Title: Inhuman Conditions
Authors: h-bomba & lonejaguar
Rating: M
Summary: Unfinished business leaves Lauren in peril and Bo scrambling to rally the troops before time expires.
A/N: Continuing The Human Condition saga. It's not necessary, but you may want to read that first. This will be a trilogy.
"Let it ring," Bo said, stilling Lauren's hand on her cell phone
Her mouth was on Lauren's neck, her hands having crept up to cradle her breasts in them and Lauren couldn't really care what or who was on the other end of the line. She let her hand slip away from the phone as her voice mail took over.
Bo's throaty laugh awakened her desire. Warmed through from a night's sleep, Lauren lay in Bo's arms as her hands played over her body. Her eyes had barely achieved focus when Bo made her move to initiate yet another round of morning sex. They were still so much in love and unaccustomed to being together that whenever the mood struck there was a lot of abusing the rules of Kenzi's Guide To A Happy Home.
Bo's hunger shone through with a flash in her eyes, and the intent was burned into them. She looked at Lauren, appraising the doctor as a lone hand smoothed down the slope of her neck, between her breasts and across her navel. Her fingers crept lower and Lauren gasped when she reached her objective. Lauren moaned which brought about a smile in Bo. A perfect, glowing smile of self-satisfaction. Lauren opened an eye and swatted at her. Bo flinched playfully and then returned to her exploration of Lauren's body. Her fingers delved into her and Bo sighed at her warmth before pressing a kiss against her lips.
They stayed that way for moments, long enough for Lauren to urge Bo for more. The room spun as she obliged and Lauren couldn't form a coherent thought. So when the plaintive buzzing of her cell phone startled her, she tried hard to focus.
"Bo, I need-" She reached for the offending phone.
Bo smiled. "I thought we were going to let it ring?"
"There might be an emergency-"
"I think we're going to have an emergency here if you leave me like this."
"Bo." Lauren regarded her seriously. "Just let me check. It may be nothing."
"Fine." Bo picked the phone off the bedside table and dropped it into Lauren's outstretched hand. A few button presses and Lauren was sitting up and pulling away from Bo. "Whoa, where are you going?"
"Someone needs my help."
"Who?"
"Vex." Lauren walked away, into the bathroom. She ran the tap, letting the water warm before splashing it onto her face.
"Nuh uh. No way." Bo crawled out of bed and followed her. "Vex is a big boy."
Lauren squeezed toothpaste onto her toothbrush. "What's the problem?"
Bo stood behind her, making eye contact in the bathroom mirror. "I don't want you to go into Dark Fae territory alone."
Lauren spit into the sink and looked at Bo. "Then take me there."
"I can't. I'm meeting Dyson this morning."
"What if he's hurt, Bo?"
"Are we talking about the same mesmer that infected me with a parasite, has nearly killed everyone in this crack shack and hosted an S&M party-using our bedrooms, I might add-while we were at the movies one night?"
"The very one," Lauren nodded. "I'll be fine."
Bo crossed her arms. "I'm going to have to put my boot down."
Lauren dropped her toothbrush in the cup next to the sink and turned to face Bo. "What?"
Bo ran her hands down Lauren's arms that hung defeated at her sides. "I am responsible for you and I really don't think this is a good idea, Lauren."
"I didn't know I needed a chaperone," she scoffed and walked past Bo back to the bedroom.
"Lauren," Bo called after her from the bathroom.
She sat on the edge of the bed. "I need a purpose, Bo. I can't be a kept woman."
Bo stood at the threshold to the bedroom and looked at Lauren. She could tell Bo was weighing her options as she quietly appraised the woman in her bed. She checked the clock on the wall. "We'll talk about this later, I have to meet Dyson in forty-five minutes."
Lauren seethed as she watched Bo ready herself for her meeting with Dyson. As Bo straightened her hair, Lauren dressed casually and sat in the chair in the corner of the room, reading the file Bo had been working on. When Bo breezed in and kissed her on the cheek, she smiled plaintively and watched her take the file and go. She listened for the car door to slam and roar of the Camaro's engine before standing and hurrying downstairs.
