***DISCLAIMER***: All "X-Files" elements and references
in this story belong to Fox Broadcasting, Chris Carter,
and 1013 Productions, and I am making no money from it.
"Centerfield" belongs to John Fogerty.

ARCHIVING: Link only, please!

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Centerfield
by shannono
shannono@iname.com

Vignette, Mulder/Scully UST

Rating: PG

Spoilers: "The Unnatural"

Summary: Playing games, Mulder and Scully style.

Author's notes: This is the quickie, guys. Look for something a
little more in-depth when I get back home ...

Thanks: To Brandon, for beta-reading, and for bringing the laptop
along so I could write this at all ...

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Centerfield
by shannono

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"Just hit the ball
And touch 'em all
A moment in the sun
It's going and you can tell that one goodbye ..."
-- John Fogerty, "Centerfield

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*crack*

"Mulder?"

"Yeah?"

*crack*

"So this is really what you thought I'd like for my birthday?"

"Well ..." *crack* "You know what they say, Scully ..."

"What?"

"If you're not sure" *crack* "what to get someone for their birthday,
get them something you'd like."

"Oh ..." *crack* "So should we consider this YOUR birthday gift, too?"

"No, no. You have to give me something YOU'D like."

"Something I'd like."

"Scully, did anyone ever tell you that you tend to repeat things when
you're being skeptical?" *crack*

"Mulder, if that were true, I'd be repeating just about everything you
ever say."

"Ha." *crack* "C'mon, Scully, admit it. You love your gift."

"Well ..." *crack* "I have to admit it's unique. Even if it is a little late."

"We were working on your birthday, Scully." *crack* "And besides, it
wasn't baseball season yet."

"And when have you ever" *crack* "let something like THAT stop you,
Mulder?"

"So let's just say I was inspired today." *crack*

"Yeah, Mulder. Where were you all day, anyway? After you ran out of
the office and left me to clean up Tofutti Dreamsicle, that is."

"I was learning" *crack* "a very interesting story from baseball
history. I'd tell you, but you'd be bored."

"How do you know I'd be bored?"

*crack* "You said it was boring."

"I said recreating old games from box scores was boring, Mulder, not
that the entire game was."

"Scully!" *crack* "Are you telling me you're a closet baseball fan?"

"Well, I wouldn't go THAT far. But you don't grow up" *crack* "as a
tomboy with two brothers without at least learning to appreciate it."

"Hey ... yeah ... a tomboy, two brothers, and you never even weaseled
your way into a pickup game?" *crack*

"Okay, okay, so I did play a time or two. But they always stuck me way
out in right field, and getting a turn at bat was" *crack* "like pulling
teeth."

"So you HAVE hit a baseball before."

*swish*

"Scully ...

"Yeah, yeah, I have hit a baseball before. But not in ... God, has it
really been twenty years?"

"Well, then" *crack* "you've got a lot of time to make up for."

"That's true for a lot of things, Mulder."

*swish*

"Mulder?"

"..."

"Uh ... Mulder?"

"Scully?"

"Yeah?"

*swish* "Uh ... the Orioles are in town tomorrow ..."

"Uh-huh ..."

"I have two tickets."

"And ... ?"

"You're really gonna make me work for this, aren't you?"

"I already let you get to first base, Mulder."

"Mmmmm ... I guess you did ...

*crack*

"What time, Mulder?"

"What time what?" *crack*

"The game ..."

"Oh ... oh. It's at one."

"What time are you picking me up?"

*crack* "Uh ... eleven?"

"Don't be late, Mulder."

"Yeah. More than six years late, anyway."

"Mulder?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we just play now?"

"This IS playing, Scully." *crack* "Two games at once. Pretty good
multitasking, I'd say."

"We've always been good at that, Mulder."

*crack* "Makes me wonder what else we'd be good at ..."

"Mulder ..."

"Yeah?"

"Just hit the ball."

"Yes, Ms. Scully ..."

==========END==========

Feedback's better than a World Series win: shannono@iname.com