I don't own the characters or anything – just borrowing them for this fanfic.
Bo glanced at her cell phone, her face lighting up when the name Lauren appeared on the caller ID. She quickly accepted the call, grateful for a distraction from exhausting workout.
"Hi Lauren," Bo answered.
"Bo? Are you okay? You sound…breathless."
Bo smiled, trying to slow her breathing. An hour of intense cardio had left her a sweaty, panting mess. With a little sass, she replied. "Yeah, I'm fine. Great, actually! Just following doctor's orders and releasing my energy through some physical activity."
The minute she said it, Bo knew what Lauren would think. It was if she could see Lauren's eyes widening over the phone. Her attempt to explain was nothing but stuttered words. "Well, I mean, not, uh, not that kind of physical activity! I'm, uh, I'm actually at the gym."
Lauren's laugh echoed through the phone. It was a gentle laugh that Bo never tired of. "Thanks for clarifying Bo, but really, I hope you would NOT answer your phone during sex."
Bo felt the blush rise up in her face. For this doctor, she'd actually do just about anything.
"Well, uh, I…uh…so what have I done that graces me with your call today?"
Again laughing at the diversion, Lauren carried on.
"Well, I'm heading to the States for a work conference tomorrow. I tried desperately to get out of it, seeing as to how I have a very pregnant patient due next week that could go into labor at any minute, AND for some reason, phase four of my nucleotide sequencing is generating multidimensional solutions that I desperately need to analyze. Yet the chief feels as though my patient will be in suitable hands with another member of our team, and my lab analysis can be delayed. In other words, he made it very clear that my absence from said conference is not an option. So, I wanted to let someone know that I would be out of town for several days, and also to see if you would maybe have time to check on my place and water my plants?"
Her voice ended on a softer note, saying "please" without actually saying the word at all. Bo's initial happy feeling from hearing Lauren voice was quickly overshadowed with sadness as Bo realized that out of town meant out of sight. After all, since their epic fight almost a year ago, Bo had made it a daily occurrence to always see the beautiful doctor, no matter how lame the excuse. Complicated feelings and jealousy infected their early romance, and Lauren's heartbreak led her to end their budding relationship in its infancy. Bo allowed her selfish ways to run rampant for a week thereafter but had a vicious wakeup call from her best friend. While Kenzi was not the best of friends with Lauren, Bo knew that if Kenzi was siding with Lauren, she alone was the guilty party. Desperate to correct her mistakes that drove Lauren away, Bo started putting Lauren first, every day since, even though their relationship was over.
At the onset of their breakup, Lauren questioned the high level of coincidence seeing Bo everywhere when she really just wanted to avoid her. But Bo was relentless and always showed up in the strangest of places, even if just to smile and say hello in passing. Her behavior may have been construed as a stalker by any other, but her gentle approach and the history between them made Lauren understand Bo's methods. Over time, Lauren's hurt lessened and she slowly moved Bo out of the dog house and back into the friend zone. She even admitted to herself that she began to enjoy their few minutes of interaction daily. It wasn't hurtful anymore, and Lauren could admit the attention was somewhat welcome. Always interested in the dozens of silly reasons Bo created to see her, she started keeping a list that she would reference periodically just for smiles. Once, Bo even took a side job for an entire month running deliveries at Lauren's hospital. After that, Lauren thought she could give Bo a break, and had thrown in a few coincidental run-ins herself. She still cared for the brunette deeply, but her insecurities and fear always overpowered her heart. Bo never stopped trying though.
"Sure Lauren. I'd be happy to help."
Lauren let out an audible breath. "Thank you Bo. I wrote out some simple instructions about the plants that I will leave on the kitchen counter. Oh, and I can bring you a key tonight, if you'll be home?"
While Bo always wanted a key to Lauren's place, this wasn't the reason she hoped to get one. "Yes I'm leaving the gym shortly. I'll be at my place the rest of the night."
"Great. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it."
"No problem Lauren. Anything for you."
There was an air of silence. Bo propped herself against the wall, her strenuous workout suddenly making her legs feel weak. Bo hoped Lauren was smiling on the other end but decided to fill the dead air rather than wonder.
