John stood there motionless, his body language telling Skinner that he was surprised. John shuddered and turned to look at his partner. She was staring right in front of her, barely registering what was really going on. She felt John's hand on her shoulder and turned her head to look at him. "John?"

He shook his head. "I dunno Mon." He looked at Skinner. "Sir?"

Skinner turned his head to Scully and nodded. "Can you take that note back to the Bureau and give it to Chris?" Scully nodded and followed by Mulder she walked to the car, while putting the note in an evidence bag. Skinner eyed John and Monica. John looked as certain as ever, but Monica seemed a little baffled. Their eyes were holding a silent conversation. "John?"

John turned back to Skinner, noticing the older man had a worried look on his face. "Sir, whatever happens, I don't want this to take over our lives."

He nodded his head in understanding. "I know how you feel John, but you know as well as I do that you need to be very careful here. Someone is not only going after Monica, but after you as well. And as it turns out, this has all been planned in detail. Didn't you notice someone following you before?"

John raised his shoulders. "I don't know about Monica, but I didn't notice anything." He nudged Monica in her side. "Mon?"

She looked up at him. "What?"

"Have you noticed someone following us?"

"No, not that I know off." She suddenly looked very worried. "John, who knows how long this has been going on."

He took her hand and gave it a gently squeeze, a natural sign of affection that didn't go unnoticed by Skinner. "I know Mon." John turned to look at Skinner, their boss suddenly looking then years older. "What do we do now Sir?"

"I want you two to be very careful. Stay together at all times. Never leave the house without your guns."

John nodded. "Shouldn't we be going over our cases and see who's out for revenge?"

"I don't want you to worry over anything. Just stay home and try to relax." John raised his eyebrows. "I know it's much to ask at a time like this, but leave everything to us. We'll get this bastard, I promise." John silently thanked his boss and shook his hand.

"Thank you Sir."

"I'll have a twenty four hour watch at your house ready by the time you get there."

"Is that really necessary Sir?"

"No discussions John. That's the way we do it for everyone. The fact that you are FBI agents doesn't change a thing." Skinner looked at Monica and motioned to her with his head. "Go home and take care of her."

"Yes Sir." John watched Skinner leave and turned to face Monica; She was looking down. He put a finger under her chin, but she was avoiding his gaze. "Why don't we get home Mon?" He heard Monica mumble something. He opened her door and she slid in the seat, defeat becoming apparent in her features. John started the car and drove off.

By the time they arrived to Falls Church two agents were already sitting outside in a car. John pulled in his driveway, silently eyeing Monica. She had been quiet all the way from the hospital and he was getting slightly worried about her. When he stopped the car she made no move to get out. John put his hand on her arm. "Mon? We're there."

She turned to look at him. "Huh?"

"You can get out now, we're home."

She looked at her surroundings and shook her head. "I guess we are." She got out of the car and walked to the front door, John following closely behind, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back. He opened the door and Monica got in. John sighed and followed her to the living room. She sat down on the couch, took the remote and flipped through Channels. John silently watched how she became agitated and threw the remote in the couch. She looked at John. "Sorry."

"Welcome back Mon."

"I didn't know I was gone."

John gave her a small smile. "You weren't really gone. You weren't being yourself for the last hour."

"Does that surprise you?" Monica raised her voice.

John held his hands up in defence. "Hey, I'm the good guy remember."

"Sorry. It's just that I feel really useless. I want to do something about this."

"I know how you feel Monica, but Skinner is probably right. Let the other agents handle it. We are too close to be objective here."

She let out a puff of air. "You're right, like you're always right." She turned to him, looking straight into his blue eyes. "Doesn't that bother you?"

John's eyes gave her a questioning look. "What?"

"That you're always right when it really matters."

"Well," John paused, "I'm not always right. I'm just," Another pause followed. "Being objective."

"Sometimes I wish I could be as objective as you when it concerns a private matter."

John turned to look at her. "What do you mean?"

"Never mind John. I'm being confused here."

John let the subject drop. "Okay. So... What do you feel like doing?"

"I wouldn't mind watching the movies you got us."

John smiled sheepishly. "Can you actually believe I forgot them at the Police Station?"

Monica's lips curled into a grin. "You're kidding me, right?"

