|
Tite: Chance Encounters I : The Summer of 1980 Summary: 16 year old Dana Scully, and Fox Mulder, taking a break from Oxford, have... well, they have a chance encounter... Notes: I freely admit that all my knowledge of the east coast starts and ends with my Rand McNally Road Atlas. Any glaring errors are unintentional and profusely apologized for. Even bigger apologies go out to the residents of Martha's Vineyard. Sorry about any distance or location mistakes. Also, I'm probably going to come up with more of these, so I'm really gonna want some feedback... Eisenhower High School Margaret Scully winced as her black, nearly brand new Ford jumped backward. "Dana, honey, please don't slam down on the brakes so hard!" Her younger daughter rolled her eyes, "Mom, I'm 16 years old. I *know* how to drive a car!" another lurch. Dana's brow furrowed. She took a deep breath, calming herself, and then proceeded to carefully back the car out of the parking place and towards the exit to the school parking lot. Melissa Scully, Margaret's older daughter, was sitting in the back seat, "Way to go, Dana." Said Melissa wryly, "You got out of the parking space. Mom, call the papers..." "Shut up, Missy," Dana said, a slightly peevish tone to her voice, "I've got it now." And she did. They made it four miles to their house without incident. Margaret was constantly impressed by how fast her daughter caught on to things. Dana never let things fluster her. If it went wrong the first time, she tried it again. Her youngest daughter was going to be something special, if she could keep herself out of trouble. Dana's intelligence was not in question. She was at the head of the Sophomore class in GPA. But there was a rebellious streak deep within her that had started to surface the minute she entered high school. Nothing serious had happened yet, but Maggie was keeping a very close eye on Dana. One day, she just might get tired of always being the smart one. Melissa got out of the car, giving Dana a playful shove as they walked up towards the white house they'd finally settled at after a life lived moving from base to base. "Good job, Red. I especially liked the way you almost hit that old guy crossing the street a few streets back." "Missy, I'm gonna give you a..." she didn't finish her sentence. The front door opened and she saw her father standing there. Her eyes brightened. She charged forward, long red hair flying behind her, and grabbed Capt. Bill Scully around the neck, "Ahab!!!" "Hey there, Starbuck. How'd your last day of school go?" "Went okay," she said, obviously thrilled that he was here, "When did you get back?" "This afternoon." Bill indicated his uniform, "I haven't even had a chance to change yet. I didn't want to be indisposed when you and Missy got back." He turned to Melissa, "Well, Melissa. You're college bound now, hmmm?" Melissa smiled, "Yep. Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to Boston I go." "Uh-huh." Bill said. He gave Melissa a hug, and put an arm around each of his daughters, "So, who wants to join Charlie and I in a game of touch football?" "Not me." Melissa said instantly, "I've got to get ready for the graduation ceremony tomorrow night." Bill turned to Dana, "Starbuck?" Dana pulled herself out from under her father's arm and charged up the stairs, "Last one in the backyard has to do tonight's dishes!" Melissa rolled her eyes and turned to follow her sister up the stairs. Bill turned to Margaret, "We've got quite a pair there, don't we, Maggie?" Maggie put an arm around his waist, "We certainly do." She led him back into the house and closed the door, "Dana wants to go up to Boston with Melissa next week when Missy goes for her official campus tour." Bill raised an eyebrow, "What did Missy say about that?" "I don't think she likes it much, but if we told her to take Dana, I think she would." Bill nodded. "Missy could probably use the company. I was going to see if Billy would go with her when he got back from Annapolis tomorrow, but he'd probably prefer to stay here. Do you think they can handle themselves alone in Boston?" "Missy's almost 19. Dana's a mature 16." Maggie shrugged, "I don't think it could hurt. It's only two days, and they'll be staying with the Coltons." "The Coltons." Bill shook his head, "Tom Colton may only be 18, but he's on his way to being quite a..." Maggie interrupted him "Well, maybe it's better if both of them go, then." Maggie half-smiled. "Protection." Bill nodded slowly. "I suppose." He sighed, "Are you sure?" "I think that as long as Dana doesn't drive, they should be fine." 2790 Vine Street "Hey mom, I'm home!" Fox Mulder pushed the door of his childhood home open, stretching, working the kinks out of his 6 foot frame after 16 hours on a plane from London. Chilmark had been an unbelievably comforting sight after all that time. His mother walked out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She opened her arms and hugged her son gratefully. "Fox! I was wondering when you were going to get here! I'm just starting on dinner." Fox checked his watch, "It's only 4 o'clock. You must have something