Rating: PG13

Summary: A case brings on a heart breaking choice that force’s Monica to make a decision and deal with it

Notes: My first non-MSR. It’s a heart breaker people. You’ve been warned. (FIANLLY!!!)

Disclaimer: Mulder and Scully don’t belong to me. Nether does Jennifer. BUT Monica, Artimus, and Brian do though.

Feedback: [email protected]

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Special Agent Fox Mulder sat at his desk frowning as a small petite woman walked in. Dropping her bag on her desk Special Agent Dana Scully poured herself a cup of coffee under the unhappy and worried gaze of her partner. She turned away from the coffee machine.

"Scully…"

"Yeah Mulder?" She leaned back and rubbed her eyes.

"We’ve got another case. And you’re going to love where we have to go." She gave him a questioning look. "Want to go for a nice walk in the woods?"

"Oh no." He nodded as she walked over to look over his shoulder at the file.

"Yeah. But I have the feeling it’s just a bunch of kids with a little too much time on their hands. Probably only be there a few days before it’s over." She growled and he handed her the file. A bunch of kids saw a walking crocodile that spoke.

"Monica?"

"Already checked. Rose said that they had all been out to dinner that night."

"I’m insulted that you think I would pull such a low prank." They turned and a tall black haired woman leaned against the doorframe. "I would have done a dolphin."

Scully shook her head and took the file from Mulder. Monica cleared her throat and stepped out of the doorway. A short brown haired woman stepped in after her. Her hair was pulled back into a neat bun at the back of her head. She was dressed in a black business suit that made her deep brown eyes swirl.

"Guys, meet Special Agent Jennifer Dowler. Jen, Special Agent Fox Mulder and Special Agent Dana Scully." Scully watched Jennifer while Mulder shot Monica a questioning look. "She’s my partner, for now anyway. And I’m stuck to you two like glue on this one. Skinner gave me the word, so she goes along for the ride."

"I’ve already made reservations with a hotel, for a plane, and two cars as well." She handed them each a plane ticket. "Two hours to pack. Now if you would excuse me I have some business to tend to." And she left just like that.

"Where the hell did you pick her up?" Mulder asked as Monica took a seat in front of his desk.

"She’s fresh out of the academy. Skinner said I would show her the ropes for her first case. Unfortunately her first case is with you, and if she doesn’t quit after this case I’ll want to keep her for my partner. Especially if she can keep you on her schedule."

"Huh?" She pulled a piece of paper out of her coat pocket and tossed it at him. He read it and looked up.

"I got the from her pocket. She even has what time she should eat and change and when she should finish that stuff."

"Scully come here." She walked over to him.

"What?" The two women echoed waiting for an explanation from Mulder.

"Look." He read from the paper. "Meet Agents Mulder and Scully."

"So? She could have gotten your names from anywhere. Hell, Skinner told us yesterday we we’re going to be assisting you two on this case. Maybe she can see the future. Who knows, but I doubt she’s working with the dark force’s of government." He glared at her, daring her to believe and yet to not believe the possible.

"How can you be sure?" Scully saw it, in the eyes of Monica. She was fighting herself, about to wrap her hand around his neck and keep it there till he was gone.

"Don’t you think I would know? Don’t you think I already looked into her head and found nothing about the-"

"How can you be so sure?" The sounds echoed around the office. The growl that had escaped Monica’s throat just seconds before her open palm connected his skin in an awful sounding slap. He stepped back, hand going to his cheek to check for blood.

"Shit. Mulder, look I’m sorry. I was already wound up, you…" a sigh and she dropped her head. "Look. You didn’t have to question me like that. I’ve only got a few hours; I have to find Brian. If I’m not on the plane I’ll meet you out there alright?" And she left. Mulder looked to Scully for sympathy but that wasn’t what she gave him.

"You got what you deserved. You knew she still has trouble controlling that temper, and you still pushed her buttons. Your very lucky she didn’t rip your throat out." Scully grabbed her coat and purse and walked towards the door. "I have to pack. Pick me up?"

"Sure."

