Disclaimer—See Chapter One
A/N: I just finished writing chapter seven...I have a feeling this one will be a bit longer than I originally anticipated! Ah, well! :) In any event, here is chapter three for you, I hope you enjoy it!! (It's another angsty one!) Thank you!!
(Rogue--I'm trying to email you at your new address, but it keeps getting sent back to me?? Can you email me again to verify the address. Thanks!)
Things Best Known--Chapter Three
The storm was deceptive. It had started out slowly, in fat sprinkles that dashed the window of the jeep with just enough energy that she turned on the wiperblades, scowling as they left dusty streaks across the window and obstructed her view. She was leaving. She couldn't bear to stay at the hotel and risk seeing, hearing, Brennan with that woman. The storm had been just beginning when she took off, too angry to care or notice the threatening clouds rolling in or the sickening yellow of the sky.
"Argh! Why me?!" Shalimar banged both fists on the steering wheel in frustration. "I should know better than to get stuck in the mud like this."
At the height of the storm, rain had poured heavy from the sky, and the parched earth drank it up greedily. She stared in dismay as the once dusty dirt road was now a river of thick, cracked mud, mud so sticky that now the wheels of her jeep were hopelessly mired. She'd been so careless, thinking only of Brennan, and she'd paid for her mistake.
She sat behind the wheel, staring across the expanse of cracked clay, troubled by more than her predicament. She wiped a hand across her sweaty brow and with a sigh of resignation opened the jeep door and stepped down. She winced as the sluggish mud squished beneath her boots.
"Ugh," She ran her sweating palms along her pants and looked about, staring at the jeep tires sunk deep in the mud. She'd never get that out now. She groaned as she glanced about, wondering what to do next. It was miles back to the hotel and miles to the next town ahead. She slipped her sunglasses back on and shaded her eyes with her hand, staring down the road ahead of her. The sun was beginning to set, and darkness fast approaching.
"At least the rain stopped," she muttered sarcastically, frowning up at the clouds that seemed to shrink away at her ire. If only she could make that other woman disappear as fast as the storm was dissipating. She turned to look back behind her, debating if she should walk back to Brennan or if she should call Jesse. She felt too angry to deal with either of them at the moment. Her eyes dropped shut in frustration, snapping back open as she heard the rumble of an engine. She watched hopefully as it came into view, tearing down the road. It slowed, and she blew out her breath in relief. She climbed back into the jeep and grabbed her bag from the front seat, smiling as she glanced into the rearview mirror. As the driver walked around the front of his vehicle, her breath caught and her eyes narrowed. Brennan!
She sat there looking in the mirror, debating whether or not to get back out again—as if she had a choice in the matter. Brennan waited patiently for her decision as if he had all the time in the world, leaning against the side of his car, arms folded.
Shalimar got out of the jeep and stood there, bag in hand, not quite knowing what she actually expected him to do about her dilemma or whether she even wanted his help. After their confrontation, his smile was the last thing she had expected.
"Now this is a sight to remember," he called, "Shalimar Fox stuck in a mud hole."
She winced, pride needled by his amusement, and something else. The sound of his voice when in a pleasant mood stirred too many deep and painful memories.
"And I suppose you're just going to stand there enjoying this?"
His smile remained. "Why not? There's no use in both of us getting muddy."
"Fine," She narrowed her eyes, "I don't need your help anyway." She lifted one foot, ignoring the sound of sticky mud.
"Inch your way across, and I'll drive you back to the hotel." His voice held faint mirth as he watched her struggle through the deep muck.
She glared at him as he observed, nice and dry, from the side of the road. "I can call Jesse for help."
"I wouldn't think of leaving you stranded all alone." He smiled widely as he didn't move.
She grunted, glancing up at him as she waded towards him. She lifted a foot, but the boot wouldn't lift from the sucking mud, and she lost her balance and fell backward, holding in her cry of humiliation.
