Doggett knocked on Reyes' door, and when there was no answer, dug out the key that she'd given him in case of emergencies. When he figured that Gibson also wasn't home, he decided it would be ok to write her a note inside the apartment where no one undesirable could surprise him.

He found a pen and a notebook and began to scratch out his note, wishing for the thousandth time that spiral notebooks weren't as torturous to the left handed. Eventually he realized that he was mistaken about the apartment being empty because he could faintly hear what he thought was singing; apparently Reyes' doctor appointment hadn't been as time consuming as she'd feared. He quickly finished the note, ripped it out of the notebook, folded it in half, wrote her name on it and put it on the table.

Curiosity propelled his feet in the direction of her bathroom, and he stopped outside the door. Even though he could hear the steady stream of water pattering on the bottom of the tub, it was quite easy to make out the words to her song. He was surprised that her voice was so clear and sweet, given the ribbing Reyes occasionally took from Scully over her 'whale songs'. Doggett felt glued to the stop as he listened to a song he couldn't quite place, but reminded him a little of the letter verse in "Your house" by Alanis Morissette, if only in melody or the fact that there was no music to accompany her voice. He leaned up against the wall, closed his eyes, and listened.

I followed your lead

Agreed to be friends

Now my heart bleeds

This needs to end.

It's what we don't say

And things we don't do

The reason we stay, here

And why I don't love you.

I thought I could wait

For your change of mind

'guess that sealed our fate

I'm leaving this behind.

It's what we don't say

And things we don't do

The reason we stay, here

And why I don't love you.

Now that I know

You'll never love me

I can let you go

And finally be free.

It's what you don't say

And things you don't do

The reason you stay, here

And why I don't love you.



The reason you stay, here

And why I don't love you.

The reason you stay, here

And why I don't love you.

Doggett left as soon as he heard the water being turned off in the shower, since he didn't want to risk surprising Reyes and embarrassing them both. As he drove home he couldn't get the lyrics of the strange song out of his head, and he kept wondering why she was singing it.

The more he thought about the song, later when he was making dinner, the guiltier it made him feel, because he thought it was some how connected to him. There was a lot he'd never told her, and many things he'd never dared to do, all because past pain made him hesitate. Even if the song had no particular significance to her, he decided that it was a good reminder that things ignored often die of neglect. He found it food for thought.

It's what we don't say

And things we don't do

The reason we stay, here

And why I don't love you.

With a jolt Doggett realized that he was singing the song's sorrowful refrain to himself as he got ready for bed.

**

The man was now back on his original assignment, although he was no longer doing surveillance on the elementary school, because school had let out for the summer while he was away. He wasn't exactly pleased to be back in New York, though that was due mostly to the overall muting of his emotions, but he was comfortable with the return to familiar routines.

Despite his near lack of emotions, he had been reluctant to report to his superiors that he has failed, because his abilities to feel fear and shame had not been completely eradicated. In fact, those in charge of the program has purposely preserved them in the subjects, considering those two feelings to be highly valuable. At the time of his failure, the man had felt ashamed that he was unsuccessful in completing his orders- to dispatch the boy in addition to his adoptive parents- but had known that the directive to avoid being captured at all costs superseded his goal.

He had reported his failure, then numbly waited for the consequences. It was therefore a slight relief to find that his failure would not result in any punishment at all, and in fact he would no longer be required to have any concerns about the boy's life, or death. Being what he was, he didn't even think to question why he had gotten off so easily, nor what would be done with the boy now.

Besides, he thought as he peered out the window of his newly rented apartment, I will not fail in this, the original assignment, nor will it be left undone. He merely had to continue his observations until the date upon which he was supposed to act arrived.

**

Reyes knocked on the door, flanked by Skinner and Doggett. It secretly amused her that neither of the tough, brave men could bring themselves to be the first thing Kersh saw when he opened the door. Perhaps, she reflected, they were embarrassed to be asking him a favor.

When the door swung open, she realized that they were not the only ones who had something to be embarrassed about. Kersh was wearing a wife-beater that had probably once been white but was now a dingy gray, and baby blue boxer shorts. His face had a few days worth of stubble decorating it, and Reyes thought she saw a bit of dull color rise up amidst it, though she wasn't sure if was due so much to shame as anger.

