After having stopped by the inn on his way home, it was time to head back and unpack. When he shoved the door open and passed the porch, he smiled back at her over his shoulder and picked up his back he had left on the ground to the side of the porch. Shane was lucky no one stole it, but he didn't suppose anyone would want to kidnap an Irishman's dirty laundry. After he shouldered the bag he reached out to take her hand, "Hey you." *

Scully was well behind him, watching his every move. Hell she had missed him, eager to have him home. So were the hounds. Both of them billowed and cried as if they were dying when they spotted him. Once the howling had died down and the neighbors were thoroughly dissatisfied, she was able to give her head some peace. It was about that time that he took her hand and blinked, both eyes locking with his as she smiled out, squeezing his own," Hello to you too." A long sigh, content one that that," I missed you so much."

"All right!! My dogs!" he cheered when he got to the porch. It took Shane a while to admit that he was in love with Molly and glad that she had adopted her, but you couldn't tell these days anymore that he had ever felt that way. When he got in they jumped and slobbered and he petted them as lovingly as ever. His bag he dropped on the bed and he arched his back to give it a good crack, "The trip back was rough. I thought I'd never get home. I still can't believe I'm here." *

"I'm glad you are." She stated, following him into the room and gathering up his bag. That's right, she was going to sort it for him and get some of it washed so he'd have clothes in the morning. The dogs barked, bounced, and even jumped on the bed to properly greet him with slobbers and lots of licks. Scully even had to pause so both kids could give them both a warm greeting," Easy! Easy... yes we're home!" She couldn't hold back a few giggles while she skritched both behind their ears.

He gave the dogs a friendly rub on the head and then, taking them by the collars, led them off the bed, "None of that now, you'll get the bed dirty. Out with the both of you!" and he led them out and quickly shut the door behind him so that they would be alone. There was, of course, whimpering to be heard but Shane wasn't much concerned with it. He moved in and wrapped his arms around her, lips dropping down to nuzzle her just on the lips. *

Oh sweet bliss, how she missed those lips. She brushed his back with but a simple nuzzle and brought her hands up, giving his cheek a caress. Forehead rested against forehead and she murmured out to him lightly," Welcome home... Welcome home." Maybe she missed him a little bit too much. It didn't matter. Both arms wrapped around him, giving him a squeeze.

"It is... so very good to be back here, with you." He thought he couldn't hug her in close enough to him. His hands at the sides of her waist and then folding in, so his forearms were beside one another behind her bar. He kissed her again and again like she were about to leave him. Then he exhaled, his hold around her loosening, "How've you been?" *

Kiss after kiss was returned with delight. Her lips continued to rush over his until he exhaled. She took the chance to take a breath of him, remember his scent as if he had been gone for ages on end. Her fingers ran over his chest once she had nestld against him well enough," I've been bored out of my mind without you here to be honest. Worried and bored. Hoping you're alright and that you'd be okay." She wanted him to always remember that she was there for him through thick and thin.

"Really? I would have thought Brandon would have given you some trouble to help you pass the time." he dropped down on the bed, arms outstretched and feet hanging off the end. He grinned at her, "You and Chase didn't get into any trouble with boys, did yah?" *

"Nah, to be honest I think she's nervous around me what with.." Pokes at her forehead and then shakes her head all together," Him haunting me." She slid down besides him, her fingers moving through his hair," Been rather dull without you around Shane." Extremely dull to be honest.

"Nervous still huh?" he kissed her forehead after she had poked at it, "I'm still trying to be optimistic, you know?" He tended to believe everything could be fixed and everything would somehow end up all right. How he could do that, what with the outcome of Maria, was a faulty reasoning. When her hands go through his hair it felt wonderful, like her fingernails were smoothing his brain, "Glad to know my antics were missed." *

"More than your antics Shane." She giggled, still trailing through his hair," You stealing the covers, your morning greeting. The way you always know how to make me smile and how to make everyone smile. Being with you and having left-overs." She leaned down, kissing his nose softly," Just doesn't feel right when you're not here to brighten the day."

"You miss... my morning breath, I knew it." His eyes narrowed on her and he grinned, reaching up to pull her down on top of him at the bed, "It's okay, no need to be ashamed, it's just... you know, the sign that you're irreversibly in love with me." He sighed heavily and then looked over at her, "I'm so ready to sleep. You tired?"

