Chapter 12: Brothers

Anders knew there were only two people that could help him. When he awoke the next day after the hideous end to his wonderful date with Den, he'd sat down and contemplated his next course of action.

He wanted to give her some space, but he also wanted her to know he'd be there for her.

He also wanted answers and in circumstances like these, he turned to Olaf and Ingrid.

Well, mostly Ingrid. Olaf was passed out, hungover and was laying limp and naked on his bed when Anders came.

He didn't really want to wake him.

He explained the odd situation as best he could to Ingrid and as expected, she did a few of her readings. She looked at her cards, at his tea leaves and read his palm.

But unlike before, she found something interesting.

"This girl...she is rather important. To yourself and your future," she smiled and her eyes shone with an emotion he couldn't quite recognise, "go to her. And when she's ready, bring her to me. I'd like to read her aura."

"I will but...try not to say that you want to read her aura in front of her," he didn't want to be offensive, but he could see where that would lead, "it might frighten her off when she doesn't fully know what's happening."

Ingrid had promised NOTHING.

But he did take her advice and braving the pain in his leg, walked to her bar. It was still open and thriving, but when he saw Jane out front, he was surprised she hadn't been in the kitchen since she was the one in charge.

Or, so he thought.

"Hey, is it ok to go upstairs?" Anders pointed with his thumb over his shoulder but Jane shook her head and scowled.

"No. She's decided that since she can't cook breakfast, she can at least make the sandwiches and baguettes for lunch," she'd muttered the last part, but he heard her clearly, "of course she'd find a way to bloody get around it."

With her permission, Anders went out back and found Den carefully clearing up the dishes that had been sent back.

She turned to him and he saw the surprise and apprehension in her eyes and it made him feel sick.

He wanted her smile again. Her warmth.

"Hey," he took a step towards the sink and looked down at her slightly wet bandage, "I thought you'd be resting."

Despite her slightly guilty look, her eyes narrowed and dropped to his leg, giving him a very pointed, 'you can talk' look.

"Point taken," he took a step closer and grabbed the tea towel off of her shoulder, "let me help."

"You-you don't have to," Den went to take the towel back but hesitated short of actually touching him. After the kiss from the night before, she hadn't even allowed him to kiss her goodbye, and whilst she missed the contact with him, she was afraid another 'vision' would occur.

Since he was already getting stuck in and drying off her dishes, she hesitantly continued to wash, all the while remaining silent.

She just couldn't think of anything to say. And funnily enough, neither could he.

At one point, as she handed him a mug to dry, their fingers touched and it was only Anders quick reflexes that caught it as it fell from her grasp.

"Sorry," she stuttered and turned back to gaze into the soapy water, but Anders hand covered her own and held on.

"Please. I don't want it to be like this," he spoke to her so gently and desperately that she didn't have it in her heart to pull away, "can we talk?"

Den felt very nervous and tried to make a joke to ease the tension.

"I don't know, can we?" When she finally turned to look at him, she almost wished she was brave enough to reach forward and pull him into a hug.

He'd never looked so sad and lost and she knew, he felt just the way she did: frightened by the whole damned thing.

"I know it's difficult, but...we both experienced the same thing last night," he licked his lips nervously and threw down the towel to focus solely on her, "and I have a feeling you've been seeing everything that I did. The kiss under the apple tree? The fight over snacks?"

Den's heart sped up. She had seen them and those had been such good visions to see.

So precious.

So unlike her dreams.

"I just-I," she shook her head, trying to see sense in it all, "for so long I thought I was seeing things because of my lack of sleep. I even thought I was going mad at one point. But...now I know it's real. And I'm...I'm scared."

"So am I," Anders gently pulled her closer and with his free hand, touched her cheek tenderly, "I'm terrified and not entirely sure what it all means. But...I know I don't want to stop seeing you. It's all strange and weird, but whatever is happening between us...I still like you. Very much. And I want to keep seeing you."

