Title: Returning To Light
Author: That American Chick
Rating: K
Category: Doggett/Scully

Summary: After 2 years on the run, Scully takes a good look at her life and decides she's 
had enough. Takes place 2 years after "The Truth". DSF later possible DSR. Mulder 
friendly but no MSR.



AN: If you are NOT a fan of DSR, please do not read this if you don't have an open mind 
towards the possibility. DSF and later DSR (Doggett & Scully)
Also, let me clarify where I'm starting my story from, and what I'm changing. This takes 
place 2 years after "The Truth". I am nixing the baby storyline completely….meaning it 
never happened. Also Scully's "uncharacteristic" simpering behavior never happened 
(yes, those of you who followed dutifully know what I mean). I like Mulder, but as far as 
I'm concerned he gave up those rights to Scully when Duchovny's ego inflated him off 
the show. This story is dedicated to those characters whose potential was never explored, 
and as far as I'm concerned, their run was too little. You have been warned, so you don't 
need to read if you don't agree. Just putting that out there. And yes, I will use some 
characters from the latest movie too.

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Chapter 1 - "Cansado"
She sat silently in the dark on the edge of her bed. The only light was the occasional neon 
swell as the red sign posted out in the parking lot blinked "vacancy". In the parking lot 
she heard the screech of tires, then the dying grunt of a motorcycle as it came to rest. 
Drunken laughter grew louder as the unmistakable clomp of boots thundered past as the 
rider led a drunken girl to the room next door. She heard the slamming of his door, and 
then the laughter continued, muffled, but by the sounds of it, the party was far from over.
Her attention was diverted to the bed next to hers as he stirred in his sleep, slightly 
groaned, and repositioned himself on his other side. In seconds he was back to sleeping 
contently again.
Moving carefully, she walked to the bathroom and closed the door. A flick of the light 
switch caused the dirty fluorescent light above the mirror to flicker to life. She took a 
good long look at herself in the mirror. At first she thought it might have been the awful 
lighting from the light that now buzzed noticeably overhead, but she realized it was 
exhaustion from her very soul. Her red hair looked dull and frazzled, her eyes looked 
tired, and the hollows under her eyes seemed prominent. Two years of hard life had taken 
its toll on her. It wasn't only a physical effect on her, it seemed to bleed to her very soul.
At first she didn't even question what staying by Mulder meant. She supposed time has 
just worn away the luxury. But being in the position she was in afforded her so much 
time to think……so much time. Maybe it was the initial thrill of the moment, the 
attraction and time spent with the unending pursuit of the truth, the devotion poured into 
a quest that she had recently come to realize, would never end. She respected him for 
that. Had since day one. He's a good man, but his obsession has lead him to the truth so 
many times…..an intangible object that he could see, but always lingered just out of his 
grasp, always one step ahead of him. His entire life consumed by questions that were 
refused answers.
Eleven years. She wouldn't have traded most of them for the world, her work on the X 
files has been some of the most rewarding in her life, working with Mulder had been a 
privilege; an experience so enlightening that she could never think the way she did before 
then. But she never intended for it to rule her life the way it had come to.
Sometimes she had to remember what it was like to have a normal, albeit at times boring 
life. Passing through many towns, she saw the suburban dream. The wife kissing her 
husband goodbye for work, the dog playing with the kids on the lawn, people washing 
their cars, and checking the mail, standing outside in the morning sun enjoying a cup of 
coffee. They had no idea how lucky they were. It had been two years since she had been 
able to speak to anyone in her family…..two years! Ignorance truly was bliss.
Looking again in the mirror she stared back at her listless reflection. Perhaps she had 
reached her fork in the road, maybe it was time to go her own way. She thought about her 
father for a moment. Would he be proud? Or would her tell her she had to know when 
enough was enough. In all the years of medical school, the FBI academy, and then her 
work with Mulder, she had forgotten herself. She could go back….she wasn't the one 
they were looking for. Going back would mean that she'd be away from the face she'd 
become so accustomed to, but his path clearly no longer hers.
Switching off the buzzing light she quickly wiped away the tears that had begun to well 
up in her eyes and made her way to the threadbare bed. Laying down she drifted off into 
an uneasy sleep brought on by pure exhaustion. If she was lucky they might actually sit 
down for breakfast in the morning, and she'd get her chance to talk to him, to explain that 
this time, it would be her turn.
Chapter 2 – "Salida"
The door chimed happily as the door opened to the small diner they found themselves 
seated in. Scully halfheartedly noticed the older gentleman in overalls and a faded flannel 
shirt that wandered in. He called the waitress by first name as she poured him a fresh cup 
of coffee. Somewhere in the distance the wail of a semi horn sounded as it passed on the 
nearby road.
Mulder sat across from her with a road map unfurled in front of him. One hand held the 
folded page flat and the other traced a route with a pen. He was planning some meeting 
with a contact he had to Gibson Praise. The boy had been experiencing some increasing 
sense of alien activity. Apparently with the onset of puberty, his abilities were no longer 
limited to simply being able to read minds, but increasing sensitivity to the slowly 
increasing alien activity. Being that there was to be a supposed impending invasion, 
Mulder took any twitch quite seriously. Gibson, also had gone back into hiding, and only 
very few people knew how to find him. Beyond Mulder, the sun yawned casting its rays 
on what promised to be another hot, dry Arizona day.
"You've hardly touched your food." He observed turning his eyes to her plate. On the 
contrary, she had been touching her food quite a bit, just not eating any of it. She slowly 
placed her fork down and met his eyes. "Mulder, we have to talk." She said softly. This 
would not be easy, but she knew now it had to be done.
"What is it Scully?" He asked, temporarily turning his attention back to the map. "I can't 
do this anymore Mulder." Scully ventured searching for his reaction.
Mulder slowly set down the pen and turned his full attention to her. "Do what Scully?"
"This….all of this." She said her voice becoming a little stronger. It was unlike her to be 
very emotional about much of anything, but she knew in her heart that what she was 
doing was right. She didn't wait for him to say anything but rather took his hands in hers 
across the table, she didn't want to hurt him, she wanted him to understand. He looked 
confused, and a little hurt.
"My heart's not in this anymore." She said. "I've given you years, and followed you 
through hell." She said biting her lower lip to keep it from quivering too much. If she 
broke down now, she'd never be able to get out what she needed to.
"Scully…you know the truth you know I can't….." Mulder started to say, but Scully 
interrupted him. "That's just it Mulder, YOU can't, and I understand that, this is who you 
are, and what you were always meant to do." He remained silent, while she dared to go 
on. "But this isn't my life, and I didn't want it to become that….it's not that I don't 
believe in you and what you're trying to do, but I can't do it anymore…..I care about 
myself too much to do that." Her eyes began to well up with tears, and she withdrew a 
hand to dab at them with a napkin.
"Scully, I don't know what to say, I guess I've known all along….I just never slowed 
down enough to consider what you were feeling or to ask what you thought, I can only 
imagine how hard this has been on you." He played with the pen nervously in his hands.
"Mulder, when we buried you I thought it would kill me, while you were gone I tried to 
carry on as you would, tried to think like I thought you might, and no matter how hard I 
tried or what I did, it never worked, it was like trying on shoes that didn't fit, the way you 
are was never the way I am."
"I know too much to turn my back." Mulder stated looking earnestly in her face. "I know 
that." Scully started. "You need to be who you are, it would be unfair if I asked you to be 
anything else. But i'm going to be selfish this one time." She said gently pressing her 
hand on her chest.
Still holding his one hand, she brought her free hand to his face. "I'm tired Fox…..i'm 
tired."
After everything she had been through these past years…losing her father and sister, her 
cancer, the death of a daughter she never knew existed until it was too late, the abduction, 
the supernatural experiences. It wasn't crazy that she wanted something normal.
"I will always be your friend." She stated squeezing his hand in reassurance. He looked at 
her face, the sincerity shone out from her eyes. For eleven years, she had been his 
constant, his touchstone, the rock the grounded him in reality. For as many times as she 
went to bat for him, and placed herself in the line of fire, he owed this much to her.
He slowly nodded in understanding. "Go home Scully." He ventured. He silently cursed 
himself for not considering how she might've been feeling. She dipped her head, giving a 
slight whimper, part grief, part relief.
Mulder rose from the table and walked to the counter to pay the bill. After having a brief 
conversation with the waitress behind the counter he returned to the table and offered a 
hand to Scully to help her up. He gathered up his belongings from the table and carefully 
folded up the roadmap. They walk wordlessly to the dusty car parked in the lot.
Shutting the car door, he pauses for a moment before turning to her to speak.
"The waitress says there's a train station about an hour from here. He said licking his lips. 
"I'm sure it won't be a problem to get a ticket if you use that ID."
She slowly nodded in agreement, her heart took a quick pang as she remembered years 
ago receiving it from the Lone Gunmen. "Just in case." Frohike assured her as he placed 
it in her hand reassuringly curling her fingers over the rectangular card with his fingerless 
gloves. She had forgotten about the fake ID. Most of the places they had stayed weren't 
all that concerned about identification, she wasn't wanted but the last thing she needed 
should anyone in the Bureau discover her return was a paper trail leading anywhere near 
Mulder, where he was, or where he had been, it was too dangerous.
"I want you to know Mulder, that no matter where I find myself in life, I'll never give up 
on clearing your name." She reached over and gently turned his head to face her. "You 
have friends, don't you forget that." It was important to her that he remembered this. 
There was a whole plan set up in case it came to pass that something happened and 
assistance was needed, there was a way, she would never leave him with anything less.
He considered her statement for a moment and gave her a reassuring smile. "I know." He 
said softly, as he started the car.
It wasn't so much a train station as it was a small building with a few tracks and 
platforms. The red "Amtrak" sign was faded from the unending desert sun. Few 
passengers paid any mind to the two people standing on the platform.
Scully set her large bag down and stuffed the purchased ticket in her pocket, and turned 
to face her companion. This was fast becoming the hardest thing she'd ever had to do.
Not being great with emotions, she made a bit of small talk. "I got a sleeper 
compartment, and I won't have to worry about any changeovers until Chicago, then on to 
D.C." She tugged uncomfortably at the loose ponytail she had thrown her hair into. She 
looked up again, and met his gaze.
"Do you know what you're going to do when you get there?" Mulder asked. She took in a 
big breath and let it out slowly. "I figured I'd call my mother." She stated a little 
uncomfortably. "I know I can trust her to not ask questions that I'm not comfortable 
answering. If anything she'll be happy I'm alive more than anything." As much as she 
and her mother didn't see eye to eye at time, above all she was still her daughter, she 
loved her, and some things will never change"
Mulder gave a sheepish grin. He knew she was more than capable of looking after 
herself, but she was right some things would never change, and his concern for her was 
one of them.
The wind picked up with the approaching train, the horn sounded as the train approached 
closer to the station. Scully studied the number prominently displayed on the front as it 
rolled past her and to a gradual stop.
"This you?" Mulder asked turning his attention back to her. "Yes." She said tucking a 
loose piece of hair behind her ear. How long had they been standing there anyway?
"Your friendship has been one of the most important of my life." With that she reached 
behind her neck and removed her gold cross necklace and pressed it into his hand. 
"You'll always be in my heart." She said embracing him. She felt a few tears slip down 
her cheek, soaking into his shirt. Sniffling she retracted from the embrace to face his 
hazel eyes. He closed the small space between them and they kissed briefly and tenderly 
on the lips. She sniffled and made a feeble attempt to smile. "Don't go too far into the 
darkness." She hastily wiped a tear that has escaped from her swollen eyes.
"I know what you've given up, and I won't let that happen." Mulder stated giving her a 
reassuring smile. "Go on Scully, you get on that train, and you start your life." He said 
authoritatively. She gave him a small smile before picking up her bag and walking 
towards the awaiting open door. She looked back with a small smile and boarded.
Settling into her compartment she took one last look out the window as the train slowly 
started gaining momentum. There he stood looking at her. His hands were shoved into his 
pockets and his sneaker clad feet planted firmly on the platform. She placed her hand on 
the window, and as the platform began to disappear from view, she could see him remove 
a hand from his pocket, and hold it up high and still, and then…he was gone from her 
view.
Chapter 3 – liberar
Through most of the journey Scully read, sneaking off for the occasional meal from the 
meal car. She slept very little, still too nervous about lying down for too long. Some 
things would take getting used to.
She watched the landscape fly by the window. Gradually the repetitive tan of the desert, 
painted rocks and saguaro cactus gave way to vast fields and seemingly endless rows of 
corn, sunflowers, and other mass quantities of crops not identified at a high rate of 
traveling speed. She shivered for a moment, remembering her own encounters with the 
corn crops, the bees, and that alien virus. She automatically moved her hand to rub the 
back of her neck.
The train did make occasional stops. Mostly she stayed holed up in her compartment, 
watching as people walked by the window, boarding, exiting, in self absorbed 
conversations on cell phones or frequenting barely visible vending machines. She took no 
notice at half the towns that she was passing through. The last time she had paid attention 
had been Kansas.
She did however take leave of her quarters when they stopped in Chicago. She had 
watched as the train gradually slowed and the scenery had begun to change from rolling 
hills and fields, to man made structures, the back view of houses and yards, laundry 
hanging on lines, buses waiting at traffic signals, high rise buildings, buisnessman 
crossing streets on cell phones, and all the hustle and bustle of a city that never sleeps.