She traced her fingers over his cheek and nuzzled her nose with his," So what if I am irreversibly in love with you Shane? Is that so wrong?" She tilted her head, her fingers now moving to rub at his neck lightly," Somewhat. Sleeping does sound inviting."

"Not at all, it was my evil plan from the get go, you know." he grinned at her and turned so they were lying side by side. One of his arms wrapped around her, the other acting like a pillow to cradle her neck. His eyebrows jumped up as he grinned, "Sleep is incredibly inviting! Nothing else you'd rather do, right?" His head dropped on his pillow. Despite his spunk, the dark circles under his eyes pointed to how tired he earnestly was. *


"I think perhaps sleeping would be in your best interest, rather than me giving you a proper greeting." She waggled her brows," But I could if you asked nicely." A bit of a tease to say the least. She was still toying with his hair, fingers twiddling them lightly before she leaned in kissing his chin," There are plenty things I'd rather do now that I have a hold of you, but I don't want to rush the sleepy one."

He chuckled and his eyes went this way and that, then his hand dropped to grasp her hip, "You know... there are times, many times, that there are things a man will prefer to sleep." Sex was above food, sleep, and Jesus' birthday. He kissed her again, rolling partially on top of her with a grin, "I've a sudden second wind."

People had coined sayings for a reason. That your ears were burning cause you felt you were being talked about. That a person could at one time be knee high to a grasshopper. The saying, slept like the dead, was perhaps named after him. He could be stirred a bit in the morning, after he had had his sleep, but even that wasn't terribly likely. It took jolts, a full bladder or a hungry stomach to rouse him. Today it was the stomach.

The fuzzy of yellow sharpened into a room that was empty of both Skulls and the dogs. He fetched his hand up to his hand, scratching it. Sometimes the morning was disorienting and he woke up feeling like a victim that had been redressed in his sleep because of his his pajama pants had twisted around him in his sleep.

"Skulls?" His turn to groan in response to her. His eyes looked like to plead for a break but he knew she wouldn't give him one. She had already started the morning whirlwind and to sleep anymore would just be pure gluttony. Eyebrows lowered as he squinted toward the window, "Already noon? Jesus I overslept."

He sat up, coughed to clear his throat and began to able towards the kitchen where the food had grabbed him by the nose.

Her offer to go to the store caused him to chuckle. He scratched the back of his head and took a seat at the kitchen table. A sleep yawn crawled out of his mouth, "Actually, I wouldn't mind going with you. I gotta stop by the shop, anyway, so I don't mind going with you."

"Wanna stop by the shop before or after?" She smiled to him, brushing out those long pink locks. Her fingers combed through her hair as she pondered for a moment. Golden eyes locked on him and his meal. Her frame stretching a bit while she could.

He tore off a piece of bacon and tossed it into his mouth, "either is fine with me. Is the shop closer to the store or is it the other way around? I can't really keep them straight." He chuckled like dry, tired leaves and then shot his eyes at her, "What are you pickin up at the store, anyway?" another bite of bacon, a small wave of it, "we have plenty of food." *

"Uh.." She thought they needed a few things, so sure enough she goes to double check her list, one hand skritching at her head. Both lips purse. "Well guess we don't need to go to the store then." A bit curious to the hair brained moment. She flickered her glance to him, grinning a little. "Like the thick cut honey bacon? I figured we'd try something different."

"But we're good on basic supplies?" Like he would know. He cleared his throat, grabbed a piece of toast and finished it off pretty savagely. He climbed to his feet and smiled, "I guess I should put on some real clothes if we're going out in public together. Don't want to embarrass you."

A small laugh left her lips. "You couldn't embarrass me." She smiled to him, moving over to steal a kiss from his lips before he wondered away. "Yeah, we're good on basic supplies. I was thinking of making steak tonight, sort of a simple meal and such." She nods to him. His plate and glass was plucked up to be rinsed off and washed.

"Oh, is it a competition now? See if I can dress to embarrass you properly." He shook his head at her and went into the bedroom. When he came out he was in dark brown slacks and a button up green shirt whose sleeves he was rolling up and shoving behind his elbows. He cleared his throat and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wet and tame his hair a bit. It was a bit longish these days, "Steak sounds good. Oh, did I tell you who I ran into the other day?"

She looked over him, loving the color green on him. "No, ya didn't. Who'd you run into?" Brows scrunched. Other than Brandon and Chase she didn't know who all he'd tell her who he bumped into. Granted he usually told her right away if he did that. Her smile was set on soft while she conversed with him. The dishes placed in the drying rack and then wiping off the counter and table top.

