From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org Date: 5 Apr 2004 01:51:06 -0000 Subject: A Day in the Life, The Lone, Lone Gunman, Part 17 by Girlie_girl74 Source: direct Reply To: girlie_girl74@yahoo.com Title: A Day in the Life, part 17, The Lone, Lone Gunman Author: Girlie_girl7 Date: 04-04-04 Email: Girlie_girl74@yahoo.com Rating: PG Category: Family fic Spoilers: Existence then AU Archive: Anywhere Disclaimer: Fox owns 'em. Summary: Frohike and Scully have a chat. Notes: I know this is out of order but it was recently brought to my attention that I can't count ;). ~ The Lone, Lone Gunman ~ A pretty, red head, dressed in a stylish cable knit sweater and black slacks is pushing a shopping cart that holds a beautiful baby girl. Her curly, brown hair matches her long, dark lashes while her skin is a shade darker than her mother's Northern European tone but the baby's features are delicate and fine like her mother's. She is a beautiful combination of seriousness and playfulness, of warmth and tenderness, of laughter and joy; a combination of her loving parents. She's dressed in red corduroy bibs, her father's favorite color on her, along with a white, long sleeved turtleneck underneath. Her feet are clad in white leather baby shoes, but only she knows how long it will be before she takes them off. They walk down several aisles, browsing and putting various items into the cart. "Scully, is that you?" The woman hears a familiar voice and turns around. "Frohike?" A little man in a vest and well-worn blue jeans approaches the woman. "I thought that was you and I see you have the baby with you," he says taking Katherine's tiny hand. Scully looks down at her daughter and smiles, "Yes, we decided the day was so nice that we would catch up on some of our shopping." Frohike looks around Scully, "Where is William?" "He's at a program run by the church. He goes twice a week and gets to play with other kids." "That's cool," Frohike says, "kids need interaction." Scully has to smile at the childless sage. "So what brings you here Frohike?" "Food, if it weren't for starving to death you would never catch me in one of these super stores." "Why don't you let Byers or Langley do the shopping?" Scully asks as she puts a box of tissues into her cart. Frohike stares at her, "Are you kidding, have you seen the way those two eat?" "No," Scully smiles, "can't say as I have." "You're lucky," Frohike huffs. "Mind if I tag along?" "Not at all, in fact you can help me keep an eye on Katherine. She loves to shop for herself. Last week, when I got home, she had put a packet of corn pads into the cart. Mulder teased me all evening, saying they were mine," Scully laughs. "So how is the old man?" Frohike asks as they pass the dairy case. "He's fine," Scully says as she grabs two gallons of milk. "Here, let me." Frohike takes the jugs from Scully and places them into her cart. "Thanks," Scully smiles at the little man. "How's work going for him these days?" "Busy," Scully says putting a bag of fat-free chips into her cart. "The Bureau wants us to work with their terrorism division, teaching." "No shi...kidding." Frohike catches himself before he says anymore in front of Katherine. "I'll bet Mulder is about to bust his buttons, finally getting the recognition he damn well deserves, after all these years. Oh sorry, that one just slipped out." "That's okay," Scully smiles, "and yes, he is." They walk together down the canned goods aisle. "So you're involved in this terrorism thing too, huh Scully?" Scully picks up a can of hash and reads the label on the back of it then puts it back on the shelf. "It would appear that way." Frohike grabs a jar of tamales, "Care if I share your cart?" "No go ahead, but be sure you take those with you, Mulder will think I've caved and I'm buying him junk food." Frohike laughs and picks a packet of taco mix out of the cart and hands it to Scully. "You might want to put this back unless you're going to let Katherine mix up a batch of tacos." Scully rolls her eyes and puts the little packet back on the shelf "I'll have to admit it Scully, I never pictured Mulder settling down." Scully puts two boxes of baby teething biscuits in the cart, while Katherine helps herself to another one. "He is trying, but once in awhile he strays. Like the time he was taken hostage." "I remember that Scully, he nearly got himself killed," Frohike says. "Yes he did, but we straightened it out later." "Did you threaten to divorce him?" Frohike questions "No," Scully laughs