"So, where is the brilliant Dr. Lewis driving to in the States? New York again? Connecticut? Cleveland?"
"I'm going to LA."
Bo scrunched her face. "LA? As in Los Angeles?"
Bo heard another audible breath from the doctor. "Yes, as in Los Angeles, as in California."
Bo pushed herself off the wall and her eyes widened. She gripped her phone a little tighter. "Lauren, you can't drive to California in one day. If your conference starts tomorrow, how are you going to get there in…wait, does this mean what I think it means?"
Bo knew her reaction wouldn't help the good doctor's nerves but she blurted it out anyway.
Lauren spoke with a quiver in her voice. "Unfortunately, yes. I'm on a plane first thing tomorrow, and before you say anything else, I need you to tell me that everything will be fine and that it's time I move beyond my irrational fear of planes, plane crashes and dying in a fire ball of an explosion 45,000 ft. in the air. I need you to tell me it will fine. That I will be fine and I don't need to be afraid. Please."
Bo heard the determined, proud doctor change her entire need in that one word. Please. The desperation in that crackled whispered word conveyed her attempt to quiet her emotions before they erupted, sending her mind into a tailspin of worry. Her greatest fear: flying.
When Lauren's mother passed away, she confided in Bo. Lauren needed to get to the family estate in Quebec but lacked the focus to drive due to her emotions. Lauren was furious with Bo, still upset over their blow up argument just four weeks prior. But she called on Bo for support, and Bo was there without question. Except for Lauren's sobs and sniffles, Bo drove the eight hour trip in the silence that Lauren requested. Bo felt helpless but desperate to help. Insistent to prove herself, she provided the silent support Lauren needed for the duration of that trip. On the ride back to Toronto, Lauren exposed her fear of flying and told Bo about her father's death when she was just seven years old. A plane crash. It was an intensely personal experience for them both, and Bo silently vowed to keep that moment privately between them. Rarely did Lauren allow anyone a peek at her vulnerability, and while Lauren was still mad at Bo from the month prior, only now did she feel comfortable sharing that personal pain with someone in her life.
Fears are obstacles that some can conquer quickly, but this…this was a fear decades in the making. Bo desperately wanted to ease Lauren's mind without discrediting her fear.
Bo's heart sank as she attempted a spontaneous speech of encouragement. "Lauren, I know this is a big step, but you're gonna do great. It can be a great opportunity to catch up on some sleep or read one of those medical journals that have words bigger than my entire vocabulary. You are a brilliant, strong and courageous woman Dr. Lewis. I have every bit of faith that you can do this."
Lauren issued a quiet thank you, before reconfirming she'd drop the keys off around 7pm. Before Bo could think of any additional words to comfort her, Lauren ended the call.
Bo tossed her phone in the gym bag, the sweat now drying to her skin and creating a chill around her. With a deep breath, she headed home to shower before Lauren's arrival.
Bo entered her place to hear music bumping through the kitchen. Kenzi was perched on the kitchen counter, wine bottle in hand.
"Yo Bo bo. Tamsin and I are gonna hit the Dal and settle up our bet on who is the queen of vodka drinking, even though we already know the answer to that is moi. Wanna come with and crown me queen while she's passed out on the floor?"
Bo paused only momentarily, taking the wine bottle from her hand and placing it out of reach. "Vodka pre-game with wine? Ugh. I'm gonna pass. Besides, Lauren is stopping by to drop off something and I need to shower first."
Kenzi rolled her eyes and hopped off the kitchen counter.
"And in that case, I'm gonna peace out now and avoid all kinds of lady drama."
Bo rolled her eyes. "It's not like that anymore. We're civil. We're…more than civil." Bo allowed a small smile to appear, realizing in that moment that she and Lauren haven't fought in ages. She couldn't even remember the last time Lauren hung up on her.
Kenzi tilted her head. "Great. Then that means you two will be at it like rabbits. Even better! My ears have finally healed! Dude, you better be saving up for my therapy, and by therapy, I mean alcohol. Later gater. I'm out." She blew Bo a kiss and threw a wink before leaving their dilapidated apartment. Bo just rolled her eyes and smiled. She could only hope.