chapter 22.


This time it wasn't the smell of soap or the twitter of birds that 
woke her. Not was it the smell of coffee and toast. This morning's 
alarm-call came in the shape of something hard and long digging into 
her bottom.
Scully pushed herself back against it, testing. 
It pushed back, slightly, slipping down the crack of her ass. She 
smiled, her eyes still closed.
Well, this certainly beat coffee.

Doggett lay behind her, one arm tucked down the back of her, the 
other draped over her stomach.
His breath huffed into her hair at the back of her neck.
Was he still asleep? She couldn't tell.
Part of him wasn't, anyway. She could feel his pulse beating in his 
cock, pressed into her crotch.
Maybe she could...

Shifting herself very gently, she arched her rear into his lap, 
easing his dick further round to her entrance.  It grazed her lips.
That was good.
With her eyes still resolutely closed, she rested, relishing the 
position, feeling him twitch against her occasionally. Not normally a 
fan of morning sex, she was pleasantly surprised to feel herself 
responding.
Smiling, she wriggled her ass, just to see if she couldn't do 
something about the situation.

Pushing backwards, she was delighted to feel his cock slide into her, 
gliding into place like oil on silk.
Sighing quietly, so not to betray the fact she was awake, she rocked 
back gently.
There was no urgency, no great rush.
Each back thrust brushed his cock against her G-spot, pushing her 
bladder forward. The two sensations, one delightful, one borderline 
uncomfortable, built up a slow burn inside.

There was a definite response from behind her, now. Her lazy thrusts 
were being met and matched, yet still she kept her eyes shut and 
didn't speak.
Their bodies rocked together.
Her breathing was coming faster. His too, by the feel of it, and 
their bodies were heating up, skin sticking together where it met, as 
if wanting to join together, too.

Too much... it was just too much. 
Scully groaned in the back of her throat as her soft orgasm crept up 
behind her and took her by surprise, squeezing her belly, forcing her 
pussy to clamp down. 
That finished him off.
Shuddering gently, with the aftershocks, Scully sighed as a kiss was 
dropped on her shoulder.
"G'mornin'," a rusty voice from behind spoke at last.
"Morning," she breathed, still a little stunned.
"That was nice," Doggett whispered into her neck.
"Hhhmmm." Scully squeezed his hand. `Nice' didn't even come close.

She cracked an eye to look at her watch on the bedside cabinet.
Quarter to ten. She blinked hard and looked again.
Quarter to ten.
Dammit. 
She turned slightly and nudged her elbow. "Hey. Guess what? It's 
late." She rubbed her face with her free hand. "We must have slept 
in."
He shifted slightly, sliding out of her. "Wa' time is it?"
"Nearly ten."
"God! Good job we don' have to get to work."

Scully frowned, both at the loss of him inside her, and the thought 
of work. They really needed to talk about this.
She brooded. Damn. This felt more than a quickie. Did to her, anyway. 
She wasn't the type to have a quick roll, then walk away. Certainly 
not from this man.
It was going to be tough to know how to broach the thorny subject of 
the Bureau, families and  everything else that life dragged behind in 
its wake

She felt Doggett move to prop himself up on an elbow.
"What're you thinkin'?" he asked, reaching round to tuck her hair 
behind her ear.
Her lip squirrelled its way between her teeth.  Now? Was it best to 
just come out with it? Or should she just leave it alone until he 
mentioned something?
"Dana?"  He peered over her. "You okay?"
She turned slightly, looking at him out of the corner of her 
eye. "I'm fine," she said, cringing inside at her pat response.
Great. 
He didn't say anything to that, just pulled himself up to a sitting 
position, propping his arms on his knees.
She waited. Something was bound to follow.

"Don't do this,"  he said quietly. "Talk to me."
Scully shut here eyes, trying not to sigh. In the split second it had 
taken him to say something, she had decided she didn't want to say 
anything. Couldn't.
She pinched the bridge of her nose. 
"Doggett, I'm fine, okay?"
"Then talk to me."
That sigh came. "We're late, we should get going."
Neither of them moved.

"So we can spend the night makin' love, but we can't talk about it." 
From the corner of her eye, she could see him looking at her. 
He stared. "Is that it?"
"No." 
That came out very quietly. Almost like it was ashamed of itself.
"Then what?"
She opened her mouth, but couldn't think of anything sensible. 
Anything that didn't sound pathetically needy, so she closed it 
again.  She didn't do `needy'.

