Being the Beast - Epilogue

AN: all credit (and flames) for this chapter go to fluffy bunnies - my beta! She all but wrote this because she was determined that this scene had to happen and was not satisfied with my ending. (Darn you!) So, DON'T BLAME ME! On with the (slightly unusual for me) show

It was five days after the feral's great escape and slowly Shalimar was regaining control over her feral side and the stranger with whom she had lived during her time away from Mutant X was slowly healing. On the sixth day he was released from the medilab where he had been recuperating, soon to return to his house and job on the other side of the city. His first action on release was to seek out Shalimar, the woman behind the feral with which he had fallen in love. Finding her in the main hall of the fabulous building he had been introduced to as 'The Sanctuary', he approached slowly, unsure of his reception.

She watched him approach curiously, unsure of this man who she knew so well, though not at all. Her eyes; still yellow from the virus still polluting her systems, followed his - now a striking blue which seemed unfamiliar in his familiar face - as they flitted around their new environment, sparing only moments for each new thing that caught their attention.

"Nice place you have here." He offered a smile, such a familiar smile.

"It's home." The words were softly lisped as if spoken by a foreigner to the tongue. Her words and voice only just having been returned to her by the ravages of the virus.

"Look, Shalimar it's Shalimar, right?" She nodded vigorously, a mane of wild blond hair scattered by the action.

"And Thomas." She replied, smiling softly at the reversed introduction. He smiled in return, but the smile quickly faded.

"Shalimar I'm I" His eyes dropped to the ground.

"You have to go home." She supplied. His eyes met hers once more.

Yeah, I have to go home." He chuckled to himself softly. Turning away he sat down on the wide wooden stairs that lead up to the next level of the sanctuary, his head in his hands. He looked up and met her eyes. "I'm not sure I want to, not after this."

"Well don't." She countered.

"I have to. I have to go back to my job, try and rebuild my life. I've been gone almost a month." She sat down beside him on the step; head leant softly on his shoulder. He looked down at her and then away. "I just can't I'm so sorry."

"What are you sorry for?"

"What I did to you. It was so wrong. I took advantage of you. I shouldn't have" She pulled his face around so that he had to look into her eyes. Fires burned deep and anger rose to the surface.

"You think I didn't didn't want what happened between us? Want US? I have always wanted to really belong. To have a family. Adam and the others, they've always been a part of my life, my family," She frowned as she tried to order her thoughts, think clearly about what she wanted to say. "But they can't give me more could never give me what you gave me even if it didn't last." He couldn't miss the crack in her voice as she mentioned the child that wasn't to be. Taking her hands in his he stared into her eyes, trying to find his answers there.

"Come with me." She took in a shocked breath, momentarily unable to think. It would be the answer to everything. It would be so simpleBut then she stood, pulling away from his grasp.

"I can't. Mutant X is my family. They need me here, and I need them. Too much rests on our being a team. I belong here."

"Then I guess this is were it ends." He turned as he spoke, standing and moving towards the door where he knew Brennan was waiting to take him home. Even as he took his first step out of the room, Shalimar turned to him, tears springing into her eyes.

"Wait." That one word, hesitant and soft, was enough to stop him mid-stride. Shalimar walked towards him slowly, as though fighting an internal battle with every step. When she got to his side she reached up, cupping his chin in her hand and pulling his face down to hers. They moved closer until they were almost touching and he reached out, pulling her towards him and into him. Desire blazed in their eyes and their hunger was equally matched; both knowing that this would be their last chance.

Behind them the door opened and Brennan entered.

"Thomas." His name penetrated this mists that surrounded them, blocking out the world, and pulling them back to Earth.

They broke apart and Thomas turned again and walked slowly out of the room, not looking back.

As the door shut Shalimar sank slowly to the floor.

The Sanctuary descended into peace.

All was finished.

It was the end