Chapter Two

She knew each chalk-white hallway like the back of her hand; she hadn't left this hospital since she started out as an intern 9 years ago. It was as though she were a slave to the place. But Lauren didn't mind. She loved her work. Only today she wasn't here to work. She wasn't here to perform a life-saving operation. No. Today she was here for Tamsin.

Her tall-blonde date was keeping up behind her as she led them up various flights of stairs and through locked doors so she could get there quicker. Even though Tamsin despised hospitals (well, it was more the sick people) those feelings were subsided by an overpowering need to reach her friend.

St Thomas' had called her as soon as Bo arrived, as she was the only contact number in her cellphone. This didn't surprise Tamsin as Bo was always a nomad, a "go-it-alone" sort of gal. What did surprise her was that Bo landed herself in hospital in the first place. She was normally so careful—or if not careful, very, very lucky. So she knew whatever happened must be bad.

She watched Lauren talk to the doctors just outside of the operating theatre but couldn't take what they were saying. Never mind that they may as well have been speaking Greek for all Tamsin new about medical lingo, but it was as though everything faded out when she saw Bo being rushed into the room. All sound—apart from her heart pounding into her skull. All color—apart from the blood-soaked blanket covering Bo's legs.

The tall, stoic woman staggered at the sight. Lauren went to catch her, but the blonde had already pulled herself up.

"Asshole!" Lauren turned to Tamsin after words were exchanged with her colleague.

"What happened?!"

"They won't let me into the operating room! Don't worry, your friend is in excellent hands. But I would've liked to be there so I could get some information to you faster and to know that I personally did somethi-"

"You've already done a lot, Doc. Don't sweat it. Bo's a trooper. She'll make it" Tamsin smiled a weak smile. Even she didn't quite believe the pep talk she was giving.

"She is going to be okay" Lauren touched Tamsin's shoulder lightly, grazing her arm, and then squeezed it for extra reassurance, "why don't you have a seat and I'll see if the chief will let me scrub in?"

The detective nodded as Lauren's hand lingered on her skin. She gulped. She felt soothed by the doctor's touch, and didn't want her to let go. So Tamsin grabbed her hand and was shown to the waiting area.

Why won't they let me operate? I'm the best fucking doctor in the hospital!

Lauren would never curse out loud, though she would've forgone standard etiquette a few moments ago when that arrogant Doctor Ling old her that she was too close to the patient and they didn't need her in the OR.

Too close to the patient? I don't even know her! Moron.

Lauren knew she was probably not needed, after all they had a lot of doctors in the room

And I guess too many cooks spoil the broth yada yada.

But not only did she really want to be there for Tamsin, she also knew that the significant damage done to her friend was mainly in her arm and hands—and that was Lauren's area of expertise.

Tamsin paced through the waiting area. It had been an hour since she got the call, and half an hour since Bo went under. Lauren had returned briefly telling her that she wouldn't be able to perform any surgery Bo may need right now, but that she'd go inside and see for herself how her friend was doing.

That was three minutes ago. To avoid looking at her watch or her phone, she put them in her bag. And to avoid going in her bag, she handed it to the receptionist who took it with hesitation and a lack of comprehension.

Tamsin had no willpower when it came to Bo. She would do anything for her.

They had been friends since they were little girls, since Tamsin's parents moved next door when she was three years old. They took to each other immediately. They were with each other through their first crushes, first periods, first boyfriends, first girlfriends. The works. Bo was there when Tamsin's parents died. She was the only one who knew what to say. She was the only one Tamsin would let anywhere near close to her. After they died, Tamsin had to go and live with her uncle and aunt in the US, which broke Bo's heart. Not in the way that Kyle broke her heart when he left her, or the way her mom broke her heart when she left, but the way that the only person Bo every truly trusted, the only person who she thought would always be there for her, could break her heart. She wasn't in love with Tamsin, but boy did she love her.

