Title: My Choice
Author: KS
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: My Struggle II
Summary: Post My Struggle II. What deal exactly did Monica Reyes make with CSM? What happened to Mulder & Scully? And what became of John Doggett?
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Fox, 1013 and Chris Carter. I'm just picking up where they left off. :)
John Doggett heard a soft knock on his door and sighed when he saw none other than Monica Reyes. He never agreed with her choice to work for CSM when he came to her not long after Mulder's trial. He was angry that she would sacrifice everything she believed in to do his dirty work. But immunity to everything that was happening now wasn't the only reason she had agreed to it.
Monica had told him that the Cigarette Man knew where William was and threatened to expose his whereabouts if she didn't comply with his request. In fact, when she initially declined, calling his bluff...he showed just how serious he was by killing William's adoptive parents. This was about 3 years after Mulder's trial. John and Monica, still at the FBI, had found William and had taken him in to care for themselves.
At the expense of William and their now 12 year old daughter...Monica had reluctantly agreed to trade her life's work at the FBI for immunity for herself and her family...even if she couldn't always be with them. John still worked with local law enforcement, but due to Monica's dealings with CSM, he had to resign from the FBI as well.
John looked at Monica's somber expression as she stood in the doorway. It had felt like it had been forever seeing seeing her again...even though it had only been just a few months. "Monica."
She pushed past him into the small house that they had once called their own. "John, I'm sorry, but I don't have much time."
Even though part of him resented her for not exposing CSM, he still loved the fact that she had made this choice to protect them all.
He had just been watching the terror on the news about global contagion and out break. He hadn't left the house at her request...even though years ago she had given him and their daughter, Alexis, a vaccine that would protect them against the out break.
He watched the look on her face. "I saw Dana today...I told her...I warned her about everything that's happening right now."
Doggett sighed. He hadn't seen Dana or Mulder in about 14 years since Mulder escaped his trial. When he heard they had returned to the FBI a few weeks ago from Monica, he resisted the urge to meet with them as well.
John said nothing as he watched her. "You didn't tell her about-"
"No, I didn't. I couldn't. I wanted to. She thinks I am a coward for doing what I did."
John signed. "What are you doing here then, Monica? Won't he know if you're gone?"
Monica swallowed before she continued to say what she said next.
"Mulder is sick, near death. He offered Mulder the vaccine too...for a cost, but he refused. I can't say I blame him."
John sighed. "Then what?"
Monica swallowed. "There is another way."
"What, Monica?"
Monica looked up as a tall teenaged boy with blue eyes walked into the room...as if sensing their conversation.
"Aunt Monica...Uncle John."
"William," Monica sighed.
"They're in danger aren't they...my mom and my dad."
Monica simply nodded. John turned from her to face William.
"I can help them, can't I?"
"Yes, I believe you can, but it's dangerous."
"Will, don't go," begged the girl he had come to know as his sister. She was about 4 and he was about 7 when he came to live with them. She was the one who comforted him as he dealt with the death of adoptive parents and told him it was going to be okay.
He turned to the pre-teen who had dark hair and blueish-green eyes. "Don't worry, Lexi. I'll be fine. We both will."
John nodded reluctantly. "Okay son, but let one of us go with you."
Will shook his head. "No, my grandfather will hurt both of you. You've already changed your lives so much to raise me. Let me protect you."
John smiled. He definitely was insistent on his ways like his biological father. He was more than happy to raise William as his own. It was only fairly recently he had been able to let go of the guilt he harbored over Luke's death. It was always one of the major forces between he and Monica. Another thing that had kept them at a distance from one another. Until Luke had come to him in a dream...telling him to let him go. Much like the way Dana Scully had once told him in confidence about the daughter she lost. In a way, he adopted William not only for his sake and for Mulder & Scully's sake...but so he would be able to make amends in a way for not being able to raise Luke.
William sensed his Uncle's reluctance. "I know you worry about me, Uncle John...but I have to do this. I need to meet my biological parents and protect all of you."
Monica and John had still very reluctantly agreed. Even though it wasn't safe, this was what he needed to do. He needed to finally see his parents after all these years.
A/N: I need to resolve the revival ending for my own sanity and get some things answered. Hope you guys like this so far.
To be continued...