" What are you doing here?" He asked harshly, making no move to allow them in his home.

" Please sir, if we could only have a few minutes of your time." Skinner said in an uncharacteristically placating and humble voice.

" Yeah, sure time I have in abundance, I guess I don't mind sharing. Get in here before the neighbors see you and start to ask questions." He said, his voice still gruff. He led them through a kitchen littered with cardboard boxes that had mostly contained cereal and other dry foods. Though the room was cluttered it was fairly clean. Their destination was a spotless living room. Gesturing towards the couch he had them sit. " You caught me in the middle of getting my recycling together." He told them, though Reyes couldn't tell if the statement was an explanation for the state of the kitchen, or an expression of annoyance. "What do I owe the pleasure of your company?" He asked, a bitingly sardonic note in his voice.

" Frankly, sir, we need your help." Skinner say simply.

" Let me guess, Mulder and Scully have blundered their way into trouble again."

Skinner is slightly taken aback by the other man's accurate guess. " In a manner of speaking...their son's adoptive parents have been murdered-"

" I couldn't get him off on a murder charge two months ago, why do you think I'd be able to now?" Kersh demands.

" Neither Mulder or Scully is a suspect in the case." Skinner assures him. " However, Mulder is seeking to be granted custody of the baby."

" I fail to see what that has to do with me." Kersh replies.

" Well...Mulder's lawyers seem to think that the best course action would be for one of Mulder's former superiors to make a statement in court that he was required to go underground, and that's why he couldn't be found to contest the adoption. Since you're the person who more or less suggested he do so..." Skinner trailed off as he noticed the look on Kersh's face.

Kersh cut off any further discussion. " Look, I'm glad that he might be able to get his son back, but he's going to have to do it without my help. I risked everything to help him before, and as you can see, there have been serious consequences to my actions. I'm sorry." He said, almost sounding it.

The three agents thanked him for his time, all hoping that Mulder would be able to get the baby back anyway.

**

" There you go, good catch!" Mulder told William as the baby pounced on the beach ball. Mulder retrieved the ball since he knew it wouldn't be returned to him because William didn't quite understand the rules yet. That did not, however, prevent him from feeling proud of him. " Did you see that catch, Scully? Maybe we have a future outfielder on our hands."

Scully looked up from her towel and smile. " Oh, Mulder, you and baseball..."

" As I recall, you quite enjoyed it when I taught you to hit the ball." Mulder told her with a sly grin. He watched a blush rise on her cheeks. " You might want to put on more sunscreen, you've suddenly turned all pink."

Anyone passing the trio as they lounged on the beach would have seen a still athletic looking man in early 40's, a pretty woman in her 30's, and their obviously adored son, who seemed to be basking in his parents attention, even as he was trying to force his sun hat into his father's startled mouth.

" No no Will, that doesn't taste good." Scully admonished as she went to Mulder's rescue.

" Yuck! Must have said something he didn't like." Mulder chuckled.

" Maybe he just doesn't like the colors. Who buys a green and purple hat?" Scully suggested playfully.

Before long William was dozing under Scully's umbrella, and Mulder grew more serious.

" I've been putting it off, but there's something my lawyer said that you and I should discuss."

Scully didn't like his serious tone, and fought to keep her own voice light. " I thought we already discussed everything he told you."

" Not everything." He confessed. " I, um, have put it off so long because I'm afraid this will be painful for you to hear."

" Don't leave me in suspense, Mulder." She told him evenly.

" He said that in order to make me look good, he might have to make you look bad. Probably would have to. Present you as someone who was so eager to give up the baby that you rushed things through and didn't really make an effort to find out if I was really dead like you told the people at the adoption agency...that sort of thing."

Scully swallowed hard. " Whatever it takes to get him back permanently, Mulder. Whatever it takes."

Mulder put his arm around her and pulled her close. " He also suggested that you not be there and...I think that might be for the best."

" You might be right, Mulder." Scully replied, even though the thought of not hearing the outcome first hand was painful.