Title:  Making a Long Story Short

Author:  Waddles52

Summary:  Scully answers Mulder's questions about 

their trip to New Mexico

Spoilers:  Fill-in-the-blank for Anasazi

Eating:  PG

Archives:  After_the_Fact.  Others please ask.

Disclaimer:  No copyright infringement intended.  

Just for fun.  Not for profit.

Feedback:  Sure.  DASWaddles52@aol.com



Mulder came out of the bathroom and sat down very carefully on the

side of the bed.



"Are you okay?" Scully asked, concern on her face.



"I'm a little shaky, but considering what the past few days have been

like, I guess I'm okay.  Would you care to fill me in on what happened

after you shot me?  I don't seem to remember much."



"It's a pretty long story.  Why don't you drink this glass of water

and let me change your bandages.  I'll try to fill you in."



"Throw in a cheeseburger and fries and you've got a deal," he grimaced

as she began to pull the tape from his shoulder.



"Mr. Hosteen is going to bring us something to eat later.  For right

now you need to concentrate on getting some fluids into your system."



"Yes, Doctor," He teased and rolled his eyes upward.  "Ouch!  Easy on

the tape!  I'd like to have a little chest hair left."



"You drink and I'll try to make this long story short."



"Okay.  Go," he said as he took a sip of water.



"Some of your neighbors heard the gunshot and called 911, so I had to

get you out of there fast.  Thank goodness I was able to rouse you

enough to get you on your feet.  I practically carried you to my car,

shoved you in the back seat and got the hell out of there."



"Nosey neighbors.  Gotta love em, huh Scully?"



"Especially yours."  She finished pulling off the bandages.  "It's

looking good," Scully pronounced.  "I'll put on some antibiotic

ointment, bandage it up again and give you some more antibiotics to be

on the safe side."



"What did you do after you got me in your car?" he asked.



"Keep drinking and I'll keep talking."  He drank some more water and

she continued.  "After I got you in the car I broke the sound barrier

getting to my apartment.  You were completely out of it so I ran to my

apartment and got my medical kit and some blankets.  After that I

stopped at a drugstore for bandages and a few supplies and took off

down I-95 hoping you weren't bleeding to death in the back seat of my

car.  I finally pulled into a rest stop to dress your wounds and call

Mr. Hosteen.  By then you were getting pretty restless.  You weren't

making a lot of sense and were in quite a bit of pain so I injected

you with some pretty strong stuff and hoped for the best."



"You must be exhausted," he sympathized.



"I've had a little sleep.  At the time I was mostly running on

adrenaline.  When this is over I'll probably crash for a couple of

days.  There, I've got you bandaged up again."  She rummaged around in

her medical kit and came up with a hypodermic and a vial of

medication.  "Sorry, but I've got to inject the antibiotics."



Mulder made a face and stuck out his right arm.



"Sorry, Mulder, but this needs to go in your hip,"  she apologized.



Scully helped him stand and he shoved his jeans down far enough for

her to give the injection.



"Did Mister Hosteen say when he'd be back?"  Mulder asked as Scully

helped him sit back down.



"Hungry?"



"Yeah, but more interested in what he has to show me."



"Mulder, you need to recuperate a bit before you go traipsing off to

the desert or wherever it is that he wants to take you," Scully

advised.



"I'll drink some more water and rest until he gets back with the food.  

Okay?"  He scooted back and leaned against the headboard of the bed

while Scully adjusted the pillows.



"It's a start," she agreed.



"You didn't happen to bring any clothes did you?  I seem to be missing

a shirt."



"I scrapped it back on I-95.  I did manage to find a Wal-Mart close

by.  I picked up a few things for you while Mr. Hosteen stayed with

you."  She handed him a blue Wal-Mart bag.  "It's a button-up shirt.  

I thought it would be easier to get on and off.  There's also a

toothbrush and a few other items.  I had to guess at your sizes.  I

hope I was close."



Mulder peeked in the bag.  "I'm sure everything will be fine," he

assured her.



Albert Hosteen opened the door.  "I've brought food," he announced.



After they ate their fill, Mulder cleaned himself up and put on

Scully's purchases.  Everything was a perfect fit.  He emerged from

the bathroom ready to go.



"I wish you would rest a little more.  You've been through quite a lot

in the past few days," Scully pointed out.



"I'm okay, Scully.  Really.  I need to do this.  We need some answers.  

Both of us."



"Just be careful.  Call me on your cell phone and let me know what's

going on.  I'll continue to work on these translations until I have to

leave."



Mulder patted his pocket to be sure he had his phone.  "You'll never

be more than a phone call away," he assured her.  "I'll call as soon

as I know something."



"Okay, Mulder," she sighed.  "Will you be coming back to D.C.?"



"As soon as I possibly can."



"I'll be waiting," Scully said as they went through the door.  She sat

down at the desk and began pouring over the papers, trying to decipher

what she could, all the time praying that Mulder would turn up

something.  He had to.





END