The lab used to be her haven. Science was the only way she could escape her less than desirable situation. But now as Lauren stood in her previous sanctuary she suddenly felt wary and unwanted. The new Ash had infected the community with his prejudices and lies. Co-workers she once called friend had become cold and distant, as if they thought by associating with her they would be punished. Of course, she was used to being on the outside. For the past seven years there was always at least one pair of eyes ensuring she fell into line.

Freedom had a different definition when it came to humans. It was just one of the consequences of working for the Light Fae. Working for. She cursed herself for reciting her own lie as if it were fact. She did not work for the Ash. The Ash owned her. Of course, she knew the worse was still to come. Trick had already warned her that the new Ash was not one to treat humans with respect. She knew he was still contemplating what to do with her. She was too useful to kill but too human to stay. Quite the conundrum, she laughed cynically to herself.

She had managed to adapt herself to life as a slave of the Light. The old Ash had been more lenient than was expected by most Fae. He gave her freedom to an extent and allowed her to continue her passion for science. Lauren wondered how she had managed to make herself immune to her own situation. It was almost as if she had forgotten what freedom was. Forgotten what it was to be human, to choose her own life path. Somehow she had brainwashed herself to obey and to agree with all Fae laws and accept their prejudices.

It wasn't until the new Ash came into power that Lauren allowed herself to realise just how restricting her enslavement was. She was not an equal member of the community. They accepted her help and skills but at the end of the day she was inferior. Years ago she would have been outraged to be part of a society with so many inequalities and so much corruption. She supposed working for the Fae had taken more than just her freedom away.

"You know, I'm beginning to suspect there's more than friendship between you and that microscope."

Lauren looked up to see Bo standing in front of her wearing her signature smirk. Lauren chuckled shyly, not realising she'd been starting intensely at the same slide lost in thought for the past ten minutes. "Sorry, you know me and science."

"Well, better watch out, I might get jealous," Bo teased looking as gorgeous as ever. Lauren blushed, cursing how the Succubus could turn her into a schoolgirl in a matter of minutes.

"So what can I do for you?" Lauren asked, trying to take the ever-present tension away. Things had been all innuendos and meaningful glances between them for the past couple of months. The uncertainly was driving Lauren crazy.

"Can't I visit you without some ulterior motive?"

"No, not really," Lauren quipped.

"Hmm funny. Well, I've decided to change that. My only motive is to make sure you're okay," Bo said leaning against the counter, her movements all casually come hither, as usual.

"Okay?" Lauren questioned, her voice caught in her throat as the other women continued to stare at her with that damn sensual glare.

"Yeah, with the new Ash and all. I hear he's a bit douchey."

"That's quite the understatement," Lauren told her. "But thanks I'll be fine. Hopefully my usefulness to the Light will keep me from harm," she shrugged.

"Hopefully" Bo repeated. "I don't know if I'm okay with hopefully. Lauren, I heard Trick saying some stuff about how you could be in danger with the new Ash."

"Unfortunately there's not much I can do about that."

"There's always something you can do," Bo reasoned, placing a gently hand on Lauren's shoulder. Lauren smiled despite herself at Bo's standard optimism. She couldn't see an injustice she didn't want to fix. It was what Lauren loved about her.

"I'm bound to the Ash, Bo," she said softly. "Come what may, I'm just going to have to take what I'm given."

"Speak for yourself. If he hurts you in any way I will kill him," Bo warned. Lauren smirked at Bo's protective side. There was something about the way her eyes darkened and fists tightened that made Lauren's stomach turn in circles.

"I appreciate the thought but you know to defy the Ash would be irresponsible and I'm-"

"Lauren?" a familiar nervous voice interrupted. Looking up, Lauren's insides jumped at the sight of a familiar woman entering the lab.

"Taylor?" Lauren froze.

She shook her head figuring she was imagining things. She was looking at a face she hadn't seen in years. A face that was as beautiful as she had remembered. A face she had pushed to the back of her mind for the sake of her own sanity. It didn't make sense for her to be here. It was too risky, it was ridiculous, and it was irresponsible. But somehow, Lauren's reasoning didn't seen to matter as she took in the familiar sight. Her auburn hair had grown longer and she had matured into her features. But otherwise standing in front of her was the same bright, alluring, gorgeous woman she had once known.

"I don't even know why I'm here," Taylor said, her voice cracking.

"God, it's good to see you," Lauren managed to mumble out despite her shock. Before she knew it she had subconsciously moved across the lab and had thrown her arms around the other woman, holding on tightly. Lauren buried her head and breathed in the woman's scent. She sighed at the familiar smell of strawberries and cinnamon that had been so uniquely Taylor.

"I missed you too," she replied pressing her forehead against Lauren's.

"Uhh, sorry to interrupt but…who the hell are you?"

