"Hope you have a good time." He walked into his kitchen and took a set of keys from a drawer. "Here, take these. This one is the front door key and this the deadlock."
As she accepted the keys, Reyes just watched for any sign of understanding on Jane's face.
For all her yearning to be open with these people moreover she did not want to put her partner in another difficult situation. Worst-case scenario, she did not want it all to hit the fan, she spending the remainder of the weekend alone and remorseful.
They had made love twice, she did not want those to be the only times.
Even though she felt penitence there was no way she could decide to go back to Skinner, not after what had transpired between her and her partner. Sex was all too sacred just to use and abuse.
"I'll let you finish," Jane said a little timidly and then was gone, not letting on she knew anything more.
And so was Reyes.
Without a word she was up the stairs and in the bedroom in which she and Doggett had spent the previous night together.
It was past the pivotal point. If Doggett wanted her to stay then he would have to prove it with more than just words.
If she reached her apartment that evening no way would she be returning. Doggett could explain her absence any way he wished but she would brush herself down and go on with her life.
Her biological clock may have been ticking but not that perceptibly. If it were meant to be that she lived her life as a single, childless woman then it would be fate's pathway. As much as she yearned it not to be, with time she would come to accept it.
The sound of the telephone bell meant he would not be following.
Another sign that fate was intruding.
With a huff and an irritated shake of the head she quickly collected her overnight bag stuffing in as many items as she could. Leaving a few small reminders of her presence she decided her night attire could stay. That would give her pleasure wondering what he would think when he saw the slips of wispy material.
Making her way downstairs Doggett was not in sight but she could hear him on the phone.
She slipped out the door to her car.
The ignition started first turn.
Another fateful omen.
Then she was gone.
^^^^^
All the way home so many images had churned through her head. So many emotions had coursed through her body.
The main feeling was of frustration. Was she being foolish just leaving like that or was she making a statement? She swayed to the latter. If Doggett wanted her then he would have to fight for her. She had done his bidding until then. It was his turn to do hers.
Walking through her apartment door was the catalyst for shifting emotions.
Feeling its cool stuffy air and its solitude made all the blood drain from her torso and her body go weak. With her bag dropped on the bedroom floor she slumped face down on her bed and sobbed.
She had experienced many highs and lows in her life but this was one of the lowest.
As her head sank into the pillow all went dark around her and her body felt cold and heavy.
Even though face down she felt herself looking up.
She was on what seemed a flat hard bench. Bright white light shone everywhere making solar type swirls on her still blurry eyes. No way could she work out her location. There were no signs to show she was anywhere earthly. Voices were surrounding her, menacing, bizarre, nothing like she had heard before. Figures were the opposite of shadow and seemed to dissolve into the brightness of the room almost giving off a kind of strange luminescence. There were no features, just undefined outlines.
Then there came something familiar.
Above her, through the over exposed light she saw the glint of metal and felt the raw, primal fear of the expected. Unable to move, her head thrashed back and forth. With seeming futility she screamed out 'No!' as the metal came closer to her body.
When it made painful contact with her leg she screamed out loud, rolled over and sat up on her bed, exhausted and confused.
The scream mingled with another sound that took her a while to decipher.
Catching her breath she let the phone ring out for the answering machine to pick up.
If it were John then he would not have the pleasure of hearing her voice. It would take more than a call to cheer her up.
Shakily she got up from the bed.
Needing something quicker than Yoga for relaxation she headed for the bathroom.
She needed serious thinking time for more than one reason.
^^^^^
It had been her fourth vision.
They were different from the past in that they were not coming clearer each time but just adding more to the worrying story.
It was as though the person had been drugged and was in no control of their actions. That could explain why everything was a blur. Perhaps also a paralyzing drug was involved. Her head was the only part of the body she could move.
She looked down to the part of her leg where she had felt the cold, hard metal but there was not a scratch. Was it really Mulder who was going through this procedure or someone else? She felt frustration and powerless to help at that stage.
As she stripped herself of her Yoga clothing she made a resolution that after her shower she would ring Skinner and hope that he would believe her visualizations. She would urge him to tell the agents to try even harder to find the missing man.
If she also was needed at Bucktown then there was nothing at the DC end to keep her there. Of course she would ring Scully to accompany her.
Who needed Doggett there when there were two other able men?
The temperature was just right as she stepped into the heaven that was the hot shower.
It had the desired effect of washing away the worry leaving only the resolution that she would solve the case. She would help Mulder, if indeed it were he who was in trouble. She would do the job she was paid to do and loved.
Love lives could be too complicated. She understood why the FBI had their fraternization rules. Love could blind, hampering the bigger picture.
Closing her eyes she let the water fall over her face and down her neck, warming her core even before reaching for the soap.
Through the sound of the water on her body and splashing on the floor there was another noise.
She stood still and listened, not being alarmed. Her imagination was often over exaggerated.
As soon as she heard the gentle knock on the bathroom door she knew who it was.
A little relieved, however she was still angry about his previous non-committal.
"Go back home John," she knew it must be said, "The show's over."
"I want to know what I did." John's not so forgiving voice came from the other side of the opaque glass door. "Why did you run out on me?"
"Run out on you!" Reyes could not believe he was putting the blame on her. "You used me John and now you're trying to blame me that it didn't work?"
There was productive silence while he thought about her words.
"Monica, whatever I've done I'm sorry." His voice was softer and that time more pardoning. "Jane and Carl don't suspect a thing."
"I find that hard to believe." She turned her body to warm her back under the temperate spray. "Jane is an intelligent woman who would have connected the dots."
"What if she did? Neither she nor Carl looked any the wiser before they left for the theater." He went straight on. "Was it because I didn't say I wanted you to stay with me?" She could see his form through the glass and began to feel regret that she had walked out on him.
Perhaps she had made too big a deal of it. Just the fact he was there and not ringing would have meant he cared more than he let on.
She found herself softening with his every word. For him to be there when he was, he probably left his home right after Carl and Jane.
Opening the shower door a little allowed her to look at him for the first time.
The way his blue eyes were pleading, the way he stood there humbly was not the normal John Doggett.
"John, I don't want to play any more." In certain terms she was letting him know her feelings.
"I know," his low sexy voice combined with his soft blue eyes melted her being. "And you don't have to. I'm sorry, Monica."
"Come here," The love she felt for him resurfaced and he took her cue and leaned in for a make-up kiss. She could feel her heat warm him up as she opened her mouth to take him more fully. His kisses were so heartfelt as passionate, even hotter than the shower that was begging for company.
All that was needed to seal the deal was make-up sex.
"Join me?" Reyes buzzed on his accepting lips.
^^^^^
"Hmmm," Reyes hummed into Doggett's mouth as their naked, linked bodies did a slow dance around the ample but cosy shower cubicle. Both their mouths opened further as they orally demonstrated their mutual forgiveness.
She could feel his firm body shift against hers sending a craving that was increasing with every minute spent kissing and being close under the hot stream of water.
"So were you two talking about me today?" She mentioned between kisses and caresses down both their slippery bodies.
"With Carl?" Doggett hands slipped down her back then up again. Each downward movement placing more pressure between them also signalling their shared growing desires.
"What did he say about me?" One hand played with his wet hair indicating to continue kissing while the other rested on his lower back.
"He really likes you," their lips remained touching. It was so sensuous she hearing his voice as well as feeling his lips mouth the words. "He and Jane."
"Did he ask anything tricky?" Reyes smiled and chuckled.
"Tricky?" Doggett pretended ignorance, she knew that much.
"I could imagine him asking your intentions with me." She held off the kiss until he replied but continued her hand action through his hair, down his neck and along one shoulder.
For added incentive she moved her hips against his, letting their abdomens and chests touch.
Her inner thighs tingled with need echoing his physical growth between them.
"I told him the truth, that we hadn't talked about long term commitment." His eyes momentarily closed as both her hands traveled over his butt cheeks and pulled him even closer.
"John," The way his hands felt down her thighs made her sigh with intense desire.
Instinctively her leg lifted letting his manliness hover over her core.
With her hands draped around his neck for support he scooped a hand under the elevated leg and boosted her up against the tiled wall.
For the third time that day she found herself cooing and writhing as he slid his perfect tool inside her. The awkwardness of the position was overlooked as they concentrated of building a rhythmic pattern that would rival the world's greatest composers.
They flowed in harmony with their own inner music. Not stopping at rests or cadences, but continuing the legato that two in tune bodies could compose and perform.
As he drove inside, small involuntary sounds escaped his throat. It was so sexy, he vocally displaying his pleasure at being joined with her. It was not often she got to see him showing so much gratification. He was usually so serious and driven.
Wanting to give her more delight his free hand fell over a breast and circled the nipple. The tugging sensation on her breasts added to the glorious feel of him moving deeply inside her below.
As the improvization delightfully continued she could feel her body become weak with thirst. Her own hips with added animation combined with his to satisfy that yearning and to signal her approaching climax.
When she thought she could take no more, the music reached a crescendo as the intense heights neared. There were moments of frenzied activity and hotter than hot breathing as the final moments of the symphony played out leading into a profound pinnacle.
The only sounds were heavy breathing and water coursing over sensitive flesh as they rode the musical coda.
The feeling after sex between two consenting adults could be rivalled with the climax. What serenity and well-being! That sense of encompassing love and nurturing could not compete. Even better than ten Yoga classes, Reyes smiled contentedly as they lay against each other, naturally supporting both their weights.
No way could Reyes have predicted how superb it would be to make love with the man in her arms.
He was her virtuoso.
"So this means you've forgiven me?" His lips moved near her ear, his tongue lightly caressing and tantalizing the lobe.
"Uh huh." She was still catching her breath and basking in the serenity.
"So you will come out with me tonight?" he asked the perfect question.
"Where did you have in mind?" It did not matter his reply, hers would be 'yes'.
Giving her a short but heartfelt kiss on the lips he smiled and responded,
"A couple of days ago I had been invited out to meet with some of the guys from my old office," he quickly went on before she could fill in any gaps. "Them and their partners. I declined because I would have been a little out of place going alone."
"Want me to come?" Reyes smiled on his shoulder.
"If you want but I have to warn you," he mentioned with a wide smile. "There's a catch."
^^^^^
"A catch? It's not fancy dress is it?" Reyes' smile lit up the cubicle.
Doggett laughed quietly and shook his head. His grin added fuel to her own.
"No it's not fancy dress." He took the soap as he spoke and lathered his hands. Tracking over her body he proceeded to cover every patch with his large foamy hands.
"Oh John," her head curved back letting him run palms over her neck and south to her breasts. He lingered there, stroking and kneading, sending her body into further rapture.
After his hands moved lower over her abdomen and traced over her hips he reached for more soap.
His eyes were watching the line of his hands as one slipped between her legs.
"The catch?" Reyes croaked as nimble fingers began invigorating what had just calmed from the recent lovemaking.
"Monica, they know you are my work partner and they are FBI men." It was as if he was fondling her, giving her pleasure, to let her down gently. It was working. "Turn around," his voice was a will-o-the-wisp in her ear.
