From: Cathey Date: 13 Jan 2002 06:50:14 -0800 Subject: [all-xf] REPOST: The Husband 1/1 by Cathey Scully Hey, um, I got told I should probably change the rating on this from PG to at least PG-13, so before it gets archived, I wanted to repost it. Sorry for all inconveniences. Title: The Husband Author: Cathey Scully Rating: PG-13, maybe an R for language. Category: MSR, S, a little A, Missing scenes for Empedocles Keywords: Mulder/Scully Romance Spoilers: Empedocles Summary: Mulder's thoughts about not being 'the husband.' Archive: If you'd like. Just tell me where so Mulder and I can visit. Feedback: Please! Even a small note is appreciated. CatheyScully@the-pentagon.com or Scully@ga.prestige.net Disclaimer: Mulder and Scully aren't mine, I'm just messin' with their lives for minimal amusement purposes. Thanks: To the school board for giving us a two-week vacation, and South for doing block scheduling so I don't have any homework! ~ * ~ The husband. Am I the husband? No, I'm not her husband, but I might as well be. I'm damn near close enough. I've been with her for almost nine years. I've loved her for almost nine years. I've knocked her up for god's sake, but I can't see her or be with her, because I'm not her fucking husband. The nurse who handled Scully's admittance is on duty, so I can't even sneak in to see her. And of course they won't tell me anything, because I'm not fucking family. Well, I am to one of them. I'm the baby's father dammit. I just can't tell anyone. Scully thinks I still don't know, and from now until she starts maternity leave, it's a secret we both need to keep. Scully was happy to see me earlier when I showed up unannounced at her apartment. She even smiled at my teasing about a possible affair with the pizza man. She really seemed like she wanted me around. I wanted, no I want to be around. I want to be around, even if it means buying her pizzas at hideously high prices. Finally! Shift change. Nurse Uberbitch shuffled off and I seized the opportunity, taking off in a sprint to get into Scully's room. She was asleep with one of those things over her nose to help her breathe, an IV, and that thing on her finger to monitor her heart rate. Okay, so I'm not a genius when it comes to medical machinery, despite my amazing ability to end up as the only guy who knows more nurses names because of hospital stays than because he's a charmer. Scully's hand is wrapped around her belly, our child, protectively. I tried to be as quiet as I could, kneeling down beside her bed and gazing up at her. I don't know how long I stayed like that before my cell phone rang. Agent Reyes, some agent who said she was around when they found me, wanted me to go back to the bureau and look at more files concerning Luke Doggett, Agent Doggett's son. I stood, knees popping, and placed a gentle kiss on Scully's forehead, hoping that even in sleep she knew I was there. "I'll be back, Scully." "Who are you?" A voice demanded. I spun around to see another nurse glaring at me. "Visiting hours are over young man. Unless you're family, I can't let you stay." Suddenly a thought struck me. "Next of kin," I murmur, wondering why the other nurse didn't check. "You don't look like a Margaret Scully." My head whipped around. Scully had taken me off as her next of kin. Must have happened when I was dead. Just another slap in the face reminder of how the world had changed while I was gone. Numbly, I nodded and lifted Scully's hand, kissing it gently. I placed her hand back on her stomach and left the room. Once outside I stopped and closed my eyes resting my head against the wall, trying to control the sudden onslaught of emotions I felt. * * * Two hours later I made my way back into the ICU and managed to sneak back into Scully's hospital room. This time, however, she was awake and greeted me warmly. I asked if everything was okay, and she told me what happened. A partial abruption. That meant she and the baby could have died. As she finished speaking I surprised her and myself by gently settling my hand on her abdomen. She beamed at me, and I can't help but wonder. What am I? I'm not the husband; I'm not technically her partner. So what the hell am I to her? I feel slight movement from within and I smile. My thoughts were broken when she asked where I'd been and I told her everything. I settled into a chair beside her bed and took her offered hand, bringing it to my lips. We sat like that until the nurse from earlier entered. "Honey, what did I tell you earlier? Only immediate family is allowed until the doctor says otherwise." With a bent head I stood and moved to pull away from Scully when she tightened her grip on my hand. I grinned as she spoke softly, but firmly. "He is family. He stays." When we were settled again, I couldn't help but tease her. Call it my way of thanking her for not letting the nurse kick me out. "Why Agent Scully, I do think you might be fond of me." She smiled around a yawn. "Yeah, I'm fond of you." She paused for effect. "Even more than the pizza man." I let out a bark of a laugh and kissed her hand gently. I made her smile when I placed her palm against my cheek. I could tell she was fighting sleep, and so I brushed some hair away from her temple and pressed a kiss there. "I'm sorry they gave you so much trouble about seeing us. I forgot to fix my charts since you got back." I smiled, loving how she made it sound like I'd been away on assignment, not dead for 4 months. "I know." I leaned over and kissed her lips softly. "Sleep now Scully." I whispered squeezing her hand. She squeezed back and settled in to sleep. I waited until she was breathing evenly to leave her room and go to the bathroom. When I returned, I found Doggett standing in the middle of her room, staring at Scully. "Agent Doggett." I hissed, making him turn around looking guilty at being caught. He's in love with Scully. It's as plain as day, and I don't know how she doesn't notice. Or if she does, she doesn't let on. When I first realized it, I was ready to deck him, but right now I just don't want him to wake Scully. We went out into the hall, with me guarding Scully's door fiercely. I explained that I didn't want him to wake Scully and Doggett and I spoke about the case in low tones. He knows that I know about his feelings for Scully. His very demeanor said as much. When our conversation was finished, Doggett went about his way, and I returned to my partner. As I watched Scully's chest rise and fall with each breath she took, I thought about something else. True I'm not her husband. True, I haven't even been a really decent guy to her lately, but I love her. And I know she loves me. And with that knowledge I kissed her lips gently. Neither of us are alone. We haven't been that way for a very long time. End... god that was sappy...kill me now...