thinking about how mulder is so casually affectionate. just small touches to scully’s back or shoulder, standing in her personal space. but when scully is vulnerable, mulder takes it up a few notches. i talked once about how when he’s hurt & vulnerable is when scully most freely touches mulder — and he’s the same. anytime she needs comfort or support, he’s there.
when her dad dies and she shows up to work — calling her dana, touching her cheek, urging her to take care of herself.
when she’s in the hospital, holding her hand & sitting by her side, bringing her a gift & returning her necklace (i love this one because his first instinct is to avenge her, because he doesn’t think he’s allowed to be by her side. not when he feels so guilty & so sure that it is his fault. not when he isn’t family. not when they haven’t even called each other friends yet. but melissa makes him see it isn’t about what he deserves, it’s about what scully needs and he will always do what scully needs).
after donnie pfaster, when she’s clearly hurt & scared & so many things at once. he is the one to untie her hands, lift her chin so she’ll look at him, and hold her while she lets herself fall apart in his arms.
when scully first tells mulder about her cancer, he brings her flowers. then when she’s in the hospital getting treatment, he so freely touches her. holding her hands, hugging & holding her, kissing her forehead. trying to offer any comfort he can. (and between that, he’s fighting like hell to get all the information he can to help her, but he doesn’t neglect her needs this time in favor of his guilt. he’s already learned that lesson.)
in milagro after her heart’s been torn out, she wakes and immediately clutches him and he clings right back, letting her cry out her pain & fear. you know he didn’t let go of her until she was more than ready.
when her mom is in the hospital, he’s right there despite them still having a case to work. he touches her arm when she gets the call, he holds her when she cries. and after, they sit so closely as she talks about william. he is there, listening to her and calming her.
there are so many more, i know there are. but these specific times were on my mind.