Exiting the train, she was careful not to make eye contact with anyone. Somehow she 
thought that they would be able to see right through her if she did. The terminal's 
buslting activity seemed to renew her spirits a bit. Suddlenly she was aware of a sharp 
pain in her stomach. When was the last time she ate anything? The terminal was full of 
little shops, souveniers, and of course food. Her attention turned to a Pizzeria Uno just 
immediately off to her right. She could get a piece of deep dish Chicago style. Her mind 
scrambled to thin of the last time she had allowed herself that kind of luxury. The thought 
made her smile.
After ordering her food, Scully stood in line waiting for her order to be completed. Her 
mind wandered. Perhaps it was being enveloped by a big city, but just for a moment she 
flet like her former self. She was anxious to get "home", she wanted to slip back into 
town as quietly as possible, but she found herself ever anticipating seeing her mother. 
Every heirloom she had was gone, every birthday present, every accomplished record on 
paper….everything. She knew that these were just physical possessions, but still they 
were hers. She hadn't taken the time to think about these things in so long…strange the 
types of things that stir to the front of your mind when you least expect it.
Hanging above the tables of the dining area of Uno were a few large screen TV's. She 
could hear the distant roar of approval…or maybe disappointment as the occupants of the 
bar closely followed some televised sporting event. It was the television closest above 
her, apparently strategically placed to entertain those in line. It wasn't the initial report 
that had begun that yanked her attention from the circulating thoughts in her head, but 
rather….a voice.
"…..months of excellent police work, we took the suspect into custody earlier this 
afternoon ." Scully took a sharp intake of breath as her blue eyes immediately focused on 
the picture abover her. She knew that voice.
There on the screen the familiar face appeared. She looked up just in time to catch a 
glimpse of a familiar face to match the voice, his spiky hair, and piercing blue eyes 
reflecting off the hordes of camera flashes, as he apparently tried to make his way 
through the onslaught of wires and microphones. Underneath the "CNN" logo, the 
summary of the story blinked. "Nicholas Anthony Quinn apprehended, DNA linked to six 
murders, "Butcher of Baltimore" captured…..Nicholas Anthony Quinn apprehended…" 
The story looped it's summary over and over. A moment later, John's face, faded to an 
older gentleman in a tie sitting behind the news desk.
"There you have it folks." He began. "FBI confirms that Nicholas Anthony Quinn the so 
named "Butcher of Baltimore" was taken into custody earlier today in what was one of 
the largest manhunts of the D.C and Baltimore areas. In what was the largest joint effort 
between the FBI and Baltimore police in history." Scully's mouth stood slightly opened, 
it was as if the world around momentarily ceased to exist. She literally felt as she'd been 
under a rock these past two years….well, she might as well have been. The newscaster 
continued. "The FBI is expected to hold a press conference at 4pm Eastern time. We'll 
keep you updated as this story develops." He said straightening the papers on the desk 
before him.
It was only then she realized that the apron and visor clad girl behind the counter was 
desperately trying to gain her attention. "Number three twenty six?" She asked hastily, 
the obvious impression it hadn't been the first time she had done so. "Um, yeah, sorry 
that's me." Scully said depositing her claim ticket into the small basket next ot the 
counter. Quickly she took the tray offered to her by the girl and took a seat. She kept a 
constant vigil on the television in hopes of seeing any news of the recent event apparently 
involving her old friend. The only updates to her disappointment, was in the continous 
scroll at the bottom of the screen. She knew she would miss that press conference. She'd 
be on the train for the remainder of that day, arriving in downtown D.C. early the next 
morning. She'd have to try to catch it on rebroadcasts and the morning paper.
She savored each moment of what was in her opinion "too small" slice of Chicago style 
sausage and cheese pizza. Finishing up the last of her diet Coke she deposited the trash in 
the can, and the tray on top, and slowly made her way back to the rail possessing the train 
that would shortly be departing to D.C. Her head was swimming. She desired to be able 
to talk to John, Reyes, her brother, anything that linked her back to Dana Scully. It takes 
a lot of work to bring someone back from the dead…..well….figuratively speaking. She 
gazed abstractively at the terminal outside the window doubting she'd get much rest 
tonight, she was too deeply involved with the swirling thoughts of her own mind to even 
read.
The gentle voice of the intercom stirred her from what had been apparent slumber. 
"Ladies and gentleman please prepare yourself for departure from the train, we will be 
pulling into Union Station very shortly, and once again…thank you for traveling 
Amtrak."
Scully excitedly scrambled towards the window of her car. Outside, although overcast 
and grayish, she could already make out the oh so familiar landmarks of her beloved 
Washington. She knew these streets, these buildings, the newstands, the 
statues….everything. What she used to pay no mind to she now drunk in with rich detail. 
It gave her weary self renewed will to once again breathe life back into who she was.
The train couldn't stop quickly enough for her. She felt a little bit giddy…like a kid on 
Christmas morning waiting to open gifts. She formulated a plan in her head of what 
exaclty she wanted to do, and in what order. Shifting the weight of her bad, she ventured 
out of Union station to the busy streets surrounding. She had arrived in the dead of rush 
hour. Countless people in ties, buisness suits, briefcases, rain coats etc. walked past. She 
heard the hurried rush of traffic, honking horns, and all the glory of a metropolitan 
morning. She felt at home, but at the same time, she felt like she stuck out like a sore 
thumb. What would be her first act of liberation from the battered constraints of hiding 
out?
Little over an hour later found her sitting in the stylists chair with the hairdresser sizing 
up her ruby tresses. "Been a while?" She asked smacking her gum a little too audibly. 
Two years of little maintenance had left her hair scraggling down to the middle of her 
back, dull, split, and dry. Scully slightly nodded. "Take it off." She stated removing a 
damp lock of hair away from her cheek from the recent shampoo the hairdresser had 
adminstered. The stylist nodded in agreement, and began her work.
Half an hour later found her throughly blow dried and bobbed. Her hair bounced healthily 
off the top of her shoulders giving her a semblance of who she had been before. Her next 
stop was to visit an old haunt, the morning bistro she had made such a fierce habit of 
stopping at before work. She crossed her fingers in hopes it was still open as she rounded 
the corner. Ten minutes later saw her nursing the steaming cup of java perched at one of 
the little tables with the umbrellas. Pigeons camped out nearby eagerly awaiting a 
handout of a discarded biscotti. She quickly snagged a forgotten newspaper from a 
nearby table in hopes of reading more about the capture from the previous day. Not 
surprisingly, the story dominated the front page. It detailed the joint efforts of the FBI 
and Baltimore PD to capture a serial killer who had apparenlty been terrorizing the D.C. 
and Baltimore metro areas. Six innocent women had been found slain in the same 
frightening matter, and DNA had linked an early initial suspect to each one of them. 
When Baltimore PD had entered his residence for an arrest they found that he had fled. 
Over the insuing year he eluded capture, and continued to reign terror in neighboring 
D.C. Four more women lost their lives before he was fiannly located and captured by the 
FBI. The arresting agent has been John Doggett. That would certainly explain his rushed 
statement on the television. ASAC John Doggett. She smiled to herself and placed the 
paper carefully into her bag. He was a good man, no nonsense, and it looked as if he had 
been finally rewarded for his perseverance and hard work. She longed to tell him she was 
alright, that Mulder was alright, and her decesion to return to the world of the living. Not 
yet though, she'd have to figure out if that would ever be possible.
She ventured on. Staring at a nearby ATM, she shifted the bad on her shoulder. Such a 
simple thing as going to get money, she had her card, but was afraid to use it. Surely 
since Mulder was a wanted man, and she had disappeared any transaction she made 
would be tracked. She knew how they operated. They'd keep that account open at all 
costs to see what she would do and where. Thankfully she had enough cash on her to take 
her on the last leg of her journey.
It was late afternoon when the cab pulled up in front of the small ranch house in 
Suburbia. After paying the driver she removed her bag from the trunk and slowly made 
her way up the carefully groomed path to the ascending front steps. Setting her bag down 
she cleared her throat and nervously rang the bell.
"Just a minute!" She heard a cheery voice call out from somewhere in the house. Scully 
found herself shaking, and barely able to stand in one spot. A moment later the door 
rapidly opened and the familiar face of Margaret Scully apperared. Upon viewing her 
visitor her face immediately contorted into one of shock. Her hands fumbled to open the 
screen door, and she stepped out, never breaking contact with the long lost face of her 
daughter.
"Dana?!" Her voice quivered, lower lip trembling, as if just venturing out there the 
possibility of her daughter returning. She dared not raise her voice any higher as if the 
sheer tone of it would make this apparition disappear.
"Hi mom." Scully said softly, her eyes welling up with impending tears. "I've come 
home." The older Scully took this into consideration for a quick second before throwing 
herself upon Dana's shoulders. "Dana!!" She shrieked into her daughters arms as she 
embraced her so tightly, Scully thought she'd never let go. Scully closed her eyes and 
returned her embrace. After what seemed like an eternity, Margaret dared release herself 
from the embrace and framed her daughters face in her hands. Tears streamed down her 
face as she smoothed a red lock of hair behing her daughter's ear. "I can't believe you're 
here…I…I" She was too emotional to even finish the sentence. "I'm here mom, and I'm 
never leaving again." Dana reassured her. Margaret's voice quivered. "We didn't know, 
no one knew, your brothers, and…." She couldn't finish the sentence. Trying to regain 
some composure she eagerly reopened the screen door. "Come in, please Dana, I'm 
afraid to let you out of my very sight."
Dana studied her face, clearly she had been suffering, who could blame her. Lost a 
husband, Melissa, and to her knowledge…Dana too. She'd make it up to her. Part of her 
had begun to really regret her decesions of the past few years, and feel resentment for all 
the self centeredness of Mulder's quest. But she pushed those feelings down and aside as 
she entered her mother's house. She was home.
Chapter 4: Awake
Awake
The sounds of cheering and celebration grew louder as he made his way down the 
hallway to one of the conference rooms that for months had been taken over as the center 
of a special joint task force with the driven purpose of finding one Nicholas Anthony 
Quinn.
Skinner smiled to himself before clearing his throat to interrupt the hoots, and cheers.
"Ladies and gentleman just a quick moment of your time." He stated patiently waiting for 
people to conduct themselves. They deserved to loosen up and have a good time. Every 
single person in this room had busted their ass and put in countless hours of overtime, 
holidays, time away from their families, etc. He himself had found himself in this office 
quite a few times on the weekend, assisting where he could, even after his promotion to 
Deputy Director.
He quickly gazed over everyone in the room when all eyes were trained on him. "I just 
wanted to congratulate you all on a job well done. I know how much of yourselves 
you've put into catching this guy."
A few scattered rounds of applause echoed across the room. Skinner gave a nod of 
approval before continuing. "I'm proud to have had the pleasure to work with each one of 
you, and you're a benefit to the Bureau and to your country." He knew it was a generic 
speech, but they were after all, still on the clock. Most of the task force was here with the 
exception of a few agents including Doggett who were making their way back from the 
field. He'd see him later, but within the hour, he'd be heading up that press conference. It 
wasn't much John Doggett's thing to be in the center of publicity. That had been 
demonstrated by his reluctance earlier with the press, pushing his way through seemingly 
unending microphones.
He nodded again signifying the end of his quick speech. He departed the room, walked 
down the corridor and pushed the button awaiting the elevator. He wanted to make a 
quick stop in his office before heading to the buildings main floor to conduct the press 
conference, which by now, was a mere twenty minutes away. The doors slid open, and he 
realized he wasn't to be the only occupant.
The bell chimed noticeably as the elevator stopped to pick up another passenger. Frank 
Black looked up from the case file he had been skimming to watch the tall form of Walter 
Skinner enter. "Walter." He said in cordial greeting. Skinner acknowledged him with a 
quick nod of his head, and pressed the correct button for his floor. When the doors were 
securely fastened, and the elevator began with a lurch he turned towards Frank.
"You ever consider coming back to the FBI permanently Frank?" Frank marked his place 
in the file and closing it, turned to Skinner to give him his undivided attention.
Skinner continued as to abolish any negative response that Frank might give to this 
question. "We couldn't have caught this guy without your profiling." Skinner had 
knowledge of Frank's "gift" but never openly displayed the knowledge. But never before 
had the FBI had such a gifted and insightful profiler. He truly believed that a move back 
to the Bureau might be best, after all, he was a widower, and had a young daughter to 
support, maybe he was ready to have stable, familiar quarters rather than freelance 
consulting. What Skinner said was the truth, the profile Frank had given them had 
eliminated the suspects down to three, if it hadn't been for him, they'd have likely still 
been trying to figure it out, and who knows how many others might have perished 
because of it.
"Walter, I've thought about it, I can't lie." Frank said in his grizzled voice. "But last time, 
well you know." Frank left the rest to the imagination. Skinner knew….years ago he had 
worked closely with Frank on past crime cases, what had it been now? A good ten years? 
A few years before his promotion to AD, and about a year before being assigned Mulder 
& Scully. "We could use you Frank, I've got a couple of ideas in mind that I'm going to 
try like hell for, and I could use you." Skinner said studying his face for any reaction.
Frank seemed to consider for a moment. He couldn't deny that given a good opportunity 
he'd jump in a heartbeat. "Tell you what Walter...hold the thought for now, I'll drop by 
next time I'm in the area, but for now, I've got a date with a beautiful little girl." He said 
smiling as the doors opened and he zipped up his coat. Skinner nodded, briefly raising his 
hand in a goodbye gesture before the doors once again closed.