He sighed. "You know what I think?" He paused, long enough for her to 
turn and look at him again.
"I think this sucks." He lifted his hand then moved to his side of 
the bed. "I thought we'd gotten beyond this. I thought..." 
Scully watched as he pulled himself out of bed, his back stiff, his 
face unreadable.  He glanced over his shoulder, not meeting her eyes.
"I'm sorry if I make you uncomfortable," he said.
The better part of her mind was screaming at her, spitting and 
cursing her lack of response.

In amongst the howls and shattering windows inside her, she got the 
message that if she let him walk away from her now, then there was no 
way he'd be able to walk back to her over the broken glass between 
them.

"Doggett..." she started to say.
He kept his back to her as he grabbed clean shorts, pulling them on 
with savage movements.
"The name's `John'."
Scully winced at her stupidity and his tone. 
Damn. Damn. Damn.
She slid out of bed, ignoring the uncomfortable wetness between her 
legs.
"I know." She walked over to him. Her hand hovered over his back for 
a moment, then rested on the warm skin. "John."
He stood motionless.
Swallowing her stupidity, Scully ran her hand down his back, then 
slid it round to his belly, moving to hug him from behind.

"I don't feel uncomfortable."  The muscles of his belly were rigid. 
She smoothed her hand over them. "I just..."  
Damn. She was never any good at this.
"Just not used to it, that's all." She rested her head on his back.
"What?  Sleeping with your partner?"  
Ouch. 
She supposed she deserved that.

Closing her eyes and breathing in the smell of his warm skin, she 
pulled him closer. Time to be honest with him, with herself.
"No. I meant not used to feeling like... Someone's got my guts in a 
vice. Like my world has just turned inside-out..." She took a deep 
breath.  "Like, if let you walk away from me, I might cry."
There it was. Her feelings all laid out in the open. It was up to 
him, now. 
What he said or did now would dictate the rest of her life. 
And that scared her to death.

He was turning, slowly. Taking her hand in his. 
Another hand under her chin, forcing her head up. She had never 
thought of herself as a coward, but she really didn't want to look at 
him.
"Hey..." 
Her eyes stayed shut.
He kissed her nose. "Hey... look at me."
Gritting her teeth, she opened her eyes, straight into his blue ones, 
flashing sapphire in the morning sunshine.
"What?"
"Can I tell you a secret?" he asked, smiling slightly.
She nodded.
He bent to gently kiss her mouth. "You just described exactly how I 
feel."

Breath caught in Scully's throat.
"Yeah?"
"Uh-huh." He kissed her again. "You knocked me on my ass, Agent 
Scully." He grinned.
"Sorry if you thought I was a tough, macho kinda guy."
She laughed, exhaling in a gust of relief, wrapping her arms around 
him.
"Don't worry, John. I never thought that."
He hugged her back. "Wow, thanks."

They stood for a while, wrapped around one another, until Scully 
untangled herself and pushed away slightly.
"And we can talk. We *need* to talk." 
"I know."
"Just not now, okay?"
He nodded. "Sure."

She pulled a face. This morning's activities were making themselves 
known.
"Okay. I need to take a shower."
He chuckled. "I was up first."
"I know," she laughed, reaching up to brush his hair back. "That's 
why I need a shower." 
He winced, getting the picture. "Oh.... Eeww."
"Oh, I don't know..."  She slipped her hand round the back of his 
neck and pulled him down into an open-mouthed kiss. "It had it's up-
side."
He laughed as she kissed him, and she thought that was the best sound 
she'd heard that morning.



                                    *

They both managed to get showered, dressed and make breakfast before 
Tor put in an appearance, still in her sleep shirt.
"Hi," Scully said as she wandered in to the kitchen. "You hungry?"
The girl slipped into a chair with a scowl. "No."

Scully raised an eyebrow at Doggett. He put down his mug and pushed 
the plate of toast across the table.
"Hey. You gotta eat. Busy day ahead."
Tor graced him with her scowl. 
"I'm not hungry, okay?"
"It might be a while before you get lunch, eat up."

