From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org Date: 23 Dec 2001 23:55:18 -0000 Subject: Rough Day by Maggie Source: direct Reply To: PoisonIvy62886@aol.com Title: Rough Day Author: Poison Ivy Spoilers: "Daemonicus" Category: S, A Keywords: D/R friendship Summary: Reyes is having a bad day and lets it all out. This is my first story with Doggett & Reyes and no Scully or Mulder, and my first published XF fic, so it might be really, really bad. Please let me know what you think!! PoisonIvy62886@aol.com ****************************** 8 A.M. Monica Reyes slowly opened her eyes and looked at her alarm clock. "Dammit," she cursed out loud. She had set the alarm for 6 and now she'd be late to work, pissing off Kersh - as if he wasn't pissed off at her enough - and making an embarrassment out of herself, giving her new co-workers even more to doubt about her. Her second week on the x-files was already off to a crappy start. She was still in a hotel in Arlington and had found a place she liked in Georgetown, but hadn't officially bought it yet. She had wanted to get a second opinion - John's - but hadn't asked him to look at it with her yet. She wasn't sure if she was even going to. You can't be mad at him forever, Monica, she told herself. Despite what happened in West Virginia, he was still John, her partner and friend. He was just being himself but she was sick of the way he'd hardly give even a thought to her theories. And ignoring evidence...it wasn't like him whatsoever. Reyes showered, brushed her teeth and hair and quickly picked out a black business blazer, white camisole, knee-length black skirt and some platforms pumps that were probably considered provocative by many other agents. Grabbing her purse, she rushed out the door and stepped funny on her foot. "Ow!" she exclaimed, hitting the floor. Oh yeah, this definitely sucked. ****************************** John Doggett checked the clock in the x-files office. 8:30 A.M. Monica had thirty minutes to get here before Kersh kicked her ass. He had been keeping an even closer watch on them since they had started their investigation on him. He didn't want to push Kersh's temper any further. Doggett looked up as Monica half-limped/half-ran into the office. "Morning," she breathlessly greeted. "You okay?" Doggett asked, noticing the limp. "Yeah, I'm fine," she assured him. "You sure?" he asked and handed her a cup of coffee. "Yeah, thanks," she said and attempted to down the coffee in one gulp. Unfortunately, it was too fast and she ended up spilling half of the coffee on her blouse. "Dammit!" "Hold on," Doggett said and grabbed a handkerchief from the box on his desk. "I got it," she said. "No, let me help," he offered. "Back off, John, okay?" she yelled. Immediately realizing her outburst, she covered her mouth in shock. "Oh my God...John, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to..." "It's okay," he told her, albeit brusquely. "No, you were just trying to help and I went all...I'm so sorry," she apologized again. "It's been a rough morning." "No kiddin'," he agreed. "I have some papers for you to sign about the case and we'll be done." "Okay," Reyes said and took the papers. Thumbing through them, she frowned. "This doesn't say a think about what I thought went on." "Um, yeah," Doggett said uncomfortably. "I didn't want Kersh to get even more pissed off at you than he already is." "Bullshit," Reyes said and thrust the file back into his hands. Doggett gaped at her. "Monica, what the hell is going on?" "Could you at least get your head out of your ass long enough to listen to what I'm saying?" she angrily said. "What??" "There's not a word in here about what I thought was going on," Reyes argued. "Monica, it's your first case on the x-files," Doggett reminded her. "Do you really want this to say what you thought?" "Yes!" Reyes sighed and turned away from him. "Let them think what they want, John. It was my theory, and it made the most sense." She turned around to face him. "You were the one that ignored evidence, something very unlike you and I can't understand why you did it. Was it me or have you still not opened up to the reality that these are the X-FILES and are not always explained by rationale and set solutions?" He tried walking over to her. "Monica..." "Shut up and let me talk, John," she insisted. "Tell me something, if it were Agent Scully proposing the theory that I did, what would you have said? Or are you too enamored with her that you would have looked into it?" "What the hell is wrong with you?" Doggett demanded and grabbed her arms. She shook out of his grasp. "Nothing's wrong. You're the one that called me down here, you're the one that asked me to join the x-files. I would think that if you needed a partner so desperately, you would at least listen to what I say. I'm sick of people constantly throwing my ideas out the window, not listening to a word I say, treating me like I'm some sort of flake and that I'm stupid and I don't think normally and that I..." She sighed in frustration and sat down in her chair. "I'm sick of it." Doggett let what she said sink in, then slowly sat down in his chair. "I can't believe what I'm hearing." "It's the truth, John, whether you like it or not," she told him. "I would think that of all people, you would listen to me. You've been on these for a while now and you're easily one of my best friends, so I guess that's what's so upsetting." He put his head in his hands and eventually looked up at her. "You're right, Monica. I was being unfair to you. I've just - " he paused. "You know me, you've got that weird way of knowing exactly what I'm thinking and when, but I just can't let myself believe in all of this." "Agent Scully eventually did," Reyes reminded him. "After a long time." "After an abduction, cancer, numerous times cheating death, Mulder's disappearance and a pregnancy," she argued. "Are you going to wait that long? "You don't stop, do you?" he asked and smiled. "I'll admit, I had my doubts, even after knowing you for years," Doggett told her. He stood up and walked over to her chair. "Your mumbo-jumbo theories, your ridiculous cheerfulness - " "Cheerfulness?" she asked and grinned. "Well, today's an exception," he admitted. "But you're one of the best agents I've ever known. You find something, you go after it. You don't stop until you get it. You're strong, physically and emotionally," he said and took her hand. "And I can't think of anyone else I'd rather be stuck down here with." Reyes, her eyes brimming with tears, took a deep breath. "So you're going to listen to me from now on?" He grinned. "Yeah, I'll think about it." She playfully punched him in the shoulder. "After all this, you better." "I will," he assured her. "Thanks," she said and stood up. "So we're okay?" Doggett nodded. "I think we will be." "Okay," Reyes said and smiled. They stood in silence for a while, until they hugged each other. After breaking apart, Doggett said, "So I understand I'm supposed to look at a place with you?" "It's not mandatory, but I'd like a second opinion," she said. "Where?" "Um, 67 Bennett Avenue NW." "Georgetown, huh?" he asked playfully. "Movin' on up." "Whatever," she replied and rolled her eyes. "How about at lunch?" he suggested. "There's this polish sausage stand on M street - best in the city, not far from your place - and maybe we could get some lunch." "That sounds okay," she agreed. "Then go get that ankle checked out," he said. "What did you do, exactly?" "Nothing," she insisted. "Monica..." She sighed. "I was running late this morning and I, um, I tripped on my heels." Doggett shook his head. "Women." "Well, when they're the only shoes I could find when I'm running an hour late, they were fine." "Suit yourself." "Sound medical advice," she said and smiled. "Hey, thanks. For hearing me out." "Did I have a choice?" he asked. He sounded so serious, she wanted to smack him. Then when he broke into that ridiculous grin, she threw a pen at him. "Seriously, Monica, you're welcome. Anytime." He turned back to his computer screen and began retyping the report. Reyes did the same. It would take a while, but they would be okay.