A/N: Once again thank you soooo much for all the amazing reviews guys. You're all amazing! You don't know how much I appreciate that you take the time to comment let alone read it. Anyway, here's the next chapter. Hope you all like it. I'm hoping to upload the next chapter sooner rather than later.


Chapter 4: Pain is just a simple compromise.

Fear. One word. Four letters.

How can one man instill such an enormous amount of a four-letter word into one person? Sure, I've been scared before. The first day of school. Free falling. Staring down the barrel of a loaded gun pointed at you. Yes, I've been scared. Fear however, is on an entirely different level. Fear was what I felt the first time Taft had me and it's what I feel now as I sit here in the same position I'd been in after I heard the news that Taft had escaped.

"Dennis, we've had word that Taft has escaped."

That was the only sentence I heard from Trick before I dropped my phone.

Taft. Escaped.

The two words an ongoing mantra in my head.

When I first started on the job as a homicide detective, everyone quickly learned that I didn't like to play by the rules. I was known for being stubborn and impetuous. That's how I worked. As the years went on, others would call me brave or stupid. Most of the time, I don't think, I do. Bo Dennis afraid of something? That was unheard of. Being afraid was not something most would associate with me. But sitting here on the floor, staring blankly at Kenzi, it was fear that coursed through my veins.

"Bo…what's wrong? You're shaking and you're starting to scare me." Kenzi asks again.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. Letting it out slowly as I try to regain control of my emotions. I open my mouth to say something but nothing comes out.

"It's Taft." A voice says to my right. Both Kenzi and I turn our heads. I'd completely forgotten about Lauren. "He's escaped."

I hear a sharp intake of breath from Kenzi but my eyes are transfixed on Lauren's. Her gaze is intense. I can't quite figure out what it means. I can't read her. She's the first to break the eye contact. Grabbing me by the arm she gestures to Kenz to take my other arm. They both help me up and move me to the couch. At this point I still haven't said anything.

"Have you got anything to drink? Something strong preferably."

I can do is nod, fearing what might come out of my mouth.

"I'll get it. Bo here's obvi not gonna move a cheek."

As I hear Kenzi's footsteps make their way up the stairs, I feel Lauren move around to kneel down in front of me. I feel her hands slowly reach out to take mine. My eyes reach her questioning gaze.

"Bo, talk to me."

"I…He…he's escaped." I say stupidly.

Yeah, no kidding.

Rolling her eyes at me, she gives me a sympathetic smile, giving my hands a gentle squeeze.

"I'm scared." I finally whisper, looking away. I hate this feeling. Feeling like I'm vulnerable.

"Hey…look at me." Lauren says. I feel her hand slowly but tentatively cup my cheek and turn my head to face her. "It's okay to be scared. It's human. Even Dennis the Menace is allowed to get scared sometimes."

I can't help but smile at her use of the nickname.

"I couldn't find any vodka, but I did find tequila…" at the sound of Kenzi's voice we both break apart quickly.

"Err…I'm not interrupting anything am I?"

Argh! Kenz, you have the worst timing!

"N-no. I was just about to come and check on you actually." Lauren says, standing again. This time with her hands buried in her back pockets.

"Rrriiight. Uh huh." She says before pouring some tequila in the shot glass that just happened to be sitting on the coffee table.

"Well if you two are done with the fireworks, it's time to drink up Bobalicious. It's the good stuff. One for you…one for me." Handing me the shot, I down it quickly. Closing my eyes tightly as I savour the burn of the liquid as it runs down my throat.

Guess I really did need that.

"Want one Hotpants?" I hear Kenzi ask already pouring herself another shot before pouring one more and offering it up for Lauren. Shaking her head she mumbles something about driving and not really being in the mood to drink.

"Your loss," Kenz says before shrugging her shoulders and downing the shot.

Our little party is disturbed by the sound of three heavy raps on the door followed by a, "Bo! Kenzi! Open the door!"

It's Dyson.

Great. Just what I need right now.

I lean back into the cushions of the sofa as I watch Kenzi make her way to the door. Just as she opens the door, Dyson bursts through eyes searching the kitchen before heading into the living room.

"Where is she?! Where's Bo?"

"Well hello to you too." Kenzi mumbles before following him into the living room. Turning my head in the direction of Dyson's voice I glare at him when he finally spots me.

