August 2nd, Present Day, Doggett Residence...

What upset Monica the most was that she hadn't spoken a single word to Anna all weekend. Tomorrow she would be back at work, and then it would be like none of this had ever happened. It was already two in the afternoon. Anna had put herself to bed the night before and hadn't as yet left her room. Monica had taken her food up to her, but they hadn't exchanged any kind of sentence or attempted a conversation. It was less than a week until Anna's birthday. They had to sort this out and soon.

But Monica was the adult, she was the one who would have to fix this, not her baby girl. As she stood up from the sofa to go and talk with her there was a knock on the door and Monica was greeted with a warm smile from Dana. They walked inside and went into the garden in case Anna overheard them.

"How are you both doing?"

"We haven't spoken. Which I know makes it sound like we're two adults that have had a falling out, but we're not. She's four, and I'm her mother, and yet I can't go up there to fix this."

"You will. It'll be ok."

"Will it?"

"Yes. But, there is something in particular I wanted to talk to you about. About what happened the other night."

"Dana..."

"Just hear me out... Mulder's been driving me crazy all weekend saying he can't believe how sceptical you're being about this whole thing. That of all people he thought you'd be open to it. And after about the tenth time hearing it, I began to wonder too. Not that I'm saying I think Anna saw anything that night, I honestly don't have an opinion one way or the other on what happened, but I do know you, and I know that usually you wouldn't just try and brush this under the carpet. Pretend that there was nothing in it, especially when it concerns your own family. So I'm curious. What is it that's really bothering you about this?"

Monica looked at Dana and had been certain that the real reason she was so against this being real was something that only she would ever know or suspect. She didn't want people to know what her selfish reasons were or why she upset her little girl so much. But as Dana sat staring at her with so much concern in her eyes Monica knew that she was the only person she could and should tell.

"He picked her."

"What?"

"John picked her to see him."

"Oh Monica..."

"I know. It's ridiculous. She's four years old for cryin' out loud and I'm jealous because he let her see him. It's pathetic. But if he was here to say goodbye why didn't he let me see him?" Dana put her arm around Monica as she cried and didn't know what else to say.

"I'm so sorry Monica..."

"Don't be. It's so stupid. I just, I keep thinking about the last time I saw him, I wouldn't let him say goodbye, I begged him not to. And now more than anything I wish that I had been able to say goodbye to him. But I can't. It's too late. And if that was our last chance to let him go, I missed it. And I can't seem to get past it." Dana lifted Monica up so they were facing each other and Monica wiped her face dry and stifled a laugh through her sorry appearance.

"I'm so sick of crying all the time. I'm sorry you have to keep going through this with me."

"I'd be offended if there was anyone else you could turn to." Monica smiled and then Dana smiled, but with the intent of saying something else.

"There's one more thing that I have to know. And that I think you should know too."

"What?" Dana reached into her bag and pulled out another small bag from which she produced a pregnancy test.

"Are you serious?!"

"If it's positive you know that Anna was telling the truth. And what better way to make it up to her than by telling her she's going to be a big sister?" Monica looked at the small box in Dana's hand and then at Dana. Finally she took the box and walked inside with Dana following eagerly behind.

July 3rd, Silver Spring, Maryland, Gooding Residence...

Monica could feel her arm lying awkwardly behind her. When she tried to look round she could feel John lying on top of her and she felt a rush of relief run throughout her body.

"John? John?" He didn't move, and the relief turned to fear. She wriggled free and as she turned around she saw all of the blood. It was everywhere. John opened his eyes and looked at her smiling. The entire house was full of medics, FBI, and police officers. Monica took John's hand and smiled back at him through the panic tears that were in the back of her eyes.

"Mon... You ok?"

"I'm good, hold on John, they're coming now...I told you not to do anything stupid."

"You know me... live by my own rules..."

"Yeah..."

"That's why you love me so much. That and my dirty New Yorker weekends." They both laughed bravely but John's face suddenly contracted in pain and he held Monica's hand tighter.

"Mon... I have to see Anna..."

"No, don't you do this to me. You're not saying goodbye."

"I have to see her... I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you..."

"John listen to me! You are not dying here! Not like this, you're going to be fine." Dana and a several paramedics were now crowding around John but Monica refused to move. Nobody tried to move her.

"I love you Monica... so much..."

"John please... don't... don't do this, not to me... not now..."

"I couldn't let her... I couldn't let her hurt you...you're my world... you know that right... my whole world." John raised his other hand to Monica's face and stroked it softly before falling unconscious. Monica panicked but he was quickly rushed into the back of an ambulance and taken to the nearest hospital. Dana was standing beside her and Monica felt as if she was in a dream until she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Monica... We should get to the hospital..."

"I have to get Anna. He asked for Anna, I should get her, she'll make him laugh, make him smile. It'll be ok. I have to get her."

"Monica let me call Mulder to bring her, we should get there now."

"No, don't you do this to me. Not you, please, he's going to be fine. When you get there you tell him from me that we're on our way!" Monica ran off to her car and as she did so she saw all of the other children watching a policeman put Mia Dukes in the back of a car. She was in handcuffs and showed not a single bit of remorse or regret. It made Monica feel sick but she got into her car and sped off home. Anna would make this better. She would make everything ok as soon as John saw her face. It would all be ok.

Monica got out of the car and ran into the house. Mulder had come to their house as they had had to hurry things along that morning and William insisted that they go to Doggett's house instead of staying at home. She ran into the house and out to the garden. She stopped when she saw Anna playing on the slide with Jack and it was then she saw all of the blood on her hands.

She ran back into the house and stood over the sink in the kitchen. She threw up and quickly washed her hands to make it not real. No blood, no wound. Mulder came down the stairs and startled her as he stood behind her.

"Monica, I just spoke to Dana, I'm so sorry. We should get to the hospital right away."

The two of the walked out to the garden and Mulder rounded up the kids as Monica stood unable to move or think. When the telephone rang Anna ran inside to answer it and Mulder saw that Monica was in shock. He walked over to her but was interrupted form saying anything by Anna's return with the telephone.

"Mommy it's for you, it's aunt Dana. She said it's important." Monica took the phone and Mulder told Anna to get her jacket and make sure that William and Jack were ready to go. But as Monica listened on the phone the look on her face made him doubt whether they would be going anywhere at all.