"Ooh," he groaned laughingly, as she sputtered in surprise. "Not having a good day, are you?"
She blinked back angry tears, determined to claw out his throat as soon as she got near him.
"Need me to come rescue you?"
"Come near, and I'll drag you down with me." She pushed her hands down through the muck to brace herself as she struggled to rise.
"Ah, I sense a challenge." His voice still held amusement, like he knew a secret she was not yet privy to know.
"I mean it."
"I believe you, that's the fun part."
She couldn't believe he had the nerve to flirt with her minutes after leaving the arms of another woman. "Just leave me alone, Brennan."
"You sure?"
"Stay away!"
He shrugged, leaning back against his car again. 'I've got all night."
She bit back a seething retort, and regained her footing, snatching up her muddied bag and made her way back to her jeep. She wrenched open the door and plopped back into the seat, arms crossed.
"Shal?" He called after her in confusion.
"Yeah?" She answered back with feigned calmness.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm waiting for Jesse."
"But it'll be dark before he gets here."
She shrugged.
"Come on, Shal. I was only teasing." He pushed himself off his car and walked over to the edge of the muddy road. "You know that, right?"
She raised her eyebrows at him, not responding.
"Shal," He raked his hand through hair. 'I'm sorry, I really am."
She shot him an appraising look as he began to pick his way toward her though the mud.
"What are doing?"
He stopped and raised his arms in an open gesture. "Trying to prove how sorry I am?" He slipped and precariously waved his arms around to regain his balance.
She couldn't help it, she chuckled.
He heard her and waved his arms around more in exaggerated floppiness. She laughed outright until he stopped. "Come on, Shal, let me drive you back."
She persued her lips, thinking. "Alright." She hopped back out of the jeep and started towards him again.
"Good." He chuckled as he turned and headed back. "I've got a room at the hotel, we can wait there."
She glared at his back as an image of him embracing the woman in the doorway of his room came flooding back.
"What about her? Won't she wonder?' She hated how bitter she sounded. "Go back into her arms, Brennan."
He suddenly sobered, turning to face her again. "I thought you knew me better than that, Shal." He stared at her intently.
She found her heart desperately wanting to believe in him, believe that there really was an explanation for everything. She carefully crossed through the muck to the side of the road. When she reached his car, he held out a hand for her bag.
"You'll get mud on my seat," he commented smoothly, eyebrows raised at her muddy backside.
That did it! Throwing her bag on the ground, she turned swiftly, words bubbling to her lips, but they died there. He'd removed his sunglasses, and she was unprepared for the onslaught of confusing feelings that flooded her soul as his chocolate brown eyes held hers, all casualness melting away.
He reached his hand and gently stroked a curl. The gentle move took her off guard.
"Shalimar—"
She turned away, vulnerable, shaking her head, fingers digging into her palms. "Why, Brennan?"
A breath escaped him, as though resigned to her rejection, and he leaned back against the vehicle, again looking up toward the darkening sky. The absolute silence of the country held them both prisoners. Somewhere a bird screeched.
"I have to stay here, Shalimar."
"So you said," She angrily reminded, "I already know how you chose to walk away—from everything."
"Not everything." He reached over and took her hand, prying it open. "Unlike most people who are free to live normal lives, we are meant for something different." He smiled bitterly, "We don't always have a choice in what we do."
Startled, her head lifted to stare into his eyes, but he had slipped his glasses back on, hiding from her gaze. He rubbed his thumb over her palm where the mud was caked and dried, and while she was aware of his touch, it wasn't at all clear that he was aware of her. Rather, Brennan seemed to be lost in thought, as he brushed against her skin longingly.
"We always have a choice." She prodded quietly, hoping he would reveal more. His dark head was bent, and her eyes followed the handsome and chiseled line of his jaw, waiting, praying he would say something to make it everything alright again.
"Yeah," he agreed, but didn't go on. He looked at her, all the fire gone from his eyes now. In its place a calm determination settled in his gaze as he grew reflective. He released her hand and by so doing seemed to also release any claim to her emotions, leaving her unexpectedly disconnected.
