Time Out

Author: PhileyX 
E-Mail: phileyxback@yahoo.com 
Web-site: https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx 
Rating: PG 
Category: DSR (no D does not stand for Doggett)
Spoilers: Requiem
Prequels: Man Without A Face, The Matchbox, The Dinner Guest, A Nobody is Hard to Find
Disclaimer: All the characters here do not belong to me. 
Author's note: The prequels to this story can be found at:
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Face.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Matchbox.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Dinner.html
https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx/Nobody.html
Intro: This story takes place after the Requiem. Two years after his disappearance, a man appears claiming to be Mulder, with a catch; he just didn't have his face. Scully finds out he really is her ex-partner the unconventional way. Now the consortium is after their only son and she is forced to make the ultimate sacrifice; she gives them both up.

XXXXXXXXXXXX
Time Out

  Excerpts from the song 'We Haven't Turned Around' by Gomez. 

                   No infringement of copyright intended.

<We came, we came, we came again
To stem the tide and point the blame
Came back for more
Came back to see what you had in store
Everyone join the line, everyone
Yeah>


He knew shouldn't be here. But the need to see her was too great. It hurt too much and as always only she could comfort, touch, or kiss it away as she did throughout their seven years together once upon a time ago. Besides, it was not as if he was breaking his promise made to her. He was resolved not to tell her anything as agreed, nearly six months before.

Crouching uncomfortably within the wet, cold flora, he watched the naval base house cautiously. It was alive with the sounds of grown ups and children. Occasionally he could see the shadows of its inhabitants from the curtain drawn windows but he recognized none of them, justifiably because he had never seen the other brother's family before.

It made sense that in such a time, she would choose to be with Charlie. Bill was too much of an asshole to remain with. Although, he could understand her eldest kin's protectiveness, he was a big brother himself too. The operative word being 'was', of course.

He wondered what would distress her more. That he was here, risking being caught in her presence or leaving their son in the safe care of strangers. Something told him she would be freaked out at the latter. But he had an iron clad explanation to convince her to relax. Will was safer where he was than he could ever be in the hands of his own parents. Just as long as no one knew that he was from the gene pool of Mr. and Mrs. Spooky, he would be left alone.

As time went by his memory, courtesy of the Fox Mulder freak show, slowly returned. And so did the lessons from the Oxford School of Psychology. He was mentally prepared to deal with Scully's emotions. Well, as prepared as he could ever be. For her, it would be a tirade of complexities; from the joy of seeing him to the grieving of her mother to the fears for Will and to the sorrow of not being able to see her son again. And he knew the list hardly stopped there. It came to a point, he found himself betting which issue would he have to deal with first.

He knew it wouldn't be easy for him either. He was a total smuck for her. And seeing her ache would only break his defenses. If he weren't careful, she would not only find out where her son leading his sham life, he would gallantly bring her to him. 

The front door of the house opened and he shrank deeper into the shrubbery. A quick exchange at the front porch ensued. Straining his ears, he caught the words.

"Are you sure you wouldn't like to come?" Charles Scully frowned and looked worriedly at his sister.

Dana sighed and told him for the fourth time today. "Yes Charlie, I'm sure. I'll be fine, really." She patted his arm and added. "Besides, you need a babysitter."

Frances Scully smiled and tried again. "By now, they're both sound asleep and we'd only be next door."

Dana almost rolled her eyes in frustration. "For the last time you two, I don't want to go."

"Dana listen, this is a tough time for all of us and I think we should stick together."

She looked at Charlie and caught his look. He was pleading with her to make amends with Bill for his sake. Shaking her head slightly, she wondered how to convince him that she wasn't really feuding with their eldest brother.

Bill was just Bill. He was just difficult and she was no mood to deal with him tonight. God knows facing him the past two weeks with mom's illness and death was usually more than she could handle in a year.

"We're worried about you." Her sister in law told her sincerely.

"I know." Dana replied gently. "But I'm really okay. I just… want to be alone tonight. I hope you can understand that."

