Disclaimer—See Chapter One
A/N: Thank you again so much for your reviews—your encouragement means the world to me! I will be going on vacation this week, so will not be able to post until next Sunday—sorry about that! But I hope you enjoy this chapter in the meantime! I promise to post as soon as I get back! Thank you again so much for all your feedback!!!
Of Wind and Wood—Chapter Four
"Shalimar!"
Brennan's desperate whisper finally broke through her hazy mind, and she groaned as she pried one sleep-crusted eye open. Seeing it was still dark, her eye slammed back shut.
"Shal!" Brennan tugged frantically on her shoulder.
"What?" she finally spewed, turning her back on him and burrowing deeper into the borrowed sleeping bag, grumbling as a sharp rock dug into her hip.
"I have to go!" He yanked on her sleeping bag again.
"So go," she mumbled, fighting him back for her covers.
"Shal," he gritted, winning the battle for the covers and pulling them off her. "Come on."
"What?" she sat up as his words sank into her brain.
"I have to go!" he repeated, eyes wide with desperate need.
She stared at him, brow raised. "And you woke me up to tell me that for what reason?"
He shrugged, "It's dark."
"So?"
"Shal, please." He pleaded, "Hold the flashlight for me."
"No way," She instantly lay back down and pulled the covers over her head.
"Shal!" his voice increased a notch.
"Brennan, I love you, I really do," she poked her head back out of the bag for a moment, "but that's just asking too much."
He stared back at her with insistent eyes.
"Ooh," she sat back up, "Fine, but I am not following you all the way to the latrine. I'm not even supposed to be on the men's side anyway."
Brennan jumped to his feet, dancing an impatient jig as she grumpily pulled on her shoes and felt around in her pack for the flashlight.
"Shal, hurry."
She stopped and shot him a pointed look.
He grimaced and smiled sheepishly.
She finally found the flashlight and pulled it out, flicking the switch back and forth. "Uh, Brennan?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you forget to put in new batteries?"
"What??"
She held up the flashlight, "It's dead."
"Oh great," he pouted, bouncing on his heels. "This wouldn't be a problem in the city you know."
"Oh, don't start," she rolled her eyes at him, "I'm too tired to get into that discussion again. Just go, you'll be fine."
"Shal," he stopped his jittery movements, "It's pitch dark out there, not even any moonlight. I can't see a thing."
A silent pause washed over as he stared expectantly at her. "Fine," she sighed and stood up, "I'll take you, but only because I know it's the only way I'll ever get back to sleep."
He shot her a relieved grin as she allowed her eyes to flash golden and scan the woods.
"This way."
She led him past the row of tents and around the smoldering embers of the campfire and through the trees for several yards before slowing to a stop. She gestured to the area in front of her.
"Well, there you go."
"Where?" he whined as he peered into the dark wall of trees that all looked the same.
"I think you'll know when you're close," she dryly commented.
"Very funny," he shot her a glare, "If I don't come back in a few minutes, come rescue me, ok?"
She had to chuckle as he slowly advanced forward, arms blindly patting the trees in font of him as he followed his nose. "City boy."
She waited. And waited. Finally, a shuffle resounded off to her left.
"Brennan?" she turned towards the sound, praying it wasn't another male member of their group needing to use the facilities.
"Ah! Shalimar!" Brennan's voiced screeched two octaves higher than normal as he hurriedly fumbled his way back toward her.
Her eyes shot open, "Brennan, watch out for the---" Thump. "--bush," her voice trailed to a finish, cringing as he fell face first into the scraggy bush.
"Shalimar?" his strangled voice filtered up to her ears.
She laughed at his piteous tone, even as she sprang to his rescue. "Brennan? What on earth?" She grabbed hold of his hand and helped him to his feet. "Why were you running?"
His eyes darted back in the direction he had come from. "There was a skunk at the latrine," he panted as he tried to catch his breath. "Do you think it followed me?"
Her hand flew to her mouth, trying to cover her wide grin. "I think you scared him away by now," she reassured with a smile.
They both turned as a loud scramble was heard behind them and a beam of light bounced towards them. Ana's face melted out of the darkness, worriedly scanning the area with a flashlight.
"Hello? Who needs help?" She hollered, suddenly stammering to a stop as her light landed on their faces. "You two?" She sputtered in disbelief, "Again?"
