Thank you so much for all the reviews, follows and favorites, you're really an extraordinary crowd!
To give fair warning, I won't be able to upload as often as I'd like, because my life is split between a crazy job that turned me into a robot and a crazy family whom I love deeply despite what they might think. But I'll do my best to not keep you waiting for too long.
Any reviews and feedback would be much appreciated! Thanks again, everyone.
She hadn't had much sleep lately. She knew, she felt it and she was logically aware that her brain was suffering from it, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She had tried to determine the reason scientifically time and again, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. And Bo wasn't helping.
The night before the big battle, she showed up in her tent, positively glowing, oozing confidence and lust. It didn't take much convincing, of course. She had protested feebly that she was too tired, that they had a big day ahead and should get some rest, but this was all a game already. It had almost become part of their ritual over the last few months. Bo would walk in, smile seductively and crash into Lauren, kissing her so passionately that the doctor's resolve would melt right there and then. On some nights it took longer, as they practically circled each other like two relentless birds of prey, but the outcome was always the same. Lauren would forget all about how tired she was and would allow herself to slip into that comfortable feeling of being loved by Bo, of being entirely hers, body and soul.
And tonight was no different. If anything, Bo was even more impatient, driven by the thrill of the ensuing battle. At a certain point Lauren thought she was going to pass out but the succubus sent a refreshing wave a pleasure coursing through her veins, carrying her on until they both collapsed on the bed, breathing heavily and still holding tight to each other. Lauren cherished these moments so much, that sometimes she felt the sex was just a means to the end goal: lying like this with the woman she loved. The intimacy they shared in these moments was almost like… before this whole war started. Who was she fooling? The change had started well before the war, but these last few months had made it worse.
It was as if Bo was on auto-pilot – she was doing the same things she always did so perfectly, yet it felt like she wasn't actually there for most of the time. Except for when she got angry, which was happening more and more often now. But her anger was no longer fire and rage, it was cold and calculated, which somehow made it a lot more terrifying. Lauren had been at the receiving end of that anger only once and that was one time too many. It happened the last time she had questioned the war and suggested that Bo extend an offer of peace to Trick and Tamsin. The Succubus's eyes flashed blue in an instant – they were staying blue most of the time nowadays, and the doctor dreaded to think what this actually meant: was it her inner nature and human side finally coming to terms? Or her human side finally subsiding?
"Would you rather be with them, Lauren?" Bo spat back, her blue eyes fixed on the doctor. Lauren swallowed hard, trying to get rid of the lump she started feeling in her throat, taken aback by the response her comment had triggered. "N-n-no," she finally stuttered. "No, Bo! What I meant was…"
"Because I'm sure that can be arranged if you want to join those traitors," Bo interrupted, in the same voice, which sounded almost casual were it not for the underlying coldness that froze Lauren on the spot. The response confused her, as she felt she did nothing wrong, but as she looked into Bo's bright blue eyes she felt that it didn't actually matter. She opened her mouth to speak, to explain herself, but decided against it. Bo watched the doctor intently and smiled satisfied when she realized Lauren was not going to pursue the argument further.
"They're traitors, Lauren," she said in a slightly warmer tone. "As much as it pains me, I cannot forgive them, they were family, I trusted them and they turned against me. Against us!" she raised her voice, and Lauren nodded, while thinking that every word that came out of Bo's mouth, every voice inflection was carefully calculated. Bo smiled again, a genuine look of concern on her face now. "Babe, I know it's hard, it's been hard for all of us. Kenzi is still not over Tamsin up and leaving us after we practically raised her. And Trick… you know I never had anyone else I could actually call my blood except him… But peace is out of the question. I've worked too hard for this to let them screw it all up." She smiled and touched Lauren's shoulder in some sort of gesture of reassurance. "I thought you of all people would understand."
