TITLE: "After The Truth" AUTHOR: Kay49x RATING: U AUTHORS NOTES: I’ve never done one of these challenges before hope ya’ll likey! His head was pounding; his mouth was dry, his whole body shaking with confusion. He loved Monica, She was his everything but somehow now, it didn't matter any more because the one person who meant more than that was gone. It had been at least 28 hours since Mulder and Scully’s `departure'. There last goodbyes, her weak smile and Mulder’s more than smug face that he had finally got what he wanted! No! That was unfair and he knew it. Mulder was a good guy, one of the best but he envied him for that and when he envied him he thought of never getting Scully back and he hated him for that. When he had first met Mulder on his return, he'd seen how happy she was, how more full of life and colour she become and then he left her again. She was pale, small and sick with fright over HIM! Over the last year he'd seen him push her around, feed her false truths, build up her hopes then crash them to the ground. But still she'd always go back to him. That was what he had never understood about Scully. He saw her as this strong, courageous woman but whenever he was near she was like a lost lamb, his shadow. He knew what was behind her weak little smile last night, it was guilt, fear! Fear of leaving the one person that made her feel like somebody, fear of loosing her only real security in life, fear of leaving him…well…that's what he wished anyway. He faced Monica. She was still asleep beside him. What had he done? "What have I done" Scully squinted in the bright light of the small, damp motel bathroom. She ran her fingers through her hair and rubbed her face. She looked awful, tired, pale and weak. Mulder was still sound asleep He had no idea she was feeling like this. Scully was shaking; the realisation of her sacrifices had hit her like a dead weight. What did Mulder care? Who had he left behind? Who would he miss? And miss him she did. He had looked distraught last night, Scared for her safety maybe? It didn't matter! He had looked scared and that was something she'd never seen in Doggett before. She thought about the weak reassuring smile she gave him. Huh! Did she think he was a fool? He had known all right! He had known exactly what she was feeling…Fear! Of loosing HIM! Mulder stirred. "Scully?" And still he used her second name. "Scully! Get dressed we got to move on" "Oh…Ok" She tried to sound ok with herself, like he'd notice anyway; she wiped her eyes dry and got ready. She'd made her choice, it was too selfish for regrets now, this was the life she had chosen. A cold hand startled Doggett and he awoke. "Hey sleepy head" Monica kissed him gently and sat beside him. She was fully dressed and looking her natural beautiful self. "We got to go to work you know" Doggett sat up and rubbed his head "Monica we need to talk first" Her face fell, but his words weren't a shock. She knew what he was about to say. "Look John I know what you're going to say…you regret last night don't you!" She stood up and wiped her eyes. "Actually no!" "What?" "I…I think we could make this work" Her heart lifted, but his sank, He loved Monica but he was still in love with Scully…but what could he do? Spend the rest of his life walking in Mulders footsteps, chasing his `shadow' or make the most of what he had with this great woman, who he knew loved him more than the world. Scully wasn't coming back, she was gone forever; he just had to accept that and move on. "John do you really mean that" her smile was almost blinding, how could he break her heart. "Of course I do" She kissed him and he managed a smile. "I'm going to make you some breakfast ok…you go and get ready for work" "Ok" She headed down stairs, floated more like. She seemed to be on cloud 9 where as Doggett had just hit rock bottom. At hearing her rooting through his kitchen cabinets, Doggett opened his beside drawer and pulled out a picture. It was of him and Scully, they had been on a field case and had been photographed for witness purposes or something, he didn't care! It was the only picture he had of her, they where standing close and she was smiling at him. God he ached for her. But! It wasn't meant to be, he aimed it at the bin but decided he didn't want to throw his last memory of her away just yet, he still had hope…fools hope he knew, but at least it was something. 