special in store." She nodded, "Oh, yes." He yawned. All he felt like doing right now was going to sleep, but his mother looked awfully enthused about him being here. It had been several years since his parents divorced, and his mother got lonely. He'd felt almost guilty when he'd decided to attend Oxford last year. "But Fox, you're only 18," she'd said, "Are you sure you'll be all right?" He'd assured her he'd be fine. Oxford had been an interesting experience. He loved England, and there was a woman there named Phoebe Green who'd been staring at him a lot lately. At 19, he'd never had any really significant romantic experiences. He'd been somewhat withdrawn in high school, and when his personality emerged, it had usually been so smartass that most girls just wandered away. Going to a school on an island as small as the Vineyard wasn't exactly helping his prospects. When one girl rejected him, all the other ones knew exactly why. Noticing his dazed look, his mother smiled gently, "Why don't you go clean up and take a little nap. I'll wake you when I'm done cooking." Fox smiled, his sleepy eyes getting even sleepier. "Thanks, Mom. Believe me, I'll be in better shape to talk after I get a little sleep." Slowly he pulled himself up the stairs towards his room. Mrs. Mulder smiled. Her son could run a marathon on two hours of sleep. 2790 Vine Street "Mom, what did you do to this chicken? It's incredible!" "A secret, Fox. You know I don't give away my secrets." Fox smiled, "You learned that from Dad, huh?" A shadow seemed to pass over her face, but she shook it off quickly. Fox noted it, as if he'd been expecting it, but filed it away, mentioning nothing else. There was a semi-companionable silence for several minutes, and then Mrs. Mulder spoke, "So, what have you been doing?" "Studying. A lot. I've also been researching the supernatural implications of Stonehenge." She sighed, "You and your supernatural fixation." "There's evidence that there are EBE visitations there on..." She put a hand up, "Fox, you know I don't want to hear it." Her tone was tired, as if she'd heard this too many times, "Your sister is gone. We don't know where she is, but that doesn't mean she was kidnapped by aliens." His eyes clouded. He barely remembered his sisters' abduction, but it still hurt. All he remembered was that bright light. The bright light, the humming noise... He knew in his heart that it wasn't natural. But for now he decided not to create any more tension. His mother was probably hurt even more than he was, and he didn't want to add to that. Enough had happened in the past, he wouldn't aggravate her anymore. He took a bite of mashed potatoes, "I've also been profiling serial killers through the years. Jack the Ripper's got an interesting history." Mrs. Mulder half-smiled, "Fox, you've always had the most interesting sense of dinner conversation." Fox looked sheepish, "Well..." he stirred his food around with his fork for a moment, and then looked up, smiling, "Mom, would you like to go to a Red Sox game with me?" She seemed surprised at the offer. They weren't exactly as close as she thought they could be. She blamed herself for that. She was pretty sure that part of the reason that he'd gone to Oxford was to get away from her, and from his father. A smile crossed her face, "Fox, I'd love to." His sleepy grin widened, "We could drive up there tommorrow, spend the night, and then go to the game on the 12th." "Sounds perfect." Fox reached across and took his mothers hand. A road trip to Boston. That would give them a chance to talk, maybe to learn a little more about each other. Getting closer to his mother was something he'd wanted to do for a long time. 1200 Carroll Street Dana poked her sister insistently. If they were going to reach Boston by Missy's tour time, they'd have to leave by eight. Dana was unreasonably excited about this trip. She'd lived just about everywhere, from Miramar, California to Annapolis, Maryland to Sand Point, Washington, but she'd never been to Boston. Now that her family had finally settled down in what would probably be a permanent home, she felt the urge to get out of the house and explore. It was a strange irony, but there was something in her that was insatiably curious. It might change one day. She might one day become locked down into the scientific methods that fascinated her now, but she hoped not. She hoped that she would always have someone there to challenge her way of thinking, to open her mind to extreme possibilities. She grinned, continuing to jam her finger into her sisters' back. Melissa had been out until 3 in the morning, celebrating her graduation. The more groggy she was, the more chance Dana would have to drive the car. "C'mon, Missy. Let's go!" Melissa rolled over, sighing, "Dana, sometimes you act like a little kid." "And sometimes I act like I have a 155 IQ. Now let's go. We have to be in Boston in time for your interview." The older Scully daughter took a deep breath and sat up, stretching, watching Dana speed out of the room to get her bags together. Melissa was constantly amazed by how enthusiastic