"Any more news on A.D. Skinner?" Doggett asked. Reyes shook her head and put her head back on the couch. She and Doggett had been instructed to stay at her apartment, Scully was at the hospital and Mulder was on his way to get William. The Lonegunmen had gone with him, Mulder had been reluctant to let anyone go with him, but he wasn't going to let his pride at being able to go it alone stand in the way of his son's safe return.

"I can't stand just sitting here," Reyes sighed and Doggett shifted from the chair opposite her to sit beside her.

"I know. But what else can we do?" Reyes looked at him and her frustrated face softened as she took in Doggett's features and remembered how good things always felt when she was with him. Something about this man that she had been lucky enough to find back in her life, made the hardest of times bearable and the longest days seem like insignificant moments. When she was with him time stood still and there was nothing she wouldn't do for him.

Doggett smiled at Reyes and lifted his arm to place around her. He pulled her onto his chest and softly stroked her hair as the rhythm of his beating heart calmed Reyes' angst. He wanted to take her frustration away; he wanted to do everything humanly possible to make her the happiest woman in the world. He knew that now. He couldn't risk her not being a part of his life, and he was pretty sure she felt the same way.

"Monica?" she opened her eyes from their peaceful rest as Doggett's touch had brought with it a resting calm.

"Mmm?"

"About us, the way I've been. I'm sorry. I just, I didn't know that I could feel this way without screwing it up. Or losing you."

"John…"

"No, it's okay. I just want you to know that I'm not gonna let you go. No matter what, I'll always be here."

"I know that John. I've known that for so long, I was just waiting for you to catch up," they both smiled as the certainty of their relationship was confirmed.

"When this is over, I mean, when William's home or … when he's back. Whad'ya say to taking a vacation?"

"What? You mean time from work?"

"I mean you and me, away from everything else. On a deserted beach where we can watch the sunset and drink cocktails," Reyes giggled a little.

"You drink cocktails John?" he laughed and Reyes sat up to look at him. "I think a vacation sounds wonderful."

"You do?"

"Yeah," Reyes leaned in and kissed Doggett softly and when she moved to pull back he put his hand behind her neck and kept her close enough for the kiss to continue. When the kiss finally ended they held each other close and made no effort to end their contact.

When the phone rang both of them jumped and Reyes quickly got up to answer it. Doggett watched her to try and read her face to determine what was happening. A few short moments later she put the phone down and couldn't bring herself to look at Doggett right away. She stared down at the floor and only when he called her name did she manage to turn and explain.

"Monica? What is it?" Doggett walked over to her and hugged her as tears slid down her cheeks.

"It's Skinner. He's dead."

"What?"

"He's gone John," they sat back down and Reyes hurriedly set about wiping her tears away. "We have to do something, we can't just sit here."

"What if Mulder contact us?"

"We'll be a lot more help to Mulder if we go and back him up," she stood up and threw her jacket over her shoulders before grabbing her keys from the table by the door.

"Monica wait, you're upset, you're not thinking."

"John, we have to do this. You know that. So, are you coming?"