Author's Note: I don't really know where the time goes, and thanks for sticking around despite the long delays between chapters. Hope to wrap it up in another few chapters. Thanks all. So..continuing on...hope you enjoy...

xxxx

Late that night

Bo managed to find a comfortable spot snuggled up against Lauren. Her body sunk into the plush mattress, weary from the long, surprising day. Her shoulder throbbed repetitively, consistently pulling her thoughts to possibilities that may or may not be revealed at her upcoming doctor appointment. Thoughts of doctors poking and prodding morphed into thoughts of Kenzi and her years of doctor visits. Years of therapy and her sister rarely talked about her traumatic past anymore. Or was it, perhaps, simply because Bo never asked? Her questions were many and her answers were few. Thoughts formulated so quickly that none of them made much sense really, and the brunette's inability to slow her mind kept her body in a restless state.

Bo stared at the wall as she exhaled deeply. Her mind rallied into overdrive, keeping the brunette very much awake for what felt like hours. The doctor, lying beside her, recognized Bo's restlessness. She had managed to doze off and on a few times until Bo's fidgeting became a near constant.

"Can't sleep?" Lauren whispered.

"Not at all," Bo replied. "Sorry I woke you."

Lauren tightened the sheet over her body before sliding her hand along Bo's hip, holding her close. "Is this about Kenzi?"

"Yeah," Bo replied. "Like how do we tell her? Or, what exactly should we tell her?"

Lauren lay quietly next to Bo for a several minutes. Considering all the details they learned from Tamsin, and all the ones the detective refused to discuss, Lauren weighed the options. She knew a reminder of anything having to do with her brutal past could be severely devastating, but on the other hand, it could be profoundly therapeutic. However, Lauren was not a therapist and she was not comfortable making a decision that could impact Kenzi mental health state.

"What if I speak to her therapist tomorrow?" Lauren asked.

Quietly, Bo considered Lauren's question. At least a therapist would know better than she. "Well, I don't suppose that would hurt. Do you know who he is?"

"Actually I do. I'll give him a call tomorrow and see if I can grab a few minutes of his time. Now sleep, you need it."

xxxx

The following morning

With a gym bag over one shoulder, Bo exited the bedroom and walked down the hallway. She popped into the dining room to find Lauren and Cassie sitting at the dining room table with books spread out everywhere. Charlotte was in her high chair next to them snacking on what appeared to be some dry cereal.

"Babe, I'm heading out. Tamsin is outside to pick me up. We are going to get Kenz then we are heading over to Vex's studio for that free workout session."

Lauren stood up from her chair and placed a quick kiss on Bo's lips. "Please don't overdo it on the workout."

Bo smiled. "I promise."

Bo placed a quick kiss to the top of Charlotte's head and then glanced to Cassie. "Bye Cassie. See you later."

"Bye Bo. Have fun, and tell Vex I want to come to the next workout session with you guys."

"Will do," Bo replied. "Don't study too hard."

Cassie laughed. "Um, do you see who is my study partner, Bo?"

Bo opened the door and glanced back to the dining room. "Haha good point. Lauren, don't make her brain explode."

"Haha very funny. Bye. Be safe. I love you."

"Love you too."

xxxx

Bo tossed her bag in the backseat of Tamsin's vehicle. As carefully as she could, the brunette slid into the passenger seat and tugged the door shut. She fumbled with the seat belt, unable to make it click with use of just one arm. Tamsin reached over to help her, clicking the belt into place as she smiled.

Bo returned the smile. "Thanks Tamsin. I can't wait to get this damn bulky thing off my arm."

Tamsin nodded. "No problem, Chief. When do you get to take that cast off?"

"Don't know yet. I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon with the surgeon. Hopefully I will get a little more information then."

Tamsin steered the car down the driveway and out onto the road. They headed in the direction of Kenzi's place, enjoying the sunshine and conversation on the way.

"Thanks for inviting me to the workout today. I need to gain back some weight, and I hope this helps," Tamsin offered.

"Of course, but I don't know what to expect from this guy. I only met him briefly but Lauren seems to like him. Plus he teaches martial arts, so that's fun, right?"

