Title: _Candlelight and Woman_ Author: Karen (snarky_freak@hotmail.com) Rating: PG Keywords: Doggett. Reyes. Doggett quasi-monologue. Summary: "Thanks for remembering. Thanks for remembering him." Spoilers: Very minor: Empedocles. Disclaimer: Again, they are not mine. So, again, quit lookin' at me like that, `kay? Archive: All are more than welcome, just please notify me... Author's Notes: Takes place over the duration of one particular workday. Intentionally fragmentary... ;o) --- Candlelight and Woman --- I know what you're up to. You're standing there, with that lighter in your hand. `Guess you've forgotten that little incident a couple of months ago. You know what I'm talkin' about-- That time you breezed in here, like a hamadryad, and set off that stupid smoke detector... Of course I know what a hamadryad means; I looked it up last night, like you told me to. It's a nature goddess, isn't it? Some sort of... Well... I _do_ know what it is, really, I do--at least, the main gist of it... Hey--you laughin' at me? Don't turn your back on me. I'm just trying to keep this place safe for both of us. Last thing we need is-- So you're doin' that again, huh? May I ask why? Yeah, `course I know you like `em. But why now? Why here? At the office, too... Of all places... It's not your, um, birthday, is it? `Cause if it is, then I'm real sorry, `cause it totally slipped my-- No. Not your birthday. Yeah. I knew that. Really, I did. So you also bathe with them all around you. Those scented ones. What do you call them? Votives or somethin' like that? Okay. Lots of people do that--I've heard; I'm just not one of them. Why are you telling me this, anyway? You just like the way they look. Fine. You like the symbolism of it all, too. The light. That glow. The way it plays off the darkness and repels it. Okay... Guess I could live with that. Yeah, I know you light them in church when you want a prayer answered. Yeah, I know you light them at dinner time, too, when you want to get in the mood... Turn off the lights and just... Don't look at me like that; everyone's done it. Yeah--they're for birthdays, too. I said that already. Yeah, I remember. You brought me a cupcake with one of those things stuck at the top of the icing. I remember. It was funny you remembered my birthday after all this time. I never got to ask you, `cause that stupid smoke detector went off, but... Did you bake that cupcake yourself, or-- What? Yeah. Yeah, I know. They're good for memorials, too. Yeah. Yeah, I know. It's his birthday, today. I know. I'm okay. No, I don't want to talk about it. There's nothing to talk about. -- ...Y'know... He'd be nearing his teens right about now, if he'd... Forget it. Forget I said anything. No, I'm fine, really. Why do you keep asking? Look, can we drop this now? Let's just leave it alone. We're just wasting our time when we should be doing work. -- Listen, it was really rude of me, earlier... I'm sorry... It's just-- Forget it. Thanks for remembering. Thanks for remembering him. Sometimes... It feels like you and I are the only ones who do. Yeah, yeah. I know that's not true, but I can't help it. I can't help thinking that way. I still miss him. Can you believe that? It's been years now, and I _still_... Still miss him. Like he was taken from me just last night. Like he was taken from me just as I was really getting to know him, y'know? Don't. I'm okay. I don't need that. I'm done cryin' over it. Been done with that part for years now. I'll be fine. Just... Thanks for understanding. You've always understood, and I really `ppreciate it. What _about_ the candle? Light it, go ahead. I don't mind. Yeah, I know it's for him. Thanks. Thank you. Monica? One more thing. You mind puttin' it over here, closer to where I am, so I can see it? I don't know... Guess I'm still half-expecting he'll come around and ask me to make those shadow puppets with him. Have I ever told you about the time his hair nearly caught on fire? Crazy kid. It was his fifth birthday. He didn't want anybody to help him blow out the candles on his cake, so he went right up to the candles and it nearly got his hair. Lucky for him, ...his mother was right there, and... Got to him on time... Before anything bad happened. ...Y'know, it's funny. I woke up this morning and that was the first thing that came to my mind. Hey--before I forget, did you finish that report for tomorrow? `Cause our meeting's at eleven, and we should really discuss that some time today. END Send feedback/comments to: snarky_freak@hotmail.com