chapter 13 "We're not having that," Scully said, removing the Texas Chainsaw massacre from Tor's grasp. "But..." "No `buts'." Scully sighed. This was turning into another teenager- versus-parents nightmare. "What about this one?" Tor held up something equally gory. "No." "Why not!? It wasn't banned!" "I don't care. You're not watching anything that has displays peoples' body-organs." Turning her back on a performance of sighing and eye-rolling, Scully walked away. Looked very much like it was going to be the Child- Catcher, the way things were going. At least Doggett would be pleased. "Hi," he said when she reached his side. "Chosen one, yet?" "I wish." "How `bout this?" He held up The Unforgiven. Scully examined the cover. "I just told Tor she couldn't watch an orgy of destruction. Can't very well let you pick one, can I?" He grinned, putting the film back. "And who, exactly, made you the boss?" "Me," she smiled. "Unanimous vote." "Fair enough." He wandered along a bit, his hand hovering over the shelves. "Fancy a cop flick?" Scully grimaced. "Too much like real life." Doggett laughed. "Coward." They wandered down the aisle, Doggett concentrating on the video section, Scully concentrating on his rear-end. The cart was a little under half full of groceries already. It had taken all her powers of persuasion to get the two of them this far round the store, without filling the entire cart with the most horrendous foodstuffs. The final straw was the shouting match because he wanted salt and cheddar cheese flavour chips, while Tor insisted on the more exotic barbecue and spicy tomato. The issue of cookies was almost an out and out fist fight. In the end, she'd just walked away, embarrassed to be standing with them. She didn't mind pushing the cart, it left him free to peruse the market and gave her the perfect opportunity to peruse Doggett, especially whenever he bent over to reach something from the bottom shelf. And of course, she just had to comparison-shop several items from that very place. Oh, she was so bad... "I got a couple," Tor announced, grinning widely and holding her hands behind her back. Scully folded her arms. "I want to see before we get to the checkout." "Spoilsport." "Realist." "Let's have a look," Doggett said, holding out his hand. "There's this one for after supper - one we can all watch..." Armageddon appeared in Doggett's hand. "Okay," he said, nodding. "This is supposed to be good." "Yeah," Tor grinned. Ben Affleck is hot." "He is?" Doggett looked mystified. "Oh, yeah...." She snapped her hand. "He's da man." "I thought I was `da man'," Doggett said, mock pouting. Scully pressed her lips together to stop herself agreeing with him. "And?" She tilted her head at Tor's other hand. "What else?" There was a grin on the girl's face that Scully didn't like the look of. Inside, and alarm bell began to ring. "Tor..." The grin widened as she winked at Scully. "It's just a little something that you and Mister Car-Wash can watch after I'm tucked up, safe and sound in my bed." Scully's alarm-bells exploded, leaving traces of red all over her face. The little... "Here y'go." Tor thrust a lurid-coloured box between the two of them, the red age- restriction sticker a dead give-away. It was called `Undercover and Undressed', and it had a photograph of two `cops' engaged in what looked like oral sex, but for the position of that sticker... She opened her mouth to tell the kid exactly what she thought of her choice in films, but was beaten to it by Doggett. "Gimme that, you little..." He made a quick grab for the film, blushing furiously, but Tor snatched it out of reach, still grinning. "I'll just pop it in the cart, for later, shall I?" "I oughta..." he growled. Tor darted away from his outstretched hand, skipping off down the aisle, pointing and howling with laughter. Whether furious, or just mightily embarrassed, Doggett made off after her, breaking into a run when she began to pick up speed. Following at a more sensible rate of knots, Scully pushed the cart in the general direction of the noise and tried to calm both her heartbeat and her blush. God! What a little madam! How on earth did she have the out and out audacity to say that? Any reference to things like that would have made her shrivel up and die at that age. Not that she would even have known about oral sex then.. Jesus! * The journey home was conducted in silence, Tor in the back reading a magazine, oblivious to the strained atmosphere in the front seats. It had been very embarrassing, almost being thrown out of the supermarket. Maybe if Tor and