Ska blasted from the tape player as she drove downtown. Brain had to be home. She needed his arms around her, especially for losing control like that. What if she did it in the field? She still lost control some times and that was bad because if she lost control she might change in plain sight of the people that would hurt her.

She slammed on the breaks and turned off the car. She got out and ran up into the apartment building. She flew up the stairs two at a time. When she reached the apartment she pulled out her key and unlocked the door.

"Bri-" Nothing. She walked into the empty apartment and looked around in disbelief. Brian was gone? "Brian?"

Worry took over her senses. She raced through every room. Scared of what she would or would not find. The place was empty, nothing there. She stood staring at a shelf, it held the only thing in the apartment. She reached up and took down the picture. It was of her when she’d tried dying her hair red. The auburn strands danced around her face. She collapsed, holding the picture close to her heart. The tears around her eyes, the fear of being alone clouding around her heart, and her heart itself breaking into a million pieces.

Mulder tapped the ticket against his leg. Where was she? Scully paced behind him, just as worried. And Jennifer sat in a chair, bouncing her foot. People walked past them to board the plane. Scully placed a hand on his shoulder as they both spotted her.

"Something’s wrong." Scully said softly. Mulder nodded and turned to Jennifer.

"She’s here. Go ahead and get on the plane we’ll be on in a minute." She nodded and boarded the plane. Monica stood tall but her friends could see that something was up. She stood in front of them. Her eyes clearly saddened by something.

"Is Brian alright?" She looked away.

"How would I know? He left."

"Gone?" Scully didn’t understand.

"I…really don’t want to talk about it right now ok?" Scully nodded, and grabbed her bag. Monica was about to take a step when Mulder put his hand on her shoulder. She looked at him a nodded to answer his silent question. She followed Scully and after a moment he did the same.

The whole plane trip all Monica thought about was that picture. The red hair framing her face perfectly. Her natural silver lashes highlighted her crystal blue eyes. Rose had told her its how the dragons could tell each other apart from humans, while in human form. She closed her eyes and tried to reach Brian with her thoughts for the hundredth time.

She tossed her luggage on the bed. Jennifer sighed and pulled the pencil from her hair and it cascaded down past her shoulders. Their flight had gotten in late so they’d decided to wait till tomorrow to start the investigating. She suspected that there was an alternative motive for Agent Mulder to do that, she wondered.

Something had seemed wrong with Monica, but she couldn’t be sure because Monica had appeared fine. She had picked up on something while she’d sat on the plane next to her. She slipped out of her suit and sighed. She hated suits; she’d only worn one to impress the older agents, to seem professional. She had noticed the hand print on Agent Mulder’s cheek. She wondered if Agent Scully had done it. But she shook that thought right out.

"None of my business."

She slipped into a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. She slipped on her running shoes and knocked on the door to Monica’s room. She turned the knob a minute later, giving Monica a moment to compose herself, if she wasn’t ready to see anyone. Monica sat at the little table the hotel provided, her laptop open in front of her, but it was obvious that her attention was not on the computer.

"I’m going out for a run. I’ll have my cellphone and won’t be gone long." Monica didn’t look her way. She seemed as if she was miles away. "Monica?"

"Call me Mon. And I heard you. I was just thinking. Go ahead, I’ll tell the other two. Just be back at eight. We’ve got a meeting over diner." Monica glanced at her but then turned back to the window.

"Monica, are you alright?" She turned her head slightly.

"Yeah, Brian and I got into a fight, but I’m alright. I’ll settle down to work tomorrow, just need a little quiet time."

"Alright, but if you need to talk to anyone I’m right next door." And she left. Monica turned back to the window and sighed. She stood from the chair she sat in. She moved silently across the room and opened her bag. She pulled out the picture and stared at it.

"Monica! I love you!" The image of Brian so strong in her mind she dropped the picture. She saw him, she felt the rain on her skin, and heard the shout deep in the back of her heart. She remembered things to well. She bent to pick up the picture and noticed something sticking out from the back of the picture frame. She bent down and pulled it from the frame. Afraid, she also picked up the picture and placed them both on the table and starred at them until a knock at her door made her jump.

"Yeah." Mulder entered the room and sat on the bed facing her.

