TITLE:Friendly faces AUTHOR:lillebailey EMAIL:lillebailey@yahoo.co.uk RATING:NC-13 CLASSIFICATION: DSR, DOF SUMMARY: When an old friend visits Doggett, Scully finds herself more than a little jealous. DISCLAIMER: The characters of the X Files belong to Chris Carter, 1013 Productions etc. No infringement of copyright intended. The characters of Kate Hemingway and Ryan Miller are my creation. ****************************************************************** X Files office Friday 9.30am At about 9.30am John Doggett heard the familiar click of heels come down the x files hallway. For some reason he could always tell the difference between Agent Reyes and Agent Scully. This was Scully. "Good morning Agent Doggett" she chirped as she entered "Good morning" he replied "What can we do for you, I thought you'd given this office up now" he joked Over the past few weeks they had become a lot easier with each other and had become good friends, she had finally learned to trust him. "Well if only it were that simple, Skinner called me about an old case that you're reopening or something so I had to come down here. He actually said you probably wouldn't be here, that you were taking a day off today." "Yes I am, well a half day anyway." "Doing anything special?" "Well my friend Kate is coming from New York to stay the weekend but she won't be here til the afternoon so I thought i'd come in?" Not wanting to sound too nosy Scully asked "Is she your girlfriend?" she said as she took a seat opposite John "Oh, No" he smiled " She's actually my best friend. She's from my home town I used to date her years ago, she lives in New york now" "Is she married now?" prying a little more "No, she was engaged once but never married, actually she's cooking me dinner tonight as a thanks for the lodging kind of thing, do you want to come along, bring william with you?" She shuffled a little nervously in her seat "Thank you for the offer but no it's ok thanks" "Oh come on, i'd really like her to meet you, she usually meets my work partners, in fact she dated the last one but I don't have to worry about that with you" "I guess not" she laughed "Okay then what time?" she had relaxed a bit now she was convinced that John and Kate were not a couple. She was falling for John Doggett but she didn't want to let it slip by coming over all jealous about his visitor. "Great, about 7.30 ok?" "Sure" she replied and left to go meet Skinner, It would be nice to spend some out of work time with him. ************************************************************* Doggett's House Friday 7.30pm As John saw Scully's car pull up he went to open the front door for her. "Hi Dana, come on in" He said showing her and william into the living room they sat on the couch as a woman about forty ish appeared from the kitchen. "Hi you must be Dana, John's partner" she greeted with a smile Suddenly there was that jealousy again, she hadn't banked on this woman being stunning. Kate was a few inches taller than scully with long blonde hair tied up into a ponytail, blue eyes and a slim build. Scully noted that she looked a little like John's ex wife "Hello Kate" she replied "Well, i'm sorry to be rude but i'm just going to dash to the store, I forgot one of the main ingredients for dinner" With that she was gone "Full of energy isn't she" scully commented to John "Yeah, you'd never guess we're the same age" he smiled "Where did you meet her" she asked "Our folks were friends when we were kids" he started as he handed her a drink. " We've always been friends. When I was on a few weeks leave from the marines we started dating, but we broke up the day I left again." "Why?" she inquired, not understanding what was making her delve into John's private life. "Well, when I was a marine I always had this rule that I would never have a girlfriend while I was away. When I started dating Kate I told her this but when It came to leaving day again, I didn't want it to end. I was really nervous about leaving and she just asked me if it was really so important for me to be single while I was away. I said it was so she broke it off for me. At the time she didn't understand why but it was great of her to do it." "Didn't you tell her why?" "She found out later on. A year or so later she met Ryan Miller, a guy from my company in the corps and they started dating, he was a really great guy and he asked her to marry him. We went away again but this time I got hurt and he came back dead." "Oh no" was all scully could say "Yeah well, I went to the funeral with her and she got it then" "You didn't want to do that to her, promise her the world and never come back" she said softly "Yeah, something like that." "Have you ever dated her since?" "No, I mean I married Barbara when I came out of the marines. Kate just became my best friend, she's always been there for me. I love her but you know, when you know somebody so long you get past the point of having a relationship, so we're just great friends" "But she's gorgous" "Yeah well i'm not saying that we don't fuck occasionally" he smirked This was a side to John that scully hadn't really seen. A naughty glint in his eye said that he was deadly serious and Scully found herself once again a little jealous as well a bit excited at the prospect of John having a naughty side. It took about an hour for Kate to return with her ingredients and finish the cooking. Until meal time, Scully spent her time sat on the sofa talking with Doggett and he kept creeping into the kitchen to see if it was time to eat. Each time he did he watched them together. They were obviously very close. Scully wished that she could be that open and honest. kate and John played, joked and talked without a care in the world, a bond that only comes when two people know each other emotionally, spiritually and inimately. The meal was fantastic when it was ready and even though she lived in New York Kate was obviously a southern girl at heart. They spent the evening chatting between the three of them. Scully really enjoyed herself. She was suprised to learn that Kate had been really good friends with