"'Fraid not."

She shook her head in disapproval. "John John John. What am I going to do with you?"

He smiled at her and got up when the phone started ringing. "Doggett." He paused. "Hello?" He looked at Monica and shook his head. "Hello?" He put the phone in the hook and shrugged his shoulders. "Probably a wrong number."

"Yeah probably." He sat down next to her again and pulled her to him. She gratefully returned his embrace. "I'm glad you're okay Mon."

"Yeah, me too. You don't know how it made me feel when Scully told me you were dead." Monica was being overwhelmed by sadness.

"I'm sorry Mon." He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. "Hey, I've got an idea."

"Yeah?"

"How about I get my old tapes of Hunter and we watch some of our favourite episodes?"

"That's actually a great idea."

He got up from the couch. "I'll be right back." Monica watched him leave to return a couple of minutes later with a box filled with tapes. She whistled.

"My my, you have got an amazing collection."

"What do you wanna watch?"

"Whatever John."

John put a tape in the VCR and sat down next to Monica. The episode started and soon they found themselves engrossed in the very first episode of Hunter. They occasionally laughed and in the middle of the tape John put his arm around Monica's shoulder and she leaned back into him, smiling thankfully.

They spend a quiet afternoon in front of the TV. Monica fell asleep on more occasions than one and yawned when John softly nudged her in the ribs. "You want something to eat Mon?"

"Nah, I'm fine John." She smiled at him and he winked at her.

"You gotta eat Mon."

"Okay. Why don't I make us a sandwich?" She got up from the couch and walked to the kitchen, John keeping an eye on her. She took some bread and peanut butter. "Is peanut butter okay for you John?"

He answered from the living room. "Sure Mon. whatever you're in the mood for."

"Peanut it is then." She made them a couple of sandwiches and when she was nearly ready, she rather felt than heard John coming up behind her. He encircled her waist and she put her hands on his and leaned back into his embrace. "A girl could get used to this." She turned around and put her hands around his neck, pulling him even closer to her. They stayed like that for a few minutes.

John looked out of his window over her head and his eyes creased in worry. He got out of the embrace and looked at her. "Stay here Mon."

Monica looked confused. "What is it John?"

"Maybe nothing, but I think I saw someone in my backyard." He took his gun and turned to Monica. "Just go and get our colleagues outside, will you?"

"Be careful."

John opened his backdoor and Monica made her way to the two FBI agents outside. By the time they got in the backyard John was already coming towards them. He held his arms in the air. "Maybe I was wrong, or maybe he's gone."

One of them spoke. "We'll just take a look to be certain."

They went to the back of the yard, looking in the bushes. Suddenly they came to a halt. "Agent Doggett?"

John walked to where they were standing, their heads pointing at a tree. Monica followed closely behind, her mouth wide open at the discovery. "This can be true." She turned to John. "Tell me this is a bad dream."

"I'm afraid not Mon." John sighed and turned to look at his partner, who looked scared and angry at the same time. "But who ever did this, needs to be caught as soon as possible. He's not only dangerous, but he's also very much obsessed. And I have a feeling that we won't find this guy looking through some old cases."

"I think you might be right again John. And this time I'd rather have you wouldn't be right."

Four heads turned to look at yet another note stuck neatly on a tree, accompanied by a picture of John and Monica in a tight embrace at the beach not that long ago. The picture had been ripped in two and taped together again. And then the words that made both John and Monica's eyes ring: "She's mine. If I can't have her, no one else can."

Monica turned her head to look at John and she slumped her shoulders in defeat. John laid a comforting hand on her arm. "We'll get this guy."

Monica's body turned rigid, her eyes portraying what her heart felt: fear. "How are we ever gonna find this guy if we don't even know where to start?"

John offered her a reassuring look. "He'll make a mistake sooner or later."

Monica looked worried. "What if it's already too late when he makes a mistake?"

John stood next to her and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."

Monica smiled thankfully, her tensed shoulders slightly relaxing. "I know you'll do everything you can to protect me." She looked him deeply in the eyes. "I don't want you to forget to protect yourself."

"I won't Mon." He gave her a reassuring look and turned to the two FBI agents, who had put the not in an evidence bag. "Do you want us to call Skinner?"

