Chapter 18: Away From It All
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Shalimar drove them for an hour before coming upon the small little town. It was cozy, people walking by them giving them a slight nod and they drove by. Brennan looked over Shalimar's shoulder trying to spot the bed n' breakfast, but as he looked he noticed people passing them in dog sleds, snowmobiles, and only a few trucks. He just chuckled to himself at the amazing site.
The town was small and it was no trouble finding it. Brennan tapped Shalimar on the shoulder and pointed at the sign hanging in front of the small building. Shalimar nodded and slowly pulled up in front trying not to run over the people walking on the snowy street. She turned off the sled and took out the key placing it in her pocket, and climbed off the sled.
Brennan just sat there, Shalimar had started heading towards the building but stopped when Brennan wasn't be side her. She turned around and stared at him, "what's wrong?"
Brennan winced as he turned towards her. "I can't get up," Brennan smiled.
Shalimar went back over to him, and gently helped him off the sled. Brennan moaned as he took a couple of steps, his body was stiff and ribs were started to hurt immensely.
She supported Brennan as she opened up the door to the bed n' breakfast. A bell rung over the door as soon as they entered and an old, short, sweet looking lay rushed out from the back.
"OH you must be Miss Fox and Mr. Mulwray," she smiled coming over to them.
Shalimar glanced at Brennan giving him confused look, then looked back at the women. "Yes we are, and you are?"
"I'm Mrs. Hill. Ashley called me and told me that you need a room," she replied.
Shalimar grinned, "yes that would be great."
"Well I saved you my last room," Mrs. Hill smiled sweetly at them. "Come on this way," she waved them to follow as she quickly walked off heading towards the stairs.
Brennan and Shalimar slowly made their way up the one flight of circular stairs. They reached the top and found Mrs. Hill waving them along after her down one of the halls. She suddenly stopped in front of a door pulling out a key. Shalimar and Brennan pulled up next to her and watched her unlock the door.
"Here you go," Mrs. Hill smiled at them. "Oh and Ashley wanted me to give you this when you got here," she handed Shalimar a folded up letter.
"Thank you," Shalimar told her honestly.
"No it's my pleasure," she replied with a sweet smiled. "Now dinner will ready in an hour. So you can come down and eat or bring something back to your room," she explained.
"Food sounds good," Brennan grinned.
Shalimar raised her eyebrow at him, "thank you," Shalimar replied to her invitation.
Mrs. Hill smiled once again before handing Shalimar the key and shutting the door behind her as she left the two alone.
Shalimar led Brennan over to the bed and had him sit down. She went over to the back window, and through open the curtains, revealing the beautiful view. "Whoa!" Shalimar took in a stunned breath, as she looked at the view.
Brennan slowly got up from his seat to see what Shalimar was staring at. As he approach he could finally see. The room had a wonderful view of the snow-covered mountains in the far distance. He couldn't resist but wrap his arms around her waist and pulled her in closer to his body. She leaned her head against his chest as they stood and watched the colors of the sunset shine on the white tipped mountaintops.
"So what's in Ashley's letter?" He finally turned his attention away from the scene.
"Oh ya!" Shalimar was so comfortable in Brennan's arms she forgot all about it. She fumbled the paper around as she unfolded it, and finally got it open. Shalimar was surprised that Brennan was keeping his arms around her as she read the letter out loud.
Dear Shalimar and Brennan,
I'm sorry for what has happened to you and everything. I know nothing I do can change that, but Mrs. Hill will take good care of you tonight I know. She has great food, which I know you're both dying for.
I left some things for you in the dresser by the bed; I know you'll like the two things hanging up. Shalimar make sure you check your pockets!
-Ashley
Shalimar folded up the paper again, and finally removed herself from Brennan's embrace so she could look at him face to face. "Well let's find out," she said before walking over to the cabinet. She opened up the top part to reveal two leather jackets hang up. "Oh my god! Two leather jackets!" Shalimar grinned as she grabbed them both off the hook and tossed Brennan his.
