House of Cards - Chapter 13 By Jennifer T. Brooks E-Mail: Jenntou@excite.com ****************************************** Dana Scully's Apartment Georgetown June 2, 1999 3 am Dana Scully awoke to a knocking sound on her door. She looked at the time on the clock and wondered who the hell could be at her front door at this time of the morning. Mulder. He was the only one who had the nerve to show up unannounced at all times of the day and night and the only one who would think it was completely normal to be up at this time of the night. She fastened the tie on her robe and she opened her front door. It was Mulder. "Mulder, what do you want. It's 3 am." "I couldn't sleep." "And this is something you just realized. You always have problems sleeping but you usually don't make them mine. What is up this time?" She asked as she let him in her apartment. He sat down on her couch and stared at her for a moment before speaking. "Have you ever wondered if you are making the right decisions in life?" "Sure, Mulder. I think everyone wonders that at some time in their life. Why?" She said as she sat down beside him on the couch. "So what do you do about it?" "Do about what? Do about if you've made what you perceive to be the wrong decision? Or do about the fact that you don't know if you are making the right choice. You need to give me more to work with." She was tired and really didn't want to be having this discussion at 3 am with Mulder of all people. "All of it, Scully. How do you know that you were meant to be a doctor and not a bus driver." "Mulder, we can never know many things and I think that's the way God or whatever higher power there's meant for things to be. It is why I don't believe in predestination. I believe in free will and the choice of man to chose his own lot in life." "How do you know that there isn't free will?" "You can't ever know that Mulder. What is really wrong? Why are you asking me these things. Are you unsure about what you think you were meant to be in life?" "Yes and no, I don't know. I'm sorry to have bothered you Scully," He said as he got up from the couch and made his way to the door. Scully looked at him confused, "That's it. You wake me up at 3 am to find out my view on predestination? You've some nerve Mulder. Next time, don't stop by, call me," She said irritated that he didn't want to tell her the real reason why he stopped by. He shrugged his shoulders and walked out the door. She quickly shut and locked the door and made her way to bed. ****************************************** Ike's E Street Bar June 10, 1999 11:30 pm Dana Scully, Diana Fowley, Wendy Simon and Natasha Brown sat at a square oak table in the corner of the bar with a few of Natasha's college friends. They were celebrating what was to be Natasha's last night as a single woman. Dana didn't feel like celebrating but as a bridesmaid her attendance was required. She was bored with Natasha telling everyone once again with how she and Fox Mulder had met. She was certain if she had to hear a description of her dress, or of the cake or the vows she was going to vomit. She prayed that she had the strength to go through with the ceremony tomorrow. What she really needed was a large glass of long island iced tea to get her through the evening. She glanced at her watch and noticed that in exactly thirty seven hours Mulder and Natasha would say their vows and she could kiss any chance of a future with him goodbye. Dana thought to herself as she nursed her Becks and tried to act interested in a story that one of Natasha's roommates was telling about the time she vacationed in Maui. Natasha and Mulder were going to Hawaii for a two week honeymoon. Being the ever supportive friend Scully had helped pick out the tour package for Mulder. Mulder wanted to surprise his bride with the gift but had wimped out and ended up telling her the honeymoon plans a month ago. She was saved from her evil thoughts of breaking up the wedding by the shrill ringing of her cell phone. "Scully," She yelled into the mouth piece. "It's me, Mulder. Where are you," Mulder said into his end of the phone. "Speak up, I can barely hear you," She said as she got up from the table and made her way to the patio of the bar. "Sorry, I was asking where you were." "I can't tell you that. We're in the midst of the bachelorette party. Aren't you supposed to be attending your own bachelors party." "Yes, but it is boring as hell. Skinner and the gunmen are fighting over whether there was one or two shooters on the grassy knoll." "So change the subject." "They have been arguing for over two hours about it. I have tried to change the topic. I even tried to start a conversation about professional wrestling but they wouldn't even bite." Frohicke and Langley's favorite sport was professional wrestling and they had been known to argue for hours whether the sport was legitimate and who the best wrestler was. "Oh. Must have a great discussion, or are they trying to pick Skinners brain for what they feel is the truth that Skinner as a government agent is trying to cover up?" "I think it's a little of both." "Mulder, where are