"Hell yeah," Tamsin replied.

"Kenz is excited because she wants to learn some self-defense," Bo stated.

"Seems like a good plan then."

"Agreed," Bo replied.

The next few hours definitely proved to be a good plan. Vex was quite the instructor. He taught a few very basic moves that would be used as building blocks. Bo, Tamsin and Kenzi all had very different reasons for being in Vex's studio that day. Bo's mission was to keep her strength and physique, full of intent to get back to work as soon as she was able. Not knowing the full depth of her arm's damage was frustrating as hell, but Bo was determined to get back to work one way or another. Tamsin needed to get her body back in shape. The loss of so much weight included the loss of muscle mass. She felt run down and exhausted after her undercover work, but she also knew that sitting around would never help her get her energy back. Kenzi's focus was purely self-defense. She had taken kickboxing already, and the knowledge she gained from that helped her ease right into martial arts. If any of them had determination for sticking with this martial arts training, it was definitely Kenzi.

Vex's understanding of each woman's reason for joining this private training session helped him sculpt their workouts individually. While they all learned basics together, branching off into some unique moves were also very helpful to each individual and their goals. Two hours of a very engaging workout with Vex had put all three ladies into a sweaty yet accomplished feeling. In fact, their workout was so well received that they set up continued regular sessions with him, and they were all bound and determined to make it work in their schedules.

xxx

Later that day

Lauren sat quietly in the recliner, holding Charlotte, who was fast asleep in her arms. She balanced an iPad on her lap, reading the latest research on cutting edge technology to advance healing in upper body injuries. She heard the front door open then close before Bo appeared, having just returned home from her workout.

Quietly, Bo tiptoed across the room, leaned over and kissed Lauren on the cheek.

Lauren made a funny face. "You stink," Lauren whispered as to not wake Charlotte.

"Haha," Bo replied quietly as she gently placed her gym bag on the floor.

"Have fun?" Lauren asked.

"Yes, but I need to get cleaned up. Think you can help me take a bath? I don't think I can get in by myself without getting this thing all wet," Bo stated while motioning to her cast.

Lauren smiled. "Sure. Let me put Charlotte in her room and I'll be right in."

xxxx

With care, Lauren helped a very sweaty Bo into the bathtub. Bo's movement just to get into the tub were rigid and slow. Lauren could tell the Fire Chief overdid it on the workout, but she declined to voice it. Stating the obvious would only make Bo defensive. Rather than stir up any kind of potential argument, Lauren remained focused on helping Bo ease into the warm water while keeping her arm cast dry.

With Charlotte quietly resting in her room down the hall, Bo and Lauren could speak a little louder in the bathroom without the fear of waking their sleeping daughter.

The warm water enveloped Bo's aching body enough to cause her to moan aloud. "Wow that feels good."

"Good," Lauren replied.

The blonde rolled up a nearby bath towel, creating a makeshift pillow that she slid behind Bo's neck.

"Thanks, love. So how was tutoring with Cassie?" Bo asked as she closed her eyes and allowed the warm bath water to relax her muscles.

"Good. Cassie is very smart. She underestimates her abilities though. I wish she could find more confidence in herself."

"Well if anyone can convince her, it is you." Bo said proudly of her fiancé.

Kneeling by the bathtub, Lauren took a loofa and squeezed some body wash on it before trailing it all over Bo's body submerged comfortably in the water.

"I hope so. She'll make a great EMT. Oh, and I also spoke with Kenzi's therapist today."

Bo's eyes popped open quickly. "Oh. And?"

Careful to keep Bo's arm cast dry, Lauren continued to wash Bo while she spoke.

"Well, he thinks she should know that Dyson is dead and he can't hurt her anymore. Without divulging too much to me, he basically let me know that he feels it would be a good part of her moving forward."

"Okay. How should we tell her?" Bo asked Lauren.

"Honestly I've thought about it a lot today. I think it should be done in her therapy session though, and I think the less she knows, the better. I mean, would it help her to know that Tamsin killed him? Would it help her to know that Tamsin went through hell to find this guy?"

