Part 45.
John rubbed the back of his neck as he climbed the stairs to Monica's apartment. It had been a long day. Spending the entire morning and afternoon with Assistant Director Stevens wasn't what he would call…a normal day. The man may have been more flabbergasted about the turn of events than he was.
John couldn't help but chuckle as he remembered the look on A.D Stevens face when John had gone into his office this morning and explained what had happened to Monica.
All last night, while Monica was being observed by doctors at the hospital, Mulder, Scully and John had come up with a plan to throw off A.D Stevens and anyone else that was involved. They just couldn't jeopardize their positions again. Well, they couldn't jeopardize it so soon anyway, John thought with a sigh.
Reaching Monica's apartment, John knocked, and after a moment, Scully answered the door. Giving him a bright smile, she held the door open for him and they both walked toward the balcony. Mulder stood in the kitchen and nodded to John as he continued his rather intense conversation with someone on the phone.
John acknowledged him and then asked, "Where's Monica?"
Scully smiled over at him as she walked out into the bright sunshine and leaned on the balcony rail. "She went for a walk. I think she just needed to get out of this apartment for awhile."
John nodded and resisted the urge to go after her at that instant.
Scully gazed out over the city and without looking at him she asked, "So how did it go this morning?"
"Well, the man was fairly suspicious the entire time we talked but I think he bought our theory. By the time I started getting into cults and Monica's ability to understand what makes them tick, A.D Stevens looked rather…tired. So, to say the least, I don't think we have to worry about him stirring anything up for us when we get back to DC. And it helped that Skinner called him this morning with a similar story. I gotta hand it to you Scully; your story on a cult being after Monica was quite brilliant."
Scully chuckled as she turned and looked at Mulder through the open sliding door.
"Maybe. But it took all of us to do this. It's technically our first case back on the X-Files, for all of us."
Just then Mulder walked outside to join them on the balcony. Leaning against the rail, he grabbed Scully's left hand and rubbed it absentmindedly. "Skinner says we should have no problem with any of the prisoners. All of the witnesses have been telling the police that a cult kidnapped them and they were being marched to their deaths."
Scully looked up at him sharply. "So, none of them saw…anything?"
Mulder shook his head. "No, nothing at all. Which seems odd…but also makes sense."
John then spoke up. "What about the driver of the Mercedes? Nothing is checking out on this person. Maybe it was a Red Gun too."
"Actually, you are never going to believe who the driver was." Scully and John both looked over at Mulder.
"Who?" John straightened up and stared at Mulder.
Mulder chuckled as he thought about it. "Spender. Skinner contacted him because he thought we might need help. And he didn't tell us because Spender requested that we not know."
Scully turned around, and with a quizzical look on her face, she stared out at the view again. "I wonder why he didn't want us to know. I mean, he testified for Mulder. The Red Guns must have known he was on our side. So why recruit him?"
"He made a believable story. They bought it. And he'd been diverting the Red Guns away from us since then."
John chuckled at the thought. "Son of a bitch."
Suddenly John decided he just couldn't take anymore. As much as he wanted to hash out the case with these guys, he wanted to see Monica more. He hadn't seen her since this morning when he dropped her off at her apartment after the long night spent in the hospital.
Noticing John edging toward the sliding door, Mulder said, "I don't think she has her cell with her."
"It's okay. I think I know where she went. I'll see you two in a bit."
John jogged out of the apartment and down the stairs to the street. Looking both ways, John quickly made up his mind to head to the beach. His instinct told him she's be there
When John reached the beach access road, he crossed it and walked over the first sand dune he came across. Shielding his eyes from the setting sun, he scanned up and down the beach.
He instantly spotted her down the beach. She was standing in the waves, staring out into the ocean. She was wearing a red top and tight jeans. Her hair was piled up on top of her head, a style she usually never did.
His mouth watered just looking at her.
Monica stood with the soothing water crashing over her feet. Taking a deep breathe of salty air, she felt more relaxed than ever. It felt so wonderful to finally stop worrying, even if it's only for a few minutes.
Suddenly she felt eyes on her. But a warm feeling came over her, which was strange since it was not the type of feeling she usually felt when someone was watching her.
Turning her head, she spotted John walking toward her. Her skinned flushed just by looking at him. She had loved him for so long now. And known him a lot longer before that. So, it seemed odd that she would be jittery with him coming towards her. But things were different. The way he had held her yesterday. He had been so gentle and soothing. And she had seen how scared he was when he thought she was dead. So what happened next?
When John reached her, he was once again awed be her beauty. And felt anger when the stark white bandages stood out against her golden skin. Without saying a word, John reached back behind her and undid the clasp in her hair. Her silky hair escaped and tumbled around her shoulders.
Monica looked up at him, her eyes full of laughter.
"Monica…" John could barely speak before he crushed her against him. Monica felt a few tears escape as she wrapped her arms around him and held on tight. She really needed a hug. The tenderness of someone else's arms wrapped around her felt so good.
After a minute, John reluctantly broke away and stepped back.
Monica wiped at her eyes and smiled. "So how did you know where to find me?"
John chuckled and looked out at the ocean before he answered. "I just knew. You wouldn't believe it but I think your instincts are beginning to rub off on me."
Monica laughed and replied, "I believe it."
Awkward silence fell and John reached for anything to fill it. "So have you spoken to Kate yet?"
"Yes. This morning I called her. We talked for awhile. I think she'll be okay. With the Red Guns destroyed, I doubt she will astro project again. The poor thing. There's so much she doesn't understand about what happened, but she seems okay with it. She just wants to put it behind her. And stay away from jewelry stores for awhile."
John laughed at that. "I don't blame her. She's a good kid. And she was lucky to have you."
Monica smiled.
"And so am I."
Monica looked at him in surprise and John leaned forward and gently placed his lips on hers. After the quick but soft kiss, John lifted his head and looked deep into her eyes.
Searching her eyes, he could see the love and the lust.
"Monica, is this what you want?"
Monica stared up at him and smiled. "Do you even have to ask?"
That was all he needed to hear. He brought her against him and, being careful of her injured wrist, wrapped his arms around her. They leaned into each other and passionately kissed.
Monica had loved him for so long and couldn't deny that she had wondered how their first kiss would be. At this very moment, she knew she had been right. It was perfect.
When they finally came up for air, Monica laughed and broke out of his arms. "God, the water feels so good John. Take off your shoes and come get your feet wet!"
John quickly obeyed and then joined her in the lapping waves. Grabbing onto her, he let her take the brunt of the first big wave.
"John!" Monica yelped before twisting out of his grasp and, half limping, ran away from him. He chased her and twirled her around in the air. Instead of putting her down, he kissed her again. It was meant to be a quick kiss before setting her down, but the kiss suddenly became deep and sensual. Lips sought lips. Their tongues explored each other. All of those feelings and desires felt by both for so long…now erupting under their passion for each other.
After what seemed like hours, Monica broke away breathless and stared down at him in awe.
John met her eyes and looked at her full of love. He couldn't believe she had chosen him. They were work partners for crying out loud. But now...they were so much more. She meant more to him than anything in the world.
Laughter gone, John set her down gently and they stood, their eyes locked in each other's gazes.
Monica finally broke the spell and leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. John wrapped his arms around her again and they slow danced in the gorgeous sunset.
From far away, an elderly couple watched with smiles as they commented how beautiful the dancing couple looked against the deep blue of the ocean and the blazing orange of the setting sun.
The End.