Lauren jumped at the sound of Bo's voice. Bo! Lauren had forgotten she was even there. Bo's voice was full of distain and her features echoed confusion and jealousy. In any other situation Lauren would've been flattered but somehow it felt wrong for Bo to be in the room when Taylor was standing right there.

"Sorry, that was rude, barging in here like this. I'm Taylor, nice to meet you," she said with a friendly and eager tone moving to shake Bo's hand. "I'm Lauren's…well I'm her…we're …I'm an old friend," Taylor babbled, smirking as she caught Lauren's eye. Taylor had never been one for thinking under pressure Lauren chucked to herself.

"Right… friend," Bo said looking at Lauren with a questioning glare.

"Wait a minute!" Lauren said, the initial shock of seeing Taylor easing off and reality sinking in. "Not that I don't want to see you but what the hell are you doing here?"

"I came the second I heard there was a new Ash. I thought that maybe…."

Lauren sighed, "You know I gave my life to the Light Fae, not the Ash. My agreement still stands."

"I know," Taylor shrugged, moving closer to Lauren and covering her hands with her own. Lauren softened at the contact. "Maybe I just wanted an excuse to break all the rules," she said with her signature kind smile and her bright blue eyes.

"You know I don't break the rules."

"You break them for me."

"Okay, enough," Bo interrupted snapping Lauren back to reality once again. "I don't know what's going on here but if you being here is putting Lauren in danger then I think you should leave."

"Bo!" Lauren warned. Jealousy was one thing but it was no excuse to be rude.

"No, she's right Lauren," Taylor sighed. "I shouldn't be here, I don't know what I was thinking putting you in danger like this…"

"No, maybe you have a point. I've lived with the consequences of my enslavement for too long and the truth is…I've only been living half a live without you," Lauren admitted, trying to avoid eye contact with Bo. Lauren reasoned that it couldn't be easy for Bo, someone who can read sexual desire, to be standing in between two separated lovers.

"Take my keys, wait for me in my apartment. I haven't moved since…well I just haven't moved. I'll meet you there later," Lauren told Taylor. She looked like she wanted to protest as she glanced nervously between the Succubus and the Doctor but she gave in and accepted the keys with a nod.

"Promise you'll be there?" Taylor asked nervously.

"I don't break promises."

Taylor nodded in understanding and left the lab with keys in hand.

"Okay, Lauren what the hell was that?" Bo exclaimed. "Because let me tell you, I could practically smell the history between you two. You were practically sparkling!"

Lauren sighed. "We used to be together."

"Yeah, I got that much thanks," Bo snapped sarcastically.

"Bo, please. I really need your support right now, not your bitterness," Lauren pleaded. She was still shaking from seeing Taylor again. It brought back a lot of memories she had tried to hide from. "I just don't know what she was thinking coming here."

"Oh I think I can guess…"

"Bo, please."

"Sorry," she apologised. "I know I don't have any right to have any feelings about this. I guess it just got to me seeing someone else be so close to you…"

"I haven't seen in her years Bo. It was just a shock, we're over, believe me," Lauren explained.

Bo scoffed, "Lauren you don't need to have succubus super powers to see that you and that women are not over."

"Well it wasn't exactly a voluntary separation," she sighed.

"What do you mean?"

"Look Bo, it's a long story and I don't have time to explain it. I have to go see Taylor, I promised her."

"No Lauren wait," Bo said, with a desperate tone that stopped Lauren in her tracks. "It's time to explain, we've been dancing around this subject for too long. What is your story with the Ash? Because I have a sneaking suspicion that it has something to do with your not so voluntary separation with Taylor."

"I can't Bo, not now," she pleaded, her voice cracking and her confidence fading at the thought of bringing those memories up again. "I swear I will tell you everything. I just need to talk to Taylor first, to make sure she's okay and to figure out what the hell we're going to do."

"Okay, I understand" Bo said moving closer to Lauren and placing their hands together. "But please Lauren, don't forget I'm here. I want to help with whatever this is."

Lauren's breath caught in her throat at the Succubus' touch. The familiar energy she associated with Bo flooded her veins and she blushed, sure the other women could feel her attraction. "Bo, I don't know what's going to happen but I think you know better than anyone I'm not going to forget you."

Lauren caught the Succubus' eye and as always was shocked at the beauty she found there. Sparkling eyes, soft skin and luscious lips that would never get old. "You better go," Bo said suddenly breaking the contact. "Just promise me you'll come see me straight after you're done talking."

Lauren nodded. "Okay. I promise." She watched the Succubus nod and leave the lab with a final hesitant glance and sighed to herself, she had a feeling things were about to get complicated.

XX

Hey guys, hope you enjoyed the first chapter. I have no idea where this is going to go relationship wise. I guess it depends on your input. It killed me not being able to do jealous Bo from Bo's perspective but it would make no sense to just switch point of view. I have a thing for jealous Bo so be prepared for that haha