Title: Watch Over You
Author: Lisa
Email: lc7685@yahoo.com.au
Disclaimer: I do not own X Files, and they remain the property of the
people/companies who do own it (like der) and I'm not writing this for
money! Yay!
Category: DRR Rating: I'm rating it R, just because it contains adult themes, medium level language, low level violence and one very tiny sex scene.
Notes: This one follows Wish For You, the Xmas story I wrote a couple of months back. But you don't have to have read it to understand any of the details in this fic, so enjoy anyways! :D Oh and the timeline of the original story was pretty much set after release, although the episode itself was never described, Monica just knew about Brad's "dealings" and their relation to Luke. Um, so William, Sunshine Days and The Truth never happened! And they still haven't! Yay! Hehe More notes at the end so that I don't give away the story! Oh and if you're a keen Australian observer I snuck in a Water Rats and a Federal Parliament reference into the first part :P I forget where else but hehehehe ENJOY!
Prologue
September 30, 2003
Monica knew that John had entered her room without opening her eyes and waited until he got closer, taking a seat on a chair that must have been right beside the bed. She stretched out a hand and hummed softly. After a moment she felt John's fingers latch around her own and she opened her eyes.
"Sorry I woke you," he whispered. Monica shook her head. "I can't stay much longer."
"What's the time?" she asked.
"Nine-thirty." Slowly, Monica realised that her private room was lit only with a small light coming from the other side of the bed. She pushed herself up with her elbows as John reached out and handed her their daughter. Monica held her breath as she took her, adjusting the tiny body in her arms. She looked up at John as he moved to sit beside her on the bed. "You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, it's just still...overwhelming-" She stopped, watching John as he reached down and ran a finger across the baby's cheek, before lifting it and repeating the motion against her own face.
"You're doing great, beautiful," he whispered, leaning in and kissing her. "Thought much more about names?" he whispered against her cheek, running his fingers through her hair and combing out the knots that had gathered earlier that evening.
"How about..." she started. "Jodie, like we said, but...how does James sound? I know it's unconventional but it's really hard to find something that...uh...fits-" John chuckled. Yeah, he'd noticed. 'J' seemed to be one of the only letters in the alphabet that did - even Monica was MJ - but there was no way he was dwelling on particulars tonight.
"JJ?" John asked. Monica turned her gaze from their child and looked across at him, their foreheads barely touching. "Jodie James Doggett." She nodded, smiling.
"Sure." John grinned as he watched Monica stifle a yawn. He ran his hands along her arms and she handed Jodie back to him.
"The nurses told me they'd bring her into you again first thing tomorrow morning and that you'll be out of here tomorrow afternoon. We'll organise the official side of things tomorrow too-"
"Okay," Monica replied as she slid back down into bed and let her eyes drift close.
"Okay," John repeated, bending over and letting his lips rest on her cheek. "I love you."
"Love you too," Monica mumbled as she fell asleep quickly.
*
Monica checked the file in her hands as she rounded the corner at Quantico, stopping in the middle of the hallway, trying to work out which direction to follow. A familiar figure caught her eye and the two women smiled at each other. Scully approached quickly.
"Monica, what are you doing here?"
"Oh," Monica sighed. "I'm looking for Doctor uh, Janson's office. He was meant to have faxed us some autopsy reports this morning and no one's been able to get a hold of him."
"He never showed up this morning."
"What?"
"Just didn't turn up. Looks like he's packed up and left in the middle of the night." Monica was curious but tired, and sighed again.
"Great."
"Had he performed the autopsy already, do you know?"
"No I don't. Agent Butler and I have been waiting all morning- Do you think I could nose around his office to see if there's a file or anything?"
"Sure, follow me," Scully replied, leading her back down the hallway and through a couple more passageways until they got to an office blocked by two police guards.
"I'm sorry, you two can't come in here," one stopped them. Scully lifted the badge pinned to her jacket and Monica fished in her pocket for her ID, flipping it open.
"Agents Scully and Doggett," Scully began. "The detective in charge?"
"That'd be me," a voice boomed from behind them. "Doctor Scully," Vincent Gnash greeted as they turned. "Agent Doggett."
"What's going on Vince?" Monica asked. "We need files."
"Recent files?"
"Is there anything new there since yesterday?"
"No files there but from a week back." Monica sighed.
"So what, did he take em?"
"We're not sure at this stage Agent. What's the case?"
"I can't tell you," Monica answered.
"Ooh," Gnash began. "Matter of national security is it?"
"You never know." She turned to Scully. "I'll try getting the body moved."
"I can do it if you want-"
"No, no, your day's already full as it is I'm sure. I have to get back." She glanced up at the detective. "Let us know what you find out about Janson." She turned and walked away at a brisk pace. Gnash turned to Scully.
"They pushing her hard, eh?"
"So he's taken all his files with him, or has he even done them?"
"You tell me," Gnash replied.
*
Monica was reading over one of her final reports before filing it away when the phone rang.
"Doggett," she answered. Butler, sitting beside her, snickered and she reached across and whacked him over the head.
"Hi mummy!" Monica checked her watch.
"Hey baby are you feeling better?"
"Yes! Mulder let me have ice cream!" Monica was about to reply when she heard a "Gimme that" and a few giggles.
"I swear I didn't Mon-"
"I don't believe you," Monica teased. "No that's fine. She's okay?"
"Had a big sleep this morning. Seems fine. More colour, temp's down."
"You were able to get away for class?"
"Yeah John dropped by. JJ and I thought we'd call and let you know that we're going to pick up William."
"Sure, I was going to call you anyway, my primary case has fallen through so I'll be dragging John out of his office earlier than usual."
"Not busy in your little awareness unit?"
