Title: Die For You Author: Eileen Whipple Classification: S/A Rating: PG Summary: Mulder risks his life for Scully and she thanks him. DISCLAIMER: All characters (except the bad guy) belong to Chris Carter and 10-13 Productions. I just borrowed them. Note: I am not a shipper. I wrote this during the summer of 1996 after listening to Jann Arden's song "I Would Die For You". Maybe this is a song fic, but it doesn't really revolve around the song. **Die For You** "This seat taken?" Special Agent Dana Scully heard a voice say from behind her. She turned around on the bench she was sitting on. "Hey, Mulder." It was her partner, Fox Mulder. "I called your place but you weren't home," Mulder said, sitting beside Scully. "I was so stressed out after teaching that one class." She sighed. "Why did they have to get me to sub? I'm sure there are other pathologists they could've called." "They only wanted the best." Mulder grinned. "They got her." Scully gave a half-smile. "Thanks, Mulder. I needed that." "So, you come here often?" They were sitting on a bench facing the Potomac River. Scully leaned back. "I come here to relax, to think, to look at the stars." "How was the class?" Mulder asked. Scully shrugged. "The usual. People watching your every move." "Now you know how I feel every minute of the day," Mulder said, trying to sound serious. Scully laughed, rolling her eyes. She stopped laughing. "It's like déjà vu. This is what happened after Skinner shut down the X-files." It was true. After Scully and Mulder had been split up--Scully returning to Quantico to teach pathology and Mulder being assigned to white-collar crimes--they'd meet in a park near the Tidal Basin. Now, they were partners again and they could talk at work. "Well, I think I'm ready to go," Scully said, standing up. "I'll see you tomorrow." Mulder jumped to his feet. "I'll walk you to the parking lot." She shrugged. They started down the path between two areas of trees. Scully walked slowly, her pumps clicking on the asphalt trail. Everything was silent until a loud voice boomed the four words: "Give me your money!" Both agents whirled around, only to be faced by a man brandishing a knife. He repeated his request and Scully reached into her purse for her wallet. She knew what to do: give him the money. Scully shot Mulder a look, warning him not to use his gun. He went into his inside pocket for his wallet. As he pulled it out, his FBI credentials fell out. Keeping his eyes on Mulder and Scully, the thief picked up the creds. "So you're a Fed?" Mulder kept still. "Give me your money," he said to Scully. As she handed him the wad of bills, the man grabbed her wrist. "Your girlfriend is coming with me to have some fun." Mulder's hand flew to his hip holster and he whipped out his gun. "Let her go!" he ordered. The man moved the knife to Scully's throat. She held her breath as the cold metal blade touched her neck. She kept still; she knew that either way--if Mulder tried to save her then or if he let the man take her and tried to save her later--she could wind up dead. The man could slit her throat there or he could carry her off, try to have his way with her and when she wouldn't give in, he could stab her to death, or shoot her if he found her gun in her purse. She prayed he wouldn't find it. He did. "Well, let me guess," he said. "You two are both Feds and you're screwing around. My applause to you, man. You picked a great one." "Let her go now, before I have to shoot you," Mulder growled. The man laughed. "I have a gun too, remember?" He held up Scully's gun. Scully started to speak but the man threw her down. "Shut up! Both of you!" "Scully, get behind me!" Mulder called. She started to crawl behind her partner. "You're not going anywhere!" the man bellowed. "Get back here!" Despite that, Scully kept on the ground. She had a scrape on her leg and it stung like crazy. That's when the man pulled on the gun, preparing to shoot. He had his finger on the trigger; Mulder knew he wasn't bluffing so he kept his gun pointed at the man. The stranger pulled the trigger. He pulled it quickly; Mulder didn't have time to fire his own gun. He had to protect his partner and best friend. He threw himself in front of Scully, in the way of the bullet. "Mulder! No!" Scully cried as the slug entered Mulder's side. The man dropped the gun and started to run. Mulder had collapsed on Scully, moaning in pain. She reached for his gun. She thought she should try to shoot the thief to have proof she didn't shoot Mulder. She blindly shot at the fleeing figure. She must have hit the man; she heard him curse and fall to the ground, groaning in agony. Scully knew she had to find help for Mulder. She felt for his pulse; it was faint. He was breathing but unconscious. She reached in his jacket pocket, in search of Mulder's cellular phone. Luckily, he had it. Scully dialled 911. "Emergency," the dispatcher said. "Yes, my name is Dana Scully. My friend was just shot during a robbery. I shot at the thief and I think I got him." "Where are you, ma'am?" the dispatcher asked. Scully licked her lips. "We're on a bike trail near the Potomac Parkway. There's a sign here. We're on the Madison Trail." "Okay, ma'am. We're sending an ambulance and the police." "Thanks a lot." Scully was going to try to stop the bleeding. She tore off a piece of her blouse and placed it on Mulder's wound. "The bullet entered his left side. I don't think it hit a lung but it might've hit an artery. I'm applying pressure to the wound," Scully told the dispatcher. "Good. Now, is your friend unconscious?" Scully gulped. "Yeah, but he's still breathing." She then heard the ambulance. "I'll hang up now. The ambulance is here." As the paramedics loaded Mulder into the ambulance, Scully hoped he'd be okay on the way to the hospital. "Hey, Mulder," Scully said, smiling, as her partner opened his eyes for the first time in three days. Mulder tried to talk but his mouth was dry. Scully quickly jumped up and poured him a glass of water. He took a gulp and then said, "How long have I been out?" "Three days. The bullet entered your ribcage but missed your heart and lung. You are one lucky guy." "What about the thief? Did the cops catch him?" Mulder asked, painfully sitting up. "His name is Thomas Ferguson. I shot him. I got him in the arm. The police took him into custody." "Thanks for shooting him. At least we have proof I didn't shoot myself showing off." He laughed a bit. He stopped as Scully took his hand. Her voice quivered as she said, "Mulder, you risked your life for me. You don't know how grateful I am." Tears dripped down her cheeks. "Aww, Scully. Don't cry," Mulder begged, wiping her tears away with his hand. "But Mulder, I owe my life to you. You've saved me so many times, risking your own life." Mulder squeezed his best friend's hand. "Scully, I'd die for you if it meant saving your life. I'd die for you if I had to." Scully smiled, standing. "You should get some sleep. You need it." She started walking but Mulder kept hold of her hand. "I'd die for you," he said, letting her go. "I'd die for you," he repeated in a whisper, drifting off to sleep. "Don't you know I could not survive Without you in my life I would die for you..." ************************** Feedback to: avatar27@connect.ab.ca