Title: Means to an End
Author: Lisa
Email: lc7685@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: I don't own the show, the characters, or anything like that :)
Rating:
Summary: Monica finds herself in a dangerous position after events take a
turn for the worse. Set after Sunshine days, Pre-Truth. Please R/R this is
a WIP :)
Category: DRF/DRUST/DRR...just-all-DR :P Drama, Angst
"So what do you want?" Monica asked. John stared at her, dumbfounded. "For lunch?" she added as they strolled down the street.
"Uh...What do you feel like?"
"Why don't we pick something up on our way to my place. Since I'm closer and we seem to be walking, not driving."
"Sure." They made their way past a couple of stands and Monica let him drag her to get some polish sausage in a dog. She rolled her eyes as they moved on, walking comfortably side by side back to Monica's home. "So why are we here?" John asked. Monica switched on the television.
"We're going to wait for Dana to come by."
"With what?" Monica shrugged, sitting down on the couch and urging John to take a seat as well. He did, a little too far away for her liking. She smiled, standing slightly to pick up the remote and sitting back down much closer to John than she had been.
"Not telling," she replied seriously, flicking channels until she found some sort of talk show.
"Why not?" John asked, trying to picture Monica sitting at home watching talk shows like she was now. He smiled. He wouldn't have been able to picture it in a million years, and yet here she was, right at home with it. It was strangely unique to her persona.
"I'm just not," she replied, finishing off her sausage and putting the paper bag on the coffee table in front of her. John felt the urge to reach out and rest a hand along her back as she leant forward, flicking through the TV Guide, but resisted. She wouldn't want that. "Hmm, not much on." Oh the hell with it, John decided, reaching out and resting a hand on the small of her back.
"Mon, what's going on with Dana?" he asked softly. Monica turned to him, shocked and amazed that he had made a move, voluntarily touching her and all because he sounded so absolutely concerned.
"She's helping me get back at Brad," Monica replied instantly, eyes wide. John didn't think he could remember a time he'd ever heard so much honesty in her voice.
"Why?" Monica remained leaning forward and looking back at him so that he would keep that hand right where it was and not get scared off. Besides, it seemed to natural, so comfortable, for them to be in this position, looking straight into each other's eyes.
"He made a comment this morning. It's all right. This'll do it. Plus I think it'll get me the information I want."
"What did he say?" John asked, brow creased.
"He said that it's no wonder we lost the suspect, and that I looked at you like I used to look at him and I quote, 'When I wanted it', unquote." John's mouth opened slightly and Monica saw anger rush over them. "So I slapped him, but what Dana's helping me with, will totally bring him onto our side."
"Why?"
"I'm filing a sexual harassment claim against him. Well, he's going to think I am anyway. I wouldn't waste my time ordinarily, but I need him to come to me, to try to get out of it, then I can offer him a deal."
"But there's no evidence-" Monica grinned, reaching back to her side and pulling something out of her pocket. A small recorder. She hit play.
"-certain level of closeness that happens when you're not quite partners any more. I've seen it in your eyes before. You used to look at me like that when you wanted it."
"I went off at him but that section of the tape is going to mysteriously be erased-" she grinned. "I'll never have to use it. No worries!"
"I'm impressed," John said. "But what do you think he knows?"
"I think our suspect who wasn't the suspect is the fourth man. I think Skinner knows. I'm not sure what to believe about Brad yet..."
"If he knew, and he was giving you a clue, why be such an arse-"
"He can't help himself," Monica replied. "When it comes to good old Monnie anyway-"
"He called you Monnie?"
"Yeah." John laughed. "What, no good?"
"You just don't seem the type. You're more of a 'Mon'."
"Thanks, I'd like to think I've evolved to Mon over the years. Anyway if he has no idea, then someone's playing him, but that doesn't make sense, so I think he knows."
"Maybe he was trying to make it authentic in insulting you?"
"If he was he's going to be pissed-" There was a knock on the door and Monica got up to get it, feeling the warmth that had slowly been generating from her back cease as John's hand fell away. It was Scully.
