"I mean, I want to say I'm a Blanche but realistically I can't deny that I'm probably more of a Sophia..."
When Tamsin finally emerged from her coma, Kenzi's voice was the first thing she heard. She grinned, unable to think of a more comforting thing to wake up to than the sound of her favourite human contemplating which Golden Girl she most identified with. The last thing the Valkyrie remembered was the sensation of bullets tearing into her flesh and the look of terror in Dyson's eyes as she slipped out of consciousness. And now here she was, healed after her long sleep with her best friend at her side.
"Trick is Dorothy, which ironically makes me his mother," Kenzi continued, "Bo is obviously Blanche, and that makes you Rose."
"I am NOT Rose," Dyson protested. "Lauren can be Rose."
"Lauren's not fun enough to be a Golden Girl."
"I'll be Rose then," Tamsin rasped. Her voice was hoarse but hadn't lost any of its familiar sass. The Valkyrie squinted as her eyes adjusted to the light. The human squealed with glee and leapt onto the bed to throw her arms around her friend. Tamsin's wounds still felt a little sore but she was too happy to see Kenzi to care.
"Welcome back," the wolf beamed. He kissed her gently on the cheek.
"How long was I out?"
"Five days."
"And Evony is certifiably dead?"
"Very much so," he reassured her. She let out a contented sigh.
"Thanks for coming all the way from Spain," she murmured to Kenzi.
"Thanks for not dying!" the human trilled.
"You are truly welcome." Tamsin pulled aside the flimsy gown to examine her injuries. There was some minor swelling where the bullets had pierced through her skin but she could tell the scars would eventually fade until they were barely visible. If only she could say the same for the clobbering her heart had recently taken.
"I'm going to need some actual clothes..."
"Do you really think Mama Kenz wouldn't come prepared? I brought over a wide selection of outfits for you to choose from. And your favourite leather jacket, of course." Kenzi hopped off to go find the Valkyries duffel bag.
Tamsin rose from the bed and took a few steps, leaning on Dyson for support.
"You know, you're still ravishing, even in a hospital gown," he teased her.
"Yeah, I'm the picture of beauty," she deadpanned. They both giggled.
Her mood fell when she caught sight of the succubus standing nervously in the doorway. Tamsin had not looked Bo in the eye since the day she was rejected; the vivid, bitter memory of their last interaction wiped the smile off her face.
Bo took a tentative step forward. "Dyson, could we have a minute?"
"He stays," the Valkyrie announced quietly.
"Okay," the succubus stuttered, "Whatever you're comfortable with. I just... I just wanted to say thanks, for what you did for me and Trick."
"Don`t mention it," Tamsin replied wih stern sincerity.
"How do you feel?"
The Valkyrie struggled awkwardly to respond. She felt shy standing in front of the succubus in nothing but a gown so short it barely covered her ass. She wanted to be mad but couldn't help being earnest. "I... it always takes a day or two to get back to myself, but I'll be fine."
Tamsin noticed right away that Bo looked pale and tired; she was evidently still human. Even with her pasty complexion and the bags under her eyes, the Valkyrie still felt elementally drawn toward her like a magnet. Yet despite her attraction, she couldn't deny that it hurt to be in Bo's company.
Kenzi charged back into the room, duffel bag in hand. Stepping back as her best friend explained her plans for a post-coma makeover, Bo found her gaze wandering up and down the blonde's body.
Three weeks ago they'd been naked in bed together; now the Valkyrie could barely look her in the eye. Bo wanted to hold her and run her hands through that soft hair again. Even without her succubus instinct, she couldn't help fixating on Tamsin's lips. She'd been a fool to assume they were nothing more than friends, that her connection with the Valkyrie was no different than the one she had with Kenzi. Friends didn't do the kind of things Bo wanted to do with Tamsin.
A/N: Thanks for the feedback. I should say that even though Lauren is my least favourite character, I see her being humbled rather than going totally evil because that feels like too strong a departure from canon. Suffice to say she will face consequences for her actions and my own heart belongs to Tamsin.
