Chapter 9 - Dream World Awakened
John Doggett's House. 4:56 PM. John woke up before Monica. He just laid there and watched her sleep on his chest. Her brown hair falling in her face, John brushed it back. He wondered what Monica was dreaming about, if anything. He still felt bad for what happened and wanted to make it up to her. Maybe make a nice dinner, so they could talk. He moved her back a little and sat up and took a shower and got dressed. When he came out Monica was still asleep. He gave her a quick kiss on her forehead and then made his way downstairs, to get his car keys and left. He got in his Lexus and then another image flashed in his mind. An image of John and Monica going to her apartment, and then someone or something slamming into them. He held his hand out next to him in the empty seat; the image was so vivid that he was actually acting it out. He watched as his mind showed him and Monica lying in his Lexus, unconscious as sirens and various sounds of the paramedics made their way over. John sat still frozen as he looked over to where his hand was at, protecting the empty seat. He moved it back and held onto the steering wheel tightly. He couldn't understand these images, but he shook them off and left to buy groceries.
Monica woke up to an empty bed; she smiled thinking maybe John was in the bathroom. "John? Are you taking a shower?" she asked. No answer. "John," she called out. She looked over at the nightstand where a small clock laid, and saw it was after five. "John, what are you doing?"
Silence. She smiled and got up, stumbling in the bathroom, only to find it empty. Maybe he was downstairs watching television or perhaps cooking dinner. Monica scurried downstairs, but the kitchen was empty. "John?" she called out, looking at the front door, nothing. She went out back and looked for him. The backyard was empty except for a handful of birds over by the trees. Monica checked back upstairs. It was no use, the house was empty, and this made Monica worry. She sat on the couch, pulling her legs up to her chest, and waited it out. John walked in an hour later, groceries in hand as he heard soft sobs. "Monica?" he asked, worried. He put the groceries down and walked over to Monica as she looked up at him. "I thought you left." she sobbed.
"I did. I just went to buy groceries, so I could make us a nice dinner."
"No," Monica sobbed. "I thought you left me." John smiled sweetly at her. "Left you? Why would you think that?"
Monica sobbed, shaking her head. "I guess I'm just confused right now.overly emotional." John came up and sat down next to her and wrapped his arms around her. "Never think that Mon," he said. "Never think that. I promise, I'll never leave you." Monica looked into his eyes, carefully inspecting them, trying to find what she saw, and she did. She saw an honest, caring man, who loved her deeply. "How about I make us a nice dinner and we can watch a movie or something?" he asked her. His hand placed on her cheek as he massaged it with his thumb. Monica nodded as she put her hand over his. He smiled and leaned in to kiss her lips. John stood up as Monica laid back and watched him pick up the groceries and enter the kitchen. He looked over at the calendar and it said it was Sunday. "Today's Monday, right?" John asked. "No, Sunday."
John paused, staring at the calendar. "Sunday? But yesterday was Sunday."
He heard Monica laughing. "John where's your head? Today is Sunday. Tomorrow is Monday and yesterday was Saturday." ("There is one way to know if it's a coma victim making contact." "How's that?" "The continuing dream may go on for days, but it'll still be the same day. The day it happened.") John remembered that the last three days had indeed been on a Sunday. "Need any help in there?" Monica asked. John came to and forgot about his thoughts when she called out to him. "No, I'm uh fine. Just relax. I'll be there soon." Monica smiled and leaned back and closed her eyes. John peeked in the kitchen and looked at her for a second and then moved back in the kitchen. He suddenly remembered everything; the coma, the accident, AD Skinner, Frohike and Monica's mother. Her mother wanted to pull the plug on Monica. Monica needed John's help; maybe if he talked to her, she could somehow remember what happened. John prepared a small dinner. Two roast sandwiches with a fresh Caesar salad and a bottle of champagne. A bottle John didn't know he had until he looked around in his refrigerator. Monica, who was humming to herself, laid back on the couch and waited for John. "Almost done," he said, putting everything on two trays. He brought one out one step at a time. When he had the second tray he sat down next to Monica and opened the bottle of champagne. "This looks great, John."
