Chapter Seven: So It Begins

"You a gangster now. You can't learn it at school; you can't have a late start." –Carlito from Carlito's Way


Lauren found herself observing an extremely heated argument amongst the elders. Well, at least it felt heated despite the lack of yelling in the room. It was just a general cacophony of raised voices and passionate battle cries. She was happy she took the time the past few days to really pour over the personnel files. After discovering something so major about Bo, Lauren realized she was being an idiot and not completely doing her job, so she managed to learn every possible thing she could about every member of the family. Some of the things she wished she didn't know, but she knew that knowledge was power. If she had come to this meeting and experienced this first major argument without that knowledge, she would have probably begged Trick to replace her because she was failing him as a consigliere.

Trick was not a happy person right now, and it was the first time Lauren had officially seen him this irate. She had seen him unhappy before but never angry like this. It was the first time they had any major problems within the business, and it was the first time she was going to be required to do her real job. She had been so buried in her practice and research that she'd avoided the reality of her position for too long. It was another reason she finally studied those files.

She wasn't sure what to think about it yet, so she just sat back and absorbed her surroundings. She listened to the various arguments being made. She listened when Bo explained the situation. She stayed quiet and bit her tongue, knowing it wasn't her place to speak up against the Elders. One thing Trick constantly reminded her was how her father was a great consigliere because he didn't jump into the arguments; instead, he let the arguments play out and talked to Trick in a calm and rational manner afterwards instead. What Lauren learned was that Trick allowed the Elders the chance to vent before he made his own decisions. She had read the files on even deceased members, and she knew exactly why Bo had been scared of her grandfather all of those years ago. The bad part was that there was a lot of things not written in those files; they were full of details, but the hidden meaning behind those details was what made them worrisome. Only three people knew what the codes were, and she unfortunately was one of them now. It was now her, the don, and the file keeper; Lauren wasn't surprised to find that Trick's girlfriend Stella had been the file keeper for some time. No wonder it was so easy for Trick to be with her; she knew all of his secrets.

Honestly, she was a little scared that she would let him down or give him bad advice because she didn't realize what she had gotten herself into until this moment. She didn't want to turn out like the last file keeper, who she was not surprised to find Trick had a love affair with, as well. She wasn't ready or willing to admit it yet, but that information actually gave Lauren some strange hope that things really would be different with her and Bo this time around, considering Bo was going to be don one day so she'd know all of the secrets, too. Lauren didn't imagine Bo was going to take after her grandfather and sleep with Stella. That image disturbed her and she had to shake her mind to clear the thought and focus.

She didn't know her job summary included wanting to scold grown men for getting out of hand, much like a mother would scold her children for fighting unnecessarily. At least Dyson wasn't taking the opportunity to get back into Trick's good graces in this moment, which told Lauren he had at least enough sense to know when to shut up on occasion. She was surprised to find herself relieved that Dyson hadn't done anything worth him being sent to swim with the fishes. She was actually starting to respect him and think of him as family now, even if he was still an ass.

Another positive was that Bo was actually focused and concerned about the problem and had actually done a good job. Bo had told everyone in the meeting today that she had found some major issues with the winery's shipments, and that she had confirmed her suspicions before bringing it to Trick's attention. It was really the first time Bo had talked in these meetings beyond basic updates. Just when she was getting used to the idea that Bo had a four-year-old son with an unknown man (she couldn't decipher that particular code), who could still be Hale for all she knew, Lauren had to deal with her first major business crisis. It didn't help that the crisis came from Bo, though that seemed oddly appropriate given their history. Of course it would be Bo. It seemed her firsts were always with Bo, so why should now be any different now that they were adults?