One of them shook his head. "We'll take care of everything Agent Doggett. We're off duty in little over an hour. We'll take the note back to the Bureau and I'm sure Chris will contact you as soon as he finds something."

John nodded. "Thank you." They turned around and left the garden. John went to Monica and led her back inside, his hand lightly resting on her elbow. He locked the backdoor behind him and sat down on the coffee table in front of her. He took her hand in his and put a stray of hair behind her ear. "You gonna be okay Mon?"

She sighed and took his other hand. ""I'll be fine John. But thank you."

His lips curled into a smile. "Ya sure?"

"Yes John, I'll be fine. I guess I'm just..." She shrugged. "A little scared."

John was a little surprised by her admission and smiled. He squeezed her hand, got up and pulled her to her feet. He laid his hand on her cheek and played with a lock of hair. He placed a tender kiss on her forehead and pulled her into a tight embrace. Monica put her head in the crook of his neck and inhaled his scent, obviously relaxing in his arms. They stayed like that for a few minutes, gently swaying from side to side. They pulled away from each other, a small smile playing around Monica's lips. "Thank you John."

He gave her hand a last squeeze and took a step back, putting a safe distance between them. "How about trying to eat something?"

"I'm not really hungry."

"Please Mon, try to eat something." He looked at her with puppy dog eyes, a lump forming in Monica's throat. She nodded and watched John walking into the kitchen, to appear seconds later with a plate filled with sandwiches. "Peanut butter Mon."

"I know John, I made them."

He took a bite of his sandwich and opened his eyes wide. "And you did a damn good job!"

Monica grinned, took a sandwich and sat down next to John, their legs touching. "You're nuts John Doggett."

John shook his head in approval and grinned widely. "Yeah, but it's a good kind of nuts."

Monica couldn't agree more. "It is John."

They ate in silence; Monica munched on her sandwich, not really tasting what she was eating. John was staring in front of him, thinking about how they should handle things from now on. Once they were finished eating, John put the plate in the sink and ran some water. Monica soon joined him and between the two of them the dishes were done in less than five minutes. They went back to the living room and were about to sit down when the doorbell rang. John took a look through the peephole, Monica standing just behind him. He saw no one and opened the door ajar, noticing a wrapped box standing on the porch. He found boxes every now and then in front of his door, his neighbours taking his packages for him. Not really thinking about the danger he and Monica were in, he opened the door further and when he kneeled down to pick the package up, he heard a shot. A soft sound behind him pulled him out of his shock and he turned around to find Monica leaning against the doorframe; Her face was as white as snow and she was holding her left arm, he teeth clenched. "Monica!"

John almost jumped to his partner, his eyes wide and scared. He heard screams coming from across the street, barely interested in what was going on. John only had eyes for Monica, who seemed to be in pain, softly moaning. Across the street the two FBI agents were running in the gardens, their guns drawn.

"John..." Monica's voice sounded weak and scared, John's arm coming around her side to support her.

"Mon..." John sniffed and tears were starting to trickle down his face.

Monica's eyes became unfocussed, everything in front of her turning into a blur. "I..." Before she had time to register what was going on, everything turned black and if it hadn't been for John, she would have fallen to the floor like a puddle. John scooped Monica in his arms, ran to his car and gently put her down in the back. He started his car and drove off with screeching tires.

After ignoring a couple of red lights and almost running a few other cars of the road, John arrived at George Washington only a couple of minutes later. He pulled up in front of emergency and two nurses came running out with a stretcher; John had called them from his car, saying that it was an important and urgent FBI matter and that the safety of the country depended on it. He picked Monica up and laid her down on the stretcher. The sleeve of her shirt was soaked with blood and they rolled the stretcher away, John running behind them. He was about to enter the ER with her, but another nurse held him back. "Are you her husband?"

John didn't know what to say and hoping that he would be allowed to go in with her, he said yes. His tears were coming in a cascade, soaking the collar of his shirt. The nurse put a comforting hand on his arm. "You can't go in with her, but as soon as I find out what's wrong with her, I'll let you know." She accompanied him to the waiting room, where he slumped down in his seat. The nurse gave him a comforting look. "Is there anyone we should call?"

He swallowed until he found his voice again. "Could you call AD Skinner at the FBI and let him in on what's going on?"