John smiled as he put his hand across her cheek and leaned in and kissed her. He wanted to cry, but he held in the tears he had. He was afraid to start the conversation, although he knew he had, but first he decided to wait until they ate. Monica and John sat across from one another and quietly ate their dinner. John kept trying to think of what to say. Monica just sat there, often looking up at John. It was the most awkward dinner ever. Finally, when they were finished, John set aside their trays and Monica moved over closer to John. "Want to cuddle for a bit?" Monica asked.
"Wow, it seems as if it's been forever since we've seen AD Skinner and Mulder and Scully," John said ignoring her. Monica paused for a second, looking into his eyes. Something was definitely on his mind. "Well, we'll see them tomorrow," she said. "It's only been a couple of days, John."
"What if tomorrow is Sunday, again?"
"Again? John are you feeling alright?" Monica asked. She put her hand on his head. "I think you have a fever." "No, Mon," John said, pulling her hand away from him. "I don't. You need help."
"Help?" Monica asked, worried. "What kind of help?"
John swallowed the lump that was deep in his throat and exhaled. "Three days ago, you were in a car accident."
Monica's eyes widened, "an accident?" she questioned. "I'm sorry John, I don't seem to remember that."
John shook his head and put his finger up, silencing her. "Just listen okay?" he asked. Monica nodded approvingly. "Something happened. You were - we were both in a car accident and something happened."
"What?" Monica asked, somewhat interested. "You went into a coma, and.you're still in it."
There John had said it. Silence. Monica stared blankly had him and then laughed. "John, if you didn't want to cuddle, you could have just told me so," she laughed again. John had a frustrated look on his face. This was going to be harder than he thought. Monica stopped laughing, but still had a smile on her face. She was trying to hold in the laughter. John moved in closer to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "Monica, this isn't real. Don't you see? The last three days after the accident, every day has been Sunday and what's going on now is through a dream. I'm dreaming this and you're in it. You're coming in through your coma. You're trying to connect with me."
Monica didn't understand what had gotten into John. She smiled weakly and then put her hand on his stomach. "Are you feeling alright? Is your stomach upset again or something?"
John got up and stood across from her. "Damnet, Mon. I'm serious here. I know this sounds strange to you, and it does to me too, but it's the truth. It's an X-Files, I'm sure, but if you don't start believing', you're not gonna be seein' much more of me.anytime soon."
Monica stood up; she saw the fear in John's eyes. "What are you saying? You want me to leave or something?"
John stared blankly at her. "What? No. No. I don't. I'm saying," he stopped for a second and grabbed her hands and sat down next to her, his hands feeling the top of hers. "I'm saying, that your Mother wants to pull the plug on you.she wants to end your suffering. The doctors are forcing her into something she doesn't want to do and she won't listen to anyone else, but them." "John, I don't understand why you're telling me all of this. This is absurd."
"I know it is.and as a non-believer, this is really out of this world, especially to me, but I'm doing it for you Monica," John stopped as he thought about the day before yesterday when they saw Mulder and Scully at the accident. "Do you remember," he continued, "When we were driving past your apartment, and there was a blockage near the road and two agents were out investigating?"
Monica nodded, her hands a little sweaty, she tried to pull them back, embarrassed by them, but John held on. "That's where it happened.Monica. A drunk driver hit us. Now all I got away with were minor scratches and bruises, but if you hadn't put on your seat belt, and if I hadn't. We'd be dead." Monica was speechless. What could she say to John? How could she believe such a thing? John saw right through her and knew she was just as clueless as before. Then he thought if in his dreams he saw the accident, maybe there'd be a clue at the hospital. "Come on," John said, still holding onto her hands as they sat up. "Where are we going?" Monica asked. John turned his head sideways and said, "I'm going to prove to you, that what's going on is true." Monica sighed as they got into his Lexus and drove to George Washington hospital. "John, really now, this is a waste."