No one had ever talked to her like this before. She'd had her odd share of 'charming' guys who thought they could sweet-talk their way into her knickers, but what Anders said...he was so sincere and she trusted him. The fear and uncertainty about everything still nibbled away at her though.

"I don't know," she attempted to tug her hand free and step back, even though she REALLY wanted to be held in his arms and receive comfort, "I don't know about any of this."

"Den," he looked worried for a moment and took a step towards her. He released her hands, but both of his gently grasped either side of her head and she just waited for him to make the next move. She knew what he was going to do and as his face lowered towards her, she shut her eyes.

His lips were such a reassuring comfort and all the worry and uncertainty fled. He wasn't going to leave her. Whatever was happening...they would face it together.

Anders shut his eyes and just felt her move against him, but he wasn't the one to deepen the kiss.

On the contrary, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. She stood up on her tiptoes and pushed her body against his.

He felt the gentle prod of her tongue against his lip and as he allowed her access, she let out a pleasurable sigh as she slipped her tongue against his.

'Oh God,' Anders could feel that familiar stirring in his boxers and knew what would happen if they didn't stop.

He wondered how she'd feel if he hopped her up on the sink and stood between her legs.

He-

"Boss, we've got-OH JESUS, SORRY!"

Both Den and Anders jumped apart at the voice, Anders wincing as he stepped back on his bad leg.

Den turned about to see Sean, looking away and grimacing in embarrassment.

"God, Sean! Urm," Den tried to maintain her 'boss air', but that was difficult as she entangled herself from Anders.

"Sorry, boss, a customer had a question about the sandwich meat," he looked back over at the couple and held up his hands, "you know...it's not important, I'll go and tell them we don't have vegan-friendly-"

"Wait...do I know you?" Anders squinted at Sean's face and tried to think where he had seen him before.

Sean frowned and looked back at Anders.

"I don't think so."

"Sorry, it's just...you look familiar."

"Funnily enough, so do you. And that's what the boss said the first time we met as well," he gave Den a nervous smile, still feeling slightly awkward he'd caught them at it.

"I think you've just got one of those handsome faces that draw people in," Den finally seemed to regain her composure and quickly introduced the two, "Sean, this is Anders. My-friend. Anders, this is Sean, our new waiter and cook in training."

Sean broke the distance between the two and reached out.

"Nice to meet ya' man," he smiled as Anders slipped his hand into his, "Den's talked about you."

Anders was going to reply, but suddenly the pull happened. And this time, he could see from Sean's face that he was experiencing it too.

Training side by side. Playfighting and being scolded by their mother.

The 'talks' about all the females they liked.

The journey.

"Are you scared?" Kili turned to his brother, a frown on his face.

"Aye'. But we can't let Thorin go alone. We're fighters and I'll stand by his side," Fili sheathed his sword and began to wrap it in the bundle.

"You know wherever you go, I go, brother?"

Fili could only smile as his brother held out his hand and he grabbed it in his own.

"Aye'. And I'll have your back as you have mine. Just try not to get distracted by too many pretty faces."

With a deep breath, Anders felt like he'd surfaced from the water, but he managed to calm himself down before it became TOO obvious to Sean that he'd experienced the same vision.

The same past.

The man before him was the brother he'd dreamt about for so long.

But he couldn't say anything. Not yet.

With Den, they both just admitted what they were experiencing and he didn't want to bring Sean into it. Not just yet.

'Let's deal with one thing at a time.'

"Anyway, I'll get back to work," Sean pulled his hand back and gave a brief wave to Den, "and...sorry again, boss."

"It's alright," she waited for him to leave before letting out a hefty huff, "oh god."

Anders looked back to find her covering her eyes and bowing her head.

"If he blabs to Jane, I won't live it down."

Anders was trying not to smile when she finally peeked at him, especially when she pouted.

"Don't laugh or I'm never cooking for you again," she let her hands drop and offered him a real smile.

"Well, whilst I DO love your cooking, I took a lesson last night and my teacher REALLY liked my work," he took a step closer to her, tucking his hands into his pockets so he could keep them to himself.

