FLETCHER Chapter 2 by Dana Starbuck Feedback to jbowne@top.monad.net Note: I am posting this for a friend who only has access to the internet thru work. I did not write this, but I have agreed to let my friend use my email account. Any comments, please reference 'Fletcher' so I know to print and pass on to her. Distribution: Archive only to ScullySlash Homepage only Crossposting: None please! Keywords: F/F, Scully/Other, Mulder/Other Friendship, SOTL Crossover (sort of) Spoilers: None Rating: NC17 for sex, ScSlash Rating - A & B Summary: Scully becomes involved with a friend of Mulder's from his pre-Xfiles past. DISCLAIMER: The X-Files characters and situations are the creations and property of Chris Carter, 1013 Productions and the Fox Broadcasting and have been used without permission. SOTL characters are the property of Thomas Harris and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended and no money shall be made with this piece of fiction. All the others belong to the author. Monday, September 14th, 7:30 AM Fletcher took the elevator down to the basement. She wanted to check in with Mulder before she went to her own office. She knocked once on the open door. Mulder looked up from his desk and smiled. "Fletcher, c'mon in." "Love what you've done with the place, Mulder," she said, looking around the room. "I like to think of it as home." "Some things never change, do they?" she commented, sitting down at Scully's desk. "Whatever do you mean?" he asked, with a knowing smile. "I seem to recall more than one occasion you setting me up as a taxi service for some straight woman." "Can't you be trusted?" "Of course I can," she responded, leaning back and putting her feet up on the desk. "I would hope so. She's my partner and a good friend." "It's just that your cruelty knows no bounds." "I trust Scully made it home safely." "Have I ever let you down before?" "Well, a few times I had my doubts, but deep down I knew you'd behave yourself." "Unfortunately, you're so very right," she sighed. "But I'll let you in on a little secret, Mulder," she said with an evil smile and a twinkle in her eye. "What?" "She asked me to stay - and I turned her down." "What?" His eyes nearly popped out of his head. He wasn't sure which surprised him more - Scully asking Fletcher to stay or Fletcher turning her down. Both would've been out of character for either woman. "Gotcha," she laughed. "It was all very innocent. She thought I was too drunk or too tired to drive any further." Scully walked into the room. She was surprised to see Fletcher, but also, oddly enough, a little pleased to see her so soon. "Good morning," she said, hanging up her coat. Fletcher immediately sat up, taking her feet down. Usually, Scully didn't approve when a woman had 'mannish' behaviors, like putting her feet up on a desk, but it didn't seem to bother her when Fletcher did it. It looked natural for her to be sitting at a desk with her feet up. "'morning, Scully." "What brings you down here?" "Just slumming it, I guess. " Fletcher got up from behind Scully's desk. "Guess I'd better get going. Scully, good to see you again. Glad to see you're feeling better from the last time I saw you," she said, smiling and adding a wink. Scully blushed. "Mulder, just remember, payback's a bitch, and I will have mine." "I look forward to it," he laughed. "Hey, Fletcher," he called out as she headed through the door. "What?" "Welcome back," he said sincerely. "Thanks. It's good to be back." She waved once and was gone. "Sure hope she's up to it," Mulder said quietly. "What do you mean?" "Oh, nothing. She's just walking into a really tough one right now." "Which case?" "Salt Lake City." "I'm glad it's her case and not our's." Thursday, September 17th, 12:35 PM "Knock, knock. Anybody in?" Scully looked up to see Fletcher standing in the doorway. "Oh, hi, Fletcher." "Where's Spooky?" "Out doing errands." "Oh, too bad. I was wondering if he wanted to do lunch. I actually have time today." "I don't know when he'll be back. Sorry." "How about you? Have you had lunch yet?" "No." "Then join me for lunch. I hate to eat out alone." "Okay, but I'm buying," Scully said, getting up from her desk. "Why?" "I seem to remember someone owed a raincheck from the other night." "That's for breakfast, not lunch. And don't worry, I will collect on it." They walked to a small Greek restaurant. Fletcher spoke briefly to the owner in Greek, and then they both laughed. Scully was impressed. "You speak Greek?" she asked as they sat down. "And Russian, Italian, French and a little Chinese - all just conversational. Nothing all that great. I can read a menu and say a few things. I just have a knack for languages, like some people have a knack for math or art." She handed Scully a menu. While Fletcher studied her own menu, Scully watched her. "See anything that interests you, Scully?" Fletcher asked. "Excuse me?" she blushed. "On the menu?" Fletcher asked, tapping the menu in front of Scully. "What do you recommend?" "Everything." "Then order for the both of us." "Okay." She waved the owner over to their table and ordered in Greek. "I just love the diversity of this town," Fletcher sighed after he'd left the table. "I can find a restaurant for every type of food I could ever want." "I never get much chance to truly eat out in this town. It's always the same place for pizza or Chinese. I just stick with the 2 or 3 old standbys. I've been here for years, and I know I'm missing out." "That you are. I try to get out once a week for something different. Last week it was Thai food. The week