hey guys... this one is just for you all since I got so many replies to this story. It's not over yet but I thank you all for the replies. Here it is...

Chapter 27- Shadow

Brennan tried to ignore the stare he got from Adam and Chris as he walked down the hall, past Chris's office and into the main living room, where the long and rounded couch had all its seats occupied. It looked rather strange to him at first. Three normal seats, but instead of arms, there was two more seats, occupied by Jesse and Emma, which linked to the couch by the bottom end. The opposite side of the couch was the same.

Jesse had his arm lazily draped over Emma's shoulder, while she nibbled away on some thing out of the bowl Shalimar was holding, which was right next to them. All their heads were directed at the T.V... Along with the rest of the men living in the mansion.

Andy sat next to Shalimar on the three seats, his son, Nick, sat next to him, leaning onto another section where Peter and Damien were talking lowly and Elayne sat at Shalimar's feet, chatting low as well.

As he entered, he tried to be as quiet as possible. Earlier, when they had been lazing about on the chairs in the back of the house, Chris and Adam had called them all in... Or rather him. Still saying he wasn't well enough to be out of bed. His protest had been silenced on his tongue when their leader gave him hard eyes, daring him to disagree.

As he stepped further into the room, he looked around. The couch was a puffy red that all sat on a small brown carpet that covered the floor of 6 feet from the couch to the T.V with enough room for a grown man to stretch out and still be a foot away from the T.V.

The Kitchen was cut in two, like a restaurant. Swinging doors were the kitchens entrance, while a marble cabinet sat to his right as he entered, he couldn't help but take notice of the wide range of drinks sitting in glass cabinets.

The wallpaper was a decoration of warm colours, mainly pale reds and browns that fitted in well. The inside seemed more like the forest out side when his eyes ran over small cupboard, with vases on and similar paintings of animals on the wall. His eyes narrowed on one in particular.

A lone black wolf too large to be normal sat staring into him from the painting. The moon was standing behind the wolf, and slanting down on it, casting sheen to its fur. Its eyes had a ting of gold and its mouth hung open, showing white teeth.

The wolf didn't seem that important. The picture was well put together, so there would be enough room to display what really caught Brennan. The shadow. It wasn't a wolf's shadow... but the shadow of a human being. The shape was unmistakable.

"Brennan".

He jumped at the mention of his name, and met all the group's eyes. Andy jumped up from his seat, "Hey... come on, sit down. You must be having a tough day, with Adam and Chris jumping about after you". Andy had already shoved his son over a bit, to make sure there was room.

Brennan shook his head, "No... Its alright... what are you guys doing?" he tried not to let his eyes wonder too much to the stranger sitting with them.

Jesse sighed, "Nothing much... just watching a film. Isn't their any thing better to do?" he directed his bored blue eyes on Andy, who always seemed to give them all a little hope at having some fun.

He grinned at the molecular, "well... Chris has very strict rules-" he got a grunt off Nick, who seemed to show how much 'fun' that was. "-We cant go into the woods, since Chris doesn't want any thing like... what happened to Brennan to happen again. So we gotta stay in". Nick grunted again, while folding his arms like a sulking child.

"But... we do have a, personal, bar... so..."

Shalimar jumped up out of her seat, instantly going behind the counter and looking through the range available. Andy followed her behind the bar, and grabbed one of the bottles, "a few drinks and cards, if that's good enough".

Brennan huffed, "What... at this time". Andy saw it was only 2pm, and shrugged, looking down at the bottle in slight disappointment. "Irm... poker then".

Shalimar took the cards from him, "That'll do for me... I'm bored stiff. So who's gonna play". The way she walked back to every one signalled her confidence in her talent at catching good hands, and not losing.

Jesse hesitated, looking at Brennan for his answer. When Brennan finally nodded, and followed behind Shal, Jesse nodded, "Sure why not. Every ones bored". Emma smiled, "I'll sit this out. I'm not that good at the game so I'll watch".

Andy, Nick and Peter all shuffled forwards onto the carpet floor, all ready trying to waffle with each other about money. Damien and Elayne took one look at each other, and Brennan saw the spark of a dangerous challenge in their eyes.

