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: PG
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 A/N at end.
FINAL PART
John stopped at a door. He was certain the music was coming from this room. His heart beat faster and his palms were sweating. Something strange was trying to get into his head; he couldn't work out what it was. Some kind of thought... He sat on his heels a few more moments before realising what it was.
Come in, John. Come in. Please.
It was Monica.
*
"I'm not dancing with you."
"Scared?" she asked.
"You'd drop me in a second."
"I promise, I won't hurt you." Monica held up her hands. They had to yell at each other to be heard over the music.
"I'm not going near a window."
"No one can see us, the blinds are down."
"Put out that light."
"Then we won't be able to see each other." She took a step closer, still holding out her hand. "Come on, afraid I'll be better than you?"
"No," he stated.
"Afraid that if I try and fight you - which I won't - that you won't be able to fight me back?"
"No!"
"Then what's your problem? Leave the gun next to the detonator." He hesitated.
"If you're going to kill me, humour me and let me have this dance." Where the hell is John? She thought. She'd told him to come in minutes ago. The man finally agreed and stood, very wary of any tricks Monica may have up her sleeve, but she seemed genuinely relieved. Stupid FBI, he thought. They think they're tough but they get so scared. This one got scared through a bit of turbulence! Hah!
*
"I think she did it," Scully stated as she saw Monica move forward. The silhouette wasn't perfectly outlined because of several physical factors but she could see Monica's arm outstretched okay, and whoever was holding onto the other end was it.
*
John turned the handle on the door, hoping that no one was watching. The music blanketed any sounds it would have otherwise made. He pushed it open carefully, his gun held up in front of his face. Peering through he saw Monica and the fake suspect from the plane dancing. One of the officials turned their head and saw him, eyes growing wide. John held a finger to his lips and they turned their heads immediately, as though they had seen nothing. The door was positioned so that he was looking at the fake suspect's side, but from behind. If he could open the door a little more, he could have a clear shot.
*
"My man has a clear shot. Awaiting orders." Skinner picked up the radio.
"You make sure it's clear."
"It's clear." There was hesitation in Skinner's voice. After all, all they had were a couple of shadows, and blurry ones at that.
"Fire once clear," he managed, sitting back and waiting while the order went through the chain of command.
*
John aimed at the man's waist, which thankfully wasn't that close to Monica's. He fired, and it echoed over the music as glass shattered over the man and Monica, the curtain blowing inwards with the wind speeds generated from being so high off the ground. John stood and burst in; holding his gun on the suspect, realising that there was no way he'd missed that shot. There was way too much blood on either side of him. There'd been another shot. John turned to the officials.
"Stay here!" he ordered, not bothering to check the man's vitals. He was going to die anyway, from the looks of the wounds in his side as well as his neck. He knelt down to where Monica had propped herself up on her elbows. She had a faraway look in her eyes.
"Monica?" he asked, reaching out and touching her face. "Monica." Her eyes suddenly snapped back into place and they watched each other. Monica's chest was heaving; her heart must've been beating ten times its normal speed. "You okay? Here, sit up."
"No, I can stand," she replied. He smiled at her. "What?" He shook his head.
"Nothing." Taking her hand, John helped her to her feet. She walked over and switched off the music before looking around.
"John, the bomb," she began, walking over to it.
"Is there a timer?" he asked. She shook her head.
"No, I... I don't know."
"Then we're getting out of here." John pulled out his mobile and turned it on, ringing Skinner as the other officials gathered their things.
"John what the hell happened?"
"He's dead, I'll explain once we're down. We need bomb squad-"
"They're already on their way. Get the hell out of there-"
"We are." John was the last to leave the room, a hand safely against Monica's back, but she stopped. "What is it?" he asked.
"Wait!" she called. Everyone stopped and she ran back in, getting the CD out of the computer and returning it to the woman who'd leant it. "Thankyou," she stated.
"All right thankyous can come later, move now," John ordered, pushing them all out as the bomb squad passed in the staircase.
*
Scully and Skinner were waiting anxiously below for any sign of their friends. Bomb Squad had declared that the device had been de-activated. It had been complicated, but not that complicated. The three officials were rushed into a police van by uniformed officers and taken downtown for statements. They would be charged with conspiracy. John and Monica made their way over to Skinner and Scully. Scully went into physician mode seeing the cuts on Monica's neck. She looked hard into Monica's eyes.
"You okay?" Monica nodded.
"Yeah. Just scratches thanks to two very clean shooters."
"Two?" Skinner asked. "I only gave one order."
"John shot him too," she replied. "Simultaneously. I had no idea where anything was coming from for about five seconds after that."
