From: specialagent_reyes Date: 26 Jun 2002 07:51:07 -0700 Subject: [all-xf] NEW FIC: AD ASTRA PER ASPERA Source: atxc Ad Astra Per Aspera By: Bobbi Summary: "And I'm not going or staying anywhere without you, because I love you. If I didn't, I'd just be watching my own ass, John. I want to stay with you because love is a two-way street. I'm willing to do anything I have to to hold true to that belief. I'm willing to give my life for that belief. Simply put, I'm willing to give my life for you. Because I believe in you. Because I believe that, in the midst of all these trials, in all the hardships we've been, and will continued to be presented with... we can make it." Keywords: Post- The Truth. Post X-Files. DRR. Doggett. Reyes. Gibson. Spoilers: The Truth - and beyond. Rating: PG-13 Disclaimer: Even though Chris is finished with them, they're still not mine. Damnit! If he ever decides he doesn't want them, though... I'll be more than happy to take them. Feedback: Please, please, please. I live for it. Send to smberens1013@aol.com. Archive: Ask. E-mail me. I won't bite, I promise. Author's Note: It's more than a month after The Truth. Hopefully, people are still reading fic. It took me awhile to organize my thoughts and get them in a presentable form. The title is Latin for "To The Stars Through Difficulties" - the state motto of Kansas. Dedication: I try not to repeat dedications. But, this fic wouldn't have been written if it wasn't for Kim. So, Kim... this is for you! LOCATION UNKNOWN "John, where are we going?" It wasn't the first time the thought had crossed his mind, and surely, it wouldn't be the last. It wasn't like Monica and him could just return to their normal, everyday lives in DC. As a matter of fact, they might never be able to go back again. Life had changed in the blink of an eye - changed so drastically that it had shaken the cornerstones of what they knew, where they belonged, and even who they were. "Ah..." he mused a moment, trying not to let the uncertainty and very real fear show in his voice. He hadn't been this afraid since his days with the Marines. "Really, Monica, I have to tell you the truth... I'm not sure yet." "Well, that's comforting," she said. "I know," he sighed. There was a long silence, as they were both lost in their own thoughts. What would be next for them? Where *would* they go? Would they even get anywhere? Surely, the government would be sending people after them. Even if they got anywhere, they'd be on the run. Forever. And for this, John hated himself. He hated himself for dragging Monica into this, when she still had a life she could have lived. She was young, aspiring, intelligent, amiable, and beautiful. She could have had *so* much, and yet, he had dragged her into this, and now she'd have nothing. Just like him. He'd given her nothing: now it was all she had. Now, all he had to give her was himself. He'd wanted to do that for so long. Maybe now, now that they were loosened from the tethers of work and the stress of their regular, everyday lives - even though they'd have more stress now - maybe he'd be able to get past that roadblock that had seemed to be holding him back. Maybe he'd be able to tell her. Maybe. "Penny for your thoughts," Monica finally broke the silence. "What are you thinking?" Doggett asked her. "No fair. I asked you first," she retorted. "Oh, don't be such a two-year-old." "Play fair and I won't." "Well, I was just thinking..." John began. "Thinking..." "Thinking about all I've taken away from you." "What are you talking about, John?" "Thinking about all those opportunities of yours that I threw away for you. A promising career, hell, a life." "This is my life. Here, with you," she said, placing a hand on his arm as he drove. "Monica, thanks, but... this isn't your life. This isn't my life. This isn't any kind of life. What this is... is a nightmare." "And sometimes you just have to make the best of nightmares. Who knows, it could turn into the best dream you ever had." He glanced at her as she drove. How could she always be so optimistic? Sometimes, he wished that he could be half as optimistic as her, before reminding himself that with optimism comes a certain degree of naivet. "I appreciate your little pep talk, Agent Reyes, but - " "Agent? Agent?" she laughed. "What's so funny?" He frowned slightly. She always had the ability to bring light to any situation - even the darkest. Sometimes he envied her for it - for not being able to see her light as much as he'd like to, and for not possessing