My mother had called me last night and invited me to a barbeque. It was Bill's birthday, and she used the guilt trip on me. If I did not attend, I would never hear the end of it. So, I cleared my weekend to make sure I was present, not like I was overloaded with things to do. Let's be honest, the only thing I had scheduled was a bubble bath and laundry. She also made me swear up and down to bring 'Fox'.

I called Mulder right after I had gotten off the phone with my mom and asked him to join me. It took some finagling, but he eventually gave into me. Though, it did not come without a price. I was to do the expense reports for the next two months. It wasn't that big of a deal. I always have to redo them anyway. I know he messes them up on purpose, so that I will become frustrated and just do them myself. He isn't as sneaky as he thinks.

It was Saturday morning, and we were to leave at ten, and it was now ten fifteen. Mulder was unsurprisingly late. While I was waiting on Mulder, I was watering my plants and double checking that I had everything packed for the next two days; I am nothing if not thorough. I finally hear a knock at the door around ten thirty.

I open the door to a flustered Mulder. "Hey, Scully. Sorry I am late, but traffic is a mess today, not to mention how hot it is out there. This isn't going to be a fun drive." I knew it wasn't. I hate traveling in cars anyhow. I usually take a Dramamine to deter my nauseated stomach, but I had forgotten to pick some up, and we did not have time to spare. So I was just going to have to toughen up.

"Great. I can't wait to sit in the scorching hot car," I say with obvious distain. "Well, at least we have air conditioning. We will be alright." I try to stay positive, but we both know how miserable I am gong to be.

Forty-five minutes into the car ride, and I am having the worst time of my life. The air conditioning broke, and we had to roll the windows down. I took my shirt off and had only my camisole on. Mulder had also stripped down to his undershirt. We were absolutely miserable. Not to mention that I was felling nauseous. Between the heat and the stopping and going from traffic, my stomach was turning. I felt my mouth water a couple of times, but I had managed to swallow it back down.

We had driven for about ten more minutes, and that is about the time I saw a gas station. It looked like heaven. "Mulder, please pull into the gas station!" He looked at me and did as he was told. "Scully, are you feeling okay," he asked concerned. "I am fine, Mulder, just hurry up," I snapped back at him.

We both walked into the gas station, and it smelt terrible. The smell alone was all it took. I felt the bile in my stomach rise into my throat. I made a mad dash to the bathroom. Thank god it wasn't a single bathroom. I pushed the swinging door open and made a beeline for a stall. I didn't even have time to lock the stall door before my breakfast revisited me. I sat on the floor puking my guts out, and couldn't help but notice how disgusting the toilet was. With that thought, I expelled even more of my stomach contents.

When I finally had decided that I wasn't going to through up any more, I stood and flushed the toilet. I grabbed a paper towel and washed my mouth out, threw some cold water on my face, and headed out of the disgusting bathroom. Mulder was waiting for me outside of the bathroom patiently.

"Hey, Scully, How are you feeling," he asked me sweetly. I knew I looked like a ghost, and he was polite enough not to mention it. I saw the look of concern on his face though. I couldn't really speak, so I just did a shrug and a nod. He got my point. Then he surprised me.

"I know I am not a doctor, but I got some things that I thought might help your stomach." He presented me with a bag and pulled out the contents one at a time. "I got you some soda water, Pepto-Bismol, and some gum."

He had thought of everything. I gave him a genuine smile. "Thank you, Mulder, that was really sweet of you." I wanted him to know that I appreciated the gesture. "I just want you to feel better," he said honestly. "Thank you. This will definitely do the trick."

We got back in the car, and I felt like a new person. "How are you doing, Champ?" After I finished chugging the soda water I responded. "Well, I don't feel like dying anymore. I actually think that throwing up might have helped. By the way, that bathroom was gnarly," I said with a disgusted face. He laughed at me, and I smiled back. "Well, I am glad you aren't going to die. I don't know what I would do without the constant nagging." I shot him a dirty look, but I saw right past his little quip.

I popped a piece of gum in my mouth and went for the radio. He grabbed my hand, looked me in the eyes, and said with a serious tone, "I will allow you to turn on that radio, if you promise not to play any of the classical crap." I scoff at him. "Mulder, you wouldn't know real music if Bach hit you over the head." He shoots me a look and pretends to be wounded. "Well, that is just another thing we disagree on. It isn't the first time, and it certainly won't be the last." I smile at him, " Yeah, well at least we can agree on something." We smugly smile at each other, I keep my promise, and pick something we both enjoy.

"I think I am going to rest my eyes for a bit. If you get bored, wake me." He nods his head and lets me sleep. I pass out rather quickly, and before I know it, Mulder is shaking me awake. I look around, and we are at a Safeway.

"What are we doing here, Mulder, " I asked confused. "Well, I thought we could maybe pick up a dessert or a fruit tray," he explains. "Yeah, that is a good idea. Just give me a minute to wake up."

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