Lauren had yet to call Hale, still not sure what she would say to him. Why would he keep it a secret that Bo was his son's mother? Why would they keep that from the files completely? Better yet, why didn't he mention Bo even had a son? Did he really think Lauren was that bothered by her past with Bo that she would let it ruin her best and oldest friendship? She really didn't know what to say to him, but she knew she would lack the necessary tact the next time they talked. She had learned all of this stuff about the family, but she didn't learn the one thing she was the most curious about. In retrospect, she honestly wasn't sure how she felt about it. She wanted to be upset, but she saw how happy Hale was and how much more mature Bo seemed. It had been a long time ago, so she shouldn't care like she subconsciously knew she did. If Bryce was Hale's son, then she would get used to the idea.

The only thing she knew for sure was that she couldn't look at Bo the same way anymore, and she didn't know why she didn't notice the changes in the other woman before. She was more grounded, more honest, more mature, and more appreciative of things. Bo McCorrigan (changed to Dennis for protective purposes when she was a soldier, Lauren learned) was a mother now, and for some odd reason, that made her even more attractive. Lauren cursed herself for even thinking that, especially when she was supposed to be paying attention to the meeting instead of how great Bo looked in a skirt suit. Of course she would look good in a skirt suit, and Lauren knew she had been trying hard not to notice this fact. It was hard enough being in this room around Bo, even if they rarely sat close to each other. Lauren hated that she lost some of her professionalism by just being around the other woman, but that was the effect Bo always had on her. She had done a good job of keeping herself focused until today.

And today was a bad day to lose focus. Today was a bad day to finally allow herself to acknowledge how different and utterly sexy Bo was now. It was strictly unprofessional, and she hoped Trick believed her quietly flushed cheeks were from the argument going on around them.

Lauren took a deep breath to calm herself because the argument was escalating again. At least it brought her from staring at Bo's thighs as she sat on the couch across from her. Her cheeks flushed more when she noticed Bo caught her staring. The slight knowing smirk on Bo's face only reminded Lauren of why she didn't want to fool with Bo again. Maybe she hadn't changed that much and Lauren was projecting her own changes onto the woman. She got mad at herself for losing focus and subtly cleared her throat behind Trick as the argument circled back around again. At least this was something she could use to distract her personal thoughts. Lauren lived for the professional because it was what kept her going most days.

The room seemed to be broken into three factions: those who wanted to take it to the vendors; those who wanted to take it to the rival gangs directly; and those who were waiting to hear what Trick had to say before committing to a side. Lauren just sat back and took in all of the arguments, trying not to laugh at the numerous logical fallacies being thrown around the room. Hale was lucky he didn't have to sit in on these meetings anymore, since he gave up the political side of the business last year. He probably wouldn't say why if she asked, but Lauren knew part of the reason he gave up his hierarchical position was because he wanted to be with Kenzi more.

Lauren felt her inner thoughts go personal again, so she forced herself to stiffen and put all of her attention on the problem, even if she had heard the same thing over and over again.

"We need to get down there and remind them who owns them." Elder Mark was the most vocal about firing on all cylinders over something so trivial. He didn't seem to care who they killed; just as long as blood was spilled. He had actually switched back and forth throughout the argument, reminding them of little snide remarks or rude expressions from the various restaurant owners. He didn't seem to care what happened, as long as somebody died. It seemed that killing people was the only way for this guy. Lauren could remember her father talking about Mark when she was younger, calling him a "useless twat." She had no idea how right her father really was about that until now.

"Don, we need to attack now. This is just the beginning of a bigger tactical approach, and we all know it. The other family is testing the waters, probably because they're just now figuring out how to attack after the death of Consigliere Lewis. They think we're weak, and they're striking low to see how easy we'll be to take down." Elder O'Leary was probably Lauren's favorite when she was younger. If only she had known how bloodthirsty this man really was, she probably would have rethought her position on that. Then again, Lauren was an easy child to sway before her mother died. All O'Leary had to do was give her a book and call her "sport" like her father did, and she was smitten with him like she would be a grandfather figure, even if her own father was old enough to be a grandfather. One thing Lauren was quickly realizing from this meeting is that when an opportunity arose to take somebody out, the level of excitement rose in these old men. She imagined the women would react the same if they were here, too. From what she read, they would probably be moreso.

