A/N: Well here's the next chapter, it's a little bit longer but I'm guessing that that's a good thing so enjoy.

Chapter 22

(Sanctuary)

"How could he Em I mean I loved him with every fiber of my being."

"He just couldn't handle from going to that love to you not loving him at all, but that's not what's bothering you is it?"

"Are you reading me?"

"Nope, just a hunch."

"It has something to do with that, but in a way I feel violated. When we couldn't find Brennan I latched onto what was in front of me. He knew that that would happen, and he used that to his advantage."

"What like some kind of feral thing?"

"Yeah, see when I told him I didn't love him anymore he was no longer that alpha male, Brennan was."

"So he wanted to take that back because he felt that he was the alpha male, and you were his mate."

"Something like that. Being feral has it's advantages, and disadvantages, and that's one."

"Everything's okay between you, and Bren right?"

"It's weird but last night when we were at the cottage it was as if none of this had ever happened, and we never lost three months together."

"I swear Shal you two were meant for one another."

"Kinda like you and Jesse." All of a sudden something jumped onto Shal's bed.

"What the?" Shalimar looked at the end of her bed to find Fox sitting there with the cutest look on his face. Emma, and Shal broke out in laughter.

(Brennan's Room)

*Knock, Knock*

"Come in."

"Hey man you okay?" Jesse asked Brennan as he walked into the room.

"I guess." Brennan answered looking up from his book.

"What do you mean you guess?"

"Well I'm back home with Shal, and you guys, my family but there's still a lot to deal with, and a hell of a lot of unknowns." Brennan finished just before wincing slightly.

"Hey Bren what's wrong, are you still hurting?"

"Yeah just a little it's nothing, just a few bruises near my ribs, I'm fine though, and don't tell Shal or I'll kick your ass."

"If I haven't said before, it's good to have you home."

"Glad ya think so."

"So are you really alright?"

"Yeah I am, I just wish all of this would be over with,"

"At least you have one less thing to worry about."

"What's that?"

"Richard."

"Oh yeah we'd you take him, or put him."

"Let's just say he won't be bugging you and Shal or any of us ever again."

"Mysterious."

"Very, but it's better that way."

"I trust you jus don't ship me off to Alaska." Brennan joked.

"I'll think about it." Jesse joked back as they shook hands.

"Lets go find out what the girls are up to eh."

"They're planning something they've been to quiet."

"Nah, they're most likely having one of their 'girl talks'." Brennan said as they walked towards Shal's room.

(Shalimar's Room)

*Knock, Knock*

Fox ran over to the door, and stood guard.

"Come in guys." Shal told them, her and Emma still laughing.

Once Fox saw Brennan he walked over to the bed, and jumped up, taking his spot back.

"We came to see what you two are planning." Jesse walked over to Emma, and kissed the top of her head, and then sat down behind her. Brennan kissed Shalimar then sat down on the chair beside her bed.

"We weren't planning anything this time. But if we were, you don't honestly think we'd tell you."

Brennan and Shalimar snickered at Emma's comment at Emma's comments, which got them an evil glare from Jesse.

"Hey you guys want to go out tonight?"

"You're funny Jess."

"I'm aware of that Shal but I mean let's go out, and celebrate."

"I don't really want to go but you guys should."

"What's wrong Bren you're always up for a little partying."

"Well, for one Em I'm tired, second I just got back and I don't really want to leave right now."

"I'm not going is he's not." Shal spoke up.

"I guess that's a bus then. How about a movie night, no even better a Survivor night?"

"Oh yeah that all-star one premiers tonight right, I hope Colby is on it." Emma said with a smile on her face.

"Could you at least wait until I'm not in the room."

"Let's go to the rec room Jess before I get blood all over Shal's room."

"What's wrong, your bleeding." Hearing this comments from Jesse Shalimar and Brennan shook their heads.

"No I'm fine. I don't want to get you're blood all over Shal's room when I beat you."

"Violent aren't we." Jesse said as Emma pushed him out of Shal's room.

As soon as Emma walked out, and closed the door Brennan walked over to Shal's bed. She grabbed his shirt and pulled him down onto the bed."

"That's not very nice."

"Oh you know you like it, and I'm fine, and no I don't want to talk about."

"Fine by me, but what are we going to do?"

"About what?"

"About staying at Sanctuary."

"I honestly don't know if I can stay here with him Bren but I don't know anything else. This has been my home for so long."

"I know, and I have no problem staying, but if you don't want to then I'll go with you."

"Tell you what, let me call my dad to see what's going on with diner. I'll see if Emma, and Jesse can come as well."

"Alright whatever you want. So we're having diner with your dad?"

"Yeah my dad, and my mom in Indiana."

"Cool have you talked to your mom yet?"

"No." Shal answered leaning back on Brennan as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Nervous huh?"

"More than you could imagine." Shal sighed.

"Actually I no how you feel."

"How so?"

"When I first asked you out I was so nervous I couldn't breathe. I mean our friendship, and everything was on the line."

