Disclaimer—See Chapter One
A/N: Here we are again, at the end of a story. This also marks the end of this trilogy of stories; it has been a fun and amazing journey over the past 6 months! I've spent so much time in this little world, it's hard to imagine not writing more of them in this setting. But I will try to come back soon with a new story and a new setting…I just have to think of one first! J In the meantime, I cannot thank everyone enough for their support and feedback over the past months with these stories. I hope you enjoy this last chapter!
A/N II: Thank you so much to the following, without whom I could not have kept going. Your feedback inspires me to try to do better each and every time, and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I wanted to take the time to write individual messages to each of you, but I've had the flu for the past few days, and am still not feeling very well at the moment. But I figured you would rather just have the final chapter than to wait a few more days for me to feel well enough to think straight enough to write something! (I'm so sorry about that; please know that I appreciate you all so much!!)! So thank you to the following: Viviana, my friend and beta reader—what would I do without you?!, Mari, Shallan, Rogue, Garfieldlady, Blackpanther2288, Fiery Feral, Shado-Fox, Jessesgirl11, mfkngst, Canadian-chic14, CatJerica, Qudrantie, x-shalimar-x, brennan mulwray, nat, fanofbuffy, Shado-Fox, Miranda, Lisa, Sunstar2, Amon-ra1996, dagenn, FireFeral, kerry, Gatafairy, ameriker, chrmd red black rose, Quest, brennan_n_shalimar_fan, PeTiTeCaT, airo25, and to anyone kind enough to review this last chapter—thank you all so very much!
Of Wind and Wood—Chapter Sixteen
Brennan rolled and stretched, his body protesting the idea of getting out of bed. When something tickled his nose, he reached up and pulled away a stray hair. He smiled as it just kept coming. He wound the strand from Shalimar's head around his finger.
"Brennan," Shalimar laughingly reprimanded, "Are you going to get out of that bed today?" She pulled back and stood over him, brows raised in question.
"You could come over here and help me up." Brennan's voice was gravelly with sleep.
"Do I have your word that you will come out and I won't get pulled in?" At Brennan's silence, she laughed. "I thought not." With a flick of her wrist, Shalimar threw back the covers, causing Brennan to shiver and leap up.
"You're a cruel woman," he grumbled as he staggered into the bathroom. Shalimar rolled her eyes and shook her head at his retreating form.
Spring had finally come to Sanctuary, and the cold that had gripped the land reluctantly receded, bringing their mountain back to life. For once, Brennan mused as he took a shower, there was no mission urgently needing their attention, there was no bad guy bent on revenge, there was no imminent disaster about to befall the world; there was nothing. Nothing except the overwhelming list of chores Lexa had thought up for them to do that day. Spring cleaning she had called it. I'd rather face off with the bad guys.
Hours later, Brennan paused to wipe dripping sweat off his brow as he found himself on his hands and knees, scrubbing the hallway floor. He had lost the bet with Jesse and instead of getting to work on the cars in the garage, he got stuck with the floors. You will be expected to do some basic housekeeping, he thought back to Jesse's words when he had first been inducted into Mutant X. Little did he know when he put on that ring that he would find himself four years later scrubbing that same floor he had so proudly stood on. So much had happened during his time within these halls; so much danger, and tension, and learning, and tragedy and loss. But he had also found himself within these halls; he had found acceptance, and, peace, and love.
At that precise moment, the love of his life came sauntering down his freshly scrubbed floor, a mischievous grin planted across her face as she paused in her approach to admire the view he presented, bent over on his hands and knees. Her evil chuckle chased all thoughts of tenderness from Brennan's mind as he looked over his shoulder and saw her holding a bucket high over her head.
"Shalimar," His voice was low and firm, "Tell me that isn't what I think it is."
She waggled her eyebrows and slightly tipped the bucket.
"Oh no!" He jumped to his feet, "Don't you dare!"
The bucket tipped slightly more.
"Don't!" Brennan had jumped to his feet and started towards her.
"Uh-uh!" She warned, "Come any closer and your floor gets it."
He froze, eyes darting around the room searching for a comeback weapon. He sighed as he found nothing and crossed his arms. "Fine, what do you want?"
"What do I want?" Her eyes twinkled as she lowered the bucket slightly, "Hmm, an intriguing question."
He narrowed his eyes at her, not in the mood for her game right now.
"Oh, come on!" She pouted as she placed the bucket on the floor. "You're taking all my fun out of this."
He shrugged his shoulders, arms still crossed.
She sighed and released her hold on the bucket, crossing over to him. "Brennan? You ok?"
"Yeah," His hand rose and ran through his hair, leaving it sticking up on end.
She placed a gentle hand on his cheek, forcing him to meet her gaze. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, Shal." He pulled away and paced down the hallway for a few steps. "I'm just tired I guess." He turned around and paced back towards her.
She watched as he walked past her, shoulders drooping. "Brennan, you're scaring me, talk to me."
He paused, back turned towards her. "I don't know, Shal, I guess I just—just can't seem to—"
"To what, Brennan?" She walked towards him in concern.
"I just can't seem to learn my lesson!" Brennan suddenly shot down, grabbed the bucket and whirled around, whipping its contents forward.
Her resounding scream echoed throughout their mountain home, followed by Brennan's triumphant laugh.
Shalimar stood in disbelief as cold, muddy water ran down her face and neck, dripping below the neckline of her shirt and down her legs. Silently she shifted her feet, grimacing as her shoes squished in response. Almost as if in slow motion, great drops dripped off her lashes and rolled down her cheeks as she closed her eyes, before opening them again in firm resolve. Her hair was plastered to her scalp and long tendrils tangled around her neck.