It wasn't much, but he hadn't said no, besides, if he could convince the powers that be 
Frank would indeed become useful in the project.
The bell dinged signifying it had reached his floor, stepping off; he made his way to his 
office.
Scully moaned as she stirred in the bed. What time was it? She glanced over still wiping 
the sleep from her eyes at the alarm clock…12:00 pm. Noon. She'd slept until noon. She 
couldn't remember the last time she had slept so late. Of course, she'd done little else in 
the past two days. After the reunion with her mother, they'd shared a home cooked meal 
and some tearful, yet still secretive conversation. She hadn't wanted to reveal every 
painful thing she'd had to endure these past few years, but she didn't want to ostracize 
her either.
She made her way downstairs to find her mother folding laundry in the laundry room. 
"Well hello sleepyhead." Margaret said smiling fully at her daughter. "My god Dana, half 
these clothes from your bag are pure rags." She said holding up a well faded t shirt. Dana 
smiled to herself.
Even when she had lived alone, her mother had been the frequent guest, always 
straightening up and sizing up her place. Most of the time, when her work on the X files 
had taken her out of town, she could guarantee upon her exhausted, and often time, filthy 
return, that her mother had stopped by, cleaned up, laundered something, and left food for 
her to warm up in the fridge. She stepped down the hall into the kitchen and warmed 
herself up a cup of coffee.
"You know Dana." Margaret chose her words carefully. She wasn't sure just how far 
Dana was to venture into her "old life" as her daughter had diligently described it at 
dinner the day she came home. Scully looked up to view her mother leaning against the 
wooden frame of the kitchen entrance. "Yeah?" She inquired.
She gave a smile and set the laundry basket down on the kitchen table. "I know that there 
are things that you won't talk about, that you may never talk about, and maybe some 
other things that'll come out with time." She said crossing to the fridge to remove 
something to thaw for that evening's supper.
"I did remove a lot of things from your apartment after you left." Margaret ventured a 
little uncomfortably. Scully looked back at her mother in disbelief. Margaret's gaze met 
her daughters. "Clothes mainly, but you photo albums also, your diplomas, you little 
trinkets and memoirs, unfortunately we did have to sell the furniture."
Dana marveled in this revelation. Her things? Here? She didn't really care about the 
furniture; she was touched her mother had been able to do all that, she didn't think she'd 
mentally have the strength.
"Mom, really, I'm touched, you didn't have to, I mean I know when Missy died…" Her 
voice trailed off a bit. The memory was painful for them both. She remembered having to 
help her mother go through Melissa's things; barely five minutes could pass by without 
her or her mother bursting into tears. Margaret's face tightened into a thin smile as she 
turned her attention from Scully back to the freezer. "Well, at first I didn't think I was 
going to be able to, it was so overwhelming" Dana felt a pang in her chest, she hadn't 
thought about the thoughts going in her mother's head about "losing" a second daughter 
at the time. Dana started to open her mouth to speak, but her mother beat her to it.
"There I was sitting in your apartment, looking at your things, listening to silence." 
Margaret ventured placing the chicken in the kitchen sink and taking a seat in the chair 
next to Dana.
"All of a sudden there was a knock on the door." I answered it not quite knowing what to 
expect, and there he was."
"Who?" Dana asked. There was no one due to come by. Half her mind cried out that it 
couldn't possibly be anyone but some shadowy bad guy wanting to track her or Mulder 
down, or the FBI wanting to toss the place. Margaret continued.
"I didn't recognize him at first, but then I remembered meeting him over your place that 
one time he brought you home from work…so nice of him to walk you all the way up to 
your floor."
"Mom….who?!" Dana said eagerly awaiting the identity of the "mystery stranger".
"John Doggett" Margaret replied. "I remember taking one look at him and bursting into 
tears. Everything was happening all at once, and I knew nothing."
Dana looked down half in a state of disbelief. What had compelled John to go to her 
apartment, when he obviously knew she wouldn't be there?"
"He sat with me for the rest of the day." She continued, trying not to connect the emotion 
of that day with the memory. "He told me that you were safe, and not to worry." She 
turned her attention to Dana. "I tried not to worry Dana, I know you can take care of 
yourself, but you know, it's a mother's job."
Dana removed her hand from the side of her coffee cup and reached over to squeeze her 
mother's hand reassuringly. Margaret gave her a smile and continued. "Such a nice 
gentleman." "Said he had been in the neighborhood and wanted to check up and see if 
everything was alright, that no one had been, vandalizing or hanging around your place."
Dana knew that was the excuse John would use with her mother. He'd never tell her that 
the danger was far more severe than any prowler that might be encountered.
Margaret cleared her throat attempting to snap herself out of the sadness of the memory. 
"Anyway, when it came time to pack everything up, there he was, boxes and tape in 
hand, he helped me pack and move everything, it took a few trips with the things that I 
was keeping, but he just wordlessly loaded it in his pick up and drove it here."
Dana sat with literally nothing to say. She knew John was a good and honorable man, but 
to go an extra unasked step and assist her mother selflessly was something, well 
something totally new for her.
"He came by a few times afterwards just to make sure I was OK." Her mother's voice 
jolted Dana back from her thought frame. "He still comes by, usually around holidays, 
just to see how I'm doing and if I need anything." She shifted her eyes back to meet 
Dana's. "Just a really nice guy."
"Bill met him once." Margaret said. "He came by around Christmas last year, and your 
brother, Tara, and the kids were here….they flew in for the holidays."
Margaret rose from the table and made her way back to the fridge and started to pull out 
things for sandwich fixings. "Got along well with Bill….they stood and talked for about a 
good hour, got the feeling that they shared the common interest of you, and your well 
being, at the very least." She said taking out a few pieces of bread.
"All in all I suppose that your brother liking any of the members of the opposite sex that 
had to do with his sister was a good thing." Margaret sucked a loose bit of Miracle Whip 
from the tip of her finger, and continued putting together lunch. "After all, we all know 
that he didn't think highly of Fox at all." She said putting the top piece of bread on the 
sandwiches and cutting them into twos.
Returning to the table she set one in front of Dana, and picked up a half of her own. It 
was only then that she caught Dana looking cautiously at her. She set her sandwich down 
for a moment and looked reassuringly at her daughter.
"Oh Dana, don't think that I didn't like Fox…it's not like that." She said. "It's just well; 
try to understand from our point of view."
Scully understood perfectly, it wasn't the reason for the look. Her mother was right, but 
she was more preoccupied at the moment at the extreme gratitude she felt towards John 
right now. Bill and his family, as well as Charlie and his were much too far away and 
busy most of the time to be with mom. She'd sort that out later.
"Mom, you say he still stops by?" Dana ventured. Margaret nodded towards her daughter, 
her mouth occupied with sandwich to be able to audibly answer.
Scully considered the answer for the moment before shifting her eyes to her cup, tapping 
the side of it with her nails, and then looked back at her mother. "Mom, let's say we keep 
this "I'm back" thing on the lowdown until I can figure out just where my place in this 
situation is."
Margaret looked at her for a moment, than slowly agreed. "I understand that you need 
time, and I'm going to respect that honey." She said with an understanding smile. She 
could have asked her to do anything, and she would have. She was just happy her 
daughter was home.
"Have you figured out anything you might want to do?" She asked her. Dana bit her 
lower lip for a minute before answering. "I thought I might get back into medicine, or 
maybe forensics, something that might make a difference. I just have to figure out where 
to start." She said smiling.
Chapter 5: From the past
Doggett pulled into his usual space in the Bureau's parking ramp. Sliding out of the pick 
up he did his usual balancing act with his hot cup of coffee and bagel sandwich while 
slamming his door shut with his elbow.
The elevator dinged as he and several other personal still waking up exited to their 
respected offices. Doggett chomped down on his bagel, holding it tight while he unlocked 
his office door. Setting everything down on his desk, he removed the bagel and took a 
few moments to compose himself.
He turned on his computer and turned his attention to hanging his black raincoat up. For 
months he had been swamped with leads, conducting meetings, or working out in the 
field. After the press fiasco of a few days ago it seemed as if he'd have to try real hard to 
come into work and resume a normal routine. It had been worth it though. "That monster 
would never be hurtin' anyone again." He thought to himself. He ran a hand through his 
short spiky hair. He hadn't wanted to talk to the press at all, and refused to take credit for 
the arrest, as far as he was concerned, he was only part of the whole. There was a whole 
team who put in just as much of themselves as he had. He'd directed any questions to the 
PR team, he was never very good with the limelight anyhow.
As often happened when his mind relaxed, his thoughts drifted to Scully. He remembered 
the last time he saw her here. She had accepted a teaching position at Quantico, with how 
corrupt the powers that be had obviously become, she no longer knew who to 
trust….except him….she knew she could always trust him.
He often wondered how she was doing, no, he took that back….there wasn't a day that 
went by where he didn't think about her. He could never put into realism what exactly 
about her it was that left a permanent mark on his psyche. Maybe it was everything. Over 
the past few years the abstractness of Scully had reached into forbidden places, hidden 
places, deep dimensions into himself, and often times it materialized into his dreams. 
He'd never admit that she left that much of an impression, not to Reyes with her attempt 
at a coy inquiry, not even to himself.
Logging onto his computer, he focused his efforts on the finishing of several reports to do 
with the Quinn case. He was meticulous when it came to his paperwork, there couldn't be 
any mistakes, and if asked, he'd be able to account exactly every minute, every decision 
and every footstep.
He obviously had become deeply absorbed in his work. His head snapped up with a jolt 
at the sound of exited, almost frantic knocking on his office door. "Come in." He 
announced, half annoyed at so suddenly been pulled from his work.
A brown haired head poked it's way in. "Agent Doggett." The head said giving him a 
smile. "Agent Whitney?" He inquired slowly standing up behind his desk "Everything 
OK?"
Dakota Whitney opened the door a little further to reveal the rest of her body. "Agent 
Doggett, there's something I think you should see." Obvious excitement shown in her 
eyes.
"What is it?" Doggett asked again stepping from behind his desk to meet her in the 
doorway. "Just come with me" She said stepping away from the door, beckoning him to 
follow her further.
They walked without words, at en ever quickening pace in the hallway. Doggett's mind 
was swimming, was he in trouble somehow, something he forgot to do regarding Quinn? 
He frantically searched his own mind mentally making sure all his i's were dotted…..t's 
crossed. Somehow while he was stretching his brain they had boarded the elevator. The 
resounding ding indicated they had reached their floor as the doors opened and he 
followed Whitney into the hallway. He took a mental note that they were now on 
Skinner's floor, and that in fact was the direction they were headed. They quickly 
rounded the corner and he stopped dead in his tracks.
It was if the world had been slowed down. There, at the other end of the hallway, 
surrounded by the small crowd of Kersh, Skinner, and a few of their superiors stood a 
familiar redhead. She was wearing some sort of skirt suit that showed off her long legs. 
One leg was bent so that the tow of her heel was touching the ground. Her suit clad arm 
reached up to smooth back that fiery red hair. She was absorbed, excitedly talking in 
conversation and had not noticed his dumbfounded form at the other end. As if she had 
read his mind (at least in small part.) Whitney grasped his arm, and brought the side of 
her face close to his, she herself never tearing her eyes away from the scene at the end of 
the hall. Apparently word had started to go around, and more and more people arrived.
"Dana Scully!" Whitney part squealed, squeezing his arm. Whitney had only joined a 
year beforehand. The X files had been something of an unobtainable mystery to her. She 
scrambled to get all the information she could about it. And yes, she'd even talked to 
Leyla Harrison, who although was flattered by the attention, had been rather reluctant to 
discuss her brief run with the X files other than to praise Mulder, Scully, and Doggett.
He felt his pulse quicken at the very sight of her. His legs felt very heavy as they seemed 
unwilling to cooperate to take him any further. He didn't dare tear his eyes from the 
scene unfolding at the opposite end of the hallway, lest he blink….she'd be gone.
"Wha.." He cleared his throat to try again. "What is she doing here?" He asked in a 
hushed whisper to Whitney.
"She came in about an hour ago I guess." Whitney answered back, all the while watching 
the scene. "Came to clear her name."
"She isn't wanted for anything other than questioning." Doggett answered her back. If 
she was going to say something about the situation, he would prefer it be correct.
"Well she's here to answer them then." Whitney sternly corrected herself, never 
removing her eyes from the end of the hall.
Doggett stood fixated as a small crowd of people joined him. "By aliens" "Agent 
Mulder" "ran away" were some of the murmured whispers flying past him. A sudden 
thought occurred to Doggett. "What was she doing back here anyhow?" "Had something 
happened to Mulder?" "Was she OK?" The last question in his mind being the up most of 
his concern.
Scully had began to make her way towards his end of the hall still talking and walking 
with Skinner & Kersh, and who Doggett now recognized as AD Brad Follmer, the 
superiors seemed to have melted back into their respective offices since the meeting had 
apparently broken up.
As if his feet had suddenly broken free, he took a few slow steps away from Whitney and 
the murmuring rumors and assumptions of the gathering crowd.
She drew her attention forward and slowed her pace. Her stormy blue/green eyes met his 
piercing blue ones. She took a few steps forward and stopped in front of him in the 
middle of the hallway.
"John." She said evaluating his face. He wasn't sure how to feel about that for a moment 
until she burst into a small smile. She was still as beautiful as ever. Her eyes welled up a 
little when she smiled.