"It's hardly a 'little' awareness unit Mulder."
"Yeah, ANSIR is a department of national security. Sure." Monica rolled her eyes.
"What time do you want us over?"
"Take your time. We love taking care of your sick kid."
"Oh come on Mulder, you love the jigsaws and the children's television and- "
"Ha-ha."
"No, thankyou."
"It's no problems Monica. Turn up whenever, we'll be back in an hour."
*
John was typing furiously at his computer when a familiar head of long brown hair jumped across his desk at him.
"Boo," Monica exclaimed, peering over his cubicle. John looked up, smiling.
"Good afternoon."
"Any great financial crimes to report for the day?"
"Just the usual," he replied. Monica nodded. "You off early?"
"Yeah we need this autopsy report and our doctor did a runner, so I had to get the body moved to a different doc and well, Butler and I didn't see any point in hanging around pretending like we were doing work, so we scooted off. How bout you?"
"Just gotta print this. Does Agent Rowers mind you leaning across her desk?"
"She's getting a cup of coffee," Monica glanced across the room and waved at the woman who was making her way back towards her desk.
"Monica, hi, how are you today?"
"Good thanks. Long day?"
"Very," she nodded. "You here to steal your hubby?"
"Do you think anyone will notice?"
"Hardly," she replied. "Bye John."
"I didn't say I was ready to go yet!" John defended, grinning. Monica walked around to his side of the desk and leant down next to him as he continued. "It's early, and we don't have to be there until-"
"Exactly," Monica whispered, grinning. John laughed. "Anyway we need to pick up Dana's birthday present. I left it at home this morning." John nodded as he saved his work and shut down his computer, saying goodbye to the scattered agents around him as he and Monica left hand in hand.
*
"So where'd you leave it?" John asked as he followed Monica up to their bedroom.
"Here," Monica replied, placing the package on the bed. "JJ and Mulder called earlier. She seems better."
"Better than last night anyway." Monica laughed, but her brow creased as John took the present off the bed and put it on the floor next to the door.
"What are you doing?" she asked as he turned back to face her. John grinned.
"You said we had some extra time- You didn't tell him we'd be there early did you?"
"No Mulder was quite adamant that whenever was fine," she replied with a grin, taking a step forward as John leant in and they kissed, Monica working immediately on helping John to shrug off his jacket, tie and eventually his shirt. They paused in time as John fiddled to get more than the top two buttons on Monica's very well to do blouse undone. He'd helped her fasten the buttons on her right cuff that morning and knew it wasn't coming off easily. She went to help him but he shook his head, cupping her chin and bringing her eyes to meet his.
"Leave it on," he whispered, running his hands up over her back and unhooking her bra anyway. Monica was working on his belt and pants and moaned as John's hands pushed up underneath her bra, his fingers gliding and caressing over the soft skin of her breasts. They leant in to kiss again as John brushed Monica's own slacks over her hips and they stepped aside together, John pushing Monica up against the bed and falling beside her. She went to take the upper hand but he refused, pinning her on her back. John laid a trail of kisses down her body as he made his way to her underwear, removing it so slowly Monica almost groaned out in frustration. She didn't waste a moment with his, grabbing them when he wasn't expecting it and helping him kick them down his legs and onto the floor, both of them crawling back into the centre of the bed.
John bunched the tail of Monica's blouse and lifted it until his fingers had access once again to her breasts. Monica wrapped a leg over John's hip and he didn't need an invitation, filling her completely. As their thrusts became harder and faster, Monica felt John swell within her and lifted her hips to a different angle, crying out as she felt his pelvis crushing hers, climaxing just seconds after him. It was fast and furious, but it was what they'd both needed.
Monica collapsed back onto the bed, pulling John with her. She let out a soft whimper as he pulled out, nestled close, and kissed her deeply.
"Oh God Mon," he whispered, their foreheads leaning together. "That was incredible." He took a deep breath to calm his beating heart and Monica smiled, still recovering herself. John watched, concerned, as she shut her eyes. He reached out and ran his hand along her face. "You wanna stay?" She shook her head. Jodie had started throwing up around six the previous evening, and after John and Monica had helped clean her up and set her up in her room for bed, she'd insisted her mum stay until she'd gone to sleep. John was pretty certain it was three am before Monica fell into bed beside him, and she hadn't looked too peachy that morning either.
"Just give me a sec," she replied. John smiled. He could tell she was falling asleep more certainly every minute they lay there. He got out of bed and hung up his suit, changing into some casual slacks and a shirt, and by the time he was done and ready to go, Monica was, as he'd assumed she would be, fast asleep on top of the bed. He walked over and found her underwear, revelling in the scent of her as he slipped them onto her legs. She groaned. "I'm coming-"
"No you're not," John replied, pulling back the sheets. She shuffled around until she could get under them and John tucked them up around her waist. He took her wrists and gently unbuttoned those darn fiddly buttons to give her more room. Letting her go, her fingers curled around the covers and she pulled them higher.
John smiled in the bedroom doorway as he looked back at his sleeping wife, remembering to pick up the present by his feet on his way out.
*
"Flying solo John?" Scully asked as she opened the door, the casual attire not escaping her attention as she let him in and closed the door behind him.
"Yeah, she's catching up on some sleep."
"You know what would be really bad?" she suggested as they walked down the hallway and into the living room. "If she caught this bug from JJ."
"Don't even go there." Scully smiled.
"It happened to me once. Poor Mulder had to do everything for a couple of days!" John groaned.
"I'm sure Mon's fine." John walked up the dining table where Jodie and William were doing their homework. Well, they would have been both doing homework if Jodie had gone to school. For now she was reading a short story book John had bought her the previous week.
