It's late...i was inspired. so i wrote this...forgive any minor mistakes...its late.

I heard the bathroom door creak open. I quickly folded the letter up, shoving it back onto the desk I climbed into the bed. I laid flat on my back, looking at Lauren as she pulled her hair up in a pony tail, she was wearing an old t-shirt and boy shorts. I could see her thoughts were overcrowding as she furrowed her brow like she did when she was deep in her paperwork. She pulled back the blankets and slid in, I didn't move. She rolled over and immediately wrapped me up in her arms, laying her on my chest.

I let out a sigh, my eyes going to the thin sheet of paper on her desk. I wanted to ask her about it, but I knew it was not the right time as I felt her lay her head on my chest. "Bo, thank you."

I ran my hand over her arm that was across my stomach, "I should thank you, for letting me in." I swallowed hard, I was not tired and I knew if I did not distract myself, I would blurt something out about the letter, "Will you tell me about Robert?"

I could feel her smile against my chest, "Robert was my best friend, amazing man. Caring, intelligent, my at times unwanted bodyguard. I met him my first year at University and he tried so very hard to get me to go out on a date with him. Eventually he picked up that I was more interested in my female lab partners than I was the dashing, handsome man Robert was. He moved past wanting to date me and into that of a big brother, he was so very protective of me. We became inseparable and he was the closest thing I had to a family while I was in school. We even joined the Royal Navy together, we both needed money to pay for school, he chose rescue diving. He was always the hero, helping others, donating his time in the hospital I had my residency in. Robert wanted to make a difference, like me." Lauren moved and sat against the headboard, her eyes moving to the picture that was across the room, "I jokingly told him that he would make a great father for my children if I was ever to find a woman to settle down with, one that could tolerate the schedule of a doctor. Fast forward a few years, a few disastrous relationships and I was single for a couple of years, I wanted to have children and knowing full well the biology of a woman close to her thirties, I decided to have one on my own. I started planning to go to the donor centers, sifting through applicants, when Robert volunteered. He said we would make a beautiful baby together and he had no issues with whatever decision I made in regards to his place in the child's life."

She looked at me, "No, we did not do things the traditional way." I found myself smirking at the thought she knew I was going to ask about. "I became pregnant and then I met Audrey, like I had told you earlier. I thought we were in love but when I had made the decision to co-parent with Robert, she always felt odd about our close relationship. Robert was amazing, we were like two parents on different shifts. Jack was raised to understand that I was his mother and Robert was his father, but we were not like normal parents. Jack was happy, and was never bounced around. It was truly a modern family, Robert had an amazing girlfriend that was completely understanding of the situation, Audrey, well Audrey had issues, as did Robert's mother. She always had a gentle distaste for me the moment she met me and realized I was gay."

Lauren fidgeted with her hands until I grabbed one, holding it to still her nerves. She covered it with her other hand, "We were happy, healthy. Then Robert's helicopter crashed while he was on the last evac of his four month deployment overseas. As soon as his body came home, his mother began the fight for Jack. Completely ignoring the will Robert had set up, that Jack would remain with me because I was his biological mother." Lauren took a large breath, "It was difficult enough to explain to a little boy that his father was not coming home, then try to explain why suddenly he had to spend time with his grandmother every weekend with some strange person watching over us."

I could see the tears in her eyes well up, "Robert's mother turned vicious, brutal, and spiteful in her fight for her grandson." Lauren closed her eyes as a tear made its way down her cheek. I reached up and brushed it away, "Lauren, the lawyers you have now will fight for you, fight for Jack and they will win." I pulled her hand closer to me, "I will be there too, as long as it takes."

She turned to look me in the eye, "Tomorrow after the zoo, I take him to her house. I won't see him for another month, a supervised four hour visit. After that its another month, John just showed me the preliminary paperwork she has already filed to bar me from Jack completely, I have no idea how to explain this too him." She choked out a sob, "I'm tired Bo, I have fought so hard for so long, and I lost."

I pulled Lauren into my arms and held her, "We keep fighting, I am with you Lauren. I love you too much to watch you go through this alone."

She held onto me tightly, saying nothing. With every breath she took, every gentle squeeze she gave me, I could feel her slowly giving up the fight. She was tired, worn down and defeated. I swallowed hard, knowing exactly how she felt. It was the same thing that sent me running into the arms of the Navy and into the respite of the desert. I held her until I felt her breathing slow down, knowing she had finally fell asleep I closed my eyes, drifting off as I thought about the letter and how I would bring it up in the morning and talk her out making the same mistake I had.