11 MONTHS LATER "SCULLY!" Scully awoke at the sound of Mulder screaming her name. "What? What is it?" He grabbed her wrists and dragged her out of her warm bed "GET UP WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE NOW!" Scully was confused and scared, Mulder’s expression was serious and frightening "Mulder you're hurting me!" He still had her by the wrists as he pulled her around the room hastily packing their things. "They’re coming Scully!" His words and face told her that they had been traced. She froze in terror. "How…how do you know!" Mulder shoved a bag into her arms and led her to the car; she was still in her pj's. He started the engine and pulled away. "I…I got a call from somebody?" "What? Who?" "It doesn't matter! Every single motel, hotel room we've ever stayed in has been ransacked, turned upside down! They're looking for anything that will give away our next location, they've checked our phone line our room service bills even the public computers we've been using, they're catching up Scully!" "Mulder please calm down your scaring me!" "How the hell am I meant to calm down? Don't you see scully? They're going to be all over every single motel in Canada and the U.S. and now they know were still here every airport too!" "So were…" "Trapped Scully! In our own fucking country" "Oh my god! What are we going to do? Where will we stay?" Months of hiding, running and for what? To be exactly where they began in the first place…nowhere! "It's got to be some where totally unexpected, somewhere they'll never look" "WHERE! Like a god damned sewer or something!" "I DON'T KNOW!" "WELL! That's just fucking perfect! I know let’s just drive around for the next 3 years! Oh no we can’t cos that means we'll have to stop for gas and let me guess they got all the gas stations covered as well!" "Your sarcasm isn't helping!" "WELL I’M SORRY MULDER BUT SARCASM IS THE ONLY THING YOU HAVENT TAKEN FROM ME YET!" "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" "You figure it out" Her voice told him everything. She was regretting ever coming with him. But it was her decision…or was it. Mulder did have a way of persuading people to do things, they didn't want to do but from the start she had said she'd always be there for him always follow him and protect him. He looked at her, she noticed and turned away wiping her eyes. He knew she was missing people, her mother her brothers… John…JOHN! "JOHN!" "WHAT?" Had she been thinking out loud. "JOHN IT HAS TO BE!" "Be what?" Uh oh he knew he must have figured out why she was so distraught, she was missing John. What would he say, he'd seen plenty of women in love before maybe he'd finally noticed her behaviour. What would he do? "Mulder…has to be what?" "THE PERFECT PLACE" "What?" she was confused Mulder was smiling like an inspired teenager. "Don't you see Scully? Us! Back in Washington! At John’s house! They'd never expect it…they'd be fools to!" "Mulder it’s you who sounds the fool! There is no way I'm going back there it’s to risky…JOHN’S HOUSE!" "YES!" She sat back and thought about him, how would he react to seeing them again? How would SHE react to seeing him again? Would he be happy? Would it make it harder to conceal her feelings? Of course it would… her heart was racing at the mention of his name, what the hell would she be like in his presence? How desperately she wanted to see him, be near him, feel his security…amongst other things "You really think they'd never look there" "They wouldn't think we'd be that stupid" "Man…it is stupid!" "lets do it!" 3 DAYS LATER "Dana? What are you doing here?" She pulled him out onto the porch, it was late, Monica was sleeping and Mulder was no where to be seen. "I have to tell you before they find me" She pulled him closer. "Before who find you?" "Them! John I…I love you" "What?" "I love you! I always have…and I always will" She kissed him passionately. "I love you too…Run away with me" "What about Monica" "What about her!" She smiled and nodded towards a parked car, As she made her way towards it Doggett couldn't believe his luck, it was happening so fast…was it real? He didn't care she was his now and he was hers! He turned to take one last look at his home when a shot rang out into the darkness. He looked for Scully, she was sprawled out on the floor smothered in her own blood. "DANA!" She wasn't moving, he ran to her as a black BMW sped away. "No please" He knelt beside her lifeless body and held it to him. Bullet to the head…no cure…no Dana anymore! "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" "John wake up! Wake up" "NOOOOOOOO!" He jumped up almost pushing her off the bed. "It’s ok it’s ok!" She held him tight and covered him in kisses. "It was just a nightmare! You’re ok" She looked into his eyes. "Don't touch me! He pushed her away. "Sorry it’s just…I'm fine…don't help me" "You were dreaming about Dana again" "What?" She stood up, covering her naked flesh with a bathrobe. "Why is it always her?" She wiped her eyes and sat on the chair across from his bed. "What do you mean?" "YOU! And…her! She ditched you John, you sacrificed two years of your life helping her, protecting her and for what? Nothing!" "I can't help caring ok!" "You can care! But you're with me now John ok! Not her! Stop thinking about her! It drives me crazy! It won’t bring her back" "Monica I've tried ok, more than you know to forget but I can’t" "YES YOU CAN" "NO! Monica you can’t forget someone you love…loved…some one you loved" "You love her" "Loved…Monica you knew how I felt when she was here! The feeling…It can't just disappear like that…and you’re right, she has gone and she's never coming back! That's why I'm with you" "Because I'm second best?" "No! Because you