baby left and Dana went upstairs to put on her gown.  It was a 
floor length gown with a plunging neck line, leaving just the right amount to 
the imagination.  She had a small emerald nestled between her breast, 
matching earrings in her ears.  The dress accentuated just the right lines in 
her figure and that made Walter's mouth water.  She looked like a real Irish 
colleen in that gown.

"Oh, Dana," he breathed, "You are going to be the belle of the ball tonight." 
 

"And you the handsome prince.  Let's go we'll be late."

Dana helped Walter into the car and drove to the DC ballroom where the 
fundraiser was being held.  She didn't seen many people from the bureau 
there,but it was a five hour event and most were working. What she saw when 
she entered caught her by surprise.

Her mother, brothers, and Father McHugh were at the door and the room was 
filled with her friends and extened family.  A banner was stretched along the 
far wall the read Happy Anniversary Dana and Walter.

"Walter, I..."

"Maggie, why don't you and Dana have a seat.  I'd like to say a few words to 
our guests." 

Walter wheeled himself to the front near Isabella who was holding his
cane for him.  He still needed it to support his weakened left leg.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have you attention please.  I would like
to thank you all for comine to celebrate with Dana and me.  As you all
know, although my lovely wife does not, this is a time when we are
going to renew our marriage vows.  Dana, Isabella, your mother, and I
have been working on this for a long time on this.  I knew how hard it
was for you to live with me in the chair, I was unbearable and rude,
and I hurt you.  I'm sorry.  So, Dana, we worked very hard to put this
together for you, because we love you very much.  Father, if you would
please come up to the front and Dana stand next to him.  Isabella?"

Father McHugh stood next to Dana about twenty feet away from Walter.  
She was about to go to her husband when Father placed a restraining
hand on her arm.

Slowly, leaning heavily on is cane, Walter rose from his chair.  Dana
gasped aloud as he slowly but steadily walked toward her.  It took him
about five minutes and his step was slow and awkward, but he reached
her, rose to his full height and held her close.

"Dana Scully, will you marry me, again?"

"Yes, I love you, Walter," she said, her voice choked with tears.

Father McHugh married them right there in the center of a D.C.
ballroom.  Walter had purchased a beautiful ring of emeralds and
diamonds for Dana to wear.  She didn't even hear father pronouce them
husband and wife, but she knew that he must have given Walter the go
ahead to kiss her because she felt him pull her close and plant a
sweet chaste, yet loving kiss on her mouth.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the band leader was saying, "This song was
requested by Walter Skinner and dedicated to his wife, Dana.  No
matter where we are, no matter where, we've been, my home is with
you."

Walter placed his arm around Dana's waist and leaned on his cane with
his left.  She placed both of her arms around his neck and they began
to sway to the strains of Billy's Joel's "You're My Home."

When the song ended, Walter kissed Dana again and she helped him to
the table where her mother and brothers sat. He was tired, she knew
it, his gait was becoming more unsteady. But he was smiling as she
was.

This the one year anniversary of their grim wedding, was turning out
to be the happiest day of her life.  It was the first day of the rest
of her life, a life she knew she would spend smiling.

Lyrics to "You're My Home"

When you look into my eyes and you see the crazy gypsy in my soul 
It always comes as a surprise when I feel my withered roots begin to grow.
Well I never had a place that I could call my very own
But that's all right my love cuz you're my home.

 When you touch my weary head and you tell me everything will be all right.
 You say use my body for your bed
 and my love will keep you warm throughout the night. 
Well I'll never be a stranger and I'll never be alone
 Wherever we're together that's my home. 
Home could be the Pennsylvania turnpike 
Indiana's early morning dew 
High up in the hills of California home is just another word for you.

 Well I never had a place that I could call my very own 
But that's all right my love cuz you're my home. 

If I travel all my life and I never get stop and settle down
 Long as I have you by my side there's a roof above and good walls all 
around. You're my castle, you're my cabin and my instant pleasure dome. 
I need you in my house cuz you're my home,.. you're my home.