Author's Note: So sorry for the long wait. If you also read my fic "I Promised" then you have probably heard why already. If not, it's because I had a friend visiting from out of the country, then I had Comic Con, and then I went to visit family 3,000 miles away. I planned on working on my fics while on the plane, but of course, my laptop crapped out. But I'm back now, and getting things organised for my graduate program to begin in exactly 1 week. I was very happy to read everyone's reviews from the previous 3 chapters. I had that scene planned out in my head for months and I was so excited to finally be able to write it. I'm glad that the rescue mission/big battle met your guys' expectations. Thank you again. Now onto Kenzi's road to recovery.
CHAPTER 10
Bo sat on the floor in the back of the SUV with Kenzi laid out on the back seats and Dyson propped up in the seat next to her. Hale sped through the streets. "We're on our way now Lauren," he spoke into his Bluetooth, giving the doctor a heads up to get everything ready for their arrival.
Lauren sighed in frustration, "Hale you can't bring Kenzi here."
The detective's hands clenched the steering wheel harder. "What?! Why not? She needs medical attention!"
Bo's head jerked up, not liking the tone the conversation had taken. She could only hear Hale's side, but she knew it wasn't good news.
"I know I know. I had the room prepped for Kenzi. I don't know how but the Ash found out what we were doing and came in to shut it down. He's not allowing humans to be treated here, no matter who they are," she spoke fast, clearly irritated. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she had to say next. "Hale, he said if you bring Kenzi here, he will personally see to her demise." She refrained from telling him the other numerous threats the Ash had used against her.
Hale paused, the gravity of the situation hitting him full force. "Damn it. What are we supposed to do then? We can't bring her to a normal hospital."
"I'll do it if I have to. Screw the fae and their secret. Kenzi's life is more important than those who would rather her die," Bo glowered from the back.
"Screw it," Lauren breathed, making a decision. "Meet me at Bo's house. I'll bring as much medical equipment as I can manage and treat her there." She scurried around the lab, collecting any items she may need.
"But Lauren-" Hale started, knowing Lauren leaving the compound unannounced would cause trouble for herself.
Dr. Lewis interrupted him, "I'll deal with the consequences when the time comes. I rather deal with the Ash's punishment than let something to happen to Kenzi."
Hale could hear the determination in her voice. "Thank you," he said earnestly. "We'll be there in fifteen. Bye." He ended the call, ripping the earpiece out and tossing it into the empty seat next to him.
"What's going on?" Bo immediately questioned.
Hale turned right, taking a short cut through an alley. "The Ash threatened to kill Kenzi if we bring her to the compound," he growled.
"Like hell he will! If he lays one hand on her I swear I'll-" Bo fumed.
"I know," Hale cut her off. "You would have me as backup, whether he's the Ash or king of the freakin world." He took a breath to calm himself. They had only just gotten Kenzi back, the last thing he needed to think about was someone taking her from them again. "Lauren said she will meet us at your house."
Hale's SUV pulled up to the clubhouse in record time. Bo noticed Lauren's car already parked nearby. Bo picked Kenzi up, sliding out of the car while Hale went around to the other side to grab Dyson. Lauren opened the front door of the house, holding it while Bo hurried inside. "Put her on the couch," the doctor instructed.
The brunette carefully laid her best friend down. "It's going to be okay Kenz," she whispered to her, kissing her gently on the forehead.
"Bo," Lauren rested her hand on the succubus's shoulder, "I'm going to need you to step back so I can help her okay?" Bo nodded, watching as Lauren assessed her patient. She pulled a syringe out of her medical bag, flicking the tip of it before pushing the needle into Kenzi's skin. The liquefied painkiller slowly drained from the syringe into Kenzi's vein. Lauren cut through the young woman's shirt, removing the material. Her shoulder was caked in blood and puss, the injury turning yellow. "Damn, it's infected," she mumbled. She pulled out a bottle and gauze wipes. She poured the clear liquid onto the pad, gently cleaning the wound.
Kenzi hissed, her should burning. She squirmed, trying to get away from the pain. Bo rushed to Kenzi's side, holding the girl in place. Kenzi's whole body tensed at the touch. She jumped up, trying desperately to get away from the person holding her down. "No, please. Don't…" she cried softly. Her mind ran wild, automatically thinking that she was back in that abandoned building being tortured. Kenzi's eyes were shut tight, trying to block out the world around her. Lauren backed off, not wanting to frighten her further.
Bo could feel her heart breaking in her chest. "Kenzi, Kenzi it's me, Bo. Listen to my voice, it's me. I've got you. You're okay." Kenzi stopped trying to defend herself, her body relaxing slightly at hearing her best friend's voice. "Kenzi, look at me hun. Open your eyes. Come on, that's it." Slowly, she lifted her eyelids. Her blue orbs darted back and forth, before coming to rest on Bo. "Hey," Bo smiled at her.
"Bo," Kenzi whispered. She moved her body closer to the succubus, searching for safety and security.
"Hey, it's okay. I'm here. We're home; you're safe." Bo enveloped the girl in her arms, trying to protect her from her own demons. Kenzi took a few deep, shaky breaths in order to calm herself in both mind and body.
"I'm sorry Kenzi," Lauren apologized, looking into the human's pain stricken eyes. "I know it hurts, but I need to clean your shoulder or else you could lose the whole limb from this infection. Just bare with me."
Kenzi nodded at the doctor, looking back at her best friend. "Stay with me? Please?"