"What do you want Dyson?" I ask annoyed even though I already know the answer.

"I don't want you leaving your house. We've got two squad cars outside as well as Hale and I taking watch. With Taft on the loose, who knows what the crazy son-of-bitch will do. So in the mean time I want you stay put, where I can keep my eye on you."

"I'm not a child Dyson. I can take care of myself." I reply, my anger quickly rising to the surface.

"Can you? Because the last time you said something like that, you almost got yourself killed!" in a few quick strides he's in front of me. He pulls me flush against his body, running a finger down the scar on my neck. I can't help but shiver a little at our close proximity.

"This, Bo, is not what I call taking care of yourself. I won't have you putting yourself at risk. When I see him, I'm going to kill him."

Pushing him away from me, I round on him my temper flaring.

"Don't Dyson. Don't you dare try to tell me what I can and can't do. Just because you have some sort of hero complex, doesn't mean you can come in here and tell me that I can't go anywhere." Dropping my hands to my side I clench them as I try to control my breathing. I hear him give out a small growl.

"Your right to be concerned about me was long gone when we broke up. I don't need you fighting my battles and I sure as hell don't need you to be my guard dog!" I watch him as he clenches his jaw. We stand there glaring at each other. The clearing of someone's throat quickly brings us back to reality.

Lauren.

"I know you mean well Dyson, but I think you should leave. Bo's been through enough tonight. Besides, I don't think Taft will show up tonight. His main priority tonight was to escape. His escape alone is enough to get the attention he's seeking. He likes to play games. For now, all he'll be doing is recuperating and planning."

"Fine." Dyson say's through gritted teeth. I can see tell that this is far from over, but for now he relents. "Just know that I'll know if you have friends over tonight." With that he turns on his heel and is out the door just as quickly as he came in.

I'm not surprised that he knows about my 'friends'. Three weeks after our break up, I started sleeping with other people. It started out with just one every two weeks, then two and three until it was almost one for every night of the week. Kenzi started calling me a sex demon after that. For someone who wanted to see other people, he sure wasn't letting that rule apply to me.

"Asshole." I spit out harshly before I grab the bottle of tequila on the coffee table and taking a not so gracious gulp from the bottle.

God that's good.

Lowering the bottle and putting it back on the table I turn to Lauren. "I'm sorry. You didn't need to see that."

"Sorry to state the obvious here Bo-bo but we can't unsee it. Now gimmie, momma needs to get her drink on. There's only so much drama a girl can take." Kenzi says before grabbing the bottle of and dropping dramatically onto the couch and taking a swig out of it. "Damn that shit is good!"

My ears perk up at the sound of Lauren's phone ringing.

"Lewis," there's a long pause as she listens to whomever it is that's on the other side of the phone. "I'm fine Mike, I'm just at a friends house. I'll be there soon, I have a few things to take care of before I come home." Ending the call and popping it back into her back pocket she looks up to find me staring at her. Blushing I quickly look away, taking a calming breath, I turn to face her again.

"Great way to start your first day on the job huh?" I say giving her a weak smile.

"Well, what can I say, it's been an eventful day that's for sure." As quickly as her light sense of humour appears, it quickly disappears to be replaced by concern again. "Are you going to be okay?" she asks moving closer, reaching out to place a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"On that note, I think T and I will continue our love fest in the room. G'night!" Lauren and I both stand there in silence watching Kenzi's retreating back as she makes her way up the stairs to her room. Just before she reaches the first step, she all but gracefully stumbles over one of her many boots lying around. "Ow! Shit! Where'd that come from?!" Righting herself, she turns around, giving us a final salute she makes her way up the stairs.

"And I thought you were the one that needed a drink." Lauren says amusement evident in her voice. "Anyway, I'd better get going. You need to get some rest Bo. I'll call you in the morning to see how you're doing." Grabbing her jacket from the back of the sofa, I follow her for a second time out to the door. Pausing with her hand on the doorknob, she slowly turns to me.

"Bo, we'll get him. I promise. Sweet dreams." With one more smile to spare and a quick goodnight, she's out the door.


"We meet again Detective."

I shudder at the voice. I can feel the familiar tightness of a blindfold around my eyes. The gag around my mouth tied a little too tightly. I want to scream, but I can't. I struggle at the binds but I know it's pointless.