With only a little reservation she rotated to face the tiled wall as his fingers mixed their magic potion down her back. Not sure she could reach the same heights as moments previously she let him soap her body from head to toe just enjoying the touch she had missed out on for preceding years.
"So you are inviting me along as a colleague and not a lover." She barely expressed the words as his hands slipped over her cheeks below and then charted her inner thighs.
"We don't have to go. We could do something else." His knees bent to run his palms over the remaining parts of her legs and then stood to soap up her arms.
"That would mean no touching," she confirmed as he reached for the shampoo and began lathering her hair. No man had done it quite like he. In her lifetime she had showered with a few men but the current man was exceptional. With ample pressure his fingers massaged the cleanser into her scalp.
"We are work partners. We do not have sex but we do socialize occasionally for the good of the partnership." He pulled her fully under the water spray to let all the soapy bubbles wash from her body.
"I think I can manage for one evening, as long as...," she teased.
Doggett ran fingers through her hair ridding it of the final remnants of shampoo.
"As long I make up for it later tonight, is that it?" His atypically serene face looked down at hers.
All she needed to do was smile and look him happily in the eyes as she reached for the soap.
He gently held her wrist.
"I'll shower again at home." He continued to explain. "I have to get dressed back in my dirty work clothes." He opened the shower door and reach for two towels.
Reyes quickly towel dried her hair and then tied the fabric around her. Reaching for a brush she watched him as he methodically dressed.
Each stroke conjured up the feel of his fingers through her hair. The memory of what they had just done and the promise of what was to come that night would get her through an evening of just being partners once more.
"I'll pick you up in an hour." He caressed her cheek as he kissed her once more.
As his form left the room it dawned on her he had not mentioned the phone call that had stopped him following her up the stairs at his place.
Then she considered the phone call she had received before deciding on a shower.
It was not Doggett. Who could it have been?
She went to check her messages.
^^^^^
As Reyes perused her wardrobe she sighed at the little variety of evening wear. Although she had been out with her friend Julie on various evenings she was rarely dressed to kill like she desired to that evening.
So there was to be no touching.
With that stipulation the least she could do was drive him to distraction. The release of pent up emotion in bed later would be deliciously anticipated.
Was fate changing its course? The phone call before the shower had been her friend Julie. If she had answered it then and not left the machine to pick up she would have accepted her invitation out that evening to meet her new beau. The hunk she had only raved about until then.
Even though Reyes was keen to meet him she told Julie of her prior arrangement and could not help but tell here about Doggett. She had to tell someone who would take a neutral stance.
"You need to be with a man," she remembered her saying during her return call. "Even if he is that hunky partner of yours. You should go after him you know. I don't understand all that nonsense about no fraternization. He's single and probably needs a woman. You're single and definitely need to get laid."
After the day of having the most incredible sex in her life she knew she wanted to go further with her partner but not knowing the future, especially where her vocation was concerned, to Julie she would remain tight-lipped.
The female agent smiled as she clothed her body in her smoky plum colored push-up bra, allowing a plentiful view of cleavage, and her matching v-string panties. She would enjoy the look on her lover's face before bed later on.
Draped on her bed were her soft leather zip up mini skirt and her black ruched lace blouse. On the floor lay her black leather stiletto knee-high boots. She had worn the outfit once before and had been a little flushed how much male attention she had received.
She had sworn to only wear it again when she was in the right mood and with the right man.
Once fully dressed she curled her hair with hot rollers and applied some understated make-up letting her natural features shine through. After all she wanted to look sexy not vampish. Her hair fell lightly around her face and bounced on her shoulders.
Undoing the top few shirt buttons she smiled at what she saw in the mirror. Not only did she feel good on the outside but also inside she was on cloud nine.
The doorbell rang and like a giddy school girl a rush of excitement came over her.
^^^^^
"Calm down Monica, he's just a man. One you have known for almost ten years," she repeated to herself as she practised Yoga breathing on the way to the door.
"You could have picked the lock again," she mentioned coolly after opening the door, keeping her expression as controlled as her inner emotion would allow.
"Oh, but this time you are talking to me again and actually answered the door after the first knock." He confidently breezed past her into the living room.
From the back she noticed he wore a suit but one she had not seen before. It was dark and well tailored, more modern that his work suits. As he turned the world slowed.
Her partner had the sexiest smile on his face that lit up his features much more so than she had seen before. Doggett was truly a happy man. She would remember that snapshot perchance it was her only opportunity. Eyes moved down his royal blue open neck shirt, over his gold buckle belt and down to his freshly cleaned shoes.
Hoping he had not noticed her admiring her prize possession she glanced back at his face. The blue of his eyes was enhanced by his clothing choice and his hair was immaculately groomed as usual.
He gave her a sideways glance and squinted a fraction,
"I haven't seen you in that outfit before."
Did he or didn't he like it? He did not show his thoughts with his expression but had probably been practising being in control, just as she had, while she was getting ready for the night out.
"You haven't asked me out on a date before." Adding the word 'date' was a little bait. She smiled as she caught him eyeing her cleavage and her legs and just as quickly diverted his eyes back to her face. "I know. It's not a date right?"
"Just a colleague asking another work partner out with friends," he underlined, and then gave way his diminishing composure with a small swallow.
"So where are we going?" She inwardly smiled and went for her light leather jacket. Her cash and cards were in the wallet in one of the pockets.
"The Reef on 18th Street," he valiantly helped her on with her jacket. How many men did that?
"That place where all the trend setters go? John we're not young any more," she stated.
"Talk for yourself," he smiled and chuckled. "That's where the boys wanted to go and frankly after today I'm back in my twenties." His hand lingered on her back even after the jacket had been donned and adjusted for comfort.
"After today?" she tested.
"You know why," he moved closer until his breath was on her face and his intoxicating cologne began to break down the necessary barriers.
She wanted to kiss him then. He wanted to kiss her too. Reyes knew that if their lips touched even for one microsecond that would be enough chemistry to spread like lightning through her loins and they would once again be making love having undone their time of preparation for the night out.
The temptation was irresistible. He lingered with his lips close, his hand just contacting the leather of her jacket, in turn barely touching her back. She looked from his lips to his eyes and then back, willing to break the 'no touching' pact for lust.
Just as his lips were almost on hers and his hand moved over her leather-clad rear there was a rumble in her jacket pocket.
Doggett chuckled as the spell was broken and Reyes answered her cell phone.
"Yes sir," she listened for a moment all the time looking at her colleague. "Yes, he's here." Doggett nodded knowing it was a call from Skinner. "On call in case there's news? Sir, we were promised a weekend off."
"What?" Doggett whispered, frowning.
"We're seeing friends." Reyes' eyes went coy which would have brought suspicion to the man before her. "Thank you sir."
"What was that all about?" Doggett previously happy expression was almost gone.
"Skinner said that the agents sent to find Mulder have a very good lead where he is and it looks like an X-File after all." She got it all out in one long sentence.
"So he wants us on call tonight? Monica, not tonight." He looked like a schoolboy who had lost his lunch money.
"I know," she went for his jaw and was about to caress it but only outlined it within a centimetre. "He promised to try and hold it off at least until morning."
"An X-File you say?" Doggett was not a happy camper.
"Come on John, I'll fill you in on the way but when we get there we're in party mode, okay?" She opened the front door after replacing the cell phone in her pocket. When they were both in the hallway and the door locked she turned to her handsome male companion and reminded with the sexiest smile she could muster,
"And no touching."
^^^^^
"You've got to be kidding me." Doggett laughed as The Reef lounge/bar receptionist asked a Trivial Pursuit question.
"That's what we do sir," smiled the attractive young red head at the entrance podium.
"Monica, do you know the answer?" he turned to his smiling partner.
"Sir, if she answers then I'll have to ask you another." The red head reminded. Doggett just nodded acceptance and looked to his partner.
"The British flag is called the Union Jack." Reyes answered confidently, with a tweak of the eyebrows, and a flash of white teeth.
"Exactly." The woman presented her with a coveted The Reef entrance card.
"Here's another one for you sir," she shuffled through her stack of question cards and looked up trying to size up the man before her. "Name two leading actors from the 1997 movie 'Copland'."
"I know this," he was thinking while Reyes just shook her head smiling, "Sylvester Stallone and Harvey Keitel."
"Good one," she laughed and gave him his entrance card.
"I was always hopeless at that game," Doggett mumbled as they followed the waiter to their table.
The room was tinged with blue hues creating an ocean atmosphere. The carpet was a deep blue, the tablecloths were aqua and blue candles graced each table.
Along one wall was the piece de resistance. It was a huge aquarium with many fish ranging from small schools to larger colorful varieties. Sea stars and urchins provided oranges and reds against the greens of the plants. It truly felt that they were under the water especially with the light from the aquarium rippling throughout the blue room.
Their table was empty. The others had still not arrived giving the couple a chance to look around and talk.
"Can I get you something to drink?" asked a cheery-faced waiter neatly dressed in a suit displaying an embroidered The Reef insignia on the pocket. It seemed the establishment had a classy air to it.
After ordering a beer each Doggett and Reyes took a deep breaths and made their first attempt at conversation for the evening.
"Amazing room, have you been here before John?" Reyes found herself smiling more than usual. She was in the company of the man she admired greatly, in wondrous surroundings and feeling comfortable with herself and life to an extent she hadn't felt for a long while.
"No, but Joe's told me a bit about it." He looked across to his partner with a smug expression that displayed his shared comfort with the situation.
"Joe? You don't mean Joe Koning." Reyes produced a short laugh.
"You know him?" Doggett was duly surprised.
"He came down to our office asking for you two days ago." Reyes explained. "It was as though he hadn't seen a woman before."
"Oh?" A small frown appeared on his face. "Joe's a bit of a ladies man, but he's harmless."
"Well Mr. Harmless needs to learn some workplace etiquette when it comes to female colleagues." By keeping a smile Reyes hoped her partner wouldn't over exaggerate what had occurred.
"What happened?" She loved him when he displayed such concern for her well being.
"It was nothing I couldn't handle. I would have liked to stuff a rag in that mouth of his." Reyes looked up to see that same haughty face of the two days prior.
"Well, well John, how do you do it man?" Koning held out his hand for Doggett to shake. Doggett stood to return the gesture. "Why do you get all the pretty ones? I get stuck with the butt ugly partners."
The man by Koning's right was clearly used to his partner's wit and just chuckled his amusement. He shook Doggett's hand then introduced himself to the woman.
"Hi, I'm Mike Lamprey." He held out his hand for Reyes to shake. At least one of the two was a gentleman. "You must be Ms. Reyes." His smile was charming.
"Monica,' she gave him permission for familiarity. There was something amiss about their meeting on which she felt the need to comment. "Are the others still coming?"
"The others? You mean the women?" Koning offered the explanation.
^^^^^
"Katherine was on call with the hospital this evening and was called into intensive care at the last moment."
So was that his girlfriend or wife? Either way Reyes pegged him as a womanizer and one to be avoided in the proximity barrier. She could see she would have fun that night proving she was more than just shell.