"I agree it has something to do with Lewis's death, but we don't even know which family hit us. They all have motives and means." Elder Berry was her least favorite growing up, and she hated that she actually had to agree with his point. The biggest thing Lauren noticed about this group was how they all seemed to agree on one thing: blood needed to be spilled. Lauren wasn't so sure it was necessary. It was just a lowered wine order, and it didn't make sense why they needed to kill the owners just to prove a point. Wouldn't that be bad for business? Not just because the owners being dead meant that lowered stock would go to zero and money would be lost on changing the guard for that building. They would have to start over again, and surely nobody wanted that. They all groaned about that very thing in a meeting last week, since the new bowling alley owner was being resistant to the order of things in the neighborhood. From their casually violent response to that, Lauren should have known something bigger would have brought out the blood hunger. She looked down and beside her where Trick was sitting behind his desk. He moved his hands. It was such a simple gesture, but it held enough power that everyone in the room stopped to look at the don.

"Gentlemen, that will be all for now. I've heard your arguments repeatedly, and I agree something needs to be done immediately." Trick had remained mostly silent since the arguments began, leaving it to Bo to verbally calm the raising voices and Dyson to step in to physically calm the masses down when a fight almost happened between those same grown men. Lauren actually found herself looking over at Bo and being extremely appreciative for her presence in the room, and more than just appreciative for how she looked in that skirt suit. It was something foreign to Lauren when it came to her feelings for Bo. It seemed the meeting today was a giant testosterone parade, and she was glad for another female presence since Elders Bailey and O'Reilly were on official business today. "Let me consult with Dr. Lewis, and I will declare my decision this afternoon. For now, I suggest you retire to your homes to calm down, so I officially call this meeting to a close. Any objections?"

Lauren couldn't help but chuckle internally because she knew nobody in this room would object to anything Trick said. However, as she watched the others, including Bo and Dyson, leaving the room, Lauren realized what was about to happen. Suddenly, her personal drama with Bo seemed trivial compared to what she was about to do. She knew this day would come, and she was honestly surprised it had taken a month before it did.

"Lauren, you'll have to forgive the bloodlust of old men. They haven't seen action in a very long time. You'll eventually see several years down the line that there comes a certain itch in this business. A lot of those men started as soldiers, so their first instinct is to always fight." Trick moved from behind his desk after two hours of being stuck in his official position. He seemed every bit as troubled as Lauren imagined he would be. This was not an easy situation, and she realized her fear in this moment of failing Trick. There was a fear of not knowing the situation at all because she had never been around the constant violence that lurked beneath the surface of the family business. Her father and Trick and even Bo and Hale protected her from that knowledge, and she couldn't help but wonder if having it would influence her own opinions. There was only so much reading about it could do.

"Loathe as I am to admit it, Elder Berry has a point that we don't know which family is causing the problem." Lauren couldn't help but let out a frustrated breath. Berry was an awful man who always did and still made her feel uncomfortable, though she never knew why beyond the fact he just gave her chills. Now that she knew why; again, there were some things she wished she didn't know about these people. She much preferred just feeling like he was creepy; she didn't like knowing why.

"Yes, I notice you roll your eyes quite a bit when Elder Berry is talking. Not a fan, eh?" Trick smirked and remained casual and playful despite the fact they were in this room to decide if and who would die today. Lauren didn't want to become numb to that fact, but she was worried that one day she would be acting the same way, too, as though a human life was not worth considering. Trick walked over and handed her a glass of scotch, which Lauren accepted as he ushered her to sit on the oversized leather sofa Bo was sitting on earlier when she broke the news to the family. It was the same couch her father had caught them on, which made her take a sip of the scotch so Trick would think the alcohol was the cause of her flushed features. "No worries. Your father often rolled his eyes at Marcus, too."