Doggett hadn't gotten into a wrestling match quite so near the breakfast cereal display, then things would have been different. As it was, Doggett got a sore ear and a bruised shin, while Tor got a box of something-or-other-pops in her back and Doggett's hand clamped firmly over her mouth to stem the screams of laughter and bad language. The breakfast cereal got spread all over the floor, boxes scattered every which way, under the amazed eyes of dozens of shoppers and checkout people. Scully had been `that' far from just leaving the cart and walking away. She wondered if all mothers had moments like that. She would have to remember to send hers some flowers when they got back. She guessed that if they hadn't offered to help gather up the scattered boxes and paid for the one Tor squashed, the manager might have called the police. As it was, he'd given them quite a lecture about socially- unacceptable behaviour, which she could tell made very little impression on Tor, but had Doggett grinding his teeth. Didn't help that Tor kept collapsing into fits of giggles every time she caught sight of Doggett's face. And now, she was sitting in the passenger seat, fretting and worrying how long it would be before he made a comment about what prompted it all. There was a conversation she wasn't at all keen to get into. But by the sound of things, a conversation was the last of her worries. Her partner had barely spoken two words since they fled the supermarket. The car crunched the gravel on the yard and Doggett got out, still without saying anything. Scully winced. Was he in a mood? Sulking over the lecture, or even worse, maybe he was revolted by what the Devil's Handmaiden had suggested? Scully got slowly out of the car. That was a thought. And not a happy one, either. "You. Help get the shopping," Doggett said, opening the back door. He plucked the magazine from Tor's hand. "Hey!" "Shut up and help." "God!" Tor rolled her eyes but did as she was told. She grabbed a sack and heaved it up. Scully took two smaller ones, leaving the rest for Doggett. Maybe struggling with them would take his mind off the whole episode. Surprisingly, Tor was putting the groceries away when Scully reached the kitchen. "Thank you," she said, fighting the urge to give the girl a poke. "No problem," she replied, apparantly having forgotten the whole incident. She peered into the top of the split cereal they'd had to buy. "You're gonna eat every crumb of that," Doggett growled, dropping the rest of the stuff down. "Yeah?" He glared. "Yeah. Even if I have to feed it to you myself." "Think you could?" grinning again, Tor held the box out. "Don't tempt me." Laughing, Tor hoisted herself up onto the table and began to eat from the ruined box. "My favourite, anyway," she said around a mouthful. "Want some?" She held a handful of multi-coloured shapes out to Doggett, who just growled again and sat down, looking thoroughly miserable. Scully glanced at him round a cupboard door. "What's up with you, Dogbreath?" Tor asked, voicing the question on Scully's mind. "My ear hurts, thank you for asking," he muttered, touching it gingerly. Tor laughed and stuffed another mouthful in. "Let me see." Scully stepped over and stood in front of him. Those electric eyes looked up. They were sad, puppy-dog looking eyes right now. "Show me," she said, holding out a hand to him. Sighing he turned his head. He pulled a face. "I think she bit it," he said, wincing. "You're joking?" Scully said, glancing at a grinning Tor. "Sure felt like it." He had closed his eyes, obviously anticipating more pain. Scully peered closer. The top of his ear was certainly red and angry- looking. She bent closer. "Hey! If you two wanna play doctors, then at least gimme some warning." Scully glared over the top of Doggett's head. "I think the less you say, the better, don't you?" Tor shrugged, swinging her legs back and forth. She went back to staring at Doggett's ear. God! He was right! There were definite teeth-marks along the ridge. She straightened up. "You bit him!" it was hard to keep the outrage out of her voice. Tor shrugged. "Didn't do it on purpose. Just that I opened my mouth to scream and the damn thing got in the way." She laughed. "You gotta admit, the take up a lotta space!" Doggett turned his head, a baleful statement on his face. "Gee, thanks, Victoria." Her face dropped. Doggett cocked an eyebrow at her, daring her to take issue about the name. Putting her hand on the back of his head, Scully gently turned him back round. "Let me see, again." Her fingers slid through his hair as he