TITLE: Once More From The Heart AUTHOR: salliejohns EMAIL ADDRESS: salliejohns@comcast.net SPOILERS: Triangle RATING: Should be fine for anyone CLASSIFICATION: Gentle MSR SUMMARY: Fluffy post-ep for Triangle DISCLAIMER: FOX, 1013, and Chris Carter-or some combination thereof- own everything except the idea for this silly, little scenario. FEEDBACK: Favorable feedback is cherished, acknowledged and saved in a special folder DEDICATION: While this story isn't about an anniversary, it *is* about love. It's dedicated to my friend Gwen and her husband Tim, on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary. Way to go, guys! Once More From The Heart by salliejohns This time Dana Scully had really blown it--blown it big time. Weren't FBI agents supposed to be fearless? Well, not fearless exactly, but brave certainly. Scully however, hadn't been brave at all. When it came right down to it, when it was time to step up to the plate, Scully had caved. She hadn't turned and run actually, but she'd come damn close to it. Scully tried not to think about it, tried to put it out of her mind, but it simply wasn't that easy. She knew what she had to do to make things right, if only in her own mind. So at 9:30 PM, Scully took off the warm fuzzy robe that she'd retreated into earlier in the evening, pulled on a pair of jeans and a navy turtleneck, and headed out into the night. Visiting hours were long over by the time the cowardly g-woman arrived at the hospital. Since there was obviously no "official" investigation in progress, Scully's FBI credentials did little to gain her access to Mulder's floor, much less his room. Luckily she'd had the presence of mind earlier that day to make sure she was listed as her partner's private physician in the hospital's database. After only a few minutes and a couple of desultory questions, Dr. Dana Scully was informed that everything seemed "in order," and she was allowed to make her way down the hall to Mulder's room, although not before being reminded that "Mr. Mulder is sleeping. He needs his rest." Biting back her own terse rejoinder, Scully forged ahead with her mission. Hesitation might very well allow her to entertain thoughts of retreat, and that surely wouldn't do for a fearless FBI woman like herself. Scully walked purposefully into her partner's room, and faltered. Mulder was sleeping on his back, his mouth slightly open, his chest rising and falling evenly. Quickly and quietly, Scully checked his chart. She wasn't sure if she was surprised or relieved to find that Mulder's I/V contained only normal saline for rehydration. He had received no pain relief medication since his admission, and the only sedative administered was a mild sleeping pill at 9 PM. When Scully, Skinner and the Gunmen visited that afternoon, Mulder was on nothing mind altering. The words he had spoken had come from his heart. Scully wasn't one for public displays of affection, but she knew she had hurt Mulder that afternoon with her flip reply to his sweet declaration of love. She hadn't realized how much she had wanted to hear those words until the moment had passed. It was time, high time, to make things right. Even though Mulder was asleep, Scully felt sure that on some level her message would be heard. Bending low to whisper in his ear, Scully drew a deep breath. "I love you too, Mulder. I guess I've been fighting to keep from acknowledging the feeling, even to myself." Sealing her oath with a tiny kiss to his temple, Scully turned and quietly left the room. fin