Author's Notes:
As stated previously, these chapters show Bo's and Lauren's individual journeys. Keep this in mind when you don't see Lauren in this chapter.
Thank you to all those who have been following, reviewing and adding as favourite. You guys are awesome!
Thanks to my Beta, Neytiri's Heart for her insight; to Glasswrks and my friend Lil for their advice and assistance.
Chapter 9 - "Work Hard, Play Hard"
The Dal Riata (Three weeks have passed since Lauren left)
Kenzi strolled into the Dal and had to pick her way through the crowd in order to get to her usual spot at the bar. The bar was extremely busy and loud from all the laughter and various conversations taking place. Ever since Trick installed the mechanical bull three weeks ago, his customer base doubled, causing the Dal to be packed to the rafters almost every night. Though this meant that business was great for Trick, it also meant that it was hard to find a place to sit. After the first two nights of not being able to sit at the bar, Kenzi recommended that their favourite spots be permanently reserved for them; the selling point for Trick being that Bo wouldn't have to 'force' anyone to move. When the Goth asked what made him think of a mechanical bull, he was a bit vague and simply said that one of his regulars mentioned it in passing awhile back and he finally decided to purchase one. Kenzi guessed that it wasn't the same customer that suggested Bingo Night as that had been a massive flop.
"Yo Trickster!"
"Hello Kenzi. How are you?"
"Tired and thirsty. I'm sooo parched. Hit me up!" The Goth batted her eyelashes at her favourite bartender as she drummed her hands on the top of the bar. He rolled his eyes.
"Where's Bo?" Trick asked as he turned to get her a beer.
"She should be here shortly. She's just finishing up on a case." Kenzi gazed longingly at the free booze in Trick's hand, making 'gimme' gestures with her fingers as she reached for it, "Come to mama!"
"Seems like that's all you two have been doing lately." Trick observed; concern evident in his voice.
"No kidding. I'm not used to all this hard work. I don't even recognize myself in the mirror." Kenzi joked to diffuse the anxiety that she felt.
As Kenzi waited for her best friend to arrive, she looked around the bar; taking a swig from her bottle. "Ahhh! Nothing beats an ice cold beer after an incredibly long day." she said to no one in particular.
There had been many a long day for Bo and Kenzi working their various cases; in fact, these last three weeks since Lauren left, it was one client after another. Bo was in heavy duty 'work hard' mode and no client issue was too big or too small. They photographed cheating spouses in the midst of their extra curricular activities; looked for missing persons and Fae; searched for lost household pets; and tracked down exes who were not paying child support.
Kenzi would round up clients - both human and Fae; they weren't picky - and Bo would work the cases, sometimes with her partner or sometimes she would go solo. The Goth would use her contacts and computer savvy to get the information that they needed and Bo would follow leads and handle all the physical aspects of the job. They had a good tempo, opening and closing cases in rapid succession. Even their precious weekends were taken up with clients. For once in quite a long time, they weren't short on cash, which normally the Goth would be happy about, but she was too busy and exhausted to spend their hard earned money. She had numerous shopping sprees planned but clients and cases interfered with all the shoes, boots and clothes she intended to buy. Yet she kept her complaints to a minimum and stood by Bo. Kenzi hoped that given time, Bo would have a serious talk with her and revert back to her normal self.
Bo was possessed - not in the dark Succubus way but rather in the 'all about work' way. She was incredibly focused on their cases; always pushing Kenzi to seek out more clientele. The brunette never mentioned why she had a sudden fixation on their PI business but Kenzi knew what was motivating Bo - keeping busy meant that the Succubus didn't have time to think or feel anything about a certain blonde. At least that was the perceived plan behind Bo immersing herself in her work. But Kenzi knew that her friend's plan was flawed. Even though the brunette never mentioned Lauren since she left, the Goth knew that her best friend was heart broken. The signs were obvious.
Ever since their break up, Bo's emotions fluctuated from being depressed to being eerily calm to incredibly angry. Kenzi never knew what mood the brunette was going to be in when she woke up and so she braced herself each day and reacted accordingly - whether it was being the supportive, understanding friend when Bo was moping around the shack listening to sappy, break-up songs; to being the cool-headed partner in crime when the brunette was raving about a case or some jerk that cut them off in traffic or if she thought there wasn't enough cheese on their extra cheese pizza. Unfortunately, anything could set Bo off.
