TITLE: The Necklace

AUTHOR: Gabi Fisher

SPOILER WARNING: Redux I & II

CLASSIFICATION: VA

THANKS TO: Brianna (my beta-reader :) ) for all her support

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anyone in here. I'm not even pretending to. No infringement intended.

This story takes place mid-Redux 2 after Scully has the implant replaced but before she gets better.

*        *         *

As Mulder listened to Scully’s rhythmic breathing, broken only by coughing fits, the electronic beep from the machine behind him seemed to quiet into the background. Concern was etched in his face, unlike her slack, sleeping face. She was on her side and Mulder had one of her hands between her two, forming a bundle of entwined fingers.

Scully shifted in her sleep and Mulder decided that he would go and get some coffee, figuring she wouldn’t wake up for a while anyway. As carefully as he could, he removed his hands and stood up. He had taken no less than three steps when Scully woke up.

"Hey," she said softly, using her hands to push herself into a sitting position. "When did you get here?"

"Hey, yourself. I got here a little bit ago. I didn’t want to wake you," Mulder answered, sitting back down in the chair by her bed.

Scully, unsure what to say, just stared at her hands.

Mulder, looking at Scully, asked, "You feeling any better? No one would tell me anything when I got here after your mother called."

Scully smiled a little, though there was no humor in it. "Well, I don’t really feel worse, if that counts. I’m not really sure why Mom called you. I’m the same as last time you saw me," she said, though she knew she was lying. She just hoped that Mulder didn’t see through the thinly veiled lies. She was feeling worse. The doctor’s prognosis was not good. The implant Mulder had found did not seem to be doing anything. But she couldn’t let Mulder know that. She didn’t want him to worry about him. Scully was glad to see Mulder, though.

"Are you sure?" Mulder asked, as if he could not grasp the fact that Scully was neither better nor worse, but just hanging in an unaltered state.

"I’m positive, Mulder. I’m fine." Scully had begun to doubt that she would ever be able to truthfully answer "I’m fine" again. She doubted that she would ever get better, yet that was what Mulder kept asking. How could you convince someone else if you aren’t entirely convinced yourself?

Neither spoke and the silence was somewhere between comfortable and unsettling. Mulder was still staring at Scully, and she avoided looking at him by staring at the foot of her bed. When she could no longer stand the silence, Scully reached to the back of her neck and unclasped her necklace. She took it off and closed it again. She reached for Mulder’s hand and gently placed her necklace in his hand. She closed his fingers around it and held his fist in her hands. She looked at their hands as she spoke, afraid to look into his eyes.

"I want you to have this, Mulder." Scully wanted to say more, but could think of nothing else to say. She finally looked up, and saw him battling emotions. He saw his choices and had to decide.

The truth finally dawned on Mulder. He realized that everything Scully had attempted to convince him of was a lie. She was not getting better or even staying the same. She was getting worse and was giving in. She just didn’t know how to tell him. With fierce determination, Mulder said, "No, Scully. I can’t take it. You have to wear it. You won’t die. You won’t. If I take it, I will be giving in, and I refuse to do that. I refuse to let you give in. We will make it through this and we will move past it. I will not stop fighting until you are cured."