Date sent: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 11:02:38 -0500 From: "Shannon O'Connor" Subject: NEW -- CHECK GAGES -- VH -- PG TITLE: CHECK GAGES AUTHOR: Shannon O'Connor E-MAIL: shannono@iname.com DATE: 10 March 1998 DISTRIBUTION: Forward to ATXC but not Gossamer (I'll send it there myself). Others, go ahead, just please let me know! CLASSIFICATION: VH RATING: PG SPOILERS: None KEYWORDS: Mulder/Scully UST CONTENT WARNING: None SUMMARY: Mulder will *never* let Scully live this one down. COMMENTS: This one is based on an actual event which happened to me and a friend of mine. I'm not calling any names, but please keep in mind that it was *not* my car and *not* my fault!! Takes place during the fifth season, but there aren't any real spoilers. DISCLAIMER: Mulder and Scully aren't mine. Good enough? The story (and the other character) are, however. ********** CHECK GAGES By Shannon O'Connor Rural Virginia Sunday, March 29, 1998 3:33 p.m. "... besides, Mulder, you saw yourself how that man was projecting those images on the mirrors. How can you still believe this case qualifies as an X-file?" "Well ... um ... I ..." "No comeback for that one, Mulder?" "Well, actually, I was ... I was distracted by ... uh, Scully, you do realize your low fuel light is on?" "Yeah, I know, Mulder, but don't worry, I saw a sign for a gas station about five miles further. Besides, the light just came on about 10 miles back, and I always get at least 40 miles after it comes on." "Well, okay ... but if I end up having to walk five miles in this rain ..." "I said don't worry, Mulder. It'll be fine ..." "Uh oh." "Uh, Scully?" "Ummm ..." "Uh, Scully, I think you ought to pull over before it dies in the middle of the road." ********** 3:37 p.m. Scully maneuvered her car onto the shoulder, where it shuddered and sputtered one last time before the engine died completely. As it did, the dashboard lit up, and Scully's eyes were drawn to one of the displays: "CHECK GAGES." "Well, you'd think they'd at least spell it right," she muttered, drawing a glance from her partner. Scully refused to return the look, though. She sat gripping the wheel, watching the rain run down the windshield in front of her face. This *would* happen with Mulder in the car, wouldn't it? She sighed and lowered her head onto her hands. Hearing a sound from the passenger side, she tilted her head slightly in that direction and chanced a look. Mulder's eyes were on the empty road before them, but he was biting down on his bottom lip. Hard. Scully turned her head back and closed her eyes. "Don't even say it, Mulder," she said. "Say what?" "Say you told me so." "Scully ..." "Shut up, Mulder." ********** 3:44 p.m. "The call won't go through. Guess we managed to land in an empty pocket." "Great." "So do you have a gas can?" "Ummm ...." "Oh, lovely. So not only do we have to walk five miles in the rain, but we also have to find a gas can somewhere." "Mulder, I'm sure the gas station will have one ..." "So are we going to get started, or sit here all day?" "Sitting here sounds good." "Yeah, sure." "Uh, Scully, don't you usually have an umbrella in the back seat?" "Yes, I do, Mulder. Unfortunately, you lost my last one last week." "Oh." "Well, at least we have our trenchcoats." "Thank God for small favors." "Yeah. And at least I have my sneakers in the trunk, so I can change out of these heels." "Wish I had something besides my dress shoes. They'll be hitting the trash as soon as I get home." "Sorry, Mulder." "I'll live." ********** 3:51 p.m. "You realize, Scully, that running out of gas is the oldest trick in the book." "Excuse me?" "Well, if all you wanted was to get me alone in a secluded area ..." "Shut up, Mulder." ********** 3:57 p.m. "Scully, I'm bored." "Mulder, you have the attention span of a fruit fly." "A fruit fly with legs growing out of its mouth?" "Ugh, Mulder, please do *not* remind me of that." "Okay, then talk to me." "About what?" "I don't know. Anything." "Ummm ...okay, did you see that documentary last week about the 25th anniversary of 'The Exorcist'?" "Actually, yes, I did. I was flipping past the channel and stopped when I saw what it was about. Thought of you." "Wait a minute ... you saw 'The Exorcist' and thought of me? I think I should be offended." "You told me once it was one of your favorite movies." "I did?" "Yeah, when we were investigating that faith healer in Tennessee. You said, and I quote, 'God never lets the devil steal the show.' I said you must have loved 'The Exorcist,' and you said it was one of your favorites." "Oh, I'd forgotten about that. That was, what, four years ago?" "Yeah." "You know, Mulder, sometimes your photographic memory can be really annoying." "And sometimes it really comes in handy." "Yeah, that too." ********** 4:14 p.m. "... and then Missy came tearing through, yelling at the top of her lungs, with Bill about two steps behind her, waving the frog at her. They were spreading mud all over the floor." "Ooo, I bet your mom loved that." "Oh, yeah. Missy had to clean it up, and Bill was grounded for a week." "And you?" "Oh, I got off scot-free. Bill tried to tell Mom I had started it by chasing *him* first, but she wouldn't hear it. After all, I wasn't the one who brought it into the house." "So you managed to pull one over on your older siblings ..." "For a change, yeah. I was so used to being picked on all the time that it was nice to get a little back every now and then." "You know, I can just picture you sitting in the kitchen, trying not to laugh when Bill and Melissa came through." "I was biting my lip so hard it hurt. Kind of like you were doing in the car a while ago." "Well, you have to admit, Scully, this is kind of funny." "Oh, really? Then why don't I feel like laughing about it?" "Oh, I don't know, maybe because you have the feeling you're never going to live this one down?" "Mulder, if you breathe a