"Probably not. If I know my sister, that will just make her feel worse that Tamsin went through hell because of her."

"Exactly."

"What if we just have the doctor tell her and leave it at that?"

"This is Kenzi we are talking about. She'll want to know how he found this out."

"True."

"Maybe we should ask Tamsin if she'll go in to the therapy session with her. Maybe she can just tell her it was part of the undercover operation and it's over now."

"We could ask her," Bo replied.

"I'll call her after we're done in here. See what she says."

"Thanks hon," Bo replied.

"Okay so tell me, did Tamsin and Kenzi have as much fun as you at the workout?" Lauren asked.

"Absolutely. We all made a schedule with Vex and are going to keep attending. He wants to know what the doctor says tomorrow at my appointment though."

Lauren smiled. She was happy Vex was taking precautions with Bo's condition.

"Good. That means he's a good instructor."

"Definitely."

"Also, I called the station on the drive home. The new fire fire candidate trials are scheduled for tomorrow morning. I was going to have Lambert pick me up and take me, but I was wondering if you could come by and pick me up afterwards? Then we could just go to my appointment from there?"

Lauren thought briefly about their schedules for the following day. She could think of nothing to conflict with it, so she and Bo agreed to a time for the pick up. Lauren recalled the location of the candidate trials with ease, bringing a bright smile to her face.

"What's that smile for?" Bo asked as she relished in the personal bath Lauren was lavishing upon her.

"I was just remembering the first time you took me to that location. Where you are conducting the candidate trials tomorrow."

Bo thought back, recalling fondly the memory of taking Lauren to the shell of a building surrounded by trees all those years ago. They shared quite a night together in that spot. Her smile, equally as big as Lauren's, instantly crossed her face.

"Maybe we can make another date like that sometime," Bo stated confidently.

Lauren raised her brow and blushed. "Just ask me on that date and you're fairly certain to get a yes from me."

"Mmmm," Bo purred.

xxx

The following day

Lauren had parked the car near the entrance of the long driveway and walked quietly down the cracked concrete slab while simply enjoying the peaceful surroundings that the city didn't afford her. The towering trees lining the driveway absorbed most sound, leaving Lauren with nothing but the calm of a beautiful summer day outside the city limits. Memories of her very first visit to this space flooded her thoughts. The ugly reminders of a painful loss when a patient died melded with a tingle deep within her core. It was a night that Bo helped her forget the horrible moments of tragedy by redirecting her focus to the more pleasurable moments of happiness. While Lauren never failed to process the full depth of a life lost, she also had come a long way in enjoying the moments she experienced in life, and a memory like this still pulled a smile to her face.

A few steps further and she heard the distant sound of human voices. She proceeded further down the driveway until the trees parted, giving way to the parking lot and partially constructed building before her. She caught sight of several fire fighters, all men that worked at Station 55. While Lauren arrived much early than she had planned to pick up Bo for her follow up doctor appointment, the doctor decided to keep her distance from the Fire Chief as to not distract her. She walked slowly, keeping an eye out for her fiancé, the firefighters who worked for her, and the candidates completing the timed trials.

Lauren quietly slipped into the crowd of Bo's team of firefighters, garnering smiles from the men and a few subtle waves to acknowledge her presence.

At that moment, the act of eavesdropping occurred by accident. Lauren never intended to hear so much before making her presence known to Bo, but the pronounced voice of the Fire Chief booming across the parking lot kept the doctor from announcing her arrival. Lauren glanced forward, laying eyes on the back of Bo partially dressed in her turnout gear.

The brunette stood facing away from Lauren and the firefighters of Station 55, instead looking directly at the row of candidates competing in the trials. Even with the bulky cast on, Bo still made a uniform look sexy, and it took everything Lauren had not to issue an audible gasp of appreciation.

Instead of uttering a sound, Lauren simply stood there and listened, just like the men at her side. She glanced over Bo: the boots, the pants with the suspenders, and helmet all perfectly in place. No jacket though as Lauren was certain it would not have fit over her cast, but Bo stood tall and proud, her voice echoing the same. Nothing made Lauren salivate like Bo in uniform, except perhaps when she was helping Bo out of the uniform.