are the best! You've been there for me, she hasn't you're my best friend Monica and I want to start again with you…I…I love you" "I know you love me John…but I know you’re IN love with her…I can't be in a relationship like that" "What are you saying" "I'm saying…it’s been fun…more than fun…John you're the love of my life but I can’t share you with a shadow" She picked up her clothes "I'll…I'll be in town…I need to think" Nothing else was said; she slammed the door behind her as Doggett pulled out the picture of him and Scully and tossed it in the bin. HOURS LATER 12:45pm "Hey" "Hey" Monica hugged him and sat down. "I've been thinking" Doggett sat beside her and took her hand. "And?" "And I think I owe you more than a few weeks to get over something like that I know I'm being to pushy…and…I'm sorry for yelling" "I'm sorry too…so…where do you want to start" "Well first of all I'm going to move back into my apartment..." "Why?" "John its best for both of us you know that…look it'll take the pressure off" "Oh ok" He smiled at her sweetly. "God I'm lucky" "Yeah I know" She got up to leave, Doggett followed her to the door. "All I'm saying is I don't think it’s best to just barge in on him like this…" "Scully we can’t go anywhere else…you want to spend another night in the car?" "No!" "Well then…you just know on the door, smile sweetly and tell him what's going on" "ME! Why do I have to…" "SHhhhh! He's opening the door, get down a bit" Mulder turned of the engine and they watched. "Is that Monica with him?" "Yeah I think so" "What is she doing there so late?" "Ooooooh somebody sounds jealous" Scully jabbed him in the gut. "Grow up Mulder…just listen!" "Do you have to go tonight?" They walked out onto the porch. "Yes! Man a few hours ago I bet you couldn't wait to get rid of me" "Yeah well I've been doing a lot of thinking in the last few hours" "Oh yeah! And what have you been thinking about" "Just stuff…how lucky I am" "You can say that again" "Lucky…about what?" "I don't know Scully will you be quiet!" "Sorry!" They watched as Doggett pulled Monica into a kiss. Scully could almost hear her own heart tear apart; she looked away and scrunched her eyes to stop a tear from falling. "Wow! So they finally got it on" Mulder sat back cheerfully. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN FINALLY! Did you know about this?" "Scully…they've been sweet on each other for months" "So the minute we're out of the way!" "What's your problem?" he began to get suspicious. "Nothing…Sorry nothing I just don't think coming here was such a good idea" "Well you were all for it a few days ago!" "Yeah well I didn't know they were…well…look it’s to risky with Monica involved now!" "Scully, Monica's always been involved some way or another, we're going to do this, its our only chance" Scully couldn't believe it, all her hopes built up for nothing. She hated Monica right now but she didn't want to! What was she expecting? For John to wait around for her at the chance that some day she would return to him. Huh! He'd be a fool to. And Dana Scully knew full well that John Doggett was no fool. What could she do…blurt out her feelings to all of them and make a complete fool of herself or sit tight and let the man of her dreams live his life happily with a woman he's most undoubtedly in love with…Monica Reyes. Monica drove away and John headed back inside. "Right let’s do this" "Mulder I'm suddenly not feeling to well" "C'mon Scully…right we'll do this together" She looked at him to see if he had the slightest bit of sympathy for her…he didn't! "FINE!" The exited their car and looked around cautiously before heading to the house. "Knock! Knock!" "Ok what did you forget!" Doggett opened the door expecting to see Monica's sheepish `Forgot my house keys' face. But almost crumbled in shock at the sight of Fox Mulder with two heavy suitcases. His immediate response… "Where's Scully?" She emerged from behind him with a guilt-ridden expression, she couldn't even bring herself to look at him, which broke Doggett’s heart, she looked ill, almost lifeless, he opened the door wider and let them in. Doggett was still in shock. "What the hell are you doing here!" Fear for their safety took over him. "What if someone sees you!" He frantically ran around the room locking all the windows and door and closing all the blinds. "John calm down" Mulder dropped his cased and went to him. "CALM DOWN! You're putting your life at risk" he pulled Mulder to one side "Your putting HER life at risk" "John do you think if we had any other option we'd be here?" Doggett looked over to Scully, she looked scared out of her wits, he went to her. Scully was surprised as he took her by the hands, she looked at him teary eyed. "You look scared to see me…don't be scared of me I'll protect you ok" She nodded weakly and he sat her down. "I'll get you something to drink ok" he headed into the kitchen "A word please Mulder" Mulder followed and shut the door behind him. Scully was glad of the privacy as she burst into tears. It wasn't Doggett she was afraid