However, Bo was never angry with Kenzi though she did tend to be abrupt at times; which was why Bo never dealt with the clients – Kenzi did; which was ironic considering Bo was the politically correct member of the Investigative Team. However, these past few weeks, the tiny Goth was most definitely the spokeswoman for their PI business when meeting and dealing with clients as Bo's patience and ability to be social or polite was tenuous.
Unfortunately, her abruptness and her lack of social graces weren't her only issues. The brunette was taking chances that she normally wouldn't. She would fight first and talk later; and if she did talk, the situation usually gravitated towards her fists or her trusty dagger ending the conversation. Kenzi knew that Bo needed to blow off some steam but she was definitely concerned – this wasn't her normal behaviour.
When Bo was on a case - if there was a fray - she would just jump in and not pay attention to how dangerous the situation was; or she would goad others into starting fights. In fact, it wasn't unusual for the brunette to return to the Crack Shack with cuts and bruises all over her face and body; bleeding; or have broken bones and knife wounds. Each time Bo would always shrug it off as if it were nothing. She would say that she was testing the limits of her powers and abilities since she passed the Dawning. Kenzi knew it was just an excuse but she couldn't do anything to stop Bo from getting into fights. All she could do was stay calm, try to mitigate the situation as much as possible and when that failed, act as the Succubus' wing man when she was too weak to find someone on her own for healing purposes.
When Bo wasn't working on a case, she would normally be found with Kenzi at the Dal or at Vex's bar, Carpe Noctem; quickly switching from 'work hard' to 'play hard' mode. Normally the Goth would never complain about spending the night unwinding in a bar with beverages, loud music and watching Bo on the prowl. In fact, Kenzi used to enjoy observing Bo do her Succubus thing – how people and Fae would gravitate towards her; and how they would be putty in her hands once she flashed them a smile or gave them a gentle touch. The whole process was fluid, smooth and precise; yet still flirtatious, fun and sexy.
How quickly three weeks can change things. Kenzi no longer enjoyed seeing Bo in her Succubus element. Now, the process was more like watching a hunter and their prey – hungry, cold and calculating; there were no more fun and flirty times.
Bo was always on the hunt for her next sexual conquest. It didn't matter if they were human or Fae; male or female. She didn't discriminate. The brunette once mentioned that she had two rules: no repeat sex or feed with someone; and no kissing. Kenzi wondered about the 'no kissing' rule but didn't ask as her friend never went into the details.
The brunette would choose her 'target' at bars, restaurants, movie theatres, grocery stores, department stores, parks... it didn't matter where. And then feed and/or have sex with them in her car; in alley ways; public washrooms; dark, hidden corners - anywhere that was available and that afforded some privacy if they couldn't make it back to the Shack. No place was off limits.
Kenzi had the unfortunate experience of walking in on Bo a few times in the bathroom of the Carpe Noctem; in the alley behind the Dal as she was leaving; in the Camaro when she went to grab her forgotten cell phone; and in the living room of the Shack. Normally, the Goth would make a smart ass comment but this wasn't the same as accidentally walking in on Bo and Lauren; this was walking in on the Succubus and her prey. It would be the equivalent to walking into a lion's den as it was feeding; one's instincts would be to stop and very slowly and quietly back away; hoping to escape unnoticed. It wasn't that Bo hurt anyone - she didn't; she knew exactly when to stop so that she wouldn't take all of their chi. What unnerved Kenzi was seeing her friend's warm, brown eyes turn electric blue because that signified that the Succubitch was at the helm of the good ship 'Bo'. When that happened, it was as if a switch was flicked and Bo went to sleep and her alter ego awoke. This alter ego only had one thing on her mind – her conquest; and everything around her was inconsequential; including Kenzi. It was very eerie to see and it made the Goth uneasy.
The Goth was suddenly roused from her thoughts when her cell buzzed, indicating that she just received a text.