"Dana…" he began trying to recover his voice in anything but a whisper. "Is 
everything…alright? What are you doing here?" His voice was a mixture of shock, relief 
and wonder.
It was then that Scully took notice of the murmuring crowd gathered just a few feet 
beyond John. She had fully anticipated the looks and pointing fingers, and of course the 
unending office rumor mill, but even so, she felt uncomfortable. She was an extremely 
private person, and here, in the middle of a hallway, was no way to talk to John the was 
she wished to, it was dam good to see him though. She wiped away a brimming tear that 
was threatening to spill. Returning to life had brought with it, so many unexpected 
emotions, and seeing her old friend who had so diligently taken care of her mother, 
brought them to the surface.
Without a word she slipped her arms around his broad shoulders and drew him into a 
hug. "Everything is fine." She murmured into his shoulder. He automatically slipped his 
arms around her back and met her effort. It was as if this was something he was used to 
doing. Old feelings stirred themselves within and he had to force himself to let go. He 
could smell her perfume, floating about her.
"I've got a lot to tell you John." Scully said quietly drawing herself out of the hug and 
meeting his gaze. "But this isn't the place or time."
"I'm staying with my mother and I know you know where that is." She said softly so that 
no one else could hear. "Come by this evening and we'll talk."
He hoped she wasn't offended by the fact he had dropped by a few times to see her 
mother…ok, it was more than a few times, but he hadn't been counting. He knew she was 
a private person. But that thought was quickly cast aside in his head, he wasn't sure what 
to think. She had returned. She had returned and within moments succeeded in doing to 
him what she had always done so well. He doubted she even knew the effect that she had 
had on him since day one.
He quickly drew himself together. He brought his mouth closer to her ear, so he could 
respond without others hearing. "You got it.' He said in a gravelly whisper. It was all he 
could answer right now being caught of guard. Something that didn't happen often, not 
since his days, well since the X files!
He righted himself back to look at her face. She nodded her head slowly before taking a 
step back from him. With a last look she returned to her party of waiting DD's and AD's 
and continued on.
John stood there and blinked several times. He needed to slap himself out of his state of 
stupor before it became completely obvious to everyone else. His mind could help but to 
wander to a certain case he had worked on years before.
"And why would someone so ill-suited would draw this duty. Clearly, you have feelings 
for her." "But you can't compete with the long-lost agent Mulder. With his easy good 
looks, his Oxford education. "Mulder has what you can't have. What you stumble for. 
The flat-footed cop, thinking he could put handcuffs on a demon." "You want her, but 
she feels sorry for you. They both do."
Doggett rubbed his forehead in the revealing shame of the memory. Kobold had hit so 
close to the mark on what he said regarding his feelings, that he had lost his cool, which 
was worse. Had his actions clearly betrayed his real feelings which Kobold so astutely 
picked up on? If so, Dana had never said anything about it. His only redemption is she 
thought he had been as easily manipulated as Reyes had been. Hell, that was the front he 
had always kept up.
He felt a hand on his back. "Agent Doggett are you alright?" Agent Whitney asked. 
"Yeah, I'm yeah." He said rubbing the place between his eyes. "I just need to a, I've got a 
bit of a headache comin' on." He slowly turned and walked through the small crowd, 
who were fortunately too bust with their own conspiracy theories at the moment to pay 
much mind to him. Agent Whitney decided to either wisely not ask anything more, or 
truly was oblivious as she walked him back to his office.
The rest of this day at least for him, was not going to go by quickly.
Chapter 6: Familiarity
The lock turned in the key as Scully entered the house, quickly shutting the door against 
the cold autumn downpour that had started outside, and showed no signs of letting up. 
She had made a mad dash from her mother's car to the front door, and regardless found 
herself pretty soaked.
"Dana is that you?" Her mother's disembodied voice asked from another room, her 
footsteps getting nearer. "My god." She exclaimed seeing her daughter's drowned form. 
She disappeared again for a second and reappeared with a towel.
Scully gratefully accepted the towel and peeled the wet suit coat off her slender form. "I 
should have taken that umbrella." She said sitting down on the couch gently towel drying 
her hair. Maggie gave her a small smile and took a seat next to her.
"What happened?" She asked simply and patiently awaited an answer.
"I thought I had given Skinner a heart attack for a moment there." Scully began. "He 
spotted me and stopped dead in his tracks." That was understandable, seeing the besides 
Mulder she would be the last person he'd be expecting to see.
"He led me into his office and before calling in the others, we had a nice chat." Scully 
said letting out a sigh and letting herself fall back into the soft back of the couch. "He 
knows I'd never willingly give out any information about Mulder that goes without 
saying. He assured me that I was in no trouble, only wanted for questioning about "the 
escaped Mulder."" Scully slowly sat forward again so that her elbows perched 
themselves on her damp skirt. "He said it was best to keep answers short and sweet. I had 
no issue with that." Scully rose from the couch and crossed the length of the room to the 
front windows, She absentmindedly traced her fingers across the cold pane watching the 
storm outside continue, and blow many different colored leaves through the street.
"At that point, he called down Brad Follmer and Alvin Kersh." Scully continued. "I think 
Follmer probably had a big chip on his shoulder anyway, here he was in the room with 
two Deputy Directors and no way to throw his weight around." She chuckled quietly to 
herself for a moment remembering her dislike of him during the fiasco of two years ago. 
"It probably pissed him off pretty bad." She said turning her attention from the window to 
her mother. She recalled the way that as she spoke when questioned, Follmer stared at 
her, his mouth slightly open as to urge her to continue in some unspoken statement. He 
probably still wondered just how the hell Fox Mulder had managed to best him. She 
didn't trust him then, and he'd done nothing to change her opinion.
"I told them that I had parted ways with him quite some time ago. Actually I told them 
that one day…he was just gone." Scully knew it was a poor explanation "I told them I 
couldn't help them and that I had spent the last several months of my life alone…soul 
searching." It was true to a point. She had not been pleased with the course of "the quest" 
for quite some time. For the past few months she had pretty much been alone. "Last I 
knew he had been headed into Canada."
"There wasn't much they could do." Scully said retaking her seat on the couch and 
removing her heels. "I told them I just wanted my life back, and that I was sorry I 
couldn't be more of a help." Of course Skinner and Kersh weren't going to bother her 
about it. She'd take that secret to the grave if she had to. She was sure than someday that 
would have to be discussed between the parties involved….Reyes, Doggett, herself, 
Skinner, Kersh and possibly Mulder. Kersh had done what he needed to do, he closed the 
X files to appease his superiors, and according to discussion with Skinner, this was still 
the case. Follmer, being Follmer, had to throw in his two cents, even though it would do 
nothing to override the decision of two deputy directors. It was almost cute in a way, as 
he was quite certain that she was getting away with it right in front of his eyes.
He spoke sternly informing her that "she better stay around where she could be found." 
Scully had expected nothing less especially from him. He initially had entered the 
hallway with the small group, but sulked away to his part of the building shortly after her 
encounter with John.
She hadn't expected on seeing John. She knew that would be an eventuality, but she'd 
rather it had been on her terms. News sure did travel fast. With the amount of personal 
gathered in the hallway she had half expected to look down and see a red carpet beneath 
her as she walked.
But there he was the calmness in the storm, stoic strong presence amid chaos. 
Immaculately shined shoes, short spiky hair and characteristic ears. He knew when to 
question and when to shut up. It was as if he was waiting patiently for her to approach. 
She had been unable to keep her normally composed and reserved being from throwing 
her arms around him in a brief show of the relief and gratitude she felt inside. But amid 
that chaotic morning, she herself needed someone to ground her and as he had been 
before, he was there, but unlike times before, this time he was welcome. She was anxious 
at the prospect of his evening arrival.
Feeling suddenly her mother's eyes upon her, she realized her mind had been wandering. 
She snapped out of her momentary trance. "John Doggett's going to stop by this 
evening." She said trying to sound as casual as possible, but failing miserably. "You 
probably want to set another place at the table."
"Dana, that's wonderful." Her mother said finally speaking and giving her daughter a 
warm smile. "You've cleared everything up, and even got to see your friend again." She 
said patting her daughter on the leg and rising off the couch. "John's welcome here 
anytime, I'll make sure I make enough for dinner." She walked to the edge of the living 
room and turned back. "I was thinking lasagna tonight, so that will be more than enough 
for everyone." She paused before continuing her thought. "I've got to run a few errands, 
but why don't you take yourself into the shower before you catch a cold." Maggie said 
disappearing into a joining room referring to her still damp daughter's current condition.
Scully collected her shoes from the floor before making her way upstairs. He felt good to 
have someone be concerned for her well being, even if it was something as simple as her 
mother's concern about being wet and cold.
John shifted uncomfortably in his chair and ran his hands through his hair for what 
seemed like the millionth time that day. He checked his watch every five minutes. Five 
o'clock was only an hour away, but it might as well have been ten. As predicted his day 
was dragging. Maybe he'd get the opportunity to duck out of work early, if the endless 
parade of people he "barely knew" ceased to stop by. There was no other reason for it 
than for them to try to get any information on the events of earlier. He tried to concentrate 
on the rest of the paperwork for that day, but his thoughts were wandering, and 
uncharacteristically easily distracted. There had been so much inquiry of the course of 
today; he hadn't even the time to gather his own thoughts on the situation.
Dana. There was some food for thought. After their brief encounter earlier today, she was 
all that had been on his mind. The old feelings, they stirred and carefully threatened to 
bring back the fantasies he had about her in his mind when they worked together.
It hadn't even been right away. She was more of an intriguing pain in the ass then 
anything at first. But once she had relaxed just enough for him to glimpse her soul, he 
was hooked. He had seen her at her very worst, the most vulnerable she'd probably ever 
been, and when she was weak, he carried her. There was so much more to her than 
anyone would probably ever know, well anyone but Mulder anyway. She was still so 
much of a mystery to him. A delicious puzzle he could never quite solve.
Another knock on the door brought him crashing back into reality. He rolled his eyes, 
took a deep breath. "Yes?" He asked dangerously close to spilling over the brim of 
patience.
Leyla Harrison opened the door and let herself in. "Great." He thought in the back of his 
mind. This was truly the last person he wanted questioning him. He found it baffling that 
she seemed so reluctant to discuss the X files with "non X filers" but had no problem 
reliving "the good ol' times" with the former occupants of the department. And seeing as 
he was the only remaining member in DC, well at least until the events of earlier today, 
he got her undivided attention.
"Hi Agent Doggett!" She exclaimed in her usual excited, upbeat manner. "Agent 
Harrison." He returned, and then directed his attention back to the few reports that needed 
his signature.
"I don't think I have to say why I'm here." She ventured her sentence waiting for his 
response. "The return of one half of the legend?" She ventured further, almost egging him 
on to say anything.
"Christ." Doggett thought to himself. You would have thought even with her brief brush 
with the X files it would've killed off any curiosity she may have still, especially after the 
last time, stumbling around in a dirt tunnel half blind from that toxic crap that ugly lizard-
thing had spat on her face. The short answer…no…she wasn't.
He couldn't take it anymore. Quickly signing his name to the last report he stuffed them 
into an inner office envelope and rose from his desk. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, 
she was a nice kid, but his patience for the day had just been spent. He had no desire to 
discuss his encounter with Dana, the X files, or the ongoing office rumor mill about the 
elusive Fox Mulder.
Coming around the front of his desk he set the envelope down and collected his raincoat 
from the hook. "Look Agent Harrison…" He started, pulling his raincoat through one 
arm and then the other. "She didn't say anything to me other than hi." Turning his 
attention back to the desk he picked up the envelope and turned back to her. She waited 
patiently as if almost anticipating something more than he offered her. Without a word he 
locked his office door and started down the hallway. Opening the door to his superior's 
office he handed the envelope with a polite nod to the secretary. He drew in a deep breath 
and turned to face her. "I'm not sure what else to tell ya." He said trying to sound patient. 
He had a more pressing appointment to keep, and he wasn't about to betray at all what 
that was. "All's she said was hi, she didn't mention the X files, Mulder, or anything, and I 
don't think there's any conspiracy to that." He finished walking to the elevator and 
pushing the button for down.
She eyed him suspiciously for just a moment, before giving one of her sunny grins. "Ok 
Agent Doggett, but promise me, if you talk to her again, you tell her I said hello and ask 
her to call me." If that's what was going to get her off his back at the moment, he'd agree 
to everything. "OK Agent Harrison." He said giving her a smile before stepping aboard 
the elevator. As the door closed, she disappeared giving him a hearty wave goodbye. As 
the elevator lurched downward he let out a sigh of exasperation, thanking god that he was 
alone in the elevator. It had been the first time all day.
He managed to beat out most of the rush hour traffic, stopping only once he was done on 
the beltway. Perusing the super market he debated. Should he bring something? Of 
course he would. He always had when stopping at Maggie's in the past, but now there 
was an extra excuse. He reasoned in his head. What wine was it? Red. She liked red. 
They both did. How did he look? A quick check in one of the hand held mirrors for sale 
told him alright other than a slight 5 o'clock shadow. He made a mental note to use that 
handheld electric razor he kept in the truck. After picking up a few more things he took 
his place in line.
