Chapter 2

Lexa had been working on getting them another place to stay for a while now so it was mostly ready and just waiting for them to move in. As she lead the others to the door of their new home Lexa smiled at Shalimar and said,

"I think you're going to like this place."

"Oh yeah ? Will there be fresh air available this time?"

"Yup – and more . . . you'll see."

As Lexa opened up the door Shalimar couldn't help but look around appreciatively. This new place was great. There were wooden floors and large French doors that opened up onto a balcony. There was even an actual gym area with an adjoining bedroom. Lexa walked up behind her and said,

"I notice you've found your room already !"

Shalimar laughed and pulled Lexa into a hug,

"I love it" she said, "thank you."

"Hey we were all going a little crazy in that other place. Come see the balcony," she said as they moved up the stairs towards it. Shalimar breathed in the clean mountain air and smiled.

"This place is great Lexa," Brennan said walking up behind them. Lexa smiled to herself. She'd been wondering how long it would take Brennan to join them – he and Shalimar had been inseparable lately.

"Yeah and we're pretty much in the middle of nowhere so it'll be really hard for anyone to locate us." Lexa replied.

Jesse joined them on the balcony and smiled at Lexa, "Great job Lexa," he said.

They all moved inside to start unpacking their stuff. Jesse followed Lexa into their new kitchen.

"Thanks for doing all this – for Shalimar I mean – it was very thoughtful of you. I can tell she really loves it here."

"Yeah well – whatever – we needed a new place to stay so I found one – that's all."

Jesse smirked knowingly at Lexa and said,

"Ok, if you say so," but as he left to go choose a bedroom he couldn't help but notice Lexa smile slightly as she looked out at the balcony where Shalimar was sitting with her feet swinging contentedly over the banisters.

About half an hour later Brennan had finished unpacking and had made his way around their new place to familiarise himself with it. He liked it even more now that he had seen it all. It reminded him a lot of their actual sanctuary. Jesse was already out in the lab area trying to set up all his electronics. Brennan knocked lightly on the glass door and Jesse looked up from his wires.

"Hey Jess – what's up man ? You need some help ?" Brennan asked

Jesse smiled wryly at Brennan before saying,

"What did Shal send you away ?"

Brennan laughed, "What? Man it's not even like that!"

"Mmm ok – if you say so but you've been following her around like a lost puppy for weeks now!"

"No – dude cut it out - I was just worried about her that's all !"

Jesse laughed and said,

"Ok whatever you say – you can hook these up to the main terminal over there."

Brennan playfully punched Jesse on the shoulder before accepting the wires and with a spark of electricity he said,

"Now, let me show you how this is really done."

Lexa walked in on the two of them bickering about who was better at wiring, rolled her eyes and walked out again. It was great to see the entire team back to their usual selves again. This was how it was supposed to be. This is what she'd allowed herself to get used to and gradually, it had become what she wanted. The last month had been hard on all of them but with this change of scenery it seemed as though they were all finally starting to put the past behind them. They were finally getting back to their old selves.

Shalimar was still sitting on the balcony and Lexa went up to join her. Without turning around Shalimar said,

"This place is really great Lexa. It's like I can breathe again . . . so, thank you."

"There's just no sneaking up on you huh?"

Shalimar laughed at Lexa's inability to accept a thank you. As Lexa stood next to Shalimar she had to admit something to her.

"You know Shal, I have to admit, when we first met I kind of thought you were out of your mind to care about all these people so much but now . . . I guess what I'm trying to say is . . . it's not so hard to understand . . ."

Shalimar smiled. Lexa was definitely coming around and Shalimar had accepted her into her pack long ago.

"You know Lexa, you were part of the group long before you even knew it whether you liked it or not! But I knew you'd come around eventually !"

Lexa laughed but didn't quite know how else to respond to that so she changed the subject.

"So what's up with you and Brennan ?"

"What ? Nothing !" Shalimar replied quickly.

Lexa laughed.

"Yeah right - I don't need to be a tel-empath to figure out what that really means!"

Shalimar laughed and at that moment they were joined by Brennan and Jesse.

"OK we're finished with setting the lab up. It's nowhere near as well stocked as the one at sanctuary was but it should be sufficient enough for a temporary solution." Jesse said.

"Great," Lexa replied "but there's another slight problem."

They all looked at her expectantly and she continued.

"Well technically we weren't supposed to be moving in here for a little while so we don't have any supplies yet – that means no food, no bathroom supplies etc… so two of us should go get some things. It's probably best if we go in pairs – we'll be harder to capture that way."

"Ok I'm definitely up for it," Shalimar replied before smiling playfully yet seductively at Brennan. "Want to come with me?" she added.

"Yeah – I'm in" he replied smiling back.

"Ok – the com-links should be up and running again. I found some new equipment in the lab here that helped me fix them so let's just test them once before you go and then remember to check in every hour." Jesse said sternly.

"Ok dad" Brennan said playfully before heading out with Shalimar.

It was quite a hike down the mountain and to the nearest small town and though Brennan was in excellent shape he was breathing heavily 2 hours later when they finally arrived. Shalimar had set a killer pace for them and she kept darting in and out of the shrubbery as though she were having the time of her life. Brennan was thrilled to see her so happy again but as he paused to catch his breath he said,

"Man do I miss the Double Helix right now!"

"Oh come on you big baby, that was fun!" Shalimar replied playfully.

"OK but you know what's not going to be fun ? Carrying a whole bunch of groceries right back up that mountain again !"