* How come ur Succubunny friend is here and u r not? *
* Hey V-man! Bo's where? *
* At my bar, where else? *
* K, I'll be there soon. *
The Goth sighed. She knew it would be another night of babysitting to make sure Bo didn't get drunk and start a fight before she would find someone to shag, as Vex would say. It had only been three weeks that the brunette had been like this but it felt like a year. Kenzi was exhausted from watching her friend be self-destructive; as well, she felt that she was falling back into the same pattern that she was in before she ran away from home. When Kenzi left home, she vowed that she would never again surround herself with people who were so self-destructive; but she knew that she couldn't abandon Bo. Bo was her family; her best friend; and she needed her.
Kenzi stood up and chugged back the rest of her beer before saying goodbye to Trick. She would support Bo for as long as she could; hoping that her best friend would snap out of her funk; but she also knew that something had to change soon.
The Carpe Noctem
The energy in Vex's bar was different from that at the Dal. The Carpe Noctem's interior was black, punctuated with bright flashing strobe lights and neon lights; the music was loud - vibrating off of every surface and pounding in one's ears; and there were people everywhere - queued around the bar waiting to place their drink orders and on the dance floor crammed together, moving rhythmically to the beat. The Goth fit in with this crowd in her ensemble of leather; various belts and buckles criss-crossing her tiny frame; and her black 'don't mess with me' heeled boots.
Kenzi's eyes did a quick sweep of the place and eventually spotted the Mesmer at the end of the bar. Vex had returned from his 'spiritual journey' in India two and a half weeks ago, with his powers restored – he never said how, just that he was 'whole' again. He quickly proved to Evony that he was no longer impotent and after passing her numerous tests, the Morrigan wasted no time in re-instating him; ensuring that all his regular responsibilities and perks were returned to him, which also included his bar.
He was the same Vex that everyone knew, hated and feared; but to Kenzi, they were friends - they had a quiet understanding and respect for one another; and Vex was fiercely protective of her. He may not have voiced it to the Goth but if any Fae tried anything with her, it was the last thing that they did - a point that he made quite clear to two Dark Fae Harpies the first time Kenzi came into his bar. Kenzi didn't realize that it was that 'example' that made it so easy for her to come and go into his bar; she just assumed that it was because she was associated with Bo.
"Where is she?" she asked him as she continued to look around the bar.
"What am I, her nurse maid? Though I do look rather fetching in a nurse's uniform." Vex smirked as he ran his hands suggestively over his torso.
Kenzi rolled her eyes; the Mesmer could always make her smile. "Have I mentioned that I didn't miss you while you were away?"
He put his hand on her shoulder and turned them both to face the bar; ordering Tequila shots for them both. One of the many perks of owning the bar meant that Vex never had to wait to be served.
"Here." he handed her the drink. "To not missing me." They clinked their glasses together and gulped down their shots, not even bothering with the lime and salt; slamming their glasses down on the bar when they were finished.
"That's good shit!" Kenzi exclaimed as the alcohol burned a path down her throat.
Vex grinned and then indicated upwards. "Why don't we go to the VIP area? It'll be easier to spot Bo from up there."
Kenzi let the Mesmer lead the way. When they got up to the VIP lounge, there was a group already settled there. Vex made a 'get out' motion with his thumb and they cleared out of the room instantly. With a nod of his head, the bartender quickly cleaned up the bottles and drinks that were left behind. The Goth was impressed by the authority that Vex commanded and was giddy with delight when he told the bartender to keep the Tequila coming.
Kenzi had been to The Carpe Noctem many times before but this was her first time in the VIP lounge. It was a large balcony that jutted out from the wall and over looked the main level. It was semi-circular in shape and had a floor to ceiling privacy glass on the outside, which meant that they could see out but no one could see in. The room also afforded an unobstructed view of everything below: the entrance, main bar, dance floor, the seated areas, bathrooms and back exit. There were tables, chairs and leather sofas arranged within the room; and it was also fully equipped with a private bar and bartender to make whatever drink one desired, as well as washroom facilities, so no one had to go downstairs until it was time to leave. Kenzi was impressed and raised her eyebrow, conveying this to the Mesmer.
He smirked and plopped himself down on one of the couches; putting his feet up on the coffee table; and indicated for her to do the same. "Just relax luv. We both know the routine."
