From: miranda119@juno.com (M K P)
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 22:39:38 -0500
Subject: I Owe You Everything  by Miranda

Title - I Owe You Everything
Author - Miranda 
E-mail - miranda119@juno.com
Rating - G
Category - V
Spoilers - X-Files Movie
Keywords - Mulder/Scully friendship, UST
Summary - Mulder and Scully are back from the Antarctic, and it's time to
recuperate.  Occurs between the crater scene and the hearing...oh, just
read it! 
Disclaimer - You know the drill. They ain't mine. They're Chris'.  But
he's nice enough to share.

Notes - I just want to make it clear that I did not write the NC-17 story
that has my name attached to it, and whoever that author was, I would
appreciate it if you would distinguish yourself from me somehow if you
plan to write any more stories.  Thank you.

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

Fox Mulder opened his eyes slowly, almost surprised to see the peaceful
quiet of his apartment.  He involuntarily shivered, bringing a blanket he
couldn't remember putting over his body closer to his chin.  He took a
deep breath.  It was good to be in a warm apartment.  The last clear
memory he had was the vision of the spaceship hovering over their head as
he and Scully lay against the Antarctic ice.  After that, everything was
hazy.  He could remember feeling her arms around him, pressing her mouth
against his temple as he wished he were able to return to full
consciousness and enjoy it, then the next thing he knew he was in a
hospital, but he was given a high dose of demarol and couldn't remember
much of anything about the hospital stay.  Now here he was.  He actually
didn't feel too bad, considering.  His head ached where he'd been shot,
and he had some general muscle pains, probably just because he hadn't
used some of them in awhile when he rescued Scully from the ship. 

The spaceship. The thought of it was enough to make him smile.  He'd
finally seen what he'd been searching for so long.  And he wasn't
completely sure, but he suspected his less-enthusiastic partner had seen
the ominous craft as well.  

His thoughts were interrupted as he heard a distinct cough coming from
the kitchen.  He knew that cough.  But what in the world would she be....

Then she was there.  Bearing a tray containing chicken noodle soup, hot
chocolate, and homemade bread.  

"Hey, sleepyhead." she smiled through exhausted eyes, setting down the
tray and leaning over to help him sit up.

"Hey.  You look awful." he touched her frostbitten face gently.  

"Thanks a lot." she managed a smile.  "I'm fine-"she started to wave off
his concern, but was interrupted by a fit of coughing.

"You sound like you have pneumonia!" he diagnosed pointedly.

"Mulder, I don't have pneumonia.  Here, eat your soup."

"Only if you have some, too." he spooned some for her.  She shook her
head and sat down on the edge of the couch to dispense his differing
medications into her hand, reading the labels carefully to make sure he
would not be given anything that could harm him.

"Scully?"  Mulder sat up and began to eat the soup and bread hungrily.

"Yeah?" she asked in a weak voice, handing him several multi-colored
pills which he swallowed without question.

"Scully, I wish you'd go home and get some rest."  he stated firmly as
she breathed in quickly and grabbed a tissue, sneezing several times and
blowing her nose.

"C'mon, you're going to give me your cold."  he teased, rubbing his hand
along her back as she coughed again.  She gave him an even look, but did
not answer.  

"So why are you taking such good care of me?"  he asked around mouthfuls
of food.  She busied herself with folding his laundry and placing a fresh
warm blanket around his shoulders.  He noticed she, as well, wore several
layers of clothing, and hugged the dryer-heated clothing to herself,
enjoying the warmth of each article before she folded it.  When she
shivered he'd had enough.

"Scully, please stop."  he set down the tray on the coffee table and took
the blanket from his shoulders, wrapping it around her and pulling her
back against the couch.  "Relax.  You've been through a lot.  More than I
think you realize.  Give yourself some time to recuperate."

"Mulder, I've got a cold.  I'll live.  You've got a gunshot wound to the
head, and frostbitten-"

"You're just as frostbitten as me."

"No I'm not Mulder.  You took your clothes off and put them on me!" she
reminded him.  He chuckled, not having an answer to counter the truth of
her statement.  

"Well, I couldn't exactly carry you around the Antarctic naked." he
pointed out finally.  She smiled, watching his face affectionately. She
reached out and touched his bandaged forehead gently.

"Scully, why are you here?" he asked again in a low voice, taking in her
bloodshot eyes and red nose.

"I'm taking care of you." she insisted.

"Why?" he shrugged.  "Just a few days ago you were ready to abandon me." 
he reminded her.  She sighed.

"I know.  Then you saved my life."  she smiled.  

"Yeah, after I put you in danger."

She scoffed.  "You didn't put me in danger, Mulder."

"They took you to get to me, Scully."

"Well, why ever they took me is not important.  That you risked
everything and followed me to the end of the earth - literally - with a
bullet wound in your head... that you dragged me out of danger, lending
me your clothes and your strength and even your breath.... Mulder, you
told me before that you owe me everything, and I owe you nothing. You
were so wrong.  I owe you everything."

Then she was gone, back to the kitchen to clean up the dishes, coughing
all the way.  Mulder stared after her, a smile touching his lips, a tear
grazing his cheek.

THE END