The husband and wife shared a brief look and then nodded at her. "Okay. We'll be back soon." Her brother told her and leaned down to give her a quick kiss on her forehead. "Good night."

"Good night." 

Dana watched them walk off to Bill's naval house and closed the door. Leaning against the back of it, she closed her eyes and sighed. 'This sucks!' She thought. It was bad enough that she was in the middle of a global conspiracy to breed alien human hybrids; she had to deal with a guilt trip from her family too? Rolling her eyes, she chided her late mother playfully. 'Thanks a lot mom! I bet you're laughing from up there.' 

It had been eight days since Margaret Scully's stroke, four days since her death and two days since the funeral. And the Scullys were taking it hard. It was slightly easier on the Dana because she had spent more time with her prior to her attack. For the boys, it was more difficult. And Dana knew that Charlie was feeling the brunt of all the guilt, being away from home for so long. 

To seek comfort and dull the pain, the Scully men and their families sought each other every night, talking about old times and completing each other's hollow hearts. She would join them if she hadn't felt so disgusted with their insistent whining. What did they know about pain anyway? 

Neither of them was the reason for their sister's death. Neither of them had to watch a daughter die. Neither of them had to bear the abduction of the love of their life. Neither of them had to let a son go forever and then sit back, calmly pretending that she couldn't take motherhood any more and hence put him up for adoption. For that costly lie, she fell out with Skinner and Bill declared her an unfeeling, crazy bitch, a product of Fox Mulder and the X-files.

Dana sighed again, immediately feeling guilty for her recent thoughts. It was unfair; she shouldn't be comparing her crosses with her brothers'. 'All three of us lost a father, a sister and a mother. Remember that, Dana!' She told herself determinedly. 

But it was still hard to reconcile her life with her family. Her mother was the only one that had any inkling of the truth, how screwed up her existence on this earth really was. And now she was gone. 

Dana smiled tightly, thinking of the night when she broke the news to her mother about her psychic son. Once again, she had accepted with nothing more than the necessary questions. Just a little raise of the eyebrow highlighted her concern of Dole being a father; naturally, since he was supposed to be Mulder. But Maggie trusted him like she did and was confident that if he made it through Oxford, he would somehow manage to figure out parenthood. Although barely.

Dana pushed herself to her feet and was just about to take a step forward when a short knock resounded about the quiet house. Not wanting further thuds to wake up her brother's sleeping children, she quickly turned and opened it.

A smartly dressed naval private stood in front of with a clipboard and a metal toolbox. The porch light being rather dim, she could not make out his face from the shadow of his cap. Meanwhile, the private touched his cap in a brief salute and introduced himself in a low, Southern drawl. "Good evening, Ma'am."

"Yes, can I help you?" 

"I'm here to fix a leak in one of the pipes in the basement, Ma'am?"

She frowned. "I'm sorry. Erm… I don't know anything about that and my brother's not in."

"Well, he reported it in about half an hour ago, Ma'am. I apologize for taking that long to get here but it's been a crazy night. Leaking pipes everywhere! Just goes to prove that our naval base houses need more than just a fresh coat of paint, eh?"

She smiled politely but was getting suspicious. They were at sitting at the dinner table half an hour ago and she didn't recall Charlie mentioning anything about a leaking pipe nor making a phone call. "I'm sorry but I think you got the wrong house."

"No Ma'am, definitely no mistake." He told her confidently and showed her his clipboard. "It's written right here, see…. Leaking pipe, Living Quarters No. 52 temporarily assigned to Lieutenant Charles Scully and family."

Studying the address carefully, she suddenly noticed the familiar, even handwriting. Looking up swiftly, she caught a glimpse of his broad smile and hazy features. Her heart immediately hammered against her chest but was careful not to show any outward reaction. "Maybe you'd better check the pipes then."

"Thank you, Ma'am."

She held the door open and closed it behind him. A brief silence ensued as both of them looked at each other within the naval walls. Soon, he released a cough and spoke quietly. "Maybe you could show me the basement, Ma'am."

At first, she was confused but then it dawned on her. They were still in sight as long as there were windows. Without a word, she walked into the living room and then towards the door that led to the basement stairs.