that light himself. Other times, he loved her for it, because it had saved him a million times over. "You are," she said. "Me?" he asked. "Yes, you." "Was it something I said...?" "Of course. Your ability to call me 'Agent' even in this situation." "What's so wrong with that?" "We're used to calling each other by our first names - at least by now. Not to mention that I'm sure we've had that 'Agent' title revoked by now and it's going to be very hard to get back." "Okay, Reyes," he grinned. "Monica," she said. "Monica," he affirmed. "John... I have to admit something." "What's that?" he looked over at her. "I... I'm afraid." "Of?" "I'm not sure. I'm just afraid. I don't feel... safe. We're not safe here. We're being followed." Both pairs of eyes looked toward the back seat. "Being followed, we are," Gibson Praise spoke slowly. "They know where we are. They know where we're going." "Where we're goin'..." Doggett muttered under his breath. "I don't even know where we're goin'." "She does, though." "I do?" Monica asked. "I mean, I do... well, I don't. I just had an idea." "What's your idea?" Doggett asked. "She wants to go to her adoptive parents' house. In Mexico. But you can't. They already know, and they'll already be watching and waiting." "Is that where you wanted to go?" Monica nodded. "But you can't," Gibson protested, firmly maintaining his viewpoint - what he sensed. "We can't go there. If we go there, they'll kill us all." "Whaddaya mean, Gibson - how do they know - " "The man. The man that I told you wasn't human. He knows." "How does he know?" Monica asked. "He can read minds. Like me. And like you, too," Gibson said, looking into Monica's eyes. John looked at Monica. "Well, I got nowhere better to go..." Doggett said. "Neither do I," Reyes said. "And if they're watching Juan and Maria, we've got to warn them - " "You can't," Gibson insisted. "Why not?" Reyes and Doggett asked at the same time. "They're already dead." Reyes paled at that moment. Her normally dark, healthy, rosy face paled severely. "They're... they're not... you must be mistaken..." Monica immediately started. "No. They were killed this afternoon." There was a long, tense, thick silence. Monica's foster parents were dead? They, too, were now casualties in this war? Monica didn't want to accept that. "No, John, we have to go see - " she immediately began. "We can't, John, don't," Gibson put in. "Not if you want to see her live. And I'm not sure you could handle the responsibility for another death. Especially hers." John shot a glance back at Gibson in the backseat. Although he wasn't a believer in psychic phenomena, this kid was astonishing him more and more by the moment. What he wondered most was exactly what Gibson had meant, and been thinking when he said "especially hers." "Don't take her back. They'll kill her, and then you'll have nothing at all." "Monica, if Gibson's right, it would just be even more dangerous..." "I don't care, I have to see them! I have to see for myself!" she cried. "He won't let you. Losing another person he loves would hurt him too deeply," Gibson spoke. "He'd rather have you angry at him than lose you. He doesn't want you angry either, though. Because... because he loves you." John looked at Monica, and then at Gibson. Monica watched John, almost expectantly. Those three little words - 'I love you' - were something she'd been waiting and wanting to hear. She didn't know if she ever would, though. It seemed like she'd waited forever, and she didn't really have forever to wait. "He can't say it though, because he's afraid," Gibson spoke up again. "He finally let go of his son, but now he's afraid to lose again - " "That's quite enough, Gibson," John snapped. Sometimes, the truth hurts. This was one of those times. "And he's afraid you might not feel the same way," Gibson finished. "I thought I said that was enough," Doggett half-snapped. "You did, but it's not nice to interrupt. I don't interrupt you, so I expect you to extend the same courtesy," Gibson said calmly. MEXICO Later that night at a hotel just over the Mexican border, John watched Monica sleep. He wasn't sure if she was really asleep or not, but she sure looked like it. He wished he could take her to see her adoptive parents, although he had this sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach that Gibson was right, that they were dead. And he couldn't, wouldn't, subject Monica to that danger. Gibson watched Monica and John from the floor, his eyes wide open. He was tired, but he