She sighed. "Hello? Didn't you hear what I said? " She 
snorted. "Don't tell me you're deaf, with those ears."
Scully watched as Doggett stared over the plate at her.
"That was uncalled for," he said.
"Get over it."
Pushing her chair back, she took her glass of milk and turned away.

"Where are you going?" Scully called after her.
"Out."
The kitchen door banged behind her.
Scully and Doggett exchanged raised eyebrows. What the hell?

"I'll go see what's up." She pushed her chair back and rose.
Doggett went back to his coffee and grinned."If you're not back in 
fifteen minutes, I'll come help you bury the body."
Scully glared good-naturedly. "That's mature."
He winked.
"Go get her, tiger."

She found Tor sitting out back, nose in her milk, legs kicking the 
wooden steps.
She moved and sat beside her. They sipped their respective drinks, in 
silence.
After five minutes or so, Scully glanced over. The milk and the frown 
were both nearly gone. 
She rested her mug in her lap.
"That was a mean thing to say."
Tor ran her tongue around the rim of the glass.
"I know," she said at last, sighing.
Scully waited. She had a feeling there was more to come.
"I didn't mean it."
"Yes, you did."
Tor looked up at her, frowning. She opened her mouth, then closed 
it. "Yeah," she sighed. "I did."

They both looked out into the distance. It was a lovely view. Huge 
pines surrounded the cabin, bathing the grass in dappled shadow, the 
blue sky peeping through at the tops.
Gorgeous. So much more restful than DC. 
She looked at the girl, a stab of insight illuminating her snappy 
manner. She was staring off into space, her face dejected, shoulders 
sagging.
Somehow, Scully didn't think Tor was looking at the trees.

"We have to take you back to your mom, you know."
"Yeah." 
Not much excitement there.
"Things will be different."
"Will they?"
"You and your mom will be re-located somewhere away from Washington. 
Away from danger."  She spread her hands. "She'll get financial 
support. A nice house. You'll go to a nice new school.  Make loads of 
new friends."

She knew she was painting a rosy picture, it would never be easy for 
any teenager moving into a new area. But with any luck, it would be 
someplace safe, somewhere that the neighbours didn't use pets for 
target practise.
"Maybe you could talk your mom into letting you have a dog."
Tor gave a thin smile. "Yeah, maybe." 
They sat quietly. 
This was the happy ending that was supposed to happen. Tor's mom did 
the right thing - and she and her daughter would be looked after by 
the Witness Protection Program, but Tor looked anything but happy 
with the prospect of a new life.

Tor sighed and stood up. 
"I'm gonna go pack my stuff," she said. She grinned ruefully. "Might 
even take a shower."
Scully smiled. "You go for it, Tor." 

The grin faded. 
"We don't have to pretend, any more." She shrugged. "My name's 
Frankie."  
Scully nodded, standing. "Sure... Frankie."
The girl nodded back and turned to the kitchen. Pausing, she looked 
back.
"He gonna be mad with me?" she asked.
Scully shook her head. "No." 
She followed as Frankie nodded and went inside.

"Hey." 
Doggett looked up as Frankie spoke.
"Sorry about..." She blushed and flapped her hand. "The ear-thing, 
y'know."
He shrugged. "S'okay."   He grinned. "Not like I haven't heard them 
all before."
Frankie grinned back. "I'll bet."  She placed her glass on the 
table. "I'm gonna go shower and pack. Call me when we gotta go, `kay?"
"Sure." Scully watched her go, then stared to gather the breakfast 
things.

Doggett moved to stand beside her. "So what was all that about?"
"I get the impression she's not keen on starting her new life."
He nodded, handing her the cutlery. "Poor kid. Hell of a thing to 
have to deal with."
"I know."
They washed up and tidied, both lost in thought.


                                    *


Placing the last of her clothes in her bag, Scully felt a hand on her 
back. She turned, smiling.
"Yes?"
Doggett grinned at her, sliding both hands around her 
waist. "Nothin'."
She reached up and linked her hands behind her head.
"Doesn't feel like `nothing'," she smiled, pressing herself against 
him.
"Hhhhmmmm." He bent and put his mouth to hers, touching her lips with 
his tongue.

