When Doggett got home he wasn't sure what to expect. Whether Reyes would talk to him, whether she had changed her mind or whether she would still be adamant about leaving. What he certainly hadn't expected was for her to be already gone. He went up to the bedroom and found the short note she had left for him: 'John, I'm more sorry than you will ever know, if you need this to end now I understand, I love you so much, Monica xxx' He didn't know what to think or what to do.

Should he go rushing over there and drag her back? Should he call? Should he just leave things like this? He was so angry. Why hadn't he seen this coming? Why had he rushed out to work that morning expecting them to be able to discuss it when they got home? He knew it was a bad sign when she didn't show up for work, but he never dreamed she would have used the time off to pack up and leave.

So many of her things still lay around the house, she'd obviously only taken the essential items she would need right away. But what the hell was he supposed to do now? He went down the stairs and found a whimpering Oliver lying on the sofa with one of Reyes' sweaters. Doggett pulled it from beneath the dog and sat down with him.

"She's really gone." Oliver whimpered again and moved his head so it was on Doggett's lap. Doggett had grown so accustomed to Reyes being in his life. He'd taken waking up with her every morning for granted, and now more than anything he just wanted her in his arms. He'd blown it. But he couldn't let her go.

Reyes looked at the few boxes she had been able to fill and bring back to her apartment. She hadn't even contemplated opening them and unpacking. It seemed too final and too much of a sign that she had lost Doggett for good. She wanted him to call her, to beg her to come back, she wasn't sure that she would but she just needed to know that he wanted her. Why had she given up the only thing that made her feel she belonged somewhere?

Her parents weren't her real parents, her real parents were dead, she had family scattered around the country, she had a brother who demanded so much so soon, and a nephew whom she adored, and she wanted none of it. For the first time in her life when she was with Doggett she felt like she had found where she belonged. She was home and someone who she could share her life with and be happy with. But she had so quickly and easily thrown it all away.

What had come over her to become such a drama queen? If he didn't call her she had to maintain that this was right for them both. That this time away from someone she loved more than anything would make things easier for her to figure out. She wasn't sure that this was true but she had to give it a shot.

When Reyes decided to turn in for the night she walked into her freezing cold bedroom and pulled back the covers. It felt so strange to be getting into a bed that she hadn't slept in for so long, and to sleeping I a bed alone. As she snuggled into the bed's familiar comfort she was sure she heard a knock on the door but chose to ignore it thinking it was next door. But the knock came again louder and she knew that it was her door. She got up and with her gun firmly clasped in her head she slowly opened her front door.

"John?"

"Monica, can I come in?"

"Sure."


She opened the door fully and Doggett walked inside fast as if he thought she might change her mind. He turned to look at her when she had closed the door and was determined to have his say and stop being such a push over.

"Look Monica, this is the most ridiculous thing I think I've ever known you do. You can't keep fighting the hard things in your life alone, that's why people get married and spend their lives with someone they love and trust, to share the pain as well as the joy. You shouldn't be alone, and I shouldn't have to just do as I'm told, so I'm asking you to come home. I'm not leaving without you."

"Well then I'll get you a blanket, the sofa can be quite chilly."

"Damn it Monica! Why don't you ever take me seriously!"

"I do! But you can't think you know what this is like for me!"

"Oh really? Your note, the one telling me that you love me, prove it!"

"I did by moving out!"

"That's BS and you know it! You moved out to protect yourself from any further possible heartache or loss because at the end of the day you're not sure that we're going to spend the rest of our lives together! Right!" Monica could feel herself getting angry, an emotion that she never felt before around Doggett. She couldn't admit to herself that he was right, let alone admit it to him.

"I think you should leave John."

"I already told you I'm not leaving here without you. Because you might not be sure that we're going to be together for the rest of lives but I sure as hell am. I'm not letting you go." Reyes walked up close to Doggett, they were almost touching as Reyes continued to talk.

"Why do I have to live with you to love you? I loved you for so long, long before we got together and I managed just fine not living with you! I need to do this, it's the right step for us!"

"No it isn't! Why wont you listen to me! Women complain all the time that men never tell you how they're feeling or what they think, well here I am Monica, my heart on my sleeve, I want you to come home with me."

"I can't do that!"

"You mean you wont."

"No, I mean I can't."

"Don't play with words, it means the same thing! My God, I never in a million years thought that when it came to the two of us you'd be selfish and make our entire relationship all about you. This is about two people Monica! You and me, that's what this is about, not just your own needs and desires!"

"I know that!"

"Really! You're so screwed up about your past that you can't even begin to see any kind of happy future, because happy is new and different and you're just used to pain!"

"You're wrong!"

"I don't think so. If you wanted this to be over you could have made it a lot easier on both of us by just saying so instead of playing this game with me!"

"I'm not playing games! I'm so sick of you being like a big puppy dog around me! You're not half the man you were when we met! I'm a grown woman; I don't need taking care of by you John! I mean what is this, you screwed up so badly with

Barbara that you want to prove to the world you can make it work with a woman? I'm not your wife, I'm certainly not Barbara and I don't need this crap from you! Your past is just as screwed up as mine John! Would you even know what to do in a happy content relationship!"

Reyes turned to walk away but Doggett grabbed her wrists to stop her and she was shocked at how forceful he was. He was holding her tight in his hands and his face was full of anger. Reyes was almost afraid to move as she watched his breathing grow heavy, he didn't loosen his grip on her and she didn't know what to do. She'd never seen him so angry, but then they rarely fought. She continued to watch his face, her wrists were effortlessly trying to wriggle free when Doggett pulled her right up to him and began kissing her.

He finally loosened his hold on her wrists but she didn't pull them free, she continued to kiss him and the anger that they had both worked themselves into was still boiling inside. Their anger had transformed into passion as they had stood glaring at one another, Doggett pulled Reyes away and stared at her again before picking her up and carrying her into her bedroom. He dropped her down onto the bed and ripped her nightgown from her as she quickly unbuttoned his trousers and ripped off his t-shirt.

They had both heard people say that the best part about arguing with your other half was the making up process and they were keen to agree as they repeatedly made love in the midst of their first ever row, they'd both said more than enough for one evening, now actions were doing all the communicating they needed.