Disclaimer—see chapter one

A/N: Thank you everyone for the kind reviews!  I'm not sure what direction this story is going quite yet, but I hope you'll bear with me as I figure it out!  I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint, I'm a bit rusty at writing--it's been a while!  Please let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions!  Thanks!

Chapter two—House of Dreams

Brennan sighed as he heard Shalimar's approaching footsteps.  They had been at the apartment for two days now, and she had graduated from railing at him to a full blown silent treatment, speaking only when their cover demanded it of her.  For the life of him, he still couldn't figure out what he had done to anger her so. 

"Peter," Shalimar began as she approached the room.  Brennan rolled his eyes.   The few times she had actually spoken in the privacy of their undercover apartment, it was to address him only in disguise, as if to deny she was speaking to Brennan himself.  He rolled over on the bed he was sprawled across, turning his back to the door.

"Peter," she repeated as she stood in the doorway, clearing her throat loudly and tapping her foot until he finally looked up at her.  She held out a bright red toothbrush. 

"Yes?" he raised his eyebrows in innocent inquiry. 

Shalimar's eyes narrowed into little slits.  "What have I repeatedly asked you not to do?" she steamed, thrusting the toothbrush out in front of her.  "You have your own, why do you insist on using mine?" 

Brennan just shrugged his shoulders and smiled at her serenely.  Whatever it took to get her to finally break the silence, he would do it, including irritate her to death.

Her eyes bulged even further when she finally realized where he lay.  "And what do think you are doing in my bed?"

"Don't you mean our bed?" he mildly responded without moving until her flashing yellow eyes made him change his mind. "Ok, ok," he conceded as he pushed himself into a seating position.

She didn't budge, but continue to tap her toe, eyes glowing in anger. 

"Shal," he sighed, "Please tell me why you're angry with me."

"Emily," she retorted and pointed him towards the door behind her.  

"Fine," he huffed as he pushed himself off the bed.  "Good night, Emily," he sarcastically crowed in her ear as he deliberately brushed his body against hers while passing, slamming the door behind him on the way out.

Shalimar finally moved when she heard the door closing behind her, collapsing onto the bed in exhaustion.  She absentmindedly breathed in his scent on her pillow, and then angrily shook her head.  It was becoming harder and harder to remember why she was mad at him in the first place; having him this close to her in the tiny apartment was almost more than she could handle.  It was wearing her out more than any physical activity ever could.  Her emotions were frayed, and she didn't know how much longer she would last.  The buzz of her comlink broke her out of her reverie, even as Jesse's voice rang in her ears. 

"Hey, Shal," Jesse began, "Anything new yet?"

"Not much," she responded.  "We're meeting with the condo board director in the morning and then having a friendly neighborly lunch with the Martin's next door."

"The couple whose daughter disappeared," Jesse mused, "good idea.  Maybe you can finally get a chance to search the girl's bedroom.  Lexa's contacts tell us that she moved back in with her parents after suddenly quitting the GSA.  They were after her for a while, but then left her alone, or so it seemed." 

"I just wonder what her connection to Dominique is," Shalimar returned. "Carrie Martin is a fire elemental, what possible ties could there be?"

"That's what we're trying to find out," Jesse agreed.  "So, how's married life," he suddenly asked.  Shalimar could hear his grin even through the distance.

"Shut up, Jess,"

He laughed even as he broke their connection.

The next morning, Shalimar came out of the bedroom to find a still sleeping Brennan hanging halfway off the couch, his tall frame much too large to comfortably fit. She felt a twinge of guilt, which she immediately hid once she saw him begin to stir.   He flung his arm over his eyes and groaned as he rolled over and promptly fell the rest of the way off the couch in a large thump onto the floor.  She laughed as he shot up, disoriented.

