The bed was rattling so hard it woke Lauren up. Thinking it was an earthquake, she stared into the dark until it stopped. Taking a quick look at Bo, she was calm enough to close her eyes and wait for sleep to come again.
"Lauren! Wake up! Lauren please! Please take my Chi! I am begging you, please! Please don't go Lauren! Not now! We were all just beginning again! The Succubus in Bo screamed.
Lauren woke up and rolled over. Bo had fallen back to sleep again. She pulled her into her, hoping her arms would be the sleeping pill that Bo needed.
"I will not lose you like this. They had no right to take you. You belong to me. Somehow. Some way. I will get you back! I promise Lauren! The Succubus screamed again. This time she was woken up by her worried Doctor.
"Bo. Please wake up. I'm right here". Lauren said gently poking Bo and kissing her on the cheek.
"Lauren! Lauren you're...you're back! Bo screamed pulling the Doctor into her. Inhaling Lauren's scent, Bo was about to fall asleep again when Lauren rolled her over on to her back and climbed out of the bed.
Softly paddling over to the light switch, Lauren turned it on and hurried back to the bed. They had agreed not to keep lamps near the bed in the likelihood that they would always be broken when they made love.
"Bo. Bo wake up sweetie. We need to talk and we need to talk now". Lauren said gently pulling the brunette up to sit with her back against the headboard.
"Lauren? Bo said softly. She was still groggy to the point, she hadn't felt Lauren pulling at her.
"Bo you were having a nightmare and I think it's time we talk about this". Lauren said bringing Bo a cup of water from the mini fridge.
"I woke you up? Lauren I am so, so sorry". Bo said shyly. Lauren was always so restless, it hurt Bo to know that she had woke her up.
"It's ok sweetie. Just talk to me. I mean really talk to me Bo". Lauren said softly taking one of Bo's hands into hers.
"What..what all did I say? Bo asked.
"Well it wasn't exactly you. Your Succubus was screaming for me to take your Chi. Now if she felt that, you must have felt those emotions too". Lauren said, now sitting face to face with Bo.
"It...it was bad, Lauren". Bo said hanging her head.
"Bo. You can tell me. I'm not a Psychiatrist but I can listen". Lauren said.
"When I found you in this bed. Your aura was dark. I tried everything that I knew of to check for a pulse, and when I couldn't find any, we rushed you to the hospital. I paced back and forth waiting for them to give us news, any news. Two hours later, they came and told us you were dead. Dyson and Kenzi had to help me to a chair. Before my but hit the seat, she came.
It was a fight between me and her. I remember my eyes were flashing brown and blue in the mirror. She was crying. I was crying. It was horrible from what Dyson had described.
For two days, I kept you on that bed in the Emergency Room. I didn't allow anyone to come in at all. I know they probably needed the room for other patients. But I needed answers. Answers they could not give me. I used my powers of persuasion on them and it failed. They kept telling me the same thing, over and over again.
That's when Evony came. She told me under your orders about your Parkinson's Disease". Bo said as Lauren hung her head now.
"No. No Lauren. I am not blaming you. Back then you were trying to tell me about all of this, and I didn't listen like I should have". Bo said softly wiping Lauren's tears away.
"I'm so, so sorry Bo. I got the news and didn't know how to tell you or when to tell you with Jack aka Hades lurking around". Lauren said.
"It's ok and I have a lot more to tell you". Bo said wiping tears from both of their eyes.
"Ok". Lauren choked out moving closer to Bo.
"After Evony left, I brought you home. I told Kenzi to take Dagny and run. To never come back here unless I told her to. When she was gone, Dyson started lurking outside the house trying to get in, but I wouldn't allow him in.
Later that night after I had dozed off, she took over. I knew it had to be her, because it felt like an out of body experience. She worked for hours and hours trying to push Chi into you. When that didn't work, we both broke down, and broke a few lamps and bottles.
She walked downstairs and emptied every bottle of liquor we had in the house. She screamed so loud it rattled the house. You were gone Lauren. From me. From her. From us.