as she shakes her head, "but we did have a long talk about priorities." "Just give him a chance Scully, he's new at this 'no roaming' life style. Kinda like a dog that has been allowed to run and is finally tied up." "You make our marriage sound so wonderful, Frohike," Scully dryly replies. Frohike turns red, "Come on Scully, you know what I mean." "Yes I do." They walk down the cereal aisle. "It's amazing the amount of cereal William can eat. He could live on it if I let him." "Ya know Scully, Mulder is always telling us things that William has done. He's really proud of his son." "I'm glad to hear that. William adores his father." "Lucky man," Frohike mumbles. Scully leans one arm on the cart and looks at Frohike, "Melvin, there is something I have always wanted to ask you." "You know you can ask me anything," Frohike says looking her straight in the eyes. "When Mulder was partnered with Diana, how involved were they?" "Haven't you talked this over with Mulder?" Frohike questions. "I guess it never really came up or maybe I was afraid to hear it from his lips," Scully confesses. Frohike shrugs, "They were tight, I mean, he thought she really cared for him." "But she didn't?" Scully softly asks. Frohike shakes his head, "All she wanted to do was hitch her star to the best profiler the FBI had seen in sixty years. He was the best of the best and it made her look good." "So she used Mulder?" "And tossed him away when she had built up her own credibility." "That's too bad, I didn't know," Scully says with her head hung low. Frohike takes a box of Pop Tarts from Katherine and puts them back on the shelf. "I think that's why he danced around you for all those years." Scully frowns. "What do you mean?" "Come on Scully, you had to know he fell hard for you." Scully looks surprised. "Geeze, you're supposed to be an investigator," Frohike laughs. "He would come over and talk incessantly about a case you two were working on, but we knew it was just a cover so he could talk about you, or if you two had been fighting he would be moody and mope around." "I didn't know," Scully says as she turns to look at the interesting cans of corn, trying to hide the blush covering her face. "And that time you had the date with that screwball in Philly, well it damn near killed him." Scully whips her head around. "I didn't mean to hurt him, I just felt like I was spinning my wheels in my life." "See I got this all figured out," Frohike says as he leans against the side of the shopping cart as Scully fills it with canned goods, "Mulder was burned by all the woman he cared about in his life, even that British chick Bee Bee or whatever the hell her name was." "Pheobe," Scully corrects. "Yeah, that's the one, anyway, then you came along and he not only cared about you, he loved you but he was afraid he would lose you so he kept his distance. Used that tired, old line 'against Bureau Policy'. Scully this was coming from a man who loved to breech Bureau Policy!" Scully agrees with Frohike while Katherine has put two miniature cans of squash into the cart unbeknownst to Scully. Frohike eyes Scully. "What?" She questions. "So Scully tell me, why didn't you make a move years ago? I mean, it was obvious you were nuts about the guy." "I do not go 'nuts' over guys," Scully huffs. "Okay, gaga, hot for, head over heels for..." "I get the idea Frohike," Scully says as she tries to get a box off the top shelf. "Sorry Scully, I can't help ya there," Frohike states. "I hate being short," Scully mumbles. "Try being a man and being shorter than you are!" Scully looks at Frohike sympathetically. A tall, young, dark haired man approaches Scully. "May I help you?" He says as he reaches up and grabs the box. "Thank you," Scully smiles. "Show off," Frohike mumbles. The man smiles at Scully and tickles Katherine under the chin before he leaves. Frohike watches him, "I was so jealous I could have kicked his ass and I'm not even married to you." He turns around. "How does Mulder do it?" Scully has to laugh, "Well he has yet to strike anyone for helping me reach a box of Wheaties." They walk down the baking ingredients aisle. Scully stops to look at the assortment of Jell-O while Katherine picks out a cake mix for her self. "William loves Jell-O Jigglers," she says as she picks up several boxes of the sweet treat. Frohike picks up a cake mix, "Wow, Butter Brickle, I didn't know they were still making that!" "You like that?" Frohike tears his eyes from the box to look at Scully, "I'll say. My mom used to make