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Title: Erin series 14. Surprise Party <Marty Goes First > Hello fellow X-Philes! As you all might know, April 29th is the Birthday of everyone's favorite Canadian fanfic author Sheryl Martin. But did you know that April 23rd is the birthday of her equally favorite fanfic character Jackie St. George? Well, far be it from me to *not* do something to celebrate that momentous occasion! So, with the help of RaEnright we humbly offer this story as part birthday gift and part thanks for all the great stories. Happy Birthday 'lil Dragon. <Ra's Turn> Hiya everyone...well, Marty pretty much said it all; So I'll just add my voice to his and wish both ladies a very happy birthday... And of course, she's not such a *'lil* Dragon to me....and I'm not saying which one 'she' is.... Legal Disclaimer: The characters of Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Walter Skinner and Margaret Scully belong to Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen Productions and Fox Broadcasting. Used without permission and no copyright infringement is intended. The characters of Jackie St. George, Rosie and Marty are used with the (soon to no doubt be forever withdrawn) permission of Sheryl Martin. And the character of Erin Mulder belongs to Sarah Johnson (RaEnright). Though I could make a case that *I* still own the rights to Marty..snicker... The poem is by Jack Prelutsky, but I(Ra) made some slight modifications to make it more appropriate....
Fox Mulder and Dana Scully approached Assistant Director Skinner's corner office. Scully cast a quick glance at her partner, wondering if they were going to get called on the carpet about Mulder's latest plan. Mulder smirked at his partner, seemingly reading her thoughts. "Don't worry Scully, the plan is foolproof. He won't turn it down." Dana rolled her eyes at the 'famous last words'. "Well, it'll be a first if he doesn't." The pair entered the AD's outer office and were immediately ushered to the inner office by Walter Skinner's secretary Peggy. "He's expecting you two. Good luck." She said as she opened the door. "Agent Mulder, Agent Scully. Please, sit down." Assistant Director Skinner gestured to the two padded chairs in front of his desk while opening the file on top of his desk. The two agents sat down in front of the large desk patiently awaiting their supervisor's response. "Agent Mulder, I've reviewed your plan." He paused to adjust his glasses "But don't you think that this assignment is slightly beyond the purview of the X-Files?" Mulder leaned forward slightly to regard the large ex-marine. "Sir, I think given the nature of the target, only we are capable of executing this phase of the plan." The Director looked at Scully. "And your assessment of this plan, Agent Scully?" Dana took a brief side-glance at Mulder, just to assure herself that he was still confident in the proposal before she replied. "I think sir, that it has the best chance for success if we handle it in the method we've outlined." "You realize the potential danger if something goes wrong?" The AD asked. "Yes sir," Mulder replied. "But we still have the ace in the hole of a source of information close to the target, who has so far not been compromised." "And that source," Scully added, "will allow us enough warning of the target's movements to allow for the needed surprise." "'Surprise' indeed Agent Scully." Director Skinner leaned forward, suddenly even more serious than usual. "The target of your plan is one of the most deadly operatives in the world's intelligence machine. If your plan goes slightly awry, even for a moment, it could be disastrous." Mulder looked at Scully, who nodded her head slightly. Mulder smiled, made even more confident by her approval. "We're aware of that sir, but we have confidence in the plan as it stands." Skinner stood, regarding the file. "You realize that despite your source, you'll need an observer on the street." "Yes sir," Dana piped, "we were going to ask for permission to draft someone from VC." "Unnecessary Agent Scully." The AD smiled. "You can count me in."