In the lighted basement, she remained still, waiting for him to motion that it was okay to speak. He looked about and caught sight of the piping. "Well, I'll be damned. You're right, Ma'am. There had been a mistake, there seems to be nothing the matter down here."

"I wouldn't say that." She told him softly. He stiffened, unable to tell if she were rebuking him or expressing her grief. Slowly, he walked to her. Only a step away, she finished the journey for him, into his arms.

"You shouldn't be here." She hissed although not angrily.

"I know."

She pulled back and looked at him fiercely. "You're not here because of Will, are you?"

He smoothed her fears with a smile. "He's fine and in good hands, I assure you. I'm here because I want you to know how much I loved your mother."

Tears sprang into her eyes as she sighed in relief. She wondered how he knew about her mother's death. It couldn't be from the obituaries since he wouldn't have picked the same state to live in. Or would he? Suddenly catching herself, she almost cursed aloud. 'There I go, just as I had predicted! I've begun hunting them down. Stop it, Dana!' 

Then realizing that too much time had past since he last spoke, she concentrated on the reason he came, finally answering him. "She loved you too."

Although he saw the play of emotions that earlier clouded her eyes, he did not comment on it. "Yeah, I know. I'm sorry you lost her."

"So am I."

Dole pulled her into his arms again and they held each other for a while. Words were unnecessary; they both knew that this was enough for the moment.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

<So you wanna spin the world around?
So you wanna spin the world around?
And anybody else, cut 'em down>


"His vocab is up to fifteen words now. 'Ball' being his favourite word. Who knows, maybe he'll be a basketball pro?"

Dana groaned. "Dole, I forbid you to force him into that when he begins school."

"All right, only if he really wants to." Stroking her hair, he gently told her other aspects that she would love to know. "He feeds himself now. The meal takes twice the time but at least half the food manages to reach his mouth. Loves mashed potatoes, loathes anything green.

Toilet training. Oh that began with a couple of disasters. You know my panic face? Well he has them every time there's an 'Oh-oh'."

She raised an eyebrow. "An 'Oh-oh'?"

He grinned. "Yeah. Baby term for disgustingly smelly poo."

"But our baby term for poo was 'potty'." She whined.

"Well you didn't exactly passed me your dictionary of baby talk Scully so I had to make up something." Then he added. "By the way, thanks for not telling me that he's terrified of baths."

She laughed. "Where?"

"Right on my nose as I led him to the bathroom, thank you very much."

Still laughing, she touched his nose. "He's still at it?"

"Nah, stopped drawing blood around March. But I was walking around like Rudolph the Reindeer for a week."

"Consider yourself lucky. You didn't have to breastfeed him."

He shuddered in mock terror. "Heaven forbid." Then he smiled mischievously. "But suckling on your nipples may not be a painful exercise if done correctly, you know."

She rolled her eyes but was too greedy for more information to indulge him. "Has he had his shots?"

"Yeah, I remembered your instructions on that although I was unhappy about it."

"Cataloging or no cataloging, he needs those immunization shots, Dole."

"I know." He sighed. "But I'll be damned if the government had a DNA sample of my son in their clutches for future colonization use. Not if I can help it, Scully."

"They already have a sample." She reminded him.

And he asked cautiously. "Did you find anything?"

"Traces of protein that…." She hesitated. "Do you remember Texas?"

Nodding, he prompted her. "Antarctica?"

"Yes, something like that but nothing excessive to be worried about."

"But still enough for them to want him badly."

"I have a feeling that they're just playing this by ear, Dole. This is new to them too, which brings us to Will. You have to be prepared to deal with it if it comes up in future. Has he shown any other signs so far?"

"No. And I haven't been encouraging him with cards either. I am determined for our son to be normal as the boy next door."

"Good." She affirmed him and was silent.

He knew what she was thinking by the way she stiffened in his arms but asked anyway. "What?"

She sighed and finally admitted. "I'm jealous of you." He was right but wasn't really happy about it. "I had a year with him and you have the rest of his life. It's unfair."

What could he say? "I know."