"Well you're all right, that's the important thing. Agent Reyes I don't want to see you for several days."
"What?"
"Take a holiday Monica."
"I don't need a holiday." Skinner looked at her. He wasn't going to change his mind and she knew it. She'd find a way to work from home, and he knew that.
"John, you can have some time off if you like too."
"No thanks sir."
"That wasn't a question. I want reports as soon as possible but other than that, I will see you both next Monday."
"Wait a minute," Monica said. "You're telling *us* you'll see us Monday?"
"Yes," Skinner replied. "Nice work all of you. Agent Scully, I'm particularly impressed, and not for the first time this year." He left and Scully smiled.
"I think he's going to be in a very good mood for the next week or two," she started. "Come on, I'll drive you both home."
"We brought my car," John stated.
"Yes and it was towed because it was in a no standing zone."
"What?" Scully smirked.
"Sorry. You'll get it back when you come back to work."
"I don't have a car for a week?"
"Doesn't seem like it. Come on, hop in," she replied, holding the door open for them. "If you're good, I'll drive it by within the next couple of days."
They arrived at Monica's place first. She turned in the front passenger seat to look at Dana and John.
"You know I'm not going to sleep tonight until I find out what actually happened while I was up there. You want to come in for a coffee or something?" Dana smiled but declined. She had to ring her mother and explain why she missed dinner.
"She probably thinks I've locked myself in my house or that I'm out running after some aliens."
"John?" Monica asked, turning to where he sat in the back. Her eyes glistened and he knew she wanted him to come up with her. How could he say no, even if he were scared shitless?
"Okay. Thanks for the ride Scully."
"John my name's Dana," she insisted. "We're not at work. And it's no problem. You'll be right getting home?"
"Sure," he replied, hopping out as Monica did. They waved Dana goodbye and walked up. "You feeling okay?" he asked Monica.
"Yeah. Apart from the hunger, thirst and scratches, I'm just fine." She smiled. She was serious. He couldn't believe it. There wasn't a hint of sarcasm in her voice. John stood in her entrance, confused for a moment, but was startled out of it when the phone rang. "Monica Reyes," she answered as she motioned for John to close the front door behind him. "Hi Ma... What did they say?... Well I'm fine... They didn't have to call you... What? What channel?... They shouldn't have identified me... Oh, a feeling?" John watched her grin. "Mm... I really am fine... No, you don't need to come up. You and Papi stay where you are, understood? You've already made an unnecessary trip this year... I know, I know, no trip's unnecessary, but-... I am looking after myself. I'm being very well looked after... By Dana and John... Yes Ma, John... Anyway, I just got home so I have to go... Okay I love you too. Bye." She hung up and spun back to John. He wasn't there. She suddenly got an awful feeling that he'd disappeared and that the phone would ring any second-
"Your mum heard it on the news and got a feeling?" John's voice came from the kitchen and Monica raced around the corner to make sure it was really him. He was watching her, head cocked to one side. "You okay?" She wished he'd stop asking that.
"Yeah! And she did. She just knew it was me, straight away." John handed her a cup of coffee. "Thanks." Monica took a sip before opening another cupboard and taking out some first aid materials. She walked to her mirror and looked into it, seeing two small cuts on her neck, knowing there were many more on her hands. She cleaned the two up quickly and looked down at her hands. They weren't that bad, but she washed them with a strong soap anyway. Then she went to sit next to John on the couch.
"I'm glad you came up," she started after several moments, resting her cup on the table in front of her. She looked over at John and he felt a burning at his heart he hadn't felt in a very long time. Actually, that was a lie. He had felt it. He had just always pushed it aside. It didn't matter. She didn't feel the same way. He only felt as though he should have kissed her that night because maybe she would have stayed, but he knew it wasn't what she had wanted. Was it?
"I," he fumbled, trying to find the words. "I wanted to come up earlier, I just wasn't sure, ready-"
"I know, John," she replied softly, sitting back and smiling at him.
"How come you know so much?" he asked. She shrugged. "You knew there were guys outside waiting for a clean shot. You knew I was there, waiting for you to say something to me." Her smile grew and she nodded.
"You didn't disappoint, either." She raised an eyebrow and John felt himself becoming more confident, as confident as he'd ever been speaking his mind with Monica before. She was just sitting there, completely open to whatever he was saying. A smile emerged in his eyes before on his lips as he leant slightly forward. Monica didn't pull back.
"I never could resist a woman who said please." Monica thought back to the message she'd prayed had reached John.
Please hear it... Come in, John. Come in. Please.
"You mean you, you heard me?"
