Title: Victoria's Secret Revealed. Author: Forbes Summary: Scully and Doggett get to play baby-sitter to a witness' daughter, while discovering one or two things about life, the universe and each other... (Oh, by the way - no Mulder, no baby. Sorry.) Pairing: Doggett/Scully Rating: N-17. I did try to keep it clean... But you know how it is. Author's notes: Well, thanks to a lot of suggestions from certain parties, I finally did a DSR. It's taken a while to drag myself away from D/Sk, but here y'go. I hope you enjoy the fun. (You can quit nagging, now Meg. And you... oh, abusive teacher!  Revenge is mine, okay?) Thanks to Georgia for keeping her lunch down long enough to beta - thanks babe. Archive: Gosh - anywhere that wants to give it a home. Just let me know where it's gone. Disclaimer: Oh, sure. They're mine!  Really. All of them. (Well, okay. Maybe just Victoria.)   Apparently, 1013 own the others.  And there's me thinking the fans owned them... Feedback: sjforbesc@hotmail.com Epilogue. Spring, 2017. Scully squinted into the sunshine, smiling and sipping her coffee. It was a perfect day. Not too hot, slight breeze and just the right amount of people milling around to make sitting in the street-cafe interesting. She sighed. The cloudless sky highlighted the intricate roof of Notre Dame, the light sparkling through the gaps. Yes. Just perfect. "Excuse-moi?" A woman stood to the side of her, blonde hair, holding a small child by the hand. A boy, of around three. Scully put her cup down and looked up, squinting. "Oui, Madam?" The woman didn't reply for a moment, merely stared, nibbling her bottom lip. Too well-dressed for a beggar, Scully wondered if she was going to ask her to take a photograph of herself and the child in front of the cathedral. Sit still long enough and someone would ask you. Occupational hazard of street-cafes. She was about to ask if that was what she wanted, when the woman laughed nervously, her hand fluttering up. "I'm really sorry to bother you..." she began in English, much to Scully's surprise. "Yes?" "But I hope you don't mind if I ask you something." Scully inclined her head. "Probably not." No trace of an accent in the soft voice. Not a native of France. Was there a hint of American in there? Scully glanced down at the woman's body, checking for the bulge of a weapon under her light jacket. She smiled at herself. Old habits died hard. "What can I do for you?" she asked. "Well..." The woman laughed nervously again. "I know this sounds crazy, but can I ask..." Scully's lifted an eyebrow. "I won't bite," she said, puzzled. The woman laughed more confidently. "Maybe not, but I wouldn't trust you with a handful of ice cubes!" Scully frowned. What the hell was that all about? "I'm sorry." The woman held out a hand. "My name is Mariette LeCrousier..." Scully took the offered hand carefully. "Hello." She laughed. "But you didn't know me by that name." The other eyebrow joined it's mate high on Scully's forehead. She didn't know this woman, she was certain.  "Indeed? I'm sorry but..." "What am I thinking?" She slapped a hand to her head. "How stupid of me. "Your name *is* Dana, isn't it? Dana Scully?" All Scully's internal warning bells rang out. She inclined her head. "It is..." she said, carefully, giving nothing else away. "But you seem to have me at a disadvantage." The woman nodded and indicated a chair.  "May I sit down?" "Please."  She'd humour her a little while longer. See where this was going. Settled with the child on her knee, the woman smiled across at Scully. "I haven't seen you in...gosh, it must be nearly fifteen years." Scully frowned. Who was she? "I guess I've changed so much." She laughed. "Of course I have.." She ruffled the little boy's hair.  Scully leaned forward. "I'm sorry. But I don't remember you at all." "Not even the boots?"  The woman stuck a foot out and showed Scully a pair of heavyish tan walking boots. Incongruous, as she was wearing a light summer dress. A tickle of memory waved at the back of Scully's mind. Someone else wearing boots like these. "I'm sorry, I don't think I understand..." The words melted away, leaving behind the memory of a cabin, an unruly child and a handful of ice cubes. Scully felt her mouth drop open. "No..." she whispered. "It can't be..." The woman grinned hugely. "It certainly is." She stuck her hand out again. "Victoria," she said. "Or Frankie, whichever rings a bell." Scully shook her head, astounded. "Not Victoria... Never that, " she whispered, staring. "Tor?" she asked, not believing her eyes. The woman grinned.  "In the flesh." Scully reached out slowly and took the hand in wonder, turning it over in hers, a smile starting. "I don't believe it!" "Uh-huh. Me either. But I knew that hair from clear down the street. Knew it had to be you." "But you're..." "I know. All grown up." She smiled at the boy. "And a mother, too." "My God..." Scully stared at the blond boy, then back at Tor.  "How are you? What happened to you? You got married?..."  Scully paused for breath and then laughed at herself. "Listen to me! Wittering on." Tor laughed. "Well, it's been forever, hasn't it? And yes, I'm well. I married a French guy I met doing post-grad work in Paris. I'm very happy." Scully couldn't keep her eyes off the animated face. She was right, the happiness glowed out of her eyes. "Can I ask..." Tor blushed a little, intriguing Scully. "Can I ask - how's Dogbreath?" Scully threw her head back and roared with laughter. "I haven't heard anyone call him that since..." She wiped her eyes, still laughing. "Since that week?" "Well, yes. I guess no-one else had the guts to call him that to his face." Tor groaned. "I was horrible, wasn't I?" "You were great," Scully said, meaning it. "And?" She coloured up even more. "Do you know what happened to him?" Scully nodded. "I sure do." Tor shook her head, putting her hand to her forehead. "God... I tell you. That man was my first crush.  I was so smitten." Scully dipped her head. "Really? I'd never have guessed, what with the way you beat the life out of him at every available opportunity." Tor groaned and hid her face. "Don't! I just die when I think of that. I never did apologise properly for all those things." Scully touched the back of her hand. "Maybe you could do it now. He's over there." Tor turned as Doggett approached the table, carrying two plates of pastries. "Made a friend?" he asked, smiling at them both. He put the plates down. Tor stared, then looked down at the table and up at Scully, her mouth open. Scully held up her hand. "John. I'd like to re-introduce you to someone."  She waved her hand, turning  to the woman. "John, this is the only other person, apart from myself, who can claim to biting your ear." The look on Doggett's face made them both laugh. He peered closely at Tor. "My God...it isn't?" "It sure is." Tor gave him a grin. "Sorry about your ear. But it was just too tempting." Doggett put a hand up to his head, then smiled and held his arms out. "C'mere, Trouble," he said, laughing and pulled her into a hug. Scully watched them squeeze each other tight, then smiled as Tor pulled away, blushing furiously. The memories of fifteen years ago were obviously still capable of affecting her. Must have been a hell of a crush. "How come you're here, in Paris?" Tor asked, re-arranging her jacket. "You on a case?" Scully laughed. "I don't think so! We've both been retired for years." She smiled at Doggett. "This was a surprise trip for my tenth anniversary." "*Our* anniversary," he corrected her. "Yes, dear." "You two married?" Tor exclaimed. "Oh, that is so cool! I just knew you two'd get it on." The memories of fifteen years ago still had the power to affect *her*, Scully thought, feeling the colour enter her own cheeks. "Damn woman threw herself at me," Doggett grumbled, warding off a smack from his wife. "I did not!" They smiled at one another, re-playing those memories. "And who's this little chap?" Doggett asked, bending at the knees to look at the boy at eye-level. Scully looked questioningly at Tor, who shrugged and smiled. "This is my son. His name is John." Chapter 1 FBI Building. 2002. Monday morning - 8.45am. "With all due respect, sir, when did the X Files division become a baby-sitting service?" Scully's tone left no doubt as to her opinion on the matter. This was ridiculous. They were trained professionals - not rent-a-nanny. Skinner sighed. "Since this morning, Agent Scully. And it's hardly  baby-sitting. The subject may be a minor, but she is certainly not a `baby'." He pushed a folder over the desk top. "The reason you and Agent Doggett have been assigned this duty is all laid out in here." Her lips pressed together in a thin, uncompromising line, Scully reached out and all but snatched the folder up. The root of her bad temper of course, wasn't that she objected to the assignment per se, it was more the fact that it meant she would be spending the better part of a week in the close company of Agent Doggett. Undercover was bad enough, but on top of that, they had to pretend to be a married couple. Damn. God must really hate her. Either that or He had a particularly strange sense of justice. Or humour. She sighed, flicking through the documents, frowning. It had been tough enough trying to hide her growing fascination with her partner within the relatively safe boundary of the work place, but now that curiosity had turned into something that felt dangerously close to attraction, how the hell was she going to keep that fact concealed? And conceal it, she must. Conceal the fact that she must be going out of her mind to be attracted to a man that was so out of bounds he should have barbed- wire wrapped around him. Glancing sideways, she watched Doggett's mouth working at one of his grins. She could just imagine him finding this hysterically funny. He probably thought it was worth the hassle of being stuck looking after some snot-nose, just to see her fur ruffled. Well, he was going to see ruffled, alright. She tossed the folder back down on the desk.  "I see no reason why another department couldn't have been used." She folder her arms defensively. "The problem was inside the DEA. Absolutely any pairing from another division could be used." Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Unless we're being singled out for another reason?" Skinner sighed again. "No, Agent Scully. There is not mysterious agenda. The DEA merely wanted two unknown agents..." Scully bristled, and Skinner held up a placating hand. "That is to say, unknown to any officer within the DEA. You and Agent Doggett haven't been up there in so long I doubt any of the current officers know you." He shrugged. "Ergo: you'll be able to carry off the assignment without fear of identification." He frowned. "And without getting the witness' daughter killed." Scully scowled right back at him. "I still think..." "I'm quite aware of what you think, Agent Scully." Skinner sat back in his chair. "And while I understand your disinclination to act as guardian to this child, the fact  remains that threats have been made on her life, and unless she is guaranteed safety, her mother has refused to continue testifying. And I'm sure you realise how vital it is to weed out corruption within any official body." "But why must we assume identities and..." She flapped her hand derisively. "Pretend to go on vacation? Surely a hotel with mounted guards would be just as effective?" The idea of being on vacation with John Doggett both appalled and excited her. She wasn't sure which it was that was making her tremble. She folded her arms again, to keep them still. "Hotels can be breached." "And a rustic cabin in the middle of nowhere is a better option?" She and Skinner glared at one another. Doggett held up a hand. "Can I say something?" They both turned their glares on him. Doggett smiled way too cheerfully for Scully's liking. "As I see it, we get a week out someplace peaceful, enjoying the weather, looking after some poor little kid whose mother was in the wrong place, at the wrong time." He shrugged and looked at Scully. "What's wrong with that?" She opened her mouth to say exactly what she thought was wrong with that, but Skinner leapt into the pause. "Glad one of you can see sense." Unfazed by the acidic stare that Scully shot him, Skinner merely lifted an eyebrow and pressed his intercom. "Kimberley, would you send in the identity documentation, please."  He looked at each agent in turn. "You will follow FBI procedure on Witness Protection. An unmarked car and false papers will be issued for you all. Addresses are provided in a sealed envelope and should not be opened until you are in transit. No direct communication with the Bureau, as per usual - a safe number to call is listed with the ID's." He paused for effect. "You will take this more than seriously, Agents. There is not only one child's life at stake, but an entire web of corruption within the realms of law-enforcement. Do not take this lightly." He stared at Scully as he said these words. "You will be contacted at the end of the week to inform you that the child's mother has completed her testimony. At that time she will rejoin her mother for witness relocation." He looked from one to the other. "Any questions?" "No sir," Doggett replied. Scully just nodded curtly, her lips still rigid with displeasure. She was beyond ruffled. A week in the country with the man sitting next to her. A man she would have to pretend to be married to. Her fur was standing on end with sheer panic.       * "What the hell?!" Doggett looked up from the wad of papers at her outraged tone. "Huh?" Scully held the ID between two fingers. "Have you seen this?" she demanded loudly. "Not yet. Still tryin' to decipher these directions." Scully waved the identity paperwork in the air, her face contorted with indignation. Someone was going to feel the rough edge of her tongue for this. She thrust the papers out to her infuriatingly calm partner. "Do I look like a `Kerry' to you?"  She demanded. Doggett shrugged. "Dunno. Lemme see what they've given us." He stood at her side, peering at the ID's. He pulled a face at the photo the Protection Team had used for him. She tried not to turn to look at him, or inhale his aftershave. Difficult. Very, very difficult. "Damn. I look like an insurance clerk." Scully ignored him and pointing with disgust, tryig to maintain her anger with him standing so close. "These false ID's are appalling." "Yeah?" Damn, he still didn't get it. There was no way on earth she was a `Kerry'.  Not in a million years. No way. `Kerry' was that horrible girl from 9th Grade, that called her ginger-nut, stole her Biology notes and spread that nasty rumour about her, Bobby Ryan and the popsicle. She pouted, looking down, mightily put-out.  "How come you get the nice name?" Doggett scanned his side of the paperwork and grinned. "So, you like `Michael'?" "It's okay." "For a saint, maybe." That a slight smile. "You don't think you qualify?" Doggett grinned. "Not since I could walk away from my Mama." He glanced at the papers again. Then did a shocked double-take. "Holy shit..." he muttered. Scully stared at him, shocked. It wasn't like Doggett to curse in front of her. "What?" He shook his head. "Damn. Someone up in Witness Protection has one hell of a twisted sense of humour." "What d'you mean?" Doggett poked at the paper gripped in her hand. "Take a look at the rest of it." Obediently, Scully looked. "Michael Stephen Hunt." She shrugged. "So?" He raised an eyebrow. "Try again." Scully looked blankly at him. "Michael Hunt." "Shorten it." "Mike..." Dawning realisation blossomed on her face, followed by a huge grin. "Oh, I see..." A full-bodied chuckle bubbled out of her, making Doggett smile in wry amusement. She let the papers drop to the desk as she laughed helplessly, trying to wipe her eyes without destroying her make-up. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt as helplessly hysterical as this. Not in this office, at any rate. Certainly not since she started noticing the way Doggett wore his shirts, or recognising the smell of his aftershave on strangers. The name whispered itself in her head and she gasped for breath. "Oh, god... Doggett. That's priceless!" A fresh wave of mirth almost doubled her over. She gripped her belly. Doggett sighed. "Yeah. Just peachy, ain't it? But I wouldn't get too carried away, if I were you." "Oh yes?" Pausing with a finger under her eyelid, Scully smiled up at him. "Why's that?" "Yours ain't so great, either, lady." She grinned. "I daresay I can live with `Kerry'. All things considered." He grinned back at her. "You tried considering it with the surname?" She shook her head. "Kerry Hunt. So?" "Swap the initials over." Herry...."  Scully's grin fell off so fast she imagined Doggett could  hear the crash as it hit the floor. "Son of a..."  A blush raced over her face.  "Damn!" "Just peachy, huh?" Mirth forgotten, Scully straightened up. "I'm going to complain." She could not, would not go through the next week with that name. The stares and sniggers would be relentless. "Bit late for that." Doggett glanced at his watch. "We've gotta be outta here in fifteen. The rendezvous point'll take at least three hours to reach at this time of day." He gathered up the paperwork and stuffed it into its folder. "And I don't know `bout you, Agent Scully, but I gotta do some serious packin'." "But..." "Hey," He paused at the door. "It's just for the week. We can live with dumb names for that long." Scully knew she looked dubious. "An' just think. There's probably some poor devil carryin' those names around for real. Least we get to ditch them." Scully She  sighed. "I suppose." She was still very unhappy about it. "I'm definitely going to complain to Skinner when we get back, though." "You do that," he told her, holding the door open. She glared at his innocent face. That had better not have been a patronising tone in his voice. "I will," she promised him, heels clicking indignantly on the flooring. The basement door clicked shut behind them, and as Doggett followed Scully's outraged back up the corridors. She shook her head as she stalked ahead, telling him silently that he should be grateful that he wasn't going to be the smartass in Witness Protection, when the severely pissed Agent Scully came calling. chapter 2. "Is this it?" Scully peered out of the car window. The warehouse looked decidedly abandoned. Abandoned and filthy dirty by the look of it. Great. Doggett checked the name of the building on his lap. "I guess. The name's the same." Scully huffed and sighed. "Come on then. Let's check it out." She climbed out of the unmarked Bucar and stomped off across the gravel.  Let's hear it for the government's choice of rendezvous- points. Couldn't be a nice clean motel. Oh, no. They got to do this in some disgusting old warehouse that looked like it'd been used as a truck graveyard. Great. Doggett beeped with the keyring and followed in Scully's wake. She had showered, changed and packed in record time, but her mood was still the same. Severely pissed. What the hell was she supposed to pack for a week in the country with a man she would like to see wearing very little?  It had taken longer than she anticipated to choose her clothes and she'd been late meeting Doggett, who'd take great delight in doing the old `women are always late' routine. Glancing behind to check he was following, she watched as he swung the keys round in his hand. No doubt he was quite looking forward to a week in the boondocks. She sighed, taking in his relaxed expression. She suppose it did beat pushing papers in the basement. Well, it might, if her mood improved. Which it hadn't, the instant she laid eyes on him, getting out of the unmarked car. Damn. Just when she had convinced herself she wasn't going to think about him in anything but cold, professional terms, he turns up looking like something out of a casting call for Lonesome Dove. Matching light denim jeans and jacket, with blindingly white tee shirt. Shit. Almost as if he knew of her weakness for the `cowboy' look, and dressed accordingly to mess with her mind. And that damned crooked grin didn't help any. She was torn between wanting to smack it off his face and put her mouth on it. She sighed and dodged a large oil-spill. It was going to be a hell of a long week. Stepping into the darkened building, Doggett squinted to get his eyes used to the gloom. Scully stood doing the same thing. "You sure this is the right place?" she asked again, her tone a little snippy. She still wasn't over the whole denim-tee thing. Doggett just made a noise in his throat, not bothering to defend his map-reading skills. "Hey." The voice came from the shadows, followed by a large man. Both hands went to their guns. "Who are you?" Doggett asked, wary. "A.A. Milne's little friend." They relaxed. It was the DEA. "Tell Tigger we said: hi," Scully replied, wondering for the life of her who thought  up such dumb passwords. "You're late," the man snapped, turning away. He strode across the dirty warehouse floor, not checking to see if the agents were following him. Doggett exchanged a glance with Scully, rolling his eyes.  "Another Charm-School drop-out," he muttered. They caught up with the other agent way over the other side of the building, by a broken doorway. He pushed it open with bad grace. "Okay. Your Mommy and Daddy are here, Victoria." A petulant voice snapped from inside the dark room. "We all know damn well they're not my `Mommy and Daddy. And my name's *Frankie*, doofus." The man sighed.  "I told you. Your name's `Victoria' from now on." "I don't like that name. It's soppy." The DEA man rolled his eyes. "Maybe you'd like being dead, better." Scully's eyes widened.  Doggett frowned. That was a little harsh.  She was just a kid. "Hey..." he started to say. Quick as a flash, the kid snapped back out of the dark. "And maybe you'd like to kiss my ass, shithead." Doggett closed his mouth. Seemed his help wasn't needed. "I'd prefer to spank it," Large knuckles rapped the door. "Now get yourself out here, *Victoria*. Right now." Nothing happened. "NOW!"  The agent shouted, clearly starting to lose it. "I'm not going nowhere with any lame-ass Fibbies, I told you that, already." The angry statement was accompanied by the sound of something being thrown across the room. "And my goddamned name's FRANKIE!" With a sigh, the DEA man chewed on his lip, fists clenched. "Now, Victoria," he began, trying to be reasonable. "You know we have to get you out of town." "Oh, fuck you." There was a moment to silence from all three adults as the words echoed around the room. Scully caught sight of Doggett's mouth dropping open. He turned and looked at her, his face a picture. Scully raised an eyebrow. The kid had balls, you had to give her that. "I won't tell you again..." The DEA man tucked his gun into its holster. "Well, there's a relief.  Means I won't have to tell you to go..." With a grunt, the man disappeared inside the room. The two `lame-ass' Fibbies stood and stared into to the darkness. By the sound of it, there was hell of a struggle going on in there. "Get the hell offa me!" "You little...!" "OW!" "Shit!" Doggett snatched a look at Scully. Shall I go in there, his eyebrow asked? A small shake of the head - I wouldn't if I were you, she wordlessly replied. "Get out..."  A grunt of pain. "Hey! You fuckin' perv... OW! Leggo!" Something wooden splintered and the DEA man emerged, his arms full of hissing and spitting child, his face screwed up in obvious pain. The girl clamped upside-down in his arms struggled and fought. "You-goddam-fuckin'-pervert-you're-not-gonna-get-away-with-this...  Just-you-put-me-down-and-I'll-rip-your-fuckin'-balls-off..." Unceremoniously, the agent dropped the girl down in a foul-mouthed heap at his feet. "Shit..." she gasped, the breath knocked out of her. "Here," he panted, dusting his hands down.  "She's all yours." Doggett and Scully looked down. `Victoria' glared up at them. She was 13, the paperwork said. Lived in the projects over by the bridge, a kid that obviously saw life from the sharp end, by the sound of it, and one whose mother had been unfortunate enough to witness an alleged triple homicide by a police officer. Doggett stared at the child at his feet. She didn't look 13.  She didn't actually look much like a girl, either, but that was probably more to do with the poisonous look on her face than anything else.  The blond hair was cut very short, and she wore a Redskins shirt over ripped jeans. They might have been trendy rips, he couldn't tell. "Er... Hi," he said. No reply. Scully leaned over and gave it a go. "Hello, Victoria. We've been assigned to be your guardians until after your mom testifies." No reply. Just another scowl. The DEA man fingered a patch over his eye that looked like it would bruise up by the morning. "Okay. You've got the instructions, I trust?" Doggett nodded, his gaze dropping  to the crumpled heap on the floor. `Victoria' hadn't moved. "Well. You'd better get going to the safe house, then." "I guess." Doggett  held out his hand to the girl. "Coming?" "No." Doggett nodded. "I really think you should." "Do I have a goddamned choice?" She snapped. "Not really," Doggett shrugged, giving her a smile. "Hey. You could just sit there and wait to get shot," the other guy suggested sourly, poking his bruise.  "Works for me." Doggett glanced up at him, frowning. "I don't think that attitude is helping," Scully told him.  This guy was obviously not a great advertisement for the Juvenile Division. He just held up his other hand. "Look. I gotta report back. Why don't you just get her out of here?" Scully nodded brusquely and turned to Doggett.  "Can you bring the car around?" He glanced at her, standing a touch too close for comfort, those blue eyes burrowing into hers. She swallowed. Oh, lord... Give me strength, she prayed. Watching for a moment as he jogged away, she exchanged glances with the other agent and then both stared at the girl on the floor. She was muttering a fine selection of obscenities under her breath, scratching at the dirt with a filthy nail. Scruffy hair, grubby clothes. The kid looked like a poster child for detergent The `before' picture. "Good luck," the DEA guy muttered as Doggett appeared at the warehouse doors. "You're gonna need it." She pulled a face behind his back as he walked away. Then she contemplated how they were going to get the girl in the car with all of them in one piece.       * The sound of the radio slipped down a notch as Scully leaned forward and turned the dial. "Either of you two want to stop to use the bathroom? There's one coming up in a mile or so." In the back seat, Doggett nodded. "Yeah, please." She watched in the mirror as he absently rubbed his shoulder. Little Miss Victoria had caught him with her sneaker in the struggle to get her in the car. Scully wasn't at all sure it had been an accident. "How about you, Victoria?" Scully asked. Doggett turned to glance at the girl. She was sitting as far away from him as humanly possible, scrunched up against the door, arms folded over her chest, face turned away and scowling. "Hey..." Doggett reached over to touch her shoulder. "Your mama's askin' you a question." Flinching away and head whipping round, she opened her mouth to say something, but Doggett held up a finger. "I told you," he said firmly. "An' the DEA guy told you. You gotta be undercover from now on. No `your not my parents', no `my name's not Victoria'. You hear?" There was a grunt for a reply. "That a `yes'?" Doggett persisted. The grunt again, and she turned her head away. Sighing. Doggett caught Scully's eye in the rear-view. "I think that was a `yes', Ma." "If you say so," Scully smiled. She knew she'd got the better deal, up front. "I'll pull over at the next turn off." "Do I get to drive, then?" he asked, hopefully. "I'll think about it." She smiled in the mirror to let Doggett know he wouldn't be getting to drive any time soon.  To hell with equality, Scully thought to herself, glancing in the mirror again. She'd seen the battle to get that child in the backseat and she didn't feel any pressing need to share in the experience. No thank you, sir. She'd leave the physical stuff up to Doggett.  She smiled to herself. He was better built for it, anyway. Then she frowned. She would not think about how Doggett was built. Uh-uh. No way. That way lay madness. "So," she began, trying to break the silence with a little small talk. "I suppose we should get to know one another." A resounding silence came from the back of the car. Scully cleared her throat and tried to ignore the response. Or lack of it. "My name's Special Agent Dana Scully, but during this operation, I have to pretend to be your mom. My undercover name is..." She fought the urge to snarl the name out. "`Kerry'." No response again. She lifted her eyes from the road and glanced at Doggett. He was staring back at her.  Wearing one of his smart-ass grins. Scully narrowed here eyes. Oh, yeah, Mr Hunt. Real funny. "That man sitting there is your `dad'. He's called Mike in this operation." The temptation to add the rest of the cover name was overwhelming, but out of deference to the child's age, she held her tongue.  "Yeah?" Victoria raised her head. "Well, I'm real happy to meet the pair of you lame-asses." Scully's eyebrow lifted. Progress. Almost a conversation. "We're pleased to meet you, too, Victoria." The girl scowled. "It's Frankie." "Sorry, but for the rest of this week, it's not." Scully told her. She got a glare in the mirror for her trouble. Silence reigned as the car sped on. Eventually, a small sigh was heaved from the rear passenger. "So what's your real name?" Scully heard her ask Doggett. There was a pause, when she wondered if he was going to ignore the girl as some kind of punishment, but then he cleared his throat and answered. "John Doggett." Victoria gave very unlady-like snort. "What?" Doggett didn't reply this time. "Oh my god! What a dumb name! Doggetty-Dogbreath!" She laughed. Scully sucked her lip between her teeth and squashed a smile. Not fair to join in the fun. "Glad you think it's funny," Doggett told her, dryly. "I said it's *dumb*. Not funny." "Yeah?" "Yeah." "Whatever." Conversation over, silence blossomed, feasting on the hostilities in the backseat. chapter 3. Parking next to a camper at the far end of the rest stop, Scully killed the engine and turned slightly in her seat. "I think we should all get out and go together." Doggett nodded. "Yeah. Sounds like a plan." Over the other side of the car Victoria snorted. "You think I'm gonna pee with you two watchin'?" The two looked at her then at each other. "That wasn't what I meant," Scully began. "You're tellin' me." A dirty finger jabbed out. "He ain't gonna get his rocks off watchin' me take a whizz." Doggett's mouth dropped a little. "An' you." The finger poked at Scully. "I'm not havin' some dyke bitch hovering over me, neither." "I'm not a...." Scully started to say, before realising the girl had succeeded in pushing her buttons. "Look," she sighed and spread her hands. "You need to understand that we need to keep you as much in our sight as is possible. For your own safety, Victoria. And while that will not include watching you conduct matters of a personal nature, is does include walking in public areas with you. Understand?" No answer. Doggett sighed and shook his head.  