"You want to talk about it?" She turned to look at him.

"He’s gone. I went to his apartment and there was nothing there. Except this." She handed him the picture. "And don’t tell me all the bull shit. I’ve been telling myself it for the past few hours. You must remember I took all the same Psychology classes that you did."

"Are you going to be alright tomorrow?" He put the picture down on the bed and looked at her.

"Yeah. I’ll be able to compose myself enough to make it through tomorrow. Jennifer went out for a jog, and I am not going to follow her." She stood from the chair and opened the door that led out onto the balcony. Mulder stood in the doorway and watched as she looked out over the surrounding forest. Sighing she turned back to him.

"I’m going to do a quick run through the woods. See if I can find anything out there that resembles a monster. And I’ll keep an eye on Jen. I’m afraid she may get picked up if there really IS something out there." He nodded and came out onto the balcony. A scream made them both jump. They raced out of the room, guns out and ready to roll.

"Scully!" Mulders first reaction was to make sure she was alright. She darted out of her room and they made their way down the hall. The scream came again and Monica froze. It came from outside, she spun on her heel and raced back towards her room and out to the balcony. She hopped the rail and fell two stories to hit the ground.

The creature stood taller then her. Green eyes flashed down at her as it changed. It ran away from the hotel, carrying a little girl. Monica raced after it, and watched as it changed into something that she never expected. A dragon, like Rose, herself, and Brian only different. The little girl screamed over and over and Monica roared. She could hear the shouts of Mulder and Scully behind her, as well as the mother’s screaming wail for someone to save her baby.

"No Dragon shall ever take the life of a human, without good reason. And your pushing it pal." Her body began to shift and melt and grow. The tail grew long behind her and her feet became bulky as she fell forward. She roared again as she finished changing. The monster was smaller then her now and it dropped the child, but she still chased it. She reached around with her tail and was about to get the monster when it all went black.

"Monica? Mon?" Brian. Brain!! Monica’s eyes flew open and staring into her face was Dana Scully. Groaning she closed her eyes again as the massive headache hit. "Well, she’s responding."

"What happened?" Monica moaned and tried to sit up.

"That’s what we’d like to know. You, suddenly jumping two stories and chasing a monster out into the woods, and then we hear you roaring. Why the hell did you change? And why didn’t you stop when it dropped the girl?" Mulder asked sitting on a log.

"That thing, was another dragon. He was a shape shifter, and there was no bloody fucking way I was going to let it get away. I was just about to get the bastard and all of a sudden everything goes black."

"Well, I’d say you’ve got a slight concussion. Nothing serious and I know you hate the doctors. Soo…" Dana said moving to sit next to Mulder on the log.

"Hey Scully. I heard the best way to generate body heat is to slip into a sleeping bag naked, with someone else. Who’s naked of course." Scully glared at him. Monica remembered being told about that when they two had gotten back from a teamwork seminar.

"If it rains sleeping bags Mulder…And when pigs fly." When Jennifer walked up, nobody noticed her. Monica was busy telling Mulder and Scully what the monster looked like and her description of the chase.

"So I wrapped my tail around and was about to stop him with it when I blacked out. And I must have automatically changed back when I was knocked unconscious. Thank God Rose taught me that trick."

"Tail? Change? What’s going on?" Jen stood there staring at us. Monica sighed and turned to Mulder. Asking silently if the cops had arrived yet, he shook his head no.

"Jen, you’re not going to believe me at first, but whether you believe it or not you can’t tell any what I can do. My very existence survives by the fact that only a few people know I can do this and if the people who would want to hurt me find out I’m dead. They will kill me or stick me in a lab and pull me apart. Do you promise never to tell anyone what you see here right now?"

"Yes. Now what’s going on?" Monica closed her eyes and her body began to shift. Soon she looked like a giant scaly cat with wings. She laid down a stared at Jen. And after she told her the story of dragons she began to change back.

"You are a dragon?" Monica nodded.

"And I can read your mind, and I can shift into any animal I want. But do you understand why I have to keep this quiet?" Jennifer nodded. She was dumbfounded, unable to speak. Her mind kept telling her that this sort if thing wasn’t possible.

