Thanks so much for your continued support on this story! So I just realized that this site doesn't show breaks I put in between scenes within a chapter so I'm going to try to figure out a way to do that to help the flow a little easier to follow- just in case you were wondering. This is a short chapter but the next few are a bit longer and I'll try to get those posted in the next few days as I wrap up a few edits on them. Otherwise, here's the next piece!

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Lauren returned to her private office space on the hospital's first floor. She closed the door and shut out the hectic sounds from the hallway, but the silence of the room did little to shut off the hectic thoughts in her mind. Lauren pulled her office chair away from the desk and slouched into it with ease. She stared carefully at her cell phone knowing this call wasn't one she preferred to make. It bothered her to call Tamsin and ask a favor after her horrible behavior last night. Yet in her ever present quest to be an excellent doctor, Lauren took a deep breath and hit the speed dial.

"Doc."

Tamsin answered with a tone void of all emotion. It was just one word, but her tone drove right through Lauren's center. It contrasted the detective's fierce tone used in the car the night prior but oddly, Lauren preferred a tone with any emotion over this one. It was upsetting, but it was just the tip of what Lauren knew she deserved.

"Tamsin, I don't even know how to start this conversation with you."

Tamsin didn't respond, and Lauren knew the detective had zero responsibility to make the conversation easy. Lauren dug the soles of her shoes into the floor as she looked towards the ceiling and ran a hand through her messy hair.

"So, there's been a change in plans. I'm at the hospital, again. My Jane Doe is awake. Would it be possible for you to come here instead of going to my place after your shift?"

"Yes."

"In addition to my groveling and the copious amount of apologizing I plan on doing when you arrive, I need a favor."

"Doc…"

Before she could actually speak the word no, Lauren interrupted.

"Please Tamsin. This is a separate request and has nothing to do with my fuck up last night. It's for my patient, not me. I need you to do that thing you do so well when talking with victims. I don't want anyone else to do it. Not this one. Please. I'm not beneath begging if that's what it takes."

She absorbed every second of Tamsin's silence.

"I'll be there in an hour."

The line disconnected while Lauren still had the phone pressed to her ear. She tossed the device on the desk and leaned back into her oversized chair. She rubbed her eyes, hoping to rid herself of the slight hangover still lingering. With a little luck, the greasy pizza she was about to order would cure her of the remaining haze from last night's bourbon indulgence. Lauren looked over her own attire as she soaked in the silence. She let out a quiet laugh and considered her situation: she was hung over, apparently smelled like whiskey, dressed in clothes she didn't realize she owned, and needed to prepare an epic offer of indentured servitude to gain her best friend's forgiveness. What else could happen?

A knock could happen. A knock on her office door could happen. A knock on her office door did happen. Lauren stared at the closed door and waited until she heard the second knock before saying "Come in." It was like a scene in a movie, when a breath is held as the door swings open to reveal the mysterious visitor on the other side. And in that instance, Lauren Lewis knew better than to tempt fate with an internal question like what else could happen? As a smiling Bo Dennis peeked her head around the door, Lauren silently questioned what shameless beings manipulated the universe at her expense.

When their eyes met, Bo's smile widened and the glow around her gorgeous face brightened. She opened the door further to allow herself to step inside fully before closing it again. Instinctively, Lauren's hands gripped the arm rests of her chair. Lauren admired the woman that stood before her. Dressed in a simple pair of short black gym shorts and a revealing low cut yellow tank top, Bo's curves were much more visible in this attire than her work uniform. Lauren found herself staring at Bo's muscular thighs, trailing her eyes over her taut abdomen to her busty chest. Quickly shifting her eyes to Bo's face and hoping she hadn't been caught staring, Lauren's insides fluttered wildly when she saw that gorgeous smile on the brunette's face. Her hair was down and amplified her sex appeal ten fold. Lauren wore her surprise clearly on her face.

"Hi Lauren!"

Lauren felt a wave of adrenaline press through her body. A mix of excitement and fear swirled inside her, enough to bring small beads of sweat forming on the back of her neck. She considered the alcohol leaving her system may be a factor, but deep down, Lauren knew it was the fire chief pulling such a reaction from her.

"Bo, hi, hello!" Lauren replied, her own smile stretching across her face.

Bo stepped closer to the doctor's desk, fidgeting with her hands and glancing around the room.

"I realize I'm showing up unannounced, and I actually didn't even think you'd be here this early because I recall you work nights like me. Anyway, I didn't know how to get a hold of you so I thought to come here and leave my number. The nurse out front said you were here unexpectedly so I thought I'd just deliver it in person."

Knowing Bo made a trip to the hospital just to leave her number added another layer to this beautiful woman. Lauren had been so caught up in her own wallowing that she didn't even consider how to get Bo's number after their conversation was interrupted from the fire alarm. Lauren accepted this entire scenario as a sign that she needed to stop the self pity and be more aware of present day life literally knocking at her door.

