Disclaimer: DO NOT OWN THE CHARACTERS- Okay maybe one of them. But in any case, the storyline is mine as in it's REALLY mine.

Author's note: Set before Emma and Brennan's appearance.

Title: Tipsy

Written by: Freakngel

"Let's go!"

Hopping on one leg as she zipped up her heeled boots, Shalimar scowled at her blond friend, "What's the rush?"

"Well I wanna get there and start having fun. Unless of course you prefer staying behind tonight?" Jesse grinned while fidgeting with the car keys. "Besides I have someone to pick up along the way, a friend of mine."

Straightening herself, Shalimar checked her reflection for the last time – at least for the next five minutes – and pulled her black spaghetti top down a little, matching her dark blue jeans. Smiling ferally at the mirror, she stepped up next to Jesse. "Fine, let's go."

"Shalimar meet Greg, Greg – Shalimar." Jesse introduced them.

The dark haired stranger hopped in the back seat of the red four-wheel drive, and turned towards Shalimar who was seated in front. "Hi!"

"Hey," Shalimar responded and smiled.

Once he shut the door, Jesse revved the engine and started for the club.

Greg pulled himself forward and leaned in between the front seats. "Alright, we're moving!" he laughed.

Turning around, Shalimar could note Greg's rather attractive features. She pursed her lips and realized he was rather cute.

"Greg's an old friend from high school, thought he might want to tag along today." Jesse explained, not taking his eyes off the road. "He's a hard guy to track."

"That's 'cause I'm hidden behind the row of damn hot chicks." Greg answered, not missing a beat. "As for you," he looked at Shalimar, "I've seen you around haven't I?"

"Could be because I was one of the few 'Damn Hot Chicks' who turned you down?" Shalimar laughed.

"She was in the same high school Greg…" Jesse piped in, clearing it up for his friend.

"Aahh…" The stranger whistled. "But still doesn't explain why I never really knew you."

"Like you said Grego… you're hidden behind a row of 'damn hot chicks'."

Clasping Jesse's shoulder, Greg grinned like one mutated Cheshire cat, "So true J-Man… so true."

"J-Man?" Shalimar asked suspiciously. Since when was Jesse J-Man?

"There are a lot of things about this guy that you my dear, have no idea about."

"Oh?" Raising one eyebrow, Shalimar gave a look at Jesse. "Spill Greg." She ordered.

"Shut up Greg." Jesse counter ordered.

"What?" He exclaimed, "and piss off the good lady? No way."

"Smart boy Greg." Shalimar praised, but only to get more info. "So…?"

"Well there was this time where Jess here became quite the lady's man."

"Uh huh?"

Jesse made a stop at the red traffic light, "What about?" he asked, cautiously.

Greg frowned a little, his face showing signs of strain from thinking too much, "One of the girls begged Jess here to let her drive his car. Sounds pretty okay, only problem was, she doesn't have a license."

"What??" Shalimar stared in open-mouthed shock.

"Uh no… not this story," Jesse groaned, he couldn't look behind anymore as the light turned green and the cars behind them weren't a patient bunch.

"So anyway," Greg continued, "Jess knew about the lack of license on this girl, but he lets her drive anyway. The stupidest part was that me and Jess here hopped into the back of the car. Stupid right?" he looked at the feral for agreement.

"You can say that again." Shalimar laughed.

"But wait, the best part has yet to come. So the two idiots strapped at the back. Girl starts car and drives. She's pretty okay until we come to sharp turning and what does she do?" He pauses for an effect. Shalimar could see Jesse cringing from what was to come.

"What?" she humored the man.

"She screeched 'WHERE'S THE BRAKE?????'"

That's it, Shalimar couldn't hold in the laughter any longer, it slipped from her lips and Jesse shook his head in defeat.

"The girl couldn't decide between the two pedals, we were stuck in shock that even Jesse here started praying… in the end, dear no-license-girl stepped on the wrong pedal and accelerated. She runs over the curb barely misses a tree and these 8-foot wall is smack in front of us. Just at the right moment, J-Man remembers the hand break, pulls it and saves our lives."

Reaching over, Greg grabs Jesse's face and puts a kiss on his cheek, "My hero!" He fluttered his eyelids femininely.

"Seriously Greg, one more weird move from you and you're walking."

"Fine." He mocked the action of sealing his lips and sat back.

"You let a girl who doesn't know how to drive - drive!?" Shalimar enquired, and rather loudly.

Jesse shrugged and kept silent.

"Anymore stories Greg?" She asked.

"Well there was this time th-."

"Very far to walk on foot Grego." Jesse cryptically threatened. "Very far."

"Touchy."

"Greg, I think you and I are going to be good friend tonight." Shalimar purred.

"Oh baby!" Grinning from ear to ear, Greg sat back happily.

"WHERE'D JESSE GO?" Shalimar shouted over the loud music. Her ears were starting to get used to it.

"WH-AT???" Obviously Greg wasn't getting used to it though.

