A/N: Again thank you all so much! I love reading all your thoughts and comments. I love how well you're all embracing the story. To answer cheekymadom's question, yes I do watch a lot of crime/cop shows lol. I love NCIS, Bones, Rizzoli and Isles, CSI etc etc. Now due to the fact that I'm going to be M.I.A for a couple of days due life getting in the way, thought I'd give you all an early present for the weekend. It's not as intense as the last chapter, but it's just a little something something. Have a great weekend and enjoy! :) Sigh. If only I put this much effort into my assignments.


Chapter 7 – It's such a cold, cold world.

After storming out of Trick's office, I decided I'd make my way to the gym. I needed to do something to let out my frustrations and the best place to do it was in the gym…with a punching bag. Things were quickly spiraling out of control and I wasn't sure if I was able to handle any of it.

Sending a hard right to the punching bag I let out a frustrated growl. One blow after the other I let it rip at the bag. Every punch I threw I would imagine one problem after the other. But for every heavy blow I let fly, it was always Taft's face that I saw. With my headphones in and my music blasting in my ears, for a moment, I was in my own world. Right hook, jab, jab, and punch.

Trick is my grandfather. Jab. Four years in the force and never once did he think to mention who he is. Jab, jab. Taft and my mother were friends. Straight right. Dyson is a tool. Jab, jab and hook. Taft has my mother. Jab, jab and punch. Fuck. How the hell did things turn out like this? After just fifteen minutes I'm huffing and puffing. After another five minutes I couldn't take it anymore. I let all my frustrations out on the punching bag and I knew I'd be hurting in the morning. I haven't hit the gym in two months.

After a quick shower, I make my way into the locker rooms to change. Rounding the corner I find Lauren sitting on one of the benches talking on the phone. She hasn't spotted me yet, so I just stand there clad in nothing but a towel, watching her. After she hangs up she finally spots me, giving me a cautious smile. Silence engulfs the room and I wonder briefly just how she knew where to find me.

"Uhm…that was Mike. He called to tell me that he's found an apartment about five minutes down the block from mine."

I can only manage a nod.

Standing up, she slowly makes her way over, stopping right in front of me.

"Bo, we need to talk," she says quietly. Her eyes bore into mine, worry written all over her face. I break eye contact and move to my locker. I remain silent as I start to change. I hear a gasp from Lauren when I drop my towel, not really caring that she can see me in all my naked glory. I'm comfortable changing in front of other women. Like Kenzi says, 'If you've got it, flaunt it'. When I finish I look over to see Lauren with her back to me.

"You can turn around now," I say finding it kind of cute that she still has a hint of pink in her cheeks when she turns back around.

"I…uh…sorry," she murmurs still looking at the ground.

Making my way over to her and mimicking her actions from this morning I tilt her head up to look at me. "It's okay, I should've warned you."

Dropping my hand again, I pick up my duffel bag, ready to make my way out. I stop again at the sound of Lauren saying my name.

"Bo…we need to talk about what happened."

"There's nothing to talk about Lauren. You heard what Trick said, he's my grandfather, and I don't think it gets any clearer than that, he's had time…a lot of time to tell me but he didn't. Oh and I forgot, Taft is still a deranged psychopathic asshole who enjoys making my life a living hell just because my mother rejected him."

I start to feel my anger starting to rise to the surface again at the reminder. I'm starting to become tired of talking. I want to do something. Anything. I had to find my mother and the more talking, the less time spent on trying to find her.

"Don't shut me out Bo. I can't help you if you don't let me in," she replies.

"Yeah well no one asked for your help," I snap. With my back still turned to her, I say nothing more and walk out of the room, angry tears stinging my eyes.


When I arrive home, Kenzi is nowhere to be found. Throwing myself onto the couch I cover my face with a pillow, I take a deep breath and scream into it. On my drive home I realized just how much of a bitch I was to Lauren. She had done nothing wrong and she didn't deserve that. It was one of the reason I hated having a partner. I hated feeling like I was obligated to confide in someone just because we're partners.

Yeah well maybe you should've thought of that before you decided to go have a big fat cry at Lauren's this morning.

Sighing, I lie there with the pillow still covering my face. My body starts to relax and I slowly start to drift off to sleep. Just then I hear the lock turn and the sound of Kenzi's high-heeled boots hitting the hardwood floor as she makes her way into the living room.

I guess that's no to sleeping then.

When the sound of her heels stop, it's silent for a moment. I let out a scream when I feel Kenzi jump on me, straddling me at the waist and grabbing the pillow from my face.

"Hiya bitch face, if you're trying to play hide and seek, I gotta say your hiding place is pretty shitty," she says to me a big smile on her face.

"What the fuck Kenz?!" I grumble at her, pushing the smaller woman onto the floor, landing her right on her ass.

