Tempus Fugit spoilers!  Read no further if this will ruin it for you!

*

Okay, I became convinced while watching Tempus Fugit that there was a story
behind Pendrell's presence in the bar, drunk.  After all, that really wasn't
the LabBoy we know.  Anyway, this is just a brief sketch.  Oh, and I need a
better title--my working file was jokingly titled "Ode to LabBoy," and I'm
trying to get this out quickly before my 3:00 chem lab.  Suggestions,
anyone?  As always, comments welcome at jadzia@tamu.edu 

This is for Lisa Hoffpauir, my neighbor and friend, who is preparing to
mourn Pendrell if he dies in part 2.

Rating/Classification:  PG/V

REFLECTIONS OF A LABBOY
by Katherine Jennings

Pendrell needed a drink.  Badly.

He didn't usually drink alcohol, not since his 
college days when he'd discovered how quickly it could
lower his usual inhibitions.  There had been that one
time when...

No, he wasn't going to get caught up in memories
tonight.  He was going to sit here and think about Dana
Scully.

That was why he needed the drink; he was depressed.
He'd heard she had been in this very bar recently,
celebrating her birthday.  With HIM.  Spooky Mulder.
Pendrell sat at the bar and ordered a drink.  He
didn't really think Scully was involved with Mulder...
but then again, all the rumors said...ah, what did it 
matter?  She obviously wasn't interested in him, either 
way.

He ordered another drink, his first having 
disappeared somewhere in the middle of his thoughts.  He
had gotten her a birthday present, though he knew he'd
never have the nerve to give it to her.  Maybe if he was
drunk enough...

Another drink.  Not that he expected her to come in
tonight.  She was off somewhere, working another case
with old Spooky.  Besides, Pendrell was still sober
enough to recognize that even if he did give Dana the 
gift, he'd never be able to face her afterwards.  He 
would be far too embarrassed.

He downed another drink--his fourth or fifth?  He'd
lost count.  Aside from a few incidents in his college
years, Pendrell had only gotten truly drunk once in his
life.  Tonight, though, he decided he was well on his
way to a second time.  Idly, he wondered where Mulder 
had taken Scully.

"Spooky's a lucky guy," he said to the bartender,
who nodded politely and ignored him.  Being thrown 
together with Dana Scully by their work at all hours of 
the day or night wasn't enough for Mulder...they 
apparently spent off-duty hours together, too.  Pendrell 
sighed; he should be so lucky.

The alcohol was buoying his spirits, however; the
sigh turned to a grin as he made a decision.  The next
time he saw her, he would give her the birthday present.
It wasn't like he had anything to lose...and just the
chance that she might like it, might like him, would be
worth whatever embarrassment he might suffer.

He turned to the man next to him, his natural 
shyness gone.  "I'm going to give it to her," he said
exuberantly, forgetting for the moment that the man 
would have no idea what he was talking about.
The guy looked at him with a tolerant grin.  He had
had about as many drinks as Pendrell, but he was more 
accustomed to the alcohol than the agent was.  "Good 
luck, buddy," he said, slapping Pendrell on the back.
"Who is she?"

Pendrell signaled the bartender once again, glad
to have found a friendly ear.  "A goddess,"  he said 
dreamily.  "A flame-haired goddess."

The other man chuckled at that, looking at the 
lovesick boy in front of him.  "I've known a few of 
those myself," he said, thinking of a certain tall 
redhead in...was it Georgia?

Pendrell was shaking his head vigorously.  "Not 
her.  She's one of a kind."

His drinking companion laughed again, standing up.
"Whatever you say, buddy.  I've got to get home."  

Grabbing one more drink for the road, he turned back to
Pendrell.  "Good luck with the goddess," he said, 
winking.

Pendrell waved, then returned to a fresh drink.  
Knocking it back, he thought of her smile.  If his gift
made her smile...if HE made her smile...well, he would
die a happy man.

Suddenly, a flash of red caught his eye.  It 
couldn't be...but it was.  His heart leapt as he 
realized that Dana Scully was heading for the bar.
She hadn't seen him, so he would have to get her
attention.  Turning away from the bar, he called out to
her.

"Hey, birthday girl..."

END