Tamsin made good on her promise though, and was excellent at keeping in touch. And as soon as she turned 18 she was back in Canada to do her police training at the same academy as Bo. Of course they moved away from that small-minded town with bad memories. But they had each other. After their first year in the force Tamsin moved up the ranks pretty quickly, whereas Bo…Bo seemed to be less than satisfied. Tamsin suggested she take some time off, but it was at that time that her friend started dating this sleazebag called Ryan who convinced her to leave the police and go travelling with him in Europe.

"I'm gonna do it" Bo beamed

"Do what?" Tamsin looked up from the pile of paperwork that had collected on her desk; a couple of cases she'd cracked earlier that week needed to be processed.

"I'm going to go with Ryan"

"What the FUCK?"

The whole office turned to stare at the two women.

Tamsin whispered, "what do you mean you're going travelling with him? Have you even got any money?"

"For your information, it's not just travelling… Ryan's found me a job with one of his old buddies Lachlan something"

"Ohhhh Lachlan something – real professional Bo." Tamsin scoffed, trying to hide how hurt she was and how stupid she thought Bo was being. Okay maybe she wasn't trying to hide the latter.

"He doesn't have a last name. Well I guess he does, but he doesn't use it in business. He runs a lucrative company that deals with similar sort of work that we do…but more…discrete" Bo smirked and winked.

"Private investigating? Are you serious? Those chumps who think they can do our job better than us, that's what you're doing?!"

"Tamsin, being a part of this… institution... whatever you call it, was never really my thing. It was always your thing. I don't feel like I belong here. I don't know where I belong."

"You belong with me" Tamsin touched Bo's hand lightly and instinctively. Bo grabbed it.

"I know. But you can't be the only thing I have here. I need to find something else that makes me happy Tam. Please try and understand. I've just been so… so… bored here."

There was no hiding the hurt she felt at that last comment.

"Hey! Come on now, you know I didn't mean you. You're the only thing that's kept me sane. I just need to find myself. I need to get away. You went away for a while and left me, or don't you remember?"

"That wasn't my choice Bo and you know it. But I guess I understand. You know I think Ryan's a complete loser though, don't you?"

"Yes I know" Bo laughed, "I'm just having fun with him, it's not like I'm in love! This'll be good for me"

"This'll be good for me"

Those words echoed in Tamsin's ears as she sat waiting for Lauren…waiting for Bo.

She thought this line of work would be good for her? In what world was she living in?

Tamsin was shocked out of her daydream by a stern looking Lauren marching towards her. As soon as she came closer into view, Tamsin could see that she actually had a gentle smile on her face, and she rushed up to meet her halfway.

"Tamsin, she's okay. She's in recovery. She lost a lot of blood and we have to keep her in the ICU. She also has limited movement in her left arm and hand and we'll have to keep her in for a couple of days at least to see how she progresses."

The taller blonde actually let out a small whimper and immediately hugged the bearer of good news, whispering in her hair "thank you, thank you so much Lauren."

Tamsin pulled back slightly, and Lauren looked down, almost as if she didn't want to take any praise. After all she wasn't the one operating on Bo. But Lauren did eventually look up, and was greeted by a penetrating gaze from the most intense pair of blue eyes she'd ever seen. She couldn't stop looking at her. Their eyes locked for about ten seconds before Tamsin gently touched her lips to Lauren's. She breathed in as she felt the warmth emanating from them, and how soft yet firm they were against hers.

Lauren pulled back after a few seconds, aware that they were still in her place of work.

"I'm sorry, I-"

"No Lauren, I'm sorry I shouldn't have-"

"Tamsin" Lauren grabbed her hands, "you have nothing to be sorry for. That was…really, really nice."

Lauren could feel a blush creeping up her neck and quickly suggested that she take Tamsin to Bo's room, ready for her arrival. She took her hand, all the while thinking that this was the craziest date she'd ever been on.