By Girlie_girl7
Girlie_girl74@yahoo.com
 

Category: M&S
Spoilers: Takes place sometime after HTGSC
Date: 06-30-03
Rating: PG
Archive: Anywhere
Disclaimer: Fox owns 'em
Summary: Mulder has amnesia and it goes downhill from
there.
 
 

 
                       ~ Of Two Minds ~

12:46 AM

It's happened again, Dana Scully should be used to it
by now but she isn't.  Before her lies a prone Fox
Mulder, bleeding from a head wound and out cold.  She
has already called 911 and given them the location of
the creaky, rat-infested warehouse where Mulder lies,
not from being on a case, no, that would be too
simple.  He had received information that an alien
craft was being kept at Big Bob's Warehouse and Bass
Boat storage facility.

She places her own jacket over him and tries to slap
him into consciousness, well, maybe just a little to
forceful from the hand print that is raising on his
left cheek but she is pissed and now she's cold.
Still she worries about him, why else would she have
allowed him to drag her out of her warm bed and coax
her into picking the lock at Big Bob's.  But the
things you do for love she thinks.

The alien craft wasn't there but a chop shop was.
They stumbled onto a gang disassembling a car, not a
Lincoln or a Beammer but a piece of crap Pacer!  One
of the men they surprised took umbrage to their
unannounced entrance and hit Mulder with a tire iron.
The gang scattered, Scully called the EMS, and here
they are, waiting, again.
 

Part 1

Scully isn't allowed to ride with the medics.  They
tell her it's against the rules but she suspects they
don't want to put up with her protective attitude
toward her partner, yeah, that's what she calls it
although she did overhear the driver refer to her as
the red headed rectum ripper.
 
 

2:55AM

The doctors have been hovering over Mulder for nearly
two hours now, but still she waits.  Apparently the
medics talked to them about her 'protective attitude'
before she arrived.  Finally a tall, gray haired
doctor with nicotine stained fingers and teeth emerges
from behind the emergency room doors and walks
directly to Scully.  "Agent Scully, I'm doctor Benson,
Agent Mulder's attending physician."

"Scully looks up at the tall man with the assurance
that her reputation has proceeded her.  "How is he?"
she asks.  Dr. Benson takes her by the elbow, which
does not go unnoticed by Scully.  She shoots him 'the
brow'; he flinches and removes his hand. "Let's sit
over here."

The doctor sits down on one of the standard,
hard-on-the-ass hospital chairs.  Scully sits down
next to him.  "I understand that you're a physician
yourself."

"University of Maryland Med., class of '89." Scully
says.

Dr. Benson nods.  "Your partner has suffered a grade
three concussion.  He's still out but that's not
unusual with this type of injury but as you also know
the longer he is unconscious the less likely he is to
make a full recovery."

Scully nods and presses her hands together.  "When can
I see him?"

"He should be in ICU soon.  He'll be on the eighth
floor if you want to wait there for him."

Scully stands and shakes the doctor's hand.  "I would
like to see all test results and pictures as soon as
possible."

The doctor starts to protest but he thinks back to the
EMT's warnings and merely says, "Okay," as he takes
his leave.

Scully turns to go find the bank of elevators.  She
arrives on the eighth floor and checks in with the
night duty nurse.

Mulder has been brought up and is being tended to.
Scully thanks the nurse and heads for him.  She finds
him lying in bed with a large hematoma over his left
eye.  His head is swathed in bandages and she knows it
covers the open wound that couldn't be sutured.

She leans over the bed railing and runs her fingers
through his sable soft hair and putting her lips to
his ear whispers, "Mulder, it's me.  Come on partner."

There is no reaction from Mulder.

The curtain is pulled back and a nurse comes in to
hang an IV drip.  She looks down at Scully
sympathetically then leaves the two alone.

Scully grabs Mulder's hand and strokes his fingers.
The curtain is whooshed open once more and in walks
Skinner.  Scully is shocked to see their boss here.

Skinner clasps his hands in front of himself, in an
old military stance and says, "So what happened this
time?"

Scully looks over at her partner.  "We were out on an
investigation when. . ."

Skinner interrupts, "An investigation?"  He frowns,
"No 302 came across my desk Agent Scully."

Scully holds her cool but Skinner can tell she's
squirming.  "I'm, I'm sure it was just an oversight on
Agent Mulder's part."

"So what were you investigating this time?"

Scully looks Skinner straight in the eyes. "Flying
saucers, sir."

Skinner slams his eyes shut.  "Scully, not again!  You
do know the insurance company is already on our asses
for all the claims you two have filed, but to go out
on your own like this, well, it's just damn hard to
justify payment."

Scully thinks quickly.  "Sir, we did break up a chop
shop."

"Yeah," Skinner snorts, "I heard it was a Pacer."  He
feels sorry for Scully, he really does.  "Okay, I'll
try to sneak this one through, but Scully. . ."  She
looks up at her boss.  "You know it would be a whole
lot easier on all of us if you two would just sleep
together."  Skinner brushes past her and turns.  "At
least you would know when he's about to crawl out bed
and take off."  With that he leaves the room.