"He's mad," she stated once Monica had let her in. She handed her a copy. "Here you go. He was very mad. Expect a call right about-" Monica's mobile chirped. She walked over and looked at Caller ID. Grinning, she answered.
"Lustful hotline this is Gloria- How may I tempt you?" John looked at her in shock and Scully bit her lips together, trying not to laugh.
"Monica, I know it's you."
"Excuse me, you must have the wrong number. But remember, if there's no trust, there's only lust. Have a nice day." She hung up on him and turned. Scully clapped and Monica bowed. "Thankyou, thankyou."
"Monica!" John exclaimed. "I thought the purpose of this was to get him over here-"
"Yeah, he's on his way. He told me so before I said goodbye."
"You've done that to him before?"
"Are you kidding? If there's no trust, there's only lust was our motto. Well it was once I discovered there wasn't any trust! He knew it was me, absolutely."
"So what's our plan?" Scully asked.
*
"Who's there?" Monica asked after a knock on the door. Dana and John were in the bedroom, waiting for this meeting to get started and then be over. Dana was sitting on the bed while John preferred to walk around. There was no way he was going to be able to sit comfortably on Monica's bed without his thoughts becoming solely preoccupied by her.
"It's Gloria's bitch," Brad replied, and she opened the door.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Brad threw the piece of paper in her face.
"What the hell is this?"
"Relax Brad, it's not real." She shut the door behind him and they moved into the living room. "Still, it could be real if you don't fess up to everything you know."
"Look it's not meant to get out."
"Brad, John and I have worked out that we're meant to be investigating something, but until we know what it is, we can't really do much of the investigating part of the job! You can tell me. We're not going to go running to the press."
"Okay. Promise?"
"Promise."
"The three missing persons staged their abductions to plan an assault on Washington."
"What kind of assault?"
"I can't tell you."
"Wouldn't have anything to do with a computer virus?"
"I can't tell you."
"Brad," her voice hinted a warning. He caved.
"Not so much a virus. A program that would disable financial security. PIN numbers, social security details - everything would be available to the public. As would money. All of it. As well as that we have reason to believe there's some kind of arms deal going on as well."
"Same people?"
"Yep."
"Okay. So what was Seattle about? You know as well as I do that the man in that picture was not the suspect we were told to look out for."
"The man in the picture was never on that plane."
"Of course he wasn't. Who is he?"
"He's...messed things up. The fact that you didn't recognise him was what I was looking for at the office. As long as you haven't seen him it means you're safe."
"Why? Who is he and how's he messed things up?"
"We had security tracking down these abductees, if you could call them that, and we thought we'd found them. We were certain, in fact. When we got there, it seems they'd disappeared, in a big way. All their things were still there, all their plans were out in the open for us to look at. It looked as though they themselves really had been abducted this time."
"Someone else knew about their plans?"
"Yes. Someone with more power, and higher connections. We don't know much about this man, although we think he's been overseas a long time."
"Facial recognition?"
"None." Monica sighed.
"All right so what can we do?"
"There's nothing more you can do. Like I said, you and Agent Doggett are to stay out of this."
"No way Brad. We're already in this. You put us in this! You'll pull us through. What else is there?" Brad hesitated. Monica pulled out her tape recorder and played his statement for him, raising an eyebrow. "Tell me."
"There have been threats. Whoever's taken the officials knew about our investigation."
"How can that be? Who is he, bitter ex CIA?"
"No idea, I swear to you."
"Okay. What kind of threats?"
"They've been kept from me as well. The demands are financial. Now we just sit it out."
"Brad, you know very well that Agents Doggett and Scully and myself don't sit around for a living, and we're not about to start today."
"Are they here?"
"No."
"You sure?"
"Yes," she lied. "Does anyone know who this is?" Brad shook his head.
"Okay, then I'm going to find out."
"Monica, it's not safe."
"Brad, it's not safe has no meaning since I joined the X Files, okay? So don't try and pull it on me. You can leave now. I'll rip up the statement, thanks for your help and we'll keep you updated with the investigation."
"You don't have much time," Brad managed as Monica practically shoved him out the door.