"She's coming." Skinner's voice sounded hollow over the walkie- talkie. The radio crackled a second more and then fell silent. Mulder looked across the room, to where his partner was crouched behind a table. He shifted uncomfortably next to one arm of the couch, trying to blend in with the darkened silhouette, and not having much luck. Scully answered with a quick, "We're ready," and thumbed the small radio off. He met her eyes and gave her a half grin. She got the message. <This was *your* bright idea. If I get killed, I'm going to haunt you.> <We've got surprise on our side. She's not expecting it.> <Oh yeah, like surprise has helped us so much in the past.> She shook her head and went back to impersonating a chair. The patrol down below would take care of any exits their quarry might try to take. Reinforcements in the bathroom. All they had to do was wait... And wait. And wait. A minute slowly ticked by before she heard the jingling of keys in the door and two people enter. One of them coughed, the signal, and reached out to flip the light on-- Instant action, both of them bolted from their careful hiding places and yelled in unison, along with two more from the bathroom--a flash of light and... "SURPRISE!!!" Jackie St. George went into a defensive crouch at the sudden attack, then leaped for Mulder. He toppled over backwards on the slippery floor, arms outstretched. Marty and Dana dissolved into laughter. "She goes for the throat, doesn't she?" Marty cracked. Jackie stood up slowly and grabbed Mulder's hand to help him up. "If you *ever* do that again..." Jackie threatened. "What is *this*?!" Rosie grinned. "Well, we do have a short memory, don't we? This is your birthday, oh bossiest of bosses." "This is a party." Mulder supplied helpfully. "This is your idea of fun?" Jackie shot back. "Hiding in my apartment so that I can have a heart attack when I come in the door?" "This is great." Marty held up the polaroid Rosie had shot just after the lights came on. "Well, we figured since you had the day off anyway, we might as well make it exciting." Margaret Scully hugged the younger woman. "Admit it, you were planning on spending the entire day alone and depressed." "Not *alone*....." "I don't think she's half-grateful." Rosie mock-pouted. "Wanna go hide and we'll do it again?" "If she's planning on sacking me a second time, I'm out of here." Mulder shook his head. "And she doesn't get my present." "Oh, like I want a Sport Illustrated Baseball Greats video." Jackie put her hands on her hips. "After all, you already gave me a present." "Really." Mulder raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, letting me punch you." "But I haven't--oohf...." *
"Well, was it worth it?" Dana asked Mulder, watching him carefully sip a glass of soda and wince as the muscles in his stomach contracted. He gave her a weak smile and shook his head. Everyone laughed and then Margaret Scully came out of the kitchen with a cake with two candles on it. "Gather around everyone, the cake's ready!" She yelled. Mrs. Scully put the cake on the table and Jackie walked up first. "Don't anyone *dare* sing!" She said, with the singular look that told everyone she wasn't kidding. "Only two candles?" Mulder asked. "Safer." Marty said. "That way we avoid the whole problem of setting off the smoke detectors." Dana and Rosie giggled while Jackie scooped a large clump of icing off the cake and threw it at her fiance. It smacked onto his glasses and then everyone laughed. Marty removed his glasses, scraping the icing off onto his finger so he could taste it. "Mmm... Not bad, Mrs. Scully." "Thanks, but I can't take the credit." The elder Scully said. "Dana made it." Mulder turned to look at his partner. "Why Scully, I didn't know you could bake." "I can do lots of things you don't know about, Mulder." She said back, smiling. "Now let's let Jackie blow out the candles so we can give her the presents, ok?" "We have loot?" Jackie was saying to Scully. "People bought me *presents*?" "That's usually what friends do." Dana disappeared and re-emerged from the bedroom carrying a small pile of brightly wrapped packages. "There's one from Mom, one from Mulder and me, one from...Skinner...?" She glanced over at Mulder, who shrugged. "He asked me to bring it up since he couldn't stay after making sure Jackie came in. I don't know what it is." "Well, we can find out without too much trouble." Marty tossed the medium sized package across the room. "Open it." "If it's a can of Molson I'm going to tear the building down..." Jackie muttered, starting to tear the paper off. "Not yet!" Margaret Scully yelled. "You've got to blow out the candles first, it's tradition!" "All right mom." Jackie said, glancing at the pile of brightly wrapped boxes. "This won't take long..." With that she took a deep breath and blew out the two candles on the cake, which caused Mulder to chuckle. Everyone turned towards Mulder to see what he found so funny about Jackie blowing out the candles. "What?" He asked. "Well Mulder," Scully said. "We'd all really like to know what's so funny about Jackie blowing the candles out." "Wait...there." Mulder pointed a finger. The two trick candles relit themselves. Jackie blew again, and the candles lit themselves again. "There's something screwy here." Marty muttered. "Erin asked if I'd do her a favor." Mulder said calmly. "Here, this goes with it." He pulled a tape off the top of the presents and inserted it into a player nearby. When he pressed 'play', a young voice emerged. "Hi everyone, sorry I couldn't make it. Okay, it's present time. I don't have enough money to get you something nice, Jackie, so I thought this tape might make up for it. Here goes. 