Brighten Up
On a case, Mulder and Scully stop at a diner. When she turns down dessert, he takes matters into his own hands.
Todays story is for Becks, who asked for a revival story with "I saw your eyes light up."
Hope you all enjoy! 🎃
Georgia
July, 2017
“God, it’s hot,” Scully said, getting in the car as Mulder started the engine. She turned the air conditioning up and directed the vents toward her, slipping her blazer off and tossing it into the backseat.
“It is,” Mulder agreed, loosening his tie and then removing his own jacket, tossing it back to join hers. “I couldn’t live here.”
“It gets hot at home,” Scully said, glancing at him.
“Yeah, but not this muggy.”
“Mulder,” she said, giving him a look. “That’s a lie. How often have we complained about the humidity?”
“Hmm,” he said, putting on his sunglasses and looking over his shoulder. When two cars had passed, he pulled away from the curb and into traffic.
“Your apartment got awfully hot when the air conditioning went out,” she said.
“Shit. Yeah, it sure did. Trying to sleep in that heat was unbearable.”
“Hmm,” she hummed with a nod and he cut his eyes at her, watching her smile as she leaned closer to the vents.
His mind drifted to one particular hot night at his apartment when she had stayed over. Two fans had been blowing on them at full speed as they lay with no covers and minimal clothing, both sweating and moaning about the heat. They had eventually left, going to her apartment where they had turned on the air as cold as possible, until she had begun to shiver.
“Yeah,” he said, clearing his throat and looking ahead. “Uh… how about some food? What sounds good?”
“I’m fine with whatever. Although, hmm.. soup might be good.”
“Soup, Scully?” he asked, turning to look at her in astonishment. “Aren’t we both currently complaining about this insane heat?”
“But we’d be inside at the diner. In the cool air. Therefore, soup would be most welcome.”
“You’re an odd person,” he said, shaking his head as he looked back at the road, though still glancing at her.
“How dare you call me odd, you spooky man,” she said, leaning back and smiling at him, running her fingers through her hair, and he smiled back with a nod.
“That diner we passed earlier?”
“Sure,” she said, letting out a deep breath as she crossed her arms. “Soup and a sandwich is really starting to appeal to me.”
“I agree with the sandwich, but soup, in this heat, still seems crazy.”
“I’ll save you a few bites for when you change your mind,” she said, closing her eyes and smiling again.
“Pretty sure that won’t happen.”
“I know you. You will.”
He smiled, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel.
They pulled into the parking lot of the diner a couple of minutes later and got out of the car. She shook her head, pulling at her shirt to create some air as they walked into the diner, sighing happily where the cold air hit her skin.
“See? It’s cool enough in here for a bowl of soup. And ohhh look, they have pies,” she said, walking to the display case.
“Cold enough for you maybe,” he said, taking off his sunglasses and following behind her, looking at the pies in the case. “Mmm. Sweet potato.”
“And chocolate cream.”
He looked at her, seeing the happy look on her face. But then it disappeared with a slightly defeated sigh and a shake of her head.
“Come on. Let’s get a table,” she said, walking away from the display case.
Sitting down, they looked over the menu, deciding on something to split.
“But not the soup, as you’ve already stated,” she said, setting the menus on the edge of the table and glancing at him with a smirk.
“I have a spoon here with my silverware. If it gets used for soup… well,” he said, setting his utensils to the side with a shrug. She sniggered, shaking her head as the waitress walked up to take their order.
He did eat some of her soup, more than just a few bites, while she hummed a quiet “mmhmm” and looked at him knowingly. They split their sandwiches, each taking a half, as they discussed the case they were working on. When the waitress returned to clear their plates, she asked if they wanted dessert.
“No,” Scully said with an almost sad smile. “That’s okay.”
“No pie?” he asked as the waitress walked away, saying she would be back with the check.
“I can’t, we can’t, eat a whole pie.”
“I’m sure they sell slices,” he said.
“Nah, that’s okay.”
“Not even for chocolate cream pie?” he teased, nodding at the waitress when she set their bill onto the table.
“I’m good,” Scully replied, with the same nearly sad look on her face. “I’m going to use the bathroom. Meet you at the car.”
He nodded, rising with her and heading to the front as she went to the bathroom.
“Do you sell slices of pie?” he asked, handing over the bill and his credit card to the man at the register.
“Of course. Would you like one?” he asked with a smile.
“Two, please. Sweet potato and chocolate cream. Extra whipped cream on the side.”
“No problem. I’ll have it out for you in just a minute.”
The slices of pie in a takeout bag, safely secured in the trunk, Mulder closed it down just as Scully walked outside, her face contorting at the heat.
“Jesus,” she said, shaking her head. “I thought it would have cooled off a little when the sun went down.”
“Doesn’t seem likely,” he said, getting in and starting the car, the air conditioning turned up to the maximum level.
“I’m just thankful the motel’s system is working,” she said, putting her seatbelt on.
“Same. Although, you could always share my room. If it’s needed, of course.”
“Yeah,” she said, looking at him as she adjusted the vents again.
“Just putting it out there. Reminding you of your options.”
“Hmm,” she hummed and he smiled as he backed up and headed toward the motel.
When they arrived, they took their jackets and other items out of the backseat, the heat still stifling as bugs flew around the lights in the walkway to their rooms.
“If my room heats up, I’ll give you a call,” she said, unlocking her door.
“I’ll be waiting to hear from you,” he said, watching her step inside, smiling as she closed the door behind her.
He waited a beat and then hurried to get the bag of pies from the trunk. Going inside his room, he put them in the small refrigerator.
Undressing and leaving his sweaty clothes on the floor, he went into the bathroom to shower.
Clean and dressed in cooler clothes, he took the bag out of the refrigerator and grabbed his room key.
Knocking on Scully’s door, he waited, hoping she was done with her own shower. He heard the lock being turned and he smiled, holding the bag behind his back. Cool air hit him as the door opened and she stood before him.
“I’m not leaving this room,” she stated, her face free of makeup and her hair wet as it lay against the shirt she wore, one of his old ones, he was fairly certain. “I’m cool and comfortable. So, whatever you want, it can wait until tomorrow.”
“What if it’s for something sweet?”
“What do you mean?” she asked, frowning as she looked him up and down. He smiled as he pulled the bag from behind his back, showing it to her as she continued to frown. “What’s that?”
“If you let me in and out of this goddamn heat, I’ll show you,” he said.
She opened the door wider and he smiled as he walked into her room and to the table. Turning around, he watched her as she closed and locked the door.
“What’s in the bag, Mulder?”
“Come over and see,” he said. She walked over and he moved aside so she could look in the bag.
“Pie?” she asked, taking the containers out, looking at him with a smile.
“Mmhmm,” he said, taking the bag from her and getting out the plastic wrapped forks. “I saw your eyes light up when you saw the pie. And even though you denied it after our meal… well, I know you as you know me, and I know you wanted pie.”
“I did,” she said softly, looking back down at the pie.
“I know.”
She looked up at him, her eyes traveling across his face and landing on his lips.
If they had been in a different place, their relationship not broken at the moment, he would have kissed her. Made a silly joke to hear her laugh before kissing her again.
But, at the moment, what he was able to offer to make her smile was pie.
“There’s extra whipped cream too,” he said, taking it from the bag. “Which we can share.”
“Okay,” she said, stepping back and setting the containers onto the table. They sat down and he handed her a fork, taking his pie and opening the lid.
The air conditioner kicked on again, humming quietly as they shared their pie and the whipped cream. He watched her eyes close with nearly every bite as she smiled happily and he smiled back.
The slice of sweet potato pie, one of the best he had ever tasted.
