From: "starbuck22" See Chapter 1 for the usual disclaimers etc. <> Sunday, November 8, 1998 8:15 AM Her heart was pounding, the sweat dripping off her face. She looked down at the Stairmaster's digital timer. She grabbed the bars a little tighter and picked up the pace, her knees pumping higher with each step. "There's a metaphor for you." Fletcher looked up. Marva stood in the doorway, watching her. "Running like hell," Marva continued, "not going anywhere." Fletcher glared down at her. "What the hell's that supposed to mean?" she asked, irritated. "Just indulging my literary side. No need to snap my head off." She walked over to Fletcher and leaned against the handrail. "Someone get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?" Fletcher ignored Marva's comments. She drove herself a little harder over the last minute, then slowly eased back. When she stepped off the machine, Marva handed her the water bottle that sat on the bench. "Thanks." She took a long swallow from the bottle, then wiped her face off on the towel draped around her neck. "I didn't expect to see you up so early." "I guess my recovery time is better than Karrin's. How's Dana?" "Sound asleep when I got up." Fletcher set her bottle and towel down and walked over to the rack of dumbbells. She lifted one, then another. She decided on one of the lighter sets. "Care to join me?" "You know me better than that." "Then why _are_ you here?" Fletcher asked warily, as she began to do arm curls, first the right arm, then the left, over and over. She held out the CD marked '3G-I'. "I thought you might want some music to work out by." "Where did you get _that_?" Fletcher eyed Marva suspiciously. "Downstairs with all the others." "I haven't listened to that in over a year," Fletcher said, wishing she didn't sound so defensive. "Then you should get rid of it." Fletcher's mouth was dry again, but the bottle was out of reach. "Scully didn't hear it, did she?" "She was the one who found it." Fletcher grimaced. She stopped her arm curls and began to lift the weights together over her head, turning the dumbbells slowly and touching the ends together, then bringing them back down to shoulder height. "Do you think she knew what it was?" "It was a little obvious," Marva snorted, rolling her eyes. "And I'm sure a little storytelling on your part more than filled her in," Fletcher replied, her annoyance clear. "'Storytelling' implies what I told her was fiction." Fletcher remained silent, her eyes dark. "Does Dana have anything to worry about?" "What do you mean?" Marva waved the CD in front of Fletcher. "Think you'll be needing _this_ any time soon?" "No, of course not." "Then why don't you 'retire' it to the trash, where it belongs?" Marva suggested. Fletcher didn't look at her. "I don't know." "I'm sure it would make Dana feel a little less worried." "I haven't given her any reason to be concerned," she protested. "I'm sure you haven't. And I'm sure you haven't given her any reason to feel any more secure, either." "What?" "Does she know how you feel?" "How can I tell her how I feel when _I_ don't even know how I feel?" Fletcher snapped, returning the weights to the rack. "Bullshit." Fletcher whirled on her. "Excuse me?" It was wasted dramatics. Marva wasn't the least bit intimidated. "Come on, Fletcher, this is _me_ you're talking to. Maybe you can bullshit yourself, but not me." Fletcher remained silent as she put weights onto an empty barbell, then started her next set of exercises. She tried not to think about Marva's comments. It was kind of difficult, what with Marva standing in front of her, arms folded. she thought. "Can I ask a question?" Marva inquired, sitting down on the bench. "Why ask permission? It never stopped you from asking me anything before," she replied with a crooked half-smile on her face. "What are you so afraid of?" Fletcher stopped, her arms flexed, the bar under her chin. She slowly lowered it to her waist, then onto the floor. "I can see I'm not going to have much of a workout this morning," she replied, picking up her towel. Marva smiled and raised one eyebrow, waiting. "Marva, I've been shot at, been in a car accident, stared down some of the most evil, most despicable men this country has ever seen, but in all honesty, I was never scared. Angry, maybe. Disgusted, sure. Scared, never." That statement won her an appraising look. "And that tiny woman sleeping in your bed right now scares you?" "Frankly, I don't know what scares me more," Fletcher confessed. "Losing her or