This one is a quick chapter, i got inspired and this poured out. As always, forgive the minor mistakes in spelling and capitalization, i do my best! more to come and soon!
Breakfast was eggs and toast as Bo promised. I couldn't object, I had no great grasp on the art of cooking, but I could bake like a maniac. Bo was ridiculously excited and proud of herself when she set the plate down in front of me. She sat next to me at the table, and watched as I took the first bite, watching as if she was expecting me to keel over after a few bites. Bo stood in anticipation I couldn't resist smiling, she was wearing one of my old t-shirts and nothing else. The shirt barely covered anything but I was not going to complain or ask her to change.
"How is it?" eyebrows raised in concern.
"Delicious." It wasn't that bad actually, Bo had prepped me for a plate of food that I would have to fake interest in. but it was quite good. I felt her bump shoulders with me as she sat next to me, "good." she picked up her fork, "what time do you have to be at the hospital?"
"Eleven. I am working eleven to seven am tonight." I frowned slightly; my weekend had not felt long at all. Granted an action novel worth of things had happened, I just wished I could have a few more days off before going back. It was harder knowing the one thing that I had looked forward to previously at the hospital was now sitting next to me.
I was halfway through the plate when my curious nature popped up, "Bo, what is Bo short for? I have never met a Bo, other than that one soap opera character. How does a girl end up with such a name?"
Deadpan, she said, "Its short for Beauregard, I used to be a man."
I paused for a second, thinking she was serious then remembering that I had seen her in compromising positions that would contradict her statement. Bo burst out laughing, "I am kidding Lauren, but the look on your face! I wished I had taken a picture. My name is Ysabeau. I have just always been called Bo for as long as I can remember."
She reached over and touched my arm and I felt warm tingles, followed by a shiver. I didn't think much of it until I had remembered what Bo had said about being able to sway people with her touch, I swallowed hard, a sudden doubt crept in. it made me feel uneasy and I blurted it out, "did you ever use your touch on me?"
Bo looked confused, "what?" I turned to face her, "you told me that you have the ability to control people by just a simple touch. There were a few times that I touched you in the hospital, it left me warm and tingly. Is that a residual effect of your power? Or did you…use your touch on me?" I was hesitant as it came out.
"Lauren, no. I never ever had to use any of my powers on you. I do sometimes have problems when I am in desperate need of healing, that I heat up. Hoping to attract someone." She reached for me, grabbing my hands and holding them close to her, "I never, ever had to use any of my powers on you. I wanted more than anything, to hide them from you. I had and still have no need for them. What I feel for you is genuine and honest. I knew from the moment I saw you….my powers were useless." She took a deep breath and let it out, "I am falling in love with you. The old fashioned way."
I leaned to her and kissed her, regretful that i asked her, "I am too, I am sorry about bringing it up…I just…"she may be a supreme creature, but she had feelings like anyone else and her feelings laid with me, wholly.
She cut me off, "I know, I know, you have questions and I am ready to answer them all, as best as I can. But you are getting me, Bo, not the succubus. Just me." she kissed me on the cheek, "I have a question for you."
"Yes?"
"How long does it take you to get ready for work?"
Confused I thought for a moment, "Um, about a half hour, I just shower and dress. I usually change into scrubs when I get to the hospital."
I watched her eyes move to the clock then back to me, "perfect, plenty of time." She hopped off the stool, grabbing me by the arms pulling me with her. "You have a last minute walk in, doctor. Upstairs, now." I didn't hesitate in following her.
I sat at the nurses' station, trying to stay awake as I worked on charts. Bo had made me a few minutes late for work, and her goodbye kiss in the car almost made me not make it in at all. I was exhausted but could not complain at why I was so exhausted. I couldn't focus on the chart in front of me; I was drifting off and thinking about inappropriate things, and getting mad at myself for it. I was at work and I had to be in work mode. It also didn't help that I had been questioned numerous times by coworkers when they saw my black eye; I had to make an excuse that I had ran into a door. Then receive the look we all gave the patients who came in using that as an excuse. I finally gave up and the last person who asked me I told them that I had gotten into a bar fight and won. That ended the questioning for the night and I was able to hide in the nurses' station and focus on backlogged charts.