before that was German and the week before that was French." "You don't look like you'd be in to food so much." "Why's that?" "Well, you're so thin," she admitted, a small embarrassed smile on her face. "I work out everyday. I have to. It keeps my weight down and the stress levels down. Most of the time I eat pretty simply." "I consider it a successful week when I have dinner at home once a week that isn't out of a box or a can." "I know how that can be. I usually cook up something on the weekends so I have good leftovers. It's too easy to get caught up in takeout and junk food. It's bad enough, the crap we eat, when we're in the field. Too much coffee, pizza and burgers," she said, shaking her head. "What is this we're having?" Scully asked. "It's wonderful." "Don't ask. Just enjoy." "So, how long have you been with the bureau, Red?" Fletcher asked as they ate. "I joined in 1990. I taught at the Academy for two years." Scully didn't like nicknames, was glad that it would take a real stretch to make a nickname out of her first name, but coming from Fletcher...it just seemed right. "What did you teach?" "Forensic Pathology." "You're a doctor?" "Yes." Fletcher nodded, letting Scully know she was impressed. Fletcher thought. She tried not to shake her head to clear her thoughts. "What about you?" Scully asked, sipping her coffee. "What about me?" Fletcher asked, smiling. "How long have you been with the FBI?" "I joined in '86. I did a few years in the field, in Boston, then I went into Behavioral Sciences, later ISU. I've been teaching at the Academy for the last 2 years." "How come I haven't heard of you?" "I keep a very low profile, pun intended. I work best that way." She looked at her watch. "It's getting late. We'd better get back to work." "We'll have to do this again, Scully," Fletcher said as they walked into Scully's office. "I had a good time." "Maybe you'll let me buy you breakfast this weekend." "Can't. I'm leaving tomorrow for Salt Lake City. Don't know when I'll be back." "Call me when you return," Scully said, handing Fletcher her card. Mulder was sitting in the office and overheard the conversation. "Hey, Spooky, you missed a great lunch." "Where'd you go?" "Xristo's." "Damn. I really am sorry I missed it. " "We'll do lunch when I get back, I promise." "We'd better," he said in a voice that was bordering on a whine. "That's awfully close to a whine, Spooky. You know how I hate it when you whine." "Whine? Me? Never." "Right," she said sarcastically. "I'll give you a call when I get back. Later, folks." Saturday, September 26th, 10:00 AM Scully set her laundry basket down and picked up the ringing cell phone. She expected it to be Mulder, telling her they had another case. "Scully." "Hello, Red." "Oh, hi, Fletcher." "I know it's kind of last minute, but do you have any plans for today?" "No, not really." Scully was a little ashamed to admit she didn't have much of a social life. "I've got such a hankering for blue crab. Want to join me? I know of this great little place in Maryland." "Sure. I haven't been to a place like that since – oh, probably college." "Great. I'll pick you up about 11:30." Scully surprised herself at how long it took her to decide what to wear. She finally settled on a pair of black jeans, a plain white t-shirt and an over-sized gray University of Maryland sweatshirt. Fletcher arrived promptly at 11:30. She was wearing an Orioles baseball cap, a pair of faded, baggy jeans with a heavy black belt, Doc Martens, and a black polo shirt. Scully thought enviously. "What a beautiful day," Scully said as they walked out. They stopped in front of a silver, convertible, two-seater BMW sports car. "This is your's?" "I like my toys," she said simply as she walked around to the driver's side. "Is Mulder joining us?" Scully asked. "No, for two reasons." "Why not?" Scully asked, not sure if she really wanted to know the reason. "He always steals blue crab off my plate. I've got such a craving for them that I don't want to share even one with him." "And the second reason?" "You look like you need a girls' night out." She saw the skeptical look on Scully's face. "I know, I know. It's daytime. I was just thinking along the lines of a Thelma and Louise thing." "I don't know about that..." "I'm just kidding, Red. I just think you need a little breathing room from him. I know how intense he can be. Sometimes when we were partners, we'd spend so much time together I felt like I was suffocating. Don't get me wrong, I love Mulder. He's my best friend. I'd do anything for him - except share my blue crabs - but sometimes, you just need a break." Scully nodded in agreement. She put on her sunglasses and put her purse under the front seat. "Are you a fellow Terp?" Fletcher asked as they drove off, nodding at Scully's sweatshirt. "Undergrad, Class of '85. You?" "Bachelor's 81, Doctorate '86." "You have your PhD?" "Yes." "In what?" "Psychology. My Master's was in Criminology." "What about your Bachelor's?" "Dual Major, Criminology and Psychology." "How old were you when you graduated from high school? Ten?" "I'm older than you, Red, and I graduated from college when I was 20." "Well, maybe we met at Maryland." "I don't think so. You were pre-med, right? We wouldn't have even been in the same departments." "I wasn't on campus that much while I was working on my doctorate, anyway. I had a job that took a lot of my time." "Where were you working?" "I was in the Navy. I was Navy ROTC while at Maryland. While I fulfilled my obligation to Uncle Sam, I got my Master's and PhD." "You were in the