"Regardless, he was not wrong. We can't hit every family and start wars with everyone. That isn't logical or practical." Lauren took a small sip of the scotch, letting the smoothness of Trick's private reserve coat her throat before she continued. It was the first time she was giving any real business advice, and she felt slightly guilty at feeling like she was playing G-d with so many people's lives. "Similarly, it's not logical or practical to result to violence against these owners, either. Somebody has threatened them and made them feel unsafe; the last thing they need is to be intimidated even further. Instead, why not try a different approach? I'm sure it's not proper protocol or how we work, but why not try talking to these people first? I could quote numerous studies on leadership and organizational communication that mention happy employees are better employees. They're missing that safety tier in the hierarchy of needs, so why should we punish them for reacting with a normal human response to fear? It's only a select few, most of them newer owners, so let's hold off on the violence for now and see if we can't get answers first. The more knowledge we have, the better we will be able to avoid any negative consequences. Maybe we'll even earn the real respect and loyalty from these new owners."

"You do know this is just the beginning?" Trick was referring more than just this scenario. Lauren nodded that she understood. Still, they knew to stay on task for now. She could deal with how this business would change her as it happened.

"I'm well aware." She took another sip of her scotch and smiled a bit, remembering the various arguments. "Actually, it was Bo who we should have listened to the most in this meeting. She had already done so much of the preliminary work for us when she could have just handled the situation herself. Instead, she actually thought beyond her impulses as a soldier."

"Yes, I'm glad you realized that, too. It'll make the transition for you both easier if you can get along and become close. You finally got the chance to see how good she is at this job, and she's going to get a chance to see how good you are, too. I'm only sorry you couldn't have been friends when you were younger. Your father mentioned Bo was quite fond of you back then; almost like she had a cute little crush on you." If only Trick knew that their "friendship" and history was what was driving them apart now. Lauren considered telling him so that it could never be used against them, but if her father never told Trick the real story, then she knew the decision to keep their relationship a secret was more important and safer. "Perhaps you could find ways to be more social with her for when she takes control. One of the things that made this family so strong for so many years was because of how close and in tune your father and I were. I want that for you and Bo. I want to know my family will continue to be strong."

"Of course." Lauren took in a deep breath, knowing her body and jaw stiffened. She watched Trick's eyes narrow, like he was reading her, but from his expression, she could tell he was just worried she would be resistant to his idea. If only he knew.

"Good." He nodded lightly before standing again. He walked back to his desk but didn't sit down. Instead, he looked over at Lauren with a stony glare. She knew what was happening, but a small part of the innocence she had left wanted to cling on just a little bit longer. "We will hold off on the violence for now, but if it becomes necessary, I trust my soldiers to do their job, and so should you."

"Of course." Lauren stood and smoothed out her suit pants as she stood. She raised her chin a bit, feeling her teeth clenched together as her jaw moved in response to her frustration. It was a trick her father had taught her growing up on how to remain and always appear in control.

"Welcome to the family, Lauren." Trick seemed happy about this as he smiled. There was no malice or blood lust behind the man's words or expression, but Lauren knew as she walked out of his office and out of the compound into her car that her world had finally and completely changed, and there was now no turning back.


After that meeting the other day, Bo was actually surprised when Trick didn't call the hounds to do a lot of damage. Somehow, Bo knew that it was Lauren who had convinced him this was the best method, and she was actually intrigued that her grandfather listened. He didn't always listen to Mr. Lewis, so it seemed odd that he would listen to Lauren, especially considering she had been away from and never really been a part of the business before. For a minute, Bo was worried that Trick was going soft because she knew Lauren was a big softie, even if she did hide behind that cold exterior. She could be influencing Trick to go soft, too. That was why people seemed more shocked when he declared his decision to the Elders and made it very clear that no violence would happen unless necessary. Trick didn't get his nickname as the Blood King because he was soft.