That night I dreamt of the war. It was not anything specific like my other dreams always were. It was nonetheless vivid, I could feel the heat of the desert, smell the sand, the hot wind, the strange mixed smells of blood and metal. I could hear the sounds of transport helicopters, soldiers and doctors yelling, and the sharp clangs of medical equipment being used in a hurried, panicked way. I felt like I was on autopilot in the dream, running from one gurney to another. Mildly cringing as the usual explosions rocked in the distance, I finally woke up in a panic as the dream me finally gave up and fell to my knees, curling up in a ball and crying, yelling to at the world around me to stop.

I was breathing heavily and sweating, I looked next to me and saw Lauren was still sleeping. I was thankful, it meant I had not screamed or yelled in my sleep. I closed my eyes as I steadied my heartbeat before getting up and out of the bed. I pulled the blankets back as I stood up to go to the bathroom, I needed to cool down and try to walk off the shivers and the shakes that lingered from the dream. I crept out of the room and down the hall to the small bathroom. I ran cold water over my face and looked in the mirror, when I looked in the eyes of my reflection, I saw what I never wanted to see on Laurens face. A tired, worn down, broken woman. Broken by a war that was merciless. I took a deep breath, I would do everything I could to make sure she stayed as far away as she could from it, even if it meant sacrificing the love we had for it.

It took me a few moments to calm down, I left the bathroom when I began to shiver slightly from the sweat drying. I walked quietly back down the hall to the bedroom when I heard Jack's door open slightly. I glanced and saw his little blonde head poke out the crack, he whispered, "Bo?" he asked it reassuringly instead of questioning it was me.

I smiled and crept back to his door, kneeling down to look at him eye level as I whispered, "Hey you, yea it's me, Bo. You should be asleep."

Jack half smiled, "I had a bad dream, I thought you were mummy, why are you up?"

I looked at the floor quickly, "I had a bad dream too, I can go wake your mummy if you want me too."

Jack shook his head, opening the door, "Mummy doesn't sleep a lot. I always hear her up late when I go pee. She needs rest, she's been sad lately." he held his hand up to me, "Will you sit with me? Until I fall asleep?"

I looked up in his little face, it was impossible to say no to him. "Sure." He grabbed my hand and pulled me to his bed as he climbed into it, he pointed to the other side. "Mummy usually sits her with me."

I climbed onto his little bed and half laid, half sat next to him as he snuggled down into his bed. He looked at me as I tried to take up all the room, "What was your bad dream about, Bo?"

I looked at the little boy as I pulled his blankets up closer for him, "I had a bad dream about my old job, that I was still there and it was terrible." I sat my hands in my lap, trying to figure out how to word my dream about the desert to a little one.

Jack frowned at me, "Was your old job scary?"

I nodded, "It was, but I don't have to do it anymore." I took a breath, "What was your bad dream about, Jack?" I diverted the boy's questioning.

Jack frowned, "Monsters, monsters came and took me away, and I couldn't find mummy anywhere." he gripped at the small teddy bear that had been on top of his pillow. I let out a breath, I knew the boy was more aware of what was going on with his mother and grandmother than Lauren wanted to believe.

I ran a hand over his hair, "Well, you know your mummy will always be there for you. When I was your age and I got scared, I would close my eyes real tight and think of my mommy. I would think of her in her favorite dress, smiling at me like she did when I came home from playing in the park. Arms ready for a hug and a big smile on her face. When I did that, everything stopped being scary and I knew, no matter what, my mommy would always be there for me." I smiled at the little boy as he listened intently at my story, I had always done that when I was little until Grace came for me. I then started picturing her, even when I was in the desert and things were heavy and horrible, I would close my eyes and picture Grace in her perfect sweaters, perfect skirt, smiling at me as she did every day I came home from anything, her arms open for a hug. It centered me, knowing that no matter what I did, or what happened, Grace would always be there. I smiled at Jack, "Try it, close your eyes. Think of your mummy, waiting for you, arms ready for the biggest hug you can give her."

Jack closed his eyes tight, holding his teddy bear close to him. I tried not to laugh at the fierce, determinate face he made that looked exactly like his mothers when she was determined. After a few moments, Jack opened his eyes and looked at me, smiling as he whispered, "It worked Bo, I don't feel scared anymore."