Reyes was proud of her upbringing. She had been taught to be comfortable with her sexuality as part of the whole person and to express it openly. Even though she'd had some men initially approach her as a clueless female she had soon put them in their place with her quick retorts and down to earth look at things. That approach had gained her more respect as an intelligent woman
As they took their seats Lamprey spoke,
"Just broke up with my latest." Shrugging his shoulders he looked a bit sorrowful. "I'm a free man again." He deliberately looked across to Doggett. "Just like you hey man."
"Yeah, just like me," Doggett went along with his dig but Reyes knew how he must have felt inside at the subterfuge. They resisted the need for eye contact.
"Isn't it ironic," Koning slightly shook his head. "The man here who has been womanless for the past years is the only one with a woman tonight."
They all laughed at the comedy except Reyes who looked across to her partner and wondered just how womanless he had been. Surely he'd had some female company since his divorce from his ex wife. Even the thought of him in bed with her and how he had 'performed' suggested he hadn't been in complete celibacy.
That was a topic she would love to explore but it could wait. In fact she'd be keen to make a game of it. Her mind meandered into the bedroom later that night. They would be lying side by side with minimal clothing just lightly touching. As her fingers wandered down over his chest she would ask him.
"John, when was the last time you were with a woman?"
She had no idea of what his response would be. She had known him a decade but had never seen him with any other woman except Barbara. Finding herself mesmerized by the thoughts of his response and then his required intimate question of her, she hadn't realized she'd been staring at him. Hopefully the others hadn't either before she felt Doggett's hand squeeze her knee under the table.
"I think we should decide what we're eating," he suitably distracted the table's occupants.
Just watching as he perused the menu was making her want the night to hurry along so she could once again be in his arms and in his bed. The way his eyes reflected the mottled blue lighting of the room, the way his lips moved almost mouthing the names of the dishes, how he stole sideways glances of her once or twice all combined to send out raw energy between them.
The 'no touching' rule was becoming harder to adhere to as the evening progressed.
There came a time when she could almost feel that energy emanating from him even though his body was not that close. She wondered if their company could feel it too.
After ordering she gave her excuses and made her way to the bathroom giving Doggett a glare not to follow her and possibly giving the game away.
Looking over her mirror image she reflected on her choice of clothing. If she knew Mr. Womanizer Koning was going to turn up she would have chosen something not as eye appealing. She could almost read his mind and had a plan if he decided to make the 'wrong' move with her.
"So, great minds." Reyes turned to the familiar female voice.
"Julia, what are you doing here?" It was a silly question but all that came to mind in that instant.
"Same as you it seems," she looked over her outfit. "To please our man."
"It's not like that Julia." Her voice was soft yet affirming.
"I know Monica, I'd wear clothes like that too if I could." She pinched at a piece of her clinging little black dress.
"You look beautiful," she assured. "You with him tonight?"
Her friend nodded with a wide toothy grin,
"Wanna meet him?"
"Just let me tell John where I am," her wide eyes showed her curiosity at who could be Julia's latest beau.
"John? As in John Doggett your work partner?" Julia nudged her friend's arm.
"We're here as friends meeting up with two past colleagues of his." Reyes was aching to say more but without Doggett's permission she refrained.
"Monica, Monica, how many times do I need to tell you that he is perfect for you." Julia led her friend out of the bathroom on a course to the main restaurant area. "He's adorable looking, intelligent, oh so manly. Haven't you just once wondered what it would be like looking under those work suits of his?"
"Julia!" Reyes scolded but privately laughed.
"And haven't you heard that older men have had all that experience," she winked letting her acquaintance know that maybe her new boyfriend was in the 'older men' category.
It wasn't until they were in eyeshot of the table that Reyes knew exactly to whom she would be introduced. The new man in Julie's life was leaning over and talking to her lover John Doggett.
The restaurant seemed totally silent as she took in the vision before her.
^^^^^
"Julie," Reyes pulled on her arm and led her behind a partition out of eyeshot of the four men.
"Monica?" The attractive, similarly aged blond haired friend was duly surprised.
"Tell me that man talking to John isn't your new boyfriend." Their faces were close as the area was confining.
Julie popped her head out to look again and then back to what must have been a small unoccupied serving area.
"You mean Walter?" She still looked confused. "Don't be silly. Come, let me introduce you." She tugged on an arm that stayed rigid.
"You don't know who that is?" Reyes half asked.
"Monica, you're puzzling me. Of course I know who he is." She bore only a slight frown but soon lightened up not accustomed to her friend behaving in such a manner. "So what's your problem?"
"That is my boss Assistant Director Skinner." Reyes whispered while looking around her to see if anyone was listening. Maybe Julie did not know what she was getting into.
"Really?" Julie was not as surprised as expected. Once again she peeked around the corner of the partition and then with a big grin and raising her eyebrows turned back to her friend. "Well he's a handsome devil. I don't know why you haven't gone after him yourself Monnie." Under her breath she added, "Love a sexy bald man."
"How long have you known him?" Reyes was not one for resentment but the fact that her friend Julie was professing her taste for a man who only that day had expressed his attraction to her was a little off putting.
"I met him about a month ago." She rested a friendly hand on Reyes' arm. For someone usually so accepting she was clearly not comfortable with any touch from the woman before her. "You know, that day I took you for lunch around the corner from work? He was there when I met you at the top of the Hoover Building's front steps, remember?
Reyes felt her frustration rising even though she knew it to be unfounded. She had refused his advances. He was quite within his rights to move on. It just did not seem fair that her best girl friend would be the one to score him next and so soon.
"Ahem ladies," With a cool expression as though his presence was an inconvenience and not a right Reyes only briefly looked at the man dressed in the customary 'The Reef' jacket. Her mind was elsewhere. Instead of leaving the confined area she moved closer to the wall to let him past to attend to whatever business he had there. It was a tight squeeze but being the height of politeness he let the ladies talk, instead just shaking his head and grinning.
"Did he ever mention me?" It was probably not the time to be going into details but the dark haired woman was not going back to the table to confront her boss with unanswered questions.
"Monica, why should he?" Her frown was more puzzlement than aggravation. "I assure you he doesn't talk work when we go out." To Reyes she seemed to be gloating.
"So you've slept together!" Reyes' eyes were huge coffee pools of curiosity.
"Ladies?" Reyes did not see the waiter roll his eyes or hear him chuckle as he squeezed back past them with a tray full of fresh cutlery. She just humphed frustration at the intrusion.
"Mon-i-ca!" Julie wobbled her friend's arm trying to shake out some sense. Seeing for the first time that Reyes was truly annoyed, light began to dawn. "I see it all now. You do want him for yourself."
"Ladies," a deep voice came from beside them. They looked across to see an attractive man in another 'The Reef' jacket but this one was a different color, one that shouted 'authority' to both women.
Still with Reyes fuming, Julie pulled her from the small area and across to the table where she would confront the inevitable.
^^^^^
What had she done? What impression had she given her friend?
Julie was probably thinking that her friend Monica had the hots for her boss and was resentful of his current interest.
There was no time to put her straight as she dragged her to the table where Skinner was still in deep conversation with the three other men.
On seeing the two ladies together he stood tall and watched them approach.
There were moments when there were only looks between all parties concerned. She also noticed Julie's firm eye on Doggett.
Reyes gazed at Skinner who was wearing a dark tailored casual suit with a polo sweater underneath. She hadn't seen him look quite so good. He looked back with an unreadable expression.
Many thoughts were racing through Reyes' mind including the obvious. Had he been seeing her and her friend concurrently? Was it on the rebound from her having decided against pursuing the relationship? Either way it hit hard. If things did not turn out with Doggett then she would truly have no one. Surely he could have given her a few days before seeing him with someone else.
Doggett saw the exchange between the two and could not help but be curious.
Julie then took up residence beside her boyfriend who immediately rested a hand on her lower back as a sign of possession. She looked happy and Reyes should have been pleased for her but she was still having a hard time dealing with the change of events.
"Monica," he finally acknowledged her presence.
"Walter," she coolly returned the greeting.
After he introduced Julie to the others Skinner continued,
"I was just telling the men here how good it is to see work colleagues socializing outside the office." He placed a strategic hand on Doggett's shoulder and began patting.
Doggett did a small eye roll as though telling his partner he would have preferred their boss hadn't witnessed them. Even though they were to act as work partners there would be absolutely no room for error from that moment on.
Feeling the tension Julie made the first move.
"Well, we'll be heading off." She slipped her fingers in Skinner's hand, which didn't go unnoticed by the present company. Their boss, still without too much expression, nodded to the others and followed her lead. "Monica, talk tomorrow?" It was more a statement than a question before they headed to the other end of the room.
Reyes sat down quickly, collecting her thoughts. She took a sip of the beer that had probably been delivered when she had been in the bathroom and talking with Julie. The others followed suit trying to get back into the initial mood. A lot had happened only in the short time they had been there.
In a way she was grateful that Julie and Skinner would not be joining them for the evening. That would give her time to formulate her thoughts and still be civil when she and her girlfriend met the following day.
"That was close," huffed Konig with a haughty laugh. Lamprey just smiled and shook his head.
"What do you mean, close?" Doggett echoed his partner's thoughts.
"Your boss catching you here?" He kept on. "The time I was caught out with Heather Thompson from Accounting I was suspended for a week.
"That was in the Tyrant Trimble days," mentioned Lamprey and nodded.
"Guys, it's nothing like that," Reyes tried to comment but the men were sharing funny stories about past memories.
Doggett took the opportunity to set the record straight.
"Monica, can I talk to you alone?"
^^^^^
After making their excuses to their company and finding an out of the way place on the way to the rest rooms Doggett moved up close to his partner and in a low rumble questioned,
"What was that all about?" He pressed up against her but only because he wanted them to stay hidden from view.
"What was what all about John?" She needed to know how much he surmised.
"You and Skinner." His steely stare was closer than usual but if she read it correctly it was giving her more the benefit of the doubt than the previous time he had questioned about her feelings for Skinner. "To me it looked like you still have feelings for him."
"John, that's not it."
"So you do love him?" His eyes went abruptly sad and at that point she could not hide anything from him.
"John," her voice was softer and a hand went to his to lightly link fingers. He looked down, a hint of a smile on his face. "Let's make an exception to the 'no touching' rule."
"Okay," his voice was still tentative.
"Walter asked me out for lunch today to pose the question of taking the relationship further." She noticed his clenched jaw as she explained. "I didn't want to have to burden you with an arrangement I had made before accepting your offer to stay the weekend."
"You could have just talked on the phone or better still, cancelled." He still did not understand.
"It was something I needed to tell him face to face. I had to tell him I was in love with someone else." At the revelation Doggett let go of her hand, his eyes wider and mouth slightly open moments before he responded.
"You told him about us?" His body shifted nervously but in so doing rubbed against hers. Reyes was hot enough for her partner even without touching let alone their thigh rubbing against each other.