"Sure. What's your wife's name?"

"Monica Reyes."

"Alright Mister.."

"Doggett."

"I'll call him and tell him everything. Is there anything I can get you? A coffee or the maybe?" She offered him a sympathetic look.

"I'm fine, but thank you." She nodded and walked back to the nurses' station where she picked up the phone and called Skinner.

Twenty minutes later John was fidgeting in his seat, his head leaning in his hands and his shoulder softly shaking. He felt a gentle hand on his back and he looked up in Scully's compassionate eyes. "Are you okay John?"

He shook his head. "Yeah. Did Skinner call you?"

"Yes, I came here as soon as I could. He should be here soon."

He looked as scared as hell and let out a puff of air. "I told her I wouldn't let anything happen to her. The words had barely left my mouth when she got shot."

Scully put a hand on his arm. "It's not your fault John. It's no one's fault. Who would have thought we were dealing with such a maniac?"

Skinner walked into the room and looked at both of them, sitting down next to John. The older man gave John a worried look. "What happened John?"

John swallowed hard. "I dunno Sir. It's a blur really. I can't even remember how I got here."

"She'll be fine John." Skinner put his hands in his laps and leaned forward. He turned his head sideways to look at John. "Did you see anyone when the shot got fired?"

"No one Sir. I mean, I opened the door to get a package on my porch and the shot got fired just as I leaned down to pick it up." He paused. "I should have been more careful."

Scully stared at her hands and took one of John's in hers and gave it a squeeze. "Don't blame yourself John. How were you supposed to know what would happen?"

"Dana," He paused to look at Scully. "With all the threats we have already received I should have been more careful. There's no one to blame but me."

Skinner looked at him. "Scully is right John, it's not your fault. But this case is far more serious than we thought."

John went quiet. "I know Sir."

Nearly an hour later a doctor walked in the room, John jumping up from his chair. "How is she doctor?"

The doctor smiled. "She's doing fine. The bullet went straight into her arm. No tissue was damaged. It was a very clean shot. Her arm will be sour and painful for a couple of days, but otherwise she'll be just fine."

"Can I see her?"

The doctor nodded. "You're her husband, right?"

John looked at the surprised faces of Skinner and Scully, but they didn't say anything. "Yes."

The doctor led John out of the room by his elbow, followed by Skinner and Scully. "Are you John Doggett?"

John raised a questioning eyebrow. "How do you know?"

"Because we found this." He pulled a bag out of his shirt pocket and held it in front of Skinner. "Are you AD Skinner?"

Skinner shook his head and the doctor handed him the bag. He studies the contents for a minute before he looked even closer at the bullet inside the bag and his eyes turned wide in shock. He sighed. "I can't believe this."

He handed the bag to Scully and she opened her eyes wide. "Oh no..."

John looked at both of them, a more than worried look on their faces. "What's going on?"

Skinner turned to John with the bag in his hand. "You're not gonna like this John."

"What's wrong?" He cautiously took the bag out of Skinner's hand and studied the contents for a minute. He held the bag closer to his face, trying to see out what the others had found. The room started spinning when he took a closer look at the bullet. His mouth wide opened and his eyes reflecting fear, anger and helplessness he looked up at Skinner and Scully, unable to say a word. John was in apparent shock, both Scully and Skinner taking a step closer to him. Skinner put a hand on his arm to steady him. "Will you be okay John?"

He didn't answer; he just kept staring at the bullet that had probably changed his entire life. And John felt like throwing up when he read the inscription on the bullet over and over again: 'R.I.P. John Doggett'.

John tapped his foot on the floor. "This guy is a total fool. How far will he go?" He looked at Skinner and he was scratching his bald head.

"I don't know John, but I'd say it would be safe to assume that you and Monica will be better off in a safe house."

John shook his head. "I don't want to go into hiding for this guy." He stood rigidly and eyed Skinner, his jaw set in a stubborn clench. "That would be giving in Sir."

Skinner shot a frown his way, but John ignored it. "I know you don't want to give in, but what will happen next time?" His jaw tightened. "Are you gonna ignore him until one of you actually gets killed?" He ignored the angry scowls coming from John's way and looked at the younger agent, his hand set on his hips, a pose excluding any form of discussion.

