Title: Rub-A-Dub-Dub. . .

Author: J.D. Rush

Series: Big Things; follows 'So, Where Were *YOU* When. . .?'

Rating: PG for language

Pairing: Frohike/Scully

Summary: Frohike and Scully share some quality time together.

Disclaimer: FOX, 1013, CC. . .I think we know the song by now.

RUB-A-DUB-DUB. . .

Wednesday, December 5, 2001

"Oooh, that feels good."

"Huh?"

"Oh, keep that up, Frohike. It's heaven."

"Dana, what are you talking about?"

I glanced up at him over my laptop, my eyebrow raised; I then let my gaze trail down to his hand, which was resting on my ankle. I had been reclining on the couch, working on a summary report for Skinner on the latest solved X-File when Frohike had wandered over, lifted my legs, sat himself down, plopped my feet into his lap, and hauled out his own Macintosh notebook. It was nice that we had finally reached a point in the relationship where we felt so at ease with each other, that he was as comfortable with me as I felt with him. I had settled back to work when suddenly he began massaging my sock-covered feet, something he apparently hadn't noticed himself. . .until now.

He followed my gaze downward and jerked his hand away as if it burned. "Oh geez, sorry about that, Dana."

"No, Frohike--don't stop. Please. I. . .I liked it." What can I say? It felt so-o-o-o good! 

He gave me a puzzled look, but did as I commanded, both hands now returning to my aching tootsies. I melted into the couch, as the massage got a little firmer and intense now that it had his full attention. "Wow, Frohike," I sighed, appreciatively, "you're really good at this."

His fingers skillfully rubbed my toes and down along the instep. "Well, I had a lot of practice with Mikita. Her feet used to get so sore when we. . ."

I interrupted him. "Who's Mikita?" Did that sound as snippy as I think it did? You'd think I was jealous or something.

"She was my dance partner. And. . .and my wife."

Okay. I'll admit it. I don't know which confession was more shocking. Frohike used to be a dancer? AND he had an ex-wife?!? What the hell else didn't I know about him? Correction. What did I REALLY know about him? We had been married just about three months now, but we both still had so many secrets. I wondered briefly if we'd ever learn all there was to know about each other. "I didn't know you were married before," I commented as neutrally as possible.

"Nobody did--not even the guys--well, until we met up with her again a few months ago."

"Really?" And this time the jealousy was front and center. "What happened?"

"Nothing really. We were on the trail of a story and my path crossed hers. It wasn't planned, but it was nice to see her after all these years." He chuckled, sadly, "What am I doing? You don't want to hear about this."

Like hell I didn't! We were silent for a few minutes, and it was obvious he wasn't going to volunteer any more information. Well, I didn't spend all that time with Mulder without learning some interrogation techniques. "So. . .what was she like?" I asked, casually, as if I was just trying to make small talk.

His eyes took on a far-away gaze, and I suddenly wanted to take back the question--it was quite possible that I didn't want to hear this. "Ahhh, she was gorgeous. Drop dead gorgeous. Pretty face, hourglass figure, legs up to her neck." <I hate her! I don't know her and I HATE her!> "She was a red-head," he laughed. "What can I say? They're my weakness."

I had to smirk at that. "She sounds. . .nice," I answered, lamely.

He guffawed. "Well, I don't think I'd use 'nice' to describe Mikita. She was more of a wild untamed spit-fire, the kind of gal that grabs a guy by his cahones and won't let go."

"Ah. I stand corrected."

He just shook his head in amusement. "Actually, she had her moments. She could be sweet and gentle, even caring, when she wanted to be. That didn’t happen often though." He laughed again. "Nope, Mikita is definitely one of a kind."

"And why isn't she still Mrs. Frohike?" I queried, my jealousy overpowered by curiosity. Why would he have left someone he obviously still cared about?

A huge sigh filled the room. "She wanted things I couldn't give her. A big house, a fancy car--furs and diamonds. It's not that I didn't WANT to give them to her, but I just couldn't. My eyes were always bigger than my wallet. . .and my tongue has a way of making promises it can't keep."

"Frohike, there's more to life than big houses and cars and all that other stuff."

"Not for Mikita. She was a simple girl--poor her whole life. Then I came riding into town, promising her riches on the Tango circuit."

"The TANGO!?" I couldn't hide the surprise in my voice. When he had said 'dancer', I didn't think he had meant the TANGO!!

He smiled, sadly. "Yeah. We were good. Damn good. But not super-star good, you know? We made enough to get by, but not enough for the life I had promised her. When I realized what a mess I had made of everything, and there was no way to fix it, I. . .I split. I was the ultimate coward, Dana. Just upped and left her. She deserved so much more than that. . .better than me. But I was stupid--thought with my dick instead of my head. She was just so young and so beautiful, and I wanted her so bad. . ." 

Running a weary hand across his back of his neck, he sighed once more, "I think I've said too much." And with that, he stopped the foot massage, closed up his Notebook, and got up to leave.

I sat up and reached out, clasping his left arm as he walked past. "You made a mistake, Frohike," I said, softly, sympathetically. "That doesn't make you a bad guy. You tried. . . but sometimes life doesn't work out the way you had hoped."

He removed my hand from his arm and lifted it to his lips, kissing it tenderly. Gazing at me, he smiled, "And sometimes, it does." Then he headed off to bed.

THE END