"I told him I was in love with someone else and I had slept with him last night." Her fingers went back to his to add confirmation to her statement. "I didn't say it was you."
"So you're telling me that you have no feelings for Skinner." He looked for proof in Reyes' expression.
"John," again her voice went soft and she gazed into his glorious eyes. "You're the one I want if you'll have me."
He was silent as his mind churned over what he had just been told. Turning to see if anyone was looking he took the moment to steal a kiss. What good were rules if they could not be broken in times of need? As he kissed an arm slipped around her middle and pulled her in closer.
"So is that a yes?" Her hand rubbed a circle over his back. He smelt so good. He looked wonderful when he smiled that way. It was easy to love him.
"I can't make any promises where it will all lead but I can't look back either Monica." It was then that he brought up what both of them were probably thinking. "I don't know about you but now that Skinner is here it's not shaping up to be as fun a night as I thought."
"You want to make our excuses and leave?" Reyes was eager to do just that but there were other concerns, that of people's feelings. "What about Joe and Mike? We can't just stand them up like that."
"They'll be fine. They're FBI agents, they're used to bouncing back after the unexpected." He pulled out his cell phone and began keying something into it.
"What are you doing?" Reyes was inquisitive.
"I have a feature where I can program a call." He held out the device for his partner to see. "All I do now is push this button and I'll get a call to myself."
"So it'll be our excuse to leave, that we've been called out on a case?" Reyes was impressed. "Let's eat first though. I'm dying to try some of the fish here." She pushed lightly on his back as they made their way back to their table. Part of the way there Doggett stopped and gestured for Reyes to watch.
At their table sitting in their seats were two women eagerly chatting away to Lamprey and Koning.
"Typical," Reyes chuckled and looked across to a smiling Doggett.
"This is going to be easier than we thought," he mused.
^^^^^
"I'm beat," Reyes relaxed knowing that Carl and Jane had not yet returned after their night out. What she had in mind for the bedroom would require no distractions. It would also need to be commenced as soon as time would permit, gleaning all the private time they could capture.
"Me too," Doggett smiled as he took off his jacket and headed for the kitchen. "Want anything? A drink? A snack?"
"You're kidding, right," Reyes' lips pouted as she made her way up the stairs hoping her partner would follow her every move and join her.
The evening out had been a fun one in the end. The two ladies who had picked up Koning and Lamprey had given them an excuse to depart early without feeling as though they were leaving their friends in the lurch. As planned, after the main meal Doggett's 'call' had come through giving them the excuse to go. The two male agents had been duly sorry but on looking over her shoulder on departure Reyes knew they were quite happy.
Once in the bedroom she hung up her jacket and then she sat on the bed taking off her boots and circling her ankles to loosen the over-worked tendons. Stretching back on the soft mattress with her arms above her head she stretched her body and closed her eyes hoping Doggett would walk in and get those ideas she had been hoping for all evening.
She grinned as she felt the bed dip and his body float over hers. He had wanted it just as much as she.
"Not so fast John," she slipped from under him and made her way to the bathroom door.
"Where are you going?" The disappointed look on his face made her even more determined to tease.
"Just take off your shoes and socks and I'll be back soon." Hoping the anticipation would get him even more excited she slipped inside the bathroom to clean her teeth and wash her face.
As she contemplated her reflection in the mirror she still could not believe she had spent the day with him and that they had gone as far sexually as they had.
Her shoulders sank remembering that this would be her last night with him. What tomorrow would bring was a mystery. Would they get news of Mulder? Did Carl and Jane know of their deception and therefore how would they approach it? After this amazing weekend would Doggett just switch off and go back into work mode?
That afternoon came back to mind when he was once again his cool self. Was he just expecting the fun to be concentrated into the weekend or did he then know that the bond they had shared was past the pivotal point.
She took a deep breath knowing that what was to occur the coming night would probably be significant in where the association would head in the future. Come Sunday afternoon after they said their good-byes to the guests, Reyes did not want to also be going.
Giving her hair a quick slide through with a brush she felt fresh enough to go back to her charge.
Like a new puppy he was waiting on the edge of the bed. What was he thinking? Was it similar to her and how they had gone from just work colleagues to lovers in less than twenty-four hours?
When his eyes met hers they were unreadable, perhaps also unsure where it all could lead.
"So what did you have in mind?" His smoky voice seems to scour the room. She was pleased he had obeyed and still had on his clothing but minus his footwear. They were even.
"Oh, something I do with all my men when I have them all to myself in their bedroom all Saturday night," she taunted and with each word his eyes grew wider.
"All your men?" His voice remained throaty as though the words found it difficult to escape.
She hoped that she seemed as sexy to him as her body felt as she slowly slid across towards him.
"I've had a few," she decided to remind him that she'd had a past sex life although it had been lacking recently. When her body was ever so close to him his arms went out to her but she had other plans. "But that's not important."
"Oh?" that voice of his would bring down her restraints, she would need to concentrate.
"All that is important now are you and me," she used her hand to gesture. Seeing that he was waiting for her move she continued, "Want to play a game?"
"Game?" he swallowed. "What sort of game?" He looked around for anything that she may have had in her hand.
^^^^^
"I call it the five senses game," She stood before him her fingers at his lips but not touching, letting him feel her proximity without the skin contact. That would come in time. "Starting with 'smell' each of us must tell the other what we like."
"And then?" He was certainly interested, his face growing animated.
"If the other of us thinks we've answered honestly then they take off an article of clothing." Waiting until she saw understanding she continued. "But we must make it personal. The smell must be something to do with the other person."
"Monica, where do you get these ideas?" She could tell he wanted to just get going, strip off and make the love they had anticipated all evening but was also open to her notions. That had also been evident since they had been work colleagues and come to respect each other's points of view.
"Never mind that now. You first." There was to be no quibble about who started. Every minute alone without others in the house was precious.
"Okay," he pondered. "Smell. I liked the way your hair smelt tonight. It was hard not to just touch it." His hand went to her locks but knew that it was not included in the rules just then.
"I think you have the hang of this game John." She sat beside him, their thighs almost touching. "Now you take off something I'm wearing."
The way his eyes traversed her already tingly, alive body made her even more anxious for the game to go on. His fingers went to the buttons of her black rouched blouse and began to snap each one free. As more flesh was revealed the wider her smile grew as his eyes feasted on her peach satin bra.
"Very nice," he breathed as he pulled the soft fabric over her shoulders and down her arms. Letting the fabric drape on the bed he waited for her next move.
"You know the times when I'm already in the office and you come in after me?" She lightly tasted her bottom lip as she recalled. "The first thing you do is take off your suit coat and roll up your sleeves."
"I do not," Doggett chuckled but was eager to keep listening.
"As you're doing that I feel the rush of your fresh morning scent over my face." A small pause was needed to accent her admission. "You don't know how many times I've wanted to go up to you and hold you, to smell you close to me."
"Really?" His eyes searched hers and knew it to be true. "Why didn't you do something, tell me?"
"John," she faintly shook her head and he knew why. She went for the belt of his pants and slipped it from its keepers. "Your turn, 'sight', be honest and personal."
"Um, tonight again, when you came out in that outfit," he paused and had to swallow hard. "I thought I was going to burst."
"Burst?" She wanted more explanation but knew exactly what he meant.
"You know." He left it to her creative imagination and she gave him the benefit of the doubt by letting him leave it at that. By the time the night was out he would be revealing much more.
He went for her soft leather mini and began unzipping. The grinding sound of the small metal teeth seemed to echo in the room, the only other sounds being their deep breathing. With nimble fingers he pulled the material off over her hips disclosing her matching peach bikini panties.
"Sight," she reminded, trembling with desire as his eyes looked over her body, his tongue almost visible. "Your lips. I love watching them as you're reading a report."
"Oh?" he was genuinely surprised.
"The way they move as you're reading. It makes me think about kissing that mouth." Her eyes moved down and saw how his lips moved self-consciously.
"You think of this as we're working?" He could not believe he was hearing something from his colleague he never knew.
She nodded as her hands went to his pants. As she undid his button and then zip she could feel that he was already equipped to make passionate love but there was a little way to go yet. Apart from the obvious part of him, his thick strong thighs caught her vision as she moved the material down his legs and then off onto the floor.
Resisting the urge to abandon fate to the wind she went on.
"'Sound' next?" Doggett knew that the two most sensual senses would be last. Little did he know that those would be just Part One of the five senses game.
^^^^^
"This morning in bed," he carried on. "The way you moaned out as I touched your body. I haven't heard that from a woman in a long time." His hand went to touch a breast but instead lingered over it. Reyes could tell that she was not sure she would make it to the second part of the game. So wanting for him to get to the touching part she hurriedly continued with her turn.
"Say something sexy to me John," Reyes licked her ready lips. "Say to me with all the meaning you can, 'I want to feel deep inside you.'"
With no words but an exchange of looks Doggett knew where she was taking it. He had probably been told before what a sexy voice he had but knowing him he was humble about it.
"Monica," he leant forward so his face was close and she could feel that rush of warm air from his mouth before he spoke softly, "Tonight I want to make love to you all night." A few more breaths and almost a female aneurism later he continued, "I want to push myself deep inside you and hear you moan out my name for more."
He certainly was getting the hang of the game. No way had he been neglected sexually recently. There was too much knowing just the right thing to do and say.
Hopefully the second part of the game would reveal just what she had wondered that night about her partner and his sex life.
The desire between her thighs was becoming urgent and there were still senses and clothing to go.
Her trembling fingers undid each of his shirt buttons and then floated the cloth off his body to join his pants on the floor. The urge just to touch the flowing muscles of his chest, just to map the contour of his abdomen with her eager fingers was becoming essential in a hurry.
"Oh John," it must have been clear to him that she was losing control.
"So it must be 'taste' next," he mused pretending to ignore her heightened state of sexual desire. "So I can't talk about tonight's dinner?" He knew the answer. "I could say the taste of your lips, sweet and juicy." A finger traced millimetres above the surface of her open mouth. She let him continue. "But what I really want to say is I'd like to taste what your body has to offer."
Her heart almost gave out at the admission.
"What would you taste John?" she went along with his possible bluff.
"Lie down," he suggested and she obeyed, her arms above her head, her near naked body vulnerable as prey.
Straddling her frame she could only just feel his thighs near hers. His face came closer but instead of kissing he gave detailed instructions of what he would do.
"Firstly, I would take your lips extracting all that sweet flavor and then move down your body. With my tongue I would run circles around your nipples and suck the delicious peeks," she could feel his breath lingering on her breasts as he spoke, but not touching. What he did next was something only in her dreams.
^^^^^
With just the sound of kisses he moved further down until his breath could be felt between her legs. Her legs automatically moved apart to let him do what she so wanted.
Small growls inadvertently came from her throat as he continued his sexy dialog.
"I would leave the dessert until last. The taste of all tastes." With just a hint of either his nose or tongue on her panties she could feel the sensitive flesh almost give way. Not leaving it there she could feel his fingers grasp the band of her bikini underwear and begin pulling it over her hips. It was all fair in the game. It was her turn to lose a clothing article.