"Hi daddy," Jodie called. "I'm up to page a hundred! Nearly finished!"
"Hey, nice work! That's great! Hope you haven't been strainin' your eyes-" The nine-year-old shook her head and removed the thin, black frames from her face, folding them carefully and putting them in the nearby case. It must have been some unknown gene on Monica's side because while his family had perfect sight, Monica needed reading glasses and so did their daughter. They'd never know why, but that didn't matter for now. John leant down and kissed her cheek and she giggled. "You ready to go?" he whispered in her ear as he ran his hand through her dark brown hair. She nodded, looking over at him with her big, brown eyes. Spitting image, he thought and not for the first time, everything but the smile. "Okay," John continued as she stood up with him. "Thankyou Mulder-"
"No problems. You're on Will-duty tomorrow night."
"I remember. What time do your classes finish?" Scully returned from the kitchen and answered him as John subtly left the present on the dining room table.
"I finish at eight and Mulder eight-thirty. Ah John, you shouldn't ha-"
"Happy birthday Dana. See you all tomorrow."
"Bye Will," Jodie said, giving him a small wave as Scully led them back to the front door.
"Bye JJ."
"Oh John, before I forget," Scully exclaimed as they bid farewell at the front steps. "Let Monica know that Janson's in Bermuda, okay?"
"Uh, sure."
"She'll know what I'm talking about. And he's not coming back."
*
"She's sleeping," Jodie concluded as she returned from upstairs, dressed in her pyjamas.
"You sure you're up for some food?"
"Yeah!" John eyed her.
"How about some toast with baked beans?"
"You just don't wanna cook." John gasped, walked up to her and grabbed her around the waist, spinning her around just once, so that she ended up facing him.
"I'll have you know I'm a terrific cook."
"Okay daddy," she replied earnestly, moving to sit on one of the stools. "Not too dark," she warned as he put some bread in the toaster.
*
Monica loosened her dressing gown later that night as she returned to the bedroom where John was waiting.
"She asleep?" he asked.
"Yeah." Monica shed her gown and slid into bed beside John. "You know you should've kept me awake because now I'm not so tired." John chuckled, pulling her closer to him and kissing her softly.
"You needed to catch up. You'll sleep tonight yet."
"You're sure of that?" she asked, eyebrow raised.
"Certainly am," he replied, grinning. "Have I told you I love you today?" Monica shook her head as John nuzzled her cheek. "Well beautiful, I do."
"I love you too," she answered, sighing against his chest as she pressed her lips to his skin. "John can we talk about something?" John pulled her up to be level with him and nodded.
"What is it?" Monica took his hand in hers and held it over her right arm, running his fingers down for them both to feel the length of the implant spread under her skin.
"It's passed its use by date." John watched her carefully. Five years, he remembered. Monica had discussed the use of Norplant with him, and they'd decided it was the best method of contraception for them, which had so far proved extremely effective. Reading Monica's expression, however, he wondered if it had been too effective.
"Okay," he stated. Monica bit her bottom lip and sighed. "Mon-"
"It's just that this would be our last chance," she continued quickly. "And I know last time it didn't work but I-" John wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.
"Why didn't you say something sooner?" he asked as she looked up into his eyes.
"I thought I was just...going through a phase or something... I guess on the one hand I didn't want to be disappointed again... I didn't want you to be disappointed in me-"
"Monica, you haven't disappointed me yet, you know that." She blinked, nodding in reply. "You're nearly forty, I'm nearly fifty. We have to think about this. You know how much I wanted another child with you, but we spent so long trying-"
"I have been thinking about it," Monica cut him off, running a hand along her cheek. "We're both healthy. Perfectly so and the doctors never found a problem before...Six months, John. Please. Then..." John nodded, wiping the tears he instinctively knew were on her cheeks away. Monica pulled forward and they hugged tightly.
"Maybe a year," John whispered in her ear. "Then Mon, Mon we gotta be content with our beautiful girl. I know it's hard-"
"I love you both so much," Monica sighed as John released her.
"So when can you get that thing removed from your arm?"
"Tomorrow afternoon."
"Then can we get started?" Monica laughed, rolling onto her back and letting her arm swing out and hit John in the stomach. He gasped, but grabbed her hand and held it to him, caressing it. He felt Monica shiver and smiled, knowing that it wasn't from the cold as they nestled together for the night.
*
Tiptoeing slowly past her parents' bedroom, Jodie heard their muffled voices and knew they were talking about something important. While both Monica and John had been busy with work, Jodie realised that there was something else on her mother's mind. She didn't know what and didn't expect to be told, but she had a sense about these things, and could tell when something in the house wasn't quite right. Hopefully that feeling would be faded by morning, she thought as she padded into the kitchen for a glass of water. While she was there, she snuck a small piece of chocolate too. Couldn't hurt, she thought as she popped it into her mouth and made her way back to bed. After sleeping through most of the day at the Mulder's, she wasn't as tired as she should be, and she wanted to know what her mum and dad were talking about. She hated being left out. She sighed, clamouring back into bed and eventually falling asleep.
*
"Will it take up lots of class time?" Jodie asked as Monica drove them both to her school.
"Nope. Hope not anyway."
"Aw!" Monica laughed. "Are you nervous?"
"If I get nervous I'll look over at you, and you can pull a face for me, okay?"
"What kind of face?" Jodie asked, sticking out her tongue so that it was level with her chin. "Like this?"
"Yeah, like that, and then you can explain to Mrs Liebermann that you were only sticking out your tongue to calm your mother."
"I don't think she'd like that mummy."
"Ah well."
"Hey mum?" Jodie continued as they pulled up at a pedestrian crossing.
"Mm?"
