Author:  Scifinerdgrl
Title:  Please Release Me
Rating: PG 
Classification: S/T (Action, no X-File)
Spoilers: "Release"
Keywords: Post-ep, Missing Scene (Release), Doggett/Follmer
friendship
Summary:  Is Brad slimy enough to slither out of his latest
trouble?
Feedback: scifinerdgrl@mail.ev1.net or scifinerdgrl@hotmail.com
Flames: whocareswhatyouthink@biteme.com

*************************

Doggett's jaw dropped when he saw who had killed Regali: 
Follmer.

The two men stared at each other as the witness screamed
hysterically.  Suddenly, Doggett  remembered the gun in his hand
and raised it, pointing it toward the woman's face.  She stopped
screaming, and her eyes widened as his narrowed over the barrel
of the gun.  After a few quick, labored, breaths she said in a
high-pitched, trembling voice, "Don't shoot.  I didn't see
anything... nothing.... really...."

The tip of Doggett's gun drooped slightly.  It was less than an
inch, but it was all she needed.  She turned and ran around the
corner, her heels clicking unevenly on the pavement.

Doggett turned and saw Follmer's gun pointed at where the woman's
head had been.  "It's over," he said pointedly.  When Brad didn't
move he added, "Follmer? ... Brad?"

Brad blinked and looked at Doggett, his face blank, almost
catatonic.  The two men put their guns away, Follmer
subconsciously following Doggett's motions.  "C'mon," Doggett
said, nodding toward their car.

They drove several blocks in silence, until Brad said, "Here." 
Doggett obeyed, pulling the car into an alley behind a row of
brick townhouses.  The car bounced over the uneven pavement,
passing garages and garbage cans on both sides.  "Here," Brad
said again, and Doggett pulled the car into an open garage.  

After putting the car in "park," Doggett turned in his seat and
said, "Well?"  He paused and waited for Follmer to face him. 
When he had his attention, he continued, "Why'd you do it?"

Brad looked down and sighed, a shallow, profoundly sad sigh.  He
brought his eyes up to look into Doggett's.  John wasn't sure if
Brad was searching for words or fighting off tears.  Perhaps it
was both.  "Okay.  Don't ask, don't tell... I can do that,"
Doggett offered.  "What about the rest of the plan?  Should we go
through with it?"  Brad nodded.

Doggett reached into his pocket for his cellphone, but was
stopped by the firm grip of Follmer's hand on his elbow.  With
his other hand, Follmer pulled a cellphone from his coat pocket
and held it in front of him.  Slowly, with a confused expression,
Doggett put his cellphone away and took the one offered to him. 
"This number doesn't exist," Follmer explained.  

Doggett wasn't sure which was more reassuring, the safety of the
phone or Follmer's presence of mind.  "Thanks" Doggett said.

After releasing his seatbelt, Follmer turned in and reached under
the rear of the driver's seat.  Doggett watched as Follmer's body
uncurled, his hand trailing the long lanky arm, a tape player and
its cables trailing after.  When he was upright again, Follmer
pulled out the cables and hit the "rewind" button, then "play."

The two men stopped breathing as they heard the words of the dead
man.   "Suppose a business man..."  Brad stopped the tape and
looked to Doggett.  He held out his hand for the cellphone and
Doggett handed it over.  He punched a few numbers then said,
"Listen... you need to hear this..."  He put the phone to the
tape player's tiny speaker and hit "play."

After playing more than he could stand, Follmer stopped the tape
and spoke into the phone.  "The usual place.  Back door." 
Doggett heard the huskiness in Follmer's voice, and as he
listened, he swallowed the lump in his own throat. Watching as
Follmer started wiping the phone with a handkerchief, Doggett
blinked back tears.  Follmer rolled down the window, tossed out
the phone, then said, "Let's get the hell out of here."

After driving in a seemingly random pattern, on Follmer's
direction, Doggett pulled the car to a stop in a church parking
lot.  They parked at a distance from the few cars in the lot.

"Let's get rid of the wire here," Follmer ordered.  Doggett
unbuttoned his shirt, and before he knew what was happening,
Follmer reached over and ripped the wire off his chest, the tape
pulling out enough chest hairs to make Doggett cry out.  Follmer
threw open the car door and walked quickly to a flower bed,
balling the wire in his hand as he did.  With his toe he pushed
aside the decorative bark.  He looked over his shoulder then
stepped over the bark, his back to Doggett and the street. 
Spreading his legs, he hunched his shoulders slightly, and pulled
his hands in front of him.

Watching from the car, Doggett struggled to suppress a laugh.  If
anyone were to see Follmer standing there, they would certainly
turn away.  He watched as Follmer made all the motions to finish
his charade then returned to the car.  As he drew his shoulder
belt around himself, Follmer noticed Doggett's appreciative
smirk.  His only answer was a pair of raised eyebrows.  Obeying
the silent command, Doggett eased the car out of its parking
space and back to the road.

They drove a route that seemed more direct, taking major roads
and highways.  They arrived at a public library in the suburbs,
and Follmer nodded to Doggett to get out of the car.  Follmer put
the cassette into his coat pocket and followed Doggett.  They
stood at the back entrance, and in a moment the door opened.

"Got it?" a well-dressed man asked.  Follmer pulled the cassette
out of his pocket, and the man pulled a walkman out of his.  He
listened to the tape for a few seconds, shaking his head, then
slammed the "stop" button. "Okay -- problem taken care of," the
man said flatly.  He pulled a videotape out of his coat pocket
and handed it to Brad.  "Stay in touch," he said, and walked back
inside.

They drove back to FBI headquarters, neither speaking, both lost
in their thoughts and emotions. After they'd parked, Brad said,
"You almost blew it." Doggett pursed his lips, for the first time
reliving the anger that drove him to pull out his gun. Brad
opened the glove box and pulled out a small cassette recorder,
then took out the tape and handed it to Doggett. "This one's for
you. You might need it."

Doggett's surprised expression drove Brad to continue. "You don't
think I'd give away the only copy, do you?" As a stunned Doggett
took the offered tape, Brad opened his door and got out.

Doggett leaned toward the passenger side and pushed against the
door, keeping it open. "What do you mean, I nearly blew it? YOU
blew it!" he said, angrily. 

After looking around first, Brad leaned forward and said under
his breath, "Your part in this needn't get any bigger. That tape
would have been enough." He leaned further forward, his face
jutting just inside the passenger compartment. "Wise guys have
kids too, you know." Follmer studied Doggett's face until he was
sure the less experienced conspirator understood, then he
continued, "She loves you. Don't disappoint her." 

He straightened up, slammed the car door, and walked away as
Doggett watched in the rearview mirror. 

THE END