But then an image of Bo in my shirt would sneak its way in and I would drift off or look at the clock, counting minutes until I was back with her. I sighed and rubbed my eyes, I needed to focus. I was able to finish up some of the charts and the emergency room was quiet enough that I could sneak down to my research lab.
I sat in front of the computer and my brain started turning. I was no longer concerned with my aloe plants; I wanted to learn more about the fae, and fae physiology, Bo's physiology. The perfect place to start was Bo's blood that I had held onto. I pulled the vials out of the cold storage and set them up. I grabbed some hormones and synthetic pheromones from the lab next door. I wanted to see something on a cellular level based off of Bo's explanation of how her healing works.
I took a sample of Bo's blood, and ran it through a heat test, effectively damaging the cells to a state that would cause imminent cell death in humans. I then took a synthetic pheromone, adding it to the slide. What I saw was a scientific first for me. The damaged cells were attracted to the pheromones like a magnet, latching on and it looked like they were trying to absorb the material of the synthetic pheromone. I sat and watched for a few minutes before adding the hormones. It didn't matter if it was male or female; the combination of sexually charged hormones was all that was needed. The cells improved instantly as they were able to absorb the hormone material. I smiled and pushed back my chair.
The mixture of pheromones and hormones was the foundation of human sexuality, we gave off pheromones to attract potential mates and the hormones would perpetuate the process. I made a small timid mixture of the two and tested Bo's blood again, in varying stages of cell destruction. The solution I made repaired the cells in her blood. I was certain that I could create a sort of vitamin supplement for Bo. I had made pages of notes and was able to make a medium sized batch of the mixture; I stored it with my notes. I would take it home with me and see if Bo would be willing to try it. If I could get the levels right, it would mean so much. It would mean Bo would never have to worry about hurting me or anyone else, and control her feeding. I wanted to call her, I reached for my phone but before I did, my pager went off. I was being beckoned to return to the emergency room.
The elevator doors opened and I saw Ann standing by the nurses' station, "Ann, I was paged?"
"Mmhmm. You have a visitor Dr. Lewis, out in the waiting room." She pointed with her pen to the room just past the trauma bay doors. I jammed my hands in my pockets, my head full of my findings and mildly irritated to have been pulled away from them.
I stepped out into the waiting room and saw that it was practically empty, there was a junkie in the corner, a drunk in the middle and woman who I swore was coughing up more than just her lung off to the left. I was beginning to get more irritated when no one approached me right away. I was about to turn and head back to my hideaway when I heard, "Dr. Lewis?" it was a man's voice. gentle and questioning.
I turned towards it and in front of me stood a man who looked like he was middle aged, small in stature but I could tell in the way he held himself that size was not an issue. He had kind eyes and an easy smile. I just had never recalled ever seeing him in my life. The only thing that ran through my head was that he was a grateful father of a patient I had helped. I smiled at him and eased my demeanor to match his, "hello, you must be my visitor." I held out my hand to shake his.
He took it, "Yes, I am. My name is Trick; I am a friend of Bo's."
The name was familiar and it took me a minute to place it, Bo had mentioned the name when I woke up after the alleyway. She had taken me to see him. "Trick, I think I have you to thank for my amazing care the other night."
Trick smiled, "think nothing of it." He motioned to a set of chairs, "can we sit for a minute?"
I nodded and followed him to a quieter corner of the waiting room, far away from the lung lady. He sat down and still smiling, "I came to see how you were doing in person; it has been a long time since I had to dress wounds like yours. Bo told me you were doing well but I wanted to see for myself."
I smiled, absently reaching to the back of my head where I had hit the wall, there wasn't much left to heal, just a small abrasion. "I feel great, no residual headache and the only thing that I have left is this black eye." I made a motion to the bruise under my eye. Trick craned his neck so he could take a look of his own, he nodded in approval. "Very good." There was an awkward pause and I start to feel as if there was something more to his visit than to check on his handiwork. I spoke before he could, "there's more to this visit isn't there?"