"Is this going to be really boring? Mum?" Monica's eyes were fixed on the man crossing the street in front of her car. She'd seen him before. He turned and watched her, and she saw him smile. He seemed older, but his eyes, she would never forget those eyes.
"Kris," she whispered as a horn sounded from another car. She checked her mirror and when she looked back at the road he was gone. She put her foot down and drove forward, her brow creased. She hadn't seen him since an afternoon ten years ago, in the park on Bennett Avenue. It was snowing, John mysteriously found her... It couldn't be, she was seeing things.
"Did you know that man mummy?" Jodie asked beside her. Monica's brow creased.
"Who JJ?"
"The man who crossed the road."
"You saw him?" Jodie laughed.
"Yes mum I'm not blind!" Monica bit her tongue and made a left towards the school. She'd have to tell John, she would call him quickly that morning before she and Butler went inside.
*
When Monica and Jodie pulled up, Butler was already waiting for them, and he was getting several curious stares from passing children. He screamed 'suit', his sandy blonde hair and brown eyes enough to catch the attention of several arriving teachers and parents also.
"Took your time?" he asked as Monica approached him, Jodie waving a hello before running off in the opposite direction to find her friends, Rachel and Frankie, for the day.
"Ah, it's that kind of morning. How much time do we have?"
"We don't have to head in for another five minutes. You finish those notes?" Monica nodded, digging into her bag and handing them to him as she took out her phone. Butler gave her a look but she shook her head, taking a step back.
"I'll be quick, I promise." Turning her back on him she dialled home. He shouldn't have left home yet. No answer. Eight rings. Her voice.
"Hi, you've reached the Doggett house. [Doghouse] We can't come to the phone but if you leave your name and number, we'll get back to you as soon as possible." Monica smiled as she heard John's voice in the middle. She'd started laughing the first time and every time since then she had to restrain herself.
"John it's me, you shouldn't have left yet, should you? Anyway I'll try you again later this morning but I swear I saw Kris this morning. Remember? Jodie did too. I don't know what that means... Anyway, um, I hope he's here for good reason. Oh, Butler's calling me back I'll call you at work later. Wish me luck!" Monica hung up and turned back to her partner. "Yeah, yeah-" she called, walking back to him. "We set?"
"All set," Butler repeated as they walked into the administration building.
*
Monica shuffled some notes in her lap and looked across at Butler, who was looking out at the audience. She noticed him smiling and followed his gaze, only to see Jodie waving conspicuously. She smiled and waved back as they were announced.
"All right, have I got years 4-6 seated? Good. Good morning everyone. This morning's assembly is going to be different than the usual, because we've got some special guests from the FBI to speak with us. I expect you to give them your full attention because they have some very important information to give you." There was the standard round of applause that always made Monica feel slightly uncomfortable, and she and Butler stood.
"Good morning everyone," Butler announced. "My name's Grant and this is Monica, and to get the boring stuff out of the way, we do work for the FBI, but we work for a shared branch called Awareness of National Security Issues and Response. Now if you spell that out you get A-N-S-I-R. ANSIR." The children, confused and bored by Butler - which was planned, of course - laughed as Monica visibly rolled her eyes and turned away from him. "You think you can do any better Monica?" She turned back, smiling, and leant into his microphone. The lecterns had been removed.
"Absolutely Grant. Who wants to come up here and see a real FBI badge?" Half the children stuck their hands in the air and there was an echo of 'me!' throughout the hall. She turned to Grant. "Could you go and pick someone please Agent Butler?" Grant nodded, walking across the stage and down the stairs, and hundreds of eyes followed. Monica saw him lean down and whisper something in Jodie's ear as he passed her - she hadn't had her hand up - and continued towards the back, pulling a ten or eleven-year-old boy from the crowd and bringing him back. "Hi, what's your name?" Monica asked, moving the microphone lower so that he could speak into it. He was probably in Jodie's class, she realised.
"Jeffrey," he answered. Monica stuck out her hand.
"Hi Jeff," she replied, shaking his hand and handing her his badge to look at. "Now a lot of people don't believe us when we tell them we're with the FBI. Does that look real to you?"
"Yep!" he beamed, pretending to pocket it.
"Nuh-uh," Monica teased, stretching out her hand. The darn kid raised his eyebrow at her. The little shit. Monica cleared her throat. "Agent butler, could you get out the handcuffs please?" Jeff handed her back her wallet in no time and the rest of the children laughed. So far, so good. "Any questions before we get started?"
"Can I see your gun?" Jeff asked, which got another laugh from the older children in the back, and excited gasps from the younger ones, boys particularly.
"No," Monica replied as Grant sent him back to his seat. "You see we're allowed to bring our guns in, but we can only take them out if there's an emergency. Now when Grant returns - come on Agent - he's going to explain to you why we're here today, and what we're going to be talking to you about."
*
Half an hour into things, Monica thought it was going quite well. This was the youngest group of children they'd prepared for so far, but the program was going well and she was happy they were on track as she and Butler moved through a simple power-point presentation, filling in the gaps with a couple of humorous anecdotes to prove their point and drive their message home harder. Be alert, not alarmed!
They were about to wrap things up, and Monica was half way through taking questions when the back door opened and a shot rang out. There were screams amongst the audience as a middle-aged man looking reasonably respectable in a pair of well-kept jeans and a button down shirt approached the stage. By now Butler and Monica had both drawn their weapons and Monica had instructed everyone to take a seat on the floor. Most had complied and those that hadn't were quickly being forced to by their teachers.
"Where's the kid?"
"FBI, put your weapon down," Butler called evenly as the man approached them. He stopped upon hearing their call and hesitated, looking from Monica to Butler.