"Freeze!" A cop shout at them from a distance. None of them moved.

"We’re FBI. I’m going to get out my badge." Mulder said when the cop as close enough to hear him. He handed his badge to the officer. Monica suddenly noticed that it was getting dark. Yawning she stood and watched as Mulder and Scully walked and talked with the officer. Jen stood not far from her. Monica took a step and fell over in pain. Jen and Scully both went to her aid.

"It’s not me!" Monica exclaimed and Mulder ushered the officer away quickly before returning to the group.

"If its not you then is it the monster?" Mulder asked.

"No. It either Brian or Rose." She let Scully help her to the log. Monica leaned forward and placed her head in her hands.

"Oh my God." He gasped for air. Falling to the ground, his cloths were ripped and torn all over his body. He growled and dug his fingers into the dirt. The picture of Monica with her face so contorted with anger stuck in his mind.

What had he done? Where was he? Who was this Monica that keeps popping into his mind. The most important question in his mind was of what he was. All he remembered was waking up in the woods and within two days he remembered his name but that was all. He didn’t know why he would suddenly change into…odd…things.

She stood and stumbled to the river that was not far from him. He dropped his head into the water and pulled back. A blond haired brown-eyed man stared back at him. He had blue eyelashes and he couldn’t remember if that was normal for other people. He also had the feeling he was missing something, other then his memory.

His hand went to the slash in his side as it began to hurt. He couldn’t even remember where he’d gotten it. He screamed as the pain got worse and welcomed the darkness that overtook him.

Monica sat in her room. Scully was with her, as well as Mulder and Jen. Monica had almost killed Scully when she’d insisted going to the hospital. Monica had never and would never want to go to the Hospital. Brian had always been able to heal her wounds.

"I don’t think we have to worry about figuring out this who done it." Monica said as she lay back on the bed. There was a fluttering out on the Balcony and a few seconds later a bird flew in. "Artimus! Where the hell have you been?"

The bird landed on the bed by Monica. Jen took a few steps back. "Relax Jen. This is my Guardian, Artimus. Artimus, Jennifer Dowler, she works with me at the FBI."

"Nice to meet you." He turned to Monica. "Have you seen Phoebe or Brian?"

"No. Brian completely moved out of his apartment. There was nothing there when I went to find him the other day." Artimus looked concerned.

"Everything? But that’s not possible. He was…"Artimus trailed off, he had noticed the cut just above her left eyebrow. "Are you alright? What happened?"

"I’m fine. I was just chasing a dragon through the woods. Nothing I can’t handle."

"Oh its only…did you say a dragon? But that’s impossible!" Artimus exclaimed.

"Art. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years its nothing is impossible. And I did see a dragon. Now what were you going to say a minute ago about what Brian was going to do?"

"He was going to move in with you. He wanted it to be a surprise so he didn’t tell you." Monica’s face fell.

"I didn’t even check my apartment. I just figured that he had left. Oh man." Monica covered her eyes. Scully sat down next to her.

"See nothing to worry about. He’s just waiting at home."

"Remember we have a case to finish first." Mulder said and Scully threw him a look.

"I’m just happy he’s alright." She saw up. "Ok, let’s get down to business people. I want to solve this case as fast as we possible can without fucking it up."

This seemed to bring Jen back into the conversation. She puled out a folder. "Here’s what I got from the police. And here’s the report for this evenings attack."

Mulder and Scully both looked impressed. Monica took the folder and glared at the gawking pair.

"Lets move it. Stop staring like a bunch of school girls." Scully snickered as Monica ducked a pillow headed for her head.

She checked her pulse as she jogged in place. It was nice and high like she wanted it. The Blond woman took a sip of her water and stretched her legs.

"No point in getting a cramp." She then began her jog, nice and slow, again. Eventually as she got to the part of the road that got close to the woods she’d sped up, partly from fear and partly from workout habit. A rustling beside her made her turn her head, just before the large black object tackled her. She screamed until a large paw hit her across the face, knocking her unconscious.