"The girl Shane, you met her the other day, yea?" He and She-Shane drank together sometimes on lunch break and shot the breeze. Shane was pretty sure she had been there on occasion. He ran his hands through his wet hair another time and then grinned at her, offering the crook of his arm, "Got the shoppin' list and keys? Wait, did we let the dogs out or are they lurkin' around inside?"

"They're outside, being little monsters as usual." As always, it seemed Skulls was on top of things in the morning. She hummed gently and whistled gently. Both flip flopped feet headed for the door and opened it up. Her eyes turned back to him. "Oh yeah? How's she doing?" Skulls tilted her head to the side and stepped quickly to avoid the sudden rush of dogs into the house.

"Well, we didn't chat for very long cause I was on break buuttttt," he reached and moved in fast step with her. The dogs were thwarted but were still too excited upon seeing them to get upset. When molly wagged her tail it almost wagged her whole body. Shane had this covered, though. He reached into an empty flour pot that was on a stand and pulled out two doggie treats. That got their attention. The treats were waved to bait their full attention and then tossed in the opposite direction they were going. He grinned at Skulls, "It usually keeps them from following." *

Watching the dogs go bounding after the treats, she took the chance and stepped out onto the porch with him quickly behind. Closing the door, she locked it with her key and paused to look up to him. "But?" She was always interested in what he and his friends spoke of. She wasn't sure why, but it had to do with him being happy, that was the most important thing to her. Rising on her toes, she pushes hair from his face, sorted a hair that was sticking up, and brushed his shirt flat. "What would I do without you to think quickly and give us a quick escape from nutzy hounds?" Giggling softly and grinning upwards at him.

"She had time to tell me that she and Avery broke up. Apparently she's all about some other guy and told me that Avery saw her kissing this new fella. Who the guy is, I have no idea." He grinned at her when she reached up and kissed her hand and looked forward again, "That's the skinny of it."*

"Ah, well, so long as she aint kissin you." Teasing him. "I mean, I know you have a way with the ladies, but I don't share." She giggled softly, hopping up on her toes to kiss his cheek. "Glad to be home?" Her arms looped with his and gave it a squeeze while she started to walk besides him.

"Nahhhh, not me at all." He shook his head with a smile. A glance was caste over his shoulder to check on the dogs to make sure they weren't following them before he looked back to her, "Being home is great. I like traveling and being places, but I don't like the act of traveling. I like all my stuff unpacked and in the right place and set up. I don't like trying to figure out everything. Plus, it's easier to sleep with a pretty girl in my arms. That's definitely better."

Skulls laughed softly to his words. "It's easier to sleep knowing you're holdin me Shane. I'll never lie about that." Her head rested on his shoulder for a moment, taking in the warmth of the sun while it shined down on them. "The kids and I missed you."

"They miss bacon you don't cook on some mornings, so I'm not sure how far you can throw the weight of their heart." His arm went around her automatically. He could make out the buildings now as they were coming up on the marketplace, "I also met someone new the other day. She's from northern Ireland, like me. I think maybe around the same year, too. I forget her first name, it was a little odd but she said she was an O'Conner. You know her?"

Thinking for a moment or two before shaking her head. "Mmm... Nope. Though I doubt O'Brien rings a bell to anyone these days." That was probably the first time she had told Shane her last name. Though same time or not, she didn't know. She was a part of the whole clan O'Brien, a runaway and what not. Sure she had thought of what it would be like to go back home, see her family, her brothers and sisters, but that idea quickly ran away. Eyes settled upon the buildings while she squeezed him. "I'll have to keep an eye out for her whenever I get the chance to go out."

"O'Brien, you say?" His reaction, coupled with a grin, was one that told her that she hadn't told him her last name. The two of them were different in that respect. Shane was someone who could spew the details about himself so long as it didn't involve how he felt. Skulls, well, the details were braided with emotion. When he saw the sign for the tailor shop he smiled and kissed her on the cheek, "I'm gonna visit Harvey and then I'll be into the Enable shortly after. Meet you there?"

"Sure.. I need to make a note of supplies you need. You don't mind do you?" She was going to make sure he was well stocked. Turning, she looked to the Tailor shop and then to the Enabler's direction. It wasn't that much of a walk, she had made it so. She tucked a bit of hair behind one ear. His O'Brien question would have to wait, but she was sure he'd find out answers even if she hadn't told him what they were. He was crafty like that.

