Waxing Moon by bugs RATING: PG SPOILERS: Up to the end of season 8 CLASSIFICATION: S, A, MSRelastionship, D/R UST SUMMARY: Doggett and Reyes pay a call on the new parents. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Ambress and Branwell were their usual helpful selves. Thanks, ladies. AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is a story in the Mushroom Emulation series, capturing the process of Doggett and Reyes getting to know Mulder and Scully and their new assignment with the X-files.

*****

Kersh follows to the outer office, just so he can slam the door
behind us.

John and I stand in the hall, unanchored, our heads swiveling to
and fro. He asks, "What'd you do that for, Monica?"

I head towards the elevator. "What'd you mean?"

"You don't want to get into this. I haven't been on this detail
long, but I can tell you that much."

I stop, glancing back at him. "I don't need you looking out for
me. I meant what I said in there."

He doesn't reply, but tries to stare me down. He fails. "Fine, for
now. Let's go down to the office, and I'll show you around."

I've won, but a greater urge calls. "I'll be with you in a minute.
I need a cigarette."

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do, John."

He stands with one hand resting on his weapon, cocking his head to
the side like a bird sizing up a grub.

It's a familiar stance. I remember pushing a hand under his suit
jacket and smoothing a palm up his ribcage, polishing it with his
fine cotton shirt. Leaning close enough to rest my cheek against
his ear, and breathing in his day's sweat. I shake that memory
away. Any chance of following through on that moment disappeared
when I volunteered for this new assignment.

Changing the subject, he says, "Let's pay a call, as my Momma
would say."

"Excuse me?"

"The new mother."

I start to protest, but I'm curious to see how things are going.
"Is she out of the hospital?"

"Yep. Today. She and the baby."

"Have you called?"

"She called me. To see what Kersh had to say. It was before our
meeting."

"Our reaming, you mean." We start back to the elevators.

"Better get used to it, Agent Reyes," he mocks me, "Or buy a donut
pillow."

 

He drives. I say, "Stop here," as we pass The Shops at Georgetown
Park.

He reacts like I'm pointing out a gunman. "What!?"

"Are we going to get something?"

"You can't have a cigarette yet."

"No, John." I roll my eyes. "It's customary to bring a gift."

"Oh, shit, right."

 

Wandering down the aisle, overcome with the helplessness that
shopping always evokes, I repress the urge to scream. And John's
gone from my side. I catch sight of a prominent ear tip in the 'As
Seen On TV' store.

"What are you looking for?" I scold him.

He points to the Ab-Roller. "What about that?"

"You think that's appropriate?"

"My wife griped on and on about her belly after Luke was born." He
always called her 'his wife', never using her name. Like my house,
or my car.

I suggest, "That may be too personal a gift, John. Dana may not
take it in the spirit in which it was intended."

"You think?" His brow furrows.

"Come on."

In the end, I find myself buying a whale song CD in the Discovery
Store, and John gets a huge bouquet of yellow roses.

"Women love flowers," he notes with satisfaction.

I sneeze as their cloying odor fills the car.

 

Fox Mulder answers the door. "Hi. What can I do for you guys?" he
says, like it's his place and we've come to see him.

John's shielded behind his flowers. "Agent Scully phoned."

Across the room, Dana calls out, "Come in." She's still in her
robe and pajamas and swings the bundled baby, held low in her
arms.

After we cross the threshold, no one speaks or moves. Finally,
Dana offers, "Why don't you sit down?"

John holds his flowers out. She notes this. "Oh, Mulder, could you
find a vase for those--" She gives off a tired smile. "Lovely
flowers? Top shelf, first cabinet."

"Sure," Fox says grudgingly.

I peek under the blanket. "Oh, he's sleeping." The baby gurgles,
spits, yawns, and suddenly his eyes pop open. I nervously chuckle.
"Oops. Uh, I brought something too."

He coughs, spits again, and then the toothless, tiny mouth opens,
and a wail begins: low, rising, pushing me backward.

"I'm sorry," I babble.