Shalimar laughed and kissed Brennan on the cheek. He smiled sweetly at her.

"What was that for?"

"For being you."

"Alright well I think I should be me more often then!" he said as he put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him.

The town they were walking through was a tiny one and everything seemed to be closed but it was only 6 pm. They finally located a very small convenience store near the edge of the town and they were still talking and laughing when they got there. As soon as they entered, a friendly looking lady in her 70s bounded up to them with surprising agility and gasped,

"Well aren't the two of you just darlin' !"

Brennan and Shalimar grinned at each other as the woman continued.

"You just passin' through are ya ? HANK !" she suddenly bellowed. Shalimar looked around her quickly trying to make out possible escape routes just in case this Hank was dangerous.

Suddenly a tiny old man popped out from the back of the shop, grumbling to himself.

"Can't even . . . . watch my damn show . . . in peace."

Shalimar relaxed and smiled as the lady moved over to the man who Shalimar assumed to be her husband.

"Hank look – we've got visitors !"

"Well I can see that Rose but why ain't you helpin' 'em?"

"But look at 'em! Ain't they just darling' ? I think they should go get themselves a nice dinner at Lou's first. He can cook 'em up somethin' real nice."

"Oh no – that's ok" Brennan interjected "We actually just came to buy some stuff and then we'll be on our way again."

"Oh no but I insist young man – that's not the way to do it – you need to treat the lovely lady to a nice meal while you're here." Hank said.

Shalimar smiled appreciatively at the man and was just about to protest when he grabbed her elbow and said,

"Now come on, I'll escort you both to Lou's!"

There was clearly no stopping him so Shalimar relaxed and let him lead her to a small diner across the street. Before they knew it, they were seated across from each other at one of only three tables in the place and the owner, Lou, was handing them a pair of menus. As he left, Shalimar smiled slowly and then looked up at Brennan.

"What ?" he asked, playfully defensive.

"I just realised something. Technically, this is like our first date isn't it ?"

Brennan grinned,

"Wow, I can't believe after all we've been through together we've never actually been on a proper date! So I guess we should do something special – to mark the occasion I mean."

Shalimar looked into his eyes, a serious look on her face and she was just about to respond when Jesse's voice blared into her ear,

"Shal ? Brenn ? Where are you guys – you forgot to check in !"

Shalimar and Brennan laughed.

"Dude – you have the worst timing ever!" Brennan said

"What ?" Jesse asked sounding confused and Shalimar interjected,

"We just arrived in the town and we found a grocery store. We'll be back soon, don't worry."

Then she laughed at Brennan and said, "I guess our date will have to wait !"

"Wait, what ? No – screw that, we're here now so let's have something to eat at least. Besides, if we go back to Hank and Rose with empty stomachs they'll just kick us out and send us right back here again!"

So they decided to sit and eat and they talked about everything from Shalimar's childhood to Brennan's slew of girls when he'd just arrived at sanctuary. Shalimar hated to see the evening end but she was starting to feel guilty since they had left Jesse and Lexa back at home with no food or anything.

"Brenn, we should really get back."

"Aww man – but yeah you're right." Brennan agreed reluctantly. He was sad to see the evening end. Shalimar had a way of making him forget about everything when she spoke. It was like they were locked in their own little world somewhere in a realm of fantasy but reality kept butting in.

"Ok how about I order them some food and you go and pick up our stuff and then I'll meet you there when I'm done."

"Deal." Brennan said as he moved forward to kiss her lightly on the lips. He looked deep into her eyes for a moment until he saw flecks of gold twinkling out at him and then shook his head slightly as if to clear it. He had to take a step back before he got too carried away and he said, "Ok see you soon," before walking back across the street.

Ten minutes passed as Shalimar waited for Lou to get the food she'd ordered ready. She knew it would all be cold by the time they got it back up the mountain but she was sure Lexa and Jesse were capable of heating it back up again. She was just about to head across the street when she heard a loud crash coming from the grocery store. Without even stopping to take the food she ran out of the diner and across the road to see what the trouble was. It seemed that two hooded men wearing sunglasses (in the night no less) were making trouble in the small shop and one of them had thrown two entire shelves on Brennan. Shalimar saw him struggling to get up and rushed over to help him. Before she could make it there one of the guys turned on her with his gun. Her eyes flashed dangerously and in another second she was right in front of him knocking the gun right out of his hand. The second man didn't have a clear shot at her from where he stood so she took that opportunity to knock the guy she already had, senseless. He fell to the floor with a thud. Unfortunately, the second man was smart enough not to point the gun at Shalimar and he stood with it pointed right at Brennan's head instead. Shalimar breathed in sharply trying to assess how quickly she could get to the guy and pull the gun away from him. Brennan's life was at stake though and there was no way she could take the chance that she might move and then not get there in time. Had Brennan been able to get one of his arms out from under the shelves, he would have had no trouble at all zapping the guy into unconsciousness but the shelves felt like they were made out of lead and he couldn't get them to budge.

Then all of a sudden, a lout shot rang out in the store. For a moment time stood still for Shalimar and her breath caught itself in her throat. For one horrible moment, she envisioned a bullet lodged in Brennan's brain and a sharp pain she couldn't quite pin point the origin of shot up through her body.

"Oh my !" she heard Rose exclaim before she slowly looked down at her arm and noticed some sort of tranquiliser dart sticking out just above her elbow. Confused, she reached over and pulled it out. Brennan's face flashed before her eyes and then she sank to the floor with a thud and everything went black.