moved, sending a jolt down her body. Swallowing hard, she concentrated on looking at his ear, and not staring into those dangerous eyes. She couldn't face those. "Need to check the skin's not broken." "I don't got no diseases," Tor grumbled. "Haven't got any," Doggett corrected. "And I should hope not." Tor stuck out a multi-coloured tongue. Looking carefully, Scully put out her finger to run it over the curiously shaped ear. Seemed okay. She fitted her thumb and finger over the top bit, running it around, careful not to press too hard. He snatched a breath. "Did I hurt you?" she asked, frowning. It wasn't that bad. Doggett shook his head slightly, still trapped in Scully's hand. "No. S'okay. Just..." She watched as a blush crawled over his face. "Tickles, is all." Being tickled didn't usually make people go red. Understanding flooded Scully. Oh, sweet God... It didn't tickle. Hot damn! A rush of warmth prickled her armpits, threatening to make her blush, too. She swallowed. Something to file away in the `Naughty Thoughts About Doggett' box. Ears were a turn-on. "Oh. Okay. Sorry." She straightened and took her hands away. Clearing her throat, she walked over to the sink and ran a cloth under the cold water. "I think you'll live," she said, grateful for the distraction. "Just hold this on it for a bit, should make it feel better. She handed him the squeezed-out flannel. "Thanks." He was still red, the offending ear positively glowing. "So..." he said turning in his seat. "What did you mean, back there, `Mister Car-Wash'?" Doggett frowned at Tor, the cloth pinned to his head. Scully cringed. Tor laughed, putting the cereal down. "You know. Yesterday." He shook his head. "Huh?" Scully felt her guts curl up. Please don't say anything... Please don't say anything... "We were watchin' you through the window. Doin' the car." Doggett looked blank. "And?" Tor winked at him. "Nice pecs, Daddy." Scully groaned silently and closed her eyes, two seconds too late to avoid seeing the look on Doggett's face. When she opened them again, he was still wearing a mixture of embarrassment and amusement. "*We*?" he asked, glancing over at Scully. Her belly turned over. "Call it a mother/daughter bonding moment," Tor told him, leaning over and pulling the cloth from his hand. "Hey!" He tried to grab it back. "Too old. Too slow." She peered at his head. "Nothin' wrong with it, ya big baby." "I swear, one of these days, Victoria..." Tor sighed. "You gonna hold this against me for ever?" "Probably." She threw the cloth back and jumped down and stomped out of the kitchen, muttering about `no sense of humour'. Scully leaned against the counter, anxious to redirect the conversation. "Was your `Tor' this much trouble?" "Worse." He shook his head, spreading the cloth out. "I never had an Indian-burn or a noogie that hurt as much as hers did." He smiled, his statement thoughtful. "Sounds like you two didn't get along." The smile opened up to a gentle laugh. "We got along just fine. As a matter of fact, she was the first girl ever to kiss me on the mouth." He shook his head again. "Mind you, that was right after her left hook knocked me on my ass." Scully was shocked to feel an irrational surge of envy for some Grade- school tomboy, who had been the first to kiss this man. Then she shocked herself by wondering if he'd liked it. "How old were you?" she asked, amazed that she was asking this. "Nearly seventh Grade." He shrugged wryly. "I was kinda in the slow learning class as far as girls went." He looked up at her as he said this, sending a shock through her belly. Was comment that aimed at her? What did he mean by it? Did he mean *anything?* She stared back, unsure. God... this was too hard. Too complicated. Too much. "Oh, yes?" she said, her throat bone dry. He nodded, still staring. "I sometimes wonder if I'm stuck in seventh grade." Oh, God. She had nothing she could say to that. Her mind was a total blank. "Yo, losers. When you've quite finished gazing into each other's eyes, you think we could get some food? I'm starved." Tor stomped back into the kitchen and pulled the fridge open, peering inside. Scully imagined a ripping noise in her head as she tore her eyes from Doggett's. It felt like something ripping. "What?" she said to the back of Tor's head. "Hello? Food? Sometime this century? Scully stared dumbly at her. How could she possibly be hungry? Her own stomach was tied up in tight knots. "It's my turn to cook," Doggett announced. "And as punishment for gettin' me a lecture from Mr. Safeway..." He pointed at Tor. "*You* get to help." "What?! I