"Fuck this," he mumbled, before turning and heading for the door. Monica jumped off the stage and ran after him, both of them scrambling out the auditorium door as Butler managed to contain the excited students and worried staff.
*
Category: DRR Rating: I'm rating it R, just because it contains adult themes, medium level language, low level violence and one very tiny sex scene.
Notes: This one follows Wish For You, the Xmas story I wrote a couple of months back. But you don't have to have read it to understand any of the details in this fic, so enjoy anyways! :D Oh and the timeline of the original story was pretty much set after release, although the episode itself was never described, Monica just knew about Brad's "dealings" and their relation to Luke. Um, so William, Sunshine Days and The Truth never happened! And they still haven't! Yay! Hehe More notes at the end so that I don't give away the story! Oh and if you're a keen Australian observer I snuck in a Water Rats and a Federal Parliament reference into the first part :P I forget where else but hehehehe ENJOY!
Prologue
September 30, 2003
Monica knew that John had entered her room without opening her eyes and waited until he got closer, taking a seat on a chair that must have been right beside the bed. She stretched out a hand and hummed softly. After a moment she felt John's fingers latch around her own and she opened her eyes.
"Sorry I woke you," he whispered. Monica shook her head. "I can't stay much longer."
"What's the time?" she asked.
"Nine-thirty." Slowly, Monica realised that her private room was lit only with a small light coming from the other side of the bed. She pushed herself up with her elbows as John reached out and handed her their daughter. Monica held her breath as she took her, adjusting the tiny body in her arms. She looked up at John as he moved to sit beside her on the bed. "You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, it's just still...overwhelming-" She stopped, watching John as he reached down and ran a finger across the baby's cheek, before lifting it and repeating the motion against her own face.
"You're doing great, beautiful," he whispered, leaning in and kissing her. "Thought much more about names?" he whispered against her cheek, running his fingers through her hair and combing out the knots that had gathered earlier that evening.
"How about..." she started. "Jodie, like we said, but...how does James sound? I know it's unconventional but it's really hard to find something that...uh...fits-" John chuckled. Yeah, he'd noticed. 'J' seemed to be one of the only letters in the alphabet that did - even Monica was MJ - but there was no way he was dwelling on particulars tonight.
"JJ?" John asked. Monica turned her gaze from their child and looked across at him, their foreheads barely touching. "Jodie James Doggett." She nodded, smiling.
"Sure." John grinned as he watched Monica stifle a yawn. He ran his hands along her arms and she handed Jodie back to him.
"The nurses told me they'd bring her into you again first thing tomorrow morning and that you'll be out of here tomorrow afternoon. We'll organise the official side of things tomorrow too-"
"Okay," Monica replied as she slid back down into bed and let her eyes drift close.
"Okay," John repeated, bending over and letting his lips rest on her cheek. "I love you."
"Love you too," Monica mumbled as she fell asleep quickly.
*
Monica checked the file in her hands as she rounded the corner at Quantico, stopping in the middle of the hallway, trying to work out which direction to follow. A familiar figure caught her eye and the two women smiled at each other. Scully approached quickly.
"Monica, what are you doing here?"
"Oh," Monica sighed. "I'm looking for Doctor uh, Janson's office. He was meant to have faxed us some autopsy reports this morning and no one's been able to get a hold of him."
"He never showed up this morning."
"What?"
"Just didn't turn up. Looks like he's packed up and left in the middle of the night." Monica was curious but tired, and sighed again.
"Great."
"Had he performed the autopsy already, do you know?"
"No I don't. Agent Butler and I have been waiting all morning- Do you think I could nose around his office to see if there's a file or anything?"
"Sure, follow me," Scully replied, leading her back down the hallway and through a couple more passageways until they got to an office blocked by two police guards.
"I'm sorry, you two can't come in here," one stopped them. Scully lifted the badge pinned to her jacket and Monica fished in her pocket for her ID, flipping it open.
"Agents Scully and Doggett," Scully began. "The detective in charge?"
"That'd be me," a voice boomed from behind them. "Doctor Scully," Vincent Gnash greeted as they turned. "Agent Doggett."
"What's going on Vince?" Monica asked. "We need files."
"Recent files?"
"Is there anything new there since yesterday?"
"No files there but from a week back." Monica sighed.
"So what, did he take em?"
"We're not sure at this stage Agent. What's the case?"
"I can't tell you," Monica answered.
"Ooh," Gnash began. "Matter of national security is it?"
"You never know." She turned to Scully. "I'll try getting the body moved."
"I can do it if you want-"
"No, no, your day's already full as it is I'm sure. I have to get back." She glanced up at the detective. "Let us know what you find out about Janson." She turned and walked away at a brisk pace. Gnash turned to Scully.
"They pushing her hard, eh?"
"So he's taken all his files with him, or has he even done them?"
"You tell me," Gnash replied.
*
Monica was reading over one of her final reports before filing it away when the phone rang.
"Doggett," she answered. Butler, sitting beside her, snickered and she reached across and whacked him over the head.
"Hi mummy!" Monica checked her watch.
"Hey baby are you feeling better?"
"Yes! Mulder let me have ice cream!" Monica was about to reply when she heard a "Gimme that" and a few giggles.
"I swear I didn't Mon-"
"I don't believe you," Monica teased. "No that's fine. She's okay?"
"Had a big sleep this morning. Seems fine. More colour, temp's down."
"You were able to get away for class?"
"Yeah John dropped by. JJ and I thought we'd call and let you know that we're going to pick up William."
"Sure, I was going to call you anyway, my primary case has fallen through so I'll be dragging John out of his office earlier than usual."
"Not busy in your little awareness unit?"
"It's hardly a 'little' awareness unit Mulder."
"Yeah, ANSIR is a department of national security. Sure." Monica rolled her eyes.