Maybe it was sinking in that this week wasn't going to be as peaceful as he imagined, Scully thought. Good. "Victoria," he said.  "You were asked a question." "Don't call me that," the girl replied, pouting. Doggett rubbed his eyes wearily. "We have to. That's what's on your ID." "I hate it. It's soppy and girly." Doggett bit back the obvious remark that it was because she was a girl, and ground his teeth. "What about `Vicky', then?" Scully suggested, taking the role of peacekeeper. "No." The pout deepened. "Vi?" There was no reply, other than a scowl as her face turned away. "I knew a girl once in grade school," Doggett began. "She wasn't all girlie and soppy. She was real cool. Played soccer for the county and fought just like a boy." Two women turned to look at him. He hesitated under their gaze, but plunged on. "Her name was Victoria as well, but she'd punch anyone out who called her that." He looked from one pair of wide eyes to the other, obviously embarrassed with this sharing of recollection. "Anyway. She made us call her `Tor'." He shrugged. "How about that?" There was silence as the small passenger considered the idea. Doggett pulled a face at Scully's questioning eyebrow and upturned eyebrow.  He looked most uncomfortable. He'd be  answering some serious questions on this later, she promised herself. "Well?" he prompted. Victoria looked at him. It might be her imagination, but there looked to be a shade less hostility in her face. "I suppose it's better than the other ones," she admitted, grudgingly. Doggett grinned, letting out a breath. "Good. `Tor' it is. Now I really do gotta pee, so let's go." Scully caught a slight flash of amusement on the grubby face, then the shutters came down and she  clamped the `sullen' mask on again. "You don't get to watch," she said again with a glare. "Trust me, I wasn't planning on it," Doggett breathed, slamming the door behind him and taking up a position on the other side of the girl, sandwiching her between him and Scully as they began to walk up to the restrooms.       * Leaning up against the wall, Doggett sighed and checked his watch again as Scully  emerged from the ladies.  Damn, but he looked good, tee shirt stretched across his chest. She groaned inside. Oh, Lord. Why must you make my life so hard...? "Why does it always take you women three times as long to `go' as men?"  Doggett asked. "I didn't realise I was being timed," she said, shaking her damp hands. "I wasn't timing you," he told her, blushing a little. "It's just that I seem to spend huge chunks of his life standing outside women's lavatories, waiting for women  to do whatever it was they do inside them." Scully studied his face. She like that colour on him. Caught-out pink.  It made the tips of his ears  stand out. It looked quite sweet. She surprised herself thinking that. That wasn't a word she would have thought to describe her partner. And then despite her best intentions, she followed it up by idly wondering what it would take to make him do it again. She inclined her head. "We do exactly the same as men. Only we have to wait in line to sit, rather than standing to do it, side by side." Bingo. It didn't take much, after all. Well, that was a surprise. She watched the faint blush slide away.  She would have to avoid making him do this again. Pinked-up ears didn't help her battle against his attraction, at all. She shook her hands again and peered into the ladies. "Wonder if I should..." she pondered aloud. Doggett shook his head. "I shouldn't. She'll probably scream the place down." She nodded. "You're right. I'll give her a little longer." From the corner of her eye, she watched Doggett exchange rolled eyes with a man standing impatiently with a poodle. "Women, eh?" Doggett said, nodding his head at the doorway. "Tell me about it. Three daughters, two wives." The man shook his head. "Spend my life out here." Doggett laughed. "I hear ya." Scully watched, entranced by his laugh. All teeth and crinkled up eyes. It looked good. Damn. She wasn't winning this battle. "This your lady wife?" The man asked, smiling down at Scully. She opened her mouth to deny everything, remembering at the last instant who she was supposed to be. Doggett was apparently ahead of her. "Yeah," he said casually, resting a large hand on her shoulder. Scully stared at the hand. Strong fingers, clean nails. And on her shoulder. She swallowed. Oh shit. She could feel the warmth of his skin through her tee-shirt. It was nice. Too damned nice. The heat from his hand seemed to be bleeding down into the pit of her stomach, warming her inside. Damn, that made her feel weird. "You'll be well used to this, then," the man was saying, including Doggett in some secret brotherhood of restrooms. "Oh, yeah," Doggett replied, squeezing her shoulder. "You got that right." The pressure of his hand made Scully feel even stranger. And even warmer. Oh, God. Help me. She glanced at the restroom doorway, not daring to look up at Doggett - she was sure the distress on her face would be screamingly obvious. What the hell was the matter with her? She had been in contact with him plenty of times. Never bothered her before. Ah. But that was before her body had decided John Doggett  was something out of the ordinary - something worth taking an interest in. Damn her body. Damn her hormones. And damn him for being him. "I'm going to see what Tor's up to," she said, sliding out from under his hand. Her shoulder immediately missed the warmth. She risked glanced at Doggett. He grinned at her. "Don't be long, honey," he told her, winking. Someone was enjoying this role-play way too much.  Here she was, torn in little ragged pieces over this stupid attraction, and he was enjoying himself. Oh, but he was going to pay for that. She lifted her eyebrow at him, allowing him a hint of the trouble that was coming his way, then allowed herself a small stab of satisfaction as his grin faltered. "I won't," she replied, tilting her head and moving into the lavatories. She and Agent Doggett were going to have a little chat about boundaries and professional conduct in the very near future. She scanned left and right in the block. Unfortunately, she had a sneaking suspicion she wasn't going to enjoy broaching that subject as much as she thought she might. She frowned as a stout woman emerged from the furthest cubicle. There was only one stall occupied. That had to be Tor. She called out. "Tor... Hurry up, will you?" Standard silence from the other side. Scully frowned. This kid was starting to piss her off in a big way. "Tor. Come on!" Silence again. Lifting her fist, Scully began to pound on the door. "Will you..." Her voice trailed off as the door slowly swung open to reveal and empty toilet stall and an appallingly open window. "Oh, shit..." Reams of paperwork concerning lost witnesses ran through her mind like ticker-tape, closely followed by a large round of bullets. Shit!  "Michael!"  She yelled as loudly as she could, turning from the accusing stall. "Dammit! MICHAEL!!" She yelled again, hoping that the belated realisation that *he* was supposed to be Michael, would stir Doggett from his leaned pose outside the toilet. Apparently not. Scully came barrelling out of the door. "Didn't you hear me yell?" she demanded, furiously. Some undercover agent he turned out to be. "I didn't..." he started to explain, but Scully held up her hand. "We don't have time for this- she's gone out of the window!" "What?!" She made impatient motions with her hand and started to run around the other side of the building. "Crawled through and took off. She's gone!" Shit... damn. Scully caught a glimpse of the poodle man shaking his head in amusement before she moved away. "Which way?" Doggett asked, scanning the fields around the rest stop. "Don't know," Scully admitted, doing the same. "Split up. You go that way," she pointed. "I'll go that." She heard him mutter `Damn!' under his breath as he took off across to the left and started to sprint away. Damn, was right. How the hell could they let this happen? They'd only had the kid half a day. FBI career over and out. All because of one foul-mouth urchin. She was gonna kill her when she found her.       * Thank God she'd worn flats. She'd never have been able to do this cross-country stuff in heels, that was for sure. Squinting into the sun, she made out the glimpse of white that betrayed Doggett's position. Straight ahead, about three hundred yards, she estimated and began to jog. Feeling the weight of her gun bouncing uncomfortable  in its holster on her leg, Scully pushed a strand of hair from her forehead and tried to settle into a steady rhythm. The sound of Doggett's piercing, two-fingered whistle had stopped her haring off across another shit-covered field in the nick of time. Small mercies, and all that. These shoes had been expensive. She was sure there wasn't a cleaning agent in the world that could get cow shit out of beige suede. As she jogged nearer to Doggett, she frowned. What on earth?  She expected him to be standing - he wasn't. Kneeling, by the look of it. Maybe  he was hurt? Scully picked up the pace a little. Drawing nearer, the sound of steady cursing reached her ears. That sounded familiar. "Get off, you asshole!" "Not a chance, miscreant." "Whaddyou call me?" "Look it up." "Look it up your ass - get offa me!" "I see you found her," Scully said, resting her hands on her thighs to get her breath back. "Yeah..." He was lying propped up on the grass, one knee pinning Tor's legs down, his left hand holding both her wrists over her head. Both of them were red-faced and angry. Doggett had a large grass-stain across one shoulder and mud down one leg of his jeans. It looked to have been quite a struggle. Tor didn't seem to be any worse the wear for the tussle. But then it was hard to tell, she'd been a mess to start with.  Doggett grunted as her raised knee dug painfully into him. "Quit that, will ya?" he snapped at the wriggling body beneath him. "Kiss my ass!" The knee came up harder. "I oughta..."  A vein on the side of Doggett's neck bulged alarmingly. "I think you could let her go, now," suggested Scully. "There are two of us, now." Doggett grunted, took his hands from around the two smaller wrists and tried to stand up. "Fuckin' pervert!" Tor yelled, lashing out with one freed hand, catching Doggett a stinging slap across his face. Scully winced at the sharp sound. Damn, that had to hurt. Even Tor looked a little shocked at the sound. Scully straightened up, ready to stop Doggett from pounding the girl into the grass. There were probably regulations about spanking a witness, but she wouldn't blame, him one bit. He sat back on his heels, his hand coming up to touch his cheek. "That hurt," he said quietly. Tor didn't reply, just stared. Scully wondered if she was weighing up her chances with a smart-ass remark or another slap. "Don't do it again," he told her, rising up. Scully raised an eyebrow at his restraint. She didn't know if she would have been able to keep her hands off the kid after a smack like that. "You okay?" she asked. Stupid question, but there wasn't much else she could say. "Uh-huh," he replied, staring at the crumpled girl at their feet. Muddy fingers rubbed his jaw, working it from side to side. "I'll live." Scully's hand was raised up halfway to touch his face before she realised what it was doing. She pushed it back down, tightening it into a fist. The temptation was overwhelming. To reach out and run her fingers over his cheek. Damn. She turned away quickly and pointed at Tor. "You. Get up."   To her amazement, the girl did as she was told. Wonders would never cease. Scully decided a small lecture was in order. Nothing like sexual tension to get the blood flowing. She stepped into the girl's personal space. "Understand this, Victoria. We are here to keep you alive. We are here to protect you and care for you. We are not here to chase across fields or search restrooms for you..." Jabbing a finger under Tor's nose to make each point, Scully raised her voice accordingly. "We cannot do our job if you insist on running away. If it happens again, I will have no alternative but to handcuff you when we reach the cabin. Is that understood?" "You wouldn't dare!" Tor's chin came up with a belligerent jerk. "Oh, yes I would. To keep you from endangering yourself and us, I will do it. Trust me." Dark eyes flashed angrily. "Bitch." "If you say so. She glared at the girl, daring her to argue.  She could do `angry' better than this little kid. She'd had years of practise.  "Dyke bitch." "Whatever." Scully glared harder, not bothered by the name- calling.  "And I'll tell you something else, too. If I have to restrain you - I'll have no hesitation in doing it with you in your underwear." The outrage on Tor's face was almost enough to make her smile, if she hadn't been so angry. "I don't suppose you'll be all that keen on running out on us in your undies, would you?" "You wouldn't fuckin' dare!" "Oh, but I would." "No way - it's a violation of my rights!" "So is being dead," Scully told her, reaching for a muddy hand. "Now walk nicely with me back to the car." There was the expected resistance. "Don't wanna hold your hand like some baby." "Then you shouldn't have run off like one, should you?" Scully pulled again. She sighed when Tor refused to budge. "Here's the plan, Victoria..." "That's not my name." "Oh, yes it is, until you start acting less like a five-year-old. So like I said. Here's the plan. Either you walk holding my hand..." She paused for dramatic effect. "Or I get your `father' to carry you back over his shoulder." "No way!" Scully lifted her eyebrow in question. She had no doubt that Doggett would be more than happy to drag Tor's squealing body back to the car and throw her in, judging by the look on his face. Tor obviously thought so to, as she glanced over to him. She sighed and began to walk, dragging Scully forward with a sharp pull. "Come on, then. Move your fat ass, `mommy'." Scully allowed herself to be pulled along, casting a shrugged grin at Doggett, who shook his head and began to walk alongside. With Tor at arms length, just about as far away as she could get from the pair of them, Doggett leaned down and whispered in Scully's ear, making her neck goose up. "Glad you're not my mom," he breathed, grinning. She smiled back, shivering slightly, and cursing at herself, all over again. This man was trouble. Or she was in trouble. She just couldn't decide which it was. chapter 4. "I told you, I don't need no new clothes."  That sulky bottom lip pooched out again. Scully plucked at the stained teeshirt. "Yes, you do. These stink." "Do not!" Tor managed to look both defiant and offended at the same time. "Don't argue with me, Tor. We're going to get new stuff, and we're going to do it with or without your input." Scully dragged the girl between the racks of clothes, fighting the urge to strangle the teenager. The unrelenting hostilities were wearing her down. How did other people cope with teens? "How `bout this?" Doggett called from behind a colourful rail. He held up a summer dress, a huge grin on his face. Scully bit down on a laugh. Tor exploded. "No way! Absolutely no f..." She got no further with her protests, because Scully whipped around and clamped a hand over her mouth. Big surprised eyes looked at her over her  hand. "Ah-ah. No. We will not be using any more words like that." She glared down. "I am not having any daughter of mine shocking an entire department store with foul language. Understood?" She was tired of listening to the filth that came out of this kid's mouth. She could only imagine what her own parents would have done if she'd have come out with half of what Tor used, casually. She took her hand away slowly. "Okay?" "You can't tell me what to do. You're not...!" Scully clamped her hand over the mouth again and smiled grimly. "Two things. One: you will not mention the `We Are Not' phrase again. And two: I think you'll find I most certainly can, Victoria." She lowered her hand, wiping it on her jeans. It was more than a little wet. Tor licked her lips. "Don't use that name. I hate it." "Then behave. Earn the right to have the other name." Tor pouted again and shot Scully a vicious look. Scully ignored her. "Deal?" "Huhm." "That a `yes', mom?" Doggett asked, wandering over, still clutching the dress. He leaned on a shelf, dangling the flowery item between two fingers. His good humour seemed to have returned after the incident in the field. "I think so," she replied, looking sideways at him and then back at Tor's angry face. "And what a lovely dress, Michael. I think it would suit our little girl down to the ground!" "I don't think so!" "Aw, I don't know..." Doggett stepped over and held the dress up to her. "I think you'd look kinda sweet in it." Stepping back as if burned, Tor snarled at him. "Get..." Snatching a glance at Scully's face, she re-thought her vocabulary and finished rather lamely: "Lost." Sensing a not inconsiderable victory, Scully felt magnanimous enough to offer an olive branch. "So, tell us, Tor. What would you prefer to wear?" A sideways glance and narrowed eyes. "You mean it?" Scully nodded. "Uh-huh. What would you pick?" Frowning, the girl looked around and finally settled her gaze in the teenager section. Scully watched a smile spread over her face. "Those," she said, pointing. Turning to where she indicated, the agents were greeted with a collection of denim dungarees. "Those?" Scully echoed. "Yeah. They're cool." Slipping her hand free, Tor dashed between the rails to stand at the denim section, running her hand over the shiny brass buttons and hooks on the front. Scully looked at Doggett and raised her eyebrows. What d'you think? She asked silently. Doggett shrugged amiably. Why not? They were getting good at this non-verbal stuff, she thought as she made her way over to Tor. Maybe they were finally getting on the same wavelength. That was dangerous. "These are boys' clothes, Tor," Scully began, knowing she'd never be caught dead in boys' stuff at Tor's age. "So?" A hint of the earlier aggression filtered back. Scully shrugged. Raw nerve, there, apparently. "Okay, okay. Dungarees it is. And how about a couple of fresh tee shirts to go with them?" Hell, the US Government could afford to splash out a little on one young girl in danger. "You mean it?" Tor's face was a picture. Scully wondered how often she got any new clothes. "Sure," she said, smiling. "Why not? A girl's got to look good, don't you think?" Eyes wide, Tor turned back to the rail, trying to find her size. She fished out a pair. "Cool," she muttered to herself, turning the clothes around in her hands. "These would look good," Doggett said, handing over four baggy tee shirts. Again from the boys' section, one of each in red, green, blue and white. Tor nodded and took the shirts, her gaze flicking to Doggett as if unsure about taking them "And you gotta have boots, too," Doggett said, getting into the whole shopping-thing in a big way. Scully watched in amusement as he gathered a pair of tan ankle boots up, along with several pairs of gym socks and boxer shorts. "These about your size?" he asked, showing the boots to Tor, who nodded, dumbly. "Erm... Hello?" Scully began, hesitating to say anything to stem this touching enthusiasm. "Huh?" He looked up from the armful of clothes, wide-eyed. Oh, God... Those eyes... She cleared her tight throat. "I think you've gotten a bit carried away, there." "What?" He looked at the clothes. "I think Uncle Sam can afford it, Kerry." Shaking her head and frowning at the hated name, Scully indicated down at his handful. "No... I mean, you're shopping for..." She glanced at Tor, wondering how she was going to take this. "You're supposed to be catering for a girl." Doggett's gaze dropped to the boxers. He coloured up. "Oh." Scully grinned. Sure didn't take much to turn those ears. "That's okay," Tor reached over and snatched the underwear. "They're fine." "But..." Doggett began. "They're okay, I tell you." Scully watched in amusement as Tor started to blush, too. "Let's just get outta here, okay?" "Okay," Scully nodded. "In a moment." She loaded the boxers back into Doggett's arms and gave him the dungarees, too. "Wait for us by the checkout, will you... Mike?" She nodded over to the exit. "Why?" Doggett looked blank above the clothes piled up to his chin. Scully sighed. "Just go, okay?" She jerked her head and frowned. Get the picture, John... she thought to him.... Get the picture... It took a good few seconds, but eventually, a look of dawning comprehension blossomed in his eyes. "Oh," he said, turning pink again. "I'll just ... Go over there, then," he stammered, suddenly desperate to get away. He turned and all but ran for the checkout. "What d'you do that for?" Tor asked. "You want to talk `bras' in front of him?" Scully asked, watching as the girl turned the same shade as Doggett. She frowned.  "I don't..." "Tor..." "I don't need no stinking..." Scully looked pointedly down at her chest. "Yes, you do," she said firmly. "Now come with me and we'll get you sorted out." And taking a clenched fist in her hand, Scully marched over to the  women's lingerie assistant, dragging a groaning teenager.       * Using the mall's restrooms to change, Tor emerged after half an hour of irritated supervision, a different person, in her new outfit. They found Doggett slumped over a bench in resigned patience. It had taken him a bare ten minutes to wash and change into fresh tee shirt and jeans. Scully had wanted to curl up on the floor when she saw what he changed into. Black.  All black. Tight, stretched and black. God, she wasn't going to be able to make it through the week. She'd had to look away. "Well?" she asked, holding Tor's hand out. "What d'you think?" Nodding, Doggett stood. "Not bad," he said. "The kid scrubs up okay." Scrubbed up okay, thought Scully, but looked like a boy. Short spiky hair, washed under the restroom faucet with howls of anguish added to the effect. At least she had been able to persuade Tor that she really *did* need to wear a trainer bra. Doggett glanced down the corridor. "You think we can eat, please? I'm dyin' here." His expression of pathetic pleading made her smile. "Sure." Scully risked letting go of Tor and shoved her hands in her pockets. "What d'you fancy?" "Burger." Both Doggett and Tor spoke together. They looked at each other and grinned. This was progress, thought Scully, following them towards the car. Not actually holding a conversation, but at least communicating in a civilized fashion. Hope it lasts, she thought.       * With drive-thro' on their laps, they began the last leg of the journey to the safe house. Doggett had glanced at Tor. "Mind if I ride up front for a bit?" Shrugging, she spoke to the window, without looking at him. "Suit yourself. I don't need a babysitter." Easing himself into the seat, Scully watched him balance his food as he buckled up. "Okay, partner," he said. "Let's rock and roll." Risking the occasional glance across, Scully watched in fascination as Doggett inhaled his food. There was something compulsive in watching a man eat with gusto and such obvious enjoyment. She gave herself a guilty shake when she found herself spending rather too much time watching as he sucked the fries' grease and salt from his fingers. Not safe driving practise, she scolded herself. But deep down, she knew she was angry with herself for enjoying the sight of his fingers sliding into his mouth a little too much. Hell - she shouldn't be enjoying that sight at all. This was her work partner. Was she mad? Yes, said a little voice deep inside. Definitely. The warmth of the car, the soft rock on the radio and the long, flat roads were hypnotic. Conversation had dwindled, and checking the rear-view, Scully saw that Tor was fast asleep, head lolling to one side. She smiled. Not so tough, after all. Turning to whisper to Doggett, she was startled to see him sitting with his head back against the rest, eyes shut. Sleeping, or just resting? She couldn't tell. At the next straight bit of road, she took the opportunity to snatch long glances at him, enjoying the private moment. Relaxed, his face was smoother than usual. The lines on his forehead eased out, that strange vee-shaped dent below his hairline invisible. Even the worry-marks over his eyebrows were absent. She kind of liked how he looked, like this. Peaceful, younger, maybe. She snatched her eyes back to the road. Stop it!  This wasn't the time or the place to do this. Shit - there was never going to be a time to do this. She couldn't allow herself to get in any further. It was crazy. He wasn't only her work partner, he was also totally unsuitable for her. Probably too old. Probably too set in his ways. Definitely too much history. And more importantly, he'd never given any indication that he like her `that' way. Well, to be fair, she didn't think she'd given any, either, so that meant nothing. But the question was - how did she feel about that? Was she relieved, or disappointed? She shook her head, rolling her eyes at herself. This was ridiculous. How could she contemplate holding this conversation with herself when the direct result of her acting on any feelings was probably instant dismissal or re-assignment to Alaska. Not to mention rejection, if he wasn't interested. She didn't think she could stand that. No. Best left alone. She snatched another glance. Damn, but he looked good. That tee-shirt looked good, too. Black suited him. Actually, white suited him, too.  In fact, apart from a particular nasty tie he'd worn once, she didn't think she'd seen him in anything that didn't suit him. But, blue. She liked him best in blue. Damn. She sighed. Crazy, just absolutely crazy. And if she survived this assignment, she was going to book time off and damn well go on holiday somewhere, see if she couldn't get laid. She smiled to herself. That sounded like a plan. chapter 5. "I get this room," Tor called, throwing her rucksack through the door. And following it inside, she slammed the door shut. "You checked it out?" Scully asked, nodding at the closed door. "Uh-huh," he told her, unloading the heavier bags on the sofa. "Locked window. One door. One bed. It's kinda small. I don't think she can get up to any trouble in there." "Okay." Grabbing her bag, Scully shoved a lock of hair behind her ear. She was tired, out of sorts and cranky. She could do with a long bath, a cup of hot chocolate and an early night. Several long hours spent in a warm car, in the twin company of her libido and Doggett's aftershave, had worn away at her nerves. Never mind the argument they'd had with the caretaker of the place over the fact they were two hours past check-in time. She'd been `this' far off taking out her gun and shooting the miserable little pissant. Luckily, Doggett had intervened. Lucky too, that this place was warm, clean and attractive. The mood she was in, she'd have driven back to DC and shot the entire staff of Witness Protection. Lucky for them, she liked rustic. She turned to tell him how close she'd come to murder at the gates , but found her mouth hanging open, unhinged and silenced by the sight of Agent Doggett with his back to her, bending over the arm of the sofa as he sorted through his bag. Mother of God... Those jeans. What they did for his ass shouldn't be allowed. Tight, so very, very tight. Scully dragged her mouth closed, her eyes wide and bulging, trying to commit to memory this sight. Damn him. Damn him for having a tight ass. Damn him for having large thighs. Damn her, for enjoying every glorious, black inch. Guilt, and a healthy dose of self-control forced her to rip her eyes away. She could imagine him feeling the heat of her stare on his butt. How embarrassing to get caught ogling her partner. She cleared her throat. "I can't face unpacking tonight. I think I'm going to just get my stuff sorted and take a bath." She glanced quickly over at him again. "That okay?" Nodding, he was still rummaging in his bag. "Sure. I'll hit the shower after you." To her distress, her mind did a slow-motion video show in her head of Doggett, standing naked in the shower, soaking wet, dripping and hot. Scully swallowed and tried to press the `stop' button in her head, but only succeeded in hitting `pause' as he was running a soapy hand over his chest. Damn. He emerged from his bag clutching a paperback, innocent of what was currently lodged on the screen of Scully's mind. "I'll make us a drink. What d'you fancy?" *You*, Scully's libido shouted, but she just coughed and turned away. "Anything - chocolate would be good." Oh, God. Make it stop. "I'm going to..." she coughed again. "Put my things in my bedroom." "You coming down with a cold?" he asked, frowning. "You're coughing an awful lot." "No." She shook her head, erasing that soapy picture. "Just a dry throat, I guess." She turned away, then stopped, standing in front of Tor's bedroom, gazing at the other door between that and the bathroom. Oh... shit. Scully looked at the door, back at Tor's door and then slowly turned back to look at Doggett, a single sentence screaming around in her mind. There was only one other bedroom. "What?" he asked, seeing her face. She opened her mouth, hoping she could keep her voice steady. "There's only..." Nope. It cracked. She coughed and tried again. "There's only one bedroom." "Yeah?" He moved over to stand by her, to her frustration, not sounding the least bit bothered. He reached out and turned the handle. "Wonder if it's got twin beds?" The door swung open to reveal... Oh, wouldn't you just know it? One double bed. Yep. She was right. God had a very twisted sense of humour. "Oh, well," he said.  