don't cook!" "You do, tonight." "Aw, man... That's so unfair!" Doggett stood up. "Get over it. Now get the pasta out. We're eatin' Italian, tonight." Tor groaned. Scully stood where she was, looking from one face to the other, now knowing what to say. Once or twice she opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Doggett glanced at her as he reached into the fridge for the cheese. "Why don' you go have a soak while we miscreants cook?" "God, you're always in the damned bath," Tor snorted. "Some people have an aversion to being unclean." Scully shook her head. "Not that you'd understand." "Oh... Mieow." Doggett pushed Tor towards the cupboards before Scully had a chance to reply. "Pasta. Now." "Yes, *dad*!" Scully wandered out of the kitchen, still vaguely stunned by the whole staring thing. She hadn't expected to be caught out like that. She thought she was able to defend herself against the lure of those eyes. Apparantly not. She grabbed her robe and fled to the bathroom to think. chapter 14. Considering she didn't cook, Tor did a pretty good job with the supper. Probably under close supervision and a good deal of protest, but it was nevertheless, very tasty. When they both told her how nice it was, Tor had blushed and muttered something about `make the most of it' and went to read in her room. When she had emerged, safe from being asked to wash up, she announced it was time they watched the film. She rubbed her hands together, obviously back in a great mood. She organised chips, sodas and popcorn, closed the drapes for atmosphere and arranged the furniture so that the sofa was directly in front of the tv. "Okay, people. Time to feast our eyes on the hunk that is Affleck." Grinning, she settled herself down. "Can I feast on Bruce, instead?" Scully smiled, from the other end of the sofa, curling her legs up under her and spreading her robe to cover them. "Suit yourself, but he's a bit on the ancient side." "Suits me fine." Scully reached for a bowl of popcorn. "That's cause you're old," Tor told her. "Absolutely," she agreed, balancing the bowl on the arm of the sofa. It wobbled alarmingly as Doggett flopped down between them. "Who do I get?" he asked, stretching over to steal a handful of Tor's chips. She slapped at his hand. "You don't get Ben, he's mine. You can have Bruce, same as her." "Gee, thanks." He popped a chip in his mouth. "I just love the butch type." Tor snorted. "Why am I not surprised? Hush... it's starting." They sat in silence, eating their way through the snacks, getting into the film. She glanced over at him occasionally, wishing she could cuddle up like two kids at the cinema, but she had no real excuse to shift her position. Damn, didn't think that through, when she sat with her legs up on that side. "Oh, please. She'd have cracker crumbs everywhere," Scully commented dryly, at one point, making Tor cringe and Doggett chuckle. She wiggled her toes. She could feel the warmth of Doggett's leg through his jeans. He glanced down at the movement, then up at her. "They cold?" he whispered. Scully shrugged. "A little." she wriggled them nearer to him. Her feet on his thigh was better than nothing, she supposed. And then a large hand moved and covered both of her feet. He rubbed up and down, the friction warming her toes. "Better?" Dumbly, Scully nodded. Oh God. Was that better? Absolutely. His palm was warm and soft, as it smoothed her skin from her toes to her ankles. Thank God she'd bothered to shave her legs. Even that little poodle- like ruff she sometimes missed at the bottom. Small mercies, thank you Lord, she thought, feeling the warmth spread from her feet, up her legs and settle in her groin. God, that was erotic. Just a small touch like that was electric. The film ran on without Scully paying the least bit of attention. All her senses were focussed on her feet. She'd never really regarded them as an erogenous zone before, but the feel of Doggett's palm on them was sending urgent signals to her crotch. `Get me laid' ones, mostly. And that was more than a little distracting. Especially before bedtime. She risked sneaking a glance at him. By the light of the television, his face changed colours, the shadows falling over his features in strange patterns. He started to move his head towards her, so she quickly looked away. She couldn't face him while he was doing that thing with his hand. She was sure what it was doing to her would be written all over her statement. Counting slowly to fifty, she told herself it would be safe to look at him again. She turned. He was still looking at