"Yeah, wasting much needed time," he grumbled. Monica sighed again and just kept her stare outside the window.
John hurried up and parked in the hospital's parking lot and grabbed Monica and literally dragged her into the building. "John? John?"
He ignored her cries to stop and went up in the elevators to where her room was outside of his dreams. He peered inside and gasped. Monica looked over at him, not seeing inside. "What's going on?"
He opened the door and Monica looked in and took a double take. Inside lying on a bed was Monica. John walked in followed by Monica. "What's going on?" she asked him. "Well, before I thought if my theory was right, I figured, we'd see you here in the hospital, and so here we are." "I don't understand."
"I know.Monica.I told you. You're in a coma. All of this, us standing here, these last few days, they never happened. They're all inside my head, through my dreams, through your coma. Monica, you're coming through to me in dreamland, so I can help you get out." Monica looked at herself for several seconds before getting enough courage to look John in the eyes. Her own eyes watered. She finally understood. She didn't say anything to John, but rather ran out. "Monica?" John called out. "Monica?!"
He ran outside and saw her heading down the hall. People watched her pass by. John took off after her, trying to get by people that got in his way. Monica ran into a gurney and fell back, crying. John slid on the floor, instantly stopping to a halt. No one seemed to notice their discomfort. Everyone seemed like zombies. John grabbed Monica and pulled her in for a hug. She began to cry out. "I knew. Oh God. I knew. I knew. I knew," she repeated over and over as John tried to quiet her down. He pulled away, still holding onto her arms. "You knew what?" he asked weakly. "I knew something was wrong.I knew everyday was Sunday, but I thought maybe it was for the best. Like nothing could hurt us. That our love was growing and God was giving us a chance to expand that love.I was afraid to say anything. I know what a skeptic you are, John."
Her eyes watered even more after saying that and John pulled her in for another tight embrace. "I'm sorry for being one," he said. "Monica, I know I freaked out when you told me about Luke, but I promise I'll never do that again. Don't ever be afraid to tell me something that's on your mind, especially if it does relate to the paranormal, because I'm here to listen and I know it's hard, because you do know me. You know me more than I'll ever know myself, but I'll try to listen and be here for you."
"Thank you," Monica whispered. John kissed her on the forehead. "Thank you.for being apart of my life," John whispered in her ear. Monica stopped crying. She let John hold her and then she broke free and he helped her up. They slowly made their way back inside the room. John's arm around her waist. When Monica walked in first, she quickly turned around and buried her face in John's chest. "I don't want to go back," she cried. "We still gotta figure out how to get you back."
"No, John," she said, looking up at him and looking into his eyes. "I don't want to leave what we have here."
"Monica, I know you don't. I don't either, but it's not real."
Monica shook her head. "I know, but it's been fun right? We get Sunday every day. We can do whatever we want. No work, no nothing. It's like an episode of I Dream of Jeannie."
"Monica, I can't keep waking up and actually finding you here like this. Don't you understand? It's tearing me apart. This dream may be real, but it's not. You can stay here. I can't. I gotta wake up to the truth. Something I don't wanna wake up to."
Monica, felt bad for what John said. She looked over at herself and realized that she didn't like seeing herself like that either. "What if we can bring me back, will everything that has happened to us end? Will we have to start over?"
"No, I don't think so, Mon. When I wake up, I feel the closeness, and you're experiencing it eye to eye, you won't forget and I won't. Of course, it'll be hard, since we'll only have one Sunday every six days."
This made Monica laugh, and that laugh put a smile on John Doggett's face. He put his hands on her cheeks and brushed away the tears. "You won't forget Monica," he said. "But we need to get you back, agreed?"
She nodded. "The doctors have been telling your Mom wild ideas, about how you'll never come back, so they want her to pull the plug."
Monica grabbed John's arm. He felt a pinch of pain from her nails, but ignored it. "We can stop them right.?"
John gave a worried expression. "I have only one idea, but it's a risk.I'm just wondering if it's a risk we're both willing to take." "Tell me what you have in mind?"
