Title: After all Author: lillebailey Email: lillebailey@yahoo.co.uk Rating: PG Classification: DSR, Post the Truth Summary: Post the truth. Scully finds that 'the truth' is about how we feel. Disclaimer: All things X files belong to Chris Carter, 1013 productions etc. No copyright infringement intended. **************************************************************** It was almost eleven o clock at night when John Doggett finished putting the last of his things into boxes. It had taken a lot longer than expected, He hated moving. This move had not been by choice though. He took a seat on the sofa and ran his fingers through his hair, thinking of how the past week had been one of the most bizarre of his life. "How did I get here?" He questioned out loud, not expecting to get an answer from anywhere. This had all started just over a week ago, but something in Doggett's mind told him that it really started two years ago, when he was assigned to the x files and met Dana Scully. This time last week he was helping Fox Mulder to escape from military prison. It was the right thing to do, that he knew but he screwed himself by doing it. Now the X files was closed he had been reassigned to a different department within the bureau. He thought he might just be able to salvage something when Deputy Director Kersh had warned him that the best thing to do for his own safety would be to leave DC. Kersh was sure that he would be left alone as long as he had no access to x files or military records. s long as he wasn't a danger to those high up in the ranks. John had been happy to agree to a move, there wasn't much left for him here now. His career was gone, Dana was gone and Monica would be leaving soon. He accepted a post as a detective for the Atlanta Police Department. Going back to what he was good at, back to where he grew up. At least his family would be around him. He still couldn't help worrying though. Worried mostly for Monica. Not so much about her going away but more that he knew she never just let things lie. She would have to this time to save her own life. The ring of the phone roused him from his thoughts as he walked into the kitchen to answer it. "Hello" But there was only silence at the other end. "Hello" Silence again. He tried once more before putting the receiver down. "I don't have time for this" From the kitchen he began to walk through his house, taking it all in. He had bought this house with family in mind, before it sunk in that his family was gone. It was big and spacious, had a great yard and was in a safe neighbourhood. In recent years he had even thought about settling down here with a new family, possibly he would meet somebody special and live out the 'white picket fence' life once again. As much as Doggett hated to admit it, he hated the thought of spending the rest of his life alone. Being a bachelor had it's good points, he could do what he wanted and sleep with whom ever he wanted but at heart he was a family man. Everything was packed exactly the same way it was the last time he moved. ''Talk about set in your ways'' he smiled to himself. With that there was a knock at the door. Quickly remembering that he was between jobs and therefore didn't have a gun, he approached the door a little hesitantly. With plans to leave in the morning, last minute surprises were not welcome. Opening the door Doggett saw a small figure standing on the porch in a hooded mac. He squinted to get a better look at his visitor as the lights were off. With that his visitor removed the hood of the mac to reveal a sobbing Dana Scully. Blinking to make sure he was seeing right Doggett only managed ''Scully, what are you doing here?''. She scuttled passed his side and closed the door behind her and leaned against it. ''John, I '' was all he got before she broke into tears covering her face with her hands. John moved forward and took her into his arms as she shifted her weight onto him. He knew he should be worried about security right now, was she seen? did anybody know she was coming? what did she want? but all he could think was that he wanted to comfort her. He pulled her tight to his body and moved both of them through the house onto the couch. *************************************************************** It must have been a half hour before Scully finally got her emotions into a state where she could speak. She hadn't let go of Doggett that whole time. John gave her a tissue to dry her tears with and pushed her hair back behind her ears so that he could see her face. ''Dana, what is it, did something happen to Mulder?'' This was Doggett's first thought as the only time he had seen her shed tears like this was after they thought Mulder was dead. She just shook her head. ''Where is Mulder?'' he tried ''I don't know'' she finally answered ''In the desert somewhere I guess.'' She was being so vague and seemed so cold with that last statement, John really didn't know what to say or do, so he reached for his mothers home remedy. ''How about I get you a hot drink, might make you feel a little better.'' he said with a small smile knowing that she was probably thinking how useless a help he was being. Just a little nod from her and he was on his feet. Luckily he had left a few kitchen things out of boxes for the morning. Before Doggett could reach the kitchen Scully spoke up ''I shouldn't have left you'' Slightly confused he returned to the couch. ''What?'' ''After Mulder got out, I should never have gone with him. I want to be with you. I have for a long time.'' Everthing he wanted to hear, at exactly the wrong time. If confused was the word before, he didn't have one for now. ''Why did you go with Mulder if you didn't want to?'' She seemed a little calmer now and was starting to explain herself more ''I knew that if I helped Mulder to escape and after the trial and everything that I would have to leave, that I wouldn't be safe. I knew I would have to leave you. I still did though.'' ''Because you loved him?'' ''No. Because he is my best friend, like my family. I couldn't see them kill him. He's opened my eyes to so many things and we've spent the last decade together, I owed him that. I couldn't let him down when it counted.'' ''So why the change of heart?'' ''I still know I did the right thing by Mulder getting him out, but it wasn't right by me to go with him. I guess I figured before that I would have to leave and we would end up together and I would be able to forget about my feelings for you. I was ready to leave for Canada.'' ''But you didn't go to Canada Scully.'' ''I know. That's when it hit me. We got to this road where you could go north or south and Mulder just took the south road. No concern for me. He wanted to continue his frigging quest for the truth, no matter if he was putting my life in danger. Then I realised that he doesn't love me, never did.'' ''and you?'' ''I don't think I was in love with him, like I said, he's like my family. I realised then that I couldn't love him in that way. I need a man who will put me first in his life, before anything.'' ''You don't think he would?'' ''Not that he won't, just that he can't. I don't want to settle for less. I want the perfect man that I've been dreaming about for years, who can love me as a woman, not a sister, agent or any other crap.'' He gave her a smile and she smiled back at him. ''I want you John. You're that guy.'' ''You're sure?'' he had to ask however inappropriate she thought it was. ''Yes, that's if you think you could love me at all?'' He couldn't believe she had just asked that question. Was it not obvious that he could love her, had loved her and would love her for the rest of his life. With a wide smile, he leaned in to kiss her. Holding her face in his hands he said to her ''It was dangerous for you to come here'' ''I don't care.'' was her short response. It was that moment when it finally dawned on Scully that Doggett's house was empty. He was leaving. ''You're leaving?'' she asked, a slightly frightend look on her face. ''Yeah'' he answered ''I got a new job in Atlanta'' ''Oh'' she softly said her head down. Disappointment evident in her face and her eyes welled up ready for tears again as Doggett was in the kitchen rustling with papers. ''Here'' He handed her a picture of a pretty southern house with a lovely garden. Looking at the picture she felt sick, she was going to lose him again, and it was her fault in the first place. He sat beside her as she stared at the picture and put a hand on hers speaking softly into her ear. ''So you think you'll like Atlanta?'' he asked and she looked up at him to find him smiling at her surprised face and he kissed her again. ''See that?'' he asked ''The mail box?'' ''Yeah, you think we can fit Mr. and Mrs. Doggett on that label?'' his smile widening. **************************************************************** It was 9am the next morning and Dana Scully sat in the passenger seat of John’s car on the road to somewhere she had never been in all senses. Once again she was on the road ready to start a new life. This time felt different, this time it felt warm, loving and safe. Fin