A silent interlude passed before he opened the door.
"Brennan—"
"Never mind the mud," he smiled sadly at her.
Taking the hint, she slid onto the leather seat, weary now, worn by the onslaught that had played on her soul.
Brennan tossed her bag in the back. "I'll take you back to the hotel, and you can call a tow truck." She noticed that he frowned, his lashes narrowing, and she realized he had a headache.
"Want me to drive?"
"And get my car stuck in the same mess you got the jeep?"
She turned to protest and saw a smile as he started to drive. In a brief time, they were heading back to the hotel. She decided to try again.
"Brennan, who is she?"
He shook his head, remaining silent.
"What's going on?" She stared at him as he kept his eyes locked on the road in front of him. "What are you doing here?"
He frowned, adjusting his sunglasses and rubbing his temple.
"I don't understand you!"
From the corner of her eye, she saw his head turn and felt his gaze studying her. She crossed her arms.
"Shal, please. I can't explain right now."
Right now.She jumped on that thought. "So there is something going on here!"
He looked back to the road.
"Come on Brennan," She grabbed his arm, desperate. "Talk to me, tell me what's going on."
He stepped on the accelerator as they neared the town, shaking his head as they pulled back into the parking lot of the hotel. She heard him draw in a quick breath and looked up to see the woman stalking towards them angrily. She looked back up at his face in time to see him clench his jaw in frustration and…fear?
"Brennan," She attempted again as the woman approached, "Does she hold something over you? Let me help, I'll be more than happy to stop her." She narrowed her gaze at the woman.
His brows creased into a frown, and he scanned her face. "Yeah, I know you would. Especially after peeking around the corner and watching me kiss her."
Kiss her! She felt her face go hot as the viper of jealousy bit into her heart. So he had seen her. "Let me help," she whispered one last time as he opened the door to greet the woman.
"Go home, Shal," He hissed at her through the window before turning and wrapping a cajoling arm around the angry woman beside him. "Hey, Allie," he planted a kiss on her cheek, "I found her stranded on the side of the road," she heard him explain as they walked away without sparing her another glance.
She glared after their disappearing figures before climbing out of Brennan's car and slamming the door shut in anger. She muttered threats under her breath as she climbed the stairs and back into the lobby. After making arrangements for a tow truck, she suddenly remembered she never gave Lexa's cryptic message to Brennan. She heard his low laughter rumbling from the adjoining dining room, and decided she wasn't in the mood to witness another scene with him and that woman. She turned back to the front desk and procured her own room, room number twelve, right next door to Brennan's. She smiled wickedly as she climbed the stairs to her room, mud-caked bag clenched determinedly in her hand. To hell with what Brennan wanted her to do. He was involved in something, and no matter what he said, she was not leaving him here to deal with it alone. She threw her bag into her room and wasted no time in breaking into Brennan's. She slipped inside, closing the door quietly behind her, eyes scanning the neat room. Brennan's bags had been unpacked and his clothing put away. She skimmed the nightstand and desk, but found nothing. The room had recently been cleaned, and the garbage cans were all empty, the bed made. She paced quietly on the rug, chewing her lip in thought until her gaze drifted to a book he had left on a side table. She smiled, knowing how much his books meant to him. She picked it up and turned the page, sucking in a quick breath as she noticed a fading inscription scrawled in a flowery print inside the front cover: May we always meet again in crimes and passions of the heart. All my love, Allison. It appeared quite old and well-worn, obviously read over and over. Allison. Allie. It was from that woman?
Her mouth went dry as footsteps sounded in the hallway. Realizing she had been in the room far too long, she swiftly dropped the book and headed to the door. Then her gaze riveted upon the handle, for it was turning. The door opened, and she froze, halfway in her trek to the door, her breath sucking in as she met an all-too-familiar chocolate brown gaze.