THE OMEGA COUNTDOWN
A/N: The first chapters in this story take part where the series left off and where the movie began. Too understand this story somewhat; I guess you have to at least read my story of Invictus Vereor to get an idea. But I guess you can just pick up the story as it goes along.
RELATIONSHIPS
John Doggett couldn't believe his eyes when he had entered the X-File office down in the basement. Everything had been taken, the filing cabinet, the desks, they were all gone. The only thing that was left in the now bare office was the 'I Want to Believe Poster' and odd bits of paper. Doggett thought it was interesting how they took everything but that one poster. Like it was almost an insult to the personal injuries sustained or maybe it was just some sort of message. Monica and Doggett knelt in silence as he rolled up the poster and tucked it under his arm and they left their former office. It felt as if it was almost a lifetime since he first got forced into the world of the X-Files. Sure most of the cases were BS, but he slowly came around with each case. Dana Scully said it once before when he first worked with her, 'I've seen things I can't deny.'
"Do you think it was worth it?" Doggett asked as the elevator doors closed.
Monica didn't make eye contact, "You don't think it was?" She asked.
The elevator jolted into action, "I don't know." Doggett thrust his hands into his pockets, "Dana and Fox both have lost so much and now they're on the run and there's absolutely nothing to show for it." He said soberly, "Do you think they think it's worth it?"
Monica pondered this question in silence. He had a point, nine years of a man's work was gone. It was as if it never existed. Was it really worth it?
"Monica." He prodded for a response.
"I don't know John." Their eyes locked onto each other.
"Our whole FBI's future's at stake." Doggett pulled his hands from his pockets which allowed the poster to slip down and onto the floor.
"I know." Monica replied. The two weren't even sure they had a job anymore, "God, what if they separate us John?"
Monica needed assurance, but how was he suppose to do that when he was so unsure about the future himself, "But our future will never be." Doggett offered as he allowed himself to show the somewhat vulnerable side, the one he kept hidden most of the time. He had pushed Monica away so many times with this invisible wall that he created so he wouldn't get emotionally hurt. However, it was time to take that wall down.
Slowly, Doggett edged his face closer to her; Monica's legs slightly trembled in anticipation as she knew what was coming. He expected to be pushed back at this sudden show of his feelings. Their lips almost touch but then Doggett went past the lips and gave her a long peck on the cheek. This wasn't a pullout at any rate; it was more of testing the waters.
"You've always been there for me." Doggett said, "I owe you a lot."
"John?" Monica was shocked that the kiss missed the intended target. She decided that it was time to do away with the self control and she wrapped her arms around him and lip-locked. Even though this was what Doggett had hoped for but the thrust of the action sent him, almost stumbling, and up against the wall until he managed to reply. Her kiss was the exact opposite of Doggett's which was more calculating and controlled.
"I Love you John." Monica said.
"And I love you Mon." Doggett said.
They didn't hear the elevator doors open and was shocked to see a fellow agent standing at the open doors. Doggett went red-faced in assumption that the Agent must have seen what had transpired. He picked up the poster and tucked it underneath his arm once again before heading to the Deputy Director Kersh's office.
Kersh ushered them in and offered them a seat but that offer was refused, "So what happened to the X-Files?" Doggett asked straight out, "We've just been down there and this was all that was left."
"It's out of my hands John." Kersh answered. Doggett was about to say something before he was cut off, "It's over John. You two are being reassigned."
That sounded so final. Perhaps the two agents were destined to become separated… Kersh refused to elaborate any further and dismissed them out of the office and continued doing what he was doing before hand.
After Mulder and Scully finished their dinner, they booked a hotel room, "Name?" The hotel clerk said in a tired voice.
"Mr. and Mrs. Marcel." Mulder gave an alias straight away. They were given the key to room twenty one.
"Interesting Alias." Scully commented as they walked into the hotel room, "Does it mean anything?"
Mulder laughed as she walked into the bathroom, "Yeah it does, but I don't want to talk about that tonight."
Scully had changed into a pair of pajamas while Mulder had stripped down and wore colorful boxers, "Going to keep me guessing?"
The hotel room was almost freezing, and he thought that maybe just wearing boxers to bed was a bad idea. Mulder snuggled in close to Scully, "You really need a shave Mulder." She commented.
"What's wrong Scully?" Mulder had noticed that Scully had been very quiet through dinner. Something was troubling her and he had to pry to find it.