"Of course," Bo smiled down at her, "I'm not going anywhere." She laced her fingers between Kenzi's, giving her hand a comforting squeeze. Kenzi returned the gesture. When the wet cloth touched her shoulder again, she dove her head into the crook of Bo's neck, clenching her teeth. Bo used her other hand to cradle Kenzi's head against her, whispering reassurances the entire time.
Hale finally managed to get the heavy shifter inside the clubhouse, resting him down in the chair beside the couch. Lauren's attention diverted to Dyson momentarily, trying to visually assess his condition. "He'll be fine," Hale told her honestly. "Focus on Kenzi first. You know if D was awake right now he wouldn't let you look at him until he knew that you had done everything you possibly could for Kenzi."
Lauren knew the truth of those words. Dyson and herself may not get along very well, but she knew he cared deeply for Bo and for the small human girl laid out before her. She immediately resumed her work. After she was satisfied with Kenzi's shoulder wound, she wrapped it in sterilized white bandages. She moved onto Kenzi's hand, popping her thumb back into it's socket. She used her fingers to gently probe at the young woman's wrist, feeling the fractured bones. She was relieved it wasn't broken. She slid a wrist guard over it, tightening the straps. The metal splint inside the guard would prevent her from bending her wrist while it healed. Lauren noticed Kenzi didn't flinch. She looked up to see her patient had fallen unconscious once more. That was probably for the best; Lauren wanted her to feel as little pain as possible. She pressed lightly on Kenzi's ribs, feeling for any damage. Satisfied that they were only bruised, she continued on.
She noticed a pattern of bruising, including large ones sticking out of the sides of Kenzi's bra. Her eyes traveled up to the girl's face, noticing the bite marks along her swollen bottom lip. Her mouth opened slightly in shock, knowing what these injuries implied. She glanced down to Kenzi's jeans, which she was still wearing, before looking at Bo. "Bo…" she started, not knowing exactly how to ask what she knew she needed to. Normally, she didn't have much trouble asking her patients personal questions because she knew in her heart it was for their own good, but this wasn't just any patient. She knew Kenzi and had an emotional attachment to her. She knew the young woman's positive outlook on life, despite everything that had happened to her in her past. Lauren was afraid of the answer she'd receive, and how much damage that could potentially cause Kenzi. She would heal physically, but the emotional trauma would always be there. Lauren sighed heavily, "Bo," she tried again. "I hate to ask this, but did either of the Tortura touch Kenzi in a um, a sexual way?" The look of worry in the succubus's eyes instantly blazed with anger and hatred. Lauren lowered her head, closing her eyes slowly at what Bo had told her without speaking. "Oh God," she whispered. When she looked back up, she could have sworn that she saw Bo's eyes flash blue for a second, but as quickly as it came, it was gone. She brushed the possibility aside, assuming that she was imagining things due to the stress of the situation.
"What?" Hale asked in disbelief, having overheard their conversation from his perch on the coffee table next to Dyson. "No…" his troubled eyes looking at the sleeping beauty on the couch.
Bo took a few deep breathes to calm herself before speaking. "I uh," she spoke slowly, trying to force the words out. "I managed to stop it before it went too far. He didn't…"
"It's okay," Lauren interrupted her. "You don't need to say anymore." She was relieved to know that the fae hadn't been able to finish what he started. She could see the guilt weighing down heavily on Bo for allowing even that much to happen to Kenzi. She couldn't imagine what would have happened if Bo was unable to stop him. The succubus would never forgive herself. "Can you do me a favor and get some clothes for Kenzi to change into?" Bo nodded, thankful for the distraction and change of subject. She carefully disentangled herself from her friend before running up the stairs to the girl's room. Lauren looked back at Hale, who kept muttering the word "no" and shaking his head while pacing. He ran his trembling hands over his hair, gripping his scalp tightly in an effort to cope with the information he just received. "Hale?" the doctor tried to get his attention. When the first attempt proved unsuccessful, she tried again. She got up and walked over to him. "Hale, listen to me." She put a hand on his shoulder, waiting until his eyes met hers, unshed tears ready to spill over. "I know this is hard to take in, but you need to hold it together. When Kenzi wakes up, she is going to need you to be strong for her. The Tortura are dead, there is nothing you can do now except be there for Kenzi."
He squeezed his eyes shut tight, tears leaking out of the corners. "I know, but what those bastards did to her…I just…" he tried forming a coherent thought, his mind an emotional mess.
"I understand, but the last thing Kenzi needs right now is the people close to her to be angry or violent," she told him firmly. He needed to hear this as much as she needed to say it. "Those emotions will make her very uneasy, possibly even scared, especially coming from a male. You need to control yourself. Take comfort in knowing that Bo killed him before things progressed further. Kenzi would be a lot worse off physically and mentally if it wasn't for her."
Hale sucked on his bottom lip before answering, "you're right. I know you're right." Now was not the time for him to dwell on what happened, but to focus on how to make it better. A part of him felt selfish for getting so riled up over Kenzi's near-rape when she was the one who actually lived through the ordeal. He only heard about it briefly; Kenzi is the one who has those memories engrained into her mind. She needed him to be her support; he couldn't afford his negative emotions to overtake him. The other part of him felt that it was disrespectful and wrong to not feel angry about the situation, like he was betraying Kenzi's trust or acting like it didn't matter to him when it did. It mattered to him more than it should have to a fae. Lauren touched his arm in understanding before returning to Kenzi's side. His gaze shifted back to the fragile human. She looked so innocent while sleeping. He hoped that she was having good dreams, because when she woke, all she would remember is the nightmare she lived through.