I smiled, "Good, it will work every time, I promise Jack." I went to go stand up and leave the little boy when he rolled over and wrapped his little arms around my waist, snuggling up into me as his mother just had a few hours ago. "I like you Bo, you are nice." I had no idea what to do, I felt guilty if I tried to escape, but I also felt awkward. AS my mind went through the possible escape routes, I heard his soft snores as he had completely fallen asleep against me. I sighed and grabbed the afghan that was at the edge of his bed, pulled it over me and swung my legs up onto the small space of the bed. I would wait it out until Jack moved again.

I didn't realize that I had passed out a few minutes after Jack until I heard the bedroom door creak open, I opened my eyes quickly to see Lauren standing in the doorway, smiling at me. I looked down and saw Jack sprawled out on his stomach, face buried into his pillow, sleeping hard. I could tell that it was early morning by the soft sunlight that was seeping through the curtains in the room. I slid off the bed as slowly as I could without disturbing Jack. I covered him with the afghan I had used and walked over to Lauren, I opened my mouth to say something and she waved me off. I walked out of the bedroom and headed to her bedroom, shivering from the cool air in the house.

I heard her close the door behind me as I shivered, I looked up at her, "Sorry, I had a bad dream in the middle of the night and when I was on the way back from the bathroom, Jack was up and I went to check on him. He also had a bad dream and asked me to sit with him, he didn't want to wake you up." I was softly rambling, thinking that Lauren would be upset. "I passed out..."

Lauren nodded, stepping closer to me, "That was obvious, the two of you were snoring in unison." her voice was steadier than it was when she fell asleep on me earlier. I smiled at her, "I do not snore."

She nodded, "Oh yes you do." Lauren sat on the edge of the bed, grabbing my hand and pulling me closer to her, "You are cold, come back to bed. He won't wake up for a couple more hours."

I looked at her, the letter was at the forefront of my mind. I took a breath, letting her pull me back into the warm bed with her. I laid on my side as I felt her snuggle up into me, we fit almost perfectly together. I held her hand as her arm draped across my stomach, she kissed my shoulder and asked, "What was his bad dream?"

I ran my thumb over her fingers, "He dreamt about monsters." I left the last part out, I didn't want to upset her anymore. Lauren pulled me closer, "I woke up and you weren't here, I was worried you had left in the middle of the night. That I had scared you off."

I rolled over to look at her, my hands going to her face, "Lauren, nothing will scare me off. Even if you had thirteen kids, I would stay."

She leaned forward and kissed me on the lips, "When I went to check on Jack, and saw you there. He would only let me or Robert stay with him, Audrey tried when he would wake up in the middle of the night, but Jack would always make her come for me."

I searched her eyes, she smiled, "It means my son loves you as much as I do, Bo." Lauren kissed me again, deeper this time and I could feel how much she did love me as she pressed her body closer against mine. We kissed until I heard little footsteps in the hallway, and the doorknob being turned. I broke from the kiss, Lauren smiled, "Prepare for a sneak attack."

I laughed as I saw the little blonde head run in the door and climb up on the end of the bed, Jack hopped and landed on his mother. "Wake up! Its time to go to the zoo!" Lauren scooped him up and showered him with kisses and tickles until they were both tangled up in a massive hug. Jack smiled at me as he sat in her arms, "Mummy, Bo taught me a trick to stop being scared."

Lauren looked at me with a raised eyebrow, "Oh she did?"

Jack nodded eagerly, "She told me whenever I feel scared, I close my eyes and think of you and how much I love you. It chases the monsters away." Lauren looked at me as her eyes turned glassy as she smiled at me. I grabbed her hand in mine, looking at Jack, "What are you making your mummy and I for breakfast? Pancakes? Eggs?"

Jack giggled, "I don't know how to make pancakes, Bo! Bo!"

I started laughing as Jack sounded exactly like Kenzi whenever I tried to get her to do her share of the pancake making. I furrowed my brow at him, "I think today is the day you learn, good sir."

Jack giggled more and pushed out of Laurens arms, "Come Mummy!" he rolled off the bed, little footsteps sounding as he ran to the kitchen. I slid out of the bed, standing up and holding out my hand to Lauren, "Come Mummy, its time for breakfast."

Lauren swallowed tears down, smiling at me. "Why are you so amazing, Bo?"

I shrugged and looked at the ceiling, "As I recall you once referred to me as the wonder kid, I have strived to live up to that name as much as possible since then, Dr. Lewis."

Lauren laughed, I smiled wide enjoying that I was able to get her to laugh, I waggled my fingers at her, "Come on, we have a young prep cook waiting for us and I am starving."