Once I was able to gain control again, I ran a bubble bath. Once it was ready I came back, undressed you and placed you in it. I needed three hands, because you kept slipping under the water when I went to grab the soap". Bo said and stopped for a moment.
Lauren was shedding as many tears as Bo had been. She moved over and took the young Succubus into her arms. "You need to tell me all of it". She said tearfully.
Bo took a few deep breaths. She was struggling with her Succubus. They both had been struggling before Lauren woke up in their arms, alive.
"I climbed into the tub with you. I rocked your body as I tried to push Chi into you again. I knew it was probably useless, but that's how I felt. How we felt, when they said you were dead. They said there was nothing they could do to bring you back. As a Succubus I knew there was something I could try to do. But all of my attempts had failed.
I had failed you. We had failed you. She cried so violently on the inside that I felt like I was having a stroke or something. I didn't seek a Doctor because my Doctor was dead. The woman that knew my body from the inside out, was gone.
We couldn't even go and get you back because you didn't die at the hands of a Fae. You died at the hands of a human disease. There was nothing else we could do. Evony wanted to pay her part in your burial, but we weren't ready to bury you yet.
I couldn't even go and get you back and I didn't have a clue how to even find out how to get you back. I just know wherever you were, I couldn't just go and get you back, like I did Kenzi". Bo said somberly.
It was just as Lauren had thought. Her death had left Bo angry, sad and lonely. The sadness started with her being dead. The anger and loneliness hit when she realized that even as powerful as she was, that she couldn't bring Lauren back. Bo was alone. The very thing Lauren tried to explain to her when she broke up with her the last time.
They hadn't officially talked about that. They were just content to be back together. There were times that Lauren noticed a glint in Dyson's eyes, that she had seen many times. He wanted his chance with Bo again, even if he never said it out loud.
As her Doctor, Lauren could come up with serum after serum to try and treat whatever was going on with Bo physically. But this was not something Science could treat. This was a broken woman. A broken Succubus. They were back together now and it was time that they talked about everything.
"Bo I need you to listen to me. Can you do that? Lauren asked softly.
Bo turned over in Lauren's arms so that she was facing her again. When Lauren felt her nod against her chin, she started.
"Bo I love you and I am so sorry that I left you for a third time. The first time I felt that you were bigger than we were. So I asked for the break. You said it yourself, that you felt like you were part of something bigger. That bigger didn't seem to include me. So I asked for the break so that you would be free to go out, and do as many cases and things, as you wanted to do. That on top of Taft all but blackmailing me with my past, forced me to leave with him. There was nothing sexual going on between us, but he was a brilliant Doctor until I found out how sick he was. He was angry with the Fae for killing his brother and wanted to take it out on every Fae and human that he could find. Once I learned this, I told you that I was going to kill Dyson and that I didn't love you anymore.
I had to treat you that way, so that he would believe that I was all in with his plans. I had to make Dyson believe that too. I needed to make him vulnerable enough to kill. If I hadn't he would have killed me, along with the rest of you. I had to run and I did. Dyson was helping me until Evony caught me and that was my saving grace because the Una Mens were all over me. They had already gotten to Vex, so I was able to hide with the Dark Fae until he ran to save his own skin. I was literally hiding in plain sight, but they never thought to look for me in Evony's circle. It wasn't the greatest of places to be, but I was alive and for the moment safe.
Then you showed up at Evony's party, and told me that you were Dark. I had to stay. To help free you from your contract, and the only way that I would be welcome with the Light, would have been as a slave again. I wasn't even considered family like you thought I was. They wanted me dead Bo. The Una Mens plus the Light Fae, was something no human would be and could be protected from.
I could not ask you to baby-sit me day and night, because that's how long and often they were looking for me. Evony showed me surveillance tapes. They had been everywhere. Inside the Dal. In your clubhouse. My old condo. Everywhere. So she found houses to infiltrate just to keep me moving. The wedding we crashed was the latest house, she had taken over. As a Doctor I turned my head many times, knowing what she had done but I understood why. The Una Mens were after her for a long time, until she found secrets that they didn't want made public.
When you called and asked for help with clearing Dyson's name again and help finding the Helskor shoes, I welcomed the reprieve. It was the most I had been away from the Dark and out on my own again.
