Language: We're potty mouths, all of us.
Sex Disclaimer: subtext, innuendo, a nudge and a wink, but nothing graphic.
Location: Washington, D.C., the nation's capital. Some places are real, some (sadly) are now closed, some are made up.
Part 1
Thud! I hear rather than feel my face hit the carpet. My mind is fuzzy from the alcohol we've been drinking all night. Now . . . what exactly was I doing when I tripped over the back of the sofa?
Ah yes, I remember now. I was going to get the Nutter Butters out of the kitchen. Right. Time to stand up. As I struggle to my feet I hear the unmistakable sounds of giggling. I look back into the den and see Scully banging her hand on the coffee table as another round of laughter sweeps her away.
"So, Staesh, did it ever occur to you to go *around* the sofa?" I always knew Gabrielle was a wiseass. I shoot her the look of death. She doesn't even try to contain her giggles. The two of them are a sight - sprawled out on the floor next to the coffee table, their faces are flushed and their eyes teary with laughter.
"Bite me," I say as I stagger toward the kitchen.
The evening had begun innocently enough. Three redheads going out for a night on the town. We'd have some drinks, maybe play some pool or go dancing. It was Gabrielle's idea. That alone should have warned me to stay at home.
Gabrielle is my kickboxing instructor. I'd heard that kickboxing was a great way to get into shape and a friend of mine told me about a gym near the MCI Center that catered to women, so I decided to check it out. I don't know what I was expecting when I arrived for my first class, but no one in the gym looked like a kickboxer to me. In fact, out of the seven women in the class, three of us were petite with red hair and blue eyes. Usually I'm the lone redhead. I was completely surprised when Gabrielle stepped forward and announced that she was our instructor - I had assumed that the tall woman with long dark hair would be leading the class. Gabrielle told us to choose a partner in the class, someone the same height and build, which is how I met Dana Scully. Like me, Dana was without makeup, hair pulled back from her face, wearing a t-shirt and leggings. She was the picture of a grad student (I found out later that she'd thought the same thing about me). The first thing Gabrielle asked us to do was tell our partners a little bit about ourselves. Turns out Dana is an FBI agent. She picked this gym because it's only two blocks from the J. Edgar Hoover building. Oh shit, I thought. She's gonna kick my ass.
It took me two days to get out of bed after that first class. I had to hide a smile when I saw Dana walking gingerly into the gym for our next session - at least I gave as good as I got. As she pulled her t-shirt over her head I saw the fresh scar on her abdomen. She noticed me staring and said, "I'm fine. Just got a little banged up on a case a while back."
I raised an eyebrow at her. "You sure you're up for this?"
She pursed her lips and sighed. "I'm fine, just a little out of shape. That's why I'm here." She obviously did not like admitting this to me. I guess she thought it was a sign of weakness. I was saying a silent prayer of thanks - I'd probably be in traction right now if I'd had a session with a healthy Dana Scully.
Gabrielle walked over to us with an amused smile. "Feeling a little sore?" Dana and I nodded. "Try a warm bath with arnica and calendula oils. That should make you feel better." Dana raised her right eyebrow and moved away from us, muttering something under her breath about lactic acid and analgesics. Gabrielle shook her head. "Everyone ready to begin?"
Just then I heard a small chirping sound. Dana walked over to her gym bag and pulled out a cell phone. She snapped it open and answered with a curt "Scully." Gabrielle and I looked at each other and started laughing - "Scully" seemed so out of character for someone as small and pretty as Dana. After about five minutes of conversation Dana hung up and walked back to us.
"I'm sorry, I have to go," she said, "I've been assigned to a new case and I need to meet with someone to go over the details."
"That's fine," Gabrielle said. "Stacia can partner with me."
"Great," I said as I shot Dana the look of death. She returned it with a look of mock apology and went to the locker room to change. Was that a giggle I heard as she walked away? No, I thought, not from Dana. She would never be so cruel. . . would she?
We didn't see Dana again until the following Monday. She barely spoke during the workout, but she moved with a quiet, controlled intensity and fury. By the end of the class I could barely stand up. After Dana left to go to the locker room, Gabrielle came up to me.
"She gave you quite a workout," she said.
"Glad you noticed," I said, picking up my water bottle and heading toward the locker room.
"I'd like to see how things go next time before I say anything. Maybe she just had a bad day," said Gabrielle. I nodded and walked away.