word of this ..." "What, you'll shoot me again?" "Or worse." "Worse?" "Yeah. Like maybe a strategically placed knee." "My lips are sealed." ********** 4:22 p.m. "I can't believe not a single car has come by." "Well, Scully, we *are* kind of in the middle of nowhere." "Yeah, Middle of Nowhere, Virginia. Kinda has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Maybe we can just settle here and live off the land for the rest of our lives." "Scully, are you coming on to me?" "Shut up, Mulder." ********** 4:26 p.m. "You know, Scully, this wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't raining." "Yeah, my hair is starting to drip down the back of my neck." "Sorry about the umbrella." "I'll live." ********** 4:31 p.m. "Is that the gas station you were talking about up there?" "I sure hope so. If not, maybe there'll at least be a phone." "Well, at least we're getting our exercise for the day." "Not exactly the kind of exercise I live for." "And what exactly kind of exercise *do* you live for, Agent Scully?" "Wouldn't you like to know ..." ********** 4:36 p.m. Mulder pulled open the door of the tiny gas station to let Scully go through ahead of him, thanking his lucky stars that the place was actually open on a Sunday. Although he certainly hadn't minded the time alone with Scully ... Mulder shook the thought off and stepped up to the counter beside Scully, who was already talking to the older man standing behind the cash register. "... and, well, we ran out of gas about five miles back up the road," she was saying. The man smiled lopsidedly, his eyes twinkling. "The old run out of gas trick, huh?" he asked, looking up at Mulder. It was all Mulder could do not to burst into laughter as he saw the blush creep across Scully's cheeks. "Actually, it was my car," she admitted. "I apparently, um, miscalculated how much gas I had left." The man's grin grew wider. "That's all right, little lady." (Scully ignored the "endearment.") "I'll be glad you give you folks a ride back up there in just a few minutes. I usually don't close until five on Sundays, but it's been slow today, so I'll go on and shut things down." He looked at them again, then added, "I guess you'll be needing a gas can, too?" "Yes, sir," Scully said. "If you have one I can buy ..." He waved his hand dismissively. "No need, I'll use mine," he said. Scully graced him with a smile. "Thank you so much, Mr. ...?" "Darrell's good enough," he said, winking at her. Mulder had watched the whole exchange in bemused silence, but as Darrell went outside to start closing up the shop, he turned to face his partner. "How come I can't get away with calling you 'little lady'?" "Because I'd hurt you bad. Besides, what was I going to do, tell him off? Do you really feel like walking another few miles to the next town?" "Uh, no, you have me there." "Have you where, Mulder?" "Umm ... "Gotta keep up, Mulder." ********** 4:55 p.m. Mulder slid out of the pickup truck's cab, then turned to help Scully down to the soggy ground. They walked the few feet up the shoulder to Scully's car, meeting Darrell, who carried the gas can, at the front of the car. "We really appreciate this, Darrell," Scully said, smiling at him again. "You've really gone beyond the call." "Hey, it's no big deal," he said, seeming a bit surprised at her statement. "Just being neighborly." "Well, we don't get a lot of that in the city," Mulder interjected, smiling. "We're lucky if we even *meet* our neighbors." Darrell shook his head slowly as he started pouring the gas into Scully's car. "Can't see how you can live like that," he said. "I lived in Washington for a while about 30 years ago, but I don't even like going up there any more. Too many people, always rushing around. I like it out here. It's quiet, peaceful." Mulder smiled again, glancing at Scully, who was looking at him. "It certainly is," Mulder said. "It's nice. But I'm so used to the noise, the silence would probably keep me awake." "And since when do you sleep that much anyway, Mulder?" Scully said, quirking a half-smile. "You have a point," Mulder said, breaking into a grin. They stood there, smiling at each other, as Darrell finished pouring in the gas and recapped the gas tank and his gas can. He turned toward the agents, looking slowly back and forth between them. he thought. But finally he spoke. "Well, folks, if you want to be sure the car starts, I'll be on my way." Scully almost jumped at his words, then smiled at him a bit sheepishly and stepped to the driver's side. Opening the car and climbing in, she inserted the key and started the engine. She left it running and got back out to see Mulder shaking Darrell's hand and thanking him for his help. When their hands parted, she could see the bill left in Darrell's hand. Darrell flipped the bill in his hand and held it back out to Mulder. "No, really, it wasn't that big a deal," he said. "Take it," Mulder said. "It's the least we can do." "Yes, please," Scully added, smiling as the men turned to look at her. "We really appreciate all your help." Darrell looked at her for a long moment, then returned the smile. "Okay, thanks ma'am, sir. You two be sure to stop in and say if you're by this way again." "We will," Mulder said, nodding once and then turning to walk back around to the passenger side. "Goodbye, Darrell, and thanks again," Scully called before pulling off her wet trench coat, tossing it in the back seat, then sliding back behind the wheel. She looked back one last time to see him getting back into his truck, then glanced over at Mulder, who was settling into his seat, his damp hair spiking in all directions after he had run his hand through it yet again. Scully grinned. "Another adventure for your memory banks," she said, laughter in her voice. "And believe me, I won't let *you* forget it," he shot back, returning the grin. Then they were back on their way. **********END**********