"Well, when I wake up, I figured maybe I'll pull the plug on you," before he could finish Monica's eyes widened in fright. "What?"
John put his hands up in defense and continued, "you'll be here, so when I do pull the plug, something will happen here. Then that will be your chance to pull the plug on yourself, and the shock of this happening will send an electrical shock to your brain and bring you back."
Monica paused, looking over at herself and then at John. "How will I know when to do it?" she asked. John shrugged. "I don't know how, but you will. Something will happen." "How do you know?" Monica asked quietly. John looked at her, his feelings for her deepening. "I just have a gut feeling."
"Maybe, Luke is telling you somehow.although that sounds crazy."
John shook his head. "That sounds just about right. I think maybe he is."
Monica smiled and John leaned in and kissed her. "We'll wait until I wake up to do it. I don't know when I'll wake up, but when I do, I'll be right here," he said, looking over at Monica on the bed. "Trust me, okay?" he said. Monica nodded. "I promise, nothing will change. Besides, I figure when you come to, Skinner will be kind enough to give us a week off and then we can do whatever we want together. Cuddle, go out shopping, relax at home. Whatever."
"So, you'll still want me to hangout at your place?" Monica laughed. "Sure, I'll even give you a key to my house."
"And I'll give you the keys to my apartment," Monica joked. "It'll be like teenage dating all over again."
John laughed lightly. "Exactly.but you know, if you ever want to leave your crummy apartment, you could always stay with me, for however long you want."
Monica's lips curled into a small smile. She blushed. "Thank you, John. I'd love that." "Nothing's too good for my Mon," he said, brushing back locks of her brown hair out of her face. "So, once you wake up, this will happen?" Monica asked. John nodded, leaning in and kissing her on her lips. He massaged her cheek with his thumb. "I love you and don't you forget that either," he told her. She put her hand over his and for the first time since they first connected back in the Lexus, John wanted to pull away from fear, but he let her hold on. He wished he knew for sure if their plan was worth it. Monica pulled John in closer and they kissed again for a longer time. Her kiss proved it was worth the risk.
John Doggett's House. 4:56 PM. John woke up before Monica. He just laid there and watched her sleep on his chest. Her brown hair falling in her face, John brushed it back. He wondered what Monica was dreaming about, if anything. He still felt bad for what happened and wanted to make it up to her. Maybe make a nice dinner, so they could talk. He moved her back a little and sat up and took a shower and got dressed. When he came out Monica was still asleep. He gave her a quick kiss on her forehead and then made his way downstairs, to get his car keys and left. He got in his Lexus and then another image flashed in his mind. An image of John and Monica going to her apartment, and then someone or something slamming into them. He held his hand out next to him in the empty seat; the image was so vivid that he was actually acting it out. He watched as his mind showed him and Monica lying in his Lexus, unconscious as sirens and various sounds of the paramedics made their way over. John sat still frozen as he looked over to where his hand was at, protecting the empty seat. He moved it back and held onto the steering wheel tightly. He couldn't understand these images, but he shook them off and left to buy groceries.
Monica woke up to an empty bed; she smiled thinking maybe John was in the bathroom. "John? Are you taking a shower?" she asked. No answer. "John," she called out. She looked over at the nightstand where a small clock laid, and saw it was after five. "John, what are you doing?"
Silence. She smiled and got up, stumbling in the bathroom, only to find it empty. Maybe he was downstairs watching television or perhaps cooking dinner. Monica scurried downstairs, but the kitchen was empty. "John?" she called out, looking at the front door, nothing. She went out back and looked for him. The backyard was empty except for a handful of birds over by the trees. Monica checked back upstairs. It was no use, the house was empty, and this made Monica worry. She sat on the couch, pulling her legs up to her chest, and waited it out. John walked in an hour later, groceries in hand as he heard soft sobs. "Monica?" he asked, worried. He put the groceries down and walked over to Monica as she looked up at him. "I thought you left." she sobbed.
"I did. I just went to buy groceries, so I could make us a nice dinner."
