boom

"Boom"
Author: Ann (Queegqueg)
E-Mail: [email protected]
Feedback: Don't make me beg! I'd love to have feedback!
Disclaimer: As much as I wish they were mine, they aren't. Although, if they were, I'd take really good care of them, feed them and take them for walks every day... Whoops, I'm getting carried away. See, I must be crazy, and it's impossible to sue a crazy girl! So please don't even try!
Rating: MSR, slight Angst
Summary/Notes: This fic is a submission for The H.A.A. Society's Fanfic Challenge of The Month for August, 2001. It's cute at best, and easily the most out of character fic I've ever written, but hey, isn't that half the fun of fanfic? Well, maybe not *half* the fun, because it's quite a lot of fun in or out of character, but you know what I mean ;)
Archive: Put it wherever you want, but please keep my name and e-mail on it!

��`��,��,��`��,��, ��`��,��,��`��,��,��`��,��,��`��,��, ��`��,��,��`��,��,

"But I was told it would be ready on Tuesday, and that was three days ago!"
No amount of arguing would do any good, Scully realised, as she resigned herself to another night with no oven, and so no home cooked meal. She had been planning on inviting her mother around on Sunday, but now her plans would have to be changed again.
***********************************************************
When she arrived at the office, the traffic congestion she had been forced to endure had done nothing to lessen her frustration. Instinctive, as always, Mulder sensed the tension in her instantly.
"Scully, what's wrong?"
"Oh nothing, it's just those d*mn
people at the cookware shop again... still no oven. I can't believe I turned down the offer of credit, I thought if I paid for it down flat I'd get it more quickly, but no, they obviously have more important things to deal with than customer satisfaction. Then to top it all, I get stuck in traffic behind some bozo, who thinks it's funny to make passes at me in his rear view mirror!"
Mulder had been mundanely nodding his head throughout the conversation. To an outsider it would have looked as if he wasn't listening at all, but every word she said registered with him. However, he wouldn't intervene, as he knew how pointless it was to try to speak during one of Scully's rants, so he just let her ride it out.
"Is it that bad being without an oven?"
He regretted saying it as soon as the words were out of his mouth.
"Of course it's bad, Mulder. I've been eating nothing but salads and rice for two weeks now, and I'm fed up with it."
"The bee pollen's finally got to you has it?"
She had to laugh, only Mulder would remember her recent fetish at a time like this, and be able to quell the tension that had built up inside her.
"I'm sorry, I just get so wound up by those guys."
"Yeah, I noticed."
They both went silent, while Mulder wondered whether to vocalise his question or not, and she sensed his caginess.
"Scully?"
"Yes?"
"My oven's barely been used, would you like to come around for dinner Saturday night?"
"I'd love to... can you cook?"
"Of course I can, I just don't see the point for one. It'd make me make an effort for once."
"Okay then."
For some reason, it felt really awkward. Why should a friend asking you around for a meal feel so awkward? But Scully knew, it was because Mulder was so much more than a friend, if she'd only let her heart acknowledge it.
*********************************************************
They never mentioned it again until they were about to leave the office for the weekend, and part to go to their respective cars.
"So what time shall I come around?"
"Huh?"
Mulder raised his eyebrows in a questioning manner, surely he hadn't forgotten already.
"Saturday, Mulder, you invited me, unless you don't....."
"No, no that's fine... uh, seven, okay?"
"Yeah, I'll see you then.
Should she have said more? It felt so strange. Her mind immediately began turning over the contents of her wardrobe, and what would be the most appropriate items to wear to this casual friends, but not just friends, date, but not date, meal. Why did things always have to be so complicated for them?
Mulder hoped he hadn't appeared too unenthusiastic. It certainly hadn't been his intention, but he had been so determined not to appear too eager, that he was afraid he had gone too far in the opposite direction. His mind suddenly went into panic mode as soon as Scully turned her back to walk towards the car park. What had he been thinking? He couldn't cook! What the hell was he going to do?
********************************************************
Throughout the drive back to his apartment, his mind was turning over how to solve his predicament, when suddenly it hit him... phone another woman to ask for help. Unfortunately the only other woman he knew who might be of help was Mrs Scully. Well, she had always been like a mother to him, and he wouldn't have to say who it was he was cooking for. As soon as he got in the door, he looked up her number. He figured he'd lose his nerve if he actually stopped to think about it.
"Mrs Scully?"
"Yes, is that you, Fox? What's the matter? You sound troubled.. it's not Dana....."
"No, Dana's fine, I just wanted to ask your advice."
"My advice?"
"Yeah, I'm having a friend around to dinner, and I said I'd cook. Trouble is, I can't cook, and I figured you'd be able to help."
"You mean you want me to cook it for you?"
"No, nothing like that. I want to do it myself, and make it kind of special. But it would have to be something easy."
"Well, what about chicken and a coconut sauce? It's easy to do, I can give you foolproof instructions, I've made it countless times."
"Sounds great, can you E-mail it to me? If that's not too much trouble. Then I can go buy what I need."
"Certainly, and Fox?"
"Yeah?"
"Dana will love it, it's one of her favourites!"
With that she hung up. How did she do it? She always seemed to be able to read his mind when it concerned Scully. He laughed it off with a shrug. Well, there's nothing wrong with friends having dinner together, is there?