First Date 2: Lanie

Pairing: Skinner/Doggett.

Rating: G - PG

Status: New, complete

Feedback: Please!

Series/Sequel: Yeah - sequel to First Date - and Wolf 2

Disclaimers: Not my characters - no copyright infringement intended

Notes: Thanks to Jami for the quick and dirty beta.

Sorry - no sex this time - next one, I promise!

Summary: Christmas with Walter and John... and Lainie

First Date 2: Lanie
by Jennie

I'm running as fast as I can. Beau is at my side, pacing me. We're not headed anyplace special - just running for the sheer joy of it.

He's a beautiful animal - a Black-n-Tan Coon Hound. Sleek and shiny, body taut with muscles... God, I love this dog. He's my best friend. My pride and joy.

All my friends are green with envy.

Now I'm in bed, Beau curled at my side keeping me warm on this cold winter night. Mama would KILL me if she knew - "No dogs in bed, Johnny," she says. "It's unsanitary."

Women!

I sigh and throw one arm around his shoulder, pulling him closer.

****

Reluctantly, I start to wake. Smile at the memory of my childhood companion. Damn, I'd loved that dog!

A warm body shifts, a heavy head comes to rest on my chest.

Am I still dreaming?

Heated breath blows gently across my face.

What the hell?

I open one eye and look down. Open the other and gasp. There's a dog in my bed. Black and tan. But.... SHIT! It's a Rottweiler! A BIG Rottie.

Heart pounding, I scramble out of the bed and stare at it in stunned amazement.

He - or is it a she? - fixes a reproachful look on me. Stretches languidly and rises to its feet.

Damn - this is a REALLY big dog. Gotta weigh at least a hundred pounds...

After shaking itself, the dog jumps off of the bed and walks over to the bedroom door. Waits patiently for me to get the message: "I wanna go out - NOW."

Okay - gotcha. Don't know where the hell you came from, but, for now, I'll just go along with it.

I stumble downstairs to the kitchen and let the dog outside. Look around. Hmmm... Bag of dog food, box of Milk Bones - the super large size - bowls, a colorful collection of toys on the table. Leash and collar - in pink - guess it's a girl.

And, a card. I open it and, surprise, surprise, Walter - good old Walt - is the culprit. I can just imagine him chortling to himself as he imagines my response.

Bastard.

Smart-ASSED bastard.

An impatient 'woof' tells me that she's done with her morning business. After letting her in (gotta put a towel or something down here - the muddy footprints she brings with her are NOT attractive) I open the box of treats and hand one over. Her eyes thank me, then she proceeds to eat her cookie - scattering crumbs all over my floor.

I'd managed to forget how messy dogs are.

The card has informed me that she eats one cup of food in the AM, two in the evening. And, her name is Elaine - 'Lainie' is her call name. With a sigh, I fix her a bowl of food, setting it down with a full bowl of water. Then, FINALLY, I fix myself a cup of coffee. We share our morning sustenance, then she comes over and lays across my feet.

Have I mentioned how BIG she is?

Why the hell has Walt gifted me with a dog? How did he manage to sneak in and leave her here? And, how do I refuse his present without hurting his feelings? I can't keep a dog. Don't even want to HAVE a dog.

Shit!

Lainie rolls onto her back and looks at me adoringly.

I'm in huge trouble here...

I'd always thought of Rotties as aggressive, dangerous, mean. This one though... such soft eyes. An apparently mellow personality. And she gives all the signs of being madly in love with me.

Damn that Walter. How did he know?

And, speaking of Walter... where the hell is he? I distinctly remember him being here last night. Falling asleep in my bed after a bout of exuberant sex. Yep, he was here, all right. So, where has he gone and what the hell is he up to now?

The mind boggles at the possibilities...

I'm just getting a second cup of caffeine when I hear it. Lainie hears it too and bounds into the living room, barking ferociously at the person daring to knock at my door. I know who it is - hell, who ELSE could it be? I wander over and unlock the deadbolt, pulling the door open.

Yep, it's him. Walter. Wearing a shit-eating grin.

Why do I put UP with him?

