Things More Beautiful
Disclaimer: Not mine! Mutant X belongs to Tribune and Marvel.
Summary: It was supposed to be a simple case, but yet it would test them to the limits of their endurance. Things are not always what they seem, especially in nature. Sequel to Things Best Known. B/S.
Rating: PG
A/N: Hello! This is a sequel to Things Best Known, although it will be quite different in style. While Things Best Known was angsty, this one will be more simplistic in plot, relying more on drama. And of course I will do my best to mix in humor and romance as well. I hope you enjoy it! (Just a warning, the first three chapters or so start out rather slowly, but I promise it will pick up after that, so please bear with me!) Please let me know if you have any questions or comments, thank you!
Things More Beautiful—Chapter One
Light bounced off in a brilliant array of colors, and Brennan squinted as he stared up at the speckled pattern of orange and red against blue sky. He blinked and color came back in sharp focus, each vivid leaf in stark outline against the bright sky and shining sun as he lay under a grove of maple trees this beautiful fall day. Next to him, Shalimar dozed peacefully, a small indelicate snore escaping from her shapely lips every once in a while. Brennan smiled in tender amusement as he heard one such snort come from her direction. They were hiding. Or perhaps better said, she was hiding, and he was tagging along. The afternoon sun slated across his eyes, and he rolled to his side to escape the glare, hand propping up his head as he turned his gaze on the sleeping feral beside him. She seemed to instinctually sense him, and her lips twitched and turned upward as her face turned slightly more towards him. Light angled across her cheek, casting her in shadow, and he lifted a hand, lightly stroking her skin with his thumb as he brushed wind tossed curls off her temple. She leaned into his touch, even as another soft snore fell from her lips. Brennan chuckled softly, fingers tightening protectively in her hair.
It had been two months since their ordeal with Steven, and he still found himself holding his breath at times, afraid to believe it was over, and that she was truly safe, truly his. She would kick his ass for voicing such thoughts, but that didn't stop him from thinking them. She was his. He could hardly believe it was finally true. He was determined not to lose his heart to indifference ever again. Time was too precious a commodity.
High above, the sun dipped behind a fluffy cloud, bringing her features back into focus now that the glare of light was removed. Her cheeks were flushed a healthy pink, lips parted slightly, sorely tempting him. Her arm was casually tossed over her head, and his eyes traced the line of firm flesh from shoulder to bent elbow to slender wrist to curled fingers; the reason they were hiding.
Two months, and she was still fighting the therapy Jesse had outlined for her, impatient in her slow recovery, restless in the weakness of her hand. She had begged him to run away with her, just for the afternoon, and he hadn't been able to resist the teasing sparkle in her beautiful eyes. Before he had finished nodding his head, she had pulled off her comring with a waggle of her eyebrows, pocketing it and bounding out the door and into the hillside surrounding Sanctuary.
A sudden splash in the water just down the slope and outside of view caught Brennan's attention, and he sat up straight, listening as the splashing sounds grew more desperate and a terrified whine drifted on the wind towards them. He glanced at Shalimar one more time before jumping to his feet and jogging down the slope to the base of the water that gave Sanctuary much of its protection. White waves crested and sparkled in the sunlight, and his eyes skimmed the water, not seeing anything until another frightened whimper caught his attention. His head turned sharply to his left, and there he could see it, something struggling in the water. He paused only to toss off his shoes and then waded against the current, footsteps sure as they carried him forward. He reached the source of the struggling splashes just in time to see a small head slip under the water with a distressed yelp. He surged forward and caught the tiny body as it was thrown into a dizzy somersault, emerging from the water with his arms wrapped securely around the trembling form, water streaming down his arms and falling back into the swirling water. He pushed his way back to shore, dropping to his knees and gasping for breath as he looked down at what he had saved. Huge brown eyes stared adoringly back at him with stark joy and relief, and Brennan couldn't help it, he fell instantly in love.
Shalimar woke with a soft snort, realizing immediately that she was alone. She shot up into a sitting position, eyes glowing as she looked around her. She could sense no danger, and her shoulders relaxed slightly, even as her eyes widened. Brennan was near, she could feel him just beyond the downward curve of the hill, and while his scent was clear in the wind, another scent was also strongly evident. Her brow furrowed as she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Brennan wasn't alone. She jumped to her feet, head tilting in concentration. She could hear his labored breathing, heavy with a slight wheeze at the end, indicating he was wet.
"Brennan?" She called to him as she started down the hill.
"Yeah?" His voice carried back up to her.
"Are you ok? Why are you wet?"
She heard him chuckle, amazed at what she already knew before even seeing him. "I'm fine Shal." He staggered back to his feet, and started back up the hill.
They met in the middle. She growled lowly when she saw him smiling dotingly, cradling a shivering body tightly against his chest.
"Isn't she beautiful, Shal?"
She frowned, displeased. Save for big, brown eyes and panting pink tongue, the thing was barely recognizable.
"Look, Shal, she has your eyes."
She stared at him in disbelief.
In his arms, Brennan carried the ugliest looking dog she had ever seen.
"Jesse!" Lexa's voice rose shrilly as she stalked after him through the hallway of Sanctuary. "Jesse Kilmartin! Get back here and tell me what you meant by that comment right now!" She zapped a carefully aimed laser at him, hitting the wall right in front of him. He paused mid-step, whirling around to face her with a wide grin. "Sorry, baby, You're gonna have to do more than that to get it out of me."
Her hands landed heavily on her hips as she took a few steps towards him, eyes glaring. He stood his ground, arms crossed.