Scully stands there with her mouth hanging open.  Just
then she hears a groan coming from the bed behind her.
 She quickly moves to Mulder's side and whispers, "Hey
partner, it's me."  Mulder groans again.  She releases
the side rail and rests her hip on his bed.  She leans
over him once more. "Wake up sleepy head."

Mulder's eyes flutter open as he blinks away the
sleep.  He fixes his stare on Scully.  "Excuse me but
who are you?"  He finally asks.

"Mulder!"  Scully exclaims and sits up with a start.

Her partner frowns then pulls the blankets up to his
chest and says, "Well Mulder, why are you sitting on
my bed?"  Then he looks around the room.  "And why am
I in the hospital?"  Then he looks under the blankets
and quickly drops them.  "And where are my pants!"

Scully slides off the bed.  "I'm not Mulder!  You're
Mulder and you're here because you've sustained a
concussion in the line of duty," then she shakes her
head, "and you don't remember any of this do you?"

Mulder stares at his partner.  "Are you the nurse?
Because if you are it's highly inappropriate for you
to be sitting on my bed."

Scully takes a step toward her partner; he grabs the
blanket and tucks it up under his chin.  She presses
the call button above his head and walks to the door
to await the nurse.
 

10AM, the next day

Scully comes into Mulder's ICU cubical just as a man
in a white jacket is leaving.  "Excuse me," she says,
"I'm Agent Mulder's partner and you are?"

The man steps outside with Scully following him.  "I'm
Doctor Castlemeyer, the resident psychiatrist.  I've
been asked to look in on your partner."

"And?"

"My off the cuff analysis is, amnesia," he says as he
strokes his pointy little beard.  He reminds Scully of
the little man on the can of deviled ham.  "It's a
classic case but of course I'll need to run some more
tests and interview Agent Mulder further but I'm
confident the results will be the same."

Scully's eyes grow wide. "Just how long will this
last?"

"We can't say for sure.  Sometimes it's just a matter
of hours while in extremely rare cases it can go on
for months."

"But they do recover?"

"Nearly all do."

"Nearly all?"  Scully asks, shocked by what she has
just heard.

"Some, a very small amount mind you, but some never
recover.  Let's not put the cart before the horse just
yet," the doctor says trying to reassure her.

"Thank you Doctor."  Scully softly says.

The doctor turns back to her.  "Agent, sometimes
familiar faces can jog the memory.  I suggest you try
that."

"Thank you, I think I will."

Scully rubs her hand across her forehead, stiffens her
back and pulls back the curtain to Mulder's cubical.
"Hey," she says with a smile on her face.

Mulder is reclining in his bed.  He looks lost and a
little afraid.  "Hi," he softly replies as he shuffles
his feet under the blankets.

Scully sits down in the chair next to him.  "Mulder,"
she begins but he interrupts.  "I'm sorry about last
night," he says then grins that Mulder grin she knows
so well.  "I've talked to the doctor," his voice
trails off.

Scully scoots in a little closer to him.  "What do you
remember?"

Mulder shuts his eyes.  "Very little.  The doctor says
I'm Fox Mulder and I'm a Special Agent with the FBI,"
then he mumbles, "wonder why I'm not just a regular
agent?"

Scully has to smile at her dear partner.

"I live here in Washington and you're my FBI partner
Special Agent Dana Scully.  Hey, you're a Special
Agent too!"  Mulder grins.

Scully resists the urge to soothe him and merely
smiles, "Yes I am."

The curtain is pulled back once more with the
attending nurse telling the two partners that Mulder
is about to be moved to a private room.  Scully takes
this opportunity to slip out and call Skinner.

"Skinner."

"Sir, its Agent Scully."

"How's he doing today Agent?"

"That depends on who you're talking about."  Scully
sighs then continues, "Agent Mulder is suffering from
amnesia."

"He's what?"

Scully runs her tongue over her upper lip and looks
down at the floor.  "So just who the hell DOES he
think he is?"  Skinner questions.

"We're not sure he's aware of any of his past yet sir.
 He didn't know his name, he didn't remember who he
worked for," then she pauses softly adding, "and he
doesn't remember me."

"Maybe he'll be easier to handle," Skinner says trying
to add some levity to the situation but failing
miserably.  "Scully, don't worry, Mulder is tough.
I'm sure he'll come out of it soon.  Keep me appraised
of the situation."

"Thank you sir.  I appreciate that."  Scully hangs up
to find Mulder has already been moved to his room.
Recalling what the doctor said about 'familiar faces'
she once more picks up the phone and dials a number.
"Hello mom. . ."
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Part 2
 

4PM

Dana Scully quietly slips into Fox Mulder's room.
He's sitting up but his eyes are closed.  He looks
over at Scully as she nears his bed.  "How's the
head?"

"It hurts," Mulder says as he leans back into his
pillow.

"What, no channel surfing?"  Scully quips.

Mulder frowns and says; "I find television so
mundane."

Scully can't believe she is hearing this from a man
who can't miss Scooby Doo.

"And why if my name is 'Fox', do you call
me,'Mulder'?"

"Well, early in our partnership you told me that you
hated the name 'Fox' and that I should call you
'Mulder' like your parents did."

"Hum, I like 'Fox' you think you could call me 'Fox'
now?"

Scully swallows hard.  "Okay, Fox."

