From: eponine119 Date: Thu, 28 Dec 1995 12:23:47 -0800 Subject: NEW: Slinky and Sea Monkeys (1/1) Category: Amusing, romance Also includes: What to buy Mulder for unnamed giftgiving occasion and why a Girlfriend has no hope of competing. Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine, they're Chris Carter's 10-13's and 20th Cent. Fox's. I'm sure Slinky and Sea Monkeys are both TM's by someone, but I don't know who. Enjoy Slinky and Sea Monkeys by eponine119 eponine@uci.edu 12/28/95 "Mulder?" "Yes?" He turned to face his partner, removing his glasses. "I know it's kind of late, but - I got you something," Scully said, looking faintly embarrassed. "Really?" Mulder grinned, charmed, as she set two small packages on his desk and plunked down in the chair opposite him. He ripped the newspaper comic wrapping off the first small box. "It's a Slinky!" Mulder cried, excited, pulling the metal spring out of its box. He looked around their office. Books and papers were stacked everywhere - Slinky Heaven. Scully shifted around in her chair to watch as he coerced the coil to walk down increasingly larger and larger stacks of stuff. Even across the floor. She smiled. His boyish laugh was rare and wonderful. Mulder felt Scully's eyes on his and his grin turned a little self-conscious. "We've got to try this on the stairs!" he told her and was unable to contain his enthusiasm. "But -" "No buts. Come on!" he grabbed her hand and dragged her up the basement stairs. "Mulder, someone is going to see us!" Scully cried, digging her heels in. He shrugged. "They already think we're weird." he said and squeezed her hand, hard. "Ready?" They exchanged a look. He released the Slinky and she couldn't help laughing. It walked jauntily down the stairs and halfway down the hall. Mulder raised his arms as though he'd just made a goal. "Yes!" he cried. "If I'd known a spring could make you so happy, I'd've gotten you one before this." Ironic words, but she was smiling. "It's great," Mulder said and impulsively hugged her. Their bodies clung together for a fraction of a second too long. Scully forced herself to push away and purposely avoided looking up into Mulder's eyes. "I've - uh - noticed you spending a lot more time in the office lately," she said, feeling awkward. He was staring at her. Neither of them could force the previous moment from their mind. "Is everything all right between you and ..." She looked at him, trailing off, unwilling to invoke the name. "Fine." Mulder said too quickly, his old serious frown returning as he retrieved his Slinky and went back into the office. Scully followed and closed the door. "What'd she get you?" she inquired, trying to sound casual. Mulder paused a long time before he met Scully's eyes and answered. "A tie." he said, grim. "Oh. Well, that's good. Isn't it?" Scully felt nervous, restless with Mulder's eyes on her and the memory of his body next to hers so fresh in her mind. She fussed with some files across the room. "It was red and blue. Striped." "A power tie?" Scully cried. He nodded. She looked back to the files. "Oh, Mulder." "Well, it wasn't a Slinky," he said as diplomatically as he could manage, setting the toy on the shelf above his head and watching it walk down to the floor. Scully made herself stop moving and face him. "Aren't you going to open your other present?" she asked. He nodded, his eyes lingering hot on hers. She swallowed. He tore into the wrapping paper. "Sea Monkeys!" he screamed when he saw the container. "My God, Scully, where did you find these?" "That science-is-fun store in the mall," she said, then felt the need to explain herself further. "You have - that problem - with fish, so I thought -" "It's wonderful, Scully. Thank you." Mulder said, engrossed in reading the package. Scully smiled and went back to her desk. "She asked me what my fish's names are." he said unexpectedly a moment later. "Your fish don't have names - do they?" Scully asked. It would be awfully strange to find out after all this time that he'd named them. "No. They don't." Mulder's hands were still on the Sea Monkeys container but he was staring at her intensely. "What are you trying to say?" Scully asked in a low voice, her pulse picking up. "You know me better than anyone," he said, rising and moving stealthily toward her. Scully found it hard to get her breath and had the urge to turn and run. But she couldn't take her eyes off him. "That's because I'm your partner. We've been working together closely for three years." Her voice was getting higher. They both recognized rationalizations when they heard them. "She's your girlfriend, Mulder, and that's different." Her back hit the wall. She was trapped. "I think it's over between her and me." Mulder said. He was mere inches from Scully now. Her head tilted back so she could see him. "Because she bought you a power tie?" Scully asked softly, still fighting the urge to flee when Mulder touched her, his large hands warm on her skin. Her eyes closed and she sighed, relaxing against him as his lips touched hers, tentatively at first. Her arms wound around his neck as she deepened their kiss. A long time later, his lips released hers and she opened her eyes to find him looking at her. Just like Mulder, she thought, to kiss with his eyes open. "All that for a Slinky and some Sea Monkeys?" she asked lightly. Breathlessly. What else could he ask for? He pulled her into his arms. "It's the thought that counts," he murmured as he kissed her again. End. OK, just a short trifle. Please tell me what you thought. I don't know any other way to beg for comments. It only takes a second and it means so much. Even if you didn't like it, you could tell me why or offer constructive criticism. I tend to answer most of the comments I get - is that an incentive? Begging over. Thanks. eponine119 , eponine@uci.edu