The petite woman knew that he was right. The same thing happened every night; it just changed slightly depending on the brunette's mood: Bo would find someone and feed, get drunk and then possibly start a fight; or she would get drunk and then get into a fight. Either way, both Kenzi and Vex would try to stop the melee and then the tiny woman would carry a drunken Succubus home to sleep it off.
Kenzi stood and walked to the wall of glass; her eyes scouring the downstairs level. "I see her… she just came in from outside, which means that she's already fed. Maybe this will be a quiet night?"
"We can only hope." The Mesmer said wishfully.
The Goth observed Bo sitting at the bar; a drink in one hand and her cell in the other. "Yup, she's at the bar. She'll be drinking quietly for awhile."
Kenzi made her way back to the couch and marvelled at how comfortable the leather felt. She wondered how she could get the couch back to the Shack when the bartender placed four shot glasses each in front of them; thereby distracting her from her thoughts of appropriating the furniture.
Once they were alone again, Kenzi asked, "So, when will you tell me a story about a certain Mesmer who travelled to India and regained his powers?"
Vex smiled, "When you are done Succusitting, I will tell you all about my fab-u-lous adventures."
"Well, when that time comes, we should make a night of it – movie, popcorn, drinks, and mascara!" The tiny Goth said excitedly. "I need a refresher on my double pump smudge proof technique."
The Mesmer smiled, "Deal. I need the practice anyway. I let a lot of things slide when I was away."
They both sat there in a comfortable silence, enjoying their Tequila; Kenzi looking around the lounge and occasionally glancing down to where Bo sat at the bar.
Vex broke the silence. "So, has she talked about the Doc at all?"
Kenzi shook her head, "Nope, not a peep since she told me that Lauren high-tailed it outta here."
The Dark Fae pondered for a bit, "I'm sure blondie had her reasons-"
The Goth interrupted, "Don't you start defending her too!"
Vex was puzzled, "Too?"
Kenzi sighed, "Yeah, Bo asked me to not bad mouth Lauren – that she was right to leave."
The Mesmer nodded his head in understanding, "As I said, I'm sure that the Doc had her reasons; it couldn't have been easy for her to leave. From what I saw, it was undeniable that she loved the Succuslut-" The petite woman shot him a look stopping Vex in mid-sentence. "I mean… that she loved Bo... And Bo is obviously hurting right now."
Kenzi made a face and threw her hands up in the air, "No shit Sherlock! I know that. I live with it every day!"
"Hey luv, no need to get testy!"
The Goth looked away briefly before resuming eye contact with her friend, sighing, "I'm sorry… it's just exhausting and frustrating watching her do this to herself. I'm worried about her."
"And she's a grown woman… albeit baby Fae."
"Who is making huge ass mistakes." Kenzi interjected.
Vex nodded in agreement, glancing below.
"So, does she ever pick up blondes?" he asked out of curiosity.
Kenzi shook her head, "Nope! Red heads, brunettes, purple hair, orange hair, mohawks, spiked hair, no hair… but no blondes. I think it hits too close to home."
The Mesmer's attention was still directed below. "Well, I think she's gotten over that because she's dancing with a blonde right now."
"Dancing? Bo doesn't ever dance with her food. Did you trade in part of your vision to get your powers back?" Kenzi said incredulously.
"My eyesight's just fine, thank you. Look!" Vex indicated to the dance floor.
Kenzi stood up to get a better look. Sure enough there was Bo slow dancing with a beautiful, leggy blonde. As they swayed to the music, the Goth could plainly see that the blonde woman looked very much like Lauren. They were glued to one another; Bo's hands were wrapped around the woman's waist and her nose was buried in her hair, while the blonde was nuzzling the brunette's neck. It didn't take a genius to figure out that the reason Bo was dancing with this woman was because she resembled Lauren.
Kenzi was dumbfounded at the odds that Bo would meet someone that held such an uncanny resemblance to the Doctor. As she stood there staring, something caught her eye. "Uh oh. I think we have a shit-uation."
Vex sat up when he heard the concern in Kenzi's voice and made his way next to her.
Kenzi's nose was now pressed to the glass as if that would allow her a better view; tapping the glass with her index finger in order to point towards the dance floor. "I think that determined looking dude making his way towards Bo - the one with the scowl on his face and the skull tats all over his arms… I think that's blondie's boyfriend."
