Title: Thanks but it's hard to say

Author: Lisa

Email: lc7685@y...

Disclaimer: I don't own them, any of them *sigh*

Category: Post-Empedocles DRF

Rating: PG just because no XF-anything should ever be

rated G :P hehe

AN: OMG I wrote a fic! Granted it's all of 3 pages but

close enough! Hehe Hope you enjoy it's just something

short but it's sparked something else that I just have

to continue with, so who knows where this may

lead...Lisa.

***

John was staring at Katha through the hospital door,

strapped and seemingly out of it. He couldn't get

close, no matter how much he wanted to. He couldn't

get near her.

"John."

John turned his head at Monica's voice. A soft but

urgent tone he'd almost forgotten before he'd called

her to Washington not so long ago.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?" he asked, glancing at her

as she approached. Despite the headache he knew she

should have, she somehow managed a smile.

"I'm on my way home, but I wanted to see..." Her eyes

drifted with his to the woman restrained on the bed in

front of them. After a moment of silence, she added,

"She was holding him, after they pronounced him dead."
"You think it's in her?" John asked, remembering back

to what Mulder had said. Most people could stifle that

urge to kill. Katha had wanted to kill Monica, the

difference being that she had tried. He glanced back

at Monica, who was watching him silently. She didn't

need to answer.

After a moment, Monica's brow furrowed as though time

had passed too slowly, and she glanced back at Katha.

"Thankyou John."

"You don't have to-" Monetarily she looked at him,

taking a deep breath.

"I want to. I wouldn't be here if you hadn't come in

when you did."

"Well I'm glad I did. And I was only returning the

favour." They locked eyes for only a moment before

Monica glanced away, focussing back on Katha and

changing the topic, not for the first time afraid of

what she saw in his eyes.

"I wish there was more we could do for her daughter."

"You really think you...these visions...were meant to

save her?" Slowly, Monica shook her head.

"I hope they were meant to save someone. If not, I

can't see the point."

"Mon."

"Yes John?"

"They got you on any medication?" Monica almost

laughed.

"I'm not that spaced out, am I?" John covered quickly,

not seeing the glint of humour in her eye.

"No, no, course not I was just... Do you need a lift

home?" Monica's smile softened at his oversight.

"Home?" she asked.

"You know, to-" John seemed to realise what he was

saying and glanced over at her as she bit her bottom

lip. "New Orleans." He had to finish. What else was he

going to say?

"That's very kind of you to offer John, but a ride to

my motel would be fine." John nodded.

"Sure." His eyes guided her to turn around and they

walked towards the exit.

*

"John," Monica acknowledged as he led her to the door

of her motel room.

"Monica." He hesitated. "You gonna be right tomorrow

for a ride?"

"A ride?" she asked, her eyes widening.

"You know, to the airport. Home," he managed a small

smile.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot. Yeah, I'll get a cab."

"You haven't lost your memory right?"

"No I'm good. Just...being here but being so involved

still in work, it kind of feels..." She drifted off

and John waited expectantly for her to finish.

"Feels..." he had to urge. He saw her frown in

thought, not for the first time that night and fought

off the desire to smile at her. There were too many

other thoughts running through his head. Katha, evil,

Jeb, evil, Katha, evil, Luke, Jeb, Harvey, Luke, evil-

"Mon," he began after a while.

"Yeah."

"With...your theory."

"Yes?"

"It would mean he's dead, wouldn't it? Luke's killer.

Cos it passed on... They all die, don't they?"

"Maybe he is. Maybe he somehow passed it on..." She

shook her head, as if to clear it. "I'm sorry John, I

can't think straight."

"No, course not um, if you need anything, just call

okay? I mean it. If your head..."

"I will." John was about to bid her farewell when she

unexpectedly reached up and rested the backs of her

fingers against his cheek. "It's good being here John.

What I meant to say before was that...it kind of feels

good." John nodded as she withdrew her hand.

"Goodnight Monica. Have a safe trip back." Monica

nodded.

"See you," she replied, but he didn't move away. "What

is it John?"

"You're gonna think I'm crazy-"

"I won't," she replied earnestly. Of course she

wouldn't.

"If something bad happens here. With Mulder and

Scully-"

"Like what?"

"I dunno. If something does, you're not gonna be tied

up in New Orleans are you?"

"Tied up?"

"Well...I got a, it's just that, if I needed to call

you in-"

"Are you asking me to be your backup partner?"

"Yeah."

"I'll be there, just call." He nodded, satisfied, and

went to turn. "But John."

"Yeah?" Monica frowned.

"I really hope you don't have to."

"So do I, but I'll call anyways." Monica smiled again.

"Yeah, I'd like that. Goodnight."

"Night."

This time, he did leave.

***