"Hey Doc, got any hot plans today?" On the couch, Kenzi kicked her legs in the air like a synchronized swimmer. Lauren gathered her medical bag and slipped into her leather jacket. Kenzi froze. "Where are you going?"
"Out."
Kenzi scrambled to her feet. "No way, not without me."
"You sound like Bo," Lauren muttered.
"Do I sense a little trouble in paradise?"
"I thought being owned by Bo would be different, I guess."
"Hello! It is different. You don't have a curfew and you get to bang the boss every night. Bet you never had that with the Ash."
"It doesn't bother you when she tells you that you can't do something?"
"Sure, but she's just trying to protect us."
"Yeah well, maybe I don't need protection," Lauren said, emboldened and standing tall.
Kenzi laughed. "Doc, I've seen your moves, trust me you need protection."
Lauren looked Kenzi over in her footed pajamas. "Are you coming, or what?"
It was the conviction in Lauren's voice that stuck with her on the drive to the Dal. She had heard it before, but it hadn't been directed at her before. For the first time, Bo had to do something she never thought she'd have to: say no to Lauren. And it did not go well. Maybe she could have been less condescending. Maybe if she hadn't been so anxious. Bo pulled her car into the alley and sighed. But you just don't walk out on a succubus in the middle of sex.
The Dal was quiet, a few regulars taking in the fine breakfast menu. Dyson sat hunched over a cup of coffee at a table near the fireplace. He looked up and smiled at her as she approached.
"Good morning," he said.
"It's morning all right," she replied, smiling half-heartedly at the server as she filled a second cup. "Leave the pot."
At the server's puzzled look, Dyson frowned at her. "You okay?"
"Yeah just…" She sipped her coffee. "Bit of a disagreement this morning."
"Ah," Dyson nodded, refilling his cup. "Well, I looked into those missing girls you asked me about." He slid a file across the table. "No similarities popped up, different jobs, different families."
"Great, so we're no closer to anything."
"Ah, but," Dyson flipped open the file. "They all have ties to the Fae."
Bo scanned the pages, one belonged to a centaur in the west end and disappeared on her way to work. The second was the pet of an ogre who ran the stadium downtown and the third was owned by a vampire who runs Noche Vita. All Dark. Bo shook her head. "I don't get it, hunting Fae-owned humans? Isn't that like, against the law?"
"Well, it's theft, essentially."
"So why would a someone be stealing humans?"
Dyson leaned back in his chair. "Got me. Settling a score?"
Bo tucked the file into her bag. "Thanks, Dyson. I'm going to take this home. Maybe Lauren can shed some light on this. If she's still talking to me."
"Good luck," Dyson said. "I'll let you know if I find out any more."
The taxi sped away from the clubhouse. It was raining, which was oddly fitting of her mood. The city streets blinked by as they raced toward their destination. Kenzi had abandoned her footed pajamas for clothing more befitting of her and Lauren had triple-checked her medical bag for supplies as she waited. She was nothing if not thorough.
"So Doc, you've got a funny way of showing Bo that you accept her as your owner."
"It's complicated." Lauren brushed invisible lint from her leg.
"No, it's not. She saved you from a life of collegiate hell, she saved your ass from the Fae and I'm willing to bet she's saved you from yourself, too."
"She's my girlfriend. It feels like a contradiction in terms of our relationship. How can we be equals if she's got the last word on what I can and cannot do?"
"Being owned is what keeps us safe, Doc. Sure, Bo is a terrible owner. She's flighty and indecisive and sometimes unfair but she loves us and she would do anything to keep us safe."
Lauren took a minute to absorb what the younger, and shockingly, wiser woman had said. Kenzi was right, Lauren was being impulsive and defiant. She had to work on her acceptance of this situation. She thought this was what she wanted but living the reality was more difficult than it had been under the Ash. It was when the business and pleasure lines converged that the problems arose.