Lauren reached over and grabbed my hand, letting me pull her up and out of the bed. We held hands out to the kitchen, where Jack was trying to pull out mixing bowls.

Lauren and I did show Jack how to make pancakes, it was a little messy at first but eventually we succeeded. After breakfast, we all cleaned up and got ready for the Zoo. I borrowed some of her clothes, I had to wear a baggy Royal Navy sweatshirt. I walked out of the bathroom and frowned at her, "I will make you wear a USN sweatshirt as soon as I can. This feels like fraternization."

Lauren laughed as she helped Jack with his coat, "Well technically it is since you are a lower rank than I, in the larger scope of things."

I smiled, "Actually, we are the same rank now. You weren't there when I was promoted to Lieutenant Commander." I walked over to her as she stood up, "And in two months, rank will mean nothing at all too me."

Lauren looked at me confused, "What do you mean?"

I glanced at Jack trying to put shoes on, "I will be discharged in two months, Admiral Williams sped the process up for me. I also have a strange feeling Aaron is partially to blame." I looked in her eyes, "He wants us to come back to New York City for a proper reunion party and hooray I am finally out of this man's Navy." I was hoping that telling her would inspire some change in her heart about the decision I knew she made, but she was still hiding from me.

Laurens face changed slightly, she hid it from me by walking over to help Jack, "That's amazing Bo, I am happy for you." I could tell she was genuinely trying to be happy for me. "What are you going to do when you get out?"

I walked over to her and Jack, "Right now all I want to do is go meet some Lions." Jack bounced and grabbed my hand as I reached down and grabbed Laurens, whispering to her, "I want to talk to you about it later. She smiled tightly as we left the house.

The day was all about Jack, we went to the Zoo and he showed me his favorite Lions. Then we had lunch in the park, hot dogs and fries, followed up with ice cream. Lauren would stare at her son and I would have to crack a joke or distract her to snap her out of the zone she was falling into. Jack was oblivious to his mother being upset, and for some reason I wanted to make it my goal to make sure the two of them had a fun memory, before Jack went to his grandmothers. As we walked back to the car, Lauren was beginning to mentally prepare taking her son to his grandmothers. I helped get Jack into the car and as I closed the back seat door, Lauren looked over the roof of the car, "Bo, I can drop you back at the house on the way."

"I will go with you." it came out with hesitation.

She shook her head, "I will be fine, I don't want you to see this, see her." she looked up in the late afternoon sky. "I will have to tell Jack that..." she drifted off and met my eyes, "I have to do this alone."

"Lauren, let me go with you, you don't need to do this alone." I could feel my temper rise, my anger build at the woman who had the balls to do this too Lauren.

"She will you use you against me, she will throw it in my face, use my relationship against me. She will try and tell Jack how horrible of a person you are, I don't want that for you or Jack." she looked in the backseat at Jack as he played with the little lion toy I had gotten him, "He loves you and I don't want him to ever think anything other than that. His grandmother will do it too, she did it with Audrey and she will do it over and over." Lauren closed her eyes, I could feel the pain as it echoed in her voice, "Please, you can wait for at my house."

I stared at her for a moment, and finally nodded in agreement. "Fine, but you call me if you need me and I will be there in two seconds. I am willing to punch and old woman in the face like you punched an old scruffy ex boyfriend."

Lauren smiled lightly, letting out a breath, "I love you." She got into the car quickly.

At her house, I said my goodbye to Jack, reminding him of the trick I taught him. I told him that I would see him soon, I knew deep down that John would be able to get Jack back to Lauren in a fraction of the time the court told her. Jack hugged me, thanking me for his toy and the day. I helped him back into his seat and waved at him as Lauren drove off. She had been silent the entire drive back and during my goodbye, trying to hold back tears as her son and I giggled and made jokes.

I walked into her house and I felt awkward being there alone, I went to her room and collected my clothes. As I walked by the desk, I paused. I snatched up the letter and tucked it into my pocket. I left her house, locking it up and sending her a text to meet me at my house when she was done. I knew it would be devastating to her to come back to an empty house. I drove home, finding the manor to be empty. Grace had left a note that she had gone to London for the weekend to meet with my Uncles about business matters. I stood in the kitchen, the strange silence of the entire house was unnerving too me. I walked down the expansive hallways to my bedroom. I took a long shower and dressed in a pair of linen pajama pants and an old sweater. I laid Lauren's letter on my desk next to the pile of my Navy papers and commendations. I then sat in the chair, facing my window. Curling up in it, waiting for her to call.