Wednesday night's workout was equally intense. However, I had also had a bad day, so I was more than happy to focus my energy on sparring with Dana. By the end of the session we were both exhausted and short of breath. "Good job, you two," said Gabrielle, "You're both showing a lot of progress."
"I can tell. It only took me two hours to get out of bed on Tuesday," I said. Dana snorted and gave a half-nod.
"See you Friday then?" With that, Gabrielle turned and left.
Which brings us back to tonight. I got to the gym early. It was a cold, windy day and I took a cab so that I wouldn't have to walk from the subway. I was sitting in the locker room in my work clothes, trying to muster up the motivation to change, when the door opened and Dana came in. It was the first time I had seen her in business attire, and I was stunned by the difference in her appearance. Her hair and makeup were perfect and she looked at least ten years older.
Suddenly it made sense. "Hello, Scully," I said. She looked at me, surprised at first, but then smiled. "Hi, Staesh," she replied.
Gabrielle came into the locker room, dressed casually in a sweater and long skirt. "Looks like it's just us tonight," she said. "I say we bag the workout and go dancing instead."
Scully and I looked at each other. She raised her eyebrow and I shrugged my shoulders. "Why not?" she said.
"As long as we eat something first," I added.
"Of course," Gabrielle said. "I know just the place. But first I think we should stop by my apartment. Unless you want to wear those clothes all night?"
It sounded reasonable enough - after all, the three of us were similar in size and coloring - and, in fact, it sounded fun. I hadn't had a girls' night out since college. Scully didn't seem as sure.
"Dana?" I said. She looked at me. "When's the last time you went out and played? Just let go and had fun?"
I caught a glimpse of sorrow in her eyes before she looked down. "It's been a while," she admitted softly.
"Then it's settled," said Gabrielle. She picked up Dana's bag and headed toward the door. "Cab or metro?"
"And I thought I had a lot of books . . ." I said as I walked through Gabrielle's tiny Dupont Circle apartment, fascinated by the contents of her bookshelves. She had a vast collection containing sections on Greek and Roman mythology, epic poetry, and healing plants and herbs.
"Come on back and we can all figure out what to wear tonight," called Gabrielle. Scully and I walked down the hallway to the bedroom.
"Have we decided where we're going yet?" asked Scully.
Gabrielle smiled. "Well, I thought we could eat first, maybe play some pool, then go dancing. That sound ok to everyone?"
I smiled. "Sounds good to me!"
Scully looked uncertain. "Dancing?"
Gabrielle laughed. "Yes, Dana, dancing. In a crowded room. With loud music. What size shoes do you wear?"
"Umm, Gabrielle?" Dana stood in front of the closet, looking at dozens of skimpy tops and skirts, several made of leather.
"Wow!" I said, looking at a pair of soft brown knee-high boots. "Where did you get these?"
"It's a long story," said Gabrielle. She selected a short brown leather dress and held it up to Scully. "What do you think?" she asked me.
Hmmm. Scully in leather. "I don't know," I said. "Do you have anything in an animal print?"
Thwack! Gabrielle's tiger-print backpack bounced off my back. I spun around to see an oh-so-innocent Dana Scully examining one of Gabrielle's miniskirts. Gabrielle and I looked at each other and giggled. We might just be able to get Scully to enjoy the evening after all.
Gabrielle moved away from the closet toward the bathroom. "Who wants the first shower?"
"Depends. How much hot water do you have?" I asked.
"I've never run out yet," she replied.
"Well, I'd probably better go first," I said. "I've got the longest hair and it takes a while to dry."
"All right then," Gabrielle said, tossing me a clean towel. "Off you go."
The bathroom was small but clean. Judging from the array of bath oils and salts, Gabrielle preferred soaking in the tub to taking showers. I looked longingly at the ginger bath foam and large sponge on the bathroom counter. Unfortunately there was no time for that, so I turned on the shower and stepped into the hot spray.
I quickly washed my hair, then chose a fruit-scented bath gel for my body. After rinsing the suds away, I turned off the water and stepped out of the tub. Mmm, vanilla body lotion! I massaged some into my skin, pulled the towel swami-style around my hair, and wrapped myself in a long fluffy green robe that was hanging on a hook on the bathroom door. I braced myself against the rush of cool air as I opened the bathroom door. "Next!"
Scully looked up. "Guess that's me," she said, walking toward the bathroom.
Gabrielle gave her a warm smile. "We'll have fun tonight, Dana. I promise."
Scully raised an eyebrow before closing the bathroom door.