her sister could seem. But Dana's mind was a scientific one, and Melissa knew that as Dana got older, her scientific instincts would get stronger. But Melissa knew her sister's curiosity would never go away. Eventually, she would be confronted by extreme possiblities, and Melissa hoped Dana's curiosity would keep her mind open enough to consider them. Corner of 4th and Erikson Missy was asleep in the passenger seat. Dana smiled as she watched her sister sleep. Getting her up so early after a night like she'd had last night had been a good idea. Now Dana got herself the drivers' seat for a couple hours. Driving was fairly relaxing to her, and it gave her time to think. Dana Scully needed quiet time. Not that she didn't mind someone to talk to. She'd never really had a friend she trusted enough to talk to about everything that was in her heart. She talked a lot with Melissa, but there were times when she wished that someone outside of her family would be that close. Well, whatever else happened, at least Melissa would always be around to talk with. She rolled her eyes, "Even if I never make another friend in my life." Being the smartest 10th grader in Baltimore wasn't exactly making her a whole lot of pals. She glanced up towards the next intersection and saw the light turning from green to yellow. Deciding to try something a little rebellious, she sped up. The yellow light was about to turn to red when... some idiot stepped out in front of her! The force of the brakes slamming jarred Melissa, but didn't wake her up. Probably good. If she'd seen this, Dana would never have heard the end of it. The guy she'd nearly hit was standing there looking at her with a strange, wry grin on his face, as if the fact that she'd nearly killed him didn't bother him at all. He gestured to a space along the sidewalk one street up, and began walking that way. Sighing, Dana followed him up and parked next to the curb.. What was he going to do? Yell her out? That was all right, she probably deserved it. Slowly, she got out of the car and went around the front of it. The guy she'd nearly hit was still smiling. "I'm so sorry!" she said, looking extremely guilty, "I didn't mean to..." He shook his head, "That's all right. I'd probably have done the same thing." Dana was a little puzzled now. The guy was fairly good-looking in a strange sort of way. His nose was a bit large for his face, but for some reason that didn't make him any less handsome. His brown hair was uncombed but not messy, and he hadn't shaved that morning. His eyes were hazel, and there was amusement dancing in the back of them. Dana had the feeling he was laughing at her within himself, but his grin was so good-natured that she couldn't bring herself to be angry. He looked like he was only a few years older than she was. Maybe 21 at the most. "So what you're saying is you're not angry about nearly getting killed?" He nodded, "You wouldn't have killed me. You stopped in time, and even if you hadn't stopped, you probably wouldn't have hit me that hard." He glanced into the car at her sister, and then back at Dana, "So, what's your name?" Dana was a little wary about giving out her name to complete strangers she'd almost killed, but he seemed nice enough. She decided he deserved to know the name of the hapless 16-year old who'd nearly killed him. "Dana." She offered her hand. "Fox," he replied, grinning. "Fox? Your name is Fox?" The grin widened, "Blame my parents. I know I do." She could've sworn he winked at her as he said, "I don't usually let people call me 'Fox'" "So... Fox..." she frowned, trying to think of some way she could make up for having nearly hit him. She felt really bad about it now, even if he did say he didn't mind. Finally, she decided to be impulsive, "Would you care to have lunch with my sister," she gestured back to the car, "...and I?" He glanced at his watch, regret crossing his face, "I've only got a half hour before I have to be back at the hotel. My mom's taking a nap and then we're going to the Sox game. I don't think I have time to eat." "That's too bad." She sighed, "We were just passing through on our way to Boston College. That's where my sister's decided to while away her college years." She eyed him, "If you don't mind my asking..." "19. Oxford," he said, anticipating both of her questions, "I'm just home for the summer, visiting my mom. We live out on the Vineyard. I'm treating her to the game." There was a silence that should have been uncomfortable. But for some reason, standing here in the middle of a crowded Boston street, talking to a man she barely knew felt like the most natural thing in the world. Dana's parents had always taught her to be wary, and usually she was, sometimes taking that wariness to an extreme. She tried her best to examine things and try to keep herself as sensible and logical as possible. And there was something inherently illogical about the fact that his lopsided grin, and the loose, unconcerned way he stood that seemed familiar. His smile widened, "Do you believe in past lives, Dana?" Okay, that was a little weird. "Uh..." "Because for some