Title: Aftermath
Author: phantagrae
Category: Vignette, Post-ep
Disclaimers: Whatever
Spoilers: Has anyone not seen everything by now? Grotesque.
Feedback: Yes, please. phantagrae@earthlink.net

Summary: After the events of Grotesque.
Archive: Sure, just let me know.
Author's Notes: Written for the Haven Talk To Me 700 Word Dialogue Challenge. Elements at the end.

*  *  *  *  *

"Mulder, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Scully."

"You're shivering, Mulder."

"I'm soaked."

"You have a fever."

"No, I don't."

"You're burning up."

"I'm freezing."

"I think you need to go home and go straight to bed."

"Agent Scully, are you coming on to me?"

"Cut it out, Mulder. I'm serious."

"So am I."

"Just lie back and rest until we get you home."

"I didn't want to shoot him, Scully."

"I know, Mulder. I know. It's going to be okay."

"He was a pain in the ass, but he taught me a lot."

"I take it you had a complicated relationship with him."

"Half the time he reminded me of my father. Sometimes that made me admire him, and other times that made he resent him."

"I think he thought very highly of you."

"He had a funny way of showing it."

"He was..."

"God, Scully, I shot him."

"It's all right. He's going to live."

"Scully, will you turn up the heater?"

"Sure, Mulder. Is that better?"

"Thanks."

/ /

"Mulder? Wake up. We're home."

"I'm awake."

"You were snoring, but that's okay. I want more of the same for you tonight."

"We're at your place."

"Yes. You need to sleep in a real bed, not on that couch of yours."

"I love my couch."

"I know. But you don't want to sweat all over the leather, do you? You've got a fever."

"You don't want to know what's happened on that leather, Scully. Sweat is nothing."

"Let's change the subject, okay?"

"Okay. Do you think Patterson is going to live?"

"Yes. I know you didn't want to shoot him, Mulder."

"He was the killer. He was possessed by that...that...demon."

"Sshh, Mulder. Let's get you out of these wet things and into a warm bath, okay?"

"Agent Scully, are you coming on to me?"

"Cut it out, Mulder. You're in no condition."

"Ooh, but I'll be better in the morning..."

"Hush. I'm going to start the bath."

/ /

"AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! Get away from her!!! Get away from her!!! Sculleeee!!!!!"

"Mulder! Mulder, wake up!!"

"Scully!! NOOOOO!!!! Get away from her!!!"

"Mulder! WAKE UP!"

"AAAHHHH...!"

"Sshh, it's okay. It's all over, Mulder."

"Oh, my God, Scully. He was cutting you..."

"It was just a dream, Mulder. It's okay now."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"For what? You had a bad dream. It's understandable after all the horrible things in this case."

"I'm sorry I didn't figure it out sooner. I'm sorry Nemhauser was killed. I'm sorry it turned out to be Patterson. I'm sorry I had to shoot him. I'm sorry...I..."

"Oh, Mulder, don't cry. It's not your fault. Whatever Patterson did, however it was that he got caught up in this case, it had nothing to do with you. You had no reason to suspect him. There's no way you could have predicted what happened to Nemhauser."

"I saw the demon, Scully. I saw it that night. I dreamed about it. It could have been me, turning into that thing, that monstrous, hideous, bloodthirsty thing..."

"Mulder..."

"It could have been me killing Nemhauser. Or you."

"No, Mulder, it could never have been you."

"Scully..."

"Let it go, Mulder. It's all over."

/ /

"Good morning, Mulder. How are you feeling?"

"A lot better, thanks. Was I a lot of trouble last night?"

"No, Mulder. No more trouble than usual."

"You've got bedhead, Scully."

"You should talk. Open your mouth."

"Scully, I don't have a fever."

"Stop talking and open your mouth."

"Scully..."

"I have a different kind of thermometer, if you won't open your mouth."

"The kind that goes in your ear?"

"No."

"Oh."

"Thanks. Now, let the person with the medical degree decide whether or not you have a fever."

"Scwwy, I dnnt hvv m fvvr."

"Hush. Just a few more minutes."

"So, what's the verdict?"

"Just a smidge. A couple of Tylenol should fix you right up."

"Thanks, Scully. For everything."

"My pleasure, Mulder."

"Looks like it's a beautiful morning."

"Yes. No more rain, plenty of sunshine. I think we should take the day off. We had a pretty hard schedule on this case and we could both use some down time."

"Agent Scully, are you coming on to me?"

*  *  *  *  *

Challenge Elements
700 Words
All Dialogue

Set During or Immediately after one of these episodes:
Ice
*Grotesque*
How the Ghosts Stole Christmas
Humbug
Tithonus
The Field Where I Died
Kill Switch
Young At Heart

To include any 5 of the following words:
*sunshine*
*leather*
congratulations
Bermuda onions
attic
roses
*monstrous*
*schedule*
*snoring*
diaphanous