Brennan laughed at her excitement; Shalimar gave him an unimpressed look upon her face. "What?" Shalimar asked him.
"Nothing," Brennan smirked.
"Hey you'd be excited too if it was your favorite type of jacket and would almost cost you two-hundred dollars." Shalimar told him.
Shalimar furiously went through her pocket and pulled out her comring that Zan had taken from her. "My comring!" Shalimar said excitedly holding it him her hand.
"What?" Brennan looked over at her.
"My ring," She replied tossing her jacket over the back of a chair and stared at the ring. "Do you think we should contact them?"
Brennan placed his jacket down and stepped closer to her. Shalimar watched him closely as a sly smile crossed his face within seconds after her question. "Brennan what are you doing?" Shalimar laughed softly as he crept closer.
He was only centimeters away from Shalimar's body. Shivers sent up her spine as she could feel his warm breath against her skin. He slowly began to lean down, Shalimar eyes widened surprised that he was going to kiss her over what she said about their comrings. Their eyes slowly closed as their lips suddenly came in contact with each other. Brennan's pain soon deceased as he kissed Shalimar; it gave him a new type of energy that rushed through his body.
The kiss became more passionate as Brennan lifted Shalimar up causing her legs to wrap around his waist. He slowly walked backwards towards the bed, and sat down. Shalimar sat on his lap, with her arms wrapped around his neck and her hands moving through his hair.
Brennan was trying not to break away form the kiss, as his abs suddenly began to burn from the extensive pain. His mind pushed the pain out as he slowly moved his hands under Shalimar's shirt and began rubbing her back. Shalimar felt his hands on her back and she pushed the kiss deeper. She suddenly pulled away from him, shocking Brennan, but Shalimar could sense something was wrong.
"Sorry Mr. Mulwray you're not getting any tonight," Shalimar told him beginning to climb off of his lap.
Brennan held onto Shalimar's waist tight not wanting to let her go, "ahh… come on."
"Nope sorry hon' you're hurt," Shalimar grinned looking right into his eyes.
Brennan smiled, "so do I get a rain check?"
"Hmm…maybe," Shalimar gave him a sly look.
He gave her his best puppy dogface, "pretty please."
Shalimar didn't reply to that, but changed the subject. "Well I'm going to go take a shower and then get us some food."
"All right," Brennan slightly sighed.
Shalimar could sense his disappointment and she gave him a small kiss before climbing off his lap to take a shower. She stopped and grabbed some clean clothes that Ashley had left for them and headed for the bathroom. Shalimar turned and looked at Brennan who was watching her closely; "why don't you take a nap and I'll get you up once I'm out of the shower so you can take one."
Brennan just nodded at her suggestion before Shalimar shut the door to the bathroom. He sat on the bed and looked around the room. Brennan finally stood up and walked over to a cabinet in front of the bed and found the hidden TV. "THANK GOD!" Brennan grabbed the control and walked back over to the bed and turned it on.
After two minutes of channel surfing, he finally stumbled on the beginning of "Gladiator". Within five minutes Brennan fell asleep on the bed. Shalimar immerged from the bathroom twenty minute later, in a pair of baggy sweatpants and a tight tank top. Her hair was still damp and the blood and dirt on her body was washed away. She just stared at him for a few seconds he looked so peaceful.
"Brennan wake up," she told him he didn't move. "Brennan!" Shalimar demanded, he moved a little but never opened his eyes.
She just shook her head and smiled, her eyes flashed feral as she leaped onto the bed next to him. Brennan shot up out of his slumber, "WHAT? I'M UP, I'M UP!"
Shalimar just laughed and sat right next to him, her hair dripping on his chest as she looked at him, "you get to take a shower now."
Brennan sighed and slid off the bed onto his feet, "well I could have taken a shower with you," he explained to her with a huge grin on his face.
Shalimar laughed once again and climbed off the bed, "in your dreams rocket boy."