Brennan sighed in dismay; this was going to be a long game where tempers may just start to fly. Shifting his feet he allowed Andy to seat him self between him and Nick. He gave them both a child's amused smile while Shalimar dealt the cards out.

Brennan waited last to pick his up, trying to watch the reactions on their faces. Some changed into shock while others gave a small quirk of the eyebrow. Not a good sign for them.

He looked at his cards, and allowed his mind to transform into a computer, to calculate his best move. He knew Shalimar would most likely win... but one look at Jesse, and knew he would. Emma was whispering in his ear, so Brennan couldn't hear. Her whisper was almost like a mouse sneaking, but he picked up on, Shal... anxious... Elayne... angry...

She silenced as her eyes hit him, feeling nothing. He only managed a small smirk that didn't really fit with the blankness he had encased him self in just for Emma's little trick to not work.

His hand was two threes, a jack, an ace, and a seven. He tried not to allow a groan out. It had to be the worst hand ever. He dropped his jack, ace and seven, as Shalimar started to rake all the disposed cards

In and replace them with the same number.

When Brennan saw his cards, he felt a sudden knot in him. Two threes, a four, two and another ace. He saw Emma sudden whispering to Jesse and tried to rub away the tension he felt in his head. He hated it when she did that... Jesse however, enjoyed the luck he was having, smiling widely at every one.

Shalimar tapped her cards, letting her eyes run along every one from her right to left, all around the circle. Elayne was seated next to her, Damien next to her, then Jesse and Emma, then Brennan, Andy, Nick, Peter and then back to her. Sighing, she shook her head... this was going to be a long game.

They bickered, and shouted at each other as time passed, till eventually it got to the point where Damien challenged Elayne to strip poker.

Elayne didn't back down, and Shalimar jumped in with her, until all of the original players were joined in, hesitant of the cards they played.

It continued on until 7, where there sat Shalimar, and Elayne both sat straight backed, grinning in joy. Jesse sat out with Emma, grinning along with the girls. Damien was red in the cheeks as he tried to not look so embarrised, sitting in his underwear.

Peter was no different, trying to push away the red that dazzled his cheeks. Nick sat with no shirt, but still seeming in a good mood, while Andy was the same, though he sat trying to ponder on how to win still with out losing another item of clothing. He had a rather muscular chest, not so developed as his sons, who held a well developed 6 pack, but still, he looked around Brennan's build.

Brennan was thankful Emma kept throwing him looks every so often, on when to drop his hand and when not to. He still had his shirt and pants on, grateful he brought a jacket. Once he'd lost and didn't like the feel off the men around him. All were anxious to get their clothes back.

Shalimar sat forwards, "So... Bren... you gonna fold again...". Her voice brought him back to reality. She was trying to get him to make a move, him knowing it would be the wrong one. He shuffled his hands, nervous as he watched her over the rim of them. She was smiling, challenging him. Manly pride beat him before he could make a reasonable choice.

"No..." He put another ten pound to the small pile in the centre of the floor, as they all looked at the bundle with greed.

Emma was marking down who spent their money and how much, just in case Adam should demand the money be returned. So far, Damien had lost 80 pound... Peter 70, Andy and Nick 30, and Brennan 20. She felt a small pang of pity for the men as she felt the small amount of joy bloom off the two women in the game. Shalimar was continuing to build the pile up, waiting to collect it all at the end.

Andy followed after Brennan, but dropped his hand in disgrace. Nick grunted before shaking his head too and dropping his cards to the floor. Damien stared defiantly at the two women who had control of the game, and when he didn't see any flicker of weakness, sighed and reluctantly dropped his hand.

Brennan's stomach dropped as Peter dropped his cards as well, leaving him in the game with Shalimar who was being helped by Elayne. Their deal was simple, should Shalimar lose by Damien's hands, she has to take the penalty. If she lost to any one else, Shal had to take it.

Jesse shook his head, "man... your gonna lose again bro". Shalimar smiled, "He's gambling Jess. Just like the rest of these boys. And just like the rest... he's gonna lose like they did". She was staring at him, as if waiting for him to draw his gun in a duel.