However, Bo wasn't surprised in the least when some of the soldiers found things more necessary than probably were. She also wasn't surprised when Trick scolded them for their inability to follow orders. It did appease the Elders, though, when the soldiers were punished for their incompetence. Watching Lauren's face as she witnessed her first finger removal made Bo want to physically pull Lauren to her in that room and wrap her in a big hug to shield her eyes, despite their audience. She felt this strong need to protect Lauren from this life, as she watched the doctor hardly respond, which worried Bo that the violence had already tainted her.

One thing that meeting did was make Bo actually do something about her resurfaced feelings for Lauren instead of thinking or talking about doing something. She needed out of this stalemate, so she did the one thing she knew Lauren could not avoid.

Bo made an appointment.

She knew she would be on the VIP list with the nurse, which meant Dr. Lewis herself would be giving the entire private examination. It was exactly the opportunity Bo needed, and she didn't feel guilty in the slightest as she walked around Lauren's office and observed her surroundings while she waited on the doctor. There were hardly any decorations beyond medical things, a few plants, and two picture frames with pictures of her niece and nephew. There was nothing here to indicate Lauren was anything other than a professional. Bo picked up the picture of Maddie and couldn't help but smile at the adorable little girl. She could tell why her son was so smitten with her.

Lauren walked into the room with that same curious and caring look that Bo used to associate with her. She must have noticed the name on the tablet chart because her expression changed before she looked up and let out a deep breath. They made eye contact, and Lauren tried her best to be professional and not act annoyed, but Bo could tell she was affected. Lauren may try to keep hidden and come across as cold and detached, but Bo knew her better than that, and she desperately craved to see the passionate and loving side of Lauren surface again.

"Why, hello, Doctor." She put down the picture in her hands and moved over to sit on the exam table, not even hiding the flirtation in her tone, expression, or movements. She didn't want Lauren to have any doubt about her real intentions, which she immediately recognized were not completely noble the second she saw Lauren walking in and looking sexy in her doctor's coat. She was always so put together, but her beauty was so subtle.

"Bo." She let out another breath before pulling a stylus pen from her pocket and marking a note on the tablet. Bo craned her neck to see what she was writing, but it wasn't any use because Lauren still had illegible chicken scratch. Technology didn't make it any better.

"Fancy meeting you here." Bo removed her jacket, not missing how Lauren glanced briefly at her bare arms and cleavage. This only caused Bo to smile and give herself an internal high five for being right that Lauren had been checking her out lately. Much like her beauty, Lauren was subtle in her flirting and gazing; she was always good at that, but Bo knew what to look for, and she had been looking for it. She felt a sense of relief and excitement in the meeting the other day when she saw it for the first time since Lauren returned.

"Well, this is my office, so…" Lauren smirked a bit, and Bo was glad this wouldn't be as hard as she thought. She remembered the playfulness behind closed doors and felt the energy in the room shift as Lauren went to shut the door and walk closer to her, laying the tablet on a table before coming to stand in front of Bo. It was the first time Lauren had touched her, as she started to rub her fingers along her throat. It was a very doctor-y move, but Bo had the instinct to reach up and grip Lauren's hand in hers. The touch only amplified what she wanted and what she was feeling. If only Lauren wasn't so clinical about it, Bo wouldn't hesitate to just take what she wanted. This actually reminded her of when they first started flirting back in high school. Bo knew it was a challenge, and it was actually hard to tell if Lauren was into her at times, but she was patient and up for the challenge. If she had known she would fall in love with Lauren back then, Bo wondered if her younger self would have pursued her so strongly. It was just supposed to be a conquering, but after that first kiss, Bo knew it would be so much more.