She never called, I only heard her footsteps as she walked down the hall. I looked at the door as she opened it. Lauren had been crying, crying hard. Her eyes were red, puffy and she was shaking as walked towards me. I stumbled out of the chair and was able to meet her halfway. She held me so tight, I had a hard time breathing. I wasn't going to ask how it was went, I just held her. After what felt like an hour, she pulled out of my arms, I motioned for her to sit in the chair I had abandoned. I held my hand against her cheek, "I will get you some water." Lauren nodded lightly, as I rushed to the kitchen to get her a bottle of water and some food.

When I came back to my room, Lauren was leaning forward in the chair and had the letter in her hand. She was looking at the wooden floor. I set the food on the desk and tried to hand her a water.

Lauren kept her eyes on the floor, her voice was raspy as she spoke, "Where did you get this?"

I folded my arms, "It fell off your desk with the other papers I accidentally knocked over last night."

Lauren raised her head, looking me in the eyes. The look in her eyes was a mixed of anger and sadness, "Why do you have it?" her tone was even and close to the one she used on me the day I had overstepped my bounds in her emergency room.

I clenched my jaw, "More importantly why do you have it?" I stepped closer, "You don't want that, Lauren. Trust me."

I watched as her jaw tightened, "You don't know what I want." she held up the letter, "This is none of your business."

"You might think that, you might think this is the only thing you can do. Take this route when you have lost so much." I looked at her, "Am I right? You feel hopeless, don't you? You heart is in a million pieces and you are an millimeter away from giving up, that no matter how hard you try, it matters nothing." my tone was firm, I was starting to get angry at her. "You have a son who loves you, I love you." I swallowed hard the feeling of wanting to vomit, that was rising fast, "You were the one who put my heart back, chased away my hopeless feeling, you pulled me from the edge of giving up and not caring. I love you, Lauren. You made me want to stop running."

Lauren folded the letter up, "You have no idea what I think right now, and how dare you suggest what I feel." she jammed the letter in her pocket.

I kept my eyes on her, "I know what you are thinking and feeling, because it is what I thought and felt when my world was ripped apart. I ran to war, I ran from my fight to one that was far larger than my problems here. You don't want to run to war, you don't, Lauren. Trust me." I squeezed my eyes shut as random flashes of my memories flooded around in my mind.

She stood up suddenly, anger in face, "You have no idea what I want, Bo. How can you possibly understand what I am feeling. I just left my son for the last time, his grandmother spewing venom at me as I said goodbye and tried to not frighten him. Do you know what its like to explain to a little boy that his mother won't be there every night to tuck him? Just once a month maybe?" Lauren stepped closer, her anger was spilling over, it wasn't necessarily directed at me. "It will kill me slowly if I sit in a stupid, stuffy hospital office, shuffling paperwork. At least over there..." she drifted off.

"Over there your days will blur together into a mash of not enough time, not enough skills, not enough of everything, that will be broken up by too much time sitting in sand waiting for the next round of not enough." I took a deep breath, "Sit in that office, shuffle that paperwork and wait. Wait in a clean, safe place. Jack needs his mother, don't take that away from him."

Lauren exploded, "How dare you, Bo. How would you even dare to fathom what my son would want."

I yelled back at her, "Because I know what its like to lose both your parents at the age of six and have no fucking idea why. My parents were killed while I ran around the park by our house in Brooklyn, I ran home, excited to see my mom with her arms open, waiting to hug me like she did every day. Instead, Grace was there. Tears in her eyes, completely unable to tell me what happened to my mom and my dad." I was red faced and trying to hold back the tears, "She could never tell me what happened until a few years ago. So, yea maybe I don't exactly know what your son would want, I just know that I don't ever want him to go through what I did especially if I can help it and stop you."