"Sometimes I hate you for it. If he hadn't been your son…." She trailed off. It was one of the unvoiced burdens that he carried. And hearing it out aloud made the sin worse. Realizing the effect her words had on him, she quickly continued her thoughts. "And yet other times, I know it was either having your son or none at all. And you know I'll never regret giving birth to him."

It helped a little and he bent his head to kiss her temple. "Thank you."

Silence again before she asked him. "Does he remember me?"

He wasn't sure if he should answer that. It was a question of giving her pain due to her lack of presence in her son's life or not being missed at all. Deciding that the truth was the best, he told her quietly. "When he's really upset, he sometimes pushes me away and looks at the doorway, as if expecting you to appear."

She closes her eyes as images of her crying son tore her heart apart. 

His shaky voice continued. "His father does the same some nights…. Bad habit?"

"Bad." She whispered back. "But healthy. Either that or I'm going crazy myself."

"Maybe we need spanking?"

She almost smiled. "Time Out."

"Time Out?"

"The Scullys don't spank. We get 'Time Out's."

He looked into her eyes sadly. "I think we're doing more than our share of Time Outs, Scully."

Her eyes filled. "Maybe this Time Out is for quitting medicine, joining the FBI?"

Shrugging, he suggested. "And maybe my Time Out is for my videos?"

She smiled despite her tears. "Or maybe your Time Out is for your ridiculous sense of humour?"

"Did I ever tell you that the only reason I fell for you was because you were the only one that didn't laugh at my jokes?"

"Dole, shut up and kiss me!"

"Now that my memory has almost fully returned, maybe you should call me Mulder?"

"Okay. Mulder, shut up and kiss me!"

"I changed my mind, call me Dole."

"Dole…." She growled dangerously.

"Oooo, I love it when you get nasty!" He grinned but wisely obeyed her. When they both came up for air, he nudged her cheek gently with his nose. "Let me see you again."

She groaned as she caught her breath after the passionate kiss. "Fine time to bring it up, you rogue! When you know I can't say no to you."

He grinned. " I promise I'll be really careful." Tracing his finger gently down her chin, he persuaded her further. "I need you, Scully. No one else is going to tell me about 'Time Out's and other fine Scully family practices."

She sighed. "I don't know if we should take that chance."

"Never in your house." He persisted. "Never in DC." 

"Dole…"

He quickly intercepted her protests. "Please. I can't be without you."

And the truth was she couldn't survive without him too. When he was abducted, Will was his substitute with good cause, his dark brown hair and similar features. So how could she say no? 

She didn't.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

<So you wanna make catastrophe?
Won't you send it right over to me
I got some time
Everybody running high>


Dana wished she had just stuck to the first two. But no, she had to bring in more stupid conditions that subsequently prolonged their current Time Out. Sighing she mentally calculated the last time she saw him. 'Four months and God knows how long more.' If only she omitted the never-with-Doggett-around condition, she would probably see him tonight.

The motel telephone suddenly rang. It was her current partner asking her if she was ready to go. She told him yes, hung up and grabbed her notepad, heading towards door. 

It often amazed her how Dole was so updated with her working schedule. The only explanation she could come up with was that the Gunmen had taught him how to hack into the FBI mainframe, allowing him access to her increasing interest in all FBI funded seminars. 

She had asked him before once but he just told her it was magic and proceeded to show her other tricks he knew, totally distracting her from her question in the first place. It was a stunt he pulled often. Actually every time he felt that it was imprudent to answer. Initially she was irritated but she was the one that forced the promise on him in the first place, so she just had to live with it.

As she walked past a bellboy, her eye caught a familiar logo and she backtracked. He must be only about eighteen. Blond and blue-eyed, certainly good-looking enough to break half the school's hearts. "MUFON…" She answered his questioning look and reached out for the badge that hung from his jacket lapel.

The young man was trying his best not to step back. The pretty lady in front of him was acting strangely. It was just a stupid colourful pin, for God's sake. Just wore it to please the loony group of people in the UFO sighting conference in Hall 3. Clearing his throat, the answered. "Some UFO nut gave it to me." She winced slightly at his words and he wished he could take it back. There was a poignant look in her eyes that he couldn't bear. "Are you all right, Miss?"