her. A cold wave ran through her belly, followed by a surge of warmth. In the darkened room, his eyes were untypically dark. She couldn't read them. With any luck, he wouldn't be able to read hers, either. That's a shame, her groin whispered. He smiled at her and helpless, she smiled back. Such a small action, but it amplified the tingling in her groin almost painfully. At her feet, his hand gave her a little squeeze. Oh... He was back at the film, the bump on his nose highlighted against the glow of the screen. How could this be undoing her so much? For the state she was in, you'd think he was touching her intimately. More intimately. She tried to concentrate on her breathing. * The credits rolled. Neither of them moved. Tor re-wound the video and left the tv tuned on a comedy station. Scully ignore the canned laughter and enjoyed instead, the rhythmic stroking on her feet. She didn't care what they watched, as long s he continued to touch her. After what felt like both minutes and days, he gave her foot a nudge. She looked at him. He tilted his head to one side. "Check it out," he whispered. Craning her head around, but not moving her feet, Scully looked around him as he leaned back slightly. Tor was asleep next to him, sprawled across her part of the sofa, her head resting on Doggett's shoulder. She glanced at him, amused, to find him grinning at her. "Kinda sweet, huh?" he said quietly. Scully nodded, wishing it was her. "Looks peaceful," she said. He reached over to brush the hair from Tor's face, her feet missing his touch already. "Think I should wake her?" he whispered. "Unless you're planning on carrying her to bed, I think you'll have to." "Seems a shame." He stared at the head on his shoulder. Scully was surprised at his tone. This was the girl who kneed him in the nuts, punched him and bit his ear. He surprised her constantly. "Maybe if I try to carry her through, she'll stay asleep." Yes, Scully thought. Constantly. She swung her legs down. "Okay. But if you startle her, she'll probably take a chunk out of you." He chuckled and eased his arm under Tor's shoulders, sliding forward on the sofa. "Think I could claim compensation from the Bureau?" he whispered. "Work-related injury?" "I'd love to see Skinner's face when he read that form." She moved the empty chip bowl aside as he gathered Tor up and stood, all without waking her. "Very impressive," Scully nodded. Doggett grinned and chuffed his eyebrows up and down. "I da man," he whispered. Absolutely, she thought, watching his biceps bulge. She was going to need a Valium at this rate. Shame she didn't have any in her bag. Following him into Tor's room, a little part of her complained that *she* wasn't wrapped up in Doggett's arms, being carried to bed. She could do that. And she would bet her last buck on the fact that he could do it, too, with those muscles. As he carried her, Tor grunted in her sleep, muttered something and slid her arms around Doggett's neck, holding tight. He glanced over at Scully and pulled a `whaddya know' face. She smiled back, wishing it was her face, buried in the crook of his neck. She knew what it smelled like - and it was addictive. Lucky Tor, she grumbled to herself. She reached the bed first and pulled back the covers. Doggett bent and laid his armful down. "G'night, Trouble," he whispered, trying to untangle her arms from round his neck. "Sweet dreams." She grunted again without opening her eyes and muttered. "Night, Dogbreath." She pulled him down and kissed his cheek, sighed, rolled onto her side and shoved her thumb in her mouth. Doggett hovered bent over the bed, startled. He straightened slowly and stepped back as Scully pulled the blankets up to Tor's neck. They both left the room without speaking. Scully glanced at him as she pulled the door shut, but his face gave nothing away. She couldn't tell what he was thinking. He sat back on the sofa and she moved to sit next to him. Not too close. It would be down right dangerous to sit close. "You okay?" she asked softly. "It's been a long time since a child kissed me goodnight," he said, shaking his head. The look on his face told her he was away somewhere else. Running memories through his head. Scully felt a sharp pang. He looked thoughtful, rather than sad, but she was sure those memories had to hurt. Those sort always did. Then he snorted and shook his head and spoke, more to himself than to her. "Been a long time since *anyone* kissed me goodnight." There it was. Perfect opportunity. All laid out for her. All she had to do was take it. She swallowed. "Really?" she