Navy?" "Still am - only in the reserves." "Where do you work?" "ONI. I can't wait to retire." "What's your rank?" "I just got my fourth stripe last spring. I know I'll never go any higher, and I don't really care. I just know my hitch is up in 18 months and I can't wait." "Why the Navy? " "I guess I was looking for a little structure in my life then. God knows, I needed the discipline. It's worked out okay for the most part." "Where were you stationed?" "I did two years in San Diego - that's where I got my Master's. I finished up active duty here in D.C.." Fletcher suddenly accelerated sharply as they hit the highway. Scully held her hair to keep it from whipping into her face. "There's a extra hat in the glove box, if you want," she said, laughing. "I get such terrible hat head." "Would you rather have your hair all tangled?" She opened the glove box and found the hat. A holstered 9 mm semi-automatic sat on top of it. She looked at Fletcher over the top of her glasses. "Hey, I like to be prepared," Fletcher said, shrugging her shoulders. Scully put on an old Washington Senators baseball cap and shook her head once in exasperation. "How about some tunes, Red?" "Radio or CD?" "Radio's fine. Just find something we can sing with it." "Trust me, Fletcher. You don't want me to sing." "Why not?" "I can't carry a tune to save my life." "Sure you can. Everybody can sing to oldies." "If I sing, do you promise not to ditch me?" "I swear." 'Run-around-Sue' had just begun. Fletcher tossed her head back and heartily sang along. Scully sang when she knew the words, but she knew she was off-key. It was especially embarrassing because Fletcher had a great voice, low and husky. "Scully, you're right," Fletcher said when the song ended. "What?" "Don't give up your day job," she laughed. "I told you I couldn't sing." "Well, what you lack in talent, you make up for with enthusiasm." Fletcher sang along with song after song. Scully just closed her mouth and enjoyed the show. "I love the oldies, even the sappy songs. They've got such great harmonies." "Fletcher?" Scully interrupted, her voice a little bit serious. "Yeah?" "Thanks for taking me along today. I didn't know it when you called, but I really needed this." "A little advice, Scully - you work too hard." "So do you. I've heard Mulder's stories." "Maybe I work hard, but I also play hard. If I didn't learn to take time out for myself, get away from my cases from time to time, well, it just wouldn't be very healthy. You - and Mulder - both need to learn it. He tries, and sometimes he even succeeds, but I don't think you even know how to have a good time anymore." "And how much do I owe you for the session, Dr. Buchanan?" she said, a little edge to her voice. "My initial consult is free," she said, laughing. "Sorry. I just hate to see my friends get so absorbed in their work that they don't take care of themselves." "Apology accepted, I think." "Good. I really am sorry if I've offended you." "You haven't." "Lunch is on me." "Fletcher, I still owe you a breakfast," she protested. "Buy me lunch next week. I'll be in D.C. Monday and Tuesday. How about Tuesday?" "If we don't get called out of town, sure." "Good." Fletcher pulled into a small restaurant that didn't look like much from the outside. She locked the glove box. "Do you want to lock your purse in the trunk?" "Yes, thanks." Fletcher picked up Scully's purse and carried it to the back of the car. Scully thought, a smile on her face. Fletcher felt the familiar weight in Scully's purse and grinned. "Why are you busting my chops about carrying a piece, Red? You've got your's in here, don't you?" "Yes. I like to be prepared, too," she said, mimicking Fletcher. Two hours later, they left the restaurant. Scully couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed so much. Fletcher had kept telling her stories about college and the Navy that made her laugh. She also started remembering her college days, and she shared some of her experiences, tame as they were. "What time is it?" Scully asked as they drove away. "After 3:00. Do you have to be anywhere?" "No. Why?" "Well, Thelma, are you up for some bar-hopping?" "I don't know about that, 'Louise'." "I want to check out the college football scores and I'm in the mood to shoot some pool." "I don't know, Fletcher. It's still so nice out. Can we just drive around?" "Sure. Anyplace in particular?" "No. Just drive." Fletcher got back onto the highway so she could drive fast. "Do you always drive so fast?" Scully asked. "No. It's just that this car is finely tuned instrument that screams for speed. I'm only using it to its potential." "I see. And you don't really like to go fast?" "No, not at all," she said grinning, pushing the pedal down a little further. "You'd better be careful. You don't want to get pulled over with a gun in your glovebox." "I'll just flash my badge and ask for a little professional courtesy." "You'd probably get it if you looked like you were on the job." "Are you criticizing my choice of wardrobe?" "No, no, not at all. You just look decidedly off-duty." A few hours later, Fletcher deposited Scully in front of her apartment. "Do you want to come in for some coffee?" "I really do have to get going. I've got a lot of work piled up at home that I need to get to." "And just who works too hard?" Fletcher stuck her tongue out at Scully, then laughed. "Thanks again for such a great day, Fletcher. I feel so much better." "Just what the doctor ordered." "Thanks again." "Anytime, Red. I'll see you at lunch." she thought as she drove home. End Chapter 2 - Fletcher