"I felt you." They were content to sit and watch each other for minutes, the energy between them holding them in place. "Imagine," John started. "Follmer." Monica laughed.
"He's going to be pissed."
"We solved his case." They laughed some more and then stopped, smiling at each other. "And now we're on trauma holidays."
"What are we going to do?" Monica asked.
"We'll figure out something. How about, lots of lunches, movies-"
"Sounds good," Monica replied. "John."
"Yeah?"
"Thankyou for staying there with me. I knew I wasn't alone." John boldly reached out and touched her cheek.
"You'll never be alone," he spoke. He began to lean in and she reciprocated, emitting a gentle sigh as he kissed her, their first kiss soft but full of all the desire they'd kept hidden from each other, from themselves. Suddenly Monica broke off, laughing. John smirked.
"What?" he asked. Monica slid her arms around his waist and pulled him to her, looking up into his large, blue eyes, comfortable in the hug. This man had become her best friend, and she never wanted that to change, she wanted him to know that. She thought he did.
"Skinner told us he'd see us Monday," she smirked, raising her eyebrows suggestively.
"What 'are' we going to do?" he asked.
"I'm sure we'll think of something," she replied in a whisper as his hands ran along her lower back. "That's a lot of shopping," she added in a whisper, causing John to laugh.
"Sure is," he managed as he looked into her eyes. They were so open to him, they always had been, he realised. "Wanna...get a pizza or something?" John asked. Monica thought, before smiling.
"Later," she answered, curling up next to him on the couch as she switched on the TV. There was a news report of the incident on that channel, so they changed it. John heard Monica complaining before the picture even came on. "Oh no!" she sighed, leaning closer to him.
"What?" he asked as the picture came on. Then he saw it. The Empire State Building. Oh no.
It was Sleepless in Seattle, and by the time it finished, Monica and John were both fast asleep.
End! ***A/N: Thanks to all the feedback. I realise that Follmer played a large role in this fic and that this may not quite fit in with the events of 'Release', however not having actually seen it, only reading it, I'm unsure of what may have actually happened to Follmer after this episode, so I kind of blanked the whole pay-off with the killer thing out of my mind. :) Thanks to LR for pointing out a couple of inconsistencies in the characters. I really appreciate feedback and criticism when it's nice even if its advice like that so keep it up :)Cya Lisa.
Category: DRF/DRUST/DRR...just-all-DR :P Drama, Angst A/N at end.
FINAL PART
John stopped at a door. He was certain the music was coming from this room. His heart beat faster and his palms were sweating. Something strange was trying to get into his head; he couldn't work out what it was. Some kind of thought... He sat on his heels a few more moments before realising what it was.
Come in, John. Come in. Please.
It was Monica.
*
"I'm not dancing with you."
"Scared?" she asked.
"You'd drop me in a second."
"I promise, I won't hurt you." Monica held up her hands. They had to yell at each other to be heard over the music.
"I'm not going near a window."
"No one can see us, the blinds are down."
"Put out that light."
"Then we won't be able to see each other." She took a step closer, still holding out her hand. "Come on, afraid I'll be better than you?"
"No," he stated.
"Afraid that if I try and fight you - which I won't - that you won't be able to fight me back?"
"No!"
"Then what's your problem? Leave the gun next to the detonator." He hesitated.
"If you're going to kill me, humour me and let me have this dance." Where the hell is John? She thought. She'd told him to come in minutes ago. The man finally agreed and stood, very wary of any tricks Monica may have up her sleeve, but she seemed genuinely relieved. Stupid FBI, he thought. They think they're tough but they get so scared. This one got scared through a bit of turbulence! Hah!
*
"I think she did it," Scully stated as she saw Monica move forward. The silhouette wasn't perfectly outlined because of several physical factors but she could see Monica's arm outstretched okay, and whoever was holding onto the other end was it.
*
John turned the handle on the door, hoping that no one was watching. The music blanketed any sounds it would have otherwise made. He pushed it open carefully, his gun held up in front of his face. Peering through he saw Monica and the fake suspect from the plane dancing. One of the officials turned their head and saw him, eyes growing wide. John held a finger to his lips and they turned their heads immediately, as though they had seen nothing. The door was positioned so that he was looking at the fake suspect's side, but from behind. If he could open the door a little more, he could have a clear shot.
*
"My man has a clear shot. Awaiting orders." Skinner picked up the radio.
"You make sure it's clear."
"It's clear." There was hesitation in Skinner's voice. After all, all they had were a couple of shadows, and blurry ones at that.
"Fire once clear," he managed, sitting back and waiting while the order went through the chain of command.
