Twas the Chaos Before Christmas
Disclaimer: Not mine! Mutant X belongs to Tribune and Marvel.
Summary: An AU Christmas story taking place in mid-season three. B/S.
Rating: PG
A/N: This started out as a one-shot, but has emerged into a short story with four chapters. I'm still working on the ending, but will try to post as quickly as possible. Humor is not my strong point in writing, so this is not my best work by any means, but I hope you enjoy it nevertheless! It probably also doesn't help that I wrote this between distractions at the office, lol. :) Happy Holidays!
"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…" --"Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Major Henry Livingston Jr.
Twas the Chaos Before Christmas—Chapter One
Sanctuary's halls were dark and silent in the cold winter night, freshly decorated for the coming holidays. In the corner where the Rec room intersected with the bedroom hallway stood a massive Douglas Fir tree, proudly standing watch in the still of the night.
Dim light pooled softly from under the closed door of the first bedroom, disturbed only by the timed blinking of colored lights, casting a play of shadow and light across the face of the feral sleeping soundly in her bed. She lay sprawled on her side, hands tucked under her chin, golden curls spilling out across the brightly colored comforter of her bed, unaware as the door slowly creaked open. Bright lights again twinkled and flashed, a holiday reflection in the mirror across the room as a shadowy figure stole through the opening before the door brushed shut with a quiet whisper. Footsteps hesitated as the floor squeaked, and her eyes sprung open, heart pounding, as a large hand was suddenly clamped over her mouth. A growl escaped her as a shadow loomed over her, pressing her shoulders back against the mattress, effectively pinning her to the bed with a muscular frame. She fought back, biting down on the offending fingers even as she rolled them, struggling for breath as she was suddenly flipped again. She brought her knee up, and the figure grunted, hold loosening momentarily as she flung her body across his, sheets tangling, ripping as she finally straddled him, pinning flailing legs with her thighs, holding his arms down above his head, both suddenly freezing in their silent struggle as a knock sounded at the door.
"Shalimar?" Jesse's concerned voice rose sharply through the night. "You ok?"
There was a pause as she stared down at the figure, breathing heavily.
"Shal?" Jesse's hand fell on the door knob.
She released the muscular arms, sitting up and looking over her shoulder to the door. "I'm fine, Jesse."
His hand fell away, and the door stayed closed. "Ok, good night then."
"Good night." She called in return, head swinging back around, eyes widening as fingers began trailing up her legs and splayed across her hips. His eyes stared up at her unabashedly as her thighs tightened with a warning squeeze, and she gasped as she was rolled again, finding herself flat on her back, arms pinned.
Her eyes flashed in indignation.
He laughed as he released her, sinking down as her arms stole around his neck.
"Brennan," she scolded as he began kissing her neck. "That was too close. Jesse could've walked right in."
Brennan pulled back, flashing a quick smile in the dim room before dropping a kiss on her nose. "Nah, I had it all under control."
"You startled me," Shalimar continued her reprimand with a grin as he settled more deeply against her.
"You bit me," He countered, shaking his head as she giggled, smiling softly as he ran the backs of his fingers across the smooth silkiness of her cheek.
"Not very hard," she shrugged in return, smirking as she turned her head, pressing a kiss to the offended knuckle, lips curving into a smile as his warm breath huffed against her neck a moment before his lips captured hers.
They hadn't planned on keeping it a secret. It had just sort of happened. They had been building towards the inevitable for years, tension and attraction growing until the tenuous balance was strained too tight, finally exploding one night as a heated argument turned passionate. They had kept it to themselves, unsure of what was happening, and before they knew it a few weeks had passed and it had turned into a game, an adventure shared only by the two of them.
There was something strangely exciting about keeping a secret.