of it was her strongly growing feelings towards him. She knew he was taken back by her not being able to look at him earlier but as soon as she did the emotion hit her like a tidal wave. Sitting here in his warm home was the first time she'd felt safe in months. "What the hell is going on!" "Look john just calm down we need a favour" "What is it?" "We need to stay here for a while" "WHAT? Are you crazy they'll find you!" "I don't think they will…don't you see they'd never believe we'd come back here" "Man oh man this is stupid Mulder stupid and dangerous…have you thought this through at all" "We didn't have time! That's what I'm saying they were practically a tail hair away from us in Canada, they almost had us!" "How do you know?" "I got a call" "From?" "I don't know…they just told us we had to get out of there" "YOU DON'T KNOW! So for all we know it could have been one of them!" "I don't know!" "NO! You don't think Mulder! Apart from about yourself, Man I thought you were smarter than this! Bet you didn't even think about Dana's feelings either huh? You just got some random call and you jumped!" "What if was true what if the call was genuine…John this is the safest place for us we need to stay!" "Of course you can stay Mulder, I just don't want you making anymore jumps ok! There are two life's on the line here…just remember that" He headed back into the living room. "I'll go and unpack huh?" Doggett didn't answer so Mulder headed upstairs with the cases. "Hey! What's the matter" Doggett found Scully crying, he sat beside her and drew her to him "I'm sorry…god I'm a nervous wreck" He hugged her tighter. "Well you don't need to be any more because I'm here now" "I'm so sorry for us barging in on you like this" "Hey! No I'm just glad you came back to me…I mean I'm glad you both came back to…ah…Oh it doesn't matter what matters is that you're here and I have to take care of you" He looked into her eyes "it seems to me Mulder didn't do a very good job" "It’s not Mulder’s fault" "Really!" "Please don't blame him…it was my choice to go with him…my choice to leave…to leave you" "But look how your paying for it Dana" Wow she hadn't heard her first name in a long time. "Why…why didn't you stay?" "I was afraid of leaving him…I thought I'd be alone again" "Damn it Scully I'M here!" "I know I know! So am I now…I don't think I can do it again" "What do you mean?" She lifted herself from him and cupped the side of his face with her hand. "Leave you" "Hi sorry it's me I forgot my damn house keys I'm…what the…Dana?" Monica stopped in her tracks She saw Scully slowly move her hand from Doggett’s face as he stood up. "What the hell’s going on?" "Monica hey!" Mulder bounced down stairs and embraced her she was still in shock that they where actually here but more to the point. What had Scully and Doggett just been talking about? She edged back from him slowly and looked towards Doggett. "Like I said what's going on?" "They're staying here for a while?" "What?" Mulder stepped in. "The government’s got men all over Canada we figured here would be the last place they'd look for us" "But it’s still a place they'd look, your putting mine and John lives at risk" She sounded horrible and she didn't like that about herself, they had all been close friends at one point but since Doggett’s revelation about Scully not so many days ago had her feeling threatened. "Sorry I don't mean to sound nasty it's just a shock! I thought THIS was all over" She shot a look towards Scully then Doggett. He knew what she must be thinking. "Its far from over" "Yeah thanks Mulder I get that now! God look how rude I'm being Dana god it’s so good to see you" She swallowed her pride and embraced her, Scully was a great woman and she felt for her having to go through most of her life like this. The months they had worked together were inspiring she had learnt a lot from and about Dana herself. Maybe Doggett’s feelings hadn't totally gone but deep down she knew that if she had to loose him to anybody she would be happy for it to be her. She looked at Doggett’s gaze and it wasn't on her…yep…she'd lost him all right! 3:15am It was still dark outside. They had been discussing the situation for over 3 hours now and everyone was getting tired. MULDER had decided that he and Scully would stay here until he thought it was safe for them to go elsewhere. Trouble is Scully didn't want to go elsewhere anymore she was already feeling settled here and she was sick and tired of running. Scully’s words to Doggett earlier still played in his mind as he tried to decipher what exactly she had meant before Monica had walked in. They had been stealing glances from each other all night and both craved for a chance to be alone again. Monica, as always, noticed what was going on and tried her hardest not to be jealous, She did love John but being in love with him was all to weird for her she was struggling with what nature her feelings where towards him. They had all been quiet for some time now, there was so much more to talk about but nothing much left to