Vex's eyes moved to where she was pointing and agreed with Kenzi's assessment. And if this Fae's body language was any indication, he was very angry.
"We should get down there ASAP to avoid a repeat performance of the other night." Kenzi exclaimed.
Vex nodded his understanding. The incident in question was a fight between Bo and a Redcap - Bo walked out with a busted lip and the Redcap was carried out on a stretcher. The Mesmer didn't mind fights in his establishment; they were to be expected but he shared Kenzi's concern and was genuinely worried about the Succubus' behaviour.
Without another word, they raced down the stairs and quickly split up. Vex grabbed two bouncers and pointed out the boyfriend to one; and took the other bouncer with him as he made a bee line towards the blonde woman. Kenzi went straight for Bo.
The Dark Fae with the skull tattoos marched up behind Bo; grabbed her by the shoulder and roughly pulled her away from the blonde woman. Both women were startled by the interruption and Bo's confusion quickly turned to anger when she realized that the man was trying to stop her from dancing with the blonde. Fortunately for all concerned, Bo was very drunk and her reaction time was slow. Her intent to respond with a fist to the man's face was thwarted when one of Vex's bouncers appeared out of nowhere. Kenzi swore she saw the bouncer Vulcan Nerve Pinch the boyfriend; and then watched as he quickly carted the unconscious body away. This whole near-altercation was over in seconds and wasn't even noticed by the people dancing in the vicinity.
While Bo's attention was on the tattooed man and bouncer, Vex quickly took control of the blonde and had the other bouncer escort her out the back and into a cab. By the time Bo turned around, the woman was gone and Kenzi was standing in her spot.
"Kenzeee!" The brunette slurred as she wrapped the Goth in a tight embrace; happy to see her friend. "You're here!"
"Of course I'm here BoBo. Where else would I be?"
"Hey, did you see Lauren? She was right here!" The brunette did a 360 degree turn as she slowly looked around the bar for the blonde; this wasn't the greatest move for a drunken Succubus as it left her wobbly and a bit dizzy.
"No, I didn't see her." Kenzi said as she tried to steady her friend.
"We were dancing and having fun. She's not mad at me anymore Kenz." The brunette had a goofy, happy smile etched on her face as she placed her hands on the Goth's shoulders.
"That's great Bo." Kenzi smiled on the outside but on the inside, her heart ached for her friend.
"I don't know where she could be though." Bo looked perplexed.
Kenzi used this opportunity to try to get Bo home and in bed before she got into any more trouble. "You know how Lauren is – she worked all day at the lab and is probably tired. I'm sure she made her way back to the Shack and is waiting for you there."
Bo paused to think about Kenzi's response, "You're probably right. We should leave now, I don't want Lauren waiting up for me if she's tired."
The tension in the Goth's shoulders relaxed slightly. "That's very considerate of you."
The brunette smiled a bittersweet smile, "I'm trying to be. I want Lauren to know that she's my number one priority."
The Goth nodded and put her arm around her friend's waist; guiding her out of the bar and towards the Camaro that was parked in the back. Vex was waiting for them and helped Kenzi put Bo in the car.
The Crack Shack
Kenzi just managed to get Bo into bed before she passed out. She sighed sadly as she looked at her friend. She had never seen her so drunk to the point that Bo actually thought that blonde woman was Lauren. However, the brunette's display reinforced Kenzi's concerns that Bo was spiralling out of control.
The Goth knew that after an evening of heavy drinking, Bo would sleep straight through the night. Kenzi took off her friend's boots and covered her with a blanket so that she would be comfortable. As she was about to turn away, something caught her eye – there was something sticking out from under the spare pillow. She made her way to the other side of the bed and lifted the pillow, revealing an envelope marked 'Bo'.
Kenzi hesitated. She knew that this had to be 'the' letter that Lauren left for Bo. She didn't want to invade her best friend's privacy but she needed to have a clearer understanding of the situation and she knew that Bo wouldn't tell her. In fact these past three weeks were a good indication of that. She knew that if she read the letter it would help shed some light on Bo's behaviour and she would be in a better position to help her friend.
