Kathleen A. Klatte
kat2000@bestweb.net

"Still Out There"

Feedback and commentary are most welcome.

Disclaimer:  The X-Files is the property of Chris Carter, FOX, and Ten
Thirteen productions, et al;  this is a recreational endeavor, no profit is
being made and no copyright infringement is intended.
Tag scene to "Truth".  Doggett & Reyes vignette.  (Not that I didn't enjoy
all the lovely Scully & Mulder moments, but you'd think that after nine
years they could have sprung for three hours and given Doggett and Reyes a
little bit of screen time.)

******************************************
Somewhere in New Mexico.

Monica Reyes started awake in the passenger seat of the car.  "Where are
 we?" she gasped.

"Hotel," Doggett replied tiredly.  "I'm too tired to keep driving.  And so
are you," he added, sensing an imminent protest.

"Whatever," Monica sighed wearily.  She eyed the imposing glass and steel
façade.  "Skinner'll just love seeing this on our expense report."

"If he's still our boss, and if we still have jobs to expense this to,"
Doggett replied.  "Besides, it's still cheaper than if I fall asleep at the
wheel and total the car."  He regretted the words almost as soon as they
left his mouth.  "Oh, hell.  Monica, I'm sorry -"

"John, it's OK...I'm not made out of glass."

"It was a stupid thing to say."

"You're tired," Monica soothed.  "It's OK...really.  Let's just get some
rest."  She smiled reassuringly at Doggett and slipped her arm through his.

******

"I need a coupla rooms for the night," Doggett informed the clerk.

"I'm sorry, sir, but we're just about sold out tonight.  I only have one
room available."

"What next?" Doggett groaned.  "How many-"

"We'll take it," Monica quickly interjected.

"We'll take it," Doggett repeated.  "Whatever the hell it is," he muttered
under his breath, nodding as Monica gestured towards the gift shop.

******

"What'd you do - buy out the store?" Doggett joked as he set Monica's
shopping bag down to fumble with the key card.

She took the key away from him and deftly unlocked and opened the door to
their room.  "Well, since our bags are back at the Albuquerque field office,
I got us each a tee shirt and some toiletries.  What'd you get?  I saw you
at the cash register, too."

To Monica's surprise, Doggett flushed slightly as he answered.  "Well, it's,
a...aw, hell!" he exclaimed as he flipped on the lights.  The room, of
course, was a single.

"John, we're grown ups...not to mention exhausted...I think we can handle
this.  So, what'd you buy?" she asked mischievously

Doggett fumbled in his pocket and came up with a small box.  "It's for
you...I saw it in the case and thought you'd like it," he mumbled.

Monica opened the box and saw a silver chain with a delicate pendant wrought
of silver wire and tiny silver and turquoise beads.  "It's a dream catcher,"
she said, smiling delightedly.  "It's beautiful, John.  Thank you."  She
reached up and kissed his cheek.

Doggett fastened the chain around her throat.  "It suits you."

******

Doggett squirmed around on the couch, trying to make himself more
comfortable.

"John, I really think you'd be more comfortable over here."

"I'm fine.besides, I'm not sure both of us should be asleep at the same
time."

"You've gone from total exhaustion to total paranoia," Monica accused.

"Have I?" Doggett asked.

His deadly serious tone demanded that she reply in kind.  "I don't know,"
she admitted.  "What are you thinking, John?"

He sat up and turned to face her across the darkened room.  "Too damned much
for a simple New York cop.  Part of me hates the idea of some sorta secret
conspiracy operating within our own government.  But another part of me
tells me to run as far and as fast as I can in the opposite direction.
Except...I think that maybe-"

"It's already too late for that?" Monica supplied, propping herself up on
one arm.

Doggett nodded.  "I had a life once - a home, family...love.  I'd like to
have that again someday...with you.  But I don't want to end up like Mulder
and Scully, separated from their child, their families, livin' on the
run...that's not what I want for us.

"What are you thinkin'?"

Monica's voice was very steady as she answered him.  "That I want the same
things that you do.  That Mulder's 'truth' is still out there.  That none of
us will ever be safe until we find it.  And that whatever happens, I want us
to be together."

"Just try and get rid of me," Doggett grinned.

Monica fingered her necklace contemplatively.  "John, do you think we'll
ever see Dana and Fox again?"

"Yeah, I do," Doggett replied thoughtfully.  "We're all looking for the same
thing.  We'll see them again."


Fin.

Copyright (c) 2002 Kathleen Klatte
All Rights Reserved