Author: Aynnoromo@aol.com (Chey)
Title: Hide and Seek
Rating: G
Spoilers: The Gift
Reason to Worry: Could be seen as DSR
Archive: Wherever, if you can let me know 
Disclaimers: None of these characters belong to me, I
am not making money, I am just an enthralled fan.
Author's Note: feedback is greatly appreciated. :D

HIDE and SEEK

Scully shook off her house slippers, closed
down the computer, stood up and stretched wearily. As
she moved to switch off the monitor, a great silence
met her ears. The hum of the computer was gone and
with it the Bartok cd she'd had playing low in the
background as work music. 
	
Scully felt like she was being watched. She felt like
that a lot, and tried to dismiss it. She glanced at
the window in front of her, with the blinds hiding 
her from the world. Ten years ago she'd only had 
other humans to be concerned with, and she locked her 
doors because of that concern as a simple 
afterthought. 
          
But after coming so far on her assignment in
the x-files, she had learned there was a great deal
more to be worried about. The kind of things that you
want to live in a barred, electrified cell to keep
them away from you at all times. 
         
She let out a long breath, a sigh she needed
to hear, and the sound comforted her. As she
considered the next day's work, she reached for her
notes as suddenly the sound of her doorknob being
turned met her ears. The sound nearly pulled her body
towards it in fear, in an attempt to assure her it 
was not danger, to see what was out there. Her ears
pounded with the racket from the doorknob, and
surprise turned to annoyance at her overreaction.
Blame the hormones, she thought, putting a tender 
hand to her stomach. 
	
She shuffled over to the door and looked through the
peephole. There was nothing there. Was the landlord
bringing around the neighborhood crime watch, trying
to teach residents a lesson about locking doors? It
seemed unlikely, and Scully unlocked her door. She
leaned silently into the hall without taking her feet
off the apartment's carpet, looking both ways. Her
eyes were wide. It seemed like a dangerous place, the
hall, bright white and harsh on the eyes. And so
quiet. There was no one around. The silence seemed to
buzz in her ears, carrying into her head. 
	
She drifted back into her thoughts, closing the door
and locking it behind her. She thought maybe she and
Skinner would have a good laugh over her 
irrationality tomorrow, maybe even Doggett would 
think it was funny. Even if Skinner won't tell me 
where he is -
	
A chill went through Scully as she focused on the
shadow of the corner. There was a slight glow, and
then even as she blinked there stood Doggett. He was
half bent over, and as he looked up and focused his
wide-eyed gaze on her, the pain on his face made
Scully gasp in shock. "Oh my god," she let slip, as
Doggett began to mouth words she couldn't hear. 
	
A car alarm outside made her jump. Doggett had
disappeared. There were no words in Scully's mind,
only a flood of fear for this man she barely knew, a
man she had thrown a cup of water all over when she
had first met him. "Agent Doggett!" she finally
whispered, and shut her eyes. The car alarm blared in
bleats, keeping time with the beating of her heart.
	
Her blood was heavy in her veins, pulsing much too
fast. She scrunched her face up in concentration, and
thought of how she had seen Emily on the autopsy
table, how she had let Emily go eventually but she
had, once, been able to call her back. That one time. 
	
"Where are you..." she clenched her fists. And the
cold returned. 

It's dragging me somewhere. I have my eyes open to
just a slit, but I only see darkness. The pain is
intermittent, and I give in to another place. I am
standing in darkness, and the deja vu is strong from
playing hide and go seek, hands over my eyes. I start
to count as on instinct. Am I a child now? There is
laughter from somewhere. Startled, I look from behind
my hands and I see a child with red hair. Instantly I
know who it is. "Keep counting! Close your eyes!" She
giggles, and runs off. 
	
"Ten....nine...." I do as she says, not really caring
anymore. I am dying. I know death is lapping at my
soul like a quiet lake upon the shore. "Two,...one.
Ready or not, here I come," I muster, removing my
hands from my face. 
	
A new scene, along with it the knowledge that here is
what I needed to find. I try and be polite, even now
as I bleed to death. Her white door looms in front of
me and I panic, trying to open her door as my time
runs out, forgoing a knock. I can't help it, there's
no time for this - I shut my eyes and then find 
myself inside her home. She is right in front of me.
"Scully..." I gasp, lifting a hand towards her. She 
is standing, wide-mouthed, saying words I can't hear. 
The image begins to fade, the pain is increasing from 
my body back in another world. "Scully..." Catapulted
back to the blackness, I see a single gray light is
growing larger like someone with a flashlight is
running towards me. If only I had been able to stay
with her, if I had been strong enough, I may not have
died. I could have woken up and gotten myself help. 
"Why aren't you plaaaaaaying???" a child's voice
whines from behind me.
	
But she's calling my name. I am ripped backwards,
standing in her apartment again. I don't think she 
can see me this time. I watch her detachedly, and I 
think to myself, so this is how it is to die. Time 
passes in a heartbeat and I watch Scully get on the 
phone to someone, dress quickly, roar out the door. 
She's trying to save me. It's hopeless. I follow her, 
my only connection to this world. But then I'm pulled
back.

I'm waking up in the cave, and my mind reels. How did
I get here? I can't think. My eyes blur and I feel a
breakdown in nerves approaching as I try to stand. 
Why am I here? I can't wrap my mind around it.
	
Someone is coming. "I'll help you. Let me help you."
I can only stare at the form in horror, as I begin to
remember. 

Later, back in the basement office, I wonder if I
should tell Scully she saved me. She pulled me back
from the brink of death. Although I'm not certain it
really happened. How should I know what I really saw?
I had lost a lot of blood and I was in shock. I have
given all the possibilities all my thoughts for the
past days.

Scully sits across from me in the office, just 
looking at me. A raised eyebrow, then she turns away.
	
Putting her car keys in her pocket with a jingle
breaks the silence. 

"John." I nod, acknowledging her voice.
	
"Do you want to talk about what happened out there?"
	
"Do you?" I follow up quickly.
	
We agree silently to wait until a better time. We'll
see who goes first when the time comes to explain
things, I think wearily. I don't want to be "it" 
twice in a row.


________________________
Author's note: I always thought about whether Scully
saw Doggett's "shade" when he was so near to death as
he was. Think of seeing her father in Beyond the Sea,
the Emily visions in All Souls, the bowling alley
episode (LOL, what was that one...shoot)probably 
other ones I can't think of, etc...This is what 
developed. I wrote this too fast and posted it too 
early. It ought to be expanded but I felt that with 
the upcoming changes in my life I won't have time to 
do it. I felt it was important to post it in present 
condition. I'm going to regret this in the morning...