Title: Stronger than Steel
Author: Jacquie Sabatier
Summary: A post episode fic for season 8 episode "Salvage"
Pairing: Established DSR
Rating: M
 
Disclaimer:  Everybody repeat after me.  These characters do not belong to me. They are the 
sole invention of Christ Carter. Copyright infringement is unintentional.  *Claps* Very good. 
 Here's a gingerbread cook with Doggett's face on it. See? He even has a tie. And if you're extra 
good and review, you might get a matching Scully cookie.  :D
 
 
It was the sun shining through the window warming her face that woke Dana Scully up.  She 
smiled as she registered the strong, but gentle arms that were still wrapped around her. She 
kisse dhis chest, being rewarded with a throaty moan. Then pale blue eyes looked down at her. 
 
"Good morning," Scully whispered. 
 
Doggett kissed her lips, running his hand through her soft, red hair. "Mornin'," he whispered back. 
Scully snuggled against the warmth of his muscular body.
 
"You sleep alright?"
 
Alright didn't begin to describe how Doggett felt. Scully had no idea that he hand lain awake 
countless nights wishing for nothing more than to wake up with her in his arms. Just like he was 
now.  "Better than I have in a long time," he finally whispered back. He buried his face in her hair. 
  "I wish you didn't have to go." Scully had been promising her mom and her younger brother 
Charlie they would spend a day together. 
 
Scully instinctively closed her eyes at the admission. If she was really honest with herself, 
there*was* that part of her that wanted to stay in his arms like this.
 
"I'll go get  you some breakfast before your brother gets here." Doggett eased his sated body 
from the bed while Scully watched him appreciatively. When Maggie and Charlie Scully arrived at 
Scully's apartment and hour and a half later, they could still smell bacon in the air.
 
Maggie gave Doggett a warm hug. "John, it's nice to see you."
 
"You too, Mrs. Scully." Doggett gave her his best smile. She introduced his youngest son. 
 
"Charlie, I'm John Doggett."
 
The two men silently sized each other up before coming to the conclusion that they liked each 
other.
 
Scully emerged from the bedroom, her dam hair pulled back into a ponytail.
 
"Would either of you like breakfast?" 
 
"We've already eaten, but thank you." Charlie gave Doggett a dimpled grin before turning to hug 
his big sister.
 
"Have fun," were Doggett's parting words. Then in Scully's ear," Don't do anything I wouldn't do." 
 
Scully stuck her tongue out at him, tossing her hair out of her face and left.

 
 
Doggett turned off his TV when the last race ended. He glanced at his watch. She should have 
called by now. She had promised him that she would be on her way back to her apartment by the 
time he had wrapped up his paperwork for Skinner. He stuck the final report into its manila folder, 
glancing down at his cell phone resting on the desk in front of him.  Finally getting too restless to 
wait any longer, Doggett reached for his suit jacket.
 
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
When Doggett returned to Georgetown , the knots in his stomach were twisting harder around his 
other organs so it was harder to breathe. His knuckles gripped the steering wheel so hard they 
were turning white. He drew his gun when he found the door ajar. He could hear the beeping of 
the disconnected phone as he got to the bedroom, he hastily knelt down beside her, gently 
cradling her in his arms, gun forgotten, everything else forgotten.
 
"Dana…" He brushed back a strand of hair to reveal a bruise was beginning to form on her 
forehead.
 
"Baby, can you hear me?"
 
Her blue eyes opened, much to his relief.
 
"John?" She tried to sit up, wincing at the sharp knife sensation in her temple as she did so.
 
"Easy…"
 
"There was someone here…" Scully tired to get up again. Doggett kept watching her even as he 
supported her as she got to her feet. He continued to hover protectively as Scully made a cursory 
inspection.
 
"Dana, I think you need to get checked out." Doggett was still worried. 
 
"I'm fine. I promise." Scully finally turned around to face him, pulling down his face to kiss him. 
 
Doggett held her to him for a moment." Maybe we should go to my place tonight." Suclly didn't 
realize it, but she was glad Doggett talked her into keeping a change of clothing at his house. "I 
want to report the break in first." 
 