"Bitch," she mutters quickly getting up. "What's up your ass?"

Lying back down on the couch, I grab the pillow to successfully cover my face again, not before muttering a quick 'everything' to her. I feel her lift my legs and place them on her lap as she settles herself on the opposite end of the sofa.

"Okay, tell Dr. Kenz what the problem is. Don't forget I charge by the minute, girls gotta make a living."

With my eyes still closed, I take the pillow away from my eyes. Sighing, I open them to stare up at the ceiling.

"Trick's my grandfather," I say bluntly.

"Shit. Really? Hmm…guess I shouldn't be surprised he got some. Pretty sure he'd be a freak in the sheets."

"Seriously? Ew…"

"Hey, just saying. I mean, the man may be old but from what I've seen, he's got some moves."

"Kenzi…please…"

"Right, sorry. What else?"

For the next half hour I relay to her the day's events. Leaving out the part about showing up at Lauren's apartment this morning and having a good cry.

"Fuck me days…" she finally lets out after several moments of silence.

"My thoughts exactly," I reply closing my eyes again. "So, what's your advice doc?"

"First of all, you owe me a drink tonight. Secondly, I'm not surprised that Dyson might still have a thing for you. He may have been the one to break it off but whenever you're not looking he always watches you with these big lovesick puppy dog eyes. It's kinda really sickening. Hale and I have an on going bet actually," she says turning to face me. I glare up at her.

"What? Like I said, gotta make a living."

Rolling my eyes at her, I wait for her to continue.

Trust Kenzi to find all means necessary to get money.

"Thirdly, I think you need to go and apologize to Hotpants. You were a real bitch to her and I see the sparks Bobo and don't try to deny it either. You know I see everything even if you think I'm not watching. I'm like…Jedi Ninja Turtle or whatever."

She's right. I do need to apologize. I worry that when I do go over to apologize she won't want to talk to me. I groan aloud a reminder of how much of an ass I am.

Wouldn't blame her though…

"This Taft thing though, I don't know Bo. Just…be careful. I don't want to lose my best friend. You're my sister from another mister. Besides, who else is going to help me save the world from crazy ass robot hooker bitches?"

"And here I thought we had a deeper bond than that. You sure do have a way with words," I say a smile slowly returning to my face. "I feel oddly unsatisfied with this session."

"Oh honey, with the Kenz, it's always satisfaction guaranteed," she replies with a wink.

"Now get your ass up off this couch and go talk to Lauren. She's one of the good ones Bo. Don't be so chicken shit to let someone else in for a change. If she's still your partner after that stunt you pulled, I've gotta hand it to her, she's got some real balls…Now get! Before I lay a good ol' fashioned beat down on yo' ass, Russian mafia style," she says slapping my ass just as I pass her to pick up my jacket.

"Ow, you crazy biatch!"

"Love you too! Not only do you owe me a beer but I'm not letting you in the house unless there's a box in your hand that smells like an extra melty cheesy pizza later!" she calls out to me, just as I reach the front door. For the umpteenth time, I'm glad I have someone like Kenzi in my life.


This time I decide to drive to Lauren's place. Spotting an empty parking right next to a black BMW, I pull my car up next to it. Just as I start to unbuckle myself, my phone starts to ring. Picking it up I see 'Dyson' appear on the screen. Not really in the mood to talk to him, I send him straight to voicemail and turn off my phone, throwing it unceremoniously into the glove box.

Making my way up to Lauren's apartment, I start to feel myself losing my resolve. I can feel my palms starting to get sweaty. Deep down I secretly hope that no ones home. Finally reaching door number 26 for the second time that day, I give a firm hard knock, stepping back a bit to wait for it to open. Just when I think no ones coming, the door swings open, Mike just visible behind it still talking to someone.

"…least I stopped calling you Lobster Lauren!" he finishes before making himself fully visible. "Bo! Hey! Come in, come in milady…" his says ushering me into the apartment. I walk in tentatively my eyes sweeping the apartment to find Lauren sitting at the kitchen counter with her laptop. "Twice in one day? To what do we owe the pleasure?" he says to me moving into the kitchen, as I remain standing by the door.

"I uhm…was wondering if maybe I could talk to Lauren for a bit?" I ask, my eyes still on Lauren. She still hasn't turned around yet.

"Oh, yeah! Sure, I'll just go down to the grocery store to get what we need for dinner Laur," grabbing his jacket, Mike makes his way over to me. "I hope you're staying for dinner Bo, Laur's making her famous roast chicken and veggie's. It's my fave, and what do you drink, red or white wine? Don't know if she told you but I found an apartment today and I think that calls for a bit of a celebration."

"It's uh..it's okay. I don't want to impose and I wasn't really planning on staying long."