said quietly. He looked over at her. "Uh-huh," he nodded, pinning her with his eyes. Eyes that were shining by the light of the television, sapphire and indigo, hypnotising her. He didn't move. She didn't move. "That's a shame," she whispered. He shrugged slightly. "Yeah, well. Them's the breaks." He still stared. Light blue, dark blue.... Not letting her move away. So she moved closer, leaned forward, just touch, to see what he would do. He did nothing except stare. He neither moved closer nor moved away. She wondered what that meant. "Maybe..." she began to say, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her robe. She realised that they were betraying her nervousness, but it was either let them twitch, or scream. So her hands fluttered. "Maybe what?" he said when she didn't continue, his voice barely registering over the sound of the tv. Light blue, dark blue. Light blue, dark blue... Over and over. Over and out... Scully thought, allowing her body to take over communications, she leaned an inch or two closer. She kept her eyes open, not daring to close them, in case he moved back and she fell forward on the cushions. "Maybe I should..." She closed the gap between them, her body howling in triumph at her boldness. She was going to do it... Dammit! She was going to kiss him! Light blue, dark blue... the light from the tv got suddenly brighter, and under the illuminated icy gaze, her resolve faltered a fraction, and as she made the effort to push herself through the warm scent surrounding his face, she chickened out and adjusted her trajectory, to brush her lips against his cheek. Oh, fuck... The unaccustomed word echoed in her head along with howls of anguish from her libido. Damnit it hell. She pulled back, practically spitting with rage at her cowardice. Perfect opportunity for a home-run, and she dropped the ball. Damn, to little bits and pieces. She forced herself to meet his eyes. Back to light blue. She swallowed, wondering if the sofa was going to be comfortable to sleep on. No way was she going to lie next to him after this. He was still staring. So, she admitted, he looked a little surprised. Maybe even a lot surprised. Okay. Keep it light. Keep it superficial. She forced her lips to do something like a smile. "That better?" she joked. He nodded slightly. "Yeah... Thank you." His eyebrows rose and he glanced down. "Actually..." Oh, God. Here it comes, Scully thought. The `thank you but no thank you' speech. "Actually what?" she prompted, ready to go on the defensive. He looked back at her. "I was thinkin'..." "Yes?" She was going to scream. Either that or cry. "Well, maybe..." Oh, GOD! Just get it over with! "What?" He laughed softly, shaking his head. "Don't rush me. I'm not very good at this." Yeah? Well, no-one was good at telling someone that just kissed them to go take a hike. Scully pouted. He could at least have the balls to spit it out. Then she could be righteously offended, then would have the perfect excuse to sleep on the damned sofa. "Oh, for goodness sake, Doggett!" She rolled her eyes. "What?" He sighed and met her eyes again. "Promise you won't slap me?" She glared at him. If he quoted rules and regs about fraternisation, she'd give him a left hook to rival that 6th grade girlfriend. "That depends." "I was just wonderin'..." His hand hovered in front of his face. "If it wouldn't have been better, if you'd have kissed me..." He touched his finger to his lips. "Here." The world tilted. The tv roared in her ears and the shine in his eyes sliced her clean down to her crotch. She sat with her mouth hanging open, waiting for the world to settle down. "S'okay," he was saying. "It doesn't matter." Before she could think about anything more complicated than the fact that - damn! - he had wanted her to kiss him on the mouth, Scully reached out her hand and caught his. She had his fingers in hers. She glanced at them. "It does matter," she told him, looking back up into his face. He stared back. And using his hand to pull him to her, she tilted her head and closed the last few inches between them. His skin was warm, it smelled of aftershave and Doggett. She breathed it in. Warm lips. The faint scratch of his beard. The whole thing was rushing madly in two directions. Half to her head, making it whirl, half to her crotch, making it throb. Inside her, something fluttered as his lips moved slightly. Was he going to open his mouth? The possibility churned inside her belly. She would respond, she just knew it. She would respond, and then there would be no way on earth she would be able to stop. His