"No," Monica sobbed. "I thought you left me." John smiled sweetly at her. "Left you? Why would you think that?"
Monica sobbed, shaking her head. "I guess I'm just confused right now.overly emotional." John came up and sat down next to her and wrapped his arms around her. "Never think that Mon," he said. "Never think that. I promise, I'll never leave you." Monica looked into his eyes, carefully inspecting them, trying to find what she saw, and she did. She saw an honest, caring man, who loved her deeply. "How about I make us a nice dinner and we can watch a movie or something?" he asked her. His hand placed on her cheek as he massaged it with his thumb. Monica nodded as she put her hand over his. He smiled and leaned in to kiss her lips. John stood up as Monica laid back and watched him pick up the groceries and enter the kitchen. He looked over at the calendar and it said it was Sunday. "Today's Monday, right?" John asked. "No, Sunday."
John paused, staring at the calendar. "Sunday? But yesterday was Sunday."
He heard Monica laughing. "John where's your head? Today is Sunday. Tomorrow is Monday and yesterday was Saturday." ("There is one way to know if it's a coma victim making contact." "How's that?" "The continuing dream may go on for days, but it'll still be the same day. The day it happened.") John remembered that the last three days had indeed been on a Sunday. "Need any help in there?" Monica asked. John came to and forgot about his thoughts when she called out to him. "No, I'm uh fine. Just relax. I'll be there soon." Monica smiled and leaned back and closed her eyes. John peeked in the kitchen and looked at her for a second and then moved back in the kitchen. He suddenly remembered everything; the coma, the accident, AD Skinner, Frohike and Monica's mother. Her mother wanted to pull the plug on Monica. Monica needed John's help; maybe if he talked to her, she could somehow remember what happened. John prepared a small dinner. Two roast sandwiches with a fresh Caesar salad and a bottle of champagne. A bottle John didn't know he had until he looked around in his refrigerator. Monica, who was humming to herself, laid back on the couch and waited for John. "Almost done," he said, putting everything on two trays. He brought one out one step at a time. When he had the second tray he sat down next to Monica and opened the bottle of champagne. "This looks great, John."
John smiled as he put his hand across her cheek and leaned in and kissed her. He wanted to cry, but he held in the tears he had. He was afraid to start the conversation, although he knew he had, but first he decided to wait until they ate. Monica and John sat across from one another and quietly ate their dinner. John kept trying to think of what to say. Monica just sat there, often looking up at John. It was the most awkward dinner ever. Finally, when they were finished, John set aside their trays and Monica moved over closer to John. "Want to cuddle for a bit?" Monica asked.
"Wow, it seems as if it's been forever since we've seen AD Skinner and Mulder and Scully," John said ignoring her. Monica paused for a second, looking into his eyes. Something was definitely on his mind. "Well, we'll see them tomorrow," she said. "It's only been a couple of days, John."
"What if tomorrow is Sunday, again?"
"Again? John are you feeling alright?" Monica asked. She put her hand on his head. "I think you have a fever." "No, Mon," John said, pulling her hand away from him. "I don't. You need help."
"Help?" Monica asked, worried. "What kind of help?"
John swallowed the lump that was deep in his throat and exhaled. "Three days ago, you were in a car accident."
Monica's eyes widened, "an accident?" she questioned. "I'm sorry John, I don't seem to remember that."
John shook his head and put his finger up, silencing her. "Just listen okay?" he asked. Monica nodded approvingly. "Something happened. You were - we were both in a car accident and something happened."
"What?" Monica asked, somewhat interested. "You went into a coma, and.you're still in it."
There John had said it. Silence. Monica stared blankly had him and then laughed. "John, if you didn't want to cuddle, you could have just told me so," she laughed again. John had a frustrated look on his face. This was going to be harder than he thought. Monica stopped laughing, but still had a smile on her face. She was trying to hold in the laughter. John moved in closer to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "Monica, this isn't real. Don't you see? The last three days after the accident, every day has been Sunday and what's going on now is through a dream. I'm dreaming this and you're in it. You're coming in through your coma. You're trying to connect with me."