Fox leaves his flower arranging and starts pacing laps around
Dana, who's switched from swaying to jiggling. She forces out
another smile. "It's fine. It's perfectly normal for him to cry.
You just surprised him."

Stepping away, I hug myself, tucking the CD under my armpit. John
has his back to the wall, concern twisting his features, and he
shoots me an accusatory look.

I try to telegraph my innocence to him, but Dana says to us,
"Please. Sit down."

The sharpness in her tone causes us to both hurry off and plop
down on the sofa. There's a whispered conference behind our backs
that we ignore.

We jump when Mulder comes around. He's holding the baby - finally
out of that blanket - in stiff arms. He lowers himself into a
chair, back straight. He lays the baby across his thighs, and
then bends over so he can encircle the tiny form with an arm
fence. It's an awkward pose, and slightly bizarre.

I try to get the conversation rolling again. "What's his name?"

Fox appears confused for a moment. "Uh--"

Dana says from the kitchen, "William." She's filled the vase and
brings it into the living room, placing the roses on the mantle.
"There." She smiles at John, finally at full wattage. "Thank you.
They're beautiful."

"I hope William doesn't have an allergy," Fox says.

John asks, "He checked out fine? At the hospital?"

"Yes," is the only answer Dana gives. She heads for a chair,
walking carefully.

I note, "You seem to be doing well, considering."

"Yes, thank you."

"So you didn't tear?"

The men go completely still, eyes glazed in terror.

She has paused in her descent but then sits. "No. Thank you for
your concern."

John bellows out, much too loud for the space, "Kersh kicked our
asses, needless to say!"

Fox, cradling the baby, rises quickly. He hands William off to
Dana. He has to jiggle his hand until the baby lets go of his
finger. "I better go get my things, Scully. I'll be back soon."
Clumsy, he caps William's skull with his palm for a moment. Having
posted all his large 'Mulder's Property' signs, he heads to the
door.

"Bye, Mulder," she calls after him. Next, she asks, "So what
happened?"

John seems dazed. "With what?"

"Kersh." She's back to swaying. William dozes.

"I volunteered for the X-files," I say. Then, worried I've made
her feel obsolete, follow up with, "Until you're ready to return
to duty."

She strokes William's thatch of light hair, attempting to slick it
down. It springs back up in a troll doll imitation. "I'm not sure
when that will be."

"Of course. Of course," John says, going for hail and hearty
cheer. It fails when she doesn't say anything more.

A clock ticks. The baby wheezes. I cross my legs, uncross them,
and cross them again.

Suddenly, Dana asks, "Would you do me a huge favor?"

"Of course," we both rush out, leaning forward.

"Could you watch William while I take a shower?" Her eyelids lower
in bliss. "A long, hot, shower?"

"Sure." I force some confidence into my tone. John bobs his head
wordlessly.

Dana rises, pausing, her gaze flitting back and forth between us.
I finally hold up my arms. She pauses just a beat too long, then
hands me her loose, snoozing bundle.

The head. The head. Support the head. That's the only thing I can
ever remember from holding babies. I pull William close, figuring
that's the safest position. Immediately, I feel warm moisture.
Glancing down, I see his drool has stained my silk blouse.

The shower goes on. I have to handle this for at least fifteen
minutes.

Reading my mind, John asks, "You okay? Want some help?"

Short with him, I gripe, "How can you help me hold a baby?"

"I mean if something happens."

"What can happen?" I don't want to know the answer. I try that
swaying business, and William burps.

"Say he cries. Or wants a bottle."

Forlorn, I mention, "I think she's breastfeeding."

Both our heads swivel towards the bathroom. I begin an inner
mantra, inner because I know such things bother John, 'sleep,
sleep, sleep...'

William hears my prayers. Neither of us speaks, not wanting to
disturb him.

Dana finally comes out, rubbing her hair on a towel. Her smile is
bright and real. "Thank you so much, Monica and John."

I hear John blink rapidly. "I remember what it was like. Dana."

"I better get used to it, right?"

"And appreciate it, even at 4 AM," he adds.

The light fades a bit in her eyes, but she nods. "Yes, John. I
won't forget."

