Title: Comfort

Author: Dana Doggett

E-mail: danadoggett@yahoo.com

Website: http://www.danadoggett.com/

Dates: December 13, 2006; April 12, 2010; April 27, 2010

Distribution: Semper Fi, Serenity of X, We Shall Not Forget. All others please ask.

Rating: PG

Category: Doggett/Scully implied, angst

Timeline: Season 9, post-"William"

Beta: Rubine Goslay


Summary: Doggett comforts Scully the night she gave William over to the adoption 
agency to be taken to his new family.


Disclaimer: I do not own "The X-Files", John Doggett, Dana Scully, or any other 
characters that you recognize from "The X-Files" TV series or movies. "The X-Files" and 
related characters are owned by 20th Century Fox Broadcasting, and Ten-Thirteen 
Productions. I'm borrowing them here to do with them what should have been done in 
Mulder's absence.

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"Grief and sadness knits two hearts in closer bonds than happiness ever can; and common 
sufferings are far stronger than common joys" - Alphonse de Lamartine

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Doggett's old Marines T-shirt clings to the dampness of Scully's skin as they lie together 
in his bed. Tears stain her face and continue to fall.

Earlier that night she came to him, needing him. She thought that she could deal with her 
feelings of guilt and sorrow on her own, but she was wrong. They have only been 
together for several months, but tonight they feel closer than ever. 

She held nothing back once seated comfortably on his couch, his body around her. She 
cried in his arms for hours. He knew it was best not to say too much and let her feel 
everything she is going through, he only interrupted their silence a few times with words 
of support and reassuring her that he loves her.  

Once her eyes had dried, she excused herself to "go freshen up". He heard her upstairs in 
the master bathroom, sobbing alone in the shower.

Doggett waited awhile after he heard her turn off the water, then he made his way 
upstairs to the bedroom and found her laying in his bed. She had put on a pair of his 
boxer shorts and his favorite Marines T-shirt, the one that he wore to bed on most nights. 

She was crying again, silently.

Without a word he crawled into bed beside her and wrapped his arms around her waist, 
pulling her close against him. He nuzzled his chin into the crook of her neck and kissed 
her.

He whispered in her ear that everything would be all right. He assured her that she made 
the right decision for her son. He strengthened his hold on her and she helped him inch 
her back in towards his chest. She took hold of his hand and held it against her face. He 
felt the cool dampness of her tears and he kissed the top of her head. 

He feels her heartache in his own heart. He shares her sorrow. He holds her in his 
embrace, hoping that his love for her will take her pain away.

Losing a child, a son, is the worst feeling a person can have. He knows this from 
experience. He understands the emotions she is going through, knowing that she will 
never see him again. He knows that years from now she will wonder what he looks like, 
if he's fallen in love. He knows she will pass young men on the street and wonder if it's 
him.

He lost his son tragically to a child molester and murderer. He can't imagine what it is 
like for her to lose her son by choice. He knows that there will forever be a void in her 
life, in her heart, that will never be filled.

Without John she'd have no one to hold her. She'd have no one who understands. She 
knows that he does not judge her, because he knows that every decision a parent makes is 
always made wanting to provide the best for the child.

He understands her decision. 

Doggett wraps his arms tighter around her, a tear rolls down his face. He rests his chin on 
her shoulder and runs his fingers through her wet hair. She kisses the back of his hand 
and thanks him, in a whisper, for being here for her tonight.

Their common grief has drawn them together, closer than either of them ever imagined 
they'd be in such a short time. In their comforting silence they both wish that something 
more than grief helped to bring them together, but they also know that their common 
grief has formed a bond which can never be broken. 

End