you?" Scully asked. "I can't tell you, you'll laugh." "Come on Mulder, you know you can tell me anything." "Promise me that you aren't going to laugh." "I promise you I will not laugh." "The boys decided to take me to that new laser tag place over in Arlington." "You are playing laser tag?" Scully said as she started laughing. "You promised me that you wouldn't laugh." "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She said as she wiped the tears out of her eyes and tried to regain her composure. "I take it that this was probably Byers or Frohickes idea and not AD Skinners?" She asked. "You are assuming correctly. Walter and I chase bad guys enough at work that we don't need to simulate the hunt in our private time, the gunmen are another thing. Save me Scully." "Are there any cute men there." "Besides me?" He asked. "Besides you, besides you are taken Mulder. Are there any single good looking unattached men there?" "It's not final until I take my vows." "What are you planning on doing? Cheating on her before you get married?" She asked not sure where this conversation was going. "I've thought about it before." "Mulder, if you are having doubts about marrying her you had better deal with them now and not after the marriage." "I'm not having doubts Scully. I know that Natasha loves me and that we will have a good marriage." "Then why this talk about a last fling?" She asked him. "Oh you know me, I get a little alcohol in my system and turn sentimental," He said not wanting to tell her the real reason. "Mulder, have fun with the boys. I need to get back and corrupt your fiancee." "Be kind to her Scully, she's all I have," He said as he hung up the phone. Scully walked back to the table of women as she formulated a plan in her head. "What took you so long?" Diana asked her as she returned to the table. "Ladies, I have a plan. Are any of you game for a little fun this evening?" She asked as she sat down. She then proceeded to tell them of her plan to crash the Bachelors party. They all agreed that it would be a lot more fun than sitting in Ike's and getting drunk. **************************************** Dana Scully's Apartment Building June 11, 1999 12:30 am Wendy pulled her Saab into the parking lot as Dana and Diana stumbled out of the back seat. What should have been a 20 minute trip took over an hour due to the numerous stops they had her make. Diana and Dana insisted that if they were going to play laser tag then they needed to change into black clothes. Wendy dropped them off in front of Dana's apartment building telling them that she would be back in 20 minutes. Wendy knew that this was going to be a long evening as the designated driver. She wished that she was driving the car with Natasha and her college friends. She had agreed to meet Natasha and company at the local liquor store and then drive them back to Dana's place. "Diana, what size do you wear?" Dana asked the taller woman as she exited the car. "It depends on the look I want to go for." "Oh, a woman after my own heart," Dana said as she grabbed the bottle of Stolichnaya from her cabinet and proceeded the drink straight from the bottle. Diana grabbed the bottle from Dana and took a couple of drinks. "How can you drink that straight?" She asked as the liquid burned her throat. "Years of practice," Dana replied as she took the bottle back from Diana and continued to drink. "Dana, you had better slow down or you are going to be wasted and useless in about an hour," Diana said as she noticed that Dana had started to take off her clothes in the living room. Diana was having a hard time hiding her desire for the smaller red head. "That was the plan, but I didn't know you cared. Lets get changed before party pooper Wendy spoils our fun," Dana said as she grabbed Diana's hand and pulled her into the bedroom. She stood in front of her closet in only her bra and underwear. She pulled down a pair of skin tight black jeans and a black tank top and put them on. "How do I look?" She asked as Diana stared at her. "You look great Dana," Diana replied as she tried hard not to stare. She decided that focusing on a picture of the Scully family was a better option and one not likely to get her into trouble. "Here, these should fit you," She said as she handed Diana another pair of black jeans and I similar black tank top. "They were my sisters. She was about your height and build. I couldn't throw them out even though I don't wear them." Diana quickly changed out of her clothing and put on the outfit. She looked at her and Dana's reflection in the mirror. They were dressed exactly alike. "Should I keep the bra on or lose it?" Dana asked. Diana stared at her. She could not believe that Dana I'm always in control' Scully would actually go out in public without a bra on. Dana saw the look out uncertainty in Diana's eyes. "Come on, Diana, loosen up. You only live once." She drank another mouthful of vodka and pulled the tank top over her head. She quickly removed the black lace bra and stood before Diana. Diana was trying to look away but finding it hard not to stare at Dana's breasts. "Do you think my breasts are too