"Yes, I'm fine." She recovered within seconds, composure immediately replacing her sorrow. "Do you believe in UFOs?" Her voice was soft and weary.

He shrugged. "Never really cared."

'You should.' She almost told him but didn't. Instead, she straightened the badge and dusted the lapel gently. "Then you shouldn't be wearing the pin."

"Trying to get extra tips, have a car in mind." He didn't know why he bothered to explain. Maybe it was because she seemed lonely, lonely enough to start a conversation with a bellboy more than ten years her junior.

She smiled and wondered maybe she could help him help her. "Why don't you come by to my room around one? I may need a chore done."

He frowned, unsure. It wasn't the first time he had been propositioned by lonely older women while working in this hotel and he sure as hell wasn't about to start entertaining one, no matter how beautiful she was. She seemed to have read his thoughts and shook her head in disapproval. "I assure you that I prefer men closer to my age."

Embarrassed, he tried a grin. "Sorry, bad experience."

"It's all right. Just can't trust anyone these days." Then muttering more to herself, she added. "I know the feeling."

Disconcerted, he decided that it was time to excuse himself politely. "I think I'd better get back to work now."

"Room 516." She told him.

He hesitated but nodded his head.

Around the corner, Dole frowned. Being a man, he had jumped to the same conclusion the bellboy had. And it didn't help that he couldn't catch most of the conversation from where he was standing, especially the last part when she had lowered her voice. He wondered if the bellboy's nod was an agreement to…. God, what was he thinking? Then again, he wouldn't be surprised.

Dana Scully would always be a mystery to him. And as time went by, even more so. Her recent decisions with regards to her personal life were shocking. But he had learnt a long time ago not to question her, if he valued his life. 

It was easy to shut him out too. The cases that they had been investigating for the past four years were undoubtedly paranormal. But they were pure. They lacked the conspiratorial element compared to the ones that she experienced with Mulder. No government cover-up or secret bodies planning to hybrid human life as in their previous X-file reports. Just monsters, strange phenomena and weird twists of fate. She had learnt to trust him on the field but that's about all. And it sometimes hurt. 

It wasn't easy to care for someone who didn't give a damn. Skinner felt that too. Since their blow up about Will, he had been staying away, rarely coming by the office to check up on her. It bothered her a little but she was just too proud to admit it or forgive him. Skinner had broken the cardinal rule; he had doubted her love for her son.

But it wasn't easy understanding her reasons for letting Will go. The only thing that Doggett could guess was that she wanted her son to lead a normal life, feeling that she wasn't capable enough to give him that. God knows she's been through enough weird encounters to scar her for life that may unconsciously affect the way she brought him up. Or maybe she just wanted him to have a real family, with a father and a mother, a **normal** father and mother.

Whatever the reason, she was paying for it. Her blue eyes darker than ever, she was worse than when she first lost Mulder. There were glimpses of hope at times. Suspiciously they came in her enthusiasm for the next medical seminar or FBI out-of-town colloquium and he had always wondered why. Maybe she was picking up another John Dole? And after what he had just seen, maybe she was into younger men now? 

He sighed. Dana Scully was an X-file herself. One that he doubted he would ever be able to solve. And he was so tired of trying to.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

<The same, the same, the same again
To steal the time and haunt the graves
Just because it's there
Don't mean you see it anywhere
Maybe it's a trick of the light
Maybe, yeah>


She yawned for the seventh time and he smiled. "Are you sure you want to go through the case now? We could just leave it till we get back to DC?"

Shaking her head, she told him she rather preferred to go through it now. She needed a distraction. After David the bellboy returned with the information she wanted, her mind was busy with the implications of the news. According to the latest MUFON grapevine, there had been recent sightings. And it was too damned near to where she once lost Mulder. Was it happening again? Will Dole or her son be one of them?

"Dana?" Doggett broke her reverie. "Do you need your file?"

She looked at him in confusion but realized he was talking about their current case. "Uh… yeah, I'll go get it."

