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The X-Files Jealousy Fanfic Exchange (2022)
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Published:
2022-07-23
Updated:
2022-07-24
Words:
1,749
Chapters:
4/6
Comments:
23
Kudos:
63
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1,835

"She's not my wife"

Summary:

Mulder and Scully work on a new case, but there is someone else involved...

Notes:

Thanks to Sarah for the prompt, and Nicole for organising the exchange. Apologies to both Sarah and Nicole for the delay to the upcoming chapters.

See note at the bottom for the prompt.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Chapter 1: "I'm fine, Mulder"

Chapter Text

14th February, 1997, X Files Office

“I’m fine, Mulder.” she brushed his arm away, “I don’t need your help.”

“You need to go home, you’re too sick to work.” his brow creased in frustration.

She bit back tears, trying not to show the pain she was feeling as a drop of blood fell onto the desk. Her hand flew automatically to her nose, and she took the tissue Mulder offered wordlessly.

“I’m going home.”

“I’ll call you later.”

She didn’t look back as she left.

—

She tried to make it to her car without incident, but as blood began dripping from the tissue, she ducked into a bathroom on the first floor.

Observing her reflection carefully, she dabbed at her face. She looked sick. Her cheeks were hollow and her face pale. She was reapplying lipstick as two women came into the bathroom, deep in discussion.

“He never comes to the office parties, I don’t know why you try.”

“I know he’s perfect for me. Have you seen him?”

“I’ve seen you , making excuses to go down to the basement every week.”

“This week though, something was different. I really felt as if he noticed me.”

“Well, you definitely have something to notice.” her friend laughed and gestured to her chest. “I’ve heard about those videos he watches.”

Scully felt her face flush. “Mulder.” she whispered.

The women looked over at her, they didn’t even recognise her.

She finished applying her lipstick and hurried out of the bathroom, without looking in the mirror again. She couldn’t bear to see herself again.

—

“Scully, please answer. I’m worried about you.” Mulder’s voice echoed through her dark apartment, distorted by the tinny echo of the answering machine.

She lay on her bed, curtains closed against the weak evening sun, willing Mulder to give up on trying to contact her, willing herself to give up on him.

“Scully, I’m not going to leave you alone. I can’t come over because I have to work on a new case. Have you eaten?” The beep as he hung up was a relief to her.

A new case? What was he doing?

Chapter 2: "Scully, please"

Chapter Text

15th February, 1997

“Scully, please answer. I’m on my way over now.” The beep of the answering machine echoed through the silent apartment.

Mulder opened the door, and rushed through the silent apartment. The sheets were ruffled, and the curtains drawn. A tissue with spots of blood on it loomed at him from the floor. She was nowhere to be seen. 

—

“Scully, please.”

“She’s just down the corridor, first door on the left.” the nurse pointed it out for him.

He opened the door. She was propped up on a mound of pillows, her eyes were closed. She was so pale her skin was almost luminescent against the hospital sheets.

He held his breath. “Scully?”

Her eyelids fluttered open. “Mulder? What are you doing here?”

“You didn’t answer my calls. I was worried about you.”

She sat up, ignoring his answer. “What’s the new case you’re working on?”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s not important. How are you doing?”

She waved his question away. “Tell me about the case.” Her eyes had regained some of their usual brightness.

“Skinner gave me a new partner for this case. It’s just some profiling. Nothing important.”

“A new partner?” her eyebrows rose, “Who is it?”

“Not Krycek.” he laughed, reaching for her hand.

—

15th February, 1997, Washington DC

“Oh Agent Mulder.” Agent Williams laughed, “I’m sorry you’ll have to explain it again.”

Mulder sighed, “we have to go undercover as a married couple to visit the fertility clinic for the case.”

“ Married ?” she looked up at him through her eyelashes, “just for the case, of course.”

He forced a laugh, “Of course.”

“So,” she leaned forwards, “tell me more about yourself.”

—

15th February, 1997, Scully’s hospital room

“Room service for a Dana Scully?” he pushed open the door of her hospital room, setting down the takeout box beside her bed.

“Go away, Mulder” she pulled the covers over her head. As she peered out, she hoped that he hadn’t listened. 

He was already gone.

Chapter 3: "She's fine"

Notes:

CW for brief discussion of infertility

Chapter Text

16 th February, 1997, Mulder’s car, outside J Edgar Hoover Building

“Agent Williams, I need you to take this seriously.”

Agent Williams looked over the top of her compact mirror at him, “I am taking it seriously, I need to look the part if I’m going to be your wife.” She cast him an appraising look. “I would hope you are getting into character too.”

“Of course, darling.” He said flatly, fiddling with the wedding ring on his finger which was part of their cover.

They were about to drive to the fertility clinic, and ask some questions about their IVF program.

“I can’t overstate how important this case is to me, Agent Williams.”

She raised her eyebrows, “I’ve heard about your partner.” Her voice softened, “how is she? How are you coping?”

“She’s fine. I’m fine.” Scully’s last ‘I’m fine’ echoed in his ears.