reason, you seem familiar to me." "Uh..." she repeated. *Now* she was skeptical. She felt a cheesy pick-up line coming on. Why he'd be interested in her in the first place (she felt she was short and somewhat gawky) was beyond her. And if the past lives thing wasn't prelude to a pick-up line, and this guy actually believed in that sort of thing... then she might want to be going anyway. She cleared her throat, "Well-If your mother is waiting for you then I shouldn't keep you." That grin, that enigmatic sly little grin that somehow lightened up his whole face, seemed to falter a little, "I don't necessarily have to be right on time, we could still go to lunch..." A voice from behind her cut of any reply. "Dana? Who are you talking to?" They both looked towards the car. Melissa Scully was stepping out, stretching. She yawned and looked at Fox. Her eyebrow arched, "Well, hello there." She looked towards Dana questioningly, "Who's this?" Dana was trying to come up with an explaintion that would avoid the fact that she hadn't been driving very well, when Fox spoke for her. "She nearly ran me over with the car." Fox replied. He extended his hand, "Fox." "Melissa." Missy shook Fox's hand, and chanced to look at her watch as she released. "Oh, damn!" She ran around to the side of the car. "Nice meeting you, Fox, sorry about my sisters' driving deficiency, she's only 16. Dana, let's go!" Dana looked towards Fox as her sister quickly adjusted the drivers' seat so she could stretch her legs. Fox's face was now openly regretful. "Well, I guess there won't be any lunch." "Yeah." She smiled at him, "I'm sorry about that. I would've liked to hear more about past lives." There was open skepticism in her voice, but she would've liked to have talked to him some more. He seemed like a very interesting guy, and she couldn't shake the familiarity. It was even stronger now. They shook hands again briefly. Dana hopped into the car quickly, afraid that Melissa would pull away from the curb before she was all the way in. She looked back as they screeched away from the curb. Fox was looking after them, still smiling. "Missy, why..." "I'm scheduled to start a campus tour in fourteen minutes, and I'm not exactly sure how to get there." She sighed, "Why didn't you wake me up??" "I was going to," Dana said, a defensive tone to her voice, "But then I nearly hit that..." "Gorgeous man." Melissa finished for her, glancing at her sister as she attempted to maneuver through the traffic. "He looked like he knew you from some place. Did you know him?" Dana sighed, "No. But I wish I had." She looked out the window, watching scene change rapidly as her sister put on the gas. It was strange the familiarity she felt. But he'd started to mention past lives, and that was impossible. She shook her head. It was just a chance encounter. Nothing more. Turning her attention back to the matter at hand, she opened the glove compartment, plucking a map of Boston out and beginning to unfold it, "Um, Missy, don't you think it might be a little easier to find what we're looking for if we use a map?" The Mitchell Arms Hotel 731 Nicholas Way Boston, Ma. 4:01 PM Fox shook his mother gently. "Mom? It's almost time to go." His mother sat up and stretched, yawning. "What time is it?" "Four o'clock. If we're gonna have dinner before the game starts, we'd better get going." She stood up and stretched again. "Just give me a few minutes to get washed up." He nodded. Mrs. Mulder frowned, examining her son's face. "Fox, what's wrong?" "I-I met someone while I was taking my walk, mom." "Did something unpleasant happen?" "No. I mean, she nearly ran me over, but that was an accident. There was... something about her. It was strange. I felt like I knew her. Like we were connected." Mrs. Mulder sighed, shaking her head slightly at her son's supernatural leanings. She patted his hand, "I'm sure it was nothing, Fox." She headed for the bathroom, "Was she pretty?" "Beautiful," he said, smiling, "Prettiest blue eyes I've ever seen." "Is there marriage in the future?" "Mooommm..." he said, enjoying the normal mother-son kidding that they were engaging in. He laughed, "Better get a move on. The Sox are playing the Yankees, and I don't want to miss it." She smiled at him, "I'll just be a minute." Then she closed the door the bathroom. Fox sighed as he pulled out his wallet to make sure he had enough for the tickets and dinner. He couldn't shake that familiar feeling. There was nothing he could do about it now, though. His photographic memory carefully filed it in the back of his mind under "Strange Encounters", then he focused on thinking of places to take his mother for lunch. Even as the memory began to fade from his conscious mind, he realized that there was no such thing as a chance encounter. He would meet with the enigmatic redhead again, it was just a matter of where and when... The End End Note: Well. There was a little piece of bubble gum for you to chew on. It just came to me one afternoon while I was sitting around thinking about how wrenching high school was. Hope you liked it! Aaanyway... tell me what you think!
|