She saw him shrug out of the corner of her eye. "I'll take the couch. No problem." Scully watched as he moved into the lounge and looked down at the sofa. There was no way, with the best will in the world, that sofa was going to hold 6ft of Agent Doggett. It was all of four feet long, and not especially wide. Damn. "No. You can't fit on there." She bit back a sigh. "I'll take the couch. You have the bed." He looked at her, shaking his head. "No. Can't do that, wouldn't be right." She smiled at his chivalry. "Look at it. It's barely going to be big enough for me, let along a man of your size." Her mind helped by providing her with measurements of his body, courtesy of the good old shower-scene. Not helpful, at all. Tor's door banged open. "There's a fuckin' big spider on the wall, and the closet smells like shit." Both Agents stared at her. "What?" She threw her hands up.  "You said no swearing in public. You never said anything about in private." She had a point, Scully thought. Besides, she wasn't in the mood to argue the finer points of socially acceptable behaviour with her. "Whatever," she snapped. "Throw the spider outside, it won't hurt you. And the closet will stop smelling if you leave the door open a while." Stomping over to the minuscule couch, she tipped Doggett's bag off and glared down at it. Behind her, Tor sighed. "What's with her? Time of the month?"  Scully opened her mouth to let rip with another blistering attack on the girl, but stopped at a faint touch, looking down to see Doggett's hand on her arm. Speech drained away. He was touching her again. Twice in one day. She stared at the hand. Then he was speaking. The words filtered into her brain. "She's just not impressed by the sleeping arrangements. Leave her be." Tor snorted. "I'm not surprised. She gets to sleep with you." "What's wrong with that?" Doggett asked, sounding amused. Nothing at all, thought Scully, closing her eyes. Nothing at all. Tor snorted again. "You probably stink and snore like some big old pig." Doggett laughed. "I do not." "Yeah?" He shook his head. "Never had any complaints." Oh, god. She couldn't do this. The double-meanings were killing her. Now her mind had taken him out of the shower, and had slipped him into bed, complaint less. Still wet, still hot. "Yeah, well," Tor was relentless.  "She's prob'ly afraid you'll jump her bones in the middle of the night, or somethin'." Scully's head jerked to look up. Shit, that was a bit too close for comfort. She looked from Tor's disgusted face to Doggett's pink one. "Tor..." he began, the colour rising in his face. "We're Agents of the government. We don't do things like that. We have more self- control." Speak for yourself, Scully thought. "It wouldn't be very professional," he finished, lamely. "Whatever," Tor shrugged and wandered into the kitchen. "Don't know if I'd trust you enough to sleep next to you, though." Doggett stared after her, mouth open, ears red. "Damn..." he muttered. Tell me about it, Scully thought. "Doggett..." she said, wondering what else she was going to say after that. He reached up to rub the back of his neck. "She's wrong, you know." He looked at her, dubiously. "How's that?" Scully shrugged, screwing up her courage in a ball and throwing it out there. "It's okay. I do trust you."  It was herself she didn't trust. She sighed. "And you're right, too." Picking up his bag, she handed it over.  "We're professionals. We can share." OH GOD! Her mind screamed at her as she walked towards the bedroom. What the hell are you doing!!? Forcing herself not to look back, and to keep her pace steady, she walked into the other room and placed her washbag on the bed. The double bed. Oh, shit. She was mad. Nuts. Absolutely certifiable. She couldn't do this! Footsteps stopped at the door. "You sure about this?" he asked. She didn't dare turn around and look at him. "Yeas. It's not a problem." LIAR! LIAR! PANTS ON FIRE! "Well..." he stepped nearer. "If you're absolutely sure?" No, she wanted to scream. I'm less than sure. In fact I'm so `not sure' that I think I'm gonna puke. Because if you lie down on this bed with me, I don't know if I can be trusted. But she didn't say any of that. She forced her mouth to smile. "No problem, Agent Doggett. But I get the right hand side." He smiled back, almost undoing her resolve. Those eyes... "Fair enough. I promise not to snore." And I promise to try not to grab you and run my tongue all over your face. "I'll hold you to that," she replied, desperately trying to think of something other than holding him to anything. "So." He rubbed those large hands together and smiled again. "You go take that bath. I'll get busy in the kitchen." Scully's eyes followed that black-clad ass as it moved to leave the room. Oh, but this was going to be the longest week of her life. Chapter 6. The bath had been a great idea. Just what she needed. She'd had the foresight to bring a few bubble-samples with her, and the scent of camomile had helped drive the need to scream from her body. Sighing contentedly, she reached in to pull the plug out, helping the bubbles away with a swish of her hand. Despite her tension, she had resisted the urge to relax herself further with a spot of self-abuse. The bath had been her favourite venue for masturbation for years - she supposed it was the  safety of the locked door. But tonight she just couldn't bring herself to even attempt it. Not with you-know-who puttering about on the other side of the wall. Smiling ruefully, she admitted she hadn't been above using a bit of  blue-eyed inspiration once or twice and it might be stupid, but she just couldn't do it with him in the same building. A knock at the door made her jump guiltily. "You still alive in there?" "Just coming," she yelled back, smiling hugely at her choice of words. She shook her hand off, then wiping it dry on a towel, gathered her clothes up and paused. Shit. She was about to walk out of the bathroom in her robe, nightshirt, clutching her clothes. God... This was as intimate moment as she could think of, never mind slugs in necks and hospital beds, he'd never seen her this `undressed' and vulnerable. Damn it. "Come on, fat-ass, get your wrinkled butt outta the tub - I need to piss!" Scully's eyebrows shot up. Charming. That child's mouth needed a short, sharp visit from a bar of soap. "Thank you for that, Tor," she said, unbolting the door and emerging into the living area. "God! You took your own sweet fu..." The bathroom door banged shut on the rest of the sentence. Scully stared at the door, wondering who they pissed off on the 6th floor to get this assignment. "Chocolate's ready." She turned to meet Doggett's eyes, trying not to blush. This robe didn't come down nearly as far down on her legs as she would have liked. An all-over body-bag was more what she had in mind. "Thanks." Holding up her pile of clothes, she nodded at the bedroom. "Won't be a second." She escaped through the other door and dumped the clothes down. In the BEDROOM. It deserved the capitals her mind gave it. Their BEDROOM. She ran a hot hand over her face. God. Not very long, and it would be BEDTIME, in their BEDROOM. Just bring it on, God. I can take it, she lied to herself, going out into the other room with a sigh. "I didn't do you a mallow one - I didn't know how you felt about it in cocoa." She smiled, thinly. "Plain's fine. Thanks." She took the proffered mug, trying not to flinch as his fingertips touched hers. "Looks like you're going to have to wait for your shower." She nodded at the locked bathroom. He shrugged. "That's okay. I'm not sleepy, yet, anyway." Thank god, Scully thought, trying not to re-wind over the best bits in the mental shower-scene that started up the instant she said the word, `shower'. Maybe she could get asleep before he got into BED. "I took a tour of the perimeter while you were soaking," he said, pausing to sip his drink. Scully was instantly ashamed. "Oh, god, I'm sorry - I didn't think. I left it all up to you, didn't I?" She clucked in her throat. "How selfish of me." He rewarded  her with a wide-toothed grin, making her feel worse. "No problem. You did all the driving. Fair's-fair." Grinning sheepishly round her mug, Scully nodded. "Only `cause I didn't let you drive." "Whatever." They drank their cocoa in companiable silence. Once or twice, Scully risked a glance over at where he was sitting on the easy chair. He had taken off those big boots he'd been wearing, revealing thick grey socks, that twitched as he wiggled his toes occasionally. She wondered what his feet looked like. Then coloured up as she told herself it wouldn't be long before she found out. She cleared her throat. "You sure your throat's okay?" he asked again. "Um... Fine, thank you."  God, what was she going to say?  "It's just a bad habit." "Oh."  That seemed to satisfy him and he went back to his drink. As they sipped, a hundred panicky thoughts ran through her head. What should she say next? Was she being too quiet? Maybe she should make conversation? She shook her head at herself. She was acting like this was a date, or something. This was nothing of the sort. This was work. Oh, yeah, a voice said. How many times at work do you get to sleep in the same bed as your partner? Never, she admitted. Yeah, the voice replied, sarcastically. Never at work... Only in your dreams. "This is really good," she said to break the silence and shut up the voice in her head. He nodded. "One of my specialities." She wondered what the others were. "Oh yes," she said instead. "And how do you class hot chocolate as a speciality? `Just add hot milk'. How hard can that be?" He grinned at her, shaking his head. "Oh, but I have secret ingredients." She snorted. "Like?" "If I told you I'd have to kill you." You're already killing me, she thought, as he put his mug down and stretched his arms backwards, yawning. You and that goddamned black tee-shirt... I'm sorry Lord. She didn't take her eyes off it as it smeared itself over rather well- defined pecs. Help me... "Thought you weren't tired?" she reminded him, half hoping he'd do the stretch-thing again. "Guess I lied." She nodded. "Long journeys do that to me, as well." "I should be wide awake, though. I had a little nap." "I noticed." He grinned sheepishly. "I thought I got away with it." "Uh-uh. Busted." "Guess that's why you're a Special Agent." Laughing softly, she shook her head and wondered if she could get away with teasing him a little. Oh, why not, she thought. "And I thought you said you didn't snore?" He sat up, eyes wide. "I don't!" Smiling, but admitting nothing, she merely looked at him. Yeah. He could stand a little teasing. "No..." He frowned, looking vaguely embarrassed. "I didn't, did I?" His hand came up to scratch at an ear. "Damn. I'm sorry." Those baby blues wrinkled up adoringly. "Was it bad? My ex-wife used to complain like crazy about it, whenever I dropped off on the sofa." Shit, damn. That killed the moment. That was one word she didn't want to hear from him. The `w' one. She shook her head. "You didn't snore, John. I was teasing." He looked at her. "Yeah?" "Sorry. Couldn't resist it." He laughed, unexpectedly. Scully blinked. That wasn't the reaction she'd imagined. "You got me." He shook his head, still smiling. "Guess I'm just too touchy." He stretched again. You certainly are, she thought, part of her mind contemplating `touching' him right now, while that tee shirt was being stretched to capacity. The bathroom emptied noisily. Doggett looked up. "You want any more chocolate before you go to bed, Tor?" Scully watched the look of disgust cross the girl's face. "Bed? You gotta be kiddin'! It's early." Doggett checked his watch. "I don't call half ten early." "Well I do." She grunted and padded through to the lounge area. Jumping the back of the sofa, she landed beside Scully, almost tipping her drink over. "Hey..." Scully scowled. "Yeah?" Tor just stared, grinning. Doggett leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Bed." Tor looked at him. "No." "Yes." "You're not..." Doggett's finger came up. "What have you been told? You never know who's listening." Tor rolled her eyes. "Oh, get bent! Who the hell's gonna be listening in here?" Scully could have frightened the child to death with tales of listening devices, bugs and blackmail, but just sighed instead. She didn't fancy getting up to deal with the nightmares. She put her mug down. "Look. Just do as you're asked, will you? Go to bed." Folding her arms over her small chest, Tor pouted. "No." Doggett rolled his eyes and stood up. "Tell you what, Tor. You can either go to your room and get into bed of your own volition, or you can be carried there and thrown in." He held his hands up. "Your choice." "You wouldn't fuckin' dare," she snapped, glaring. "Try me," he said, staring right back at her. "I'll report you." "Oh yeah? To the bedtime police?" Scully tried to hide the smile. He was good at this. "I'm not tired." "I don't care. Go lie and stare at the ceiling." "I hate you." He shrugged. "Again. I don't care." He stepped closer to where she sat, cross-legged on the sofa. "What's it gonna be?" Scully wondered if he dared carry out his threat. He was on dodgy ground, really, threatening to  lay hands on a minor. And a girl, at that. Maybe she should say something. "Well...?" He folded his arms too. "Fuck off," Tor told him. "Suit yourself," Doggett suddenly bent and grabbed her by the upper arms and heaved her up. "HEY!" Legs dangling, Tor squealed and thrashed. "GET OFF ME!" "Your choice, girl," Doggett gasped, walking over to the bedroom. Tor wriggled and yelled as she found herself over a wide shoulder. Scully covered her mouth with a hand. Wouldn't go down well to be caught laughing at the whole thing. But, Lord help her - it  was funny. She got up from the sofa and wandered after the parade. Maybe she should keep an eye on the pair of them, in case blood got spilled. Or in case a witness was needed. "Get-your-stinkin'-hands-off..."  Each of Tor's words were cut off as Doggett took a step nearer the bedroom. "Oh, quit your yappin'," Doggett grunted, trying to keep her legs from kickin him in the teeth. "I'm-gonna-fuckin'-report-you..." "Yeah... Yeah..." Pausing above her single bed, Doggett took her by the waist. "Tell it to the judge," he told her, then heaved her up and threw her bodily onto the bed. Scully watched Tor's shocked face as she bounced several times, arms and legs in all directions. Bet that knocked the wind out of her, she thought. "You bastard!" she yelled, finally coming to rest. Doggett stood, hands on his hips, looking amused. "If you say so," he said, shrugging and turning to Scully. "I think I made my point," he smiled. As he held his hand out to guide her from the room, Scully caught sight of a missile of fire-truck red flying through the air. "Hey!" she began, but the moment was lost, as Tor landed smack between Doggett's shoulder blades and drove him to the floor. "Bastard!" she yelled, pummelling his back with her fists, each blow making a dull thud as it landed. Losing the battle with gravity, Doggett toppled forward onto his stomach, grunting as the air was driven from him. "Tor!" Scully shouted, stepping forward to try and grab a part of the thrashing child. "Stop it!" "Pervert!" Tor screamed, flailing away furiously. "Goddamned, fuckin' perv!" Trying to grab a flying fist, Scully got a wack in the cheek that made her eyes water. She stepped back, shaking her head. Damn child. She had a good mind to... Doggett was winning, he was wriggling over from his belly, fending off the small fists, making use of his greater body mass to dislodge Tor from his back. "QUIT IT!" he bellowed, making Scully jump. She'd never heard him shout quite as loudly as that before. Tor ignored him. "I-hate-you-I-hate-you-I-hate-you!" she chanted, punctuating her words with a thump from her fists. Scowling, his hands caught up in warding off the attack, Doggett gritted his teeth and growled. "I ain't too fond of you, either!" And just as Scully reached out and grabbed a pulled-back fist, Tor managed to scramble her knees off Doggett's legs, and brought one of them up sharply to land smack on his crotch. Tor stopped punching, Scully stopped yelling and Doggett just stopped breathing. Two women stared, both anticipating an explosion as Doggett lay on the floor, arms rigid, mouth open and face rapidly turning a nasty shade of puce. That'd gotta hurt, Scully thought, wincing. Really, really, hurt. "I... er..." Tor began, scrambling backwards and off splayed legs. There was another moment of exquisite silence, and then a thin keening noise began somewhere in Doggett's throat. Keening turned into groaning, and finally, in a very slow and gentle rollover, Doggett curled into a fetal position, his hands between his legs. Tor backed away, her face pale. Scully knelt down and touched a rigid shoulder. "John..." she began, then stopped.  Are you okay? Seemed rather redundant, as he was clearly anything but. The noise drained away, leaving a heavy silence, punctuated only by harsh breathing from the curled-up man on the floor. "John..." Scully squeezed the shoulder. "Can I get you anything? Advil?"  She remembered long-since fights with her brothers and winced again. "Ice, maybe?" He shook his head, his face still tightly screwed up. No," he whispered. "Thank you." After a few minutes of lying there with her hand on him, Doggett began to unfurl himself, very, very carefully. Scully let go and watched him gather himself up into a sitting position. His eyes opened. They looked red and watery. Scully peered into them. "The pain receding?" she asked gently, putting her hand to his back and rubbing slowly in small circles. He nodded. "A bit." Not his usual strong voice, but then a knee in the nuts would do that to a man. She didn't know if her hand was making him feel any better, but I sure felt good from her point of view, so she continued rubbing. Perhaps strictly Hippocratically speaking, what she was doing might be a little dubious, but the strong muscles under the tee shirt felt just too good to leave well alone. "Better?" she asked as he brought his hands out from where they'd been cupping his crotch. "Yeah."  He took a deep breath and gingerly got to his knees, a harsh breath whistling out from between his teeth. "Man..." Scully let him make his way out into the lounge at his own pace. Slow and careful. Glancing behind to where Tor stood in a corner of the room, Scully gave the girl a `look'. "Go to bed," she said, firmly. Not waiting for a reply, she pulled the door shut behind her and went to join Doggett on the sofa. "You want to throw up?" she asked, sitting carefully. He laughed harshly. "Not any more, but it was a close thing, for a moment." "I'll bet." Scully watched a more normal colour return to his face. He'd gone from puce to ivory and was now hovering somewhere around oyster. "I think it was an accident, you know," she said, eventually. Doggett looked at her. "Yeah?" "You didn't see the look on her face when she realized what she'd done." "I was too busy lookin' at the inside of my eyelids." "I should think so..." She trailed off as something outrageous occurred to her. Oh, God. She was a doctor.  And he was hurt. Oh....  A wave of heat rushed up her body. She met Doggett's eyes, wondering if he could hear how hard her heart was hammering in her chest. "What?" he said, frowning. "I... erm..." Oh, shit. How to say this?   "Um... You know, I am...um, a doctor." Oh, way to go, Dana. Stumble like a dork over your words. Embarrass both of you. "What I mean, is... If you think there might be some damage..." Mother of God... This was horrible. She watched him change colour again. "No... it's okay!" he seemed to shrivel away from her. "I'm fine. It's just a little knock, that's all." Those ears were positively glowing. Scully couldn't help herself, she smiled. "It's okay," she said, smile widening as he flinched when she laid her hand briefly on his arm. "I won't insist. Honestly. As long as you're sure?" "Oh, yeah... no problem." Nodding wildly, Doggett stood up. "Happened loads of times. You know how it is for guys." He laughed shakily. "I'll just go get that shower, I'll be fine." He backed away from her, as if he expected her to pounce on him and drag his pants off. Still smiling at both his behaviour and the fleeting thought of pouncing on him and dragging his pants off, Scully nodded. "Okay, then. You go shower. I'll lock up and turn in." "Sure."  Scuttling into the bathroom like a spider with broken legs, Doggett disappeared. Scully shook her head, the smile turning into an evil grin and  thinking of what was going on behind that locked bathroom door. Like old Faithful, the shower-scene popped up again, all hot, soapy and Doggetty. Double-locking the front and  kitchen doors, she pulled the drapes across the door and wandered over to the bedroom. Ah. The BEDROOM. She pulled her lip between her teeth. Shit, she'd forgotten about this. chapter 7. Lying on her back, staring at the moonlit ceiling, Scully sighed for the thousandth time and wondered how she was going to handle this. No. Wait... She wasn't going to `handle' anything. That was the point. She sighed yet again. Oh, damn. This was too hard. She pulled the covers up to her chin and then flopped them back down to her chest in exasperation. Leave them too far down and it looked wanton. Too far up to her chin and it looked defensive. She pulled them to cover most of her breasts as a compromise. There. That would have to do. And if he laughed at her puppy-covered night shirt, well, she'd just have to hurt him. Not as if she'd planned on sharing her bed. She sighed. Would have worn slightly different jammies, had she known. Perhaps something in the silk department. Or the skin dep... The bathroom door clicked open and the light shone through into the bedroom. Scully closed her eyes briefly and prayed she could get through this without betraying, or embarrassing herself. A damp, spiky head poked in. "You still awake?" he whispered. Scully momentarily toyed with the idea of playing possum, but she didn't think for a moment she'd be able to carry it off, being as she was as rigid as a board. "Yes. I'm awake," she sighed. "Sorry. Did I wake you?" She shook her head, then realising he probably couldn't see all the way over to the bed in the dark, answered him. "No. You didn't. I was just lying here, studying the ceiling." Coming all the way into the room clutching clothes, she saw his teeth appear in the moonlight. "Yeah. Strange bed. I know what you mean." Still wearing his black tee shirt, he padded over to the window and draped his jeans over the chair back, throwing his socks on the floor. Scully snapped her eyes away. No pants...no pants....no pants her mind chanted. Oh god, she couldn't look. Not at his bare legs. She turned her head and looked. Not much to see in this light, but they looked good enough to her. Strong and hard. She averted her eyes as he turned to face her, pretending to pick at some fluff on the covers. "You sure you're okay with this?" he asked again, standing on the edge of her vision. "Just get in," she sighed. If she stopped to think about it, she'd get up and run from the room. "Okay... as long as you're...' "I'm sure, John, for goodness sake! I trust you, okay?" He grunted and turned back the edge of the covers. "Weird, or what?" he said, sliding into the bed. "You have no idea," she muttered, trying not to hold her breath. The bed dipped crazily to his side. She was going to tip... her eyes widened in panic, then calmed as he settled and the tilting stopped. Mostly. She could still feel herself being pulled to the one side, with his extra weight. Please let me get through this... Please let me get through this... she chanted in her head, feeling the warmth of another body seep into the air beneath the covers. She could smell shower soap. Couldn't smell him, yet. He fidgeted a bit, then lay still, on his back. Then fidgeted some more. Scully rolled her eyes. A thrasher. She just knew it. He was a thrasher. She'd never get a wink of sleep. He wriggled again. Sighing, Scully turned to look at him. "Is something wrong?" He met her eye. "No," he said, not sounding very sure at all. "Liar," she replied. "No... it's fine, everything's fine." he smiled and then went back to staring at the ceiling. Scully closed her eyes and tried to relax. She tried to count sheep in her head. No good. He moved and put her off. She recited the names of the bones in the human body. Nah. She was as rigid as ever. More wriggles. Heaving a heartfelt sigh, Scully turned her head again. "What?!" "Nothing," came the reply, his eyes still staring up. This was nuts... A sudden thought occurred. She frowned. "Are you still in pain?" His head snapped round. "No. Really. I'm fine." he smiled, and nodded. "Fine." "Are you sure? Because I have some meds..." "No, honestly, thank you. I'm okay." He paused, then sighed. "It's just..." "What?" He shook his head. "Nothing." Scully gritted her teeth. "What?" "It's nothing. Go to sleep." "I'm trying to. But someone keeps flapping the covers and thrashing about like a maniac." She tried to keep the snip out of her voice, she really did. But she was sure the tension of the moment coloured her voice. "Sorry." "What's the matter?" She sighed. "Is it me?" "No..." He looked at her, genuinely sincere. He rolled his eyes. She could see the whites flash in the moonlight. "I just don't usually..." "Sleep with your partner?" She grunted.  "Tell me about it." That got a gentle laugh out of him. "No. Yes..." He sighed "Oh, you know what I mean. But it's just that I don't normally wear a shirt in bed. It's drivin' me nuts." "Oh..." Multiple visions of a bare chested Doggett danced across her mind's eye, dazzling her and taking her breath. Oh. My. God. Bare... First instinct was to scream, cheer and clap, second was to cough and clear her throat again, but instead, she shrugged and tried to use a normal voice, desperately grateful he couldn't see the colour she'd gone. "So take it off. Then maybe we can get some sleep." God, she was proud of the way that came out. Just the right side of exasperation and impatience. No trace of lust or longing in there at all. Go girl! "Great, thanks." As if he'd been desperate to do something about it, he sat up suddenly and pulled his shirt off over his head and tossed it on the floor. Scully's eyes bulged with the sudden rush of blood to her face. She stared as her mind did the quick unveiling in delicious slow-motion. The exposure of the small of his back first... followed by his belly, thin stripes of flesh concertina'ed where he bent in the middle... then up over his chest... twin pecs that bulged and flexed as the strong arms pulled the clothing up...  a glimpse of almost hairless armpits... and then it was over, and he was lying back down with a sigh, the covers up to his nipples. "That's better," he smiled. It sure was, Scully thought as the blood from her face rushed south to lie uncomfortably in her crotch. She looked over at him, all mussed hair and crooked grin and had to literally slide her hands underneath her ass to keep from reaching over and pulling the covers down to expose those light brown nipples again. God. You have no pity, she muttered, wondering if she was ever going to be able to close her eyes again. "*Tell* me you're keeping the shorts on?" she begged, before her mind could provide her with any more temptation. He laughed and turned to look at her. "Oh, yeah. They're staying on." "Thank goodness," she muttered, gazing across a pillow to those incredible eyes. He stared right back at her. "Make it a rule never to sleep naked on a first date," he whispered. Scully groaned and brought her hands out to cover her face, making him laugh even more. chapter 8. It was the smell of the sheets that woke her. That and the hair tickling her nose. The scent of someone else's hair. The feel of another's breath on her shoulder. A knee hooked over hers. All these things pulled her from sleep. Yanked her from sleep. Positively shocked her awake. Her eyes shot open like roller-blinds on a Roadrunner cartoon. Shit! What the hell?? Forcing her sleep-drugged eyes to focus, she peered at the hair by her face. Spiky brown hair. The whole thing rushed in and slapped her in the face. She was in bed with John Doggett. Inhaling his scent. Warmed by his breath. His skin on hers. Pulling in a shaky breath, she thanked God she wasn't a man. She'd have the biggest hard-on in the history of the world, the way she was feeling right now. And that'd take some explaining when a certain Special Agent woke up. She allowed herself a smug grin. This was nice. Lying all warm and toasty next to this man. Maybe she'd get through the week, after all. The knee moved, so she tucked the smile away. "Good morning," she said as the spiky head lifted. Out of screwed-up eyes, he regarded her blearily, and then, like a leaky pipe, realisation dripped through to his brain. Oh..." he said, pulling his head up to look properly at her. "Mornin'." The knee that had been resting on her leg slid off carefully. "Sorry," he said, looking sheepishly at her. She bit the inside of her cheek. "S'okay. No problem." He rubbed his face, pausing to glance at her shoulder. "And that's okay, too," she told him. Last thing she wanted was an `atmosphere' over this. "Uh-huh. Sure." He grinned lop-sidedly. "I was just checkin' to see if I drooled on ya." "Eeew!!" Scully grimaced and pulled her nightshirt away from her shoulder. "Gross!" It was dry. She scowled at him, as he laid his head on his own pillow, laughing. Unable to maintain her annoyance, she grinned too.  "You wait. My turn, tomorrow." She could feel herself go all warm at that. Shit! Did she just say that? "Fair enough," he nodded, running his hands through his hair. Scully tried not to stare at the chest that appeared out of the blankets as he did that. God, she tried. But it was just too good... He was smooth and lightly tanned. Mocha- coloured nipples and one or two... Yes! Little freckles! How cute was that? "I said... What d'you want for breakfast?" Oh, god! He'd spoken to her - and she hadn't heard! Oh Jesus! How embarrassing! Scully did a throat-clear before she could think straight. "Um... I think just..." WHAT!? What the hell did she like to eat for breakfast, besides smooth-chested FBI agents? Shit... "Um... Maybe toast, perhaps." "That a definite `yes?" he asked, smiling slightly. "You're not a morning-person, are you, Agent Scully?" The mention of her rank pulled her mind out of the gutter. "No. Yes, I mean sometimes. I just didn't sleep real well, last night," she lied. She'd actually slept incredibly well. His brow creased. "I'm sorry. Did I keep you awake?" Ah, bless. He was just so sweet. Worried he'd done something wrong. She felt guilty. "No, not really." She tried to reassure him. "Just first night in a strange bed. You know." He nodded. "Yeah. I hear ya." Yawning, he scratched his chin. "Okay. I'll get breakfast going." Flinging the covers back, he swung his long legs over the side of the bed and stood, giving Scully a glorious view of his boxer-clad ass. With his back to her, she felt free to gawk all she liked. Tight, firm and round.... He turned, making her jump, guiltily. "Just toast?" he asked. "Yes, thank you. That'll be great." She forced herself to keep her eyes on his face when he spoke to her. "Okay." Wandering over to his tee shirt, lying on the floor, he shrugged it back on and padded across the bedroom. "Won't be long." Then he was gone. And with a groan and a sigh, Scully threw her arms above her head and wished she'd gone ahead and had that orgasm last night. Because she could damn well do with one now.       * The smell of toast and coffee dragged her up and into the lounge. It was either get up and see what she could do to help, or lie in bed and be sorely tempted to play with herself. And the way she was just lately, he'd probably walk in on her without her noticing. "Hi," she said, wandering into the kitchenette. He turned slightly. "Oh, hi. Thought you were going to lie in?" "Restless," she admitted, enjoying the sight of a man at the cooker, standing in just tee and boxers. Hell, it worked for her. "Okay." He pointed with a spatula. "You could set the table for me." "Sure." Wandering through the well-stocked cupboards, she hunted down three of everything and set the table. Doggett hummed to himself as he stirred what smelled like eggs and bacon. Scully smiled. Weren't they just the epitome of domesticity? She sat at the table, chin on her hands, watching him work. "What's the song?" she asked. "Huh?" He turned to glance. "Sorry. what d'you say?" "The song you're humming. What is it?" "Oh.." He laughed. "Just the theme from `Braveheart'." "You like that one?" He grinned over his shoulder. "Oh, yeah! Great film!" Holding the spatula up, he proclaimed loudly: "They'll never take our *freedom!*" Scully winced. "That was a terrible accent." He shrugged and stirred his eggs. "Yeah. I know. Sounds more Pakistani than Scottish." "Deaf Pakistani at that," Scully told him, shaking her head. "Gee, thanks." "No problem." She laughed as he stuck his tongue out at her.  Domestic and fun. Wasn't such a bad assignment, after all. A movement caught her eye, and she turned to see Tor hovering in the doorway. "Good morning," she said. "Did you sleep well?" The girl nodded, not coming any closer. Doggett moved to the table to put plates down. "Hi," he said, glancing up. "I cooked you bacon, eggs and toast. I figured you can take what you want." He slid into one of the chairs and picked up the ketchup. Scully selected some toast and began to spread butter. What the hell. Her arteries could fur-up for one week. Eventually, she noticed the empty chair. She looked up. "Tor? Come and eat. It's going cold." Tor just stared at her from the edge of the door, her bottom lip held between her teeth. Scully looked across to Doggett and raised her eyebrows. He shoved a mouthful of food to one side, then swallowed. "Hey. Eat while it's hot. Cold eggs stink." He pointed a the untouched plate. Very slowly, Tor made her way into the kitchen area. She slid into the seat as if greased. Scully tried not to be too obvious in her scrutiny of the teen, but she couldn't help but note the way she picked at her food and kept glancing over at Doggett. He was totally oblivious to the attention, shovelling his eggs and bacon down his throat as if starved. Seemed he always ate at double time. Scully smiled round a bite of toast. "Hungry?" she asked as the final bit of bacon disappeared. He looked up at her, questioningly. "Huh?" "I asked if you were hungry." Pausing as he chewed, Scully watched him think about that for a second.  He swallowed and shook his head. "I guess...."  He said slowly. "Aren't you?" Scully shrugged. "Clearly not to the same extent." He looked down at his plate, then back up at her, a slightly chagrined look on his face. "Rushin' it, huh?"  He sighed and grinned. "Always do. It's a bad habit." "Not good for you," Scully smiled. "Uh-huh. I know." He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through messy hair. "It's my only failing." Snorting, Scully took more toast. "Yeah. Right."  He just grinned back at her. This was nice, she thought. This is what it must be like, being a family. She glanced at the silent Tor, and amended that. The girl was still darting glances across the table, perched on her seat like it was too hot. What was going through her mind, Scully wondered? As if suddenly afraid of malnutrition, Doggett's hand swooped across the table towards the toast rack. And with a clatter, Tor leaped back, knocking her chair over. "What the hell!"  Doggett's mouth dropped. "Tor!" Scully put her mug down and stared. Tor looked back at the pair of them, one then the other and slowly her face pinked up. She stood, fork dangling from her hand, shuffling from one foot to the other. "Sorry," she muttered and reached behind her to retrieve her chair. "Sorry `bout that." Scully frowned and looked at Doggett. He widened his eyes and gave her a `who the hell knows?' look and took his toast back to his plate. The three of them sat in silence for a while, the chink of cutlery and the crunch of toast the only sound. Eventually, Doggett pushed his chair back and stood. Scully was intrigued to see Tor flinch. "I'm goin' to hit the shower," he said, bending fingers back to pop the knuckles. "Won't be long." He started to clear the table. "Leave it," Scully told him. "You cooked. I'll clean." He grinned. "You sure?" "Go." "You had a shower, last night," Tor said, staring at him, eyes wide. Doggett looked down. "You checkin' up on me?" he teased. Tor blushed. "No. I'm just sayin'. I mean - how dirty can you be, for God's sake?" He shrugged, grinning. "Hey! Don't hate me `cos I like to be clean." Scully watched with half and eye as he wandered back into the bathroom, the other staring at her video of Hot FBI Shower. The unedited version. The one with the loofah and the gel. Blinking rapidly to clear her head, she turned back to the table, noticing that Tor was watching him, too, a frown on her face.       chapter 9. Sitting on the front steps, sipping her decadent third cup of coffee that morning, Scully squinted out into the sunshine. The weather had certainly not disappointed, it was warm enough to sit without her sweater. In fact, now she was full of lunch and warmed nicely, she was feeling rather sleepy and content. She smiled. Not such a bad way to earn a living, after all. Out on the front spread of grass, Tor was lying on a rug, reading a selection of TVGuides that she'd found in a cupboard. Some of them went back before she was born, so she was having a great time mocking the clothes. Every now and again, she'd snort some derogatory comment and shake her head. Scully supposed it was better than sulking or whining she was bored. Doggett had won the toss of a coin to go get more food and stuff from the supermarket down the road. Stay and baby-sit, go and shop. Strange that grocery shopping should be the more sought-after task. Sad, too, she thought, watching Tor flicking the pages. The child was such a contradiction. She had stunned the pair of them by holding a conversation  in French over lunch. Or rather, she'd held it, they'd just stumbled through with half-remembered phrases from school, astonished that she was so fluent. To her shame, even Doggett had been better at it than she was.  He must have paid more attention in school. And then the little madam had spoiled the moment by reciting a string of obscenities in French that made even her toes curl. Of course, she wouldn't have known what they meant, but for the gleeful English translation that followed each one. They ended up having another shouting match over that. Scully sighed. She was a strange one, alright. And still she moved around Doggett like he was some loosely-chained guard-dog. Strange indeed. Gazing into her mug, she didn't notice straight away that Tor had gotten up and was standing in front of her. She forced herself to smile when she caught her eye. "Hi." Typically, there was no reply, she  just stood there, frowning. "What's up?" Working her lips like she was deciding on what to say to that, Tor sighed.  "Will you tell him to just get it over with?" Scully looked at her. "Get what over with?" Tor's hand flapped. "You know... For what I did." Scully stared. She felt like she was coming late into a conversation and was playing catch-up. "I don't follow," she said. "What did you do?" She raised an eyebrow. "The bad language?" Tor shook her head, impatiently. "No, doofus - you know..." "Don't name-call, it's immature." Tor rolled her eyes. "You just don't give up, do you?" Scully smiled grimly. "No. Call it a character-trait." Tor curled her lip. "It's `cos you're ginger and short, isn't it?" "No. It's because you're rude and ill-mannered." They glared at one another. Scully knew damn well she could out-last any pouty teenager with a staring contest, she'd worked with Mulder. She knew sulking. She knew staring-out. Eventually, Tor sighed and let her eyes slip away, and Scully cheered inside. One-nil to me. But being older and slightly more mature, she restrained herself from pointing out her victory. "So." She put her mug down. "What did you mean by: `tell him to get on with it?" A booted foot scuffed the floor. "You know..." "No. Clearly I don't. You'll have to enlighten me..." She cocked an eyebrow and peered at the pouting face. "After all, I am incredibly old and slow." That got a small smile. "Yeah." "Okay, good. We agree on something. Now tell me - get on with what?" Shoving her hands deep into her pockets, Tor rolled her eyes. "The belting, of course." Scully frowned. "What?" Obviously deciding that Scully was the dumbest creature on the earth, Tor waved her hands between them. "Hello? I'm talkin' about The Good Hiding... The beatin'... The smackin' about. Capiche?" Stunned, Scully just sat and stared. Did she think Doggett was going to hit her? What the hell for? Mind you, that would certainly explain why she was skittering around him. "You think John... I mean, Mike, is going to hit you?"  She widened her eyes. "What on earth makes you think that?" Tor squirmed. "You know..." Shaking her head, Scully took a deep breath. "Explain to me why you think he would want to do something like that to you." "Because I wacked him in the nuts." Tor stood, pushing a stone around with her toe. Scully sat in stunned silence, trying not to react. Trying not to be judgemental about the quality of this child's upbringing that she would assume she was going to get beaten for an accident. "Tor..." she began, wondering how to put this without criticizing her natural parents. "No-one's going to hurt you. Least of all John. I mean Mike... Oh, hell, you know who I mean." Tor looked doubtful. She spread out her hands. "Trust me.  He's not that kind of man." "I hurt him real bad." "Makes no difference." Still dubious. "Honestly." "Yeah?" Scully nodded. Wandering back over to her rug, Tor glanced back, frowning. "Trust me," Scully repeated. She considered this, then nodded towards the house. "He threw me on the bed." Scully nodded. "He did. But did he hit you back when you were punching him?" She didn't reply, but the answer was in her expression. And so Scully went on with enjoying the sunshine, Tor went back to her magazines and nothing more was said, but once or twice. Scully caught the girl staring into space, a slight frown on her face.       * "She thought you were going to hit her, you know." Scully put the last of the shopping away in the fridge and screwed up the carrier-bag. Doggett stared at her. "What?" "Tor."  She glanced at the closed bedroom door. "She told me she was expecting you to strap her or something - for landing you one in the crotch." Doggett shook his head and popped the tab on a soda. "Jesus..."  He took a long swallow. Sitting herself down, Scully poured her own drink into a mug. They sat in silence. Eventually, Doggett spoke, running his finger round the top of the can, without looking at her. "And you told her... what?" "That you'd probably take your belt to her after supper." His head shot round. "Take her out by the wood shed and beat the skin off  her back." She pulled a face at him.  "What d'you think I said?  Idiot." Flicking his eyebrows up in apology, he shrugged slightly. "Sorry. I'm just..." He shook his head. "God." "I know." "What sort of a family life has she got?" "Who knows." "Think we should say something?" "To Tor?" "No. I dunno... Child Protection or something?" Scully was silent for a while. Unsure about her reply. Any sign of child abuse was supposed to be automatically reported to the authorities, but they had no proof that anyone had ever hit Tor in the past. And sometimes involving the authorities wasn't the best of ideas. "Well... Maybe we could talk to her about it. See if it's happened before." "She might lie." "There is always that." She sighed. "And it's not as if she hasn't got enough to worry about right now." "You got that right." They sat quietly again. And Scully's mind began to wander. Wandered right across the table into Doggett's clothes. Nice pale blue polo shirt, today, tucked down into another pair of jeans. She shook her head. Obsessed. She was downright obsessed. His can banged down on the table, making her jump. "I gotta go do something. All this sitting about is driving me nuts." She looked at him. Typical. Just when she thought she might get a nice afternoon sitting in his company. "What d'you suggest?" He grinned. "Fancy a walk, Mrs Hunt?" Scowling, Scully flicked a drop of soda at him. "Don't call me that." "You'd prefer K..." "Don't you dare!" "You two havin' a fight?" Tor stood in the doorway, arms folded. "No." Scully shook her head. "Just a difference of opinion." Doggett crumpled the can in his hand. "I was just askin' if your `mom' here, fancied goin' for a walk someplace. How `bout you?" Scully snorted, waiting for the stream of obscenities to flow. "Sure. Why not." Astounded, Scully turned to stare. "Anything's better than sittin' around in this fuckin' shit-hole." Standing to dump the can in the trash, Doggett strode quickly over to stand in front of Tor. "Okay. Here's how it's gonna go. Rule number one: You don't wander off. Always stay where we can see you. Rule number two:You're Tor. I'm Mike..." He waved at Scully.  "And this is Kerry. Okay?" With a great show of rolling her eyes, Tor sighed. "Rule number three..." Bending slightly to look her directly in the eye, Doggett waited until she was looking at him before he carried on speaking. "Rule number three is: No more swearing." Tor scowled at him and opened her mouth to say something, but Doggett held up a hand. "No exceptions. No arguments. No more." Pouting at him, Tor stomped a foot.  "Why not? Who says?" Still staring at her, Doggett pointed his finger in the middle of his chest. "I say. Me." "So? You're not..." He sighed. "Yes. I know I'm not. But I'm here, he's not." Tor rolled her eyes. "That's cause mom can't remember who he was. So lucky me, I get to have an Uncle Ray, Uncle Harvey, Uncle Brett and Uncle Goddammed Pete, instead!" Doggett paused a beat, digesting that information. Then he continued, without succumbing to sympathy or pity. "That's as may be. But whether or not your `uncles' or even your mother allows you to use such language, isn't the point." "Yeah, so what is the goddamned point?" "*I* don't like it." "Oh, and I suppose *you* don't ever swear?" Doggett nodded. "Of course I do. I'm no saint." "Just a hypocrite!" "Maybe. But hypocritical or not, I don't like hearing certain words coming out of the mouth of young people." He shrugged, standing straight.  "Particularly young ladies." Scully watched a flash of something dash over Tor's face before she turned away and stomped into the lounge, muttering. Doggett rolled his eyes at her. "Think I won?" "We'll see," Scully laughed. "Come on. Let's go, before she changes our minds."       chapter 10. There had to be a rule or regulation somewhere that said she shouldn't be enjoying this as much as she was. Bound to be. Tucked away in the FBI handbook along with `No Sleeping In The Same Bed As Your Partner', and "No Fantasizing About Him In The Shower'. Probably listed under `101 Things To Get You Fired'. But hell, this was nice. Walking through the parkland in the afternoon sun, side by side, almost close enough to touch,  talking about nothing much, feeling the hot sun on their skin. Beat sorting through folders in the basement. Beat it into a dusty dead heap on the floor. "She looks almost harmless, doesn't she?" Doggett said, watching Tor playing `fetch' with a spaniel. Scully laughed. "That she does." "Wouldn't think she had a vicious left hook and a mouth like a Marine." She looked at him. "You were a Marine." He nodded. "I know. That's what I mean." She smiled. "Use bad words a lot, Agent Doggett?" "Oh...' He shook his head. "Constantly. A real potty-mouth." "I wouldn't have said that." He shrugged, still staring out at where Tor played. "Try not to, you know.. In front of ladies." His old-fashioned chivalry squeezed  her insides. Oh, God, she was getting in deeper with every passing moment. She forced herself to look away from the side of his face before she reached up to stroke it. "I'm touched. But I'm sure I've heard it all before. I grew up on Navy bases." He turned to look at her. "Yeah? I didn't know." "Ah, there are a lot of things you don't know about me, Agent Doggett." Wasn't that the truth, she thought to herself. And just as well, too. They watched an elderly man walking along the path towards them. A dogs' leash hung from his hand. Scully felt Doggett stiffen, his hand automatically flexing, as if reaching for his gun. "Steady," she whispered. "That's probably his dog Tor's torturing." "Yeah," he said, not relaxing at all. The man approached. "Hiya," he said, saluting them with the leash. "That your girl?" "Sure is," Doggett lied, smiling. "That your dog?" "Sure is," the man echoed, grinning hugely. "Name's Doofus. Doofus the dog." Scully couldn't help laughing. "Uncomplimentary, but apt, Ma'am. Dog's a darned fool." "Looks rather sweet, to me." "Oh, he's sweet, alright. Just lacking, upstairs, if you know what I mean." He put his thumb and finger in his mouth and gave a whistle. "DOOFUS!" Both dog and girl looked around, making Scully smile.  She grinned wider as both began to run up the slope to them. The dog reached them first, dashing in and out of the three sets of legs in paroxysms of delight, getting dog-spit everywhere. Scully grimaced at the smear across her hand. Yeuch. "Hey there boy." Doggett seemed unconcerned with the state of his pants as Doofus wiped himself all over his legs. "Who's a good dog, then?" he asked, rubbing brown fur every which way. Scully restricted herself to a pat of the relatively dry head. "You wanted me?" Tor reached them, breathing hard. She looked at Doggett. "No," he said, laughing. "That was this gentleman. Calling the dog." "Your dad calls you `Doofus'?" The man chuckled. "How `bout that?" "Oh, he calls me that all the time," Tor said, her face the picture of innocence. "I do not!" Doggett protested. "And worse things, too." Tor grinned at them. "Oh, dear." The old man shook his head. "How very sad. It sounds like somebody's daddy needs sorting out." Scully looked at Doggett face, a mixture of indignation and annoyance, and at Tor's smug satisfaction and burst out laughing. "I'm afraid a certain young lady is pulling your leg, sir." "Really?" "Absolutely."  Feeling outrageously daring, Scully slipped her hand into Doggett's. It was deliciously warm. She tugged on it. "Her daddy's a complete softie, when it comes to our little angel, aren't you, dear?" Doggett gaped at her, his eyes flicking down to where they were joined. "Er... yeah," he muttered. "I reckon I am." She had to grind her teeth together to keep from howling with laughter. Oh, dear God, his face! "You little minx." The man smiled at Tor, wagging his finger. "Trying to get your daddy in trouble." "He's not..." "Tor!"  Scully held her breath. Rolling her eyes, Tor finished her sentence. "I was going to say, he's not so bad." "I bet." The man laughed. "Young ladies tend to have their fathers wrapped around their little fingers. I should know." He chuckled. "Got three of `em, myself." He slipped the leash over the dog's neck. "Well. Must get on. Nice to meet you folks." Tor nodded. "Nice to meet you, to, sir." It was Scully's turn to look stunned. Had she just heard right? Tor was bent, busy petting Doofus. Scully glanced at Doggett and he gaped back at her, eyebrows almost in his hair. He'd heard it too. "See you again, perhaps," Scully said. "Bye." Doggett raised his hand as the man moved away, dragging Doofus with him. Doofus, who clearly wanted to carry on playing. They both turned to look at Tor. She sensed their gaze and turned to face them. "What?" "That was..." Doggett floundered, not knowing quite what to say. "Yeah?" Scully stepped in. "That was lovely, Tor. Very polite." The girl shrugged. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."  Then bending to grab a stick, she ran off back down the slope. The two of them stared after her, silent. A strange one, indeed. Eventually, Scully realized that she was still holding Doggett's hand.  And he was holding hers right back. She swallowed. And made no move to let him go. She wondered who was going to make the first move. Despite that fact the need to hold hands for `cover' had passed, it felt so damn good, that she knew one thing. She didn't want it to be her. In the end, of course, it wasn't a `movie' moment, one that had them looking deep into one anothers' eyes and falling into a gentle kiss as they held hands. No. Life wasn't like that. Not hers, anyway, thought Scully. Moments like that were strictly for daydreams. And although her mind was playing out the meaningful gazes and the touch of  lips, reality reached out and tapped her on the shoulder. "Erm.." Doggett held up their hands between them and grinned. "Felt like slipping into character, Agent Scully?" Damn. Not so much tapping her on the shoulder as kicking her in the teeth. She pulled her hand away. "Is that a problem, Agent Doggett?" she snapped. Damn him. Had to go and ruin it.            She began to stride away, stuffing her hands in her pockets, calling across the grass. "Tor! Come on. Time we were getting back!" Damn. Damn. Damn. Why did she feel like he'd just punched her in the belly? "Scully?" He called from where she left him standing. "Hey!" She ignored him. She was good at doing that. Tor raced up the slope and fell into step beside her. "Cool dog, huh?" she said. "He was," Scully replied, scowling. Dammit. Maybe talking to Tor would settle her down. She glanced at the girl. "Have you ever had one?" "Nah." Tor swiped the stick at the grass. "Can't keep a dog where I live." "Why not? You could have a small one, maybe." She laughed, a harsh bark. "Yeah, right. Someone'd either eat it or use it for target practise." Scully was shocked. "Really?" Tor nodded. "That's what happens to the cats round by us, anyway." Scully shook her head. "That's terrible." "Whatever." Subject closed, Tor glanced behind. "What's with him?" Scully didn't bother to look back. "Nothing." "Doesn't look like nothin'. He's got a face like a smacked ass." Scully tried not to smile. "No swearing." "Oh, you gotta be kiddin'! `Ass' ain't swearin'." "It's not particularly nice, though, is it?" Tor sighed. "You two. Couple of tight-a..." She glanced at Scully. "Be-hinds," she finished, then grimaced. "Now that just don't sound right." "No, you're right. It doesn't," Scully admitted. "Tha mean I can..." No." Scully shook her head. "It doesn't." They walked in silence for a while, Doggett still trailing behind them. At least she thought he was behind them, but she didn't want to look. "He still there?" she asked. Tor looked back. "Yep. Still with a face on." "Good." Scully walked a little faster. Another hundred yards passed, then Tor spoke again. "You two have a fight?" "No." "Looks like you did."  Scully didn't answer. She replayed his snarky remark, still smarting. "Well, if you ask me..." Tor began. "I didn't." "If you ask me," she continued, regardless. "It looks like you have..." She pulled her arm back and threw the stick away. "And if I didn't know any  better, I'd say it was a lover's fight." Scully's head whipped round. "It most certainly was not!" Tor shrugged. "Whatever." "It wasn't!" "So you said." Scully walked on, frowning. Lover's fight. Yeah, right! Had to be lover's to do that. And there was exactly zip chance of that, by the look of it. Nada. Niet.Nil. She could feel a growl in her throat. Damn him. Making fun of her. "So. You're not lovers, then?" That growl slipped out with a sharp bite. "No." "Oh." They walked a bit more. "You like him, though." "I most certainly do not." Liar! Her guts yelled.  Ooh, you liar! You more than `like' him... "Oh." There was everything and nothing in that one word. Scully turned to look at the girl at her side. "You have something to add?" she asked. "Nope." Tor shrugged. "You don't like him. Got it." she broke into a slight jog as the cabin came into sight. Damn. The little minx didn't believe a word of it. She just knew it. And neither did she.      * When Scully offered to cook supper, he didn't argue, just nodded and disappeared out of the back door. She didn't ask him where he was going. She just went about peeling, chopping and slicing in grim silence. Oh, yeah. Just like a real family. By the time the potatoes had come up to the boil, Scully was calmer. Mindless chores would do that to you. Unfortunately, she also began to suspect that she' reacted a teensy bit too harshly to what he'd said. There was a nagging voice telling her that she was firmly in the wrong and owed someone an apology. She slammed her mind shut on the voice and tried to ignore its shouts from under the door. She sighed and looked around, but both Doggett and Tor were nowhere to be seen. She was obviously giving off major `leave me alone' vibes. Deciding that she ought to make a move to rejoin the human race, she wandered through to the lounge area. No Tor. No Doggett. She considered calling out, to find out where they'd gone, but that really was too lame. In a place this size, they couldn't be far. Tor's door was open. She walked over to it and looked in. The girl was kneeling on her bed, elbows on the sill, staring out into the yard. "Hi," Scully said, surprised at how much the girl jumped when she spoke. "Oh... Hi," she replied, turning and blushing furiously. Scully's curiosity pricked up its ears. "What're you doing?" she asked, walking up the bed. Tor fidgeted and squirmed, looking so guilty that Scully's alarm- bells started ringing. "Oh... n...nothin'. Honest," she stammered, blushing even more. "Uh-huh." Just for a second, Scully had an insight into what her own mother must have experienced, when she caught Scully doing something she wasn't supposed to. Instinct, or maybe something as basic as recognition. Whatever it was, her whole body was telling her Tor was as guilty as a puppy by a puddle. She went around the side of the bed and peered through the window to see what had held her interest. "Oh..." Anything she might have said drained away onto the floor, leaving her open-mouthed and speechless. Doggett was out on the back yard. Doggett was out on the back yard, washing the car. Doggett was out on the back yard, washing the car, minus his shirt. Scully gawped out of the window, absolutely, completely and utterly unable to tear her gaze away. Her partner was standing in the last patch of evening sunshine, reaching across the car roof.  His skin shining in places where the water had splashed him as his muscles stretched and pulled, showing off their definition in a most delightful way. Scully stared. Damn. He was beautiful. She had suspected it, by the way her body had begun to react to him over the last couple of months, and she imagined he was, in the confines of her imagination. But now she was looking at wet, perfect proof. He was completely beautiful. It took her breath away. As he bent to pick up the sponge, her eyes narrowed and she decided that there should be a law against John Doggett ever wearing anything other than jeans. Tight jeans. No matter what colour, just so long as they didn't hide that ass. He turned his back to the window, broad shoulder flexing and stretching over the car. "Not bad for an old guy, huh?" "Huh?" Scully replied, not taking her eyes off the sight on the yard. "I said: Pretty buff for a old guy." Scully grunted low in her throat, thinking, God, yes, pretty damned gorgeous, if you ask her... And the reality of the situation crashed in on her. "What I m..mean..." she stammered. "That is..." Tor knelt back up to join Scully at the window. "Whatever," she said, looking across the yard, resting her chin again. "Tor..." Scully ran a hand through her hair, suddenly feeling very exposed, very vulnerable. She felt like she'd just given the teen a peek inside of her, when she hadn't really had a chance to examine it herself. "You know, we shouldn't be..."  