*
John aimed at the man's waist, which thankfully wasn't that close to Monica's. He fired, and it echoed over the music as glass shattered over the man and Monica, the curtain blowing inwards with the wind speeds generated from being so high off the ground. John stood and burst in; holding his gun on the suspect, realising that there was no way he'd missed that shot. There was way too much blood on either side of him. There'd been another shot. John turned to the officials.
"Stay here!" he ordered, not bothering to check the man's vitals. He was going to die anyway, from the looks of the wounds in his side as well as his neck. He knelt down to where Monica had propped herself up on her elbows. She had a faraway look in her eyes.
"Monica?" he asked, reaching out and touching her face. "Monica." Her eyes suddenly snapped back into place and they watched each other. Monica's chest was heaving; her heart must've been beating ten times its normal speed. "You okay? Here, sit up."
"No, I can stand," she replied. He smiled at her. "What?" He shook his head.
"Nothing." Taking her hand, John helped her to her feet. She walked over and switched off the music before looking around.
"John, the bomb," she began, walking over to it.
"Is there a timer?" he asked. She shook her head.
"No, I... I don't know."
"Then we're getting out of here." John pulled out his mobile and turned it on, ringing Skinner as the other officials gathered their things.
"John what the hell happened?"
"He's dead, I'll explain once we're down. We need bomb squad-"
"They're already on their way. Get the hell out of there-"
"We are." John was the last to leave the room, a hand safely against Monica's back, but she stopped. "What is it?" he asked.
"Wait!" she called. Everyone stopped and she ran back in, getting the CD out of the computer and returning it to the woman who'd leant it. "Thankyou," she stated.
"All right thankyous can come later, move now," John ordered, pushing them all out as the bomb squad passed in the staircase.
*
Scully and Skinner were waiting anxiously below for any sign of their friends. Bomb Squad had declared that the device had been de-activated. It had been complicated, but not that complicated. The three officials were rushed into a police van by uniformed officers and taken downtown for statements. They would be charged with conspiracy. John and Monica made their way over to Skinner and Scully. Scully went into physician mode seeing the cuts on Monica's neck. She looked hard into Monica's eyes.
"You okay?" Monica nodded.
"Yeah. Just scratches thanks to two very clean shooters."
"Two?" Skinner asked. "I only gave one order."
"John shot him too," she replied. "Simultaneously. I had no idea where anything was coming from for about five seconds after that."
"Well you're all right, that's the important thing. Agent Reyes I don't want to see you for several days."
"What?"
"Take a holiday Monica."
"I don't need a holiday." Skinner looked at her. He wasn't going to change his mind and she knew it. She'd find a way to work from home, and he knew that.
"John, you can have some time off if you like too."
"No thanks sir."
"That wasn't a question. I want reports as soon as possible but other than that, I will see you both next Monday."
"Wait a minute," Monica said. "You're telling *us* you'll see us Monday?"
"Yes," Skinner replied. "Nice work all of you. Agent Scully, I'm particularly impressed, and not for the first time this year." He left and Scully smiled.
"I think he's going to be in a very good mood for the next week or two," she started. "Come on, I'll drive you both home."
"We brought my car," John stated.
"Yes and it was towed because it was in a no standing zone."
"What?" Scully smirked.
"Sorry. You'll get it back when you come back to work."
"I don't have a car for a week?"
"Doesn't seem like it. Come on, hop in," she replied, holding the door open for them. "If you're good, I'll drive it by within the next couple of days."
They arrived at Monica's place first. She turned in the front passenger seat to look at Dana and John.
"You know I'm not going to sleep tonight until I find out what actually happened while I was up there. You want to come in for a coffee or something?" Dana smiled but declined. She had to ring her mother and explain why she missed dinner.
"She probably thinks I've locked myself in my house or that I'm out running after some aliens."
"John?" Monica asked, turning to where he sat in the back. Her eyes glistened and he knew she wanted him to come up with her. How could he say no, even if he were scared shitless?
"Okay. Thanks for the ride Scully."
"John my name's Dana," she insisted. "We're not at work. And it's no problem. You'll be right getting home?"
"Sure," he replied, hopping out as Monica did. They waved Dana goodbye and walked up. "You feeling okay?" he asked Monica.