"Nothing's wrong Mulder." Her voice quivered.
"Scully…" Mulder pressed.
There was no way she was going to get out of this, "I… You don't hate me do you?" Scully said. Mulder almost laughed, but she was totally serious.
"I could never hate you." Mulder said, "What's this about?" He rested his cheek on her neck again.
"I gave up our son." Scully's chin began to wobble.
"You did the right thing Scully. I'm sure of it." Mulder replied, he could feel her upper body trembling.
"How do you know?" She asked, "You weren't even there."
Mulder leaned in closer, "You're right… I wasn't there. But I do know you Scully and I know you believe you did the right thing." His mind wondered a bit. It was an impossible thing to comprehend, there was no way he could ever hate Scully, "Scully?"
"Yes Mulder?"
"Can you forgive me?" Mulder asked. It felt like the night of pouring your heart out, "You've lost a sister because of me as well as Emily and William. And now, I've taken you away from your family. This shouldn't be your life and I'm the one who should be asking if you hate me." Mulder was looking for comfort to.
"I can never hate you." Scully said as she put Mulder's arm around her, "I love you too much to ever hate you."
"I love you to Scully." He said with earnest intentions. Something he had almost always felt but never really said. But deep down, words didn't need to be exchanged really. It just seemed better to voice the thoughts.
Taylor had spent much of his free time laying the foundation of his relationship with Linda. This included making sure he didn't miss her birthday. On the night he took her flowers at work, she announced that he was invited to the parents place for dinner. This would be the official meeting.
Jason and Melanie Helliar were nice people. But Taylor thought the night was going to go to Hell when he called Melanie Madam instead of ma-am. Fortunately everyone seemed to either not notice or let the slip slide.
The dinner went well and while Melanie and her daughter cleaned up after dinner, Jason invited Taylor into the games room. He glanced around the room to take it all in. A billiard table was the central focal point and many photos covered the wall. One took him by surprise, there were war medals proudly displayed beneath a photograph of a whole platoon… He didn't recognize which conflict they were from.
"Can I offer you a drink?" Jason said and Taylor just shook his head, "So what do you do for a living Craig?"
"Actually, I'm an FBI agent." Taylor answered. This was the very discussion he had feared ever since the initial invitation.
"That must be exciting and dangerous." Jason commented.
"It has its moments." Taylor said. Now he had a glimpse of what it was like for people that he had interrogated.
"How'd you two meet?" Was the next question. Jason wasn't the type of person to mix words.
Taylor couldn't help but smile, "Well actually, I had been in a fight and it was Linda who treated me at Washington Memorial. I instantly fell in love with your daughter she's really an amazing person." He added.
"Who did you fight with?" Jason asked.
"Another Federal Agent." Taylor saw the look on his face… That didn't sound too good he admitted to himself, "It was just a miscommunication."
"Right…" Jason said slowly, "So what are your intentions? Marriage? Kids?"
"Well we haven't actually discussed that far yet." Taylor answered making sure he didn't beat around the bush in any way, "We're enjoying the here and now."
"I consider myself an old fashioned guy." Jason said, "My wife is old fashioned as well. We've brought Linda up with a sense of pride, decency and honor and self worth. But also we've taught her self-reliance and the tools to make an informed choice. We can't argue with her choice in any way." His tone became more distinct, "But if you mistreat my daughter, if you hurt her physically or emotionally… You will regret it, not just me, but all of us will come down on you like a ton of bricks. I don't care who you work for."
"Mr. Helliar." Taylor said, "I have no intention on ever hurting her."
"So what did you and my father talk about?" Linda asked Taylor when they stepped onto her porch.
"Usual stuff." He shrugged it off.
"That's funny." Linda smiled, "Boyfriend's of mine usually think of my father as some sort of bully."
"Boyfriends?" Taylor asked with a smile, "Happen often?"
Linda was unsure on how to respond, "Don't tell me you feel threatened Craig Taylor?" She asked lightly smacking him on the arm.
"Not really." Taylor answered, "The past has passed. What's done is done and all that."
"Cool." Linda said, "Now all that is left is for me to meet your parents."
"It's getting late." Taylor looked at his watch, before she could respond he placed his hand against her neck and steered himself and her, guiding her lips to his in a loving kiss. She massaged his shoulders as she returned the favor.
"About meeting your parents." She said in a blissful daze.
"It's getting late." Taylor said, "Some other time."