Work Text:
You found me all messed up
You found me down on my luck, so lost
But then I woke up in love
***
He comes to slowly, his brain trying to remember where he is. He blinks lazily, convinced he’s still dreaming when he catches strands of his favorite shade of red. It’s Scully red. Her hair is like wildfire on the white motel pillow. Mulder revels in this moment; he doesn’t get to see her like this every day. How lucky he is, he thinks, that the cow crashed through his roof and had him end up here in Scully’s room. In her bed, too. That, he has to admit, was less the cow’s doing and more his own. The cot they’d been given kept squeaking and sighing under his weight. Scully didn’t want to give up her bed but invited him to share. Share a bed. Him and her. He didn’t have to think twice. He didn’t have to think about it at all. He picked up his pillow and slipped into bed with her.
“It’s only for one night,” Scully had muttered, sounding half asleep already. Mulder, on the other hand, had just grinned until he, too, fell asleep.
Now his smile returns full force. And once again it’s because of this woman. His best friend. His partner. He glances at her, glad she’s still sleeping peacefully, so he can marvel at how amazing she is. Oh, he’d love to tell her, too. But he’s only just allowed himself these thoughts and he doesn’t think she’s ready to hear them just yet. His blurted love confession after his Bermuda Triangle adventure has taught him that much. Laying here beside her, though, he wants to repeat the sentiment. It’s nothing but the truth. This morning, he woke up in love. With her. There’s no one else.
If Scully could hear his thoughts, he’s certain, she’d roll her eyes. He knows her, after all. How to explain to her what’s going through his head right now? He imagines it, waking up with her like this all the time. No more long, dark nights where he loses sleep, caught up in his thoughts. One look at her, knowing she’s safe, and his mind is at ease.
“It’s you, Scully,” he whispers into the quiet morning, hoping his words touch her in her dreams. “No one but you.”
She doesn’t wake and he smiles at her, already excited to make fun of her for sleeping late. Just a little bit. Whenever they don’t share a room, she’s up before him. Does that mean having him close does the same to her as it does to him? He hopes so. With all they’ve been through, he knows the darkness finds her too, invades her dreams. He brushes a strand of hair away from her forehead before he can stop himself. She sighs but still doesn’t wake.
“Thank you, Scully,” he whispers. “For everything. I wish I could tell you while we’re both awake. But if you were, you’d call me crazy, or sleep-deprived. It’s okay. I know you’re not ready. I can wait until you are.” She stirs, and his heart thumps loudly in his chest. Her eyes open and unlike him, she doesn’t seem at all surprised to see him there in her bed, looking at her. He can’t see himself, but from the way she’s staring at him, he thinks he must be wearing a goofy grin.
“Good morning,” he says. “I thought you’d sleep until noon.”
“What time is it?” she asks, yawning and stretching.
“I have no idea,” he answers truthfully.
“We’re here for a case.”
“Hmm,” he says, amused.
“Your case,” she reminds him and he nods. Neither of them moves to get up. “How long have you been awake?”
“Five minutes or so.”
“And you just…”
“Was waiting for you to wake up. Coffee is on me this morning,” he adds with a big grin.
“You have morning breath,” she says, but her eyes twinkle. Yes, he wants to experience this every morning for the rest of his life.
“So do you, Dr. Scully.”
“We need to get up,” she says but doesn't move.
“I know,” he replies. But he, too, is hesitant. As soon as they do, the magic spell will be broken. He’s not brazen enough to try and kiss her. Or try and tell her about his thoughts. But he thinks she can read it in his eyes. What would she say if he told her that this morning he woke up in love? With her? His lips twitch back into a smile. This time hers do, too. He knows dark days will find him again. Her, too. But he also knows they will be there for the other, ready to lend a shoulder to lean on. A bed to share. A hand to hold on to when things get too bad.
“How did you sleep?” he asks instead of leaving their small cocoon. The way her cheeks color is answer enough.
“I slept okay,” she says, trying to sound nonchalant. She’s not fooling him, but she bites his lip. “You?”
“I haven’t slept this well since… since I can’t even remember.”
“Must be the fresh air here in Kansas,” Scully says and he knew it couldn’t last forever. She gets out of bed, her hair a mess and her pajamas disheveled. “Okay if I shower first?”
“Go ahead,” he says, watching her.
Mulder stays in bed a moment longer, just smiling to himself.
He's a man in love but for now, he's gotta keep it a secret.