The following is an American Gothic/3rd Rock from the 
Sun crossover inspired by my wondering what would 
happen if ladies' man Lucas Buck encountered the tough 
alien Sally Solomon. (And I just couldn't resist the take-off 
of the movie title "When Harry Met Sally".)

[Disclaimer:  American Gothic and its characters are the 
property of CBS, MCA/Universal, Renaissance Pictures, 
and possibly others. 3rd Rock from the Sun and its characters 
are the property of NBC, Carsey-Werner Co., and possibly 
others.  No copyright infringement is intended, so please 
don't sue.  Please do not distribute, repost or archive this 
story in any way without receiving permission from the 
author.  Comments may be sent to:  RoxanneP@aol.com ]

		When Lucas Met Sally
		[Part 1 of 1]
		by Roxanne 

	Lucas Buck glided along the sidewalks of Trinity, 
exchanging greetings with the passing citizens.  He enjoyed 
being out among his people, checking up on those who owed 
him favors and basking in the adoration of everyone else.  
	It was on one of these walks that Lucas spotted a tall, 
leggy brunette in tight jeans and a clingy shirt strolling down the 
opposite side of the street.  Her long mane of hair swung to one 
side as she peered into various shop windows.  Lucas strode 
across the street on an intercept course.  
	"Howdy, miss," Lucas drawled as he approached her.  
	The woman straightened up.  "Hi," she replied in a 
deep, husky voice.
	"I haven't seen you around town before," Lucas said.  
"You just passin' through, or you stayin' awhile?"
	"Just passing through."  She pushed part of her hair 
back behind her ear.  "My brother's at a seminar in Ascension 
and I came along for the ride."
	Brother, not husband.  Lucas's smile widened.  He 
had already observed she wore no wedding ring, not that a 
simple ring and a vow of commitment would have stood in 
his way.  Her lack of a spouse merely made matters less 
complicated.  
	"So what do you think of our fair town?"  he asked, 
opening his arms wide, as if to embrace the neighborhood.
	"It's boring, actually," she said, glancing around.
	Lucas blinked several times.  "Beg your pardon?"
	"Well, there's no mall, no big name department 
stores.  My God, how can you people live like this?"
	Lucas stared at her for a moment. "We get along 
somehow," he finally said.
	"It's horrible," the woman declared, shaking her head.  
"I mean, what's a girl supposed to do for excitement around 
here?  Count how many old guys are sitting in the park 
feeding the birds?"
	"There's all types of excitement in Trinity.  It all 
depends on the kind you're lookin' for."  Lucas edged closer 
to her.  "Maybe I can help you."
	"Maybe you can," she said, fingering the sheriff's star 
on his vest as she looked him over.  "You're a cop, aren't you?"
	Lucas covered her hand with one of his.  "That's right, 
miss.  I'm the sheriff of this here town."  He touched the brim of
his hat with his free hand.  "Sheriff Lucas Buck.  That's, uh, 
Buck...with a B."
	The women yanked her hand free.  "Well, of course, 
it's Buck with a B," she said with a frown.  "How else would 
you spell it?  It's not like it's some great big name.  It's only four 
letters, for pete's sake.  Do you think 'cause I've got this 
body" - she indicated herself with her hands - "I can't spell?"
	"Whoa, there."  Lucas held up his hands in mock 
surrender.  "I didn't mean any offense, miss... what did you 
say your name was?"
	"I didn't."  She paused for a moment, then stuck out 
her hand.  "Sally Solomon."
	They shook hands, with Lucas noting her strong, 
almost painful, grip.  "Pleased to make your acquaintance, 
Miss Solomon."
	"Oh, no.  Call me Sally," she said with a flutter of her 
hand.
	Lucas smiled and nodded.  "Alright, Sally.  Can I 
show you around town?"
	"Wait a minute."  Sally narrowed her eyes.  "In all 
the movies I've seen, sheriffs have a horse, and a deputy." 
She surveyed the street.  "Where's yours?"