Mulder closes his eyes.  The door opens and Maggie
Scully walks in.  Mulder opens his eyes and grins at
her, "Hi Mom," he says with a light-hearted tone in
his voice.

"Hello Fox," Maggie smiles.

Mulder looks up at his partner and says, "See, mom
still calls me 'Fox'."

Scully stares at her mother with Maggie returning the
stare, unsure of what exactly is going on?  "Mulder,
this isn't. . .," Scully begins but is interrupted by
her mother.  "So son, how are you feeling?"

"My head hurts," Mulder pouts.

Maggie steps past Scully and moves to the head of
Mulder's bed.  She strokes the hair that isn't covered
by the bandages.  Mulder sighs, obviously enjoying the
attention he is receiving.  "Mom, did you know I'm an
FBI Agent?" Mulder says proudly.

"Yes, I did son and a very good one too."  Maggie
soothingly says.

Scully knows she shouldn't be, but she's just a tad
bit jealous.

Mulder points to Scully, "And did you know Dana here
is my partner?"

Maggie softly laughs and pats his shoulder.  "Yes, I
did and she's a very good partner."

"I hope so," Mulder sighs and drifts off to sleep.

Scully motions for her mother to follow her into the
hall.  Once outside she says, "Mom, you are feeding
into his delusion!"

"Dana," Maggie smiles at her daughter, "what can it
hurt?  He's scared and he needs comforting."

"But I'm supposed to be the one doing the comforting,"
Scully blurts out then blushes.

"Dana, put yourself in Fox's place.  You wake up,
unsure of who you are or who this woman claiming to be
your partner is, but you think this older woman who
walks in your room is your mother.  Who would you
trust first?"

Scully lowers her head.  "I suppose you're right."

Maggie pulls her daughter into a hug.  "Just be there
for him and remember he's is struggling internally and
hopefully soon your Fox will be back."

"Not Fox," Scully laughs as she hugs her mom,
"Mulder."

Maggie pulls back from her daughter and brushes the
hair away from her face.  "Mulder, of course.  Look
Dana, you sit with Fox for a few more minutes then go
home and get some rest.  I'll stay here with him."

Scully nods and returns to Mulder's side.  He slowly
opens his eyes.  "Hello Dana, where's Mom?"

"She went for a cup of coffee but she'll be back to
sit with you."
Scully wants to test the waters of Mulder's muddied
brain.  "So tell me about your family," she hesitates
then adding, "Fox."

Mulder looks over at her.  "I would assume since we're
partners and all, you would know about my family."

"Refresh me, Mul. . .Fox."

Mulder shuts his eyes; "Of course you know my dad is
dead."

Scully is feeling some hope now.   Maybe he is getting
back some selective memory.  "Do you miss him?"  She
softly asks.

"I sure do Dana," he sighs.  "He used to call me
Starbuck and I'd call him Ahab."

Scully frowns, she can't believe what she is hearing.
Mulder continues, "He was a Captain in the Navy and
loved me very much.  I think it made my older brother
Bill jealous."

Scully stares at Mulder, unsure of what to say.

"I missed Dad when he was out to sea.  We moved around
a lot so I had a hard time keeping friends but he was
always there, stable, unwavering, a constant in my
life."

Scully's eyes grow moist, she can still recall saying
those very words to Mulder in regards to her father.

Mulder drifts off to sleep as he mumbles, "I don't
know why Dana, but Bill doesn't like you."  He yawns
and mumbles; "I'll have to think about that one for
awhile."
 
 

7PM

Maggie has been sitting with Mulder for almost two
hours since Dana left.  She reaches over to stroke his
hand.  Mulder swallows and blinks.  "Do you need a
drink Fox?"

Mulder runs his tongue over his dry lips and nods then
blushes.  "Yeah and I could use the bathroom too."

Maggie smiles at his shyness.  "I'll call your nurse."

Soon Mulder is back in bed eating Jello and toast.  He
chuckles to himself but it doesn't go unnoticed by
Maggie. "What is it son?"

Mulder looks up at her with a grin on his bruised
face.  "Dana is really short!"

Maggie has to laugh, "Fox, I don't think I would
mention that to her if I were you.  She has worked
very hard to be accepted in the job she has."

Mulder looks Maggie directly in the eyes, something
that she finds unnerving and yet sweet.  "Mom, do you
think she likes me?"

Maggie is taken back by the shift in their
conversation.  "Fox, Dana cares so much for you.
She's just a little reserve with her emotions."

Mulder closes his eyes; "You sure do know a lot about
her."

Maggie tries to cover.  "Well, she is your partner."

Mulder lies there a few minutes, Maggie thinks he
might have drifted off then he says, "Mom?"

"Yes son?"

"Do I have any friends?"

It breaks Maggie's heart for she knows the truth is
that he has few friends.  Dana has told her how rough
the Bureau could be at times to Mulder but she can't
hurt him.  "Yes son, you have lots of friends; three
very close ones in particular.
Do you remember. . .," Maggie has to stop and think,
"Melvin Frohike and John Byers?  And there is a stingy
blonde headed man.  I think his name is Langley."

"First or last name?"  Mulder inquires.

"I'm not sure."  Maggie laughs just as the nurse comes
in.  "Time to change your bandage Mr. Mulder."  Unlike
the old Mulder, this one graciously accepts the
medical care he is receiving.
 
