Chapter Text
The basketball hit the floor as he dribbled down the court. Stopping at the free throw line, he bounced the ball twice more and then shot it to the net. It hit the rim and then ricocheted back at him.
“Oh, so close,” he heard behind him, causing him to spin around in surprise and miss catching the ball. It hit him on the ass and he winced as Scully laughed, tucking her hair behind her ear.
“Jesus. You scared me,” he said, rubbing his ass as the ball rolled past him.
"So delicate,” she said, stopping the ball with her foot and then bending to pick it up.
“How dare you,” he said, shaking his head. “Have you not seen how manly I am?”
“Hmm,” she hummed, rolling her eyes as she smiled. He smiled back as he looked her up and down.
“I’d say that’s a nice shirt, but I’d be lying.”
“You don’t like the Lakers?” she asked, looking down at the shirt she was wearing.
“I do not. As you are aware,” he said, motioning to his Knicks shirt. “They are my enemy.”
“Your enemy?” she asked with a chortle. “Yours? Didn’t know you had joined the team.”
“I’m a sideline participant.”
“They pay you for that?” she asked, bouncing the basketball a couple of times.
“All the money I’ve spent over the years… they should.”
“Should they pay every fan?” she asked, stepping back as she continued to bounce the basketball.
“Sideline participant,” he corrected her and she laughed with a nod.
“I stand corrected.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear that before,” he said, silently admiring the way it hugged her curves. He did not see her in such casual clothing of this nature and it was hard to tear his eyes away.
A long sleeved white shirt under the purple Lakers t-shirt, black non-work slacks, and black Converse… she could almost be mistaken for a college student.
“You own Converse?”
“They’re on my feet,” she said, rolling her eyes again. “It would seem I own them.” She tossed the ball to him and he caught it, letting out a surprised breath.
“How’d you know I was here?” he asked, dribbling the ball.
“It’s after hours of your J-O-B…” she said with a shrug. “It’s where you’ve been recently. Even during work hours.” Raising an eyebrow, she held out her hands and motioned with her chin for him to toss the ball.
“My J-O-B…” he said, shaking his head as he bounced the ball to her. He sighed and she nodded, dribbling the ball.
“We got the basement back,” she said, grabbing the ball and holding it as she stared at him. “The files.”
“I know,” he answered. “And I am glad. But… I keep thinking about those people at the base. All those bodies.” She drew in a deep breath and nodded. “It’s not what I wanted.”
“I know that.”
“It’s not the truth I hoped to find. At least not that way.”
“I know that too.”
She gave him a sad smile and he let out a deep sigh, nodding slightly.
“Let’s put a bet on whether I crush you at sinking this ball,” she said, beginning to dribble again. “Loser buys.”
“I’ve got nearly a foot on you,” he said with a snort. “You think you can beat me?”
Two bounces and she tossed the ball. It hit the backboard, before falling silently through the net. His mouth dropped open as he looked at her in disbelief.
“Yeah,” she said, nodding with a smile. “I think I’ll be alright.”
“Well… shit,” he said and she laughed as he went to retrieve the ball. Tossing it back inbounds, he shook his head. “I hope I have some cash.”
“Oh, I’m sure they’ll take a credit card,” she teased, as she started to dribble the ball, her shoes squeaking on the floor as she moved from side to side.
“Or I’m washin’ dishes,” he said, stepping onto the court.
“Either way,” she said, running toward and then around him, jumping as she tossed the ball into the net again. “Two points.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he said, waiting for her to throw the ball to him. “Bring it on.”
And for the next thirty minutes, he forgot about the J-O-B that had recently been weighing him down.