Her eyes betrayed her, dragging her attention back to the sunshine and glistening skin. Damn, he looked good. They watched, side by side as Doggett rinsed the water from the car, stopping to squeeze out the cloth every now and then, his biceps bulging as he strangled the water out. "Wow." Tor whispered. Scully nodded, her throat too dry to reply. Wow, indeed. She doubted she could stretch her hands around them when they bulged like that. "You think he works out, or somethin'?" Scully's mind was busy focussing on the `something', as another mental video was being recorded. One with John Doggett lying on a bench-press, all sweaty and damp. "Tor..." she said, still not taking her eyes off Doggett. "This is a violation of John's privacy. We shouldn't be watching him like this." "Yeah?" Tor stared out of the window. "Yes." Scully forced herself to close her eyes briefly, vaguely distressed to find the backyard scene playing on the inside of her eyelids. "Come away." Tor ignored her, still staring. "Tor..." With supreme force of will, Scully made herself look at the floor. "Come help me set the table for supper. Turning, Tor looked Scully up and down. "What's wrong with you?" she asked, clearly puzzled. Absolutely nothing that a good hard bout of love-making wouldn't cure, thought Scully. "Nothing at all's wrong with me," she replied firmly, moving towards the door. "It's just not right to stare at someone when they don't know you're doing it." Especially when you're getting off on it in a big way, she added, mentally. Tor sighed, flopping back down on the bed. "Now come give your old mother a hand in the kitchen." She forced a smile out onto her face. "Do I get to have that ice cream for desert?" Scully feigned ignorance. "What ice cream?" "I saw a tub of banana split in the freezer." "I don't think so." Scully shook her head. "No. You must be mistaken. No banana split in this household." "I saw it!" Tor jumped from the bed. "Uh-uh. Nope." "Oh, man... You are so busted!" Successfully diverted, Tor raced out of the bedroom, and with a last longing glance outside, Scully sighed and followed her. God was really on top form, today. Must have a real long list of things to do to torture Dana Scully.       Chapter 11. It was tough, but she managed to stagger through supper without spending too much time thinking about wet Doggett. Either the showered or valeting version. Conversation was sparse, whether due to her distraction, or Doggett's mood, it was hard to tell. But in the end, it didn't really matter, as Tor seemed to have discovered the art of the monologue in a big way. She held court over the table, talking about dogs, a scramble bike she helped restore in school and the state of the baseball season. It was only when she got around to discussion the demise of the neighbourhood pets, that Scully  entered the conversation and asked her to move onto something other than the state of felines after collision with various vehicles. That kind of talk didn't sit well with the strawberry sauce on the ice cream. After Doggett and Tor washed and dried the dishes, they all watched a couple of hours of trashy  TV, then Scully sat on the sofa trying unsuccessfully to read a novel while the two of them lay on the floor, playing a rowdy game of monopoly. She had declined Doggett's offer of joining in, deciding that she couldn't bear to lie on the floor with him, without possibility of getting naked. There was only so much torture a girl could take. So she sat and stared at the pages of her book, unseeing and distracted, listening to the other two, arguing and bickering over the rules of the game. Doggett was good with children, she mused. Good with Tor, anyway. She supposed it was pushing it a bit to call her a `child' but he handled her well. She wondered if that was because he'd had one of his own. Maybe parenthood was something you never forgot. *She* had been a mother, she supposed, but she hadn't had Emily for long enough to become a parent. She watched as Doggett shared his can of soda with Tor without thinking twice about it.  He was a natural. She sighed and closed her book. It was no good. She couldn't concentrate. "I think I'll take a shower," she announced, rising. "`Kay," Doggett mumbled, counting out money. "We're nearly done, here." "No way! I'm gonna beat you down!" Doggett shook his head and snapped his hand. "Not gonna happen, loser. I'm da *man*." You certainly are, thought Scully, staring down at his tight ass. "Well, I'll lock up, then turn in," she told the back of his head. She turned to Tor. "I won't be long - then you can jump in the shower." Tor stared at her. "What for?" Scully stared back. "To get clean, of course." She wondered if the girl was pulling her leg. "I'm fine." She went back to the game. "Look. Just take a shower, okay?" Scully didn't feel inclined to enter into a discussion on personal hygiene at this point. "Uh-uh. I'm fine." "Tor...." There was a dramatic sigh. "Gimme a break. I'll take one when I feel good and ready, okay?" Scully gritted her teeth. Were all teenagers like this, or was she just lucky?  "I don't want to fight about this, Tor.." "Fine. Then leave me alone." Didn't want to fight, but it looked like she was going to get one, regardless. "Tor..." Doggett shook the dice and threw them across the board. "Don't take too long when you shower, Tor. I want one after you." He counted his marker along four spaces. "Okay, sure." Tor nodded and tapped the board. "That'll be two hundreds dollars please, loser." Scully stared. That was it? She stared at the two of them. Argument over, easy as that?  She shook her head. One word from Agent Doggett and the kid jumped? She frowned. Damn man. And damn her. She stalked over to the front and back doors, locking them firmly, then into the bedroom, snatched up her nightdress and disappeared into the bathroom trying very hard not to slam the door. She sincerely hoped she was due her period very soon, because if she wasn't, she wasn't at all sure she liked the way her emotions were all over the place. And certainly didn't like what that meant.      * There was a crack in the plaster on the ceiling that looked just like the outline of Canada. And another one over in the corner that was definitely an old woman with a huge nose. Looked like that old bat, Mrs Waters in the apartment two down from hers.  Funny Australian woman, who muttered poetry as she walked up and down the corridor and kept a cat called Les that lurked outside her apartment, waiting to catch her unawares, making her jump. Strangely, both Mrs. Waters and the cat drove her nuts. She sighed. Reduced to thinking about neurotic neighbours while she lay in bed listening to the shower. How sad was that? Tor had long since taken hers and gone to bed. Doggett had waited a while before taking off all his clothes and working up a lather on his rippling... Scully groaned and rubbed her eyes. This was no good. She was going to be certifiable by the end of the week. The doctors would have to come and peel her off the cracked ceiling, she'd be hanging there by her fingernails, screaming about the pictures in her head. They'd lock her up forever. The bedroom door snicked open and the object of her distraction slipped in. Silently, he made his way over to the bed, putting his clothes on the floor. He hesitated, standing looking down at the bed. "For goodness sake... Just get in. " She sighed. "Don't stand there like you need an engraved invitation." There was a snort, then with a swift pull, he shrugged off his shirt and climbed in, sending the last of Scully's peace of mind scurrying out of the room. "You'll ruin your shirts, taking them off  like that," she said, suddenly wanting to point out at least one fault. "I know," he said quietly. "My mama always smacked the back of my head when she caught me doin' it like that." He wagged a finger in the dark. " `Always pull from the hem, Johnny'." "She was right." They lay in silence for long minutes, Scully with her eyes tightly screwed up, trying to banish all inappropriate thoughts, particularly to do with him pulling off any shirt at all, Doggett thinking goodness knows what. Probably baseball scores or football stats, she imagined. Damn him. She took her hand out from beneath the covers and rubbed her eyes. Please let me sleep, please let me sleep, she chanted. Next to her, so distressingly close, Doggett cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, Agent Scully." Her eyes snapped open. What the hell? She turned to look at him. He was lying on his side, one hand tucked under his cheek, the other resting on top of the covers. He looked very sweet. Very serious, and very, very sexy. Oh, shit, she was in trouble. "I beg your pardon?" she said, mesmerized by those blue eyes. "I think I owe you an apology." She frowned. "How so?" He sighed, minty breath whispering on her face. She tried very hard not to close her eyes and inhale it. "I behaved like an asshole, this afternoon." Unable to reply, Scully just stared at him. "You know... When we were in the woods and that man was talkin' to us." He paused, his hand moving up to scratch the side of his nose. Big hands, Scully thought. Big, strong... She blinked. He was apologising for that remark. He was apologising for upsetting her. Bless his heart. She shook her head on the pillow. "No. It's fine. It was me." "No... I shouldn't have made that crack. It was unprofessional. Stupid." He sighed again, and this time she did breathe it in. She couldn't help it. Embarrassed, at being unable to help herself, she shifted to lie on her side, facing him. "Thank you. But I should apologise, too - for my reaction. It was..." She hesitated. "A little over the top, shall we say?" He grinned, teeth shining in the moonlight. "Y'think?" "Hey!" Smiling, she flapped the blanket at him.  His hand came up to grab at the covers. "Okay... okay. Peace." Still held by those baby-blues, Scully tucked her hand under her chin, in an unconscious imitation of his pose. He nodded. "So. We okay, now?" He really did have the most extraordinary eyes. Hypnotic. They seemed to change colour, depending what he was wearing, what the light was like. Right now, they were a deep blue. Almost a royal blue. "Is that a `yes'?" She jumped slightly. "What?" Oh damn, she'd been doing it again. Tuning out.  "...I mean, pardon?" Doggett smiled a lazy grin that pulled something loose, deep inside her. "Am I boring you?" She smiled back at him. "No, of course not. I'm just..." ...Horny as hell? ...Turned on so much it hurts? ....Desperate to lean over and kiss you? She shrugged. "A bit tired, that's all." "Fair enough."  He turned and lay on his back, the covers falling to his waist. Scully's eyes tracked the exposed flesh, counting his ribs in the dim light. God, she wanted to run her fingers over them. Or her tongue. Or her.... "So... What d'you say?" She swallowed, trying to calm her heart. "About?" "We okay, now?" "Are you always this insecure, Agent Doggett?" He laughed, the skin around those lovely eyes crinkling up. "Let's just say I never like sleeping in the same bed as a woman that's mad at me." "And that happens a lot, then?"  God, it was such fun teasing this man. He sighed and stretched both arms above his head, sending all sorts of desperate questions racing to Scully's fertile imagination. ...Is the hair under his arms as soft as it looked?  ...Is he ticklish? ...Hell, would he let me handcuff him to the headboard? "I was married." The arms came down with a grunt and a shrug.  "It happens." Shit. The `m' word.  It made her feel very uncomfortable, and from the look of it, it did him, too. Damn. Now the whole moment was spoiled. He'd be thinking about is ex-wife, she'd be thinking about his ex-wife and neither of them would be thinking about any light flirting, or teasing. Damn. She stared, contemplating the side of his face, the bump on his nose, the mole on his chin. As she watched, he looked over at her and moved his arm across the gap between them, sending her pulse rate soaring. His forearm was practically under her nose. "Come on then," he said, looking at her. For one wild second, Scully saw herself ripping off her night shirt and throwing her body on top of his, to grind herself into him, pausing only to slam her tongue into his mouth. She blinked as in her head, her wild hands found their way to his groin. "What?" Her voice wasn't much above a croak. His other hand reached across and tapped his shoulder. "It's your turn to use me as a pillow, remember?" Ohshit-ohshit-ohshit... "I can't..." "Why not?" He had no idea... absolutely *no* Goddamned idea what this was doing to her. Scully sent up a little prayer for forgiveness and one of panic. "I'm shower-fresh," he smiled, blissfully unaware of what was raging in her mind at that moment. "It wouldn't be... appropriate," she muttered. He tapped his shoulder again. That tanned, muscled and daintily freckled shoulder. "Trust me, Agent Scully. I won't tell anyone, and I promise I won't bite." He dipped his head in mock seriousness. "You're not gonna drool on me, are  you?" No, but I might be tempted to rip off your shorts and mount you like a sex-crazed, bitch in heat. She smiled. "No, I'm not a drooler."  She also wondered if what was racing through her mind was leaving any trace on the outside. "Good." He tapped again. "Come on. It's only fair." No... Fair is the last thing this is, she though, inching a little nearer to him, despite her better judgement. Actually, her better judgement had been beaten up and stuffed in a large box, the instant he stretched out that arm towards her. She shuffled closer. "That's it," he said, as she nestled into the crook of his arm, all sense departed. Shower gel. He smelled of shower gel... and warm skin. The closer she got the stronger the scent. She sincerely hoped he wouldn't be able to smell her. Her arousal. She clamped her legs together, just in case. "Get comfy."  His arm curled over the back of her and rested casually around her shoulders. She was anything but casual. She was strung out tighter than cat-gut, hyper-aware of everything. The smell of him, the weight of his arm on her, the warmth of his body, so close, so undressed, so outrageous.  Eyes on main-beam, she stared ahead, not daring to move, lest she groan and betray herself. She could see down the length of his body whenever she tipped her eyes down, all the way down to his navel.  His skin was smooth, even beyond that, to where the hem of his boxers taunted her.Yet, strangely enough, she found a smattering of hair on his sternum, just fine enough to have missed it from a distance, just golden enough to catch the moonlight. She yearned to touch it. She wanted to touch all of him. Wanted to brush her palm over his nipples to feel them harden and stand to attention... wanted to place her mouth over the nearest one and stroke it with her tongue. God... "You okay, there?" he rumbled, the sound echoing through her head. Nodding, she forced her eyelids shut. She could do this. She could do this. "`Kay, g'night." "Night," she whispered. He reached down and pulled the cover up to her shoulders, hiding his body from her gaze, but wafting another wave of his warm scent over her. She inhaled deeply, turning it into a sigh. Oh, Lord... This is what I want, she screamed inside her head, feeling his breath in her hair. This is what I want. This is what I want... This is what I want... chapter 12. When she woke up, she was alone. The bed felt huge and bereft of life. Rolling over onto her belly, Scully sniffed deeply on Doggett's pillow. A hint of his scent was still in the material, but it was cold. He had obviously gotten up a while ago. She sighed and rubbed her face in it. Damn, she was hopeless. Two nights in his bed and she was a goner. And they hadn't even so much as kissed, let alone had sex. No. That wasn't right. They wouldn't have had sex. No. They would have made love. And the worst of it was, the throbbing that started in her groin roughly two days ago, was now beginning to drive her slowly insane.  Morally acceptable or not, she was seriously thinking about having a quick fiddle in the shower, this morning. Maybe after an orgasm, she could think straight. She threw back the covers and swung her legs to the floor. Yeah, that'd be a plan. Shower and  a you-know-what. As she stepped out of the room running a hand through her wild hair, Doggett appeared around the doorway. "Hi," he said, disgustingly cheerful. Scully grunted. She was most definitely not feeling her best. "Not much of a morning person, are we?" he smiled. "Yet you slept well, last night." Scully's head shot up.  "How d'you know that?" Reaching across his chest to pat his shoulder, he grinned. "I did pillow-duty, remember?  You were well away before I even had chance to think twice." She blushed. "Yes, well..." "Must be because you had a rough night, the night before," he said, waving into the kitchen. I was just coming to tell you breakfast is ready." God, was there no end to his good side? Up first and cooked, again. Made her feel like a slob. "You should have let me fix it, today," she grumbled. "Not a problem. Next time." He leaned over her and banged a fist on Tor's door. "GET UP! Come on, Tor! Breakfast!!" Scully winced at the volume. He was right. She most certainly not a morning-person. "Yeah, yeah..." Tor threw the door open and flounced out. "Keep your hair on. I'm up." She stomped through to the kitchen and sat down, grabbing a rasher of bacon on the way. Damn. Scully looked down at herself. She was the only member of the `family' not dressed. Oh... damn. "Don't bother getting dressed, yet. It'll go cold." It seemed Doggett was a telepath, too. On top of everything else. "I suppose," she said, resigned. "I'll just get my robe." There was no way she'd sit at the table without it. This shirt wasn't the thickest of materials, and she didn't want him looking at her nipples over toast. Not until she'd inspected his, properly, anyway. She grinned. Look forward to that... "What's so funny?" Doggett asked as she wandered back through. "Erm..." She felt herself starting to blush. "Nothing, really." "Prob'ly embarrassed to be seen wearin' that godawful nightie," Tor announced over a mouthful of egg. Scully looked at her, too relieved to be mad. "What's wrong with it?" She looked down at the bit that showed at her neckline. Tor pulled a face. "Puppies? Oh my God. How old are you?" Scully felt that blush dash back up her neck. "I happen to like it, thank you." "Suit yourself." "It's not that bad," Doggett shrugged. "It's kinda cute." Scully stared at him. Cute?? "Yeah, if you're seven," Tor snorted. Scully looked down at herself, annoyed that a teenager could make her feel embarrassed about her sleepwear. "Cut her a break, Tor. It's not silk, but it's okay," Doggett grinned. That made her blush even more.  Gee, Doggett, thanks a bunch. Tor laughed derisively as she pored honey over her toast. "You only think that cause it's got dogs on it - Mister Dog-it." No it was Doggett's turn to blush, Scully noted. That was interesting. She watched his ears glow. Very interesting indeed. "I do not," he muttered. Tor snorted and drank her milk. Scully pondered and nibbled her breakfast, thinking.       * "I'm bored." Tor sat on the front steps, swinging her legs back and forth. "Bored, bored, bored." Scully glanced over to where Doggett was dumping the kitchen trash. The girl had been chanting  this over and over for the last hour and had now slipped from chanting into whining. And Scully couldn't take much more of it. They had been for another walk, swept the yard, and done a little light housework, but there was really a serious lack of things to do for the kid. Actually, doing the laundry had been the highlight of Scully's morning. Not only had it gotten her out of the way of a whingeing teenager, but she got to handle Doggett's clothes. While she was fully aware that getting a kick out of sorting through someone elses dirty laundry probably put her high on a list somewhere of sick perverts, she found she really didn't give a shit. Not only did it give her a sense of familiarity to be doing something so mundane, but she also took the opportunity to screw up his tee shirts and take deep sniffs. Yeah... Perverse, she knew. But what the hell. He smelled so good... But with the post-lunch lull, it was apparent that Tor was beyond appreciating the peace and quiet. She was going for the sulky- teenager thing like a creature possessed. "I'm so freakin' BORED!" she yelled, making Scully jump. "Tor!"  She snapped, more annoyed at being startled than anything else. "What! `Freakin' isn't swearing!" "Well, it's...." Scully shook her head, not willing to concede defeat. "It's still not very nice." Tor threw her arms up. "Oh my GOD!" Scully glared a  a `you talk to her' expression over to Doggett, standing by the kitchen door. He could deal with it, being as he was so damned good with kids. He smiled a little smile at her to let her know he could read her like a book. "Hey! You think we should go into town to pick up some stuff?" he suggested. "Like what?" Tor was suspicious. Doggett shrugged, looking a Scully. "Oh, I don't know. How about a couple of videos?" "Yessss!"  Punching the air, Tor did a victory-dance on the grass. "At last! Enter-damned-tainment!" Scully hid her smile. "Of course, we'll have to take the time to get groceries, too." The dance faltered a little. Doggett shrugged. "Or I could go do the shopping by myself." He raised his eyebrows. "I'm sure I could pick out some films. I've always quite fancied seeing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang again."  Scully made no attempt to hide the grin that came as Doggett said that. Tor exploded in a fit of utter contempt that left her red-faced and practically fitting in front of them. "So you don't mind putting up with a little grocery shopping, then?" he asked, innocently when the outpouring of disgust finally stopped. Oh, he was good. Tor pouted. Doggett merely waited in silence, arms folded over his chest. "I suppose," she eventually sighed. "Good." "You ready?" Doggett asked her. Scully rose and smoothed her jeans. "Sure. I'll just get my purse." "I'll grab the list. We need to stock up. " "I'm telling you now - I get to choose the videos," Tor informed them, stomping off to the car. Doggett followed her into the kitchen, pausing to snag the scribbled list off the front of the fridge. Unable to resist, "Chitty Chitty?" she said, eyebrows on the rise. Doggett grinned. "Oh, sure. That Truly Scrumptious was hot." Scully gave him a look.  "And it was a damn good story," he added, shrugging. "You gotta admit that much." She snorted. "I always thought highly of the Child Catcher, myself." He laughed, thrilling her deep inside. God, he looked wonderful when he threw his head back and did that. "Mind you," she admitted, grabbing her purse. "I have to admit that as a child, he scared the living daylights out of me." She shook her head. "I used to hide my face every time he came on. Practically wet my pants." She jumped, startled, as Doggett bent his head to whisper from behind. "Me too." She laughed, rubbing the goose bumps on her arms that had leapt up when his mouth brushed her ear, hoping he wouldn't notice what two words had done to her.     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 expression 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 expression 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 expression. 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 expression, 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 expression 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. Chapter 16. When she woke the next morning, Doggett had rolled off her and was lying on his back almost in the centre of the bed, arms outstretched, looking like the male lead in a debauched crucifixion fantasy. His head was turned away from her, hair mussed up appealingly and he'd pushed the covers down far enough for her to see the top band of his boxer elastic. His chest rose and fell rhythmically, the sunlight shining through the hairs, beckoning her. She grinned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Maybe she could just... She poked her hand out from under the blanket and stretched across to hover above his sternum. With every breath, her palm was tickled by the fine hairs. It made her smile. "Havin' fun?" She jumped guiltily, bouncing her hand on his chest. "Sorry." "Please don't apologise," he smiled. "And don't feel you have to stop." Scully laughed taking her hand away. "I was just..." She felt herself blushing. "Playing, I suppose." He spread his arms out further. "I'm all yours, Agent Scully. Play away." The temptation to take him up on that was almost overwhelming, but she had heard the toilet flush not long ago, which meant Tor was up. And no way could she relax and do what she wanted while wondering if the wretched child might come bursting in. "I'll take a raincheck on that, Agent Doggett," she said, levering herself up on one elbow to peer down at him. "Pity." "Maybe if you're good, later..."She bent her head to place a chaste kiss on his lips.  "We shall see." "Oh... I'll be good," he grinned. Pulling her nightshirt down over her rear end, she got out of bed. "Nice view," came the chuckle from behind her. She glanced back, smiling and frowning. He held up his hands. "I was only sayin'." "Hhhhmmmm."  She gave him a mock stare. "You stay. My turn to get breakfast." She tied her robe around her. "What'll you have? Eggs and bacon as usual?" He shook his head. "Nah. Think I'll go the English muffin and cereal way, this morning." "Coming up." She tossed a grin over her shoulders at the sight of him, propped up on the pillows and wandered through to the kitchen, already racing ahead to the evening. "You look pleased with yourself."  Tor sat on the table, hand deep in the cereal box. "He finally slip you one?" Scully's mouth dropped open and a furious blush ran over her entire body. "Tor!" "Oh, chill. S'not like it's any great secret." Her legs swung against the table leg. "You like him." She rolled her eyes. "No, I..." "God!  Do you think I'm totally dense or what?"  She pointed at Scully, a pink cereal stuck to her finger. "You can't keep your eyes off him. He may be blind to it, but I'm not." Scully scowled. "I don't know what you're talking about!" "Yeah, right." Bluff it out, she told herself. The little mix had absolutely no proof. None whatsoever. "You have an overactive imagination, Victoria." A sticky hand pointed. "Ah! Busted." She frowned. "What?" "You called me `Victoria'. You only do that when you're mad at me." Scully tightened her jaw. Out-flanked by a teenager. She must be losing her touch. "I'm mad at you because you used a vulgar phrase." "Uh-huh. Course." Tor gave her a knowing look and slid down off the table. "So what's for breakfast?" Scully went to the fridge, hoping that was the end of the debate over her and Doggett. "Muffins.  But you get cereal. Remember?" Tor laughed and tipped the box up, a sprinkle of dust falling to the floor. "This mean I get muffins, too?" Scully gazed at the floor and sighed. Parenthood really, really sank.       * The adventure had begun after breakfast, when Tor threw herself on the grass and announced: "If we don't do something, I'm going to scream." Scully had glanced at Doggett. "Well?" He looked back at her. "Well what?" "She's your daughter." That'd made him laugh. "Oh, no. I think there are adoption papers around somewhere." "You won't be able to argue about whose child I am, if I die of boredom, will you?" The sprawled figure on the grass rolled over. "Oh, I don't know. We could give it a shot." That got Scully a tongue. Better than a finger, she supposed. Perhaps they were making progress. Unfortunately,  it also meant that she had spent the next hour packing various cool boxes full of picnic stuff, and then sitting in a hot car while an argument over the best place to go, ensued. Doggett and Tor had got it into their heads that the cure for boredom was to charge about in a field, throwing balls at one another, while Scully sat on a blanket and tried to read her book. She had actually given up on reading, there was too much going on to bother with a paperback. She stretched out and grinned. This wasn't so bad, after all. The weather had been so good, it demanded shorts from both her and Doggett.  And the sight of his strong legs running about on the field was doing wonders for her state of mind. Who'd have thought he's look so good in short trousers?  She mentally forgave that grade school hussy.  She couldn't have resisted kissing him at any age. Probably have punched him, first, too. Just for being so damned handsome. "Hey!" she shouted. "Come eat. I'm starving!" Grabbing the football, Doggett jogged up the slight incline. "At last!" he said, collapsing on the blanket. "I thought you'd never call time-out." "Wuss," Tor told him, as she flopped down in front of the cool box and proceeded to root around inside. She produced a cool can and threw it at him. "Here." She jerked her head at Scully. "You want one?" "Got one," she replied, holding it up. They sat quietly and ate, salad, chicken and french bread. Not an elaborate meal, but it was one of the most memorable Scully could recall. Hot sunshine, the smell of freshly-cut grass and good company. Even Tor was in a mellow mood, telling jokes that didn't make them yell at her. Scully dug out a few from her own childhood that went down quite well. Some humour never aged. Toilet humour, mainly, she thought, mentally thanking her brothers as Tor fell over backwards laughing at one of the riper ones. "I'm shocked," Doggett laughed, flicking a piece of bread across the blanket. She picked it up and popped it in her mouth. "Of course you are." "Can I go see if I can play soccer with that lot?" Tor asked, turning to point at a couple of boys  further down the field. Scully looked. They were about Tor's age, the other family sitting a way down. "Sure," she said. "Just don't wander out of sight, okay?" "Yes, *mom*," Tor smiled. She jumped up and regardless to having just eaten and drunk enough to make a Labrador puke, raced off to play ball. "She makes me tired, just watching," Doggett said as he gathered up the remains of the meal. "Energy of the young. How soon you forget." He looked at her. "How old d'you think I am?" She grinned. "Old enough." He lifted an eyebrow. "You got that right." He shifted the cool box to the other side of him and shuffled up to sit next to her. "Do you mind?" he asked. "Not at all," she replied, patting the blanket. "Be my guest." Smiling, he settled himself back on his elbows to look out across the grass. "This is nice. Beats basement work." "Sure does." "But you'd miss it, eventually." She snorted gently. "Maybe in a few hundred years." He glanced at her. "You ever tempted?" "By?" "This kinda life?" Scully sighed. "I don't know. Maybe..." she shrugged. "Sometimes." "Me too." He didn't say anything more, just squinted across the park. Scully was tempted to ask what he meant, but she had a feeling he was talking about his previous life, with a wife and son, an she wasn't in a rush to bring that up. They sat and enjoyed the sun, warming their bodies. She was just about to concede to the warmth and the food by closing her eyes for a moment, when she heard Doggett speak. "Wonder what she's after?" "Huh?" Dragging her lids back up, Scully watched Tor haring back towards them. She crashed to her knees, gasping, attacking the cool box. "Whassup?" Doggett asked her. "Drink.." she panted.  "Need drink.." Grabbing a can, she popped the tab and chugged back a good three- quarters of it without pausing for breath. Then she wiped her arm across her mouth and let out a gut-ripping belch. "God, Tor!" Scully pulled a face. "What?!" "You're not very lady-like, are you?" Doggett nudged her with his boot. Shrugging, Tor tipped the rest of the soda down her throat. "Who wants to be a `lady'?" Her tone left no confusion over her opinion on that. "Doesn't your mother complain about your..." Scully pulled a face. "This unfortunate `gas' issue?" Tor laughed. "Nah. She's cool about it. `Better out than in', she says."  She waved her hand. "`Better up than down'." Scully winced. Tor grinned. "She says if I get good grades in school, she'll take me to get my belly-button pierced." "That's nice," Doggett said, his tone giving away that he thought it was anything but. "Hey..." She did another small belch.  Least this way I don't get it done at school, with a compass." Scully exchanged a look with Doggett.  They must either be very old, or incredibly out of touch. Clearing his throat, unsure of what to say to the last comment, Doggett pointed down the hill. "They playing nice with you?" Tor grinned. "Yes, daddy." "And are you playing nice with them?" Scully added, thinking that was the more relevant question. "For the time being," she replied with a wink. "Hey... aren't you two supposed to be doing the undercover thing, here?" Scully raised her eyebrow. "We've brought you to the park with a picnic. I think that `s pretty good, don't you?" "Nah." Tor sat back on her heels. "I could see that, from way over there." She waved her hand. "You're supposed to be married. You're hardly even talking to each other." Doggett chuckled. "Sounds like a perfect imitation of married life." Scully bit back a comment about that, wondering if it was an unintentional indication of his relationship with his ex-wife.  She found she didn't want to know if it was or not. "Very funny." Tor slapped her hand against his leg. "You know what I mean." "Do I?" "Yeah." She leaned forward and pulled a face at him. "You could at least hold hands." Scully could have sworn she saw Doggett blush a little at that. "You think that'd help the illusion?" he asked. "You're makin' fun of me," Tor accused, pouting. Not at all..." Tor stood up and folded her arms."Well, if you ask me, your non- tactile behaviour is severely damaging my sexual development. As my parents you should be setting a positive example of normal heterosexual contact within a stable relationship." She paused, glaring at Doggett. "If I grow up to be a lesbian, it'll be all *your* fault!" And then she was off, running over the grass towards the soccer game. Scully looked slowly and unbelievingly at Doggett, then burst out laughing. "Oh, John... Your face!" He stared at her, mouth still unhinged, eyes wide. Scully gave in to a fresh wave of giggles. "What the hell was that?" he asked, shaking his head. "Wiping her eyes and sitting back up, Scully smiled. "I think that was permission." "Permission..." He eyes widened even more. "You been talkin' to her about..." "No, John. I haven't. Credit me with a little discretion. But she's a girl. We notice things." He stared at her, his blue eyes catching the sun. "Notice things?" She shrugged. "My interest in you. Your lack of response." He looked amazed. "My lack of...?" Grinning, Scully took his hand. "Look... It's taken us how long to get this far?" He sighed. "Too long." "Exactly. She just saw what I was ignoring. And what you weren't allowing yourself to see." "Which was?" "My interest." "Ah." She nodded. "Ah." "Maybe I should do something to rectify that then," he said, leaning closer. "Maybe you should."  She smiled, watching those sparkling eyes getting closer and closer. The first tentative touch of his mouth sent a shiver of excitement down her back. She pressed closer, anxious to deepen it. Angling his head, he  put a hand to the back of her neck and holding her still,  pressed his tongue against her lips. Grinning, she opened up and let him slide in. Once inside, she sucked on him, running her tongue on the underside of his, thrilled to feel a low growl bubble out of his throat. God, this was good. How many fantasies did this cover? Lying in the sunshine, kissing this man. She pressed harder, against him, thrilled to feel him pushing back, deepening the kiss. Pulling back slightly, Scully pulled in a breath, but stayed close to him, pecking small kisses to his face, over his mouth and nose. "That was nice," he said softly. "Certainly was," she sighed, nibbling his bottom lip between her teeth. He pushed into another kiss, this time opening his mouth and waiting for her to fill it with her tongue. She did, stroking him gently. "Harder," he breathed into her mouth. She kissed him more forcefully, scooping up his tongue and pulling it between her lips, encouraging him to play. She nipped at him, pretending to bite him, holding off at the last second. He was laughing, his breath huffing into her mouth as he fought her teeth. "No fair," he complained, pulling away at last. "Why's that?" she smirked, wiping a wet bottom lip. "You never said anything about biting." "Did you ask?" He pouted, trying not to smile.  "You play dirty," he grumbled. A shot of lust stabbed her in the groin. "Oh, you have no idea..." she purred, leaning forward to run her tongue over the ridge of his ear, darting inside with a lick. "Shit!"  He jerked, his hand flying to her head, taken aback at the sudden wetness. Scully grinned. "You were saying?" "Oh, woman. You are in soooo much trouble," he growled, grabbing her shoulders and pinning her to the blanket. She yelped, delighted and shocked to be held down like this. She felt his leg hook over, forcing its way between hers, a rush of desire making her sure she'd find her undergarments very damp when she got back to the cabin. "Bad mommy," he told her, bending to kiss her neck. He kissed her all the way up to her chin, pausing between kisses to nibble her skin, then with a grim stare at her, swooped down to her mouth to give her the wettest, hardest kiss they'd shared so far. Life was good, Scully thought, closing her eyes and letting him kiss her stupid.       chapter 17. Stupid. They were both stupid. Too wrapped up in what they were doing and neglecting their jobs. What they were paid for, what the were trained for. A high-pitched scream brought the pair of them off the blanket as if electrocuted. "Oh, shit," Doggett breathed. He whipped his head left and right, searching for her. "Oh, no...oh, no..."  Scully guts contracted in a tight ball. "Please, no..." Where was she? Where was she? "Where the hell is..." Doggett pointed. "There!" he snapped. "By the trash bins!" Scully looked, only realising she was running when she finally saw Tor and the girl was bobbing up and down in her sights as she charged down the grass towards her. "TOR!" she yelled. Beside her, Doggett's longer legs ate up the ground faster and he began to pull away. "TOR!" he shouted. It took a moment, but Scully's panicked brain finally understood the scene in front of her. Tor was in the middle of what looked like an out an out fist-fight, the two boys were going at her, a small circle of adults standing around looking shocked. Okay - first thoughts.. Thank God. No men with guns, knives and the like. Second thoughts - what the hell was going on? Every know and then, Tor gave a sharp squeal, usually followed by a bellow from one of the boys  in the fight. Panic drove Scully's legs, and she arrived at the scene bare seconds after Doggett ploughed into the crowd, his hands reaching for random arms and legs. "Hey! Get.... Quit it!" His shouts rose above the young voices. Scully pushed her way between two large women. "Excuse me," she gasped, using her elbows to get to the centre of the arena. "Let me through." Doggett was hauling one of the boys off Tor, dragged him back by the arms and threw him to the ground, already reaching for the next one. "OW!" Tor let out a another squeal as the boy landed a nasty punch to her cheek. As Doggett reached her, she lashed out and smacked the kid in the face, a solid round-house punch that made Scully both wince and cheer inside. Blood flowed. Swiftly followed by a scream and tears. None of them Tor's. Doggett stepped over the flattened boy and reached down for Tor, who grabbed his hand and pulled herself up. "It's okay," he muttered, holding on to her hand,  turning round to glare at the two boys. "They started it," she raged, struggling to turn towards her attackers. "Two against one!" "She punched Billy!" the first boy yelled, lunching forward. Scully grabbed him before he had a chance to jump back in. "Hold it right there," she told him, glaring. "Get off me!" the boy yelled, pulling at her hand. "DAD! Get her off!" "Just stop it," Scully shouted. There was no way she was going to let this little thug go back to fighting a girl. Especially two on one. "Hey!.." Scully felt a large hand descend on her shoulder and jerk her back. "Take your hands off my boy." She turned around, outraged at being manhandled. "Just what d'you think you're doing?" she began. "Let him go," the man in front of her said, giving her a shake. "No until he says he's not going to hit my daughter." The appellation came without thinking, indignation raising her maternal instincts. "That little bitch is yours?" Scully's hackles rose. "How dare you!" She turned to face the man. "She's a vicious little cat, that's how I dare," the man snarled at her, putting his face close. Scully stared back at him, intimidated, but not willing to show it. "She is nothing of the sort. Now take your hand off me." The man stared, she stared back, and she wondered if he was going to do as she asked, or if this was going to get even more ugly. "Hey!" Doggett's voice rose above the muttering of the crowd. "Don't touch her!" Suddenly, he was at her side, Tor by one hand, glaring at the man that pulled her back. "Get your hands off her," he said, very quietly. There was a moment of defiance, then perhaps taking a good look at Doggett's face, the man let his hand drop. "If she's anything like her kid, she was probably going to hit him." "I was not!" Scully was indignant at the suggestion. The man snorted and Doggett took a step nearer. "You will not touch my wife again, nor will you speak of my daughter in those terms. Is that understood?" Scully felt a surge of pride at his words, undercover of not, he was still standing up for them, and that felt great. "You should keep that kid on a leash," he said, glaring at Tor. "Look what she did." All eyes turned to the boy on the ground, bleeding and crying. Doggett glanced down and then stared at the other man. "Seems to me like she defended herself pretty well." "She needs a good whipping." "Just you try it!" Tor shouted, pulling forward against Doggett's hand. "Hush," he told her, pulling her back to his side. The man sneered. "Little animal." "I told you..." Doggett growled. Scully stepped forward. "I think we need to establish what happened, here." "She hit me!" the boy still standing held up his shirt. "Look at this!"  There was a red mark on his belly, about the size of Tor's fist, Scully noted, with a sinking feeling. "Hit me for no reason!" "I did not!"  Tor lunged towards him, reaching out. "See what I mean!" he stepped back, cowering behind his father. Scully held up her hand. "Tor. Why did you hit him?" "Because..." she pouted, wiping her hand under her nose. "Because what?" "Because he did something I didn't like." Tor turned her back. Scully tried not to sigh. This didn't look good. "What did he do, Tor? We need to know." The girl kept her back to everyone. "Doesn't matter," she muttered. "Forget it." "You gotta be kiddin'!" The boy on the floor scrambled up. "She broke my nose!" The man grabbed the boy and shoved him forward. "See? See what she did?" "I'm more interested in *why* she did it," Doggett stated. "Cos she's a vicious little..." Doggett held up a hand. "Don't. Just don't. Y'hear?" "Who do you think you are?" the man demanded, stabbing his finger out. "I'm the man telling you to leave well alone, that's who." Doggett didn't raise his voice, didn't appear to be angry. He spoke softly, keeping his eye on the other man the whole time. "You don't frighten me," he said. "I don't intend to frighten anyone," Doggett told him. "I'm just telling you the way it is." Scully held out a hand to the bleeding boy. "Look. I'm a doctor. Let me see the damage." "No way!" "I won't hurt you." "Get lost! You're not comin' near me!" He slid behind the man. Scully rolled her eyes. "Suit yourself." She turned to Doggett. "This isn't getting us anywhere. I think we should go." "Uh-huh." He nodded and took Tor's hand again. "C'mon." They turned to go, but the man stepped in front of them. "Hang on just one damned minute. You can't just walk away from this. She probably broke my boy's nose. What're you gonna do about that? Doctors cost money." He looked Scully up and down. "*Real* doctors, that is." They stood nose to nose. "Or I might just have to call the cops. Yeah?" Damn. That wouldn't do. The last thing they needed was official involvement. You never knew who was monitoring what, in the force. With a small sigh, Doggett pulled Tor forward. "I think you need to tell us why you hit him, Tor." He bent to look her in the eye. "We don't want to involve the cops, do we?" Scully watched them stare at each other, a battle of wills that had more at stake than any normal teenager's sense of fair play. She felt a little sorry for the girl, forced into a corner by circumstance. She had no doubt that at any other time, she'd just say no way, and refuse to tell.  But things weren't normal for Tor. And they wouldn't be ever again, thanks to what her mother was doing in the name of justice. "No-one's gonna be mad at you, if you just tell the truth," Doggett said softly. He ignored the snort that came from behind them. Tor looked up at the man, then over at the two boys standing at his side. "C'mon," he urged. "What'd he do, that made you break his nose?" Tor smiled limply, her bottom lip caught between her teeth, clearly fighting tears. "Think it's really broken?" she asked, with more pride than remorse. "Oh... squished beyond reasonable repair," Doggett smiled. "Now. What did he do to you, sweetheart?" That did it. Just one little word and the tears began to roll down her cheeks. "He ... He pulled up my shirt," Tor took a breath and howled the rest out in one huge gulp. "He pulled up my shirt and vest to look at my..." She didn't say any more, just dissolved and stood there in abject misery. Doggett knelt down quickly, took her in his arms and hugged her tight.  "It's okay... it's okay...: he mumbled, turning his head to fix his eyes on the two boys. Anger rose up in Scully's belly and she rounded on the boys.  "Is this true?" she demanded, hands on hips. "You did that?" The two boys shuffled. "It wasn't like that," the bleeding one began. "And just how was it, that you pull up a young girls' shirt?" she asked loudly. "I just wanted to check..." Scully's outraged boiled over. "Check!?" Two faces looked up at her, pale, worried. "Hey.. Just a minute..." Their father put out a hand. "No. You wait a minute," Scully pointed at his sons. "This is a very serious matter. You *do* realise that your sons have committed a sexual assault?" The man started to look worried. "Now look... it `s not like that." "*How* is it not like that?" Scully demanded, shaking her head. "They violated her privacy, exposed her body - hello?" She pulled her cel phone from her back pocket. "You want to call the police, or shall I?" The silence was deafening. The only thing Scully could hear over the blood pounding in her ears, was the steady sniffle Tor was making. The man stared, she just stared right back. "Look. They didn't mean it." "I'm sure." "It was just a game, right boys?" He glanced at his sons. "Yeah," they agreed, miserably. Doggett lifted his head up. "That's the kind of game that leads to something called rape, don't you think?" His voice was cold and hard. He looked at the family group, daring them to take issue with him. "Didn't mean nothing by it, man." The cleaner of the two boys shrugged. "Sorry." "I'm not the one that needs an apology," he snapped. "Sorry," he muttered, not meeting her eye. "Yeah. Sorry," the other one said, staring at his feet. Tor sniffed and wiped her nose on her arm. "`Kay," she said, also refusing to look up. Scully handed her a tissue and touched Doggett's arm. "Let's get out of here, okay?" He nodded, holding the other father's eye. Without breaking eye contact, he reached down and swung Tor up under the arms. "Let's go, sweetheart." She settled her arms and legs around him and clung, like a tear- dampened monkey, as they moved away from the group, walking briskly up the hill. "Godamned little shits..." Doggett muttered. "I got a good mind to go back there and kick their asses." Scully heard a wet sniff from where Tor's head was resting on his shoulder. She shook her head. "Let's just go." "Yeah," he agreed. Scully walked over to the blanket and quickly gathered up their stuff. "I'll get this. You two get in the car. The quicker we get out of here..."   The quicker we can help her get over this, she added, silently. Doggett nodded at her, and  stepped over the low rail of the car park. Stuffing all the stuff into the cooler, she draped the blanket over her shoulder and hurried to follow them.                    * When they got back to the cabin, Scully suggested Tor take a shower and to her huge surprise, she agreed without argument or complaint. Scully fixed a hot drink while Doggett sorted out the picnic things and generally banged and crashed his way around. Misplaced aggression, it was called, she thought as something else went flying out in the garage. How male. She paused stirring the drinks when that occurred to her. She looked down at the mugs and chuckled. Chocolate. How female. She turned around as someone sat in a chair. "Hi."  She took two mugs over and sat opposite. "Good shower?" Tor nodded, running her fingers through her wet hair. "S'okay, I guess." "Put extra marshmallows in there," Scully said, pointing to the mug in front of her. "Cool."  Peering in, she poked the spongy mass with a finger. "Here. Have a spoon." Passing over the teaspoon, Scully caught the girl's eye and smiled, getting a small one in return. They sat companiably, while Tor fished out her mallows, dangling the long string into her mouth in a way that turned Scully's stomach over. Ordinarily she'd be moaning about that, but she really didn't feel like it, now. "Thanks," Tor said finally, licking the spoon clean. "For?" "Not complaining about that." She grinned, looking more like herself. "I know it gets to you." Scully laughed. "Make the most of it. I'm back on your case, tomorrow." Tor sipped her drink, a slight frown on her face. Eventually, she tilted her head towards the sounds of crashing outside. "What's with him?" "Frustration." "Oh." She sipped her chocolate and then grinned over the rim of her mug. "Sexual frustration?" "Tor!" Scully rolled her eyes. "Well. I saw you, y'know. On the field." Scully buried her nose in the mug, determined not to blush. "Going' for it in a big way, huh?" "Leave it," Scully told her, knowing damn well she was blushing, anyway. "Just... Leave it, okay?" "If-you-say-so." "I hate it when you say that." "I know." They looked at one another over their mugs like two alley cats. Tor sighed. "I don't wanna fight with you, okay?" Scully merely looked sceptical. "I don't. Honest." "Okay..." "I'm glad you and him... y'know?" Scully arched an eyebrow and smiled. "Thanks." "Bout time." "Hhhhmm." Scully finished her drink and put her mug down. She didn't feel inclined to discuss her `relationship' with the girl. She wasn't sure how much of a relationship it was, yet. She pushed the mug away.  "You want to talk about what happened?" Tor shook her head, not looking up. "Not really." Fair enough. Scully didn't think she'd want to talk about it, either. They both jumped when something else met it's death in the yard. "God! What's his problem?" "You." Tor stared. "How d'you mean?" "He's mad about what happened." The girl stared, that frown back again. "I don't understand." Scully sighed. "Something bad happened to you, while he was supposed to be looking after you...." "It wasn't his fault, or yours." She shrugged. "It just happened." "I know. Nevertheless, he feels responsible. As do I." That required some serious thought and Scully watched the girl wrestle with it, drawing little circles in the mug-rings on the table. Scully wondered if having someone care about what happened to you, was a rare thing in Tor's life. It made her feel sad that it might be so. "It's okay," she reassured her. "He'll get over it and be right as rain in a while." She smiled. "Banging about is the guy-thing. Girls have chocolate." Tor smiled and wiped her finger. Long minute passed, and then Tor sighed, placing her hand flat on the table. "You wanna know why they did it?" Scully nodded. Here it came. "Those boys..." Tor blushed. "They didn't believe I was a girl. That's why they wanted to see my... " She bent her head. "You know." She didn't sound angry, just resigned. Scully shook her head. "Why didn't they believe you? You're so pretty." Tor snorted. "I play soccer like a boy. I swear like a boy..." She gave a hollow laugh. "Hell, I even look like one." "You do not," Scully said, mentally crossing her fingers. "Yeah, right." Tor sighed. "Tor..." she began. The door slammed and they both turned as Doggett came into the kitchen and turned the faucet on so hard that water sprayed everywhere. "Oh, Goddammit!" he yelled, jumping back, tee shirt soaked. The two women at the table looked at one another and started to giggle. "What's so funny?" Doggett grumbled, wiping at his chest with a dishcloth. "Nothing, dear," Scully said, sending them both into fits again. Rolling his eyes, Doggett threw the cloth down and sat at the table, grabbing the last mug. "This mine?" "Uh-huh." "Thanks. He sipped, and finding it cool, gulped it down. "S'good," he said, banging the mug back and wiping his mouth with his hand. Scully winced. "Did you even taste that?" "Huh?" She rolled her eyes at Tor. "Never mind." "What did I do now?" he grumbled, looking at Tor. She smiled. "I think she was alluding to the fact that your drink didn't touch the sides of your throat." He grinned. "Yeah, well. I tasted it, okay?" He cocked an eyebrow at her and tilted his head. "Alluding?" Tor sat back and regarded him, archly. "You think I'm stupid?" "Uh-uh. No." He shook his head. "Not at all.  You just keep surprising me, is all." "Yeah, well..." Her face contorted and she looked down at the table, going back to rubbing with her finger. "I'm a regular contradiction." Doggett glanced over to Scully, confusion on his face. She shook her head at him, indicating they should wait for a moment. He nodded and sat back. "I asked for it, I suppose," she said, eventually. "I mean, I don't blame them for thinkin' it.  I wouldn't believe me, either." Scully saw Doggett frown, wondering what she was talking about and she reached over to lay a hand on his arm. As he looked up, she shook her head. "Tor. Those boys probably just saw it as a perfect opportunity to take a peek, you know." She shook her head. "Nah. They're right. I'm not a proper girl." "What?" Doggett looked shocked. "Doesn't matter." Tor shrugged and stood up. "Just a minute..." Doggett stood up. "Why would you think you're not..." He waved a hand. "Not, you know..." Tor smiled grimly. "Take a look, Dogbreath. I'm not gonna win the  `Miss Feminine' pageant any time soon." "But you're..."  Tor held up her hand. "Yeah, yeah. I know. Heard it all before." She stuck her hands in her pockets. "You should grow your hair, Frankie... you're just too butch, Frankie. Go back to fighting with the boys, Frankie..." "I wasn't gonna say that," Doggett told her. "Sure you weren't." "Now you're a mind-reader?" Tor shrugged . "Not much of a challenge." Doggett folded his arms. "Gee, thanks." Laughing, Tor shook her head. "I meant, I know what people think when they look at me." She grunted. "Hell, I know what *I* think when I look at me.... You don't have to be a genius to know..." "I think you're beautiful."  Doggett said quietly. Scully watched Tor register what he'd said, disbelief warring with something else. "Don't patronise me," she snapped. "I'm not." "Yeah, right..."  She was looking strangely at Doggett. Scully smiled. "He's right, Tor." The girl frowned, looking from one to the other, unsure. "I look like a boy." Doggett smiled. "You look like a girl that likes doing the same things a boy does... So what? I don't think you *look* like a boy." "Pretty good liar," she told him, frowning. Doggett sighed and pointed at her. "Stay there. Don't move." Tor looked at Scully as he strode across the room, muttering to himself. She shrugged. "What's with him?" Scully shrugged back. "Beats me. Sunstroke, maybe?" Tor laughed softly. "Perhaps we should put the hose on him in the yard." Scully grinned. "Now there's a thought." "Need to get rid of that shirt, first. "You think?" "Naturally. It's get ruined, otherwise." Scully smiled. Inappropriate conversation or not, it was at least making the girl smile again. "He might put up a fight," she said, trying to be serious. Tor shrugged. "No problem. You kneel on his chest, I'll nail him to the ground by those ears." Scully had to clamp her hand over her mouth to hide her laughter as Doggett came stomping back into the room. He was clutching a store-bag. "Here." He thrust the bag at Tor. "I got this `cos..." He scratched the back of his neck, ears turning an interesting shade of cerise. "Well.  I just thought you might..." "What is it?" she asked, making no effort to open the bag. "Just..." He flapped a hand. "Just open it, okay." "But what is it?" "You'll see." "Can't you just tell me..." He threw up his hands. "Are you always this difficult!? Just open the damn thing, okay?" "Okay, okay... Jeez! Don't have a cow."  She plucked at the bag, frowning, then, peering in, lifted her eyes to stare at him. Scully watched Doggett fidget, positively shuffling from one foot to the other, the colour in his ears bleeding across his face. He looked very uncomfortable. Tor stared, making him wriggle more. He ran a hand through his hair. "Why?" she said, eventually. "I just thought. You might like it." He pulled a face and sighed. "Oh, hell, I thought it'd look nice on you, okay?" Tor looked down and wordlessly pulled something bright out of the bag. As she unfolded it, Scully leaned over and looked. It was the dress he'd picked out at the mall, the first day they `d been `parents'. She stared at Doggett. He gone ahead and bought it while they were doing the underwear thing. She shook her head slightly. Who's have thought? Tor held the dress up to herself, staring down, speechless. It was hard to tell what was going on in her head. "I... It doesn't matter," Doggett was saying. "I know you hate it. I just thought... You know." He gave up in the face of silence and shoved his hands in his pockets, staring at the floor. "Men, huh? What d'we know?" Scully thought Tor was going to stuff the dress back into the bag, her face suddenly screwed up as if she had a bad attack of gas. And then she was launching herself at Doggett, sliding her arms round his waist, burying her head in his chest, holding on as if possessed. The look on Doggett's face was priceless. He staggered back, unsure if he was going to get another bite, or knee in the genitals. Then he pulled his hands out of his pockets and rested them on Tor's back and patted. "Hey... It's okay. It's just a stupid dress." Tor said nothing, just clung. Doggett looked over her head to Scully. He looked more than a little  startled. Scully winked. Nice one, she told him with a smile. Eventually, Tor pushed herself away and wiped her arm under her nose, making both Scully and Doggett wince. "It's great," she sniffed, looking at the dress in her hand. "Thanks, Dogbreath." "No problem," he shrugged. "You'll look great in it." Tor looked at him. "Y'think?" "Oh, yeah." He ducked his head to look at her. "Trust me. I used to be a boy." "And there's me thinking you used to be a little girl," Scully laughed. Tor grinned. "With those muscles? I don't think so." Scully nodded. "You may have a point, there." "And that ass..." "Oh, mustn't forget the ass," she laughed. Doggett rolled his eyes, reddening. He grabbed the dish towel and threw it at Scully. "How did this suddenly become about me?" "You're just lucky, I guess." Scully threw the cloth back at him. "I'm gonna leave you two children to it. Call me for supper." Tor handed the bag to Doggett with a grin and wandered off to her room, inspecting her gift. "Well..." Scully stood up. "You want to check the fridge, then, Martha. I'll peel and chop if you  stir." Sighing, he folded the towel up. "Fine. But I get to decide what we're having." "No garlic," she told him, glancing over her shoulder. "But I like..." His eyebrows rose and a grin spread over his face. "Oh. Yeah. Sure. No garlic." chapter 18. Scully fiddled with the cutlery, lost in thought. Witness Protection had called an hour ago to tell them that Tor's mother had completed her testimony and would they had instructions to take Tor to a rendezvous point tomorrow, where she would be re-united with her mom. Then they would both disappear into Witness Protection. A happy ending, sure. But Scully couldn't help feel a little pang of disappointment that the whole  episode was coming to an end. She'd enjoyed `playing house' more than she'd ever imagined. Despite wandering over the line of `difficult', Tor had been good company.  