Author's Note: Since I'm from Australia, I have no idea about the USA's geography so I don't know if there's such a place called Pepperwood County in Georgia.

Disclaimer: The characters don't belong to me.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Pepperwood County

Georgia

9.36 PM

" So, who's this John Doggett and how do you come to know him?" Mulder asked future Skinner. He had called present Scully to let her know what's happening. She still refused to get involved. She still doesn't believe. Typical, stubborn Scully.

But it was clear to Mulder that Scully from his time would come to believe in the future and that made him hopeful. He was also curious about their relationship in the future. Were they together or still just partners of the FBI?

" He was a cop back until the mid 1990's," future Skinner replied, " Before he trained at Quantico and became an FBI Agent. He was actually-" he paused.

" What?" Mulder prompted him.

" I'm already telling you too much." Future Skinner sighed, " We met him when he was assigned to a case."

" A case? An X-File?" Mulder queried.

" Of sorts." Future Skinner hedged.

" If he was investigating an X-File, then where am I? Where's Scully? I doubt I'd let some FBI Agent take over." Mulder demanded.

" Mulder, please. I-"

" Don't give me that crap about knowing too much. It's my future and if there's a chance I can change it-"

" I'm sorry," Skinner shrugged.

Mulder sighed, frustrated. They came to a stop outside a two-storey house. There was a Jeep in the driveway. Lights were on. Doggett was home.

" Is this guy married? Have a family?"

Skinner and Scully exchanged sad glances. " He did have a girlfriend who was also an FBI Agent, but she was killed a couple of years ago. Monica's murderer was never caught and Doggett never got closure."

Inside the house, John Doggett sat on his leather sofa, with a laptop, checking his emails. He read one from a guy claiming he's been inside a military base that was holding space craft. The guy also claimed he'd been run out of the base by helicopters and later harassed at home. They couldn't arrest him as they didn't have any evidence placing him at their base.

There were no photos of course but the sender requested to speak to an old friend of Doggett-Mulder.

Doggett reached for his cell when his doorbell chimed. He glanced at the clock. It was after 9.30. Who would be visiting him at this time of night? He put his laptop aside and went to answer the door.

His blue eyes went wide with surprised when he saw who the visitors were. His old boss, Walter Skinner (who was now retired) and his former partner Scully who was now a practicing MD. She'd also "retired" from the FBI along with her partner Mulder.

" Walter Skinner and Dana Scully," he greeted the pair, " It's been a while."

" We haven't seen you since…" Dana trailed off.

" Mon's funeral two years ago." Doggett finished for her as his heart twisted painfully.

Then he saw someone else standing behind them. " Oh, hi Mulder. Didn't see you there." He said as he let the three inside.

Mulder studied the unfamiliar face. He was a tall, thin man with a gaunt face and collar-length brown hair. The man wore jeans that were too baggy on him and a denim long-sleeved shirt.

Doggett felt as though Mulder was seizing him up. He felt uncomfortable under the man's scrutiny and he turned to his former colleagues.

" So what brings you in this neck of the woods?" he asked, " Do you a drink? Coffee? Walt, I got beer."

" Coffee would be great." Scully answered and Skinner nodded.

Doggett got them all coffee and Skinner noticed Doggett kept a frame photo of Monica Reyes on the coffee table next to the sofa. He missed the pretty agent. He knew Scully did also.

" How you doing John?" Scully asked Doggett gently. Doggett looked over at the framed photo of Monica and sighed.

" Some days are better than others." Doggett replied, " I've been thinking of rejoining the FBI."

Scully stared at him, " Whatever for?" she demanded, " You quit the FBI when Monica died. You blamed them for her death. You believed they failed her."

" I want the case." Doggett said, not looking up.

" Doggett, you can't. You'd be letting your personal feelings get in the way of a murder investigation." Skinner reminded him.

" Anyway, I'm glad you're all here. There's something I want to show you." Doggett handed Mulder a hard copy of the email he received earlier. Mulder scanned it before handing it over to the others. They all read it.

" He wants to talk to you." Doggett added, " He knows of your work and thought you can go to the military base yourself and-"

" No!" Both Skinner and Scully exclaimed.

" Why not?"

" Because you get me killed." Mulder told him.

" Excuse me?"

" You probably won't believe us, but we're not from this time. We're from a years into the future."

Doggett wondered if he'd fallen asleep and this was all a dream. He had drank a lot of beer….

" Go on," Doggett said.

" We came back to warn you about this," Scully said waving the piece of paper, " You're the one who called Mulder and get him killed."

" That's…BS." Doggett scoffed, " You're pullin' my leg."

" There's a way to prove it." Mulder mused, " Do you have Skinner's phone number?"

Doggett nodded.

" Then call him."

" Call him? He's sittin' right here!" Doggett wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all.

" It can't hurt to try." Scully shrugged and Doggett reached for his phone.