Disclaimer—See Chapter One
A/N: I'm so sorry for the late posting! It's been a crazy week--argh!! Thankfully, the weekend is upon us, and I will have time to write again. Thank you everyone for all your support, please continue to let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. Thank you!
Things Best Known—Chapter Seven
Darkness washed over them as they stepped out of the police station. A dimly lit streetlamp flickered twice, buzzing with a dull hum as mosquitoes circled hungrily around it. Shalimar glanced up at the sound in annoyance before sliding into Brennan's car without a word. She had been silent since the officer had opened the cell door.
Brennan paused on the bottom step of the station, jiggling his keys while he delayed the inevitable. He hadn't been able to think of any excuses on his way to the station to pick her up, and it was highly unlikely he would be able to think of one now in these last few seconds as he watched her face through the windshield. She looked angry. He sighed and threw the keys into the air, catching them deftly in one hand as he walked down the last step. Just as he reached out a hand to open the car door, Shalimar slid across the seat and behind the steering wheel. She silently held out an outstretched palm without looking at him, snapping her fingers when he failed to hand over the keys. He frowned at her, before dropping them into her waiting hand and circling around the front of the car. She instantly started the engine, and he had a fleeting fear that she might drive off without him. He climbed in the other side, gripping the door handle as she peeled out of the parking lot before he had fully closed the door.
"So?" She finally spoke as she slammed to a stop at a red light, forefinger impatiently tapping against the wheel.
"So what?" He hemmed, watching as her pointed nail dug into the leather grip with each decisive downward tap. Somehow the image didn't look very reassuring.
"What line are you going to feed me this time?" Her eyes flickered to him and back to the red light, "The Dominion made you do it?"
He grimaced, bracing both hands against the dashboard as the light changed and she slammed her foot on the accelerator again. "Slow down, Shal."
She growled low in her throat.
"You want us to end up right back in that station again?"
She sped the car up even further.
"Fine." He gave up, reaching across her and fastening her seat belt.
"Stop it, Brennan." She swatted his hand away.
"Stop what?" His tone reflected his own frustration, "Stop caring?"
"Stop trying to protect me from everything."
Oh crap. His voice was suddenly neutral."What do you mean, Shal?"
"Spare me the bull, Brennan." She shot him a quick glance and for the first time he noticed the hurt in her gaze. "You lied to me. Again."
"Look, Shal—"
"Don't deny it. I can't believe I was stupid enough to actually believe you about that meet."
"Shal, I—"
"I trusted you, Brennan. Despite everything, I trusted you." Her voice cracked.
"Damn." He whispered under his breath. "Stop the car, Shal."
"No."
"Shal, please. Let me explain."
The brakes squealed as she jerked to a stop. Brennan again found himself desperately grappling the dashboard as his body flew forward. Her hand impatiently flew out and braced against his chest, stopping him from smacking his head.
"Well?" She quickly drew her hand away. "What's your excuse this time?"
He inwardly groaned. She knew him too well. He ran his hand through his hair, searching for the right words. "Shal," he half-turned towards her, "I know you're angry with me right now, and I know you don't understand any of this, but I'm asking you to trust me. You know I would never deliberately hurt you, right?" He turned pleading eyes on her.
"Hmm." Her voice was flat.
"There are—things I was instructed not to discuss with anyone. I've already involved you way more than I should have by telling you I'm here working. I need you to accept that the things I'm doing here aren't by choice and aren't meant to hurt you."
She pressed her lips together. "So why send me to the bar? Why lie to me?" Her eyes flashed at him.
He cringed under her gaze. "I screwed up, I know. I'm sorry." His hand reached for her, but dropped, and he sank down into the seat. "I don't know if you can truly understand how difficult a situation this is for me."
For the first time, Shalimar noticed the weariness that was present in his posture, the deep crease of tension straining his tired features. A wave of guilt hit her even as her stomach knotted with frustration. Every instinct within her was screaming out for her to help, to understand. She was beginning to get a faint understanding of how he must be feeling in all of this.
"Alright, Brennan," She sighed. "I know you didn't ask me to come here, and it's not your decision to be here either." She placed a hand on his forearm, squeezing slightly. "But it was your decision to lie to me about it. Her hand traveled from his arm to his chin, turning him to again face her. "Don't do that to me again."
"So noted." She watched as the crease in his forehead relaxed slightly in relief. "I really am sorry, Shal."
"Me too, Brennan." Her lips turned up in a small smile. "How about I stop pushing you if you stop trying to get rid of me?"
He smiled back, reaching out a hand to brush back stray wisps of curls off her forehead. "Agreed." He leaned in, brushing a soft kiss against her lips. "Thank you."
She smiled against his lips, fingers curling around his neck. The sudden bleat of an angry horn behind them startled them both, and they glanced over their shoulders to see a car waiting behind them, fist waving at them to move. They had stopped in the middle of the road.
The moon was shining brightly as they finally pulled to a stop in the hotel parking lot. Brennan groaned as Allie's figure could be seen through the large front windows, pacing back and forth in the lobby.
"How does she always seem to know?" He muttered, knowing he was in for another battle that evening.
Shalimar chuckled softly in sympathy at his expression.
His hand reached out and grasped hers, pulling it to his lips and pressing a soft kiss into her palm. "You ready?"
"Yeah." Her fingers uncurled from his and traced his mouth. "Hey, Brennan."