But the chance to be with Doggett on a whole new level had been nothing short of wonderful. She had been thrilled to be able to get to know him, not just from the sexual attraction, although that was a definite plus, but from a purely platonic angle. Finding out what food he liked, how he spent his downtime and what he liked to watch on tv. Even crazy things, like watching how he peeled vegetables and knowing what brand of toothpaste he preferred. Her partner had gotten under her skin, she couldn't deny that. She smiled, putting the last of the cutlery on the table. And the way things were shaping up, tonight he'd be getting elsewhere, too. They had prepared dinner in a slow burn of eroticism, hands brushing one another, small smiles and touches. Both of them mentally racing ahead, thinking about that night. It served to put her on a slow-heat setting for later, and by the look in Doggett's eyes, it was doing the same thing for him. When most everything was done, she'd handed him a glass of wine and told him to watch the potatoes while she went to change her clothes. No way did she want to spend their last meal here in cut-offs and tee shirt. "Dinner's ready!" she called, turning off the cooker to save the salmon. She untied the apron from round her waist and smoothed her skirt down. She'd only brought the one with her, her favourite dark green, one she never wore to work because the slit up the back went way too far for the Bureau regs. The silk cream blouse was another indulgence. It was almost too much, silk and lace on the same garment, but was saved from tacky, by an elegant cut and the most gorgeous design. Too good for the FBI, but why she'd thought to bring it with her on this assignment, she didn't want to analyse. It looked good, that was all that mattered. "Hi." Doggett appeared at the kitchen doorway.  Scully did a double- take as she put the salad on the table.  He had disappeared nearly an hour ago, and now she saw what he'd been up to. He, too had changed his clothes, in unspoken agreement. She looked him up and down. "You look nice," she said, returning the compliment he'd paid her when she'd emerged from the bedroom. He was wearing a powder blue, short-sleeved shirt that brought out the colour of his eyes and the shape of his arms.  It was tucked into a pair of dark blue cargo pants.  Almost as if he knew she liked him in that colour best. As he walked over to her, she put out her hand to feel what she suspected, and what her nose was telling her.  Her palm slid over the side of his face. "You shaved." His cologne had drifted over with him, and she inhaled, taking the familiar scent deep inside. "Uh-huh." He turned his head to kiss the palm of her hand. Shivers ran up the backs of her legs, turning the skin goosey. "Feels nice," she told him, smiling. "That for my benefit?" "Could be." He smiled back at her and planted another quick kiss on her hand. "Anything I can do?" "Nope. All ready." She turned to the cooker, putting it on a low heat. He was leaning against the units, smiling at her, arms folded. "What're you looking so pleased about?" she demanded, smiling. "Oh, nothing." She snorted. "Looks like `nothing'."  A thought occurred and she tossed the dish towel over at him, catching him in the chest. "And where did you disappear to?" "When?" "While I was slaving away, as if you didn't know!" He grinned at her, plucking the towel from his front. "Out." Scully frowned. "Out where?" Tapping the side of his nose, he laughed. "Ah-ah." "You're very annoying, you know that?" He shrugged. "It's been said." She grunted, biting her lip with the comments that she could have made, instead, pulling dishes  out of the oven. She glanced over to Tor's room. "Give her a shout, will you. I think she's gone deaf." Doggett put two fingers up to his mouth. "Cover your ears," he told her. Scully was very grateful she obeyed, as he let loose with an outstandingly piercing whistle. "TOR! DINNER!" As the last of the noise died away, Scully took her hands away. "Good Lord. That was..." She shook her head. "Loud." He grinned. "Best way to get attention." "I'll bet." Tor walked into the kitchen, wearing the dress Doggett had bought. "If either of you laugh, it's going in the trash," she told them, blushing. No-one spoke for a minute. Then Doggett gave a completely different kind of whistle. "No-ones gonna laugh, sweetheart, you look..."  He nodded. "Terrific." She gave him a half-disbelieving, half-hopeful look. "Yeah?" "Absolutely." He wasn't exaggerating, she did. The dress was a good fit, the colours suiting her, Scully made a mental note to take Doggett clothes shopping real soon. He had an `eye' . "He's right, Tor," she said moving to walk round her, admiring. "You look really great." "The boots are bit funny," she said, shuffling her feet. "But I didn't have anything else. "I think they look just fine," Doggett told her. "Adds your own personal touch to the whole thing," Scully smiled. "And I bet it makes you feel more comfortable. Tor grinned. "Yeah, I couldn't do heels as well." "You want to try working all day in them. They're murder." Scully winced. "I know what you mean," Doggett laughed. "I ruin my ankles chasing the bad guys in them." The girls rolled their eyes. He winked. "C'mon. Let's eat, I'm starved."       * Salmon poached in lemon and butter, new potatoes, salad and the last of the french bread all disappeared along with most of a bottle of wine. They laughed at jokes, told silly stories and generally enjoyed a relaxed and sociable meal. Scully admitted to peeing her panties at school, and spending the day underpantless, frightened to death of discovery. Closely followed by the tale of smoking her first cigarette and throwing her guts up at 12. Doggett confessed to letting down one tire on each of the entire faculty's vehicles, and of at age  seventeen,  riding ten miles home on a borrowed motorbike, stark naked. "Without getting caught?" Tor's eyes widened. Doggett nodded. "Uh-huh. Took the back streets and lanes." He shook his head. "Froze my ass off, but no-one saw." "Wouldn't have been much *to* see, if you were cold," Scully leaned over and muttered, while Tor took the plates over to the sink. His indignant gaze made her laugh. "You think it'll take long to get to the airfield?" Tor asked, gathering the glasses. "You looking forward to seeing your mom?" Scully asked. "Yeah." Tor plucked at the dress and grinned. "She'll shit when she sees me in this." "Language..." "Sorry. But she will." "Shouldn't take too long," Doggett told her. "They picked one half way between on purpose." "Cool. So no early morning?" He smiled. "No early morning." "Good." Scully glanced over to him and winked. Just as well.       * This time Scully joined in the board game. They all sat on the carpet and Doggett proceeded to beat both of them soundly. "No fair!" complained Tor, handing over hundreds of dollars for the second time in five minutes. "Hey... It's not my fault you both stink." Doggett counted the money. "You're fifty bucks short, madam." He held his hand out. "Hand it over." Tor pulled a face and sighed. "You gotta be cheatin' somehow." "Uh-uh." He  tucked the cash away. "You're just a bad loser." The three of them were sprawled on out comfortably, bowls of chips between them, sodas perched on the low table. Scully was surprised to find herself agreeing to the game, and even more surprised to find herself not caring in the least that she was scrunched up on the floor in an expensive outfit. Wonders would never cease. "Bet you're glad you didn't wanna play the other day," Doggett grinned, shaking the dice under her nose. She pushed his hand away.  "Shut up and roll, Doggett. " "Temper, temper." He threw a three and landed on one of Tor's properties. "Oh, damn." Laughing, Tor tapped the board. "Pay up. Loser." "Peanuts!" He snorted. "Just give me my money, or I'll..." "Or you'll what? Lose the game?" He laughed, peeling two bills from his pile of money. "Here y'go, buy yourself somethin' nice." She reached over and dug a finger into his ribs. "Pig!"" Grunting, he wriggled away. "Hey! Don't mess with the man that owns more than half the board, woman!" "Only through cheatin'!" she grumbled. "Hey! Just because I prove men are better than you feeble females at *serious* business..." He laughed at the looks on their faces and pointed.  "Losers!" "*Chauvinist* pig," Tor cried, stretching to poke him again. He flinched. "I just tell it like it is, ladies... And just quit that, will you!" A glimmer of reckless glee flickered in Tor's eyes. She flicked her gaze up to meet Scully's. Was he...? She ran her fingers down his side again, just to check. He flinched away. "Jeez, Tor! Quit it!" Oh, yeah. She was right, he was. Doggett was ticklish. Scully leaned over the board and whispered in Tor's ear. "Yeah?" she said, a grin spreading. "Oh, definitely," Scully said, getting up to a sitting position. "You two planning the terms of your defeat?" he grinned. "Not exactly..." Scully shook her head and looked at Tor. "So you think we should?..." Tor raised her eyebrows. Scully glanced at Doggett's smug face. "Absolutely." Payback. "Oh, John," she said, nodding at Tor, who began to move silently around the board. "What?" "I think Tor just found out a secret about you." He frowned, distracted, counting out handfuls of money. "Oh yeah? What's that?" He was dead meat. He just didn't know it yet. Tor caught her eye and raised an eyebrow. Scully nodded, grinning. "Oh, just something that you should never, ever let women find out about." He looked up, innocent and clueless. "Yeah? What?" She knee-walked over to him, and gazed down, her guts positively squirming in anticipation. On his other side, Tor crept up, grinning widely. "That you..." She leaned closer. "Uh-huh?" "Are..."  She moved closer. "Uh-huh?" "Very..." Almost touching. "What?" "Very..." She grinned. "Ticklish!" With a cries of triumph, they pounced, grabbing him, digging their fingers into his  sides and under his arms.  Yelling, he flipped over, trying to ward off the four hands relentlessly  poking his ribs. They poked, prodded and squeezed, Doggett wriggled, squirmed and shouted, but the two women ignored his breathless demands  to stop and carried on tickling unmercifully. Tor took hold of his hands and held them down while Scully walked her fingers over his sides, chanting `Incy Wincy Spider', over and over. He yelped and howled. The two women just laughed and tickled harder. He begged. Disregarding his pleas for mercy, Scully moved to sit on his legs to keep them still, while Tor squirrelled her fingers in his armpits. "Ticky-wicky-wicky!" she sang, leaning over his red face, grinning insanely. "Now who's the loser, Dogbreath?!" Pinned down on his back, Doggett howled. Out of breath, Scully sat back, pausing for a moment. She pushed the hair from her face and held her hand up to Tor to stop. She looked down at a red-faced Doggett. "Stop... " he gasped, pulling in a  great lungful of air. "Or else?" she asked, folding her arms. "I'll let you live," he panted. She laughed. "You're hardly in a position to threaten anyone, Mister Tickly." "Please, Scully.." "Oh, so it's `please' now, is it?"  She laughed, reaching down to slowly lift the hem of his shirt. "Well. What do we have here?" He pushed Scully's hands, trying to sit up. "Gimme a break!" "Say please..." she told him, pausing. "I already did," he frowned. "Humour me." He sighed and rolled his eyes. "*Please*. Okay?" She looked down at his face and briefly contemplated mercy. "C'mon, woman," he complained. "This is killin' me." Oh, that did it. "Sorry..." She swooped, redoubling her attack, yanking his shirt up to get at bare skin, reducing him to a wriggling mess, helpless with laughter. "SCULLEeee!" he whined between gasps, pushing weakly at her hands. "Oh, God..." "Hey... Here y'go." Scully looked up to see Tor holding a wet hand out to her. Her fist unfolded to reveal a handful of ice cubes. "I think someone needs to be taught a lesson about the superiority of women, don't you?" Scully laughed delightedly. The kid was more than okay. "Thank you, Tor." She took the cubes. "Hang on to him, will you?" Doggett's hands were grabbed and pinned down. "What the hell?"  He had enough self-preservation to look worried. "Just relax, John. This won't hurt." Showing him her dripping hand, Scully grinned at the look on his face. "Aw... no. Scully..." He shook his head, starting to struggle. "C'mon, Dana... I didn't mean it... honest." She shook her head. "Too late, I'm afraid. You need a little lesson in manners." The cubes dipped to his stomach and he let out a howl. "JEEEEEZus!!" Almost doubled over with laughter, Scully dragged her freezing hand from one side of his belly to the other, thoroughly enjoying the noises he made. He struggled, lifting her up with his thighs. All of a sudden, the feel of his writhing body under hers became something else.  She felt a blush rise, the sensation of his strong legs moving under her bottom, changing the agenda from fun, into something altogether more primitive. His firm stomach, glistening with water drew her eyes.  She had an unbelievably strong urge to bend down and lick the drops of water from his skin. Damn. This wasn't the time or the place, with Tor here. She'd better finish this before she got carried away. Besides, it was getting harder to hold him down. Tor's wet grip on his hands was slipping. "Hey, Tor.." she said, winking. "Get ready.." she warned, indicating her dripping handful and then Doggett's hands. Tor nodded, understanding. "And just so you don't forget this in a hurry, John Doggett..." She grinned naughtily, pulled up the waistband of his pants, shoved the melting cubes down inside and leapt off him. "AWWWWW!!!..."  The two women circled the thrashing man on the floor and stood side by side, holding on to each other's hands, creased up with hysterical laughter as Doggett curled into a ball and jammed his hand down his pants, still yelling. Ice cubes flew across the carpet as he frantically pulled them from his underwear. "God!... Oh God..." Finally fishing the last one out, he collapsed on his back, arms out stretched, his eyes tightly shut, groaning. Scully had a wicked flashback to that morning in bed, him lying just like that. It suited him. He moaned, rolled over and lay in the ice-puddles without realising. Scully opened her mouth to tell him he ws getting soaked, but he got to his knees, still face-down on the carpet, giving both women a wonderful view of his tight ass, and the words died in her throat. She decided she'd rather stare instead, glancing at Tor to see if she was had noticed the view. She had. Scully grinned, she didn't blame her for staring, one bit. Doggett pulled himself up to his knees and stared down at the front of his pants in dismay. He plucked at the soggy material. "You wet my pants," he complained, looking decidedly miserable. "Oh, get over it!" Tor got up and went to stand in front of him, hands on hips. "It's only water. It won't kill you." Doggett grunted and pulled at his crotch. "Maybe you should change your pants," Scully suggested, her body half hoping he'd ask for a hand. He pulled himself up on the sofa, sighing dramatically. "Bullies..." he muttered, his hands going to his button. Scully's guts leaped in shock and delight. He wouldn't, would he? "Er... Doggett," she said, watching as he unzipped his pants and stood up. "What?" He stood up with opened pants, fixing her with a puzzled expression. Scully nodded to down below his waist. "You think that's appropriate?" He looked down. Then back up at her. "I have shorts on," he pointed out, dropping his pants to prove his point. "Besides..." He shoved them down and began to kick them off his socked feet. "I think you should be the one to put them in the drier, don't you?" He bent over, picked them up and tossed them over to her. "As it was you that got them wet in the first place." Scully caught an armful of warm Doggett-pants, one leg whipping her in the face. "Hey!" She removed them from her head and glared at him. "You are such a baby, John Doggett." He grinned at her, the bottom of his shirt barely covering his groin. She tried not to look, but she caught a tempting glimpse of the legs of his dark boxer shorts peeping out below the bottom of his shirt. Sitting heavily on the sofa, he just crossed  his feet on the table and folded his arms. "Probably," he said, staring at her. "But I think you owe me." Sighing, Scully screwed up the pants. She supposed he was right and besides, she couldn't keep her eyes off  those strong legs, endlessly stretched out in front of her. And if he stood up, she didn't think she'd be able to stop herself from going over there and lifting the hem of his shirt to see what else it was hiding. "Okay, okay..." she muttered, moving over to the kitchen. "And I suppose I get to make the coffee, as well?" "Uh-uh," Doggett called, glancing behind him. "Tor gets to do that. The ice cubes were her idea." Tor snorted. "Gee, thanks a bunch, Dogbreath."  "Play dirty, get dirty." Oh yes, Scully thought, smiling to herself as she stuffed his pants in the drier. She planned on playing dirty, all right. chapter 19 As it turned out, Tor went to bed straight after her drink, using the bathroom noisily, singing some loud chart-tune as she brushed her teeth and flushed. She wandered back into the lounge in her over-sized Redskins tee shirt trailing Doggett's pants from one hand, a book in the other. "Here," she said, throwing them at him. "Put some clothes back on, man. God knows what damage you're doin' to my impressionable mind, sitting there like that." Doggett caught the pants and began to fold them neatly. "Impressionable, my a...." He paused, aware of what he was about to say. Scully laughed. "I think she's seen enough of that, tonight." "I was gonna say `armpit'." "Yeah, right." Tor walked behind the sofa, pausing lean over the edge.  "I'll see you children in the morning." "See you. And I'll give you a shout when you need to make a move." Scully waved a hand. "You get to sleep in." Tor grinned. "Fine by me. But don't you two kids stay up too late, y'hear? You could do with an early night..." She tugged on Doggett's hair. "Hey!" Scampering off, Tor laughed, slamming her bedroom door on the way. "Damn kid," Doggett muttered, rubbing his head. Scully reached up to pat his hand. "There, there. Didn't hurt that much." He gave her one of his lop-sided grins. "Might have." "Baby." They looked at each other for what felt like ages. Scully smiled, her mind already racing ahead the next couple of stages. To the naked bit. Doggett smiled back, she wondered if he was aware of what she was thinking. And if he was thinking the same. "So..." he said, stretching both hands out in front of him. "What d'you wanna do? Glass of wine, or..." His voice trailed off.  "What?" Scully looked at those long fingers and felt her stomach turn over in a lazy flip. "How about... A glass of wine *and* `what'?" Arching his eyebrow, he grinned. "Sounds good to me. I'll get the wine, you lock up." He stood up in one smooth movement and held his hand out to her. Scully slipped her hand into his and felt herself being pulled up to stand incredibly close to his chest. "Hi," she said, looking up into his eyes. "Hi." Up close the intensity was incredible. The vivid blue pinned her like a bug on a wall, slicing through her insides.  She peered closer. "You have a fleck in that one," she said, pointing. "Uh-huh. It's a mole." "It's nice. Distinctive." She leaned closer. "You think?"  He leaned in too. "Oh, yeah." Staring at his mouth as it made the last little move forward, she let her eyes slide shut as he touched  her. Warm. The kiss was warm and soft. Her mouth submitted and opened up under the gentle pressure, his tongue dancing briefly over her lips.  He moved away,  much too soon for her liking. Scully opened her eyes accusingly. "Not here," he whispered, his gaze flicking to Tor's door. "You're right," she agreed, clearing her throat. "Let's go." Allowing herself the brief pleasure of watching his butt as he moved to get two glasses and the half-finished bottle of wine, Scully hurried to lock up both outside doors and check all the windows. By the time she was done, he was standing at the bedroom door, legs bare, looking reckless, rakish and ravishing. Never mind stretched- out, the bare-legs look suited him, too. Scully moved to stand with him, smiling in anticipation. "After you, madame," he rumbled in a deep, sexy voice. "Why thank you," she replied, doing a little curtsy, making him chuckle. She entered the room and stopped. There were candles everywhere. On the dresser, the window sill, the bedside cabinets. Big ones small ones, scented ones, by the smell that hit her. "Oh!" She stared, astounded. "This okay?" he asked from behind. "Oh, John... It's beautiful." The light flickered gently, giving the room a warm glow. His hands settled on her shoulders. "I though candles would be better than the ceiling light." He put his face close to hers and whispered. "I want to see you." Shuddering slightly at his words, Scully leaned back to rest against his chest. "Okay," she whispered. The way she felt right now, she'd agree to just about anything this man suggested. That thought excited her. Would he be a passive lover, or would he take control and do all sorts of things to her? His hands squeezed her shoulders and she reached up to touch them. She really didn't care. As long as it involved the two of them naked and exchanging bodily fluids.  And that thought reckless and wanton, pushed her buttons so hard her legs trembled. The feel of Doggett standing solidly behind her, running his hands lightly up and down her shoulders was driving her crazy.  The smell of his cologne, the warmth of his body, even through clothes, all these things and more, were heightening  her senses to almost painful extremes. His hands brushed her neck. She needed... Turning in his arms, she faced him, pulling him further into the glowing room. The light was kind to his face, bathing it softly. He kicked the door shut behind him and smiled down at her. "Hi," she said again, smiling. "Hi, yourself." She slid her arms up his, feeling those hard biceps, his smooth skin. Up over the sleeves of his shirt and around his neck. "So.. Agent Doggett." she said, arching her neck as his fingers ran through her hair at the back of her head. "Are you going to stand there...  Or are you going to kiss me?" He grinned and lowered his head. "That would be my pleasure, Agent Scully," he rumbled, his lips still moving as he touched them to hers. Scully allowed herself to fold into the kiss. She opened her mouth and welcomed him inside, her tongue meeting his with enthusiasm. Tasting wine and aftershave, she gave herself over to the pleasure of revelling in the sensations. And at last, when they parted, panting slightly, she looked him straight in the eyes. "We really shouldn't be doing this," she said, smiling softly. "Probably not," he replied. "But it sure feels good." He kissed her softly on the corner of her mouth. He slid his cheek to hers. "You know... If you want, we can stop now, before we go any further," he whispered, his gentle words and breath in her ear, goosing up her skin. Scully shivered, both touched and surprised by his offer. "No. I don't think we can," she said, surprising herself. The way she was feeling now, nothing short of an armed SWAT team would stop her from `going any further' with him. She perched on tip-toe and took his mouth firmly, angling his head to one side and pulling it down to get better purchase, letting him know exactly how she felt about stopping. He groaned into her mouth, or was it a growl? That made her smile in the kiss, breaking contact. "What?" he asked, looking at her. She shook her head. "Nothing. Just my sense of the ridiculous." "Gee, thanks," he said, glancing down. Scully laughed. "I didn't mean that." Her eyes followed his. The hem of his shirt was not quite in the same smooth line as before. Her eyebrow arched. Interesting... "What then?" She tore her eyes away reached up to stroke his cheek. Perfectly smooth. She smiled. "*Undercover*..." She shook her head. "I won't ever hear that word without smiling." A low chuckle rumbled out of his chest. "Tell me about it." He had that funny crooked grin on again. Scully decided she liked it. She slid her hands down to his, and pushed him backwards, towards the bed. Bumping his knees against the mattress, he plopped down. Scully stood in front of him, contemplating. She didn't know if she wanted to be `the boss' or not.  The idea of dictating the order of events had a charm all of its own, but there was something to be said for being `taken' by a man and letting him pound you into the mattress. Decisions, decisions. "What're you thinking?" He smiled. "And should I be worried?" Scully nudged his knees. "You'll find out, soon enough... And yes, more than likely, you should." She bumped his knees again. "Open." He held her eyes as he slowly parted his knees, allowing her to step forward between them. "That better?" he asked, his voice low and rough. "Uh-huh." It certainly was. Scully moved closer, feeling the heat from his bare thighs burning hers. She was very glad she hadn't bothered with tights or stockings. She gazed down at him. This was interesting... He was sitting calmly enough, his hands resting on his legs, but there was a hint of something in his eyes that suggested vulnerability. Something in the upturned eyebrows that betrayed a quiet nervousness. Was he edgy because they were about to do something outrageous and exciting? Or was it because he was sitting with his legs spread wide, with her standing between them and he didn't feel entirely secure? Scully grinned. *that* was an empowering thought. And a pretty horny one, too. She inched closer, watching his face, upturned and open, silently allowing her anything.  She put her hand to it and ran her palm over his cheek, moving her fingers up into his hair. He closed his eyes and leaned into the caress. Scully bent her head and pressed gentle kisses across his forehead, down onto his eyelids, along his aquiline nose and then, suddenly sliding her hand to the back of his short hair, grabbed a handful and yanked his head back,  clamping her mouth over his. A grunt of surprise escaped him and she watched those beautiful eyes fly open as she preceded to  give him the hardest, most fierce kiss she could. All tongues, teeth and spit. It was wet, messy and very, very arousing. Doggett's hands came up to her waist then slid down to cup her ass as the kiss deepened. His fingers kneaded and squeezed, working the muscles under the skin. She pushed against him, urging him on. He obliged, cupping his hands deep under her ass, almost lifting her off her feet. Gasping, she bit her way out of the kiss, dragging his bottom lip as she pulled away. Breathing hard, she looked down to see his reaction. "Damn, woman... he whispered roughly, his mouth open and wet, his eyes glazed. She liked that look on him, too. "Like that?" "Uh-huh." He nodded, slowly, his hands still resting on her butt. He pulled her forward suddenly,  bringing his face bumping between her breasts. Scully smiled, pulling on his ears to get him closer. He nuzzled, tucking his face right in, moving back and forth, that low growl putting in another appearance. His hands moved up and over her hips, around her waist and to her excitement, began to tug her blouse out of her skirt. She breathed sharply as his skin touched hers. Warm. His wands were warm, thank God. She exhaled in satisfaction as they trickled slowly over her belly, rising to brush the underside of her breasts. Her breath stuttered again as he stroked her with his thumbs. "God..." The word slipped out when he grazed a nipple. She looked down, just as he looked up. Nodding, more to herself than him, Scully's trembling hands came to the front of her blouse, fumbling with the buttons. She wanted it off. Wanted to feel his hands and mouth on her skin. Even gossamer silk was too much of a barrier. "Here, let me.." he whispered, pulling his hands out to move hers away. He undid the tiny fastenings, never hesitating, never fumbling, never taking his eyes from hers. If he was as good at everything else... Scully swallowed, her body flushing. The expensive blouse slid from her shoulders and crumpled at their feet. She ignored it. "This too," she whispered, nodding down at her chest. "I want to feel you," she added, in a voice scarcely more than a croak. Doggett smiled. "You will." His words brought that flush up to a full-blown wave of sexual heat that pounded in her groin and made her toes curl on the carpet. A small stroke to the centre of her spine and her flesh-coloured Victoria's Secret fell to its death to join her blouse on the floor. A pile of dead silk. Doggett sighed, staring at her liberated breasts. Uncharacteristically, she made no move to cover herself. "My God.." he breathed, sitting motionless, with wide eyes. Scully put her hand to his cheek. "Touch me," she told him, anxious for more contact. This time when he sighed, she felt his warm breath on her skin. His head dipped to kiss her sternum, the feel of his face touching both sides of her breasts catching her own breath in her throat. "Yes..." she breathed. He kissed her chest, then turning his head, kissed either breast. One hand held the shoulder of his shirt in a vice-like grip, while the other roamed over his head, touching everywhere, ears, neck, messing up his short hair and kneading his shoulders. The heat was building in her belly, spreading down to add to the burning in her groin. The panicked beat of her heart was pulsing inside her clit, to an almost painful level. Her whine took her by surprise when his mouth found a nipple. She clutched his head with both hands as he suckled, taking little nips, grazing her with his teeth. Pushing his head, she encouraged his attentions over at the other side, hissing through her teeth as she watched  her nipple fall from his mouth, erect and puckered. His mouth left her breast cold and wet when it moved to its companion. He bit down again, making her whine for the second time, then soothed her with gentle strokes of his tongue, his hands coming up to gently knead both breasts. The pounding in her crotch was becoming intolerable. Pushing his head away, her sensitive flesh stretched, then fell from his mouth with a small `plop'. He looked up. "You okay?" She nodded, swallowing. Okay, but could be better. She plucked at his shirt. "Off," she told him, breathless. Pulling at his collar, she really did try to avoid choking him in her haste to get to his body. Not altogether successfully. "Hey..." He struggled to free his arms. "Hang on..." The shirt was ripped from him, thrown carelessly behind her. Taking a long look at the expanse of flesh in front of her, Scully smiled and put both hands to Doggett's warm shoulders and pushed hard. chapter 20. By the time he'd bounced twice, surprise written all over his face, Scully had scrambled up on to the bed and now knelt astride his hips, feeling triumphant, wicked and very, very horny. Doggett gazed up at her, arms lying out either side of him, surrendered and edible. He smiled up at her, that crooked grin that she liked. "That was..." He nodded. "Unexpected." "You know what they say, Agent Doggett. Expect the unexpected."  