'Happy Birthday, Dear Dragon'. By Jack Prelutsky." Jackie looked surprised, and Fox shook his head. "Kids." He mouthed. The voice on the tape began again: "There were rumbles of strange jubilation In a dark, subterranean lair For the Dragon was having a birthday And her colleagues were gathering there. HOORAH! groaned the trolls and the ogres as they pelted each other with stones. HOORAH! shrieked a sphinx and a griffin, (That's Fox and Dana) and the skeletons rattled their bones. "HOORAH! screamed the king of the dragons (Marty?) HOORAH! boomed a giant, REJOICE! hoorah! piped a tiny hobgoblin, in an almost inaudible voice. (that's me, Jackie) HOORAH! Cackled rapturous witches, Horahhhhhhhh! Hissed a basilisk, too Then they howled in cacophonous chorus, "Happy Birthday, Dear Dragon, To You!" They whistled, they squawked, they applauded, As they gleefully brought forth the cake. "OH, THANK YOU!" She thundered with pleasure in a voice that made every ear ache. Then puffing her chest to the fullest, And taking deliberate aim, The Dragon huffed once at the candles, AND THE CANDLES ALL BURST INTO FLAME! "Happy birthday, Dragon!" Erin exclaimed, and the tape lapsed into silence. Marty stifled a grin and Jackie snickered. "Haven't heard poetry that good since that night at Margaret's." "I'd laugh, but I think I'd rupture my spleen." Fox commented dryly, and the Scullys burst into laughter. "Okay, open mine first!" Rosie yelled, handing Jackie a rectangular box. Jackie tore wrapping paper off of the box to reveal... "The videotape of 'Braveheart'! Thanks, Rosie." "Mel Gibson in a kilt." Rosie smirked. "You just have to see it, if you get my drift." "*Ahem*!" Marty looked over his glasses at Rosie. "Er, not that you need to see it for that reason of course." She said quickly. "It's a great Scottish tale, with excellent acting and..." "Don't mind him," Jackie said. "He's just being gruff for appearances." She elbowed her fiance and he smiled at her. "Now, lemme open Walter's." The wrapping paper slid off a flat, square box. Puzzled, she slit the tape with a fingernail and pulled the top off. Something was nestled in the tissue paper, and she held it up curiously. "What is it?" Margaret asked, bewildered. "It's a scabbard belt." Marty answered. "For the sword, I think." "How did he know?" Jackie carefully examined the leather belt and casing, noting her name in gold ink across the top. "I didn't think..." "With Skinner, it's better not to ask." Mulder suggested. "Unofficial channels." Scully agreed. "Alright Jaclyn, open mine next." Margaret Scully handed a small box wrapped in blue paper to Jackie. Jackie took the box from Margaret and tore the paper from the box in one quick action. "Oh, Margaret! It's beautiful!" Jackie lifted a small silver chain from the box, at the end of which was a small silver Celtic cross with a ruby stone in the center. "This must have cost you quite a bit." Jackie said. "I can't accept..." "Shush Jaclyn." Margaret answered. "When I saw that necklace I just knew it was for you. Now, I know you have one that you wear regularly," She paused and looked at Jackie and then Marty before continuing. "But I hope you wear this one every now and then." "I will," Jackie said as she hugged the elder Scully. "And thank you." "Well," Dana said bringing up a box wrapped in bright yellow paper. "It'll be a bit hard topping that, but I hope you like this one from Mulder and I." "I'm sure I will." Jackie said as she grabbed the box. "After all, if you had a hand in this then I know it can't be a sports video." Mulder laughed. "Yeah, and after all the trouble I went to locating an all Blue-Jays blooper tape." Jackie opened the lid of the box and reached in to pull out an object wrapped in white packing paper. "Hmm..." She said, "Too heavy for a video." She removed the paper to show a carved crystal dragon statuette. The dragon's wings were spread wide and it's head was reared back as if in a loud bellow. The statue had it's claws bared, but whether in defense or attack was strictly up to the observer. The entire piece spoke to the hidden and mysterious power of the creature it represented. "Guys, this is wonderful!" She said to Mulder and Scully. "I just don't know if I can find a place where it won't get broken." "Don't worry much about that." Dana said. "Right after we bought it Mulder dropped it, and it seems pretty sturdy." "I was just stress testing it." Mulder explained. "You were just testing my stress limit." Scully shot back. "Ok, my turn." Marty handed Jackie a box with a large red ribbon on it. "Hope you like it, love." Jackie pulled the ribbon and opened the box to pull out a large brown furry mass. "Ha! I love it! It's too cute!" "What is it?" Dana asked. Fox rolled his eyes. "This is worse than trying to figure out what Skinner got her." "It's a plush Chewbacca doll." Marty said. "A Wookie for her to cuddle with when I'm not around." "It's no substitute," She said, putting her arms around Marty to give him a hug. "But I guess it'll do when you aren't here." "Alright then." Mrs. Scully said as she started putting out plates. "Let's all eat this cake."
Jackie St. George closed the door behind Rosie as the last of her birthday guests left the apartment. "That was fun!" she said. "Even if I did almost kill Mulder." "I'm glad you enjoyed it." Marty said. "One thing does bother me though, just how did they manage to set this all up with such perfect timing?" She asked. "Ah," her fiance sputtered. "Government training?" "Your government isn't that good." She said, moving closer to him. "Any other suggestions?" "Maybe Rosie set this up?" He ventured hopefully. "She knows I hate parties." Jackie glared at him. "So what does that leave?" "I don't know..." Marty said, realizing that Jackie had backed him into the wall. "What?" "Are you going to answer all my questions with questions?" She asked. "Have I been doing that?" "Grr..." She smiled pulling him close. "Come here you." "Oh my," he muttered as they started to kiss. "Help, help." --End.
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