"Why don't I get it? I need to get some stuff from my room too. Besides, you had better get a table for us before the rest of the FBI make their way to the cafe." 

She hesitated. It was funny that after four years of partnership, she was still so wary of him even though he was such an open book, the total opposite of her ex-partner.

He caught her uncertainly and his jaw line tensed angrily. "I won't go through your stuff. Just tell me exactly where it is and I'll get it."

Guilty that he read her mind, she held out her keys. "It should be on the night stand." She told him quietly.

Grabbing the key from her almost roughly, he stalked off. She shook her head and sighed. 'Great, he's pissed.' What was it with her and men that cared for her? From her brother to Skinner and now Doggett, she kept hurting them all.

Doggett cursed softly all the way to her room. Why did he care so much? Why couldn't he accept the fact that no matter how much he dedicated himself to the X-files, she would never accept him to be as committed as Mulder was?

Placing the key in the lock, he let himself in. This would be the first time he was allowed into her hotel room alone. Four years as partners, she had never allowed him alone into her personal space. 

He walked quietly as if revering the privilege. His hand was just about to touch the light switch when he froze. The window was open and the hazy setting sun dimly permitted him to see that her bed wasn't empty. Blinking hard, he stared again. 

He was right the first time round. There **was** a man sleeping in it. He slept on his side, his back facing the stunned FBI agent who was wondering what he should do. 'No wonder she didn't want me in here.' He thought. She wasn't sure if the boy had left yet.

As the shock receded, anger and confusion took over. 'What the hell is going on? Was he right about her? Was she turning into a whacko slut?' 

He was so close to waking the boy and kicking him out but he stopped himself. The whole floor was filled with other FBI agents. The last thing Special Agent Dana Scully needed was more unsavory publicity. He would confront her alone. Walking out of the room, he gently closed the door behind him and headed downstairs.

He found her at the far end of the café, staring absently into the rows of tables in front of her. It wasn't unusual for her, especially recently. Her head snapped up when she caught sight of him. "You didn't find it." She said, seeing he was empty-handed.

Frowning at first, he then realized that she was talking about the file. His annoyance escalated. "Is there something you wish to tell me?" He asked, deciding to give her a chance to come clean. 

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Okay…… Maybe it's not on the nightstand. Maybe it's still in my bag?"

"I'm not talking about the fucking file!" He snapped, too loudly as heads began to turn in their direction.

She stiffened. This was probably the first time Doggett stood up to her in such a way. "Sit down, Doggett." She commanded him softly.

He glanced about and cursed himself. He had meant to be calm and quiet about this. Instead, he had claimed the attention of a quarter of the dining room, half of which were agents. Obeying her, he wondered how he should recover from his mistake.

"Are you angry that you couldn't find the file or is this a monthly thing that I should know about?"

He glared at her. "Talking about monthly things, how many bellboys have you screwed, Agent Scully?"

'She is a damned good actress.' He thought as astonishment filled her face. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"A blond eighteen year old boy named David?" He had found out more about the summer-vacation-job-holding boy from reception.

She almost sighed but conceded. "I needed information."

"What kind of information? Would a eighteen year old teenager say no to a mature but willing redhead?"

She suddenly understood what he was accusing her off. 'God! Was that all men think about?' Then she wondered when he saw them together. Still, it didn't give him a reason to jump to conclusions such as this. "You're out of line, Doggett."

"**I'm** out of line? He's eighteen, Dana!" Running his hand through his hair, he growled. "Dole, I understand but for God's sakes, this is a boy! And I wonder how many others have there been?"

She had had enough. Picking herself up, she began to walk away. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back. She glared at him fiercely but her voice was calm. "Let me go."

"Dana please, let me help you." He whispered, his anger gone.

She softened but his accusations still hurt and she whispered back. "You have to trust me, Doggett."

