Lauren was hovering over the microscope when Tamsin and Dyson walked into the lab. "Hey, Doc. You got those files for us yet?" Tamsin asked leaning back against the counter.
"Yes, I just finished them earlier," Lauren said looking through a pile of paperwork and pulling out the correct files, "Here." She handed the files over to Tamsin.
"Thanks Doc, you babysitting again tonight then?" Tamsin retorted.
Dyson looked at Lauren confusedly, "Babysitting?"
"Yeah, the Doc had a pretty young thing in her apartment the other night, didn't you?" Tamsin replied before the doctor got a chance to with a smug grin on her face.
"That is none of your business Tamsin." Lauren replied, slightly embarrassed that Dyson now knew and she wasn't even sure what was going on between her and Ava. Although when Lauren had text to let Ava know her that the imposed 'lock-down' had been lifted, she had replied asking if Lauren wanted to go out for drinks to celebrate and of course the doctor had accepted. So they were going on another date(?) later in the week.
Dyson and Tamsin left after saying goodbye, Dyson still confused and Tamsin awful pleased with herself.
Lauren and Ava had been at the bar for just over a hour when Ava's phone rang. She glanced at the screen which had Leda's name on it. After a couple moments thought Ava gave in and said to Lauren," Sorry, I have to take this, I'll be back in a second."
"Sure, yeah, no bother," Lauren replied with a smile.
"Hello?" Ava answered the phone just before it stopped ringing.
"Hey, can you come get me?" a hushed, timid tone asked from the other end of the line.
"Of course, you at Vic's, yeah?" Ava promised to be there for Leda at any time she could possibly need her, even if it did mean ending her date with Lauren early.
"Yeah." Leda replied solemnly.
Ava hung up and put her hand to her head, leaning back against the wall outside, "Shit."
"Hey," Ava caught Lauren's attention while sitting down on the stool next to her, "I'm really sorry but I've got to go pick Leda up from her boyfriend's place."
"Oh, ok. Is she ok, is she hurt?" Lauren asked remembering Leda's situation.
"I don't know, I mean probably. She only calls me if things are pretty bad so.." Ava sighed. Lauren hated seeing her so stressed and placed a hand on her back to comfort her.
"If you want me to come I can make sure she's ok, physically, I mean." Lauren suggested.
"Um, I... I don't-"
"Sorry, I shouldn't have said, it's not my place." the doctor regretted her suggestion immediately.
"No! No, I mean I wasn't- that would be great. I just, well, that's kind of a strange way to end a date, isn't it? But I would totally appreciate it, you don't have to of course." Ava was struggling to find the right words with her mind pre-occupied with worried thoughts about Leda, "Um, are you sure?"
"Yeah, of course. Sorry the doctor in me kind of took over there, I just want to help you make sure she's ok. You obviously care about her a lot."
"I do," Ava nodded, "Ok then, we should get going. I'll call a cab."
* * *
It was her first time in Ava's apartment but Lauren was too busy checking the bruises on Leda's ribs to take it all in. Ava came over from the kitchen to the 'living room', her apartment was small and all open plan, except from her bed room and en suite, it was basically just a long room. But Ava was content and it felt very much like home after staying there for just over a year. She set down the two mugs of tea on the coffee table. "So how's she looking, Doc?" Ava said in a light hearted tone, she tried to joke with Leda as she knew Leda didn't like to face the severity of the situation at times like this.
"Well the bruising's pretty bad on the right side so I'd say you should just take it easy until it heals. Sorry, there's not much else I can suggest but if this happens again it could easily have a lot more serious consequences. Make you sure you come to me if you can, ok?" Lauren looked sympathetically towards Leda.
Leda nodded her head and forced a smile, "See, told you I'll be just fine," she directed the statement towards Ava who was sitting on the chair adjacent to the couch her and the doctor were on.
"You're bullshit doesn't work on me Leda," she said half-serious and sighed, "Ok you're not going back to his tonight."
"But he's expecting me back, you know it'll just be worse if I don't go next time. Honestly you two should head out again and I'll get picked up in a couple of hours." Leda had been apologising since they had come to pick her up for interrupting their date. They had used the excuse of going to the cinema to try and get Leda out of Vic's. He hadn't quite bought it but Ava could be quite persuasive.
"There's no way in hell I'm taking you back there, Leda. You know this needs to stop, you need to-" Ava stopped herself. It wasn't the time to be having this conversation with Lauren sat in the middle of them.
Lauren suddenly became aware of this and stood, "Sorry, I should get going and leave you two to talk. Remember you can come and see me whenever, or call me if you can't." She said to Leda who thanked her again.
Ava rose to walk Lauren into the hall, "I'm sorry things ended up like this, I was really looking forward to spending time with you."
"That's ok, I was too but I'm glad I could help. She's so lucky to have you, you know?" Lauren said.
"Yeah, I just wish I could help her more, I don't know how much longer I can watch her like this though. But even if I drag her into the station she has to agree to press charges and she's too scared." Ava replied dejectedly.
"Well actually, I think I can help. I didn't want to say anything until I'd spoken to him yet but my friend is a police officer. And he works for the Fae, if Leda's boyfriends is Light then I'm sure Dyson can do something, it's just a little trickier if he's Dark." Then Lauren's mind went to Tamsin, would she bother helping? It was already risky telling Dyson she was attending a human even though he had a soft spot for them. "But I'll see what I can do." Lauren finished before Ava pulled her into a tight hug. Lauren was a little taken aback but after a moment she returned the embrace. Ava pulled back and wiped her cheek slightly, hoping the doctor wouldn't notice.
"Thank you," she added as if she hadn't already said the words through her actions. Lauren did notice her wiping her cheek but also realised Ava wasn't the kind of person who wanted others to acknowledge if she was upset. However she decided to show Ava she cared anyways and cupped her right cheek, wiping another fallen tear with her thumb.
"It's ok." Lauren responded and tucked the loose pieces of hair behind Ava's ear. Ava smiled slightly and closed the small distance between them. She didn't know how to thank Lauren with words, she just wanted to show her. The kiss was soft and slow, Ava wished the doctor could stay so they could continue but she stepped back and whispered, "I'll see you soon." Lauren nodded her head and turned just as she received a text to say her car would pick her up in five. Ava returned inside hopeful that maybe Laurens contacts could help the girl inside, curled up on the couch.