The line of potential new candidates stood ready to prove their worth in hopes of earning the coveted empty spot at Station 55. And while all those rookies were facing Bo and by default, could see Lauren and the members of Station 55 but twenty feet behind her, not one of them took their eyes off the brunette as she spoke.

And yes, even Lauren was listening. Intently.

To every word the Fire Chief had to say.

"…I am not here to help you succeed. I am here to watch you succeed. When you are fighting a fire, I need to know you are capable of saving lives. I need to know that if one of our own is trapped inside that building, that you are the person I can count on to get in there and get out, alive. I need to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I can trust you."

Bo stood firmly planted in place. Her legs were stiff despite being covered up by bulky protective gear. Her one uninjured arm was tucked behind her back, furthering straightening her posture as she spoke. Her voice never quivered as she continued her speech to the group of twelve standing before her.

"Part of the drill today is to measure your abilities. This building is about to be lit on fire, and each one of you will complete the drill and be timed. Your scores today will be weighted with the scores of your written exams already completed. I will not play favorites, and I always let the numbers speak for themselves. Best combined score gets the job. Period."

She paused her speech momentarily, glancing over the possible new employees one by one.

"Are you going to do your best today and every day?!"

"Yes Chief!" they replied in unison.

"Are you going to use everything you've learned to save lives today and every day?!"

"Yes Chief!"

Without turning around, Bo pointed over her shoulder toward the current firefighters behind her.

"If any or all of these people standing behind me are trapped in a fire, can you promise me, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you will do everything in your power to save their lives as if they were your very own family?!"

"Yes Chief!"

The response echoed loudly in unison, almost enough to startle Lauren still standing quietly next to the others from Station 55.

"Good. Let's line up!"

The men of Station 55 immediately went into work mode, setting up the controlled burn and getting into position. They each had a role to play, and Lauren stayed out of the way as they moved about the parking lot. Even as she stayed out of the way, it did not take long for Bo to see her nearby, putting a smile on the Fire Chief's face. As the team made final preparations for the trials to begin, Bo walked over to Lauren near the edge of the concrete lot.

"Doctor Lewis," Bo stated.

"Chief Dennis," Lauren replied. "Sorry I am a bit early, but I could not resist watching you in action. I hope I'm not a distraction."

Bo smiled and raised her eyebrows. Quietly, she replied. "You are always a distraction, but the best kind."

"I promise to stay out of the way," Lauren replied.

"You are never in the way."

Lauren blushed. She stared at Bo quietly, absorbing the happiness radiating from her fiancé. Bo loved her job, and it was evident in her attitude just standing among her people.

Bo glanced over her shoulder, recognizing that everyone was in place and waiting on her to begin.

"I guess they're waiting on me, but if you need anything, I'll be the one holding the stopwatch."

Bo winked before walking away, causing an ache deep within Lauren. Still, after all these years, Bo stirred Lauren's libido with just a wink. The doctor was going to enjoy this hour watching Bo in action. She stared at Bo as the fire chief walked away, loving the way Bo's posture commanded respect and attention. Yes, this hour may drive Lauren crazy with desire, but she was definitely going to enjoy every minute of it.

xxxx

Sitting in the doctor's office, Lauren held Bo's hand while they waited for the doctor to arrive. The Fire Chief had changed out of her firefighting attire, replacing it with a pair of jeans and a Station 55 t-shirt. Her hair was pulled up, allowing her to cool off a bit quicker after being outside for the candidate trials.

The Fire Chief was nervous. Between X-rays, ultrasounds and every other test the Chief couldn't remember, she was hopeful the doctor would have some positive update. But truth be told, Bo was terrified of what the doctor could say. She was grateful for getting into "work mode" at the candidate trials, even if she was just able to run the stop watch. But she was even more grateful for Lauren, being with her every step of the way.

Lauren could sense the fear emanating from Bo. Even after the sole woman fire fighter candidate won the coveted open position at Station 55, Bo remained stoic. Her professionalism allowed for a solid congratulations to the newest member of her team, but after that, Bo simply grabbed her change of clothes and told Lauren she was ready to leave. Lauren did her best to maintain a balance between supportive and positive. She did not want to smother Bo and she could tell the brunette was nervous about this appointment.