John let out some air and tried to look relaxed and calm, but failing miserably. "Sir..."

Skinner held his hands in the air. "Stop there John."

John let out a growl and looked at Scully. "Don't tell me you agree with him?"

Scully frowned and shook her head. "John, he is right. You and Monica aren't safe here. What will it take for you to understand that?"

John let out an angry breath and stomped off, walking towards Monica's room. He gently opened the door and found her peacefully asleep, her left arm in a sling and a tube of oxygen in her nose. He took a chair and sat down next to her bed, taking her hand in his. She seemed so calm, so vulnerable lying there. He didn't want anything to happen to her, especially not a bullet that was meant for him. Deep down he knew that Skinner was right, but he was too proud to admit that someone else beside him was actually taking over his life. But was he prepared to go as far as losing Monica for his pride? No, he didn't want to risk that. She meant far more to him than his stupid pride and masculinity.

As John was thinking about taking Skinner up on his offer - not that he didn't realize that he had actually had any choice - the door opened and Scully and Skinner entered. He turned his gaze away from Monica for a few seconds too look up at them. He accustomed them with a nod from the head and his eyes diverted back to Monica. He gently caressed her palm with his thumb, while Scully picked up her chart to take a look. Her eyes scanned the page quickly and she put it back. John looked up at her, his whole body rigid. "How is she really doing, Dana?"

Scully smiled at him. "She's doing fine John. They gave her something against the pain, that's why she's asleep. Beside a very painful arm, she'll be just fine in the morning." She gave his shoulder a squeeze and gave Skinner a look before she left the room. Skinner walked next to John and he looked up at him.

"You going to be okay John?"

John sighed. "I'll be fine Sir. I'm just glad she's okay."

Skinner let out a puff of air and his jaw sat clenched. "I meant what I said earlier John. I think you and Monica should go to a safe house."

John nodded. "I know Sir, but I don't want this guy to take over our lives."

Skinner put his hand on John's shoulder. "I know how you feel John, but sometimes you have to put your pride aside."

"I know Sir, I realise that." John turned around and looked at Monica's fragile body. He looked back up at Skinner and smiled. "We'll take you up on your offer."

John smiled back at him. "I'll make the arrangements." He gave his shoulder a last squeeze and quietly left the room.

John turned back to Monica and put his hand on her cheek. He gently wiped her cheek with his thumb, before taking her hand in both of his. He laid his head down next to her hand and closed his eyes. It didn't take too long before sleep was starting to overtake him. His breathing was slowing down and before he knew it, he was softly snoring.

John awoke when he heard someone mumbling. He was disorientated for a few seconds before he realised where he was. He tilted his head and Monica's eyes were open. She looked at him and it took her a second before she realised who he was. "John..."

John looked up at her and smiled. "Mon." He gently took her hand in his and she smiled back at him.

"What happened?"

"You don't remember?"

Monica shrugged her shoulders and clenched her jaw. "I just remember a shot and then awful pain."

John motioned to her arm in a sling. "You were hit in the arm. Bullet went straight into your arm."

Monica swallowed. "Will there be any damage?"

John smiled. "You'll be fine. It was easy to remove the bullet. And no tissue was damaged. But you're gonna be in an awful lot of pain in the next couple of days." His jaw set in a tight clench, a pensive look washing over his face.

Monica touched his hand with hers. "What's wrong John?"

He shook his head stubbornly. "Nothing, I'm just happy that you're okay."

"That's not what you're thinking about," she pointed out. "There's something else on your mind."

His eyes flickered from her face to the wall and back to her face. "You're right Monica, there is something wrong. Something that is even bigger than the both of us."

Monica frowned and focused on their intertwined hands. "What's really going on? Don't tell me there's a conspiracy going on against us," she said sarcastically.

John tightened the grip on her hand and fell into an uncomfortable silence. Monica removed her good hand from his grip and wrapped it around his shoulder, pulling him closer. John's heart started thumping in his chest and he cleared his throat. "There was a message on the bullet they removed from you arm. And that bullet was meant for me." John slumped his shoulders in defeat and leaned back against his chair, his eyes dark and angry.

