laughing gas
msr, gen, humor | 1k words | ao3 | tagging @today-in-fic
Scully was in the office, catching up on some paperwork while Mulder was at the dentist. He had asked her yesterday, sheepishly, if she could drive him home after his root canal. It was so like Mulder to ask her last minute, but since it was during the workday, she didnât have any other plans. Scully timed it so she would arrive at the dentist around the time Mulder finished up and was in recovery. He told her he was getting nitrous oxide and might be a little loopy after the procedure.
After she checked in with the receptionist, a cheerful nurse escorted her to Mulder. âYour husbandâs been asking for you,â the nurse commented over her shoulder as she led Scully down the hallway.
Scully opened her mouth to correct the nurse, but then thought better of it. Most of the time, her protestations fell on deaf ears. When her and Mulder first started working together, those comments were weird, but now when someone mistook them for a couple, Scully got a little thrill, which usually turned to disappointment pretty quickly. It was what she wanted but knew she couldnât have, so she just ignored the comments.
Mulder was in the recovery room, reclined in a leather chair, with a dazed look on his face. When he spotted Scully, he gave her a big smile. Well, as big of a smile as he could manage with a mouth full of gauze. Despite herself, Scully could feel her heart skip a beat. She knew it was the drugs, but seeing how happy Mulder looked when she walked in filled her with warmth.
âScully!â he exclaimed; her name slightly garbled.
She made her way to his side and sat down in the small chair next to him.
âYou made it!â he mumbled.
âWell, I said I would be here. Itâs time to go home soon," Scully said slowly, like she was speaking to a child.
He stared deep into her eyes, his gaze a thousand yards. âYouâre so pretty. Youâre the prettiest princess in the castle.â
Scully wrinkled her nose. âPrincess, Mulder?â She wasnât even into princesses as a little girl and certainly not now as an adult.
Mulder appeared deep in thought and then exclaimed, âThe most beautiful president America has ever elected!â
Scully had to hold back a laugh. âYes, thatâs better, Mulder, thank you.â
He kept going, âThe smartest Supreme Court justice on the bench!â
This time Scully had to turn away so she could hide her laugh as a cough. She patted his shoulder, âOkay, Mulder, thatâs enough for today.â
Luckily, at that moment the nurse came in with a wheelchair to take Mulder out to the car. He insisted on holding Scullyâs hand during the trip through the hallway. The nurse smiled at them, still thinking they were a married couple.
âI can tell he really loves you,â she said.
Scullyâs mouth dropped open, while the nurse kept going, âSome people arenât that nice when their inhibitions are lowered. But your husband couldnât stop talking about you and complimenting you. You're a lucky lady," she said with a wink.
A wave of affection swept through Scully. She looked down at Mulder, who seemed ready to fall asleep, and squeezed his hand. Even though his eyes were mostly closed, he still smiled and squeezed her hand back. Oh boy, was Scully in trouble now. She had been in love with him for some time now but seeing him act so sweet and happy towards her was making all her buried feelings rush to the surface in an overwhelming swarm of emotion.
Scully drove Mulder to his apartment and decided to wait around for the nitrous oxide to wear off. Who knew what kind of hijinks he would get up to without her supervision? Plus, she wanted to spend time with him and try to figure him out. In the span of a few minutes, Mulder called her smart and beautiful and whatever else he said to the nurse. Did he really think those things? Could he have feelings for her? She hoped so, because each day it was becoming harder and harder for her to hide her own feelings.
Scully let Mulder doze on his couch for a few hours, while she puttered around his place. When he finally started stirring, she brought him over a glass of water and ibuprofen since the dentist said he might experience some pain after the procedure. Mulder woke up fully and smiled at her, the same way he did earlier that day.
âHow are you feeling?â Scully asked.
âKinda tired,â he answered. âAnd my mouth hurts a little.â
âThereâs some ibuprofen for you,â Scully pointed out and Mulder took the tablets and drank half the glass of water.
âSo, I didn't say anything embarrassing earlier, did I?â Mulder asked, setting the cup back on the coffee table.
âNot really,â Scully answered, trying to hide a smile.
Mulder looked skeptical, a rare expression for him. ââNot reallyâ? What did I say?â
âJust that you thought I should be president. And a Supreme Court justice,â she said with a chuckle.
âOh, is that all?â Mulder snorted, laying back on the couch. âI think just one of those jobs is more than enough. Not that I don't think you're capable, Scully.â
After a minute, he looked over at her to confirm: âSo, nothing else?â
Scully decided to take a chance and said, âWell, you told the nurse that you loved me.â
Mulder shot up like a bullet. âWhat?!â
Scully doubled over laughing, not trying to hide it this time. âRelax, Mulder. I know it was the drugs.â
He still looked nervous. After a pause, he asked, âWhat if it wasnât?â
Scully abruptly stopped laughing. âWasnât what?â she asked.
âWasnât the drugs,â Mulder responded, finally making eye contact.
âAre you being serious?â
âWell, it shouldn't be that suprising. itâs not the first time Iâve told you that,â he said.
âYes, but you had a head injury that time,â Scully insisted. "And this time you were under the influence of nitrous oxide."
âIt doesnât mean itâs not true. And itâs a lot more than Iâve gotten from you,â Mulder pointed out. âYouâve never said anything, so I wasnât sureâŚâ he trailed off, looking apprehensive about what she was going to say.
Mulder was right. It wasnât fair that she was so good at hiding her feelings that he was afraid to take a risk and tell her how he felt. Though, she thought that she had given him plenty of hints along the way. Scully got up to sit next to Mulder on the couch.
âYouâre right,â she said. âIâm not good with words⌠and expressing things. Iâm better at showing them.â Scully turned to Mulder, ready to kiss him and hoping that would convey her feelings.
As soon as she got close, Mulder leapt back. Scully was a little annoyed at the rejection.
âMy mouth,â Mulder said, bringing his hand up to cover his face. âI donât think this is a good time for a first kiss.â
Scully shook her head and laughed. Naturally, they had terrible timing. âRain check?â she asked, starting to stand up from the couch.
Mulder tugged her back down next to him. âWhere are you going? Just because we canât kiss doesnât mean there arenât other things we can do.â He waggled his eyebrows at her.
âMulder!â she exclaimed, surprised at his forwardness.
He started cracking up at her outrage. âIâm kidding, Iâm kidding,â he insisted. âUnlessâŚ?â
She shoved him playfully and stood up. âIâm going home. Weâll talk once your mouth is healed,â she said with a smirk.
Mulder flopped back dramatically on the couch. âI donât think I can wait that long.â
And he didn't have to - she came back later that night.
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