Jesse yawned as he padded back down the hallway, carton of milk clutched in one hand. It was late, but he was having trouble sleeping. He yawned again, a jaw-wrenching crack, and he rubbed his cheek as he found himself drawn to the Christmas tree. The lights had been left on overnight, its festive presence comforting him. He chuckled softly under his breath as he reached out and straightened an ornament that threatened to fall, remembering their excursion up the mountain earlier that day as Shalimar dragged them deeper and deeper into the forest in search of the perfect tree. It had taken hours, and Brennan hadn't stopped complaining the entire way back; not that Jesse could blame him though, glad he hadn't been the one to drag the monstrous thing back behind him. What followed then had been hours more of decorating. And they still weren't done. Shalimar had a list just waiting for morning to come. Although none of them talked about it, it was their first Christmas without all of their family, and whether consciously or subconsciously, Shalimar was determined to uphold their traditions. He ran his thumb across the blunt end of a pine needle, smiling softly. He loved her for doing it. It was more important than ever they stay together. He turned, sipping again from the milk carton as he started back toward his bedroom. All the other bedrooms were dark, and he was surprised when a faint moan came from Shalimar's room. He paused in front of her door, shaking his head and passing on when he heard a muffled giggle and then nothing more; it must be some dream she was having. Both Brennan and Lexa's rooms were dark and quiet as he passed, and he yawned again as he walked into his own room, closing the door behind him. The lights continued to twinkle in the silence.
Morning dawned cold and clear, and Shalimar's eyes opened with an excited grin; Christmas was only two days away. Already, she could hear stirrings beyond her closed door and knew the others were up. A slight groan, a rustling of the sheets behind her, and her head whipped around, realizing Brennan was still in her room, and that they had overslept.
"Brennan." She whispered in consternation as she heard a shout of laughter not far away.
He lay on his back, lazily watching her. "Hey." He greeted her warmly, hand caressing her shoulder as he pushed himself up against the pillow.
"Hey," She murmured back, biting her lip at the pleasure that washed over her at the sight of his bare chest, unexpectedly shy in the morning light. She wasn't used to waking up with him.
"You're blushing," He waggled his fingers, giving her a teasing tickle as she reddened even more.
"No, I'm not."
He chuckled. "Yeah, you are."
She sniffed. "Nonsense."
"Come here," Brennan chuckled again, tugging on her hip and rolling her towards him. She landed flat against his chest, eyes wide as she stared up at him. "Good morning," His voice took on a husky timbre as she shivered delectably in his arms.
"Morning," She dipped her head, finger tracing an invisible pattern on his chest. "We overslept."
"So I see." His chest rumbled beneath her, and she nuzzled her nose into his neck, lips following the firm plane of his jaw as his hands rose to frame her face. "Shalimar." He brought her head up, pressing a kiss against her upturned mouth. "I think I could get used to this," He mumbled between kisses.
She pulled back at his words. "Do you think we should tell the others?"
"I don't know," He ran his thumb over her lower lip, swollen from his kisses. His mouth quirked slightly, "I'm not sure I'm ready to share us just yet."
"Yeah." Shalimar smiled tenderly, finding herself sinking in the warmth of his gaze, "I know the feeling." Emboldened, she grazed her fingers back down his chest, following the motion a moment later with her mouth, nipping lightly at his shoulder.
He shuddered beneath her touch, fingers sliding just under the edge of her camisole. He didn't know if he'd ever be ready to share her. "Uh, Shal," He struggled to form coherent thought, "Aren't we supposed to finish the decorating this morning?"
"Hmm," Her lips vibrated as they traced his collarbone.
He caught her mouth, grinning wickedly. "How long do you think before they miss us?"
The sound of a quick knock and her door turning brought them both upright. "Not long enough," She hissed in resignation, desperately shoving him over the edge and quickly turning toward the door just as he thumped to the floor behind the bed with a startled exclamation. She winced slightly at the sound, smiling at Lexa as she paused in the doorway.
"What was that?" Lexa looked confused.
"What?" Shalimar stared back at her, praying she wouldn't hear Brennan's heavy breathing. The man breathed loud enough to wake the dead.
"Never mind," Lexa shook her head after a moment. "Sorry to bother you, but Jesse's starting to get antsy out here." She grinned. "The geek's kind of cute when he's impatient."
Shalimar chuckled, sensing the true affection Lexa had for him. "Yeah Lex, I'll be right there."
"You ok, Shal?" Lexa took a step into the room. "It's not like you to oversleep."