couldn't sleep. "Agent Doggett... John... can I call you that? I thought Mulder had a dirty mind, but with the way you're looking at and thinking about Monica..." "What?" Doggett asked, suddenly sitting up in bed. What Gibson had said had scared him like nothing had in a long time. Was it that obvious? Did he really feel for Monica that deeply? "You've always wanted her," Gibson went on. "You just haven't been able to tell her because you're afraid. Afraid of the rules, and afraid of losing. You don't want to put her in danger, but you're only going to put her in more danger by not telling her. Because, if you tell her, that's something that will bind the two of you together, and develop a new sort of trust." "Monica and I trust each other," Doggett said defensively. "You do, but in a totally truthful relationship, you wouldn't be hiding your feelings, and that's just what you're doing. A blind man could observe how you're looking at Monica." "A blind man can't see..." "Yes, but you're forgetting something very important. A blind man can sense. A blind man could sense that you've got it for her... got it bad." "Gibson..." Doggett's voice was sharp, warning. "You're afraid she doesn't return your feelings, but she does. She always has." "Gibson, she's my partner, for Chrissakes! As much as I would like to love her, I... I can't, she's my partner, and nothing else." "Now that she can't be your work partner, maybe you'll finally let her be your partner in another way." "Gibson...!" "How many years has it been, Agent Doggett?" "Since..." "Since you let your dirty mind carry through on your thoughts." "Gibson, now what kinda question is that for a kid your age to be askin' - " "You don't have to answer it. It's just something you need to think about. You love her, and she loves you, and you'd have to be pretty stupid to not realize either of those facts." "And who do you think you are? Einstein?" "Well, I am pretty smart..." "Gibson?" "Yeah?" "Shut up and go to sleep." "Now who's being grumpy..." "Look, Gibson, I'm sorry, I just don't like people presuming to know how I feel - " "I know how you feel," Gibson replied. "Then if you do, you can understand why I can't do anything about it." "No, I understand why you can do everything about it. Starting now. Things... they happen for a reason. Little events in life, to lead us to a conclusion. If things didn't happen the way they did, then that conclusion would be different. But, there's fate. And fate's waiting on you to make a move." "God, Gibson, you could be like Miss Cleo..." Gibson stood up and kiddingly socked Doggett with a pillow. "Miss Cleo's a hoax." "And, Miss Cleo's a telephone psychic. Ever thought about going into that?" "No," Gibson glowered. "Although I do suppose I could make quite a bit of money." "Gibson?" "Yeah?" "Shut up and go to sleep." "That's the second time you've said that. You *are* awfully grumpy - " "I wouldn't say it twice if I didn't mean it. We need to be ready tomorrow, ready to go - " "Go where?" Doggett never replied, because he wasn't even sure himself. He just knew they had to go. Staying at this little hotel so near the United States/Mexico border wouldn't keep them safe forever. They'd be lucky if they were safe for the night. He laid there for a long time before letting sleep finally drift over him - and when he did, it was a tormenting sleep. A sleep of 'what-ifs' and fear... what if he couldn't protect Monica? What if something happened to her? He couldn't lose another person he loved. Once was unbearable; twice could prove annihilating. "Monica?" Gibson asked when he was sure Doggett was asleep?" "Yes?" she whispered as she rolled over to face him. "You haven't slept, have you?" "No, not a wink," she admitted. "You heard it, then. He loves you." "Even if he loves me, Gibson, he has to admit it to himself before he can admit it to me." "He's admitted it to himself. He's just afraid to admit it to you because he's afraid of losing you. He can't handle losing another person close to him, you know. It hurt him the first time - this time, it would kill him." "I'm hanging on. I won't let go because I can't," Monica told Gibson. "It's like there's something holding me to him. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't let go." "Maybe you're not supposed to let go." "But it would've worked out by now if anything was supposed to happen." "Not necessarily. Fate has strong ways of working." "Fate is a strange ally with a warring heart," Monica said. "I know you think you're in danger. I know you're afraid, both of you. I know you're afraid of being killed, and of them killing me. Fate has strange ways of working. Maybe this was meant to happen. Everything happens for a reason. I believe that." "I used to believe that..." Monica started wistfully. "And you still do. Maybe this happened in order to bring you two together." "Maybe." "Agent Reyes... if you want to be safe... there's something you have to do for me." "What?" "You have to let me go. You have to tell John that... when you woke up, I was just gone. Because, somehow, they're tracking me. I can't subject you two to that danger. I won't." "Gibson! Don't be irrational! Do you really think I would let you go - " "If you know what's best for you. And him. If you care like you say you do, like your heart seems to, then let me go. Let me go for him." "Mon. Mon. Mon'ca..." the hand on her arm had been soft at first, but it was now tapping her frantically. After her discussion with Gibson, she'd fallen asleep. Actually fallen asleep. As she looked down at the floor, she realized he wasn't there. "No... no, oh God, oh no..." she said, sitting up in bed. "Where'd he go?" John asked. "I don't know..." "I heard your voices last night. Do ya have any clue..." "I told him to stay. Told him we couldn't let him go. Apparently, he doesn't listen." "No, not worth a damn," Doggett said dryly. "I guess we're going to have to go look for him, though," Monica got up from the bed and yawned shortly before stretching. "No... no," Doggett followed suit and got up. "We can't." "Yes, we can. We have to." "Not you, Mon... I refuse to put you in any more danger than we're already in. I want you to stay here and wait until I come back - " "No. I'm not staying anywhere or going anywhere. Not without you," she said firmly. "Monica, you're being... stubborn," he attempted to give her an exasperated glance, which really wasn't working at the moment. "Thanks." "But that's what I love about 'cha." Much to her surprise, he leaned in and quickly kissed her, pulling away before she had the opportunity to respond. "Monica... sometimes, you don't understand. I tell you to do things because I want to protect you. I want to protect you because I love you - and it's a million times harder to protect ya if you don't listen to me." "And I'm not going or staying anywhere without you, because I love you. If I didn't, I'd just be watching my own ass, John. I want to stay with you because love is a two-way street. I'm willing to do anything I have to to hold true to that belief. I'm willing to give my life for that belief. Simply put, I'm willing to give my life for you. Because I believe in you. Because I believe that, in the midst of all these trials, in all the hardships we've been, and will continued to be presented with... we can make it." John's stern expression began to transform into a smile as he leaned toward the woman he'd loved all these years to kiss her. But just as his lips were about to meet hers, there was a knock on the door. Disappointment filled Monica's face, and John had to try hard to keep it off his. "Sorry..." he whispered. Slowly and cautiously, he walked over to the door and opened it, keeping his hand on his gun as he unchained the lock. Gibson's eyes looked up to meet John's. "Gibson... where've you been, we been worried *sick*..." Doggett exclaimed. "Come," Gibson said, pulling Doggett's hand. "Come where?" Reyes asked. "With me. There's something you two need to see." "What?" Monica and John asked in unison. "It's important. Just... just follow me." Monica and John exchanged glances. "Sorry, you'll have to wait for that until later..." Gibson said, a smirk crossing his face. "Wait for what, Gibson?" Doggett looked like he was confused, although he really wasn't. "Oh, I think you know. What would've happened had I not knocked on the door ten seconds ago." "Which is?" Reyes asked. "You know. Sex," Gibson said casually. " 'Cause Agent Doggett's got a dirty mind, just like Agent Mulder." Once again, Monica and John looked at each other. "Gibson..." Monica began, "John and I were just discussing how to go about finding you. We didn't really appreciate you running off like that, it gave us quite a fright..." "And I'm sorry - but I had to." "You don't *have* to do anythin' like that, Gibson..." "No... there's something... something you two have to see." Pueblos were visible in the near distance. Doggett squinted to get a good view of them. "Pueblos," he observed, looking at Gibson. "Why is this