"Who knew all those times we played doctor in high school would lead to this moment?" Bo smirked again, biting her lip to stop from shivering from the coldness of Lauren's hands. Her own skin was prickling with goosebumps the more Lauren touched her. Bo looked up at the ceiling and willed herself to remain calm as Lauren stared at her chest when she pressed the stethoscope against her heart. Bo knew it was beating erratically, and she could see the concern etched in Lauren's brow.

"I see your heartbeat is still faster than average." Lauren picked up the tablet and pen and started making notes again, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and not making eye contact. "Nobody has ever prescribed you anything for that?"

"It's not always that fast." Bo could tell Lauren understood her meaning the second their eyes met. She also could tell the barely noticeable intake of breath Lauren took at realizing her meaning. "It's actually not beat that fast in a very, very long time."

"Good to know." Lauren let out a deep breath and just like that, her professional mask was back. Bo could tell she was fighting to keep it there, though, because the corners of her mouth were struggling not to upturn.

"You realize this is the most words we have spoken to each other since you've been back?" Bo relaxed as she watched Lauren's careful movements. It had to be hard to keep this exterior when it was so obvious that she wanted to break it right now; at least it was obvious to Bo, but again, she knew what to look for.

"Well, you're making it a little difficult to ignore you right now." Lauren smirked a bit as she pulled the light thingy up to check Bo's eyes. Bo followed her instructions without a fuss, even though she really wanted to play with her to test the waters a little more.

"I heard you met Kenzi." She didn't want there to be awkward silence, so she tried to think of things that would be safe to talk about. Lauren was obviously warming up to her again, but Bo didn't want to scare her away when they just started going in the right direction.

"Yes. I met Kenzi." Lauren raised an eyebrow, but she was unsuccessful at hiding her smirk now. If she wasn't careful, that smirk was going to turn into a big smile. Bo craved for that to happen.

"I know how you feel about Hale, but Kenzi is convinced you're a threat, no matter how much both of us tell her otherwise." Bo chuckled, but she noticed Lauren's expression turned serious again. She wasn't sure what she said that would have broken the subtle progress they'd made so far. "I just know how protective you used to get over the girls Hale dated. You should know Kenzi is good, and they're good together."

"Whoever Hale dates or sleeps with is his business. I gave up my right as protective best friend years ago." Lauren's nostrils flared a bit, and she almost looked like she was holding back anger.

"Well, he never stopped. You should know that. Hale has always been protective of you, even all these years you've been gone." Bo let out a breath, feeling like she had done something wrong and desperately wanting to fix it. This meeting was not going like she hoped. "I, um…I never did, either."

"I don't remember you being particularly protective of me when I was here." Lauren narrowed her eyes, though there wasn't any real malice behind her tone. She was actually hard to read, and that worried and scared Bo more. "I actually remember the opposite, especially when you were with your friends."

"I'm not that person anymore." Bo swallowed hard, not having enough words to say how truly sorry she was. She could apologize, but it would probably just be stale to Lauren. She apologized half-heartedly all of the time when they were sneaking around, and even if she did mean it this time, Bo knew Lauren didn't have to believe her. That's what made this harder than she anticipated. "You're not the same person, either."

"I know." Lauren moved back and turned away from Bo, who still caught the deep breath Lauren was trying to hide.

"I was an idiot back then, and I regret every mean thing I ever said to you." Bo knew the risk was greater for them now, but she really didn't care. She didn't want to be that person she was before; she wanted to be somebody who was actually worthy of someone like Lauren. "I know you probably don't want to hear it, but I need to say it. I need you to know that I really did love you, and I'm not an idiot anymore."

"I know." Lauren seemed to relax her features a bit as she smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. Of all things she wanted to see, Bo wanted to see Lauren happy and smiling like she actually was happy.