"Yeah?"
"I think I hate that woman."
Brennan laughed, pressing another quick kiss to her hand before releasing it and opening the car door with a dramatic sigh. "Let's get this over with."
Shalimar smirked, trailing after him as he trudged up the steps.
"Brennan!" Allie's voice was shrill as she ran towards him, hands on hips. "Where on earth did you disappear to? I went to your room to surprise you, but you were gone." She affected a pout as she stared up at him.
"Sorry, Allie," Brennan flashed his most winsome smile. "I did go to bed as I told you I was doing, but I couldn't sleep, so I went out for a drink."
Allie's gaze drifted beyond Brennan's shoulder and focused on Shalimar. "With her?" Her nostrils flared in anger.
"No, Allie, I just ran into her in the parking lot." Brennan cupped her cheek, turning her eyes back on him. "I'm here with you, not her."
She visibly melted, smiling up at him with relief before tucking two slim hands around Brennan's arm. She leaned possessively into him, turning them around to face Shalimar, who hadn't moved from the entrance way.
"He's mine, you know." She narrowed her eyes into dark slits. "Why don't you just go away?" She turned her face back up to Brennan, expression quickly changed from cold fury to shy coquettishness. "She's rather pathetic, isn't she? Hanging around here, just watching us."
Brennan obediently nodded in agreement.
Shalimar forced herself to stay still.
"Who is she anyway, Brennan?" Allie's face was again focused on Shalimar.
Shalimar took a step forward, "I'm—"
"Nobody." Brennan firmly interrupted her, whipping Allie back around and leading her to the stairs. "She's nobody, and she's not worth our time."
Shalimar glared at their backs, surprised when Allie resisted Brennan's lead and turned toward her again.
"Tell me your name," She commanded haughtily.
Shalimar lifted her chin and took another step forward. "Shalimar Fox."
It was almost imperceptible, just a quick jolt of awareness before her lashes swept down and back up, wiping away any hint of recognition as she turned back around and started up the stairs with Brennan, but it was enough for Shalimar to notice it. And it was enough for Brennan's face to blanch in panic for a brief moment before he too trailed after Allie up the stairs. Shalimar couldn't explain why, but it left her unnerved, and she stared after them in deep thought. What had she just done?
She waited for several minutes in the lobby, giving Brennan enough time to say good-night to Allie, before heading up the stairs to her own room. She peeked around the corner, but the hallway was empty. She resisted the urge to press her ear against room ten, but instead stopped in front of room twelve, her own room. She pushed the door open, stopping in surprise to see Brennan sprawled out across her bed, watching TV with the mute on.
She glanced over her shoulder, before quickly closing the door and crossing over to him.
"What are you doing here?"
"Careful," He cautioned, holding up a silencing hand. "These walls are pretty thin. She's right across the hall."
"So how'd you get rid of her this time?" She sat down on the side of the bed, shoving his leg over none too gently.
"Hey," he mildly protested, "I thought we agreed to call a truce here." He clicked the remote, turning off the TV.
"Sorry," she muttered, "I just can't help it. I really hate that woman."
"Yeah," Brennan chuckled softly, "You said that already."
"So?"
"So?" He stalled for time.
"So, answer my question. How'd you get rid of her?"
Brennan gently nudged the small of her back with his knee. "Sure you want to ask me that?"
She turned back towards him, studying him for a moment before frowning. "Never mind, I can smell her all over you." She jumped to her feet, striding across the room to her small bag. Specks of mud flaked off and drifted to the floor as she snatched it up and disappeared into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. The door creaked back open a moment later.
"Hey Brennan?"
"Yeah?"
"Why didn't you want her to know my name?"
She watched as his face darkened momentarily before he casually shrugged. "No reason."
"You're lying to me again." Her voice was flat, angry.
His eyes fell shut. "Shal—"
She crept back over to him, seething hurt rolling off her in waves. "You promised me, no more lies."
His eyes stayed shut, but the stress line was back, etching itself deeply into his forehead.
Her fingers tightened their hold on her bag as she waited a moment more in front of him before whirling around with a loud huff. She threw her bag on the floor, kneeled down and slipped her shoes back on.
Brennan's eyes flew open at the sound of her heeled foot on the carpet. "Where are you going?"
"I'm leaving." Her chest heaved as she stopped by the door, eyes boring into his, teeth bared. "Good-bye."
"Damn it, Shal." Brennan pushed himself to his feet. "Don't leave this way."
Her hand fell to the door handle, but he came up next to her, blocking the door, ignoring the low warning growl that vibrated in her throat.
"Get out of my way."
"No." He crossed his arms, prepared for a long discussion, but unprepared for her foot suddenly sweeping out against the back of his legs and knocking him to the floor. He grunted as his head banged against a dresser.
She had wrenched open the door, already halfway through it when the pungent scent of blood hit her. She hesitated, mewing in frustration, before coming back into the room and closing the door. Brennan watched her, hand pressed against his head as he struggled to sit back up.
She knelt down next to him, gently pushing his hand aside and pressing her own against his temple. They stared at each other.
"Why?" Her voice was an agonized whisper. "Why are you doing this?"
The muscle in his cheek tightened; his dark eyes locked on hers, and she could clearly see the inner struggle within them.
"For you, Shal," He finally whispered, eyes dropping shut in defeat, "I'm doing this for you."