important?" "You'll see why," Gibson said. "You will see. You and Agent Reyes. This changes everything." "Changes what?" Reyes asked. "You'll see." They walked in silence to the pueblos - Monica and John holding hands, Gibson just in front of them. ANASAZI PUEBLOS "We've been waiting for you," a dark-skinned man, with black hair streaked with white said as they entered. "We knew you would come." "You've been... expecting us?" Monica was perplexed. "Yes, we were beginning to think you weren't going to come," a petite Indian woman said, stepping out from behind him. "What do you want with us?" Doggett asked. "We have information for you," the man said calmly. "The truth," the tiny Indian woman looked between Monica and John. "The truth, and how it will affect you." "What truth?" Reyes shook her head. She still didn't understand. "The fire in the sky," the man said. "What fire in the sky?" Doggett was beginning to think that these people might just be crazy. "The fire in the sky that will be the end." "What are you talking about?" Monica asked. "The final extinction," Gibson spoke quietly. Both Indians nodded in unison. "A fire in the sky?" Doggett brought his fingers up to his nose and pinched the bridge lightly, trying to shove away the oncoming headache. "You mean, the people in black helicopters destroying the homes of your people?" "No. We mean the end," the man said. "What end?" Reyes still didn't understand. "The end that is December twenty-second, two thousand and twelve," the woman said. "Are you tryin' to tell us that... that's the apocalypse or somethin'?" Doggett asked. He wasn't buying - not this easily. "For ages our people have known this. They have known about the fire in the sky, that the final descent will take place on twelve-twenty- two-two-thousand-twelve. They have known. They have feared this coming day, because they knew what would happen. The original inhabitants of this planet will re-claim it. There's nothing we can do to stop it." As the elder spoke, the petite Indian woman nodded. "The final descent - they will descend upon the earth in *armies*. The devil's army. The Bible speaks of this. The just will fight, and the good and just will end up at the right hand of our God in the sky." "How do you know this?" Monica inquired. "How do you have concrete evidence that the end is going to be on December twenty second, two thousand and twelve?" "We don't... really," the woman spoke. "But..." she moved aside and the glow of her torch lit up the wall. Teepees. Teepees being crushed by fire. Silver disk-shaped objects in the sky. The sky seemed to be on fire. The ground was rising. And the numbers - 12-22-12. "On this day... you'll find they're not coming. They're already here," the man said. "Most of them, anyway. The rest will descend from the sky. Some will ascend from below. They lie dormant there in their stronghold, getting ready." "And you're saying there's nothing we can do to stop this?" Monica asked. "Nothing at all. We can try to fight - we've tried to fight... but nothing has come out of it. We're not sure how to fight." The woman shook her head. "We must accept it. We must... we must give ourselves to them." "If what you're saying is true," Doggett spoke slowly, "Then we're all doomed. Doomed and damned." "Not if you're good and just. You'll be taken up by God's mighty men - " "God's mighty men?" Doggett rolled his eyes. "God's *mighty* men?" "The men of God - men who are God themselves, but also human. The... humanly embodiment of God, you might say," the elder explained. "These... these mighty men..." this was all too far-out for Doggett to explain, and much less, comprehend. "Are they here?" Reyes asked. "They're here," the woman replied. "They're here, in hiding. They will not reveal themselves, though. Not until the day..." "With all due respect," Doggett spoke, looking between the elder and the woman, "What is supposed to convince us that what you say is truth?" "John..." Monica spoke quietly and warningly, elbowing him gently. "Your friends - Mulder and Scully, they know." "Muldah and Scully - how do you know about them?" Doggett's eyes showed his frustration and confusion. "Because they were here," the elder said. "They were here. When? An' where did they go?" Doggett asked. "John... John, don't ask these questions. Knowing only puts them, as well as us, in more danger." As Monica spoke, she put a hand on his arm. "They *were* here," Gibson said. He knelt down and picked a gold crucifix necklace up off of the ground, handing it