Following the eye-opening encounter with Mulder, Scully took a day
to regroup. She knew she'd have to act pretty quickly; Mulder didn't
give up easily when he thought he wanted something, and right now he
thought he wanted her. Her rejection had probably only provided him
with more fuel. Although he had retreated to lick his wounds, she
didn't doubt he would be back. She had to avoid him while figuring
out the most effective way to approach Doggett. That meant no
answering her cell phone, screening all calls to her apartment
phone, and waiting no more than 24 hours to make her move.
Eventually, Scully settled on a plan. She collected William and his
supplies, locked up her apartment, and headed to her car. William
squirmed and started to fuss as she settled him into his car seat.
Scully patted his knee and soothed, "It's OK, William." He calmed
down, but Scully tensed. "William," she repeated experimentally.
Something about the name sounded wrong but she didn't have time to
figure out exactly what. She would think about it after she had seen
Doggett.
***
An hour later, after a trip to the store, Scully stopped her car in
Doggett's driveway behind his big truck. She'd never thought much
about Doggett's truck before but she did now. It was sleek yet
powerful as it glistened in the sunlight. She couldn't imagine
Mulder owning a truck like that. She couldn't imagine Mulder owning
a truck at all.
She sat and thought for another moment. She had left Mulder and come
to Doggett without a fallback plan. Things had better work out like
she expected. She didn't think she had misinterpreted the look she
had caught in Doggett's eyes on several occasions, the one that said
if she snapped her fingers he'd come running. She was counting on her
interpretation of that look being correct.
Still deep in thought, Scully headed to the backseat to get
William. For insurance, she would be holding the baby when Doggett
opened his door. Surely he wouldn't turn away a woman who was
carrying an infant.
Scully made her way to the house, pressed the doorbell with a free
finger, and readjusted William in her arms. After what felt like
hours but must have been only a few seconds, the door opened and
there stood Doggett. His forehead wrinkled as he registered who had
come to visit. "Agent Scully, what are *you* doin' here? I mean, not
that I mind, but you never just show up so it seems kinda weird."
Tears welled up in Scully's eyes as the gravity of her actions
truly struck her. "We've left Mulder," she announced in the
steadiest voice she could manage. She bit her lip and got herself
under control while Doggett awkwardly watched.
"Look, I dunno what I can do," he began.
"You can hold William," Scully announced. "He's much heavier than
he looks." She thrust the baby toward him and waited for his
reaction. To his credit, Doggett, while still looking incredibly
puzzled, took hold of William and expertly balanced him against his
shoulder.
Scully smiled. She knew she had chosen well.
Doggett shifted in the doorway. "Agent Scully. . ."
"Dana," she corrected. That ought to be a pretty big clue about
why she had come. If Doggett didn't catch on maybe he was as slow
as Mulder. If so, it was best that she found out right away. She
couldn't afford to waste another eight years.
Doggett looked back at her in silence and Scully felt her heart
sink. Could she have misjudged him so badly? Then, in the next
moment, Doggett shoved the front door wide with his shoulder and
stepped to the side. "I think you'd better come in. . .Dana."
***
Notes
In the next chapter Mulder decides to visit Scully and
find out why she left him for Doggett. I know many of you
are also wondering that. :) Stay tuned and you'll find out.
to regroup. She knew she'd have to act pretty quickly; Mulder didn't
give up easily when he thought he wanted something, and right now he
thought he wanted her. Her rejection had probably only provided him
with more fuel. Although he had retreated to lick his wounds, she
didn't doubt he would be back. She had to avoid him while figuring
out the most effective way to approach Doggett. That meant no
answering her cell phone, screening all calls to her apartment
phone, and waiting no more than 24 hours to make her move.
Eventually, Scully settled on a plan. She collected William and his
supplies, locked up her apartment, and headed to her car. William
squirmed and started to fuss as she settled him into his car seat.
Scully patted his knee and soothed, "It's OK, William." He calmed
down, but Scully tensed. "William," she repeated experimentally.
Something about the name sounded wrong but she didn't have time to
figure out exactly what. She would think about it after she had seen
Doggett.
***
An hour later, after a trip to the store, Scully stopped her car in
Doggett's driveway behind his big truck. She'd never thought much
about Doggett's truck before but she did now. It was sleek yet
powerful as it glistened in the sunlight. She couldn't imagine
Mulder owning a truck like that. She couldn't imagine Mulder owning
a truck at all.
She sat and thought for another moment. She had left Mulder and come
to Doggett without a fallback plan. Things had better work out like
she expected. She didn't think she had misinterpreted the look she
had caught in Doggett's eyes on several occasions, the one that said
if she snapped her fingers he'd come running. She was counting on her
interpretation of that look being correct.
Still deep in thought, Scully headed to the backseat to get
William. For insurance, she would be holding the baby when Doggett
opened his door. Surely he wouldn't turn away a woman who was
carrying an infant.
Scully made her way to the house, pressed the doorbell with a free
finger, and readjusted William in her arms. After what felt like
hours but must have been only a few seconds, the door opened and
there stood Doggett. His forehead wrinkled as he registered who had
come to visit. "Agent Scully, what are *you* doin' here? I mean, not
that I mind, but you never just show up so it seems kinda weird."
Tears welled up in Scully's eyes as the gravity of her actions
truly struck her. "We've left Mulder," she announced in the
steadiest voice she could manage. She bit her lip and got herself
under control while Doggett awkwardly watched.
"Look, I dunno what I can do," he began.
"You can hold William," Scully announced. "He's much heavier than
he looks." She thrust the baby toward him and waited for his
reaction. To his credit, Doggett, while still looking incredibly
puzzled, took hold of William and expertly balanced him against his
shoulder.
Scully smiled. She knew she had chosen well.
Doggett shifted in the doorway. "Agent Scully. . ."
"Dana," she corrected. That ought to be a pretty big clue about
why she had come. If Doggett didn't catch on maybe he was as slow
as Mulder. If so, it was best that she found out right away. She
couldn't afford to waste another eight years.
Doggett looked back at her in silence and Scully felt her heart
sink. Could she have misjudged him so badly? Then, in the next
moment, Doggett shoved the front door wide with his shoulder and
stepped to the side. "I think you'd better come in. . .Dana."
***
Notes
In the next chapter Mulder decides to visit Scully and
find out why she left him for Doggett. I know many of you
are also wondering that. :) Stay tuned and you'll find out.
