By Sheryl Martin
Sheryl_Martin@daystorm.com
 

Date: 23 May 1995 15:05:04 GMT

All Characters copyright of TenThirteen Productions and Chris Carter. No
infringement intended on any part...I like being poor, really...

Author's Note: Although I don't like to write stories that directly relate to
any specific episode, a request from a reader about what happened between
Mulder passing out in Scully's bed and when he wakes up in Anasazi led to
this, my interpretation... yah, I know, you all have your own twist on it, so
please be gentle...

Fever (Anasazi)
by Sheryl Martin

Dana Scully pulled the washcloth off of Fox Mulder's forehead, putting her
hand to his cheek. He was still warm - too warm for her comfort. Getting up,
she went into the kitchen. filling a small bowl with cool water, she returned
to his bedside; snatching the thermometer from the bathroom on her way.

"Scully?" His raspy voice croaked. "Scully... they killed my father..." His
eyes stayed shut as he broke out into a sweat again.

"Quiet." Dana began to unbutton his shirt, noting with relief that the
bloodstains weren't his own. Her fingers faltered for a second when she
realised whose blood it must have been.

Wrapping her hand around the back of his neck, she pulled Fox up to sit on
the bed. His eyelids flickered once as she tugged the sleeves free.

"My father..." He mumbled, falling forward slowly to rest on her shoulder.
Gently laying him back on the pillows, Dana undid his pants.

"Be a lot of women who'd like to be in my shoes right now." She said with a
smile as she pulled his jeans off. Piling the clothes at the foot of the bed,
she wrung out the face cloth. "Probably be the only time you ever let me get
the last word..."

Brushing the damp strands of hair away from his forehead, she put the
thermometer in his mouth. Turning his head from side to side, Fox grimaced,
his eyes trying to open and failing.

"Mulder... I need to get a temperature..." She put a hand on his cheek;
holding his face tenderly. He stopped moving and relaxed into her palm with a
deep sigh. Mimicking her, he raised a hand to her face; resting it against
her cheek.

"Schmulli..." The thermometer bobbed around in his mouth.

"Don't speak." Dana said softly. His palm sat against her skin; sending a
shiver down her spine. Lightly running his fingers down her neck, he dropped
his hand back down to the bed.

"One hundred and two..." She frowned at the reading. Leaving him; she went to
the bathroom, returning with aspirin and water. Taking ahold of his shoulder,
she shook him lightly.

"Mulder, take these." His eyes shot open, trying to focus.

"What?" The words came out slurred.

"Here." She pressed the pills into one hand, waiting patiently to hand him
the glass. "Swallow and drink." He drunkenly threw them back, reaching for
the water. Holding her hands over his, she watched him drain the glass,
falling back onto the pillows.

Refreshing the cloth, Dana began to pat down his neck and chest, feeling the
heat radiate off him in waves. He murmured as she continued to rub his arms
down; the cool water refreshing his body.

She lightly sponged down his legs, pausing at the sight of the bullet scar on
his thigh. He had almost died that time, with Boggs... Images of her father
suddenly raced into her head, and she stared at his exhausted face. Biting
her lip, she left the room to get changed. It was going to be a long night...

Fox opened his eyes, blinking as he focused on the ceiling. Shuffling to one
side, he sat up on the edge of the bed. Rolling his tongue around his mouth,
he stood up unsteadily and reached for the doorframe.

Spinning around in the bathroom, Dana saw him fall into the chair. She had
just pulled on an oversized tshirt and sweatpants, intent on nursing him for
a few more hours until she had to go into the office... She walked over,
taking his arm.

"Mulder, you have to go back and lie down." Her firm tone echoed around the
room.

"No... I have to go find them..." He rested his head on his hands, slumping
forward.

"Not like this you can't." Pulling him to his feet, she pushed him back to
the bedroom, ignoring his weak protests.

"Stay put." She propped the pillow up behind his back. Nodding, he closed his
eyes, listening to her wring out the cloth. It touched his forehead again,
then ran down to his cheek.

A tear tricked down Fox's face, mingling with the wet cloth she held against
him. His eyes stayed shut as a sob broke from his throat; tearing at her
heart.

Suddenly lunging forward, he hugged her tightly. Dana's arms went around him
protectively as he cried uncontrollably into her shoulder; her hand stroking
the back of his neck softly.

"Shush..." She whispered into his hair as he shook against her, great racking
sobs breaking free. Clutching her to him tightly, Fox whimpered as she began
to rock him slowly; her own tears running down her face into his hair.

"They killed him..." He moaned into her shirt. "They killed him..."

"It's going to be alright..." She murmured as he shivered. Pulling back, he
opened his eyes, staring directly into hers.

"I..." He closed them again; putting his head on her chest as he continued to
cry quietly.

Moving up on the bed, Dana rested her left hand on his cheek, humming softly.
Wrapping her other arm around him, she listened to his ragged breathing
become slower and steadier. He clung to her arms; lulled by the rhythmic
rocking and the pulsing of her heartbeat into sleep.

Running her fingers through the damp hair, she felt him begin to relax; the
tension leaving his body as he rested against her. Bending over, she lightly
kissed the top of his head, closing her eyes as she continued to hold him
tenderly.

"I know..." Dana said softly. "He was your father..."

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

"If you will practice being fictional for a while, you will understand that
fictional characters are sometimes more real than people with bodies and
heartbeats."
Richard Bach -- "Illusions"