having her in my life." "Why don't you tell her how you feel?" "I don't want to scare her away," she said, sitting down beside Marva. "Scare her away?" "Suppose she doesn't feel the same way?" "I don't think you have anything to worry about there, buddy," Marva smiled reassuringly. "And then there's... Well, did you know I'm the first woman she's been involved with?" "Yes. So what?" "So she could very easily decide to go back to men. This lifestyle isn't the easiest in the world. Or maybe she'll get tired of me and want to see other women." "Not everybody thinks the way you do - _did_. And Dana certainly doesn't strike me as the type to bed-hop out of so-called boredom." Fletcher looked out the window. A slight breeze was gently stirring the few remaining leaves in the trees. "Bored? Is _that_ what I've been?" "Among other things." Marva smiled and put her hand on Fletcher's arm. "I think you need to take a chance here, Fletcher. I don't want to be too pushy, but you two belong together. You've got some sort of connection, some bond between you, that I've never seen for you before. Not even with Clarice." Fletcher smiled now. "You think so, huh?" "I _know_ so. And I know something else, Eudora Fletcher Buchanan." Fletcher cringed at the use of the dreaded first name. "History had better not repeat itself. If you do to Dana what you did to Clarice, Dana won't get the chance to shoot you. I'll do it myself." Marva said it with a smile, but her warning was clear. Sunday, 9:30 AM Fletcher was chopping up scallions when Scully walked into the kitchen. There were several small bowls atop the counter, filled with diced ham, peppers, shredded cheese, and mushrooms. "Good morning," Scully said, slipping her arms around Fletcher's waist, her face pressed against Fletcher's back. Fletcher set her knife down and turned around. Scully had a wide, warm smile on her face. Fletcher thought, her heart suddenly filling. "Good morning." Fletcher kissed Scully lightly on the lips and put her hands on Scully's hips. "I wondered when you were going to get up." "I guess I was more tired than I thought." "You didn't even budge when I took my shower." "You should've woken me up. I would've washed your back," Scully said, her smile turning sly. "I'm sure." Fletcher grinned. "Anyone else up yet?" "Marva's been up for some time. She just went up to see if Karrin's awake." "Can I give you hand with anything?" Scully asked, her voice a bit flirtatious. She moved her hands to Fletcher's small, firm ass and gently squeezed. "What did you have in mind?" "What do you _want_ me to do?" Scully licked her lips and Fletcher almost groaned. "I, uh, I think I'm all set. You can make a fresh pot of coffee, I guess." "That's all?" Scully raised one eyebrow. "For now," Fletcher assured her. Suddenly she pulled Scully close and hugged her affectionately. "I'm glad you're here." She kissed Scully on the top of her head. "I really like having you around." "Hope you don't have anything burning on the stove," Marva interrupted, walking into the room, a broad smile on her face. "Not yet," Fletcher said, stepping back from Scully. "Karrin will be right down," Marva said, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "Omelettes okay for breakfast?" Fletcher asked, returning to her food preparations. "Sounds good to me." "Scully, would you set the dining room table for me?" Fletcher asked. "Your wish is my command," she smiled as she left the room. "Are those your home fries that I smell?" Marva said, lifting the lid off the skillet on the stove. "Yup." "Now if I could just get you to fix some grits like a true Southerner." Fletcher made a face, cracking Marva up. "Guess not. Too many years of that damned Yankee education." Marva speared a potato. "You're going all out this morning." She blew on the potato before popping it into her mouth. "I haven't had a home cooked meal all week. I'm sick of restaurant food. Even worse, airline food." "What else are we having?" "There are bagels and a bowl of fresh fruit that I cut up this morning in the 'fridge." "You've been a busy girl this morning." "Uh huh. Nothing but the best for my friends." "For which my stomach is eternally grateful." Sunday, 11:00 AM Fletcher had been fairly quiet all through brunch. It was a contented silence. She was just happy to sit back and listen to the others talk, happy to just look at Scully. She leaned back in her chair and smiled. Scully caught her eye and she beamed at Fletcher. Fletcher thought. She reached to her left and took