Title:  Making a Long Story Short
Author:  Waddles52
Summary:  Scully answers Mulder's questions about
their trip to New Mexico
Spoilers:  Fill-in-the-blank for Anasazi
Eating:  PG
Archives:  After_the_Fact.  Others please ask.
Disclaimer:  No copyright infringement intended.
Just for fun.  Not for profit.
Feedback:  Sure.  DASWaddles52@aol.com

Mulder came out of the bathroom and sat down very
carefully on the side of the bed.

"Are you okay?" Scully asked, concern on her face.

"I'm a little shaky, but considering what the past
few days have been like, I guess I'm okay.  Would you
care to fill me in on what happened after you shot
me?  I don't seem to remember much."

"It's a pretty long story.  Why don't you drink this
glass of water and let me change your bandages.  I'll
try to fill you in."

"Throw in a cheeseburger and fries and you've got a
deal," he grimaced as she began to pull the tape from
his shoulder.

"Mr. Hosteen is going to bring us something to eat
later.  For right now you need to concentrate on
getting some fluids into your system."

"Yes, Doctor," He teased and rolled his eyes upward.
"Ouch!  Easy on the tape!  I'd like to have a little
chest hair left."

"You drink and I'll try to make this long story
short."

"Okay.  Go," he said as he took a sip of water.

"Some of your neighbors heard the gunshot and called
911, so I had to get you out of there fast.  Thank
goodness I was able to rouse you enough to get you on
your feet.  I practically carried you to my car,
shoved you in the back seat and got the hell out of
there."

"Nosey neighbors.  Gotta love em, huh Scully?"

"Especially yours."  She finished pulling off the
bandages.  "It's looking good," Scully pronounced.
"I'll put on some antibiotic ointment, bandage it up
again and give you some more antibiotics to be on the
safe side."

"What did you do after you got me in your car?" he
asked.

"Keep drinking and I'll keep talking."  He drank some
more water and she continued.  "After I got you in
the car I broke the sound barrier getting to my
apartment.  You were completely out of it so I ran to
my apartment and got my medical kit and some
blankets.  After that I stopped at a drugstore for
bandages and a few supplies and took off down I-95
hoping you weren't bleeding to death in the back seat
of my car.  I finally pulled into a rest stop to
dress your wounds and call Mr. Hosteen.  By then you
were getting pretty restless.  You weren't making a
lot of sense and were in quite a bit of pain so I
injected you with some pretty strong stuff and hoped
for the best."

"You must be exhausted," he sympathized.

"I've had a little sleep.  At the time I was mostly
running on adrenaline.  When this is over I'll
probably crash for a couple of days.  There, I've got
you bandaged up again."  She rummaged around in her
medical kit and came up with a hypodermic and a vial
of medication.  "Sorry, but I've got to inject the
antibiotics."

Mulder made a face and stuck out his right arm.

"Sorry, Mulder, but this needs to go in your hip,"
she apologized.

Scully helped him stand and he shoved his jeans down
far enough for her to give the injection.

"Did Mister Hosteen say when he'd be back?"
Mulder asked as Scully helped him sit back down.

"Hungry?"

"Yeah, but more interested in what he has to show
me."

"Mulder, you need to recuperate a bit before you go
traipsing off to the desert or wherever it is that he
wants to take you," Scully advised.

"I'll drink some more water and rest until he gets
back with the food.  Okay?"  He scooted back and
leaned against the headboard of the bed while Scully
adjusted the pillows.

"It's a start," she agreed.

"You didn't happen to bring any clothes did you?  I
seem to be missing a shirt."

"I scrapped it back on I-95.  I did manage to find a
Wal-Mart close by.  I picked up a few things for you
while Mr. Hosteen stayed with you."  She handed him
a blue Wal-Mart bag.  "It's a button-up shirt.  I
thought it would be easier to get on and off.
There's also a toothbrush and a few other items.  I
had to guess at your sizes.  I hope I was close."

Mulder peeked in the bag.  "I'm sure everything will
be fine," he assured her.

Albert Hosteen opened the door.  "I've brought
food," he announced.

After they ate their fill, Mulder cleaned himself up
and put on Scully's purchases.  Everything was a
perfect fit.  He emerged from the bathroom ready to
go.

"I wish you would rest a little more.  You've been
through quite a lot in the past few days," Scully
pointed out.

"I'm okay, Scully.  Really.  I need to do this.  We
need some answers.  Both of us."

"Just be careful.  Call me on your cell phone and let
me know what's going on.  I'll continue to work on
these translations until I have to leave."

Mulder patted his pocket to be sure he had his phone.
"You'll never be more than a phone call away," he
assured her.  "I'll call as soon as I know
something."

"Okay, Mulder," she sighed.  "Will you be coming back
to D.C.?"

"As soon as I possibly can."

"I'll be waiting," Scully said as they went through
the door.   She sat down at the desk and began
pouring over the papers, trying to decipher what she
could, all the time praying that Mulder would turn up
something.  He had to.
 

END