The drive to the doctor's office had not been completely silent, but Lauren did have to initiate most conversation while Bo was lost in thought. It wasn't until they were riding the elevator up from X-ray up to the doctor's office that Bo expressed her worry.

"...I may not be a holy person, but right now I'm praying to every god in the universe to give me good news..."

Lauren did what Lauren did best: she was honest with Bo. They both knew the odds were 50/50, and Lauren wanted to ease Bo's mind but also not set her up for failure either.

"You know today, watching you at the candidate trials, proved one very important thing."

Bo looked over to Lauren. "Oh, what's that?"

"That no matter how this injury heals or doesn't heal, you are still an excellent Fire Chief. And even if you cannot run into a burning building, you can still command that team."

Bo smiled. "Thanks hon, but I'm not quite sure the job allows for a Chief who can't do all facets of the job."

"You know what else you're excellent at?"

Bo raised a brow and blushed, while the elevator continued to ascend past floors. "Babe, I know I'm good at that."

Lauren playfully smacked Bo's behind. "I was going to say that you're also an excellent fiancé, an excellent mother, an excellent sister, and an excellent friend to so many. You carry many titles Bo, and none of them should be impacted due to your injury. Period."

Bo stared across the room, looking at typical posters hanging on the walls of a doctor office. She was tapping her foot rhythmically against the floor, anxious for the doctor to arrive.

Hoping to ease the worry while waiting for the doctor, Lauren squeezed Bo's hand and asked her about the newest member of Station 55.

"I told you I was cheering for the only lady candidate, didn't I?" Lauren asked.

Bo smiled. "About a hundred times, yes. And as I've said before, I remained completely impartial and let the scores speak for themselves."

Lauren glanced at Bo and smiled, who pulled an even bigger smile from the Fire Chief.

"Aren't you just a little bit excited?"

Bo looked around the empty room, shaking her head with a smile. "What do you think?"

Lauren laughed. "I think you're thrilled, but you just won't say it as to not appear partial."

"Well my dear, you know me better than anyone."

Lauren smiled again. "Ha! I knew it. No worries love, your secret is safe with me."

Bo squeezed Lauren's hand. "Good. Well she fills out paperwork tomorrow and will start tomorrow night with shadowing. I want her familiar with the station before I put her on a truck."

"Makes sense. Well maybe you should invite her over for Sunday supper. She could get to know the rest of your crew away from the job. Hell they all come over every week anyway."

"That's actually a great idea, Laur. I think I'll..."

The door opened, halting Bo and Lauren's conversation. In walked Doctor Miller, holding a thick file in his right hand. He gently closed the door as he offered a greeting to both women.

"Afternoon Chief Dennis. Hello Doctor Lewis."

"Hello," they both replied in unison.

"How's the arm feeling, Chief?"

"Eh, it hurts, but I don't want any pain medicine so I can handle it."

Doctor Miller accessed a computer sitting in the room, rotating the monitor so that both Lauren and Bo could see it. He typed away, accessing some files as he spoke.

"The pain should lessen as things heal, but it will take some time. If you change your mind on the pain meds, let me know. I can get you something mild."

Bo shook her head. "Thanks but no thanks."

An image of an X-ray popped up on the computer screen. Lauren immediately began to study it while Doctor Miller spoke aloud. His explanation to Bo was fairly straightforward and matched how she interpreted the image as well. He followed the X-ray with images taken from the Ultrasound as well. Lauren held her breath, knowing what he was about to say. She could feel Bo on the edge of her seat, waiting for him to give her a final prognosis. He spoke for lengthy minutes, rambling on and on about every medical facet that Lauren knew Bo would never understand nor care to hear.

While Lauren was ready to fully interrupt Doctor Miller and just get to the point, it was Bo who actually spoke up and cut him off.

"Doctor Miller, I understanding nothing of what you're saying. Just tell me...do I stand a chance to heal? Or is this the end of my career?"

xxxx