Monica shuffled back in her pillow and looked at him. "Don't go blaming yourself John. You can't help it. It's no one's fault except the crazy fool who has it in for us for one or another reason." She paused and put her hand on his heart. "I'm not the only one who needs healing, you need healing too John. And I want to be the one who is there for you."

John was fighting back tears, knowing he couldn't win the fight. A lonely tear made its way down his cheek and fell on Monica's outstretched arm. He gently wrapped his arms around her and rocked her. "What did I do to deserve you Mon?"

She pulled away from him and tenderly kissed the bridge of his nose, her eyes becoming misty. "You're a wonderful person, John. Don't let anyone ever tell you the opposite."

Their eyes locked, both unable to break the spell. John closed the gap between their mouths and she could feel his breath on her lips. He looked into her eyes, asking for silent permission to kiss her, always being the ultimate Southern gentleman. For a split second she thought she felt his lips on hers, but she could be wrong. He didn't really have the chance to kiss her, a soft coughing in the doorway interrupting them. "Excuse me."

They pulled away from each other and turned around to find an amused Skinner standing in the doorway. John jumped from his chair. "Sir."

Skinner's lips curled into a smile. "I'll just pretend I didn't see that." He winked at John and he seemed to relax. "I just came to tell you that I've arranged a safe house for you."

Monica looked from Skinner to John, her eyes questioning. "You didn't tell me anything about a safe house." Her shoulders turned rigid and she gave John an angry look. "Maybe you thought that I would realise once we got there," she said sarcastically.

"Mon," John tried, but she wasn't in the mood to listen. "I was gonna tell you. I just didn't have the chance yet."

"Sure John." She looked him straight in the eyes, the muscles in her shoulders tensing up. She bit back a shot of pain that washed over her when she moved her bad arm.

"I swear I was gonna tell you. But you were asleep last night and you just woke up ten minutes ago. Where did you want me to find the time to tell you?"

"How about telling me when I woke up."

"I had other things to tell you." John's body language turned from relaxed and calm to annoyed and angry. "Do you really think I wasn't gonna tell you."

"Whatever John."

"Listen," he paused and clenched his jaw. "We'll talk about this later."

Monica shook her head stubbornly. "There's nothing to talk about."

"Right," John spat back, looking up at Skinner and getting up from his chair. "I think I should go." He shot Monica a warning look and left the room in a hurry, walking down the hallway of the hospital in a rotten mood. He stopped when he heard someone shouting his name, running up behind him.

He turned around and looked at Skinner, the tensed muscles in his shoulders hurting. "John, you can't leave like that."

"Watch me Sir." He turned around and took a step forward, but was held back by a strong hand on his shoulder.

"Listen to me for minute John." John gave in and looked at his boss. "Now that I've got your attention let me make something clear." Skinner paused and shot John a coy look. "Don't let this thing tear you and Monica apart."

"Sir?" John gave him a questioning look, clearly not realising what Skinner was trying to say.

"John, if you let this come between you and Monica, you will not only lose what you have between the two of you, but you will have let this guy win. Can't you see that he want to drive you and Monica apart? Secondly, you both are so stubborn sometimes that I feel like kicking your arses." He turned back and pointed to Monica's room. "In there John, that's where you need to be. And if you haven't realised that yet, you're even worse than I expected."

John's jaw tightened in annoyance. "What are you trying to tell me Sir?"

Skinner smiled. "I may be an old fool, but I'm not blind. I'm talking about you and Monica here. You are both too stubborn to admit what's right in front of you. You care so much about each other..."

"If she cares so much about you, why is she angry with me every five minutes?"

Skinner frowned and shook his head. He pointed his finger at John's heart. "There's your answer John. And you are the one that should be doing something about it, instead of hiding behind remorse and fear."

John stared at him for a few seconds, his mouth wide open, before he relaxed, clearly understanding what Skinner was trying to say: Monica was in love with him. "Sir," John swallowed, looking for the right words. "If I understand what you're saying correctly," another pause followed. "You want me and Monica to break the 10500 FBI rules about fraternization?"

Skinner's mouth was set in a tight line. "That's not what I said John, but it's what you understood. Let's just say that I'm prepared to turn a blind eye as long as you keep it private." He turned around and left a baffled John behind. John walked back to Monica's room, softly knocked and entered. She was lying with her back to the door. "We need to talk Mon."