this for my birthday when I was a kid." Scully takes the box from his hand and places it in her cart. "Grab the frosting that goes with it and I'll make it for you next Sunday for dessert." Frohike's face breaks in a huge, kid like, grin as he seeks out the matching frosting. They walk past the marshmallows and assorted nuts. Scully starts to pick up a sack of flour when Frohike stops her, "Here, let me get that for you." He makes room for the heavy sack in the bottom of the cart. "Thank you Frohike, Mulder usually just tosses it on top of everything else," Scully laughs. "So Scully, you didn't answer my question." "Hum," She replies, reading the label on a can of cherry pie filling but in actuality is trying to ignore Frohike's question. "What was that?" "Why didn't you put the moves on Mulder, and don't give me that Bureau Policy crap; he's got looks, charm, and I'm sure the largest organ in his body is his brain, unless you want to tell me different," Frohike grins. Scully blushes and runs her tongue around her bottom lip, something Frohike finds fascinating to watch. "I don't know, I guess I didn't want to ruin our partnership." Frohike stares at her and grins, "So you're sticking with that?" Scully rests her elbow on the shopping cart; unaware that Katherine has just purchased a box of raisins for the family. "I did love Mulder; I think I always have, well not from the beginning back then I wanted to strangle him, but I think I was afraid." "Afraid? Afraid of what?" Frohike softly asks. "Afraid he didn't love me back, and if he didn't then I couldn't be his partner anymore." Scully looks down at the floor and shakes her head, "It was all so complicated." "Sounds pretty simple to me," Frohike says taking a box of figs from Katherine, "you were both afraid of being hurt." Scully laughs, "You should write a lovelorn advice column Frohike." "You haven't read the latest edition of the Lone Gunmen have you?" Frohike grins. They continue down the next aisle putting assorted pastas and sauces into the cart. An elderly woman is having a hard time trying to get a bag of macaroni off a low shelf. "Here ma'am let me get that for you," Frohike says as he picks up the bag and hands it to the woman. "Thank you son, my old joints just won't let me bend over like I used to." "Not a problem," Frohike smiles. The woman plays with Katherine's brown curls, "What a lovely daughter you have!" "Yes she is, isn't she," Frohike beams as he steps a little closer to Scully. "Well, thank you once again," the woman says as she continues around the corner. "I can dream, can't I," Frohike says to Scully in a form of apology. She smiles at him and takes him by the elbow, "Come on, and let's finish our shopping." They walk down the condiment aisle and Frohike puts a jar of pickled onions into the cart, as does Katherine. "So you're going back to work too?" "I plan on it," Scully says as she pushes the cart. Frohike stops walking, "Scully, why don't you let me push this thing. I feel funny letting a woman push a cart loaded with groceries, no offense, I don't mean it as a gender thing." "None taken," Scully laughs. She walks over to the frozen food cases and looks around while Frohike pushes the cart and entertains Katherine. She selects two frozen pizzas and a gallon of ice cream. "I need to get some chicken, then we're all done." "I need to pick up some brats. Langley found a great recipe on one of the UFO sites on the 'net." Scully frowns, "There are recipes on UFO sites?" "Guy said he was abducted and all they fed him was brats," Frohike says as he grabs a package of the sausage. "Good thing he remembered to write down the recipe when he was returned." Scully looks at Frohike confused, then picks out several packages of chicken strips. "Do you like stir-fry, Frohike?" "I love any kind of 'fry'," Frohike jokes. "Then be at our house, Sunday at 6:30, and I'll make dinner and your Butter Brickle cake, and bring Byers and Langley." "Do I have to," Frohike whines. "Yes, Will loves to play with Langley," Scully laughs. "Well they are the same age, mentally," Frohike mumbles. Scully walks into the produce section. "I should pick up some fresh fruit. I'm trying to get William to eat more fruit and less junk but that's hard to do with Mulder slipping him that stuff every chance he gets." Scully looks over the apples and chooses a few to purchase. "You have to remember Scully, Mulder had to fend for himself for years. He once told me, guys are just bears with furniture and he was right." "I'm