Present Day, Mrs Mathers' Residence...
Monica got into the car and took a deep breath before looking at Phoebe to start the car and drive on.
"Well? What did she say?"
"That she left her husband because she fell out of love with him, and felt so guilty that she left their son with him so he wouldn't be alone, that she became so focused on her career that she even forgot she had a son at times, and that she only saw him on birthdays and at Christmas unless she had the sudden urge to see him."
"The sudden urge? You shouldn't need a sudden urge to be a parent and be with your child, some people just shouldn't be allowed to breed."
"Well, either way, the only guilt that woman has is of feeling like a terrible mother."
"And rightly so."
"Agent Carmichael, sometimes it's not that straight forward. Don't judge a mother or her actions until you know what it's like to be a mother yourself."
"You're condoning her actions as a parent?"
"No, I'm saying that she was doing what she thought was best for her son. And she certainly didn't kidnap him. So lets go talk to the local PD and see what they have so far."
Phoebe started the car without another word and Monica knew that she had been strong and honest, but only in a professional way, she hoped that this wouldn't put any further strain on their working relationship.
At the police department there wasn't a great deal more for Monica and Phoebe to learn, and neither of them were sure that the case was of any kind of priority to the police. They were given simple, and wherever possible, one word answers, to their questions, and that they could have whatever they wanted to help find this kid because they had a lot more work than they did man power.
Monica disliked this man right away, whereas Phoebe tried to use her young womanly charm to get the officer to be a little more cooperative and helpful to them. It was no use and they were soon back out in the car and heading back to the bureau.
"Agent Doggett where are we going?"
"There's nothing else we can do here. And apart from the fact that I feel obliged to help as a woman and as a parent this case is not an x-file. I'll write up a report and hand it to Skinner recommending that the bureau get involved because of the lack of response from the PD. It's back to the office Agent Carmichael."
Phoebe desperately wanted to argue the case and get them to stay a little longer, but part of her knew that Monica was right. She just desperately wanted to find this little boy.
When they got back to the x-files office the telephone was ringing and Monica reached it just in time to answer.
"Monica Rey... Doggett."
"Monica!"
"Mom?"
"We're back! But we took a detour, we're going to be at your place by six, we have so many gifts for Anna, we've missed her."
"Mom, we need to talk."
"We'll see you at six, tell John we said hello. Bye baby!"
Monica put down the phone and felt foolish for thinking this day might not come. She knew she'd have to tell her parents at some point. But she didn't want to. After this there was no one else to tell, which meant it was all over and she really would have to stop thinking about it all the time.
July 1st, Doggett Residence...
Monica was late. She knew it. And she knew that Anna would be upset, and John would be angry. She walked into the kitchen and it was empty. Plates were stacked clean and dry ready to put away, and the surfaces sparkled. She had missed dinner, and Anna was quite possibly already sleeping. She went up the stairs and heard John's voice coming from Anna's room. He was reading to her, at least that meant she was still awake and Monica could apologise. She walked into the room and tried to put on her warmest smile.
"Mommy!"
"Hey baby."
Anna jumped out of bed and ran over to Monica who picked her up and walked back
towards the sheets and blankets now strewn across the bed.
"You missed dinner mommy, I helped cook."
"I know baby, I'm sorry. I had a lot of work to do today, I had to do your daddy's share so he could be here with you."
Monica tickled Anna as she lay her back down in bed and John stood up.
"Goodnight sweetheart."
"Night daddy."
John walked out of the room and Monica watched him go racked with guilt.
"Ok, let's get you off to sleep ok?"
"Ok. Mommy, can I cook for you tomorrow night?"
"Of course you can. Goodnight baby."
"Night mommy, love you."
"I love you too."
Monica slowly pulled the bedroom door to and headed towards her own bedroom.
John was sitting on the bed with his back to he and she wasn't at all sure about how she should handle this.
"Where were you?"
"I was in Maryland. They let Davies go and needed my help moving the case along."
"I see."
"We've spent all afternoon looking for Mia Dukes, she had a motive, the Gooding's were going to send her to live with her father and she didn't want to go."
"That's all very fascinating Mon, but what about your family here?"
"John don't do this..."
"You didn't even call to say you'd be late! Anna was so disappointed, I was disappointed."
"And that's what this is all about! Not Anna, you! My God John, lately it's as if you want to own me, control my every move my every thought."
"That's BS."
"Is it? Because I'm not so sure. I'm a big girl John, I know what I'm doing."
"You have no idea Monica. Not one idea. You get so wrapped up in cases like this that you forget you're a whole other person when your mind isn't being intruded by work! I leave work in that office the second I step foot out of the bureau. You bring so much home with you. Where do Anna and I fit in?"
"After the weekend we just had you're asking me where you fit in?! Are you serious with this?!"
"Yes!"
"Well I'm sorry if I bring a little humanity into my work, I'm not a robot John, I can't just switch my emotions on and off like you can. Hot one minute, cold the next. If I get involved in a case it's because it's important, and if you knew me at all you'd know that this case is important to me because I have to prove that I wasn't the cause for Mia Dukes' life turning out the way it did!"
"You killed her uncle and sent her mom to a mental hospital for the rest of her life, figure it out for yourself will ya."
John stood up and walked out of the room slamming the door shut of the spare room next door. Monica sat down on the bed and wanted to scream. She ran her hands through her hair and began to cry just as Anna appeared at her door.
"Mommy? Where's daddy?"
"It's ok baby, it's ok. Come on, let's get you back into bed."
Monica took Anna into her room and stayed with her until she was asleep. What the hell was going on here? How could things change so much in so short a period of time?