Scully's hand. She continued to listen to Marva tell another story while she continued to hold Scully's hand. Marva noticed the exchanged smiles and the hand-holding, but didn't say anything, didn't interrupt her story. she thought. "Can I get anyone anything else?" Fletcher asked, getting up from the table. "Another cup of coffee, please," Karrin requested blearily. Although she'd had four Advil and two helpings, she still felt the worse for wear. she swore, not for the first time. "Scully, Marva? More coffee?" "Sure thanks." "Why don't you guys go into the den?" Fletcher suggested. "I'll bring the coffee in there." Minutes later they were all in the den with fresh cups of coffee. Fletcher slid open the door to the patio to let in some fresh air. "What a nice day it is," Scully commented. "Won't be too many more of them," Fletcher replied. "Will you ever put a pool in?" Marva asked as she looked at the large backyard. "Not until I'm home often enough to enjoy it and take care of it. Maybe when I retire." Fletcher smiled an 'I know something you don't know' smile. "I am, however, giving myself a late birthday present next month." "What?" Marva was curious. "I ordered a Jacuzzi for the patio. It'll be big enough for six people." "When's it coming," Karrin asked. "Sometime in December," Fletcher answered, sitting down beside Scully. "Well, you can be sure _we'll_ be over more than just a few times a year," Marva sighed. "I was counting on it." Fletcher laughed. "I hope it's in by New Year's." Marva grinned. "The idea of celebrating the New Year in a Jacuzzi with a bottle of champagne rather appeals to me." She looked at Karrin and smiled. "Maybe we should get one, hon." "Let's get the house first, Marva." "Will you be house hunting soon?" Fletcher asked. Marva took Karrin's hand. "We've already started." "The week after they made me an Attending at St. John's, we talked to a realtor." "Hot damn," Fletcher enthused. "It's about time you two left the apartment life behind." "Are you looking in any particular area?" Scully asked, her hand dropping from Fletcher's shoulder to her leg. "Well, Georgetown is out of our price range," Karrin said. "We're thinking Arlington, but we really need a place that's close to both of our jobs." "Let me know if you're having any trouble," Scully offered. "I've got a cousin who's a realtor in the D.C. area." Marva threw a grin at Fletcher. "She's useful." Fletcher gave Scully's hand a squeeze, then she draped her arm across the back of couch behind her. Her hand rested on Scully's shoulder. "I like to think so." Scully shifted and moved closer to Fletcher. Scully thought. Marva watched them carefully. She looked at Karrin and gestured with her eyes. Karrin glanced at Fletcher and Scully, then nodded once to Marva. "I think we're going to head home now," Marva said, getting up from the loveseat. "Don't go," Scully objected. "Sure. Just eat and run," Fletcher quipped. Marva was tempted to say. She smiled. "No, responsibility calls. We've got a ton of things we need to do today," Karrin assured them. "Are you sure you can't stay longer?" Karrin exchanged another quick smile with Marva. "Positive." Marva hugged Scully at the front door. "Come by and see us, Dana. You're always welcome, with or without Fletcher." "Thanks, I will." "And don't hesitate to call if you're feeling lonely." She pulled back so Scully could see her grin. "I know what it's like when your sweetheart isn't home because of work." Scully gave Marva's arms a squeeze. "I will, thanks." They gave each other one more hug. Marva turned her attention to Fletcher as Karrin and Scully said their goodbyes. She hugged her and whispered, "remember our talk." "Uh huh," Fletcher grunted. "Thanks for coming over." "Thanks for having us. We'll do this again soon." "Yes, we will. I'll call you when I get back." Marva waved to Fletcher and Scully as Karrin turned the Saab around. "What a picture of domestic bliss." "What?" "Just look." Karrin looked out the open window. Fletcher stood beside Scully, her arm across her shoulders. Scully's arm was around Fletcher's waist and she was leaning against Fletcher. They were both smiling and waving. Karrin whistled as she put the car into gear and started down the driveway. "I never thought I'd see _that_ with Fletcher." "No lie," Marva agreed. "Funny, I didn't _hear_ any reports of hell freezing over," Karrin cracked. "There wasn't anything on the news about pigs flying either," Marva added, joining Karrin in her laughter. End Chapter 4 of ?