With Open Arms

The lost episodes of Season 10

Set directly after Home Again – S10 x 4

Disclaimer - As much as I would like to, I do not own The X-Files - Fox does

Dana Scully stared at the worktop. She stared at its brown, black and white speckles. Her hands were placed on the side to steady herself. She took deep breaths, trying to stay calm. She raised her head slowly and pushed a loose piece of hair behind her ear. She reached over and took her glass of water she had just poured herself. Turning around slowly she exited the small kitchen and her vision was filled with a familiar arm reaching out to her. She raised her eyes up his shirt, and saw his black tie and familiar presence..

'Scully?' Mulder exclaimed, meeting her gaze. She jumped in surprise and forced a smile.

'Oh, hey Mulder.' She said. He looked at her questioningly.

'Are you ok?' He asked with a small smile. She forced one again.

'Sure, what are you doing sneaking up on me?'

Mulder gave her a look.

'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I just wondered where you were. I couldn't find you anywhere downstairs.' He said, and saw her look down for a second as if hiding her emotions. He knew her too well.

'Are you sure you're all right? You're not avoiding me are you?' He asked, meeting her eyes again. 'I know the new case isn't that exciting but there's no need to brush me off..'

'Mulder please, stop it. I am not ignoring you. I just came to get some water from the bottled water up here. I don't like it from the faucet.' She said, turning her nose up at the word. He nodded and searched her face, trying to read her. But she was doing a good job of hiding her emotions.

'Ok, fair enough.' He said with a smile. He turned to leave as more Agents entered to get their fix of caffeine. A young, well-groomed female agent look one look at Mulder and raised an eyebrow mockingly. He caught her staring at him and stared right back. She looked flustered and hurried out of the kitchen.

'Nice to see people are still using me as their daily punching bag after all these years. Even the young ones seem to have heard of me and are still talking about how I was the laughing stock of the FBI.' He said, folding his arms. Scully felt sympathy towards him. 'Seriously Scully, they still call me "spooky"'.

'Don't tell me that you're really bothered by that Mulder.' She said, looking up at him. 'They can go ahead and make a mockery of you and I all they want. I'm far too old and wise to care now.' She said, leaning into him playfully. To Mulder's surprise she took his arm with her free hand and linked hers in his and started to lead him down the corridor.

'I don't think this is helping Scully..' He remarked, feeling eyes turning to them as they walked through the busy floor. Scully smiled back at them and they turned away in embarrassment at her confidence.

Finally they made their way to the elevator and hit the 'B' button. Scully looked up at him and he smiled back at her. They waited for a moment for it to come down.

'But anyway, you're sure you're ok?' He asked again, sensing that she had her guard up. Scully nodded.

'I'm fine.' She said, burying her grief deep down in her chest.

'Ok Scully, have I got your attention now?'

She jumped again as he leant over to and spoke directly into her ear. She turned to face him until their faces almost touched. She pulled back in surprise and brushed her hair away from her face.

'Oh, I'm so sorry Mulder.. you were saying?' She said, and awkwardly straightened her jacket. Mulder searched her face and looked at her with concern. She saw him grab his chair and pull it across the room towards her. Oh brother, here we go. She thought.

'Dana, you are not yourself.' He said, placing himself down on the chair directly opposite her. He took her hands into his and tried to make her focus on him, but she fought it. She looked away and blinked away the hot tears that were rising to her eyes. She didn't want to go through this again.

'I'm fine!' She exclaimed and shook her head as he held her gaze. She didn't want to look at him as she knew she would break down.

'Look, I know you are still upset about Margaret.' He said carefully, not saying the word 'Mom' in an attempt not to upset her. She shifted uncomfortably on her chair. He sighed. 'But Scully, you can talk to me, you can tell me anything you know that.' He said softly. Scully swallowed as she heard the concern and love in his voice. She felt her chest get heavy.