They kissed, slow and gentle, both content to hold and be held, 
sharing the quiet moment.
The shape digging into her groin felt even less like `nothing' when 
they parted. 
"What's this?" she teased, bumping it gently.
"That's what you do to me," he whispered in her ear, making her 
shiver.
"Good," she breathed back, inhaling the now familiar scent of his 
neck. "But we don't have time, right now."
"Pity."
She chuckled, pulling away. "Go shout T... Frankie. We should be 
loading the car."
"Er... I think you should go get her, all things considered," he 
laughed, glancing down at the shape of his pants.
Scully looked, and laughed. "I see what you mean. Maybe you should go 
get the bags, instead. Cool off."
He adjusted himself with a wince. "Sadist."
"Oh dear, Agent Doggett," she said, reaching to stroke the bulge, 
making him groan and sag against the wall.  "You have no idea."



chapter 23.



In the two hours it took to drive to the airfield, Scully didn't 
think Frankie said more than a dozen words. And five of those had 
been `yes please' to a burger and fries and `no thank you' at the 
last rest room stop.
It was horrible. She didn't want to part company with the child on a 
sour note. Despite one or two hiccups, it hadn't been a bad week. In 
fact, it had been a great week, in other areas. 
She glanced over to Doggett, a slight smile on her face, wondering if 
she was ever going to be able to look at him with a neutral 
statement.
He snatched a glance back and smiled.
God, work was going to be one long trial after this.

"Nearly there, T... Frankie," he said. "Bet you can't wait to see 
your mom again, huh?"
"Yeah," came the unenthusiastic reply. Scully could see her in the 
vanity mirror, just staring out of the window, her chin on her hand, 
looking as miserable as sin.

Doggett indicated left and swung the car through huge rusty gates.
There were two cars by the old hanger. He pulled up fifty yards away 
and killed the engine, reaching for his gun. Scully did the same.
"What're you gettin' those out for?" Frankie poked her head between 
the front seats.
`Precautionary," Scully said, checking her clip. 
"But the trial's over. Finished with."
"All the same," Doggett glanced back at her. "We have to check 
everything's okay."
He looked at Scully. 
"I'll go. You stay here."

Nodding, she watched him climb out of the car and walk slowly towards 
the other cars, his gun held loosely at his side. She slipped into 
the driver's seat, turning the engine over , ready, just in case.
Her heart began to hammer. God... let it be okay. 
Behind her, Frankie peered through the windscreen. 
"What happens now?"

"We wait. John's making sure these people are the ones we're 
expecting and not..." she let the sentence drift away.
"Oh."

It was the longest five minutes of the week.
Doggett spoke with two men, then to her complete and utter relief, 
held up his hand and indicated that it was okay.
She let her breath out in a hiss. Thank you God.  Thank you for not 
ruining my life.

"It okay, then?" Frankie asked as she turned the engine back off. 
Scully smiled, her stomach settling. "Yes. Everything's fine. I 
expect your mom will be here any minute."
Nodding the girl stared through the screen, her tongue caught between 
her teeth. 
"Come on, lets get your stuff ready."
Scully popped the trunk, climbed out and opened the back door.
"You coming?"
There was a crazy  moment when Scully imagined the girl was going to 
say `no', but with a sigh, she pulled herself out of the car.

She fished Frankie's backpack out from under the others and held it 
out to be taken, frowning at the look on the girl's face.
"Frankie?" Putting the bag down, she placed a hand to the girl's 
forehead. "Do you feel okay? You look pale."  All the colour had 
drained from her face.
Frankie stared at Scully.  "I won't ever see you again, will I?" she 
whispered, looking up with big eyes.

Oh, God. 
Scully swallowed. No point in lying. 
"No, Frankie, you won't. It wouldn't be safe for you." She laid a 
hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "But everything will be okay. 
You'll make lots of friends..."
"I don't want to go..."
Scully sighed. "I know."
"I really enjoyed this... you know. Despite the shit."
Scully smiled. "I'm glad."

They stood quietly, looking at each other. Then remembering how easy 
Doggett had been with the teenager, thought `why not'?
"Can I get a hug, then?" she asked, holding her hands out.
Easier than she would have dreamed, Frankie was in her arms, hugging 
fiercely.
"I won't forget you," she said.
"I should think not," Scully laughed. "Every time someone nags you 
about your language we'll spring to mind."
That got a small laugh.

As they stood, a large car swept into the yard, kicking up a shower 
of pebbles.
Scully knew a government vehicle when she saw one.
"That looks like it could be your mom."  She tilted the small 
chin. "Come on. Let's go show her how fabulous you look in that 
dress."
"She's gonna shi..." Frankie grinned. "Freak."