Bending down, she felt her breasts swing as she kissed him again, poking her tongue between his lips before he could reply. Taking his chin in her hand, she held his head still as she plundered him over and over, relishing the feel of him groaning into her mouth. Pausing to breath, she sat back. Under her bottom, she could feel his erection poking into her. He was hard. Very hard. She knew damned well that if she rested her crotch on him and moved even just a little, she was going to come like a teenager. She lifted herself slightly, wiping moisture from her mouth with the back of her hand. She didn't want that. Not yet. There was still a long list of things she wanted to do to Special Agent John Doggett. "Stay there," she said firmly, shifting off him. "Yes, ma'am," he grinned, opening his hands, palms upward. "I'm stayin' right here." Scully scooted off the bed and unzipped her skirt, shoving it down in one quick push. She glanced up as she kicked it away. He was watching, his head raised slightly. She grinned and hooked her thumbs in the tops of her panties. Matching panties. How fortunate. Worth the frantic search as she was packing. Never thought for a moment she'd be stripping them off, watched by a wide-eyed John Doggett. "Yes?" she asked, looking at him, eyebrow raised. He nodded, his tongue darting out to moisten his lips. Slowly, she pulled her underwear down, over her hips, pausing for dramatic effect at her pubic line, glancing at her audience to make sure he was paying attention. Oh yeah... He was paying attention, alright. At both ends. Eyes wide, mouth ajar and his shorts tented up, With a smile and a wiggle of her hips, she shimmied out of her panties and stepped away, leaving them in her wake. "That's better," she said, approaching the bed. She could feel the air in the bedroom cooling the heat between her legs. Cooling her and knocking down the need to come, just a little. Doggett stared at her, words apparently out of reach. Scully nodded and began to climb back on the bed. She got as far as her hands and knees beside him and then he came back to life, turning suddenly and taking her down by the shoulders, pushing her into the same position as he was, moments   before. "Whoa!" "Got a problem, Agent Scully?"  He breathed, his face close to hers. She laughed, holding his biceps, enjoying the way they bulged out, holding his weight off her. "Not at all, Agent Doggett. I was wondering how long it would take you wake up." "What?!" He pulled back, his face indignant. "You'd better watch out, woman. I'm *wide* awake." "Yeah?" She arched her back, feeling her body touching several points on his. "Care to prove it?" She could feel the rumbling complaint deep in her chest as he pressed his body down, his weight pushing her into the bed in a delicious way. "I'll give you proof, alright." He bent and kissed her, much the same way as he'd been kissed. Wet, deep and thoroughly. The heat from his body was delicious, he felt so much warmer than her, so much harder. Squirming and unable to help herself, Scully giggled, pinned down underneath him. He was right, she could feel he was wide awake. Wide awake and eager to join in the fun, by the feel of what was poking her in the leg. Then he concentrated on her neck, biting and licking, ignoring her weak protests that it tickled. It tickled a lot.  And unfortunately, tickling and making love were miles apart in her book. She wriggled her leg between his and raised it just high enough to make him keep very still. "Hey..." she whispered in a motionless ear. "That tickles." His head came up. "Yeah?" "Uh-huh." "And you're tellin' me this because...?" "I'm telling you this because if you don't quit it, I'm going to lose all interest in the proceedings. Okay?" He grinned. "Really? It's that bad?" She used her shoulder to wipe at her neck. "Yes, it's that bad." "Oh. Okay." He rested on one hand and rubbed the wetness for her. "Thank you." "No problem." He put the hand down and regarded her thoughtfully. "You never said you were ticklish, too." She shrugged. "I like to keep it quiet." His eyebrows went up. "I'll bet." Reaching up to run a finger down his nose, she noted the sloping scar. She must remember to ask him about that, later. But not now. She smiled. "Now... Where did we get to?" "Oh, yes." She took the back of his head and guided him back down to a kiss. He was good. No doubt about it. She'd never have thought that behind that ice-blue exterior lay a man capable of kissing quite like this. Using all of his mouth, his teeth and a firm but gentle tongue. It made her crotch cramp up with excitement. She idly wondered if he would be as good with that mouth in other ways. His head came up, kissing along her chin, then pausing. "You think I should give the neck area a miss, then?" She nodded. "I think so. For now." She felt a grin creep out.  "But I'm sure you can find plenty of other things to do." "Oh, I'm pretty sure I can," he replied, running his hands down her body all the way to a hip and back again. Scully shivered. "You cold, sweetheart?" She shook her head, struck dumb by the endearment.      "Good." He put his head down to the middle of her chest and kissed her. "Cos I want you to enjoy this." Scully shivered again, as he began to kiss her across her breasts, from one side to the other, trailing his tongue between little kisses. She brought her hand up to touch his head, but he took her wrist, pinning her hand to the bed. "Ah-ah. Just relax. Lie back and enjoy it." She disobeyed, bringing her other hand up to play with an ear. Doggett looked at her sternly. "Do I have to hold you down to get you to do as you're told?" Scully smiled. "Maybe."  Now there was a horny thought.  Pinned down and helpless. She mentally added another fantasy to her list of fun things to do with John Doggett. "Maybe next time," he growled, suckling the skin on her side, playfully biting.   "Just do as you're told, tonight." She jerked her hips up to get his attention. He looked. "*Please*," he added, sighing. She tried not to look smug.  "Yes, sir." He exacted revenge by ducking down and taking a mouthful of skin and sucking hard. "Hey!" She glanced down. "I hope you're not leaving marks." "That bother you?" "Maybe." She smiled. "Maybe not." "I like to leave marks," he said, bending back down, latching on where her shoulder met her neck and sucking hard. Scully bit down on her lip to keep from screaming out. Last thing she needed was Tor bursting in on this, convinced she was being murdered. After what felt like a month and several layers of skin later, he released her and looked down at his handiwork, grinning. Scully craned her neck but couldn't see. "How bad is it?" "Not bad at all," he nodded. "Pretty good in fact." "Oh, dammit, Doggett! Does this mean I'm going to be wearing turtle- necks for the next three weeks?" He stared at her. "No. It means that anyone who see it, knows you're mine." His eyes flashed.  "Out of bounds. Off limits." She stared back at him, shocked. He had spoken softly, with a hint of steel in his voice. A hint that made Scully shiver again. "That okay?" he asked, rather belatedly. Scully nodded, even more shocked to find that it was.       * Dana Scully had a theory. She reckoned that the thing about making love for the first time, was that no matter what you did, it excited you. Every move, every touch seemed to light the touch-paper and by the time you both got naked, it was all over, bar one fat lady and a wet patch. Or so she had thought. John Doggett seemed intent on both proving her theory wrong and driving her absolutely and completely insane. She was naked, but to her irritation and delight, he still had his boxers on, which despite a couple of wet spots, were doing a grand job of keeping him out of sight, out of touch. And he was hanging on to them with the grim determination she had come to both recognise and value in their working relationship. Only here, in the bedroom, that trait was driving her to distraction. Other than that, she had no real complaint. His technique, which she seemed to have spent an inordinate amount of time wondering about, seemed to consist of systematically kissing, licking and sucking every available inch of flesh, bar one particular area, which considering her nakedness and arousal, was frustrating in the extreme. And every time she tried to hurry him, or reciprocate, he moved away, smiling and holding her hands. Well, Dana Katherine Scully wanted her turn to play, and she wasn't one to take `no' for an answer. Gritting her teeth, she arched her back to try to turn over. She flopped back down. "Doggett." He was busy wrapped around her, biting the back of her neck. "DOGGETT!" A spiky, mussed head popped up from behind her. "What?" "Let me up." "Huh?" She grunted, trying to dislodge him. "Oh..." Finally getting the message, he rolled off and lay on his back, looking at her. "I do somethin' wrong?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowed. "No..." Scully turned over to face him. She took one wrist, held it above his head and kneeling up, took the other and did the same. "It's just that I think it's *my* turn, don't you?" He smiled up at her. "Y'think so? She nodded. "I do." "Uh... Okay." He cleared his throat and wriggled to get comfy.  Then gazed up and made big doe-eyes at her. "Be gentle with me, won't you?" Scully laughed and bent to kiss his chest. "I'll try. But I can't guarantee anything..." "Oh, man..." Slowly releasing his wrists, she let her eyes wander over his body. Firm, toned and all hers. Licking her lips, she stretched out beside him and dragged a hand over his chest. Through those fine hairs, from one side to the other. He sucked in a breath. "That tickle?" He shook his head. "No...  S'nice." "Good." Bending her head, she did what she'd wanted to so long ago, and touched her mouth to his nipple,  stroking her tongue across the nub. He hissed. So, she wasn't the only one with sensitive tits. Stretching across with her one hand, she fiddled with one nipple while placing her mouth over the other, and sucking hard. He wriggled, making a squeaking noise in the back of his throat. Scully smiled, breaking the seal on his chest. God, this was fun. Sitting up, she glanced at his face. He had his eyes shut, all screwed up, his mouth open slightly, panting a little. Nodding to herself, she knelt up and sat astride his hips, watching his eyes snap open at the feel of her poised over him. "Relax. Isn't that what you told me?" He smiled. "Sure. But then I knew what was comin' next." She ran her hands over his chest, drying his skin. "Coward." "Yeah? Sue me." "Oh, I think there are other things I'd rather do to you." Letting her hands wander over his exposed body, Scully contemplated what to do next. He was lovely and warm, smooth and gorgeous. And just lying there, waiting. Dozens of possibilities raced through her head to be examined, dozens more discarded through lack of accessories. Shame she didn't have any baby oil. Sighing, she lightly scratched her nails along his arms, over his armpits and down his sides, making him shiver slightly. "Now, *that* tickles," he told her. She just grinned.  He sighed. "Oh boy. I think I'm gonna regret tellin' you that." "No, you're not." Bending to place a kiss on his sternum, Scully shuffled back a bit to trail her tongue down his belly, feeling it jerk when she reached his navel. "I won't do tickle. I promise," she whispered, kissing around it. "Good. I hate screaming like a girl." "But you scream so wonderfully." He stuck out his tongue, and she stuck hers out, straight into his belly button, making him grunt. Then she moved to take a bite of skin on his hip, just above his boxers. "Hey!" His head popped up. "No bitin'!" "Hello?" Scully pointed to her neck. "I didn't use teeth," he complained, wriggling. The way he shifted brought his erection into contact with her crotch. His eyes widened and he stopped moving. Then very slowly, he raised his hips to bump against her, several times. Scully smiled, moving her hips in time with his, knowing she was making his shorts damp. "I think it's time I had a good look at that, don't you agree?" She watched him swallow. "If y'like." Sliding her fingers under the waist of his shorts, she shuffled backwards and peeled them down his body. Damn, but she couldn't keep the grin off her face as with a slight snagging sensation, the elastic  on the boxers popped and gave up its prize. It bobbed up and down as she pulled the shorts all the way off and threw them away. "Well, well... What do we have here?" she asked, laughing softly. "Not a lot if you keep laughing at him," he said, craning his neck to look at her with a slight pout. "Sensitive, is he?" "Very." Scully smiled broadly. Men. No sense of humour when it came to the genitals. "Well, I'd better try and make it up with him, then." She bent her head and took to very tip of him between her lips. "Jeeez!"  That breathless gasp was very satisfying. Nibbling gently, she wrapped her hand around the base of him and began to cover him with saliva, licking in long strokes, top to bottom. He was uncut and not particularly hairy, which suited her down to the ground. Nothing worse that a short and curly at the back of your throat. Made nibbling the nuts so much easier. With that thought in her head, she moved her hand, nudging his legs apart and cupped his balls, bringing them forward to her mouth. She took them in, one at a time, rolling them round, gently. "Oh, God..." She looked up. "That hurt?" she asked, remembering the knee earlier. "God... no." His voice had gone very scratchy. "It feels wonderful," he whispered, reaching down  to pet her hair. "Thank you." She smiled. That was probably the first time any man had thanked her in the middle of a blow job. What a sweetie. She bent her head and put her mouth over his cock, sliding down in a luxurious glide that brought his hips off the bed, and a groan from his throat. Up and down, she dragged him to the front of her teeth, nipped and slid down again, pulling his foreskin back to run her tongue over the bare head. "Oh..." She felt a soft touch to her head. "Please... stop," Doggett gasped, trying to push her away. She looked up, eyebrow rising. She wasn't that bad, surely? "I'm gonna..." he screwed up his face. "You know..." Resting her head on his belly, she looked at his embarrassed face, understanding. "Too much?" she asked. "Uh-huh. Way too much." He rubbed his hand over his face. "Been a while, y'know?" Well, that was comforting. Least he wasn't a tom cat. She hid a smile. Or a hound dog. "Okay. No problem." She scooted up the bed to regard him solemnly. "But you could always come that way first, then we could make love later." God, she shocked the hell out of herself, sometimes. This time last week it was `Agent' this, and `Agent' that. Today she was planning their sexual practises. "No." He propped himself up on an arm and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Not the first time." His fingers trailed across her face. He leaned in to kiss her, soft and gently. "Thank you for the offer, though." God he was too much. Scully felt something deep inside, roll over and surrender. "John..." she sighed, stroking her hand along his shoulder. "What am I going to do with you?" He grinned, snagging up her hand and kissing the palm. "Dunno `bout that. But I know what I'm gonna do with you..." Pushing her down again, he loomed over her, using his free hand to smooth her skin all the way down to her thigh. He bent his head and put his mouth to her ear. "Lie down," he whispered, making her draw her shoulder up against the tickling. "Are you giving me orders, Doggett?" "I sure am." "Okay." She lay flat on her back, laughing at the look of surprise at her obedience. "I'm ready." She held her arms out, like he had done. She was giddy with need, heady with the feeling of reckless liberation he gave her. "What now?" There was no immediate reply, so she peered up to look at him. He was lying still propped on one arm, staring below her waist, trailing his fingers over her pubic bone, just enough to ruffle her hair. "John?" He looked up at her, those blue eyes flickering in the candle light. Blue to navy and back again. He stared, blinking. Then he rested his hand on her mound. "I want to taste you," he said, his face hopeful. "Will you let me?" The bolt of lust that slammed into her crotch at his words robbed her of speech. Oh God.. Would she let him? Sweet Jesus. Instead of answering, she slowly opened her legs. Lowering himself beside her, Doggett slipped one arm underneath her leg, his body  almost at right angles to hers. Then his head dipped out of sight and Scully held her breath waiting. His other hand was slowly stroking down her other thigh, his thumb brushing her hair every time it came up her leg. She waited for a touch. For anything. She could feel the faint whisper of his breath on her centre, but nothing else. What was he doing? Just staring? The thought made her shy. She opened her mouth to tell him to either get on with it, or get out of it, when his head moved slightly, and she felt a silken slide of tongue between the lips of her pussy. It was her turn to gasp. Shit! God, that felt good... He did it again, making her belly jerk with pleasure. She tried not to lift herself up to meet his mouth. This was better... Better than the last time anyone had done this and she tried to work out why that was. It was hot and wet - yes, that was how oral sex went... She expected that. But what she hadn't accounted for was the overwhelming sensation of him pushing his tongue between the folds of flesh at the very top of her sex, right where her body parted. She pulled in a shaky breath as his tongue stroked down the very centre of her, along the sheath that hid her clitoris, down to the tip, then back again. Christ...sorry...oh, but *Christ!* His fingers were kneading her pussy, stroking, sliding and probing. Inside her for a heartbeat, then gliding back up to her mound. In and out, each time just a breath further. She ground her bottom into the bed, unable to keep from moving, from groaning. Her hand clutched at the sheets as his tongue relentlessly stroked her sheath. Jesus! Never... Never had any man tongued her like this. They always did it from right between her legs, staring at the rock-face, so to speak. Never from the side, never so well, never so... She rubbed herself shamelessly against him, her hand touching the back of his head to encourage him to increase the exquisite pleasure. Just a little more... She whined at the gloriously wet slide of his tongue dipping to taste beyond her clitoris. He leaned up to move his mouth to cover the whole of her entrance, lapping briefly, then moving his tongue back to stroke her as before. God! Her legs spread themselves wider. His fingers slid back to her folds, dipping where his tongue had been moments before, then pushed deeply inside and touched her g-spot, rubbing gently. Oh God... Reaching down, Scully scrabbled at his head, her body disobeying her and rocking to the internal rhythm he had set up with his hand and tongue. "*John*..."  The name croaked out. Her hips ground up into his face, needing more, desperate for release. "John... No." The fingers stilled. His head lifted. He looked at her with that crooked grin. "No.." she told him, running her hand down his cheek. "Not like this." "No good?" She swallowed to get her throat to start working again.  "Very good..." She laughed weakly.  "Amazingly good. But I want the same thing as you." Those blue eyes searched her face to make sure she was being honest with him, then smiled, as he moved round. He crawled up the bed to lie beside her, leaning in to kiss her gently, then putting his face to her head to whisper: "Anything for you." The proud thing inside her that had rolled over and surrendered, spread its arms in her mind and offered itself to him. Completely. She turned and kissed him as deeply and sweetly as she could, hoping that feeling was communicated in the kiss. When they parted, he rolled over her, reaching for a glass on the bedside table. He handed it to her, waiting while she pulled herself up a touch. "Thank you," she said, smiling as she sipped. She handed the glass back and he drained it, returning it to the table. They kissed, Scully tasting the wine and herself on each others tongues. With a contented sigh, she reached for his hips, pulling him on top of her. She opened her legs more fully as he came to rest between them. "Now," she said, stroking his face. "I want you now." He rested on his elbows, keeping his weight off her. "Yeah?" he asked, arching his back to press himself to her. Scully nodded and reached between their bodies to touch him where he was very hot, very hard. She pulled him towards her. "Ah... wait." Doggett put his hand to hers, stopping her. "Hang on." He stretched over her to the table. Frowning, Scully craned her neck to see what he was after, then at the rustle of foil, understood. "No," she said, putting her hand on his arm. "There's no need." He looked down at her. She wondered if he had read the files as thoroughly as he said. Wondered if he knew that she couldn't have children. Hope she wouldn't have to say the words. It still hurt to hear them. "I didn't want to assume," he began, bringing his hand back. He looked at her. "Y'know... That  you'd want to..." He stopped, obviously struggling. Scully sighed. "I can't..." He put a finger to her lips, silencing her. "I know."  He removed his finger and bent to kiss her lips. "But I don't have the right to assume." He kissed her again, moving his lips up to her eyes, which she shut, not wanting him to see them shining with tears. Shit. She was in deep with this man. Up to her tits in trouble. She cleared her throat. "I have a clean bill of health. I presume you do too..." He nodded. "So. I'd like to..." She smiled. "Feel you." He grinned down at her. "I'd like that too," he whispered and kissed her nose. She slid her hand back down between them and squeezed, making him hiss and jerk. "Easy." She laughed softly, smoothing him with her palm. "Better do something with it, then," she teased, squeezing again. "God, woman!" He pulled his hips away and pulled her hand out. "Patience." "Patience my ass." She reached up, put her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her. She opened her legs, lifted them and wrapped them around his waist. "*Now*, Agent Doggett." chapter 21. That growl she thought had gone, rattled out of him, rumbling through her chest as he held her tightly and ground his body on hers. His hard chest squashed her breasts. "Oh man..." he breathed down her ear. She laughed silently. "You mean, `oh, woman'..." His head lifted. "You laughin' at me?" She shook her head, rolling her eyes. "No... Mr. Sensitive." She bumped his groin with hers, her body anxious to hurry things along. There was really no polite way of saying she desperately wanted to feel him inside her. She did her best. "Can we please...?" He grinned, wickedly and she just had time to wonder what that look meant, then anything else she might have said, squeaked in her throat as she felt him nudge her entrance. Nudge, and then slide in just a fraction. "Oh..." He grinned at her, pulling his knee up between hers and slipping inside, just a touch further. Scully bit her lip. Her pussy was contracting, trying to pull him the rest of the way inside. He paused, much to her frustration, still grinning. "Bastard," she gasped. He inched forward, a groan bleeding out of her mouth as she tried to push against him, trying desperately to force him in. He denied her, pulling out again to rest against her lips. "Oh Jesus..." She grunted, trying to get her hips up high enough to make him slide where she wanted him. One of his hands spread over her hip, holding it down. She whined, screwing her face up. "Easy..." he whispered. Then pulled himself forward to slide in agonisingly slowly, easing himself in up to the hilt. Scully groaned. He lay still, resting on her, head tucked down by hers and breathing hard. Just as well, she thought with the tiny bit of her mind that wasn't fighting the swell of orgasm. If he so much as *twitched* right now, she'd come like a bag of C4 in a barbeque. She wrapped her arms around his back, trapping him. By the way his breath was heating her neck, he was in as much trouble as she was. "Keep still for a minute," she whispered, stroking his skin from shoulders to waist. "Uh-huh..." There was a thin sheen of perspiration in the centre of his back. She wiped her hands through it, using the moisture to knead his muscles. She felt deliciously full, her muscles stretched and straining. When she tightened them, she could feel the hard rod of flesh buried inside, impaling her. Her pussy bit down on him, suckling and milking his cock. There was a chuckle near her ear. "I can feel that," he told her. "Me too," she laughed, doing it again. "It's nice." "Uh-huh." It was sweet torture, feeling him, but not moving, but she had to agree.  It was. Her butt clenched, tightening her grip. This was getting uncomfortable, this suggestion of movement, deep inside. Like having an itch where she couldn't get at it. She squirmed, wanting to increase the friction. On top of her, Doggett groaned. "Awww, God, Dana. You do that too well..." Smiling into his neck, she did it again. Yes, she certainly did. Her pussy felt full, slick and very, very eager. Doggett exhaled hard. "I'm gonna hafta move, baby..." he breathed, his hips rising as he groaned again. "I'm sorry... I gotta move..." That was just fine by her. She turned her head and bit his earlobe, thrusting her hips up hard, to meet his. "Oh, shit..." His fingers digging into her hip, Doggett pulled himself up a little to face her. "God..." He slid into her again, then pulled out again in a long slide that had her pressing down internally. She stood it twice more, long and slow, before grabbing the back of his head and pulling him down into a hard, open-mouthed kiss that told him in no uncertain terms what she wanted. Her hips pistoned up, snapping into his groin hard enough to drive the air out of him and into her. With a grunt, he slipped his hand under her ass and pulled her body up to meet his thrusts. Scully gave in, released his tongue and growled deep in her throat, trying to speak. Now. Harder. She pulled in a ragged breath and spoke into his mouth. "Harder. I want to..." Obliging, he withdrew almost to the tip, then slammed back into her with a grunt. Over and over.. Scully lost count, screwed her eyes up and arched her back. She was coming.  Oh, Christ... She was coming. The uncoiling orgasm in her groin lashed out and exploded as she clawed at his back, desperate to pull all of him inside. Her legs wrapped back around him, heels digging into his ass, forcing his public bone to grind exquisitely into hers. She gasped, trying to breathe, trying to scream, trying to milk the cock buried deep inside her, desperate to use it to scratch that itch. His mouth clamped over hers, his tongue gathering up her cries and swallowing them down, his  hands clenched at her ass and the back of her neck as he emptied himself into her. The scratch of his pubes over her clit added a sharp piquancy to the orgasm that stretched it out, the blood pounding in her crotch, making her gasp with the aftershocks. Then there was silence. Long minutes when neither of them could speak or move.  Scully lay, eyes closed, harsh breaths desperately trying to cope with her bodies needs, watching the sparkles behind her eyes fade. That was good sex. Shit. That was a *great* sex. Her hand grazed  lazily down Doggett's back. She could still feel him, deep inside, moisture leaking out of her. The sheets would be a mess, but she couldn't bring herself to care. He lay between her legs, hot, sweaty and wonderful, recovering, his breath ruffling her hair, warming her neck. The glow of post-coital affection warmed her. She turned to kiss his cheek. "Thank you," she whispered, echoing what he had said, earlier. He rolled slightly to look at her. He face was still red from the orgasm, his pretty blue eyes, glazed. She decided she liked that look on him best of all. She smiled. "We were pretty good, weren't we?" He grinned. "That we were." He moved in and gave her a kiss. "Thank *you*." They kissed properly for long, wet minutes. Then pulling away with a grimace, Doggett propped himself up on one hand and looked down between them. "Oops."  He touched his finger to the bed.  "I think we're both gonna be lying in a wet spot." Laughing, Scully stretched herself. She really didn't give a shit. "It's our last night, I don't care." He shrugged. "Okay."  He slipped from the bed and out of her line of sight. She sighed, happily, basking in the glow of great sex. One by one, the candles went out, leaving just the moonlight, turning the room from gold to silver. "Here." His touch between her legs made her jump. "What's that?" "Use these. Then you won't be lyin' in a puddle."  She took what he offered, amused to find herself with a handful of his shorts. "Why thank you, Mr. Doggett." She tidied herself, handing them back. "But who says *I'm* sleeping in the wet spot?" He laughed, arranging himself along side her, stretching out. "Okay, okay. I'm man enough to sleep in the messy bit." She snorted, pulling up the blankets. "It's mostly yours, anyway." He laughed loudly, curling around her as she settled back on the pillows. "Busted," he said. His arms and legs intertwined with hers.  She smiled. Seemed John Doggett was a cuddler. "Comfy?" she asked. "Hhhhmmm." He nuzzled into her shoulder, kissing it softly. "Yeah." "Good." She tightened her arms around him and sighed. He was warm and snuggly. And it was wonderful to be able to cuddle up properly, without the panic of lying rigid with terror over  what she might do in her sleep. She had the feeling that whatever she might do to him now, he'd be okay with it. She smiled at that thought then kissed his forehead. "Is it okay that I go to sleep now, baby?" he muttered, stroking her belly. "I'm beat." "Sure," she whispered, her lips brushing his face. "Sleep." Strange how easily she accepted an endearment that would have brought her hackles to attention from any other man. He sighed and lay still. Scully lay awake for a while longer, re-winding what they did, what they said, and what needed to be said tomorrow. 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 expression. 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.

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