'Mulder, please…' She said, raising her eyes to his. She wished that she hadn't, as now she couldn't look away.

'I just want you to mourn in your own time. You don't have to be here, you can go home..' He said gently. Scully reacted to the words which hit her like a ton of bricks.

'No!' She exclaimed and pulled her hands away from his. Mulder felt a pang of sadness hit him as she stood up and walked to the other side of the office and turned her back to him. He had struck a nerve.

'Scully please, I'm not trying to upset you, I just… hate seeing you like this.' He said, looking at the floor sadly.

Scully hugged her arms into her chest, holding herself tight. She shifted on her feet and tried to stay strong. She was so sick of crying. She had wanted so badly to go back to work and focus on something different. Mulder had been by the side all the way, and he had been a great support, but she was struggling to let go of her Mother.

'Scully..' Mulder cooed from behind her. She could feel him behind her. She closed her eyes and hugged herself tighter.

'Scully it's ok, I'll drive you home.' He whispered, and she felt his warm arms curl around her from behind. She let out a breath of pleasure as his familiar strong embrace flowed over her back and then down to her arms. He held onto her tight.

'Mulder..' She breathed. 'I can't get her out of my head...' She started, then felt the tears lace her throat.

'Shh I know.. its ok..' He whispered again in her ear. She couldn't help herself now, she spun around and fell into his chest and let it all out.

As she sobbed into his shirt Mulder stroked her hair gently. He knew that she wasn't ok, and he just wanted her to be his normal Scully again.

They stayed like that for a while until someone ruined their private moment. Skinner opened the door to the office with a loud bang.

'Oh erm… excuse me..' He coughed nervously as he saw them in the embrace. He blushed and looked away. Mulder and Scully broke apart in surprise and Scully brushed her tears away from her eyes. Mulder straightened up his now wet shirt and cleared his throat as he saw Skinner in the door way.

'Sir.. erm.. sorry.' Mulder said and walked towards him. Scully turned away from them and put a hand to her mouth. She wouldn't have been so embarrassed if they had been together. But they weren't now, and it was killing them both. Skinner knew their history, so she knew that he wouldn't hold it against them, but she couldn't help but blush. She noticed that Mulder had led Skinner out of the office and shut the door behind him. She frowned in confusion. What was going on?

'Sir, Scully was upset about her Mother.' Mulder said to Skinner as he shot him a glance. Skinner nodded.

'Agent Mulder, I know your history, and I know that she's grieving. It's ok-' Skinner said with a shrug. Mulder nodded. He didn't really care what anyone thought anyway.

'-But I don't think that she should be here. She can't focus on her work.' He finished. Mulder paused and felt torn. He agreed in a way, she was still hurting and was being stubborn.

'Sir, I have tried to get her take a few more days off but she won't. She doesn't want to.' Mulder said. Skinner sighed.

'Well I guess if you can't persuade her no one can.' He said in a low voice. Mulder bit his bottom lip.

'Agent Mulder, I came down here to give you this.' Skinner handed him a case file. Mulder took it and opened it up. He skimmed through the first few pages.

'What's going on out here?' Scully stormed through the door, red faced. Mulder turned to look at her with worry.

'Nothing, Scully. We're just discussing a case.' He said gently.

'You were talking about me.' She said, and shot Mulder an icy cold look. He saw tears stinging her eyes again and felt dread fill his chest.

'Dana, please..' Skinner started sympathetically.

'No.' She snapped. 'I know you both think that I shouldn't be here.' She said sharply. Mulder started to speak.

'No Mulder.' She interrupted him, and flashed him a hurtful glance. 'I'm going home.' She snapped, and turned on her heels.

Skinner looked at Mulder, then back at Scully awkwardly. He felt like the third wheel.

'Compassionate leave. I'll put it down on your file.' He squeaked awkwardly, and then turned and walked briskly down the corridor.

Mulder turned back to apologize to Scully, but she was already gone.