small?" She asked. "What," Diana stammered trying hard not to stare at her breasts. "My breasts, do you think they are too small?" She asked once again. "No, why." She was having a hard time controlling her breathing. "I was just wondering. A man will never be honest with you about your body. I only trust a woman's opinion in that department. Blake and Claire tell me they are fine all the time, but I have known them so long sometimes I think they tell me what I want to hear. Sometimes it is good to get a second opinion. You really don't think they are too small?" She said as she lifted them trying to make them appear larger. Diana wanted to do nothing more than to take them into her hands and rub her thumbs over Dana's pert pink nipples. Instead, she looked the younger agent in the eyes, put her hands on her shoulders and told her, "They are the perfect size, Dana." "Thank you Diana, that means a lot to me. I guess sometimes I am overly sensitive about my body." "Dana, you have a beautiful body." Diana said and thought to herself. "Shut up," Dana said pushing Diana's arms off her shoulders. "You do Dana. Hasn't any man told you that before?" She asked. "Only when they wanted to get me into bed." "Don't tell me you fell for that line." "Of course I did. What woman doesn't want to feel beautiful and desired? The only problem was in the light of day they never felt the same way about me." Dana was surprised that she was being so open with Diana, a woman that she really didn't know. She figured that it must be the alcohol. "Dana, they were the ones with vision problems. You are a very beautiful, intelligent and desirable woman. Any man or woman who can't see that's a fool." "Diana, can I ask you something?" Dana asked as the liquor gave her courage to say ask things that she normally wouldn't. "Sure, ask away," Diana said not sure where this conversation was going but curious nonetheless. "Are you a lesbian?" Dana boldly asked. "Am I a lesbian? Why do you ask?"Diana asked surprised and totally unprepared for the question. "Blake said that he thought you were and that you were attracted to me." "Blake is a very perceptive man," Diana said calmly, "Does it bother you." "No, I'm used to Blake using me so that he can ogle men." "Does it make you uncomfortable that as a woman I find you very attractive?" Diana didn't know where she was getting the courage to talk about something she found so immensely private. "Maybe. Sort of. I don't know," Dana said she tried to assure herself of what she felt. "I probably shouldn't be standing here in front of you without my shirt on," Dana said as she moved to put her tank top back on. "I didn't mind the view." "What is it like desiring another woman?"Dana asked as she put her tank top back on. "It is probably the same as you desiring a man. The feelings are the same. I lust, want, desire and need and crave the same things that you do. Just because I'm a woman and I'm attracted to other women doesn't change the feelings." "Blake says the same thing. I guess I didn't really think much about his sexuality because we would go out together and look at men. It didn't bother me. I couldn't go out with you though." "Why not? Because I would look at women rather than men?" "Well yes. It would be too weird, Diana. People would think that I was gay if you were staring at other women even if I wasn't." "People wouldn't think that you were gay if we went out to dinner together. I'm sure that you and Claire or your other female friends have gone out together a lot of times for dinner and no one ever assumed or thought that you were gay." "What does it feel like to kiss another woman?" Dana asked suddenly. "It suppose that it probably feels the same as kissing a man, only better. Why do you ask?" "I was just curious," Dana said as she looked at the floor trying to avoid Diana's gaze. She noticed that they still needed to put on their shoes and socks. A knock on the front door told them that they were late and Wendy wasn't going to be happy. Diana opened the front door and let Wendy in. She saw what Diana was wearing. "You are going to wear that?" She asked as she put her hands on her rather large hips. "What is wrong with it?" "Don't you think it is a little inappropriate. I thought you were going to dress in black to camouflage yourselves. I didn't think that you were going to dress like that to pick up men," Wendy said looking uncomfortable. "Who says we're going to pick up men. Maybe I'll pick up a woman tonight," Dana said as she swaggered out of the bedroom carrying the vodka bottle. Wendy immediately noticed by the sway of her breasts that she wasn't wearing a bra. Diana looked at her in shock as did Wendy. "You can't be serious Dana," Wendy said. "Why not. Maybe I want to feel another women's lips against mine, feel her tongue in my mouth." "Stop it. You are making me sick," Wendy pleaded with her. "Grow up and get over it Wendy," Dana said as she grabbed her purse and opened the front door. "Ready ladies?" ******************************************* Lasertaruim Arlington, Virginia June 11, 1999 1:00 am Wendy Simon was glad to see when