"Nah, I'm pretty sure we're good on ink, but I don't know about paper and all that mess. Plus, I'll need a new book like the one you got me one of these days. The thing is lookin' rough!" His smile somehow to tease her. He nodded towards her and seemed to dodge inside the tailor shop.

Harvey was there, sitting on a small stool at the foot of a dress whose bottom hem he was working on. His back had almost a permanent bend to it from his stooping. When he did work like that he wore his glasses and they sat low and heavy on his nose. When he opened the door the bell rang and Harvey looked up and only cracked part of a smile for him. He scratched the back of his neck and crouched beside the man, his elbows on his knees, "Well?"

Harvey wrinkled his nose to shove his glasses up and looked back at the end of the dress, "Well what?" Shane swatted at him, "Are you going to sell me the shop yet? You told me by the end of the month you'd know, then you told me by the first of next you'd know. So do you know? Plus, I need a paycheck."

Harvey shot him a paternal look of warning, pushed his glasses to the top of his head and walked around behind the desk. Side by side, they looked odd together. Harvey was short and stout and looked like a man who drank his beer with nails and had had one or two stay in his gut. Shane looked like his lanky, scrappy puppy and had to look down at the man, more than he did some women, when they talked. "I told you I'd let you know."

Shane tilted his head to the side as he watched the man deliver and envelope with his pay in it, "Yea? What's it that I get to know, then?"

Harvey was quiet. He didn't move for a moment but then the leather backed ledger swang shut and he looked at Shane, "I will sell her to yah at the end of the month, that's when you get to have her. Gives me time to sort my things and be prepared."
Shane lit up, knowing that it was hard for the man to part with the shop he loved and ran near twenty years. But it was time to pass the torch as they say and since he had no sons, and Shane showed a love for it, he had reluctantly given himself to the tide. "I'll never forget you for this!" and so it was that he jammed his paycheck into his back pocket and sprinted, extra light, towards the door of the Enabler.

"Paper, note book.." She snapped her fingers from inside the Enabler's office. "Maybe he needs more pens." Scully did a monthly check on what he needed from time to time, just to keep ahead, but he usually had a list. With his recent absence and how he'd always been so busy at the shop, he had gotten a bit behind. But he said it was alright, so. She moved over to the desk, opening one drawer after the other to seek out how many pens he had, as well as searching for other supplies that he might need.

When she got to a certain drawer and opened it, she paused. Eyes locking on a particular folder she knew rather well. Curiosity got the better of her. "I thought he filed these...?" For a moment, her smile was soft, sweet, filled with gentle understanding, but eventually she piped up. "Shane musta forgotten." Setting it on the desk, she opened up the folder, just to double check that things within were taken care of and paused. That pause took the smile right off her face and she paled.

For several moments she stayed frozen, very frozen. Golden eyes were wide, locked upon the single line that held beneath it in black print, 'Shane Daley Michael', but there was no signature. He wouldn't have forgotten something like that, she knew that. Her eyes turned up, locking on the signature above Maria's printed name. She gulped. Why didn't he sign it? Did this have something to do with him going with her to Ireland? Was she the other woman afterall? So many questions suddenly rushed over her.

All she could do was sit and stare, trying to process as quickly as she could, but the questions, they just kept coming and coming, and coming. One hand moved over her lips, golden eyes starting to fill with tide pools of tears egging to break free.

No one could have said how long she had been there. Shane didn't think she was in there when he first came in, on account she was in the office part and not the main room where printing was done. He figured one he had the shop purchased and under his name that he could hire someone to manage it for him while he worked on the paper. Lord knew the last time he did a publication for it. It seemed that the dawn was coming where something fantastic was finally suppose to be happening to him. "Hey, Skulls?" He stepped around and went to the back office and began, "I just talked to Harvey and--" and he saw the look on her face.

The paper was stared at even as his voice echoed in her ears. Her head lifted up, eyes, broken by emotion, quivering within her shock. The folder was pushed forwards for Shane while she spoke. "You never signed it... And then you went away with her to Ireland, insistent that I not go." Her voice broke a little bit more and her head lowered to her hands. "All I've been was just the other woman." A small sob burst free from her lips. "Did you ever intend to sign them?" Her head shook and she rose from his chair, her body moving quickly towards the door, but he was right before it. Suddenly she was pacing back and forth.

