His face is turned away from me but I know he's awake. Finally. She's refused to leave his side for the last six hours despite Skinner's and my pleas for her to think of her baby and get some rest.

'No, he'll wake up and I need to be here when he does. I have to be here.'

It had been pointless to press her. Nothing existed for her except the man in the bed. Nothing and no one. If I wondered about the depth of her love for him before, I have no doubts now. It is limitless and pure and that realization stabs painfully in a place I thought had long ago lost all ability to feel.

Her gaze tells me she can read the pain in my face and I look away, trying to shield her from the guilt I know she'll take upon herself for the way I'm feeling. She's known for some time that I care very much for her, beyond what I ever expected. Her courage, her intelligence, her beauty, have all contributed to the ache in my chest at the sight of them together. Finally together.

When I look up, her eyes connect with mine again for a brief moment. Understanding glows in them, along with a fleeting sadness. I turn away at that and close the door. I can't bear her pity. She has everything she's ever wanted and she feels sorrow for my empty life, a life she briefly allowed me to share with her.

I stand outside the door for a moment, my hand still on the doorknob. Her voice murmurs something to Mulder. Soothing words of love and reconnection. He replies with a voice rusted to a ragged whisper by what he's been through. I don't need to hear the words to know what they're saying to each other.

"Agent Dogget?"

I turn to face the only other man on the planet who comprehends what I'm feeling at this moment. Skinner has loved her much longer than even he knew until today.

"He's awake, isn't he?"

I nod and turn away from the door.

"Scully's with him now." His tone carries the many layered meaning in that simple phrase.

"Yes, she is."

I touch his shoulder, giving and receiving an instant of comfort, a moment of shared pain and gratitude. Pain for the loss of the woman in the next room who is forever beyond the reach of either of us. Gratitude for having been able to help bring her soul back to her.

Scully is with Mulder.

***

END