she pulled into the parking lot of the Lasetarium, that Natasha had just arrived. She couldn't wait to tell Natasha what her freaks of bridesmaids had been up to. She had barely tolerated Diana and Scully being in the wedding but Natasha had insisted due to the deep friendship Fox had with both of the women, they had to be bridesmaids. Wendy was tired of her friend having no backbone. Whatever Fox wanted, Fox got. Even when it was at the expense of Natasha's happiness. Dana Scully had even planned their honeymoon, Natasha had told her one night in tears. Wendy was certain that Fox and Dana were sleeping together, she just couldn't prove it. She had tried several times to make Natasha see the light, but Natasha was too lonely and trusting. Wendy and Natasha were happy when Dana went through what they called her psycho bitch period, because Mulder wouldn't have anything to do with her. She was surprised that Natasha had convinced Fox to transfer Dana to another unit. They had both expected that to piss her off enough to stay out of Fox's life forever, but it hadn't seemed to deter her. Natasha then thought that if Dana and Diana were bridesmaids they would see how happy the couple was and leave them alone. They had both strangely embraced their roles and acted nothing less than wonderful and helpful to Natasha. Wendy was now beginning to think that the reason that they were no happy and supportive of Fox and Natasha was that they didn't want him at all, they were a lesbian couple. As soon as Dana and Diana staggered into the Lasertarium complex Wendy ran over to the car Natasha was riding in. "I need to talk to you now, alone," She said motioning for the group of college friends to go without her. "What's up Wendy." "I have figured it out Tasha. They are lesbians," Wendy said excitedly. "Who are lesbians?" Natasha asked confused. "Dana and Diana. You should have seen them together. Left no doubt in my mind, although they don't seem the type. Oh and you aren't going to be happy when you see what they are wearing. They look more like hookers than anything. Dana isn't even wearing a bra." "That bitch had better not ruin this evening for me or Fox. If they want to play lesbian friends with each other that's fine, but they had better stay away from him. You know how he gets when he drinks. I knew this was going to be a bad idea. We should have never come Wendy," She said as her friend led her into the complex. Natasha had always managed to keep up the facade that she liked the two women when in fact she was growing to detest them. Sure, they had both always been nice to her and Dana frequently ate lunch with her and Mulder, but there was something about the woman that she just didn't trust. She had heard all the rumors in VCS about Dana and Fox having sex in every imaginable place in the Hoover Building. Fox had always assured her that he and Dana were nothing more, and never would be, anything more than good friends. Still, she had doubts. Mulder, the lone gunmen and Walter Skinner were waiting in the bar/food area of the complex resting when Frohicke was the first one to notice that Dana had arrived. His jaw dropped and he couldn't stop staring. "If it isn't the lovely Agent Scully," He said to the group as they turned around to see her. "That's not Scully. It is just someone that's short with red hair," Mulder said. "No it is her. Look she's with Diana." Mulder looked once again and saw a woman that looked like Diana across the room. He knew that it was too much of a coincidence for two women who looked like them to be at the Lasertarium together on this night. "Hot damn, it is her,"Mulder said as he nursed his beer. "I didn't take wither one of them to be the type to frequent a place like this," Langley said. "They don't. I called them." "You called them?" Walter Skinner asked not happy that his daughter was in the same complex dressed to get laid. "Well I missed Natasha," Mulder told the group. "That's so disgusting man," Langly said. "Who cares, it got the lovely agents Fowley and Scully here for me to drool over," Frohicke said as Diana and Dana approached their table. "Good evening gentleman," Dana said to the group. Mulder noticed immediately that she wasn't wearing a bra. He could see the outline of her nipples through the fabric of the shirt and he immediately felt a tightening in his groin. The fact that she was not wearing a bra wasn't lost on Skinner or the gunmen either. "So are you all up for a game of laser tag?" Diana asked as the rest of their party caught up with them. "I'd rather play strip poker with Agent Scully," Frohicke said as he ogled her breasts. "Sorry, I don't play that in public places," She replied. All the men looked at her in shock. They couldn't believe that she would have the nerve to say that. "How about we play men against women?" Natasha cheerfully asked. She wanted to be the center of attention, not Dana Scully. "Like that's going to be fair," Scully heard Diana mutter under her breath, "They have five well trained marksmen and we get the prom queen and her entourage." Scully started laughing and the group looked at her for an