"You know no one can hear you from down here. Oh I love a good fighter. Feisty even. Like I said, you always were my favourite."

His cold laugh sends another wave of shivers down my spine. I struggle again at the binds. Praying. Hoping that one would come loose. Finally I feel the blindfold being removed. I blink a few times trying to adjust to the light.

When my eyes finally adjust I take in the familiar surrounding. I'm back in the same place. This time I'm tied to a four-poster bed. Dressed in nothing but panties and a bra. I feel vulnerable and exposed for all the world to see.

What was he going to do to me?

I watch Taft as he slowly makes his way to the bed. In his hands he's holding what looks to be a hunting knife. Brown leather handle, serrated from the handle and smoothing out towards the top.

"Have you ever been hunting Detective? People do it as a sport. Hunting deer, ducks and rabbits. I love to hunt. The only difference is…I like to hunt more, how do I say this, worthy prey?"

I can only watch in vein as he makes his way towards me. When he reaches the edge of the bed, reaching the hand out with the blade, he slowly runs the tip of the blade down my stomach. I flinch.

"Want to know what my favourite part about catching my prey is?" He asks again, bringing the knife up to my neck. I can feel it push gently against the skin. Enough to let me know it was there but not enough to pierce the skin. This time with his mouth near my ear he whispers, "Flaying." I try to scream out, as I feel the blade start to break the surface of my skin.

I jerk upright breathing heavily, waking up in a cold pool of sweat. I'm shaking. Somehow in the middle of my dream my sheets had become tangled around my legs taking two of my pillows and landing them on the floor. Looking at the clock on my bedside table it read: 1:56a.m. I'd only been asleep for about two hours. Sighing, I swing my legs to the side of the bed I wince a little as my bare feet come in contact with the cold wooden floor. Standing I make my way over to my window. Peeking through the curtain, I can see two unmarked cars, one parked across the street and the other just two blocks down.

So much for sleep. Sweet dreams indeed.

Making my way into the bathroom I rummage through the medicine cabinet finding the painkillers there. Swallowing two of them in quick succession, I grip the edges of the bathroom sink steading myself at the sudden head rush. Reaching up again to close the cabinet I look at myself in the mirror.

Don't I just look like shit?

Lightly running my fingers against the scar on my neck, I can't help but think about the dream.

Get yourself together Dennis. You're stronger than this.

Sighing, I make my way back into my bedroom. Picking up my phone, I'm not surprised to find a text from Dyson.

Dyson: U ok?

Me: Just peachy. Not like a serial killer is on the loose or anything.

D: I still care 'bout u Bo.

Me: U're kidding me rite? It's 2 in the morning Dyson. It's hardly the time.

D: I just wan safe.

Me: Goodbye Dyson.

Locking my phone, I toss it back onto the nightstand, annoyed at Dyson's over protective smothering. Hewas the one that broke it off with me. He was the one that left to go find himself. He was the one that threw it away. I was in it for the long haul. It hurt to think about it. Him. And I hated it.

My thoughts quickly crossed to Lauren. After all of yesterday's events, I never even had time to consider her. From that first meeting, I couldn't deny there was something there. I couldn't help but feel so drawn to her. There was an instant attraction. I didn't know how to describe it but there was something about her that made me want to know more about her. The only problem is I only know her name, where she came from and that she has a brother. From what I did see from observing her, was that she was strong, confident and loyal.

Her insistence to help someone she barely knew. To stand by my side even though she had no idea what she was getting herself into made me feel grateful.

Maybe Trick was going somewhere with this one.

Remembering her interaction with Dyson yesterday brought a smile to my face. She could hold her own all right. What really caught me though was her easy going personality and that smile of hers. A smile, which did nothing, but melt my insides. Every time she touched me, it burned right through my clothes and onto my skin leaving this…warmth. Then there were her eyes: brown with gold specs in them. How could someone have such an effect on me? What made her so different from previous partners I've had?

Subconsciously, I knew the answer: I was attracted to Lauren Lewis.

I'm brought out of my train of thought at the sound of my phone vibrating.

Argh. Doesn't he get the hint?!

Picking up the phone, I'm surprised to see that it's not Dyson's number on the phone but a blocked one.

"Dennis," I answer.

"Hello Detective, miss me?"