"Oh, is that so? Well...I'm sure your teacher would be happy to give you more lessons...if you're free?"

Anders felt like punching the air in joy.

"I think I could make the time," he suddenly remembered something else important and took a calming breath, "actually...I was wondering if you wanted to go somewhere with me? When you're free?"

"What like...the movies or a restaurant?"

"Actually...my brother's bar. Every week, all the family and friends get together just to talk and have fun...like a catch-up really and...I'd like it if you went with me."

Den felt a little flustered. He was already asking her to meet his family? That was...definitely new. And exciting.

"I'd love to. Is it a posh bar or-"

"Cool bar. Like yours. But it's the other side of town so it's not a rival," he grinned when she gave an approving nod of her head.

For a moment, they were silent again, but there was no awkwardness as they just looked at one another.

And then he glanced down at her lips and knew he couldn't help herself.

"Can I," he didn't know why he was so nervous, but maybe it was because he'd never asked a woman's permission to kiss her before, "can I kiss you again?"

She nodded and this time, making sure to keep it sweet and gentle, he placed a tender kiss against her lips. They both kept their hands to themselves and shut their eyes.

For a brief moment, they both lost themselves in their own thoughts and listened to the inner voices.

'My Fi.'

'My Dru.'

They didn't hear or see the kitchen door shut quietly to the side, nor the triumphant little chuckle Jane let out from the other side.

"About bloody time," Jane muttered as she walked away, happy that Den FINALLY had a romantic interest in her life that wasn't a dick.

She looked about the bar and tables and found that the last lunchtime customer had left and she hurriedly began to tidy up before the late afternoon rush came in. Usually, it'd be the students who'd just finished college and wanted to come in for a bowl of chips to share and a pint each (if they all remembered their ID's).

She found Sean sweeping away the last crumbs from the baguettes they'd served and knew something was wrong when his brow furrowed in concentration.

"What's wrong?" She tucked her notepad into her apron pocket and began to polish the table near him.

He stopped brushing, leaned on the broom, and shook his head.

"It's probably just deja vu but it's strange," he seemed to be thinking really hard about his dilemma, "I could have sworn I knew Den's boyfriend from somewhere. Even though I don't think we've met."

Jane thought about this for a bit and shrugged casually.

"Not so strange. Maybe you have seen him about the place. OR you got really, really drunk and just can't remember meeting him."

Sean let out a short laugh and continued to sweep away.

"I suppose you're right."

Whilst he was distracted with his thoughts and cleaning the floor, Jane took a moment to appreciate the fine muscles in his arms.

The beautiful dark brown hair that curled neatly on his head.

The thick, coarse beard he kept trim and tidy.

The general handsome appearance she'd been so attracted to when she'd first interviewed him for the position. But he had proved himself move than capable in dire situations when he had to cover for Den. She approved of his cheeky attitude, but also his professionalism.

He'd dealt with a couple of drunks without resorting to violence or physically having to escort them from the building.

She couldn't lie to herself anymore.

She definitely had the hots for Sean.

And that had been before the strange dream she had after meeting him.

"Tauriel," Kili had muttered, looking up into Tauriel's eyes as he recovered from his wound.

"Lie still," she said to him gently and he just shook his head, almost in disbelief.

"You cannot be her. She is far away. She... she is far, far away from me. She walks in starlight in another world. It was just a dream. Do you think she could have loved me?"

As their fingertips touched, Tauriel wanted to answer him. She wanted to say what her heart sang.

'Yes.'

"You know, now that I think about it, I and Den thought the same thing when we met you," Jane polished the table in front of her, remembering how that recognition had seemed so strange, "perhaps it's all connected somehow."

"Yes, maybe," Sean stood back up and hesitated before asking, "there's...there's something I want to ask you and you let me know if I overstep the mark?"

"Go on," she was curious and hoped that he would ask her out.

"Well, there's this new sandwich bar that opens at the weekend and it's a mate of mine that runs it...fancy coming with me?" He bestowed his charming smile on her, but he needn't have bothered.

She was already under his spell.