Like a child, Kenzi chased the raindrops that beaded on the window with her finger. It was moments like these that Lauren could feel Kenzi's lost innocence. The taxi's brakes squeaked as they approached the address and the cabbie hung a U-turn, screeching to a stop in front of the building. Lauren paid the man and they ran through the rain to the building's impressive glass doors. Kenzi yanked what must have also been an impressive weight as the door barely budged. Comically, Kenzi put all she had into pulling it the rest of the way open and Lauren stood back with a bemused smile playing on her lips.
"What? You could help, you know," Kenzi grouched. Lauren pulled on the door handle with Kenzi and they passed through. Lauren checked the registry that hung in the security entrance and dialed four numbers. "Where's the doorman? Swanky place like this…" Kenzi trailed off.
"Vex? It's Dr. Lewis-" The door buzzed and clicked open before she could finish.
Kenzi grabbed the door handle and yanked like she was prepared for it to weigh as much as the outer door, stumbling backwards when it gave easily. "Am I on candid camera because that shit was not funny."
Lauren pointed at the camera in the lobby. "Someone's watching…"
Kenzi pointed at the camera. "I want a copy of that shiz. You hear me?"
The expansive interior lobby made no bones about being high end. Polished silver ornately decorated the fireplace that crackled in the center of the room. There were stairs along the back wall and elevators to the right. Lauren marched in with purpose and poked the elevator button.
"This place is a little pretentious, even for Vex." Kenzi looked around the foyer as they waited. "Don't you think?"
"He's a different Vex, I suppose anything is possible."
"I guess."
The elevator dinged. The ride was silky smooth. There was little jostling of the car or its passengers when it came to a halt on the twelfth floor. Kenzi looked down the hallway before exiting the car and Lauren followed her lead. They were two humans in Dark Fae territory without an owner to protect them. Jesus, Lauren, what have you gotten yourself into? She shook her head, trying to clear the thoughts from her head. It's just Vex.
Kenzi knocked on the door and startled Lauren out of her haze of self-doubt and devaluation. "Game face, Doc, it's go time," Kenzi whispered. When no answer came, Kenzi jiggled the door knob. When a soft click was heard and the door creaked open the women shared a look.
"Vex," Kenzi called into the darkened apartment. "Vex, you wanker, can't you answer your door?"
"Kenzi-" Lauren warned, holding up a hand. "Vex, are you okay?" she called into the darkness.
The light from the street cast an eerie blue-grey light into the sunken study. In the center was a large office chair, turned away from them. Lauren approached the chair and slowly turned it to face her. There, unconscious and gagged, was Vex. She bent over, checking his vitals, as the real host of this get together pushed through the doors to the bedroom.
"It's a boondoggle, Doc." Kenzi tugged on Lauren's jacket.
"A what?" Lauren asked, confused.
"A fast one, a con, a trap!"
"Dr. Lewis, so glad you could come help dear, sweet Vex," the Morrigan's tone was dripping with sarcasm. "And you brought a friend? Eponine, is that you?"
Kenzi grumbled and hung close to Lauren.
"What's the meaning of this?" Lauren removed Vex's gag and reached into her medical bag, pulling smelling salts from it. She waved the salt underneath his nose and suddenly he snapped awake. Lauren started to untie his restraints when the Morrigan nodded at Bruce.
"Can't let you do that, ma'am," he said, his hand eclipsing Lauren's.
"What's the big idea, Brucie?" Kenzi griped.
"You see, Vex is one of my special guests."
Sensing the their luck was turning, Kenzi pulled on Lauren's arm. "C'mon Doc, let's get out of here."
"What about Vex? We can't just leave him here."
"You won't have to, Doctor. You see, you're my guest of honor."
"I'm not interested."
"Come now, Doctor. It's my Golden Jubilee. How can you deny me?"
"Like this," Kenzi said, pulling Lauren toward the door. They were halfway across the living room when Bruce separated them. "You can't do this to us. Bo will know that we came here," Kenzi said.