Her words surprised him and he let go without thinking. As she walked away, the irony of it all hit him and he had to smile. She was right, he didn't trust her. He didn't trust her enough to be sane. Maybe that's the whole problem.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

<So you wanna spin the world around?
So you wanna spin the world around?
And anybody else, cut 'em down>


Dana unlocked the door and walked in, immediately removing her high pumps. Wishing she were home so that she could stuff herself with fat free vanilla yogurt that she kept in bulk for lousy days such as these, she picked up the phone to call room service. 

"Thank you for calling the Room Service number. My name is Sharon, may I take your order please?"

"Yes." She turned around, balancing the cradle with her neck while removing her stockings. "Do you have any…." Then stopped abruptly when she saw a figure in her bed.

"Yes?" The voice on the phone grew impatient.

"Never mind." She whispered and hung up. 'A blond in my bed?' She thought to herself. If he were dark-haired, she wouldn't panic so much. Taking her gun in hand, she cautiously approached him. She froze for a moment when he moved slightly but continued her journey across the room. As she tiptoed to catch a glimpse of his face, her whole body relaxed. 'It was just Dole.'

A thought popped in her head. 'No wonder Doggett thought I slept with David. He was blonde!' She laughed quietly and put her gun away. As she undressed, she wondered why Dole broke one of their rules and sought her out. There must be a good enough reason and there was his hair? But she would found out soon enough. What she needed first was a bath and some food. And later if they were both up to it, a dash of Mr. Spooky to complete the day. 

It turned out that after the bath, she needed another. He had woken up hearing the running water and diverted her from the rest of her plans. Thankfully he permitted a quick call for Room Service but she doubted his thoughts were all that noble. He certainly had an imagination when it came to dessert and she would never look at yogurt quite the same again.

They stared at each other, bodies still quivering with the afterglow of making love, reading each other's thoughts silently. He began answering her questions first. "I'm sorry but I needed your opinion."

She sighed. It often amazed her that he always took blame for everything. All she wanted to know was why he was here. She certainly didn't condemn him for it, especially not after what they had just done with each other. "About?"

"Will. He's in love." He told her seriously.

She studied his face for a trace of mirth, there was none. "He's three years old."

"I know but I think that it's time that we shifted somewhere else."

"But he likes it there, doesn't he?" She asked, wondering where exactly 'there' was in the first place.

"Yes but the only reason why I picked it was because we didn't have any immediate neighbors. There was an empty rotten house beside ours and surprisingly a family moved in a month ago, doing their own repairs. Now our son's in love with the girl next door and I think it's just too dangerous."

She couldn't help but repeat her previous sentence. "He's three years old."

He rolled his eyes. "I know how old is he, damn it! But it's true! I knew it would happened the moment they met."

"Sparks flew and electricity filled the air?" She teased.

He ignored her. "I was watching him from the window as he played in the garden. He was minding his own business playing with his Captain Zaboo sword when she suddenly appeared.

Will put on his Zaboo impersonation and told her to beware for he had a sword. Well okay, he pronounced it as 'sod'. Anyway, he swished it in the air for effect. But the girl gave him a look and said the magic words. And I knew it, the boy's a goner."

She frowned. "What magic words?"

"That's not a real sword, it's just a bluff sword! If not, prove it!"

She held back a laugh. "Those were the magic words?"

"Don't you get it, Scully? She didn't believe him. Prove it, she said. If Will's anything like me, it was enough to snare him right into her evil net!"

"Right….." She agreed without conviction.

"Anyway, his pride was totally wounded. So he whacked the rubber sword gently on her head just to annoy her. I was just about to yell at him to apologize when to my astonishment, she flung herself on him. Within seconds, he was begging for mercy!"

Her eyes wide, she protested. "You're making this up!"

Shaking his head, he continued. "By the time I got to them, her parents had also heard the commotion and had already pulled her off him; scolding her and apologizing to Will at the same time. He was shaken but not hurt in any way. While I introduced myself to Joyce's parents, he looked at her with a newfound respect. And they have been inseparable ever since. I'm telling you he's falling in love with her."

She laughed. "How do you know?"

"She's a redhead."

"That's how you know?" She asked incredulously.

"And she's Irish." He sighed and reluctantly added. "Catholic."

She grinned. "Oh, definitely a goner!"

