From: taffyxf@yahoo.com
Title: Forgive Us Our Trespasses
Author: Taffy Northwood
E-Mail: taffyxf@yahoo.com
Rating: NC17 (eventually)
Category: AU, MSR
Archives: Just ask.
Feedback: Never in bad taste
Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully, Skinner and any
other XF characters are on loan only.
Summary: In 1909 New York City, there were two
distinct and separate worlds: that of the very wealthy
and that of the very poor. Could love bridge the
great divide between those worlds for two star-crossed
lovers?
Author Notes: Like a huge part of the fandom, I've
become absolutely dotty over AU fic. This is my
modest attempt to put Mulder and Scully into another
time and place. Please be aware, this is a
work-in-progress.
Forgive Us Our Trespasses - Katie Scully's story, part 9
"You have beautiful hair," sighed Amy Jacobs as she
glided the brush through Katie's long russet hair.
"Then why are you trying to change it?" Katie asked.
"Because a girl should make the most of her assets,
especially when she's going out with a dreamy young
doctor."
"Ouch! Amy, what are you trying to do?" It was
weariness and indifference that had made Katie agree
to let Amy "try something different" with her hair.
"Sorry. Sit still, I'm going to make you into a
goddess."
"I think you're more excited about this date than I
am."
"It's like a story. The beautiful nurse and the
handsome doctor who rescues her."
"Rescues her from what?"
"Oh, I don't know. Her life of drudgery?"
"Or maybe it's the insane English teacher who's
trying to pull her hair out."
Amy was excited, Shayna was excited--the whole
neighborhood, it seemed, was excited. Vincent arrived
promptly at seven, awkward and flustered, a bouquet of
flowers clutched in his fist.
"Good evening, doctor. So, where are you taking her?"
Amy asked.
"Miss Jacobs, so good to see you," Vincent answered.
"I, er, thought we might go to a restaurant."
Katie put a hasty end to Amy's questions.
"Amy, perhaps you could put these beautiful flowers
in some water. Did you leave your motor running,
Vincent? We'd best be off, then."
Vincent's nervousness was painful to behold. Katie
was aware that they had an audience as they drove
away. Motor cars were becoming more commonplace but
a fine machine still drew plenty of attention in
the neighborhood.
"I've reserved a table at Delmonico's," Vincent
informed her.
"No!" she cried, startling herself as well as her
companion. "I mean, it's so... I just don't think
I'd feel at home there."
"The food is delicious," Vincent said, clearly
disappointed. "But it's no matter, I know a place
you'll find more 'haimish.'"
"I'm certain I'd enjoy that more," said Katie,
mustering her enthusiasm. Vincent was a dear friend,
and she didn't want to infect him with her gloom.
They drove north, past Central Park, and Katie's
curiosity grew.
"I'd have to guess you're taking me to the Polo
Grounds," she said.
Vincent laughed.
"They don't play baseball at night, silly. How
could they see the ball?"
They arrived at their destination. Vincent took
Katie's arm and led her down a flight of stairs
to a small, noisy restaurant.
A portly man in a black jacket greeted them at the
door.
"No room, no tables. Next time you call first."
Vincent would be so embarrassed, Katie thought. It
was all her fault, for ruining his plans for
Delmonico's.
"It's all right, Vincent. Let's go," she said.
Vincent, however, was grinning.
"Come on, Tio Carlo, knock it off," he said.
"Eh, get ovaheah!"
Vincent and the man embraced, and then Katie found
herself caught up in a huge hug.
"Mr. Bigshot doctor don't have no manners," he said.
"I'm Carlo Franchetti, his favorite uncle."
After the introductions were completed to Uncle
Carlo's satisfaction, Vincent and Katie were seated
at a small table near the back of the room.
"You don't need no menus, Vincenzo. I'm gonna take
care of you right."
Not only Uncle Carlo, but half the restaurant seemed
to be related to Vincent. There were some friendly
acknowledgments all around, and then, as if by
agreement, almost everyone kept a respectful distance.
The lone exception was the waiter, who seemed to feel
that his services at the table entitled him to share
his observations.
"Don't worry about it," Katie told Vincent. "If it
was my family, they'd be pulling up chairs and asking
you to declare your intentions."
"I'm sure someone's taking notes, to report back to
my mother. And Uncle Carlo keeps winking at me over
your shoulder," Vincent said.
"You see what we would have missed if we'd gone to
Delmonico's?" Katie laughed.
Vincent shook his head.
"In so many ways people everywhere are all the same.
But sometimes I wonder."
"What do you mean?" Katie asked.
"I'm thinking about my private patients, compared to
my clinic patients," he answered.
In addition to the work he did for the settlement
house and surrounding neighborhood, Vincent was a
junior partner to a doctor with a lucrative and
exclusive practice.
"Different diseases." Katie nodded. She thought
about undernourished children with dark hollows below
their eyes, and textile workers with coughs that
never went away.
"Different in how they respond. So cold and stoic.
So haughty."
"Perhaps they see you as an outsider," she suggested.
"I suppose, but I'm talking about how they treat each
other. There's a distance, even within families."
"That doesn't seem possible," Katie protested. "They
must have feelings like everyone else."
"I'm sure you're right, but they scarcely show them."
"I think that's sad."
"I do too. But what do I know, I'm just a fiery
Italian."
Katie couldn't help wondering about the Mulder family.
About Fox. Fox--she fixed the name in her head.
Fox, not Mathew.
"Maybe they don't think love is important," she
ventured.
"Not as important as many other things," Vincent
said after some consideration. "I suppose they're
a bit like royalty, where alliances matter more
than romance."
Soon, of course, conversation turned back to their
shared passion, medicine. Katie barely noted the
passage of time, except as new dishes appeared on the
table and old ones were cleared.
"She don't eat nothing," commented the waiter as he
removed a platter. "But that's good, Vin. She'll get
fat soon enough once you're married."
Vincent said something in Italian, provoking a sharp
response from the waiter. After a few more heated
exchanges, the matter appeared to be settled.
"Is everything all right?" Katie asked tentatively
after the waiter withdrew.
"Sure. We're cousins."
It was all in all an enjoyable evening, although Katie
felt a measure of relief when at last it was time to
leave. The restaurant was a little too warm for
comfort.
"My goodness but that was a lot of food," Katie said
as Vincent drove her home.
"Far more food than a person should eat," he agreed.
Many of the dishes had been strange to her, but she
found most of them delicious.
"I loved those kreplachs," Katie said.
[continued in next message]
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
|