"I'm not saying you have to forgive me for my past actions. I was awful to you when it wasn't just the two of us or the two of us with Hale. I just…loved you so much that it scared me. We weren't supposed to be together, and I was too afraid of people finding out. It just seemed easier that way." Bo cleared her throat because she knew it wasn't just her. Lauren could have told somebody; she could have stopped coming back to Bo over and over again. They were both in it together. "I've grown up. I guess you could say I had a dawning of sorts. It's made me stronger and more in control of my life. I'm not afraid anymore." They could have talked about it instead of ending on such a sour note. Maybe things would be different between them now. Maybe they would have led completely different lives if they had been brave enough back then. "I still…"

"I know." Lauren didn't let her finish, and Bo couldn't break the close contact they had right now. It was the closest they had been in a long time, and staring into Lauren's eyes now only made Bo want to fight even harder for this woman. She really missed the way Lauren looked at her.

"I just needed to be clear. I know I had a problem with that in the past." Bo held their eye contact, wanting to reach out and touch Lauren physically somehow. "If I'm going to convince you I'm not a monster anymore, I need to tell you things."

"Bo, you're not a monster." Lauren looked away finally as she stepped back and walked over to her desk. She seemed to feel safer when there was space between them, as she physically relaxed more the further apart they were. Bo remembered a time when they couldn't relax until they were behind closed doors and in each other's arms, and she longed for that feeling again. Seeing Lauren now, though, she wondered if she should have left well enough alone. She looked so torn; almost like she hated herself for fighting but that she would hate herself more for giving in. Bo really wanted to make that inner turmoil disappear to happier thoughts. She didn't want Lauren to have to fight her feelings, but she knew she deserved to be ignored. She had been awful to Lauren and it was silly of her to think they could have what they had again. Maybe she was just lonely and projecting her past feelings for Lauren into this new Lauren. Maybe she was longing for something that she used to have. Maybe her guilt about her past actions made her want to try again just to prove to herself she could be a good girlfriend. "And I loved you."

"I know." Bo bit her lip because she could feel the attraction was still there. She could actually feel the tension in the air, and she knew she wasn't projecting that. Bo was always good at telling when people were attracted to her, and Lauren was no exception right now. She was hard to read before, but Bo smirked a little when she realized Lauren had to move away from her just now because she was having a hard time controlling herself. She was breathing a little heavier than usual, her face was a little more flushed than normal, and she was staring at Bo's neck; something Lauren used to do when she was desperately trying to keep control around Bo.

"We have to work together from now on, so it's important to Trick that we get along." Lauren tried to be casual and professional, but when she tucked her hands into her coat pockets as she moved closer again, Bo gave herself an internal double high five for actually succeeding somewhat in her mission today. Lauren looked like she had been running the trails around the compound, but Bo knew her physical reactions were for a completely different kind of run. "Checkup complete. You're a perfectly healthy specimen."

"Thanks, Doctor Lauren." It was a name Bo used to call her when they were messing around and playing "doctor." She made sure her voice didn't hide her flirtatious inflection and loved when she noticed Lauren's cheeks flush even more. She stood from the exam table and grabbed her jacket, making sure to stay close to Lauren and getting into her private space a little and breathing in that familiar honey citrus scent, though it was mixed with doctor-y smells now. "See you around."

"Say hello to Bryce for me." Lauren said as Bo moved to open the door. She didn't sound angry or upset about it; Bo knew Lauren mentioned it just to let her know she knew about her son.

"He'll be happy to hear from you. He's a big fan of yours; takes after his mom." Bo let out a deep breath, wondering if that was why Lauren seemed upset earlier. Was it because she had kept something so personal from her? It wasn't like they had been talking. It wasn't like she tried to hide it. Actually, Bo was relieved Lauren knew the situation because it would make it easier to woo her without hiding things. And if there was one thing Bo learned from this "appointment," it was that she would definitely be wooing Lauren Lewis again. This time, it wouldn't just be about the challenge, either, though Bo could admit that made it more exciting. No, this time, Bo knew she wanted to pursue Lauren for the right reasons. This definitely wasn't projection; the feelings were still there and still strong, and she desperately wanted Lauren to finally see how worthy she really was now.