breath huffed against her cheek and then they were pulling back, slowly. She felt the separation with a pang of regret, but a mental shrug. Never mind. One step at a time. They looked at one another. Scully tried to convey no regret, no hesitation in her steady gaze. She wanted him to know that she enjoyed the kiss. The silence between them intrigued her. "Better?" she asked, smiling. She watched his throat move as he swallowed. "Uh-huh." "Good." The look on his face told her something very important. Something she'd been waiting and hoping to see. Need. It was stamped all over his statement, in the glaze in his eyes and the parted mouth. And she'd bet that if the overhead light was on, she'd see colour in his cheeks. She knew she had. But. One step at a time. She stood up and moved to the kitchen, feeling strangely in control, considering how she had been feeling a moment ago. "I'm going to put the kettle on. Want a cocoa, or something?" He stared up at her. "That'd be great," he said in a little voice. Scully grinned as she walked into the kitchen. Gotcha! chapter 15. Taking pity on his stunned statement and revelling in her triumph, Scully told him she was taking her drink to bed to read. Let him make of that what he would. She wanted to lie and re-wind the whole kissing thing in comfort. She hadn't been the least bit surprised when he said he was going to watch the tv for a while. Seemed Mr. Doggett needed some space, too. It took a good hour and a half for him to finally come to bed. Scully had been just hitting the twilight world of sleep as the bed dipped, signalling his arrival. She rolled over to face him. "Hi," she said, her nose just peeking out above the covers. "Hi," came the quiet reply. Through fractionally slitted eyes, Scully watched him stare at the ceiling for a while. She wanted him to be the first to speak, if he wanted to. He flapped the blankets and sighed. She watched. Sighing again, he flounced over on to his belly, giving her a great view of his well-shaped back. But after a few minutes, he flopped back, with another sigh. This was tedious. His legs fidgeted. His arms came out of the cover to flop on the top. Then they went back under. Scully ground her teeth. She closed her eyes and took a steadying breath. Maybe he'd finally found a comfortable position. He sighed and rucked the covers again. Enough was enough. She opened her eyes. He was looking at her. "Agent Doggett. You'll injure yourself if you keep thrashing about like that. " She held up a hand. "Oh... No, wait. *I'll* injure you if you keep thrashing about like that." He groaned and flung himself over in a flap of cover to lie on to his side, facing her. "I give up," he muttered. "About?" "I don't know what to say." "Again, about what?" she asked, although she had a pretty darned good idea. He sighed and fiddled with a corner of the blanket. "About me, askin' you for a kiss." "You don't have to say anything." "No, I... Want to say something." "Okay." He fell silent, frowning. "I didn't think about it... It just kinda... Popped out." "Oh." He looked up at her. "I mean it's not like I haven't *thought* about it... Who wouldn't? It's just that I..." He groaned and put his hand over his face. Scully watched, thrilled that he was both nervous and at a loss. It made her feel more in control. And oh, boy, didn't that make a change? He rubbed his eyes and sighed yet again. "You want I should go... Y'know. Sleep on the couch?" he asked sadly. God, he looked miserable. Whipped and meek. Probably thought she was uncomfortable with him now. She decided to take pity. It was time she took matters into her own hands and stopped fannying around. "I've thought about it, too." He looked dejected. "Me sleeping on the couch?" Scully laughed and reached over to briefly pinch the end of his nose between two fingers. "No, stupid. Kissing you." She laughed harder at the look on his face. "No. Really?" He frowned. "You're kiddin' me?" She shook her head. "Uh-uh. I have." She studied his reaction and decided to gamble on it. "In fact I've thought about it more than once or twice, John Doggett." The smile that broke over his face was worth the gamble a hundred times over. She couldn't help but grin back in return. "Tell me you're not teasin'," he whispered. She shook her head. "I wouldn't do that." He didn't stop smiling. "I'm glad." They lay there, staring at each other, grinning like lunatics, until Scully broke the stalemate by reaching over again to place a finger to his bottom lip. "So. Can I do it again?" she asked, softly. He dipped his head to kiss