Brennan smiled, "well it was worth the try." He headed for the bathroom.
"I'm going to go get us some food, so we can eat after you're done with your shower," Shalimar said walking towards the door.
He stopped before shutting the door to the bathroom, "that sounds awesome!"
"All right, I'll be back," Shalimar grinned and left the room.
Shalimar walked down the hall to the stairs and ended up in the lobby. She looked around and found an open door way behind the counter. She shrugged not know where it went, she decided to find out. It led to another small hallway with only two doors, one on either side. She stopped looked at both, and picked to go in the swinging double doors. Shalimar entered finding Mrs. Hill standing at a cooking counter slicing up something.
Mrs. Hill looked up from her work and smiled sweetly, "hello Shalimar, are you hungry?"
Shalimar smiled and walked over to her, "STARVED!" They both laughed.
"Well I was just about to make some club sandwiches, would you like me to make you and Brennan one?" Mrs. Hill asked her.
"That would be great!" Shalimar said cheerfully and sat down on a stool in front of her.
"Would you like pastrami, ham, or turkey?"
"Ahh…I'll have pastrami," Shalimar answered.
"Alright, what about Brennan?" Mrs. Hill wondered.
Shalimar thought for a second, "I think he'd like turkey."
"Ok." She quickly began making the huge club sandwiches. "There is soda in the fridge and chips in the cabinet."
Shalimar nodded and slid off her stool to get them. She started going the fridge to find the soda, "I want to thank you Mrs. Hill for letting Brennan and I stay here tonight."
"Oh it's my pleasure, any friend of Ashley's is a friend of mine," she said sweetly.
Shalimar just grinned with pride as she turned around with two bottles of soda in her hand. She set them down and headed for the chips, she soon found them by the time Mrs. Hill finished the sandwiches. Mrs. Hill put them on plates and placed it on a tray so Shalimar could easily take it upstairs to her room.
"Here you go," Mrs. Hill handed Shalimar the tray. "Enjoy!"
"Oh we will, thank you," Shalimar replied placing the sodas and the bag of chips on the tray as well.
"You are very welcome," Mrs. Hill told her, "now go and get!" She waved for her to go.
Shalimar nodded and left the kitchen with the tray in her hand. She rushed up the stairs and held the tray in one hand as she opened the door to her room. Shalimar could still hear the shower running, so she went over to the bed and placed the tray down. The TV was still going, which caught her attention as she saw a bloody fight scene in Gladiator. She slowly sat down on the bed and began to watch.
Within minutes Shalimar heard the shower turn off and soon heard the door open. Shalimar looked up and noticed Brennan come out with only a towel around his waist. She gave him a questionable look; he only smiled, "I need some clothes."
She just laughed, she wanted to turn her attention back to the TV but couldn't. Shalimar watched Brennan find something to wear and finally head back into the bathroom. Finally she heard the blow-dryer going for a few seconds before it stopped again. The door opened once again and Brennan came out wearing a pair of long sweatpants and a white tee shirt.
He noticed the food beside Shalimar, "oh my god, food!" Brennan quickly climbed on the bed and over Shalimar to the opposite side of the tray, making her laugh at his actions. They began to eat in silence and watched the movie. The food was completely gone after the first fifteen minutes, and Shalimar got up and placed the tray in one of the chairs and returned to the bed.
Brennan was surprised to find her getting closer to him until her shoulder was against his. He slowly wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her even closer to him. Shalimar leaned her head against his chest and they continued to watch the movie without saying a word to each other.
TBC
A/N: We're getting closer to the end, for the most part its just fluffy stuff, and yes I will explain why Hugh Jackman has to do with it…lol! Some people were lost on that, but I already figured people would so I wrote it in one of the later chapters. I'm starting to work on a new fic, it's kinda different from my usual stuff, but don't worry I'll still have some Shal/Brennan stuff in it. Don't forget to Review I LOVE reading them!