As soon as he face starts to crumple, he's moving, sliding the mementos together again as easily as a deck of cards and sliding over until their legs touch. Mulder sets everything behind her for the moment, wrapping his arms around her thin frame.
He missed so much of this, the first time around. When he was there, he couldn't be everything she needed; when he wasn't, he'd been able to do nothing but imagine her suffering from miles away. He's never going to forgive himself everything he couldn't do, or didn't do - but here and now, he can comfort her.
She's going to know, if she didn't already, and he doesn't care. If she's going to see the worst pieces of the future, she needs to know they aren't the only parts. She can't be alone for this.
Mulder gives her a squeeze, his cheek pressed against her hair. His own eyes are squeezed tight. His chest is threatening to collapse in on itself, but he's not going to let it. This isn't his pain right now. "I know. I've got you."
no subject
He missed so much of this, the first time around. When he was there, he couldn't be everything she needed; when he wasn't, he'd been able to do nothing but imagine her suffering from miles away. He's never going to forgive himself everything he couldn't do, or didn't do - but here and now, he can comfort her.
She's going to know, if she didn't already, and he doesn't care. If she's going to see the worst pieces of the future, she needs to know they aren't the only parts. She can't be alone for this.
Mulder gives her a squeeze, his cheek pressed against her hair. His own eyes are squeezed tight. His chest is threatening to collapse in on itself, but he's not going to let it. This isn't his pain right now. "I know. I've got you."