Barbara when she was married to John, in fact she introduced them. While kate was doing the dishes, Scully and Doggett talked a little more, she go to know a lot more about his past, something he never really mentioned. When william began fussing it was time for her to leave. She said her goodbyes to kate and then John walked her out to her car. As she opened the door to get in she turned to him and just had to ask "John, do you really sleep with Kate sometimes" and then she blushed a little He smiled at her question "Yeah I do, are you telling me you've never had sex with mulder" She blushed an even darker shade of red before giving him a wry smile. He simply smiled, he knew he had proved his point. He and Kate were both single adults who cared for each other and yes sometimes they did end up in bed but he was quite intrigued that Scully was interested. "Good night Agent Doggett" she said "It's John outside work ours" ***************************************************************** Scully's Apartment Saturday 5.00pm As Scully came in from shopping she put a sleepy William into his bed before she started to fish in her bags for something frozen to make for her dinner. --Great-- she thought,once again it was saturday evening and she had no where to go and nothing to do. As she peeled back the plastic on the meal and put it in the microwave, all she could think about was John Doggett. It was nice of him to have her and William over for dinner last night but part of her wished that he had never asked. She knew that Kate was staying with him until sunday morning and knew she had no right to say what he did with his time but she found herself thinking about it all day. Why was she so jealous? Okay, she had admitted to herself long ago that she had fallen for the man she told herself to hate when he came to the x files, but that did not mean that he had fallen in love with her. Why would he? She was a single mother with a disfunctional relationship with the baby's father and did nothing with her life except work. Kate was really great, she seemed to bring out a more playful side in Doggett that Scully thought was pretty rarely seen but she liked it. It wasn't her business what he did with his personal life, but now she knew that he dated Kate and that they had slept together several times since, she suddenly saw her as a threat. How could any woman spend the night with John Doggett on several occasions and then insist that she is just a friend to him?, it seemed an impossible task. She also wondered whether things might have been different had Doggett not met Barbara. Would he have come home from the marines and married Kate? What if? Stop it she told herself. ***************************************************************** Doggett's House Saturday 10.30pm Doggett sat on his couch with Kate, the movie they rented had just finished and they were sat with a coffee each. Kate was still drying her eyes from the crying she had done at the end of the film. "How many times have you seen that film now?" he joked "I don't know, more than I remember" "and you cry everytime?" he pressed "Yeah, I love films like that, you know where everybody finds love at the end, even though it never happens in reality." John handed her a cookie from the table. "How do you know it won't happen for you?" he asked "Come on John, i'm forty two years old, never married, no kids. I think my fairy tale days are over now" "Maybe you got a point. If you're still single at fifty i'll marry you" he laughed "Are you kidding, you won't be single the next time I see you" "What?" he replied suprised "For somebody who tells me everything you sure kept Dana Scully under your hat." "What are you getting at?" "Oh come on John, you're obviously in love with her. It's been a long time since I saw you look at a woman like that." "Well I guess it just crept up on me." "So you do love her?" "I don't know, I think so. It's just been so long since I've felt love I just don't know if i'm ready to do it all again" "Do what again?" "Put my heart on the line I guess. You know I really didn't like her that much when I met her but she just got under my skin. I've never had feelings for an agent before" "Why haven't you told her?" "What if she doesn't want me? What if she's in love with Mulder? Do I want to risk my Job? I got about a million of these reasons." "John you're any woman's dream. She can't not want you. Look the last time I was here you were obviously in love with somebody but I didn't push it. After all this time, isn't it driving you nuts, don't you just want to find out?" "Yeah I guess" "She's not your usual type, she must be pretty special" "Oh yeah, what's my type" he smiled "Well you never went for woman smarter than you before, I never saw you with a red head and from what you've told me she wasn't exactly welcoming when you met her" "Smarter than me?" he grinned "She's a doctor John" she laughed "Seriously what's stopping you? and don't give me any bullshit." "I don't want to screw up again. I haven't had a real relationship since Barbara" "You and Barb had something great, you were a great husband to her and she will be the first one to admit it. You could have that again." "Maybe" he said looking into his empty coffee mug. ****************************************************************** Doggett's House Falls Church Sunday 11.00am "Okay I think that's all of it" Kate shouted as she came down John's stairs carrying her last bag. "You never travel light do you" Doggett chuckled as he took her bags out to her car. "Ever the gentleman" she smiled They stood in the porch as she put her last bag on her shoulder ready to go. "C'mere" he smiled as they hugged "You know I say goodbye to you far too much" "Well maybe you should come live the quiet life out here" he joked "I don't think so" she grinned "so" she said with a smirk. "What's that look for?" "Are you going to tell her?" she pushed "Kate" he signed uncomfortably "Well I thought i'd have one last push before I leave. Seriously though I just want to see you happy." "I know" "Well i'll call you when