Couldn't Sleep Either By Tommy2378 Classification: Doggett POV, angst, Sk/Sc/D friendship Rating: PG Spoiler: This Is Not Happening Distribution: If you want it, you can have it, just leave my name attached. Disclaimers: I do not own these characters. They are the brilliant creation of Chris Carter and are regrettably the property of Fox and 1013 productions. No money is being made from this, so please don't sue. Summary: Doggett witnesses the middle-of-the-night exchange between Skinner and Scully. Authors Note: I particularly liked the scene where Skinner comforts Scully in this episode. This little interlude is what I think could have been happening during this scene. Feedback: Please!! This is my first attempt at fanfic so any and all comments would be much appreciated. Send to Tommy2378@hotmail.com He couldn't sleep that night either. Even though the day had been exhausting, the best he could do was doze. But mostly he just tossed and turned. He lay in bed, awake, frustrated, when he heard the door next to his room open and close. The room next door was Scully's. He leaned over and saw that it was 3:42 in the morning. What the hell? Curious, he got out of bed and quietly opened his own door just enough to stick his head out to watch her walking away. Unsure of if he should call out to her or follow her or what, he watched her curiously and with some concern as she walked until she stopped outside someone else's room down the way. There he watched, waiting, as she seemed hesitant to knock on who's ever door the room temporarily belonged to. Suddenly she turned around and took a step back towards her own room, towards where he was silently spying on her. Just as sudden, she decided to go ahead with her original plan and turned back and rapidly knocked on the door. Not sure whether he had been seen or not, he decided to risk it and stay put, much too curious now to go back into his own room. The door finally opened and he could now see that the room was occupied by a tired, haggard looking A.D. Skinner. Their conversation was brief. The door was shut but she did not walk back towards her own room, but rather, out into the empty lot that was directly across from the hotel complex. He closed his door now, but made his way to the window where he guiltily resumed what he felt was voyeurism. He then quickly rationalized that keeping a close eye on his partner during this time was for her own good. He watched as she lifted her head towards the sky and he wished that it could some how be easier for her, that he could help her in some way. In the short time he had worked with her, he had quickly become captivated by her quiet but fierce diligence, her intense intelligence, and her passion for her work, especially when it came to trying to prove him wrong about some supernatural aspect of their shared cases. He admired her, was fascinated by her, and desperately wished he could earn even a tiny bit of it back. No matter, he would settle for her small acceptance of him, and especially now, since she was letting him help her find what she seemed to treasure more than life its self. Mulder. What kind of man would make such a strong, fierce woman cry in the arms of A.D. Skinner in the middle of the night? A.D. Skinner? When had he gone outside? He realized that he must have really been lost in thought not to have noticed his boss walk across the parking lot and take Scully in his arms. This is a first he mused. Or was it? Skinner and Scully did seem to have some sort of secret bond, something that tied them together somehow and he guessed it was something more than just the shared loss of Mulder. What is it with those two he thought as he watched them embrace. And why do I suddenly feel like I want to go out there, shove the A.D. away and pull her to myself instead? He could not believe his thoughts and roughly pushed them out of his mind as quickly as they had entered it. Sighing, he turned away from the window and made his way back into bed. He did not want to see what would happen next but couldn't stop his mind from wandering, from conjuring up worse case scenarios. Would they go back to his room? To hers? Oh God, please no, he thought, what if they were to end up making love right next door where he could no doubt hear every moan, every sigh and every creak of the bed through the cheap hotel wall. Heaven help him he silently prayed, please not right next door. But rationalization kicked in again. How could they possibly be lovers when she so desperately was searching for Mulder? No he decided, they were not lovers, just friends, some sort of weird, special friends. And he was jealous. So jealous of whatever it was they had, whatever it was she and Mulder had. He was startled and actually jumped when he heard the knock on his door. When he opened it, he was shocked to find her standing there. She explained that she had noticed that he hadn't been able to sleep either and was wondering if he would like to join her and the A.D. for a cup of coffee. Momentarily at a loss for words, he looked past her and saw Skinner waiting a polite distance away. His mind raced; she had noticed him watching her and now A.D. Skinner probably knew that he was a peeping tom too...what would they think of him...wait a minute you big dummy, they just invited you to join them, it can't be that bad...say something now before this gets any more awkward! He nodded and said let me get some clothes on. She seemed to almost smile at this and told him they would be waiting for him outside. He dressed quickly, not believing what had just transpired. He had just witnessed what he was sure was meant to be a very private exchange between the two and now they were inviting him to join them. Well, lets not get carried away the rational part of his brain admonished him, it was only an invite for coffee after all. But at least it was something. It was something from her and he would take it. He couldn't sleep anyway. The End Please give me feedback so I'll know whether to keep writing, or to just stick with reading all of yours! Tommy2378@hotmail.com