Rolling her eyes and sighing seemed appropriate at that time, so Shalimar did so. "I SAID- WHERE'D JESSE GO??" she repeated and pointed to the empty seat next to her.

"WH-AT!??"

This was getting very annoying, "I. SAID. WHERE'D. JESSE. GO!!??" It wasn't planned, but as soon as she said WHERE, the music stopped.

Greg humouredly dug his finger into his ear, seemingly to clear it, "You don't have to shout…"

"Greg…" she hissed.

"THAT WAY!!!" he pointed, the music climbing to it's deafening pitch again.

She followed the direction of his finger and spotted Jesse next to a red head, he was smiling but shaking his head. Whatever he was saying, Shalimar couldn't pick up over the loud noise, not even with her feral hearing.

"Don't be jealous." Greg cooed and leaned closer to Shalimar while thumping his shoe to the beat, "He means nothing to her."

"Greg, I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Whatever…" he waved his hand. "I'm feeling tipsy."

"I bet," she sarcastically snorted and poured more whisky to her coke. She already had about five cups – Or was it 10? -- that night and she felt fine.

Lifting his glass and emptying it of its contents, Greg slammed the container back onto the steel table. "I've got low alcohol tolerance. You sound wasted yourself."

"I am not." Shalimar sipped on the sweetly bitter concoction.

Greg lifted his finger and poked her arm, "yes you are, you're wasted as well."

Nope, she wasn't going to fall for his bait. As cute as Greg was, Shalimar refused to answer him.

"Wa-sted…" he kept poking. "I dare you to shoot that Jack Daniels straight." He challenged her, lifting the half empty bottle.

"Fine," she smiled, "Hit me."

So maybe she was a bit wasted, or as Greg called it: tipsy.

Shalimar laughed and swayed to the techno beats, right then she wasn't exactly moving gracefully, but it would do.

Like who the heck cares anyway??

Greg followed along and danced to the tunes as well, bumping and grinding with Shalimar and both of them laughed.

So, wasted was might be an understatement, drunk was more of an accuracy.

"I'm tired," Greg said directly into her ear.

She giggled --Just when did she start giggling??— "Yeah me to, let's go back."

Holding his hand, Greg pulled Shalimar along and looked back every two seconds making sure he hadn't lost her to the mad crowd.

Some guy was puking into the sink nearby, another bunch of girls were cackling like old witches.

"Where'd you guys go?" Jesse asked, his face a little flush from the alcohol.

Shalimar plopped herself on the seat and laughed while Greg pointed at the stage, where people were still dancing madly.

"She's wasted." Greg announced as he plunked down next to Shalimar, he moved closer and poked her in the arm again.

"I am not." She objected again. "I'm very conscious of what's going on."

"Fine then get up and stand straight."

Shalimar frowned and realized where she was. Stuck in between Jesse and Greg in a booth. Had they been in a booth earlier on? Wasn't it an open table? When had they moved to a booth? "I can't,"

"Why not?" Jesse laughed aloud, drinking more whisky.

"I'm sandwiched between you two." She pouted.

Greg wasn't about to make her feel better and squashed Shalimar further in between. "Someone's t-I-p-s-y!"

"AM NOT!!!"

The two annoying men laughed harder, Greg stood up and walked over to the front, moving to the beats of the music. Jesse stood up but looked back at Shalimar who was seating very comfortably and feeling dazed.

"You OK?" He asked, moving closer.

She nodded, "Just sleepy..." her speech was slurred.

"Yeah me to," he sat himself next to her again.

Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe she just felt like it, but Shalimar rested her head on Jesse's shoulder and closed her eyes.

She really was feeling sleepy and that last time she checked; it was already three in the morning.

Jesse leaned his head on hers and held her hand.

Her eyes opened dazedly, was she dreaming?

No.

She held his hand back and felt warm from within. No she wasn't dreaming, this was real, in fact it was a dream come true.

For so long, they both laid still- unmoving. The world passed on without noticing them.

"Hey, you guys okay?" Greg stood over them and poked at Jesse.

What was this guy's obsession with jabbing people??

"Yeah…" Jesse said groggily, but not moving his hand away.

'Go Away' Greg semi consciously ordered in her head. Instead he placed himself next to her and leaned against the feral.

Ignoring him, Shalimar closed her eyes once more and relaxed.

For the final time, Shalimar was ready to bite Greg when he poked her arm again, but this time he shoved his cell phone into her face, the screen was lit up and a message waiting, self typed by Greg himself.

'Are you in love with him?' it read.

Giving an odd look at Greg, Shalimar took the device and with one hand still in Jesse's, she used the other free one to type back an answer.

'Yes.'

He read it and started hitting buttons again. 'Are you drunk?'

'Nope, I'm sober about this.'

Greg seemed satisfied with the answer and pocketed his phone again before leaving and disappearing into the crowd.

Lights danced across their faces and Shalimar stared at Jesse, is this a mistake? "Are you going to regret this tomorrow?" she asked quietly.

Leaning in closer to her, he mumbled softly, "No."

She smiled and bit her lip; slowly she planted a kiss on his cheek and smelled his cologne, never feeling so in love before.