the tip. "I was hopin' you'd want to." "Come here, then," she said, both outraged and thrilled by her boldness. Apparently, so was he, because he slid across the bed as if greased. "Okay?" he asked, almost nose-to-nose. "Okay," she agreed, leaning over to brush her lips against his, very gently. She pulled back and looked him in the eye, daring him to make the next one count. He grinned, and pressed forward, replacing himself on her mouth, sending a warm blush over his body. This time, when his lips moved, Scully willed him to stay where he was. She tilted her head a little and allowed her mouth to open a fraction, to see what he would do. There was a tentative lick on her lips. She answered it with a small lick of her own, then opened her mouth properly and as she did, his tongue slid cautiously into her. Oh... He was hot and wet - his mouth was gentle, his tongue soft. Just like her fantasies. Just like she'd known he would be. Thank you Lord. If nothing more happened between them... This was enough. Scully felt him sigh into her mouth, and accepted it gratefully. She took his breath and his tongue into her body, relaxed and happy, content to feel his hand on her shoulder, his eyelashes brushing her cheek. They took turns in exploring each others mouths, long strokes and small darting motions that told them about sharp tooth, curve of palette and lip. They took a long time to learn each other. Eventually, after a hundred years and way too soon, they parted and lay, looking at each other. "That was..." He shook his head helplessly. "I can't begin to tell you." Scully smiled and stroked the side of his face. "It was a long time coming, that's what it was." "You got that right," he sighed, closing his eyes under her touch. She rubbed his beard, pushing her hand against the rasp. So masculine, so sexy. He opened his eyes and looked at her. "Thank you," he said, leaning in to kiss her closed mouth. Taken aback, Scully blinked and shook her head. "What for?" "Being brave enough to kiss me." She laughed. "It's not that hard." He gave her an evil grin, and she batted him with her hand as he waggled his eyebrows. "Pervert... I meant, it's not hard to kiss you." He held her hand and brought it to his lips. "So you say, but I doubt I would ever have plucked up the courage to do it to you." "Am I really that intimidating?" He nodded. "Oh, God, yeah..." "Hey!" She snatched her hand away. "I mean... I already got one face full of water. And I hardly even knew you, then!" Scully blushed. "Oh, get away. You deserved that. Admit it." "Maybe..." He traced the edge of her face with a finger. "But I still would never taken the risk of making you mad at me again." She lay smiling, spending long minutes just looking at him. Mapping his face as if for the first time. He stared right back, a goofy grin all over his face. The covers had been pushed down almost to his waist, and Scully wondered if it was too soon to touch his chest. Maybe she'd just do it, anyway. Her hand came out from the blankets, ready. "Would you mind if..." he paused, unsure. Scully held her hand still and wondered what outrageous thing he was going to suggest, already certain she'd agree, what ever it was. "Go on." "Well, I'd like to sleep curled up next to you, if I can. Just like I did the first night here." Scully laughed. In the scale of things she'd imagined he'd ask for, that one must have been a codicil at the bottom of page fourteen. "Of course you can." She nodded, mentally agreeing with him that it was too soon for anything more. "I'd like that, too." He smiled and moved over to allow her to lie on her back. Then his head went to her shoulder and his leg twined between hers, parting them in a way that sent a fair bit of blood rushing to her groin. Soon, she promised herself. Soon. "That comfortable?" she asked, sliding her arm around his neck and pulling him closer. "Oh yeah," he mumbled, nestling in. "Wonderful." He rested his hand on her stomach. Scully smiled. "Good." They lay quietly, revelling in each other's contact, then she tapped his freckled shoulder. "John..." "Uh-huh," came the sleepy reply. "You asleep?" He grunted. "Not now." She smiled. "I know something you don't." "Oh, yeah?" "Yes." She said nothing more, just waited for him to give in. He sighed and put his head up to look at her. "Woman, you're killin' me. What?" Dropping a kiss on his wrinkled forehead, Scully grinned. "We're having an early night, tomorrow. So you'd better get all the sleep you can." It was a while before she could stop giggling at the memory of the look on his face.