just trying to get him to eat healthier," she says as she grabs a bunch of bright yellow, bananas. "I know you are and that's great that you worry, but don't be too hard on him, after all he's been through he deserves the occasional plate of nachos." Scully's eyes turn red and begin to brim with tears as she looks out over the vast store lost in her thoughts. "Oh Scully! I didn't mean to make you cry," Frohike says as he rips open the box of tissues Scully put into the cart earlier. "Here," he says offering her a tissue. Scully dabs at her eyes and giggles, "I'm so sorry Frohike, but when I think about what was done to him I can't help it. Those emotions are still too close to the surface." Katherine looks up at her mother and offers her a grape she has stolen. "Katherine you cannot eat those, you might choke." Scully takes the grape from her daughter and places it in the bag along with the ones she had just selected. Frohike places his arm around Scully and gives her a gentle squeeze. "You're a good woman, Dana." "Thanks Frohike," Scully blushes. "We need to get these paid for so I can pick up William." They walk together to the first free checkout. Scully begins to put her groceries on the belt. "Let me help you," Frohike says and begins to unload her cart. Katherine has now added three packages of gum and a roll of dental floss to the family groceries. "I think the rest are yours," Scully says looking down at the little pile of groceries left in the bottom of the cart. "If you wait, I'll walk you to your car," Frohike offers. Scully has to smile, she is a fully trained FBI Agent about to be escorted to her car by a myopic, out of shape, middle-aged man that for some reason she finds endearing. While she waits on Frohike, she puts Katherine's coat and hat on the baby then puts on her own camel colored, wool coat, the one she got from Mulder for Christmas. She plays with Katherine, beeping the baby's tiny nose causing her to giggle. Frohike looks on and smiles at the gentle interplay going on between mother and daughter. He pays his bill and picks up his bags. "Why don't you put those in my cart?" Scully offers. "Only if you'll let me push it," Frohike grins. Scully steps away and Katherine puts out her hands. "Okay, I'll carry you, but only if you leave your hat on," she tells the baby tugging her hat down once more. "Does she take it off?" Frohike asks as he pushes the cart through the pneumatic doors. "All the time," Scully laughs looking down at her daughter, "don't you sweetie." She kisses the baby's cheeks and holds her tight away from the wind. "Over there," She says pointing to the Cherokee. "You buckle the baby in and I'll load the groceries," Frohike offers. Scully unlocks the doors and opens the backdoor to put Katherine in her car seat. "All done," Frohike says dusting off his hands. Scully gets in her vehicle and rolls down the window. "Thanks Frohike, we should shop together more often," she laughs. "Anytime Scully," Frohike laughs and adds, "thanks for being my pretend wife for the last hour." Scully can tell Frohike isn't joking, "It was my pleasure, Melvin." She starts the engine, rolls up the window and waves then pulls away. "No it was my pleasure," Frohike sighs as he watches her drive off. Scully has picked up William, driven home, and carried in all the groceries. Katherine is seated in her highchair eating a teething biscuit while William is working on a banana. He always comes home starved from church school. Mulder walks in the backdoor while Scully is unpacking the bags. "You couldn't have gotten here ten minutes earlier?" Scully teases. Mulder kisses her forehead; "If I had known you had all this to carry in I would have cut out a few minutes early." "Excuse accepted but you can help me put these away," Scully tells him. "Hi guys!" Mulder says looking at his kids. "Hi do-dee," Will says around a mouth full of banana, Katherine just smiles a mushy teething biscuit grin and pats her tray. Mulder takes off his trench coat and tosses it and his suit jacket over a stool. He begins to take the groceries out of the bags and place them on the counter so Scully can put them away. He grabs a can and a tube and reads the labels on each and frowns; holding them up he says, "Why did you buy hemorrhoid creme and a medication for jock itch?" Scully looks up in confusion and begins to read the labels. "Is there something you're not telling me, Scully?" Mulder grins. Scully raises one eyebrow and looks over at her daughter, "Katherine!" ~ The End ~