---

16 th February, 1997, Scully’s hospital room

“Hey Scully,” he called softly, knocking on the door.

She woke with a start, “What is it?”

“Nice to see you too.”

She was even paler than yesterday, tubes emerging from under the blankets, a myriad of beeping and different coloured liquids keeping her alive.

“So, how are things?” she pushed herself up on the pillows.

“New case is tricky. I’ve got some questions, and I thought who better than my favourite medical expert to answer them?” his words fell hollow in the room.

She considered him, “What is it?”

“I want to know more about IVF treatment. Would it be possible for someone to undergo IVF without their knowledge?”

Her brow creased, “Hm, I think it would be unlikely, but certainly possible.” She paused. “Mulder, are you only here to ask me questions about your mysterious new case?”

“No, of course I’m not.” She was almost pleased to see him looking confused and hurt, “I thought you might want to hear about the case, you know, since you keep asking about it. I need your expertise.”

“Of course you need my expertise.” She rubbed her eyes, “Do you need me ?”

He paced the room, hands in his pockets. “Scully…”

“You’re not going to answer that?" her voice broke, "Who will do your autopsies when I’m dead?” She turned her face into the pillow so that he wouldn’t see her cry.

She wasn't the only one hiding their tears.

Chapter 4: "Mr and Mrs Petrie?"

Notes:

CW: more (brief) discussions of infertility

Chapter Text

16th February, 1997, Mulder’s apartment

“Scully, please answer.” He called her again, to be met with only the cold beep of her answerphone, “I am so sorry for earlier. Of course I need you. I can’t even do this one case without you.” He shook his head, “it’s not about work. I can’t do anything without you. I don’t need anyone except you.”

---

16th February, 1997, Scully’s hospital room

“Dana, how are you doing?” the nurse bustled into her room, checking on the drips and machines.

“Oh, I’m fine.”

The nurse tutted, “of course you’re not. Do you have any pain?”

“No, nothing.” How could she describe how she was feeling?

“Why don’t you check your phone, perhaps some of your family will have called you? It would do you good to talk with them.” The nurse’s tone was almost too sympathetic, but she took her phone when offered.

Three messages from Mulder of course. Her mother didn’t know she was back in the hospital.

“Scully, please answer. I am so sorry for earlier.” She hung up the call, turning back to the nurse.

“Who’s that then?” the nurse smiled, “do you want to call them back? I can help you if you need.”

“No thanks, I don’t need anything.” She didn’t need anything. She didn’t need anyone. Especially when he didn’t need her.

---

17th February, 1997, hospital atrium

“Why do we have to go to this hospital?” Mulder fidgeted in his seat in the waiting room.

“It’s the best in the area, darling.” Agent Williams rested her hand on his arm. He tried not to look at her. All he could think about was Scully, several floors above them. They were here to help her.

“Mr and Mrs Petrie?” the nurse called them over, Agent Williams held his hand as they crossed the room.

“So, Mr and Mrs Petrie, what can we do for you today?” the doctor was business-like.

Mulder didn’t trust himself to speak, “We are hoping to welcome a baby into our family in the next couple of years but we have been struggling to conceive. We’ve heard this clinic is the best.”

The doctor smiled, “you’re in the best hands, Mrs Petrie. We will do our best to help you. Let me talk you through the tests we will do.”

Mulder stared at the cold metal examination table. Had Scully been brought here or somewhere like here? Was this why she was sick?

He imagined her lying unconscious on the bed, with Dr Scanlon towering over her, and he felt bile rise in his mouth, “Excuse me, Doctor, I have to use the bathroom.” Attempting a reassuring smile at Agent Williams he got up from his seat.

Back in the clinical cool of the waiting room, he searched for the bathroom. Splashing water on his face as his heartrate returned to normal.

Someone else entered the bathroom as he dried his face. It was a Kurt Crawford.

“Excuse me?” he stepped towards him, “can I ask you a few questions?” he reached for his badge.

The man turned and ran, the door of the bathroom crashed shut behind him.

Mulder charged down the corridor after him, wondering where Agent Williams was.

“Stop!” the Kurt Crawford had disappeared around the corner. He looked wildly around the hospital floor, but he was nowhere to be seen.

---
“Darling!” he turned round, it was Agent Williams, “you missed the rest of the appointment. Are you feeling alright?” She touched his forehead, “the doctor had lots of useful information for us.” She took his arm, marching him out of the waiting room with a handful of leaflets clutched in her hand.

“We need…” he said weakly. His voice faded as he saw a small, redheaded figure crossing the hall, supported by a nurse. Agent Williams’ false nails dug into his skin as she gripped his arm.

He was wondering if he wanted Scully to notice him when he saw her freeze. She looked like a deer caught in headlights.

Notes:

Jealous Scully please. Mulder is assigned to work undercover as part of a married couple with a blonde bombshell female agent who is very into Mulder and only too happy to play the part of his wife. Mulder looks to be reciprocating (but is really only getting into character for the assignment) and Scully is NOT happy. Lots of pining and misunderstanding ensue before reconciliation and comfort etc.