She had no idea that I was gone. Bruce insisted on seeing me to the clubhouse and everywhere else. I think it was more for him to see Kenzi but that was none of my concern.
Rainer. That was the most painful of all. It wasn't just me that you shut out, you shut out all of us. After I brought you what I found on him. I felt like you were still living out that part of your life that was bigger than us. Any of us. Then Kenzi died.
I felt all of that pain inside of you but after so long I wasn't reaching you anymore. You preferred the warm arms of Dyson or Tamsin or whomever was not me. So I went back to the one thing that never abandoned me, my Science. I was practically running Evony's clinic on my own. She trusted my every decision regarding the staff, and what type of equipment that I needed. Even after I had turned her human, she still valued me, as a human. As a woman. As a Doctor". Lauren explained.
Bo's eyes were overflowing with so many tears, she couldn't see Lauren. Physically Lauren had left her long ago. But her heart had always remained with the Succubus. It had always been there, dating back to the first Ash. Lauren took risk after risk trying to get Bo out of every predicament that she heard of. Learning what she was. Learning to tame her hunger. Learning the Fae world.
Lauren once said Bo didn't understand the politics of the Fae world and she was right. Lauren had studied more than her patients. She studied everything about the Fae. She was right to stay with Evony, because Bo couldn't beat the Una Mens on her own. None of them could alone. She learned that on her own. All Bo had left of Lauren back then was her love, and a necklace. They never really talked about the necklace. They didn't need to. The message said it all.
Bo took the words as words when Lauren wouldn't come home with her. Lauren hadn't just broken Bo's heart, she had broken Lauren's too.
When her eyes were finally clearing up and she was able to see Lauren again. She saw the heartbreak for the first time. She saw the love all the time but was blinded by her anger over Lauren leaving her, and with no explanation. But who was Bo kidding? She never really stayed long enough to give Lauren time to explain. She left after the first time they made love. She left when Lauren tried to explain in her lab. She left when Lauren asked for the break. She left Lauren at Taft's. She left Lauren at Evony's. She was done leaving her now. Lauren had really left her and she was back for good. Bo just needed to make sure that she never gave her a reason or a cause to leave her again.
"Lauren to say I am sorry for all of that would sound weak or desperate right now. But I am. I am so, so sorry. I am sorry you had to run from me to try and save me. Save yourself. I am sorry that I didn't hear everything that you were trying to tell me and not tell me. I am sorry I let you go by not staying with you. Not sticking by you. Not listening to your explanations. We have lost so much time that we will never be able to get back, no matter how long we live.
I am a Succubus. I get that. We all get that. But that was never part of who I slept with. It's all on me that I even slept with anyone that wasn't you. Most of the time I was doing it, to try and get over you. But none of it ever worked. I love you Lauren. I always have. I always will. I just ask that you never hide anything about yourself from me again. If you are struggling with anything, I need to know. I want to know". Bo said worriedly looking over Lauren. She still was not totally convinced that Lauren couldn't be wounded or hurt.
"Bo. I know. I know you love me, just as I love you. Your grandmother read me your letters. They were and are beautiful Bo". Lauren cooed as she pulled Bo as close as she could.
"I just don't want anything to break us. Nothing. No misunderstandings. Nothing left unsaid. Nothing". Bo said quietly.
"I know. I was wrong not to tell you about my illness. Even as a friend. Even as a Doctor, I never have all of the answers, and as much as I was trying to cure myself, I couldn't. I am sorry Bo. I really am. I never wanted you to see me like that. I never wanted you to be broken like that". Lauren whispered into the Succubus ear.
"I have to be honest with you. I am not sure what you can do and can't do. What can harm you and what can't. I am not a Science buff like you, I won't always know or see if something is wrong. I need to know these things because we all know that he is out there. Waiting". Bo whispered.
"Bo I know we need to know, but honestly I feel better than ever. I know that sounds weird and it's hard to believe in any of this, but I don't think your mother and grandmother would have gone through all of the trouble of bringing me back, just so I would leave you again one day". Lauren explained.