She opened her mouth, ready to do battle when suddenly she froze, nose wrinkling as the unmistakable smell of wet dog permeated Sanctuary. Argument forgotten, she gripped Jesse's arm as she turned pointedly around in time to see Brennan walking towards them carrying a sopping wet mutt. Shalimar trailed after him, looking none too pleased.
"What the hell is that?" Lexa's fingers dug into Jesse's arm as she stared at Brennan.
"It's a dog."
Brennan sounded far too cheerful for her liking. Her eyes narrowed. "I can see that, what's it doing here?"
"I rescued her." Brennan was too busy rubbing the scruffy head to notice Lexa's look of horror.
"Brennan," she gritted her teeth. "I don't do dogs." She felt Jesse's hand brush lightly against the small of her back.
Brennan finally had the sense to look up and see three sets of eyes staring at him in disbelief. "What?"
"It goes, now." Lexa pointed back to the way he came.
Shalimar stepped up next to Brennan. "Sorry, Bren, but I have to agree with Lexa on this one; it can't stay here."
His arms tightened protectively around the little animal. "She has a name you know."
"You named it already?" Shalimar groaned, rubbing her forehead. She felt a headache coming on.
"Yeah," he shrugged sheepishly, "Chester."
Chester? She stared at him doubtfully. Wasn't that a boy's name? On second thought, she had to admit it was fitting; the last pet he had named Chester was that hideous locust he had adopted. She gave a longsuffering sigh. Who knew Brennan had a penchant for ugly strays?
"Fine then," Lexa snapped, "Chester goes, now." Her finger jabbed forcefully at the door.
The trilling beep of an incoming call broke the stalemate in the room. Lexa glared over her shoulder at Brennan as she started towards the computer. "This isn't over."
Brennan ignored her, instead hefting the wiggling dog higher into his arms as he heading towards the kitchen. "You must be hungry." His voice trailed off as he disappeared down the hallway.
Shalimar and Jesse stared at each other across the room for a moment before laughing. It was rare to see Brennan show such enthusiasm over something. Jesse gave Lexa one more glance as she talked into the computer before walking up to Shalimar.
"You missed your therapy." His brows raised in gentle reminder as he indicated for her to hold out her hand.
"I know," She sighed heavily as he carefully tested each of her fingers. "I just needed a break today." She grimaced as he stretched her curled hand, forcing the tendons to stretch.
"It's getting better, Shal." Jesse lightly massaged her fingers, loosening them up. "You just have to give yourself a little more time; anyone else would have had permanent nerve damage."
"Yeah," She arched her fingers, pleased that she only felt a twinge of pain. "I'll work on it tonight, I promise."
"Good." Jesse smiled at her.
"What about you?" Shalimar changed the subject, wrapping her good hand around Jesse's arm and leaning her head on his shoulder. "What were you and Lexa arguing about when we came in?"
"Shh," Jesse whispered under his breath as Lexa ended her call and started back towards them. "Don't remind her."
Shalimar grinned at him knowingly before turning her gaze to Lexa. "What's up?"
"Let me guess," Jesse surmised, reading her expression, "That was your contact."
Shalimar straightened, pulling away from Jesse. "A new mission?" Her look was indistinguishable.
"Yeah," Lexa hesitated, glancing from Shalimar to Jesse. "But I think Jess and I better handle this one."
"No," Shalimar pressed her lips together, "I'm ready, let me go."
"I don't know, Shal."
She whirled around to see Brennan standing in the doorway, arms crossed, watching her closely.
"I'm going." Her eyes swept the room, meeting each of them head on. "Stop trying to protect me. Steven is gone, and I'm fine."
Brennan came up behind her, hand falling on her shoulder. He knew she was anxious to get back to work, but he also knew she largely mistrusted the Dominion. "What's this one about?"
"Well," Lexa's hands gestured into the air, "It does sound fairly easy. They just want us for bodyguard service for one of their scientists."
Shalimar turned to Brennan, purposely grabbing his hand with her injured one, refusing to flinch at the discomfort shooting up her arm, "Sounds right up our alley."
"Shalimar," Brennan's voice lowered slightly as he placed both hands on her shoulders, forcing her to maintain eye contact. "We'd be working directly with the Dominion again. You haven't done that since—"
"I'll be fine." She stared up at him, daring him to object again. Their connection with the Dominion ever since they tried to have her killed was tenuous at best. They had left the group alone for the first few weeks, and then Lexa's contact had re-established communications as if nothing had ever happened. So far only Lexa and Jesse had worked with them directly again. She was tired of hiding. Her eyes glinted in determination before softening under Brennan's look of concern. "Come on, Bren." She smiled up at him alluringly.
"Don't give me that look," Brennan sighed as he shook his head, "You know I can't resist it."
"It's settled then." She smiled in satisfaction, feeling the first twinges of excitement at the idea of working again.
"Ok then," Lexa picked up after a slight pause, "I hope you like it hot then." She handed a file to Shalimar, turning to Jesse and looping her arm through his. "So what are we going to do all by ourselves, huh?"
Shalimar watched as they walked away and then opened the folder in her hands. She could feel Brennan's breath against her ear as he bent over her to read along. They both gasped and looked up at the same time to stare after Lexa's disappearing figure.
"A volcano??"
Lexa's hand waved in acknowledgement before turning the corner towards the kitchen.
"She did that on purpose." Shalimar's voice held a slightly accusatory tone. She pursed her lips, thinking. "Hey Brennan?"
"Hmm?" He looked up from reading the folder.
"Where's Chester?"
They looked at each other, grins growing simultaneously on their faces as a shrill scream vibrated through the halls. There was a pause and then the unmistakable thump of four paws making contact.
"Brennan!"