Part 12.
"Astro projection, shortened for astral projection. The idea of someone escaping their physical body. You remain attached to your physical body by an invisible cord. Almost like an umbilical cord. You travel and are aware of things and places that you encounter. Of course, this has never been scientifically proven." Scully shrugged her shoulders as she looked from John to Mulder. "You guys think Monica is astro projecting herself?"
Before Mulder could say anything, John said, "No. But I think she is part of a case that involves astro projection.
Surprised at how calmly John admitted to believing this theory, Mulder nodded his head in agreement and started to roam the office, trying to piece together what they had discovered so far. He turned around and looked at Scully.
"But what I don't get is, why this secrecy?" He looked over at John, who just shook his head. "Why Skinner covered up Monica's transfer? He said she had become a threat to herself, to us and to the X-Files. But I don't see how. Not with a case that has to do with astro projecting."
Mulder went to stand behind Scully and put his hands on her shoulders. He began to rub them when Scully said, "John, there's also something you should know."
John looked up at them, "What now?"
"No, it's not like that." Scully looked at the ground and Mulder continued for her.
"We had a little meeting today with Skinner while you were glued to your computer. He has a new case for us."
"What!" John jumped out of his chair, "We need to focus on this!"
"I know, but as far as Skinner is concerned, we shouldn't be looking for Monica, period. We're back on the X-Files now, and they want us to start ASAP."
John jammed his hands in his pockets and finally met Mulder in the eye. "Okay, yeah I know. It's just…well I need to find her. And I won't stop until I do."
Scully got up and walked over to him. "We know. And we will help you in any way that we can."
It was very late by the time John climbed into his truck ad set out for home. As he drove through the dark streets, his thoughts kept wandering to Monica. What was she doing right now? Was she up late working? On a date? John shuddered at that last thought. She better not be! John hit the steering wheel and suddenly burst out laughing. What right did he have to say that? She had always been there for him. He knew she had the same feelings for him, yet he had kept her at arms length. And now he thought he could have control over if she wanted to date. God damn it, he didn't even know where she was to even tell her not to date.
He was losing his mind. John pulled up into his driveway and just sat there. He stared at his garage door and finally scrubbed his hands over his face and got out. He walked up the walkway and dug out his keys as he stepped onto the porch. Hearing a rustling sound behind him, he turned around and whipped out his gun.
"Geez, I was wondering how long you were going to sit out there in that truck. With Monica on your mind, it might have been a long time. It's freezing out here. The weather is much easier to deal with in the desert." With that, Gibson walked out of the shadows and stood under the porch light.
"Gibson?" John could hardly keep the astonishment out of his voice. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"To help you find Monica. Now could you please put away your gun and open the door? I'm dyin' out here."
"Oh yeah. Sure...sure."
John fumbled with the lock and then opened the door and stood back as Gibson nearly ran inside.
Part 13.
Drumming her fingers on her desk, Monica knew it was going to be a long night. It was nearly eleven and she was full of energy. Of course, she had nearly downed four cups of coffee. Actually, what she really longed for was a cigarette. She had been so good up to now, but everything was turning upside down in her life and she was losing the little control she had left. She missed the East Coast, her friends, the X-Files and...John. Oh God, how could this of happened? Everything was going wrong.
Okay, deep breathe. She silently chanted this to herself and she forced herself to focus on the open files spread out on her desk. There, on the inside flap of the first folder, held a photo of the thirteen year-old suspect. She was very pretty, with curly blond hair and a few freckles dusted over her cheeks. She looked so innocent. Monica knew looks could be conceiving but her gut instinct told her that this girl was not the person they were looking for. She was the one stealing the jewelry, but she was being manipulated into doing it. But by who? Monica pondered over this for awhile when the ringing of her cell phone jerked her out of deep thought.
Monica reached over and pressed the 'on' button.
"Reyes"
"Monica?"
"Skinner?"
"Uh yes. I was calling to check up on you. See how you were doing."
"Sir, I know you have better means of checking up on me…but I appreciate you calling."
Skinner chuckled and was silent for a minute. "I don't know when this will be over," he admitted.
"I know. And I wanted to say thanks again...for helping me through this. It's all so strange."
"No thanks needed. You're one of my agents, and a damn good one."
Monica smiled at that and said nothing for a minute.
Skinner pressed on. "I just wanted you to know I am doing everything I can over here to quicken the pace of ending this so we can get you back here."
"Thank you Sir. Umm…And the X-Files…I mean…" Monica knew she was screwing this up but she didn't know how to ask him without sounding…foolish.
Skinner knew what she was trying to ask. "Agent Doggett is fine but he's trying is damn hardest to locate you."
Monica took in a deep breathe and forced her voice not to sound shaky. "And you're making sure he doesn't find out anything right? If anything happens to him, or Agents Mulder and Scully-"
"I know. Believe me I know. So far, I don't think they've come up with anything conclusive but if I think they are onto something I'll try and throw them off."
"Thank you sir."
"Monica, you hang in there. I'll be in touch."
Monica stared at her cell phone for a second and gently put in on her desk. She closed her eyes and suddenly felt like she was suffocating. She needed to get some air. She ran into her bedroom, threw on some running clothes, grabbed her apartment key and ran out the door. Running down the hallway, she ignored the guy who still was relentless about trying to ask her out.
"Hey honey, where you off to so-" The elevator doors slammed shut before he could finish. Down in the lobby she went out the side door and burst out onto the street. She made a right turn and started running toward the beach. She had to escape, she had to keeping running. Her breathe began to quicken as she tried to take in oxygen and hundreds of thoughts raced through her mind. People were going to find out and they were going to get hurt because of it. People were bound to realize something was up when no one could find information on her besides the top directors of the FBI. Thanks to Kersh, who she owed big time, no one was to find out anything. Monica felt tears running down her cheeks but she made no move to wipe them away and pressed on. She jumped onto the sand and ran along the water. She could barely see the water because of the darkness but she found her way by listening to the surf and following the light posts that lit the sand and the few parking lots. She ran harder and harder. She was so lost in her thoughts than she didn't see him until she almost plowed right into him. The man was standing right in her path and was almost invisible in the darkness.
"OH! I am so sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going." Monica bent over a little to catch her breathe and looked up again.
"It's alright. Isn't it a little late for a woman to be out alone?"
Monica smiled, a little puzzled because she knew she had heard that voice before but couldn't place it.
"I know. I just needed a little run. I'm sorry for almost running into you. Bye." Monica took off and not two minutes later did she stop when the realization hit her.
That voice, those eyes.
No, he was dead. She knew he was dead. Monica whipped around but he was gone. Suddenly she felt frightened. FBI agent or not, she was a woman who was dumb enough to not bring a weapon while stupidly running in the middle of the night.
Monica quickly ran up the sand and stuck close to the light posts as she ran home.
When she got to her door, she trembled as she tried to stick her key into the lock. On the third try the door swung open and Monica almost fell inside. She relocked the door and turned around. Walking to the kitchen she grabbed a glass and filled it with water. Deciding she was paranoid and should give the case another whirl, she walked to her desk and dropped the glass of water. The files were gone. All of them. And on her desk in black marker were the words, "You'll soon see."
Panicked, Monica grabbed her gun from her coffee table and, checking to see if it was loaded, did a quick search of her apartment. When she found nothing, she dropped into a kitchen chair and stared numbly at her desk across the room. She didn't even feel the blood dripping down her legs from the broken glass. She didn't feel the cold chill of the ocean breeze flowing in through an open window. All she was aware of was they had found her, and she had come face to face with man who had died and come back…yet again.