"Lauren I don't doubt you as a Doctor. I just...I just never thought I would lose you out of the blue like that". Bo said softly.
"I will run more tests but I think the reason I am not seeing anything right now, is because it is beyond my eyes. Beyond my expertise". Lauren said softly. It was true. She had run test after test and saw nothing out of the ordinary. She was just Lauren. But a much stronger, and wiser Lauren.
"Ok. I just can't lose you again Lauren. I can't. I know he is powerful. I just don't know if he is powerful enough to try and take you again". Bo explained.
"There is no way to know that for sure Bo. Aife knows him better than anyone. Maybe we need to talk to her". Lauren suggested.
"That's true. We can go and talk to her whenever we want". Bo said softly.
"Bo...
"Lauren? Bo asked turning back after she had turned away.
"Bo I want...
"You're going to the clinic today aren't you? Bo gasped.
"I have better equipment there Bo. I know we can always set up a better lab here, but in the mean time, I want to get in and see what's going on. What I've missed". Lauren said.
"Lauren. I have been checking in for you. Most of the patients that you were treating are all doing better. They hired a few good Doctors. There is no need for you to rush back". Bo rambled.
Lauren smiled. Bo was so cute when she was trying to get Lauren to stay, but the Doctor in her was still anxious to get back in the game. But it wasn't a laughing matter. Not after what she had just witnessed and heard. Bo was having separation issues. Something she hadn't seen Bo struggle with since Kenzi moved away.
"Bo we can't stay cooped up in here all day and night, as nice as that sounds. Yesterday was great. It really was. You know I love spending time with you, but I also love helping people heal. I couldn't heal myself, so I need to get out there and try and help others with their wounds and infections". Lauren explained softly.
"Then I am going with you". Bo cooed.
"Bo we have guests. Kenzi and Dagny". Lauren smiled softly.
"Hmmm. Let me think on that one. I will figure something out". Bo said biting her lip.
"I promise. I will not be gone long. If I shower now and get in there, I can read up on the patients I was treating and see what our new patients have been coming in for". Lauren explained.
"Lauren it's barely six. Nobody will be there this early". Bo said looking at the clock.
"Evony will. She always shows up once a week to go over the books". Lauren said.
"What if we bought you your own clinic or hospital? Bo offered.
"That was actually a plan of mine, but right now I just want to focus on where I was working the last time. Once we deal with you know who, we can look into that". Lauren smiled holding Bo again.
Bo was impressed that Lauren wanted that. If anyone deserved it, she did.
"Can I at least shower with you? Bo winked.
"Of course! Let's go! Lauren smiled pulling the Succubus off of the bed.
Bo licked her lips. This was going to be a long, hot and sweaty shower. They were going to need lots of soap and shampoo. Lauren was such a clean freak, they had plenty of both.
Evony
"What is taking so long? Evony groaned.
"I am sorry ma'am. There was something wrong with your limo, so we had to find another one". Chester explained.
"Look Fester, I have been waiting for an hour now. That is plenty of time to have had another car here already! Evony snapped.
"Umm it's Chester ma'am". Chester groaned.
"Do I look like I give a shit? Get a car here in two seconds or you will be out of a job! Evony snapped.
Just as Chester turned around a limo was pulling up. It didn't look like the one Evony usually approved of, but he would be sure to fix that after he got her on her way.
Evony rolled her eyes. If she wasn't already behind on her own set schedule, she wouldn't ride in that broken down car. But at least she wasn't driving herself to see the Queen. She had never met her and wanted to at least look important enough for her to talk to. She had already called ahead and made sure, she would be available. She had ten minutes before she would be late and that would be just as embarrassing.
Aife and Queen Isabeau.
Aife had just been handed the Queen's itinerary for the day and nearly spit out her latte when she saw The Morrigan was listed. She hadn't been back long, but long enough to know the Dark Fae no longer had a Morrigan. There was barely a Dark Fae anymore as Bo had set out to remove the labels with the goal of making them all just the Fae.
"Mother about your first meeting, I want to be present". Aife smiled softly towards the Queen who had just taken her seat on her throne.
"Who is it? Queen Isabeau asked.