"Yes, well I have a patient that warranted my earlier arrival today." She paused before continuing. "It's good to see you again, Bo."

If it were possible, Bo's glow grew even brighter.

"It's good to see you too."

Her words were laced with curiosity and desire. Lauren heard it clearly. They enjoyed each other's smiles for another moment in silence before Lauren broke the building tension.

"So how was the rest of your night?"

Bo nodded as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "Fine, thanks. I'm sorry about that call, um, interrupting us. There was a car accident we responded to. Thankfully everyone is okay. After that, it was a fairly quiet night."

Lauren let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.

"That's good, I mean, that everyone was okay, not that we were, um, interrupted."

Lauren felt flustered with her own lack of words. She frequently exposed her nervousness with rattled sentences or a random string of geek-speak. Lauren questioned what to say next. She had an extreme case of butterflies, and her body, mind and heart were all playing tug of war with what her next move should be. Thankfully, Bo took control of the conversation with that same playful tone they held the night prior. Bo dragged her fingertips across the edge of the desk, unmasking her own nervousness.

"So…last night, you accepted my dinner invitation. Can I take you out on your next available evening? I'm sure your schedule is crazier than mine, but I will gladly make any adjustments necessary with my schedule to make that happen sooner rather than later."

Even though Bo was fidgeting, her voice conveyed nothing but confidence. Lauren looked upon Bo with lust filled eyes and found the offer to rearrange her schedule quite endearing. She valued the effort Bo put forth to solidify their previously discussed dinner date. The word date still scared the living daylights out of Lauren, and whether her heart was ready or not, Lauren was about to take a very bold step forward.

"That's really kind of you Bo but you don't have to rearrange your schedule. Obviously we both work nights, so maybe we could get together before one of our shifts some night? Say around 9pm so we have a few hours before we both have to go to work?"

Bo's eyes were sparkling again, and the sight had Lauren's pulse racing. Her palms were sweaty and she was certain her cheeks were flush. Lauren had no way to hide it.

"Sounds perfect. How about tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?" Lauren repeated.

"Yes. I know the perfect place."

Lauren nodded and thought back to Tamsin's recent motto: No time like the present.

"Tomorrow is great."

Without warning, Bo reached out to Lauren's desk and swiped her cell phone from the surface. Lauren didn't react to the motion but was curious to Bo's actions. Bo stared at the screen before extending her hand gripping the phone towards Lauren.

"Password, please?"

Curious at the request, Lauren accepted the phone, typed in her password and reluctantly handed the device back to Bo.

"Thank you."

Bo punched a few quick keystrokes into Lauren's phone and held it to her ear. A moment later, Bo's gym shorts were ringing. After three rings, she ended the call and tossed it back to Lauren's desk.

"There. Now you have my number, and I have yours. I'll text you the restaurant address and we can meet there?"

Lauren picked up the phone and leaned back in her chair. She brought the device to eye level and scanned the call log to see the recently dialed number.

"That sounds great Bo." Lauren replied, ready to save the new number into her contact list.

"Excellent."

Bo lost her fidgety movements and pressed her shoulders back. With a renewed sense of confidence, she sauntered around Lauren's workstation as she invaded the personal space behind her desk. Bo reached for the armrests of Lauren's chair and slowly spun her ninety degrees so they were facing each other. Bo pressed her hands tightly to each arm rest and leaned forward into Lauren. The slow movements and Bo's motion of bending forward allowed Lauren a very alluring view of the chief's ample cleavage. Her hair smelled like vanilla and draped around her face provocatively. Lauren's hands were still gripping her cell phone tightly by her chest as she resisted the urge to seize the woman responsible for this sudden spike in arousal.

Lauren forced her gaze from Bo's chest to her eyes. They appeared predatory, almost primal. The look stirred Lauren's most basic needs and had her questioning her own boundaries. Bo further closed the space between them but Lauren's waiting lips were bypassed causing her to hold the breath she had inhaled. Bo paused next to Lauren's ear, and the breath that tickled Lauren's earlobe sent waves of desire to her very core. If her patient smelled the whiskey from a few feet away, Lauren was certain Bo smelled it at this closeness.

"I'm already looking forward to tomorrow, doctor."

Bo placed a gentle kiss to Lauren's cheek that caused a flood of wetness between her legs. Lauren exhaled the breath she held as Bo stepped back and winked at her. She silently thanked the universe that she was sitting down for fear of her knees buckling. Those whispered words, the breathy sensation on her ear, the teasing kiss and then that wink created a smile on Lauren's face that even the doctor couldn't fight.

"Me too Bo. Me too."

Beaming, Bo turned and walked out of Lauren's office. Lauren stared at the fire chief's backside with admiration before she disappeared through the closing door. Alone, Lauren put the cell phone back on her desk, closed her eyes and took one last deep breath in search of Bo's vanilla scent before it dissipated completely. She flung her head down onto the desk and spoke muffled words into the desk surface pressed now against her face.

"Wow. Fuck. Me."