 

10PM

Scully returns to find Mulder fast asleep while her
mom sits next to
him reading a magazine.  "Hi Mom," Scully softly says,
"How's he doing?"

Maggie looks over at her charge.  "He was no trouble
at all.  His doctor was in and said he can be released
tomorrow."

Scully is appalled.  "Mom, they can't be serious.  He
shouldn't be released this soon.  He doesn't even know
who he is."

"Dana, his body is healing and you know how HMO's
are."  Maggie frowns, "I suppose you can get him into
a sanitarium or a mental hospital."

Scully shakes her head, "No mom, never.  I'll take him
home with me first."

"Dana, this is not your Fox Mulder you're dealing with
here.  How do you know he'll go, you're not his
family."

Scully smiles at her mother, "No, but you are."

Maggie sighs, "I would love to take Fox in Dana, but
the house is filled with pictures and mementos of the
family, 'your' family.  There are no pictures of Fox
around.  He might think that's strange to have your
picture as a child with his family."

Scully shakes her head.  "And if Bill should suddenly
show up, he would kill Mulder if he found him lounging
around the house calling you 'mom'.  Scully hugs her
mother, "Thanks mom for being here for us."

"Anytime Dana.  I'll stay at your place tonight and
see you in the morning."  Maggie leaves the room and
Scully assumes her vigil by Mulder's side.
 

7AM,the next morning

"Dana, Dana."  Scully can hear her name being called.
She opens her eyes to see Mulder staring at her.
"What cha doing?"  She yawns and stretches, "I'm
keeping you company."

"But I was asleep," Mulder says with a confused look
on his face.
The day nurse comes in, "How are you feeling Mr.
Mulder?"

"Much better and I do remember yesterday."  He softly
smiles at his pretty nurse.  Scully finds this
unsettling.

Behind the nurse appears Doctor Benson.  "So Agent
Mulder, how are you feeling?"

Mulder shrugs, "Okay, I guess."

"You ready to go home?"

Mulder shrugs, unsure where home is.  Scully speaks
up, "Yes he is."

Doctor Benson looks at Scully.  "He shouldn't be
alone, in fact if it was up to me he would stay a few
more days."

"I'm in the room!"  Mulder grouses.

The doctor turns to look at his patient.  "Yes of
course Agent, but you shouldn't be left alone."

"He won't be," Scully chimes in.  "He'll be staying
with me."  Mulder eyes her with a look that she has
never seen before from the Mulder she knows.

Doctor Benson hesitates then says, "Very well.  Let me
check you over Agent, then I'll release you."  The
doctor performs a cursory exam and writes several
prescriptions for Mulder while Scully stands there
with a frown on her face and her arms crossed over her
chest supervising.

"Okay, you're free to go," the doctor pronounces.
 
Mulder hops off the bed and pauses long enough to get
his land-legs then pads off to the bathroom to change.

The doctor turns to Scully.  "Agent get these filled,"
he says ripping two prescriptions from his pad.  "I
want his dressing changed once a day and you know the
drill, don't let him get it wet or dirty and if
anything doesn't look right call me."

"I will."

Doctor Benson and the nurse both leave.  Scully
perches on the edge of Mulder's bed.  Several minutes
later she is beginning to get nervous, when finally he
appears from the bathroom.
 
Scully looks over her shoulder at her partner.
"Mulder, you okay?"
She can see a blush on his face.  "Yeah Dana, but
these jeans are a little tight."

Scully gets off the bed and turns toward her partner.
"Mulder, I mean Fox, they're your favorite pair.
That's why I brought them."

Mulder pulls down the hem on his T-shirt.  "They don't
leave much to the imagination."

Scully is amused at the uneasiness in this man whom
she has seen thinks nothing of peeing behind a
dumpster when the need gets to great.  "Fox, you
usually wear those jeans with the T-shirt tucked in."
She blushes and giggles to herself.  "You have, um,
great assets."

Mulder looks agape and says, "What kind of an
exhibitionist was I?"

Scully sees he's uncomfortable.  "Fox, they look fine
on you.  Don't worry about it."

Mulder grabs the bag that his clothes came in and
holds it in front of his crotch.  "You ready?" Scully
asks.  He nods in the affirmative.  She checks him out
of the hospital while he is taken down to the entrance
in a wheelchair.  He waits in the foyer with his nurse
while Scully brings up the car.  Mulder is helped from
the wheelchair and walks to the passenger side.
Scully opens the door and warns, "Watch your head," as
he slides his long, lanky frame into the front seat of
the Taurus.

Scully starts the car and notices Mulder is glancing
around at its interior.  Finally she can't stand it
any longer and asks, "What?"

Mulder runs his hand over the dashboard.  "Do I get a
car like this?"

"Yes, Fox, you have a car just like this one."

Mulder smiles and says, "Niiice."

Scully can't believe what she is hearing.  She knows
Mulder hates the bureau issued vehicles.  He's hard on
them and he doesn't give a shit that he is.

A few minutes pass then he speaks up, "So Dana, where
are we going?"

"To my place."

Mulder's eyes grow wide and he swallows hard.  "Your
place?"

Scully glances over at her partner, "That's right.
You heard the doctor, you can't be alone and it's
easier to take care of you at my place."