Brennan couldn't help but stare at her as the muddy water puddled to his clean floor. She looked strong and beautiful…and dangerous. Without another word, he whipped back around and ran as fast as he could towards the garage, towards Jesse, towards help.
Shalimar watched as he hastily darted away, but made no move to follow. Instead, she calmly walked to her room for dry clothing.
Brennan huffed as he looked over his shoulder one more time as he approached the garage. He couldn't believe he was still a free man. Jesse stared at him in bewilderment as he raced through the doorway.
"You didn't see me!" He panted at him as he flew past him and out the door into the mountain.
Jesse shook his head and ducked back under the hood of the car. "I don't even want to know." Two minutes later the distinctive clicking of heels on cement told him that Shalimar was on the hunt. He didn't even have to consider whose side to take as she paced right by him and out the door without a word. He grinned; Brennan didn't stand a chance in hell.
"Oh Brennan!"
Brennan cringed as he heard her call his name in an overly-sweet tone; he was a dead man.
"You know I'll find you, why bothering hiding?"
She was right. He knew it, and she knew it. But yet, he didn't move, taking perverse pleasure in the torture of waiting.
She sensed his mood, and chuckled wryly, even as she spotted him leaning against a tree.
Brennan gave a visible start as one moment her voice sounded far off yet and the next she flew to a landing in front of him.
"Hey, Shal," He straightened up against the tree.
"Hey," she greeted back, taking slow, deliberate steps towards him.
'You ah, you found me."
"Was there any doubt?" She smirked back at him as she took another step closer, and he unconsciously pressed his back into the tree.
"Not really." His lips twitched slightly. "Now that I'm at your mercy, you can ah, have your way with me."
She quirked an eyebrow. "Oh, I plan to, believe me. But for now, I believe we are right back to where we started, hmm?"
His temple furrowed in question before understanding dawned on his features. "No, no way, Shal, not again."
"But you owe me." Her lips turned slowly upwards into a satisfied smile, "Again."
He cringed; she looked like the proverbial cat that swallowed the canary. "We are not going on another vacation."
"No," she mildly shook her head, "That's not what I was thinking."
He eyed her. "Do I want to know?"
She chuckled, "Probably not." She closed the distance between them, arms sliding about his waist.
He was silent for a moment, as if considering, then cupped her chin, raising her face towards his. The look in his eyes turned her weak. "No?"
"No." She repeated softly. His lips took hers, and the heavy thudding of her heart snatched her breath away. Who's supposed to be in control here?
After a long moment, he pulled away, breathing heavily as her eyes lifted to his. There was a glow in her warm eyes, an enticing flush to her cheeks. He took in her hair, the smooth contour of her face. "I have something for you," he huskily whispered.
"A peace offering?" She murmured with a grin.
He smiled ruefully. "I guess you could say that." He reached into his pocket and pulled something out.
Shalimar's eyes widened as she recognized her necklace. "I thought it was lost." She turned astonished eyes back up to Brennan. "But how? Where?"
He smiled tenderly. "It's how I found you. It marked your path and led me to the cave, and back to you."
She smiled back, holding his warm gaze. "We'll always find our way back together, no matter what happens. Nothing can keep me away from you."
He leaned down, giving her another lingering kiss. He pulled slightly back, waggling his eyebrows at her. "Not even poison ivy?"
She gave a snort of laughter, raising her arms and twining them around his neck. "Not poison ivy, not skunks, not rattlesnakes," she planted a quick kiss on his lips, "Not all the Lexa's, Laura's, Dominque's, vigilante groups, or insane mad men can keep me from you."
His eyes twinkled back at her, "Is that all?"
She laughed again, shaking her head, "Don't push your luck, babe."
He tightened his hold around her. "But seriously, Shal, no matter what this world tries to throw at us, no matter if we are knocked down or what we lose, we will always rise to our feet again. We will stand firm, together in our resolve to fight." His eyes darkened. "I will always fight for you."
She stared into his deep brown eyes for long moments before pulling his head down, seeking his warm lips in silent agreement.
The first breeze of the evening riffled toward them, stirring the once-glassy lake into ripples. As a gust of wind blew against her and the timbers creaked softly, her overwhelmed emotions touched him and his eyes embraced her with understanding. She sighed and laid the side of her face against his chest, listening to his quiet heartbeat. He held her, running his fingers through her hair. Little waves lapped gently as the breeze sang its secret song, tugging and playing with their hair. The wind picked up, and it stirred her to life, whipping around her as she pulled away and again met his eyes with a mischievous smile, giving him a quick kiss.
"Hey Brennan?"
"Yeah?"
"You know," She grinned cheekily, "I never did promise not to tell Jesse."
He looked at her with growing dread. "Shal."
Her eyes gleamed back up at him as she stood poised for flight. One minute she was there and the next she was gone. He roared and ran after her.
The door whipped open with sudden force, startling Jesse and causing him to jump and bang his head on the hood of the car. He rolled his eyes as the blur that was Shalimar raced past him and then Brennan lumbered past, their combined laughter trailing behind. He groaned as he rubbed his head. Did she just say something about fire ants??
Sanctuary's halls fairly sparkled and hummed with clean energy; computers beeped softly and fountains gurgled soothingly. Shouts and giggles echoed throughout the hall and rose up through the solid mountain, mingling with the evening wind as it carried their song through the silvery moonlight and far into the deep, peaceful wood.
"Of wind and wood and mighty waves…the straying thence, but now the wandering done, the journey done…as they fall on their knees and rise again." –Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass
The End!