say. Monica started to feel the tension and spoke. "Well guys I think its time I left so you can all go to bed" She looked at Scully sympathetically. "You must have had quite a night" "Yeah" she took a sip of her coffee and looked at Doggett "Quite a night" Doggett followed Monica to the door and out to her car. "And what a night for you huh?" Doggett was confused. "What do you mean?" "I mean seeing her again…after what you told me…must be pretty tough" "Monica…I…" He broke down on her shoulder; she was shocked she hadn't seen him cry in a long time. "God John what is it?" "Monica…I feel like my heart’s tearing apart…I don't know what to do… everything we talked about, when I said I'd try to get over her I cant! I'm so sorry I can't do it" "You don't have to be sorry John" "I'm being so stupid…I can’t have her she belongs with Mulder, but I can’t have you either because I'd be living a lie and I'd be hurting you…I never want to hurt you Monica" She hugged him tight. "John I know what your feeling for her…it’s me who was stupid…trying to come in between you and the woman you deserve to be with…I can tell she's not happy with Mulder…even Mulder knows it he just doesn't want to admit it…you've said what you've had to say and I respect you for that now it’s up to Dana" "I don't want to loose you" "Ha! As if! You can't get rid of me that easily man! I'm always going to be here for you, you can tell me anything and that's why our friendship is too special to jeopardise" "I hate that you're so right all the time" "Well that's why you love me so much!" "I do love you" "I love you too John…but you got to follow you heart…I want you to" "I've seen the way you've been looking at each other" "What?" Scully knew exactly what he meant. "I'm not stupid so don't even think about denying it…you have feelings for him don't you?" "It doesn't matter how I feel about him I chose to follow you" "Scully I don't want you to spend the rest of your life `following' me I think its time you did what you wanted to do" "Mulder don't do this now…it's to late" "To late! Scully it's never to late to be happy and lets face it…your never going to be happy with me" "MULDER!" "NO! Scully listen, I left you for almost two years to cope on your own, fight for the truth on you own, raise our baby…you even had to decide his future on your own…you need stability Scully…and it hurts me to admit but I cant give you that…ever…do you understand" "I understand" She was shaking inside. Petrified at the sound of the words she had longed to hear from his mouth for so long. "I'm giving you a choice Scully right here! Right now come with me…be with me and continue searching with me, never know where we're going to end up, how we're going to be living in the next few years or stay here with a man who cares more about you than anything, stay here and start a new…no more x-files, no more searching no more running your life around me…make your decision Scully I can’t bare it any longer for you to be unhappy just make you choice…" "Can I go now" Doggett had been holding on to her for sometime now. "Sorry" They laughed at each other. "I'm going to go away for a while" "WHAT! WHERE? WHY?" "Just for a few months…I'm going to go visit my cousin in L.A…She's on the Bureau there and she's been asking me to go down for a while now help her out on a case...I think it'll be good for me" "When will you go" "Tomorrow…I'm going to give skinner a call later but I'm sure he'll let me go…will you be alright" Doggett nodded a response. "I'll call you at every opportunity I get ok" "You better" "Now go inside…tell her how you feel" "I don't think this will go down to well with Mulder" "He's a smart guy…he'll understand" "I'll miss you" "You wont have time to miss me…I'll see you soon" "Soon!" She got into her car, drove away and never looked back. L.A was maybe her time to start her life again. Doggett took a deep breath and headed inside. At hearing his entrance Scully stood up and wiped her eyes. Doggett found her alone. "Where's…" "Mulder? Oh he's…he's gone" "WHAT! Where?" "England…he has a friend who ships cargo from there, he's going to catch the next trip" "HE JUST LEFT YOU AGAIN! I'LL KILL HIM!" He went for his car keys but Scully gabbed him. "No John it was my decision…I told him to go…I didn't want to go with him…I don't want to be with him" "What are you saying?" "It’s over…for good…I'm…I'm staying…if you don't mind" MIND! He'd never been happier in his life. "With me" "With you…I hope Monica wont mind me staying here" "Why do you care what Monica thinks?" "Well she's…you're…aren't you…?" "No…friends…we're just really great friends" "But I saw…" "Dana…I love you…I want to spend the rest of my life with you…I want to protect and hold you close forever ok…but I want to take it slow…I don't want to pressure you in any way…I want you to be happy" "Wow…that's…that's the best thing I've ever heard in my whole life...I am happy, I'm safe and I want exactly the same…to be with you…forever" "Dana I…" "Just shut up and……kiss me!" X END X Hope u enjoyedxXxXx