Mulder shifts in his seat.  "But Dana, we're not
married!"

Scully is stunned by what she hears coming from the
mouth of the king of innuendo himself.  "Mul. . .Fox,
we won't be sleeping together!"

Mulder bits his bottom lip.  "But you're a single
woman and I'm a single man, I mean, what will the
neighbors think."
 

Scully pulls the wheel sharply to the left squealing
the tires; Mulder hangs on for dear life.  "Did you
miss your turn?"  He questions.

"No we're going to see the Gunman."
 
 

Part 3

"Frohike let me in, I know you're in there," Scully
says with irritation dripping from her voice.

"Hang on Hotsie Totsie."

Scully's sure she heard the first part of what Frohike
said and for his sake she hopes she misunderstood the
last part.  Finally the thick metal door swings opens.
 Scully brushes past Frohike with Mulder trailing
along behind her.

"Hey Mulder, what'd ya do to your head?"  Frohike asks
as Byers and Langley appears from a back room.  "Hey
Mulder," the guys add.

Mulder rolls his eyes, "Doesn't anybody call me Fox?"

The Gunman all look at Mulder with confusion written
on their faces.  Scully pulls out a stool on wheels
and motions for him to sit down on it as she begins,
"Guys the other night Mulder and I got into a little
trouble and he sustained a grade three concussion with
aggressive memory loss."

The guys stare at her slack-jawed.

Finally Scully says, "He doesn't know who he is."  The
guys laugh until they see the seriousness on her face.

"No shit!"  Langley exclaims.

"Please," Mulder scowls, "there is a lady present, and
I assume you're the one my mom calls Langley."

The Gunman all stare at one another.  Scully mouths
behind Mulder's back, "I'll tell you later," then
says, "That's right, Fox here has been told by his
mother that you three are his best friends."

All three Gunman just nod their collective heads still
unsure of what to say.  Byers finally speaks up,
"Hello Fox, my name is John Byers.  I'm a very dear
friend of yours."

Mulder seems to respond to Byers.  Scully suspects
it's his clean-cut appearance and easy manner that
captivates Mulder.  "Hello John, nice to meet you,"
Mulder says then turns to Scully.  "Dana I have to use
the facilities."

Byers speaks up, "Oh here Fox, let me show you."  He
leads Mulder to the maze of rooms that branch off the
Gunman's front room.

"Holy shit!" Frohike exclaims as he sinks to into a
chair.

"Holy shit is right," Scully mimics.

Langley asks, "Agent Scully what's happened, and I
don't even know Mulder's mother."

Scully sighs and rubs her temple.  "Guys you have to
help me out here.  Mulder has just been released from
the hospital. . ."

"Damn HMO's," Frohike swears.

Scully continues, "He's suffering from amnesia and
there is no telling how long it could last."

Frohike looks at Langley then back at Scully.  "So why
bring him here? I mean you are a doctor."

"Well Mulder, Fox, has taken on quite a different
personality than Mulder had.  He was kind and
courteous to the hospital staff, he ate everything
that was set in front of him and he took his meds."

Langley grabs his head and exclaims; "Will the madness
never end!"  Frohike frowns.  "Will you shut up!  So
Scully how can we help?"

"Fox, the new chivalrous Fox, won't stay at my
apartment
because. . ."  Scully looks down at her feet and
mumbles something.

"What?" Langley and Frohike both say.

Scully looks up at the ceiling, "Because we aren't
married."

This time both Langley and Frohike bust out laughing
until they get a look at the scowl on Scully's face.
"Can he stay here?  I'll be in and out to check on him
and change his dressing."

"Sure," Frohike says, "anything for our two favorite
Fibbies."

Scully can hear Mulder and Byers returning.  "One more
thing guys, Mulder thinks my family is his and he
makes Byers look like Jerry Garcia."

The guys don't have time to react before Mulder and
Byers return.

Byers walks in the room saying, "Yes Fox, I agree that
bathroom could use a little scrubbing."

Scully looks at Langley.  "Could you get Fox's bag
from the car?"
Then she turns to Mulder and with concern in her eyes
she asks," You gonna be okay Fox?"

"Yeah," Mulder says a bit unsure.  Scully walks over
to where he is seated and picks at the bandage that
surrounds his head.  To Frohike it appears as if she
might just scoop him up and take him home with her.
She let's her hand drop to Mulder's shoulder and
squeezes it saying, "I'll be back in the morning and
I'll bring some more of your things."

Mulder leans into her slightly.  "Thanks Dana," he
softly replies.

Scully removes her hand and walks to the door.
Frohike can swear he hears her sniffling.

"So Mulder," Byers asks, "where do you want to sleep?"

"Your guestroom will do fine," Mulder replies.

Frohike chuckles, "I think you and Byers will get
along just fine."
 
 

Part 4

7AM, the next morning

Mulder is still asleep on the couch.  He refused to
sleep in the same room with three other men.  Byers
agreed with him that it was kind of weird.  To which
Frohike replied that in a few days the couch would be
free and he was welcome to use it.

Byers and Langley are making a breakfast run to
McDonald's while Frohike watches over Mulder.

Mulder rolls over and hits the sore side of his head
on the arm of the couch.  "Ouch!" He complains and
sits up.