"Skulls..." It was a rollercoaster down without all the joy. He felt the winds change as rapidly as they could. He had always been the victim before, the one that someone had wronged and he righteously got to march on for it. Now he was the monster, but he only had primitive tools to be that creature. What did he do, then? He stood there, stupidly, sadly, with his hands tense in the air like something invisible could be held there. He pressed his lips together and then spoke softly, "It wasn't like that at all. Marie was just there because mom knew her and took care of her a long time. She was like a sister that needed to be there when mom died." He dared a few steps closer to her, "I was gonna sign 'em..." *

She could get that, she could understand what had been said, but what came next had her mind on a whole other ride. "But you didn't. You didn't sign them." Her hands lifted to her head as tears continued to streak down her face. "Christ! I've been falling in love with a man that's still married!" She pushed her hands in her eyes and sobbed in them for a second, her mental processes spinning her on a long, long ride of doubt and what ifs. "I don't even know what to say.. What to do about this.."

She couldn't look at him, she just continued to pace, tremble even as she continued to process and process what had come to light.

He wanted to comfort her when she cried because, well, that's what they did. When she was upset he held her and waited for the storm to pass. This time he was the storm and he... moved to try to hold her, touch her. Thought maybe if he touched her it would all go away. he touched her, just at the elbow, "I just got behind on things and I dunno... I'll sign them, I will, I promise."

She jerked her arm away, her eyes finally looking to him, narrowing on him. "Don't... Don't touch me." She was so angry with this whole mess, so angry that the tears continued to fall. Her lips pursed, fine lines forming on her face, showing her distaste. "You'll sign them, and then you'll forget to file them. I'll find them again and again.. If you wanted it you would have done it.. I just don't get this; I don't get this at all!" She locked her eyes on his face. "What else haven't you told me?! That you've kept from me!? This is a big deal Shane.. All this time... I've just been the other woman. You're still married.. and.. and.." Her hand clasped over her lips, hard sobs leaving her.

"It'll...get done... " He shrank back from her like she'd slapped his hand. Or burned it. He didn't want to look at her, not directly, so his gaze turned away for a minute to the large press that loomed, still and quiet, in the room next door. He cleared his throat, "This is the only thing, Skulls, I promise. It was just a mistake." But it wasn't a mistake and he couldn't explain why he looked at those papers and just shut them up in a drawer like you bury someone you never liked at all. He raked his hands through his hair, "You've been the only one since we started going together."

Silence continued on where she stood, tears still boiling over. Her frame slid down, arms hugging her while she curled up in her spot. Head lowering, lips pursing, and suddenly her head shaking. Small sniffles leaving her. Enough of an expression on her, saying that she didn't know what to do. His words had stilled her for now, but even then she felt numb, unsure, and rather difficultly she started to try and cope. The first step was always closing up, hiding in a shell like a turtle did. That seemed to be what she planned to do. If Shane wanted to embrace her, hug her, he'd have to do it in baby steps. The sobs subsided, but the hurt was still there. How could it leave? Something she had believed was suddenly a lie, a big one too. The coping was getting harder the more she tried to understand it, so eventually the question came through the silence. "Why?"

"I don't know." Flatly, and this time with something like quiet remorse. He couldn't explain it to himself, much less her. His eyes watched her, studied her movement and he reached like he was going to try to touch her again, but didn't. The hand came to rest on his hip and the other worked his brow like he had a headache. What was he suppose to tell her? Those things were just suppose to collect dust and disappear in the dark.

Skulls rose again, her frame shifting, turning, and eyes meeting his. Both of her lips pursed, a fine line showing even while drawing in a quivered breath. She couldn't keep that gaze, her eyes turned away, golden orbs threatening to brust with tears again. Gentle sobs were covered by the back of her hand, her head shaking.

She couldn't make work of this, couldn't come to an understanding right off the bat. Her feet pushed her on, moving her towards the door this time while she gave him a wide distance between them. "I'm going home." A flat bit of words, mono-tone, and quite broken. Her palm lifted to her lips, holding back more emotion.

She didn?t know how she was even able to move so quickly, but soon she was at the house and pacing. A pillow was snatched up, so was her old blanket. She soon found herself curled up on the couch, pillow under her head and her body hidden under a blanket. Two hounds nestled over that blanket, one laying between her and the back of the couch, their head on her hip and the other at her feet. They knew she was upset.


<More live RP between Shane and Myself. Thank you Shane!>