"Just fine." Shalimar hastily jumped up from the bed, cutting Lexa off as she heard Brennan's quick intake of breath as he flattened himself further to the ground. She grasped her elbow, turning her back toward the door. "Tell Jesse I'll be right there."
"Alright." Lexa shot Shalimar a strange look, but turned to leave, stopping in the doorway. "Oh, I almost forgot. Have you seen Brennan?"
"Brennan?" Her voice came out in a squeak.
"Yeah, he must've overslept as well. I'll have to track him down next."
"I'll find him." Shalimar offered quickly. Too quickly.
"Ok." Lexa watched her for a moment longer, shaking her head as she left the room.
Shalimar closed the door softly behind it, leaning her forehead against it in relief.
Brennan's head popped up from behind the bed, brows furrowing as he saw her shoulders shaking. "Shal?"
She turned towards him, lips twitching with suppressed laughter. "I suppose you had that one all under control as well?"
"Funny." He rolled his eyes, rubbing his elbow as he stood back up. "The rate we're going, we won't have to tell them, they'll figure it out just fine on their own."
"Yeah," She strolled towards him, meeting him in the middle of the room, arms circling around his neck. "Found you," She whispered with a knowing smile.
Brennan chuckled, lowering his head to kiss her sweetly before reluctantly pulling away with a groan. He cupped her cheeks, shaking his head slightly in disbelief. "How'd this happen, Shalimar? How'd I get so lucky?"
Her stomach dropped at the look in his eyes. His heart was racing; she could feel it pulsing between them as her own thumped loudly in her ears, throbbing with the newness of it all. How was it that they had survived for so long without knowing this feeling between them? Had it only been two weeks? It felt like years, but yet it felt like minutes. She leaned into his touch, shivering as his thumb began tracing a slow pattern on her cheek, his lips brushing over hers with gentle longing.
"I can't believe we're actually here," Shalimar finally broke the silence between them.
Brennan pushed a thick curl behind her ear, running his fingers through her hair, tangling them in the silky mass. "I don't know what I would do without you."
Her eyes lifted at his husky admission, searching his with nervous wonderment as she sensed he had more to say.
"Shalimar," He groaned her name, hands moving back to her face, brushing stray strands off her forehead with aching tenderness. "Shal, I--I think—"
Her comlink trilled loudly in interruption.
They stared at each other with incredulity as Jesse's voice called her name.
"Of course." Brennan groaned, muttering sarcastically under his breath as he dropped his hands. "Remind me to kill him later, huh?"
Shalimar's lips twisted distractedly with a small smile, heart still pounding with secret hope at his near confession. It was going to be a confession, wasn't it? She looked back up at Brennan as he pulled her into a hug, setting his chin on top of her head as he chuckled wryly. Her arms tightened around him in silent understanding.
"Shalimar," Jesse impatiently called again. "What's taking you so long? Hurry up and get Brennan already, will you?"
Brennan pulled back at the words, eyebrows rising in wicked amusement. "Yeah, Shal, come get me."
She slapped his chest at his audacity, clamping a hand over his mouth as he started to laugh. "I'm working on it, Jesse." Believe me, I'm working on it. She met Brennan's gaze with a longsuffering sigh as she cut the connection. "I suppose we better go."
"Yeah," Brennan groaned, hands scrubbing his face. "Is the coast clear?"
She tilted her head, listening. "Yeah, the hallway's empty."
"Thanks." He dropped a final kiss on her mouth, pulling her into a deep hug, resting her head on his chest. His feet shuffled slightly, heart speeding up beneath her ear, and for a moment she thought he might try to finish his earlier sentence. She tensed in anticipation.
Brennan hesitated, pressing a kiss into her hair as he pulled back. "Merry Christmas, Shal." His whisper touched her, chocolate brown eyes infinitely tender, and she laughed as he flashed a final, roguish grin before disappearing out the door. She stood in the doorway, watching until he ducked into his own room unseen; missing him already. Each paused in their doorways for a moment, lips twitching with secretive smiles before pushing off the frame, getting ready for the day. Their doors swished quietly shut behind them, and then the hallway again fell silent, save for the Christmas tree which winked cheerfully in merry delight.