I get home" "Ok" he said as he opened her car door "Drive safe" "Always, see you John" With that she pulled out of the driveway. He knew that she mentioned Scully right before she left so it would play on his mind. -This kind of stuff was why we are not a couple- he thought to himself. ************************************************************ Scully's Apartment Sunday 7.00pm Scully opens the door to her apartment to find Doggett on her doorstep. "Agent Doggett, not working on a sunday are you?" She asked as he walked into her apartment. "Er no, actually I came to see you" He was looking a little nervous now "Is everything ok" She asked a little concerned now as they both sat on the couch facing each other. "Everything's fine I just have to talk to you about something." "Okay i'm all ears" she smiled slightly intrigued "You remember when I told you about Kate and why we're not a couple.?" "You said that you don't feel the same way about her as you did about your ex wife, but you love her because she's the best friend you ever had, you're in your own words 'best friends that fuck occasionally'" He smiled and blushed a little at her bluntness. "I guess i've always wanted the chance to fall in love again, to feel that way again." He said looking away from her as he spoke but looking back at her to get her reaction. "Well, you see Kate knows me better than anybody. When she's not around I can kid myself a little about my feelings but she sees through me. This weekend she forced me to see what I guess i've known for a long time. That I am in love and I do feel that way again, it's just been so long that I didn't realise myself." Scully looked at him as she took in what he was saying. "Are you in love with her?" She asked but didn't know how she'd react if the answer was yes. Surely she must be happy for him if he has finally been able to fall in love again but could she stand to hear about how another woman is making him so happy? He moved closer to her and leaned into her. "No" he simply replied and nervously took her hand in his and looked into her eyes. "I love you Dana" he said softly "Now i'm sorry if that's the last thing you wanted to hear and i'll understand if you won't want us to work together anymore but I just needed to say it." Scully was dumbstruck, that was the last thing she expected to hear but the one thing she wanted. She was geared up to accept his love for somebody else and now she was speechless. He must have sensed her suprise as he moved away from her and stood to leave. "I'm sorry, i'll go" he said looking to the floor in embarassment. "No" she said loudly and grabbed a hold of his hand pulling him back onto the couch with her. He looked at her in confusion, if she didn't want him, he didn't need to hang around and feel stupid. She brought her hand up to cup his cheek and found the words she had been looking for, "I love you John" He smiled a smile of true bliss, joy and relief all at once as he leant in to kiss her for the first time. As their lips met, all the chemistry they had felt since the day they met suddenly made sense. He pulled her closer into his body with his hand wrapped around her waist and they lost track of time, space and all other thoughts. As their kiss and touch grew more passionate they were obviously going to end up in the bedroom but at the worst possible time Doggett's fears suddenly crept up on him as he pulled away from her kiss and cringed as he asked the one question he needed to ask. "What about Mulder?" She smiled and straightened her hair as they both regained their breath. She took him by the hand. "Look" he started, " I'm sorry to ask but I just need to know how you feel about him before I do anything to get me in any deeper." She gave him a soft kiss on the lips to ease him a little before saying "I've never really been able to make sense of how I feel about him, sometimes I thought I was in love with him, and sometimes I think of him as my best friend. When you were talking about Kate the other day, about how you love each other but you're past the point of having a relationship with her it did make sense." "You mean you're as close with Mulder as I am with Kate?" "Yes, when I started to fall in love with you I thought that my feelings for Mulder would change, but they didn't because I wasn't in love with him romantically, I just love the person that he is." She looked into his eyes and tried to explain to him exactly how she felt, something that she had never done with anybody but Mulder before. "Mulder is everything I could ask for in a friend, but I want so much more from a man, and I found everything I need in you." Fully satisfied that he didn't have competition from Mulder, John pulled Dana to him again and began to kiss her. Once again their tender kiss ignited into a far more passionate one as she pulled away and simply said "Stay with me tonight John" His answer was a simple smile that did not require further explanation as she stood up and guided him across the apartment to her bedroom. Stopping to face him just short of the door, she spoke "John, there's just one thing that I need to ask" "What?" he asked as he pulled her into his arms. "Did you sleep with Kate when she was in town this time?" He stroked her hair behind her ear and whispered, "No, we haven't slept together since I met you." "Why?" Scully questioned "Because she knew that I was falling in love again, well before I admitted it to myself. She knew I wanted you and she never settles for second choice." As they made their way into the bedroom Scully could hardly believe her luck. He really had wanted her all this time. She had been a bitch towards him so many and yet he still saw through it to the person behind. He saw what she needed and gave her all the time in the world, probably would have given her a lot more if Kate hadn't kicked him up the ass. She wasn't sure how it would all turn out, but she knew two things for sure now, she would add Kate to her christmas present list, and for the first time in over a decade she was truly happy. The end Feedback - lillebailey@yahoo.co.uk