From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org Date: Sun, 5 Mar 2000 00:03:05 -0600 Subject: Summer Heat by Sydney Mae Source: direct Reply To: SydneyMae@hotmail.com Title: Summer Heat Author: Sydney Mae Classification: Fluff... :-) Wrote it last summer on a really hot day. Rating: Hmmm...PG-13? For Innunedo... Spoilers: None really, unless you count the iced tea. Distribution: Wherever, just let me know! Disclaimers: As always, these characters are the express property of the great and powerful Chris Carter and I simply borrow them for my own enjoyment. Feedback: SydneyMae@hotmail.com Scully peered out between the slits of the blinds, hoping that somehow ten minutes had made a difference. But no, the afternoon sun was still blazing mercilessly down on the pavement. The weather forecaster had just announced that although it was only a little after two, the temperature had already reached 95 degrees. It was expected to soar over 100 degrees later on in the day. Scully fervently thanked God for the fact that her air conditioning was at least in good working order and that she didn't need to put on one of her usual suits and go to work. Although spending her Saturday holed up in her apartment wasn't what she had needed this weekend either. She'd had high hopes to get outside or to go shopping or something else away from the monotony of her apartment. But now a heat-induced lethargy was pinning her to a chair with a glass of iced tea in hand. Scully thought. She'd read every book in her apartment, there was nothing on TV and as usual, there was no one to talk to. There wasn't even any pressing work that needed to be done. That in itself was incredibly unusual. Normally there was always a case to research or a random medical journal to read through. She walked across the room to flip down on her couch, adjusting the strap ofher tank top as she did so. Just as she had settled on the couch and flipped on the TV, having decided to watch an old movie again, there was a fervent pounding on the door. Scully thought in exasperation. She rose from the couch and peered through the eyehole on her door. Mulder was standing on the other side of the door looking completely out of breath. She quickly flipped the door open. "Mulder, what exactly are you doing here?" Scully asked. "Um...I...um...had a few problems." Mulder told her, panting in between the words. "Can I...come in?" "Yeah, sure, come in." Scully replied, her exasperation being replaced by intense curiosity. Mulder was wearing a loose gray tank top and some nylon mesh athletic shorts. He was dripping with perspiration and looked as if he'd just been out playing basketball in the heat. Scully wouldn't put it past him. "Okay, Mulder, spill it." Scully said as soon as she had closed the door behind him. Mulder had already thrown his sweaty body across her couch. Scully thought, eyeing her formerly clean furniture. But she didn't say anything, knowing it would be completely pointless. She just sat down in a chair near the couch and waited for him to catch his breath. It took several minutes before he was able to start the story. "Well, it's like this." Mulder started. "The air conditioning in my building quit working and it was like 90 degrees in there. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I decided to come visit you." "And take advantage of my air conditiong?" Scully said wryly. "Well, that, and of course the sparkling repartee and fun of your company." Mulder teased. Scully just rolled her eyes in his direction, thinking that if she ever took this man's mock flirting seriously, she would have been a goner a long time ago. She nodded to get him to continue. "Okay, so anyway, I'm on my way over here when my car decides to overheat. So obviously it's not going anywhere." Scully nodded affirmatively. "And then what?" she asked. "I tried to call a tow truck from my cell phone, but for some reason, it wasn't working either." Scully was thinking this story was starting to sound like some kind of tragic comedy. She stifled the urge to laugh at the frustration she was hearing in his voice even now. "So then I realized I was going to have to go get help on foot. Well, since my car is sitting on the side of an incredibly busy street, I didn't want to leave it there for very long. I knew of a place about half a mile away, so I decided to try run there, so the car didn't have to sit as long." "In this heat??" Scully exclaimed. "Mulder, do you have any idea how hard that is on your body? You could have gotten heat stroke. Did you have anything to drink? You're probably completely dehydrated." She handed her iced tea over to him. "Yes, Mom, I did have some water, but I'll still have some of this if you don't mind." Scully shook her head. "No, of course not. There's lots more in the fridge." "So do you want me to finish this story or not?" Mulder said after drinking half the glass in one extended gulp. "Of course. Go ahead." Scully said quickly. "After I got to the the place...it's a car dealership actually, I wasn't in an area with lots of garages, but anyway, they said all their men were out on similar calls. Said I'd have to wait. I asked if there was anyone who could just get me a ride to where I was going, and they said everyone was gone. I don't even know how that's possible, but they insisted they were extremely busy. So at that point, I was another half mile or so from your place, so I walked this time." Scully looked at him with astonishment. She probably would have collapsed on the pavement by that second leg. Then another thought occurred to her. "Where's your car?" Scully asked quickly. "And wait a minute, why didn't you just call me at the dealership? I could have picked you up." "Nah, it's a beautiful day." Mulder said, grinning. "And I wanted to surprise you." he finished impishly. "Well, you certainly managed that." she admitted. "And as for the car, they said it was next on their list and they'd call me here when they got it taken care of." Mulder paused as he took another sip from the glass of iced tea. He finally looked up again. Scully realized he was staring at her. "Scully, what the hell are you wearing?" Mulder blurted out. "What do you mean, what am I wearing?" Scully asked defensively. He sounded like an outraged den mother. She glanced down at the green strappy tank top and denim shorts she was wearing. "You...well, I never..." Mulder stuttered. "You never what?" Scully asked, her voice becoming irritated. "I never really see you in casual summer clothes, I guess." Mulder replied, sounding almost shy. Scully thought. Mulder was now wiggling around on the couch like a puppy. He looked incredibly uncomfortable and Scully just continued to look at him like he was one of the aliens they had chased. "Mulder? Are you going to be okay?" Scully asked him. "Yeah," he replied. "Um, I just need to use the bathroom, if that's okay." "Whatever you need to do." Scully replied, which caused Mulder's exercise-reddened face to become even more red, if that was possible. Scully was starting to think he had crossed into the bounds of lunacy. Mulder stood to go to the bathroom and Scully suddenly became aware of the reason for Mulder's embarrassment and consternation. It was all she could do to keep from bursting out laughing. But after he left the room, face flaming, she felt slightly pleased that his "discomfort" had started only after he noticed what she was wearing. She knew Mulder was her partner and thoughts of a certain nature weren't to be encouraged. That didn't mean she didn't think them from time to time. And it was nice to see that Mulder wasn't immune either. Several minutes later, Mulder emerged from the bathroom. He had his best "Don't give me any crap" look pasted on his face. "Is everything okay, Mulder?" Scully asked innocently. "Just fine." He replied, his mouth set in a grim line. "You're sure?" Scully goaded. "Maybe I should make sure the heat didn't affect you too much." "No, I just told you I'm fine." He gritted out between clenched teeth, repeating the line that was usually reserved for Scully. Scully just gave him a knowing smile. "That's good." She replied. "I'm glad to hear you're not suffering any ill effects." They both knew she wasn't talking about the heat now. Just then, the phone rang. Mulder snatched it up, looking for any excuse to discontinue the conversation, she would warrant. It was the dealership Mulder had been at, letting him know his car would be ready in about an hour if he could find someone to bring him there. Mulder turned to Scully after hanging up. "Is there any way I could catch a ride back to get my car?" He asked. Scully decided to play with his head a little. "No problem. I can give you a ride anytime." She said in a voice that was intentionally just a bit lower than her usual husky alto. Mulder's mouth gaped open and his eyes grew wide with shock for just a moment before he saw the smile playing around Scully's eyes and mouth. Then he just glared at her. "Let's go get the stupid car." Mulder replied while quickly moving towards the door. Scully just grinned at the back of his head as he stormed out the door in front of her. I got you big time, Mulder.