Brennan couldn't help but hide his emotions. He was doomed to lose some piece of clothing if he allowed Emma to pick up his feelings. There was no way Shalimar was going to back out... not with Elayne, so he just had to go through it.

Shalimar started to lay her cards out to be shown, and hummed. She had two kings, and two fives, with a 2. Brennan stared down at her cards, half frozen. All of them were waiting for his cards.

Andy gave him a shove, "Come on... what cards do you have?"

Brennan placed his down.

"NO!"

Shalimar growled as she saw three 6's in his hand. She grumbled as the rest of the people around her exploded in laughter and small cheers. Three of a kind beat two pairs. Grinding her teeth, she watched as all the men tried to silence their laughter and grins. Shaking her head, she gave Elayne a glance of annoyance, she was meant to be watching their reactions and telling her... Elayne gave a small shrug of 'sorry' to Shal.

Shalimar ignored them, pushing her jacket off, leaving her equal with Brennan. The reason for her jacket was because of her shirt. It hung low and showed some of her cleavage, but a new idea came to mind. She renewed her smile and dealt more cards out again.

Jesse and Emma had suddenly come back from the other side of the room, and handed drinks around. All the glasses were filled with a dark brown liquid. Shalimar didn't care and started to sip at her drink, determined to keep her head in a tight situation.

All the others, apart from Mutant x threw their drinks down their throats, leaving Jesse to refill

Them. When Jesse returned, he had the bottle with him, and passed around the circle.

When Shalimar saw her cards, she pouted her lips in disappointment, but held her confidence. In her hand sat, a two, an ace, a four and a five. From what she could recall, no threes had been played yet, so she resumed to hold out hope.

When she put her ace down, she sent a small prayer with it. She couldn't afford to lose again. She replaced all the others cards with new ones, and hesitated as she lifted her card up again.

Her eyes almost bulged in relief. A dazzling red three sat in her hand now, giving her a run, almost unbeatable. She only hoped she was the lucky one out of the group.

When it came to people folding, all of the men left Brennan alone in one foul swoop, grinning widely at him. Brennan didn't get what was being played on him, so he continued on, gathering as much luck as he could hoping to beat Shalimar again with a fluke... just so he could win at some thing. Every thing else, like sparring was like a play in the park for her, and she took them all out with joy.

Sighing, he allowed a shadow of a smirk to his lips, trying to hide the hoping in his eyes. He looked at the display of cards in his hand again. Two threes, a king, a queen and a Jack. Such a bad hand... he was definitely going to lose, but not unless Shal had a worse hand. Her eyes told him differently.

When Shalimar laid her hand down and saw only a pair of pathetic threes, she grinned, as Elayne clapped her hands, cheering for her along with Emma and Jess.

Brennan shook his head, looking at the pile of money. It had over a hundred in it, and he knew from the beginning if Emma hadn't helped Jess, then Shal would have won. But Jesse wasn't in it any more, and Shalimar was winning big time.

Shalimar raised her eyebrows at him while her pretty face held a smirk. She seemed to be enjoying her self to no end beating the boys at poker, at strip poker.

He joined Peter and Damien in the contest of red cheeks as all eyes went to him. His shirt was next.

"What's going on!"

Brennan couldn't help but release the breath trapped in his lungs that held his body in a frozen state until the familiar and angry voice filled the room. Instead of him being centre attention, Adam and Chris were, who stood at the door, stern expressions on their faces and arms crossed like angry fathers who had caught their children when they should be asleep, were playing games.

Shalimar gulped, "Irm... nothing Adam, we were just... passing the time". She sudden pulled her jacket on with a clear swoop of her arms, biting her lip like a little girl who'd been caught doing some thing naughty.
Brennan couldn't hold the grin that spread on his face at her acts. Adam whirled on him, "What are you doing up... its ten o' clock and you need your rest". Before Brennan could answer, his reply came. Tiredness hit him so hard he bit his lip hard enough to bleed, trying to not sway. "I'm fine Adam... we just lost track of time".

Chris raised his eyebrows at the circle of people, "Yes... I can see how" his eyes were on Damien and Peter who sudden gave a start of shock and dashed for clothes, rushing to put them on.

Chris looked at Andy, who didn't seem at all bothered by his look, "I thought you were going to keep them in line Andy".

