Author's note: Thanks to all that read and reviewed. I owe you a lot. You don't know how important this is to me. To Joyce, perhaps you are reading this, I still can't believe how small this world could be grins. To goldstranger, I miss reading you and hearing from you.
To some Shalimar and Brennan shippers (who reads my story and continually bug me that Shalimar should end with Brennan) I am an official E/B shipper and I'm not saying that S/B shouldn't be together but that is why this is called a FAN FICTION. We read to enjoy and not to make ourselves mad because our favorite pair didn't end up together. I read S/B stories and like it for the story not for the pairing. If you don't like my story, fine by me please don't send me email to try and convince me to do otherwise (Nevertheless, thanks for reading). To everyone, I hope you do enjoy this...er...rather short chapter. Smile!
Chapter 24
I'm sorry
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"How dare you!" Shalimar was still shrieking at them, letting her anger eat all the air around them making it thick for breathing. The mat that was once used for relaxation was now crumpled under Brennan and Emma's feet as they stood silently accepting Shalimar's taunting. Jesse was trying his best to pacify Shalimar and stop her from tearing Brennan and Emma into pieces. "How dare you!" she went on at venting on them.
There was guilt etched all over Brennan and Emma's face and there was even a hint of it on Jesse's eyes. For a moment Shalimar kept on raving mad at them calling them names and pointing fingers at them. They were both flabbergasted and they were both guilty of these atrocity.
Shalimar's cries blended with the soft rushing water in the pond section where the candles now almost done burning. The pillows were still being trampled around beneath Shalimar and Jesse's feet. If yells could kill, then they would have dropped dead on the floor by now. Both Emma and Brennan endured this humiliation which seemed to be taking an eternity.
All this rumbling and yelling were drowning in there ears and then suddenly, there were only sobbing harmonized with the mourning hush of water as if feeling with Shalimar's pain. Emma lost track of what was happening and she just realized that Shalimar was on the floor in tears and Jesse was beside her consoling her. The room was now dimmer than before and some candles were already burnt out.
Jesse's feature was gentle which is visible in the small amount of light that wash over the room. His feature does not emit hatred towards anyone else. As a mater of fact, there was even a hint of guilt in it but mostly there was love. It seems that he understands each of them and felt like he was in no position to judge them. Jesse lifted his gaze towards Emma and smiled weakly at her as if telling her that he does not blame her.
"I…"
Brennan decided to break the silence. Proxy blue was announcing the time as Brennan gathered all courage that was left in him. Heads were suddenly turned to him. Proxy blue was silent again which made Brennan a little more nervous. "I…" He started again. He wanted to say that he didn't mean for anything of this to happen. He wanted to tell everyone that Emma was the only one he ever loved this way. He wanted to tell Shalimar that he never loved her to that level and that what he feels for her is just friendship. He wanted to say all this but all he could was "I'm sorry."
There was an odd moment of silence once again. Only rushing footsteps broke it. The shadow was coming nearer towards them and then a figure appeared from the narrow hallway. "What happened?" Adam came in the scene and was greeted with a very awkward sight. Jesse was on the floor with Shalimar who is obviously in tears while Brennan stood shirtless beside Emma who had her blouse unbuttoned which she held tightly around her to cover herself.
Adam knows best than to interfere too much any more. The scene was not hard to construe. Something had happened that made Shalimar mad and he knew just what. He shook his head and walked towards Shalimar. This is not good for Shalimar. He should not have told Shalimar to have a week if only he knew this was going to happen. "Jesse, bring her to the lab." He instructed him.
"No, wait." Shalimar protested stopping Jesse as he was about to follow Adam's order. Shalimar turned to Brennan again. Her expressions were unreadable but there was an unmistakable resentment. She carried herself and stood up so her eyes would meet Brennan's. "You're sorry?" she was gritting her teeth in obvious anger.
"I don't think th..."
But Shalimar motioned for Adam to hold. She gazed at Brennan willing him to continue.
"I'm sorry." Brennan said regretfully. "This should not have happened if I was honest to all of you." He brushed his hair with both of his hands unsure of how to continue. "I love Emma." He said finally after a pause and then he continued in a soft whisper. "I always have. I always will." He said to them. Shalimar was taken aback and it took at least a few minutes before Brennan's words sink in to her wits. She shook her head unwilling to accept this. "But…"
Brennan kept his eyes on the ground. He could not possible have the courage to look at Shalimar. He was guilty of all this lies and treachery. "I'm so sorry Shal. Emma and I," he glanced at the corner of his eyes towards Emma hoping to get some sort of assurance. "...we were together for so long." He paused for a moment. "We just wanted to make it as silent as possible."
"But…I'm… You're…" Shalimar continuously shook her head in disapproval. She was trying to convince herself that none of this is true. "But you're going to be a father. I... I... I'm pregnant."
"I'm sorry Shal, but I honestly don't remember..." he paused again unsure how to come up with a good phrase. "This came as a shock to me as well as to everyone."