"Huh, Shal, what's going on," he mumbled as his head groggily scanned the room, hair standing straight up in spiky clumps.  Shalimar had to smile in spite herself, but presented him with her back so he couldn't see.  She strode past him and into the kitchen, banging cupboard doors in her search for breakfast.  Brennan wandering in, one arm raised in a yawning stretch, the other scratching his stomach.  He saw Shalimar's quick glance take in his boxers and t-shirt before burying her face in her cereal bowl.  He grinned and grabbed his own bowl before padding over behind her.  He stood immediately behind her chair and slowly draped his body over hers, reaching for the milk on the table.  She didn't say a word, but he felt her tense as he invaded her space. 
"Good morning," he whispered in her ear, pressing a soft kiss to the side of her head, before languidly standing back up with the milk in his hand.  Shalimar whirled around in her chair, seething at his boldness.  She jumped up and grabbed the milk out of his hand.  She paused for a moment, opened the spout, and then glanced back up at Brennan as he stood munching on his breakfast. 

"You know," she started as she slithered her way over to him, leaning her body into his as he glanced back up surprised.  "I think you may just have something there," she stood up on tiptoe to nibble at his ear.  He stopped his chewing for a moment in shock, then quickly took advantage of her better mood and circled his free arm around her waist.

"Oh really," he returned, face showing his interest. 

"Yes," she crooned, and slowly lifted one arm around his shoulders and tugged him down closer to her level.  Her other arm rose up behind him even as he leaned in closer, and lingered above his head for a moment before slowly, deliberately, tipping the milk carton down on top of him.   She jumped back with a triumphant gleam in her eyes as she slammed the empty carton back onto the table and sat back down, taking another bite of her soggy cereal. 

Brennan stood still in disbelief, cold milk dripping off his nose and running down his neck.  At least the silent treatment was over. "Shal," he started with a growl, shaking his sticky head.

"Emily." She retorted back.

He drew in a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm.  Maybe the silent treatment was preferable after all.  "Emily," he tried again.  "What—why, I, I don't even know where to begin," he stuttered before glancing down at the remaining cereal still in his hands.  He looked quickly back up at Shalimar's tense back and sauntered his way towards her.  She heard his footsteps right before the sensation of mushy cereal and milk ran down her head and shoulders.  

"Argh!" She screamed as she jumped out of her chair, whirling around towards him.  "Brennan!"

"Peter," he smugly corrected, standing his ground.  "And I think it's time we settled this once and for all."

Her eyes widened at the challenge, and she took a step towards him just as the doorbell rang.  "Later," she flung at him before turning her back to him and walking toward the door.  He trailed behind her, snickering as she paused for a moment in front of the hallway mirror to pick at the congealed mass in her hair before waving her hands in defeat at her image and opening the door. 

"Yes," she inquired as regally as someone in her position could.  Brennan had to smile in admiration even as he moved up behind her to assume his role.  Shalimar stiffened for a moment as he wrapped his arm around her waist and opened the door further, revealing the astonished face of their next door neighbor, Mrs. Martin.  

"I, ah, I just came to remind you about lunch," she stammered helplessly as she stared at a chunk of cereal slowly sliding down Shalimar's forehead. 

Shalimar ignored the sliding mass as best she could.  "Ah, yes," she agreed.  "We are still planning on it, thank you," she choked out.  Brennan came to her rescue.  Or at least attempted to.

"Never mind us," he assured Mrs. Martin, "We just got a little, ah, distracted, while eating breakfast this morning.  Newlyweds you know," he winked.  Shalimar felt the red rise in her face even as she jammed her elbow into Brennan's side.  "Peter!" she hissed, mortified. 

"That's ok, dear," their neighbor blushed.  "I think I'll leave you two alone then.  See you later," she flung over her shoulder as she stumbled down the hallway in her hurry to reach her own door again.  They stood in the doorway, both waving at her with plastered smiles on their faces.  As soon as she disappeared from sight however, Shalimar forcibly wrenched Brennan's arm from around her waist. 

"Newlyweds??" she stared at him in disbelief before stalking towards the bathroom in a huff.

Brennan grinned.  Oh yeah, the silent treatment was definitely over.