"Evony Fleurette Marquise". Aife laughed.
"Why does that name sound familiar? Queen Isabeau asked. Then it dawned on her, who it was and why Aife had wanted to be present.
"She was...". Aife laughed again.
"Yes. Yes I remember now". Queen Isabeau said softly.
"You know I'm staying right? Aife laughed.
"Yes. Yes. Do try to behave". Queen Isabeau said softly. She knew of their history. Aife never liked the woman. She always found her to be a fraud. A wannabe.
Twenty minutes later and the former Morrigan arrived. Aife had never left her mother's side. This was going to be quite amusing.
Evony had been running so late the Queen had squeezed in a few meetings ahead of her. Dyson had stepped out to make a call at her request, leaving the ladies alone.
"Good morning ladies". Evony smiled softly.
"Ahem". Aife coughed.
"Yes. What is it? Evony asked.
"You need to be bowing in the presence of Royalty". Aife laughed.
"Begging your pardon. Your Majesty". Evony bowed but at the Queen only.
"Mother asked me to be nice. Do that again and I will have your ass tarred and feathered". Aife laughed.
"Evony I do have other business to attend you, since you were late, I had to push the more important meetings back. Do that again and I will never grant your request again". Queen Isabeau explained.
"In terms you can understand. Get the hell on with it, we are busy around here". Aife laughed.
"Aife". Queen Isabeau said softly.
"Does she have to be here? Evony asked pointing towards Aife.
"Yes. She does". Aife laughed.
"She does. Depending upon what you want, she needs to be aware of any new laws that I make during this meeting". Queen Isabeau agreed.
"Get on with it". Aife ordered pointing towards Evony.
"I just want to know how to the two of you are even alive". Evony scoffed.
"See. I knew I needed to be here". Aife laughed.
"Yes. Well I trust the Queen to tell me the truth. You would only lie or embellish the story". Evony said.
"If you forget your place again. It won't feel like a lie when I stick my foot up your...
"Aife! Queen Isabeau screamed.
"Your arse. My foot would be up your arse". Aife laughed.
"So how did you two return? If Lauren had anything to do with it, I will...
"Dyson! Get in here! Queen Isabeau screamed pulling the shifter off of his cell phone and into the throne room.
"My Queen?! Dyson said running in.
"Get the scrolls out. I think we might need them". Queen Isabeau said.
"Yes my Queen". Dyson bowed and hurried off to get them. They were heavy things, but he could get them quicker than just about anyone. Well besides Bruce who was busy on a assignment with Kenzi.
"Go on Evony". Queen Isabeau said when the shifter finally returned.
"As I was saying Dr. Lewis was supposed to be working on turning me Fae again. Then she discovered I was sick and started working on a cure for that. If the two of you are back, as the good Doctor is to my knowledge, I think she should be forced to go back to plan A. Plan A being turning me Fae again". Evony explained.
Aife gasped and stood back as her mother stood up and started down the small staircase.
"Evony. Evony. Evony. Girl bye". Aife laughed.
"What? What did I say that was wrong? Evony asked.
"Evony you will address me and not my daughter! Queen Isabeau snapped as she watched Evony back up a bit.
"But I was only...". Evony started.
"Dyson are you ready? Queen Isabeau asked.
"Yes my Queen". Dyson said from the floor.
"This is to be the first law on all of the scrolls. You will need to start new ones". Queen Isabeau said softly.
"Yes my Queen. I'm ready". Dyson smiled softly.
"The name and body of Lauren Lewis shall never be spoken to or in any offensive, or threatening tone. Any human or Fae that breaks this law after the first warning shall deal with me and me only". Queen Isabeau explained.
"Anything else you want to say Evony? Aife laughed.
"So that's it? The three of you appear alive out of nowhere, and I don't even get to know how or why? I was the Morrigan once, that should entitle me to something". Evony snapped.
"It will entitle you to nothing. I know what you did for my namesake. Telling her about Lauren's dying orders and illness, but we all know you weren't born Fae. That's why you had a human son. That witch and druid turned you Fae after he was born. Do not come in my presence or anywhere else asking for Lauren to be forced to do anything. This will be your only warning". Queen Isabeau said as she sat on her throne again.