When he arrived at the front of the line, the cashier started scanning his items; his 
attention fell on a white bucket behind her. Contained within were several bouquets of 
flowers of various kinds. He reached forward and selected a modest bouquet of daisies 
and various other wildflowers. Pulling his raincoat over his head in defense of a new 
downpour, he got into his truck and pulled back out onto the road.
Scully tucked a piece of hair behind her ear as she checked the table again. After a much 
needed hot shower and a brief nap, she changed into a pair of black slacks, and a long 
sleeved green blouse. About an hour ago she had styled her hair and put on some make 
up. Her mother had called about twenty minutes ago and was on her way home, but stuck 
in traffic. She had gone ahead and put the lasagna in the over for her then to give her a 
head start. John shouldn't be here for a little while yet. She lit a scented candle in the 
living room to help keep the chilliness of those days' storms away.
John pulled up in his truck and took an available space across the street from Maggie's 
house. Throwing the truck in park and turning off the ignition he turned his attention 
towards the house. The rain had ceased and reserved itself to gusty winds wreaking havoc 
on several piles of raked leaves. For the first time today, he was nervous. No, for the first 
time in a long time he was nervous. It didn't matter the size of criminal he had to take 
down, who he arrested, what bad guy or informant he had to deal with. They were child's 
play when it came to dealing with his feelings for Dana, which however dormant they 
seemed to have been for the past two years, they hadn't decreased with time. Taking a 
deep breath and checking his hasty shave job in the visor mirror, he grabbed the bottle of 
wine and flowers and opened the car door.
Scully had been absorbed in last minute primping when the doorbell rang. A quick glance 
out of the window confirmed John's arrival. Gathering her wits she pulled the door open 
to greet him.
John turned around on the porch when he heard the door open. Dana's thin frame 
appeared and held the screen door open for him. Without a word he slipped inside the 
house and she shut the door after him.
John removed his coat. For someone he hadn't seen in two years and well, this morning, 
he had a million things he wanted to say to her and ask her about. But for some reason, 
his voice stuck in his throat. She looked beautiful, well, she always did. Again he cursed 
himself silently. He'd put away some nasty people in the past few years, but only this 
woman had that effect on him.
"My mother will be back shortly." She said taking his coat and hanging it in the closet. 
He blinked quick relief, glad she had spoken. Shutting the closet door she turned her 
attention back to him and gave him a small smile.
"These are for you." John said extending his hand full of the wrapped bouquet. Scully let 
out a small gasp. "John they're beautiful, you didn't have to being anything." She said 
giving him a quick glance. "Wait here, I'll go put these in some water." She said 
disappearing to the kitchen.
Granted a momentary reprieve John took a moment to collect himself. He hadn't 
expected Maggie not have been home, and he wouldn't have minded the distraction. It 
was going to take him a little time to adjust to her being back here. Before, although 
having the same feelings, he was used to her presence, and had his feelings in check so he 
was able to keep that under wraps. But here she was, blown in like a hurricane and 
messed that all up. Getting a grip on himself he waited her return. After a few moments 
of hearing her move around she reappeared in the adjoining dining room, and set the 
flowers, now set in a vase, in the middle. She walked back into the living room, and he 
stood up when she entered.
She motioned for him to take his seat again as she took one herself in the overstuffed 
armchair. She twiddled her thumbs slightly for a moment before speaking.
"John, I understand that you've got a lot of questions for me." She started raising her 
head to meet his eyes. His sharp blue ones met her back. She could see they were indeed 
questioning, but never judgmental and saying "take all the time you need."
"Whatever you're ready to tell me Dana." He replied softly never taking his eyes away.
Chapter 7: Revelation

Scully shifted uncomfortably in the armchair. Temporarily breaking her eye contact with 
Doggett, she searched on where to even start with the events of the past two years. As 
much as she found his presence welcome and a relief, she was still caught off guard with 
the suddenness of it. After everything they had been through together, which in the grand 
scheme of things hadn't literally been that long compared to her time spent with Mulder, 
but the intensity and forced closeness seemed to have made up for that.
She took in a breath, and out of habit dropped her speaking voice to a low whisper. Two 
years on the run had taught her to barely speak her thoughts out. She realized although in 
the comfort of her mother's home, some habits were hard to break.
"Mulder's alright." She started out, meeting Doggett's patient stare. His expression 
softened at news of his former forced ally's well being. Although they had gotten off to a 
rocky start, and Mulder's path was entirely apart from anything he would ever approve 
of, especially when it came to involving Dana, he had come to respect him and even see 
his point of view. But above all, his utmost concern sat opposite him now.
Scully licked her lips before continuing. "He's gone to meet with Gibson Praise; there 
was talk from a source about an increase in alien activity." Scully slowly rose from the 
armchair and slowly walked to the other side of the room. She was searching for the right 
words to describe what happened. Doggett had the impression she wasn't even entirely 
sure what that was. But that was OK, she could take all the time she needed.
"I just couldn't do it anymore." She said taking her attention away from the family 
pictures on the wall. "As much as I believed in Mulder and everything he was doing." 
She turned a worried stare in Doggett's direction on the couch. "I thought about 
everybody and everything, I'd see these families, laughing together in restaurants we'd 
stop at." She cleared her throat. "Couples shopping, walking, anything, and they were 
completely ignorant to what Mulder and I knew." She spied the bottle of red wine that 
Doggett had brought to the house and picked it up.
"And I was jealous of them for it!" She said opening a drawer in a nearby oak cabinet for 
a corkscrew. It was more the tone that caught Doggett by surprise and not the words. It 
didn't happen often, but she let her guard down.
He experienced that first hand when he witnessed her with Billy, and then when she had 
comforted him about the painful loss of his own son Luke. She'd almost given her life to 
protect Gibson Praise. He sensed from day one since he was met with a cup of water to 
his face that she had gotten quite used to fending for herself, that and defending the antics 
of a "dreamer" that had given up the courtesy of his presence. He'd vowed no matter 
what to get to the bottom of it. He'd find Mulder. And the more her worked with and got 
to know Scully, the angrier he had become with him for abandoning his partner, and 
leaving her to clean up his mess. It seemed to become the way of things around there. 
Although his opinion of Fox Mulder had subsequently changed, a part of him always held 
some resentment, especially when it came to his treatment of Scully.
She rejoined him, this time taking a seat next to him on the couch. She handed him a long 
stemmed glass of red wine and took a sip from her own. He realized that he'd let his 
mind wander for a moment, but figured she needed to vent out at her own pace. She gave 
him a small smile before continuing.
"I realized that I wanted that ignorance, and the comfort that came with it." She rolled the 
stem of her glass absent minded between her thumb and finger. "I just wanted something 
else." She set the glass back down and turned her attention back to John. "Was this 
unending pursuit of the truth worth all the sacrifice?" "To Mulder, this was just any 
ordinary day of his life. Since I've known him, this is how it's always been." "I just 
realized I had given up every part of my being to join this journey with no end." She 
paused for a moment. "Maybe this doesn't make a lot of sense to you, I don't know how 
to explain it, other than I wanted something more." She searched his face anticipating a 
response to what she had tried to explain to him.
Doggett absorbed the words she had said. Nothing at all seemed strange or confusing 
about what she had said. They had often times thought so much alike he discovered in the 
sometimes trying path of their eventual friendship, that he had often asked himself just 
what in the hell she was doing chasing after ghosts. He knew the distress Mulder's 
disappearance had caused her, but even in that time, when she had accepted his "death" 
he saw the settling into a normal pace of life that he thought she wore well. Her eventual 
disillusionment with the X Files, and the conspiracy of the "corruptness" of higher 
ranking FBI officials by the syndicate had caused her request to be transferred to 
Quantico for that teaching position.
To him those were the actions of someone who yearned for something more normal, even 
if it meant the boring predictability of an everyday work situation. She had been content 
with it too. Of course she was more than willing to help with any situation that he or 
Reyes had asked her about. It was the undying loyalty she felt towards Mulder that 
shattered the life she had rebuilt for herself when he turned up barely alive in that 
hospital. He remembered that day.
He hadn't wanted her to get her hopes up as he was dying. It almost destroyed him to see 
her grief and the months of mourning she'd experienced after his funeral. "I need to see 
him." She begged of him tears welling in her eyes upon her arrival at the hospital. "I 
know... but I wish you wouldn't" He said her well being his utmost concern. He had 
checked on her a little while later, opening the door and peering into the room. Their eyes 
had locked for a moment as she stared silently at him from her position on Mulder's 
chest.
It was then that he knew. He tried not to let what he was feeling on the inside reflect in 
his face. He found it impossible to keep that feeling entirely private, but he knew right 
then and there. He knew he had strong feelings for her, but never was it demonstrated 
better right then and there when his heart broke.
He'd be here for her if she needed it. It was important to him that she knew that.
She met his eyes again and gave a smile. God she was beautiful when she did that. He 
hoped to see her doing that more. "I wish I had more I could say, I spent many sleepless 
nights thinking about this, and it didn't come easy, but it was just time." She gave his 
hand a squeeze.
"I spoke to a friend at the Medical Examiner's office today." She said changing the 
subject, les she reveal anymore about herself. "They've got a position open that I think 
I'll apply for." This seemed to brighten her demeanor considerably. She had longed to put 
her medical knowledge to use again, even if it was finding answers from the dead. 
Doggett liked that idea. Being in the violent crimes division he often worked with 
members of the medical examiners office. It could almost be like old times, plus, it kept 
her out of harm's way.
"That's wonderful Dana." He said softly giving her a piercing blue stare. She met his 
gaze back and they sat silently for a moment exploring each other's faces.
All too soon for him. The noise of the front door broke the spell. Maggie appeared 
carrying a few brown paper bags stuffed to the rim. Doggett quickly rose from the couch 
and took two of the full bags from her.
"Thank you John!" Maggie said cheerfully, heading into the kitchen with the remaining 
bag. "Good to see you again!" Dana followed her into the kitchen to help put away the 
purchased items.
She had welcomed her mother's intrusion, at least that time. She had found herself caught 
up in John's intense stare. It was if he could see through to her very core. She was very 
good at fending off any unwanted intrusions, but with him, something was different, it 
was if she had no walls, no matter how much she wanted them there, almost as if there 
was nothing she could deny him. She trusted John, he'd earned that the hard way, but it 
wasn't that….it was something else, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. She 
shrugged it off quickly. She'd think about that some other time…but not tonight. Tonight, 
she just wanted to have a good time, she had John, and she had her mother.
Dinner was quite the event. Many laughs, a few unexpected tears from her mother, still 
grateful for her daughter's safe return, a toast from John celebrating Dana's return, and 
the recent capture of Quinn. Both Dana and Maggie listened intently as John detailed the 
capture and transport of that monster to jail.
"I saw Walter Skinner on that press conference." Maggie recalled, taking a sip of wine. 
"But it was you who did the actual arresting?" Dana had missed the conference on 
account of being on the train, but had seen a few clips of it on subsequent news 
broadcasts. "Oh yeah." Doggett said smirking and rubbing the back of his head. "Not 
much of a TV person." He admitted. "Let Walter take care of that." It was part of his 
charm that Dana liked so much, even after everything they had been through in their 
work together; he'd never take credit for anything. The more things changed, the more 
they stayed the same. It was amazing how timid he could in face be when he was relaxed.
Dana cleared the table as her mother and John caught up. She then slipped out onto the 
back porch with a glass of wine. She pulled a shawl closer around her shoulders and took 
a seat on the wooden porch swing. Staring up into the cloudy night sky she let her mind 
wander. Her thoughts always returned to John though.
She remembered her encounter with that horrible cult and that slug. She thought herself 
truly for dead as she felt that ugly thing coursing its way through her back. Why did she 
have to go this alone? What was she trying to prove, and to whom? Was she so opposed 
to anyone who wasn't Mulder that she'd now placed her own life in danger?
She had thought it was through her fevered delirium that he'd appeared. How he'd 
carried her to that bus and cut that ugly slug out of her. She had accepted the chewing out 
she'd received later in stride. But rather than be angry with her, he'd stayed with her for 
the duration of her hospital stay, even gotten her that card and carried her things for her.
It was the first time she'd faced the facts. Mulder was gone….gone! She could either 
continue to behave like a rebellious teenager, or learn to accept someone who had gone 
above and beyond his call of duty and saved her life.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the squeaky opening of the screen door. John poked his 
head outside and spotted her sitting on the porch swing. "Want some company?" He 
inquired.
"Sure." She answered scooting over a bit to make room for him. He sat down and joined 
her stare into the dark sky.
"John." She started breaking her gaze to the sky. "I wanted to thank you for taking care 
of my mother."
He turned to meet her stare. "It wasn't even a second thought." He replied. Scully's 
admiration for him grew a little more. He truly was that selfless. She had wondered 
during his conversations at dinner just why in the hell he was still single? Had he been 
that put off about the possibility of another relationship by his divorce, or the unfortunate 
death of his son, maybe both? Maybe he just avoided the possibilities and emotions all 
together by throwing himself into work. Just like she did.
A thought dawned on her. "How is Agent Reyes?" John gave a chuckle. "She transferred 
out West about a year ago." He said. "She was leading some sort of a ritualistic murder 
investigation last I heard." He turned his attention back to the sky. "I haven't talked to her 
in a few months now, been pretty busy here." He added.
Scully shook her head. She had missed Reyes. Monica reminded her so much of Melissa 
that she could've been a reincarnation. There was another unexpected friendship. She was 
a little disappointed to hear of her departure from the area, but Reyes always seemed too 
much of a free spirit to remain in one place anyhow. She shivered a little in the crisp 
autumn air despite the shawl around her shoulders.