Looking up, he caught the twinkle in her eye and pulled her closer, satisfying an ache that began with her innocent touch to his mouth. "Sure, laugh all you want now. But there'll be hell later and he won't ever let her go."

"I'm glad it runs in the family."

Her hands glided down his chest and still lower, he moaned. "Redheads were always trouble."

"And blondes were always so dense." She replied.

"Actually it's called 'Summer Sand'."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

<So you say we haven't turned around?
So you say we haven't turned around?
Just everybody else is going wrong
Going wrong>


Doggett was clearly avoiding her and she wondered how long he could get away with it. They were partners; sooner or later they had to work together on a case. Or so she thought until she received a call from Assistant Director Skinner's secretary.

Walking into the AD's office, she was slightly surprised to see Doggett seated opposite their superior. She stole a glance at him before sitting down. He seemed perturbed.

"Agent Scully." Skinner nodded at her coldly and held out a file. She took it and opened it. And the two men waited in silence for her reaction. 

"What is this, sir?"

"A promotion."

She looked up. "SAC of the Forensic Science and Communication Laboratory?"

"Yes, Special Agent in Charge. Congratulations." Her superior told her.

"What happens to the X-files?"

"I will be assigning two other agents in your places." She raised an eyebrow and he answered her unasked question. "Agent Doggett requested a transfer."

Hesitantly, she studied his face for a further explanation. When he didn't say anything, she turned to her partner. He looked down, his hands gripping the arms of his chair tightly. And suddenly, everything became crystal clear. "You told him, didn't you?"

Doggett still refused to look at her. "It's a promotion, Dana."

"Damn it, Doggett! How could you?"

Skinner came to his rescue. "You will still be involved with the X-files. In fact, the two agents will be reporting directly to you."

She shook her head. "Thanks but no thanks." Standing up, she started to leave when Doggett intercepted her.

"We think you need a break, Dana. Just some time away from the X-files."

"I don't need another fucking Time Out, Doggett! I'm just fine."

"Are you?" His voice rose angrily. "You've lost a partner, your son and your mother within a span of four years. For once, I'd like to hear you say that you're not because **that** would be perfectly normal!"

"You're right. I do need a change of scenery. Maybe even a new state." Sidestepping him, she headed for the door. Just as she turned the doorknob, Skinner pushed it close. She steeled herself for another confrontation. "With all due respect sir, get out of my way."

His voice was unexpectedly was low, gruff with emotion. "You can't give up on him. Not just yet…."

She looked into his eyes and felt torn. He still held the guilt of losing him to this day and she wished she could tell him that he didn't have to. But she couldn't. He'd want proof, he'd want to see Dole for himself; thinking that she was mentally unstable like Doggett said and screwing teenagers for kicks. 

Besides, they needed him to keep pressing for the 'Fox Hunt' as it was known in the Bureau, to throw off suspicion. Softly she hinted and hoped he'd understand. "I've stopped looking sir. Haven't you noticed?" Stunned, this time he did not resist while she let herself out of the room. 

Dana walked quickly down the halls of the FBI building. Dole would call her mad, she knew, to give up this promotion. It was everything she could ever want in her profession, and so closely related to the X-files. But she was tired of being manipulated against her will. How dared they arrange for it without her consent? How dared they treat her like a nutcase, on the verge of falling apart?

'Because they care for you.' Dole's voice immediately answered her. He was right, of course. A brilliant psychologist, he was always right except when it came to his life. He had a knack of screwing up his own. 

"Forensic Science and Communication Lab." She whispered to herself. It's one of the largest and most comprehensive forensic laboratories in the world. Being SAC, she had access to the latest DNA methodology for biological and chemical analysis. Stopping abruptly, she suddenly thought of her son. 'I will have the facilities I need, no questions asked.'

Two minutes later, she thoughtfully retraced her steps to Skinner's office. Hopefully, the offer was still open. 

XXXXXXXXXXXX
End of Time Out 

Author: PhileyX 
E-Mail: phileyxback@yahoo.com
Web-site: https://www.angelfire.com/id/phileyx