explanation, "We're game to that. But what are the stakes?" Scully asked. "Let me discuss it with the men," Mulder said as the men huddled around him. Diana gathered the prom queen and her entourage to discuss what the ladies wanted if they won. "Why even bet. They are going to win," Natasha's friend Gwen said. "With that attitude you are going to lose," Diana said. "Natasha it is your night. You chose what you want. And it cannot involve a sexual favor from Fox. It has to involve something all of us can enjoy." If Scully didn't know Natasha better she would have thought that the look she gave Diana was one of hatred. "How about we make them go skinny dipping in the Potomac," Sheila asked. "Do we really want to see them naked?" Scully asked disgusted. The thought of seeing Melvin Frohicke naked was almost enough to make her hurl right then. She really wouldn't mind seeing a healthy Mulder naked, though. Dana repeated to herself over and over. "No, I guess not," Sheila, Gwen and Beth muttered at the same time. "I know. They have to give us backrubs. That's what I want," Natasha said enthusiastically as Diana and Dana rolled their eyes. "Lame, but I'm game," Scully muttered. What kind of a prize was a backrub? If it were up to her she would have been much more imaginative, but she wasn't the one getting married. The choice wasn't hers to make. While they waited for the finish deciding what they wanted, Dana took the opportunity to watch them. She immediately noticed that Walter Skinner seemed to be objecting very loudly to most of the groups ideas. After 10 minutes of heated debate they were ready. "Okay, ladies if the men win the ladies agree to go skinny dipping in the reflection pool on the mall," Mulder said. "No way Fox," Natasha replied, "I'm not going skinny dipping in front of a group of strangers." "They aren't strangers, they are all part of the wedding party. But if you don't want to that's okay. The men agree that your group has to select three people that have to if you lose," Mulder said after discussing it with the men. Natasha gathered the women around. "Which three of you are going to do it if we lose? I'm not." "I say Dana, Diana and Gwen do it," Wendy volunteered. "Absolutely not. No way in hell am I getting naked in front of them," Dana said as she pointed specifically to the lone gun men. "But Dana, please do it. For me," Natasha pleaded giving Dana her sweetest smile. "No, pick someone else." Dana was going to stand her ground on this issue. It was one thing being naked in front of her good friends Blake and Claire, but this was different. She was just not comfortable naked around men unless she was in an intimate setting. She doubted that she could ever get drunk enough to get into an intimate setting with any of the lone gun men. "Diana will you do it then?" Natasha asked her. "Yeah, Diana will you do it," Fox Mulder said imitating his fiancee while winking at his ex-wife. "As much as I know that I'm going to regret this, I'll do it." Diana could not believe that she was going to get naked in front of this group of freaks for Fox. "That's one down. You still need two more women, ladies," Frohicke said as he ogled the group. Dana looked at the group and knew that there was no way she was going to get out of it. All the men had excellent marksmanship skills, whereas only three of the women did. They were going to lose and she was going to end up naked in the reflection pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. She would probably either catch pneumonia or get arrested for indecent exposure. "Okay, I do it Natasha, but only if Wendy does it to and these are the rules, so pay attention boys. If in the event the women lose there will be no picture taking, videotaping, audio taping, or taping of any kind. Am I understood," Dana said while looking at the lone gun men. They nodded their heads in agreement. "No," Wendy said. "What are you scared that they are going to see you without your clothes on?" Diana asked teasing her. "No, it's not that." "Then what is it?" "Please do it for me Wendy," Natasha pleaded. "Well okay," Wendy replied. They went to tell the men of the agreement and what they wanted if they won. Dana and Diana stayed behind to plan their strategy. "I say we lose on purpose Dana just so Wendy has to strip," Diana whispered in Dana's ear. "That would kill her for a group of men to ogle her while she's naked. I for one could care less who sees me naked. I don't have anything that they haven't seen before." "Dana, I'm beginning to like you more and more. I never pegged you as an exhibitionist." "There's a lot about me that you don't know." Dana said. Diana swore it sounded like Dana Scully was coming on to her. "It sounds like a plan to me though, even though I hate to lose. I say we take out all of them and let the girls get taken. Natasha is a good shot so she could be a wild card." "How about we cover each other's asses and leave Natasha to cover theirs. We take out everyone except for Mulder," Diana whispered back to Dana Scully. She was beginning to like this dark and sinister side of Dana Scully. End of chapter 13