Scully laughed. "Probably."

The car doors opened and Fibbies poured out, all dressed in the suit 
and tie uniform, looking clean, smart and very intimidating. Frankie 
hesitated.
"It's okay," Scully urged. 
"Where's..."
And then she was running towards a woman that got out of the back 
door.
"Mom!"
Scully watched the two throw themselves at one another, laughing, 
both talking at once. 
That was a sight. She swallowed. Must be getting sentimental in her 
old age.

Doggett walked over to her. 
"Happy families," he said.
"I hope so," she replied, watching as the FBI agents fussed over 
them, urging them towards the hanger doors and a light aircraft.
They watched the crowd disappear into the hanger, a small pang of 
regret snagging deep inside.

"Funny, but I'm gonna miss her," Doggett said thoughtfully as they 
all moved out of view.
"Yeah, me too."
Strange, but true. Maybe all teenagers parents felt like that. Sad 
and glad to see them go.
They turned to the car.
"Do I still get to drive?" Doggett grinned, tossing the keys up in 
the air.
"Nope," she replied, snatching them off him.
"Hey!"

A yell from the hanger turned them round.
Doggett frowned. "What the hell?..."
A cluster of Fibbies appeared in the doorway of the hanger, running 
in the wake of Frankie's legs  pounding across the tarmac.
Highly trained agents failing to catch one young girl across a 
distance of about a hundred yards. 
She barrelled towards them, boots kicking up dust.
"Hey!" she yelled. "Wait!"

"Frankie!" Scully said, catching hold of her as she tried to 
stop. "You're supposed to be going, now."
"I know," she gasped. "But I didn't get to say goodbye." 
She looked over to Doggett, standing bemused as the other agents 
reached them. 
He held up his hand. "It's okay, guys. Just hang on a second."

Frankie untangled herself from Scully and looked at him.
"I just wanted to say..."  She was already red-faced from the dash, 
but Scully would bet the next two months wages that she was blushing, 
too.
"I just..."
Doggett grinned at her. "S'okay, Trouble. I know."
"See ya, Dogbreath."
"Not if I see you first."

Frankie grinned, then stepped forward to throw her arms around him.
Scully watched, wondering if Doggett would be reticent in  showing 
affection in public, especially in front of half a dozen FBI guys, 
but he just hugged her back, lifting her off the ground and laughing.
The ASAC looked over to her and mouthed the word `Dogbreath?' but she 
just smiled and shrugged.
"Okay. Get gone." Doggett put her back on her feet, messing up her 
hair. "And be good."
Frankie batted his hand away, smiling.
"Bite me, Doggett." 
"Nah, might catch somethin'."

"We have to go, now," the ASAC said, reaching for her hand.
"Yeah, yeah..." Frankie rolled her eyes. "Hold on to your...."
Doggett held up his finger. "Ah-ah. You mind your language."
Grabbing his finger and pulling, Frankie leaned up and planted a kiss 
on his mouth, making Scully laugh at her audacity and Doggett blush.
"Later, Dogbreath," she grinned.
And then she was off, running back to the hanger, yelling at the FBI 
guys to hurry up.

Scully looked at his still-pink face and stepped nearer.
"You're blushing," she told him with malicious glee.
"Am not," he frowned, running a hand over his face.
She smiled and allowed him the lie. He was busted and he knew it. She 
didn't need to rub it in.

They watched the entourage disappear into the plane, the whine of the 
engines signalling the start of Frankie's new life.
As they stood, Scully could feel the warmth of Doggett's arm, where 
it barely brushed against hers. She wanted to take hold of his hand, 
but the constraints of the job already held her hands at her sides.
Not here. 
Not in front of any other Agents, those rules said. And for the 
moment she would obey them.
But there would come a time, sooner rather than later, she hoped, 
when she could turn her back on stupid rules like that and walk down 
any street, proudly holding this man's hand.
She smiled to herself. That'd be a good day.

"Whatcha thinkin'?" he asked.
"Oh... just about walking down the Champs Elysee someday, holding 
your hand."
"Yeah?"
She looked up at him, smiling at those sparkling blue eyes. 
"Oh, definitely, Agent Doggett. Definitely.



fin.