He fired. Most of the lock fell away. He took off the remnants and opened the doors. “Scully?” he called for what seemed like the millionth time. “Mulder!” a muffled voice said from within. He let out a breath of relief. They opened the doors.
    Mulder went in and moved some of the rusty tools. He then took a crowbar and wedged it in the boards. He pushed against it as hard as he could and the board came loose with a loud snap. “Talk to me, Scully. Are you okay? We’re almost there, Scully. You’re almost free.”
    “Mulder, hurry. I… I lost a lot of blood.”
    He quickly worked on freeing another board. “Scully, don’t worry. You’re safe now.” He turned to the officers behind him. “Get the paramedics over here, now.” He went back to work on the boards. “Scully?” He pried off a third.
    “Yeah?” her weak voice answered.
    “You’re going to be alright. Just hang in there… for me?”
    “I’ll try, Mulder.”
    One of the officers got into the hole carefully. He held up her bound and bloody body. Even though he knew fully well what had happened to her, the sight of it again did not fail to shock him once more. “Oh God…” Mulder whispered as he took her into his arms.
    “Mulder,” Scully said in a weak voice. “I-“
    “Shh… Save your strength.”
    “Mulder, listen to me… I’m dying.”
    “No,” he said do fervently that she looked slightly taken aback. “No. You’re not dying on me.” He then whispered, “Not this time.” He gently took the tape from her mouth and brushed dirty strands of hair from her face. “You’ll be alright.” He cut off her bonds with a pair of garden shears.
    She tried to shake her head. “No… no, I’m not alright. Look, Mulder.” Her newly freed hand was clutching her stomach. She pulled her hand away and revealed the large gash across her torso. She looked into his eyes, about to say something, but Mulder cut her off.
    “Scully, the ambulance is already here. They’ll get you to Vida Nueva Hospital and get you treated. You’ll be okay… I promise.”
    She gave him a small, weak smile through blue tinged lips.
    He smiled back at her as the paramedics came through the door. He gently lay her on the floor and stood aside to make room for them. She’ll be okay. You got here much earlier than before. She has to be okay, he told himself firmly.
    Mulder watched as they put her on a gurney, hooked up an IV, and gave her an oxygen mask. Soon, they began wheeling Scully toward the ambulance. Mulder walked with them. “I’m riding with her,” he said with a tone that left nothing to argument. He tossed his car keys to a nearby police officer. “You. Ever been a valet? Too bad, you’re following us to the hospital in my car. You can have one of your buddies take you home. Oh, and radio Detective Jenkins. Tell her to meet us in Vida Nueva.” He climbed into the ambulance after the medics and Scully. They closed the doors and drove out toward Vida Nueva.
    The 20-minute ride to Vida Nueva was, overall, uneventful. Mulder tried to keep out of the way of the paramedics while he held Scully’s hand. He wondered if she remembered any of what had happened last time. Particularly what they had said to each other. If the whole previous experience had taught him anything, it was not to wait for tomorrow because you never know what will happen before it comes. Who knows when either of us will be close to death? What if I die before I can tell her? What if she does? I want her to know. It’ll be so much easier to tell her now that I know she feels the same way. But how will we work together if we pursue a relationship? And will our friendship remain the same? Truthfully, I need her more as a friend than as a lover… Though, it would be nice… He shook his head slightly. Why are you thinking about things like that? he scolded himself. She was just raped! Why am I thinking about sex when she just got raped? Because it seems like it was 3 weeks ago… And what if it was all just a dream? The day Scully died, the funeral, the three weeks, the whole second chance bit…? No. It couldn’t have been a dream. It was too real, too clear. I remembered it all when I woke up. I knew everything that would happen today… But dreams have been known to foretell the future sometimes. He felt like sighing. He wouldn’t get an answer to his questions any time soon. He gazed at Scully’s eyes and smiled. At least she was going to be alright. She had to be alright.

    They arrived at Vida Nueva Hospital at 10:36. They got out of the ambulance and wheeled Scully into the Emergency Room area. Mulder tried to follow them, but nurses stopped him about halfway to the operating room. They led him to the waiting room, made him sit down, and gave him some papers to fill out for Scully. He sighed. He began filling out the forms but then stopped. He got up, noticing the three nurses were still watching him, and walked over to the receptionist desk. “Can I use your phone? Thanks.” He dialed a number from memory and waited.
    “Hello?”
    “Mrs. Scully? It’s Mulder, Dana’s partner?”
    “Oh, hello, Fox.”
    He wished she would stop calling him by his first name. It was slightly disconcerting.
    “Where are you? And what’s wrong? You wouldn’t call if nothing’s wrong.”
    Mulder hesitated. “Um… we’re in Vida Nueva, Nebraska. Dana’s in the hospital…”
    “What’s happened to her? Is Dana okay? Is it her cancer again?” she asked in a horrified tone.
    “No, it’s not her cancer. She was kidnapped-“ Mrs. Scully gasped. “-and they… they cut her across her torso…” He heard her give a small sob. Maybe he shouldn’t have gotten too detailed. “I got to her as soon as I could and got her to a hospital immediately. I’m not sure how bad it is. They’re in there with her now, but they wouldn’t let me go in with her.”
    “So, is she going to be alright?” she asked, sniffling.
    Mulder paused. He wanted to say yes, but he wasn’t certain. “ I don’t know for sure. The cut was pretty bad but, knowing Dana, I’m pretty sure she’ll pull through. She always does.” Except for one time. She didn’t pull through then. But that’s why you’re here, isn’t it? To make sure it doesn’t happen again? But then, you’re not even sure if it ever existed. “I’m going to see if I can get her transferred to Lincoln, and then to Baltimore or DC from there. I’ll make sure she gets the best treatment, ma’am.”
    “Thank you, Fox. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.”
    “You’re welcome. And I’ll call when she’s transferred or if there’s any change in her condition.” They said their good-byes and hung up.