"Oh, I have what I need," The Morrigan said, glancing at Lauren. "You run along home and let your owner know the clock is ticking."
Bruce escorted Kenzi to the door. "Sorry, Kenzi," Bruce moped as he placed her outside the threshold and closed the door.
"Bruce!" Kenzi yelled, banging on the door. "Give me back my friend!" Kenzi tried the knob and found it locked. "Shit!" Kenzi took note of the placard on the door and skulked toward the elevators.
Bo rushed in the front door, taking refuge from the rain. It was a shitty day outside and was starting the feel like that extended inside as well. Bo dropped the files and her keys onto the island's countertop, grabbed a napkin, and began to wipe the water from her face.
"Kenzi?"
Bo walked to the couch and called her name again, "Kenz?" Bo began to feel alarmed. Kenzi had her footed pajamas on when she left and that was a sure sign that Kenzi intended to stay in all day. Bo walked to the stairs. "Lauren?" she called before starting her way upstairs, trying again as she entered the bedroom. "Babe?"
Bo sighed. The pattering of rain on the roof would have been soothing if the stillness of their home wasn't so unnerving. Bo tread back downstairs, snatching her keys off the table and trotted back out into the rain.
Kenzi rushed through the Dal's doors, creating little commotion in the atmosphere. She didn't have to look far before she found Bo waiting for her at the bar.
"Where have you been?" she admonished her. "I've looked everywhere for you."
"We have a code red, grade A, super shitty situation developing in the North." Kenzi hopped up onto the bar stool next to Bo.
"Kenz, did you get into the special brownies again?"
"I'm serious. This is so not good." Kenzi jittered.
Bo looked around, concerned. "Where's Lauren?"
"About the Doc…"
"Where is she, Kenzi?" Bo was losing her patience, hoping the answer involved Lauren being mad at her at home.
Kenzi picked at the cocktail napkin beneath Bo's drink. "The Morrigan kinda took her and Vex."
"Vex?" Bo repeated, not without a hint of anxiety. "She went to help him after I told her not to go."
"You should know by now, the Doc has more experience being owned than you have owning."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Kenzi shrugged. "She knows the dynamics. That you won't punish her so she does what she wants."
"You do what you want."
"And you don't punish me."
"Are you suggesting I punish Lauren?"
"Hey, what you do between the sheets is up to you, but I think we should really focus on finding Lauren and Vex."
"Kenzi-" Bo said, shaking her head. "Show me where you went."
They stood in front of unit 1211 as Kenzi rambled on about what had happened. When she stopped at last, Bo raised a fist to the door and knocked three times. The door opened hesitantly. A small middle-aged man revealed himself.
"She's left something for you." With that the door closed again and Kenzi and Bo looked at one another. Kenzi tapped her hands on her thighs in a strange and nervous rhythm. When the door finally opened again she exhaled deeply. "She said give it to the busty one. I don't mean to be rude, but I believe this belongs to you." He passed Bo a box with a bow on it.
"Thank you." She smiled, turning to walk away.
"She's a nasty piece of business," he called after them as they walked toward the elevator.
"Cletus ain't joking," Kenzi hooked her thumb at him in agreement, pressing the elevator button a dozen times in succession. "You gonna open it?"
Bo stood there, worry shrouding her features. "We watched 'Seven' last night."
"Wha-oh. So you think Lauren's head is in that box?"
"No! I mean, I don't know. But I'm kinda scared to find out."
"Lemme see…" Kenzi looked at the box from every angle. "You really think that box is big enough for the Doc's giant brain?"
"Kenzi! Not helping."
"Just open it."
"No."
"Open it."
"I can't."
"Bo, you can suck the life force from a room full of people, you can open a damn box."
And like that, Kenzi had a fistful of red ribbon and the lid was dangling below. Bo looked into the box and while she was relieved to not find Lauren's face looking up at her, she was more than mildly concerned about the clock that counted down.
47:59