Two Days Later...

Lauren felt filthy and she hadn't had a decent meal in two days. And what they tried to pass off for food was barely consumable and she couldn't eat it. Lauren was pacing the length of the cell due to the fact that her restlessness had become insufferable. She had been trying to keep her mind busy to keep herself sane. Lauren had come up with at least a hundred hypotheses for many of her research projects and she had ran through the periodic table so many times she was sure some of those elements were questionable and should be retested. Just as she was about to sit down on the hard, packed dirt that made up the floor of the cell, Lauren heard the door unlock followed by the sound of the lock bar sliding back. Lauren stood in place anxiously waiting for the door to open. Her time was up, but she couldn't help thinking that maybe the Ash had deemed her no longer useful to the Light Fae and wanted to kill her, or maybe he thought she had become a liability. Instead of her mind shutting down with fear it started firing off different types of scenarios, all plausible. The person stepped into the cell and it was Dyson which made her laugh. Of all the people she was expecting to see Dyson was the last person.

He chuckled, "Good to see you too doc."

Lauren walked over and gave him a quick hug and replied, "I'm filthy, but I don't care. It's good to see a friendly face." Lauren let go of him, "I was starting to think that they had sent someone to finally kill me off."

Dyson laughed and when she had said it out loud she realised how crazy it sounded. He smiled at her and said, "Lauren you know too much about the Fae for them to just kill you off. Plus I think you're the only one in the Fae community who knows how to treat the many, and obscure, Fae diseases."

Lauren grinned at him, "Thank you Dyson." Then she quickly added, "Now let's get the hell out of here. I need a shower."

Dyson made a face as he said, "The Ash wants to talk to you first."

Lauren hesitantly asked, "Why?"

Dyson sighed out, "I don't know, but I'm sure we'll find out when we get there."

They left the dungeon and as they were walking Lauren wanted to know something, but she was too scared to ask Dyson, but at the same time she couldn't help but to ask. She cleared her throat then said, "Dyson have you um…have you talked to Bo?"

Lauren looked at his face noticing that there was a smirk on it as he looked ahead. After a moment he said, "I have."

Lauren eagerly waited for him to continue. She could tell that he was having too much fun with this because his smirk evolved into a full blown smile. Lauren couldn't take his teasing any longer, so she gave him a hard push and exclaimed, "Tell me!"

Dyson shook his head, "She is pissed at you doc." Lauren had figured as much considering she had been taken away from her and locked in a dungeon. Then she also had no idea why Lauren would have been thrown into the dungeon. She and Bo would have to talk, but Lauren had no idea where to start. Her musings were interrupted when Dyson said, "She tried to get an audience with the Ash to find out why you were in the dungeon, but she was told because she wasn't Light it was no concern of hers. Then she came to me asking me all sorts of questions, but I told her it wasn't my place. I haven't seen her in awhile. I guess when I tell her you're out she'll want to come see you."

Lauren didn't really know about that. They had only just told each other about their mutual feelings for one another before she was taken to the dungeon. Maybe in the two days that they hadn't seen each other Bo realised that falling in love with a human wasn't going to be worth it or, more specifically, falling in love with her wouldn't be worth it. Lauren sighed out, "I don't think she'll want to see me Dy. I mean seeing me get escorted out of the lab by Light Fae guards to be taken to the dungeon and not knowing the reason why would probably make her think twice."

Dyson chuckled and Lauren glared at him. He continued to chuckle, but said, "I'm sorry, but have you been talking to Kenzi recently?" Lauren looked at him with a perplexed look and he joked, "Oh right you were locked up." Lauren hit him, but he kept going, "It's just last time I saw Bo, Kenzi was going on about how it was good thing you were locked up in the dungeon. And how it would give Bo sometime to think rationally before getting involved with someone she barely knows."

"What are you trying to say Dyson? That I shouldn't even bother?" Lauren asked. Her voice rising a little as her anger got the best of her. Then she added, "And if I remember correctly you told me to go for it." Lauren insisted failing to see his reason for telling her this. She knew her and Kenzi would never become best friends, but Bo valued the young woman's opinion a lot, so if she was telling her not to go for it then their ship had sunk even before it had left port.