Taking it further he blew air onto her cropped patch of hair and with a touch of his tongue broke the rules and licked two lines over and then between the sensitive folds of flesh.
"Your turn," he growled from below, tormenting her beyond her corporeal being.
"John," she moaned, her hips writhing with need.
"This was your idea Monica, your game. Let's play it out." He moved his head up to let her see his wide grin and devilish expression. "So 'taste', what do you like in the way of tasting?"
His head moved back down and resumed the temptation of her private parts. The tongue continued just inside the surface and his hands pushed her thighs to go wider. He would have to finish what he started, of that she was sure.
"Your lips of course," from her throat came a staggered moan. His tongue was deeper. His fingers pried apart her lower lips for cleaner access and she rode the exquisite sensation. He licked in long, purposeful strokes leaving no patch unattended. Like undulating waves her hips kept a slow flow as he lapped at her juices. "But tasting your hard on today was unforgettable."
Her fingers gripped and ungripped the bed covers as his hardened tongue pushed inside her.
"So Monica," he had short breaks as he asked, "Have you ever swallowed?"
She wet her lips as she thought about his unexpected question. Her body was coming to the point where it would need to release.
"Only those I deeply care about." She knew she would have no qualms about going all the way with her lover, just as he was free about licking and sucking her where he was.
The flow came out unexpectedly. Trying to calm her mind with mundane thoughts had only got her mind actively concentrating on what Doggett was doing below.
She could feel him smile as he licked at her until she was dry, as dry as she could be having just been given oral sex.
The flutter in her heart was more than just hormones as he came up beside her and slowly began removing her bra.
"There's still 'touch' to come." He was not going to let her off that easily.
^^^^^
'Uh uh," Shaking her head she lazily lay back enjoying the double sensation of recent orgasm together with 'him' having given her one. "You had your taste and touch in one go."
He laughed a low rumble and raised his eyebrows in admission.
His female partner reminded,
"You still have some clothing to remove."
"And how will you do that Ms. Reyes?" he sniggered.
"With due force if necessary Agent Doggett," she taunted, looking into those eyes in close proximity.
There had been times they had been close on cases but not under intimate circumstances.
"So tell me what you would like to touch," he asked as he pressed his warm body close to hers. That gesture left no doubt about what she needed to do.
"John, that was incredible." She rolled over to face him, the tingling sensation between her thighs not having fully quelled. The hardened mass pressed on her abdomen giving her renewed energy. She wanted to please him. That was what she wanted to touch. To feel him in her hand, the physical manifestation of his desire for her was what she then craved.
Her fingers ran rivulets over his chest making their way to their identified destination.
"You're incredible," he whispered against her cheek as her hand encircled the solid mass and squeezed through the fabric of his briefs. He rumbled from his throat as she placed just the right pressure with her palm. "So that's what you've wanted to touch?" His hips shifted to give her more access.
"All evening," she kissed his lips as her hand slipped under the band of his briefs to feel her prize in the flesh. His fingers ran down her arm then along her bare hip as if finding their own way. His real thoughts were directed elsewhere.
As her hand became more active encircling his organ he rolled over to kiss her more dominantly.
"Take them off," her voice could barely escape. Never before had she been so quickly aroused again after an orgasm. The way she could smell him, the way he was behaving, dominating her like she had only dreamed, made her pulse accelerate and her hot desire grow.
He broke the kiss only for a moment as he slipped his only remaining clothing article off his body.
Once more they lay bare together in bed, experiencing the soft, warm skin contact that made being intimate all worth it.
With one bent knee she opened her legs indicating she wanted him coupled with her presently. As her hand once again took his hard mast she moved it against her pubic area and then shifted into a position to let it massage high up inside her inner thigh.
"Monica," rumbled his magic voice as she moved his erection collecting her newly formed juices. A large firm hand slid over a breast, down her side and along her bent leg, then back again as if marking his territory. Then swiftly he used his power to angle himself a little above her for easier penetration. "Oh," was all he said as she helped guide his thick love flesh inside her.
As he slowly edged inside she could feel it stretching her to capacity, at the same time making her emotions reach sky high. Their bodies in slow motion journeyed together. Their free hands roamed over supple flesh that until recently they had only envisaged.
Reyes knew not how much noise she was making, it was all natural. Her vocalizations were another expression of her utter enjoyment of his being inside her, of him finally wanting to be joined with her.
His lips found hers in all the heated activity and began to slowly munch away. Their tongues ran sensuous circles, their mouths as open as their acceptance of their shared love making.
Time seemed to slow as they relaxed into just enjoying the decadent feelings of sharing sex.
Moving sensuously on top of her he let her fall into her own world allowing her to once more to gather reserves of desire from deep within. Her loins ached with craving and moved more rapidly. Her lover knew it was also time to speed up.
Bundling her in his arms he moved more on top allowing him even deeper access.
Her moaning must have been urging him on but she was almost unaware of the volume. Her hands slipped and slid over his lower back he searched for almost bottomless entry.
When fever pitch hit it came in time with his. Small currents of warm air hit her cheek as with her own torrent she experienced his. The final throes of lovemaking were awe-inspiring. She felt herself throbbing almost to the point of pain as he drifted over her, a broad grin on his face.
That smile of his was uncommon but so uplifting.
"What a game!" When he had collected his thoughts he exclaimed.
"There's more," she returned the welcoming smile.
"Monica, I don't...," he shook his head.
"Not now," she consoled feeling along his jaw with gentle fingers. "In the morning."
The sound of the front door opening and then closing and the quiet voices from below were timely.
Sliding under the bed covers they nestled close and just listened to each other breathe until the night was gone.
^^^^^
The air was cold as she tentatively made her way up a hazy passageway. Her feet were bare and touching a cool slippery surface. She was nervous, hoping not to be discovered. All she felt was the anxiety of necessary escape. As much as she tried to focus she could only make out a meter all around. Ahead there was light. Behind there was light but where she walked was paved in darkness.
There was something hampering her way and making the journey more painful. Concentrating really hard she came to believe it was her leg.
Looking down she tried to see what it was that was attached. In the gloomy lack of light it was difficult to make out but as her fingers moved down they could distinguish something hard, in a spiral shape around her knee and over her calf, keeping her knee from bending.
Sounds could be heard like rumbling from one end of the tunnel. In a panic she looked around for escape but her vision and motor movements were impaired. Even before she could formulate any other method of concealment there was pressure on her limbs dragging her back.
She felt herself screaming. Disquiet filled her whole body.
There would have been three beings holding her down as she was writhing and screaming out for liberation. Then there was a sharp pain in one leg and her body was gone.
Was she dead?
Reyes in a ball of sweat suddenly sat up in bed, catching her depleted breath.
"Monica!" The sound next to her made her jump and the touch on her bare back made her physically move to the end of the bed. "Talk to me Monica."
Still with fear and uncertainty on her face she looked around the room getting used to her bearings. A moment ago it had all been too real standing somewhere foreign to her and then she was suddenly back in Doggett's bedroom and his bed.
Like the concerned partner he was he sidled up close to her and visually gained permission to hold her. His strong, warm arms were a comfort heating up her cooling limbs.
"John, it happened again." She shivered as he directed her back to lying down and pulled the bed covers over her naked flesh.
"Another vision?" Moving next to her his intention was to warm her with his whole body. The sudden heat was calming. His soothing flesh near hers was something she had craved on many occasions. Particular remembering the time in Novi, Virginia when she had similar visions, John had cared for her feelings but she had yearned for the physical closeness that they had now.
"Hold me John," Dutifully he reached around her shoulders and drew her in to rest a head on his chest. His other arm pulled her closer and then adjusted the bed covers in a cosy array around their bodies.
"Want to tell me?" She could feel his head move to look at the early morning time. From the opaque light edging out from his thick drawn curtains it seemed to about six. They had slept peacefully until the rude awakening.
"John, we're going to have to go there." She rubbed her cheek on his smooth chest.
"Go where?" His palm played with her arm as he spoke.
"To where Mulder is. I know it must be him John. He's in danger and pain." Her head turned to give him a thankful kiss on his chest.
"We have two agents up there, we could call them." It was clear that Doggett wanted to stay in bed with her, not being given any reason to leave.
"I think we should go there ourselves." Reyes propped herself up on one elbow to look him in the eyes. "If this is Mulder calling to me and if something has happened to him then we need to do all we can to find him." Doggett just looked back as though he was thinking of the direction to take. He had come to trust her judgements in the past. This was one he needed to take on faith, trust her.
"Okay, let's get dressed then I'll leave Carl and Jane a note letting them know they'll have the house to themselves until we get back." He began to sit bringing her with him. "You ring Dana and see if she wants to come with us."
"John?" She stopped him in his tracks and he looked back with a slight frown. "What about part two of the game?"
"There's another part to that game?" His eyes grew into saucers. "Last night when you said there was more I wasn't sure what you meant."
"Want me to tell you about it?"
"Let's keep it for later," his voice was whispers as he leant in to give his lover a morning kiss on the lips. "A reward for doing good." He lingered there clearly reminiscing over what had occurred the previous night. After another kiss and a smile he was out of bed and into action.
^^^^^
"Thank you for doing this," Scully closed the car door and flopped her bag next to her back seat.
"Dana, it's our job." Reyes smiled as she pulled out from the pavement in front of Scully's Georgetown apartment on their journey to Bucktown Pennsylvania.
"So what have you heard?" Doggett in FBI agent mode turned on an angle from the front passenger's seat of Reyes' SUV.
"Not much really but I didn't want to say anything on the phone." If Reyes hadn't seen Scully's fear and anguish through the rear view mirror she would have sensed it.
"Just before you rang I had a call from Skinner. In fact I was just about to ring you Monica."
"The agents sent to find Mulder found a lead and by now," she looked at her watch. "Hopefully he will be found."
"So we'll be expecting a call on the way." Reyes questioned.
"Have we any news of what they think happened to him? His condition?" Doggett looked towards Scully with a wrinkled brow of concern. She in turn focussed her eyes on Reyes' troubled expression.
"There's something else," the mood was clear to her.
"Dana, I have to be honest with you," she pitched a glance at her partner beside her who reflected equal unease.
"You've had another vision. Monica, I have to know." Scully's voice cracked and Doggett moved his body and gaze towards the front not wanting her to see his suffering on her behalf.
"Dana, I want you to be full of hope but you also need to be realistic." She prepared her friend for the implications of what may have been her final vision.
"You thought you'd lost him once Dana. Could you go through that again?" Doggett refused eye contact.
Sitting at traffic lights Reyes swivelled back in her seat and rested a gentle hand on Scully's knee.
"No, he couldn't be...," She swallowed. "I refuse to believe it!" Her bottom lip quivered.
The lights changed to green and Doggett took over the conversation.
"Monica said that she felt pain, a struggle and then..," he broke and then continued, "nothing."
"Nothing?" Scully looked to Reyes and moved forward in her seat.
"I don't know the significance but I just want you to be prepared, that's all. It may not be what we think it is." Reyes looked to the road ahead, her bottom lip shifting with sorrow.