You okay Mulder, I mean Fox," Frohike asks.

"Yeah," Mulder yawns, "I just hurt my head that's
all."  He leans back against the couch and stretches.
"This isn't half bad.  I think I could get use to
sleeping on a couch."

Frohike takes a seat on a stool across from his
friend.  Mulder looks around the room then returns his
attention to Frohike.  "So Mister Frohike what do you
guys do around here?"

"We publish an underground newspaper called 'The Lone
Gunman' and it's just Frohike, there's no 'mister' to
it."

Mulder nods.  "So what kind of writing is in your
paper?"

Frohike shrugs.  "Government conspiracies, cover-ups,
shadow governments."

"How do you derive this information?"

"You know, leaks, sneaks, hackers, the usual."

Mulder's jaw drops, "Isn't that illegal?"

Frohike shakes his head and laughs, "Scully was right,
you did take the moral high road."

Mulder's ears perk up at the mention of his partner.
"Tell me about Agent Scully."
 
Frohike's face fills with a large grin and he rolls
his eyes up as if he's dreaming.  "Ah, the delicious
Special Agent Dana Scully.  Where to begin."  Frohike
crosses his arms and look up at the ceiling.  "Well,
for one thing she's cool under pressure and she's
saved your ass enough times."  He brings his eyes down
to stare at Mulder.

"She has?"  Mulder frowns.  "A tiny little thing like
that."

"Don't let size be the standard you judge people by."
Frohike says as he draws up to his full five feet, two
inch stature.  "She's the best agent, next to you, in
the FBI."  Frohike moves to stand in front of his
seated friend and points his finger at his nose.  "And
so help me if you ever hurt her I'll bash in the other
side of that thick head of yours."

Mulder's eyes almost cross trying to focus on the
finger thrust in front of his face; then he startles
Frohike.  "You love her don't you?"

Frohike pauses to get a handle on what Mulder has just
said.  "No, of course not," he lies, " but you do!"

"I do?"

Frohike sits down next to Mulder.  "I would love her
except the two of you are so much in love that it's
sickening."

"Dana, never told me that!"  Mulder stares off into
space trying hard to remember anything.

"Of course not, you dope.  You two have never said the
words."

"Then how do you know?"

Just then Byers and Langley return with breakfast in a
bag.  Frohike hollers at them, "Hey guys, do Mulder
and Scully love each other?"

"Oh sure, I'll say."  Is all Mulder hears but can't
tell for certain who said what.

Byers pushes the bag of food into Langley's arms and
doesn't stick around to hear him complain.  He rushes
up to Frohike's side and quietly says, "I don't think
Scully is gonna like you discussing this with Fox."

"Aw save it Byers." Frohike snaps.  "He was bound to
find out sooner or later.  It's better he hear it from
friends."

"I doubt Agent Scully wants him to hear it at all!"
Byers insists

Langley doles out the breakfast sandwiches to each of
them.  "Here you go Fox, your favorite, bacon, egg and
cheese biscuit with double cheese."

Mulder stares at the greasy mess thrust into his hand
and asks, "Do you have any bran?"

Part 5
 

10AM

Scully starts to knock on the door of the Lone Gunman
when it suddenly swings open.  Frohike is standing
before her, his eyes glassy and his hair a mess.
"What took you so long!" He snaps at her.

"Why, how is he?   What's happened?"  Scully rushes
past the little man unsure of what is going on.

Frohike closes the door.  "Oh he's fine, he's just
driving us nuts!"  He says crossing his arms and
shaking his head.

"What?"  Frohike leads Scully to the couch.  They both
sit down.  He scratches his head and begins, "Dana,
he's a pain in the ass.  Langley's video games annoy
him; he told me how demeaning my choices in videos
were to woman.  Him, the king of slap and tickle
movies!"  Frohike gets up, now he is really on a roll.
 "Then he tells me The Lone Gunman has dubious
sources.  I swear Scully we can't take much more of
this.  He's even driving Byers crazy said he really
should lose the polyester suits.  He wants to take him
shopping for khakis!  Dumb ass khakis!  Scully please
take him home with you."

Scully is resting her elbows on her knees listening to
Frohike's tirade.  He sits down again and looks into
her eyes.  "Agent Scully, Dana, get him out of here
before we hurt him!"

Scully sighs and nods.  "I know Frohike. I had hoped
that he would be regaining some of his memory by now."

"Well he better do it soon because he said he's gonna
call 'his brother' Bill and invite him to DC to try
and work things out between you two."

"What!  Why would he do that?"  Frohike turns green.
Scully suspects something is up.  "Frohike, what
aren't you telling me?"

Frohike starts to talk but chokes on the words.

"Frohike?"

"He might have gotten the impression that you, you,
love him."

"Where on earth did he get that idea?"

Frohike shrugs.  "I might have mentioned something."

Scully is not happy.  "You!  Frohike just what did you
say?"

"I said you love him and he loves you!"  He blurts
out.

Scully jumps up and screams, "Why would you do that?"

Frohike comes to his feet.  "Because its true!"  He
screams right back.

"I know that!  Scully realizes what she's just said
and deflates back down onto the couch.  "I know that,"
she says softly.

Frohike sits down next to her.  "Look Scully, I'm
sorry.  I'm such a prick."