"We'll make time," she replied, closing it behind him. John and Dana emerged from the bedroom. "You heard?" she asked.
"Yes," Scully replied. "Let's get started."
*
Category: DRF/DRUST/DRR...just-all-DR :P Drama, Angst
"So what do you want?" Monica asked. John stared at her, dumbfounded. "For lunch?" she added as they strolled down the street.
"Uh...What do you feel like?"
"Why don't we pick something up on our way to my place. Since I'm closer and we seem to be walking, not driving."
"Sure." They made their way past a couple of stands and Monica let him drag her to get some polish sausage in a dog. She rolled her eyes as they moved on, walking comfortably side by side back to Monica's home. "So why are we here?" John asked. Monica switched on the television.
"We're going to wait for Dana to come by."
"With what?" Monica shrugged, sitting down on the couch and urging John to take a seat as well. He did, a little too far away for her liking. She smiled, standing slightly to pick up the remote and sitting back down much closer to John than she had been.
"Not telling," she replied seriously, flicking channels until she found some sort of talk show.
"Why not?" John asked, trying to picture Monica sitting at home watching talk shows like she was now. He smiled. He wouldn't have been able to picture it in a million years, and yet here she was, right at home with it. It was strangely unique to her persona.
"I'm just not," she replied, finishing off her sausage and putting the paper bag on the coffee table in front of her. John felt the urge to reach out and rest a hand along her back as she leant forward, flicking through the TV Guide, but resisted. She wouldn't want that. "Hmm, not much on." Oh the hell with it, John decided, reaching out and resting a hand on the small of her back.
"Mon, what's going on with Dana?" he asked softly. Monica turned to him, shocked and amazed that he had made a move, voluntarily touching her and all because he sounded so absolutely concerned.
"She's helping me get back at Brad," Monica replied instantly, eyes wide. John didn't think he could remember a time he'd ever heard so much honesty in her voice.
"Why?" Monica remained leaning forward and looking back at him so that he would keep that hand right where it was and not get scared off. Besides, it seemed to natural, so comfortable, for them to be in this position, looking straight into each other's eyes.
"He made a comment this morning. It's all right. This'll do it. Plus I think it'll get me the information I want."
"What did he say?" John asked, brow creased.
"He said that it's no wonder we lost the suspect, and that I looked at you like I used to look at him and I quote, 'When I wanted it', unquote." John's mouth opened slightly and Monica saw anger rush over them. "So I slapped him, but what Dana's helping me with, will totally bring him onto our side."
"Why?"
"I'm filing a sexual harassment claim against him. Well, he's going to think I am anyway. I wouldn't waste my time ordinarily, but I need him to come to me, to try to get out of it, then I can offer him a deal."
"But there's no evidence-" Monica grinned, reaching back to her side and pulling something out of her pocket. A small recorder. She hit play.
"-certain level of closeness that happens when you're not quite partners any more. I've seen it in your eyes before. You used to look at me like that when you wanted it."
"I went off at him but that section of the tape is going to mysteriously be erased-" she grinned. "I'll never have to use it. No worries!"
"I'm impressed," John said. "But what do you think he knows?"
"I think our suspect who wasn't the suspect is the fourth man. I think Skinner knows. I'm not sure what to believe about Brad yet..."
"If he knew, and he was giving you a clue, why be such an arse-"
"He can't help himself," Monica replied. "When it comes to good old Monnie anyway-"
"He called you Monnie?"
"Yeah." John laughed. "What, no good?"
"You just don't seem the type. You're more of a 'Mon'."
"Thanks, I'd like to think I've evolved to Mon over the years. Anyway if he has no idea, then someone's playing him, but that doesn't make sense, so I think he knows."
"Maybe he was trying to make it authentic in insulting you?"
"If he was he's going to be pissed-" There was a knock on the door and Monica got up to get it, feeling the warmth that had slowly been generating from her back cease as John's hand fell away. It was Scully.
"He's mad," she stated once Monica had let her in. She handed her a copy. "Here you go. He was very mad. Expect a call right about-" Monica's mobile chirped. She walked over and looked at Caller ID. Grinning, she answered.