"Can she at least tell me how this is possible? Evony asked.
"You can always ask her. If she chooses to tell, that's her decision. But I would strongly suggest that you drop the matter". Queen Isabeau said showing her blue eyes.
Evony opened her mouth to say something but thought better of it and closed it, but then opened it again.
"Dr. Lewis works at my clinic. I am sure I can find a way to get her to tell me. As her boss I...
"Stop right there. I can't stand it anymore". Aife laughed and bent over in glee.
"What? What's funny now? Evony asked.
"I am not the Ash or an Elder. I am the Queen. My officers and guards were very thorough when they went through the books. Your clinic was built in the Light Fae territory, before Lauren turned you human. You never got permission for it, so it has been returned to it's rightful owners. That would be Aife, Isabeau and myself". Queen Isabeau explained.
"What? I paid good money for that property. You can't just take it from me! Evony snapped.
"Dyson". Queen Isabeau said softly.
"Your money". Dyson said as he rolled a table over with money bags stacked on top of it.
"Since you have every penny back, take your money and get out of my throne room and building before I forget about my new no attacking humans law". Queen Isabeau said.
Evony scoffed. Those bags were heavy and Chester hadn't followed her in to push the table out. So she would have to do it herself. She would also be contacting her accountant, to make sure they didn't short her a penny.
"Evony don't forget. You will be dealing with three Succubi should you set out for revenge. I might be nice now, but I won't hesitate to drain your ass. That is if you still have one, after that rash you tried to cure by turning Fae in the first place". Aife laughed.
"No. No! I'm done here. Bo already drained me dry once. Don't get that b...woman started again". Evony said. It was true. It took her months to get right again. She was alreay sick and since Bo had drained the colony and reversed her chi suck, Evon was finally getting back to normal and back to having her fundraisers again.
The trio watched as the former Morrigan left.
"Can we trust her? Aife asked.
"She's mostly been running that lab and fundraisers from home". Dyson said softly.
"Who has been giving her money? Humans or Fae? Queen Isabeau asked.
"To my knowledge mostly humans, my Queen". Dyson answered.
"Find out who specifically. Spread word about my new law and bring me that Vex fellow, if you can find him". Queen Isabeau said.
"Yes my Queen". Dyson bowed as he left the room.
"What do you need with that bastard? I already have people looking for him". Aife confessed.
"It never hurts to have a Mesmer around. Besides I will quite enjoy watching him beat himself up after what he did to Lauren". Queen Isabeau explained.
"Yes. Trying to give her to the Una Mens, and eventually giving her to Evony, who could have killed her, steams me too. Men. Always trying to put and keep women down". Aife said softly.
"Send in the next person. Times wasting away". Queen Isbeau ordered.
Aife laughed again. Vex had vanished once word got around that Queen Isabeau and Aife were back. He was always a turncoat and she would be turning his ass on his ass, if he ever crossed any of them.
Bo
After a nearly two hour shower, Lauren had dressed and left much to Bo's protests. She already missed the Doctor's body and scent. Lauren kissed her before she left and even that wasn't long enough. Bo knew she would need to shake these feelings. But this was Lauren she was thinking about and missing.
"Lauren please promise me that you will be back soon". Bo typed into a text.
"Bo I haven't even been gone five minutes yet and I will be back as soon as I am brought up to date on everything". Lauren replied.
"It's already been four minutes too long". Bo replied and jumped when her phone rung.
"Bo? Where's Lauren? Dyson asked.
"She's gone to the clinic. Why? Bo asked.
"I think you two need to go and see the Queen". Dyson suggested.
"Lauren promised that she would be back soon. Kenzi's here. She, Dag, and I are having breakfast. Where are you? Bo asked.
"I just left Queen Isabeau and Aife. Why? Dyson asked.
"I think you and I need to talk. Face to face". Bo said softly.
"Ok I am on my way over". Dyson said hanging up. He sent out a few texts before he pulled off and sped away to Bo and Lauren's.
TBC
Aife finds Vex
Bo and Dyson talk.
Queen Isabeau gives Lauren some news.