"Oh come on, I promise I'll keep you both thoroughly entertained," he says giving me a lopsided grin that reminds me of Lauren.

"Don't push her Mike…" Lauren finally says, still with her back to me.

"I'll get both. See you soon," giving me a sympathetic look; he's out the door.

Getting up from her seat I watch as Lauren moves into the kitchen. I watch her as she starts to pack away some dishes.

"Are you just going to stand there or do you want some help? Oh wait, I forgot, you don't like it when people try to help you," she says coldly. I wince.

Guess I deserve that. Team Lauren – 1. Team Bo – 0.

Crossing the room, I quietly seat myself on one of the stools. For a moment I sit there looking down at my hands. The tension in the air is thick and it does nothing to calm my nerves.

"Do I really have to spoon feed you Bo? If you have nothing to say, why are you here?" Lauren asks again. Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I lift my head to find Lauren leaning against the kitchen sink, her arms folded tightly across her chest.

"I uh…I came to apologize. For earlier?" I say again dropping my head.

"You sound unsure, are you or aren't you?"

"I-I am here to apologize," I say again.

Why is this so fucking difficult! Shit.

The fact that I can't even have one single coherent thought with her around just doesn't help. Taking another deep breath I start again. This time I make sure to look at Lauren.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you like that Lauren. It was uncalled for. When I'm angry, I have no filter. When things get hard, I push people away," I tell her. "I'm not accustomed to letting people in other than Kenzi."

Lauren frowns at me, but doesn't say anything.

"Today has been a bit…emotional for me. I hate roller coasters and today was one roller coaster ride that I didn't want to hop in. I was an asshole. I took my anger out on you and I had no right to and you have every right to be angry with me."

"It's okay to let other people in, Bo. I thought we were getting somewhere this morning, and then you do a complete 360 and pull the 'I didn't ask you' bullshit. So you're right, you were an asshole, but I'm not angry with you Bo. Just…disappointed."

Ouch, the disappointed card. Team Lauren – 2.

I smile inwardly, remembering what Kenzi said about letting other people in.

When did she get so wise?

"I'm trying to be your friend Bo, I don't bite…much," she finishes a hint of a smile in her voice. I can't help but smile up at her. "But we do have to talk about what happened today. Just, maybe not tonight though," she says again moving over to the fridge. I nod silently in agreement, a little relieved that we weren't going to talk about it tonight, however, I wasn't looking forward to actually talking about it later either.

"So uhm…what happened after I left?" I ask, my eyes following her every move as she starts to unload a few veggies from her fridge, placing them gently onto the kitchen counter near the sink.

"Well, Trick didn't say much, he just dismissed us and I decided to go looking for you. Dyson offered but I told him it was probably best if I went instead," she replies starting to chop up a few carrots. "He's the one that told me I'd most likely find you at the gym. Said it's where you like to go when you need to let your frustrations out."

I nod at her when she turns around to look at me. Just at that moment, Mike bursts through the door carrying a bag of groceries and two bottles of wine. I quickly make my way over to him, grabbing the two bottles and setting it down on the counter.

"I didn't realize how cold it was out there! I swear I think my nipples grew twice their size!" Mike says moving over to Lauren, giving her the bag of groceries.

"Delightful Mike, because we really needed to know that."

I chuckle at their little exchange. I swear he and Kenz would get along well like a house on fire.

"Anyway, I ah, better get going," I say to them awkwardly.

"What? But you just got here?" Mike says not making an effort to hide the disappointment in his voice.

"Mmm…stay for dinner Bo, there's more than enough to go around. Besides, if you don't, Mikey here will be all sulky for the rest of the night. If I didn't know better I'd say he has a bit of a crush on you," Lauren says giving me a wink over her shoulder.

"I do not!"

"Sure sure," Lauren says laughing and poking tongues at him.

"I'd love to guys, but I promised Kenz an extra melty cheesy pizza and beer tonight as payment for our therapy session," at this, Lauren raises an eyebrow at me.

"Long story," I reply.

"Fine, but at least promise you'll come to my house warming party. I'm not going to take no for an answer and be sure to bring…Kenz is it?" I nod, letting Mike continue. "Yeah, bring her too!"

"Okay, I promise. Just let me know the time and place and I'll be there," I promise. "Anyway, I'll see you guys soon," I say making my way to the door. Just before I make it to the door, a hand on my shoulder stops me. Turning around I come face to face with Lauren. I'm taken by surprise when she pulls me into a tight hug. Pulling back, she gives my upper arms a gentle squeeze before saying; "I'll see you tomorrow. Bo, everything will be okay."

With a huge smile plastered on my face and a wave final wave to Mike, I make my way out. Kenzi can have an extra helping of extra melty cheesy pizza tonight that's for sure.