Much of the remainder of the journey was in mulled silence. A thick layer of uncertainty clouded the cabin. It wasn't until they were on the town's outer limits when they received the expected call.
^^^^^
"Scully," her voice was immediately quiet, clearly listening to the conversation on the other end. Doggett watched as her expression turned a little hopeful. She broke off the call. "Monica, Buckland Memorial."
"They've found him?" Reyes watched through the rear view mirror. "What did they say?"
"He's been found but they know nothing else." Scully quickly put her cell phone away while Doggett found Reyes' street directory to search for the hospital.
"He's alive." It was a statement by Reyes.
"That was Biggs, one of the agents assigned to find Mulder. He said that they had tracked him to the hospital but the doctors were staying tight lipped waiting for family to arrive." Scully broke off.
"Well you're the closest to family he has Dana," Reyes was pleased that Scully was talking and not brooding. Until they found the hospital she would continue to help keep her mind off what she might see.
^^^^^
"I'm here to see Fox Mulder," Scully was first to breeze through the Buckland Memorial Hospital doors followed by her two fellow agents.
"Calm down," an officious but otherwise smiling medical staff member greeted them. "Are you family?" The female doctor did a sweep of the triangle of anxious faces.
"I'm the mother of his son. I'm Dr. Dana Scully." That was an excellent way for Scully to gain acceptance, thought Reyes. "These are my friends and work colleagues Agents John Doggett and Monica Reyes." She looked at each face and pointed a hand as she said the names.
"My name's Doctor Susan Martin. Come with me." The doctor gave a brief smile to the other agents and then turned to make her way down the hallway.
"How is he Doc?" Doggett called after her also needing to have more information before Scully was swept away. "Agent Doggett, you will need to wait on that one." Then she was off.
"What's all this?" Doggett gave an exasperated huff and turned with an irritated expression to his partner.
"I don't know John," she put a reassuring hand on his upper arm. "But at least we know he's probably not dead."
"Not dead?" His face changed to curiosity. Reyes just chuckled. Her partner often looked at the surface, it was up to her to help him see below the exterior.
"She would have broken it to us then or at least told Dana they needed to talk with her first." Reyes began walking over to some seats in what looked like a small waiting area. After sitting she continued to talk, "Her body language would have been all different."
"Then Monica, how do you explain your visions?" Doggett sat restlessly on the edge of his chair not normally the one to want to wait.
"Coffee?" Reyes' head turned to the nearby vending machine. They'd only had minimal breakfast that morning choosing to be on their way quickly. Also not wanting to leave the area in case of news of Mulder, machine coffee looked like the only option.
Doggett nodded, his forearms resting on his open knees, seemingly contemplating the worn green hospital grade floor covering.
Reaching out for the steaming cup Doggett sat upright and took a few tentative sips of the steaming black liquid.
"Thank you," he smiled, beginning to appreciate that Reyes was indeed a comfort to him. "The visions?"
It was the female agent's turn to sip her machine latte and contemplate.
"John, ultimately I really cannot decipher them." Her eyes wandered the room but she was actually trying to focus back on what she had seen and experienced. "I saw things hazily. There were lights, shapes, movement and sounds. I also felt what he felt. The pain in my leg seemed too real. The fear of the unknown was also quite genuine."
"So you think it's true and he was abducted?" Doggett finished off the last of his coffee and stood to find a waste cup receptacle.
"The more I think of it the more it cannot be John." Reyes' eyes began to show understanding.
"How's that?" he sat back down all keen to hear her thoughts. Having her there to shed some light on the events would have helped quell his anxiety at not knowing anything.
"Why haven't we heard any more news of sightings?" She began to become animated as thoughts cascaded through her mind. "Why would they take him for a day and then spit him back out?"
"Maybe they realized he's used goods?" Doggett's eyebrows raised and he gave an amused flick of his head. Reyes laughed quietly to herself listening to Doggett, her sceptical partner talking as though alien abduction was the most common thing on earth.
"Or maybe...," Her eyes grew wider with understanding as the visions became into logical focus.
"Monica, what?"
As she was opening her mouth to speak the voice of the doctor could be heard close by.
"Agents Doggett and Reyes?" One hand in her white coat pocket, the other on the stethoscope draped around her neck she spoke, "Dr. Scully wants to see you."
"What is it?" Reyes stood first followed by her colleague.
"I'll let her tell you that." She rotated to walk the other direction, the two agents hotly on her heels.
^^^^^
"Are you all right?" Doggett caught Reyes just in time as her knees gave way as they walked down the long hallway to where they would find out what happened to the former X-Files agent.
"I'm good," she mentioned but wasn't. There was something that dawned on her as she looked around at the surroundings that somehow had a familiar feel as though she had been there before. For the rest of the way he had his arm around her waist concerned she might have another dizzy spell.
From a doorway near one of the few seating areas they had seen so far came the 'late Princess Diana' coy look of Scully's. She waited there until the travelers were all outside the door.
"I'll let you three talk," mentioned the doctor. "I'll be a buzzer away if you need me." Dr. Martin was off.
"Dana?" Reyes was the first to question on both their behalves. "Is he okay?"
"He's fine," Scully did one of her small reserved close-lipped smiles. "Well he's fine now."
"Then what happened Dana?" Doggett used one of his soft, sympathetic tones. Reyes had noticed that he was often protective of Scully's feelings. There was a history between them of which she did not know too much. All she knew was that at some stage his feelings may have been more for her than just partnership and friendship but now that she had Mulder he was free to admit his feelings for his current partner.
"I'll let him tell you." She smiled again and turned into the hospital ward.
That was a good sign. Mulder could talk for himself. Well it would have been a good sign for Doggett. Reyes as she walked into the room had an idea of what Mulder would be explaining.
"So if it isn't my favorite new X-File agents." Mulder was in good spirits despite several deep contusions over his face and a leg suspended by a traction pulley system.
Scully shyly smiled and sat on the chair beside his bed, resting her hand on his.
"You gave us a scare buddy." Doggett rested his hands in his pockets and waited for the explanation. "You need to enlighten us."
Did he see the knowing smile that the hospital patient gave Reyes? He must have because he turned his blue eyes slowly towards his partner and then back to a grinning Mulder.
"She knows." Mulder left it at that for the time being. "Tell them Agent Reyes."
"John, it's nothing like first thought." She looked around to the three other faces. "These visions, that type of vision has been rare for me and difficult to decipher." She looked over to Scully. "You told him about my visions, Dana?
"She told be I'd been abducted by aliens again." Mulder laughed. "They didn't like me the last time, they wouldn't want me again."
"It's all apparent now." The others were waiting for clarity. "I was here. You were here." Reyes nodded across to Mulder. "The sounds, the lights, the sensations all occurred in this hospital."
"It all happened here," Doggett was trying to make sense of it all. "Then what about the fear and the pain in your leg?"
At those words all sets of eyes went to Mulder's suspended leg.
"A broken leg," Reyes revealed. "What I felt must have been the pain of Mulder's break and perhaps the injection to dull the pain. What we don't know is how you came to be here, in this hospital, this room."
^^^^^
"Go on Mulder, tell them." All this time Scully had been just listening, clearly relieved that her life partner had been found alive and relatively well.
"When I got to town I interviewed the few people who had 'witnessed' the UFOs." Mulder looked across to his partner and squeezed her hand. Intently Reyes and Doggett listened on. "Right from the get go I knew there was nothing going on here."
"Why didn't you ring home?" Doggett interjected. "Scully, we were worried about you, feared the worst."
"I'm getting to that." Mulder stopped him. "All I found was a circle of friends who like to make their own wine. One of them asked me to stay and sample some and being the curious person I am, agreed. Why waste a good weekend away?" He mentioned a little too smugly for his own good. At least FBI money wasn't footing the tab. "He invited his friends over and we had a party of a time. Needless to say, anyone would be hallucinating after a couple of glasses of that stuff."
"Mulder," Scully once again gave a timid expression clearly relieved it was all so easily explicable.
"John, you were right," Reyes moved close to him, touching her hand gently against his. She tried to recall the words he used. "It was all about moonshine." Doggett just rolled his eyes, chuckled and shook his head. It had all seemed initially complicated but was suddenly made simple.
"What happened then? Why the broken leg?" Doggett wanted explanations.
"It struck me all of a sudden that I was not sober enough to drive so decided to walk the two or so miles to my hotel." He looked tentatively across to the two agents and then chuckled before the next revelation. "I was hit by a car running a red light."
Doggett laughed inwardly with his knuckle to his mouth and looked across to a smiling Reyes. It wasn't smiling at his mishap but at the simplicity of the occurrence. This was all a far cry from an X-File.
"So...," Reyes was seeing the bigger picture. "The colored lights I saw, red, green and yellow were the traffic lights as you must have passed out. The red light must have been from the paramedics vehicle."
"Monica, from your visions you really thought I was abducted by aliens?" Mulder had another chuckle at her expense.
"Okay I concede that one," she smiled but then went serious. "Then explain why I had these visions, your experiences, why you?"
"You Agent Reyes must have heard of the idea of psychic linking." Mulder stopped, letting Reyes fill in the blanks he seemed to know she had.
"Of course." Her eyes lit up in realization. "Believe it or not we are all capable of having psychic experiences." She looked across to an eye roll from her partner. "It's true John. It's becoming common knowledge."
Scully decided to continue with the explanation to show her improved perception. "While it may require a giant leap of faith for some to accept this, for others it is a tiny step. Philosophically spiritualists reconcile this with the explanation of advancing souls, the more advanced the soul, the easier the acceptance of spirit."
"There is only one secret about psychic links and that is to go with your very first impression." Reyes remarked and turned to her partner. "John, your first impression of what happened to Mulder was correct. Can you see there might have been some sort of connection there?"
"Monica, you're reaching," he huffed and gave another light eye roll and then continued, "So why Monica with the visions? Why not Scully or Assistant Director Skinner?" Doggett was the only one still doubtful.
"You've had a past with extrasensory perception haven't you Monica?" Mulder put it in plain words. "When I was suffering, being drugged for the pain, not knowing what was happening I tried to send out a 'distress call' to any listening psychic ear. That happened to be Agent Reyes here."
"I'm sorry Dana," Reyes apologized. "Forgive me for worrying you like that."
"It's okay Monica." Scully's eyes fell on her smiling partner. "He's all right and that's all that matters."
Reyes could see that they wanted time alone. With each passing minute her friend's attention was focusing more on the man in the bed.
"Want us to wait for you outside?" All had been explained and all was righted. It was time to go back home.
"No, you two go back to DC, I'll stay here with Mulder."
Without waiting another moment the two agents quietly left the hospital room and made their way back to the front entrance of the hospital.
Passing through the doors seemed like a change in reality.
The mystery of the visions had been explained. Reyes' guilt over Skinner had been replaced with growing acceptance that with her friend Julie he had truly moved on.
There was only one thing left that was eating away at her.