"Enter at your own risk," I say snarkily, as Lainie continues to show her protective nature in a most vocal manner.

He walks in - and damn that dog - she greets him enthusiastically. Falls all over the man, in fact. Kisses him. Actually whines her pleasure at seeing him. He kneels and returns the greeting.

Watching this touching little scene, I begin to suspect that this is really a present to himself. We'll just see about THAT!

"So," I ask sternly, arms propped on my hips. "Care to tell me what prompted this - why you've given me a dog... a BIG dog. One you know full well I can't keep?"

A blush colors his face and he won't meet my eyes. Ah ha!

"Walter?"

"I... um... well, you always tell me stories about Beau and... well, when my newest nephew turned out to be allergic to dogs-"

"Uh huh. You decided to dump her on ME?"

"Not 'dump' exactly," he says defensively. "You know I can't have a dog in the condo - and I've always been fond of her - and my sister BEGGED for my help, John."

"And just what do you expect me to do with her when I'm out of town on a case?"

"I'll move in and take care of her."

Huh. Now that he mentions it... But first, where the hell has he been?

"Okay, we'll discuss that a little later. How about some coffee? And, an explanation of just exactly where you ran off to this morning would be nice."

He shrugs. "Went home. I forgot the gifts we bought for Dana and William."

Oh. Oh shit. The last thing I want today is a trip to Scully's - I just know it'll bring back memories of holidays past.

He walks over and closes his arms around me, holding me close. "It'll be fine, John. You'll see."

I sigh and relax against him. He feels good - safe - warm.

A cold nose nudges at my midriff. I start and look down at Lainie. "Yeah? What do you want now?"

"She's just feeling left out, John."

"Great," I grumble. "Just what I needed - a needy woman in my life."

Skinner releases his hold on me and reaches down to scratch Lainie's head. "Say, didn't you offer me coffee?"

We head into the kitchen. I quickly fix his coffee - and another for myself. Settled at the table, he smiles at me. "Merry Christmas, John."

OH... I have a ...

Rising to my feet, I head out to the living room. "Was it something I said?" he asks plaintively.

"Hang on, big guy. I have something for you, too."

Returning, I nervously hand him an envelope. "I... hope you like it."

So slowly that I'm about to scream with impatience, he opens it and pulls out the card. Opens it. Carefully removes the key I've taped inside and looks at me curiously.

I clear my throat. Look at the floor, the stove, the ceiling. "I thought it was time, Walt. For you to have a key. For us to... um... I want us to spend more time together. Want to sleep with you every night. Wake up with you every morning. I want you to move in here with me."

He opens his mouth, but no sounds emerge. Damn. I've managed to strike him speechless!

Sure do hope this is a good thing...

Soft brown eyes meet mine, and he smiles. "John, I suppose this is a good time to tell you that I've fallen in love with you."

Wow!

Damn!

Now I've lost my ability to speak. Never really thought he'd actually return my feelings. Not in a million years. I rise to my feet with such force that my chair falls over backwards. Alarmed, he stands too, watching me with such hope - and more than a little fear. Rushing over to him, I throw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Walter... I love you, too."

He releases a heavy sigh and hugs me back.

"So, whaddya say we go upstairs? Fuck like bunnies." He pauses. "No, let's make love... like bunnies."

I don't know what I ever did to deserve this - him - never thought I'd fall in love again. But, hell, I'm happy - happier than I've been in years!

Grabbing his hand, I drag him up to the bedroom. Lainie seems to think this is a GREAT idea. Before we've even reached the room, she's in bed.

This won't work. Not at all. "Off!" I tell her in a stern voice. Reluctantly, she does as I say. I wave her out of the room, closing the door behind her.

"We're gonna have to get a larger bed, you know," Walt informs me. "She'll pout if we don't let her sleep with us."

Well, well, well. Looks like I have a housemate - a lover. And a dog.

A family.

I smile and nod. "We'll go shopping tomorrow."

"Good," he agrees. "Great"

I grin wickedly. "But right now..." I leap on him, pushing him onto the mattress. "We make love. Fuck... like bunnies."

"Thought you'd never ask," he says.

I could grow to like Christmas - now that I have him in my life...

end