The limp form in my arms suddenly explodes, wiggling, grumbling,
and finally crying, full and strong.

She takes him from me. "I think he wants lunch."

"We better go," John says.

"Would you like us to stay? Until Fox gets back?" I ask.

Peeking into William's diaper, Dana mutters, "First things first,"
then glances at us. "I'll be fine. Thank you for coming by."

I promise, "We won't be strangers," but she's already hurried
towards the bedroom. I call after her, "We'll let ourselves out."

*****

John stops at the first corner store. After a moment of sitting in
the car, I ask, "What?"

"You gonna go get those cigarettes?"

He's waiting when I exit the store. "Come on." It's started to
drizzle, but he hasn't brought an umbrella from the car.
Regardless, I follow him down the street.

We're near the C & O Canal Towpath, and find a tree that gives us
some shelter. I light one cigarette, inhaling. Hesitating at
first, I hand it off to him. He takes it, sucking in the smoke. I
think about lighting another, but wait to see if he'll give it
back. He does, and I wrap my lips around the filter, drawing deep.

After exhaling, I say, "You're in love with her."

He shakes his head as he takes a puff.

"You want her to come back to the X-files."

"She knows how to investigate these sort of cases. We don't."

"She's just had a baby. She's in love with Fox Mulder, John."

He holds the cigarette away from us both, so the smoke fans behind
us. He leans close, as though we're in a crowd and he's telling a
secret. Speaking in his slow way, he enunciates, "I'm not in love
with Dana Scully."

Feeling stupid and giddy, I have to say, "But you like her."

He gives a quick grin. "Yeah. I like you too."

My giddiness gone, I turn away.

He's close to my ear. "You want this?"

I shake my head. The ashes are bitter on my tongue.

I hear him grind it out under his shoe. He doesn't step back and
his steady breathing stirs my hair.

"John, we can do this ourselves."

"It never hurts to ask for help, Monica."

I face him square. My mouth just keeps talking. "How would you
know?"

"We should go back. You're getting wet."

I feel that familiar urge to belt him, but resist. I walk quick,
keeping ahead.

He calls after me, "Did you see the nose on that kid? I didn't
want to say anything, but, jeez."

He's broken my wall. I laugh, spinning to walk backwards. "Yeah,
well, that answered one question." I find myself grasping his
finger, only for a moment. "I love how babies do that. They seem
so helpless but are so strong."

"Yep. It's like a bird holding onto your finger. And you know
they're gonna fly away before long."

It's always there. I can see his son's body. Still. Cold. Bloated.
I never shirk from this familiar image. This is my only connection
with Luke Doggett and I won't forget him.

"Don't get that look," John says, turning his face up to the rain.

"We can help people no one else will, John."

He strides forward, bowing his head to the quickening rain.

"Are you going to ignore everything you've seen in these past few
days? I saw Billy Miles rise from the dead. And I know you've seen
more." He's still ignoring me, so I grab his arm. "Will you block
all that out so you won't hurt anymore?"

He stops and meets my gaze. I'm sure my hair hangs in damp
straggles and my mascara has run. "Do you believe in the existence
of extraterrestrials, Monica?"

He's serious. He wants a solid answer, not my gut feeling or
wishes and theories. I hate to say it, but I do: "I don't know."

He nods. "I don't either."

I throw my hands up. "Now what?"

"I guess we should go back to the office and get to work." He
tramps off, shoulders hunched.

I watch his retreating back for a moment. It wasn't the reassuring
statement I needed, but it's all I'm going to get. I hurry to
catch up.

 

 

~~~The End~~~

AUTHOR'S NOTES: I like the new characters, and enjoy the challenge
of making them fit on the XF canvas. I found it easy from the
beginning to write for Mulder and Scully. The UST was full blown
by the time I came onboard, and their voices are fun to write.
With so little material, these two are proving more difficult! For
one thing, I have to remind myself that Reyes is taller than
Scully! And for some reason, I'm concerned that a romance would be
unprofessional. I think I'm a couple years to late waking up to
that fact!

If you'd like to feedback, feel free, at: bugsfic@yahoo.com

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