"I know," Scully agrees with no humor in her voice.

"Well at least we agree on something," he mumbles.

"Where is he now?"

"He's out with Byers and Langley buying bran."

"Bran?"

"Yeah, you know that shit people eat for breakfast
when they can't. . . shit."  Frohike says a bit
embarrassed.

"I know what bran is, why is Mulder buying it?"

 Frohike is at the end of his rope.  "I don't know
Scully, I guess he just got tired of pissing us off
and now he wants to poison us."

Scully sighs and looks around the room.  "I'm sorry
Frohike.  I'm sure you've done your best."

"So you forgive me for telling him you love him?"

Scully glares at him.  "Let's not push it."

The tumblers turn in the lock on the steel door and in
walks two very discouraged looking Gunman and one
exuberant Special Agent.

"Dana, how nice to see you.  Did you come to change my
bandage?"  Mulder smiles at his partner.

"No I actually came by to take you to your apartment.
I thought maybe you would like to go and pick out your
own clothing," Scully lies.

"Thanks, I do think that would be best.  Those jeans
should be outlawed."

"So how was your trip out?"  Scully asks.

"Peachy," Langley says with sarcasm dripping from his
voice as he brushes past Scully.

Byers looks at Scully, "I'd better get this stuff to
the kitchen.  The nonfat tofutti rice dreamsicles are
starting to melt."

Mulder dusts his hands off and replies, "These guys
should all be dead from the way they eat."

Frohike slumps further into the couch and rolls his
eyes.

Scully knows if she doesn't get him out of here soon,
she is going to be known as the late Fox Mulder's
partner.  "Come on Fox, I'll change your dressing at
your place."

"Okie dokie," Fox responds.  Scully glances over at
Frohike who is staring daggers at her partner.

Scully ushers Mulder to the car and straps him in then
pulls into the traffic.  Mulder looks over at her.
"You don't talk much do you?"

Scully squirms in her seat.  "I don't know, I guess
not.  You always knew me so well that I didn't need to
say much."

The passengers in the car remain silent for the next
few miles then Mulder speaks up, "Dana, am I a good
partner?"

Scully doesn't hesitate to answer him.  "Fox, you are
the best partner I could have ever wished for."

"Thanks Dana," Mulder softly answers.  Scully can
sense the uncertainty that still surrounds her
partner.  He's still struggling, trying to remember
and it pains her to witness it.

They stop in front of Mulder's place and both agents
exit the car.  Scully pockets her keys and looks up at
the building.  "Do you remember anything?"  Mulder
just sadly shakes his head.

"Come on," Scully says and takes Mulder by the arm.
They are soon standing in front of apartment number
forty-two.  Scully pulls out her keys and fishes out
the one to Mulder's apartment.  He looks confused by
this but doesn't say anything.  Scully opens the door
and stands aside to let him in.  He looks around the
foyer then pokes his head into the kitchen and the
bedroom and finally the bathroom.  He comes into the
living room and grinning like a little kid says, "Wow,
this is really a dump!"  She has to snicker at her
partner.

He wanders over to the fish tank and peeks in then
looks back at Scully.  "I have fish?  They can
transmit diseases you know."

Scully sighs, so far this isn't helping Mulder jog his
memory.  "You sit down and I'll get the gauze and
tape.  We need to change that bandage."  She heads for
the bathroom, "Fox, did you take your meds this
morning?" She yells.

"Of course," Mulder yells back, "I think I need to
pick up a multi-vitamin though, those Gun Guys didn't
have any."

"I'm not surprised," Scully smiles as she approaches
Mulder.  "Sit down on the couch Fox, I'll change your
dressing."  Mulder sits down on his leather couch.
"No, scoot up," Scully directs and steps between his
legs.  Mulder swallows hard.  Scully cuts the tape
that is holding the gauze around his head.  Mulder is
at eye level with two of Scully's best 'assets'.  She
carefully unwinds the gauze as he starts to speak but
his voice cracks, "Um, Dana how long have we been
partners?"

Scully continues to unwrap the last of the gauze.  "A
little over six years."

Mulder clears his throat and tries to appear
nonchalant to the woman hovering over him.  "That
long?"

"That's right." Scully says peeling off the last of
the wrapping.

"That's a long time," Mulder replies.

"Hold still Fox," Scully says, her brow knit as she
pulls off the gauze pads.  She gently cups his jaw and
lightly brushes his hair back from the wound to
examine it.  Mulder is growing quite uncomfortable,
but uncomfortable in a good way.  Finally Scully
breaks the silence in the room.  "This looks much
better Fox."  She then looks into his eyes while her
hand unconsciously caresses his jaw.  "You're a fast
healer," she smiles.

"Well, I try," Mulder smiles back at her.  She
suddenly realizes how this must appear to Mulder and
pulls away.  She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear
and picks up a sterile pad.  "I don't think you'll
need that turban any longer," she jokes.  "I'll just
tape a couple pads over the abrasion."  Scully
carefully places two pads on his wound and starts to
tape them down.

Mulder softly says, "You smell good."

Scully blushes, "Thanks, you gave me this perfume for
Christmas."

"I did?" Mulder says.  "I have good taste."

Scully chuckles, "Yes you do."  She pats his shoulder.
 "All done."