"What time do you want us over?"
"Take your time. We love taking care of your sick kid."
"Oh come on Mulder, you love the jigsaws and the children's television and- "
"Ha-ha."
"No, thankyou."
"It's no problems Monica. Turn up whenever, we'll be back in an hour."
*
John was typing furiously at his computer when a familiar head of long brown hair jumped across his desk at him.
"Boo," Monica exclaimed, peering over his cubicle. John looked up, smiling.
"Good afternoon."
"Any great financial crimes to report for the day?"
"Just the usual," he replied. Monica nodded. "You off early?"
"Yeah we need this autopsy report and our doctor did a runner, so I had to get the body moved to a different doc and well, Butler and I didn't see any point in hanging around pretending like we were doing work, so we scooted off. How bout you?"
"Just gotta print this. Does Agent Rowers mind you leaning across her desk?"
"She's getting a cup of coffee," Monica glanced across the room and waved at the woman who was making her way back towards her desk.
"Monica, hi, how are you today?"
"Good thanks. Long day?"
"Very," she nodded. "You here to steal your hubby?"
"Do you think anyone will notice?"
"Hardly," she replied. "Bye John."
"I didn't say I was ready to go yet!" John defended, grinning. Monica walked around to his side of the desk and leant down next to him as he continued. "It's early, and we don't have to be there until-"
"Exactly," Monica whispered, grinning. John laughed. "Anyway we need to pick up Dana's birthday present. I left it at home this morning." John nodded as he saved his work and shut down his computer, saying goodbye to the scattered agents around him as he and Monica left hand in hand.
*
"So where'd you leave it?" John asked as he followed Monica up to their bedroom.
"Here," Monica replied, placing the package on the bed. "JJ and Mulder called earlier. She seems better."
"Better than last night anyway." Monica laughed, but her brow creased as John took the present off the bed and put it on the floor next to the door.
"What are you doing?" she asked as he turned back to face her. John grinned.
"You said we had some extra time- You didn't tell him we'd be there early did you?"
"No Mulder was quite adamant that whenever was fine," she replied with a grin, taking a step forward as John leant in and they kissed, Monica working immediately on helping John to shrug off his jacket, tie and eventually his shirt. They paused in time as John fiddled to get more than the top two buttons on Monica's very well to do blouse undone. He'd helped her fasten the buttons on her right cuff that morning and knew it wasn't coming off easily. She went to help him but he shook his head, cupping her chin and bringing her eyes to meet his.
"Leave it on," he whispered, running his hands up over her back and unhooking her bra anyway. Monica was working on his belt and pants and moaned as John's hands pushed up underneath her bra, his fingers gliding and caressing over the soft skin of her breasts. They leant in to kiss again as John brushed Monica's own slacks over her hips and they stepped aside together, John pushing Monica up against the bed and falling beside her. She went to take the upper hand but he refused, pinning her on her back. John laid a trail of kisses down her body as he made his way to her underwear, removing it so slowly Monica almost groaned out in frustration. She didn't waste a moment with his, grabbing them when he wasn't expecting it and helping him kick them down his legs and onto the floor, both of them crawling back into the centre of the bed.
John bunched the tail of Monica's blouse and lifted it until his fingers had access once again to her breasts. Monica wrapped a leg over John's hip and he didn't need an invitation, filling her completely. As their thrusts became harder and faster, Monica felt John swell within her and lifted her hips to a different angle, crying out as she felt his pelvis crushing hers, climaxing just seconds after him. It was fast and furious, but it was what they'd both needed.
Monica collapsed back onto the bed, pulling John with her. She let out a soft whimper as he pulled out, nestled close, and kissed her deeply.
"Oh God Mon," he whispered, their foreheads leaning together. "That was incredible." He took a deep breath to calm his beating heart and Monica smiled, still recovering herself. John watched, concerned, as she shut her eyes. He reached out and ran his hand along her face. "You wanna stay?" She shook her head. Jodie had started throwing up around six the previous evening, and after John and Monica had helped clean her up and set her up in her room for bed, she'd insisted her mum stay until she'd gone to sleep. John was pretty certain it was three am before Monica fell into bed beside him, and she hadn't looked too peachy that morning either.
"Just give me a sec," she replied. John smiled. He could tell she was falling asleep more certainly every minute they lay there. He got out of bed and hung up his suit, changing into some casual slacks and a shirt, and by the time he was done and ready to go, Monica was, as he'd assumed she would be, fast asleep on top of the bed. He walked over and found her underwear, revelling in the scent of her as he slipped them onto her legs. She groaned. "I'm coming-"
"No you're not," John replied, pulling back the sheets. She shuffled around until she could get under them and John tucked them up around her waist. He took her wrists and gently unbuttoned those darn fiddly buttons to give her more room. Letting her go, her fingers curled around the covers and she pulled them higher.
John smiled in the bedroom doorway as he looked back at his sleeping wife, remembering to pick up the present by his feet on his way out.
*
"Flying solo John?" Scully asked as she opened the door, the casual attire not escaping her attention as she let him in and closed the door behind him.
"Yeah, she's catching up on some sleep."
"You know what would be really bad?" she suggested as they walked down the hallway and into the living room. "If she caught this bug from JJ."
"Don't even go there." Scully smiled.
"It happened to me once. Poor Mulder had to do everything for a couple of days!" John groaned.
"I'm sure Mon's fine." John walked up the dining table where Jodie and William were doing their homework. Well, they would have been both doing homework if Jodie had gone to school. For now she was reading a short story book John had bought her the previous week.
"Hi daddy," Jodie called. "I'm up to page a hundred! Nearly finished!"