Lauren's eyes was were welling with tears. I took a step back, instantly regretting my outburst. I opened my mouth to apologize when she lunged at me, capturing my mouth with hers. Lauren kissed me with an overwhelming sense of hunger, desire and a desperate need to feel something. Her hands were all over me, pulling off my sweater, tugging at the t-shirt underneath, I broke away from her mouth long enough to help her pull it off of. I gasped hard when I felt her thumbs run across my nipples, the sensation ran through my entire body to between my legs. I could not hold back as I moaned deep when her fingers capture my nipples, I needed to feel her as much as she needed to feel me in this emotional moment, it was if we both needed to grab onto something that was real, tangible and attainable in a moment when it felt like everything had been ripped away from her. I reached down, grabbing Lauren by the hips, hoisting her onto the edge of the bed. I kissed down her neck, biting lightly as my hands ran across her thighs opening them so I could fit myself between them, letting her thighs wrap around my waist. I moved my hands up Laurens waist, then to her jacket, ripping it off her with her help. My hands went on their own, finding the edge of her shirt, pushing it up so I could touch her breasts, Lauren let out a moan as my hands covered her. she ran her hands across my naked back pushing me into her as I kissed her breasts, lightly sucking on the nipple. I could feel her arch her back against me. "Bo..." I released her nipple and kissed across her chest to take the other one, as my lips grazed her now hard nipple she reached down with her hands pulling my face up to her, she was out of breath and beginning to sweat. Our eyes met for an instant and it sent deep sensations down through my body, and stopping between my legs to the point I almost buckled. There was an intensity there that I had never ever seen before. It didn't last long as Lauren pulled me back into a searing, intense kiss. Her hands grabbed mine, pulling them to the jeans, I took the hint and unbuttoned them as fast I could. Both of us pulling them free from her body, I quickly laid on between her legs. It was raw and almost primal as I held her hips down as I covered her with my mouth. She tried to raise up off the bed, but I pinned her down. Taking more from her as she moaned, she quickly came, screaming out as she writhed against me. Lauren collapsed onto the bed, breathing heavily. I moved up her body, leaning on my arms as she caught her breath. I laid my hand over her heart, feeling how hard it was pounding. She placed her hand on top of mine, holding it against her heart, Lauren looked me in the eyes, "I love you, Bo. I need you to know that."

I half smiled and kissed her gently, "I know, you don't have to tell me. I kinda have always known."

Lauren looked me in the eyes, before she pulled me back into another intense kiss, equally as passionate and giving as the first one she attacked me with. She said nothing as she rolled me underneath and began to make quick work of the rest of the clothes I had on, her fingers finding my desire for her cut off any words or thoughts I had wanted to make.

We made love for hours, it was full of need and desire, nothing like our first time. We barely spoke, only uttering I love you in-between breaths. When I looked in her eyes, I could see how much she loved me but there was something else in them, for a moment it looked as if she was saying goodbye in a way too me. When we finally collapsed, she was in my arms. Her heart beating with mine chasing out any doubts I might have had about what I saw.

I woke up the next morning, sore and exhausted, but happy. My eyes were still closed as I ran my hand across the bed, hoping to find Laurens back or arm. Instead I was met with cool, empty sheets. I sat up quickly, her side of the bed was empty. Only the lingering imprint of her in the pillow was evidence she had been there. I rolled over and looked around the room, the shower was not running, the bathroom was empty. I threw the blankets back and ran to the door, opening it to listen if she was in the kitchen. Nothing. I mumbled, "Fuck." and walked to my desk for my phone, I went to open the drawer when I saw her letter. Opened up, it had her handwriting on it. I snatched it up and read the small note she had left on the bottom.

-Bo,

I am sorry, but I have to do this. I love you, I have from the moment you walked into my office and will continue too every minute that I am gone. Please don't come for me.

-Lauren

I screamed as I crumpled the letter up in a ball, "FUCK!" I pulled on my clothes, snatching up my phone I called Aaron. He answered groggily, "Bo, its like three in the morning."

I cut him off, "I need your help, your father's help. I am calling in all of the favors I have left."

I could hear Aaron pep up a little, "What's wrong."

I dug in my desk drawers looking for my old journal that had my desert contacts in it, "Lauren is going to the desert and I need your help to stop her."

Aaron was still confused, "Like Vegas? Help me out here Bo, I am still very hung-over..."

"Goddamit Aaron, She volunteered to go to the front lines, she requested a transfer to a unit near ours, but in a worse part of town." I felt like I needed to throw up, "We need to stop her, I need to stop her."

Aaron whispered a handful of curse words, I heard him walking as he talked, "I am on it, give me a couple hours. I will wait until my dad is awake and see what he can dig up, in the meantime I have a few other strings I can pull." he sighed, "Email me the details."

I closed my eyes and leaned against my desk, the tears were threatening to explode, "Aaron, I will go back in her place if I have too."

A silence fell between us. Aaron spoke softly, "That is not an option, Bo."

I swallowed hard, "It may be the only option I have, I will do anything to keep her out of that mess."