Monica didn't understand what had gotten into John. She smiled weakly and then put her hand on his stomach. "Are you feeling alright? Is your stomach upset again or something?"
John got up and stood across from her. "Damnet, Mon. I'm serious here. I know this sounds strange to you, and it does to me too, but it's the truth. It's an X-Files, I'm sure, but if you don't start believing', you're not gonna be seein' much more of me.anytime soon."
Monica stood up; she saw the fear in John's eyes. "What are you saying? You want me to leave or something?"
John stared blankly at her. "What? No. No. I don't. I'm saying," he stopped for a second and grabbed her hands and sat down next to her, his hands feeling the top of hers. "I'm saying, that your Mother wants to pull the plug on you.she wants to end your suffering. The doctors are forcing her into something she doesn't want to do and she won't listen to anyone else, but them." "John, I don't understand why you're telling me all of this. This is absurd."
"I know it is.and as a non-believer, this is really out of this world, especially to me, but I'm doing it for you Monica," John stopped as he thought about the day before yesterday when they saw Mulder and Scully at the accident. "Do you remember," he continued, "When we were driving past your apartment, and there was a blockage near the road and two agents were out investigating?"
Monica nodded, her hands a little sweaty, she tried to pull them back, embarrassed by them, but John held on. "That's where it happened.Monica. A drunk driver hit us. Now all I got away with were minor scratches and bruises, but if you hadn't put on your seat belt, and if I hadn't. We'd be dead." Monica was speechless. What could she say to John? How could she believe such a thing? John saw right through her and knew she was just as clueless as before. Then he thought if in his dreams he saw the accident, maybe there'd be a clue at the hospital. "Come on," John said, still holding onto her hands as they sat up. "Where are we going?" Monica asked. John turned his head sideways and said, "I'm going to prove to you, that what's going on is true." Monica sighed as they got into his Lexus and drove to George Washington hospital. "John, really now, this is a waste."
"Yeah, wasting much needed time," he grumbled. Monica sighed again and just kept her stare outside the window.
John hurried up and parked in the hospital's parking lot and grabbed Monica and literally dragged her into the building. "John? John?"
He ignored her cries to stop and went up in the elevators to where her room was outside of his dreams. He peered inside and gasped. Monica looked over at him, not seeing inside. "What's going on?"
He opened the door and Monica looked in and took a double take. Inside lying on a bed was Monica. John walked in followed by Monica. "What's going on?" she asked him. "Well, before I thought if my theory was right, I figured, we'd see you here in the hospital, and so here we are." "I don't understand."
"I know.Monica.I told you. You're in a coma. All of this, us standing here, these last few days, they never happened. They're all inside my head, through my dreams, through your coma. Monica, you're coming through to me in dreamland, so I can help you get out." Monica looked at herself for several seconds before getting enough courage to look John in the eyes. Her own eyes watered. She finally understood. She didn't say anything to John, but rather ran out. "Monica?" John called out. "Monica?!"
He ran outside and saw her heading down the hall. People watched her pass by. John took off after her, trying to get by people that got in his way. Monica ran into a gurney and fell back, crying. John slid on the floor, instantly stopping to a halt. No one seemed to notice their discomfort. Everyone seemed like zombies. John grabbed Monica and pulled her in for a hug. She began to cry out. "I knew. Oh God. I knew. I knew. I knew," she repeated over and over as John tried to quiet her down. He pulled away, still holding onto her arms. "You knew what?" he asked weakly. "I knew something was wrong.I knew everyday was Sunday, but I thought maybe it was for the best. Like nothing could hurt us. That our love was growing and God was giving us a chance to expand that love.I was afraid to say anything. I know what a skeptic you are, John."
Her eyes watered even more after saying that and John pulled her in for another tight embrace. "I'm sorry for being one," he said. "Monica, I know I freaked out when you told me about Luke, but I promise I'll never do that again. Don't ever be afraid to tell me something that's on your mind, especially if it does relate to the paranormal, because I'm here to listen and I know it's hard, because you do know me. You know me more than I'll ever know myself, but I'll try to listen and be here for you."
