All Characters copyright of TenThirteen Productions and Chris Carter. No infringement intended on any part...I like being poor, really... Stakeout by Sheryl Martin The cool night air rushed in as Dana Scully rolled down the car window. Taking a deep breath, she turned to Fox Mulder. “I hate this.” He shrugged in reply. “Someone has to take night shift.” “I guess so.” She yawned. “But surveillance on a counterfeiter?” “No one else was available.” Fox reached into a paper bag at his side. “Help yourself.” He pulled out a chocolate bar. “Is that bag full of candy?” She peered inside. He nodded. “Energy.” “Sugar rush.” Dana chose a thick dairy milk bar. “Survival rations.” “Fattening and unhealthy.” “Aphrodisiac...” He grinned at her. She tore the wrapper off with her teeth, not looking at him as she bit into it. “This is great.” She said, staring out the window. “I’m spending a Saturday night in a car with a chocoholic.” “Compared to what?” Fox mumbled through a mouthful. “Hey, you’ve got atmosphere, good company...” He flicked on the radio, finding a rock station. “Great music... what more could you want?” “A date? A life?” She stared at him with a smile, shaking her head. “I know... we’ve had this conversation before...” “Are you calling me insensitive?” He put his hand over his heart. “I’m mortally wounded, Scully...” She chuckled. “All I meant was that it would be nice to meet people who I’m not afraid are out to kill me.” “Well, dying in bed’s been one of my life-long ambitions.” He quipped. “Mulder, I’m serious.” Dana was glad he couldn’t see her red face in the dark car. “Don’t you ever want to get a life?” “And leave all this?” He motioned at the garbage in the bottom of the car with his chocolate bar. Throwing up her hands in mock exasperation, Dana pulled out a medical magazine, taking another bit of her bar. “Scully...” “Hmm?” “Why don’t you have any dates?” “Ah...” She frowned. “It’s hard to set up anything when you might be called away at any minute.” It sounded good... “Oh.” Fox nodded. “And ending up in quarantine is rather restrictive, I guess.” “Yes.” She looked over. “Where’s the drinks?” “Right behind my seat.” Dana leaned over, brushing against him as she dug in the bag. The gentle scent of her perfume hit his senses as she moved next to him. “No orange; settle for grape, I guess..” Listening to the rustling of the paper bag, Fox tried to focus on the song playing on the radio and ignore the thoughts racing through his mind. “Turn around bright eyes...” Dana plopped back into the seat, opening the can. Taking a deep swallow, she listened quietly. “Every now and then I get a little bit terrified and then I see the look in your eyes...” Suddenly the car seemed a lot smaller... “And if you only hold me tight, we’ll be holding on forever...” “So...” She swallowed noisily. “What’s for dinner?” “Well, we can always order in pizza...” “Living in a powder keg and giving off sparks...” The song blared. “To a car?” “They say they deliver everywhere.” Fox dialled his cel phone. “Can’t hurt to try... busy signal.” He put it down on the dashboard. “Only another six hours to go, anyway...” He rolled down the window, taking advantage of the darkness to exhale deeply. For some reason he’d been holding his breath... “So, any ideas?” Dana threw the magazine down at her feet. “Let’s call a friend.” “At two in the morning?” “Hey, she’d be awake...” With a grin he punched in the number. Holding it up so Dana could hear it ring, he let it go for over a minute. “... St. George...” “Jackie!” Fox laughed. “Did I wake you up?” Dana couldn’t help chuckling. “...No... is there some reason for this?” “Oh, we’re just stuck on surveillance and thought we’d give you a ring.” “It was Mulder’s idea.” Dana said loudly. “... Right... you couldn’t just call the psychic hotline, Mulder?...” “Gee, are we keeping you up?” He chortled. “... Not me, Mulder...” They heard a whisper in the background. “... You two go play G-Men in the dark, okay?” “Did we catch you in the middle of something?” Fox grinned mischievously. “In the middle of someone... good night, you two. If the only thing you can think of to do in a dark car at night on a boring shift is to call me, then you both need professional help.” She laughed. “I’m disconnecting the phone now... bye...” The line went dead. “Guess Marty’s in town.” Fox deadpanned. “I guess so.” The thought hit them both at the same time. They sighed in unison, quiet enough to not hear the other. Suddenly the car seemed small again... “Ah... I’m walking up to the all night coffee shop to get something. You want a sandwich?” Dana opened the car door. “Sure... surprise me... keep your phone turned on in case I get swarmed.” With a laugh she got out, walking down the street ahead of the car. “She gives me feelings that I never felt before... I’m breaking promises, she’s breaking every law... She used to just look good to me, now I find her simply irresistible...” Mulder rested his forehead on the steering wheel, listening to the song. Thanks a lot for the torture, God... A half hour later Dana tossed a club sandwich at him. “They made it up fresh while I waited.” She dug into her own meal. “So, been busy?” “Just listening to the radio...” “Right.” She looked at her watch. “This is a very long night...” They ate in silence. A soft breeze blew through the car, bringing the smell of freshly-cut grass to them. “There used to be a large field by my house.” Dana mused. “Used to love to run in the tall grass and play hide and seek...” “Were you good at it?” Fox took a sip of his drink. “I’m not sure.. I think sometimes they didn’t look for me on purpose...” She smiled. “I loved to just move around and watch them find the others.” “And you passed Surveillance Techniques with flying colours at the Academy, I’m sure...” Her nod made him grin. “I’m surprised. But then, most voyeurs start off like that.” “Mulder...” “Seriously.” “And who just called up Jackie in the middle of the night?” “You let me...” “Like I could stop you... if anyone’s a voyeur in this car, it’s you.” She chuckled at his pained expression. “Don’t give me that puppy-dog look... I’m not one of those women at the office that works on.” “Well, then I’m going for a short walk. You can watch me and the house.” He slipped from the car. “Don’t be too long.” She warned. “No tricks, Mulder...” He stretched his arms above his head, hearing the satisfying crack. With a yawn, he walked away from the car. “I would fight for you... I’d lie for you... Cross the line for you... I’d die for you... You know it’s true; everything I do, I do it for you...” The radio filled the car. Reaching for her half-eaten chocolate bar, Dana took a bite, watching him intently... She shook her head. Must be coming down with something - she thought she might be running a temperature... Fox stepped back into the car. “So... anything happen?” “I gained twenty pounds from your candy stash.” “I won’t tell.” He smiled. “And I’d never notice...” Dana softly smiled back at him, drowning in his eyes for a split-second... The phone rang. Mulder picked it up hastily. “Mulder...” He looked at Dana. “No, that’s okay... right.” Dropping the phone, he grinned. “It just got cancelled.” “Your stash?” “The stakeout. It just got pulled. We’re free...” He stared at her. “Ah... want to get a coffee before I drop you off?” “Yes.” Her eyes met his. “That sounds good.” She pushed the bag at him. “But next time, not so much chocolate, Mulder. I think it’s addictive...” “There are worse things to be addicted to, Scully...” He turned the car on, pulling away from the curb. “And better things as well...” ************************ Songography: "Total Eclipse of the Heart"; "Simply Irresistible"; "Everything I do, I do it for You"...