His smile faded a little, "Bo told me you were incredibly intelligent and observant, yes there is more to why I am here." He looked around the waiting room, "is there somewhere we can talk that's a little more…secluded?"
I began to feel nervous, "yes, of course, we can move to one of the exam rooms. No one will bother us unless we get busy."
He smiled, "that will work."
Trick followed me through the trauma bay doors and I lead him to an exam room near the back. It was furthest away from the nurses' station and would prevent prying eyes. I pulled out a chair for him as I took the stool. "Does this have anything to do with Bo's…secret." I was tentative in saying too much; I really had no idea who this man was sitting before me.
He nodded, "it does. Before I go into too much detail, you need to know I am not here to hurt you or threaten you. Bo is family, and I just want to make sure that she is protected at all times. She came to see me a few hours ago, and could not stop talking about you. I knew something was up when she brought you to me the other night you were injured, and confessed that you had been caught in the middle of a situation." I could tell he was searching for a delicate dialogue.
I stopped him, "I know she is something called fae, a succubus and that she is incredibly powerful and yes, I know things about her that are scientifically improbable but have been proven to be very real." Trick was silent but his stare was intense, "I am also gathering that your visit to me means that you are also fae and that I have quite possibly gotten myself into a situation that is deeper than just one woman who is an incredible specimen and incredible woman."
He was reading me, weighing me out, "you are correct Lauren, I am fae and there is more than this blossoming relationship you have started with Bo. I have been keeping track of you the last little while, keeping an eye on you to make sure that Bo would not be placed in any jeopardy. I had full intentions of interceding and putting a stop to this relationship, but I can see how much Bo cares for you and after investigating who you are, you are no threat to her at all."
I stopped him, "I would never ever hurt bo, never." I felt anger rise in me at his implication. Trick held up his hand to stop me, "I know you have dedicated your life to help those who have been hurt, I admire that about you Dr. Lewis. That is why I have come here to ask you something."
"Please don't ask what my intentions are with Bo, I am nowhere near proposing to her, so you can stop worrying about that." I tried to break up the awkward tension with a joke. He laughed, "No, no, that's not what I am asking. I have looked over your work in medicine and in research medicine. Read some of the articles you have published and I want to ask you if you would like a job. Before you answer, I know that Bo has told you about the two sides of the fae, dark and light. I am aligned with the light and I would like you to come and work for the light side. Researching the physiology of the fae and possibly helping in an area that has been left neglected for centuries."
I stared at him, "I have a job, and the way Bo has made it sound, picking a side with you guys is more trouble than it's worth." I reached up to my face, "I think I have experienced a little of that already."
He pursed his lips, "I can understand your feelings. The light and the dark are two very different factions; you don't have to choose because you are human. All I am asking is that you provide your knowledge and skill to help the race as a whole. If you agree you will be working in the light fae labs, but I can make guarantees that you are still protected even though you have not sworn fealty to one side or another."
I let it filter in my mind what he was presenting me with; the research potential was endless and could be invigorating. I looked at him, "can I think about it?" I played it cool even thought I was incredibly overwhelmed and felt like I was in the middle of an episode of the xfiles. He smiled, "of course, I know this is a lot to take in. I will give you a few days. When you are ready, come to the dal riata and speak to me." he stood up, handed me a card and shook my hand. Before he walked out I asked, "Why are you offering me this opportunity?"
He looked at me in the eyes, his stare intense but the smile still on his face, "we need you and it's the only way I can keep you safe as long as you and Bo are together." The intensity in his eyes eased up, "till I see you again, Dr. Lewis." He walked out of the exam room, leaving me with a blank look on my face and his card in my hand. This would all normally be all unbelievable to me and I would have probably tried to send Trick to the psych ward if I had not just slept with a succubus a few hours previously and survived. I pocketed the card and felt my pager go off, a rush was coming in. I actually welcomed it, after what I just experienced I need the normalcy of traumas to settle me.