"Hey, nice work! That's great! Hope you haven't been strainin' your eyes-" The nine-year-old shook her head and removed the thin, black frames from her face, folding them carefully and putting them in the nearby case. It must have been some unknown gene on Monica's side because while his family had perfect sight, Monica needed reading glasses and so did their daughter. They'd never know why, but that didn't matter for now. John leant down and kissed her cheek and she giggled. "You ready to go?" he whispered in her ear as he ran his hand through her dark brown hair. She nodded, looking over at him with her big, brown eyes. Spitting image, he thought and not for the first time, everything but the smile. "Okay," John continued as she stood up with him. "Thankyou Mulder-"
"No problems. You're on Will-duty tomorrow night."
"I remember. What time do your classes finish?" Scully returned from the kitchen and answered him as John subtly left the present on the dining room table.
"I finish at eight and Mulder eight-thirty. Ah John, you shouldn't ha-"
"Happy birthday Dana. See you all tomorrow."
"Bye Will," Jodie said, giving him a small wave as Scully led them back to the front door.
"Bye JJ."
"Oh John, before I forget," Scully exclaimed as they bid farewell at the front steps. "Let Monica know that Janson's in Bermuda, okay?"
"Uh, sure."
"She'll know what I'm talking about. And he's not coming back."
*
"She's sleeping," Jodie concluded as she returned from upstairs, dressed in her pyjamas.
"You sure you're up for some food?"
"Yeah!" John eyed her.
"How about some toast with baked beans?"
"You just don't wanna cook." John gasped, walked up to her and grabbed her around the waist, spinning her around just once, so that she ended up facing him.
"I'll have you know I'm a terrific cook."
"Okay daddy," she replied earnestly, moving to sit on one of the stools. "Not too dark," she warned as he put some bread in the toaster.
*
Monica loosened her dressing gown later that night as she returned to the bedroom where John was waiting.
"She asleep?" he asked.
"Yeah." Monica shed her gown and slid into bed beside John. "You know you should've kept me awake because now I'm not so tired." John chuckled, pulling her closer to him and kissing her softly.
"You needed to catch up. You'll sleep tonight yet."
"You're sure of that?" she asked, eyebrow raised.
"Certainly am," he replied, grinning. "Have I told you I love you today?" Monica shook her head as John nuzzled her cheek. "Well beautiful, I do."
"I love you too," she answered, sighing against his chest as she pressed her lips to his skin. "John can we talk about something?" John pulled her up to be level with him and nodded.
"What is it?" Monica took his hand in hers and held it over her right arm, running his fingers down for them both to feel the length of the implant spread under her skin.
"It's passed its use by date." John watched her carefully. Five years, he remembered. Monica had discussed the use of Norplant with him, and they'd decided it was the best method of contraception for them, which had so far proved extremely effective. Reading Monica's expression, however, he wondered if it had been too effective.
"Okay," he stated. Monica bit her bottom lip and sighed. "Mon-"
"It's just that this would be our last chance," she continued quickly. "And I know last time it didn't work but I-" John wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.
"Why didn't you say something sooner?" he asked as she looked up into his eyes.
"I thought I was just...going through a phase or something... I guess on the one hand I didn't want to be disappointed again... I didn't want you to be disappointed in me-"
"Monica, you haven't disappointed me yet, you know that." She blinked, nodding in reply. "You're nearly forty, I'm nearly fifty. We have to think about this. You know how much I wanted another child with you, but we spent so long trying-"
"I have been thinking about it," Monica cut him off, running a hand along her cheek. "We're both healthy. Perfectly so and the doctors never found a problem before...Six months, John. Please. Then..." John nodded, wiping the tears he instinctively knew were on her cheeks away. Monica pulled forward and they hugged tightly.
"Maybe a year," John whispered in her ear. "Then Mon, Mon we gotta be content with our beautiful girl. I know it's hard-"
"I love you both so much," Monica sighed as John released her.
"So when can you get that thing removed from your arm?"
"Tomorrow afternoon."
"Then can we get started?" Monica laughed, rolling onto her back and letting her arm swing out and hit John in the stomach. He gasped, but grabbed her hand and held it to him, caressing it. He felt Monica shiver and smiled, knowing that it wasn't from the cold as they nestled together for the night.
*
Tiptoeing slowly past her parents' bedroom, Jodie heard their muffled voices and knew they were talking about something important. While both Monica and John had been busy with work, Jodie realised that there was something else on her mother's mind. She didn't know what and didn't expect to be told, but she had a sense about these things, and could tell when something in the house wasn't quite right. Hopefully that feeling would be faded by morning, she thought as she padded into the kitchen for a glass of water. While she was there, she snuck a small piece of chocolate too. Couldn't hurt, she thought as she popped it into her mouth and made her way back to bed. After sleeping through most of the day at the Mulder's, she wasn't as tired as she should be, and she wanted to know what her mum and dad were talking about. She hated being left out. She sighed, clamouring back into bed and eventually falling asleep.
*
"Will it take up lots of class time?" Jodie asked as Monica drove them both to her school.
"Nope. Hope not anyway."
"Aw!" Monica laughed. "Are you nervous?"
"If I get nervous I'll look over at you, and you can pull a face for me, okay?"
"What kind of face?" Jodie asked, sticking out her tongue so that it was level with her chin. "Like this?"
"Yeah, like that, and then you can explain to Mrs Liebermann that you were only sticking out your tongue to calm your mother."
"I don't think she'd like that mummy."
"Ah well."
"Hey mum?" Jodie continued as they pulled up at a pedestrian crossing.
"Mm?"
"Is this going to be really boring? Mum?" Monica's eyes were fixed on the man crossing the street in front of her car. She'd seen him before. He turned and watched her, and she saw him smile. He seemed older, but his eyes, she would never forget those eyes.
