Title: "Fallen"
Author: Kathmak
Summary: He looked directly into my eyes, and I was done for.
Category: DRR/DRF; Pre-XF; Vignette
Rating: Suitable for all ages
Disclaimer: John Doggett and Monica Reyes don't belong to me, sadly. The only thing I gain from this is a great deal of personal satisfaction in knowing that John and Monica are always treated properly in my fics.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I was hanging up the phone when my assistant poked her head into my office.
"John Doggett's here to see you. Again," she added with a wiggle of her eyebrows.
"Stop it, Bev," I chided her. "There's nothing going on between us and you know it."
"Maybe not yet," she answered. "But how many times have you had lunch with him lately? And didn't you say you met him for drinks last week at that place in Little Italy?"
Now, let me say this right off: I would be lying if I said that the sound of his name didn't conjure up a warm feeling deep in the pit of my stomach, but damned if I was going to admit it to anybody, least of all my sweet but chatty assistant.
I stood up and folded my arms defensively across my chest. "That's beside the point. He's married," I reminded her.
Okay, so he was separated and his wife had moved out three months ago, but she didn't need to know that.
Bev winked as she turned to leave. "Uh huh, whatever you say, Agent Reyes."
I stood there frozen for a moment, lost in thought. Surely she was wrong. She must have mistaken my compassion and empathy for something altogether different. The man had lost his son not more than a year earlier, after all. He couldn't talk to his wife about it, but for whatever reason he could talk to me. Said he wanted to tell me about Luke so I would know him. We had grown close, and I felt myself being drawn more and more to this beautifully complex six-foot tall mystery.
Maybe I should rethink this. Spending so much time with a married, emotionally scarred man was probably not the smartest thing I could do. And if my assistant noticed, chances are others did too. Maybe I shouldn't . . .
"Monica." John's gravelly voice stunned me out of my reverie. He was standing in the doorway doing something he rarely did these days: he was smiling.
"John, this is a pleasant surprise. What brings you downtown?"
"You, actually."
My heart nearly jumped out of my chest.
Don't go there, Monica. He didn't mean it like that.
"Me?" I squeaked.
"Yeah. My buddy couldn't use his Yankees tickets tonight, so he gave 'em to me. Thought maybe you'd like to go."
Tell him you can't go. Tell him you despise the Yankees. If he had Mets tickets, maybe.
He shrugged, almost as if he sensed my inner struggle. "I know it's short notice. But . . . "
My head snapped up. "But what?"
Then he did something I was afraid he might do. He looked directly into my eyes, and I was done for.
". . .but I would really 'ppreciate your company tonight."
Tell him no, Monica. Back away before you fall and get yourself hurt.
"I would love to go, John."
He smiled at me again, and I blushed shyly. I knew then it was too late. I had already fallen.
End