The deafening silence came back after this statement. Even Adam didn't know what Brennan was talking about. Brennan felt like melting under his teammates stare and he must admit that it didn't turned out as much as he wanted it to. It took the team about 5 minutes to regain and it was Adam who finally decided to throw a question. "What do you meant when you said it came as a shock to you?"
Brennan stared at Adam and but didn't say anything.
"I mean," Adam continued "you knew you and Shalimar did... something, right?" Adam caught a sign of fear from Shalimar's eyes but choose to ignore it. He looked at Brennan and then saw him shaking his head. "But this is impossible. You should have known. There is no way Shalimar could be pregnant if…"
"I don't remember anything from that night, all right!" Brennan cut Adam off. He turned back to Shalimar. "I wanted to ask you. I mean, it felt as if it is a very odd question to ask that time seeing you and I, well... naked but I'm an experienced, not that it matters, I mean I would know if something had... I... I didn't want to hurt you." He finally finished what seemed to be an eternity for him.
"Liar!" Shalimar screamed. Her eyes turned yellowish green which made Brennan back away. He was sane enough to know that Shalimar is someone not to be messed with in her feral form. Shalimar's eyes turned normal again and there came a visible longing and pity a begging all mixed in one pitiful ruined self. "What do you think are you doing now? You're killing me Brenn." Shalimar started weeping again. "How could you do this to me?" she pounded Brennan's chest wanting him to feel even a part of her pain and then she finally collapsed at his broad frame.
The air was already thick around them. They could have all sworn that they were all near suffocation until Emma decided to finally air her concern. "We didn't want to hurt you Shal." Emma thought those would help the situation but she was very wrong.
"And you!" Shalimar bawled at her gathering herself out of Brennan's frame, she finally face Emma. "How dare you? I trusted you more than anyone in this place and you betrayed me." Brennan's instinct worked automatically bringing him to stop Shalimar from reaching Emma.
Jesse called out. "Shalimar, Emma did nothing to you…"
"She knew we were together. She knew I was pregnant. She knew we were planning to get marry and she even agreed to be the maid of honor…" Shalimar bellowed at Brennan and Jesse before she turned to Emma again. "…or did you already forget all these, you selfish little bitch."
Jesse abruptly moved to Emma's side. "Don't call her that. She was never a ...that." he was never used in using foul terms. "You don't know what she has been through all this time…"
Emma was tugging Jesse's elbow begging him to just stop. "Jesse, please."
"No, Ems, She has to know. They have to know. I can't stand here and watch everyone point blame on you when you were the victim here."
Shalimar forced a laugh. "'The victim here'? You say it like she didn't do anything w..."
"Well she didn't, if Brennan was brave enough to stand for her before." Jesse threw a shot stare at Brennan before his eyes returned to Shalimar. "Weren't you listening Shal, they were together long before you came in."
Shalimar could not find words to answer Jesse. It was a statement she had always feared. Brennan was someone else's. He was never hers and never will be hers. She shook her head in a violent disapproval. "No, this can't be true. You are only saying this to justify what you did." She yelled at Emma.
"Shal, they are not. Remember, I did tell you that I saw Brennan going into Emma's room. You have to remember, I told you that when we... well... you know."
Everyone froze from their position. The air was suddenly thicker than before. Shalimar was glaring murderously at Jesse. Each was all of a sudden interested of what Jesse was saying. Even if Jesse didn't said it they knew exactly what he meant. "You slept with her?" Brennan asked in disbelief. "You slept with Shalimar?"
"Well—" Jesse was blushing and Shalimar was glaring at him warning him. "Well," Jesse found it difficult to lie and to express the whole truth.
"Well, did you?" Adam encourage Jesse to continue.
Jesse nodded which followed by gasping sounds. "It was, well, months ago." Brennan stood there and started counting something while Emma and Adam gazed from Shalimar and Jesse with disbelief and Shalimar looked away biting her lower lips. "Well, the point is—"
"You can't be due now!" Brennan suddenly burst towards Shalimar.
Shalimar could not look Brennan in the eye now. "W...Wha...What are you saying?"
"It's only been 6 months since you said we did it."
"What do you mean I said? You say that like you didn't know it happened!"
"Well, I already said, didn't I."
Emotions were mixed in the room. Everything was now much hazy than before. Everyone seemed more confused now than ever. This revelations were surprising. As if right on cue Brennan shrieked in pain. Electricity where sparkling all over his body.
"Help!" he moaned in pain. Anger was forgotten at once the team quickly moved to his assistance but were having a hard time since electricity spurt where everywhere.
"Brenn! What's happening to him Adam?" Shalimar demanded.
Adam didn't answer him. "Quick Jesse, call Franscis." He bellowed.
"There's no need, I'm already here." The young doctor said and then aimed a tranquilizer gun at Brennan and shot him on the leg which took work in a mater of seconds. "We need to observe him." Franscis told Adam and Adam nodded. Both doctors moved to gather Brennan's body. Jesse assisted them in bringing Brennan to the laboratory.
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Please R and R… thanks…