"You cold?" Doggett asked turning his attention towards her. "A little." She admitted. 
But even being cold she was happy for it. Two years of almost continuous dry, sandy 
landscape, she was happy to be experiencing something else.
Without a word or a second thought, Doggett removed his suit coat and placed it over her 
shoulders. She allowed herself to snuggle into the garment, and could smell his cologne 
in the jacket around her. They sat in silence taking in the evening, Doggett inside 
enjoying every moment spent near her. She dared to close her eyes and lean her head 
back, letting the moment of contentment of seep in.
The sound of dripping water roused her from a deep, tranquilized induced slumber. 
Apparently a pipe was leaking somewhere. Somewhat groggy she struggled to open her 
eyelids which seemed to weigh several hundred pounds each. Her nose picked up the 
damp, musty odor that surrounded her on all sides. Something obscured her mouth from 
working properly.
Exploration revealed she couldn't open it. Something sticky and moist bound her mouth 
shut. She tried to reach up to remove this obstruction when she realized that her arms 
were bound behind her. She then began to panic, and move frantically to undo this 
situation she found herself in. In the process she found that her feet were also not 
cooperating. To her realizing horror, she found herself hogtied on a filthy concrete floor.
She writhed around, burning her rope constraints deeper into his wrists, but freeing her to 
no avail. Her frenzied screams were drowned out by the tightly bound gag around her 
mouth. Exhausting herself for the moment, she breathed hard through her nostrils as a 
mixture of tears and sweat burned a clear trail down her dirty face.
Suddenly a shadow appeared above her. Looking up she saw the dark silhouette of a man. 
And suddenly everything went dark as he quickly placed a burlap sack around her head.
Chapter 8: Cold

Frank Black stepped out of his red Jeep Cherokee and zipped his coat against the cold 
morning. He'd built up a wall over the years of these kinds of cases, but ever since the 
birth of his own daughter, when a woman was the victim, it hit him a little bit harder. His 
feet crunched against the autumn leaves as he made his way past several police cars, 
curious bystanders, and police officers securing the area to the border that had been 
hastily erected with the yellow crime scene tape.
"I'm sorry sir, but this area is off limits." A waiting police detective told Frank. "It's OK 
he's with me." A voiced sounded behind the detective's shoulder and Walter Skinner 
appeared. The detective nodded and lifted the yellow tape so Frank could get through.
"Walter." Frank casually greeted Skinner in his usual manner. Skinner slowly led the way 
to what was the crime scene, but stopped Frank before they arrived. "Metro requested our 
help on this one." Skinner said filling him in. They started walking again, and Skinner 
began buttoning up his raincoat. Having worked with Walter on several cases, Frank 
recognized this move; it was a nervous habit, when disturbed if you will, almost as if to 
ward off evil spirits. Even when Skinner had been a field agent, his forte had not been 
murder. He mostly had been involved with white collar criminals and therefore the 
squeamishness of the dead had never worn off.
"I've got Doggett on his way in, but no one's so much as touched the body." Skinner 
added handing Frank a pair of latex gloves. Frank accepted the gloves pulling them on 
with a quick snap.
Through the now lifting morning fog, Frank could make the shape out on the ground. An 
unrecognizable shape covered by a crisp white sheet. He and Skinner crouched on the 
ground besides the sheet and Frank removed it.
There, lying on the ground staring up with lifeless pale blue eyes was the nude body of a 
young woman. Her bleached blonde hair lay around her like a cape. There was no 
outward sign of trauma from what Frank could see. But she was almost completely white. 
Poor girl, there she lay frozen in time. Frank closed his eyes. Almost immediately the 
flashes were upon him. There she was walking towards her car, a hand on her mouth, a 
shadowy figure. Frank could feel her terror as a syringe was plunged into her neck and 
her increasing lethargy as the drug took effect, her writhing on the floor, the taste of 
blood in her mouth as her struggling caused the gag to draw blood. The burning of her 
wrists. Absolute terror. Frank went cold with the feeling of it.
The flashes were shorter now, as she must've been kept in a constant state of sedation 
after that. He could see what looked like a make shift surgical room, flashes of surgical 
tools and then something very strange. What seemed like a long time of incoherence. He 
couldn't even describe it. Returning himself to a standing position he turned to Skinner. 
"She didn't die here, and she didn't die quickly." Frank said looking down at the body 
again. "Someone did take great lengths to keep their identity private though." "I need you 
on this Frank." Skinner responded softly.
Frank slowly nodded playing with the gloves in his hand. There was something that had 
really disturbed him about this one. He still felt that poor girl's terror, and cold, just dead 
cold.
Doggett pulled up to the crime scene and got out of his car. Walking up to the police 
detectives and yellow tape, he flashed his FBI credentials and was admitted to the scene. 
Up ahead he saw Frank Black and Skinner standing in discussion, he wasted no time in 
approaching them to be filled in on the situation.
Nodding cordially, "Skinner, Frank." He said in a quick greeting. Looking 
apprehensively at Frank, Skinner allowed him to do the honors. Frank lifted up the sheet 
and explained about the body being dumped here, etc.
"We don't know how she died, other than it wasn't natural." Skinner added. "Frank's on 
board for the profiling, but he's going to need the findings of the autopsy in before he can 
get started on that.
Doggett knew the drill. He could see Skinner was somewhat uneasy about being this 
close to a just discovered dead body, but years of being a cop had conditioned him to be 
quite indifferent about it. Being a NYC flatfoot had exposed him to horrible, unspeakable 
things. There wasn't a lot that fazed him anymore. But even the normal stone Frank 
seemed to be slightly unnerved. "Coroner here yet?" Doggett asked looking around at the 
surrounding metro police. "Just pulled up." Responded a disembodied voice.
"Doggett, I'm putting you in charge of this." Skinner said quickly dialing a number on 
his cell phone. Doggett nodded his understanding as he turned to walk back to his car to 
wait for the van to the morgue. He'd follow them there, and perhaps, he thought 
wondering in the back of his mind. He could convince Scully to take a look at their 
victim. If there was anyone who could appreciate the sensitivity of the material, it was 
Dana.
Chapter 9: Alone

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to find more with your Jane Doe." Scully started 
sympathetically. "I had to wait for toxicology to come back, so I apologize in my delay 
on calling you." She finished.
"The murderer pumped her full of ketamine." She added. "I've arranged for a courier to 
bring you a copy of the full report." She said absent mindedly playing with the cord on 
the phone. She almost wished she was delivering this in person, but the business of the 
past few weeks had left little time for face to face anything. In fact the last time she had 
seen him had been when he arrived at the morgue just ahead of the body to ask her to 
look at the victim. Toxicology results had been awaiting her upon her arrival this 
morning.
"Thank you Scully." John's accented voice replied over the phone. Something seemed 
wrong; he was distracted, highly unlike him. He just sounded, tired, faraway…depressed. 
It caught her off guard to hear him call her "Scully." He hadn't done that since the 
ancient days of their beginning relationship at the FBI. It had been an unspoken, mutually 
understood pact. To use it now seemed, well, so impersonal.
"John are you alright?" Scully asked with concern in her voice.
"Fine, fine, it's just, just not a great day." Doggett replied. "Just a lot to do." There was a 
pause like he was going to add something but seemed to change his mind. Finally he 
cleared his throat and added. "If you find anything else out, just give us a call, Skinner's 
got Frank Black in on this too."
"Yeah, no problem." Scully said her voice still full of concern, and a little confusion.
She set the phone back on its cradle without another word. She tried to push the 
conversation from her mind by burying herself into the latest batch of post mortem 
reports. She scarcely realized that her work had taken her well into the early evening 
when she finally looked up. Removing her reading glasses she leaned her head in her 
hands and massaged her temples. Her mind wandered to her earlier brief conversation 
with John. Something about his demeanor seemed so distracted, just a shadow of the man 
who pursued truth with such vivid ferocity as was his dedication to her when they worked 
together. She doubted that much had changed.
It was driving her nuts. She'd only seen him like that one other time, and that was 
when….wait. What was the date? Scully turned her attention to a small flip calendar on 
her desk.
"Oh my god.' She breathed. This was the date that before her time a young boy's body 
had been discovered. She could picture that snapshot in her mind, a permanent unpleasant 
memory of a man kneeling besides the lifeless body of his son. Seven years to the day.
Deep down, more than she ever let on to Mulder she had the fantasy of a family. From 
seeing herself grow larger and larger with a new life, to the training wheels of a new bike 
and the skinned knees it promised. Even deeper than that, she dared imagined her with a 
loving husband who cuddled her close and put her and their family before anything else. 
For herself to let loose and to completely love and trusts someone else, to lean back and 
trust someone to catch her fall.
But Doggett was different. The no nonsense, family man. He had all that. A wife at his 
side, a beautiful little boy who's future was cut tragically short. Everything he worked so 
hard for was taken away from him in less than a year. And here he still was, dedicated 
and hard working but deep down looking for a reason to be so.
She had brief feelings of what she thought had been love for Mulder. And although she 
loved him, she had begun to realize, especially in the past two years, that it just wasn't 
like that. He was her platonic soul mate if you will. Eleven years built on shared 
experiences, mutual respect, and trust made what she had with Mulder unique. But it had 
become evidently clear to her, that that's all it was ever meant to be. Mulder was Mulder, 
and needed to pursue what he had been always meant to do. She wanted to move past the 
tragedies that were Melissa, Emily. Mulder would always have the ghost of Samantha.
She checked her watch as she slipped her coat on. It was nearing the end of her day. She 
tried to keep her mind occupied and she filled a tote with work to bring home. This had 
become somewhat of a daily ritual as her mother had observed. She'd leave, brave the 
thick traffic home, have something to eat, and then fill the duration of her impending 
weekend pouring over paperwork.
"It's safe." She assured herself. Safe, and boring. She knew as well as her mother that this 
was just an excuse. She had nothing else. She could barely recall "the good old times" 
way back in college when she'd go out with friends between long study sessions, back 
then she knew what it was like to unwind. Funny, the more you do something the more 
used to it you become, until you don't know anything but that.
Pressing the elevator button she mused. Not even sure it was the right thing to do; she 
made her mind up to break that mold. She could use the excuse of being dragged around 
by Mulder all she wanted, but it made her seem less of a human being, and more of a 
sock puppet for someone else's amusement.
Every day of her return revealed more and more things that she had missed out. Her 
brother had a new baby and she'd never even seen her. Family had always meant so much 
to her and now she had been neglecting her own. Maybe it was easier for Mulder, he was 
all that was left. Her mother's joy at her return was a constant exuberance, but she could 
see in even two years, her face had aged. She couldn't help but wonder how much of that 
aging was concern over her.
The elevator opened and she made her way to the parking ramp. The days were getting 
shorter and darkness had already begun to fall. Locating her parking spot she climbed 
into the driver's seat. The car still smelled new. She had only had it a few weeks. She 
gripped the steering wheel with her hands. She could go anywhere. She could go 
anywhere she wanted and didn't have to disguise herself or be secretive. Unfortunately 
the only places she had gone lately were work and home. She was 38 years old. How 
much of an old lady did she feel like being?
She started the car and slowly backed out of her parking space. Instead of making a right 
out of the ramp, she turned left and joined the last wave of rush hour traffic on the 
beltway.
Doggett sat alone. He was still clad in his work attire sans the suit jacket. His tie was 
loosened and hung crookedly around his neck and his sleeves were rolled up to the 
elbows. The fading rays of the day's sun slowly had moved their way across the floor and 
temporary settled on the empty glass and the half empty bottle of Jack Daniels that sat 
besides it. But his attention was more on the photo he held in his hands. In the grass was 
one knee and the other a cleated foot. A red soccer shirt decked out the boys appearance 
and his mischievous grin accentuated his unique ears…..HIS ears.
John ran his thumb across the face of the boy, forever captured in this happy moment in 
time. "Aww Luke." He murmured setting down the photo down on the coffee table and 
helping himself to another glass of Jack.
Scully craned her neck under her repositioned visor. Doggett's house came into view on 
her left and she glimpsed the tailgate of his truck parked in the back as she eased her own 
vehicle into the driveway. There was more than enough room to accommodate the two. 
She looked towards the steps that led up to his front porch. She didn't even know entirely 
herself what had led her here, but the feeling of that man sitting by himself and suffering 
didn't sit well with her. In any of the time that they painstakingly searched for Mulder he 
would never let her sit and suffer, and he had always been by her side the whole way. He 
could kick her out if he wanted to, but at least there would be no reason for him to think 
he had to be alone.
The doorbell caught John's attention. His face twisted into a confused look as he 
wondered who this could be. Setting down his glass he went to the front door and 
unlocked it. A moment later a familiar red head filled the doorway. Color him shocked as 
this was the last person he expected to see. Had she tried calling? He had shut off his cell 
phone and taken the house phone off the hook.
"Scully?" He asked perplexed wondering if she was really here. Although not thoroughly 
intoxicated, the alcohol created a muttled effect across his brain.
She looked down for a moment before meeting his eyes. "John." She responded softly. 
He watched her intently and perhaps even slightly confused but said nothing. "Look, I 
uh." Scully started trying to find the right words. "I know what this day is to you." She 
finished. "I just wanted to make sure that you were OK." She studied him for a moment. 