	A horse?  While Lucas occasionally did consider 
Floyd his obedient beast of burden, the image of a horse had 
never entered his mind.  He sighed inwardly, knowing it was
now going to take a lot of effort to erase that picture from 
his head next time he saw Floyd.  "Uh, my deputy's back at 
the station," he replied, then added, "So's my horse."
	The frown faded from Sally's face.  "Can I see it?"  
	"The horse?"
	"No, the station."
	"Sure thing, Sally."  Lucas took her arm and 
maneuvered her along the sidewalk.  "It's just down the 
road a piece."
	"So what's it like being a sheriff?"  Sally asked.  
"You get to run the town, don't you?"
	Lucas opened, then closed his mouth.  "Pretty 
much," he said honestly.  "You interested in law enforcement?"
	"I think it's terrific," Sally replied with feeling.  "The 
power, the authority, the weapons, forcing confessions out 
of suspects.  What a rush!"
	Lucas glanced at her sideways.  She truly was excited 
by it, if her glowing face was any indication.  Sally Solomon 
appeared to be a potential candidate for Juniper House, but 
right now Lucas was more interested in her other areas of 
potential.
	"Do you mind if we stop by my house first?"  he 
asked.  "I need to pick up something before we head on 
into the station."
	"Sure.  No problem... Lucas," she said with a giggle.
	Lucas grinned.  "Has anyone ever told you what 
a beautiful smile you have?"
	Sally smiled wider and again giggled.  "Of course."
	Lucas frowned slightly, but forged ahead.  "Yeah, 
but has any sheriff ever told you that?"
	"Oh, my God."
	"I thought not."  Lucas nodded.
	Sally swiveled to the right and pointed at the store 
window.  "Look at those sling-back mules.  I don't think I 
have a pair of those.  Oh, and look!"  She pointed at the 
sales sign on the window.  "Twenty-five percent off.  I can 
get a couple of different colors.  Come on."  She hauled 
Lucas toward the door of the shoe store.
	"Now hold on there."  Lucas pulled out of her 
grasp and remained where he stood.  "We were on our 
way to my house, remember?"
	"Yeah, so?  It's not going anywhere.  This sale is 
for a limited time only," she said, emphasizing the last three 
words.  "Now let's go." She narrowed her eyes at the 
window.  "I don't like how that woman is looking at *my* 
shoes."
	"You're choosin' a shoe sale over spendin' time 
with me?"  Even as he uttered these words, Lucas Buck 
still couldn't believe he was saying them to a woman.
	"Hey, shoes make the outfit.  Without the right pair 
of shoes, I might as well wear a burlap sack with a sign that 
says "Dork" on it," Sally said. "This sale isn't going to last 
forever and I'd like to get something from this dead-end
town.  Now I've got to get in there."  She turned toward 
the store door.
	Lucas grabbed her arm.  "I think you ought to 
re-evaluate your decision."
	Sally glanced down at his hand, then slowly raised 
her eyes to meet his gaze.  "Oh yeah?  Unless you want to 
be directing traffic with only one arm, I think you ought to 
re-evaluate *your* decision, Mr. Buck with a B.  Now 
move it or lose it, buster."
	"I'm not finished with you," Lucas said, maintaining 
his grip on her arm.
	Sally raised her eyebrows.  "Want to bet?" she said, 
seizing him by the vest with her free hand.
	With one flip of her arm, Lucas suddenly found 
himself sailing through the air.  He wasn't unfamiliar with being
airborne, it was being launched by someone else that he found
disturbing.  He landed with a thud on the sidewalk a few 
storefronts away.  
	Sally examined her fingernails.  "You're lucky I didn't 
break a nail," she informed him, then reached for the store's 
door.
	Lucas slowly stood and dusted himself off while 
watching her disappear into the store.  "I said I wasn't 
finished yet, Sally Solomon," he said, an evil smile curling 
up the corners of his mouth.  "Never let it be said that 
Lucas Buck ain't up for a challenge."
	
		THE END