AMBUSHED By m.butterfly "X-ray's just down this hall," Mulder said, keeping pace with the gurney. "You're going to be okay, Sir." Zoned out on painkillers, Skinner wasn't aware that he was still squeezing Mulder's hand. And squeezing it hard. But Mulder didn't care. Couldn't care less what the shifty-eyed orderly thought, either. "Damn," Skinner mumbled, struggling to keep his eyes open, "I feel like shit." Empathy flowed through Mulder as he glanced at Skinner's left arm, which was lying twisted and useless at his side. //Fucking bastards who did this to him,// he thought as he fought to remain calm, professional. "Groggy," Skinner continued with obvious effort. "Hate being drugged up." "I know you do, Sir, but you're in pretty bad shape." "Just get the bone set and I'll be fine." Knitting his brows together, the orderly stopped the gurney in front of a set of double doors and turned to Mulder. "Look, I've got to take him in now, if you don't mind." Mulder appeared genuinely puzzled until he realized that he was still attached to Skinner. "No problem." Obediently, he began to gently pry Skinner's fingers loose. "Please stay with me," Skinner murmurred, clutching feebly at the younger man. Quietly, Mulder asked if he could accompany his supervisor and friend into X-ray. "Rules are rules," the orderly told him brusquely. "Sorry." Turning back to Skinner, Mulder impulsively stroked the cheek of the man who'd taken the brunt of a punishing attack meant for the agent alone. "Unless I've got something broken too, they won't let me in, but I'll wait right here for you." "Very nice," Skinner whispered, leaning into Mulder's touch and brushing his lips against his palm before being wheeled away. Weakly, Mulder slumped against the wall and waited, wondering what the hell would happen once the morphine wore off. --end--