to Doggett. "Scully's..." Doggett whispered, looking at Reyes. "They were here." He looked at the Indian man and woman. "They were here. What did you do with them?" "They're not here anymore. We didn't do anything with them. They chose to go - not to remain here. It's not safe here," the man said. "Then we have to go, and so do you," Reyes said, taking Gibson's hand. "We have to get him out of here." "No... no, Gibson must stay. They're tracking you through young Mr. Praise. They can read his mind. They know where you are. They see what he sees," the elder said calmly. "He's comin' with us," Doggett said. "He's comin' with us... and this future, this inevitable future that you speak of... if it's indeed destined to be the future, then we're gonna stop it." "You can't stop it, Agent Doggett," Gibson told John. "You can't stop fate. And Monica should stay here, too." "What?" As if John hadn't been confused enough before. "They know where she is. They're tracking her, as well," the woman explained. "How? How are they tracking her?" Doggett wasn't about to leave without Reyes. There was no way they could convince him to do so. "Because Agent Reyes herself has been subjected to abductions, subjected to their horrible treatments... when she was just a child. Did you ever wonder why you had no memories of your early childhood, Miss Reyes?" "Let's not beat around the bush here. What are you trying to say?" Doggett wanted to hear it straight out. "Samantha Mulder's not dead. Making him... Agent Mulder... think she was dead... was all part of an elaborate hoax," Gibson said. "What? You're saying Monica... you're sayin' she's Samantha?" "That's what we're saying," the elder said. "Bullshit," John retorted. "I've seen the case files. Samantha's dead." "You may think she's dead. But she's not. And as long as Monica's with you, you're both in danger," Gibson said. "You must go, John, and leave Monica here with us." "No way," John grabbed Monica's hand. "C'mon, let's get out of here. These people are crazy." "You don't know that, John..." "What are you sayin'? What are you trying to get at? That these people are right? That you are Samantha Mulder?" Monica didn't respond immediately. "John, I want you to go..." she finally said quietly. "You can't tell me to go. Not like this, not now. You didn't leave me, and there's no way in hell I'm leavin' you," he insisted. "You're going to have to, John. I'm not saying these people are right, but if... if they are, and I'm putting you in danger, and if something were to happen to you... I couldn't take that." "I can't and I won't take leaving you," John said firmly. "If you think I'm leavin', you've got somethin' else coming. I'm sorry, but I can't do that. Not to you." "If you're going to go..." the woman finally said, "You better go. They'll be coming soon. Looking for you. Different this time - not the helicopters in the sky. What you know as super soldiers. Many of them." "But they'll die here..." Monica said. "Like Knowle. They'll be sucked into the magnetite, right? It destroys them, from what I've been able to conclude." "Precisely. But then they'll send something else. And then, they'll destroy us all." "Are you comin', Gibson?" Doggett asked as he turned around. He had Monica's hand tightly held in his - he wasn't letting go. Wasn't leaving her. "I can't. I won't put you and Agent Reyes in anymore danger." "Gibson, please - " Reyes begged. Before Gibson had the chance to respond, the roar of helicopters approaching could be heard overhead. "I thought you said... they weren't sending helicopters," Doggett said dryly. "I thought they weren't..." the woman looked at them. "You can't leave now. Come." "Should we..." Reyes asked Doggett. "I don't think we have any other choice." "You're right," Monica clutched John's hand tightly. "As long as we're together, it doesn't matter. Monica?" "Yeah?" "I love you." "I love you too, John." They leaned toward each other and Doggett brushed her lips lightly. She kissed him back, and for the first time, he became aware of just how much he meant to her. He kissed her hungrily, with the passion that he had finally allowed himself to admit existed, and - "We don't have time for this right now. We must be swift and silent, now," the elder took their hand and led them down a tunnel, underground. "You must walk swiftly. There are only two paths. After about a mile, you need to go straight rather than to the left. You will eventually come to a dugout. Stay there. They don't know of it. After you feel