Mulder gets up, towering over his partner.  "Thanks
Dana, you sure know a lot about medicine."

Scully rolls up the old gauze and says, "I should I'm
a doctor."

Mulder looks confused, "But I was told you're an FBI
Agent."

"I am but I went to med. school and majored in
pathology."

"Pathology?  You mean you do autopsies and dig around
in dead people?"

"That's right."  Scully isn't sure how Mulder will
react to this.

His eyes grow wide.  "Really!  That's so cool!"

"Yes it is," Scully laughs.

Scully and Mulder stand there looking at one another,
unsure of what their next moves should be.  Scully
motions toward the bathroom.  "I'd, I'd better put
this stuff away."  She leaves the awkwardness of the
living room to take refuge there.  She puts away the
medical supplies and splashes water on her face;
suddenly it dawns on her that she may never get her
Mulder back.  She likes Fox but she loves Mulder and
now, thanks to Frohike, Fox knows this too.  What a
mess!  She sits down on the edge of the tub and lets
the tears silently run down her face.

Mulder is wandering around the living room.  He finds
a picture of Scully and himself taken when they were
out on a case.  He isn't sure why but it gives him a
warm feeling, one of contentment.  He next picks up a
picture of Samantha.  Hard as he tries he can't put
the pieces together enough to remember who the little
girl is.  He thinks she's his sister but he only has
one sibling and that must be Bill.  He works his way
slowly to the bedroom.  He takes in the mess strewn
about and shakes his head in disgust.  He kicks a pair
of athletic shoes out of his way as he walks around
the converted waterbed.   He opens the closet doors
and stands before an array of expensive Armani suits.
Fox likes what he sees.

Scully comes out of the bathroom and heads for the
living room, not finding her partner there she calls
out, "Fox."

"I'm here," Mulder responds.

Scully finds him still staring at the suits.  "At
least I have good taste in work wear," he says with a
small laugh.
 
"And expensive," Scully playfully adds.  Mulder
glances over at her alarmed at what he sees.  "Dana,
what's happened?"

"What?"  Scully asks then remembers her swollen, puffy
eyes.  "Oh it's nothing."

"It must be something to make you cry."

"Fox, don't push it please."  Scully walks over to a
pile of files sitting on the floor next to the bed.
She pulls a familiar folder off the top of the stack
and stares at it.

"What is it?"  Mulder questions as he moves around to
look over her shoulder.

Scully responds with amazement in her voice.  "It's my
college thesis, Einstein's Twin Paradox, A New
Interpretation.  Mulder why would you have this?"
Mulder reads the front of the file over her shoulder.
"I have no idea.  I wish I did.  It must mean
something to me if I kept it."

Scully looks back over her shoulder at her partner,
her eyes wide and her mouth slightly open.  Mulder
leans in while Scully tips her head up.  Their lips
meet.  Fox pulls Scully around and envelops her in his
arms.  One of his hands finds its way into her silky
hair while the other somehow, with familiarity, drifts
to the small of her back.  Scully encircles Fox with
her arms pulling him close.  They continue to kiss.
Fox backs up to maneuver them to the bed when he steps
on the sneakers he'd kicked out of his way earlier.
He tumbles to the floor falling on his shoulders with
his head striking the carpeted floor with a thud.
Scully falls on top of him forcing all the air out of
his lungs.  He lies there gasping for breath and
thrashing around like a fish out of water.  "Oh Fox!"
Scully exclaims as she scrambles to get up off her
partner.  "Here let me help you up."  She slowly
raises his head and pulls him into her lap.  She
strokes the hair away from his face.  "Are you okay
Fox?"

Mulder finally manages to draw a breath and looking up
at his partner wheezes out, "Scully, why are you
calling me Fox?"

Scully is astounded by what she hears.  "Is that you
Mulder?  I mean really you!"

Mulder coughs and laughs, "Of course it is, who else
would you have in your lap?"

The innuendo seals it.  Her Mulder is back!  "Mulder,"
Scully sighs as she continues to stroke his head, "I
missed you!"

Mulder is confused.  "Where did I go?"

"We were out chasing aliens when you got hit in the
head and developed amnesia."

Mulder looks up at his partner.  "I did?"

"Don't you remember anything?"

Mulder furrows his brow and thinks.  "I remember being
in that shitty warehouse looking for an alien craft
but after that it's all a hazy mess."

"Well you're back now and we have some serious talking
to do."

"We do?"  Mulder asks.

Scully kisses his brow and says; "We sure do partner."

"Umm," Mulder hums, "I like the way you talk Scully."

Scully laughs, "And I intend to keep you up all night
talking Mulder."

Mulder looks surprised, "You are?"

"I sure am and from now on we're going to act on our
emotions not hide behind them."

"Damn!" Mulder chuckles. "I guess I should get hit on
the head more often."

"I wouldn't suggest it partner."  Scully leans in and
plants a big wet one on Mulder's lips, of course he
reciprocates.  Mulder closes his eyes and just enjoys
the newfound freedom of expression he and Scully are
sharing.  Scully finally speaks up, "Oh and one more
thing Mulder, you have some apologizing to do to the
Gunman."  Mulder doesn't have time to register what
Scully has just said because he is too busy assailing
her lips.
 
 

                       ~ The End ~