The doctor nodded again. Bo's touch made her feel safe, it always had, but now there was something else there, it was almost like an unspoken threat of sorts. But no, Bo would never… Lauren frowned, feeling guilty for having such thoughts about her lover. Her protector. "I do, Bo. I understand. I'm sorry... it's as you said, still difficult to accept," she sighed. Bo's smile got wider as she pulled the doctor in for a hug. "Just promise me one thing, Bo." She felt Bo's chin on her shoulder as the Succubus nodded in agreement. She took that as a sign to go on: "That when everything is over, you will be merciful." "If they deserve mercy, they will get it," came Bo's reply. "And I'll hear no more of this."
That was a few months back, and since then Lauren had done her best to stay on Bo's good side. The Succubus seemed calmer and didn't lose her temper as often as she used to. Lauren thought this was because Bo had no doubt she would win the war. In the days leading up to the big battle, there were frequent reports about the rebel army facing more desertions and growing weaker. Reports about Trick's injury and Tamsin's despair. Bo was pleased.
"You know, you could maybe… stay the night?" Lauren asked, once she felt enough confidence in her vocal chords to open her mouth. They were still lying in her bed, listening to the soldiers outside the tent as they were preparing for battle.
Bo smiled and wrapped her arms around her. "At your service, doctor." Lauren chuckled and drew herself closer to her lover, wanting to feel her with every inch of her skin. "It's fine, Bo, I know you can't, it's a big day tomorrow and you have to get ready."
The succubus sighed "Well, at least I can stay for a few more hours. There's plenty of time," she said reassuringly. "Now try to get some sleep doctor, it's gonna be a long day for you tomorrow. We need you in tip top shape so you can patch our boys up."
"Aye aye, captain," Lauren raised two fingers in a half-assed salute but her hand stopped moving halfway to her temple and fell on Bo's chest.
Bo placed a light kiss on the doctor's head. "It's gonna be fine, Lauren, you'll see. By this time tomorrow everything will have been sorted out. We'll show these rebels their place once and for all."
Lauren nodded but didn't say anything. Absentmindedly, her left index finger was tracing imaginary circles on Bo's chest. "Enough of that now, babe. Try to get some sleep." Lauren smiled and shut her eyes tight, starting what had become her mantra every night over the past couple of weeks. Other people count sheep to fall asleep, Lauren was making a mental inventory of her medical supplies. Soon enough, she dozed off, but remained in a state of semi-sleep where she was still vaguely aware of what was going on around her. She felt the succubus get out of bed and heard her getting dressed a few hours later but no matter how much she tried, she couldn't tear herself away from that state of semi consciousness to kiss her lover for good luck.
She did get to see Bo briefly as she rushed to the medical tent at the first crack of dawn. She noticed that the troops were already amassed and clamoring with anticipation of the battle. This was all so familiar, she thought – it was like Afghanistan, only like in Braveheart. It sort of took away the seriousness of the situation, the thought crossed her mind but she chased it away quickly, reminding herself that war was no jest, it was a deadly machine, no matter the form.
Bo smiled when she saw her and although she was rushing to the troops, she stopped briefly to give the doctor a big hug. Lauren's breath hitched as she took in how superb Bo was looking in her dark red and black armor suit.
"It's starting, Lauren, I can't stay long. Take care of our boys and if you need anything, come to me right away, okay?
"You're not riding out with the first wave?"
"No, Dyson thinks it's better to wait until his troops clear out the thick of the enemy. Safer, he said. He'll lead the first charge." Lauren nodded. This was one of the few instances when she agreed with the wolf shifter. Anything to keep Bo safe.
"Good," she said. "Look, I've got to go to the medical tent now to check on the nurses and see if they have everything ready, okay? I'll see you soon, babe." "Soon," Bo agreed and hugged her again before strolling away. Lauren watched her going, but Bo never looked back.
The first casualties started arriving an hour after the battle began. Lauren was in full doctor mode and did her job almost automatically, patching and stitching, cauterizing wounds and applying unguents and bandages, giving shots or pain medication to all the injured Fae coming in for a quick patch up job.
Some of them who were only lightly injured were able to return to the front, but most of them were too seriously wounded and in need of prolonged medical care.