"Yeah. Apart from the hunger, thirst and scratches, I'm just fine." She smiled. She was serious. He couldn't believe it. There wasn't a hint of sarcasm in her voice. John stood in her entrance, confused for a moment, but was startled out of it when the phone rang. "Monica Reyes," she answered as she motioned for John to close the front door behind him. "Hi Ma... What did they say?... Well I'm fine... They didn't have to call you... What? What channel?... They shouldn't have identified me... Oh, a feeling?" John watched her grin. "Mm... I really am fine... No, you don't need to come up. You and Papi stay where you are, understood? You've already made an unnecessary trip this year... I know, I know, no trip's unnecessary, but-... I am looking after myself. I'm being very well looked after... By Dana and John... Yes Ma, John... Anyway, I just got home so I have to go... Okay I love you too. Bye." She hung up and spun back to John. He wasn't there. She suddenly got an awful feeling that he'd disappeared and that the phone would ring any second-
"Your mum heard it on the news and got a feeling?" John's voice came from the kitchen and Monica raced around the corner to make sure it was really him. He was watching her, head cocked to one side. "You okay?" She wished he'd stop asking that.
"Yeah! And she did. She just knew it was me, straight away." John handed her a cup of coffee. "Thanks." Monica took a sip before opening another cupboard and taking out some first aid materials. She walked to her mirror and looked into it, seeing two small cuts on her neck, knowing there were many more on her hands. She cleaned the two up quickly and looked down at her hands. They weren't that bad, but she washed them with a strong soap anyway. Then she went to sit next to John on the couch.
"I'm glad you came up," she started after several moments, resting her cup on the table in front of her. She looked over at John and he felt a burning at his heart he hadn't felt in a very long time. Actually, that was a lie. He had felt it. He had just always pushed it aside. It didn't matter. She didn't feel the same way. He only felt as though he should have kissed her that night because maybe she would have stayed, but he knew it wasn't what she had wanted. Was it?
"I," he fumbled, trying to find the words. "I wanted to come up earlier, I just wasn't sure, ready-"
"I know, John," she replied softly, sitting back and smiling at him.
"How come you know so much?" he asked. She shrugged. "You knew there were guys outside waiting for a clean shot. You knew I was there, waiting for you to say something to me." Her smile grew and she nodded.
"You didn't disappoint, either." She raised an eyebrow and John felt himself becoming more confident, as confident as he'd ever been speaking his mind with Monica before. She was just sitting there, completely open to whatever he was saying. A smile emerged in his eyes before on his lips as he leant slightly forward. Monica didn't pull back.
"I never could resist a woman who said please." Monica thought back to the message she'd prayed had reached John.
Please hear it... Come in, John. Come in. Please.
"You mean you, you heard me?"
"I felt you." They were content to sit and watch each other for minutes, the energy between them holding them in place. "Imagine," John started. "Follmer." Monica laughed.
"He's going to be pissed."
"We solved his case." They laughed some more and then stopped, smiling at each other. "And now we're on trauma holidays."
"What are we going to do?" Monica asked.
"We'll figure out something. How about, lots of lunches, movies-"
"Sounds good," Monica replied. "John."
"Yeah?"
"Thankyou for staying there with me. I knew I wasn't alone." John boldly reached out and touched her cheek.
"You'll never be alone," he spoke. He began to lean in and she reciprocated, emitting a gentle sigh as he kissed her, their first kiss soft but full of all the desire they'd kept hidden from each other, from themselves. Suddenly Monica broke off, laughing. John smirked.
"What?" he asked. Monica slid her arms around his waist and pulled him to her, looking up into his large, blue eyes, comfortable in the hug. This man had become her best friend, and she never wanted that to change, she wanted him to know that. She thought he did.
"Skinner told us he'd see us Monday," she smirked, raising her eyebrows suggestively.
"What 'are' we going to do?" he asked.
"I'm sure we'll think of something," she replied in a whisper as his hands ran along her lower back. "That's a lot of shopping," she added in a whisper, causing John to laugh.
"Sure is," he managed as he looked into her eyes. They were so open to him, they always had been, he realised. "Wanna...get a pizza or something?" John asked. Monica thought, before smiling.
"Later," she answered, curling up next to him on the couch as she switched on the TV. There was a news report of the incident on that channel, so they changed it. John heard Monica complaining before the picture even came on. "Oh no!" she sighed, leaning closer to him.
"What?" he asked as the picture came on. Then he saw it. The Empire State Building. Oh no.
It was Sleepless in Seattle, and by the time it finished, Monica and John were both fast asleep.
End! ***A/N: Thanks to all the feedback. I realise that Follmer played a large role in this fic and that this may not quite fit in with the events of 'Release', however not having actually seen it, only reading it, I'm unsure of what may have actually happened to Follmer after this episode, so I kind of blanked the whole pay-off with the killer thing out of my mind. :) Thanks to LR for pointing out a couple of inconsistencies in the characters. I really appreciate feedback and criticism when it's nice even if its advice like that so keep it up :)Cya Lisa.