The decision had been made - the end justified the means and the Goth hoped that someday Bo would forgive her for breaching her privacy. Kenzi's hand hovered over the envelope as she looked sadly at her friend and whispered, "I'm sorry Bo. I have to do this."
The brunette was out like a light; she could have fired a cannon in the room and Bo would not have woken up. Kenzi quietly took the letter; removed the pages from the envelope and unfolded it. She noticed that Bo must've read it numerous times as the paper was ripped along the folds, it was dog eared and there were tear stains on the pages.
Kenzi stood there reading; her back to Bo. She didn't know what to expect when she opened the envelope. All she knew was that she was very angry at Lauren for breaking her best friend's heart. Bo was an emotional mess right now because of Lauren and Kenzi just assumed that Bo was under the blonde's spell thinking that Lauren could do no wrong.
However, the unexpected happened as Kenzi started to read the letter. In reading Lauren's words, things became clearer - she finally understood the doctor; why she left; and why Bo was so upset.
The petite woman was incredibly moved by Lauren's words and emotions and quickly regretted that she never took the time to understand what it meant for Lauren to be a slave to the Light Fae; what she lost and sacrificed for Nadia and for Bo; and how alone and insecure she felt being a human working for and surrounded by the Fae. The Goth could relate to the feeling of not being enough as she too, was a mere human amongst all these super beings.
The more she read, the more Kenzi chastised herself for not being more sympathetic towards Lauren. Yes, they did have a better understanding and respect for one another and were starting to become friends but they should've stuck together as they were both minorities in this world that they found themselves in.
When Kenzi reached the end of the letter, she wiped away the unexpected tears that stained her cheeks. Lauren's letter was heart wrenching and she couldn't imagine how difficult it must've been for her to write it or how hard it must've been for Bo to read it.
Kenzi's initial plan was to have a better understanding of what Bo was going through and instead, she also gained further insight into the blonde. The Goth was surprised that Lauren felt so much as she was always so closed off; keeping her emotions hidden. She felt guilty saying that Lauren had a cold speculum for a heart, as well as all the many, scathing comments about being cold and not having a personality. It must've hurt Lauren to hear herself be described that way. But even if it did bother her, she never let it show. Now the Goth knew why she acted the way she did – she did it to protect herself from the Fae and to survive all these years without friendship or companionship. Even when Kenzi was living on the streets, she had friends and they had each other's backs. Lauren didn't have anyone or any support. Kenzi also could relate to what Bo said about running away - how desperate Lauren must've been to actually leave and how she must be feeling right now. The tiny woman felt for the blonde; she remembered how alone and scared she felt after she ran away from home and she wouldn't wish that on anyone.
As for Bo, Kenzi knew how much Bo felt and how intense her feelings were in general – she would always feel guilty for the deaths that she caused in her past because she didn't know who she was or how to control her abilities. And now after reading the letter, Kenzi knew that Bo was carrying the burden of being the cause for Lauren leaving, as well as the part she played in their relationship ending. The tiny brunette knew that Bo could not forgive herself for hurting Lauren and as such, Bo was punishing herself by immersing herself in work, booze and meaningless sex with strangers.
What Kenzi didn't realize was that Tamsin told Lauren about the kiss. When the Goth read that, she had an intense desire to kick the Valkyrie's ass repeatedly. The really unfortunate thing was that the Doctor didn't know that the kiss meant nothing to Bo; and that she didn't instigate it - Bo was faithful to her. Kenzi sighed at all their misconceptions and misunderstandings and how all this heartache could have been avoided if they had only talked.
Now that Kenzi knew about Tamsin's involvement in the break up, Bo's rule about 'no kissing', finally made sense. Bo equated the personal and intimate act of kissing to being emotionally monogamous to Lauren even though they were no longer together.
Kenzi carefully and quietly put the letter back into the envelope and replaced it under the pillow; Bo never stirred. The Goth was now 100 percent Team Lauren and she vowed to do everything she could to help her best friend and the doctor. Something had to change soon and Kenzi was going to be that instrument of change.
TBC
Author's note:
- No Harpies were killed during the writing of this chapter – maimed, yes; but not killed.
- The next chapter will focus on Lauren.
- Psssttt! I love reading your thoughts and comments.