Reports from the battlefield varied greatly, but one thing they could all agree on was that they were winning. The Blood King was nowhere to be seen, and the washed up Valkyrie leading the enemy was not going to last much longer, they said. Other soldiers muttered under their breath that the only reason they were winning was because they outnumbered the enemy almost 4 to 1, not because they had better skills than Tamsin's rebels. And they had a lot more berserkers and trolls on their side, which made all the difference in close, hand-to-hand combat.
Bo never came to check on her or the wounded, but Kenzi was around most of the time, offering a helping hand whenever she could, despite her apprehension towards blood and open wounds.
Later in the afternoon, a couple of elves carried Dyson in. He was in pretty bad shape, bleeding profusely from a deep gash on his abdomen. His arms and torso were covered in similar wounds, none of them so deep though. The wolf shifter was mostly passed out, mumbling incoherently about things long gone. Bo rushed in, a look of panic on her face, and grabbed Lauren's arm tightly, making her wince. The look on Bo's face felt like a sharp knife through the heart. Focus, Dr. Lewis, you've got a patient to save, Lauren thought.
"Lauren, what happened? How bad is it? Dyson, stay with us, come on!" Bo practically cried as she noticed the shifter was not responding in any way.
"Bo, I need you to calm down and let us do our job, okay?" Lauren said in the most professional sounding tone she could muster.
The succubus nodded slightly and stared Lauren in the eye. "How bad is it?"
The doctor frowned and rubbed the crease between her eyes, sighing deeply. 'Look Bo, it's pretty bad, I'm not going to lie. But he'll live, and he'll be getting better if you let me get to work right away."
Bo nodded again and let the doctor go before turning her attention to the two elves who had brought Dyson in and who were being patched up by a nurse. "Privates." Both of them stood upright so fast that almost knocked the nurse down.
"Tell me what happened." Her voice was colder than the Antarctic.
The taller of the two cleared his throat, hoping that the pause would nudge his comrade into speaking first. It didn't, and the other elf was staring straight ahead, not a single muscle twitching on his face.
"It was the Valkyrie, ma'am," the taller one eventually gave in. "Ever since the battle began they sought each other, like they did not care about anything else but facing each other on the battlefield. We tried to get her first but she singlehandedly repelled all our attacks. So when they finally met…" the elf's voice trailed off and he took a deep breath before continuing. "It was fierce. He fought bravely, but I guess nobody can hold their own against an enraged Valkyrie on her last life cycle for too long…"
Lauren had her back on the two soldiers, as she was doing her best to stop the bleeding and stabilize Dyson with what she had at her disposal – he really needed proper medical care, in a proper hospital, not in this silly makeshift medical tent. She cringed when she heard the elf's comment about Tamsin, knowing very well how nothing got Bo angrier than hearing how other Fae could possibly be more powerful than her. She expected a harsh retort in that cruel, cold tone she had come to equally fear and loathe over the past months, but nothing happened. She turned her head over briefly and saw Bo frozen in place, lost in thought. The two elves looked positively uncomfortable, not knowing what to expect.
"Hmmm," the succubus finally hummed. "Thank you for your courage, privates. I'll make sure you'll receive a commendation. Now rest," she dismissed them quickly and turned briskly on her heels, heading back to Lauren. "How is he?"
"Not good, Bo. We need to get him to a real hospital and the sooner the better. There's only so much I can do with what I have here."
"Do you think I can help him?"
Lauren knew exactly what Bo meant. She was actually wondering how come it hadn't come up sooner. She knew it and it still hurt like somebody was driving a hot rod through her heart. "I don't know… it might work," she nodded. That was all the confirmation Bo needed. "Great! Come on, let's take him to my tent," she ordered two of the nurses and the soldiers standing guard at the door – her personal bodyguards, following her everywhere she went. Lauren didn't know exactly what they were and she never asked. Whatever they were or weren't, one thing they most definitely were was incredibly dangerous.
She watched helplessly as the guards and nurses picked up the gurney with an unconscious Dyson lying very still and left the tent hurriedly, trying to keep up with Bo. She had left without saying a word.
Rationally speaking, Lauren knew it was ridiculous to be jealous. Yet she was, and it was eating away at her. Fuck this. She needed a break. In times like these, she really wished she'd smoked, she thought as she stormed out of the medical tent.