Dyson stopped walking and put his hand on her shoulder to keep her from walking and he looked in her eyes and said, "I'm telling you that you two need to talk. And that you need to let her know what she's getting into before other people start telling her that this isn't worth it and she starts believing it."

Lauren broke away from him and continued to walk down the corridor. She was only a few feet away from him when she turned around and held her hands up in frustration asking, "And what am I suppose to tell her Dyson? My enslavement to the Light doesn't exactly scream promising relationship. It screams complicated, hard, and time consuming."

Lauren's doubts about getting involved with Bo weren't about her usual insecurities involving her being human and Bo being Fae, but for the fact that getting involved with Lauren came with a complicated situation that required following rules and Fae laws that Bo was adamantly against. Dyson walked over to her and commented, "I'm going to chalk all this craziness to you being in the dungeon. But I'm going to tell you this," He put both of his hands on her shoulders held her gaze, "Bo will make whatever decision she wants to make Lauren, but she can't make the most accurate one if you don't tell her everything."

Lauren tried to move but he held her firmly in place and continued to look into her eyes. Again she was thankful to have Dyson as a close friend because without him this whole Bo thing would drive her insane and she'd probably be broken hearted and a mess. Also the Fae probably would have toyed with her for their amusement. Lauren took a deep breath and resigned to his logic, "Okay you win." She began to smirk as she commented, "And if we continue to have these heart to hearts like this Dy I just might have to make you participate in a girls night. Complete with a spa day."

Dyson scoffed then laughed out, "Any spa day you come up with probably won't entail of massages and skin treatments doc. I'm certain you'd probably conduct many experiments on me and tell me it was fun. Secondly I don't plan on having many more heart to hearts. If you can't navigate this thing with Bo on your own then you probably shouldn't get involved with her."

Lauren elbowed him in the ribs causing him grunt while she joked, "And you go from being my friend to acting like my dad."

Dyson was rubbing his ribs even though Lauren knew her hit had barely affected him. He grinned and remarked, "Is that an offhanded way of saying you need a spanking?" The next jab to his ribs she made sure he felt. Dyson wheezed when her elbow slammed into his ribs. As she continued to walk away she heard him gasp out, "Okay I get it. I went too far. I think you broke some ribs."

Lauren rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh as she turned around to go help her friend. She told him to lift up his shirt and examined his ribs. There would be some bruising, but nothing life threatening and he'd heal within a few hours anyway. Lauren pulled his shirt down and said, "You're being a baby. Now let's go see the Ash before he gets dungeon happy again and decides to throw me back in."

Lauren's Apartment….

Lauren had just gotten out of the shower and she felt a hundred times better. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts everything from work to Bo to her meeting with the Ash was flying around and it was stressing her out. Her and Dyson's meeting with the Ash was uneventful at first. He told her that if she wasn't mindful of her place within the Light then she would find herself no longer useful to them and they would do whatever to eliminate her as a threat against the Fae. Once he had finished threatening her life he dismissed Dyson and informed her of a new Fae epidemic that was going around the Light Fae and she was to get on it right away, but to keep it quiet because the epidemic wasn't quite wide spread, and he was hoping to have it cured and under wraps before it became public knowledge.

Lauren was getting dressed and she for once she didn't want to get into the lab right away. She was exhausted and hungry and just wanted to collapse on her bed so she sleep for two days. Unfortunately because the Ash wanted her on this new epidemic it meant that sleep would wait and it'd probably be days before she got a decent amount of it. She had just finished buttoning up her shirt when she heard a knock at the front door. Lauren swore then left the room and ran downstairs to answer the door. She opened the door to reveal an angry looking Bo who charged passed her and Lauren said under her breath, "Why don't you come in." Lauren closed the door and as she was going to tell Bo that she didn't have time for this Bo started to go off on her.