He leaned just a slight bit, and she swore she caught a hint of whiskey, but who could 
blame him? It was her capacity today to be here as his friend. She had put that 
scrutinizing manner of hers away towards him a long ago. It was imbedded in her very 
being to put everything under a microscope and demand explanation, but he was allowed 
a rare exception, a glimpse into her human side.
Doggett's eyes were downcast, it was a bit of a shock, usually this day was so self 
reserved, so isolated, he'd been so accustomed to spending it by himself it was hard to 
imagine another living soul around. "Dana." He said moving aside to allow her entrance.
She gave him a small but warm smiled as she moved past him. He shut the door and 
joined her in the living room. Her eyes absentmindedly wandered around the room, they 
paused temporarily on the bottle of Jack and the empty glass accompanying it, before 
turning her attention back to him.
He held out his hand in a gesture to ask for her coat and she complied. Hanging it on the 
nearby coat tree he motioned for her to have a seat, before joining her on the couch. They 
sat in a moment of silence reflecting the awkwardness of the early days. Finally John 
picked up the empty glass and examined it, he turned towards Scully.
"He was this great kid ya know?" He said reflecting back on Luke. Scully turned her 
head to meet him. Looking down she spied the small picture of Luke he had set on the 
table. Cautiously she picked it up and looked at the happy boy. "He looks like you." She 
said smiling.
John gave a quick smirk and a half laugh as he exhaled. "He was so much the opposite in 
the way he was." "Fearless, a real dare devil." He said examining her fingers as they held 
the picture. "I was always so cautious, you know me, get to the heart of it no matter how 
much bullshit blocks the way." "He was beautiful John." Scully said handing him back 
the photo. She closed her eyes for a moment and opened them again staring at him.
"No doubt, you're familiar with Emily from reading through the X-files." Scully began. 
John looked at her confused for just a moment before the recognition registered on his 
face. He nodded his head slowly as she held his attention captive. "She was my 
daughter." Scully continued, her eyes betraying just the slightest welling of tears. "And I 
never even knew her until it was too late." She said putting her fingers to her nose. 
Taking a moment to regain her composure, she met his eyes once again. "I knew her just 
a little while, but she was such a curious little girl, very shy." She said. "It was as if she 
knew she didn't have a long time here." She turned her attention forward wishing that she 
knew more about Emily herself to tell him. She wasn't about to launch into the 
experiment that had started and ended Emily's life.
John leaned forward to the edge of the couch and rested his chin on his knees. Silent tears 
had made their way from his eyes and ran down his cheeks. Scully sat besides herself in 
what seemed like a strange role reversal. This time it was her turn to be strong for him. 
She scooted over more to be sitting right next to him and put her arm on his back. 
"John?" She ventured softly. He turned his head to meet her stare just inches from her 
face. "It's OK." She said rubbing his back softly.
Suddenly he grabbed her into a fierce hug. "I miss him so much!" He cried half muffled 
into her shoulder. Scully was momentarily stunned before returning the embrace. They 
sat that way for a while. Until his sobs had subsided. She patiently comforted him and let 
her presence and understanding be known. Had it been his ritual these past several years 
to sit alone and drink himself stupid? How long had it been since he'd known the comfort 
of another human being? This was certainly the most vulnerable she had ever seen him. 
The crucifixion of psyche was never a pleasant thing. She felt a pang of regret in herself 
for not cutting him any sort of break. But that was the past.
Taking a deep breath john withdrew from the hollow of her shoulder. "I uh." He was at a 
loss for words.
She moved her hand to cup his cheek, and looked into those clear blue eyes. "Anytime." 
She said blinking. "I understand." She said firmly, removing her hand and realizing that 
for perhaps the first time, she could say that and truly relate. John gave her a thin and 
brave smile. Slowly his hand moved to find hers and gave it a squeeze. She responded by 
wrapping her fingers with his. Their eyes locked for a moment before Scully broke the 
gaze. "Have you eaten John?" She asked as if to alleviate a moment she herself wasn't 
entirely sure happening.
"No." He responded to her. "Unless you consider Jack." He said even softer. She bit her 
lip before untangling her hand from his and rising off the couch to walk to the phone. 
"I'm ordering us pizza." She firmly stated as the rumbling in her stomach confirmed that 
this was a good idea.
She diverted her attention to a nearby phone book, but swears she could still feel his eyes 
upon her back. She felt sorry for him, well who wouldn't? There was no pain like losing 
a child, especially one so young, but she was determined that he'd never be alone like this 
again. He demonstrated sobs were probably years of pent up feelings and sorrows and 
frustrations. She was just happy that she could at least be of some comfort to him.
Two hours later found the both of them sitting back on the couch with a mostly devoured 
pizza sitting crookedly before them on the coffee table. She was happy as his spirits 
seemed to have picked up significantly as the night had worn on, the Jack Daniels being 
abandoned some time before in favor for the free two liter of Pepsi that had come with 
the order. Even the late hour seemed to help him out of the hell of sorrow he had found 
himself stuck in.
"You gotta be exhausted." John remarked towards her. She rolled her head on the back of 
the couch to reply. "Delirious even." She agreed looking at her watch. It was well past 
midnight. She pulled an afghan snatched from a nearby rocking chair and covered up her 
shoulders with it. She had long since kicked off her shoes on the floor and curled up in 
the middle of the couch. She made a soft noise as her eyes closed again and her head lay 
barely 3 inches from him.
"Dana?" John tested softly. "Hmmm?" She replied drowsily a moment later, a delayed 
reaction from the sleep that threatened to take her over. He waited a few moments, and 
when confident that she had dozed off he moved to put his arm around her sleeping form, 
but careful not to disturb her.
He was more grateful than she could ever imagine at her presence. She had a powerful 
effect on him, and he felt like she scooped him up from the pit of despair. Ever year that 
went by meant more time that he had to think about Luke's death and this had been the 
first time that anyone had been there for him. The first anniversary of Luke's death, he 
and Barbara were so estranged from one another they each had taken to the morbid 
remembrance in their owns ways. It wasn't long after that that the divorce was finalized.
The soft sound and rhythmic pattern of her breathing drew his attention back to her. 
Whatever mystery and allure that had captivated him when he worked with her 4 years 
ago had not lost their touch. Her return 2 months before had stirred up all the old feelings 
and desires that he struggled to keep dormant. There was no denying it anymore. He was 
completely smitten with her. His confidence given a boost by the fact she was sleeping, 
he gently shifted so her head could come to rest comfortably on his chest. Leaning down 
gently over her exposed ear he whispered. "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever 
known Dana….inside and out, and I'm forever grateful that you came back into my life." 
He gently planted a kiss on her forehead before leaning his head to the back of the couch 
and closing his eyes. He wanted to savor this moment, squeeze it for everything it was 
worth. She had drowned his sorrow with her compassion and he was forever grateful that 
he didn't have to go through one more year alone. Secretly his heart leapt at the 
pipedream that he'd never have to go through anything of any year alone again.
It wasn't long before sleep took him. The most restful sleep he'd experienced in years.
Chapter 10: Wake

Scully opened her eyes. Slowly the living room came into a shadowy focus thanks from 
the dawn's light spilling in from another room in the back. She became aware of a warm 
weight about her shoulders and soft breathing on the couch next to her. John was fast 
asleep his head turned away from hers and his arm protectively around her shoulder.
She had spent the night at John's. They had eaten pizza and bared a normally hidden part 
of their souls to each other, and she fell asleep. She took a moment to get her bearings 
about her, not sure how to feel about this event, but surprisingly not entirely 
uncomfortable with it either.
Careful as not to wake him, she untangled his arm from behind her and gently set it down 
on his lap. He stirred slightly but did not wake. She stretched and gently rose up. Taking 
the now abandoned afghan she gingerly used it to cover the sleeping form on the couch.
As she rose up from the task she couldn't help but look at him. She traced his jaw line up 
to his unique ears, into his spiky hair which was slightly askew from a night spent 
shifting his head on the back of the couch. She pictured those piercing blue eyes that lay 
underneath his closed lids and wished she had the opportunity to look into them as she 
had yesterday. John's entire soul was visible in those eyes, the honesty, integrity, and 
even the unfortunate pain that had shown through so clearly not long ago. She would've 
done anything to be able to take that from him, but for a while at least, she had been able 
to share the burden.
Suddenly realizing that she had been staring, Scully blinked breaking the spell he had 
cast on her and gently straightened up. She softly walked from the room, through the 
dining area, and into the kitchen which was spilling with ever increasing light as the sun 
rose further.
Standing with her lower back against the sink she pressed her hand to her forehead and 
ran a hand through her hair. She secretly scolded herself for acting like some sort of a 
teenager with a crush. A crush? She entertained the thought for just a second. This man 
had been her professional partner, an investigator such as herself, a thorn in her side at 
first, but his perseverance of the truth and to weed out conspiracies won over her trust.
"He also saved my life more than once, took care of me, my mother, and defended me 
when no one else would." She thought to herself. It was true after her return to her life 
her admiration of him had grown to almost immeasurable bounds. But now, here she was, 
standing in John Doggett's kitchen having a conversation with herself. Never having 
been one for emotions she now struggled to categorize something to death rather than 
face an ever emerging truth.
"Good morning." She gasped slightly as she was pulled from her thoughts by a familiar 
husky voice. Looking to the left she spied John standing in the doorway watching her. 
"You OK?" He asked proceeding further into the kitchen. Quickly trying to gain her 
composure she turned to face him. Those blue eyes locked dead on to hers. The taboo 
thrill of having him look at her that intently shot through her. "Fine, just waking up.' She 
said as simply as possible. He watched her for a few more seconds before breaking the 
gaze to move to a nearby coffee pot. She otherwise tried to occupy herself weaving her 
fingers together than apart, then together again. Finally John broke what had become a 
thick silence.
"Dana, I wanted to say." He started turning back to her. She got the distinct feeling that 
whatever he was going to say could be no more difficult than her mind wrestling with her 
feelings just a few moments before. His blue eyes met hers once again, and she felt 
captivated. "Thank you for yesterday." He said in an even softer voice than before. 
Centuries upon centuries of evolution has engrained in him to be tough and manly. She 
supposed that wasn't so easily overcome to emotion, especially the kind she had shared 
with him the night before.
She nodded her head stiffly and crossed her arms in front of him. "It was the least I could 
do." She said as plainly as possible. She wasn't exactly willing to venture back into what 
was obviously a painful and difficult time for him, and the less said about it the better. 
She didn't want him to apologize for being a human being or acting like one. She noticed 
his eyes were still upon her. "I'd better check in with my mother." She said uncrossing 
her arms and giving him a small smile. She exited the kitchen and went back into the 
living room.
Doggett turned his attention back to making a pot of coffee, trying desperately to calm his 
brain of the fact that he just spent an entire night with Dana Scully. He couldn't deny that 
he'd have his fantasies over the past few years, but to even have had the opportunity to 
hold her, smell her perfume, listen to her soft breath as she slept, well, he felt like the 
luckiest bastard on Earth.
Scully hung up with her mother and stood there for a moment absent mindedly touching 
the phone, deep in thought. She had to leave the kitchen at the moment she did. The 
unspoken tension between them had been thick and she had been caught off guard by her 
own minds betrayal and needed to let her sensibility catch up with her. "Buck up ice 
queen." She thought to herself. She never had been very good with emotions and wasn't 
even sure to let that wall down. But the last thing she wanted to be was out of control. 
Her eyes betrayed her.
She shook herself out of thinking this way about him again, but suddenly it had begun to 
all come together for her. Someone would have to be insane not to notice all the 
admirable qualities he had to offer the opposite sex. She wondered why he hadn't found 
someone else in his life. She hadn't been blind to envious looks by other female agents 
whenever they had to venture somewhere else in the building other than the basement.
And who wouldn't? She herself had noticed it almost immediately after meeting him. His 
smart ass grin that he often displayed on his face once he loosened up enough, the 
impeccable way he dressed, a tall, firmly built man with those gorgeous blue eyes, strong 
toned arms, She may be an ice queen but she certainly wasn't dead.
She shook her head again and took a deep breath. Walking back into the kitchen he 
noticed the coffee was almost done brewing, and John was pulling breakfast food from 
the refrigerator. "You hungry?" He asked temporarily returning his attention to her.
She thought about it for a quick second. "I could go for a little something." She admitted. 
She didn't think that searching his fridge was going to reveal any yogurt or grapefruit.
Her mother had been relieved to hear that she had been OK, and something hinting in her 
voice once she had found out where her daughter had spent her evening. The 
conversation had turned to the impending holiday of Christmas, now barely over a month 
away. "See if John wants to come over for Christmas." Maggie asked Dana. And as if 
John could hear here, she lowered her voice. "I think he's all by himself." Maggie said 
suspiciously. This year for Thanksgiving Dana and her mother had flown out to Chicago 
to see Charles and his wife. It had been such a long time since brother and sister had seen 
each other that it was awkward at first, neither barely spoke a word. After a long and 
forgiving talk between them, they embraced for the first time in years. Her life was 
starting to curve into that full circle.
"John." Dana started, watching him pop a couple of waffles into a toaster and grease a 
pan up for eggs. "Yeah?" He asked while performing the task.
"Mom would." No, that was a stupid way to phrase that. "We would like it if you joined 
us for Christmas this year." Scully said firmly, watching him.