"Kris," she whispered as a horn sounded from another car. She checked her mirror and when she looked back at the road he was gone. She put her foot down and drove forward, her brow creased. She hadn't seen him since an afternoon ten years ago, in the park on Bennett Avenue. It was snowing, John mysteriously found her... It couldn't be, she was seeing things.
"Did you know that man mummy?" Jodie asked beside her. Monica's brow creased.
"Who JJ?"
"The man who crossed the road."
"You saw him?" Jodie laughed.
"Yes mum I'm not blind!" Monica bit her tongue and made a left towards the school. She'd have to tell John, she would call him quickly that morning before she and Butler went inside.
*
When Monica and Jodie pulled up, Butler was already waiting for them, and he was getting several curious stares from passing children. He screamed 'suit', his sandy blonde hair and brown eyes enough to catch the attention of several arriving teachers and parents also.
"Took your time?" he asked as Monica approached him, Jodie waving a hello before running off in the opposite direction to find her friends, Rachel and Frankie, for the day.
"Ah, it's that kind of morning. How much time do we have?"
"We don't have to head in for another five minutes. You finish those notes?" Monica nodded, digging into her bag and handing them to him as she took out her phone. Butler gave her a look but she shook her head, taking a step back.
"I'll be quick, I promise." Turning her back on him she dialled home. He shouldn't have left home yet. No answer. Eight rings. Her voice.
"Hi, you've reached the Doggett house. [Doghouse] We can't come to the phone but if you leave your name and number, we'll get back to you as soon as possible." Monica smiled as she heard John's voice in the middle. She'd started laughing the first time and every time since then she had to restrain herself.
"John it's me, you shouldn't have left yet, should you? Anyway I'll try you again later this morning but I swear I saw Kris this morning. Remember? Jodie did too. I don't know what that means... Anyway, um, I hope he's here for good reason. Oh, Butler's calling me back I'll call you at work later. Wish me luck!" Monica hung up and turned back to her partner. "Yeah, yeah-" she called, walking back to him. "We set?"
"All set," Butler repeated as they walked into the administration building.
*
Monica shuffled some notes in her lap and looked across at Butler, who was looking out at the audience. She noticed him smiling and followed his gaze, only to see Jodie waving conspicuously. She smiled and waved back as they were announced.
"All right, have I got years 4-6 seated? Good. Good morning everyone. This morning's assembly is going to be different than the usual, because we've got some special guests from the FBI to speak with us. I expect you to give them your full attention because they have some very important information to give you." There was the standard round of applause that always made Monica feel slightly uncomfortable, and she and Butler stood.
"Good morning everyone," Butler announced. "My name's Grant and this is Monica, and to get the boring stuff out of the way, we do work for the FBI, but we work for a shared branch called Awareness of National Security Issues and Response. Now if you spell that out you get A-N-S-I-R. ANSIR." The children, confused and bored by Butler - which was planned, of course - laughed as Monica visibly rolled her eyes and turned away from him. "You think you can do any better Monica?" She turned back, smiling, and leant into his microphone. The lecterns had been removed.
"Absolutely Grant. Who wants to come up here and see a real FBI badge?" Half the children stuck their hands in the air and there was an echo of 'me!' throughout the hall. She turned to Grant. "Could you go and pick someone please Agent Butler?" Grant nodded, walking across the stage and down the stairs, and hundreds of eyes followed. Monica saw him lean down and whisper something in Jodie's ear as he passed her - she hadn't had her hand up - and continued towards the back, pulling a ten or eleven-year-old boy from the crowd and bringing him back. "Hi, what's your name?" Monica asked, moving the microphone lower so that he could speak into it. He was probably in Jodie's class, she realised.
"Jeffrey," he answered. Monica stuck out her hand.
"Hi Jeff," she replied, shaking his hand and handing her his badge to look at. "Now a lot of people don't believe us when we tell them we're with the FBI. Does that look real to you?"
"Yep!" he beamed, pretending to pocket it.
"Nuh-uh," Monica teased, stretching out her hand. The darn kid raised his eyebrow at her. The little shit. Monica cleared her throat. "Agent butler, could you get out the handcuffs please?" Jeff handed her back her wallet in no time and the rest of the children laughed. So far, so good. "Any questions before we get started?"
"Can I see your gun?" Jeff asked, which got another laugh from the older children in the back, and excited gasps from the younger ones, boys particularly.
"No," Monica replied as Grant sent him back to his seat. "You see we're allowed to bring our guns in, but we can only take them out if there's an emergency. Now when Grant returns - come on Agent - he's going to explain to you why we're here today, and what we're going to be talking to you about."
*
Half an hour into things, Monica thought it was going quite well. This was the youngest group of children they'd prepared for so far, but the program was going well and she was happy they were on track as she and Butler moved through a simple power-point presentation, filling in the gaps with a couple of humorous anecdotes to prove their point and drive their message home harder. Be alert, not alarmed!
They were about to wrap things up, and Monica was half way through taking questions when the back door opened and a shot rang out. There were screams amongst the audience as a middle-aged man looking reasonably respectable in a pair of well-kept jeans and a button down shirt approached the stage. By now Butler and Monica had both drawn their weapons and Monica had instructed everyone to take a seat on the floor. Most had complied and those that hadn't were quickly being forced to by their teachers.
"Where's the kid?"
"FBI, put your weapon down," Butler called evenly as the man approached them. He stopped upon hearing their call and hesitated, looking from Monica to Butler.
"Fuck this," he mumbled, before turning and heading for the door. Monica jumped off the stage and ran after him, both of them scrambling out the auditorium door as Butler managed to contain the excited students and worried staff.
*