"Are you going to tell me what the fuck that was back at the lab a couple of day ago? And what secret is Dyson hiding for you that he wouldn't tell me?" Lauren watched as she took a moment to calm down. Bo's eyes softened a little, "Lauren you have no idea what I've been through these last few days. I didn't know if I'd see you again or what the hell was being done to you. I want to know everything and you better not leave anything out." Bo stood there staring intensely at Lauren waiting for her to say something.

Lauren ran her hand through her still damp hair. She seriously didn't have time for this. She needed to be in the lab working on the epidemic or the Ash would do something far worse than the dungeon and Bo really wouldn't see her again. Lauren built up her defences to deny Bo the conversation she wanted. She really didn't want to deny this beautifully angry woman anything, but now wasn't the time for this conversation. It never seemed like the right time for them. Lauren hoped that would change because she wanted to make all the time in the world for Bo, but then she realised that probably would never happen while she was still enslaved. Lauren emotionlessly said, "Bo I can't do this right now I have to go to the lab."

Bo scoffed, "To hell you are. Lauren you look like shit. Really attractive shit, but shit nonetheless. You're not going to the lab."

Lauren was trying not to get mad at the way Bo was acting because it really came from a good place, but she just didn't know how to express well. Unfortunately exhaustion wouldn't give her any room to placate anyone's feelings, so she shot back, "Bo you're not going to tell me what I can and cannot do. And unfortunately something has come up and I need to take care of it. Now if you're done being petulant I need you to leave."

"Petulant?" Bo reapeated, "Me being worried about your safety and your life is me being petulant?" Bo stepped closer to Lauren invading her space as she said in a low tone, "Fine. Me and my petulant self will leave, but don't call me Lauren."

Lauren was shocked that Bo would give up so easily. It scared her to the point that when Bo opened the door, Lauren forced it closed so she wouldn't leave. If Bo was giving up this easily then this could possibly mean that she did have doubts about getting involved with her. And Lauren wasn't going to let that happen. She was going to fight for her. Lauren took a deep breath then quietly said, "Bo you don't understand."

"Then help me understand Lauren." Bo pleaded with her. "Tell me what's so damn important at the lab that can't wait until you're fully rested."

Arguing with Bo and her exhaustion wasn't mixing well and Lauren's eyes began to tear up as she told her, "Because if I don't they might kill me. Deem me unnecessary to the Fae but a liability to their species. They own me Bo. In every way possible. I can't even breathe without them knowing. So Bo if it's okay with you I'm going to go, so I won't end up in an even worse position than I already am."

Lauren left her own apartment leaving a stunned Bo in her wake. She hadn't meant for it all to come tumbling out like that, but she couldn't help it. Lauren was tired, and Bo basically begging her to talk to her had broken one of her many emotional walls. As Lauren walked the halls as she headed to the lab she rebuilt her emotional wall and by the time she entered the lab she was in doctor mode. Emotionless expression, clear headed, and focused on the waiting research and medical experiments that were waiting for her.

In The Lab Late That Night….

Lauren was going over the notes of the preliminary study results for the recent epidemic. It looked like it was a virus and preliminary results were showing that the virus would attack Fae blood cells, weakening them, but Lauren wanted to study them further because she felt like she was missing something. At the current moment it was only affecting the Light Fae who lived on the outer edge of Light Fae society. Lauren was planning to request a visit the living environments of those Fae who currently had the virus. She was hoping to figure out how they got it, and maybe finding a source of the virus.

Lauren sat up and stretched her back out then rubbed her tired eyes. She would have to call it a night soon, but she knew if she went to sleep she wouldn't be up for awhile so she was trying to get as much done as possible before she left. Lauren took a long drink from the glass of water that was beside her. Lauren hadn't left the lab since she got to it. Dyson had brought her two meals and made her take a break because between the exhaustion and working herself to death he could tell that she needed a break. But that was hours ago and now it was close to one in the morning. Lauren looked at her notes, and her eyes blurred, so she conceded to the fact that she wouldn't be able to get anymore work done tonight. As she went around the lab turning off various equipment she heard the doors open, so she turned around and saw Bo walking into the lab. They both stopped to look at each other. Lauren noticed Bo had her hair up in a ponytail and the outfit she was wearing was some leather pants with a long sleeved black shirt that, like most of Bo's shirts, was low cut. Bo pointed over her shoulder as she explained what she was doing at the lab so late, "I went to your apartment to see if you were there and you weren't. So I called Dyson told me you were probably here and that if you were I'm to take you home. That way you can get some decent sleep."