John paused in his actions for a moment to look at her. "I couldn't impose in you guys 
like that, it's family time." He said, she thought she could catch a slight depression in his 
voice. She moved forward and put her hand on his lower arm. "John you ARE family." 
She said sincerely. Just as it had with yesterday's events, the thought of him sitting at 
home alone while families everywhere were celebrating and basking in warmth and love 
didn't sit well.
He studied her face for a moment before breaking into one of those famous smart ass 
grins. "Alright Dana." He nodded his head in agreement. "But you gotta let me doing 
something for the two of you." Dana returned his smile with a rare one of his own. "John 
you've done so much already." She gave her lower lip a quick bite and continued. "Well, 
I believe that Bill and his family will be in town again this Christmas." She started. "I 
know you met him and mom says the two of you got on well."
"Your brother's a good guy." He said cracking a couple of eggs into the frying pan. "He 
really cares about you." Scully couldn't argue there. Even when Bill was acting like a 
jerk to Mulder, it was only with her best interests in mind. It had been years since she'd 
spoken to her brother and she couldn't help but admit apprehension to his holiday arrival.
"You want cheese in your eggs Dana?" John's voice interrupted and she realized 
breakfast was about done. "Sure." She replied taking a seat at the small kitchen table 
nearby. She had to admit, she was impressed, she laughed to herself thinking that she 
could get used to being waited on, it would be a nice change from the usual.
A few minutes later found a plate of waffles and a nice sized bowl of eggs along with 
orange juice on the table. Scully helped herself to a few scoops and two waffles, John did 
the same. When she had finished eating he took her plate. She protested, but was met 
with an abrupt hand politely demanding she sit down. "I got it." He assured her rinsing 
off the plate. She took the opportunity to look outside into the nice sized backyard.
It was well kept but bare, with the exception of some small piles of brown leaves that had 
ganged up against a wooden fence. She let her mind wander and pictured children 
running and playing, maybe even with a dog under the watchful eyes of parents from the 
back porch. The kinds of things she had seen in her suburbian fly bys with Mulder, 
except here it seemed in place, she felt a pang of sympathy for Doggett and wondered if 
he had a yard like this in New York where Luke ran and played.
"Dana?" The mention of her name broke her from her daydream. It was embarrassingly 
obvious he had been talking to her, and she hadn't heard a word he had said until now. 
"I'm sorry." She hastily apologized. "My mind got away from me for a minute." "I'd 
love to know about what!" He said taking a few steps towards her. "It had you smilin'!"
She smoothed her hair back and let out a breath. "I should get going." She said slowly. 
"Don't worry I can let myself out." And she started to the adjoining room. She had made 
it as far as the coat tree with one arm through her coat.
"What I was asking." John said appearing in the room, a wet plate still in his hand. "Is if 
you'd consider going to dinner with me tonight." Scully was stunned, it was certainly the 
last thing she had expected on hearing, but not unpleasant, in face it was everything but. 
A pang of warmth shot through her.
"If this is about paying me back for last night…" "It's not about that, I'm asking you 
because I want to." John finished sincerely. "What do you say?" He said resuming that 
smile.
She couldn't help but grin herself, her cheeks felt warm all of a sudden, was she 
blushing?! "Alright." She answered.
"Pick you up at seven?" She nodded. "Seven.' She repeated. She flashed him a quick 
smile before letting herself out.
She drove down the street looking at John's house in the rearview mirror. It was a frosty 
November morning with a thin layer of the stuff stubbornly hanging onto anything that 
hasn't been hit by the morning sun yet. She herself had to take a credit card and scrape it 
from her windshield. Now that she was safe within the confines of her car, she could turn 
her attention to the impending event.
Did John Doggett just ask her on a date? Or was this like a dinner between friends deal. 
She had had dinner with Mulder hundreds of time, albeit most of them while 
investigating a weird case, or on the run, but never had any of them been in a dating 
form. Those were the kind of dinners where you're so comfortable with the other person 
that you didn't mind the pizza sauce smeared on the corner of your mouth, or reaching 
over to take the parts of the salad that he didn't like. She chuckled remembering those 
good old times but quickly turned her thoughts back to this recent development.
It had been so many years since she had been on anything that could be construed as a 
date that she could barely recall it. She flipped mentally through her wardrobe; did she 
have something to wear? Yes, she was positive her mother had managed to salvage some 
of her nicer evening clothes.
"Dana! That's great!" Her mother said with the utmost enthusiasm as she sat on the 
corner of Dana's bed. "It's not a date mom." Dana stated unsure of who she was trying to 
convince more. "It's just, a dinner between friends." She simply stated still rifling 
through her closet.
"Say what you will." Maggie said. "So you always take this much time to pick something 
out for a dinner." She smiled smugly to her daughter's back. Dana ignored the comment 
and selected two dresses. Turning her attention back to her mother she asked. "Which one 
of these do you like better?" One hand held a simple spaghetti strapped dress, the other a 
dark green form hugging number.
"Well, where are you going?" Maggie asked. Dana rapidly dropped her arms. "I don't 
know." She admitted. Wow, it had been a while.
"I would go with the black if I were you, it's simple and tasteful." Maggie nodded sure in 
her opinion. Dana looked from her mother to the front of the dress. "I think I agree with 
you." She hung the dress on the door knob and proceeded to put the rest of the outfits 
back.
Maggie had risen from her perch on the bed corner and gone to her daughter. She smiled 
at her and smoothed a loose piece of her hair back. "My Dana." She started. "I'm glad to 
see you getting out of this house." Her face turned into a look of earlier recall. "Did you 
ask him about Christmas? What did he say?" She asked studying her daughter's face.
"He said that he'd come, but on the condition that he must do something for the both of 
us." Maggie rolled her eyes. "He doesn't have to do anything." "That's exactly what I 
told him, but he wasn't hearing it." Scully said moving around her mother. "I told him 
Bill would be here, he said he was a good man." Scully moved to her dresser and 
rummaged around in her jewelry box.
"I'm sure you're brother won't mind." Maggie stated. "I'm going to run a few errands, 
you need anything?" Her mother asked pausing in the doorway on her way out.
"Not that I can think of, I'm going to take a bath and relax a little bit." Scully admitted. 
Suddenly the appeal of yesterday at opening her tote and looking at paperwork seemed 
vastly uninteresting. Maggie nodded and disappeared. A moment later Scully head her 
engine start and the motor growing fainter as it drove down the street.
Stepping in the bathroom a little while later, she half sat on the edge of the tub checking 
the water she had started a few minutes before. Satisfied with the temperature she added 
some rose smelling bubble bath. Removing her pink terry cloth robe she carefully hung it 
on the back of the door.
A few hours later found her scrutinizing the black dress on herself in the mirror. It had 
been years since she had to play dress up for any reason. The dress still fit, thank 
goodness, but it just felt strange to her. She checked the clock, half an hour, she better get 
a move on, she still had to style her hair and throw some make up on.
"Hello!" The disembodied voice of her mother greeted her as she heard a door open and 
shut downstairs. A moment later she appeared in the bedroom doorway. "Mom." Scully 
said slightly surprised. "I thought you had errands you were running."
"Oh, I got most of those done." Maggie stated trying her hardest to be nonchalant. Her 
face betrayed the feelings she obviously was trying to hold inside. This was just short in 
her opinion of seeing a sixteen year old off on prom night. Especially when it came to 
Dana, she was absolutely thrilled. She had thought ever since that day when John had 
caught her at her daughter's apartment that he held certain affection for Dana.
Scully did not want to debate as she scrambled about to get ready. She pinned her hair up 
in a sort of twist and picked a modest pair of earrings. Moving to the bathroom she 
hastily began to apply makeup. She couldn't seem to control the strange and alien 
sensation of her stomach doing flip flops. Writing it off to nerves, she resumed the task at 
hand.
Doggett walked up the steps and pulled his overcoat around him a bit more to try to ward 
off the chill. Reaching forward he firmly pressed his finger to the doorbell. A moment 
later Maggie's smiling face appeared in the small window and mouthed "hello" before 
opening it.
"John!" She said enthusiastically. "Hi Margaret." He said quietly returning the kiss on the 
cheek. "You'll have to excuse Dana." Maggie continued inviting him in. "She's running 
just a little behind." She glimpsed that his left hand encompassed a single, long stemmed 
pale pink rose, wrapped delicately in a see through plastic. "I'll be right down!" Maggie's 
thoughts were interrupted by her daughter's voice. She turned her attention to John. 
"Please have a seat." She implored him motioning to the nearby couch.
Scully took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Straightening the back of the strap of her 
heel she slowly descended the stairs. The living room came into view and she found John 
and her mother in a spirited discussion. John glanced up at the sound of her appearance 
and his eyes froze fixated on her form. As she rounded out the last few stairs he rose to 
greet her.
"Dana." He said seemingly unable to take his eyes off of her. "You look beautiful." She 
returned his comment with a genuine smile. He didn't look so bad himself. He had 
chosen a dark colored suit that set off his features well. She caught of whiff of spicy 
cologne and the impeccable neatness of his hair, right down to the silk tie.
"This is for you." He stated handing her the single rose. "John, this is beautiful!" She 
gasped. She'd never seen a rose so delicately colored. She placed her nose over the 
bloom and inhaled. She turned her attention to her mother standing nearby. "I'll take care 
of that for you." Maggie stated gently taking hold of the flower. "You guys get going, go 
have fun!" She gave her daughter a smile of approval.
Scully walked to the hallway closet and pulled out a thick evening coat. "Allow me." A 
voice said from behind her and moment later John was behind her so close she could feel 
his breath on the nape of her neck. He held her coat firmly as she slipped her arms into 
the sleeves. "Thank you." She said buttoning up and turning her attention back to him. 
They locked eyes for a moment before heading out the door. Maggie reappeared to close 
up behind them, and waved at them from the front door.
John unlocked the passenger door and assisted her in climbing into the truck before 
securely closing the door and joining her a minute later on the driver's side. "So where 
are we going?" Scully asked turning her head towards him. He returned her question with 
one of his famous grins. "You'll see." He said putting the truck into drive.
Half an hour later found them at a fancy Italian restaurant in the heart of D.C. Scully had 
remembered reading about the place opening just a few weeks after her return and had 
been curious to visit, but as far as she knew through what co workers had told her, the 
reservations were backed up for months. How in the hell did John manage to swing this? 
He refused to answer the inquiries only stating that he "knew a guy."
Dinner was the most memorable she could recall having in a long time. The food was 
heavenly and the company and conversation the highlight of the evening. At some point 
she had sat enthralled in this conversation, her chin perched securely on her palm 
captivated by John filling her in on anything else she might've missed in the past few 
years. Whatever initial nervousness she had been experiencing melted away by the 
comfortable familiar feeling of John's presence, and a couple glasses of wine.
He asked her further about the past two years, and subject whose details she had been 
reluctant to disclose other than to say that Mulder was fine. She hadn't meant to say as 
much as she did, but confessed that it felt good to have someone else see her point of 
view about why she had done what she did. A part of her would always feel guilty about 
leaving Mulder, but it was more comfortable to her than being felt like she was being 
ripped in two. She remarkably found the evening to be a lot more relaxed than she had 
anticipated. The restaurant was dimly lit and their table secluded enough not to be 
disturbed by other's conversations or busy waiters and waitresses. It was complete with a 
band composed of a piano, stringed instruments and brass. She closed her eyes and took a 
moment to take it all in.
"Would you like to dance?" She opened her eyes to find John looking at her awaiting her 
reply. She hesitated for a moment; it had been years since she had danced at all. Who 
knows, she might end up breaking his foot.
"I'm pretty rusty." She admitted returning an answer. John shrugged. "Well you won't be 
alone." He said rising from his chair and walking to her side of the table. He extended his 
hand waiting for her to join him.
After a slight protest, she slipped her hand into his and he helped her to her feet. Leading 
the way to the dance floor he turned to face her. The band played a slow song as they 
merged to the dance floor and joined the other dancing couples.
He intertwined his fingers with her, and she felt his other arm slide around her thin waste. 
They began to sway in rhythm to the playing music and she rested her head against his 
shoulder. She couldn't deny it to herself. From the moment their hands met at the table, a 
feeling, previously hidden in the dark recesses of her mind emerged, it was almost an 
electric feeling, and she had found herself in the precarious position of viewing John 
Doggett in an entirely different light. She had to have been crazy not to have noticed this 
before.
Likewise at the twining of his fingers with hers, the already strong feeling he held for 
Dana Scully grew tenfold into a raging beast. He wanted to take her in his arms, kiss her 
with all the passion he held inside he was quite certain that there was no way she couldn't 
feel the pounding of his heart. Her head lay against his shoulder, and he closed his eyes 
and leaned into her soft, red hair inhaling deeply. He could smell the perfume of her 
shampoo and the dizzying intoxication that was her. Slowly the arm that was wrapped so 
securely around her waist traveled up to her back, gently touching the skin above the 
back of her dress.
To her this move caused a shiver and uncontrollable goose bumps. She could feel the tips 
of his fingers gently brushing against her skin. They fingers continued upwards to the 
nape of her neck, gently caressing a few curls that had been left down from her upwards 
swept hair. She closed her eyed again and enjoyed the feeling, she found herself wanting 
him to touch her, it added to the previously closeted taboo. For the first time she thought 
about a life beyond anything she had previously known.
When the dong ended, she slowly and gently pulled back from his embrace to meet his 
eyes. He stood unwavering, those piercing blue eyes bearing into her own blue orbs.