Title: Come What May Author: Agent X Summary: Category: AU, alternative season ending, DSF, DSR Keywords: Scully, Doggett, the baby, aliens Spoilers: Whole season Timeline: In place of Existence and most of Essence - Mulder still dead and buried Disclaimer: The character in this story are the property of the genius Chris Carter, 1013 and Fox Archive: anywhere you like, just let me know please Feedback: Good or bad, to aussie_xphile25@yahoo.com.au . Flames are encouraged - I do love a good fight! Dedication: This story is entirely dedicated to the wonderful Robert Patrick, who has inspired me to write this by bringing the character of John Doggett to life! J Author's Note: at the end * No beta reader used. Please excuse the typos * *_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_* "The greatest thing you'll ever learn it to be loved and to love in return" - Nat King Cole, Nature Boy *_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_* Come What May John Doggett emerged from the kitchen of his house to find Dana Scully had fallen asleep on his couch. After the events of the last few days, he wasn't surprised. As if the shock of finding out her child wasn't 'normal' wasn't enough, then they discovered that someone or something wanted both her and the child dead. *Over my dead body* Doggett thought. Then again, it may well come to that. He sat down across from her, recalling the conversation with AD Skinner earlier that day. *** "Whatever happens they can't find Scully or her baby," Skinner had said. "I want you to take her somewhere safe. Don't even tell me where you are." "Sir, are you sure this is the right thing to do?" he had asked. "Wouldn't she be safer in DC where we've got people to protect her." Skinner shook his head. "Agent Doggett, we don't know what these people are capable of, or to what lengths they'll go to get to her. You heard Krycek: they can appear as anyone. We don't know who we can trust around here, but I know I trust you and so does Scully." "I appreciate that, sir, but if they're after Scully, they may be watching me, too. I'm gonna call someone to take Scully somewhere safe." Skinner had not approved. "Agent Doggett, I thought I just told you no one can be trusted. Who is this person? Do I know him?" "Her," he had replied. "Monica Reyes. I've known her a long time and she is completely trustworthy." The conversation ended a few minutes later. Doggett had gone down to the office, phoned Reyes to explain the situation and then taken Scully home with him to wait for Reyes. *** "Agent Doggett?" Doggett was jolted out of his thoughts by the sound of Scully's voice. She had woken up again and was looking worried. "Agent Scully, are you okay?" he asked, then cursed inwardly at his choice of words. Of *course* she wasn't alright. Not only had she just been told her baby was part alien, but in a few hours she would be on the run for her life. When Skinner had told her of their plan to take her into hiding, Scully had assumed Doggett would be with her. As frightened as she was, the thought that he would be with her was comforting. She trusted him not only her life, but the life of her baby as well. Finding out he wouldn't be going with her was a shock and she was starting to get scared again. "Agent Scully?" he said again, looking worried. "Yeah… I'm okay," she said unconvincingly. He looked at her doubtfully and she sighed. No sense beating around the bush. "I guess I'm just worried about what is going to happen. All I have ever wanted was a child of my own, but I can't help thinking this child is a curse, not a blessing. If I hadn't been pregnant, I would have gone with Mulder to Oregon and maybe… maybe he would still be here," she whispered the last part. "And now, these… these *people* are after me because of the baby… I just wish life could be like it was before all this." Doggett moved to sit down on the couch next to her. He took her hands in his. "Agent Scully, don't you believe for a minute that your baby is going to be anything less than a blessing. We don't know for sure what Krycek tells us is true, in fact I'd believe almost anything before I'd believe what that lying sonofabitch tells me." Scully gave him a small smile. "Thanks for that. I'm just worried about not having the baby in a hospital…" she paused for a moment and took a deep breath. "… and I wish you could be there with me…" The look of surprise on his face made her laugh for a moment, before she got serious again. "Agent Doggett… John," she said. "You've done so much for me over the past year… you've been there for me through everything that has happened. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you… I owe you everything," she finished, eyes downcast. He was silent for a moment, touched by her words and not knowing what to say. Just then there was a knock at the door. Doggett went to answer it, gun in hand. A moment later Monica Reyes stepped into the loungeroom. "Agent Scully, how are you?" she asked. Scully stood. "Fine. Thankyou so much for doing this for me." "Don't mention it," Reyes replied. "We should get going though. We should get as far as we can before dawn." Scully nodded reluctantly and looked at Doggett. Reyes must have sensed what she was thinking, because she cleared her throat, picked up one of Scully's bags that were lying on the floor and said, "I'll be in the car." "Thanks, Monica," Doggett said as she left. Then he turned back to Scully. "Well," he said slightly awkwardly. "I guess you should be going." Without warning, Scully ran to him and threw her arms around his waist. "I can't do it," she cried. "I can't leave. I don't want to go without you." She was sobbing. He held her tightly, not wanting her to go either. "Dana," he said. "You know you have to go. As much as I want to, I can't go with you. They are probably watching me too. You'll be safe with Monica. She won't let anything happen to you. I promise I'll be with you as soon as it's safe." He gently extracted himself from her embrace and picked up her other bag. Arm around her shoulders, he led her down to the car. He hugged her once more before shutting the car door. He was still standing in the driveway five minutes after the tail lights of the car had disappeared from sight. *** Doggett had only been back in his apartment twenty minutes when there was another knock on the door. Gun in hand again, he opened the door. "Monica?" he asked, wondering why she was back. "What are you doing back here?" His eyes focused on the hallway beyond Reyes. "Where is Scully?" Reyes looked confused. "What are you talking about, Agent Doggett? You told me to pick Agent Scully up from here." Reyes walked past him into the house, looking around. "Where is Agent Scully?" she enquired. She turned at the sound of a pistol being cocked. She came face to face with the barrel of Doggett's gun. "John? What are you doing?" she cried. "Sit down. *NOW*," he said evenly, motioning to the couch. She obeyed. "John, what is going on?" she asked. "You tell me. You picked Scully up twenty minutes ago. So either I'm going crazy or you're not who you say you are." "John, I was still at the airport twenty minutes ago." He didn't respond, but grabbed her head and pushed it down between her knees and felt the back of her neck. When he didn't find anything, he released his hold on her. "You *are* you," he said. "If course I am," she replied. "But I certainly wasn't here before, so who was?" Doggett paled as he released the answer. "If you're here now," he choked out. "Then they've got Scully!" ***************** And that's all I've written so far... I'm so cruel aren't I? I'm sorry. I probably won't write the rest for a few week coz I have exams and stuff. Sorry to keep you in suspense. I'd love some feedback/suggestions though. I know how I want the story to end, but not what is going to happen in the middle. Any ideas? Belinda Agent X of the WIB Fanfic Li-berrian Navigation Officer aka Coco Pops "Screw the truth: bring on the fanfic" "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is to be love, and to love in return" - Nat King Cole - Nature Boy