"Thank you," Monica whispered. John kissed her on the forehead. "Thank you.for being apart of my life," John whispered in her ear. Monica stopped crying. She let John hold her and then she broke free and he helped her up. They slowly made their way back inside the room. John's arm around her waist. When Monica walked in first, she quickly turned around and buried her face in John's chest. "I don't want to go back," she cried. "We still gotta figure out how to get you back."
"No, John," she said, looking up at him and looking into his eyes. "I don't want to leave what we have here."
"Monica, I know you don't. I don't either, but it's not real."
Monica shook her head. "I know, but it's been fun right? We get Sunday every day. We can do whatever we want. No work, no nothing. It's like an episode of I Dream of Jeannie."
"Monica, I can't keep waking up and actually finding you here like this. Don't you understand? It's tearing me apart. This dream may be real, but it's not. You can stay here. I can't. I gotta wake up to the truth. Something I don't wanna wake up to."
Monica, felt bad for what John said. She looked over at herself and realized that she didn't like seeing herself like that either. "What if we can bring me back, will everything that has happened to us end? Will we have to start over?"
"No, I don't think so, Mon. When I wake up, I feel the closeness, and you're experiencing it eye to eye, you won't forget and I won't. Of course, it'll be hard, since we'll only have one Sunday every six days."
This made Monica laugh, and that laugh put a smile on John Doggett's face. He put his hands on her cheeks and brushed away the tears. "You won't forget Monica," he said. "But we need to get you back, agreed?"
She nodded. "The doctors have been telling your Mom wild ideas, about how you'll never come back, so they want her to pull the plug."
Monica grabbed John's arm. He felt a pinch of pain from her nails, but ignored it. "We can stop them right.?"
John gave a worried expression. "I have only one idea, but it's a risk.I'm just wondering if it's a risk we're both willing to take." "Tell me what you have in mind?"
"Well, when I wake up, I figured maybe I'll pull the plug on you," before he could finish Monica's eyes widened in fright. "What?"
John put his hands up in defense and continued, "you'll be here, so when I do pull the plug, something will happen here. Then that will be your chance to pull the plug on yourself, and the shock of this happening will send an electrical shock to your brain and bring you back."
Monica paused, looking over at herself and then at John. "How will I know when to do it?" she asked. John shrugged. "I don't know how, but you will. Something will happen." "How do you know?" Monica asked quietly. John looked at her, his feelings for her deepening. "I just have a gut feeling."
"Maybe, Luke is telling you somehow.although that sounds crazy."
John shook his head. "That sounds just about right. I think maybe he is."
Monica smiled and John leaned in and kissed her. "We'll wait until I wake up to do it. I don't know when I'll wake up, but when I do, I'll be right here," he said, looking over at Monica on the bed. "Trust me, okay?" he said. Monica nodded. "I promise, nothing will change. Besides, I figure when you come to, Skinner will be kind enough to give us a week off and then we can do whatever we want together. Cuddle, go out shopping, relax at home. Whatever."
"So, you'll still want me to hangout at your place?" Monica laughed. "Sure, I'll even give you a key to my house."
"And I'll give you the keys to my apartment," Monica joked. "It'll be like teenage dating all over again."
John laughed lightly. "Exactly.but you know, if you ever want to leave your crummy apartment, you could always stay with me, for however long you want."
Monica's lips curled into a small smile. She blushed. "Thank you, John. I'd love that." "Nothing's too good for my Mon," he said, brushing back locks of her brown hair out of her face. "So, once you wake up, this will happen?" Monica asked. John nodded, leaning in and kissing her on her lips. He massaged her cheek with his thumb. "I love you and don't you forget that either," he told her. She put her hand over his and for the first time since they first connected back in the Lexus, John wanted to pull away from fear, but he let her hold on. He wished he knew for sure if their plan was worth it. Monica pulled John in closer and they kissed again for a longer time. Her kiss proved it was worth the risk.