Jesse turned towards her and chuckled, kissing her on the forehead and then on the lips.

Breaking away, they both laughed and held each other. It was rather funny that some unrecognizable remix of a song was playing in the background while here they were sitting together.

Then again, Shalimar wouldn't have it any other way.

His arms were wrapped around her waist from the back as they both swayed to the music and they didn't care if they were out of sync. It really didn't matter.

There were on the second floor and looking down at the crowd.

Shalimar finally spotted Greg, talking to some girl who looked like she was from a back alley.

"I think Greg found himself a girl." She told Jesse.

His head was rested in between her neck and shoulder, as he spoke, "Yeah some Mimi from factory number 39."

For someone who was partially drunk, he still could come up with good jokes.

"Yeah, well I think we need to get back, it's getting late Jess."

"Hmmm…" he ignored her, but Shalimar didn't want the night to end either.

"Go home?"

Where'd Greg come from? Shalimar scanned the crowd again where Greg was a few minutes ago.

"Let's wait 'til four ok?" Jesse pleaded.

She turned behind to face him, "No Jess, let's go home," She tugged at his arm and gave him her best innocent look. "Home."

"Alright…" Jesse gave way.

"YAY!" Greg shouted. "Come on let's wait for Jesse outside." Greg said, before Shalimar could object, she was already being pulled out by Greg.

The fresh air felt good on Shalimar's face and Greg stood next to her.

"You're a cool girl."

She snorted; his thoughts didn't really matter to her, "Yeah? Whatever." Glancing at the exit, Shalimar wondered where Jesse was.

"You're serious?"

"About?" Shalimar asked, raising an eyebrow and pushing her hair back.

"J-Man."

"Yes. Do I look like I'm kidding." She felt her temper flare.

He nodded dramatically, "Good babe… you wanna make him jealous?"

"What are you; bored?"

"Nah, just tipsy." He said as he walked around her, "Come on, you know Jesse, I know him."

Shalimar shook her head, but there was a small part in her that seemed tempted by the offer.

Where is Jesse??

"I'm going back in."

Greg pulled up next to Shalimar, "Me to." He smiled drunkard-ly.

The music was gradually beginning to mellow down, but it was still loud. Maneuvering through the wave of people, Shalimar found Jesse talking to a guy at the booth they were at.

"Hey, where were you?" he asked.

"Outside," she slid next to him and held his hand.

Unfortunately Greg just had to sit next to them. Well not for too long. "OooO There she is," he said getting up.

Shalimar followed his gaze and found girl from factory number 39.

Before she could ask, he was after her.

She laughed and leaned back against Jesse who looked more sober now.

"Is Greg still hitting on you?" Jesse asked seriously, there wasn't a trace of humor in his voice.

Shalimar blinked back, she hadn't realized it. "Yeah…" she answered gently.

"Bastard…"

She smiled, "Are you jealous?"

"No, I'm just irritated with him." He denied.

He was jealous.

She grasped his hand tighter, "He's not too bad of a guy."

"Remind me to shoot him if he comes near alcohol again."

"Like you'll have a chance, I'll probably tear him to pieces first," she joked and playfully flashed her feral eyes.

"You go girl." He laughed back.

"Yes! I have her number!" Greg re-emerged from the crowd. "Score one for the Grego."

Sighing louder than usual, Jesse got up and pulled Shalimar with her, "Let's go."

"AND WHEN TEARS ARE IN YOUR EYES, I'LL COMFORT YOU... OOOOOOO"

"Remind me to also shoot Greg when he sings," Jesse added while driving.

Shalimar cringed at Greg's singing but at the same time she eyed Jesse carefully. He seemed sober enough to drive, and he insisted her could drive. So far he's been driving good and it's not all that far.

Frowning, Shalimar cursed herself for being paranoid.

"LIKE A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS!!!!" Greg continued.

"Greg shut up before I throw you in the trunk." Shalimar threatened.

"Ok." He squeaked, "I'll be quiet now."

"Good." Jesse piped in.

Silence was golden, for about 5 minutes.

"PEACHES ON A TREEE!!!!!!!!!!" Greg started up again.

"The scary part is, he actually sounds good." Shalimar admitted.

Funnily enough, both Jesse and Shalimar sighed at the same time.

"Tell me straight to my face that you aren't going to regret this tomorrow morning." Shalimar asked, her stomach doing twists and turns.

Never has Sanctuary seem to intimidating right then. The two of them standing there underneath the Dojo; the alcohol influence wearing thin.

The truth revealing itself; uncoiling from the dark depths.

"I promise you Shal, I will not regret this." He assured, those soft blue eyes looking straight into her.

She searched his face a little while longer, holding the gaze and searching for any traces of a lie.

She couldn't find any. "Goodnight Jess," she tip toed a little and kissed him lightly on his cheek. Turning around, she let her grasp on his hand go, but Jesse held on tighter.

"Night." He pulled her towards him and he kissed her on the lips, sealing the perfect night with a perfect kiss.

OK, review would be nice ==