Lauren walked over to her workstation and she packed up her briefcase as she said, "I just decided to leave now. And I probably won't get a decent sleep regardless. I'm too busy thinking about this new Fae medical problem."

"Anything I should be worried about?" Bo asked. Lauren could tell she wasn't serious considering Bo could heal herself for everything.

Lauren shook her head no and there was an awkward silence between them as Lauren cut off the final lights. They left the lab and as they walked to Lauren's apartment the awkward silence continued to follow them. Lauren knew there was a lot she should probably say, and that Bo was probably fighting her inquisitive nature for her sake. Lauren chanced a glance at Bo and saw that she was chewing on her bottom lip which meant she was trying hard not to grill Lauren about their conversation earlier. Lauren sighed out, "I know you and I need to have a serious conversation, and I'm not trying to put it off. I'm just too tired to do it tonight."

Bo slightly nodded as she said, "Okay. I just want to make sure you get home safely."

Lauren wanted to object, but she figured she had done enough to Bo in one day, so they quietly walked back to the far side of the compound to the building that held her apartment. They got to Lauren's front door and Bo let out a breath and began to say good-night, "Well you got home safely. I guess I'll go now."

Bo hesitated for a moment when her and Lauren's eyes met, but then she turned away and started to walk away. Lauren wasn't sure what she was doing, or what had provoked her to but just as Bo was about to round the corner she called out, "Bo…" Bo stopped walking and turned to look at her, "D-Do you mind staying with me tonight?"

Lauren was anxious to see what Bo would say, but at the same time she understood if she had said no. Lauren hadn't given her any reason to deserve her comfort. She hadn't told her everything about her life or her situation and now Bo was probably questioning everything about her and if she could even trust her. But Lauren was pleasantly surprised when Bo walked closer to her and said, "I will, but we're sleeping." Bo gently placed her hand on Lauren's cheek and caressed her it with her thumb, "You look like you're struggling to keep yourself up. Come on doc. Let's get you to bed."

They entered Lauren's apartment and Lauren dropped her briefcase on the couch and Bo took her hand and led her upstairs to Lauren's room. As soon as they were in her room Lauren began to undress herself, but Bo moved her hands and playfully scolded, "No you don't get to do anything. I'm going to do everything. You need to let someone take care of you Lauren."

Lauren wasn't going to argue it, so she let the succubus undress her then guide her into the bed. Lauren watched as Bo quickly shed her own clothes before joining Lauren in bed. There was a large gap between them and Lauren just wanted to feel Bo holding her, so she quietly said, "Bo."

"Yeah?"

Lauren cleared her throat then hesitantly asked, "Do you think you could hold me?"

Bo didn't wait to move as she closed the gap between them. Bo's arms wrapped around Lauren and she snuggled into her chest. Bo wrapped one of her legs around Lauren's then she kissed her temple and whispered, "Now go to sleep doctor."

Lauren smirked at the order, but the moment she finally relaxed she was out like a light. Being in Bo's arms let Lauren let her guard completely down. She knew Bo would do everything to keep her safe. And before she had fallen into a deep slumber she decided that she owed it to Bo to lay all her cards out and let the succubus decide if she wanted to keep seeing her or not. But that could wait until morning. For now she was content to enjoy the happiness and security she felt lying in bed in Bo's arms.

This was late because I got caught up writing a new story. Apologies. Reviews have been amazing! Thank you. And thanks for those that continue to read this. Next chapter may be the last one or the story might continue because I'm thinking about combining this one with another story idea that I have in the works. I'll probably decide in editing. Thanks again!