it is safe... there's a wall, with more drawings like what we've shown you. You need to knock that wall down. Behind it is another passage that will lead you back to civilization." "Are you coming, Gibson?" Monica tried one last time. "No. Go without me. If I go - they won't bomb them. Maybe if I go out and sacrifice myself, it'll appease them." "Gibson, nothin's gonna appease them. They're not diplomats. Diplomacy isn't their nature." "Just go. You and Monica need to go. They're going to be here soon." Doggett slowly nodded, and Reyes grabbed his hand again. They started down the pathway, in a near run. "Do you think they'll make it?" the elder asked Gibson as Doggett and Reyes disappeared from their view. "They will," Gibson swallowed. "They have to. They're the only hope we have left." Gibson and the elder walked away from the pathway, rolling the rock back over the secret passage that led to the pathway. They came back out to the entrance of the pueblo. "Don't do this, Gibson..." the woman said slowly. "I can do it. I have full confidence that everything will be alright. I've learned to harness my power and use it when and how I have to." "Don't take any unnecessary risks, please..." the elder pleaded. "We're dead either way. This way, we go down fighting," Gibson said. And it was the truth. Giving both of them one last glance, he smiled. "Thank you. You've been like parents to me. Monica and John will make it because they are our last hope. They have to make it." He gave them one long, last glance before going outside. "Reckless child," the woman hissed. "Calm down, Lucia. He knows what he's doing. The child has grown wise. We must have faith in him." "Monica..." he noticed she was breathing hard. "Slow down." "We can't." "I know. Are you alright?" "I'm fine. We have to keep going." "How far do you think we've run?" he asked her. "Well, here's the split. We go straight here. I'm not sure how much longer it is to the dugout where we rest," she said. "Can't be too much longer." "No, but we have to hurry." "I know. I know." It was hard to keep calm - incredibly hard - but somehow, they were both managing. Gibson stood outside in the sandy dirt, staring up at the sky. The helicopters seemed to be suspended in motion. No one was firing. He stared up at them a moment before outstretching his arms and raising them upward. The whirring of the helicopters suddenly stopped. The wind seemed to stop. Everything grew eerily silent. Even the animals and bugs were silent. "Monica..." "Shhh!" "Do you hear..." "Nothing. I hear nothing. It's just like everything stopped all of the sudden," she frowned as they finally approached the dugout and stepped in. "I don't like silence. It makes me nervous." "Me too." "Do you think we should go back?" "We can't, Monica. I refuse to put you - us - in anymore danger." "John... suddenly... I'm not feeling so well..." Monica grabbed onto his shoulder to steady herself. "Here, Monica..." John led her over to a bed that was in the dugout. He was surprised at the shelves of food, the bed, and the radio. It was almost as if someone had prepared this place in case of an emergency. "Just... just rest..." As she laid down, he leaned against her, running his hand through her hair. "Just rest... just rest," he whispered into her ear. "How can I rest when you're distracting me?" she asked, turning around to face him. In her eyes, he found present a desire deeper than any he'd ever seen before. He couldn't help but reciprocate the burning desire in her eyes. They'd waited too long. But they could live each moment to the fullest of what they had left. "Monica..." he whispered. His voice was different than she'd ever heard it before. "I love you so, so much." "Then show me." Gibson brought his arms down, and watched as all six black helicopters started their descent. He hadn't wanted it to end this way: hadn't wanted to take anyone else's life. But, there was no other way. They had to die, or they'd destroy them all. "Roger, Roger, do you copy?!" the frantic call of one of the pilots came across the radio on another plane. "We've lost all control, and we're going down. I repeat, we're going down." "We've lost control too, Brock. It seems all of our helicopters have lost control. We're going down. Prepare emergency landing gear..." Gibson watched in horror as all six helicopters crashed to the ground around him, resulting in a tremendous explosion. The ground shook, but he just stood there and stared up at the sky. He stared at the flames around