Looking across to her handsome, sexy, loving partner she was not sure how he would react. Would her confession be the end of their weekend and their love life?
^^^^^
As the happy duo turned the corner into Doggett's street they made out the image of a cab outside his house.
Carl appeared at the open front door as Reyes turned her car into the driveway.
"What the hell?" Doggett was out of the SUV even before his partner had cut the engine.
"Carl?" Reyes walked up to Doggett as his brother was placing some luggage in the trunk of the cab. "You're leaving so soon?"
"I was just telling Johnny boy here that we need to get back before evening. We weren't sure when you'd be getting back so we thought we'd get out of your hair." He began walking to the gate.
"I'm still happy to drive you man," Doggett was a little agitated as he walked behind Carl and back into the house.
Jane appeared at the front door with two bags of different sizes. She smiled as she saw Reyes in deep thought standing beside the cab.
"Jane, we're so sorry," Monica demonstrated her true regrets. "We haven't been here for you as much as we should have."
"You provided us with a home for the weekend and we're grateful." The cab driver took the luggage and arranged it with Carl's. "We must invite you to our place some time."
"I'd like that," Monica smiled as Jane came closer and took a friendly hand in hers.
"I know this was staged for our benefit." Her smile told Reyes that it did not matter even before she explained. "John is an honest man, Monica. Even though he told us he was involved with someone when in reality he wasn't, as soon as we saw you and how lovely you are, we knew why."
"Really? You knew all along?" Monica didn't really need affirmation.
"Carl and John are a lot alike when it comes to personality," Jane continued. "Maybe it was what they talked about on the phone or the reactions, Carl knew that his brother was talking wishful thinking."
"And you didn't say anything?" A look of surprise lay on Reyes' face.
"What would that have proved?" She opened the back door to the cab and rested a shoe on the foothold. "The entertainment was even better than the Shakespeare Theater play we saw last night."
As Jane sat in the back seat Reyes felt a wave of embarrassment rush over her. Putting herself in Jane's shoes it would have been amusing witnessing their antics. The thought of Jane seeing them making love in bed was even more mortifying.
"So you'll forgive us?" Reyes knew she would.
"Monica, it is obvious you are both madly in love." She closed the door and looked through the open window. "Maybe sometime soon we could call each other sisters." The thought of being married to her partner had been on her mind but not the foremost. Somebody else also seeing the same was comforting. "And there's something else I want to tell you." Jane made a gesture for Reyes to move closer to the window.
"What?" Reyes bent her knees and leant forward.
"Don't tell Carl but I'm sure I'm pregnant." Her face shone just as Carl started saying his goodbyes.
All Reyes could do was smile as the cab drove away into the distance.
"Carl's invited us for Christmas at their place." With his hand Doggett ran a circle over her lower back.
From the direction Carl and Jane had just left another familiar vehicle was approaching. Reyes was too distracted by the man in her presence to notice right away.
^^^^^
"So, did you accept Carl's kind offer John?" She smiled in his direction wondering what the rest of the afternoon would bring. Also considering how Doggett would react since their reason for the collaboration had just disappeared around the corner.
"I said we'd let him know closer to the time." He gave his partner a look which was probably similar to her 'what do we do now look'.
Taking the first step she moved closer seizing advantage of their time alone together that wasn't spent in the bedroom.
"That was very diplomatic of you 'Johnny boy'," she chided, still smiling. Gliding even closer she stopped as his body was leaning against the fence. Grinning at the irony, she never in her dreams thought she would become involved with anyone in the 'white picket fence' category. But then he was no ordinary man.
'Involved', she reflected, would she stay involved with this man after that day? She certainly wished so but the notion was hazy how they would conduct themselves in the workplace.
Taking check before she thought her perfect weekend away she confronted him,
"Before I head off John." That phrasing would make him think, "We have some unfinished business."
The backs of her fingers made a seductive trail over his chest then back up to his face. Running her fingertips over the ridge of an ear and then along his jaw she noticed just the slightest hint that he was enjoying the sensation.
"We do?" His lips stayed parted a little after he spoke as though they needed kissing.
Reyes moved even closer until she could feel her chest touching his. The sparks that were exchanged between bodies could have set off an ammeter.
"Huh huh, I promised to finish the game with you."
"Oh that." She could tell that it had probably been on his mind once or twice since the morning. It was a moment that needed sealing with that kiss. Not caring if the neighbors witnessed, with arms securely around each other's bodies, their lips attached to experience that slice of heaven they had been anticipating all day.
"I knew it! Thought I'd find you here." They hadn't heard or seen the car pull up meters from their embracing bodies.
^^^^^
"Julie!" Reyes quickly detached herself from the body she so wished to take upstairs. The two lovers exchanged exasperated looks at the intrusion to their fun.
"Julie Weatherall," she held out her hand for Doggett. "From last night."
"Monica's friend, I remember." His familiar squint told Reyes he was weighing her up in his mind. "Keeping our boss busy."
"You could call it that," she gave a huge grin with a knowing eyebrow raise that suggested they had done more than share an evening meal. Reyes wasn't sure if she wanted to know the details. "Do you mind if I steal Monica away for a short while?"
"Go ahead." What else could he say? 'No, because I wanted her to make love with me before you unexpectedly interrupted'? It would have been amusing to see her expression. He was probably as horny as his lover but at least Julie's presence would prolong the wonderful layover.
Reyes looked back to her striking partner just standing there with a half smile that she wished she could eat with her lips. He just stood there watching until Julie distracted her as they walked along the pavement away from his house.
"Oh my god Monica!" Julie gasped when they were a safe few houses away and still walking. "I knew you were more of a saint than me but with a devilish handsome partner like that I should have known you wouldn't be able to resist the temptation."
"Please don't tell Walter," was all she could think to say. How much should she say to her friend? If she said anything at all she would have to trust her and she did. That was why she admired Julie. She could be a flirt and want to know all the dirty details but could be trusted not to pass the word on.
"You know me Monica, your secret's safe but...," she paused although did not continue, preferring to keep on with their walk along the pleasant street with perfect houses and ideal gardens.
"But what?" She had an idea of what her friend was intimating.
"Never mind that for now, I need some gossip." She grinned. "Between you and me of course."
"I don't know what to say." Absently her eyes shifted to some children playing ball in a front garden with the greenest grass she had seen. Across the road a woman was on bended knees gardening, the color array of flowers was breathtaking. Along the street came three teenagers on bicycles, laughing and generally being joyful in the Sunday afternoon sunshine.
"Is he as good in bed? Don't lie to me Monica, I can tell a lot from handshakes. Not only would that body be a charm to hold but I'd imagine him strong but soft too. I love men who dominate at just the right time," she mused.
"You can tell all that from his handshake?" Reyes chortled. After calming she just had to share. "Julie, he's the best."
"So he's the one? I wouldn't blame you one bit, he's more than gorgeous." After walking a couple of blocks they had come to a shopping area with all the usual array of stores. There were a largish supermarket, a drug store, video store and a number of other stores of which Reyes really did not take much notice. "Hey Monica, they have a Starbucks here. I'd love a coffee."
"Okay, but I need to be getting back." If she asked why then Reyes didn't know if she wanted to explain that far.
After ordering and finding a seat with a view to the street and the housing over the road Julie continued her inquisition.
"You avoided the question Monica." She took a sip of her frappaccino and looked across to her friend of two years. "Is he the one?"
Before replying she looked in deep thought out onto the street with its occasional car scooting past and people going about their daily business walking along the pavement and those enjoying a Sunday afternoon of relaxation in their homes and gardens.
"Oh yes, he's the one, if he'd have me." Reyes was still pensive and Julie caught her mood.
"But there's something troubling you." She placed her drink back on the small table. "If there are any doubts then he's not the one, trust me. Having been married and divorced it's not something you can go lightly into."
"No, it's not that Jules. He's perfect, really." She finally took a sip of her mocha latte. "It's all this. If we do go the next step this isn't the life I'm used to. I don't think I will ever fit into the 'burbs crowd. As much as I want to have a family the 'settling down' part unsettles me. To me it speaks boredom, well my boredom." Her face lit up seeing a mom with two small children enter the area.
For a few moments both women just watched as the mother asked them to sit still while she went to order. As soon as the mom had turned her back they were playing. The small girl got out of her seat and went around to cheekily pinch her slightly older brother. He pushed her almost making her topple over. She just got back up and recommenced her tirade on her older brother.
When mom returned all was normal again. Reyes smiled remembering herself as a young one and how she liked to bend the rules just a little. To others she would seem perfect but there was that fire inside her she never wanted extinguished.
"Monica, if he truly loves you he would go anywhere with you." Her comforting hand patted Reyes' forearm. "Ask him. It's better finding out now than down the track when he says this was his family home and he couldn't part from the memories."
"Actually the home he shared with his wife and child was in Woodbury, Long Island. He bought his current house after they separated after Luke's death."
"There you go then," Julie scooped some of the remaining mixture with a spoon. "Even better. Ask him."
There were many questions she wanted her colleague to answer. That was the real reason for the second part to the game. Would he come out passing with flying colors?
^^^
"One last suggestion before I go," Julie stood at her open driver's seat door of her car ready to be on her way home.
"What?" Reyes was at the gate clearly eager to go back and talk with Doggett.
"Not to alarm you but there's something else you need to talk about with lover boy." Her face went serious for the first time that day, as serious as her easygoing friend Julie could make it.
"Oh?" Her hand was on the gate latch.
"Expect a call from Walter in the morning. I'm not the only one who has noticed how tight you two are." She bit her bottom lip and waved. "Gotta go."
"Thanks Julie, I'll call you tomorrow." Reyes thought as much. Skinner would have had to piece the puzzle together.
As she waved to her friend's SUV as it made its way down the street she pondered. If he knew about her relationship with Doggett then from what she had mentioned at lunch the day before about spending the night with her date, he would also know they had slept together.
^^^^^
"So, now that we're finally alone," Doggett linked fingers with hers as she turned from closing the front door. "What will we do now?" His face told her everything but she was in the mood to play dumb. She wanted him to vocalize his desires.
Slowly unlinking fingers and slipping out between his very welcome body and the door she went to the kitchen and opened the fridge looking for something cool to drink. The eyes burning into her back made her smile as her eyes caught a small bottle of mineral water.
"John, I really think I should be heading home." Twisting off the cap she upended the bottle and took a few mouthfuls. "Even though your brother wasn't fooled I have done what you asked me to do. I'll just finish this and then collect my belongings."
The look on his face was precious.
It was the same hangdog look she had seen when previously disappointed with something but trying to hide his true feelings. It was such a sweet expression, she was eager to wipe it off by swiftly moving over to him and planting him with a deep kiss. After a Saturday full of activities to satisfy them as a couple, Sunday had been one to profit others. There had barely been time to even touch.
"But you promised," he moved closer, the smile becoming wider with each step.
"Promised? John, I said I would be your girlfriend for Carl and Jane." She leant up against the bench near the cooktop and took another few sips. "They've gone."
"The game," he reminded. "There's still Part Two?" He stopped just short of her, at the edge of her personal space, taunting her with the body she was becoming more eager to hold.