Nick gave a short laugh, "Him... keep us in line. He's worse than us". Nick didn't get a very happy look off Andy who was pulling on his shirt. Nick followed his example and started to get his shirt over his head.

They all rose up from their positions on the floor, aiding aching backs and joints. Adam was still staring dangerously at the team. "Have you all been drinking", it wasn't a question, more stern words than a question. He was met by quizzical faces, all struggling to explain.

He didn't hesitate to give them a piece of his mind, "you are all meant to stay sober, Shalimar, you promised me you would make sure-". Shalimar jumped to her own defence, "But we are sober Adam, we've only had one or two". The look off Adam was like one or two were really drunk from the barrels they came from, rather than a small glass.

Brennan went to a seat and sat down, trying to sort his eyes out. He felt dizzy, and like a headache was just starting, but from far away. He knew it would be as ferocious as a thunderstorm near sanctuary and gave his head a wipe with the back of his hand. He was surprised when it came back dry. He was sure he was sweating.

Chris let his eyes travel every one, "Fine... its done now. All of you off to bed, you'll need as much rest tonight for tomorrow". His words spoke of some thing that seemed dreadful, and left that to linger in the air.

Every one was grateful to get out from under the two older men's gazes. "Andy... get Brennan to his room...".

Andy went to Brennan and gave him a small tug on his arm, seeing his face a bit drained of colour. He may still have had another night, but he still wasn't back to full strength. Andy chewed his lower lip, wishing he'd been there when the attack happened, he would have known who it was. He didn't know what he'd do if he found out that'd done it. Most likely give them a good seeing to, but he knew it wasn't Damien.

As Andy started to give Brennan short pushes to the door, Nick started to follow, hovering behind Andy almost anxiously.

Chris had a stone completion and a hard voice, "Nick... go to your room".

Nick hesitated, giving Brennan and Andy a weary look before reluctantly leaving, still looking back. Andy shook his head as his sons retreating form, while trying to help Brennan, as he seemed to lose more strength each minute. He was shivering now.

Shalimar and the others all scattered out as Adam pointed to the door. Adam walked over to Brennan, "sit down... I told you not to drink. It weakens your reactions and lowers your body temperature. Andy, if you can, try to make sure he has a cold glass of water, and some thing warm to drink".

Andy left to go and put the things in Brennan's room.

Adam sat down next to Brennan, who was trying to explain to him it was only two drinks. "All right Brennan. But no more drinks, just take some relaxing baths and showers, and try to not do any thing too active. You still haven't gotten all your strength back remember". He was surveying Brennan with doctor's eyes, and flicked his gaze to Chris.

The look in his eyes made an invisible ice hand grip his head. Chris never showed much emotion, but his eyes wavered a bit. He was... worried.

Andy returned to a silent room, where Brennan was coming down from the shivers. Andy didn't wait for either man to instruct him, as he pulled Brennan's arm over his head to lift him to his feet and take him to his room.

Chris still stared at Adam, who was looking into him with a need in his dark brown eyes. Finally Adam spoke, "... you know... don't you. You know who bit Brennan".

Chris was silent, before he slowly nodded, not meeting Adam's eyes in shame that he hadn't told him soon. "Yes... I think I do".

Brennan started to see all the thing around him with new eyes. They shifted every so often, from a dull colour to new and fresh colours that jumped at him with their vividness.

He allowed him self to be dragged half the way by Andy, who had no problem holding him up. Brennan needed to ask him where he got his strength from, but lost his trail of thought. A shadow was starting to play with his eyes, readjusting the items around him.

He jumped when he realised he was standing in his doorway, staring into his pitch-black room. He went over to his bed that seemed to glow in the darkness, and dropped on top. He felt too warm again.

Andy was talking to him, some thing about drinks on his side cabinets, and then the door closed behind him with a good night. Brennan didn't respond to any of it. He was slowly being pulled into a dream encased in a cloud of heat and a fog of tiredness.

Hey guys, was that long enough.

I know the story may be a bit boring now, but I'll make it better. Promise.

Please reply to this guys, and the next chapter will come very soon.

Thx 4 reading

Tunder28