Think Again
While on a case, Mulder makes an after work suggestion to Scully.
July, 2017
Las Vegas in the summer was no joke.
The heat made it feel like you could actually spontaneously combust, as Scully had sarcastically said to Mulder one day.
She pulled her hair up and held it on top of her head as she walked up the stairs to her motel room door, the heat feeling as though it could nearly split the backs of her legs open.
“God,” she said, sliding the card key in the slot and pushing the door open. The room was only slightly cooler than the temperature outside and the air felt thick.
Closing and locking the door, she lifted the door to the air conditioner controls and turned it to the coldest setting. It shuddered on and began to blow out cold air, much to her relief.
She took off her blazer, tossing it on the bed. Unbuttoning her shirt, that too joined the bed. Standing in front of the air conditioner in her bra and skirt, she let out a deep breath as the cool air hit her sweaty skin. Holding her hair up again, she turned around and moaned as she began to cool down.
“God, it is so hot,” she murmured, moving her neck from side to side. “I hate it.”
When she felt somewhat cooler, she walked away from the air conditioner, stripping off the rest of her clothes on the way to the bathroom and leaving them where they landed.
Taking a tepid shower, she washed her hair and body twice, getting rid of the sweat from the day. Drying off, she put on her robe and walked into the bedroom.
“Oooohhhh,” she exhaled with a smile, the room now cool and refreshing.
She checked her phone, but saw no calls or messages from Mulder. He had gone to speak to witnesses and family members of their victim, while she had been at the coroner’s office. Not having heard from him, she had left the office and driven to the motel.
Sitting in traffic on the Vegas strip, had left her irritable. Needing to park at the far end of the motel’s lot and thus walking to the room through the heat, had only added to her irritability.
Now, clean and cooler, she felt better and wondered what he was up to and when he would be back.
Her stomach growled and she realized she had not eaten since breakfast and it was now going on six. Deciding to get dressed and then call Mulder to see where he was and what he wanted to do for dinner, she took out her clothes and laid them on the bed, exchanging them for her blazer and dirty shirt.
Not wanting to stand under a hot hair dryer, she brushed her hair a few minutes later and left it to air dry. Putting on minimal makeup, she was replacing the cap on her mascara when she heard a knock on the door. Smiling, she put the mascara down and walked to the door.
Checking to be sure it was him, she then opened the door and took in his flushed face.
“It is so fucking hot,” he said, stepping inside and moaning as he took off his jacket. “Oh… it is so much better in here.”
“Hello,” she said, closing and locking the door.
“Hi,” he said, untying his tie and unbuttoning the first few buttons of his shirt. “The fact that I got this sweaty just walking from the car is insane. How is it so hot here?”
“It’s a desert. Did you not learn about geographical locations when you were in school?”
“Shut up,” he said, walking toward the air conditioner and sighing as the air hit him.
“Did you leave the air on in your room?” she asked and he groaned.
“I… think so?”
“Give me your key. I’ll go turn it on for you.”
“May the Lord bless you,” he said, handing her his key and unbuttoning his shirt the rest of the way, fanning it open and closed.
“You don’t believe in the Lord,” she said, snorting out a laugh.
“I can respect the blessing,” he said, making the sign of the cross, completely out of order.
“Shut up,” she parroted back at him, rolling her eyes as she unlocked and opened the door.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, closing his eyes with a low hum as he turned around.
She shook her head as she stepped out and closed the door, cursing the heat that hit her in full force.
“Jesus Christ,” she grumbled, walking to his room next door.
Opening the door, she turned her head as the warm, stuffy air washed over her. Quickly turning his air conditioner to the lowest temperature and the highest fan setting, she closed the door and walked back to her room.
Two sharp raps and the door opened a crack.
“Yeeeeessssss,” Mulder said in a deep Lurch voice.
“Open the door.”
“Password?”
“Get the fuck outta the way,” she said, laughing as she pushed against the door.
“Correct,” he said, opening it wider.
“Oh, it’s so much better in here,” she said, agreeing with his previous statement as she closed the door, sighing happily and handing him his key. “I don’t know how people are walking around the strip in this heat. I thought I might spontaneously combust earlier when I was walking up the stairs.”
“Scully,” he said, looking at her with a pleased smile. His dress shirt was now off and he was wearing only his undershirt and pants.
“Does that make you happy? That I was on the verge of combustion?”
“No, not that. Just that you believe it could happen… that’s enough for me.”
“You’re weird.”
“Eh, you already knew that.” He shrugged and she smiled with a nod.
Yes, she did know that.
“Anything to report about the day?”
“I’m hungry. Other than that… not much.”
“Same,” he said with a nod. “To both.”
“We should get dinner.”
“I was thinking the same on my way back here. And then after, maybe we could see a show.”
“A show?” she asked, furrowing her brow.
“Yeah. I stopped to get gas and I saw this inside the station. I thought maybe you’d like to go?” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a pamphlet, and handed it to her with a grin.
She took it and then looked up at him.
“The Thunder From Down Under?”
“Crickey,” he said, in an Australian accent.
“You…” she said, looking down at the pamphlet again and taking in the chiseled and oiled chests of the half naked men. “You want to go to this show?”
“If you do? Sure.”
“Have I…” She opened the pamphlet and looked at more pictures, her eyes widening as she shook her head slightly. “… ever expressed an interest in this type of show?”
“Not that I can recollect, but you know what they say: What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” He grinned at her and she bit back a smile. She closed the pamphlet and then hit it into his chest.
“No, we’re not doing that,” she said. “Or at least, I’m not. If that’s something you want to do…”
“Oh, this was a sacrifice I was willing to make for you,” he said, looking down at the pamphlet. “I mean… I can’t deny they are good looking men, but not exactly my scene.”
“Your sacrifice is noted,” she said.
“The only problem now… what am I supposed to do with the large amount of ones I stopped and got at the bank?” he said quietly, running a finger over his lips as he stared at the pamphlet.
She kept her eyes on him, waiting for him to raise his eyes to hers. Holding his gaze until he was no longer able to keep the smile from his face, she rolled her eyes and smiled.
“So weird,” she whispered as he chuckled softly, crumbling the pamphlet in his hands and then tossing it into the trash. He winked and she shook her head. “Go shower and we can get something to eat.”
“Yeah,” he said, picking up his jacket, shirt, and tie. “My room is probably cooled off by now. Or at least somewhat cooler.”
“Probably,” she said, crossing her arms.
“You sure the answer is no?” he asked, glancing at the crumbled pamphlet in the trash can.
“Unless you really wanna go,” she said, raising her eyebrows as she stared at him.
“Hmm… I’m good.”
“Good. Go shower. I’m still hungry.”
He grinned as he opened the door, nodded at her as he stepped through it, and then groaned as the heat hit him and he closed the door. She shook her head as she smirked and let out a deep breath.
Picking up her clothes that still lay on the floor, she placed them in a small pile on the bottom of her closet. Straightening up the small table with her files and case notes, she laughed softly, thinking about the half dressed men on the pamphlet.
“Crikey,” she said, shaking her head and laughing again, imagining Mulder walking into that show, his pockets full of dollar bills, the music pulsing around them.
Maybe she should give that pamphlet another look…
