From: Spooky2u2 Date: 10 Jan 2003 00:53:06 GMT Subject: Rep: Next Time There'll be Baseball Source: atxc Title: Next Time There'll Be Baseball Author: Spooky2u2 Rating: G Disclaimer: Mulder and Scully belong to Fox Catagory: MSR/ Post-Monday Everytime I try to post this, it doesn't seem to work ::crossing fingers this time:: ********************************************************************* His chest was heaving wildly. Sweat trickled down his nose and over his lip. Fox Mulder had startled from his sleep for days now, ever since the robbery attempt at the bank. Every night it was the same-- First an overwhelming panic that Scully was in danger, then sadness, and finally a blinding fear that he was slipping away from his body, his life...from Scully as her eyes pleaded with him to stay. That's when he always woke-- Just when he was sure that the tethers which held him to this earth had been severed with cold, calculating precision. Mulder rose and plodded his way to his bathroom. He flipped the switch on the wall and squinted against the bright light as he padded over to the sink to splash his face with water. The cool water ran down his chin and swirled down the drain as he rubbed at his weary eyes. Mulder looked up in the mirror as he touched his face to find that he was trembling...he hadn't realized. He splashed still more water against the hot skin of his cheeks as if it would somehow stop it. But it didn't. Fighting against the tremors, he grabbed a hand towel from the corner of his sink and rubbed furiously at his hands only to drop it in frustration and run a shaky hand through his hair. He stared intently at his reflection as he leaned on the sink. *It didn't happen. It didn't happen* But it did... He was killed that day, in the time loop and now he lived through the same hell every night of dying a phantom death. They say every experience in life has a lesson. Perhaps he should learn this one and soon... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Mulder, what are you doing here?" Scully had opened her apartment door to find a sheepish Mulder in jeans and a t-shirt staring back at her and was surprised to say the least. "I was in the neighborhood." The small redhead raised a eyebrow at that. "...I could have been in the neighborhood," he told her, with a little too much emphasis on the 'could' to be true. "Uh-huh." Her unwavering gaze dared him to come clean. Mulder took a deep breath and confessed. "Okay...actually, I came by to...see if you were busy." This Mulder was not the Mulder she was used to. There was no quick, excited call to a case, no smooth talking to convince her to head off to parts unknown. He just...asked if she was busy. Hmm. "Busy?" "Busy. As in pre-committed to other activities," he clarifies. "I know what busy means, Mulder. I'm just wondering where this is going," she told him, sounding somewhat suspicious. "Come on, Scully, does this look like the face of a man who would have ulterior motives?" He gave her his best innocent expression. She only wrinkled her brow studying him harder. "Ha-ha," he droned. Scully couldn't help but laugh. "All right. I give, Mulder. What do you want to do?" "I'm not sure I want to tell you now," he told her with false sulkiness. "Fine," Scully bluffed and began to close the door. Mulder caught the door in his hand before it shut. "Okay, all right all right," he told her hurriedly. "A little late night sightseeing." "What?" "Don't ask anymore questions. Just follow me." When had *that* ever turned out well? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Mulder, this is a baseball field," Scully told him unenthused. "Yes, it is a baseball field, " he told her undaunted, "but not *just* a baseball field. Com on." Mulder took Scully by the arm and pulled her forward past the baseball diamond and further into the field beyond . After a bit it seemed they were getting higher, and suddenly Mulder had stopped. "This is the spot." "For what?" "For this." To Scully's surprise, Mulder proceeded to lay in the grass. Perched on his elbow, and resting his chin in his hands, he stared up at her. "Mulder." She sounded a bit annoyed but not completely put off. "Get down here, Scully," he told her warmly with a twinkle in his eye. She still wasn't sure what he was up to. "Grass stains, Mulder. And things crawling in my hair." "This from a woman who actually ate *mud* pie." "I was seven, and that's beside the point," Scully answered with the cool confidence he loved to hear play in her voice. But he had other plans tonight. Mulder grabbed a clump of dirt and grass and pitched it at Scully, hitting her in the chest." she gasped wide-eyed, with her mouth hanging open in shock. "Mulder!" "Oh, look at that. You seem to have gotten something on your clothes. Just a little something right there..." he told her with mock pity, pointing and gazing innocently up at her . "I can *not* believe you just did that," she told him trying her best to sound genuinely scolding as she turned from him to swipe her shirt.. "No? How about this?" Mulder grabbed her jeans at the ankle and jerked Scully's foot out from under her. She let out shriek as she teetered backward, and he sat up to catch her. "Mulder!" She yelled again, giggling in delight this time. Both fell back with a thud. Scully turned in Mulder's arms to swat him on the chest. As her eyes wandered over her hand resting at the center of his chest, her eyes grew serious. She was overwhelmed by the feeling that it had to stay there. He was slipping away. She had to stop it... She brushed caringly over the spot where the phantom wound should be. Finding nothing but a healthy man, she breathed a sigh of relief and remembered where she was. "So exactly what sites were you planning to see out here tonight, Mulder?" She asked with obvious innuendo. Mulder grinned at her. "Oh, Scully. Such things you say," he whispered seductively. And then he looked up. Scully followed his gaze and was amazed at what she saw. The stars were beautiful tonight. From there, they looked as though, she could reach out and touch them. And there were so many. She didn't think she'd ever noticed so many before. It was...amazing. Both settled to the ground. She half rested on him, her legs resting over his, enjoying their star gazing. Each would point out different constellations at different times, but mostly they sat quietly and looked up at the stars. Then Scully spoke. "Thanks for bringing me here tonight, Mulder." "My pleasure." She had realized then what *he* had finally figured out. They had enough bad memories. Life was short. No one was guaranteed tomorrow. It was time to make some good ones. Together. Scully was sure they'd visit this place again...soon. Both smiled up at the stars.