"Lustful hotline this is Gloria- How may I tempt you?" John looked at her in shock and Scully bit her lips together, trying not to laugh.
"Monica, I know it's you."
"Excuse me, you must have the wrong number. But remember, if there's no trust, there's only lust. Have a nice day." She hung up on him and turned. Scully clapped and Monica bowed. "Thankyou, thankyou."
"Monica!" John exclaimed. "I thought the purpose of this was to get him over here-"
"Yeah, he's on his way. He told me so before I said goodbye."
"You've done that to him before?"
"Are you kidding? If there's no trust, there's only lust was our motto. Well it was once I discovered there wasn't any trust! He knew it was me, absolutely."
"So what's our plan?" Scully asked.
*
"Who's there?" Monica asked after a knock on the door. Dana and John were in the bedroom, waiting for this meeting to get started and then be over. Dana was sitting on the bed while John preferred to walk around. There was no way he was going to be able to sit comfortably on Monica's bed without his thoughts becoming solely preoccupied by her.
"It's Gloria's bitch," Brad replied, and she opened the door.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Brad threw the piece of paper in her face.
"What the hell is this?"
"Relax Brad, it's not real." She shut the door behind him and they moved into the living room. "Still, it could be real if you don't fess up to everything you know."
"Look it's not meant to get out."
"Brad, John and I have worked out that we're meant to be investigating something, but until we know what it is, we can't really do much of the investigating part of the job! You can tell me. We're not going to go running to the press."
"Okay. Promise?"
"Promise."
"The three missing persons staged their abductions to plan an assault on Washington."
"What kind of assault?"
"I can't tell you."
"Wouldn't have anything to do with a computer virus?"
"I can't tell you."
"Brad," her voice hinted a warning. He caved.
"Not so much a virus. A program that would disable financial security. PIN numbers, social security details - everything would be available to the public. As would money. All of it. As well as that we have reason to believe there's some kind of arms deal going on as well."
"Same people?"
"Yep."
"Okay. So what was Seattle about? You know as well as I do that the man in that picture was not the suspect we were told to look out for."
"The man in the picture was never on that plane."
"Of course he wasn't. Who is he?"
"He's...messed things up. The fact that you didn't recognise him was what I was looking for at the office. As long as you haven't seen him it means you're safe."
"Why? Who is he and how's he messed things up?"
"We had security tracking down these abductees, if you could call them that, and we thought we'd found them. We were certain, in fact. When we got there, it seems they'd disappeared, in a big way. All their things were still there, all their plans were out in the open for us to look at. It looked as though they themselves really had been abducted this time."
"Someone else knew about their plans?"
"Yes. Someone with more power, and higher connections. We don't know much about this man, although we think he's been overseas a long time."
"Facial recognition?"
"None." Monica sighed.
"All right so what can we do?"
"There's nothing more you can do. Like I said, you and Agent Doggett are to stay out of this."
"No way Brad. We're already in this. You put us in this! You'll pull us through. What else is there?" Brad hesitated. Monica pulled out her tape recorder and played his statement for him, raising an eyebrow. "Tell me."
"There have been threats. Whoever's taken the officials knew about our investigation."
"How can that be? Who is he, bitter ex CIA?"
"No idea, I swear to you."
"Okay. What kind of threats?"
"They've been kept from me as well. The demands are financial. Now we just sit it out."
"Brad, you know very well that Agents Doggett and Scully and myself don't sit around for a living, and we're not about to start today."
"Are they here?"
"No."
"You sure?"
"Yes," she lied. "Does anyone know who this is?" Brad shook his head.
"Okay, then I'm going to find out."
"Monica, it's not safe."
"Brad, it's not safe has no meaning since I joined the X Files, okay? So don't try and pull it on me. You can leave now. I'll rip up the statement, thanks for your help and we'll keep you updated with the investigation."
"You don't have much time," Brad managed as Monica practically shoved him out the door.
"We'll make time," she replied, closing it behind him. John and Dana emerged from the bedroom. "You heard?" she asked.
"Yes," Scully replied. "Let's get started."
*