The large object stared at the woman for a moment before jumping back into the woods, as a car pulled up. The man in the car jumped out and quickly checked the woman for a pulse as his wife called the police.

"Yeah. M-hmm. I’d say so. Ok, we’ll be right there." Scully closed her cell-phone and turned to the waiting group. "There’s been another attack. A jogger, she’s still in shock, but she says she saw a large cat like thing jump out at her from the woods."

Monica grabbed her leather pilots jacket and followed Mulder and Scully out to the cars. Jen shut the door behind them all and they went down to the police station. Down at the station they didn’t find out much more then the dragon hadn’t hurt the woman other then scaring her.

After looking at the attack spot for clues they headed back to the hotel. Back at the hotel Monica knocked on Mulder’s door just after 1 am, knowing he wouldn’t be asleep.

"What’s up Mon?" He asked as she entered the room.

"I’m going to look for it." It wasn’t a request, nor was she asking for permission. He stared at her for a moment. "And don’t try to stop me. You know I’ll just leave with or without you knowing. Just thought you’d like to know where I was at least."

"Mulder…" Scully walked from her adjoining room, spotting Monica a little to late. "Some thing up Monica?"

"Yeah. I’m going after it." Scully was about to open her mouth and protest but Monica turned and left. Scully turned to Mulder.

"You think she’ll be alright?" She asked sitting on his bed.

"To be honest I don’t know. She’ll have to be I guess." He said laying back.

Monica hopped the little stream that stood in her path. Crouching down she ran her hand along a large dragon print in the mud. A movement caught her eye and she noticed a piece of cloth. It was blue, the thing she’d seen grab the kid yesterday had had on a blue top.

She followed a scent that seemed like she’d smelled it a hundred times before but she couldn’t quiet place it. Something glittering on the ground caught her attention. She bent down to look at it. It was a gold dragon grasping a sword. She gasped, it was the necklace she had given Brian last month. She picked it up and began to run through the woods, following the large path that a large body had made.

She repressed the urge to call out Brian’s name, knowing that would alert the other dragon to her presence. Soon she approached a clearing and she slowed. She hid behind a tree being careful to stay hidden she checked for any signs of danger. She saw none but what she did see almost made her cry.

Brian lay face down in mud, his body was cut and mutilated, cloths torn all over his body. She crouched by his head, gently turning him over. He sighed and opened his eyes. He gasped and then smiled when he saw her.

"Monica…" She pressed her hand to his lips.

"Hush. I have to get you out of here." He lifted a hand at touched her cheek gently. She leaned down and kissed his lips gently, his lips parted and their tongues mingled for a brief few seconds before she pulled back. He smiled. "I’m glad to see you too, now lets get out of here."

She helped him to his feet but the movement made him pass out. So she held him over her shoulder and slowly made it back the way she’d come. About halfway home he began to moan, so she stopped and put him down. She as quickly checked him over he began to change. As she stepped back to watch he changed into a dragon and turned on her.

"Brian, what are you doing?" He roared and sent a flame her way. She narrowly avoided it. He lunged at her while she steadied herself. He grabbed her and began to squeeze, she still didn’t understand what was going on. He threw he across the woods and she hit a tree.

"Brian stop!" He just roared at her, and threw another fireball her way. She finally decided that there was no way she would last if she stayed in human form so she changed into a dragon herself. She roared and lunged at him. He raked a claw down her shoulder. She soon realized that Brian meant to destroy her. And he wouldn’t stop till one of them was dead.

She closed her eyes and let her instincts take over. Not willing to watch him destroyed. Brian fought valiantly but he was no match for a Monica. She threw streams of fire in his face and make quick attacks. She soon tackled him and clawed at his body, when she ripped his skin she dug her nails in deep and pulled up.

Finally, when Brian began to change back so did Monica. She knew she could not save him, nothing could. So she collapsed on the forest floor. She stared at his lifeless form and then at the ground in front of her. Until she heard a faint sound.

"m-mon?" It came from Brian. She crawled over to him, being very cautious, just incase he wanted one last try to kill her.

"Yeah, Brian?" He turned his bloody head to look at her, pain evident in his eyes.

"Oh, god. What did I do you?"