"On our way home." Doggett promised with a kiss to her hair.
His heart was pounding. He was sweating. The metal figure was squishing Scully between the 
car door and the garage door and there was nothing he could do about it. He let out a choked cry 
as he jerked awake. 
The disorientation cleared slowly as he remembered falling asleep in front of the TV.
 
He didn't have the heart to wake her.  The way her strawberry blonde hair fell across her face 
made her look angelic. His thoughts were interrupted by Scully stirring. Her sleepy blue eyes 
looked up at him.
"John?"
 
"Hey,…" he said. He inched a little closer.  "I didn't mean to wake you."
 
Scully sat up in bed, sounding more awake now. 
 
"Everything okay?" 
 
"Everything's fine. I just…" Doggett stopped himself at the last possible second.  "Just wanted to 
make sure *you* were okay." 
 
"I'm fine…" Something that might have very well been woman's intuition clicked in Scully's mind.
 
"John, come here." He held her hand out to him.
 
A little puzzled, Doggett did as she asked. Concern changed to worry as her soft slender had slid 
int his. She gently pulled him onto the bed with her. Doggett started to tremble.
 
"You had a nightmare, didn't you?"  The way it was said, it sounded more like a statement than a 
question.
 
Doggett seriously considered lying but Scully seemed to be peering into his very soul. As a result, 
he found his normally tough demeanor giving way. The shivers became more pronounced.
 
"Sssh..it's all over.." Scully instinctively stroked his back. Doggett buried his face in Scully's 
shoulder as he gave into his fears. He clung to her like she would disappear if he eased his grip 
even a little. Scully placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. 
 
"I've got you, baby," Scully promised.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x
 
Thankfully, Doggett was able to sleep through the night. When he reached for Scully, there was 
only a warm spot where she had lain and a pillow that stills smelled of her hair. He was just 
starting to panic when he heard the shower turn on. HE slipped out of bed and hovered near the 
shower, silently kicking off his boxer shorts. He came up behind her, kissing her neck. Scully 
started to turn around but Doggett moved her back under the stream of warm water. He rinsed 
the soap from her shoulders, kissing her skin as it became soap-free.
 
Scully whimpered, bracing herself against the wall. Taking the cue, Doggett knelt down behind 
her, kissing each bum cheek, darting his tongue out teasingly between her legs. Scully cried out 
his name as she shuddered violently.  
 
Doggett continued to stroke her feeling her back against his hand. "Come for me.." he whispered.
 
"John.." Scully leaned her forehead against the wall as the water and Doggett's lips continued to 
assault her skin. 
 
"Turn me around," she pleaded hoarsely. He did so, but he kept his thumbs and tongue 
massaging and titillating. She cried out as she came again in his hand.
 
"Want you in me..." Scully said hoarsely as he dug her nails into his shoulders. Doggett pushed 
into her. 
 
Scully's body somehow managed to pull her legs around his waist. Her back was slammed 
against the wall again and again, but the sensation of him inside her drowned out the dull ache of 
her rapidly bruising backside. They both came at the same time in a chorus of moans and sighs. 
Scully crumpled on top of Doggett, holding to him as she shivered. Doggett kept stroking her hair 
until she felt well enough to stand. She helped Doggett to his feet and they shared a moment of 
bashful glee. He wrapped a towel around her and then she wrapped a towel around his waist. 
They still were holding hands as they wend down to the kitchen for breakfast. 
 
"Penny for your thoughts?" Scully glanced over at him as she poured herself a cup of coffee.
 
"Was just thinking we should get married," Doggett said in what he hoped was a casual way. 
 
Scully almost dropped the coffee cup she was holding. Doggett quick reflexes saved her from 
burning herself or getting glass on the kitchen floor. He checked her hands and forearms. Not 
seeing any cuts, he kissed her knuckles. Scully was momentarily distracted, he noted with a 
smirk. He kissed her earlobe.
 
"Dana?" 
 
"I was working up the nerve to ask you." 
 
"Really?" 
 
"Really." She kissed his lips, starting to giggle when Doggett lifted her up onto the kitchen counter 
and moved between her legs. 
 
"I love you," Doggett whispered in her ear before kissing her neck. 
 
"I love you too."