A Toy Thing (Author's note: Somebody stop me ...) ===== "Uh ... Scully?" "What is it, Mulder?" "Do you always leave your, uh, toys sitting out on the shelves in your living room?" "Well, yes, usually. Do you want coffee or tea?" "Uh, whatever you're having is fine." "Tea, then. I'll be out in a minute, Mulder. Keep your feet off the furniture." "Yeah, uh ... Scully?" "Yes?" "Can I ask why?" "Why what?" "Why you leave your toys out on the shelf like that?" "You make it sound like something terrible, Mulder. I leave them out because I think they're cute, and they're easy to reach when my nephews come over." "You ... your *nephews*?" "Sure, Mulder. Why do you think I have so many? I love playing with them as much as they love playing with me." "Uh ..." "Mulder? Are you okay? You sound like you're choking." "I ... I'm okay, Scully." "What is the big deal about the toys, anyway? Are you telling me *you* don't have any?" "Well, uh, no, not really, I can't say that I do." "Really? I'm surprised, Mulder; I thought you'd be into toys like that." "Uh ... maybe, but ... not by myself." "Do you mean to tell me you've never played with a single one of those, Mulder?" "Well, yeah, but they weren't *mine* ..." "I guess I know what to get you for your birthday, then." "Oh God, Scully ..." "Mulder, are you *sure* you're okay?" "Jesus ... I can't ... how can you just talk about it like that?" "Talk about it? Oh ... Mulder, I'm sorry. I didn't know it was a problem for you. I should have thought about it. I know you had a hard time." "Hard ... oh shit ..." "Mulder, you can put them away or cover them up if you need to. I don't want you to be uncomfortable." "Scully, uncomfortable ... ah ... isn't the word for it." "I really am sorry, Mulder. If I'd known those Slinkys would bring back bad memories ..." "Slinkys??" "Slinkys. You know, the ones on my shelves? The ones we've been talking about?" "Uh, Scully ... I think you may have forgotten something." "Mulder, you're confusing me." "I think you left ... ohhhh ... some *other* toys lying out by mistake ..." "Other ... oh my GOD." "Uhnnnnnnnn ... ahhh ... uh, Sc ... Scully ... could you ... bring me a towel?" ====END=== Dedicated to Jean, who as good as dared me, and to Robbie, who started it all in the first place. Special thanks to Kim for the faux pas (you know the one) that inspired a certain train of thought in there. ;)