"Don’t you remember?" She moved closer.

"no. I’m sorry mon, please forgive me. I didn’t know what I was doing. I had no control." She was stroking the hair on his head. "I’m glad you did what you did. It was the only way mon, you have to remember that."

"No Brian, please don’t go." Her voice was choked and small, she couldn’t see because her eyes were full of tears. He lifted a hand up to her cheek and with his last ounce of strength he pulled her down to kiss her forehead.

"I love you Monica. Remember that, I will and always have loved you." And his hand slid from her face, his eyes closed and he stopped breathing.

"No! Brian! Please don’t leave me alone! I need you!" She bent forward and grasped his body close to hers, sobbing into his lifeless chest. Her cries filled the night air. "Brian please, don’t go!"

Mulder knocked on the door to Monica’s room for the third time. She still didn’t answer. He was getting worried now. Scully exited her room, and gave him a questioning look.

"She’s not answering."

"Maybe she’s not back yet." Scully knocked on Jen’s door before turning the handle and entering. She crossed to the separator door and opened it. Monica wasn’t in her room, Mulder had followed Scully and now she opened the door to the balcony. Artimus was tapping and stopped when she opened it.

"Have you seen Monica?" She asked the bird, feeling rather stupid.

"She’s in the woods. Come on I’ll show you where. I’m afraid she in bad shape." Scully nodded and jogged out the door and down to the car, Mulder and Jennifer on her heels. Artimus showed them where Monica had entered the woods, about a hundred yards in they came across a large clearing, which in the middle sat Monica and a body not far from her.

"Monica!" Scully called out racing across the clearing. She knelt by her friend, quickly checking over her cuts, and scrapes. "Jen, in the car is a first aid kit. Get it."

Mulder stood staring at the other body. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Brian was supposed to be back in Washington. He turned to Monica, her lifeless position. Her eyes where so cold and barren. It scared him. She looked as if she would stop breathing any minute and just completely give up.

"Monica what happened?" Scully asked gently.

"He…I…"Her eyes filled with tears and she choked back sobs. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "I was tracing the dragon when I found Brian’s necklace. So I raced ahead, and found Brian all cut up and unconscious. So I was taking him back so I could get him to a hospital. Halfway he began to change, and then he…he attacked me. The only way was to destroy him. So…so I did and he’s…he’s…oh god what have I done?" And she slipped into the darkness.

Jennifer came back with the first aid kit and Scully began tending her wounds. Eventually she turned to Mulder. "She needs to get to a hospital. I’ll die if we don’t get her to one."

"What if she doesn’t want to live anyway?" Jen asked quietly.

"She doesn’t have a choice. Not this time anyway."

Monica awoke screaming in her hospital bed. Mulder was beside her in a second, trying to calm her down. She cried into his chest, not letting him go. Scully walked in as he was comforting her.

"I’m sorry Mulder. It’s just…"

"It’s ok, just as long as you don’t snap me in half next time to try to squeeze me that hard." She smiled a little.

"You ready to go home Monica?" Scully asked at the foot of the bed. Monica sighed.

"As ready as I’ll ever be. Did Jen go home?" Scully nodded. "I have the slightest feeling we won’t be seeing her for a while."

They packed Monica up and took their light home. Monica remained quiet the whole trip home. They got their bags and took Monica home. Mulder had offered to take her home while Scully go and try to get a hold of Rose.

Monica opened her door and dropped her suitcase by the door. She strode into the apartment. Unfortunately she had forgotten about Brian’s stuff being n her apartment. So when she saw his belongings she collapsed. She began to cry all over again.

Mulder comforted her and helped her to the bedroom. He got her to lay in the bed and stayed till Mrs. Scully arrived. Dana had called her mother and told her what happened. Mrs. Scully slept on the couch when she wasn’t watching Monica.

Late on night about a week after Mrs. Scully went home and month after that night, Monica walked her apartment. She found the suitcase still by the front door. She opened in an pulled out the picture. And the piece of paper that she’d found in it.

It said:

Don’t forget me. No matter what I’ve said, or done, or what I haven’t done I’ve always loved you. Please remember that Monica.