"What about Part Two?" His calm face looked down to hers crying out to be touched but she held back. "John, it wasn't a promise. I just said there was another part." With all her determination she once again slipped out from between him and a hard place and began walking to the stairs. She just hoped with all the testing he would come out with an A plus.
Without looking back she went for the stairs and climbed to the top knowing he would follow.
When he had not appeared she still smiled knowing he was playing along with the game. It was not going to be one sided. Finding her bag she began folding and putting away the clothes she had left there. She would probably have to go home anyway to be dressed appropriately for work in the morning.
"Monica," his voice was welcome on her ears. "Don't do this." His hand went to hers, stopping her from continuing.
"What do you want John? You and me both know this weekend has been wonderful, more than wonderful." She turned to retrieve the last lot of underwear from 'her' drawer.
"Okay, you can either go back to your cool, vacant apartment, to your empty bed for the night or you can stay with me and play the second part to the game." It was his turn to test.
"That's a really difficult choice," she looked up into his eyes that were coming closer. "Let me get this straight, I can either be alone or be with you, right?"
Without the need to respond verbally he picked up her overnight bag and placed it on the floor.
Slipping his welcome arms around her body he drew her closer. Their eyes met and then their lips.
Apart from the once that afternoon it had been so long since she had tasted him, an eternity from the last time they had been intimate. It was easy just to melt in his embrace and take what he was giving. Falling back on the bed he lay over her, his lips still moist and inviting.
"John, it's only five in the afternoon," she giggled. "What about dinner?"
"Let's worry about that later. What are the rules for the rest of the game?" He waited until she spoke.
"Because it's usually played straight after Part One we would need to be naked in bed together." Little did he know but she had never gone further than the first part with any man but it would be a way she could have him where she wanted him to pose that question. The revelation had been foremost on her mind for the past months, perhaps even longer.
^^^^^
"Okay," he grinned as they lay in each other's arms under the covers. "Now what?"
They had removed their clothes slowly taking care to place them neatly to signal possible long slow sexual activity rather than the hurried, urgent kind.
The kiss had been a long one making up for lost time that day. His naked body barely touching hers but feeling his hands was superb preparation for what was to come.
"The rules of this part of the game are that we answer each other's questions," she began.
"Like 'Truth or Dare?" She could tell he hadn't played that game for a while but she could see him being the type to have played at some stage. The thought almost made her blush.
"Not really," her fingers began to play down his arm. "How many people play 'Truth of Dare' when they're already totally bare?"
"Good point, go on." His smile and his radiant blue eyes looking into hers caused her pulse to flutter more.
"Well, we can ask anything that comes to mind whether it's something as simple our favorite color or it can be something that has been on our mind. I'm sure you have questions you would like to ask me John."
"Just a few," his grin caused a few more quivers.
"There's more," she had thought it all through so carefully. It would be the perfect chance to find out his true feelings. "In this game the participants must keep their bodies moving on each other's, hands, legs, mouths." To emphasize this rule she paused to taste his lips yet again.
"What if one stops?" His fingers already were feeling over her face and raking through her hair as he watched her speak.
"Then the other one goes home." His fingers did stop at the unexpected disclosure but the game had not literally started.
"That seems a bit harsh." Movement through her hair began again more slowly.
"That way without judgement we can accept any questions asked," A palm moved up his back and she slipped even closer to him.
"Okay," he said gradually. "When does the game end?"
"When we cannot stand just the touching any longer we have to make love."
"That's a logical ending." She could feel his head nod as she began kissing over his neck and down his shoulders. "Who went first last time?"
"Don't remember. How about I start anyway?" Her fingers were already stroking his face and running through his hair. She would need to pace the questioning well to get to the few she really needed to know.
"When you make love with someone, what's your favorite position?" That was a leading question but still simple enough to start the sensual conversation.
True to the rules he kissed lightly over her forehead and down her nose before responding. All was unhurried just the way she had hoped it would be.
Replacing his lips with gentle fingers he replied,
"You make it sound like I have sex all the time. Monica, it's been a while" Those fingers ran through her hair with moderate pressure that was already making her weak kneed. "I do like to be in a position where I have some control but also where my partner is free to do what she wants."
His answer was predictable but at least he was talking about a part of his life he never dared to mention before. That was promising.
Reyes so wanted to get closer and continue to kiss and touch until they were once again rolling around in heated fury but she reminded herself there was plenty of time. She took advantage of having him to herself for the rest of the evening and possibly the night.
"And I like a man to sometimes dominate."
"You like rough sex?" It was a natural follow-on question.
"Not usually but if it's with someone I trust then it can be highly arousing. I have to know they wouldn't go over that line."
"What line is that?" His lips caught hers and then moved along her chin and over her neck causing her next words to be stuck in her throat.
"With you John," she purred as he moved to a breast. "You can do anything to me." There were moments of heavy breathing as he ran his wet tongue over and around a nipple. "John, you're making it hard to go on with the game."
"You're the one who said we were to keep it moving." He sucked on the same nipple. "Only following the rules." His tongue licked along the valley between her breasts over to give the other side to give it equal consideration. "Your turn for a question." The way he put all his attention into pleasing her was making her more aroused with each second.
"Before me, who was your last woman?" She was determined to keep the questions coming, those she had premeditated.
"You mean that I slept with?" He moved up to be level with her face, leaning lightly over her body. "Let's just say that I've had a few since Barbara and you don't know them." He wasn't going to add any more and perhaps that was wise. How could anyone sleep with him and not want more? Maybe it was him who wanted more than they could give.
As they shared lustful eye contact, Reyes ran a hand along his thigh to the back of his knee wanting him to lie on top. Feeling his domination that way was irresistible.
"What is it you really like about me Monica?" His voice was soft and genuine as he lay on top, his forearms holding himself up to see face-to-face "We are so different. There have been times when I've been a complete ass to you."
"John," she tried to tell him with her eyes. "You are too hard on yourself." Her hands slid over his back and down to his firm ass, lightly feeling over the flesh she had admired from afar for so long. "You're a good man, not a nasty bone in your body." He just waited until she finished. "I admire your drive and your ambition. Above all, you really care about your colleagues and friends. You put yourself out there for them."
"Doesn't that just about describe any man?"
"Not at all," she laughed at his naivety. "John, you are unique. Qualities like yours should be more widespread." He continued looking into her eyes consuming them with his own. "So why me? Why did you decide to sleep with me?"
He smiled as he resumed planting her with small kisses over her face and another on the lips.
"For all your way out there ideas Monica Reyes, you are the only person to have accepted me for me. With all my human flaws you're still by my side without question."
"You have no flaws, John." Her soft voice and loving eyes showed what she genuinely felt.
"Okay, seeing we're asking personal questions here," His shifting hips started pushing her legs further apart letting his manhood lie dangerously close to where it would no doubt enter soon. "Where does your mind go when you're having sex?"
It must have been a psychic link when he pushed his hips forward letting the tip of his erection just slip inside.
It was all perfect timing.
Expelling a little air as he slid his superb length inside, she almost forgot about the question.
She was more than ready for that kind of attention. His attention to her needs had been ideal. First using is fingers and then mouth on her body he had gradually built her yearning to be more physical.
As he slowly pushed deep inside he watched her, every so often closing his eyes clearly taking pleasure in being in her company as much as she with him.
"Oh Monica," the voice was deep and hushed, sending her into more of a trance.
"Kiss me." She adored being kissed during lovemaking especially the way he used his mouth. He made love with his entire body and soul just like the effort he put into his work.
On her chest she felt the rumble of his growls, another indication he was thoroughly involved in the process of making love to a woman he admired and probably did love. Her hand moved up to the back of his neck and fingers played with his hairline as his kiss became more fevered.
Suddenly he broke off but slipped a hand under her and with one swift upward move lifted her onto his lap. The mood was fast, hot, sexy. He was inside even deeper as she placed all her weight on his hips. Holding onto her while kissing and rocking he pulled her closer with each plunge.
"This is so good," she managed to praise as he kissed down her neck then back to her ever hungry mouth.
What they were doing was what she had wanted to do all day. As she let go of the last final sliver of tension her body responded with its reward.
Surge after surge hit her loins coursing its way through every pore. To add to the euphoria of the moment he took her lips once more kissing and breathing on them as he also came.
Hands rested lightly on her lower back as both bodies rippled and clung together experiencing mutually the rainbow after the sun shower.
"You didn't answer me Mon," he smiled as he gave her a single kiss.
"What was the question again?" her thumbs ran steadily over his cheekbones as she smiled into his eyes.
"What were you thinking about while we were doing that?" The rumble came from his lips.
"You. Your body." Her fingers and eyes continued to explore his face. Her frame wanted to remain that way indefinitely. "John, can I ask you a personal question?"
"I think I've already proved that." His hand began a slow trail up her back.
"Have you ever thought about having any more children? I mean, after Luke didn't you just want another child to help the pain go away?" Reyes watched his expression go introverted. It was evident that the topic of children had been on his mind but not openly displayed.
"Of course, but it would have to be with the right woman for the right reasons." It was a good sign that his hands still roamed her back and his face had not dropped.
"The right reasons?" Her hands were also careful to touch him lovingly. This was the conversation she had wanted with him for the past months but it had to wait for the right time.
"I would want the child to be cherished by both of us and unlike Luke, to have brothers and sisters."
Reyes was about to ask the question, the one that would help her empower her biological clock but he surprised her first with the proposal.
"So Monica, are you ready to have children?" He lifted her chin gently to look him directly in the eyes. "You want children with me?" He ran a thumb over her open stunned lips. "To you this probably seems a little hasty but I would love you to have babies with me."
"Oh John!" There were tears welling in her eyes with each word he had uttered. Her heart swelled at his admission and as she was about to hug him intensely she saw his radiant grin.
The moment was perfect.
No matter what the rest of the night would bring. No matter what Skinner was thinking of saying to them in the morning. Whatever the living arrangements from then on it did not matter. Doggett had accepted her desire to have children with him, something she had only dreamed about. The perfect man and father for their children.
"Monica," he helped her down to lie under the bed covers and moved the wisp of hair from over her eyes. "I have loved you for a long time now. I just didn't know how to show it."
It was as though she was saying the words but they were from his mouth.
"I'm in love with you too John." Their mouths lightly touched and then they just lay there, both smiling.
"So when do you want to start?" Doggett broke the loving silence.
"Start?" Reyes questioned, not being sure what he meant.
"When do you want to start trying to make babies?" She couldn't believe his question. It made it totally clear that he was also ready.
Had his biological clock also been ticking?
"I think we already have," Reyes raised her eyebrows and gave him one of her best smiles.
"Really?" he was the happiest she had seen him.
"Really," she confirmed.
She turned in his arms and let him encircle her body, she spooning up against him. His warm breath tousled her hair as they lay there in blissful repose.
For the previous few months she had been noting her moments of high fertility.
She smiled as his hand felt gently over her lower abdomen.
She had always trusted the winds of fate.
The End