(*Flashback*)

Shalimar knocked on Brennan's door from since his door was already open. He turned around and looked up from his guitar.

"Hey Shal what's up?"

"The sky as far as I can remember." She answered smartly.

"Well aren't you just so funny." He told her as she walked towards him.

"Tell me something I don't know." She retorted sitting down on his bed facing him.

"So what brings you to this end of Sanctuary?"

"Bored, and I just wanted to talk to you."

"About what?"

"Nothing really just anything I guess, like I said I was bored." //I came here to kiss you really but I don't see that happening.// She thought with a smile on her face.

"I see, I see." Brennan said as he put down his guitar and walked over to where Shal was sitting on his bed. //Ask her you idiot, just do it.// Came the voice within his head.

"I can't think of anything to talk about right now but.." All of a sudden Shalimar found herself laying back on Brennan's bed as he started to tickle her exposed mid-drift.

It didn't matter how much she wiggled and screamed he just kept on tickling her. She was having trouble controlling herself because she was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.

Finally Brennan stopped and helped her to stand. They both stood there for a minute before Brennan said something.

"Um Shal?" He asked putting his hand through his hair, or what was left of it.

"Yeah Bren?" Brennan was nervous all of a sudden and she couldn't for the life of her figure out why.

"Do you want to g out tonight to a club or something, maybe Nautica?"

"Yeah sure, we all haven't been out for awhile and me and Emma could use an excuse to go shopping." //Why the hell is he so nervous?//

"Actually Shal I kinda meant just us, without Jesse, Emma and Adam." // There I did it I asked her out. Oh god what if she says no, she's gonna say no.//

Shalimar was stunned for a minute. Did Brennan Mulwray just ask her out? All of that waiting for him to do it, and he finally did.

"Ah…" She stuttered not being able to process what he had just asked her

"You know what I shouldn't have asked it's to soon, I'm sorry I don't know what I was thinking."

"Bren." She grabbed both his hands in hers. "Bren look at me." He finally met her eyes.

"I'd love to go out with you, and I'm glad you did ask." They both swallowed the lumps in their throats, and then giggled at themselves for acting like they were back in high school.

(*End Flashback*)

"You were pretty nervous but I was to. I'm guessing that what you're getting at is that talking to my mom is a chance I should take."

"Well aren't you smart." Brennan said as he got up and gave Shal a kiss.

"Where are you going?"

"The rec room, Emma and Jesse are waiting remember?"

"Oh yeah, I'll meet you there right after I call my dad to finalize things."

"I'll be waiting." He kissed her again and then pat Fox on the head but the dog stayed with Shal.

"Hi sweetheart." Nicholas answered the phone.

"Hi dad."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah Brennan's back and everything is back to the way it should be."

"That's great to hear."

"So dad about diner?"

(Sanctuary - Rec Room - 15 minutes later)

Shalimar walked into the rec room with Fox at her side. She walked over to the couch where Brennan was sitting and sat down next to him.

Jesse turned off the television and they all sat in silence for a moment trying to figure out who was going to start their conversation.

"So you talk to your dad?" Jesse asked finally.

"Yeah he said he'd call my mom to let her know but that she would you two were more than welcome."

"When do we leave?" Emma asked.

"Um tomorrow, if that's okay with everyone?"

"Sounds good." they all agreed.

"So we're heading to Indiana." Jesse said happily.

"Looks that way." Brennan replied.

"Shal how long are we staying for?" Emma asked while the guys were laughing for some unknown reason.

"A couple of days, four at the most, depending on what we want to do after that."

"Oh hey guys it's on." Brennan told them all as he and Shal got comfy on the couch, Jesse, and Emma did the same as Jesse turned the television back on.

(Sanctuary - Later on)

"I'm going to take Fox for a walk anyone want to come?"

"Nah I'm dead tired." Jesse answered.

"I'm not really in the mood." Emma replied after Jesse.

"Shal?"

"Sorry sweetie but I have to go talk to Adam." Shal said kissing Fox on the top of his head.

"I see how this is going to be, well guess what you may get pretty cold tonight sleeping by yourself."

"Now look who the funny one is, plus it's your loss."

"That's true, see ya soon." Brennan kissed Shalimar and then took Fox for a walk around Storm King Mountain.

(Lab)

Adam was busy working away on something when Shalimar walked in. She silently stood at the doorway until Adam noticed her.

"Shalimar." Adam turned around delighted to see her.

"hi Adam, sorry if I'm bugging you."

"No it's fine."

"I just wanted to let you know Brennan, Jesse, Emma and I are going to my mom's for a few days."

"Does that mean you're all moving out of Sanctuary." Adam asked with a sad look on his face.

"No we're just going to visit."

"So you're not moving out?"

"Not right now but I don't know anything beyond that. Adam you really hurt me, us, and I just don't know if we can patch things up but for now none of us are moving out." The second Adam heard those words come out of her mouth he let out the breathe that he had unknowingly been holding.

"Well goodnight."

"Goodnight Shalimar." She didn't bother to hug him, she just nodded and walked out.

TBC

A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and please review and let me know what you think.