Author's notes: thanks to all who read and all who reviewed as well - most kind of you. They're pretty good fuel/motivation ;)
Wash, rinse, repeat.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
It feels similar to the past week when she had to repeatedly tell Kenzi – and Dyson – that she's put what happened with Lauren behind her. And for all the good it did, Bo wonders if she should just dump th5e dishes into the bin and save herself the effort.
"Bo," Kenzi whines.
"Not now, Kenzi." Bo holds up her hand and goes back to the dishes. She'll probably have to get new ones after the beating they take tonight, but she couldn't care less.
"But Bo." Kenzi pulls Bo's arm. "It was an accident!"
"Kenzi!" Bo drops everything into the sink and resists the urge to lash out. She takes a deep breath and turns around to face her friend. "I told you about that incident in confidence and said repeatedly that I've put it behind me. It's not meant to be public knowledge."
They're interrupted by a scoff from the wolf.
"What? You wanna go too?" Bo says hotly.
"Bo," the wolf says casually, hands across his chest. "Everyone knows about it."
"About...us?" She briefly contemplates leaving town until the next 'thing' happens.
"Not exactly. They don't know the details of Dr Lewis's mission, but any fae who knows their rules knows that Lauren's punished."
"What…they know what happened to Lauren?"
"It's no big deal." Dyson steps forward and rubs her arms. "It's the rules. She swore fealty to the Ash. She knew what she was signing up for."
"See? They know already!" Kenzi chimes in. "And I'm sure Lauren's aware of that."
"Kenzi, it doesn't make it right!" On the verge of losing her temper, she pushes off the wolf's hand and almost smacks the smirk off his face.
"It wasn't ammo for you to fling at Lauren's face. How would you feel if I blurt something shady about your past to Hale?"
Kenzi pauses and Bo cools down slight, feeling that her best friend's starting to get the idea.
"Fine, you have a point there," Kenzi relents. "But there's still a difference – I didn't say something you didn't know already, and Bo...you're not dating Lauren."
For a second, she's lost for words. She grunts in frustration, ignore their gazes and heads upstairs.
She stays in her room for most of the time the next day, feigning sleep when her best friend nudges her gently. Sensing that the succubus wants to be left alone, Kenzi heads out before texting Bo an apology.
Feeling a little placated, Bo gets up to prepare for the evening. The phone rings when she's on her way to pick up dinner and she smiles at her best friend's insistence.
"Alright, Kenzi, you're forgiven."
"Kenzi? No, no, my dear – this isn't your little human pet," a sultry voice protests.
"Saskia?" She stops on the street. "What are you doing calling me?"
"Why, can't I miss a fellow succubus? What are you up to tonight? I assume that the pet isn't with you."
"No. I've got an appointment," Bo says. "And even if I don't, I'm not hanging out with you."
"Appointment?" The other succubus enunciates with disdain. "Oh Bo, did your life plunge down the boring hill as soon as I left? Ditch it and join me – we're about to have a feast here."
"No thanks. I'm not interested in your ways."
"Babe, other fae wish they had our ways," Saskia retorts. "I'll text you my address. Come by later. You can only deny your nature for that long, sweetie."
Left with a dial tone, Bo looks at the phone, exasperated.
"Bo?"
"Hey! I uh…brought dinner," she musters a cheery tone and holds up the takeout bags. "I hope you like Chinese."
"Uh, sure," Lauren says. "Come in."
As they head to the kitchen, Bo keeps an eye on the doctor's gait, exhaling when she doesn't see a limp.
"So, the bad news is I didn't know what you liked, so I got an assortment," Bo hops on one of the kitchen stools and once again marvels at how immaculate the place is. "The good news is you can have the leftovers for lunch tomorrow."
"Hmm…I think there might be enough for dinner too," Lauren teases. "Oh here, let me pay you."
"No, no, absolutely not," Bo grabs Lauren's arm gently to stop her. "It's on me. For uh…what happened last night."
"Oh. It's okay, Bo." The succubus notices that the smile isn't as wide this time.
"No, Lauren, it's not," Bo says, turning her gaze on her food cartons. "It was out of line of Kenzi, and…I probably shouldn't have told anyone about it in the first place."
"Well, it happened." Lauren shrugs, and the succubus frowns at the defeat and resignation behind that nonchalant gesture. "So why don't we forget about it and just…eat?"
Not wanting to ruin dinner, Bo gives the doctor a quick nod and helps her spoon their food on to plates. In contrast to their last dinner, it's a quiet meal and the succubus keeps checking at the doctor surreptitiously.
"Hey," she says softly, as if she's afraid to spook Lauren. At Lauren's questioning look, she continues, "I know I've said this before, but you really haven't been eating much. Are things alright?"
"I'm okay." Lauren responds. "Just haven't had much appetite lately."
"Okay. You know you can talk to me anytime, right? Whatever it is."
"I know." Lauren nods. "It's just…it's Christmas."
"And…?" Bo cocks her head in confusion.
Lauren looks at her plate, her smile wan. "It just is." You spend it with the one you love.
"Oh."
"Bo? Are you okay?"
"Oh, sorry," the succubus removes the chopsticks from her mouth. "I was just thinking."
"Hmm, sounds dangerous. Dare I found out what these thoughts are?"
Bo smacks Lauren's hand lightly in retaliation. "Well, I'm thinking of holding a Christmas get together at my place." Her slightly high pitch at the end betrays her nervousness, and she hopes that her tone is playful enough to mask it. "And I was pondering whether to issue you one of those fancypants formal invitation, or just invite you right now."
"Bo." Lauren puts down her chopsticks and wipes her mouth. "Thanks for the thought, but I don't think it's a good idea."
"No, no, I'll have a talk with Kenzi. They'll behave."
"Bo." Unmoved, the doctor shakes her head. "It's their home too. They shouldn't be forced to do anything."
"And," Lauren clears her throat, "I'm really grateful for your help, but I don't need…your pity."
The succubus drops all pretense of teasing the doctor. "It's not pity," she says, hurt. "Lauren, I meant what I said – I want to be your friend. I'd love for us to be friends. And I'd like to spend Christmas with you."
Slightly surprised by the succubus's earnestness, but not wanting to commit, Lauren acquiesces with a smile. "I'll think about it."
"So." The doctor pours Bo a glass of wine and picks up her own. "I believe friends look after each other's well-being. How have you been lately? Is there anything else I can help you with apart from the injections?"
"Um, now that you bring it up." It's Bo's turn to put down her dining utensils. "Do you know of any incubi or succubi who've successfully overcome their nature?"