him, at the desolation and destruction. All of the pilots were dead. The reflection of the flames from the wreckage shone brightly in his eyes. "God, forgive me..." Gibson whispered, falling to the ground and kneeling down, staring up at the sky. "Forgive me for what I've done. I had to do it. Forgive me. Forgive me and spare them. Spare them that they may be strong for the quest and accept what lies ahead of them. Let their resistance mean something. Give your creations a chance, Creator. Save them and guard them. Save them and guide them. Let them make this journey, and not forget the sacrifices that have been made for them and all of mankind. Forgive us our sins. We're only human. If we fall in this quest - let it not be in vain." As Gibson stood up and looked around him, surveying the damage once again, he saw Monica and John in his eyes. He'd known they would - he'd known they could. John had just needed something of a kick in the ass to be fully aware of his feelings. "You've released him..." Gibson whispered. "Now, let him be strong enough to accept and bear strong the hardships that lie ahead. Let him be a good father once again." "Gibson," Lucia said softly as she came out and stood behind him, surveying the damage. "How did you - " "It wasn't me. It was my Father." Gibson, Lucia, and the elder stood near the entrance of the pueblo, looking out at the burning helicopters. "In their destruction... lies our hope." Gibson took Lucia's hand, and the hand of the elder, and squeezed them both tightly. "What you did out there, Gibson, was astonishing... I've never seen anything like it," the elder looked at Gibson. "Only by the power of my Father. Our Father is on our side as the end comes upon us. We must remember the only three things that matter - faith, hope, and love. In the end - only love will remain." "Monica?" John tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, running his hand down her side. "Yes?" She whispered softly. "Maybe... maybe everythin' will be okay. I don't think those people were lying to us anymore." "They weren't lying." She paused. "John, what do you think the truth is?" "I'm not sure," he breathed against her ear, and she sighed. "I only know I have all the truth I need right here." She smiled softly at him, running a hand along his jawline. "Do you still want that house in the country with a white picket fence, a dog, and a coupla kids?" LONDON, ENGLAND "Justin and Suzanne Rainier?" the doctor looked between the dark- haired woman and the blue-eyed man. The ring on the dark-haired woman's ring finger glinted brightly as she moved it. A wedding band. "I'm happy to tell you that your child... well, rather children, are safe. They're coming along perfectly for six months. A boy and a girl. Fraternal twins." He smiled at them. "Congratulations." "Didya hear that, honey?" the blue-eyed man whispered in his wife's ear. "Twins." "Double trouble," she whispered with a laugh. "I'm going to go get some prenatal vitamins for you, Suzanne..." the doctor told the dark-haired woman. "I'll be right back." Monica and John nodded, smiling at each other after he left the room. "Can you believe this..." she whispered. "No. It seems like a dream," he kissed her lightly. "But if it is, I don't want to wake up. This is a second chance for me. I've always dreamed of being a father again." "And I've always wanted to be your wife... and the mother of your children." "Well, you are, now..." he moved a hand across her stomach. "And I don't know about you, but I can hardly wait to see them." "Neither can I. John?" "Yeah?" "I was right, and you were wrong." "What? How?" "I said we'd make it through this... when you told me to leave you." "You were right about that," he admitted. "I'm just... I'm afraid of what we know, the truth, afraid that... afraid of what we're all going to face." "Monica?" "Yes?" "We're not giving up. The fight may be worthless, but we're never giving up. But it's the truth here that will set you free." FIN. To the reader: Thank you for reading my story. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. It was not my intention to, and I hope I did not, make Doggett and Reyes into Mulder and Scully. I just see this kind of second chance for Doggett, and this first chance for Reyes... as a kind of redemption for both of them. I'm not going to say one way or another, but maybe, eventually, there will be a sequel. Again, if you enjoyed this, or if you didn't - I'll take the comments as well as the criticisms at smberens1013@aol.com.