Shalimar winced in embarrassment, pulling Brennan by the hand toward their guide.
"Sorry, Ana," she apologized, lips twitching in vain as she tried to hide a smirk, "Brennan had a run in with a skunk."
"Oh," Ana frowned in disapproval. "You woke up the entire camp with all that screaming." She aimed the light out of their eyes and turned back around. "Next time, bring a flashlight," she lectured as she walked back to the campsite.
Brennan and Shalimar shuffled along behind her.
"I wasn't screaming," Brennan muttered under his breath as he picked stray branches out of his hair.
"Uh-uh," Shalimar raised her eyebrows.
"I wasn't." he defended.
"Quiet please." Ana's voice sternly reprimanded them.
Shalimar sighed gratefully as she sank back down into her borrowed bedding, pushing her shoes off and laying back down.
"Shal," Brennan's whispered voice broke through just as sleep was almost upon her.
"What?" she yawned.
"I never got to go." Pause. "Please?"
"Forget it," she threw the covers over her head in finality.
Early morning sun peered over the gray mountain, washing them with warmth and light. Shalimar shivered in her sleeping bag, tiredly yawning as the sounds of people rising broke out around her. The morning still had a chill to it as the sun has not quite fully risen yet, and she dreaded leaving the covers. She forced her eyes open and prodded the lump that was Brennan sprawled out beside her.
"Wake up, Brennan," she leaned over him, chuckling as he whined and wiggled in his sleep.
"Rise and Shine!" Ana's whistle blew long and loud as she stood over them. Brennan shot straight up in shock. Their guide laughed gleefully before moving on to the next group. Brennan stared grumpily after her.
"She hates me."
"Oh come on," Shalimar shoved her feet back into her shoes and threw her pack over her shoulder. "I'm going to wash up in the river."
Brennan trailed after her until she drew to stop at a secluded place along the bank. She pulled her sweatshirt over head, leaving her camisole on and dipped a cloth into the icy water, scrubbing a bar of soap against the cloth and then washing her face, clenching her teeth as the shock of the icy water struck her. She bravely moved onto her arms as Brennan tilted his head, watching her.
"You know, Shal," he watched as she trailed the cloth over her neck and shoulders. "You look kind of sexy right now."
She shot him a look of disbelief. "I've got bags under my eyes from lack of sleep, thanks to you by the way," she shook her head at him, "And my hair is a tangled mess of leaves and pine needles from sleeping on the ground, again thanks to you."
"Yeah," he grinned as he came up behind her and squeezed her arms, dropping a kiss onto her shoulder. "Who knew nature could be sexy?" He gently extricated the cloth from her fingers, bending down and dipping it into the water. "Damn," he hissed through his teeth, "That's cold."
She smiled as he rose back up and wrung the cloth out before stroking it along her shoulders and upper back. She arched against him. "Keep talking, babe."
He bent down over her, nibbling on her ear. "Despite a few, ah, challenges," she giggled as he worked his way down her neck with tiny, feathery kisses, "I think you may have been right after all."
"Really," She turned, sliding her hands up along his arms and around his neck.
"Uh-hm," he kissed her nose and then each eyelid as it dropped shut beneath his touch. "This is kind of romantic."
"Wow," she pulled back in surprise, "I never thought I'd hear you say that."
He waggled his eyebrows at her as he bent down to scoop up more water. She shrieked in surprise as instead of dipping the cloth in, he swept his hand across the surface and splashed an arch of cold water at her.
"Ooh," she shook her finger at him, "just remember who started this." She sprang to the side, grabbing her water bottle from her open pack and waving it in the air.
"Ok, ok," Brennan's hands quickly rose up in a gesture of surrender, "I give up!"
She slowly lowered the bottle with a pout, "But I haven't even gotten started yet."
"Yeah, let's keep it that way," he entreated with a grin. "Besides we better hurry up and get back or we'll be in trouble with the drill sergeant again."
She laughed and reluctantly agreed, gathering her items back into her pack and ducking behind a tree to quickly change her clothes.
"Hey, Shal," Brennan called to her with growing dread in his voice, "Did you happen to see the bush I fell into last night?"
"Not really," she shrugged, walking over to him, "why?"
He held out his arms, palms facing upward, revealing tiny raised bumps.
They turned stricken eyes on each other as they groaned simultaneously, "Poison Ivy."
Not again.
